Germany reports record growth in electrical exports to China

Xinhua) 10:17, May 23, 2024

BERLIN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Germany's electrical industry saw its exports to China increase to 6.7 billion euros (7.2 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, representing 7.4-percent growth year-on-year, the country's industry association reported on Wednesday.

China remained Germany's largest customer country between January and March, despite a 4.3-percent decline in Germany's total electrical industry exports compared to the same period last year, the German Electro and Digital Industry Association (ZVEI) said.

"Exports to eight of the 10 largest individual customer countries of the German electrical and digital industry were lower," said ZVEI chief economist Andreas Gontermann. China and Spain were the only major markets that still recorded growth.

"With regard to electrical exports to Asia, the upturn in exports to China, which alone account for half of the total, was noticeable," Gontermann added. As a result, deliveries to the Asian region have increased slightly overall.

Following a weak development of the industry in recent months, "business with China has recently improved somewhat, which is also in line with the overall economic development in China," a ZVEI spokesperson told Xinhua on Wednesday. (1 euro = 1.08 U.S. dollar)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Today, Zacchae'us Paul unveils his forthcoming album: "Jazz Money," which will arrive on a yet-to-be-disclosed date via the storied and recently relaunched jazz label Candid Records. Alongside the announcement, Paul shares his latest single off the album: the ebullient "Banana Laffy Taffy."

About Zacchae'us Paul's 'Banana Laffy Taffy'

The song itself is Zacchae'us Paul's jazzy ode to what he deems as the most underrated flavor of Laffy Taffy: banana.

Sonically, with label mate Morgan Guerin and alto sax player Rogerst Charles hopping on, the track swims in lush soundscapes. This includes exuberant piano chord voicings and varied vocal textures for which the artist is known.

These recent offerings from the jazz prodigy follow his previous single "Mama Said," a heartfelt dedication to the extraordinary Black women who have shaped Paul's life, and "Better Dayz," an emotionally powerful track about tiptoeing the line between lost love and personal growth.

As evident in these releases, Paul's brand of music is a new spin on jazz, as he melds the long-standing genre with the booming sounds of Atlanta hip-hop, the lush voicings of gospel, and the movement-inducing beats of Caribbean rhythms.

You can experience Paul's innovative and diverse musicality live at Brooklyn's Baby's All Right music venue this coming Saturday, May 25, performing selections from his forthcoming album alongside Whatmore, Cisco Swank, Yoshi T, and others. For ticketing info, click here.

Earlier this year, Zacchae'us played a packed show at Brooklyn's Baby's Alright during NYC Winter Jazzfest. Where Giovani Russenello of the New York Times singled him out as the "biggest surprise of the weekend."

Listen to what Paul has to offer yourself by streaming "Banana Laffy Taffy" here. You can also sample his latest releases right below.
LINCOLN  More than 200 people showed up to celebrate history in the making as Omaha native and human rights activist Malcolm X was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

Cheers and applause echoed in the State Capitol as his bust was unveiled by his daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, and the sculptor, Nathan Murray. Cheers also greeted Gov. Jim Pillen as he proclaimed Wednesday as Malcolm X Day in Nebraska.

And cheers and laughter greeted former State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, who took the microphone for a few unscripted comments at the end of the formal ceremony.

I never thought in my wildest dreams I would live long enough to see a White, conservative Republican governor in a White, ultraconservative state like Nebraska participate in the induction of Malcolm X in the Hall of Fame, said Chambers, the states longest-serving lawmaker who is running for reelection.

Other speakers talked of the long road that led to Malcolm X becoming the 27th member of the Nebraska Hall of Fame. He was chosen for the honor in 2022, after being nominated and rejected twice before. Some previously deemed him too controversial to be included.

It wasnt the first time Malcolm X faced rejection in the state.

He was born in Omaha on May 19, 1925, as Malcolm Little. But his father, the Rev. Earl Little, was involved with community organizing in Omaha and, less than two years after Malcolms birth, the family was driven out of town by threats from the Ku Klux Klan. Although he did not live in Nebraska again, those events had lasting effects on his childhood and his life.

It is here that the roots of Malcolm X were planted, Shabazz, one of his six daughters, said Wednesday. This Hall of Fame induction is significant as it continues to push the boundaries set for our human family, much like my father did.

It pulls on each of us to reflect on how we can personally make an impact on the world, she told the crowd. Let Malcolms dedication to truth and justice inspire us all, ensuring that future generations understand the full story of my fathers life and transformation as it relates to their own journeys.

JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, executive director of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation in Omaha, said the Hall of Fame recognition can be a tool for educators, historians and others to tell the full story of the transformation of Malcolm X.

This is important for the entire country to understand why Malcolm was born in Omaha, because it wasnt on accident, she said. His parents migrated here with the intention to stay and they were chased out of Nebraska.

Malcolm spent time in foster care as a teenager and wound up in prison as a young man but transformed his life to become a major advocate for Black empowerment and an internationally known human rights activist.

Part of his transformation was his conversion to Islam. The ceremony Wednesday recognized that religious side of his life, with Bilal Nosilla of Omaha and Rebeen Kareem of Lincoln offering Islamic prayers for the invocation.

Even after his death, he has had continuing influence on people and communities worldwide, Shabazz said. Part of that influence stems from his book The Autobiography of Malcolm X. The autobiography was published in 1965, just a few months after his assassination in New York City.

Malcolm X will be represented in the Hall of Fame with a bust designed and created by Murray, a nationally recognized and award-winning Lincoln sculptor. He said Wednesday that he knew how important the bust is for Nebraska and was excited for what it will mean for the states future.

The bust will be displayed in the Capitol Rotunda initially, then moved into the Great Hall between the north entrance and the Rotunda. It will stay there until later in the year, when the brass identifying plaque is finished and added. It will take up permanent residence with busts of other Hall of Fame members in one of the hallways leading out of the Rotunda.

Malcolm X is the first Black person in the Nebraska Hall of Fame. The 26 current members include three Native Americans, one of whom is a woman, four other women and 19 White men.

The Nebraska Hall of Fame is administered by History Nebraska, the state historical agency. Under state law, a new member can be added every five years. To be considered, people must have been born in Nebraska, gained prominence while living in Nebraska or have lived in the state and their residence in the state be an important influence on their lives and contributed to their greatness. In addition, at least 35 years must pass between a persons death and the date he or she is officially named as a member.

Photos: Malcolm X inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame
A former fundraiser for multiple Omaha police nonprofits faces new counts of tax evasion and wire fraud in connection with his fundraising activities for the Latino Peace Officers Association, according to a superseding indictment filed Tuesday.

The new charges could delay the upcoming trial for Jack Olson, 67, currently set to begin on June 10. Olson was indicted last year alongside two former Omaha police officers  Johnny Palermo and Richard Gonzalez  on allegations that he kept up to 80% of charity donations meant for the LPOA for himself without disclosing the cut to donors.

The indictment makes major revisions to Olsons original indictment from 2023, in which he faced a total of four felony charges: One count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of honest services fraud and two counts of wire fraud.

Olson now faces eight felony charges  three counts of wire fraud and four counts of tax evasion as well as the wire fraud conspiracy charge. The honest services fraud conspiracy count, which was based upon allegations that Olson used his police connections to impede a rape investigation in which he was a suspect, is not included in the superseding indictment.

The only part of the indictment without major changes is the underlying wire fraud conspiracy. Both Gonzalez and Palermo pleaded guilty to the wire fraud conspiracy in recent months.

The indictment alleges Johnny Palermo, who was the president of LPOA, and Gonzalez, who purported to be a board member, facilitated a scheme in which Olson was allowed to keep a large cut of LPOA donations without the boards knowledge or approval.

The indictment makes major revisions to Olsons original indictment from 2023, in which he faced a total of four felony charges: One count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of honest services fraud and two counts of wire fraud.

Olson now faces eight felony charges  three counts of wire fraud and four counts of tax evasion as well as the wire fraud conspiracy charge. The honest services fraud conspiracy count, which was based upon allegations that Olson used his police connections to impede a rape investigation in which he was a suspect, is not included in the superseding indictment. A summary of the indictment filed by federal prosecutors said the government no longer plans to pursue the honest services fraud count at trial.

Olsons attorney, federal public defender Korey Reiman, previously contested this characterization. He said Olson had a written contract with LPOA specifying the amount of donations he would take. Reiman further said Olson met with both FBI and IRS officials during the investigation and willingly disclosed the percentage he was taking from LPOA donations under his contract.

The new allegations of tax evasion claim that from 2018 to 2021, Olson failed to pay taxes on more than $390,000 of taxable income he received through his cut of the LPOA donations.

Prosecutors said he intentionally obscured the source of his income and kept much of his money in cash in order to avoid detection by the IRS. Olson was never issued a W-2 or 1099 tax form from LPOA, which the indictment alleges was done in an effort to hide and conceal his income.

(Olson) was paid a percentage of the LPOA donations via cash withdrawal from LPOAs bank account and/or via cashiers check, according to the indictment. By receiving payment in cash and cashing checks at LPOAs bank, (Olson) was able to affirmatively conceal the source of the cash deposited into his various bank accounts.

In total, across the four years, the indictment alleges Olson was paid $390,730 by the LPOA and was liable for $95,705 in income taxes. He never reported any of this income to the IRS, according to the indictment.

Of the $390,730 that Olson withdrew in cash from LPOA bank accounts, he deposited approximately $144,595 into his own bank accounts, according to the indictment.

Neither officials at the U.S. Attorneys Office nor Reiman immediately responded to Omaha World-Herald requests for comment, but both said previously they are not authorized to publicly comment on the case.
The success or failure of the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa and Kogi states will depend on how the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), conducts itself. The seeming over-vaulting ambition of the party to capture the two states, by all means, raises concern. All the states must not be in the ruling party because we are not a one-party state. I find it rather undemocratic that APC wants to take all the states because it is in power.

I must say, in particular, that the way the APC chairman, Adams Oshiomole is beating his war chest is frightening. The comrade chairman is marshalling every arsenal at his disposal as if there is an invasion that needs to be defended. There is no civility in the campaigns, coupled with the apparent partiality of the Federal Government in advancing funds to the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, simply because he is APC while leaving Bayelsa State.

Eyebrows are being raised as to why President Buhari, the other day, approved the sum of N10 billion to Kogi State, which is also holding a scheduled governorship election on November 16. Buhari reportedly said, the money would be used by the state government to settle local debts it incurred as a result of the projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.

The question is why release such huge amount to Kogi State now, which has an incumbent APC Governor Yahaya Bello, seeking re-election? The APC government did the same thing during the last governorship election in Osun State when it suddenly released N19 billion to Governor Aregbesola, who owed civil servants in his state months of salary arrears clear.

Why are these charity approvals made only to APC states during the electioneering campaign? Why was Bayelsa State not given the same money for projects it executed on behalf of the Federal Government?

The public perception is that these monies are meant to buy votes in view of the timing. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) forbids vote-buying in any form and has charged voters to report such practices accordingly.

All the talks about making our electoral process rancor-free seem to be mere rhetoric. If this democracy must survive, the political actors must refrain from making elections look like a battle. We need a level playing field for all parties and contestants to the campaign. Otherwise, the ills that have plagued our elections will resurface.

Already in Bayelsa State, there is mounting apprehension over how to conduct a free and fair election and who will succeed Governor Seriake Dickson. The ruinous do-or-die politics has been reenacted, as the polity is tensed up, which should not be the case. No lessons have been learned from the awful past experience.

Like in other states, contenders for political office are not lacking in Bayelsa. There are capable men and women aspirants, who would like to govern the state. People invest everything within their power to outwit their opponents. The election in Bayelsa is usually a do-or-die affair as in other states.

Before the PDPs Senator Douye Diri emerged as its flag bearer for the election, some twenty other aspirants slugged it out with him. Diri pulled 561 votes to beat his closest rival, Timi Alaibe, who pulled 365 votes at the hotly contested party primaries.

In the case of APC, six aspirants including Heineken Lokpobiri, Aganaba Steven, Ebitimi Amgbare, Diseye Poweigha, Lyon Pereworimini, and Ongoebi Etebu contested the primaries in which David Lyon pulled 42,138 to emerge the winner. He was followed by Diseye Poweigha, who garnered 1,533 votes.

Having selected their flag bearers, the next thing is to sell the parties to the electorate using the manifesto during campaigns. Like I said earlier, whereas the PDP is on the ground as the incumbent, the APC is struggling to register its presence in a state it has never held sway since 1999 when this political dispensation began.

The seeming plot to neutralise the PDP in the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State may not affect anything. Those plots and scheming are normal during elections. If PDP is a tree planted in 1999 in Bayelsa State, it has developed huge roots that would be difficult to uproot. We should begin to appreciate the fact that some parties are endemic in some states to reduce the tension associated with electioneering campaigns in the country.

In the United States from which we copied the current democratic arrangement, there are red states and blue states that reflect party dominance. While the red states belong to the Republicans, the blue states belong to the Democrats.

A state like California, obviously, belongs to the Democrats while Texas is for the Republicans. While this somewhat established party demarcation allows the other parties to campaign, they do it with reservations, knowing full well that the dominant party will eventually win. There is nothing like capturing a state that is not your colour. It is rare.

In Nigeria, under the present political leaning, the South-East and South-South, including Bayelsa State, is PDP dominated; whereas, North-East and North-West, largely belong to the APC.

It is foolhardy for the APC to believe that it could, overnight, win Bayelsa State, the same way PDP cannot easily win Kano State. The people in these states already know the party they belong to and vote for. They cant easily be swayed overnight to vote against their conscience. It is important, in our electioneering campaigns, to recognize this fact.

For me, news about people defecting to other parties in the heat of the electioneering campaign is part of intimidation to frighten the gullible. As a matter of fact, no serious politician would defect from his party in the heat of electioneering campaign. Such development shows that something is wrong with the politician; or to put it another way, something is wrong somewhere. It could be that those have been compromised and it wont stop them from voting their conscience.

I am saying this based on the experience from the last general elections in Imo State. Former Governor Rochas Okorocha and his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, whom he wanted to succeed him as governor, did everything humanly possible to win people over but to no avail. In the heat of the electioneering, many people defected to Uche Nwosus Action Alliance (AA) party overnight, thereby giving the false impression that he had the whole state in his pockets. At the election proper, what happened? Many people voted against Uche Nwosu, despite having been apparently bought over.

There is a new political consciousness that Nigerian electorates are beginning to imbibe. The understanding that any money floated during the election is public money, indeed, our money is fast gaining ground. The attitude of Nigerians now is to collect the money from the politician and vote him out, since he wants to use our money to buy us. This is the new thinking shaping our elections.

It is very unfortunate that while there is clamour to improve on the past electoral failures that were marred by violence, vote-buying, rigging, intimidation, etc, the powers that be dont seem to be interested in seeing change.

There is no doubt that Bayelsa State is a flashpoint in Nigerian politics because of its strategic position as a major oil producer. The tension is worsened by the fact that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is the opposition party, gearing as it were, to take over the state.

And so, my call for a level playing field is directed mainly to the ruling APC. The party should take it easy. It should not invoke fire and brimstone just in an attempt to take Bayelsa State.

Experience has shown that during elections such as this, the ruling party will muster all forces at its disposal and descend on the state it wants to capture, with a view to intimidating the electorate.

Consequently, what ought to be a civil electoral contest is turned into a chaotic battle. This should not be the case. We would like to see improvement in Bayelsa and Kogi states election, but that would depend on the APC.




As seen on TheCable

BY RAZAQ FATAI AND ADEDAYO BAKARE

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is arguably the biggest challenge facing humanity today. More than 300,000 cases have been confirmed in 188 countries and territories, and over 13,000 people have died. Beyond its health impact, the spread of the virus is hurting the global economy. The impact is already visible in the countries most affected such as China and European countries, where travel restrictions and distancing measures have disrupted global supply chains and resulted in reduced economic activity. But the good news is that world leaders are working hard to contain the virus. Infection rates have dropped drastically in China, while many other countries are responding smartly to put an end to COVID-19.

Nigeria confirmed the first case of COVID-19 on February 28. It has since increased to 27 cases as of Sunday, March 22. While the country is not a COVID-19 hotbed yet, its economy could be one of the hardest hit, should it persist for longer, due to a fragile healthcare system and high dependence on the rest of the world.

COVID-19 could affect Nigeria in 4 major ways:

Trade and investment disruptions: Nigerias investment and trade are mostly with China, Europe, and the US, which are territories currently vulnerable to COVID-19. The slowdown of economic activities in these locations means that trade and investment will decline sharply, raising the risk of an economic recession. Manufacturers relying on imported inputs will face production challenges while reduced importation of food and pharmaceutical products would put a heavy burden on households and the healthcare system.

Lower government financial capacity: Nigeria could lose up to US$20 billion from crude oil sales-which represent 85% of its export- as fuel prices continue to fall. As oil revenue accounts for one-third of expected public revenue in 2020, governments will have limited capacity to support the economy. Revenue shortfall will worsen Nigerias debt burden as around 60% of the federal governments (FG) revenue already funds debt obligations. Sub-national governments will struggle to pay employee salaries and related costs  similar to what happened during the 2014-16 oil price crisis.

Lower social spending: Typically, Nigeria underfunds social sectors (health, education, and social safety net). Around 4% and 6% FG budget for 2020 went to Health and Education respectively, far below the recommended thresholds of 15% for Health and 20% for Education.

Lower revenue means less money would be available to spend on health, education and critical infrastructure, as overhead and debt payments are usually prioritized during crises. The outcome could be very bad for a country that already has one of the worst health outcomes worldwide, and with 4 out of 5 persons aged 15-24 unable to read a full sentence.

Elevated poverty: Nigeria currently has the largest number of extremely poor people in the world today at 95 million and an average of 4 people join them every minute. Unemployment and poverty will worsen as workers in trade-sensitive businesses, particularly tourism, transport, hospitality, and non-essential manufactured goods are disengaged due to restricted movement of goods, services, and people. Remittances from abroad, which support households, may also fall and worsen economic hardship. Around US$25 billion of remittances  equivalent to the Federal Government of Nigeria budget  came into the country in 2019.

How should the Nigerian government respond to minimize the impact of COVID-19?

The governments response should come in two approaches: focusing on immediate priorities and implementing reforms to boost resilience beyond the crisis. Beyond international travel restrictions and stimulus for businesses, more must be done to protect vulnerable households.

Adequately support the healthcare system: Prior to COVID-19, healthcare institutions were already overburdened with many ailments given poor medical supplies, shortage of medical workers and poor infrastructure. To have a fighting chance against COVID-19 and in treating those requiring intensive care, the healthcare sector must be supported through adequate funding, incentives for health workers, and health care subsidies for the most vulnerable people.

Provide incentives and safety nets to the most affected: Through targeted tax incentives, social transfers, and regulatory support, the Nigerian government could help minimize the impact of COVID-19 on the most vulnerable businesses and citizens. With the adoption of social distancing measures to limit the spread of the virus, the government should partner with informal groups such as trade associations, who have a wider reach, to deliver support to people in vulnerable employment.

Enable vulnerable sub-national (state) governments: Sub-national governments have improved their resilience to oil-related crises by improving Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) but many would struggle to pay salaries given the crisis. Therefore, the FG and the CBN can expand loans to states to enable them to pay workers and support the healthcare sector.

Reduce cost and improve transparency: The government should reduce the cost of governance by changing its ways in the incurring of administrative costs and prioritizing the most effective development programs. This will free up more money for social and infrastructural spending and improve its resilience. Similarly, reducing the misuse of public finances through commitment to transparency, opening up budgets, and strengthening anti-corruption institutions should be a priority during and post COVID-19.

Now more than ever, policymakers must be responsive to lessen the effects of the impending social and economic crises and better prepare Nigeria for the future.

Razaq Fatai is a research assistant for global policy on agriculture and inclusive growth at ONE Campaign. Adedayo Bakare is an investment research associate with Afrinvest.

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Ecobank Nigeria Limited has launched a legal action against Rahamaniyya Oil and Gas Group over an alleged N25.9billion debt.





The bank is seeking to recover N25, 900, 959, 351. 88 allegedly owed it by the firm and its founder Alhaji Abdulrahman Musa Bashir.





The bank, through its solicitors Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL), said the money was availed Rahamaniyya to finance the importation and local purchase of petroleum products.





Ecobank instituted the debt recovery actions at the Federal High Court in Lagos and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.





This is as Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted the banks prayer for an order of interim injunction restraining Rahamaniyya and its directors from interfering or tampering with the petroleum products in their tank farms.





Earlier on June 27, Justice Ayokunle Faji of the same court granted an order for the issuance of a bankruptcy notice against Alhaji Bashir.





The bank said the action against Alhaji Bashir in his personal capacity is based on his personal guarantee to repay the loans.





Ecobank said he allegedly failed to meet the repayment obligation.





According to Ecobank, the recovery actions come on the heels of its resolve to ensure that debtors fully honour their obligations after benefitting from credit facilities which helped to grow their businesses.





Through the actions, the bank seeks to enforce collateral agreements, wind up the company for inability to pay its debts and obtain an order of court adjudging Alhaji Bashir bankrupt.





The bank said it has representations across 36 countries in Africa and constantly supports businesses in all the countries.





It added that it holds customers deposits in safe trust hence its vigour to recover the debt portfolio from Rahamaniyya Oil and Gas, against the backdrop of its insistence for customers it helps to pay their debts in full and honour their obligations when due.
BLOOMINGTON  The McLean County Chamber of Commerce will host a spring job fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, May 30, at Bloomington-Normal YMCA, 202 St. Joseph Drive, Bloomington.

The job fair will feature various McLean County employers offering on-the-spot interviews, and a chance to connect with hiring managers and showcase skills and qualifications, according to a news release from the chamber.

Job opportunities will include entry-level, seasonal, part-time and full-time positions.

Attendees will also have the chance to improve their resume-writing skills with tips from on-site professionals.

Lunch will be available for purchase from an on-site food truck.

Employers participating in the job fair include STL Advanced Medical Transport, Chestnut Health Systems, Child Care Resource & Referral Network, Cintas, City of Bloomington, Connect Transit, Easterseals Central Illinois, Gateway Foundation, Growmark, Heartland Bank and Trust Co., Heartland Community College, Holiday Inn, Homes of Hope, Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois State University, Lifelong Access, Messing Roofing, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Pride Staff, Sam Leman Automotive Group, Spherion, State Farm, Tentac Enterprises, U of I Community Credit Union, Wilber and Zeller Electric.

For more information, go to mcleancochamber.org.
Today, Nashville-based artist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Dex Green releases his new single "Days Fly By," his next offering off forthcoming record: "Imaginary War," out June 28 via 3Sirens Music Group.

Alongside the arrival of the new track comes its gorgeous black-and-white official music video produced and directed by Hannah Gray Hall.

The song itself finds Green meditating on the passage of time over a swirl of futuristic synths and an infectious dose of Southern funk.

On Dex Green's 'Days Fly By'

"This was the first song I wrote for the record," shared Green about the new song. "I was jamming around on the drum kit exploring rhythmic ideas born out of Louisiana rhythm and blues."

"After adding some melody from a Roland Juno synth and some harmony from a Hammond organ, I started to stumble into some kind of retro-future-arcade-groove trip," he continued.

The artist added that he had a "blast" on the set of the "Days Fly By" music video, especially attributing his experience to Hall who helmed the whole production. In particular, Green gave props to Hall's "lens-side manner" and style.

"We sat down at the 3Sirens studio one afternoon to discuss a direction for the video and I told her about some of the creative process used in the making of the record," he recalled.

As per Green, one key element behind his process during the making of his new single is that he had Alain Resnais' '60s French New Wave film "Last Year at Marienbad" on repeat the whole time, from writing to the actual recording session.

From there, Hall took on the reins of Green's original inspiration and infused it into the video under her direction, with the black-and-white motif being a non-negotiable as to give homage to the vintage film.

Of his fellow "co-stars," Green said: "I was honored to have some of my close friends join me in the video. There are appearances by Aaron Lee Tasjan, Audley Freed, Jen Gunderman, Heather Gillis, Ray Jacildo, Bob Lewis, and Kevin Black, as well as Julia Knight in the lead role."

"Days Fly By" follows the soulful "It's Only the End of the World," a tongue-in-cheek ode to relishing life's fleeting moments, both of which are only two of ten tracks off "Imaginary War."

You can pre-save and pre-order the album now by clicking here. You can also watch the "Days Fly by" MV right below.
THUMBS DOWN! To national campaign debates. Joe Biden and Donald Trump will debate twice before the November election, with the second debate taking place on Sept. 10, almost two months before election day. The first is June 27, before either candidate will be officially nominated by their party. The gaffe watch seems to be the only reason to have debates between these two, who have been saying the same things for years and about whom most Americans have made their decisions, regardless of what will be said. Give us as many other debates as candidates will agree to. But enough of these two.

THUMBS DOWN! To a curious vote by the Illinois Legislature. In a bill that passed by lawmakers in a sprint, the Illinois Election Code was amended to prevent either major political party from nominating a candidate to run in the general election unless that candidate first runs in the primary. Why would that be a good idea? Doesn't its rapid rush through the chambers raise eyebrows? Voters are not served by limited choices.

THUMBS UP! To decades of aviation history. Bloomington's Prairie Aviation Museum is in its 40th year of preserving and displaying aviation history. The museum's open cockpit sessions offer a firsthand experience with memorable aviation pieces.

THUMBS DOWN! To a well-intentioned bad idea. The Illinois House approved legislation that would ban contests organized around the killing of fur-bearing mammals for cash or prizes. The bill is backed by animal rights organizations and sounds benign enough -- let's not kill the furry animals. Fur-bearing mammals, per state law, include badgers, beavers, bobcats, coyotes, gray foxes, red foxes, minks, muskrats, opossums, raccoons, river otters, striped skunks and weasels. In metro parts of the state, those animals' appearance is a nuisance. But downstate, raccoons are pests and coyotes are predators. Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville, asked that agriculture be allowed to take care of the problems in rural areas. That makes sense.
Ghana's crude oil production saw a decrease of 6.78% in 2023, contributing to an average annual decline of 9.2% over the past four years, according to the Public Interest Accountability Committee's (PIAC) 2023 Annual Report on the Management and Use of Petroleum Revenue.



The report revealed that Ghana produced 48,247,036.61 barrels of oil in 2023, down from 51,756,481 barrels in 2022. This decline continues a trend from the peak production year of 2019, when 71,439,585 barrels were produced. Production fell to 66,926,806 barrels in 2020 (a 6.32% decline), 55,050,391 barrels in 2021 (a 17.75% decline), 51,756,481 barrels in 2022 (a 5.98% decline), and 48,247,036.61 barrels in 2023 (a 6.78% decline).



The 2023 production figure represents the fourth consecutive year of reduction in annual production volumes since 2010, the report noted.



Ghana's crude oil is produced from three fields: Jubilee, TEN, and Sankofa Gye-Nyame (SGN). The Jubilee Field began production in December 2010, followed by TEN in August 2016 and SGN in May 2017.



Feed The Future



In 2023, the Jubilee field accounted for 63% of the total crude oil production with 30,444,217 barrels, while the SGN field produced 11,086,541.61 barrels (23%) and the TEN field produced 6,716,278 barrels (14%).



Emerita Professor Ardayfio-Schandorf, Chairperson of PIAC, attributed the production decline to a lack of investment in discovering new fields and the natural ageing of existing fields, leading to reduced output.



In contrast, gas production saw a slight increase. A total of 255,171.97 million standard cubic feet (MMSCF) of raw gas, including both Associated Gas (AG) and Non-Associated Gas (NAG), was produced in 2023, up 0.64% from 253,555.05 MMSCF in 2022.



The SGN field, which is relatively gas-concentrated, produced the highest volume of combined AG and NAG with 127,203.02 MMSCF, while the Jubilee and TEN fields produced 77,900.05 MMSCF and 50,068.90 MMSCF, respectively.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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Consumer preferences and behaviour, aided by technological advancement, are constantly changing. This phenomenon has resulted in businesses constantly seeking ways to stand out and create meaningful connections with their customers. One effective strategy that has gained traction in recent years is personalization  tailoring products and services to meet the unique needs and preferences of individual customers.



This approach not only enhances customer satisfaction but also drives increased engagement, loyalty, and ultimately, revenue. Leveraging data science techniques, businesses can unlock the power of personalization and deliver exceptional customer experiences like never before. Merely categorizing customers by age, such as creating a youth segment, is not sufficient. Todays youth encompass a diverse range of individuals, including tech start-up CEOs, investors, business managers, and students. Treating such a varied group as a single segment would inevitably pose challenges for meeting their needs.



At the heart of personalized customer experiences lies data  vast amounts of information generated through various customer touchpoints such as transactions, website interactions, social media engagement, and more. Data science plays a pivotal role in analysing this wealth of information to gain actionable insights into customer behaviour, preferences, and purchase patterns. By employing advanced analytics techniques such as machine learning algorithms, businesses can segment their customer base into distinct groups based on shared characteristics or behaviours. This segmentation allows businesses to tailor their products and services to meet the specific needs and preferences of each group, thereby enhancing relevance and driving customer satisfaction.



Predictive modelling is another powerful data science tool that businesses can utilize to anticipate customer preferences and behaviour. By analysing historical data and identifying patterns, businesses can develop predictive models that forecast future customer actions, such as purchasing decisions or product preferences. These predictive models enable businesses to proactively recommend products or services to customers based on their anticipated needs, preferences, and lifecycle stage. For example, an e-commerce retailer can use predictive modelling to suggest personalized product recommendations to customers based on their browsing history, purchase history, and demographic information.



In todays digital age, customers expect personalized experiences in real-time across various channels, including websites, mobile apps, email, and social media. Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technologies empower businesses to deliver personalized content and recommendations to customers in real-time, enhancing engagement and driving conversions. AI-powered recommendation engines analyse vast amounts of customer data in real-time to deliver personalized product recommendations, content, and offers tailored to everyones preferences and behaviour. Similarly, automated email marketing platforms leverage AI algorithms to send personalized email campaigns that resonate with each recipient, driving higher open rates, click-through rates, and conversions.



While personalization offers numerous benefits for businesses and customers alike, it's essential to prioritize data privacy and ethical considerations. Businesses must be transparent about how they collect, store, and utilize customer data and ensure compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR. Furthermore, businesses should prioritize data security measures to safeguard sensitive customer information from unauthorized access or breaches. By prioritizing data privacy and ethical practices, businesses can build trust with their customers and foster long-term relationships based on transparency and integrity.



Leveraging data science for personalized customer experiences presents a significant opportunity for businesses to differentiate themselves in today's competitive market landscape. By harnessing the power of data analytics, predictive modelling, AI, and automation, businesses can gain deep insights into customer preferences, anticipate their needs, and deliver tailored products and services that resonate with individual customers. However, it's crucial for businesses to prioritize data privacy, security, and ethical considerations to build trust and maintain long-term customer relationships. By striking the right balance between personalization and privacy, businesses can unlock the full potential of data science to deliver exceptional customer experiences and drive sustainable growth in the digital age.























Source: James Jerry Biga, Customer Insights and Personalisation, Personal and Private Banking, Stanbic Bank Ghana, 0244672059 [email protected] , [email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A 32-year-old Nigerian National, Pascal Okafor Ezugwu, has been sentenced to a 10-year prison term by an Accra High court after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle 90 thumb-sized cocaine pellets which weighed 1.54 kg.



On Friday 3rd May 2024, Mr. Okafor Ezugwu was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in hard labour and charged with a fine of ten thousand penalty units, while in the event of default, he will serve an additional three years in prison.



The court also ordered the destruction of the exhibit which will be supervised by all the interested stakeholders in the presence of the court registrar, state prosecutors and the defence counsel.



Mr. Okafor Ezugwu was arrested on Wednesday 21 February 2024 by officers of NACOC at the Kotoka International Airport when he was going through pre-boarding formalities at the departure hall to board a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam.



A urine test conducted on him revealed traces of narcotic substances.



He later expelled a total of 90 thumb-sized pellets during observation by officers, where a field test of the pellets proved positive for cocaine.



He was subsequently detained and later charged with three counts of narcotic offences relating to unlawful possession, attempted exportation of narcotic drugs and money laundering.



Mr. Ezugwu was arraigned before the Criminal Court Division of the Accra High Court where he pleaded guilty to all three counts and was consequently convicted on his own plea.



NACOC re-affirms its commitment to protecting the public from the trafficking and use of illicit drugs, thereby ensuring public safety.



The Commission emphasises that the possession, usage, and transportation of illegal drugs without lawful authorization remain prohibited under sections 40 (1) and 41 (1) of Act 1019 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act 2020, and urges the general public to be aware of the consequences and risks associated with such activities.

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 Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan Constituency in the Western Region, Hon. Joe Ghartey, has rescued victims of the recent premix fuel explosion at Ngyiresia in Essikado.



Mr Ghartey was not available when the explosion occurred.



But upon his return, he visited some of the victims of the tragic incident who are on admission at the Reconstructive Plastic and Burns Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. At the Burns Centre, Hon. Ghartey met Mr Akyere Nyansa, the father of one of the victims. He also met the mother of Daniella, one of the victims of the explosion. The MP donated his widow's might to take care of the treatment cost for the victims.



During the visit, Hon. Ghartey also met the CEO of Korle Bu, Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, Dr Divine Kwame, Head of the Reconstructive Plastic and Burns Centre, and Dr Ahensen of the Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre. He said he was left in no doubt that the patients were in good hands, saying God bless and protect the doctors.



It would be recalled that a tragic incident left the community of Ngyiresia in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of the Western Region in mourning following a catastrophic premix fuel explosion on Saturday, May 18, 2024.



The explosion resulted in the deaths of a fifteen-year-old boy and a seven-year-old boy, with several others critically injured.



The traditional leader of Ngyiresia, Nana Doko Agyeman III, told the media that the explosion occurred around 4:00 pm as fishermen were transporting premix fuel in gallons to their canoes along the beach.



The victims include 11 males and 5 females, among them children. Four are in critical condition. Tragically, a fifteen-year-old boy and a seven-year-old boy passed away in the early hours of Sunday. Another person has also passed away.



Meanwhile, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Essikado Ketan, Charles Bissue, the Chief of Nigeria, and others have all rallied around to offer support to the victims and their families.



Speaking to the press, Joe Ghartey thanked all for their overwhelming support and said particularly the intervention of the Parliamentary Candidate whom he was in touch with all the time, and the Chief of Ngersia had done exceptionally well. Hon Joe Ghartey is proceeding to Nigeria.







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 National Identification Authority (NIA) has flatly denied allegations made by Dr Omane Boamah, the Director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP has criminalized state institutions including the the National Identification Authority, NIA.



According to the NIA, the allegations made by the NDC Director of Elections are false and baseless, hence urging the public to treat them with contempt.



This follows a Facebook post of Tuesday, 21st May 2024 by Dr Omane Boamah on claims that the ruling New Patriotic Party, has criminalized state institutions.



He further claimed that the NIA headed by Dr Bawumias bosom friend, Ken Attafuah has strangely chosen this voter registration period to embark on a special pilot programme to issue Ghana Cards to Ghanaians living along the borders of Ghana and Burkina Faso in Pusiga; alleging that the NIA wants to give the people driven away from the Pusiga registration centre to register within these final 7 days and vote on December 07.



He also said the registration exercise in the Pusiga District is a politically-motivated enterprise masked as a collaboration with IOM, and its purpose is simply to aid illegal voters to embark on the last lap of the voter registration exercise; adding the NIA is issuing cards to minors and misrepresenting their ages in the limited voter registration exercise being conducted by the Electoral Commission.



At the end of the said post, Dr. Omane Boamah poses the question,  what purpose does the NIA serve? 



Reacting to the allegations made by Oman Boamah, the NIA in a statement said The intervention by Dr. Omane Boamah in his said Facebook post is most needless and unfortunate; it is a case of much ado about nothing, highlighting the evils of deliberate miscommunication and deception of the public.



According to NIA, Beyond the truth of (a) friendship between Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Prof. Ken Attafuah and (b) collaboration between NIA and IOM to register Ghanaians in Pusiga and environs, there is no evidentiary basis to any of the wild claims and conjectures made by Dr. Omane Boamah.



The NIA urged the public to rubbish the claims made by Omane Boamah as his allegations are all spurious and unfounded.



Responding to the allegations, the NIA explained that the Authority has NOT been criminalized by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) or any other entity whatsoever and howsoever described.



According to the NIA, the Governing Board and Senior Management of the NIA comprise men and women of sterling integrity and unalloyed patriotism who will not countenance the criminalization of NIAs operations by any entity or yield to any improper considerations in the discharge of their duties.



Giving some breakdown, the NIA listed that Malicious Timing of Pusiga Registration: The idea for the registration of Ghanaians in the Pusiga District was first mooted by the International Organization for Migration (IMO) on 30th August 2023 following a Stakeholder Consultation on border security along the Ghana-Burkina Faso border conducted by the Ministry of the Interior at the Fiesta Royal Hotel in Accra.



A long series of negotiations and preparations eventually culminated in the commencement of registration exercise on Monday, 20th May 2024, with the IOM bearing the entire cost of the operations, namely: surveying and selecting registration centres; deploying personnel and equipment; organizing and conducting the registration exercise; remunerating the staff; supervising and monitoring the registration exercise; and retrieving equipment and personnel after the exercise. The collaboration is supported by a Purchase Order for General Services duly executed by the lawful representatives of the two parties, NIA and IOM, on 3rd May 2024.



Registration of Unqualified Applicants: The NIA has never sought to equip or empower any unqualified persons with the Ghana Card to enable them to register within these final 7 days and vote on December 07.



The NIA is unaware of any persons having been driven away by NDC officials from any Electoral Commission (EC) registration Centre in Pusiga. The arrest of an EC officer for allegedly using a single Ghana Card to register multiple individuals has nothing to do with the conduct of that EC officer and is unrelated to NIA in any shape or form. The NIA does not condone any illegal activity, and is not involved in the activities of the EC or its officers.



Collaboration with IOM is a Mask for Partisan Political Enterprise: The registration exercise is an honest operation in response to a formal request by the respected and credible IOM; it reflects the responsiveness of NIA to well-considered proposals from stakeholders for expanding registration options for Ghanaians.



The collaboration between NIA and IOM is not a mask for anything but an unqualified human good being offered by two noble institutions in the service of Mother Ghana. We unequivocally deny that the purpose of the collaboration is to aid an illegality. We firmly assert that NIA has not aided, is not aiding, and will not aid any illegal voters to embark on the last lap of the voter registration exercise.



For the avoidance of doubt, we further state categorically that the registration exercise in the Pusiga District is lawful, proper, necessary and wholly wholesome; it is focused on ensuring that vulnerable populations, particularly those living in communities straddling the Ghana-Burkina Faso border, can register for Ghanacard if they have not already done so, to ensure their identification, facilitate their easy crossing of the border, enable them to access various public services and ensure their security within the border area. As the IOM stated in its letter to NIA dated 27th March 2024.



 Without the Ghana card or any other means of confirming the identity of border residents seeking to cross, conflict arises with Border Management Agencies (BMAs), leading to the usage of irregular crossing points by the border residents.



The NIA further explained that to help address this challenge IOM is requesting the NIA to support registering and issuing Ghana cards to the border residents in Pusiga and its environs to facilitate cross-border movements by the residents.



  NIA can leverage this opportunity to is Ghana Cards which have been printed but are yet to be collected by already registered applicants.



The Pusiga District registration exercise is a pilot exercise which may be extended to other communities along the Ghana-Burkina Faso border if after it is deemed necessary to do so.



Issuance of Cards to Minors: It is true that in EC limited voter registration exercise, the NIA is issuing cards to minors and misrepresenting their ages. This is a most shocking and unfair allegation, and we urge the Hon. Omane Boamah to report to the Ghana Police Service the conduct of any NIA registration official he knows to have engaged in such criminal acts.



The NIA said it remains to maintain the highest standards of integrity and transparency in its operations. The registration process involves rigorous biographic and biometric data collection and verification procedures to ensure that only eligible Ghanaians are registered as such and issued with Ghana Cards.



On the allegations of registering and issuing cards to ineligible persons, the NIA said such as minors, must be reported to the police; such ineligible applicants can, and must, be challenged by any person who has reason to doubt their eligibility.



We urge Dr Omane Boamah and those who have such information to obey the law and do the needful, the statement said.



What Purpose Does the NIA Serve? Dr. Omane Boamah once served as the Minister responsible for the National Identification System. The NIA operated under his ministerial supervision during his tenure in office as Minister of Communications, and he should be the first person to know what purpose NIA serves.



We like to think that his question is a rhetorical one, but in case we are mistaken, we hereby serve him, most respectfully, with a menu of purposes NIA provides to promote the social and political development of Ghana:.:registering all Ghanaians living in Ghana and abroad and eligible foreign nationals permanently resident in Ghana onto the National Identity Register; Issuing Ghanaians and eligible foreigners with ultra-modern, chip-embed ultra-modern face biometric National Identity Cards commonly known as Ghana Cards, several significant functionalities.



It added that Ensuring the accuracy, integrity, confidentiality and security of data collected; Creating and maintaining the National Identity Register; and Making data in its custody available to persons or institutions authorized by law to access the data; In keeping with these purposes, NIA has, since February 2017, revamped the national identification system and, through a mix of mass registration, mop-up registration, special card issuance blitz, and special registration exercises (including institutional and household registration) succeeded in achieving the following milestones:



Registered 17,904,157 Ghanaians aged 15 years and above between 29th April 2019 and 16th May 2024. This represents a substantial increase from the 4,554,528 registered between July 2008 and January 2017;

ii. issued 17,152,511 Ghana cards to registered Ghanaians between 29th April 2019 and 16th May 202024 compared to the 900,000 in 2024 compared from January 2009 to January 2017.



Established 16 Regional Offices and 276 Operational District Offices coterminous with the political constituencies in the country, including SALL; Ensured data integration and harmonization with various user agencies including SSNIT, NHIA, GRA, DVLA, Passport office, National Service Scheme, and Social Security and National Insurance Trust, resulting in significant cost savings and a movement toward the establishment of a single source of truth in identity management.



Implemented, in partnership with Identity Management Systems II Limited, its technical partner under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Agreement a personal Identity Verification Personal System Platform (IVSP) which has enabled over 120 million verifications to be conducted since January 2020 without a single hitch; and Successfully on-bordered onto the IVSP various user agencies and other institutions including all 25 Universal Banks, 146 Rural Banks, 25 Savings & Loans companies, 16 FinTech companies, 5 Finance houses, 5 Microfinance institutions and all telecommunication companies in the country to facilitate personal identification in real time the statement added.



However, the NIA noted that it will continue to pursue its statutory mandate of registering all Ghanaians at home and abroad and issuing them with the Ghana Card to advance the economic, social and political development of our country.



It will achieve these ends alone or in partnership with others, as by law prescribed. For the avoidance of doubt, NIA will not suspend or stop the on-registration exercise in Pusiga and environs aimed at expanding access to the Ghana Card and thereby improving identification and border security in that part of Ghana, the statement added.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Chartered Institute of Realtors (CIR) and Chamber of Real Estate (CRE) is proud to announce a lecture series on Land Law in Ghana.



The series will have a host of top legal representatives lecturing throughout and will feature topics on;

Property Rights and Ownership

Land Registration and Documentation

Land Use Planning and Zoning

Land Transactions

Disputes and Resolutions

Legal aspects of Development Projects.



The lecture, scheduled for the 18th, 20th, 25th and 27th of June 2024, to be held at the Africa Trade House auditorium, Ridge, Accra is said to be kicked off by legal luminary Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata speaking on the subject, The Real Estate Industry in Ghana and National Development."



This will be the maiden lecture series of the institute and will expound on the critical role the real estate industry plays in our national development as a country seeking to be an industrial force in the African and global space.



Academician and Lawyer Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, touted by many as a Ghanaian Law genius, an esteemed, seasoned and noble practitioner of Ghanaian Law, brings his wealth of experience from the legal background to this discussion. With a career spanning decades, he is known for his expertise in corporate law and constitutional matters, having been involved in several high-profile cases in Ghana.



In this lecture, Mr. Tsikata will be examining the pivotal role of legal reforms in driving sustainable development, fostering investment confidence and ensuring equitable access to housing and land resources, thus, contributing to Ghanas overarching national development agenda.



Mr. Tsikata will be lecturing from 5 pm to 8 pm on day one. As the lecture series unfolds, attendees can expect in-depth analysis on pertinent legal frameworks shaping the real estate landscape, shedding light on the intricacies of regulatory changes, compliance issues, property rights, land tenure systems and among others, to promote fair and equitable resolution for all stakeholders involved.



This lecture series is a valuable opportunity for real estate professionals, government officials and policymakers, academics and researchers, financial institutions, community leaders and advocates, students and individuals interested in real estate to gain insights, foster networking opportunities and inspire collaborative efforts to harness the potential of the real estate industry for the benefit of society as a whole.



CIR an institution established to sharpen the knowledge, skill and experiences of both professionals within, and interested individuals seeking to develop know-how in the real estate industry, through the offering of quality training and learning opportunities.



Interested persons are to register their attendance to this lecture at www.charteredinstituteofrealtors.com and fill in their details accordingly to be assured of seating at the event. Certificates of participation will be issued at the end of part one.

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 Supreme Court has added the Speaker of Parliament as a defendant in a suit seeking a constitutional interpretation on the immunity from court proceedings granted to Members of Parliament while performing their functions.



A seven-member panel of the court, presided over by Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, gave the order yesterday, after the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, filed an amicus curia (friend of the court) to assist the court with information.



The court held that instead of getting involved in the action as amicus curiae, the Speaker of Parliament should be a party to enable him get access to all the documents and processes.



It is ordered that the Speaker of Parliament should be joined to the action as second defendant and for all the processes be served on him, the court ruled. The order by the court was pursuant to Rule 45 (4) of the Supreme Court Rules, 1996 (C.I 16), which allows the court, on its own or by a motion by a party, order any other person to be joined as a party to a suit before it.



Suit



The suit was initiated by two individuals in a case that an MP, the Clerk or Speaker of Parliament does not have any immunity if he or she commits an offence while he is on his way to, attending at or returning from any proceedings of Parliament.



The plaintiffs  Hilda Mansuwa Kpentey Dongotey and Albert Gyamfi, are asking the court to interpret articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution, the two constitutional provisions which provide immunity for the Speaker of Parliament, MPs and the Clerk to Parliament.



Counsel for the plaintiffs is Samson Lardy Anyenini. The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that the Constitution does not protect an MP who commits a crime, whether or not the crime was committed by the MP in his or her line of duty, and, therefore, the police do not need permission from the Speaker of Parliament to arrest such an MP.



Besides, they want a declaration that any act by the Speaker asking the police to seek permission from him before arresting an MP accused of committing an offence is null, void and of no effect.



Also, they want a declaration that the constitutional term attending at or returning from any proceedings of Parliament stipulated in Article 117 applies only to work in Parliament and not when an MP is engaged in activities in a constituency.



Another relief being sought by the plaintiffs are a declaration that upon a true and proper construction of Article 117 of the 1992 Constitution, a Speaker of Parliament, Clerk or MP is not granted immunity from warrantless arrest, restriction or detention while he is on his way to, attending at or returning from proceedings of Parliament.



Contentious issue



The issue of MPs claiming immunity from court proceedings and processes, with the explanation that they are performing parliamentary duties has become contentious.

Such a situation had led to numerous standoffs between some MPs, Parliament itself, and law enforcement agencies, as well as the courts.



In 2021, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Madina, Francis Xavier Sosu, who was charged with unlawfully blocking a public road during a demonstration by his constituents for better roads, failed to appear in court to answer the charges, with the excuse that he was on parliamentary duties.



The Deputy Clerk of Parliament also wrote to the Kaneshie District Court that the MP could not be served with the hearing notice due to Article 117 of the 1992 Constitution. Pursuant to Article 117 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, I am unable to bring the service to the attention of the MP as requested, the letter, dated November 10, 2021, indicated.



The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, also damned the police for attempting to arrest the MP without due regard to the law, particularly articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution.



Mr Sosu has since been discharged by the District Court. Other cases were when the Cape Coast High Court placed an injunction on James Gyakye Quayson, the NDC MP for Assin-North, until the final determination of a petition challenging his eligibility, the MP went to Parliament to be sworn into office, arguing that the order of the court was not properly served on him as envisaged under the Constitution.



Another case was that of the NDC MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, who was on trial over alleged abuse of office. The case against him has, however, been dropped.

It was a trial that generated a lot of public interest due to the clash between the Judiciary and the Legislature.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The heads of state and governments of ECOWAS in 2021 made President Akufo-Addo Champion on matters relating to counter-terrorism in the sub-region.



Ghanas President has always maintained the need for Terrorism to be fought on a global scale.



This development came up when the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, led a three-man delegation from the Commission to brief President Akufo-Addo on the current development in the region and also seek his leadership and wisdom in resolving acrimony issues within membership and terrorism. The delegation was also at the Presidency to seek the Presidents guidance and leadership in reactivating the mission on counter-terrorism and brief him about the development that had taken place under his direction.



Dr Touray used the occasion to officially also introduce Globally Respected Statesman, Diplomat and Ecowa Special Envoy on Counterterrorism, Ambassador Baba Kamara.



President Nana Addo who is also a leading advocate for the fight against terrorism over the years and has always championed this fight so that it can be fought on a Global Scale congratulated Amb Baba for his role in championing peace within the Subregion.



Recently at the 78th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City on September 20, 2023. President Akufo Addo raised the issue that, the fight against terrorism has to be global, and that the resources dedicated to counterterrorism must match the resources available to terrorist groups if not more.



To help fight terrorism in the sub-region - Other members of the delegation were the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Dr Abdel-Fatau Musah, and the ECOWAS Resident Representative to Ghana, Baba Gana Wakil. Dr Touray commended Ghanas leading role in pushing to secure UN support, saying, We believe your mission would include leading us to find ways to raise the remaining 25 per cent



President Akufo-Addo called for an ECOWAS-wide initiative, and let them feel that for them to have a real clarity going forward, there must be an agreement amongst the heads of state as to our strategy going forward.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Ecozoil Limited, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) has organised a clean-up exercise along the Volta Lake at Dzemeni located in the South Dayi District of the Volta region.



The company also engaged boat owners and community members on the safe usage of the Volta Lake including the use of life jackets.



The exercise formed part of Ecozoils monthly sensitisation and training exercise they offer to users of the Volta Lake under the Volta Lake Transport Safety Project (VLTSP).



As part of the exercise, Ecozoil donated 80 life jackets for children to the district assembly for onward distribution to the boat operators and members of the community to ensure safety on the Lake.



Speaking to the media, the National Coordinator for the VLTSP, Madam Yaa Oforiwaa, emphasized on the fact that VLTSP, has the mandate to ensure that the landing sites along the Volta Lake are clean at all times.



"We organise periodic clean-up exercises and Dzemeni being a major landing site, we decided to join our operatives here to clean and also sensitize the boat owners and community members on good sanitation management and safety on the Lake," she explained.



She was however unhappy that the wearing of life jackets has not yet become a norm even though Ecozoil has supplied the community with adequate life jackets.



However, she was hopeful that the situation would change with constant education.



She announced that Ecozoil will support Dzemeni with tricycles to facilitate the collection of waste from the landing site.



Receiving the life jackets, the DCE of South Dayi, Hon. Godwin Kwame Dadzawa, expressed gratitude to Ecozoil and promised to institute a reward scheme to honour boat owners who ensure that passengers wear the life jackets while using their boats.



The DCE charged the Ecozoil operatives to continue to exhibit high standards in keeping the landing site of the Lake clean at all times and also promote safety on the Lake.



Hon. Dadzawa appealed to the Ministry of Transport through Ecozoil to increase the allowance of the operatives to motivate them to do more.



Current economic conditions are not the best so an increase in the allowance of the operatives will greatly impact their lives," he prayed.



Ecozoil, in partnership with the Ministry of Transportation, spearheads the Volta Lake Transport Safety Project to ensure safe water travel and maintain cleanliness at the landing sites.



They are also committed to keeping Ghana's beaches and coastal communities clean and healthy. Ecozoil has actively participated in multiple clean-up exercises and collaborated with various organizations to accomplish their environmental goals







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 Supreme Court has given the Attorney-General seven days to file his statement of the case in the suit in which Policy Think Tank Imani Ghana is challenging the propriety of the appointment of some heads of the various uniformed security agencies by the executive.



The case which was called today Thursday, May 23 was heard by Justice Samuel Asiedu.



In the writ filed in association with security analyst, Prof Kwesi Aning, the plaintiffs are asking the apex court to issue a declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of the letter and spirit of Articles 200, 202(1), 202(2), 202(3), 205, 207(1), 207(2), 207(3), 190(1), 191,196, 199, and 269 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the President of the Republic of Ghana has no authority to terminate the appointment or removal from office heads of the agencies unless only upon proven stated misconduct or misbehaviour established against these office holders.



These offices included the office of the Chief Fire Officer of the Fire Service; Inspector General of Police; Director General of Prisons Service and Comptroller General of Immigration Service.



Again, the two are seeking a declaration that ..."The President of the Republic of Ghana upon assumption of Office does not have the power to make a fresh appointment to the office of the Chief Fire Officer of the Fire Service; Inspector General of Police; Director General of Prisons Service and Comptroller General of the Immigration Service unless the immediate holder of the office is deceased.....".



They are also seeking relief that the appointment of the heads of these uniformed security services by a new president who has been voted into power and sworn into office is unconstitutional.

Providing more details to back their case, the two argued that there are concerning trends where new governments compel the termination of the appointment of these heads while disregarding their constitutional rights.



"In some cases, these removals occur before the individual occupants of the office reach the statutory retirement age.



For instance, in 2017, the then Director-General of the Prisons Service, Mr. Emmanuel Yao Adzator was asked to proceed on leave at the age of 54 and subsequently, another was appointed in his stead," the suit said.



They are, therefore, demanding a consequential order to restrain or prevent the President of the Republic from dismissing or removing or attempting to dismiss or remove the appointment of persons occupying the offices of the Chief Fire Officer of the Fire Service; Inspector General of Police; Director-General of Prisons Service, Comptroller General of Immigration Service unless only in cases of proven and stated misconduct or misbehaviour established against such persons or upon retirement or resignation or death or incapacity to perform the functions of the office because of infirmity of body and mind.







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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A former United States Deputy Chief of Mission to Ghana, Sue Katherine Brown, has passed on.



She passed away peacefully at her home in Arlington, Virginia, on May 14 following an illness. The former DCM, who served in Ghana from 2006 to 2009 did her service with distinction and often as charge d'affaires. She had the complete trust of the Ambassador and the senior officials in Ghana  both civilian and military.



After her time in Ghana, Ms Brown was named the second US Ambassador to Montenegro where she made a mark and achieved significant milestones.



Time in Ghana

The career diplomat, affectionately called Sue, even in the work environment, was no stranger to Ghana. She had earlier served in Ghana in her long and stellar career under the US Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater, who described her as the "absolute best" choice for the US and Ghana.



As DCM, Ms Brown took a special interest in enhancing the lives of women and children in Ghana. She led a public service campaign that saved many young Ghanaian girls from being trafficked to engage in sex.



Additionally, she played a critical role in helping to shape Ghana's preparation and approval of a Millennium Challenge compact award of $537 million  the largest award at that time and Ghana continues to reap the benefits of this support.



The 50th anniversary of Ghanas Independence was coordinated at the embassy by DCM Brown and witnessed attendance by a high-level US presidential delegation, senior members of Congress and numerous private US citizens.



Diplomacy

As DCM, Ms Brown oversaw the daily operation of the US Embassy in Accra and managed the complex move from seven separate office buildings to the Cantonments compound where the US embassy is presently sited.



She also coordinated many high-level US congressional, business and Department of State official visits, the historic three-day visit of President George W. Bush, and the first visit to Africa by Americas first African-American President, Barack Obama.



Also, she chaired the large, complex inter-agency law enforcement working group and interfaced with Washington and diplomatic counterparts to maximum effectiveness. She endeared herself to the people and the officials in Ghana through her caring, compassionate and civil engagement with everyone.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ghana has made a strong push for international investment in its real estate sector, the Minister of Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has stated.



Speaking at the UK Construction Week in London, he highlighted the significant opportunities for global investors to partner with Ghanaian developers in addressing the countrys housing deficit.



"With a growing population and a pressing need for housing, Ghana presents a lucrative market for real estate investments. We are seeking partners who can bring in not only funding but also advanced technology to help us develop modern housing units that meet the needs of our people," Mr Oppong Nkrumah stressed.



The two-day programme is an annual event that brings together over 300 of the biggest brands in the construction industry, by providing a platform for professionals and enthusiasts alike to explore the latest innovations, technologies and trends shaping the industry.



Some participants expressed interest in exploring opportunities to develop housing units in Ghana, recognising the market's untapped potential and the government's commitment to create a conducive investment environment.



On the other hand, the Ghanaian delegation, made up of real estate developers, architects and contractors, showcased various projects to prospective investors while also emphasising the country's economic stability and favourable investment policies as factors that put Ghana ahead of its counterparts in the real estate market.



The event also facilitated dialogue on sector-specific issues and, by extension, issues that border on sustainability for the construction sector, digitalisation and workforce development, among others.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The first batch of about 750 Liberian refugees residing at Gomoa Buduburam in the Central Region has left for their home country.



The refugees who boarded 20 buses were accompanied by cargo vehicles carrying their personal belongings. Information available to the Daily Graphic indicates that they were part of those whose structures were demolished recently by traditional rulers at Gomoa Buduburam.



They also formed part of a total of 4,300 others scheduled to go back to Liberia between May and June this year. The repatriation was in line with plans by the Liberia Refugee Repatriation Resettlement Commission to send their citizens to the camp back home.



Buduburam refugee camp

The Buduburam camp was established by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1990. The 144-acre camp was home to more than 12,000 Liberian refugees who fled their country during the first Liberian civil war between 1989 and 1996, and the second civil war from 1999 to 2003, as well as Sierra Leone refugees who also fled the countrys civil war between 1991 and 2002.



Closure

At a pre-departure ceremony last week, the Deputy Minister of Legal Affairs of Liberia, Jeddi Armah, who led a government delegation to the country, said the return of the refugees was to bring closure to their presence in Ghana.



He said conversations around the repatriation process were held and agreed upon by both Ghana and Liberia since 2021. "We have had fruitful engagements and discussions with the Ghanaian government throughout this period, and they have been giving us the necessary and needed support to undertake this exercise," the minister added.



Mr Armah urged the refugees to seize the opportunity and return to Liberia, saying the government had made provisions for their smooth repatriation and stay in their home country.



He said the camp which was established as a haven for their temporary stay during the war could no longer be a choice for their continued stay in Ghana. The minister advised them to see the repatriation as a renewal process which came with lots of opportunities to rebuild the Liberia they all envisioned and wanted.



Mr Armah expressed appreciation to the government and people of Ghana for hosting his countrymen and women during their time of need and distress.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Henry Quartey, Minister for Interior, has thrown a challenge to the Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, to name and shame any parliamentary candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party who has been given 30 slots to recruit people into the security services.



The Minister bemoaned the allegations by Ato Forson that each NPP parliamentary candidate has such number of slots to fill the security services with their own personnel.



Ato Forson, in a recent post on X, says he will file a motion for an inquiry into the recruitment practices of the security services since 2017 when Parliament resumes from recess.



Mr. Minister, I can assure you that we will bring a motion to Parliament to demand an enquiry into the recruitment into security services since 2017.



The integrity of our security services and the trust of the Ghanaian people in our institutions depend on our collective commitment to transparency and justice.



But Henry Quartey says Ato Forson's accusations are all falsehood.



According to him, there are no 30 slots to NPP parliamentary aspirants neither has he nor the security services recruited NPP thugs.



"Everything that he said, I throw it back to him. He's been making allegations upon allegations in the last 72 hours and I have been on several radio stations to say Ato, mention one parliamentary candidate in this country who has been given 30 slots. He has not been able to do it", he warned Ato Forson in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show.



Hon. Quartey further warned that issues bordering on security shouldn't become a public topic.



"I think that we have to end this. We shouldn't bring security matters to the public," he asserted.





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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Hopeson Adorye has reportedly been arrested by the Police over his claim that he detonated dynamites in the Volta Region during the 2016 General Elections.



Mr Adorye claimed during a radio interview in Accra which has since gone viral.



He is currently in custody.



A reliable source told Peacefmonline that Mr. Adorye will appear before the court but now under serious investigation.



Background



Hopeson Adorye who is now a leading member of Alan Kyerematen's Movement for Change shared details of an operation he spearheaded to prevent supposed Togolese nationals from voting in the 2016 general elections.



Speaking in an interview on Onua TV, on May 16, 2024, Hopeson Adorye indicated that the operation he led, which involved the use of explosives, all happened within the borders of Togo, not Ghana.



He said that he constituted a team and took them to Togo to engage the traditional authorities of communities bordering Ghana, to urge them to speak to their people so they would not cross the border to vote in the 2016 elections.



There is this issue in the Volta Region during elections that Togolese came and registered to vote. In 2016, they came to register alright, but I took it upon myself to disable the system so that they would not come and vote.



I chose a team and made them swear an oath that they were not going to inform the regional executives of what we were going to do, he narrated.



He added, We had a relation who grew up there (Togo) and he had a good relationship with the traditional authorities there. So, he moved us from one authority to the other so we could engage them. When we met them, we gave them a lot of money (CFA) for them to use for advocacy, radio announcements and the like.



He insisted that everything, including the explosion, happened in Togo and not the Volta Region as some people are asserting.



I told them that things were going to happen so they should not come Because of what we told them, we put things in order. Everything that happened took place in Togo. Those saying it happened in the Volta Region, if you throw this (dynamite) at a polling station, won't people die? Who in the Volta Region can say that there was an explosion in his or her area?



And I gated the people. After it (the explosion), I made them take off on the motorbikes. There was a commotion, and the people started saying that what we told them had started happening. It was a strategy. Everything happened in Togo, he reiterated.

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 Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) has inaugurated the Inter-Jurisdictional Coordination Management Committee (ICMC) and its Steering Committee.



This milestone marks a significant step towards enhancing metropolitan planning, operations, and maintenance in the Greater Accra Region.



The ICMC, established under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, aims to improve coordination among the 17 Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies (MMAs) in the region.



This collaborative effort seeks to address pressing issues such as urban sprawl, flooding, and inadequate infrastructure, which transcend individual MMA boundaries.



The Minister of State at the Ministry of Local Government, Osei Bonsu Amoah on behalf of the sector Minister, Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah emphasised the importance of unity and collective action in tackling these challenges.



He charged the ICMC and Steering Committee members to work together to achieve their mandates, including fostering inter-jurisdictional coordination, optimising resource use, and enhancing resilience to disasters.



The Minister also reminded the MMAs to utilize resources effectively, citing the distribution of equipment for sanitation improvement and multi-purpose drones for each MMA.



He urged the committees to hold regular meetings, approach their roles with dedication and transparency, and work towards building a resilient, integrated, and prosperous region.



This inauguration marks a crucial step towards a more coordinated and effective approach to development in the Greater Accra Region.



By working together, the MMAs can pool their expertise, funds, and resources to address the regions complex challenges and improve the lives of its citizens.



The ICMC and Steering Committee inauguration sets a precedent for inter-jurisdictional coordination and cooperation in Ghana.



As the region faces increasing urbanization and climate change-related challenges, this unity of purpose is crucial for building a resilient and sustainable future.



The GARID Project, implemented by the MLGDRD, demonstrates the governments commitment to addressing these challenges.



By bringing together stakeholders and fostering collaboration, Ghana can overcome its development hurdles and create a better future for all.

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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Gini Garcia: "Incalmo Collection in Amethyst," hand-blown glass Gini Garcia

San Antonio art collectors are in luck. San Antonio is home to many artists whose work reflects the uniqueness of the city. Of the 200 artists who exhibited works at this year's King William Fair, for example, about half were from San Antonio, according to Zet Baer, the fair's art and craft coordinator.

Here's what you need to know to get started collecting San Antonio-style art.

What is San Antonio-style art?

Time was, San Antonio art was largely limited to paintings of iconic images such as bluebonnets, wildlife and representations of the Old West, according to Mary Beth Edgerton, a longtime San Antonio designer who often incorporates art into her home improvement projects.

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"But over the past few decades the range of subjects and styles by San Antonio-based artists has expanded to better reflect the citys growth and diversity," she said.

According to Mary Heathcott. executive director of the Contemporary at Blue Star, a much wider selection of practices also is available.

In addition to two-dimensional art such as paintings, were seeing more sculptures, more video and more abstracts, she said.

ESTATE SALES: What you need to know as a buyer and seller

Randy Gay: Riverwalk Holiday Digitally hand-painted archival pigment print Randy Gay

Still, some themes are common to much of the art created here. Baer calls it the Fiesta spirit.

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Gini Garcia: Residential chandelier, hand-blown glass Gini Garcia Jorge Garza: "Virgenes De Guadalupes Triptych," mixed media Jorge Garza Randy Gay: All The Rivers A Stage. Digitally hand-painted archival pigment print. Randy Gay Hailey Marmolejo: Agave del Cielo, acrylic on canvas in wood stained floater frame. Hailey Marmolejo Edith Maskey: "La Nina," watercolor Edith Maskey Edith Maskey: "San Jose Sunlight," watercolor Edith Maskey John Maskey: "Burro Simpatico," watercolor John Maskey Rod L. McGehee: "Evening in Zion," oil Rod L. McGehee Rod L. McGehee: "San Antone Reflections," oil Rod L. McGehee Cristina Sosa Noriega: "El Musico" (loteria-style portrait), oil on canvas Cristina Sosa Noriega Cristina Sosa Noriega: "Octopus," acrylic on canvas Cristina Sosa Noriega Jeff F. Wheeler: "For Farrah," oil and charcoal on paper Jeff F. Wheeler Jeff F. Wheeler: "Moouis Vuitton," acrylic and charcoal on ceramics Jeff F. Wheeler

It's so much a part of the San Antonio identity, and you can often see it in the works of even new artists, she said. "The work has flair and flavor and often a story to tell.

Also popular among San Antonio artists are local, easily recognized subjects such as the Missions, the River Walk, families and religious themes, and cultural events such as Fiesta.

People often place these types of pieces in their vacation homes, said Robert Grothues, co-owner of the gallery and framing studio Art Incorporated. They want something that says, Im from San Antonio. 

Hailey Marmolejo: Muertos Vivientes, acrylic on canvas diptych (x2) Hailey Marmolejo

How do I know what to buy?

Most experts suggest against buying art as an investment. Few people have the kind of discerning eye needed to spot artists bound for acclaim. Instead, they recommend buying what you like and what you can afford.

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I tell people all the time to buy art because it speaks to them, Baer said. Its hard to go wrong if you buy something right for your home and for your emotional state.

And dont limit yourself. Art is also more than simply paintings.

Local sculptors and photographers are producing beautiful, high-quality works, Grothues said.

Andi Rodriguez, vice president of cultural placemaking for Centro San Antonio, suggests the best way to find the art you like is to look at a lot of art.

REVERSE MINIMALISM: Shavano Park home undergoes a maximalist redesign

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The more you see, the more youll develop a taste for certain styles, she said. Take the time to visit art institutions  SAMA, the McNay, Blue Star  art galleries and events where art is on display for sale. Look at the art in other peoples homes, too, making a mental note of what speaks to you.

How much does local art cost?

Locally produced art is available at all price points. Works by many established artists can sell for tens of thousands of dollars while acquisitions from emergent artists are much more budget-friendly.

The Red Dot fundraiser held each October at the Contemporary at Blue Star, for example, exhibits work from more than 100 local artists with most priced between $1,000 and $2,500, according to Heathcott.

John Maskey: "Bar Rincon," watercolor John Maskey

Where can I see works from local artists?

There are plenty of opportunities to not only see artworks but also to meet and speak to the artists. Many of today's artists, looking beyond traditional galleries, are willing to meet with potential buyers in their studios.

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Just talking with an artist can inspire you to lean in to collecting them, said Trish DeBerry, president and CEO of Centro San Antonio.

Here are some galleries, exhibit spaces and events where you can see and sometimes buy, works by local artists:

Art Everywhere Pop-Up Gallery, 337 W. Commerce St., centrosanantonio.org/centro-art-everywhere.

Art Incorporated, 9401 San Pedro, artincorporated.com.

Briscoe Western Art Museum, 210 W. Market St., briscoemuseum.org.

Contemporary at Blue Star, 116 Blue Star, contemporarysa.org.

First Friday Artwalk, Southtown, southtownsatx.com/first-Friday.

King William Fair, 122 Madison St., kwfair.org.

McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave., mcnayart.org.

Ruby City, 150 Camp St., rubycity.org.

San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W Jones Ave., samuseum.org.

Say Si, 1310 South Brazos St., saysi.org.

Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, wittemuseum.org.

Jorge Garza: "Listen To My Cardinal Sing," mixed media Jorge Garza

Who are some artists whose work I might want to look into?
The seat of government, the Jubilee House has explained the reason for refusing an earlier request from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) for the full KPMG audit report on the agreement between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML).



On 24th April 2024, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, received a request from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), under section 18 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) (RTI Act), for a copy of the KPMG report on the contracts and transactions between the GRA and the SML.



The President had commissioned KPMG, on 29th December, 2023, to undertake an inquiry to gain a clear understanding of the matters in controversy, and to be properly advised in taking the necessary decisions.



Bearing in mind the provisions of the RTI Act, particularly section 5 (1) (a) and (b) (i) of the Act, the President denied the request by MFWA since the KPMG report constitutes matters exempt under section 5 of the RTI Act, the seat of government said.



It stated that Section 5 (1) (a) and (b) (i) of the RTI Act states that information is exempt from disclosure where the information is prepared for submission or has been submitted to the President or Vice President for consideration or contains matters the disclosure of which would reveal information concerning opinion, advice, deliberation, recommendation, minutes or consultation made or given to the President or Vice President and is likely to undermine the deliberative process on the part of the President or Vice President.



Furthermore, the presidency said, there has been a judicial pronouncement, in a case involving Media Foundation for West Africa, that a request which falls within the categories of information exempt under RTI Act can be lawfully declined.



The KPMG report comprises opinions, advice, deliberations, and recommendations that are integral to the Presidents deliberative process and, therefore, qualifies as exempt information under section 5 (1) (a) and (b) (i) of the RTI Act. Thus, the Office of the President was justified in turning down the request from MFWA for a copy of the KPMG report.



It is important to recount that, even before the request from MFWA, the President had, on 24th April, 2024, caused to be published a detailed press statement outlining KPMGs findings and recommendations, as well as his directives to the Ministry of Finance and GRA.



The Office of the President reiterates the necessity for those who file applications and requests under the RTI Act to have a thorough understanding of its provisions.



It is vital to appreciate that the legal framework for access to information includes safeguards intended to protect the sanctity of decision-making at the highest levels of government, which must not be compromised or misused in the pursuit of access to information.



However, the President, in the interest of full transparency in governance, openness, and honesty with the public, has decided to waive the privilege under section 5 of the RTI Act and has directed the publication of the KPMG report in full.





Source: 3news.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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Founder and leader of the Movement for Change, John Alan kwadwo Kyerematen has visited a leading member of the Movement for Change, Hopeson Yao Adorye at the ministries police station in Accra to lend his support.



The Presidential candidate on Thursday morning visited Hopeson Adorye who was initially invited by the Accra Police command for questioning was later arrested by the police and refused bail.



This was disclosed by the Personal assistant to Alan Kyeremanten, Nana Yaw Sarpong who spoke in an interview on UTVs 'Adekye Nsoroma' on Thursday, May 23.



No one informed Hopeson he was going to be arrested. He was going about his duties with some members of the Movement for Change when he received a call from the Police that he is needed for questioning at the Police District office. He went there and was told to wait for some orders above, he narrated.



Nana Yaw Sarpong added that, Hospeson Adorye was to be transferred to Accra Central where they believed the questioning was going to be done but to their utmost surprise, he was not interrogated at the Accra Central Police Command but was rather taken to the Ministries.



The member of the Movement for Change, who was a former stalwart of the ruling New Patriotic Party, was arrested over his statement of a detonation of dynamite in the Volta region to deter voters during the 2016 General elections.



Hopeson Adorye was picked up after he spoke on Accra FM on May 10, where he confessed to being part of a plot that detonated dynamite in the Volta Region to scare voters in the stronghold of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to favour the NPP.



Prior to the elections, we blasted dynamite in parts of the Volta Region, and that scared a number of people. When I finished casting my ballot in Tema, I drove to the Volta Region, and when I asked for the number of people who had voted and the expected number of voters, it turned out people did not come out to vote, he said.



The movement fir Change leader was accompanied by the former national Orgainsier of the NPP, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, Abubakari Saddique, ken Kuranchie amongst others.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The National Identification Authority (NIA) has responded to the Director of Elections and Information Technology (IT) for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Omane Boamah over the ongoing Ghana Card registration in Pusiga district of the Upper east region.



According to the NIA, the exercise being conducted in the Pusiga district is legitimate and necessary adding that it as lawful, proper, and wholly wholesome.



The response from the NIA is in sequel to the allegation made on his Facebook page by Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, who was a former Information Minister during the government led by John Mahama, that the ongoing registration being conducted by the NIA was politically motivated and disguised as a collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).



According to Dr. Omane Boamah, the NIAs true intention was to facilitate illegal voting in the final phase of the voter registration process being conducted by the Electoral Commission.



The NIA in its letter, outlined a number of allegations made by the NDC through Omane Boamah.



In a facebook post, Dr. Omane Boamah made statements which suggest that the governing New Patriotic party (NPP) has criminalised state institutions with the NIA inclusive.



The post, according to NIA also suggests that, the NIA which is headed by Dr. Bawumias close friend Ken Attafuah has strangely chosen this voter registration period to embark on a special pilot program to issue Ghana Cards to Ghanaians living along the borders of Ghana and Burkina Faso in Pusiga as well as giving the people driven away from the Pusiga registration centre, Ghana cards in order for them to register within these final 7 days and then exercise their franchise come December 7.



According to Dr. Omane Boamah and the NDCD, the registration exercise in the Pusiga District is a politically motivated enterprise masked as a collaboration with IOM, and its purpose is simply to aid illegal voters to embark on the last lap of the voter registration exercise.



In a response to the allegations made by Dr. Omane Boamah, the NIA stated, The NIA flatly denies each and every one of the allegations specified above, as well as the insinuation that the NIAs decisions and actions spring from a malevolent seedbed.



Specifically, the NIA wishes to assure the public that, contrary to Dr. Omane Boamahs wild assertions, the NIA has acted in utmost good faith, in the national interest and in accordance with the law.



Accordingly, NIA reacts as follows to the above allegations:



1. Criminalization of NIA: The NIA has NOT been criminalized by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) or any other entity whatsoever and howsoever described. The Governing Board and Senior Management of the NIA comprise men and women of sterling integrity and unalloyed patriotism who will not countenance the criminalization of NIAs operations by any entity or yield to any improper considerations in the discharge of their duties; 2. Malicious Timing of Pusiga Registration: The idea for the registration of Ghanaians in the Pusiga District was first mooted by the International Organization for Migration (IMO) on 30th August 2023 following a Stakeholder Consultation on border security along the Ghana-Burkina Faso border conducted by the Ministry of the Interior at the Fiesta Royal Hotel in Accra. A long series of negotiations and preparations eventually culminated in the commencement of the registration exercise on Monday, 20th May 2024, with the IOM bearing the entire cost of the operations, namely: surveying and selecting registration centres; deploying personnel and equipment; organizing and conducting the registration exercise; remunerating the staff; supervising and monitoring the registration exercise; and retrieving equipment and personnel after the exercise. The collaboration is supported by a Purchase Order for General Services duly executed by the lawful representatives of the two parties, NIA and IOM, on 3rd May 2024.



3. Registration of Unqualified Applicants: The NIA has never sought to equip or empower any unqualified persons with the Ghana Card to enable them to register within these final 7 days and vote on December 07. The NIA is unaware of any persons having been driven away by NDC officials from any Electoral Commission (EC) registration Centre in Pusiga. The arrest of an EC officer for allegedly using a single Ghana Card to register multiple individuals has got nothing to do with NIA; the conduct of that EC officer is unrelated to NIA in any shape or form. The NIA does not condone any illegal activity and is not involved in the activities of the EC or its officers.



4. Collaboration with IOM is a Mask for Partisan Political Enterprise: The registration exercise is an honest operation in response to a formal request by the respected and credible IOM; it reflects the responsiveness of NIA to well-considered proposals from stakeholders for expanding registration options for Ghanaians. The collaboration between NIA and IOM is not a mask for anything but an unqualified human good being offered by two noble institutions in the service of Mother Ghana. NIA unequivocally denies that the purpose of the collaboration is to aid illegality and firmly asserts that NIA has not aided, is not aiding, and will not aid any illegal voters to embark on the last lap of the voter registration exercise. For the avoidance of doubt, NIA further states categorically that the Ghana Card registration exercise in the Pusiga District is lawful, proper, necessary and wholly wholesome; it is focused on ensuring that vulnerable Ghanaian populations, particularly those living in communities straddling the Ghana-Burkina Faso border, are able to register for the Ghana Card if they have not already done so, in order to ensure their accurate identification, facilitate their easy crossing of the border, enable them access various public services and ensure their security within the border area. As the IOM stated in its letter to NIA dated 27th March 2024: 



"Without the Ghana card or any other means of confirming the identity of border residents seeking to cross, conflict arises with Border Management Agencies (BMAs), leading to the usage of irregular crossing points by the border residents. To help address this challenge IOM is requesting the NIA to support registering and issuing Ghana cards to the border residents in Pusiga and its environs to facilitate cross-border movements by the residents . . . NIA can leverage on this opportunity to issue Ghana Cards which have been printed but are yet to be collected by already registered applicants.



The letter from the NIA signed by the Cooperate Affairs Directorate on May 22 condluded by stating that, The intervention by Hon. Dr. Omane Boamah in his said Facebook post is most unfortunate as it seeks to highlight the evils of deliberate miscommunication and deception of the public. Beyond the truth of (a) friendship between Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Prof. Ken Attafuah and (b) collaboration between NIA and IOM to register Ghanaians in Pusiga and environs, there is no evidentiary basis to any of the wild claims and conjectures made by Dr. Omane Boamah."

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Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former Member of Parliament for Adentan Constituency, Buaben Asamoa has alleged that Hopeson Adoryes arrest is linked to his affiliation to the leader and founder of the Movement for Change, John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematens presidential ambitions.



According to the former Communications Director for the New Patriotic Party(NPP), who has crossed carpet to the Movement for Change, Hopeson Adorye has been a leading voice for the Movement for Change, hence, their deliberate attempt to silence him.



In a radio interview with Okay FM on Thursday, May 23, the legal practitioner revealed that, Hopeson Adoryes arrest is a strategy adopted by the NPP government to shift focus from the content of the full SML report due to what he describes as, the rot, in the deal.



We dont have a problem with the police for arresting Hopeson but it should be done in the confines of the law. Hopeson was invited to have a conversation with the police. If it was just a conversation, he should have been allowed to go home, rather he was detained at Accra Central and later sent to the Ministries Police station following an order from above.



"How do you arrest someone without letting him know for what offence you are arresting him? Without any prior information, they decided to detain him because orders from above says so.



It is clear that, Hopeson Adorye was arrested in connection to Alan Kyerematens Presidential ambition. They are peeved because Hopeson is vociferous for his worldview about Alan Kyerematens Presidential candidature.



It doesnt make sense that someone says something in 2016 and referred to the fact that, he had informed the President of what he had gone to do in his favour. The President did not see anything wrong with that in 2016. How come he has a problem with it in 2024 when his own appointee stated on your sister station that, he knows where armed robbers and criminals are and he goes there to solicit for votes from them, but hasnt been invited," Buaben Asamoa said.



He continued to state that, I will continue to say that, Hopeson Adoryes arrest is a deliberate attempt to cover up the slimy SML- report which has taken the President so long a time to release it. Take a good look at what is happening to SSNIT currently. There is corruption everywhere and the government is keen on using all the state apparatus to cover up their corrupt practices but it will not work on members of the Movement for Change.



Around the hours of 12 noon on Wednesday, the former member of the NPP, Hopeson Adorye was said to have been invited buy the Police to help in investigations concerning his own statement made that he detonated a dynamite in the Volta region.



This statement created doubts in the minds of many Ghanaians since most Ghanaians wondered how it was done and the media did not get to hear of it to be reported to the general public.



Meanwhile, report gathered by Peacfmonline.com revealed that, Hopeson Adorye was given a Ghc 20,000 bail with two sureties.



Watch Video Below





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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has alleged that the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame is deliberatory propounding a scheme to implicate the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson over the ongoing ambulance saga.



In a press release dated May, 23, 2024, which was signed by the National Chairman of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the NDC as a political party is aware of the schemes being compiled by Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame to implicate the Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan-Esiam.



Portions of the letter reads, It has come to the attention of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), that during the proceedings of today, Thursday, 23rd May, 2024, in the matter of the trial of the Leader of the NDC minority in parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the 3rd Accused, Mr. Richard Jakpa testified in open court that the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame has had several meetings with him at odd hours and telephone conversations impressing on him to skew his testimony and implicate the Minority Leader.



The NDC expressed shock of the testimony of the 3rd Accused who appeared before the Court on Thursday, May 23, 2024, to give his testament of the ongoing Ambulance saga.



The NDC stated that, the issues raised are matters of fact which formed part of the courts record of the days proceedings.



The NDC is deeply scandalized by this clear case of persecution against the leader of the partys caucus in Parliament who has been at the forefront of our struggle against the misrule of the oppressive and despotic Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP regime, the press release stated.



This revelation goes to confirm legitimate and long-held suspicion of the devious modus operandi of Godfred Dame and the government he represents. It further shows the desperate lengths the Akufo Addo/Bawumia NPPO government will go manipulate judicial processes to unjustly victimize political opponents for cheap political goals-scoring.



The largest opposition party further added that the lack of integrity of what they describe as "dishonourable" Attorney-General and the extent to which he goes to pervert the coursed of justice is very alarming and nation-wrecking.



The NDC concluded by stating emphatically that, the party shall hold a full blown press conference to put out incontrovertible evidence on the matter at hand that aims at shocking the nation.



We will stop at nothing in pursuing this matter to its logical conclusion and ensuring that justice is done, the National Chairman, Asiedu Nketia reiterated.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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This image shows the Westlands Solar Park in the San Joaquin Valley. Could massive solar farms create a distinct technosignature? Credit: Westlands Solar Park

If alien technological civilizations exist, they almost certainly use solar energy. Along with wind, it's the cleanest, most accessible form of energy, at least here on Earth. Driven by technological advances and mass production, solar energy on Earth is expanding rapidly.

It seems likely that ETIs (Extraterrestrial Intelligence) using widespread solar energy on their planet could make their presence known to us.

If other ETIs exist, they could easily be ahead of us technologically. Silicon solar panels could be widely used on their planetary surfaces. Could their mass implementation constitute a detectable technosignature?

The authors of a new paper posted to the arXiv preprint server examine that question. The article is titled "Detectability of Solar Panels as a Technosignature," and it is scheduled for publication in The Astrophysical Journal. The lead author is Ravi Kopparapu from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

In their paper, the authors assess the detectability of silicon-based solar panels on an Earth-like habitable zone planet. "Silicon-based photovoltaic cells have high reflectance in the UV-VIS and in the near-IR, within the wavelength range of a space-based flagship mission concept like the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO)," the authors write.

The HWO would search for and image Earth-like worlds in habitable zones. There's no timeline for the mission, but the 2020 Decadal Survey recommended the telescope be built. This research looks ahead to the mission or one like it sometime in the future.

Naturally, the authors make a number of assumptions about a hypothetical ETI using solar power. They assume that an ETI is using large-scale photovoltaics (PVs) based on silicon and that their planet orbits a sun-like star. Silicon PVs are cost-effective to produce, and they are well-suited to harness the energy from a sun-like star.

Kopparapu and his co-authors aren't the first to suggest that silicon PVs could constitute a technosignature. In a 2017 paper, Avi Loeb and Manasvi Lingam from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics wrote that silicon-based PVs create an artificial edge in their spectra. This edge is similar to the "red edge" detectable in Earth's vegetation when viewed from space but shifted to shorter wavelengths.

"Future observations of reflected light from exoplanets would be able to detect both natural and artificial edges photometrically if a significant fraction of the planet's surface is covered by vegetation or photovoltaic arrays, respectively," Lingam and Loeb wrote.

"The 'edge' refers to the noticeable increase in the reflectance of the material under consideration when a reflected light spectrum is taken of the planet," the authors of the new research explain. Satellites monitor the red edge on Earth to observe agricultural crops, and the same could apply to sensing PVs on other worlds.

This figure shows the reflection spectrum of a deciduous leaf (data from Clark et al. 1993). The large sharp rise (between 700 and 800 nm) is known as the red edge and is due to the contrast between the strong absorption of chlorophyll and the otherwise reflective leaf. Credit: Seager et al. 2005.

While Lingam and Loeb suggested the possibility, Kopparapu and his co-authors dug deeper. They point out that we could generate enough energy for our needs (as of 2022) if only 2.4% of the Earth's surface was covered in silicon-based PVs. The 2.4% number is only accurate if the chosen location is optimized. For Earth, that means the Sahara Desert, and something similar may be true on an alien world.

The authors explain, "This region is both close to the equator, where a comparatively greater amount of solar energy would be available throughout the year, and has minimal cloud coverage."

The authors also work with a 23% land coverage number. This number reflects previous research showing that for a projected maximum human population of 10 billion people, 23% land coverage would provide a high standard of living for everyone.

They also use it as an upper limit because anything beyond that seems highly unlikely and would have negative consequences. On Earth, the entire continent of Africa is about 23% of the surface.

The authors' calculations show that an 8-meter telescope similar to the HWO would not detect an Earth-like exoplanet with 2.4% of its surface covered with PVs.

If an ETI covered 23% of its surface with energy-harvesting PVs, would that be detectable? It would be difficult to untangle the planet's light from the star's light and would require hundreds of hours of observation time to reach an acceptable Signal-to-Noise (S/N) ratio.

"Because we have chosen the 0.34 m0.52 m range to calculate the impact of silicon panels on the reflectance spectra, the difference between a planet with and without silicon is not markedly different, even with 23% land cover," the authors explain.

Technological progress adds another wrinkle to these numbers. As PV technology advances, an ETI would cover less of its planet's surface area to generate the same amount of energy, making detection even more difficult.

This figure from the research shows the planet-star contrast ratio as a function of wavelength for 2.4 % land coverage with PVs (blue solid), 23 % PVs (red solid) and 0% (green dashed) land coverage of solar panels. This suggests that the artificial silicon edge suggested by Lingam & Loeb (2017) may not be detectable, the authors write. Credit: Kopparapu et al. 2024

Solar energy is expanding rapidly on Earth. Each year, more individual homes, businesses, and institutions implement solar arrays. Those might not constitute technosignatures, but individual installations aren't the only thing growing.

China built a vast solar power plant called the Gonghe Photovoltaic Project in its sparsely populated Qinghai Province. It generates 3182 MW. India has the Bhadla Solar Park (2,245 MW) in the Thar Desert. Saudi Arabia has built several new solar plants and intends to build more. Other innovative solar projects are announced regularly.

But will we realistically ever cover 2.4% of our planet in solar arrays? Will we need to? There are many questions.

Generating solar power in the heat of the Sahara Desert is challenging. The extreme heat reduces efficiency. Building the infrastructure required to deliver the energy to population centers is also another challenge.

Then consider that silicon-based PVs may not be the end point in solar panel development. Perovskite-based PVs hold a lot of promise to outperform silicon. They're more efficient than silicon, and researchers frequently break energy records with them (in laboratories.) Would perovskite PVs create the same "edge" in a planet's spectra?

The authors didn't consider specific technological advances like perovskite because it's beyond the scope of their paper.

The bottom line is that silicon-based solar arrays on a planetary surface are unlikely to create an easily detectable technosignature.

"Assuming an 8-meter HWO-like telescope, focusing on the reflection edge in the UV-VIS, and considering varying land coverage of solar panels on an Earth-like exoplanet that match the present and projected energy needs, we estimate that several hundreds of hours of observation time is needed to reach a SNR of ~5 for a high land coverage of ~23%," the authors write.

The Bhadla Solar Park is a large PV installation that aims to generate over 2,000 MW of solar energy. Credit: (Left) Google Earth. (Right) Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2020, Attribution, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=90537462

The authors also wonder what this means for the Kardashev Scale and things like Dyson Spheres. In that paradigm, ETIs require more and more energy and eventually build a mega engineering project that harvests all of the energy available from their star. A Dyson Sphere would create a powerful technosignature, and astronomers are already looking for them.

But if the numbers in this research are correct, we may never see one because they're not needed.

"We find that, even with significant population growth, the energy needs of human civilization would be several orders of magnitude below the energy threshold for a Kardashev Type I civilization or a Dyson sphere/swarm which harnesses the energy of a star," they conclude.

"This line of inquiry reexamines the utility of such concepts and potentially addresses one crucial aspect of the Fermi paradox: We have not discovered any large-scale engineering yet, conceivably because advanced technologies may not need them."
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This gallery depicts a collection of embryos after genes were blocked one at a time. The distinct outcomes (or characteristics observed) for each embryo reflects the specific functions of the genes tested. Credit: Rebecca Green, Oegema Lab, UC San Diego

Although the Human Genome Project announced the completed sequencing of 20,000 human genes more than 20 years ago, scientists are still working to grasp how fully formed beings emerge from basic genetic instructions.

Biomedical efforts to learn how disorders can take hold in the earliest stages of development would benefit from knowing specifically how complex organisms arise from a single fertilized cell. Researchers from the University of California San Diego have captured a new understanding of how embryonic development unfolds through the lens of a simple model organism.

The comprehensive report led by School of Biological Sciences scientist Rebecca Green and Professor Karen Oegema provides a play-by-play of how genes function during embryonic development in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a millimeter-long roundworm known to biologists as "the worm." Despite its tiny size, C. elegans has been a workhorse for scientists because so much of its biology, including early developmental stages, resembles that of higher organisms, including humans.

The research, which forges a decade's worth of work by a collaborative multidisciplinary team into a "genetic atlas," is published in the journal Cell.

"By characterizing many of these poorly understood genes in a simple model organism, we can learn about what they are doing in more complex systems like humans," said Green, a bioinformatics scientist and first author of the paper. "While the work is done using C. elegans, the majority of genes analyzed are present in humans and mutations in many of them are associated with human developmental disorders."

UC San Diego School of Biological Sciences researchers developed an automated system for profiling the function of genes required for embryogenesis, the process by which a fertilized egg, which starts as a single cell, develops into an organism with different tissues, such as skin, digestive tract, neurons and muscles. They used time-lapse 4D imaging to methodically track the function of each gene throughout all embryonic stages, including when cell identity is determined and when the tissues in the organism take shape. The researchers monitored this process using an approach known as "computer vision" to track specific aspects of development after blocking the function of one gene at a time. These measurements included the number of cells in each tissue, the tissue position and the tissue shape. The computer algorithm was able to "see" which genes had similar measured outcomes and group them together. The researchers predict that each group represents a collection of genes that function together to control specific steps in embryonic development. Credit: Rebecca Green, Oegema Lab, UC San Diego

The researchers developed an automated system for profiling the function of genes required for embryogenesis, the process by which a fertilized egg, which starts as a single cell, develops into an organism with different tissues, such as skin, digestive tract, neurons and muscles. They used time-lapse 4D imaging to methodically track the function of each gene throughout all embryonic stages, including when cell identity is determined and when the tissues in the organism take shape.

The researchers monitored this process using an approach known as "computer vision" to track specific aspects of development, including the number of cells in each tissue. They also tracked the mass, position and shape of the tissues within the developing organism.

To fully understand the function of nearly 500 genes that are important in embryonic development, they blocked the function of each gene, one at a time. This allowed the researchers to group genes into common clusters that revealed the role of each gene through "guilt by association." Green likens the process to automated facial recognition, in which images with features that appear similar are grouped together.

By using this meticulous process to analyze a collection of nearly 7,000 4D embryogenesis movies, the team was able to create "fingerprints" for individual genes, such as those required for cells to become muscle or skin. This helped them understand the physiological roles that the genes play in embryogenesis, such as controlling the formation of tissues like the intestine or nervous system.

"We show that our approach correctly classifies the functions of previously characterized genes, identifies functions for poorly characterized genes and describes new gene and pathway relationships," said Oegema, a faculty member in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology and the paper's senior author. "A lot of genes that we thought served mundane functions were found to have important roles that were underappreciated."

In conjunction with the Cell paper, the abundance of data from the research has led to the launch of a new online resource that houses all of the information. PhenoBank now offers a portal to the genetic atlas developed during the research.

The research team included (from left) Zhiling Zhao, Rebecca Green, Renat Khaliullin and Stacy Ochoa. Credit: Rebecca Green, Oegema Lab, UC San Diego

"The approach yielded surprising insights into how metabolic pathways are specialized during embryogenesis and revealed interesting new connections between different molecular machines involved in gene regulation," said Professor Arshad Desai, a paper co-author.

Beyond the 500 genes covered in the Cell study, the researchers are now working to finish the entire set of 2,000 C. elegans genes that have been implicated in embryogenesis.

"The broad interest lies in the approach developed to tackle arguably the most challenging problem in biology: how a single cell with a genome that contains approximately 20,000 genes (similar to the number of genes in humans) is able to build an entire organism," he said.

Authors of the paper include Rebecca Green, Renat Khaliullin, Zhiling Zhao, Stacy Ochoa, Jeffrey Hendel, Tiffany-Lynn Chow, HongKee Moon, Ronald Biggs, Arshad Desai and Karen Oegema. The researchers also thank Tony Hyman and the Scientific Computing group at Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) for facilitating the PhenoBank build.

More information: Rebecca A. Green et al, Automated profiling of gene function during embryonic development, Cell (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.012 Journal information: Cell
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A great white shark swims at the Monterey Bay Aquarium's million-gallon, multi-species Outer Bay Exhibit, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, in Monterey, Calif. Scientists with a Boston aquarium are encouraging beachgoers to report sightings of white sharks this holiday weekend after signs of shark bites were observed on multiple marine mammals. Credit: AP Photo/Salinas Californian, Richard Green, file

Scientists with a Boston aquarium are encouraging beachgoers to report sightings of white sharks this holiday weekend after signs of shark bites were observed on multiple marine mammals.

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer in New England, and the region has been experiencing beach weather already. That's a good reason to be on the lookout for the sharks, often referred to as great whites, said John Chisholm, an adjunct scientist at the New England Aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life.

The aquarium received a report of a minke whale with a white shark bite off Chatham, Massachusetts, recently, and this is also the time of year scientists expect to see the sharks head to inshore waters to hunt seals, the aquarium said Thursday.

"Although we haven't seen a white shark just yet this season, we know they're here," Chisholm said. "With beach weather in the forecast and Memorial Day weekend approaching, this is a good reminder for people to review shark safety guidelines and be shark smart."

It's wise for beachgoers to be aware of the presence of sharks in shallow waters and avoid areas where seals are present or schools of fish are visible, Chisholm said.

Members of the public can report sightings of white sharks via the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's Sharktivity app. The increased sightings of the sharks have been a topic of conversation in New England in recent years.

Efforts to better track white sharks are underway up and down the East Coast. The white shark conservancy said last month that it had deployed its second camera tag on a white shark.

The conservancy said the camera tags are critical to better understand the northwest Atlantic white shark population. The device was clamped to the fin of a female white shark off the South Carolina coast, the conservancy said. The conservancy worked with charter captain Chip Michalove to pin the "shark's eye view" camera to the big fish.

"I never thought I'd be holding the dorsal fin of a great white shark and applying this type of technology," Michalove said.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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View of Curtis Bay and surrounding areas facing south; shot from a drone in August 2023 before the collapse. The location of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is just to the East of this neighborhood, across the water and just out of view. Credit: Summer Youth Environmental Justice Scholars

When the container vessel Dali crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse in Baltimore Harbor on March 26, 2024, deliveries to the busy port via ship were halted, and the number of trains and trucks coming into the city dropped dramatically as well.

NOAA researchers immediately knew that there would be unique data to capture while the port was shuttered. Large trucks, piles of coal, and the machinery used to power cranes and ships all contribute to particulate matter in the air and to pollution. Since early April 2024, a team from the NOAA's Air Resources Lab have been taking air samples in the Curtis Bay neighborhood immediately to the east of the bridge. They hope to provide new insights into the impacts of transportation on air quality for local communities.

Their tool for measurementa sport utility vehicle or SUVmay seem counterintuitive, since vehicles contribute to overall emissions.

But the fine spatial scale of urban pollutants such as black carbon require a tool that samples at the level where people live and breathe. Some neighborhoods can be much more impacted than others due to topography, roads and the location of various buildings. NOAA's Air Resources Car, NOAA's ARC, was built as a mobile measurement platform inside an SUV. The size of the vehicle's interior allows it to hold different sampling equipment.

Since March 2022, NOAA researchers have been driving NOAA's ARC around several cities to measure sources of greenhouse gases and air pollutants in the Baltimore-Washington region and other parts of the Northeast Corridor. These SUV-gathered measurements are then added to data gathered at several ground stations that operate 24/7 and through all seasons, all types of weather, and throughout changing traffic patterns in the region. (And yes, the measurements do account for the emissions from the vehicle itself.)

Data from NOAA's ARC has been used by the Maryland Department of the Environment, and researchers from ARL have worked with Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, University of Maryland and the Community of Curtis Bay Association on several studies of area pollution. The team's previous work in the area will soon be compared with the new data to see if any significant changes have occurred in the air quality. Measurements will continue as the port returns to business-as-usual, and the NOAA team anticipates that preliminary results of this specific project will be available in late 2024.

The tragic collapse of the iconic Francis Scott Key bridge that took the lives of six men has also taken a toll on the city and the people who live in Baltimore, leaving many out of work for the indefinite future.

A playground near the CSX Coal Field in Curtis Bay, Baltimore, Maryland on October 26, 2023. [Panorama drone photograph]. Credit: R. Gattis, Community of Curtis Bay Association

But, says NOAA researcher Xinrong Ren, pollution from heavy industry has also long been an issue of environmental justice in Curtis Bay, a racially diverse neighborhood with a median household income of $38,281almost half the national level. Unemployment and family poverty are higher here than national averages and higher than the average of Baltimore as a whole.

Robust industry supports economic growth but understanding industry's environmental impacts could be key to reducing pollution when the port is once again bustling and full of ships and the new bridge is full of trucks and cars.

"We know that transportation choices can impact people who live near factories and ports," says Ren. "This huge change in ship traffic can provide a really interesting baseline comparison to times when the port is busy and full of traffic."

Greg Sawtell volunteers for the Community of Curtis Bay Association, and he previously lived there and currently works for the south Baltimore community land trust. He's seen black dust mix with the sweat on children's faces as they play at nearby playgrounds in the summer. He's glad that the community is increasingly becoming a very active part of air pollution research, and that residents here are being asked what needs to be studied but he notes that "what matters is what we do with the information."

Tiffany Thompson, a resident who also used to teach at nearby Curtis Bay Elementary, says that many of her former students suffered from asthma. She is proud of community members from across South Baltimore, including her own daughter, who have come together for the sake of a healthier community and a better way of life. But she wants to see real change happen.

"Decades of intense environmental injustice has already cost South Baltimore the displacement of at least three entire communities," Thompson says. "We need to see all this research turn into concrete action that makes our lives better. It hasn't happened yet and we will keep going until we see it."
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The illustration shows historical atmospheric and environmental water loss and contributions. Credit: Caroll et al

The Colorado River makes life possible in many Western cities and supports agriculture that sustains people throughout the country. Most of the river's water begins as snowmelt from the mountainous watersheds of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, and a warming climate will drastically reduce these streamflows, new research finds.

Researchers from Desert Research Institute (DRI), USGS, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory teamed up for the new study, published May 23 in Nature Water.

By applying warming to historical conditions for the East River in Colorado and using computer simulations to observe the impact on streamflow and groundwater levels, the scientists found that groundwater storage would fall to the lowest known levels after the first extremely dry year and fail to recover even after multiple wet periods. When groundwater levels fall, streamflows are drawn into the water table instead of contributing to Colorado River flows.

"We found that groundwater matters a lot," says Rosemary Carroll, Ph.D., DRI research professor of hydrology and lead author of the study. "Even with historically observed wet periods in the model, the groundwater can't come back from a single dry water year under end-of-century warming."

The Colorado River has been in a drought state for decades, creating tensions around water rights throughout the Southwest. Scientists have been perplexed by falling river levels even in relatively wet yearsin 2021, the Upper Colorado River Basin reached 80% normal snowpack but delivered only 30% of average streamflow to the river.

The study authors wanted to examine how warming in mountain basins may be contributing to this phenomenon. Increased temperatures alter the balance between snowfall and water availability in a number of ways, including more snow evaporation (known as sublimation), more precipitation falling as rain instead of snow, and more frequent melting throughout the winter.

Past research has largely overlooked the role of groundwater and how it may buffer, or intensify, streamflow loss from climate change.

"I'm very interested in the relationship of groundwater contributions to streamflowthat has been a running theme in my research for a long time," Carroll says. "A lot of studies indicate that in the short term, groundwater release to streamflow will help buffer drought impacts, but before this study, we didn't have any knowledge on what that would mean over the long haul."

The graphic illustrates how declining water tables under climate change would decrease streamflows. Credit: Jeremey Snyder, from Carroll et al.

The study authors used the East River as the focus for the research because it is representative of the headwaters of the Colorado River, as well as the significant weather and water monitoring infrastructure available. Ground observations and airborne mapping measure snowpack depth and density, streamflow, plant cover, and groundwater levels, among many other measurements throughout the watershed.

Historical data from 1987 to 2022 was used to create the computer model. The research team then applied 4 degrees Celsius of warming to this time period in two ways: for one simulation, warming was applied constantly across time, while in subsequent simulations, warming was applied to each season independently.

The approach allowed the scientists to examine the differing impacts of warming between seasons. Four degrees Celsius is representative of the projected climate at the end of the century based on observed warming of approximately 0.4 degrees Celsius per decade in the watershed. The simulation doesn't account for likely changes in vegetation over the same timeframe.

The study showed that consistently warmer temperatures resulted in sharp declines in groundwater levels that were unable to recover to historical average levels during wet periods. Isolating the warming seasonally demonstrated the strong impact of warmer summers on water table declines, as the atmosphere increases evaporation rates, plants increase their water uptake, and soils dry out. The largest declines in water table elevations occur in the subalpine forests where conifer forests are most dense.

"As the groundwater level drops, you lose more streamflow to the water table," Carroll says. "When precipitation is low, the East River stops flowing for a portion of the summer. Of course, this would have dramatic effects on ecological health and agricultural irrigation."

By including declining water table levels in the analysis, the study found that streamflow reductions nearly double when compared to simulations that examined the impacts of climate change in the region without accounting for groundwater declines. This is because of the multiple impacts occurring simultaneously: less water flows to streams from the aquifers, while more stream water drains into the soil.

The research demonstrates the need to jointly manage forest and groundwater in the Upper Colorado River Basin, as well as account for the exchange of surface and groundwater in mountain basins, to minimize streamflow declines under climate change, Carroll says.

"I think of groundwater as your savings account," she adds. "Snowpack is like your checking account; it changes from year to year. Groundwater is a longer-term investmentit can smooth out the really wet and dry years. But if you start consistently reducing that groundwater year after year, then you can no longer modulate those extremes."

More information: Declining Groundwater Storage Expected to Amplify Mountain Streamflow Reductions in a Warmer World, Nature Water (2024). www.nature.com/articles/s44221-024-00239-0 Journal information: Nature Water
Rhyma Castillo is a trending reporter for the Express-News and a member of its Digital Go Team. She can be reached at rhyma.castillo@express-news.net.

A native of San Antonio and a Texas A&M University graduate, she is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience. She has reported on politics, immigration, climate change, gun violence, and workers rights. Additionally, she excels in lifestyle and entertainment writing, covering music, television, video games, technology, and relationships.

In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, cooking, hiking, climbing, gardening, playing video games, cuddling with her cats, and making music with her band.
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Bob Givehchi, right, and his son Daniel, 8, Toronto residents visiting Miami for the first time, walk past debris and palm trees blowing in gusty winds, at Matheson Hammock Park in Coral Gables, Fla., Dec. 15, 2023. Nearly all the experts think 2024 will be one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record. Credit: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File

Get ready for what nearly all the experts think will be one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record, thanks to unprecedented ocean heat and a brewing La Nina.

There's an 85% chance that the Atlantic hurricane season that starts in June will be above average in storm activity, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday in its annual outlook. The weather agency predicted between 17 and 25 named storms will brew up this summer and fall, with 8 to 13 achieving hurricane status (at least 75 mph sustained winds) and four to seven of them becoming major hurricanes, with at least 111 mph winds.

An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, seven of them hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

"This season is looking to be an extraordinary one in a number of ways," NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said. He said this forecast is the busiest in the 25 years that NOAA has been issuing in May. The agency updates its forecasts each August.

About 20 other groupsuniversities, other governments, private weather companiesalso have made seasonal forecasts. All but two expect a busier, nastier summer and fall for hurricanes. The average of those other forecasts is about 11 hurricanes, or about 50% more than in a normal year.

"All the ingredients are definitely in place to have an active season," National Weather Service Director Ken Graham said. "It's a reason to be concerned, of course, but not alarmed."

What people should be most concerned about is water because 90% of hurricane deaths are in water and they are preventable, Graham said.

When meteorologists look at how busy a hurricane season is, two factors matter most: ocean temperatures in the Atlantic where storms spin up and need warm water for fuel, and whether there is a La Nina or El Nino, the natural and periodic cooling or warming of Pacific Ocean waters that changes weather patterns worldwide. A La Nina tends to turbocharge Atlantic storm activity while depressing storminess in the Pacific and an El Nino does the opposite.

La Nina usually reduces high-altitude winds that can decapitate hurricanes, and generally during a La Nina there's more instability or storminess in the atmosphere, which can seed hurricane development. Storms get their energy from hot water. Ocean waters have been record warm for 13 months in a row and a La Nina is forecast to arrive by mid to late summer. The current El Nino is dwindling and is expected to be gone within a month or so.

"We've never had a La Nina combined with ocean temperatures this warm in recorded history so that's a little ominous," said University of Miami tropical meteorology researcher Brian McNoldy.

A home which came off its blocks sits partially submerged in a canal, in Horseshoe Beach, Fla., Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, two days after the passage of Hurricane Idalia. Nearly all the experts think 2024 will be one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record. Credit: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File

This May, ocean heat in the main area where hurricanes develop has been as high as it usually is in mid-August. "That's crazy," McNoldy said. It's both record warm on the ocean surface and at depths, which "is looking a little scary."

He said he wouldn't be surprised to see storms earlier than normal this year as a result. Peak hurricane season usually is mid-August to mid-October with the official season starting June 1 and ending Nov. 30.

A year ago, the two factors were opposing each other. Instead of a La Nina, there was a strong El Nino, which usually inhibits storminess a bit. Experts said at the time they weren't sure which of those factors would win out.

Warm water won. Last year had 20 named storms, the fourth-highest since 1950 and far more than the average of 14. An overall measurement of strength, duration and frequency of storms had last season at 17% bigger than normal.

Record hot water seems to be key, McNoldy said.

"Things really went of the rails last spring (2023) and they haven't gotten back to the rails since then," McNoldy said.

"Hurricanes live off of warm ocean water," said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. "That tends to basically be fuel for the hurricane. But also when you have the warm Atlantic what that tends to do is also force more air up over the Atlantic, more rising motion, which helps support strong thunderstorms."

A record hot ocean is bad news across the board, not just because of hurricanes but it harms shipping, important ocean currents, coral reefs and fisheries, Spinrad said.

There's the background of human-caused climate change that's making water warmer in general, but not this much warmer, McNoldy said. He said other contributors may include an undersea volcano eruption in the South Pacific in 2022, which sent millions of tons of water vapor into the air to trap heat, and a reduction in sulfur in ship fuels. The latter meant fewer particles in the air that reflect sunlight and cool the atmosphere a bit.

Seven of the last 10 Atlantic hurricane seasons have been more active than the long-term normal.

Debris from destroyed homes and structures float in a canal in Horseshoe Beach, Fla., Aug. 31, 2023, one day after the passage of Hurricane Idalia. Nearly all the experts think 2024 will be one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record. Credit: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File

Climate change generally is making the strongest hurricanes even more intense, making storms rain more and making them rapidly intensify more, McNoldy said.

Graham, a former National Hurricane Center director, said because warmer oceans are making storms intensify more rapidly, people need to be prepared early for everything. All the worst Category 5 hurricanes with winds greater than 156 miles per hour that have hit the United States weren't even strong enough to be hurricanes three days prior to landfall.

Klotzbach and his team at Colorado State Universitywhich pioneered hurricane season forecastinggave a 62% probability that the United States will be hit with a major hurricane with winds of at least 111 mph. Normally the chance is 43%. The Caribbean has a two-out-of-three chance of getting hit by a major hurricane and the U.S. Gulf Coast has a 42% likelihood of getting smacked by such a storm, the CSU forecast said. For the U.S. East Coast the chance of being hit by a major hurricane is 34%.

Klotzbach said he doesn't see how something could shift soon enough to prevent a busy season this year.

"The die is somewhat cast," Klotzbach said.

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A doctor checks a child, who is suffering from gastroenteritis due to hot weather, at a hospital in Hyderabad, Pakistan, Thursday, May 23, 2024. Doctors were treating hundreds of victims of heatstroke at various hospitals across Pakistan on Thursday after an intense spell of the heat wave began in the country, and the mercury rose to above normal due to climate change, officials said. Credit: AP Photo/Pervez Masih

Doctors treated hundreds of victims of heatstroke at hospitals across Pakistan on Thursday after an intense heat wave sent temperatures above normal levels due to climate change, officials said.

Temperatures soared as high as 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) the previous day in Mohenjo Daro. The city, known for its archaeological sites, is in southern Sindh province, which was badly hit by climate-induced monsoon rains and devastating floods in 2022. The heat wave is forecast to continue for at least a week.

Authorities have urged people to stay indoors, hydrate and avoid unnecessary travel. But laborers say they don't have a choice because they need to work to feed their families.

"Pakistan is the fifth most vulnerable country to the impact of climate change. We have witnessed above normal rains, floods," Rubina Khursheed Alam, the prime minister's coordinator on climate, said at a news conference in the capital, Islamabad.

Barakullah Khan, a civil defense official, asked people not to place cooking gas cylinders in open areas as a safety measure. He warned those living near fields that snakes and scorpions could enter homes and storage places in search of cooler places.

This month, temperatures are likely to soar to 55 C (131 F), weather forecasters said.

Volunteers provide lime sugar water to people at a camp set up to prevent heat stroke on a hot summer day, in Karachi, Pakistan, Thursday, May 23, 2024. Doctors were treating hundreds of victims of heatstroke at various hospitals across Pakistan on Thursday after an intense spell of the heat wave began in the country, and the mercury rose to above normal due to climate change, officials said. Credit: AP Photo/Fareed Khan

Doctors say they treated hundreds of patients in the eastern city of Lahore, while scores of people were brought to hospitals in Hyderabad, Larkana and Jacobabad districts in the southern Sindh province.

"The situation has been getting worse since yesterday, when people affected by heat started coming to hospitals in the Punjab province," said Ghulam Farid, a senior health official. Pakistan has set up emergency response centers at hospitals to treat patients affected by the heat.

The state-run ambulance service is now carrying bottled water and ice to provide emergency treatment to victims of the heat, health officials said.

The United Nations children's agency appealed for children to be protected from the heat.

"UNICEF is deeply concerned about the health and safety of babies and young children as debilitating heat wave conditions take hold in several countries," said Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF regional director for South Asia. He said the increasing temperatures across the region could put millions of children's health at risk if they are not protected and hydrated.

Heatstroke is a serious illness that occurs when one's body temperature rises too quickly, potentially causing some to fall unconscious. Severe heatstroke can cause disability or death.

Children, who are suffering from gastroenteritis due to hot weather, receive treatment at a hospital in Hyderabad, Pakistan, Thursday, May 23, 2024. Doctors were treating hundreds of victims of heatstroke at various hospitals across Pakistan on Thursday after an intense spell of the heatwave began in the country, and the mercury rose to above normal due to climate change, officials said. Credit: AP Photo/Pervez Masih

This year, Pakistan recorded its wettest April since 1961, with more than double the usual monthly rainfall. Last month's heavy rains killed scores of people while destroyed property and farmland.

Daytime temperatures are soaring 8 degrees Celsius (46 degrees Fahrenheit) above May's temperatures, raising fears of flooding in the northwest because of glacial melting.

The 2022 floods caused extensive damage in Sindh and Baluchistan provinces, as 1,739 people were killed across the country.

Currently, Pakistan's southwest and northwestern areas are also experiencing the heat wave.

Authorities have shut schools for a week in Punjab. In the city of Lahore people were seen swimming in the roadside canals. Pakistan says despite contributing less than 1% to carbon emissions, it is bearing the brunt of global climate disasters.

Alam said recent erratic changes in weather patterns were the result of man-made climate change.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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During Walrus From Space field work in Svalbard, Norway, Peter Fretwell and Hannah Cubaynes (both BAS) operate a drone, and Rod Downie (WWF-UK) can be seen in the background. While Peter uses the drone to monitor walrus from the air, Hannah notes key information like timings. Credit: Emmanuel Rondeau, WWF

In the first successful attempt to calibrate walrus counts from satellite imagery, scientists used drones to validate animal counts in Svalbard, Norway. On this International Day for Biological Diversity, the researchers describe how this study is a big step towards using satellite imagery as a non-invasive method to monitor walruses in the Arctic.

Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), and WWF visited Sarstangen, a sandspit on the western shores of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway in the summer of 2022. Walruses are known to congregate on this shore during the summer months.

The team collected drone imagery of walruses hauled out on the shores, almost simultaneously with a Maxar Intelligence WorldView-3 satellite image that was obtained at three different spatial resolutions: 50 cm, 30 cm and 15 cm HD. The 15-minute gap between the drone and satellite images, alongside visual confirmation from the team on the ground, enabled scientists to validate the walrus counts in the satellite imagery.

The results are published in the journal Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation. The drones were flown at a safe distance from the walruses, both on the ground and in the sky, to avoid disturbing the iconic animals.

Walrus experts and citizen scientists counted the number of walruses in the satellite image at each of the three spatial resolutions, and in the drone image where the walruses are much clearer and easier to identify. The numbers of walruses counted was then compared.

Researchers found that both experts and citizen scientists slightly undercounted the walruses in the satellite images, and that the image at 30cm spatial resolution provided the most accurate results from the three satellite images. By comparing the citizen scientist and expert counts, the results can be calibrated and we can now begin to build a better understanding of walrus numbers.

Walruses are facing the reality of the climate crisis: Their Arctic home is warming nearly four times faster than the global average and about 12% of summer sea ice is disappearing per decade.

To help safeguard the future of the walruses, BAS, WWF and their regional Arctic science partners are working to better understand these Arctic animals, using space satellites to capture thousands of high-resolution images of walruses congregated on the Arctic coastline of Canada, Greenland and Norway. The imagery is provided by Maxar Intelligence, a trusted source of secure, precise, geospatial intelligence.

Launched in 2020, the Walrus from Space research project seeks the public's help to search for walruses in thousands of Maxar satellite images taken from space, with the aim of learning more about how walruses will be impacted by the climate crisis.

Very high-resolution satellite imagery offers a non-invasive approach to monitor walruses across their whole distribution range in the Arctic, with more frequent and regular surveys than what is currently achievable if using boats or aircraft. Furthermore, walruses tend to be spooked by noises coming from these two platforms. Therefore, there is a strong rationale to develop non-invasive methods to monitor walruses, such as satellite imagery.

Lead author Dr. Hannah Cubaynes, a wildlife from space scientist at BAS, said, "Counting walruses from space could revolutionize the way we currently monitor them. It can increase the extent and frequency of current surveys, helping us gain a better insight into how walruses are faring in a changing world. But we need to know how accurate walrus counts from satellite imagery are.

"Thanks to the team's perseverance, we were able to get an on-the-ground drone image within minutes of a satellite image taken from space. This was totally unprecedented and the best result we could have hoped for. This is a really exciting development for the projectgiving us almost like-for-like satellite and drone images that we can use to calibrate walrus counts from both experts and citizen scientists."

Kit Kovacs & Christian Lydersen, senior research scientists at the Norwegian Polar Institute/Norsk Polarinstitutt said, "All Arctic endemic marine mammal species are being negatively impacted by global warming through losses in their sea ice habitats. This increases the need to monitor populations more closely to provide data to management authorities for mitigation and conservation actions.

"However, these animals are spread over large areas and are thus logistically challenging and very costly to count using ships or aircraft. Being able to monitor walruses (and other Arctic wildlife) using satellite imagery would be a giant step forward."

Rod Downie, Chief Polar Advisor at WWF-UK, said, "Walruses are an iconic species, of immense cultural significance to Arctic people. They are big, powerful animals, yet they are also increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change as the sea ice is literally melting out from underneath them.

"What we are trying to do is better understand walruses, how they are responding to the climate crisis now and how they might respond in a climate altered future. We are doing this to provide evidence to support the conservation of the species across its range."

Anders Linder, GM of Maxar Intelligence's International Government business said, "British Antarctic Survey scientists leverage our industry-leading satellite imagery to accurately monitor the walruses in the Arctic without disturbing them.

"This remote sensing data gives a greater understanding of the effects of climate change on their icy habitats, supporting the conservation of the species."

More information: Hannah C. Cubaynes et al, Walruses from space: walrus counts in simultaneous remotely piloted aircraft system versus very highresolution satellite imagery, Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation (2024). DOI: 10.1002/rse2.391
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Janelao Cave in Peruacu Caves National Park, Januaria, Minas Gerais state. Many caves in the park are large, with ceiling heights of 100 m, at the bottom of a 200 m canyon. Geologists affiliated with the University of Sao Paulo are researching 1,000 years of climate variability in the caves. Credit: Ataliba Coelho

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Sao Paulo (USP) in Brazil and reported in an article published in Nature Communications shows that the Cerrado, Brazil's savanna biome, is experiencing the worst drought for at least 700 years. Here's why.

The effects of global warming have been particularly intense in the central region of the country, where the rise in temperatures is about 1 C higher than the 1.5 C global average. This has produced hydrological disruptions because the temperature near the surface is so high that a significant proportion of any rain that falls evaporates before it can penetrate the soil, leading to changes in the pattern of rainfall, with fewer but extremely heavy rainstorms and less aquifer recharging. The drought could dry up the tributaries of the Sao Francisco, the largest river in the basin of the same name that spans seven Brazilian states.

The researchers analyzed records of temperature, rainfall, streamflow and hydrological balance from the Januaria weather station, one of the oldest in the state of Minas Gerais, with records dating from 1915, and correlated them with variations in the chemical composition of stalagmites in a cave in the nearby Peruacu Caves National Park.

"We used geological data to extend the perception of drought caused by global warming to a period long before the weather station's records began, and were able to reconstitute weather patterns as far back as seven centuries. This proved that the Cerrado is drier than it was and that the dry weather is associated with the disruption to the hydrological cycle caused by the rise in temperature due to human activity, especially greenhouse gas emissions," Francisco William da Cruz Junior, a professor at the Institute of Geosciences (IGC-USP), told Agencia FAPESP. Cruz is one of the authors of the article, whose first author is Nicolas Strikis, also affiliated with IGC-USP.

"The message is that there is no parallel with the drought that's occurring now. It's important to note that our study identified a rise in temperatures starting in the 1970s. This rise hasn't yet reached its peak. The phenomenon is expected to become even worse," Cruz added.

Onca Cave, a jaguar's hideout where stalagmite chemical composition data was collected, differs from other caves studied by the group in that it has a wide-open entrance and is influenced by variations in external temperature even though it lies at the bottom of a 200 m canyon.

"Studies of open caves like this one are few and far between. We usually study caves in a closed environment, where very little air circulates and the temperature is stable throughout the year," Cruz explained.

"Onca Cave's connection to the outside climate enabled us to determine that the drought also alters the chemistry of the speleothems [mineral deposits formed from groundwater within underground caves, including stalagmites and stalactites]. The increase in evaporation due to warming decreases the groundwater recharge that feeds the drip water in the cave. Chemical changes in the rock, associated with evaporation of the water, showed us that the ongoing drought is unprecedented."

Nicolas Strikis collects stalagmite specimens at Onca Cave in Peruacu Caves National Park. Credit: Daniel Menin

The study was part of a larger research project designed to reconstruct climate variability and change during the millennium 850 CE1850 CE using speleothem and tree-ring records from central-eastern South America.

"The new methodology and validation of the data analyzed in our study pave the way for more research in other caves, regions and biomes. This kind of approach can be used to reconstitute the climate in Brazil more precisely," Cruz said.

Geological studies that serve as a basis for global warming scenarios typically use ice cores collected from glaciers at the poles. Bubbles of air in the cores provide samples of the atmosphere from the remote past from which scientists can estimate levels of greenhouse gases.

"Our study innovates by using speleothem chemical data to detect hydrological cycle variations and associate these with the changes induced by warming in the tropics," Cruz said.

The group has also analyzed fossil trees from the Peruacu Caves National Park for paleoclimate studies.

"Fossils of Amburana cearensis are found in the caves. They've been protected from sunlight for over 500 years. By combining the results of our study with the research that's being done on these fossil trees, we've obtained independent data relating to this same phenomenon," Cruz said.

More information: Nicolas Misailidis Strikis et al, Modern anthropogenic drought in Central Brazil unprecedented during last 700 years, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45469-8 Journal information: Nature Communications

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Illustration of nationwide greenhouses mapping in China. Credit: Geo-spatial Information Science (2024). DOI: 10.1080/10095020.2024.2328100

China's Earth Observation (EO) System has seen significant progress, evolving into a sophisticated network of satellites supporting various global applications. This system, vital for sustainable development, promises further advancements with new technologies enhancing its capabilities.

China's EO journey began with the launch of its first satellite, DFH-1, in 1970, followed by the first recoverable remote sensing satellite in 1975. The country has since developed a comprehensive EO system with a focus on peaceful use, scientific innovation, economic contribution, and global sustainable development. The system comprises various satellite series for meteorological, oceanic, and terrestrial observations, utilizing advanced remote sensing technologies.

A comprehensive review of China's Earth Observation (EO) system, its missions, applications, and future directions has been published in Geo-spatial Information Science. The paper, led by Professor Deren Li from Wuhan University, outlines the significant strides China has made in EO technology since the 1970s, contributing to economic growth and sustainable development.

The paper meticulously traces the evolution of China's Earth Observation (EO) system, from its nascent stages in the 1970s to its current status as a global leader in remote sensing. Initially focusing on meteorological satellites, the program expanded to include diverse satellite series that cover meteorological, oceanic, and terrestrial observations.

The recent integration of more than 200 satellites into China's EO network has solidified its capabilities in real-time global surveillance and data collection. This extensive network utilizes a range of remote sensing technologies such as synthetic-aperture radar, hyperspectral imaging, and infrared sensors to provide invaluable data across various sectors.

Significantly, the research highlights the transition from experimental applications to operational services, emphasizing the active role of private enterprises in the commercialization of satellite data. This shift has not only fueled technological advancements but also diversified the applications of the EO system.

Professor Deren Li of Wuhan University notes, "China's EO system is not just a technological achievement but a cornerstone of our commitment to sustainable development and international cooperation in environmental monitoring and disaster management."

The EO system's applications are vast, ranging from improving agricultural practices through precise weather data, aiding disaster response strategies, to enhancing urban planning processes. The system's development has been pivotal in advancing China's capabilities in global environmental monitoring and disaster response.

More information: Deren Li et al, On China's earth observation system: mission, vision and application, Geo-spatial Information Science (2024). DOI: 10.1080/10095020.2024.2328100
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Lab-grown meat, eggs and milk have made headlines in recent years.

At a factory in Finland, the "farmers of the future" are making a new food protein by feeding a microbe air and electricity, proving that protein can be produced without traditional agriculture.

Livestock farming is one of the main culprits in greenhouse gas emissions, the primary cause of global warming.

Cellular agriculture, where food or nutrients are grown from cell cultures, is increasingly seen as a green alternative to animal agriculture.

Lab-grown meat, eggs and milk have made headlines in recent years, with scientists using animal cell culturesa process some have criticized as unnatural, highly processed, energy-consuming and costly.

But at Solar Foods' recently opened factory outside Helsinki, scientists are using new technology to grow protein out of cells using air and electricity.

By feeding a microbe with carbon dioxide, hydrogen and some minerals, and powering the process with electricity from renewable sources, the company has managed to create a protein-rich powder that can be used as a milk and egg substitute.

"We can source our main feedstock for the microbe from the air," Solar Foods chief executive Pasi Vainikka told AFP, as he gave a tour of the company's new facilities near Helsinki.

"We have started the production of the world's most sustainable protein."

Scientists are using new technology to grow protein out of cells using air and electricity.

Founded by Vainikka and Juha-Pekka Pitkanen in 2017, Solar Foods launched the "world's first factory growing food out of thin air" in April.

"Much of the animal-like protein of today can actually be produced through cellular agriculture and we can let agricultural land re-wild and thereby build carbon stock," Vainikka said, referring to the process whereby forests and soil absorb and store carbon.

One kilo of the new protein, dubbed "solein", emits 130 times less greenhouse gases than the same amount of protein produced by beef production in the European Union, a 2021 scientific study claimed.

Vainikka navigates his way through the factory's laboratory and into the control room, where a dozen people at computer screens monitor the production process.

"These are our future farmers," Vainikka said.

Part of the solution

Transforming food production and consumption is at the heart of combating the climate crisis and preventing biodiversity loss, according to Emilia Nordlund, head of industrial biotechnology and food research at the VTT Technical Research Centre.

Yet current projections show the consumption of meat is expected to increase in coming years.

'We can source our main feedstock for the microbe from the air,' Solar Foods chief executive Pasi Vainikka told AFP.

"Industrial food production, especially livestock production, is one of the biggest causes of greenhouse gas emissions (and) the biggest cause of biodiversity loss, eutrophication and freshwater usage," she said.

New food production technologies can help cut emissions and "decentralize and diversify food production", Nordlund said.

"However, at the same time, we must improve the existing food production methods to make them more sustainable and resilient," she added.

Fermentation technology used to produce different nutrients, such as proteins, has been around for decades.

But the field has expanded significantly in recent years with new technological solutions and research projects emerging worldwide.

Slow progress

Some of the most active start-up hubs focusing on cellular agriculture are in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Israel, Nordlund said.

"We are in a crucial phase as we will see which start-ups will survive," she said, adding that stalling bureaucracy was slowing cellular agriculture's take-off in the EU.

The new protein is dubbed 'solein'

Dressed in protective gear to prevent bacteria contamination in the factory, Vainikka showed off a giant steel tank in a shiny production hall.

"This is a fermenter holding 20,000 liters," he said, explaining that the microbe multiplies inside the tank as it gets fed the greenhouse gas.

Liquid containing the microbes is continuously extracted from the tank to be processed into the yellowish protein-rich powder with a flavor described as "nutty" and "creamy".

"The fermenter produces the same amount of protein per day as 300 milking cows or 50,000 laying hens," Vainikka said.

That equals "five million meals' worth of protein per year".

For now, the main purpose of the small Finnish plant employing around 40 people is to "prove that the technology scales", so it can attract the necessary investments pending European regulatory approval.

While the protein has been cleared for sale in Singapore where some restaurants have used it to make ice cream, it is still awaiting classification as a food product in the EU and the United States.

To have any real impact, the aim is to "build an industrial plant 100 times the size of this one", Vainikka said.

 2024 AFP
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A researcher climbs General Sherman, the world's largest tree, in Sequoia National Park, Calif. on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The research team inspected the 275-foot tree for evidence of bark beetles, an emerging threat to giant sequoias. Credit: AP Photo/Terry Chea

High in the evergreen canopy of General Sherman, the world's largest tree, researchers searched for evidence of an emerging threat to giant sequoias: bark beetles.

They descended the towering 2,200-year-old tree with good news on Tuesday.

"The General Sherman tree is doing fine right now," said Anthony Ambrose, executive director of the Ancient Forest Society, who led the climbing expedition. "It seems to be a very healthy tree that's able to fend off any beetle attack."

It was the first time that climbers had scaled the iconic 275-foot (85-meter) sequoia tree, which draws tourists from around the world to Sequoia National Park.

Giant sequoias, the Earth's largest living things, have survived for thousands of years in California's western Sierra Nevada mountain range, the only place where the species is native.

But as the climate grows hotter and drier, giant sequoias previously thought to be almost indestructible are increasingly threatened by extreme heat, drought and wildfires.

In 2020 and 2021, record-setting wildfires killed as much as 20 percent of the world's 75,000 mature sequoias, according to park officials.

"The most significant threat to giant sequoias is climate-driven wildfires," said Ben Blom, director of stewardship and restoration at Save the Redwoods League. "But we certainly don't want to be caught by surprise by a new threat, which is why we're studying these beetles now."

Researchers climb General Sherman, the world's largest tree, in Sequoia National Park, Calif. on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. They inspected the 275-foot tree for evidence of bark beetles, an emerging threat to giant sequoias. Credit: AP Photo/Terry Chea

But researchers are growing more worried about bark beetles, which didn't pose a serious threat in the past.

The beetles are native to California and have co-existed with sequoias for thousands of years. But only recently have they been able to kill the trees. Scientists say they recently discovered about 40 sequoia trees that have died from beetle infestations, mostly within the national parks.

"We're documenting some trees that are actually dying from kind of a combination of drought and fire that have weakened them to a point where they're not able to defend themselves from the beetle attack," Ambrose said.

The beetles attack the trees from the canopy, boring into branches and working their way down the trunk. If left unchecked, the tiny beetles can kill a tree within six months.

That's why park officials allowed Ambrose and his colleagues to climb General Sherman. They conducted the tree health inspection as journalists and visitors watched them pull themselves up ropes dangling from the canopy. They examined the branches and trunk, looking for the tiny holes that inidicate beetle activity.

Researchers climb General Sherman, the world's largest tree, in Sequoia National Park, Calif. on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. They inspected the 275-foot tree for evidence of bark beetles, an emerging threat to giant sequoias. Credit: AP Photo/Terry Chea

A small vial contains dead bark beetles in Sequoia National Park, Calif. on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Researchers climbed General Sherman, the world's largest tree, to inspect the 275-foot tree for evidence of bark beetles, an emerging threat to giant sequoias. Credit: AP Photo/Terry Chea

A researcher examines General Sherman, the world's largest tree, in Sequoia National Park, Calif. on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The research team inspected the 275-foot tree for evidence of bark beetles, an emerging threat to giant sequoias. Credit: AP Photo/Terry Chea

Researchers climb General Sherman, the world's largest tree, in Sequoia National Park, Calif. on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. They inspected tree for evidence of bark beetles, an emerging threat to giant sequoias. Credit: AP Photo/Terry Chea

Visitors walk in a giant sequoia grove near General Sherman, the world's largest tree, in Sequoia National Park, Calif. on May 21, 2024. A research team inspected the 275-foot tree for evidence of bark beetles, an emerging threat to giant sequoias. Credit: AP Photo/Terry Chea

Clay Jordan, superintendent of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, speaks in front of General Sherman, the world's largest tree, in Sequoia National Park, Calif. on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. A research team inspected the 275-foot tree for evidence of bark beetles, an emerging threat to giant sequoias. Credit: AP Photo/Terry Chea

But it's not possible to climb every sequoia tree to directly inspect the canopy in person. That's why they're also testing whether drones equipped with sensors and aided by satellite imagery can be used to monitor and detect beetle infestations on a larger scale within the forests.

Tuesday's health inspection of General Sherman was organized by the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition, a group of government agencies, Native tribes and environmental groups. They hope to establish a health monitoring program for the towering trees.

If they discover beetle infestations, officials say, they could try to combat the attacks by spraying water, removing branches or using chemical treatments.

Bark beetles have ravaged pine and fir forests throughout the Western United States in recent years, but they previously didn't pose a threat to giant sequoias, which can live 3,000 years.

"They have really withstood insect attacks for a lot of years. So why now? Why are we seeing this change?" said Clay Jordan, superintendent for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. "There's a lot that we need to learn in order to ensure good stewardship of these trees for a long time."

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: Mary Taylor/Pexels, CC BY

Students at all-girls' schools do slightly better in their exams than girls at co-educational schools, according to new research from the United Kingdom.

This goes against previous studies that suggest it does not matter if students attend single-sex or co-ed schools.

What is the study?

This research was done by FFT Education Datalab. This is an independent research team specializing in education policy and statistics.

Using the United Kingdom's National Pupil Database, the study looked at more than 580,000 students who attended more than 3,200 schools. All schools were government-funded (so were "public schools" in Australian termimology) and were either single sex or co-ed.

Students exam results were examined at the end of Year 11 and the study controlled for differences in schools and pupil characteristics, such as socioeconomic disadvantage or high levels of students who learned English as a second language.

What did the research find?

The research found girls who went to all-girls' schools recorded a small improvement in their exam results compared to their peers in co-educational schools.

This is after adjusting their results to account for factors such as disadvantage.

The gap is smallaround one month's progress for each of the students. But it is noticeable.

Yet for boys' schools, there wasn't any difference in results between single sex and co-ed schools.

Why is this important?

While the UK study was not peer-reviewed, this finding is important because it contradicts other recent large-scale research, which has found no statistically significant academic advantage to single-sex schooling.

For example, a 2022 analysis of Irish students found no significant performance gaps between co-educational and single-sex schools.

A 2014 meta-analysis (an overview of many studies) across 21 countries also found no high-quality evidence of benefits to single-sex schooling.

What about Australia?

This new research plays into the renewed debate over single sex schooling in Australia in recent months.

This follows some prestigious all boys' schools announcing moves to co-education (and some former students crying about the change). It also follows multiple examples of sexism and misogyny by male students at both all-boys and co-ed schools.

There is also a growing body of Australian research examining toxic behavior of boys towards their female teachers and peers.

So the UK research could further entrench a perception girls are better off in single-sex schools.

This perception has a long history. Many girls schools were set up in the 1800s by pioneering headmistresses such as English educator Frances Buss, who believed in girls' equal rights to education and girls' schools were the best places to provide this.

Girls' schools today retain an image of feminist progressivism, promoting the idea that "girls can achieve anything." The perception is supported by some research evidence that girls in single-sex schools are more likely to feel confident in traditionally male-dominated subjects such as STEM.

What needs to be done?

This UK study raises many questions. Are girls indeed better off on their own? Are there aspects of single-sex education that could be applied in co-ed environments? How do we ensure that all schools are schools of choice for girls, including coeducational schools?

We can investigate these questions further by doing research with families to better understand their perceptions and experiences of single-sex schools today. We can also do more research into the impact of programs such as Respectful Relationships, which have been introduced to build positive gender cultures in schools.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Precisely targeted femtosecond laser pulses were focused on the central nervous system of zebrafish larvae under various irradiation settings. Credit: Hanieh Fattahi research group, MPL

Nonlinear light microscopy has revolutionized our ability to observe and understand complex biological processes. However, light can also damage living matter. Yet, the mechanism behind the irreversible perturbation of cellular processes by intense light remains poorly understood.

To address this lacuna, the research groups of Hanieh Fattahi and Daniel Wehner at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL) and Max-Planck-Zentrum fur Physik und Medizin have joined forces to identify the conditions under which intense pulsed lasers can be used in vivo without damaging the organism.

The Erlangen-based international team used the vertebrate species zebrafish to delve into the mechanisms of photodamage in deep tissue at a cellular level triggered by femtosecond excitation pulses. The results have been published in Communications Physics.

Soyeon Jun, the first author of the publication and doctoral student in the "Femtosecond Fieldoscopy" group at MPL headed by Fattahi explains, "We demonstrated that damage to the central nervous system (CNS) of zebrafish, when irradiated by femtosecond pulses at 1,030 nm, occurs abruptly at the extreme peak intensities required for low-density plasma formation."

This allows for a noninvasive increase in imaging dwell time and photon flux during irradiation at 1,030 nm, as long as the peak intensity is below the low-plasma density threshold. This is crucial for nonlinear label-free microscopy.

"These findings significantly contribute to advancements in deep tissue imaging techniques and innovative microscopy techniques, like femtosecond fieldoscopy, which is currently being developed in my group. This technique allows for the capture of high spatial resolution, label-free images with attosecond temporal resolution," says Fattahi.

"Our results not only highlight the value of collaborations of the fields of physics and biology but also pave the way for in vivo applications to achieve light-based precise manipulations of the central nervous system," adds Wehner, head of the research group Neuroregeneration.

Correction note (5/28/2024): The wavelength of femtosecond pulses was corrected to 1,030 nm.

More information: Soyeon Jun et al, Nonlinear dynamics of femtosecond laser interaction with the central nervous system in zebrafish, Communications Physics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s42005-024-01653-2 Journal information: Communications Physics
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Enrolling in a selective college STEM program pays off more for academically marginal studentseven though they are less likely to graduate, Cornell economics research finds.

The analysis found that students who weren't as ready for science, technology, engineering and math coursework were up to 18 percentage points less likely to complete STEM degrees than better-prepared peers at a flagship public university in Colombia. But their average future earningsincluding graduates and dropoutsincreased by as much as 40% compared to similarly qualified applicants rejected by the programs. For better-prepared students, the added earnings benefit from enrolling was minimal.

The findings lend support to policies that seek to broaden access to selective STEM programs instead of prioritizing graduation rates, suggesting they could help reduce income inequality.

"If colleges want to maximize their graduation rate in their STEM programs, then they would admit the most-prepared students," said Evan Riehl, assistant professor in the Department of Economics and the ILR School. "But if their goal is to benefit societymeaning to admit students who are going to have the highest average benefit from enrolling in STEM programsthen our findings suggest that these colleges are actually better off admitting students from disadvantaged backgrounds even if they have relatively less preparation."

Riehl's paper, "The Returns to STEM Programs for Less-Prepared Students," published in the May issue of the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, is co-authored with Kevin Ng, Ph.D. '22, a research analyst at CNA, a nonprofit research and analysis firm.

Research has shown STEM degrees generate higher earnings than other fields and boost innovation, driving interest in growing the number of STEM students around the world. Selective STEM programs, however, are known for weeding out underperforming students and for high dropout rates, prompting debate about potential mismatches for less-prepared applicants, who on average are more socioeconomically disadvantaged.

"A growing body of research finds that students from disadvantaged backgrounds tend to benefit from going to more selective schools," Riehl said. "But some believe if there is a mismatch, it's most likely to be in STEM majors, where research shows academic preparation matters the most."

Investigating the benefits of enrolling in such programs, regardless of the graduation outcome, Riehl and Ng obtained data on applicants to all programs at Universidad del Valle, or "Univalle," in Cali, Colombia, from 1999 to 2004. They linked that information to administrative records providing students' scores on entrance exams across subjects, enrollment and graduation outcomes, and average monthly earnings roughly 15 years later, in 2017.

The researchers first compared outcomes for students with similar levels of academic preparation and likelihoods of completing STEM degrees based on test scoresthe sole basis for highly competitive admissions at Univalle. They also compared outcomes for students who were either barely admitted or barely rejected by Univalle, including during a period when the university doubled cohorts in certain STEM subjects, thus enrolling more students with lower levels of preparation.

The analysis confirmed academic preparation's importance, consistent with prior research. Only about one-third of the marginal students who enrolled in Univalle's engineering and natural science programs graduateda rate comparable to those at flagship U.S. universities, the authors said. Less-prepared students were 9 to 18 percentage points less likely to complete STEM degrees than their more-prepared peers.

But surprisingly, Riehl said, lower completion rates did not translate to lower average earnings more than a decade later. Compared to similar marginal applicants who were not accepted to a Univalle STEM program, those who enrolled earned 30% to 40% more. Among better-prepared students, the earnings return from enrolling was close to zero.

That gap may be explained, Riehl and Ng propose, by the students' "counterfactual" schooling optionswhere they enrolled if rejected by Univalle. Research on graduation rates often assumes that students rejected by a selective STEM program will pursue a STEM degree elsewhere, Riehl said. But for those who barely missed out on admission to Univalle, the data showed that their fallback was more likely to be a lower-paying major or a technical school, not another college STEM program.

An important caveat, the researchers said, was that the significant earnings gains for less-prepared students might be concentrated among those who had managed to graduate. Policies striving to improve STEM skills at younger ages could help ensure that returns are spread more evenly, they said. But Riehl and Ng concluded that focusing only on graduation rates can lead to an overly pessimistic view of selective STEM programs' potential benefits.

"STEM programs can play an important role in reducing earnings inequality," they wrote, "among students who arrive at college with different levels of academic preparation."

More information: Kevin Ng et al, The Returns to STEM Programs for Less-Prepared Students, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy (2024). DOI: 10.1257/pol.20200694
Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, right, former commander of the 19th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, is charged with raping a female subordinate. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III rejected Stewart's request to retire rather than face a court-martial. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, former commander of the San Antonio-based 19th Air Force, the service's pilot training arm, has lost his bid to retire rather than face a court-martial on charges of raping a female subordinate.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III rejected Stewart's request, two members of the general's defense team said Thursday. The Air Force did not comment.

The decision means Stewart remains on track for a June 17 trial at Fort Sam Houston on charges that he sexually assaulted the female officer at or near Altus AFB in southwestern Oklahoma in April 2023.

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Stewart was sacked as head of the 19th Air Force a month after the alleged assault. He has pleaded not guilty and maintains that he and the woman had a consensual affair. Military prosecutors say she had no choice but to submit to Stewart's advances given his rank and power.

A member of Stewart's defense team said Kendall's decision was "a one- or two-sentence rejection" that offered "no broad explanation."

Stewart is only the second general in Air Force history to face a court-martial.

A petition filed by his lawyers in mid-January asked Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, head of the San Antonio-based Air Education and Training Command, which includes the 19th Air Force, to allow Stewart to retire and go before a military board that would determine his final rank.

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If the panel, called a grade determination board, had reduced his rank, Stewart could have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in retirement benefits compared with what he would have collected as a retired two-star general.

He would face an even worse fate if convicted at trial. Stewart faces a total of 63 years in prison if found guilty of four violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including sexual assault, conduct unbecoming an officer, dereliction of duty and extramarital sexual conduct.

The evidence against Stewart was aired at an Article 32 hearing at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in October. An Article 32 hearing is similar to a civilian grand jury proceeding, held to determine whether there is sufficient evidence of a crime to warrant a trial.

During the hearing, defense lawyers said the alleged victim joked with Stewart during their encounters and kissed and hugged him. Prosecutors, however, said the evidence showed that he forced his will on her and that comments she made before, during and after the encounters suggested she was uncomfortable.

Lt. Col. Pete Havern, special trial counsel for the Air Force, said Stewart should not have put himself in the position of having sex with a subordinate. Havern said it speaks volumes that when investigators interviewed the woman, she referred to Stewart over and over as boss.

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After reviewing the evidence, the hearing examiner, Col. Brian Thompson, recommended against a court-martial on the sexual assault charges, saying the case was so weak that prosecutors would never obtain a conviction.

At no point did (the alleged victim) express, through words or conduct, that she was not freely agreeing/consenting to engage in the sexual acts with accused, Thompson wrote in his Oct. 29 report.

Robinson, however, overruled the hearing officer and ordered Stewart to stand trial on all the charges.

In addition to charges related to the alleged sexual assault, Stewart is accused of flying an aircraft within 12 hours of consuming alcohol, a throttle-to-bottle violation. It allegedly happened at Altus AFB on April 14, around the same time as the alleged assault.

San Antonio attorney Jeffrey Addicott, who is consulting with military lawyers on Stewarts behalf, said he had been hopeful Kendall would allow Stewart to retire rather than stand trial.

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"I was cautiously optimistic, given the fact that the Article 32 recommended dismissal of all charges for the sexual assault," Addicott said. "We're prepared to go to trial because that's where we're at."

The jury at the court-martial will be made up of officers of Stewarts rank or higher.

Stewart is a veteran command pilot with more than 2,600 hours in the air, including 600-plus in combat zones. He flew the F-15C and U-2 spy plane and held command positions in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Iraq, he was commander of the 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Balad Air Base. In Afghanistan, he led NATO's Train Advise Assist Command-Air in Kabul.

At the 19th Air Force, he oversaw 32,000 employees. The 19th is responsible for all flight training within the Air Education and Training Command. It leads cadet flight orientation at the U.S. Air Force Academy and trains entry-level and advanced fighter pilots, as well as drone pilots, combat systems officers, and air mobility and special operations combat crews. It also trains maintenance specialists and provides survival, evasion, resistance and escape instruction.

Stewart's father, former Marine Cpl. Mason Stewart, 82, of Brunswick, Ga., told the San Antonio Express-News on Thursday that he believes "some very strong, undue command influence" is being brought to bear in his son's case.

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The elder Stewart, who served two tours in Vietnam, wrote that he believes Robinson, a three-star general, is "protecting the career" of the female officer, and that Robinson is concerned mainly with "protecting his chances for a fourth star."

"There seems to be a lot of pressure to make it happen," he said, referring to a trial. "This is so wrong."
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Target Pixel File (TPF) from TESS sector 5 with TIC-1167538 (=TOI-2447/NGTS-29) marked with a white cross. Other sources from Gaia DR3 are marked with red circles sized by scaled magnitudes relative to the target, ranked by distance. The aperture mask is indicated by the red outline. Credit: Gill et al., 2024.

Using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), an international team of astronomers has discovered a new Saturn-mass planet orbiting a solar-type star known as TOI-2447. The finding was reported in a research paper published May 12 on the pre-print server arXiv.

To date, TESS has identified more than 7,100 candidate exoplanets (TESS Objects of Interest, or TOI), of which 445 have been confirmed. Since its launch in April 2018, the satellite has been conducting a survey of about 200,000 of the brightest stars near the sun with the aim of searching for transiting extrasolar planetsranging from small, rocky worlds to gaseous giants.

A group of astronomers led by Samuel Gill of the University of Warwick, UK, now reports the confirmation of another TOI monitored by TESS. They detected a transit signal on the light curve of TOI-2447, which turned out to be of planetary nature. The newly discovered exoplanet received designation TOI-2447 b, or NGTS-29 b as data from the Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) were also used to confirm its planetary status.

"TOI-2447 b was identified as a transiting exoplanet candidate from a single transit event of 1.3 percent depth and 7.29-hour duration in TESS Sector 31 and a prior transit event from 2017 in NGTS data," the researchers explained.

The newfound exoplanet has a radius of 0.86 Jupiter radii and its mass is 0.39 Jupiter masses. It orbits its host every 69.34 days, at a distance of 0.35 AU from it. The equilibrium temperature of TOI-2447 b was estimated to be 414 K, therefore generally lower than the majority of planets discovered by TESS.

The parent star TOI-2447 (also known as TIC-1167538) is a bright dwarf of spectral type G9V. It has a size and mass comparable to that of the sun, and its metallicity is at a level of 0.18 dex. The star is estimated to be 2.1 billion years old and has an effective temperature of approximately 5,730 K.

The researchers also collected strong evidence for additional planets orbiting TOI-2447. They identified a transit signal in the NGTS data not originating from TOI-2447, but most likely from some other transiting object. Moreover, they found evidence in the radial-velocity data from the CHIRON high-resolution echelle spectrometer, suggesting the presence of an outer planet with an orbital period of around 150 days. However, additional observations are needed in order to confirm the planetary nature of these signals.

"We continue to monitor the TOI-2447 with photometry and spectroscopy in order to better characterize these signals and determine the properties of additional planets in the system," the authors of the paper conclude.

More information: Samuel Gill et al, TOI-2447 b / NGTS-29 b: a 69-day Saturn around a Solar analogue, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2405.07367 Journal information: arXiv

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The image, captured by the Euclid satellite, depicts the Perseus cluster of galaxies bathed in a gentle, soft blue light emanating from orphan stars. These orphan stars are dispersed throughout the cluster, extending up to 2 million light-years from its center. The cluster galaxies stand out as luminous elliptical shapes against the dark expanse of space. Credit: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, image processing by M. Montes (IAC) and J.-C. Cuillandre (CEA Paris-Saclay)

Scientists have released the first set of scientific data captured with the Euclid telescope, showing an exciting glimpse of the universe's distant past.

The telescope, launched in July 2023, is part of the Dark Energy Satellite Mission, which aims to map the dark universe.

Led by the European Space Agency in collaboration with The Euclid Consortiumwhich includes astronomers at The University of Manchester in leadership positionsthe mission seeks to unlock mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, and reveal how and why the universe looks as it does today.

Early observations, described in a series of scientific papers published today, include five never-before-seen images of the universe.

The papers also describe several new discoveries including, free-floating new-born planets, newly identified extragalactic star clusters, new low-mass dwarf galaxies in a nearby galaxy cluster, the distribution of dark matter and intracluster light in galaxy clusters, and very distant bright galaxies from the first billion years of the universe.

As the European Space Agency publishes the first findings from its Euclid space telescope, scientists from the University of Surrey are celebrating fresh insights from the data. Dr. Denis Erkal, Associate Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Surrey, studies how the gravity of the Milky Way pulls clusters of stars apart, creating streams of stars trailing across the galaxy. Now, his model for how this happens has been confirmed by data from Euclid. Credit: University of Surrey

The findings give an insight into the unprecedented power of the Euclid telescope, which is designed to provide the most precise map of our universe over time and demonstrates Euclid's ability to unravel the secrets of the cosmos.

Christopher Conselice, Professor of Extragalactic Astronomy at The University of Manchester, said, "Euclid will completely revolutionize our view of the universe. Already these results are revealing important new findings about local galaxies, new unknown dwarf galaxies, extrasolar planets and some of the first galaxies. These results are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what will come. Soon Euclid will discover yet unknown details of the dark energy and give a full picture of how galaxy formation occurred across all cosmic time."

Michael Brown, Professor of Astrophysics at The University of Manchester, added, "The exceptional data that Euclid is delivering over a large fraction of the sky promises to revolutionize our understanding of dark energy. It is extremely exciting to be part of the team working to extract these headline science results."

The Early Release Observations program was conducted during Euclid's first months in space as a first look at the depth and diversity of science Euclid will provide. A total of 24 hours were allocated to target 17 specific astronomical objects, from nearby clouds of gas and dust to distant clusters of galaxies, producing stunning images that are invaluable for scientific research. In just a single day, Euclid produced a catalogue of more than 11 million objects in visible light and five million more in infrared light.

The images published today follow the return of the space telescope's first full-color images of the cosmos produced in November 2023.

In addition to contributions to the mission's primary objectives, scientists at The University of Manchester, in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Amherst, conducted a preliminary search of the data for distant galaxies. The red galaxies in the image show the cluster, which acts as a magnifying glass to reveal more distant sources behind. In total, 29 galaxies were discovered providing insight into the first billion years of the universe.

Dr. Rebecca Bowler, Ernest Rutherford Fellow at The University of Manchester, said, "In these spectacular images we can see galaxies that were previously invisible, because the most distant galaxies can only be discovered using the longer near-infrared wavelengths seen by Euclid. This first-look data has been invaluable to test our search algorithms and identifying challenges, such as confusion of distant galaxies with brown dwarfs in our own Milky Way, before we start working on the main data later this year.

"What is amazing is that these images cover an area of less than 1% of the full deep observations, showing that we expect to detect thousands of early galaxies in the next few years with Euclid, which will be revolutionary in understanding how and when galaxies formed after the Big Bang."

The images obtained by Euclid are at least four times sharper than those that can be taken from ground-based telescopes. They cover large patches of sky at unrivaled depth, looking far into the distant universe using both visible and infrared light.

The next data release from the Euclid Consortium will focus on Euclid's primary science objectives. A first worldwide quick release is currently planned for March 2025, while a wider data release is scheduled for June 2026. At least three other quick releases and two other data releases are expected before 2031, which corresponds to a few months after the end of Euclid's initial survey.

The Euclid Consortium includes more than 2,600 members, including over 1,000 researchers from more than 300 laboratories in 15 European countries, plus Canada, Japan and United States, covering various fields in astrophysics, cosmology, theoretical physics, and particle physics.

Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General, said, "Euclid demonstrates European excellence in frontier science and state-of-the-art technology, and showcases the importance of international collaboration.

"The mission is the result of many years of hard work from scientists, engineers and industry throughout Europe and from members of the Euclid scientific consortium around the world, all brought together by ESA. They can be proud of this achievementthe results are no small feat for such an ambitious mission and such complex fundamental science. Euclid is at the very beginning of its exciting journey to map the structure of the universe."

More information: Euclid's Early Release Observations science papers will be available from 23 May 2024 onwards: www.euclid-ec.org/science/publications/
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Changes over time in broad taxonomic focus. Temporal patterns (19802020) in the percentage of conservation biology research articles focused on each of three key taxonomic kingdoms. Credit: Cell Reports Sustainability (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.crsus.2024.100082

A new study warns bias towards popular animals in conservation research might see some important, but less spectacular, species suffer "silent extinctions" as their plight goes unrecognized.

Jean-Paul Hobbs, a senior research fellow at James Cook University and co-lead on the study, said despite a 35-fold increase in the number of published research articles, conservation biology research still appeared to be biased toward popular species and ecosystems and there was seemingly little attention paid to within-species (genetic) diversity.

'"It's important that we know why this is occurring because with significant biases remaining in conservation research, there is potential for critical gaps in our understanding of how to best conserve biodiversity across global ecosystems,"' Dr. Hobbs said.

The team analyzed trends over the past four decades in more than 17,500 research articles published in four leading conservation-focused journals. Their work has culminated in a new study titled "Global trends and biases in biodiversity conservation research" published in Cell Reports Sustainability that examines how research efforts have evolved.

JCU Adjunct Senior Research Fellow Dr. Iain Caldwell, who co-led the study said the team found biases in conservation biology research remain entrenched with research efforts increasingly concentrated on the same species, with many of the most-studied species having low conservation risk.

"We also found animals are generally heavily overrepresented while plants, fungi, and freshwater ecosystems are underrepresented in research, and in terms of scale, genetic diversity within species receives the least overall attention,"' Dr. Caldwell said.

'"Findings also showed research is focusing on terrestrial systems and underrepresenting marine and freshwater ecosystems."'

Dr. Hobbs said an increasing bias in genetic studies toward non-threatened species means resources are deflected from species in most need of genetic research.

The study also examined trends in genetic research, finding that although the proportion of genetic studies in conservation journals increased significantly from the 1980s to 1996, it has declined since then.

"Threatened species are most vulnerable to reductions in genetic diversity, which forms the basis for adapting to future challenges,"' Dr. Hobbs said.

"Bias in research priorities is likely to contribute to bias in extinction patterns. It could also mean population declines in understudied species go completely unnoticed, leading to silent extinctions, possibly even before species are discovered."'

Corresponding author on the study and Population Geneticist Dr. Aki Jarl Laruson from the HafrannsoknastofnunMarine & Freshwater Research Institute in Iceland said while efforts to conserve biodiversity are increasing, within-species diversity appears to be receiving the least overall attention.

'"This shift in research priorities can have critical implications for the long-term adaptive potential of vulnerable systems."

Both Dr. Hobbs and Dr. Caldwell emphasized the need for a shift in research priorities.

"Our findings suggest that biases in conservation research are deep-rooted and could lead to an uneven loss of biodiversity and a limited understanding of ecosystem dynamics,"' Dr. Caldwell said.

'"Addressing this imbalance could result in more comprehensive conservation strategies that account for all levels of biodiversity."

Dr. Hobbs said biases may be re-enforced by funding. When funding is limited, researchers may seek to maximize impact by returning to ongoing conservation efforts or focusing on high-profile species.

"Deliberate funding and targeted efforts are needed to investigate both understudied species and ecosystems.

"A broader, more inclusive approach will ensure more effective and equitable conservation efforts across multiple levels of biodiversity, alleviate impediments to biodiversity targets, and ultimately prevent further extinctions."

More information: Iain R. Caldwell et al, Global trends and biases in biodiversity conservation research, Cell Reports Sustainability (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.crsus.2024.100082
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Up close with a silky shark. Credit: Pelayo Salinas de Leon

In a recent study, researchers have documented the most extensive migration ever recorded for a silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), revealing critical insights into the behavior of this severely overfished species and emphasizing the urgent need for cooperative international management measures to prevent further population declines.

The study is a collaboration by researchers from the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), in collaboration with the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) and Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center (SOSF-SRC) at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, and the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD).

The adult female silky shark, nicknamed "Genie" in honor of late shark ecologist Dr. Eugenie Clark, was tagged with a fin-mount satellite transmitter near Wolf Island to the north of the Galapagos Marine Reserve on July 2021, and soon embarked on a vast journey covering more than 27,666 kilometers over 546 days.

This epic voyage, equivalent to crossing the United States from coast to coast approximately four times, included two significant westerly migrations (halfway to Hawaii) extending as far as 4,755 kilometers from the tagging site into international watersareas of high fishing pressure and minimal regulation.

The study shattered the previous movement record by almost six-fold, illustrating the shark's extensive use of the open ocean, far beyond national jurisdictions, demonstrating the urgent need to establish regulations to conserve ocean biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction.

Ocean travelers. Estimated locations for 'Genie' from her tagging location at Wolf Island, the Galapagos Marine Reserve, with a fin-mount SPOT tag and tracked for 546 days. Credit: Save Our Seas Foundation

Dr. Pelayo Salinas de Leon, lead author of the study and co-Principal Investigator of the shark ecology project at the Charles Darwin Foundation noted, "Understanding the migratory pathways of silky and other threatened pelagic sharks is crucial for developing effective management strategies to revert ongoing global population declines.

"Sharks have been roaming the world's oceans for hundreds of millions of years and the map boundaries we humans have established on paper mean nothing to them. Their long migrations through heavily fished international waters expose them to significant risks, highlighting the need for a coordinated global response to ensure the survival of this highly threatened group of species."

Silky sharks are particularly vulnerable to overfishing due to their slow growth, late maturity, and the high demand in the global shark fin trade. Classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, they represent one of the most frequently caught sharks in both artisanal and industrial fisheries, and are a conservation priority for CDF and other organizations.

Time is the essence. Researchers deploy a fin-mounted satellite tag on a silky shark to track her movements in almost real time, a procedure that is completed in around 5 minutes. Credit: Pelayo Salinas de Leon

A threatened species. The tendency of silky sharks to associate with schools of tuna species and floating objects makes them especially vulnerable to industrial tuna fleets that fish around drifting fish aggregation devices. Credit: Pelayo Salinas de Leon

Pelagic sharks are in deep trouble. Once a common sighting around the oceanic islands of the Eastern Tropical Pacific, large shivers of silky sharks are becoming rarer due to ongoing global population declines mainly from overfishing. Credit: Pelayo Salinas de Leon

Remarkably, more than 99% of the time Genie was tracked occurred within international waters to the west and south, far outside the Ecuador managed Exclusive Economic Zone around the Galapagos Islands, highlighting the critical need for international cooperation in the protection of these long-distance traveling oceanic sharks.

"Obtaining shark tracks with good location resolution for over a year is difficult at best. In this case, we were able to track Genie for 1.5 years, revealing unexpectedly consistent, repeated travel pathways of massive distances going far offshore, well beyond national management and current marine protected areas.

"This finding is a call to action for all stakeholders involved in marine conservation and fisheries management to work together to protect these iconic species and the oceanic ecosystems they inhabit," adds co-author, Dr. Mahmood Shivji of the SOSF-SRC and GHRI.

This article, published in the Journal of Fish Biology, serves as a crucial reminder of the interconnectedness of our global marine environments and the collective action required to safeguard ocean biodiversity.

More information: Pelayo SalinasdeLeon et al, Longest recorded migration of a silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) reveals extensive use of international waters of the Tropical Eastern Pacific, Journal of Fish Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15788 Journal information: Journal of Fish Biology

Provided by Save Our Seas Foundation
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The decision has been a year in the making, but the Space Coast will officially become the home of STARCOM, the training headquarters for Space Force.

Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, both former Air Force facilities, were named in May 2023 the presumptive home for STARCOM, which stands for Space Training and Readiness Command. It's one of three Space Force field command units, similar to an Air Force air command.

Sen. Marco Rubio confirmed the decision was made final posting congratulations on X.

"Great news for Florida! Patrick Space Force Base has received final approval to become the permanent headquarters for STARCOM, bolstering Florida's growing leadership in space," Rubio posted May 21.

The Space Coast lost out on getting the Department of Defense's U.S. Space Command headquarters in 2022, but STARCOM would bring a major addition to Space Force's already sizable presence as the launch capital of the world.

STARCOM is "responsible for the deliberate development, education and training of space professionals in addition to the development of space warfighting doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures, and the operational test and evaluation of Space Force systems," according to an Air Force press release.

Under each field command are several smaller groups known as deltas, similar to Air Force wings. One of STARCOM's five deltasSpace Delta 10: Doctrine and Wargamingwas also tapped in 2023 to make its way to Brevard County.

Patrick was named the "sole candidate location being considered to host this mission because of its proximity to a Department of Defense modeling and simulation capability with resident space."

Space Delta 10's job will be to develop Space Force doctrine and tactics, conduct its Lessons Learned Program, and run war games.

Both Patrick and Canaveral were among the first to be converted to the Space Force. They are already home to Space Launch Delta 45, which supports all launches from Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center. SLD 45, though, falls under a different field command for the Space Force called Space Systems Command.

STARCOM for now is run out of Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado while the Space Force's overall headquarters is based in Washington at the Pentagon along with other HQs of the nation's armed forces.

The Orlando Sentinel reached out to STARCOM for details about the timeline and personnel planned for the headquarters' move to Brevard County, but has yet to hear back.

In a 2021 interview with Air & Space Forces Magazine, after being named STARCOM's commander, not Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton said he expected the headquarters to grow to about 250 personnel overseeing about 1,500 under all of its deltas.

Essentially becoming boot camp for the Space Force, Bratton told the magazine he envisioned a future with "on-orbit training where we're live-flying satellites in a training environment, where we can test and train things that we haven't done before, I think that would be a huge step forward for us."

Bratton has since moved on to other duties at the Pentagon and STARCOM's commander since July 2023 has been Maj. Gen. Timothy Sejba.

2024 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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:

Residents go through the damage after a tornado tore through Greenfield, Iowa.

A tornado that ripped through the midwestern US state of Iowa killed five people and left dozens injured, officials said, with homes smashed to pieces and cars thrown through the air.

Residents surveyed the wreckage of flattened buildings and uprooted trees after the storm left a path of destruction across the town of Greenfield on Tuesday.

"Four fatalities and at least 35 injuries were the result of the tornado that impacted the Greenfield, Adair County area," the Iowa State Patrol said Wednesday, adding that the number of injured could still rise.

The local hospital was damaged and some patients were moved to other facilities, while airlift flights were also undertaken after the storm slammed the town of 2,000 residents 45 miles (70 kilometers) from state capital Des Moines.

More than 100 emergency workers combed through the debris, said Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, while local officials reported at least one other person was also killed in nearby Adams County.

Tornado reports in the United States have been far above average in recent weeks, according to CNN, with more than 800 tornadoes this year making it one of the most active on record.

 2024 AFP
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Credit: European Space Agency

Twelve nations have signed the Zero Debris Charter at the ESA/EU Space Council today, solidifying their commitment to the long-term sustainability of human activities in Earth orbit. In addition to the 12 countries, the European Space Agency also signed the Zero Debris Charter as an International Organization (IGO).

The Zero Debris Charter is a world-leading effort to become debris neutral in space by 2030 that was unveiled at the ESA Space Summit in Seville meeting in November 2023.

It is the first time that countries have subscribed at national level, boosting Europe as a leader in clean space while demonstrating widespread acceptance of the charter. Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom have all pledged to adhere to the charter.

More than 100 organizations have already promised to sign the community-led endeavor in the coming months.

"The Zero Debris Charter signals Europe's unwavering commitment to be a global leader on space debris mitigation and remediation, fostering collective action of a large community of space actors from all around the world," says Quentin Verspieren, Protect Accelerator and Space Safety Program Coordinator at ESA. "The impact of the promise made today by these twelve countries on the sustainability of our future activities in space will be immense."

"ESA has committed to a Zero Debris approach, driving a comprehensive internal transformation towards more sustainable practices," says Holger Krag, Head of Space Safety at ESA. "As part of its efforts ESA has facilitated the community-led development of the Zero Debris Charter, a source of inspiration uniting many of our partners around the world behind a common goal."

This GIF is part of a longer animation showing different types of space debris objects and different debris sizes in orbit around Earth. For debris objects bigger than 10 cm the data comes from the US Space Surveillance Catalogue. The information about debris objects smaller than 10 cm is based on a statistical model from ESA. Credit: European Space Agency

ESA estimates that there are currently more than one million pieces of space debris larger than one cm in Earth orbit. Each of these objects is capable of causing catastrophic damage to space assets. If quick and decisive action is not taken to improve the sustainability of space activities, the exponential growth of this debris population will pose an ever-increasing hazard to satellites and astronauts and could render some orbits entirely unusable.

At the Ministerial Conference of 2022, ESA was encouraged by its Member States to implement "a Zero Debris approach for its missions; and to encourage partners and other actors to pursue similar paths, thereby collectively putting Europe at the forefront of sustainability on Earth and in space, while preserving the competitiveness of its industry."

ESA's Zero Debris approach is the agency's large-scale revision of its internal space debris mitigation requirements to become debris-neutral by 2030. The approach will rely on debris mitigation and remediation technology developed in ESA's Space Safety Program.

The Zero Debris Charter is a broader community-driven and community-building initiative for the global space community. Facilitated by ESA's "Protection of Space Assets" Accelerator and collaboratively developed by more than 40 space actors, the Charter contains both high-level guiding principles and ambitious, jointly defined targets to enable the space community to achieve the goal of Zero Debris.

Since the launch of the Charter at ESA's Space Summit in Seville, Spain, in November 2023, more than 100 organizations from around the world, including national space agencies, leading satellite manufacturers, space start-ups and astronomical societies, have confirmed their intent to sign.

The first industry and academic partners as well as NGOs are expected to sign the Zero Debris Charter at ILA Berlin air show on 6 June.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

One-sided relationships with YouTubers are more emotionally fulfilling than talking to casual friends, a new study suggests. The University of Essex research discovered people feel watching online stars like Zoella, KSI and PewDiePie can cheer them up more than weak-tie acquaintanceslike neighbors or co-workers.

Dr. Veronica Lamarche, from the Department of Psychology, also found people feel liked, respected and understood by fictional characters. The study suggests watching online celebrities offers positive reinforcementdespite them not being able to respond.

Dr. Lamarche hopes the researchpublished in Scientific Reportswill shine a light on the role these relationships, known as parasocial, play in society, as social media evolves.

"Parasocial relationships are an important part of our psychological toolbox when it comes to feeling like we have people out there who are able to validate and support us in times of need, even if we can never actually meet with them in reality," said Dr. Lamarche.

"This isn't a last resort for very young or lonely among usin our studies, people of all ages reported feeling like they had a strong connection to at least one fictional character, celebrity or online personality that they've never met."

Across three studies, more than 1,080 people were studied to judge how they perceived parasocial relationships. Most participants52%said they have a strong parasocial relationship, with 36% saying they felt close to a Youtuber.

It looked at people with an average age of 36 in Britain and America and found they believe "one-sided" friendships can fulfill emotional needs in ways that mirror traditional relationships.

These imagined relationships with someone they have never met or a fictional character were seen as more effective at fulfilling their emotional needs than acquaintances or similar weak ties.

However, strong two-sided relationshipssuch as a romantic relationship or very close friendshipwere consistently seen as the most effective connection for fulfilling emotional needs.

Dr. Lamarche added, "People naturally believe their closest relationships are the best way of fulfilling their emotional needs. However, when people were asked to think about a recent time where a close other had hurt their feelings, some people became even more confident that their parasocial ties would be able to respond to their needs."

More information: Shaaba Lotun et al, People perceive parasocial relationships to be effective at fulfilling emotional needs, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58069-9 Journal information: Scientific Reports
Marc Whyte, San Antonio city council member representing District 10, was seen outside of a courtroom after his hearing on May 14, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. This was Whytes first courtroom appearance after he was arrested for a DWI charge last year. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Attorney Martin Phipps, right, announces Wednesday May 16, 2018 at the Bexar County Courthouse that Bexar County has filed suit against opioid manufacturers, promoters, and distributors responsible for opioid addiction in Bexar County. JOHN DAVENPORT/San Antonio Express-News

Embattled attorney Martin Phipps has filed an ethics complaint against City Council Member Marc Whyte alleging that the first-term council member abused his office when he intervened last month in a custody matter involving Phipps children.

Without any personal knowledge or good faith basis, Councilman Whyte made false, unsubstantiated accusations of child abuse against me to San Antonio Police and Bexar County Sheriffs officers and dispatched them to my home, Phipps said in the complaint, filed with the citys Ethics Review Board on Tuesday.

Phipps alleges that Whyte used his authority as City Councilman and special access to law enforcement in an attempt to remove one of Phipps minor children from his home April 26 during a court-ordered visitation.

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After speaking to me, my children, and my mother, SAPD found nothing wrong and no evidence of abuse, Phipps said in the complaint. Hed noted his mother had been on hand for the childrens visit.

City spokesman Brian Chasnoff confirmed that a review of the ethics complaint is underway.

When someone files a complaint against a council member, the city hires an outside lawyer to review the complaint and determine whether it would constitute a violation of the ethics code, Chasnoff said. If so, the complaint goes to the Ethics Review Board, which reviews the facts of the case with the lawyer and could decide to hold a hearing.

Whyte, 44, who was elected to represent District 10 on the Northeast Side last May, said he contacted Police Chief William McManus and Sheriff Javier Salazar about the incident but denied any wrongdoing or making abuse allegations against Phipps, 54.

If any child is in danger, I will always act as immediately as possible, Whyte told the San Antonio Express-News. I would do everything I did that night again.

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Whyte said his wife, Lorien Whyte, alerted him via text message about an alleged situation involving one of Phipps children. He said she shared a screen shot of an alarming text exchange between Phipps' ex-wife and the child.

Lorien Whyte, an appellate attorney, had represented Phipps ex-wife in part of their child custody case.

I think that any other person, elected or not, having read that text exchange  between the child and their mother  would immediately go to any law enforcement person that they knew or that was around them and would report it, Marc Whyte said.

He pointed to the Texas Family Code, which requires that anyone who suspects child abuse or neglect to immediately report it.

Anyone who has McManus cellphone number, Whyte said, can call him about anything.

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Whyte was a partner at Phipps former law firm, Phipps Cavazos PLLC, from late 2014 to 2016.

Phipps represented Bexar County in a 2018 lawsuit against drugmakers, distributors and retailers accused of fueling the opioid crisis that swept San Antonio. Bexar County received a settlement of nearly $14.5 million.

Phipps made headlines in March for being sued over unpaid loans. He has faced foreclosure attempts on the River Walk building that houses his current law firm, as well as accusations from former employees of abuse and retaliation.

Phipps was arrested in February 2021 on suspicion of telephone harassment for repeatedly contacting another ex-wife. A judge dismissed the misdemeanor charge against him in April 2022 for insufficient evidence.

Phipps directed the Express-News to his spokesperson, Colin Strother, for comment. Strother in March agreed to plead guilty to conspiring with U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, to launder more than $200,000 in bribes from a Mexico City bank.

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There are additional facts that we anticipate coming out as the investigation of the Ethics Review Board continues, Strother said. What the councilman did was so egregious and shocking that Mr. Phipps felt that it was more important to get the complaint filed as soon as possible and then go back and put in additional details as the investigation goes on than to delay the filing.

Phipps and his children were traumatized by this experience and these false accusations, and he is really set on making sure this doesnt happen to anyone else, Strother said.

A flurry of texts and calls

At the time, Whyte was at a private Fiesta event in the King William Historic District, a few blocks from Phipps home. Whyte told the Express-News that he called McManus and followed up with a text message. When he didnt get an immediate response, Whyte said, he and District 8 Council Member Manny Pelaez  who was also at the party  approached Salazar, who was at the same event.

After some discussion, Whyte  who on Dec. 29 was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated on the Northeast Side  said Salazar dispatched a deputy who was also at the event to Phipps home to check on this thing.

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A San Antonio police report Phipps attached to the ethics complaint noted that an unidentified deputy showed police a text message from Whyte advising authorities to look carefully into Phipps.

The report said SAPD officers were dispatched to the home for an assault in progress.

Officers did not observe any injuries on the child, the report stated. The officers advised the child that they could text 911 from their computer if they ever felt in danger and the officers would return to the home.

Whyte said McManus texted him later that evening to advise him that the scene had been cleared. The council member said he made clear to the chief his displeasure that police had left. He asked McManus to call him.

But Whyte added: I never asked SAPD to do anything.

Pelaez, a 2025 mayoral candidate, told the Express-News that he suggested to Whyte that they tell Salazar about the concerns Whytes wife had shared.

If Salazar had not been in their line of sight that evening, Pelaez said, he would have advised Whyte to call 911 or to speak with any one of the officers working the event that night.

Salazar told the Express-News that he mostly interacted with Pelaez that night because he doesnt know Whyte very well. The sheriff said Pelaez indicated that a child was in trouble.

Im duty-bound to do something if Im notified, Salazar said.

Phipps ethics complaint accuses Whyte of violating sections of the citys ethics code covering conflicts of interest, unfair advancement of private interest and representation of private interests.

Councilman Whyte had no legitimate reason to insert himself into a private family matter of which he had absolutely no knowledge other than to use his position and authority to obtain a benefit for his wife and her client in an ongoing custody dispute, Phipps said in the complaint.

He alleged that Whyte used his position and access to law enforcement to unfairly secure special consideration, treatment and advantage by SAPD and BCSO beyond that which is lawfully available to other people.
From a press release: The Albany Polish Community Center welcomes enthusiasts of New York history and book lovers to celebrate the release of the second book in the Revolutionary War series, The Enlightened, by local author, Kiersten Marcil.

The first installment, Witness to the Revolution, was released December 2022 and received the Historical Fiction Company bronze medal for historical fantasy, an Author Shout: Reader Ready AwardRecommended Read, and was an American Fiction Awards finalist. The sequel, The Generals Watch, introduces readers to many of the heroes from the Battle of Saratoga, including Col. John Greaton, commanding officer of Albany, N.Y. during the winter of 1777  1778 and Polish immigrant, soldier, and engineer, Col. Thaddeus Kosciuszko, for whom the Twin Bridges is named. Both men were later promoted to Brigadier-General.

The Albany Polish Community Center will be celebrating its 90th Anniversary this September. Over the decades, it has served the Capital Region with Polish food evenings, and hosting craft, vendor and collector shows. There is also a popular weekly bingo game. As well, the Polonaise Banquet Hall has been the venue for innumerable weddings, conferences, and many other celebratory occasions.

Author & Adventurer into History, Kiersten Marcil, is a member of the Daughters of the American Resolution: Schenectady chapter and the Schenectady County Historical Society. Her ancestor, Daniel Grauberger, fought at Fort Ticonderoga with the Sixth Regiment of New Yorks militia.

Please register for the event at https://www.kierstenmarcil.com/book-launch-party-tgw
A controversial flag flown by rioters at the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was reportedly displayed at the New Jersey beach vacation home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.

An Appeal to Heaven flag was spotted at Alitos Long Beach Island residence in July and September last year, according to The New York Times. The banner, also referred to as the Pine Tree flag, was photographed at the house on four occasions during those months, and it appears on a Google Street View capture of the home from August, the Times reported.

Considered a symbol showing support for former President Donald Trump, the flag shows a green pine tree with the phrase An Appeal to Heaven emblazoned over top of it. Though it has roots going back to the Revolutionary War, the Appeal to Heaven flag today is often associated with a religious contingent of the Stop the Steal campaign, the Times reported.

The flag is the second Jan. 6-related banner to be seen flying at an Alito-owned property. Last week, the Times reported that an inverted American flag had been spotted at Alitos home in Virginia in 2021. That flag, Alito told the Times, was hung by his wife following a dispute with a neighbor.

Alito has not publicly addressed the Times report on the Appeal to Heaven flag seen at his New Jersey property, which the newspaper said he has owned since 2014.

U.S. Supreme Court justice swears in Atlantic City police Chief Sarkos ATLANTIC CITY  There was a surprise attendee at police Chief James Sarkos public swearing 

The Appeal to Heaven phrase itself is a paraphrase for trial by arms, Princeton University historian Anthony Grafton told the Times. Dating to the 17th century, the phrase was popularized by philosopher John Locke.

The main point is that theres no appeal, theres no one else you can ask for help or a judgment, Grafton said.

Ethicists interviewed by the Times said the flag being flown at Alitos home is concerning, as it may further associate him with symbols used during the Jan. 6 insurrection. Additionally, the period during which the Appeal to Heaven flag was spotted coincides with the time when the Supreme Court began hearing a case focused on whether people who participated in the insurrection should face obstruction charges.

That case is pending before the Supreme Court, as is another case that would decide whether Trump is immune from election subversion charges.

A number of Republican members of Congress and state leaders have also displayed the flag recently, including Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Times reported. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also faced criticism for his use of the flag, telling CNN on Wednesday that its George Washingtons flag and that it has nothing to do with Stop the Steal protests.

While the Appeal to Heaven flag was spotted at Alitos New Jersey home last year, the Times reports that it was unclear how long it had been displayed.
A Texas radio host and online music creator says that his wife went unconscious from blood loss after medical staff in the state declined to perform an abortion surgery.

Ryan Hamilton, creator of YouTube show "Vintage Alternative" and host of a radio show in the UK, revealed Monday in a lengthy post on X that his wife, Jessica, was rushed to the emergency room with severe pain and bleeding. There, they discovered the fetus no longer had a heartbeat. She was about to enter the second trimester of her pregnancy, carrying the couple's second child.

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She had experienced an incomplete miscarriage, meaning that some of the fetus' tissue still remained in the womb, Ryan Hamilton said. She was given an abortion pill and returned the next day for another dose after the pain and bleeding continued. When she arrived, a male doctor said that "considering the current stance," he would not provide her with a second dose.

"No one should ever have to hear their wife say: 'Get this dead baby out of me!'" Ryan Hamilton wrote.

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022, Texas made it illegal to perform an abortion unless the mother's life or "substantial impairment of a major bodily function" is at risk. The law is vague about what constitutes these risks, so doctors around the state have restricted care in fear of being charged.

The couple traveled to a hospital an hour away, but staff there declined to perform a dilation and curettage procedure, an abortion surgery where tissue is removed from the womb. Jessica Hamilton was instead prescribed a stronger dose of the abortion pill and sent home. But after hours of pain and blood loss, her husband discovered her unconscious.

"Having to pick my wife's cold, limp body off of that bathroom floor, not sure if I was about to lose her, is something I will NEVER forget," Hamilton wrote.

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She was again rushed to the hospital, where staff stabilized her and confirmed that she had delivered the fetus. Hamilton then posted about their experience on X, garnering over 14 million views. While many sent messages of support to the family, Hamilton said that others have made "vile, disgusting comments" and accused him of lying.

In an update posted Thursday, Hamilton said that physically, his wife is recovering, slowly but surely.

"Mentally and emotionally ... well, that's a different story. As I'm sure you know, it will be something she has to carry for the rest of her life," he wrote.
Almost a year after the collapse of a six-story apartment building in downtown Davenport killed three people, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has given its report to the Scott County Attorney's Office, according to the officials involved.

The Division of Criminal Investigation has been investigating the collapse since within days of the collapse on May 28, 2023.

Three men, Branden Colvin, Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien, were killed in the collapse, and one woman, Quanishia "Peach" Berry, was rescued from the rubble after an on-site leg amputation.

A report from forensic engineers hired by the city of Davenport found "root causes" of the collapse: the removal of layers of brick in the days before the collapse without adequate shoring in place.

With DCI's report finished, it will be up to Scott County Attorney Kelly Cunningham and her office to decide whether to bring criminal charges against anyone involved.

Cunningham, reached by phone, said her office was currently in the midst of a flurry of trials and work on other serious cases and would do a complete review of the report once those conclude.

Asked why the completion of the report took almost a year, Agent Ryan Kedley said the length of time boiled down to several factors, including the complexity of the case.

"First, yes, this is a complex sort of case that we, as investigators for the DCIs Major Crime Unit (MCU), do not typically see, as opposed to investigations involving, say, gunshot deaths, kidnappings, child sexual exploitation, etc.  where a level of criminal intent is often very apparent," Kedley wrote in an email. "And, from an investigative standpoint, our primary objective in this case has been to investigate whether criminal law was violated through the various circumstances leading up to building collapse. ... There were numerous circumstances to address. Looking into, documenting properly, and reporting on these various circumstances has been a lengthy process."

The report won't include any sort of legal opinions or charging recommendations or suggestions, Kedley said. But throughout the investigation "we've been in regular communication with Ms. Cunningham, during which she has assessed where things stood from a legal standpoint  criminal vs. civil, etc.  and provided feedback to investigators," he wrote.

Cunningham, speaking generally because she hadn't completed her review of the report, said tragedies and loss of life happen, but that doesn't always mean there was criminal intent to prosecute under criminal law. Some may belong in civil court.

"We're talking about the collapse of a physical structure," Cunningham said.

She said she must go through the report and give it a thoughtful review, which couldn't be addressed immediately.

Several lawsuits have been filed naming a number of defendants, such as the building's owner, Andrew Wold; the city of Davenport; Select Structural Engineering, which advised repairs on the building; Bi-State Masonry, which finished brickwork in early May but says it did not do brickwork in the final days before the collapse; past building owners; and individual city employees.
Current Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins faces a challenger in Mark Nelson, a commercial real estate appraiser, for the Republican nomination.

The county auditor's office runs elections, keeps financial records for the county and maintains records of real estate transfers in the county.

Tompkins was appointed to the post by a party-line vote of the board of supervisors in 2021. Controversy surrounded the appointment because her name was not revealed until an email from the board chair 14 hours before supervisors voted on whether to appoint her.

She won election in 2022 against Democrat Ashley Schimanski. Tompkins must run again in 2024 for what would be her first full four-year term.

The primary is June 4. Early voting is underway.

D. Mark Nelson

Age: 63

Occupation: Commercial Real Estate Appraiser, Owner, Nelson Valuations, INC, dba Roy R. Fisher

Education: State Certified Real Estate Appraiser in Iowa and Illinois

Professional Designations: Appraisal Institute MAI and AI-GRS designations

Relevant local government or leadership experience:

City of Davenport Parks Advisory Committee (member 2006, Chair 2008 - 2016)

Iowa Chapter Appraisal Institute Board of Directors (2023 - current)

Why are you running for office?

I was recruited to run for Auditor by long-time friends and business partners. They were very concerned about election processes after the two recounts. There are additional concerns about office management with the increase in administrative costs. Auditor Tompkins by her own admission failed to follow state code when procuring bids for poll book hardware and software last year.

They know I have the right management skills and integrity to address these problems.

Kerri Tompkins (i)

Age: 50

Occupation: Scott County Auditor

Education: Master of Social Work, Concentration in Administration

Relevant local government or leadership experience: I bring over twenty years of management experience in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Government experience includes serving on Davenport City Council for six years (Chair of Finance and Mayor ProTem) and serving as the Scott County Auditor since June of 2021.

My previous experience includes facilitating process improvements to streamline efficiency and increase financial performance. Developed and secured numerous new programs through grant and collaborative initiatives and was responsible for the successful service administration ensuring funding, state and accreditation standards were maintained.

Why are you running for office?

When I was first asked to serve in this role, I was not familiar as to the full responsibilities involved. I do not believe anyone says they want to grow up and be an auditor. However, as I researched the position and then stepped into the role, it is clear my previous experience prepared me well.

Although I thought I had retired from politics, I felt and still feel compelled to serve our community. In just almost three short years of holding this office, I have implemented numerous changes. However, there are still tasks I would like to complete. Some examples include finishing the plat room scanning project to allow the public 24/7 accessibility, implementing a staff management software system and assisting with updating county software tools.

The auditor must be a trusted member of the community. My previous experience includes bipartisan relationships and I continue these efforts while in this role. I am running because I love what I do and the people I work with, I have learned a lot and I believe I have proven I will do the right thing in following the law.

What would be your top priorities if elected?

Nelson: I am very concerned about election processes after the two recounts, as are many citizens. The most difficult election issues, recount, ballot security and processes occurred under the current auditors regime.

I will address the increase in administrative costs, from roughly 8% in 2021 to 15% in 2023. I would survey the work products and employment records of the leadership team inside the Auditor's office and encourage open dialog about enhancements those who work in the trenches every day would like to see that would benefit the taxpayers in Scott County.

I will ensure that procurement procedures follow the state code.

Tompkins: To continue to improve efficiency throughout the office, build community relationships, identify partnerships and advocate for legislative change. Learning and doing things better should never stop. Iowa legislators review election law annually. This is appreciated as technology advances. Therefore, change is inevitable. As an office, this process is routine. Collaboration takes place via other county staff, training opportunities (in state and national) and meetings throughout the state. In addition, feedback is sought from our stakeholders.

Community relationships and partnerships assist in building trust and educating the community. Empowering Abilities is one partnership initiated since holding office. This community asset provides dedicated staff to assist in preparing election resources during critical times. It has proven to be a valuable partnership and one truly appreciated.

Numerous conversations have already taken place to advocate for election law changes. One example is the recount process. As Iowa legislators review the laws each year, these conversations must continue to provide education and keep Iowa as an election model for the country.

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the auditors office? And what would you do to address them?

Nelson: There is a substantial erosion in confidence in elections integrity. This needs to be clearly addressed immediately beginning with a chain of custody policy for all election related assets.

The undue increase in annual administrative costs needs to be contained with efficient personnel management and budgeting.

Not following state code when it comes to soliciting bids for services and equipment for which the Auditor's office is responsible for will not be tolerated or practiced as it has been recently. Further, the Auditors decision making regarding election hardware and software should not be driven by unproven purported ease of use pre-conceived perceptions. In the absence of operational or security deficits, such important changes with new election hardware or software should not be implemented during a general election cycle. Such changes should only be implemented based on well researched and informed investigation and publicly disclosed results regarding security of election data.

Tompkins: Election misinformation is one of the biggest challenges. It is unfortunate there is so much false information. One area of great confusion is understanding each state is very different. Iowa was ranked third best in the nation for election administration in 2022 by the Elections Performance Index. I present to groups throughout the community and address Myths vs. Facts, meet with local media sources, provide accurate information via the website and push facts on social media.

Another challenge is protecting county assets from fraudulent expenditures. Procedures are in place to minimize risk, but it is imperative to be one step ahead. It is unfortunate so many neighboring communities have had to deal with this issue and I am grateful for the commitment to financial reporting, communication and transparency. Scott County received the Certificate of Achievement for the 36th year in a row and the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting for the seventh year in a row. Both awards are from the Government Finance Officers Association of the US and Canada (GFOA). Additionally, the County qualified as a Triple Crown winner based upon recognition for budgeting and financial reporting within the same fiscal year, 2022.

What are Scott Countys biggest strengths?

Nelson:

Our natural resources, from the best farm land in the world to the miles of Mississippi Riverfront.

Strong private and religious institutions

A hardened and available work force, well located geographically including a port authority.

Land available with utilities for new developments.

Tompkins: The people. The auditors office has an amazing team of staff that support each other and are always open to trying new ideas. Over half of the staff are new since I was sworn in. They are all fully committed to serving the community and providing great customer service.

Other strengths include the support of the board of supervisors, administration and other county departments. A lot of change has been implemented and it would not have happened without their support.

Another vital strength is the Scott County community. There is an outstanding group of poll workers and poll sites available for elections. An average of 350 poll workers are needed for each countywide election to staff the 66 poll sites. The poll workers attend training, show up each election, work hard and are diligent about helping voters. The poll sites make sure their facility is available on election days. I am very grateful for all of these dedicated and supportive people.

Two very close recounts in Scott County in recent years, the 2022 House District 81 race and the Pleasant Valley School Board District 6 race, resulted in some questions and concerns over whether recount boards counted ballots properly. What do you think should be done locally and/or at the state level to improve recount procedures?

Nelson: Based on our experience in Scott County and collaborating with other counties that have had recent recounts, we should develop best practices that are provided to the recount board. However, it needs to be noted that the Auditor is not allowed to intervene in recounts.

Work with the legislature to provide more legal structure for the recount process. Some consideration needs to be given to extending the time period for recounts. Both of the recent Scott County recounts were with a small number of voters. The time frame allowed would not be adequate for larger districts.

Tompkins: The Recount Board is a separate entity of their own. Therefore, there is no authority via local and/or state institutions. I am in support of changes, but this must be done at the state level to Iowa law. One area of change I support is to provide accountability for the Recount Board to encourage members to follow the law. As auditor, I have shared my recommendations with legislators, the Iowa Secretary of State and advocated this change via county auditor partners.

How can the Auditors Office encourage turnout and boost trust in elections?

Nelson: Boosting trust in the elections would be a step to improving turnout. Many voters today feel their votes do not count.

More transparency in the process in every step of the election process, including the public release of the cast vote record (CVR) and establishing a chain of custody policy for all election related assets.

Provide the public evidence that the voter rolls are clean and publicize best practices for polling workers to ensure only eligible voters are allowed to vote.

Better testing and verification of the ballot counting machines. The recount board signed an affidavit that the machines incorrectly counted ballots in the Stoltenburg Cooper election.

Tompkins: Multifaceted communication and voter opportunities are important for voter turnout. A few areas of improvement since I have served include an updated election website for quick reference, a postcard mailed to registered voters with absentee/early voting information and a social media account to push relative information and deadlines. In addition, I have provided more opportunities to vote via increased satellite (early voting) locations.

In regards to trust, it is important to educate people with accurate information. Recently, I received an email from a concerned voter about election equipment the county uses on election day. Per county protocol, I sent the email to the IT department to confirm the link included in the email was safe. Unfortunately, IT shared the link was to a fake website. I responded to the voter, shared what was brought to my attention, addressed their concerns and provided a safe and accurate link to the Iowa Secretary of State for election security.

Getting information out is important. Two examples of routine election procedures to boost trust include the pre-test of the voting equipment and the post-election audit, which are both open to the public. Test ballots are created for the pre-test to ensure each race is voted. The ballots are then tested on each machine to confirm the paper print out matches the ballots tested. A post-election audit is conducted within days of an election. The state randomly chooses a precinct to audit and poll workers hand count the ballots and compare their results to the machine results from election night. Since I have been in office, all of the results have matched.

Educating the community, providing accurate information (website, presentations, media) and responding to individual voters will boost trust in elections. If I get elected, I will continue each of these tasks.

How Pennsylvania secures mail ballots, prevents fraud, and makes sure votes count How Pennsylvania secures mail ballots, prevents fraud, and makes sure votes count How Pennsylvania secures mail ballots, prevents fraud, and makes sure votes count
Jim Rankins announcement of his retirement as president of South Dakota Mines marks the end of a six-year journey filled with growth, challenges and unwavering dedication. Returning to his alma mater as its 19th president, Rankin transformed the university through his vision and leadership, leaving an indelible legacy of academic excellence, research expansion and community building.

Rankins journey began with a degree in electrical engineering in 1978. However, limited opportunities in South Dakota at the time led him to pursue advanced degrees in electrical engineering at Iowa State University. Rankin later held notable positions at the University of Arkansas, Ohio University, St. Cloud State University and Rockwell-Collins.

"I graduated from South Dakota Mines back in '78 with a degree in electrical engineering," Rankin said. "At that time, there weren't many options for electrical engineers to stay in South Dakota, so I got a job down there and started working on advanced degrees  a master's and Ph.D. at Iowa State  and decided maybe I would try being a professor for a while."

Rankins love for math began in high school, inspired by an exceptional math teacher. The passion guided him toward engineering.

"Having good teachers in high school, especially in math and science, is critical. Once I got here, I started looking at other programs and liked engineering, so I switched to electrical engineering," Rankin said.

Rankins academic career began at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. He then moved to Ohio University, where he directed a research center focused on aviation and began his foray into higher administration.

"When I was getting my Ph.D., a professor suggested I consider becoming a professor. That conversation piqued my interest in teaching. Its interesting how a comment can make a big difference in someones career path," Rankin said.

The focus change led to a role as vice president of research at Ohio University and eventually to the University of Arkansas, where he was also in charge of research.

"I started getting into higher administration and thought this is kind of fun to help people," Rankin said. "Then this position at South Dakota Mines opened up, and I was very lucky that the Board of Regents selected me to come back to my alma mater."

During his presidency, Rankin launched initiatives to improve student retention and graduation rates and expanded research opportunities. His tenure saw substantial infrastructure developments, including the construction of the Nucor Mineral Industries Building and the renovation of the Devereaux Library. The acquisition of the former Ascent Innovation building nearly doubled the university's externally funded research, enhancing collaborative opportunities across various disciplines.

Rankins time at South Dakota Mines was defined by his ambitious goals and adaptive leadership, particularly during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"COVID had no rulebook. We had to make decisions based on what we thought was best for everyone and move forward," Rankin said.

Rankin arrived at South Dakota Mines with three primary objectives: increase student enrollment, boost research funding, and elevate fundraising efforts. While research funding and foundation money nearly doubled, student enrollment saw a decline, largely due to the pandemic.

"We've actually gone down a little bit mostly due to COVID. Like everybody else in the nation, we went down, but we're starting to show a trend coming back up," Rankin explained.

The pandemic's uncertainty also tested Rankin's leadership.

"We shut down like everyone else for the last half of the spring semester. We did some separation the next year, but then we were back in full swing," he said. "We didn't go online entirely like some universities. We kept our residence halls open and moved forward the best we could. We were fortunate not to have many severe cases. The hard part was navigating the unknown and making decisions that not everyone would agree with."

Rankins fundraising efforts significantly bolstered the university's financial base, securing the largest individual donation and corporate gift in its history.

"We have a great institution with national recognition for our students. The return on investment here is fantastic," Rankin said. "It's a great place to work, and we have students from all over the country and the world. We have alumni everywhere, including 500 in Norway."

The next leader of the school must continue to prioritize maintaining strong relationships with state government, Rankin explained.

"The legislature and governor's office have been very supportive. It's crucial to keep working on that relationship for the university's success," he said.

Rankin also encourages students to take advantage of the resources and opportunities at South Dakota Mines.

"We have many student organizations and support programs. Get involved, meet people, and stay connected with our alumni network, Rankin said.

Reflecting on his tenure, Rankin commended the entire Mines community for their exceptional contributions and dedication.

We've got such great faculty, staff and students here. The student success team does an excellent job of retaining students and helping them graduate and get jobs. We're on the right trend, even if the numbers didn't spike as much as I hoped," he said.

Rankin's retirement will be effective June 21. Dr. Lance Roberts, current provost and vice president of academic affairs, will serve as interim president. The search for a new president is scheduled to begin late this summer.

"It's been great to be back in South Dakota, in the beautiful Black Hills. We have a president's motorcycle ride every year, and it's fun to enjoy the scenery. It's been a lot of fun," Rankin said.
SIOUX FALLS  A North Dakota man was sentenced Monday for possessing nine pounds of methamphetamine in Northern South Dakota, according to the U.S. Attorney for South Dakota.

U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann sentenced Travis Leanell Henley, 28, of Fargo, North Dakota, to 14 years and seven months followed by five years of supervised release for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Henley was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. He pleaded guilty on October 10, 2023.

On April 5, 2022, Henley was pulled over for a traffic violation in Roberts County, South Dakota. The Roberts County Deputy noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle and the vehicle was searched. The deputy located marijuana in the ash tray, approximately $3,000 in cash in the center console, a loaded firearm in the backseat, and over nine pounds of methamphetamine in the back hatch of the vehicle. Upon the deputy locating the methamphetamine, Henley fled the scene on foot. After a short chase, Henley was captured and arrested for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Roberts County Sheriffs Office, and the Cass County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert prosecuted the case. After sentencing, Henley was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Pennington County Commission Tuesday approved updates to a county intersection to improve safety, discretionary spending to prepare the 900 Concourse Drive building in Rapid City for renovation, and a mutual aid agreement between the Ellsworth Air Force Base Fire Department and the county.

Elk Vale Road intersection

The intersection of Elk Vale Road and Country Road north of Rapid City will see updates with the countys approval of improvements to make the intersection safer. The intersection is controlled by stop signs. Pennington County Highway Department Superintendent Joseph Miller said there are safety issues with the intersection going back several years. Since 2019, there have been 18 crashes in the intersection.

The county will install motion-activated, flashing LED lights and rumble strips to slow down vehicles.

The signs will cost about $10,000, but they will come out of state and federal funds. Miller said the county will be responsible for installation and maintenance.

Commissioner Travis Lassiter (District 4) asked Miller how much maintenance will cost.

Very little, Miller said. I mean, probably for the next 10 years, unless it gets hit, zero.

If a car strikes the lights, Miller said the cost is usually recouped from an insurance company.

People just kind of fly through there, and I think the motion-activated lights and the rumbles are really going to help in that area, said Commissioner Lloyd LaCroix (Ward 2).

900 Concourse Drive

The commissioners unanimously approved $150,000 in discretionary spending for the county's Building and Grounds to prepare the 900 Concourse Drive building in Rapid City for renovation. The county purchased the building for $7 million in 2022 for county administration.

There's a substantial amount of cubicles and other miscellaneous furniture that not only needs to be broken down, but also stored during construction to not cause any limitations for the contractors, said Building and Grounds Superintendent Davis Purcell.

If I'm hearing you correct, this was something that wasn't planned, a cost that wasn't planned, so now you're having to adjust fire on something? asked Commissioner Travis Lassiter (District 4).

Purcell said, Its not a cost that wasnt planned. Its just not in the scope of the project.

The superintendent went on to explain Building and Grounds is trying to save some money by moving the items themselves rather than a contractor doing it.

Lassiter and Commissioner Deb Hadcock (District 3) asked Purcell for a spreadsheet breaking down the costs of the project as it progresses, including discretionary spending.

The bid for 900 Concourse renovations opens at the end of May, so the county does not have estimates on the cost.

We'll have some more hard numbers on what those renovation costs are, Purcell said.

The discretionary spending and the cost of renovation will come out of the capital project fund.

To be fully transparent, I do not plan to spend the total $150,000 right now, Purcell said. It will be significantly less than that to start with, but we have to get those cubicles palletized. We have to get them stored to allow the contractor in there.

Mutual aid agreement

The county also voted to approve the renewal of an updated mutual aid agreement between Ellsworth Air Force Base Fire Department and Pennington County.

The mutual aid agreement isnt just for fire. Its for floods, fires, famines, hazardous materials situations, but the fire service does use the agreement the most. And therefore the agreement has historically resided with the fire office, said Pennington County Fire Administrator Jerome Harvey.

Out of the countys 20 fire departments, 18 are affected by the agreement, Harvey said. It no longer covers the Rapid City Fire Department. The agreement allows both parties to request assistance in the event of an emergency. Neither the Air Force or the county, however, are required to assist.

"Ellsworth Air Force Base historically has come off the base to help us. We do use them more than we go onto the base," Harvey said.

Harvey said the 18 departments have approved of the agreement as have the South Dakota Municipal League, risk management personnel, the South Dakota Public Assurance Alliance, the insurance carrier that covers all the countys fire departments, the county fire offices in-house risk management officer, and the legal department.

So everybodys looked at it. Were comfortable with it, Harvey said.

The agreement is in effect for five years.
Memorial Day weekend marks the traditional kickoff of the summer season. The 1.6-million-acre Bitterroot National Forest offers unmatched recreational opportunities including nearly 250 campsites in 26 campgrounds, hiking on more than 1,800 miles of trails, boating, biking, horseback riding and more.

Forest officials hope visitors will incorporate the following safety tips, along with the status of campgrounds, trails, and roads, into their adventures during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

Key Safety Messages:

Be prepared for changing weather conditions. Temperatures at night are still cool and isolated showers are in the forecast.

Many campgrounds and hiking trails are located near streams that are running extremely fast and high. Please be cautious around flowing waters and especially at creek crossings.

There have been bear sightings near recreation areas. Please keep a clean camp and properly store food to reduce attractants and minimize adverse interactions between bears and humans.

Expect heavier traffic than normal on forest roads and trails over the holiday weekend. Drive defensively and notify the Forest Service of any flooding conditions, plugged culverts, downed trees or road damage, so repairs can be made.

Stay away from soft and muddy roads as this is unsafe and can damage the roadbed, leading to expensive repairs. Driving around snow drifts can damage vegetation and soil.

Please stay on designated routes. Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) are available at www.fs.usda.gov/main/bitterroot/maps-pubs and at all Forest Service offices. The maps show designated routes for motorized recreation users.

Bring potable drinking water as some campground water systems have not been opened yet or are being repaired. Please remove all trash in sites that do not have trash disposal services.

Never leave a campfire unattended and make sure your coals are cool to the touch before you leave.

Be extremely careful when traveling around areas of dead trees including burned areas or beetle killed patches.

Contact your local Forest Service office to find out if your favorite campground is open and what services are being offered. See list below of campgrounds/recreation sites. Certain services may still be unavailable, so visitors are asked to plan accordingly and remain flexible. Please contact the appropriate Ranger District for the latest updates and conditions prior to heading out.

Darby/Sula Ranger District  (406) 821-3913

 Lake Como Recreation Area:

Lower Como Campground = Open with 11 pull-through sites, water, electrical, accessible toilets, and garbage service. No reservations - first-come, first-served site selection. Camp host on site. $25/night.

Three Frogs Campground = Open with 21 pull-in sites, water, accessible toilets, and garbage service. No reservations - first-come, first-served site selection. Camp host on site. $15/night.

Lake Como Picnic Area and Trailhead = Open

Lake Como Beach = Open. Swim lines installed after Memorial Day.

Lake Como Boat Launch = Open. Dock is installed.

Rock Creek Horse Camp = Open with 11 campsites, hitch rails, feed troughs, accessible toilets and garbage service; no water. No reservations - first-come, first-served. $12/night.

Three Sisters Group Site = To reserve this site, visit the National Recreation Reservation System - www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777.

Woods Cabin = To reserve the cabin, visit the National Recreation Reservation System - www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777.

Recreation Passes  Day Use Fees = Required beginning this Saturday, May 25. Cost of the passes are $5/vehicle or $30 for a season pass and are available at area retailers and Forest Service offices. Day passes are also available on-site at the recreation area. Day use fees are charged at Lake Como from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

 Black Bear Campground - Open with 6 campsites and accessible toilet. No water. Pack it in, pack it out garbage. No reservations. First-come, first-served.

 Skalkaho Pass (State Highway 38) is currently closed. For the latest road information visit www.mdt.mt.gov or Dial 511.

 Lost Horse Road is only accessible six miles beyond the intersection with Lick Creek Road. The road is closed to motorized beyond the gate due to soft road conditions and snow at higher elevations.

 Spring Gulch Campground  Currently closed due to hazard tree mitigations and clean-up. Spring flooding of the East Fork of the Bitterroot River may occur which could potentially keep the campground closed as well. Contact Darby-Sula Ranger District for updates on opening. Reservations begin July 1. To reserve campsites, visit www.recreation.gov.

 Indian Trees Campground  Open with 15 campsites, garbage, and accessible toilet. $15/night. Camp host on site. Potable water is not provided at this time due to water system repairs. Contact Darby-Sula Ranger District for updates on the water system. Reservations begin May 24. To reserve campsites, visit www.recreation.gov

 Warm Springs Campground  Open with 11 campsites, garbage, and accessible toilet. No reservations  first come, first-served site selection. $12/night.

 Martin Creek Campground - Open with 7 campsites, water, and accessible toilet. Pack it in, pack it out garbage. No reservations  first-come, first-served site selection. $12/night.

 Jennings Campground - Open with 4 campsites and accessible toilet. Pack it in, pack it out garbage. No reservations  first-come, first-served site selection.

 Crazy Creek Campground Open with 7 campsites and accessible toilet. Water not available yet. Pack it in, pack it out garbage. No reservations  first-come, first-served site selection. $12/night.

 Crazy Creek Horse Camp  Open with 7 campsites and accessible toilet. No water. Pack it in, pack it out garbage. No reservations  first-come, first-served.

Stevensville Ranger District: (406) 777-5461

 Bass Creek Recreation Area:

Charles Waters Campground  Open with 26 campsites, and accessible toilet. Camp host on site. Potable water and trash services available. No reservations  first-come, first-served site selection. $15/night.

Larry Creek Group Camp - Available for reservation through the National Recreation Reservation System - www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777.

 Blodgett Campground  Open with 5 campsites and accessible toilet. Camp host on site. No water. pack it in, pack it out garbage. No reservations  first come, first-served site selection.

 Gold Creek Campground  Open with 5 campsites and accessible toilet. No water, pack it in, pack it out garbage. No reservations  first come, first served site selection.

West Fork Ranger District: (406) 821-3269

 Rombo Campground  Open for reservations starting May 24th with 15 campsites available on a first-come, first-serve basis as well as reservable sites. Water, garbage and accessible toilets will be available. Camp hosts on site. Campsites are available for reservation, visit www.recreation.gov. $15.00/night.

 Alta Campground  Open for reservations May 24 with 13 campsites, water, garbage, and accessible toilets. Camp hosts on site. First-come, first-serve sites as well as reservable campsites are available, visit www.recreation.gov. $15/night.

 Sam Billings Campground  Open with 12 campsites and accessible toilet. No water. Pack it in, pack it out garbage. No reservations  first-come, first-served. $10/night starting May 24th.

 Slate Creek Campground  Front loop is currently open. No water. Back loop temporarily closed due to flooding and will open when water recedes. Check with West Fork Ranger District for latest conditions on the back loop. Pack it in, pack it out garbage. No reservations  first-come, first-served. $10/night starting May 24th.

 Fales Flat Campground  Open with 2 campsites and 1 group site with accessible toilets. No water available. Pack it in, pack it out garbage. No reservations in the campground. To reserve the group site beginning May 24th visit www.recreation.gov.

 Fales Flat to Paradise Campground - Nez Perce Pass is open. Contact the West Fork District for latest road updates.

There is a 16-day stay limit for the Bitterroot National Forest - except for the portion of the Frank Church Wilderness in Idaho. A Food Storage Order is also in place for the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, located on the Bitterroot and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests. The purpose of the food storage order is to minimize adverse interactions between bears and humans.

For more information about rentals, campgrounds, and road and trail updates, visit us at www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot and click on Visit Us, Recreation or contact the District Offices.
Colleen Curran Living Editor Follow Colleen Curran Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Virginias distillery industry generated an economic impact of more than $1.1 billion and supported more than 3,000 jobs in 2022, according to a study by Economic Forensics and Analytics Inc., commissioned by the Virginia Spirits Board (VSB).

There were approximately 81 licensed and revenue-generating distilleries in Virginia in 2022.

Distilleries generated over $275.9 million in revenues across all channels and activities, according to the report.

Approximately 3,081 jobs were supported by the industry in Virginia, paying workers more than $139 million in wages.

We conducted this study to get a better sense of the current Virginia spirits landscape and identify data-backed opportunities for growth, said Scott Harris, Virginia Spirits Board chairman and founder of Catoctin Creek Distilling Co., in a statement.

For a sense of comparison, the Virginia wine industry generated close to $6.41 billion in total economic activity in the state for the same time period, according to a national economic impact study.

The data took into account everything from sales and visitation to tourism and sales out of state, according to Jack Gorman, executive director of the Virginia Spirits Board Marketing Office. The study used data from an industry survey and sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and Virginia ABC to determine the economic size of the distilling industry in terms of statewide revenues and employment.

The biggest challenge the Virginia distillery industry faces is awareness of the industry within the Commonwealth, Gorman said. There is a perception that its a very small industry or people just dont know its there. I think the numbers tell us that the industry is growing. There is interest. More and more people are looking to buy locally-made products.

Its estimated that approximately 228,500 people visited Virginias distilleries in 2022, according to the report.

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly established the Virginia Spirits Board to provide resources for the promotion of the Virginia spirits industry.

However, Virginia distilleries face several challenges that other alcohol producers in the state, such as craft beer and wine, dont.

In Virginia, the state government manages the sale of distilled spirits in the form of Virginia ABC.

Virginia ABC is the only place where Virginia distillers can sell their products, besides in their own tasting rooms. And shelf space at Virginia ABC is extremely limited.

We have an uneven playing field with wine and beer. We have to work through Virginia ABC. The only customer we have to work with is Virginia ABC. Even when we have a tasting room, its actually a Virginia ABC store, David Cuttino, Reservoir Distillerys CEO, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch last year.

For example, John Davenport, co-owner of Three Crosses Distilling Co. in Powhatan County, said he is charged a 54% tax rate from Virginia ABC on every bottle he sells in his own distillery, which severely limits profits.

Plus, at tasting rooms, under state guidelines, distillers can sell only 3 ounces of alcohol or two cocktails per customer.

Were not allowed to act as a bar would, and that impacts consumer behavior, Virago Spirits Barry Haneberg said earlier.

A distillery can sell a bottle of its product at its tasting room, but customers are not allowed to open the bottle and enjoy it on-site, like they would at a winery. They have to take it and leave.

Regardless of these challenges, Virginia is investing in raising the profile of those distilleries to the tune of almost $1 million.

In February of last year, the board established a Virginia Spirits Board Marketing Office and awarded a 17-month contract to Richmonds The Hodges Partnership for roughly $950,000.

Our goal is to raise the profile of Virginia spirits overall and to get people to visit Virginia distilleries and buy from Virginia distilleries, said Gorman with the Virginia Spirits Board Marketing Office.

The VSB also recently conducted a consumer survey to get a better sense of consumer habits; 768 people participated in an online survey during the summer of 2023.

According to the survey, whiskey was the most popular spirit, followed closely by vodka. Whiskey of all types was perceived as the leading spirit distilled in Virginia.

More respondents drink at home than anywhere else, and almost 90% of those home drinkers regularly stock spirits in the home.

These studies gave us tremendous insight into how the industry is impacting our state and how we can ensure the industry continues to thrive, Gorman said.

PHOTOS: Virginia distilleries
Students at Churchill High School in April. A North East Independent School District middle school teacher accused of using the N-word during a class lesson last week has resigned, the district said. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Rebecca Woodland, a sixth-grade math teacher at Bradley Middle School, has resigned following an investigation by the North East Independent School District into a parent complaint alleging she used the N-word in front of students on May 15.

A statement from the district Monday said officials had finished the probe and that "the teacher in question" would not return to the classroom "or be employed anywhere within our District" in the future, though it stopped short of saying officials had begun the process of firing her.

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Woodland has been on paid administrative leave since the complaint was received, and her resignation takes effect May 31, an NEISD spokesperson said. Attempts to contact her for comment, including through intermediaries, were unsuccessful.

In a series of now-viral posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, a family member of a student in Woodland's class called attention to the accusation and vowed to campaign for the teacher's departure. The first post by user @hennytwote, which said the student was a niece and that her mother had filed the complaint, drew more than seven million views and 152,000 reactions.

The posts said Woodland had shown students the film Hidden Figures, which traces the story of three Black women who helped win the space race against the Soviet Union as mathematicians at NASA.

Woodland was explaining the racist hiring practices of the time and told students that we didnt like to hire (N-word) back then, saying the word with a hard -er, the posts said, adding that the niece exchanged a worried look with other Black students as classmates turned to look at them, while Woodland continued the lecture as if nothing had happened.

The posts also included a TikTok video by @hennytwote, who did not respond to an interview request.

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The teacher was placed on leave when campus administration learned of the allegations, according to an email sent Monday to families by Bradley Middle School Principal Torey Leitzke.

NEISD spokesperson Aubrey Chancellor said she could not provide details of the investigation but said the district usually interviews the teacher and people who were in the room at the time of an alleged incident.

Jennifer Grant Tollette, a former Bradley Middle School teacher, commented on the Express-News Facebook page in Woodland's defense, saying she knows Woodland and that the district only let her go because they dont want to go into battle after the attention the allegations received.

The accused teacher would completely agree that that word should never be used because she has never used it. Not in that instance or ever before, Tollette wrote. It is not in her character.

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The TikTok video by @hennytwote said several Black students came forward to say Woodland has made them feel uncomfortable in class on different occasions, and the accuser's family is safer now that shes no longer at the school.
In 2018, Jennifer Wexton was a state senator from Loudoun County when she unseated Rep. Barbara Comstock, R-10th, as a trio of Virginia elections sent three Democratic women to Congress and flipped the Republican majority in Virginias congressional delegation.

But before Wexton defeated Comstock by 12 percentage points, she won a six-way Democratic primary that included Dan Helmer, who finished a distant fourth. Helmer won a seat in the House of Delegates the next year in the third successive Democratic electoral wave during the term of then-President Donald Trump.

Now, Helmer is one of 12 Democrats  five of them members of the General Assembly and another the former speaker of the House of Delegates  who are running in the Democratic primary on June 18 for a chance to succeed Wexton, who is stepping down in January after three terms in Congress because of a severe form of Parkinsons disease diagnosed last year.

Wexton has endorsed Sen. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Loudoun, who served two terms in the House before he was elected to the Senate in November.

The question remains, which Democrat will emerge from the crowded field to face one of the four Republicans who are facing off in the GOP primary next month. Even the pundits dont want to guess.

I think the 10th is still a question mark, said Larry Sabato, president of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, of the district, based in Loudoun and Prince William counties.

On the question of who should succeed Wexton, the Democrats competing for the nomination offer different qualifications for the job, with control of the House of Representatives at stake in November, along with the presidency in a bitter rematch between President Joe Biden and Trump.

The Democratic candidates, ranked by fundraising, including loans to campaigns, through March 31, are:

Helmer, raised more than $1.1 million, $815,319 on hand;

Krystle Kaul of Loudoun, a business owner and former highly ranked civilian employee at the U.S. Department of Defense, raised $930,070, $607,793 in hand;

former House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, raised $759,562, $434,591 in hand;

Subramanyam, raised $679,183, $574,613 in hand;

Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, raised $407,307, $171,975 in hand;

former Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni of Manassas, raised $289,739, $208,466 in hand;

Del. David Reid, D-Loudoun, raised $223,806, $108,875 in hand;

Adrian Pokharel of Prince William, retired U.S. Army combat veteran, formerly of the National Security Agency and the CIA, raised $199,369, $150,877 on hand;

Travis Nembhard of Prince William, former House of Delegates candidate, chief administrator at the D.C. Department of For-Hire Vehicles, raised $101,815, $15,691 in hand;

Del. Michelle Lopes Maldonado, D-Prince William, raised $69,201, $10,140 in hand;

Marion Devoe Sr. of Prince William, a retired U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, former operations analyst at the U.S. Postal Service, chief operations officer in the White House under then-President George W. Bush, and retired operations director at Northern Virginia Community College, raised $8,230, none spent; and

Mark Leighton of Manassas, head of access services at the George Mason University law school library, $6,472 raised, $2,105 in hand.

Wextons backing

While money does not necessarily win elections, it helps, as do name recognition and notable endorsements.

I am honored and excited to be endorsed by my long time mentor, friend, and Congresswoman, @JenniferWexton.



 #VA10 pic.twitter.com/P1sLr7CL91  Suhas Subramanyam (@SuhasforVA) May 13, 2024

Subramanyam won Wextons coveted endorsement two weeks ago as a local favorite in a congressional district that is dominated by fast-growing Loudoun, with 54% of the districts registered voters.

When I think about who will best continue my legacy of getting things done for Northern Virginia, I can think of no one who will do so better than State Senator Suhas Subramanyam, said the congresswoman, calling him a hardworking, principled, and effective legislator who has a long commitment to service, and is rooted right here in the heart of the district.

Subramanyam, a technology lawyer and consultant who worked in the White House under President Barack Obama, lives in Brambleton, a relatively new community in eastern Loudoun near Washington Dulles International Airport, where his parents arrived when they emigrated from India.

Subramanyam said that when he first ran for the House of Delegates in 2019, People told me I should change my name because I was not electable with a name like Suhas Subramanyam.

Not Wexton. She told me to be me and go for it, he said.

The gender factor

Others say Wextons successor should be a woman, especially since the two Democratic women first elected with Wexton in 2018 will also be gone from Congress. Rep. Elaine Luria, D-2nd, lost her seat to Republican Jen Kiggans in 2022, and Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, is running for governor next year instead of seeking a fourth term in November.

The majority of the folks who will be coming out to vote will be women, said Filler-Corn, who in 2020 became the first woman and first Jewish person elected speaker of the Virginia House in its more than 400-year history. She is endorsed by former Gov. Ralph Northam.

Filler-Corn, 59, decided not to run for reelection in the House last year  a year after House Democrats replaced her as party leader with now-Speaker Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth. She then explored running for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2025.

She said she changed course because of Wextons decision to retire and the Oct. 7 Hamas assault that killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, less than two weeks before she announced her campaign for Congress.

I realized I need to go federal, Filler-Corn said.

Boysko, 57, succeeded Wexton in the Senate in 2019, after already serving two terms in the House. She won a full Senate term later that year and a second term in November. She is endorsed by Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-4th, who previously served with her in the Senate.

Boysko said she came from a broken home in Arkansas and Alabama with a commitment to social justice and understanding of the challenges facing the working poor. This year, she joined the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee, fighting for Northern Virginia priorities such as $145 million in state funding for the Washington Metro transit system, and carried a heavy load of progressive legislation.

One of Boyskos top priorities is a proposal to amend the Virginia constitution to codify the right to an abortion in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned national protections that had lasted nearly 50 years under Roe v. Wade.

We need a federal solution, she said. I have certainly been fighting for that at the state level.

Maldonado, 55, is a lawyer and business owner with an extensive background in global humanitarian aid, conflict resolution and technology. First elected in 2021, she is the founding chair of the Virginia Technology and Innovation Caucus, a bipartisan group that includes Subramanyam. Maldonado serves on the House Courts of Justice Committee, chairing its judicial subcommittee; and the House Labor and Commerce Committee, leading its insurance and financial institutions subcommittee.

The descendant of immigrants from Cape Verde, an island country off the coast of Senegal in West Africa, she said, There are many paths to effective representation.

Kaul, 39, was a director at the Department of Defense serving in the highest civilian rank. An Indian American, she now runs a consulting firm for businesses that need help in competing for defense-related federal contracts. She said she left the defense department in protest of Trump, just after the resignation of Secretary of Defense James Mattis in 2018.

Fighting MAGA extremism is something I am really committed to and I have seen firsthand, she said.

With Trump on the presidential ballot, the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is playing a big part in Democrats campaigns.

Helmer, 42, is former U.S. Army intelligence officer and tank commander who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is also the grandson of Holocaust survivors and an instructor in international relations at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated.

Helmer, who was endorsed by The Washington Post, said he is focused on the threat to democracy he said is posed by the former president and his allies in the Make America Great Again movement.

Ive stood up to extremists all around the globe, he said. I know what they look like. I know how they operate. Were seeing them here at home. So we need to win.

Residency questions

Helmer, Filler-Corn and Boysko face questions about their residency outside the 10th District, though members of Congress are not required to live in the districts they serve.

I personally wouldnt feel comfortable running for office in a district where I dont live, said Kaul, who lives in the Broad Run area of eastern Loudoun.

Boysko, who lives in the western Fairfax town of Herndon, four blocks outside of the district, said she has run 10 elections in 11 years in the area. She called the criticism a ridiculous nothing-burger.

Similarly, Helmer said his office sits in the district in Clifton, a town in southwestern Fairfax, and his home is just outside the boundary.

I ran for this district before, he said. I represent this district today (in the House of Delegates). I represented this district before today. This is my community.

Filler-Corn said her home in Springfield is 3 miles outside the district, but she said, Im the only one who has delivered for the entire congressional district.

My focus is on what I did, she said. You dont even have to focus on what Im saying I will do.

3 live in Loudoun

Reid, 62, is one of three candidates who live in Loudoun, along with Subramanyam and Kaul. A 23-year veteran of the U.S. Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer, Reid is serving his fourth term in the House of Delegates, where he sits on the Appropriations Committee, the Privileges and Elections Committee and the House Transportation Committee, of which he is vice chairman.

He was raised in poverty in Rockbridge County before being placed with several of his siblings in what was then an orphanage run by what is now United Methodist Family Services in Richmond. A couple who worked at the home adopted him and one of his brothers, raising them in Oklahoma. He now serves on the organizations board of directors and draws on his personal experience with challenges in housing, health care and access to higher education.

All of that informs who I am, why Im running and who I am as a legislator, he said.

6 from Prince William area

Six of the candidates live in Prince William or the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, which together hold about 32% of registered voters in the district.

Qarni, 46, has experience with state government in Richmond and Virginia politics. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and middle school teacher in Prince William, he twice ran for the General Assembly. He lost a House race in 2013 to then-Del. Bob Marshall, R-Prince William, by less than 3 percentage points, and then a three-way 2015 Senate primary won by Jeremy McPike.

Qarni is focusing on public education  having served as education secretary under Northam during the COVID-19 pandemic  but also on greater accountability in federal spending, especially in foreign aid and defense, and cost-of-living challenges for working families.

I want to fund schools, not wars, particularly unjust wars, said Qarni, who favors an unconditional cease-fire in the war in Gaza.

Nembhard, 36, ran for the House last year, losing by 4.6 percentage points to now-Del. Ian Lovejoy, R-Prince William.

Nembhard thinks he has advantages because of his youth, his African American identity and his ability to appeal to Hispanic voters, who represent almost 18% of the electorate. His wife, Stephanie, is Latina, and he said he speaks Spanish conversationally.

Those are the three groups we need not only for the election for Congress, but for the presidency, he said.

Top five Memorial Day weekend events: Richmond Shakespeare Fest, RVA Music Night, Daydream Fest Richmond Shakespeare Festival Friday Cheers RVA Music Night Chesterfield 275th Anniversary Celebration Richmond Symphony Big Tent Daydream Fest
Traces of ancient Mayan beekeeping found in Quintana Roo

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  In a recent dig, INAH specialists found three limestone jobon lids, which are believed to be signs of ancient beekeeping activity. Personnel from the Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia (INAH) made the discovery along section 6 of the Maya Train.

In a report, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said beekeeping has been part of the daily life of the Mayan population of the Yucatan Peninsula since pre-Hispanic times.

Codices such as the Madrid or the Tro-Cortesiano and some chronicles from the Indies, report that ancient indigenous people used honey as food, as an object of barter and in ceremonies.

As part of the archaeological rescue work in Section 6 of the Mayan Train (Tulum  Chetumal), a team of specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), coordinated by archaeologist Raquel Liliana Hernandez Estrada, recovered three jobon caps on front 5, which covers the municipalities of Bacalar and Felipe Carrillo Puerto, in Quintana Roo, a cultural area known as the Los Lagos region.

This type of archaeological material is mainly associated with the northern area of the entity, as has been confirmed by various studies carried out by INAH archaeologists, Luis Alberto Martos Lopez, Manuel Eduardo Perez Rivas and Maria Flores Hernandez.

However, this discovery, the researcher pointed out, supports what some chroniclers, such as Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdes, observed in the territories that today make up southern Quintana Roo, which raises the hypothesis that Mayan meliponiculture spread to this area of the state.

The panuchos, as the tapas are colloquially known, detailed archaeologist Carlos Fidel Martinez Sanchez, are round and were made with limestone, measure 20 by 25 centimeters, and are believed to belong to the Postclassic period (950-1539 AD).

Only one of them is in a good state of conservation, while the other two have a high degree of erosion, he said.



The discovery, the researcher detailed, was recorded when excavating what was thought to be an albarrada in the area known as Estacion, Hhever, upon finding the lids, the hypothesis changed and it was determined that they were the vestiges of a meliponary.

The name of the structure comes from the native species Melipona beecheii, xunan kab in Mayan, an identity element of the peninsular population.

Photos: Courtesy of the excavation team front 5, section 6 of the Maya Train

In addition to the jobon lids, other utilitarian archaeological materials of ceramics, lithics and flint were found at the site, among which a cajete with decorations in red and orange tones stands out, a hand of limestone metate, 40 centimeters long, a metate 50 centimeters long, an axe, a hammer and a star-shaped shell bead.

Front 5, pointed out archaeologist Hernandez Estrada, represents the testimony of the common life of people who did not belong to the elite, probably, we are in the presence of housing complexes from cities peripheral to ceremonial sites, such as the Archaeological Zone of Chacchoben and the Los Limones site.

Until now, he pointed out, 261 monuments have been counted, corresponding to remains of residential areas, most of them close to the towns of Sabanitas and Estacion, which are in the analysis stage in the laboratories.

The monuments registered in Sabanitas, he concluded, are foundations, albarradas and some small plinths. While in the Station area, some foundations and minor basements, deteriorated by human activity were also found.
A man was killed early Thursday morning when a police pursuit ended with a crash in northwest Roanoke.

At about 1 a.m., an officer on routine patrol near the northwest intersection of 5th Street and Shenandoah Avenue saw a vehicle driving recklessly with its headlights and taillights off, according to a city police department news release.

The officer followed the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop, but the driver did not comply and began driving faster, disregarding a stop sign, according to the release.

At that point, according to the release, the office began to pursue the vehicle, which continued to speed and ignore stop signs. It ultimately lost control and crashed in the 2300 block of Shenandoah Avenue.

Roanoke Fire-EMS Department personnel responded to the crash scene and transported the adult male driver to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Police said his injuries appeared critical.

Several hours later, according to the departments release, officers received word that the man had died. Police have not identified him or the officer involved in the pursuit as of Thursday afternoon.

Police said no city officers or other members of the community were injured during the pursuit or the crash. But in accordance with department policy, Virginia State Police have been notified and will be investigating the fatal incident.
A woman waves a large Trump 2024 flag as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick talks about his relationship with Former President Donald Trump during the first day of the Texas GOP Convention at Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Lieutenant Governor of Texas Dan Patrick was seen giving remarks to republican delegates from Texas on the first day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee People cheer for Dr. Dana Myers, Republican Party of Texas Vice-Chair, as she leaves the stage during the first day of the Texas GOP Convention at Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. She is challenging incumbent RPT Chairman Matt Rinaldi to head the state party. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was seen giving remarks to republican delegates from Texas on the first day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee A shirt promoting Operation Lone Star and more aggressive border policies was seen on the expo floor on the first day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was seen giving remarks to republican delegates from Texas on the first day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi talks to the crowd during the first day of the Texas GOP Convention at Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News People listen to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during the first day of the Texas GOP Convention at Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Lieutenant Governor of Texas Dan Patrick was seen giving remarks to republican delegates from Texas on the first day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee Republican delegates from Texas were seen on the first day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee Republican delegates from Texas were seen on the first day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee Republican delegates and their colleagues from Texas were seen on the expo floor on the first day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee Republican delegates from Texas were seen on the first day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee Republican delegates from Texas were seen on the first day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee People walk by conservative vendors inside the Expo Hall during the first day of the Texas GOP Convention at Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Republican delegates from Texas were seen on the first day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee Lieutenant Governor of Texas Dan Patrick was seen giving remarks to republican delegates from Texas on the first day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton railed against House Speaker Dade Phelan at the Texas Republican Partys convention Thursday in San Antonio, predicting voters would oust him in Tuesdays primary runoff election.

Phelan is fighting to keep his political career alive in a contentious race against oil and gas consultant David Covey. Patrick, Paxton and Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi have all been instrumental in the campaign to unseat Phelan, a five-term Republican from Beaumont, and have derided him as a fake Republican who has handed too much power to Democrats.

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Dade Phelan is about to lose not only the speakership, but also his House seat, Paxton said, pumping his fist to cheers from the hundreds of Republicans in the crowd.

Paxton has been on a personal mission to unseat the speaker after the House voted to impeach him last year on corruption charges. He was ultimately acquitted by the Texas Senate, which Patrick leads.

Patrick did not mention Phelan by name, but he told the crowd that the House needs a conservative speaker. Patrick said he typically does not get involved in House races, but hes invested in this one.

Patrick donated $100,000 to Covey at the end of last month.

As lieutenant governor, I do not want to run the House, Patrick said. But I want a conservative speaker who will run the House.

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Patrick also dinged Phelan for not attending the convention. Phelan, who was censured by the Texas GOPs executive committee earlier this year, was not expected to address the delegates. A spokeswoman for Phelan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

READ MORE: Texas GOP censures House Speaker Dade Phelan over Paxton impeachment

You are the heart of the party, Patrick told attendees. We need a speaker who, actually, in the next convention, will prove hes a Republican conservative and come here and talk to you  because that hasnt happened.

Patrick said Phelan also did not do enough to get a private school voucher plan passed in the House. The lieutenant governor said the policy giving families taxpayer dollars to spend on private education would be necessary to push back against those on the march to turn this country into a Marxist country.

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How do you do that? The first thing you do is take over the education system, Patrick said. Thats why we must pass school choice. Thats why we need a speaker who will vote for it.
A Roanoke marketing firm has produced two new guides featuring Danvilles Old West End Historic District and the Dan River Regions outdoor recreation options.

The Danville Office of Economic Development & Tourisms regional tourism brand program, Visit SoSi, released the guides, the Outdoor Adventure Guide and the Old West End Historic District Walking Tour Guide, for National Travel and Tourism Week, which ended Saturday.

Eddy Alexander, a Roanoke marketing and growth strategy advisory firm, created the guides that highlight the regions outdoor and agricultural experiences, including hiking, biking, racing, farm tours, rodeos, markets, wineries, breweries and more, according to the economic development and tourism office.

This new adventure guide provides an opportunity to feature many of the local people and businesses across Danville and Pittsylvania County that have invested in growing the regions reputation for many years, the firms President and Chief Strategist Jennifer Eddy said.

Eddy pointed out that SoSi has beloved fishing holes, southern access to Smith Mountain Lake, racing at Virginia International Raceway, motocross competitions, off-roading trails and agritourism assets like pick-your-own fruit and vegetable farms, family friendly farm tours and competitive and showcase sporting events at Old Dominion Agricultural Complex.

When you start to dig in, its truly astounding how much there is to see and do, she said.

The Old West End District Historic District Walking Tour Guide, created in partnership with the Friends of the Old West End, features architectural history of many homes along Millionaires Row and throughout the Old West End Neighborhood and the River District.

The Old West End boasts perhaps the finest and most concentrated collection of Victorian and Edwardian-era architecture in Virginia, Jonathon Holbrook, president of the Old West End Board of Directors, said. With support from the City of Danville, Friends of the Old West End researched, documented, and published online the history of many of the homes in the district. Now, this comprehensive guide brings to life the entire district for all to enjoy.

In addition to these new guides, Visit SoSi also offers a Visitors Guide and regional Pad Map featuring attractions, dining and shopping options and lodging recommendations.

Established in 1983, National Travel and Tourism Week celebrates the U.S. travel community and travels role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating job opportunities, inspiring new businesses and elevating the quality of life for Americans.
The state of Iowa has ordered a chiropractor to halt his practice, but its keeping secret the rationale for the action and the terms under which it has agreed to reinstate the license.

On April 10, the Iowa Board of Chiropractic issued an order, pursuant to an agreement with chiropractor Todd Miedema of Sheldon. The order requires that Miedema halt his practice of chiropractic care and states that it has the same practical effect as an order suspending Miedemas license.

The document also states that in order to meet the boards interest in protecting the public, and to avoid any emergency order the board might issue in the case, the parties have agreed that Miedema will stop practicing until further order by the board.

In the document, the board lays out the specific conditions under which Miedemas license can be reinstated  all of which have been redacted from public view. Three additional paragraphs, which would appear to spell out the basis for the boards action, are also redacted from public view.

Miedema declined to comment on the case when contacted Friday by the Iowa Capital Dispatch.

Access to information is curtailed

Over the past three years, public access to information from Iowas licensing boards has been greatly reduced. Prior to October 2021, all state licensing boards publicly disclosed the specific allegations against practitioners at the time charges were filed.

Those disclosures included not just the charges themselves  which are often vague, such professional incompetence or unethical conduct  but also the specific underlying conduct that gave rise to the charges, such as a botched surgery or the theft of patient medications.

In October 2021, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the basic alleged facts and circumstances surrounding disciplinary action against licensed professionals must be kept confidential at least until the licensing boards issue their final rulings in the matter  a process that sometimes takes years.

The courts decision was based on a statute that says investigative information gathered as part of a complaint against a licensee must be kept confidential at least until the board issues its final decision. The court concluded that the basic facts and circumstances surrounding a case are investigative in nature, and therefore confidential.

In the aftermath of that decision, most of Iowas licensing boards began issuing redacted statements of charges to keep secret the basic allegations that triggered the charges. Once the matter was finalized, that same information was made public.

The Miedema action is unusual in that it represents an order issued by the board  not simply a set of charges  and yet the alleged conduct that led to the order, as well as the boards conditions for reinstatement, are being kept secret, presumably until additional action is taken in the case.

The handling of the case is somewhat similar to cases in which the board took action last fall. It was then that the state appeared to adopt a new policy of keeping secret the basic facts and circumstances in a case even after it had been finalized.

For example, the Iowa Board of Nursing repeatedly refused the Capital Dispatchs 2023 requests for an unredacted copy of the written statement of charges against a nurse whose license has been revoked. The redacted portion of that document outlined the specific conduct that led to the charges against the nurse.

In a separate matter handled by the Board of Chiropractic last year, the board resolved a case with a settlement calling for the practitioner to surrender his license. But the basic facts and circumstances in that case remained sealed until an Open Records Law request was filed by the Capital Dispatch. The case involved allegations of improper contact with a 10-year-old child. The chiropractor had previously been convicted on two counts of indecent contact with children and two counts of indecent exposure.

Even before the 2021 court ruling, Iowas licensing board tended to publicly disclose far less information on licensees alleged wrongdoing than is common practice in other states.

Veterans honored with flight to National Mall in Washington D.C.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds requested an expedited presidential disaster declaration for four Iowa counties that suffered damage from severe storms and tornadoes on Tuesday.

The tornadoes that tracked across much of the state Tuesday left severe damage in Greenfield, Iowa, killing four people there and a fifth person in nearby Adams County. At least 35 others were injured, authorities said.

Weve had a lot of destruction and damages across the state, and hopefully well meet the criteria to qualify, Reynolds said during a news conference with Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell in Greenfield on Thursday.

Reynolds request covers Adair, Polk, Story and Montgomery counties. The letter requests activation of FEMAs Individual Assistance Program and the U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loan program for all four counties. Reynolds also requested activation of FEMAs Public Assistance Program for Adair County, where Greenfield is.

More counties may be added once the request is approved, Reynolds office said.

Approval would open up the FEMA Individual Assistance Program and other aid for residents of those counties who lost property or income from the storm. The program provides households and businesses with housing assistance, property replacement and other aid. It does not cover any losses that are covered by insurance.

The FEMA Public Assistance Program would provide grants to state and local governments, as well as some nonprofits to assist in cleanup and recovery.

Criswell said on Thursday the agency was working through processing the disaster declaration request.

Me being on the ground here today really helps me understand the actual impact, Criswell said. ... We are going to continue to work with the governors team to assess all of the damages that have happened and make sure that whatever we can provide assistance for, that were able to do so.

Reynolds issued state disaster proclamations for 32 Iowa counties this week, which makes residents in those counties eligible for the state Individual Assistance Grant Program. Qualifying residents with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty line can receive $5,000 grants for expenses incurred by the storms.

Reynold said 153 homes were destroyed or suffered major damage in Adair County, eight in Montgomery County, 26 in Polk County and 15 in Story County.

After initially reporting EF-3 damage, the National Weather Service said Thursday they had identified damage consistent with an EF-4 tornado in Greenfield and Southern Adair County. EF-4 damage equates to winds between 175-185 miles per hour. The assessment may still be refined, the agency said.

Survey teams have identified EF4 damage in Greenfield and southern Adair county. Further refinement is possible in the days to come. We also will analyze damage downstream from a separate tornado.



NWS Des Moines expressed heartfelt condolences to those impacted. #iawx pic.twitter.com/hWZaQr9ds5  NWS Des Moines (@NWSDesMoines) May 23, 2024

The NWS said Thursday that a preliminary assessment found the tornado that traveled through Page, Adams and Montgomery counties was rated EF-3. The agency also confirmed the tornado that struck Polk and Story counties was an EF-2 tornado, with winds reaching up to 135 miles per hour.

Another tornado in southeast Adams County was identified, and the NWS said it identified damage consistent with an EF-0 tornado.

Criswell praised the efforts of first responders and the Greenfield community in their response to the disaster.

We also hear so many stories of hope and inspiration, of neighbors helping neighbors, she said. And I often say, theyre often the true first responders, because they know where the most vulnerable members of their community are.

Criswell encouraged people in the affected counties to take photos and document damage to their property, which can help in determining a disaster declaration.

Tuesdays severe weather comes about a month after several tornadoes struck Iowa in April, leading to severe damage in Minden and killing one person. Biden approved a federal disaster declaration for those counties last week.

More potential severe weather is forecast in western Iowa on Thursday night and into Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The agency is predicting thunderstorms, hail, damaging winds and possibly a few brief tornadoes.

What was the path of the tornadoes on Tuesday?

The National Weather Service has officially surveyed three tornadoes that struck Iowa on Tuesday.

We have completed PRELIMINARY work on the NW Adams Co tornado, which travelled through Page, Montgomery, and Adams Counties in Iowa.



Additional information on other tornadoes from 5/21 will be available later today. #iawx pic.twitter.com/ylumRmHf4Z  NWS Des Moines (@NWSDesMoines) May 23, 2024

Donna Dubberke, the chief meteorologist at NWS Des Moines, said the surveyed twisters covered more than 130 miles across the state. They formed over Montgomery and Page counties around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday.

The tornadoes strengthened as they moved northeast at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, Dubberke said. It took about one minute for the tornado to carve its destructive path across Greenfield, she said.

Photos: Tornado devastates Greenfield as powerful storms sweep through Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa Severe Weather Iowa
Bomb threat to home ministry office in Indian capital turns out to be hoax

Xinhua) 10:18, May 23, 2024

NEW DELHI, May 22 (Xinhua) -- A bomb threat turned out to be a hoax after an intensive sanitization and search operation in and outside the home ministry office in the Indian capital New Delhi, officials on Wednesday said.

According to police, an email was received Wednesday by the federal home ministry's office in Delhi's North Block, claiming that explosives had been planted on office premises and the building would be blown with it.

Immediately after receiving the distress call, bomb disposal squads of police and fire tenders were rushed to the ministry office, but nothing suspicious was found after thorough searches of the building.

The incident is the latest among a series of hoax bomb emails that have been sent to schools, airports and hospitals in the national capital.

Besides Delhi, schools in Jaipur, Lucknow, Kanpur and Ahmedabad have received similar threats.

Authorities have been investigating the matter to trace the origin of these emails.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
The decision by Norway, Ireland, and Spain to recognize a Palestinian state is a symbolic gesture, but in the context of the war in Gaza, it delivers a huge blow to Israel and a modest boost to Hamas. Ironically, though, that this happened is entirely the Israeli governments fault.

Israeli officialsnot just Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right coalition partnershave denounced the move as a twisted decision that will prompt consequences (without explaining what possible consequences will ensue). The Biden administration, as well as the leaders of France and Germany, has criticized the move as ill-timed.

Israel and its allies have long held that a Palestinian state, if one is formed at all, must be the result of negotiations between Israel and Palestinians, most likely the final result and reward of a peaceful settlement. As long as Israel at least paid lip service to the idea of a two-state solution, many countries patiently awaited the results of such negotiationsor, to describe the situation more accurately, they passively ignored that such negotiations werent happening.

Now, however, the truth can no longer be avoided, nor can the urgency for a cease-fire and at least some movement toward a grand peace. Netanyahu has publicly proclaimed, several times, that he will not accept a Palestinian state. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, though a critic of the prime ministers war policy on some grounds, was recently captured on tape saying the same thing.

Saudi Arabias rulers desperately want to normalize relations with Israel, which they see as a potent ally in their larger rivalry with Iran, but they demand that Israel at least pretend to support the idea of resuming negotiations toward a two-state solution. This is a very low bar, but Netanyahu refuses to clear even that. In part this is because he fears that if he did so, some of his coalition partners would resign, forcing new elections, which he would almost certainly lose. (If just five members of his coalition quit, his majority in parliament would vanish.) But as the Gallant tape indicates, top Israeli officials also oppose a two-state solution at the momentas do the vast majority of Israelis, still shell-shocked by Hamas murderous invasion of Oct. 7.

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In other words, it is no longer possible for anyone to act as if a two-state solution, or even a negotiation toward such a solution, is on the table. (Until recently, some have kept up the pretense, even though there have been no negotiations between Israel and Palestinians for a decade.) Yet most world leaders believeor at least say they believethat a two-state solution is the only way, ultimately, to end this eternal war. So, many of these nations are now declaring the fact of a Palestinian state on their own authorityif just to prod some movement on the issue.

Similarly, earlier this week, the International Criminal Courts chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, applied for a warrant charging Netanyahu and Gallant, as well as several Hamas leaders, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He later explained that he had done so in part because Israels government had not taken action on its own to stop its most egregious deeds. As I also repeatedly underlined in my public statements, Khan said, announcing his decision Monday, those who do not comply with the law should not complain later when my office takes action. That day has come.

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If Netanyahu had merely expressed support for holding talks toward a two-state solution, and if he had detained even a few of his most atrocious soldiers and settlers, he could have avoided this escalation of international ignominy.

The prosecutors warrants must be approved by the ICCs three-judge panel. It is not entirely clear what will happen if they are approved. If the normal rules are followed, Netanyahu and Gallant (as well as Yahya Sinwar and other Hamas leaders) will be arrested if they travel to any country that recognizes the authority of the ICC. However, Israel has never ratified the court as a legitimate body. (Neither, by the way, have the United States, Russia, China, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkey.) Is the leader of a country that never ratified the ICC subject to the courts rulings? Its not clear.

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What the action by Ireland, Spain, and Norway means is not apparent either. Of the worlds 193 nations, 142 have already formally recognized a Palestinian statemost of them did so quite a while agoyet their declarations had little impact on Middle Eastern geopolitics. It is not at all evident just what this Palestinian state is. What are its borders? Who will defend them? For a Palestinian state to be real, it would have to be proclaimed a state by the United Nations General Assemblyand that resolution would have to be approved by the U.N. Security Council, which would not happen because the United States would veto the resolution. (In fact, the General Assembly last month did pass a motion urging the admission of a Palestinian state, and the U.S. did veto it.)

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Related From Slate Why Netanyahus War Cabinet Is Existentially Divided Read More

So, no, this does not mean that the Palestinian Authority (much less Hamas) suddenly has new legal claim to territory, much less the right to buy arms or engage in trade or do many of the other things that a sovereign state does.

Still, Wednesdays action marks the first time that recognition has come from European countries, and others will soon follow. Israel will experience further isolation in an area of the world that has, for the most part, refrained from dramatic acts of opprobrium against the Jewish state. And as more and more countries declare that a Palestinian state exists (even if its mainly in their leaders minds), Israels persistent denialits refusal even to talk about talking about such an entitywill seem increasingly pathological.

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It will appear, more and more, that Israel is the main obstruction to peace. The Palestinian Authority, which once endorsed a two-state solution from its headquarters in the West Bank, will look justified in swearing off negotiations with Israel. And Hamas, which has always been opposed to such discussionsits charter calls for eliminating Israel as a Jewish state, and its leaders have talked openly about killing all Jewscould increasingly be seen by Palestinians as a legitimate leader.

Netanyahu and his colleagues could have sidestepped this by saying just a little bit and doing even less. That they are refusing to do even that isnt just a calamity. Its an unforced mistake.
The Supreme Courts 63 decision on Thursday in Alexander v. South Carolina NAACP is a devastating blow to the fight against racial gerrymandering. Justice Samuel Alitos opinion for the conservative supermajority guts a series of precedents that guarded against racist redistricting, granting state legislatures sweeping new authority to sort their residents between districts on the basis of skin color.

And yet, as bad as Alitos opinion was, it didnt go far enough for Justice Clarence Thomas, who penned a solo concurrence demanding a radical move: The Supreme Court, he argued, should overrule every precedent that limits gerrymanderingincluding the landmark cases establishing one person, one votebecause it has no constitutional power to redraw maps in the first place. And he places much of the blame for the courts allegedly illegitimate intrusion into redistricting on a surprising culprit: Brown v. Board of Education.

Brown was, of course, the 1954 decision holding that racial segregation in public education violates the equal protection clause. Many of us celebrated its 70th anniversary just last week. But Brown has always had its detractors, and Thomas has long been one of them. He has written that the decision rested on a great flaw by focusing on the stigma that Jim Crow inflicted on schoolchildren. He rejected Browns assertion that Black children suffered constitutional harm when denied access to integrated education. And he condemned the courts ongoing efforts to remedy decades of segregation by integrating public school systems by judicial decree, decrying these integration efforts as predicated on black inferiority.

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Thomas latest critique of Brown springs from a similar frustration with the Supreme Court for allegedly overstepping its constitutional role to police racial discrimination. The case at hand, Alexander, involves a South Carolina congressional district that was becoming competitive for Democrats. After the 2020 census, the GOP-controlled Legislature moved thousands of Black voters out of this district, and brought thousands of white voters into it. This population-shuffling shored up the districts Republican lean, meeting the Legislatures goal. Voting rights advocates sued, arguing that the redistribution of residents on the basis of race violated the 14th Amendments equal protection clause. A federal district court agreed and found the map unconstitutional.

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On Thursday, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court, insisting that the Legislature cared about partisanship (which is allowed), not race (which is, in theory, disallowed). In the process, it effectively overturned precedent prohibiting lawmakers from using race as a proxy for partisanship in redistricting. Alitos majority opinion also turbocharged the presumption of legislative good faith, better described as the presumption of white racial innocence. He directed lower courts to more or less ignore circumstantial evidence of racist intent when assessing these gerrymanders. The result is a new, nearly insurmountable bar for victims of racial gerrymandering: It will be virtually impossible for any plaintiff to prove that lawmakers targeted them because of their race rather than their assumed political beliefs. Legislatures may now aggressively dilute the voting power of Black communities by shifting them into districts where their votes will matter least.

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For Thomas, though, this extreme holding wasnt good enough. He wanted to go much further and disavow the courts authority to strike down any redistricting plans, asserting that this remedy doesnt fall under the courts equity power. (Thats legalese for the solutions that courts can provide when addressing constitutional infirmities.) The view of equity required to justify a judicial map-drawing power emerged only in the 1950s, Thomas wrote. The courts impatience with the pace of desegregation caused by resistance to Brown v. Board of Education led us to approve extraordinary remedial measures. According to Thomas, the court took a boundless view of equitable remedies, inventing an illegitimate new flexible power to invent whatever new remedies may seem useful at the time. The justice conceded, begrudgingly, that this understanding may have justified temporary measures to overcome the widespread resistance. (Emphasis on the word may.) But it also demonstrated that extravagant uses of judicial power are at odds with the history and tradition of the equity power and the Framers design.

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Redistricting remedies rest on the same questionable understanding of equitable power, Thomas continued. If Brown was the diseased root, then the famed redistricting cases of the 1960s were the poisonous tree. In these rulings, SCOTUS outlawed malapportionment, a kind of gerrymandering that creates large population disparities between districts to lock certain groups out of political power forever. For instance, in 1960, the populations of Vermonts House districts ranged from 38 people to 33,000 people. The vote of a resident in the smallest district counted 868 times more than that of a resident of the largest district. Many legislatures used malapportionment to dilute the votes of urban residents (who were more likely to be nonwhite), giving (white) rural voters outsized sway in the state House.

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The tool was also deployed as a more direct instrument of racial discrimination. Virginias white supremacist Legislature, for instance, packed Black voters into a small number of districts and then spread white voters around many more districts. This tactic produced its intended result: After Brown, the Virginia Legislature voted to shut down all public schools rather than integrate them. The 21 state senators who voted for the measure represented fewer Virginians than the 17 senators who opposed it. Thats the combination of malapportionment and racial gerrymandering in action.

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Related From Slate In an Extraordinary Opinion, a Federal Judge Delivers a Scathing Warning About the Supreme Court Read More

The Supreme Court shut down this practice by mandating one person, one vote, requiring districts to have roughly equal populations. And it later limited racial gerrymandering by holding that race may not predominate map-drawing. According to Thomas, these principles are illegitimate; the courts, he wrote on Thursday, are simply incapable of fixing radically imbalanced maps. Thats true even when lawmakers engage in explicit racial gerrymandering. The 14th Amendment mandates equal protection, and the 15th Amendment outlawed race-based voting discrimination. These were key aspects of the abolitionists postCivil War effort to banish white supremacy from all levels of governance. But in Alexander, Thomas declared his view that these amendments are in fact narrow to the point of nonexistence, addressing only matters relating to access to the ballot. In other words, laws that expressly prevent Black citizens from the discrete act of voting are suspect. As long as a Black citizen can cast their ballot, the Constitution is satisfied. It does not matter if their vote will be meaningless in practice because of gerrymandering and malapportionment.

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In Thomas view, Virginias Brown-era scheme to deny political power to Black residents would be perfectly lawful. Indeed, under his theory, a state legislature could pack every Black resident into one legislative district, then distribute white voters over the remaining 99 districts. Or a state legislature could put 100,000 Black residents into one congressional district and 10 white people into another. To Thomas, these schemes would present no constitutional infirmity, and courts could do nothing to stop them. Why? Because in his view, courts may only exercise those powers claimed by the High Court of Chancery in England at the time of the adoption of the Constitution. Courts did not draw maps back then, so they cannot today, either.

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Thomas wrote that SCOTUS can fix its mistake by returning political districting to the political branches, where it belongs. But how can victims of racist redistricting prevail in the political branches when those very branches have permanently locked them out of power by making their votes count for nothing? They cant, which is why the Supreme Court stepped in. As Thomas recognizes, Brown was intimately associated with the redistricting decisions of the 1960s: Both sought to help politically disadvantaged minorities vindicate rights that had been strangled by insidious throttling of the political process. It is no surprise that the justice views these lines of precedent as intertwined, and is willing to insult both as extravagant abuses of judicial power.

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Its questionable whether Thomas gets the history here correct. The postCivil War amendments were designed to elevate Black Americans to full equality with white Americans, and there is a strong originalist argument that they actually forbid racial gerrymandering. Originalism, though, is an easy tool to manipulate: The originalist judge can demand specific, nitpicky evidence in one case, then accept broad generalization in another, all in pursuit of whatever outcome they prefer. Here, by gutting the 14th and 15th Amendments through an ultra-narrow interpretation, Thomas is telling us that he prefers a nation where state legislatures can divvy up citizens on the basis of race to create maps that openly discriminate against racial minorities. It is a vision that would horrify the abolitionists who sought to end such state-sponsored racism once and for all, as well as the justices who sought to vindicate their aims in Brown.
Juraj C. wanted to gift Robert Fico his book with a dedication, reads the decision on the attackers custody.

Juraj C. attacked PM Robert Fico on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Handlova, western Slovakia. (Source: Facebook/TSS)

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He got in his car on Wednesday, May 15, and drove for about an hour to Handlova, a former mining town, where the government was holding a meeting, and waited for Prime Minister Robert Fico to walk out.

In his fanny pack, 71-year-old Juraj C. carried a Czech-made gun with two magazines, each one holding about 10 cartridges. He had bought it in 1992. The pensioner also had a gift for the prime minister - his book called The Victims Message, containing a short dedication for the premier.

When Fico finally arrived at the barrier where people were waiting for him shortly after 14:30, Juraj C. fired at least four shots at the prime minister, his torso and abdominal cavity, without any warning.

Initial reports suggested that Juraj C. had shouted at the prime minister to come closer to him. The prosecutor is also convinced that Juraj C. addressed Fico at first.

Maybe the distance between us was not even two metres, even a blind person could have hit him, the attacker told the police, as quoted in last weeks decision to take Juraj C. into custody.

All the major dailies obtained the courts decision, written by Judge Roman Puchovsky of the Specialised Criminal Court, and published stories based on it on Thursday.

According to the decision, Juraj C. decided to take revenge on the government for its policies around May 13, 2024, by harming the prime ministers health. On that day, he heard on the radio that the government meeting would take place in Handlova in two days and decided to act.

Attacker: Prime minister was the sole target
Bichette homers and drives in three, Bassitt pitches 7 innings as Blue Jays rout White Sox 9-2

Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette, right, celebrates his two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP)  Bo Bichette homered and had three RBIs, Daulton Varsho reached base three times and drove in a pair, and the Toronto Blue Jays used a seven-run second inning to beat the Chicago White Sox 9-2 on Wednesday night.

By taking two of three from Chicago, the Blue Jays won a series for the first time since taking two of three at San Diego from April 19 to 21.

It just feels good to win and score a lot of runs, to be honest, Bichette said. Weve just got to win every day.

Chris Bassitt (4-6) allowed five hits in a season-high seven innings to win for the second time in three starts. The right-hander walked two and struck out four.

Blue Jays left-hander Genesis Cabrera gave up two runs in the eighth and righty Nate Pearson finished.

Toronto was held to two hits in a 5-0 loss Tuesday but responded with a seven-run, two-out rally in the second inning Wednesday. It was the Blue Jays biggest inning since a nine-run ninth at Tampa Bay on May 23, 2023.

Davis Schneider started the scoring with a two-run single. Varsho followed with a two-run triple and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added an RBI single before Bichette homered to center, his third, against White Sox right-hander Nick Nastrini.

Overall, fastball command wasnt there, White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said of Nastrinis rough start. Hes got some adjustments to make.

Bichettes two-run shot was the first by a Blue Jays cleanup hitter this season. According to MLB, Toronto had the longest drought to begin a season since the 1997 Astros went 60 games without a homer from a cleanup hitter.

The Blue Jays celebrated Bichettes blast by having him wear a version of the home run jacket the team used in 2022.

Im a believer in little things like that go a long way, manager John Schneider said of the celebrations return. Im not saying a home run jacket is going to fix our season or do anything different, but when guys are pulling in the same direction, thats a good thing.

The Blue Jays are 17-2 when they score five or more.

Tommy Pham hit a solo home run, his third, and Paul DeJong added a sacrifice fly, but Chicago wrapped up its road trip at 1-5. The White Sox are 5-21 away from home.

Nastrini (0-3) was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to face Toronto in his third career start. He allowed a career-high nine runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.

I really just wasnt establishing that upper third of the zone, said Nastrini, who walked a career-worst six and struck out none. When I dont do that it kind of makes it tough to pitch.

Grifol said Nastrini will get another crack at Torontos lineup when the Blue Jays visit Chicago next week.

Hes got four days to adjust, make all the necessary adjustments, Grifol said. I want him to learn from this. I want him to think about it. I want him to throw his bullpen thinking about today, and I want him to get to work and be ready to go in five days.

TRAINERS ROOM

White Sox: OF/DH Eloy Jimenez (left hamstring) was placed on the 10-day IL, one day after he was injured running the bases. RHP Steven Wilson (back) went on the 15-day IL, retroactive to May 20. The White Sox recalled Nastrini and OF Zach DeLoach from Triple-A .

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP Mike Clevinger (0-2, 5.56 ERA) is scheduled to start Thursday as Chicago returns home to begin a four-game series against Baltimore. RHP Grayson Rodriguez (4-1, 3.15) goes for the Orioles.

Blue Jays: RHP Kevin Gausman (2-3, 4.89 ERA) is expected to start Thursday as Toronto opens a four-game series at Detroit. RHP Jack Flaherty (1-3, 3.79) is listed for the Tigers.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/armed-forces-of-ukraine-to-rebuild-6200-miles-of-fortifications---reports-1118592409.html

Armed Forces of Ukraine to Rebuild 6,200 Miles of Fortifications - Reports

Armed Forces of Ukraine to Rebuild 6,200 Miles of Fortifications - Reports

Sputnik International

The Armed Forces of Ukraine plan to rebuild 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) of fortifications along the front line, Ukrainian publication Liga reported.

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Ukrainian military personnel complained about the inefficient use of resources and the need to urgently rebuild previously constructed low-quality fortifications. According to a serviceman, who asked not to give a direct quote, the Ukrainian authorities intend to rebuild fortifications along the entire front line.Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. President Putin has said the operation aims to "protect people subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." According to the president, the ultimate goal of the operation is to liberate Donbas and create conditions that guarantee Russia's security. Russia earlier sent a note to NATO because of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/b-2-vs-b-21-will-pentagons-new-big-budget-bomber-be-another-wedge-shaped-waste-of-money-1118599180.html

B-2 vs. B-21: Will Pentagons New Big-Budget Bomber Be Another Wedge-Shaped Waste of Money?

B-2 vs. B-21: Will Pentagons New Big-Budget Bomber Be Another Wedge-Shaped Waste of Money?

Sputnik International

The B-21 was unveiled in late 2022, and is envisioned as the Pentagon's next-generation response to the increasingly sophisticated air defense and radar capabilities of America's adversaries. But there's a catch.

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The US Air Force has dropped fresh images of the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth strategic bomber, which the military hopes will become the backbone of the US Air Force bomber fleet, during testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.Flight tests of the aircraft began in November. The Air Force expects B-21s to start entering service between 2025 and 2027.In the meantime, the Pentagon will have to make do with its "attractive museum piece" Northrop B-2 Spirit bombers, created during the twilight of the Cold War, introduced in the late 1990s, and used to a limited extent to bomb Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya between 1999 and 2017. The B-2 bomber fleet was grounded in December 2022 after a mystery in-flight emergency over Missouri, but returned to service in May 2023.B-2 vs. B-21: What's Changed?At first glance, the B-21 looks similar to the B-2. Both are sleek, flying wedge-shaped aircraft designed to stealthily sneak into enemy territory for conventional or nuclear bombing missions, and are expected to carry the same types of munitions, from 230 kg unguided or glide bombs to 910 kg precision-guided munitions, stand-off cruise missiles, and B61 or B83 nuclear bombs.Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin promised in 2022 that the B-21 would feature the latest advances in stealth tech, making it difficult for even the most sophisticated air defenses to detect it. The airmen flying the plane will surely hope that Austins words arent just an empty boast, with US adversaries including Russia and China developing powerful over-the-horizon radars specifically to detect the latest stealth aircraft.Small, symbolical differences also exist. While B-2s were named after US states ("Spirit of Missouri," "Spirit of Kansas," etc.), the B-21 is named after the Doolittle Raiders  the daring WWII-era US airman who bombed Tokyo four months after Pearl Harbor in 1942, kicking off a campaign that would culminate in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.What Hasnt Changed: Same High, High PricesWith a price tag of over $2.1 billion per plane, the B-2 holds the record of worlds most expensive-ever aircraft, with only 21 of 132 planned B-2s delivered. Northrop Grumman promises that the B-21 will cost "only" $692 million per plane, but if the experiences developing its predecessor and the general trajectory of new US aircraft designs are anything to go by, it is expected to cost much, much more in the end.The Air Force wants at least 100 B-21s, for a total of $69.2 billion. But thats not counting service costs, maintenance, and other expenses  which can climb astronomically into the trillions, as Lockheed Martins F-35 program can attest to.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/breaking-bad-oregon-conservatives-seeking-to-secede-from-the-woke-state-1118604258.html

Breaking Bad: Oregon Conservatives Seeking to Secede From the Woke State

Breaking Bad: Oregon Conservatives Seeking to Secede From the Woke State

Sputnik International

Fourteen conservative Oregon counties voted for steps to start negotiations on seceding from the liberal state and join neighboring conservative Idaho.

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The draft aims to move the Oregon border 200 miles to the west, so that several counties would lie within Idaho state lines. Those behind the effort claim that the move would allow residents to benefit from lower tax rates and to have their interests better represented at the legislative level. They also argue that the move westward would be a boon to conservative voters ostracized by left-wing authorities that push harmful progressive policies. Oregon residents have seen a spike in crime, especially drug-related. Notably, locals blame liberal legislators for decriminalizing drug possession. State policymakers adopted a law in 2021 under which police would simply give out $100 fine tickets to addicts in place of criminal prosecutions. On top of that, the ticket would be cancelled if the detained underwent treatment and agreed to a health assessment. The move ultimately proved pointless, as drug users ignored over 95 percent of the tickets. Though not legislatively binding, the vote signals to state and federal representatives that residents support talks on being anexed by Idaho.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/china-starts-military-drills-around-taiwan-as-warning-to-meddling-external-forces-1118594317.html

China Starts Military Drills Around Taiwan as 'Warning' to Meddling 'External Forces'

China Starts Military Drills Around Taiwan as 'Warning' to Meddling 'External Forces'

Sputnik International

Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) started joint military drills around the island of Taiwan.

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China has started large-scale military drills in areas around Taiwan. The exercises codenamed Joint Sword 2024A will be conducted from May 23 to 24, and involve military services including the army, navy, air force, and rocket force, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army announced.Specifically, the drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, north, south, and east of Taiwan, as well as areas around the Taiwan-controlled islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin, as per the commands statement.The exercises serve as a "strong punishment" against the separatist acts of the "Taiwan independence" forces and a "stern warning" to interference and provocation by external forces, Li Xi, spokesperson for the theater command, said in a statement. The maneuvers will focus on practicing joint maritime and aerial combat readiness in areas around the island of Taiwan to test joint real combat capabilities, Li said.The show of strength comes just days after US-backed Taiwans new regional leader, William Lai Ching-te, took his oath of office. Shortly after Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) pro-independence candidate won the election, he vowed to protect Taiwan from China's continued threats and intimidation."In response, China's Taiwan Affairs Office chief Chen Binhua declared that Beijing will adhere to the 1992 consensus, which embodies the One China principle, and firmly oppose separatist actions aimed at achieving Taiwan's independence, as well as interference by external forces."Beijing will work with all political parties and groups of Taiwan's society to promote exchanges and cooperation with the island, as well as peaceful relations with Taipei and the "reunification of the motherland," Chen added.The drills also come as the US has been further stoking tensions in the region with a swathe of joint drills. The expansive US-Philippines Balikatan war games in April were held near the South China Sea, where both Beijing and Manila have territorial claims.Beijing slammed the drills as exacerbating regional tensions. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the Philippines "should understand that drawing in countries outside the South China Sea to flex their muscles and stoke confrontation in the region will only intensify tensions and undermine regional stability." Lin said that by seeking to bolster its security using external forces, the Philippines "will only put itself into greater insecurity, and even become the pawn of others."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240113/us-backed-candidates-victory-in-taiwan-means-year-of-the-dragon-is-going-to-be-tense-1116147787.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/funding-never-ending-conflict-in-ukraine-not-in-us-interest---us-senator-vance-1118602216.html

Funding Never-Ending Conflict in Ukraine Not in US Interest - US Senator Vance

Funding Never-Ending Conflict in Ukraine Not in US Interest - US Senator Vance

Sputnik International

It is not in the interest of the United States to fund an endless war in Ukraine, US Senator JD Vance said on Thursday.

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I do not think that it is in Americas interest to continue to fund, effectively, a never-ending war in Ukraine, Vance said during remarks at the Quincy Institute. There is no strategic end in sight to the conflict in Ukraine, Vance said. The conflict is not leading in a direction that will benefit the US, Vance said. Moreover, the US is subsidizing the security of European countries and turning them into client states instead of allies, Vance said. The US must allow different regions to police themselves due to the multipolar nature of the world, Vance said. West Arms Supplies to Ukraine Can Only Make Fate of Ukrainians More Difficult - KremlinWestern arms supplies to Ukraine can only make the fate of Ukrainians more difficult, and this is an irresponsible and dangerous position, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.There are many hotheads in the US Congress who add fuel to the fire of the situation in Ukraine, Peskov added."We know that there are a lot of hotheads among both US senators and congressmen who consider it their duty to continue adding fuel to the fire," Peskov said.Russia will continue the special military operation until all its goals are reached, and it is obvious for experts that no arms supplies will change the battlefield situation, the spokesman added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240520/pentagon-chief-says-opposes-use-of-us-supplied-ukrainian-weapons-for-strikes-inside-russia-1118548382.html

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military aid for ukraine, is us giving more money to ukraine, why is us giving more money to kiev, whats happening to money given to kiev, will us give more money to kiev, how much money does ukraine get, how much money us gives to ukraine, how much money eu gives to ukraine, how much money europe gives to ukraine, what weapons does ukraine receive, does us give ukraine new weapons
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urged the European Union to block below-market priced technology from China including solar panels and wind turbines.

She made the comments as she was awarded an honorary doctorate at the Frankfurt School in Germany.

Yellen warned that cheap Chinese exports represent a grave threat to the global economy.

She noted that China has grown from representing 3% of the global economy to 20%.

The Treasury Secretary says that China's over-saturation of cheap goods not only hurts the U.S. and Europe but could stop emerging countries from being able to develop their own manufacturing economy.

"The viability of businesses around the world could be at risk," Yellen said.

She also warned that critical mineral supply chains are "over-concentrated in China."

TUNE IN as I deliver remarks at the @FrankfurtSchool on the importance of the transatlantic alliance for people in the U.S., Europe, and around the world. https://t.co/MAd1Tcbr8m  Secretary Janet Yellen (@SecYellen) May 21, 2024

Her comments came hours after European Commission President Ursula von der Leven indicated the EU is considering joining the US to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, the Guardian reports.

She noted the importance of the transatlantic alliance for the people of the U.S. and Europe, especially after Russia invaded Ukraine.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/half-of-moldovans-say-govt-policy-on-gagauzia-wrong-over-50-distrust-nato---poll-1118592102.html

Half of Moldovans Say Gov't Policy on Gagauzia Wrong, Over 50% Distrust NATO - Poll

Half of Moldovans Say Gov't Policy on Gagauzia Wrong, Over 50% Distrust NATO - Poll

Sputnik International

Half of Modova's residents consider the government's policy toward the autonomous region of Gagauzia wrong, while more than half do not trust NATO, Moldovan social research company IMAS found.

2024-05-23T00:45+0000

2024-05-23T00:45+0000

2024-05-23T00:45+0000

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Asked what they thought of the policy of the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) toward Gagauzia, 50% or respondents said it was wrong, 29% said it was right and 21% said they could not answer the question. Respondents were also asked to evaluate their level of trust in various international institutions, including the World Health Organization, NATO, the European Parliament, the European Union, World Bank, the UN and others. Speaking of NATO, 18% said they had "little" trust, 42% said they had "no to very little" trust, 21% said they trusted the military alliance and only 9% said they trusted it a lot. Additionally, 2% of Moldovans said they they'd never heard of NATO and 8% said they could not give an answer.The poll was conducted among 1,088 people from May 2-19 with a maximum margin of error of 3%. Its results were broadcast live on the Realitatea website. Gagauzia, where most people speak Russian as well as Gagauz, a Turkic language, declared independence from Soviet Moldova in 1990 but was integrated into the newly-established Republic of Moldova in 1994. The Gagauz people are Orthodox Christians of Turkic origin. Gagauzia has traditionally favored rapprochement with Russia, while Chisinau has set a course toward European integration. According to the country's constitution, Moldova has neutral status, but from 1994 it has been cooperating with NATO, and with the accession to power of PAS, which is informally led by President Maia Sandu, military exercises involving the US, the UK, German and Romanian military have become more frequent. Sandu has told local media that Moldova should continue discussing rapprochement with NATO, as this allegedly helps strengthen the country's defense capabilities.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240410/gagauzia-suffering-colossal-losses-from-moldovas-economic-pressure---gutsul-1117838715.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240402/nato-drills-in-moldova-west-tightens-grip-amid-tensions-around-the-country-1117703028.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/israel-allegedly-abandoned-major-invasion-of-rafah-in-favor-of-targeted-raids---reports-1118592262.html

Israel Abandons Major Invasion of Rafah in Favor of Targeted Raids - Report

Israel Abandons Major Invasion of Rafah in Favor of Targeted Raids - Report

Sputnik International

Israel has allegedly abandoned its plans for a major invasion of Rafah in the Gaza Strip in favor of targeted incursions after talks with the US, The Telegraph has reported.

2024-05-23T02:15+0000

2024-05-23T02:15+0000

2024-05-23T05:10+0000

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The report cited the official as saying on Wednesday that Israel had taken concerns of the US into account, which had for weeks warned Israel against full-scale operation in Rafah. Last week, Sullivan traveled to the Middle East and visited Saudi Arabia and Israel, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Israeli leadership. Earlier in May, the Pentagon confirmed media reports that the Biden administration halted deliveries of 1800 2000-pound bombs and 1700 500-pound bombs to Israel after the country began its allegedly limited military operation in Rafah while making public its plans to proceed with a major ground operation. In early May, US President Joe Biden said during an interview with CNN that Washington would not supply weapons to Israel if the Jewish state's military went into Rafah. In the early hours of May 7, the Israel Defense Forces launched what it called a counterterrorist operation in the east of Rafah and took control of the Gaza side of the border crossing with Egypt. Later that week, Israeli media reported that Israel's military cabinet had approved expanding the ground operation. Israeli authorities say the operation was aimed at eliminating the remaining battalions of Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip. On October 7, 2023, 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 were 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 35,600 people have been killed so far by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240518/sullivan-to-visit-saudi-arabia-on-saturday-amid-tensions-in-rafah-1118512397.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/israel-faces-diplomatic-defeat-as-european-countries-recognize-palestinian-state-1118593502.html

Israel Faces Diplomatic Defeat as European Countries Recognize Palestinian State

Israel Faces Diplomatic Defeat as European Countries Recognize Palestinian State

Sputnik International

The coordinated announcements by the European nations indicate a growing international consensus that peace in the Middle East requires acknowledging Palestinian rights.

2024-05-23T04:54+0000

2024-05-23T04:54+0000

2024-05-23T04:54+0000

analysis

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elijah j. magnier

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palestine

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palestine-israel conflict

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Veteran war journalist Elijah Magnier provided insights into the implications of this recognition in a recent interview to the Sputnik's Critical Hour.The coordinated announcements by the European nations indicate a growing international consensus that peace in the Middle East requires acknowledging Palestinian rights. Magnier emphasized that this recognition is the minimum the global community can offer to the Palestinians, fulfilling promises made in the Oslo Accords of the 1990s.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded vehemently to the recognition, recalling ambassadors from the involved countries. Netanyahu's actions reflect his long-standing refusal to grant statehood to the Palestinians.US Position and Global ImplicationsDespite the European stance, the US has maintained a different approach. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan have not supported the recognition of a Palestinian state. Instead, the US continues to back Israel's military actions and strategic goals.Magnier criticized this position, pointing out the contradiction in US policy, which simultaneously claims to protect civilians while supplying Israel with military support.Future ProspectsThe recognition of the Palestinian state by Norway, Ireland, and Spain signals a potential shift in the international community's approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, with the US maintaining its support for Israel and the conflict showing no signs of resolution, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges.As Magnier concluded, "The Israelis are incapable of achieving their objectives," and the ongoing war continues to highlight the need for a new diplomatic approach.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240522/european-trios-recognition-of-palestine-constitutes-big-failure-for-us-israeli-diplomacy-1118588511.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240418/us-vetoes-palestines-request-for-full-un-membership---correspondent-1118002408.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/julian-assanges-extradition-battle-a-tenuous-path-to-justice-1118594129.html

Julian Assange's Extradition Battle: Tenuous Path to Justice

Julian Assange's Extradition Battle: Tenuous Path to Justice

Sputnik International

The UK's High Court of Justice has granted WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange permission to challenge his extradition to the US, offering a glimmer of hope amidst a prolonged legal struggle.

2024-05-23T05:07+0000

2024-05-23T05:07+0000

2024-05-23T05:07+0000

analysis

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0c/0a/1091415757_0:320:3073:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_1cd1f9de8a4f756ccf9702ffcbaf6460.jpg

The UK's High Court of Justice has granted WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange permission to challenge his extradition to the US, offering a glimmer of hope amidst a prolonged legal struggle. However, experts caution that Assange's chances of being exonerated remain slim."It invites cautious optimism, however, his chances of being exonerated are minuscule," said Poikonen.He highlighted the protracted nature of Assange's legal battle, which has seen him languishing in Belmarsh Prison for years.A Radical Strategy Shift?Poikonen discussed a potential strategic shift that Assange's legal team might consider: voluntarily coming to the US to face the charges.Wilmer Leon, host of "Critical Hour," asked about the impact such a strategy might have on public perception and media coverage. "What if they were just to say, forget the hearings, we're coming to the US? What would be the headline here?" he pondered.Assange's case is unfolding against a backdrop of declining approval ratings for President Joe Biden, with recent polls showing his approval rating at 36%."The government does not represent the people, it represents the oligarchs, the billionaires, the donors," Poikonen noted, pointing to broader dissatisfaction with the current administration. He suggested that the Assange case, if brought to the US, could further erode public trust in the government.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240521/rot-in-jail-assange-granted-appeal-hearing-while-us-drags-its-feet-1118550922.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/nickel-politics-trump-trials-culture-wars-space-weapons-1118590799.html

Nickel Politics, Trump Trials, Culture Wars, Space Weapons

Nickel Politics, Trump Trials, Culture Wars, Space Weapons

Sputnik International

A majority of Americans believe the economy is in recession, another sign that US workers and US finance exist in two different worlds.

2024-05-23T04:12+0000

2024-05-23T04:12+0000

2024-05-23T08:42+0000

political misfits

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Nickel Politics, Trump Trials, Culture Wars, Space Weapons Sputnik International A majority of Americans believe the economy is in recession, another sign that US workers and US finance exist in two different worlds.

KJ Noh, a scholar, educator and journalist focusing on the political economy and geopolitics of the Asia-Pacific, discusses the French presidents visit to New Caledonia, how the islands aspirations for independence are intertwined with nickel mining, and how the current crisis will be resolved. He also discusses the panic about Chinas green technology production, the impact of unilateral sanctions on Xinjiang, why Washington cant compete with the Belt and Road initiative, and the impact of European countries recognizing a Palestinian state.Former US Associate Deputy Attorney General Bruce Fein discusses the performance of former President Donald Trumps lawyers in his trials so far, efforts to get Trumps classified documents case dismissed, and whether Boeing will actually be punished for putting civilian airline passengers at risk again.Manila Chan, veteran journalist and host of the Chans Mouth Live podcast on Rumble, discusses the meat both major parties are throwing to their bases, Fulton County local election results and what they mean for Trumps election interference trial there, bad polling news for President Joe Biden, misuse of the Espionage Act, arraignments over election interference accusations in Arizona, Hunter Bidens coming trial, whether President Joe Biden will be pulled up by more popular down ballot candidates, and calls for using nuclear weapons in Gaza.International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda discusses US accusations that Russia is militarizing space, why Washington and Moscow have voted down UN efforts to block such militarization, movements on the battlefield in Ukraine, and an attempt in Washington to extend protections for US soldiers to Americans serving in the Israel Defense Forces.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

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political misfits, space weapons, new caledonia protests, is boeing safe to fly, us sanctions on china
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/russian-ambassador-warns-us-against-reckless-calls-for-ukrainian-aggression-1118596599.html

Russian Ambassador Warns US Against Reckless Calls for Ukrainian Aggression

Russian Ambassador Warns US Against Reckless Calls for Ukrainian Aggression

Sputnik International

Calls by politicians of the United States to allow Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons against the territory of Russia are "reckless" and threaten to drag Washington into the conflict, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov has said.

2024-05-23T08:52+0000

2024-05-23T08:52+0000

2024-05-23T08:52+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

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"Such provocative statements are extremely dangerous and reckless. The calls by the Russophobes mean only one thing - further dragging the US into the Ukraine conflict on the side of the agonizing [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky regime," Antonov said in a statement shared by the Russian Embassy on Wednesday. Antonov said "the Kiev regime has long abandoned asking permission from its Western masters for war against civilian facilities on Russian territory." "Barbaric raids with the use of lethal products of NATO's defense industry are carried out across our country on an almost regular basis," the ambassador added. Washington reacts with "hysteria" to the successes of the Russian military, while Kiev's main goal is to provoke a confrontation between Russia and NATO, Antonov said. "Politicians and lawmakers continue to test our patience. Every day we hear new proposals to expand military aid to the Kiev junta," the statement read. "It is clear that Kiev aims to provoke the US and other NATO countries into rash actions and achieve a head-on collision between Russia and the bloc's members. This is how the ideas of using American long-range systems against Russian civilians, primarily women, children and the elderly, should be viewed. The push by Western states to shoot down Russian armed forces' aircraft should be added here," the ambassador added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240522/us-lawmakers-ask-biden-admin-to-allow-ukraine-to-use-us-weapons-inside-russia-1118574181.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/russian-forces-liberate-andreyevka-in-donetsk-peoples-republic-1118597982.html

Russian Forces Liberate Andreyevka in Donetsk People's Republic

Russian Forces Liberate Andreyevka in Donetsk People's Republic

Sputnik International

Units of the Yug Battlegroup have liberated Andreyevka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian Ministry of Defense reported.

2024-05-23T10:05+0000

2024-05-23T10:05+0000

2024-05-24T13:43+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

donetsk

russia

konstantinovka

armed forces of ukraine

russian ministry of defense

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"The units of the Yug Group of forces, as a result of active actions, liberated the settlement of Andreyevka in the Donetsk People's Republic, as well as improved the situation on the front line and inflicted damage on the personnel and equipment of the 57th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 105th and 118th Territorial Defense Brigades in the areas of the settlements of Konstantinovka, Razdolovka, and Chasov Yar in the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said.Furthermore, the Tsentr group of forces improved tactical position and inflicted damage on the formations of the 68th Jaeger and 24th Mechanized Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Semenovka and Novgorodskoye in DPR. The units of the battlegroup dealt blows to two Ukrainian brigades and repelled five counterattacks, with enemy losses totaling up to 405 soldiers, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. In addition, during counter-battery combat, Russian forces hit the 155mm howitzer M777 of US production, the 155mm self-propelled artillery unit M109 Paladin of US production, the 152mm self-propelled artillery unit Akatsiya, the D-20 howitzer, the Msta-B howitzer, two D-30 howitzers, and two 105mm light towed howitzers M102 of US production.Russia's Battlegroup Sever has advanced into Ukraine's territory and repelled two counterattacks in the Kharkov region and the armed forces of Ukraine lost up to 365 soldiers, the ministry said.Battlegroup Zapad has repelled four counterattacks by Ukrainian troops in the DPR and the Lugansk People's Republic, while Kiev has lost up to 320 soldiers, the statement added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240522/russian-forces-liberate-kleshcheyevka-in-donetsk-peoples-republic-1118583325.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240510/ukraine-loses-some-3300-troops-in-fights-with-2-russian-groupings-of-forces-1118374587.html

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russian special military operation, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian conflict, war in ukraine, russian forces seize another settlement in donbass
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/russian-un-envoy-germany-has-no-moral-authority-to-mention-term-genocide-1118605746.html

Russian UN Envoy: Germany Has No Moral Authority to Mention Term 'Genocide'

Russian UN Envoy: Germany Has No Moral Authority to Mention Term 'Genocide'

Sputnik International

Germany has no moral ground to lecture other states at the United Nations about genocide, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said on Thursday.

2024-05-23T17:52+0000

2024-05-23T17:52+0000

2024-05-23T17:52+0000

world

germany

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the united nations (un)

un general assembly

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vassily nebenzia

rwanda

united nations general assembly (unga)

un general assembly

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Earlier in the day, the UN General Assembly adopted a controversial resolution sponsored by Germany and Rwanda on the 1995 Srebrenica "genocide." The resolution designates July 11 as the "International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica". He added that the entire UN was created in response to the crimes committed by Nazi Germany and to prevent similar atrocities from occurring again.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/un-general-assembly-adopts-controversial-resolution-on-srebrenica-events---sputnik-correspondent-1118603005.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/scott-ritter-us-threats-to-greenlight-ukrainian-attacks-on-russia-could-spill-out-into-nuclear-war-1118604680.html

Scott Ritter: US Threats to Greenlight Ukrainian Attacks on Russia Could Spill Out Into Nuclear War

Scott Ritter: US Threats to Greenlight Ukrainian Attacks on Russia Could Spill Out Into Nuclear War

Sputnik International

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reportedly asked President Biden to formally greenlight Ukrainian strikes against targets deep inside Russia using US-provided long-range weaponry amid growing pressure from hawks in Washington. Sputnik asked seasoned international affairs observer Scott Ritter about the development's dangerous endgame.

2024-05-23T17:28+0000

2024-05-23T17:28+0000

2024-05-23T17:28+0000

analysis

scott ritter

us

joe biden

antony blinken

russia

ukraine

nato

house foreign affairs committee

army tactical missile system (atacms)

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House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul added fuel to the fire of escalatory rhetoric swirling around Washington on Wednesday regarding restrictions on Ukraines use of American long-range strike weapons, trotting out a map during Secretary Blinkens testimony showing areas of Russia hundreds of kilometers from the Ukrainian frontlines that weapons like ATACMS and HIMARS could hit.Will you change this policy so that Ukraine can fight without one hand tied behind its back? McCaul asked.When it comes to enabling or endorsing attacks outside of Ukraine, thats not something weve done, but Ukraine will have to make and will make its own decisions and I want to make sure that it gets the equipment that it needs, Blinken said, avoiding a direct answer.Privately, however, sources told the New York Times that the secretary of state favors lifting the restrictions, and that he has lobbied President Biden to do so after what the newspaper characterized as a sobering trip to Kiev last week, where he was briefed on Ukraines battlefield setbacks.McCauls counterparts in the Russian Duma and Senate slammed the congressmans madness and apparent loss of instinct for self-preservation, warning that Russia would be forced to take tough and swift measures in response to such blatant aggression. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, meanwhile, recommended to McCaul that the first place in the Russian interior to be targeted by long-range US missiles is the American Embassy in Moscow.But the debate in Washington regarding direct US approval for Ukrainian missile attacks deep inside Russia constitute little more than word games, says former US Marine and UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter.The catastrophic situation for Ukraine is seen by the Biden administration as a political problem during an election year, and Blinken is trying to come up with a political solution, the military and international affairs observer explained.Ritter characterized the hostile rhetoric coming out of Washington regarding overt approval for strikes on Russia an unprecedented escalation, an act of war, an act of aggression that Russia couldnt let go without a response.Legally, retired soldier said, Russia would have the right not only to strike decision-making centers and launch sites inside Ukraine, but also those facilitating the attacks, potentially including American decision-making centers in Europe.As for Congressman McCauls map, Ritter suggested that what neocons like McCaul dont understand is that theyre putting forward a slanted version of this conflict. An accurate map put up by Tony Blinken, Victoria Nuland or the congressman from Texas would highlight for instance Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Germany, France, England, Italy, the Netherlands, the BalticsAll of those nations provide a safe haven for Ukraine  a place where Ukrainian forces can train. A place where Ukrainian military materiel can be stockpiled, repaired. Where command and control activity takes place, where intelligence is collected, assessed and disseminated. All these activities are part and parcel of Ukraines military effort against Russia, and under normal conditions would be subjected to military interdiction. But Russia doesnt attack them, it cant attack them because theyre part of NATO. For Russia to attack them, even though this activity is directly related to the war, it would lead to an expansion of the conflict, an escalation. So Russia has avoided doing this even though it has every right to do so.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/funding-never-ending-conflict-in-ukraine-not-in-us-interest---us-senator-vance-1118602216.html

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ukraine

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Ilya Tsukanov

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Scott Ritter: The Russians will not be defeated Sputnik International Scott Ritter: The Russians will not be defeated 2024-05-23T17:28+0000 true PT3M29S

Scott Ritter: US threats to greenlight Ukrainian attacks on Russia could spill out into nuclear war Sputnik International Scott Ritter: US threats to greenlight Ukrainian attacks on Russia could spill out into nuclear war 2024-05-23T17:28+0000 true PT2M10S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/slovak-prime-minister-in-serious-but-stable-condition---hospital-1118599794.html

Slovak Prime Minister in Serious But Stable Condition - Hospital

Slovak Prime Minister in Serious But Stable Condition - Hospital

Sputnik International

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's condition remains serious but stable, according to the latest update on his health issued by the F.D. Roosevelt University Hospital, which treats the politician who survived an assassination attempt, on Thursday.

2024-05-23T12:04+0000

2024-05-23T12:04+0000

2024-05-23T12:04+0000

world

slovak pm fico assassination attempt

robert fico

slovakia

assassination

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"Statement on the current health condition of Prime Minister Robert Fico. The patient's condition remains serious but stable," the hospital in the central Slovak town of Banska Bystrica said on social media. Last Wednesday, Fico, 59, was shot after a government field-meeting in the Slovak city of Handlova. The prime minister was rushed to a hospital in a life-threatening condition where he underwent several surgeries. The shooter, Juraj Cintula, 71, was detained immediately after the attack and charged with attempting to commit a premeditated murder. The Slovak Interior Ministry expressed the belief that the attack was politically motivated, as Cintula did not agree with the actions of the government. In particular, he was against stopping the supply of weapons to Ukraine.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240522/slovakia-investigating-ficos-health-data-leak-after-assassination-attempt-1118585360.html

slovakia

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The University of Michigan chapter of Jewish Voices for Peace has reported that numerous protesters were hospitalized with chemical burns following an altercation with police on campus.

As previously reported by HNGN, Michigan State Police entered the campus earlier this morning, where the Gaza solidarity encampment was dismantled and protestors were doused with pepper spray before being removed and in some cases arrested.

The encampment has been inhabited by students and protesters since it was built on April 22, according to the Associated Press, appearing on campus near the end of the school year and just ahead of spring commencement.



Protesters had demanded that the school's endowment stop pumping money into companies with Israeli ties, but the University said it has no direct investiments and less than .1% of the total endowment placed with funds that only might include israeli-linked companies, AP reported.



At least 50 people were cleared from the encampment, and at least 4 people were arrested.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/west-hypocritically-backs-un-vote-on-srebrenica-genocide-while-supporting-extermination-of-gaza-1118606981.html

West Hypocritically Backs UN Vote on Srebrenica Genocide While Supporting Extermination of Gaza

West Hypocritically Backs UN Vote on Srebrenica Genocide While Supporting Extermination of Gaza

Sputnik International

The United Nations General Assembly has voted to recognize the July 1995 violence in Srebrenica, Bosnia as a genocide. Veteran Balkan affairs expert Stevan... 23.05.2024, Sputnik International

2024-05-23T18:54+0000

2024-05-23T18:54+0000

2024-05-23T19:05+0000

stevan gajic

milorad dodik

srebrenica

bosnia

germany

the united nations (un)

united nations general assembly

analysis

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The General Assembly passed a resolution Thursday designating July 11 as International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, and condemning without reservation any denial of the Srebrenica genocide as a historical event.The Germany and Rwanda-sponsored resolution passed without an outright majority, with 84 countries voting in favor, 19 opposed, and 68 abstaining.Russia, Serbia, China, Syria, Cuba and Hungary were among the nations opposed to the resolution, while the US and its European and Canadian allies made up a large chunk of those in favor, along with many countries in the Muslim World.Serbian officials slammed the vote, alleging that the resolution brands Serbs as a genocidal people, and raises questions about Bosnia and Herzegovinas legitimacy as a state. Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik warned that he would propose Bosnia's peaceful dissolution if the vote proceeded. He has since vowed to deliver a draft agreement on separation to Sarajevo within 30 days.Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said that the resolution seems designed to undermine the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement which put an end to the Bosnian War. Nebenzia called Thursdays vote a sad page in the history of the UN General Assembly, suggesting that Germany, which has no moral authority to even mention the term genocide to describe anything other than their own atrocious crimes during WWII, pushed through a thoroughly political declaration under the guise of establishing a memorial day to the events in Srebrenica.Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric accused someone of seeking to pit neighbors against one another and opening old wounds in the Western Balkans region, using the UN resolution to do so.Hypocrisy Levels Off the ChartsThis outcome was expected because of the immense pressure of the Western countries, says Professor Stevan Gajic, a political analyst and research associate at the Belgrade-based Institute of European Studies.Whats far more significant is the resolutions timing, Gajic told Sputnik.Gajic found it particularly repugnant that Germany, which committed genocide against Yugoslavs and established genocidal puppet regimes in the region during the Second World War, is now essentially engaged in victim-blaming by accusing Serbs of wrongdoing.Germans were the ones who organized mass shootings of civilians during World War Two, in Serbia and other parts of Yugoslavia, where Serbs lived. For one German soldier that was that was killed by the liberation movement the Germans would murder 100 civilians. For one wounded they would murder 50, the scholar recalled.Gajic fears the resolution may be designed to trigger a new war in the Balkans, and that this may have been the Wests goal all along.This region is projected by the West for the provocation of new conflicts. And I hope that this does not happen. I hope that they are not going to be able to produce another war, because now, the situation is not the same as it was in the early 90s. However, this is very dangerous, the observer concluded.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/republika-srpska-to-propose-bosnia-and-herzegovina-division-plan-within-30-days---president-1118599898.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/un-general-assembly-adopts-controversial-resolution-on-srebrenica-events---sputnik-correspondent-1118603005.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/russian-un-envoy-germany-has-no-moral-authority-to-mention-term-genocide-1118605746.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240508/china--serbia-form-partnership-after-depraved-cia-attack-in-belgrade-1118343031.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/wests-plan-to-seize-russian-assets-legal-loophole-or-theft-1118593293.html

West's Plan to Seize Russian Assets: "Legal Loophole or Theft?"

West's Plan to Seize Russian Assets: "Legal Loophole or Theft?"

Sputnik International

Western governments, facing legal challenges in outright seizing Russian assets, decided to use the interest generated from these assets. This strategy, they believe, exposes them to less legal liability.

2024-05-23T04:43+0000

2024-05-23T04:43+0000

2024-05-23T04:43+0000

analysis

mark sleboda

russia

ukraine

us arms for ukraine

frozen assets

foreign assets

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Sleboda explained that Western governments, facing legal challenges in outright seizing Russian assets, have decided to use the interest generated from these assets. This strategy, they believe, exposes them to less legal liability.Despite this, Russia is pursuing legal avenues to reclaim its frozen assets. However, Sleboda noted that precedents set by the West's past actions, such as freezing Iranian assets, make this a challenging battle. "We've reached the level of impunity where it has generally become accepted through precedent... that the West has the legal right to freeze assets because it's not seizure," he said.Economic and Political AftermathThe broader implications of this policy are significant. Sleboda emphasized that Russia has been somewhat insulated economically due to its limited exposure to the US and its significant trade in commodities with Europe. However, the seizure of interest and potential outright theft of assets could escalate economic tensions.This tit-for-tat could severely disrupt global economic relations, especially as countries like China and Saudi Arabia observe these actions and reconsider their reliance on Western financial systems.Battlefield Implications and Western SupportOn the ground in Ukraine, the situation remains dire. Sleboda highlighted that Ukraine's defense infrastructure has faced significant setbacks, partly due to corruption and ineffective implementation of fortifications."A lot of this money was simply paid off to build fortifications to companies that don't even actually exist," he said.In addition, the Western military support strategy faces logistical and production challenges. The US and its allies struggle to meet the demand for air defense interceptor missiles, which are crucial in defending against Russian missile strikes. Sleboda stated out that the US produces only 550 of these missiles annually, a number insufficient to support both Ukraine and its own defense needs.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240424/stealing-russian-assets-spells-end-of-us-as-bastion-for-rule-of-law-1118098163.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240504/corruption-speeded-up-ukraines-retreat-more-than-weapons-shortage-1118257014.html

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As the bettors' choice in the mile, Saulsbrook Olympia overcame more than just her four rivals to win the $11,600 Fillies and Mares Preferred Handicap at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Wednesday, May 22 as she won by a narrow margin despite broken equipment.

Major League N (Ed Hensley) designated herself as the pacesetter for the mile. As Major League N set the tempo with a :28 quarter and :58.3 half, Saulsbrook Olympia and Colin Kelly got away fourth. After the half-mile mark, Kelly pulled the Vernon Cochrane student to the outside on a first-over journey towards the top. She sat third on the outside at the three-quarters in 1:27.1 and into the final turn. Despite charting broken equipment, Saulsbrook Olympia won the stretch drive battle against Major League N by a half length in 1:56.1. Flip The Script (Brett MacDonald) completed the top three.

Saulsbrook Olympia (Big Jim-Racino Star) is a six-year-old mare owned by Edward Gorc. She won her third race in 13 starts this year and moved her career tally to 26-7-11 from 87 track appearances. In her career, the mare has banked $264,333. Heavily backed as the bettors' choice, she returned $2.60 to win.

Four City Of London Series divisions were contested on the Wednesday evening card with two for the pacing males and two for the pacing females as the second leg of the series. Each split carried an $8,000 purse.

La Sun Control ($2.40) and Colin Kelly took the first division for the males with a 4-1/2-length score in 1:54.1 over Jimmy Billie B (Borth) and Rustys Bett. Rick Edwards trains and co-owns the winning son of Control The Moment-Sunbather with Michael Tam as the four-year-old gelding recorded his fifth straight win in seven starts this year and his eighth career tally from 16 starts.

Gigitygigitygigity ($2.10) followed in the next division with a 3-3/4-length triumph in 1:56.1 over Vogue Blue Chip (Daryl Thiessen) and Farmers Beach (Borth). Brett MacDonald was in the bike of the sophomore Sportswriter-Ive Got Stamina gelding for trainer Rene Dion and owners R A W Equine Inc. and S&r Racing Stable Inc. The win was his fourth of the year and fourth career tally in 17 starts.

Rollthebet ($23) quite literally 'rolled the bet' for her backers with a return on an 11-1 upset in the first split for the ladies, a win in 1:56.1 by three-quarters of a length over the favoured Saulsbrook Diva (Kelly) and second-choice She Comes And Goes (Borth). Austin Sorrie and owner/trainer Rachel Andrew teamed up to second the All Bets Off-Honor Roll sophomore to her first career victory.

Sauble Lila ($2.50) completed the action in the card finale as she and Jason Ryan won their distaff division by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:56.3 for trainer Otis Hall. Owned by breeders Sauble Hill Farms and Nasussito Racing Inc., the sophomore daughter of State Treasurer and the Shadow Play mare Performing Art moved her career record to 7-2-0 in 11 starts.

The City Of London Series is for Ontario-sired horses four years old and younger that were non-winners of $10,000 lifetime as of midnight March 1, 2024. The series action will conclude next week as all divisions will meet to compete in their respective $20,000 (added) finals scheduled for Friday, May 31.

To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - The Raceway at Western Fair District.

(Standardbred Canada)
BANGKOK  Passengers on the Singapore Airlines flight that descended sharply after hitting severe turbulence described the "sheer terror" of the aircraft shuddering, loose items flying and people wrenched so badly that 20 remained Wednesday in intensive care.

"I arrived back in the airport and I couldn't stop vomiting. I couldn't walk, it was pretty bad," said Josh Silverstone, 24, who was discharged from a hospital with a cut in his eye and a chipped tooth. He said it could have been "way worse."

The British man said he was so scared, he bought in-flight internet access to message his mother: "I wasn't trying to scare her, but I said 'I love you.'"

Cause of turbulence unclear

It was still not clear what exactly caused the turbulence that sent the Boeing 777 carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members on a 6,000-foot descent in about three minutes Tuesday. The flight from London to Singapore was diverted to Thailand.

A British man died. Thai officials withheld his name, but British media identified him as Geoffrey Kitchen, 73, who was going on a six-week holiday with his wife. A Thai airport official said Kitchen might have had a heart attack, though that hadn't been confirmed.

Aviation investigators arrived Wednesday in Bangkok. Singapore Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board would send technical advisers because the incident involved a Boeing plane.

Singapore Airlines said 131 passengers and 12 crew members from Flight SQ321 who were well enough to travel were picked up on a special flight and arrived early Wednesday at Singapore's Changi Airport.

Six crew members and 79 passengers stayed in Bangkok, where the majority remained in the hospital, Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said.

Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, where most of the injured were taken, said the 20 people in intensive care include six Britons, six Malaysians, three Australians, two Singaporeans and one person each from Hong Kong, New Zealand and the Philippines.

Passengers describe 'very traumatic experience'

Passenger Beverley Mayers, who was not injured, described the situation inside the plane as "sheer terror."

"The whole plane was shuddering  great pieces were falling off and dropping on the floor, people getting hit in the head," she told Australia's TV Channel 9 on arrival at Sydney airport.

Newlyweds Ali and Ramiza Bukhari, who were flying back from their honeymoon, told reporters at Sydney Airport they were relieved to be back home.

"It was a very, very traumatic experience," Ali Bukhari said.

Most people associate turbulence with heavy storms, but the most dangerous type is so-called clear air turbulence. Wind shear can occur in wispy cirrus clouds or even in clear air near thunderstorms, as differences in temperature and pressure create powerful currents of fast-moving air.

The U.S.-based Association of Flight Attendants said clear air turbulence is virtually undetectable with current technology. "One second, you're cruising smoothly; the next, passengers, crew and unsecured carts or other items are being thrown around the cabin," it said.

"Always follow crew instructions and wear your seatbelt whenever seated. It is a matter of life and death," it added.

Dreamliner nightmare? Boeing 787 safety concerns raised Dreamliner nightmare? Boeing 787 safety concerns raised Technical Specifications How Many Boeing 787s Are in Operation? Aircraft in Service Globally Trust in Boeing Drops Dreamliner nightmare? Boeing 787 safety concerns raised
Sweden pledged $7 billion in military support to Ukraine, on Wednesday, just two months after the Scandinavian country joined NATO, breaking with a centuries-long tradition of geopolitical neutrality.

The $7 billion - or 75 billion Swedish crowns - will be evenly distributed over three years. The military support could take the form of both donated equipment and direct financial contributions, according to a joint statement from the country's defense and finance ministries.

"With this proposal, the total military and civilian support from Sweden to Ukraine will amount to over SEK 100 billion [nearly $10 billion]," the ministries said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the Swedes in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

"I appreciate Sweden's long-term support for Ukraine, which will strengthen everyone-not just Ukraine but Europe's entire perimeter from the Baltics to the Black Sea and every region where Russian madmen may attempt to revise land or sea borders," he wrote on Wednesday evening.

The Swedish government emphasized that the payments were intended to assist Ukraine while ensuring its own national security.

"With Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the security situation in Europe is the most serious since World War II. This means that the rearmament at home must continue at the same time as the support for Ukraine continues," the government's press release said.

"The cooperation parties therefore also agree that support to Ukraine is carried out so that the build-up of Swedish defense capability is not undermined or that other necessary reforms are crowded out."
Each month, Rainier Jr./Sr. High School students who exemplify a specific trait are chosen as the students of the month and receive incentives like gift baskets. What began as an attempt to make incoming ninth graders feel more welcome grew into a school-wide event after staff noted its positive impact.

The initiative started with a suggestion from senior Bergen Keplinger as part of a school group aimed to increase graduation rates.

We have found that a lot of students benefit from individual recognition, the 17 year old said. After we implemented (student of the month), we did see an increase in the performance of the students who were recognized.

In Rainier, freshmen are struggling to keep pace with students across the state.

Oregon Department of Education reports Rainier freshmen were 24 percentage points below the state average for being on track to graduate in the 2022-23 school year; 69% of Rainier freshmen were on track to graduate during that school year, while the state average was 84%.

The percentage of on-track freshmen in Rainier dropped sharply during the pandemic, from 93% in 2018-19 to 63% in 2020-21.

The group Keplinger is part of is called the ninth grade success team, led by school counselor Aaron Fugere and consisting of the schools ninth grade teachers and one or two student interns, who do not have to be freshmen. Its goal is to find ways to better support ninth graders and ensure they finish their first year of high school successfully, as the teams research has shown a correlation between graduation rates and whether students pass ninth grade.

Keplinger has his own unofficial office on campus where he meets with freshmen to see how he can lend a hand.

Its really a way for me to help others and to put the word out there that there are people who need help, regardless of what people think, Keplinger said.

Local graduation rates are starting to return to pre-pandemic levels. Rainiers graduation rate in 2022 was 89%  higher than the state average of 81%. In 2021, Rainiers graduation rate was 60%, while before the pandemic in 2019, it was 88%.

Keplingers job as a student intern, a role hes held for two years, is to come up with ideas the school can implement. He conducts research, gathers information from his fellow students and draws from his own experiences to suggest new ways to help.

His student perspective and the way hes able to communicate to teachers as kind of an ambassador has been very useful, Fugere said.

One of Keplingers current focuses is finding ways to combat discrimination, which he said affects attendance rates, another indicator of how likely students are to pass their classes. He is due to present his findings at the next school board meeting, which is scheduled for June 10.

Learning to fly

After graduation, Keplinger plans to earn a bachelors degree in aeronautics at California Aeronautical University, a step on the path to becoming a certified airline pilot and flying for a commercial airline.

His interest in aviation started young, thanks to a grandfather who served in the Air Force before working at Boeings Everett Production Facility.

He would take me on tours of the facility up there and it was just really amazing to see these massive airplanes being built and then watching them take off when theyre done, Keplinger said. I was just this little tiny kid in awe.

He said he considered a number of aviation-related careers including the military and fire relief, but decided on becoming a commercial pilot because he wanted a job that would give him an opportunity to travel, which has been an important part of his life so far.

The airlines hes considering working for include Delta and Alaska Airlines, as well as Finnair, the main airline in Finland. Keplingers grandmother is Finnish, so working out of Finland would be a way for him to connect with his heritage, he said.

He also has a plan for what to do after he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 65 for commercial airline pilots: pursuing his hobby of filmmaking and editing.

Keplinger has directed and edited a film for the Northwest Regional Education Service District, which starred a former Rainier teacher and covered the history of the land Rainier School District is located on and the districts plans for the future.

He said hes excited to get moving on his own future plans after graduation, although he will miss the more relaxed educational environment of high school.

It seems like the end, but its really the beginning, he said.
Russian officials deleted a draft decree, on Wednesday, that would've shifted the borders of the Baltic Sea after several NATO member states condemned the apparent expansion of Russia's maritime territory.

Had the Russians moved forward with the drafted boundaries, they would have encroached on territories belonging to Finland and Lithuania. The Russian Defense Ministry initially drafted the decree, according to the Kyiv Independent.

The draft argued that existing maritime borders, established while the USSR was disintegrating in the 1980s, "do not fully correspond to the current geographic situation."

By the following day, the proposal had been deleted from the Russian government's website. The webpage now reads "The draft is deleted."

Baltic officials were quick to criticize what would've constituted a Russian incursion on their internationally recognized territory.

"Another Russian hybrid operation is underway, this time attempting to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt about their intentions in the Baltic Sea," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "This is an obvious escalation against NATO and the EU, and must be met with an appropriately firm response."

Finnish President Alexander Stubb wrote that Moscow did not contact Helsinki regarding the proposed changes.

"The political leadership is monitoring the situation closely," he wrote before the draft was removed. "Finland acts as always: calmly and based on facts."
A Yakima man told the jury in his murder trial Wednesday he was defending himself when he stabbed off-duty Vancouver police Officer Donald Sahota with a pocket knife.

Julio Segura, 22, testified for roughly 1 hours during the 11th day of his Clark County Superior Court trial. Following his testimony, the defense team rested its case.

He is accused of stabbing Sahota as the two struggled in Sahotas Battle Ground driveway on the night of Jan. 29, 2022. Law enforcement from multiple agencies had chased Segura to the area in connection with an armed robbery at an Orchards gas station. Moments later, Clark County sheriffs Deputy Jonathan Feller arrived and mistakenly shot Sahota.

Seguras defense attorney, Michele Michalek, asked him if he had any regrets. He looked down and spoke softly when he said, I wish I had never gone and asked for help. I wish I had never knocked on their door.

Prosecutors argue Seguras actions caused Sahotas death. He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count each of attempted first-degree murder, second-degree murder, attempted first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and attempt to elude a pursuing police vehicle.

Segura testified that he didnt believe Sahota was a police officer, even though he recalled Sahota exiting his house, pointing his gun at him and saying, Police, get on the ground, or Ill put you there. He said Sahota didnt tell him Im police or show him a badge.

He said when Sahota got him on the ground and put his knee on his back, he panicked and rolled Sahota off of him. They continued to struggle, Segura said, and by luck, he was able to knock Sahotas gun to the ground.

Sahota eventually got him into a chokehold, Segura said, and he couldnt breathe. Thats when he decided to pull out his folding knife and began swinging it, he said.

I reached for the one thing that I thought could defend me, Segura said. It was my pocket knife.

He said he thought he stabbed Sahota three times before the officer let him go.

He then noticed red and blue police lights reflecting off the house. He said he feared responding officers would arrive, see him standing over a man with a knife in his hand and the officers wouldnt hesitate to shoot him.

Segura said he ran into the house out of fear for his life, and he recalled the door striking Sahotas wife in the forehead. He also said he heard Sahota say from outside, Dont shoot, my wifes in there.

Segura recalled hearing gunshots ring out, and he said he thought hed been shot. He told the jury Sahotas wife, Dawnese, ran away from him screaming, and he also went further into the house.

He recounted eventually throwing the knife onto the couch and giving himself up to the officers outside. He said when he stepped outside, he saw Sahota slumped over on the porch. He said he had to step over Sahotas body to follow officers commands to surrender.

I was thinking I had just stabbed someone, and I thought that all that blood was because of me and I thought that, I thought I had just killed someone, Segura said.

Clark Countys former medical examiner previously testified Sahotas stab wounds were life-threatening but werent what ultimately killed him.

Seguras defense attorney repeatedly objected to Clark County Prosecutor Tony Goliks cross examination, claiming multiple times Golik was badgering Segura.

Golik pushed to get Segura to agree he made deliberate decisions throughout the incident leading up to Sahotas death.

When Seguras attorneys questioned him first, he said he never meant to hurt anyone. But Golik pressed Segura about the dangers of his actions, from buying a toy gun that looked like a real gun to leading police on a freeway chase, reaching speeds of 120 mph.

When Golik asked Segura if he couldnt have just stopped fighting Sahota and waited for the officers who were chasing him to arrive and arrest him, Segura said, hindsights 20/20.
L&T Technology Services announced the inauguration of the Simulation Centre of Excellence for Airbus, strategically located at the LTTS state-of-the-art campus in Bangalore. This Centre of Excellence is designed to bolster engineering support for Airbus aircraft structural simulation activities across its diverse business units in Europe spanning France, Germany, the UK, and Spain.

Equipped with the latest simulation software, hardware, and high-performance computational machinery, the Simulation CoE aims to unify and standardize processes across all Airbus European business units and aircraft programs. The ultimate objective is to streamline efficiency and enhance productivity, facilitating the timely achievement of program milestones.

Initiated approximately 18 months ago with a specialized core team, the Centre of Excellence (CoE) has demonstrated significant growth and development. The strategic plan includes a substantial scaling up of the centre over the next two years. This expansion reflects the deep commitment of LTTS to fostering innovation and excellence in aerospace engineering, highlighting the dedication to advancing the industry through sustained development and expertise.

Speaking on this significant development, Alind Saxena, President  Sales and Executive Director, L&T Technology Services stated, The establishment of the Simulation CoE for Airbus reflects our deep-seated commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation alongside Airbus. This Centre is not just about technology; its about creating a standardized, efficient framework that propels Airbus industry-leading aircraft into the future Together, we are not just navigating the present landscape but also shaping the future of aviation, ensuring that our collaboration remains a key driver of our success in India and the world.

The establishment of the Simulation CoE for Airbus marks a decade of fruitful collaboration between LTTS and Airbus India, highlighting a shared dedication to innovation and excellence in the global aerospace industry. It serves as a foundation for both companies to continue their dominance in important markets like Europe and India, driving forward with a common process that enhances operational efficiency and productivity.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Europe's artificial intelligence companies are dwarfed in wealth and cachet by US giants like OpenAI and Anthropic and their charismatic leaders.

But the VivaTech startup conference in Paris this week is allowing the founders of the continent's three most prominent firms to display a bit of the showmanship their US counterparts are famous for.

Arthur Mensch, Mistral AI

Frenchmen Arthur Mensch, who formed Mistral AI barely a year ago, was first to the stage at VivaTech, his appearance packing out the main arena.

With an intense expression and tousled hair, he joined a panel discussion about AI, trust and the media.

He warned against US firms dominating the AI space, particularly with tools for journalists, which he said could lead to a scenario where "US companies are setting the editorial tone of the entire world and are basically dictating how we should think about things".

"And that's really something that, by making our own technology from Europe and addressing the entire global market, we want to prevent," he said.

Mensch once worked at Google's DeepMind and formed Mistral with two of his countrymen, who were also veterans of big US tech firms.

The three placed their bets on open-source AI models, which generate text from plain language queries.

They are simpler and cheaper than those of their giant US rivals, and Mistral raised more than $400 million in its last funding round.

Jonas Andrulis, Aleph Alpha

German Jonas Andrulis, in his early forties with an immaculately clipped goatee and shaved head, undercuts the severe appearance with dry wit and blunt answers.

During a panel on AI sovereignty on Wednesday, he was asked for his opinion on the EU's AI Act.

His immediate reply"strong negative"was delivered with a knowing grin.

He said in fact he supported the final text of the law and was more annoyed with the duration of the "planning and regulatory shenanigans".

Andrulis, who spent three years working for Apple, is more likely than his European counterparts to dish out the kind of hyperbole US tech founders are known for.

He has regularly talked about AI's ability to give humans "superpowers" and said recently his firm's AI agent was essentially "conscious".

He used his appearance at VivaTech to argue that Europe "should have a strong, powerful vision" for the future that encourages entrepreneurs.

His firm, founded in 2019 and based in the picturesque southwest German city of Heidelberg, creates large language models for businesses and government.

In one of the biggest single funding rounds ever by a European tech firm, Aleph Alpha raised more than $500 million late last year.

Andrulis talks of creating "sovereign" AI, but his definition is not connected to geographical location.

Instead, sovereignty for Andrulis appears to be a more philosophical concept.

"Sovereignty means the ability to take responsibility for the future," he told Wednesday's panel.

Thomas Wolf, Hugging Face

Frenchman Thomas Wolf, who will take to the stage on Friday, told AFP in an interview last week it was a "call from the heart" that led him to take up AI.

The 39-year-old had spent years researching quantum physics but quit in 2016 to form Hugging Face, a collaborative platform for AI models, with two other Frenchmen.

"Physics was frustrating because it took three years to do an experiment, whereas with AI in a few weeks you can do incredible things," he said.

Wolf, like his countrymen at Mistral, is a champion of open-source AI models.

Hugging Face claim they have more than one million programs used by 11 million customers worldwide.

After raising $235 million in funding last August, the Franco-American startup is valued at nearly $4.5 billion.

And like his fellow Europeans, Wolf, who set up his company in New York, believes the continent has a bright future.

"We are an American company because it used to be very difficult to raise large sums of money in Paris," he said.

"Today, it's really changed, you can raise $200 million in Paris."

 2024 AFP
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Urs Gasser is Dean of the TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology and Rector of the School of Public Policy. Together with an international working group, he has drawn up rules for the use of AI in science. Credit: Technical University Munich

Artificial intelligence (AI) generates texts, videos and images that can hardly be distinguished from those of humanswith the result that we often no longer know what is real. Researchers and scientists are increasingly being supported by AI. Therefore, an international task force has now developed principles for the use of AI in research to ensure trust in science.

Science thrives on reproducibility, transparency, and accountability, and trust in research stems in particular from the fact that results are valid regardless of the institution where they were produced. Furthermore, the underlying data of a study must be published, and researchers must take responsibility for their publications.

But what if AI is involved in the research? Experts have long used AI tools to design new molecules, evaluate complex data, and even generate research questions or prove a mathematical conjecture. AI is changing the face of research, and experts are debating whether the results can still be trusted.

Five principles should continue to ensure human responsibility in research, according to an interdisciplinary working group with members from politics, business, and academia who published an editorial in the latest issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences. Urs Gasser, Professor for Public Policy, Governance and Innovative Technology at TUM, was one of the experts.

The recommendations in brief:

Researchers should disclose the tools and algorithms they used and clearly identify the contributions of machines and humans.

Researchers remain responsible for the accuracy of the data and the conclusions they draw from it, even if they have used AI analysis tools.

AI-generated data must be labeled so that it cannot be confused with real-world data and observations.

Experts must ensure that their findings are scientifically sound and do no harm. For example, the risk of the AI being "biased" by the training data used must be kept to a minimum.

Finally, researchers, together with policymakers, civil society and business, should monitor the impact of AI and adapt methods and rules as necessary.

"Previous AI principles were primarily concerned with the development of AI. The principles that have now been developed focus on scientific applications and come at the right time. They have a signal effect for researchers across disciplines and sectors," explains Gasser.

The working group suggests that a new strategy councilbased at the US National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicineshould advise the scientific community.

"I hope that science academies in other countriesespecially here in Europewill take this up to further intensify the discussion on the responsible use of AI in research," says Gasser.

More information: Wolfgang Blau et al, Protecting scientific integrity in an age of generative AI, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2407886121 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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President Yoon Suk Yeol said the government would extend tax benefits for chip investment as it looks to boost jobs and attract more talent to the industry.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday announced a record $19-billion-dollar support plan for the country's crucial semiconductor industry.

South Korea is home to the world's top memory chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix and last year pledged to build the world's largest chip center using $456 billion of private investment as it seeks an edge in the global industry.

"We have created a comprehensive support program for the semiconductor industry worth 26 trillion Korean won, which encompasses financial, infrastructure, research and development, as well as support for small and medium-sized companies," he said, according to a statement from his office.

The package includes a $7 billion investment announced earlier this month.

Yoon also said Seoul would extend tax benefits for chip investments, in hopes of boosting employment and attracting more talent to the industry.

The country is also building a "mega chip cluster" just outside Seoul, which the government claims will be the world's largest semiconductor-making complex and create millions of jobs.

"As you all know, semiconductors are a field of national all-out war," Yoon said.

"Winning or losing depends on who makes the state-of-the-art semiconductors with high information processing capabilities first. The state must provide support for semiconductors so that they do not lag behind competitors," he added.

With the new package, Yoon said there would be a "new semiconductor financial support program worth 17 trillion won" run through the Korea Development Bank to allow companies to make crucial new investments.

"As companies invest enormous amounts of money in facilities such as new factories and line expansions, liquidity problems arise," he said.

"I believe that these difficulties will be largely resolved through the Korea Development Bank's support program," he added.

Key sector

The plan will also create a "semiconductor ecosystem fund" worth a trillion won, which will support fabless companies and small and medium enterprises linked to the industry.

"Our fabless market share is still in the one percent range, and foundry, which manufactures system semiconductors, is unable to close the gap with leading companies such as TSMC," Yoon said, referring to the Taiwanese chip giant.

Earlier this month, Seoul said it would set up an aid package worth more than $7 billion to support its chip industry, as part of its drive to boost the semiconductor sector, which is critical to Asia's fourth-largest economy.

The moves come as the government looks to invest heavily in six key technologies including chips, displays and batteries, all areas where the country's tech giants are well-established already.

Semiconductors are South Korea's leading export and hit $11.7 billion in March, their highest level in almost two years, accounting for a fifth of South Korea's total exports, according to trade ministry figures.

"Semiconductors are virtually the only industry South Korea can rely on as a source of growth," Cho Dong-keun, an economics professor emeritus at Myongji University, told AFP.

"This announcement is seen as stemming from the necessity to carefully cultivate industries where South Korea has a clear and strategic advantage," he said.

Samsung in May 2022 unveiled a massive 450 trillion won five-year investment blueprint aimed at making the country a frontrunner in key sectors from semiconductors to biologics.

Securing supplies of advanced chips has become a crucial issue internationally, with the United States and China locked in a fierce battle for control of the market.

"South Korea is supplying 80 percent of the world's memory semiconductors, and has said it is investing 300 trillion won in the Yongin cluster, but there has been a water supply issue with it," Kim Dae-jong, a professor of business administration at Sejong University in Seoul, told AFP.

"On top of tackling such issues, today's announcement seems to be an effort to support innovative small and medium-sized enterprises to further strengthen their competitiveness against (rivals) like Taiwan."

 2024 AFP
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The federal government will spend $75 million to help build a factory making glass parts for computer chips in Covington, Georgia.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced the investment Thursday in Absolics, part of South Korea's SK Group.

The plant was announced in 2021. The company said Thursday that it will spend more than $300 million on a first phase, with plans to hire 200 workers. The company could spend more money and hire more workers later, spokesperson Kelsey Flora said.

Construction is underway, and test batch production has begun, Flora said. Production is supposed to begin increasing in 2025.

The plant will make a glass substrate that is used to package semiconductors. Federal officials say the substrate will enable more densely packed connections between semiconductors, leading to faster computers that use less electricity.

The Department of Commerce said this is the first time the CHIPS and Science Act has been used to fund a factory making a new advanced material for semiconductors. The 2022 federal law authorized the spending of $280 billion to aid the research and manufacturing of semiconductors in the United States.

The technology was developed at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The SK Group hired a former researcher from the university to help commercialize the substrate.

"It is strategically essential that the United States have this domestic manufacturing capacity, and it's a tremendous opportunity for the state of Georgia to lead the nation in manufacturing and innovation," U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff told reporters on Thursday. The Georgia Democrat has supported the effort.

SK Group owns an adjoining plant that makes polyester films that can be used on solar panels, in packaging and for other uses. The Korean conglomerate also owns a $2.6 billion complex to make batteries for electric vehicles in Commerce, northeast of Atlanta.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman have been making alliances with news organizations to get access to data needed to train generative artificial intelligence models to think as well as or better than people.

News Corp on Wednesday announced a deal to let ChatGPT-maker OpenAI use content from its publications in artificial intelligence products.

OpenAI will get access to current and archived content from News Corp properties including The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, MarketWatch, and The New York Post, according to a joint release.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Wall Street Journal cited sources close to the company as saying it was valued at more than $250 million over five years and included credits for News Corp using OpenAI technology.

Authors, artists, and news groups have been accusing OpenAI and its rivals in the generative artificial intelligence market of using copyrighted content for training models without asking permission or paying.

Generative AI models are trained on mountains of data in the effort to get software to think the way people do.

"This landmark accord is not an end, but the beginning of a beautiful friendship in which we are jointly committed to creating and delivering insight and integrity instantaneously," News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson said.

OpenAI gets permission to display News Corp content in response to queries by users of its technology, according to terms of the deal.

"Our partnership with News Corp is a proud moment for journalism and technology," Open AI CEO Sam Altman said in the release.

"Together, we are setting the foundation for a future where AI deeply respects, enhances, and upholds the standards of world-class journalism."

ChatGPT's creator is also in the process of signing content licensing agreements with media outletsincluding the Associated Press, Germany's Axel Springer Group (publisher of tabloid Bild), French daily Le Monde and Spanish conglomerate Prisa Mediato enrich its models.

The announcement of the agreement with News Corp comes on the heels of a new controversy, after actress Scarlett Johansson accused OpenAI of copying her voice for a new voice assistant without her permission.

Altman has apologized and announced the suspension of the voice, called "Sky."

 2024 AFP
UCLA Police Chief John Thomas has been "temporarily reassigned" from his post as the school investigates the handling of violence at a pro-Palestinian encampment, according to a report.

Thomas faces criticism for security failures that led to brawls between rival protest groups and a slow response to stop them after they began.

Counterprotesters carried out violent acts against a pro-Palestinian camp set up on the UCLA campus for hours before police intervened, according to a New York Times analysis of several videos of the events.

Some of the counterprotesters beat pro-Palestinian protesters with sticks and boards, deployed chemical sprays and launched fireworks at the encampment

It took up to five hours before law enforcement moved in.

UCLA's newly formed Office of Campus Safety will examine security processes at the school, said Mary Osako, vice chancellor for strategic communications,in an emailed statement to the Daily Bruin.

UCLA named Gawin Gibson as acting chief of the department on Wednesday, the paper reported.

Thomas and Michael Beck, the administrative vice chancellor who oversaw the police department at the time, have faced calls for their resignations, the Los Angeles Times reported.

UCLA chancellor Gene Block called the attack on the encampment by "instigators" unacceptable. It has "shaken our campus to its core," he said in a statement.

"I want to express my sincere sympathy to those who were injured," he wrote, "And to all those who have been harmed or have feared for their safety in recent days. No one at this university should have to encounter such violence."
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York are using drones and LIDAR technology to reveal hidden WWII battlefields and help find missing servicemen.

From the beach at Asan, the U.S. Marines faced a daunting task: Battle their way up the heights to Adelup Point, occupied and fortified by the Japanese.

The same technology used to locate Maya ruins amid the jungles of Guatemala is recreating the scene of the 1944 Battle of Guam in intricate detail, potentially leading to the recovery of missing servicemen.

This is the second World World II-related project Binghamton University Anthropology Professor Carl Lipo and Associate Professor of Geography Thomas Pingel have worked on in collaboration with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) and the International Archaeological Research Institute (IARI). Last fall, they conducted research at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

"Our goal was to generate high-resolution topography so that we could reconstruct the detailed landscape which people had to go up," Lipo said of the Guam project. "Most of the areas where people are lost are remote settings with rough terrain and jungle."

To do so, they used LIDAR from unmanned aerial vehicles. LIDAR, short for light detection and ranging, uses a quickly spinning laser to send beams to the ground below; some of those beams make it through the leaves of the forest canopy, reflecting upward. This data enables researchers to measure the ground distance; flying systematically over an area can provide an image of what's beneath even the densest forest, said Lipo, who has used drones in previous research on Rapa Nui (Easter Island).

The Guam mission required a larger drone than the one in the Solomons, powered by large lithium-ion batteries that can't be taken on an airplane; thankfully, they shipped to the site on time. Getting the necessary permissions to fly was tricky since the battlefield is located in a national historic park; the flight path also included a naval base and Guam International Airport, Pingel said.

The U.S. Marines recaptured the island during the Battle of Guam from July 21 through Aug. 10, 1944. During the campaign, around 1,700 Americans were killed and 6,000 wounded; Japanese deaths totaled around 18,000.

Their research centered on Bundschu Ridge, a steep slope up to the high ground held by the Japanese, who had invaded the island in 1941. It's named for Captain Geary Bundschu, who led the assault and died on the third day. Steep and rocky, the ridge is pocked with cavesideal spots for carefully positioned machine-gun nests and hidden combatants.

Historical photos show the regionwhich had been blasted by artilleryas largely open terrain. In the 80 years since, thick palm trees, bamboo and vines have covered the battlefield, shielding it from view.

"What's cool about doing these projects is that you're standing on a landscape and capturing what people saw and did," Lipo said. "They were coming up this crazy terrain with guns blazing at them and grenades being rolled down the hill."

Back at Binghamton

To build a highly detailed view, Pingel and Lipo needed data points from the ground every 10 centimeters. They devised a way to optimize their drone flights, building on their experience in the Solomon Islands.

A slow, tight pattern allowed for the overlap needed to build intricate detail. All told, they flew more than two dozen missions, all of which had to be aligned for a clear picture.

"We flew all day and crunched numbers all night, and went back at it again the next day," Pingel said.

Even more painstaking work is ahead: The flights generated around 3 billion data points, which now need to be processed and filtered. The topographic images will then be tied into historical data about troop movements on a daily or even hourly basis to figure out where people were at any given time. DPAA can then use this information to locate the remains of lost soldiers, Lipo said.
China launched military drills Thursday in the waters surrounding Taiwan.

It referred to the drills as a "strong punishment" after Taiwan's new president pledged to defend its sovereignty, the New York Times reported.

Taiwan scrambled jets and put missile, naval and land units on alert in response, the Associated Press reported.

The Chinese military said the drills were meant to test its navy and air capabilities and their ability to hit targets and win control of the battlefield.

China claims the island is part of its national territory but the Taiwan people firmly back their de facto independence.

Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te called for Beijing to stop what he called its military intimidation during his inauguration this week.

He vowed to keep Taiwan's democracy safe from China.

As part of the drills, 15 Chinese navy vessels, 16 Chinese coast guard vessels and 42 Chinese military aircraft were detected, the Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported.

"Facing external challenges and threats, we will continue to maintain the values of freedom and democracy," Lai said Thursday as he visited a marine base south of the capital of Taipei.

Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Stephen Sklenka, the deputy commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, called on Asia-Pacific nations to condemn China's military exercises.

"It's one thing when the United States condemns the Chinese, but it has a far more powerful effect, I believe, when it comes from nations within this region," Sklenka told the Australian press association.
The Franklin County Board of Supervisors is considering the creation of nutrient credits on county-owned property to offset environmental regulations in future construction projects as well as create a potential multimillion dollar revenue source for the county.

The stream, wetlands and nutrient credit bank would be at the Smith Farm in Wirtz. The 395-acre farm was acquired by the county in 2010 and is the location of the Lovely Valley Loop Trail recently completed on a portion of the property.

Nutrient credit banks as well as stream and wetland credits can be used to offset costs for the county in future development projects. When projects create impervious surfaces or run off, stormwater quality improvements or the purchase of nutrient credits are required to offset increased nutrients or pollution being introduced into the ecosystem. Stream and wetland credits are used when a development impacts streams and wetlands.

These credits can be used to achieve permit compliance for multiple Virginia Department of Environmental Quality permits.

Deputy County Administrator Steve Sandy said the creation of a nutrient, stream and wetland credit bank at the Smith Farm would not only prevent the county from having to purchase credits on its own, but also help to preserve significant portions of streams and wetlands located on the property which connect to Smith Mountain Lake. The credits could also be sold to other developers.

There are ample opportunities to generate some revenue from these credits, Sandy said, estimating as much as $6 million in potential value for the county.

To create a nutrient, stream and wetland credit bank for the county, vegetative buffers would need to be planted around the streams and wetlands currently located along portions of the property. Sandy said the work could be costly and time consuming for county staff and suggested the use of a third party to partner on the project.

A third party would provide capital for the creation of the nutrient bank in the partnership. The third party would then be allowed a portion of the nutrient credits available. Those credits could be sold on the open market with a portion being retained for the county for any future development projects, Sandy said. The county would also retain ownership of the property and future parks and recreation projects could still proceed on the property, he added.

Sandy requested supervisors allow county staff to reach out to third parties for proposals for the development of a nutrient bank. Those proposals would be provided for supervisors at a later date.

Boone District representative and Chairman Ronnie Thompson was in favor of creating the nutrient credit bank, but was wary of providing credits to developers outside the county. He was concerned credits may be sold that the county may need in the future.

I dont think we need to start selling credits to outsiders, Thompson said.

Gills Creek District representative Lorie Smith questioned if there would be enough credits available for the countys future projects. Sandy stated holding 25% of the available credits on the property should be sufficient for the countys future needs.

Smith said selling the credits could provide needed revenue for the county. The funds could be used for future capital improvement projects.

Other supervisors agreed to move forward with reaching out to third parties. Snow Creek District representative Nick Mitchell said Tuesdays vote would just be to receive proposals, not to move forward with any project just yet.

I dont think we are voting to sell anything, Mitchell said.

Smith moved to approved the motion for the county to advertise for the solicitation of possible development proposals for the county to partner with a third party to develop, own and operate a nutrient bank. That vote was approved 6-1 with Thompson being the lone vote against.

While the motion was approved, Thompson requested that discussion on the development of a nutrient bank be added to a work session for supervisors next month.
With Memorial Day around the corner, theres no reason not to honor those who served a bit early.

Organizers revealed the banners for the Grand Island Hometown Hero project in a ceremony on Tuesday, May 21. Crews were attaching the banners to light poles on Wednesday, with the hope to have them all hung by Memorial Day.

The Grand Island Hometown Heroes project is a tribute program that honors past and present community members who have served in the U.S. military. For the project, banners featuring a veteran, reserve or active duty service member will hang along Capital Avenue.

This is the first year for the Hometown Heroes project. According to Hollie Klimek, co-executive director of the committee, the project has been in development for a while.

We have worked very hard to see this project (through) from the beginning stage, she said, from showing other organizers photos of a similar projects, to weekly meetings for the past six months or so.

The projects 51 banners were revealed in a ceremony at Grand Island Senior High. The ceremony was open to the public, as well as friends and families of the banner veterans.

The banners feature the veterans names, military branch, rank and era of service.

Those honored on banners SGT Seraphine "Bear" Aguilar Branch: Army Era: Korean War





SPC Thomas M. Atkins Sr. Branch: Army Era: Vietnam War

IC3 Timothy Bartz Branch: Navy Era: Persian Gulf War

CPL Casey Beahm Branch: Army Era: Global War on Terror

CPL Landon Blath Branch: Marine Corps Era: Global War on Terror

SGT Robert C. Boehle Branch: Army Era: Vietnam War





SPC Joseph Boye Branch: Army Era: Global War on Terror

PFC Noah Boye Branch: Marine Corps Era: Global War on Terror

AK3 James Brettmann Branch: Navy Era: Vietnam War

SSG Glen Brown Branch: Army Era: Cold War

SSG Robert Brown Branch: Army Era: World War II





PO3 Ron Callihan Branch: Navy Era: Vietnam War

PVT Roger Cline Branch: Army Era: Vietnam War

PO2 Dennis W. Day Branch: Navy Era: Vietnam War

SPC Colin Elliott Branch: Army Era: Global War on Terror

SPC Dean Elliott Branch: Army Era: Global War on Terror





SN Joe Jess Galvan Branch: Navy Era: Peace Time

PO2 Jim Glines Branch: Navy Era: Vietnam War

PVT James "Jim" Green Branch: Army Era: Korean War

SGT Danny Halverson Branch: Army Era: Vietnam War

SP5 Verne L. Hill Branch: Army Era: Vietnam War





CW2 Matthew Hoggatt Branch: Army Era: Global War on Terror

SGT Ethan Keiper Branch: Army Era: Global War on Terror

SCPO Edward Klimek Branch: Navy Era: Global War on Terror

CPL Donald C. Leisinger Branch: Marine Corps Era: World War II

SPC James Leschinsky Branch: Army Era: Vietnam War





SPC Alec Logue Branch: Army Era: Global War on Terror

SFC Ronald Logue Branch: Army Era: Vietnam War

1SG William Luft Branch: Army Era: Global War on Terror

CAPT Dustin Lukasiewicz Branch: Marine Corps Era: Global War on Terror

PVT Chester N. Mann Branch: Army Era: World War II





1SG Christopher Marcello Branch: National Guard Era: Global War on Terror

SGT Ivan Messersmith Branch: National Guard Era: Global War on Terror

SA Austin Miller Branch: Coast Guard Era: Global War on Terror

A1C Dennis Miller Branch: Air Force Era: Cold War

PFC LeRoy Pete Moffett Branch: Army Era: World War II





PO2 Jimmie Dean Narber Branch: Navy Era: Vietnam War

PV2 James Obermiller Branch: Army Era: Vietnam War

PO2 Glenn Palensky Branch: Navy Era: Vietnam War

PO2 David L. Pieper Branch: Navy Era: Vietnam War

A1C George F. Picthall Jr. Branch: Air Force Era: Korean War





SPC Michael Ponte Branch: Army Era: Korean War

LCPL Tyler Quick Branch: Marine Corps Era: Global War on Terror

CPL Frederick Roeser Branch: Army Era: Vietnam War

CPL Robert Seely

Branch: Army Era: Vietnam War

AB Stanley E. Sinsel Branch: Air Force Era: Peace Time





SN Rolland Smith Branch: Navy Era: World War II

CPT Donald Stevenson Branch: Army Era: Global War on Terror

A1C Dallas E. Timmons Branch: Air Force Era: Vietnam War

PVT Willie Versaw Branch: Army Era: World War I

CPL Milo Wanek Branch: Army Era: World War II



The ceremony had a slideshow presentation, which included extra photos of the veterans featured on the banners. Biographies of the veterans, submitted by the banners sponsor and organized by the committees co-executive director Caitlin Bartz, were also read aloud.

Tim (Bartz) served on the USS Whale SSN-638, a fast attack submarine, Bartz said, reading her own fathers biography. Tim served in the Navy from 1989-1993. In the 1990 Northern run they were aboard the ship for seven months. On this run was when Tim got his fish, qualified in submarines.

Friends and families of banner veterans were welcomed to stand when their veteran biography was read.

One such family was Elaine Sinsel with her children and grandchildren. They stood in honor of her husband Stanley E. Sinsel, who joined the Air Force in 1956 and who passed away in 1991.

Stan was stationed at Bunker Hill, Indiana as an aircraft hydraulic repairman belonging to the 319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and served under this unit until discharging in 1960, reads Sinsels biography, provided by Bartz. Following his military career Stan worked construction in Central Nebraska. He married Elaine H. Sinsel (Felske) and had three children: Todd, Cindy, and Nancy.

There were even veterans who stood for their own banner. One such veteran was Danny Halverson, who served in the army during the Vietnam war for one year, seven months and five days.

He joined the Alert Company 4th Division 39th of the 9th Infantry Division Hardcore Recon in the Delta region on March 31, 1969. Danny was sergeant E-5 in September of 1969, reads Halversons biography, provided by Bartz. During Dannys time in the U.S. Army, he received many medals such as; an Army commendation medal, Vietnam service medal, Vietnam campaign medal, purple heart, and a bronze star.

Before the ceremony concluded, the projects board members wanted to honor Klimek and Bartz. According to board member Doug Brown, the two were the driving force for this project.

Theres two instrumental ladies that have made this all happen, Brown said. We just helped them, they ran everything, and we couldnt have done it without Hollie and Caitlin.

With the ceremony concluded, all that is left is to hang the banners. The Grand City Council approved a light pole attachment agreement for the project in April.

According to Klimek, the plan is to have all the banners hanging by Monday. The banners will stay up throughout the summer and into fall, from Memorial Day to Veterans Day.

When driving down Capital Avenue, take the time to honor and appreciate the veterans as their banners hang along the road. Klimek believes that this is more than just a project, as the veterans featured on the banners have affected the lives of many.

These heroes are people in our community. Theyve all had an impact on us individually, Klimek said. Our goal is to help connect our communities with our local heroes and recognize our veterans and their families everyday.
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A 46-year-old prison inmate sentenced to life without parole is now free following a hearing held in Orangeburg on Wednesday.

Pete Shalamar Bryant, of St. George, was 19 when he and two friends went on a three-county crime spree in December 1996.

Bryant and his two friends admitted to three armed robberies  one each in Orangeburg, Jasper and Colleton counties.

His friends were sentenced under the Youthful Offender Act and received probation, but not Bryant. Hes served 27 years in prison.

I believe the main cause for this injustice is because of the actions of the 1st Circuit Solicitors Office back in 1997 and it is my duty to fix it, 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe said Wednesday.

Bryant had no criminal history before the armed robberies.

Pascoe said the 1st Circuit Solicitors Office and Bryants then-attorney allowed Bryant to plead guilty to the armed robberies he committed in the 14th Judicial Circuit on July 8, 1997. The Orangeburg armed robbery charge was pending.

Bryant asked to plead guilty to the Orangeburg armed robbery too.

Pascoe said Bryant never got a chance.

Less than a month after Bryant pleaded guilty to the two other armed robberies, the 1st Circuit Solicitors Office filed a court notice that it intended to seek a life without parole sentence for Bryant, Pascoe said.

The position of the 1st Circuit Solicitors Office then was that Bryant then had two strikes after pleading guilty to the two other armed robberies.

Once the solicitors office filed a motion to seek life without parole, the circuit judge hearing the case was stripped of his ability to exercise discretion during the sentencing phase, Pascoe said.

Bryant told Pascoe that the trial judge tried to get the solicitors office to withdraw the life without parole motion, but the solicitors office refused and the case went to trial instead.

An Orangeburg County jury convicted Bryant on Dec. 11, 1997 and Circuit Judge Luke Brown had no choice but to sentence him to prison for life without parole, Pascoe said.

Over the years, Bryant has fought to have his sentence reconsidered and seemed to have exhausted all avenues in the court system.

Bryant and Orangeburg NAACP President Barbara Williams got in contact with each other recently, Pascoe said.

Williams brought Bryants situation to Pascoes attention as a last-ditch effort to find relief, he said.

Pascoe filed a motion for the state to withdraw Bryants life without parole notice that was filed back in 1997, eight years before Pascoe took office. He said his office has the ability to withdraw such notices submitted by former solicitors.

This is the procedural remedy to correct this injustice where an overly harsh and disproportionate sentence has been imposed on Mr. Bryant, Pascoe said.

Just after noon on Wednesday, Circuit Judge Diane Goodstein accepted Pascoes motion to withdraw the 1997 filing the 1st Circuit Solicitors Office made for the life without parole sentencing.

Pascoe asked Goodstein to consider a more appropriate sentence for Bryant.

Pascoe and Williams werent the only ones who supported the motion to withdraw the states life without parole motion for Bryant.

Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell, S.C. Department of Corrections Director Bryan Stirling, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Harold Morgan and Orangeburg armed robbery victim Loretta McMillan Owens are a few of the people who were in court to support the decision of the solicitors office.

Owens, whod testified against Bryant during his trial on the Orangeburg armed robbery charge, didnt attend Bryants sentencing phase when the trial ended.

She said on Wednesday that she didnt feel sorry for Bryant during his trial.

I actually felt sorry for his mother and any of his family, Owens said.

She said she didnt know he was serving a life sentence until attorney Chris Kenney called her a few weeks ago.

Kenney, at Pascoes request, had agreed to be one of the attorneys representing Bryant for free, Pascoe said. Attorney Phil Barber also represented Bryant at no cost.

Owens, from the witness stand, looked at Bryant on Wednesday and said she looked at him as a prodigal son who strayed away, referencing a parable told by Jesus in the Bible.

I pray this court will give you mercy. Know that I forgive you and you can go home, she said to Bryant.

And when he gets home, give him a feast for finding his way back home, she said. I really pray that.

Ive called your name out before God ever since I was contacted by Kenney, Owens said. Ive been praying for you. Youve been on my prayer list.

Everybody deserves forgiveness. Everybody in this courtroom has made a mistake, maybe not as bad as yours, but we all have, she said.

Everybodys got a closet full of skeletons that they dont want nobody to know about and I pray you go home, son, she said. I really do.

My church is the Ministry of Reconciliation and when you come home and you need a church home, if you dont have one, we will be glad to accept you, son, Owens said.

Throughout Bryants 27 years in prison, hes been a model inmate, according to Stirling.

Bryant obtained his GED, earned multiple certificates for completing programs and is currently enrolled in college to obtain his degree as a paralegal.

Stirling said inmates may choose to stay in their cells and eat three meals a day and do nothing else, but thats not what Bryant chose.

Bryant was also housed at a medium-custody prison in the character dorms, which are reserved for inmates with exceptionally good behavior and conduct.

Goodstein considered multiple testimonies of witnesses who supported Bryant. She also considered Bryants plans and goals during his resentencing.

I believe that what I would have done and what I believe to be appropriate today, would be a sentence of 15 years and I wouldve run them concurrently, not consecutively, Goodstein said.

Goodstein said she wouldve taken Bryants age into consideration in sentencing too.

Obviously, you get credit for 27 years, time served, she said. Good luck to you.

Bryant told the court that he will live in a transitional housing site in the Upstate for six months to a year. The site has job opportunities available for its residents.

After three years, Bryant said he plans to start a food truck and then open a restaurant a few years after that.

After the hearing ended, Bryant and Pascoe spoke with news media.

Pascoe said, This is one of the biggest injustices Ive seen and Im glad Judge Goodstein agreed with me. He shouldve never been served with life without parole.

This is one of the best days Ive had in 30 years of being a prosecutor. Ive put notorious killers, sociopaths on death row. Ive put a lot of people away for life without parole  but I never got joy in that. Today is joy. Today is one of the most joyous days Ive ever had, Pascoe said.

If there are injustices out there, let the floods begin. I dont believe that there will be an opening of the floodgates because I dont know that there is any injustice like this, Pascoe said.

Pascoe said he will continue to speak up for those who are imprisoned unjustly, like Bryant.

Im going to speak up and do everything I can to make sure justice is done, he said.

Bryant said, Im doing excellent.

Theres no words to describe the level of joy I feel right now.

Bryant said hes been fighting for justice for 27 years. Even so, he doesnt feel angry for being incarcerated for longer than necessary.

The only anger that I have was towards myself for putting myself in that type of predicament. Had I not chose to do what I did, I would not have been in these circumstances, so thats where my anger lies, he said.

I was angry with myself and when I began to accept responsibility for my actions, I was able to see things a whole lot clearer, he said.

He also has a message for those who may consider making irresponsible decisions.

Its not worth it. Youve got your whole life ahead of you. Decisions you make today will not only affect you, but will affect your family, community and you better think before you act. Take time out and gain perspective. Prioritize whats important to you. Thats the best advice I can give, he said.

Bryant said his decision to commit three armed robberies was partly due to peer pressure and just us being bad, bored and nothing to do.

They say, An idle mind is the devils playground. If you dont fill it with anything positive, negativity is going to seep in and I think thats exactly where we were at, he said.

We didnt have a lot of positive influences in our lives and we were just left up to our own devices and we chose to do wrong, he said.

I thank Ms. Williams with all my heart. If it werent for her initiating the process, I would still be trying to fight the courts myself, he said.

Bryant said his immediate plans are to get hugs and kisses from his family.

As for his plans for a food truck, Bryant said, I like to cook soul food with a twist.

He also enjoys baking.

Bryant said hell also speak to groups of youth as needed to encourage them to make wise choices.
Ahead of this year's commencement, Harvard's governing board has rejected the recommendation of faculty to allow 13 pro-Palestinian students who participated in a three-week encampment at the school to receive their degrees alongside their classmates.

Impacted students will still be able to participate in commencement ceremonies on Thursday; however, they will not receive diplomas, compromising their post-graduation plans.

The announcement follows a vote by several members of Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences to grant the 13 students degrees as the school prepares for the most important day of the academic year.

The faculty was shocked when the governing board overruled their vote because they stood firm in their belief that student protestors are receiving unfair punishment.

"I'm upset," said Ryan Enos, a professor of government.

"This was pure hubris by the Corporation. To think a bunch of billionaires that visit Cambridge a couple times a year could tell the professors who educate these students that they know better than them who deserve to earn degrees-the audacity is breathtaking. In my opinion, the Corporation is not worthy of leading the university."

The Harvard Corporation issued a statement addressing its decision.

Citing the Harvard College handbook, it states that a "degree will not be granted to a student who is not in good standing or against whom a disciplinary charge is pending with the Administrative Board, the Honor Council, or the disciplinary board of another school."

The students in question are either on probation or have been suspended.

The Corporation has faced pressure from conservative politicians, donors, students, and alumni who support Israel to show that the protesters, who repeatedly ignored disciplinary warnings during their encampment, will face serious consequences, according to The Boston Globe.

The main pro-Palestinian student group at Harvard criticized the Corporation's decision.

"Today's actions have plunged the university even further into a crisis of legitimacy and governance, which will have major repercussions for Harvard in the coming months and years," the Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine coalition said in a statement.

Graduating senior Jeremy Ornstein said the student body is divided and added that "people feel pain on all sides" of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Stephen Marglin, a professor of economics who has taught at Harvard for 59 years, called the Corporation's decision "a slap in the face" to faculty and likely to prompt protests at graduation Thursday.
Warning: This article contains descriptions of sexual abuse.

South Carolina officials responsible for the welfare of vulnerable children misled a family when they placed a teenage girl in the home of a Midlands photographer who later plied her with drugs, recorded her on hidden cameras and encouraged her to perform sex acts, according to two lawsuits and statements made in court.

During the five weeks in February and March 2022 that the girl was in photographer Greg Martins home, Department of Social Services caseworkers failed to check on the 16-year-old victim and disregarded her parents fears that something was wrong. This comes according to a pair lawsuits filed in state and federal court in March against DSS and four caseworkers by attorneys Robert and Deborah Butcher on behalf of the victim and her parents.

South Carolina DSS removed the child from her home and then turned their back on her, leaving her in the hands of a monster. The child was told not to trust her parents by DSS and then she was abandoned and left to fend for herself, attorney Deborah Butcher wrote in a statement to The State Media Co.

Martin, 56, of Blythewood, faces multiple charges of sex crimes involving the girl and four other victims in South Carolina and Georgia. The charges include neglect of a child by a custodian, engaging a child for sexual performance, criminal sexual conduct, exploitation of minors, kidnapping and promoting prostitution. In April, his bond on the South Carolina charges was revoked after Georgia authorities accused him of sending obscene images to a 13-year-old girl and attempting to solicit her.

For the family named in the lawsuit, the nightmare began on Feb. 7, 2022, when DSS was alerted that the girl accused her father of abuse, according to court documents. That same day, the teen was removed from the home and sent to live with the Martins.

But this move was not initiated by law enforcement taking the child into emergency custody or by court order after a judge reviewed the facts of the case. Instead, the teens family alleges DSS caseworkers strong-armed them into signing a little-known instrument called a safety plan, which placed their daughter with the Martins.

The name of the teen and her family are not being published by The State Media Co. because she is an alleged victim of sexual assault.

While safety plans are meant to be voluntary agreements between DSS and parents, the family named in the lawsuit said that caseworkers told them their daughter could end up in foster care if they did not agree.

The family did not believe they had a choice or the ability to say no, according to court documents. The standard form the parents signed, available on DSSs website, warns that if parents do not agree to the safety plan their child could be placed in foster care for the childs protection.

When contacted by The State Media Co. with a detailed list of questions, DSS said it does not comment on pending litigation.

Experts told The State that safety plans can be an important tool to protect children during an investigation into allegations of abuse or neglect. Unlike when a child is removed from a home by law enforcement or a judges order, safety plans offer flexibility, keeping children out of foster care and families out of court.

But lawyers and advocates also cautioned that it was all too common for parents to sign safety plans after feeling pressured by the threat of their childs removal. And once a plan is in place, their cases do not necessarily receive the same oversight as children in the foster care system or those removed by court order, as they are not assigned court guardians, parents do not receive lawyers, and the case is never reviewed by a judge.

When you dont give parents lawyers and you dont give parents due process protections, you should expect parents to get railroaded by DSS, said Josh Gupta-Kagan, a professor at New Yorks Columbia Law School, formerly a professor at the University of South Carolina and author of Americas Hidden Foster Care System, a Stanford Law Review article. You shouldnt expect DSS to get it right every time.

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Cameras, pills and pornography

When this all started, I was 16 years old, the teen placed in Martins home by DSS told a Richland County court in April. He (Martin) was the father of my very best friend in the whole wide world. And when things got hard, I decided to stay with him and his family.

The teen came to know Martin through his daughter, whom she befriended when schools shifted to online education during the COVID pandemic. Over two years, the teen grew closer to the Martins as she spent time with their family.

In February, a fight between the teen and her father over cleaning the house escalated into a struggle and led to him restraining her, holding her down and leaving marks on her arms and legs. At school, the teen then made a complaint to DSS about her father and told caseworkers that she wanted to stay with the Martins.

Her mother testified in court that she believed this decision was the product of a campaign of grooming by Martin  a common tactic in sex abuse cases where abusers establish a pattern of trust as they slowly desensitize the victim to sexual contact.

Once the teen was inside the Martins home, the grooming escalated and the abuse began, according to court records and statements from prosecutors. Inside the handsome, two-story brick house at the end of a leafy cul-de-sac in Blythewood, Martin had sexually explicit conversations with the teen and plied her with gummies and pills containing THC, the main psychoactive component of marijuana. He also encouraged her to watch porn, gave her lingerie and sex toys and encouraged her to perform sex acts, according to the lawsuit.

All the while, Martin spied on the teen through cameras he placed in her bedroom and the bathroom, as well as through an iPad that he gave her, the lawsuit alleges.

Martin drove the victim to her boyfriends house and encouraged her to have sex with him while Martin waited outside in his car, according to Assistant S.C. Attorney General Bethany Miles. When she returned, Martin asked about specific details, Miles said.

As the abuse continued, the victim started skipping school and her grades plummeted, alarming her parents, who alerted caseworkers, according to the lawsuit. But the parents fears were never investigated.

In fact, the lawsuit alleges that no caseworkers ever visited the Martin home or interviewed the teen while she stayed there. This is despite DSSs commitment, stated on kinship caregiver forms, to make monthly visits to the homes of caregivers.

Over the next five weeks, the child suffered abuse at the hands of Mr. Martin as SCDSS failed to conduct mandatory visits with the child in the Martin home. All the while, the mother was continuously asking for the child to be placed with family or otherwise moved from the Martin home, attorney Deborah Butcher wrote in her email to The State.

Meanwhile, caseworkers moved forward with the investigation against the teens father. Around March 3, 2022, before a forensic interview was conducted, caseworkers indicated a case against him, meaning there was a finding of abuse by DSS, according to the lawsuit. A later forensic interview with the teen would find no evidence of abuse by her father, according to the lawsuit.

At the time of publishing, DSS has not dismissed its case against the teens father.

But as a result of the March 3 finding, the familys case was moved to a DSS unit known as Family Preservation, and a new caseworker was assigned. When the teens mother brought up her concerns to the new caseworker, they agreed to move their daughter out of Martins home.

On March 18, after her mother picked up her daughter from the Martins home, the teen broke down and told her mother what she had suffered. The next day her mother called sheriffs department investigators, and an investigation was opened by the Richland County Sheriffs Department.

I have lost every single one of my friends who was in my life at the time. I have changed immensely because of what has happened to me, the victim, now 18, said in court. He is honestly the worst.

A shadow system

When DSS became involved on Feb. 7, 2022, the teens parents told caseworkers that they did not want their daughter to stay with the Martins.

While their daughters were friends, they didnt personally know the parents, according to the familys lawyers. But DSS granted the Martins the status of kin, a classification DSS uses for a childs extended family or close community, according to the familys attorneys.

The family offered alternatives that would have been possible under a safety plan, according to the lawsuit. They proposed placing their daughter with relatives and family friends, having her stay with her mother somewhere else or even having her father move out of the house while DSS conducted its investigation.

These options were rejected by caseworkers in this case, according to the lawsuit.

Knowing that the parents did not approve, South Carolina DSS placed the child in the Martin home against the mothers wishes, who still had full legal rights to her child, Deborah Butcher told The State Media Co.

What the teens parents didnt understand at the time was that they still had legal rights to their child. In South Carolina, parents only lose their legal rights when law enforcement puts a child in emergency protective custody or DSS obtains a court order from a judge.

Foster care should be a last resort, said Michelle Dhunjishah, director of the Childrens Law Center at the University of South Carolina School of Law. But when that happens, the process is highly structured and subject to checks and balances.

If a child is removed by law enforcement or a court order, a hearing must be held in front of a family court judge within 72 hours to show there was probable cause to remove the child.

DSS is then given 45 days to investigate the case. A hearing on the merits of the case is required within 35 days. Children are assigned a court-appointed guardian ad litem, parents can qualify for a court-appointed lawyer, and judges can order regular reviews of the case.

Theres a lot of oversight, whether its by the judicial branch, by the Department of Social Services or by lawyers. It involves a lot of people, and theres a lot of eyes on the case when it goes through the court process, said Dhunjishah.

But none of that occurs when a child is removed from a home through a safety plan.

The goal of safety plans, said Dhunjishah, is to lessen the trauma to the child and help the family as a whole without having to get the court system involved. But right now the downside is there arent the same due process protections for parents.

On its website, DSS describes South Carolina as a Kin First State where the priority is placing children with kin. This means family, extended family and even so-called fictive kin, who can include family friends, teachers or members of the familys church.

Since 2019, the percentage of children in the child welfare system placed with kinship caregivers has risen from the single digits to 27.2%, a department spokesperson told TV station WLTX in January.

But as placements with kin through safety plans have grown, some have raised concerns about the lack of oversight in the system.

We recognize safety plans and kinship care can be misused. When theyre used simply to relieve workloads or keep children out of the visible foster care system, thats a terrible thing, said Jed Dews, the executive director of HALOS, a Charleston nonprofit that supports guardians in kinship care.

While DSS tracks and publishes data on the number of children in foster care and the number of investigations, similar data is not published about safety plans or the number of children placed with kinship caregivers.

SCDSS hides under a statutory veil of confidentiality. There is no way to obtain an agency-wide look at how often children and families are harmed through SCDSSs abuse of safety plans, said Deborah Butcher.

I hear his voice and feel his hands

On April 14, 2022, almost a month after the teens mom rescued her from the Martins home, the sheriffs department charged Martin with neglect of a child by a custodian and engaging a child for a sexual performance. After the first set of public charges were brought against Martin, the floodgates opened.

By May, the sheriffs department had filed 12 more charges against Martin that accused him of abusing three other victims. The State Media Co. is not publishing their names because they are alleged victims of sexual abuse and were minors when the abuse happened.

Figuring out that Im not the only one has been one of the hardest realizations of my life, the teen said in court.

During a bond revocation hearing in April, prosecutors described how Martin lured two of the other victims, one who was under the age of 18, to his house under the pretext of performing a neon paint photo shoot. After the shoot was done, Martin encouraged them to get cleaned up using a bathroom where he had hidden a camera that recorded the victims, prosecutors said.

A fourth victim, the daughter of a family friend who had attended cookouts with Martin as a child, was underage when he allegedly sexually assaulted her inside a hotel room, according to prosecutors. After meeting her at the hotel for a photo shoot, Martin allegedly brought out sex toys and began asking questions about her sex life.

Martin said, you know I cant let you leave here, until they engaged in sex acts, according to prosecutors. Martin then allegedly assaulted her.

I hear his voice and feel his hands, that victim said in court during Martins recent bond hearing. I have been stopping since I was 17. I stopped feeling, I stopped wanting things for myself. I stopped thinking people were who they said they were. But I started doing other things. I started hiding when cameras came out. I started lying to my mom and just started pretending.

Following his arrests in 2022, Martin was released on a $250,000 bond. He was arrested again on March 3, 2024, and charged by the Richland County Sheriffs Department with unlawful carrying of a pistol before being extradited to Gwinnett County, Georgia, where he faces three charges relating to attempting to solicit sex from a 13-year-old girl.

We still plan on defending his case and preserving his dignity as a human being in the face of these matters, his attorney, Alex Postic, told The State Media Co.

Since his arrests in 2022, Martin had been unemployed and working for delivery apps, Postic said. Martins wife had kicked him out of the house, and he had largely been sleeping in his car, with his wife only allowing him inside the house during the day.

His wife, I guess understandably, broke apart that connection with him, Postic said. I dont know if he was really enjoying freedom out on bond, but he was out.

Martin pretty much lost everything when he got arrested for this, Postic said during his bond revocation hearing. But he said his client was seeking treatment for his sex addiction through Sex Addicts Anonymous. How the victims described Martin in court is what he is, and theres just really no other way to put it, Postic said. Its a sickness like any other addiction.

Martin remains in Gwinnett County jail. Records do not indicate whether a bond amount has been set. Were he to be released on bond in Georgia, he would be taken into custody in Richland County.

(Martin) was given the privilege of enjoying two years of undeserved freedom while his victims battle with the aftermath of trauma and face a very uncertain future of recovery, said the mother of the teen in court. He has abused the system with the same disregard he has abused his child victims.
(TBTCO) - Trong top 10 xe ban chay nhat thang 9/2024, tat ca cac mau xe gop mat eu co doanh so tang truong ang ke, at tren 1.000 chiec/thang. ieu nay kha de hieu boi ay thuong la thang bat au cho ot cao iem mua sam cuoi nam, cung nhu la thang au tien dong xe san xuat, lap rap trong nuoc uoc huong 50% le phi truoc ba tu chinh sach uu ai cua Chinh phu.
The case of a Euro-Atlantic NGO being sanctioned for Nazi sympathies illustrates the systematic abuse of Metas content moderation.

Imagine scrolling through your Facebook feed, expecting to see updates from family and friends, only to find yourself entangled in a pool of disinformation. Conspiracy theories about marginalized groups, warmongering, and reverential posts about the countrys leader matched with insulting memes about anothers. And nothing to dispute the reality of the narratives you see. In Bulgaria, this is not hard to imagine.

The countrys persistent vulnerability to the Kremlins disinformation has, over the years, made this experience all too common amid dwindling media freedom and the longstanding oligarchic grip on the media. Yet Bulgarians increasingly resort to social media platforms as their primary source of news, armed with only low levels of the capacity for critical thinking, as revealed by PISAs 2022 results.

Facebook reigns supreme, dominating over 95% of the social media landscape. However, Metas opaque algorithms and biased moderation only serve to amplify sensationalist content, bolstering the influence of pro-Russian narratives. Without a concerted, collaborative effort to formulate and disseminate counter-narratives, this susceptibility has remained unmitigated. The platform has evolved into fertile ground for manipulation by foreign authoritarian regimes, creating an information battleground where the routine suppression of dissenting viewpoints is also prevalent.

The Atlantic Council of Bulgarias Facebook page often features images critical of Russias war against Ukraine. This grab from the page shows notifications from Meta about violations of its community standards and use of hate speech.

The Russian Playbook

Troll farms and bots have been employed to magnify the reach and credibility of these disinformation efforts. Mushroom websites, notable for generating a plethora of identical articles, play a significant role in amplifying various pro-Kremlin narratives. At the Center for the Study of Democracy, my organization, we have uncovered highly effective examples of such impostors  online media designed so similarly theyre almost indistinguishable. It is a clever practice. For example, websites affiliated with the Share4Pay network pay users to disseminate pre-made clickbait  and very often disinformation content  via social media channels.

Even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin troll army was going strong on Facebook. Once the full-scale war started, they revved up a few gears without an adequate response from the gatekeepers.

According to Atanas Tchobanov, writing for the Bureau for Investigative Reporting and Data (BIRD), the job of moderating Bulgarian Facebook has been in the hands of TELUS International Bulgaria since 2019. TELUS International Bulgaria is a division of the Canadian-based company, TELUS International, which received a contract from Meta. Tchobanov points to a distressing pattern:

There is a visible silencing of journalists, media and public figures who are critical of Russian aggression in Ukraine and at the same time a reinforcement of pro-Russian propaganda in a social network that in Bulgaria has the status of mainstream media. A phenomenon that cannot be explained solely by the standards of the Facebook community.

Exploiting the weaknesses in Facebook content moderation practices appears to have become yet another tool in the Kremlins extensive arsenal of hybrid warfare tactics.

As RFE/RL reported in 2023, public figures in Bulgaria with high engagement on the platform and many followers have found themselves blocked, while more offensive posts by individuals or smaller groups remain untouched. This discrepancy is particularly noticeable when such posts have expressed anti-Russian or pro-Ukrainian views.

Dampening Discourse

As an analyst and researcher deeply invested in countering disinformation and nurturing critical thinking among my fellow Bulgarians, I can firmly attest to the routine silencing of journalists and public figures critical of Russias aggression, particularly on Facebook. Now content moderation rules are being weaponized, not to alleviate the situation, but to further suppress such viewpoints.

This not only complicates the already challenging task of doing my job but also makes it nearly impossible to ensure a balanced discourse on social media platforms. Despite these obstacles, my team and I remain committed to our mission and through extensive research and leveraging social media intelligence tools, we have uncovered a troubling case study. While not unique, this case vividly illustrates the systematic abuse of Facebooks content moderation, particularly targeting content from one prominent defender in Bulgaria of Western principles and institutions.

The Atlantic Council of Bulgaria (ACBG) is a non-governmental organization committed to promoting Bulgarias Euro-Atlantic integration and the values of democracy, freedom, and justice. It conducts its activities fully in accordance with the countrys laws and international standards.



In April 2022, a post on ACBGs Facebook page detailed a Russian strike that led to the deaths of children in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Despite the post lacking inappropriate content, Facebook moderators removed it, citing hate speech and adult content violations. Consequently, the ACBG page faced ramped-up sanctions and increased scrutiny for allegedly spreading disinformation by reposting a story about a downed Russian helicopter. The accompanying photo showed what looked like a washing machine beside the crashed aircraft.

Facebook apparently scrutinized the page based on reports suggesting the article implied that a military helicopter was transporting stolen household appliances. Starting from May 2022 onward, the page administrators noted a substantial drop in traffic  despite ACBG maintaining its follower count, recent posts garnered only a fraction of the typical reactions and views, suggesting Facebook had decided to restrict traffic. Page traffic returned to normal only after an ACBG post that voiced frustration over the decreased page visibility.

However, traffic plummeted again within hours, as soon as ACBG announced its commitment to uphold pro-Ukraine viewpoints. Consequently, page restrictions prompted by the removed posts persisted beyond the three-month ban period, contrary to Facebooks policy. The page was shut down by Meta in August 2022 due to accumulated sanctions that were expected to be lifted. It later disappeared entirely, leaving no unique identifier and only a few posts visible in the Google cache. ACBG created a new Facebook page on 31 August 2022.

That didnt stop the abuse. A year later, in August 2023, it seems as if trolls might have bombarded Facebooks moderators with complaints, with their tactics matching Kremlin censorship practices that we have studied previously. This time the reason was a post discussing the removal of the Soviet Army monument in Sofia  a poignant reminder of a bygone era that stirred tensions among the capitals citizens for over three decades. The post featured images of a young man in traditional Russian military clothing protesting against the monuments removal. However, ACBG also pointed out recent images from the persons profile on Meta-owned Instagram, showing him wearing a Nazi uniform. The intention behind displaying such images was to portray the individual as a hired actor without allegiance to any cause.

However, despite the image aligning with Facebook guidelines and containing no swastika symbols, the photo became an issue under the pretext that it violated Metas rules on content by dangerous individuals and organizations. ACBG moderators subsequently observed that engagement with its posts declined without a clear explanation. In response, an ACBG board member wrote an open letter to Meta/Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg.

Shadow Bans

The implication of such actions highlights a powerful strategy for limiting a page or account on Facebook. Instead of resorting to overt closure or censorship, which might draw attention, the preferred approach typically involves reducing visibility. This can lead to a sharp decrease in likes and lower engagement overall, while making it challenging to prove culpability and consequently lodge a serious complaint. This time, as a result of such censorship tactics, a warning of potential deletion was issued, alleging the dissemination of Nazi propaganda. Ultimately, a page intending to expose individuals profiting from Nazi propaganda ended up penalized for allegedly promoting it.

Then, on 14 November 2023, Facebook removed another post from the ACBG page, this time involving a petition supporting the closure of the Russian Cultural Center in Sofia. Facebook cited hate speech as the reason, despite the absence of any hate speech in the post. The content merely included a link to a petition along with a photo of people holding signs saying Russian terrorist out of Ukraine in front of the Cultural Center. Consequently, the page received a warning, signaling imminent deletion upon further violations.

This case study provides insight into the flexible and adaptable tactics used in pro-Russian hybrid warfare in Bulgaria. While we dont yet have a smoking gun, our assumption is that pro-Kremlin trolls bombard moderators with requests to take down content they deem pro-Ukrainian or anti-Russian, resulting in the moderators being overly aggressive when banning posts.

Our ongoing efforts to combat disinformation and propaganda are essential because this issue extends beyond politics; its about safeguarding free speech from foreign malign influences and uncovering as well as dismantling information operations conducted by foreign authoritarian actors and their local proxies. While these operations may begin on Facebook, their implications extend far into institutional and political structures.



Svetoslav Malinov works as an analyst at the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) in Sofia, focusing on media and state capture, malign foreign influence, and disinformation.
Driven by robust passenger revenue, Etihad Airways has posted a record first-quarter (Q1) profit after tax of AED526 million ($143 million), a massive spike on Q1 2023, symbolising a solid start for the 2024 financial year.

Total revenue increased by AED987 million, from AED4.75 billion in Q1 2023 to AED5.74 billion in Q1 2024, reflecting an increase in network capacity and passenger numbers.

The airline carried 4.2 million passengers over the quarter, up 41% year-on-year. The average passenger load factor stands at 86% for Q1 2024 and remains unchanged compared to the first quarter of last year. Revenue from cargo and other sources remained broadly stable over the same period.

Operational efficiency

The airline continues to improve its operational efficiency with decreasing unit cost from the same quarter last year (CASK and CASK ex-fuel reduced by 9% and 11%, respectively).

Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: We are pleased to report a strong start to the financial year 2024, with our first quarter earnings equivalent to our total net income for the entire financial year 2023 as we continue our margin expansion journey. We have maintained our resilience and our focus on customer service and growth while continuing to improve our commitment to efficiency.

This significant profit increase was achieved even with the holy month of Ramadan starting in early March this year, compared to late March last year, demonstrating the adaptability of our business.

Our plans are set to expand our network and enhance our offerings while connecting an ever-greater number of people to and via Abu Dhabi. I would like to extend my deepest thanks to all our employees whose hard work and dedication have been crucial in achieving these results.

Network optimisation

During this period, Etihad optimised its network by enhancing routes and increasing frequencies to key destinations. The airline also launched new flights to Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and Boston, and announced additional routes to Antalya and Jaipur. The additional capacity has led to a 34% increase in Etihad's total weekly flights for the upcoming peak summer period, growing from 642 last year to 858 in 2024.

The airline has continued to play a pivotal role in supporting Abu Dhabi's tourism sector, driving a 43% increase in inbound point-to-point traffic compared to the first quarter of 2023.

In its first quarter operating from its new terminal at Zayed International Airport, the airline has seen significant improvements in customer satisfaction, driven by enhanced efficiencies across all passenger touchpoints. Upgraded lounge facilities now offer more comfort and exclusive services, enhancing the overall travel experience. Additionally, streamlined check-in processes and smoother transfers have contributed positively to customer feedback.

Key Q1 2024 highlights a glance

Total revenue growth: Total revenue has increased primarily due to a significant boost in passenger revenue, which rose by AED966 million ($263 million), a 25% increase from the previous year.

Cargo revenue: Revenue from cargo has maintained its robust level year-on-year, supported by expanding partnerships such as its strategic agreement with SF Airlines to link global hubs, extending Etihad's network in Asia.

Costs: Improved operational efficiency, with CASK and CASK ex-fuel decreased by 9% and 11% respectively.

Profit after tax: The strong surge in passenger revenue, combined with reduced net finance costs, drove the increase in profit after tax for the first quarter of 2024 to AED526 million ($143 million), compared to AED59 million ($16 million) in the corresponding period in 2023.

Capacity growth: the first quarter of 2024 saw an expansion in capacity, as evidenced by substantial growth in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) and passenger numbers, increasing by 35% and 41% respectively compared to the same period in 2023.

Operating fleet: Etihads operating fleet grew from 75 to 89 aircraft over the same quarter last year, including the incorporation of three new 787s in February 2024.--TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), a leading financial institution, has announced its expansion plan to better serve its Business Banking customers across the UAE.

ADIB Business Banking is expanding its presence in key business ecosystems to support SMEs as part of its commitment to fostering their growth and success. This expansion includes strategic collaborations with key partners specialising in serving the SME sector and leveraging its extensive network across key locations in the UAE to better serve businesses.

Currently operating nine dedicated business centres across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, and Dubai, ADIB Business is poised for further growth. ADIB Business Banking offers a diverse model tailored to various preferences, providing SMEs with the convenience of digital banking while ensuring access to physical business centres, particularly for customers who prefer traditional banking services.

Increased volumes

This expansion not only facilitate increased volumes of business operations but also exemplifies ADIB's commitment to providing holistic banking solutions tailored to SMEs. By combining digital empowerment with human expertise, ADIB Business ensures ease of banking for SMEs, offering seamless self-onboarding options and access to dedicated relationship managers through both digital channels and physical business centres.

Amit Malhotra, Global Head of Retail Banking at ADIB, stated: "By synergising of our physical expansion with digital capabilities, we aim to provide a comprehensive banking experience to all our customers. This underscores ADIB's commitment to supporting SMEs, recognising their pivotal role as the driving force behind the UAEs economy. As we continue to grow and innovate, we remain dedicated to empowering SMEs and driving economic prosperity across the UAE."

In addition to its physical expansion, ADIB Business has made significant strides in digital innovation. Leveraging Emirates Face Recognition (EFR) technology, ADIB enables SMEs to instantly open business accounts digitally, eliminating the need for physical visits or document submissions.

Moreover, ADIB Business revamped its small business solutions, introduced ADIB Business Souqa B2B digital marketplaceand embraced paperless operations for account opening and customer services, aligning with its sustainability and ESG commitments.--TradeArabia News Service
Aggregate net profits reported companies listed on GCC exchanges dropped to the second lowest level in nine quarters during Q1-2024 at $56.4 billion as compared to $61.8 billion in Q1-2023, according to Kamco Invest.

The decline was mainly led by a y-o-y decline in profits for the Energy, Telecom and Capital Goods sectors partially offset by higher profits reported by mainly by Banks, F&B and Real Estate companies.

The sequential performance was positive with higher profits for the top three sectors partially offset by fall in profits for Real estate and F&B sectors resulting in a q-o-q profit growth of 2.6%. The Materials sector showed healthy improvement in profits during the quarter.

Energy sector

Net profits for the Energy sector witnessed the biggest y-o-y decline during Q1-2024 mainly led by fall in volumes sold by companies in the sector, partially offset by higher crude oil prices as compared to Q1-2023. Average brent crude prices was up by 2.2% during Q1-2024 at $82.9 per barrel as compared to the average for Q1-2023.

Net profits reported by Aramco dropped by 11.9% y-o-y during the quarter, accounting for bulk of the decline in profits at the GCC level. Excluding Aramcos results, the profit decline for GCC listed companies came in at 5.3%.

On the other hand, healthy profits for the GCC banking sector helped to partially offset the bulk of the decline in earnings. Aggregate earnings for the GCC banking sector surged 11.5% y-o-y or by $1.5 billion to reach $14.5 billion in Q1-2024. The q-o-q growth was albeit marginal at 0.6% vs. Q4-2023. The y-o-y growth reflected double digit growth in earnings for four out of seven markets while the remaining three also reported healthy growth. Earnings for the UAE banking sector improved by a healthy 15.2% to reach $5.5 billion while the Saudi banking sector recorded a y-o-y growth of 8.2% during Q1-2024. The growth in earnings came despite a marginal decline in net interest income as elevated interest income was offset by higher interest expenses. A fall in operating expenses and lower impairments supported earnings.

Profit for the GCC energy sector plummeted 17.7% y-o-y during Q1-2024 to reach $29.8 billion as compared to $36.2 billion during Q1-2023. The decline came after half of the companies in the sector reported a y-o-y decline in profits. In terms of q-o-q performance, net profits remained almost flat during the quarter with a marginal growth of 0.6%.

Biggest decline

The biggest y-o-y percentage decline in profits was recorded by Taqa at 81.8% or a decline of $2.6 billion reaching $576 million in the quarter.

The decline was led by one-off gains during the corresponding quarter last year and excluding these gains, the companys net profit surged 7% as compared to Q1-2023. The company reported 5.3% growth in revenues that reached AED13.7 billion ($3.73 billion).

Excluding the results for Aramco and Taqa, profit for the sector saw a much smaller decline of 4.1% during Q1-2024.

Telecom sector

Net profits for the GCC telecom sector declined by 13.3% y-o-y to reach $2.4 billion in Q1-2024. The decline was led by a steep fall in profits for six out of fifteen telecom operators in the region. Zain KSA reported the biggest decline in profits that reached $17.7 million during Q1-2024 vs. $303.0 million during Q1-2023 due to one-off gain related to sale of telecom towers during the previous years quarter. This was also reflected in the financials for the Zain Group.

Meanwhile, profits for Ooredoo Kuwait declined by almost 80% y-o-y during Q1-2024, also due to one-off gains related to legal claims during Q1-2023. In the case of Omantel, the profit decline of 39.2% y-o-y during Q1-2024 was led by higher service expenses during Q1-2024 as well as higher non-operating gains during Q1-2023. These aforementioned decline in profits were partially offset by higher profits reported by Etisalat, STC and Mobily during Q1-2024.

Real Estate

Net profits in the GCC Real Estate sector witnessed a marginal y-o-y growth of 3.6% during Q1-2024 to reach $1.9 billion.

The trend at the country level remained mixed with companies in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait witnessing healthy y-o-y growth of 50.5% and 23.4%, respectively, while Saudi and Bahraini companies in the sector reported declines. The growth in Abu Dhabi reflected higher profits reported by Aldar Properties led by higher revenues during the quarter.--TradeArabia News Service
Some 24 French asset firms with around $1.6 trillion of assets under management (AUM) gathered in Abu Dhabi for the second edition of the UAE-France Investors Meetup hosted by Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

This exclusive gathering, led by Bruno Le Maire, the French Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, is designed to foster partnerships between the two nations through dialogues on investment opportunities and areas of collaboration within UAE-French financial landscape.

In line with the UAEs commitment to developing international cooperation through collaboration with partner countries, this meeting, held in the presence of Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, Mubadala Investment Company, served as a vital platform for strengthening economic and financial ties between the UAE and France, building on long-standing bilateral strategic relations. In his opening remarks, he commented on the historic and broad economic ties, as foundations for France and the Emirates to significantly expand their investment ties across future industries and new value chains.

New avenues

This year's event also witnessed active participation from the UAE and France, facilitating discussions on opportunities, exploring new avenues for collaboration in key sectors, and enhancing mutual understanding of both financial landscapes.

Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), and ADGM, said: We welcome Bruno Le Maire and the French delegation. The partnership between France and the UAE has strengthened over the years, with trade contributing to the growth and economic diversification of both nations. These meetups are crucial for discussing the evolution of economic systems and rethinking cross-border trade and investments. Abu Dhabi has played a pivotal role in facilitating these important dialogues, providing a platform for informed discussions and strategic partnerships.

By hosting events like the annual Investor Meetup, we emphasise our commitment to fostering international cooperation and driving economic growth. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with France and exploring new avenues for collaboration that will benefit both our countries.

New stage

Le Maire said: France and the UAE have never ceased to strengthen their relationship. Today marks a new stage in the deepening of our economic and financial ties. The format of this meeting is a success: it enables us to diversify and broaden our cooperation, drawing on the diversity of each other's resources and capabilities to support the ambitions of our two countries.

Bertrand Rambaud, Chairman of France Invest, said: As the leading private capital industry in the EU, deepening our ties with the fast-growing financial ecosystem in Abu Dhabi is a key priority. The region offers a wide range of opportunities for GPs and portfolio companies. We were delighted to exchange with stakeholders and policymakers with the full support of French and Abu Dhabi authorities.

Additionally, this years event reiterated a successful format, offering participants the opportunity to pre-select the best-performing French private equity funds for tailored 15-minute speed dating sessions. Through these bespoke encounters and informal meetings, attendees had the chance to engage directly with key executives, fostering meaningful connections and exploring potential avenues for collaboration.

Unique opportunity

The UAE-France Investors Meetup represented a unique opportunity for stakeholders in both countries to forge strategic alliances, identify new opportunities, and drive mutual growth. As the event returns to ADGM, it reaffirms Abu Dhabis position as a global financial hub and underscores the enduring strength of the Franco-Emirati partnership.

Along with the French minister, the French delegation to Abu Dhabi included high level representatives from top-tier French asset management companies.--TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabia's National Water Company (NWC) has awarded three long-term contracts worth more than SAR3.56 billion ($948 million) for the rehabilitation, operation and maintenance of nine sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the kingdom's Eastern Province for a period of 15 years.

The contracts were inked with Alkhorayef Water and Power Company (AWPT) and a consortium of Civil Works Company (CWC) and Alawael Company, said NWC in a statement.

Under this deal, AWPT will rehabilitate, operate, and maintain STPs in Al Ahasa for 15 years, while CWC-Alawael consortium will take care of the STPs in Dammam and Al Khobar for a similar period.

NWC Chief Executive Officer Dr Fuad A. Alshikhmubarak signed the agreement with the representatives of Alkhorayef Water and Power Company and CWC-Awael consortium at a ceremony held in the presence of Engineer Abdulrahman Abdulmohsin Al Fadhli, Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, and Chairman of Board of Directors of the NWC.

These contracts are part of the kingdom's national water strategy to attract and engage the private sector to the investment opportunities in order to rehabilitate, maintain and operate the strategic assets of the existing companies in order to achieve environmental sustainability and increase investment in the water sector as part of an innovative model of investment agreements.

NWC said the value of the contract signed with AWPT for Al Ahsa STPs is more than SAR1.72 billion ($460 million), with a levelized tariff of SAR0.67/cu m, i.e. about $0.18/cu m, while the contract sealed with CWC consortium for Dammam STPs is worth SAR1.04 billion ($280 million), with a levelised tariff of SAR 0.57/cu m.

For the Khobar contract, it is set at more than SAR791 million ($210 million), with a levelized tariff of SAR 0.56/cu m ($0.15/cu m), it stated.

The scope of work uinvolves rehabilitation, operation, and maintenance of nine STPs in the Eastern Province (Al Ahsa, Dammam, and Al Khobar) with a total treatment capacity of 1.1 million cu m/day, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
Newly filed court documents say the bodies of two women who were abducted and killed in Oklahoma were reportedly found buried in an ice chest.

Veronica Butler,27, and Jillian Kelley, 39, were killed on a March 30 trip from Kansas to Oklahoma to visit Butler's children.

Five people including Tifany Adams, the paternal grandmother of Butler's children face charges in connection with the killings.

Investigators announced last month that Adams, Tad Cullum, and Cole Twombly and Cora Twombly had been arrested. A fifth suspect, Paul Grice, was later arrested.

The suspects were allegedly members of an anti-government group with a religious affiliation called "God's Misfits," according to their arrest affidavits. They reportedly held weekly meetings at the Twombly's home and another home.

The group allegedly murdered the two women because of a child custody dispute.

Butler was allowed supervised visits with the children each Saturday.

Kelley, the wife of a pastor, was Butler's court-authorized choice to supervise visitations.

Police found their vehicle abandoned near Highway 95 in Texas County and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said there was evidence to indicate foul play. The evidence reportedly included blood in the vehicle.

The teenage witness told authorities that Cora Twombly said that she and her husband blocked the road to stop Butler and Kelley and divert them to where Adams, her boyfriend Cullum and another person were waiting for them.

The teen reportedly asked why Kelley had to die and was told that "she wasn't innocent either" because she supported Butler," the court papers said.

Search warrants obtained by WFOR-TV stated that, after a two-day excavation in a cow pasture on land leased by Tad Collum, one of the suspects under arrest, the bodies of the two women were found in a chest freezer under poured concrete.

The documents do not disclose who they died.

The landowner says he was shocked when police showed up and found the bodies.

In a motion reportedly filed last November, Adams had opposed adjustments to a supervised visitation arrangement Butler had with the children.

She allegedly claimed that the children had been exposed to sexual abuse while under Butler's care.

Kelley was the wife of a pastor at Hugoton First Christian Church in Kansas. Heath Kelley recently agreed to serve as the new pastor of Willow Christian Church in Nebraska.
Saudi-based New Murabba Development Company, a PIF company, has awarded HSSG Foundation Contracting the piling works contract for its ambitious project Mukaab, which on completion, will be one of the largest built structures in the world.

A key player in the region, HSSG Foundation Contracting specialises in providing technically advanced foundation solutions.

Announcing the contract award, New Murabba Development Company said this marks a pivotal step in the development of the Mukaab, which is set to become the centerpiece of the New Murabba, Riyadhs transformative downtown destination.

Once completed, the Mukaab will be one of the largest built structures in the world (measuring 400 meters in height, width, and length), said the company in a statement.

The contract was sealed by New Murabba Development Company CEO Michael Dyke and HSSG Foundation Contracting senior official Ali Korhan thus bringing together two leading organisations in a historic commitment, it added.

"The partnership underscores HSSG Foundation Contracting's experience and strong reputation and will leverage its extensive expertise in complex foundation engineering for the successful realization of the Mukaab project," said a company spokesman.

The contract awarded to HSSG Foundation Contracting, and other partnerships which to date have been established, represent a significant leap forward in the realisation of the vision for the Mukaab, and the creation of the largest modern downtown in the world, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

New Murabba Development Company said piling, as an initial phase of construction, is fundamental to the structural integrity and longevity of any major development.

For the Mukaab, this will mean establishing a strong base that will support its innovative architectural vision and ambitious scale, it stated.

By securing this contract, New Murabba Development Company has reaffirmed its commitment to laying a resilient groundwork that will uphold the future vibrancy and dynamism of Riyadhs new downtown, said the spokesman.

As development continues for New Murabba, and the iconic Mukaab, the Saudi developer and its partners, are laying the foundations for a lasting legacy  a vibrant, dynamic, downtown that will captivate the world and start a new chapter for Saudi Arabias bright future, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Saudi-based Mubarak A. AlSuwaiket and Sons Oil & Gas Services Company (AlSuwaiket O&G) has announced the groundbreaking of its new industrial facility at the King Salman Energy Park (Spark), a leading energy industrial ecosystem at the heart of the energy market.

The plant, to be developed on a 41,081 sq m area within the energy park, will be operational in Q2 2025.

AlSuwaiket O&G said the new facility is set to become a cornerstone in the regional oil field products and services industry, offering an array of products and services in the field of engineering for the oil and gas sector and the alternative energy sector.

It will also facilitate the drilling techniques and the treatment and disposal of polluted drilling output, as well as the production of anti-rust materials, onshore and offshore pipeline maintenance techniques, artificial intelligence, and several security technologies.

The investment aligns with Saudi Arabias Vision 2030, intending to boost localization and support the development of domestic capabilities across a range of sectors, including manufacturing, technology, and services, it stated.

The groundbreaking ceremony was also attended by executives from Spark and AlSuwaiket O&G, signaling the collaborative efforts to advance the Kingdoms oil and gas industry in the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Nabil Chaachou, VP of Business Development of Spark said: "We are pleased to celebrate AlSuwaiket Oil & Gas' groundbreaking ceremony and welcome them as a tenant at Spark. The partnership reinforces our commitment to championing the localisation of the energy value chain in the kingdom and reinforcing our position as a regional energy hub."

This state-of-the-art industrial facility is positioned to be a key player in regional oil field products and services, he added.

Mubarak AlSuwaiket, the Chairman of AlSuwaiket O&G, said: "We are delighted and looking forward to our partnership with Spark. We believe it is an effective opportunity to direct our investments to support the oil, gas, energy, and environmental sectors to achieve the goals of the 2030 vision."

"As we recognize the high potential of Spark, we are investing with international companies to provide them with a professional and business friendly environment to export their experience to the kingdom," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The International Code Council (ICC) yesterday (May 22) marked the first-ever International Building Safety Day in a special manner using the occasion to promote and celebrate building safety and the benefits it provides to the communities' health and welfare.

It also celebrated the significant progress made in ensuring the safety of our built environment, acknowledging the challenges that remain and charting a course for the future.

The Middle East has seen a rapid construction boom in recent years, transforming skylines and infrastructure across the region. Alongside this growth, a focus on building safety has emerged as a critical priority, according to experts in ICC.

Many countries have adopted stricter building codes, established dedicated building safety authorities, and invested in fire/structural safety provisions and awareness campaigns.

Dubai has established itself as a frontrunner in building safety with its comprehensive Dubai Building Code (DBC), referencing international standards from ICC.

The DBC is regularly updated, ensuring its regulations reflect the latest advancements in construction practices and safety protocols.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia is also making significant strides in building safety utilizing the I-Codes as the base of their codes , ensuring safety while adapting to specific needs. This approach allows them to tailor regulations to specific needs while still upholding global safety benchmarks.

Oman is poised to join the ranks of regional safety leaders. Partnering with ICC, Oman is developing a set of six building codes expected to be finalized by early 2026, it stated.

These codes will be based on the latest International Codes (I-Codes), ensuring Oman's building industry adheres to the most up-to-date safety practices. The focus on areas like sustainability and technology integration further strengthens Oman's commitment to a safe and future-proofed construction sector.

These initiatives by Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Oman demonstrate a collective commitment to building safety in the Middle East. The results are undeniable. Improved regulations and enforcement have led to a decrease in construction-related accidents and building collapses.

Advancements in fire safety measures, particularly with regards to high-rise buildings, have also contributed to a safer living and working environment.-TradeArabia News Service
Aster Royal Al Raffah Hospital, part of the GCCs leading integrated healthcare provider Aster DM Healthcare FZC, has announced the launch of the Aster Stroke Unit and Aster Urgent Care 24x7 programme in Oman. Located in Al Ghubra, Muscat, the hospital is set to significantly enhance its regional healthcare services with these new facilities.

The inauguration was attended by Dr Ahmed Salim Saif Al Mandhari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Planning and Health Organisation, The Sultanate of Oman, who officially opened the new units in the presence of esteemed guests including Dr Sherbaz Bichu, Group CEO, Aster Hospitals & Clinics, UAE, Oman & Bahrain; Shailesh Guntu, CEO of Aster Hospitals & Clinics, Oman; and Dr Ali Al Balushi, Vascular Neurologist and Neuro-endovascular Surgeon, Aster Royal Al Raffah Hospital, Oman.

Aster Royal Al Raffah Hospital is now the first private hospital in the region to receive approval from the Ministry of Health for operating a dedicated Stroke Unit.

Cutting-edge facilities

This unit will be spearheaded by the renowned stroke specialist, Dr Ali Al Balushi, Vascular Neurologist and Neuro-endovascular Surgeon. The unit is equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure and 24/7 availability of stroke care specialists, ensuring a systematic and efficient treatment pathway for all stroke patients.

The newly launched Aster Urgent Care 24x7 programme is dedicated to providing prompt and efficient emergency care, ensuring that patients receive the urgent attention necessary to maximise their chances of a swift and successful recovery.

Invaluable resources

Dr Al Mandhari said: We commend Aster for establishing an advanced Stroke Unit and an Urgent Care 24x7 service. These units will serve as invaluable resources for our community, effectively managing surgical and trauma emergencies within the critical golden hour.

Dr Bichu said: With focus on advanced medical techniques and patient-centered care, we are poised to raise the bar in healthcare excellence. Time is of the essence for stroke victims, with each passing minute resulting in the loss of vital brain cells. Prompt treatment is crucial to preserve these cells, save lives, and enhance recovery outcomes.

This is the driving force behind our launch of the Stroke and Urgent Care 24x7 programme, enabling us to deliver specialised, life-saving care effectively to the people of Oman to ensure quality of life is restored. Our goal is to improve outcomes and enhance the quality of life for those affected by stroke, and this new facility is a crucial step towards achieving that vision.

Latest stride

Dr Al Balushi said: The Stroke Unit at Aster Royal Al Raffah Hospital represents the latest stride in Omans ongoing innovation in stroke care and emergency neurologic support, aimed at saving and enhancing lives. Similarly, the introduction of Aster Urgent Care 24x7 exemplifies Asters commitment to providing immediate and critical care around the clock, ensuring that every patient receives the best possible chance at recovery.

Guntu said: These initiatives set a new standard in medical care within the region and highlight our dedication to advancing healthcare services accessible around the clock. Through these critical developments, we are enhancing our capability to respond swiftly and effectively to any medical emergency, ensuring the highest level of care for our community.--TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabia has become the latest country to formally join the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), the global coalition mobilizing political, technical, and financial capital to prepare the world for harsher droughts.

This addition brings the total membership of IDRA to 37 countries and 28 intergovernmental and research organizations, reflecting a growing commitment to address droughts in the face of climate change and unsustainable land management.

Launched at UN Climate Summit COP27 by the leaders of Spain and Senegal, IDRA rallies world leaders against one of the worlds most deadly and costly natural disasters, acknowledging that we are only as resilient to drought and climate change as our land is. The IDRA secretariat is hosted by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Engineer Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Al Fadley, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, said: "We see IDRA as an opportunity to protect our societies and economies in the face of drought. As hosts of the largest-ever UN conference on land and drought this December, one of our priorities is to further the countries commitment to a drought-resilient future."

The International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) is the first global coalition creating political momentum and mobilizing financial and technical resources for a drought-resilient future, he added.

Minister Al Fadley emphasized that Saudi Arabia's hosting of COP 16 reflects the commitment of its leadership to environmental protection at the national, regional, and international levels, and adds to pioneering efforts like the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative.

Al Fadley also highlighted the urgent need to build drought resilience globally, while combating land degradation and desertification to counter their environmental, economic, and social impacts. He expressed hope that the Alliance would foster effective collective action and intensify global efforts to address these issues, ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources for future generations.

One-quarter of the worlds population is already affected by drought, and three out of four people are projected to face water scarcity by 2050.

In the Middle East and North Africa, 100% of the population will live with extremely high water stress by 2050.

Third Vice-President of the Government of Spain, Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge and IDRA Co-Chair Teresa Ribera encouraged more countries to follow in the steps of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, noting that drought resilience yields returns of up to ten times the initial investment.

"The Alliance is as strong as the knowledge, experiences, and networks contributed by its members. I invite world leaders to join IDRA to transform the way humanity tackles drought, building our collective defenses before crises strike," he stated.

UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: "Droughts are a natural phenomenon, but we are turbo-charging them by degrading our lands and disrupting the climate. In the lead up the UNCCD COP16, I urge countries to raise their ambitions for healthy lands and drought-resilient societies and economies."

UNCCD COP16, to be held in Riyadh from December 2 to 13, will be the largest-ever meeting of UNCCDs 197 Parties, the first to be held in the Middle East region, and the largest multilateral conference ever hosted by Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom will also host the 2024 World Environment Day global celebrations with a focus on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.

On June 17, the Desertification and Drought Day will mark the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), one of the three Rio Conventions alongside climate and biodiversity.-TradeArabia News Service
Al Ghurair Motors has announced a partnership with TAM-Europe, a renowned commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Maribor, Slovenia to become the exclusive dealer for TAM-Europe's all electric vehicles across the UAE.

The announcement was made at the Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit in Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), a platform showcasing cutting-edge electric vehicle technologies from around the world.

The signing ceremony for this milestone Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was attended by John Iossifidis, GCEO at Al Ghurair, and Yusef Ma, CEO at TAM-Europe, along with other senior representatives from both companies.

Electric delivery van Model T600

A highlight of the event was the electric delivery van Model T600 displayed at the booth, which drew high interest from various leading logistics companies from around the world.

The integration of electric vehicles in urban mobility systems plays an important role in achieving the UAEs net zero goal by 2050. A significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, the electrification of the transport sector is critical to reducing overall carbon intensity.

Iossifidis said: At Al Ghurair we take pride in contributing to cities of the future across the industries we operate in. In the automotive sector, we actively seek innovative solutions and technologies that disrupt the status quo and create lasting value for our customers.

This partnership exemplifies our commitment to supporting the UAE's long-term vision for safe, smart, and sustainable urban mobility solutions. We look forward to collaborating closely with TAM-Europe to turn this vision into reality."

Sustainable transportation solutions

Ma adds: TAM-Europe is a leader in sustainable transportation solutions. Our eco-friendly vehicles are specifically designed to endure the UAE's demanding climate, ensuring optimal performance without compromise. This partnership allows us to contribute directly to the UAE's ambitious sustainability goals. We're excited to join forces with Al Ghurair Motors and be a part of the nation's journey towards a cleaner, greener future."

As a leading manufacturer of high-quality buses and coaches, TAM-Europe serves three key market segments including airport buses, public transport, Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) and Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVs). The companys VivAir airport buses segment boasts of a 40% market share globally, excluding China.--TradeArabia News Service
Dell Technologies has unveiled Dell PowerStore advancements for better performance, efficiency, resiliency and multicloud data mobility.

Dell has also expanded Dell APEX portfolio with new AIOps advancements and enhanced multicloud and Kubernetes storage management.

Our PowerStore advancements and new lineup of financial and operational advantages for customers and partners pack a powerful punch and raise the bar in all-flash storage, said Arthur Lewis, president, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Dell Technologies.

Dell APEX

And we didnt stop there. Our focus on innovation also extends to Dell APEX, where were improving infrastructure and application reliability through the power of AI and automation, making it even easier to manage multicloud and Kubernetes storage.

Enhancing storage performance, efficiency, resiliency and multicloud capabilities Dell PowerStore helps manage increasing workload demands with the industrys most flexible quad-level cell (QLC) storage and significant performance enhancements.

QLC-based storage: Delivers enterprise-class performance at a lower cost per terabyte when compared to triple-level cell (TLC) models. Customers can start with as few as 11 QLC drives and scale up to 5.9 petabytes of effective capacity per appliance. PowerStores intelligent load balancing capabilities help save costs and improve workload placement across mixed TLC and QLC clusters.

Increased performance: Improves hardware performance up to 66% through new data-in-place higher model appliance upgrades.

Efficiency, security and cloud mobility

Dell PowerStore software advancements improve efficiency, security and cloud mobility:

Software-driven performance boost: Non-disruptive software updates available at no additional cost to existing customers deliver up to a 30% higher mixed workload performance boost and up to 20% lower latency.

Improved data protection: More choices for customers safeguarding critical workloads with native synchronous replication for block and file workloads and native metro replication for Windows, Linux and VMware environments.

Increased Efficiency: Software enhancements provide up to 20% better data reduction and up to 28% more effective terabytes per watt.

Multicloud data mobility enhancements: Customers can advance multicloud strategies and simplify workload mobility by connecting PowerStore to Dell APEX Block Storage for Public Cloud, the worlds most scalable cloud block storage.

Dell PowerStore is helping Fulgent Genetics transform patient care in pathology, oncology, reproductive health, as well as infectious and rare diseases, by significantly accelerating data processing speed so that our physicians can deliver faster genetic insights and test results to our patients, said Mike Lacenere, vice president, Applications, Fulgent Genetics.

PowerStore enhances our commitment to sustainability by minimising energy use and reducing the size of our data centres while providing us considerable cost savings. With PowerStores new advances, we expect this trifecta of performance, efficiency, and cost savings to continue to increase which will help us improve patient care.

These PowerStore advancements are part of PowerStore Prime, a new integrated offering that combines updated PowerStore systems with programmes designed to offer customers greater storage investment protection and increase Dell partner profitability.

Offering greater storage investment protection

PowerStore Prime offers customers greater flexibility to make the most of their IT investment with:

5:1 data reduction guarantee: Customers can buy with confidence, save on costs and reduce energy with the industrys best data reduction guarantee.

Continuous modernisation: Lifecycle Extension with Dell ProSupport or ProSupport Plus offers customers 24/7 access to live support, flexible technology upgrades, capacity trade-ins, and storage advisory services.

Flexible consumption: Customers can consume PowerStore through a Dell APEX subscription, paying only for what they need monthly.

Empowering partners to meet customer demands

PowerStore Prime also makes it easier and more rewarding to sell PowerStore. Building on the Dell partner-first strategy for storage, partners can now increase PowerStore sales with competitively priced product bundles and deliver expanded use cases for joint customers. Partners can also streamline sales motions when selling PowerStore and PowerProtect offers together.

PowerStores new 5:1 Data Reduction Guarantee and new QLC array are a testament of Dells unwavering commitment to meet customer efficiency goals while lowering the cost of advanced storage, said John Lochausen, technical solutions architect, World Wide Technology. Dells new partner incentives and guarantees bring it all together, putting us and our customers in a position to succeed with the latest advances in all- flash storage.

Unleashing the power of AI

Dell Technologies continues to evolve its Dell APEX portfolio to meet customer needs across key focus areas like AI and multicloud. Dell APEX innovations deliver leading AIOps capabilities and improve storage and Kubernetes management.

Dell APEX AIOps Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) optimises Dell infrastructure health and service availability with AI-driven full stack observability and incident management. It is a significant expansion of Dells AIOps tools that simplifies operations, improves IT agility and delivers greater control over applications and infrastructure through three integrated capabilities:

Infrastructure Observability: Resolves infrastructure issues up to 10X faster than traditional approaches through AI-powered health, cybersecurity and sustainability insights and recommendations. Generative AI-powered Dell APEX AIOps Assistant delivers instant responses to infrastructure questions and provides detailed problem-solving recommendations.

Application Observability: Yields up to 70% reduction in mean time to resolution of application issues through full stack application topologies and analytics for assuring application availability and performance.

Incident Management: Optimises digital infrastructure availability through AI- driven incident detection and resolution that reduces customer-reported multivendor and multicloud infrastructure issues by up to 93%.

Dell APEX Navigator SaaS

Dell APEX Navigator SaaS expands to include Kubernetes storage management and additional support for Dell APEX Storage for Public Cloud offers:

Dell APEX Navigator for Kubernetes is generally available, simplifying Kubernetes storage management on Dell PowerFlex and soon, Dell PowerScale and Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Red Hat OpenShift, by bringing advanced data services like data replication, application mobility and observability to containers.

Dell APEX Navigator for Multicloud Storage adds support for Dell APEX File Storage for AWS with support planned for Dell APEX File Storage for Microsoft Azure later this year. This offer simplifies storage configuration, deployment and monitoring across a universal storage layer created by Dell on-premises and public cloud storage.

Customers can get started with Dell APEX Navigator for Multicloud Storage and now Dell APEX Navigator for Kubernetes through a 90-day, risk-free trial.--TradeArabia News Service
Sixty-two percent of CEOs selected growth as their top business priority in 2024, according to a new survey by Gartner. This is the highest level since 2014, and an increase from last years survey where 49% of CEOs said their top business priority was growth.

Along with the increased focus on growth, the survey showed a relatively weak position for cost management, suggesting that most CEOs and senior business executives believe the most challenging economic times are past, said David Furlonger, Distinguished VP Analyst and Gartner Fellow.

We have entered a phase of rising business leader confidence and business strategy re-launches.

Growth mindset

The 2024 Gartner CEO and Senior Business Executive Survey was conducted from July through December 2023 among 416 CEOs and other senior business executives in North America, Europe, Asia/Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and South Africa, across different industries, revenue and company sizes. The survey found that CEOs are entertaining a growth mindset in their current environment.

AI Is Captivating CEOs

When asked about digital transformation, 34% of CEOs identified AI as the top theme of the next business transformation after digital, followed by operations efficiency at 9%.

AI is displacing digital as the keyword CEOs mention the most, due in no small part to generative AI (GenAI), said Don Scheibenreif, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner. The majority of CEOs surveyed believe that the AI breakthroughs of 2023 justified the tech sector hype. They are relying on CIOs, CTOs or CDOs to unlock the value of GenAI, showing that this is a team effort when approaching these projects and not just a top-down experience.

CEOs must approach AI, including GenAI, with caution

CEOs are not deterred by any negative prospects around AI, as 87% of CEOs agreed that the benefits of AI to their business outweigh its risks. Another 90% of CEOs agreed the idea that AI is an existential threat to humanity is hype and exaggeration.

However, CEOs are not approaching AI with an entirely positive outlook. Fifty-six percent of CEOs said disinformation, misinformation and deep fakes will create operating problems. Twenty-nine percent see constrained electricity supply and 53% see general supply chain issues as a problem, in large part due to GenAI and the demand the technology creates.

CEOs should tolerate low-cost GenAI projects, said Scheibenreif. But they should avoid the temptation to try and control GenAIs use from the center. The excitement and energy will be almost impossible to handle.

CEOs must let the hype cycle do its work for them. The trough of disillusionment in GenAI will arrive soon enough - probably before the end of 2024. CEOs should clamp down only on experiments that they believe are dangerous for the companys reputation and allow the herd to police itself this time.--TradeArabia News Service
The Dubai Press Club (DPC) has announced the launch of the Arab Media Summit, under the auspices of which the 22nd Arab Media Forum May 28-29, and the second Arab Youth Media Forum (May 27) will take place in Dubai, creating a unified platform for DPCs events, promoting knowledge exchange and dialogue in the media industry, a report said.

The 23rd Arab Media Award and the fourth Arab Social Media Influencers Award, will be held at Arab Media Forum, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.

Mona Ghanem Al Marri, head of the Arab Media Forum, said that the Arab Media Summit will serve as a high-profile platform for the exchange of ideas, insights, expertise and experiences that can help the media industry contribute to realising the aspirations of the people of the region.

The summit will bring together media professionals to discuss the sector's transformations and challenges, ensuring that Arab media can fulfil its responsibilities as a key partner in sustainable development.

The forum will serve as a premier platform in the Arab world to discuss the future of the regions evolving media landscape, this years forum will feature the participation of prominent politicians, media industry leaders, editors in chief, distinguished writers, thinkers, influencers, and content creators from the UAE, the Arab world and the region.

The forum will feature a series of discussions focused on analysing the key political, economic, social, technological and cultural developments driving the medias transformation, as well as the sectors own role in the changes sweeping the region.

Al Marri also highlighted that the second Arab Youth Media Forum will be dedicated to empowering the next generation of media professionals and influencers in the region.

Saying that the Arab Media Award recognises media excellence in the region, she said: "We are committed to including more young media talent in the next Board of Directors of the Arab Media Award. This years edition marks the end of the current board's term, and the new board will focus on evolving the award to keep pace with both regional and global media advancements."

The main sessions at the 22nd Arab Media Forum include the Future of Yemen, which will see Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, Prime Minister of Yemen, sharing his vision for building a lasting peace in Yemen and the role of the media in promoting dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, will speak at another main session called Charting the GCCs Future on how closer integration of media in the GCC will help the region adopt a united approach on vital issues and strengthen bonds between its people.

Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President, will engage in a one-on-one conversation with Faisal bin Huraiz of Sky News Arabia. The discussion will cover current regional challenges and their repercussions on the development of the Gulf and Arab region.

Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, will speak at a session titled Tech Updates in Media.

In a dialogue session, Abdul Rahman Al-Mutairi, Minister of Information and Culture of Kuwait, will speak about media development in the country in light of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Informations digital transformation strategy.

Global industry leaders participating in the discussions at the Arab Media Forum include Pavel Durov, Founder of Telegram and VKontakte, two of the worlds most popular social media apps.

Dr Maitha Buhumaid, Director of the Dubai Press Club, said the events will feature over 110 main, dialogue and closed sessions and workshops as well as 40 side events.

It is expected to bring together more than 4,000 participants, including 200 from outside the UAE, the events feature over 250 speakers and 200 prominent media figures.

Buhumaid revealed that the Arab Media Forum will see the launch of several new media initiatives aimed at serving youth at both Arab and local levels. These include specialised reports on new media trends and a new programme dedicated to a creative sector in the industry.

The forum will also highlight the success stories of Arab women in senior positions in global media organisations, and delve into the complex world of disinformation and AI in media.
Expo Centre Sharjah (ECS) sought to enhance cooperation with the delegations representing the exhibition sector at the IMEX Frankfurt 2024, a world-leading exhibition for meetings and events industry, held at Congress Centre Messe Frankfurt, Germany, a report said.

At the event, attended by over 3,800 global decision-makers and 2,900 exhibitors from more than 150 countries, Expo Sharjah highlighted the facilitations and exceptional capabilities it offers to event organisers, focusing on the emirates advanced infrastructure, and how its agenda is packed with major exhibitions and events across various sectors, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.

Headed by Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, ECSs delegation engaged in a series of business meetings with senior representatives of top event management companies on the sidelines of the IMEX Frankfurt 2024 exhibition.

ECSs delegation also engaged in discussions with industry leaders, exploring avenues for enhancing joint cooperation in organising and hosting specialised events and exhibitions.

Discussions also delved into the potential participation in the ECSs year-round agenda of exhibitions and events, through which Expo Sharjah underscores its commitment to further developing their premier capabilities in the event management industry.

Al Midfa noted that the ECSs active engagement in such important events provides valuable opportunities to learn about the latest trends in the exhibition industry, explore its new technologies and innovative practices, and foster potential partnerships with other event management centres.

He affirmed that Expo Sharjahs participation in IMEX Frankfurt aligns with the centres strategic mission and objective to attract more international events to the emirate of Sharjah and strengthen collaboration with top-tier companies in the exhibition sector.
Vladimir Putin's military forces are "completely bogged down" in the battle for Kharkiv, the Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief said Thursday, as his country works to beat back the latest Russian incursion on their northeastern border.

"After the first minor successes in the course of offensive battles in Kharkiv Oblast, the enemy was completely bogged down in street battles for Volchansk and suffered very high losses in the personnel of the assault units," Oleksandr Syrskyi wrote on social media.

"Currently, the enemy is transferring reserves from various directions, trying to support active assault operations, but without success."

Moscow's ground assault marked one of the biggest losses of territory for Ukraine since the outbreak of total war in 2022. Ukrainian soldiers are reportedly overwhelmed and stretched thin across the 620 mile front line, while Russian soldiers continue to bombard their troops.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Ukraine's allies to provide more aid on Thursday, after Russia fired 15 missiles at Kharkiv, killing seven people inside a printing house.

"This weakness is not our weakness, but that of the world's, which for the third year already has not dared to deal with the terrorists exactly as they deserve," he wrote on social media.

This sentiment was also shared by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who criticized allies that have Patriot missile systems but won't lend them to Ukraine.

"No naming and shaming, but I once again urge countries that have 'Patriots' to speed up decisions and provide these systems to Ukraine. I believe that seven 'Patriot' systems are not a high price to pay for long-term peace in Europe," he wrote.

"Unfortunately, mere words of solidarity do not intercept Russian missiles."
Hong Kong (HK) has been assigned a strategic role in international legal and dispute resolution services under important national development plans of China, a top law official said at a Dubai forum, aimed at promoting the Special Administrative Regions services in the area.

Paul Lam Ting-kwok, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said that Hong Kong has very often been described as a super connector and a super value-adder between China and countries outside China, highlighting its comprehensive professional legal services and its strengths in the rule of law, at the forum titled, Hong Kong  The Common Law Gateway for UAE Businesses to China and Beyond.

The forum organised by the Department of Justice, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai, and co-organised by the Dubai Chambers, attracted more than 300 participants from the legal, business and other sectors of the UAE.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the UAE, Zhang Yiming; and the President and CEO of the Dubai Chambers, Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, also addressed the forum.

Paul Lam also held a meeting with Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, the Minister of Justice of the UAE, and discussed issues of mutual interests and explored opportunities to foster legal collaboration between the two places during the event.

The UAE and China have a very strong history of friendship, dating back to the days of the ancient Silk Road. The modern Silk Road is under construction between the two countries. And in this very important construction work, Hong Kong plays a very significant role.

Under the principle of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong enjoys many unique advantages and characteristics, one of which is our common law system. Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China, he said.

Paul Lam and his delegation is currently on a Middle East visit covering Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE aimed to promote Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution services and enhance co-operation and exchanges between the two places.

The 30-member delegation comprises representatives from the Law Society of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Invest Hong Kong and related sectors.

Hong Kong is a gateway, which serves as a platform that can take you from your country to China. We can ensure that you will have fast, convenient and safe access to China. our legal system and our legal services can provide or act as a one-stop shop.

We are ready, willing and able to provide top-quality, user-friendly and reliable legal services to enable you to explore business and investment opportunities, not just in Hong Kong, but in China as a whole.

At a plenary session titled "Hong Kong as an International Legal and Dispute Resolution Hub: A One-Stop-Shop for your Business Expedition", the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Chan Chak-ming, discussed the ease of setting up a company and re-domiciliation of foreign companies in Hong Kong, featuring the city's high quality legal services.

The Head of Listing of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Katherine Ng, talked about the growth and maturity of a company, including topics on raising capital and the opportunities in the mainland.

Chairperson of the Hong Kong Mediation Council, Dr Christopher To, spoke on resolving legal disputes in Hong Kong through a wide spectrum of legal and alternative dispute resolution services the city provides.

Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Victor Dawes, SC, discussed the corporate restructuring means available for a company in Hong Kong and related issues.  TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), the current majority shareholder of 84% of the ordinary shares in Adnoc Drilling, announced today (May 22) its intention to offer approximately 880 million ordinary shares corresponding to 5.5% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Adnoc Drilling through a bookbuild offering to certain eligible institutional investors in reliance on Rule 144A and Regulation S of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the US Securities Act).

The Offering is open only to professional investors as defined by the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and will not be available to the public in the UAE or any other jurisdiction.

The bookbuilding period for the Offering will commence immediately and is expected to close tomorrow, subject to acceleration. The final number of shares to be placed and the offering price will be determined at the close of the bookbuild process, reported Wam.

The final terms of the Offering are expected to be announced following the completion of the book-building process for the Offering.

The IPO will consist exclusively of shares held by Adnoc and allows it to sell a further stake in Adnoc Drilling to enhance liquidity and trading in the drilling units ordinary shares and diversify its shareholder base.

A higher free float is also expected to provide a pathway towards inclusion in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Emerging Market Index, which may take place at the next quarterly review subject to Adnoc Drilling meeting all the relevant inclusion criteria.

MSCI inclusion of Adnoc Drilling would contribute to the diversification of the Companys investor base and significantly broaden awareness of its unique value proposition.

Adnoc Group Chief Financial Officer Khaled Al Zaabi said: Since its IPO in October 2021, Adnoc Drilling has delivered exceptional growth and superior shareholder returns including a recent dividend policy upgrade."

"It is poised for further growth as it unlocks the UAE's world-class unconventional energy resources and utilises innovative technologies through its OFS technology joint venture platform Enersol,"

stated Al Zaabi.

"As a committed, long-term majority shareholder, this offering aligns with Adnoc's strategic objectives to enhance the liquidity and free float of Adnoc Drilling, diversify its shareholder base and supports value creation. Securing MSCI emerging market index inclusion also underscores Adnoc's role as a key catalyst and critical enabler of the Abu Dhabi financial market, he added.

The sale supports Adnocs commitment to further strengthen the Abu Dhabi equity capital market while creating sustainable value for shareholders across its listed portfolio. Shares in Adnoc Drilling held by Adnoc which are not sold in the Offering will be subject to a lock-up period of six months from the settlement date.

EFG Hermes UAE Limited (acting in conjunction with EFG Hermes UAE), First Abu Dhabi Bank, Goldman Sachs International and JP Morgan Securities are acting as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners for the Offering.
In 2023, carbon pricing revenues reached a record $104 billion, according to the World Banks annual State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2024 report released today (May 22).

There are now 75 carbon pricing instruments in operation worldwide. Over half of the collected revenue was used to fund climate and nature-related programs.

Carbon pricing can be one of the most powerful tools to help countries reduce emissions. Thats why it is good to see these instruments expand to new sectors, become more adaptable and complement other measures, said Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Senior Managing Director.

This report can help expand the knowledge base for policymakers to understand what is working and why both coverage and pricing need to go up for emissions to go down, he stated.

The World Bank has been tracking carbon markets for around two decades and this is its eleventh annual carbon pricing report.

When the first report was released, carbon taxes and Emission Trading Systems (ETS) covered only 7% of the worlds emissions. According to the 2024 report, 24% of global emissions are now covered.

Report findings show large middle-income countries including Brazil, India, Chile, Colombia, and Turkiye are making strides in carbon pricing implementation.

While traditional sectors like power and industry continue to dominate, carbon pricing is increasingly being considered in new sectors such as aviation, shipping and waste. The EUs Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, currently in a transitional phase, is also encouraging governments to consider carbon pricing for sectors such iron and steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, and electricity.

Governments are also increasingly using carbon crediting frameworks to attract more finance through voluntary carbon markets and facilitate participation in international compliance markets.

Despite record revenues and growth, global carbon price coverage and levels remain too low to meet the Paris Agreement goals.

Currently, less than 1% of global greenhouse emissions are covered by a direct carbon price at or above the range recommended by the High-level Commission on Carbon Prices to limit temperature rise to well below 2C. The report notes that closing the implementation gap between countries climate commitments and policies will require much greater political commitment.-TradeArabia News Service
Qatar said it will host the 51st UN Tourism Regional Commission Conference for the Middle East, with a high-level delegation from Qatar Tourism participating in the 50th edition, which is underway in Muscat, Oman from May 22-24.

The choice of Doha as the host for the next conference is a testament to Qatars position as a regional and global hub for cultural, economic and political exchange, a statement said.

It solidifies the tourism sectors integral contribution in sustainable economic development and the role it played in enhancing cooperation between countries and fostering international relations, it added.

Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism, is leading the delegation that has expressed its interest in sharing its expertise and experience with launching the Hayya platform, a portal for travellers to Qatar, with hopes of ultimately applying it within the region.

He also held discussions with Secretary-General of the United Nations Tourism Organization, Zurab Pololikashvili, on launching the second edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards in partnership with the United Nations World Tourism Organization to honour those who contributed to providing unique experience and service excellence to Qatars visitors.

They explored collaborations in developing innovative ideas mainly within the digital and AI realms.

The UN Tourism Regional Commission Conference for the Middle East looked at ways to enhance the cooperation and integration within the tourism sector among the participating countries at the Arab and regional levels.

The importance of integration between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and the unified tourist visa scheduled to be in effect at the end of this year was highlighted, underscoring its contribution in supporting sustainable and comprehensive economic development.

Discussions were had on tourism investments and financing methods, during which Qatars investment environment for local and foreign investors was highlighted.

Qatar Tourism is planning to discuss several vital topics during the panel session, on the side lines of the conference titled, Stimulating tourism investment through cross-sector partnerships.  TradeArabia News Service
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Facilitation Global Summit 2024 (May 22) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saw 500 aviation leaders in attendance, and featured 30 speakers who explored key issues of international air transport, and the challenges facing the sector.

The summit was part of a festival of aviation in the kingdom headlined by the Future Aviation Forum, which was attended by more than 8,500 people, including 31 ministers and more than 77 heads of civil aviation regulatory bodies.

The summit explored processes to improve the prevention and management of public health risks in aviation and to build resilience for outbreaks in the future.

General Authority of Civil Aviation President, Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, said: Riyadh's selection to host the ICAO Facilitation Summit recognised the kingdom's outstanding contributions to the international aviation community. This summit provided a valuable platform to share Saudi initiatives enhancing the passenger experience.  TradeArabia News Service
First Citizens has announced its continued sponsorship of the National Secondary Schools Entrepreneurship Competition (NSSEC).

It is an initiative aimed at fostering innovation, leadership, and business acumen among young students outside the traditional school system, the bank said in a media release yesterday.
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.
Zambian president reaffirms commitment to strengthening cooperation with China

Xinhua) 10:24, May 23, 2024

LUSAKA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Wednesday reaffirmed his government's commitment to enhancing cooperation with China.

During a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Du Xiaohui, Hichilema commended China for its support, including assistance with debt restructuring, efforts to combat the COVID-19 epidemic, and aid during the recent cholera outbreak.

Du highlighted the fruitful results of the bilateral cooperation, noting the completion of significant facilities built by China and the high volume of two-way investment and trade.

"We have witnessed the completion of significant facilities built by China, and the volume of two-way investment and trade is at a high level. I am confident that our cooperation will yield even greater results, leading to higher quality development," he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
A traveling Australian mother of five is facing execution by bullet to the heart after Taiwanese cops found drugs in her luggage at the Taoyuan International Airport in December.

Debbie Voulgaris, 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after the drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her bags.

Taiwanese police claim Voulgaris was caught with 15 pounds of the drug, which she immediately and "vehemently denied" having any knowledge of, according to The Daily Mail.

She later told authorities her ex-husband, John, was behind the scheme.

Leon Huang, a lawyer representing Voulgaris, said it was "essential" that her ex take the stand, as he was the only person who could confirm her story.

Despite numerous repeal attempts, capital punishment remains legal under Taiwan's strict legal system.

Although Taiwan has considered other methods of execution, including lethal injection, executions are still carried out today using a handgun.

Prisoners sentenced to death are first sedated and put face down on a mattress before being shot three times through the heart.

Should the prisoner opt to donate their internal organs, execution is then administered with a single bullet shot to the back of the head.

Even if the mother is spared the death penalty, she still faces a minimum of five years behind bars or is looking at life in prison.

Voulgaris was allegedly handed the category-one drugs in Malaysia around December 10 before she flew to Taiwan, ABC reported.

She was allegedly paid $1,800 to transport the drugs, in addition to her accommodation and travel costs.

The drugs hold a street value of about $1.24 million, said Chen Pochuan, captain of Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Brigade.

Furthermore, officers had been sent to her hotel to see if anyone had come to collect the drugs; however, no one ever did.

Since her arrest, she has been detained in a Taiwanese prison.

Huang told The Daily Mail that his client was a "good-natured person" who had too easily believed people who used her as a drug mule.

"She had no idea what was placed inside and under her luggage, because there is a hidden compartment, and she wasn't aware of that," he added.

Because she admitted guilt earlier on while still maintaining she had no idea of the drugs, she may potentially avoid the death penalty.

Taoyuan District Prosecutors alleged Voulgaris was part of a 'drug transport syndicate' in documents submitted to a Taiwanese court.

Her statements have been inconsistent," the documents read.

"Notably, the defendant claimed that the co-conspirator, John, who instructed her to bring category one narcotics to Taiwan, is her ex-husband, indicating a close relationship," it continued.

The defendant and her lawyer have requested that John be summoned to testify during the preparatory proceedings.

John's exact whereabouts remain unclear.
medical emergency: A witness in a murder trial is taken by EHS personnel to an ambulance from the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain to a health institution yesterday after she overdosed on medication while waiting to testify.
Its sad. Its hurts me. Although she was not born in Arima, or from Arima, her heart was f
We didnt see it on the local news last week, but there was a meeting of veteran crime-fighters in Oro Valley.

Brigid Quinn was there. So was Kate Fox. Nora Abbott, too.

True, all three of these literary gumshoes are fictional, but they were very much at the table when their creators  Tucson authors Shannon Baker and Becky Masterman  convened over coffee to catch up.

The two writers have been meeting regularly since 2016, when they met at a local book sale.

In the years since, they have published a total of 19 mysteries, and by now they know their characters as well as they know themselves.

We try not to talk about them, but we always do one way or another, Baker confessed.

It can be said Baker and Masterman write killer books, both literally and figuratively, so it is interesting to learn the two authors met in a church.

We were at a holiday book thing, Baker recalled, happily. After wed both signed our books, we visited for a while, and she was this delightful woman  quiet, understated, elegant, classy. So I bought her book and took it home and later, as Im reading it, Im thinking Holy Cow! That nice woman wrote this? We need to talk!

The book was Rage Against the Dying, Mastermans first. I had three serial killers in that one, Masterman laughed. I pulled out all the stops.

Their first attempt at a casual get-together did not go well  I went to one Mimis Restaurant, she went to the other, Baker said  but theyve been doing better in the years since.

They typically meet over lunch every couple of months. Especially when they are joined by Anne Hillerman, who moved to Tucson two years ago, this becomes the most potent writing group in town.

Honestly, were more of a writer group than a writing group, Masterman said. We dont workshop each others drafts or anything. We talk about books, and the book business. We might, every now and then, talk about other authors. Its just nice being around people who really understand what I do, who have the same kind of challenges I do.

Masterman began pondering a career as an author 20 years ago, while working with CRC Press in Boca Raton, Florida. CRC publishes books and other materials about science, engineering and mathematics.

They acquired a forensic science line about the time of the O.J. Simpson trial, she recalled, and forensic scientists became superstars. I was the marketing person that Marcia Clark would call to order books. Reporters would call. I would connect them to our scientists, and answer any questions they might have. I spent way too much time thinking about how people might die.

Such knowledge can come in handy when writing mysteries. In Rage Against the Dying, her first Brigid Quinn book, a man dies after an intravenous dose of  vodka.

At the time I started thinking about that book, I could call the pre-eminent forensic toxicologist in the world and say, Steve, can you kill a person with intravenous vodka? He actually said no, it would hurt too much, but I found three cases where it happened  so I used it anyway.

Mastermans most recent book, a stand-alone mystery called Maternal Instinct, was released six months ago. The fourth installment of the Brigid Quinn series, Her Prodigal Husband, will be available in January.

The sandhills of north-central Nebraska formed the setting for Bakers early work.

Picture the Sahara Desert covered with grass, she suggested. Its a perfect place to raise cattle. I was newly married and miserable, on a ranch 30 miles from a town of 300 people. I had to leave it or learn to love it, so I stayed and started to write about it.

A Mothers Day essay about her grandmother won an award from Guidepost, and a weeklong workshop on Long Island convinced Baker to get serious about writing.

After a while, I decided I wanted to be a novelist, book club fiction, Baker said. But I wanted to be published, too, and an editor told me my book might sell better if Id get some crime into it.

In Tainted Mountain, her first Nora Abbot book, she certainly did that. The story evolves after Noras womanizing husband is found dead.

Interestingly, the Nora Abbott series was set in Arizona. Most of Bakers books since moving to here have featured Kate Fox, a sheriff in Nebraska. The ninth installment in the series, Bulls Eye, was published in January. The 10th, Close Range, will debut in November.

Like Masterman, Baker spends an inordinate amount of time thinking dark thoughts.

I write crime fiction, she explained. Its always a challenge not to kill somebody.

Predictably, the two Tucson authors talk about these things.

Last week, Baker asked Masterman if she had ever considered how wrenching it must be to actually kill someone.

I dream about it! Masterman replied. Not every night, but I have dreams where Ive killed someone and I spend the rest of the night thinking how awful my lifes going to be. Should I run? Should I turn myself in? What was I thinking? Then, when I wake up, its wonderful. I didnt kill anyone after all. I just wish I could remember how I did it so I could write it down.

FOOTNOTES

Summer hours are now in effect at the University of Arizona Poetry Center, 1508 E. Helen St. The library is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday until classes resume in August. Learn more at poetry.arizona.edu.
A drone image of a battery installation owned by Key Capture Energy in West Columbia. Companies are becoming more interested in building battery storage projects in the Houston region. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Oil refineries are a common sight across the Houston area, and in recent years, so too are solar panels. Now, a new type of energy infrastructure is popping up around the region: battery energy storage systems.

When built to feed into the power grid, these projects typically feature an array of trailer-like units on a fairly small plot of land and are not particularly eye-catching. Theyre quiet and dont release pollutants, making them good neighbors to nearby landowners, developers say.

As awareness of the technology grows, however, opposition has too. The risk of battery storage fires has galvanized some residents against new projects, despite assurances from developers and industry groups that battery failures are rare.

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Why has battery storage taken off in Texas, and why are companies especially interested in building projects in the Houston region?

Texas battery boom

Lithium ion batteries, which are also used in electric vehicles, laptops, cell phones and many other home electronics, are at the heart of most grid-scale batteries. Lithium ion battery costs have plummeted since the mid-2010s, making its usage cost-effective for energy storage.

Battery storage proliferated first in climate-conscious California, still the state with the most installed capacity, buoyed by lawmaker mandates that utilities procure energy storage and the California grids abundance of solar power.

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But Texas could for the first time become the nations fastest-growing energy storage market this year. Batteries with the capacity to store about 6,300 megawatts are installed on the Texas grid, enough to power nearly 1.3 million homes on the hottest summer days. Meanwhile, 141 gigawatts of battery storage projects have applied to potentially connect to the grid operated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas by 2030.

Developers are drawn to Texas because land is cheap and plentiful, and project permitting and applying to connect to the grid takes less time compared to other markets. With the rapid growth of solar power in the state, battery storage is being built to store excess solar-generated electricity for use when the sun isnt shining.

Power demand, too, is growing as more people and businesses move to Texas, adding stress to the already-strained power grid that batteries are well-suited and well-paid to provide backup power to ease. This stress also exacerbates volatility in Texas wholesale electricity market, which battery storage operators take advantage of by charging batteries when power prices are low and sending power back to the grid when prices spike, a practice known as arbitrage.

Texas is the arbitrage mecca, said Wes Fuller, head of sales for battery storage supplier Powin. People are chasing, theyre living for that volatility.

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Houston congestion

Houston is infamous for its congested highways. The same phenomenon exists on the regions power lines.

Thats because the region is one of the largest sources of power demand in Texas, yet located away from many resources that generate power. On any given day, CenterPoint Energy, the transmission and distribution utility for the Houston area, is importing about 60% of the electricity customers need. The imbalance can lead to congestion on transmission lines, when lines lack the capacity to move all the power produced to where its needed, resulting in regular spikes in wholesale power prices.

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That power demand is growing as more people move to Houston and surrounding suburbs. Utilities typically invest in expensive equipment upgrades to meet increasing demand; battery storage, however, can defer or circumvent the need for these upgrades altogether. By easing congestion and growing pains in the region, battery storage can lower wholesale electricity prices, savings that are eventually passed onto consumers, grid experts say.

When choosing sites in the region, developers look for proximity to existing transmission and substation infrastructure to minimize power losses as the system sends power to the grid.
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An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper who was charged Monday with sexual assault during a traffic stop has prior documented disciplinary findings of similar inappropriate behaviors dating back nearly two decades with the agency.

The OHP said in a statement that Jackie Lee Rhineharts employment was terminated Tuesday following the latest internal investigation. Rhinehart, 52, was charged a day earlier in Craig County District Court with forcible oral sodomy and sexual battery against a woman he reportedly pulled over for speeding in a tractor-trailer overnight on March 7.

Rhinehart is accused of forcing the driver to perform oral sex on him  first turning off his cruisers camera  on the side of a highway after issuing her a warning in lieu of a citation. According to his arrest affidavit, the alleged act was shielded from view by the tractor-trailer rig.

The woman is described as a 58-year-old Hispanic woman whose primary language is Spanish but who can speak broken English.

The Highway Patrol said the incident was discovered by a supervisor on March 13 during a routine check of dash-camera video that found unusual interactions with the truck driver. The highly questionable behavior by Rhinehart reportedly prompted the OHPs investigation and the agencys contact with the woman.

OHP disciplinary documents indicate that Rhinehart received informal discipline in 2005 for stopping his in-car video camera after having a motorist sit inside with him, according to the records OHP provided to the Tulsa World in 2020 in response to an open records request.

The OHP handed Rhinehart a 15-workday suspension in March 2016 amid an internal investigation into allegations of unwanted sexual advances and sexually inappropriate comments involving three female employees of the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Department of Public Safety.

Gary James, Oklahoma State Troopers Association attorney, said in a phone interview with the Tulsa World that the discipline given to Rhinehart in the 2016 case was overturned on appeal under the Oklahoma Merit Protection Commission.

Rhineharts 2016 discipline letter noted that he:

in 2012 received suspension without pay for making inappropriate sexual comments to a female motorist while she sat alone with him in his patrol unit;

in 2011 admitted to internal investigators that he had flirted with women during traffic stops prior to the incident for which he was disciplined in 2012; and

in 2005 received informal discipline for deliberately stopping his in-car video camera after he had a motorist sit in his patrol vehicle  despite a previous warning to record entire traffic stops.

During the 2011 internal investigation, you admitted you had flirted with women on traffic stops in the past, the 2016 disciplinary letter to Rhinehart states. These two investigations, the one in 2011, and this most recent investigation, reveal a repeated pattern of inappropriate conduct towards women, and your attempts to avoid detection of your misconduct.

Prior to the alleged crimes March 7 on Interstate 44  the Will Rogers Turnpike  at the Big Cabin eastbound entrance ramp, Rhinehart had reportedly made nonverbal gestures that the truck driver interpreted as sexual advances to get her into the trucks sleeper compartment.

(The alleged victim) contemplated calling 911 but was afraid of the possible consequences from Rhinehart, according to the affidavit. (She) also contemplated surreptitiously recording the rest of her interactions with Rhinehart on her cell phone but again was afraid of the potential consequences.

James, however, said the truck driver reportedly requested that her company erase the trucks video footage when she was interviewed about the encounter several weeks later.

There is just a lot of circumstantial evidence that will be easily explained, James said.

The charging information alleges that Rhinehart either forced or threatened the woman to get her to perform oral sex on him while in his legal custody. The sexual battery charge stems from an allegation that the trooper also kissed the alleged victim.

Rhineharts actions are not in keeping with OHPs core values of honesty, loyalty, integrity, respect, self-discipline, and professionalism, Tim Tipton, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, wrote in a statement. As soon as we discovered the potential for criminal or unethical behavior, our agency took swift action.

Rhineharts behavior is deplorable and has no place within the organization. The public puts great trust in law enforcement and we strive every day to be deserving of that trust.

Assistant City Editor Anna Codutti contributed to this story.



Tulsa World is where your story lives
Vietnamese dairy producer TH Group on Tuesday began the construction of a cow farming and milk processing project with an estimated price tag of 19 billion rubles (US$209 million) in Russia.

The project includes a farm with 12,000 cows, including 6,000 dairy cows, a milk processing factory with a capacity of 250 metric tons per day, and a 13,000-hectare material area in Yakovlevsky District, Primorsky Krai, located in the Far East region of Russia.

This is an important milestone in TH Group's execution of dairy projects in Russia, following successes in Kaluga and Moscow, where THs farms and factories are considered key economic development projects.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Ngo Minh Hai, chairman of TH Group, said the group would reclaim 13,000 hectares of land in Primorsky Krai for its material area.

When the milk processing factory is put into operation by the end of 2027, its input materials will be sourced from this material area, forming a closed production chain which will apply advanced technologies and contribute to Primorsky's GDP growth, Hai added.

Besides farming cows and processing milk, TH Group will also grow alfalfa grass and soybeans for export.

Nguyen Dang Hien, Vietnamese Consul General in Vladivostok, speaks at the ground-breaking ceremony for the project.

Nguyen Dang Hien, Vietnamese Consul General in Vladivostok, the largest city and the administrative center of Primorsky Krai, expressed his belief in the projects future operations.

It will help bring practical economic value to both Vietnam and Russia and strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, the consul general said.

Meanwhile, Korenchuk Alexey Alexandrovich, chief of Yakovlevsky District, pinned high hopes on changes to the area after TH Groups project is put into operation.

He also showed surprise at TH Group farms average daily milk productivity of 40 liters per cow, higher than the 25-30 liters in Russia.

He thanked TH Group for implementing the project in Yakovlevsky, which will create many job opportunities for local people.

TH Group's project is the largest-ever in Primorsky Krai, Alexandrovich told media.

TH Group annually reclaims thousands of hectares of land in Russia.

TH Group has made Russias Far East region a priority in its project development.

After Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnevs official visit to Vietnam and working session with TH Group to introduce the regions potential in early 2017, TH Group sent a delegation of experts to survey potential areas in Primorsky Krai.

The Vietnamese dairy firm officially became a member of the Mikhailovsky Advanced Special Economic Zone in September 2017.

TH Group has faced multiple difficulties in Primorsky Krai due to the low-lying terrain and underdeveloped power, road, and gas systems.

Most of the regions agricultural land was flooded and abandoned for years given a shortage of canals and drainage systems.

However, the firm had received great support from local authorities, TH Group chairman Hai said.

TH Group is Vietnam's largest investor in Russias agriculture.

It has put into operation two farms with over 6,000 dairy cows and is developing another in Moscow and a dairy factory in Kaluga.

In 2023, trade turnover between Vietnam and the Far East region of Russia reached $257 million, of which Primorsky Krai accounted for about 65 percent or $167 million.

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Apple awarded global clean water organization Gravity Water a grant to bring safe, clean water to 131 schools in Hoa Binh Province, northern Vietnam in 2023, the U.S. tech giant said on Wednesday.

In particular, Apple sponsored Gravity Waters installation of an innovative rainwater harvesting system to provide teachers and students at these schools with a climate-resilient clean water source.

By connecting a large weatherproof water tank to a series of smart meters to monitor levels of groundwater use and what is collected from rainfall, Gravity Water is ensuring schools will have a reliable water source year-round.

The system is fully automated, relying on water level sensors to determine when to provide water  and from which source  to the schools kitchens, bathrooms, and dormitories where students shower and wash their clothes.

Gravity Water is also training school administrations on how to monitor the schools monthly water consumption.

Teachers can then take that monitoring a step further into their classrooms, modeling good water stewardship and hygiene practices in students daily lessons and nonacademic activities.

Phan Viet Dung, Gravity Waters project manager in Hoa Binh Province, said his organization had been installing five such systems per week and was excited to continue its work.

Transportation, the distance between the schools, and infrastructure were all different. Some schools faced a shortage of tools while the water supply was unstable in some others.

The team had to make sure that all schools involved in the project had access to water, regardless of the stability of their water supply.

According to Danny Wright, the founder and executive director of Gravity Water, the organization's philosophy is that rainwater has the ability to really shift the needle in water access for the people who need it most.

Rainwater harvesting is not new to Vietnam; its one of the worlds oldest technologies. Ive gone to schools that have bamboo pieces cut in half collecting water off of roofs into different tanks. We have a huge opportunity to scale our technology and impact in these rural communities.

According to Apple, the cooperation with Gravity Water is part of its strategy to deal with the lack of available water resources, and ensure water quality and the ability to access water in its supply chains.

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Read what is in the news in Vietnam today:

Politics

 Vietnam always treasures the comprehensive partnership with the Netherlands and sees the latter as its European friend, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutt in a phone call on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 Leaders of Laos, China, and Cambodia have extended their congratulations to To Lam on his election as State President of Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Society

 Before it rained, a tornado appeared and ripped through the waters off Van Hung Commune under Van Ninh District in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa, capsizing a fishing boat on Wednesday afternoon, said an official.

 British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Emily Hamblin on Wednesday announced an additional 40 million (US$54 million) to extend the Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA), a global technical assistance program funded by the UK government, until 2029 to support at least 800 low-carbon projects in 16 countries across Asia, Latin America, and Africa, including Vietnam.

 Competent forces have successfully deactivated a 340-kilogram bomb left over from wartime in the central province of Quang Binh, the Vietnam News Agency cited a local official as saying on Wednesday.

 Phu Quoc, an island city off Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam, expects to reopen a direct air route to India in order to boost tourism growth, Huynh Quang Hung, chairman of the local Peoples Committee told a reception for Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, on Wednesday.

Lifestyle

 Thua Thien-Hue Province in central Vietnam will organize the opening ceremony for the Hue Festival Week 2024 at Kien Trung Palace, part of the Hue Imperial City, on June 7, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center announced on Wednesday.

 Apple awarded global clean water organization Gravity Water a grant to bring safe, clean water to 131 schools in northern Vietnam in 2023, according to the U.S. tech giant.

World News

 A powerful tornado ripped through a small Iowa town on Tuesday, killing multiple people and leaving at least a dozen injured, Reuters reported, citing authorities.

 British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a national election on Wednesday for July 4, saying Britons would be able to choose their future in a vote his Conservatives are widely expected to lose to the opposition Labour Party after 14 years in power, according to Reuters.

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Vietnams Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended congratulations to Buddhists nationwide while attending the Vesak Day, or the 2,568th Lord Buddhas birthday anniversary, at Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi on Wednesday.

At the pagoda, the headquarters of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), PM Chinh met and congratulated leaders of VBS and joined the celebrations along with Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, and followers.

The Vesak Day, or Lord Buddha's birthday, is held on the full-moon day of the fourth lunar month of every year, which falls on May 22 this year.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, along with Buddhist dignitaries and others, offers incense at the Buddhas birthday anniversary at Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi on May 22, 2024. Photo: VGP

The government leader was accompanied by Pham Tat Thang, member of the Party Central Committee, standing deputy head of the Central Mass Mobilization Committee, Hoang Cong Thuy, deputy chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and other officials.

Among the VBS leaders were Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, deputy patriarch of the VBS Patronage Council and chairman of the VBS Executive Council, and Most Venerable Thich Thanh Dung, deputy patriarch and general secretary of the VBS Patronage Council, among others.

At the ceremony, PM Chinh extended the greetings of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, and followers nationwide on the 2024 Vesak Day.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with Buddhist dignitaries at the Buddhas Birthday anniversary at Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi on May 22, 2024. Photo: VGP

Vietnam is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic country, with 54 ethnic groups and many religions living together in communities, Chinh cited General Secretary Trong as saying.

Vietnams 2013 Constitution stipulates that everyone has the right to freedom of belief and religion, and has the right to follow any religion or to follow no religion."

The PM also repeated the Party chief's words: There is no religious or ethnic conflict in Vietnam, where everyone lives together in harmony for the goal of peace, cooperation, and development.

On behalf of the Party and state leaders and with his personal feelings, the PM respectfully sent his best regards to all leaders of the VBS, monks and nuns and Buddhists at home and abroad, and wished the Buddhas birthday to progress successfully.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with a member of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha at the Buddhas birthday anniversary at Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi on May 22, 2024. Photo: VGP

Highlighting that Buddhism was established to promote human well-being and foster happiness and peace for humanity, PM Chinh affirmed the Party and state's unwavering commitment to upholding the principle of freedom of belief and religion for all citizens.

He asked the VBS to promote great national unity under the leadership of the Party, and bring into play the spirit of religious solidarity, solidarity among people, and domestic and international solidarity.

The VBS should work to instill patriotism and a love for humanity among Buddhists and throughout society, while also encouraging a lifestyle that embraces being both good citizens and good Buddhists, the government chief said.

On behalf of the VBS, Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon thanked the leaders of the Party and state for their congratulations on Lord Buddha's birthday.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with Buddhist dignitaries at the Buddhas birthday anniversary at Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi on May 22, 2024. Photo: VGP

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh poses for a photo with Buddhist dignitaries at the Buddhas birthday anniversary at Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi on May 22, 2024. Photo: VGP

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As a champion of Rotarys effort to eradicate polio in the world, Ezra Teshome, an American, former governor of the Rotary and member of International Rotary, experienced an emotional trip in Vietnam, especially during a tearful visit to an orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City two days ago.

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change  across the globe, according to its website.

Rotary International, one of the largest service organizations in the world, and Kids Without Borders have met with orphans in Go Vap District, all with mental and/or physical challenges, to offer spiritual support and physical strength.

We visited a large Go Vap orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City, with 190 residents of mixed needs from regular orphaned, mildly disabled, and to our shock, extremely bedridden disabled kids," Teshome said.

It was a surprise that they were optimistic and happy, giving us a warm feeling. We interacted with many of those in the orphanage and helped serve meals and gifts at a birthday celebration."

Over the past several years, Teshome has traveled to many places, including Africa, to do charity, representing Rotary to work with Bill Gates and The Gates Foundation to end polio.

However, no places have impressed and touched him as deeply as Vietnam.

Perhaps, the images of children with cerebral palsy smiling at us [impressed me most about Vietnam]. We smiled at them too, but we still cried, Teshome shared of his trip to Vietnam.

We arrived in Ho Chi Minh City at midnight of May 20. A day later, we visited the orphanage to see first-hand the conditions of the children and the needs for caring for the children, especially severely-ill children to provide them with support in the near future."

Ezra Teshome (L, 2nd), an American, and other Rotary members pose for a photo with children at an orphanage in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam. Photo: Supplied

Network over the world

Rotary International has supported multiple projects in Vietnam, including providing clean water to rural remote villages, and offering healthcare services for very sick children, said Son Michael Pham, a member of Rotary International.

The organization has also provided support for children who are victims of Agent Orange, built schools in remote areas, donated wheelchairs to disabled people, awarded scholarships to poor students, and joined the fight against human trafficking.

Son Michael Pham, leader of a group of members from Rotary International and Kids Without Borders, takes a wefie with children at an orphanage in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam. Photo: Supplied

Rotary was officially established in Vietnam in 2022. Current Rotary clubs in Vietnam include Rotary Saigon, Rotary Saigon International, Rotary Da Nang, and Rotary Hanoi.

Sons group traveled from Seattle, Washington, USA to Hanoi on May 16.

In Hanoi, we met up with about 70 members from Rotary clubs in Hanoi, California, and Germany," Son stated.

We shared information about our past and future charity work in Vietnam and opportunities to collaborate. We also discussed potential projects in the country focusing on healthcare for the poor, and education for children in rural areas.

"Our team visited and delivered aid to an orphanage and the Care Center for Children with HIV in Hai Phong [a port city in northern Vietnam] on May 18.

Almost all members said that upon returning home, they would start involving their clubs in supporting projects in Vietnam.

Rotary members provide meals for an orphanage in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Huynh / Tuoi Tre

On Friday, the group will leave for Singapore, which will serve as this years venue for the annual Rotary International Convention.

An estimated 35,000 members representing clubs in more than 200 countries are expected to attend the event.

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A battery installation owned by Key Capture Energy in West Columbia. Though uncommon, battery storage facilities can overheat and catch on fire or explode. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

A growing trend could slow the explosive growth of battery energy storage systems across Texas: residents fear of fires and explosions.

Though rare, battery storage facilities can overheat and catch on fire or explode. No battery storage failures have been reported in Texas, according to data from the Electric Power Research Institute, an energy research and development nonprofit, though incidents have occurred in New York, Arizona, California, Washington and Oregon.

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What is the risk of battery fires?

EPRIs database, which tracks incidents that were reported in the media, has recorded approximately 10 to 15 battery storage failures globally every year since 2018, with the exception of only four in 2020. In that same time period, global deployment of battery storage energy systems has increased twenty-fold, leading to the rate of failure dropping 97%, according to Lakshmi Srinivasan, EPRIs principal team lead for energy storage.

For context, there were more than 1,000 operational grid-scale battery storage projects operating globally as of September 2023, according to the Department of Energy's global energy storage database. There were around 420 utility-scale battery storage projects in the United States at the end of 2022, according to the Energy Information Administration, the DOEs data analysis arm. Developers plan to begin operating more than 300 more utility-scale battery storage projects in the United States by 2025, with around 50% of those planned for Texas, according to the EIA.

What causes battery storage fires?

Battery storage failures are caused by what is known as thermal runaway, when an issue leads to overheating inside a battery cell. There are various causes for thermal runaway, such as a battery cell being dropped or crushed, overcharged, charged too rapidly or charged at too high voltage, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

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Once a battery cell goes into thermal runaway, it is hard to contain the temperature rise, which can spread from cell to cell, said Karen Vilas, president of Fortress Protective Buildings, a subsidiary of risk management consulting firm BakerRisk.

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How dangerous are battery storage fires?

Damaged battery cells can release gases, which are primarily flammable, though there are also smaller quantities which may be considered toxic in high concentrations, EPRI energy storage researcher Stephanie Shaw said. If these gases dont ignite, they could build up inside the system and create an explosive atmosphere, according to the NFPA.

When fires do occur, they emit fumes with an average level of toxicity similar to that of plastics fires from burning sofas, mattresses or office furniture, according to the American Clean Power Association, an industry group for clean energy companies.

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Battery fires can be hard to put out, Vilas said. The battery storage industry initially focused on extinguishing fires as quickly as possible but changed tack after a 2019 Arizona explosion seriously injured four firefighters. Since then, accepted best practice is to contain fires when they occur and let it burn out, which consumes any flammable gases to prevent explosions and reignition, according to ACPA. These fires have been documented to last from hours to days.

How do battery storage operators prevent and respond to fires?

Since the first wave of battery storage development in 2018, three codes and standards have emerged as industry best practices for battery storage construction, fire prevention and emergency response. These are NFPA 855, UL 9540 and UL 9540A.

These standards require developers to include spacing between modules to reduce the likelihood of a chain reaction, have adequate ventilation so gases cant build up and to constantly monitor systems to ensure proper temperatures, voltage and other metrics. If any battery cell shows a fault, it should be disconnected and removed from the system immediately, according to Murtaza Gandhi, manager of BakerRisks low carbon energy team.

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Battery storage operators need to install a sprinkler system, as water is the most effective medium for cooling a battery fire, according to NFPA. Standards also compel operators to develop emergency response plans in collaboration with local first responders.

Can battery storage be safely located near homes and businesses?

Brian Yarbrough, head of development at Stella Energy Solutions, a battery storage developer that applied to build a project in League City, said companies want to build close to where energy is consumed, and thus, where batteries can be most effective in alleviating grid strain.

We put gas stations near residential areas. Theres chances for safety concerns with nearly every development near a residential area, Yarbrough said.

More from Claire Hao: Nearly 9 in 10 Houstonians want the city to lead the world's energy transition, Rice survey finds

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BakerRisks Vilas said where battery storage should be located depends on how much risk communities are willing to accept.
Phu Quoc, an island off Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam, hopes to reopen a direct air route to India in order to boost tourism growth, Huynh Quang Hung, chairman of the Phu Quoc City Peoples Committee told a reception for Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, on Wednesday.

According to Hung, Indian tourists are interested in visiting Phu Quoc Island to explore and relax, and several Indian couples have picked the island as their wedding venues.

There was a nonstop air service between India and Phu Quoc Island in the past, but its operation was suspended. [Phu Quoc] hopes to relaunch that link to foster tourism growth of the two sides, he stated.

Phu Quoc will create favorable conditions for Indian citizens to arrive on the island to travel, work, and live."

Phu Quoc City welcomed an estimated 32,800 Indian tourists in 2023, according to the local administration.

Since the start of 2024, the city has served nearly 12,000 visitors from India.

Consul General of India in Ho Chi Minh City Sethi hoped that through his meeting with officials from the Phu Quoc City Peoples Committee, tourism cooperation between Phu Quoc and India would be enhanced.

India desires to collaborate with Phu Quoc to host cultural events and an international yoga festival on the island in June in a bid to contribute to spurring tourism and cementing bilateral ties, Sethi presented his proposal.

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Four Corners on Monday screens a PBS Frontline / New York Times report Boeings Fatal Flaw.

New, tough questions are being asked about Boeings 737 Max, the fastest-selling jet in the iconic companys history.

After being involved in two crashes that killed 346 people, the troubled commercial aeroplane was forced to make an emergency landing this year after a door plug blew out and a passenger was nearly sucked out of it.

This special update to an award-winning investigation from PBS Frontline and The New York Times investigates the planes commercial pressures, flawed design and failed oversight.

8.30pm Monday 27 May 2024 on ABC.




Actor Robyn Malcolm, who co-created acclaimed drama After the Party with writer Dianne Taylor admits it was a steep learning curve moving into an executive producer role for the NZ drama.

At one point the production cycle went from coasting along to hectic.

You swim around in that lovely calm lake of development where nobody has to do much except just think and ponder, write and rewrite. Then a network gives you the green light and says And we want it by this date. The brakes are off and everyone just goes hell for leather. Suddenly we were starting shooting and we didnt have any episode six! Malcolm reveals.

It felt very fast at the end. But I think thats pretty standard. Im kind of new to this development side of things. But my understanding from being an actor is that theres never a moment where you dont panic.

One of the early advocates for the series was NZ-born producer Helen Bowden, one half of Australias Lingo Pictures, which ultimately co-produced the series.

Helen had been a friend of mine. Wed done a show called Wake in Fright, but I also knew her around the Kiwi traps, Malcolm continues.

But I was unsure what we should do with script and I rang Helen and I said, I just want to pick your brains. By the time we got to the end of the conversation, she said, How come youre asking me for advice, but youre not sending me the script?

And I and I said, Oh, do you want to read it?

At that stage Di and I didnt really know whether we had anything or it was just a big pile of poop. I sent the first couple of scripts to Helen when she was in LA and she said she rang me immediately and said, Dont show this to anybody else. Im jumping on a plane and Ive coming to New Zealand.'

After The Party continues 8:30pm Sunday on ABC, all episodes on iview.
Anushka Kogta and Namya Jain, TwoCircles.net

New Delhi: This work not only supports our family but also sustains the entire Uttar Pradesh, claimed 52-year-old Rashida Parveen, who has been working in Moradabads brass industry since her early teens.

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Popularly known as Pital Nagri (Brass City), the western Uttar Pradesh district is famous for its brass handicrafts industry. It is home to thousands of workers who keep the industry 9alive and thriving.

However, over the years, the market has experienced several changes that have impacted the industry. Despite challenges, two women are striving to sustain and revive the artform, aiming to bring better days not only for themselves but also for other women co-workers.

Having completed her bachelors in education and a training diploma in Natakashi (brass work), Rashida began learning the art of carving and sketching in her childhood. Brass handicrafts have been practiced in my family for generations. Over the years, I realized that the work does neither make your hands nor your clothes dirty. What is required to become a good artisan is dedication and hard work, she said.

Her sister, Saiyyada Parveen, started working at the age of 10 and has been doing so for the last 44 years. For both sisters, it was their father who sparked their interest in this field. My father, Abdul Hamim, encouraged me to take up this work. When he went to offer namaz (prayer), I would carve wood, hammer metals and learn the craft of carving in his absence. I once carved a peacock out of wood, which made him very happy. I began with sparing little time for it, but later, with dedication, I became skilled enough to receive a state award, says Saiyyada.

When I came home from school, I would observe my father carefully. He used to draw with his pen, and I would use a pencil. My brother, who has received a national award twice, also encouraged me. He helped me with drawing and scaling, which further improved my skills, she stated.

In addition to working at home, the two sisters also empower young girls and women. We travel 16 kilometers every day to impart training to 250 children. After returning home in the evening, we give training to another batch of children and women here, especially those who work as domestic help. Many of them are now skilled artisans, who are earning a dignified living, she claimed.

They train women without any distinction of religion or castes. We impart training to girls belonging to different religions and castes, said Saiyyada, emphasizing that this routine continues from morning to evening.

Rashida and Saiyyada have been helping women learn the art since 2002. It was started after the Central as well as the state government sponsored him under the Training and Extension Scheme. While he began training men, we (the two sisters) worked with women, explained Rashida.

However, as the number of artisans decreased, the training programme faced setbacks. There are many mistakes in the artisans cards, which are issued by the department of handicrafts through its local offices in Kanpur and Bareilly. Only those with artisan cards could participate in the training. Since 2012, I have been going to the offices concerned to get the issue resolved, said Saiyyada.

However, change in policies adversely impacted the quality of training. As a result, with the basic training and little support, it is impossible for women artisans to sustain in this industry for a long time.

It is very similar to how a child progresses from nursery to higher education. Similarly, the women have learned only the basics of the artform, they have not been able to master it yet, said Rashida, noting the lack of growth opportunities.

She further added that the government-sponsored training has now come to a halt due to the suspension of the scheme. As a result, the artform is facing the threat of gradual extinction, she said.

Azam Ansari, a member of Moradabads Brass Manufacturers Association, explained the National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP), which aims to support handicrafts clusters and artisans by providing essential resources and infrastructure to cater to the target market. In 2012, the NHDP budget stood at Rs 1,500 crore, but it has now been reduced to Rs 500 crore. This budget cut has affected the training programme, stated Ansari.

To address these problems, Rashida and Saiyyada established an NGO in 2018 to help women become skilled artisans. Gradually, women of all ages and from various walks of life got associated with it.

We surveyed the women around us, understood their situations and made efforts to introduce them to the art form. They include widows who lost their husbands to COVID-19. We picked up their young children and the women who work as domestic help and began training them so that they become self-reliant, said Saiyyada.

This initiative not only helped them become financially independent but also enabled them to receive a stipend of Rs 5,000 every month from the government. We guided them to make good use of the financial assistance, she said.

These efforts earned Rashida an honour from the state government. In 2022, she received a trophy and a prize of Rs 25,000. In the first attempt, when I applied for the award, my application form was rejected. My family encouraged me to try again, and in 2022, I was finally shortlisted, said Rashida, enthusiastically adding that to achieve something big in life, you have to compete with others.

I received the award from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He draped a shawl over me. I am happy that my art is reaching people, Saiyyada said with a big smile on her face.

We have mastered the craft, and we want more women to learn it and become skilled and advanced. When this happens, it will inspire and motivate others as well, she added.

Rashida urged the government to formulate more schemes to help young children and women become self-reliant and empowered. A college is proposed to be established here to make youngsters certified artisans, and I am glad to share with you that I have been selected as a teacher there. We faced difficulties but it only made us committed to pursue a career in this field, said Rashida.

What started as a small initiative has transformed the once hopeless lives of hundreds of women into a promising future, she remarked and added, We find joy in supporting and teaching others. Helping others brings blessings.
By Christoph Steitz and Joseph White

MUNICH (Reuters) -Europe's car giants won't have much time to restructure their operations and product lines to compete with ascendant Chinese automakers, and stiffer tariffs will do little to protect the status quo, industry executives said during a Reuters event.

European trade regulators in Brussels have said they could levy new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles based on the results of an investigation into Chinese government subsidies.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said that Europe would take a "tailored approach" to its investigation and any potential duties imposed will be "correspondent to the level of damage". It will inform those Chinese EV makers incurring provisional tariffs by June 5.

But industry executives said that Brussels cannot prevent the reckoning that China's lower cost EVs will force on European automakers and their traditional suppliers.

Chinese carmakers, which command a 30% or more cost edge over European rivals, took 19% of Europe's EV market last year, up from 16% in 2022, according to the Rhodium Group.

"And the window is closing. From my point of view, we have two or three years. If we are not fast...it will be really tough (for German industry) to survive," Thomas Schmall, a board member at Europe's top carmaker Volkswagen, said at the Reuters Events Automotive conference in Munich.

"Today, it is no longer size that guarantees survival, but speed," he told Reuters.

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said carmakers "don't have much time" to adjust their businesses and depended on the removal of "regulatory chaos and the bureaucracies that we have in our backyard".

The surge in Chinese exports, and the prospect of Chinese factories within Europe, are forcing the continent's incumbent automakers to explore partnerships with long-time rivals, turn up pressure on suppliers to cut costs, and intensify discussions with European unions over the future of plants and jobs, executives said.

Some of these tactics are stumbling out of the gate.

Renault and VW last week pulled the plug on talks to develop lower-cost EVs over disagreements about where to make the car.

Europe's automakers are dealing with "a form of competitive asymmetry" not only with China but with U.S. clean vehicle subsidies, Renault CEO Luca de Meo told Reuters on the sidelines of the VivaTech summit in Paris. "In the end, the best thing you can do is be competitive."

Underscoring the scale of China's ambition overseas, founder of Chinese electric car manufacturer NIO William Li said on Thursday he plans to continue expanding in Europe even with the uncertainty over tariffs.

He was in Amsterdam to open a new showroom in the busiest part of the city.

LABOUR COSTS

Cutting labour costs has never been easy in Europe where unions have political and legal levers to block layoffs.

"The quality of the dialogue that we have with European unions is quite high," Tavares said. "They see the trap and they see how we are trying to manage and to navigate through this situation."

The threat of fewer auto jobs has mobilised European politicians such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who wants Stellantis to increase its annual output in Italy to one million vehicles from around 750,000 in 2023, rather than move production to low-cost countries.

Fiat Chrysler, which merged with France's PSA in 2021 to create Stellantis, last produced more than one million vehicles in the country - including passenger cars and light commercial vehicles - in 2017.

Since the merger, Stellantis has cut its European workforce by 13% to around 125,000, mostly through voluntary lay-offs agreed with unions and with more than half in Italy.

Volkswagen has a target to cut 10 billion euros ($10.8 billion) in costs by 2026, and some of those savings could come through early retirement of workers, Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz said at the Reuters Events conference on Thursday.

"Specifically our German plants have to prepare for tougher competition," Antlitz said.

COMPETITIVE PRICES

Stellantis is launching a small electric Citroen at 20,000 euros, which Tavares said was "at the right price" to compete with Chinese automakers, whose hefty cost advantage is all too clear to their European rivals thanks to partnerships between the companies.

Stellantis' global purchasing chief Maxime Picat said in an interview in Munich that the automaker is pushing its suppliers to match Chinese supplier costs, in part using data gathered from its partnership with China's Leapmotor.

Tariffs can temporarily shrink or eliminate the cost advantage Chinese automakers get from their supply chains.

But Germany's automakers warn that could come at a high price if China goes beyond threats to slap duties on French cognac and retaliates with tariffs on Mercedes-Benz, VW or BMW vehicles made in Europe. Mercedes generates about 16% of its global revenue in China.

For more on the battle with Chinese automakers over the market for electric vehicles listen now to the Reuters Econ World podcast.

($1 = 0.9225 euros)

(Reporting By Joe White and Christoph Steitz in Munich Additional reporting by Gilles Guillaume in Paris, Giulio Piovaccari in Milan and Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels;Editing by Josephine Mason and Kirsten Donovan)
Russia says EU will feel 'full measure' of retaliation over frozen assets plan

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The European Union will feel the "full measure" of Russian retaliation over its plan to use income from frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

EU countries have formally adopted a plan to use windfall profits from Russian central bank assets frozen in the EU for Ukraine's defence, the Belgian government said on Tuesday.

Russia says such action is illegal and undermines the foundations of the global financial system.

"We are talking about another attempt to legitimise theft at state level," Zakharova told reporters, saying the EU had shown it could not be considered a reliable jurisdiction for investors.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Thursday that immobilised Russian assets represent a potential source of support for Ukraine through 2025 and beyond.

G7 negotiators have been discussing for weeks how to best exploit some $300 billion worth of Russian financial assets, such as major currencies and government bonds, which were frozen shortly after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

The United States is pushing to find a way to bring forward the future income from those assets, either through issuing a bond or more likely granting Ukraine a loan that it says could provide it with as much as $50 billion in the near term.

Russia has threatened retaliation for weeks, but Moscow's options are limited when it comes to sovereign assets and it is not clear what form any retribution might take.

Russia's ability to mete out like-for-like retaliation if Western leaders seize its frozen assets has been eroded by dwindling foreign investment, but it may go after private investors' cash instead.

(Writing by Felix Light and Alexander Marrow; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
(Reuters) - Brazil and China signed on Thursday a joint statement calling for peace talks in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine with the participation of both countries, a document seen by Reuters showed on Thursday.

The document, signed by Celso Amorim, a special advisor to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, said the countries believe negotiation is the only viable solution for the "Ukraine crisis."

The two countries support an international peace conference "held at a proper time that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties as well as fair discussion of all peace plans," the document said.

Dozens of other countries have signed up for a summit in June, where Switzerland expects to pave the way for a peace process in Ukraine. Russia has not been invited.

Brazil and China also called for all relevant parties to observe three principles for de-escalating the situation: no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no provocation by any party.

The use of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons or chemical and biological weapons, must be rejected, Brazil and China said, adding in the document that "every possible effort must be made to prevent nuclear proliferation and avoid a nuclear crisis."

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Writing by Peter Frontini; Editing by Brad Haynes and Sandra Maler)
Montgomery County is headed back to the drawing board with plans for its new animal shelter after initial estimates to build a facility topped $84 million. County Judge Mark Keough has continued to address issues at the shelter. Jason Fochtman Montgomery County is headed back to the drawing board with plans for its new animal shelter after initial estimates to build a facility topped $84 million. Volunteer Alyssa Fanguy puts Butters, a male pitbull terrier, back in his kennel in the adoption section of the shelter in this file photo. Jason Fochtman

Montgomery County is headed back to the drawing board with plans for its new animal shelter after initial estimates to build a facility topped $84 million.

Needless to say, it is astronomical, County Judge Mark Keough said during a Tuesday meeting of commissioner's court.

Ongoing issues with shelter

Built in 2002, the 152,469-square-foot facility at 8535 Texas 242 has been plagued by continued repairs, including its heating and air conditioning system, ventilation, and incinerator since 2015.

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The court unanimously approved an $18,000 contract with Corpus Christi-based AGCM Inc., to review and find cost savings in the needs assessment study provided to the county by Houston-based PGAL earlier this year.

PGAL has enlisted Colorado-based consultant Animal Arts to develop solutions for the shelter. Animal Arts specializes in animal care facility architecture and design, including veterinary, shelter, dog daycare, training, and veterinary teaching hospitals.

According to PGALs study, option one for a new shelter would span 100,854 square feet, accommodate 462 dogs and 205 cats, and have flexible space for small animals.

That estimate does not include space for a medical clinic.

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Second option for $41 million

PGAL's estimate on a second option for a new shelter would be smaller at just 49,950 square feet and accommodate 190 dogs and 100 cats. The cost for that facility would be $41 million.

In April 2023, the court moved forward with the second phase of the shelter study to determine whether renovations or a new facility is needed.

Keough said the second phase was critical in providing hard numbers like square footage and cost.

The court unanimously appointed Keough to directly oversee the shelter in October with Director Aaron Johnson and Assistant Director Mark Wysocki on revamping policy and procedures amid complaints about conditions at the aging facility.

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Overcrowding issues remain

The shelter has 180 kennels for medium-to-large dogs; however, Wysocki said the facility is chronically overcrowded and now has almost 300 dogs who need homes.

MEMORIAL DAY HEAT: Houston temperatures will sizzle through Memorial Day weekend. How hot will it feel like

Johnson has continued to pitch the need for a new shelter. During the county's budget workshops in 2021 and 2022, the court discussed the facility but said no funding was available.

In December 2022, the court approved adding a $25,000 assessment of the shelter to the countys facilities master plan approved in March 2019.

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According to that assessment, the building ventilation is incorrect and not up to code and the French drains are difficult to operate and clean. The drains also cause cross-contamination, have a horrible odor and spread disease.

Keough said the data can also be used to seek grants or a public-private partnership to help fund a new facility.
(This May 23 story has been corrected to say that 50% of the Kanak population live in Noumea, not 50% of the Noumea population is Kanak, in paragraph 13.)

By Layli Foroudi

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on a visit to New Caledonia on Thursday that inequalities had widened on the French-ruled Pacific archipelago and were a driving force in the deadly civil unrest that broke out last week.

The island territory is marked by deep disparities in education and employment, according to census data and experts on New Caledonia, despite equal opportunities policies that were part of past political agreements in the 1980s and 1990s.

The poverty rate among indigenous Kanaks, the largest community, is 32.5%, compared to 9% among non-Kanaks, according to the 2019 census.

Apparently referring to past efforts at widening opportunity, Macron said on Thursday that "rebalancing has not reduced economic and social inequalities, they have even grown."

He made the remark in a speech announcing that he would seek a broad agreement on a contested electoral reform, which sparked the violent protests, as well as on the organisation of government on the island, and on inequality among other issues.

The voting reform, which Macron said he will push back by several weeks, would allow thousands more French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote, diluting the vote of the Kanak, who make up 41% of the population.

The protests, in which at least six people died, were born out of a "social anger, which is rooted in a feeling of colonial dispossession that lasts until now," says Benoit Trepied, sociologist specialised on New Caledonia at the EHESS, the French school for advanced studies in social sciences.

France colonised New Caledonia in 1853 and made it an overseas territory in 1946, granting rights to Kanaks.

Only 8% of Kanaks hold a university degree and 46% hold no high school diploma. Meanwhile, 54% people of European background are university educated, with that proportion falling to 24% among people of mixed-heritage, the 2019 census shows.

France generally does not collect ethnic statistics, but does so exceptionally for New Caledonia.

"There is looting and ransacking, but we have a population that is on the margins of society, they have no work, nothing to eat, they're failing at school, they live in slums, and then next to that you have the rich neighbourhoods," said Dominique Fochi, secretary general of the pro-independence Caledonian Union that opposes the electoral reform but called for peaceful protest.

"It is a people that is fighting for its dignity."

Social inequalities are particularly acute in the capital Noumea, where Kanaks were not allowed to live until 1946 but now 50% of the Kanak population live in the city, says Trepied.

There are chic neighbourhoods where many well-off white residents live, as well as slums inhabited by Kanaks who lack affordable housing.

In his speech, Macron added that the social inequalities had led to the emergence of an "unprecedented and disinhibited racism over the last 11 days," without giving details.

In the last week, some anti-independence politicians have described the revolts as "anti-white racism" and that opposition to the electoral reform was fuelled by a "racist discourse".

(Reporting by Layli Foroudi, Editing by William Maclean)
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek police detained nine Egyptians on Thursday saying they could flee the country, despite a court ruling dismissing a case against them over a 2023 shipwreck, one of the deadliest in the Mediterranean.

The disaster shocked Europe and the case has been followed closely in Greece, which has been a gateway to the European Union for thousands of migrants and refugees.

Up to 700 migrants from Pakistan, Syria and Egypt boarded a fishing trawler in Libya that was bound for Italy before sinking off southwestern Greece, last June. Some 104 survivors were rescued and only 82 bodies were recovered.

On Tuesday, a Greek court dismissed charges against the nine men of setting up a criminal group and causing the shipwreck, citing lack of jurisdiction as the disaster occurred in international waters. The court also acquitted them of charges of illegal entry into the country and migrant smuggling.

Following the ruling, the men, who have spent 11 months in pre-trial detention and have pending asylum applications, were transferred to a police station where they remained in custody. It could take months for their applications to be processed.

On Thursday, police said in their administrative decision they should be detained as there was a risk that they could flee Greece. According to the decision, they will remain in detention until their asylum applications are processed.

"It is tragic and unacceptable," one of their lawyers, Natasha Dailiani, told Reuters, adding that the men should have been freed and that they plan to appeal the detention order.

"It is inhumane to hold those people in detention after a court dismissed the charges against them and since they have already spent 11 months in prison in vain."

Police authorities were not immediately available for comment.

The shipwreck's cause is officially undetermined.

(Reporting by Renee Maltezou; editing by Rod Nickel)
(Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and Kenyan President William Ruto on Thursday announced investments in green energy, education and health manufacturing in the East African nation and a plan to reduce its debt burden.

Ruto arrived in Washington on Wednesday as part of a three-day state visit that includes bilateral talks with Biden on Thursday, followed by a state dinner in the evening. Ruto's trip is the sixth state visit hosted by the Biden administration and the first for an African president since 2008.

Here are the key announcements:

DIPLOMACY

Biden will designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, making it the first sub-Saharan African country to receive the designation, a senior U.S. administration official said. Currently, 18 countries are designated as non-NATO allies, including Israel, Brazil and the Philippines.

The alliance - which is not a mutual defense pact - will bring some additional U.S. aid, including a new $7 million partnership to help modernize Kenyas National Police Service, with a focus on staff and training development.

The two countries said they would work together to support the Somali government in its fight against terrorism and pressed warring parties in Sudan for a ceasefire.

They will also establish a strategic dialogue on artificial intelligence.

DEBT AND FINANCE

The two countries launched the Nairobi-Washington Vision, a call to the international community to help debt-laden countries like Kenya manage debt while investing in economic growth. It asks international financial institutions to provide coordinated packages of support and on creditor countries to provide forms of debt relief.

The U.S. will soon make available lending of up to $21 billion to the International Monetary Funds Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust to support the poorest countries.

The U.S. also said it would give $250 million for crisis response to the World Bank's International Development Association.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Microsoft is partnering with United Arab Emirates-based artificial intelligence firm G42 to invest $1 billion in a data center in Kenya as part of its efforts to expand cloud computing services in East Africa. The data center, which will be built by G42 and its partners, will be powered by geothermal energy and provide access to Microsoft's Azure cloud computing platform through a new cloud region for East Africa.

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation announced it plans to open an office in Kenya's capital Nairobi, playing a key role in driving its efforts across key sectors in Kenya such as agriculture, health, e-mobility and energy.

The U.S. Agency for International Development will provide $15 million for new activities designed to reduce poverty and malnutrition and address global food security by expanding investment opportunities.

CLIMATE

The two countries launched the U.S.-Kenya Climate and Clean Energy Industrial Partnership. The U.S. and Kenya plan to work with international financial institutions and multilateral trust funds to identify mechanisms for mobilizing investment for clean energy manufacturing and services.

Virunga Power, a U.S. company and partner in the Power Africa effort to double access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, announced a pipeline of six hydropower projects in advanced stages of development in Kenya. With a total expected investment of $100 million, those projects will be built in sequence over the next five years and are expected to provide 31 megawatts of clean, renewable energy.

A $60 million grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation will fund a four-year program focusing on the transportation needs of underserved groups in Kenya, safer options for women and pedestrians, and climate-friendly public transportation.

HEALTH

Kenya and the United States announced that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kenya's government will share information, identifying best practices and defining steps toward the development and full launch of the Kenyan National Public Health Institute.

The International Development Finance Corporation is making a $10 million direct loan to Kenyan company Hewa Tele, which supplies medical oxygen to healthcare facilities in Africa, and equity investments in Kasha Global, a Kenya-based e-commerce company that provides personal care, healthcare, and beauty products to low-income women in Kenya and Rwanda.

EDUCATION

The administration intends to provide $3.3 million for a U.S. Department of State program for 60 Kenyan undergraduate students to study for a semester in the United States, with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The administration also plans to provide $500,000 to support Kenyan students, scientists, researchers, and engineers by encouraging U.S. universities to increase investment in relationships with Kenyan universities and research institutions.

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
FILE PHOTO: Reactions after aide of AFD parliamentarian from Brussels has been arrested, accused of spying for China

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Parliament's far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group expelled the Alternative for Germany (AfD) delegation on Thursday, less than a month before elections to the assembly.

The decision comes after Maximilian Krah, the AfD's lead candidate in the elections, told an Italian newspaper at the weekend that the Nazi's Waffen SS were "not all criminals".

"The ID Group no longer wants to be associated with the incidents involving Maximilian Krah, head of the AfD list for the European elections," the ID group said in a statement.

It is the latest blow for Alternative for Germany (AfD) in a chaotic few months. France's Marine Le Pen abandoned the party earlier this week for being too toxic a partner.

Far-right parties in the European assembly are currently split between the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), whose de facto leader is Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, and the ID group, spearheaded by Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National (RN).

Polls suggest that nationalist and eurosceptic parties will win a record number of votes in the election.

AfD co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said in a statement that they took note of the ID's decision but were optimistic about the election.

"We are confident we will continue to have reliable partners at our side in the new legislative period," they said.

While it is still second or third in most national polls, support for the AfD has dipped by around eight points this year, hit by adverse court rulings, concerns about its links to China and Russia and revelations that senior party members had participated in talks about deporting non-ethnic Germans.

Krah, whose aide has been charged with spying for China, had to resign from the AfD's leadership board and promised not to make any further campaign appearances following his comment on the SS, although he is still a candidate in the European poll.

The SS, or "Schutzstaffel", was the Nazi's paramilitary force and played a leading part in the Holocaust.

In a highly unusual, last-ditch bid to avoid expulsion, the AfD delegation had asked the ID to exclude just Krah, blaming his personality, a letter seen by Reuters showed.

"We see this as the last (albeit desperate!) attempt to prevent the exclusion of the entire AfD delegation from the ID parliamentary group," wrote MEP Christine Anderson in the letter informing the party's executive board of the request.

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Benoit Van Overstraeten; Additional reporting by Andreas Rinke; Writing by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Sharon Singleton)
By Giuseppe Fonte and Gavin Jones

STRESA, Italy (Reuters) -G7 finance chiefs are not expected to agree on details of a loan for Ukraine at their meeting in Italy starting on Friday, several officials said, leaving much work ahead in coming weeks or months to secure more financing for the war-torn country.

The United States has been pushing its allies to agree to a loan backed by the future income from some $300 billion of Russian assets frozen shortly after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the loan could amount to some $50 billion, but that no amounts have been agreed. Other G7 officials involved in the negotiations voiced caution, citing thorny legal and technical aspects to be hammered out.

"With great difficulty we have found a compromise for the use of the interest (already accrued)," Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti told reporters, referring to a deal already struck by the European Union.

"The problem is how the legal basis for this can be used for future profits."

Giorgetti, who will chair the meeting as Italy holds the G7 presidency this year, said finding a solution "will not be simple," and added that several central banks had expressed reservations over the U.S. proposal.

Finance ministers and central bank chiefs from the Group of Seven industrial democracies - the U.S., Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada - are meeting in the northern Italian lakeside town of Stresa on Friday and Saturday.

One European official said the communique at the end of the meeting would probably include an agreement on a loan in principle, but no details.

"I don't think there will be any numbers," the official said when asked about the $50 billion figure.

"There will be no decisions on the matter taken at Stresa," another European official said.

'AGREEMENT ON THE CONCEPT'

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner also said many questions remained open and he did not expect the G7 to reach any concrete decision at the Stresa gathering.

In that case, officials will continue to negotiate in the hope of making progress by the time G7 heads of government meet in the southern Italian region of Puglia on June 13-15.

Yellen, at a news conference on Thursday, said she expected a "general agreement on the concept" of using the earnings from Russian assets to provide Ukraine with significant financial support beyond 2025.

A key condition for European Union countries, where most of the assets are held, is to not confiscate the asset principal and harness only the earnings.

Giorgetti said a loan backed by future income from the frozen assets would meet with Russian retaliation, and stressed any deal must have a "solid legal basis," echoing comments made this week by Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki.

Under the proposal being discussed, the loan would be disbursed to Kyiv in one lump sum, Giorgetti said, and could possibly be issued by the G7 countries directly rather than through a global financial institution such as the World Bank.

(Additional reporting by David Lawder, Jan Strupczewski and Christian Kraemer; Editing by Diane Craft)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Europe needs closer military collaboration, and said he also favors the deterrent of French nuclear weapons as suggested by President Emmanuel Macron, to respond to what Scholz called Russia's "brutal imperialism".

"I welcome the fact that the French president emphasised the European dimension of the French force de frappe," Scholz wrote in a guest article published in The Economist on Thursday.

"In addition to nuclear deterrents, we are looking at strong conventional forces, air and missile defence, as well as cyber, space and deep-precision strike capabilities," said Scholz

"Europeans can and will have to contribute more to the transatlantic burden-sharing (within NATO)", he added.

He stressed the European Union would not have its own nuclear weapons. "There is also no intention to question the sovereignty of the French dissuasion nucleaire," said Scholz.

Macron said last month that France's nuclear weapons should be part of the European defence debate.

Before that, Macron had called for stronger, more integrated European defences as he outlined his vision for a more assertive European Union on the global stage, saying "Europe could die".

Russian forces earlier this month started exercises to simulate preparation for the launch of tactical nuclear weapons, in what was seen as a warning signal by President Vladimir Putin to deter the West from wading more deeply into the war in Ukraine.

Moscow at the time linked the exercises to what it calls "militant statements" by Western officials, including Macron.

Scholz added in his article that in order to maintain broad public support for Ukraine in Europe, it is important to be "crystal clear" that NATO does not seek confrontation with Russia.

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt and Andreas Rinke in Berlin; Editing by Leslie Adler)
PRISTINA (Reuters) -Kosovo's parliament on Thursday approved a deal to rent 300 jail cells to Denmark to help the Scandinavian country cope with overcrowded prisons.

The cells, which will be in a rebuilt prison, are intended to hold convicted criminals from non-European Union countries who were due to be deported from Denmark after their sentences.

When the deal was first announced in 2021, it prompted concerns over the treatment of prisoners in Kosovo. Denmark said they would be treated the same and the same rules would apply as in prisons at home.

Kosovo is expected to receive 210 million euros ($228 million) over the next 10 years for 300 prison cells located near the town of Gjilan in the eastern part of the country.

The government says the money will be used to improve Kosovo's own prisons and invest in renewable energy projects.

Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said the approval was good news, and the rebuilding of the prison in Kosovo can begin.

"This is crucial for us to secure more Danish prison places and will help bring our hard-pressed prison system back into balance. At the same time, it sends a clear signal to criminal foreigners that their future is not in Denmark, and therefore they should not serve their time here," he said.

Kosovo's Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu said in a statement after the vote, "this agreement is a proof of trust and mutual respect between our two countries."

Kosovo's prisons and detention centers are often marred by violence between prisoners, corruption, exposure to radical religious or political views, lack of medical care and violence by staff, rights groups have said.

The governments of both countries reached the deal in 2021 but parliament was not able to pass the law until now because of opposition parties.

The deal was passed by 86 votes within the 120-seat parliament.

($1 = 0.9217 euros)

(Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; additional reporting by Louise Rasmussen in Copenhagen;Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
With no flights before election, UK's Rwanda migrant scheme may never get off ground

By Michael Holden and Andrew MacAskill

LONDON (Reuters) - The controversial plan to fly thousands of asylum seekers from Britain to Rwanda may never get off the ground, after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Thursday that there would be no deportations before a national election in July.

After taking office in October 2022, Sunak made the plan to send migrants who arrived in Britain without permission to the East African nation one of his flagship policies, saying it would put an end to thousands of asylum seekers coming on small boats across the Channel.

In April, Sunak promised the first flights would take off in the next 10 to 12 weeks, after parliament finally passed a law designed to get round legal obstacles that had held up the plan for more than two years.

But, after announcing on Wednesday that Britain would go to the polls on July 4, he said there would be no departures before the vote. Instead, his message was that only by re-electing him would the Rwanda scheme - popular with some voters whose support the Conservatives need in order to win - get up and running.

"We've started detaining people ... the flights are booked for July, airfields on standby, the escorts are ready, the caseworkers are churning through everything, so all that is happening, and if I'm re-elected as your prime minister, those flights will go to Rwanda," he told a campaign event.

The opposition Labour Party, currently about 20 points ahead in opinion polls and seen as likely to defeat Sunak's Conservatives, has promised to scrap the scheme if it wins.

It described it as a "con" and said that Sunak had called the early election before it was found out

Further legal challenges from a trade union and a charity could also have potentially derailed Sunak's timetable.

It means that the controversial plan - which has already costs hundreds of millions of pounds to set up even though no one has yet been sent to Rwanda - may never come to fruition.

"It certainly looks like the end," said Sonya Sceats, Chief Executive at Freedom from Torture, one of the many organisations and charities which have campaigned to stop the scheme.

ELECTION ISSUE

Immigration will be one of the main battlegrounds at the election, and Sunak has sought to cast the Rwanda policy as the way of dealing with an expensive issue that the public wants tackled, while accusing Labour of having no answers.

Britain is currently spending more than 3 billion pounds a year on processing asylum applications. Figures on Thursday showed annual net migration had fallen, but was still much higher than before the 2016 Brexit referendum when "taking back control" of Britain's borders was a key factor.

While critics have argued the Rwanda policy was immoral and would never work, supporters say it would smash the model of people traffickers.

Last November, the UK Supreme Court declared the policy unlawful saying Rwanda could not be considered a safe third country, prompting Sunak to sign a new treaty with the East African country and to pass new legislation to override this.

In the meantime, the numbers of asylum seekers making the dangerous journey across the Channel has risen to record numbers this year, with almost 10,000 people arriving so far, after numbers fell by a third in 2023.

The right-wing Reform Party, which has sucked support from the Conservatives, said the Rwanda scheme was fundamentally flawed and no flights would leave, while Britain's borders remained open.

Even some within Sunak's party said the public would draw similar conclusions.

"Where are the flights to Rwanda? You can only draw the conclusion that they will never leave," one Conservative lawmaker told Reuters.

Whoever wins in July, the small boats problem will remain one of their biggest challenges.

"The simple truth is that the next government will be facing an asylum system in meltdown, as the backlog of cases without a decision keeps getting bigger and bigger," said Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council.

"The Rwanda plan will go down in the history of British policymaking as an Alice in Wonderland adventure that was both absurd and inhumane."

($1 = 0.7860 pounds)

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Alex Richardson)
WARSAW (Reuters) -A Polish parliamentary commission will inform prosecutors that the former prime minister's role in an abortive plan to organise elections by postal vote during the COVID pandemic may constitute a crime, its deputy chairman said on Thursday.

Donald Tusk's pro-European coalition government, in office since December, has made a priority of holding to account those it accuses of wrongdoing under the previous nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) administration. Pressing criminal charges against such a high-ranking figure would mark a dramatic escalation of this process.

"This is a political action by the commission, which is trying to use the mechanism of an investigative commission to fight political competition," former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in an emailed statement.

He has previously denied wrongdoing in the matter, saying that the decision to try to organise a postal vote for the 2020 presidential election was in the interests of public safety.

The parliamentary commission has questioned Morawiecki this week on the plan to hold a postal vote. Like many countries, Poland was under strict lockdown measures at the time the election was meant to be held, in May that year.

The plan was abandoned due to splits on the issue in the then ruling coalition and questions over its legality, but the printing of postal ballots that were never used cost the state at least 70 million zlotys ($17.77 million), according to the current government.

It says that those responsible for such a sum of public money going to waste may have committed crimes.

Jacek Karnowski, a lawmaker from the ruling coalition and the deputy chairman of the commission investigating the issue, told state news agency PAP that it would "definitely" inform prosecutors that a crime may have been committed in the case of Morawiecki.

The 2020 presidential election was postponed and finally held on June 28, with PiS-ally Andrzej Duda winning a second term in office in a run-off vote held on July 12.

($1 = 3.9395 zlotys)

(Reporting by Alan CharlishEditing by Frances Kerry)
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis has attributed a second miracle to an Italian teenager who in his short life used his computer skills to spread the Catholic faith, clearing the way for him to become the first saint of the millennial generation.

Carlo Acutis, who died of leukaemia in 2006 aged 15, was informally known as "God's influencer". Born in London, he grew up in Milan where he took care of his parish website and later of a Vatican-based academy.

Francis took the decision during a meeting with the head of the Vatican's saint-making department, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, a statement said on Thursday.

Acutis was beatified in 2020 after one miracle was attributed to him. The attribution of a second miracle means he can now be elevated to sainthood, but the Vatican did not say when this would happen.

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that only God performs miracles, but that saints who are believed to be with God in heaven intercede on behalf of people who pray to them. A miracle is usually the medically inexplicable healing of a person.

Due to his "important role in evangelization through the internet", Acutis was named as a patron of last year's World Youth Day in Lisbon, organisers of the event said.

(Reporting by Sara Rossi; Editing by Alvise Armellini and Frances Kerry)
Jazmin Cazares, center, leans on her father Javier Cazares as they stand with Jerry Mata, left, and other Uvalde victims families during a press conference held at the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Uvalde, Texas, a couple days before the 2-year mark of the mass shooting that killed 19 fourth-graders and two teachers. The city of Uvalde has agreed to a $2 million settlement with 19 families of victims killed or injured in the 2022 Robb Elementary mass shooting. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Attorney Josh Koskoff speaks during a press conference held at the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Uvalde, Texas, a couple days before the 2-year mark of the mass shooting that killed 19 fourth-graders and two teachers. The city of Uvalde has agreed to a $2 million settlement with 19 families of victims killed or injured in the 2022 Robb Elementary mass shooting. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News A tear falls down Kimberly Mata-Rubios cheek as stands with her attorneys and other Uvalde families during a press conference with their lawyers Josh Koskoff and Erin Rogiers at the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Uvalde, Texas. Mata-Rubios daughter Lexi Rubio was killed in the Robb Elementary shooting. Days before the 2-year mark of the mass shooting that killed 19 fourth-graders and two teachers, the group announced a settlement with the city of Uvalde. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Attorney Josh Koskoff speaks during a press conference held at the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Uvalde, Texas, a couple days before the 2-year mark of the mass shooting that killed 19 fourth-graders and two teachers. The city of Uvalde has agreed to a $2 million settlement with 19 families of victims killed or injured in the 2022 Robb Elementary mass shooting. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Jazmin Cazares, center, leans on her father Javier Cazares as they stand with other Uvalde victims families during a press conference held at the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Uvalde, Texas, a couple days before the 2-year mark of the Robb Elementary mass shooting. Nine-year-old Jackie Cazares, sister of Jazmin and daughter of Javier, was one of the 19 fourth-graders killed in the shooting. The city of Uvalde has agreed to a $2 million settlement with 19 families of victims killed or injured in the 2022 Robb Elementary mass shooting. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Attorney Josh Koskoff answers questions from a reporter following a press conference held at the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Uvalde, Texas, a couple days before the 2-year mark of the mass shooting that killed 19 fourth-graders and two teachers. The city of Uvalde has agreed to a $2 million settlement with 19 families of victims killed or injured in the 2022 Robb Elementary mass shooting. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Law enforcement officials evacuate students and staff from Robb Elementary School after a gunman entered a classroom and began shooting on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Pete Luna /Uvalde Leader-News

UVALDE  The city of Uvalde will pay $2 million to settle claims by 19 families of victims killed or injured in the Robb Elementary School shooting.

Their claims largely focused on the Uvalde Police Department's role in a disastrous law-enforcement response to the May 24, 2022, massacre that left 19 fourth-graders and two teachers dead.

For two long years, we have languished in pain and without any accountability from the law enforcement agencies and officers who allowed our families to be destroyed that day," said Veronica Luevanos, whose daughter Jailah and nephew Jayce were killed. "This settlement reflects a first good faith effort by the City of Uvalde to begin rebuilding trust in the systems that failed to protect us.

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She spoke during a news conference announcing the out-of-court agreement here on Wednesday.

Josh Koskoff of Connecticut, one of the families' lead attorneys, said another settlement  with Uvalde County and also for $2 million  is in the works.

The amounts represent the maximum pay-outs from the city's and county's insurers, said Koskoff, who handled successful lawsuits against a gun manufacturer over the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut.

Twenty-five Uvalde police officers and 16 Uvalde sheriff's deputies converged on Robb Elementary the day of the shooting, according to a Texas House report on the incident.

In all, more than 360 officers from 23 local, state and federal agencies were on hand.

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Yet, 77 minutes elapsed before a tactical Border Patrol team confronted and killed the 18-year-old gunman, who was armed with a assault-style rifle.

Today, we are thankful to join the victims families in arriving at an agreement that will allow us to remember the Robb Elementary tragedy while moving forward together as a community to bring healing and restoration to all those affected," city officials said in a statement. "We will forever be grateful to the victims families for working with us over the past year to cultivate an environment of community-wide healing that honors the lives and memories of those we tragically lost.

As part of the city settlement, officials agreed to stipulations and commitments intended to strengthen the Uvalde Police Department and memorialize the victims of the school shooting.

The city pledged to adopt a new fitness for duty standard for Uvalde police, to be developed in coordination with the U.S. Department of Justices Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, and to better train its officers.

The city also agreed to establish May 24th as an annual Day of Remembrance and to create a committee that will coordinate with victims' families to design a permanent memorial, which city government will pay for.

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Koskoff said the city, wanting to avoid a court fight, reached out to initiate settlement talks.

The families' lawyers also said Wednesday that they are suing the Texas Department of Public Safety and each of its 92 officers who responded to the school shooting, citing "the shocking and extensive failures of TXDPS that day."

Their federal lawsuit also targets the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District and several of its employees at the time of the massacre, including then-Robb Elementary Principal Mandy Gutierrez and then-Police Chief Pedro Pete Arredondo, widely considered the on-scene commander during the massacre.

Growing pile of lawsuits

MORE COVERAGE: 2 more lawsuits filed in wake of Uvalde school shooting

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Wednesday's announcement came as teachers and parents of other children at Robb Elementary the day of the massacre sued Daniel Defense Inc., the Georgia-based manufacturer of the rifle the gunman used.

The state lawsuit, filed this week by lawyers from Corpus Christi, also goes after Oasis Outback, the Uvalde gun store that handled the online transfer of the rifle to the, and Firequest International Inc. of Arkansas, the manufacturer of devices that increase the firing rate of semiautomatic weapons.

That lawsuit accuses the defendants of violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

The students whose parents are behind the lawsuit were left with emotional trauma, even though some of them were not in the two interconnected classrooms where the gunman carried out the massacre, the suit said.

The lawsuit seeks "an amount to be determined by a jury" but more than $1 million.

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The shooter purchased the Daniel Defense-made rifle online, and Outback Oasis took delivery of the gun and transferred it to the gunman. Such a transfer is required for internet sales.

Firequest manufactured the "hell-fire" trigger device police found next to the body of Salvador Ramos, the shooter. The device, which is installed on a firearm's trigger guard, pushes the trigger forward after an initial shot, allowing for rapid firing. The suit said Ramos ordered the device online.

At least four federal lawsuits were filed in 2022 against a spate of parties, including Daniel Defense, the city of Uvalde, Uvalde County, the Uvalde school district, police agencies and individual officers, including Arredondo, and former Uvalde police Lt. Mariano Pargas.

MORE COVERAGE: First major lawsuit filed over Robb Elementary School mass shooting in Uvalde

The pair were among the first officers at Robb Elementary the morning of the massacre.

Arredondo was fired in August 2022, and Pargas quit as he learned the city was about to fire him.

All defendants have denied the allegations against them in the pending suits.
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said the main power line supplying the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine was down for more than three hours on Thursday, though there was no threat to safety.

The six reactors at the Zaporizhzhia plant, held by Russia and located close to the front line of the conflict in Ukraine, are not in operation but it relies on external power to keep its nuclear material cool and prevent a catastrophic accident.

The Russian management said on their official channel on the Telegram app that the reasons for the outage, which had not caused any change in radiation levels, were being investigated.

It had initially said the main 750 kilovolt (kV) "Dniprovska" power line went down at 1:31 p.m. local time (1031 GMT), while the 330 kV "Ferosplavnaya" line was supplying power to the plant now.

It later reported that the Dniprovska line was restored at 4:49 p.m. local. Power supply to ZNPP is possible via both lines, it added.

The Dniprovska power line also went down for almost five hours on March 22, highlighting what the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said were "ever present dangers to nuclear safety and security" from the Russia-Ukraine war.

Russia and Ukraine have each accused the other at various times of shelling the Zaporizhzhia plant, which is Europe's largest. Both deny such accusations.

The IAEA has said that the ZNPP has been experiencing major off-site power problems since the conflict began in early 2022, exacerbating the nuclear safety and security risks confronting the site.

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; editing by Philippa Fletcher and Mark Heinrich)
Slovakia shooting suspect says he wanted to hurt Fico, not kill him

By Jason Hovet and Jan Lopatka

(Reuters) - The man detained over the shooting of Robert Fico said he had wanted to hurt the Slovak prime minister because he disagreed with government policies and used a gun he had owned for more than 30 years, a court document released on Thursday showed.

The 9-page document details the reasoning why a court ordered the 71-year-old suspect to be detained, based on questioning he had with authorities investigating the case.

They are the first official comments from the suspect that have been made public, more than a week after the shooting that left Fico fighting for his life and needing surgery on his abdomen. His condition has improved but he remains hospitalised.

The suspect, a former security guard at a shopping mall, according to the media, was cited as saying no one else knew about his plan. He apologised for his actions and was prepared to apologise to Fico, according to the document released by the Specialised Criminal Court.

Fico was shot four times at close range on May 15 on a square in the central town of Handlova where the government had been meeting.

The court order said the suspect stated he had "decided to act" as he disagreed with government policy, "the cancelling of the USP (special prosecutor office), and he disagrees with the persecution of cultural and media workers, and what he mainly wants is military aid to be provided to Ukraine".

A lawyer for the suspect, when contacted by Reuters, said she had ended her representation. It was not clear if the suspect had a new lawyer.

OPPOSITION PROTESTS

The first major assassination attempt on a European political leader for more than 20 years highlighted deep political divisions in the central European country.

Fico's leftist-nationalist government coalition has faced opposition protests and European Commission criticism for some policy pivots, which critics say damage the rule of law and media freedom.

His government ended state military to Ukraine, held dialogue with Russia, dismantled a special prosecutor's office fighting corruption, and is overhauling the country's public TV and radio broadcaster.

The court document said the suspect, identified previously by prosecutors as Juraj. C, decided around Monday, May 13, two days before the shooting, to hurt Fico using a legally held CZ 75 9mm-calibre gun he had had in his possession for over three decades.

Arriving in front of the building at 2:35 p.m. with the gun and two magazines of around 10 bullets each, the suspect stood with others at a barrier outside on the square, it said.

When Fico came close, "he aimed at (Fico), specifically at the lower part of his torso", said the court order, which blocked out names of the attacker, victim and witnesses.

The order said the suspect said he did not intend to kill him but "wanted to injure him and damage his health".

He said he had never been treated in a psychiatric ward nor had any psychiatric examination, the document showed.

Acquaintances have described him as member of a literary club and author of several books. He had in the past attended at least one rally of a paramilitary group but also tried to set up a political movement against violence, according to videos verified by Reuters.

(Reporting by Jason Hovet and Jan Lopatka in Prague; Editing by Alison Williams)
By Michelle Nichols and Daria Sito-Sucic

UNITED NATIONS/SARAJEVO (Reuters) -The United Nations General Assembly declared July 11 an international day of remembrance of the Srebrenica genocide in a vote on Thursday that survivors branded as historic and Serbs as a failure, reflecting deep ethnic divisions in Bosnia.

The massacre of about 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys in 1995, after the U.N. safe zone of Srebrenica was overrun by Bosnian Serb forces, took place during the Balkan wars that followed the disintegration of Yugoslavia and was seen as Europe's worst atrocity since World War Two.

The resolution, initiated by Germany and Rwanda and the cross-regional core group that included the United States, was approved by a narrow margin of 84 votes in the 193-member General Assembly, with 19 votes against and 68 abstentions.

"The truth and justice won today," declared Denis Becirovic, the chairman of Bosnia's tripartite presidency.

The survivors of the massacre, mostly women who lost their male relatives, cried tears of joy at seeing the resolution as final closure after three decades.

The resolution "decides to designate 11 July as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, to be observed annually".

It also condemns denial of the massacre and glorification of war criminals, calling for the remaining victims to be found and identified and all perpetrators who are still at large to be brought to justice.

Serbia and Bosnian Serbs, who deny that the massacre constituted genocide, declared the vote a failure, saying that more countries did not vote in favor of the resolution than for it.

They had accused the authors of the resolution of branding Serbia as a "genocidal nation" although it was amended to add that the crime of genocide is individualized and cannot be attributed to any specific group.

Those people who wanted to stigmatize the Serbian nation failed and will never succeed," Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told reporters after the session. "They wanted to put a mark on our face and they failed."

During the session, Vucic called on member states to vote against the resolution, saying it was "highly politicised" and would not contribute to the reconciliation in Bosnia and the region but rather would open a Pandora's box.

SERB THREATS OF SECESSION

After the vote, Serbs drove through the Serbian capital of Belgrade, honking and waving Serbian flags.

The streets of towns across Serbia and Bosnias Serb Republic were decorated with Serbian flags and placards reading "We are not genocidal people, we remember".

"This is a failed resolution," declared Bosnian Serb nationalist leader Milorad Dodik, who threatened that the Serb Republic, an autonomous region that makes up Bosnia along with the Bosniak-Croat federation under a peace deal, would secede if the resolution went ahead.

On July 11, 1995, Bosnian Serb forces commanded by General Ratko Mladic separated men and boys from women and executed them in the following days. Their remains were found years later in mass graves in eastern Bosnia, though some still do not know where their relatives died.

Two international courts have ruled the atrocity constituted genocide. Mladic and his political chief Radovan Karadzic were jailed for life for war crimes, including genocide, while nearly 50 Bosnian Serbs were also convicted.

(Additional reporting by Aleksandar VasovicWriting by Daria Sito-SucicEditing by Frances Kerry and Chizu Nomiyama)
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Arab world euphoric, Israel fumes as Ireland, Spain, Norway recognise Palestine state

Saudi Arabia and fellow Arab countries have welcomed the decision by Ireland, Norway and Spain to recognise an independent Palestinian state. The far right Zionist government in Israel has however reacted angrily on the move.

Thursday May 23, 2024 10:15 AM , ummid.com News Desk

Saudi Arabia and fellow Arab countries have welcomed the decision by Ireland, Norway and Spain to recognise an independent Palestinian state. The far right Zionist government in Israel has however reacted angrily on the move.

A historic and important day

The latest development came Wednesday when leaders of Norway, Spain and Ireland in statements releases one after the other announced they were formally going to recognize Palestine as a state.

They also linked recognition of Palestine as an independent state with peace in the region.

There cannot be peace in the Middle East if there is no recognition, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Wednesday.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also announced that the countrys council of ministers would recognize an independent Palestinian state on Tuesday May 28.

Next Tuesday, May 28, Spains cabinet will approve the recognition of the Palestinian state, he said, adding that his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu was putting the two state solution in danger with his policy of pain and destruction in the Gaza Strip.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said it was a move coordinated with Spain and Norway, marking a historic and important day for Ireland and for Palestine.

A Positive Decision

Saudi Arabia welcomed the decision by Norway, Spain and Ireland to recognise Palestine as an independent state and called it positive and taken in right direction.

In a statement released by the foreign ministry, Saudi Arabia said it appreciated this decision which confirms the international consensus on the inherent right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

Saudi Arabia also called on more countries to swiftly take the same stance, which would contribute to finding a reliable and irreversible path to achieve a just and lasting peace that fulfills the rights of the Palestinian people.

Important and essential step

The Palestinian Authority which rules West Bank and Hamas which rules Gaza both welcomed the recognition of a Palestinian state by Ireland, Spain and Norway.

Jordan hailed the coordinated move as an important and essential step towards Palestinian statehood.

We value this decision and consider it an important and essential step towards a two-state solution that embodies an independent, sovereign Palestinian state along the July 1967 borders, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told a press conference.

Qatars foreign ministry welcomed the announcement as an important step in support of a two-state solution, expressing hope that other countries would follow suit.

A pivotal and strategic step

The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also spoke out in support of the European countries move.

Haling the decision, GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said it represented a pivotal and strategic step towards achieving the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), headquartered in the Saudi city of Jeddah, also welcomed the move as an important historic step.

Several European Union countries have in the past weeks indicated that they plan to recognise Palestine as an independent state, arguing a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in the region.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had early in May taken a tour of Europe and met the EU leaders with the same mission.

He had said in March that Spain and Ireland, along with Slovenia and Malta, had agreed to take their first steps toward Palestinian recognition, seeing a two-state solution as essential for lasting peace.

The efforts come as a mounting death toll in Gaza prompts calls globally for a ceasefire and lasting solution for peace in the region. More than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since Oct 7 when the Israeli Occupation Forces began their brutal and genocidal war against the Palestinians.

Israel fumes

The decision termed pivotal, strategic and historic by Norway, Ireland and Spain has angered the Zionist government in Israel.

Hours after the announcement by the three countries, Israel recalled its envoys to Spain, Ireland and Norway.

Today, I am sending a sharp message to Ireland and Norway: Israel will not go over this in silence. I have just ordered the return of the Israeli ambassadors from Dublin and Oslo to Israel for further consultations in Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.

"The Irish-Norwegian folly does not deter us; we are determined to achieve our goals: restoring security to our citizens, dismantling Hamas, and bringing the hostages home. There are no more just causes than these," Katz added.

Norway, which is not a member of the European Union but mirror its moves, has been an ardent supporter of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

Palestine has a fundamental right to an independent state, Gahr Store told a press conference.

The move comes as Israeli forces have led assaults on the northern and southern edges of the Gaza Strip in May, causing a new exodus of hundreds of thousands of people, and sharply restricted the flow of aid, raising the risk of famine.

The Scandinavian country will therefore regard Palestine as an independent state with all the rights and obligations that entails, Gahr Store said.

Norways recognition of a Palestine state comes more than 30 years after the first Oslo agreement was signed in 1993.

It also comes days after the UN General Assembly upgraded the status of Palestine at the world forum, and also urged the UN Security Council to make Palestine a full member of the United Nations.

Since then the Palestinians have taken important steps toward a two-state solution, the Norwegian government said.

It said that the World Bank determined that Palestine had met key criteria to function as a state in 2011, that national institutions have been built up to provide the population with important services.

The war in Gaza and the constant expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank still mean that the situation in Palestine is more difficult than it has been in decades, the Norwegian government said.

(With inputs from Arab News)





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NASA announces new instrument to study Sun

American space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Tuesday said it selected a new instrument to study the Sun and how it creates massive solar eruptions.

Thursday May 23, 2024 10:58 PM , ummid.com News Network

Washington: American space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Tuesday said it selected a new instrument to study the Sun and how it creates massive solar eruptions.

The space agency's Joint EUV coronal Diagnostic Investigation (JEDI) will capture images of the Sun in extreme ultraviolet light, a type of light invisible to our eyes but reveals many of the underlying mechanisms of the Sun's activity.

Once integrated aboard the European Space Agency's Vigil space weather mission, JEDI's two telescopes will focus on the middle layer of the solar corona, a region of the Sun's atmosphere that plays a key role in creating the solar wind and the solar eruptions that cause space weather.

The Vigil space mission, planned to launch in 2031, is expected to provide a round-the-clock space weather data from a unique position at Sun-Earth Lagrange point 5  a gravitationally stable point about 60 degrees behind Earth in its orbit.

This vantage point will give space weather researchers and forecasters a new angle to study the Sun and its eruptions.

NASA's JEDI will be the first instrument to provide a constant view of the Sun from this perspective in extreme ultraviolet light  giving scientists a trove of new data for research, while simultaneously supporting Vigil's ability to monitor space weather.

"JEDI's observations will help us link the features we see on the Sun's surface with what we measure in the solar atmosphere, the corona," said Nicola Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Combined with Vigil's first-of-its-kind, eagle eye view of the Sun, this will change the way we understand the Sun's drivers of space weather  which in turn can lead to improved warnings to mitigate space weather effects on satellites and humans in space as well as on Earth, she said.

The project is led by Don Hassler at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. The instrument is funded by the NASA Heliophysics Space Weather Program with a total cost not to exceed $45 million.

Management oversight will be provided by the Living With a Star Program of the Explorers & Heliophysics Projects Division at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.





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HCM CITY  Malaysian property developer Gamuda Land recently announced its new high-end apartment project named Eaton Park in Thu uc City of HCM City.

The project, which commenced its underground phase 1 construction on March 26, 2024, will cover an area of approximately 3.77 hectares and have about 2,000 units.

Located in Thu uc City, the project is on the "golden land" axis near An Phu intersection, the eastern gateway to the centre of HCM City, with complete legal status at the present time.

From Eaton Park, it takes just a few minutes to travel to 12 international schools, and within a 3km radius there are shopping centres and an International General Hospital.

Spanning across a total land area of 3.77 hectares, Eaton Park is planned with six high-rise towers ranging from 29 to 39 floors, offering 2,052 units to the market, including 1,968 high-end apartments with one to three bedrooms, 12 penthouses, 52 commercial units at the podium level, and 21 shophouses, with an estimated gross development value of over US$1.1 billion.

With dedication and meticulous attention to every detail in the overall planning, Eaton Park is expected to set a new standard for urban living, offering not only a luxurious lifestyle but also a comprehensive, vibrant, and fulfilling life.

Gamuda Land is a prominent foreign investor that has been present in the Vietnamese real estate market for many years. Upon entering the market in 2007, the investor boldly allocated nearly VN8.6 trillion ($338 million) for the initial investment capital for Gamuda City, a 292-hectare urban area in Hoang Mai District, Ha Noi, and VN3.6 trillion ($114 million) for Celadon City, spanning 82 hectares in Tan Phu District, HCM City. To date, these two projects have become the most outstanding international green urban areas in their respective markets.

Following these successes, Malaysia's leading real estate enterprise is demonstrating strong ambitions to enhance its position in Viet Nam with impressive moves in recent times. Specifically, in 2022 alone, Gamuda Land successfully completed two significant M&A deals, causing a stir across the southern market.

And Eaton Park marks the third consecutive deal within two years, with the land transfer costs alone reaching $315.8 million. -- VNS
The United Kingdom and Viet Nam have established a mutually beneficial and robust trade relationship with trade doubling within 10 years. The UK has remained one of the key markets for Viet Nam. Britains Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, Martin Kent, while on a trip to Viet Nam, spoke with Viet Nam News about bilateral ties at a time when his country is becoming a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Please tell us about the UKs accession to the CPTPP and what this means for it?

The CPTPP is a large free trade area made up of some of the worlds most dynamic and rapidly growing economies across the Asia-Pacific and Americas. With the UK as a member, the bloc will account for 15 per cent of global GDP.

Were delighted that Singapore, Japan and Chile have formally ratified our accession to CPTPP. The CPTPP Act also recently received Royal Assent in the UK Parliament  meaning we are one step closer to entry by the end of this year.

CPTPP is a gateway to the wider Indo-Pacific and Americas regions, bringing new opportunities for British businesses in a region that will account for the majority of global growth and half of the worlds middle-class consumers in the decades to come.

Joining these high standards and this forward-thinking trade bloc enables us to work with Viet Nam and other CPTPP members to shape the trading systems of the future, for example in areas like digital trade.

So CPTPP will give us another opportunity for preferential trade with Viet Nam and build on the UK  Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (UKFFTA), which entered into force in 2021.

UK-Viet Nam trade has doubled in the past 10 years from 3 billion (US$3.8 billion) in 2013 to over 6 billion ($7.6 billion) last year. As a rapidly growing economy in the heart of the Asia Pacific region with growth of over 5 per cent last year and predicted to grow at roughly 6 per cent this year, we see Viet Nam as an important partner and are committed to continuing to grow our trade relationship.

How has the UKVFTA boosted trade between the UK and Viet Nam?

The UKVFTA has emerged as a cornerstone for enhancing trade between the United Kingdom and Viet Nam, ushering in a new era of economic co-operation and opportunity for both nations. This landmark agreement, which came into effect on January 1, 2021, has already begun to yield tangible benefits, creating a significant boost for bilateral trade through various mechanisms and provisions aimed at fostering greater economic integration and collaboration.

Over the years bilateral trade has witnessed significant growth and with bilateral commerce hitting all-time highs, Viet Nam has become one of the UK's most important Southeast Asian trading partners.

To further capitalise on this momentum, both countries are focusing on promoting trade and investment through enhanced co-operation in key sectors, leveraging digital technology for trade facilitation, fostering closer economic ties through joint initiatives and agreements, and continuously updating and improving the terms of the agreement to adapt to changing economic landscapes. Additionally, efforts to promote awareness of the benefits of the UKVFTA among businesses and stakeholders in both countries would be crucial for maximising its potential impact.

The ASEAN - UK Economic Integration Programme was launched last April. Could you tell us about its impact on Viet Nam and bilateral trade relations?

The 25 million ($32 million) ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme launch highlighted our commitment to work together with ASEAN towards a more cohesive regional economy. The programme will harness opportunities from the digital economy with a strong focus on womens economic empowerment and small business development.

We look forward to bringing the best of UK expertise in regulatory reform, financial services, and trade policy to ASEAN for mutual prosperity.

Viet Nam is a key market for the UK in ASEAN with rapid economic growth and a liberal trade policy. We want to continue to work closely together to boost trade and economic relations between the UK and Viet Nam.

What is the outlook for further strengthening bilateral ties ? What are the key factors involved here?

The outlook for further strengthening bilateral ties between the UK and Viet Nam appears promising and holds significant potential for growth and collaboration in the coming time.

Several factors contribute to this positive outlook.

Firstly, the UK and Viet Nam have complementary economies, with each country possessing strengths in different sectors. Viet Nam is known for its competitive manufacturing sector, particularly in textiles, electronics and footwear, while the UK excels in services such as finance and technology and creative industries. This complementarity allows for mutually beneficial trade exchanges, with each country able to supply goods and services that the other demands.

In addition, there is room for further diversification of trade and investment between the UK and Viet Nam. While certain sectors such as textiles, electronics and agriculture have traditionally dominated trade, there are opportunities to expand co-operation in emerging sectors such as digital technology, renewable energy, healthcare, and education. By tapping into these new areas of collaboration, both countries can broaden the scope of their economic partnership and unlock new sources of growth.

Furthermore, the existence of the UKVFTA provides a framework for facilitating trade between the two countries. By reducing tariffs, eliminating trade barriers and providing a stable legal environment, these agreements incentivise bilateral trade and investment, creating opportunities for businesses to expand their market access and competitiveness.

As a member of CPTPP, we see Viet Nam as an important partner with a rapidly growing economy in the heart of the Asia Pacific region, we are committed to continue to growing our trade relationship by joining this high standards and forward-thinking trade bloc, which enables us to work with Viet Nam and other CPTPP members to shape the trading systems of the future, for example in areas like digital trade.

Another factor is that the digital transformation and innovation agenda presents exciting opportunities for enhancing bilateral ties. Both the UK and Viet Nam are prioritising digitisation and innovation as key drivers of economic growth and competitiveness. By sharing best practices, fostering collaboration between startups and tech companies and leveraging digital platforms for trade and investment, both countries can accelerate their digital economies and create new avenues for partnership.

As we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Viet Nam-UK diplomatic ties last year. Cultural exchanges, educational collaborations, and people-to-people connections continue playing a crucial role in strengthening bilateral ties. Student exchanges, academic partnerships, and cultural events foster mutual understanding and trust between the people of the UK and Viet Nam, laying the groundwork for deeper economic and diplomatic co-operation.

Both the UK and Vietnamese governments have implemented policies and initiatives to support bilateral trade and investment. This includes trade missions, business delegations, investment promotion activities, and diplomatic engagements aimed at fostering closer economic co-operation between the two countries. Government support provides businesses with the necessary resources and assistance to explore and seize opportunities in each other's markets.

Overall, the combination of complementary economies, trade agreements, diversification of trade and investment, government support, and cultural connections contributes to the strong trading relationship between the UK and Viet Nam. By leveraging these factors and continuing to strengthen their economic partnership, both countries can further enhance bilateral trade and unlock new opportunities for mutual prosperity and growth.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam Electricity (EVN), the country's largest power company, said the rumour about Vietnamese authorities urging certain businesses in northern Viet Nam to voluntarily reduce electricity usage by 30 per cent is inaccurate.

EVN claimed that it has not and does not have a plan to advise businesses to cut down on their power use.

Rumours of energy-saving measures started circulating after two unidentified sources talked to a major news service, stating that precautionary notices were sent to more than one manufacturer in order to avoid a repeat of last summer's power shortages in the North.

The news service went on to quote their sources as saying the notices were "an encouragement," not a requirement and had not had any impact on production.

According to EVN, the country's power supply has remained stable since the beginning of the year.

Since the power shortage of 2023, the Prime Minister has stressed the importance of ensuring sufficient power supply for industrial activities across the country, saying there should be no shortfalls of electricity under any circumstances.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), Viet Nam's supervising ministry over the power sector, said numerous measures have been taken to ensure an ample electricity supply during the summer. Managers and operators of power plants and systems were told to report to the ministry on a weekly basis.

EVN has established a steering committee to oversee the country's electricity network and task forces, which remain on standby for emergencies, as well as programmes to promote voluntary energy-saving solutions. In addition, the power company has strengthened cooperation with local governments to stay up-to-date with the operations of all power plants across the country.

According to EVN, the measures have been working. Despite a 14.29 per cent increase in consumption compared to the same period last year, EVN said the electricity supply has been stable and sufficient. The company reported a maximum output of 56.89 billion kWh, a 142.5 per cent increase year-on-year for the first quarter of 2024, with all power sources being utilised including coal-fired and gas-fired power plants, renewable energy and hydropower.

EVN said an increase in demand for electricity as the economy recovers, along with early summer heatwaves, were anticipated and plans have been put into motion to address potential shortages.

Including imports, Viet Nam's total electricity supply is projected at 310.6 billion kWh, a 10.4 increase compared to 2023. According to MoIT, measures have been taken to prepare scenarios in which power consumption reaches as high as 313.4 billion kWh.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been no reports of power shortages in the North despite some large businesses ramping up consumption by as much as 10 per cent. The ministry said no effort was and is to be spared to ensure a stable electricity supply this upcoming summer.

Meanwhile, collaboration among large power users and local communities to conserve electricity has resulted in a more flexible production schedule to lessen the burden put on the national grid during peak hours.

According to a report by the ministry, from April 22 to 28, hot weather across the country resulted in higher demand. During that period EVN reported an average daily consumption of 946.6 million kWh, with the highest consumption recorded on April 26 at 993.974 million kWh.

In comparison to the same period in 2023, the national power output increased by 23.1 per cent as the Northern grid's daily output increased by 35.5 per cent, on average. But now that experts have predicted rain in the forecast, the system load is expected to remain steady and even decrease in the next few weeks.  VNS
HA NOI  Enhancing customer trust in the life insurance industry is necessary, a conference in Ha Noi heard.

During the event, hosted by the Insurance Association of Vietnam (IAV), experts and business representatives discussed various solutions to bolster customer confidence after a volatile year.

They also discussed how to grow the local life insurance industry, Government plans for the sector, insurance contributions, the impact of life insurance on the general economy and social security, and the role of customers and insurance agents in building a safe, healthy, and sustainable insurance market.

The association's chairman, Nguyen Xuan Viet, highlighted that the event provided a valuable opportunity for member businesses to evaluate solutions from the State's management agencies and insurance firms to address industry shortcomings and promote healthy and sustainable development.

Ngo Trung Dung, Deputy Secretary General of the association gave an overview of changes that had been implemented in order to develop a safe and healthy insurance industry, including improving products to make them easier to understand and more accessible.

He added that the professional processes of appraisal and issuing insurance contracts had been improved to enhance transparency and customer experience.

Also at the event, Wai-duen Lee, Deputy Director of PwC Hong Kong, said that the demand for healthcare insurance in Viet Nam was growing due to affordability.

She said that the insurance industry had played an important role in maintaining the stability of the financial system as large investors in the financial markets had established close links with banks and other financial institutions, contributing to protecting the stability of households and businesses balance sheets.

Meanwhile, Tina Nguyen, CEO of Manulife Vietnam, emphasised that the industry this year should focus on increasing customer confidence as life insurance is a business of trust.

She said that her company is committed to making life insurance simpler, more transparent, and more professional to become the top choice for insurance planning for every Vietnamese family.

In January, Manulife Vietnam implemented M-Pro, a sales verification and supervision process for all customers who are looking to participate in life insurance. With M-Pro, Manulife Vietnam can independently evaluate the quality and content of an agents consultations before issuing a policy, ensuring that each customer gets the most comprehensive and accurate advice.

The M-Pro process has received positive feedback from customers. According to Manulife, 96 per cent of customers completed the M-Pro process without assistance and 99 per cent of customers stated that M-Pro enhanced their sense of security and trust in their advisors and the insurance provider, empowering them to make informed decisions about their insurance products with confidence.

Along with M-Pro, Manulife Vietnam has launched a term plan with Return of Premium named An Tam Vui Song 2.0 to meet the growing demand for an easy-to-understand insurance product with guaranteed returns. Along with M-Pro, Manulife Vietnam has launched a term plan with a Return of Premium option named An Tam Vui Song 2.0 to meet the growing demand for an easy-to-understand insurance product with guaranteed returns.

The company has also enhanced its claim payment process, reducing the average turnaround time to 1.6 days to provide financial support when customers need it most. For rejected cases involving customers with health issues, Manulife Vietnam assigns doctors to explain the reasons for rejection, ensuring customer satisfaction and leaving them with a positive experience.

According to data from the association, as of March 2024, the total assets of the life insurance industry reached over VN801 trillion, an increase of 9.1 per cent over the same period last year. Total insurance benefit payouts in the first quarter of 2024 surpassed VN15.48 trillion, a year-on-year rise of 35 per cent.

According to experts, the Law on Insurance Business 2022 which took effect on January 1, 2023, along with guiding decrees and circulars, have created the basis for a transparent and professional Vietnamese insurance market.  VNS
BERLIN  The central city of a Nang and Thuringia, a state in central Germany, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday establishing cooperation in the fields of human resources development, investment, trade, science, innovation and cultural exchange.

The MoU was signed by Chairman of the a Nang Party Committee Le Trung Chinh and the Minister-President of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow, at a meeting in the German state on Wednesday. This formed part of a working trip to Germany by a trade and investment promotion delegation from a Nang.

Chinh called on the Minister-President to continue helping a Nang connect with German organisations and enterprises so as to expand cooperative ties and assist the Vietnamese city in achieving its socio-economic development and cultural targets.

He said the working trip marks a new step forward in the two localities cooperation, and that a Nang hopes their partnership will generate numerous practical benefits in terms of not only economic and technological development, but also development in human resources and cultural exchange.

Calling on both sides to actively promote this MoUs objectives, the Chairman voiced his belief that their close cooperation, partnership and friendship will develop sustainably and prosper.

In Thuringia, the a Nang delegation had a meeting with the state's development promotion organisation. They also visited some local enterprises and the Marienstift Arnstadt Hospital.

Cooperation between a Nang and Germany has reaped encouraging results in recent years.

a Nang has exported about US$30 million to Germany and imported some $23 million worth of goods from the European nation. It is currently home to 13 investment projects totalling over $11 million from German investors, focusing on such areas as hospitality, IT, construction consulting and transportation.  VNS
Ezra Blount, 9, died after he and his father attended rapper Travis Scott's show on Friday at the Astroworld music festival, his family said. He had been sitting on his father's shoulders when a crowd surge caused the man to lose consciousness. Courtesy/Bernon Blount Travis Scott appearing here at his ill-fated Astroworld Festival in 2021. Jamaal Ellis/Contributor A memorial featuring those killed in 2021 during a Travis Scott concert at AstroWorld still remains on the fence outside on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

The family of the youngest concertgoer killed at the 2021 Astroworld Festival has settled with rapper Travis Scott, Apple, LiveNation and other companies on the heels of similar agreements in other fatality lawsuits, a lawyer for the family said.

Scott West, lawyer for the family of 9-year-old Ezra Blount, said his clients reached a confidential settlement with the defendants this week and that the settlement would be shared Friday with the court. The next hearing is scheduled for June 3.

The family is happy to resolve its claim against all defendants following the death of their son, Ezra, West said. They look forward to continuing the process of healing and never forgetting.

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The boy, who lived in Dallas, had been on his fathers shoulders but fell when the crowd crammed together and crushed them. The father lost consciousness and when he came to, Ezra was not with him. The family later found him at Texas Childrens Hospital in a medically induced coma. He died from compression asphyxia days later after his family took him off life support. Medical examiners deemed his death accidental.

Ezra suffered severe organ damage after being kicked, stepped on, and trampled, and nearly crushed to death, according to his familys lawsuit.

West had anticipated earlier this month that his case would proceed to trial following recent settlements that left him with the lone fatality case stemming from the deadly concert. The trial date slotted for September will likely be reserved for one of the hundreds of injury cases from the same show, he said.

Jury selection for a trial focused on the death of 23-year-old Madison Dubiski was slated to begin earlier this month but a last-minute appeal by Apple delayed the proceedings. The settlements were reached amid the delay.

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The other victims were Axel Acosta, 21; Brianna Rodriguez, 16; Mirza Baig, 27; Rodolfo Pena, 23; Bharti Shahani, 22; Franco Patino, 21; Jacob Jurinek, 20; and John Hilgert, 14.
HA NOI  Small businesses are confident that 2024 will be positive, with 86 per cent projecting they will grow on the back of robust economic growth, improving results from the past two years, CPA Australias annual survey shows.

Seventy-seven per cent of local small businesses grew in 2023, well above the survey average of 60 per cent, and outperforming all but two of the 11 markets included in the Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey.

Chair of CPA Australias South Vietnam Advisory Committee, Nguyen Nam said: With small business confidence in Viet Nams economy the highest of the markets surveyed, its not surprising that almost nine in ten local small businesses expect to grow this year.

"It's not only a robust economy thats supporting local small businesses to be successful. Many Vietnamese small businesses have characteristics strongly associated with high-growth businesses, including high levels of technology uptake, a focus on improving business management and strategy, and innovation."

"Given this, we may see some Vietnamese small businesses evolve into large global entities in the next few years, if provided access to funding to support such growth.

Another factor that is contributing to the success of Viet Nams small businesses is that they have on average the youngest business owners or CEOs, with 65 per cent under 40 compared to the survey average of 43 per cent. The data reveals that younger business owners or CEOs are more likely to be running businesses that are growing, investing in technology and innovating.

According to the survey, Viet Nams small businesses are the second most likely to innovate this year, with 44 per cent stating they will introduce a new product, process or service to markets in 2024. However, access to finance is less easy, with 27 per cent finding access to finance easy in 2023, down from 50 per cent in 2022.

The focus on innovation should support long-term growth and improve the competitiveness of Viet Nams small businesses but there must be a concerted effort to improve access to finance, with a significant drop in the number of businesses that found sourcing funding easy in 2023, Nam said.

Meanwhile, Viet Nams small businesses lead the region in generating a quick return on their technology investments, with 76 per cent saying their technology investments in 2023 improved their profitability, up significantly from 51 per cent in 2022, per the survey.

This is reflected in strong returns from online sales, with 77 per cent of small businesses receiving more than 10 per cent of their revenue from e-commerce in 2023, the highest on record for Viet Nam. Social media usage has also seen a marked improvement, with only six per cent not using such platforms for business purposes, compared to 26 per cent in 2022.

While most local small businesses reviewed their cybersecurity in the past six months, there is scope for an even greater focus on cybersecurity. Sixty-four per cent of Viet Nams small businesses lost time and/or money due to a cyber incident in 2023, and 70 per cent anticipate further cyberattacks this year.

Small businesses must take proactive measures to safeguard against major damage from cyber threats, as it can seriously affect the bottom line, customer trust and staff morale.

The Government has announced its national cybersecurity strategy. This strategy includes several major measures that are designed to keep Viet Nam in the top 30 global cybersecurity rankings. For small businesses, they should focus on steps the Government is taking to create a safe and trustworthy cyberspace and combatting cybercrime, said Nam.

CPA Australia is one of the largest professional accounting bodies in the world, with more than 173,000 members in over 100 countries and regions. It has two offices in Ha Noi and HCM City.  VNS
HA NOI  The Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority (HEZA) on May 23 organised an investment promotion conference with the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA) with the participation of leaders from nearly 50 businesses operating in the electronic manufacturing, high-tech and semiconductor industries.

As the largest business association of Taiwan (China), the TEEMA brings together more than 3,000 members.

Chairman/CEO at Wieson Technologies Co. Ltd. Chen Hung Chin, head of the Taiwanese delegation, emphasised that TEEMA member enterprises are operating in different spheres, mainly electronics, and their combined revenue makes up about 56% of industrial production value in Taiwan.

This is the third time the association has organised such field trip to the northern port city of Hai Phong to scope out its investment climate, he said, noting that Taiwanese firms highly evaluate the local business environment.

Le Trung Kien, Head of HEZA, said Hai Phong has been an investment destination for many big Taiwanese groups, and expressed his hope that their leaders will step up investment promotion activities in the city, and that TEEMA will coordinate with the authority in organising a large-scale investment promotion conference in Taiwan in September.

Kien briefed the Taiwanese side on Hai Phongs potential, advantages, and its synchronous, modern seaport, expressway, railway and airport infrastructure that has facilitated its international integration.

Over the past years, Hai Phong has remained on the list of the leading localities in foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction, about 2.5 billion USD each year, he continued.

According to HEZA, Hai Phong has lured more than 960 FDI projects worth over US$31 billion from 42 countries and territories so far, of them 65 are invested by Taiwanese investors with total registered capital of over $2 billion.

Taiwanese enterprises have significantly contributed to the citys export turnover with nearly $2 billion last year, and job generation there. - VNS
THUA THIEN-HUE  Strong political commitment from governments and active private sector engagement are critical for achieving a green and resilient economy, according to UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Viet Nam Patrick Haverman.

Green recovery and green economy efforts must be vigorously pursued at national, regional and global levels, guided by the SDGs and the Paris Agreement, he said while speaking at the South-South Lessons Learned Workshop on Aligning Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with Green Recovery in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

In response to the dual challenges of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing climate change, the alignment of NDCs with green recovery strategies has become a vital pathway for sustainable development.

To support this goal, the UNDP initiated a targeted support project for five pilot countries  Benin, Albania, Ecuador, Viet Nam and Jordan.

The workshop, which takes place from Wednesday to Friday, brings together government officials and UNDP international experts from the five countries as well as other Vietnamese representatives.

It aims to share insights and lessons learned from the pilot countries on integrating NDCs with green recovery initiatives.

Other objectives include identifying best practices and challenges in aligning NDCs with sustainable economic recovery efforts, exploring opportunities for applying the lessons learned in future programming and policy-making, and developing networks for South-South cooperation on NDCs and sustainable development.

The initiative focuses on leveraging the NDC enhancement and implementation process to foster a recovery that is robust, equitable and sustainable, highlighting the importance of the Paris Agreement and its instruments, such as NDCs, National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Long-Term Strategies (LTS).

The pilot countries have undertaken various initiatives, including policy alignment, financial strategies, capacity building and knowledge sharing to integrate NDCs into their green recovery efforts.

In addition to deep-dive sessions on aligning NDC policy measures with post COVID-19 recovery plans and NDC finance with recovery finance, the workshop also includes sessions on enhancing gender responsiveness and inclusivity in green recovery efforts.

Hoang Hai Minh, deputy chairman of Thua Thien-Hue Province Peoples Committee, said: With the cooperation and support of UNDP, Thua Thien-Hue has achieved positive results in green energy conversion, reducing carbon and methane emissions in the transportation sector.

Some projects include the pilot Support for providing preferential loans for individuals to purchase electric vehicles for people in Thua Thien-Hue Province; deploying six electric trucks at a pilot waste collection site in Hue City funded by UNDP; researching and testing green transportation policy for shippers delivering goods by motorbike in Hue City; and installing solar panel systems for electric vehicle charging stations.

Workshop participants are scheduled to visit various sites in Hue City, including Vietnam Motorcycle Ltd., where they will see the electric vehicle fleet supported by UNDP. They will also visit Hue Environment and Urban Works JSC to learn about solar battery stations and electric garbage trucks funded by the Japanese government and UNDP.

Additional stops include the Institute of Development Studies of Thua Thien-Hue Province and a shared bicycle station promoting environmentally friendly transport options.

The tour concludes at the Gia Long Mausoleum, where participants will experience the electric vehicle and bicycle systems used for site visits.  VNS
By Tran Khanh An (additional reporting by Linh Vuong, Trang Trinh and uc Manh)

Viet Nam has been named as one the safest destinations in the world for women travelling alone.

British magazine TIME OUT lists Viet Nam among the nine top places on the planet for solo female travellers. It's also the only country in Southeast Asia to make the list.

India-Jayne Trainor from TIME OUT wrote: With a well-trodden tourist route, stretching from the capital of Ha Noi in the north to Ho Chi Minh in the south, the country encompasses mountains, beaches, islands and ancient villages like Hoi An and Hue, plus some of the regions best cuisine. Whether you make the journey by train, sleeper bus or scooter, thousands of other solo travellers will be making the same trip.

Vu Thi Uyen, a lecturer at the Tourism Administration and International Language Faculty at the Ha Noi University of Culture, believes low crime rates and solid infrastructure are key to ensuring safety.

The transportation system in Viet Nam is quite stable and convenient for travelling," she said.

"When you travel, you can choose numerous different means of transport, including planes, trains, buses, motorbikes, and ride-hailing services, which are also popular.

Viet Nam has a low crime rate due to its stringent legal system, therefore, it is a safe country, not only for female visitors but also for everyone.

Safety and convenience

Viet Nam News took to the streets of the capital and HCM City to ask female tourists their opinions.

Abisola Onojobi, 29, from Nigeria, described Viet Nams e-visa registration as seamless, adding that the country is easy to visit.

Coming from the airport, I didn't feel weird, as I was literally the only black person on board. I didn't feel uncomfortable with immigration, getting a Grab, and going to tourist destinations, she said.

Emer Handly, content creator of Where In Hanoi and an expat living in Viet Nam: I'm safe compared to other countries I've been to. There are always lots of people around even at night time and police stations are pretty close to where you are, which always gives me comfort.

I found there are less scams here than there are in other parts of Southeast Asia, so there are not as many people coming up to you on the street and trying to scam you.

Other female visitors think Viet Nam is in the list for female backpacking due to its convenience and kind locals.

Indonesian tourist Lintang Lutfyana said: Vietnamese people are willing to help. When I want to find a local shop or a recommendation, they will direct you on where to go, and tell you what is recommended by the local people.

Amanda Ibarra, a visitor from the Philippines, added, I feel very safe walking along the different streets, whether in the morning, afternoon, or eveningnot a lot of people bother me or stop me, so I feel very comfortable walking around on my own.

I think the people are very friendly and welcoming, and it's a very lively vibe in HCM City.

Ride-hailing services are more popular, as they provide dependable and safe transportation options.

The only transport that I have been using is Grab, mainly, but it's very easy to use on the app, and the Grab drivers are also very friendly and helpful as well, Amanda added.

Supportive community

There is a strong female community to support women travelling alone in Viet Nam. If you are travelling solo, chances are, youll never be alone.

Where in Vietnam, founded and run by Vietnamese and expats living here, aims to become the number one lifestyle hub and community connector for the citizens and visitors in Viet Nam. They have a massive community, earning them nearly 40,000 followers on Instagram.

We are constantly being reached out to our DMs, about what to do when they are travelling here  from any question you can think about, said Cydny Voice, co-founder of Where in Vietnam.

From Where In Hanoi to Where In HCMC, depending on which city you decide to go to, there is a team behind each account that is all female as well, answering any questions you have.

Based on questions they have received and their expertise, they also craft recommendations for creating blogs on their website and Viet Nams visitor pack that go beyond utility for travellers.

Emer also told Viet Nam News: We want visitors to have an authentic, fun and engaging experience here. The starter pack offers everything you need to know about visiting Viet Nam, such as SIM card, Grab app, emergency line numbers, currency and basic Vietnamese words.

Another option is Girl Gone International, the world's largest female expat community and network. Their vision is to support women who live and travel overseas to be more comfortable.

In Viet Nam, Girl Gone International is making appearances in Ha Noi, HCM City, and a Nang, powered by global and local communities.

Even if you visit here long-term or short-term, there are great discussions. It's a great way to find events held by Girl Gone International, Cydny said. VNS
CAN THO  Free folk music classes will be offered to young students in Can Tho in an effort to bring Vietnamese culture to international friends.

The Centre for Student Support and Services in Can Tho City, under the Secretariat of the Viet Nam Youth Federation in Can Tho City, launched a "Free Folk Music Class programme on May 21.

According to Phuong Tan at, director of the Centre for Student Support and Services in Can Tho, the progamme will be implemented from June 10 on every Friday from 9:00am to 10:30am at Thai Binh Duong High School.

The programme includes activities introducing traditional musical instruments and teaching folk singing to young people to preserve and develop the cultural value of traditional music and instruments for the younger generation.

This is also an opportunity to maintain connections, and promote and showcase Vietnamese culture to international friends through traditional musical instruments.

The programme has garnered support from numerous organisations and individuals, all aiming to inspire passion and spread positive cultural values to students.

The operating principle of the programme is "Every student who knows and understands musical instruments becomes a cultural ambassador of Viet Nam to promote and bring Vietnamese culture to international friends."

Truong Tai Linh, currently working at the Ninh Kieu District Cultural and Broadcasting Centre, which supports the "Free Folk Music Class," shared that he is responsible for teaching the history of Vietnamese folk music, guiding students in their initial understanding of folk songs and chants, and practicing on some traditional instruments such as the zither, bamboo flute, and monochord.

"I find the folk melodies very captivating, especially when combined with the sounds of traditional musical instruments, Tran Quang Minh, an eighth-grade student at Thai Binh Duong High School who attended the launch of the "Free Folk Music Class, enthusiastically expressed.

I am sure many students like me will register to join this 'Free Folk Music Class.' I hope to master at least one instrument and confidently sing some folk songs. In the future, if I study abroad, I will proudly showcase what I learned here to my international friends." he added.  VNS
NEW YORK  Viet Nam has called on parties involved in conflicts to strictly comply with international law and international humanitarian law, especially the four 1949 Geneva Conventions and relevant UN resolutions, thus better protecting civilians in conflicts.

The called was made by Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the UN, at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)s open debate held on May 21-22 on the protection of civilians in armed conflict in combination with the marking of the 25th anniversary of Resolution 1265 (1999), which first established the protection of civilians as a crucial issue of international peace and security, and the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Citing the conflict in Gaza that has killed an average of more than 150 civilians every day over the past seven months, he stressed that the international community and the UNSC should take more effective measures to protect civilians and civil infrastructure works.

The official held that the best way is to unroot the causes of conflict and create favourable conditions for dialogue and reconciliation.

He also highlighted Viet Nam's in promoting the protection of civilians, including the bringing of crimes of undermining peace, waging wars of aggression, crimes against humanity, and war crimes into the Penal Code.

As a non-permanent member of the UNSC in the 2020-2021 tenure, Viet Nam took charge of drafting and promoted the adoption of Resolution 2573 on protecting essential civil infrastructure in conflicts, while chairing a number of meetings on overcoming the consequences of land mines, preventing sexual violence, and caring for children in conflict, he added.

At the event, which drew representatives from more than 90 member states, UN observers and a number of international organisation, the majority of participants expressed deep concern about the increase in armed conflicts over the past year that led to many dire consequences for civilians.

The latest report by the UN Secretary General showed that more than 33,000 civilians died in conflicts in 2023, an increase of 72 per cent compared to 2022, alarming violations of international humanitarian law and difficulties in accessing humanitarian assistance in conflict areas.

Through participating in UN peacekeeping operations, Viet Nam has also effectively contributed to the protection of civilians affected by conflicts on site.

Resolution 1265 dated September 17, 1999, for the first time recognised the protection of civilians in conflict as an important issue for international peace and security and became an official annual item on the agenda of the UNSC. Meanwhile, the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and three Additional Protocols are considered the foundation of international humanitarian law to protect victims of armed conflict.  VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang on Thursday came to offer condolences to the Iranian Embassy in Ha Noi over the deaths of the countrys President Ebrahim Raisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other senior officials in a recent helicopter crash.

At the embassy, Deputy PM Quang paid the last respect to the deceased and wrote in the condolence book.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government and people, he wrote that he wishes to offer the deepest condolences to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Government and people of Iran, and the families of President Ebrahim Raisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other victims who died in the May 19 accident.

Viet Nam hopes that the State and people of Iran will overcome this enormous grief and loss to continue building an increasingly prosperous State of Iran, Quang added.

On May 20, Acting President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and PM Pham Minh Chinh sent condolences to Acting President of Iran Mohammad Mokhber while National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man cabled message of sympathy to Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

The same day, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh son extended condolences to Irans Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani.

The helicopter crash happened in East Azerbaijan province of Iran on May 19, killing all people on board. The country declared five days of national mourning for the deceased.  VNS
MONTEVIDEO  Uruguay will take the role as President of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and continue to support Viet Nam's negotiations of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the bloc, Uruguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Omar Paganini has said.

Speaking at a reception for Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina and Uruguay Ngo Minh Nguyet who presented a copy of her credentials in Montevideo on May 16, the minister emphasised that the country will work closely with the Vietnamese Embassy to promote stronger and more comprehensive relations between the two countries in the coming time.

He noted that Uruguay wishes Viet Nam to support and share experiences on the process of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as well as expanding collaboration in economy, commerce, and export of agricultural products.

On May 17, Nguyet had a meeting with the Secretary General of the Communist Party of Uruguay Juan Castillo and Central Committee member, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anna Olivera Pesano, among others.

General Secretary Juan Castillo expressed his desire to further strengthen cooperation with agencies of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and learn from Viet Nam's valuable experiences in national construction and development.

In addition, the Communist Party of Uruguay is planning to build, publish, and popularise many documents on the history and development of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, Viet Nam, and President Ho Chi Minh in an attempt to enhance the understanding by Uruguayan people of the heroic history of Viet Nam.

Nguyet expressed appreciation to the Communist Party of Uruguay for its support to the revolutionary movement of the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam as well as the Embassy of Vietnam in Argentina and Uruguay in carrying out activities to promote cooperation and Party-channel and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Gustavo Cabrera, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Uruguay and Director of the Department of Economic Development of Montevideo city, handed to Nguyet a decision of the city on building a 500sqm Vietnamese culture space near the international convention centre. The space includes a zone for commemorating President Ho Chi Minh who once arrived in ports in Uruguay and Argentina during his journey to seek ways to savage the nation 112 years ago.  VNS
HA NOI  Enhancing economic capacity and resilience and changing policies to unlock resources for business expansion were among the hot topics discussed by National Assembly (NA) deputies at the seventh session of the 15th NA on Thursday.

The NA deputies discussed the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and the state budget for 2023, the socio-economic development situation in the first months of 2024, efforts in practising thrift and combating wastefulness in 2023 and the results of achieving national goals on gender equality in 2023.

Speaking at the discussion, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man noted that Viet Nam's economy met 10 out of 15 targets in 2023. Notably, the industrial, construction, agriculture-forestry-fishery and service sectors have regained growth momentum.

Regarding the GDP growth rate of 5.05 per cent in 2023, NA Chairman Man acknowledged that while the economy did not meet the target of 6.5 per cent, it was a significant effort given that some countries across the region and the globe experienced negative growth.

He also called for a more detailed assessment of the impact on growth of exports, consumption and domestic private investment in the past year. He emphasised the need to clarify causes and propose responsive solutions for sustainable growth.

NA Chairman Man suggested that by the end of this year, scenarios should be developed to reform the foundation of the macro-economy. Specific solutions to growth model innovation, effective international economic integration, private sector development and foreign investment attraction should also be implemented.

Additionally, the NA Chairman urged the Government and relevant ministries to issue decrees guiding the implementation of laws that have been passed by the NA.

As for macro-economic stability, the Chairman proposed developing a comprehensive programme to promote growth for the 2024-25 period. This would involve applying flexible macro-economic policies to address the current unfavourable global and regional economic situation.

Noting a gradual decline in private investment rates over the years, with only a 4.2 per cent increase in 2024, Deputy Tran Anh Tuan from HCM City emphasised the need to vigorously stimulate domestic production demand, primarily through fiscal policies such as tax incentives.

Despite an increase in the number of newly established enterprises, there has also been a significant rise in dissolution, bankruptcy and cessation of operations.

Tuan pointed out that procedures need to be simplified and resources allocated to support business operations.

Echoing Tuan's views, Deputy Hoang Van Cuong from Ha Noi suggested the need for solutions to stimulate domestic demand, such as fiscal policies like reducing VAT and postponing deadline for land fee payments.

Proposal to issue gold certificates and control airfares

Recent fluctuations in gold prices, airfares and real estate prices have caused concern among NA deputies.

Deputy Bui Hoai Son from Ha Noi suggested that measures need to be taken to adjust airfares, which negatively affect travel demand and reduce the number of tourists.

According to Son, one of the reasons for high flight prices is the lack of cooperation between aviation and tourism. He proposed support packages for the aviation-tourism industry to reduce prices, such as funding airport service fees and investing in aircraft maintenance centres in Viet Nam.

As for recent gold price fluctuations, Deputy Pham uc An from Ha Noi stressed the need for a multi-faceted assessment and strict market management policies to minimise the impact on exchange rates.

"This is a very technical issue, but at a certain level, the Government must work on more effective solutions to better manage the gold market and avoid high discrepancies between the domestic and international gold prices," he said.

Deputy Cuong proposed issuing gold certificates, meaning individuals could purchase gold and deposit in the central bank and get certificates of gold deposits in return, as a method of adjusting domestic gold prices to remain in line with global prices.

Regarding the real estate market, Deputy Ta Thi Yen from ien Bien Province pointed out that the existence of 14,000 resettlement houses in Binh Tan District and Thu uc City in HCM City has wasted public financial resources.

She suggested clarifying the responsibilities of relevant agencies, organisations and individuals.

Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra stated that many localities are actively rearranging administrative units at district and commune levels over the 2023-25 period, but some areas show signs of hesitation.

This is a matter of special concern for the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the NA and the Government, which considers it a key task to prepare for the 14th Party Congress.

Currently, 54 out of 63 localities are required to rearrange their administrative units at the district and commune levels.

Tra mentioned that some localities have not issued directives or guiding documents, and may not meet the September 30 deadline.

She said only ten localities have submitted their files so far. It will therefore be very difficult for the Government to report to the NA Standing Committee.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam is determined to uphold its sovereignty and protect its citizens' rights, the foreign ministry said on Thursday in response to China's new rules on trespassing in territorial waters in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea).

The new policy would allow the Chinese Coast Guard to detain for up to 30 days without trial foreigners who violate or help others violate territorial waters/waters that China claims sovereignty.

oan Khac Viet, deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a press briefing in Ha Noi that "as has been fully enunciated many times, Viet Nam has ample historical evidence and full legal basis to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands in line with international law as well as sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over maritime zones established following the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."

"Viet Nam always maintains its resoluteness and consistency in protecting its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Viet Nam's waters, and the lawful and legitimate rights of Vietnamese citizens in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS and Vietnamese law," Viet added.

As for media reports saying that China has deployed a hospital ship of its Navy to Viet Nam's Paracel Islands to provide medical checks and treatment for troops illegally stationed there, the deputy spokesperson responded that Viet Nam "resolutely objects to all activities that infringe upon Viet Nams sovereignty over Hoang Sa."

Mekong dams

The foreign ministry's representative was also asked about measures to deal with the impacts of hydroelectric dams along the Mekong River.

Deputy spokesperson Viet said the Mekong River is an inter-regional river and "as a downstream country, Viet Nam is greatly interested in the transboundary impacts and water retention capacity of the dams."

"As we have repeatedly emphasised, the development and operation of hydroelectric projects on the mainstream of the Mekong River must ensure that they do not cause negative effects, including cross-border impacts on the environment, socio-economic affairs and livelihoods in the riparian countries, particularly in downstream countries in accordance with international law," Viet said.

The diplomat also stressed that Viet Nam stands ready to collaborate with nearby countries to manage and harness the water resources of the Mekong River in an effective and sustainable way, in order to balance the interests among affected countries and to reduce the impacts on the lives of people in the region.

The Mekong River Commission  comprising Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam engages in dialogues with upstream countries along the Mekong River Basin (China and Myanmar), and is actively promoting cooperation with other nations, Viet said.  VNS
Residents in the West Houston Mobile Home Community, a predominantly Latino working-class neighborhood, continue to navigate rebuilding after a severe storm with damaging high winds hit Houston last week, damage is still seen on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Residents in the West Houston Mobile Home Community, a predominantly Latino working-class neighborhood, continue to navigate rebuilding after a severe storm with damaging high winds hit Houston last week, damage is still seen on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, center, listens to Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones, in blue, while visiting damaged apartment complex on 8500 block Pitner Road with Houston Mayor John Whitmire, right, Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at Spring Branch in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Tree removal service men found nests inside a tree that fell and broke Noel Avilas ceiling and wall following the storms last week Monday, May 20, 2024 in Channelview. Avila, not in picture, and his family of five are staying at a hotel due to the damages of the house. They was going to host a birthday party to celebrate his sons first birthday at home on the coming Saturday, but now they will not. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

President Joe Biden recently approved a major disaster declaration for Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity and Walker counties from the May 16 storms. These counties are now allowed to apply for financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Administration.

Residents can apply for home repairs, temporary housing and other forms of financial assistance from FEMA.

Here's how to get help from FEMA if your property was damaged by recent storms:

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What will FEMA help pay for?

Any uninsured homes and property damaged by wind, severe storm or flooding are qualified for federal funding. Applicants can also receive funds for temporary housing, low-interest loans for uninsured losses and other funds needed for funerals, utilities or accessibility equipment.

Assistance can also be received for additional child care costs, safety items such as smoke detectors and dehumidifiers and utilities such as gas, water and electric.

Money will not be provided from FEMA for property already covered by insurance. All applicants may not be approved for financial assistance.

Residents with property damage may be able to receive a one-time payment of $750 per household through serious needs assistance in addition to assistance received through regular aid application. Serious needs money is meant for water, food, childcare needs, personal hygiene, first aid and transportation.

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Serious needs assistance is for individuals who have been displaced by the storm, need shelter or have incurred emergency costs. The money can also be used to cover the cost of staying in a hotel or with friends.

You may be eligible if:

You complete a FEMA application;

FEMA can confirm your identity;

The home where you live most of the year is in a declared disaster area;

FEMA confirms the disaster damage from an inspection or documents you send; and

You apply for FEMA assistance while Serious Needs Assistance and Displacement Assistance is available.

Where do I apply for FEMA assistance?

Individuals or businesses in need of financial assistance from FEMA can go to DisasterAssistance.gov, call 800-621-3362 or the FEMA app on the App Store and Google Play. After selecting their county, applicants will be asked where their disaster is located, what their needs are and what other expenses may be needed.

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All applicants will need the following:

Social Security number

Address of damaged home or other property

A description of the damage

Insurance coverage information

Phone number

Address for receiving mail

Bank account details for direct deposit of financial assistance from FEMA

Applications can also be done in person at the Spring Branch Family Development Center at 8575 Pitner Road. Assistance will be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Residents from all affected counties can apply at the Spring Branch center.

After an application is submitted, FEMA will contact the applicant for further assistance.
TOKYO  Affirming the role of Viet Nam in Asia, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai said he believes the region will continue its steady progress and outstanding achievements across the globe.

He was addressing the Nikkeis 29th Future of Asia Forum on Thursday, which adopted the theme of 'Asian Leadership in an Uncertain World' this year.

The event hosts government leaders, businesses and scholars in the region, including high-level officials from Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Mongolia, Cambodia and Singapore.

Discussions in the forum focus on the profound impacts of current global challenges and how they have compelled Asia to maintain a peaceful and stable environment for growth.

Sharing his perspective on Asias role and potential, deputy PM Khai said that the region continues to see dynamic and stable development, and has emerged stronger as a role model for growth after each crisis in the past three decades.

He proposed three assurances to ensure the development and role of Asia, the first of which is a peaceful and stable context for cooperation and growth based on the Charter of the United Nations (UN) and international laws, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The two other assurances are the widespread and equal distribution of free trade and investment benefits among countries in the region, and international cooperation, multilateralism and a comprehensive approach to addressing common challenges.

Alongside these conditions are three enhancements, one of which is collaboration in reinforcing the resilience and adaptability of Asian economies and businesses.

Deputy PM Khai added that through multilateral frameworks, economies in the region should increase information sharing, coordinate macro-economic policies, and promote regional and inter-regional cooperation initiatives, especially in food, energy, cybersecurity and trade connections.

The second enhancement is to utilise resources to bolster new growth engines in the green digital economy and adopt new development trends, especially in shaping standards and principles for managing breakthrough technologies.

During this process, the Vietnamese leader asked that developed countries continue their support for developing nations in terms of finance, technology transfer, capacity enhancement in executing green growth commitments, emission reductions and adaptation to climate change.

The third solution proposed by the Deputy PM is promoting business cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and collaboration in culture and tourism.

He stressed that despite technological advancements, humans are still the core of cooperation and development, which is why nurturing the next generation is of critical importance to the region in addition to addressing current bottlenecks.

He hoped that state leaders would advocate and promote youth exchange programmes, such as the successful ones between Viet Nam and Japan, South Korea, China and ASEAN partners, to enhance mutual understanding and strategic trust among younger generations.

In tandem with Asias overarching growth, Viet Nam has recorded remarkable changes and proudly serves as a role model in several important aspects of development, notably in economy, social welfare and international relations, he said.

Viet Nam pursues a consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, multilateralisation and diversification in external relations, while also bolstering discipline within the state apparatus and maintaining political stability for national development, according to the Deputy PM.

He also asserted Viet Nams commitment to creating favourable conditions for and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises and investors who are engaging in long-term, effective and sustainable operations in the country.  VNS
TOKYO  Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai met bilaterally with his Cambodian and Singaporean counterparts on Thursday during his working trip to Tokyo for the 29th International Conference on the Future of Asia.

Meeting Cambodian Deputy PM Sun Chanthol, Khai expressed his delight at the stable development of bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic aspect with a remarkable growth in two-way trade in the first quarter of this year.

He affirmed Viet Nam's respect for Cambodia's legitimate interests in national construction and development, including the Funan Techo canal project, in line with the friendly relations and relevant regulations of the Mekong River Commission (MRC).

In this spirit, Khai urged Cambodia to continue collaborating closely with Viet Nam and the MRC to share information and assess the project's impact on water resources and the eco-environment in the Mekong River basin. This, he stressed, is crucial for harmonising interests of riparian countries for the sustainable development of the basin and the well-being of its inhabitants.

Sun Chanthol, for his part, highlighted the need to further strengthen economic, trade and investment ties to achieve the goal of US$20 billion in two-way trade, adding that the Cambodian Government encourages Vietnamese investment in Cambodia.

Both leaders agreed to promote high-level visits and exchanges, including via the Party channel, and effectively implement existing agreements and cooperation mechanisms. They affirmed their high regard and priority for the fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive, sustainable and long-term cooperation between Viet Nam and Cambodia.

Meeting with his Singaporean counterpart Gan Kim Yong, Khai congratulated Gan on his recent appointment. He believed that following the recent successful power transfer, the Singaporean Government and people will reap greater successes in national construction and development.

To elevate Viet Nam-Singapore relations to a new level, Khai proposed further strengthening the implementation of the Viet Nam-Singapore Economic Connectivity Agreement framework and the Digital Economy and Green Economy Partnership (GDEP) framework. He also called for attracting high-quality foreign investment in emerging technology sectors, transforming Viet Nam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) into smart, green and sustainable models, and fostering collaboration in education, training, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

The Vietnamese leader hoped that both countries would continue working closely together at international and regional forums such as ASEAN, the United Nations, and APEC. He also emphasised the need for a strong, united and resilient ASEAN Community to uphold its role and address regional issues.

Both sides acknowledged the positive outcomes of their cooperation, particularly in the economic sphere. They expressed a commitment to elevating their relationship to a new height, potentially setting a model for future ASEAN partnerships.

Gan underscored the potential for further economic cooperation, expressing a desire to expand collaboration not just in quantity but also in quality. Building upon the GDEP framework, he suggested the two sides explore and launch projects in emerging areas like electricity transmission, hydrogen energy, carbon credits and green finance.

On the occasion, Deputy PM Khai conveyed an invitation from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh for a visit to Viet Nam by Singaporean PM Lawrence Wong.  VNS
A NANG  a Nang Airport has become the country's first airport to introduce breastfeeding rooms at convenient and accessible locations.

Six breastfeeding rooms were opened for use at the airports international terminal on Thursday.

Supported by the Embassy of Ireland in Viet Nam, FHI 360s Alive & Thrive and Rotary a Nang, the newly established rooms provide a safe and tranquil environment for mothers to breastfeed their babies or to express breast milk. The breastfeeding rooms are strategically positioned near washing facilities yet distanced from lavatories, have soundproofed walls and have comfortable chairs.

inh Anh Tuan, head of the Maternal and Child Health Department under the Ministry of Health, said Viet Nams laws, including labour laws, laws on social insurance and on health insurance, have strict regulations on mothers breastfeeding, encouraging people to believe that breastfeeding is best.

Viet Nam is among only a few developing countries which has six months of maternity leave and the healthcare sector has taken lots of measures to encourage breastfeeding with a Nang leading the way, he said.

a Nang Hospital for Women and Children was the first healthcare facility nationwide to launch a mother milk bank initiative, since then five other banks and two satellite operations opened across Viet Nam. The system of milk banks is expanding, aiming to provide safe donated human milk to at-risk babies in need nationwide, he said.

o Trong Hau, chief operating officer of a Nang International Terminal, said: "We are delighted to introduce this pioneering initiative at a Nang International Terminal, setting a new benchmark for breastfeeding support in public spaces nationwide.

"The breastfeeding rooms smart design, co-created by lactating mothers and international lactation consultants, serves as an excellent complementary solution to enhance lactation space accessibility for breastfeeding mothers alongside mother and baby rooms already installed."

Paul Zambrano, acting regional director of Alive & Thrive East Asia Pacific, said: "With a Nang International Terminal leading the charge in supporting breastfeeding, a Nang is on the way to becoming a breastfeeding-friendly city, bolstered by an ecosystem of initiatives aimed at creating a supportive environment for breastfeeding. This investment transcends nutritional benefits, yielding economic and environmental dividends through breastfeeding."

The central city currently hosts five centres of excellence for breastfeeding, benefiting over 21,000 babies every year and thanks to the milk bank at a Nang Hospital more than 100 preterm, low-birthweight and sick babies are helped every day.

The city also boasts a 100 per cent installation rate of lactation rooms within workplaces, which employ more than 1,000 female employees, empowering 15,000 working mothers to sustain breastfeeding upon their return to work. VNS
CAN THO  More and more rice farmers in Can Tho City are using alternate wetting and drying irrigation (AWDI) to save water and other costs.

The method helps farmers reduce water consumption as their fields are not kept constantly submerged during the growing stage.

The number of days rice fields are not flooded can vary from one to more than 10 days depending on a number of factors such as soil type, weather and crop growth stage.

In Co o District, 91 per cent of the ongoing summer - autumn rice crop has AWDI.

Nguyen Thi Bich Tran, deputy head of the district Plant Cultivation and Protection Station, said after rice plants fully flower farmers do not need to submerge their field, and irrigation is needed when the water level drops to 15 cm below the surface of the soil.

Before harvesting 15-20 days, farmers should not flood their fields to enable machines to move rice easily, she said.

Vo Van Be, a farmer in the districts Thanh Phu Commune, uses the irrigation method, and he said his rice crop has grown well, is strong and has fewer diseases.

The method helps reduce irrigation to three to four times per crop compared to seven or eight while using conventional irrigation methods, he said.

The district has enabled farmers to monitor the water level in their fields using their smart phones.

Phan Van An, a farmer, said the facility helps manage the water level easier.

When the water level drops to about 15 cm below the surface of the soil, the app sends a message to his phone and he irrigates his field again, he said.

With the facility, farmers can save the time they spend on visiting their fields and still feel assured that the fields do not lack water.

The Cuu Long (Mekong) city has 75,000ha under rice, mostly in Vinh Thanh, Co o and Thoi Lai districts.

Pham Thi Minh Hieu, head of its Plant Cultivation and Protection Sub-department, said AWDI saves water and other costs, and is important to farmers in Can Tho and the whole delta amid climate change.

AWDI does not affect yields, and helps cope with the shortage of water in the dry season, she said.

It also helps reduce methane emissions and improves sustainability, she added.

High-quality rice

The Can Tho Peoples Committee has issued a plan to implement the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developments project to sustainably develop one million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta to 2030.

Under the project, the city aims to develop 38,000ha of high quality rice by 2025 and 48,000ha by 2030.

Vinh Thanh, Co o and Thoi Lai are the districts participating in the project.

They will reduce the use of seeds to 80 - 100 kg per hectare in 2025 and 70 kg in 2030 from 80 -120 kg now, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides by 20 per cent and 30 per cent and water by 20 per cent.

It targets exports of high-quality rice accounting for more than 20 per cent of output.

To reach the targets, the city will take various measures like establishing rice growing areas, improving co-operatives and other players in value chains, investing in infrastructure, and helping farmers link up with companies that buy rice.

This year the city will set up a steering committee for implementing the project and organise advocacy activities, and appoint agricultural officers to transfer farming techniques to farmers.  VNS
GIA LAI  Authorities in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on Thursday held memorial and reburial services at the uc Co District martyrs cemetery for the remains of 21 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who fought and lost their lives in Cambodia during wartime.

The remains were found and repatriated by Team K52 of the Gia Lai Military Command during the 2023-24 dry season, with support from the authorities and people of the Cambodian provinces of Ratanakiri, Stung Treng, and Preah Vihear.

Over the past years, the team has repatriated the remains of 1,489 Vietnamese soldiers who fell down in Cambodia.

Keo Sa Vuoen, deputy head of the three Cambodian provinces specialised committee, said the Cambodian people always remember and never forget the great contributions by many Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who scarified their lives for liberating Cambodia and helping its people escape from the Pol Pot genocidal regime.

She requested authorities at all levels, the armed forces, and people of the Cambodian provinces continue to coordinate with the specialised committee and Team K52 in the search for and collection of martyrs' remains in the upcoming 2024-25 dry season.  VNS
HA NOI  The police are searching for ang Tat Thang, former Chairman and CEO of Bamboo Airways, after receiving allegations of rights infringement against him.

The allegations were filed by Sai Gon Thuong Tin Commercial JS Bank (Sacombank) claiming that he had infringed upon the rights of certain organisations and individuals.

The police attempted to summon him for investigation but he was not at his residence and his whereabouts have been unknown.

To further investigate the case, the police issued a search warrant for Thang on May 22 and called on various agencies, including the Immigration Department and Professional Police Profile Department, to assist in the manhunt.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the Investigation Security Agency of the Ministry of Public Security at 254 Nguyen Trai Street, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1, HCM City. Phone number: 069.333.6068  069.3336603.

Thang, born in October 1981, was residing in FLC apartment building in Cau Giay District, Ha Noi.  VNS
BINH INH  The Korea-Viet Nam Mine Action for the Peace Villages has been officially launched.

The project is being managed by the Viet Nam National Mine Action Centre and funded with more than US$14 million from the Korean Government's non-refundable ODA.

It will be in operation until December 2026, covering the three provinces of Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Ngai and Binh inh.

Aimed at overcoming the consequences of post-war bombs and mines, it will protect people in the local community, contribute to promoting local socio-economic development and help to create harmonious, safe and prosperous rural communities in Viet Nam.

Under the project, Vietnamese agencies will be better able to deal with the consequences of landmines and bombs in Viet Nam, enforcing regulations related to support for victims of mines, explosives and people with disabilities. They will also continue to survey 15,000ha of land and clear more than 6,000ha of mines and explosives in the three provinces.

Money from the organisation will also be spent on support for those who have been injured by bombs, mines and explosives and people with disabilities in the project areas, with other funds used to review how victims are currently helped and supported.

Speaking at the project's opening ceremony, organised by the Viet Nam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) in co-ordination with the Korea International Co-operation Agency in Viet Nam (KOICA), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the People's Committee of Binh inh Province, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, deputy minister of National Defence thanked the support of the Government and people of Korea.

There remain in Viet Nam around 5.6 million hectares of land contaminated with mines and explosives left over after the war, Chien said.

The Prime Minister has approved the national action programme of overcoming post-war mine consequences for the period 2010-25, aiming to mobilise all national and international resources to speed up the progress of mine clearance, he said.

Binh inh, Quang Ngai and Thua Thien-Hue are three of many provinces prioritised for the programme.

When the project is completed, people in those areas should be able to live and do business safely, contributing to the socio-economic development of the localities, he added.

At the ceremony, Deputy Chairman of the Binh inh Peoples Committee Nguyen Tu Cong Hoang said that around 40 per cent of the province's land has been contaminated with a total area of nearly 250,000ha.

The Viet Nam - Korea co-operation project to overcome the consequences of post-war bombs and mines was implemented in the province from 2018 to 2021.

The provincial People's Committee has asked for a coordinated effort with the Project Management Board to conduct a technical survey on an area of 10,700ha of land, of which nearly 4,800ha has already been identified as having bombs and mines. More than 4,200ha has already been cleared, with nearly 68,000 bombs and explosives safely destroyed, Hoang said.

Binh inh Province has organised several workshops, training, guidance and reviewed and collected information on bomb and mine victims, identifying more than 26,800 people in need of support.

In addition, the provincial authorities have coordinated with localities to train commune-level individuals and organise programmes to raise awareness for residents in order to prevent bomb and mine accidents in the area and implement the 'Mine Safe Schools' Campaign specifically aimed at educating school children in the province. VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Tan Dung held a working session with Finnish Ambassador to Viet Nam Keijo Norvanto in Ha Noi on Thursday, during which they discussed measures to promote cooperation in vocational education and sending Vietnamese workers to Finland.

Dung proposed Norvanto continue to act as a bridge to coordinate and step up cooperation activities in vocational education such as building and developing training institutions of Finland, establishing a quality assessment system that meets international standards, connecting Vietnamese vocational education institutions with Finnish businesses in Viet Nam, enhancing the capacity of management officials and teachers, and selecting support for technology transfer and training courses aligned with Finland's key strengths.

While acknowledging the absence of a formal labour cooperation agreement between the two countries, Dung highlighted the recent trend of receiving Vietnamese guest workers to Finland, saying that since late last year, about 20 Vietnamese workers have secured jobs in various sectors, including nursing, welding and forestry.

Amid the labour shortage caused by an aging population and a low birth rate, Norvanto said the Finnish Government launched the pilot Talent Boost Programme to attract workers, experts and entrepreneurs during 2020-2022 to draw 50,000 immigrants for employment to Finland by 2030 and 250,000 by 2050.

Viet Nam, alongside Brazil, India, and Turkey, has been identified as a key source country for this initiative, he said.

He urged the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) to prioritise strengthening bilateral labour cooperation, specifically by expeditiously studying and signing a Memorandum of Understanding outlining a framework for Vietnamese labourers working in Finland.

With the upcoming visit of the Finnish Minister of Employment to Viet Nam in January 2025, he expressed his desire for close collaboration between MoLISA and the Finnish Embassy to solidify cooperation plans.  VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung uc Tien on May 23 emphasised the management of the fishing fleet, traceability, and strict administrative punishment for violations of regulations on the vessel monitoring system (VMS) as the key issues in ending illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing while addressing an online conference on May 23.

The conference was held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to implement Dispatch No. 49/CD-TTg on detecting and handling violations of the VMS regulations.

Tien said in a recent working session between a MARD delegation and the European Commission (EC), the EC pointed to limitations during the implementation of the VMS regulations in localities, despite adequate legal documents and strong political determination in Vietnam.

It is a must to strictly handle violations of VMS regulations, especially those committed by above-15m-long boats, the official said, noting that merely commitments or warnings are not accepted by the EC.

Ha Le, Director of the Fisheries Information Centre under the MARDs Directorate of Fisheries, said as of May 21, 2024, up to 98.25% of boats measuring at least 15m long had been equipped with VMS devices.

However, only about 60% of them maintain daily connection, he said, adding that many vessels have disconnected since 2019, which has hampered monitoring efforts by competent forces.

He also pointed to shortcomings in the handling of such violations, the loose coordination between forces in localities, along with wrongdoings by VMS suppliers.

Director of the Fisheries Resources Surveillance Department Nguyen Quang Hung asked localities to review and dispose vessels no longer operational, and take more drastic actions in investigating and handling violations.  VNS
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) is working on amendments to the 2013 Law on Science and Technology (LoST) towards creating further refinements for businesses and intellectuals.

PM Pham Minh Chinh (centre) has reiterated that sci-tech is fundamental to the green-digital transition

The ministry will drastically amend the law with many new points, transforming it into an effective tool and important legal corridor to strongly promote science, technology, and innovation, with technology transfer and financial mechanisms being among the amendments, said Nguyen Hoang Giang, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology.

The MoSTs plan is reinforced by the governments determination to create a more enabling environment for the sci-tech sector. At a meeting to celebrate Vietnam Science and Technology Day on May 16, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proclaimed that sci-tech and innovation are a fundamental element of both digital and green transformation.

Science, technology, and innovation are the shortest path to achieving our goals. Therefore, we need to prioritise resources in institutions, mechanisms, policies, infrastructure, and people, he noted. Lessons from successful cases around the world, especially in South Korea, Japan, China, the United States, Germany, and Finland prove the great role of sci-tech in the development and advancement of nations.

He requested relevant authorities to further promote the role of science and technology and innovation in all fields, considering this an important political task of all levels. They must focus on key tasks and solutions, such as building policies for inclusive development, investing in infrastructure, improving the quality of human resources, and increasing attraction and diversification.

Also of note to carry out includes strengthening the model of public-private partnerships, and having appropriate policies to lure reputable Vietnamese and international scientists to contribute to domestic sci-tech development.

At the meeting, Pham Van Tai, general director of business corporation THACO, said, The business community looks forward to support from the MoST to create new advantages for businesses to participate in research, development, and application of sci-tech and innovation.

It is regarded that the sci-tech industry is still facing many issues in terms of legal problems, human resources, limited state funding, and a big sci-tech gap with developed countries. The business community is waiting for improvements not only in the LoST, but also the Law on Capital City for Hanoi.

As shown in MoST statistics, investment in sci-tech has been decreasing compared to the level stated in the LoST. While investment must be no less than 2 per cent of the total annual state budget expenditure, in 2023 the state funding for sci-tech was only 0.82 per cent.

Nguyen Quan, chairman of the Vietnam Automation Association, which represents the voice of more than 1,000 member businesses, said that a major problem involves technology transfer, especially transferring research results to businesses.

As shown in existing rules, when a research project is funded by the state budget, the result is owned by the state. Moreover, if research results are transferred, it is necessary to evaluate the product as intellectual property - a type of intangible asset, Quan said.

But currently, there is no competent agency assigned to evaluate assets and almost no-one dares to value them for transfer to businesses, Quan continued.

He added that research projects also encounter difficulties in disbursement, payments, invoices, contracts, and bidding for equipment and materials procurement. Although financial management under the fund mechanism has been regulated in the sci-tech law, it has not yet been accepted for application to the relevant task management system.

Along with amending the LoST, it is necessary to pay attention to amending laws on the state budget, corporate income tax, and on public employees to have a consistent legal system, Quan added. In addition, other laws such as on public procurement, public investment, use of public assets, and tech transfer must also be amended to remove obstacles in research activities, application, and commercialisation.

Businesses seek stable tax policies for sustainable recovery in new normal Beverage businesses are calling for no tax increase to support them in the recovery path ahead, thus enabling them to develop more sustainably and contribute more to socioeconomic development.
People gather to walk around bridge along West Lake Houston Parkway after it was closed due to high water on either side of the thoroughfare, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Kingwood. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

The release of the Houston areas new floodplain maps has been delayed again  this time to early 2025, the Federal Emergency Management Agency confirmed this week.

Harris County Flood Control District has been working with FEMA since 2018 on a total overhaul of the countys mapped floodplains, which are expected to grow significantly due to increasing rainfall and improved technology. Without the new maps, which were expected to be released two years ago, many residents still dont have an accurate idea of their propertys flood risk as the region heads into another hurricane season.

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While flooding can occur anywhere, floodplain maps designate the official boundaries of areas considered to be at heightened risk. They show whether a property could flood in a 100-year storm  in which case, its in the 100-year floodplain  or a 500-year storm.

FEMA collaborates with local governments across the country  in Harris County, their partner is the flood control district  to create and update the maps. Harris County maps have not had a complete and comprehensive overhaul since 2007.

As of now, Harris Countys new maps are being scrutinized in FEMAs extensive internal comment process, according to Larry Voice, senior engineer for risk analysis for FEMA Region 6.

Its not that there are problems with the data as far as inaccuracies, Voice said. Its all about how we show it.

The challenge, Voice said, is to show the data in a way that makes sense to everybody so that everythings consistent and everythings very readable.

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Voice said the process is taking longer than expected due to the sheer size of Harris County and the complexity of the cutting edge technology theyre using. Some elements of the model are one dimensional, while others are two dimensional.

We have been working through comments for a couple years now, Voice added, so it has been a slower process than we would have liked.

In a statement, the flood control district said the project is incredibly complex, and it appreciates the thoughtful feedback from FEMA.

The Flood Control District has been in close collaboration with the FEMA team to ensure they have the needed data and materials from our team, it stated.

After significant flooding occurred outside the mapped floodplains during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the new methodology is part of a major effort to capture a more comprehensive, accurate understanding of flood risk.

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On the new maps, Harris Countys 100-year floodplain is expected to increase from around 150,000 acres to 200,000 acres, Harris County Engineer Milton Rahman said last year.

With hurricane season around the corner, residents living in that expanded, heightened risk area may not know they need flood insurance since the maps havent been released to the public.

Currently, many property owners are required to have flood insurance if they are located in the 100-year floodplain  but not if theyre in the less risky 500-year floodplain.

Without the updated 100-year floodplain publicly available, Voice recommends that residents check whether theyre in the current 500-year floodplain to get a better idea of their risk.

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I would advise them to consider themselves at risk and get flood insurance, Voice said.
While the term digital transformation is widely used, not all business leaders fully comprehend its meaning. Could you explain what it is when it comes to business?

Despite the ubiquity of the term, its precise definition eludes many business leaders. To simplify, lets use the evolution of a wristwatch as an example, guiding you through four stages: manual operations, digitisation, digitalisation, and digital transformation.

Shashi J, partner of Consulting at EY Consulting Vietnam JSC

In the 1970s and 1980s, businesses primarily operated manually, which represents the first stage. The computer revolution that took place soon afterwards led many businesses to transition to computerisation, marking the second stage as digitisation. The third stage, digitalisation, refers to the process of converting analogue data into a digital format, enabling the data to be processed by computers or other digital devices.

The fourth and most challenging stage is digital transformation. While some might argue that digitalisation and digital transformation are synonymous, at EY, we consider them distinct facets of business.

Today, my watch captures my thoughts, heartbeats, and a variety of other data. It even nudges me to stand up and walk if Ive been sedentary for too long. But how does this apply to business? Businesses can leverage technology to monitor the pulse of their various functions, including finance, production, sales, and customers.

Technology becomes a tool for businesses to extract and analyse their data, yielding valuable insights. This information enables business owners to formulate actionable strategies, such as resource allocation, time optimisation, or exploring a different customer segment, to achieve their business goals.

Just like how a smartwatch will display useful information for you to take an action, smart or digital systems should be able to do the same but at an enterprise scale. Thus, we believe digital transformation is achieved when a business organisation can achieve an informed decision, take action on it and deliver tangible results in a timely manner leveraging on digital technologies and assets.

Several years ago, Forbes assessed the risk of failure in digital transformation to be 84 per cent. Could you sexplain what that means?

The assertion that 84 per cent of digital transformation journeys fail was indeed a bold one. You can evaluate this statement for yourself. How often organisations or businesses in Vietnam announce their intention to embark on a digital journey via social media?

The most common example of such an endeavour is the adoption of enterprise resource planning (ERP), one of the first significant steps businesses in Vietnam take to enhance their operations  specifically in areas of procurement, supply chain, HR, and manufacturing. How often do businesses announce successful ERP implementation and satisfaction with results? Not often.

The EY-Parthenon 2022 Digital Investment Index survey of C-level executives from large companies worldwide showed an increase in existing technology investments and the adoption of technologies such as chatbots, AI, machine learning, blockchain, and augmented reality.

Many companies have been building data platforms through investments in the cloud and the Internet of Things (IoT). The number of companies that reported realising the full benefits of investing in cloud, IoT, and AI increased by 54 per cent in 2022, compared with 2020. But even with the right strategic intent for digital transformation and a well-communicated vision, some companies, even large ones from around the world, stumble at various implementation phases of the journey.

Recognising these challenges helps us to provide the necessary support for clients to navigate these common pitfalls. EY has a proven track record of delivering digital engagements on time, within budget and scope. Our prestigious awards and client testimonials demonstrate our commitment to helping clients thrive in their digital transformation efforts.

We believe that a successful digital transformation requires an innovative culture and a clear vision from the top, which can then be translated into an actionable business strategy. Digital transformation is and should be a part of the companys DNA. Instead of having digital as an add-on, successful companies infuse digital capabilities throughout the business and consider it as a journey, not a project.

How would you advise a business organisation to successfully carry out a digital transformation journey?

Successful digital transformation hinges on four key ingredients: technology, operations, business, and people. When organisations embark on the journey towards digital transformation, whether its through formulating a strategy or implementing some projects, the focus is heavily placed on technology. Perhaps its the term digital that naturally leads one to associate it with technology, where software vendors are more than willing to cater to your needs. Buying software could be as simple as buying a car.

Venturing from technology into the slightly trickier aspect of operations, which drives growth as well as optimise the operational efficiency through intelligent automation and process re-design. This brings us to an area where EY teams excel as independent consultants.

The third ingredient is business - a fully integrated business strategy that shows where digital enables and provides services for a better customer journey.

However, the bedrock of digital transformation would be people. Human emotions, aspirations, insecurities, and relationships introduce layers of complexity to the transformation process. For example, an employee who has been with the company for 20 years may experience various emotions upon hearing about changes in systems and processes. Fear of becoming obsolete or feeling less important are common reactions. Garnering their support for the digital transformation becomes a colossal challenge.

We utilise a top-tier change-management strategy to navigate this emotional landscape. Importantly, this methodology is adaptable to specific cultural and regional differences. Our success lies in transitioning employees from their current state to their desired mindset, taking into account individual corporate cultures and working styles.

Stereotypically, companies view digital transformation as installing advanced software, developing a mobile app, or enhancing their website. However, the transformation journey is more akin to a caterpillar changing into a butterfly rather than merely changing their colours.

Success in digital transformation requires a masterful blend of ingredients, much like baking the perfect cake. At EY, our role is to help clients achieve the best possible outcome, with innovative and forward-thinking strategies.

You mentioned that humans are game-changers and theres resistance at some level or department which might be replaced by technologies. How would you recommend dealing with this issue?

A Transformation Leadership study conducted by EY teams and the University of Oxfords Said Business School in 2021 found that the complex factors influencing a transformations success or failure are rooted in human emotional behaviour. Therefore, the study suggested that organisations need to cultivate a culture of change and understand the interdependencies associated with the emotional behaviour of the overall workforce and key senior stakeholders.

I concur with these solutions. Based on my consulting experience, seamless digital transformations revolve around two critical points: mitigating shocks and addressing skill deficiencies. For instance, if we were to replace a core system in a year-long project, it is crucial to communicate this planned change to employees right from the outset.

This approach eases uncertainty and allows employees time to understand the why behind the change. Gradually, we assist employees in transitioning from the existing way of working to the new system. By effectively managing these changes, we avoid chaos and foster success.

Another aspect of equal significance is addressing skill gaps. Organisations undertaking digital transformations need to have the appropriate skill sets. Moreover, a proactive plan to enhance the workforces capabilities is vital to withstand ongoing and future digital transformations.

*The views reflected in this article are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the global EY organisation or its member firms.

Businesses take heed of the dual transition Combining digital transformation with the green transition has become a more urgent requirement for enterprises to ensure business goals as well as social responsibility.

Low-code: a powerful enabler for the digital transformation The low-code development platform is emerging as a powerful enabler for digital transformation. Nguyen Ngoc Hoang, director and digital innovation lead at KPMG in Vietnam, explains how it empowers business users to quickly create and adapt applications without the need for specialised programming knowledge and experience.

Experts urge promotion of digital transformation in logistics, e-commerce Applying technology in logistics and e-commerce will bring many benefits, thus optimising the efficiency of these two sectors, and contributing to reducing logistics costs for the entire economy, heard a workshop in Hanoi on May 16.
The Vietnam Business Forums focus on ESG could not be more timely. It reflects the nations commitment to achieving net-zero emissions and adhering to sustainable growth trajectories outlined in the National Green Growth Strategy. Moreover, responding to the demands from international financial institutions and markets, particularly the European Union and the UK, underscores the urgency for Vietnamese businesses to prioritise ESG performance.

Ramla Khalidi, Resident representative United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (left) and Iain Frew British Ambassador to Vietnam

Businesses in Vietnam who wish to export to the EU, or who are part of EU-bound supply chains, will need to prepare for new sustainability requirements, such as those under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

In the same vein, Vietnamese businesses that supply products or services to UK companies may be expected to report on ESG measures or have proof of good practices. It is increasingly difficult to win a contract with larger companies or the government of the UK without this, as they are required to report various climate-related measures and the companys climate strategy.

We have seen businesses pay increasing attention to the environmental aspect of ESG, addressing issues like carbon emissions and circular economy practices. This is understandable in a country vulnerable to climate change and grappling with plastic pollution. At the same time, businesses must not to overlook the social and governance dimensions. These pillars are equally vital for driving sustainability and creating long-term value for businesses.

ESG funding for sustainable growth, illustration photo/ Source: Shutterstock

The social pillar of ESG assesses how a business manages its impact on workers, customers, and communities. According to the Vietnam ESG Readiness Report 2022, only 16 per cent of businesses operating in Vietnam prioritise social performance. This lack of investment may stem from misconceptions that social investment conflicts with financial returns, posing an operational burden.

However, a closer look at the social indicators suggests numerous potential benefits translating into strong long-term value. These include increased productivity, innovation, stakeholder engagement, reputation enhancement, and investor confidence. The hesitation in assessing social performance may also be partly due to less straightforward or technical indicators. About 70 per cent of Vietnamese businesses lack understanding of ESG reporting data. Luckily, guidelines exist to aid businesses in selecting the appropriate indicators and metrics. For instance, a key guidance on social performance for businesses can be found in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which can support businesses in social and environmental due diligence.

In Vietnam, the National Action Plan on Responsible Business Practice, which seeks to align Vietnamese policy and law with UN Guiding Principles, has been approved and is under coordination by the Ministry of Justice. The UNDP seeks to continue to support the Ministry of Justice and other government agencies in taking this plan forward.

As part of the wider effort to support, the UNDP and the UK government recently collaborated in a project to actively engage the private sector in anti-corruption and compliance control, encouraging the business community in Vietnam to act collectively to improve the business environment. The business community was provided with knowledge and skills relating to compliance control, risk management, due diligence, and ESG. The UK government is also helping the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the State Securities Commission develop handbooks on ESG framework and climate-related financial risks disclosure for state-owned enterprises, small- and medium-sized enterprises and listed companies.

In Vietnam, governance is a top priority for 62 per cent of businesses. The relatively high priority given to the governance pillar reflects a commitment to responsible conduct, particularly in compliance, anti-corruption, and effective management.

Despite this focus on governance, 76 per cent of businesses surveyed by the ESG Readiness Report 2022 lack a clear ESG governing structure, and 65 per cent do not involve the executive board in related matters. To avoid programmes becoming mere box-ticking exercises, governance structures should manage policy implementation and assess and drive forward business performance for long-term value and impact.

Various assessment frameworks can guide businesses in selecting indicators and metrics that align with their goals and stakeholder needs. Governance initiatives should intersect with other ESG elements, forming a comprehensive toolbox. These initiatives may include integrating it into decision-making processes, conducting regular audits, enhancing transparency and accountability through reporting, and fostering a culture of ethics and integrity.

The UNDPs SDG Impact Standards, a readily available management practice tool, is designed to guide businesses in effective governance. These standards provide a decision-making framework, helping businesses embed sustainability into their management and decision-making processes while filling gaps in current market practices.

While Vietnamese businesses currently lag in ESG practices, they have the opportunity to leapfrog. Small businesses can leverage their agility and innovation to adapt strategies more effectively. Moreover, they stand to benefit significantly from relevant practices, including talent attraction, access to capital, and operational flexibility.

ESG becoming mandatory criteria for sustainable development of business Environmental, social, and governance factors are increasingly becoming a prerequisite component in the investment decision-making process of many investors, with an initiative offered by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

RIS.ER 24 event taking place at Sheraton Hanoi Hotel on May 23 The RIS.ER 24 conference themed around environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues will take place on May 23 at the Sheraton Hanoi Hotel, organised by Worldbasesys Co., Ltd in collaboration with Vietnam Investment Review.

ESG Investor Conference discusses need for inclusive partnerships The 2024 Vietnam ESG Investor Conference saw industry leaders and investors converge at New World Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City on May 16-17 to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change and chart a course towards a more equitable future.

ESG conference aims to change mindsets The Sheraton Hotel in Hanoi was host to an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) conference on May 23 with the participation of policymakers and the business community, and in collaboration with VIR and WBS Solution and System Co., Ltd.
Vietnam is preparing to commercialise 5G this year. What future plans are member companies of EuroCham working on to tap into the local potential?

Pavel Poskakukhin, co-chairman of the EuroCham Vietnam Digital Sector Committee

Member companies of EuroChams Digital Sector Committee (DSC) are envisioning ambitious strategies to leverage Vietnams rapidly expanding digital landscape. Through collaborative endeavours with local enterprises and startups, these companies are forging innovative pathways tailored to the unique dynamics of the Vietnamese market. These joint ventures aim to fuse international expertise with local insights, fostering the development of cutting-edge solutions that resonate with Vietnamese consumers.

Integral to these plans is a concerted focus on investment in research and development. By allocating resources to such initiatives, DSC member companies seek to propel technological advancements and nurture a culture of innovation within Vietnam. These investments drive business growth and contribute to the broader ecosystem by fostering knowledge exchange and skill development.

Moreover, sustainability lies at the core of these future endeavours. Recognising the importance of corporate social responsibility and sustainable practices, DSC members are integrating environmental stewardship into their business strategies.

In alignment with these principles, EuroChams DSC member companies are actively engaging with local communities to understand their needs and aspirations. By co-creating solutions with local stakeholders, these companies ensure that their offerings are relevant and sustainable in the Vietnamese context.

Beyond business objectives, DSC member companies are committed to contributing to the broader socioeconomic development of Vietnam. By aligning their growth strategies with societal needs, these companies seek to foster inclusive prosperity and empower local communities. This entails initiatives such as skills development programmes, job creation efforts, and support for small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Vietnam is said to face a digital divide. What should the country do to avoid this problem and to encourage foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) to join?

To tackle the digital divide in Vietnam and encourage the participation of FIEs, a multi-faceted approach is imperative. Vietnams progress in connectivity notwithstanding, rural and remote regions still face limited access to reliable internet infrastructure, highlighting the need for comprehensive solutions.

Efforts to expand broadband coverage and reduce connectivity costs should be prioritised to bridge this gap. Public-private partnerships emerge as a key strategy, leveraging the expertise, resources, and technology of FIEs. By fostering collaboration between FIEs, local communities, government agencies, and non-profit organisations, tailored solutions can be developed to address the specific challenges faced by underserved populations.

Central to this effort is the promotion of digital literacy and skills development programmes. These initiatives are essential to ensure inclusivity and empower marginalised communities to fully participate in the digital economy. By equipping individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills, Vietnam can unlock the potential of its population and drive socioeconomic growth.

In practical terms, initiatives such as community broadband projects, mobile internet vans, and targeted digital literacy programmes can make a significant impact. Community broadband projects, for instance, can extend connectivity to remote areas, while mobile internet vans can bring internet access to communities on the move or lacking fixed infrastructure.

By prioritising equitable access to digital services and fostering collaboration between public and private stakeholders, Vietnam can address the digital divide and create an environment conducive to the participation of FIEs. This collaborative approach promotes economic development and fosters social inclusion, ensuring that no-one is left behind in the digital age.

What are the conditions Vietnam needs to have to ensure successful 5G commercialisation, and could you share some of the successful examples?

To ensure successful 5G commercialisation in Vietnam, several key conditions must be met. Firstly, there must be substantial investment in infrastructure, including the widespread deployment of base stations and fibre-optic cables. This infrastructure forms the backbone of the 5G network, enabling high-speed connectivity and low latency.

Additionally, regulatory frameworks must be streamlined to create an environment conducive to investment and innovation in telecommunications. Drawing inspiration from successful use cases globally, Vietnam can tailor its approach to 5G implementation.

Furthermore, the concept of smart cities showcases the potential of 5G to enhance urban living. Through the integration of 5G-enabled sensors and AI algorithms, cities can optimise traffic management, conserve energy, and bolster public safety measures.

For instance, in South Korea, 5G-powered drones provide real-time data on crop health, revolutionising agricultural practices and increasing efficiency. By emulating successful use cases and adapting them to local contexts, Vietnam can accelerate its 5G journey and unlock new opportunities for development and prosperity.

Through strategic investments in both infrastructure and regulatory reforms, Vietnam can position itself as a leader in 5G innovation, driving growth across multiple sectors of the economy.

5G network inches ever closer Investment returns may be some way off for telecoms groups, despite taking on ownership of 5G frequency bands via auction.

New era opens for 5G commercialisation The March auction of frequency bands for 5G marks an important milestone in the countrys 5G commercialisation. The auction of the B1 and C2 frequency band blocks was successful, while the C3 band was not, as not enough qualified businesses were interested.

Accelerating Vietnams journey towards 5G 5G remains on track to become the fastest-adopted mobile generation: 5G mobile subscriptions are forecast to have topped 1.6 billion at the end of 2023, and 5.3 billion by 2030. However, we are still early in the 5G cycle and only 28 per cent of 4G sites globally have been upgraded to 5G mid-band. Likewise, only 1.6b 5G subscribers, out of a total of 8.5b mobile subscriptions, enjoy the benefits of 5G.
This month, Swedish packaging giant Tetra Pak announced an additional 97 million ($105.3 million) investment to expand its packaging material production in the southern province of Binh Duong, bringing total investment in the site to over $23 million.

Tetra Paks expansion plans for the Binh Duong facility will include an additional production line, which will be fully operational by the third quarter of 2025. With this expansion, the facility will have the capability to produce new and innovative packaging formats.

Elsewhere, staBOO Thanh Hoa, a joint venture with Swiss company staBOO Holdings AG, in April gained approval from Thanh Hoa Peoples Committee to build a bamboo processing factory with a total investment of around $125.7 million.

The factory has a designed annual capacity of 225,000 cubic metres of chipboard panels and plywood made from bamboo. It is expected to consume 1,000-2,000 metric tonnes of bamboo per day and create more than 3,000 jobs.

A green manufacturing trend can have a ripple effect in Vietnams industrial landscape, Photo: Le Toan

European investments such as these are geared towards sustainable development and green production. In particular, Tetra Pak will implement the upcoming changes for the Binh Duong facility in accordance with its dedication to environmental responsibility and corporate stewardship, ensuring sustainability standards are upheld throughout the process.

Another Danish company, Lego Group, is investing more than $1 billion in building its first carbon-neutral plant in Binh Duong province. The toymaker company plans to operate its carbon-neutral factory in the second half of this year.

Likewise, staBOOs bamboo processing factory will produce green patented products used in construction and furniture, providing efficient carbon emissions reduction solutions to the global market.

Dominik Meichle, chairman of European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), told VIR that the trend of green manufacturing led by European companies is poised to have a ripple effect across Vietnams industrial landscape.

As European firms collaborate with local suppliers, valuable knowledge about eco-friendly production processes is shared, encouraging Vietnamese businesses to adopt higher sustainability benchmarks. This not only enhances their competitiveness but also makes them more attractive to foreign investors, he said.

According to Meichle, when sustainable practices prove to be successful both environmentally and economically, they create positive momentum for the development of regulatory policies. Demonstrating that green manufacturing is advantageous for both environmental health and economic growth encourages policymakers to support and promote these practices among domestic businesses.

This includes providing incentives, creating supportive frameworks, and fostering collaborations between industry leaders and local enterprises. The alignment of proven sustainable methods with policy support can lead to widespread adoption of greener industrial operations, enhancing the overall competitiveness and attractiveness of Vietnams industrial sector to foreign investors, he added.

Beyond cost considerations, Vietnams appeal as an investment destination lies in the governments concerted efforts to improve infrastructure and promote a business-friendly environment. While progress is still needed, Vietnam is undoubtedly moving in the right direction, making it an increasingly attractive destination for European manufacturing investments, Meichle added.

The trend of European companies expanding their manufacturing capacity is closely aligned with the findings from EuroChams Q1 2024 Business Confidence Index report. Accordingly, 71 per cent of European businesses in Vietnam are expressing confidence in the countrys long-term future.

Euro parliament steps up Vietnams IPA ratification The European Union will urge many member states to boost the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement in order to further facilitate investment flows.

Binh Phuoc calls for investment from European businesses The southern province of Binh Phuoc is calling for foreign investment in high-tech agricultural projects, food processing, large-scale production, and renewable energy.

EuroCham Vietnam appoints Bosch Vietnam's managing director as new chairman for 2024 The European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) has unveiled its 2024 board of directors, with Dominik Meichle, managing director of Bosch Vietnam, as the new chairman.
The delegation works with representatives of Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt (Photo: VNA)

Berlin  Le Van Thinh, Director of Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and Tran Thanh Hai, Principal of Vien Dong College, have signed a commitment with several German enterprises to increase skilled young labourers for the college and to train young talents in line with German standards for the labour market in both countries.

The signing ceremony in May 22 was part of the working trip of representatives from the municipal Peoples Committee to Germany to explore opportunities on transferring vocational education and training programmes at college and intermediate levels from Germany in the field of healthcare.

Under the commitment, Avestos HR UG of Germany will provide vocational training for students and assist skilled workers to integrate into the German labour market, and support in protecting their rights in Germany as defined by the programme.

Avestos also cooperate with Devis Company of Vietnam to fulfil conditions stipulated in the internship/skilled worker contract.

Meanwhile, the Vien Dong College is responsible for coordinating with Devis to provide career consultation to high school students in HCM City, and take responsibility for support programmes for its students.

The education establishment will also collaborate with relevant departments and agencies to offer recommendations to the municipal People's Committee, creating favourable conditions for sending students from HCM City to Germany for training, studying, and working.

The working trip aimed to understand the quality assurance activities according to German standards for vocational education institutions, the scope of assessment by accreditation agencies (inside and outside the scope of Germany), the acceptance of the quality assessment results of other countries, and the methods and costs of quality assurance assessments; and to learn about how vocational education institutions collaborate with businesses throughout the training process.

The delegation visited several models of elderly care centres, specialised techniques related to elderly care work.

During their stay, the delegation worked with representatives from the Consulate General of Vietnam in Frankfurt, Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt, the Azurit nursing home in Hesse, the AWO company specialising in nursing centres and schools for the elderly in Thuringia state, and the VTT company operating in teaching German to Vietnamese people in Berlin.

Ho Chi Minh City needs nearly $35 billion for 10 metro lines The southern city wants to build 10 metro lines by 2060, over 510km in length, and with a total investment of nearly $34.5 billion.

HCM City to develop over 650km of roads annually Ho Chi Minh City aims to develop about 652 km of roads, 212 km of railways and BRT, and 365 km of inland waterways every year to achieve its socio-economic development goals.
The banking sector, as a critical pillar of the global economy, has not been left untouched from ESG. However, while many banks have made commitments to its principles, they face significant challenges in implementation, often compounded by the allure of greenwashing.

Samir Dixit, global head ACORN Management Consulting

Greenwashing, is a form of advertising or marketing spin that deceptively uses green PR and green marketing to persuade the public that an organisations products, goals, or policies are environmentally friendly. Companies that intentionally adopt greenwashing communication strategies often do so to distance themselves from their environmental lapses or those of their suppliers.

Lets just get one significant fact right before we deep dive into anything to do with banking. Banks fundamentally only know and focus on two things and two things only: mitigating risk and making profits.

ESG in banking poses a big challenge for both of these focus aspects. It is extremely challenging for the banking sector given the broad spectrum of challenges that come with compliance, including climate change risk mitigation, social responsibility, and ethical governance.

For banks, integrating these considerations into their operations involves not only aligning their lending and investment practices with sustainable goals, but also addressing crucial changes to internal policies and practices to ensure responsible business conduct.

Some of the crucial challenges for banks in embracing ESG is the complexity of assessing and managing risks across their highly diverse portfolios as climate change poses multifaceted risks, from physical impacts such as extreme events to transition risks originating from the intended shifts towards a low-carbon economy, which constantly shifting risk dynamics. Banks therefore have to develop dynamic and robust risk assessment frameworks to evaluate and mitigate these risks effectively.

With the dynamic risk frameworks comes the real risk of ensuring alignment with social and governance factors requires banks to scrutinise their relationships with various stakeholders, including employees, customers, communities, and regulators. Issues such as diversity and inclusion, human rights, and data privacy are increasingly under the spotlight, demanding proactive measures from banks to address them.

Making matters worse for the banks among all these challenges is the greenwashing which poses as a significant roadblock towards ESG integration within the banking sector.

Stakeholders often seek more clarity on bank commitments to ESG-related matters, Photo: Freepik.com

It is not all that difficult for a bank to pretend to be doing things than be actually doing the integration. Banks are known for greenwashing efforts by way of sponsoring various ESG programmes which help banks convey a false impression of environmental responsibility through marketing or public relations efforts, while not substantively addressing any real or significant ESG concerns arising through their own business operations.

A good test to see whether a bank has really made substantial business changes to address these issues would be for the regulator to closely audit and examine the banks frameworks and processes pre and post their claimed ESG integration and one would likely see a different picture than what the banks claim it to be. The answer as to why the banks continue to engage in greenwashing is rather simple.

Banks engage in greenwashing for reputational enhancement, competitive positioning, and financial incentives tied to ESG performance. By presenting a facade of compliance, banks can continue to attract investors and customers seeking ethical and sustainable options, without making substantial changes to their practices and keep regulators at bay.

One of the most common greenwashing tactics employed by banks is the selective disclosure of ESG-related information. They may highlight certain initiatives or achievements while hugely downplaying or completely omitting negative aspects of their operations. Banks also use vague or ambiguous language in their disclosures, making it difficult for stakeholders to find out the true extent of their commitments.

Addressing genuine compliance and eliminating greenwashing in banking requires greater transparency and accountability within the banking sector. Regulators play a crucial role in setting clear ESG disclosure standards and enforcing compliance to prevent misleading practices. Investors and customers also have a responsibility to scrutinise banks ESG claims and hold them accountable for their actions.

Furthermore, banks must demonstrate a genuine commitment to the principles by integrating them into their core business strategies and operations. This involves embedding sustainability considerations into risk management frameworks, product development processes, and corporate governance structures. Collaboration with stakeholders, including civil society organisations and industry peers, can also foster accountability and drive meaningful progress towards sustainability goals.

ESG gives businesses competitive edge Adopting a sustainable business model through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices is a challenging journey but provides long-term competitive advantages for enterprises.

ESG poses challenges for Vietnamese businesses in global trade expansion According to the Corporate Global Trade Survey Report 2023 published by Reuters, 88 per cent of businesses require annual environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data collection from their suppliers. This poses a new challenge for Vietnamese businesses in the process of global supply chain integration.

ESG becoming mandatory criteria for sustainable development of business Environmental, social, and governance factors are increasingly becoming a prerequisite component in the investment decision-making process of many investors, with an initiative offered by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

ESG Investor Conference discusses need for inclusive partnerships The 2024 Vietnam ESG Investor Conference saw industry leaders and investors converge at New World Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City on May 16-17 to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change and chart a course towards a more equitable future.
The winning prices were VND89.42 million (nearly $3,500) per tael. A tael equals 37.5 grams, or 1.2 ounces.

An announcement from the central bank on May 20 revealed that it would soon hold a gold auction offering 16,800 taels of SJC-brand gold bars. The reference price for calculating the deposit value stood at VND88.6 million ($3,479) per tael. The minimum bidding volume of the auction was five lots, equivalent to 500 taels. Meanwhile, the maximum bidding volume per member was 40 lots.

Since April 19, the SBV has organised eight gold auctions, five of which have been successful, with 35,100 taels sold and the remainder failing to draw in bidders. After an 11-year hiatus, gold bar auctions have resumed to improve supply to the market.

The government is taking action to tighten its grip over the local gold market as prices of the precious metal remain high.

Accordingly, credit institutions and gold trading enterprises will be subject to inspections in terms of compliance with policies and laws on gold-trading activities under a decision issued by the SBV on May 17.

The inspections will focus on adherence to legal regulations concerning gold trading, anti-money laundering, accounting and invoicing practices, tax declarations, and fulfilment.

State Bank announces 4th gold bar auction to stabilise prices The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) on May 7 announced a morning auction for a total of 16,800 taels of gold in Hanoi on May 8.

Eight bidders win May 14 gold auction Eight bidders bought a total of 8,100 taels of SJC-branded gold bullion out of the 16,800 that the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) offered for sale at the auction held on May 14 morning.
The recognition reaffirms FPT IS's role as a top technology partner, with over 20 years of experience working alongside SAP-the worlds leading provider of business software, in consulting and implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) services in Vietnam.

The event, held on May 16-17 in Thailand, was to honour strategic business partners with outstanding achievements over the year. This marks the third consecutive year FPT IS has received the Best Partner of the Year award, the highest accolade awarded to partners with significant business accomplishments.

Representative of FPT IS (formerly FPT Information System) - third from the left, receives the award at the event.

The Best Rise Partner award recognises flexibility in business strategy and the solid consulting and implementation of SAP services, enabling FPT IS to quickly advise and implement the Rise with SAP solution for various customers and industries.

The award for Best Midmarket Partner acknowledges the efforts of FPT IS in driving business and consulting, and implementing the best solutions for mid-sized enterprises at reasonable costs, contributing to the increase in revenue and the number of mid-sized enterprise customers for SAP.

And finally, the Best Partner of the Year award recognises sustainable development with SAP, comprehensive market development commitment, the performance of the consulting team, and the quality of implementation quality from the company.

We are honoured to be SAP's number-one partner in Vietnam and be trusted by major enterprises across various fields. The philosophy 'Co-create The Next' is a crucial foundation for us, SAP, and businesses to turn technology into distinct competitive advantages, creating new growth milestone said Dang Truong Thach, executive vice chairman of FPT IS.

We at FPT IS are proud to have worked with businesses to affirm that ERP is an effective investment. Many of our customers have been able to accelerate their operations, production, and set more outstanding growth targets such as GONSA, Ba Huan, Siba Food, Tran Duc, and Coteccons, added Thach.

FPT IS was awarded with Best Partner of the Year, Best Midmarket Partner, and Best Rise Partner

A key differentiating factor allowing FPT IS to successfully guide many businesses in ERP implementation is its profound consulting expertise and thorough understanding of SAP solutions.

This is complemented by an ecosystem of solutions integrated around digital management of procurement, human resources, customer relationship management, production and supply chain management, and sales management. This helps businesses master the management platform and build a real-time data system for making accurate and appropriate business decisions.

Specifically, in the pharmaceutical management sector, FPT IS collaborated with GONSA to implement the SAP S/4HANA management system and automate processes with akaBot.

The SAP S/4HANA system helps the company easily solve management issues in the pharmaceutical distribution and service industry and integrate the information chain within the company, enhancing operational efficiency and optimising business processes.

The digital management system has paved the way for GONSA's operations, allowing for rapid reporting and calculations in minutes.

For leadership, the system provides a visual overview of the company's health, and for staff, it reduces repetitive tasks, increasing productivity.

In agriculture, FPT IS operates the SAP S/4HANA system, supporting nearly 100 Siba Food Vietnam stores in processing, portioning, and retailing food.

The Rise with SAP S/4HANA solution expedites business operations such as financial and accounting management, sales management, and procurement management.

Additionally, the solution is integrated with various systems such as POS cash registers in stores, SHB eBanking, FPT.eInvoice electronic invoicing, and the SAP Fiori platform in Siba Food stores.

This enables Siba Food to build a 4.0 digital value chain for daily transactions in stores and offices, connecting every store nationwide.

In addressing specific challenges in management and production operations in the furniture industry, FPT IS collaborated with Tran Duc to implement SAP S/4HANA, helping the company aim for a 50-60 per cent revenue growth target in 2024.

With the Rise with SAP solution, including the SAP S/4HANA system, Tran Duc has been given complete modules such as sales management, procurement and inventory management, production management, and project management.

As a result, Tran Duc has seen inspiring outcomes. Data is centralised, allowing timely and accurate strategic business decisions. The system can accurately measure 95 per cent of material requirements, reducing order implementation time by 10 per cent.

FPT IS and Metrodata unveil strategic digital transformation partnership FPT Information System Corporation (FPT IS) and PT. Metrodata Electronics, Tbk, the largest ICT public company in Indonesia, signed an MoU at a ceremony in Hanoi in a significant move on January 13, part of the state visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Vietnam from January 11-13.

FPT IS and Carbon EX driving carbon credit market FPT IS and Carbon EX, a carbon credit trading platform and renewable energy certificate issuer in Japan, signed an MoU to collaborate in providing services and solutions to promote carbon credit projects adhering to global standards such as Verra Carbon Standard, Gold Standard, and J-Credit.

FPT IS ascends to CREST membership for penetration testing services FPT Information System Corporation (FPT IS) has officially became a member of the CREST organisation for penetration testing services (Pentest).
Houston Mayor John Whitmire speaks during a press conference regarding to Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones opening a distribution center in her district Monday, May 20, 2024 at Spring Branch Boys and Girls Club in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Houston emergency officials say last week's sudden and severe storms raised fresh concerns about a handful of unregistered senior apartment complexes in the city that they argue lack staff and resources to care for vulnerable residents when disaster strikes.

The facilities, including one Mayor John Whitmire accused of abandoning its residents in the wake of power outages after the storms, are not nursing homes and do not provide that level of care, but they do qualify for federal funding as senior living facilities, according to Brent Taylor, spokesman for the Houston Office of Emergency Management.

"Our primary concern has been on the more quasi-senior living facilities," he said. "They may be taking advantage of certain federal programs, but they are not nursing facilities. And they may or may not be registered."

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Fire Chief Samuel Pena said he worried that conditions at the city's facilities would worsen for those still without electricity almost a week after the storms first hit.

With cameras rolling and police and fire officials by his side, Whitmire said a complex he described as an assisted living facility had abandoned its residents in the wake of power outages caused by the severe weather last week.

We're going to hold the management responsible, Whitmire said Sunday. If they want to do business and be licensed in the state of Texas, in the city of Houston, they're going to have to care for their clients.

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The owners of the senior apartment complex where Whitmire held the news conference quickly pushed back on the mayor, saying they are being accused of withholding services they don't provide.

"The property is not an assisted living property, but rather an independent living apartment complex with 292 units," Bill Elsbree with Creative Property Management, the company that manages Independence Hall, wrote in an email. "No supportive services or meals are provided to the residents by the property."

Independence Hall describes itself as a retirement community on its website. It is not registered with the state.

Elsbree rejected the mayor's assertion that management had abandoned the facility. Staff assessed damage the night of the storms and were on-site every day after. Power was restored Sunday as was air conditioning for most apartments, but officials were working to get a hold of temporary units for those without, he said.

The standard of care at senior living complexes is less than a nursing home, with only one of three that Whitmire criticized, Independence Hall, offering doctor visits. Residents at Independence Hall get regular doctor visits, on-site home health providers and wellness checks, according to the facility's website. They also get bimonthly visits from the Houston Food Bank.

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Whitmire also was critical of Houston Heights Tower and Heights House.

A patchwork of state and federal civil and criminal laws govern long-term care facilities, but a lack of resources and oversight means safeguards sometimes aren't in place, said Eric Gerard, a partner at Sorrels Law in Houston who specializes in white-collar crime and civil litigation surrounding such facilities.

Any facility receiving federal health care or housing money is subject to the laws regarding care, but enforcement action for violators can be complex, determining how to leverage federal dollars for prosecutors to take the case, Gerard said.

Taylor told the Houston Chronicle that the city identified problems at Independence Hall through a new system for conducting welfare checks that came about after the 2021 winter storm.

As part of new legislation, the city keeps a list of almost 3,000 vulnerable residents who need welfare checks when disaster strikes. After making automated calls and whittling down the list after last Thursday's storms, city volunteers visited nearly 1,000 residents, Taylor said.

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Representatives for Independence Hall did not respond to multiple calls checking in on conditions at the facility, Taylor said.

As temperatures hit the 90s and many remained without power Monday, Houston-area officials were worried that residents in the regions senior care facilities were at risk for serious complications.

Pena said his emergency responders had received an uptick of calls for service at the citys senior living facilities.

MORE FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE: AC issues affecting multiple Houston ISD schools

Whitmire told the Chronicle on Monday that city officials were still working to determine exactly how many facilities across the city were at risk due to a lack of power. He said the issue was mainly from smaller operators.

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Chronicle science editor Roberto Villalpando reported that temperatures would surpass 90 degrees each day this week and that humidity would push the temperature to feel like 100 degrees.

CenterPoint Energy restored power to all but fewer than 100,000 customers by Wednesday.
The Waco City Council on Tuesday gave final approval to an updated drought contingency plan and new water conservation plan after months of discussion, while also approving space for a new visitor welcome center near Magnolia Market and a resolution clearing the way for $58 million in tax-exempt bonds for a senior housing project on Ritchie Road.

Council members also heard presentations from city staff regarding the pavement condition of city streets and the planned expansion of the Bull Hide Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The council also adopted Kimley-Horns 25th Street Corridor Plan, which was introduced to the council last month.

The drought contingency plan is required to be updated every five years, while the water conservation plan is a new document outlining strategies to safeguard Wacos water supply for the next 100 years. The plans were first introduced to the council in March, and after amendments, the council passed the plans on first reading during the most recent regular council meeting earlier this month.

The updated drought contingency plan calls for a year-round three-day-a-week lawn watering schedule regardless of the current drought level, similar to restrictions many other cities in Texas already have. Under the plan, hand watering is not restricted unless the city reaches more severe drought stages. The long-term water conservation plan calls for expanding Wacos water supply to avoid overreliance on Lake Waco for water, which is now the citys only drinking water source. Strategies outlined in the plan include securing more water rights from the Brazos River Authority to draw water from the Brazos River.

Visitor center

The council gave approval for an agreement to lease a 3,100-square-foot facility downtown to be used as a new visitor center. The citys current visitor center is directly adjacent to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, and city staff said they hope the new location will result in an increase in foot traffic to the visitor center.

The new location is 323 S. Sixth St., in space attached to the AC Hotel by Marriott and near Magnolia Market at the Silos. The lease is for a 10-year term with two five-year renewal options, and city staff said they hope to move into the new location by the end of the year.

Cottages at Warren

Another item the council approved Tuesday allows a developer, SLF-Waco, to secure $58 million in tax-exempt bonds for a senior housing project, the Cottages at Warren Road. The project, planned at the intersection of Warren and Ritchie roads, would include 146 housing units for seniors. The city is not directly involved in the financing, but tax code requires the citys approval for the developer to receive the tax-exempt bonds. SLF-Waco is wholly owned by Senior Life Foundation, a Georgia-based nonprofit.

25th Street

The council got its first look at Kimley-Horns completed 25th Street Corridor Plan last month, and the results of traffic studies done in advance of a planned project to increase foot traffic along 25th and 26th streets. The council signed off on the plan Tuesday. It includes two-way traffic and roundabouts, along with other measures intended to slow the speed of traffic and promote foot traffic to the many businesses in the corridor.

Pavement condition

City Manager Bradley Ford presented a study that found 41% of Wacos streets are in good condition, 23% are in fair condition and 36% are in poor condition. According to the councils agenda packet, the city has spent $144 million since 2020 revamping the citys streets, and has seen an increase in roads rated as good and a decrease in roads rated as poor.

Council Member Josh Borderud said half of Wacos roads were rated as poor in 2015, signifying progress made by the city on improving roads.

The council also heard from Utilities Director Lisa Tyer regarding the planned expansion of the Bull Hide Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant currently processes 1.5 million gallons of wastewater, with a total capacity of 2 million, triggering a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requirement to plan for expansion once a plant hits 75% of its capacity.

Tyer said the plant would be expanded to allow for processing of up to 4 million gallons a day, at a cost of $70 million. The cities of Lorena and Hewitt, which also are served by the plant, would share in the cost of expansion.
Nicole Hensley is a staff writer for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at nicole.hensley@houstonchronicle.com.

She joined the Chronicle in 2018 from the New York Daily News and after writing for The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington. A native of Seattle, Nicole is a graduate of Washington State University.
WASHINGTON  A second flag of a type carried by rioters during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was displayed outside a house owned by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

An Appeal to Heaven flag was flown outside Alitos beach vacation home last summer. An inverted American flag  another symbol carried by rioters  was seen at Alitos home outside Washington less than two weeks after the violent attack on the Capitol.

News of the upside-down American flag sparked an uproar last week, including calls from high-ranking Democrats for Alito to recuse himself from cases related to former President Donald Trump.

Alito and the court declined to respond to requests for comment on how the Appeal to Heaven flag came to be flying and what it was intended to express. He previously said the inverted American flag was flown by his wife amid a dispute with neighbors, and he had no part in it.

The white flag with a green pine tree was seen flying at the Alito beach home in New Jersey, according to three photographs obtained by the Times. The images were taken on different dates in July and September 2023, though it wasn't clear how long it was flying overall or how much time Alito spent there.

The flag dates back to the Revolutionary War, but in more recent years it has become associated with Christian nationalism and support for Trump. It was carried by rioters fueled by Trump's Stop the Steal movement animated by false claims of election fraud.

Republicans in Congress and state officials have also displayed the flag. House Speaker Mike Johnson hung it at his office last fall shortly after winning the gavel. A spokesman said the speaker appreciates its rich history and was given the flag by a pastor who served as a guest chaplain for the House.

Alito, meanwhile, is taking part in two pending Supreme Court cases associated with Jan. 6: whether Trump has immunity from prosecution for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and whether a certain obstruction charge can be used against rioters. He also participated in the courts unanimous ruling that states cant bar Trump from the ballot using the insurrection clause that was added to the Constitution after the Civil War.

News of the second flag brought renewed calls for Alito to step aside from the Trump-related cases. At this point it is difficult to make any reasonable case for Alitos impartiality. It can and must be questioned. As a result, he must not sit on cases about the 2020 election or the insurrection he appears to have supported, said Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The group represented Colorado voters in the insurrection clause case at the high court seeking to bar Trump from the ballot.

There has been no indication Alito would step aside from the cases.

Another conservative justice, Clarence Thomas, also has ignored calls to recuse himself from cases related to the 2020 election because of his wife Virginia Thomas' support for efforts to overturn Trump's loss to President Joe Biden.

Public trust in the Supreme Court, meanwhile, recently hit its lowest point in at least 50 years.

Judicial ethics codes focus on the need for judges to be independent, avoiding political statements or opinions on matters they could be called on to decide. The Supreme Court had long gone without its own code of ethics, but it adopted one in November 2023 in the face of sustained criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices. The code lacks a means of enforcement, however.

The 9 current justices of the US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Justice Clarence Thomas Justice Samuel Alito Justice Sonia Sotomayor Justice Elena Kagan Justice Neil Gorsuch Justice Brett Kavanaugh Justice Amy Coney Barrett Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
Hong Kong, Guangxi ink 38 cooperation deals totaling 6.7 bln USD

Xinhua) 10:28, May 23, 2024

HONG KONG, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday signed 38 cooperation agreements with south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, totaling 48.4 billion yuan (6.7 billion U.S. dollars) in contract value.

Nearly three-quarters of the 26 investment projects are focused on emerging industries such as innovation and technology, electronics information, and food processing, accounting for more than 90 percent of the total contract value.

Addressing the event, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee said that as Guangxi doubles its efforts in building out a new development paradigm, Hong Kong is eager to leverage its logistics, port management expertise, high-end business services, and high value-added supporting services such as legal and funding services to bolster enterprises in Guangxi and other parts of west China.

Officials and business insiders believe that the autonomous region, with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as its closest and most closely connected regional economic and technology hub, is poised to better integrate into the GBA's supply, capital, and industrial chains. Business opportunities also abound for Guangxi in the China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) industrial cooperation zone.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
A man evading a traffic stop was shot and killed in an exchange of gunfire with Harris County Sheriffs Office deputies Sunday, April 14 in north Harris County, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. Houston Chronicle

A man who was charged in his sister's homicide after a deadly Houston gas station shooting last month was arrested, according to the Houston Police Department.

Richard Taplin, 35, was arrested Monday in Arizona and taken into custody by a joint task force between Houston and Arizona law enforcement agencies.

Around 9:50 p.m. on April 26, Houston police officers were dispatched to a parking lot at 8100 Martin Luther King Blvd. and found Richard Taplin's sister, Sarah Taplin, shot to death.

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According to investigators, Sarah Taplin and an unidentified woman got into a fight. At some point Richard Taplin grabbed someone's gun nearby and started shooting at the woman as she fled and accidentally shot his sister, police said.

He then fired multiple shots into a crowded gas station parking lot nearby as the unidentified woman tried to flee the area, police said.

Richard Taplin is charged with murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful carry of a weapon with a felony conviction.


Establishment of US Manufacturing Base in Ohio

Sydney, May 23, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - AML3D Limited ( ASX:AL3 ) is pleased to announce the signing of a 64-month lease that establishes AML3D's US headquarters and manufacturing facility ('US Hub'). The US Hub is located within a manufacturing and industrial district at Stow, Ohio that has excellent national and international transport links to allow AML3D to effectively support it US customer base. The US Hub represents a new round of investment to support AML3D's high growth US 'Scale up' strategy following the recent, successful $6.9 capital raising.



Since it was launched in 2023, AML3D's US 'Scale up' strategy has delivered ~$12.2 million of US defence sub-contracts that are being supported from the company's Adelaide based facilities. The demand for AML3D's advanced manufacturing technology within the US is continuing to grow strongly, particularly within the Defence sector with an emphasis on supporting the US Navy's submarine industrial base. The establishment of the US Hub is expected drive a significant increase in Defence contract wins and support an expansion into the US Marine, Oil & Gas and Aerospace sectors. AML3D is also planning to leverage the US Hub to bid for ITAR and other US only controlled information Defence contracts, that are restricted to US based manufacturers.



The US Hub is based in a modern, ready to use, manufacturing facility including fabrication space, loading dock facilities and office space, which will require minimal capex to become fully operational.



The US Hub's location at Stow, Ohio not only allows ease of access to transport infrastructure to service US customers but also to the supporting industries and materials required for AML3D's advanced manufacturing processes. The US Hub is expected to be operational in Q1 FY25 and to be AML3D's US corporate headquarters and base for the Company's US direct sales, administration and technical teams, led by Pete Goumas, President & CEO of AML3D USA, Inc..



AML3D President & CEO of US Operations, Pete Goumas said: "Establishing our US manufacturing hub here, in Northeast Ohio, is very exciting. We can be more responsive to our existing US customers, better positioned to win new customers and contracts and be directly plugged into the transformation of US sovereign manufacturing capability to additive manufacturing. "I've already started building out our direct sales and technical support team members that will add firepower to our existing capabilities and support our expected growth in US Defence contract wins and opportunities to expand into additional defence, Marine, Aerospace and Oil & Gas sectors."



AML3D CEO Sean Ebert said: "Since the launch of our US 'Scale-up" strategy in 2023 we have been working towards establishing a US Manufacturing hub. It is a key part of our growth strategy that creates the additional capacity to meet the surging demand for AML3D's proprietary ARCEMY technology across the US Defence and also corporate sectors. We view the recent, and strongly supported, $6.9 million capital raise as a ringing endorsement of this growth strategy and our US manufacturing Hub is a demonstration of continuing delivery of that strategy.



"Our Adelaide facilities have been critical in supporting our expansion into the US market, but as our US Hub comes online in the early part of FY25 it will help to free up capacity at our Adelaide facility to continue to pursue the Australian, Asian Pacific and European defence markets. We will in effect look to leverage our US playbook."





About AML3D Limited





AML3D Limited (ASX:AL3), a publicly listed technology company founded in 2014, utilises new technologies to pioneer and lead metal additive manufacturing globally. Disrupting the traditional manufacturing space, AML3D has developed and patented a Wire Additive Manufacturing (WAM(R)) process that metal 3D prints commercial, large-scale parts for Aerospace, Defence, Maritime, Manufacturing, Mining and Oil & Gas. AML3D provides parts contract manufacturing from its Technology Centre in Adelaide, Australia, and is the OEM of ARCEMY(R), an industrial metal 3D printing system that combines IIoT and Industry 4.0 to enable manufacturers to become globally competitive.

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Drilling of High Priority Targets Commences at Tabba Tabba

Brisbane, May 23, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - North American lithium producer Sayona Mining Limited ( ASX:SYA ) ( DML:FRA ) ( SYAXF:OTCMKTS ) has commenced RC drilling (Figure 1*) at its wholly owned Tabba Tabba Lithium Project, E45/2364 in Western Australia where previous air core drilling identified high potential pegmatite systems.



A recently completed gravity survey has helped focus deeper RC drilling over two areas along a 7.5km prospective corridor (Figure 2*). The northern area is located immediately south of the historic Tabba Tabba tantalum mine, where recent exploration by Wildcat Resources has identified encouraging lithium mineralisation including the Leia and Luke Pegmatites.



The initial 2,000+ metre RC drilling program consists of 14 holes with nine located in the North Area immediately south of Wildcat Resources tenements and a further five holes located at the Roadside Prospect approximately 4.5km south and along strike. Further drilling will be conducted throughout 2024 as geological information is built up over the area, largely under thin colluvial cover.



Sayona has secured a co-funding grant for drilling at Tabba Tabba under Round 29 of the Western Australian Governments Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS). The grant of up to $180,000 will help fund innovative exploration drilling in the search for flat lying spodumene pegmatite systems within the Tabba Tabba lease.



Sayona's Director and Interim CEO, James Brown commented, "We are excited to have commenced RC drilling over the highly prospective Tabba Tabba lease which has known lithium mineralisation in close proximity and along strike.



"Previous soil sampling and air core drilling identified areas of anomalous geochemistry that have been confirmed to also contain gravity features of significance. We now intend to test these targets with RC and possibly diamond drilling as supported by results.



"We are highly committed to our wholly owned Western Australian lithium assets and intend to continue an active exploration program over the 2024 field season."



The recently completed gravity survey, covering a 7km x 2km area has identified prospective trends and areas of potential gabbro host units and structural settings which facilitate emplacement of the targeted north striking spodumene pegmatite mineralisation.



In the north drill area, targets are sited along the southern extension to the Tabba Tabba mine stratigraphy and mineralisation identified by Wildcat. A western target zone comprises a gravity feature under cover which links to outcropping gabbro 2km to the south. An eastern gravity feature, coincident with a zone of alteration identified in air core drilling, is also being targeted in the current and follow up drilling.



At the Roadside prospect five 5 deeper RC drill holes to 160m+ depth are planned, following up narrow pegmatites intersected in shallow air core drilling margined by more extensive geochemical anomalism. Gravity data in this area outlines a discrete weak gravity feature which may represent a medium density intrusive, or gabbro intercalated with other, less dense rocks. Pegmatite hosted within gabbro has been observed at surface within the prosect.



Geologically, the planned exploration is benefiting from an enhanced understanding of pegmatite occurrences, including flat lying pegmatite hosted by gabbro such as the South Pegmatite Zone at Moblan, Quebec which was discovered by Sayona in 2022.



Flat lying pegmatite systems often have limited surface expression and require a systematic exploration approach to best focus drilling into the most prospective target areas. Sayona is advancing this process, being guided by gravity data, mapping, rock and soil sampling and drill information.



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/43ZV94BP





About Sayona Mining Limited





Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:SYAXF) is a North American lithium producer with projects in Quebec, Canada and Western Australia. In Quebec, Sayona's assets comprise North American Lithium together with the Authier Lithium Project and its emerging Tansim Lithium Project, supported by a strategic partnership with American lithium developer Piedmont Lithium Inc. (ASX:PLL). Sayona also holds a 60% stake in the Moblan Lithium Project in northern Quebec.

In Western Australia, the Company holds a large tenement portfolio in the Pilbara region

prospective for gold and lithium. Sayona is exploring for Hemi-style gold targets in the world-class Pilbara region, while its lithium projects include Company-owned leases and those subject to a joint venture with Morella Corporation (ASX:1MC).

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ATLAS Project Receives Ministerial Approval

Perth, May 23, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Image Resources NL ( ASX:IMA ) ( I5R:FRA ) is pleased to announce it has received Ministerial approval under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 ("the Act") for the proposed development of its 100%-owned Atlas mineral sands project, through the issue of a Statement That A Proposal May Be Implemented ("Statement 1220"), signed by the Hon Reece Whitby MLA, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Action.



On 8 April 2024, Image announced that no appeals had been filed regarding the March 2024 recommendation from the Environmental Protection Authority ("EPA") that Image's Atlas project development proposal ("Proposal") may be implemented, with conditions. Following the EPA recommendation, and consistent with section 45(3) of the Act, the Minister for Environment has consulted with key decision-making authorities and reached agreement that the Proposal may be implemented subject to the conditions set out in Statement 1220. The issue of Statement 1220 by the Minister for Environment constitutes Ministerial approval for Atlas.



Managing Director and CEO Mr Patrick Mutz commented:



"Receiving approval from the Mininster for Environment to implement the development of the Atlas Project is a significant milestone for Image. This moves the Company one significant step closer to returning to active mining and revenue generation. On behalf of our Board of Directors and Image shareholders I wish to thank the Hon Reece Whitby, other Ministers, and key decision-making authorities who have been consulted through this process, as well as the Office of Appeals Convenor, for their timely attention to this matter.



"Final steps in the Atlas permitting process include securing approvals of management plans as well as receiving secondary project approvals which will allow commencement of construction and mining. The Company continues to target its ambitious goals of commencing site construction early in Q3, mining and commissioning in Q4 and HMC production in Q1 2025."



Atlas Development Plan



As outlined in the Company's 2017 Bankable Feasibility Study, the operating plan was to mine and process all Ore Reserves at Boonanarring and then self-fund the relocation of mining and processing equipment from Boonanarring to Atlas and continue mining (see 30 May 2017 ASX announcement, "Strong Bankable Feasibility Study Results Boonanarring / Atlas Project"). The 2017 operating plan is still active, and save for the delays in permitting for Atlas, is running broadly in line with the original schedule of 5 years of operation at Boonanarring to be followed by 3 years of operation at Atlas. The Boonanarring project was commissioned in Q4 2018, and the processing of final Ore Reserves was completed in Q3 2023. The Company is fully prepared, including funding from cash reserves, to relocate mining and processing equipment to Atlas as soon as all secondary approvals are in hand.



Atlas is a high-grade mineral sands deposit containing 5.5 million tonnes of Ore Reserves at 9.2% total heavy minerals ("HM") and with 96% of contained HM in the Proved Ore Reserves category (see 21 December 2022 ASX announcement, "Revised Announcement - Atlas Project Ore Reserve Update"). The mineral assemblage includes 11.9% zircon and 7.9% rutile in the HM and the mineralisation is shallow with a strip ratio of approximately 1:1. All HMC will be sold under the existing HMC offtake agreements used at Boonanarring, with letters of credit supporting each bulk shipment prior to loading.



Image continues to actively engage in feasibility studies for the following projects associated with the Company's Chapter 2 growth and sustainability strategy. Chapter 2 ambitions include operating multiple mines simultaneously, producing multiple products marketed globally, plus investigating value-adding through the conversion of ilmenite to synthetic rutile:



- Bidaminna: proposed standalone dredge mining project; pre-feasibility study ("PFS") complete; estimated 10-year mine-life; definitive feasibility study underway.



- Yandanooka: proposed standalone dry mining project; PFS complete; estimated 8-year minelife; bankable feasibility study well advance.



- McCalls: proposed standalone hydraulic or dredge mining project; concept study underway; targeting potential 40+ year mine-life.



- Mindarra Springs: proposed standalone hydraulic or dredge mining project; concept study underway; targeting potential 40+ year mine-life.



- Mineral Separation Plant ("MSP"): proposed to be located at Boonanarring site to take advantage of existing capitalised infrastructure; pre-feasibility underway.



- Synthetic rutile ("SR") production facility: proposed to be co-located with MSP; testing and concept study underway. Provisional patent filed for novel SR production approach with lower CO2 emissions.





About Image Resources NL





Image Resources NL (ASX:IMA) is a mineral sands focused mining company operating an open-cut mine and ore processing facility at its 100%-owned, high-grade, zircon-rich Boonanarring Project, located 80km north of Perth in the infrastructure rich North Perth Basin.

Boonanarring is arguably one of the highest grade, zircon-rich mineral sands projects in Australia. Construction and project commissioning were completed on-time and on-budget in 2018. Production commenced in December 2018 and HMC production ramped-up to exceed name-plate capacity in only the second month of operation.

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HISD Superintendent Mike Miles speaks to parents and members of the community during the second HISD community meeting at M.C. Williams Middle School on Thursday, June 29, 2023 in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

Houston ISD expects to finish sending teacher contracts by June 1, leaving educators waiting until almost the last day of school to know whether they can return next academic year.

The district has offered roughly 2,000 teachers contracts as of Wednesday, it said in a statement. HISD employs more than 11,000 teachers.

The delay in contract renewals comes as some teachers are terminated over the district's view of their performance, leading to parents protesting by schools. It is unclear at this time how many teachers are being removed for what the district deems as performance issues.

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TEACHER PROFICIENCY SCREENINGS: Here's what to know

The lack of contracts led some teachers and parents to wonder whether teachers at NES schools were receiving contracts first, or vice versa, but the district said in its Wednesday statement, "There is no specific process for the order in which contracts are issued."

Houston Federation of Teachers President Jackie Anderson said she is not personally aware of any teacher who has received a contract. Teachers usually receive contracts by mid-May. By now, teachers would have signed their contracts, she said.

"'Am I going to get one?' Because there's so much confusion around these spot scores, how you have to be evaluated proficient, what is going on. No one has a contract," Anderson said. "They don't know if they're going to even get one. And that is very concerning, because people don't know if they're going to have a job or not."
A mosquito sample collected by Harris County Public Health has tested positive for the West Nile virus, according to a social media post by the department. Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

A mosquito sample collected by Harris County Public Health has tested positive for the West Nile virus, according to a social media post by the department.

The sample was collected within Houston ZIP code 77019, which includes the River Oaks and downtown area.

As a proactive measure, the department will be treating, in the evening, the areas where the positive sample was found and the surrounding area.

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How long is mosquito season?

Mosquitos hang around Houston all year, but they are most active from May to October, increasing the chances of mosquito-borne diseases, according to a news release from Harris County Public Health.

A few of the 56 mosquito species can be found around Harris County  spreading diseases such as the West Nile and Zika viruses.

MORE COVERAGE ON HOUSTON STORM: Downtown Houston skyscraper windows keep cracking as towers face months-long repairs

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Two local West Nile virus cases popped up in 2023 out of 38 reported human cases of mosquito-borne diseases. Most of the reported cases were tied to travel. No deaths were reported in the county, though the Texas Department of State Health Services reported that six deaths in Texas were connected to the West Nile virus, according to a release from Harris County Public Health.

How to stay protected from mosquitos

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people should use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents, wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants, and wear clothing and gear treated with permethrin.

The CDC has a list of recommended repellents to use, such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, Para-menthane-diol, and 2-undecanone.

When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women, the CDC's website states.

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While this won't fully protect you from mosquitoes, it is the best way to reduce the chances of them biting you.

How effective is mosquito spraying?

Many counties, including Montgomery, Harris, Fort Bend and Galveston, track both nuisance mosquitoes and mosquitoes that can spread viruses. Most counties and cities, like Houston and Conroe, have started regular spraying.

Truck spraying is more common for most areas, officials said.

Galveston County officials are using aerial spraying to target mosquitoes, according to the countys website.

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According to the CDC, airplanes and helicopters can treat very large areas with larvicides to kill larvae or adulticides to kill adult mosquitoes.

According to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, a single twin-engine plane can treat 40,000 acres in a night, an area that would require approximately 40 ground-based trucks.

While larvicides and adulticides temporarily reduce the number of mosquitoes in an area, it will not permanently get rid of them.

When to see a doctor?

Bites can take several days before our bodies start to react to them.

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Shakari Briggs is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at shakari.briggs@houstonchronicle.com.

Before joining the Chronicle in November 2023, she worked for Spectrum News as a digital journalist based in her hometown. Shakari comes to the Houston newsroom with experience in broadcast reporting and producing as a former multimedia journalist and associate producer. The Dallas native has also worked at small to medium-sized newspapers throughout her career.

Her reporting on the rise and fall of a shopping mall won an Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors Contest award. She also earned an Arkansas Press Association award for freelance reporting.
US Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed on Wednesday that political ads on radio and TV disclose any content generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

Rosenworcel is urging her colleagues to vote on advancing a rule that would mandate such disclosures in both candidate and issue advertisements. This rule would not ban AI-generated content in political ads but would require clear on-air and written disclosures. The regulation would apply to cable operators, satellite TV, and radio providers; however, the FCC lacks authority over internet or social media ads and streaming services. The FCC has already taken measures against misleading AI use in political robocalls.

These concerns align with those of former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who warned in March that AI could pose significant challenges for elections globally. Similarly, Microsoft has noted that even simple deep fakes can effectively influence elections, and highlighted that China is leveraging AI to stir discord among US residents on social media.

There is increasing apprehension in Washington that AI-generated content could deceive voters in the upcoming presidential and congressional elections in November. Some senators are pushing for legislation to address AI-related threats to election integrity before the elections.
Adgully has been turning the spotlight on the entrepreneurs who fought against all odds to bring their dreams to fruition in our special series  START-UP STARS. We at Adgully wholeheartedly support the Vocal for Local movement and have been featuring numerous local/ homegrown businesses, brands, and Apps in the country launched in the last few years.

In conversation with Adgully, Ajay Shenoy, Co-Founder & Business Head, Datatribe, speaks about building affordable SAAS products, transition of India into a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, creating Actionable Data Intelligence, and much more.

What is DataTribe and what services does it offer?

Datatribe builds affordable SAAS products for organizations that help them harness their own data. Our first two products are myLearn (an organizational learning platform) and Parsel (a product cycle management platform). In a short while we will release a performance management product which is currently under development and testing. Each of these products is Tier 2 ERP products, which are easy to deploy and provide real time tracking and analytics.

What inspired you to start Datatribe and what are the problems that you set out to solve?

The key challenge with respect to data is the lack of an easy system to access data and make it available to the right people within an organization. This challenge can largely be addressed only by technology, however, current systems to do so are expensive and cumbersome to deploy (essentially large-scale ERPs). We are addressing this by providing the SME and enterprise market with affordable, SAAS-based data driven products for multiple parts of their business.

As a B2B company, are there any government initiatives that you have benefited from?

Currently we, as an organization, have not applied for any government initiatives. We are boot strapped and supported by a small number of Seed Investors, which has helped us to develop our products to the stage that they are market ready and currently being deployed to our first set of customers.

Could you tell us about the start-up ecosystem in India and how it is growing?

India has transformed into a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, with the startup ecosystem in India considered as one of the fastest growing and most dynamic in the world. Major factors attributable to this are the Youth Demographics, Digital adoption, Government Initiatives and Investment surge. Backed by these, primary sectors of growth in startups include Edtech, E-commerce, Logistics, Healthtech, AgriTech, Cleantech (EV) and Gaming. The future of Indias startup ecosystem appears promising, driven by continuous innovation, increased digital adoption, and supportive government policies. Emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and IoT are likely to create new opportunities. As more global investors and corporations recognize the potential of Indian startups, the ecosystem is likely to expand further, driving economic growth and technological advancement.

As a tech company, could you tell us how you use AI in your services?

Our modules convert raw data points available to our customer organizations into Actionable Data Intelligence that can be used for making informed decisions. For example: in Parsel (Product cycle management system) our AI tools enable Automatic picklist/ put away list generation through an unique order processing methodology; Pick route optimisation to ensure unidirectional flow, Route and vehicle optimisation to ensure efficient logistics and Workforce/ fleet optimisation to ensure greater productivity. At the very least across both products AI plays a large role in ensuring optimization, fulfillment and analytics pertinent to the user segment.

As a B2B company, could you give the overview of the sector in India? What are some of the pressing challenges and how can they be addressed?

The B2B sector in India has seen significant growth over the past decade, driven by the rapid adoption of digital technologies, the rise of startups, and increased global integration. This sector encompasses a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, wholesale, retail, IT services, and more.

Challenges in the B2B sector include a fragmented market primarily due to a large number of SMEs, thus making standardization and scalability difficult. Inadequate infrastructure in logistics and supply chain along with an overall access to financing are contributing aspects. Hesitation towards adoption of new technology as well as absence of skilled workforce are other limiting factors to this segment. Solutions towards these are to encourage investments in infrastructure  possibly by public-private partnerships, innovative financing solutions, subsidies towards digital adoption and collaboration between industry and educational institutions to allow for skill development in the workforce.

How does DataTribe set itself apart from competitors in the market? Datatribe prides itself on developing products that follow three basic tenets  ease of deployment, ease of use, and highly affordable. We believe in ensuring that we drive value through our solutions that enable leaders of organizations to get more bang for their buck  where not only is their organization top line enhanced, but also without adversely affecting their bottom line.

What advice would you like to give to the young entrepreneurs in your sector?

The methods to navigate in this sector do not differ from any of the basic building blocks one needs to follow. Understanding of market/ customer needs, building relationships, focusing on product-market fit, leveraging of technology, building a sound business model along with wisely managing finances and building a strong team are of utmost importance. On the emotional front, one needs to be persistent, perseverant, patient and above all, hungry for success. One shouldnt be shy to ask questions from mentors or guides, should be focused on the long term and always ensure that there is continuous learning.

What is your vision for DataTribe in the coming years?

DataTribe products will become the trusted tools for professional users within an organization hierarchy. It will be the go to system for making informed decisions that will chart the profitable course of our client organizations. Personal gratification for me is when a customer affirms that our products are not just a good to have digital transformation solution  but a well thought out and pertinent solution that fits their needs and drives value for their organization.
French beauty brand LOCCITANE is pleased to announce MINGYU of SEVENTEEN as their new brand ambassador for Asia. This strategic partnership marks the first time the French brand has appointed an ambassador specifically for Asia, aiming to introduce the beauty and lifestyle of Provence to a broader audience in this dynamic region. In todays fast-paced world, LOCCITANE recognizes the growing importance of embracing the Provencal lifestyleone that values savoring each moment, reconnecting with nature, and taking time to care for oneself and loved ones.

The official announcement event was held on May 21st at the iconic LOCCITANE Shibuya store, prominently located at the world-famous Shibuya Scramble crossing. Recognized as one of the flagship destinations for LOCCITANE in Asia, this iconic store attracts countless visitors from around the world annually, creating an ideal global stage for the introduction of the brands partnership with MINGYU.

Irene Goh, Managing Director of LOCCITANE Asia-Pacific, stated, L'OCCITANE has always been deeply connected to the essence of Provence, where life unfolds at an unhurried pace amidst fields of Lavender and groves of Almond trees. MINGYU embodies the ideal modern yet Provencal lifestyle  busy but happy to be so, yet appreciating the luxury of taking time to care for himself and those around him. Together with his charisma and authenticity, we see MINGYU as a perfect match for our brand. We are very excited to be working with MINGYU and hope this partnership will inspire everyone to experience the luxury of taking time with LOCCITANE.

MINGYU, who attended the event in Japan, expressed his honor to collaborate with LOCCITANE, a brand he has always been interested in. He believes that his positive personality aligns well with the brands authentic and nature-friendly image. He expressed his commitment to delivering these values to people across Asia alongside LOCCITANE.

MINGYU is set to begin his activities as the brands official Asia ambassador starting in May. Updates regarding the recent event in Japan can be found on LOCCITANE's official social media channels and Instagram.
To spur the next era of beauty, LOreal has launched the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program in the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA) region, including India. Launched on 23rd May 2024, the biggest open innovation competition of this scale for the beauty sector offers promising startups the chance to develop their innovation in a commercial pilot and potential exposure to 35 markets of the SAPMENA region. With LOreal SAPMENA as a launchpad, the startups who prove successful pilots in SAPMENA could tap into the beauty leaders extensive network of partners and market insights.

The Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program regional open innovation competition seeks to discover, support and nurture promising startups from across the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa region, from countries including United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. These startups will be given the opportunity to develop their pilots in Beauty Tech innovation in one of five challenge themes: Consumer Experience, Content, Media, New Commerce and Tech for Good.

The three regional online semi-finals for the GCC, India and Southeast Asia will culminate in an in-person SAPMENA Grand Finale. Up to ten startup finalists across SAPMENA will vie for the top prizes at the Grand Finale in Singapore on 23 October 2024. Judges will comprise senior executives from LOreal and the program partners. The top three SAPMENA Grand Finale winners will win a LOreal-funded commercial pilot opportunity and a year-long mentorship program with senior executives from LOreal and the program partners including Accenture, Google and Meta.

The competition emphasizes the co-creation and co-development of innovative beauty technology and marketing solutions. Startups will address one or more of the five challenge themes: Consumer Experience, Content, Media, New Commerce and Tech for Good. Through their participation, startups will have the opportunity to connect with commercial and digital leaders, including strategic partners and mentors who can offer insights to test new ideas and potential to scale.

Vismay Sharma, President of L'Oreal SAPMENA Zone, said, Asia and the Middle East are young, vibrant markets with a strong and dynamic startup ecosystem and opportunities for growth. Leveraging Beauty Tech, LOreal wants to uncover better and more novel ways of connecting with consumers and answering unmet needs through beauty innovations. We are on the lookout for unique solutions that leverage data and tech  we believe augmented tech, online platforms and digital services have great potential to elevate the consumer experience.

Saloni Shah, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, LOreal India, said, India is home to successful start-ups that has resulted in an incredibly dynamic ecosystem. The vibrant energy, entrepreneurial spirit, and advanced digital landscape make it conducive for innovation across industries, especially in Beauty Tech. L'Oreal is committed to supporting this ecosystem, fostering collaboration, and seeking opportunities with innovative startups to shape the future of beauty.

First launched in China in 2020, the competition now extends across Asia and MENA, tapping into the dynamic startup ecosystem and immense consumer potential of these regions. From a handful of investors and companies a little over a decade ago, these regions today have grown into a dynamic hub with increasing deal flow within the global startup ecosystem.

Home to 40% of the worlds population, the SAPMENA region covers 35 markets including many of the worlds fastest growing, most populous and young markets. Its consumers are young digital natives, having an average age of 28 years (compared to the global average of 33 years) and with more than 60% purchasing online every week. Innovative e-commerce and social commerce business models and technologies are needed to reach and engage these consumers, who are leading the beauty acceleration with diverse beauty ideals and a dynamic digital culture of on-demand, always-connected and hyper social. Across Southeast Asia, India and the Middle East, the combined startup ecosystem includes over 40,000 startups, with more than 180 unicorns (startups valued US$1 billion+) and a deal flow that reached US$20 billion last year.

Key dates:

Submission deadline: 13 July 2024

India online semi-final: 11 September 2024

Southeast Asia online semi-final: 30 September 2024

SAPMENA in-person Grand Finale in Singapore: 23 October 2024

Startups passionate about creating the future of the beauty industry with LOreal are encouraged to apply now on the bigbang.lorealsapmena.com
LinkedIn India, along with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky, have been levied penalties by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) for failing to comply with provisions of the Companies Act

According to media reports, the fines, totaling Rs 2 lakh (approximately $2,400 USD), stem from a lack of disclosure regarding significant beneficial ownership. Eight other individuals have also been fined in connection with this case, with penalties reaching up to Rs 5 lakh (approximately $6,000 USD).

The penalties underscore the importance of adhering to regulatory requirements, particularly in the areas of corporate governance and transparency. The MCA's actions serve as a reminder to all corporations about the critical need to comply with legal provisions to avoid significant financial and reputational repercussions.

As of now, there has been no official statement from LinkedIn India, Microsoft, or the executives involved regarding the penalties. Industry analysts are closely watching how this will impact the operations and governance practices of the companies involved.

This news comes on the heels of Microsoft's record-breaking financial performance in January. The company achieved a market valuation of $3 trillion and reported a 33% increase in profits for the October-December quarter, largely driven by investments in artificial intelligence.

While the exact details of the non-compliance are not yet public, the MCA's action highlights the importance of adhering to corporate governance regulations in India.
Denver, Indias prestigious mens brand, has released an inspiring new phase of its success campaign, starring the megastar Mahesh Babu. In a time when achievements are given more importance over values, this campaign encourages a shift in perspective, redefining success to be more than just accomplishments. The brand film shares an important message through a simple yet impactful narrative.

Superstar Mahesh Babu is the epitome of success. A self-made man and a symbol of humility and empathy, he underscores the importance of respecting everyone, regardless of their societal status in the brand film. Through his dialogue, A persons thinking determines their place in society; success should not go to your head, Mahesh Babu urges viewers to reconsider their attitudes toward others and adopt a mindset of equality and compassion. The brand film redefines how successful individuals let their aura (scent) reflect their achievements while remaining humble.

Saurabh Gupta, MD & CEO of Hamilton Sciences Private Limited, said, Our latest success campaign with the Superstar Mahesh Babu reminds our audience that true success is measured not just by achievements but by the ability to stay grounded and humble. Mahesh showcases this balance, sharing the message that no matter how high we rise, our values and humility keep us rooted. We are proud to collaborate with someone who inspires us to reach for the stars while keeping our feet firmly on the ground.

Mahesh Babu, talking about the campaign, said, "Perfume is an essential part of grooming, which demonstrates discipline, and attention to detail, qualities that contribute to personal and professional success. However, success is also defined by our behaviour with others. Denver's Scent of Success' campaign aligns perfectly with these values, and I'm honoured to be a part of it."

Mahesh Babu has been associated with the deodorant brand Denver since 2019. Over the years, Denver has become the most preferred fragrance in the country and aims to evolve into a comprehensive grooming brand for men in the coming years.

Denver embodies the essence of a real man, rooted in the qualities of gentleness and humility, standing as a testament to hard work and authenticity. A true Denver man is defined not just by his strength or achievements but by his character and values. Just as Denver consistently supports and reflects the personality of its wearer, the brand itself upholds the qualities of a genuine gentleman: kind-hearted yet determined, modest yet ambitious. In a world that often celebrates superficiality, Denver remains committed to honoring the depth and integrity of the modern man.
Miss World-turned-actress Manushi Chhillar has entered the world of entrepreneurship! The beauty queen has announced the launch of her highly anticipated swimwear brand 'Dweep', which is designed with a focus on inclusivity and sustainability. As a brand, 'Dweep' promises to redefine the swimwear industry by catering to a diverse range of body types, skin tones, and personal styles. Manushi Chhillar, who has often advocated for body positivity, described 'Dweep' as a culmination of a shared passion for art, oceans and fashion.



Speaking about the brand, Manushi Chhillar said, Debuting as an entrepreneur with Dweep marks a thrilling new chapter in my journey. A girl from Rohtang wouldnt have dreamt that one day, shed be the Miss World, a Bollywood actor, a face of varied reputed brands and now, an entrepreneur with a brand of her own. It's not just about launching a brand; it's about embodying my values of sustainability, inclusivity, and empowerment. With Dweep, I aspire to create more than just swimwear  I aim to inspire a lifestyle that harmonizes with nature while celebrating the beauty of every individual. This venture is not just about fashion; it's about making a meaningful difference in the world.





The name Dweep embodies her vision, signifying an island that nurtures and supports life, much like her brand aims to support and sustain the environment. It is a brand committed to a holistic approach to sustainability. At its core, Dweep's motive is to promote a more sustainable, ocean-friendly world, one island-inspired garment at a time.This venture positions Manushi among some of the most influential personalities in the Indian cinema who made their mark in the entrepreneurial world. While Manushi is set to conquer the world of business, the actress is set to return to screens with a couple of interesting projects. She will be seen in 'Tehran', which will see her sharing the screen space with John Abraham.
Twelve leaders from across WPP have been honoured in the 2024 Empower Role Model lists, aimed at celebrating leaders who are driving inclusion for people of colour within global businesses.

Created by Involve and supported by YouTube, the lists celebrate 100 Executives, 100 Future Leaders and 50 Advocate Role Models who do not work professionally in the field of DE&I for their work in championing inclusion and driving strategic change within their sector.

Empower Top 100 Ethnic Minority Executive Role Models: Apoorva Bapna, Chief Culture Officer, WPP Dorothy Burwell, Partner, FGS Global Kapria Jenkins, Executive Director, Detroit Experience Studio, VML Julia Rast, Global Senior Director, Emerging Innovation, GroupM Nexus Niken Wresniwiro, SVP Global Communications, WPP

Empower Top 100 Ethnic Minority Future Leaders: Chelsea Breur, Social Creative Director, Wavemaker Matthew Chew, Paid Social Innovation Lead, EssenceMediacom Ashford Mills, Global Project Manager, GroupM Nexus Jene Mitchell, Technology Specialist, VML Diane Munyeshuli, Account Manager, Ogilvy Social Lab Jennifer Nnamani, Project Manager, AKQA

Empower Top 50 Advocate Executive Role Models: Lindsay Pattison, Chief People Officer, WPP

This recognition comes as WPP CEO Mark Read was inducted into the Involve Hall of Fame, acknowledging his inclusion in the Empower Top 10 Advocate Executives Role Model Lists from 2021 to 2023 for his efforts in driving diversity and inclusion. Under his leadership, DE&I goals were introduced into WPP senior leaders incentive plans and WPP established a Global Inclusion Council, which allows underrepresented voices to advise on DE&I goals and identify barriers to progress. In June 2020, Mark announced the companys commitment to combat racial injustice and support Black and minority ethnic talent, including a pledge of $30 million over three years to fund global inclusion programmes.

Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: Creativity is the ultimate competitive advantage, and at WPP we understand that the most innovative and impactful ideas come from diverse teams and empowered individuals. I'm proud to see our leaders celebrated in the Empower Role Model lists for their unwavering commitment to cultivating an inclusive culture where everyone feels inspired to contribute their unique perspectives, helping our clients stand out and captivate their audiences.

WPP is dedicated to creating a workplace that reflects the diverse communities it serves, tailoring initiatives to address specific market needs. This includes programmes in the UK such as the One School  supported by funding from WPPs Racial Equity Programme  and WPPs Creative Technology Apprenticeship which have encouraged underrepresented groups to explore careers in advertising. Projects like the Home at Work exhibition in the Netherlands celebrate bi-cultural identity within the companys Amsterdam Campus, while the Welcome Talent initiative in Belgium is aimed at diversifying the talent pipeline in the communications sector. In Brazil, AKQA launched the SOMA+ project in 2021 and has since equipped more than 3,000 students from Black, indigenous or low-income backgrounds in foundational training in advertising and communications, getting exposure to projects with world-leading brands.

In June 2023, WPP also invested in US-based diversity-focused creative agency Majority, which combines a multicultural talent model with marketing capabilities to create work for clients with cultural impact.

WPPs ongoing investment in its people also includes comprehensive training programmes such as Inclusion as a Skill, equipping the companys global workforce with the necessary skills to foster inclusive environments, and establishing global Employee Resource Groups that provide support and resources for employees with shared identities or experiences.

Through these collective efforts, WPP strives to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents to fuel creativity and drive growth.
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation

Bern, 23.05.2024 - State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation Martina Hirayama took part in the 11th meeting of the EU/ESA Space Council, which was held in Brussels on 23 May 2024. On this occasion, a joint resolution was adopted on the role of the space sector in boosting European competitiveness. The resolution also recognises that concerted action by ESA, the EU and their respective member states is important and that European space policy can be shaped more effectively when activities are coordinated through the EU/ESA Space Council.

The space sector, which is currently undergoing a global transformation, greatly contributes to European prosperity, competitiveness, security and autonomy. With this in mind, the countries taking part in the 11th EU/ESA Space Council noted that European space programmes are intended to serve the interests of all ESA and EU member states. As such, everyone should have the opportunity to be involved in them.

The resolution adopted by the ministers responsible for space policy recognises that the means allocated by ESA, the EU and member states to the space sector are essential in establishing, implementing and monitoring policies and strategic initiatives that encourage international cooperation and socio-economic progress as well as greater European competitiveness and resilience. The resolution states that the mobilisation of public and private resources and capacities must continue and that the private sector must be willing to take risks, including technical and financial ones, in order to drive the competitiveness of the European space sector. Finally, the resolution calls on ESA, the EU and their respective member states, working with the private sector where appropriate, to strive for the progressive adoption of rules and best practices in the space sector, including standards.

During the EU/ESA Space Council meeting, State Secretary Martina Hirayama highlighted the contribution that the space sector has made to growth and prosperity in Europe as well as to innovation and commercialisation. She also underscored the crucial importance of jointly developing favourable regulatory conditions.

The EU/ESA Space Council was first established in 2004 under the framework agreement between ESA and the EU. Its main objective is to facilitate open exchanges and debates on European cooperation in the space sector, thus contributing to Europe's globally competitive presence in space. It provides the level of coordination needed to shape European space policy. This year's Space Council meeting was held under the ESA Council presidency of Germany, with Belgium currently holding the presidency of the EU Council.

As a founding member of ESA, Switzerland has been a member of the European space family from the beginning. Through its participation in both ESA and EU programmes, Switzerland contributes to Europe's space endeavours and remains globally competitive in this sector.

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Affordable and high-quality child care isnt just an issue for individual families: Its a workforce and jobs issue that Congress can and should take seriously, Sens. Katie Britt and Patty Murray said Wednesday.

Britt, a Republican from Alabama, and Murray, a Democrat from Washington, are often on opposite sides of the aisle on important issues. But in a virtual event hosted by AL.com and The Seattle Times, and joined by Lisa Hamilton, CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, each agreed to take the others proposals on how to tackle increasing costs of care, and gaps in coverage, seriously.

When I think about experiences like my own or like my family members, or the constituents whose stories I hear, I know that doing nothing is not an option. And so weve got to figure out how to do something and certainly how to do it together, Britt said.

How did we get to this point?

In 2023, the Annie E. Casey Foundation put out a report about the child care crisis. Alabamas child care cost is about $7,500, which is affordable for many couples, but as much as a third of a single parents monthly income, according to the Kids Count Data Book.

And the cost of infant child care is more than in-state college tuition in 34 states, Hamilton said Wednesday.

So if weve got families contributing north of 30% of their income to child care, that is the definition of unaffordable, she said.

Child care is considered affordable if it costs households no more than 7% of their income, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

In 2022, more than 1 in 10 young children had a parent who had to quit, turn down or drastically change a job in the previous year because of child care problems, according to recent reporting from AL.com, The Seattle Times and the national Education Reporting Collaborative.

Britt said the cost of child care across Alabama is simply unsustainable, and cited her own experience  like Murray  of being a young mom trying to figure out care.

When I was in this situation, you know, about 14 years ago, looking for child care and the cost of it was astronomical then. I think about how much we were paying to send our two kids to daycare in Tuscaloosa and then Birmingham and how challenging it would have been to make ends meet had we not had a nest egg set aside, Britt said.

For those men and women who want to enter our workforce, we want to make sure that they have the opportunity to do that. And so whether it is cost or availability, it seems like we are failing on both sides, Britt said.

For mothers like Adriane Burnett, a single mother of two children, child care costs upended her finances, leaving her without a car, behind on homeowner association payments and filing for bankruptcy.

Burnett gave up a $2 an hour promotion because she does not have available childcare to work the extra hours. Though, she still must work three jobs, seven days a week to afford the child care she does have.

Murray said the crisis needs to be treated like an infrastructure issue, with consistent support from the federal government.

How did we get here? Because our nation has never seriously taken the issue of child care as an incredibly important foundation to our economy. So it has been a silent problem for many, many years. Parents just struggled with it. They either didnt take a job or they left the job market or they had child care that wasnt safe, Murray said.

Murray said she believes tackling issues like affordability and access will help mothers return to and stay in the workforce.

In 2022, almost 85,000 Alabama families needed access to child care but had no affordable, quality options in their communities, according to the Womens Foundation of Alabama.

In Jefferson County, Alabama infant and toddler child care cost an average of $10,662 per year in 2023. Jefferson County womens median income was $27,952, with a median family income of $67,455.

As many as 19% of working parents in Alabama said they had had to miss work due to child care issues, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found in 2021.

Right now, our country is losing revenue, because we dont have child care infrastructure. Murray said.

Finding common ground, bipartisan solutions

Panelists cited changes made in Washington state and in Alabama, as well as suggestions for how other states and communities can address the crisis.

Earlier this month, Gov. Kay Ivey signed the Working for Alabama legislative package, which includes HB358, the child care tax credit bill that legislators say will help address both care gaps and the states low labor force participation rate.

I certainly think that some of the issues Sens. Murray and Britt have raised around tax credits for individual families, whether thats the earned income tax credit or the Child and Dependent Care Credit, those certainly go to help families cover the costs, Hamilton said, also noting efforts to The ways that credits can incentivize employers to support their employees costs or to create on-site childcare centers, which we are seeing as well, Hamilton said.

Some of the more innovative things weve seen have been how to address the business model challenges of child care, she added, describing efforts in local communities to address rent and wage costs.

Weve heard about a real estate investment trust, a REIT, that is purchasing facilities and making them available to proprietors and doing the upgrades to make them fit regulations, while also providing stable rents so they can continue to provide child care at a reasonable cost to families.

Britt said that she hopes Alabamas tax credits will help businesses and facilities to provide affordable child care to their workers. Britt said she also hopes new legislation will help mothers, small business and rural communities attain higher involvement in the workforce. Apprenticeship programs too, she said, might provide opportunities for people to begin working as they gain credentials that make it easier to operate high-quality and successful programs.

We want to make sure not only that the workers are paid accordingly but also that we find a way to drive costs down for parents. So most definitely will certainly take a look at that and look forward to talking to Senator Murray about it, Britt said.

Putting parents back in the drivers seat, creating a market that works. Thinking about our rural communities. A lot of times its easy to think about how some of the bigger businesses can take part in this but figuring out how we bring small businesses togetheris really important.

Since 2017, Murray has introduced the Child Care for Working Families Act. She advocated for the legislation again Wednesday, but acknowledged that it currently lacks enough support to pass.

The act as written would provide grants to communities to build the child care facilities and increase accessibility. It would balance an effort toward a living wage for child care workers, while capping an effort to make families pay no more than 7% of their income on child care.

I think we have the possibility to get it passed. We will need bipartisan support in the Senate, Murray said.

Britt said she would take a look at the bill, but worries about making big-picture changes dependent on federal budget decisions.

Murray said she also hopes to pass legislation for veterans and active military service members to receive better, more affordable child care on bases and during medical appointments.

I had visited troops and heard about child care and the challenges that our men and women in uniform are facing both at home and abroad and brought that to her, Britt added, noting appreciation for Murrays work on the issue.

I am confident that there are many places when it comes to affordability and accessibility where we overlap and I am committed to figuring out how to move forwardso that we can see if we can navigate through that to ultimately achieve what we need to, which is a better childcare community, better opportunities, more resources for people who want to re-enter the workforce, Britt said.

Why should you care about the child care crisis?

Panelists said that addressing the issue will improve workplaces and communities, whether or not individual voters have children.

People walk up to me and say, I dont have kids. Why should I pay for this? My answer is pretty simple. Do you go to work every day? Do you have any income? Well, if you want your company to stay open, then you need workers there. And the less workers you have, the less productive you can be. And one of the biggest reasons we dont have productivity today is because people cant be in the workplace because they dont have child care. So we will help lower costs for all Americans, Murray said.

If we can be more productive, we will have a better educated workforce that can support that worker regardless of whether they have children or not. When they retire, we will have a workforce that is more innovative and creative and entrepreneurial. If we can make sure that there is childcare for those workers to be at work, which helps every single American, Murray said.
Ryan Nickerson is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle's weather team. He can be reached at ryan.nickerson@houstonchronicle.com.

Before coming to the Chronicle, Ryan worked for Houston Community Newspapers, covering the Bellaire and Memorial areas. Ryan graduated from Texas Southern University, enjoys riding his bike, is passionate about sports, and loves black and white movies.
Birmingham-Southern College students, staff and alumni will have a final chance to gather on the Quad, buy old yearbooks and ring the bell this week, as the beleaguered private school prepares to close at the end of May.

Final days on the Hilltop will include graduation, a closing ceremony, an event for alumni and a Last Dance by the bell tower.
Two Alabama locations made Southern Livings new list of The 20 Friendliest Places in the South, and neither one is what youd call a typical tourist destination.

The overall lineup is an eclectic collection selected from a list of reader-submitted nominations that numbered into the thousands and included all types of places from hotels to restaurants to shops to entire towns. Winners included the whole city of Paducah, Ky.; a falafel restaurant in Tennessee; and the Cracker Barrel chain.

The two Alabama entries illustrate the range of the roster.

Hope Heals Camp in Nauvoo is described as a camp where People with any kind of disability  and their families are invited to let loose, find true rest, and meet others who are in complex caregiving situations. At hopeheals.com, Katherine and Jay Wolf describe themselves as survivors, communicators and advocates who found new purpose after Katherine survived a serious stroke: Since that day, weve used our second-chance lives to champion the truth that suffering and joy can coexist in your good/hard story.

Southern Living describes Thank You Books, at 5502-B Crestwood Blvd. in Birmingham, as a bookshop that attracts all types, making it the ideal home for a atore where readers of diverse interests can intersect.  Everyone who works here loves the notion of matchmaking people with their next reads. In the wake of the stores inclusion, its Facebook page carried the response that the store community was Still high-fiving and emotional over here  What an honor! Were truly so grateful.

For the full list, visit www.southernliving.com.
Authorities have released the name of a woman found slain on the front porch of an Inglenook home.

The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the victim as Rosa Alvarez Lopez. She was 41 and lived in Birmingham.

The discovery was made shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday in the 4400 block of 44th Avenue North. A nearby resident spotted the woman unresponsive on the porch and called 911.

East Precinct officers and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service responded, and the woman was pronounced dead on the scene at 2:01 p.m.

Authorities have not said how the woman was killed, or when she was killed. Police previously said she could been on the front porch for up to a couple of days.

This did not just happen, Officer Truman Fitzgerald said at the scene.

We do not think this was a random incident, Fitzgerald said. We think its isolated and our detectives are working to get the person responsible for this into custody.

People do live in the house, but Fitzgerald couldnt speculate on why the residents had either not seen the woman dead on the porch or called 911.

That is an interesting side to this story, he said, and our detectives has asked to hold off on that.

No arrests have been made.

The woman is Birminghams 52nd homicide this year. Of those, five have been ruled justifiable and therefore arent deemed criminal.

In all of Jefferson County, there have been 75 homicides, including the 52 in Birmingham.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
A Fairhope man was sentenced to three decades in federal prison after admitting to unspeakable crimes in which he paid women in the Philippines to sexually abuse their own children, including toddlers, while he gave direction and watched via an online app.

Jeremy Dixon Kinsey, 54, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to five counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography through a plea deal with the U.S. Attorneys Office.

In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop five other counts of production of child pornography and two counts of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.

Court records show that in April 2023, the Baldwin County Sheriffs Office received a tip regarding Kinseys activities from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Sheriffs investigators and the Department of Homeland Security obtained multiple search warrants which led to evidence that Kinsey both possessed and produced child sex abuse material via his Samsung cell phone.

Kinsey used the WhatsApp application on his phone to record video chats between April and May 2023 during which he was paying adult women to engage in sexual acts with their own children. In all, three children were identified in the 10 videos, all under the age of 12, including one toddler.

The three women involved in the child sex abuse went by online pseudonyms: Missy Dear, Sweet Lovly and Gin Gin. Investigators say they have not determined the real identity of all three. In each case, the woman was the mother of the child/children being abused.

In each recording, Kinseys face is visible and he is seen masturbating as he communicates with the adult female throughout the recording, according to court documents.

Evidence obtained from Kinseys phone also shows he was sending money or other items of value to the women in exchange for engaging in the child exploitation videos.

Beyond that, however, evidence from Kinseys phone, as well as his own admission, established that although the charges were for crimes committed between April and May of last year, Kinseys child exploitation with the three women dated back to June 2022.

Kinsey admitted in court there were at least 11 other minors he communicated with or an adult who had control over the children.

In all, there were more than 600 images/videos of child sexual abuse material found on his phone. In some cases, the images contained footage of adult females engaging in sado-masochistic abuse of toddlers, including the use of sex toys and other items.

Each count of production of child porn carries a maximum sentence of 30 years, plus another 20 for the possession of child porn conviction. Kinsey was sentenced to a total of 30 years on the five counts of production of child pornography and 20 years for possession of child porn, with the two sentences to run concurrently.

Additionally, Kinsey will be subject to 15 years of post-release supervision and will be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison. He was also ordered to undergo mental health and sex offender treatment while in prison.
AL.com columnist Kyle Whitmire won the 2024 Silver Gavel Award for commentary, issued by the American Bar Association.

Whitmire earned the award for a series of columns on Alabamas Desperate Bid for a Milligan Do-over, after the states unsuccessful case asking the U.S. Supreme Court to gut the Voting Rights Act.

The awards are given for outstanding work that fosters the American publics understanding of law and the legal system, in books, commentary, documentaries, drama and literature, magazines, multimedia, newspapers, radio and television.

Winners in other categories included The New Yorker, HBO Documentary Films, Bloomberg Industry Group, and the production team of the Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon.

Whitmires 2023 columns critiqued the states response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Allen v. Milligan requiring the state legislature to redraw its congressional districts to conform to requirements for racial equity under the Voting Rights Act.

The Allen v. Milligan case was seen as an easy win for the state, arguing before a right-leaning Court, that Alabamas congressional districts did not discriminate against Black voters. But Alabamas legal delegation turned the easy win into defeat, forcing the state to draw new congressional districts, a process that became a fiasco of its own.

Whitmire identified the lawyer driving Alabamas resistance to federal input and his role in helping craft the legislative response.

The Silver Gavel Awards attracted a remarkably strong pool of nominees providing great insights into our legal system, said Steve Wermiel, chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Gavel Awards, in a news release. It is gratifying to know that writing about our laws and our legal system is in such very capable hands.

The high caliber of entries made it very challenging but also exciting for the hardworking selection committee for this years Silver Gavel Awards.

You can read the winning columns here:
A Birmingham man has been charged in the shooting death of his brother earlier this week.

Narado Moore, 43, is charged with murder in the Monday slaying of 37-year-old Demarcus Moore.

North Precinct officers were dispatched just before 5 p.m. to the 3400 block of 17th Avenue North on a trespassing call.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald said a family made the 911 call.

When officers arrived, they found Demarcus Moore dead in the yard of a neighboring house from where the initial call was made.

Some sort of argument took place and a brother shot and killed his brother, Fitzgerald said.

No additional details have been released about what led to deadly dispute.

Narado Moore was still on the scene when officers arrived. He was held in the Birmingham City Jail until the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office issued the murder warrant.

The suspect transferred to the Jefferson Couty Jail where he was booked in at 1:04 p.m. Wednesday.

He is being held without bond.

Its just a horrible situation, Fitzgerald said at Mondays scene. You just hate to see a family having to deal with a loved one killing another loved one.
The body of a 16-year-old Mobile high school student last seen swimming with friends Tuesday was found Wednesday afternoon, the Mobile County Sheriffs Office announced.

Quamar Parker was last seen about 4 p.m. while swimming and jumping off a bridge with three friends in Cold Creek Tuesday afternoon. Parkers parents notified the sheriffs office about 11 p.m.

The MCSO Flotilla led the search, using K9 units and drones to search for the missing teen. The Mobile Police Department also assisted with use of its portable sonar equipment.

Parkers body was found in Cold Hole, a popular swimming hole off Cold Creek. He is presumed to have drowned, according to the sheriffs office. He was a student at Davidson High School.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Quamars family and friends during this very difficult time, the sheriffs office said in a statement.
This is an opinion column.

Ive never written a column about Brookside. Not once.

I reported a lot of news there, about how a town built a police force and used it to rake in cash, scooping up peoples lives with it.

But I didnt write opinion columns because I didnt want to cross the streams.

I guess that ends here. What happened last week in south Alabama seemed to put a stamp of finality on Brookside, and my part in it.

Mike Jones, the former Brookside police chief, the poster child for police overreach in a town that turned crime into money, got the kind of deal his style of law would never allow.

A pretty sweet one. At least when he had been facing up to 10 years in Alabama prison.

READ AL.COMS BROOKSIDE COVERAGE IN BANKING ON CRIME

Jones was charged two years ago with impersonating a police officer, a felony. He was stopped for speeding by a Covington County sheriffs deputy who said he clocked Jones doing 78 in a 55.

Jones brashly held his Brookside police badge out the window when the young deputy walked up. The deputy saw it as an attempt to beat the traffic ticket.

That was trouble, as it turned out, because Jones had resigned or been fired by Brookside months earlier, after AL.coms reporting about the town gained state and national attention.

Its trouble, too, that a cop can flash a badge and get away with breaking the law. But thats another issue.

The deputy did not recognize Jones, according to an affidavit, and the badge worked. He gave Jones a professional courtesy verbal warning instead of a ticket.

When Covington County Sheriff Blake Turman heard of it he was livid.

I cant stand a dirty cop, Sheriff Turman said then. I can stand a thief better than a dirty cop. All they do is take peoples rights. I cant stand them.

The county and the sheriff sought a warrant for Jones, and he turned himself in. The case had seen little action in the time since.

Last week  the Andalusia Star News reported it first  Jones got a deal. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of impersonating a public servant.

So instead of facing a class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.

Court records show he was ordered to pay a fine of $25  half a tank of gas these days  plus a $350 bail bond fee, attorneys fees and costs. He already paid his bill. It came to $621, according to court records.

Jones wont face jail, if he keeps his nose clean. But he was made to forfeit his Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission certification.

It was a slap on the wrist of course, particularly considering the lives his department affected without so much consideration. But there was one more thing:

It is also ordered that the defendant shall not be eligible for employment as a peace officer in the state of Alabama, the plea deal read.

Its something. Maybe more than something.

Not justice, perhaps, but a bit of finality. A bit of karma. But it is also a reminder  like former Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely, who got a rare Alabama parole, and killer cop Aaron Cody Smith, who got a get out of jail free card from the attorney general  that those with power and powerful friends dont face the same kind of justice as those Brookside targeted.

Brookside received national attention in 2022 after AL.com described how without subtlety it expanded its police force and used blacked-out vehicles, a drug-sniffing dog named Cash and dubious stops to churn traffic tickets. The towns revenue from fines came to provide 49% of the towns income.

Jones and much of the force resigned or got forced out, judges threw out many of the pending cases and the Alabama Legislature passed four bills to prevent another Brookside.

The town of Brookside  just 1,253 people then  commissioned its own investigation in the wake of those reports. It found that police there, under Jones, preyed on the poor and those who seemed weak.

Jones, though, was punished with a $25 fine, and perhaps fittingly, a wad of fees. But at least he can no longer be a police officer.

That may not be justice, but its damn sure good news.

John Archibald is a two-time Pulitzer winner.
The former chief of the troubled Brookside police department has pleaded guilty after flashing his old badge to get out of a traffic stop in south Alabama two years ago, court records show.

Mike Jones pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of impersonating a public servant, a reduction from the felony count of impersonating a peace officer, court records show.

Covington County Judge Julie Moody ordered Jones to pay a $25 fine, plus a $350 bail bond fee and attorneys fees and costs. She also ordered him to forfeit his police certification.

It is also ordered that the Defendant shall not be eligible for employment as a peace officer in the state of Alabama, Judge Moody wrote in the April 24 order.

Jones wont serve any jail time as long as he doesnt get into trouble with the law for two years, court records show. As part of his plea deal with the Covington County District Attorneys Office, the judge suspended a three-month sentence.

On May 14, Jones paid what he owed in full: $621, per court records.

His attorney, William White of Boles Holmes White LLC in Birmingham, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday afternoon.

A Covington County deputy stopped Jones for driving 78 mph in a 55 zone in April 2022. In court records, the deputy said that Jones held up a Brookside police badge out of the window. But Jones had resigned or was let go from the small towns police department three months before.

From 2018-January of 2022, Jones oversaw the rise of the police department in Brookside, a town of about 1,250 people, just north of Birmingham. AL.com reporting uncovered that the department grew from a one-man show to a force of 14 as it preyed on drivers, using fines and forfeitures to supply nearly half of the towns income by 2020.

In response, a state court judge and the Jefferson County District Attorney threw out dozens of cases from Brookside, the state conducted an audit of the police department, the town hired an outside investigator to look into the police department and state legislators passed new laws, including one that restricts towns from using fines and forfeitures for more than 10% of their budgets.

Court records list Jones current address in Panama City, Florida.
Coca-Cola United announced details of its planned new campus today after getting approval for incentives from the Jefferson County Commission.

The new campus on the former Stockham Valves property will cost in excess of $330 million and take three years to complete, Coca Cola United officials said.

This is a legacy building, said Coca-Cola United CEO Mike Suco at the Jefferson County Commission meeting today. Our company is 122 years old. Hopefully somebody will be standing here 122 years from now and sharing with you the great news of continuous prosperous companies.

Jefferson County will provide about $2 million to assist in remediation of the former Stockham Valves property in Kingston that will be the site of the new campus.

After the vote, Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. officially announced its estimated $330 million investment in a new, multifaceted Birmingham Coca-Cola facility in the Kingston community that is expected to create up to 50 new jobs and retain more than 750 jobs in the Magic City.

Coca-Cola purchased the Stockham Valves and Fittings property in 2013 on 40th Street North, about two miles from its current location off East Lake Boulevard, in the hopes of one day building a new facility. Those hopes have since become a highly anticipated and welcome reality, Suco said.

Todays announcement reflects our long-standing commitment to our associates, our customers and the communities we have the honor of serving, Suco said in a prepared statement. It is through our strong relationships that we have arrived at this defining moment in our companys history, and we are grateful to our local and state officials and partners for their support in our continued success.

The new bottling facility will produce Coca-Cola products for Jefferson County and 11 other surrounding counties.

The new facility will include a 150,000-square-foot multi-floor office complex and a 300,000- square-foot warehouse featuring the Vertique case picking system that is among the most advanced in the beverage industry. Coca-Cola United has invested in Vertique technology at six of its locations, including Mobile in 2021.

We have seen the benefits first-hand of Vertique in our other facilities, Suco said. The system improves the process of fulfilling customer orders and puts less stress on our associates.

The new facility, which along with its famous trademark will be highly visible to traffic along Interstate 20/59, will house the Birmingham Coca-Cola sales center as well as Coca-Cola Uniteds Corporate, Central Region and North Alabama Division headquarters  the latter of which supports the companys operations in Carbon Hill, Cullman, Florence, Oxford and Tuscaloosa.

The companys Classic Food and Vending arm, customer solutions center and services department will also be based in the new facility. The iconic Coca-Cola brand made its way to the Magic City in 1902 when businessman and community philanthropist Crawford Johnson Sr. opened Birmingham Coca-Cola with a staff consisting of one associate and a mule named Bird. Johnson and his family went on to open and acquire several bottling franchises throughout the Southeast, and in 1974, the company was incorporated as Coca-Cola UNITED.

The company has operated out of its current facility at 4600 East Lake Blvd. since 1979.

Bulldozers in March cleared 105 acres south of the Tallapoosa Street exit, moving dirt and knocking down trees on a highly visible site east of W.C. Patton Park along Interstate 20/59.

Heading westbound on Interstate 20/59 into downtown Birmingham, this rendering shows what the planned Coca Cola Bottling campus will look like on the south side of the interstate at the Tallapoosa exit.Coca Cola Bottling United

This project has been years in making and we are excited to build a campus that will reflect our foundational core values of Quality, Excellence, Integrity and Respect, said Board of Directors Chairman Conrad W. Rafield III.

We are incredibly proud of the relationships and partnerships weve forged in the greater Birmingham area through the years, and we remain committed to being good stewards and neighbors in the communities where we live and work.

Several local and state officials celebrated the news following the announcement:

The official release included a statement from Gov. Kay Ivey:

For over 120 years, Coca-Cola United has been a stand-out member of Birminghams business community, so its wonderful to see this world-class company make a major investment to build a new headquarters facility in the Magic City, Ivey said.

Coca-Cola Uniteds landmark growth project will create new jobs in its home base in Birmingham while also solidifying the companys foundation in the city for decades to come  and thats great news for all of Alabama.

Officials emphasized how the new campus will become an entrance point to the city.

Coca-Cola Uniteds impressive new facility will become an eye-catching gateway to Birmingham and transmit the powerful signal that the Magic City is a great place to do business, Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair said.

Launching this project, in this particular location, perfectly exemplifies how this world-class company is giving back to its community.

Last week, the City of Birmingham approved incentives for the project.

Coca-Cola Bottling Company United is the definition of a legacy business in Birmingham. Having been in our community and a part of its growth for more than 100 years gives me great pleasure to see the city play a significant role for future generations, said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, in the statement released by Coca-Cola United.

This investment is great for Birmingham, our region and our state. This project, from one of the most recognizable brands in the world, marks a transformative milestone for our community. Im excited for this development and how it will breathe new life into an abandoned site that has been a point of contention for our residents, said Birmingham City Council member J.T. Moore, whose district will includes Kingston.

I know that this will be a major economic generator for the city; not only that but its located right in the heart of District 4 and a community that will greatly benefit from the new opportunities, community engagement and potential job creation.

Jefferson County is pleased to be a contributing partner to this move and expansion, said Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens.

We are proud of the accomplishments and truly appreciate the confidence that Coke United has in our great city and county. This investment was brought to fruition by working through our governmental partners and the great leadership at Coke United. Together, we make great things happen.

Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc.s commitment to providing livable wage jobs, economic and community development opportunities in Jefferson County, the city of Birmingham and the region has been nothing short of amazing, said Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales, who represents the district in which the company will reside.

On behalf of the Kingston Neighborhood Association, Im thrilled to welcome Coca-Cola United to our community, said Association President Brenda Holifield. Their arrival not only brings new opportunities but also strengthens the fabric of our neighborhood, encouraging growth and camaraderie among residents and businesses alike.
Neena Satija is an investigative reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at neena.satija@houstonchronicle.com.

Before joining the Chronicle in September 2022, she worked for the Washington Post and the Texas Tribune.

Her reporting on hurricane vulnerability in Houston won a Peabody Award, and she also earned a National Magazine Award nomination for reporting on criminal justice across Texas.
The U.S. is warning citizens against traveling to a popular South American destination.

The State Department reissued a level 4 warning - its highest alert  urging people not to travel to Venezuela. The warning cites crime, civil unrest, kidnapping and arbitrary enforcement of local laws, as well as the potential for wrongful detention and terrorism and the risk of poor health infrastructure.

Violent crimes such as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping and carjacking have become common in the South American country with political rallies and demonstrations occurring, often with little notice. These demonstrations have prompted strong, and sometimes violent responses from the government of President Nicolas Maduro, which has used tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets against protesters. Shortages of gasoline, electricity, water, medicine and medical supplies are continuing.

READ MORE: State Department issues worldwide travel alert

Terrorist groups also operate in Venezuelas border areas with Colombia, Brazil and Guyana.

As many as 215,000 Americans traveled to Venezuela in 2022, the most recent statistics available. A decade ago, that figure topped 815,000 but numbers have fallen since 2019 when the U.S. withdrew all diplomatic personnel from the American Embassy in Caracas and suspended services for all consular services. U.S. citizens in Venezuela are urged to leave the country as soon as possible.

The warnings for anyone traveling to Venezuela are dire. Visitors are urged to develop a communication plan with their family or employer, including a proof of life protocol if theyre taken hostage so that loved ones will know which specific questions and answers to ask hostage takers. People are also advised to draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and power of attorney.
A special welcome back this morning to all hardworking middle-class Alabama residents (see whether you qualify below). Youre the reason were really better than No. 44.

Below is the podcast player followed by the newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each day here.

Another list that doesnt like us

U.S. News & World Report has released its annual ranking of the best states, reports AL.coms William Thornton, and boy, the formula doesnt think much of us.

We ranked 44th. (Mississippi, incidentally, ranked 48th.)

Others of note include Utah at No. 1, Louisiana at No. 50, and Florida the highest southern state at No. 9.

U.S. News & World Report said it considered thousands of data measurements on crime, health care, education, opportunity, natural environment, infrastructure, fiscal stability and the economy. Health care and education were weighed the heaviest, and thats where we received two of our three lowest scores -- 44 in health care and 45 in education.

On the better end of our scores, keeping us a few places above the Mississippi bar, was our 19th-place ranking in fiscal stability of the state government.

Stuck here in the middle with yall

Speaking of fiscal stability, its often said that the long-term fiscal stability of a state or nation depends on a healthy middle class. But what is the middle class?

AL.coms Warren Kulo reports that the middle-class income earners arent an exact overlap with peoples perceptions of middle-class folks.

The Washington Post did a report and a survey this year asking people what it meant. And around 90% of U.S. adults agreed that being in the middle class means you have a secure job, the ability to actually save money, to afford an emergency thousand-dollar debt, to pay bills on time without much concern, to afford health insurance and to retire comfortably.

That WaPo report also found that only a third of Americans met that definition of middle class.

So lets stick to income. According to the latest numbers, to qualify as middle class in Alabama you need a household income between $39,739 and $119,218.

Now, if that U.S. News & World Report study that ranked us the 7th worst state in the nation has you currently packing your bags to leave, make sure you get a raise with that move. The national average household income to reach the middle class is about $28,000 higher than ours.

A rendering shows an ambitious, transformative vision for a redevelopment of Mobile's Temple Downtown. (Smith Obayawat/OBA rendering via Bryan Olson)Courtesy of Bryan Olson

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DEI ban in effect

Alabamas new law banning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs at state institutions has already caused at least one DEI office to shut down, as others are working with legal teams to figure out what to do next, reports AL.coms Rebecca Griesbach.

Jacksonville State University will close its Office of Diversity and Inclusion on May 31.

Last spring, JSU reported $152,830 spending on salaries for a director and an administrative assistant for that office, and school documents show it supported four students on work study programs. The university did say that no staff will be cut.

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A controversial flag flown by rioters at the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection was reportedly displayed at the New Jersey beach vacation home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

An Appeal to Heaven flag was spotted at Alitos Long Beach Island home in July and September last year, according to The New York Times. The banner, also referred to as the Pine Tree flag, was photographed at the house on four occasions during those months, and also appears on a Google street view capture of the home from August, the Times reported.

Considered a symbol showing support for former President Donald Trump, the flag shows a green pine tree with the phrase An Appeal to Heaven emblazoned over top of it. Though it has roots going back to the Revolutionary War, the Appeal to Heaven flag today is often associated with a religious contingent of the Stop the Steal campaign, the Times reports.

The flag is the second Jan. 6-related banner to be seen flying at an Alito-owned property. Last week, the Times reported that an inverted American flag had been spotted at Alitos home in Virginia in 2021. That flag, Alito told the Times, was hung by his wife following a dispute with a neighbor.

Alito has not yet publicly addressed the Times report regarding the Appeal to Heaven flag seen at his New Jersey property, which the newspaper said he has owned since 2014.

The Appeal to Heaven phrase itself is a paraphrase for trial by arms, Princeton University historian Anthony Grafton told the Times. Dating back to the 17th century, the phrase was popularized by philosopher John Locke.

The main point is that theres no appeal, theres no one else you can ask for help or a judgment, Grafton said.

Ethicists interviewed by the Times said the flag being flown at Alitos home is concerning, as it may further associate him with symbols utilized during the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Additionally, the time period during which the Appeal to Heaven flag was spotted coincides with the time when the Supreme Court began hearing a case focused on whether individuals who participated in the insurrection should face obstruction charges.

That case is pending before the Supreme Court, as is another case that would decide whether Trump is immune from election subversion charges.

A number of Republican members of Congress and state leaders have also displayed the flag recently, including Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Times reports. House Speaker Mike Johnson also faced criticism for his use of the flag, telling CNN Wednesday that its George Washingtons flag and that it has nothing to do with Stop the Steal protests.

While the Appeal to Heaven flag was spotted at Alitos New Jersey home last year, the Times reports that it wasnt clear how long it had been displayed.

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2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer. Visit inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Campaign ads that mislead voters are a political ploy older than bumper stickers, but the use of artificial intelligence to generate lifelike images and speech creates a vast new potential for disinformation.

Alabama lawmakers are putting restrictions in place to try to get ahead of what figures to be an evolving and challenging area of regulation.

The Legislature passed HB172 by Rep. Prince Chestnut, D-Selma, which sets up criminal and civil remedies intended to stop the use of AI to falsely depict candidates.

Obviously its the first time weve done something like this in Alabama, Chestnut said. So I want it to be as broad as possible and hopefully we can deter this technology being used this way, in a way that none of us want to see it used.

More than 100 bills on regulating AI campaign ads have been proposed in 40 states, according to the Voting Rights Lab, a nonpartisan organization that tracks election laws.

Were really seeing it as an emerging issue this year, Megan Bellamy, vice president of law and policy for the Voting Rights Lab. Misinformation and disinformation are widespread in elections anyway, especially during federal election cycles. It turns up false rumors, misconceptions about elections, and disinformation specifically, can be targeted messages spread to purposely mislead voters.

Before the presidential primary in New Hampshire in February, thousands of that states voters received robocalls that used a false AI-generated voice impersonating President Biden, the Voting Rights Lab reported.

The Federal Communication Commission will consider a proposal to require political advertisers to disclose the use of artificial intelligence in broadcast and radio ads, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

HB172 passed the Alabama Legislature without a dissenting vote and was signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey. It takes effect Oct. 1.

The bill defines materially deceptive media as an image, audio, or video produced by artificial intelligence that falsely depicts an individual engaging in speech or conduct in which the depicted individual did not in fact engage and that a reasonable viewer or listener would incorrectly believe that the depicted individual engaged in the speech or conduct depicted.

The bill makes it a crime for a person to distribute materially deceptive media if they know the depiction is false, if it occurs within 90 days before an election, if the intent is to harm the reputation of the candidate, and if the intent is to deceive voters and change votes.

A violation is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail. A subsequent violation is a Class D felony.

The distribution of materially deceptive media is not a crime if the ad carries disclaimers, informing the viewer or listener that the ad has been manipulated by technical means and depicts speech or conduct that did not occur. The law includes specific requirements for the disclaimers. For example, if the material is a video, the disclaimer must appear throughout the video and be clearly visible and readable for the average viewer.

The new law also carries some exceptions, including for news outlets and for material that is satire or parody.

In addition to the criminal sanctions, the new law carries a civil remedy. It says the attorney general, the person depicted, a candidate who has been injured or is likely to be injured, and any entity that represents the interests of voters can ask a court for an injunction to block the use of the material.

Chestnut said it was important to include the criminal sanctions as a deterrent.

Theres some people who may decide if they know there is punishment for it, theyll say that maybe I wont do this, Chestnut said. Maybe Ill just do some negative ads but I wont put out completely false information or depict this person on a false light.

Chestnut said there is a difference in traditional-style negative campaign ads and the worst examples of what could be done with AI-generated video or images. A traditional negative ad, for example, might cherry-pick a few lines from a 100-page bill to characterize a lawmaker differently than a broader look at their voting record would show,

The person has the opportunity to come back and say, yeah but also in that 100-page bill I voted to give teachers a pay raise, Chestnut said. So thats something that the record can be supplemented.

But what do you do when someone takes your face, and it looks like you, and they have you on there kicking and beating a woman or maybe running over a person? This is a video of a hit-and-run. And its somebody who did engage in a hit and run. But its not you.

Bellamy said voters have learned to expect negative campaign ads. But she said the potential impact of disinformation spread by AI-generated images falls in a different category.

Voters have become really accustomed to the rhetoric and the mailers and the TV ads and radio ads really intensifying as you approach an election day, Bellamy said. The difference about AI-generated content is that its so compelling and its very realistic, and it could take a while and actually impact a voters thinking around the election and around a candidate before they realize that this is not real content. So thats where we want to be really mindful about the impacts.

Bellamy said legislation in other states, like Alabamas, generally includes some requirement for a disclaimer that an ad includes media generated or manipulated by AI. Bellamy said the details of that disclaimer will be important.

Is it really going to catch the voters attention? Bellamy said. Is it going to be more of an afterthought? Are folks hanging around? Is the disclaimer going to have to be present in a certain size on the ad and for the duration of the ad?

Theres just a lot of particulars that I think would weigh into whether even a politically savvy and a more sophisticated voter would be able to identify this as AI-generated content, much less folks who are less politically savvy and really up to speed on AI and what it can do.

Candidates are not the only potential targets of disinformation from AI-generated ads, Bellamy said. The technology could be abused to falsely depict work of the state and local agencies that manage elections and undermine voter confidence in the process.

I think that this is just the beginning of legislation and we know we are seeing lawmakers across the country, both sides of the aisle, really trying to take this on and tackle it, understanding that it is going to impact the elections in some way, Bellamy said. Its already impacting the election landscape.

I think that states and lawmakers are going to continue to grapple with the appropriate parameters to put on AI generated content, Bellamy said.

Chestnut said economic competition and natural security are driving forces that ensure that technology like AI will continue to evolve and grow more powerful. He said that carries great potential benefit for the public. But the increasing ability to create convincing deepfake messages that spread disinformation causes deep concern that goes beyond political campaigns.

I think with these technologies that we have, we have the ability to undermine everything that weve come to know to be true in this country, Chestnut said. Our institutions really are at stake. So I think we have to set up some type of parameters, some type of guardrails, some civil, some criminal, where were saying this type of behavior is not acceptable for us as a society.
A local education committee installed 20 new historic building plaques to teach visitors more about significant places in Fairhope history.

The Fairhope Single Tax Corporation (FSTC), which began as an organization of single-taxers who founded Fairhope in the late 1800s and today serves as a non-profit in the community, put together a map of buildings with historic value designed to be a walking tour.
The Birmingham Water Works has a full in-house public relations department, two outside PR consulting firms, two lobbyists, and years of failing marks on customer service surveys.

And board members Wednesday voted to spend $69,000 on another survey to better understand how the public feels about them and to create an image improvement plan.

The board voted to hire Southeast Research to conduct a survey of customers and public opinion.

The project includes 600 telephone interviews with customers and more than two dozen in-person interviews with public officials and community leaders.

This is not another customer satisfaction survey, said Rick Jackson, public relations manager for the water works. Southeast Researchs team will give the board insight into the publics perception of the system and what our team can do to improve service to our customers. Our intent is to demonstrate to the public that we are committed to transparency and that we also value the direct feedback of our customers.

The water works in February spent $37,500 to join J.D. Power, a national surveying organization that routinely ranks the utility as one of the worst for customer satisfaction in the Southeast. The board at the time said it was spending the money to get access to additional information about customer responses to the survey.

Just a few weeks ago, the board again ranked last among 19 peer utilities in J.D. Powers annual survey on customer satisfaction.

The utility scored 413 points out of 1,000 possible points.

Though Birmingham scored much higher in the 2023 survey, with 655 points, it has earned the lowest score among midsize systems in the Southeast in five of the past six years.

Board chairwoman Tereshia Huffman who presented the proposal, said the new study by Southeast Research is needed to gather more details on customer perception. She said the results will be presented internally, then to the full board.

External assessments describing the communitys perceptions are vital to assisting the Board and management in moving forward, Southeast Research president Jerry Ingram wrote in his proposal. While surveys have been conducted with employees and customers, it is also important for the organization to understand their public image for a broader range of issues and use this information to develop a comprehensive communications plan.

Just in the past few months, the water works was the subject of public scrutiny with complaints of odorous and discolored water in some Birmingham suburbs, a main break that led to a boil water notice in western Jefferson County, and customer notices of possible contamination as pipes were being replaced in Crestwood and North Birmingham neighborhoods.

The water works in January signed agreements worth $360,000 to hire two lobbyists that officials said would help better communicate its mission to customers and to lawmakers. The board then, without discussion, debate or dissent approved contracts with Fine Geddie & Associates and The Jones Group at $15,000 per month.

Some observers and ratepayers say they are puzzled by the need to spend additional money to gather more information about what public perception.

You all have one job and that is to give us clean drinking and bathing water. Deliver on that, said activist Frank Matthews.

Matthews lives in Forestdale in western Jefferson County, an area that went without running water for several days earlier this month because of a main break.

Bill Gerdes, a Hoover resident and a retired communication director at the University of Alabamas Culverhouse College of Business, expressed similar bewilderment.

Surveys are surveys, and how many can you do? he said.

Gerdes said public money might be better spent on improving customer service. Gerdes said he has seen issues firsthand that lead to negative views of the agency.

I have a son-in-law who lives in Hoover and had a water line break six or eight months ago. He finally got the line repaired and water restored but there still is a large hole where the line from the house meets the main line, Gerdes said. Those lobbyists probably wont be much help there, unless the water works can take some of that $360,000 the lobbyists will be paid to hire someone to fill that hole.

Matthews said the board doesnt need another survey to see why the public mistrusts the water works. He said all they need is a quick scan of history and recent issues.

They spend dollars like it was water and if they didnt spend dollars like water they could deal with these infrastructure problems that we are having, he said. How many times do we have to forgive them and say its all right?
Daves Pub in Five Points South is under new ownership after the bar was purchased Tuesday.

We are currently closed while we do some house keeping and obtaining all necessary licenses and insurance, said Dan Williams, who along with his wife, Sherri, bought the Birmingham bar on Tuesday.

On Tuesday night, the Five Points South Neighborhood Association gave its approval for a new liquor license for Daves, said Wil Jones, the groups president.

[T]he neighborhood is strongly in support of their application, Jones said in a text to AL.com, adding that the neighborhood association heard the application early.

We wanted to go ahead and vote on it because the last thing we need in Five Points is more properties being vacant longer than necessary, Jones said.

The Williamses will have to send their application paperwork to the city Finance Departments Tax and License Administration Division.

Daves previous owners could not be reached for comment.

Under its old owners, the bar left cryptic messages on its Facebook page that hinted a change was coming.

If youre a regular, worked here, or just have a bit of history and sentimentality towards Daves Pubyoure gonna wanna be here tonight, the bar posted on Monday. Were gathering the people that make this place what it is for a special night of celebration. Tonight only.

Well have @offbeatcatering here slinging some amazing eats and Seth behind the bar taking care of all your liquid needs, the post continued Its gonna be a special night. We love you guys!! Share this post with everyone and make sure to follow us for updates in the coming days/weeks.
Madison police have arrested a former Huntsville church employee on charges of electronic solicitation of a child.

According to police, David Mark Sellers, 49, was arrested Wednesday. He is being held in the Madison County Jail on $15,000 bail.

Police searched Sellers home in Madison yesterday as well as an office at his place of employment at Summit Crossing Community Church in Huntsville on Governors Drive West.

This case is still under investigation. Sellers is no longer employed by the church.

In a statement to WAFF, a church spokesman said, We are deeply grieved for those who have experienced this sinful behavior by one of our employees, and grateful to the family that initially came forward to report it.

In a statement, police said leadership in the church has been instrumental and cooperative.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at tellmpd@madisonal.gov
No one was injured Thursday when a car crashed into an Athens restaurant.

Athens Fire and police received a call at 11:44 a.m. that a car crashed into Marcos Pizza, 22099 U.S. Hwy 72 E.

Athens Police Chief Anthony Presnell said the drivers foot apparently slipped off the brake pedal to the accelerator.

The car crashed into the front of the business, obliterating a bank of windows.
A Mobile federal jury awarded a former Alabama prison inmate $400,000 on Tuesday after all the toes on his left foot had to be amputated because prison medical staff failed to treat his wounds, court records showed.

Dr. Manuel Pouparinaa was deliberately indifferent to the medical needs of Canyon Moye, the jury determined, according to court records showed.,

Moye, a resident of Uriah, in Monroe County, was an inmate at the Escambia County Jail, Kilby Correctional Facility in Montgomery and Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore.

Moye had back surgery in 2015 that led to a lack of feeling in his feet, and sustained a wound to his left toe while walking barefoot in 2016. He was treated for the injury in 2017 and 2018.

Shortly after Moye was incarcerated at Kilby in August 2019, his left foot developed blisters, which he claimed was a result of the poor quality of shoes he was issued in prison.

The wound deteriorated, and following complaints by his father about the conditions at Kilby, Moye was transferred to Fountain.

When he arrived at the Atmore prison in September or early October 2019, the wound worsened, his lawsuit stated.

By late October 2019, there was a stench from the wounds on Plaintiffs foot and there were holes in the pad of Plaintiffs foot below the big toe and below the middle toe area, the suit stated.

Moye was given little to no treatment other than cleaning the wound and ... some ointment to apply, according to the suit.

The failure to send the Plaintiff to a wound care physician and/or a general surgeon was unreasonable, harsh, and a deliberate indifference to the medical needs of the Plaintiff, given the obvious severity of his condition and the need for immediate and in-depth treatment, the lawsuit stated. Any qualified nurse or medical doctor would and/or should have known that an infected wound of this nature would cause sever additional injury if not quickly and properly treated. Further, the prison guards and the warden at Fountain knew or should have known that the obvious, severe injury suffered by Plaintiff needed immediate and in-depth medical treatment.

Pouparina serves as the medical director at Fountain but is employed by Wexford Medical Services Inc., which has a contract to provide health services to Alabama inmates. He along with nurses who work for Wexford treated Moye.

Moye said he asked the prison warden for adequate medical treatment for his deteriorating foot but the request was ignored.

This caused Plaintiffs wound to worsen to the point where all of the toes on his left foot had to be amputated, the suit stated.

After further neglect from the warden, the wound deteriorated to the point where a significant hole on his foot developed, according to the lawsuit.

Nurses and other medical staff who work for Wexford refused Moyes request for medical treatment, the suit alleged.

In 2020, Moye was eventually sent for a consultation with a general surgeon who performed the amputation.

Moye was housed at the county jail during recovery and the wound healed, but again developed a hole in his foot after being returned to Fountain.

Fountain personnel and the Wexford staff of medical personnel continued to provide inadequate treatment by not properly packing the wounds, not properly wrapping the wound, and not allowing necessary treatment modalities, the suit stated. The failure to adequately treat Plaintiffs wound caused the wound to continue to fester for the additional 12-plus months Plaintiff remained at Fountain following his surgery.

The Mobile jury, which awarded Moye $400,000 in compensatory damages, found the former inmate was not entitled to any punitive damages.
A Magnolia Park residents house is damaged by a fallen tree after a severe storm with damaging winds hit Houston on Friday, May 17, 2024. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Jaime Garcia, a veteran storm chaser, sits atop a tree in East Houston felled by a May 16 derecho. Jaime Garcia/Photo courtesy Jaime Garcia

When Jaime Garcia saw the sky in Waller County turn a dark, greenish hue, he knew Houston was in for a different type of storm.

Garcia, a freelance storm chaser and a storm tracker for ABC13, has spent the past eight years filming floods, hurricanes and tropical storms all over Southeast Texas. He can count on one hand the number of tornadoes or derechos hes seen in our region.

Garcia had already been tracking torrential rain near College Station on May 16, when he got an alert on his phone for a tornado warning in Houston. He quickly jumped in his car, following about 30 miles behind the storm clouds barreling south. Once he reached Cypress, he saw damage consistent with tornadoes: billboards wiped clean off of their frame and snapped utility poles.

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Garcia immediately called his wife at their home in Houston Heights, and told her to go in the bathroom with a mattress and hunker down. By the time he reached Oak Forest, he saw residents in the street, their faces ashen and shell-shocked, surveying the damage the storm left in its wake: massive oak trees flipped upside down, shingles ripped from roofs and street lamps keeled over.

It was very tough for me to see, even as a storm chaser, Garcia told the editorial board. This was just a historic storm and it really caught even the meteorologists by surprise. But the warnings were there. If people wouldve been watching and listening, I think we wouldve been better prepared.

Houstonians have earned our toughness but the idea that anything less than a Category 3 hurricane isnt worth our worry is foolish at a time when warmer climates are producing more violent weather. We need to start preparing for disasters year-round  not just hurricanes from June through November, but torrential rain, winter freezes and, yes, potentially more frequent tornadoes and derechos.

What made last weeks derecho  a storm with wind damage extending more than 400 miles with gusts of at least 58 mph or stronger  unique was how rapidly it developed and the path of its damage from Austin all the way to Cape Canaveral, Fla. This storm, along with a powerful tornado that ripped through Deer Park and Pasadena last year, has raised questions as to whether the region we have long considered to be Tornado Alley  stretching from South Dakota through Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and North Texas  now encompasses our corner of the state as well.

While the available data is not conclusive, there are some alarming trends. Several studies have shown tornadoes popping up in the southeast part of the country more frequently in the past few decades. Part of that is due to more regular drought conditions in Tornado Alley, which make violent storms less likely to develop. By contrast, the warmer temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico contribute to moist atmospheric conditions along the coast and in the Mississippi River Valley, increasing the potential for severe weather.

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Unfortunately, that increased risk doesnt make tornadoes or derechos any easier to predict. Any meteorologist worth their salt will tell you there are inherent blind spots with fast-developing storms. Matt Lanza, a meteorologist who runs Space City Weather, an indispensable weather resource for Houstonians, told the editorial board he knew a day or two in advance that the atmospheric conditions in Southeast Texas were ripe for tornado development. Yet several days before the derecho hit, the atmospheric conditions were almost identical and only produced thunderstorms.

Theres just no way for us, at this point in time at least, to forecast ahead of time more than 30 minutes to an hour, Lanza said.

Houstonians are used to breathlessly tracking slow-moving storm systems that creep across the Atlantic days, sometimes weeks before they swirl into gnarly hurricanes in the Gulf or Caribbean. The truncated lead time for derechos and tornadoes  which typically hit the Gulf Coast in early spring  means we need to be even more weather-aware than we already are. Garcia, the storm chasing pro, has several suggestions.

 Take seriously those seemingly benign severe weather alerts. Every person should have a weather app with notifications turned on. On your smart phone, turn on emergency alerts, including any local awareness options, which can help tailor alerts to your location.

 Take shelter quickly, in the right place. Usually, thats the hallway or the inner-most part of a house or apartment building away from windows. Evacuations are useless with fast-developing storms. In the event youre stuck in a car during a storm, Garcia even suggested keeping a bicycle helmet in your trunk should you need to take cover. Do not, under any circumstance, park under a bridge or an overpass or leave your vehicle. Instead, Garcia suggests finding a sturdy building that can help shield your car from dangerous winds.

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 Prepare for power outages. Nearly a million Houston-area residents lost electricity during the derecho. So, just like you would during hurricane season, take inventory of emergency supplies such as bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, battery-powered fans and emergency phone chargers.

This could happen at any moment, Garcia said. Not being weather-alert can be deadly.

Personal responsibility is one thing, but state and local governments need to spur action as well. After Hurricane Andrew devastated Florida in 1992, the state steadily beefed up its building codes, which regulate new construction and set minimum standards for homes and commercial buildings to withstand hurricanes, floods and tornadoes. Texas, despite similar weather risks to Florida, follows outdated building codes published 12 years ago, and is rated by FEMA as having moderate hazard-resistant standards. The state does give municipalities the discretion to set their own standards. Cities such as Houston and San Antonio have adopted more stringent codes, but a stronger baseline standard is needed. Louisiana, our next door neighbor and no stranger to extreme weather, adopted the 2021 International Building Codes, the uniform standard recommended by FEMA. The Legislature must make this a priority next session.

Houstonians are nothing if not resilient. If youve lived through a hurricane, tropical storm or even a monsoon-like downpour, youve likely built some muscle memory on how to handle and recover from severe weather. Yet that experience, no matter how traumatic, can also lead to complacency  or worse: hubris. A hurricane veteran isnt necessarily a tornado veteran. If theres one thing last weeks derecho proved, its that the paradigm for extreme weather is constantly shifting. Stay on your toes and be prepared  rain, wind or shine.
Kaitlan Collins and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) covered a wide gamut of political topics on CNNs The Source Wednesday night including former President Donald Trumps 2016 attacks on the senator, Nikki Haley announcing that she would vote for Trump, and whether Cruz will accept the results of the 2024 election.

Collins currently hosts The Source (airing weeknights at 8 p.m. central) where she interviews high-profile political figures including U.S. presidential candidates. Cruz ran for president in 2016, winning 12 states in the primary before ultimately conceding the nomination to Trump.

Things got a little heated when the Prattville native pressed Cruz on the election topic, as they debated the 2020 race results in which President Joe Biden defeated Trump, with Cruz insisting voter fraud took place while Collins said there were no instances that would have changed the outcome of the election.

READ: Prattville native Kaitlan Collins: Alabama libraries should not be political battlegrounds

Of course there was fraud in 2020, Cruz told Collins.

No there wasnt, and you still objected, she said.

Oh you know for a fact there was zero voter fraud? Cruz asked. Really? Whats your basis for that? Show me your evidence.

There was no voter fraud that would have changed the outcome of the election, and you know that, senator, Collins said.

Cruz cited the aftermath of the 1876 election (won by Rutherford B. Hayes) as a precedent for 2020, in which he says voter fraud occurred, as he then attempted to turn the tables on Collins, quizzing her on what happened in that 19th century race. Can you answer my question? Why are you refusing to answer my question? he asked.

Im conducting the interview, with all due respect, senator, she said.

In 2021, Cruz and other Republicans proposed that Congress delay action for 10 days to let an electoral commission audit the 2020 election results and investigate voter fraud claims in the contested states. More than two dozen legal challenges filed to contest the election results failed, many of them dismissed in court.

Cruz attempted to elaborate before Collins pressed him to move on.

You asked me a question. Do you want me to answer it? he said. You didnt answer the question, Collins said.

Earlier in the interview, Collins noted Cruz was the first senator to object to the 2020 election results before then-Vice President Mike Pence certified the votes. Cruz took issue when she asked him if he will accept the 2024 election results regardless of who wins.

So, Kaitlan, I gotta say, I think thats actually a ridiculous question, Cruz said. Collins said its a yes or no question, while Cruz disagreed and asked Collins about Democrats challenging past presidential election results. She said the situations are not comparable, in that the country has previously never seen a sitting president refuse to facilitate the peaceful transition of power.

We did have a peaceful transfer of power, Cruz said, while Collins responded, Barely.

Cruz said the country has an election law system people use to challenge and sometimes overturn elections before blaming media for insisting no voter fraud ever existed.

If the Democrats win, Im going to accept the result, but Im not going to ignore fraud regardless of what happens, Cruz said.

Collins also asked Cruz why he supported Trump after the former president launched personal attacks against the Texas senator and his family.

I knew then it was lies, Cruz said. It was lies then, its lies now. At the end of the day, Im a big boy. Listen, if I were a private citizen, I could decide my feelings are hurt and Im just gonna leave. But if I do that, I cant do my job, and I care about my job.

Collins asked Cruz about the tactics Trump used to rise to the presidency. I dont like them, I cant stand them, he said. I think Donald Trump is a unique character in American history. There are things he says and does that I like. There are things he says and does that I dont like.

She cited a Cruz quote from the 2016 election cycle wherein he criticized Trumps rhetoric before asking the senator if he feels differently now. He says all sorts of things I wish he didnt say, Cruz said. I value civility in politics. I think we should treat each other with respect even if we disagree with each other. I cant control what other people say. I cant control what other Republicans say, I cant control what other Democrats say.

Watch the full CNN interview.

In 2023, CNN announced Collins would take over the networks 8 p.m. central primetime slot, previously occupied by Chris Cuomo whom the network fired in December 2021. The news came after the Alabama native moderated CNNs Republican town hall with former President Donald Trump that month in New Hampshire. Collins handling of the event divided critics and viewers, while Variety and Puck reported CNN planned give her the primetime slot permanently after publicly supporting her performance at the town hall.

Collins became CNNs youngest-ever chief White House correspondent seven years ago at age 29. Since joining CNN in 2017, she has become one of the most influential journalists in the nation due to her tough questions, objective reporting and signature style, a CNN release said. Kaitlan has broken numerous stories of consequence from both the Biden and Trump administrations, including significant policy decisions and major staff changes, traveling the globe extensively to report on their presidencies. Collins has also reported on the Senate special election in her home state of Alabama.

Collins replaced Jim Acosta as chief White House correspondent in 2021. When she joined the network in 2017, Collins covered the Trump White House and quickly rose to the top of her field. She covered Biden for a year-and-a-half before she became co-anchor of CNN This Morning.

Collins is from Prattville and graduated from the University of Alabama in 2014.










English News Over 750,000 SMEs in Guangdong employ cloud systems for higher-efficiency production

Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 23 Mai 2024



As a major production base of the textile and garment industry, Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province has encouraged a number of industrial internet platforms to help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) transition to cloud-based systems and services, including Guangzhou Zhijing Information Technology Co., Ltd.(GZIT) a Guangzhou based company that uses digital technologies to streamline textile operations.

By Sun Zhen, Cheng Yuanzhou, People's Daily Guangdong province in south China has been accelerating the digital, networked and intelligent development of the manufacturing sector in recent years, leveraging technological transformation to upgrade traditional manufacturing industries such as textile and home appliance.



As a major production base of the textile and garment industry, Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province has encouraged a number of industrial internet platforms to help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) transition to cloud-based systems and services, including Guangzhou Zhijing Information Technology Co., Ltd.(GZIT) a Guangzhou based company that uses digital technologies to streamline textile operations.



The company has developed an intelligent platform that assists garment manufacturers find proper fabric suppliers. The platform gathers massive market information and can quickly search for desired items based on actual demands.



Shi Daqing, general manager of a garment company in Dongguan, Guangdong province, is a beneficiary of the platform. "In the past, I had to search in fabric markets for days every time I came to Guangzhou to procure supplies. Now, with online fabric selection, it only takes a few minutes to find the fabrics we want," said Shi, who has been engaged in the garment business for more than 20 years.



According to Li Yaping, co-founder and senior vice president of GZIT, the company, leveraging big data, Internet of Things and other cutting-edge technologies, has launched multiple smart cloud platforms that cover all sectors of the garment industrial chain, from fabric production to procurement, and from apparel design to sales.



Li told People's Daily that it generally cost over half a month to design a piece of clothing in the past, which needed multiple procedures such as graphic design, pattern making, cutting and sample making.



However, the cycle has been shortened to just minutes thanks to an intelligent apparel design platform independently developed by GZIT, which can rapidly generate virtual samples based on preset styles and preferences.



In a smart textile park of GZIT in Yibin, southwest China's Sichuan province, the company employs a real-time intelligent quality-check system.



Many defects of fabrics couldn't be spotted by manual inspections, and now with the fully automated quality-check system, over 99 percent of the products are qualified, said Li Peifeng, head of the smart textile park.



"Each roll of the fabrics comes with a quality-check report and a QR code, which enable full traceability of production information along the chain," he told People's Daily.

Since its establishment in 2014, GZIT has continually expanded its business scope, serving more than 50,000 enterprises in the textile and apparel industry both inside and outside Guangdong province with digital technologies.



"Cloud" services give a big helping hand to SMEs, which is deeply recognized by Chen Kai, general manager of a textile company in Foshan, Guangdong province.



"We all know the benefits of digitalization, but everything about it, from R&D to equipment upgrade, costs money. Cloud services allow us small businesses to achieve significant outcomes with minimal investment," Chen noted.



Today, Chen's company can pay to use GZIT's intelligent systems and enjoy tangible benefits of technological transformation. "The systems monitor equipment operation in real time, reducing abnormal downtime by 35 percent and boosting overall efficiency by 30 percent," Chen said.



As more and more companies adopted its services in recent years, GZIT built a cloud platform that coordinates upstream and downstream production.



"Downstream apparel manufacturers place orders, the platform assigns them, and upstream textile firms take them," said Li. "Through cloud-based management, we can rapidly match demands and supplies, thus promoting efficient production."



Li is quite optimistic about GZIT's future development. "Apart from servicing upstream and downstream enterprises, we are now integrating them to make the industrial chain more resilient and competitive!"



Zou Yongbing, chief economist of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong province, said that in recent years, the province has introduced and cultivated over 400 outstanding industrial internet platform companies and service providers including GZIT. Collectively, they have driven digital transformation for over 30,000 industrial enterprises above designated size and enabled over 750,000 SMEs to adopt cloud solutions.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Progress made in desertification control along Yellow River Basalt rocks made into national flag carried by Chang'e-6 probe Prospering telemedicine a reflection of China's rapid internet development Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)










English News "Overcapacity" in China's new energy industry is pseudo-proposition

Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 21 Mai 2024



China stands ready to work with all relevant parties to uphold the basic principles of the market economy, including fair competition and open cooperation, so as to make its due contributions to global green and low-carbon transition.

By Zhong Sheng, People's Daily The narrative of "overcapacity" in China's new energy industry is a pseudo-proposition, whether viewed from the principles of market economy and the law of value, or analyzed under the context of global division of labor and international market.



It is contrary to economic logic and reality to claim that China is exporting its excess capacity. Under economic globalization, production capacity is determined by supply-demand relations. According to the law of the market, the equilibrium between supply and demand is in constant flux, with imbalance being the norm in any market economy. Addressing the imbalances primarily relies on market regulation in accordance with the law of value.



China is an open market that embraces globalization. This requires Chinese new energy enterprises to adopt both domestic and international strategies in their development visions and resource allocation. Cross-border trade would not have existed if each country only focused on meeting their domestic demand.



The rise in Chinese exports of electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products in recent years is a result of global division of labor and market demand. It's absurd to relate capacity issues to global trade and attribute China's expanding exports to overcapacity.



As a matter of fact, it's simply not the case that green products are in excess supply globally. On the contrary, the global demand for such products far outruns the supply.

According to the International Energy Agency, the global demand for new energy vehicles (NEVs) is expected to reach 45 million units by 2030, 4.5 times that of 2022, and the global demand for newly installed capacity for photovoltaic products will reach 820 gigawatts by 2030, about four times that of 2022.



The current production capacity for green energy in the world falls significantly short of the global demand, especially when more than 130 countries and regions have raised their carbon neutrality targets. Given the huge potential of global demand, China's green production capacity is far from enough. It's a complete fallacy that Chinas "overcapacity" in new energy sectors harms the global market.



In an article, Bloomberg said to the extent that theres grounds for hope around the energy transition right now, its largely thanks to the availability of cheap, clean Chinese products.



In today's world, both supply and demand should be considered in a global context. It is an economic principle beyond human control that the production capacity of a country is decided by its own comparative advantages.



China's new energy products are competitive because China, as an early player in the industry, has fostered technological advantages through long-term research and development, and developed comprehensive strengths by leveraging its robust domestic industrial capabilities, enormous market, and rich human resources.



Despite being priced higher than in the domestic market, Chinese NEVs and other related products are still highly sought after in many countries overseas. This demonstrates that China's competitive advantages in production capacity are determined by both global demand and the efficiency of Chinese enterprises, in accordance with the law of the market.



It is driven by the entrenched protectionist beliefs that some countries labeled the Chinese new energy industry with "overcapacity." Such false narrative is just an excuse to justify the imposition of trade barriers on China's exports.



What is truly excessive is not China's new energy capacity, but rather the abuse of protectionism by these countries to suppress the legitimate development of other countries.



They keep saying all the time that they oppose unfair trade and non-market practices, but in fact they are politicizing economic and trade issues, disturbing free trade with non-market approaches.



By spreading the false narrative of "overcapacity" in China's new energy industry, they aim to stifle China's industrial development and seek more favorable competitive positions and market advantages for themselves.



Those who spread such narrative to justify protectionism have nothing to gain from it and will only destabilize and disrupt global industrial and supply chains, hinder the worlds green transition, and curb the growth of emerging sectors.



Neue Zurcher Zeitung, a Swiss newspaper, said on its website that the West's complaints about China's "overcapacity" are hypocritical and short-sighted and the Western industrialized countries would do better to face up to the competition and push for equal market access in exchange for good and cheap Chinese green energy products.



Any remark or practice that politicizes or overstretches the concept of national security regarding economic and trade issues is against the law of economy, which neither helps with a country's industrial growth nor the recovery of the global economy. Attempting to sabotage others and gain a competitive edge through the overcapacity hype is both unmoral and impractical.



China stands ready to work with all relevant parties to uphold the basic principles of the market economy, including fair competition and open cooperation, so as to make its due contributions to global green and low-carbon transition.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Progress made in desertification control along Yellow River Basalt rocks made into national flag carried by Chang'e-6 probe Prospering telemedicine a reflection of China's rapid internet development Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
Even as Donald Trumps ongoing hush money trial eats up most of the former presidents media attention, Americas nine Supreme Court justices are quietly making up their minds about how to rule in whats probably a much more important case. In Trump v. United States, the Court will decide whether presidents have absolute immunity from prosecution for acts committed in office.

Back in January, when the case was still in circuit court, a lot of news stories quoted the following exchange between Trump attorney John Sauer and D.C. circuit judge Florence Pan.

Judge Pan: Could a president order SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Thats an official act. An order to SEAL Team 6.

Sauer: He would have to be and would speedily be impeached and convicted before the criminal prosecution.

Judge Pan: But if he werent, there would be no criminal prosecution or criminal liability for that?

Then Sauer hemmed and hawed about the chief justice, the Constitution, and the impeachment clause, but Pan cut to the chase and said, I asked you a yes-or-no question. Could a president who ordered SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival, who was not impeached  could he be subject to criminal prosecution?

Sauer: If he were impeached and convicted first.

Judge Pan: So your answer is a no?

Sauer: My answer is a qualified yes.

Naturally, Donald Trumps enemies did their best to splash this around the headlines as evidence of the unprecedented danger that Trump and his allies pose to the American republic. Meanwhile, Trumps supporters tend to think that comparing the January 6 kerfuffle (in which, its worth noting, Trump never ordered anyone to do anything violent) to the kinds of things that Adolf Hitler did (see Night of the Long Knives) is downright silly.

But for me, reading the Pan/Sauer exchange brought to mind a different Supreme Court case, one from way back in 1978, which also dealt with the question of which government officials are entitled to absolute immunity. (This is contrasted with the qualified immunity that we often hear about after police-involved killings, and which doesnt protect officers from being sued or prosecuted when they act in reckless disregard of the victims legal rights.)

The 1978 case, Stump v. Sparkman, dealt with the immunity of judges. And although it involved a civil suit, rather than a criminal prosecution, the actual misconduct was far more horrifying than anything Trump has ever been accused of doing.

Back in 1971, Ora McFarlin of Auburn, Indiana petitioned judge Harold Stump of the DeKalb County Circuit Court for permission to surgically sterilize her 15-year-old daughter, Linda, on the grounds that the girl was mildly retarded and was associating with older youth and young men who might get her pregnant. The judge granted McFarlins petition the same day, without examining any evidence, justifying his decision by citing statute or case law, or appointing a legal representative to argue Lindas side of the case and possibly file an appeal.

A few days later, McFarlin told her daughter that she was to have her appendix removed and took her to the hospital, where the surgeons sterilized her. She didnt know what had happened until four years later, when, two years after marrying Leo Sparkman, she had still failed to become pregnant. Upon discovering the facts of the case, the Sparkmans sued everyone involved (the judge, the attorney, Ora McFarlin, the surgeons, and the hospital director) for damages in state court. The Indiana courts, in deference to Judge Stumps original decision, dismissed all the suits.

But the plaintiffs lawyers also thought they had a case in federal court, under the Civil Rights Act of 1871, which allowed private suits to be brought against any person who, under color of any law, conspires to deprive a person of his constitutional rights. And the U.S. Supreme Court had recognized freedom from arbitrary sterilization as a constitutional right. (Though the Court allowed eugenic sterilization in 1927s Buck v. Bell, the law in question applied only to institutionalized persons, and only after lengthy reviews by a factfinding board whose decisions could be judicially appealed. Later, in 1942s Skinner v. Oklahoma, the Court unanimously ruled that Oklahoma couldnt sterilize a man for repeated petty thefts, as this would amount to cruel and unusual punishment.)

The federal district court dismissed all of Linda Sparkmans suits on the ground that the only state action had been performed by a judge, who was clothed with absolute judicial immunity. But Sparkman filed an appeal, and the circuit court unanimously reversed the decision, ruling that Judge Stumps failure to do even the most basic things that a judge ought to do before making such a serious decision meant that his ruling was not a judicial act.

Then Judge Stump appealed to the Supreme Court. There, many of the justices were skeptical of the claim that what Stump had done was not a judicial act. They noted, during oral arguments in January of 1978, that judges often sign search warrants, issue temporary restraining orders, and grant other ex parte petitions without hearing arguments from both sides or providing an opportunity for appeal, and they suggested that consenting to a parents request of medical treatment for her minor child was not very different.

Justice Potter Stewart (of I know it when I see it fame) was unconvinced. He put a long line of questions to Stumps attorney, George Fruechtenicht, that included the following memorable exchange.

Justice Stewart: What if Mrs. McFarlin had presented a piece of paper to your client, the judge, and said, my daughter is incompetent. She is a kleptomaniac. She has done a lot of shoplifting. And I want your approval to have her right hand chopped off, and the judge had signed the approval, and that surgery had been performed? Would your argument 

Fruechtenicht: ... that would not be an operation, Your Honor, I would suggest, that a court would even consider, especially a court such as Judge Stump 

Justice Stewart: Assume that this court did do that. ... Would you be making the same argument?

Fruechtenicht: If I may respectfully suggest, Your Honor, that assumption is not germane to the issue in this particular case.

Justice Stewart: I think it tests your argument.

After a great deal of hemming and hawing, another justice joined in to force Stumps lawyer back on topic. Did he have jurisdiction to decide the example that Justice Stewart gives you?

Fruechtenicht: Of chopping off their hands? In the final analysis, yes, he would have jurisdiction to act.

Two months later, the Court issued its decision. Judge Stump and his co-litigants won, with the majority opinion declaring that judges are entitled to absolute immunity, unless they are acting in the clear absence of all jurisdiction. The fact that the issue before the judge is a controversial one, the Court said, is all the more reason that he should be able to act without fear of suit.

Potter Stewart, who dissented, managed to convince only two of his colleagues that the real injustice here was that this controversial issue had been decided without any examination of the evidence, any legal representation for the weaker party, or any possibility of appeal.

Yet theres still a crucial difference between Pans and Sauers SEAL Team 6 exchange that I quoted at the beginning of this article and the Stewart/Fruechtenicht cut off her right hand exchange in 1978. Sauer at least acknowledged that Trump could be tried for lawless acts if he were impeached first.

In Stump v. Sparkman, on the other hand, nobody mentioned impeachment at all. There is no record of an attempt by the Indiana Legislature to impeach Harold Stump for high crimes and misdemeanours, and although the Supreme Courts opinion didnt forbid the Legislature from doing so, it didnt cite impeachment as a proper limit on judicial independence, either, the way that Bradley v. Fisher, the 1871 case that until then was the main precedent on judicial immunity, had done. The gist of the Stump opinion was simply that this poor girls right not to suffer permanent sterilization (or, presumably, any other bodily mutilation) without any sort of trial was simply unimportant when compared to the right of judges to act with independence and without fear of consequences.

Apart from judges, the other large category of officials with absolute immunity from suit is prosecutors. Under present law, prosecutors cannot be sued for any form of misconduct  even for fabricating evidence, or for concealing or destroying exculpatory evidence, although an attempt to reverse the last of these is being heard by SCOTUS this term.

Defenders of this doctrine claim that absolute immunity is necessary for prosecutors to freely perform their duties without being intimidated by retaliatory lawsuits. And yet, in theory, this same concern would apply to all government employees whose actions sometimes leave other citizens feeling wronged.

It may seem puzzling that an on-duty police officer, who has only seconds to decide whether to use force against a suspect, and who might lose his own life if he hesitates, is entitled to only qualified immunity, whereas a prosecutor, who by comparison is in no hurry at all to decide which evidence to disclose to the defense attorney, is completely unaccountable. It makes sense only if you remember that the rules here are made by judges, and when judges look at prosecutors, they see people who wear suits and ties, work in air-conditioned offices, and hold degrees from the best law schools  basically, people a lot like themselves, and thus more worthy of sympathy than cops, who are usually proles.

This gets to the heart of the matter. For well over half a century, the American system of government has operated on the principle that the higher up you are, the less accountable for your actions you should be.

Its rarely stated quite that bluntly, but in practice, its how things are done. To begin with, there are all those Supreme Court opinions from Earl Warrens day and onward that state that some controversial issue or another  something like school prayer or forced bussing or abortion or marriage  must be decided by the Court because its too important to be left to legislators, who are influenced by politics (i.e., by democratic accountability).

And although absolute immunity as a formal, legal principle may extend only to judges and prosecutors and (maybe) the president, the culture of zero accountability is pretty much universal among the governing elite. Why was nobody punished for lying about WMDs to get our country into the Iraq war? Why did the repeated strategic failures and the senseless wastage of thousands of lives in Afghanistan and Iraq not lead to a single high military or diplomatic officer being held to account? Why was Victoria Nuland, the Obama-era diplomat most responsible for the coup that delegitimized Ukraines government in the eyes of many of its citizens and provoked the Russian invasion, immediately returned to high office when the Democrats regained the White House in 2021?

Why do medical researchers who take under-the-table payments from pharmaceutical companies, in exchange for always portraying their drugs in a rosy light, almost never see their careers harmed as a result? Why hasnt a single virologist faced legal consequences for participating in gain-of-function research? Why did Congress not even try to impeach Anthony Fauci after evidence came out that he had repeatedly lied under oath about said research? Why did Fauci instead get put in charge of fighting the pandemic he helped create, and then go on to retire as perhaps the most admired scientific figure in America?

Dont let yourself be fooled into thinking that the people who hold power in this country actually believe that no one should be above the law. They didnt believe it in the 1960s70s, when multiple presidents and innumerable DoD officials got off clean for lying to Congress about the progress of the Vietnam War, and when the Supreme Court decided cases like Roe v. Wade and Stump v. Sparkman. (Watergate is only a partial exception; one must remember how much Richard Nixon was hated by the broader political class.)

And our rulers didnt believe that no one is above the law in the 2000s, when scads of officials in the Bush administration lied their country into the war in Iraq and then made careers out of hiding the fact that their attempts to build liberal democracies in the Middle East werent working.

They didnt believe it during the COVID pandemic, when nobody was held to account for gain-of-function research. (Its worth noting that you dont have to prove that COVID-19 originated in a Chinese lab in order to prove that a lot of high-status Americans lied about whether their own government was funding said lab.)

Notwithstanding the Trump prosecutions, they dont really believe it now, either. After all, they didnt think that covering up adultery was a big deal when Bill Clinton did it, or that refusing to concede a lost election in a timely manner was a big deal when Al Gore did it, or that mishandling classified documents was a big deal when Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden and Hunter Biden did it.

Theyre not going after Donald Trump because they actually care about limited government and the rule of law, or because they want to apply those principles even-handedly. Theyre going after Trump because they feel threatened by him.

And thats a good thing.

Twilight Patriot is the pen name of a young American who lives in Georgia, where he is currently working toward a graduate degree. You can read more of his writings at his Substack.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Because virtually all the polling firms publish essentially the same results, there is little doubt that if an honest election were held today Donald Trump would handily defeat Joe Biden in the Electoral College vote. Further, as long as an increasingly senescent, unpopular, and compromised Joe Biden remains the Democrat nominee, Trump should win at least 270-290 electoral votes (270 needed to win the presidency) in November despite the inevitable Democrat duplicity, lawfare, and voter fraud and machinations.

If faced with the potential scenario of not being able to replace Biden, the Democrats are going to single-mindedly focus on races in both the House and Senate. Not only to block Trumps agenda as well as his judicial and cabinet appointees, but to reprise their Impeachment Follies of 2018-2020. Losing to Donald Trump again would unleash a virulent strain of Trump Derangement Syndrome. When combined with control of one or both houses of Congress, there would be four years of unmitigated national chaos.

While so many are focusing on the presidential sweepstakes, it cannot be forgotten that without control of both Houses of Congress there can be no overarching rollback of the disastrous policies of the Biden Administration and the Democrats. Which raises the question: what is currently happening with congressional races throughout the country?

Five recent polls revealed that when Americans were asked which party they prefer to control Congress, 45.4% favored Democrats and 44% favored Republicans. Despite the ongoing unfathomable financial and societal chaos, Democrats are still viewed favorably by a substantial segment of the electorate.

Control of the Senate will be key to what happens after November 5, 2024. As the Republican caucus will still include two implacable anti-Trumpers (Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins), the Republicans need to win at a minimum three seats to bring their number to 52 or, if possible, four seats in order to be at a more comfortable 53.

While everyone is elated over the polls reflecting Trumps dominance versus Biden, what do the polls reflect in winnable Senate toss-up elections in states Trump is leading by substantial margins?

In Arizona, Kari Lake, is losing to a radical Democrat, Ruben Gallego, 49% to 36% or a difference of 13 percentage points.

In Ohio, Bernie Moreno, is losing to incumbent Democrat Sharrod Brown 44% to 37%, a margin of seven points.

In Pennsylvania, Dave McCormick is behind incumbent Democrat Bob Casey by five percentage points 46% to 41%.

In Michigan, a hotbed of voter fraud, Mike Rogers is behind Democrat progressive Elise Slotkin 39% to 42%.

In Nevada, Sam Brown is behind incumbent Democrat Jackie Rosen by two points, 38% to 40%.

In Montana, Tim Sheehy is currently beating incumbent Democrat Jon Tester by three percentage points, 48% to 45%.

While there are no recent polls in West Virginia between Republican Jim Justice and Democrat Glenn Elliot, it is anticipated that Justice holds a significant lead over Elliot and will win easily in November.

Currently, the Republican candidates have a substantial lead in just one of seven winnable Senate seats. When the impact of Democrat voting fraud and manipulation is factored into the equation, the Republican candidates need to defeat their Democrat opponents by a minimum of four to five percentage points.

Why are the polls so different for Trump versus individual Senate races? If one accepts the underlying veracity of the polls reflecting Trumps lead in these states, then the same consideration must be given for the senatorial polls. Some would argue that the Republicans have chosen bad candidates; however, it is highly unlikely that virtually all the Republican candidates are inept.

The answer: the Trump v. Biden polls are a referendum on Joe Biden and reflect the disdain the majority of the American electorate feels towards him. The current polling results in these states are solely a phenomenon of Donald Trump versus a frail, unpopular, and grossly incompetent Joe Biden.

Even more uncertain than the Senate is the outcome of which party will control the House in 2025-26. The current consensus among five political forecasting groups is that there are 181 safe and 21 likely or lean Republican seats for a total of 210. Among the Democrats there are 166 safe and 36 likely or lean Democrat seats or 202. The current estimate of toss-up seats is 23.

Thus, Republican control of the House may well be determined by the outcome of 23 toss-up elections and the highly doubtful scenario of not losing any in the likely or lean category. The Republicans need to win at least 14-16 of the toss-up seats to have a workable majority of at least 5 to 8 seats and avoid the seemingly never-ending chaos in the current Congress wherein the Republicans currently have a mere one seat majority.

In the 2022 mid-terms, 20 House seats were decided by 6,000 votes or less and another 12 by 10,000 votes or less. Of the 32 seats, Democrats won 19 and the Republicans 13.

Additionally, there is not only Democrat ballot harvesting and mail-in ballot manipulation to consider, but the potential impact of illegal immigrants voting in the 2024 election.

A Yale-MIT analysis in 2018 estimated there were 22 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Since that time at least another 10-12 million have entered the country for a total of 32-34 million currently residing in America. Just 10% of them (3.0 to 3.4 million) casting illegal ballots could swing elections in numerous House districts and Senate races.

The fate of the nation and the importance of winning the presidency in 2024 cannot be overstated; but control of both Houses of Congress is equally important. In 2020, more than 74.2 million cast votes for Donald Trump, but only 72.4 million voted for Republican candidates in all the House races, a gap of nearly 1.8 million votes. That gap has to be significantly closed in 2024.

First, Trump and the Republican National Committee should have as a centerpiece of the overall campaign the vital importance of controlling both Houses of Congress. Second, millions of Republican voters must, at least temporarily, abandon standing on so-called principle and refusing to vote for a Republican Senate or House candidate because they may not be in perfect lockstep with everything the voter believes in.

The key to winning in 2024 is a massive turnout combined with voting oversight and monitoring as a means of blunting the impact of Democrat voter fraud and manipulation. A turnout that must also include voting in all Senate and House races.

Image credit Picryl
We all hear the talking points of the left regarding President Trump. Hes going to end democracy there will never be a free election again, he will arrest the media, and there will be retribution against his enemies; the list of his alleged evil deeds is almost endless.

Do these actually hold water?

Seizing control of the US government is no simple task. In writing Blue Dawn, I had to go over a number of coup scenarios for the book. The biggest challenge is that to seize control, you must have complacency or support of the military and the means to still have a functioning government; all the while avoiding the consequences of the law.

Those who claim that January 6th was an insurrection fail to explain how, in any scenario, Donald Trump would have been able to seize and hold power. Even if this fantasy is played out, and the trespassers had rounded up Congress and had had him certified as the winner of the election, they would have simply reversed that vote the moment they were free. Impeachment would have been a slam dunk if that had been the plan. In reality, it was a protest that got out of hand, resulting in the tragic death of a single person, a protester.

Lets play out the fiction of January 6th with a scenario where the full House and Senate were rendered unable to fulfill their duties after the intrusion in the Capitol, i.e, they were killed. If that had happened, processes exist to replace those roles in every state. Eventually the vote would have been reversed. In the short term, it would provide a false sense of legitimacy to an overthrow of the government.

The Supreme Court would have been engaged on the matter on an emergency basis. If the Supreme Court were not negated, they would be compelled to take legal action. Trump would have moved on the court. Reminder: this didnt happen at all on January 6th.

Nixon contemplated having the 101st Airborne and local Marine troops surround the White House should he be impeached. If Trump considered this action, chances are he would have been met by Pentagon leadership that would have refused his orders as illegal and unjust. Some commands might follow Trumps orders but in fairness, most would not.

For someone to overthrow the government, they must have and maintain the support of the masses. Remember, a significant percentage of his own party hated Trump and worked against him. If he broke countless laws to seize power, there would be rally cries from both sides of the aisle to remove him.

Would the vast machine of the federal government continue to operate if there had been a coup? No. Trumps calls to drain the swamp would have led much of the federal government to shut down. The reality is most Americans wouldnt care or notice if the federal government were to walk off their jobs. There are exceptions though. Once checks stopped coming out of Washington D.C. for things like Social Security, there would be a massive wave of pressure to remove any tyrant in office.

Playing this out further, assuming that through craftiness, he managed to stop a popular uprising in the nation to oust him, how long could he hold on to power? Chances are it would be days at best. Unless a coup detat were horrifically bloody and wiped out the other two pillars of American government, it would be next to impossible to maintain control singlehandedly as Chief Executive. World outrage would be sparked even among allies. Calls to form a government in exile would have followed. Control would wane each hour.

The pinnacle of Trumps power in life was when he actually was the President. If he wanted to end democracy, the time to do so was when he was at the peak of his power. In fact, peacefully turning over power, Trump made any of these fanciful speculations, obsolete and the stuff of fiction. Why return to the status of a private citizen and have to run for reelection when you were already the Chief Executive? Why risk losing an election a second time around?

The myth of Trumps dictatorship does not hold water and never has. It was never about him actually doing it. The reason it exists is fear. It generates anxiety in voters; a sense of dread designed to alter their votes. It is a propaganda tool designed to influence the election, nothing more.

Blaine Pardoe is a New York Times Bestselling and award-winning author canceled by one of his publishers in 2022. He is a regular contributor to a number of conservative sites. His conservative political thriller series, Blue Dawn, includes A Most Uncivil War, Confederacy of Fear, No Greater Tyranny, and his new book, Patrons of Terror. This series tells the story of the violent overthrow of the government by radical progressives. He also authors the bestselling military science fiction series, Land&Sea.
Sen. Ted Cruz did a masterly takedown of a radical left-wing magistrate judge in a line of questions over her decision to place a 6 foot 2 inch transgender 'woman' with full male genitalia convicted of child rapes and passing child pornography into a women's prison after she dismissed warnings from prison officials.

The exchange can be seen here:

Absolute FIRE line of questioning from @SenTedCruz today  bravo!



"Do they have the right to not have a 6'2" man who is a repeat serial rapist put in as their cell mate?" pic.twitter.com/TSzIMjdmmi  Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) May 23, 2024

The leftist, a New York magistrate judge named Sarah Netburn, was nominated to a lifetime appointment as a federal judge by Joe Biden for the Southern District of New York, and she was remarkably unready for the careful, logical and pointed lined of questioning from Cruz, who made it pretty clear he wasn't fooled by boilerplate bee ess.

According to the Daily Caller:

Cruz started by asking Netburn if political ideology mattered more than individual rights. I dont believe you, and I think this case demonstrates that you are willing to subjugate the rights of individuals to satisfy your political ideology, Cruz said when Netburn claimed her political views didnt matter at all. This case involves a male defendant who raped a nine-year-old boy. Was he guilty of that? Yes, the petitioner pled guilty to that, Netburn responded.

Netburn tried to evade the question, though, and ignored issue of 'rights of individuals,' entirely, wanly denying that she was an activist or let political ideology influence her judgments.

Cruz continued with this:

Cruz then got Netburn to confirm that the transgender inmate had also pled guilty to raping a 17-year-old girl, before questioning her about an August 2022 ruling ordering the Bureau of Prisons to transfer the biologically male inmate to a womens facility. This individual, six-foot-two, biologically a man, a minute ago, you said that when this man decided that he was a she, you said this individual was, I wrote it down, sober and entirely a female, Cruz said. That phrase struck me as remarkable, did this individual have male genitalia? Netburn claimed that she was referring to the inmate being hormonally a female, and admitted that the inmate still retained male genitals after Cruz pressed her on the issue. So you took a six-foot-two serial rapist, serial child rapist, with male genitalia, and he said You know, Id like to be in a womens prison, Cruz responded. And your answer was, That sounds great to me. Let me ask you something, the other women in that prison, do they have any rights? Cruz asked.

Which she answered quite poorly. She primly claimed that she only relied on the 'facts' of the case, which was problematic, because while she claimed to Cruz that all the prison officials were in her tree, the Daily Mail found that she dismissed concerns from the Federal Bureau of Prisons that putting this inmate in with the women posed a serious risk to the women prisoners, calling it "overblown" without a scintilla of evidence to support that.

New York judge Sarah Netburn dismissed the Bureau of Prisons concern for female inmates safety and moved July Justine Shelby, born William McLain, to a womens prison in August 2022. Shelby, 60, had previously been convicted in two separate Indiana state cases of child molestation of a nine-year-old boy and rape of a 17-year-old girl, served 18 years in state prison, then violated parole and was sentenced to 15 years in state prison in 2017 for distributing child porn.

Netburn said that ever since the criminal had gotten let out of the can after doing 18 years for child rape, he hadn't raped anyone in that short interval where he was free on parole, before he was sent back to the can for distributing child-rape pornography to another inmate in violation of his parole. This sounds like a recidivist.

The possibility of his commiting unreported child rape, or cops being unable to completely prove a child rape, or a D.A. being unwilling to prosecute a child rape, or the inmate not having sufficient opportunity to find or groom a child to rape (which takes time) never came up. If he wasn't convicted of another child rape in those few months in which he was free, he had to have become a reformed man, and pay no attention to that child pornography distribution which involved more child rape.

In the magistrate's mind, he was squeaky clean and free to enter the women's prison with his complete set of male genitalia and bunk with the women inmates even as prison officials said they wouldn't be able to protect the women if he got the urge to rape again which was perfectly fine with Netburn as he was "entirely a female."

She attempted to modify that to 'entirely a female,' claim in her written opinion, saying it was what she 'meant' to write was that he was "hormonally a female" is questionable all by itself given the number of assaults in prison by these inmates on female prisoners cited by the Daily Mail.

In addition, it was a modification that didn't square with what she wrote which was never corrected, and only came up because of the hearing. Netburn would have gotten away with that characterization had Cruz not been around to question her.

The other issue that showed how weak Netburn was was that Netburn justified her decision to house the inmate in the women's facility by claiming that the inmate had a medical condition, which apparently never came up during his previous long incarcerations as a male, and most likely was related to his unnatural hormone manipulations.

The vivid thing here, is that Cruz was confident and straightforward-directed in his questions in part because he recognized that his views are mainstream views at odds with elitist opinion, the latter of which doesn't really care what happens to women inmates in prisons -- if they get raped by transgender inmates, well, what happens, happens.

That's actually a human rights violation, as the foremost of all human rights is the right to personal security and without that, no other rights actually matter. And this wasn't important to Netburn, who just flabbily claimed that she didn't let ideology, but only 'facts' influence her decisions, despite her bad decision to house a 6'2" transgender inmate with full male genitalia in a prison full of women despite what prison officials warned.

The prison authorities, who have a lot of experience and expertise, understood what was going to happen, as does the public, but that mattered not a whit to Netburn.

Cruz concluded strongly by saying she "had no business" being a judge at all.

While the matter probably will go to the Senate for a full vote, and Joe Biden is celebrating already, the public has been put on notice that this is what Joe Biden is putting forward as their lifetime-appointment judges who can't be fired no matter what they rule. Cruz, (and Sen. John Kennedy) showed that that reality needed to get out there.

That Cruz could dismantle all of Netburn's ridiculous explanations through a strong, direct line of questions done with efficient ease also demonstrated to the public that where he really belongs is on the Supreme Court. This is how effective Supreme Court justices sweep out bad arguments and shine light on truth.

Image: Twitter screen shot
What many people do not realize is that the Palestinians do not, in reality, want a two-state solution. Not at all! What they want is a one-state solution, all of which will be Palestinian, with Israel eradicated from the map.

Here is what I anticipate: if the two-state solution is implemented, and there is a Palestinian state, it will not be long before the Palestinians continue with their terrorist acts and aggression against Israel because that is the nature of the beast. And then the whole world will know that it is not peace that they pursue.

Personally, I cringe every time I hear naive politicians from the West talk about how the two-state solution will bring peace in the Middle East. Spain, Norway, and Ireland are the latest engaging in this folly. All they need to do is familiarize themselves with 30 centuries of actual history to understand the opposite.

The root of the problem lies in the fundamental refusal of many Palestinian leaders to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. Historical precedents show repeated rejections of peace offers that included a Palestinian state alongside Israel. These offers were turned down not because they lacked concessions, but because they included the existence of Israel itself.

The Oslo Accords in the 1990s brought hope for a two-state solution, but the subsequent increase in terrorism and violence revealed a stark reality: factions within the Palestinian leadership and society are committed to the destruction of Israel rather than peaceful coexistence. This is evidenced by the continued indoctrination of hate and violence in educational materials and public rhetoric within Palestinian territories.

Western politicians often overlook these realities, advocating for a two-state solution without addressing the underlying issues. Their possibly well-meaning but definitely misguided efforts ignore the historical and ideological contexts that fuel the conflict. They fail to recognize that peace cannot be achieved simply through territorial concessions or diplomatic agreements.

Instead, a realistic approach to peace must start with acknowledging these hard truths. It requires a fundamental change in the Palestinian leadership's ideology and actions, moving away from the goal of eliminating Israel toward genuine coexistence. It also requires the international community to hold Palestinian leaders accountable for promoting violence and rejecting peace.

Only by confronting these realities can we hope to find a path to true and lasting peace in the Middle East. The dream of a peaceful two-state solution will remain an illusion as long as one side is committed to the destruction of the other. It is time for the world to recognize this and act accordingly.

Or an alternative solution is for Israel to move the entire population of Gaza into the Sinai of Egypt, since that nation is rumored to have been quietly providing arms to the Hamas terrorists. What better remedy could there be than to transplant those terrorists into their host financier nation? That would open up high-end beachfront property in the renovated Gaza Strip.

Jerry McGlothlin serves as the CEO of Special Guests, a publicity agency known for representing guests dedicated to helping preserve and advance our Constitutional Republic and maintaining a Judeo-Christian ethic.

Image via Pexels.
America, Ive got some bad news for you. You might want to sit down.

Your public education system is dead.

Its not dying; it kicked the bucket...some time ago (judging by the stench).

You are sending your children into a maggot-infested corpse every day, and its making them sick.

The right-wing media correctly reports that public school teachers have become blue-haired, gender-confused communists who are trying to indoctrinate children into Marxism...

and then Republican legislators want to arm these same teachers, who are self-proclaimed gender confused communists.

Seriously?!

If you have a communist problem, arms for the communists is not the solution. Not in El Salvador, not in El Mirage, not in El Paso!

I dont have kids. Im not sure why this is so evident to me  and not to the people whose children have teachers who are fighting for the right to hide from parents that their child is using a litter box at school.

The fact that the above sentence is absolutely accurate and not absurd should be evidence that there is a big, big problem...that cant be fixed.

Getting rid of the schools gets rid of all the problems. Unions, tenure, indoctrination, state pension shortfalls, school shootings, bullying  all of it.

And what do we do for education? We start over, in one-room schools set up in peoples living rooms and churches, without funding from the Rockefeller Foundation or Alex Soros.

Its so out of control that we dont even have time to actually go through the process of an organized shutdown. The only option for getting rid of the beast? Starve it!

Pulling out of the public school system and letting the system collapse is the only practical solution.

Dont let your kids go back to school in the fall. Its not going to help them get into college. If they are black, they have already been accepted to Yale. And if they arent? Yale doesnt want them (and neither does Cal Tech, Cal State, UVM, etc., etc.).

You want your kid to be successful? Teach him plumbing! Only one concept to master (poo runs downhill), and they will be set for life!

Frankly, your child has a computer in his pocket. Teach him how to extract an education from it, instead of just using it for getting likes for doing stupid things.

Honestly, if communism takes over this country, conservatives will have only themselves to blame. There are only three communist countries left on the planet. If you lose the Cold War at this point, its pathetic.

Take your children back! Do it now! Stop pretending the system can be reformed. It cant.

Its dead.

Image via Pxfuel.
Myra Baer and her brother, Ellison, visit the gravesite of U.S. Navy Capt. James Higdon on Memorial Day. Billy Calzada/Staff Photographer

A national funeral service

Regarding Houston Memorial Day events: Concerts, fireworks, tributes and more, (May 22): This Memorial Day weekend, countless people will be placing little American flags on the graves of veterans throughout the country. Scores of Houstonians will be doing the same at our own Houston National Cemetery, where the official ceremony begins at 9 a.m. on Monday. It is always an amazing transformation to see a vast field of green covered in red, white and blue in just a little over two hours.

What is even more moving are the small moments one sees during that short period. There are fellow veterans meeting up with their buddies and remembering fallen comrades. There are families finding the graves of their fathers and mothers and relatives. There are whole groups of organizations. Some are loud and some are silent. There is laughter. There are prayers. And there are tears.

For one day, we mark what is essentially a national funeral service. If I could make a recommendation to everyone, it would be: Go to the funeral.

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It may sound a little macabre. But think about the funerals youve attended. Werent there at least some services where you walked away with a renewed sense of purpose?

I encourage you to spend some time on the grounds that others have prepared. I promise you will walk away with these words in your head, Peace be with you.

For all of us, for yourself, please, go to the funeral.

John Harvey, Cypress

Thoughts and prayers

Regarding City of Uvalde to pay $2 million to settle claims over Robb Elementary mass shooting, (May 22): Please keep the 19 children and two teachers who were killed in the Uvalde massacre two years ago in your thoughts and prayers because our elected officials who put that gun into the hands of the 18-year-old who killed them will not.

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John Cobarruvias, Houston

Pop quiz

Regarding Houston officials urge Mayor Whitmire to put pressure on HISD leadership amid widespread job cuts, (May 20): A question for the City Council members whove resolved that Mayor John Whitmire be more proactive in influencing decisions made by Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles: Where was your concern when it became apparent that HISD had so many students who could not read on grade level?

J. Reynolds, Houston

Survey says 

Regarding Whats changed about Houstonians' worries? Survey says: Affordability. | Editorial, (May 22): Retired Rice University professor and founder of the Kinder Houston Area Survey Stephen Klineberg has pointed out some interesting things in his annual survey of Houstonians' attitudes in the past.

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This year? Rental rates are too high, schools need more funding, concerns about crime are up. All these things would be a lot less of a problem had the United States not allowed an estimated 10.9 million unauthorized immigrants in the country.

Facts are facts!

Scott Aulds, Richmond

Im so pleased to hear that, according to the latest Houston Area survey, nearly 9 in 10 Houstonians want the city to lead the worlds energy transition. A recent study on global warming concluded that saving the world would be lots cheaper than ruining it. A dollar invested in the energy transition now will protect $6 in future income. Everyone can help. Third Act, a group founded by environmentalist Bill McKibben, is asking folks to tell Costco to find another bank for its credit card. CitiBank, they say, is financing fossil fuels.

Please take action to support the children.

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Nan Hildreth, Houston

Wow, this was an eye-opener! Houstonians really are reality-based and forward-looking, unlike the Texas state government.

Why the chasm? Simple: The Houston Area Survey polls the whole population in a large urban county. But we Houstonians are just a nuisance to Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the rest of the gang. They represent only the tiny portion of the population that vote in the Republican primaries, guided by white, right-wing Christian evangelical nationalists. The survey should have also asked, Did you vote in the Republican primaries? That would have explained the chasm.

Dan Fox, Houston

Facts of the case

Regarding Streets are not a Hollywood set | Opinion, (May 23): While letter writer Mark H. Szyman is right that one may defend themselves when someone points a gun at them, he seems to be confused about the facts of the Garrett Foster and Daniel Perry case and Gov. Greg Abbotts pardon of Perry. In fact, multiple witnesses said that Foster did not point his gun at Perry, and Perry himself also said initially that he believed Foster was going to aim his gun at him. In regard to this incident and others, there seems to be a lot of personal delusion competing with fact these days.

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In high school I took part in many math competitions; the hardest (and therefore to my teenage mind the only ones that counted) were the competitions relating to the international mathematical olympiad (IMO). In Melbourne there was a program of competition and training that culminated in a nine hour exam spread over two days to determine the makeup of the Australian IMO team. I remember very well the first time I took the exam. It was 1987, and the IMO was to be held that year in Cuba. As I sat at my carrel in the Morris library, I took the February sunlight for fortune smiling on me, inspiration spilled liberally from my Pelikano steel nib fountain pen, and I went home at the end of the second day in a blur of fatigue and self-congratulation. Six weeks later a pregnant manila envelope arrived in the mail. From its girth alone I knew I had aced the exam and won my rightful spot on the team. Before even opening the envelope I could see myself in the green woolen team blazer with the Australian coat of arms embroidered on the breast pocket, and by the time I found a letter opener I was shaking hands with Fidel Castro.

The envelope containedsixty-odd sheets of loose-leaf paper, no invitation, no cover letter: my exam papers, bloodstained with question marks, lines through paragraphs, squiggles of uncomprehension, Xs and Os. My stomach fell. I blushed. In a fraction of a second I rewrote or recolored dozens of memories and fantasies from the recent past and future, and became intensely conscious of and embarassed by my vanity and foolishness. What I now find remarkable was the speed and scope of my transformation; the analogy that comes to mind is being struck by a speeding car.

So how does one deal with disappointment? Freud, in Civilization and Its Discontents identifies three typical measures:

powerful deflections, which cause us to make light of our misery; substitutive satisfactions, which diminish it; and intoxicating substances, which make us insensible to it.

If these are the typical responses, are there any others? Before trying to answer this it might be helpful first to articulate what disappointment actually is, and then to ask what its for. Evidently, disappointment is a form of mental suffering. It is so unpleasant that we can experience it in a host of physiological dimensions. Profound mental suffering involves a complex array of interactions between any number of processes and subsystems, both conscious and unconscious, involving both the brain and the limbic system. The suffering that arises from disappointment is that that accompanies disruption: disappointment causes a certain kind of shake-up or realignment of our worldview and self-image and consequently of our priorities; this disruption can be so great that we sometimes emerge from it a very different person.

According to certain schools of cognitive science (e.g., Minskys Society of Mind model) the idea of a self as a unified, indivisible entity is an oversimplification; rather (they suggest) a self is an uneasy federation of simpler subsystems (sometimes termed agents) with their own local goals and interests, which are frequently in competition with one another. Under ordinary circumstances stability is achieved by a complicated system of temporary alliances, detentes, three-way standoffs, and so forth. Our subjective sense of the unified self isin itself!also a source of stability. Sometimes a dramatic change in (real or perceived) external circumstancesan unforseen event, an unpleasant discoverycan lead to a cascade of disruptions to this order. This is the mechanism of disappointment, and why it is so painful; it is both a crisis and an opportunityin Homer Simpsons inspired terminology, a crisitunity.

Disappointment measures in pain the gap between reality and what we want the world to be. Disappointment matters. It matters because we dont actually live in the real world. We live in our heads, in a mental world of assumptions, recollections, anticipations, desires and conjectures. And even when we do meet reality, its a mistake to think that what our senses feed us is objective, unfiltered, unsorted. Rather we operate according to an interrogative protocolwe ask the world questions to confirm what we already know (or, more accurately: hope), and only when we get an unpleasant surprise do we take a closer look. As Proust says,

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. Happiness is beneficial for the body, but it is grief that develops the powers of the mind.

In his famous paper, How not to prove the Poincare Conjecture, John Stallings writes about an adventure in his mathematical life, how he discovered a proof of the Poincare Conjecture but later found it to be mistaken. He goes so far as to describe this episode as a sin; but the sin was not in the mistake per se, rather it was his resistance to recognizing it as such. He writes,

There are two points about this incorrect proof worthy of note (t)he secondis that I was unable to find flaws in my proof for quite a while, even though the error is very obvious. It was a psychological problem, a blindness, an excitement, an inhibition of reasoning by an underlying fear of being wrong. Techniques leading to the abandonment of such inhibitions should be cultivated by every honest mathematician.

Few mathematicians are as honest or as generous as Stallings in sharing their own stories of disappointment. This is because disappointment often comes wrapped in shame, because our goals are inextricable from our personal and social attachments and relationships. Convention and social norms dictate that any display of human weakness or failing is unprofessional. Were not supposed to admit it when we feel stupid, or underappreciated, or jealous, or that we cared so much about something that when it didnt go our way we felt shattered. Techniques leading to the abandonment of such inhibitions should be cultivated by every honest mathematician.

Disappointment takes many forms; a partial list from my personal history includes:

(1) being un- or under-acknowledged in a colleagues paper or talk; (2) being scooped; (3) missing out on a job/prize/conference invitation; (4) having a prospective student work with someone else; (5) having a potential advisor turn me down as a student; (6) having a promising line of attack on a problem fail to pan out; (7) discovering an error in an amazing proof; (8) having a paper go unread or a book go unreviewed; (9) seeing an admired senior colleague behave badly; (10) realizing that I havent lived up to my own standards of behavior; (11) discovering that success, when it came, was not all I hoped it would be.

The last one, perhaps, deserves elaboration. Some acute disappointments in my career were the result of getting what I thought I wanted: a paper in a fancy journal; a job offer; tenure; an invitation to talk at a fancy conference. I dont mean to diminish the value of such things at all, or the challenges (personal or structural) many people must overcome to achieve them; much about the way such rewards are distributed in academic culture is unfair, often in systematic ways, and it should be the goal of all of us to point this out and work to change it wherever we can. I also dont mean to suggest that success has been joyless; the opposite is true. Nevertheless it is the case that sometimes when we get what we think we want, we discover that these things werent what we thought they were, and (more importantly) that we are not who we though we were. When disappointment accompanies success it is worth paying special attention to. If we get what we want but it doesnt bring us fulfillment, then whats really going on? In my experience, it has only been at the point of my posing this question that I have acquired insight, and the agency to really change things or come to terms with them.

It took a month of pain after the manila envelope arrived before curiosity got the better of me and I opened it again. And a remarkable thing happened. The exam pages: my answers, the blots, the corrections, the red ink, the comments, were exactly as before. But time and some strange alchemy of which disappointment itself was the catalyst had altered their meaning. An actual human being had taken the time to read my work and share valuable feedback with me. My annotated exam was no longer a certificate of failure, it was a how-to manual: it was about how to prove an inequality by leveraging the convexity of a cleverly chosen auxiliary function, or how to recast a geometric figure in terms of complex numbers and understand it with algebra. These math problems werent problems at all: they were windows into mathematics itself. And the manila envelope wasnt a slap in the face, it was a gift; but to see it as a gift I had to see it with new eyes. I never got to Cuba, but Id taken my first steps on a longer and far more interesting and rewarding journey that continues to this day.
Google has posted an official response to the proposed Play Store change that Epic requested in court, stating that these remedies are bad for everyone but Epic, suggesting that only Epic will benefit. If youre not sure what Google is talking about, its referencing Epics proposed remedies to the Judge and the court in its case against Google over the Play Store being a monopoly. The court ruled in favor of Epic back in December 2023. As part of this ruling, the Play Store was deemed an illegal monopoly and Google would need to work at making some changes.

Those changes, according to Epic, should include allowing users to download apps outside of the Play Store without scare screens that would attempt to deter users from doing so. Epic also wants the Play Store fees revamped. Google must allow developers to offer the payment option of their choice without imposing anticompetitive fees, Epic said. On the face of it, this would benefit users as they would have more choice. More choice in how they download their apps and where they make in-app purchases.

Google doesnt think this is fair. Claiming that only Epic wins in this scenario. Epic certainly wins to a degree. It gets access to the Play Store for its own Epic Games Store app, plus it avoids retaliatory fees. That doesnt really sound bad for Android users. In fact, it probably doesnt impact the user much beyond the ability to choose where you get apps from and how you pay for micro-transactions. But thats not what Google thinks.

In its response, Google says the Play Store changes Epic proposed undermine privacy

Google is sticking to the same story it had when it responded to Epics remedies in the court filing. Noting that these remedies would hurt the security and privacy that protect users personal data. Google says Epics remedies will undermine these factors. Google also calls them problematic and unnecessary. For Googles part, its reasoning for pushing back against these remedies does make sense. It claims Epics proposed change removes Googles ability to implement safety measures for users.

Basically, Google is saying that Epics remedies will take away the safeguards it has put in place. While also hurting developers by removing key business opportunities and hurting device manufacturers. With regards to the risk factor, that is something to consider. Sideloading apps from outside of Google Play does run the risk of opening you up to malware. Something that Play Store downloads are less prone to, although not immune.

However, the fact remains that the Play Store was ruled a monopoly. And Epics proposed changes are a direct result of that ruling.

Google will continue to fight against these changes

Its unclear whether Epics proposed changes will end up being mandatory. What is clear is that Google isnt going to take this lying down. The company says it will vigorously defend our right to a sustainable business model that enables us to keep people safe. Googles official response was published on May 22, and the company says a hearing later this week will have economic experts reinforcing the reasons why Epics proposed changes are problematic and unnecessary.
As we know, Google is slowly piling more dirt onto Journalisms casket. Its actions are proving that it really doesnt care about journalists, and its not shy about throwing them under the bus to make a point. According to a new report, Google threatened to pause its Google News Initiative in response to its ongoing struggle in California.

Lets catch you up first

To bring you up to speed, Google is currently going through a war against California. The state proposed a bill that would force Google to pay a link tax to show links to California-based news publications. This is something that other regions like Canada, Australia, and Spain have attempted.

As a response to this bill, Google threatened to remove links to California-based news sites from Google search results. Obviously, since Google is the largest search engine in the world, this would absolutely ruin the ad revenue that these sites get. Many, if not all of them, will need to shut down.

Google could pause the Google News Initiative

In another shady power move, Google has threatened to pause its News Initiative in more areas. The Google News Initiative provided funding to hundreds of non-profit news organizations around the world. This is a $300 million that helped many publications stay in business. Last month, as a part of its initial threat to California, Google also said that it would stop helping California newsrooms through the initiative. As if the company wasnt already doing enough damage to California journalism.

Well, Google is now expanding its threat, according to a new report. The California senate passed the ad tax bill on May 8th. Not long after that, Google began reaching out to several non-profit organizations outside of California letting them know that it may pause future investments in them as far as the initiative goes. Were not sure how many organizations Google reached out to.

This is troubling because this doesnt only include publications based in California, as the company is thinking about suspending the news initiative nationwide.

So, in order to battle the bill in California, Google is threatening to hinder non-profit news organizations across the nation. Obviously, this doesnt sit well with anyone. One bit of good news is the fact that the company could potentially only pause future investments in these companies. Money that was previously promised to these organizations will still be distributed to them. Thats not quite great news, but its something.

What is this ad tax bill?

State Senator Steve Glazer proposed a bill (SB-1327) earlier this year that would essentially tax a company a data extraction tax for using links from news sites in search results. The money from the tax would go on to help fund these publications. It will provide tax credits to these organizations and help them sustain and hire more writers in the already diminishing journalistic climate.

This bill wouldnt only take place for Google, but it would also affect Meta. While the bill would have a positive effect on the journalism industry, there could be some downsides to it. In an extended letter to Senator Anna Cabellero, Senator Brian Jones, and members of the Senate Committee, Stephanie Do expressed her opposition to the bill.

In the letter, she stated that the tax bill could burden the companies affected (companies like Google). This burden could trickle down to the products that the companies offer. In the letter, she referred to the tax as a new, controversial, and untested fee' on data extraction transactions.

On its face, the bill appears to be targeted with the negative impact limited to a few technology companies. Unfortunately, the legislation will force impacted companies to pass on the increased costs from this new fee on to other businesses and consumers

and will place California at a competitive disadvantage with respect to encouraging businesses to maintain or expand operations in California.

Something needs to be done

At this point theres no telling whats going to happen. If Google follows through on its threat, the journalism industry could basically be killed in America. Other search engines like Bing also deliver links in their search results, but Google holds the crown as King of Search Engines. In March this year, Bing was visited about 1.4 billion times based, on a report. In the same time period, Google was visited about 85.5 billion times.

Its important to note that Stephanie Do does have a point about the potential cost burden to consumers. However, the journalism industry is slowly dying and has been for years. Googles search algorithm has been on the fritz for a while, as the company has been making hundreds of changes. Thats had a pernicious effect on journalism over the years.

Adding fuel to the fire is Googles new AI Overviews. This is a new feature that Google released to the masses. It gives users an AI-generated overview of what they search for. So, rather than going to a site and contributing to its traffic and ad revenue, users can read the short-and-sweet overview. What makes this worse is the fact that Google is planning on putting ads on the overviews. This basically redirects the revenue stream away from news sites and lets the company keep more of the revenue.

Thats a MAJOR slap to the face of publication sites. So, Google seems to be attacking the journalism industry from all sides. Having a bill that forces that very company to provide compensation to the news publications that its screwing over shouldnt be too much to ask.
iFixit is ending its partnership with Samsung, citing differences over its views on repairability and a handful of other factors. iFixit has for years been the go-to spot for information on how to repair all the most popular tech devices, many of which are phones. The company has been putting out repair guides on Samsung devices for quite some time, and its been selling Samsung repair parts since 2015.

Then back in 2022, iFixit agreed to a partnership with Samsung. The company was to be the official storefront for OEM repair parts for Samsung devices. As well as provide the gold standard for repair documentation to independent local repair shops in addition to the parts they would need for device repair. Unfortunately, things didnt go as planned. iFixit says that Samsungs goals didnt align with its own. Citing the high cost of repair parts and the high difficulty in repairability of the devices those parts were for. As of June, iFixit says it will no longer be Samsungs designated third-party parts and tools distributor.

The end of the iFixit Samsung partnership doesnt mean it will stop selling parts

In fact, theres a silver lining for people who buy Samsung parts for their devices from iFixit. While this partnership was intact, iFixit had quantity limits on repair parts. Meaning it would only have so many to sell to customers.

That will no longer be the case starting in June. As iFixit confirms repair shops wont be limited to how many parts they can buy per quarter. They were previously limited to selling 7 parts per shop per quarter. For our repair shop customers, were no longer beholden to the miserly quantity limits youve been so frustrated by, iFixit says.

Although parts will still be sold, they may not always be OEM parts like before. That being said, iFixit is committed to providing parts and repair kits for Samsung devices, OEM or not. The company says it will source OEM parts when available, and clearly indicate if parts are aftermarket when OEM parts arent available. iFixit is going to stop making in-house repair guides for Samsung devices as well. However, it is still encouraging customers and iFixit community members to continue creating and sharing them. The company says over half of the more than 100,000 repair guides were written by community members.

Many of these guides are for a wide variety of different devices. Plus, iFixit still sells genuine parts for a ton of them. Including phones like the Pixel 8 series.

Samsung may have required repair shops to share customer data

iFixits official statement about the partnership doesnt mention anything about Samsungs contract requirements. However, a separate report that came out around the same time contains some potentially detrimental details about how Samsung wanted things done.

According to 404 Media, which claims to have obtained a copy of Samsungs contract, Samsung was requiring independent repair shops to share customer data. And even disassemble devices if they were repaired with non-Samsung parts. One part of the contract reads Company shall immediately disassemble all products that are created or assembled out of, comprised of, or that contain any Service Parts not purchased from Samsung. The contract also requests those shops notify Samsung in writing.

Shops who signed this contract were also required to upload data about every repair on a daily basis. Of note is that the contract may be from last year. The Verge reports that its supposedly from 2023, noting that Samsung could have already replaced certain language with wording that could be more amenable to independent state laws revolving around the right-to-repair bill.

Its not clear if iFixits decision to cut ties had anything to do with this contract. But it does seem possible that it might have been a factor. At least one of many, since iFixit has outlined quite a few reasons for the split.
Right now, AI and the journalism industry seem to mix like oil and water (oil and fire, actually). Theres ongoing tension between publications and the AI companies scraping their data, but there might be a silver lining to this scenario. According to a new report, OpenAI and News Corp just announced a new multi-year deal. This deal will give OpenAI access to News Corps news.

In case you dont know, News Corp is a major company that owns several journalistic publications including The Sunday Times, The Sun, The Australian, The New York Post, The Wallstreet Journal, Barrons, MarketWatch, The Advertiser, Herald Sun, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, the Courier Mail, and Investors Business Daily.

Its a major corporation, having earned $2.5 billion in revenue in the first quarter of this year. So, it definitely has some major sway over the news industry.

News Corp struck a multi-year deal with OpenAI

One of the major issues with AI companies using news stories is that theyre usually using the information without the publications consent. This is something that led to the massive lawsuit that the New York Times has filed against OpenAI and Microsoft.

Well, in order to side-step any more legal issues, OpenAI and News Corp shook hands on a multi-year deal that will total $250 million over the next five years. So, its $5 million each year. This deal will give ChatGPT access to news from the publications that New Corp owns.

This isnt the only partnership that OpenAI has announced. The company also partnered with Reddit, Dotdash Meredith, The Financial Times, Axel Springer, The Associated Press, Bild, and Die Welt. The last two are German companies. OpenAI also partnered with Spanish publication Prisma Media.

Are these deals worth it?

That remains to be seen. One issue is that AI companies are able to scrape data from publications and reproduce that data in AI-generated results. This lets the reader forgo going to the website and contributing to that sites ad revenue.

One major factor driving a stake into the journalism industrys heart is Googles AI Overviews. When you do a search, youll see AI-generated overviews of what you looked up, and this has had a massive impact on several sites.

However, it looks like these deals will send money directly to the companies that OpenAIs getting data from. We have to keep in mind that these deals are sending money to the parent companies of these sites, so we dont know how much money the individual publications are getting.

In any case, its a lot better than taking data for free. Now, we just need Google to do the same!
After a positive 2023, Samsung smartphone sales continued to rise in Europe and worldwide in Q1 2024. The company even managed to regain the first place on the old continent that it lost a couple of years ago. The launch of the Galaxy S24 series with the Galaxy AI suite had a lot to do with this.

The latest market study from Counterpoint Research leaves Samsung in a very good position in the European smartphone market. According to the report, the South Korean giant captured a 32% market share in the first quarter of this year. The company saw a 7% year-over-year sales increase. Thanks to this, it regained the position of the largest smartphone brand in Europe, snatching it from Xiaomi.

Samsung emerges as the main phone brand in Europe in Q1 2024

Two years ago, the Chinese giant took away Samsungs position as the main smartphone brand in central and eastern European regions. Now, the momentum of the latest Galaxy S24 series has led Samsung to get it back. Overall, the European smartphone market showed year-on-year growth of 10%, which is great news after a few years of decline. Samsung stands as the biggest beneficiary of this recovery.

On the other hand, Apple suffered a year-on-year decrease in its market share in Europe in Q1 2024, going from 27% to 25%. This is due to both interest in Samsung smartphones and a drop in iPhone sales. Usually, iPhone sales slow down as the launch of the next generation approaches. So, it is possible that the market share will drop a little more in the coming months.

Some Chinese brands grew exponentially

Chinese smartphone brands showed solid performance in Q1 2024. The most impressive cases are those of Honor and Realme, with a year-on-year increase of 67% and 59% in sales, respectively. Both companies managed to capture 4% market share in Europe each. Also, Xiaomi increased its sales by 11%, taking 18% of the European market share.

All other smartphone brands share the remaining 18% of the market. The drop in sales of OPPO and OnePlus devices stands out, leaving the top 5. This is due to legal confrontations over patents between the BBK consortium and Nokia. That said, both companies resolved their issues earlier this year. So, OPPO and OnePlus devices will once again be available in key markets in Europe.
Google provides a number of features if youre using a family group. The search titan lets you use a shared payment method, a Google One account, and purchases within your family group. Now, the company has launched one more sharing function. The Google Password Manager feature now lets you share your secure password with your loved ones. Google has been teasing the password-sharing functionality since the beginning of the year. It was also spotted in an earlier version of the Play services.

Google Password Manager now lets you share passwords with your family members

According to Android Authority, Google has released the password-sharing feature in the Google Play services v24.20 update. The update was released on May 22 in a phased manner, so it could take some time to reach all devices. Thanks to the feature, you can share your credentials to apps and services with the members of your family group only. You cant share the password with just about anyone with a Google account. This makes the feature safer than a generic sharing function.

Once you share the password, the person in your family group will be able to access the appropriate service with your credentials. Previously, Google mentioned a few examples where this function may come in handy, including a child letting a parent access school assignments or coordinating daycare through a single account.

With this new feature, you can now securely share your passwords with your family group in Google Password Manager. When you share a password, your family members will receive a copy of it in their Google Password Manager, ready to be used, Google mentioned on its support page.

Google Password Managers sharing feature is currently available on Android devices. However, the option hasnt yet appeared in the stable version of the Chrome browser on desktop.

Google Password Manager is also getting Material You redesign on Android

In the meantime, the Google Password Manager functionality on Android is also getting a small Material You redesign. The company rolled out the Material 3 redesign of the service on Android devices last week. It arrived as a server-side update in version 24.16.16 of Google Play services. The modern design of the service makes everything feel much cleaner and a little bit smoother.
A lot of rumors were making rounds on the internet aiming towards the upcoming price increase in the plans of T-Mobile carrier. T-Mobile has announced that is going to hike the prices of its Simple Choice, ONE and other older plans.

T-Mobiles older plans are going to see a price increase

T-Mobile will start notifying all the affected users who are on older plans regarding the price increase. The notification will be sent via text SMS. The price hike will be applicable from as early as next months billing cycle i.e. June 5th. All subscribers will receive the price hike details and updated price information as soon as possible.

T-Mobile is raising prices of older plans, including T-Mobile ONE, Simple Choice, and Magenta. The users will have the freedom to move to other plans if they arent ready to pay for the increased monthly fees. The carrier is increasing prices for Simple Choice and ONE plans by $2 to $5 per line. If you have five lines on your plan for example, then you will now have to pay up to $25 more.

While T-Mobile is raising prices on some plans, its unclear whether price-protected plans will be affected. The popular ONE plan was supposedly protected by the 2017 Un-Contract Promise which guaranteed customer control over pricing. Under this, if your account was activated between January 2017 and April 28, 2022, T-Mobile will cover your final months bill if they raise prices and you notify them within 60 days.

The carrier is ready for customer backlash

T-Mobile said this is the first time in a decade it is raising the price of its monthly plan. The firm reacted to customer concern via social media, claiming that it was altering prices due to increased costs. It stressed its dedication to providing the best value in postpaid wireless, claiming that customers receive more for their money than ever before, especially when taxes and fees are included. T-Mobile says its ready to face the backlash.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, left, exchanges words with Houston Mayor John Whitmire as they update the public following Thursdays storms which brought damaging winds and rains to the Greater Houston area during a press conference at Houston TranStar, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Cant we all just get along?

Regarding County Judge Hidalgo and Mayor Whitmire hold first joint presser, (May 17): Mayor John Whitmire sure fooled voters. We thought a mature leader was being elected mayor. Instead, we have a childish brat. Grow up, mayor. Does Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo scare you because shes a woman? Stop acting like a juvenile delinquent.

Art Adair, Houston

Streets are not a Hollywood set

Regarding Gov. Greg Abbott pardons Daniel Perry, convicted for murder of Black Lives Matter protester, (May 16): I feel that this story was so slanted by the writer that it shouldve been in the editorial portion of the paper.

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Regardless of what happened prior to or after the shooting, if a person points a firearm at someone that person is absolutely justified in the use of deadly force. It is that simple. Ask any peace officer. The writer focuses on the totality of Daniel Perrys day when the only thing that matters is whether Garrett Foster, the Black Lives Matter protester, pointed a modern sporting rifle at Perry, prompting him to shoot and kill Foster in self-defense.

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Texas streets are not a Hollywood set where actors point guns at each other and have a negotiation about whats gonna happen next. In the real world, if someone points a firearm at you, use of deadly force is most likely justified.

Mark H. Szyman, Cypress

Gov. Abbotts pardon of a man convicted by a jury for murder is a dangerous decision. As a former district judge in Harris County, presiding over jury trials, Abbott presumably instructed those juries in their inherent power to decide cases without regard to objections of both the losers in the trials or any disagreeable public opinions.The governor, with this pardon, now demonstrates that his instruction to those juries was a lie.

It is ironic that the governor addressed a convention of the National Rifle Association in Dallas over the weekend whose participants no doubt celebrate his actions. Those participants and the Republican primary voters that Abbott continues to court will not care that he has substituted the rule of the gun for the rule of law.

David A. Jones, Houston

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As a career prosecutor and retired state district judge, I was shocked and appalled to read that Gov. Abbott had granted a full pardon to Daniel Perry, a convicted murderer.

Jerry Sandel, Huntsville

Our governor, with his shameful pardon of a convicted murderer, has proven his antipathy to our jury system and his approval of murdering those whose values dont match his. His message: Black Lives Dont Matter. Its OK to murder someone whose values dont match yours.

Why have a jury of your peers when a right-wing zealot who occupies the governors mansion can nullify the verdict of its weekslong trial?

I am ashamed to be a Texan because many of my neighbors will approve of Abbotts action and continue to vote for a man who praises a convicted murderer.

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Cheryl Bolen, Pearland

His influence lives on

Regarding Bill Lawson bent the arc of Houston history toward justice (May 16): Wonderful article honoring this authentic, humble servant. Twice I heard the Rev. William Bill Lawson share his story.

I remember he recalled when Mayor Louie Welch arrived at his door with the Houston police chief waiting in his squad car. We need you right now to help solve our citys problem, the mayor said. Lawson, a Baptist youth leader and professor at Texas Southern University rode with them to the Rice Hotel for a series of meetings with newspaper owners and city leaders. They all agreed Houston could not afford to have racial strife because businesses would not move here and people would suffer without jobs.

They agreed to open restaurants and stores to Black customers in downtown Houston, and remove segregation signs without any announcements in the newspapers. Lawson, like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., knew justice, love and common sense can win the day. His influence lives on.

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Herb Agan, Houston

I take my Christianity seriously. I could not help seeing the contrast between the courageous, justice-seeking actions of Rev. Lawson and the sermonized fluff of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at Second Baptist Church earlier this month. True Christians know that we are known by our actions, not our words. Lawson patiently worked to rid Houston of racism over decades of consensus building. Patricks actions are primarily obstructive to justice.

Im reminded of the Christian calling to heal the sick. Patricks refusal to expand Medicaid in Texas has left millions of working poor Texans without affordable health care. Some estimates suggest that as many as 3,000 Texans die each year as a result.

Lets commit to loving one another, not rebranding Christian exclusivity as the religion of America.
It seems that big names like Samsung already have units of the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 3 chipset. This is the next generation of Qualcomm SoCs for VR HMD products (head-mounted displays). Interestingly, the current generation of Snapdragon chips for VR platforms has not yet been implemented in consumer products.

The VR device segment seems like an interesting niche to explore. Apple aimed high with its Vision Pro, although perhaps too high. The price and the things that could be improved on Apples headset have caused few sales. On the other hand, companies like Meta offer their capable Quest devices at a fraction of the price. Samsung is even rumored to have been working on an XR headset for a while.

Brands like Samsung and Meta are reportedly testing the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 3 chipset

That said, Brad Lynch, VR analyst, reported that Qualcomm is already shipping chipsets for HMD products to manufacturers. One of the SoCs has the model number SXR2350 and would be called Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 3. So, important brands would already have this hardware platform in their hands.

But what about the current Snapdragon chips for XR/VR headsets? In January, Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2, and brands such as Samsung, Sony, and HTC Vive confirmed its implementation in future products. However, as of today, there is no news about an XR/VR headset powered by the XR2+ Gen 2. Rather, it seems that Samsung will skip this generation of chips to opt directly for the next Snapdragons.

Not only Samsung, but Meta would also do something similar. Its Quest Pro arrived with the XR2+ Gen 1, while its Quest 3 used the XR2 Gen 2 (non-Plus). It is said that the companys next launch in this segment will be Meta Quest 4. This device would be powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 3 chipset. However, the companys usual release period suggests that you will have to wait at least two more years for it.

The XR2+ Gen 3, which is not to be confused with the XR2+ Gen 2 that was announced at CES this year Is primarily testing its variant with 16GB LPDDR5X RAM aka the same capacity as you see in Vision Pro And is four more gigabytes more than what we saw in XR2+ Gen 1 (Quest Pro) pic.twitter.com/iqq6qJdxzw  Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) May 21, 2024

Some early details of the chip

According to Lynch, the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 3 chip will be very similar to the XR2+ Gen 2 launched in January. The key difference would be in the implementation of Qualcomms custom Oryon cores instead of stock ARM cores. Its GPU would also be more energy efficient, something essential for standalone XR/VR headsets.

Lastly, Roland Quandt revealed some key details of the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 3 in May. The report states that it will support 16 GB of RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. In addition, it will be compatible with 4K resolution.
Google finally launched the Find My Device Network for Android last month and now it seems manufacturers have started shipping the supported trackers. It is worth noting that the launch of the Find My Device network has been slow, but its finally happening as Google is widely rolling it out this month with availability in the international markets, too.

Pebblebee and Chipolo were popular hardware manufacturers who promised to ship network-supported trackers this month. They even announced that their trackers would start shipping on May 27. But, now it seems Pebblebee is leading the race to ship trackers.

Find My Device trackers manufacturer reportedly sent shipping confirmation to its customer

According to todays report by 9to5Google, Pebblebee has even started sending shipping confirmations of the Find My Device trackers to its customers. One of the publications readers shared the email confirmation that notified their Pebblebee Clip was being shipped. Notably, the confirmation email also detailed the Clips USPS tracking number. Its worth noting that the package hasnt started moving through just yet.

The shipping confirmation from Pebblebee could mean some users will get their hands on the device before May 27. Besides, several users might get a notification about Clips USPS tracking number in a few days, with devices delivered on the said date. On the other hand, Chipolo says that it will be shipping early pre-orders on May 27. However, deliveries of the trackers are likely to take place in June.

Google waited long before it finally launched the Find My Device network last month

The company first announced the network at its I/O developer conference last year. However, the company waited as it gave Apple ample time to implement tracking protection. Just over a week or so ago, Apple has released iOS 17.5 with support for unwanted tackers alerts. So, shipping confirmation from the makers of the Find My Device-supported trackers isnt a big surprise. All that said, it will be interesting to see the feedback from Android users about the supported tracker devices in general.
[This article was updated. Jump to the latest update]

OpenAI is one of the biggest AI companies in the world, and its been shaping some of the most advanced artificial intelligence of our time. Some of its models like GPT 3.5, GPT-4, and GPT-4 Turbo have redefined what AI can do and cemented it as one of the top competitors to companies like Google. Well, the latest and greatest AI model from OpenAI is called GPT-4o, and its its most powerful model to date. What is GPT-4o, and how can it benefit you in your AI Journey?

This is what were here to answer. Were going to go through what this AI model is, what it can do, what it cannot do, and other information you may be wondering about. We will answer the important questions and let you know whether you should use this over other models such as Gemini, Claude, Meta AI, Etc.

We will dive into the most important questions that you may have. However, since this is about artificial intelligence, there are certain aspects that we cant dive too much into, as it will make this article much too long. This includes diving into some of the science and intricate details about the model.

Lastly, this article will be updated every time GPT-4o gets a new addition. So, feel free to check back every now and then to see whats new with GPT-4o. Without further ado, lets dive in.

What is GPT-4o?

If youve been following the development of OpenAIs models, then you may have gotten wind of its rather unconventional naming scheme. GPT-4o doesnt sound like much, but it is the most powerful AI model from OpenAI to date. It is the successor to GPT-4 Turbo. So, if youre using OpenAIs most advanced AI tools, then you are most likely using GPT-4o.

How do I access the new model?

There are a few ways. Firstly, you will be able to access GPT-4o the same way you access ChatGPT regularly. You can go straight to the ChatGPT website or use the dedicated mobile app.

When OpenAI announced GPT-4o, the company also announced another way that you can access the model. It announced a new Mac OS desktop application. This basically turns ChatGPT into a bit of a chat assistant on your computer. You are able to summon it by using a simple keyboard shortcut and interact with a floating text bar that appears. Along with that, youre able to input images, add screenshots, and take pictures with your devices native camera for input. At the time of writing this, we are still waiting for a voice feature to come out for the application. Were not sure when thats going to land.

As for Windows users, at the time of writing this, there is no Windows application. However, OpenAI is currently working on bringing a Windows application that will do much the same thing. The company plans to launch this sometime later in 2024, so Windows users will have to stay tuned.

Another way to access GPT-4o is through Microsoft Copilot. As you may know, Microsoft invested heavily in OpenAI, and the company uses its AI technology to power Copilot. As such, some of Copilots most advanced features are most likely powered by GPT-4o. The company recently announced the new Copilot-powered PCs, and were certain that some of the heavily integrated AI technology is powered by GPT-4o. So, if youre all for Microsofts Copilot and how it can improve the Windows experience, then you are most likely using GPT-4o.

Do I have to sign up for it?

No. If you already have an OpenAI account, you simply have to go to the ChatGPT website, click the drop-down menu at the top of the screen, and select the model you want to use. If GPT-4o is available in your region, then it will be available to select.

However, if you do not have an OpenAI account, then you will want to sign up for one in order to use the new model. Also, signing up for an OpenAI account will give you access to other features that account holders can use to gain a more personalized experience. Youll also have a chat history to see a backlog of your conversations.

Does the O in GPT-4o mean anything?

Yes, the O stands for Omni. Were sure that OpenAI sees this as an all-in-one model that can satisfy most of your needs.

Is GPT-4o multimodal?

Yes, it is. Using GPT-4o, you are able to input classic text-based prompts. It will power ChatGPT just like the other models. Also, GPT-4o can also understand speech. Using the voice feature, you are able to speak to the model as you would any digital assistant.

Not only that, but GPT-4o can also understand visual input. It has a vision feature that will allow it to use a camera viewfinder to ascertain the world much like Google Lens or the AI pin. It will also have the ability to see what is on your computer screen and give you information based on what it sees.

You will be able to ask GPT-4 questions about whats on your screen like the text, images, web pages, Etc. As of late May 2024, this feature is not available. This article will be updated when it becomes available.

How do I access the vision feature?

One of the most exciting features that OpenAI announced along with GPT-4o was improvements to the vision feature. This allows the model to see what is currently on your screen and answer questions about what it sees. Not only that, but the vision feature is also coming to the mobile version of ChatGPT.

The company showed off the ability for ChatGPT to see a live preview of the world through your cameras viewfinder. It will be able to answer questions about what it observes.

During the announcement, it was able to identify math problems written on a piece of paper and help the person through them. Along with that, it was even able to look at a persons face and tell what emotion they were feeling. This is similar to Googles Project Astra which the company announced just one day after OpenAIs Vision feature. So, there are definitely going to be some comparisons between both of these features.

Is there an upgrade to the voice feature?

The voice feature got a pretty notable upgrade. GPT-4o was meant to be a much more efficient and faster model than GPT-4 turbo. This is felt mostly in the voice feature. When OpenAI showed off the new voice feature, we saw that users got responses much faster. You can almost emulate a real-time conversation with a person responding to you instantly.

The response still took a second or two to come, but it was still an improvement. The voice that you hear in the response is also much improved. However, as of late May 2024, the real-time voice has been suspended. Theres currently ongoing tension between OpenAI and Scarlett Johansson. The new voice that was unveiled is shockingly similar to Scarlett Johanssons voice, and she expressed her distaste for it. As such, the company is currently changing direction.

What is the context window for GPT-4o?

When it comes to the context window, GPT-4o is still pretty far behind the rest of the pack. Currently, it has a 128,000-token context window. Thats the same as GPT-4 Turbo. While it is a major improvement over GPT-4s 8,192 token limit, its still miles behind what were getting from Gemini 1.5 Pro, which can reach up to 1 million tokens. Google is even testing an experimental 2 million-token limit for Gemini 1.5 Pro. So, OpenAI still has a lot of catching up to do.

How much does the GPT-4o API cost per million tokens?

While GPT-4o shares GPT-4 Turbos context window, it doesnt share its price per million tokens. GPT-4o has an input cost of $5 per million tokens and an output cost of $15 per million tokens. Thats half of what you pay with GPT-4 Turbo, which has an input cost of $10 per million tokens and an output cost of $30 per million tokens.

Does GPT-4o output images?

No. OpenAIs main image generation platform is still DALL-E. However, it does support image input.

How many languages does GPT-4o support

GPT-4o is available in over 50 languages.

What is the knowledge cutoff date for GPT-4o?

This is one area where GPT-4 Turbo has its successor beat. GPT-4 Turbo has a cutoff date of December 2023. This means that it doesnt have any knowledge of the world created past that date. GPT-4o, on the other hand, cuts off in October 2023. So, thats 2 months of data that the company does not have access to compared to its predecessor. Also, if you ask GPT-4o any questions, it will not know anything past October 2023. So, it does not have any knowledge of anything going on in the year 2024. Thats something to keep in mind.

Can GPT-4o be a translator?

Yes. One of the main features showcased when GPT-4o was unveiled was the translation feature. Its able to translate numerous languages in real-time. Not only is it able to translate different languages, but it also responds in a very human way. Rather than translating the speech word for word, it will give you a very human-sounding summary of what the other person said.

If an Italian person asks Where is the nearest Starbucks?, GPT-4o will not translate that word for word. However, it will give a very human-sounding translation like He wants to know where the nearest Starbucks is. This is delivered in a way similar to what a person would say rather than translating word for word.

Is GPT-4o available for free users?

Yes, but there is a major caveat. Free users can use the capabilities of GPT-4o like browsing the web, analyzing and extracting insights from data, uploading images in prompts, providing support files and prompts, and using GPTs. Whats the caveat? Well, you can only use these a limited number of times within a three-hour time span. After that, you will be reverted back to GPT 3.5.

OpenAI will notify you once you reach your limit, and it will tell you what time your limit will reset.

Are ChatGPT Plus users also limited?

Unfortunately, yes. If you are paying $20/month to access GPT-4o, you will be able to send up to 80 messages every three hours. Once you reach that limit, you will be knocked back to a less powerful model. Once three hours are up, your limit will reset.

How do I access a higher limit using the model?

At this point, there does not seem to be a way to increase your limit. However, if you are in a ChatGPT Team workspace, then you should have access to roughly twice as many messages.

Do my unused messages roll over?

No, they do not. If you only use 60 of your messages, and 3 hours pass, the remaining 20 messages will not be added to your refreshed limit. You will start back at 80 messages.

Is GPT-4o better than Gemini 1.5 Pro?

Thats a pretty tough question to answer, but GPT-4o has a lot going for it. While, Gemini1.5 pro has a much larger context window, it appears that GPT-4o is much better at understanding and reasoning. A company made a comparison between the two models where it asked both models certain logic questions along with asking them to ascertain images. In all, there were eight questions asked. Gemini 1.5 Pro did not beat GPT-4o in any of the questions.

However, GPT-4o beat Gemini with six of the eight questions. For the two questions that GPT-4o did not beat Gemini, both models got one of them right and both models got one of them wrong. So, in terms of reasoning and problem-solving, it appears that GPT-4o is quite far ahead of Gemini.

GPT-4o mini

OpenAI released a new stripped-down version of GPT-4o called GPT-4o mini. This version replaces GPT-3.5 Turbo as the base model for free users. While this is a stripped-down version, its still pretty powerful. Its much more powerful than 3.5-turbo.

This model is multi-modal. Its able to take both text as input, (if youre using the API, you can also Vision as input) but it can only produce text as output. In the future, this model will be able to accept video and audio as inputs. The company didnt state when thats going to happen.

If youre using the API, youre going to be seeing some savings. The company claims that using GPT-4o mini costs 60% less than GPT-4o. GPT-3.5 Turbo is still available to use if you use the API.

GPT-4o going forward

At this point, we are still waiting for a few features to land on the new model. These include some of the voice and vision features, so if you are waiting for those, youre going to have to be patient.

Other than that, we expect a typical slew of improvements like better reasoning, faster processing, etc. to come out over the coming months. Were not sure if this is going to be the next step before GPT-5. However, that remains to be seen.
Almost as many Afghan nationals arrived in the UK having made the dangerous Channel crossing as through the Governments legal routes in the year to March, the latest figures show.

A total of 5,662 Afghan nationals came to the UK having crossed the Channel in that period, plus 350 of what the Home Office described as inadequately documented air arrivals, making a total of 6,012 people.

Data also showed that some 758 lone Afghan children were recorded as applying for asylum having crossed the Channel  a figure described by a charity as showing they are being let down by a lack of options for family reunion.

Meanwhile, 6,042 Afghans were resettled in the same period under the schemes created by the department following the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in 2021.

A total of 1,854 of those came under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS)  which is split into three pathways.

The number resettled under pathway one  for vulnerable and at-risk people who arrived in the UK during the evacuation programme in 2021 and those who were eligible but not able to board a flight at that time  was down 91% year-on-year from 434 in the year ending March 2023, to 40 in the year ending March 2024.

The Government has previously pledged to establish a route for families who ended up being split apart when some were evacuated initially and loved ones left behind.

Then-immigration minister Robert Jenrick said in October that a route related to pathway one would allow eligible individuals to refer one spouse or partner and dependent child for resettlement, and that the Government was aiming for referrals to that route in the first half of 2024 if not sooner.

(PA Graphics)

Earlier this month a Home Office spokesperson said the department remains on track to open the route for referrals in the first half of this year.

The ACRS, which began in January 2022, prioritised people who had assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan as well as vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups at risk.

Those arriving under pathway two  for vulnerable refugees referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)  rose to 623 in the year ending March 2024, from 40 the previous year.

Numbers settled under pathway three  for women and girls at risk and those who supported the UK and international community effort in Afghanistan  rose to 1,191 in the year ending March 2024, from 16 the previous year.

The Arap scheme, which launched in April 2021, is for Afghan citizens who worked for or with the UK Government in Afghanistan.

Arrivals under this scheme were up by a quarter to 4,188 in the year to March 2024.

Of the 2,762 unaccompanied children recorded applying for asylum in the UK having crossed the Channel in this period, Afghans were the most common nationality  totalling 758.

Dr Wanda Wyporska, chief executive officer at Safe Passage International, said childrens lives depend safe routes for separated families to reunite.

She said: Sadly, its not surprising to see that so many Afghan children are having to take this dangerous journey alone.

After all, Afghans resettled in the UK from evacuations when Kabul fell in 2021 are totally excluded from refugee family reunion.

Appallingly, parents in the UK have no way to bring their sons and daughters to join them here, leaving children to take dangerous journeys instead.

The unaccompanied children we work with are simply trying to reach what little family they have left.

We urgently need safe routes to be opened for refugees, and for the family reunion rules to be fixed, as has been done before for those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Childrens lives depend on it.

Denisa Delic, advocacy director at International Rescue Committee UK, said that until safe routes are expanded people fleeing conflict in places like Afghanistan will be driven to make dangerous journeys in search of safety.

She said: The Government must scale up safe routes to ensure fewer people are forced to take dangerous journeys in the first place  resettlement schemes, a refugee visa and family reunion schemes are more effective and humane alternatives that would offer orderly routes to protection for refugees.
R&B singer Cassie has said the healing journey is never ending and asked people to open your heart to believing victims the first time after security footage appeared to show her being assaulted by her former partner Sean Diddy Combs.

The rapper has apologised and committed to be a better man after the video from 2016 emerged.

The footage, obtained by US outlet CNN, appears to depict Combs wearing only a white towel chasing his former partner, real name Casandra Ventura, and kicking her on the ground in a Los Angeles hotel corridor.

The footage also appears to show the US music mogul dragging Cassie, and throwing a vase in her direction.

In a statement on Instagram, Cassie said: Thank you for all the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet.

The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning.

Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become.

With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past.

Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to take this matter seriously. My only ask if that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time.

It take a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in.

I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear. Reach out to your people, dont cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone.

This healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me, Thank you.

The video has been dated March 5, 2016 and seems to match a description of an incident at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in a now-settled lawsuit originally filed by the singer in November.

The court document said: In or around March 2016, during an FO at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, Mr Combs became extremely intoxicated and punched Ms Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye.

Cassie and Sean Combs in 2018 (Ian West/PA)

Cassie claimed she was a victim of rape and violent behaviour during their decade-long relationship in the lawsuit, which was settled a day after it was filed at a New York federal court.

Combs has been named as a defendant in several sexual abuse lawsuits, and in March his properties in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by federal authorities in a reported sex trafficking investigation.

The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office said on Friday the assault captured in the video would be too old to prosecute if it occurred in 2016 due to the statute of limitations.

Cassie and Combs started a relationship after meeting when she was 19 and he was 37.

In a video on Instagram on May 19, he said: Its so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that.

I was f***** up  I hit rock bottom  but I make no excuses.

My behaviour on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.

I was disgusted then when I did it. Im disgusted now. I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab.

I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. Im so sorry. But Im committed to be a better man each and every day. Im not asking for forgiveness. Im truly sorry.
Europes Euclid telescope has sent back the largest images of the universe ever taken from space in its quest to unravel the secrets of the cosmos.

The five images, released by the European Space Agency (ESA), capture vast new areas of the sky in unprecedented detail, offering an exciting glimpse into the distant cosmic past.

Dr Michelle Collins, of the University of Surrey  who helped the Euclid team identify possible new galaxies in the images, said: These stunning first images are just the tip of the iceberg.

She added: This telescope can reveal millions of new objects in a single day.

Were only just beginning to realise its potential.

The new images feature two galaxy clusters known as Abell 2764 and Abell 2390, a group of galaxies called the Dorado, a spiral galaxy dubbed NGC 6744, and a vibrant stellar nursery known as Messier 78.

Euclids new image of Abell 2390  a galaxy cluster 2.7 billion light years away in the constellation of Pegasus (ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/Nasa)

Messier 78 is the nearest location  just 1,300 light years away from Earth, while Abell 2390 is the furthest at 2.7 billion light years away in the constellation of Pegasus.

The hope is that data from Euclid will shed light on two of the universes greatest mysteries: dark energy and dark matter.

Dark matter is made up of particles that do not absorb, reflect, or emit light while dark energy is believed to be pushing galaxies apart, causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate.

Caroline Harper, head of space science at the UK Space Agency, said: A key part of our purpose as a space agency is to understand more about the universe, what its made of and how it works.

There is no better example of this than the Euclid mission  we know that most of universe is made up of invisible dark matter and dark energy, but we dont really understand what it is, or how it affects the way the universe is evolving.

Astronomers said the images taken by Euclid are at least four times sharper than those captured using ground-based telescopes.

Euclids new image of the Dorado group of galaxies, 62 million light years away in the constellation of Dorado (ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/Nasa)

They were created by combining data from Euclids two instruments: VIS, a visible light camera, and the Near Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer (NISP), which captures light from the infrared spectrum.

Professor Mark Cropper, from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory at UCL, who led on designing and developing the VIS, said: To achieve its core aim of better understanding dark energy and dark matter, Euclids measurements need to be exquisitely precise.

This requires a camera that is incredibly stable, incredibly well understood, with conditions inside it needing to be controlled very carefully.

The VIS camera we developed will not only contribute beautiful images, but help us answer fundamental questions about the role of dark energy and dark matter in the evolution of the universe.

The new findings, based on only 24 hours of observations, have been described in a series of 10 papers published on the online portal arXiv.

The research focuses on 17 astronomical objects, from nearby clouds of gas and dust to distant clusters of galaxies.

Stephen Serjeant, professor of astronomy at the Open University, said: At the OU we are using the beautiful image quality of these very wide images to search for warps in space and time.

Euclids new image of spiral galaxy NGC 6744, which is 30 million light years away (ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/Nasa)

This is where a distant galaxy is being seen through the warped space around a foreground one.

Its one of the few ways we have to directly see the existence of dark matter.

Dr Rebecca Bowler, Ernest Rutherford Fellow at the University of Manchester, added: What is amazing is that these images cover an area of less than 1% of the full deep observations, showing that we expect to detect thousands of early galaxies in the next few years with Euclid, which will be revolutionary in understanding how and when galaxies formed after the Big Bang.

In total, Euclid has so far produced more than 11 million objects in visible light and five million more in infrared light.

One of the aims of the mission, which launched in July 2023, is to create a 3D map of the universe by observing two billion galaxies which will help scientists understand its cosmic history.

Euclids new view of galaxy cluster Abell 2764, which lies around one billion light years away in the direction of the Phoenix constellation (ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/Nasa)

Dr Valeria Pettorino, Euclid project scientist at the ESA, said: Euclid is a unique, ground-breaking mission, and these are the first datasets to be made public  its an important milestone.

The images and associated science findings are impressively diverse in terms of the objects and distances observed.

They include a variety of science applications, and yet represent a mere 24 hours of observations.

They give just a hint of what Euclid can do.

We are looking forward to six more years of data to come.
The Bill to exonerate victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal in Scotland has completed its second parliamentary hurdle, with those who have lost an appeal against their conviction set to be included.

But the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill will now be put on hold until the UK-wide legislation is passed to ensure subpostmasters and subpostmistresses north of the border are able to access the redress scheme.

MSPs voted to treat the Bill as emergency legislation earlier this month, expediting its passage and meaning stage two would be done before all MSPs in the Holyrood chamber as opposed to by a committee.

In a largely consensual debate, one of the key changes to the legislation will see the Bill include those who have lost an appeal against their conviction.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance proposed a key amendment to the Bill at stage two (Jane Barlow/PA)

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: We know now that in many appeal cases, members of the judiciary would not be aware of the Horizon system issues at the time of appeal decisions.

And even if an appeal was considered after the problems with Horizon were known about, any convictions considered on appeal would have been subject to a different test than convictions that are quashed by this Bill.

These amendments will ensure that every person whose conviction meets the criteria of the Bill will be treated equally and will have their convictions quashed, regardless of previous appeal decisions.

Ms Constance said she has sought assurances from UK minister Kevin Hollinrake that the change will not impact on the access of victims to the redress scheme.

The assurance that I received cleared the way for me to lodge these amendments and ensure that postmasters who previously sought to appeal their convictions are not treated less favourably than their peers, she said.

Speaking later on Thursday, the Justice Secretary said the passage of the UK-wide Bill expected next week  brought forward by the imminent dissolution of parliament ahead of the General Election  will allow Holyrood to plan for the third and final stage of the Bill to take place as soon as possible.

We are also committed to seeking expedited Royal Assent so victims of this terrible miscarriage of justice can finally have their names cleared and access UK Government compensation schemes, she added.
On April 6, more than 200 janitors marched in an SEIU rally near the George R. Brown Convention Center. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

My mother worked like a three-legged mule all her life. For our family, she was the rock, working multiple jobs and doing whatever it took to make sure our family was fed. She drove a bus during the day and took on odd jobs in the neighborhood; then, while my siblings and I slept, she worked the night shift as a janitor, cleaning homes and businesses.

Like my mother, Claudia and Maria are janitors. I heard about them from Service Employees International Union Texas, which represents them. Like my mother, Claudia and Maria scramble every day to put food on the table and pay the rent. However, unlike my mother, despite taking on extra work whenever they can, Claudia and Maria are struggling.

Maria works part-time, so she is not eligible for employer-paid health insurance. She makes herself available to take on any shift but makes less than $60 a day. Thats not enough for her to live. To make ends meet, she cooks for neighbors on the side.

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Claudias day starts at 5 a.m. She gets her daughter ready for school before heading off to her job as a day porter. Shes fortunate to be a full-time janitor, and during her eight-hour shift, she cleans between 15 and 20 bathrooms and 16 kitchens. Even at full-time, Claudia is on the hunt for a second job to be able to stay afloat.

Nearly 20% of Latinas in Houston live below the poverty line. Many janitors are only given four hours of work a night, which forces them to cobble together second and third jobs just to survive. It shouldnt be that way. Houston janitorial jobs can and should be good jobs.

On May 31, the contract for nearly 3,000 janitors  most of them women  is up, and janitors like Maria and Claudia are ready to do whatever it takes to bring Houston wages and hours more in line with other cities. They are organizing to get a fair deal from the cleaning contractors that employ them. All they ask is a path to $15 an hour and more full-time positions with access to employer-paid health insurance.

Maria and Claudia are fighters, but not just for themselves. They are fighting for all of Houston. Houston janitor pay lags that of their counterparts across the country. Unionized janitors earn $20.77 an hour in Pittsburgh. In Detroit, its $17.10 an hour for unionized janitors, and in both markets, most are full-time. If cleaning contractors and building owners can provide full-time jobs with wages over $15 in other cities, they can do it here in Houston.

Claudia and Maria cannot do it alone. Building owners play a major role. They can make it clear to their cleaning contractors that they support fair wages and full-time status for the janitors who keep their buildings clean. Providing janitors with $15 an hour and offering them six hours per night would not only bring their wages in line with those of other cities, but it would also be a first step toward easing poverty in our city.

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Scotlands First Minister has insisted he can lead the SNP to victory in an independence day General Election.

John Swinney said the election, now confirmed to take place on July 4, also gave voters the chance to get rid of Rishi Sunak and his disastrous Conservative Government.

The SNP leader declared: Never has a government deserved to lose more than Rishi Sunaks Government.

Launching the SNP election campaign at an event in Edinburgh, he urged voters north of the border: On July 4  Independence Day  make sure your voice is heard.

With Rishi Sunak having announced the election outside Downing Street in the rain, Mr Swinney insisted the Tories were so chaotic they dont even know when its raining (PA)

Despite only taking over as SNP leader and Scottish First Minister just over two weeks ago, Mr Swinney insisted he was up for the cut and thrust of the election campaign.

Mr Swinney had stepped back from frontline politics last year when he called time on his eight year spell as deputy first minister, but when Humza Yousaf quit suddenly last month, he put himself forward to be both SNP leader and Scottish First Minister.

Ive only been back in frontline politics for a month, he said.

I couldnt have imagined even two months ago standing here launching the SNP campaign for the 2024 General Election.

But I am here because I knew I could unify my party. I am two weeks in and I have done that already.

SNP leader John Swinney launched his partys General Election campaign at an event in Edinburgh on Thursday (Michael Boyd/PA)

He insisted he was relishing the opportunity to campaign across Scotland as he promised an energetic, optimistic campaign from the SNP.

However he used his campaign launch to hit out at the disastrous Tory Government in power in Westminster.

With Mr Sunak having announced the election date on Wednesday outside Downing Street in the rain, Mr Swinney insisted the Tories were so chaotic they dont even know when its raining outside.

He called on voters in Scotland to back his party to unite to bring about that better country that we all want to see.

Mr Swinney added: That starts by seeing the back of Rishi Sunak and his Government.

The challenger for every Tory seat in Scotland is the Scottish National Party. So by voting SNP you can get rid of this Tory Government.

And while he said the six weeks of election campaigning would see Labour and the Tories going hammer and tongs to discredit each other in the race for Downing Street, he said he would be going hammer and tongs to put Scotland first.

(PA Graphics)

He added: I will never take anything for granted, but I have no doubt the SNP can win this election.

And that is what I intend to do, to lead the SNP to victory in this election.

Elsewhere in the House of Commons, SNP MP Patrick Grady tabled the Scotland (Independence) Bill and asked for it to be given a second reading on July 4.

As the title of the Bill was read out, Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing joked: Oh dear.

Scottish-born Dame Eleanor, a Conservative MP, is standing down at the election and said: Ive stood here for 10.5 years not saying what I think, the honourable gentleman knows very well what I think of that one.

Asked about his Bill, Glasgow North MP Mr Grady told the PA news agency: With the election taking place at short notice, about as early in the second half of the year as humanly possible, tabling the Bill was a way of using the last few hours of this Parliament to put on record my continued determination to work for Scotlands independence and the powers to build a fair and just society that takes its place as an equal on the world stage.

Mr Gradys Bill will not make any further progress in the Commons ahead of Parliaments dissolution.
The mother of a Manchester Arena bombing victim has said she felt a bit misled by the Prime Minister in their meeting following her 200-mile walk to Downing Street.

Figen Murray, the mother of Martyn Hett, had talks with Rishi Sunak on Wednesday just a few hours before he called the General Election, in which she urged him to pass new terror legislation in her sons name.

Martyns Law, named in tribute to the 29-year-old who was one of 22 people killed at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017, would require venues and local authorities in the UK to have training requirements and preventative plans against terror attacks.

Figen Murray, with her husband Stuart Murray, and daughters Nikita Murray and Louise Webster (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Following the meeting with the PM, Ms Murray said he had promised her he would introduce Martyns Law to Parliament before summer recess but could not guarantee the legislation would be passed before the next election.

Just two more days of Commons business have been scheduled, during which important legislation will have to be rushed through.

Party whips from the Conservatives and Labour are holding talks to work out what outstanding legislation can become law before prorogation  the end of the current parliamentary session  on Friday.

Speaking on Thursday to ITV1s Good Morning Britain, Ms Murray said: During the meeting yesterday we shook hands, he actually agreed, he promised that he will bring it into Parliament before summer recess but he could not guarantee that its going to be done by the next general election.

We shook hands and he looked me straight me in the eyes so I dont feel I was being lied to because he at that point knew what he was going to do later that day but he must have been in a really difficult position.

However he could have maybe handled it slightly differently. I feel a bit misled rather than lied to.

Ms Murray added: He is behind the legislation definitely and we had a conversation on the phone 18 months ago where he said he is absolutely fully supportive of the legislation, its a no-brainer, and he would support it.

The staunch campaigner began her walk on May 7 on the spot where her son was killed in the atrocity as she continues to demand Martyns Law is introduced to Parliament after numerous reassurances from the Government over the past five years that it would happen.

Figen Murray and her husband also spoke to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Ms Murray also met with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday who told her he would pass Martyns Law if there was a change of government. She later said: While this is very encouraging, we dont want to wait for a new government to get this done.

With all party support and public security at risk, there is no excuse for not getting this done now.

Asked whether the Prime Minister had lied to Ms Murray by telling her the Bill would be brought forward before summer recess, his official spokesman said: I cant speak to private conversations but clearly the PM joined people across the country in paying tribute to Figen Murray and obviously, as he said yesterday, remembering the victims from the Manchester Arena bombings seven years ago. Shes been a tireless campaigner.

Hes obviously talked previously about bringing the legislation forward as soon as possible.
More heavy rain could cause a danger to life and travel disruption after a person died in a mudslide on Wednesday, the Met Office has warned.

Showers will continue to batter parts of the UK as yellow and amber warnings for rain remain in place across the UK on Thursday.

On Wednesday, North Yorkshire Police said a person died following a mudslide in Carlton-in-Cleveland at around 1.15pm.

Travel disruption and flooding is possible in places on Thursday morning, especially across north Wales and northwest England  Rain also across Scotland and Northern Ireland but less heavy than on Wednesday Drier in southern Britain with sunny spells developing in places pic.twitter.com/NUlAqWlLXP  Met Office (@metoffice) May 22, 2024

In a statement, police said: We can confirm that one person has sadly died as a result of the incident.

Our thoughts are with their family and friends during this difficult time.

The Met Office said the area had seen almost a months worth of rain in the past day, with 41.6mm of rain recorded over the last 24 hours in Loftus, a town 20 miles away.

Simon Partridge, a forecaster at the Met Office, said: The average monthly rainfall for May in North Yorkshire is 57.5mm so theyve almost had a months worth of rainfall today.

Carlisle in Cumbria experienced the worst of the rainfall, with 65.6mm falling over the previous 24 hours.

The Environment Agency has issued a severe flood warning for the rivers Roe and Ive from Highbridge to Stockdalewath, south of Carlisle. The warning says flooding will be rapid due to rapidly rising water levels.

Cumbria Police said a number of properties have been affected in the Stockdalewath area, with one property evacuated.

Chief Superintendent Mick Bird said a multi-agency co-ordination group has been set up overnight to deal with localised flooding in the area.

 Yellow weather warning UPDATED  Rain across many parts of England and Wales. NOW until Thursday 1200 Latest info  https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/TZ4CICoKa4  Met Office (@metoffice) May 22, 2024

Emergency services have been responding throughout the night to calls for service following persistent rainfall, which has resulted in flooding in some parts of the county, he said.

The flooding is on a small scale and the public can be reassured that the weather forecast is expected to be much more favourable throughout today.

We do expect some impact to travel within Cumbria with some flood water in parts of the county.

A further 22 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, have been issued across England with one in Scotland.

Rail provider Avanti West Coast warned commuters at about 6.30am that services between Preston and Glasgow/Edinburgh are subject to cancellation due to heavy flooding on the railway between Carlisle and Lockerbie.

It said in a post on X: All routes north of Preston are currently blocked in both directions.

Mr Partridge said there was still quite a long way to go until the rain was due to stop, with wet weather expected to continue in the area until Thursday evening.

An amber warning for rain has been in place across parts of North Wales and north-west England, including Manchester and Liverpool, since midday on Wednesday.

A yellow warning for rain covers the north of England, the Midlands and north and central Wales until 6am on Thursday, while another is in place for southern and eastern Scotland until 6pm on Thursday.

Fast flowing or deep floodwater which may cause danger to life is likely, the Met Office warned.

Heavy rainfall may also cause delays and cancellations to public transport services, difficult driving conditions and power cuts, the forecaster said.

Regarding staying safe in wet weather, Mr Partridge said: Although it may not look too bad when you leave home, it could turn much heavier once youre out and about, so the best thing is to plan your trips and if you dont need to go  the best advice is to try and avoid it.

Keep an eye on your local warnings from the Environment Agency which are just as important as ours as well.

He added that the forecast for the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend was looking uncertain but the weather seemed to be getting better.
An Australian passenger injured on flight SQ321 talks to reporters at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital in Bangkok on Thursday - Sakchai Lalit/AP

Passengers on a Singapore Airlines flight that hit turbulence over Asia suffered skull, brain and spinal injuries, the head of a Bangkok hospital said on Thursday.

Twenty people remain in intensive care in the Thai capital, where flight SQ321 made an emergency landing on Tuesday after the high-altitude ordeal.

The Boeing 777-300ER hit what an airline official described as sudden extreme turbulence over Myanmar, sending passengers and crew flying and slamming some into the ceiling.

A 73-year-old British man died and 104 people were injured on the flight, which was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew from London to Singapore.

Adinun Kittiratanapaibool, director of Bangkoks Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, said his staff were treating six people for skull and brain injuries, 22 for spinal injuries, and 13 for bone, muscle and other injuries.

We have never treated people with these kinds of injuries caused by turbulence, he told reporters.

Adinun Kittiratanapaibool, director of Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, during a press conference about the injured passengers in Bangkok, on Thursday - Athit Perawongmetha/REUTERS

The injured at the hospital range in age from two to 83, he added.

One passenger said people were thrown around the cabin so violently they put dents in the ceiling, at 11,300m (37,000ft).

Nine of the 16 Malaysians on the flight are being treated in hospital in Bangkok, the countrys ambassador to Thailand told AFP.

Five of them are in ICU and under observation and one victim is in normal ward. They are all in stable condition, said Jojie Samuel.

But one is in critical condition but stable. He has multiple injuries to his head, back and leg. He is one of the crew.

Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is strewn with debris after the emergency landing - REUTERS

Passenger accounts are still emerging after the plane plummeted 1,800m (6,000ft) in just a few minutes, with too little warning for many passengers to fasten their seatbelts.

I fell onto the floor, I didnt realise what happened. I must have hit my head somewhere. Everyone was screaming on the plane. People were scared, Josh Silverstone, a 24-year-old Briton on his way to the Indonesian holiday island of Bali, told reporters.

I texted my mum to say I love you, he added after leaving hospital, where he was treated for a cut to the head, on Wednesday.

Geoffrey Kitchen, 73, from Thornbury, Gloucs died following a heart attack when the Singapore Airlines flight from Heathrow hit severe turbulence - UNPIXS

Singapore Airlines chief executive Goh Choon Phong has apologised for the traumatic experience and expressed condolences to the family of the deceased.

Photos taken inside the plane after it landed in Bangkok show the cabin in chaos, strewn with food, drinks and luggage, with oxygen masks dangling from the ceiling.

A relief flight took 131 passengers and 12 crew to Singapores Changi Airport on Wednesday to continue their journeys or return home.
Samuel Alito at the White House in Washington DC on 23 July 2019. Photograph: Carolyn Kaster/AP

Leading Democrats are demanding that Samuel Alito recuse himself from election-related cases and also face investigation after a second report that a flag now associated with the far right was flying above one of his homes.

Dick Durbin, the Senate judiciary chair, urged the US supreme court justice to step back from certain major cases and demanded John Roberts, the chief justice, implement an enforceable code of conduct on his bench, while Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on the US Senate investigate.

The demands follow a new report by the New York Times of a second incidence of flags flown at homes of Alito that are associated with the 6 January 2021 attack at the US Capitol.

Durbin put out a statement late on Wednesday, saying: This incident is yet another example of apparent ethical misconduct by a sitting justice, and it adds to the courts ongoing ethical crisis. For the good of our country and the court, Justice Alito must recuse himself immediately from cases related to the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection. And the chief justice must see how this is damaging the court and immediately enact an enforceable code of conduct.

On Thursday, the House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, criticized Alito and also Clarence Thomas, both of whom have been targets of corruption allegations. Jeffries said: Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas are totally out of control  In the case of Samuel Alito, he definitively needs to recuse himself from any matter pending before the United States supreme court that has to do with the January 6th violent insurrection.

Ocasio-Cortez also weighed in during an interview with the MSNBC host Chris Hayes late on Wednesday, calling on Senate Democrats to launch active investigations.

The congresswoman said: What we are seeing here is an extraordinary breach of not just the trust and the stature of the supreme court, but we are seeing a fundamental challenge to our democracy.

She added: Samuel Alito has identified himself with the same people who raided the Capitol on January 6 and is now going to be presiding over court cases that have deep implications over the participants of that rally.And while this is the threat to our democracy, Democrats have a responsibility for defending our democracy.

The New York Times reported that an appeal to heaven flag, which has been adopted by Christian nationalists, was flown at the summer home of Alito on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, last July and September. The flag was carried by some in the crowd during the far-right, violent insurrection at the US Capitol, where extremist supporters of Donald Trump broke in to try, in vain, to stop the US Congress from certifying Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 election over Trump.

Also known as the pine tree flag, it was originally used on warships commanded by George Washington during the American revolutionary war against the ruling British. It has since been adopted by Christian nationalists who advocate for an American government based on Christian teachings.

The second flag report comes after the paper also reported that an upside-down American flag was flown outside the Virginia residence of Alitos home shortly after the January 6 insurrection. Alito claimed his wife flew the flag briefly during a spat with neighbors over politics.

Katherine Clark, the Democratic House whip, said Alito had displayed flags that support insurrection and religious nationalism and attack fair elections.

This is a threat to the rule of law and a serious breach of ethics, integrity and Justice Alitos oath of office, she said, also demanding that he recuse himself from any January 6 or Trump and election-related cases.

The supreme court is expected to rule next month on cases including Trumps request for absolute immunity from criminal prosecution and the use of obstruction law in January 6 cases, including Trumps federal election interference criminal case.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, posted on X: Flying this flag is a political statement that is a clear and compelling reason for Alitos recusal. He cannot responsibly sit on Trump-related cases when he has already signaled his sympathy with January 6th rioters. He owes the American people an explanation.

Sheldon Whitehouse also posted, with pictures of the offending flags.

The Rhode Island Democratic senator said on X: Did another neighbor make Alitos wife mad? How many Maga battle flags does Alito need to fly for the court or the judicial conference to see theres a problem?

Durbin has been pushing for regulation of the supreme court.

He added: This episode will further erode public faith in the court. The Senate judiciary committee has been investigating the ethical crisis at the court for more than a year, and that investigation continues. And we remain focused on ensuring the supreme court adopts an enforceable code of conduct, which we can do by passing the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act.

He has repeatedly called for the passing of legislation that the judiciary committee advanced last July. The supreme court has an internal, non-binding code of ethics.

Neither the supreme court nor Alito had commented by Thursday morning.
The judge ordered Phillips to appear at the Old Bailey on 14 June. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA Media

A British man has been charged with assisting Russias intelligence service after being arrested by UK counter-terrorism police.

Howard Michael Phillips, of Harlow, in Essex, was charged on Thursday with an offence contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act (NSA), the Metropolitan police said.

The 64-year-old appeared at Westminster magistrates court in London on Thursday afternoon and spoke to confirm his address and date of birth.

The prosecutor, Mark Luckett, said Phillips had contact with someone who he believed were foreign powers. He said Phillips held sensitive information in regards to an MP.

Judge Daniel Sternberg denied him bail and ordered him to appear at the Old Bailey on 14 June.

The Met said Phillips was arrested in central London on 16 May and charged a week later.

The charge was described as part of a proactive counter-terrorism policing investigation into suspected offences under the NSA.

The force added that the country to which the charge related was Russia.

The Met said: As part of the investigation, which is being led by officers from the Mets counter-terrorism command, officers also searched an address in the Hertfordshire area and an address in the Essex area. Both searches are now complete.

The arrest is not connected to any other recent charges or investigations linked to NSA offences, and there is not believed to be any threat to the wider public in connection with this matter.
Dozens of Chinese fighter jets carrying live missiles have carried out mock strikes against Taiwanese targets, Chinas military has said, on the first day of surprise military drills announced as punishment after Taiwan inaugurated its new president.

On Thursday morning the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) announced the immediate beginning of two days of drills, codenamed Joint Sword-2024A, surrounding Taiwan and its islands near the Chinese border.

It said the drills were in direct response to what it called separatist acts by Taiwans government. On Monday Lai Ching-te was inaugurated as Taiwans newest president, after winning democratic elections in January.

Chinese state media said jets loaded with missiles successfully practised strikes against high-value military targets during the drills, which involved units from the army, navy, air force and rocket force and the Chinese coastguard. Propaganda images spreading online and republished by state media also mentioned Chinas land-based Dongfeng ballistic missiles, but did not say if they would be used.

Related: China warns of reprisals against Taiwan after presidents inauguration speech

Taiwans defence ministry said it detected 15 PLA warships around the territorys perimeter, 16 marine police vessels and 49 warplanes, of which 35 crossed the median line, the de facto border between China and Taiwan. It said there were no live-fire exercises in the sea and Chinese authorities did not declare any no-fly zones. PLA navy vessels came within 24 nautical miles of Taiwans main island and remained there on Thursday evening, it said.

I have confidence in the military, Lai said at a military base on Thursday. I also ask all my compatriots to rest assured.

Taiwans presidential office said the drills threatened Taiwans freedom and democracy, and its defence ministry accused China of irrational provocation and disruption of regional peace and stability.

The defence ministry said its forces had been put on alert, base security strengthened, and air defence and missile forces ordered to monitor possible targets. It was also preparing for cognitive warfare operations.

We seek no conflicts but we will not shy away from one. We have the confidence to safeguard our national security, it said.

The drills are the first substantive response from China to the inauguration of Lai, who used his speech to affirm Taiwans sovereignty, promise to defend it, and urge China to cease hostilities. Lai and his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, are from the pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive party (DPP), which Beijing considers separatist.

A PLA spokesperson, Li Xi, said the drills would serve as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces, the state media agency Xinhua reported.

The state broadcaster said Lais speech was extremely harmful and that the drills, which it called countermeasures, were legitimate, legal and necessary.

The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) released demonstration map for Joint Sword-2024A military drills conducted surrounding Taiwan Island https://t.co/R9Pvxh7eh4 pic.twitter.com/4QARy3jDbJ  China Xinhua News (@XHNews) May 23, 2024

Analysts said the name of the exercise, suffixed 2024A, suggested more drills targeting Taiwan could be expected this year.

This is a signal to shape international narratives, said Wen-ti Sung, a political analyst and China expert at the Australian National University, on X. The real punishment against Taiwan may be yet to come, for it takes time.

Beijing claims Taiwan is a province of China and has vowed to annex it, by force if necessary. Taiwans government and people overwhelmingly reject the prospect of CCP rule, and Taiwans leaders have vowed to increase deterrence measures and boost defences, while urging China to cease its threats and return to dialogue.

In recent years China has heightened its pressure on Taiwan, with increased air force incursions into its air defence identification zone, economic coercion, and cognitive warfare, designed to convince Taiwan to accept a Chinese takeover without war.

Maps of the drill areas published on Thursday morning showed them operating in similar areas as in 2022, when China surrounded Taiwan with live-fire exercises in response to a visit to Taipei by the then US House speaker, Nancy Pelosi. However, analysts noted the addition of Taiwans offshore islands, suggesting the PLA was practising new strategies.

In 2023, China again staged large-scale drills in response to a meeting in the US between Tsai and the then US House speaker, Kevin McCarthy. Those drills escalated the tactics displayed in 2022, simulating a blockade of Taiwan and pre-invasion attacks.

On Tuesday, Chinas Taiwan affairs office warned of undefined countermeasures to Lais inauguration speech. Any speech by a president belonging to the DPP, short of capitulating to Beijings position that Taiwan belongs to China, was likely to provoke an angry response. Military drills like those launched on Tuesday take extensive planning and these were probably prepared for long before Lais address.

The deputy commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, Lt Gen Stephen Sklenka, told press in Canberra on Thursday that Chinas threats needed to be taken seriously but an attack or invasion was not inevitable or imminent. He said foreign governments, particularly those in this region, had to publicly condemn Chinas actions.

The normalisation of abnormal actions, thats whats happening. Just because we expect that behaviour doesnt mean we shouldnt condemn it, Sklenka said. So it is concerning, but I also believe in my heart of hearts a conflict between our two nations is not inevitable and its not a foregone conclusion.

Chinas coastguard was also involved in Thursdays exercises, with the Fujian branch announcing law enforcement drills around Taiwans offshore islands near Chinas mainland coastline. This year Kinmen and Matsu, islands close to the Chinese mainland, have been increasingly targeted by Chinese coastguard patrols.

After a fatal collision between an illegal Chinese fishing boat and a Taiwanese coastguard vessel near Kinmen in February, China responded with increased patrols and an explicit rejection of maritime borders, which it had until then tacitly respected. Patrols through Kinmens restricted waters have since become more consistent, in what some analysts say is Chinas strategy of shrinking Taiwans territorial space and normalising incursions.

Japans chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said on Thursday his government would contact Beijing to directly and clearly communicate the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan strait.

Japan has a strong relationship with Taiwan and is a close ally of the US. It has grown more vocal in its concerns about Chinas actions in the Taiwan strait, in part because of Japanese territory that is close to Taiwan. During the Pelosi drills, Tokyo lodged strong complaints with Beijing over the firing of PLA missiles across the island of Taiwan and into Japans exclusive economic zone.

Representatives from South Korea, Australia and the US also called for peace, with Australias foreign minister, Penny Wong, warning that the risk of an accident, and potential escalation, is growing.
Irakli Kobakhidze speaks in support of the 'foreign agents' bill. He now claims he has been given a menacing warning - Irakli Gedenidze/Reuters

The Georgian prime minister has claimed a top European Union official warned him he could be assassinated if he passes a Russia-inspired foreign agents law.

Irakli Kobakhidze said that he was warned to be very careful by an unnamed European commissioner, who referenced the recent assassination attempt on Robert Fico, the Slovakian prime minister.

Look what happened to Fico and you should be very careful, said Mr Kobakhidze, recalling the alleged threat.

The Georgians statement said the anonymous EU commissioner had listed a series of punitive measures that could be introduced by Western leaders if the controversial law was given passage.

Sources told The Telegraph that Oliver Varhelyi, the Hungarian commissioner responsible for EU enlargement, had recently engaged with the controversial Georgian leader.

The European Commission said it would not comment on statements that accuse anonymously.

An EU official added: Its very unfortunate from the Georgians. Im not sure why he [Mr Kobakhidze] did this, its a new low.

Shooting victim Robert Fico is carried to a helicopter to be taken to a hospital in Slovakia - Xinhua/Shutterstock

The Telegraph has contacted Mr Varhelyis representatives for comment.

Georgia, an EU candidate country, has been rocked by months-long protests while its government moved ahead with the legislation, which forces media and rights groups to disclose any foreign funding.

The law is similar to one in Russia that the Kremlin uses to crack down on free speech.

Several EU countries are urging Brussels to introduce sanctions against Georgia, including the withdrawal of the countrys visa-free travel regime to the bloc.

Estonia, Sweden, the Netherlands and Czech Republic are said to be pushing the hardest for the punitive measures ahead of a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers next week.

A man is detained after the shooting of Robert Fico - Radovan Stoklasa/Reuters

EU officials have warned the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has vowed to pass the law in the coming weeks, risks endangering its bid to join the bloc if the foreign agents bill is finally passed.

On Thursday, Russia accused the US of attempting to blackmail Georgia over the bill.

Washington has threatened to cut aid to Tbilisi and impose sanctions on officials over the legislation.

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, on Wednesday said the law was right out of Moscows playbook.
Howard Phillips has been charged with assisting Russia's foreign intelligence service

An Essex man charged with spying for Russia is accused of passing on an MPs personal details to Putins foreign intelligence service.

Howard Michael Phillips, an unemployed man from Harlow, was charged at Westminster magistrates court on Thursday with assisting Russias foreign intelligence service contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act.

The court heard that Phillips, 64, is charged with acquiring and retaining personal contact details of a Member of Parliament and disclosing personal contact details and information relating to a Member of Parliament to a foreign intelligence service.

He is also accused of applying for jobs with the Home Offices Border Force Agency and applying for security clearance.

Phillips allegedly offered to provide logistical support to a foreign intelligence service, including booking a hotel and buying a mobile phone on behalf of a foreign intelligence service, as well as setting up a mobile phone so that it was available to be used by a foreign intelligence service.

In court Phillips, wearing a grey tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his address and date of birth.

Judge Daniel Sternberg denied Phillips bail and ordered him to appear at the Old Bailey on June 14.

Arrested in central London

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: On May 16, a 64-year-old man was arrested in central London. He was arrested and detained under section 27 of the National Security Act (NSA), 2023.

A warrant of further detention was obtained at Westminster magistrates court meaning he could be detained up until May 23 and following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the CPS authorised the charge as above.

The arrest is not connected to any other recent charges or investigations linked to NSA offences, and there is not believed to be any threat to the wider public in connection with this matter.

As part of the investigation, which is being led by officers from the Met Polices Counter Terrorism Command, officers also searched an address in the Hertfordshire area and an address in the Essex area.
The front page of the New York Times' website - The New York Times

Rishi Sunak has called a snap general election for July  sparking surprise at home and around the world.

With the Tories about 20 points behind Labour in the polls, most of the worlds media are expecting a new party in No 10 for the first time in 14 years.

Here is how the worlds newspapers reacted to the news.

United States

American newspapers expressed scepticism about Mr Sunaks decision to call an election, with all outlets dwelling on his low poll scores and persistent problems with the UK economy.

The New York Times said the British public appears eager for change after 14 years of Conservative government, noting that the Tories have led Britain since Barack Obama was Americas president.

With the opposition Labour Party ahead in most polls by double digits for the last 18 months, a Conservative defeat has come to assume an air of inevitability, the newspaper said.

It added that the electoral mountain [Mr Sunak] must climb is Himalayan.

Rishi Sunak's early election decision described as 'suicide mission' by Fox News - Fox News

The Wall Street Journal, a conservative-leaning broadsheet, said that the Prime Minister was attempting one of the biggest turnarounds in recent British political history but that many pollsters, and even members of the Conservative Party, have written off the Tories chances of securing a fifth successive term.

Sunak eyeing a job in California

It warned that the election could be a cataclysm for the Conservative Party, and described its main legacy of Brexit as unpopular.

The Washington Post, which is considered to be centre-Left, said that Mr Sunak had a high probability of ushering in a new era of Labour Party leadership, pointing to rumours that he was eyeing a job in California for his life after office.

The newspaper said that Sir Keir Starmer was maybe not as solidly centrist as former Prime Minister Tony Blair, but close.

CNN, the Left-leaning broadcaster, said voters were asking Mr Sunak one question: Why should you be given another go?

Fox News quoted an analyst describing the election as a suicide mission and Labour as a far-Left party that would herald the final sunset for the Mighty British Empire.

Australia

Australian news outlets were surprised by Mr Sunak calling a snap election - a decision that caught most Australians off guard as they woke to the news.

The Sydney Morning Herald poked fun at Mr Sunak, calling him an almost comical figure for standing in the pouring rain, drenched to make the announcement, while protesters blared the song Things Can Only Get Better.

The paper said the Tories faced a thrashing by the Labour Party, pointing out that after years of scandals, a fallout from the Brexit referendum and a revolving door of leaders, many had no faith in the government securing another term.

The Sydney Morning Herald's website on Thursday morning - Sydney Morning Herald

Melbourne newspaper the Herald Sun described the Prime Ministers move as a gamble for his political life.

The Australian shared similar sentiments, saying Mr Sunaks surprise move to have an election before the summer break, with a short campaign period, was a huge gamble.

Never has an election begun with such a whimper

The paper reported that the Prime Minister was banking that the current polling, which shows an almost existential crisis for the Tories, can be turned around in record time.

Meanwhile, an Australian Financial Review (AFR) opinion article said: There is no Blair-mania about UK Labour leader Keir Starmer.

The opinion piece in the Australian Financial Review - Australian Financial Review

The Conservative government  now on its fifth Prime Minister since 2010  has been a pointless charade for months now. What exactly a Labour government will mean is much less clear,  the piece by Bloomberg columnist Adrian Wooldridge, said.

The piece said the Tories have been bleeding out in public for months and Mr Sunak calling the election has finally put the government out of its misery. It added that the general election on July 4 almost certainly means the end of 14 years of Tory rule.

News site The Conversation said Mr Sunak fired the election gun with a damp whimper - adding to the plethora of headlines and puns circulating in the media about the Prime Minister standing in the rain.

'Damp whimper' - The Conversation - The Conversation

He did it in the pouring rain, and was thoroughly soaked before hed even got to the point, the report said.

The sound of New Labours anthem Things Can Only Get Better blasting out in the background from a nearby protesters speaker only added to the sense of the bizarre. Never has the starting gun for an election been fired with such a whimper.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said Labour was the clear frontrunner, but progress on the Rwanda deportation scheme in recent weeks meant that the Tories had something to highlight in their campaign.

New Zealand

The New Zealand Herald said a desperate Mr Sunak had played his last card by calling a surprise election.

An opinion piece by UK chief political commentator, Robert Shrimsley, said the move was a product of his political weakness.

It is the play of a man who has run out of ideas, run out of options and sees no reason why his prospects might improve, the piece read.

The New Zealand Herald's website featured an opinion piece stating the surprise election was the PM's 'last card' - New Zealand Herald

RNZ, New Zealands public broadcaster, described the early election decision as a risky strategy considering the Tories are far behind Labour in the opinion polls.

Sunak heads into the election not only far behind the Labour Party in the polls but also somewhat isolated from some in his party, increasingly dependent on a small team of advisers to steer him through what is set to be an ugly campaign, it said.

Europe

El Mundo, one of Spains largest newspapers, reported that the announcement caused astonishment in the ranks of the Conservative Party given recent polling. Citing the latest Savanta poll, it said the Tories are at a 17-point disadvantage over the Labour Party.

Under the sub-heading Uncertain times are coming, the paper reported on Mr Sunaks warnings on migration and ongoing conflicts that he said threatened global security.

The early call for elections, however, leaves the plan to deport immigrants pending asylum to Rwandan up in the air, the newspaper reported.

PMs popularity at rock bottom

The decision to bring forward the election has caused particular discomfort in the hard right faction of the Conservative Party, El Mundo reported, describing recent local elections in which the Tories lost half their councillors as a debacle.

The popularity of the Prime Minister actually hit rock bottom in April, with 70 per cent of Britons describing his work as unsatisfactory, rivalling John Majors worst numbers in 1994, the report said.

The election on July 4, Independence Day in the United States, at least removes possible interference between the two electoral processes, with the US presidential elections scheduled for November 5.
China's version of Neuralink unveiled

10:29, May 23, 2024 By Liu Caiyu and Chen Zishuai ( Global Times

A monkey with its hands tied up can control a robotic arm with "just its thoughts" through Neucyber. Photo: Liu Caiyu/GT

"China's version of Neuralink unveiled" - that's how observers described Neucyber, an invasive implanted brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, independently developed by Chinese scientists.

In its latest public appearance in April, through Neucyber, a monkey with its hands tied up can control a robotic arm with "just its thoughts" and successfully grasp a strawberry.

Recently, the Global Times visited the Chinese Institute for Brain Research in Beijing to witness the magical scene.

The wired Neucyber linking the monkey's brain is a system composed of three core components  high-throughput flexible microelectrodes, two high-speed neural signal acquisition devices and a generative neural decoding algorithm. It is able to capture subtle changes in the monkey's brain's electrical signals, decode the brain's intentions and achieve "thought" control of "actions."

The waving electrical signals on the screen are collected by the Neucyber, near the neurons of the monkey's brain, Zhang Lei, director of Instrumentation Core from the institute told the Global Times, pointing to the robust signals.

The flexible electrode has been stably implanted in the monkey's skull for nearly a year, and is still able to collect high-quality signals.

Following capturing signals, Neucyber will then decode the message with a decoding algorithm called "feedforward generative neural decoding algorithm," allowing the monkey to predict the moving target and control the robotic arm, Zhang said.

The advanced algorithm is a step forward to achieve the goal of creating neurally controlled prosthetics that are more human-like, natural and flexible for patients in the future. The team revealed that researchers are about to publish academic papers on the advanced algorithm-powered Neucyber.

Neuralink has already implanted its wireless brain chips in humans, while China has yet to begin human trials.

The Global Times learned that Chinese Institute for Brain Research is working on altering the wired BCI system into a fully implanted wireless invasive device, striving to start human trials next year.

Zhang said "While Elon Musk's startup Neuralink is considered the leading wireless BCI technology in practical use, our algorithm and electrodes are just as capable. However, the challenge lies in integrating the device into a small, discreet device that is safe for brains."

'Talk less, do more'

BCI technology is increasingly coming into view of the public, largely due to Elon Musk's Neuralink breakthrough. However, the roots of this technology actually trace back 50 years. The current top BCI technology in the world can decode 60 to 90 words per minute using brain signals, aiding high-level paraplegic patients in regaining mobility.

While China's BCI technology generally lags behind leading countries like the US in terms of system integration and clinical application, this has not hindered the release of Neucyber, which stands as China's first "high-performance invasive BCI."

The breakthrough lies in the efforts of the institute gathering superior resources from various teams in Beijing, Li Yuan, Business Development Director of Beijing Xinzhida Neurotechnology, the company that co-developed this BCI system, told the Global Times.

Developing the entire Neucyber system only took a year. Li explained that building the systematic project was possible because of a group of matured talents was gathered within the institute, from specific fields involving electrodes, chips, algorithms, software and materials.

In addition, the release of Neucyber is in line with China's overall strategy to develop BCI technology. Media reports have shown that China's supporting BCI technology has been clearly written within the national "14th Five-Year Plan" in 2020. The country's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology last year also classified BCI technology as an important "cutting-edge emerging technology."

To integrate the Neucyber into a small gadget like Neuralink, Li said multiple factors such as power supply, signal communication, power consumption, heat generation and size limitations should be taken into consideration.

"We do not want to be imaginative and talk too much, but strive to take out a set of products step by step that can be useful in actual application," Li told the Global Times.

Industry observers believe that since the BCI technology has not yet been widely used as medical devices globally, China still has the chance to industrialize its BCI products before the US.

In the application prospects, BCI devices are widely seen to be used in myoelectric prostheses which allow amputees to move more naturally and it is also expected to be used to treat neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and stroke sequelae.

Furthermore, through wireless brain interfaces, small white rats and cockroaches can be controlled by animals with strong survivability in harsh environments, allowing them to help humans complete some special tasks, such as environmental monitoring and post-disaster rescue, Ye Zhewei, chairman of Intelligent Medicine Branch of Wuhan Medical Association was quoted by Changjiang Daily.

Producing dopamine and nerve cells is stimulated in neurological diseases such as depression and epilepsy. Soon, diseases such as epilepsy will be likely to be handled with more effective treatment, according to Ye.

Previously, China's prestigious Tsinghua University announced that Chinese scientists had made a breakthrough in the world's first patient BCI rehabilitation trial. The BCI technology device NEO (Neural Electronic Opportunity) was successfully implanted into a patient's brain for the BCI-assisted treatment trial at the Xuanwu Hospital in Beijing, on October 24, 2023.

China has also achieved a technological breakthrough in the chip flux of BCI. For example, Wuhan Zhonghua Brain-Computer Integration Technology Development successfully developed 65,000 two-way BCI chips, ranking at the international leading level, Ye said.

The development prospects of sensors, wireless transmission methods and chip functions are also very huge in China, Ye noted, which is the confidence of China to further advance the BCI technology.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
Jenkins: he was known as 'Hugh the Coal' for his Welsh roots

Hugh Jenkins, who has died aged 90, was one of the City of Londons most powerful investors as director-general of the National Coal Boards pension funds and chairman of the Prudentials investment arm.

Originally a property specialist, Jenkins  sometimes known in the Square Mile as Hugh the Coal for his Welsh origins  was not yet 40 when he was promoted in 1973 to take charge of the portfolio of equities, bonds and real estate interests that funded miners pensions.

As markets crashed later that year, he was the youngest key player in the drama of Wednesday December 19, when bankers and investment institutions were closeted overnight in the Bank of England under orders from Governor Gordon Richardson to save Cedar Holdings  a secondary bank in which NCB held shares but whose imminent failure threatened a domino collapse across the City.

Acutely conscious of his duty to protect pensioners interests, Jenkins had an overwhelming feeling that we should not be putting good money after bad. But in the early hours, after stormy negotiations, he agreed to join a 72 million support package to which Barclays and other lenders had committed.

Buoyed by that breakthrough, Richardson and his deputy Jasper Hollom  who Jenkins described as remarkable for their sangfroid  went on to launch the Bank of Englands successful lifeboat scheme, marshalling City forces to sustain other vulnerable lenders through the crisis.

Jenkins in 1999 - Amanda Edwards

An observer of the Cedar episode noted Jenkinss dark Celtic good looks, describing him as formidable, strong-minded and endowed with native wisdom; woe betide any person who disagreed with him without having done his homework and woe betide any person who attempted to persuade or dissuade him without solid argument.

That reputation made Jenkins a force to be reckoned with in innumerable corporate deals in which NCB had an interest. It also helped him defeat a campaign by Arthur Scargill, the president of the National Union of Mineworkers, to prevent the pension funds investing in overseas companies and oil and gas ventures that might compete with coal.

A 1984 High Court ruling confirmed that the fund managers duty was to maximise returns for their beneficiaries rather than follow any political agenda. Scargill and other union officials duly stood down as trustees of the funds.

By the time Jenkins left the NCB in 1985 its funds had grown under his stewardship to 6.4 billion  and no City investor carried more personal clout.

A striking miner outside the headquarters of the National Coal Board in London, 1984 - Hulton Archive

Hugh Royston Jenkins was born in Port Talbot on November 9 1933 to Hubert Jenkins, a railway worker, and his wife Violet, nee Aston. Educated at Llanelli grammar school, he qualified as a chartered surveyor and did national service with the Royal Artillery before starting his professional career as a valuer for London County Council. He became assistant controller of the coal boards property interests in 1962, rising to managing director in 1968.

Jenkins denied that the row with Scargill had been a factor in his surprising decision, after resigning from NCB, to take charge in Los Angeles of the US interests of Heron Corporation, the property and financial services empire of his friend Gerald Ronson. But he did admit that distance from London soon made him feel like a remittance man: he returned in 1986 to become investment director of Allied Dunbar and, from 1989 to 1995, chairman of Prudential Portfolio Investors.

He was also chairman of the electrical manufacturer Thorn, and a director of Rank Organisation, Johnson Matthey and the pension funds of IBM and Unilever.

Hugh Jenkins was appointed CBE in 1996. He married first, in 1956, Jennifer Hawkins; the marriage was dissolved and he married secondly, in 1988, Beryl Kirk nee Barnes, who survives him.

Hugh Jenkins, born November 9 1933, died March 7 2024
Demonstrations for the return of the hostages have been held daily - Marko Djurica/Reuters

Israels war cabinet has instructed negotiators to resume indirect talks with Hamas over a hostage deal and ceasefire, a source confirmed to The Telegraph on Thursday.

Talks between Hamas and Israel had been on hold for weeks after Israel began military operations in Rafah in southern Gaza.

But since the bodies of five hostages were uncovered by the army in Gaza, pressure has mounted on Benjamin Netanuahu, the Israeli prime minister, with daily demonstrations and calls for him to strike a deal with Hamas.

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum released a harrowing video on Wednesday showing the moment five Israeli female conscripts were taken hostage by Hamas in Nahal Oz on October 7. The video was intended to put pressure on Mr Netanyahu and the war cabinet to resume talks with Hamas.

Relatives of hostages hold their pictures during a protest performance - Oded Balilty/AP

An official told The Telegraph: The uproar the video created illustrated the urgency to release these women. Netanyahu asked the negotiation team to come up with a framework for a deal and to go back to negotiating. But in any deal, Hamas must let the women go first.

Protesters blocked the major Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv on Wednesday night, starting a bonfire and chanting we will not abandon them. Demonstrations were also held near the prime ministers residence in Jerusalem.

According to a recent poll by the Israel Democracy Institute, a majority of Israelis believe their government should prioritise a deal to get the hostages out over a ground invasion of Rafah.

Jenin, in the West Bank, after an Israeli military operation this week - Majdi Mohammed/AP

Although Israels operations in Rafah are continuing, with more than 100 terrorists killed and more than 800,000 civilians evacuated from the city, the pace of the operation seems to have been influenced by pressure on Mr Netanyahu from the Biden administration.

Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, said on Wednesday: I was briefed by Israeli officials and by Israeli professionals on refinements that Israel made to its plans to achieve its military objectives while taking account of civilian harm.

What we have seen so far in terms of Israels military operations in that area has been more targeted and limited [and] has not involved major military operations into the heart of dense urban areas.
Huw Merriman, the minister of state for rail and HS2, has announced he will stand down rather than face re-election - James Manning

Five Tory MPs have announced their departures from political life the day after Rishi Sunak called an election as the party braced for an avalanche of resignations.

Sir Michael Ellis, MP for Northampton North, Huw Merriman, a transport minister, James Grundy, a Red Wall MP who entered Parliament in 2019, Dame Eleanor Laing, a Deputy Speaker of the Commons, and Jo Churchill, the employment minister, revealed on Thursday they would not contest the next election.

Dame Eleanor, the MP for Epping Forest, and Ms Churchill, who represents Bury & St Edmunds, became the 66th and 67th Conservative MPs to confirm they will leave the Commons following the next national poll amid fears of an exodus in the parliamentary party.

Mr Grundy, who represented Leigh, then announced he would not contest the new Leigh and Atherton seat, before Mr Merriman shared a letter on social media thanking his constituents.

He became the 69th Tory MP to announce they will step down.

Mr Grundy said: It is fair to say that the last few years have perhaps been the most challenging Parliament since the one that sat during the Second World War.

There has also been a saddening change in the political climate where increasingly politicians, their families and staff are seen as fair game for abuse, threats of violence or even death threats.

He added: This is not healthy for our national politics and needs to change, and with that in mind I have decided not to seek re-election.

James Grundy said 'there has been a saddening change in the political climate' - Richard Townshend

Dame Eleanor Laing, a Deputy Speaker of the Commons, and Jo Churchill, the employment minister, also revealed they would not contest the next general election.

Dame Eleanor, the MP for Epping Forest, and Ms Churchill, who represents Bury & St Edmunds, became the 66th and 67th Conservative MPs to confirm they will leave the Commons following the next national poll amid fears of an exodus in the parliamentary party before Mr Grundy, who represented Leigh, announced would not contest the new Leigh and Atherton seat.

Jo Churchill is one of the latest Conservative MPs to confirm they will leave the Commons

An MP since 1997, Dame Eleanor held the role of Deputy Speaker for 11 years, regularly filling in for John Bercow and subsequently Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

Ms Churchill, who represented Bury St Edmunds since the 2015 election, shared a letter she wrote to Rishi Sunak on April 26 in which she assured him of her constant support during the campaign and said she had decided not to contest the next national poll for family reasons.

Dame Eleanor held the role of Deputy Speaker for 11 years - PA Archive

More Tories are standing down than at any point since 1997, when 75 stood aside as Labour won a landslide.

It has been suggested in Westminster that many more had originally been intending to stagger their resignations across several months, but Mr Sunaks decision to hold a snap election means those quitting will have to announce this in the coming days and weeks.

Honour of my life

Ms Churchill has served in a number of frontbench roles since 2019 and became Mr Sunaks employment minister as part of his reshuffle last November.

In her letter to the Prime Minister she said: It has been the honour of my life to represent the people of the Bury St Edmunds constituency but for family reasons, I have decided I will not be fighting the next election.

She said she had taken much pride in serving in Government, citing her stint as a public and primary care minister during the Covid pandemic and her role as Vice-Chamberlain during the death and funeral of Elizabeth II.

Jo Churchill (centre) became Rishi Sunak's employment minister as part of his reshuffle last November - Mike Kemp

Ms Churchill added: My current role as minister for employment, driving jobs and opportunities, is integral to my belief in the conservative values of rewarding hard work, self-responsibility and reaching out to help others

Prime Minister, I have the utmost respect for the difficult job that you do in protecting us and assure you of my constant support until the next election.

Prominent Tories not standing for re-election include Dominic Raab, the former deputy prime minister, Ben Wallace, the former defence secretary, and Sajid Javid.

Last weekend, Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland Secretary, announced he would also quit parliament and asked Mr Sunak if he would be able to remain in his post until polling day.

He also thanked Mr Sunak and former prime ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, vowing to continue to campaign for the Conservatives as the only party that has and can deliver for the whole of the United Kingdom.
Simon Case, arriving to give evidence to the Covid inquiry in London. He likened No 10 during the pandemic to a rats nest. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA

The UKs most senior civil servant has set out the chaos at the heart of Boris Johnsons Downing Street, saying good officials were just being smashed to pieces while he was not warned in advance about the eat out to help out scheme.

In a day of often damning testimony to the inquiry into the pandemic, Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, said Johnsons No 10 had been involved in the worst governing ever seen in the UK.

While Case also sought to defend Johnsons decision-making style, he described a sometimes toxic culture at the heart of government, agreeing there had been a culture of fear around Dominic Cummings, Johnsons chief adviser.

In another revelation, Case, who remains cabinet secretary, said he had accidentally deleted nine tranches of group WhatsApp messages while trying to transfer them from his phone, after not seeking IT help. The inquiry managed to obtain them from others in the group.

The inquiry had previously heard that the eat out to help out scheme, which subsidised people to dine at restaurants and cafes in summer 2020 and has been blamed for a renewed spread of the virus, was announced without the knowledge of the governments two main scientific experts.

Asked if he knew that Patrick Vallance, who was the governments chief scientific adviser, and Chris Whitty, Englands chief medical officer, were in the dark about the plan, devised by Rishi Sunak, who was chancellor at the time, Case replied: I wasnt aware of eat out to help out until it was announced either.

Case was then the lead civil servant at No 10, in charge of Covid policy, and weeks away from becoming cabinet secretary.

Questioned by Hugo Keith KC, the inquiry counsel, about the sometimes chaotic nature of Johnsons No 10, Case, who had been due to give evidence in autumn before he took a leave of absence from his job due to illness, twice became emotional.

When Keith asked about what he said was Cases view in a witness statement and in WhatsApp messages that the government failed at a number of fundamental levels and contributed to the worst governing, to use your words, ever seen, Case was silent for some time.

He then replied that the WhatsApp messages were not a roundly considered view, adding: There were some dark days when it felt that we just couldnt get it right.

The hearing was also shown WhatsApp messages from April 2020 between Case and Helen MacNamara, then also a top official, in which Case complained: We seem to be making everything complicated.

Case recounted to MacNamara some minor tussle about who I reported to, saying: That really shouldnt be important in the middle of a mega-crisis. He added: Crisis + pygmies = toxic behaviour.

Asked about the atmosphere at the time, Case said that reviewing his evidence about the period had been hard because it reminds me quite how difficult it was that good people were working incredibly hard in impossible circumstances, with choices where it seems there was never  a right answer.

This was made worse by the dysfunction, he said: Good people were just being smashed to pieces. Thats what I saw.

In other messages between the pair, in April 2020, MacNamara referred to one aspect of the working culture saying: The arrogance and the waste. And the contempt for cabinet. In another message, MacNamara, who in her testimony to the inquiry was damning about a culture of misogyny, called Johnsons Downing Street the most actively sexist environment I have ever worked in.

Case was asked by Keith whether it was fair to describe a culture of fear around Cummings, and the chaos and the unwillingness of other people to work with him as a result. Case replied: Thats all true.

The inquiry also heard that one unnamed person had declined to work in Downing Street because of this, saying: The setup in No 10 is too mad to touch.

Case also said polls showed Cummings lockdown-breaching trip to Durham and Barnard Castle in March 2020 had damaged public confidence in the government response. That, and later parties in and around Downing Street, sort of feels like a terrible insult to bereaved families, he added.

Messages from Case seen by the inquiry in the autumn showed him being damning about Johnsons Downing Street, saying some people were mad and poisonous.

Asked about this by Keith, Case slightly rowed back on his criticism, saying it dated from a time when he barely knew Johnson and didnt really understand how he took decisions.

What seemed chaotic was that the then prime minister very much wanting the debate to play out in front of him  competition for ideas and views. I think that is really how he made decisions, Case said.

However, the hearing also heard that at one point, Case messaged Johnson to urge him to stand up more to Sunak in meetings, saying: It cant always be you agreeing with Rishi.
Kelloggs says the risk of injury from the cereal is minimal but it does not want to compromise on safety. Photograph: Kellogs

Kelloggs is recalling boxes of its new chocolate cornflakes due to concerns they contain hard lumps that could cause damage to teeth or be a choking hazard.

The cereal brand has asked people who bought the packs to dispose of them as a precaution after the problem was discovered.

Kellanova, the company that makes Kelloggs cereals in Europe, said the hard lumps do not break down when eaten with milk.

We have become aware of a very low level of small hard lumps forming in our new Kelloggs Corn Flakes chocolate flavour, it said in a recall notice. These hard lumps of food could cause dental harm or be a choking hazard.

The Food Standard Agency website also warns customers: This product may contain small hard lumps of food which makes it unsafe to eat  If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, dispose of the product and contact Kelloggs.

The product was launched at the start of this year and billed as bringing a modern twist to the 102-year-old brand. At the time the company said of the spin-off flavour: Were sure its something the whole family will enjoy.

Kellanova said it believed that only a small proportion of boxes could contain the lumps and that there was minimal risk to consumers.

A spokesperson for Kellanova said: Clusters of cereal forming during production can be a normal occurrence and these usually break up when eaten or placed in milk.

But, when we spotted that hard lumps of cereal were forming in a very small amount of our new Kelloggs Corn Flakes Chocolate Flavour cereal, we took the decision to recall all product.

The recall only relates to 450g boxes bought over a four-month period, and shoppers have been urged to throw away packs with best before dates ranging from 6 December 2024 to 28 April 2025.

Kellanova said that other Kelloggs Corn Flakes varieties it produces were unaffected by the issue and that affected consumers should contact it for a refund.
Human rights groups are opposed to the plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda - HENRY NICHOLLS/Reuters

A Labour government would scrap the Rwanda deportation scheme on day one, even if flights were scheduled, a frontbench spokesman for the party said.

Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow paymaster general, said on Thursday that Labour would ditch the Rwanda scheme as it was not a deterrent and would only deal with one per cent of the asylum seekers in the UK.

Asked if the party would scrap it immediately, he told BBCs Politics Live: Yeah. Its not going to work. Its only going to deal with one per cent of the people that it is supposed to deal with. It would be cheaper to put all these people up in the Ritz in Paris than this plan.

Its an expensive gimmick, and its not going to work. So, yes, we would scrap it, and we have got a detailed plan for dealing with this problem.

However, Rishi Sunak said that the Rwanda scheme would provide a deterrent, telling GB News: Unless youre able to deliver that, people will keep coming.

On a visit to a distribution centre in Derbyshire, the Prime Minister reiterated his message that the Tories had a clear plan while Labour would go back to square one.

He urged voters to re-elect him if they wanted to see deportation flights to Rwanda take off.

The Prime Minister told GB News: If you elect me, if Im Prime Minister on July 5, those flights will go off to Rwanda and we will begin to put in place the deterrent that we need to stop the boats.

Because there is no way to stop this problem unless you can have a deterrent, unless its clear that if someone comes to our country illegally they wont be able to stay and they will be removed.

Unless youre able to deliver that people will keep coming.

However, Mr Sunak did concede that the deportation flights will not take off before the election on July 4. The earliest date that the Home Office had scheduled for the flights was June 24, although ministers have suggested they were more likely to take off between July 1 and July 15.

Sir Keir Starmer says he is determined to stop the small boats crossing the channel - Dan Kitwood/Getty

Labour has said that it would use the 75 million a year saved from scrapping the Rwanda scheme to set up a border force command with new powers to treat people smugglers like terrorists.

It will be allied to ramping up caseworker numbers to reduce the asylum backlog and a new returns unit with 1,000 staff to fast-track removals. Sir Keir has claimed the twin approach will be a more effective deterrent than the Rwanda scheme.

Sir Keir has said he would also negotiate with the EU to replace the Dublin returns agreement, axed under Brexit, under which European countries would take back migrants from the UK if they had crossed their borders and Britain would agree to take some back to reunite families.

But he ruled out any UK participation in a wider scheme where northern states shared the burden of taking migrants with southern European countries or paying them a compensatory sum.

Labour has also said it will consider the asylum claims of more than 90,000 migrants who entered the UK illegally if it won the election. They are currently in limbo because their claims are judged inadmissible under legislation introduced by the Government.

Jonathan Reynolds, shadow business secretary, confirmed the approach: If they havent got a right to be in the UK, theyve got to go. And if they have a right to be in the UK, if we want to accept those people, we can integrate them into British society.

And they can benefit from putting something back into the UK rather than just be a cost in the halfway house we have at the minute, so its about a serious policy rather than a gimmick that will make no difference and cost the country a lot of money.

Sir Keir suggested Mr Sunak had called a snap election because he never believed the Rwanda scheme would work.

Speaking on a visit to Gillingham in Kent, a traditional Conservative heartland, he said: I dont think hes ever believed that plan is going to work, and so he has called an election early enough to have it not tested before the election.

We have to deal with the terrible loss of control of the border under this Government, we have to tackle the small boats that are coming across but nobody should be making that journey.
A new illiberal alliance threatens the West - Sergei Guneyev/AFP

At a time when the world has not been so dangerous since the height of the Cold War, it is vital that defence, and the imperative of equipping our military and security forces for the challenges that lie ahead, takes centre stage in the forthcoming general election.

The world has arguably not found itself in such a perilous predicament since the early 1960s, when the Cuban missile crisis raised the very real prospect of nuclear war between the US and the Soviet Union.

The September 11 attacks against the US in 2001, which took place shortly after Tony Blair had won a second landslide victory the previous June, undoubtedly had a dramatic impact on the global security landscape, even if the main focus afterwards was on mounting counter-terrorism operations against jihadi groups such as al-Qaeda.

Britains participation in the invasion of Iraq generated a great deal of political controversy, especially over the Blair governments justification for overthrowing Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. But it did not prevent Blair from winning another majority in the 2005 poll.

The Soviet Union may no longer exist and the danger posed by Islamist terrorists has subsided, but the emergence of new global threats means that Britain and its allies today find themselves facing a multitude of challenges that could ultimately result in full-scale war.

While Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022 began the biggest conflict Europe has seen since the Second World War, Russian President Vladimir Putins desire to realise Moscows imperial ambitions raises the very real prospect of a conflict between the nuclear-armed powers of Russia and the Nato alliance.

Russias emerging alliance with other authoritarian regimes, such as China, Iran and North Korea, means that the Wests long-standing preeminence in world affairs faces its most significant challenge since the Cold War era. At the same time, Chinas bid to rival the US as the worlds undisputed superpower is likely to result in an upsurge of territorial disputes in the Pacific region, especially over Taiwan, while Irans determination to extend its influence in the Middle East is another potential source of conflict.

All of these developments present direct challenges for the UKs military and intelligence services. Maintaining British military support for Ukraine is vital if Kyiv is to prevail in its war against Russia, while Iranian-inspired aggression in the Middle East has already seen British warplanes in action defending Israel and attacking Houthi rebels in Yemen. Any move by China to invade Taiwan would most likely result in Britain supporting any military response undertaken by the US.

These are all compelling reasons why the major political parties need to make defence, and how they intend to keep the country safe from future challenges, a key feature in their election manifestos.

Rishi Sunak certainly appeared to grasp the significance of the issue when announcing the election yesterday, making specific reference to the Governments pledge to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by the end of the decade, a move that should provide the military with an extra 75 billion.

The Conservatives new-found enthusiasm for increasing defence expenditure does, of course, need to be measured against their record during the past 14 years, when successive spending cuts have resulted in a hollowing out of all three Services.

Even so, Sunaks commitment to increase spending gives his party a distinct advantage over Labour, which, despite recent efforts by shadow defence secretary John Healey to boost his partys national security credentials, remains ambiguous on the issue. While Labour says that it would support a budget of 2.5 per cent of GDP, it also says that it wants to see a fully funded plan to reach the target.

As with the Conservatives, Labours track record on past defence spending does not inspire confidence, even though Healey is constantly reminding voters that the last time the defence budget reached the 2.5 per cent of GDP level was back in 2010 when Labour was in power.

That may well be the case, but Gordon Browns parsimony when it came to supporting Blairs penchant for launching military interventions meant that, by the time the Conservatives entered office, they inherited a staggering 38 billion black hole in the Ministry of Defences finances, a shortfall that was a significant factor in the subsequent decision to make drastic cuts.

As for the other contenders, the Liberal Democrats visceral opposition to any British military interventions abroad would make them a liability when it comes to tackling autocratic regimes such as Russia, while the SNPs long-standing campaign to scrap the UKs nuclear deterrent would severely compromise Britains ability to defend itself against a hostile state like Russia.

In the forthcoming election, therefore, it is vital that the defence policies of all the main parties are subjected to the same level of scrutiny as other key issues, such as health and education. If the defence of the realm is the primary duty of any government, then it must be a top priority in the next election.
Too often people like Vennells, who build long careers in public service, become totally unaccountable - Paul Grover for the Telegraph

If the King gave out honours on the basis of acting skills alone then surely Paula Vennells would be handed back her CBE in a heartbeat. Or perhaps an Oscar would be more appropriate after the disgraced former Post Office boss was hauled in front of the Horizon IT inquiry for a grilling lasting three days.

Her appearance was always going to be a tense affair  furious sub-postmasters had waited years for this, and more than 100 campaigners had turned up to watch her interrogation  but Vennells laid it on so thick at times, one wondered if shed been attending amateur dramatics night classes at the local village hall in preparation.

You could imagine a gaggle of handsomely paid advisers on the side of the stage wincing as Vennells broke down repeatedly in an apparent display of true remorse at her part in one of the worst miscarriages of justice in modern history.

Oh god, not again Paula. No ones going to fall for this. We agreed once would be enough, is how a seasoned public relations guru would probably have reacted to this uncomfortable spectacle.

The overwhelming conclusion after watching Vennells wholly unconvincing performance is that these were carefully crafted crocodile tears straight out of acting school. Quite well-rehearsed a PR apology, was how former sub-postmaster Mark Kelly dismissed Vennells attempts at atonement.

Theres an argument that there is nothing Vennells could have said to satisfy some of those that were wrongly convicted. The sense of injustice and anger that many rightly still feel at what happened, particularly given the inescapable impression of an establishment cover-up must feel overwhelming at times.

But at the very least she needed to come across as authentic. Instead, this was someone who seemed content to apologise as long as she didnt incriminate herself. Its a tactic we see time and again these days from public figures: hollow apologies for what happened or if people are upset, offended and angry, but not for their part in it. This is what happens when lawyers and communications specialists become too involved in important inquiries.

But the second day of Vennells evidence revealed an organisation that has long been obsessed with managing its public image and risk avoidance, to the extent that it came at the expense of doing what was right for the accused postmasters.

A trusted lieutenant from the Post Office PR department advised her not to review historical cases involving Horizon cases because it would be front page news. There was also a meeting she claims not to have known about where lawyers dismissed the possibility of commissioning an independent report on the basis that it would be the highest risk.

Her case has hardly been helped by the concerns of former Royal Mail boss Dame Moya Greene, revealed in a series of damning texts to the inquiry in which Dame Moya suggests there was some conspiracy as Vennells put it to the inquiry.

I dont know what to say. I think you knew, Dame Moya said. Vennells replies that isnt the case, yet to lose the backing of someone who worked alongside her for years at the most senior level is a serious blow.

Even if this was genuine sorrow on display from Vennells, then there are two points to make. Firstly, her tears have come far too late to be in any way meaningful or to even get close to undoing the suffering that hundreds of former Post Office workers experienced.

As Kelly, a sub-postmaster in Swansea from 2003 to 2006, asked: All these years she could have made an apology like that. Why did she have to wait until today?

Perhaps Suzanne Sercombe, partner of campaigning national hero Alan Bates, sums it up best: Its meaningless because she did not do anything in years gone past when she should have done something. Its like, Sorry I got found out.

The second is that if her tears were genuine then it seems more likely that they were for herself, not the many victims of this nightmarish wrongdoing, many of whom sadly did not live to see the truth come to light.

Britains national institutions are rightly admired around the world but this, and the infected blood scandal, are an indelible stain that no amount of belated, half-hearted apologies can ever put right.

It all points to a deeper and more troubling issue at the heart of the British state and how it is run. Too often people like Vennells, who build careers in public service over decades, become totally unaccountable. This enables genuine travesties of justice such as these to first go uncovered, and then take a lifetime to be properly investigated.

Part of the problem is that those tasked with scrutinising the system are public servants too. Its a culture where everyone is deemed to be acting with the best intentions so it is assumed mistakes were made in good faith by people who are essentially honest and decent.

This is how cover-ups happen. Too many people  including those with the power to step in  convince themselves that it would be unfair to punish someone who got it wrong but did so with everyones best interests at heart.

They dont think of themselves as having messed up. They believe they were doing the right thing in difficult circumstances. In the Post Offices case, the priority was protecting the interests of the company at the cost of accountability.

These grave errors occur because there is no proper external or independent oversight, which is why there is a lot to learn from the private sector. Its not that mistakes arent made, or that cover-ups dont happen  they do. But they tend to be quickly unearthed. Mistakes show up in the share price and investors are quick to punish if things go badly wrong.

Until these fundamental shortcomings in the public sector are addressed, scandals will keep occurring.
Rishi Sunak is interviewed for Talk TV by Piers Morgan in 10 Downing Street - Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street

Downing Street has refused to honour Rishi Sunaks 1,000 bet with Piers Morgan over Rwanda flights, pointing out that one asylum seeker has gone there voluntarily.

The Prime Minister shook hands on the wager during a television interview with the journalist. Morgan asked him: I bet you 1,000 to a refugee charity that you wont get anybody on those planes before the election.

But on Thursday, Mr Sunak admitted that no asylum seekers would be sent to Rwanda before the election under the Governments deportation scheme.

It had been thought ministers would try to get the first flight away before polling day  but on Thursday he said they would go if Im re-elected on July 4.

It prompted Morgan, the former editor of the Daily Mirror, to tweet: Dear Prime Minister, following your admission today that no flights will take off to Rwanda before the election, please send 1,000 to British Red Cross. Kind regards, Piers.

But No 10 pointed out that one person had actually been flown to Rwanda, under a voluntary scheme.

Rishi Sunak and Piers Morgan shake hands on the 1,000 bet - TalkTV

Failed asylum seekers are offered 3,000 to move to the East African country under a voluntary scheme to clear the backlog.

A Downing Street source said: The choice is flights off with us, flights grounded and an amnesty for illegal migrants under Labour.

But the important thing is what people vote for in this election. If they want an amnesty to let illegal migrants in, thats what Labour are offering, but if they want to stop the boats they should vote Conservative.

Asked whether Mr Sunak would be demanding 1,000 from Mr Morgan, the source said: Were going to get the flights going. This is a serious issue about the security of our country.

Labour to scrap Rwanda plan

Labour has pledged to scrap the plan if it wins power, raising questions over whether anyone will ever be sent.

The scheme, which has already cost around 310million, will be a key dividing line between the two main parties over the six-week election campaign.

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, added: He doesnt believe this plan will work, and thats why he called the election now in the desperate hope that he wont be found out.

The bet was made during a Talk TV interview with Mr Morgan in February.

Mr Sunak appeared to accept the bet by shaking hands with the broadcaster, telling him: I want to get the people on the planes. I am working incredibly hard to get people on the planes.

Mr Morgan replied: I do not think its going to work for you. Thats my grim prediction.
Jamie Lloyd's adaptation stars Francesca Amewudah-Rivers as Juliet and Tom Holland as Romeo - Marc Brenner

Romeo & Juliet has been given a 15+ age rating for its new star-studded production in the West End.

Tom Holland, the Spider-Man actor, and newcomer Francesca Amewudah-Rivers appear as the tragic leads in director Jamie Lloyds hotly anticipated play at the Duke of Yorks Theatre.

The stripped-back production sees all the violence in the tale of the star-crossed lovers being removed and merely implied.

The theatre, however, recommends that only those aged 15 and above come to see it, with audiences warned in an online content note: The production contains scenes that some audiences might find difficult to watch.

This places it in a higher age bracket than Baz Luhrmanns 1996 gun-toting film starring Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio, which featured several characters being shot but only earned a rating of 12A.

The new adaptation opened on May 13 - Marc Brenner

A 1968 film adaptation directed by Franco Zeffirelli and narrated by Laurence Olivier broke an established British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) precedent, according to the boards website, whereby Shakespeare films were rated U for Universal.

John Trevelyan, the then BBFC secretary, shared concerns over nudity in the love scene and the sight of corpses in another. It was ultimately placed in the A (Adult) category, which advised that some scenes were unsuitable for young children, before being reclassified PG (Parental Guidance) in 2002.

In Luhrmanns version, set in modern California, swords were swapped for firearms, and Mercutio and Tybalt are both shot dead.

The BBFC rated it 12A, saying it contains moderate violence of stabbings and shootings with some blood visible, though this is not dwelt upon.

By comparison, the new West End production is sparse, with no fight scenes taking place on stage and the audience instead being witness to the aftermath of suggested violence. There are no prop weapons and some bloodied costumes are the only signs that any violence has taken place.

The tragedy famously resolves in suicide, warnings of which have become commonplace both in the theatre and on television.

In the new version there is no balcony scene, among the most famous in the Shakespearean canon, with the young lovers simply conversing side by side, rather than Romeo calling up to Juliet.

Actors are also openly wearing microphones, breaking away from a Shakespearean tradition of projecting the lines to the back of the theatre, and instead talking in subtle whispers.

Juliets character in the play is 13 years old, with Romeo implied to be a few years older.

Before even being staged the new adaptation caused controversy, with the casting of black actor Amewudah-Rivers drawing criticism from online trolls. In response, hundreds of actors signed a letter in solidarity with her.

The casting of Francesca Amewudah-Rivers as Juliet drew criticism from online trolls - August Images

Holland has become an international star and lives in London with his partner, Zendaya, most recently known for her role in Challengers.

The new production is not the first to give Shakespeare a trigger warning, with the Globe Theatre in London regularly issuing cautionary notes for its productions.

The theatre recently gave Antony and Cleopatra a trigger warning for misogynoir after updating the play with a diverse cast as it announced its summer season.

Notes were also given for Richard III, The Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew, alerting audiences to potentially upsetting content including misogynistic themes, racism and offensive language, and violence and death.

Such warnings have become commonplace in the West End, and the show Backstairs Billy, about the late Queen Mother and relationships of her aide, alerted audiences that it contained language, attitudes and conventions from the 1970s.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo welcomes everyone to the new chamber on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Harris County Administration Building in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

The future is uncertain for a Harris County initiative that sends social workers  rather than law enforcement officers  to respond to non-violent 911 calls, after members of Commissioners Court clashed Wednesday over whether to continue making payments to the contractor running the program.

Following a lengthy and divisive debate, the court narrowly voted to withhold a $270,000 payment for work completed in February and March of this year because the vendor, DEMA Consulting & Management, is under investigation for allegedly double-billing clients. The decision means an abrupt halt to the Holistic Assistance Response Team, or HART, program.

Since launching in 2022, HART teams have diverted over 11,000 calls from law enforcement responses, instead dispatching mental health professionals and freeing up officers to focus on violent crimes.

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911 RESPONSE: More Harris County 911 calls to see mental health crisis team instead of police

Harris County Public Health Director Barbie Robinson told commissioners on Wednesday their vote could de facto end the program.

In this undated photo, two members of a Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) pose in front of a vehicle. Bailey Gallion

What weve heard from DEMA is if they do not receive the payment, they will no longer be able to continue operations and that theyve already been unable to pay staff for work theyve already completed, Robinson said.

Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who first piloted the program in his precinct, expressed concern in a statement after the vote.

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As our community grapples with overcrowding in our jails and as residents mental and physical health suffers in the face of disasters, we need HART more than ever, he wrote.

Controversial contractor

Earlier this month, Commissioners Court instructed the County Auditors Office to review the companys billing. They also voted to bring in independent, third-party auditors selected by the County Attorneys Office.

The county is taking a close look at DEMA after officials in Sonoma County, Calif., voted last month to sever ties with the company over questions about its billing practices. DEMA managed two county housing sites, according to the Press Democrat, a newspaper based in the area.

The Harris County Auditors Office hasnt fully completed its assessment of DEMA. However, First Assistant County Auditor Leslie Wilks Garcia told Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo during the Wednesday meeting that they had audited the $270,000 payment on the agenda, and she was comfortable with the county approving it.

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We determined that Public Health is stating that those procedures were done, and again weve checked them back to the contract thats current, Wilks Garcia said. And they are billed at the appropriate rates.

Wilks Garcia said that while the audit has confirmed that the company double-billed the county, that could indicate that some remote employees simply split their days between working for Sonoma County and Harris County, which would not be a violation of the contract with Harris County. The company is not required to maintain timesheet documentation for salaried employees, she added, making it more challenging to determine whether fraud has occurred.

Hidalgo and Ellis voted to move forward with the payment, while Commissioner Tom Ramsey opposed it and Commissioners Adrian Garcia and Lesley Briones abstained. The measure, which needed three votes in order to pass, failed.

Without the $270,000 payment, DEMA will be unable to pay its employees, including those who respond to the 911 calls, CEO Michelle Patino told the Chronicle.

DEMA has had to take out loans to support this program, Patino said.

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Patino said no fraud has ever been found in connection with the company, and it has run the HART program in Harris County successfully.

Despite their opposition to the payment, Briones, Garcia and Ramsey all affirmed their interest in working on a continuity plan to keep the program afloat.

Im deeply invested in the program, but Im also deeply invested in being a steward of taxpayer dollars Briones said, adding that she sees the disruption in the HART program as a pause, rather than an ending.

Garcia proposed that the Harris Center, a public mental health care provider, take over running it instead.

Tensions boil over

Aside from the potential impacts to the HART program, the debate also reignited some long-simmering divisions among members of the court.

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After Ramsey argued that even though there may not be issues on this payment, there may be issues on other payments that we dont know the answer to, Hidalgo told him his comments arent logical because the court was only approving the single payment.

My comments are extremely logical, Ramsey said indignantly, reiterating that other payments to DEMA may have been inappropriate.

The DEMA controversy comes on the heels of Hidalgos recent proposal to change how the county awards millions of dollars in contracts to companies building infrastructure like roads and parks.

County auditors recently found there were no conflict of interest certifications on file for employees involved in selecting vendors and no written policies requiring staff to document their conflicts.

Hidalgos proposal has put her at odds with the four commissioners on court, none of whom have supported her plan to give up their control of those decisions and move the process to the countys independent purchasing department.

Im not trying to point the finger with what Im going to present, Hidalgo said last month at a news conference. But I am trying to say if you dont change this, and change it promptly, then you are part of the problem.

Hidalgo alluded on Wednesday to that proposal, seemingly calling her colleagues hypocritical.

All these really smart people are okay with having no conflict of interest form, no selection committee for millions and millions of dollars. And they knew about it because they were doing it. And they dont want to change it even though the auditor recommends it, Hidalgo said. But now its $270,000, and suddenly we need evidence and witnesses and 'I pay attention to everything.'

Members of the court did not directly respond to her comment. However, at a recent meeting, Commissioners Court did vote to accept the auditors recommendations about improving documentation.
Lt Gen Shamarin is the fourth high-ranking official arrested in recent weeks - AP

Russia has arrested its deputy head of army staff, in a move that exposes Vladimir Putins deepening shake-up of the military.

Lieutenant General Vadim Shamarin was detained on suspicion of large-scale bribe-taking, state media reported on Thursday, the fourth high-ranking defence official accused of corruption in recent times.

The arrest is part of a major effort to stamp out corruption surrounding the awarding of lucrative state contracts within the military, according to the state-run Tass news agency.

A military court official told Tass that Lt Gen Shamarin had been accused of accepting bribes at an especially large scale while a law enforcement source cited by the Kommersant daily newspaper said he was accused of unspecified machinations.

John Foreman, the former British defence attache in Moscow, said: Until now, field generals got sacked when Moscow chateau generals didnt. Now, the purge that has happened in the frontline army has started to creep into Moscow.

The clean-up started with the arrest of Timur Ivanov, the deputy defence minister, who was placed in pre-trial detention for suspected bribe-taking.

Putin has embarked on deep shake-up of his military - Yury Kochetkov/AP

Since then, Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznetsov, head of personnel at the defence ministry, and Major General Ivan Popov, former commander of Russias 58th army, have also been arrested.

It is alleged many of them received kick-backs on contracts handed out for the modernisation of the Russian military over the previous decade.

The purge also included the high-profile removal of Sergei Shoigu, the long-serving defence minister, who was replaced by Andrei Belousov, a civilian economist with no military experience.

The arrest came as Russian troops made some of their most significant gains in Ukraine for 18 months and launched a major new assault on the north-eastern Kharkiv region.

However, the Kremlin has denied speculation about a sweeping clean-up operation in the military.

The fight against corruption is an ongoing effort. It is not a campaign. It is an integral part of the activities of law enforcement agencies, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

No option but to clamp down

Mr Foreman said the Kremlin had been left with no option but to clamp down on the increasing corruption within the armed forces. He said: Corruption was getting in the way of the war, it got to such levels of corruption and nepotism that something had to be done.

Putin is all-in to win this. Anything that gets in the way of him winning the war will be dealt with.

The Kremlins purge, Mr Foreman believes, could one day be extended to Valery Gerasimov, the head of the Russian armys general staff, and other officials loyal to the general.

He said there was already evidence that Gerasimov, who also commands the Russian invasion of Ukraine, could be sidelined when he mysteriously disappeared for seven weeks.

He vanished with other top Russian generals, including Admiral Viktor Sokolov, former commander of the Black Sea Fleet, sparking reports they had been killed or injured in Ukrainian strikes.
Ukraine's 93rd Mechanised Brigade fire a heavy mortar at Russian forces on the front line near the city of Bakhmut - Iryna Rybakova via AP

Russia claims to have recaptured the village of Andriivka in the eastern Donetsk region, where Kyivs forces are suffering manpower and ammunition shortages and struggling to repel attacks.

Andriivka is one of the few villages Ukraine wrested back in its lacklustre counteroffensive last summer. When it was liberated by Kyivs forces in September, local media described it as unrecognisable with the damage so severe that soldiers did not know where to plant the Ukrainian flag.

Moscows claim could not be immediately verified.

Russian forces were also advancing near Chasiv Yar and in Klishchiivka and Krasnohorivka in Donetsk, according to crowd-sourced monitoring service DeepState.

Smoke billows from a fire at a printing house hit by Russian shelling in Kharkiv - Global Images Ukraine/Global Images Ukraine

Kyrylo Sazonov, a Ukrainian soldier of the 41st Separate Mechanised Brigade told RFERL on Thursday that Russian troops were trying to advance near Chasiv Yar, but they have not yet entered the town.

Ukrainian forces are also reported to have withdrawn from Krynky, a small bridgehead on the Russian-held side of the Dnipro river. The unit, according to Telegram groups, has entrenched in a safer position on the left bank. One military blogger said that Moscows forces had suffered many casualties as Kyiv withdrew after launching cluster bombs.

Earlier, it was reported US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is backing a plan to allow US missiles donated to Ukraine to be fired into Russia.

An air defence unit from the 93rd Mechanised Brigade near Bakhmut - Oleksandr Ratushniak/REUTERS

He is pushing for strict White House rules to be relaxed in the wake of a new invasion from the northern border, the New York Times reported.

Joe Biden has argued that US weapons used inside Russia would be seen as a major escalation in Moscow, while Britain has relaxed its rules in recent weeks.

But the US has come under pressure to adapt its policy, particularly after Russian troops and military equipment gathered openly on the border before launching its latest attack north of Kharkiv on May 10.

Volodymyr Zelensky has been arguing for weeks that the US must change its rules to save Ukraine from another major assault on Kyiv.

03:30 PM BST

Todays live blog is now closed

Thats all for today, thanks for following along. Here is a summary of the most significant events of the day:

The US Secretary of State is reportedly backing a plan to allow US missiles donated to Ukraine to be fired into Russia. Antony Blinken is pushing for strict White House rules to be relaxed following a visit to Kyiv last week in the wake of a new invasion from the northern border, the New York Times reported.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, issued another plea last night for upgraded defence systems to help Kyiv defend against guided bombs, which he said is now the main instrument being used in attacks. Speaking in his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine had made progress in developing electronic weaponry, but in countering Russian bombs much remains to be done.

Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen leader, met with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, on Thursday and offered thousands more fighters to support Moscows forces in fighting Ukraine.

Mr Zelensky is reportedly planning on attending next months D-Day commemoration in France and the G7 meeting in Italy, to call on Nato to start downing Russian missiles over Ukraine.

The Kremlin has said it will retaliate against Norways decision to further restrict entry to Russian tourists, effectively banning all of them, describing it as discriminatory.

Russia has detained the deputy head of the armys general staff, Lieutenant-General Vadim Shamarin, on suspicion of large-scale bribe-taking, local media reported today. It is the fourth arrest of a high-ranking defence figure in the space of a month, starting on April 23 when Timur Ivanov, the deputy defence minister, was placed in pre-trial detention for suspected bribe-taking.

High precision missiles on Sunday sank a Russian naval ship in a long-range attack on the Crimean port of Sevastopol, British military intelligence believes. The ministry of Defence on Thursday said that it was highly likely a combination of one-way attack drones and Atacms that destroyed the Karakurt class missile corvette Tsiklon.

A Russian attack on a residential area in Kharkiv has killed at least seven and injured 11, local officials said. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, described the attacks as brutal and said Russia was taking advantage of Ukraines lack of air defence systems to launch fatal attacks on towns and cities at his countrys frontier.

Maria Zakharova, Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman, has said Moscow will retaliate with strikes on British targets if British weapons are used by Ukraine to strike Russian territory. British targets on Ukraines territory and beyond its borders could be hit in such a scenario, she told reporters today.

The most intensive battles in Ukraine are now taking place in the east, where Russian forces are pressing on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove fronts in Donetsk region and Kupiansk in the east of the Kharkiv region, Ukraines top commander said on Thursday. Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Facebook that Moscows troops were also locked in street fighting in the town of Vovchansk and on the defensive near Lyptsi, two key battlegrounds in Kharkiv regions north where Russia has opened a new front this month.

03:05 PM BST

Pictured: Families of prisoners of war hold rally in Kyiv

A woman holds a placard reading 'My love, I wait for you!' as relatives and friends of Ukrainian marines held prisoners by Russia hold a rally at Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, 23 May 2024 - SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Relatives and friends of Ukrainian marines held prisoners by Russia hold a rally at Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, 23 May 2024 - SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

02:46 PM BST

Russia says main power line to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant goes down, no safety threats

Russia said on Thursday that the main power line supplying the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine had gone down, but that there was no threat to safety and the plant was being supplied via a backup line.

The six reactors at the Zaporizhzhia plant, held by Russia and located close to the front line of the conflict in Ukraine, are not in operation but it relies on external power to keep its nuclear material cool and prevent a catastrophic accident.

The Russian management said on their official channel on the Telegram app that the reasons for the outage, which had not caused any change in the radiation level, were being investigated.

It said the main 750 kilovolt (kV) Dniprovska power line went down at 13.31 local (1031 GMT), while the 330 kV Ferosplavnaya line was supplying power to the plant now.

The main Dniprovska power line also went down for almost five hours on March 22, highlighting what the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said were ever present dangers to nuclear safety and security from the Russia-Ukraine war.

01:53 PM BST

Ukraines foreign minister blasts heinous Kharkiv attack, pleas for seven Patriot systems

Russia struck Kharkiv and Lyubotyn with multiple missiles, leading to casualties and destruction.



This heinous attack must remind everyone around the world that Ukraine still urgently needs seven "Patriot" systems. We are very grateful to Germany for announcing one additional pic.twitter.com/wtJES3l370  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) May 23, 2024

01:48 PM BST

Putin decree outlines Russian response to any US seizure of frozen assets

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, signed a decree today preparing a response to any US seizure of frozen Russian assets.

It will identify US property, including securities, that could be used as compensation for losses sustained as a result of any seizures.

G7 negotiators have been discussing for weeks how to best exploit some $300 billion worth of frozen Russian financial assets. Today Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, urged G7 ministers to work on more ambitious options to use the assets.

While Russias ability to retaliate like-for-like has been damaged by lacking foreign investments, economists have suggested that Moscow could go after private investors cash instead.

01:37 PM BST

Pictured: Ukraine marks Day of Heroes

A woman visits the Memory Wall of Fallen Defenders of Ukraine as Ukrainians mark Day of Heroes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 23, 2024. - REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

01:30 PM BST

Ukrainian army chief reports most fierce fighting in east

The most intensive battles in Ukraine are now taking place in the east, where Russian forces are pressing on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove fronts in Donetsk region and Kupiansk in the east of the Kharkiv region, Ukraines top commander said on Thursday.

Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Facebook that Moscows troops were also locked in street fighting in the town of Vovchansk and on the defensive near Lyptsi, two key battlegrounds in Kharkiv regions north where Russia has opened a new front this month.

01:01 PM BST

Telegraph X space live: Is Biden about to allow US weapons to hit Russia?

12:55 PM BST

Artillery attack in Zaporizhzhia kills elderly man, governor says

A Russian artillery attack in Zaporizhzhia killed a 74-year-old man, according to the regional governor.

The Russians attacked Mala Tokmachka with artillery. They killed an elderly man who was in his yard, Ivan Fedorov, the regions governor said today.

The house and nearby structures were destroyed by the blast wave and debris.

12:44 PM BST

Kyiv Independent reporter says five explosions hit Kharkiv city centre earlier

Kharkiv under attack, five big explosions near the city center. Under my window, humanitarian aid is being given out, the people don't react at first, just hold their children close. But after the third and fourth explosion, they start going underground.  Francis Farrell (@francisjfarrell) May 23, 2024

12:21 PM BST

Moscow repeats warning it will strike British targets if UK weapons used to hit Russia

Maria Zakharova, Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman, has said Moscow will retaliate with strikes on British targets if British weapons are used by Ukraine to strike Russian territory.

British targets on Ukraines territory and beyond its borders could be hit in such a scenario, she told reporters today.

Moscow has already made the same warning earlier this month after David Cameron, the foreign secretary, said Ukraine had a right to use weapons provided by London to hit targets inside Russia.

Russia reacted with outrage and named it as one of the reasons why it has opted to hold exercises this month to simulate the launch of tactical nuclear missiles.

12:08 PM BST

Attack that hit Kharkivs purely civilian printwork kills six

The death toll from todays Russian attack on Kharkiv has risen to six, local authorities said.

At least 11 other people were injured.

The attack damaged transport and municipal infrastructure and destroyed a printing house, causing a fire, the mayor of Kharkiv and the regions governor said.

Smoke poured from one of the printwork buildings and the smell of burning wood filled the air as rescuers hauled bodies in plastic bags out of the building, a Reuters correspondent on the scene reported.

This is a purely civilian site, it is a printworks that prints books, regional police chief Volodymyr Tymoshko told reporters at the scene. Tymoshko said two missiles had hit the printworks premises, with one landing nearby.

Oleksandr Filchakov, head of the Kharkiv region prosecutors office, said about 50 people had been in the printworks when it was hit. Kharkiv is a hub of Ukraines publishing industry, which has kept working despite power outages and intensifying Russian strikes.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, described the attacks as brutal and said Russia was taking advantage of Ukraines lack of air defence systems to launch fatal attacks on towns and cities at his countrys frontier.

This handout photograph posted on the Telegram account of Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba on May 23, 2024, shows law enforcement officers working at the site of a missile attack in Kharkiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. - Handout / Telegram / @oleksiykuleba / AFP

Medical staff carrying an injured person on a stretcher following a missile attack in Kharkiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russian strikes on the eastern Ukraine city of Kharkiv killed at least five people, regional authorities said on May 23, 2024 - Handout / Telegram / @oleksiykuleba / AFP

11:52 AM BST

Russia appears to advance near Chasiv Yar, claims to have captured Andriivka

Russia said Thursday it had captured the village of Andriivka in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, where Kyivs forces are suffering manpower and ammunition shortages and struggling to hold off Russian attacks.

Units of the Southern grouping of troops liberated the settlement of Andriivka in the Donetsk Peoples Republic, the defence ministry said in a statement.

The Telegraph could not immediately verify the claim.

According to the crowd-sourced DeepState monitoring service, Russian forces have advanced near Chasiv Yar and in Klishchiivka and Krasnohorivka in Donetsk.

Kyrylo Sazonov, a soldier of the 41st Separate Mechanised Brigade deployed in the area, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty today that Russian troops are trying to advance near Chasiv Yar, but they have not entered the town.

Russian soldiers have tactical advances, which means that once they capture a position, they can be knocked out of it at any minute, Sazonov is quoted as saying in the Kyiv Independent.

These advances of 50 metres forward, 50 metres back mean nothing. We also enter their territory, and they enter ours, he said.

It is really important for us that they (Russia) do not enter the town. They have already said several times that they are in Chasiv Yar, that it is surrounded. We are preventing them from entering the town. In the town, their numerical superiority will be much more noticeable than it is now.

11:39 AM BST

Ukraine almost certainly sank Russian ship Tsiklon using ATACMS, UK says

High precision missiles sank a Russian naval ship in a long-range attack on the Crimean port of Sevastopol, British military intelligence believes.

The ministry of Defence on Thursday said that it was highly likely a combination of one-way attack drones and Atacms that destroyed the Karakurt class missile corvette Tsiklon.

Atacms are US-supplied missile systems were finally sent by the US to Ukraine secretly this year, after months of Kyiv pleading with Washington officials.

The Tsiklon ship was sunk on Sunday. The Ukrainian Navy reported on the same day as the attack that its defence forces had destroyed the 266-M Kovrovets, a Russian Black Sea Fleet minesweeper.

Although this is unlikely to significantly change the impact the Russian Navy is having on Ukrainian operations, it does highlight a continued danger to Russian forces operating in the Crimea and Black Sea region and continued Ukrainian success when conducting coordinated strikes, the MoD said.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine  23 May 2024.



Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/oRBdFqsbN5 #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/NGyOeN7zQ2  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) May 23, 2024

11:36 AM BST

US urges G7 to have more ambitious plans for frozen Russian assets

Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, today urged a G7 ministers meeting in Italy to work on more ambitious options to use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine.

We support the EUs decision to utilise the windfall profits from these assets, but we must also continue our collective work on more ambitious options, considering all relevant risks and acting together, she told a press conference ahead of a meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers and central bankers in Stresa.

11:10 AM BST

Romania sets conditions for sending Ukraine a Patriot system

As Romania continues to debate sending a Patriot system to Ukraine, its president has said that it must receive something in return.

Klaus Iohannis, the Romanian president, is quoted as saying in local media: Even if Romania finally makes some concessions, it must receive something in return. Otherwise, nothing will happen.

He reportedly stressed that this issue will not be discussed in public, but instead privately with military experts and the Supreme Council of National Defence, who must approve the issue.

The president has repeatedly stressed that sending the Patriot to Kyiv cannot affect the countrys air defences.

Although Romania only has one battery in operation, Mr Iohannis has previously said the discussions concerned another battery that is nearly operational.

10:48 AM BST

Russia detains fourth top defence figure for bribe-taking

Russia has detained the deputy head of the armys general staff, Lieutenant-General Vadim Shamarin, on suspicion of large-scale bribe-taking, local media reported today.

It is the fourth arrest of a high-ranking defence figure in the space of a month, starting on April 23 when Timur Ivanov, the deputy defence minister, was placed in pre-trial detention for suspected bribe-taking.

Since then, Lieutenant-General Yuri Kuznetsov, head of personnel at the defence ministry, and Major-General Ivan Popov, former commander of Russias 58th army, have also been arrested.

The scandal is the biggest to hit the Russian government in years.

This photo released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, shows Lt. Gen. Vadim Shamarin, deputy chief of the Russian military general staff, posing for an official photo in Moscow, Russia, on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. - Russian Defense Ministry Press Service photo via AP

10:41 AM BST

Moscow will retaliate against Norwegian decision to ban Russian tourists, Kremlin says

The Kremlin has said it will retaliate against Norways decision to further restrict entry to Russian tourists, effectively banning all of them, describing it as discriminatory.

Emilie Enger Mehl, Norways justice minister, said in a statement this morning: The decision to tighten the entry rules is in line with the Norwegian approach of standing by allies and partners in reaction to Russias illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

Russian citizens whose purpose is tourism and other non-essential travel will be rejected upon entry across the external border. Exceptions may be granted in cases such as visits to close family residing in Norway, the ministry said.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, told a news briefing: Of course, such decisions cannot go unanswered. Of course, the decision is purely discriminatory.

We do not accept such decisions. We regret that the Norwegian leadership has chosen this way of worsening our bilateral relations, which have already been of poor quality recently, and not on our initiative.

10:26 AM BST

Death toll from strikes in Kharkiv today rises to four

The death toll in Russian missile strikes on Ukraines northeastern city of Kharkiv rose to four, with two more people missing, the regional governor said.

Russian troops conducted at least 15 strikes on the city on Thursday morning, he added on Telegram.

10:17 AM BST

Zelensky to ask Nato to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, like the US and UK did for Israel

Volodmyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, is reportedly planning on attending next months D-Day commemoration in France and the G7 meeting in Italy, to call on Nato to start downing Russian missiles over Ukraine.

The trips are being scheduled after Mr Zelensky cancelled his foreign travel plans following Russias offensive in Kharkiv.

The two people familiar with the planning, who briefed Politico, said that the presidents plans could still change.

Mr Zelensky, the sources reportedly said, will also use the trips to push for more military support from the West and demand that US and European countries seize Russian assets to help fund Ukraines fight.

10:01 AM BST

Pictured: the aftermath of an attack in residential Kharkiv

The aftermath of a hover bomb attack on the residential district of Oleksyvka, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine - 22 May 2024 - Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/Shutterstock

09:50 AM BST

Ukraine strikes Russia and occupied east, killing two, authorities say

Ukraine launched a drone at a village in Russias Belgorod border region and shelled the occupied city of Gorlivka in its east on Thursday, killing two people, local authorities claimed.

The Kremlin often accuses Kyiv of indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Ukraine denies this, arguing it only bombs military targets responsible for deadly strikes on its own civilians.

An aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into a house in the village of Krasny Vostok in the Belgorod region, destroying the buildings first floor, local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

To our great grief, there was a victim - the body of a woman was found under the rubble, he said.

Separately, Ukraine shelled the Russian-held city of Gorlivka in the eastern Donetsk region, killing a civilian in a car, the citys Russian-installed administration claimed.

09:32 AM BST

One killed, six wounded in strikes on Ukraines Kharkiv, mayor says

A Russian attack on Ukraines northeastern city of Kharkiv damaged civilian infrastructure and injured at least five people, the regional governor said on Thursday.

Governor Oleh Syniehubov said Russian forces struck Kharkiv around 10 times. The attack also targeted the town of Zolochiv in the Kharkiv region, injuring at least two people.

Igor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv, later said: Another strike hit a private enterprise. According to preliminary information, there is one dead, six wounded, and the whereabouts of three more cannot be established due to a large fire.

09:20 AM BST

Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko on Kharkiv: We fight and we pray

#Kharkiv in the aftermath of #russia attack yesterday. 10 civilians wounded. Massive fire. And more alerts that shooting will continue today all along the border with . We fight and we pray  for patriots to arrive soon pic.twitter.com/ILEcekRyYO  Lesia Vasylenko (@lesiavasylenko) May 23, 2024

09:18 AM BST

Russia claims to have shot down 35 rockets; blasts in Belgorod and Kherson

The Russian defence ministry claims it shot down three Olkha and 32 Vampire rockets, as well as three drones, in the southern region of Belgorod.

A series of blasts could be heard in Belgorod this morning following a missile attack warning, the RIA news agency reported.

Battlefield reports from other side cannot be independently verified.

In the Ukrainian city of Kherson this morning, the regional governor said that Moscows forces were shelling.

Explosions can be heard in the areas adjacent to the (Dnipro) river, governor Roman Mrochko said.

09:06 AM BST

Sumy faced Russian attacks across 10 areas yesterday

Russia carried out attacks in 10 areas of the Sumy border region yesterday, local authorities said.

Moscows forces used artillery, drones and mortar shelling against the communities of Mykolaivka, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Esman, Shalyhyne, Putyvl, Znob-Novhorodske, Hlukhiv and Seredyna-Buda, the regional administration said.

No casualties were reported.

The town of Velyka Pysarivka, which is quickly trying to evacuate, recorded 71 explosions.

An attack the day before on energy facilities saw more than 500,000 consumers lose power.

08:55 AM BST

US house speaker also appears to back use of US weapons on Russia

Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, appeared to back a relaxation on the Biden administrations stiff ban on the use of American weapons being used to strike Russia.

Responding to a question last night from Voice of America, Mr Johnson said the US should allow Ukraine to prosecute the war in the way they see fit.

[Ukraine needs] to be able to fight back. And I think us trying to micromanage the effort there is not a good policy for us, he added.

The New York Times reported last night that Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, is pushing inside the White House for a relaxation of the ban. The plan is in its formative phase and it is not clear how many of Bidens inner circle are on board, the Times reported.

08:42 AM BST

The latest photos from Kharkiv as Russias assault rages on

Local resident reacts at a site of a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 22, 2024. - REUTERS/Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy

08:30 AM BST

US contradicts Shapps claim that China and Russia are working together on war in Ukraine

The US has questioned a claim by the UK that Russia and China are working together on combat equipment to be used in Ukraine.

Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, said on Wednesday that the two countries were collaborating on lethal aid for Moscow to use in its war against Kyiv.

He told a defence conference in London: An axis of authoritarian states led by Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have escalated and fuelled conflicts and tensions.

They have increasingly been working together, he said. And today I can reveal that we have evidence that Russia and China are collaborating on combat equipment for use in Ukraine.

However, the claim was quickly disputed by Jake Sullivan, Joe Bidens national security adviser.

Asked about Mr Shapps speech at the daily White House press briefing, Mr Sullivan replied: We have not seen that to date. I look forward to speaking with the UK to make sure that we have a common operating picture.

Read more here.

08:13 AM BST

Chechen leader offers Moscow thousands more troops

Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen leader, met with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, on Thursday and offered thousands more fighters to support Moscows forces in fighting Ukraine.

Tens of thousands of well trained and equipped fighters from the reserves are prepared to fight for Russia if given the order, Kadyrov said, posting a photo of himself and the Russian leader in the Kremlin.

A total of 43,500 troops had already served in Ukraine, including 18,000 volunteers, he said.

I also transmitted the wishes of our people and invited our national leader to come visit the Chechen Republic, Kadyrov wrote.

08:00 AM BST

Zelensky makes further plea for defences against Russian guided bombs

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, issued another plea last night for upgraded defence systems to help Kyiv defend against guided bombs, which he said is now the main instrument being used in attacks.

Speaking in his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine had made progress in developing electronic weaponry, but in countering Russian bombs much remains to be done.

There can be no alternative. Ukraine needs systems and tactics that will allow us to protect our positions, our cities and our communities from these bombs, he said.

This is now practically the main instrument of Russian terror and in the occupiers advances.

07:48 AM BST

Good morning

Hello and welcome to The Telegraphs live blog on the war in Ukraine. Follow along as we bring you all of the latest developments.

First up this morning:

Blinken backs plan to allow US missiles to be fired into Russia

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, greets U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, prior to their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 14, 2024. - Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP

The US Secretary of State is reportedly backing a plan to allow US missiles donated to Ukraine to be fired into Russia.

Antony Blinken is pushing for strict White House rules to be relaxed following a visit to Kyiv last week in the wake of a new invasion from the northern border, the New York Times reported.

Joe Biden has argued that US weapons used inside Russia would be seen as a major escalation in Moscow. Britain has relaxed its rules in recent weeks.

But the US has come under pressure to adapt its policy, particularly after Russian troops and military equipment gathered openly on the border before launching its latest attack north of Kharkiv on May 10.

Volodymyr Zelensky has been arguing for weeks that the US must change its rules to save Ukraine from another major assault on Kyiv.

This is part of our defense, Mr. Zelensky told The New York Times. How can we protect ourselves from these attacks? This is the only way.

The State Department plan is reported to be in its formative phase and it is not clear how many of Bidens inner circle agree with it.
Rishi Sunak speaks with member of staff at Global Energy Group facility at the Port of Nigg during election campaigning on Thursday - Henry Nicholls/Pool AFP

Rishi Sunak has accused John Swinney of trying to distract voters from the SNPs education record by complaining that the general election coincides with the Scottish school holidays.

The First Minister said Mr Sunaks decision to pick July 4 was the Tories latest act of disrespect towards Scotland, as many families would be away on holiday at the time.

He claimed the decision demonstrated the Conservatives contempt for Scotland.

However, the Prime Minister said Mr Swinney was trying to distract voters from SNP failures on education and the fact that theyve let down Scottish schoolchildren.

Speaking on a visit to Scotland on the first day of the election campaign, he said Scottish schools had plummeted down international league tables while the SNP government had focused on independence instead.

The Prime Ministers intervention came after Mr Swinney launched the SNPs campaign in Edinburgh by insisting he could lead the SNP to victory in an independence day election.

Despite polls predicting the SNP will be routed at the ballot box, he said he had no doubt that his party could win in Scotland.

Mr Swinney previously claimed he would have a mandate to demand another independence referendum if the SNP won a majority of the 57 seats that will be contested following boundary changes.

Rishi Sunak held talks with Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, during his visit to the Port of Nigg - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Europe

Sir Keir Starmer is to travel north of the border on Friday to launch the Scottish Labour campaign.

A poll this week showed the SNP could have only 11 MPs left after the election, a dramatic reduction from the 48 seats it won in 2019.

Labour was predicted to surge from the one seat it won at the last election to 35, in a major boost for Sir Keir Starmers hopes of getting the keys to Number 10.

The Tories would hold their six Scottish seats despite the slump in their UK-wide vote, according to the poll.

Both Unionist parties have dismissed Mr Swinneys complaints about the timing, arguing turnout will not be affected in Scotland thanks to the warmer weather and the ability to apply for a postal vote.

Mr Sunak said: If John Swinney and the SNP want to talk about Scottish schools, what they should be focused on is the fact that theyve let down Scottish schoolchildren for years and years.

Scottish schools used to be the envy, not just of the United Kingdom, but the envy of the world, and under the SNPs leadership Scottish schools have plummeted down international league tables, letting down a generation of schoolchildren.

Thats what we should be focused on. But the SNP arent focused on that because theyre focused on independence and it just shows that theyve got absolutely the wrong priorities.

The SNP's Kate Forbes (left) and John Swinney in Holyrood on Thursday. Their party has complained about the timing of July's vote - Colin Fisher / Alamy Live News

The Prime Minister also mocked Stephen Flynn, the SNPs Westminster leader, for calling for an election this week only for the SNP to suddenly decide that they didnt think that was the right thing to do and focus on process and distract from their failures and the fact that theyve let down Scottish schoolchildren.

Scottish pupils scored record-low results in reading, maths and science in an authoritative international study published last year, falling further behind their counterparts in England.

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) found an 18-point decline in maths since the tests were last administered in 2018 - the equivalent of nearly an entire year of schooling.

Mr Sunak said the SNP was so obsessed with independence and constitutional change, that they take their eye off the ball on the day-to-day things that matter to people here in Scotland.

He added: Every time Im here, people are talking to me about the cost of living and while Im busy trying to cut taxes for working people in Scotland, the SNP have made Scotland the highest tax part of the UK, not just for high earners but for everyone earning just over 28,500, and it just shows that priorities are not in the right place.
Mike Lynch outside the high court in London in 2019. His lawyers say the case is a routine dispute that has spiralled into an overblown fraud case. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters

The British entrepreneur Mike Lynch is expected to take the stand in a San Francisco federal courthouse on Thursday as a key witness in his own criminal fraud trial, which began in March.

US authorities have charged the former software tycoon with 16 counts of wire fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy relating to his companys acquisition deal with Hewlett-Packard in 2011. If convicted, Lynch faces up to 25 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty.

Related: What have we learned from week one of Mike Lynchs US fraud trial?

At the end of court proceedings on Wednesday, however, Lynchs legal team suggested it may move for a mistrial over an alleged improper line of questioning during cross-examination by the prosecution. The team said it will decide whether to make a motion by Thursday morning when the court reconvenes. If granted, a mistrial could mean Lynch has to be retried at a later date.

Once hailed as Britains Bill Gates, Lynch sold his software firm Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in a deal prosecutors say was built on a series of lies. The executive is accused of artificially inflating the software firms sales; misleading auditors, analysts and regulators; and intimidating people who raised concerns.

Just a year after the $11.1bn (8.72bn) deal, from which Lynch received 500m, Hewlett-Packard reported serious accounting improprieties, disclosure failures and outright misrepresentations and wrote down the value of the acquisition by $8.8bn.

In his testimony on Thursday, Lynch is anticipated to continue the line of defense put forward thus far by his legal team, which attributes some financial discrepancies at the heart of the alleged fraud to differences between US and UK accounting standards and suggest he was not the driving force behind the decisions in question.

Reid Weingarten, Lynchs attorney, has argued that the case amounts to a routine business dispute which spiraled into an overblown fraud case. While the prosecutors argument is black and white, Weingarten told the court, the reality is more nuanced.

Youre going to see in this trial [that] that aint the way the world works, he said. The world works in grey. The world is complicated.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, have painted Lynch as a domineering boss, and a driving force behind a massive years-long fraud.

Autonomys financial statements were materially false and misleading, assistant US attorney Adam Reeves said, claiming the company lied to auditors and investors again and again over 10 quarters, and fraudulently inflated its revenue between 2009 and 2011 to suggest growth.

Lynch was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2019 and extradited from the UK to the United States last May. After posting a $100m bond, he was released to house arrest at a property in San Francisco where he has spent the last year preparing for the trial.
Ukraine is facing a manpower crisis, just as Russia intensifies its attacks - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu

Ukraine has started releasing prisoners to serve in its army, as part of a scheme to replenish its battle-stricken forces.

A court in the western city of Khmelnytsky said it had freed on parole two men  one born in 2000 and the other in 1981, both convicted of theft  to join the countrys national guard.

The court granted their petitions and ordered the Khmelnytsky Detention Centre to release the men from their sentences on parole for contracted military service immediately, it said in a statement.

Each of the men is fit for military service on health grounds, has passed a professional and psychological selection, and has a sufficient level of physical fitness.

The Khmelnytsky City district court said it was considering 50 other submissions for early release for convicts wanting to serve in the armed forces.

The scheme was signed into law by Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, last week as his country grapples with a mounting manpower crisis.

With the war against Russia in its third year, Kyiv has struggled to find volunteers to replace injured and killed servicemen. Many of the most battle-hardened units have fought on the front lines for two years without a break.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, pictured with troops on May 16 - Best Image

Ukrainian officials believe the new measure could free up to 20,000 prisoners to be mobilised.

Russia has pardoned tens of thousands of convicts, including rapists and murderers, to help bolster its forces in Ukraine  a move for which Kyiv has largely mocked Moscow.

The new law will enable Kyiv to partially follow suit, with much stricter criteria than in Russia. Only Ukrainian prisoners with less than three years left of their sentence will be allowed to apply to be mobilised to special units in the armed forces.

Politicians insist that anyone convicted of murder, rape or other serious offences will be blocked from service, as will former high-ranking officials found guilty of corruption.

Courts to have final say on releases

Convicts with infectious disease including HIV, tuberculosis or hepatitis have been excluded from the mobilisation project and the courts will have the final say on whether prisoners are released.

Upon release, paroled soldiers will be placed under strict supervision and banned from any travel away from their military units without their commanders consent. This effectively means the men will remain mobilised until the end of the conflict.

Anyone caught evading their parole terms could be sentenced to an additional 10 years imprisonment on top of their remaining sentence.

Despite initial predictions of mass mobilisation, Kyiv said only 3,000 inmates had applied to join the military since the law was enacted.

The legislation comes alongside other efforts by the Ukrainian government to find new recruits. These include a law lowering the draft age from 27 to 25, more rigorous controls to catch draft dodgers and the suspension of consular services for military-aged men living overseas.
There have been 35 confirmed measles cases across Australia so far in 2024, more than in all of 2023. Photograph: Phanie/Sipa Press/Alamy

Australians are being urged to check they are fully immunised against measles after a number of outbreaks of the highly contagious virus.

Health authorities in New South Wales and Victoria alerted the public in May to three separate cases, all in travellers returning from overseas. There have been 35 confirmed measles cases across Australia so far in 2024, more than in all of 2023.

While public health workers have managed to contain these outbreaks to date, an immunisation expert with the University of Sydney, Prof Julie Leask, said the virus was so contagious that, without raised awareness of symptoms and immunisation, control may become harder.

Related: Replicas of weight loss drugs like Ozempic to be banned in Australian crackdown

At the moment its like a little spot fire and you can control it fairly quickly, she said. That ability to prevent local transmission is why we can say we maintain the elimination of measles in Australia.

Experts have warned the ability to contain the virus may become trickier if precautions are not taken.

Children can be vaccinated with their first dose at 12 months old, and require a second dose at 18 months to achieve full immunisation. Infants travelling overseas to places where measles is circulating can be vaccinated for free from six months of age, and need two more doses starting at 12 months of age.

According to the Australian Immunisation Register, 92.6% of two-year-olds are fully immunised against measles. But the University of Sydney infectious diseases epidemiologist Associate Prof Meru Sheel said 95% coverage was essential for such a contagious virus.

One case can lead to 18 to 20 new cases, so the minute you have a drop in immunisation coverage, it can find those pockets, she said.

Associate Prof Frank Beard, an associate director of the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, said the impact of the Covid pandemic on vaccine uptake in young children was relatively small in Australia compared with many other countries. Vaccination rates were especially poor in low- and middle-income countries including India, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines.

Prof Allen Cheng, the director of Monash Infectious Diseases in Melbourne, agreed: There are always sporadic cases of measles being acquired overseas, but post-pandemic the risk for travellers is higher because of falling measles vaccination rates in other countries.

Cheng said the other group of concern were those born between 1966 and 1992, when only one dose of measles vaccine was used routinely in Australia. It is recommended this group makes sure to get a second dose, Cheng said.

Unlike older adults, this group was also less likely to have been exposed to the wild-type measles virus  those infected from it would also have boosted immunity, Beard said.

There have been previous significant outbreaks of measles, including in NSW in 2012 when at least 168 cases occurred due to local transmission.

But Sheel said that in 2012 more two-year-olds (92.6%) had received all vaccinations recommended for their age, compared with 91.2% now. While measles has never been eradicated due to its infectiousness, Australia was declared measles-free in 2014 due to an absence of local transmission.

Associate Prof Morgyn Warner, a microbiologist at Pathology Awareness Australia, said if a person suspected they or their child had measles, it was essential for them to isolate and notify their GP immediately so they could order a test.

Symptoms typically include a distinctive red rash, which usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body, small white spots with a bluish-white centre inside the mouth, high fever, cough, runny nose and red watery eyes.

Measles is not a disease of the past, Warner said.
Nigel Farage has said he will focus on getting Donald Trump re-elected rather than stand as a Reform UK candidate in the July 4 General Election.

The arch Brexiteer said he will do my bit to help the party in the UK campaign but that it is not the right time to go any further than that.

There had been speculation that Reform UKs honorary president could return to frontline politics for the national vote for which Rishi Sunak on Wednesday set the summer date.

Ahead of the launch of Reform UKs campaign on Thursday, Mr Farage said in a statement posted on X: I have thought long and hard as to whether I should stand in the upcoming general election.

As honorary president of Reform UK, I am fully supportive of Richard Tices leadership and urge voters to put their trust in him and Lee Anderson.

I will do my bit to help in the campaign, but it is not the right time for me to go any further than that.

Important though the general election is, the contest in the United States of America on November 5 has huge global significance. A strong America as a close ally is vital for our peace and security. I intend to help with the grassroots campaign in the USA in any way that I can.

The choice between Labour and the Conservatives is uninspiring, and only Reform have the radical agenda that is needed to end decline in this country.

Mr Farage has a longstanding relationship with the former US president, having been the first UK politician to meet Mr Trump after his 2016 White House election victory.

Mr Farage, who is also a presenter on GB News, is cancelling his show on the channel to free up time for campaigning.

Reform UK leader Mr Tice, a multimillionaire former Tory donor, said on X: Delighted to have Nigels help during the election campaign.

If you want change, you must vote for @reformparty_uk on July 4th.

Reform UK is led by former Tory donor Richard Tice (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Mr Tice inherited the leadership of Reform UK, originally called the Brexit Party, from Mr Farage when he decided to step back from frontline politics in 2021 in the aftermath of Britains withdrawal from the EU.

The party is seeking to attract disillusioned Conservative voters, mainly over the issues of immigration and net zero.

Many Tories fear it could put a real dent in Mr Sunaks hopes of a return to Downing Street come polling day.

They are likely to be relieved ex-Ukip leader Mr Farage has decided against taking on a more prominent role, as this could have massively boosted Reforms prospects.

Tory former Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said: The fact that hes not a candidate for an opposition party is inevitably helpful for the Conservatives.

However, Mr Farages decision to quit his GB News programme  which he confirmed by retweeting a journalists post reporting the development  to spend more time campaigning suggests he will still cause a headache for Mr Sunaks party.

Mr Farage has unsuccessfully stood for Parliament several times, most recently in 2015.

In the 2019 election, he withdrew Brexit Party candidates in Conservative-held seats, a move that is thought to have contributed to Boris Johnsons victory.

Mr Anderson, the former Tory deputy chairman, is the only current Reform UK MP following his defection from the Conservatives.

At Reforms election launch event, former MEP Ben Habib appeared to have a coded dig at Mr Farages decision not to stand.

Mr Habib, who is standing in Wellingborough, said: For any political movement to succeed, it needs a leader who is prepared to absolutely stay the distance and make the fight.

He said Mr Tice has the moral courage not to vacate either when the going gets tough, or when it might suit him.

Asked if he was referencing Mr Farage, Mr Habib said: You interpret (my comment) as you see fit. In any walk of life, you have to stay the distance.
Nigel Farage may have stood  and failed  seven times to gain election as an MP, but he has nevertheless been one of the most influential British politicians of the post-war era.

Without his rambunctious enthusiasm and relentless campaigning over the course of more than two decades, few doubt the country would ever have had the referendum which resulted in the momentous vote to leave the EU.

Single-handedly, it seemed, he took a cause once seen as the preserve of the political fringes into the mainstream, changing the course of UK history in the process.

Nigel Farage arrives at Heathrow Airport, following his appearance on ITVs Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! (Jonathan Brady/PA)

With a pint in one hand and a cigarette in the other, his blokeish bonhomie connected with a section of the electorate who felt forgotten by more conventional politicians.

For others, however, he is a figure of hate, a saloon bar philosopher and little Englander whose views on immigration have seen him accused of being a borderline racist  or worse  a charge he has always fervently denied.

His decision not to stand in Julys General Election and instead focus on Donald Trumps second run at the White House in the US election in November will see Tory HQ breathe a sigh of relief.

Many Tories feared a Reform spearheaded by Farage would cost them votes  and seats  but his announcement suggested he will play his role from the sidelines, saying: I will do my bit to help in the campaign, but it is not the right time for me to go any further than that.

Other Conservatives see him as a potential saviour who could yet return to lead the party he left in 1992 over John Majors signing of the Maastricht Treaty which established the modern EU.

Never shy of controversy, Mr Farage took delight in fuelling such speculation with his attendance at last years Conservative Party conference in Manchester where he was filmed partying with former home secretary Priti Patel.

His appearance in the Australian jungle on ITVs Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! for which he was reputedly paid a cool 1.5 million, further raised his profile, introducing him to a new generation of younger voters.

At times prickly and temperamental  he has fallen out with nearly every major figure he has ever worked with  he was accused by one former ally of turning Ukip into a personality cult.

Nigel Farage celebrates the referendum vote to leave the EU (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

His much-publicised friendship with Mr Trump  who broke with protocol to urge Theresa May to make him British ambassador to the US  has been a further red rag to the liberal establishment he so loathes.

From his days as a schoolboy at fee-paying Dulwich College, Nigel Farage has always enjoyed undermining authority and tweaking the noses of the establishment.

His professed admiration for Enoch Powell, whose infamous Rivers of Blood speech was blamed for inflaming racial tensions in the 1960s and 1970s, dismayed some members of staff.

But when one teacher objected to his appointment as a prefect, her concerns were dismissed by the deputy head who said the teenager was well-known for provoking people especially left wing English teachers with no sense of humour.

The son of a stockbroker, on leaving school Mr Farage followed his father into the City, becoming a commodities trader.

He quickly felt at home in the boozy loadsamoney environment of the 1980s where he particularly enjoyed the long, alcohol-fuelled PFLs  proper f******* lunches.

Politics, however, was calling. Initially a Conservative, in the 1990s he broke away to become one of the founding members of the UK Independence Party (Ukip), then known as the Anti-Federalist League.

In 1994 he made the first of his repeated attempts to become an MP, finishing fourth in the Eastleigh by-election with fewer than 1,000 votes, narrowly beating Raving Monster Loony Party leader Screaming Lord Sutch into fifth place.

Nigel Farage poses for a photograph with a supporter (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Undeterred, in 1999 he was elected to the European Parliament as MEP for South East England, a position which was to provide him with a platform  as well as crucial funding  to propagate his anti-EU agenda for the next two decades.

Elected Ukip leader in 2006, his talent for political invective made him a thorn in the side of the Brussels establishment, famously denouncing the new European Council president Herman van Rompuy as having the charisma of a damp rag and the appearance of a low-grade bank clerk.

At home, comments about the UKs open door immigration policies, rail journeys across London where the passengers spoke only foreign languages or concerns about groups of Romanians moving in as neighbours proved more controversial, leading to accusations of racism which he always denied.

His political career was almost cut short on election day 2010 when the light aircraft he was travelling in became entangled with the Ukip banner it was towing, crashing into a field. Remarkably, he survived while suffering broken ribs and a punctured lung.

While Ukip failed to take any seats, the election nevertheless proved to be a turning point, with the party capitalising on the unpopularity of the austerity policies of the Tory-Lib Dem coalition to record a series of local council gains, culminating in the 2014 European elections where it topped the poll in the UK with the most seats and the biggest share of the popular vote.

Its successes were instrumental in forcing David Cameron, who had once dismissed Ukip as fruit cakes, loonies and closet racists, to bow to demands for an in-out referendum on Britains membership of the EU.

It represented a remarkable personal triumph for Mr Farage who, at times, had appeared to be almost a lone voice in calling for UK withdrawal.

In the 2016 referendum, however, Dominic Cummings, the mastermind of the official Vote Leave campaign, did his best to sideline him, believing he would deter the moderate swing voters it needed to win over.

Nigel Farage unveils Ukips controversial breaking point poster in the EU referendum campaign (Philip Toscano/PA)

He nevertheless managed to stir controversy with Ukips breaking point poster, picturing a long queue of a immigrants, leading to fresh allegations he was trying to exploit anti-immigrant sentiment.

In the aftermath of the Brexit vote, an apparently exhausted Mr Farage announced he was quitting (for a third time) as Ukip leader declaring: I want my life back.

But as the party descended into infighting, amid claims of a sharp turn to the right, he dramatically announced he was returning to the political front line with the formation of the new Brexit Party (since renamed Reform UK).

The new grouping quickly picked up support, performing strongly in the 2019 European elections, but Mr Farages decision not to stand candidates in Tory-held seats in the subsequent general election helped ensure a landslide for Boris Johnson.

In 2021, he announced he was yet again stepping back from frontline politics, taking up a well-paid job as a presenter on GB News, while carefully leaving to door open for a return, taking the title of Reform UKs honorary president.
Actor Noel Clarkes High Court libel claim against The Guardian newspapers publisher is set to go to trial early next year, the court has been told.

Mr Clarke is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over eight articles accusing him of sexual misconduct, including one from April 2021 which said 20 women who knew Mr Clarke in a professional capacity had come forward with the allegations.

The former Doctor Who actor is bringing a libel and data protection claim against the publisher, claiming in a statement at the time that he vehemently denied any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing.

He is seeking 10 million in special damages, with his barrister, Adam Speker KC, stating in written submissions for a preliminary hearing on Thursday that the trial could go ahead as early as January 2025.

Gavin Millar KC, for GNM, said in written submissions that the case is perhaps the most substantial piece of libel litigation to come before the court in recent years.

A further hearing will take place at a later date.

The court has previously heard that police decided no criminal investigation would be launched over the sexual offence allegations against Mr Clarke.

Scotland Yard said in a statement in March 2022 that there had been a thorough assessment by specialist detectives, but it was determined the information would not meet the threshold for a criminal investigation.

Mr Clarke may face the women who have accused him of sexual misconduct if they give oral evidence at trial, with barristers for GNM telling an earlier hearing that the publisher wished to rely on evidence of the womens mistreatment at the hands of the claimant to vindicate its journalism.

In a judgment last year, Mr Justice Johnson said that seven of the articles mean that there are strong grounds to believe that the claimant is guilty of various forms of sexual harassment with the eighth meaning grounds to investigate.

The judge also ruled all of the articles could be defamatory, which had not been disputed by GNM over seven of the pieces.
Police Scotland has sent a report to Scotlands prosecution service in relation to Peter Murrell after the former SNP chief executive was charged with embezzling party funds.

The force announced the move on Thursday, saying in a statement: Police Scotland has today submitted a standard prosecution report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in relation to a 59-year-old man who was charged on April 18 2024 in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the Scottish National Party.

Investigations continue and we are unable to comment further.

Murrell, 59, was charged by police in connection with the alleged embezzlement of funds on April 18.

Police Scotland has submitted a standard prosecution report to COPFS in relation to a 59-year-old man who was charged on 18 April, 2024, in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the Scottish National Party. https://t.co/wzfB403z1Z pic.twitter.com/QLt7lM8Bv4  Police Scotland (@PoliceScotland) May 23, 2024

This came more than a year after he was originally arrested as part of the investigation into SNP finances known as Operation Branchform, which was set up to look into how more than 600,000 of crowdfunding was used by the party.

His wife Nicola Sturgeon  the former first minister  and the partys then treasurer, Colin Beattie, were also arrested but both were released pending further investigation and have not been charged in connection.

With the report now sent to the Crown Office, it will be for prosecutors to decide what further action will be taken, based on the evidence found by police, including sending it to court.

A spokesperson for the COPFS confirmed the report had been received relating to incidents said to have occurred between 2016 and 2023.

The spokesperson said investigations into Ms Sturgeon and Mr Beattie remain ongoing.

They said: Professional prosecutors from COPFS and independent counsel will review this report. They will make decisions on the next steps without involving the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General, the spokesperson added.

All Scotlands prosecutors operate independently of political influence.

Before deciding what action to take, if any, in the public interest, prosecutors will consider if there is enough evidence.

There must be evidence from at least two separate sources to establish that a crime was committed and that the person under investigation was the perpetrator.

This evaluation will involve a thorough examination of the numerous witness statements and extensive evidence collected by police.

Prosecutors may instruct the police to conduct further investigations before taking a decision. 

A spokesperson for the SNP said: It would be inappropriate to comment while a police investigation continues.
(Photo : Unsplash/Janine Robinson)

On Wednesday, local Latino lawmakers urged President Joe Biden to extend work permits for undocumented immigrants who have been working and paying taxes in the United States for years, aligning their stance with business leaders who see immigration as beneficial to the economy and for the upcoming presidential election.

The latest advocacy effort, spearheaded by elected officials in pivotal swing states like Nevada and Arizona, recognizes the crucial importance of the Latino vote in these areas.

Local Groups Advocating for Long-Term Immigrants

During a press conference at Milwaukee's City Hall, legislators from Latino-majority states such as Arizona and Nevada, along with representatives from Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Utah, are primarily targeting two groups of immigrants as potential recipients of work permits: individuals enrolled in the DACA (Dreamers) program and those who have been employed in the country for an extended period, even without permits.

Furthermore, legislators like Angela Romero, a Democratic State Senator from Utah, have voiced concerns that immigrants, regardless of their authorization to work in the US, are being exploited by certain politicians to bolster anti-immigration rhetoric for electoral gain. Romero represents the Dreamers, those immigrants who were brought to the US as children and diligently pursued the American dream yet are still unable to work due to their immigration status.

Immigrant Workers Could Help The American Economy

Those who spoke on Wednesday emphasized how immigrant workers could address thousands of job vacancies nationwide in Milwaukee. Darryl Morin, president of Forward Latino, highlighted the immigrant community as the primary source of motivated and skilled individuals ready to enter the workforce and emphasized the importance of allowing immigrants who have been in the US for an extended period, possess a strong work ethic, are innovative, entrepreneurial, and can pass rigorous background checks, stating that these individuals are essential for maintaining and growing Wisconsin's economy and fostering prosperity for all.

READ ALSO: Advocates Supporting US Immigrants, Urges President Biden in Granting Work Permit for Long-Term Undocumented Individuals

Supporters argue that granting more permits to immigrants could boost annual tax revenue by $13.8 billion. Milwaukee Common Council President Jose Perez emphasized that for every 100 job vacancies, there are 54 individuals ready to contribute, advocating for their permanent inclusion in the workforce while building the economy at the same time.

Bargaining Latino Votes

During a presidential election year, Latino leaders believe that the Biden Administration's inaction on this issue could influence the Latino vote in November. Luis Velasquez of Voces de La Frontera Action expressed concern that a core promise would remain unfulfilled without this executive action, and it would be challenging to mobilize support for Biden in a state with a narrow margin of victory. Velasquez stressed that they cannot afford to have any regrets after Election Day and that they need to make sure that the executive action for mixed immigration status families, spouses, children, and essential workers by the Biden administration is a top-most priority.

RELATED ARTICLE: While American Workforce and Birth Rates Remain Low, Immigrant Workers Are Helping The U.S. Economy Thrive

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Rafael Nadals French Open swansong will begin with a blockbuster clash against Alexander Zverev.

Nadal is set to play at the tournament he has won on a record 14 occasions for the final time, and he has his work cut out if he is to make it beyond the opening round.

Zverev climbed to world number four on the back of winning the Italian Open in Rome at the weekend and heads into the years second grand slam as one of the favourites.

Nadal won the title on his last appearance on the Parisian clay in 2022 but has played only four tournaments in the last year and a half because of hip problems and was well beaten by Hubert Hurkacz in the second round in Rome.

Andy Murray is also set to make his final French Open appearance and incredibly will play Stan Wawrinka for a third time in a row at Roland Garros.

Wawrinka won an epic semi-final in 2017 that was the start of Murrays hip problems, and the Scots only match in Paris since was a one-sided loss to the veteran Swiss four years ago.

Murray returned from nearly two months out with an ankle injury last week but has won only one match on clay this season.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic will play French wild card Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

The road to the final for the top 2 seeds in the men's draw #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/xl7ADZdyHp  Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 23, 2024

World number one Djokovic, 37, who defeated Casper Ruud in straight sets in last years final, will be bidding for a record-breaking 25th grand slam title but has struggled for form this year.

Womens world number one Iga Swiatek will launch the defence of her title against a qualifier or lucky loser and could play four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka in the second round.

Mens world number two Jannik Sinner will play American Christopher Eubanks providing he has recovered sufficiently from a hip injury while two-time grand slam winner Carlos Alcaraz, who is also short on matches because of a forearm problem, faces a qualifier or lucky loser.

British number one Katie Boulter, seeded for the first time at a grand slam at number 26, faces a tough opener against former top-10 star Paula Badosa, while Harriet Dart has also been handed a difficult draw against 27th seed Linda Noskova.

British mens number one Cameron Norrie, seeded 32nd, faces Russias world number 57 Pavel Kotov, with the winner to play either Murray or Wawrinka.

Dan Evans has his work cut out against 13th seed Holger Rune while Jack Draper plays a qualifier or lucky loser but has Alcaraz looming in the second round.

Britains contingent was reduced from seven to six on Wednesday when Jodie Burrage, sidelined since February following wrist surgery, revealed she had injured her ankle in training.

Billy Harris fell agonisingly short of qualifying for his first grand slam appearance, the 29-year-old from the Isle of Man losing 7-6 (2) 7-5 to Valentin Vacherot in the final round.

Meanwhile, womens world number five Jessica Pegula, who has been sidelined through injury since last month, has withdrawn from the tournament.
Chris Hemsworth was honoured during a Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony which saw his Avengers co-star Robert Downey Jr mark the occasion with a roast of the Thor actor.

Australian actor Hemsworth received a star in the category of motion pictures alongside Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga director George Miller and co-star Anya Taylor Joy, as well as his parents, wife Elsa Pataky and their three children.

During the Hollywood ceremony, Iron Man star Downey Jr said he had spoken to their Marvel friends Jeremy Renner, who plays Hawkeye, Hulk star Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, who plays Black Widow, and Captain Americas Chris Evans.

Here comes the roast, Downey Jr said.

I reached out to his fellow Avengers to distil three simple describing words what is Chris Hemsworth, Downey Jr said.

Elsa Pataky, Chris Hemsworth, George Miller, Robert Downey Jr and Anya Taylor-Joy (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

First off, Renner says absurdly, annoyingly, amazing. Ruffalo came in strong with friend from work.

Scarlett got to the heart of it with sensitive leading lady. Captain America calls him second best Chris.

There is no-one who deserves this more. He is Hollywood star recipient.

Downey Jr, who won an Oscar this year for his role in Oppenheimer, also lauded the actor for his talents.

Robert Downey Jrand Chris Hemsworth attend a ceremony honouring Hemsworth with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Beyond the cape and the hammer is a contagious Aussie charm, the 59-year-old said.

You are a remarkable human being, its no fun following you, youre a legend.

Chris is a bit daunting to describe, hes very elusive because of the pretty packaging.

However, upon further inspection down under, he has a true blue wit and he has a depth of soul and it has been my sincere pleasure to know you over these many years, but you keep us Hollywood folks on our toes because youre just a real dude.

Hemsworth will next be seen as warlord leader Dementus in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga  which is set for release on Friday.

During the ceremony, director Miller said he was happy to report that Hemsworth is a great human being, as well as describing him as a great actor.

George Miller and Chris Hemsworth attend a ceremony honouring Hemsworth with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Forty-five years ago, when we started off making the first Mad Max, there were a group of motorcycle riders who were going to appear in the film, and one of them happened to be a guy called Craig Hemsworth.

He was 19 at the time, he couldnt do the film because he was going to university and thats where he met Leonie, his wife.

45 years later, I got to work with one of their sons, Chris, in Furiosa. Filming only finished about a month ago with Anya and Chris and a whole bunch of wonderful actors.

I got to know him as a professional (while) working, and I was incredibly impressed by the way that he worked  well beyond my expectations  and in the way that he brought people together.

Taking to the stage, Hemsworth thanked Downey Jr and Miller who he described as two icons of the industry and two of my heroes.

(Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Hemsworth said his oldest friend was also in the crowd of the ceremony.

When we were six years old, right up until we were at the end of high school, 18, we would be reciting movies and lines from movies and doing it for the pure passion and joy of it and not knowing or thinking I was going to be an actor one day, but because we loved story telling, he said.

To have this dream be a reality, to be a much larger kid than I was then but still be doing the same thing, which is living out my passion and my dream is, again hard to put into words. It has a very surreal quality to it.

I think a lot of the reason that I believed in myself doing this was the belief that my friends and family had for me, and specifically, my parents, who raised me with the belief that if you choose something youre passionate about, if you lean into that thing that you love with your heart and soul, then the purpose and the meaning is laid out in front of you and you give things value by committing to it.

Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Hemsworth also said he is forever in debt to his wife who has been by his side endlessly encouraging and supportive during his career.

It doesnt get lost upon me that she put aside her own dreams in order to support mine.

The fact that nothing that I do, any of these moments and special occasions or these events, none of it is special without you by my side, the 40-year-old added.
The South Downs National Park has become the first in the country to launch a scheme to enable businesses to invest in high-ethic, effective nature recovery with the aim of boosting biodiversity.

The authority for the national park, which stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex, has earmarked 500 hectares  the equivalent of 800 football pitches  of land on farms and country estates to be transformed through green finance investment.

The voluntary biodiversity credits scheme will include monitoring of the investments to avoid any double counting or greenwashing.

South Downs National Park Authority interim chief executive Tim Slaney said there is a real appetite across the corporate sector to demonstrate first-class environmental integrity (SNDPA/PA)

Tim Slaney, interim chief executive at the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), said: This is a first for UK national parks and underlines our commitment to tackling the biodiversity crisis through innovation.

We have a real opportunity in the UK to turn the tide on nature depletion, as well as tackle the climate crisis through nature-based solutions, but weve got to act quickly and decisively.

With national parks covering almost 10% of Englands land mass, places like the South Downs National Park can, and should be, the driving force behind nature recovery.

In the UK, 41% of species have declined in abundance over the past 40 years, so were at a pivotal moment.

There is now a real appetite across the corporate sector to demonstrate first-class environmental integrity, meet national targets and invest in the planet for future generations and thats exactly what voluntary biodiversity credits can deliver.

National parks have to seize this moment and capitalise on this tremendous opportunity to enable nature to bounce back.

The green credits scheme is the latest stage in the South Downs National Park Authoritys ReNature campaign (Sam Moore/SDNPA/PA)

The green credits scheme is the latest stage in the park authoritys ReNature campaign to create 13,000 acres of new land for habitats to form.

The aim is to ensure that 33% of the national park is managed for nature by 2030, while the remaining 67% is nature-friendly.

Mr Slaney added: This growing desire to invest in the environment dovetails with an ever-expanding need in the land and farming sector to diversify and find new revenue streams.

Both sectors can work harmoniously together and national parks can be the facilitator.

Our aim is to work with landowners to support them in their aspirations to deliver high-quality, nature-friendly food production on their best farming land and devote their more marginal land to nature where the costs associated with it are prohibitive.

This is just the start of this journey and were excited about what can be achieved for nature in the next few years.

The park authority is working with tech company Earthly to help find investors and monitor the scheme.

A spokesman for the park said: A bespoke Section 106 legal agreement will secure land use change  from agriculture to nature recovery  through an agreement between the landowner and the national park authority as local planning authority (LPA).

This secures land for ReNature over the long term and ensures the landowner can sell nature recovery credits to businesses, and developers without additional workload or cost.

Once secured, Earthly will take on the crucial role of authoriser, ensuring avoidance of greenwashing, double counting or duplications in sales, while the SDNPA will be responsible for compliance monitoring.

Lorenzo Curci, co-founder of Earthly, said: With the UK already ranking among the most nature-depleted regions globally, initiatives like this are paramount.

As we strive to meet the ambitious 2030 goals set by the Government, its imperative that our efforts are both quantifiable and transparent, guided by the latest scientific advancements.
Two serving Government ministers are among the Conservative MPs who have announced they will not seek re-election on the first day of the General Election campaign.

Transport minister Huw Merriman and work and pensions minister Jo Churchill shared resignation letters featuring the House of Commons letterhead on Thursday.

Rishi Sunaks decision to call a summer election surprised many in Westminster, who had been expecting an autumn poll.

Jo Churchill is the Conservative MP for Bury St Edmunds (Richard Townshend/UK Parliament/PA)

The news has reportedly caused disquiet among some Tory MPs fearful of losing their jobs, and newspaper reports have suggested Cabinet ministers voiced concerns about the decision.

Other MPs who have already said they will not stand are having to say goodbye to Parliament sooner than expected.

Ms Churchill cited family reasons in her resignation letter, and said she had the utmost respect for the difficult job of the Prime Minister.

In his letter, Bexhill and Battle MP Mr Merriman did not specify a reason for his departure but thanked his staff, local Conservative association and the Prime Minister, and paid tribute to his constituency.

In a transport-themed sign-off, he added: Thank you to all of the amazing people I have met on my journey. I will miss everything but, as I sit in the political departure lounge, I am looking forward to a new journey (whatever that might be).

Dame Eleanor Laing, the Deputy Commons Speaker who was elected as a Conservative MP but relinquished party affiliation to take up her role, also announced she would stand down.

The MP for Epping Forest, who has served for 27 years, said in a post on X that she had informed Mr Sunak several days ago.

Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing during Prime Ministers Questions in the House of Commons (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA)

She was close to tears in the Commons chamber as she thanked MPs for their tributes following the announcement, and said she was leaving the best job in the world.

Conservative former minister Sir Michael Ellis was among those not seeking selection.

The Northampton North MP, who has served in several prominent ministerial positions including as attorney general, said it was an extremely difficult decision not to stand again.

Among his lasting legacy achievements, he counted the Diamond and Platinum Jubilee gifts I arranged for the late Queen on the Parliamentary estate, and a plaque to commemorate former prime minister Spencer Perceval, a Northampton MP, and the only premier to have ever been assassinated.

James Grundy, the Tory MP for Leigh since 2019, meanwhile told his local newspaper he would not feature on the ballot paper.

Mr Grundy, the first ever Conservative MP for the constituency, said the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the death of Queen Elizabeth II were among the events which made his time in the Commons the most challenging Parliament since the one that sat during World War 2.

He added there had been a saddening change in the political climate as he expressed concerns about security threats faced by MPs, their families, and staff.

Labour MP for Makerfield Yvonne Fovargue also announced her intention not to stand again, saying it was the right time to step down.

Labour former minister Kevan Jones said in a letter announcing his decision not to stand it would be impossible for him to fight the campaign as he is undergoing surgery in early June for an ongoing condition.

The North Durham MP described his decision as difficult, adding: I am sad to be leaving the House of Commons but would like to thank the people of North Durham and my supporters who gave me the opportunity to serve them.
Watch Vicky McClure says Line Of Duty cast all want to go again

What did you miss?

Vicky McClure has admitted she and her Line Of Duty co-stars "would want to go again" for a season seven of the hit BBC police drama.

McClure stars alongside Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar in the series about police investigating corruption within the force, which has a huge fan following who are keen to see another instalment.

The cast have remained tight-lipped on whether creator Jed Mercurio has another season in the works, but McClure told This Morning that if it was an option, they would all be back on board.

What, how and why?

Vicky McClure says the Line Of Duty cast 'want to go again'. (BBC)

Line Of Duty fans have been offered a glimmer of hope for season seven as Vicky McClure has admitted the whole cast would be keen to return for another run of the BBC show.

McClure, who stars as police corruption investigator Kate Fleming, told This Morning that she would sign up to a new season of the Jed Mercurio drama in a heartbeat, as would her co-stars Adrian Dunbar as Ted Hastings and Martin Compston as Steve Arnott.

Asked about being in touch with the cast, she said: "Saw Adie this week, he's prepping for Kiss Me Kate, he's going to be brilliant, he's going to be singing and dancing, I can't wait. Saw Martin at Day Fever (a day rave that McClure and her husband Jonny Owen run) in Glasgow, he did a bit of crowd surfing for us. He likes to party."

Vicky McClure has said on This Morning that the Line Of Duty cast all want to go again. (ITV screengrab) (ITV/This Morning)

She added: "I mean look, we've all said we love the show, we would want to go again, obviously. But there's nothing to talk about so it's really disappointing in terms of no news."

This Morning host Cat Deeley asked whether no news was good news that it hadn't been cancelled and McClure joked: "I'm just going to get this cushion and put it over my face..."

"We're so lucky, we love the show and we can't tell you how grateful we are," she continued. "I never would have expected to be in something that has that kind of support from the audience, so it is amazing. But I would hate to start a rumour."

What else have the Line Of Duty cast said about season 7?

The Line Of Duty cast have completed six hit seasons. (BBC)

Whether there will be a season seven is the question on every Line Of Duty fan's lips, so the cast are frequently asked what they know about the possibility of new episodes.

Martin Compston, who stars as DI Steve Arnott, told The Mirror in April 2024 that there are "no immediate plans" for a seventh season of Line of Duty.

The actor cited scheduling difficulties as the main issue surrounding its MIA status, saying: "It's just getting us all together and stuff. We'd like to but yeah, these things are a bit complicated. But there are no immediate plans."

In a separate chat with The Sun in January 2024, he said: "Genuinely, there's no plans at all. We all love each other more than just colleagues now, they're some of my dearest friends, and we'd all love to work together at some point, but there's no plans."

Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar are also keen to return. (BBC) (World Productions)

He added: "I don't think Jed [Mercurio] would ever write it for the sake of writing it, it would have to be with a story. We went out on such a high in terms of [viewing] figures; maybe it's the best way to leave it. I know that's probably not what people want to hear.

"Never say never but with these things, the longer you leave it but we still speak, if not daily, weekly, all of us. I miss hanging out with all of them. It was a great feeling being able to go to work with people you call best friends every day."

In June 2023, he told This Morning that he and the rest of the cast would "all love to do one at some point", but cautioned: "Unless you hear anything from us, I'd just leave it at that."

Vicky McClure, who plays DI Kate Fleming, said in June 2022 that she'd like to do another series because the sixth was shot during the coronavirus pandemic.

Vicky McClure and Martin Compston play Kate Fleming and Steve Arnott. (BBC) (BBC/World Productions/Steffan Hill)

She told Good Morning Britain: "We've been working together for over 10 years now and you know, the last series was incredible in terms of the response that we got, but it was really quite tough to shoot because obviously it was within COVID so it would be lovely to go back and not end on that kind of way."

Adrian Dunbar, who stars as Superintendent Ted Hastings, also dropped a possible hint when he shared that he, McClure and Compston were getting together with Mercurio for a meal.

He told This Morning in August 2022: "We are going to have a curry. We are all just kind of really keen to get back together, we'd all like to see each other again."

Mercurio hasn't confirmed anything either, but after the sixth season he told the Radio Times that part of it came down to them "finding new stories to tell within that universe".

This Morning airs on ITV1 at 10am on weekdays.

Read more: Line Of Duty

This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/line-of-duty-vicky-mcclure-season-7-121953037.html
A Pitt source pushed back on the claims, telling PEOPLE "The other side introduced the NDA issue into what is a straightforward business dispute"

Amy Sussman/WireImage; Steve Granitz/WireImage Angelina Jolie; Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt's legal quest for Angelina Jolie to disclose her past non-disclosure agreements in their Chateau Miraval court case is a way to "punish" her, a source claims.

The source close to Jolie, 48, tells PEOPLE that Pitt, 60, "and his team know that these NDAs are never going to see the light of day at trial," amid a judge's recent order that the actress must produce eight years' worth of NDAs.

Rather, "this is all for the press," the source adds. "They also know that this will force Angelina to spend resources tracking all of this information down, which is just another way to drain her resources and punish her for leaving."

A Pitt source pushes back on those claims, telling PEOPLE. The other side introduced the NDA issue into what is a straightforward business dispute, so it's ironic that they are now complaining about it," the source says, adding, "And they are the ones who were greatly enriched from violating the parties' agreement in selling the business.



Judge Lia Martin ruled in Los Angeles Superior Court that Jolie must "produce, within 60 calendar days of this Order, all non-privileged documents in her possession, custody or control that are responsive to" Pitt's requests in a previously filed action, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.

Pitt's attorneys are calling for the disclosure of Jolie's NDAs since they feel it is "highly relevant" to her "purported justifications for refusing to adhere to her contractual obligations to Pitt" when she sold her winery shares.

A source close to the Fight Club actor called the ruling a "significant blow to the credibility" of Jolie's claims and a "strong statement challenging them to match their rhetoric with actual facts, which they consistently have been not been able to do."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic, MICHEL GANGNE/AFP via Getty Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt; Chateau Miraval

Related: Brad Pitt 'Trying to Move on with His Life' amid Latest Legal Drama with Angelina Jolie: Exclusive Source

This is a business dispute that they have made unnecessarily personal and they are now being held accountable," said that source.

However, Jolie's lawyer Paul Murphy said that the actress's legal team is "more than happy to turn [NDAs] over."

Common NDAs are simply not comparable to Mr. Pitts last-second demand to try and cover up his personal misconduct," said Murphy, adding that they are "gratified that the Court acknowledged that the only potential relevance is to the unconscionability of Mr. Pitts conduct, a now confirmed key issue in this case."



Angelina Jolie; Brad Pitt

Related: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's 6 Kids: Everything to Know

Murphy went on to say the ruling "opens the door to discovery" issues related to Pitts alleged abuse and "we welcome that transparency in all parties discovery responses."

"Angelina looks forward to the eventual end of this litigation with its false narratives that continue to hurt the family and interfere with their ability to heal," the attorney concluded.

In his previous action, Pitt's legal team accused Jolie of having "refused to produce any documents other than those (if any) concerning such an agreement between" herself and Pitt. The request also included "any NDA between Jolie and any third party with whom she is in a relationship or who has assisted with the care of the couples children."

The judge's order outlines that "the production is limited in scope of time to calendar years 2014 through February 17, 2022 (when this action was filed)," with Judge Martin dismissing Jolies objections that her own NDAs had no relevance.

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Read the original article on People.
MEGA - Getty Images

Anya Taylor-Joy is back in New York City after a quick trip to Cannes for the premiere of Furiosa: a Mad Max Saga, and stopped by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to promote the film. And her outfit? A stunning (she STUNNED, if you will) corseted Mugler dress that was loosely laced allllll the way downgiving an open-back effect.

MEGA - Getty Images

MEGA - Getty Images

A moment for the front:

MEGA - Getty Images

Obsessed!

While we're gathered here, FYI that Anya spoke to Stephen Colbert about learning to drive on set of Furiosa. "I had never driven a car in my life," she said. "When George Miller calls you and asks you, do you want to learn how to drive a car to be in Mad Max, you say yes. And then you figure it out as you go along. I'm driving some really cool vehicles in this. The first thing I ever learned how to do in a car is something called a Juicy Lift 180. You just floor the accelerator, then you pull on the emergency break, and eventually you stop."

By the way, Anya still doesn't have her license: "To be fair, I have been on a month-long press tour for this movie, so once it's over, yes I am planning on getting it. I would really like to have my license. I also want to get my stunt driver's license, I think it would be fun. I have to learn how to parallel park."

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Chris Hemsworth is ready for his close-up. And for such a handsome guy, its not a pretty picture.

The man who would be Thor sports a beak-like nose and slightly rotting teeth as the villainous Dr. Dementus in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (in theaters Friday).

That was the characters look in the storyboards, and to his credit, Chris went all in with it, says George Miller, the brilliantly twisted orchestrator of the dystopian 45-year-old, five-film "Mad Max" franchise.

Miller says his star also used contact lenses to obscure those dazzling baby blues, and was fine being featured with a long beard and a mane of hair that turns decidedly ratty as the tale progresses.

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Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth star as adversaries in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

The end result is a glimpse at the action heartthrobs darker side, which he spices up with humor as Dementus takes on other futuristic wasteland gangs at the helm of a chariot drawn not by beasts but by motorcycles.

Not recognizing the person in the mirror helps you transform, and it was such a great departure for me, says Hemsworth, 40.

Miller was shocked by the metamorphosis of both Hemsworth and co-star Anya Taylor-Joy, whose youthful title character is on a revenge-fueled hunt for Dementus in the prequel to 2015s Mad Max: Fury Road, which starred Charlize Theron as an adult Imperator Furiosa.

The sheer intensity of Taylor-Joys almost dialogue-free performance coupled with Furiosas signature shaved head (a touch created by Theron, who told Miller such a heroine would never do battle worrying about long hair) made the Queens Gambit star all but unrecognizable to the veteran director.

Meeting with Chris and Anya on the press tour every day was strange because they felt like imposters to me, says Miller, 79. Theyre not the same characters I spent a year with.

Anya Taylor-Joy worked out for a year so she could pull off her stunts in 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga'

Anya Taylor-Joy takes on the title role in George Miller's action-packed prequel "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga."

Millers latest epic misadventure is once again set in an ecologically ruined future somewhere in the badlands of central Australia. Mad Max himself has no part in the tale, which focuses on Furiosas origins in a green utopia led by women.

She is kidnapped by Dementus grizzly gang and grows up watching his expansionist dreams slowly come true, which only stokes Furiosa's murderous visions that need no justification.

Taylor-Joy (The Witch) landed the job before she shot to wider fame in Netflixs 2020 chess prodigy series and immediately hired a personal trainer to get into fighting shape. She worked out for a year before hitting the set.

George asked me, How willing are you to do the physical work? And I said, Ill do anything you need,  says Taylor-Joy, 28, who also got her drivers license so she could perform car and motorcycle stunts herself.

I dont think I have ever worked so hard in my life, she says. But I really wanted to do this.

Chris Hemsworth wanders the desert wasteland in "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga." The action hero gets a shabbier look as the film's villain.

Australian native Hemsworth felt the same way. I dreamt of (being in a "Mad Max" movie), I wished and I hoped and I begged. It holds a special place in the heart," he says.

Miller leveraged what Hemsworth describes as his naturally very fidgety nature, which I normally have to conceal in films but here I could let that all out. The result is a Dementus who is perhaps the most human of ruthless killers in ages.

Taylor-Joy says for her character, Miller was keen to have me hold my face in a specific way, so that really only left me with my eyes to convey my emotion.

Her Furiosa exudes a fearless intensity that is equaled perhaps only by the performance given by the other Furiosa. But Taylor-Joy deliberately did not seek a meeting with Theron before or during filming. That was out of respect for her performance. But now, Id say we both are due a dinner, a very long dinner, she says with a laugh.

Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth shot a lot of 'Furiosa' in locations George Miller used in the first 'Mad Max' movie

Chris Hemsworth (center) stars as Dr. Dementus in "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga," the latest installment in the 45-year-old franchise. Hemsworth relished the task of appearing in the legendary Australian epic.

No doubt, the "Mad Max" alums would have many stories to tell. The saga spans so many decades that sometimes the various "Max" worlds overlap.

For example, Hemsworth says that many Furiosa scenes were shot in the desert landscape that was used when Miller, along with a just-out-of-theater school Mel Gibson, cobbled the 1979 original on a shoestring budget.

Beyond the always-bonkers action sequences inherent in each "Mad Max" movie, there is also a clear underlying message about how humans treat each other.

Its an entertaining movie foremost, but I think the hope is that people will ask big questions in spite of it all, says Taylor-Joy. I see all the 'Mad Max' movies as cautionary tales. Look, a world where compassion is a detriment to survival, where empathy is punished, where nothing grows, thats not a place I want to live.

Chris Hemsworth checked on Anya Taylor-Joy constantly during their brutal showdown sequences

But it's a world in which Furiosa thrives at the film's climax. After a long pursuit of Dementus, Furiosa finally hunts him down and a wasteland showdown ensues. The scenes also were one of the few times the two were on the set together.

The result was an odd mix of movie mayhem and genuine caring, they say.

I still laugh about it, here we have this vicious back and forth as the cameras roll, and then it was Cut!  Hemsworth says with a smile. And Im saying, Are you OK, I hope I didnt hit you too hard, and what are you up to on the weekend?

I remember that, too, says Taylor-Joy. Its like we were trying to take care of each other while we were also trying to mutilate each other.

Pretty much a perfect summary of the world according to "Mad Max."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' cast talk movie's brutal stunts, showdowns
Mario Andretti wants a Formula 1 team. Formula 1 isn't so enthusiastic. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images)

The battle over adding an 11th team to Formula 1 is reportedly getting personal.

Mario Andretti, the former Formula 1 champion whose son Michael is pushing to expand the grid, had a contentious run-in with Greg Maffei, the CEO of Formula 1's parent company Liberty Media, during the Miami Grand Prix earlier this month, according to NBC News.

The elder Andretti reportedly said he was at an invitation-only breakfast reception at the Palm Club when Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali asked him about a recent visit to Washington. Andretti had recently spoken at Congress after F1 denied Michael's bid to start racing in 2026.

Andretti reportedly told Domenicali that he was invited by Congress, at which point he claimed Maffei entered the chat. Via NBC News:

I was asked to go there. And just as I was trying to explain that to Stefano, Greg Maffei, Mr. Maffei broke in the conversation and he said: 'Mario, I want to tell you that I will do everything in my power to see that Michael never enters Formula 1,' Andretti said.

Maffei allegedly walked away after the remark and has not spoken with the elder Andretti since.

Andretti was, apparently, surprised:

I could not believe that, he said. That one really floored me. ... Were talking about business. I didnt know it was something so personal. That was really  oh my goodness. I could not believe it. It was just like a bullet through my heart.

Unsurprisingly, a Liberty Media source had a different recollection of the discussion:

"Andretti approached Greg at the breakfast to have a discussion with him," the source told NBC News, adding that during the conversation Maffei indicated to Andretti that their application to join the grid in 2025 or 2026 was rejected for good business reasons.

The bid for an 11th team has become contentious, with Congress entering the fray demanding answers about why Andretti Global must now wait until at least 2028. A dozen U.S. Congress members wrote a letter invoking the Sherman Antitrust Act and emphasizing the potential job benefits for General Motors, whose Cadillac-brand engines would power the Andretti cars starting in 2028.

Formula 1 is dominated by Europe-based teams. Liberty Media is an American company.

Andretti had already been approved for an F1 team by the FIA, the sport's governing body, but F1 and its 10 teams denied the application in January, citing upcoming rule changes and the two-year gap between a 2026 entry and the engines being ready in 2028.
(Photo : Unsplash/Arkan Perdana )

Google has informed nonprofit newsrooms that it could stop funding the Google News Initiative, which supports over $300 million in funding for thousands of news outlets, after threatening to remove links to California news outlets because of a new state bill, sources told Axios.

This is the second time Google has threatened to withdraw investment in news this year due to a regulatory threat in California. Still, hundreds of publishers outside California would also be affected this time.

Google Pausing Further Investments in Publications

When asked for comment, Google last month directed The Verge to an April post about the CJPA, where Jaffer Zaidi, Google's vice president of news partnerships, announced it would pause further investments in California newsrooms, including new partnerships through its news licensing product, Google News Showcase, which is a product and licensing program for news organizations, and planned expansions of its $300 million global Google News Initiative (GNI) program until there's clarity on California's regulatory environment.

This statement was made in response to a bill introduced last year by California Assemblymember Buffy Wicks. The bill would effectively impose a link tax on Big Tech companies for links to news content and use the revenue to fund newsrooms.

California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA)

The bill, known as the California Journalism Preservation Act, has also faced opposition from Google's rival Meta, which has threatened to block links to news sites in California on its platforms if the bill is enacted into law. In response to the bill, Google initiated testing the removal of news links from its search results in California in April, which would require major tech platforms like Google and Meta to pay for linking to articles from California-based news publishers. If passed, the bill would impose a 7.25% tax on large companies like Google when they sell user information to advertisers, which would fund tax credits for news outlets in the state. Although the law would only apply in California, Google has reportedly warned outlets that it might pause new grants nationwide. Sources also told Axios that Google is concerned about setting a broader precedent for other states. California's Senate tax committee approved the ad tax bill on May 8. Shortly after, according to sources cited by Axios, Google began reaching out to nonprofits about the possibility of pausing future funding through the Google News Initiative.

READ ALSO: Microsoft Files Motion to Dismiss NYT's Infringement Lawsuit, Calling It "Unsubstantiated" Using Deceptive Prompts

News publishers have consistently argued that large technology firms should provide more significant compensation for publishing links to their articles, a contention supported by significant financial implications. A working paper released last year estimated that, under a proposed nationwide law, Google could owe publishers between $11.9 billion and $13.9 billion annually. This stance is not without precedent; other nations, such as Australia and Canada, have implemented legislation to safeguard publishers' interests. In these instances, Google initially responded with similar threats to withdraw services. However, the company eventually negotiated agreements to remunerate news outlets in both countries.

RELATED ARTICLE: Google's on Heated Copyright Battle, Hit with $272M Fine for Failing to Negotiate in "Good Faith"

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A veterinarian holds a Saraguato monkey rescued from the jungle after at least 138 howler monkeys found dead in heatwave - Stringer/REUTERS

High winds that led to the deaths of at least nine people at a political rally are the latest example of the extreme weather that has been ravaging Mexico.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the countrys president, offered sympathy to relatives of those killed at a rivals campaign event near Monterrey in a familiar refrain for a country beset by extreme weather-induced tragedy.

A devastating heatwave has gripped Mexico since mid-March, causing at least 26 deaths, nationwide blackouts and the escalation of an existing water crisis.

Ten cities have registered record-high temperatures, including the normally temperate, high-altitude Mexico City, which hit 34.3C on May 17.

Water shortages have been so severe in the Mexican capital that even the citys traffic police have led protests over intolerable working conditions.

Around 85 percent of the country is expected to see highs of at least 40C this week, with around a third of the country reaching 45C or more.

A boy cools off in the normally temperate, high-altitude Mexico City, which hit 34.3C on May 17 - Anadolu

The aggressive heat has been caused by a heat dome  a persistent and powerful system of high pressure  which has remained over a large area of Mexico.

Meteorologists say it has caused hotter-than-average ocean temperatures across the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico which have, in turn, raised temperatures of adjacent land areas.

The edges of heat domes often generate severe storms.

The extreme weather has also hit the animal kingdom with at least 138 howler monkeys found dead in the state of Tabasco since 16 May.

With temperatures soaring, the monkeys have been suffering so badly from dehydration that they have been spotted falling out of trees in forests.

Gilberto Pozo, a wildlife biologist, told the Associated Press he saw them falling out of the trees like apples before they died within a matter of minutes on the ground.

The heat dome has caused blackouts lasting several hours in parts of the country.

A worsening water shortage throughout much of the country has also been exacerbated by below-average rainfall, dwindling water supplies and lakes and dams drying up.

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University of North Carolina leaders on Thursday voted to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs, potentially undermining access to resources for nearly 250,000 students in its system. It's the latest development in a string of DEI crackdowns at public colleges, following bans in Texas and Florida and elsewhere in the U.S.

In a nearly unanimous vote, the UNC Board of Governors adopted a policy that calls for "institutional neutrality" and eliminates funding for DEI initiatives. Two of the 24 board members who voted against the cuts are Black.

The vote repeals two DEI policies adopted in 2019 that required each of the states 17 campuses  including UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina A&T and North Carolina State  to hire a chief diversity officer and set goals for advancing diversity and inclusion, among other provisions.

DEI programs and their predecessors have done a lot of good for a lot of people, said Gene Davis, one of the board's voting members, at the Thursday meeting. That being said, I have been made aware of things that have been done in the name of DEI that have made me uncomfortable and that I believe actually result in our university communities being less welcoming to all.

UNC Asheville held their commencement ceremony at Kimmel Arena, May 11, 2024.

Pearl Burris-Floyd, another member who voted in favor of repealing DEI programs, retired from the DEI field in December and expressed disappointment in how the program's policies had been rolled out. Did everyone who taught (DEI) get it right? No, they didnt," she said at the meeting. "Some people said things that were not true and that has hurt the fabric and the ability to carry things forward. But that does not mean that we stop.

Even if it's not called diversity, equity and inclusion, we have a path forward, Burris-Floyd said.

Texas DEI ban: The University of Texas lays off dozens of employees

National crackdown on DEI at public universities

This move follows a trend in public higher education and other state agencies. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, as of mid-May 85 anti-DEI bills have been introduced in 28 states and the U.S. Congress, 14 of which have become law since 2023.

Large institutions such as the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Florida have had to abandon their DEI offices and related programs. Safe spaces for students of color and LGBTQ+ students have been shuttered.

The moves have also come with mass layoffs. At UT Austin, dozens of DEI positions were cut last month as the school worked to comply with a DEI ban that went into effect in January, as reported by the Austin American-Statesman, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Just last week, the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees voted unanimously to eliminate the school's DEI department. Staff and programs are expected to be moved to other divisions.

In North Carolina, students across the UNC system attended a rally before the board meeting to oppose the change. Among them was UNC Asheville Student Government President Liv Barefoot, who highlighted the school's enrollment challenges and struggles amid skepticism over the value of a college degree.

"I believe with the ever-increasing anti-DEI policies, this struggle and deficit will worsen in severity," Barefoot said, suggesting pressure from the board has already "forced universities to be neutral on matters and issues that today's students care about."

According to Barefoot, UNC Asheville's student government has heard from students who "escaped other states" that have "already gutted DEI policies" and sought out North Carolina schools believing they were diverse, equitable and inclusive. Some said they "never would've attended a UNC system institution if they had known this policy could take effect."

More diversity cuts: University of Wyoming DEI department gets the chop

Next steps at UNC

Each UNC institution's chancellor and student affairs director must now provide written certification of compliance and detail the actions taken to fulfill "the University's commitment to institutional neutrality and nondiscrimination.

Theyll also have to report reductions in workforce and spending, "along with changes to job titles and position descriptions, undertaken as a result of implementing this policy and how those savings achieved from these actions can be redirected to initiatives related to student success and wellbeing," the policy says.

In a brief update sent to UNC Ashevilles staff and faculty in April, Chancellor Kimberly van Noort said the university would continue to review the proposed policy before this weeks vote. If the new policy moves forward, we expect that the System Office will provide us with implementation guidelines, van Noort said in the email obtained by the Asheville Citizen Times.

Interim Appalachian State University Chancellor Heather Norris reaffirmed the schools commitment to supporting students when the policy change was first proposed. While there are a lot of unknowns, and we cannot answer questions about specific implementation details at this time, I can assure you our universitys commitment to supporting all of our students is unwavering, and we remain dedicated to providing a compassionate, high-quality college experience that is focused on student success, Norris said in an email obtained by the Citizen Times.

Davis, one of the board members who voted to affirm the policy, told his colleagues at the Thursday meeting that campus leaders will be asked to review their initiatives "with an eye towards altering any program that has been less than welcoming." Programs that "have been successful in accomplishing goals amplified by this measure, he said, would be retained and even supplemented.

Other institutions in the UNC system have already voted to reallocate funds away from DEI programs. As part of its annual budget approval process earlier this month, the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees unanimously voted to reallocate the $2.3 million spent on DEI programs toward police and other public safety measures, the News & Observer reported.

This story will be updated.

Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober

Contact Alia Wong at (202) 507-2256 or awong@usatoday.com. Follow her on X at @aliaemily.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Another DEI crackdown: UNC board votes to dismantle diversity programs
Elon Musk says that hell host a presidential debate involving Robert F Kennedy Jr on X, formerly Twitter, ahead of the 2024 US elections in November  with the independent candidate calling on Joe Biden and Donald Trump to join.

The president, 81, and his 77-year-old predecessor have already agreed to take the stage on 27 June for a highly-anticipated debate on CNN. It marks the earliest-ever general election debate in a presidential race.

Mr Trump and Mr Biden have also agreed to partake ABCs televised debate on 10 September. There is a common theme among the two prime-time broadcasts: Mr Kennedy Jr is currently not on the guest list.

Xs CEO, Mr Musk, started an online back-and-forth after asserting that Mr Kennedy Jr should be in the debate.

The 70-year-old courted the tech mogul, asking: Will you host one? Mr Musk replied: Sure. No further details have been announced.

Robert F Kennedy has been publicly speaking with Elon Musk about the debate on X (AP)

Xs CEO, Elon Musk, started an online back-and-forth after asserting that RFK Jr should be in the debate. The 70-year-old courted the tech mogul, asking: Will you host one? Musk replied: Sure. No further details have been announced. (X)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis car crash presidential campaign announcement on the platform in May last year seemingly hasnt put off Mr Kennedy Jr from taking the virtual stage.

More than half a million X users tuned in to that glitchy livestream event hosted by Mr Musk, which caused the melting of the servers, according to co-host David Sacks.

Mr DeSantis announcement was ultimately delayed by 90 minutes and half the audience didnt both to stick around.

On Thursday, Mr Kennedy Jr noted howoever that X was the right place for a debate to be held, claiming that its audience size is 100-fold that of CNN.

Mr Musk, once again responding concisely, writing on Thursday morning: True.

Now, the We the People party leader, which he created in January this year, has called on Mr Trump and Mr Biden to join him on the social media debate.

@realDonaldTrump, I know youve got the guts to do it. Do you want to call @POTUS or should I,? Mr Kennedy Jr wrote on X on Wednesday. Neither have rsponded to the request.

While Mr Kennedy Jr hasnt received an invite to the two debates set to be broadcast later this year, it may change if he meets the qualifying threshold for both ABC and CNN.

Rules state that he needs to attract 15 per cent support in four national polls. He currently has two of the four he needs garnering 16 per cent support in both CNN/SSRS and Quinnipiac University polls between 18 and 23 April.

Mr Kennedy Jr would also have to have ballot access in enough states to theoretically win 270 electoral votes  which he has not amassed.

Mr Trump and Mr Biden sparred on the debate stage during their race to the White House in 2020 (AP)

If the threshold was met, Mr Kennedy Jr would become the first third-party presidential candidate to join a debate since 1992, which saw independent businessman Ross Perot of Texas take on Republican George Bush and Democrat Bill Clinton.

The possibility of a third contender joining the debate has raised tensions in both parties camps.

Mr Trump told Mr Kennedy Jr, who is the nephew of Americas 35th president John F Kennedy, that he cant just get in the debate for his name.

Mr Trump said he had no problem with Mr Kennedy Jr joining the debate. However, Junior needs more than his name to get on the stage!, he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

In a memo earlier this month, Mr Bidens campaign stipulated that the debates should be limited to just the president and the presumptive Republican nominee.
A display of the solar system at the Griffith Observatory. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

First came a rare solar eclipse, followed by the northern lights, fueled by a solar storm. The next celestial phenomenon will come next month, when skygazers can look forward to an alignment known as a "planetary parade."

The parade will start June 3, when Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune will be aligned, according to Star Walk Astronomical News, a planetarium phone app.

During such events, multiple planets can be seen across the sky. A "mini planetary alignment" is when three are aligned; a large alignment comprises five or six, according to the outlet.

But don't expect to see them all.

Preston Dyches of NASAs "Skywatching Tips" video series explained that only two planets will be visible to the naked eye June 3, if any.

Contrary to many reports and social media postings, there will not be a string of naked-eye planets visible on June 3," he said via email. "Mercury and Jupiter will be far too low in the sky at sunrise. Even under ideal conditions (a dark sky, free from light pollution) Uranus is very dim and challenging to spot. The skyglow near dawn makes matters worse."

Read more:A total solar eclipse will be visible to millions of Americans in April. Here's how to view it

Neptune, which is six times dimmer than Uranus, requires a telescope to be seen, according to Dyches.

The "real parade," he said, will occur about four weeks later, on June 29, when Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the three-quarter moon will be visible in the morning twilight. In Southern California, this should occur around 5 or 6 a.m., according to Paul Robertson, an associate professor of physics and astronomy at UC Irvine.

"If you went out that morning, you could actually see all of those four objects at the same time, and that's not really the same for the June 3 thing," he said.

Read more:Solar storm heading to Earth could disrupt communications and bring northern lights to California

The parades won't be the end of this year's sky spectacles.

A nova outburst is expected to take place at some point before September, Robertson said.

The outburst will be visible in the constellation Corona Borealis and will be as bright as the North Star for about a week before fading, according to Space.com.

The phenomenon occurs when a white dwarf and red giant star orbit each other. As the white dwarf takes stellar material from the red giant, a flash of nuclear fusion is ignited, launching a nova outburst, according to the outlet. The event is expected to be a "once-in-a-lifetime stargazing opportunity."

I think people may have gotten a little more interested in watching the sky since the big eclipse, Robertson noted. I know people traveled for that. It changes your perspective on things.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Valerie Volcovici

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate finance and budget committees on Thursday launched an investigation into presidential candidate Donald Trump's reported offer to roll back a slew of environmental regulations in exchange for $1 billion in campaign contributions.

The announcement comes a week after the top Democratic lawmaker on a U.S. House oversight panel sought information from nine oil companies about reports about "quid pro quo propositions" made by the former president at a campaign event this spring at his Mar a Lago resort in Florida.

As Mr. Trump funnels campaign money into his businesses and uses it as a slush fund to pay his legal fees, Big Oil has been lobbying aggressively to protect and expand its profits at the expense of the American taxpayer," wrote Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden of Oregon and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.

Trump had vowed to reverse dozens of the Biden administration's environmental rules and policies at a meeting with top U.S. oil executives, where he also asked them to raise $1 billion for his presidential campaign, according to media reports.

The committee chairs sent letters to several energy company CEOs and one industry trade group requesting materials distributed to attendees of the fundraising event at which Trump solicited the quid pro quo; descriptions of policy proposals discussed at the event, copies of any draft proposals or executive orders, and information about donations made by companies to the Trump campaign.

The American Petroleum Institute, one of the recipients of the Senate letters, called the probe "an election year stunt."

"API meets with candidates and policymakers to discuss the need for sound energy policies, and this meeting was no different, said API spokesperson Andrea Woods.

Trump had told executives at that event that he planned to auction off more leases for oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, reverse drilling restrictions in the Alaskan Arctic, lift the pause on LNG exports and about his dislike of wind energy, according to media reports.

(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Diane Craft)
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said former President Trump is rallying in the Bronx this week due to a legal version of an ankle bracelet.

Ocasio-Cortez slammed Trump on Tuesday for his planned Thursday event in the Bronx, the borough where the New York Democrat was born and now partially represents in Congress. Trump has been in New York for more than a month for his hush money trial, which has been going on for about six weeks.

Donald Trump is broke. He needs money. Hes hosting a rally to try to con people and try to fleece them out of every dollar that they have to fund his own legal fees, she told reporters.

And by the way, hes doing it in the South Bronx, not to make a point, but because hes got court and the man practically has the legal version of an ankle bracelet around him, and he cant leave the five boroughs because he always has to be in court. And so it is truly an embarrassment to him.

Trump announced last week that he would hold a campaign rally in the South Bronx Thursday evening.

The former president is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to a reimbursement made to his ex-fixer, Michael Cohen, for a payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump. Trump has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty to all counts.

He is required to be present in the courtroom for the trial. Court has typically met Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of most weeks of the trial, limiting the former president from his trips on the campaign trail. Trump is not bound by court-imposed rules that he remain in New York City.

He has frequently railed against not being able to campaign while stuck in a Manhattan courtroom, forcing him to have campaign events on days off from court. Many Republican lawmakers and allies of the former president have flocked to New York to show their support for Trump during the trial as well, echoing his typical attacks against the case, the judge and the Manhattan district attorney.

New York City is where Trump grew up and eventually went on to build his business brand and fame, but the former president has since taken aim at the city over its Democratic leadership and the hush money criminal case brought against him.

Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trumps campaign, said Ocasio-Cortez should have learned her lesson after getting wrecked at the House Oversight Committee hearing, but she never says anything remotely intelligent.

Last week, Ocasio-Cortez was among the lawmakers who clashed during an Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) accused Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) of wearing false eyelashes.

Mychael Schnell and Filip Timotija contributed.

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Prosecutors in the gun case against Hunter Biden in Delaware intend to call his ex-wife as well as the late Beau Biden's wife to testify as witnesses, according to an NBC News analysis of their trial brief.

Special counsel David Weiss' team submitted to the court a trial brief in which prosecutors say they intend to call three unnamed witnesses. The brief, however, provides enough details to identify two of them.

Witness 1 appears to be Hunter Bidens ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, and Witness 3 appears to be Hallie Biden, Beau Biden's wife with whom Hunter Biden was in a romantic relationship after his brother died.

Representatives for Buhle and Hallie Biden did not immediately respond to NBC News' requests for comment Wednesday night. A Hunter Biden lawyer did not immediately provide comment.

In the brief, "Witness 1" is described as "previously married to the defendant," though they "divorced in April 2017"  the year Buhle and Hunter Biden divorced. Witness 3 is described as being in a romantic relationship with the defendant in October 2018 and that he stayed at her home in the fall of 2018  which coincides with the time that Hunter Biden was living with Hallie Biden.

NBC News has not yet identified Witness 2, who is described in the brief as "previously in a romantic relationship with the defendant between approximately December 2017 and October 2018."

The 97-page brief presents a comprehensive look at the case prosecutors plan to bring during the trial, including details about what they believe they need to prove, evidence and witnesses. In the briefs evidence section, prosecutors highlighted excerpts from Hunter Bidens book Beautiful Things in which he describes his history of substance addiction.

Prosecutors also point to his messages and photos of him allegedly using drugs.

The president's son was indicted last September on federal charges connected to the alleged possession of a gun while using narcotics. He pleaded not guilty to the three firearms charges in October.

Hunter Biden's trial is set to start June 3 and expected to last about two weeks.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Wednesday he would not attend any speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Congress, adding to rising pushback from Democrats against Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) effort to send an invitation.

Johnson said earlier Wednesday he expects Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to sign off on Netanyahus visit Thursday, after days of back-and-forth over whether the controversial Israeli leader should be allowed to address a joint session of Congress amid harsh criticism over the countrys strategy in the Israel-Hamas war.

Look, you have a prime minister who has created the worst humanitarian disaster in modern history, Sanders told CNNs Kaitlan Collins in an interview. Israel, of course, had the right to defend itself against the Hamas terrorist attack, but what Netanyahu has done is go to war against  all-out war  against the entire Palestinian people, women and children.

Five percent of the population is now dead or wounded. 60 percent of them are women and children. Some 200,000 housing units have been completely destroyed, he continued. Every university in Gaza has been bombed. There is now imminent starvation taking place.

So why you would invite somebody who has done such horrific things to the Palestinian people is something that I think is a very bad idea, he added.

Democrats have attempted to strike a difficult balance between supporting an ally in Israel and pushing back against Netanyahus government. The Biden administration has consistently pressured Israel to slow its military advance in Gaza, citing mass civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis in the region.

Schumer said he is open to extending an invitation to Netanyahu, after Johnson said Tuesday that he would send the invitation with or without his backing. Sanders comments add to a group of Democrats who have already said they would skip the speech.

I boycotted his last visit. I certainly will not attend this one, said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), a Jewish Democrat who characterized Netanyahu as a menace.

Its not going to help move us forward  its a detriment, she continued. Should he come for any reason, in any venue, I am not going to be there.

The pushback comes after the International Criminal Court (ICC) filed an application for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his defense minister over war crimes. The court has accused the Israeli leaders of directly targeting civilians and using starvation as a weapon of war.

The Israeli government and the Biden administration have harshly criticized the ICCs recommendation. A House bill to sanction the international court is expected to reach a vote in the coming weeks.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) said the ICCs move has ruined the prime ministers credibility.

I dont expect much from Netanyahu anymore, he said. I barely consider him a world leader. I consider him a war criminal, at this point.

Reps. Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) and the Congressional Black Caucus have also raised concerns about the visit, objecting to Johnsons decision earlier this year not to extend the same honor to the president of Kenya.

Schumers promised support for a Netanyahu invitation comes just weeks after he said Israel should have new elections. The New York Democrat, the highest-ranking Jewish official in U.S. history, said the Israeli leader had lost his way in scathing remarks from the Senate floor.

Sanders said Wednesday that he strongly disagreed with Schumers promises to sign the invitation.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  A second flag of a type carried by rioters during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was displayed outside a house owned by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

An Appeal to Heaven flag was flown outside Alitos beach vacation home last summer. An inverted American flag  another symbol carried by rioters  was seen at Alitos home outside Washington less than two weeks after the violent attack on the Capitol.

News of the upside-down American flag sparked an uproar last week, including calls from high-ranking Democrats for Alito to recuse himself from cases related to former President Donald Trump.

Alito and the court declined to respond to requests for comment on how the Appeal to Heaven flag came to be flying and what it was intended to express. He previously said the inverted American flag was flown by his wife amid a dispute with neighbors, and he had no part in it.

The white flag with a green pine tree was seen flying at the Alito beach home in New Jersey, according to three photographs obtained by the Times. The images were taken on different dates in July and September 2023, though it wasn't clear how long it was flying overall or how much time Alito spent there.

The flag dates back to the Revolutionary War, but in more recent years it has become associated with Christian nationalism and support for Trump. It was carried by rioters fueled by Trump's Stop the Steal movement animated by false claims of election fraud.

Republicans in Congress and state officials have also displayed the flag. House Speaker Mike Johnson hung it at his office last fall shortly after winning the gavel. A spokesman said the speaker appreciates its rich history and was given the flag by a pastor who served as a guest chaplain for the House.

Alito, meanwhile, is taking part in two pending Supreme Court cases associated with Jan. 6: whether Trump has immunity from prosecution for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and whether a certain obstruction charge can be used against rioters. He also participated in the courts unanimous ruling that states cant bar Trump from the ballot using the insurrection clause that was added to the Constitution after the Civil War.

News of the second flag brought renewed calls for Alito to step aside from the Trump-related cases. At this point it is difficult to make any reasonable case for Alitos impartiality. It can and must be questioned. As a result, he must not sit on cases about the 2020 election or the insurrection he appears to have supported, said Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The group represented Colorado voters in the insurrection clause case at the high court seeking to bar Trump from the ballot.

There has been no indication Alito would step aside from the cases.

Another conservative justice, Clarence Thomas, also has ignored calls to recuse himself from cases related to the 2020 election because of his wife Virginia Thomas' support for efforts to overturn Trump's loss to President Joe Biden.

Public trust in the Supreme Court, meanwhile, recently hit its lowest point in at least 50 years.

Judicial ethics codes focus on the need for judges to be independent, avoiding political statements or opinions on matters they could be called on to decide. The Supreme Court had long gone without its own code of ethics, but it adopted one in November 2023 in the face of sustained criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices. The code lacks a means of enforcement, however.
French luxury maison, Korea Heritage Service join hands to restore royal artifacts

By Park Han-sol

Some partnerships, though surprising at first glance, simply click.

Such was the case when Hermes, with its 187-year legacy rooted in the virtue of craftsmanship, announced its collaboration with the Korea Heritage Service (then the Cultural Heritage Administration) back in 2015. Their shared goal? To restore the countrys centuries-old palatial furniture.

Over the next nine years, with the support of the French luxury brand, treasures that once embodied the courtly splendor of Joseon royalty at Seouls Gyeongbok Palace and Deoksu Palace were brought back to life through artisanal repairs and recreations. Among them are a silver-inlaid candlestick and a crimson, dragon-engraved chair reserved for kings.

What is important for Hermes is to recognize exceptional craftsmanships wherever they are, said Guillaume de Seynes, the fashion houses executive vice president and a sixth-generation member of the Hermes family, reflecting on the partnership.

Its about [forging] that fraternity between craftsmanships around the world. Thats why I think this [project] on the royal palaces in Seoul is a fantastic one.

And this month, the French maison offers another special cultural treat for Korea that equally extols the idea of artisanship: the Hermes in the Making exhibition. Seoul is the 10th destination for this unique  and free  traveling show, which opened last Saturday at Lotte World Towers World Park in southern Seoul.

As its title suggests, this 10-day exhibition is all about offering a rare behind-the-scenes peek into the world of Hermes artisans at work, most of whom have flown in from their workshops in France to demonstrate how they design, create and repair some of the brands most timeless products.

Any fashion-loving visitor is free to get up close and ask questions to the 11 craftspeople  experts in leather-stitching, engraving, watchmaking, silkscreen printing and ceramic painting  spread across nine different stations within the box-like gallery.

At one workbench, you can watch screenprinting artisans apply luscious colors onto expansive rolls of white silk twill using a mesh frame  a spectacle that ultimately brings the maisons iconic silk scarves to life.

In another corner, a saddler is assembling cocoa-colored leather pieces on a central wooden frame and meticulously hand-stitching the product. He shared that he plans to complete one entire Vivace jumping saddle during the Seoul exhibition period.

Or perhaps, you will get to witness just how much saber-hacer and dexterity go into the making of a five- or six-figure Kelly bag, where over 40 leather pieces are stitched together using beeswax-coated linen threads.

Since all Hermes bags are handcrafted in France, their metal accents like buckles and snaps can be affected by Koreas humidity over time. Or, sometimes, they might simply need a little sprucing up. Thats when repair specialists  some of whom are stationed in Seoul  step in to give them a new lease on life.

The 11 craftspeople in the Hermes in the Making show represent just a fraction of the luxury houses trained artisans. In France, over 7,300 are currently working across its nearly 60 workshops and production sites.

De Seynes stressed that in todays world of mass production, where the identity of product makers fades into anonymity, Hermes commitment to keeping the spirit of craftsmanship front and center in its legacy is more crucial than ever.

Artisans are the human agents who animate and breathe new life into the heritage passed down for six generations, thus making the maisons products the result of an ever-evolving creative tension, he noted.

Hermes in the Making runs through May 27.
Senate Republicans not known for being ardent backers of former President Trump are weighing whether to attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this summer or sidestep it fully, as he moves closer to a White House return next year.

Four Senate GOP members in that mold  Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Todd Young (Ind.) and Thom Tillis (N.C.)  told The Hill they do not plan on traveling to the convention in July to celebrate what will be a coronation of the ex-president. Five others  Sens. Mike Rounds (S.D.), Susan Collins (Maine), Bill Cassidy (La.), Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Rand Paul (Ky.)  indicated they have not decided whether to go at this point.

Of the group, all except for Tillis have not backed Trumps third bid for the White House, with the North Carolina senator only lightly supporting him after holding out throughout the primary fight. While none specifically cited Trump as the reason for not attending, their feelings  or lack thereof  for the former president are largely well-known.

Everybodys got to make their own call about it, but its part of our political life, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said. The conventions have been going on for a long time, and I think the parties are tasked with trying to pull people together and make the decisions that are important to the leadership of our country.

I understand if there are people for whom it is not a big priority, Thune added.

Murkowski and Young both said they both have travel plans that week but did not divulge what they were. Romney was never expected to go, given the mutual disdain between him and Trump, whom he twice voted to convict in impeachment trials.

Tillis said in a brief interview that while he hasnt finalized his plans, he is likely not going to go.

Im just not a convention-goer, quite honestly. Back in the state, we have races to run. Well be represented, Tillis said of the convention, noting that he cannot be a delegate. Theres other competing priorities that week that I have to sort out before I make a decision.

Collins said that she has not made a decision and needs to go over her schedule. Cassidy told The Hill to ask him closer to the convention and indicated he has not decided either. Both voted to convict Trump in the second impeachment trial over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Rounds indicated that while he has no plans to attend, he still could be swayed if Trump selects someone he approves of as his running mate. The South Dakota Republican was an ardent supporter of Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) during the presidential primaries this cycle, but he also name-checked Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as someone to whom he would give his stamp of approval.

Yeah, it might, Rounds said when asked if Trump selecting Scott could sway him to show up in Milwaukee. If we could go and support his candidacy, that would be something I would really take a hard look at.  I havent got any hotel rooms yet, but that doesnt mean I might not in the future.

The 2016 convention in Cleveland was also checkered by a number of notable absences from within the Senate GOP ranks, as the event officially cemented Trump as the partys standard-bearer. In total, more than 20 Senate Republicans stayed away, including some key Trump supporters this time around.

Top backers of the ex-president believe times have changed, however, and it is time for all Senate Republicans to appear in the Badger State as part of a show of unity.

I dont know why there would be a debate [about going]. Are they not concerned about our country? This isnt about the president, this is about our country, said Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), the first GOP member to back Trumps reelection campaign.

The 2020 convention was abbreviated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and held in Washington, D.C. It was initially set to take place in Charlotte, N.C., before restrictions forced it to be relocated.

One group that will be in attendance is all corners of Republican leadership, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). A spokesperson for the GOP leader confirmed he will be in Milwaukee for the RNC.

McConnell officially endorsed the former president in early March after it became clear the GOP primary fight was over, despite their frosty relationship dating back to Trumps 2020 loss to President Biden.

Both of his potential successors  Thune and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas)  also plan on showing up at the convention.

While most of Trumps supporters in the upper chamber are expected to travel to Milwaukee, attendance will not be unanimous on that front.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) said that while she fully backs the former presidents return to office, the logistics of the quadrennial confab are keeping her away.

The hotels tend to be an hour away from the venue, and its always really hard to get in and out logistically, Lummis said. Ive been to multiple conventions.  Id rather watch on television just because its a challenge logistically.

Others who plan to be there, though, are excited about the four-day event that is expected to be a right-wing festival to celebrate Trump.

When they open the doors, Ill be there, Tuberville said. When they close them, Ill be leaving.

Updated at 8:13 a.m. EDT

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In Flanders fields the poppies blow/ Between the crosses, row on row"

These words, penned by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian who served as a brigade surgeon for an Allied artillery unit on the front lines during World War I, inspired a tradition across the worldwearing a poppy in honor of fallen soldiers on Memorial Day. The bright red poppy, technically classified as a weed, grows tenaciously in barren landscapes like the war-torn battlefields of World War I. Their cheerful blooms became a tiny symbol of hope for those who witnessed the devastation of the war.

Related: 53 Memorial Day Quotes To Honor Fallen Soldiers

Why We Wear Poppies On Memorial Day

McCraes poem In Flanders Field, was written as a reaction to a cluster of poppies he spotted on fields littered with dead and wounded soldiers after the Second Battle of Ypres. McCrae saw firsthand the devastating loss of life in that battle as he tended the woundedit was the first time the Germans unleashed lethal chlorine gas against Allied Forces and Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, a friend of McCraes was among the dead.

He published his poem, giving voice to the fallen soldiers buried under those clumps of poppies, in Punch magazine in late 1915. It became a regular reading at memorial ceremonies and one of the most recognizable works of art from the Great War. McCrae died in January 1918, but across the Atlantic two days before the armistice, Ladies Home Journal published In Flanders Fields in its November issue. Moina Michael, a former professor at the University of Georgia read it. She volunteered at the New York headquarters of the Young Womens Christian Association (YWCA) and was so inspired by McCraes poem that she wrote We Shall Keep Faith in response.

In addition to the poem, Michael vowed to always wear a red poppy to honor the fallen soldiers. After the war ended, she returned to Georgia and started making red silk poppies to raise money to help support veterans. She started a campaign to make the poppy a national symbol of remembrance. In 1920, she got Georgias branch of the American Legion to adopt the poppy as its symbol. In September of 1920, the National American Legion voted to adopt the poppy as the official U.S. national emblem of remembrance.

The Symbolism Of Poppies In Other Countries

Back on the other side of the Atlantic, a French woman named Anna Guerin believed in the poppys power as a symbol from the beginning and campaigned for global recognition through an Inter-Allied Poppy Day. She was Invited to the American Legion convention to speak about her idea and helped convince the Legion members, along with Michael, to adopt the poppy as their symbol, and to mark a new day of recognition. National Poppy Day was celebrated the following May in the United States.

Guerin organized French women, children, and veterans when she returned to take up the cause of the poppy and make silk poppies to help fund the restoration of Frances war-torn landscape. Her next stop was England. She brought about the Poppy Appeal, a campaign by the newly founded British Legion that sold millions of silk flowers to aid in finding employment and housing for Great War veterans. In 1922, Major George Howson set up the Poppy Factory in Richmond, England, for the sole purpose of employing disabled servicemen to make fabric and paper poppies.

Other nations fell in line and adopted the poppy as their official symbol of remembrance. Today, millions of people in the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand pin a red poppy to their lapel every November 11 commemorating the anniversary of the 1918 armistice. The Poppy Factory expanded to a second location in Edinburgh, Scotland, and produces 45 million poppies made of various materials each year.

In the United States, the poppy is still worn on Memorial Day, not Veterans Day, like the rest of the world. On the last Monday in May across the United States, people pin a symbolic red poppy to honor the sacrifice of the men and women who have given their lives fighting for their country.

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Who Gives Out Poppies On Memorial Day?

In 1923, poppies were assembled by disabled and needy veterans. They were paid for their work by the VFW. The next year, disabled veterans at the Buddy Poppy factory in Pittsburgh assembled VFW Buddy Poppies, and the designation "Buddy Poppy" was adopted and trademarked. Today the VFW's Buddy Poppy program volunteers hand out red poppies in exchange for donations every Memorial Day. Proceeds go to compensate those who assemble the poppies, as well as provide financial assistance to state and national veterans' rehabilitation and service programs. Poppy sales also partially support the VFW National Home, a place where families impacted by war can find space to heal, learn, and move forward together. Whether you order one from the Buddy Poppy program, craft one yourself out of silk or paper, or pluck a fresh one, add a poppy to your Memorial Day outfit to honor the sacrifice of those weve lost to war.

In Flanders Fields by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.



Related: Top 20 Memorial Day Weekend Destinations In The South

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Read the original article on Southern Living.
Ireland, Spain and Norway have announced plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state next week, in a move that is likely to bolster the global Palestinian cause but further strain relations between Europe and Israel.

The three European nations say their landmark decision is the best way to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East, but it sparked swift condemnation from Israel, as its foreign minister ordered the immediate recall of its ambassadors from those countries.

Most of the world already recognizes Palestinian statehood. More than 140 out of 193 member states of the United Nations have made their recognition official. But only some nations in the 27-member European Union are among them.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris told a Wednesday news conference in Dublin: Today, Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognize the state of Palestine. Each of us will now undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision.

There is never a wrong time to do the right thing, Harris later said, speaking to CNNs Christiana Amanpour on Thursday.

It was my governments preferred position to recognize a two-state solution as part of a peace process to bring that about, but sadly, unfortunately, such a comprehensive peace settlement now seems, in many ways, further away than it has ever been, Harris said.

We believe you cant say youre in favor of a two-state solution and not recognize the very existence of two states, he added.

The recognition will come into force in all three countries on May 28, according to Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin.

Norways Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said that a Palestinian state was a prerequisite for achieving peace in the Middle East.

There will be no peace in the Middle East without a two-state solution, Stre said in a statement. There can be no two-state solution without a Palestinian state.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sought to characterize the decision as one that was not anti-Israel.

This recognition is not against the people of Israel and certainly not against the Jewish people, he said. Its not in favor of Hamas. Its in favor of co-existence.

The announcement was welcomed by Palestinian officials.

This step reflects Spains keenness to support the Palestinian people and their inalienable and legitimate rights to their land and homeland, the office of the president of the Palestinian Authority said in response to Madrids decision, as reported by Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Hamas, the militant group which governs Gaza, urged other countries to follow suit and recognize our legitimate national rights, support the struggle of our people for liberation and independence, and end the Zionist occupation of our land.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said recognizing a Palestinian state would be a reward for terror.

This will be a terror state, which will attempt to perpetrate the onslaught of October 7 time and again, and to that we shall not agree, Netanyahu said, adding, this evil must not be given a state.

As Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz ordered the immediate recall of its ambassadors to Spain, Norway and Ireland, he said, in a statement: I am sending a clear message today  Israel will not hold back against those who undermine its sovereignty and endanger its security.

After the terrorist organization Hamas carried out the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, after it committed the most horrific sex crimes the world has seen, these countries chose to give a reward to Hamas and Iran and recognize a Palestinian state, Katz added.

Israel launched its military offensive in Gaza on October 7 after militants led by Hamas killed at least 1,200 people and abducted more than 250 others.

Israel has come under fierce criticism for its war. Earlier this month, a panel of independent UN experts condemned the continued and systematic onslaught of violence committed against Palestinians in Gaza. The agency has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages taken by Hamas.

Israeli attacks in Gaza have since killed at least 35,647 Palestinians and injured another 79,852 people, according to the Ministry of Health there. CNN cannot independently confirm the figures.

Two-state solution

All three European leaders stressed the importance of having Palestinian statehood in reaching a two-state solution in the Middle East, a decades-long goal that the international community has failed to achieve.

Irelands Foreign Minister Martin said the decision came amid growing impatience with Israels lack of political will for a two-state solution.

The integrity of that two-state solution has been undermined in recent years by the strategy of the Israeli government and, in particular, the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has declared opposition to it, Martin told CNNs Richard Quest during a live interview.

Meanwhile, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told CNNs Becky Anderson that Israel was wrong to see recognizing Palestinian statehood as rewarding Hamas.

We are sending the opposite signal. We are supporting the Palestine authorities which spring out of the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organization] who renounce violence and who many decades ago promised to leave the violent struggle behind and work for peaceful settlement with Israel  a promise they have kept by the way, Eide said.

Senior officials in the United States, a close ally of Israel, have insisted the only way to bring peace and stability to the region is through the creation of a Palestinian state with guarantees for Israels security. Lawmakers in Israel have long rejected those calls.

Reacting to the news on Wednesday, a National Security Council spokesperson told CNN that US President Joe Biden is a strong supporter of a two-state solution. The spokesperson added, however: He believes a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition.

France, meanwhile, said that now is not the right time for it to join its European neighbors in recognizing a Palestinian state. The countrys foreign minister, Stephane Sejourne, added that such a decision is not merely a symbolic issue or a question of political positioning but rather a diplomatic tool in the service of a two-state solution.

Germany, another one of Israels staunchest allies, also questioned the decision. Michael Roth, the chair of the parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee, posted on X: Im not convinced that the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state is an appropriate measure after the horrific massacres (by) Hamas (on) October 7 last year.

Qatar, a key mediator in stalled ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, said it hopes for more countries to recognize the State of Palestine, according to a statement from the foreign ministry. The foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia, another regional actor, called on more countries to swiftly take the same stance.

Ireland has a long history of being openly supportive of the Palestinian cause, consistently criticizing Israeli policies in the occupied West Bank and Gaza before Hamas October 7 attack in Israel. Since then, Israels war in response has shredded huge parts of the Gaza Strip and drained critical supplies, exposing the entire population of more than 2.2 million people to the risk of famine.

I can say this to the people of Israel: we recognize the state of Israel. We recognize the state of Israels right to live in peace and security. That is their right. The people of Palestine also must have an equivalent right to peace and security, Harris told Amanpour on Thursday.

And let me also say this to the people of Israel: the Irish people know what its like to have their national identity hijacked by a terrorist organization. The IRA was never the people of Ireland and Hamas is not the people of Palestine.

We have been clear and unequivocal that we condemn Hamas, that we condemn the most horrific barbaric massacre that Israel experienced on the 7th of October. We call for the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages. But it is entirely possible to say what I have just said and also say the next bit which sadly some refuse to say: that what is happening in Palestine, what is happening in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe, that children are being starved, are being deprived of food and that there are children who will go to sleep in Gaza tonight not sure if they will wake in the morning, he added.

A source familiar with the matter told CNN the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently considering further diplomatic steps against the three countries.

Steps under consideration include cancelling visits of officials from these countries to Israel and revoking visas from diplomats, which will limit their ability to visit areas in the West Bank under control of the Palestinian Authority, the source said. Another step under consideration by Israel is to reach out to the US to seek diplomatic support in providing clarification from Norway, Ireland and Spain on their intended decision, and to ask the US to try and convince other countries to not follow suit.

Pressure on Israel

The planned recognition adds pressure on Israel after seven months of fighting, according to H.A. Hellyer, scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies in London.

For individual Palestinians on the ground in the Occupied Territories, its not going to mean anything at all in the short term, perhaps in the medium term, Hellyer told CNN. It is obviously political recognition by states that dont have a presence on the ground.

Hellyer added that Israel risks becoming an international pariah given that Western nations are now beginning to recognize a Palestinian state.

Israel captured Gaza from Egypt in the 1967 war, then withdrew its troops and settlers in 2005. The territory, home to some 2 million Palestinians, fell under Hamas rule in 2007.

After Hamas took control, Israel and Egypt imposed a strict siege on the territory, which is ongoing. Israel also maintains an air and naval blockade on Gaza. These severe restrictions have been fiercely criticized by international bodies, including Amnesty International, who say Israel has violated international law.

The vast majority of the population in Gaza are descendants of 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were forcibly expelled from their homes during what Palestinians call al-Nakba, or the catastrophe, of the 1948-49 war, in what is now Israel.

CNNs Kareem Khadder, Mike Schwartz, DJ Judd, Saskya Vandoorne, Nadine Schmidt, Mostafa Salem and Nadeen Ebrahim contributed reporting.

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As Yanelit Madriz Zarate crossed the stage at a University of California, Berkeley commencement ceremony this month, she reflected on the fits and starts in her educational journey: the mental and physical challenges that forced her to drop out after her first higher education stint in the California State system, the lessons she learned advocating for herself when she resumed at a community college and the empowerment she felt when she transferred to Cal.

The 25-year-old also thought about the role her parents, immigrants from Mexico with just a middle school education, played in helping her get to graduation. So, it felt extra special  and extra fitting  that her parents got to join her on stage.

Crossing the stage with her loved ones, a decades-old tradition embraced in the university's Chicanx Latinx graduation, was something she looked forward to since she heard about the option years earlier. Madriz Zarate also made the moment her own: As her name was called out, she and her parents danced a zapateado, a traditional Mexican step.

It was for the three of us, said Madriz Zarate, a sociology major who grew up in San Pablo, California, and works part time in disability rights advocacy. It feels like were finally being seen.

Yanelit Madriz Zarate takes a selfie with her parents on May 12, 2024, her commencement day at University of California, Berkeley.

Yanelit Madriz Zarate crosses the stage at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, California, with her parents after doing a zapateado.

Like Madriz Zarate, hundreds of thousands of graduates are the first in their families to attend college. The number of first-generation applicants is growing at more than twice the rate of students whose parents have a degree, according to Common App data.

However, many institutions of higher education have been slow to catch up. Surveys suggest mental health struggles are widespread among first-gen students, who often report they wish their campuses offered better support and academic and financial aid advising tailored to their circumstances.

While symbolic, the budding tradition of walking the stage with loved ones marks a shift in how colleges are engaging with students from nontraditional backgrounds and elevates the often-unspoken contributions of family members. Its part of a larger trend of making graduation ceremonies more culturally relevant, in events such as Umoja graduations for Black students, Lavender events for LGBTQ+ graduates and blanketing ceremonies for Native students.

These special honors also stand as a reminder of whats at stake when programs supporting such opportunities are restricted. Students at the University of Texas at Austin  whose funding for cultural graduation ceremonies was cut after last years diversity, equity and inclusion ban  had to raise private money this spring to hold the yearly Latinx event many had anticipated.

Affirmative action ban: After Supreme Court ruling, renewed focus on first-generation students

Graduation traditions evolve through DEI efforts

Cultural graduation ceremonies have grown in popularity, with events cropping up from Massachusetts to Hawaii. Its all about creating that sense of belonging and place on campus, said Carolyn Barber-Pierre, the assistant vice president for student affairs and multicultural affairs at Tulane University in New Orleans. So many students come with visible or invisible identities, and the fact that several of those identities can be celebrated means the world to them.

Tulane hosts various affinity-group graduation ceremonies, and in some  like the Umoja event, attended by nearly half of the universitys Black graduates  family members can help place the stole on students. The stole is a cloth worn over the shoulders to represent campus achievements and cultural pride. Loved ones also have the opportunity to share reflections on the stage.

This is the culmination of all the blood, sweat and tears for all the faculty, staff, parents and family members whove been there and helped each and every student succeed, Barber-Pierre said.

It takes a village, and the village was there.

Gerald Thrush, the vice dean of academic affairs at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, said family members involvement is often the highlight of graduates commencement. Since the medical schools early days more than four decades ago, its allowed students to bring two family members on stage to bestow their academic hood. The hood is similar to the stole but instead drapes down the graduate's back.

When students shake the presidents and deans hands during the first part of the stage procession, theyre often visibly nervous, Thrush said. But as soon as they see their loved ones nearby, their eyes light up.

Just seeing the pure joy and the excitement of the family  its such a heartwarming, touching moment, said Thrush, who serves as the commencement marshall and has witnessed the exchange countless times over the years. You can see it  you can see that support there.

Lezlye Ramos, who recently graduated with a doctorate in occupational therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, in California, brought her dad on stage to walk with her and place the hood on her shoulders. Wearing a tejana hat and boots, her dad, who works in construction, was worried about how he'd come off. But he ended up stealing the show, said Ramos, 26. After she posted the video on social media, she was flooded with comments from fellow Latinx students who shared how inspiring it was to see the interaction.

Being able to see someone who looks like you, to see the diversity within higher ed  it struck me that this is something bigger because of what it represented, she said. Although my name is the one on the diploma, we all graduated that day.

'An inversion of the graduation'

UC Berkeley started the stage-walking tradition with its Chicanx Latinx graduation several decades ago, according to Pablo Gonzalez, a Chicano scholar at the school who has emceed the event. Even though graduations are often viewed as individual achievements, in this particular case, the collective achievement is celebrated, he said. Its about acknowledging more than yourself.

Gonzalez isnt aware of many other colleges offering this opportunity.

Gonzalez recalled being in the crowd as his uncle, the first in their family to attend college, walked across the Berkeley commencement stage with Gonzalez's grandparents. He remembers witnessing his brother also participating in the family rite. Both experiences helped him envision his own higher education future. Gonzalez himself participated in the tradition as a Berkeley graduate in the late 1990s.

He described the stage-walking tradition  and other aspects of the Chicanx Latinx event  as an inversion of the graduation. Traditional commencements focus on the graduate while this one focuses on the people who are crucial and central to their success."

"That kind of inversion is such a powerful marker of community thats so necessary right now, he said.

It's happened before: College graduation canceled due to anti-war protests?

For Kayanna Harris, another Berkeley Class of 2024 grad, the inverted approach to celebrating her accomplishments was humbling.

Harris, now 32, moved to the U.S. from Jamaica after finishing high school. She opted not to attend nursing school where she grew up, leaving her parents behind. She spent a few years in New York, where some of her siblings live, but consistently felt a pull toward California  and specifically Berkeley. At 25, she finally settled in the area, enrolling in a community college. A few years later, she transferred to UC Berkeley  the college of her dreams, as an aspiring chemical engineer.

Kayanna Harris with her mom and sister, who joined the chemical engineering graduate on stage on May 13 at UC Berkeley's MLK, Jr. Student Union.

Harris is undocumented and has faced a host of challenges beyond those of being a first-generation student. Financial aid options were limited. She struggled to get internships because of her immigration status and couldnt study abroad. Nor could she return to her homeland to visit her dad, a former farmer whose leg was amputated a few years ago, and mom, who worked at home, caring for Harris and her eight siblings.

Harris felt the smaller graduation ceremonies  including one for undocumented students and one for Black students  were the most important, largely because the family participation was baked into them. In the UndocuGrad event, she walked with her mom and sister as other relatives and friends cheered them on. (Her dad couldnt make the trip because of his mobility issues.)

It was really a sense of gratitude to know that, even though they were all the way in Jamaica, theyre always there. Theyre always behind you. These people are the ones motivating you to move forward, she said. That big smile on (my moms) face is really what I wanted to see. I wish that moment was a moment that lasted forever.

Madriz Zarate will always cherish her moment, too. Part of her self-advocacy journey involved reconnecting with her culture through dance. Thats why it was so important for her and her parents to zapatear  a dance style where the feet rhythmically strike the floor  as they crossed the stage.

It felt like we were creating a safe space not just for ourselves but for other folks to dance  its a very liberating and healing part of our culture,  she said. As they stomped across the stage, surrounded by families with similar lived experiences, Madriz Zarate felt validated.

It was like creating magic.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why are parents walking with their kids across the commencement stage?
It's time for a do-over for one elephant at the Toledo Zoo in Ohio. The zoo recently shared that they'd made a slight mistake when announcing the gender of their new baby elephant in March. Zookeepers recently confirmed that the calf, Kirk, was not a boy elephant  he was a she.

The zoo announced the gender of the elephant for a second time in a video that's gone viral online.

The clip shows the calf playing around in her enclosure, getting sprayed with a hose, and in general being a sweetie.

"The biggest surprise of the year, isn't SHE lovely," they wrote in the video's caption.

Related: Baby Elephant at Disney's Animal Kingdom Enjoys Her First Day on the Savannah

In a video the Toledo Zoo posted on Facebook, they explained how Kirk was discovered to be a girl.

"We've been monitoring this growth here at the Toledo Zoo," Michael Frushour, General Curator of Endotherms, said in the clip. "And along the way we made an interesting realization. The beautiful baby boy elephant that we've all grown to know and love is actually a female."

If you're wondering how in the world this type of goof happened, it's not as unimaginable as one might think. As Frushour explained, identifying an elephant's gender is trickier than with humans.

"Elephant reproduction organs are very different than us, or even our pets at home," he said. "Especially early in development, the reproductive organs are actually internal and can look very similar and even in palpation, or feeling them, they can feel the same."

"It's not uncommon for something like this to happen," he added, before explaining that some "distinctions" can happen later on in life when the differences between male and female elephants is more apparent.

The zoo first shared footage of the elephant's birth on March 1 and declared that the little one would be called Kirk.

"The Toledo Zoo is thrilled to share the incredible behind-the-scenes footage of African elephant, Renee, giving birth to her male calf on Feb. 17," they wrote in the video's caption.

Now obviously some of those details have changed. But there are certain perks of having a female calf on the grounds

"While this might be very surprising news, we are overjoyed," Frushour explained in the Facebook footage. "Our baby Kirkja can stay with us even longer than we anticipated."

This is because when male baby elephants reach sexual maturity, they need to go off and find a herd of their own. "

Whereas when females reach sexual maturity, they can actually stay with the females of the herd. And with Kirkja that means she gets to stay here with [mom] Renee and Twiggy for the foreseeable future."

On Facebook, the zoo thanked everyone who had been following Kirkja's story so far.

"Were excited to continue sharing Kirkjas journey with our community for many years to come," they added in the video's caption.

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Former President Trump said his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin will help free Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal who has been detained in Russia for more than a year.

Evan Gershkovich, the Reporter from The Wall Street Journal, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the Election, but definitely before I assume Office, Trump said in a post on Truth Social early Thursday morning. He will be HOME, SAFE, AND WITH HIS FAMILY. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and WE WILL BE PAYING NOTHING!

In response to Trump, the Kremlin told the Journal there is no contact between Putin and Trump on this matter.

Trump previously said in an interview with Time magazine that he was not sure whether Gershkovich would get released while President Biden is in the White House.

I think Biden has dealt with Putin very poorly. Putin should never have gone into Ukraine. And he didnt go in for four years with me. I get along very well with Putin, but the reporter should be released and he will be released. I dont know if hes going to be released under Biden, Trump said, per the Time transcript.

The former president also said he would attempt to get the Journal reporter released if he returns to the White House.

Im surprised that Biden. Well, Im not surprised with anything with Biden. But I think its a terrible precedent. And Im very surprised that he hasnt been released, but I will get him released, if hes not released by the time we get to office, he said.

While speaking at the White House Correspondents Association dinner last month, Biden noted Gershkovichs situation.

Evan went to report in Russia to shed light on the darkness that you all escaped from years ago, the president said. To the entire family, everyone in this hall stands with you. Were working every day to secure his release, looking at opportunities and tools to bring him home. We keep the faith.

In an emailed statement to The Hill, T.J. Ducklo, Biden campaign senior communications adviser, said that Trump doesnt give a damn about the innocent Americans unjustly imprisoned by Vladimir Putin.

Trump has called journalists enemies of the people and pledged to imprison reporters whose coverage he doesnt like  not all that dissimilar to whats happening right now to Evan Gershkovich in Russia, Ducklo said. In fact, when he was in office, Trump passed up an opportunity to bring Paul Whelan home, who was detained on Trumps watch.

Trump has said he rejected a deal that would have brought Whelan home in exchange for the arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was part of a deal the Biden administration made to secure the release of Britney Griner, the WNBA superstar.

This story was updated at 12:46 p.m.

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 The Hill.
By Nandita Bose, Trevor Hunnicutt and Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally during a three-day state visit by Kenyan President William Ruto this week, a source familiar with the plans said.

Kenya would be the first sub-Saharan African country to receive the designation, reflecting Washington's drive to deepen relations with the East African nation, which has long also had close relations with Russia and China.

As he welcomed Ruto to the White House for a meeting with business executives, Biden told reporters he planned to visit Africa in February, following the U.S. presidential election. The two leaders will meet again in the Oval Office on Thursday, followed by a joint news conference and a state dinner.

Senior administration officials said Biden and Ruto would discuss a range of issues from trade to debt relief and the way forward for Haiti, Ukraine, Sudan and other areas during their meeting.

On Wednesday, Biden said he and Ruto would launch a new era of technology cooperation between the two countries that would include work on cyber security, artificial intelligence and semiconductors. He did not mention the security designation.

The U.S. will also announce $250 million in new investments through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), expanding the U.S. financing agencys portfolio in Kenya to over $1 billion, DFC said.

Both countries share a commitment to ensuring technology is developed and deployed in a manner that advances transparency, accountability, and human rights, a U.S. official said.

Kenya, like the United States, has become "an engine for innovation", the official said, citing its $1 billion Silicon Savannah technology hub that is home to more than 200 startups spanning a range of sectors, including clean energy, microelectronics, financial technology, and e-commerce.

Businesses that took part included Alphabet; Baylis Emerging Markets, a private equity firm specializing in African markets; BasiGo, a Kenyan electric bus company; Teneo, a global CEO consulting and advisory firm, and Gearbox Software, which is an American video game development company.

Washington also plans a new semiconductor partnership with Kenya, and is working with Congress to make it the first country in Africa to benefit from funding through the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, an administration official said.

Biden's designation of Kenya as a major non-NATO ally comes as it is preparing to send forces to Haiti as part of a U.N.-led force deploying to address the security crisis in the Caribbean.

The designation is granted by the United States to close, non-NATO allies that have strategic working relationships with the U.S. military.

The White House had no immediate comment.

Biden in March designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally of the U.S., fulfilling the promise he had made to Qatar earlier in the year.

Gyude Moore, head of the Africa Initiative at the Center for Global Development, said Kenya had proven to be a dependable and reliable partner for the U.S. at a time when South Africa was pursuing its own more independent foreign policy.

Cameron Hudson, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the move would formalize a shift that has seen Kenya "move more squarely into a U.S. orbit" in recent years, including greater cooperation on Somalia.

"It's very significant. No other sub-Saharan African country has it," he said.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Chris Reese, Sonali Paul and Lincoln Feast.)


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By Lee Yeon-woo

If you lived in Korea from the 1950s to 1980s, you would have witnessed two very different situations in a short period. Rising from the ashes of the 1950-53 Korean War, Korea experienced remarkable economic growth, known as the Miracle on the Han River.

Behind the dazzling achievements of Korea were its economic architects, or bureaucrats.

"Economic bureaucrats during this era played active roles. As time goes by, they have largely been forgotten. I wanted to spotlight them as well as to introduce the economic history of Korea," Hong Jea-hwan, a research fellow at Korea Institute for National Unification, said during a phone interview with The Korea Times.

The economic historian recently published a book titled "The Era of Economic Bureaucrats," delving into the contributions of 13 figures who played significant roles in establishing Korea's economic foundation.

Hong majored in the economic history of Korea for his master's and doctoral degrees at Seoul National University.

One of the figures highlighted was Chang Key-young, who acquired The Korea Times from its founder in 1953 and started the publication of the Hankook Ilboin 1954 after serving as the senior deputy governor of the Bank of Korea in 1950. In 1964, he was appointed finance minister and vice prime minister.

As a person who disliked idle working environments, he made phone calls to his employees from 5 a.m. after waking up an hour earlier. Employees had to report on grocery prices after observing the market early in the morning.

Hong believes that the Miracle on the Han River could not have been achieved by the president alone. Policy-level support from economic bureaucrats, in addition to strong leadership, made this success possible.

However, Hong also points out that it has become difficult for economic bureaucrats to emerge as stars nowadays, despite the abundance of well-educated individuals and a significantly improved economic environment.

"Nowadays, the overall government administration operates based on a system. In the past, there were fewer systemic foundations, so the impact of an individual's decision was more significant. They could also make flexible decisions, as the principles were less strict at the time. Such an environment has both good and bad aspects," Hong said.

Even if exceptional economic bureaucrats were to emerge, it would still be challenging to address the complex issues currently burdening the Korean economy. However, it could be valuable to remember the dedication and sense of mission demonstrated by bureaucrats during an earlier time, according to Hong.
YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS. According to Eliso Bolkvadze, the Chair of the Culture Committee of the Parliament of Georgia and a famous pianist, the friendly relations between the Armenian and Georgian peoples, which have a history of thousands of years, also find expression in the cultural interaction between the two countries, distinguished by a high dynamic of development.

The Georgian MP who is also a well-known pianist, had a solo concert on May 21 at the Aram Khachatryan Concert Hall in Yerevan. Afterwards, she answered questions of Armenpress. Eliso Bolkvadze noted that the thousands of Armenians living in Georgia also influence the development of Armenian-Georgian intercultural relations.

"I am now engaged in politics. I am a member of the parliament and Chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee of Georgia. The historical and cultural relations between our two countries are also deeply developed at the parliamentary level. We work in all directions, both with the ministries and within the parliament. It is possible to do the both because cultural diplomacy is one of the most important topics for the Parliament of Georgia and our committee," said Bolkvadze.

"We have many joint ideas, which we discussed in a very interesting meeting the day before with the members of the Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth, and Sport of the National Assembly of Armenia. This means that we will indeed do our utmost to continue our relationship in the future, as it has been established for centuries. Now, we will have a new and renewed relationship in the cultural sphere, which is deepening more and more between the two countries," said Eliso Bolkvadze, reminding that back in 2022, a memorandum on cooperation in the field of culture was signed between the relevant committees of the parliaments of Armenia and Georgia.

Addressing the question of whether there are plans to hold Georgian cultural days in Armenia and Armenian cultural days in Georgia, the deputy noted that both sides are preparing to hold such events, while also emphasizing the importance of direct interaction between the parliaments of the two countries.

"Parliaments can support and promote this idea. We, of course, decide the political direction of the country. I am sure that in the near future, some organization will be needed on this issue, because the situation is not easy in either Armenia or Georgia. We are two small countries fighting for independence and sovereignty. And, of course, we have such an opinion.

Discussions are taking place in the Parliament of Georgia about how this can be done. We are also discussing the best way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the legendary musician Charles Aznavour," Bolkvadze said, noting that the 100th anniversary of the famous film director Sergei Parajanov had already been celebrated with the efforts of the Armenian Embassy in Georgia and the country's parliament.

During the interview, Eliso Bolkvadze also mentioned the Lira Charitable Fund, which she founded with the purpose of supporting young people with musical talent. She also explained that talented Armenian children living in Georgia also benefit from the support provided by the Fund.

"Of course, we have talented Armenian children. They live in Akhalkalaki (Javakhk). There are two fantastic young pianists, Anahit Stelmashova and Arseny, who is only 10 years old. Anahit has participated several times in festivals held in Paris and Batumi, and she has won many awards. Currently, she is in Vienna. So, we have many talented and amazing pianists," she said.

''Under the auspices of UNESCO, the Lira Fund also holds an International Black Sea Festival in Batumi, which is one of the finest festivals in Georgia. Additionally, we organize master classes for young talents.

The Fund, of course, supports children in Georgia. During my recent visit to Armenia, together with the Georgian Embassy, we organized a reception for young people, and we chose a boy who was very talented, and he is already in Paris. Now I am going to invite him for the second time," said the Georgian deputy, emphasizing the importance of promoting and motivating young talents to use their abilities for creation.

"This is very important for me, and I do it with all my heart and I am always ready to help in whatever I can," concluded the Chair of the Culture Committee of the Parliament of Georgia.
YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS.Chairman of the State Revenue Committee RustamBadasyan met the EU Ambassador to Armenia Vasilis Maragos and his delegation at the Margara checkpoint. The head of the committee and the ambassador together inspected the checkpoint territory.

The Armenian SRC reports that the delegation was presented with the entire infrastructure of the checkpoint, the order of application and the organization of procedures. It was emphasized that at the Margara checkpoint, as at other checkpoints in Armenia, control of the state border is planned to be carried out according to the principle of integrated border management, in a one window system.

The main construction works at the checkpoint were completed in a short period, about six months, and major repairs were completely completed. A comfortable service hall, a hangar for deep inspection, pavilions and a warehouse for cargo clearance, parking lots, a landscaped spacious area and other infrastructure that meets international standards and is equipped with modern technical equipment have been built here.

The latest reforms in the State Revenue Committee were discussed at the meeting. Also, the implementation of agreements already reached within the framework of international cooperation in the tax and customs areas. The EU Ambassador expressed satisfaction with the work carried out at the checkpoint.
YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin and the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who is in Russia on an official visit, held talks in the Kremlin. The meeting was held in a narrow format reports TASS.

The agenda of the meeting included the state and prospects of Russian-Bahrain cooperation in trade, economic, energy, and humanitarian spheres, as well as current issues on the international agenda.

In connection with Bahrain's chairmanship of the Arab League, the parties also discussed regional problems, primarily the exacerbation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the settlement of the Middle East situation.

Negotiations in a narrow format were followed by an extended meeting in the format of a working breakfast. This part of the meeting was closed to the media.

Following the negotiations, joint documents will be signed.
YEREVAN, 23 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 23 May, USD exchange rate down by 0.79 drams to 387.58 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.59 drams to 420.29 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 4.29 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.08 drams to 493.16 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 303.39 drams to 30004.81 drams. Silver price up by 1.44 drams to 396.45 drams.
YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received a delegation headed by Claude Wiseler, the President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

According to the readout issued by the PMs Office, the Prime Minister welcomed Claude Wiseler's visit to Armenia, expressing confidence that it would give new impetus to further enhancing Armenian-Luxembourg relations.

The PM noted that in recent years, cooperation between the two countries had been dynamic, as well as the joint agenda had been consistently expanding. Nikol Pashinyan personally thanked Claude Wiseler and the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg for regularly expressing pro-Armenian positions and highlighting the close inter-parliamentary cooperation, including on international platforms.

According to the source, Claude Wiseler thanked the Armenian Government for the warm hospitality and highly assessed the current level of Armenian-Luxembourg relations. The President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg expressed his country's support for the implementation of Armenia-European Union cooperation and joint projects. Claude Wiseler emphasized that inter-parliamentary cooperation has a solid foundation, which will promote the expansion and development of relations in various directions.

The parties discussed issues related to the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the process of border delimitation between the two countries. The President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg emphasized the importance of the Armenian Government's approaches and targeted solutions to the problems faced by more than 100,000 forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh.

Prime Minister Pashinyan briefed the interlocutor on the Armenian Government's short-term and long-term plans for resolving the issues faced by forcibly displaced persons. Additionally, Nikol Pashinyan informed that the Armenian Government had approved a program to provide housing for forcibly displaced persons. In this context, the support of the international community was also emphasized.

On both sides the importance of the activity of the EU civil mission in Armenia for ensuring regional stability and peace was highlighted.
YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, Suren Papikyan on May 23 received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Republic of Armenia, Eric de Muynck.

The Minister of Defense congratulated Ambassador de Muynck on commencing his mission in Armenia and wished him success in fulfilling his responsible duties, the defense ministry said.

During the meeting, the perspectives of cooperation between the defense ministries of the two countries were discussed.

Regional security issues and the ongoing reforms in the Armenian Armed Forces were also addressed.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged Wednesday to ensure his top envoy for North Korean human rights has what she needs for her mission amid claims of insufficient internal support for the diplomat.

Blinken made the remarks during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing as Rep. Kim Young (R-CA) pointed out concerns among "outside stakeholders" that Ambassador Julie Turner relies on staff from other offices to carry out her work.

"In fact, I think as we speak, Special Envoy Turner is right now in South Korea, working on this critical portfolio, and yes, I'm going to make sure that she continues to have the resources and the support that she needs," the secretary said.

Turner is currently in Seoul to meet South Korean officials, civil society members and North Korean escapees, and to attend the Asian Leadership Conference hosted by the Chosun Ilbo, a local daily newspaper.

Rep. Kim stressed that she is "concerned" that Turner's office has not been given the "proper" attention by the State Department leadership.

Blinken reiterated that he would ensure Turner has the tools required for her work.

"But of course, it would help if we got our budget passed, and we were able to actually resource the department, including with the staff," he said.

Turner, a career diplomat of North Korean descent, was sworn in for the special envoy post in October following her Senate confirmation in July. (Yonhap)
New Delhi: With the Lok Sabha election campaign getting shriller and the speeches getting bitter, the Election Commission told the presidents of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress to mind the language and the content of speeches of their star campaigners. In a letter sent on Wednesday to the presidents of both parties, the EC has asked the BJP and the Congress to desist from campaigning along caste, community, language and religious lines, asserting that India's socio-cultural milieu cannot be made a casualty to elections.

The EC also directed the Congress not to politicise the armed forces and make potentially divisive statements about the socio-economic composition of the forces while it asked the BJP to stop campaign speeches that may divide society.

The EC asked the presidents of the two national parties to issue formal notes to their star campaigners to correct their discourse, exercise care and maintain decorum and not to make statements prohibited under the Model Code of Conduct,

The EC order to the parties comes almost a month after it had issued notices to the party presidents giving them time to respond. BJP president J.P. Nadda was sent a notice on allegation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a divisive speech in Rajasthans Banswara. The EC had then asked Mr Nadda to direct his party's star campaigners to desist from campaigning on religious and communal lines. On Wednesday, the EC rejected the BJPs explanation to its notice and asked the BJP to stop campaign speeches that may divide society.

To Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the EC had sought his reply to allegations against Rahul Gandhi on his remarks about Agniveer and that the Constitution will be changed by the BJP. The EC has also rejected his defence and asked the Congress not to politicise the defence forces and make potentially divisive statements regarding the socio-economic composition of the armed forces. It also asked the Congress to ensure that its star campaigners and candidates do not make statements which give a false impression that the Constitution may be abolished or sold.

The utterances of the concerned star campaigners follow patterns and create narratives that can be damaging beyond the MCC period. Technical loopholes or extreme interpretations of other political parties utterances cannot discharge star campaigners from the core responsibility of their own content, which ought to be corrective to the ongoing discourse and not further plummeting the quality of campaign discourse, the EC said to both parties. It added that it expects the BJP and the Congress to fully align the campaign methods to the practical aspects of the composite and sensitive fabric of India.

To Mr Nadda, the EC asked to direct all star campaigners not to make speeches and statements that may divide society, tell them to refrain from any utterances or campaigning on communal lines and to maintain decorum.

To Mr Kharge, the EC told him to direct star campaigners to desist from indulging in any political propaganda involving the activities of the defence forces and not to make potentially divisive statements about the socio-economic composition of the forces.
NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the ongoing general election is a contest between the BJP-led NDA and the "corrupt INDIA bloc". Dubbing the Opposition alliance "inherently unstable" at an election rally in Haryana's Mahendragarh and Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann a "kagzi CM" at a rally in Punjabs Patiala, Mr Modi said the voters have to not only choose the next PM but also decide the country's future".

Addressing his second rally of the day in Patiala, Mr Modi launched a fierce attack on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and called Mr Mann "kagzi chief minister" (a CM just on paper).

Mr Modi said: After the five phases of voting, the message of the people of India resonates with Fir ek baar, Modi sarkar. He urged Punjab to vote en masse for the BJP to ensure a Viksit Bharat (developed India).

This election is a contest between the NDA and the corrupt INDIA bloc to determine Indias future. On one hand, there is Modi, who aims to manufacture fighter jets in India, and on the other, there is the INDIA bloc, which aims to dismantle Indias nuclear arsenal, the Prime Minister said.

He noted that while the BJP-led NDA has eliminated terrorism, enabled 25 crores to exit multidimensional poverty and oriented Indias development towards a Viksit Bharat, the INDIA bloc has shed tears over terrorists killed in encounters, perpetuated generations of poverty and turned India into a loot machine.

Blaming the Congress and the AAP for the problems in Punjab, Mr Modi said, Rampant corruption and dampened industrial prospects have destroyed the state of Punjab. Today, resource mafia, drug mafia and shooter gangs rule the roost in Punjab.

Corrupt Congress and AAP are two sides of the same coin, aiming to plunder Punjab and deprive it of any development," Mr Modi said.

He criticised the state government, saying, The state government of Punjab is debt-ridden and its CM is only a chief minister on paper.

The Prime Minister claimed that commemorating Veer Bal Diwas, bringing all Sikh brothers and sisters from Afghanistan to safety and retrieving the Holy Guru Granth Sahib were achievements of the BJP government at the Centre.

Hitting out at the Opposition for indulging in votebank politics, Mr Modi said, The INDIA bloc opposes the CAA owing to their votebank politics. For the sake of the votebank, they aimed to prevent our Sikh brothers and sisters from coming to India after facing the horrors of partition.

In his Mahendragarh rally in Haryana, Mr Modi asserted that the INDIA bloc is talking about having five Prime Ministers over the next five years and said, "The cow hasn't given milk, but the fight over ghee has started in the alliance."

In the 2024 elections, people have understood the true face of the Congress, Mr Modi said, accusing the Congress of prioritising its votebank and even supporting the partition of India for this reason.

The Congress aims to provide religion-based reservations at the expense of SC, ST and OBC reservations, he said, criticising the TMC government, a part of the INDIA bloc, for granting reservations in West Bengal to illegal immigrants from the minority community under the OBC category.

The Prime Minister noted that even the Calcutta high court overturned this blatant injustice being done to members of the OBC community and reprimanded the TMC government for granting religion-based reservations to illegal immigrants belonging to minority communities at the cost of reservations meant for the OBCs.

Reservation for SC, ST and OBCs is their adhikar (right) and Modi is the chowkidar of this adhikar, the Prime Minister said.

Emphasising the significance of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Mr Modi said, The 2024 elections will determine the future of India.

The INDIA bloc only spreads the politics of communalism, casteism and dynasty, he said, accusing the Congress of developing an "anti-Shri Ram stance", boycotting the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony and conspiring to lock up the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Accusing the Congress of betraying Haryana's farmers, Mr Modi said that the state's farmers have suffered due to the Congress' betrayal. During his address, the Prime Minister also talked about showcasing Bajra-made products from Haryana to international delegates during the G-20 summit.

He also highlighted that his government gave priority to Haryanas irrigation potential and provided MSP for more than 14 crops in the state.
Mumbai: At least six people were killed and 48 were injured in a massive blast in the boiler of a chemical company in the Dombivli area on Thursday. Officials of the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) said a massive blast occurred in the Amudan Chemicals Pvt Ltd in Dombivli East at around 1.30 pm. The sound of the blast was heard in a radius of of two kilometres and the windows of nearby houses in the building shattered by the impact of the explosion.

Officials said that rescue operations were still ongoing and they suspect a few more workers could be stuck inside.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said, Arrangements have been made for treatment of injured and more ambulances have been kept ready. I had a conversation with the Thane collector and they are also reaching on the spot...Teams of NDRF, TDRF, and fire brigade have been called.

Confirming six deaths so far, Mr. Fadnavis said, Unfortunately six lives were lost and 48 got injured. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Injured people are being treated at AIMS, Neptune and Global hospitals. The government is providing every kind of assistance. Various teams and administrative officials are at the spot for rescue operations.

Fire officials said that a reactor in the chemical factory exploded around 1.40 pm and presence of chemicals led to two more explosions within the factory. Some witnesses claimed to have heard more than three back to back explosions. The entire area was covered with smog.

Industries Minister Uday Samant, local MP Shrikant Shinde and MLA Raju Patil also visited the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area where the factory is located.

Chief minister Eknath Shinde has announced that the government will bear the expenses of the treatment of the injured persons. The CM has also directed that the victims should be paid compensation within a week, Samant said.
by Steve Suwannarat

A new report notes that returns from cyber scams generate an estimated at US$ 12.5 billion in a country whose GDP is below US$ 30 billion. This is keeping foreign investors away, weakening economic development. While the authorities have started to crack down, they can only go so far since many of those involved are Chinese nationals, protected by their countrys economic involvement in Cambodia.

Phnom Phen (AsiaNews)  A new report highlights not only the size, but also the growth of cyber scamming in Cambodia.

Organised by powerful cross-border gangs, the activity has enjoyed a blind eye, if not support, from the authorities, and is linked to the development of other illegal activities, such as money laundering, workers enslavement, and the extortion racket.

Thanks to initiatives by local and international organisations, the authorities finally began to investigate and convict; yet, they themselves view such illegal activity as economically useful for the country.

In its latest report, titled Transnational Crime in Southeast Asia: A Growing Threat to Global Peace and Security, the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) highlights how organised crime and local elites have developed close ties, allowing the former to thrive without apparent obstacles.

The return on cyber scamming is estimated to exceed US$ 12.5 billion annually in the Southeast Asian country, whose formal GDP comes under US$ 30 billion.

The Cambodian economy grew consistently last year, and is doing the same so far this year; however, its potential is limited by groups that run a substantial underground economy, and by the lack of foreign investors deterred by the countrys lax attitude towards the rule of law.

For Yong Kim Eng, president of the People's Centre for Development and Peace, the level of cybercrime is such that many foreign observers are concerned about it and raise the issue whenever discussing the country.

Kim Eng himself acknowledges that the government has taken repressive measures, including the arrest and deportation of many suspects, often Chinese nationals.

But precisely this makes repression problematic, given Cambodias close relations with China, from which it gets most of its foreign investments and aid, giving Chinese businesses ample opportunity to operate in the country, and use its resources and manpower.

In many cases, business activities cover illegal activities; casinos, for example, are open to money laundering.

The USIP report notes ties between local authorities, criminal groups, and supranational institutions, citing the decision by the Financial Action Task Force on money-laundering to remove Cambodia from its grey list of countries under observation following lobbying by the Cambodian government.

It is still an open question whether this was done to protect businesses of dubious reputation or Cambodias national interests to allay concerns among potential foreign investors.
by Sumon Corraya

The workers have spent thousands of euro on documents, but for months they have been waiting for a clearance to leave that has not arrived. In the crosshairs the consultancy company VFS Global, which was in charge of handling the administrative paperwork. Also involved are brokers and swindlers who exploit conditions of need to do business.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - A visa dispute involving brokers and swindlers is raising the protests of many Bangladeshi migrant workers who, after spending thousands of euro on permits, find themselves waiting in vain for them to leave. Not least because after registering all the documentation and obtaining the permit, it takes between six and seven months for an appointment and, even then, the timeframe for completing the process remains uncertain. Meanwhile, the applicants - many of whom have Italy as their dream and final destination - remain suspended in limbo and live in inhuman conditions.

Mohammad Apu from Naoganon is one of these victims. He received his clearance on 17 May after paying more than 10,600 euro that he scraped together by borrowing money, but he cannot leave because VFS Global after eight months has still not delivered his passport. The reference is to the global technology and outsourcing services company for governments and diplomatic missions, which handles the administrative tasks related to visa and passport issuance for its client governments.

In May last year, Apu points out to AsiaNews, I paid Tk 13.5 lakh to get the permit, but I am still waiting. I go to the VFS Global office in Gulshan-1 four days a week, but the problem has not been solved. I have no money now and I live in inhuman conditions with my family. Rumana Akter, a 40-year-old woman from Natore, also struggled to get a passport to go to Italy. I have suffered for a long time, she explains, because our passports are being held hostage by VFS. I am facing great pressure, trapped between rising family expenses and the burden of the debt incurred.

According to the rules of the Italian Embassy in Bangladesh, a visa application requires an online appointment through the VFS Global website. However, the company is the subject of millions of people's complaints that appointments are not made without intermediaries and that large sums of money are being paid, leading to mismanagement. A controversy that mounted over time and ended up occupying the pages of several newspapers.

In response, a meeting was held between the Italian ambassador and those in charge of the expatriate welfare ministry. Victims report that scammers in Italy offer false clearances, while local brokers embezzle money by promising to guarantee visa appointments. In addition, there is a shortage of service providers, which leads to extended delays that end up causing serious harm and suffering to migrant workers. To date, the passports of at least 100,000 applicants are being held by the Italian Embassy and VFS Global.

Italian Ambassador to Dhaka Antonio Alessandro pointed out that many applicants provide false information in their visa applications, which take a long time to verify. The diplomat also expressed concern that intermediaries charge excessive fees to applicants, which is unacceptable. Minister Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury adds that the discussion with the Italian diplomat included measures to prevent harassment and abuse also because, he adds, Italy is interested in hiring 700,000 workers legally.

The duration of agricultural work in Italy is nine months. However, after receiving the nulla osta it takes six to seven months to get an appointment for a visa. The aspirants, frustrated by the vain waiting, formed a human chain in front of the Italian embassy on 27 March and 22 April. They complained that they could not get a visa appointment from the company even after obtaining work permits and spending thousands of rupees. In response, VFS Global announced that a new online appointment booking system is being developed according to the instructions provided by the embassy.

Subir Nath, one of the many people waiting for a visa, told AsiaNews that there is no way of knowing whether a clearance is fake or genuine before applying for a visa and only the embassy can verify this. Taking advantage of this situation, middlemen demand money for fake permits, cheating many unsuspecting people.

About 7.40 million Bangladeshi immigrants live abroad and are among the largest expatriate communities in Italy: in 2022 there were 150,692.
The French president landed today in the capital Noumea and hinted that the state of emergency could be lifted after the deployment of 3,000 police. The tensions between loyalists and separatists are intertwined with the crisis of the nickel industry in which indigenous Kanaks are most of the workforce.

Noumea (AsiaNews)  A 3,000-strong French police deployment will remain in New Caledonia as long as necessary, said President Emmanuel Macron who landed this morning in Noumea, the capital, in an attempt to restore order and calm after recent clashes between separatists and "loyalists.

"This is the top priority," said the French president, who, after paying tribute to the six people who died in the violence, met with local political and business leaders.

The government could lift the state of emergency, Macron hinted, but the political future of New Caledonia, which has been under French control since 1853, will be a thorny issue for the French leader.

The outbreak of violence by the most radical fringes came after both houses of Frances National Assembly approved a new law giving voting rights to French residents who have lived in the territory for more than 10 years.

Such a move that could reduce the political weight of the indigenous population.

Kanaks are about 40 per cent of the territorys 270,000 inhabitants, while the "Europeans" represent a quarter of the population. The latter group is divided between the descendants of early settlers (Caldoches), and those who arrived recently (derogatorily referred to as the "metro" or "zoreill"),

Eleven per cent of the population say they are mixed-race, belonging to more than one group, according to France's National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies.

Since the late 1990s, more than 40,000 French people have moved to New Caledonia and now represent 20 per cent of the local population, but they are excluded from local elections because the electoral rolls have been frozen at the 1998 status quo, under the provisions of the Noumea agreement.

If the constitutional reform were to be definitively approved, 25,000 residents would be given the right to vote in the territorys provincial assemblies and territorial congress, which picks the government.

The divisions are also geographical. The northern province and the Loyalty Islands province are predominantly Kanak, while the southern province, where the capital Noumea is located, is inhabited mostly by people of European descent.

New Caledonia was used as a penal colony in the 19th century, taking in more than 20,000 people (mostly political prisoners), subjected to forced labour. Between 1897 and 1903, the indigenous population was displaced under a policy of Cantonnement, i.e. moving the Kanaks to reserves and smaller islands, to make room for settlers.

New Caledonia became an Overseas Territory in 1946. In 1984, a coalition of pro-independence parties formed the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) and declared independence, starting a civil conflict that ended four years later.

Since then, the FLNKS has been engaged in talks with Paris, but is opposed to opening up the electoral rolls.

Some believe that the Coordination Cell for Action on the Ground (CCAT[*]), which was created late last year, was behind the violent protests.

Louis Le Franc, the French high commissioner for New Caledonia, has described the group as "an organisation of thugs who engage in clear acts of violence, with the intent to kill.

The National Council of Kanaky Chiefs, which represents the main Kanak tribal chiefs, has lent its support to CCAT, judging that it is not a terrorist or mafia group as certain political authorities would have people believe."

In a recent statement, the CCAT said that attacks committed on businesses, companies, public buildings and facilities were not necessary," but that they were the expressions of societys invisibles.

Loyalist political groups opposed to independence are on the right of the political spectrum, but are divided into several factions.

Young Kanaks, who were at the forefront of the protests, are still "extremely marginalised" economically and socially, said Mathias Chauchat, an advisor to the FLNKS and a professor at the University of New Caledonia.

Forty-six per cent of Kanaks have a junior high school certificate as their highest educational qualification, compared to 11 per cent for "Europeans," he explained, adding that indigenous people feel discouraged because they see the French taking the best jobs.

The economic difficulties in recent years have also played a role in the protests. Unlike other Pacific island countries, New Caledonia is not poor, but its economy is almost completely dependent on nickel mining, of which it is the world's third-largest producer.

Nickel is used in electric car batteries, but especially in stainless steel. Nickel is a strategic resource, necessary for building, supplying, and deploying modern militaries and powering the economies that sustain them. This was true in the 19th century, and with the rise of green energy technology, its even more true today," said Cullen Hendrix, of the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

But a drop in demand, lower prices in recent years (in 2023 the price of nickel fell by 45 per cent), and growing competition from Indonesia (Chinas main supplier) have created a crisis that has disproportionately affected the Kanak population.

The three main companies involved in the sector employ, directly and indirectly, some 13,000 people.

The French government was negotiating a rescue package for mining companies after several international partners pulled out, but talks have stalled due to tensions between pro-independence and loyalist camps.

[*] Cellule de coordination des actions de terrain.
by Santosh Digal

The measure had 126 votes in favour and 109 against. It still needs the approval of the Senate to become state law. In the name of its Constitution, which protects the family, the Philippines is the only country not to have this institution in its legislation. The Catholic Church opposes the law that has been debated for years.

Manila (AsiaNews) - On 22nd May, the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Philippine parliament, approved on second reading the law on divorce. Proposition No. 9349 received the votes of 126 MPs in favour, while 109 opposed and 20 abstained, according to House Secretary General Reginald Velasco.

Known as the Absolute Divorce Act, the proposal aims to recognise the institution of divorce in the country that currently recognises marriage as indissoluble, recognising only nullity decreed by canonical courts in cases of serious deficiencies in the bond. The Philippines is currently the only country in the world (along with the Vatican) that does not provide for divorce in its legislation in any form.

It still needs the approval of the Philippine Senate to become state law. Should the law also be passed by the other branch of parliament, spouses will be able to file for divorce if they have been separated for at least five years. However, the proposal provides for a final 60-day period between the filing of the application and the judgment for possible conciliation.

The bill also mentions as possible grounds physical violence or grossly abusive conduct directed against the petitioner, a common child or the petitioner's child; physical violence or moral pressure to force the petitioner to change religious or political affiliation; drug addiction or habitual alcoholism or chronic gambling; homosexuality.

The issue has been under discussion in the country for years: back in 2018, the House passed a similar measure, but in that case the Senate did not complete the legislative process. The 1987 Philippine Constitution contains a section that declares: Marriage as an inviolable social institution is the foundation of the family and shall be protected by the State. And the Philippine Catholic Church has repeatedly expressed its opposition.

The bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay, Palawan, Archbishop Broderick Pabillo, president of the Episcopal Commission for the Laity, already expressed concern in 2021 about this bill because legislators should support families. Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, already stated in 2015 when he was president of the Bishops' Conference that a failed marriage is not grounds for divorce.

In the debate in the House of Representatives, MP Arlene Brosas of the Gabriela Women's Party argued that divorce is a rights-based choice: the right to join in marriage must also include the right to leave. MP Edcel Lagman, one of the initiators of the bill, argued that the law would still prohibit quickie divorces. He said he respected the opposing views based on their religious beliefs, the bishops fears, and the need to avoid the displeasure of the respective spouses', but announced that a campaign for approval would be launched immediately in the Senate as well. In contrast, Congressman Rufus Rodriguez came out with a loud and resounding no to the divorce bill, arguing that the measure would violate the Philippine Constitution.
Eight Franciscans and three Maronite brothers were killed together in hatred of the faith in the Bab-Touma neighbourhood in 1860. They symbolise the "ecumenism of blood" that Christians have experienced in the Middle East in the recent past. The pontiff also approved the decrees for the canonisation of 15-year-old Carlo Acutis and Fr Giuseppe Allamano, founder of the Consolata missionaries.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  The Martyrs of Damascus, eight Franciscans and three lay Maronites killed in hatred of the faith in 1860, will be proclaimed saints.

Pope Francis approved the favourable votes by the cardinals and bishops of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints for the canonisation of Blessed Emanuele Ruiz and seven Companions of the Order of Friars Minor, as well as Francis, Abdel Mooti and Rafael Massabki, three brothers killed in hatred of the faith during a wave of violence that saw the Druze attack Christians for political reasons in what was then the Ottoman Empire.

The pontiff announced his intention to hold an ordinary consistory regarding the canonisation of four other blessed, including Fr Giuseppe Allamano (1851-1926), from Italy, founder of the institute of the Consolata Missionaries, which is also present in some Asian countries, and 15-year-old Carlo Acutis (1991-2006), a student with a strong Eucharistic orientation but also passionate about new technologies and for this reason considered particularly close to today's young people. Pope Francis recognised two miracles that took place through their intercession.

The canonisation of the Martyrs of Damascus was a long-awaited gift for Christians in the Middle East. Their story sums up much of their suffering. The Franciscan friars (seven Spaniards and one Austrian) lived in the neighbourhood of Bab-Touma, where they shared bread with the poor at a very difficult time.

Amid the crisis of the Ottoman Empire and the pressures of European powers, in December 1842 Sultan Abdulmejid I accepted a proposal by the chancellor of the Austrian Empire, Prince Klemens von Metternich, to divide Mount Lebanon into two distinct districts, one in the north for Christians and one in the south for Druze.

However, when violence broke out in Beirut in 1860, Christians were attacked across the region resulting in the death of thousands of Christians.

On the night of 9-10 July 1860, the friars and the three Maronite brothers took refuge within the solid walls of a convent.

Father Custodian Emanuele Ruiz prepared the confreres for the worst, inviting them to confess and receive Communion. In fact, they were betrayed and their killers were allowed into the compound through a small door.

Beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1926, their liturgical feast is celebrated on 10 July in the Church of St Paul, which houses their remains in Damascus.

Their story is a testimony to the ecumenism of martyrs that has united over time so many Christian communities in the Middle East. Although divided for historical reasons in different rites, they have found themselves in the recent past bearing the same witness to the point of giving their lives for the same faith in Christ Jesus.

The canonisation of the Martyrs of Damascus is also significant in light of the upcoming jubilee next year. In the bull of indiction Spes non confundit Pope Francis writes:

We need to treasure their testimony, in order to confirm our hope and allow it to bear good fruit.

The martyrs, coming as they do from different Christian traditions, are also seeds of unity, expressions of the ecumenism of blood.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has praised construction workers of a newly built school for the country's ruling party officials, state media reported Thursday.

Kim had a photo session with members of Unit 267, who participated in the construction of the Central Cadres Training School of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) on Wednesday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Footage from the state-run Korean Central TV also showed Kim arriving at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the photo session took place, by self-driving his luxury sedan, a Mercedes-Maybach.

The site is where the bodies of national founder Kim Il-sung and the current leader's late father, Kim Jong-il, lie in state.

Kim has made multiple public appearances in different Mercedes-Maybach vehicles, including a limousine, despite international sanctions on North Korea's nuclear and missile programs that ban such luxury items.

The KCNA said the leader praised workers "for having demonstrated to the whole world the prestige of the world's most prestigious political and ideological school with perfect appearance as the 'pedigree farm' for training core members of the WPK."

Kim also said that the unit is "extraordinary in its capacity, as evidenced by many world-startling monumental edifices it has built over more than recent decade." The unit also has participated in the construction of major facilities aimed at idolizing the Kim regime.

Kim visited the site on March 30 and May 15 before attending the opening ceremony Tuesday, a move that could show his commitment to the education of party officials.

Seoul's unification ministry noted that such frequent visits to the site within just around 50 days are "extremely unusual," hinting at the regime's emphasis on the importance of ideological education for officials.

"In the future, it is expected that there will be an increased emphasis on Kim Jong-un's status as an ideological leader and his idolization, along with a strengthening of the ideological training of party officials," a ministry official said on customary anonymity.

The training school, which traces its roots back to the Central Party School established in 1946, is the highest educational facility to train WPK officials. (Yonhap)
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The Iranian President and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who were killed in the helicopter crash represented the area most open to cooperation with Russia, especially in the delivery of weapons for the war in Ukraine. Khamenei will retain control, but conflicts with Moscow over control of Syria remain in the background.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - The death of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi came as a shock to all countries in the world, but Russian experts believe like many others that the tragic incident will not lead to significant political changes in Tehran.

The expert of the Institute of Orientalism of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Sazin recalls in an interview with Rbk that the fullness of power belongs only to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and for years all branches of Iranian power, executive, judicial and legislative, have been entrusted to the radical-conservative sector of the local political establishment, of which Raisi was an expression.

According to Sazin, the group in power is not very homogeneous and is made up of factions that fight among themselves for the levers of influence over politics, which is why the president's death may destabilise the situation at the highest level to some extent, while ruling out any possibility of revolution and coup d'etat.

Another expert, Elena Suponina of the Russian Council for International Affairs, believes that reformers tending towards a more democratic and liberal turn might now try to exploit the situation by presenting their own candidates, although as long as Ali Khamenei is alive, everything will remain under control. However, the Ayatollah is not considered the most open supporter of an alliance with Russia, considering Iran's conflicts with Russia over control of Syria.

Commentators agree that the real stakes now will be the succession to the 85-year-old Khamenei, to which Raisi was the most influential candidate. New waves of mass protests are not ruled out either, while former Russian ambassador to Iran Aleksandr Marjasov believes that the opposition movement is currently rather weak, only at times different strata of the population emerge, which do not coalesce... there is no centre or figure around which the protests can coalesce.

According to several Russian observers, Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian represented the sector most open to collaboration with Russia, especially in the delivery of weapons for the war in Ukraine with the infamous Shahed drones, but their disappearance should not prelude a slowdown, let alone an end to these agreements.

If anything, Marjasov believes, cooperation will expand further, because these were the Supreme Leader's indications, and it is only a question of who will take the initiative more openly.

Russia, after all, is sponsoring Iran's entry into the SCO and Brics, and Putin was so concerned about the incident that he immediately sent two Il-76 planes with 50 rescue specialists to mountainous areas, something that did not happen for the many Russians whose lives were in danger due to the recent floods and severe emergencies in many regions of Russia. As some commentators wrote, the salvation of Raisi was more important than the salvation of the Russians.

In any case, international tensions will remain high, considering the conspiracy theories circulating on social networks, pointing to Israel's involvement in the crash of Raisi's helicopter, or those attributing to Khamenei himself the assassination of his successor to make room for his son Mojtaba.

According to Marjasov, theories about American involvement will also soon appear, considering that the Bell 212 helicopter was manufactured in the USA, but Sazin considers them insubstantial: certainly the maintenance of the vehicle was problematic due to American sanctions, but there was no need for conspiracies.

Iran's allies such as the Palestinians of Hezbollah will continue to annoy Israel, Marjasov assures, with attacks in the border regions, but without going beyond what has happened so far. Even Sazin agrees that everything will remain in place, with tensions against Israel, business relations with Russia and anti-American rhetoric.

Suponina believes, however, that a worsening of the situation in general in the Middle East is inevitable, not with explosions of violence in the short term, but in some time Raisi's death will play its role in the destabilisation of the entire region.

Photo: Kremlin.ru/Wikimedia
by Gianni Criveller

AsiaNewss editorial director looks at the conferences that marked a hundred years since the Council of Shanghai. While acknowledging past mistakes, he insists that most missionaries were committed to the good of the Chinese people. The nationalism of the European powers of that time cannot be used to hide Chinas nationalism today. When will a Second Chinese Council, free from political interference, be able to speak about the challenges of evangelisation in this land?

Milan (AsiaNews)  Tomorrows day of prayer for China, which Benedict XVI introduced with his Letter to Chinese Catholics in 2007, is even more significant this year in the wake of two conferences centred on the Church in China, one held on Monday (21 May) at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, and the other on Tuesday (21 May) at the Urbaniana University in Rome, both of which drew a large number of participants.

The starting point was the centenary of the Council of Shanghai (15 May-12 June 1924), which opened the way to the Churchs indigenisation (entrusting its leadership to the local clergy) and inculturation (expressing the faith through local cultural forms).

The two conferences had an academic orientation (especially in Milan) but also focused on Church diplomacy (in Rome) with the participation of Chinese bishops, priests, and scholars together with Italian colleagues. It is important to highlight the addresses by senior Holy See leaders, like Pope Francis, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, and the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation Card Luis A. Tagle.

Their measured words were aimed at pursuing the difficult dialogue with Chinese authorities, the actual recipients of the many hopes expressed at the two conferences. A third conference is slated for late June, at the Catholic University of Saint Joseph in Macao.

In the following commentary I would like to underscore some of the topics that emerged during the intense discussions during the two conferences, offering some thoughts that might serve the people of God in China and those who are committed to the good of the Church in that country.

Were foreign missionaries colonialists?

Some participants pointed out that the Council of Shanghai, thanks above all to the prophetic and determined work of the Apostolic Delegate Celso Costantini, corrected the critical situation in which the missions found themselves, whereby, to many, they seemed like foreign enclaves. Indeed, the delay in localisation was unfortunately noted by many, starting with Pope Benedict XV (1919) and ten years later by our Blessed Paolo Manna, then PIME Superior General.

Quite a few missionaries, children of their age, related to the faithful in a paradoxical way. Once I asked Card John Tong of Hong Kong for an actual example of the way missionaries exhibited a sense of superiority over the Chinese faithful and priests. He replied: "The missionaries in China ate in a different refectory from that of the Chinese clergy".

It made me think of the Marquis, successor of Don Rodrigo, in chapter 38 of The Betrothed, the great novel by Alessandro Manzoni.

The Marquis is a good person, generous enough to invite the bride and groom to his palace and even to serve them at the table. But he relegated the newlyweds to the refectory, while he, the Marquis, secluded himself in the dining room with Don Abbondio. Manzoni notes that, in terms of humility, the nobleman had just so much of it as to take a lower place than these worthy peasants, but not enough to associate with them as an equal.

This is the paradox. The missionaries suffered from a rather peculiar syndrome. They were willing to give their lives for the Chinese, but they did not hold them in high esteem enough to let them rule at home and sit by their side, as brothers with equal dignity.

This said, it is unfair to reduce the history of the missions from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century to colonialism and imperialism. Costantini himself could not have accepted the denigration of the missionary movement, as if it were hostile to the Chinese people or wanted to exploit them for colonialist aims.

Unfortunately, such negative attitudes are used as justification for Chinas current religious policy; and have occasionally been heard, albeit in a nuanced way, in some of the speeches given at the hitherto mentioned conferences. While some missionaries were nationalistic, many hoped for the end of French tutelage already in the 19th century, and a direct relationship with Chinese authorities to ensure security, that is, freedom for the faithful and missionaries.

I have read thousands of letters by PIME missionaries in China. They were not undertaking the mission  a choice that had no return ticket  to support their own countrys colonialism, but rather to evangelise and save souls. The missionaries not only did not support the policy of their governments, but actually detested it.

In a letter from China, Saint Alberico Crescitelli, a PIME martyr, solemnly cursed the Italian anti-clerical government. The first two PIME bishops in China, Timoleone Raimondi (Hong Kong and Guandong) and Simeone Volonteri (Henan), worked tirelessly, writing appeals to the Holy See, to free the missions from imperialist chains at least 50 years before the Council of Shanghai.

Fr Francesco Giulianelli, a missionary with PIME (then called the Roman Seminary), led a Vatican embassy to Beijing in 1885 seeking an agreement with Chinese authorities. An agreement was reached and, as Card Parolin noted in his speech at the conference in Rome, the Holy See appointed Archbishop Antonio Agliardi as its delegate to China.

Under threat from the anticlerical government of France, which had colonialist aims in China, Pope Leo XIII was forced to reverse his decision even though it had already been published in L'Osservatore Romano on 12 August 1886. Famous missionaries like Joseph Gabet (from France), Antoine Cotta (from the United States), Vincent Lebbe (from Belgium), the aforementioned Paolo Manna (from Italy), and many others also spoke out against colonial tutelage and in favour of localisation.

Missionaries as agents of modernity

Most missionaries were sincerely and generously committed to the good of the Chinese people and were agents of social progress. They built not only churches, but also provided educational and health services open to everyone, setting up clinics, hospitals, and orphanages that saved the lives of many people.

Great efforts were made to save girls and empower young women, opposing the practice of foot binding. Thanks to women's congregations, many girls and young women were offered an education and the possibility of life choices outside of family ties, in which young women were often forced to make choices contrary to their will.

Missionaries were a vehicle of modernity, bringing new ideas and knowledge, about science and democracy, which became the rallying cry of the May Fourth (1919) student movement, introduced to China in schools and colleges founded by Christian missionaries.

The missionaries were, consciously or unconsciously, agents of interculturality, which greatly benefited the Chinese people beyond the boundaries of the Catholic Church, fostering scientific and democratic progress. Let me repeat! Reducing a century of missionary activity to an episode of colonialism is but a convenient ideological reinterpretation to justify illiberal political positions.

It does not seem to us a good argument to justify Chinas current religious policy by unilaterally emphasising past mistakes, not to mention the campaigns of religious persecution, which did occur, causing untold suffering to Chinese Catholic communities, whose only fault was to be part of a universal faith.

An indispensable issue: freedom

As noted, missionaries were children of their age. Are we not as well? What will be said about us a hundred years from now? Will they say that we have been far too accommodating to serious violations of the freedom of the Chinese people and of the human and religious rights of so many believers of various religions? As Fr Manna wrote, Western colonialist nationalism was an unbearable chain on the freedom of the Church.

Far from protecting the mission, it stifled it. Now it is no longer the nationalism of European powers that threatens the freedom of the Church in China, but rather the nationalism inculcated by the countrys political authorities through the practice of sinicisation. The religious policy inspired by it rules in an invasive and pervasive way every aspect of the life of ecclesial communities and organisations.

The two conferences were not the place to speak out against violations, but rather a venue to meet, talk, and take steps together to find a way that leads to the improvement in the main issues. Really good things were said and hopefully they will be implemented.

But we commentators, who do not have any diplomatic role but will not fail in our ecclesial responsibility, cannot but see this simple fact: the fundamental problem of the Church in China today is her freedom  freedom, or emancipation, not from past nationalisms but from the present.

Some speakers, both Italian and Chinese, commendably suggested that today we cannot emphasise only the theme of localism; instead, we must also stress the universal character of the Catholic Church. She does not exist unless both dimensions are held together.

Faith in the Gospel is not alien to any people or culture, but no local Church can do without the universal Church and the successor of Peter. The turning point of the Council of Shanghai was made possible thanks to the interventions of two popes, Benedict XV and Pius XI, and the full pontifical mandate entrusted to Celso Costantini. Without the action of the Roman pontiffs, the Church in China would be less Chinese and less Catholic. And this is all the truer today.

When will a Second Chinese Council take place? A proposal for an agenda

It strikes me that the Council of Shanghai was called the "First Chinese Council". When, then, will there be a Second Chinese Council? There is a great need for it. This council would fit with the synodal spirit that Pope Francis wants for the Church today, including the participation of the people of God in the variety of their charisms and ministries, together with the bishops and the pope.

A council would still face many urgent and open challenges if it was free from political interference. But only this way would it have the freedom, unity, and serenity necessary to initiate a proper theological and pastoral reflection to meet the challenges of evangelising in the post-modern age, enabled to enhance Chinas rich cultural traditions.

Let me make a few suggestions for the possible agenda of a Second Chinese Council. There is still no creative blending of Chinese culture and the liturgy. Ways to help the faithful express their faith through suitable cultural practices and forms of worship are in short supply.

Preparing the faithful in independent, Church-run groups, schools, and movements is not currently possible. Training women religious and priests in accordance with todays sensitivities is urgent, including having the Church pay attention to candidates emotional and psychological needs.

Large-scale, rural-to-urban migration in the country has generated a certain gap between rural and urban Catholicism. The former, which tends to be traditional and devotional, often cannot cope with the disorientation generated by moving away from one's own Catholic village.

Christians in the cities are more open to the demands of modernity, and attentive to the spiritual dimension of life in crowded metropolises, but they do not always go along with their Catholic brothers and sisters who come from villages in distant provinces.

The laity must become more involved in evangelisation, as well as social outreach, charity work, and educational activity. As is the case around the world, the fragility of young people is an issue that needs urgent action, especially since supporting an aging population is falling on their shoulders. A programme of evangelisation is also needed for many Chinese living abroad, where the opportunities to encounter the Christian faith are much greater.

I would like to conclude by turning to Mary Help of Christians, who is venerated by Chinese Catholics at the Shrine of Sheshan (Shanghai). To her we entrust peace in China and the world, echoing Pope Franciss video message to the Conference two days ago.

Those who follow Jesus love peace, the pontiff said, and they stand together with all those who work for peace, at a time when we see inhuman forces at work that seem to want to hasten the end of the world.

RED LANTERNS IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHINA. TO RECEIVE A WEEKLY UPDATE EVERY THURSDAY, CLICK HERE.
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China encircles Taiwan. Tension is growing around the autonomous island, which the Chinese regime seeks to control completely.

The Chinese army has surrounded Taiwan three days after the inauguration of new President William Lai Ching-te. China considers the new Taiwanese leader a "secessionist" and a "troublemaker", and he is an uncomfortable figure for the Chinese communist regime.

The Chinese military manoeuvres are intended to impose a "strong punishment" against what the People's Republic of China considers "separatist forces seeking independence".

Colonel Li Xi, a spokesman for the Chinese military, said the two-day manoeuvres began early on Thursday to encircle the north, south and east of Taiwan and will consist of "joint sea-to-air combat readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control and joint precision strikes against key targets".

The presidential election of a new sovereign leader who directly challenges China has prompted Beijing to flex its military muscle by deploying aircraft and ships to threaten Taipei.

In his inauguration speech, William Lai Ching-te urged China to stop its constant threats and military pressure. "Taiwan cannot make any concessions on democracy and freedom," said the doctor, who has just inaugurated a third consecutive term for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

The current Taiwanese government has a more pro-independence profile than Lai's political beginnings. William Lai Ching-te went so far as to call himself a "pragmatic worker for Taiwan's independence".

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te visits a military camp in Taoyuan, Taiwan May 23, 2024 - REUTERS/ANN WANG

Hong Kong and Taiwan: Chinese aspirations

China seeks de facto to reclaim a territory it considers its own, namely the island of Taiwan. In the same way that China took control of Hong Kong, which is a self-governing territory under Chinese rule after the end of British control. Hong Kong belonged to the Chinese Empire for centuries, but in the mid-19th century European powers came to China's shores to establish trading centres, such as Macao and Hong Kong, and after several wars, an agreement was reached in 1898 between China and the UK that Hong Kong became a British-run region for 99 years.

Over the years, Hong Kong and China developed their trajectories differently. The People's Republic within a one-party communist system and Hong Kong as a Western-style, capitalist, self-governing territory.

In the late 1990s, the time limit of the agreement came to an end and the UK could no longer control the territory. The Hong Kong economic elite, for their part, wanted access to a growing Chinese market, but without losing the political and economic autonomy they had gained under British control. Following negotiations that began in the mid-1980s, in the 1990s the Congress of the Communist Party of China adopted the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

This Basic Law (which is considered the constitutional text of the region) is based on what Deng Xiaoping called the "one country, two systems" model. A two-tier China, with a different model for the autonomous territory economically, socially and politically. Article 12 of the Law states that "the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a local administrative region of the People's Republic of China, which shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy under the Central People's Government" and is an inalienable part of Chinese territory.

As for Taiwan, Beijing sees the island as part of its own territory, now a kind of rebel republic that will rejoin the Chinese mainland sooner or later. But much of the Taiwanese population does not want to join today's China, where a one-party communist regime reigns. This is similar to what happened in the past with Hong Kong, where there were citizen protests to prevent reunification with the People's Republic of China.

A Chinese warship sails in waters near Pengjia islet in northern Taiwan, in this image released May 23, 2024 - PHOTO/Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) - Taiwan Coast Guard via REUTERS

Taiwan sees itself as an independent, democratically governed country, although it has never officially announced its independence.

And tensions are growing over Chinese annexationist desires. In fact, several analysts see this situation as a dangerous flashpoint that could trigger a war if other countries become involved at Taiwan's request in the face of possible Chinese aggression. In the style of the West interceding in one way or another with Russia over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In a bit of history, Taiwan passed into Japanese hands after the Japanese victory in the Sino-Japanese war of 1895. But after the Japanese defeat in World War II, Japan relinquished control of several occupied territories in China.

The then Republic of China, one of the victors in that war, began to rule Taiwan with the consent of allies the United States and the United Kingdom. But China's civil war, which began in 1927, continued after World War II and, a few years later, the troops of Chiang Kai-shek's government were defeated by the communist forces led by Mao Zedong and the communist regime that has evolved to the present day was established in China.

Some of the defeated forces, led by Chiang Kai-shek, fled to the island of Taiwan to establish the Republic of China. Chiang Kai-shek's son, Chiang Ching-kuo, seized power to succeed his father and ended the existing dictatorial regime to open a democratisation process over the following decades.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te (Centre) watches a demonstration of the US-made Stinger air defence system during a visit to inspect military troops in Taoyuan, 23 May 2024 - AFP/SAM YEH

The 1980s saw rapprochement between China and Taiwan. The communist regime again offered the Hong Kong-style "one country, two systems" formula, but it was not accepted, although the technical war that had been open was closed in 1991 and there was a growth in trade and political relations.

Despite the relaxation of the situation, China continues with its aspirations to dominate Taiwan, rejected by the various Taiwanese leaders, such as former president Tsai Ing-wen, who was totally opposed to the Chinese thesis, in the same style as current president William Lai Ching-te, which has once again made the situation very tense.

This is where the other great pole of power in the world comes into play, along with China, which is the United States. The US does not have strong diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but has announced on several occasions that it is aligning itself with the Taiwanese side to the extent of offering defensive equipment and diplomatic support.

China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and is committed to reunification, by force if necessary. Taiwan, on the other hand, claims that it is a sovereign state rather than a Chinese province. Positions remain sharply divided.
The health ministry urged the medical community Thursday to come forward for dialogue to resolve the months long walkout by trainee doctors, though there seems to be no sign of any immediate breakthrough as neither side has budged an inch.

"The door for dialogue still remains open, and the government is ready to have talks at any time regardless of the format and subjects," Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said during a meeting on the walkout by trainee doctors.

"I hope the medical community stops conflicts and confrontation and joins discussions for medical reform," he added.

A majority of around 12,000 trainee doctors in Korea have been off the job since Feb. 20 in protest of the government's plan to raise the medical school admission quota.

The Korean Medical Association said Wednesday that it is ready to sit down for talks with the government, without elaborating further.

The government welcomed the move but stressed that it cannot accept such preconditions presented by doctors as revisiting the quota increase plan from scratch or the postponement of the plan by one year.

Amid the prolonged walkout, the government vowed to continue to beef up the emergency medical response system to minimize disruptions to the services for emergency patients and critical cases, and to set up a regular communication channel with patients' groups. (Yonhap)
Customs agencies of Korea and Japan have agreed to strengthen their cooperation on the crackdown on and the prevention of drug smuggling, Seoul's customs agency said Thursday.

The consensus was made during the meeting between Korea Customs Service (KCS) Commissioner Ko Kwang-hyo and Kazuhiko Ejima, head of the customs bureau at the Japanese finance ministry, in Tokyo on Wednesday, according to the KCS.

The two nations discussed sharing information regarding illicit drug trafficking and other transborder crimes, and vowed to work more closely on the crackdown on and countermeasures against smuggling attempts in response to recently growing drug trafficking via ships and container cargo.

They also agreed to expand cooperation on preliminary checks of country of origin and other customs affairs under the framework of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the KCS said.

RCEP is one of the world's biggest free trade agreements, with its 15 member nations accounting for around 30 percent of the global gross domestic product, population and trade volume. It is the first FTA that involves both Korea and Japan. (Yonhap)
23 May 2024 16:45 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan span more than thirty years. Azerbaijan established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Tajikistan for the first time on May 29, 1992, in the second year of its independence.

In addition, there are a number of common values that unite Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. Azerbaijan can be considered important due to the geostrategic importance of Tajikistan, which is a Central Asian state.

The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Tajikistan was signed on March 15, 2007, in parallel with the opening of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the Tajikistan Republic. Certainly, this great event played an exceptional role in strengthening mutual cooperation between the two countries. The mutual visits of the two heads of state resulted in important events in the steps taken forward.

The meeting of Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, who is currently on a state visit to Azerbaijan, with President Ilham Aliyev in Baku was marked by the signing of 14 important documents. President Ilham Aliyev emphasised this in his expanded meeting with the President of Tajikistan and noted that the Declaration of Strategic Partnership signed between the two countries is one of the important stages in the development of relations.

Azerbaijan considers it important to develop mutual cooperation in relations with Tajikistan, not only in one field, but also in the fields of transport and logistics. During the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev drew attention to this issue and emphasised the strategic importance of the Trans-Caspian transport corridor.

Of course, one of the topics we discussed today is cooperation in the transport sector, taking into account the new opportunities of the transport and logistical infrastructure of Tajikistan and Azerbaijan. I think it will be useful to join our efforts in this direction and coordinate our steps more closely. The Trans-Caspian transport corridor is becoming increasingly popular in the European and Central Asian regions. Azerbaijan, as a connecting link and a country located at the junction of Europe and Asia, of course, plays an important role in this issue with its transportation infrastructure, President Ilham Aliyev said in his expanded meeting with his Tajik counterpart.

During the negotiations, the President of Tajikistan emphasised that special attention was paid to the agricultural sector. In addition, Emomali Rahmon said that he appreciated the signing of the Road Map on the development of cooperation in the field of tourism and noted that the relevant institutions of Tajikistan have been instructed to take measures to restore direct flights between Baku and Dushanbe.

At the same time, the President of Tajikistan once again said that special attention is paid to the fields of transport and communication during the press statement event with his Azerbaijani counterpart. He said that he is grateful to the Azerbaijani side for providing acceptable transit rates to the freight carriers of Tajikistan.

Thus, from the meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, it is once again clear that Azerbaijan is the most reliable partner, friend, and strategic country not only for Europe but also for Central Asian states. During the negotiations between the presidents, the impressions expressed by the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, about Azerbaijan were remembered with special importance. He addressed to his Azerbaijani counterpart, President Ilham Aliyev, a famous phrase used by leaders of Western countries about Azerbaijan: "Azerbaijan is a reliable friend and partner for Tajikistan. Our countries have time-tested relations."

Azerbaijans political and economic strategies have always been based on reliability and sincerity in friendship and cooperation with all countries. This has always been done in a balanced way, not only with the Eastern allies but also with the Western allies. Today, the important steps taken by Azerbaijan in the direction of the security of the South Caucasus serve to ensure a long-term partnership with Western and Eastern countries.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
23 May 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Tax incentives are being introduced in Azerbaijan in connection with the upcoming 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). This initiative involves proposed amendments to the Tax Code, which were deliberated upon during a session of the Azerbaijani parliament.

Under the proposed amendment, non-resident individuals engaged in supplying goods, performing work, or providing services related to COP29 will be eligible for a nine-month exemption from income tax, commencing on March 1, 2024.

In his comment to Azernews on the issue, Vugar Bayramov, Azerbaijani MP and economist, announced that tax benefits will be extended to non-residents starting from March in connection with COP29.

"Proposed legislative amendments will grant non-residents engaged in COP29 activities exemptions from virtually all taxes. These tax benefits will be applicable for a period of nine months, starting from March, and once the practical changes are approved, they will retroactively apply to all activities commencing in March. Although March has passed, activities falling within that month will still qualify for the tax benefit."

Bayramov also highlighted that implementing such benefits will attract more investment.

"Preliminary assessments suggest that these concessions aim to attract more investment overall and facilitate the transfer of technology and innovation."

Moreover, the economist emphasized the significance of these concessions in terms of employment.

"Applying these concessions is also crucial for employment because attracting more investment, including foreign companies, will create new job opportunities."

The economist noted that this is one of the significant concessions regarding the transition to green energy.

"Undoubtedly, it's one of the significant concessions concerning the transition to green energy. It's necessary to apply such concessions to attract innovative technology. Therefore, it will accelerate and promote the transition to green energy, and as a result, it's deemed important to release tax benefits for activities carried out within the framework of COP29, as well as achieving green energy goals in Azerbaijan in a shorter period."

Economic expert Rashad Hasanov, in his statement, emphasized that the concession will encourage active participation in the private sector in this field.

"The decision is temporary and specific in scope. Its aim is to optimize the costs of activities related to the COP29 conference and encourage active participation of the private sector in this field."

He also pointed out that beneficiaries of the tax exemption will offer services at more competitive prices as a result of reduced additional costs.

"Therefore, non-residents involved in projects related to COP29 are exempted from paying income tax in the Republic of Azerbaijan due to the income derived from these activities. As a result, this allows those individuals to offer services at more competitive prices by reducing their additional costs."

Azerbaijan is implementing tax benefits for non-residents involved in activities related to the COP29 conference, aiming to foster investment, particularly in green energy, and promote technology transfer and innovation. These tax concessions, applicable for a nine-month period starting from March, are expected to not only attract more investment but also generate employment opportunities. The move underscores Azerbaijan's commitment to advancing its green energy agenda and supporting initiatives aimed at combating climate change.

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23 May 2024 10:56 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

A delegation consisting of representatives of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), the "Azerbaijan Banks Association" Public Union, and the Ministry of Finance was on a business trip to South Korea, Azernews reports, citing the CBA.

According to information, during this visit, which was supported by the Asian Development Bank, representatives of CBA participated in meetings with the staff of Korean credit rating agencies, "Kookmin Bank" and the Financial Services Commission.

During meetings with Korean credit rating agencies, the institutional framework of rating agencies, methodologies, and practices supporting credit rating systems, as well as the impact of the legal and regulatory framework on the development of relevant agencies, were discussed.

During the meeting with representatives of Kookmin Bank, one of the largest banks in the country, the bank's risk assessment and mitigation practices were studied. During the visit, a meeting was also organised with the Financial Services Commission ("Financial Services Commission"), which ensures the development and stability of the Korean financial sector. During the meeting, experience was exchanged on the regulatory framework of the Korean rating market.

CBA's "2024-2026 Financial Sector Development Strategy" includes initiatives related to the regulation of rating agencies. At present, the creation of a legal and regulatory framework for rating agencies is being focused on, and measures are being taken in this direction.

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23 May 2024 11:49 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

In April 2023, Azerbaijan saw a significant surge in natural gas exports to Italy, more than doubling the amount in the first quarter of 2024, Azernews reports, citing "Avrostat," the Statistical Office of the European Union.

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23 May 2024 12:26 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

6.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity have been produced at the "Yenikend" Hydropower Plant since its commissioning, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Energy.

The production of electricity at the station was 251.8 million kilowatt-hours in 2023 and 106.7 million kilowatt-hours during the first 4 months of the current year.

It should be noted that this station, located in the village of Karajamilli, Shamkir region, was launched 24 years ago, on May 23, 2000. The station, with a total capacity of 150 megawatts, consists of 4 hydron units with a capacity of 37.5 megawatts each.

It should be noted that the "Yenikend" HP is a significant contributor to Azerbaijan's energy production. It harnesses the power of water to generate electricity, utilising the natural flow of rivers in the region.

Hydropower is a clean and renewable source of energy, making it an environmentally friendly option for electricity generation.

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23 May 2024 13:01 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

A Joint Participation Agreement on the establishment of a beer and soft drinks production plant in Gabala has been signed, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Economy Ministry.

The Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov, met with the representatives of Georgian Beer Company LLC, Tsezar Chocheli, Shalva Chochelli, and Gocha Darchiashvili, and discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation development.

During the meeting, a Joint Participation Agreement was signed between Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC and the founder of Georgian Beer Company Ltd on the construction of a new factory for the production of licenced premium beer brands, local brand beer, and soft drinks using advanced international technologies in Azerbaijans Gabala district.

The plan is expected to have an annual production capacity of 140 million liters and create about 300 new jobs.

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22 May 2024 18:32 (UTC+04:00)

Emin Amrullayev, the Minister of Science and Education, was on a business visit to the United Kingdom on May 19-21, to participate in the World Education Forum, which was held in London, Azernews reports, citing the ministry.

Within the framework of the visit, the Minister of Science and Education met with Azerbaijani students studying at British universities with state scholarships.

The forum, where attended by 120 ministers from 114 countries, was dedicated to the topic Promoting Artificial Intelligence, Building Human Relations, and Resilience, Accelerating Climate Action. How should we prioritize policy and implementation for stronger, bolder, better education?.

Bilateral meetings were held with the delegations of a number of countries within the framework of the forum.

Emin Amrullayev met with Zambri Abdul Kadir, the Minister of Higher Education of Malaysia, and Khilola Umarova, the Minister of Preschool and General Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Within the framework of the Forum, the Minister of Science and Education also met with Baroness Emma Nicholson, the British Prime Ministers Trade Envoy for Azerbaijan, and Baroness Diana Baran, the British Education Departments adviser on schools.

The current situation and prospects of bilateral cooperation were discussed within the framework of the mentioned meetings.

On the second day of the forum, Emin Amrullayev met with Kristina Ozden - Global Director of Climate Education of Cambridge University, Phil Baty - Head of Global Affairs of International Rating Agency, Lenka Axlerova  the director of education for Central Europe of Microsoft, Alisia Herbert - the Director of Education, Gender and Equality of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and the Special Representative of Great Britain for Gender Equality and Chris Harte, Google for Education Government Strategy Lead.

Emin Amrullayev also met and exchanged views with the Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, Giorgi Amilakhvari.

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23 May 2024 10:39 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

The Chairman of the Regional Affairs Committee of the Milli Majlis, Siyavush Novruzov, and Deputy Malahat Ibrahimgizi will visit Sofia, Bulgaria, on May 24 to participate in the spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA), Azernews reports.

A meeting of the political, defence and security, economy and security, science and technology, democracy, and security committees of the institution will be held within the session.

The agenda of the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly includes economic and security cooperation in Asia, security in the Black Sea region, climate change challenges, technological challenges, regulation and use of new and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, by allied countries, combating disinformation, and other issues. entered.

The trip will end on May 28.

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23 May 2024 17:33 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

A photography project, "The History of the Czech Railways", has been presented at the Azerbaijan Railway Museum.

At the opening of the event, speeches were made by the Head of the Communication Department of Azerbaijan Railways, Aybeniz Ismayilova, the Deputy Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Azerbaijan Martin Ljuboyacki and the author of the project, photographer Aydin Sadikhov.

The opening of the exhibition was attended by a large number of guests, including deputies of the Azerbaijani Parliament, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions, public figures, and representatives of science, culture and art.

The opening of the exhibition was also attended by students from the British School. The children were told about the ancient locomotives presented at the exhibition and had an interesting tour of the Museum of Azerbaijan Railways. And from the organisers of the exhibition, the children received memorable gifts.

Initiated by the Azerbaijani photographer Aydin Sadikhov, the project provides insight into the history the Czech Railways.

"Twenty two photographs presented by the author of exposition invite the visitors to take part in an amazing journey into the railway World of the Czech inventions: historical locomotives and trains, architectural buildings of railway stations and interesting railway techniques.The exposition covers different historical periods, so visitors can explore the timeline of the Czech railway development, starting from the oldest models of steam locomotives to diesel and electric locomotives. Especially for display in this photo project, the Czech Railways kindly provided several photographs of new types of trains currently running on the railways of the Czech Republic, photos of railway depots for these trains, as well as a number of interesting video materials about historical locomotives," Aydin Sadikhov told Azernews.

The history of Czech Railways has a lot of unique records, interesting features and great technical achievements which played an important role in the historical development of the global railway industry. The scope of the Czech railway network and its density is one of the largest in Europe comprising almost 10,000 km of railway tracks within the 79,000 km2 country, so that gives an opportunity to travel almost anywhere by train. The majority of passenger services run nowadays are operated by the state company Ceske drahy (Czech Railways), which until 2007 also managed cargo services now run by CD Cargo.

Looking back into history, we can discover a lot of interesting facts about the way of the Czech railways' development. The first railway  a horse-drawn line linking Ceske Budejovice in Bohemia and Linz in Austria, started operation in 1828. Problems with horse transport included the fact that any given animal could only work so many hours on a given day, had to be housed, groomed, fed, and cared for from day to day.

Railway transportation began to develop soon after, and the first steam trains arrived onto the tracks in todays Czech Republic in 1839. The period between 1839-1841 brought the construction of new railway connections between different Czech cities, including Breclav, Prerov and Olomouc. The first train arrived at the Prague railway station on August 20, 1845, through the newly built passage in the Prague walls, which is now called Prague-Masaryk Station. But as we know, technology is always moving forward, so the steam era of trains ended and was changed by the new world of electrical railways. The first electric track in the Czech Republic was opened in June 1903 and connected the way from Tabor to Bechyne.

The railway was built and developed from the 19th century to the mid-20th century. Therefore, almost all railway stations in the Czech Republic are historical. Praha Hlavni Nadrazi is the largest railway station in Prague. The development and amazing architectural design of the Prague Main Railway Station are also very interesting. It was opened in 1871, but the station received its current view in Art Nouveau architectural style between 1901 and 1909 years. The Art Nouveau building facade and station hall, which are considered one of the most beautiful in Europe - were designed by Czech architect Josef Fanta.

One of the most important works in Czech as well as global railway history was the legendary Skoda Works. Count Waldstein established a metallurgical factory in Plzen in 1859. Starting with 100 employees, the factory made products for breweries, mines, steam engines, and railway products. Sooner, the factory was bought by its chief engineer, Emil Skoda in 1869 and by the end of the century, it had become one of the largest enterprises in Europe. The Factory earmarked a large portion of its facilities for manufacturing locomotives. Production first started with an order for 30 locomotives, and soon the first Skoda locomotive left the factory on June 11, 1920. The company produced its 100th locomotive on September 13, 1921, and in 1927, Skoda started the production of its first express electric locomotive, along with the electric freight locomotives.

The Czech Republic always properly takes care of its history. The result of that important fact are amazing railway museums with well-preserved historical locomotives and engines, located in different parts of the country, and the exclusive opportunity to ride on the historical steam locomotives, called "Nostalgia Train Journey," at the narrow-gauge train tracks.

The author of the exhibition has also prepared video material in which you can get acquainted in detail with the features, technical details, and historical notes about all the trains presented in the photos. The visitors of the photo exhibition will have an exclusive chance to explore the historical railway inventions manufactured in the legendary Skoda Works. The central place of the exposition will take photos of interesting steam, diesel, and electrical locomotives that were made by the exposition author in the famous Czech Railway Museum in Luzna u Rakovnika.

The Railway Museum in Luzna u Rakovnika is the largest railway museum in the Czech Republic. Luzna u Rakovnika, on the edge of the Kinvoklat forest, a little more than an hours journey west of Prague on the railway to Chomutov, has since 1997 been the location of the museum of the Czech Railways. It is located, adjacent to the passenger station, in a former locomotive depot of the Busterhrad Railway, a roundhouse with extensive open-air sidings around it, where the coal loading stage, water cranes, inspection, and ash pits are still in situ. A museum collection called Steel Legends consists of more than 30 narrow-gauge track locomotives.

The museum exhibits a huge variety of steam, diesel, and electrical locomotives, railway techniques, and it also gives the children the opportunity to enter the historical trains and travel on one of them in the territory of the museum park.

The photography exhibition project "The History of Czech Railways" gives a unique chance for visitors to explore in detail such the rarest historical locomotives like the No 310.076, that was built in 1899 and worked until the 1950s, and other oldest and amazing models. Another rarest example, No EP 1000 (525.1) locomotives were produced in 25 units in 1956 for heavy metallurgical traffic operations. Only one locomotive of this type has survived to the present day. That locomotive was ordered by the United Steel Works of Kladno, where it was delivered on 28 May 1956 and used for transportation of coal, iron ore and limestone.

The photo project also features a series of historical pin-badges dedicated to various events in the history of the Czech Railways.

A series of eleven unique pin badges, issued in 1950-1980, consists of badges from famous historical and railway depots of various cities of the Czech Republic, including Ceske Velenice, Brno, Louny, Krnov, Jihlava, Sokolov and others. Each of the presented pin-badges was issued in connection with specific historical developments achieved by the Czech Railways.

The photo exhibition will last until June 1.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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Two dead, three injured in Pennsylvania workplace shooting

Xinhua) 10:30, May 23, 2024

NEW YORK, May 22 (Xinhua) -- At least two workers were killed and three others were injured in a workplace shooting on Wednesday at a family-owned linen business in Chester, U.S. state of Pennsylvania, local authorities said.

The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. at the company's facility located on the 2600 block of W. 4th Street, just west of Philadelphia. Chester Police Commissioner Steven Gretsky said that a suspect was apprehended in the neighboring city of Trainer, according to local media reports.

Authorities have identified the deceased as employees of the linen company. The motivation behind the shooting is still under investigation, and it is unclear whether the victims were specifically targeted by the shooter.

According to statements from fellow employees, the suspect was well-known within the workplace and described by one employee as "an ongoing problem," according to the reports.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Leaders of South Korea, China and Japan will hold a long-suspended trilateral summit in Seoul next week for the first time in four and a half years, the presidential office said Thursday.

President Yoon Suk Yeol will meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Seoul on Monday, Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said during a press briefing.

Yoon will separately hold bilateral talks with Li and Kishida at the presidential office on Sunday.

It marks the first trilateral summit among the Asian countries since December 2019, after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and strained Seoul-Tokyo relations over historical disputes.

Kim said the summit will cover six areas of cooperation, comprising economy and trade, sustainable development, health issues, science and technology, disaster and safety management, and people-to-people exchanges, while addressing regional and international issues.

"The summit will serve as a turning point for fully restoring and normalizing the trilateral cooperation system among South Korea, Japan and China," Kim said.

"It will also provide an opportunity to recover future-oriented and practical cooperation momentum that will allow the people of the three countries to feel the benefits," he added.

The leaders are expected to explore cooperation in economic, trade and health sectors while aiming to avoid friction, as Seoul and Tokyo have aligned more closely with Washington amid its intensifying rivalry with Beijing.

The upcoming summit follows the August 2023 Camp David summit, where leaders of the U.S., South Korea and Japan underscored their security cooperation against North Korean threats and reinforced their commitment to a "free and open Indo-Pacific."

South Korea and Japan are likely to ask China to play a role in curbing Pyongyang's nuclear and missile threats amid concerns over North Korea's arms supply to Russia for its ongoing war in Ukraine.

Beijing could address security concerns over deepening trilateral cooperation between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo, which have held joint military drills since the Camp David summit.

At a recent bilateral summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the U.S. and its allies for their "intimidation in the military sphere" against North Korea.

In March, Russia vetoed a United Nations resolution to extend a monitoring panel on the enforcement of North Korean sanctions, with China abstaining, thwarting U.S.-led efforts to rein in Pyongyang's weapons program.

While their differences over regional security issues are not likely to be resolved at the meeting, experts say it represents a crucial step in reviving trilateral dialogue to avoid conflict and boost collaboration in economy, technology and health sectors. (Yonhap)
23 May 2024 18:49 (UTC+04:00)

By Asif Khurshid, AZERNEWS / Pakistan

Azerbaijan is going to host the 29th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29) in Baku in November 2024. The 29th COP29 was announced at the plenary session of COP28 on December 11. The Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been convened annually since 1995. This event is designed to evaluate global progress in addressing climate change.

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, welcomed this decision and thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He also shared a post in his social media accounts on Azerbaijans hosting the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29). He emphasised Azerbaijan's commitment to global climate action, energy efficiency, and renewable energy, highlighting national priorities for a clean environment and green growth. President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude to all supporting countries and vowed to make COP29 a success, while appreciating the UAE's organisation of COP28 and looking forward to collaborative efforts in advancing climate action. Azerbaijan's civil society organisations welcome the decision to host COP29 in 2024, recognising it as a significant achievement for the country and a testament to President Ilham Aliyev's leadership. This support underscored Azerbaijan's commitment to green energy and climate initiatives, marking a milestone in its environmental strategy.

At the beginning of 2024, President Ilham Aliyev appointed Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev as President of COP29, CMP 19, and CMA 6, empowering him to form a preparatory team.

Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Mukhtar Babayev, expressed gratitude for the support from the Eastern European Group and highlighted Azerbaijan's commitment to combating climate change, supported by strong political will from President Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030 and increasing this target to 40% by 2050. Adhering to the 2015 Paris Agreement and actively pursuing these goals are key priorities for the Azerbaijani government.

As the host, Azerbaijan has an opportunity to showcase its commitment to addressing climate change and promote regional cooperation on environmental issues.By choosing Baku as the venue, COP29 emphasises the importance of inclusivity in climate discussions and recognizes the unique challenges faced by diverse regions. This summit offers an opportunity for nations to exchange knowledge, promote sustainable development, and forge partnerships while highlighting the shared responsibility of all nations in safeguarding the planet's future. Moreover, amidst geopolitical tensions, the summit's theme of "Cop of peace" aims to transcend political divides and harness international cooperation to address both climate change and broader global harmony, illustrating the potential for climate action to serve as a catalyst for unity and healing on a global scale. With 196 governments expected to attend, Azerbaijan's commitment to making Cop29 a beacon of peace underscores the potential for climate action to unite nations in pursuit of a shared goal, offering hope for a more harmonious future.

Mukhtar Babayev has been actively engaged in meetings with counterparts from various countries and undertaking diplomatic visits since his appointment. His efforts reflect a strong commitment to achieving impactful outcomes for global climate action, ensuring comprehensive and inclusive preparations for COP29.

Last week, Mukhtar Babayev also visited Pakistan to present a letter of invitation from President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari regarding the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan met with Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Mukhtar Babayev, who extended an invitation from President Ilham Aliyev for COP29. PM Sharif expressed anticipation for the event, pledging Pakistan's full support to Azerbaijan. He thanked Babayev and conveyed congratulations to President Aliyev. Minister Babayev appreciated the support and highlighted the importance of bilateral ties.

President Asif Ali Zardari welcomed Minister Babayev, expressing support for Azerbaijan's COP29 chairmanship and hopes for enhanced climate finance. He emphasised strong Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations and advocated for deeper cooperation, including people-to-people exchanges. Minister Babayev emphasized bilateral ties, inviting President Zardari to participate in COP29 in Baku.

Pakistan's Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam, highlighted initiatives like Green Pakistan and emphasized the need for an effective loss and damage fund to support vulnerable countries. Their statements underscore the urgency of global cooperation in combating climate change.Healso visited Pakistan's COMSATS headquarters to discuss COP29 priorities and climate change impacts, engaging with officials and planting a tree symbolizing environmental cooperation

Mukhtar Babayev visited the Azerbaijani park and participated in a tree planting ceremony attended by high-ranking officials from both countries. Speaking to the media, Babayev emphasised discussions with Pakistan's leadership on COP29 and the importance of collective action to address environmental and climate challenges.

Pakistan can benefit from COP29 by leveraging the platform to raise awareness about its vulnerability to climate change and advocate for increased international support for adaptation and mitigation efforts. Participation in COP29 offers Pakistan an opportunity to access funding, technology transfers, and expertise to strengthen its resilience against climate impacts and transition towards a low-carbon economy.

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23 May 2024 13:25 (UTC+04:00)

A ceremony of signing documents was held with participation of Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Azernews reports.

Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, signed the "Declaration on strategic partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Tajikistan".

Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan Rashad Nabiyev and Minister of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan Sherali Kabir signed the "Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan".

Minister of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan Farid Ahmadov and Director of the Execution Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Barno Saidvalizoda signed the "Memorandum on cooperation in the field of execution of judicial acts and acts of other bodies between the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Execution Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan".

Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mukhtar Babayev and Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Sheralizoda Bahodur signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of environmental protection between the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Committee for Environmental Protection Committee under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan".

Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov and Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan Zavqizoda Zavqi signed the "Agreement on cooperation in the field of industrial property protection between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan", and the "Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of digital trade between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan".

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Rahimzoda Ramazon signed the "Agreement on cooperation in the field of migration between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan".

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin signed the "Agreement on cooperation in the field of technical information protection between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

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23 May 2024 16:18 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

The second meeting of the chairmen of the Courts-Legal Councils of member and observer countries of the Turkic States Organisation (TSO) continues in Istanbul, Azernews reports.

Inam Kerimov, Chairman of the Supreme Court and the Court-Legal Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan, is participating in the event.

During the opening ceremony, Atilla Ozturk, Secretary-General of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors of Turkiye, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary-General of the TSO, and Ylmaz Tunch, Minister of Justice of Turkiye and President of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors of the country, emphasised the importance of cooperation among the Turkic-speaking countries, particularly in the development of collaboration between judicial and legal institutions in all areas, highlighting the significance of the events held in this regard.

The meeting, moderated by Sadi Jafarov, Deputy Secretary-General of the TSO, continued with a panel session on "Country presentations: Structure, functions, and powers of legal-judicial bodies."

In his speech during the panel, Inam Kerimov emphasised the importance of holding such events to benefit from mutual experiences, strengthen collaboration, and organise joint activities for common interests, providing comprehensive information to the participants about the activities of the Court-Legal Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

It is noted that within the framework of the event, technical meetings will be held until May 25 to determine the venue of the next meeting, and a final declaration will be signed.

The possibility of a meeting between the leaders of the delegations of TSO countries and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is also being considered.

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23 May 2024 15:41 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

"Azerbaijan's higher education institutions are new. There were higher education institutions that focused more on personnel training. During the reform process, it is good to see the change of the name of some higher education institutions from institute to university or academy, and now they are becoming universities. An important issue that determines the rating and reputation of any higher education institution is the quality of the scientific research that takes place there."

Azernews reports that Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev said this at the opening ceremony of the VI International Scientific Conference of Researchers in the Field of Economics and Management held on May 23.

The minister noted that in the last 10 years, qualitative changes in the research works of a number of higher education institutions have been observed in a continuously increasing direction: "This is a typical dynamic for Azerbaijan's higher education. The current funding model is one of the biggest problems facing universities.

Capitation funding is a model that only focuses on student costs. There is no research component here. Funding research with tuition is difficult. Today, higher education institutions are able to finance research mainly by saving tuition fees. Targeted research funding instruments are currently non-existent.

Last year, for the first time, we implemented a pilot financing tool based on the indicators of universities. This is the first step. 8 million manats have been allocated to higher education institutions under the Ministry of Science and Education.

We need to revisit the funding formula to do more research. At the moment, there is a lot of work going on in this regard."

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23 May 2024 10:28 (UTC+04:00)

The price of Azerbaijani oil has dropped on the global market, Azernews reports.

The cost of a single barrel of "Azeri Light" brand oil has declined by $0.69 or 0.82 percent, settling at $83.54.

It's worth mentioning that the lowest recorded price for "Azeri Light" oil was on April 21, 2020, at $15.81, while the highest was reached in July 2008, hitting $149.66.

The recent decrease in the price of Azerbaijani oil could be influenced by various factors, such as changes in global demand, geopolitical tensions, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, and decisions made by major oil-producing countries regarding production levels.

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23 May 2024 23:54 (UTC+04:00)

By News Centre

Six components of TURKSAT 6A designed at Yashar University, Azernews reports.

The radio frequency designs of some antennas and microwave equipment that will enable communication with Turkey's first indigenous communication satellite, TURKSAT 6A, were realised at Yashar University.

The TURKSAT 6A project, aimed at further advancing the country's capabilities in the space domain, was carried out in collaboration with TUSASH, ASELSAN, TUBITAK UZAY, and CTech. Speaking about TURKSAT 6A in recent days, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced that the satellite's work had been completed, and the satellite, which would depart for the United States in early June, would be launched into space between July 8 and 14.

While 90% of the satellite, made entirely with domestic production, is under the responsibility of CTech, the radio frequency designs of some antennas and microwave equipment in the Telemetry Telecommand and Ranging (TTM) Subsystem were done by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sechmen and his team from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Yashar University.

Based on the radio frequency design, the mechanical design, production, and all tests of the equipment were carried out by CTech. The equipment, integrated into the satellite along with other equipment in the subsystem, successfully passed system-level tests and is ready to be launched into space in July.

"Facilitating Communication with Ground Stations"

Prof. Dr. Sechmen, discussing the work carried out in the laboratories of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Yasar University within the scope of the "Development and Production of the TURKSAT 6A Indigenous Communication Satellite" project, said, "The TTM Subsystem on the satellite, especially, performs some critical functions, including enabling communication between the satellite and the ground station until the satellite reaches the geostationary position about 36,000 kilometres away from the Earth and throughout the satellite's lifespan of over 15 years. The TTM Subsystem is responsible for ensuring communication between the satellite and the ground station, transmitting all commands sent to the satellite, and receiving all data from the satellite. Since all communication with the satellite is via the TTM Subsystem, the performance of this subsystem is crucial for the control, management, and observation of the satellite."

Yashar University Rector Prof. Dr. Levent Kandiller also commented on the project:

"With this project, where Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sechmen contributed with his previous expertise in radio frequency designs, we have had three projects related to space at our university. A special antenna was produced according to the frequency design of the antenna and communication radio. System tests were also successfully completed, and we are awaiting its launch into space. The designed parts are significant because during the launch of the satellite, communication will solely rely on this antenna, and all communication processes from the launch of the satellite to its orbit insertion will be conducted through this antenna. Therefore, we attach great importance to this study and congratulate him."

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23 May 2024 22:39 (UTC+04:00)

By News Centre

Mehmet Beshir Ylmaz, the Vice Chairman of the Karacadagh Organised Industrial Zone (OIZ), stated that they had discussions with a Chinese company to establish an electric bus assembly factory, and the talks went positively, Azernews reports.

The production and usage of electric vehicles are increasing day by day. Both domestic and foreign productions are growing in number in our country.

Turkey holds a significant position in the market in terms of production.

At this point, a Chinese company aims to manufacture in Turkey.

According to the report on Ekonomim, Mehmet Beshir Ylmaz, the Vice Chairman of the Karacadagh OIZ, provided information about the current status of the OIZ, saying that they recently had discussions with a Chinese company to establish an electric bus assembly factory, and the talks went positively. He mentioned that if the investments of the Chinese company proceed and production starts after land allocations, around 1,500 people will be employed. The company initially requested 100 acres of land from them.

Ylmaz stated that the Chinese company made a presentation to the board of directors of the Karacadagh OIZ regarding their investments, and they emphasised that if production starts, the company will initially produce electric buses through assembly. Later on, they plan to manufacture spare parts for electric buses and, subsequently, all other parts here. In the first stage of investments, they will export the buses they produce to the Middle East and the Turkic Republics. Upon completion of the second-stage investments, they will also export to Europe.

In the initial expansion phase, 120 factories will be established.

Mehmet Beshir Ylmaz mentioned that more than 300 companies applied for land allocation to Diyarbakr Karacadagh OIZ. He emphasised that in Diyarbakr Karacadagh OIZ, priority is given to enterprises producing high value-added products based on factors such as investment amount, employment, exports, and advanced technology in land allocations. He noted that so far, land allocations have been made to 29 companies, and considering the number of companies applying for land allocation, the demands of the companies applying for land allocation cannot be met, and they are experiencing a shortage of space. Ylmaz added that with the peaceful atmosphere in the region, they have started to receive serious investments from both domestic and foreign sources.

Karacadagh OIZ will expand by another 55,000 acres

Ylmaz stated that Karacadagh OIZ currently has 1,881 acres of industrial area and they have initiated works for the expansion area.

He said that despite strict monetary policies and financial difficulties, there is a serious demand for industrial investments.

"Although we have not made a launch, we received intense applications. We want to meet the incoming demands and turn Diyarbakr into an industrial city. We will add the 27,000-acre area to the north and south of our OIZ and the other 28,000-acre area to the west. We will complete the parceling in two years. We consider allocating these areas to larger enterprises. We pay serious attention to the infrastructure of our industrial zones with Diyarbakr Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We make future plans for all kinds of infrastructure, from treatment facilities to any imaginable infrastructure, and we hold tenders."

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23 May 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

Kazakh Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Yerlan Nyssanbayev suggested building an international center for the afforestation of the dried bottom of the Aral Sea and semidesert areas at the 5th Meeting of the Heads of Environmental Protection Ministries and Agencies of the SCO member states, Azernews reports citing Kazinform News Agency.

Taking into account a wealth of experience of the SCO member states in creating homogenous forests and afforestation of degraded territories we have proposed today to found an international center for the afforestation of the dried bottom of the Aral Sea and semidesert areas. Our partners from Central Asian countries supported this initiative. We will further promote our idea, the minister said.

SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming, delegations from India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus are among those attending.

Today, during the meeting, we discussed issues aimed at developing joint actions in addressing environmental issues, climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, effective waste management, developing cooperation in the field of specially protected natural areas, and more. Besides, the heads of delegations exchanged views on the current state and prospects for the development of cooperation in the field of environmental protection of the SCO member states and noted the importance and need to further promote the Action Plan for the Year of Ecology of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2024, the Minister added.

Those present approved the SCO member states joint approaches to solve environmental problems, the Joint Action Plan for the implementation of the 20242026 SCO Green Belt Program, the plan for the implementation of the 20252027 SCO environmental protection cooperation concept, regulations on the SCO Special Working Group on Climate Change.

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23 May 2024 19:20 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

On May 23, the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) began two days of large-scale military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around the island of Taiwan, Azernews reports.

The exercises, codenamed "United Sword-2024A", are held in the northern, southern and eastern waters around Taiwan Island, as well as the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Ouchi and Donin. The exercises, which involved land, air, naval and missile forces, focused on strengthening joint combat capability and patrolling at sea and in the air, joint integrated battlefield management and joint precision strikes against key targets.

The CPC statement said that the Taiwan Independence military exercises are a resolute response to separatist activities and a harsh response to foreign forces that seek to interfere in China's internal affairs and commit sabotage.

It should be noted that on May 20, the swearing-in ceremony of the new head of the separatist organization in Taiwan, Lai Jing-de, took place. The opinions expressed by Lai Jing-de during his speech at the "swearing-in ceremony", as well as the participation of political figures from a number of countries in the ceremony, as well as the congratulations of Lai Jing-de by some officials, including US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, caused serious dissatisfaction in official Beijing.

Recall that during the civil war after World War II, the Communists led by Mao Zedong announced the creation of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. Kuomintang troops under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek moved to the island of Taiwan and declared the continuation of the existence of the Republic of China. The island retains the flag and some attributes of the Republic of China before the formation of the PRC. Official Beijing does not recognize the existence of the so-called Republic of China on Taiwan and considers the island a province of China. Official Beijing demands that countries with diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China sever political ties with the separatist entity in Taiwan.

The Taiwan issue is the most sensitive issue in Sino-American relations. Official Beijing considers the issue of Taiwan to be the main red line that cannot be crossed in relations between China and the United States. China demands that the United States does not support Taiwan's "independence" and does not arm the island.

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23 May 2024 19:46 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Turkiye has started drilling a new exploration well in the Black Sea in order to search for new gas deposits, Azernews reports.

"The Fatih drilling vessel has started drilling a new Gektepe-2 well at the Sakarya gas field. By increasing gas production on the one hand, we will continue exploration in new areas," the minister wrote today on his account on the social network X.

The Sakarya gas field is located 150-170 km from the coast of Turkiye on the shelf of the Black Sea. It was opened on August 21, 2020 by drilling the TUNA-1 ultra-deepwater exploration well from the sixth-generation Turkish drilling vessel Fatih.

At the initial stage, it is planned to produce about 10 million cubic meters of gas per day at this field, or from 3.4 billion to 4 billion per year.

By 2028, the volume of daily production should reach 40 million cubic meters (15 billion cubic meters per year).

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Defense Minister Shin Won-sik discussed Thursday bolstering the Korea-U.S. alliance with a delegation led by Jason Matheny, chief of the U.S. think tank RAND Corp., his office said.

In their meeting, Shin emphasized the importance of nongovernmental exchanges and cooperation across various areas and thanked the U.S. think tank for working to strengthen the alliance, according to the ministry.

Members of the delegation expressed hope that the two nations will expand their cooperation to areas including science and technology, to tackle new security threats coming from supply chain issues, it added. (Yonhap)
Korea will host a summit with African nations next month to discuss ways to expand cooperation in the economy, energy, digital and other areas, the presidential office said Thursday.

The inaugural Korea-Africa Summit will be held June 4-5 at KINTEX in Ilsan, north of Seoul, and in the capital city.

The gathering is expected to draw delegations from over 45 countries, making it the largest multilateral summit since the Yoon Suk Yeol administration took office in May 2022, according to the office.

"This summit will strengthen political, economic and social ties with African countries, and provide an opportunity to establish comprehensive and practical cooperation in various fields, such as critical minerals, infrastructure, renewable energy, digital, agriculture, health care and tourism," Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said during a press briefing. (Yonhap)
Now that Kamala Harris has been coronated the Democratic Socialist designee for nomination as their candidate for President of these United States, after that political party's contrived primary process "democratically" elected Joseph R. Biden: What are your feelings about this party's progressive posture within their self-styled exercise of "Saving Democracy for America," and how truly critical the outcome of this presidential election will be?

8.7% I am ecstatic that this "Democracy's" First partially Black, First partially Indian, First female Co-Parent, and this nation's primary necessity is to her elect our First woman president.26.09% I really do not care about all these "Firsts." I will continue to pray, and work for this Representative Republic to elect someone competent, and brilliantly patriotic to be our next president.65.22% I will never vote for any politician that "first" does not have the core values to understand how dire this Constitutional Republic's situation has become.
George Orwell, call your office. Speech crimes are being assessed against conservative activists in both the US and Europe as freedom of speech becomes endangered.

In Arizona, the Republican National Committee's Director of Election Integrity, attorney Christiana Bobb, has been arrested for a "speech crime" for commenting on election irregularities in the 2020 election. How are Republicans supposed to get election 2024 free and fair if we cannot address what went wrong in 2020? Maricopa County, Arizona was a major place where things have gone wrong in multiple elections.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/05/disgusting-media-animals-physically-violate-harass-christina-bobb/

The newly formed Dutch rightwing coalition government has some work to do cleaning up some of the leftist totalitarians who hate free speech among their prosecutors and judges. A young woman Dutch political activist, Raisa Blommestijn has just been charged for "hate speech" for her posting about a violent gang of illegal alien migrants severely beating a defenseless Dutch boy at a subway station and throwing him upon the tracks, where he could have been killed if a train had arrived. The migrants have not been charged with anything. The officials seem to be saying the racially motivated beating was okay but commenting on it was not.

The video of the beating as well as her comments are in clips at the link below:

https://rmx.news/article/free-speech-is-dead-dutch-conservative-confirms-prosecution-for-online-criticism-of-mass-immigration/

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/dutch-lawyer-faces-prosecution-social-media-post-slamming-mass-migration

"Free speech is dead" in the Netherlands declared the young woman. Unfortunately this is happening all over Europe. A young woman political leader in Germany was recently fined for criticizing illegal immigation and is appealing it. A French senator is charged with "hate speech" for posting "immigration kills" after a brutal murder of a young French girl by an illegal alien. A member of Finland's parliament is even being prosecuted for "hate speech" for posting a Bible verse.

Here are some of the crime problems that illegal aliens are bringing to western societies: https://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/78910/illegal-alien-migrants-behaving-badly-migrants-and-crime-newly-updated.html

It sure looks like the EU is rapidly transforming into the EUSSR or the Fourth Reich.

Meanwhile the globalist French govenrment, the left-liberal German govenrment, and the new globalist government of Poland are urging the EU to crack down harder on media and social media content.
Gastroenterologists are the 11th highest paid physician specialists in 2024, with an average yearly salary of $514,208, according to Doximity's 2024 "Physician Compensation Report," published May 23.

In contrast, pediatric gastroenterologists are one of the lowest paid specialties, earning just and average of $286,307 annually.

Additionally, GI specialists have one of the largest pay gaps between men and women, coming in at over $80,000 annually.

While male gastroenterologists earn an average of $525,931 annually, female gastroenterologists trail with $444,511 per year.
Flagship Healthcare Properties has spent $1 million to acquire a site in Mechanicsville, Va., where it plans to construct a $19 million medical office building, according to a May 23 report from Richmond BizSense.

The proposed building will be two stories and total 38,000 square feet. The project is expected to break ground at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025.

Flagship also plans to build a second, 35,000-square-foot medical building on the same site at a later date, according to the report. The two-building development will be called Bell Creek Medical Pavilion.

Flagship currently owns more than 100 properties across 11 states and manages 300 properties across 19 states.
First trilateral summit to take place in more than four years

By Lee Hyo-jin

The leaders of South Korea, China and Japan will hold a trilateral summit in Seoul on Monday, the presidential office said Thursday, marking a resumption of the long-stalled meeting between the Asian neighbors.

The summit will bring together President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Since the inaugural trilateral summit in 2008, China has been represented by its No. 2 official instead of its president.

Yoon will hold respective bilateral talks with Li and Kishida on Sunday afternoon, followed by a welcoming dinner involving delegations and businesspeople. The trilateral summit will take place on Monday morning, and a joint declaration will be issued after their meeting, according to the presidential office.

"The upcoming summit will serve as a catalyst to fully revive and normalize the cooperation framework between (South) Korea, Japan and China. The meeting will provide an opportunity to explore future-oriented and feasible ways of cooperation that resonate with the people of the three nations," Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy chief of the presidential National Security Office, said during a press briefing.

Kim elaborated that South Korea has proposed six concrete areas of possible cooperation, which are expected to be the main agenda items: people-to-people exchanges, response to climate change, economy and trade, health and aging population, technology and science and disaster response.

"The leaders of the three countries will hold in-depth discussions on cooperative measures in these areas, and the results will be included in a joint declaration," Kim said.

He also emphasized that discussions will extend to regional and international affairs, highlighting the commitment of the three nations to collaborate in addressing global crises and fostering international peace and prosperity.

These statements suggest that the upcoming discussions among the three nations will likely prioritize reaching feasible outcomes in less politically contentious areas rather than delving into regional security issues such as those concerning the Taiwan Strait and North Korea.

On Wednesday, the Chinese government summoned senior South Korean and Japanese diplomats in Beijing to lodge complaints on issues related to Taiwan. This move followed a protest by the Chinese Embassy in Seoul against members of South Korea's ruling People Power Party (PPP), Tuesday, for their participation in the inauguration ceremony of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te held the previous day.

Furthermore, it is unlikely that the joint declaration will include concrete messages against North Korea's nuclear threats.

"While the leaders will engage in free discussions, achieving consensus on issues like North Korea, denuclearization, and inter-Korean relations within a short timeframe would be challenging," a senior presidential official said on condition of anonymity.

The last trilateral summit was held in December 2019 in Chengdu, China.

The annual summit has been on hold since then due to the COVID-19 pandemic and strained relations between Seoul and Tokyo, primarily stemming from historical grievances related to Japan's colonial occupation of Korea (1910-45).

The revival of the talks gained momentum following a notable thaw in Seoul-Tokyo relations in March 2023, when the Yoon Suk Yeol administration sought reconciliation by seeking to compensate Korean victims of forced labor through a government-led fund, without demanding contributions from responsible Japanese companies.

Despite discussions between the three nations spanning for several months, agreeing on a specific date had been challenging due to domestic events, including China's major annual political meetings in March and South Korea's general elections in April.

Part of the delay was also attributed to China's reluctance regarding the three-way summit. Beijing has expressed discontent over South Koreas close alignment with the United States, as well as the strengthened security cooperation between Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo.
University of Missouri (Columbia) Health Care opened a new 160-bed childrens hospital and birthing center, the system announced May 22.

The opening of the new healthcare facility comes at a critical time when 54% of rural hospitals in Missouri are currently operating without any birthing center or OBGYN care, according to NPR. In the last decade alone, seven birthing centers across the state have shut down, Fox 2 News reported in 2023.

The new site was designed with "room to grow" in mind, according to MU Health's news release.

The new center has also been designated as a "Baby Friendly hospital" which is awarded by a national accrediting body to birthing centers that meet specific criteria.

"We are very proud of our international designation as a Baby Friendly hospital  and we have taken great care to design rooms and spaces that help keep mom and baby together as much as possible," Jean Goodman, MD, chair of obstetrics and gynecology stated in the news release.

All departments and staff are expected to be fully operational by June 14 in the new facility.
In April, hackers breached the IT network of CentroMed, a healthcare provider based in San Antonio, Texas, compromising the protected health information of 400,000 patients.

On May 1, CentroMed said it detected unusual activity in its IT network. This prompted the healthcare organization to launch an investigation into the incident.

Through the investigation, CentroMed learned that an unauthorized party accessed its IT network on April 30 gaining access to files that contained former and current patients' information.

Names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, financial account information, medical records numbers, health insurance information, diagnosis and treatment information and claims data may have been involved, according to a press release from CentroMed.

CentroMed said it began notifying all affected individuals on May 17.
Newsweek honored 24 health records companies among the top digital health companies in the U.S. for 2024.

The publication worked with Statista to identify more than 400 companies worldwide to honor among the best digital health companies of the year. Companies were evaluated by financial performance, web and app traffic data and the impact of their product or service.

Below are the 24 health records companies Newsweek honored as part of the inaugural World's Best Digital Health Companies 2024 list.

Health Records

1. Abridge (Pittsburgh)

2. Benchmark Systems (Forest, Va.).

3. Bizmatics (San Jose, Calif.).

4. CareCloud (Somerset, N.J.).

5. CloudMedx (Los Angeles).

6. Geneyx (Wilmington, Del.).

7. Health Gorilla (Mountain View, Calif.).

8. Health Note (San Francisco).

9. HealthViewX (Plano, Texas).

10. Kno2 (Boise, Idaho).

11. Lynx.MD (Palo Alto, Calif.).

12. Medaxion (Nashville, Tenn.).

13. Meditech (Canton, Mass.).

14. Particle Health (New York City).

15. Phoenix Ortho (Orvilla, Texas).

16. PicnicHealth (San Francisco).

17. RevolutionEHR (San Diego).

18. Rhapsody (Boston).

19. ROOK (Miami).

20. Triyam (Lexington, Ky.).

21. Valant (Seattle).

22. Waiting Room Solutions (Goshen, N.Y.).

23. Xealth (Seattle)

24. Zus Health (Boston).
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic apologized over the inclusion of a speaker at a recent conference who has made critical comments about the transgender community, KTTC reported.

LGBTQ+ organization Rochester Pride had expressed disapproval of the health system's booking of Mary O'Connor, MD, an emeritus professor of orthopedics at Mayo Clinic Florida, at the Advancing Academic Career Excellence for Women 2024 event held in Florida in March, according to the May 13 story.

Dr. O'Connor regularly posts on social media about the purported harms of transgender athletes participating in girls' and women's sports. Mayo Clinic is a sponsor of Rochester Pride.

The health system said it learned after the conference of Dr. O'Connor's social media activity, which is "inconsistent with Mayo Clinic values and does not represent the views of the organization," according to a statement to Rochester Pride posted to Instagram and viewed by KTTC.

"Had we known, we would have reconsidered the invitation. We realize this has caused hurt at a time when the transgender community is facing ongoing discrimination and attacks," said the statement attributed to John Poe, chief education officer for Mayo Clinic. "We will continue to learn, improve and grow in our commitment to the health and well-being of transgender and LGTBI+ staff, patients and community members."

Becker's reached out to Mayo Clinic and Dr. O'Connor for additional comment.
Walmart Health Virtual Care is laying off 74 employees at its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, according to regulatory documents filed with the state May 17.

The layoffs were filed less than one month after Walmart Health said it would close all 51 of its health centers across five states and shut down its Walmart Health Virtual Care services.

"There were a number of aspects that were going well, and we really want to be part of the solution to improving healthcare in this country," Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon said on a May 16 call with investors. "But the reality is that given reimbursement rates and costs to serve, we could no longer see a path to achieving an acceptable level of profitability. And we're committed to being disciplined with our investments. We're grateful to our associates that worked in this area."

The retailer's almost 4,600 pharmacies and more than 3,000 vision centers are not affected by the health center closures. Walmart also said employees affected by the closures will be eligible to transfer to any other Sam's Club or Walmart location and will receive 90 days' pay unless they are transferred to another company location or exit the company. Severance benefits will also be available for eligible employees following the 90-day initial pay period.

On May 14, Walmart said it would lay off hundreds of corporate employees and require a majority of its remote workers to relocate to its headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., or the San Francisco Bay and New York City areas, The Washington Post reported.

Becker's has reached out to Walmart and will update this article if more information becomes available.
An Ohio hospital that temporarily suspended services had its application for Chapter 9 bankruptcy rejected, CBS affiliate WTOL reported May 22.

Hicksville, Ohio-based Community Memorial Hospital suspended its services May 19.

Interim CEO Bill Cherry told the news outlet that over the last several months the hospital "put together a plan which we thought was the best way forward for the hospital" and filed papers for bankruptcy reorganization in April, but the tax commissioner did not accept the application.

Chapter 9 bankruptcy allows financially distressed cities, hospital districts and other public entities protection from their creditors while they develop and negotiate a plan for adjusting their debt.

The hospital is continuing to look at other options, including partnerships with other organizations and obtaining funding from external services, according to the report. The hospital's goal is to avoid permanent closures.

The staff was furloughed, and Mr. Cherry said they are working with other area providers to find openings for staff members, according to the report.

The hospital's financial challenges stemmed from an electronic medical records conversion. The 2021 conversion caused Community Memorial to lose six months of revenue. The hospital is also recovering from $25 million in loss due to participating in a commercial lab fraud that hurt its representation and billing abilities.

Community Memorial Hospital did not respond to a request for comment from Becker's.






Texas is awarding $17 million in grants to rural hospitals in the state.

The Texas Rural Hospital Financial Stabilization Grant is providing qualifying hospitals $100,000 to $375,000 over a two-year period, according to a May 22 news release from Gov. Greg Abbot's office.

The grant awards are based on a rural hospital's financial need and can be used to supplement operation expenses, repay debt, make facility repairs and buy or rent equipment.






Becker's reported the following hospital and health system CEO departures from May 9-21, including retirements and other C-suite changes.

1. Chuck Callahan, PhD, announced his plans to leave Springfield (Ill.) Memorial Hospital on June 30 "to seek other professional opportunities," according to a hospital news release shared with Becker's. The hospital has appointed Jay Roszhart president and CEO, effective July 1.

2. Harry Weis, president and CEO of Truckee, Calif.-based Tahoe Forest Health System, was placed on paid administrative leave May 16. The decision followed his previous announcement of his retirement date of Jan. 2, 2026. COO Louis Ward was appointed acting CEO.

3. Carlton DeVooght is stepping down as president and CEO of St. Augustine, Fla.-based UF Health St. Johns, a regional division for Gainesville, Fla.-based UF Health. Mr. DeVooght is leaving his position "to pursue other opportunities as UF Health continues to evolve," according to a statement shared with Becker's. The statement said he will continue at the helm until June 7, before which UF Health St. Johns will name an external interim hospital leader.

4. Rod Hochman, MD, is preparing to retire as president and CEO of Renton, Wash.-based Providence at the end of 2024, capping off a 45-year career in healthcare, including nearly two decades with the Providence family of organizations. Dr. Hochman will transition into a CEO emeritus position, effective Jan. 1, 2025, and a search is underway for the next CEO, according to a May 15 news release from the health system.

5. Ian Worden, who was selected as interim CEO of Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau, Alaska, in September and has been serving in that role since October, will depart the role later this year, a hospital spokesperson told Becker's. Meanwhile, the hospital is moving forward with the search for a permanent CEO, who will be the hospital's fourth leader in less than a year.

6. Paul Kempinski will retire as president and CEO of Children's Mercy Kansas City (Mo.) after more than 40 years in healthcare leadership. Mr. Kempinski, who has helmed Children's Mercy since November 2018, will remain at the helm of the organization until the naming and onboarding of the next leader, according to a May 9 news release.
For those of us who are used to the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. regular work hours, getting your day started at 5 a.m. might seem like an unimaginable task, but for others, it's a way to get ahead, The Wall Street Journal reported May 15.

The early bird gets the worm mentality is a common one for many company leaders, like Apple CEO Tim Cook and General Motors CEO Mary Barra, who start their day before many of their employees are even out of bed.

Matt Kiger, senior vice president for digital sales at Townsquare Media, told the Journal that employees who sleep in risk missing an important window where many executives are, "awake and accessible in the mornings."

"I thought, 'What is it going to take to break through?'" Mr. Kiger told the publication. "'It's going to take being there when my boss comes in, already at my desk making phone calls.'"

Matt Sunshine, CEO of Center for Sales Strategy in Tampa, Fla., told the Journal that if people want to get his attention, the best time is first thing in the morning.

"Because people know Im an early riser, I think that does influence other people to do the same," Mr. Sunshine said.

Rising with the sun could also have benefits for your health. A study done by the University of Colorado Boulder and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard found depression risk was cut by 23% for those who woke up just one hour earlier.

But the 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. before the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. doesn't resonate with everyone, as flexibility is key to many workers in a post-pandemic world.

An 8 a.m. work meeting has proved to not be as favorable to many now, according to a Korn Ferry report, and can cause disruptions for those who have established routines during that time.

Large healthcare companies are also coming up with ways to address their employees' wants and needs.

Louisville, Ky.-based Baptist Health and Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth Group made the move in 2023 to relocate their corporate headquarters and find smaller locations due to more employees choosing the flexibility of remote work.

"Are you solving for a productivity question or a culture question?" asked David Vied, global sector leader of Korn Ferry's medical devices and diagnostics practice.
From textbooks to podcasts, here is the content three spine surgeons recommend for others in the field.

Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. Becker's invites all spine surgeon and specialist responses.

Next question: How have your teaching methods changed over time?

Please send responses to Carly Behm at cbehm@beckershealthcare.com by 5 p.m. CST Wednesday, May 29.

Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.

Question: What is an essential read for all spine surgeons?

Neel Anand, MD. Cedars-Sinai Spine Center (Los Angeles): An essential read for all spine surgeons should be the "Gray's Anatomy The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice  42nd Edition," as it is the foundational basis and gold standard of any surgery and for every surgeon. I am also extremely proud to have contributed to it as one of its two editors.

Brian Gantwerker, MD. The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: I prefer podcasts and the one I prefer is "This American Life." It is a great listen and is well-made and almost always is thought-provoking. The best part is that it has nothing to do with medicine or making money. It reminds me to be a person and have a life outside of the job. Our experiences dictate who we are and how families see us, and it's important to not be obsessed with the wrong things.

Christian Zimmerman, MD. St. Alphonsus Medical Group and SAHS Neuroscience Institute (Boise, Idaho): The two foremost texts in spinal disease, comprehension of spinal stability and forward application to most complex disease processes are "Clinical Biomechanics of the Spine" by White and Panjabi, and Denis' writings on the "The three-column spine and its significance in the classification of acute thoracolumbar spinal injuries."

White and Panjabi proposed a checklist point system to assess spinal stability for each of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines. This remains one of the best recognized systems to date and levied many mutual arguments and turf battles in training and thenceforth during this author's career. Denis, on the other hand, proposed that spinal integrity depended on the three-column system (anterior, middle and posterior) and used it to describe thoracolumbar fractures. The spine is considered unstable when any two of the three columns are disrupted. These two classification systems are designed for traumatic injuries and lend incredible credence and application to the science of complex spinal disease and its many potential pathos.
First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun visited the Iranian Embassy in Seoul on Thursday to extend condolences over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi who was killed in a helicopter crash earlier this week, a Seoul official said.

The official said Korean Ambassador to Iran Kim Jun-pyo plans to attend a memorial service to pay respects to the late president on behalf of the government as soon as the venue is arranged by Tehran.

Iran's state media confirmed Raisi's death on Monday, saying he and several other government officials accompanying him were found dead hours after their helicopter crashed in a mountainous region of the country's northwest.

Korea has expressed its "deepest condolences" over Raisi's death and extended sympathy to the bereaved families and the Iranian people. (Yonhap)
A private equity firm in London is in exclusive talks to acquire a controlling stake in Kingsbridge Healthcare Group, according to reports

A private equity firm in London is close to acquiring a controlling stake in Belfast-based Kingsbridge Healthcare Group, a report has said.

According to business news website The Currency, Exponent is in exclusive talks to acquire the group for around 300m.

It reported in October last year that business advisory firm PwC had been appointed to sell the group, which is based on Lisburn Road in south Belfast.

A spokesperson for PwC said it could not provide any comment or detail on the process.

Exponent did not respond for a request for comment, while a spokesperson for Kingsbridge also did not respond.

It would be another major deal on the island of Ireland for Exponent, after it acquired Chanelle Pharma in the Republic. It was founded by the father-in-law of jockey Sir AP McCoy.

According to The Currency, Kingsbridge attracted strong interest from both private equity and other operators in healthcare during the process.

Kingsbridge Healthcare Group operates four private hospitals, including one on the Lisburn Road and one in the Republic.

The company posted turnover of 105.6m in the year to March 2023, according to latest accounts filed at Companies House. Pre-tax profits were recorded at 11.4m, up from 9.1m.

There are also entities registered in the Republic of Ireland, including Kingsbridge Private Hospital Sligo Limited.

In August last year, the group opened a 2.25m surgical facility with complementary eyecare services at its hospital in Ballykelly.

Anthony McKenna, general manager at Kingsbridge Private Hospital North West, said: This new centre of excellence has been established to meet the needs of patients in the North West who previously had to travel greater distances to access treatment for cataracts or plastic surgery.

Aside from its presence on the Lisburn Road in Belfast the group also has a base at the newly redeveloped Kings Hall Health and Wellbeing Park.

Suresh Tharma, founder and director of the group, was interviewed by Insider Media last month. He described how the business had been sent up in 2005 with a focus on supporting the NHS with managing waiting lists.

However, in 2015 its NHS work dropped dramatically, leading to cost-cutting and redundancies. It then switched to a private-only model.

Mr Tharma told Insider Media: Given the lack of a long-term waiting list plan in the NHS recently its very difficult to project forward with NHS work with any confidence and to plan ahead.

"We therefore can only build to full capacity when we know a facility will be filled. And the only way we could do this was by focusing on private patients and weve reaped the benefits from this strategy.
Pet owners struggling with vet bills have been offered tips to save money by Britains competition watchdog as it confirmed it was pressing ahead with a full market investigation into the vets market amid concerns over practices (Ben Birchall/PA)

Pet owners struggling with vet bills have been offered tips to save money by Britains competition watchdog as it confirmed it was pressing ahead with a full market investigation into the vets market amid concerns over practices.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the probe will look at issues such as whether consumers are being given the information they need so they can make informed decisions, if pet owners are being impacted by limited choice and whether profits are consistent with the levels expected in a competitive market.
Timing is everything for a conductor, and after five years with the Ulster Orchestra, Daniele Rustioni will has chosen tonight to lead his final concert in charge in Belfast after recently becoming a father.
Noel Clarke leaves the Royal Courts of Justice after a previous hearing in his libel claim (Lucy North/PA)

Actor Noel Clarkes High Court libel claim against The Guardian newspapers publisher is set to go to trial early next year, the court has been told.

Mr Clarke is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over eight articles accusing him of sexual misconduct, including one from April 2021 which said 20 women who knew Mr Clarke in a professional capacity had come forward with the allegations.

The former Doctor Who actor is bringing a libel and data protection claim against the publisher, claiming in a statement at the time that he vehemently denied any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing.

He is seeking 10 million in special damages, with his barrister, Adam Speker KC, stating in written submissions for a preliminary hearing on Thursday that the trial could go ahead as early as January 2025.

Gavin Millar KC, for GNM, said in written submissions that the case is perhaps the most substantial piece of libel litigation to come before the court in recent years.

A further hearing will take place at a later date.

The court has previously heard that police decided no criminal investigation would be launched over the sexual offence allegations against Mr Clarke.

Scotland Yard said in a statement in March 2022 that there had been a thorough assessment by specialist detectives, but it was determined the information would not meet the threshold for a criminal investigation.

Mr Clarke may face the women who have accused him of sexual misconduct if they give oral evidence at trial, with barristers for GNM telling an earlier hearing that the publisher wished to rely on evidence of the womens mistreatment at the hands of the claimant to vindicate its journalism.

In a judgment last year, Mr Justice Johnson said that seven of the articles mean that there are strong grounds to believe that the claimant is guilty of various forms of sexual harassment with the eighth meaning grounds to investigate.

The judge also ruled all of the articles could be defamatory, which had not been disputed by GNM over seven of the pieces.
A major exhibition of Impressionist artist Edgar Degas will open at a Scottish museum celebrating the connection between bohemian Paris and Glasgows industrial heritage at the start of the 20th century.

Shipbuilding magnate Sir William Burrell bought his first Degas painting in the early 1890s and accumulated a total of 23 artworks before his death in 1958, when they were donated to the city of Glasgow with the creation of the Burrell Collection.

The collected works are the first major exhibition at the museum since it reopened in 2022 after a 68 million refurbishment.

Jockeys in the Rain by Edgar Degas (CSG CIC Glasgow Museums Collections/PA)

It is expected to draw international attention, and opens after three years of planning including negotiations about lighting and humidity with 13 institutions which loaned the additional artworks.

Best known for his depictions of dancers, Degas studied working-class Parisians until his death in 1917, when his paintings and sculptures gained more widespread recognition.

Sir William collected more Degas artworks than any other British collector and the exhibition, Discovering Degas: Collecting In The Time Of Sir William Burrell, opens on Friday.

Pastel sketches of Ukrainian folk dancers stamping and kicking show Degass interest in movement and he also studied horse-racing, circus performers and laundry workers.

A controversial painting, LAbsinthe (1896), shows a couple suffering from a hangover from the addictive hallucinogen absinthe, which gripped Paris in the early 20th century, and caused uproar in the British press at the time.

The exhibition explains how art dealer Alex Reid promoted Degas in his Glasgow city centre gallery, Le Salon Des Beaux Arts, drawing attention from Sir William, and includes a portrait of Reid by Vincent van Gogh, who he lived with in Paris.

caption id=2.65172428 align=alignnone width=5844]

Professor Frances Fowle, who teaches 19th century French art at the University of Edinburgh, co-curated the exhibition with Pippa Stephenson-Sit, curator of European art at Glasgow Life Museums.

Prof Fowle said: A lot of these rich industrialists made money and they were prepared to buy modern and contemporary art. Alex Reid was particularly interested in Degas  critics used to say Impressionism was ignorance and idleness but Degas was the exception.

There are no landscapes, he liked to paint indoor scenes  the ballet dancers were showing their legs, which was quite risque. Many of the ballet dancers performed at the Paris Opera and practised in the rehearsal rooms where Degas was allowed to sketch behind the scenes. He loved the idea of capturing people unawares, it was seen as incredibly unorthodox.

At the time LAbsinthe was painted there were problems with alcohol and the temperance movement was really strong.

Duncan Dornan, head of museums and collections at Glasgow Life Museums, said: We imagine Victorians as having Grand Master taste in art  this is quite way out for Burrell in the early stages of the 20th century, which reflects where Glasgow was at that time.

Burrell took collecting very seriously, the peers of his collection are in the Met in New York.

It is very good for the city, one of the purposes of the investment in the Burrell is to raise the profile of the cultural life here.

Ms Stephenson-Sit said Degas caused major scandal, and added: He wanted to show real Paris. I think Degas is quite unfairly called a misogynist and people focus on the keyhole images of women bathing. He wanted to show women how they actually looked.
The overwhelming majority of religious visits to schools were by those representing Christian faiths despite more children than ever being registered as no faith or other, according to a new report.
Education Minister Paul Givan has announced all children in Northern Ireland will be entitled to 22.5 hours of pre-school education per week.

The announcement is part of a 25m package that is designed to stabilise and support expansion of the early learning and childcare sector and reduce childcare bills for working parents through a Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme.

The tax-free scheme currently in place means the government pays 20% of childcare fees for parents, but within this latest package announced on Thursday, a 15% uncapped increase was added  totalling 35% for the government to pay.

This is an ambitious package of measures for early learning and childcare representing the most significant enhancement of early years investment in Northern Ireland in decades, said Mr Givan.

He said the investment shows the Executive is committed to supporting young children, families and services as a top priority despite an extremely challenging budget.

The new measures will also build the evidence base necessary to inform the longer-term Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, the department said.

Mr Givan said 22.5 hours of free pre-school education can improve the quality of a childs education and well-being.

I very much welcome the Executives commitment to the delivery of 22.5 hours funded pre-school education for all children in their pre-school year. This is an unprecedented expansion of early years developmental provision in over 25 years and will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the lives of children in Northern Ireland for decades to come.

It is a necessarily ambitious programme which will ease current pressures on parents and providers and lay the foundation upon which I intend to build. This is by no means the limit of my ambitions, but rather an important first step towards a full Early Learning and Childcare Strategy.

Since the return of the Executive, childcare has become a significant issue for politicians as parents struggle to meet the cost and make suitable arrangements.

Mr Givan previously said it could cost up to 400m to put a childcare strategy in place  with only 25m available.

Parents in Northern Ireland up until now have not been in receipt of free childcare hours, unlike in other parts of the UK  where parents are entitled to 30 free hours.

Commenting on the announcement, Employers For Childcare Chief Executive Marie Marin said: We have been campaigning for support for, and investment in, our childcare sector for over two decades and we are pleased that this has finally been recognised as a priority by Government.

Ms Marin the Executive will introduce more long term strategies to help support the early learning and childcare industry.

"Now that some measures have been announced to tackle the immediate crisis, we also need to move towards longer-term planning and secure the investment needed to deliver an ambitious new Early Learning and Childcare Strategy with a focus on delivering affordable, but also high-quality early learning and childcare, through a workforce that is properly valued.

"We, and our colleagues across the sector stand ready to provide the support needed to make this a reality, recognising the clear benefits that investment in high quality early learning and childcare brings to our economy and society.

Sinn Fein MLA Cathy Mason has welcomed the announcement.

"Transforming childcare was a day-one priority for Sinn Fein and the Executive, and while there is much more work ahead, this is a positive step in the right direction.

"The high cost of childcare is a real burden for many families, leaving parents struggling to make ends meet after paying their bills.

"Families need and deserve our support. I am determined to keep working with all parties to reduce bills for parents, financially support providers, and ensure services are accessible for all."

SDLP MP Claire Hanna also praised the announcement.

Today marks a significant step forward for childcare in Northern Ireland.

Parents across Northern Ireland have been clear that they need urgent intervention to help them with spiralling childcare costs, alongside the longer-term development of a Childcare Strategy. Over recent months, we have heard more and more stories on how parents simply could not afford to wait any longer for support and the crisis had reached breaking point, she said.

Hanna said she has directly lobbied for more free pre-school education in Northern Ireland for many years.

Since I entered public life, I have campaigned on the issue of early education and childcare as a Councillor, MLA and MP. At each stage , I have made the case that early education and childcare is the single biggest tool to reduce disadvantage and that parents and children deserve a system that works for them. Politics is supposed to be about solving problems and working together for the common good. This is another day that showed the power of collective action and I am proud to have been part of this change.
A new variant of Covid named FLiRT has been confirmed in Northern Ireland, according to the Public Health Agency.

Six cases of the variant also known as KP.2 have been identified so far, while cases have also been detected in the Republic of Ireland.

According to the Public Health Agency, the FLiRT variant has become increasingly common in the United States and the United Kingdom.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the health agency said: More than four years since the first COVID-19 case in Northern Ireland, vaccination continues to offer the best protection for people who are at risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19.

COVID-19 infection can cause more serious illness in older people and in people with certain underlying health conditions. For these reasons they are being offered a spring booster of the vaccine to ensure they have the best protection against future waves of infection.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is constantly evolving, with new variants arising frequently. Some of these can become dominant and could cause further waves of infection.

"Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent or reduce the impact of infectious diseases, as they teach our immune system to recognise and fight viruses.

The Public Health Agency also said due to the majority of people in Northern Ireland no longer being tested this is only a small sample of a larger number of cases and there is not yet enough evidence to judge the effect of this variants mutations.

They added that public health authorities will monitor its spread and severity, as with previous variants.
UK

If you want your new puppy to get along with your cat, introduce them gradually
Korea asked the Czech Republic on Thursday to pay closer attention to the ongoing bilateral efforts for cooperation in the commercial nuclear power plant sector, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Kim Hee-sang, deputy foreign minister for economic affairs, delivered the request to Petr Tresnak, deputy industry minister of the Czech Republic, during their joint economic dialogue earlier in the day, the ministry said.

Kim used the session to highlight Korean industry's strengths and competitiveness in the construction of nuclear power plants, in relation to the new projects being pushed for by the Central European nation.

Thursday's talks also included discussions on ways to expand cooperation in global supply chains, trade and investment, as well as energy and science and technology, the ministry said. (Yonhap)
Sue Gray to miss meeting with Stormont leaders as she demands more money causing bedlam in Number 10
General Election guide for Northern Ireland voters ahead of July 4

The current UK Parliament as we know it has been officially dissolved  so here is everything you need to know about the upcoming General Election

Voters are set to go to the polls on July 4

Liam Tunney Thu 30 May 2024 at 15:15







Standing outside Downing Street, shoulders sodden with rain and with Labours 1997 election anthem blaring from a speaker at the end of the street, July must have felt very far away for Rishi Sunak.
Sinn Fein MP Chris Hazzard said his party was not distracted by other elections in Ireland (Liam McBurney/PA)

The General Election is an opportunity for voters to send out a message over the systemic underfunding of public services in Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein has claimed.

South Down MP Chris Hazzard insisted the party was ready to fight the surprise July 4 election, and would not be distracted by other polls south of the border in Ireland.

He also insisted that the republican partys team of MPs was delivering effective representation despite not taking its seats at Westminster.

Sinn Fein currently has seven MPs and will be hoping to replicate its result from the last Assembly and council elections when it emerged as the largest party in the region.

Speaking at Stormont, Mr Hazzard said: It is going to be an opportunity to send a clear signal that the systemic underfunding of our public services and the undermining of the Good Friday Agreement has to come to an end.

We have had 14 years of the calamitous, cruel and deadly effects of Tory austerity.

We have had Brexit lumbered upon us and weve had successive Tory administrations attempt to breach international law and to undermine the Good Friday Agreement.

So, July 4, this has to change. It is also an opportunity to send a very clear message that we want locally accountable political leaders to take the decisions that matter to our lives and not to outsource us to the British establishment in London who care little for the north of England, never mind the north of Ireland.

We can build a better future for ourselves and the next generation by taking those decisions here (Stormont), working in partnership as this institution has shown in recent weeks.

The party will also be fighting European and local government elections in the Republic of Ireland in June.

But Mr Hazzard said this would not impact the partys efforts in the Westminster poll.

He said: We are ready; we have been having our selection conventions now for a number of months.

We are a national party, we fight on all fronts.

He also dismissed suggestions that the General Election was less important to his party than other elections.

Mr Hazzard said: We believe we supply the most proactive and the most effective representation when it comes to politics.

It is not about wasting time on the green benches or sitting on a needless committee, it is about being there across the table with the British government.

I myself personally, I have met with every successive British prime minister, tanaiste and taoiseach in the south, secretary of state, since I was elected in 2017, thats where the bread and butter issues are dealt with and that is where you can have the most effect.

Michelle Gildernew has confirmed she will be concentrating on the European elections (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Meanwhile, the partys Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew has confirmed she will not be standing for re-election.

Ms Gildernew will instead be running in the Midlands North West constituency in the European election in Ireland.

She said: That is my sole focus. I will not be running in the forthcoming Westminster election.

In 2001 when I was first elected by a margin of 53 votes to the seat held by Bobby Sands in 1981 I was humbled.

It has been both a privilege and an honour to represent the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone since; and I will be forever grateful for the trust they have placed in me.
There were 5,662 Afghan nationals coming to the UK having crossed the Channel in the year ending March 2024 (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Almost as many Afghan nationals arrived in the UK having made the dangerous Channel crossing as through the Governments legal routes in the year to March, the latest figures show.

A total of 5,662 Afghan nationals came to the UK having crossed the Channel in that period, plus 350 of what the Home Office described as inadequately documented air arrivals, making a total of 6,012 people.

Data also showed that some 758 lone Afghan children were recorded as applying for asylum having crossed the Channel  a figure described by a charity as showing they are being let down by a lack of options for family reunion.

Meanwhile, 6,042 Afghans were resettled in the same period under the schemes created by the department following the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in 2021.

A total of 1,854 of those came under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS)  which is split into three pathways.

The number resettled under pathway one  for vulnerable and at-risk people who arrived in the UK during the evacuation programme in 2021 and those who were eligible but not able to board a flight at that time  was down 91% year-on-year from 434 in the year ending March 2023, to 40 in the year ending March 2024.

The Government has previously pledged to establish a route for families who ended up being split apart when some were evacuated initially and loved ones left behind.

Then-immigration minister Robert Jenrick said in October that a route related to pathway one would allow eligible individuals to refer one spouse or partner and dependent child for resettlement, and that the Government was aiming for referrals to that route in the first half of 2024 if not sooner.

(PA Graphics)

Earlier this month a Home Office spokesperson said the department remains on track to open the route for referrals in the first half of this year.

The ACRS, which began in January 2022, prioritised people who had assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan as well as vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups at risk.

Those arriving under pathway two  for vulnerable refugees referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)  rose to 623 in the year ending March 2024, from 40 the previous year.

Numbers settled under pathway three  for women and girls at risk and those who supported the UK and international community effort in Afghanistan  rose to 1,191 in the year ending March 2024, from 16 the previous year.

The Arap scheme, which launched in April 2021, is for Afghan citizens who worked for or with the UK Government in Afghanistan.

Arrivals under this scheme were up by a quarter to 4,188 in the year to March 2024.

Of the 2,762 unaccompanied children recorded applying for asylum in the UK having crossed the Channel in this period, Afghans were the most common nationality  totalling 758.

Dr Wanda Wyporska, chief executive officer at Safe Passage International, said childrens lives depend safe routes for separated families to reunite.

She said: Sadly, its not surprising to see that so many Afghan children are having to take this dangerous journey alone.

After all, Afghans resettled in the UK from evacuations when Kabul fell in 2021 are totally excluded from refugee family reunion.

Appallingly, parents in the UK have no way to bring their sons and daughters to join them here, leaving children to take dangerous journeys instead.

The unaccompanied children we work with are simply trying to reach what little family they have left.

We urgently need safe routes to be opened for refugees, and for the family reunion rules to be fixed, as has been done before for those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Childrens lives depend on it.

Denisa Delic, advocacy director at International Rescue Committee UK, said that until safe routes are expanded people fleeing conflict in places like Afghanistan will be driven to make dangerous journeys in search of safety.

She said: The Government must scale up safe routes to ensure fewer people are forced to take dangerous journeys in the first place  resettlement schemes, a refugee visa and family reunion schemes are more effective and humane alternatives that would offer orderly routes to protection for refugees.
SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney insisted he will lead the SNP to victory in the General Election in Scotland (Michael Boyd/PA)

Scotlands First Minister has insisted he can lead the SNP to victory in an independence day General Election.

John Swinney said the election, now confirmed to take place on July 4, also gave voters the chance to get rid of Rishi Sunak and his disastrous Conservative Government.

The SNP leader declared: Never has a government deserved to lose more than Rishi Sunaks Government.

Launching the SNP election campaign at an event in Edinburgh, he urged voters north of the border: On July 4  Independence Day  make sure your voice is heard.

With Rishi Sunak having announced the election outside Downing Street in the rain, Mr Swinney insisted the Tories were so chaotic they dont even know when its raining (PA)

Despite only taking over as SNP leader and Scottish First Minister just over two weeks ago, Mr Swinney insisted he was up for the cut and thrust of the election campaign.

Mr Swinney had stepped back from frontline politics last year when he called time on his eight year spell as deputy first minister, but when Humza Yousaf quit suddenly last month, he put himself forward to be both SNP leader and Scottish First Minister.

Ive only been back in frontline politics for a month, he said.

I couldnt have imagined even two months ago standing here launching the SNP campaign for the 2024 General Election.

But I am here because I knew I could unify my party. I am two weeks in and I have done that already.

SNP leader John Swinney launched his partys General Election campaign at an event in Edinburgh on Thursday (Michael Boyd/PA)

He insisted he was relishing the opportunity to campaign across Scotland as he promised an energetic, optimistic campaign from the SNP.

However he used his campaign launch to hit out at the disastrous Tory Government in power in Westminster.

With Mr Sunak having announced the election date on Wednesday outside Downing Street in the rain, Mr Swinney insisted the Tories were so chaotic they dont even know when its raining outside.

He called on voters in Scotland to back his party to unite to bring about that better country that we all want to see.

Mr Swinney added: That starts by seeing the back of Rishi Sunak and his Government.

The challenger for every Tory seat in Scotland is the Scottish National Party. So by voting SNP you can get rid of this Tory Government.

And while he said the six weeks of election campaigning would see Labour and the Tories going hammer and tongs to discredit each other in the race for Downing Street, he said he would be going hammer and tongs to put Scotland first.

(PA Graphics)

He added: I will never take anything for granted, but I have no doubt the SNP can win this election.

And that is what I intend to do, to lead the SNP to victory in this election.

Elsewhere in the House of Commons, SNP MP Patrick Grady tabled the Scotland (Independence) Bill and asked for it to be given a second reading on July 4.

As the title of the Bill was read out, Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing joked: Oh dear.

Scottish-born Dame Eleanor, a Conservative MP, is standing down at the election and said: Ive stood here for 10.5 years not saying what I think, the honourable gentleman knows very well what I think of that one.

Asked about his Bill, Glasgow North MP Mr Grady told the PA news agency: With the election taking place at short notice, about as early in the second half of the year as humanly possible, tabling the Bill was a way of using the last few hours of this Parliament to put on record my continued determination to work for Scotlands independence and the powers to build a fair and just society that takes its place as an equal on the world stage.

Mr Gradys Bill will not make any further progress in the Commons ahead of Parliaments dissolution.
Rishi Sunak decided to cut and run by calling a summer election because he was scared of the threat from Reform UK, Richard Tice has claimed.

The Reform UK leader said the Prime Minister had bottled it by calling a summer election instead of holding on for the autumn.

At the launch of Reforms campaign, Mr Tice said the Prime Minister was absolutely terrified by his partys upward progress in the polls at a time when the Tories have slumped.

He was terrified as to where this may end up, Mr Tice said.

Reform is averaging around 11% in the polls, ahead of the Liberal Democrats.

(PA Graphics)

The party will stand in 630 seats across England, Scotland and Wales no ifs, not buts, Mr Tice said.

But Reform UKs highest-profile figure Nigel Farage, the honorary president, will not be standing, opting instead to focus on Donald Trumps campaign in the US.

Mr Tice insisted Mr Farage will be helping out significantly during the general election campaign.

The party leader, who is standing in the Boston and Skegness constituency, said: Contrary to what all the commentators say, the likes of my good friend Lee Anderson and myself, we are going to win seats.

During his speech Mr Tice hit out at high levels of net migration, establishment experts and the weak, feeble politicians who have broken Britain.

The launch came as official data indicated net migration levels are estimated to have stood at 685,000 in 2023, down on 2022s record but still high by historic standards.

Former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe told the Reform UK event: The crucial issue in this forthcoming General Election is going to be immigration, and the impact that it is having.

(PA Graphics)

She added: Having been in the Home Office, and having been admittedly a long time ago immigration minister, I know very well that immigration has a tremendous impact on the country. There is no such thing as an economic movement which doesnt impact right across the scale.

She said it had an impact on the health service, housing, and infrastructure, adding: That is what we are now facing, and that is why uncontrolled immigration is at the root of so much that is going wrong.

High-profile Conservative figures including Lord Cameron, Boris Johnson and James Cleverly featured in a campaign video played after her speech, which blamed the Tories for not fulfilling their promises on migration.
The French president visited the central police station in the capital Noumea during his visit (Ludovic Marin/AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron said on a visit to riot-hit New Caledonia on Thursday that he will not force through a contested voting reform that has sparked deadly unrest in the French Pacific territory.

He said he wants to leave time for local leaders to come up with an alternate agreement for the archipelagos future.

Speaking after a day of meetings with leaders on both sides of New Caledonias bitter divide between indigenous Kanaks who want independence and pro-Paris leaders who do not, Mr Macron laid out a roadmap that he said could lead to another referendum on the archipelago.

Three earlier referendums between 2018 and 2021 produced no votes against independence.

French president Emmanuel Macron arrived at Noumea La Tontouta International airport in New Caledonia (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

He said another referendum could be on a new political deal for the archipelago that he hopes local leaders will agree on in coming weeks after protesters barricades are dismantled, allowing for a state of emergency to be lifted and for peace to return.

I have pledged that this reform wont be pushed through with force today in the current context and that we are giving ourselves a few weeks to allow for calm, the resumption of dialogue, with a view to a global agreement, he said.

Mr Macron has pushed for the removal of protesters barricades during his visit said police sent in to help battle deadly unrest in the French Pacific archipelago will stay as long as necessary.

His comments came even as security services back in France were focusing in coming weeks on safeguarding the Paris Olympics.

By cancelling his previously announced schedule to fly across the globe from Paris to New Caledonia, Mr Macron brought the weight of his office to bear on the crisis, which has left six dead and a trail of destruction.

Pro-independence Kanak leaders, who a week earlier declined Mr Macrons offer of talks by video, joined a meeting the French leader hosted in the capital, Noumea, with rival pro-Paris leaders who want New Caledonia, which became French in 1853 under Emperor Napoleon III, to remain part of France.

Mr Macron first called for a minutes silence for the six people killed in shootings during the violence, including two gendarmes. He then urged local leaders to use their clout to help restore order.

Mr Macron with Frances minister for interior and overseas Gerald Darmanin, left, during his visit (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

He said a state of emergency imposed by Paris for at least 12 days on May 15 to boost police powers could only be lifted if local leaders called for a clearing away of barricades that demonstrators and people trying to protect their neighbourhoods had erected in Noumea and beyond.

Everyone has a responsibility to really call for the lifting of the barricades, the cessation of all forms of attack, not simply for calm, he said.

Barricades made of charred vehicles and other debris had turned some parts of Noumea into no-go zones and made travelling around perilous, including for the sick requiring medical treatment and for families concerned about where to find food and water after shops were pillaged and torched.

French authorities said more than 280 people had been arrested since violence first flared on May 13 as the French legislature in Paris debated contested changes to New Caledonia voter lists.

The unrest continued to simmer as Mr Macron jetted in, despite a 6pm to 6am curfew and more than 1,000 reinforcements for the archipelagos police and gendarmes, now 3,000 strong.

I will be very clear here. These forces will remain as long as necessary. Even during the Olympic Games and Paralympics, which open in Paris on July 26, Mr Macron said.

Mr Macron, second right, and New Caledonias president Louis Mapou, second left, during the visit (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Macron said on arrival at Noumeas La Tontouta International Airport  which remains closed to commercial flights  that he wanted to be alongside the people and see a return to peace, calm and security as soon as possible.

Later, at Noumeas central police station, Mr Macron thanked officers for facing what he described as an absolutely unprecedented insurrection movement.

No-one saw it coming with this level of organisation and violence, he said. You did your duty. And I thank you.

The violence is the severest in New Caledonia since the 1980s, the last time France imposed a state of emergency on the archipelago of 270,000 people and decades of tensions over the issue of independence between Kanaks and the descendants of colonists and other settlers.

The French president thanked officers for facing what he described as an absolutely unprecedented insurrection movement (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Fires, looting and other violence targeting hundreds of businesses, homes, shops, public buildings and other sites in and around Noumea have caused destruction estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros.

This week, military flights evacuated stranded tourists.

We will discuss questions of economic reconstruction, support and rapid response, and the most delicate political questions, as we talk about the future of New Caledonia, Mr Macron said.

By the end of the day, decisions will be taken and announcements will be made.

Barricades have turned some parts of Noumea into no-go zones (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Macron flew to the archipelago under pressure from politicians in France and pro-independence supporters to delay or scrap the overhaul of the voting system for New Caledonia which triggered the unrest.

Both French houses of parliament in Paris have approved the proposed reform but it would require a revision of Frances constitution to take effect.

It would enlarge voter numbers in provincial elections for New Caledonias legislature and government, adding about 25,000 voters, including people who have been residents of the archipelago for at least 10 years and others born there.

People demonstrated as Mr Macrons motorcade drove past in Noumea (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Opponents fear the measure will benefit pro-France politicians in New Caledonia and further marginalise the Kanaks, who once suffered from strict segregation policies and widespread discrimination.

Supporters say the proposed overhaul is democratically important for people with roots in New Caledonia who cannot currently vote for local representatives.
Hundreds of thousands of people crowded into Mashhad (Mohammad Hasan Salavati, Shahraranews via AP)

Iran was preparing to inter its late president at the holiest site for Shiite Muslims in the Islamic Republic, in a final sign of respect for a protege of the countrys supreme leader killed in a helicopter crash earlier this week.

President Ebrahim Raisis burial at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad caps days of processions across much of Iran, seeking to bolster the countrys theocracy after the crash that killed him, the countrys foreign minister and six others.

Hundreds of thousands of people crowded into Mashhad, about 470 miles (750km) east of Irans capital, Tehran, many in black and beating their chests and heads in a sign of mourning common in Shiite ceremonies.

Mourners surrounded a lorry carrying the coffins of Ebrahim Raisi and his companions who were killed in the crash (Mohammad Hasan Salavati, Shahraranews via AP)

A lorry carried his casket down the street, with mourners reaching out to touch it and tossing scarves and other items against it for a blessing.

But the services have not drawn the same crowds as those who gathered for services for Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani in 2020, killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad.

It is a potential sign of the publics feelings about Mr Raisis presidency during which the government harshly cracked down on all dissent during protests over the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, detained for allegedly not wearing her mandatory headscarf to the authorities liking.

Mr Raisis coffin and that of his companions were carried through the city of Mashhad (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)

This crackdown, as well as Irans struggling economy, have gone unmentioned in the hours of coverage provided by state television and in newspapers. Also never discussed was Mr Raisis involvement in the mass execution of an estimated 5,000 dissidents at the end of the Iran-Iraq war.

Prosecutors have warned people against showing any public signs of celebrating Mr Raisis death and a heavy security force presence has been seen in Tehran since the crash.

Thousands of people dressed in black gathered on Thursday morning along a main boulevard in the city of Birjand, Mr Raisis hometown in Irans South Khorasan province along the Afghan border.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, centre right with black turban, led a prayer over the coffins (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Hours later, Mr Raisis casket arrived in Mashhad. He will be buried at the Imam Reza Shrine, where Shiite Islams eighth imam is buried.

The region has long been associated with Shiite pilgrimage.

In 2016, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei appointed Mr Raisi to run the Imam Reza charity foundation, which manages a vast conglomerate of businesses and endowments in Iran, as well as oversees the shrine. It is one of many charitable foundations fuelled by donations or assets seized after Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Ebrahim Raisi, pictured, had been discussed as a possible successor to Irans supreme leader (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)

Mr Raisi will be the first top politician in the country to be buried at the shrine, which represents a major honour for the cleric.

The death of Mr Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six others in the crash on Sunday comes at a politically sensitive moment for Iran, both at home and abroad.

Mr Raisi, who was 63, had been discussed as a possible successor to Irans supreme leader, the 85-year-old Mr Khamenei. None of Irans living past presidents  other than Mr Khamenei, who was president from 1981 until 1989  could be seen in state television footage of Wednesdays prayers. The authorities gave no explanation for their apparent absence.

Iran has set June 28 as the next presidential election. For now, theres no clear favourite for the position among Irans political elite  particularly no-one who is a Shiite cleric, like Mr Raisi.

Mourners wept during the funeral ceremony for Mr Amirabdollahian (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Acting president Mohammad Mokhber, a relatively unknown first vice president until Sundays crash, has stepped into his role and attended a meeting between Mr Khamenei and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday.

State media circulated photos on Thursday showing a meeting between Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard chief and the head of its expeditionary Quds Force and representatives from Hamas, Lebanons Hezbollah and Yemens Houthi rebels.

This is another sign of Irans governments commitment to those militias it arms against its rivals, Israel and the United States.
Events were being held in anticipation of the June 2 presidential, state and municipal elections (Alberto Lopez/AP)

The collapse of a stage during an election campaign rally in northern Mexico has killed at least nine people, including a child, and injured 121, the countrys governor has said.

The stage was sent flying by a strong gust of wind during an event attended by presidential long-shot candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez.

The victims will not be alone in this tragedy, Mr Maynez told reporters on Wednesday night, adding that he had suspended upcoming campaign events.

The stage collapsed during an election campaign rally in northern Mexico (Alberto Lopez/AP)

Afterwards, soldiers, police and other officials roamed the grounds of the park where the event took place while many nearby sat stunned and haunted by the tragedy.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he sends a hug to family members, friends of the victims and political supporters.

Videos of the collapse appeared on social media on Wednesday night, showing people screaming, running away, and climbing out from under metal polls.

Mr Maynez wrote in his social media accounts that he went to a hospital after the accident at a campaign rally in the wealthy suburb of San Pedro Garza Garcia, near the city of Monterrey.

Electoral signs lay on the ground as security forces secured the area after the collapse (Alberto Lopez/AP)

He said there were victims of the dramatic crash while he was well.

The only important thing at this point is to care for the victims of the accident, he wrote.

Samuel Garcia, the governor of the northern border state of Nuevo Leon and a leading member of Alvarez Maynezs Citizens Movement party, said in a taped statement that unfortunately, there are (people) injured.

Miguel Trevino, the mayor of San Pedro Garza Garcia, wrote on his social media accounts that there are people reported trapped and injured. My prayers are with the victims.

Mr Garcia said the strong winds blew down a stage at a campaign closer.

Events are being held in anticipation of the June 2 presidential, state and municipal elections.

Relief workers and security forces attended the scene (Alberto Lopez/AP)

Video of the accident posted on social media showed Mr Maynez waving his arm as the crowd chanted his name. But then he saw a giant screen and metal structure toppling toward him.

Mr Maynez ran rapidly toward the back of the stage to avoid the falling structure, which appeared to consist of relatively light framework pieces and what appeared to be a screen with the partys logo and theatre-style lights.

He has been running third in presidential race polls, trailing front-runner Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Morena Party and opposition coalition candidate Xochitl Galvez.

The campaign has been plagued by the killings of about two dozen candidates for local offices.
By Jung Min-ho

A woman, 41, has been convicted of stabbing a teenage girl as revenge after a quarrel between the girl and her daughter in Incheon last year.

The Incheon District Court sentenced the woman to six months in prison, suspended for one year, Thursday, for inflicting injuries on the girl, 13, with a weapon at a park on July 24.

She was also ordered to receive treatment for her mental condition.

The woman was indicted after the revenge-motived assault at the park, where she attacked another teenage student, 17, on her way to find the girl.

The injuries were not life-threatening.

She admitted the charges and expressed regrets, Judge Hwang Yoon-chul said. Her unfit mental and physical state at that time and the fact that she had no previous record of serious crimes were factored into the ruling.
At least seven civilians were killed after Russian missiles hit Ukraines second-largest city in the northeast of the country, officials said.

The attack comes as Kyivs army labours to hold off an intense cross-border offensive by the Kremlins larger and better-equipped forces.

At least 20 people were injured as S-300 missiles struck the city of Kharkiv, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said. The sound of 15 explosions reverberated around the city of some one million people.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the main hot spots in recent fighting had been Kharkiv and the neighbouring Donetsk region (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack extremely cruel.

He expressed renewed frustration at not getting enough air defence systems from the countrys western partners to prevent the barrages after more than two years of unrelenting war.

The city of Kharkiv, which is the capital of the region of the same name, lies about 12 miles (20km) from the Russian border.

Moscows troops have in recent weeks captured villages in the area as part of a broad push, and analysts say they may be trying to get within artillery range of the city.

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In what is shaping up to be Ukraines biggest test since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces are being pressed at several points along the roughly 600-mile (1,000km) front line that snakes from north to south along the eastern side of the country.

With Ukraine short of air defences and waiting for more western military support that recently started trickling in, its army has been pushed backwards in places while Russia has pounded its power grid and civilian areas. Kyiv endured further power outages on Thursday.

Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said the attacks underscored the countrys urgent need for more US-made Patriot systems to defend its skies.

Germany recently pledged one of the missile systems but getting six more as soon as possible remains critical not only for Ukraines survival but for peace in Europe, Mr Kuleba wrote on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Mr Zelensky said the main hot spots in recent fighting had been Kharkiv and the neighbouring Donetsk region, where in February Ukraines defenders withdrew from the stronghold of Avdiivka.

For the Kremlin, taking control of all of partially occupied Donetsk is a war priority.

At the same time, and in an apparent effort to stretch Ukraines depleted forces, Russian troops have made incursions in the northern Sumy region.

Nearly 1,500 people, including 200 children, have been evacuated from the towns of Bilopillia and Vorozhba in that region, according to regional governor Volodymyr Artiukh.

Ukrainian servicemen on the front line near the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk region (Iryna Rybakova via AP)

The main focus (of the fighting) is on the entire border area, Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address on Wednesday.

In Liubotyn, a small town about 6 miles (10km) west of Kharkiv city, Russian missiles struck the towns centre, injuring eight civilians.

Ukraine has also trained its sights on Russian regions across the border.

Russias defence ministry said on Thursday that 35 Ukrainian rockets and three drones were shot down over the Belgorod region.

Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said one drone had struck a house and exploded after being shot down, killing a woman.
The government hopes to finally end one of Asia's longest-running armed conflicts.

This photo shows guerrillas of the New Peoples Army (NPA) marching in the Sierra Madre mountain range, located east of Manila, July 30, 2017.

Two high-value targets were among five suspected communist guerrillas killed in what the military described as separate clashes with government troops in the central and southern Philippines this week, officials said Thursday.

The Philippine army identified the two slain leaders as Zaldy Galamiton (also known as Shaggy and Poldo) and Jhonjhon Ayuma Ramos (also known as Erbing).

Galamiton was secretary of the Sub-Regional Committee 1 of the New Peoples Army (NPA)  the military wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)  and Ramos was commanding officer of the rebel groups Sub-Regional Sentro De Gravida (SRSDG) Eagles, according to the military.

The two were killed in a clash with troops from the 29th Infantry Battalion near Gingoog City in southern Misamis Oriental province on Tuesday, the military said.

The two fatalities were high-value individuals who we have been tracking for months, said Lt. Col. Warren Daroy, head of the 16th Infantry Battalion under the 402nd Infantry Brigade.

They were responsible for directing atrocities and criminal activities in Misamis Oriental and parts of Agusan Norte.

Marco Valbuena, spokesman for the communist party, did not immediately respond to a BenarNews request for comment.

The NPA and CPP have been waging a rebellion against Manila since 1969, one of Asias longest-running insurgencies.

Military troops were responding to information provided by residents about the presence of the rebels who were said to be attempting to regain their lost mass base through recruitment and extortion activities, Daroy said.

A brief firefight followed, leading to the recovery of two M16 rifles, bandoliers, magazines, ammunition and personal belongings of the insurgents, Daroy said. Circumstances around what set off the firefight remained unclear.

A third NPA rebel, Berto Dayong, died in a gunfight with troops from the 29th Infantry Battalion on Monday, according to the military.

And in other clashes, two other rebels were killed in shootouts in Negros Occidental on Tuesday and Wednesday, said Lt. Col. Isagani Galorio, a spokesperson of the Visayas Command (Viscom).

Galorio said one of the encounters, between troops from the 79th Infantry Battalion and remnants from the NPAs Northern Negros Front, occurred in Cambayobo village in Calatrava town on Wednesday.

Regional army chief Lt. Gen. Fernando Reyeg said the successful operations were a clear manifestation of our firm disposition to never allow the [CPP-NPA] to regain their foothold in the region and neutralize the few remaining members of the terrorist group.

With a sense of urgency, we are determined to end the local communist armed conflict [at] the soonest possible time, Reyeg said.

Members and supporters of the communist party of the Philippines armed group, the New Peoples Army (NPA) with their faces covered, raise clenched fists during a protest at the peace arch near Malacanang Palace in Manila, March 31, 2017. [Ted Aljibe/AFP]

The government said the CPP-NPA force is now down to just 1,500 in about 14 guerrilla fronts, mostly in the Philippine countryside.

The communist rebels strength peaked at 25,000 fighters during the dictatorship of Ferdinand E. Marcos in the 1980s, but successive military victories in the field and an aging leadership had led to a significantly weakened rebel force.

Last year, the administration of the late dictators son, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., agreed to resume peace talks with the communist rebels following secret talks in Oslo brokered by Norway.

The younger Marcos predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, pulled out of peace negotiations with the communist rebels in 2017 after accusing them of attacking government forces while negotiating for peace.

Froilan Gallardo and Roel Pareno contributed to this report from Cagayan de Oro city, southern Philippines
By Jung Da-hyun

Daejeon Zero OClock Festival, the citys iconic event, is slated to kick off from Aug. 9 to 17 at Daejeon Station and the vicinity of the former South Chungcheong Provincial Office.

Under the theme of "time travel festival," the venue will be partitioned into past, present and future zones, with events tailored to each zone's distinct characteristics.

The festival will showcase eight of the citys mascot characters, providing designated areas for visitors to capture photos with them, and the characters will also roam throughout the festival grounds.

Highlighting the festival's roots, the railway section will be adorned with various decorative elements.

Tourism train services will be expanded, offering journeys accompanied by songs related to Daejeon. Collaborating with Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL), the city plans to offer tourism packages and a range of promotional, performance, exhibition and experiential programs utilizing railway and station themes.

With aspirations to transform the Daejeon Zero OClock Festival into a global event, the city government has invited overseas art troupes to perform in commercial districts, aiming to infuse global content into the event.

Additionally, they recruited 100 global supporters from 23 countries, including China, Russia, Vietnam and India, who will help actively promote the event.

Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo expressed ambitions for the city to become a hub of international cultural exchange through the festival. He outlined plans to expand the festival into a global network, drawing interest and participation from a diverse global audience.

"It is important to showcase the city to foreign visitors with various contents to foster greater international engagement and appreciation for the city's cultural offerings," he said.

The city is striving for a significant turnout at the festival this year, aiming to attract 2 million visitors and generate economic benefits totaling 300 billion won ($25.6 million).

Last year, the festival drew 1.09 million visitors, generating an estimated economic ripple effect of 173.9 billion won, according to the city government.

"We aim to transform the Daejeon Zero OClock Festival into a global event so that it can also contribute to the local economy," Lee said.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 62F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 37F. Winds light and variable.
RUTLAND  The supervisory staff attorney at the Rutland County Public Defenders Office has emerged as the new front runner for possible nomination as the next federal judge for Vermont.

The FBI and U.S. Department of Justice have been privately vetting Mary Kay Lanthier, 53, of Orwell in recent weeks, according to four sources who said they were directly aware of the process, but were asked not to speak publicly.

Lanthier, who has been a public defender for more than 20 years, oversees a handful of lawyers who represent indigent defendants in state criminal cases in Rutland County.

She is a past chair of the Vermont Chapter of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the more prestigious legal groups. She also serves as the treasurer for the Vermont Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is listed as an adjunct professor at Vermont Law and Graduate School.

Lanthier did not respond to multiple phone messages left this week at her office. A colleague said she has been asked not to talk about her candidacy.

Vermont is seeking a fulltime replacement for Chief Federal Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford, 69, of Burlington, who has said he plans to take Senior Status in August. Senior Status means Crawford can continue to sit on cases, but with a limited workload.

The advancement of Lanthier means Assistant Federal Defender Steven L. Barth, Vermont Law School Professor Jessica C. Brown and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher are now on a back burner, the four sources all independently reported.

Vermont News First had reported in March that Barth, Brown and Drescher were the top picks by the special screening committee.

The committee had sent the three names in January to U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Peter Welch, D-Vt. The Senators are asked to make the final recommendation to President Joe Biden, who makes the nomination.

It is unclear if Sanders and Welch will ask Vermont residents to offer public comments on filling the post, which is a lifetime appointment. It is considered one of the most important tasks for a U.S. Senator in any state.

Sanders, who is taking the lead as Vermonts new senior senator, and his office have offered no details on why the process has been going so slow compared to past years. Former U.S. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., as senior senator, made appointments of federal judges a top priority for his office.

Sanders was non-committal this month when quizzed by ABC22/FOX44 in Colchester about the overdue appointment.

Were working on that right now  cant give you an answer right now, but very conscious of that, Sanders said under questioning by a TV reporter during an interview the day he announced his plans to seek re-election.

Some members of the legal profession and the general public have questioned the makeup of the screening committee. All three lawyers appointed by Sanders, a non-lawyer, to the seven-member screening committee have never filed a case in U.S. District Court in Vermont, according to an investigation by Vermont News and Media earlier this year. A fourth screener was listed for only 11 federal cases in Vermont in her career.

The Sanders/Welch screening committee also had nobody representing any of the offices that deal on a daily basis with federal judges in Vermont. They include the court clerk's office, the U.S. Marshal, U.S. Probation, U.S. Attorney and the Federal Defender.

The office staffs for both Sanders and Welch and then the two senators themselves conducted interviews with the initial 3 finalists. Lanthier was interviewed after the names of the first three were made public.

Those first three candidates declined public comment when reached by Vermont News First earlier this year.

Crawford's replacement will be primarily assigned to the federal courthouse on West Street in Rutland.

Sanders and Welch are under pressure because President Biden wants to appoint as many judges as possible before the General Election in November when the Democrats could lose the White House.

Those familiar with the federal appointment process, including for past judgeships, have questioned if there will be enough time to get a Vermont nomination approved by the full Senate.

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee  with 11 Democrats and 10 Republicans  must consider the Vermont nomination and take public testimony before it goes to the full senate. The Republicans have a 49-48 edge over Democrats, but three independents routinely side with the Democrats.

Leahys seniority and membership on the Judiciary Committee helped get quick approvals. Welch is a new addition to the Judiciary Committee and this will be his first chance to try to ramrod a Vermont nomination through.

Steven Barth, 49, of Shelburne has been an assistant federal defender in Vermont since 2010 and handled many high-profile cases. He graduated with honors from the University of Vermont in 1996 and from New York University School of Law in 1999.

Barth spent two years with the New York City law firm Dewey Ballentine before moving to the Federal Defender's Office in San Diego. By 2007 he had been named a supervisor and led a trial team of about 7 lawyers while still maintaining his own active load at both the trial and appeals level. His wife, Michelle Anderson Barth, is a lawyer and represents clients assigned to the Federal Drug Court in Burlington.

Jessica Brown, 53, joined the Vermont Law and Graduate School as an assistant professor of criminal law in July 2021 and was later named associate director of the Center for Justice Reform. She was named its director in August 2023, two months after it received a $975,000 federal grant secured through Sen. Sanders.

She has 24 years as a public defender, mostly in New Hampshire, including four as a federal defender. She was a state public defender in the Granite State from 1997-2007 before joining the federal office from 2007 to 2011. Brown moved to the Chittenden County Public Defender's Office as a staff attorney from 2011 to 2016 and then served as the supervising attorney from 2016 to 2021.

Michael Drescher, 58, of Hinesburg has handled several high-profile cases since joining the U.S. Attorney's Office in Vermont in early 2002. U.S. Attorney Nikolas "Kolo" Kerest named Drescher as the chief assistant in the Vermont office during a reorganization last year.

He had worked earlier at the Burlington law firm then known as Sheehey, Furlong, Rendell & Behm, where he did both civil and criminal work. Drescher has the distinction of squaring off against Sen. Welch in a civil lawsuit in federal court, according to records. Drescher is a 1987 graduate of Dartmouth University, did a stint in the Peace Corps. and graduated from Northwestern University School of Law in 1995.

Sanders senate office has said it wants to be the only authorized source for the release of information on the judgeship, but staffers often do not respond to inquiries. There was no response Wednesday. The office has declined to say how many applied for the post or the timetable that was planned.

Vermont News and Media initially reported Crawford's plan to step down from fulltime status in June 2023 when he mentioned it during a court hearing  and a later follow-up interview. The Senior Status designation will allow Crawford, who was appointed in 2014, to have a say on the workload assigned to him by the court clerk's office.

Judge Christina Reiss, the other fulltime district court judge in Vermont since 2009, is assigned to the courthouse on Elmwood Avenue in Burlington. Reiss, who previously served as Chief Judge in Vermont 2010-17, will regain that title in July.

The annual pay for federal district court judges was bumped this year from $232,600 to $243,300.

A 2016 feature in Seven Days newspaper noted Lanthier grew up in Castleton. Her father worked in a slate quarry and her mother was a postmistress. She and her husband, a retired school teacher, had two teenage sons, it said.
In 1794, a Scot named Alexander Wilson arrived in the newly independent nation of the United States of America and got to the business of starting a new life for himself.

He had been employed as a weaver back home and thought he could make a go of it in the New World, but there wasnt much demand for this sort of work in Philadelphia. Strike one.

Wilsons Plan B was to work as a teacher, which might have been successful for him except for the slight problem that he was caught having an affair with a married woman. Swing and a miss  strike two!

Fortunately, Wilson had many skills to draw upon and, as it turns out, one of them was drawing. He was an outstanding illustrator and with some encouragement from another famous naturalist, named William Bartram, he directed his efforts toward the study of birds.

This third attempt at a career ultimately made him one of the most famous ornithologists in American history and it is the only reason that anyone even knows his name today.

AUDUBON CONTEMPORARY

He was a contemporary of John James Audubon and an encounter between the two men may have encouraged Audubon to get into the ornithology business as well. Both men ended up publishing extended collections of illustrations of North American birds and some argue that Wilsons work was superior to that of Audubons, but very few people seem to be aware of Wilson today. He may have had the skill, but he lost the publicity contest.

Wilsons contribution to the study of birds was so substantial that he was named the Father Of American Ornithology by George Ord, Jr., a famous American zoologist of Wilsons time. His impact on the science of birds was so profound that five different species of birds (including the Wilsons Warbler seen in todays photo) were named in his honor. Furthermore, the Wilson Ornithological Society and its publication, The Wilson Journal of Ornithology also bear his name. He was a really big deal at the beginning of the 19th century.

But time passes, attitudes change, and the accomplishments and contributions of a life dedicated to the scientific study of birds seem far less important to the masses 200 years later. Presently, there is a movement afoot to strip Wilsons name from all of the birds named in his honor. It looks as if there is no point in buying a new bird field guide until these changes are made because the American Ornithologists Union is planning on stripping every human name from every bird, even Audubon.

SHORT VISIT

For now, however, there is a chance for you to see Wilsons warbler (Cardellina pusilla) if you get outside in the next week. This is a beautiful little bird with a black cap on its head. The rest of the body is a study of yellows. The face and breast are a gorgeous primary yellow, while the back and wings are greenish-yellow. It is not a particularly difficult bird to spot, but it just isnt in our area for long enough to get many chances to spot one.

In eastern North America, the Wilsons warbler breeds in northern Maine and Canada. My brother, who lives in Maine, might have a chance to see this bird throughout the summer, but here, in Massachusetts, we have the briefest of windows for a sighting. The birds pass through during the last two weeks of May and then make their return trip to Mexico and Central America in the first two weeks of September. Bad weather or a poorly-timed weekend can obliterate your chances of seeing this bird for an entire year. I havent laid eyes on one in over a decade.

SMALL AND ENERGETIC

The story of the Wilsons warbler is typical of the entire group. Small, energetic little birds that rarely seem to sit still for even a moment, these birds are voracious eaters of insects. The one departure from the typical warbler model is the fact that they tend to build their nests on the ground. Completed in only five days, the nest will be filled with 4-6 white eggs that are decorated with brown spots. The female will do all of the incubation and brooding (for up to 24 days) while the male defends their territory. The male will help to feed the chicks once they hatch and continue to care for them after they fledge.

The Wilsons warbler that posed for todays photo was perched on/ the branches of a black cherry tree. You can see the trees flowers in the upper left corner of the photo. I am absolutely certain these birds have visited my yard every single year, but I have not been lucky enough to see one of them. You have to be in the right spot at the right time. That particular combination has eluded me thus far.

As always, I encourage you to get out and look around your yard, any time you get the chance. Time passes so quickly and our busy lives can occupy so much of it that we often miss out on things that happen right outside our windows. It would be a shame to miss something as beautiful as a Wilsons warbler passing through your yard on its way to Canada.
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An alleged multi-state crime spree with more than 40 victims ends with 48 indictments and an arraignment for larceny and other charges.
HINSDALE  For the Central Berkshire Regional School District, all eyes are on the upcoming town meeting votes in Peru and Cummington.

Hinsdale's Town Meeting on May 15 voted against an updated regional agreement from the Central Berkshire Regional School District over concerns about the document's money borrowing provisions.

The Hinsdale decision sets up crucial votes in the towns of Peru and Cummington, which will decide the fate of the proposed agreement that gets the regional school district in compliance with state law.

For it to pass, the regional agreement requires six of the seven of the school district's member towns to approve it. Dalton, Washington, Becket and Windsor voted to approve the agreement at their respective town meetings. The agreement would still require a sign-off from the state to take effect.

Perus annual town meeting is June 1 at the Peru Community Center, 3 East Main Road. Cummington will hold a town forum at the Cummington Community House, 33 Main St., on June 14 to discuss and vote on the regional agreement, after voting to table it at its annual town meeting.

If the proposed regional agreement fails, the current agreement will remain in place until a new version is passed by the member towns.

Why Hinsdale said no

The vote to construct Wahconah Regional High School in 2019 never sat right with the town of Hinsdale.

The project proved controversial, as members of the Central Berkshire Regional School Committee opted for a popular vote among residents of the seven member towns instead of a town-by-town decision.

The new high school was voted down in four of the towns  Hinsdale, Peru, Windsor and Cummington  but succeeded on the backs of 1,785 voters in total.

The towns of Dalton, Becket and Washington had a majority vote in favor. Across the school district's member towns, 1,697 voted against the project.

Hinsdale contemplated suing the Central Berkshire Regional School District over the nearly $72 million construction project in Dalton, which serves as a primary high school for its seven member towns, back in 2019.

Archives Towns that rejected Wahconah project weigh legal options

The vote, which departed from the norm set by the original 1958 regional agreement and a set of stipulations passed in 1984, left a bad taste in the mouth of town leadership. Former Hinsdale Select Board Chair Vivian Mason penned a critical letter in the immediate aftermath, saying that the School Committee silenced the other member towns by acting unilaterally without giving them sufficient notice ahead of time.

Knowing the new building would never be greenlit under the original formula for capital spending voting in the district, the district's leadership committees and officials made an end run by deciding to call for an aggregate vote," Mason wrote in 2019.

On May 15, the hard feelings left over from that saga reared once again in the gymnasium of Kittredge Elementary School, where Hinsdale held its town meeting and took up whether to agree to the amended regional agreement for schools in the Central Berkshire district.

The regional agreement is a governance document. It sets the districts process for generating and approving its budget, establishes the composition of its school committee and lays out the process for withdrawing from the regional school district, among other functions.

Jay Barry, a consultant with the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools, explained that the reason behind the updated agreement was to catch up with the past 66 years of state law governing regional school districts. While some amendments have gone through the process at the local level since its original passage, they havent been done in concert with the state, he said.

Its kind of an unusual situation in the sense that the current agreement for Central Berkshire dates back to 1958, Barry said. Thats a long time ago. A lot of statutes have been passed, regulations have been passed, and those are not reflected in that agreement.  One of the things this agreement does is bring all the provisions of the regional agreement up to date in a full and current manner.

Barry said that the biggest difference in the new agreement is an amendment requiring member towns to pay their share of the Other Post-Employment Benefits, or OPEB, pension benefits for district employees.

But Hinsdale residents were most concerned about how capital expenditures would be approved and money would be borrowed. Under the proposed agreements Section VI, the default method for borrowing for capital expenditures would be a town-by-town vote, Barry explained.

But the School Committee has the option to vote to change the method to a popular vote with a two-thirds majority under the current agreement.

It was probably the most discussed topic of any of the sections of the updated agreement, Barry said. The frustration around borrowing is understood, but this is statutory. The language in Section VI is straight out of Mass. General Law[s].

Shaun Galliher, the chair of the Hinsdale Finance Committee, said that town leadership wanted assurances that something like the Wahconah vote would never happen again. On the Hinsdale town meeting warrant, both the finance committee and Select Board said they did not support the agreement.

Galliher said that town leadership pressed during the public input process for the regional agreement to make the requirement a unanimous vote by the School Committee, ensuring that the smaller towns didnt get drowned out by larger communities, such as Dalton.

By regional agreement, the town of Dalton has seven members on the School Committee, commensurate with its population of 6,330 according to the 2020 census. Hinsdale, population 1,919 by the same census, and Becket, population 1,931, each have two seats on the board, while the smaller member towns each have only one.

We want that to be a unanimous vote because  essentially, its two towns that are going to dictate that decision, Galliher said.

But the regional agreement as proposed doesnt deviate from state law. Barry said that there was discussion with the member towns about making a home rule petition to change the voting requirements, but it would take some time to get that approved.

Hinsdale residents ultimately voted against the proposal.
ALFORD  Somehow, it hasn't happened yet  but Tuesday, it did.Voters here elected a woman to the Select Board for the first time in the town's history, according to town officials. 
The Civilian Conservation Corps built recreational facilities across the county, such as this one at Pittsfield State Forest. A modern spin on the CCC, the American Climate Corps will be groomed to green the nations energy.
Mayor shows vision to make city into leading tech hub with Global Innopolis Alliance

By Jung Da-hyun

DAEJEON  Daejeon Metropolitan City seeks to establish the Global Innopolis Alliance (GIA), leveraging its top-tier science and technology infrastructure in Korea to build a network platform for global cities and businesses.

"The city's capabilities can yield far better results through cooperation with other global cities that have strength and potential in science and technology, by establishing joint research initiatives and mutual exchange programs," Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.

The city holds a prestigious position, ranking first in Asia and third worldwide in science and technology intensity, according to the 2022 Global Innovation Index released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in March last year.

Lee highlighted the limitations of traditional city partnerships, which have typically focused on administrative policy exchanges. He noted that these relationships often fall short of fostering substantive cooperation.

To address this, Daejeon proposed the establishment of the GIA last October at the World Innovation Forum held in the city. The initiative aims to forge more effective and cooperative relationships between cities, with a focus on exchanges in the science and technology sectors.

Cities that attended last year's forum, including Seattle in the United States, Calgary in Canada, Dortmund in Germany and Malaga in Spain, are now in discussions to join the alliance. Montgomery County in the U.S., which also participated in the forum is considering to join.

"Our goal is to create a practical tool for mutual benefit by integrating research institutes, universities and city officials to support research and active exchanges in the science and technology sectors," Lee said.

"We aim to promote Daejeon's scientific and technological prowess and its excellent companies through close exchanges with a select group of advanced science cities, driving the city's economic development."

The inaugural GIA ceremony is scheduled for September this year, with ongoing discussions to foster programs linking science and technology with economic exchanges globally.

The city government anticipates that the alliance, which will include local businesses, institutes and universities, will serve as an economic platform connecting science and technology with global commerce.

Lee emphasized the citys potential, noting that it produces some of Korea's most innovative technologies. However, he acknowledged that the city's economic growth has not yet matched its technological capabilities.

"The most important prerequisite for becoming a leading city is resolving economic issues," he said.

To address these economic challenges, Daejeon is increasing investments in industrial land development, corporate startups, medium-sized companies and support for new technologies.

"There should be quality jobs, and the size of the city's economy should be large. We are investing in these areas to promote more quality jobs," Lee said, highlighting the importance of the economic growth of the city.

The city established Korea Innopolis in its Daedeok District, integrating the existing Daedeok R&D complex and Daedeok Techno Valley in 2005.

This hub is the birthplace of Korean science and technology, hosting government-funded institutions, private research institutes, 2,300 venture companies, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and approximately 30,000 master's and doctoral researchers.

As of 2022, corporate sales in this zone reached 25 trillion won. With 57 companies listed, Daejeon's economic scale continues to expand.

In addition, Daejeon is expanding its global partnerships in the bio-industry, science and technology sectors.

The city has been actively seeking investment from international companies. In March, the German multinational science and technology company Merck announced a 430 billion won ($316 million) investment to build a new bioprocessing production center in Daejeon.

Daejeon is also enhancing its competitiveness as a global bio hub through active exchanges with overseas cities.

Economic authorities from overseas, including Seattle and Montgomery County in the U.S., visited Daejeon in April and May respectively. These visits facilitated exchanges between bio and new technology companies.

Delegations from Seattle toured Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the nation's sole aircraft maker, and KAIST, the nation's first research-oriented science and engineering university in Daejeon, while Montgomery County's delegation visited key institutions such as the Institute of Basic Science and LegoChem Biosciences.

Lee and the city delegates plan to visit Seattle and Montgomery County in June to continue these practical exchanges.

"We expect this to serve as a bridge for the overseas expansion of local companies," he said.

Lee highlighted that Daejeon is a venture-oriented cluster, home to innovative new drug R&D companies and a well-established bio-ecosystem with a 30-year history and highly skilled professionals.

"Unlike other cities that focus primarily on production facilities, Daejeon is dedicated to research and the creation of innovative, new technologies," he said.

"The city will focus on supporting various startups, which often grow into medium-sized firms."

He outlined three strategies for achieving economic growth through technology: helping startups evolve into medium-sized companies, attracting facilities from global multinational corporations to Daejeon and drawing research institutes of global companies to the city.

"I believe many global multinational corporations should be attracted to Daejeon to create quality jobs through global alliances," he said.

"With our excellent technology, our goal is to create good and quality jobs and make Daejeon a leading city, driving economic growth in the region."

Who is Lee Jang-woo?

Lee Jang-woo, the mayor of Daejeon Metropolitan City, has a notable political background. Serving as the eighth mayor of Daejeon since 2022, he previously represented the city in Dong District in the 19th and 20th National Assembly from 2012 to 2020.

Born in Cheongyang, South Chungcheong Province, Lee graduated from Daejeon University with a degree in administration. His political career includes serving as a spokesperson and member of the Supreme Council for the ruling Saenuri Party, the predecessor to the People Power Party (PPP). Before his mayoral role, he was the head of the regional election campaign committee of Daejeon for then-PPP presidential candidate Yoon Suk Yeol.
The first 90-day notices to vacate the state's emergency shelter system will go out in July, giving families until October to find housing.
War, huh

What is it good for?

Nothing

War, huh

What is it good for?

Absolutely nothing, say it again

- Edwin Starr

Does the Bible agree with those lyrics? Does God condone war? Is there such a thing as a holy war? Can it be good for something?

What Does the Bible Say about War?

This is an incredibly difficult question. When we have a difficult question like this, it is important to establish what we can almost all agree upon. What is clear?

- War is not present in Gods good creation, prior to Genesis 3

- War is not present in Gods redeemed creation, after Revelation 21

- In between those two poles, living outside of Eden, war is.

- While evil exists, war in some form or another, will exist (James 4:1)

- God abhors those who love violence (Psalm 11:5)

- Human life is valuable (Genesis 1:26)

- Blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)

When it comes to what the Bible says about war, it certainly acknowledges that war is present. And it also appears that God will often use war to accomplish holy ends. It might be said that God Himself is at war with all that is evil and wrong and harmful.

But does God condone war? Can it be said that God is pro-war?

Does God Condone War?

Reading throughout the Old Testament, and even Revelation in the New Testament, it might seem as if God loves to battle. He is often sending the Israelites into battle. He blesses their efforts, and at times He even commands total destruction of a people. As Exodus 15:3 says, The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.

But Romans 15:33 refers to Him as a God of peace. Which is it? How can God be both of peace and also a man of war? How does Jesus say love your neighbor as yourself and then in the Old Testament we read of God calling for the death of the Canaanites?

Some have tried to say that this is the difference between the God of the OT and the God of the NT. But that will not fly. For one, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Secondly, there is just as much language in the New Testament. God is consistent throughout. So, what then, do we do with what seems like an inconsistency?

In his book, The God I Dont Understand, Old Testament scholar Christopher J.H. Wright grapples with the difficulty of the Canaanites. He says this,

The conquest is consistently and repeatedly set within the framework of Gods international justice and punishmentIt is repeatedly portrayed as God acting in judgment on a wicked and degraded society and culture  as God would do again and again in Old Testament history, including against Israel itself. In that sense, although the story is unique and limited (as we have just seen), it is also entirely in keeping with the way the rest of the Old Testament shows God using nations as the agents of his anger against collective human wickedness. (Wright, 92)

What this means is that when we look at war within the Scripture, it is much different than the war we might see today. Its not a holy war; that is not a phrase ever used in the Scriptures. But rather it is a war in which God has won victory over the enemies of Israel  and thus the enemies of God. It is a picture of Gods judgment against sin. Ultimately, it points to the gospel. Wrights conclusion of the matter is helpful:

Within that overall biblical perspective, the road to Canaan was one small stretch along the road to Calvary. From that point of view, I cannot do other than include it among the mighty acts of God for which all his people are called to praise him. I have to read the conquest in light of the crossthe cross too involved the most horrific and evil human violence, which, at the same time, also constituted the outpouring of Gods judgment on human sin. The crucial difference, of course, is that, whereas at the conquest, God pours out his judgment on a wicked society who deserved it, at the cross God bore on himself the judgment of God on human wickedness, through the person of his own sinless Sonwho deserve it not one bit. (Wright, 107)

In other words, we must view the biblical narrative in regards to war in light of the gospel. When we do this, a few different Christian positions on war arise.

What Are the Different Christian Positions on War?

The first Christian position is known as pacificism. There have been several groups of Christians throughout the history of the church which believed firmly that any use of deadly force is inconsistent with the gospel. It held a significant position within the early church. Those who hold to this position would read Jesus words in Matthew 5:38-48 as prescriptions for Christian conduct  and not merely the attitude one has when facing persecution. They would say that Christ, who freely laid down his life, is the model for Christians. We should never fight.

Others would respond to the position of pacifism by noting the difference between public and private duties. There is a difference between what God has called government to do (punish evildoers) and what a private citizen is allowed to do. While I may freely give of my own life as Jesus did, would it be a Christian ethic for me not to defend the life of my brother or sister who is being harmed? From this emerged what is known as the Just-War theory.

As Christianity held different places within the Roman Empire, it had to wrestle with questions of war differently. Its not surprising that the early church would have overwhelmingly been slanted towards pacificism. They were not in a position of power. They did not have to grapple as much with what it would mean to defend their neighbor. But by the time of Augustine (354-430), Christianity held a different place in the empire. It's not surprising, then, that Augustine would have developed a just-war theory as a now Christian Empire was being attacked by barbarians. What would it mean to keep the peace?

Most discussions today of just-war theory are indebted to both Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. In his book, Evangelical Ethics, John Jefferson David summarizes the position:

Such discussions commonly distinguish between jus ad bellum criteria, i.e., those governing the decision whether or not a given war is justified, and jus in bello criteria, those used to evaluate given lines of conduct once war has commenced. The jus ad bellum criteria include competent authority, just cause, proportionality of proposed means and the probable costs in the light of the probability of success, exhaustion of peaceful means of resolution, and right intentOnce war has been entered into, the jus in bello criteria include a principle of proportionality, i.e., the use of force and violence must be limited in terms of legitimate military necessity and the principle of discrimination: direction, intentional attacks on noncombatants are prohibited. These criteria, like the jus ad bellum ones, are all attempts to limit the level of violence and destruction that inevitably are a feature of war. (David, 242-43)

Both of these positions have been held by Christians throughout the centuries. Both agree that peace is ideal but differ on how that is accomplished. Both look to the new heavens and the new earth when all war will be eradicated. But does that happen through the peaceful actions of Christ or the judgment of Christ? Perhaps it is a bit of both.

How Can We Pray for People and Countries Experiencing War?

Sadly, this is not a discussion confined to the halls of academia. There was a New York Times article which claimed, Of the past 3,400 years human have been entirely at peace for 268 of them, or just 8 percent of recorded history. But even those numbers have been challenged.

According to the Council on Foreign relations humanity is presently involved in 27 global conflicts. People are in war at present. We are called to pray. We should pray for justice as well as grace. We should pray for an end to conflict, that the vulnerable are protected, and for peace to reign. As we pray this, were essentially praying Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus!

We should also pray for love and wisdom to reign. We should pray for courage for people to do the right thing. As we do this, we should consider confessing our own greed, hostility, lust for power, and anything else that is present which conflicts with the kingdom of Christ.

As we pray these things let us also rest in Gods sovereign care. May it create in us a longing for the new heaven and the new earth. We should pray that conflict would lead to gospel proclamation, gospel healing, and gospel resolutions.

Longing for Peace

War is complicated. Faithful Christians will disagree about whether or not a war is just or whether we should ever engage in war. Its a difficult question. At the end of the day, I think every Christian is longing for peace. Its clear that being a war monger is contrary to Christian ethics. We should never enjoy the savagery of war. And yet some might believe that war is necessary in a fallen world in order to move towards peace. Others might believe that such action is never just. Both should obey their conscience as we together long for the return of Christ.

Some day war will be no more. How we navigate a world with war is difficult. But we can be united in our hope.

Photo credit: Getty Images/cineuno
In Malcolm Gladwells book, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants, the renowned author compares the biblical text to modern medicine to try and understand and even explain Goliaths unnatural height.

Clearly, a lot of what Gladwell and other doctors have hypothesized is speculation, but there is enough evidence from the biblical text to suggest that Goliath could have suffered from an actual medical condition known as gigantism or even its counterpart acromegaly, which can manifest in adults even after theyve reached maturity.

In both rare instances, an individual can grow to an incredible height due to an excessive production of growth hormone (GH) which causes abnormal skeletal and tissue growth. Most forms of gigantism are identified and treated at an early age. In the ancient world, however, this would not have been the case.

Excessive production of GH is often the result of swelling in the pituitary gland, and in some cases, a benign tumor can press on the pituitary, secreting excessive amounts of GH.

The most obvious symptoms of gigantism and acromegaly include a larger than normal body structure as well as the enlargement of the organs, muscles, hands, feet, and forehead.

Excessive sweating, thicker skin, and a protrusion of the jawbone are also common.

And Dr. Ian Chapman writes in the Merck Manual that some patients with acromegaly experience a cartilaginous proliferation of the larynx (which) leads to a deep, husky voice. This may explain why Goliath was able to physically and verbally intimidate the armies of Israel, as his voice carried across the valley (1 Samuel 17:8).

Long-standing acromegaly can also produce barrel chest, which Dr. Eric J. Olson of the Mayo Clinic describes as, a rounded, bulging chest that resembles the shape of a barrel. This could also explain why Goliath had such a large suit of armor, which the biblical text says weighed five thousand shekels of bronze (1 Samuel 17:5). In todays terms, that could be anywhere from 90 to 140 pounds. Matthew Henry points out in his commentary, however, that the term shekel could also have been used to indicate the cost of Goliaths armor that would have been customized to suit his unusually large frame.

Needless to say, Goliaths defensive armor and weaponry were larger, heavier, and more expensive than most and would have required a man of substantial size and strength to wield.

Unfortunately, when left untreated, most patients with acromegaly or gigantism have reduced life expectancies and will often deal with extreme arthritis, heart conditions, dizziness, headaches, fatigue, decreased mental function, and even blurred vision if the tumor on the pituitary glands presses on the optic nerves.

Some, including Malcolm Gladwell, believe that this could explain several of Goliaths shortcomings hinted at in the biblical text and why he laughed when David came at him with sticks (1 Samuel 17:43) when the text says that David walked into the valley with a single shepherds staff (1 Samuel 17:40)

If Goliath did have acromegaly and experienced mental, mobility, vision issues (unknown to the Israelites), he would only be effective in close range, hand to hand combat. So, did his size help or hinder?

Photo Credit: GettyImages/wildpixel
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To identify and prioritise innovative solutions for dementia care

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Cognitive Computing and Brain Informatics (CCBI) research group of Nottingham Trent University (UK) and the newly established Amity Cognitive Computing and Brain Informatics Centre (ACCBI).

Dr Mufti Mahmud, Director of the Cognitive Computing and Brain Informatics (CCBI) Research Group at Nottingham Trent University (UK), and Prof. Kanad Ray, Director, Amity Cognitive Computing and Brain Informatics Centre, Amity University Rajasthan, signed the MoU. This MoU paves the way for collaborative research and the exchange of ideas between these institutions.

Alongside, Amity University Rajasthan hosted a Co-Design Workshop on 'Designing and Developing Explainable Artificial Intelligence-Powered Tools for Early Detection and Management of Dementia', funded by Nottingham Trent University (UK) and supported by DST PURSE. The event also marked the official inauguration of the Amity Cognitive Computing and Brain Informatics Centre (ACCBI), a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advancing research in cognitive computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and brain informatics.

The inauguration ceremony commenced with the address of Prof. Amit Jain, Vice Chancellor, Amity University Rajasthan. Prof. Jain emphasised the significance of this new Centre in promoting innovation and multidisciplinary research. He highlighted the importance of developing explainable AI tools to address the growing need for the early detection and management of dementia, a crucial aspect of modern healthcare.


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President Yoon Suk Yeol said Thursday Korea will introduce a chip industry support package worth 26 trillion won ($19 billion) to bolster the critical industry amid intensifying global competition.

The comprehensive plan was unveiled during an interagency meeting on economic issues, involving related ministries and financial regulators.

The package includes financial programs, research and development (R&D) initiatives and infrastructure support for chip manufacturers, material suppliers and fabless companies specializing in chip design.

Central to this support package is the creation of a financial support program worth 17 trillion won dedicated to infrastructure investment at the state-run Korea Development Bank.

The government also plans to extend tax breaks that are set to expire at the end of the year to facilitate large-scale investment as a semiconductor mega cluster project is currently under way in Gyeonggi Province.

A 1 trillion-won chip industry fund will be created to assist fabless and chip material companies and R&D infrastructure will be built for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Yoon said the support package is designed to benefit the entire semiconductor supply chain, with a particular focus on SMEs.

"If companies expand investment and earn more profits through tax support, the public will benefit from more quality jobs, thereby revitalizing the economy and increasing tax revenue," Yoon said during the meeting held at the presidential office.

To bolster the country's position in the semiconductor industry, Yoon also called for the related ministries to come up with measures to support system semiconductors and foundry businesses to help them close the gap with global leaders.

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix lead the world in memory chip production, but their market share in the foundry business, where companies manufacture chips designed by others, lags behind Taiwan's TSMC, the world's largest contract chip maker. (Yonhap)
Retrieving history from the past

10:58, May 23, 2024 By Wang Ru ( China Daily

The No 1 tomb of the Wuwangdun Site in Huainan, Anhui province, believed to be the tomb of King Kaolie of the Chu state, who reigned during the late stage of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). JIANG DONG/CHINA DAILY

Findings at Wuwangdun shed intriguing light on how society was organized millennia ago, Wang Ru reports in Huainan, Anhui province.

The 15-meter-high mound at the Wuwangdun Site in Huainan, Anhui province, has long been recognized as an important tomb, and was listed as a key provincial cultural relic protection site in 1981. As China often takes protective measures for important tombs without necessarily excavating them, Wuwangdun could easily have continued to conceal its millennia-old stories.

However, its silence was shattered by grave robbers. While graves have been plundered throughout history, a major incident in 2015 was the last straw. When the public security authorities successfully cracked the case in 2018, archaeologists inferred from the confessions of the criminals and from field surveys that although many artifacts still lay buried, the underground environment had changed, leaving them exposed to damage. Consequently, an archaeological rescue project began in 2020 and the ongoing project has already yielded exciting findings.

The Wuwangdun Site has been identified as a tomb belonging to the Chu, a vassal state to the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC) from about 2,000 years ago. It is the largest in scale, highest level and most complex Chu structure excavated to date, and the tomb probably belonged to King Kaolie (290-238 BC) from the late Warring States Period (475-221 BC), says Gong Xicheng, deputy director of the Anhui Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, and head of the project.

A large bronze ding (an ancient cauldron) and more than 3,000 exquisite artifacts, including sets of bronze vessels, lacquerware, musical instruments, wooden figurines and a great number of animal and plant remains have been discovered.

A bronze vessel to hold drinks or crops. CHINA DAILY

Located about 15 kilometers from the ruins of Shouchun city, the last Chu capital in Huainan, the site, which is actually a cemetery, houses more than the large No 1 tomb.

This is believed to contain not just the king's remains, but also a chariot and sacrificial pits, with smaller tombs accompanying the main tomb in an independent cemetery surrounded by a moat, that occupies an area of about 1.5 square kilometers.

The No 1 tomb is roughly square and has a tomb passage, a common Chu typology. "Based on our previous experience, large Chu tombs, while varying in level, basically adopt this format. This distinguishes them from tombs of the Qin state (another vassal state), which often have two or four tomb passages," Gong says. Rulers of the Qin state later united China and founded the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC).

One remarkable feature of the tomb is the presence of 21 levels of inwardly recessed steps leading to the bottom. The overall structure exhibits a well-organized arrangement. "The construction of steps is also a common practice in Chu tombs, and typically, the higher the social status of the tomb's occupant, the more steps are found," Gong says.

At the heart of the tomb lies a remarkable arrangement of burial chambers laid out in a cross shape, with eight side chambers surrounding a central chamber. "The nine-chamber structure represents the highest level of burial during that era. Previously, we had discovered a maximum of seven chambers in a Chu tomb," says Xu Lianggao, a researcher with the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

A wooden figurine's head. CHINA DAILY

The chambers are particularly large, Gong says, adding that any one of the nine chambers, if discovered in a single Chu tomb, would be categorized as at least medium-sized.

The side chambers contain funerary objects such as bronze vessels, wooden figurines and musical instruments, and it is presumed that the tomb's occupant rests within the central chamber. Gong says that archaeologists are currently retrieving the funerary objects from the side chambers before they proceed to open the central chamber.

The chambers are covered in four layers of planks, some of which bear ink inscriptions. Archaeologists have carefully identified nearly 1,000 words using infrared cameras, and believe they are typical examples of the Chu language.

"The planks have been buried for a very long time in a water-saturated environment, causing them to turn black. Soil and pollutants have made it even more difficult to recognize the inscriptions. As a result, we can only see them clearly using infrared equipment," Gong says.

Some of the words have been deciphered, shedding light on the function of the chambers. For instance, in a northern chamber adorned with words related to music, instruments and dancing figurines have been discovered. Many more inscriptions are yet to be explained, promising further insights in the future.

A lacquerware plate with exquisite patterns was discovered at the site. CHINA DAILY

Discoveries

Sets of bronze vessels, probably for ritual use, have also been found, among them a ding, whose diameter exceeds 88 centimeters, making it larger than the Zhuke giant bronze ding, and it has become the largest ding ever found from Chu tombs.

The Zhuke ding was unearthed at the Lisangudui Site, about 14.5 kilometers from Wuwangdun and which is widely believed to be the tomb of King You of the Chu state, son of King Kaolie.

Archaeologists have found iron tools probably used in building the tomb. Analysis has shown them to be well-preserved, not corroded by either oxygen or water. "This means the tomb was well built and sealed," says Gong Decai, a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, Anhui.

As archaeologists prioritize the protection of fragile artifacts, their primary focus has been on safely transferring these treasures to laboratories. Consequently, the initial items have predominantly been a large quantity of lacquerware artifacts. These include figurines, lacquer basins, plates, and even statues of tomb-guardian beasts.

A bronze ding, an ancient Chinese cauldron, found at the site. JIANG DONG/CHINA DAILY

Every minute is precious when it comes to recovering these artifacts, and there is a plan to relocate all the most important items to laboratories before the arrival of summer's scorching heat since the high temperatures could harm the relics. The aim is to complete the entire project by the end of this year, with plans to create an archaeological park on the site in the future, Gong Xicheng says.

Evolving from a remote barbarian regime to one of the seven leading states of the Warring States Period, at their zenith, the Chu ruled a vast area along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

The influential state endured for nearly 800 years until its defeat by the Qin state in 223 BC. Just two years later, the Qin founded China's first unified dynasty.

According to Zhang Changping, an archaeology professor at Wuhan University, the tomb exhibits distinctive features commonly found in Chu tombs. "During the Warring States Period, different states had different cultural practices. Chu tombs possess their own unique features," Zhang says. "For instance, the tombs of ordinary people are often laid together, forming a large burial area, while those of the nobility are typically arranged in an independent manner."

The professor also highlights similarities between the tombs of nobles. "The tombs are commonly aligned in an east-west direction and have a tomb passage and multiple steps," he says.

"They often consist of several chambers, multiple coffins, and an abundance of funerary objects. Notably, they frequently include bronze artifacts in the style of the Western Zhou Dynasty, indicating the continuation of ritual systems from that era."

A lacquer table found at the site. CHINA DAILY

Significance

The Chu features of the Wuwangdun tomb show the continuity of Chu culture, which is part of the Chinese civilization, according to Zhang.

He says the Chu tomb in the last Chu capital of Shouchun has features borrowed from the Jiangling area in Jingzhou, Hubei province, the area the Chu originally occupied, where a large number of tombs have been discovered. This means that although the Chu moved their capital eastward to Shouchun, more than 600 km from Jiangling, cultural inheritance wasn't interrupted.

Moreover, Zhang says that the Chu helped the Qin unify China, as their influence shaped and united the culture of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, which paved the way for the Qin to absorb the area more easily, as part of its unification of the country.

According to Xu, archaeologists have excavated nearly 10,000 Chu tombs so far, belonging to almost every level of official and aristocracy, but none of them reached the level of the Wuwangdun Site.

They have found tombs that probably belong to Chu kings but have not excavated them. For instance, the Xiongjiazhong Site in Jingzhou is believed to be one, but only the chariot pits have been excavated, not the main tomb itself. As a result, Xu says that Wuwangdun is the highest-level Chu tomb excavated to date.

The Lisangudui Site near Wuwangdun was plundered and damaged in the 1930s. From the artifacts retrieved, archaeologists were able to determine the identity of the tomb's occupant, but were unable to uncover more detailed information about the damaged tomb. This led to a great deal of debate over the tomb and its construction.

Now, some of those mysteries may hopefully have been answered. For example, according to witnesses in the 1930s, the Lisangudui Site had nine burial chambers, but after they were destroyed, archaeologists could only debate how the chambers might have been arranged, Xu says. Some believed they might have formed a nine-box grid, but others had different opinions. Now the Wuwangdun tomb offers a plausible answer, he adds.

A ceremonial bronze vessel used to contain grains, known as fu, unearthed from the site. CHINA DAILY

"As a result of the new excavation, we have fresh insight, and it solves some long-standing confusion, so it is of great academic significance," Xu says.

An experts' symposium on May 14 revealed that, judging from scale, structure, unearthed written materials and historical literature, the owner of the tomb is probably King Kaolie of Chu.

In 241 BC, King Kaolie moved the Chu capital eastward to Shouchun to distance the state from the rising Qin state to the west. However, 18 years later, Shouchun was conquered by the Qin.

"We generally believed the relocation of the Chu capital was a sign they were weakening," says Xu. "But the scale, type, building style and rich funerary objects at the Wuwangdun Site indicate the Chu still possessed significant strength in Shouchun, thanks to its longstanding history as a major state. This enhances our understanding of the wider political landscape just before the establishment of the Qin Dynasty."

Zhang says the large number of bronze vessels unearthed shows that Chu was still economically well-off, even in its last days.

"The vessels show the Chu still had plenty of bronze, a very important strategic resource at that time. This means Chu was still rich at the end of the Warring States Period," he says.

The understanding of the Wuwangdun Site is the culmination of decades of archaeological work on tombs and studies of Chu culture.

"We first started to excavate Chu tombs in Changsha, Hunan province, in the 1950s; the Jinan city ruins in Jingzhou, an important Chu capital during the early stage of the Warring States Period, in the 1970s; and the Shouchun city ruins in the 1980s. They all deepened our understanding of Chu tombs," Zhang says.

"Each individual archaeological endeavor provides us with a fragment of historical information. It is our responsibility to connect these fragments from different periods into a comprehensive framework, to re-create the social landscapes of ancient times."

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Thursday vowed to push for a bill mandating a special counsel investigation into the military's response to a Marine's death, while the ruling party slammed the DPK for seeking the president's impeachment after he vetoed the bill earlier this week.

The bill, which was passed by the opposition-controlled parliament early this month, is expected to be put up for a revote Tuesday after President Yoon Suk Yeol exercised his veto power.

The bill calls for the appointment of a special counsel to look into allegations Yoon's office and the defense ministry inappropriately interfered in the military's probe into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who was killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023.

With just five days ahead of the revote, rival parties have been ramping up tensions as they each seek to prevent their party members from switching votes.

On Thursday, the DPK vowed to stop Yoon's administration from "driving recklessly" in a resolution released during a two-day workshop of its newly elected lawmakers.

"We will continue to push ahead with the legislation reform swiftly, including the bill vetoed by Yoon, and focus on passing the bill on the special counsel probe of the Marine," it said.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) slammed DPK lawmakers for bringing up Yoon's impeachment, calling it an attempt to "overthrow" the government.

"Is opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and the opposition party really going to use Chae's case as an excuse to go down the path of impeachment?" PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho said during a committee meeting.

Choo then urged the DPK to stop calling for Yoon's impeachment to "stir up chaos in the state affairs."

For a bill to pass the National Assembly in a revote, it requires a majority of the 300-member parliament to be present and two-thirds of them to cast their ballots in favor.

The DPK currently holds 155 seats, and together with splinter parties and independent lawmakers, the number could rise to about 180.

Unless there is support from some ruling party lawmakers, the bill could be discarded during the current session of the National Assembly, whose term expires later this month. (Yonhap)
ASAP Rocky will face a trial in October this year after pleading not guilty to two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm in Los Angeles.

The US rapper, real name Rakim Mayers, is alleged to have pointed a semi-automatic handgun at a former friend and collaborator before allegedly firing it in his direction outside a Hollywood hotel in November 2021.

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On Thursday, Superior Court Judge Karla Kerlin set two preliminary hearing dates on June 28th and August 2nd ahead of a trial set for October 21st for the music star, who was not present in court.

ASAP Rocky and Rihanna attending the Fashion Awards 2019 in London (Ian West/PA)

It comes after Superior Court Judge ML Villar ruled in November that there is sufficient evidence for the rapper to stand trial, after his attorney attempted to cast doubt on the case.

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The 35-year-old hip-hop star, fashion mogul and two-time Grammy nominee shares two children with pop star Rihanna.

The couples first child, RZA, was born in May 2022, while their son Riot Rose was born in August last year.
The DUP will shortly announce its election candidate for Lagan Valley  the seat currently held by former party leader Jeffrey Donaldson, MP Gregory Campbell has said.

The Alliance Party has also said a decision will be made within days on whether leader Naomi Long would challenge DUP interim leader Gavin Robinson in East Belfast.

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The Northern parties are gearing up for a poll during the school holidays in the region after the surprise announcement by British prime minister Rishi Sunak that the UK general election will take place on July 4th.

Sinn Fein has emerged as the largest party in the Assembly and local council elections in the last two years and will be hoping to repeat that success again.

The republican party won seven seats at the last Westminster election, compared with eight for the DUP, the largest unionist party.

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Sinn Fein MP John Finucane said the party would be concentrating on its message (Liam McBurney/PA)

However, Sinn Feins North Belfast MP John Finucane said the party was concentrating on its message, rather than political rivals.

He told the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme: First and foremost we want to retain the seven seats that we have and in other constituencies we want to grow our vote.

We want to increase our mandate.

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Mr Finucane said one of his partys main election themes would be the need to address the underfunding of public services in the North.

He said: We will be consistent in our calls to highlight the underfunding that we have faced which has completely restricted our ability to have proper public services.

We will continue that engagement with whoever leads the next British Government.

Mr Finucane also said his party would not be changing its abstentionist policy which sees it MPs not taking their seats at Westminster.

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The DUPs East Derry MP Mr Campbell confirmed he would be standing again but said the partys selection processes across all constituencies was not completed.

The party faces a choice over which candidate to run in Lagan Valley after former party leader and long-time MP Donaldson was charged with a series of historical sexual offences  charges he denies. He will not seek re-election.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly is a DUP MLA for Lagan Valley (Oliver McVeigh/PA)

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Two of the unionist partys most high profile MLAs  deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Education Minister Paul Givan  represent the constituency.

It is anticipated that the DUP will face a stiff challenge from the Alliance Partys Sorcha Eastwood in Lagan Valley.

Mr Campbell said: We havent completed our selection of candidates of yet. We will be doing that in the next few days and Lagan Valley will be included in that.

He added: We have a number of very good candidates and I think our party leader [Mr Robinson] would be describing all of them as very suitably qualified.

Alliance party MP Stephen Farry said the election represented the opportunity for change (Liam McBurney/PA)

The cross-community Alliance Partys North Down MP Stephen Farry said the election represented the opportunity for change.

He added: Here in Northern Ireland we have a huge opportunity to send a different balance of representation to Westminster.

He said that a successful election for Alliance would send the message that the North is moving away from the politics of green versus orange.

Mr Farry said the party would make clear in the coming days if leader Ms Long would be challenging Mr Robinson in East Belfast, a seat she previously held.

UUP Leader Mr Doug Beattie said he would be running candidates in all 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland (Oliver McVeigh/PA)

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie confirmed he would run a candidate in all 18 Northern Ireland constituencies and was not considering pacts with other unionist parties.

He added: We speak to other unionist parties on a variety of issues but I have also made it clear I am not somebody who does pacts work.

Mr Beattie also confirmed that he would be writing to Stormonts speaker to begin the process of Robin Swann being replaced as health minister by Mike Nesbitt.

Mr Swann will contest the South Antrim seat in the Westminster poll where he hopes to topple the DUPs Paul Girvan.

The SDLP is hoping to hold onto its seats in Foyle and South Belfast.

The SDLP leader Colum Eastwood will be defending the Foyle seat. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA

Party leader Colum Eastwood conceded he would face a tough fight from Sinn Fein in Foyle.

He added: The real fight here is to get rid of the Tories. We have had 14 years of these people destroying our economy, doing Brexit, bringing in the Legacy Act, stripping our public services of funding.

Now there is an opportunity to get rid of them.
Israel is misrepresenting the views of Ireland, Taoiseach Simon Harris has said.

His comments come after he confirmed on Wednesday that Ireland will formally recognise the state of Palestine from May 28th in a joint move with Norway and Spain.

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In response, Israel has warned there will be severe consequences.

Ireland, if your goal was to reward terrorism by declaring support for a Palestinian state, youve achieved it.@SimonHarrisTD, Hamas thanks you for your service. pic.twitter.com/mgz7ZGtnCi    Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 23, 2024 Advertisement

Irelands ambassador in Israel, alongside her Spanish and Norwegian counterparts, was called to the Israeli foreign ministry for a reprimand.

As part of a severe demarche, the three ambassadors were shown videos of Hamas carrying out kidnappings.

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The Israeli foreign affairs minister, Israel Katz, claimed Ireland and Mr Harris had rewarded terrorism.

Discussing the reprimand on Thursday, Mr Harris said Irish ambassador Sonya McGuinness was doing an excellent job representing the views of Ireland.

Eamon Ryan, Simon Harris and Micheal Martin at the press conference on Wednesday (PA)

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He said: Any foreign ministry can call in any ambassador but what I will not tolerate is any country misrepresenting the position of the Irish people.

I am the leader of the Irish Government, I speak on behalf of Ireland, and we have been clear and unequivocal that we condemn Hamas, that we condemn the most horrific, barbaric massacre that Israel experienced on the seventh of October.

We call for the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages.

But it is entirely possible to say what I have just said and also say the next bit  which sadly some refuse to say  that what is happening in Palestine, what is happening in Gaza, is a humanitarian catastrophe.

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That children are being starved, are being deprived of food and that there are children who will go to sleep in Gaza tonight not sure if they will wake in the morning.

This situation is not sustainable. It needs to stop.

I have no intention of being in any way, shape or form distracted from the immediate need for a cessation of violence in the Middle East; the need for the release of the hostages for humanitarian aid to flow unimpeded and unhindered; and the need for a peace settlement.

Speaking on CNNs Amanpour programme, Mr Harris added: And I can say this to the people of Israel: We recognise the state of Israel.

Simon Harris with former UK prime minister Gordon Brown at the inaugural Child Poverty and Well-being Summit in Dublin on Thursday (Brian Lawless/PA)

We recognise the state of Israels right to live in peace and security.

That is their right. The people of Palestine also must have an equivalent right to peace and security.

He added: And let me also say this to the people of Israel. The Irish people know what its like to have their national identity hijacked by a terrorist organisation.

The IRA was never the people of Ireland, and Hamas is not the people of Palestine.

Earlier, Mr Harris said the aim of the recognition of Palestinian statehood was to build a momentum towards a peace process with Israel.

Speaking in Dublin on Thursday, Mr Harris was asked about the warnings issued by Israel.

He said: I had a very good conversation with the president of Israel (Isaac Herzog) last Friday. It was firm but respectful.

Ireland 'Hamas thanks Ireland': Israeli minister releases... Read More

We exchanged views and I outlined the Irish position, so I dont think anyone in the world, least of all Israel, would have been surprised by the decision that Ireland, Norway and Spain took yesterday.

I fundamentally believe that it is the right decision. It is an effort to try and create momentum towards a peace process that may seem far away, but is absolutely and essentially needed.

A two-state solution is the only way to bring peace and stability to the people of Israel and the people of Palestine.
President Yoon Suk Yeol met with former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula, as well as the Seoul-Washington alliance, the presidential office said Thursday.

During the meeting held in Seoul with Pompeo, who served as the top U.S. diplomat under then President Donald Trump from 2018 to 2021, Yoon asked him to continue to pay close attention to South Korea's efforts to seek peace on the Korean Peninsula backed by the strong alliance.

Yoon also expressed his willingness to enhance cooperation with the United States on North Korea and to pursue closer trilateral cooperation involving Japan.

In response, Pompeo was quoted by the presidential office as saying that the alliance between Seoul and Washington has become stronger under the leadership of Yoon, whose administration shares common values with the U.S.

Pompeo added that he hopes the alliance will keep developing regardless of the political situation in the U.S. and wishes for closer bilateral cooperation, as well as strengthened trilateral ties, regarding North Korean issues. (Yonhap)
Sinn Fein has accused Minister for Housing Darragh OBrien of attempting to spin the findings of a report which was highly critical of the Governments housing policies.

Sinn Fein's housing spokesperson Pearse Doherty and Mr OBrien clashed in the Dail on Thursday over the issue.

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The report, which was leaked earlier this week, contained a number of reforms following an examination of the Governments housing policies.

The Housing Commission's report is a damning criticism of the government's housing policy, and it is further evidence that their plan is not working.



Only a Sinn Fein-led government, with a housing plan focused on delivering tens of thousands of affordable homes for working pic.twitter.com/BgLiju2AoE  Pearse Doherty (@PearseDoherty) May 23, 2024 Advertisement

Outlining 83 recommendations, the Commission said the State has an opportunity to change policy to improve the lives of citizens.

It said it had a major concern with the countrys housing deficit and urged emergency action coupled with a step-change increase in supply.

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Mr Doherty pressed Mr OBrien on the report and accused him of attempting to spin its findings as an endorsement of the Governments housing plan.

It is not credible, as youve tried to do to claim, that the majority of the Commissions recommendations are being progressed by your Government, he added.

Are you trying to suggest that the Government Commission didnt know what they were talking about?

Mr Doherty said the report is a damning indictment of the Governments failure, particularly in terms of affordable housing.

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This is just some of what they have to say  systemic failure, ineffective decision-making, reactive policymaking all undermine an affordability, he added.

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Thats you, Minister, that theyre talking about in that report, just in case you didnt realise.

The Housing Commission concluded that you, your decisions, your policy, your government made rents go up and made houses more expensive.

Sin e. Full stop. Thats what theyve concluded.

The report states that Ireland has the opportunity to change policy and I couldnt agree more, but after 12 years with Fine Gael in government, supported in the main by Fianna Fail through the majority of those years, change will not come from these parties that created the crisis.

The only change that will come in housing is with the change in government.

Pearse Doherty said the report is a damning indictment of the Governments failure, particularly in terms of affordable housing (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Doherty called for the Government to schedule time in the Dail next week for a debate in relation to the findings of the report.

Mr OBrien replied: I will debate you up and down, left, right and centre on housing, because we have a plan.

If you had a plan that one could debate and analyse, you might ask your housing spokesperson why did he say publicly over 14 months ago that he will publish the Sinn Fein housing plan and he has not done so yet.

What would you replace the supports that weve brought in for first-time buyers?

Labour leader Ivana Bacik described the findings as a searing critique of the Governments housing policy.

Findings which are damning, in fact, of the Housing for All plan, a plan which you stood over again this week, she said.

As you put it on Tuesday night, you said any plan worth its salt has review mechanisms built in. You said thats what the Commissions report was, but its not enough just to have a review mechanism.

Clearly, its also important that you accept when the review is scathing and that you undertake to act upon the recommendations and findings in the review.

The Commission report makes clear that Housing for All is not working. The Commission has called for a radical strategic reset for emergency action to address that massive shortfall of homes, over a quarter of a million homes, which are so badly needed for communities, families, individuals across the country.

She called on the Minister to publish his departments revised housing targets, to which Mr OBrien said the new targets will be published in the autumn.

He added: Last month alone, we saw 18,000 new homes commenced, breaking all records there.

Weve a significant target this year of over 34,500, and I intend for us to exceed that this year and to exceed it substantially.
At least seven civilians were killed after Russian missiles hit Ukraines second-largest city in the northeast of the country, officials said.

The attack comes as Kyivs army labours to hold off an intense cross-border offensive by the Kremlins larger and better-equipped forces.

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At least 20 people were injured as S-300 missiles struck the city of Kharkiv, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said. The sound of 15 explosions reverberated around the city of some one million people.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the main hot spots in recent fighting had been Kharkiv and the neighbouring Donetsk region (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the attack extremely cruel.

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He expressed renewed frustration at not getting enough air defence systems from the countrys western partners to prevent the barrages after more than two years of unrelenting war.

The city of Kharkiv, which is the capital of the region of the same name, lies about 12 miles (20km) from the Russian border.

Moscows troops have in recent weeks captured villages in the area as part of a broad push, and analysts say they may be trying to get within artillery range of the city.

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Russia struck Kharkiv and Lyubotyn with multiple missiles, leading to casualties and destruction.



This heinous attack must remind everyone around the world that Ukraine still urgently needs seven Patriot systems. We are very grateful to Germany for announcing one additional pic.twitter.com/wtJES3l370  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) May 23, 2024

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In what is shaping up to be Ukraines biggest test since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces are being pressed at several points along the roughly 600-mile (1,000km) front line that snakes from north to south along the eastern side of the country.

With Ukraine short of air defences and waiting for more western military support that recently started trickling in, its army has been pushed backwards in places while Russia has pounded its power grid and civilian areas. Kyiv endured further power outages on Thursday.

Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said the attacks underscored the countrys urgent need for more US-made Patriot systems to defend its skies.

Germany recently pledged one of the missile systems but getting six more as soon as possible remains critical not only for Ukraines survival but for peace in Europe, Mr Kuleba wrote on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

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Mr Zelenskiy said the main hot spots in recent fighting had been Kharkiv and the neighbouring Donetsk region, where in February Ukraines defenders withdrew from the stronghold of Avdiivka.

For the Kremlin, taking control of all of partially occupied Donetsk is a war priority.

At the same time, and in an apparent effort to stretch Ukraines depleted forces, Russian troops have made incursions in the northern Sumy region.

Nearly 1,500 people, including 200 children, have been evacuated from the towns of Bilopillia and Vorozhba in that region, according to regional governor Volodymyr Artiukh.

Ukrainian servicemen on the front line near the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk region (Iryna Rybakova via AP)

The main focus (of the fighting) is on the entire border area, Mr Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address on Wednesday.

In Liubotyn, a small town about 6 miles (10km) west of Kharkiv city, Russian missiles struck the towns centre, injuring eight civilians.

Ukraine has also trained its sights on Russian regions across the border.

Russias defence ministry said on Thursday that 35 Ukrainian rockets and three drones were shot down over the Belgorod region.

Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said one drone had struck a house and exploded after being shot down, killing a woman.
US President Joe Biden on Thursday praised Kenyas William Ruto for his bold leadership as the White House marked the first state visit to the United States by an African leader for more than 15 years.

Mr Ruto spoke of building a more promising future.

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The Kenyan president and his wife, Rachel Ruto, arrived at the White House for a pomp-filled ceremony aimed at recognising the growing importance of the US-Kenya relationship.

The leaders will later hold talks and a joint news conference before a formal state dinner on the White House grounds.



US President Joe Biden and Kenyas President William Ruto review the troops with Colonel David Rowland, commander of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, at the White House (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Together the United States and Kenya are working together on the challenges that matter most to our peoples lives  health, security, economic security, cybersecurity and climate security, Mr Biden said at the arrival ceremony.

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Mr President, your bold leadership on this front has been important and significantly impactful.

Mr Biden and Mr Ruto are using the three-day state visit to Washington, in part, to call on economies around the globe to take action to reduce the enormous debt burden crushing Kenya and other developing nations.

The call to action, termed the Nairobi-Washington Vision, comes as Mr Biden presses his appeal to African nations that the US can be a better partner than economic rival China. Beijing has been deepening its investment on the continent  often with high-interest loans and other difficult financing terms.

Mr Biden and Mr Ruto want creditor nations to reduce financing barriers for developing nations that have been constrained by high debt burdens. They also call on international financial institutions to co-ordinate debt relief and support through multilateral banks and institutions providing better financing terms.

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Today we have an occasion to build synergies, to build partnerships that will not only solve our current problems, but also to build a future that is a much more promising, a much more prosperous, a fairer, a freer, a healthier and a much more prosperous future, Mr Ruto said.

The White House also announced 250 million dollars (196 million) in grants for the International Development Association, part of the World Bank, to assist poor countries facing crises.



US first lady Jill Biden and Kenyas first lady Rachel Ruto tour a classroom where students practice taking blood pressure during a visit to the Advanced Technical Centre in Washington (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

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Separately, a 1.2 trillion-dollar (0.94 trillion) government funding bill passed by Congress in March allows the US to lend up to 21 billion dollars (16.5 billion) to an International Monetary Fund Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, which provides zero-interest loans to support low-income countries as they work to stabilise their economies, boost growth and improve debt sustainability.

That funding is expected to be made available to the IMF in the coming weeks.

An Associated Press analysis of a dozen countries most indebted to China  including Pakistan, Kenya, Zambia and Laos  found the debt is consuming an ever-greater amount of tax revenue needed to keep schools open, provide electricity and pay for food and fuel.

Behind the scenes is Chinas reluctance to forgive debt and its extreme secrecy about how much money it has loaned and on what terms, which has kept other major lenders from stepping in to help.

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Kenyas debt-to-GDP ratio tops 70%, with the bulk of it owed to China. Credit ratings agency Fitch estimates Kenya will spend almost one-third of its government revenues just on interest payments this year.

Mr Ruto said on Wednesday that his talks with Mr Biden will address how we can have a fairer international financial system where all countries are treated equally.

Mr Biden was also informing Congress on Thursday that he will designate Kenya a major non-Nato ally, according to the White House

The designation, while largely symbolic, reflects how Kenya has grown from a regional partner that has long co-operated with US counterterrorism operations on the continent to a major global influence  even extending its reach into the Western Hemisphere. Kenya will be the first sub-Saharan African country to receive the status.

Kenya is expected to soon deploy 1,000 police officers to Haiti to help quell gang violence that has ravaged the Caribbean nation for months. The Biden administration has praised Kenya for stepping up in Haiti when so few other countries have agreed to do so.

Haiti is the Western Hemispheres poorest nation and has been mired in political instability and natural disasters for decades.

Mr Ruto arrived in Washington on Wednesday and began the visit by meeting Mr Biden and tech executives from Silicon Valley and Kenyas growing tech sector  known as the Silicon Savannah.

Administration officials said that several private sector investments are expected to be announced during the visit. The Kenyan president told the tech executives that Kenya and Africa more broadly  have a young, innovative populace that is hungry for opportunities.

The White House announced it was working with Congress to make Kenya the first country in Africa to benefit from funding through the CHIPS and Science Act, a 2022 law that aims to reinvigorate the computer chip sector within the United States through tens of billions of dollars in targeted government support.

I think we have a historic moment to explore investment opportunities between Kenya and the United States, Mr Ruto said.

Guests at a state dinner for Mr and Mrs Ruto on Thursday evening are expected to include actor Levar Burton of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame, former president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, as well as singer songwriter Don McLean and author Barbara Kingsolver.
UK health secretary Victoria Atkins has told MPs she has a clear intention to introduce a banning order on puberty blockers.

The Conservative minister set out plans to use a power bestowed on secretaries of state through the Medicines Act 1968, which would stop medical firms from selling, supplying or importing puberty blockers.

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Labours shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said he welcomed Ms Atkins approach to puberty blockers, which suppress the natural production of sex hormones to delay puberty.

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Ms Atkins last month pledged to work to close any loopholes which could see online providers prescribe hormones to gender-questioning children following the publication of the long-awaited Cass Review into childrens gender services in the NHS.

The review led by Dr Hilary Cass concluded that children had been let down by a lack of research and evidence on the use of puberty blockers and hormones, in a debate that it described as having become increasingly toxic.

Making a statement to the Commons, Ms Atkins said: Today I want to set out my clear intention to introduce a banning order on puberty blockers, with limited exceptions, under Section 62 of the Medicines Act 1968.

This is an extraordinary use of that power, but it is the right use of that power because we must protect our children and young people from this risk to their safety.

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Ms Atkins earlier said she had made it a priority to protect our children who are questioning their identity in ever-increasing numbers, referring to the Cass Review which she said laid bare the damaging effect that social media and degrading pornography has had on young peoples sense of self.

Mr Streeting said: I also welcome what shes said about the justifiably cautious and responsible approach shes taking in relation to puberty blockers in light of the Cass Review.

Ms Atkins pledged to work to close any loopholes which could see online providers prescribe hormones to gender-questioning children following the publication of the long-awaited Cass Review (Yui Mok/PA)

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In March, NHS England confirmed children will no longer be prescribed puberty blockers at gender identity clinics.

They will only be available to children as part of clinical research trials, which NHS England has previously said it aims to have in place by December.

The UK Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment.

The Health Secretarys statement in the Commons also covered the infected blood scandal, where she apologised unreservedly to victims and promised that the General Election will in no way affect the process that is all already underway.

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The Infected Blood Inquiry, chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff, published its report on May 20th.

It found more than 30,000 NHS patients were needlessly infected with deadly viruses including hepatitis and HIV in a scandal which could largely have been avoided and involved a pervasive cover-up.

The Health Secretarys statement in the Commons also covered the infected blood scandal (Infected Blood Inquiry/PA)

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a general election on Wednesday, which will be held on Thursday, July 4th.

Ms Atkins said: Throughout the election period government officials and I will continue to study the report to make sure that the lessons of the inquiry are learned and that these mistakes can never be repeated, and we will work with the NHS Business Services Authority to make sure that everyone who is eligible receives the second interim payment of 210,000 (246,00) over the summer.

Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North), a long-time campaigner on the infected blood scandal, said she welcomed Ms Atkins commitments but sought commitments on payments for those who have received nothing so far and also on psychological support services in England.

She said: They are in place in Northern Ireland, in Scotland and in Wales, and since 2020 ministers in the Department of Health have been saying that those services would be made available. Thats four years ago. Thats not acceptable.

The England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS) can provide funding towards counselling and talking therapy costs for private treatments, according to the NHS, but there is no dedicated psychology service provided through the EIBSS, unlike similar programmes in the devolved nations.

Ms Atkins replied: We want to ensure that we give the independent compensation authority, and I underline the word independent because I am very sympathetic to the sensitivities of families and victims around the part the Department of Health and others played in their pain, so we want to give Sir Robert (Francis, chair of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority) the chance to set the scheme up as I say very much assisted by the expert panel.

And on the point of psychological support, I promise her this is a matter Im discussing with the chief executive of NHS England and have done for some time.

Were wanting to recruit the right people to conduct that incredibly sensitive work and its going to take us a little bit more time, but I assure her NHS England is acting quickly to bring those services in we hope by the end of the summer.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on a visit to riot-hit New Caledonia on Thursday that he will not force through a contested voting reform that has sparked deadly unrest in the French Pacific territory.

He said he wants to leave time for local leaders to come up with an alternate agreement for the archipelagos future.

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Speaking after a day of meetings with leaders on both sides of New Caledonias bitter divide between indigenous Kanaks who want independence and pro-Paris leaders who do not, Mr Macron laid out a roadmap that he said could lead to another referendum on the archipelago.

Three earlier referendums between 2018 and 2021 produced no votes against independence.



French president Emmanuel Macron arrived at Noumea La Tontouta International airport in New Caledonia (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

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He said another referendum could be on a new political deal for the archipelago that he hopes local leaders will agree on in coming weeks after protesters barricades are dismantled, allowing for a state of emergency to be lifted and for peace to return.

I have pledged that this reform wont be pushed through with force today in the current context and that we are giving ourselves a few weeks to allow for calm, the resumption of dialogue, with a view to a global agreement, he said.

Mr Macron has pushed for the removal of protesters barricades during his visit said police sent in to help battle deadly unrest in the French Pacific archipelago will stay as long as necessary.

His comments came even as security services back in France were focusing in coming weeks on safeguarding the Paris Olympics.

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By cancelling his previously announced schedule to fly across the globe from Paris to New Caledonia, Mr Macron brought the weight of his office to bear on the crisis, which has left six dead and a trail of destruction.

Pro-independence Kanak leaders, who a week earlier declined Mr Macrons offer of talks by video, joined a meeting the French leader hosted in the capital, Noumea, with rival pro-Paris leaders who want New Caledonia, which became French in 1853 under Emperor Napoleon III, to remain part of France.

Mr Macron first called for a minutes silence for the six people killed in shootings during the violence, including two gendarmes. He then urged local leaders to use their clout to help restore order.



Mr Macron with Frances minister for interior and overseas Gerald Darmanin, left, during his visit (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

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He said a state of emergency imposed by Paris for at least 12 days on May 15 to boost police powers could only be lifted if local leaders called for a clearing away of barricades that demonstrators and people trying to protect their neighbourhoods had erected in Noumea and beyond.

Everyone has a responsibility to really call for the lifting of the barricades, the cessation of all forms of attack, not simply for calm, he said.

Barricades made of charred vehicles and other debris had turned some parts of Noumea into no-go zones and made travelling around perilous, including for the sick requiring medical treatment and for families concerned about where to find food and water after shops were pillaged and torched.

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French authorities said more than 280 people had been arrested since violence first flared on May 13 as the French legislature in Paris debated contested changes to New Caledonia voter lists.

The unrest continued to simmer as Mr Macron jetted in, despite a 6pm to 6am curfew and more than 1,000 reinforcements for the archipelagos police and gendarmes, now 3,000 strong.

I will be very clear here. These forces will remain as long as necessary. Even during the Olympic Games and Paralympics, which open in Paris on July 26, Mr Macron said.



Mr Macron, second right, and New Caledonias president Louis Mapou, second left, during the visit (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Macron said on arrival at Noumeas La Tontouta International Airport  which remains closed to commercial flights  that he wanted to be alongside the people and see a return to peace, calm and security as soon as possible.

Later, at Noumeas central police station, Mr Macron thanked officers for facing what he described as an absolutely unprecedented insurrection movement.

No-one saw it coming with this level of organisation and violence, he said. You did your duty. And I thank you.

The violence is the severest in New Caledonia since the 1980s, the last time France imposed a state of emergency on the archipelago of 270,000 people and decades of tensions over the issue of independence between Kanaks and the descendants of colonists and other settlers.



The French president thanked officers for facing what he described as an absolutely unprecedented insurrection movement (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Fires, looting and other violence targeting hundreds of businesses, homes, shops, public buildings and other sites in and around Noumea have caused destruction estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros.

This week, military flights evacuated stranded tourists.

We will discuss questions of economic reconstruction, support and rapid response, and the most delicate political questions, as we talk about the future of New Caledonia, Mr Macron said.

By the end of the day, decisions will be taken and announcements will be made.



Barricades have turned some parts of Noumea into no-go zones (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Macron flew to the archipelago under pressure from politicians in France and pro-independence supporters to delay or scrap the overhaul of the voting system for New Caledonia which triggered the unrest.

Both French houses of parliament in Paris have approved the proposed reform but it would require a revision of Frances constitution to take effect.

It would enlarge voter numbers in provincial elections for New Caledonias legislature and government, adding about 25,000 voters, including people who have been residents of the archipelago for at least 10 years and others born there.



People demonstrated as Mr Macrons motorcade drove past in Noumea (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Opponents fear the measure will benefit pro-France politicians in New Caledonia and further marginalise the Kanaks, who once suffered from strict segregation policies and widespread discrimination.

Supporters say the proposed overhaul is democratically important for people with roots in New Caledonia who cannot currently vote for local representatives.
Donald Trump has posted on social media that he will use his relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin to get Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich freed from a Russian prison.

Mr Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that this would happen soon after the November election in the United States, when he is seeking to defeat president Joe Biden and return to the White House.

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"Evan Gershkovich, the Reporter from The Wall Street Journal, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the Election, but definitely before I assume Office. He will be HOME, SAFE, AND WITH HIS FAMILY," Mr Trump said.

"Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and WE WILL BE PAYING NOTHING!"

Mr Trump did not refer to any contacts with Putin or say what grounds he had to believe that the Russian leader would release Mr Gershkovich.

A campaign spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment on whether the former Republican president or his advisers have been in touch with any Russian officials.

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Asked about the comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin has "naturally not had contacts with Donald Trump".

Mr Gershkovich was arrested in Russia in March last year on spying charges that he, his paper and the Biden administration have all strongly denied. He has spent well over a year in a Moscow prison, with no date set for a trial.

Putin said in February it might be possible to free him in exchange for a Russian imprisoned in Germany for murder.

Peskov reiterated previous Kremlin statements that contacts with Washington regarding any exchange of prisoners must be conducted "in complete silence and absolutely discreetly. This is the only way they can be effective".

During his 2017-2021 presidency, Mr Trump expressed admiration for Putin. In 2018, he refused to blame the Russian leader for meddling in the 2016 US election, casting doubt on the findings of his own intelligence agencies and sparking criticism at home.

Mr Trump has also claimed he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of returning to the White House, though he has not said how he would do this.
North-west England will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the UK general election.

The region is home to the number one target seat for Labour, Burnley, and the chief target for the Conservatives, Warrington South.

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It contains five of Labours top 10 targets and three of the Tories top 10.

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Other key Conservative-Labour battlegrounds include the Midlands and Yorkshire, while most of the pivotal Conservative-Liberal Democrat contests are in southern England.

Scotland and Wales hold opportunities for several parties to make gains.

But East Anglia could find itself largely overlooked during the campaign, with very few constituencies appearing on any battleground lists.

How the targets are calculated

The top targets for the general election are based on how easy or hard it would be for a seat to change hands.

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This is done by calculating the change in the share of the vote in each seat, or swing, that would be needed for a party to make a gain.

The smaller the swing, the higher the seat is ranked on the list.

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Labour needs a swing of only 0.13 percentage points, or 0.2 if written to one decimal place (as 0.1 would not be enough), to gain Burnley from the Conservatives.

The Tories would take Warrington South  which at the next election will be treated as a Labour defence because of boundary changes  on an even smaller swing of 0.06 (or 0.1) points.

Five other seats in Labours top 10 would fall to the party on a swing of 1.0 points or less, all of which are being defended by the Conservatives: Leigh & Atherton in Greater Manchester, High Peak in Derbyshire, Bangor Aberconwy in Wales, Wolverhampton West in the West Midlands and Bury South in Greater Manchester.

Bury North and Bolton North East in Greater Manchester, Watford in Hertfordshire and Chingford & Woodford Green in north London complete Labours top 10  all Tory defences.

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Boundary changes

Leigh & Atherton, Bangor Aberconwy and Wolverhampton West are all examples of new seats in the election.

They have been created as part of a UK-wide redrawing of constituency boundaries carried out to reflect changes in the size of local populations.

This is also why Bury South will be treated as a Conservative defence at the next election, even though its present MP, Christian Wakeford, defected from the Tories to Labour halfway through the current parliament.

The last time a major redrawing of boundaries took place was ahead of the 2010 general election.

To identify which seats on the new electoral map will be the parties top targets, and to work out the swing needed for the seats to change hands, a set of notional results for the last general election has been calculated to show what would have happened if that contest had taken place using the new boundaries.

These notional results have been compiled by Professor Colin Rallings and Professor Michael Thrasher of the University of Plymouth, on behalf of BBC News, ITV News, Sky News and the PA news agency  all of which will use the figures as the basis for reporting the gains and losses on July 4.

For example, Burnley, Labours number one target, had a notional result in 2019 of the Tories on 40.46 per cent of the vote and Labour on 40.19 per cent, while Warrington South, the Tories top target, was 44.47 per cent Labour and 44.35 per cent Conservative.

This is why Warrington South will be treated as a Labour defence at the next election  and is considered the Conservatives top target  despite it being currently represented by Tory MP Andy Carter.

Key Labour and Conservative contests

The data shows that, of Labours top 50 targets, 10 are in north-west England, seven in Wales, six in the East Midlands and five each in the West Midlands and Yorkshire/Humber, with the remainder spread across the rest of the UK.

All of these will be treated as Conservative defences at the election  and all would fall on local swings from Tory to Labour of up to 5.4 percentage points.

Labour would need to perform much better to stand any chance of forming the next government, however.

The party needs a uniform nationwide swing from Conservative to Labour of 8.3 points to become the largest party in a hung parliament, and an even bigger swing of 12.7 points to gain an overall majority  more than the 10.2-point swing achieved by Tony Blair in 1997.

Two key constituencies to watch will be Chelsea & Fulham in London, which Labour would gain from the Conservatives on a local swing of 8.3 points, and Buckingham & Bletchley in Buckinghamshire, which the party would gain from the Tories on a local swing of 12.7 points.

Of the Conservatives top 50 targets, 11 are in Yorkshire/Humber, seven in north-west England and five each in the West Midlands and Wales  all areas that appear high on Labours list.

An exception is north-east England, which holds only two of Labours top 50 but nine of the Tories top 50, all of which are being defended by Labour.

Along with Warrington South, the Conservatives top 10 are all Labour defences and include two other seats in the North West: Wirral West in Merseyside and Heywood & Middleton North in Greater Manchester.

Three are in the West Midlands: Coventry North West, Coventry South and Warwick & Leamington; one is in Wales, Alyn & Deeside; and three are in London: Kensington & Bayswater, Beckenham & Penge and Dagenham & Rainham.

Liberal Democrats targets

The Liberal Democrats face a very different battleground, with the majority of their resources likely to be focused in the southern half of the country.

More than half (28) of the Lib Dems top 50 target seats are spread across south-west and south-east England  and all are being defended by the Conservatives.

A local swing in these seats of five percentage points from the Tories to the Liberal Democrats would see the party pick up the likes of Cheltenham, Eastbourne and St Ives, while a 10-point swing would deliver seats including Winchester, Woking and Didcot & Wantage.

Recent by-elections have seen the party take seats from the Tories on swings well above 10 points.

Were such a feat repeated at the election, many more areas of southern England could turn orange, including the former Lib Dem heartlands of Devon North, Yeovil and Cornwall North.

Constituencies outside southern England that are on the Lib Dems top 50 list include the SNP-held seats of Fife North East and Dunbartonshire Mid in Scotland, and the Tory-held seats of Cheadle and Hazel Grove in north-west England.

But the Lib Dems number one target is in London: the Conservative-held seat of Carshalton & Wallington, which would change hands on a tiny local swing of 0.7 percentage points.

SNP, Plaid Cymru, Greens and Reform

The number of constituencies in Scotland drops from 59 to 57 under the new boundaries, 48 of which will be treated as seats being defended by the SNP.

A uniform swing in Scotland from the SNP to Labour of 10 percentage points would see Labour take 15 SNP seats, potentially reducing the number of gains the party would need in England to form the next government.

However, there could be some three-way fights in Scotland, with the SNP-held Labour targets of Cowdenbeath & Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh North & Leith also appearing on the target lists of the Conservatives and Lib Dems respectively.

The SNPs top three targets are all Tory defences: Aberdeenshire West & Kincardine, Dumfries & Galloway and Aberdeenshire North & Moray East.

Sweeping changes to the boundaries in Wales have reduced the number of constituencies from 40 to 32  a process that has been particularly harsh for Plaid Cymru, which has seen the four seats it won in 2019 translate into just two to defend at the next election, Ceredigion Preseli and Dwyfor Meirionnydd.

Plaids top two targets will be Tory-held Ynys Mon and Caerfyrddin, both of which are also Labour targets.

Bristol Central is the top target for the Greens, though they will need a hefty 16.3-point local swing to take the seat from Labour.

In turn, Labour would need a 17.2-point local swing to take the Greens only parliamentary seat of Brighton Pavilion.

Number one target for Reform UK, formerly known as the Brexit Party, will be Barnsley North, where they notionally won 30 per cent of the vote at the last election, and which they would gain on a 4.5-point local swing from Labour.
Searchers announced on Thursday they have discovered what they believe is the wreckage of Second World War ace Richard Bongs plane in the South Pacific.

The Richard I Bong Veterans Historical Centre in Superior, Wisconsin, and the nonprofit Second World War historical preservation group Pacific Wrecks announced in March they were launching a joint search for the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter.

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Captain Richard Bong nicknamed the plane Marge after his girlfriend, Marge Vattendahl.

Another pilot, Thomas Malone, was flying the plane in March 1944 over what is now known as Papua New Guinea when engine failure sent it into a spin. Mr Malone bailed out before the plane crashed in the jungle.



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The expeditions leader, Pacific Wrecks director Justin Taylan, said the search team discovered the wreckage in the jungles of Papua New Guineas Madang Province on May 15.

He released photos of himself in the jungle with chunks of metal on the ground. In one photo he points to what the caption calls a wing tip from the plane stamped with 993, the last three numbers of the planes serial number.

Enlarging the photo shows markings that could be two 9s but they are obscured by what might be dirt or rust. Another photo shows a piece of metal stamped with Model P-38 JK.

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Mr Taylan said during a video news conference from Papua New Guinea on Thursday afternoon that the serial number and model identification prove the plane is Marge definitely, beyond a doubt.

I think its safe to say mission accomplished, Mr Taylan said. Marge has been identified. Its a great day for the centre, a great day for Pacific Wrecks, a great day for history.

Mr Taylan has been researching the location of the crash site for years. He said that historical records suggested it went down on the grounds of a 150-year old plantation. Local residents initially showed the expedition the wreck of a Japanese fighter plane before telling the searchers about wreckage deeper in the jungle.

The explorers hiked through the jungle until they discovered wreckage in a ravine, Mr Taylan said.

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At the top of the ravine they found two aircraft engines sticking out of the ground, indicating the plane went in nose-first and buried itself in the ground. Mr Taylan said Capt Bong painted the wing tips red and the paint was still on them.

Capt Bong, who grew up in Poplar, Wisconsin, is credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft during the Second World War. He plastered a blow-up of Ms Vattendahls portrait on the nose of his plane, according to a Pacific Wrecks summary of the planes service.

Capt Bong shot down more planes than any other American pilot. General Douglas MacArthur awarded him the Medal of Honor, the US militarys highest decoration, in 1944. Mr Taylan said that Mr Bong shot down three planes while flying Marge.

Capt Bong and Ms Vattendahl eventually married in 1945. Mr Bong was assigned to duty as a test pilot in Burbank, California, after three combat tours in the South Pacific. He was killed on August 6, 1945, when a P-80 jet fighter he was testing crashed.

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He died on the same day the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

Ms Vattendahl was 21 at the time of Capt Bongs death. She went on to become a model and a magazine publisher in Los Angeles. She died in September 2003.

A bridge connecting Superior and Duluth, Minnesota, is named after Capt Bong.

The Bong family is very excited about this discovery, James Bong, Richard Bongs nephew, said in the news release. It is amazing and incredible that Marge has been found and identified.
Designer label Dion Lee has appointed voluntary administrators in the latest high-profile business to come under pressure amid difficult economic conditions.

The fashion house, which has six stores in Australia and one in the US, is now under the control of insolvency firm dVT Group administrator Antony Resnick, who will continue running the business as a going concern as he urgently assesses all options relating to the US business.

Designer Dion Lee prepares backstage for his fashion show during New York Fashion Week in February 2019. Credit: Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images

We are in the very early stages of our administration process and our focus right now is on speaking with the Australian and US-based team and getting across all the relevant operational and financial data, Resnick said in a statement.

Resnick said the Dion Lee brand, founded in 2009 by one of Australias best-known fashion designers, has become a globally recognised and credible high-fashion label.
That mass of sizzling red disguises the essential mediocrity of the painting, and works a similar trick for Charles, as this colour invariably triggers associations with anger, passion, or desire. Most of the earlier portraits of Charles, made while he was Prince of Wales, take a very different approach. Consider Bryan Organs 1980 portrait in the National Portrait Gallery, London. A 31-year-old Charles sits in a deckchair, with his legs crossed. He wears riding boots, khaki pants, and a blue pullover. His face is turned towards us, looking serious and engaged. A large blue-grey fence isolates Charles within the composition, implying that he is to be viewed as an individual, not a mere figurehead of the monarchy. Bryan Organs 1981 portrait of Prince Charles. Credit: National Portrait Gallery London Organs portrait flatters Charles but in a very subtle way, capturing the mildly rebellious figure who was willing to make critical comments on the excesses of modern architecture. Its the year before his fateful marriage to Diana, in 1981, a liaison that would eventually damage his public image. Australian Ralph Heimans painted Charles in 2018, standing by the window in Dumfries House in Scotland. Now he wears a grey suit and an alert expression, and holds a walking stick, as if he is preparing to go outside for a stroll. The artist said he wanted to allude to Charless support for the environment and Britains architectural heritage, but these themes are not signposted in the picture which remains a conventional piece of realism.

Heimanss portrait may be staid, but its a psychological masterpiece compared to Victoria Crowes portrait of the same year, exhibited at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. In this work a blank-faced Charles sits by a window, seemingly oblivious to the nicely painted trees outside, which vie for our attention. There are many other portraits of Charles, most of them incredibly dull, constrained by the formality of the monarchy, the respect due to the sitter, or simply the artists lack of talent. King Charles and Queen Camilla (then the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall), at the unveiling of a portrait by Ralph Heimans at Londons Australia House in 2018. Credit: AP Yeo and Heimans are probably the two best-known artists to paint King Charles, but with time, the Bryan Organ painting looks the pick of the bunch. There will be more to come, as there are countless portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, from Coronation Day (1953), Cecil Beatons grand, staged photo of the young Queen in full regalia, to Polly Borlands startling close-up of 2001, set against a shiny gold backdrop. Another memorable photo is Chris Levines Lightness of Being (2012), which shows the 86-year-old Elizabeth with her eyes closed.

One needs to draw a line between commissioned works that required sittings, and those unofficial portraits drawn from pre-existing images, such as a silkscreen by Andy Warhol or a cartoonish picture by George Condo, let alone the image on the Sex Pistols single, God Save the Queen. Among the commissioned works, Pietro Annigonis austere, elegant portrait of 1954 has become iconic. The Queen, just two years into her reign, stands outlined against a chilly looking sky, in a landscape that could have been borrowed from a Flemish Old Master. Victoria Crowes portrait of the Prince of Wales. Credit: Getty William Dargies tonal portrait was painted in the same year as Annigonis work, during the Queens lengthy visit to Australia. Local colour is provided by Elizabeths yellow dress, which has earned the picture the nickname the wattle painting. The fresh-faced young Queen strikes quite a contrast with Lucian Freuds tiny portrait of 2000-2001, in which she looks decidedly grumpy. Elizabeth wouldnt have been the first model to feel worn out sitting for Freud, who had asked permission to paint the Queen, requesting numerous sittings over 19 months. When the picture was revealed to the public, the tabloids were scandalised. Its been unkindly suggested the finished portrait looks more like Freud himself.

These changing images of King Charles and Queen Elizabeth indicate the British monarchys desire to keep up with the times while not relinquishing the dignity of an office defined by duty and protocol. Its a far cry from Pharaonic Egypt, in which the image of a giant-sized king smiting his tiny enemies was repeated for more than 3,000 years. In ancient times the chief objective of a royal portrait was to emphasise the power and prestige of a ruler who ranked second only to God. The Egyptians and most other ancient civilisations created idealised images of rulers, stressing their perfections. Polly Borlands 2002 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Credit: Polly Borland From the Renaissance onwards, portraitists set out to capture the actual likeness of a king or queen, but there was still an imperative to emphasise power. It cant have been easy for Velazquez to make an impressive figure out of Philip IV of Spain, but he managed to do so by putting this homely fellow on a huge horse, as we see in the Equestrian Portrait of Philip IV (1635-36) in the Prado. Goya didnt even try, in his portrait of Charles III in a Hunting Dress (1788). Stooped, awkward and ugly, the Bourbon king cuts a pathetic figure, but  more affable than many monarchs  Charles was highly pleased with the picture.

The apogee of flattery arrived with Jacques-Louis Davids Napoleon Crossing the Alps (1801), depicting the diminutive emperor-to-be striking a heroic pose on a rearing horse. In reality, Napoleon had crossed the Great St. Bernard Pass clinging to a donkey. Several years later David would refine his sycophancy with a huge painting of Napoleons coronation. The British monarchs have been well served by their portraitists, even if the greatest of them were foreigners. Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543) transformed the massive bulk of Henry VIII into the epitome of power and glory. He captured the wives, the statesmen and Church leaders with such fearsome objectivity we almost feel we know these people personally. Henry, however, complained that Holbeins portrait of Anne of Cleves had fooled him by being far too flattering. Although she became his fourth wife, as agreed, the king was grievously disappointed with Anne in the flesh. The brief marriage went unconsummated, but Anne kept her head, received a generous settlement, and outlived all the other wives. Lucian Freuds portrait of Britains Queen Elizabeth II. Credit: AP Holbeins only rival as Britains greatest royal portrait painter was Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641), whose work at the court of the ill-fated Charles I, was stupendous. Although he may have the unhappy distinction of being the only British ruler to be executed, Charles was also the greatest royal art collector and connoisseur. He accumulated some 1,500 paintings and 500 sculptures by masters past and present, from Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael to Rembrandt and Rubens. Van Dyck, who had been Rubenss student and protege in Antwerp, made the king look consistently suave and intelligent. Whatever the defects of his actual personality, we look upon Charles with sympathy because of van Dycks sensitive portraits. Whether he be on a giant horse, out hunting, or sitting with his family for a formal portrait, Van Dyck imbues the monarch with a unique vitality.
By Michael Breen

For decades now, since the world came to agree with what South Koreans felt all along  that theirs was the better Korea  we have been figuratively peering across the DMZ, waiting for the failed side to accept the painful truth.

Experts have been on permanent alert for a clue, a hint, a wink, anything to signal the inevitable shift.

I wonder now, could the signs be there but getting misread? I wonder, has North Korea turned a corner and we have just not noticed?

I cant say Im sure, but here is what has triggered these thoughts.

As readers will know, at the end of last year, Kim Jong-un declared that North Korea would no longer pursue reconciliation and reunification with South Korea.

This was more than just words. Through January and February, there was nationwide follow-up. Laws were changed. Wording was tweaked. Songs were unsung. Government and party offices were closed, and people reassigned. Maps were airbrushed  like, weather reports changed from being the whole peninsula to just North Korea. Without enough time before the new school year to print new textbooks, students were recruited in the holidays to stick bits of paper over words like unification and anything that suggested South Koreans were compatriots.

Had Kim stopped there, we would have been left thinking he was serious. President Yoon Suk Yeol might have proposed a summit to make him change his mind, been rebuffed, and now we would be planning the invasion or talking about the two Koreas having to forge separate paths.

But in the same speech, Kim laid into South Korea. I believe that it is a mistake, that we must no longer make, to deal with the people who declare us as the main enemy and seek only opportunities for [our] regime collapse and unification by absorption, he said, according to the countrys KCNA news agency.

He went further. South Koreans are no longer our brothers and sisters, he said. They are foreigners and that their state is North Koreas officially designated main enemy.

That was not very nice. The effect was to make some experts and politicians in this country and overseas think he was having a hissy fit against President Yoon. Others, meanwhile, saw belligerent intent and claimed Kim was laying the foundation for a nuclear attack.

What these reactions have in common is that nobody was taking Kim at face value. This may well be the biggest strategic change on the Korean Peninsula since South Koreas move to democracy 40 years ago. But in last months National Assembly elections, it didnt come up.

Perhaps it should have. What if Kim really was giving up on reunification and was appearing belligerent simply to make sure our side didnt get belligerent with him? Thats not to say we would, just that he thinks we would, because if he were us, he would.

The reason this is hard is that dropping reunification is not what we expected. Unification unites all Koreans. It is the sacred task that keeps them Korean. Giving it up is like the devil declaring hes an atheist. Its hard to get your head around it.

What everyone expected outside of war or a coup was a decision to make real peace and engage seriously with the South about a merger. The crucial first indicator in such a case, we expected, would lie in a shift of national strategy from reunification to economic development, with resources moving from defense to economic planning, from treating people like inmates of a prison to people whose lives are worth improving.

Theres evidence of something like this.

In a new five-year plan announced last summer, there was a new emphasis on regional development. The new part is a 2010 regional development goal to build manufacturing facilities in 20 cities and counties every year for the next 10 years. At the same time as he was calling for the constitution to be changed to drop the national reunification clause, Kim was giving speeches about regional development and attending groundbreakings.

Could this be North Koreas version of what Deng Xiaoping did in China?

Behind this new policy direction is an ideological change. Kims grandfathers Juche ideology emphasized independence from foreign power. When Kims father took over, he continued to sing from the Juche hymn sheet, but changed the lyrics to emphasize military first. In recent years, these lyrics have been changed again. Kim Jong-un appears to be emphasizing nation and people.

Perhaps he really is trying to improve their lives. If that is true, then reunification is taking a back seat.

There is a certain logic to North Korea opting either to give up or postpone reunification. Given that if it were to happen now, North Korea would be credited with contributing nothing of substance, except perhaps the location of the future capital, and might end up the poor cousin, separation now makes better sense.

If that is what is happening  and it is too early to be sure  then our victory in the competition to be the better Korea takes on a quality of one hand clapping. Our choice then becomes whether to continue to push for our desired reunification or opt for peaceful separation.

Michael Breen (mike.breen@insightcomms.com) is the author of "The New Koreans."
Conversations around the nature of stalking have reached a new, if temporary high thanks to the Netflix series Baby Reindeer. It has been the streaming channels top program for the last month in more than 70 countries and the sensational prod for a plethora of news stories, not least the Piers Morgan Uncensored interview with the alleged real-life female stalker depicted in the series.

One of the less-discussed aspects to the streaming phenomenon has been how writers and artists can be quite predatory creatures themselves. During Sydney Writers Week, it may even give authors pause to question how they make use of so-called lived experience and their story to tell. Although I remain sceptical of many a writers desire to give pause to anything in this era of righteous confessionals, other than a book-length celebration of how finely they exist in the world.

In all the discussion of stalking Baby Reindeer has provoked, no one has discussed how writers themselves can be predatory - but what are they hunting?

Novels of narcissism  otherwise known as the art of modern memoir  have become the de rigueur formation for prose and poetry provocations that rarely get beyond the depth of padded-out opinion columns and victimology therapy sessions.

Who needs to worry about the dangers of AI  or what Noam Chomsky described as hi-tech plagiarism and a way to avoid learning  when identity marketing and career opportunism are undoing writers by choice, and the entire literary and media industries into the bargain. Sadly, consumers seem to want this, insofar as books and films are increasingly targeted to the purely affirmative spins they supposedly demand, part of the great thinning out of not only who we are but who we might struggle to be.
He believes what the young people of today need most for acceptance is support. The No.1 solution is for young people to be understood on a deep, interpersonal level. So, is it easier to be queer today? Its an impossible question to answer, and one that would require flattening the rich and varied lived experiences of an entire generation into a singular yes or no. To catch a glimpse of what its like to be Gen Z and queer today, we spoke to three young Australians  all mentors in Minus 18s young leaders program about growing up, identity and what life is like. I stopped going to school Kira grew up playing sports, but says things became more complicated once they started to explore their queer identity.

For Kira*, a 21-year-old student living in Melbourne, the choice to come out was stolen from them in year 9. I knew that I was queer when I was quite young, they explain, [but] the coming out process was a bit complicated for me because I was outed by the girl I had a crush on. It caused an influx of bullying by my peers. Even my close friends at the time would feel uncomfortable walking close to me during school because they wouldnt want anyone to think they were gay too. The bullying led Kira to stop attending school for six months before moving to a new one, where they say bullying still occurred but was less intense. Getting involved with programs for LGBTQ youth provided a reprieve from what was happening at school. Kira grew up playing sport but, as they began to question their identity in their early teens, things started to become a little more complicated. My first club didnt really support me and I felt like I had to take on the role of more than a footy player  of an educator, Kira says.

They say things such as pronouns and the experiences of non-binary people in quite a gendered space were particular blind spots for the club. And elements of team sport that some might take for granted  such as uniforms and change rooms  could be tricky to navigate. A second generation Australian  their mother is Maori and Tongan and their father Filipino  Kira was born in Melbourne but spent a lot of their childhood moving around. While they agree that representation for the LGBTQ community is improving, they say it remains narrow. Growing up, my greatest exposure to queer identities was through couples and individuals on YouTube, who were primarily white. Because of this, I felt pressure to assimilate into colonial and Western ways of being queer and trans. The public arent really exposed to intersectional experiences of queer and trans people of colour, which I feel is an important story to tell as well. Kira recently completed a double degree in gender and criminal studies, and has since been working across various volunteer roles, including as a mentor in Minus 18s queer leadership program.

Their biggest piece of advice for young queer people today is to be proactive in seeking out those spaces and also creating those safe spaces yourself. It was constantly in the back of my mind that my school didnt care about me Enfys says coming out in 2017 during the marriage equality debate was tough. Credit: Penny Stephens Enfys*, an aspiring gender studies researcher, grew up on the Gold Coast, Queensland, a place they say isnt known for being the most welcoming to LGBTQ people. Now 22, Enfys came out in 2017, amid raging debate over the marriage equality vote. It was not a fun time to be learning about myself because it was everywhere, and it was debated in school and my school actually refused to allow the year 12 graduates of that year to mention it in their yearbook quotes, they say.

It was just incredibly lonely. In year 12, Enfys was a school leader and tried to start a gender and sexuality group. While they had a supportive teacher help them push to have the group approved, they received a firm no from the school. During this time, they also pushed for the acknowledgment of queer couples during Valentines Day events, and were again refused. That was much worse than just feeling isolated, because it was the school actively telling me, No, theres no space for you here.  All this affected their ability to concentrate in class, at a time when they should have been focusing on their final exams. It was constantly in the back of my mind that my school didnt care about me essentially. Enfys now lives in Melbourne in a house with other queer people.

Its nice to be able to exist in a space that you call home and be able to be entirely yourself and not worry about whether or not someones going to question you. It can be hard growing up in that space where youre having to explain yourself before youve even discovered yourself. Loading Mentoring younger members of the community as part of Minus 18s leadership program has been a rewarding project, says Enfys, who sees a lot of themselves reflected in their mentees. I want to be the kind of person helping the child version of me that couldnt find anything. For Enfys, its the little things that go a long way when it comes to creating more inclusive spaces for members of the LGBTQ community. People get afraid that they cant do anything, but the tiniest action can have a big impact when done by so many people, they say.

Even something like adding pronouns at the end of an email or discussing with family or friends laws that need to be reformed or need to be pushed back against. I did feel a bit like an outsider; I was always on show Jemma came out in year 8, an experience she says felt terrifying at the time. Credit: Penny Stephens Jemma* was one of the only openly queer students at her high school, having come out to her peers in year 8, a decision she says was not easy. It was terrifying, to be completely honest. It was not a great time. I was really, really self-conscious about it because it was just not something that was openly super-accepted yet, like marriage equality wasnt even legalised yet.

Like Kira, Jemma says intolerance also came from her peers. They often treated me like a science experiment, or, it sounds a bit dramatic, but like an animal in a zoo. Theyd ask me really personal questions they wouldnt ask anyone else, says the 22-year-old criminology and psychology student. Loading Despite being proud about her sexual identity, she says she did feel a bit like an outsider; I was always on show. And while she says many teachers were incredibly supportive, some who she turned to for help perpetuated harmful stereotypes about sexuality. A student counsellor suggested that her bisexuality was merely a phase. Does she think its easier to be queer today? Its a complicated question to answer, she says, but stresses that many of the strides made for equality have only been recent.

I know that society feels like its made lots of progress in terms of accepting the queer community, she says. But its really important to note that most of these changes were only made in very recent history. Marriage equality was only legalised in 2017 ... Its so important that we look back and acknowledge how recent that is and the people who fought for change. Jemma, who attended Minus 18 events throughout her teenage years, says joining its leadership program was a way to give back. Being neurodivergent, she says the program has been rewarding in more ways than one. Its been really affirming for me, being around so many like-minded people who are very open to unmasking and embracing neurodiversity in ways that I havent even explored before.
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This story is part of the May 25 edition of Good Weekend. See all 14 stories .

Hes 17 and in love for the second time. I had to talk him down from the dizzying heights of his first love last year. I said, Youre texting her too much. She already said she just wanted to be friends. It might be considered harassment. But he was adamant. I told her Im going to try to make myself more attractive. Im going to take showers and clean my teeth.

Then a bit later when, as his daily support worker, I was driving him to school, he mused, looking out the car window, When I get a girlfriend, Im not going to tell her Im autistic til after the wedding.

Daniels* going to be a world-famous death metal musician. He plays the keyboard and drums brilliantly. Brought up Catholic, hes worried he wont get into heaven because he worships Satans music for hours every day. His favourite sub-genre of death metal is pirate metal (yes, thats a thing). The songs are about epic sea battles and rallying cries from a boisterous brotherhood for a life of freedom. He informs me that when pirates say theyre going to get hammered they mean get drunk. It doesnt actually have anything to do with tools.

Its after dinner, about 9pm, when he starts to play the electric drums. He goes non-stop until about 2am. Although he uses headphones, the dull, rapid thump-thump-thump sound easily penetrates the thin walls to his sleeping, full-time-working, middle-aged parents. Ultimately, it relaxes him enough for him to go to sleep.

Loading

In the morning, Daniel tries to express to me the joy of it, dancing, leaping and waving his arms in the air. He tells me he used to be an angry person and points to the holes in the walls. But not now that hes found death metal.

His exhausted mother greets me with coffee. Shes worried his obsession is consuming him. When he was younger, he did other things  reading, chess, Lego, Pokemon. He even liked swimming. Right now, we can hear him practising metals disturbing, deep-growling vocal style in the shower. My limp smile is unconvincing. I assure her he wont be playing metal at age 25 or 30, but she looks at me doubtfully. Are you sure?
Australias most remote ski resort is scrambling to come up with a plan for shifting millions of litres of sewage after a fire destroyed its waste treatment plant and put its snow season in jeopardy.

Charlotte Pass village in the Kosciuszko National Park has been closed to the public since the fire broke out about 6.30am last Friday and left it unable to process any wastewater from showers, taps and toilets.

Charlotte Pass hosts about 31,000 visitors each ski season.

The resort is now fighting the clock and its alpine environment to get its sewage system back online before the June long weekend, when the ski season starts and roads close for the winter.

The treatment plant is designed to process sewage for about 1000 people at a time, and the resort hosts about 31,000 skiers and snowboarders each year. A day pass costs $149 this year.
The brother of a man allegedly murdered by a former immigration detainee says his family has been let down by a system that fails to protect the community.

Lambert Niyuhire told Nine News the alleged killer, Emmanuel Saki, should never have been released from immigration detention, given his long history of offending.

Lambert Niyuhire, whose brother Bosco Minyurano was stabbed to death, allegedly by a former immigration detainee. Credit: Nine News

To just be released into the public with no restrictions, no curfew, no nothing ... how does somebody be out in the public like that? Niyuhire said.

Its ridiculous, its like a spit in the face. Theres no protection at all. Shouldve never happened.
Which company has backed down after legal threats from Scarlett Johansson? Take the Brisbane Times Quiz

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Hugh Jackman takes centre stage. Now we have a class of gangster that is no longer happy with a fortune  they want fame as well. They are on social media, showing off their luxury beach resort accommodation, their bikini-clad companions, new tatts and high-powered motorbikes. There are professions where being visible is valuable. The stop-go person at road and building construction sites needs a large stop-go sign and a reflective vest. For if you cant see a stop-go person, how can they make you stop, or indeed, go? The lead in musicals such as Oklahoma cant hide behind the cardboard chuck-wagon. They have to be centre stage while belting out The Surrey With The Fringe On Top. And who wants to see the Rolling Stones if Mick Jagger is singing Midnight Rambler from a rocking chair with a shawl over his knees?

There are occupations where being invisible is invaluable. An undercover police officer doesnt wear a uniform, and surveillance cops dont have blue lights on top of their sneaky cars. And you dont paint a stealth bomber bright orange. There are certain creatures that should avoid the spotlight. They include rabbits, escaping prisoners and the greater sooty owl. A grey nurse shark doesnt dress as a grey nurse. It is grey on top so if you look down it blends in with the darker sea and its underside is light so if you look up it blends in with the sunlit water. Snow leopards are white to blend in with  you guessed it  the snow. Tigers hide in the jungle while lions blend in with the plains. The king of beasts doesnt need to wear gold jewellery to show it is the king of beasts. Eating antelope tends to prove the point.

Gangster Al Capone was a bad role model for both crooks and the rest of us. Credit: Getty The first natural enemy of the gangster is ego. For them, it is a dirty word. If they just got on with their business, quietly making money by filling a demand for illicit products, such as cocaine and cheap tobacco, they would be off to a gourmet restaurant for a bellyful of salt and pepper shrimp. Instead, they fall for the Hollywood mobster image and go all Al Capone on us (as a role model Al was a stinker, going to jail for tax evasion, then going mad and dying of syphilis). Not happy with a giant slice of the pie they want the whole pie  and the bakery as well. Take Melbournes tobacco war. Two syndicates were making millions a month, then decided to go to war to create a monopoly. Each week wed hear of another smoke shop going up in smoke.

Loading Crime wars get people dead, get authorities cross, and get others arrested. Take the big four banks. Sure they might nibble on each others tail every now and again for show, but they are happy to co-exist with all four making a fortune. When was the last time you heard of a NAB hit-team doing a drive by on a Westpac branch? Back to the laws of the jungle for a refresher. If two lions each have an antelope they eat their antelope and then go to sleep under a tree. They dont fight each other, so one has two antelopes plus life-threatening bite marks.

Alphonse Gangitano really should have ditched the designer sunnies. Credit: Joe Armao The second enemy of the gangster is publicity. Gangsters who end up on the front page end up in the court list or obituary pages. Liborio Benvenuto was for decades the Godfather of the Honoured Society. He avoided publicity, drove a nondescript four-wheel drive, wore a check overcoat and a brimmed felt hat and died peacefully of old age. Alphonse Gangitano courted publicity, wore an expensive cashmere overcoat and designer sunglasses, had the nickname of the Black Prince of Lygon Street and was shot dead in the laundry of his suburban house wearing only his underpants. Drug dealer Carl Williams called himself the Premier because he claimed to run the state. He ended up dead in Barwon Prison with his head caved in.

Joseph Squizzy Taylor was the best-known criminal of his day. He and rival crook John Snowy Cutmore shot each other dead in a Carlton gunfight in 1927. Taylor was 39. Sometimes even multimillionaires dont know when it is time to be a little discreet. Such as when the CEOs of Ford, GM and Chrysler flew their private jets to Washington to ask for a $25 billion government handout after the 2008 sharemarket crash. When a French queen was advised that starving peasants didnt have funds for bread, her suggestion that they eat cake as an alternative was probably ill-considered. There are those who fly under the radar when facing criminal charges and those who dance in front of it. Majid Alibadi is hardly a household name, but he is certainly no shrinking violet.

Alibadi, 25, is facing more than 20 charges, largely relating to alleged firebombings and car thefts. Like any other accused before the courts, Alibadi is entitled to the presumption of innocence, but the usual strategy between the day you are charged and the day you appear before a jury of 12 is to try to keep a low profile. Majid Alibadi gets into a Rolls-Royce after being released on bail from Melbourne Assessment Prison in February. Credit: Jason South Alibadi seems to have other ideas. Granted bail in February, he was picked up outside the Melbourne Assessment prison in a Rolls-Royce accompanied by associates in a Lamborghini. The prison is across the road from the Victoria Police Centre and the smart money is that the show of wealth was aimed at the gang detectives who had arrested Alibadi looking out the window. Police applied for his bail to be revoked and in court alleged Alibadi was a key executive in Kaz Hamads syndicate.

Loading Hamad was not in a geographic position to refute the claims as he has been deported from Australia and is allegedly running a network from Iraq. Police alleged the syndicate sent Alibadi more than $270,000 for his legal expenses. It is unlikely such a donation would be tax-deductible. The court was told Alibadi purchased the personalised number plate MEOC, allegedly an abbreviation of the police claim that he was a Middle Eastern Organised Crime figure. Colourful characters have often had fun with their number plates. Drug boss Tony Mokbel had the plates RUDARE  a phonetic question to surveillance police he believed were following him  and gangster Dennis Greedy Smith had initialised plates on his Rolls-Royce, the same Roller he used to deal drugs from the drivers window.

At Alibadis bail hearing, Senior Detective Matthew Lindsay told the court the accused enjoyed first-class travel, luxury holidays and five-star dining I believe Nobu is a favourite, Lindsay told the court. When he was in custody and offered a meal, he asked if Nobu was available. We recommend the lobster shiitake salad ($88) the Peruvian rib eye ($165) a tiramisu martini ($28) a bottle of the devil sake ($280) and the hard-to-find Penfolds 76 shiraz/cab for $1900. The good news for Alibadi is that he was granted bail. The bad news is for medical reasons he will have to give Nobu a miss for the moment. He has been released from prison to attend a live-in rehabilitation facility that charges $60,000 for 90 days  thats around $650 a day. The centre, the court was told, would treat Alibadis addiction to methamphetamine, cannabis and alcohol.
Deepfake porn apps could cause a generation of young people to take a backwards step on gender equality, Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek has warned, saying Australians must seriously consider pushing back against dangerous elements of artificial intelligence.

In a speech to be delivered in Melbourne on Thursday night, Plibersek will use her platform to warn parents that social media and AI mean many children are getting their initial sex education from pornography.

Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek says parents assumption that social media is a neutral space that children have control over is false. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Pliberseks warning comes after the Albanese government earlier this month announced a $6.5 million age-verification pilot program and promised legislation to ban the creation and non-consensual distribution of deepfake pornography.

Parents assumption that social media is a neutral space that children have control over is false, Plibersek will say, with the anti-feminist algorithm and the radicalisation of young men in the manosphere pushing users towards misogynistic content and porn.
Postponing the closure of Australias biggest coal-fired generator by at least two years will provide critical protection against the threat of blackouts as plans to roll out more renewables and power lines run into delays, Origin Energys boss says.

A deal on Thursday to prolong the life of the Eraring power station is the latest in a string of announcements seized on by the federal opposition to attack state and federal Labor governments ambitious renewable energy goals, and instead promote its proposal for nuclear power plants across the country.

Like other coal-fired plants, Eraring has come under pressure from the influx of cheap wind and solar power. Credit: Brendon Thorne

As news of the Eraring deal broke, state governments lined up to oppose nuclear energy, while opposition parties went cold on the idea  a development that could cripple Opposition Leader Peter Duttons centrepiece energy policy due to the states veto over land use within their territories.

Following six months of confidential negotiations, power and gas giant Origin reached a deal with the NSW government on Thursday to keep its Eraring coal plant open until at least 2027  two years longer than planned.
As reports of the Iranian president and the foreign ministers hard landing aboard a helicopter in a remote part of north-western Iran emerged on Sunday night Australia-time, Irans dissident community reacted with incredulity. Iran is after all, a country in which state media is deeply mistrusted, and conspiracy theories reign supreme.

When confirmation finally came that President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other senior regime officials had been martyred in the crash, the mood on both the Iranian street and among Irans sizeable diaspora was largely one of giddy jubilation.

Kylie Moore-Gilbert was one of five Australian victims of hostage diplomacy during the time when Raisi was Judiciary Head. Credit: Scott McNaughton

In a strange quirk of the universe, a man who was widely loathed by the Iranian public was suddenly removed from the scene in the most dramatic and unexpected of ways. As many have commented, they would have preferred to see Ebrahim Raisi dragged before a court in The Hague to answer for his crimes. But for Raisis numerous victims, his untimely death was the next-best outcome.

In the West we could be forgiven for assuming the country is stricken with grief. Many Western news outlets led their coverage with black clad women and men beating their chests, sombre prayers at Tehrans Grand Mosque and mourners swarming toward a procession of caskets draped in Iranian flags and garlands of flowers.
Former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met with Korean business leaders on Thursday to exchange views on economic and trade issues between the two countries months before the upcoming U.S. presidential election, a local business lobby said.

McCarthy had a breakfast meeting in Seoul with some 20 Korean businesspeople, including representatives from Hyundai Motor, SK Group, LG Group and Hanwha Group, arranged by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI).

During the event, the participants discussed ways to enhance bilateral economic ties and shared views on issues like Korea's investment in and exports to the world's largest economy, according to the FKI.

Rep. McCarthy is known for his supportive stance toward Korea, having played a role in the conclusion of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement in the early 2010s.

He supported former President Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election and now serves as a key figure in Trump's 2024 campaign. McCarthy is considered a strong candidate for Trump's chief of staff if Trump wins the election.

"There is an urgent need for deep dialogue between the Korean business community and U.S. opinion leaders ahead of the U.S. presidential election," FKI Chairman Ryu Jin said in his opening remarks. "The United States is Korea's largest investor and largest export destination, while Korea's direct investment into the U.S. has contributed significantly to job creation in the U.S." (Yonhap)
We are continually looking for ways to ensure our lending products are best on platform for both our brokers and customers and look forward to further upcoming enhancements to our Aussie Activate offering, he said.
By Park Jae-hyuk

Kakao is threatening to file lawsuits against the governments 15.1 billion won ($11 million) fine for its leakage of private information on at least 65,000 users of the anonymous open chat service on the KakaoTalk instant messenger app, according to company officials, Wednesday.

The IT firm claimed that the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) ignored its detailed explanation about the data leak.

A day earlier, the privacy watchdog decided to levy the largest fine ever imposed on a domestic firm for a data leak. The decision came after the commission launched an investigation in March last year, following news reports that user data from the open chat service was being illegally traded.

The PIPC said the vulnerability in the open chat service enabled cybercriminals to access users personal information by identifying their ad hoc IDs used for the anonymous chat service. The hackers are said to have sold the data via Telegram Messenger.

It was revealed that Kakao did not take the necessary protection measure of encrypting users ad hoc IDs, allowing hackers to identify the serial number assigned to each user, a PIPC official said.

Refuting the claims, Kakao said that it is impossible to identify each user with only a serial number and ad hoc ID.

Relevant laws do not compel the encryption of serial numbers, Kakao said in a statement.

The company emphasized that it has been using the masking technique to hide the ad hoc IDs since it launched the open chat service, regardless of the laws. It also said that it has encrypted anonymous chat rooms since August 2020.

The information that hackers used to figure out users personal information was not leaked from Kakao, the IT firm said. Hackers collected the information illegally, so Kakao is not liable for the leak.

Kakao added that it cooperated sincerely with the police investigation, after reporting the data leak to the Korea Internet & Security Agency and the Ministry of Science and ICT, despite the lack of its liability for the leak.

We are considering taking various legal actions, including an administrative litigation, Kakao said.
Higround, a leading provider of premium gaming peripherals collaborates with Minecraft, the beloved sandbox game, to unveil an exclusive collection celebrating gaming as an art form. The collaboration brings to life the art and creativity of Minecraft players, inviting gamers to explore and express themselves through a range of meticulously crafted peripherals.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240522106753/en/

The Higround x Minecraft collection features two Summit 2.0 65 keyboards. (Photo: Business Wire)

The Higround x Minecraft collaboration is a testament to the use of gaming as a creative medium and art form. The collection features a lineup of Basecamp 65, Summit 65, and Performance 65 keyboards, alongside matching mousepads and other accessories. Each product showcases iconic artwork from the blocky worlds of Minecraft, capturing the essence of its diverse landscapes, characters, and creatures.

From lush forests to deep mines, this collection invites gamers to bring to life the artistry they create within their individual worlds.

Most of society views video games as a juvenile pastime. Yet, we believe video games, especially ones like Minecraft, are an art form, says Creative Director and co-Founder of Higround, Rustin Sotoodeh. Minecraft's gameplay spawned a generation of creatives who, for the first time, were able to architect houses or design clothes at an early age. Our collaboration with Minecraft shows the world that side of gamesthe creative side.

The Higround x Minecraft collection will be available for purchase on May 29 at 12 PM PT, providing gamers with the opportunity to bring the iconic artwork of Minecraft into their gaming spaces. For more information and updates on the release, visit Higround.co.

ABOUT HIGROUND

Higround is a lifestyle and computer peripheral brand that seeks to embody elevated gaming culture. Founded by Rustin Sotoodeh and Kha Lu, Higround creates high-quality peripherals with unique designs that fuse fashion, gaming, and technology. Each capsule features a distinctive array of items known to sell out rapidly. The brand has garnered acclaim for collaborations with renowned brands such as Naruto, SEGA, and Brain Dead. In 2021, the brand was acquired by esports powerhouse 100 Thieves.

ABOUT MINECRAFT

Minecraft is the best-selling video game of all time with millions of players in every country and territory around the world including Antarctica and the Vatican City. At its core, Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures. The Minecraft franchise continues to reach new players through ongoing game updates, games like Minecraft Education, Minecraft Legends, and Minecraft Dungeons, a diverse line of consumer products, a growing library of in-game Marketplace content, books and an upcoming major motion picture.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240522106753/en/
In an era defined by intricate global supply chains and dynamic market landscapes, organisations face unprecedented challenges in optimising their operations. Recent disruptions have exposed vulnerabilities, highlighting the need for professionals equipped to navigate complexity, mitigate risks, and optimise end-to-end supply chain operations for sustained success. Recognising the need to equip professionals with methodologies, frameworks, and best SCM practices, the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC), one of the leading B-schools in India, ranked 4th by NIRF 2023, launched the 12th batch of Advanced Programme in Supply Chain Management in partnership with Emeritus, a global pioneer in offering accessible and affordable high-quality education to individuals and organisations.



This high-impact 12-month programme is meticulously curated for mid to senior-level professionals, seeking to elevate their expertise in the dynamic realm of Supply Chain Management. It is also tailored for seasoned professionals looking to navigate the intricacies of Chain Management or seeking innovative strategies to optimise various aspects such as purchasing, production, inventory control, and logistics. Additionally, professionals aspiring to broaden their career horizons within logistics or supply chain management, be it in service or manufacturing organisations, will find this programme beneficial in helping them unlock new opportunities and drive success.



According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) report titled Worldwide Small and Medium-Sized Business and Digital-Native Business 2023 Predictions  India Implications, by 2025 around 30% of Indian Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) will consider intelligence decision systems to promote R&D and supply chain management. It further predicts that logistics and supply chain managers are more focused on meeting demand rather than just managing supply and therefore it is an ideal time for professionals to enhance their skills for a promising career in supply chain management. Aimed at addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals in the field, this programme rightly equips participants with an integrated understanding of contemporary best practices in supply chain management and logistics and helps them with end-to-end supply chain visibility and continued success.

The IIM Calcutta Advanced Programme in Supply Chain Management, designed by renowned IIMC faculty, includes live online sessions delivered by top IIM Calcutta faculty as well as an 8-day in-campus immersion at the IIM Calcutta campus. It also includes a capstone project guided by IIM Calcutta Faculty, real-world case-studies, hands-on learning through business simulations on supply chain and an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning. The programme includes modules such as introducing supply chain management, supply chain strategy, inventory management, procurement and sourcing management, and ecommerce supply chain & fulfilment among others.

Cultivate advanced strategic thinking skills in supply chain management and logistics to effectively analyse and optimise intricate global supply networks

Attain proficiency in leveraging cutting-edge tools and technologies to enhance supply chain efficiency and supply chain transformation

Develop expertise in fostering supply chain agility and distribution, facilitating swift adaptation to evolving market dynamics and customer demands

Assess and refine supply chain performance metrics by harnessing data-driven insights to pinpoint areas for enhancement and drive continuous improvement throughout the supply chain

Design and implement collaborative supply chain and sourcing strategies to cultivate closer partnerships, promote information sharing, and optimise coordination



Commenting on the launch of the programme, Mohan Kannegal, CEO, India and APAC, Emeritus, said, Recent disruptions have underscored the critical need for agile and adaptable supply chain management practices. Through a focus on operational activities like procurement, logistics, and sales planning, this programme empowers participants to enhance end-to-end visibility and harness opportunities for continued growth. The Advanced Programme in Supply Chain Management (APSCM) by IIM Calcutta will equip professionals with the essential tools and strategies to successfully assume cross-functional roles, efficiently coordinate with suppliers and customers, and drive corporate success. We are thrilled to partner with esteemed institutions like IIM Calcutta to launch high-impact programmes that will help participants in their professional journeys.



The eligibility for this programme includes Graduates (10+2+3) and Diploma holders (10+2+3)/ Postgraduates from a recognised university (UGC/AICTE/DEC/AIU/State Government/recognised international universities) with a minimum of three years of work experience. This programme is set to begin on June 30, 2024, with a fee of INR 4,60,000 plus GST (Discount of INR 10,000 available until May 29, 2024).



Upon successful completion of the programme and maintaining a minimum attendance of 75 percent, participants will be awarded a certificate of completion from IIM Calcutta. They will also be eligible for prestigious IIM Calcutta executive education alumni status.
L&T Technology Services Limited

News Summary

L&T Technology Services (BSE: 540115, NSE: LTTS) announced the inauguration of the Simulation Centre of Excellence for Airbus, strategically located at the LTTS state-of-the-art campus in Bangalore. This Centre of Excellence is designed to bolster engineering support for Airbus aircraft structural simulation activities across its diverse business units in Europe spanning France, Germany, the UK, and Spain.
The internet is buzzing with curiosity: what's inside Shah Rukh Khan's tiffin box? Fans of King Khan and foodies alike are dying to know what keeps our beloved superstar excited throughout the day. It's time to uncover something just as intriguingIn a delightful turn of events, Bollywood actorshave unveiled a sneak peek into SRK's tiffin box in anTaaruk Raina https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7OHlVqp65B/?igsh=MWFqNHNzcGJndHZnaA== Adarsh Gourav- https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7OH5w2yE15/?igsh=cXFldWZtc2M1cjF4 The video has sparked interest, with other celebrities likejoining the conversation, raising the tantalizing question:The video, which features Shah Rukh Khan himself at the end, leaves viewers on the edge of their seats wondering what is in their beloved stars tiffin box. As soon as these videos hit social media, a wave of ecstatic reactions followed. Fans showered the posts with likes, comments, and shares, each trying to guess the contents of SRK's lunchbox.Fans are guessing, could it be a salad, a dessert, or perhaps a home-cooked favorite? Check out the video and join the funwhat do you think is in SRKs tiffin box?Featured on pages like:
Hyundai Motor, Toyota Motor Korea and three other carmakers will voluntarily recall more than 266,000 vehicles due to faulty components, the transport ministry said Thursday.

The five companies, including Kia, Renault Korea Motors and Volkswagen Group Korea, are recalling 266,074 units of 12 different models, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement.

The problems that prompted the recall include a faulty hydraulic electronic control unit in Hyundai's Genesis coupe, a faulty engine oil filter system in Kia's Carnival minivan, poor assembly of the passenger seat in the front row of Toyota's Lexus LS500h sedan and assembly problems involving the front seats in Volkswagen's ID.4 electric vehicle, the statement said.

Vehicle owners can check the government's homepage at www.car.go.kr or call 080-357-2500 to see if their vehicles are subject to the recall, the ministry said. (Yonhap)
Czech Republic wants cooperation with Korea in automotive, tourism sectors

By Park Jae-hyuk

Korea should enable Czech companies to enjoy benefits from its potential nuclear power plant construction project in the Czech Republic, not just offer a lower price to outbid France for the 30 trillion won ($22 billion) project, according to a senior government official from the Central European country.

Petr Tresnak, deputy minister of industry and trade of the Czech Republic, told The Korea Times that his government will also evaluate the bidders in terms of their partnerships with local companies, not only from an economic, safety and technical point of view.

There are other aspects which can be considered in the bidding process, such as Czech companies participation in the project and a bidders partnership with them in R&D and education, he said during an interview at the Czech Embassy in Seoul, Wednesday.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), a state-owned nuclear power plant operator that tendered for the project, has sought to boost ties with Czech companies and local communities, after the Czech government decided to pursue the construction of a new nuclear power plant in 2016.

Doosan Enerbility, one of the Korean partners of KHNP for the project, vowed to source components for new nuclear power plants from its Czech subsidiary and multiple other local equipment makers. It made the pledge during its Partnership Day event earlier this month, which was also attended by the deputy minister.

These efforts led some in the Czech media to expect KHNP to beat its competitor, EDF, a French government-owned electric utility company. The Korean government has also maintained an optimistic outlook, saying that Korea is the only nation that can build high-quality nuclear power plants on time and on budget.

Tresnak, who is also a nuclear engineer, acknowledged Korea as a country possessing know-how in the nuclear industry and Doosan as an important partner for his country and companies there.

However, he remained cautious about predicting the preferred bidder that will be announced on July 15.

It will be quite clear a month later, he said.

The deputy minister paid a five-day visit to Korea to attend the fifth meeting of the Czech-Korean joint committee on economic cooperation.

Emphasizing the importance of the two countries bilateral ties in the automotive industry, especially in the electric vehicle (EV) and battery sectors, he said that the automotive industrys transition to renewable energies is among the main topics of the meeting.

I also had a meeting with a Hyundai Motor representative last year, because Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Company Czech is an important employer in the region of North Moravia, he said. The automotive industry is important for us for decarbonizing and the transition to EVs.

In addition, he mentioned cooperation in the tourism industry, as he visited Korea for the first time last year as a member of the Czech deputy prime minister-led delegation to increase tourist flow between the two countries.

Introducing the Czech Republic as a popular tourist destination, Tresnak said that tourism is an important part of the economy.

The Czech trade ministry also plans to open CzechTrades Korean office this year to promote trade and mutually beneficial cooperation, just as the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agencys Prague office does.

I want to visit Korea once more for bilateral ties, Tresnak said.
Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 12:00AM

Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft is making a strong push into Arm-powered Windows PCs with the launch of Surface devices featuring the Snapdragon X Elite processor. This move naturally invites comparisons to Apple's successful transition from Intel to Arm-based designs in its Macs.

A key factor in Apple's success was Rosetta 2, a translation layer that allows users to run most Intel Mac apps on Apple Silicon machines with minimal effort. Windows 11 offers similar functionality, and with the upcoming 24H2 update, it gets a new name: Prism.

Microsoft claims Prism isn't just a rebranding. Translated apps should see a performance boost of 10-20% on the same Arm hardware after the 24H2 update. This translates to noticeable improvements for users of existing Arm-based Windows 11 machines, even without upgrading hardware. While Microsoft suggests Prism's performance will rival Rosetta's, it acknowledges hardware dependence.

The company also promises improved compatibility with x86 applications through Prism, though specifics remain under wraps. While emulated x86 apps provide a temporary solution, native Arm apps are crucial to fully utilize Arm chips. Fortunately, the trend is moving in that direction. Major players like Google Chrome, Dropbox, and Adobe (with upcoming Illustrator and Premiere Pro) are joining the growing list of native Arm apps, alongside existing offerings like Photoshop and Lightroom.

The push for Arm gains further momentum with most major PC manufacturers planning to release Arm-based devices in the coming months. This is partly driven by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chips, the only ones with NPUs powerful enough to support Windows 11's new on-device AI features. These "Copilot+ PCs" represent a renewed effort to make Windows on Arm a success after a history of stumbles.

Source
Samsung Electronics is expected hold the summer edition of its Galaxy Unpacked event next month in Paris, the host of the upcoming Olympic Games, industry sources said Thursday.

The event will take place on July 10, just about two weeks before the opening of the Paris Summer Olympics, with the foldable Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 smartphones and the wearable Galaxy Ring to be unveiled, according to the sources.

It is the second time that the world's biggest smartphone maker has released its new foldable products in July, following last year's Unpacked event in Seoul. Previously, the company held its biannual Unpacked events in January and August.

Moreover, Samsung Electronics, an official partner of the International Olympic Committee, has chosen Paris as the venue for its summer edition ahead of the quadrennial world sporting event in the French capital.

The new Galaxy Z series smartphones are expected to feature on-device AI, similar to the latest Galaxy S24 model, which was released in January.

The Galaxy Ring is a ring-type digital health care device, which was first showcased at this year's Mobile World Congress in Spain in February. (Yonhap)
USG Supramax/Ultramax shows stable market fundamentals

ICR Newsroom By 23 May 2024

By Brannvoll ApS, Denmark

The USG Supramax/Ultramax freight market started the month on a soft mode, but eventually made a positive turn, slowly but confidently. A tightening tonnage list for spot laycan dates was helping owners to insist on more favourable rates, especially on transatlantic routes. In the second half of May, the market has levelled as the tonnage supply remained largely unchanged WoW and the segment ended up being relatively balanced.

Freight rates for transportation of a Supramax-lot of petcoke from Houston to ARA ports with spot laycans are at US$20/t on average. Deals for delivery of 50,000t of petcoke from Houston to Iskenderun with spot laycans are discussed at around US$24/t on average. Shipping costs for delivery of a Supramax-lot of petcoke from USG to EC India are at US$49/t on average.

In the near future, Supramax/Ultramax rates are likely to hold steady in the northern part of the Atlantic basin as the balance between tonnage and cargo looks steady for the coming weeks. Nevertheless, the mid-term prospects of the USG market look fragile and the state of the current Supramax/Ultramax segment may prove unsustainable, considering the expected decline in demand for US corn in China.

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Beton Provincial acquires CRH Canada assets

Muriel Bal By 23 May 2024

Beton Provincial has concluded its deal with CRH Canada Group Inc, acquiring assets in Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador as well as the state of New York. As a result, Beton Provincial now operates one of the largest distribution networks in eastern North America.



The company now owns Ash Grove Cement's Joliette cement plant, six cement terminals (three in Newfoundland and Labrador, two in Greater Montreal and one in Solvay, New York), nine ready-mix concrete plants (including seven in Greater Montreal and two in the Quebec City region) as well as two quarries in Saint-Jacques-le-Mineur and Mirabel, Greater Montreal. Beton Provincial's cement activities will operated under the name of St Lawrence Cement/Ciment St Laurent, reviving a historically recognised brand in Quebec and eastern North America.



The transaction strengthens the vertical integration of the Canadian concrete and cement company's operations as well as enabling its to diversify its product range and improve control over its supply chain for the benefit of its customers. Furthermore, it is expected that the acquisition will bolster its ability to implement innovative projects in green concrete, and support its sustainable development targets.



This significant milestone highlights the journey undertaken by Beton Provincial since its foundation in Matane (Quebec) in 1960. We are very proud to see that a 100 per cent Canadian-owned company is now making its mark alongside the major multinational players in its industry. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the trust and continuous support of our partners, clients, and employees, who demonstrate our common commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainability, said Andre Belanger, president of Beton Provincial.

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High costs, unskilled labor blamed for rise

By Ko Dong-hwan

A sharp rise in defects in newly-built apartment complexes is attributed to the hiring of unskilled workers, deteriorating work conditions at construction sites, and soaring material costs, prompting the government to launch nationwide site inspections, according to experts and construction firms on Thursday.

Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT) said that unskilled workers, along with a tendency to rush construction work to meet project schedules, can pose critical threats.

If construction materials are supplied late because of their prices and disrupt a project's schedule, delayed supplies can cram into a late project phase and cause the workers to rush, which could lead to defects, a KICT official said. Cheaper materials can also fall short of meeting quality and performance standards. Besides, installing formwork and using ready-mixed-concrete can also go wrong if handled by unskilled hands.

Another expert from the Korea Construction Engineers Association pointed to students and migrant workers without proper construction training as reasons behind the housing defects.

Lee Hee-seok, a civil engineering expert who has been working at construction sites since 1979, noted that the current workforce includes college graduates who studied either architecture or civil engineering but lack knowledge in other fields. He described their skills as "half-complete," as architecture graduates lack construction engineering techniques, while civil engineering graduates lack construction design skills.

Lee also said that construction projects lacking sufficient funds from the countrys Public Procurement Service cannot offer workers satisfactory wages, diminishing their commitment to the job. He added that this environment is discouraging more people from working on construction sites, resulting in 70 percent of construction sites nationwide struggling to meet deadlines due to worker shortages.

Sixty percent of field workers are now temporarily hired hands. The only people concerned about project quality are foremen dispatched by construction firms, Lee said. The workforce is now also fraught with unskilled foreign workers with language barriers. Foreign and seasonal workers without enough experience are now filling the void left by skilled workers who have retired. These problems arent limited to the countrys top 10 construction firms but rather evident across the entire industry.

Recently, reports of defects in newly built apartment buildings have sharply increased, prompting the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport to initiate a nationwide inspection into 20 apartment complexes constructed by companies that have received the highest number of defect reports in the past five years.

The ministry, together with Korea Authority of Land & Infrastructure Safety and municipal administrations, began the inspection Wednesday, which will continue through May 30. In cases where authorities discover signs of serious defects that violate the countrys Construction Technology Promotion Act, they will impose temporary business suspensions or penalty points.

Construction companies attribute the problem to a workforce with declining expertise, rising wages, and a loss of popularity among young Korean workers in the industry.

Samsung C&T said both the quality and quantity of domestic workers are declining, with migrant workers, often lacking proficiency and facing communication difficulties, increasingly replacing them. An official from the company also singled out the rise in construction material prices, prompting companies to opt for cheaper materials, thereby jeopardizing building quality and the safety of workers.

Lotte Engineering & Construction said that insufficient project funds are incentivizing companies to hire more low-paid, unskilled workers. Additionally, they noted that aging local Korean experts are retiring without younger workers to succeed them.

The country must introduce new policies to secure young talent, a Lotte official said. And construction workers unions should support the inclusion of foreign workers.
By Nam Hyun-woo

President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged unwavering commitment to aiding and bolstering small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups as they venture into markets overseas, during an event organized to encourage businesspeople.

The prosperity of SMEs is essential for generating more quality jobs and enhancing public welfare, Yoon said during the event, attended by over 500 business leaders, entrepreneurs, and representatives from 12 countries.

The government will step up efforts to revamp regulations and create a more business-friendly environment. I will double diplomatic efforts to ensure the global market can be your playing field and the 8 billion global citizens can be your customers, he said.

Yoon has been holding the event for three consecutive years to celebrate the countrys SME week, which is stipulated in the Framework Act on SMEs.

This years event was held under the theme of globalization of SMEs, to assist their bids to enter markets overseas. Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, POSCO Group Chairman Chang In-hwa and other conglomerate heads attended the event and spoke with SME leaders.

Yoon recalled that assisting Korean companies businesses in foreign markets was among the most rewarding aspects of his overseas visits. He highlighted a particularly memorable moment when a Korean SME which manufactures gun parts secured a $1 billion contract with a state-run company in the United Arab Emirates.

"When I travel abroad, I can sense the high level of interest in our SMEs' ideas and technology," Yoon said. "However, many companies, despite having excellent products, struggle to find export channels or need significant help to enter global markets. The government and I will spare no efforts in supporting SMEs and startups."

The presidential office said Yoon has diligently worked to support Korean SMEs' business endeavors during his official state visits. The government has also been actively providing administrative assistance in this regard.

In August last year, Yoon revealed the governments support plan to let Korean companies receive government support when establishing offices abroad or converting into overseas entities. This initiative was subsequently incorporated into law through a revision in February.

To ensure alignment between government efforts and overseas markets, the presidential office extended invitations to ambassadors from 12 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the Netherlands, and Vietnam to the event, in order to provide chances for business leaders to build networks with envoys of markets they are targeting.
A Catoosa County man has been sentenced to serve 100 years in prison for child molestation and pornography.

Brandon Bennet, 39, was sentenced by Judge Brian House after his conviction by a Catoosa County jury.

He was found guilty of 15 counts of child sex offenses after an earlier two-day trial before Judge House.

Bennet was convicted of two counts of aggravated child molestation, one count of incest, three counts of child molestation, six counts of sexual exploitation of children, two counts of computer pornography, and one count of invasion of privacy after less than 15 minutes of deliberations by the jury.

Evidence presented at trial showed that Bennet moved to Catoosa County in 2021 at the request of his sister, who was suffering from terminal cancer.

In February 2022, a child confided to a family friend that Bennet had molested him while he was sleeping and repeatedly solicited sexual acts from the child. Further, Bennet had been soliciting sex from some of the childs friends.

Following an investigation by the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department, Bennet and the child victims cell phones were seized and examined with the assistance of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. Located on the childs phone were text messages sent from Bennet bragging about the sexual abuse he had already done to the child as well as soliciting additional sexual acts from the child. Some of these messages included Bennet attempting to blackmail the child with food and privileges in exchange for sex.

On Bennets phone, law enforcement located several videos of Bennet molesting the child and filming the child while he was in the bathroom. Additionally, a plethora of other child pornography was located on Bennets phone, some of which featuring infants being molested by adults.

At the trial, all of the electronic evidence was presented to the jury as well as the testimonies of several witnesses including the child and one of the childs friends whom Bennet was soliciting for sex but never molested.

The case was presented to the jury by Assistant District Attorney David Wolfe, who spent nearly two years preparing the case for trial with the assistance of Victim Advocate Ashely Nicholson who spent countless hours communicating with the victims and their families as well as coordinating all of the witnesses in the case.

Former Fort Oglethorpe PD Detective Tammy Davis was the lead investigator in the case and testified along with other members of local and state law enforcement as well as Holly Kittle, senior forensic interviewer from the Childrens Advocacy Center in Fort Oglethorpe.

The jury found Bennet guilty of all 15 counts. Immediately after the verdict, Judge House sentenced Bennet to life with the first 100 years to be served in prison.
The Eastern District of Tennessee will hold a Naturalization ceremony on Wednesday, May 29, atthe Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium at 399 McCallie Ave. in Chattanooga.The ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Chief United States District Judge Travis R. McDonough will preside over the ceremony.Approximately 420 applicants are expected to take the Oath of Allegiance to become American citizens during the ceremony.
The city of Red Bank has passed the proposed fiscal year 2025 budget on the first of two readings, with no property tax increase. The rate will remain at $1.67 per every $100 of the assessed value of a property. Despite a large increase in property taxes in 2024, the city is still behind, and that concerns Commissioner Jamie Fairbanks Harvey, who was the only vote in opposition to passing the proposed budget.

The city has seven individual funds, and the General Fund is what property taxes support. And this fund supports the citys operations, such as the court, the commission, finance and administration, community development, fire, police and public works. Capital projects, with high costs, such as large, costly equipment and TDOT road projects, are also in the general fund. The general fund budget is clouded by the inclusion of capital projects, which City Manager Martin Granum said creates the valleys. He said that operations expenses in the city are stable and said that the large costs associated with multiple TDOT projects and expensive equipment has created an almost $1 million deficit. But he said that money has not actually been spent yet, which will come, as the projects move forward. Having those large expenses that are not yet used in the general fund balance makes it cloudy, he said. That is the reason Mr. Granum is recommending to establish a separate Capital Projects plan and stand-alone budget.To fund the large investment of six police cruisers this year, the city will need to borrow the money.

For projects funded by TDOT, the state will pay 80 percent of the cost and the city is responsible for 20 percent of that total. Money from TDOT for the projects are paid to the city on a reimbursement basis. So the city has to pay TDOTs share of 80 percent upfront. Ultimately it will be paid back, but when that will be is unknown. Red Bank is able to do these projects because it has the healthy amount of over $7 million in its fund balance, said the city manager.

The numbers that are included in the 2024 budget for the large equipment purchases such as firetrucks and property and big TDOT capital projects are not what has actually been spent, because only preliminary work has been done so far, said Public Works Director Greg Tate. Those are the projected costs, he said. The amount actually spent in 2024 has been $121,000 while the budget shows a deficit of $900,000, he said. City Manager Granum also said that the numbers in the most current version of the budget dated May 16, 2024 are not final and he expects to see a larger deficit when they are. The second and final vote for the 2025 budget will be at the commission meeting on June 4.

The Joe Glasscock Community Center will be getting a new unisex outdoor restroom that will be open even when the community center is closed. It will be built at the far edge of the playground and will be climate controlled, have ADA options and changing tables for children and adults. The cost for the 12x10 building will be $155,962. Public Works Director Tate said that seems expensive, but the prices continue to go up. The first estimate the city receive was $96,000 a year ago. That work was approved by the commissioners for the amount of $62,496, and using a pre-fab building was even more expensive.

A connecting sidewalk and a pedestrian crosswalk in the vicinity of 701 East Midvale Ave. will be built to connect the existing sidewalk at White Oak Park to the Stringers Ridge Connector Trail entrance.

Another $29,572 was approved to pay EPB for repairs to lighting on Highway 27 that is located in the city limits, specifically where Signal Mountain Road and Red Bak Road intersect the highway. The city is responsible for maintaining street lighting.

Another expenditure that was approved is for an agreement with First Arriving for supplemental information to the fire departments. There will be an initial cost of $2,348, with an annual recurring cost of $1,598. This service provides digital signs for both fire stations that will display messages and information such as the staffing on duty, reminders, weather information and the location of incoming calls.

On the first reading, a wooded lot at 309 Morrison Springs Road was rezoned from R-1A Residential to C-2 Commercial. It is across Morrison Springs from Lamar Avenue. Opposition to the change to a commercial zone came from a citizen who said the intersection of Morrison Springs Road and Lamar Ave. is already too busy and dangerous. The owners plan to build a liquor store there which will be moving from the old Dollar General Plaza. Most of the commissioners agreed and plan to have a traffic study done for calming the traffic along Morrison Springs. But the rezoning was approved nevertheless with only Commissioner Harvey voting in opposition.

Announcements include that the first Red Bank community movie will be on Friday, May 24, and the pool will open on that same day. The small area study for the property on Morrison Springs Road, where the former middle school was, is still on the citys website. The deadline to participate in the survey is May 31. The Trust for Public Land will hold a series of work sessions at White Oak Park to pant trees, and build benches on June 1, 8 and 15.

The next commission meeting will be on Tuesday, June 4, when the second and final reading will be held on the budget..
In just under fifty days, Christy Howard, a Chattanooga woman who suffers with epilepsy, will begin her trek up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness surrounding the disease and those who suffer from its effects. Epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation, is a brain disorder that causes recurring, unprovoked seizures. Ms. Howard and her team of 12 will depart from Atlanta on July 10 and begin the journey up Africas tallest mountain on July 13. The trip is planned over eight days to regulate as she ascends, as seizures can increase with higher altitudes.

Ms. Howard, who has been training relentlessly and feels both nervous and excited, is determined to get to the summit. Her husband, James, while also eager and resolute, is more concerned about his wifes health and all that could go wrong. A meeting with Ms. Howards neurologist is scheduled for this weekend, which the team nurse, also making the climb, will attend.

Ms. Howard, diagnosed with epilepsy when she was 16 years old, has suffered with the disease for over 34 years. People ask me about my epilepsy all the time. Its tough, Im not going to lie, but you find ways to keep moving forward, she says. Thats the way she lives her life  always moving forward. When she told her neurologist she wanted to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, he responded with: Live your life.

Ms. Howard has had about two seizures per week lately, which she says is very good. While speaking about reaching the top: If I dont summit, I personally will be very, very frustrated  but I will know that I didnt let epilepsy stop me from trying, from getting to the starting line.

Ms. Howard and her team began training in September and her family, husband James and their two daughters, will be taking the trek with her. Sure, theres fear. Having a seizure up there  its scary. But not trying? Thats worse, she says. Everyone has something. I want to encourage people not to hide  that they are not alone in whatever it is that they face. Dont let your problems or challenges hold you back from doing what you want. Live your life.

Ms. Howard and her team continue to train until they depart for Mount Kilimanjaro in July, and are producing a documentary that will chronicle her journey.

You can also follow her journey on Facebook or Instagram under Christys Climb.

To sponsor the team or send messages of support, contact the group for more information.
This is the next in the line of several articles to follow that relate to the 99th and 100th anniversaries of the famous July 1925 Scopes evolution trial in Dayton, Tennessee, to be held in 2024-2025.

The member of the Tennessee General Assembly who is introduced the Tennessee Anti-evolution act that prohibited the teaching of any theory of creation in the public school system of the state other than its account in the book of Genesis in the Bible was John Washington Butler (1875-1952).

House Bill No. 1851

(by Mr. Butler)

AN ACT prohibiting the teaching of the Evolution Theory in all the Universities, Normals and all other public schools of Tennessee, which are supported in whole or in part by the public school funds of the State, and to provide penalties for the violations thereof.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, that it shall be unlawful for any teacher in any of the Universitis (sic), Normals and all other public schools of the State which are supported in whole or in part by the public school funds of the State, to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.

SECTION 2. Be it further enacted, that any teacher found guilty of the violation of this Act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, shall be fined not less than One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars nor more than Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars for each.offense.

SECTION 3. Be it further enacted, that this act take effect from and after its passage, the public welfare demanding it.

Passed March 13, 1925

WF Barry,

Speaker of the House of Representatives

LD Hill

Speaker of the Senate

Austin Peay

Governor

Butler served in the state legislature for four years representing Macon, Sumner, and Trousdale counties.

He was a member of a prominent farming family and a leader in his community. Butler had been elected on campaign promises to represent farming interests and to also work for economy in the Tennessee government.

The national controversy over the evolution issue had become a hot topic in several other states across America.

The recently created American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was allegedly eager to become involved in another liberal cause.

Butler had been appointed to a committee in the House of Representatives that had supervision over public schools run by the state and in that capacity discovered some schools were using textbooks that taught a non biblical version of evolution (Darwinism)

As a Primitive Baptist in the South, his conservative beliefs dictated that teaching such theory would destroy belief in the Bible and adversely undercut the moral system upon which democracy depended.

In Six Days or Forever: Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes (1958- Oxford University Press) author Ray Ginger quoted representative Butler:

In the first place, the Bible is the foundation upon which our American government is builtThe evolutionist who denies the biblical story of creation, as well as other biblical accounts, cannot be a Christian It goes hand in hand with modernism, makes Jesus Christ a faker, robs the Christian of his hope, and undermines the foundation of our government.

This book is one of many that addresses the historical legislation and trial of 1925.

Butler was a supporter of three time presidential candidate, William Jennings Bryan, who would join the prosecution team to defend the constitutionality of the statute.

Butler would attend the trial of Scopes and would allegedly escape much of the ridicule by some news media reporters that were directed towards some of the fundamentalist defenders of the law question. However, he was also a press commentator during the trial.

(On Jan. 27, and Feb. 3, 2024 a two part series on the trial was presented by University of Maryland Professor Michael Ross on C Span 2 which presents his interpretation of the Butler Act and the Scopes Trial.)

* * *If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com
A partnership between Georgia Northwestern Technical College and Floyd County Prison offers offenders a path to employment as Class B commercial truck drivers after their release.GNTC and Floyd County Prison recently held a graduation ceremony that celebrated the first cohort of Class B CDL graduates, offenders that earned their GED diploma and the newest cohort of offenders that earned a certificate of completion in Shielded Metal Arc and Flux Core Welding.Four offenders from the Floyd County Prison participated in the Class B CDL programs first cohort and graduated on May 3; classes are taught at GNTCs Polk County Campus in Rockmart.The curriculum is the same as that for all other students seeking a Class B commercial drivers license (CDL), and graduates received a certificate of completion upon successful completion of the course.The program is important because it offers an opportunity for the future for the offenders, said Judy Roddenberry, instructor of Commercial Truck Driving at GNTC. With a steady income and proper support, we hope that this makes a positive impact on each students future.Six offenders recently completed a welding class at GNTCs Mobile Welding Lab at the prison and received their certificates of completion at the May 3 graduation ceremony. Also recognized during the ceremony were nine offenders who completed requirements to receive a GED diploma.Officials said, "GNTC has partnered in the past with the prison to host programs to help prepare offenders for life after their release, including providing courses for welding, GED diplomas and basic business skills, such as computer usage."These partnerships dovetail with Governor Brian Kemps efforts to help offenders to reintegrate into society more successfully after their release from prison. Governor Kemp signed Senate Bill 218 last year to make it easier for former offenders without drivers licenses to obtain identification cards, as well as proof of training and programs they completed while incarcerated, including GED diplomas and other educational degrees."To participate in the program, each offender has to complete online theory training for Class B CDL, as well as pre-trip, backing and driving training. Each offender has obtained a Class B CDL license, Ms. Roddenberry said. Training includes driving in traffic and practicing turning at intersections.Ms. Roddenberry is excited about the opportunity to partner with Floyd County Corrections on the Class B CDL program and looks forward to more opportunities to do so in the future. GNTC will also help participants with job placement after completing the program if needed, Ms. Roddenberry said.Barry Tweedy, CDL instructor at GNTC, also taught the CDL class for the offenders.This program builds on an existing partnership between GNTC and the prison for offenders who seek careers in Welding and Joining Technology.More than 200 offenders applied to participate in this class, while capacity was limited by the six booths in the Mobile Welding Lab, said Angela Berch, vice president of Economic Development at GNTC.I cant tell you how much positive feedback I heard from Judy Roddenberry, who worked with the Class B CDL students, and Scott Edison, who worked with the welding students, Ms. Berch said, adding that receiving the certificates proves their instruction by two industry professionals has set them up for success.Education opens doors and will positively impact these individuals as they return to Georgias workforce, said Lisa Shaw, vice president of Adult Education at GNTC.Ms. Berch praised Warden Michael Long and his staff for their help in getting the program going so easily and efficiently. She said GNTC is seeking future funding to continue the programs at the prison and characterized the working relationship as a win, win, win partnership.GNTCs partnership with the prison began in 2020. GNTC received authorization from the Technical College System of Georgia to borrow one of its Mobile Welding Labs with classes starting in June 2020. Four months later, a dozen offenders received a certificate of completion in shield metal arc and flux core welding from GNTC.In 2023, GNTC utilized grant funds to purchase its own Mobile Welding Lab and Advanced Manufacturing Training Lab. The labs are fully self-contained, can be set up anywhere as needed and can be used for continuing education training and corporate training.TCSG lists Commercial Truck Driving and Welding and Joining Technology as two of Georgias high demand career fields, meaning there is a shortage of qualified candidates to fill current or anticipated vacancies in specific career fields.Ms. Shaw thanked the partners who support GNTCs Adult Education program, including Floyd County Prison officials and staff, TCSG Office of Adult Education and Truist Bank. In addition to offering GED classes, Adult Education partners with GNTCs Office of Economic Development and Truist Bank to offer programs, like CDL and welding programs, to help the graduates as they move into Georgias workforce.The funding for this cohort of both Class B CDL and welding was funded through a grant from Truist Bank.I know that you had to overcome obstacles to be here today, Ms. Shaw said. You all have one thing in common. You set a goal, you stuck to your plan and you achieved it.Ms. Shaw shared inspirational words from author Jon Gordon, encouraging the graduates to believe in themselves and to keep showing up and doing the work regardless of whether other people praise, criticize or do not notice their work.
In the last fiscal year (ending March 31, 2024), sales at DELO significantly increased. The manufacturer of high-tech adhesives and other multifunctional materials recorded sales revenue of 229 million. This is an increase of twelve percent compared to the previous year. South Korea and Mexico were among the most dynamic markets.

Overall, around half of sales were generated in Asia. The other half is divided between Europe and North America. As in previous years, the semiconductor, automotive, and consumer electronics industries proved to be the most important pillars. Investment in research and development amounted to 15 percent of revenues, which is around three times the industry average.

After a few challenging years due to COVID-19, strapped supply chains and the war in Ukraine, all of which prompted constant rescheduling of logistics processes, this past fiscal year could be characterized as more routine, says Dr. Wolf Herold, Managing Partner of DELO. Nevertheless, there was great uncertainty among our customers as a result of a more cautious global market, making our twelve percent increase all the more remarkable.

The company recently successfully acquired land on which to build an additional production facility in Malaysia. The new site is located near Kuala Lumpur. Major investments are also being made at headquarters in Windach, Germany. Construction work is underway for a fully automated 6,000 m warehouse. Plans are also ongoing for the construction of an auditorium and an additional laboratory building.

In April, a 4,000-panel photovoltaic system was installed. With a peak output of 1.7 megawatts, DELO is now able to cover around 30 percent of its annual electricity requirements with self-generated green electricity. This is roughly equivalent to the annual electricity requirements of 400 households.
Around 591 million years ago, Earths magnetic field almost collapsed. The near-disaster may have contributed to the evolution of larger and more diversified life forms, according to a new study published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment.

Our planets magnetic field helps protect us from radiation, solar winds, and extreme temperature changes.

The study found that the Earths magnetic field experienced a phase of drastic weakening that lasted for 26 million years. It occurred during the Ediacaran period.

At that time, a large amount of oxygen was present in the Earths atmosphere and oceans, allowing for the first plants and animals to emerge from the sea.

Back then, sea creatures were just disc-like forms, fronds, and fansnothing much like the organisms we see today.

Scientists believe that the weak magnetic field let a lot of solar radiation through, which removed much of the hydrogen and other light gases from the atmosphere. As a result, there were plenty of oxygen atoms left behind for organisms to use.

A team of researchers analyzed rocks containing crystals that cooled over a period of thousands of years. The rocks show evidence of the strength of the magnetic field at different times of the Earths development.

From southern Brazil, a rock revealed that 591 million years ago, the magnetic field was 30 times weaker than it is today.

However, in South Africa, a two-billion-year-old rock suggested that the magnetic field was just as strong as it is now.

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Ecological conservation efforts yield fruitful outcomes in Qinghai, China

11:15, May 23, 2024 By Jia Fengfeng ( People's Daily

In the Longbao National Nature Reserve, located in Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture of northwest China's Qinghai province, Caicai and his fellow wetland rangers rose early to begin their daily patrol.

"This is China's first nature reserve dedicated to protecting black-necked cranes and their breeding base. In the recent couple of days, many birds have migrated here, preparing to mate. We must make sure this place is well protected," Caicai said. His gaze softened with a special gentleness as he observed a few black-necked cranes gliding over the distance meadows through a pair of binoculars.

Tourists visit the Chaka Salt Lake in Ulan county of Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan autonomous prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Yi)

"In recent years, more and more wild animals have settled in our reserve as the ecology here continues to thrive. We are incredibly proud of this," Caicai told People's Daily.

In recent years, the Longbao National Nature Reserve has seen a steady increase in its wildlife population, thanks to the development of information-sharing platforms, partnerships with professional research monitoring teams, regular biodiversity monitoring surveys, educational activities on natural science, and creation of volunteer lake patrol teams, among others.

In particular, the number of birds spotted in the reserve has been on the rise year by year. Today, the reserve is home to 144 bird species from 39 families and 19 orders. More than 1.3 percent of black-necked cranes in the world live in the reserve, and the number of bar-headed geese there accounts for over 9.4 percent of the world's total.

This is only a miniature of how Qinghai province treasures and protects the eco-environment.

Located at the junction of the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, Qinghai province is hailed as China's "water tower," holding special significance in ecological conservation.

In recent years, Qinghai province has made notable strides in advancing ecological protection and high-quality development on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

For instance, the water conservation capacity has continued to improve in the Sanjiangyuan region, which serves as the headwaters of China's three major rivers, namely the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers.

Blue sheep forage on a peak of the Qilian Mountains, northwest China's Qinghai province, after a snow, on March 2, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Jiang Aiping)

The decrease in desertified and sandy areas in Qinghai has led to an expansion of grassland, with grass yields increasing year by year. The populations of wild animals and plants are also thriving.

The proportion of days with good air quality in the province exceeds 95 percent. All major rivers and lakes meet water quality standards for their designated uses. Remarkably, Qinghai ranks first in China in terms of total wetland area.

A robust nature reserve system centered on national parks is taking shape rapidly across Qinghai province, fortifying an ever-stronger ecological security shield.

The impressive environmental achievements would not have been possible without science-based restoration efforts.

In 2023, Qinghai conducted desertification control on 97,000 hectares of land, exceeding the annual target by 18 percent. Thanks to the collective efforts of province-wide voluntary tree planting initiatives, over 18 million new trees were planted, involving 3 million participants.

Moreover, Qinghai has further strengthened its support system for land greening by establishing an ecological and environmental monitoring network from sky to ground.

At the goji berry fields of Zongjia township, Dulan county, Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Qinghai province, major grower Ding Ling has been guiding local workers to take care of the goji seedlings during the past few days.

"The market has been very good in recent years. Thanks to Qinghai's exceptional ecological reputation, buyers speak highly of our goji berries. Our minimum income can reach 5,000 yuan ($690.95) per mu (about 667 square meters)," Ding told People's Daily.

Photo shows solar modules at a photovoltaic power industrial park in Golmud city, northwest China's Qinghai province. (People's Daily Online/Luo Xianyang)

In 2023, 27,600 hectares of goji berries were planted in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan autonomous prefecture. A total of 91,300 tons of dried fruit were produced therefrom, accounting for nearly 20 percent of China's overall production. The production of dried fruit generated an output value of 3.32 billion yuan, representing 42.3 percent of the prefecture's total agricultural and pastoral output value. The total value of the entire industrial chain amounted to 12 billion yuan.

The booming goji berry industry in Qinghai is backed by flourishing eco-friendly approaches. Additionally, a number of key projects highlight the province's commitment to green development: the operation of the Maerdang Hydropower Station, the completion of the Yangqu dam, the construction of the world's largest liquid air energy storage demonstration project in Golmud city, and the operation of the Lijiaxia Hydropower Station, among others.

Qinghai is consistently striving for green and sustainable development. By the end of last year, the province secured a leading position in China for its clean and new energy capacity and non-hydro renewable energy consumption, with the total installed clean energy capacity reaching 51.07 million kilowatts. Lithium-ion battery production in the province accounts for 10 percent of the country's total. Besides, the monitored area of organic grasslands has surpassed 150 million mu (10 million hectares).

Today, Qinghai's development is featured by its lucid waters and lush mountains, with the thriving ecosystem emerging as the most inclusive public good for the residents.

In 2023, 76 percent of Qinghai's fiscal expenditure went to livelihood projects. The growth in per capita disposable personal income of all residents outpaced the overall economic growth of the province. Farmers and herdsmen saw income growth surpassing China's national average, and the urban-rural income gap continued to narrow.

Across Qinghai province, from valleys to grasslands, from snow-capped highlands to desert towns, ecological conservation and livelihood improvement are mutually reinforcing.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Norway, Ireland and Spain said Wednesday they would recognize a Palestinian state, a historic but largely symbolic move that further deepens Israels isolation more than seven months into its grinding war against Hamas in Gaza . Israel denounced the decisions and recalled its ambassadors to the three countries.

Palestinian officials welcomed the announcements as an affirmation of their decades-long quest for statehood in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip  territories Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war and still controls.

While some 140 countries  more than two-thirds of the United Nations  recognize a Palestinian state, Wednesdays cascade of announcements could build momentum at a time when even close allies of Israel have piled on criticism for its conduct in Gaza.

The timing of the move was a surprise, but discussions have been underway for weeks in some European Union countries about possibly recognizing a Palestinian state. Proponents have argued that the war has shown the need for a new push toward a two-state solution, 15 years after negotiations collapsed between Israel and the Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government opposes Palestinian statehood.

It was the second blow to Israels international reputation this week after the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said he would seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his defense minister. The International Court of Justice is also considering allegations of genocide that Israel has strenuously denied .

In addition to recalling the ambassadors to the three countries, Israel summoned their envoys, accusing the Europeans of rewarding the militant Hamas group for its Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war. Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the European ambassadors would watch grisly video footage of the attack .

In that assault, Hamas-led militants stormed across the border, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostage. The ICC prosecutor is also seeking arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders. Israels ensuing offensive has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, and has caused a humanitarian crisis and a near-famine. The ICC prosecutor has accused Israeli leaders of using starvation as a weapon.

History will remember that Spain, Norway, and Ireland decided to award a gold medal to Hamas murderers and rapists, Katz said.

In response to the announcements in Europe, Israels far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir paid a provocative visit Wednesday to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound  a flashpoint in Jerusalem that is sacred to Muslims and Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount.

We will not even allow a statement about a Palestinian state, he said.

In further retaliation, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he would stop tra

nsferring tax revenue earmarked for the Palestinian Authority, a move that threatens to handicap its already waning ability to pay salaries to thousands of employees.

Under interim peace accords in the 1990s, Israel collects tax revenue on behalf of the Palestinians, and it has used the money as a tool to pressure the PA. After the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, Smotrich froze the transfers, but Israel agreed to send the money to Norway, which transferred it to the PA. Smotrich said Wednesday that he was ending that arrangement.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the cutoff was wrong because it destabilizes the West Bank and undermines the search for security and prosperity for the Palestinian people.

The international community has viewed the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel as the only realistic way to resolve the conflict.

The United States and Britain, among others, back the idea of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel but say it should come as part of a negotiated settlement. Netanyahus government says the conflict can only be resolved through direct negotiations.

The formal recognition by Norway, Spain and Ireland  which all have a record of friendly ties with both the Israelis and the Palestinians, while long advocating for a Palestinian state  is planned for May 28.

Their announcements came in swift succession. Norway, which helped broker the Oslo accords that kicked off the peace process in the 1990s, was the first. There cannot be peace in the Middle East if there is no recognition, said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre.

The country plans to upgrade its representative office in the West Bank to an embassy.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris called it a historic and important day for Ireland and for Palestine, saying the announcements had been coordinated and other countries might join.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who announced his countrys decision before parliament, has spent months touring European and Middle Eastern countries to garner support for recognition and a cease-fire in Gaza.

This recognition is not against anyone, it is not against the Israeli people, Sanchez said. It is an act in favor of peace, justice and moral consistency.

President Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority , which administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, welcomed the decisions and called on other nations to recognize our legitimate rights and support the struggle of our people for liberation and independence.

Hamas, which Western countries and Israel view as a terrorist group, does not recognize Israels existence but has indicated it might agree to a state on the 1967 lines , at least on an interim basis. Israel says any Palestinian state would be at risk of being taken over by Hamas, posing a threat to its security.

The announcements are unlikely to have any impact on the war in Gaza  or the long-running conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Israel annexed east Jerusalem and considers it part of its capital, and in the occupied West Bank it has built scores of Jewish settlements that are now home to over 500,000 Israelis. The settlers have Israeli citizenship, while the 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank live under seemingly open-ended Israeli military rule.

Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain security control of Gaza even after any defeat of Hamas, and the war is still raging there. An Israeli airstrike early Wednesday killed 10 people, including four women and four children, who had been displaced and were sheltering in central Gaza, according to hospital authorities.

Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said recognition is a tangible step towards a viable political track leading to Palestinian self-determination.

To have an impact, he said, it must come with tangible steps to counter Israels annexation and settlement of Palestinian territory  such as banning settlement products and financial services.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide defended the importance of the move in an interview with The Associated Press, saying that while the country has supported the establishment of a Palestinian state for decades, it knew that recognition is a card that you can play once.

We used to think that recognition would come at the end of a process, he said. Now we have realized that recognition should come as an impetus, as a strengthening of a process. (AP)
The Netflix adaptation of an acclaimed Chinese sci-fi series is anxious about time. Christians dont have to be.

Courtesy of Netflix  2024

Time is running out in Netflixs 3 Body Problem.

An alien race, the San-Ti, announces that they will arrive on Earth in 400 years. Before they get here, they intend to kill science, preventing humanity from developing the technology to wipe them out.

This otherworldly threat precipitates most of the action in the eight-episode TV series, adapted from Chinese author Liu Cixins popular book trilogy, Remembrance of Earths Past . The show focuses on a group of Oxford scientists who try valiantly to thwart the San-Tis devious plan. That includes theoretical physicist Jin Cheng (Jess Hong), who comes up with an outlandish scheme to intercept the San-Ti fleet using the principles of nuclear thermal propulsion.

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The characters in 3 Body Problem are desperate to save themselves from impending doom through intellectual innovation and technological prowess. Their frantic race to save humanity brings a common question to the fore: What are we doing with the time we have left?

Our relationship with time is fraught. Time imposes demands and restrictions. Every day, there are deadlines to meet, deals to acquire, and dinners to cook. There isnt enough time to pursue hobbies or dreams.

Compounding these pressures is our cultures obsession with turning back the clock. Creams and serums tout the erasure of wrinkles and age spots in three to six months. Researchers study ways to extend our life span; some are even striving to reduce ones biological age.

As we seek to slow time down, we bemoan the speed at which it passes. Vacations feel far too short. Children grow up too fast. Our loved ones pass away sooner than we expect. We turn to slow living in the hopes of curbing our impulse toward productivity and self-optimization. But this initiative, with its emphasis on aesthetic morning routines and meandering strolls, may be overly idealistic, privileging those who can afford to cut back on work responsibilities and adopt a more leisurely lifestyle.

In 3 Body Problem, times scarcity makes characters intrepid and ambitious; they get their priorities straight. How will you be remembered? Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Chao), the Chinese astrophysicist who invites the San-Ti to invade earth because she thinks humanity cant save itself, asks Jin. As someone who fought back, Jin replies. Meanwhile, scientist Auggie Salazar (Eiza Gonzalez) decides to release her nanofiber technology to the world because it can make life better for the people who need it most.  It should belong to everybody.

But living with the threat of impending doom isnt sustainable. Seeing time as a scarce resource makes us desperate; minutes and hours slip through our fingers. Even the best moments of love and connection are fleeting.

This anxiety-inducing perception of time as finite isnt the only problem. How we understand the status of human beings can also cause us to think about time wrongly. At first, the San-Ti are curious about our kind. But eventually, they become contemptuous, blasting their judgment onto digital devices and billboards around the world: You are bugs.

If bugs are all we are, then theres no hope for the time we have left. However brave, clever, or loving, were ultimately left defeated, bereft of any sort of agency. They are coming, Ye declares. No matter what, the aliens will arrive to destroy the world.

In 3 Body Problem, time means everything and nothing to a people that arent worth saving. In this eschatology of annihilation, theres no possibility for change, for goodness to win over evil. Everyones simply muddling through, making do with what they have, and waiting for death.

For a people with hope, however, time is not limited but abundant, overflowing into all of eternity. Time is not inconsequential but sacred, moving toward the coming of Jesus. Time is not meaningless but meaningful.

An eschatology of redemption, which defines life for the Christian, invites us to carefully consider the passage of time. We can be transformed into Christlikeness even as we are like a mist that appears for a little while and vanishes (James 4:14). Our days are numbered but significant.

While some of the characters in 3 Body Problem respond to their limited time with ambition or experiments, others choose relationship. Will Downing (Alex Sharp), a physics teacher, has recently learned that he has only months to live, even aside from the aliens. (He has stage IV pancreatic cancer.) As part of physicist Jins project, he agrees to send his cryogenically frozen brain into outer space, hoping that the aliens will rebuild him. Will doesnt make this sacrifice to save humankind. He makes it because he secretly loves Jin.

Im not condoning Wills decision to end his life (on earth, at least; in this sci-fi universe, he lives on in space as a floating brain). But his choice to give himself up for Jin demonstrates that love is the highest use of our limited days.

Love doesnt make time stop or slow it down. But love does enlarge our experience of the inexorable passing of days. It turns our attention from the temporal to the eternal. It makes the smallest moments matterand it keeps the grand sweep of time in view.

Love is what brings Christ, our Savior, to the cross. His love traverses past, present, and future, binding believers across history together as the people of God (1 Pet. 2:910), called to live in ways that are pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in knowledge of him (Col. 1:10).

As people shaped by Christs self-sacrificial love, we cant give in to panicked, fatalistic despair about the days, weeks, or years we have left on this planet, whether we fear an alien apocalypse, a climate disaster, or simply growing old. We dont need to save ourselves, like the characters in 3 Body Problem.

Instead, we can let love take its time, knowing that it wont run out for those of us who keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2). We demonstrate this love through small, ordinary actions that say, I am here. I am with you. You are not alone. And, perhaps, this too: You are not a bug.

What does this look like in practice? Canadian author Karen Stiller recounts observing an elderly parishioner walking to receive Communion without being rushed, members of the congregation waiting patiently behind her. There was the church beautiful in its slower, patient gait for loves sake alone, she observed.

The church can offer this rare gift to its own beloved and beleaguered people, but also to whomever we meet and have the privilege of walking beside and behind for Jesus sake.

The brevity of our lives is neither a problem to solve nor an unavoidable fate we face with resignation. As we confront the wasting away of our bodies, the memories that flicker just out of reach, we can choose to love as Will didfiercely and unwaveringly. We can choose to slow down, not as a lifestyle choice or in denial of death but intentionally, hopefully. We can trust that our time is in our Redeemers hands, declaring along the way that, eventually, everything will be made new (Rev. 21:5).

Isabel Ong is the Associate Editor, Asia for Christianity Today.
Illustration by Mallory Rentsch Tlapek / Source Images: Getty

Maybe you believe that the Bible opposes same-sex sexual relationships. Where in the Bible would you begin to explain your view? Maybe you doubt that the Bible opposes same-sex sexual relationships. Where in the Bible would you begin to build an argument for affirmation? Or maybe you are unsure whether the Bible affirms or opposes same-sex sexual relationships. Where in the Bible would you begin to inquire about the matter?

Whichever position you might find yourself in, Rebecca McLaughlins new book will point you to precisely the place in the Bible where you should beginwith the gospel and Jesus. More about that in a bit.

The book, Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Sexual Relationships? Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality, brings together two recent trends of books by evangelical writers.

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One trend is believers who experience same-sex sexual attraction, or self-identify as gay, writing first-person accounts about their journeys of faith and sexuality. This trend includes: Wesley Hills Washed and Waiting (2010); Christopher Yuans Out of a Far Country (2011); Rosaria Butterfields The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert (2012); Gregory Coless Single, Gay, Christian (2017); Jackie Hill Perrys Gay Girl, Good God (2018); David Bennetts A War of Loves (2018); and Rachel Gilsons Born Again This Way (2020).

These writers, each in their own style, recount their calling to be followers of Jesus and consider how to live and love faithfully and fruitfully according to the gospel. Together, they set forth a spiritual vision of holiness and righteousness that is relevant for every believer and the whole church.

Another trend is scholars and pastors writing popular-level books in an apologetic mode about marriage and sexuality. This trend includes: Sean McDowell and John Stonestreets Same-Sex Marriage (2014), Kevin DeYoungs What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? (2015), Beth Felker Joness Faithful (2015), Todd Wilsons Mere Sexuality (2017), and Preston Sprinkles Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage? (2023).

These writers, each with their own approach, answer many of the main arguments marshaled in support of an affirming position on same-sex sexual relationships. Together, they elaborate and defend a theological vision of marriage and sexuality that is true to Scripture and good for the whole church.

Addressing arguments

McLaughlin writes at the confluence of these two trends. Alongside the stories of several friends, she relates vignettes from her personal story of faith and sexuality as a believer who experiences same-sex attraction. Along the way, she weaves these stories with critical examination of claims commonly made in support of same-sex relationships.

In this manner, McLaughlins approach is comparable to that taken by Ed Shaw in his excellent book, Same-Sex Attraction and the Church (2015). By the same token, McLaughlins book is set against yet another recent trend of books by evangelical writers: those who appeal to their experiences of same-sex attraction to motivate an affirmative case for same-sex relationships. This trend includes Matthew Viness God and the Gay Christian (2014) and Karen Keens Scripture, Ethics, and the Possibility of Same-Sex Relationships (2018), whose claims and arguments McLaughlin addresses repeatedly within her own book.

McLaughlin has composed her short book in ten chapters, each running about ten pages and addressing one claim commonly made in support of same-sex sexual relationships. Each chapter follows the same format: McLaughlin introduces the chapter with a story that illustrates how and why the claim in question matters to the ordinary lives of real people; she then carefully lays out the affirming argument, considers reasons one might think it a good argument, and explains why she thinks the argument falls short; and finally, she concludes the chapter by tying the theological argument back to the personal story. Ill elaborate on the opening and closing chapters, which bracket the book and anchor her overall argument.

The first claim addressed is that Christians should just focus on the gospel of Gods love. The assumption behind the claim is that while the gospel is primary for the church, Christians should regard marriage and sexuality as a secondary issue on which they can agree to disagree.

McLaughlin affirms the claim but disputes the assumption. As she writes, rather than being a distraction from the gospel, Gods design for Christian marriage is a pointer to the gospel. She recounts the Bibles grand story of Gods love, from Gods design of human marriage in creation (Gen. 12) to Gods reunion with humankind in new creation (Rev. 2122). Gods original design of marriageman and woman joined into one fleshis both a prototype for human marriage and a picture of Gods covenant: The prophets and apostles depict God as the bridegroom of Israel and Jesus as the bridegroom of the church.

Marriage, ultimately, points to Gods love in Jesus, and male-female difference is essential to marriage as a model of Christ and the church. Accordingly, McLaughlin argues, we must take seriously the biblical prohibitions of sexual relationships outside male-female marriage. As a result, we cannot set aside the question of same-sex relationships as a secondary issue.

The last claim the book addresses is that a God of love cannot be opposed to loving relationships. The assumption behind the claim is that because God is love and love is love, God would affirm all varieties of loving relationshipsand thus, so should the church.

Again, McLaughlin affirms the claim but disputes the assumption: The counterpoint to any form of sexual immorality is love. Conversely, any relationship founded on sexual immorality falls short of love. She cites Jesus, Paul, and John, all of whom clearly and consistently say yes to love in marriage and mandate love of fellow believers, neighbors, and even enemies. Yet with equal clarity and consistency, they say no to sexual immorality in all its variety, including adultery, promiscuity, and same-sex intercourse.

Accordingly, McLaughlin argues, the church should affirm love between brothers and sisters within the Christian family, including believers giving and receiving love in same-sex friendshipsbut affirm sexual love only within male-female marriage.

In the chapters between, McLaughlin addresses several familiar claims concerning the Bible and same-sex relationships. These include claims about biblical narratives involving same-sex intercourse (Gen. 19), biblical prohibitions of same-sex intercourse (Lev. 18, 20; Rom. 1), biblical terms referring to same-sex intercourse (1 Cor. 6; 1 Tim. 1), and the biblical trajectories concerning slavery and sexuality.

Too many Christians arguing from either side treat such claims, and the related Bible texts, as the place to start the debate and clinch the argument. McLaughlins approach puts such claims in their proper place: While necessary to address, they shouldnt be given the first or last word. Such claims are seen in right perspective when framed within the biblical story of salvation and the biblical picture of marriage woven throughout that story.

A good place to begin

The books major strength is that McLaughlin concludes every chapter by bringing the question, and the reader, back to Jesus. She reminds us again and again how the Bible affirms, centrally, that Gods love for us in Jesus is enough for our salvation and abundant life, now and for eternity. Whether we are married or single, our hearts deepest desire will be fully and finally satisfied in our relationship to Jesus.

The book is not without shortcomings, however. Its major weakness, in my view, is that McLaughlin mentions but does not emphasize procreation in presenting the biblical picture of marriage. This seems an obvious deficiency: Genesis explicitly testifies to Gods procreative purpose in marriage (1:28); Jesus implicitly affirms this purpose as well as the male-female form of marriage (Matt. 22:2333; Luke 20:2740); and the prophets employ procreative imagery in the marital image of Gods covenant (see Ezek. 16).

Granted, emphasizing procreation inevitably prompts sensitive pastoral questions (What about infertility? Contraception? Reproductive technologies?) that cannot be adequately addressed in a short book. Yet we should not avoid discussing the procreative purpose of marriage when debating the question of same-sex relationships for this reason: The increasing acceptance of intentionally nonprocreative marriage among Christians has contributed significantly to shifting opinion within the church toward affirming same-sex relationships.

Still, McLaughlins book is commendable, not only for her capable defense of biblical teaching but also for her winsome presentation of that defense. She acknowledges the truths she finds in affirming arguments while avoiding fallacious arguments to make her own case. She refuses to either overstate arguments that favor her own view or to qualify conclusions that she knows will be unpopular with some readers.

Throughout the book, she critiques opposing viewpoints with an irenic tone, showing care and charity for authors with whom she disagrees and for readers who might disagree with her. She respects her readers as reasoners, appealing to experience to preface her examination of each claim but not to drive her arguments or determine her conclusions.

McLaughlin writes in an accessible style that makes this book suitable for a broad range of readers. It would work well for small groups or Sunday school classes, or in high school, college, and seminary classrooms as a supplement to primary course texts.

Regardless of your starting position on questions of sexuality, McLaughlins book is a good place to begin examining it in light of Scripture. Every believer and seeker will find something to learn.

Darrin W. Snyder Belousek is the author of Marriage, Scripture, and the Church: Theological Discernment on the Question of Same-Sex Union.
Home News 'Blasphemous': 4 reactions to UN, US honoring fallen Iranian president

Political leaders and influential voices have expressed disgust as the United Nations, the U.S. State Department and others offer condolences for the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, also known as the Butcher of Tehran.

The Iranian leader perished in a helicopter crash over the weekend alongside Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Raisi earned the nickname the Butcher of Tehran for overseeing mass executions of political prisoners in 1988.

The United Nations held a moment of silence for the deceased Iranian leader on Monday and lowered its flag to half-staff outside of its New York City headquarters the following day.

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The U.S. State Department released a statement expressing condolences for Raisis death while affirming its support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms. NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah shared a statement on the same day offering condolences for Raisi and others who perished in the helicopter crash.

On Monday, U.S. Senate chaplain Barry Black acknowledged the death, offering a prayer for the Iranian people who mourn the death of their president.

Here are four reactions to the United Nations and Western countries honoring the late Iranian president:
Home News AME official Jerome V. Harris dies amid lawsuit over nearly $100M missing from pension fund

Jerome V. Harris, the former executive director of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Inc.s Department of Retirement Services who was accused in a federal lawsuit of losing nearly $100 million from the denominations retirement plan through "foolish" and risky investments, has died. He was 79.

The AMEs official publication, The Christian Recorder, said Harris died suddenly on May 8. John Thomas III, a general officer of the church and editor of The Christian Recorder, told RNS that he suffered a heart attack.

Harris only child, Chris Harris, remembered his father as his first best friend and superhero in a public statement on Facebook a day after his death.

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I lost my first best friend yesterday .. My guiding voice, my protector, my example of what work is, looks like and is.. my superhero in real life, not just me but to many many others, he wrote. I'm forever broken but not shattered .. know I'll be fine eventually and that I LOVE YOU thru this space and time and beyonduntil we hug again my friend .. my Father and most important my Dad!!! Rest in Love !!!

The late AME officers life was also celebrated in a homegoing service at St. John's AME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, on May 15.

According to a 49-page federal complaint filed in a proposed class-action lawsuit in March 2022 by retired AME pastor, the Rev. Cedric V. Alexander, Harris foolish and risky management of the denominations pension fund hurt more than 5,000 participants financially. At least two other lawsuits alleging similar charges have been filed in Florida and Virginia.

The complaint alleges that Harris was "given sole authority by the church to invest tens of millions of AMEC clergy's and other Church servants' retirement savings in a questionable and potentially unlawful purchase of undeveloped land in Florida, a promissory note to an Illinois installer of solar panels, and an even more foolish investment in a now non-existent capital venture outfit."

While all of this was happening, church officials kept reporting to the plan's beneficiaries that their retirement funds were safely flourishing as investments in annuities from Symetra Financial.

"This suit is about a complete and total abrogation of these fiduciary responsibilities by Defendants, resulting in numerous breaches of duty and resulting in a single, unmonitored individual, Defendant Harris, controlling all Plan assets and investments," the complaint says.

In March 2023, U.S. District Judge S. Thomas Anderson, of the Western District of Tennessees Eastern Division, dismissed federal ERISA charges against the AME church and third-party administrators in connection with the churchs retirement plan. They will still, however, have to face state charges. Harris, along with Newport Group, Inc. and Symetra Life Insurance Co., administered the denominations pension fund.

In an amended complaint, the plaintiffs in the case alleged fiduciary breach charges against the defendants and Anderson upheld that position.

The court holds that Symetra has not discharged its burden to show that plaintiffs lack capacity to sue as representatives of the plan as a matter of Tennessee law and that the AMEC has not carried its burden to show why the Council of Bishops and the General Board lack the capacity to be sued as matter of the law of corporations, Anderson said in his decision.

In addition to his son, Harris leaves behind his wife, Sandra Elaine Anderson, and three grandchildren.
Home News After setting record for baptisms in California, pastor wants to baptize America, then the world

In what has been dubbed the largest synchronized baptism in American history, more than 12,000 people were baptized in the name of Christ across California on Pentecost Sunday. The pastor who founded the movement to make it happen called Baptize California says he plans to take it across America and then the world.

I think that when God wants to do something, he kind of creates the right atmosphere and ecosystem for it to happen, Pastor Mark Francey of Oceans Church in Irvine, California, who started the newest baptism movement with his wife, Rachelle, told The Christian Post in an interview this week.

Francey, who founded his church five years ago, said he got a vision from God to promote baptism to help the local church about two years ago while praying.

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Acting on this vision, Francey said he and his church organized an event called Baptize Southern California last year, and nearly 4,200 people were baptized. In 2024, the church decided to go statewide with the baptism movement. And anchored by a flagship baptism site at the popular Huntington Beach, they reaped richly.

Just over 6,000 people were baptized at Huntington Beach, and another 6,000 were baptized in the rest of the state, Francey said.

"I don't know where God wants us to go. But we're kind of prepared for whatever He wants us to do," Francey told CP.

"Ultimately, our desire is to make the Day of Pentecost the day that Christendom celebrates water baptism," he said. "I think it kind of happens organically every once in a while, but the Book of Acts was obviously started with a prayer meeting that led to bold preaching in the public square, that led to a public declaration of faith that 3,000 believed, and then immediately, 3000 were baptized."

Francy said the success of the new baptism movement has been buoyed by ecumenical support from churches that have chosen to unite around common tenets of the faith, like water baptism.

"It wasn't just one denomination. It wasn't just one part of the body of Christ. We had the largest Baptist churches in the state. Churches like Sandals,  a lot of the big Baptist churches in the state were all a part of [Sunday] with some of the largest Evangelical churches, Pentecostal churches, charismatic churches, even at the Presbyterian Calvary Chapel Vineyard," Francey said. "To see it kind of cross a denominational threshold,  I think that what God blesses is unity, and when the church works together."

Francey said the movement doesn't just baptize people with no follow-up. Each person baptized at the events hosted by Baptize California will be provided with resources from an online database to help them connect with a local church of their choice.

"This isn't like a parachurch organization that's going to kind of blow in and blow out, just get a crowd and just trying to get them (people) hyped. Our heart was to unite the local church, to work together, to really reach our world, and then to build a kingdom by connecting all of these people that are making a decision to get connected to the local church," Francey said. "For us, the win isn't the count of how many got baptized, really, it's going to be how that translates into how we are getting people connected to the local church."
Home News China unilaterally appoints bishop to Shanghai in violation of Catholic Church agreement: Vatican

Chinese authorities have appointed a new bishop to the largest Roman Catholic diocese in China in violation of a bilateral agreement between the Holy See and China, the Vatican says.

The Chinese Communist Party-controlled Council of Chinese Bishops appointed Bishop Shen Bin from Haimen, in Jiangsu province, as the new bishop of Shanghai.

"The Holy See had been informed a few days ago of the decision of the Chinese authorities" to transfer the Bishop and "learned from the media of the installation this morning," Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office, said in a statement shared by Vatican News last Tuesday. "I have nothing to say about the Holy See's assessment of the matter."

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The Council of Chinese Bishops is headed by Shen himself and is not recognized by the Holy See, the Catholic news agency AsiaNews reported.

The Shanghai diocese said on its website that around 200 people attended the inauguration ceremony for Bishop Shen. Shen wants to "continue to carry forward the fine tradition of patriotism and love of the Catholic Church in Shanghai" and to "adhere to the principle of independence and self-government."

The Vatican renewed a controversial agreement with China last October, initially enacted in 2018. The agreement allowed the government to submit candidates for bishop offices but supposedly gave the final say to Pope Francis.

"The Vatican  is committed to continuing a respectful and constructive dialogue with the Chinese Party for a productive implementation of the Accord and further development of bilateral relations, with a view to fostering the mission of the Catholic Church and the good of the Chinese people," the Holy See Press Office said at the time.

The first deal was signed with the hope of bringing peace between the underground congregation loyal to the pope in China and the state-backed official church. In the agreement, both sides acknowledged the pope as the supreme leader of the Catholic Church for the first time since the 1950s.

The unilateral appointment of Bishop Shen comes only months after the Vatican accused Beijing of violating the bilateral accord by installing a bishop in a diocese not recognized by the Holy See.

The Chinese embassy in Rome has not yet responded to the Vatican's statement.

The bishopric of Shanghai has been vacant since the death of Bishop Jin Luxian in April 2013. While the Holy See has stated that the city's auxiliary bishop, Ma Daqin, should administer the diocese, he has been under house arrest since 2012 for publicly rejecting the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, the Communist body governing the local Church.

In an interview with Vatican News published after the October 2022 renewal of the agreement, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said that the two-year renewal "mainly concerns aspects that are essential to the daily life of the Church in China."

"Pope Francis  with determination and patient foresight  has decided to continue along this path not under the illusion of finding perfection in human rules, but in the concrete hope of being able to assure Chinese Catholic communities, even in such a complex context, of the guidance of pastors who are worthy and suitable for the task entrusted to them," said Parolin.

"The ultimate goal of this journey is for the 'little flock' of Chinese Catholics to advance in the possibility of living serenely and freely their Christian life, which is made up of the proclamation of the Gospel, solid formation, joyful celebration of the Eucharist, as well as an industrious witness of charity, in order to be close to those who struggle the most to cope with life, as was the case during the difficult time of the pandemic."

Critics of the agreement between the Vatican and China argue that the appointment of only six new bishops since the deal's signing is evidence that it is not yielding the desired results. They also point to the increasing restrictions on religious freedoms in China for Christians and other minority groups.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated in September 2020 that religious freedom conditions for Catholics in China had only worsened in the two years since the agreement was first adopted.

"The Vatican endangers its moral authority, should it renew the deal," Pompeo tweeted at the time.

The U.S. State Department has long listed China as a country of particular concern for tolerating or engaging in religious freedom violations.

Open Doors USA, which monitors the persecution of Christians in over 60 countries, estimates that China has more than 97 million Christians, many of whom worship in unregistered or "illegal" underground churches.

The five state-sanctioned religious groups in China are the Buddhist Association of China, the Chinese Taoist Association, the Islamic Association of China, the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association.

Even the organizations affiliated with the five authorized religions can be subject to surveillance and monitoring.

In 2018, the communist regime released a document titled "China's Policies and Practices on Protecting Freedom of Religious Belief." It declared that Chinese faith communities should adhere to the direction of localizing the religion, practice the core values of socialism, develop and expand the fine Chinese tradition and actively explore the religious thought which accords with China's national circumstances.
Home News Chinese Catholic bishop tells church to 'follow a path of sinicization' at Vatican event

A bishop recently appointed by the Chinese authorities in violation of an agreement with the Roman Catholic Church was a keynote speaker at a Tuesday event organized by the Vatican.

The Vatican held an international conference in Shanghai to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1924 Concilium Sinense, the first official council of the Chinese Catholic Church.

Titled "100 years since the Concilium Sinense: between history and the present," the event was organized by the Pontifical Urban University along with the Agenzia Fides and the Pastoral Commission for China.

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Bishop Joseph Shen Bin of Shanghai, appointed to his position by the Chinese Communist Party-controlled Council of Chinese Bishops last year, was one of the speakers.

During his remarks, as quoted by Vatican News, Bishop Shen Bin said that historically, problems between the Church and the Chinese government were partly due to "the strong sense of European cultural superiority" of some missionaries, who he claimed "intended to use the Christian religion to change Chinese society and culture."

The bishop said that while the Chinese government pursues "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation comprehensively with a modernization in Chinese style," the Church "must move in the same direction" and follow a "path of sinicization that aligns with today's Chinese society and culture."

Bishop Shen Bin invited Chinese Catholic clergy and laity "to love their country and their Church and closely link the Church's development with the people's well-being."

In the last decade, Chinese President Xi Jinping has promoted a regulatory "Sinicization" initiative to govern religious affairs in China, where religious bodies are encouraged to promote Chinese and socialist characteristics and values.

In 2019, a Chinese government official who heads state-sanctioned Protestant churches in China vowed to eliminate the Western "imprint" from Christianity. A five-year plan to "Sinicize" Christian churches includes a rewrite of the New Testament using Buddhist scripture and Confucian teachings.

Pope Francis addressed Tuesday's conference in a video, saying that the 1924 council "was indeed an important step in the journey of the Catholic Church in the great country that is China."

"In Shanghai, the Fathers gathered in the Concilium Sinense had an authentically synodal experience and made important decisions together," he continued.

"The Holy Spirit brought them together, made harmony grow among them, led them along paths that many among them would not have imagined, overcoming even perplexity and resistance."

Francis said the Catholic Church's "journey through history has taken unforeseen paths, also through times of patience and trial," and that "the faith of God's people has been the compass that has shown the way throughout this time, before and after the Shanghai Council, up to the present day."

"Chinese Catholics, in communion with the Bishop of Rome, walk in the present time," he added. "In the context in which they live, they also bear witness to their faith with works of mercy and charity, and in their witness, they make a real contribution to the harmony of social coexistence, to the building of the common home."

In 2018, the Vatican and Communist China reached a controversial agreement in which the government would submit candidates for bishop offices while Francis would get the final say.

Some clergy and religious freedom advocacy groups, including the United States-based NGO International Christian Concern, criticized the agreement.

"Despite the Holy See's attempt to normalize its operation in the authoritarian country, religious freedom has not improved for the underground Chinese Catholics in the last few years," ICC warned in a statement.

"Many disappeared clergy have not returned, while those who are loyal to the Vatican constantly face threats and sometimes are subject to a 're-education' for their submission to join the official church."

The Vatican renewed the agreement with China in October 2022. Although the agreement dictates that the government must submit candidates for bishop offices to the Vatican for approval, China appeared to violate that agreement in April 2023 with its appointment of Shen Bin.

Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office, said at the time that "the Holy See had been informed a few days ago of the decision of the Chinese authorities" to transfer the bishop and that they "learned from the media of the installation this morning."
Home News Christian politician facing third trial for Bible tweet submits defense to Finland's Supreme Court

Finnish Christian parliamentarian Paivi Rasanen submitted her defense to Finland's Supreme Court after being taken to trial a third time for tweeting a Bible verse half a decade ago in opposition to homosexuality.

Rasanen's defense argues she was within her international rights to express her opinion despite the state prosecutor's charging her with a hate crime over a 2019 tweet that questioned the Finnish Lutheran Church for celebrating LGBT "pride month."

"Vague or far-reaching laws against advocacy of hatred, or blasphemy, [offense] to religious feelings and similar [offenses] are not only arbitrary; they can also lead to the direct and structural marginalization of religious or belief communities," the defense submission states.

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According to a statement from her lawyers at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, the defense contends that Rasanen, who served as Finland's interior minister from 2011 to 2015, has always advocated that everyone be treated with dignity and not subjected to discrimination.

In 2019, police began investigating Rasanen  a grandmother of 11 who led Finland's Christian Democratic Party from 2004 to 2015  in response to her tweet that quoted the condemnation of homosexuality in the book of Romans. She rebuked the Finnish Lutheran Church for presenting "shame and sin" as "a matter of pride."

Investigators also took issue with a pamphlet she published in 2004 with Bishop Juhana Pohjola of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland.

Titled "Male and Female He Created Them: Homosexual relationships challenge the Christian concept of humanity," the pamphlet cited Genesis 1:27 to state that God created humans male and female, and that their sexuality should reflect that.

After being subjected to approximately 13 hours of interrogation over months, Finland's prosecutor general used Rasanen's tweet, pamphlet and a radio interview to draw up a hate crime charge against her.

Rasanen was charged with "agitation against a minority group," which falls under the umbrella of the "war crimes and crimes against humanity" section in Finnish law.

Pohjola was also charged with publishing Rasanen's 20-year-old pamphlet and will face trial alongside her again before the Supreme Court.

The Helsinki Court of Appeal unanimously acquitted Rasanen and Pohjola last November, which followed a similar acquittal by the three-judge District Court of Helsinki in March 2022.

The state prosecutor appealed their acquittal a third time on two charges, demanding that the two be fined tens of thousands of euros and their work be censored.

Rasanen's case has drawn international attention for its implications regarding free speech, with some warning about the growing impulse from some Western governments to clamp down on dissent.

Rasanen said in a statement that the "heart of the trial is the question of whether teachings linked to the Bible can be displayed and agreed with."

"I consider it a privilege and an honor to defend freedom of expression, which is a core right in a democratic state," she continued. "My religious conviction has been buffeted about by the Prosecutor's Office of Finland during the five years of this legal saga."

"An acquittal by the Supreme Court would serve as a stronger precedent than lower court rulings for subsequent similar charges. It would provide a clearer and stronger safeguard for the freedom of Christians to present the teachings of the Bible  and it would strengthen the principle of freedom of expression in general," she also said

ADF International Executive Director Paul Coleman described Rasanen's defense as "a watershed case in the story of Europe's censorship."

"In a democratic Western nation in 2024, nobody should be on trial for their faith, yet throughout the prosecution of Paivi Rasanen and Bishop Pohjola, we have seen something akin to a 'heresy' trial, where Christians are dragged through court for holding beliefs that differ from the approved orthodoxy of the day," Coleman said.

"The state's insistence on continuing this prosecution after almost five long years, despite such clear and unanimous rulings from the lower courts is alarming," Coleman added. "The process is the punishment in such instances, resulting in a chill on free speech for all citizens observing."
Home News Hamas, Iran praise anti-Israel college protests in US: 'Leaders of the future'

An official with the Palestinian terror group Hamas and the supreme leader of Iran have praised the growing college campus protests in the United States against Israel's military offensive in Gaza, including pro-Hamas demonstrations at Columbia University that have driven fear into the hearts of Jewish students.

Columbia University in New York City announced a shift to hybrid classes after protestors set up a "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" last Wednesday. This led to the arrest of more than 100 people after Columbia University President Minouche Shafik authorized police to clear the camp. The demonstrators resettled the encampment, and there have been multiple reports of Jewish members of Columbia's community feeling unsafe due to the encampment.

The demonstration has prompted calls for the Biden administration to take away the school's federal funding and discipline the demonstrators, which some say should include revoking the visas of the students expressing support for terrorist groups.

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On Wednesday, Izzat Al-Risheq, a member of Hamas' political bureau, accused the Biden administration of violating student and faculty rights, claiming that they are only rejecting "the genocide that our Palestinian people are the subjected in the Gaza Strip at the hands of the neo-Nazi Zionists."

USA Today quoted the Hamas official as saying, "Today's students are the leaders of the future."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also praised the protests.

"Western governments say the Resistance Front is terrorism," Khamenei wrote in a tweet. "This comes at a time when people flew Hezbollah's flag in a street in the US. The people of the world are supporting the Resistance Front because they are resisting & because they are against oppression."

Khamenei's "oppression" comment comes as the Islamic Republic of Iran has a notorious record for infringing on the rights of religious minorities through imprisonment. Iran also used lethal force to crack down on widespread protests in 2022.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said Tuesday that while the Biden administration values the freedom of expression, it views "calls for violence, physical intimidation, hateful, antisemitic rhetoric" as "unacceptable."

On Monday, Provost Angela Olinto announced in a statement new teaching guidelines for the remainder of the semester at Columbia University. Classes on the Morningside main campus will switch to hybrid learning  "classroom technology permitting"  until the end of the Spring 2024 semester. Arts and practice-based programs and, as well as classes at the medical center and Manhattanville will continue to be in-person, but Olinto said the school will offer accommodations.

"Faculty in other classrooms or teaching spaces that do not have capabilities for offering hybrid options should hold classes remotely if there are student requests for virtual participation. If the class does not permit adapting to the remote offering format, we encourage faculty to provide other accommodations liberally to students who have requested support for virtual learning this week," the provost stated.

In a Tuesday letter to several Biden administration officials, including Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., condemned Columbia University's decision to move to a hybrid learning model, stating that this allows protestors to "further disrupt learning."

"Columbia University was one of the first schools into which the Biden Administration opened a Title VI investigation following the October 7th attack. There is clear and convincing evidence that students at Columbia have been targeted because they are Jewish, and the university has allowed this to persist without consequence," Stefanik wrote.

"It is past time for the Department of Education to publish the findings of this investigation and hold the university accountable," she continued. "Furthermore, the Department must take action to revoke any federal funding flowing to Columbia and similar institutions so taxpayers are not funding the ongoing discrimination."

The Republican lawmaker called on the Department of Homeland Security to act in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act by revoking the visas of students who have publicly expressed support for terrorist organizations like Hamas.

According to the act, an individual is generally considered ineligible for entry into the U.S. if they have engaged in or endorsed terrorist activity.

Earlier this week, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, responded to an incident at Columbia University involving a young woman holding up a sign in front of Jewish students that stated, "Al-Qasam's Next Targets." The group of counter-protestors had been waving Israeli and U.S. flags while playing Jewish music and the U.S. national anthem through a loudspeaker.

"If she is a student, she should be expelled. If she is a professor, she should be fired," Cruz stated.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish advocacy organization, the girl's sign is referring to the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. On Oct. 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack in southern Israel that killed at least 1,200 people, most of them civilians. Over 240 hostages were abducted during the attack.

In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza to eradicate Hamas, a terror group that has controlled the territory since 2007, and secure the release of hostages. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says at least 34,000 people have been killed since the war began last October. However, those figures don't differentiate between combatants and civilians.

Luke Moon, deputy director of the Middle East Christian advocacy group The Philos Project, shared a Tuesday video of the anti-Israeli demonstrations at college campuses nationwide, including Yale University in Connecticut.

In addition to sharing a photo of the girl holding the sign endorsing Hamas' military wing, Moon played a clip of anti-Israel protestors near Columbia University chanting, "Al-Qassam, you make us proud, kill another soldier now."

The Philos Project director said that students who are here on a visa and supporting terrorism should be expelled and have their visas revoked. Moon also encouraged people of faith to push back against the current climate, stating, "God has not given us a spirit of fear."

"I need you Christians to be bold and stand up now in this moment," Moon said.
Home News Iranian Christian survivor of war calls on Western Churches to combat 'spirit of the antichrist' in Iran

NASHVILLE  An Iranian woman who embraced Christianity after surviving an abusive marriage and the oppression of Islam is challenging Christians in the West to rise up and pray for the spirit of the antichrist to be removed from the Middle Eastern country.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Lily Meschi, director of partner relations at Iran Alive Ministries, challenged Christians in the West to amplify the voice of Christianity to support Iranian seekers of Jesus amid a complex socio-political landscape.

As Christians, we need to rise up and truly pray for the spirit of opposition, the anti-Christ spirit, to be removed from that country so that they can freely receive the virtuous faith that ultimately gives them true freedom, she said.

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We all know that true freedom relies on virtue, and virtue comes from the deep heart conviction that comes from faith. This is what Iran needs. We need to make the message of Christ so much bolder than ever before. This is a historic time. We all need to rally together to bring Christ into Iran.

Meschi knows firsthand the freedom that comes from a relationship with the God of the Bible.

Born during the brutal Iran-Iraq War, her earliest memories were marked by fear and displacement. "I was a baby in war," she recalled, describing the incessant bombings and the constant search for safety.

Growing up in a Muslim household under the strict Islamic regime, Meschi faced not only the external threats of war but also the pervasive culture of shame that dominated her society. Women were routinely shamed by the morality police for minor infractions, such as failing to adequately cover their heads, embedding a deep sense of fear and oppression in her formative years.

My view of God was very much like the patriarchy, the male dominance, that I felt in Iran, she said. In that culture, theres an angry persona of God. Hes just sitting on his throne, wanting to punish us, he wants us to make mistakes and have mishaps so that he can punish us. That was the type of worldview, the type of belief system that I was fed by the culture that I grew up in Iran.

The economic downfall of her father's business when she was 16 instigated another drastic shift in her life. With little warning, her family moved to Germany, trading their comfortable life in Tehran for cramped quarters in a relative's small apartment.

It was very difficult. It really created an enormous amount of insecurities in me, emotionally and mentally, she said.

For Meschi, the turning point came after moving to the United States, where she found herself trapped in an abusive and forced marriage.

The marriage ended up becoming very toxic, very abusive on all fronts, verbally, emotionally, physically, sexually, she said. It was very dark. Two years into our marriage, I found myself at the bottom of the pit. It was dark, and I did not see the light at the end of the tunnel. I thought that my life was wasted. I am trapped with this guy that is only abusing me.

During her darkest moments, feeling completely lost and devoid of hope, Meschi, now a mother of a young daughter, encountered Christianity through friends in Oklahoma.

"They shared the Gospel with me," she said. Watching the Jesus film and listening to passages from the Bible, she felt a profound spiritual awakening.

"Before I knew it, tears were rolling down my cheeks," she said, and almost instantaneously, declared Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

I had no prior knowledge about Christianity or Jesus, she said. The only thing that I was taught in Iran was that Jesus was one of the greatest prophets who had performed many miracles. So the whole concept of Trinity, the whole deity of Christ, was foreign to me. But at that moment, the Holy Spirit poured into me the knowledge that I needed to declare that He is my Lord and Savior.  I had the Holy Spirit and encounter and I knew that Jesus was the Son of God, Jesus was my Lord and Savior, Jesus was God.

This newfound faith became her beacon of hope and healing, guiding her out of the despair of her abusive marriage. Mentored by a dedicated Christian, she learned to navigate her past traumas through prayer and Scripture, gradually healing from the cumulative scars of her early life and toxic marriage.

The Lord set me free from that toxic relationship after 14 years, and He gave me and my daughter peace that is beyond understanding, peace that His word talks about. I'm so grateful that I found Jesus. Its one of the best decisions in my life that I have ever made.

Now remarried, Meschi uses her traumatic past to bring hope and healing to other Iranian women who, like her, feel trapped in their circumstances.

She works with Iran Alive Ministries, an organization dedicated to spreading Christianity among Iranians who still live under oppressive conditions. The ministrys 24/7 broadcasts and a 24/7 helpline for Iranians are currently serving as a lifeline at a time when many Iranians are fighting for their basic human rights and feeling cut off from the rest of the world.

This is our opportunity to share the Gospel with Iranians, she said. When they hear the Gospel, thats the hook to bring them in, disciple them, truly show them what Christianity is.

Many Iranians, she explained, have grown skeptical of religious structures, associating them with political oppression. "They sort of tie politics and religion together as one unity," Meschi said, highlighting a significant barrier to religious outreach in the region.

Part of the ministrys strategy involves redefining Christianity for the Iranian people, emphasizing its nature as a relationship rather than a set of prescriptive rules.

"Christianity is not yet another religion," she asserted, describing it instead as a "deep heart conviction," distinct from the controlling mandates of Islam under the Iranian regime.

She urged Western believers to engage more deeply through prayer and actively participate in ministries that focus on Iran. Supporting initiatives like Iran Alive Ministries, she said, can help amplify the message of Christianity as a relationship, not a religion, providing a new perspective on faith that is crucial for people living under oppressive regimes.

We need to make the message of Christ a lot bolder than what it is, she stressed. We need to have a stronger voice so that all the other spiritualities out there would be subdued and Christianity would rise above. We need other Christians to pray that Iranians' minds and hearts would open up to understand who Jesus is and what He has done so that they would have the same Holy Spirit encounter that I had as a Muslim girl.

Meschi added that as Iran stands at a crossroads of cultural and religious identity, the support from global Christian communities will be instrumental in shaping a future where freedom of belief is embraced.

The Lord is doing great work among Iranians, they already are seeing visions and dreams of Christ and connecting them to our underground churches, she said. We need to make our message, our reach even stronger than ever before, because this is a historic time for Iran.

Learn more about Iran Alive Ministries here.
Nvidia forecast quarterly revenue above estimates on Wednesday and announced a stock split, lifting its shares to record-high territory and impressing investors who have tripled the chipmaker's market value in the past year on AI optimism.

Nvidia shares jumped 5.9 percent to $1,005 in extended trade, peaking above the psychologically important $1,000 mark and adding about $140 billion in stock market value.

The AI poster child's stock has surged 90 percent so far this year, and a close at Wednesday's after-hours price in the next day's Wall Street trading session would be a new record high.

The Santa Clara, California-based company said it would split its stock ten-for-one, effective on June 7. It also said it was raising its quarterly dividend by 150 percent to 1 cent per share, on a post-split basis.

"Death, taxes, and NVDA beats on earnings. Even in the face of huge expectations, the company once again stepped up and delivered," said Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group. "The always important data center revenue was strong, while future revenue was also impressive."

Wall Street's main event so far this week, Nvidia's earnings report could add fresh fuel to a stock market rally that has lifted indexes to record highs this year.

Following Nvidia's results, shares of rival AI-related chipmakers Advanced Micro Devices and Broadcom each rose about 2 percent.

Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon.com and other technology companies have been competing for a limited supply of Nvidia's high-end chips as they race to dominate AI computing.

During a conference call with analysts, CEO Jensen Huang said Nvidia's upcoming Blackwell AI chips will ship in the current fiscal quarter, with production increasing in the following quarter.

Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress said demand for Blackwell chips could exceed supply "well into next year."

Nvidia's contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, has also been working to increase its advanced packaging capacity, a key supply-chain constraint for the processors. The Taiwanese company said in April it expects to more than double its advanced packaging capacity this year.

Nvidia forecast fiscal second-quarter revenue of $28 billion, plus or minus 2 percent. Analysts on average were expecting revenue of $26.66 billion, according to LSEG data.

First-quarter revenue surged 262 percent year-over-year to $26.04 billion, beating estimates of $24.65 billion. Net income soared 628 percent to $14.88 billion.

"Demand for NVIDIA's GPU chips remains white-hot," said Logan Purk, an analyst at Edward Jones. "These results are likely enough to satiate investors' appetites, and reassure the market that AI investment has not seen a slowdown yet." Dominating more than 80 percent of the market for AI chips, Nvidia stands in a unique position as both the largest enabler as well as beneficiary of surging AI development.

Sales at the data center segment, its largest by revenue, grew 427 percent to $22.6 billion in the first quarter ended April 28, coming in above estimates of $21.320 billion, according to data from FactSet.

Among Nvidia's customers is Meta Platforms, which last month increased the midpoint of its 2024 capital expenditure forecast by about $4 billion.

The high performance of Nvidia's chips makes them difficult to replace in present AI data centers. Adding to this lead is its proprietary CUDA software framework that developers use to program the AI processors.

While most so-called hyperscalers are also developing their own custom AI chips, analysts do not expect these to eat away at Nvidia's market share.

Nvidia expects second-quarter adjusted gross margin to be 75.5 percent, plus or minus 50 basis points. Analysts on average forecast gross margin to be 75.8 percent.

Nvidia reported first-quarter adjusted gross margin of 78.9 percent compared with estimates of 77 percent. Aspiring competitor AMD had recorded an adjusted margin of 52 percent in its fiscal first quarter.

Excluding items, the company earned $6.12 per share in the first quarter, beating estimates of $5.59. (Reuters)
Home News Guidepost must unseal documents in case of former SBC president accused of abuse, judge rules

Guidepost Solutions, an independent researcher, must unseal documents in a legal case involving former Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt, a judge has ruled. This case is one of over two dozen against the SBC or its entities, focusing on Guideposts report on the alleged mishandling of sexual abuse allegations.

Judge Jeffery Frensley at the Middle Tennessee office of the U.S. District Court has ordered Guidepost to produce records of interviews with Hunts alleged victim, Baptist News Global reported, saying this includes audio recordings, a private journal, summary documents, text messages and interview notes.

The judge noted that names in these materials are redacted, diminishing privacy concerns.

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Guidepost had sought to keep these records sealed, arguing that unsealing, even redacted documents, could breach its contract with the SBC and further harm the alleged victim. However, the judge ruled that four previously sealed documents must be unsealed.

Hunt, named in the 2022 Guidepost report, faced accusations of sexually assaulting a woman at a beach condo. Although admitting to the encounter, Hunt disputes its portrayal in the report and denies any abuse.

After his removal as executive vice president of the SBC North American Mission Board, a group of pastors reviewed his case and supported his return to ministry, despite opposition from the current SBC president and others.

In March, Hunt filed a defamation lawsuit against the SBC, its Executive Committee and Guidepost Solutions. The case has seen 80 entries in its docket over eight months.

Guideposts brief against disclosure graphically details the accusations against Hunt, alleging he groomed and sexually assaulted the woman in 2010. It also describes attempts to gaslight the victim and her husband, involving counseling by Roy Blankenship, an unlicensed counselor at Hunts church.

Hunts response to Guideposts sealing efforts claims the redacted information contradicts allegations against him. He asserts that audio recordings and journal entries provided to Guidepost do not mention any sexual assault by him. Guidepost, however, contends that the couple was instructed not to discuss Hunts actions and to focus only on marital issues in their journal.

The unsealed documents also reveal that the woman alleging assault by Hunt is represented by Boz Tchividjian, a prominent attorney in cases of sexual abuse in religious settings and grandson of the late evangelist Billy Graham. Tchividjian is known for his work with GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment).

Hunts lawsuit describes the incident as a brief, inappropriate, extramarital encounter with a married woman.

At most, the encounter lasted only a few minutes, and it involved only kissing and some awkward fondling, the lawsuit states. This was a private failing by Pastor Johnny and the woman involved, and the story should have ended there. But it didnt.

Hunts attorneys argue that naming him in the Guidepost report was a strategic decision to deflect attention from the SBC's historical failure to take aggressive steps to respond to reports of child sex abuse and other sex crimes in its past.

The lawsuit asserts that Hunt was named because the woman with whom he had the brief, extramarital encounter in 2010 had disclosed that encounter to the Guidepost investigators.
Home News Netflix Ashley Madison docu features pastor who killed himself after being outed as user

Netflixs new documentary series, Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal, delves into the controversial history of the affair website Ashley Madison, highlighting the tragic story of John Gibson, a seminary professor and his widow, along with another Christian couple.

The documentary recounts the devastating consequences of a massive 2015 data breach that exposed the personal information of over 32 million subscribers, leading to Gibson's decision to take his own life after he was terminated from his position at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary following the revelation.

Gibson's story and the account of Christian influencer couple Sam and Nia Rader feature prominently in the Netflix docu-series, where fans learn more about the couple's marriage.

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In 2015, Sam Rader was exposed as having an account with Ashley Madison. After being outed in the date breach, Sam Rader posted a video in which he claimed he had confessed all of his actions to his wife, Nia, and said both she and God had forgiven him and that he had never had an affair with anyone. He wasn't being 100% honest, however.

The documentary also features commentary from tech journalist Claire Brownell, who describes the public reaction to the data leak as a witch hunt, as reported by Gulf Live.

The breach had far-reaching consequences, leading to public shame and private turmoil for many users. The case of Gibson stands out as a particularly poignant example of the scandals impact because it led to suicide.

Gibson, a 56-year-old professor at NOBTS' Leavell College, also served as a pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Pearlington, Mississippi. He was found dead in his garage by his wife, Christi, six days after the data breach.

His name had appeared on a list of married users of Ashley Madison, and it became apparent that his superiors at the seminary would demand his resignation.

In a heart-wrenching interview with CNN following her husbands death, Christi Gibson shared the contents of his suicide note: He talked about depression. He talked about having his name on there, and he said he was just very, very sorry, she said. He offered grace and mercy and forgiveness to everyone else, but somehow he couldnt extend that to himself.

Christi Gibson has since dedicated her life to sharing her story and spreading a message of forgiveness. She travels across the country in an RV, documenting her experiences on her blog, Come Along Ministries.

Recently, she warned her social media followers about the Netflix documentary, noting that it might be a difficult watch: If you watch it, let me warn you, its not a faith-based project. There is sleaze. You will be uncomfortable. But nothing can hide Gods beauty and his glory, she wrote in an Instagram post.

John Gibsons story is one of a respected community leader who was deeply affected by the Ashley Madison scandal.

Born in Louisiana, Gibson followed a path well-trodden by his forebears, spending many of his formative years in Mississippi and Georgia, where his father served as a pastor. He earned his undergraduate degree from Mississippi College and later obtained both a master of divinity and a doctor of theology degree from NOBTS.

Gibson had a long and distinguished career at NOBTS, serving as a youth minister, senior pastor and faculty member. He was particularly known for his kindness and generosity, often helping students and colleagues with car repairs free of charge, according to NOLA.com.

Bob Stewart, a fellow professor, remarked on Gibsons selflessness: He just delighted in helping students, helping faculty. He was just a wonderful guy.

Despite his outward generosity and humor, Gibson struggled privately with depression for many years. This struggle was compounded by the release of the Ashley Madison data, which listed his name and the seminarys address. Although the seminary did not comment directly on his employment status, its president, Chuck Kelley, spoke about the institutions high moral standards for its leaders.

On August 24, 2015, after Christi Gibson found her husband unresponsive in their garage, family members acknowledged that he had taken his own life.

The fallout from Gibsons death was profound within the seminary community.

NOBTS held a memorial service, where Kelley described Gibson as the quintessential good neighbor, noting his numerous acts of kindness, especially his car repair work. Students and faculty alike expressed their grief and shared memories of Gibsons positive influence on social media at the time.

Christi Gibson, along with their two adult children, Callie and Trey, remembered their father fondly during his memorial service. Trey shared a humorous anecdote from his fathers sermons, showcasing John Gibsons ability to connect with his audience through self-deprecating humor.

Despite the scandal, Ashley Madison has continued its operations.
Home News 'Operation HOPE' leads to recovery of 32 human trafficking victims, including minors

A multidisciplinary operation in Arkansas resulted in the rescue, recovery and identification of seven female human trafficking survivors and another 25 local victims, including children, as part of an ongoing effort to prevent exploitation in the state.

The Arkansas State Police and members of the Arkansas Human Trafficking Council conducted the endeavor as part of Operation HOPE (Help and Opportunity to Prevent Exploitation), an initiative to help connect human trafficking victims with resources.

According to a Monday statement, the Arkansas Department of Public Safety worked with the Arkansas Human Trafficking Council over a single day to recover the victims and offer a variety of services, including food, lodging, on-site medical services, counseling, therapy and drug rehabilitation.

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"These concerted efforts will significantly contribute to making Arkansas a place where human trafficking is not tolerated," ASP Director Colonel Mike Hagar said in a statement. "The dedicated law enforcement community in Arkansas is fully committed to approaching the grim reality of human trafficking with empathy, aiming to rescue victims from the shadows and provide them with the support and care they need to recover."

Intelligence analysts and law enforcement officers identified the victims around the time of the operation. Authorities removed three children and one adult from environments described as exploitative, vulnerable and unstable situations. The adult received victim services while all of the children were taken into protective custody.

"Not only do we hunt the wicked, but we also seek out the wounded," ASP Criminal Investigation Division Commander Major Stacie Rhoads said in a statement.

The Arkansas Attorney General's Office, Hot Springs Police Department, Garland County Sheriff's Office, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Harrison Police Department and the Arkansas Fusion Center assisted with the operation.

The effort also received help from the Regional Intervention of Sexual Exploitation, The Genesis Project, Into the Light, ACASA, Saline County Safe Haven, River Valley Medical Wellness and the NWA Forensic Nurse Team.

A similar operation in February led to the identification of five female human trafficking survivors and 30 victims receiving services, according to a statement at the time. The operation, part of Operation HART, took place in Jonesboro in northeast Arkansas.

"The Arkansas law enforcement community and our victim service partners are on a mission to end human trafficking in Arkansas," Hagar said in a statement at the time. "We are working to give law enforcement the specialized training they need to embrace victims with compassion while they free them from perpetrators of this heinous crime."

Arkansas is not the only state taking steps to address human trafficking within their borders.

Last month, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed an anti-child trafficking law that raises the penalty for first-degree human trafficking to a mandatory life imprisonment sentence if the victim is a minor. The bill amends existing laws to allow for further punishment of human trafficking under certain conditions.

The legislation, which proponents claim is the "toughest in the nation," is expected to go into effect on Oct. 1.

"Human trafficking of minors is one of the most heinous and heart-wrenching crimes in America, and because the most defenseless among us are the victims, those found guilty should face the harshest penalties," Ivey said in a statement.

"As human trafficking spreads across the nation, law enforcement everywhere has struggled to keep pace with those who want to harm and exploit innocent victims," she continued. "Sadly, we've witnessed such cases right here in Alabama where human traffickers continue to cavalierly defy our laws, but not anymore."
Home News Pastor Matthew Queen charged with obstructing DOJ, FBI investigation of SBC

The Department of Justice has charged former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary evangelism professor and provost Matthew Queen with falsifying records connected to its investigation of allegations that leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention intimidated whistleblowers and exonerated churches with credible claims of negligence of sexual abuse victims.

Queen, 49, is the pastor of Friendly Avenue Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. He is charged with one count of falsification of records, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, officials said.

The charge against Queen comes nearly two years after the DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation into the SBC and its affiliate entities following the release of a Guidepost Solutions report showing leaders failed to protect victims of abuse.

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"As alleged, Matthew Queen attempted to interfere with a federal grand jury investigation by creating false notes in an attempt to corroborate his own lies," said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams in a statement Tuesday.

"The criminal obstruction charge announced today should exemplify the seriousness of attempts by any individual to manipulate or interfere with a federal investigation."

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, said in a statement Tuesday that after the seminary learned of Queen's conduct in June 2023, "he was immediately placed on administrative leave and resigned as interim provost."

"All employees alleged to have acted improperly in this matter are no longer employed by the seminary," the seminary stated.

The incident stems from a November 2022 report of an alleged sexual abuse committed by a Texas Baptist College student, the seminary said, adding that it helped facilitate the arrest of the student who later withdrew from the college.

In October 2022, the Justice Department issued a grand jury subpoena to the seminary, requiring the production of all documents in the seminary's possession related to allegations of sexual abuse against anyone employed by or associated with the seminary, among other things.

In November 2022, the DOJ noted that a seminary employee identified as Employee-1, received a report alleging that a current seminary student committed sexual abuse. The employee notified campus police and no further action was taken. The allegation was not reported to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Employee-1 reportedly documented the allegation in January 2023, along with the seminary's failed response. On Jan. 26, 2023, Employee-1 then met with Queen and another executive staff member of the seminary identified as Employee-2, prosecutors say.

"During that meeting, and in QUEEN's presence, Employee-2 directed Employee-1, in sum and substance, to destroy the document," the Justice Department's statement contends.

In May 2023, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI interviewed Queen, who "falsely stated that he had not heard Employee-2 direct Employee-1 to destroy the document."

Three days after his interview with investigators, Queen told another seminary employee, identified as Employee-3, that he found a notebook in his office with contemporaneous notes of the Jan. 26, 2023, meeting.

"The notes falsely stated that during the January 26, 2023, meeting, Employee-2, and Employee-1 merely discussed providing the Document to a different department at the Seminary and omitted the fact that Employee-2 had directed Employee-1 to destroy the Document. Queen provided the falsified notes to Employee-2 to produce in response to the grand jury subpoena," the DOJ said.

Authorities say Queen made other false declarations to investigators about the meeting until June 21, 2023, when he "testified under oath that he had in fact heard Employee-2 direct Employee-1 to make the document 'go away.'"

SWBTS said in its statement that when the institution "became aware of the original report and the later responses of certain staff, the seminary disclosed the matter to the Department of Justice, as required by a DOJ subpoena."

"The seminary has repeatedly informed staff of their duty to fulfill the obligations of the subpoena," the statement reads. "The seminary has and will continue to cooperate fully with the DOJ in its investigation of sexual abuse."

The Guidepost report released in May 2022 alleged that for the last two decades, the SBC sought to protect the interests of the denomination above alleged sexual abuse victims even as they fielded credible claims of abuse.

These claims include one made against former SBC President Johnny Hunt, who was accused of sexually assaulting another pastor's wife while on a beach vacation in Panama City, Florida.

"Our investigation revealed that, for many years, a few senior EC leaders, along with outside counsel, largely controlled the EC's response to these reports of abuse. They closely guarded information about abuse allegations and lawsuits, which were not shared with EC Trustees, and were singularly focused on avoiding liability for the SBC to the exclusion of other considerations," Guidepost Solutions investigators wrote in their 288-page report to the denomination's Sexual Abuse Task Force.

"In service of this goal, survivors and others who reported abuse were ignored, disbelieved, or met with the constant refrain that the SBC could take no action due to its polity regarding church autonomy  even if it meant that convicted molesters continued in ministry with no notice or warning to their current church or congregation," investigators added.

Investigators found that the SBC Executive Committee's response to sexual abuse allegations over the years was largely driven by senior members of the committee, particularly D. August "Augie" Boto, who served as EC General Counsel and later Interim EC President, as well as the SBC's long-serving outside counsel, James Guenther, James Jordan and the firm of Guenther, Jordan & Price. Their focus was on shielding the denomination from liability.

Investigators cited a May 2019 email from former EC Vice President Roger "Sing" Oldham to Ronnie Floyd, the then-EC president, acknowledging that "[f]or the past decade, I have been regularly sending Augie news reports of Baptist ministers who are arrested for sexual abuse, for his awareness."

Boto noted: "Yes. We are collecting them, and may even post them in some way, but we'd have to really examine the potential liabilities that would stem therefrom."
Home News RICO lawsuit against SBC Executive Committee dismissed

A civil lawsuit filed last year against the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee alleging that the church body mishandled abuse allegations has been dismissed.

Candence Finch, Tereasa Flanagan, Sally George, Christopher Juarez, Kelli Mims and James Shannon voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit against the Executive Committee on Monday.

The decision to dismiss comes a month after four congregations were removed as defendants: Fountain Valley Baptist Church of Fountain, Colorado; Faith Baptist Church of Danville, Illinois; Airline Baptist Church of Bossier City, Louisiana; and First Baptist Church of Talladega, Alabama.

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The Christian Post reached out to the SBC for a comment on this development. However, a spokesperson for the denomination did not provide one by press time.

The Executive Committee is an SBC body comprising 86 members who work on behalf of the convention between annual sessions. It oversees financial statements and the distribution of funds for ministries and serves as the trust agency for church properties.

On New Years Eve 2023, the plaintiffs filed a complaint against the SBC Executive Committee in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, alleging that the defendants had maliciously and systematically engaged in covering up and concealing instances of sexual abuse by the church members and employees as a strategy of denying the rights of sexual abuse survivors.

The lawsuit accused the Executive Committee of violating the Racketeers Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, with the plaintiffs alleging that it was used as a tool to effectuate Defendant(s) pattern of racketeering and use its influence over the Local Churches.

In recent years, leaders in the United States largest Protestant denomination have been accused of failing to properly handle credible allegation of abuse among pastors and lay leadership.

In 2022, an extensive investigation report from Guidepost Solutions stated that SBC leaders mishandled sexual abuse allegations, engaged in a pattern of intimidation and resisted reforms to make churches safer largely to avoid legal liability for the convention.

The U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation into the SBC in 2022 regarding the allegations, which the convention vowed to cooperate with.

In March, The Tennessean reported that the DOJ had concluded its investigation and would not file any charges against SBC officials due to an apparent lack of evidence.

Earlier this week, the DOJ filed a charge against former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary evangelism professor and provost Matthew Queen, accusing him of falsifying records related to their investigation of the SBC.

Queen attempted to interfere with a federal grand jury investigation by creating false notes in an attempt to corroborate his own lies," said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams in a statement.

"The criminal obstruction charge announced today should exemplify the seriousness of attempts by any individual to manipulate or interfere with a federal investigation."
Home News Bishop Robert Barron clarifies Catholic teaching amid 'kerfuffle' over papal interview 'He by no means is implying thereby that we dont need a Savior'

In a lengthy thread posted to X on Wednesday, Bishop Robert Barron weighed in on the recent controversy that erupted after Pope Francis appeared to suggest mankind is "fundamentally good," which prompted accusations of heresy against the pontiff.

During his recent "60 Minutes" interview that aired Sunday, the pope told Norah O'Donnell that "everything" gives him hope when he looks at the world, and went on to suggest that the human heart is "good" because people do good things.

"You see tragedies, but you also see so many beautiful things," Francis said. "You see heroic mothers, heroic men, men who have hopes and dreams, women who look to the future. That gives me a lot of hope. People want to live. People forge ahead. And people are fundamentally good. We are all fundamentally good. Yes, there are some rogues and sinners, but the heart itself is good."

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Many commenters on X criticized Francis for his remarks, with some accusing him of failing to grasp the Gospel, while others quoted portions of Scripture that teach God alone is good and that mankind has an intrinsically sinful nature. Somenoted that Francis' comments appeared to be an example of Pelagianism, a fifth century heresy that denied original sin.

"We are all fundamentally good. Yes, there are some rogues and sinners, but the heart itself is good," says Pope Francis. https://t.co/MmLPBhWVU2pic.twitter.com/7Be2GrKrdB  60 Minutes (@60Minutes) May 19, 2024

Barron, who serves as bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota, attempted to clarify the pope's message by appealing to theological debates over the will that have been raging since the Protestant Reformation and even before.

I have been following with some interest the kerfuffle that followed Pope Franciss declaration during a recent interview that we human beings are basically good. 1/8  Bishop Robert Barron (@BishopBarron) May 22, 2024

"I have been following with some interest the kerfuffle that followed Pope Franciss declaration during a recent interview that we human beings are 'basically good,'" Barron wrote. "The papal statement and ensuing controversy take us back to the 16th century and the great argument between Catholics and Protestants regarding theological anthropology."

Barron went on to explain that while reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin adhered to the doctrine of "total depravity"  which maintains that every human faculty has been corrupted by sin, including the will  Catholics take a less extreme view of human fallenness.

"To oversimplify, Protestants such as Martin Luther and John Calvin held to versions of a 'total depravity' anthropology, according to which human beings, in regard to salvation, are utterly hopeless, completely in need of a Savior," Barron wrote.

"Luther goes so far as to speak of the 'bondage of the will,' rather than of the 'freedom of the will.' The virtue of this approach is that it clearly implies our need for a savior and holds off all forms of Pelagianism," Barron continued.

While noting that the Council of Trent, which convened in response to the Reformation, agreed with many elements of the reformers' view of sin, Barron explained the view that grace builds upon "spiritual faculties" that remain intact despite the Fall.

"The Catholic Church responded officially to this challenge at the Council of Trent. And I bet many Catholics, reading the conciliar statements, would be surprised at how vigorously they nod toward the reformers," he said. "Trent does indeed teach that, due to the influence of both original and actual sin, we human beings are incapable of saving ourselves. We have lost the holiness and justice which should be ours."

"Our minds, will, [and] freedom have been so compromised that we absolutely need a Savior. The difference is that Trent does not hold to a total depravity anthropology, but rather teaches that our basic spiritual faculties remain intact, giving grace, in fact, something to build on," he added.

"When the Pope says that we are all 'basically good,' he means precisely this, it seems to me," Barron added. "He by no means is implying thereby that we dont need a Savior."

Many users replied agreeably to the nuance of Barron's comments, though some also expressed a desire that Francis would be more precise in his rhetoric.
Home News 'Ashley Madison': Christian YouTubers Sam and Nia tell all in Netflix series

Christian influencer couple Sam and Nia Rader are heavily featured in the hit Netflix series Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal, where the couple candidly discuss the fallout that occurred after Sam was exposed in the 2015 Ashley Madison hack and why theyre thankful for the scandal.

The three-part series recounts how Ashley Madison, a website designed for people seeking extramarital affairs, experienced a massive data breach that led to the public release of its user data. Among the millions of users whose information was leaked, Rader's email address was found, revealing that he had used the site.

At the time, Rader, who with his family had shot to fame thanks to their YouTube channel featuring viral videos like "Husband Surprises Wife with Pregnancy Announcement!" admitted to having an account but claimed that he had never actually used it to pursue any affairs. He posted a video, flanked by Nia, in which he claimed that both God and his wife had forgiven him.

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"She has forgiven me for this mistake that I made in opening the account," Sam said in the video. "I have sought forgiveness from God, and He has forgiven me, so I have been completely cleansed of this sin."

Still, Rader's exposure on Ashley Madison sparked significant media attention and public scrutiny, given his persona as a devout Christian and family man on his YouTube channel  and in the Netflix documentary, which released May 15, he admitted he hadnt been entirely truthful in his confession.

In the docuseries, Rader reveals he decided to join Ashley Madison, which operated under the slogan "Life is short. Have an affair, using the name dirty_little_secret_man while working night shift at his job as a nurse, looking for excitement outside his marriage, which he said had become monotonous following the birth of their first child.

A short time later, the Texas-based duo uploaded a video of themselves lip-syncing to Love is an Open Door from the Disney film Frozen, which went viral and eventually allowed Sam to quit his job and vlog full time. Sam and Nia quickly found fame thanks to their content, which often revolved around everyday family life, parenting and their Christian faith.

During this time, Sam said he deleted his Ashley Madison account and believed his past was behind him. However, in 2015, a group calling themselves "The Impact Team" gained access to Ashley Madisons user database and other sensitive information and demanded that the website be shut down.

When Ashley Madisons parent company, Avid Life Media, refused to shut down the sites, the hackers began releasing the stolen data. On Aug. 18, 2015, the first batch of data was released, which included the personal details of millions of users. This was followed by more releases in the subsequent days  including Sams name.



In the docuseries, Sam recalled how he was at an airport heading to a vlogging conference with Nia when news of the leak emerged, forcing him to reveal his behavior to his wife.

Though Nia initially forgave him, she had no idea just how far back his unfaithfulness actually went, Sam admitted in the series. Through tears, he shared how his pastor encouraged him to reveal to Nia how, throughout their marriage, hed visited massage parlors and strip clubs, which he said gave him easy access to that pleasure he wanted more of.

It thought having that extra sex outside of marriage would be exciting, he said.

Sam also revealed hed attempted on several occasions to engage in extramarital affairs with the couples acquaintances, even with some of Nias best friends who didnt reciprocate.

I was cheating on my wife with these people, he said.

Overwhelmed by the betrayals shed faced, Nia said she couldnt see a way forward: I was reeling inside, I felt like my world was crumbling. Every single aspect of my life up until this point felt like a lie.

Yes, the betrayals were out, but so was the real Sam  like, this is me and all my flaws, too, Nia added. Its heartbreaking to love someone so much to the point where you dont know if its good for you anymore or not, and I had to sit down and find out.

However, thanks to counseling from the couples pastor, the duo is still together today and continue to create content for YouTube, where they have 2.5 million subscribers. They now share four children together and said on their channel they wanted to participate in the Netflix series to help other couples who may be struggling.

I started to think of the selfish decisions I made, Sam said. It was all about me, I wasnt thinking about Nia. I hoped she could see this was not a confessional, it was a repentance, a complete change.

Near the end of the docuseries, the couple say they dont regret that the hack happened, as it was necessary to expose the dark parts of Sams past and work toward healing.

I think it was very good for him to feel the weight of what he had done, Sams pastor said. In feeling the true threat of losing what he loved most, he was able to begin really dealing with the depths that hed gone to and the dark places he had traveled.

When asked how he feels about the fact that Ashley Madison is still operating and in existence, Sam said, Its evil on a whole different level, in my opinion.

There are a lot of things I do regret, but I dont regret the hack  it had to happen for where were at today.

The series, which has remained in the Netflix Top 10 since its release, also features interviews with former employees, experts and other users impacted by the scandal. It touches on a broader scandal involving the site's poor data security and the use of fake profiles and bots to engage users.

Despite charging users $20 for a "full delete" service, which was supposed to permanently remove all their information, the site did not actually delete user accounts as promised and retained much of the user data despite the payment.

There are also several allusions to biblical morals woven throughout the series; in episode one, former Ashley Madison vice president of sales Evan Back says, "Theyd say, 'Whos your biggest competitor?' And Id say, 'The Bible.

In another scene, Marc Morgenstern, former creative director at Ashley Madison, misinterprets the Bible: There was a moral outrage because [of] infidelity, he said. In the Bible, [it] says, Thou shalt not commit adultery. That's one of the big 10, right? Encouraging more of this behavior. Of course, they don't know there's 613 commandments, actually, not just 10. And one of them is don't eat shrimp. So, you know, you're already breaking that law."

Other notable figures exposed in the hack included Hunter Biden, Josh Duggar of 19 Kids and Counting Fame and Monsignor Lucio Vallejo Balda, a Vatican official. The series also highlights the story of John Gibson, a seminary professor who killed himself after his name was exposed in the hack, along with others.

Christi Gibson, Johns widow, warned her social media followers about the Netflix documentary, noting that it might be a difficult watch: If you watch it, let me warn you, its not a faith-based project. There is sleaze. You will be uncomfortable. But nothing can hide Gods beauty and his glory, she wrote in an Instagram post.

On their YouTube channel, Sam and Nia, who also wrote a book about the scandal, posted a video of themselves emotionally watching the Netflix documentary.

Im sorry, Sam said.

Its OK, Nia responds. Ive already forgiven you.
Home News Southern Baptist task force to introduce new anti-abuse curriculum in June

A Southern Baptist Convention task force plans to unveil a new curriculum centered on helping member congregations prevent and respond to accusations of sexual abuse in June.

At the SBC's Executive Committee meeting on Feb. 19, the SBCs Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force presented the new curriculum, which is slated to be made public at the SBC's Annual Meeting in June in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Our churches need help but dont know where to turn, said ARITF Chairman Josh Wester, as quoted by the Baptist Press, which is the official news service of the SBC.

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Its not that helpful resources arent available. Its just that they come piecemeal  a church would turn to one place to do background checks and another place to train their volunteers.

The ARITF curriculum, which is an expansion of resources already made available online by the task force, is centered around five aspects: train, screen, protect, report and care, reported BP.

The new resource will also include training that consists of an online video series, BP noted, with follow-up questions and action items provided for each of the five components.

We want them to gather, watch one video, and then commit to completing the next steps for that essential before moving on to the next one, said Mississippi pastor and ARITF member Brad Eubank, as quoted by BP.

Everything that a church needs to complete, the next steps will be there  sample documents, links to pertinent information and recommendations for outside providers.

In May 2022, Guidepost Solutions released a report that detailed the results of an investigation that looked into allegations that some SBC leaders had mishandled credible sexual abuse accusations, including the intimidation of whistleblowers.

The Guidepost report identified more than 700 victims over 20 years and found that survivors of sexual abuse encountered "resistance, stonewalling, and even outright hostility" from some on the SBC's Executive Committee.

In response to the report, the SBC overwhelmingly voted to pass a series of abuse reform recommendations at their 2022 annual meeting, including the creation of the ARITF.

One of the objectives that the ARITF was tasked with was the creation of an online database known as Ministry Check that would include a list of individuals who have been convicted, found liable, or confessed to abuse.

In an update provided to messengers at the SBC's Annual Meeting in New Orleans last year, then-ARITF Chairman Marshall Blalock said the task force was developing a means to conduct third-party investigations into any allegations of sexual abuse in the SBC.

During last years annual meeting, the task force also unveiled a Ministry Toolkit for church leaders, including information to help them understand abuse and how to respond.

"[Prediators] prey on high-trust environments, and churches should be high-trust environments," Blalock said. "But abusers go where they think they can hide. We must have the will to make sure there is no place to hide."
Home News Vatican renews provisional agreement with China on bishop appointments

The Roman Catholic Church has renewed a scrutinized agreement with the People's Republic of China over the appointment of bishops, even as the Communist government continues to restrict religious freedom.

The Holy See Press Office announced Saturday that the Catholic Church renewed a provisional agreement with China allowing the government to submit candidates for bishop offices, with Pope Francis getting the final say.

The provisional agreement was initially approved in 2018 and was previously renewed in 2020, with the latest renewal scheduled to expire in 2024.

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"The Vatican  is committed to continuing a respectful and constructive dialogue with the Chinese Party for a productive implementation of the Accord and further development of bilateral relations, with a view to fostering the mission of the Catholic Church and the good of the Chinese people," stated the Holy See Press Office.

In an interview with Vatican News published Saturday, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said that the two-year renewal "mainly concerns aspects that are essential to the daily life of the Church in China."

"Pope Francis  with determination and patient foresight  has decided to continue along this path not under the illusion of finding perfection in human rules, but in the concrete hope of being able to assure Chinese Catholic communities, even in such a complex context, of the guidance of pastors who are worthy and suitable for the task entrusted to them," said Parolin.

"The ultimate goal of this journey is for the 'little flock' of Chinese Catholics to advance in the possibility of living serenely and freely their Christian life, which is made up of the proclamation of the Gospel, solid formation, joyful celebration of the Eucharist, as well as an industrious witness of charity, in order to be close to those who struggle the most to cope with life, as was the case during the difficult time of the pandemic."

The renewal comes as Chinese leader Xi Jinping claimed a third term as head of the Chinese Communist Party, which has increased government control of religious bodies in recent years.

Since the agreement was enacted in 2018, six Catholic bishops have been ordained, even though 40 dioceses in China still do not have a bishop, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Religious freedom advocates and some clergy have criticized the agreement.

"Despite the Holy See's attempt to normalize its operation in the authoritarian country, religious freedom has not improved for the underground Chinese Catholics in the last few years," the United States-based NGO International Christian Concern warned in a statement.

"Many disappeared clergy have not returned, while those who are loyal to the Vatican constantly face threats and sometimes are subject to a 're-education' for their submission to join the official church."

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated in September 2020 that religious freedom conditions for Catholics in China had only worsened in the two years since the agreement was first adopted.

"The Vatican endangers its moral authority, should it renew the deal," Pompeo tweeted at the time.

Among critics of the agreement between the Vatican and the Chinese government is Cardinal Joseph Zen, who formerly served as bishop of Hong Kong, a Chinese protectorate.

The 90-year-old Zen was arrested in May by Chinese authorities for his involvement in a humanitarian organization tied to the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

"The Vatican may have acted out of good faith but they have made an unwise decision," said Zen at a prayer meeting in May, as quoted by the WSJ.

The Christian persecution watchdog group, Open Doors USA, ranks China as the 17th worst persecutor of Christians in the world.

In late August, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report documenting human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, especially aimed at predominantly Muslim communities like the Uyghurs.
Home News White House offers prayers, support after tornado kills 5, injures multiple others in Iowa

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre offered prayers and support from the Biden administration after five people were reported dead and at least 35 injured after a massive tornado, rated at least an EF-3 by the National Weather Service, swept through Iowa and devastated the small city of Greenfield.

We are praying for those who tragically lost their lives as deadly tornadoes  ripped through Iowa, Jean-Pierre said in a statement Wednesday. We are also wishing a speedy recovery to those who were injured. The Administration is deeply grateful for first responders who jumped into action to save lives.

A statement from the Iowa Department of Public Safety confirmed four of the fatalities along with the injured but did not release the names of the dead pending notification of family. A fifth fatality, 46-year-old Monica Zamarron, died when high winds blew her vehicle off the roadway near Highway 148 and Joshua Tree Avenue, the Adams County Sheriffs Office said, according to Western Iowa Today.

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Officials at the Iowa Department of Public Safety said they expect the number of injured to rise.

It should be noted that it is believed that the number of those injured is likely higher, but these numbers reflect only those patients treated for their injuries at designated alternate care sites, the agency said. At least 14 patients were transported to out-of-county medical facilities by various EMS Services. If you believe that a friend or loved one is still unaccounted for, please call the Iowa Department of Public Safety Storm Lake State Communication Center at 712.732.1341.

On Thursday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell toured the tornado damage in Greenfield.

Ahead of their meeting, Reynolds said she sent a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to make a presidential disaster declaration to help Iowa.

This morning, I sent a letter to the White House requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration to help Iowa communities impacted by Tuesdays severe weather, she said in a statement on X.

Many of the survivors of the tornado recalled praying and leaning on their faith as it wreaked havoc on their homes and communities.

Valerie Warrior, a survivor from Greenfield, told ABC 9 that she took refuge from the storm in her basement.

Before I went down the basement, I went all around my house, and I prayed. I prayed for God to keep us safe, she said. Im just praying that everybody was safe. Everybody is safe and nobody got hurt.

Maggie Masker, also from Greenfield, said she is grateful to God that no one from her family died.

Im just thanking Jesus that were all here, she said. I knew my daughter was OK, she was at daycare, and all my family and friends who live right here were all OK. The dog wasnt here, but we found her. So Im just so thankful to God that were all here.

As a result of the damage, Greenfield is now limiting access to the city.

Access to Greenfield will continue to be limited tomorrow to permit access for equipment operators and contractors to conduct cleanup efforts using heavy equipment. Only volunteers connected to residents within the City of Greenfield or authorized contractors will be permitted entry. All other individuals will be refused access to ensure safety and efficient recovery operations, a statement from Adair & Guthrie County EMA said.

Volunteers are asked to enter the city from the north on Highway 25 at 9:00 a.m. or after. Contractors requiring authorization or with existing credentials should enter from the east on Highway 92.

This process is being utilized to minimize traffic congestion in impacted areas and facilitate safe operating conditions for volunteers in the area. Please avoid parking vehicles and trailers in the immediate disaster area. Where possible, please minimize the number of vehicles brought into the city, the agency said.
A group representing the families of hostages held in Gaza has released new video footage showing Hamas capture of five female Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border on Oct. 7.

The video shows several of the young soldiers bloody and wounded. In one scene, a militant tells one of the terrified women she is beautiful.

The footage was taken by Hamas militants who stormed the Nahal Oz military base, part of the militant groups wider assault on southern Israel that killed roughly 1,200 people and took about 250 others hostage.

Seven female soldiers who worked as lookouts on the border with Gaza were taken captive from Nahal Oz, said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which released the footage. All were 19 or 20.

The army rescued one of the women early in the war in a ground operation and said a second was killed in Hamas captivity. The five women in the video are believed to still be held by Hamas.

The Israeli army recently declassified the video and turned it over to the womens families. The forum said the families made the footage public in an attempt to pressure the government into reaching a cease-fire deal with Hamas that would free their loved ones.

Every new testimony about what happened to the hostages echoes the same tragic truth  we must bring them all back home, now, the forum said in a statement. The Israeli government must not waste another moment.

Israel has released similar photos and videos from the Oct. 7 rampage in a campaign aimed at shoring up support for the ongoing war in Gaza.

The footage released Wednesday is roughly three minutes and edited, with some images blurred to censor what the forum said is especially sensitive material.

It shows a group of more than a dozen armed militants binding the soldiers, two of whom had visible bloodstains on their faces.

In the video, the women try to converse with the militants. One says in English, I have friends in Palestine.

One militant yells back in English for them to be quiet. In other scenes, militants kneel to pray in front of at least four of the female soldiers, who are handcuffed and seated on the ground. One bears visible cuts on her legs, and her blood pools onto the ground beneath her as a militant binds her hands behind her back.

At least one of the soldiers appears to be in her pajamas, with blood visible on her face. One of the militants points at her and, in English, says, You are beautiful.

In a statement, Hamas called the video a manipulated excerpt whose authenticity cannot be verified. The militant group said the minor injuries and blood on the soldiers is to be expected in such operations, but denied physically assaulting the women.

Israels offensive on Gaza, launched in response to the Hamas attack, has killed about 35,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Ashley Waxman Bakshi, a cousin of Agam Berger, one of the women in the video , said that she cried the first time she saw it.

Toward the end, I felt like I was going to throw up. I think any person who watches this video will understand that feeling, especially as a woman, she said.

Other footage shows the militants dragging two of the female soldiers toward a jeep as gunfire rattles. One is led to the vehicle barefoot, hopping on one foot because of an apparent leg injury.

In another scene, a group of militants holds a hostage by their hands and feet. It is not clear whether the hostage is alive or dead. Another scene shows three of the female soldiers in the back of a moving vehicle, faces bloodied as militants yell around them. Berger, who is wearing a brown shirt, is one of them.

We know shes alive. We can feel it. She has a twin sister, she feels her, Bakshi said of her cousin. She was taken hostage not severely injured. You can see from the video." (AP)
Home News Woman defrocked from UMC over same-sex relationship reinstated

A former United Methodist Church pastor who was defrocked about 20 years ago for being in a same-sex romantic relationship has been reinstated by the mainline Protestant denomination.

The UMC Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference voted overwhelmingly during a closed session of around 200 clergy on Tuesday evening to readmit Beth Stroud.

Bishop John Schol, head of both the Eastern Pennsylvania and Greater New Jersey annual conferences, said he was deeply grateful for the discernment of the clergy and grateful that the church has opened up to LGBTQ persons.

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I couldnt be prouder as your bishop, and you couldnt have given me a better gift as I retire, continued Schol, who is scheduled to retire in August, as quoted in an annual conference report.

According to the conference report, the decision to reinstate Stroud was received with loud applause from attendees of the church gathering, as well as hymn singing and tearful hugs.

Stroud was then given a red clergy stole and joined fellow clergy in their procession to the annual conference meeting at Wildwoods Convention Center for the opening ordination and commissioning service.

For decades, the UMC debated whether to change its official stance prohibiting the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of individuals who were in homosexual relationships, as well as the funding of LGBT advocacy groups.

At this years UMC General Conference, held in Charlotte, North Carolina, delegates passed measures that removed those rules from the denominations Book of Discipline.

A major factor in this change was the departure of around 7,500 mostly conservative congregations from the UMC over the past few years due to frustrations with the ongoing debate.

Most congregations that disaffiliated from the UMC opted to join the theologically conservative Global Methodist Church, which was officially launched in 2022.

Although the language was removed from the Book of Discipline, some congregations still affiliated with the UMC have not decided to welcome the blessing of same-sex unions.

Highland Park United Methodist Church, a centrist megachurch located in Dallas, Texas, recently announced that while they were allowing their pastors to conduct same-sex weddings, the sanctuary itself would continue to prohibit such ceremonies.

Highland Park UMC Senior Minister, the Rev. Paul Rasmussen, said in a video that the changes made to the Book of Discipline are "neither an invitation nor a mandate for us to change from the church that we have always been."

"For 108 years, through 13 different senior ministers, Highland Park has always maintained the traditional definition and understanding of Christian marriage when it comes to weddings within our worship facilities," he stated. "We are going to continue to uphold the traditional definition of marriage in our worship venues."
Home Opinion President Raisis death: An accident or a plot  does it even matter?

While world leaders express condolences to Iran over the death of President Ibrahim Raisi and the Islamic regime has called for five days of mourning, neither I nor millions of Iranians are shedding a tear or mourning in any way.

In addition to Raisi, those who died on his fateful helicopter were Irans Foreign Minister Amir Hossein Abdollahyan, the Imam of Tabriz Mosque Ayatollah Al-Hashemi, and the Governor of East Azerbaijan Province Malik Rahmati. They were all leaders in the Islamic terrorist regime that has caused countless suffering.

However, not only will Raisis death not change anything, but it may even bring about a harsher crackdown on Iranians by emboldening the Islamic regimes terror proxies as a power struggle in Iran becomes more public. The regime may crack down on dissent, of which there has been much, especially since Raisis death.

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Nothing will change automatically because the head of the evil Islamic regime, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, is still alive. As long as he is in place nothing will change. Raisi and the others were only his puppets.

One of the significant things that have been highlighted since Raisis death is not only who will replace him as president, but who will be Ayatollah Khameneis successor. Khamenei is 85 and his succession is the big question because he is the literal head of the terrorist octopus. Until his death, speculation was wide that Raisi was being groomed for this position. Now, it is widely assumed that Khameneis son, Mojtaba, will be his fathers successor.

In a position that wields complete power and control over Iran and provides funding and support to its proxies all around the world, this will create a terrorist dynasty with unlimited power. Raisis death has been deemed an accident, but was it really? With such unlimited power, the Supreme Leader may very well have ordered the death of Raisi in order for his son to succeed him.

In 2009, when I was in prison in Tehran, facing a death sentence of my own for the crime of apostasy for becoming a Christian in Iran, I witnessed the torture and execution of many innocent people at the hands of the Islamic regime. While in prison, God told me in a dream that He would give the ayatollahs an opportunity to repent, otherwise He would destroy them.

Until that happens, the world needs to support Iranians who are celebrating and praying for their freedom, not mourn Irans dead terrorist leaders.

Who was Ibrahim Raisi and why should the world care?

Ibrahim Raisi became president in 2021, selected in a sham election to make Iranians and the world believe he had popular support. The reality is that he had the support of the Supreme Leader which qualified him to be president until he didnt have that support and mysteriously died. Raisi was responsible for the murder of countless Iranians, including the execution of women and children. He helped fund and plan the Hamas October 7th massacre in Israel and has been a long-time supporter of Islamic terrorism in Yemen, Gaza, Lebanon, and Iraq, along with numerous other terrorist acts around the world. He made chanting of Death to America and Death to Israel by Iranian school children into a genocidal anthem.

Before being selected as president, Raisi was appointed chairman of Astan Quds Razavi, a vast foundation that manages the donations, including cash and property, to the 8th Shia Imam, and also controls the industries that belong to it. Basically, he became a national Islamic mafia boss.

The Supreme Leader also appointed Raisi as head of Irans judiciary. Coming to this position with the nicknames Ayatollah of Execution, and Butcher of Tehran, having signed the death sentences of at least 30,000 political prisoners, there was never any chance of justice in the judiciary. He operated on the principle that Allah endows Muslims the right to terrorize their enemies. To them, terror is not only justified but also a sacred rite.

Raisi was supposed to be Khameinis successor. Now that he is dead, years of grooming the next Supreme Leader is up in smoke. Raisi can and will be replaced as president. But now, any pretense of finding Khameinis successor will be a farce. With Mojtaba all but assured of this position, it hopefully will encourage those trying to bring down the regime. But Khamenei (and Mojtaba, and anyone else with a dream of filling his turban) are likely to double down on strict enforcement of misogynist Islamic morality laws, threaten religious minorities, and do everything to ensure its unbreakable control.

Raisis death reminds me of a personal experience I had about how the regime integrates modern witchcraft to create fear among the masses and to strengthen the foundation of their Islamic system by shedding the blood of human beings. In my book, A Love Journey with God, I shared how the private witch of the former president Ahmadi Nezhad revealed to me how government officials secretly bring human sacrifices. To the Supreme Leader, the death of Raisi and other powerful officials would be a great sacrifice to strengthen his power.

This is an excerpt:

I was a witch in the past," he said. The man explained that when he was a child his parents dedicated him to two Islamic prophets, which gave him the ability to practice witchcraft. He added that he was a witch for powerful government leaders, and that they made their decisions only after consulting with a witch and making a sacrifice to Satan  especially those who make national and foreign policies. There are hundreds of agents in the city, he went on, working to control the country and the people. They meet in dark secret places underground. There are dozens of them who wear long black robes and stand in every square in the city. Only other witches can see them. To everyone else, theyre invisible. Government officials and mullahs have to sacrifice the blood of others to Satans agents for the success of their policies and plans. That is why once in a while they kill a large number of people: they dedicate the blood to Satan.

For the millions of Iranians who seek regime change and freedom, and the countless victims and their loved ones, many of whom dont even have a grave to visit, when the UN Security Council stood for a minute of silence in memory of the Butcher of Tehran, and the US State Department and other nations expressed official condolences, this was rubbing salt in the deep wounds of the Iranian people, deepening their pain and suffering.

Rather than standing for a moment of silence, world leaders should have condemned Raisis evil actions, and stood in solidarity with his victims, and all the Iranian people. Expressing condolences shows a lack of moral clarity that is as blind as Irans justice system, and is unforgivable.

With his own criminal and murderous resume, Raisi would have been a qualified successor to Khamenei. Now we can be sure that the Supreme Leaders son and likely successor will not be any less evil than his father.

Rather than the likely crackdowns, I pray this is the beginning of the end of the Islamic regime, that soon Iran will be free of the Islamic regime, and that all Iranians will see the true God.
Home Opinion Pro-Palestinian vs. pro-life: The courts and media are playing favorites

If you obstruct a business operation, damage property, and threaten people, the worst consequence you might face is getting expelled from college. You certainly wont face charges. Police are arresting some of the pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses across the country, but they are being released with nothing more than a strong talking to (and probably not even that).

So, how is it that two protesters were recently sentenced to years in prison? What could they have done to warrant such treatment? Was it worse than obstructing business, damaging property, or threatening people?

No, they were peacefully protesting. And thats truly peacefully protesting in the way that is supposed to be a constitutionally protected act and not the way that media defines it, which most people call rioting.

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Fox News recently reported that Lauren Handy was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for organizing a pro-life protest at a Washington, D.C.-based abortion clinic , while co-defendant John Hinshaw was sentenced to a year and nine months. Prosecutors actually sought a six-year sentence for Handy. Handy and Hinslaw, along with seven others convicted on the same charges, blocked access to the abortion clinic in 2020 while chaining themselves to furniture inside the clinic, according to the indictment.

Although they disrupted the business, they didnt damage property or threaten or commit violence. Yet, it was determined in a court that their actions deserve imprisonment while pro-Palestinian protesters are encouraged by the lack of action against them to escalate.

"The contrast here with the Pro-Palestine folks shutting down the colleges and even preventing graduation ceremonies and blocking entire highways and interstates in addition to the ongoing attacks  yet there are virtually no ongoing investigations. I think there's kind of a palpable sense of selective prosecution elements that can't be ignored here," Steve Crampton, senior counsel at the Thomas Moore Society told Fox News.

Not only is the law, which is supposed to be fair, being applied with blatant bias, but the comparison goes beyond the comparison between pro-life and pro-Palestinian protests.

Look at how pro-life and pro-abortion protesters are treated.

When the pro-life CompassCare office in Buffalo was firebombed in 2022, it took nearly two months before the police released their first statement on the case. The FBI didnt even start their investigation until five weeks after the incident.

And keep in mind this is with several key pieces of evidence, including video surveillance that clearly shows multiple arsonists planning and executing these attacks on the centers, CompassCare CEO Rev. Jim Harden wrote.

Meanwhile, if someone stands on a public street in front of an abortion clinic and says anything that is perceived as pro-life, they are arrested. The same year CompassCare was firebombed, a similar accident happened to a Planned Parenthood office. This kicked off a multi-agency investigation that resulted in an arrest and charges days later.

As they say, if it wasnt for double standards, the Democrats might have no standards at all.

If we are expected to trust the system, then it needs to be shown to be trustworthy. It hasnt been. In fact, now more than ever, the legal system has been applied against the opposition to silence them. There is even a term for it  lawfare. But it does not involve either law or fairness. It is an abuse of power that needs to be stopped.
Home Opinion When preaching leaves a church, Christ goes with it

For centuries leading up to the dawn of the Reformation era in the 16th century, the Roman Catholic Church had deformed the church of Jesus. The blueprint for the church as recorded in Gods inerrant and sufficient Word had been so distorted and disjointed, that the God ordained form of the church had been lost.

Every aspect of the church of Christ had been twisted and repackaged into a deformed and deficient substitute that necessitated a reforming of the church into the original mold. That process would be far more than what Martin Luther thought when he attached his 95 Theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517.

The historic deformation





The explosion of the historic Reformation was fueled by Word of God. The Material Principle of the Reformation was focused on justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone for the remission of sin. However, the Formal Principle of the Reformation was focused upon the issue of authority. Who can speak for God? Was it the Pope of Rome? Was it the councils of the Roman Catholic Church?

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The Reformers were focused on bringing the Bible to the people. The priests were lecturing to the people in Roman Catholic cathedrals in Latin, a language that the common people didnt speak or understand. The worship was lifeless. There was no preaching. There were no preachers. The pulpit had been hijacked and pushed into the shadows as the Roman Catholic mass emphasized the altar as the central aspect of their worship. The pulpit was occupied by men who delivered shallow homilies in a dead language which kept the people in a cloud of confusion and darkness.



When preaching leaves a church, Christ goes with it.

When God raised up the Reformers, they gave themselves to the translation of the Bible and the proclamation of sacred Scripture. Martin Luther gave the people the German Bible. William Tyndale labored to bring the people the English Bible. John Knox was involved in bringing the people the 1560 Geneva Bible  the Bible of the Reformation. You can literally trace the movement of the Reformation to the movement of Gods Word.

The Reformers were gifted scholars, theologians, linguists, orators, authors, and Bible commentators. However, it was the pulpit where they took flight and powerfully delivered the Word to the people through relentless and powerful preaching of Gods Word. Martin Luther preached sometimes four times per day and approximately 4,000 sermons in his preaching ministry. His first sermon each Lords Day was at 5 am and he would preach every day through the week.

John Calvin was the expositor of the Reformation who labored verse-by-verse through books of the Bible in Geneva. From his local church were sent out many missionaries who would give their lives for the sake of the Gospel. It was preaching, and relentless preaching that fueled the Reformation. He was a faithful expositor of the Word.

He began his series through Acts in 1549. He completed it in 1554.

He preached 25 sermons on Lamentations.

He preached 5 sermons on the 21 verses of Obadiah.

He preached 46 sermons through 1 and 2 Thessalonians.

1 and 2 Corinthians  186 sermons.

He preached 86 sermons through the pastoral epistles.

His series through Galatians was 43 sermons.

He preached 174 sermons through Ezekiel.

He preached 48 sermons through Ephesians.

He preached 159 sermons through Job.

His series through Deuteronomy was 200 sermons long.

He labored through Isaiah in 353 sermons.

His series through Genesis was 123 sermons in length.

John Knox believed in preaching and was a powerful preacher. He is known as the founder of Presbyterianism and the father of Puritanism. He was a relentless defender of the Gospel of Jesus and a passionate Reformer in Scotland. Knox said that preaching is the chief ordinary means of grace. If you look at the paintings of Knox preaching as recorded in church history, he looks as if he is taking flight from the pulpit as he hangs over the front of the sacred desk of God with his hands pointing into the faces of the people. Knox was no boring preacher who simply merely saw himself as giving a lifeless biblical commentary to the people. Knox was a preacher.

While God raised up gifted and powerful servants to be instruments in the hands of our God to reform His Church, it was ultimately fueled by the Word of God. Thats why when you travel around the world, wherever you see large statues of the Reformers, they are almost always pointing at the Bible in their hand. In Berlin, the large statue of Luther depicts him pointing to the Bible. At the Reformation monument in Worms, Germany you will find the men pointing to the Bible. In London in the courtyard of the Royal Horseguard hotel, you will see William Tyndale pointing at the Bible. If you travel to Bedford, England you will find John Bunyan pointing at the Bible.

When the Bible is opened and expounded among Gods people, it always results in a reforming of his people to conform to the Word.

The modern deformation





Today, if you visit many evangelical churches you will notice that there is a constant deformation of Gods church that continues in our day. The form of Gods church is consistently being changed by every wind of culture. Pastors look to the culture to see what the people want and then form their local churches in that mold. Its the ancient temptation of pragmatism. There is always a cultural scheme offered to pastors that promises success. That typically means bigger numbers and increased financial budgets. In the end, it leads the church off course. Sometimes the move is subtle or slight and barely detectable, but decades and centuries removed it will be catastrophic.

Any move away from biblical preaching is a move away from God. When preaching is minimized and muzzled, it leads to a downgrade of the entire Church of Jesus. Rather than asking the culture what they want, we should look to the Word of God that remains fixed and sufficient for the answer. If the form of Gods Church is to be kept unstained and unaltered, it must be through a firm commitment to the Formal Principle of the Reformation. Who has the right to speak on behalf of God? The answer is the same in our day. Sola Scriptura!

When Jesus was preparing his disciples for his departure, he gave them a Great Commission. In that commission, we find one word that must not be overlooked. Sometimes the Great Commission from Matthew 28:17-20 is quoted with a slight omission. While it may seem minor and harmless, its a word that must not be omitted from Jesus words. Jesus said:

And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matt 28:18-20).

The word translated observe is critically important. The Greek term is  which literally means to keep, guard, or preserve. As the Bible is faithfully preached and explained on a weekly basis, the people will see and hear Gods Word clearly presented. As they come to understand Gods original form of His Church  it is the calling of Gods people to consistently keep that form unstained and pure. In other words, we are to be consistently reformed according to Gods Word in our day.

Historically, a phrase became popular during the time of the Reformation. It was ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda. The Latin phrase means, The church reformed, always reforming. The short version is, Semper Reformanda. If we will be consistently reformed according to Gods Word, it must begin with faithful biblical preaching. The primacy of preaching will result in a proper order among Gods Church. Its the pulpit that drives reformation and health in the life of a local church. Luther believed that the pulpit was the throne of Gods Word among his people. If we will experience a reformation in our day, it will begin by a firm and unwavering commitment to biblical preaching.

The Church must always keep the pulpit at the heart of the Church. The primacy of preaching must be carefully guarded. Every ministry in the life of the Church rises or falls based on the health and strength of the pulpit. As the pulpit goes, so goes the Church.

Originally published at G3 Ministries.
Home Opinion Who bankrolled the antisemitic campus chaos that swept America?

More than half of the protesters arrested at New York University on April 22 were not students, faculty, staff, or people otherwise affiliated with the school. And 45 of the 79 protesters arrested at the University of Texas at Austin were not associated with the school in any way, shape, or form. Tulane University officials announced most of the protesters on campus were not affiliated with the school, while New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated that outside agitators had co-opted the Columbia University protests.

NYPD released footage showing 62-year-old protest consultant Lisa Fithian instructing Columbia students on how to securely bar the doors and block police from entering the building they had seized. Fithian has a long history of being involved in protests, has been arrested more than 80 times, and was dubbed by the magazine Mother Jones as the nations best-known protest consultant.

Meanwhile, at campus encampments across America, row after row of freshly delivered tents stood neatly positioned on university lawns. These werent mismatched tents the students brought from home but were identical as if they were bought in bulk from a single source.

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At UCLA, live video from Fox News of the temporarily dispersed encampment showed a huge mess left behind, including piles of abandoned Yeti coolers, as well as brand-new power tools and stacks of plywood for the protesters to build walls. At UCLA in particular, the nights of glamping while dining on gourmet food apparently fueled the crowd into beating a Jewish girl unconscious, who had to be rushed to the hospital.



These lawless, anti-Israel encampments are a far cry from the ragtag bands of peaceniks of the 1960s. The debris alone reveals these protesters are extremely well-funded, and it is evident this lawless insanity is being bankrolled and coordinated by an outside source.

So, who is paying professional rioters like Lisa Fithian and catering, facilitating, and supplying their riots across the country?

Multiple nonprofits around the country have been linked to these destructive protests.

These groups have abused their nonprofit status to advocate for the overthrowing of not only Americas ally Israel but also of the United States of America itself  a violation of the U.S. Code.

The protests are not random, independent occurrences; neither are they exclusively student-led. Instead, a network of anti-Israel groups, many with direct ties to Hamas and Hezbollah, are directing the chaos. At least one of these organizations is directly paying protesters, with some receiving a $24-28 per hour stipend.

Documented below are some of the groups funding and orchestrating the antisemitic animosity on college campuses this spring:

Westchester Peoples Action Coalition Foundation (WESPAC), located in White Plains, New York, appears to be a small-town charity focused on local Westchester County initiatives. In reality, the group serves as a pass-through organization, slipping massive amounts of money to organizations whose activities  including violence  prohibit them from receiving charitable donations. In what some have described as money laundering, the group collects tax-exempt contributions and forwards those funds to protest groups that promote antisemitism.

National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) is the most visible leader of the nationwide protests. Founded at the University of California Berkeley, SJP is just one of the so-called student organizations that WESPAC funds. Because SJP hides behind WESPACs charity status, no one knows its budget or the extent of its expenditures. SJP has chapters on some 200 college campuses.

Almost immediately after the October 7 massacre, SJP sent out a tool kit to jump-start pro-Palestinian protests. In the days following October 7, SJP released an official statement declaring the attack to be a historic win for the Palestinian resistance. SJP also officially declared that this is what it means to Free Palestine: not just slogans and rallies, but armed confrontation with the oppressors.

Within Our Lifetime (WOL) is another WESPAC-funded group connected to campus protests. Within weeks of the October 7 massacre, WOL fueled attacks on American Jews by publishing a map of Jewish organizations and instructing its members to make these locations a stop in your protests. picket and leaflet outside of them, make supporters of genocide uncomfortable.

The United States Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR) is similar to WESPAC. The USCPR also serves as an umbrella organization, funneling money to anti-Israel protest groups that can't get nonprofit 501(c)(3) status. The organization has repeatedly been tied directly to Hamas and funds many anti-Israel, antisemitic organizations, the most visible of which is the deceptively named Jewish Voice for Peace, which has also been front and center at the protests.

Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) founded in 1996, has the stated goal to drive a wedge within the American Jewish community, with aims to alienate Americans from Israel.

But where are these so-called charities getting their money?

Each of these groups have multimillion-dollar budgets with which they have funded the riots  including paying people to protest. Their funding is coming from two prominent billionaire families  namely the Rockefeller and Soros dynasties.

John D. Rockefeller and his son, John D. Rockefeller Jr., were eugenicists who believed in eliminating Jews and other undesirables for the betterment of humankind. Close associates of Planned Parenthood founder and fellow eugenicist Margaret Sanger, the Rockefellers didnt just talk the talk, they funded the people willing to walk the walk.

By the mid-1920s, for example, the Rockefellers had donated $410,000 to German eugenics researchers studying how to create a master race. In 1929, the Rockefellers gave an additional grant of roughly $317,000 to fund experiments on Jews, gypsies, and others by Hitlers medical experiment architect, Ernst Rudin.

After the war, the Rockefellers, who simply renamed their eugenics campaigns as genetic research, later funded some of the most antisemitic, anti-Israel organizations on the planet, including the present-day pro-Hamas protests.

George Soros, who was born to nonreligious Jewish parents in 1930, managed to escape World War II death camps by posing as the Christian godson of a Hungarian who helped in the confiscation of Jewish properties in Nazi-occupied Hungary.

Since at least 2009, Soros has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Palestinian causes to influence Congress, reporters and government officials. His funding has been used to attack and malign the Jewish state, support the boycott Israel movement, fund links to known terror organizations like Hamas, and support various groups that spout antisemitism.

Combined, these families donated a stomach-twisting $3.36 million (at least) to the anti-Israel protest groups, according to The Washington Stand, including:

The U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), officially named Education for Just Peace in the Middle East, received $355,000 from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund from 2018-2023, and over $700,000 from 2018-2022 from George Soros Open Society Foundations (OSF).

JVP received $775,000 from Soros OSF from 2017-2022 and another $490,000 from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund from 2019-2023.

If Not Now (INN) received $400,000 from OSF in 2019-2021.

Adalah Justice Project received $550,000 from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (via Democrat-funded pass-through Tides Center) in 2020-23.

The Arab American Association of New York received $60,000 from OSF in 2018.

Desis Rising Up and Moving received $30,000 from OSF in 2020.

Anti-Jew protests bankrolled by Arab nations

During WWII, Muslims joined German Nazis in the final solution to wipe Jews from the face of the earth. Hitler capitalized on Muslim hatred, and tens of thousands of Arab Muslims fought for the Nazis. Certain Muslim muftis or legal experts met with Hitler to help the effort, and some Muslim rulers would broadcast Nazi propaganda from his palace to further encourage Muslims to help the Nazis kill Jews.

Fast-forward some 80 years, and an Arab nation is pouring billions into universities as so-called student groups chant Hamas slogans against Israel, destroy universities, and harass Jewish students.

Rioters at George Washington University demanded the beheading of university officials, referencing a common and brutal Sharia (Islamic law) form of punishment as students at New York University chanted Death to America and Long live the intifada.

The source of the propaganda these so-called student organizations are gleefully chanting should be quite clear: Muslim terrorists.

The Qatari International Education Institution (Muassasat Qatar) has allegedly spent at least $1.5 billion funding Islamic radicalism at 28 universities, as revealed in 2012.

The nation of Qatar spends roughly $405 million a year funding six other American universities to host campuses in Qatar, according to Najat Al-Saied, a researcher from the United Arab Emirates, in a July 2020 article.

Yet more research reveals Qatar dumped another $5.6 billion into 81 other American universities since 2007, including Harvard, Yale, Cornell, and Stanford, according to Raymond Ibrahim, a Middle East and Islam expert.

Ibrahim said the funding is used to perpetuate hatred of American culture while promoting radical Islam. The same nations funding terrorists are pouring billions of dollars into the universities to disseminate radical Islamic ideology and denigrate Jews and Israel.

Dangerous antisemitic insanity cannot continue

This is just a glimpse into the dark underbelly of the well-coordinated effort to pervade higher education and American culture with destructive antisemitic ideologies.

It is dangerous when slogans from the Nazis in the 1930s and 40s are repeated. It is dangerous when pro-Hamas agitators are advocating the overthrow of the United States. And it is dangerous when Iran praises the violence and says that when Iran attacks America, these students will side with the ayatollahs.

If we were successful in uncovering the facts about who is bankrolling the pro-Hamas rallies terrorizing Jewish students and destroying taxpayer-funded colleges and universities, so can Congress.

University presidents have chosen Muslim Brotherhood blood money over Jewish students safety and American law. Congress must fully investigate and hold accountable the university presidents, the violent jihadi student organizations, and the anti-Israel billionaires funding and enabling the antisemitic riots destroying our colleges.

The coordinated chaos is linked to a history that should never be repeated and must be stopped.
Have the nones jumped the shark? Maybe

Since the mid-2000s, the fastest-growing religious group in America has been the so-called nones.

The percentage of Americans who claim no religious affiliation nearly doubled from 2007 (16%) to 2022 (31%), becoming a force in American culture and one of the largest segments of the religious landscape, according to Pew Research.

But all things pass. And the skyrocketing growth of the nones may be fading.

"They are not growing as fast as they used to," said Ryan Burge, associate professor of political science at Southern Illinois University and author of "The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going."

Burge, known for his popular graphs depicting religion trends, told Religion News Service in an interview that the growth of the nones appears to be waning. He pointed to data from Pew, the General Social Survey and the Cooperative Election Study, all of which appear to show a slowdown in the percentage of Americans who claim no religion.

Pew's most recent published data found that 28% of Americans did not identify with a religion in 2023, a slight dip from the previous year. The CES data, the latest of which was released in May, showed that from 2020 to 2023, the percentage of nones was relatively stable. In 2020, the CES found that 34% of those surveyed were nones, while in 2021 and 2023, that percentage was 36%. (In 2022, 35% of those surveyed were nones.)

"From a pure statistical standpoint, I don't know if we can say with any certainty whether there's a larger share of nones in the United States today than there was in 2019," Burge wrote in a recent edition of his Substack newsletter.

Burge compared the growth of the nones to the growth curve of popular products such as the Peloton bikes or tech companies like Apple and Google. Those brands grew rapidly at first but could not keep up that rapid growth forever.

"They became mature businesses," said Burge. "That's what the nones are  they're not going to grow at this unbelievable pace going forward."

Burge also suspects that most of the Americans who were eager or ready to give up on identifying with a religion have already done so. Any future growth, he said, will likely come from generational replacement  as older, more religious Americans die off and younger, less religious Americans take their place.

Greg Smith, associate director of research at Pew Research Center, said it's too early to tell what exactly is happening with the nones. There have been some signs in recent years that the percentage of nones is stabilizing, he said, but that may be due to the normal fluctuations in survey responses from year to year.

In 2022, he said, the percentage of nones jumped to 31%, then dropped back down to 28%. He added that in 2016, the growth of the nones appeared to pause and then started to grow again.

"As we looked at the data, the conclusion we've come to, even it is kind of wishy-washy, is that it's way too early to tell if the rise of the religious nones has come to an end," he said.

Conrad Hackett, a senior demographer and associate director of research at Pew, said there are signs that "something interesting" is happening with nones right now but more data is needed.

Hackett said the conditions that fueled the rise of the nones are still in place. Younger Americans are less religious than older Americans, many Americans still switch their religious faith, and being nonreligious has become "stickier," said Hackett  so that people who are born without a religious identity are more likely to stay nonreligious. Nonreligious people in the U.S. also tend to be younger than religious people.

Hackett is the co-author of a 2022 Pew report that projected what religion in American could look like in the next 50 years. That report looked at the birth and mortality rates as well as rates of switching religious identities and projected a long, slow growth in the nones for the foreseeable future. Researchers projected that by 2070, the nones would make up between 41% and 52% of Americans.

Christians, according to Pew's projections, would make up just under half of Americans, with non-Christian religious people making up about 12% of the population.

Complicating matters is that Pew, like other organizations that survey religion in America, has moved to a probability-based online model for surveys  rather than mostly phone interviews. The GSS, a well-respected and long-running survey, switched from in-person interviews to a hybrid phone and online model during COVID  making it harder to compare its most recent data with past versions.

The CES data has consistently found higher percentages of nones than the GSS and Pew. But Burge said all three sources appear to show that something has changed with the growth of the nones.

The slowing growth of the nones doesn't mean a religious revival in the U.S. Instead, Burge said, the U.S. will likely end up in the future with large numbers of religious people and nonreligious people, with neither group having a sizable majority. That will pose challenges for democracy, he said, which relies on cooperation and compromise  which is difficult when many people are feeling unnerved by the changes in the country and where religious and nonreligious people have different ideas on how the country should be run.

And those conflicting ideas lead to polarization and at times, hostility. That hostility, if it continues to grow, "will be bad for democracy," said Burge.

"We can't function in a democracy where you have two very large groups who hate each other."

 Religion News Service
International community urged to act after death of Eritrean church leader in prison

Appeals have been made to the international community to put pressure on Eritrea to uphold religious liberty after the death of a church leader in prison.

Rev Ghirmay Araya was one of the founding fathers of the Full Gospel Church in Eritrea and was arrested and jailed for his faith in 2021, despite never being charged with any crime.

He died last week aged 83 while still being held at the maximum-security Wengel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation Centre.

His supporters told Release International, a charity supporting persecuted Christians, that Rev Araya "endured his suffering with steadfast faith".

Release International partner Dr Berhane Asmelash said he was "deeply saddened" by Rev Araya's death.

"Rev Ghirmay served the church diligently for more than 60 years in both Eritrea and Ethiopia. His ministry extended across the Orthodox, Lutheran, and finally Full Gospel churches," he said.

Rev Araya is survived by five children and 13 grandchildren. Local sources say that one of his sons, a Lutheran minister, is currently imprisoned in a shipping container.

It is believed that there are hundreds of other Christians in prison in Eritrea. Dr Asmelash said that many are "getting on in age and suffer from various health conditions". He is calling on the international community to act.

"All our calls to the government of Eritrea have fallen on deaf ears. So I call on the international community and fellow believers to put pressure on the government about trying to stop this barbaric act against people who have done nothing wrong," he said.

Dr Asmelash has just published his biography, Brother, I Have Come to Arrest You, which tells the story of his own arrest and imprisonment because of his Christian faith.

The book is endorsed by Fiona Bruce MP, vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, who said "the world should know of the suffering and bravery of thousands of Eritreans, barbarically imprisoned, tortured, and killed  simply on account of their beliefs".

"And to know that this is happening right now, in the third decade of the 21st century," she said.

"This is not cheap grace," she added.

Release International CEO Paul Robinson said: "This is a remarkable account of the importance  and possibility  of standing strong in the faith under the most appalling of conditions, as the tragic death of Rev Ghirmay Araya serves to illustrate.

"As Fiona Bruce and Dr Berhane remind us, there is no such thing as cheap grace. And this book serves as a wake-up call to the Church in the free world, to truly value our freedom and to use it effectively for the Gospel."
Beijing's propaganda apparatus has gone all-out as its war games encircle Taiwan, with martial music blaring, graphics touting the military's "cross-strait lethality," and threats that the blood of separatists will flow.

China launched on Thursday what it called "Joint Sword-2024A" exercises, surrounding Taiwan with warplanes and navy ships and vowing "stern punishment" of separatist forces on the island.

And as state broadcaster CCTV aired an online livestream that lasted more than six hours featuring martial tunes and a video of young soldiers rushing to their stations on a loop, talking heads lined up to hail the drills as a righteous response to Taiwan's new leadership sworn in three days ago.

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, using language more typical of nationalist tabloids, warned that those seeking Taiwan's independence would be left with "heads broken and blood flowing."

China's military released a series of graphics showing off the equipment involved in the mission, from jets to ballistic missiles and artillery, boasting of their "cross-strait lethality" and emblazoning them with bloodstained text proclaiming that a "rain of arrows eliminates independence."

In one, a hail of rockets stream towards a small island, while in another a jet targets a wooded area.

The United States switched its diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979 but remains the island's most important ally and supplier of military hardware.

The military warned on Thursday that "relying on foreigners is a harmful path" and that independence for Taiwan was a "dead end."

State media also lined up a series of commentators to tout the military's rehearsal of a full-scale blockade of the island to cut it off from its allies and energy imports.

Tong Zhen, a researcher at the Academy of Military Sciences, told the nationalist Global Times newspaper the exercises showcased the military's "ability to conduct an all-round attack on the entire island."

That would be done, he said, "without any blind spots" and would allow the military to "form an intimidating situation from the east to the west" of the island.

'Stuffed into birdcage'

Zhang Chi, a professor at Beijing's China National Defense University, told CCTV the drills aimed to "strangle" Taiwan's critical Kaohsiung port to "severely impact" its foreign trade.

They would cut off "Taiwan's lifeline of energy imports" as well as "block the support lines that some US allies provide to 'Taiwan independence' forces," he said.

Others gloated that Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te was getting his comeuppance for an inauguration speech in which he vowed to defend Taiwan's democracy from Beijing's threats.

Lai had been "directly seized by the mainland's military might and stuffed into a birdcage," former Global Times editor-in-chief Hu Xijin posted on social media platform Weibo to his millions of followers.

Nationalists seethed online over Lai's speech and warned Taiwan against efforts at independence, some using obscenities to make their point that the "one-China principle is unquestionable."

"The unification of the motherland is unstoppable," a Weibo user said of the military's announcement of the drills. (AFP)
The House Foreign Affairs Committee has advanced a bill that would enhance the White Houses ability to regulate the export of AI systems, amid ongoing efforts to tighten grip on key technologies.

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission reported last year that China is using commercial AI advancements to prepare for military conflict with Taiwan, bill co-author and House Representative Michael McCaul said in a statement. We must understand that whoever sets the rules on its application will win this great power competition and determine the global balance of power.

McCaul emphasized the critical role of AI, stating, AI will permeate every facet of our economy and military, serving as a bedrock upon which our prosperity and security rests. This is why safeguarding our most advanced AI systems, and the technologies underpinning them, is imperative to our national security interests.
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Whenever Google makes a change to its search product, it inevitably generates a lot of anxiety among news outlets, many of which rely on the revenue they get from traffic driven by the platform. But the response to the companys most recent announcement was arguably a class apart. Its the End of Google Search As We Know It, read a headline in Wired. Danielle Coffey, the CEO of the News Media Alliance, a lobby group that represents newspapers and other publishers, told CNN that the changes would be catastrophic for its members; others called the Google news a death blow. Nilay Patel, the editor in chief of The Verge, argued that the latest changes will accelerate what he calls Google Zero, whereby Google search traffic vanishes completely for some publishers.

The changes in question involve a fundamental reworking of Googles search product, which will incorporate a variety of features powered by the companys artificial intelligence engine, which it calls Gemini. (The new features were announced last week at Googles annual developer conference in Mountain View, California, an event known as I/O.) As Wired explained, the latest announcement is the culmination of a series of moves that Google has made over the past year or so. Last year, the company created a separate section of its Search Labswhich allows users to experiment with new featuresfor what the company called the Search Generative Experience. The announcement last week essentially incorporates those experimental features into the main search product.

The most obvious change is that, for many searches, AI-generated summaries of the information a user has requested will appear at the top of the search page, above Googles traditional blue links; when a journalist from Wired asked, for example, where the best place to see the aurora borealis would be, Googles AI-generated response advised the Arctic Circle as part of a longer passage of text. Liz Reid, the head of Googles search team, told Wired that AI answers wont appear for simple searches that could be satisfied by linking to a specific website, but will be used for more complex queries. (If you want the old-fashioned results without the AI summary, you can still get them by clicking on the Web heading under the More tab at the top of the search page. According to a number of reports, you could also try adding a few characters to your Google search URL.)

While links to external websites do appear below the AI-generated answers, some publishers and groups such as the News Media Alliance are afraid that they will attract precious few clicks, since the AI will have already provided the most obvious answer to the users question. Googles response to these criticisms has been twofold. On the one hand, the company argues that its job is to help users get the information they need as quickly as possible; in many cases, giving them an answer without making them click on a link is the best way to do that. As Reid told Wired, If you have an opportunity with technology to help people get answers to their questionswhy wouldnt we want to go after that?

At the same time, Google says that it remains committed to referring traffic to publishers and that it believes users will still click on links even if they have already gotten an answer to their query. In a video interview with Patel, Sundar Pichai, the chief executive of Google, said the company recognizes the symbiotic value of the ecosystem that it has created with publishersif there arent sites making unique and useful content, Pichai said, then what are you putting together and organizing? Echoing a blog post by Reid, Pichai insisted that, according to Googles own research, many users click on links even when AI-generated summaries are available. Yes, there are times people come and all they want is a quick answer, he said. But AI summaries will lead to growth for high-quality content.

To say that some publishers are skeptical of this hypothetical future would be an understatement. As Kevin Roose noted in the New York Times, Google executives argue that AI summaries take the legwork out of searchingbut this legwork, Roose writes, pays for a lot of journalism, which in turn makes the Web more useful by providing high-quality information that can be searched in the first place. Despite Googles reassurances about clicks on AI-generated results, Gartner, a technology research firm, estimates that Google search traffic overall will fall 25 percent by 2026, while Raptive, which provides services to thousands of websites, estimates that some sites could lose up to two-thirds of their previous Google traffic, at the cost of as much as two billion dollars to site creators.

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Googles push to integrate AI into search and other products isnt being driven solely by an interest in serving readersor even a desire to experiment with new technologybut also by a kind of competitive pressure that the company hasnt experienced in some time. Ever since OpenAI came on the scene with products such as ChatGPT, the existing major platforms have scrambled to either cut licensing deals with OpenAI or develop their own in-house AI engines and products. Microsoft, for example, has invested in OpenAI and has integrated the latters technology into its Bing search engine, as well as a new chat-oriented AI search engine that it calls Copilot.

As I wrote recently in a piece for CJR, news publishers have themselves taken divergent paths in response to the AI tsunami. A number of news companies, including Axel Springer and the Associated Press, have signed licensing deals with OpenAI that involve payments for their contentand, in some cases, links to their content in ChatGPTs resultsin exchange for letting ChatGPT train itself on their archives. But other news companiesincluding the New York Times, The Intercept and eight newspapers owned by Alden Global Capitalhave taken a different tack, and are suing OpenAI for using their content without permission to train its AI engine. Some publishers are also working on developing their own large language models, or AI engines that are trained exclusively on their own content.

As they have trialed new strategies for dealing with a disruptive new technology, many publishers have continued to rely on the traffic they get from Google search links. But even this older technology has hardly been static over time. As Wired noted, the traditional ten blue links that used to be Googles calling card have been declining in prominence and value for a number of years. First came advertisements, which began breaking up pages of search results; then Google started adding info boxes and highlighting specific results in what the company calls the carousel at the top of its search results page, as well as linking directly to other Google products. In that sense, AI-generated answers or summaries of links are a continuation of a pattern of evolution, rather than a totally new threat. In his interview with Patel, Pichai noted that some of the same fears about declining traffic greeted previous technological changes, like the arrival of smartphones.

One challenge for Googleand other AI-powered search companies such as Microsoft and OpenAI, which is expected to launch its own search engine at some pointis the propensity for the large language models that power such technology to simply invent results, a problem that some observers refer to as hallucinating. (Last year, The Atlantic asked Google to name a country in Africa whose name starts with the letter K; the results, powered by ChatGPT, said that there wasnt onewhich was likely news to the people of Kenya.) AI engines have also invented criminal charges against innocent people, among other significant errors. At least one legal expert has argued that Google could be legally liable for AI-generated search answers in ways that dont apply to its listing of external links, which are protected from liability under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Some media companies have argued that the unreliability of AI-generated text reinforces the need for the verifiable facts that news publishers can provide; in some cases, publishers have used this argument as a rationale for licensing their content to OpenAI. In his interview with Patel, Pichai said that rewarding originality is a complex questionbut that Google is trying to satisfy the expectations of users, who are voting with their feet when it comes to which search results they see as most useful. Even for Google, the AI future is accelerating rapidly. But will it be an extinction event for news publishers, or an opportunity?



Other notable stories:

Correction: A previous version of this story used an incorrect name when referring to the CEO of Google.

ICYMI: Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala on reporting, imprisonment, and an attempted coup in the DRC

Mathew Ingram was CJRs longtime chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg.
A judge in Hawaii on Tuesday ordered Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi to pay more than $916 million to the state for failing to warn non-white patients of health risks from its blood thinner Plavix, up from an earlier judgment of $834 million.

The ruling from Judge James Ashford, of Hawaiis First Circuit Court, follows a non-jury trial held last fall. It was the second trial in the case, after the states Supreme Court found that the judge in the first trial that resulted in the $834 million award had made a legal error.

Once actually received by the state general fund, I anticipate that this award will provide greater healthcare services to the people of Hawaii, Governor Josh Green, a Democrat, said in a statement.

France-based Sanofi and U.S. drugmaker Bristol Myers said in a joint statement that they disagreed with the decision and would appeal. The overwhelming body of scientific evidence demonstrates that Plavix is a safe and effective therapy, regardless of a patients race or genetics, they said.

Hawaii alleged the companies violated state consumer protection laws by marketing Plavix without disclosing that the drug could have a diminished or no effect for some people, particularly of East Asian and Pacific Island ancestry.

Plavix, known generically as clopidogrel, is prescribed to prevent blood clots that can lead to strokes and heart attacks. The blood thinner needs to be activated by the bodys own enzymes, which can vary genetically.

Studies have shown that about 14% of Chinese patients are unable to metabolize the drug properly, compared with 4% of Black and 2% of white patients.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2010 issued a Plavix warning label to reflect that information.

Bristol Myers and Sanofi still face a similar lawsuit over Plavix by the state of New Mexico.

(Reporting By Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill Berkrot)
Passengers injured by severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight on Tuesday are likely eligible for compensation, but the amount each receives could differ dramatically even for identical injuries due to an international treaty.

One passenger died and the airline said 30 passengers were treated for injuries after a flight from London to Singapore made an emergency landing in Bangkok on Tuesday. Samitivej Hospital said it was treating 71 passengers.

Under the Montreal Convention, Singapore Airlines is liable for accidents, which can include turbulence, on international flights regardless of whether the airline was negligent, according to U.S. aviation lawyers. If passengers file a lawsuit, the airline cannot contest damages up to around $175,000.

It Felt Like We Had Crashed: Singapore Air Passenger Describes Turbulence Terror

If a passenger seeks larger damages, Singapore Airlines can try to limit liability by proving it took all necessary measures to avoid the turbulence, said Mike Danko, a California attorney who represents passengers. He said airlines rarely prevail on such arguments.

Danko said the airline can also limit their liability by showing the passenger bore some of the fault for the injury, such as by ignoring warnings to wear a seat belt.

The size of damages often comes down to the country where the case is filed and how the legal system assesses the amount of compensation.

First and foremost what is the jurisdiction where you can bring a claim and how do they value injury claims, said Daniel Rose, a New York attorney with Kreindler & Kreindler, which represents passengers.

For example, U.S. juries have awarded passengers more than $1 million for the emotional trauma of severe turbulence, while many courts in other countries award far less if anything for similar emotional distress.

The Montreal Convention sets out various rules for determining where a claim can be brought, which can depend on the destination, where the ticket was purchased and the residence of the passenger.

Tuesdays flight departed from London bound for Singapore and carried passengers from around the world.

Aviation attorneys said British passengers on a round-trip ticket originating in London could file a claim in UK courts. Others might have been planning to catch a connecting flight to return home to Indonesia, where they would have to bring their claim. As a result, claims might differ widely in value for the same injury.

Curtis Miner, a Florida attorney who represents passengers, said the 2013 crash of an Asiana Airlines plane in San Francisco resulted in injured passengers with widely varying compensation because many were flying round-trip originating from various East Asian cities.

The passengers were from all over the place, said Miner. So people who may have had similar injuries, some could bring their case in San Francisco but others who were not able to.

(Reporting by Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; editing by Stephen Coates)
Russian missiles slammed into Ukraines second-largest city in the northeast of the country and killed at least seven civilians early Thursday, officials said, as Kyivs army labored to hold off an intense cross-border offensive by the Kremlins larger and better-equipped forces.

At least 16 people were injured as S-300 missiles struck the city of Kharkiv, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. The sound of 15 explosions reverberated around the city of some 1 million people.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attack extremely cruel. He expressed renewed frustration at not getting enough air defense systems from the countrys Western partners to prevent the barrages after more than two years of unrelenting war.

The city of Kharkiv, which is the capital of the region of the same name, lies about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Russian border. Moscows troops have in recent weeks captured villages in the area as part of a broad push, and analysts say they may be trying to get within artillery range of the city.

In what is shaping up to be Ukraines biggest test since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces are being pressed at several points along the about 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line that snakes from north to south along the eastern side of the country.

With Ukraine short of air defenses and waiting for more Western military support that recently started trickling in, its army has been pushed backwards in places while Russia has pounded its power grid and civilian areas. Kyiv endured further power outages Thursday.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the attacks underscored the country's urgent need for more U.S.-made Patriot systems to defend its skies. Germany recently pledged one of the missile systems "but getting six more as soon as possible remains critical not only for Ukraines survival but for peace in Europe, Kuleba wrote on the social media platform X.

Zelenskyy said the main hotspots in recent fighting have been Kharkiv and the neighboring Donetsk region, where in February Ukraines defenders withdrew from the stronghold of Avdiivka . For the Kremlin, taking control of all of partially occupied Donetsk is a war priority.

At the same time, and in an apparent effort to stretch Ukraines depleted forces, Russian troops have made incursions in the northern Sumy region.

Nearly 1,500 people, including 200 children, have been evacuated from the towns of Bilopillia and Vorozhba in that region, according to regional Gov. Volodymyr Artiukh.

The main focus (of the fighting) is on the entire border area, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address Wednesday.

In Liubotyn, a small town about 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of Kharkiv city, Russian missiles struck the towns center, injuring eight civilians.

Russias defense ministry said Thursday that its forces had taken control of the Donetsk settlement of Andriivka , which Ukrainian forces had held since grueling combat in September that left the village in ruins.

Elsewhere in Donetsk, Russian forces claimed advances in the vicinity of Chasiv Yar, Konstantinovka and Rozdolivka.

It was not possible to independently verify the claims. Recent Russian advances have been incremental.

Ukraine has also trained its sights on Russian regions across the border. Russias defense ministry said Thursday that 35 Ukrainian rockets and three drones were shot down over the Belgorod region. Regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said one drone struck a house and exploded after being shot down, killing a woman. (AP)
A bankruptcy court judge has approved a plan by the cryptocurrency lender Genesis Global to return about $3 billion to its creditors and investors, including thousands of people who New York regulators say were defrauded by the company.

The plan and settlement approved by Judge Sean H. Lane includes up to $2 billion to settle a lawsuit by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who said the company misled investors about the risks of putting their money into a company program known as Gemini Earn.

This historic settlement is a major step toward ensuring the victims who invested in Genesis have a semblance of justice, James said in a statement Monday. Once again, we see the real-world consequences and detrimental losses that can happen because of a lack of oversight and regulation within the cryptocurrency industry.

Creditors whose claims were in U.S. dollars will be receiving 100% of their loan balances by the firm, which filed for bankruptcy last year. Those with claims in cryptocurrency will see some short of shortfall, according to the decision.

The settlement includes a victim fund for Genesis creditors to help recover some of their losses, James office said.

We look forward to putting the Plan into effect and making distributions as expeditiously as possible, Genesis Interim CEO Derar Islim said in a statement.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Kathleen Martin, a former senior data compliance official at Citigroup Inc., accused the bank of firing her for refusing to mislead a regulator about the lenders data governance efforts.

Martin said in a lawsuit in New York Wednesday that Citigroup Chief Operating Officer Anand Selvakesari asked her to hide critical information about the banks metrics from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency because the data would make the bank look bad.

The bank hired Martin in 2021 to help revamp its data processes and avoid further legal jeopardy after the OCC levied a $400 million fine related to the banks data governance practices, according to the complaint. Selvakesari was named COO in 2023, giving him oversight of the firms ongoing work to comply with the consent order in the case.

Related: Citi Sued by ATM Customers Over Reverse Race Discrimination

Martin said in the lawsuit that almost as soon as he was promoted, Selvakesari urged her to falsely tell the board and regulators that Citigroup had hit certain goals.

The more Martin pushed back against this unlawful activity, the worse things got, according to the 14-page complaint. Eventually, she says, the bank fired her, even though internal documents show that she was an exemplary performer who exceed[ed] expectations.'

Citigroup declined to provide an immediate comment.

Martin said in the lawsuit that she was initially reluctant to leave a senior role at JPMorgan Chase & Co. before receiving assurances from Citigroup that she would be given a long-term leadership position.

In November 2021, Martin started as data chief administration officer and was later promoted to interim data transformation chair after helping the bank come up with a plan to comply with the consent decree, according to the lawsuit.

Martin said she was told that the interim title was meant to ease high level executives into their new role.

The case is Kathleen Martin v. Citibank N.A. and Anand Selva, 1:24-cv-03949, US District Court Southern District of New York.

Top photo: A Citibank branch in Washington, DC, US, on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. Citigroup Inc. will start a round of job cuts as soon as Monday as part of its sweeping reorganization, according to a person briefed on the matter. Photographer: Nathan Howard/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
With recent news that Johnson & Johnson is going forward with a third bankruptcy plan of a subsidiary to settle tens of thousand of lawsuits that its talc products cause cancer, a class-action lawsuit was filed today alleging the companys fraudulent manipulation of the bankruptcy code.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey by a handful of individuals claiming they have suffered with cancer and mesothelioma as the result of using J&Js talc-based powder products.

Early this month, J&J announced it would try to garner consensus internally and from 75% of claimants to move forward with a nearly $6.5 billion proposed settlement to end the years-long litigation against it via another bankruptcy filing from its LTL Management subsidiarycreated to absorb the talc liability. Courts have twice rejected the companys attempt to use the bankruptcy system to settle the cases.

Related: J&J Effort to Resolve Talc Lawsuits in Bankruptcy Fails a Second Time

J&J has been steadfast in its denial that its talc product cause cancer.

However, the lawsuit filed May 22 by the products alleged victims represented by a half dozen law firms accuses J&J of fraudulent conveyancepursuing a strategy of repeat fraudulent transfers and serial bad faith bankruptcy filings to hinder, delay, and defraud the plaintiffs from having their day in court or getting any kind of recovery.

Johnson & Johnson is playing a dark game of chess with this countrys financial and judicial systems, said Levin Papantonio Rafferty attorney Mike Papantonio in an emailed statement. With a net worth of nearly $400 billion, this corporation has deliberately manipulated assets to sidestep its obligations to ovarian cancer victims and in so doing has robbed them of true and rightful justice.

The lawsuit seeks a declaration that J&Js actions have been fraudulent and done in bad faith. It also seeks compensatory and punitive damages to address the defendants malicious abuse and malicious use of process.

The 100-page lawsuit outlines J&Js alleged fraudulent transfers and mergers, pulling off the so-call Texas two-step that formed LTL shortly before a multidistrict litigation trial involving more than 50,000 cases was to begin in April 2022. LTL then filed twice for bankruptcy. J&J, according to the lawsuit, fraudulently transferred funds to, and capped funding agreements with, subsidiaries in order to shield it from liability.

The law firms said they have contacted others involved in the talc litigation to warn them of what they call the pitfalls of the latest bankruptcy plan that would settle plaintiffs claims at a fraction of their worth.

The case is Murphy et al. v. LTL Management Inc. et al., Case No.3:24-CV-06320, U.S. District Court, New Jersey.
WASHINGTON, D. C. - To House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a deadly Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) raid that killed an Arkansas gun owner in March exemplifies the disturbing weaponization of government trend hes crusaded against in Congress.

ATF Director Steve Dettelbach told Jordans committee and the gun owners widow that he and his agency are sorry about Bryan Malinowskis March 19 death. He noted an ATF agent was shot in the raid, and said independent investigators are probing it.

There is a great temptation, when a horrible incident happens, to prejudge, Dettelbach told Jordan, a Champaign County Republican. Sometimes people use it to advance agendas. "

Malinowski, 53, was executive director of Little Rocks Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport. His attorney, Bud Cummins, on Wednesday told Jordans Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of Government that Malinowski started collecting guns around 6 years ago when his father gave him his gun collection.

Cummins, a former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, noted its legal for collectors or hobbyists to buy, trade and sell guns without a federal license. He said Malinowski enjoyed setting up a table at weekend gun shows, to buy, sell and trade with other collectors, and had no idea that ATF believed he may have crossed a very murky line and he was no longer a hobbyist.

Cummins told Jordan an ATF affidavit alleges some guns Malinowski sold were found at crime scenes, but Cummins said none of those weapons were used to commit crimes.

If anybody had ever suggested to him that his weekend hobby was in any way threatening, he would have immediately been hands off, but nobody told him, Cummins said. Instead, ATF launched a criminal investigation into Bryan. They researched his background. They put a tracker on his car. They put tails on him and surveilled him and soon they obtained a search warrant to search his home.

Doorbell camera footage Cummins released showed ATF agents approaching the house with riot shields and disabling the camera. Cummins said Malinowski believed the agents were intruders when he heard them break down his door, and was shot after he opened fire. Cummins said 57 seconds elapsed between the agents covering the doorbell camera and their shooting his client in the head.

He questioned why ATF didnt tell Malinowski he might have violated their regulations, why the case warranted a pre-dawn SWAT team raid with forced entry, and why law enforcement officers who participated in the raid werent using body cameras. He said he hoped Jordans committee would be able to figure out what went wrong and fix it.

We give federal law enforcement awesome powers, said Cummins. But its a huge problem if those powers fall into the wrong hands.

Jordan and other Republicans spent a Thursday hearing grilling Dettelbach about the Arkansas incident. Jordan repeatedly asked why ATF agents didnt wear body cameras and why they decided to break down the door of the highest paid municipal employee in Little Rock, who had otherwise led a law abiding life.

ATF has yet to explain why it resorted to a risky pre-dawn entry of Mr. Malinowskis home when it could have peacefully escalated the warrant while he was away from his residence, said Jordan.

Dettelbach, a former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio and Democratic Ohio Attorney General candidate said that serving warrants are very dangerous operations that are handled by people with decades of law enforcement experience. He declined to discuss many raid details, citing the ongoing investigation. He said ATF is phasing in use of body cameras for agents, and only a third of its offices have them. He said ATF does 11,000 raids a year and he learned about the Arkansas raid after the fact.

He said there was evidence that Malinowski broke two separate firearms laws. He said Malinowski obtained around 150 firearms in the period before the March incident, and sold some of them the day after he obtained them. He said one weapon he sold was found on a 15-year-old gang member in California. Another was sold to a convicted robber in the back seat of a car in Little Rock. A third was found on a California drug dealer.

He said agents went to Malinowskis house in accord with a federally approved warrant. He stressed that that selling guns illegally is not a victimless crime as 60% of trafficked guns go to convicted felons, and some end up going to to criminal cartels south of the U.S. border.

Jordan also accused ATF of trying to revoke gun dealers firearms sale licenses for minor paperwork violations as part of a longtime plan to take guns away from Americans, and maintained a newly announced ATF policy to close the so-called gun show loophole should have to be approved by Congress.

If they cant take the guns away, theyre going to limit the number of places where law abiding Americans can go purchase their firearms, said Jordan.

The committees top Democrat, New Yorks Jerrold Nadler, defended the change and accused Republicans of cutting money for ATF and other law enforcement agencies.

Rather than targeting innocent hobbyist sellers, this rule will prevent illegal gun sellers from profiting off gun trafficking, said Nadler. This comes at a critical time given that the ATFs National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment revealed that unlicensed gun sales were contributing more and more to the flow of firearms into the black market andunsurprisinglybecoming a leading source of crime guns.

Dettelbach last month announced new standards for the type of firearm sales that will require federal licensure in an effort to cut down on unlicensed gun dealers selling guns without background checks. The new rule established as a result of 2022s bipartisan Safer Communities Act expands the definition of who must obtain a federal license and conduct background checks when they sell guns.

Dettelbach says more than 40,000 people in the United States died from gun violence last year. He said his agency is trying to reduce those numbers by taking the trigger pullers off the streets, and stopping them from easily obtaining firearms.

He said the new rule clarifies the conduct that qualifies one as being engaged in the business of selling firearms. He said that in the 1960s, Congress decided that anyone engaged in the business of dealing firearms for profit was required to get a federal license. In the 1990s, he said Congress required those licensees to run background checks when they sell guns. He said the Safer Communities Act expanded the definition of those who are required to get a licenses and therefore run background checks, and the new rule will clarify that.

He said the final rule that ATF approved after receiving nearly 388,000 comments identifies practices such as taking credit cards for payments that are likely to indicate that someone is in the business of selling guns for profit. It also identifies other circumstances, like occasional family transfers, and the liquidation of a collection by hobbyists and collectors, that would not require licensure.

He said the new rule wont infringe on anyones Second Amendment rights, or negatively impact the nations many law abiding licensed firearms dealers who are already playing by the rules

Senior White House officials estimated the new rule will require around 23,000 unlicensed gun sellers to get licenses, and will affect tens of thousands of gun sales each year. They said there are currently around 80,000 licensed gun dealers in the United States. They predict the rule will face legal challenges, but prevail in court.

Sabrina Eaton writes about the federal government and politics in Washington, D.C., for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
Vogue 
In a Wednesday interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer, Williams-Sonoma CEO Laura Alber explained how her company handles a tough housing market.

"The customer isn't shopping for as much furniture as they were because of the housing slump, but they are, you know, still updating their homes," Alber said. "They love their homes, it's their biggest asset. So, we've leaned into what we call 'easy updates,' things that you do to your house even when you're not moving."

Williams-Sonoma owns several brands besides its namesake housewares business, including West Elm and Pottery Barn. The company reported an earnings beat on Wednesday, but saw weakness in its Pottery Barn brand. Although shares opened up they were down nearly 11% by the close of trading.

Alber acknowledged that Pottery Barn was affected by high housing costs, but said Williams-Sonoma is doing better than industry rivals. To Alber, her company has a competitive advantage because it designs its own products, and it has more diverse offerings.

"We're not just a furniture brand, you know, we have seasonal holidays, we have collaborations, we celebrate life-stage events," she said. "And that's what's given us a lot of resilience even in what's a more difficult market."
Silhouette of passenger in front of the JetBlue Airbus A321neo aircraft spotted on the apron tarmac docked at the passenger jet bridge from the terminal of Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport AMS EHAM in the Netherlands.

JetBlue Airways said Wednesday that it is seeking U.S. Department of Transportation approval to pair up with British Airways so the airlines could each expand their networks.

The code-sharing agreement includes 75 destinations in the United States  39 from New York and 36 from Boston  and 17 cities in Europe.

Airlines frequently turn to code-sharing agreements, which allow carries to sell seats on airline partner's flights, to grow in regions outside their network.

American Airlines also has a more than decade-old joint venture with British Airways across the Atlantic that is more involved than a code-sharing agreement.

JetBlue has been growing its service to Europe in recent years, adding flights to Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin and Edinburgh, though it is dwarfed by larger trans-Atlantic alliances, including those of American, United and Delta Air Lines.

"We are always looking for new ways to offer our customers more choice when traveling," JetBlue said in a statement about the agreement, which was reported earlier by Paxex Aero, an industry news site.

If the agreement were to gain DOT approval, customers would be able to seamlessly book a single ticket for travel on both airlines, providing an expanded network of destinations across Europe and the U.S.

American declined to say if it was involved in the JetBlue-British Airways plan.

The new "codeshare provides more options for transatlantic travel, which travelers can appreciate, whether flying on the Atlantic Joint Business or otherwise," American said in a statement.

British Airways didn't immediately comment.

JetBlue's request for an agreement with British Airways comes a year after a federal judge struck down JetBlue's partnership with American in the U.S Northeast, which sought to allow the carriers to coordinate schedules and routes.
In a Wednesday interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer, Snowflake CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy indicated the cloud data company will collaborate further with artificial intelligence darling Nvidia .

"We collaborated with Nvidia on a number of fronts: Our foundation model, Arctic, was, unsurprisingly, done on top of Nvidia chips. There's a lot to come and Jensen's, of course, a visionary when it comes to AI," Ramaswamy said, referencing Nvidia chief Jensen Huang.

There will be more discussions about AI and new product announcements at Snowflake's Data Cloud Summit conference in June, he said. The conference will take place in San Francisco and include a talk with Huang. Ramaswamy said he's gotten to know the Nvidia CEO well over the past several months, adding that Snowflake is "super excited by the promise of accelerated computing."

Ramaswamy also said Snowflake's enterprise customer base is growing and described what the company can do for names like Kraft Heinz . For example, he said Snowflake's AI offerings can analyze customer feedback data to help determine automated responses to questions.

"Our product pipeline, especially in AI, has been in overdrive," he said. "The era of enterprise AI is here, right here at Snowflake."
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Outcomes for workers without a degree are improving

In fact, young adults without a college degree are doing better than they have in years, according to Pew's analysis of government data. Their earnings mostly trended lower since the mid-1970s, largely due to increased automation and a shift away from manufacturing and unionization. Then things turned a corner roughly a decade ago, when unemployment fell nationwide and opportunities increased for workers between the ages of 25 and 34, according to Fry. "Labor markets have been really tight, and this has particularly benefited less-educated workers," he said. Since then, circumstances  and earnings  have continued to rise for workers with just a high school diploma or some college. Today, "they are clearly better off than they were 10 years ago," Fry said.

Improving job opportunities for "new-collar" workers without a degree continues to drive more students away from college. "The societal choice presented to these would-be students  earn 'decent money' now or invest in a degree  is still heavily colored by labor shortages," said Hafeez Lakhani, founder and president of Lakhani Coaching in New York.

There's still a 'wage premium' for college grads

However, earnings for young adults with a bachelor's degree have also trended up over the same time period, leaving the so-called "college wage premium" intact, Pew found. According to the New York Fed's latest reading, annual wages for recent college graduates  those between the ages of 22 and 27  are 67% higher than for those with just a high school diploma. "The rewards of getting a bachelor's degree have not deteriorated," Fry said.

College is worth it, studies show

Getting a diploma is almost always worth it in the long run, many reports show. Bachelor's degree holders generally earn 75% more than those with just a high school diploma  and the higher the level of educational attainment, the larger the payoff, according to "The College Payoff," a report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Finishing college puts workers on track to earn a median of $2.8 million over their lifetimes, compared with $1.6 million if they only had a high school diploma, Georgetown's report found.

Adults with at least a bachelor's degree report higher financial well-being than adults with lower levels of education, according to a Federal Reserve study on economic well-being of U.S. households. College graduates are also more likely to report receiving a raise and benefiting from more hybrid or remote work opportunities than workers at other education levels.

'I have more students than I have seats'

Still, the rising cost of college and ballooning student loan balances have played a large role in changing views about higher education. More than half, or 53%, of high school students are open to an alternative path, and nearly 60% believe they can be successful without a degree, according to a study by ECMC Group. At Virginia's Fairfax County Public Schools Adult and Community Education, which focuses on career and technical training, "I have more students than I have seats," said Paul Steiner, the program's administrator.

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Alibaba on Thursday said it expanded its global cloud computing availability, while the head of the unit's international arm touted the company's AI products as a way to fuel growth.

The Chinese technology giant said it has expanded the availability zone of its cloud computing products to Mexico for the first time, and that it will build new data centers in key markets including Malaysia, Thailand and South Korea over the next three years.

"We want to have ... more efforts and investments for our international data centers," Selina Yuan, President of Alibaba Cloud's international division, told CNBC in an interview on Wednesday.

The push for growth follows a turbulent time for Alibaba Cloud, after the division scrapped a planned initial public offering and underwent a management reshuffle.

Alibaba's cloud division began to expand internationally in 2015 with so-far mixed results. Amazon , Microsoft and Alphabet -owned Google account for around 67% of global cloud market share, according to Synergy Research Group. Alibaba takes up just under 5% of that space.

In China however, Alibaba accounts for 39% of the market, according to data from Canalys  and the company is one of the top players in Asia.
Wall Street analysts are turning more bullish on Nvidia yet again following another strong guide from the chipmaking behemoth. The artificial intelligence darling beat earnings and revenue estimates for its fiscal first quarter  and showed no signs of a slowdown in momentum by issuing strong guidance. For the current quarter, Nvidia said it expects revenues to come is at $28 billion, ahead of $26.61 billion from LSEG. Some Wall Street analysts had feared a potential "air pocket"  or slowdown in demand  for Nvidia's chips heading into the print as the company transitions into the ramp of its Blackwell chips. Some also voiced concern of a slowdown as Nvidia laps the anniversary of its initial blowout print, but the results seemed to signal healthy ongoing momentum that prompted Wall Street shops to boost their price targets. NVDA YTD mountain Nvidia shares this year "A strong beat and raise directly in line with our checks further emphasizes the strong desire for AI investments across the broader ecosystem," wrote Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley as he lifted the firm's price target to $1,200 a share. Shares of Nvidia have rallied 92% this year as AI enthusiasm persists. The stock popped 7% before the bell and topped $1,000 for the first time ever in extended trading. The company also announced a 10-for-1 stock split , with shares up more than 209% over the last year. Following the results, Bernstein's Stacy Rasgon moved to a $1,300 target on shares, citing favorable results and commentary surrounding Blackwell that mitigated the air pocket fears and as the "general story remains on fire." The adjusted target reflects 37% upside from Wednesday's close. "The narrative is clearly nowhere near its end, or likely nowhere near its peak," he wrote, adding that shares appear inexpensive. Jefferies analyst Blayne Curtis moved to a $1,350 target, citing a strong Blackwell ramp and expectations for an acceleration in "magnitude of beats" in the second half of the year as the platform hits the market. The adjustment reflects 42% upside from Wednesday's close. Citi's Atif Malik adjusted his price target to $1,260, while JPMorgan's Harlan Sur revised his target to $1,150 from $850 as demand for Nvidia's tools continues to outweigh supply. Goldman Sachs analyst Toshiya Hari moved to $1,200 a share as new products power growth in the company's data center business. "We were more impressed with the increasing breadth of the customer demand, with enterprise/enterprise verticals driving strong Q/Q growth in addition to consumer internet hyperscalers," Sur wrote. "More importantly, the team noted that demand will continue to outstrip supply into CY25, and potentially easing fears of an inventory build/ correction in the 2H of next year." NVDA 1Y mountain Shares over the last year Morgan Stanley's Joseph Moore lifted his price target to $1,160 from $1,000 a share, calling recent lead time and supply chain commentary surrounding Nvidia's product transition "flat out misleading." He expects Nvidia's Blackwell chips to be sold out through 2025. More also expects the Blackwell transition to add "durability to the story" as hyperscalers up 2025 spending expectations and the inference stage of AI enters its early phases. The solid earnings performance justifies the stock performance and shows limited multiple expansion relative to some other AI semiconductor players, he added. "While it's large enough market that competitors can succeed or even gain share, NVIDIA remains the standard bearer for multifaceted AI," he wrote. "All of that keeps us positive on the opportunity, and with the rally in other compute names with AI exposure, NVIDIA actually becomes easier to rationalize." Nvidia's results lifted the broader chip sector, with the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) trading 3% higher in the premarket. Micron Technology and AMD were also up 3%.
An American Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 flight from Los Angeles approaches for landing at Reagan National Airport shortly after an announcement was made by the FAA that the planes were being grounded by the U.S. on March 13, 2019.

Boeing will burn through cash this year and deliveries of new planes won't improve in the second quarter from the first, as the manufacturer deals with a host of production challenges tied to its bestselling planes, the company's CFO, Brian West, said Thursday.

A month ago, West forecast Boeing would generate free cash flow "in the low single-digit billions." The new forecast shows the mounting costs of the plane maker's latest crises.

Boeing burned through nearly $4 billion in cash in the first quarter and West said that figure could be similar or "possibly a little worse" in the second quarter, but that the company would likely return to generating cash in the second half of 2024.

The company's aircraft deliveries in the first quarter fell to the lowest level since the pandemic. The bulk of a plane's price is paid when it's handed over to a customer.

Boeing's shares lost more than 7% on Thursday after West's comments at a Wolfe Research industry conference, a slide that weighed down the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

"We have frustrated and disappointed our customers because of some of the production supply chain issues that we're up against," West said at the conference. "And while I understand that frustration, the most important thing we can do for our customers and the supply chain in the industry is to focus on the actions that are underway as we speak so that we could stabilize this production system, improve quality, and get more predictable."

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun in March said he would step down by the end of the year, and the company replaced the chairman and chief executive of its commercial airplane unit. Leading up to the shake-up, CEOs of major airline customers complained about delivery delays and difficulty planning flights because of surprise disruptions.

Boeing's latest production issues surfaced after a door plug blew out midair from a nearly new 737 Max 9 at the start of the year, just as the company was trying to repair years of reputational damage from two fatal Max crashes in 2018 and 2019.

The accident increased federal scrutiny of the company, whose executives have vowed to stamp out production flaws and regain the trust of regulators, airline customers and the public.

Next Thursday, Boeing leaders are set to meet with the Federal Aviation Administration to present the company's plan to improve its quality control, the FAA said. The agency gave Boeing 90 days to complete the plan starting in late February.

Other problems have also sprung up, including a pause on deliveries of 737 Max planes to China to review batteries for the cockpit voice recorder. Boeing said in a statement that it is working with "our Chinese customers on the timing of their deliveries as the Civil Aviation Administration of China completes its review of batteries contained within the 25-hour cockpit voice recorder assembly unit."

Earlier this month, the FAA said it opened a new probe into the 787 Dreamliner inspections after the company disclosed "misconduct" by some employees. The agency said it was looking into whether employees falsified records.

Parts shortages have also slowed deliveries of Dreamliners, Boeing has said. American Airlines last month said it would cut some international flights because of delays of the wide-body jets. Other carriers, including United Airlines and Southwest Airlines , said they had to scale back growth and hiring plans because of delayed Boeing jets.
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket stands on the pad after the launch of two astronauts aboard Boeing's Starliner-1 Crew Flight Test (CFT) was delayed for technical issues prior to a mission to the International Space Station, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. May 7, 2024.

NASA and Boeing are targeting June 1 for the company's first crewed launch of its Starliner spacecraft as engineers investigate the cause of a helium leak and examine how it could affect crucial parts of the mission, the agency said Wednesday.

The helium leak on Starliner's propulsion system has held up the spacecraft's first mission to space carrying humans, initially planned for May 7 but successively delayed as NASA and Boeing attempt to fix the issue and run new tests on the spacecraft.

The U.S. space agency said engineers have broadened their review into the leak, which was traced to a valve component on a single thruster, to include an assessment of Starliner's propulsion system and how it might be impacted by the spacecraft's helium system.

Starliner's helium system is used to add pressure to the fuel that powers its onboard thrusters, which are used to maneuver the spacecraft in orbit.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, developed to ferry NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), has been delayed years and is more than $1.5 billion over budget. Persistent Starliner development challenges have illustrated Boeing's struggle to compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX on tighter budgets.

Starliner's debut crewed flight includes NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore. The mission is a final test before NASA can certify Starliner for routine missions to and from the ISS.

The space agency said Boeing has additional launch opportunities on June 2, 5 and 6 should it miss the June 1 window.
A logo hangs on the building of the Beijing branch of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) on December 4, 2020 in Beijing, China.

China's largest chipmaker SMIC is now the world's third-largest foundry in terms of revenue in the first quarter, according to Counterpoint Research.

State-backed SMIC, or Semiconductor Manufacturing International Co. , held a market share of 6% in the first quarter up from 5% last year, the report showed. It overtook GlobalFoundries and Taiwan's United Microelectronics Corporation .

This places SMIC behind only Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and South Korea's Samsung Foundry which held 62% and 13% of market share in the first quarter respectively.

"SMIC's quarterly results surpassed market expectations, and the company secured the No. 3 position in foundry revenue market share in Q1 2024 for the first time, as demand recovery begins in China, including CIS, PMIC, IoT, and DDIC applications," showed the Counterpoint Research report published Wednesday.

Chips made by SMIC are found in automobiles, smartphones, computers, IoT technologies and more.

SMIC reported first-quarter revenue was $1.75 billion, up 19.7% from a year earlier, as customers stocked up on chips. More than 80% of its revenue in the quarter were derived from customers in China, the firm said in its earnings report.

In the second quarter, the Chinese firm expects revenue to increase by 5% to 7% from the first quarter on strong demand.

China consumes nearly 50% of the world's semiconductors as it is the biggest assembly market for consumer devices, according to data from tech consultancy Omdia.
The rollout of the Biden administration's CHIPS Act award money has so far focused on providing major awards for major companies, with just four leading-edge semiconductor manufacturers receiving the lion's share of the $33 billion that has been allocated to this point.

Now, with $6 billion remaining, the focus is shifting to sending smaller awards to smaller companiesdozens of them, up and down the supply chain.

The goal, government officials and industry experts say, is to leverage the remaining grant money to lure in as much private investment as possible, while boosting supply chain resilience and economic security by funding U.S.-based facilities in areas like materials and packaging.

"We are really focused on investing across the semiconductor ecosystem," Michael Schmidt, director of the CHIPS Program Office at the Commerce Department, told CNBC.

That means funneling investments to both upstream suppliers  companies providing materials and equipment, for example  and downstream players, such as those involved in the advanced packaging that takes place after a semiconductor is produced. Schmidt said some current mature technologies, also known as legacy chipmakers, will likely be in line for a piece of the remaining funds as well.

"Once we begin to rebuild that ecosystem in this country, once we begin to rebuild the scale that we expect to see in this country, I think that will create ongoing investments, investment dynamics and continue to make it attractive for companies to invest in the future," he said.

The question of where the remaining CHIPS Act award money will be headed is looming large now that the Commerce Department has announced recipients for nearly 85% of its grant money and has committed to allocating the remaining funding by the end of the calendar year.

Hundreds of companies are still vying for a piece of the money that remains: More than 600 initially submitted statements of interest, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in February, but only nine have received awards so far.

Intel , Taiwan Semiconductor , Samsung and Micron combined will receive nearly $28 billion, while GlobalFoundries received $1.5 billion and four smaller companies  BAE Systems, Microchip , Polar Semiconductor and Absolics  received a combined $392 million. Another $3.5 billion has been set aside for the "secure enclave" program, which will produce semiconductors for military use.
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Nvidia to split stock, sales to soar

Shares of Nvidia rose more than 7%, topping $1,000 for the first time, in after-hours trading after its first-quarter earnings and sales beat analysts' expectations. The chipmaker expects second-quarter sales of $28 billion, compared with estimates of $26.6 billion. The company plans to split its stock 10 for 1.

Wall Street sinks on inflation fears

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 200 points, marking its worst day so far this month as minutes of the Federal Reserve's latest meeting stoked concerns about sticky inflation. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite also lost ground. Treasury yields inched higher as the prospect of rate cuts was pushed further out. Oil prices fell for the third consecutive day ahead of an OPEC meeting.

Fed inflation worries

Minutes of the Federal Reserve's latest rate-setting meeting showed the central bank was concerned about the "lack of progress" in bringing inflation closer to its 2% target, sending the Dow down 200 points. The minutes also revealed that "various participants mentioned a willingness to tighten policy further should risks to inflation materialize in a way that such an action became appropriate." The Fed policymakers maintained the benchmark borrowing rate within the 5.25%-5.5% range.

Alexa's AI makeover

Amazon plans to upgrade its Alexa voice assistant with generative artificial intelligence and charge a monthly subscription for the service, according to people familiar with the plans. The move comes after Google and OpenAI launched similar products. Subscription for the new AI-powered Alexa will not be included in the $139 per year Prime offering.

Vivek takes Buzzfeed stake

Buzzfeed shares shot up 20% after the former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy bought an 8% stake in the online media company. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ramaswamy said he would talk with Buzzfeed's management about every aspect of the company's operations, including an acquisition by a third party. The media outlet went public in 2021 and has seen its shares fall 94% since then.

[PRO] Under-the-radar AI plays

Hedge funds are loading up on these lesser-known beneficiaries from the artificial intelligence boom while cutting back on their exposure to mega caps, according to Goldman Sachs. The Wall Street investment bank analyzed the holdings of 707 hedge funds with $2.7 trillion of gross equity positions at the start of the second quarter.
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) faces reporters during a break in a bipartisan Artificial Intelligence (AI) Insight Forum for all U.S. senators at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, September 13, 2023. Julia Nikhinson | Reuters

Discharging student debt in bankruptcy is now easier

The new guidance has already led to changes. In the first 10 months of the Biden administration's more lenient process, student borrowers filed more than 630 bankruptcy cases, a "significant increase" from recent years, it reported last year. The administration said that the majority of those borrowers received full or partial discharges of their education debt.

CNBC spoke to bankruptcy attorneys earlier this year who said they noticed the difference. "While the government used to fight discharge aggressively in almost every case, there is now a policy to agree when the borrower can show financial need and a history of good faith efforts to pay the loans," Latife Neu, a bankruptcy lawyer in Seattle, said in March. "I've helped several people take advantage of the expanded ability," Neu said at the time.

Many borrowers are 'not aware' of changes

Yet Warren says more work still needs to be done. "More than 43 million borrowers in the United States carry a total of $1.6 trillion in student loan debt, and more than 2 million borrowers have been repaying those loans for at least 20 years," Warren and Whitehouse wrote. "DOJ and ED must work harder to encourage borrowers to seek relief  and deliver on that relief when requested," they added. The Department of Justice and Education Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The 1986 Air Carrier Access Act requires airlines to provide a wheelchair for passengers with disabilities at the airport. The problem, though, is that many travelers are faking it, Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle said.

"There is massive, rampant abuse of special services. There are people using wheelchair assistance who don't need it at all," Biffle said at a Wings Club luncheon on Thursday in New York.

He said he has seen some Frontier flights where 20 people were brought in wheelchairs at departure, with only three using them upon arrival.

"We are healing so many people," he joked.

Biffle wasn't talking about travelers' personal wheelchairs, but rather the service airlines provide when travelers arrive at the airport.

It costs the airline between $30 and $35 each time a customer requests a wheelchair, Biffle said, and abuse of the service leads to delays for travelers with a genuine need for assistance.

"Everyone should be entitled to it who needs it, but you park in a handicapped space they will tow your car and fine you," he told CNBC. "There should be the same penalty for abusing these services."

Biffle isn't the only executive to complain about travelers falsely claiming they need access to a wheelchair at the airport.

In July 2022, John Holland-Kaye, the then-CEO of London's Heathrow Airport, told LBC Radio amid staffing shortages that some travelers were "using wheelchair support to try to get fast-tracked through the airport."

"If you go on TikTok, that is one of the travel hacks people are recommending," he said. "Please don't do that. We need to protect the service for people who need it most."

John Morris, a triple amputee and founder of WheelchairTravel.org, noted there are reasons why some travelers might need wheelchairs on their outbound leg but not upon arrival. For example, they could need the help to get through a large airport like in Atlanta or New York City, but not so at smaller facilities.

"Disability impacts people in a lot of different ways," he said.

"I think there's a good case to be made that abusers should face some consequence but I'm not sure how we do that in a society when our disabilities aren't [always] visible," Morris said.

Earlier this year, the Department of Transportation proposed stricter rules aimed at preventing wheelchair damage by airport ground handlers and ensuring "prompt assistance" to travelers with disabilities when getting on and off the plane.
Gildan Activewear said on Thursday that its entire 12-person board would resign immediately in favor of activist Browning West's eight nominees, abruptly ending a contentious proxy battle and restoring former CEO Glenn Chamandy to the company he founded.

Browning West along with a significant number of Gildan shareholders had been fighting to bring back Chamandy as CEO, after he was ousted in December in favor of Vince Tyra, who was brought in from Houchens Industries. The activist firm later claimed Gildan's board was showing a "complete disregard for sound corporate governance."

It's the second mass resignation in the boardroom after five directors stepped down earlier this year as part of a "board refreshment."

The last time an entire board resigned during an activist battle was in 2012, when Canadian Pacific's board yielded to Pershing Square founder Bill Ackman hours before the railroad's annual meeting.

"We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support that Browning West's slate and plan have received from our fellow shareholders, Gildan employees, and leading proxy advisory firms," Browning West's Usman Nabi and Peter Lee said in a statement.

Headquartered in Montreal, Gildan is a supplier for major U.S. retailers and corporations, including Amazon and Target . Under Chamandy's leadership, the company has been trying to improve its overseas operations, with a focus on margins and spending.

Browning West, based in Los Angeles, accused Gildan's board of leaking an allegedly nonexistent sale process to the media and hiring private investigators to look into one of the firm's nominees. Gildan accused Chamandy of mismanagement and said Tyra was the ideal candidate to lead the company into its next stage. The company spent nearly $30 million on advisors to stave off the activist investor.

Michael Kneeland, a former CEO of United Rentals, will become Gildan's chair. The seven other directors, including Chamandy, are expected to soon take up their roles. Other major shareholders, including Anson Funds and Janus Henderson, backed Browning West's push. The activist also won full support from proxy advisors Glass Lewis and ISS.

"I'm extremely excited to return as Gildan's CEO and am gratified for the incredible support I have received from both shareholders and employees over the past six months," Chamandy said in a statement.
General Motors chair and chief executive officer Mary Barra participates in an Economic Club of Washington discussion on "the transformation of the automotive industry to an all-electric future, the path to autonomous vehicles, and the recent negotiations with GM's workforce" in Washington, U.S., December 13, 2023.

DETROIT  General Motors CEO and Chair Mary Barra on Thursday said she has no plans to retire any time soon as she tries to ensure the company's transformation is on "a good path."

Barra, who is the longest tenured CEO outside of the company's founder, has been asked about retirement for several years. The questions have grown as executives of competitors have come and gone under Barra's more than 10-year tenure leading GM.

"I'm having a lot of fun, and I want to make sure we have our transformation on a good path," she said during a fireside chat at a Detroit Economic Club meeting. "So, I'm young and in good health, I've got a supportive family, so I don't think I'm headed anywhere soon."

Many potential successors within GM have come and gone during Barra's tenure. Several left the company for other opportunities, while others retired or left the company for unspecified reasons.

Barra, 62, reiterated she serves at the pleasure of the GM board and that she continues to have "fun." She said she is working through "the most exciting time'' for the automotive industry during her career.

GM, like other automakers, is investing billions of dollars into all-electric vehicles, despite consumer adoption coming more slowly than many expected just a couple years ago.

The Detroit automaker also is attempting to relaunch its Cruise autonomous vehicle business after it ceased public operations following an Oct. 2 accident in which a pedestrian in San Francisco was dragged 20 feet by a Cruise robotaxi.

Cruise and EVs, along with software-defined vehicles and services, have been among the largest potential growth areas under Barra, who became CEO in January 2014.
Over 750,000 SMEs in Guangdong employ cloud systems for higher-efficiency production

13:52, May 23, 2024 By Sun Zhen, Cheng Yuanzhou ( People's Daily

Foreign merchants visit the exhibition area of Guangzhou Zhijing Information Technology Co., Ltd. at the ITMA ASIA + CITME held in Shanghai, November 2023. (Photos provided by Guangzhou Zhijing Information Technology Co., Ltd.)

Guangdong province in south China has been accelerating the digital, networked and intelligent development of the manufacturing sector in recent years, leveraging technological transformation to upgrade traditional manufacturing industries such as textile and home appliance.

As a major production base of the textile and garment industry, Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province has encouraged a number of industrial internet platforms to help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) transition to cloud-based systems and services, including Guangzhou Zhijing Information Technology Co., Ltd. (GZIT), a Guangzhou-based company that uses digital technologies to streamline textile operations.

The company has developed an intelligent platform that assists garment manufacturers find proper fabric suppliers. The platform gathers massive market information and can quickly search for desired items based on actual demands.

Shi Daqing, general manager of a garment company in Dongguan, Guangdong province, is a beneficiary of the platform. "In the past, I had to search in fabric markets for days every time I came to Guangzhou to procure supplies. Now, with online fabric selection, it only takes a few minutes to find the fabrics we want," said Shi, who has been engaged in the garment business for more than 20 years.

According to Li Yaping, co-founder and senior vice president of GZIT, the company, leveraging big data, Internet of Things and other cutting-edge technologies, has launched multiple smart cloud platforms that cover all sectors of the garment industrial chain, from fabric production to procurement, and from apparel design to sales.

Li told People's Daily that it generally cost over half a month to design a piece of clothing in the past, which needed multiple procedures such as graphic design, pattern making, cutting and sample making.

Photo shows an automated weaving machine equipped with a real-time intelligent quality-check system. (Photos provided by Guangzhou Zhijing Information Technology Co., Ltd.)

However, the cycle has been shortened to just minutes thanks to an intelligent apparel design platform independently developed by GZIT, which can rapidly generate virtual samples based on preset styles and preferences.

In a smart textile park of GZIT in Yibin, southwest China's Sichuan province, the company employs a real-time intelligent quality-check system.

Many defects of fabrics couldn't be spotted by manual inspections, and now with the fully automated quality-check system, over 99 percent of the products are qualified, said Li Peifeng, head of the smart textile park.

"Each roll of the fabrics comes with a quality-check report and a QR code, which enable full traceability of production information along the chain," he told People's Daily.

Since its establishment in 2014, GZIT has continually expanded its business scope, serving more than 50,000 enterprises in the textile and apparel industry both inside and outside Guangdong province with digital technologies.

"Cloud" services give a big helping hand to SMEs, which is deeply recognized by Chen Kai, general manager of a textile company in Foshan, Guangdong province.

Photo shows a smart brain system for dyeing. (Photos provided by Guangzhou Zhijing Information Technology Co., Ltd.)

"We all know the benefits of digitalization, but everything about it, from R&D to equipment upgrade, costs money. Cloud services allow us small businesses to achieve significant outcomes with minimal investment," Chen noted.

Today, Chen's company can pay to use GZIT's intelligent systems and enjoy tangible benefits of technological transformation. "The systems monitor equipment operation in real time, reducing abnormal downtime by 35 percent and boosting overall efficiency by 30 percent," Chen said.

As more and more companies adopted its services in recent years, GZIT built a cloud platform that coordinates upstream and downstream production.

"Downstream apparel manufacturers place orders, the platform assigns them, and upstream textile firms take them," said Li. "Through cloud-based management, we can rapidly match demands and supplies, thus promoting efficient production."

Li is quite optimistic about GZIT's future development. "Apart from servicing upstream and downstream enterprises, we are now integrating them to make the industrial chain more resilient and competitive!"

Zou Yongbing, chief economist of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong province, said that in recent years, the province has introduced and cultivated over 400 outstanding industrial internet platform companies and service providers including GZIT. Collectively, they have driven digital transformation for over 30,000 industrial enterprises above designated size and enabled over 750,000 SMEs to adopt cloud solutions.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Youth aged 15 to 29 make up 83% of all unemployed people in India.

India's startup ecosystem is poised for promising growth as the country works toward boosting economic growth and entrepreneurship  but more jobs are needed to combat high levels of unemployment.

That's according to the CEO of one of the largest recruitment firms in the country, who warned that overall unemployment rates continue to climb.

India's unemployment rate rose to 8.1% in April compared to 7.4% the previous month, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy.

The number of startups in India jumped 37% in April compared to a year ago, leading to a 14% increase in the number of jobs from startups, latest employment trends data from Foundit showed.

The report highlighted that the IT services sector had that most job opportunities, and more than 50% of new startup jobs were catered toward fresh university graduates.

"In the last few years, we had an absolute boom in startups coming out of India and now have a lot of startups in every space," Foundit CEO Chandra Garisa told CNBC.

India has always had a "quality of talent," he said.

"The access to capital and creation of an ecosystem between government bodies and investors have created a flywheel in itself," Garisa said, referring to the investment flows entering the country that have given India's startup space a boost.

While India's push to be self-sufficient in manufacturing and IT is giving young people more career routes and choices, more needs to be done to combat India's high youth unemployment, Garisa said.
CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. CNBC's Michael Sheetz reports and curates the latest news, investor updates and exclusive interviews on the most important companies reaching new heights. Sign up to receive future editions.

Last week I had the opportunity to take part in venture firm Space Capital's NYC summit, which gathered investors and portfolio companies and included a number of panels on key industry topics such as Starship and China.

The conversation I moderated was on "Big (Geospatial) Data & AI," with the goal of exploring how the two rapidly evolving worlds of satellite data collection and artificial intelligence interact. I was joined by Nathan Kundtz, formerly of satellite antenna company Kymeta and now leading a synthetic data startup called Rendered, and Rachael Martin, the Maven Office Director at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. It's rare to hear from someone like Martin, who's deep within the intelligence community and has a front row seat on the intersection of classified information and cutting-edge technology.

Martin leads the Department of Defense's flagship AI program, Project Maven, from within the NGA, which is effectively a sibling agency to the National Reconnaissance Office. Simply put, Project Maven at NGA is working on how AI can use satellite imagery and data to detect objects and activities around the world.

Or, in Martin's words, the NRO will "launch them and we tell them where to go."

The introduction of AI into the satellite data realm is one of necessity, Martin emphasized, because "we have billions of geospatially-referenced data points," so "how do we understand them in a way that can provide value?"

"We're in a position where you have satellites everywhere but there's so many of them that you still don't know what's going on everywhere, and you couldn't possibly look at all that data and understand it in a helpful way," Martin said.

"As the volume of that data grows, it is beyond the capacity of the human mind to be able to derive any kind of useful understanding from that kind of data," Martin said. What's more, "There are many different kinds of geospatial data and you're not necessarily going to use the same kinds of AI techniques to derive value" from each of them, she added.

One of the major changes Martin has seen in recent years is that more and more companies in the geospatial realm "want to be part of helping us evolve solutions to some of our challenges."

"From a national security perspective, our adversaries are not interested in putting objects of interest where we can find them. And so in many cases, we have to use [artificial intelligence] to help us imagine what they might look like in other scenarios that would be of interest to us," Martin said.

And more change is coming: The next step in the evolution of geospatial data and AI, from her view, is applying generative AI "to basically arm non-experts with the ability to expertly use geospatial data."

"What we can do with some of the generative AI tools that are coming out is to create the ability for a non-expert to query complex geospatial data and get a response back far, far more quickly than if they would have just outsourced that to a data scientist," Martin said.
CNBC's Jim Cramer on Thursday said he thinks it's unwise to trade Nvidia , saying investors should keep the AI darling.

"Until the AI revolution runs on something else  and despite what you hear, nobody else comes close to these chips  you should just own it, do not trade it," he said. "Just don't sell it on a moment's notice. In fact, don't sell it at all unless you need to do some profit-taking to even out your portfolio because it's just become too large."

Nvidia's earnings report Wednesday blew past Wall Street's expectations, sending shares over $1,000 for the first time. The stock continued to perform well during Thursday's session  finishing up more than 9%  and Cramer pointed out it was still able to tally substantial gains on what was a bad day for the broader market.

According to the earnings report, enterprise companies are still clamoring for Nvidia's chips. Its quarterly revenue beat estimates by about $2 billion, according to LSEG, and its data center revenue grew by 427% over the past quarter. These advanced, expensive chips are essential for developing and deploying artificial intelligence applications, and the company's big-time customers include Microsoft , Meta , Amazon , Alphabet and OpenAI.

Cramer noted that Nvidia habitually exceeds earnings expectations and added that investors shouldn't be skeptical of the company's success. According to Cramer, many on Wall Street don't understand exactly what Nvidia does.

"If you're going to own this stock, you must take the time to learn," he said. "If you did, you'd know that the customers said to be deserting Nvidia aren't deserting, they're desperate for its product."

Nvidia declined to comment.
PARIS, France  Europe is pursuing AI innovation, tech regulation and competition with China in very different ways than the United States, French President Emmanuel Macron said this week, as the continent seeks to become the third major global tech force in what is now a U.S.-China dominated landscape.

"It's insane to have a world where the big giants just come from China and the U.S," Macron told CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin in an exclusive interview Tuesday in Paris.

"We need much more European big players, and I think Mistral AI can be one of them," Macron said of France's leading AI company. Microsoft recently invested 15 million euros ($16.3 million) into Mistral.

Macron also praised H, the newly launched French AI startup that announced this week it had raised a massive $220 million from its initial round of financing.

"I think it's even good for the U.S. ecosystem to have a very vivid, vibrant and ambitious European ecosystem," he said.

Macron spoke to CNBC as technology leaders descended on Paris for the VivaTech conference. On Tuesday, the Elysee Palace hosted a group of business leaders and engineers in AI, on the eve of the event.

The meetings came on the heels of a wave of new private investments in the country, led by a commitment from Microsoft of 4 billion euros, its largest ever to France.

"The more that AI companies decide to locate in Europe, he said, "the more the European governments will be in the same situation as the U.S. and the Chinese governments."

"Our challenge for AI is accelerate, innovate and invest, and on the other side, regulating at the appropriate scale," he added.

The European Union is ahead of the United States in regulating artificial intelligence, having passed the first major set of regulatory rules in March with the EU Artificial Intelligence Act.

Macron also defended the strict European Union online privacy regulations, and he rejected the widely held view in Washington that Brussels is deliberately trying to undermine the dominant positions of U.S. tech giants like Google and Meta through a kind of competition-by-regulation strategy.

"I think it's wrong," said Macron. "If I want to provide a guarantee on your privacy, storage of your data, the view of your cloud, this is a sovereign and very important democratic issue."

He compared allowing American tech giants to operate under U.S. regulations while in Europe, to allowing a French bank in the United States to ignore American banking regulations.

"The point is, I don't regulate you when you're operating in the U.S. But just be sure that when you operate in the European continent, you have to respect European rules."

When it comes to China, however, Macron implied that he thought some U.S. tech regulations had gone too far.

He said France, for example, does not see a significant national security threat arising from TikTok, the massive social media app owned by China-based ByteDance.

Under a U.S. law recently passed in the name of national security, ByteDance will be required to divest TikTok in order to continue operating on American devices.

"We didn't use this approach, and we are neutral in terms of technology, nationality, and players," said Macron.

"Look, I think China is a competitor when you speak about trade, innovation and economy. I think the pity is that we should work much more collectively in order to push them to be compliant with international rules, instead of deciding ourselves not to respect international rules ourselves," he said.

"They compete and they are quite good in terms of creating innovations and producing," he said. "We were too naive till now, and today Europe is less productive to its economies [than] the U.S."
Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said he and his family members were not involved in any "corrupt practices."

Last month, Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission said Mahathir was among individuals being investigated over a corruption probe that involved his sons, according to Reuters.

Mahathir's sons  Mirzan and Mokhzani  were in January ordered to declare their assets as part of the investigation.

"During my time, there was corruption. But I myself was not involved in corrupt practices," Mahathir told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" on Thursday.

"I made sure that even my family cannot be involved in a government business because I might be accused of nepotism."
Microsoft CEO Brad Smith participates in a meeting at The Westin Palace Hotel, on 20 May, 2022 in Madrid, Spain.

Microsoft President Brad Smith said the tech company's high-profile deal with the United Arab Emirates-backed AI firm G42 could eventually involve the transfer of sophisticated chips and tools  a move that a senior Republican congressman warned could have national security implications.

In an interview with Reuters this week, Smith said the sales accord, many details of which are being reported here for the first time, could progress to a second phase that entails the export of crucial components of AI technology such as model weights, a crown jewel of AI systems that determine how powerful they are. Smith said there is no firm timeline for the second phase.

U.S. officials have said that AI systems could pose national security risks, for example by making it easier to engineer chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. The Biden administration in October required the makers of the largest AI systems to share details about them with the U.S. government.

To move forward, the deal would require the approval of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Microsoft executives said the agreement has safeguards to protect Microsoft's technology and prevent it from being used by Chinese entities to train AI systems.

But those measures have not been made public, and some U.S. lawmakers question whether they are adequate.

The closed-door nature of the negotiations between two private companies over the terms and safeguards on transfers of U.S. technology have alarmed some lawmakers.

"Despite the significant national security implications, Congress still has not received a comprehensive briefing from the executive branch about this agreement," Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, told Reuters. "I am concerned the right guardrails are not in place to protect sensitive U.S.-origin technology from Chinese espionage given the (Chinese Communist Party's) interests in the UAE."

The Commerce Department already requires notifications and, in several regions, export licenses to send AI chips abroad. But the Microsoft-G42 deal highlights gaps in U.S. laws as regulators rush to keep up with fast-moving technology.

At present, for example, there is no regulation restricting the export of AI models, though McCaul and a bipartisan group of lawmakers this week advanced legislation that would give U.S. officials more explicit power to do so.

Microsoft executives said the company welcomes a debate on a new legal framework governing the transfer of AI technology and that the deal with G42 requires the UAE firm to comply with U.S. regulations as they evolve.

"Fundamentally, what we're focused on is trying to ensure that American technology can move around the world safely and securely," Smith said.
Nvidia 's latest blowout earnings report spells good news for a host of other tech stocks. The dominant maker of artificial intelligence processors delivered expectation-topping fiscal first-quarter results and stronger-than-anticipated guidance, declared a 10-for-1 stock split and raised its dividend. That strong showing bodes well for a host of other companies riding the AI tide or with specific connections to Nvidia. For Super Micro Computer , Bank of America analyst Ruplu Bhattacharya sees multiple growth opportunities ahead, and strong continued demand related to AI that extends beyond cloud services can be a big catalyst. "In our view perhaps the biggest takeaway from Nvidia's F1Q25 earnings call was that demand for AI related accelerated computing remains strong and is expanding beyond cloud service providers to consumer internet companies, enterprise and sovereign AI," Bhattacharya told clients. "In our opinion, Supermicro stands to benefit from this growing demand." Bhattacharya said Super Micro is well-positioned with smaller cloud service providers that are expanding globally amid strong demand. It's also in talks with sovereign entities looking for partners to best utilize AI on the hardware end. Super Micro has already had a monster year, soaring more than 211% in 2024 after climbing 246% in 2023. Despite that, Wall Street sees more room to run: The average analyst polled by FactSet has a buy rating and price target implying shares can climb almost another 15%. SMCI YTD mountain Super Micro, year to date Taiwan Semiconductor also stands to gain from Nvidia's report, according to Bank of America analyst Brad Lin. Taiwan Semiconductor, which he called the "enabler of generative AI" as a supplier of integrated circuits and packaging, should benefit from high demand. Nvidia's strong forward guidance is a particularly good sign, Bank of America argued. Lin also said that Nvidia's growing focus on energy efficiency can strengthen Taiwan Semiconductor's place in the industry. "We are encouraged to learn the robust cloud AI outlook shared by Nvidia," Lin wrote to clients. Citigroup analyst Laura Chen told clients to expect "strong momentum to continue" at Taiwan Semiconductor following Nvidia's latest financial results. Taiwan Semiconductor's U.S. shares have jumped 52% in 2024. The majority of analysts surveyed by FactSet have a buy rating, with the average price target suggesting shares can rise more than 3% over the coming year. Dell can now tout bullish AI projections on its earnings call at the end of May, said Citi analyst Asiya Merchant. Dell, which announced an AI factory partnership with Nvidia earlier in 2024, is also likely to demonstrate its "fortitude" in growing market share through full-stack offerings, the analyst said. "Overall we believe the diversity of end markets + broadening customer base that are deploying AI infrastructure support our positive view on DELL," Merchant said. Dell's share price has more than doubled in 2024. However, while most analysts have buy ratings, the typical price target reflects a potential pullback of more than 7%, according to FactSet data. Stifel analyst Tore Svanberg saw two key groups as winners exiting the Nvidia report: those with high exposure to data centers and those that are focused on the intersection of AI and automotives. For the former, he listed Astera Labs , Credo Technology , Marvell Technology , Macom Technology Solutions and Monolithic Power Systems as likely winners given their high exposure. Maxlinear and Semtech are probably secondary beneficiaries, Svanberg said. On the auto side, the analyst pointed to NXP Semiconductors , ON Semiconductor , Ambarella and Texas Instruments as stocks that benefit. Analog Devices , Monolithic Power Systems and Microchip Technology can be secondary winners.
Owning overcrowded trades that are most popular among hedge funds could be risky for individual investors in the event of a herd-like stampede by systematic traders, according to Morgan Stanley, which looked at stocks to avoid. The Wall Street firm studied the largest 70 hedge funds based on assets under management, and identified Russell 1000 stocks with the highest percentage of public float owned by them, based on the most recent 13F filings. "Crowded trades come with the risk of overvaluation and increased volatility as it may be more difficult to attract the marginal investor, while avoiding overcrowded stocks can provide investors with an opportunity to capture unrecognized value when paired with strong fundamentals," Morgan Stanley strategists said in a note. Despite their popularity and performance, none of the megacap tech stocks made the list of overcrowded stocks. That's because their enormous share count makes hedge funds' ownership less significant. Morgan Stanley found that hedge funds were most overweight in consumer discretionary, industrial and health care stocks last quarter, while they were most bearish on technology and consumer staples companies. Car rental agency Avis Budget Group was the most crowded stock among hedge funds, with more than half of its float owned by the fast money crowd. Real estate owner and developer Howard Hughes Holdings and health-care company Incyte were also popular names last quarter. Janus Henderson , The New York Times , Planet Fitness and Wayfair were also on the list of crowded trades.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting.
Officials continue to conduct operation and inspect the area after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, United States on February 17, 2023.

Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $310 million to settle charges over a toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023, the company announced on Thursday.

The majority of the settlement is an estimated $235 million to cover all past and future cleanup costs. Per the agreement, the company will also pay a $15 million civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act.

The agreement resolves a lawsuit filed in March 2023 by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice against Norfolk Southern for allegedly violating the Clean Water Act after the derailment of a freight train carrying hazardous substances ignited a dayslong fire that forced local residents to evacuate and contaminated the soil and waterways.

"We are pleased we were able to reach a timely resolution of these investigations that recognizes our comprehensive response to the community's needs and our mission to be the gold standard of safety in the rail industry," Alan Shaw, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern, said in a statement. "We will continue keeping our promises and are invested in the community's future for the long-haul."
Even many activists themselves acknowledge that activism itself will need to evolve to deliver more value, as Nelson Peltz's son-in-law and former Trian partner Ed Garden said on CNBC in October.

It is no wonder investors are becoming increasingly wary in allocating toward activist funds, if not withdrawing their money altogether. Assets under management have slid in recent years, reversing a decades-long growth trend.

Whether today's activist investors contribute any genuine economic value is open for debate. Their own track records suggest the answer has been a resounding "no." We revealed previously during a misguided campaign against Salesforce, that practically every major activist fund dramatically trails the returns of passive stock market indexes such as the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average , over virtually every and any time period while Salesforce's value soared.

As this year's proxy season draws to a close, defeat after defeat for activist investors in proxy fights this year  most prominently at Disney and Norfolk Southern  raises the question: Are activist investors increasingly getting de-activated, losing their credibility and power? These self-styled "activist investors" are distinct from the original activists who helped catalyze needed governance reforms two decades back.

Today's activists find themselves under siege on not only their value proposition and credibility, but their entire purpose. Many of today's activist investors are a far cry from the original, heroic crusaders for shareholder value who pioneered the activism space decades ago. The genuine, original activist investors include Ralph Whitworth of Relational Investors, John Biggs of TIAA, John Bogle of Vanguard, Ira Millstein of Weil Gotshal, as well as Institutional Shareholder Services' co-founders Nell Minow and Bob Monks. They were at the forefront of a virtuous and necessary movement in corporate governance, bringing accountability, transparency and shareholder value to the forefront while exposing and ending rampant corporate misconduct, cronyism and excess.

But over past two decades, the noble mission and language of these genuine investor activists was hijacked by the notorious "greenmailers" of that era  that is, parties that snap up shares and threaten a takeover in a bid to force the company to buy back shares at a higher price. This is why the original activists such as Nell Minow and Harvard's Stephen Davis so often part ways in many of today's activist campaigns.

Today's activist campaigns will occasionally expose genuine misconduct and mismanagement  such as Carl Icahn's campaign against Chesapeake Energy's Aubrey McClendon, who was ultimately indicted. Far more often, however, activist plans nowadays seem to consist of stripping target companies down to the studs, breaking healthy companies into parts, cutting corners on necessary capex and other short-term financial engineering, all to the long-term detriment of the companies and shareholders they are supposed to be helping.

No wonder shareholders are rejecting the approach of these profiteering activists, seemingly understanding that they bring more trouble than they are worth. We found that across the last five years at publicly traded companies with a market cap greater than $10 billion dollars, activist investors have substantively lost every single proxy fight they initiated, including at Disney and Norfolk Southern this year, and failed to oust even a single incumbent CEO  despite spending tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars on each fight.

This streak of defeats for activists in proxy fights has many commentators wondering whether there is even any point to these engagements. As author and former investment banker Bill Cohan wrote in the FT, "I, for one, increasingly have no idea what the point of proxy fights is anymore. They are wildly expensive. They are extremely divisive. They go on for too long. Isn't it obvious by now that proxy fights have outlived their usefulness?"

Considering their evident inability to buy victory at the ballot box, more activists are bludgeoning their target companies into preemptive settlements, often highly favorable to the activists short of a change in CEO, including at companies such as Macy's, Match, Etsy, Alight, JetBlue and Elanco. In fact, more than half of companies defuse proxy fights through negotiated settlements today, whereas only 17% of boards caved into activists in offering preemptive costly settlements 20 years ago. But some argue the pressure activists bring to bear in pushing for settlements amounts to little more than glorified greenmailing under a different name, with activists receiving preferential treatment and cutting the line past far larger shareholders thanks to their bullying.

Meanwhile, the credibility of the cottage industry of proxy firms profiteering from the drama of activists' campaigns is imploding even more than that the activists themselves. Leading business voices such as JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon are openly questioning the credibility of proxy advisors such as ISS and Glass Lewis, whose recommendations used to shape many proxy fights: "It is increasingly clear that proxy advisors have undue influence. many companies would argue that their information is frequently not balanced, not representative of the full view, and not accurate," wrote Dimon in his shareholder letter this year.

Indeed, in the highest-profile proxy fights this year, including Disney and Norfolk Southern, proxy advisors overwhelmingly favored the activists over management, but all ended up with egg on their faces when shareholders resoundingly rejected their recommendations.

Ironically, these proxy advisors were originally created in the 1980s alongside peer shareholder rights groups such as the Council of Institutional Investors, the United Shareholders Association and the Investor Responsibility Research Center to protect workers and investors from greenmailers. However, since then, these proxy advisory firms have traded hands between a rotating cast of conflicted foreign buyers and private equity firms. ISS alone traded hands over a half-dozen times in the last roughly three decades. One wonders how ISS can be evaluating long-term value for shareholders when their own governance shows that their ownership has a shorter shelf life than a can of tomatoes.

Of course, not all activist investors are alike. Some, like Mason Morfit's ValueAct, prize constructive relations with management and eschew proxy fights, while recognizing that corporate America is surely not free of misconduct, waste and excess. However, given the failing financial performance of many of today's activist investors, their losing streak in proxy fights and increasing public rejection of their bullying tactics, the credibility and value of activist investors writ large is increasingly imperiled. We must always be on guard for deception and greed masquerading as nobility.

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld is the Lester Crown Professor in the Practice of Management at Yale University. Steven Tian is the research director at Yale's Chief Executive Leadership Institute.
Communists are often depicted by the ruling class as violent individuals who will settle at nothing until society is made to drown in its own blood. It came as no surprise to us, therefore, when Denmarks largest digital media outlet, BT  interviewing a leading comrade of our Danish section on their historic decision to found a Revolutionary Communist Party  spent the interview trying to get the comrade to admit that they stand for violence.

Let us answer the question firmly and squarely here: do communists stand for violent revolution? No, we fight for the most peaceful transition towards socialism possible.

It is hard to suppress our scorn, however, when, in this period, in this capitalist world, the systems defenders silently pass over a million daily horrors and crimes, only to shriek with terror at the future, imaginary violence of a communist revolution.

Across the globe, capitalism is spilling oceans of blood. 114 million people have been displaced by war and violence resulting from imperialist interventions and poverty, from Gaza to Ukraine to Sudan, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, etc. etc. Since October, the whole western media and political establishment sanctified Israels collective punishment of the people of Gaza as legitimate self-defence  self-defence in which 35,000 people are confirmed to have been killed, 70 percent being women and children.

And yet, the same media outlets profess to be horrified when we say, as communists, that while we desire a peaceful transformation of society, the working class has the right to defend itself and its gains.

There is a logic to the capitalists hypocrisy. The ruling class can always justify the violence of the oppressor and exploiter in defence of their wealth and privileges, which are sacrosanct. But the fires of hell are not hot enough for anyone who dares to challenge their rule.

As anger builds in the depths of society, even in the so-called democratic countries, the ruling class are showing what violent lengths they are prepared to go to defend their interests. Consider the 2018 gilet jaunes movement (yellow vests), when the French masses rose up against the democratic Macron government in response to a fuel price hike, which catalysed widespread discontent against the system.

Violence on the streets will not be tolerated, President Macron solemnly declared to the nation, before sending in armed gendarmes, deploying explosive rounds for the purposes of crowd control that saw 17 people lose eyes and three individuals forced to undergo hand or foot amputations. One woman (not involved in the protests) was killed on her balcony after being shot in the face with a tear gas grenade.

More recently, violence has been used to break up peaceful encampments from Columbia University in the United States, to Amsterdam University in the Netherlands. These are far from isolated examples  Amnesty International calculated that in 2022, 54 percent of governments had used violence against peaceful protests, in violation even of their own laws.

But when the movement of the masses threatens the very core of their vital interests, there are no limits to the violence the capitalist class will unleash. After the 1973 US-backed coup against Allendes democratically-elected socialist government in Chile, 10,000 workers, socialists, communists and other activists were slaughtered by the Pinochet regime. Legal niceties were no protection for the Chilean people.

When their authority is really threatened, as in revolutions, we see exactly what violence our ruling class is capable of. Their thirst for revenge rises in proportion as revolutionary movements  even the most peaceful  threaten their rule. If the masses are unprepared to fight back, with arms in hand if necessary, they are defenceless. In Chile, Allendes unwillingness to arm the masses let Pinochet take power without a fight, leading to a bloodbath.

Between 2019 and 2023, Sudan was rocked by a completely peaceful revolution that brought down the hated al-Bashir military dictatorship / Image: Osama Elfaki, Wikimedia Commons

We can also take the more recent example of Sudan. Between 2019 and 2023, the country was rocked by a completely peaceful revolution that brought down the hated al-Bashir military dictatorship. In Khartoum and across the country, there were mass occupations, general strikes, and the formation of mass Resistance Committees. The leadership of the revolution  principally the Sudanese Professionals Association  not only committed itself to peaceful means, but tied all the hopes of the revolutionary masses to the goodwill of the old rulers, with whom they negotiated in good faith without taking any measures to arm the masses in self-defence.

But when the revolutionary momentum ebbed, the old rulers discarded the negotiations and went on the offensive. Gangs of tribal militias organised as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) descended on Khartoum, murdering, sniping and raping with impunity. This counter-revolution was only a bloody prelude to a new civil war that has displaced 8 million people, including half the population of Khartoum, as Burhan and Hemedti  two gangsters, backed by different regional and imperialist powers  fight over the loot like vultures fighting over a carcass.

Should the masses have allowed themselves to be led like lambs to the slaughter? Communists answer, no! We absolutely stand for the right of the masses to defend themselves! We are not pacifists and hold no illusions about the tender intentions of the ruling class.

The tragic lesson of Sudan is clear: the only way this barbaric bloodshed could have been prevented would have been if the leadership of the revolution had taken the decisive step of organising an insurrectionary general strike to paralyse the country, while appealing to the revolutionary soldiers to come over to the side of the revolution.

In such a manner, the bloodthirsty thugs of the old regime could easily have been disarmed and the leaders arrested. Instead, the vacillations of the leadership led to a bloody defeat for the revolution and as a consequence, a further descent of Sudan into barbarism.

Peaceful revolutions are possible, yes, but only if the overwhelming force of the organised workers and poor convinces the old ruling class that resistance is futile.

The ruling class will tell us that revolutions are violent, and anyone who advocates revolution therefore advocates violence. But history tells a very different story. Overwhelmingly, revolutions in the modern era have tended to start out relatively peacefully. It is precisely to end the oppression and violence of the status quo that the oppressed resort to revolution.

It is when the counter-revolution takes the offensive that we see gruesome violence. The Russian Revolution of October 1917, for instance, was so peaceful in Petrograd that more people died in filming a dramatisation of the storming of the Winter Palace 10 years later than actually died in the event itself. It took the imperialist intervention of 21 foreign armies to plunge the country into a horrific civil war.

Or take the German Revolution of 1918, a relatively peaceful affair that brought an end to the Great Slaughter of the First World War. But after the workers failed to seize power, the ruling class sent Freikorp death squads across Germany to hunt and kill communists and radical workers. Finally, when a new crisis hit in 1929, the ruling class preferred to cede power to Hitler than face new revolutionary explosions, preparing the way for the slaughter of millions in the Holocaust and the Second World War.

The ruling class would prefer to burn the old world to the ground than see a new world emerge, freed from the slavery and degradation of their rule.

The crisis of capitalism will force the masses to enter the revolutionary road. The most peaceful outcome will only be guaranteed if they do so decisively, under firm revolutionary leadership, and with overwhelming force on their side. Under these conditions, such is the overwhelming strength of the working class today, that it is not ruled out that, in many places, the ruling class will see the uselessness of resisting, and would be deprived of the means to do so even if they wished.

In contrast, to the extent that the workers leaders are indecisive, or embrace pacifist illusions, the old ruling class will see their chance to create bloody chaos and claw their way back. Ironically, pacifist illusions rather than revolutionary realism are what lead to the bloodiest catastrophes.

Wherever the counter-revolution of the ruling class is victorious, they seek to drown revolutions in blood / Image: public domain

The annals of history show what the revenge of the ruling class can look like. From the crucifixion of 6,000 slaves along the Appian Way in 71 BCE following Spartacus rising against Rome, to the semaine sanglante (bloody week) in which 30,000 Parisian workers were slaughtered after the crushing of the Paris Commune in May 1871  wherever the counter-revolution of the ruling class is victorious, they seek to drown revolutions in blood.

The reason is simple: they must teach the exploited masses a lesson they will not soon forget. As Richard II allegedly told the vanquished English peasants who rose up in 1381: Rustics you were and rustics you are still. You will remain in bondage, not as before, but incomparably harsher.

By claiming that communists are violent, the ruling class attempts to turn the tables, to make us the accused. On the contrary, we stand here as the accusers of capitalism.

They stand in the dock on charges of the most bestial crimes. Unable to offer anything in defence or mitigation for their actions, they point their finger in horror at the judge and jury: how can you accuse me? I should be the accuser. You monsters would convict me of violent crimes only to commit worse violence against me in carrying out your sentence!

This is just an attempt to throw dust in the eyes of the workers. Our revenge will not take the form of pointless spilt blood. Our revenge will be the expropriation of the capitalist class, and the creation of a new, future society fit for human beings, in place of the ruins they threaten to create in the present.
A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high net worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox.

Housekeepers in Palm Beach and South Florida are cleaning up, with salaries often topping $150,000 and bidding wars between mansion owners becoming common, according to staffing companies.

The mass wealth migration to Florida from New York and other high-tax states has created record demand for household staff in elite Florida enclaves  especially Palm Beach. Demand for butlers (now called "hospitality managers" or "estate managers") as well as nannies, chefs, drivers and personal security has surged, according to staffing agencies.

It's the shortage of housekeepers, however, that has created the biggest mess for wealthy homeowners. Many of the wealthy emigres to Florida bought big homes and now need people to clean them. Hotels, resorts and businesses are also vying for cleaning staff. The result: Typical pay for housekeepers has rocketed from about $25 an hour in 2020 to $45 or $50 an hour today, according to some agencies.

"I have been placing staff for 30 years, and I've never seen anything like this," said April Berube, founder of The Wellington Agency, which places household staff in Palm Beach, Miami, New York and other locations. "We've seen such a boom from people relocating, especially Palm Beach and Miami."

In Palm Beach, housekeepers with experience in wealthy homes are typically making between $120,000 and $150,000 a year, along with 401(k) plans, health care and benefits, including overtime.

"For housekeepers it's wonderful," Berube said. "For us it's extremely difficult. It's a severe shortage."

Melissa Psitos, founder of Lily Pond Services, said she recently had a Florida client hoping to hire a housekeeper for $75,000 a year. They ended up paying $110,000, which was reasonable for the market. Executive housekeepers, who often help direct a staff of other housekeepers and laundresses, can make even more. Psitos said she knows one head housekeeper in Palm Beach who makes $250,000 a year, including overtime, and travels with the family to their various homes.

"There is just not enough supply," she said.

Bidding wars between wealthy homeowners have become common. Staffing agencies are posting "Help Wanted" ads all over the web and throughout West Palm Beach. Clients are growing frustrated.

"At first they're in shock, and they say, 'No way I'm paying that,'" Berube said. "It's even uncomfortable for me to give them the numbers. But when they try to hire someone for less, with less experience, they almost always come back to us and say, 'I learned my lesson. We are willing to pay for the experience.'"

Berube said the housekeepers for the wealthy need highly specific skills  from how to move quietly and unnoticed throughout the house, to how to carefully clean antiques, flatware and fine art and how to properly wash and press fine linens.

"There are specific tools and skills you need to work in fine homes," she said.

Berube said with so few qualified candidates, she's thinking of launching a school to teach high-end housekeeping skills and generate more housekeepers.

"I would love to do it, but I don't have the time, since we're busy trying to find staff."

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There's been a lot of attention lately on a corner of the oncology market called radiopharmaceuticals. The therapy seeks to destroy cancer cells by binding a radioactive particle to a targeted molecule and then dispatching it directly into the tumor. There are currently two products on the market from Novartis and a slew of clinical trials underway. Interest is so high that within the past year it has been at the center of a flurry of acquisition announcements by big pharma. The latest came from Novartis earlier this month when it struck a deal to buy Mariana Oncology for $1 billion. Novartis already has two therapies on the market: Pluvicto, which treats a type of advanced prostate cancer, and Lutathera, which targets neuroendocrine tumors. Eli Lilly completed its $1.4 billion acquisition of Point Biopharma in December and in February, Bristol-Myers Squibb finalized its $4.1 billion acquisition of RayzeBio. Then in March, AstraZeneca said it plans to purchase clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Fusion Pharmaceuticals for $2.4 billion. "Any big pharma with an existing oncology presence probably wants to get into this game of radiopharmaceuticals because the data looks pretty good already," said Jefferies analyst Andrew Tsai. "What you're seeing is that these companies [are] not necessarily acquiring the lead asset of these companies, but more so the manufacturing, the know-how. It seems very complicated to do it yourself," he added. A growth opportunity into the next decade Still, radiopharma is just a part of each company's larger portfolio. Novartis is the leader in the space with its two therapies already on the market and several clinical trials underway. "Acquiring Mariana ... gives them even greater discovery capabilities," said Oppenheimer analyst Jeff Jones. But Novartis shares have been underperforming the market. The stock is up about 1% year to date, and the average analyst rating is hold. Analysts predict about 8% upside based on the average price target, reported by FactSet. The investor attention on Eli Lilly, which is up 38% year to date, largely thanks to its diabetes drug Mounjaro and weight loss treatment Zepbound. Meanwhile, Bristol-Myers Squibb shares have been struggling, down 18% so far this year as investors focus on the loss of patent protections on some of its older drugs later this decade. AstraZeneca, however, is up 17% year to date. It has an average analyst rating of overweight and nearly 6% upside to the average analyst price target, per FactSet. Analysts believe big pharma's acquisitions are just the beginning as both the larger companies and smaller biotech firms work to improve upon current therapies and discover new ones. The end result could be better efficacy and a wider set of tumors the therapy can treat. William Blair said investing in the sector will likely provide investors with a secular growth opportunity well into the next decade. Read more on this trend: This up-and-coming cancer treatment could be a $25 billion market opportunity  it's already a hotbed for M & A "Ownership of isotope production could be viewed as a significant competitive advantage in the lens of big pharma," analyst Andy Hsieh wrote in a March note following AstraZeneca's announcement. "Upon the achievement of stable, robust, and redundant supply chain, the next focus will likely be optimizing modalities (radioligands, engineered peptides/proteins, nanobodies, or antibodies) for specific targets (preferably beyond PSMA and SSTR2) and tumor indications, which in our view could usher continued investor engagement and innovation in the radiopharmaceutical field in the long term," he added. A $25 billion market Meanwhile, RBC Capital Markets sees a $25 billion market opportunity for the space. "We believe TRT development is still in its early stages, and next-generation technologies that enable improvements in therapeutic potency and address a wider range of cancer targets have the potential to drive value creation in the space," analyst Gregory Renza, M.D., wrote in a February note. One place to look is among the clinical-stage biotech companies working in the area, which may be prime candidates for an acquisition. These stocks could make for an interesting investment for those with an appetite for some risk. A name Jones likes is Perspective Therapeutics , which he rates outperform. The company is nearing a $1 billion valuation, currently sitting at around $888 million. Shares are up 280% year to date, which Jones said is driven by the enthusiasm around the space. CATX 1Y mountain Perspective Therapeutics year to date Cantor Fitzgerald is also bullish on the name. "Even though the stock has had a good run this year  we still see room for shares to go higher. Our [discounted cash flow] analysis arrives at an equity value over $4B, compared to its current market cap of ~$1B," analyst Louise Chen wrote in a note last week. The company has been a bit under big pharma's radar since it did a reverse merger to go public just last year, Jones pointed out. Perspective currently has trials underway to target neuroendocrine cancer and melanoma using alpha emitters as opposed to beta emitters, which are used in Novartis' treatments. "Alpha [emitters] have a much stronger punch  in a much more targeted way. So it's really an ideal profile," said Piper Sandler analyst Edward Tenthoff, who doesn't cover Perspective Therapeutics. Dan Lyons, a portfolio manager and research analyst at Janus Henderson Investors, is bullish on Perspective and its possibilities. "They have a long experience in radiopharma," he said. He also likes and holds Novartis and Eli Lilly in the big cap space, and biotech company Immunome , which has a $865 million market cap. Immunome is in the discovery phase in a targeted radioligand therapy for certain lung, breast and esophageal solid tumors. Then there is Lantheus Holdings , which calls itself a radiopharmaceutical-focused company and has a $5.6 billion market cap. "Lantheus Holding is a company firmly entrenched on diagnostics [and] moving towards therapeutics," Jones said. The company's diagnostic imaging is used in conjunction with Novartis' Pluvicto. On the therapeutic side, Lantheus partnered with Point Biopharma on a targeted radiation therapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. In December, the treatment met its primary endpoint in a phase three trial, just before Eli Lilly closed its acquisition of Point Biopharma. LNTH YTD mountain Lantheus Holdings year to date The company also struck multiple strategic agreements with Perspective Therapeutics in January, including an option to exclusively license Perspective's clinical stage alpha therapy developed for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors and an option to co-develop certain early stage therapeutic candidates targeting prostate cancer. In addition, Lantheus agreed to purchase up to 19.9% of Perspective's outstanding shares of common stock and Perspective will acquire assets and associated lease of Lantheus' radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in New Jersey. The average analyst rating on the stock is a buy, according to FactSet. Among those who like the company is Leerink Partners analyst Roanna Ruiz. She has a $106 price target on the stock, which suggests more than 30% upside from Wednesday's close. She expects the recent M & A activity will continue to intrigue investors. "We believe this further validates Lantheus' recent partnership with Perspective Therapeutics  as Lantheus has 'last look' rights to match any bid price on Perspective along with opt-in opportunities," she wrote in a May 2 note.
The United States Supreme Court building is seen in Washington, U.S., February 29, 2024.

WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Republicans in South Carolina did not unlawfully consider race when they drew a congressional district in a way that removed thousands of Black voters, making it harder for civil rights plaintiffs to bring racial gerrymandering claims.

The court, divided 6-3 on ideological lines with conservatives in the majority, said civil rights group had not done enough to show that legislators were focused on race in drawing the Charleston-area district currently represented by Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican.

While the Supreme Court was considering the case, much more slowly than expected, the lower court that had invalidated the map said it could be used for this year's election.

The justices' ruling will therefore have no immediate impact in South Carolina, but it sets the rules of the road for future redistricting efforts, making it easier for maps to be drawn that disfavor Black voters as long as the map-makers can show they are using race as a proxy for political affiliation.

In doing so, the court sided with Republican state officials who said their sole goal was to increase the Republican tilt in the district.

As a result of the ruling, Mace's district will not have to be redrawn, delivering a blow to Democrats who hope to secure a more favorable map. Litigation on a separate claim brought by plaintiffs against the map could continue.

Writing for the majority, conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote that "no direct evidence" supports the lower court's finding that race was a key consideration when the map was drawn.

"The circumstantial evidence falls far short of showing that race, not partisan preferences, drove the districting process," he added.

In dissent, liberal Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the majority had "stacked the deck" against the challengers.

"What a message to send to state legislators and mapmakers about racial gerrymandering," she added.

The Supreme Court was reviewing a January 2023 lower court ruling that said race was of predominant concern when one of the state's seven districts was drawn. Republicans led by South Carolina Senate President Thomas Alexander appealed the decision.

Republicans redrew the boundaries after the 2020 census to strengthen GOP control of what had become a competitive district.

Democrat Joe Cunningham won the seat in 2018 and narrowly lost to Mace in 2020. Two years later, with a new map in place, Mace won by a wider margin.

The roughly 30,000 Black voters who were moved out of the district were placed into the district held by Democratic Rep. James Clyburn, who is Black. It is the only one of the seven congressional districts that is held by Democrats.

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and other civil rights groups alleged not only that Republicans unlawfully considered race when they drew the maps but that they also diluted the power of Black voters in doing so.

The claims were brought under the Constitution's 14th Amendment, which requires that the law applies equally to everyone. The case arose under a different legal theory from the major ruling this year in which civil rights advocates successfully challenged Republican-drawn maps in Alabama under the Voting Rights Act.
Elon Musk, co-founder of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of X Holdings Corp., speaks at the Milken Institute's Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton Hotel,on May 6, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

PARIS Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that he doesn't support President Biden's recent announcement of a tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles.

"Neither Tesla nor I asked for these tariffs," Musk said in response to a question from CNBC's Karen Tso during a question and answer session at the VivaTech conference here on Thursday. "In fact, I was surprised when they were announced."

The Biden administration last week said it was placing a 100% tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicle imports to the U.S. in a bid to stop cheap Chinese EVs from flooding the U.S. market. The White House says Beijing's subsidies are helping companies overproduce cheap clean energy products like solar panels and EVs that outpace domestic demand.

Tesla has been struggling this year due to an aging fleet of EVs, weaker consumer demand for its vehicles and increased global competition, most notably in China. Revenue slumped in the first quarter by the most since 2012, and the stock price is down almost 30% in 2024.

"Tesla competes quite well in the market in China with no tariffs and no deferential support," Musk said on Thursday. "I'm in favor of no tariffs."

Musk added that he doesn't agree with tax incentives for EVs, either.

"I'm in favor of no tariffs and no incentives for electric vehicles, or for oil and gas," the Tesla CEO said.

Musk's remarks Thursday come after he suggested earlier this year that Chinese EV companies will crush competitors elsewhere in the absence of trade restrictions.

"Frankly, I think, if there are not trade barriers established, they will pretty much demolish most other companies in the world," Musk said on the company's earnings call in January.

Earlier, when asked for his views on whether Biden's 100% tariffs would give him to the green light to bring a lower-priced car to market, Musk's line cut out and the audience were left for several minutes waiting for him to come back online.

Some attendees left the dome where the Q&A session was being livestreamed.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak arrives for Russia - China talks in an expanded format at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 21, 2023.

Russian energy facilities are being rapidly restored following drone attacks, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview with Russia-1, according to Google-translated comments carried by state news outlet Tass.

"Of course, it is impossible to exclude [attacks] 100%. Sometimes the situations that happened happen," he noted. "Nevertheless, restoration is proceeding at a rapid pace in order to ensure the operation of enterprises in full."

Moscow is also improving the protection of its energy infrastructure, he noted, adding that this work is currently ongoing.

On Sunday, Moscow reported that Ukraine launched an extensive 62-drone attack on Russian regions, Reuters reported. The Interfax news agency said that the oil refinery in Slavyansk halted work following the offensive.

Russia is a key global oil and gas producer, with threats against its hydrocarbon infrastructure adding to supply-side pressures in the energy market.

 Ruxandra Iordache
The logo of German car giant Volkswagen (VW) is seen on a Volkswagen ID Buzz van during the company's annual press conference to present the business report, on March 14, 2023 in Berlin.

Volkswagen is in concrete talks about partnering up on passenger car production in India, the group's finance chief said on Thursday, adding it was tough to earn money in the market that still presents a "clear" opportunity.

"We are in very good discussions," Arno Antlitz told the Reuters Events Automotive Europe conference in Munich, "it's very, very concrete," he added, without specifying.

"I think we shouldn't underestimate the potential in India in terms of a market ... and in terms of regulatory uncertainty between the U.S. and China. I'm very positive about India," said Antlitz.

His comments partly reflect concerns about the risk of an escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing and the possible implications for European carmakers, most of which heavily rely on the Chinese market.

The comments come after Volkswagen in February signed a supply agreement with India's Mahindra on the use of key electric components of the German carmaker's open platform for electric vehicles.

At 101,553 delivered vehicles, India is so far a small market for Volkswagen, accounting for little more than 1% of deliveries across the whole group in 2023.

Volkswagen operates two plants in India, in Aurangabad and Pune, with the latter having an annual production capacity of up to 200,000 cars, and is present in the market with its SKODA, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini brands.

"We look into various options ... but here it's a clear opportunity to do it together ... in passenger cars," Antlitz said.
Nvidia's upcoming stock split could propel the chipmaker higher over the short run and boost already enthusiastic investor sentiment, according to Wall Street. "Given the degree to which retail investors pay attention to NVDA (think both Gen AI & Gaming notoriety), we believe the split actually has an opportunity to make an impact," wrote Loop Capital's Ananda Baruah. NVDA YTD mountain Shares this year The chipmaking behemoth announced a 10-for-1 stock split after the bell Wednesday, alongside quarterly earnings that surpassed Wall Street's expectations and robust guidance that showed ongoing AI momentum. The split takes effect after the market close on June 7. Nvidia's results prompted many Wall Street firms to boost their price targets on the stock as demand continues. Shares popped more than 7% at the opening bell Thursday, building on a 92% year-to-date rally and topping $1,000 for the first time on record. The move also lifted the VanEck Semiconductor ETF 3%. The chipmaker joins a handful of high-profile companies in recent months to implement stock splits in a bid to make shares more affordable in this rising market. Chipotle approved a 50-for-1 split in March, while Walmart announced a 3-for-1 division in January . Earlier this week, chip equipment maker Lam Research said it would implement a 10-for-1 split and share buyback totaling up to $10 billion. While a split may improve accessibility by lowering the share price, it doesn't alter the value or fundamentals of the business. Nvidia said in a release that the split will make ownership "more accessible to employees and investors." Citi's Atif Malik called the split a "positive surprise," while Susquehanna's Christopher Rolland said it "invigorates the retail crowd." "The 10:1 stock split likely adds short-term momentum to this AI bellwether," said Needham's Quinn Bolton.
Physical disabilities can significantly impact mental health, creating a range of unique challenges.

Physical Disabilities and Mental Health

People with physical disabilities are more likely to encounter mental health difficulties than the general population. In England, two-thirds of people report facing mental health issues at some point in their lives. This prevalence highlights the need to address emotional and psychological well-being.

Raising awareness about mental health is crucial in reducing stigma and discrimination. By promoting acceptance and support, barriers can be removed, enabling people with disabilities to achieve better mental health. Studies and clinical experiences demonstrate that, with proper support and assessment, people with disabilities can enjoy good mental and physical health.

Mental Health Challenges of People with Physical Disabilities

People with physical disabilities often face several mental health challenges. Several factors contribute to these challenges, including social constraints, loneliness and isolation, lack of integrated care, and social discrimination. Here are some of the most common mental health challenges faced by people with physical disabilities:

Stress

Stress is a common response to challenging situations, characterized by feelings of tension, worry, and pressure. For people with physical disabilities, stress may stem from daily obstacles, accessibility issues, and managing their health. Persistent stress can impact overall well-being, leading to physical and emotional exhaustion.

Anxiety

Anxiety involves persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life. For those with physical disabilities, anxiety may be triggered by concerns about health, social interactions, and future uncertainties. Symptoms can include restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and physical manifestations like increased heart rate.

Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. Those with physical disabilities might experience depression due to chronic pain, social isolation, or perceived limitations. It can affect one's ability to function in daily life and may require professional treatment.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. People with physical disabilities may develop PTSD from accidents, medical procedures, or other traumatic experiences leading to their condition. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Identity Issues

Identity issues involve struggles with self-concept and self-worth. People with physical disabilities might face challenges in accepting their disability as part of their identity. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy, confusion, and a diminished sense of self, affecting their overall mental health.

Anger Issues

Anger issues refer to difficulty managing feelings of anger and frustration. Those with physical disabilities may experience heightened anger due to ongoing frustrations with their limitations, societal barriers, or perceived injustices. Uncontrolled anger can strain relationships and impact mental well-being.

Relationship Difficulties

Relationship difficulties encompass challenges in forming and maintaining healthy interpersonal connections. Physical disabilities can affect social interactions, leading to feelings of isolation and misunderstandings. These difficulties can arise in various relationships, including family, friendships, and romantic partnerships, potentially leading to increased emotional distress.

Maintaining mental well-being is crucial for people with physical disabilities. Awareness and support can help them learn, work, and interact within their communities. Emotional well-being is key to achieving education, employment, and a fulfilling life. Therapy and counseling can significantly impact people with physical disabilities, helping them build self-awareness, accept their limitations, and focus on their strengths. Mental health professionals provide essential support, enabling people to live fulfilling lives despite their challenges.
By Dynne C. | Update Date: May 22, 2024 07:33 PM EDT

Workplace environment issues are common, but addressing them effectively can improve employee satisfaction and productivity.

Insufficient Training

A lack of adequate training can result in employees struggling to perform their tasks efficiently. This issue often leads to frustration and burnout.

Solution: To address this, employers should view training as an investment. By involving employees in the process and understanding their training needs, businesses can enhance productivity and morale.

Poor Work-Life Balance

Balancing work and personal life is a significant challenge for many employees. Overworking does not necessarily lead to better productivity and can harm employee health.

Solution: Companies should promote a culture that values rest and relaxation. Encouraging employees to disconnect after work hours and recognizing the importance of time off can foster a healthier work-life balance.

Lack of Motivation

A persistent lack of motivation among employees can hinder productivity.

Solution: To tackle this issue, communication is key. Employers should engage with their staff to identify motivating factors such as pay, time off, and goals. Understanding what drives employees can help implement effective motivational strategies.

Little Recognition

Recognition is crucial for employee morale and trust. While pay is important, acknowledging achievements and milestones can significantly boost morale.

Solution: Implementing reward systems like "employee of the month" and celebrating work anniversaries can make employees feel valued and appreciated.

Staff Conflict and Bullying

Conflicts and bullying in the workplace can severely impact morale and productivity.

Solution: Creating an open environment where employees can express their opinions respectfully is essential. Promoting teamwork, encouraging constructive feedback, and addressing negative attitudes promptly can help create a harmonious workplace.

No Potential for Growth

Employees seek opportunities for career advancement. If a business lacks clear growth opportunities, it can lead to dissatisfaction.

Solution: Establishing a career progression map and discussing criteria for raises and promotions can help employees see a clear path for their growth within the company. Following through on these promises is crucial for maintaining trust and motivation.

Lack of Technology

Having the right tools is essential for efficient work. Small business owners often struggle with choosing the right technology due to limited resources.

Solution: Creating a technology plan that prioritizes current and future needs can help. Seeking employee feedback on necessary tools can ensure that the technology implemented meets their needs and improves productivity.

By addressing these common workplace challenges through effective communication, appropriate tools and a supportive culture, businesses can enhance their work environment and boost overall employee satisfaction.
A study conducted at the University of Copenhagen found that urolithin A, a compound naturally present in fruits such as pomegranates, strawberries, and walnuts, holds promise for enhancing memory and potentially mitigating the progression of Alzheimer's disease, offering newfound hope for patients grappling with cognitive decline.

Alzheimer's disease, characterized by forgetfulness, language difficulties, and disorientation, poses significant challenges in treatment due to its complex nature. However, the research led by Vilhelm Bohr, Affiliate Professor at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Copenhagen and former Department Chair at the US National Institute on Aging, suggests a potential breakthrough.

"Our study on mouse models with AD shows that urolithin A, which is a naturally occurring substance in i.a. pomegranates, can alleviate memory problems and other consequences of dementia," Bohr said, as per Neuroscience News.

While the study was conducted on mouse models, the findings offer promising prospects for clinical applications. Previous research had already identified the role of nicotinamide riboside (NAD supplement) in facilitating the removal of damaged mitochondria from the brain, crucial for mitigating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

"Many patients with neurodegenerative diseases experience mitochondrial dysfunction, also known as mitophagy. This means that the brain has difficulties removing weak mitochondria, which thus accumulate and affect brain function," explained Bohr. "If you are able to stimulate the mitophagy process, removing weak mitochondria, you will see some very positive results."

The study's results revealed that urolithin A, akin to NAD supplement, effectively eliminates weak mitochondria from the brain, potentially offering a therapeutic avenue for Alzheimer's disease.

Despite these promising findings, determining the optimal dosage of urolithin A remains a challenge. Bohr emphasized ongoing efforts to establish appropriate dosages, considering the compound's availability in pill form.

"We still cannot say anything conclusive about the dosage. But I imagine that it is more than a pomegranate a day. However, the substance is already available in pill form, and we are currently trying to find the right dosage," Bohr stated. He expressed optimism regarding the compound's potential preventive benefits with minimal adverse effects, citing previous studies indicating the safety of NAD supplementation.

"Our knowledge of urolithin A is more limited, but as I mentioned, clinical trials with Urolithin A have been effective in muscular disease, and now we need to look at Alzheimers disease," Bohr added, underscoring the importance of rigorous investigation to ensure the compound's safety and efficacy in mitigating Alzheimer's risk.
Prison is good at removing criminals from our immediate vicinity, and at giving them a bad time, but is it any good at rehabilitating them? And if its not good enough at that, what else can we do to reduce the chance that former prisoners will return to a life of crime?

Some people suggest a foolproof solution: Simply never release anyone from prison. Either that, or we release them all and immediately kill them. But even without turning to those measures, we have some options, which run the spectrum from neat to horrifying.

4 Plastic Surgery Imagine an ex-con. Next, imagine that exact same ex-con, except now, their face has transformed to be more attractive. Would you say theyre now more or less likely to return to crime? On one hand, a sexier parolee would find some types of crime more easy (e.g., infiltrating a rich household and murdering everyone there while avoiding detection). But on the other, if they now enjoy the benefits of better looks (being treated better, a greater chance of being hired), they may now have less reason to commit crimes. Don't Miss That second argument was why, during the 20th century, the American government gave half a million prisoners free cosmetic surgeries. We straightened their noses, ironed out their wrinkles and stuck in implants to strengthen their chins. Limited studies suggested that these prisoners really did go on to reoffend at lower-than-average rates. Stateville prison You might find this whole concept bleak  for several reasons. Maybe you dont like this implied link between beauty and morality. Maybe you dont like beauty standards being officially defined and enforced. Maybe you dont like government doctors cutting into peoples faces as a tool for social control. None of those were why the practice fell out of favor, however. That happened because a 1989 Houston Chronicle report about the surgeries sparked outrage  among people envious of the convicts. Why should they get facelifts and nose jobs, paid for by tax dollars, while the rest of us have to go without? Earlier, a few poster boys for the program had received more sympathy. In 1948, a Cleveland burglar named John Glaefke was reported in the press like this: His head was enormous, his ears huge and protruding, his eyes hooded and sullen, his nose grotesque, splayed, twisted like an animals, his mouth a monstrosity. When the state gave him plastic surgery, he became a celebrity, and people cheered him on. The New York Times covered his eventual wedding with this headline: Ugly Burglar Married. Advertisement

3 Magic Mushrooms Psilocybin mushrooms can rewire your brain permanently, for the better. At least, thats what advocates say, and the historical chief advocate of tripping was surely Dr. Timothy Leary. Early in the 1960s, Leary ran an experiment at Concord State Prison in Massachusetts in which doctors gave mushrooms to a bunch of prisoners up for release. The doctors sat with the inmates and took mushrooms right along with them. Some might say that delegitimizes the whole experiment, but Leary argued that this was essential, so the inmates saw themselves as the doctors equals rather than as subjects. At the time, inmates released from this prison stood a 64 percent chance of returning. With this group? The study reported that 25 percent of these men ended up back behind bars, which was a superb improvement from the norm. That settles it then. Shrooms for everyone! Advertisement Victorgrigas/Wiki Commons Conveniently, mushrooms grow naturally on the prisons damp walls. That improvement was remarkable. Suspiciously remarkable, in fact. So, decades later, someone looked again at whichever prisoners could be tracked down and found that no, the improvement wasnt nearly as good as the study claimed. Still, even if the prisoners went on to reoffend, at least theyd have more fun doing so, thanks to the mushrooms. Advertisement

2 Babies Advertisement When an inmate is pregnant and is due to give birth while still incarcerated, thats not a great situation. The mother may give birth while in cuffs, the baby shower features the lamest gifts and afterward, theres the question of where the child goes. The majority of the time, some relative of the inmate (often her parents) become the temporary guardian. The kid might also enter the foster system. But heres an alternate idea: What if we let the mother keep the child with her in prison, at least for the first year? A handful of states have tried this out, and its not been that hard to implement, compared with all the other stuff prisons must routinely deal with. An inmate must fulfill certain conditions to be eligible for this  for example, she must not be in prison specifically for murdering babies  and it seems quite believable that taking care of your own baby might help you shed some of your antisocial tendencies. A pilot program reported that only two percent of these mothers went on to reoffend after they were released. Katie Smith Because theyd been punished more harshly than most inmates. The harder question isnt whether raising a baby in prison is good for the mother but whether its okay for the baby. You can probably think of some obvious reasons that a prison may not be the best environment for a childs first months, but the matter isnt so settled as you might think. For starters, the outside home a prison baby goes to might not be so great either. Also, a prison isnt designed to inflict general pain but to punish you by restricting your freedoms, and childcare at that age is already all about restricting their freedoms. Advertisement Advertisement We dont know if babies fare poorly behind bars, but if they do, every parent who owns a crib is in trouble.
Not every artist can nail the lyrics Take my hand with your glove of love

Since the internet is so obviously lacking in pointless lists, Apple recently announced their ranking of the Top 100 albums of all-time  and there were some pretty major snubs. Mariah Carey didnt appear on the list, nor did country legend Dolly Parton. And dont let any Simpsons memes fool you, Kirk Van Houten was completely shut out.

Can I Borrow a Feeling? is, of course, the name of Milhouses dads demo tape, which was cruelly cast aside by his special lady Starla in A Milhouse Divided. The song itself is pretty terrible, as we find out by the end of the episode. Not only does Kirk not impress his ex Luann with his impromptu romantic ballad, the poor guy doesnt even get his shirts back before hes escorted out by Pyro from American Gladiators.

While it may work well as an anthem for divorced middle aged male ennui, Can I Borrow a Feeling? is a pretty lame song. But that hasnt deterred some impassioned Simpsons fans from working hard to change that perception, by producing new versions of Van Houtens track that arguably slap. Like the Birch Trip remix that turns it into an 80s-style banger.

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Or how about when Round Springfield podcast co-host Allie Goertz performed an earnest, acoustic cover of Can I Borrow a Feeling? in 2015, impressively without a single member of the Doobie Brothers backing her up.

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Meanwhile, Canadian Simpsons-themed rock band The Be Sharps also covered the song  presumably because you can only play the Monorail song and the Planet of the Apes musical numbers so many times.

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Even some bands that havent shaped their entire identity around The Simpsons have covered the song, such as Australias Hivemind. As heard on YouTube, the group played Can I Borrow a Feeling? live, introducing the special tune by noting that it was written by a great man who also happens to be a big wheel down at the cracker factory.

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And for a slightly different vibe, theres a LoFi House remix by Lovelydaze.

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While Kirks song may have been a totally original composition for the show (music written by Alf Clausen with lyrics by Steve Tompkins) as the writers revealed on the DVD commentary for the episode, the title was inspired by a recording hopeful named Cody Matherson, whose record, Can I Borrow a Feeling? was included in a book of the worst album covers ever (although there seems to be some debate online about whether or not its actually real).

Given all of these covers, Kirk Van Houten may just have the most impressive musical career of any artist who sleeps alone in a race car bed.

You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this).
Memcyco Inc., provider of digital trust technology designed to protect companies and their customers from digital impersonation fraud, released its inaugural 2024 State of Website Impersonation Scams report. Notably, Memcycos research indicates that the majority of companies do not have adequate solutions to counter digital impersonation fraud, and that most only learn about attacks from their customers.

More than half of all respondents (53%) said their existing cybersecurity solutions do not effectively address website impersonation attacks, and 41% said their existing solutions only protect them and their customers partially. Just 6% of brands claimed to have a solution that effectively addresses these attacks despite 87% of companies recognizing website impersonation as a major issue and 69% admitting to having had these attacks carried out against their own website.

The creation of fake websites used for phishing-related attacks (which are a top cause of account takeover (ATO)) is a growing problem that has earned cybercriminals an astonishing $1 billion+ in 2023 alone, according to data from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Thats more than three times the amount reported stolen in 2020.

The report found that 72% of companies have a monitoring system in place to detect fake versions of their website, but still, 66% said that they primarily learn about digital impersonation attacks when they are flagged by customers.. More alarmingly, 37% of respondents learn about website impersonation attacks as a result of brand shaming by impacted customers on social media.

The inability to adequately protect against digital impersonation fraud raises a question about companies responsibility to reimburse their customers. 48% of survey respondents are already aware of upcoming regulations likely to enforce customer reimbursements, making effective protection against digital impersonation fraud a must-have for avoiding revenue loss.

One of the most alarming takeaways from the report is that website impersonation scams are growing because attackers rely on companies having limited visibility into these kinds of attacks, said Israel Mazin, Chairman and CEO of Memcyco. This creates a glaring blindspot in cybersecurity  the inability of companies to protect their customers online.

The State of Website Impersonation Scams report was conducted together with Global Surveyz Research, based on the responses of 200 full-time employees ranging from Director to C-level executives at organizations in the security, fraud, digital, and web industries, operating transactional websites with traffic of more than 10,000 monthly visits.

Memcycos solution suite addresses the rising tide of website impersonation scams by using real-time alerts to secure end-users on every website visit and provides organizations with unparalleled insights into the scope and impact of all attacks on their sites.

The full report can be found here.

About Memcyo

Memcyco offers a suite of AI-based, real-time digital risk protection solutions for combating website impersonation scams, protecting companies and their customers from the moment a fake site goes live until it is taken down. Memcycos groundbreaking external threat intelligence platform provides companies with complete visibility into the attack, attacker, and each individual victim, helping to prevent ATO fraud, ransomware, and data breaches before they occur. Memcycos nano defender technology detects, protects, and responds to attacks as they unfold, securing tens of millions of customer accounts and reducing the negative impact of attacks on workload, compliance, customer churn, and reputation.

About Global Surveyz

Global Surveyz is a global research company providing survey report-as-a-service that covers the whole process of creating an insightful and impactful B2B or B2C report for any target market. Global Surveyz was established in 2020 and is the brain-child of Ramel Levin.

Sheena Kretzmer

sheena@memcyco.com
Photo-Illustration: Curbed; Photos: Mana Sazegara Studio, Black Oveja, Andi Li, DArmes

At the Javits Center last Sunday, after moderating a panel with architect Lauren Rottet on the topic of Good Design for All  specifically, the brilliant motel projects she has achieved on a limited budget  I paused in front of Liora Mannes felt Superbloom mural, which depicted a meadow filled with luscious flowers and ran the length of one giant wall. It was a spectacular welcome to the 35th edition of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, the industrys annual convention for furniture and interiors.

Next door was the showcase put on by WantedDesign, the design platform founded by Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat in 2011. I remember when it was an off-site affair and the adventure of going to Industry City, where it all started, then, years later, walking through the St. Johns Terminal building a few blocks down from the Javits, where you got a taste of old New York in the architecture of the space. Wanted has since grown to become an international exhibit that is now part of ICFF and the go-to for emerging design talent and independent studios with its Look Book, Launch Pad, and the design-schools showcase. Its been my first stop since the day it opened. I took note of many great designers, including these ten talents to watch:

Photo: Andrew Finnigan

Finnigans interpretation of a basic wood side chair takes the vernacular shape we all know but knocks it slightly off-kilter with graceful, tapered legs and a two-pronged back. His Arnold Chair can be ordered in a range of colors, including natural wood. I appreciate the simplicity of this design, which, like his other work, mixes shapes and slightly odd proportions to create a piece that is both whimsical and bold. His studio is based in the Hudson Valley.

Photo: Black Oveja

This small design studio, based in Cordoba, Argentina, creates handmade wall and ceiling panels as well as rugs. With Abacus, a system of interlocking merino-felted-wool pieces allows for designs in an array of colors and patterns. Charm with a practical edge, and the wall pieces act as acoustical-noise buffers.

Photo: Wendy Goodman

DArmes, founded by Alex Joncas and Gildas Le Bars in Quebec, introduced two lighting collections with Consors in collaboration with designers Florian Martin and Will Choui. I admit that I was seduced by the all-blue palette of their installation at Wanted, which made their rippled and boxy geometric pendants and sconces look soothing and energizing at the same time.

Photo: Lisa Sacco

Brooklyn-based Sacco introduced her Haptic series with a console, side tables, and handblown glass pieces that rested seamlessly on top of the grooves of the CNC-milled surfaces. Seeing glass art express the possibilities of the medium, in such beautiful colors, was startling in its own quiet way. Sacco also won the Next Generation of Originality award from Be Original Americas at ICFF this year.

Fuugs s Yarrow Collection

Photo: FUUGS

Greg Fuguet and Kristen Snow, based in Philadelphia, make hand-built furniture from reclaimed urban trees that they rescue from the landfill. The duo, who are trained sculptors, presented their Yarrow Collection, which took a good decade to produce and includes a chair, coffee tables, and shelving.

Photo: Mana Sazegara Studio

Sazegara is based in New York City, and her architectural background is evident in her vivid, geometric vinyl wall hangings, textiles, and mirrors. This years spring collection shows more experimentation in the 2-D realm than in past years.

Cicil s Newest Braided Rugs

Photo: Cicil

Cicil is a rug-and-textile design studio based in Durham, North Carolina, owned and operated by two women who met while working in the materials department at Patagonia. The studio uses natural materials like wool and jute, sourced within a 1,000-mile radius of its company and handmade in a slow, low-impact process. The work I saw reminded me of the hooked and braided rugs of past craft generations and displayed an understated beauty. The work is all made to order, so you can customize colors and shapes.

Cyryl Zakrzewski s Nexus Desk and Nexus Armchair

Photo: Cyryl Zakrzewski

Zakrzewski, who is based in Poland, channels the shapes and patterns of the trees and wildlife he saw exploring the forests near his home as a child. The chair and desk in his Nexus collection look as though theyre growing out of the ground with organic, sometimes futuristic forms that highlight the wood grain.

Photo: Andi Li

Los Angelesbased Andi Li presented tubular, flexible lights that are both comical and practical. They would make a delightful addition to a childs room (or any adults, for that matter) with their cartoon colors and adaptive shapes.

Photo: Glenn Byers Studio

Glenn Byers, based in Camden, Maine, doesnt have a website yet, and his Instagram had only four photos at the time of this writing, but his pieces showed a thoughtful, skilled design sensibility worth following. When he showed me the rotation wheel at the base of his lamp, I thought he could have engineered it with a simple on-off switch, but instead he devised a turntable that you spin around on the base of the stand, making it a more tactile experience.
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The Daily Emerald is providing live coverage of the University of Oregons pro-Palestine encampment, which began on April 29 at 7 a.m. All of our coverage on the encampment can be found here.

Below is the Emeralds coverage of May 22, the 24th day of the encampment.

Student negotiators and university officials reached an agreement to end the pro-Palestine encampment on the University of Oregon campus after 24 days. Five UO Coalition for Palestine representatives emerged from Johnson Hall, where the encampment was moved on May 16, after meeting with UO administrators including President John Karl Scholz.

According to Michael Dreiling, a sociology professor and facilitator between the coalition and the university, encampment members have 24 hours to leave after signing the agreement. By the end of the night, some demonstrators were already packing up their tents, and cheers rang out from the site of the encampment when the deal was agreed upon.

A university spokesperson declined to comment on the agreement, and no formal statement has been issued by the university or the coalition as of this writing.

The agreement, proposed by the university and accepted by student demonstrators, follows six days of renewed negotiations between the parties.

In a preliminary copy of the agreement obtained by the Daily Emerald, UO has agreed to:

Full participation for students in a task force on ethical investment, purchasing and contracting, which was announced earlier today in a 3 p.m. University Senate meeting.

No adverse action for member[s] or groups (official or unofficial) of the University of Oregon regarding protected speech, and the end of the encampment as a favorable mitigating factor in the resolution of any potential student conduct code violations.

Create a Palestinian studies program and invite interested students and faculty to work with the UO Senates study abroad program to ensure all study abroad programs are inclusive.

Develop a new inter-institutional exchange partnership with Birzeit University in the West Bank.

Develop plans to host scholars or students directly impacted by the Palestine-Israel conflict.

Provide scholarships for displaced students in Gaza transitioning to our university.

Develop a cluster of experts on the study of Israel/Palestine.

Carolyn Roderique, a UO student and media liaison for the encampment, said that the results feel damn good.

The movements not over, were not done, but this is a launch pad, Roderique said. Its great to know that our tactic worked.

The encampment will end tomorrow with no direct action taken by police, in stark contrast to dozens of other college campuses across the country. In 24 days, police patrolled the scene, but were never called to break up the encampment or arrest students.

Likewise, the encampment remained consistently peaceful throughout. While demonstrators escalated their tactics in final days  including camping in front of and painting Johnson Hall, throwing papers and leaflets, and marching through academic buildings  the encampment never occupied university buildings, nor did it draw substantial counter-protests.

Read on for live updates as they happened.

Updated 9:46 p.m.

At 9:32 p.m., five University of Oregon Coalition for Palestine representatives emerged from Johnson Hall after meeting with UO administration, including UO President John Karl Scholz.

According to negotiator Diego Duarte, the coalitions negotiations team signed a final agreement with administration to end the encampment immediately.

Encampment members have begun removing signs and tents from the front of Johnson Hall, however, over 50 tents remain in the grass between Fenton and Friendly halls.

According to Michael Dreiling, a sociology professor and facilitator between the coalition and the university, encampment members have 24 hours to leave after signing the agreement.

Protestors are currently gathered around the steps of Johnson, playing music, dancing and packing up supplies.

Updated 9:33 p.m.

How the agreement was made

According to Michael Dreiling, a sociology professor and facilitator between the coalition and the university, the agreement was worked on for the past six days between the coalitions negotiation team and the Office of the Provost, Office of the President, Division of Global Engagement and University Senate.

Dreiling said that around 5:40 p.m., the final draft was completed and members of the encampment voted on the draft, asking for securing a commitment for five scholarships for students who have been displaced by the ongoing war in Gaza.

Dreiling said the agreement document has been approved by all parties and is currently awaiting formal signing.

UO says students will not face adverse action for protected speech activities

The agreement states that no members or groups found to have been present at the encampment will face adverse action as a result of their participation in protected speech activities.

The universitys response to the coalitions request for amnesty is that the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards is committed to an educational and student-centered process. The university asks that all encampment-related materials are removed.

Individual students who did not violate the restrictions against overnight camping and amplified sound will not be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. Those that did would have favorable mitigating factors in any student conduct code violations provided the encampment ends.

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards will consider the ending of the encampment and commitment to future compliance with established campus policies as favorable mitigating factors in the resolution of any potential student violations of policy to overnight camping, utilizing space without a reservation and improper use of amplified sound, the agreement said.

Responses to demands on divestment, education, scholarships

The coalitions previously listed demands on divestment no longer specifically ask that UO divest from its endowment from Jasper Ridge Partners, according to the agreement, but demand that steps be taken to ensure that no UO endowment money is invested in the US-Israeli war machine and present a practical plan to accomplish this.

The coalition asked for the creation of a new Palestinian studies program that would hire three visiting Palestinian faculty and a permanent Middle East and Northern Africa-endowed chair.

The university agreed to a May 31 meeting with a faculty committee which manages the Global Justice Program, a program that hosts visiting professors on international relations. The university asks that the program considers a commitment of $50,000 each year for the next three years to bring visiting scholars who will offer courses on Palestine and Israel.

A faculty and staff committee, convened by the Division of Global Engagement, will develop plans over the summer to regularly host 2-3 scholars and/or students who have been directly impacted by the Israel-Hamas war.

The Division of Global Engagement will also develop scholarships for students who will come to UO through these visiting programs, financially funded through philanthropic support aiming to expand the program further.

Additionally, UO will add language to the Office of Admissions website specific to working with and welcoming applications from students who have been displaced from universities in Gaz

Five scholarships will be made available to qualified and eligible students who have been displaced because of the war. There will also be support services for students displaced by the war in Gaza including dedicated orientation programs, immigration and visa services and advising.

The UO Office of the Provost will encourage the School of Global Languages and Studies to develop a group of experts on Israel and Palestine.

This will consist of two new positions and two existing positions. The two new positions are Modern Middle Eastern Studies in Comparative Context and Modern Middle Eastern Studies with a Palestinian emphasis.

Already existing is a position in the global studies school with particular attention to the impact on Palestinians of the Israeli criminal justice system, and in anthropology in the Iranian Diaspora and Iranian and Kurdish feminisms.

The coalition asked that a West Asia, North Africa and South Asia Cultural Center be created. It states that the center should keep a regular budget and be guaranteed physical space in the Erb Memorial Union.

The university stated that the Division of Global Engagement and Student Life will pursue a vision for the space, given the lack of availability in the EMU.

Updated 8:51 p.m.

An agreement has been reached between the University of Oregon Coalition for Palestine and the University of Oregon, according to multiple students and faculty members familiar with negotiations, ending the 24-day long encampment which first began on April 29.

A university spokesperson declined to comment on the agreement.

The agreement, proposed by the university and accepted by student demonstrators, follows six days of renewed negotiations between the parties.

In a preliminary copy of the agreement obtained by the Daily Emerald, UO has agreed to:

Full participation for students in a task force on ethical investment, purchasing and contracting, which was announced earlier today in a 3 p.m. University Senate meeting.

No adverse action for member[s] or groups (official or unofficial) of the University of Oregon regarding protected speech, and the end of the encampment as a favorable mitigating factor in the resolution of any potential student conduct code violations.

Create a Palestinian studies program and invite interested students and faculty to work with the UO Senates study abroad program to ensure all study abroad programs are inclusive.

Develop a new inter-institutional exchange partnership with Birzeit University in the West Bank.

Develop plans to host scholars or students directly impacted by the Palestine-Israel conflict.

Provide scholarships for displaced students in Gaza transitioning to our university.

Develop a cluster of experts on the study of Israel/Palestine.

Students in the encampment cheered and celebrated when the agreement was announced, and some demonstrators are already packing up their tents from the lawn between Fenton and Friendly Halls.

Updated 8:27 p.m.

Protesters have reached a deal with university administrators to end the encampment on the University of Oregon campus, which has been ongoing since April 29 at 7 a.m.

More details on the agreement are forthcoming.

Updated 8:00 p.m.

Protesters at the University of Oregon pro-Palestine encampment are reaching a deal with university administrators to end the encampment after 24 days, multiple people close to the negotiations have told the Emerald.

Updated 4:27 p.m.

In an email statement to the Emerald, Dyana Mason, chairperson of the newly formed university task force on ethical investment, purchasing and contracting, said she was honored to have been chosen for the position by Senate President Gerald Sandoval.

I look forward to partnering with other members of the task force  including students, staff and faculty, and the administration to ensure that the universitys practices and policies are consistent with our stated academic, research and public service mission, Mason said.

The taskforce was formed in response to pro-Palestine encampment members demands that the UO divest from companies with ties to Israel.

Mason stated that she hopes to offer recommendations to the UO Foundation and administration to ensure that the universitys actions are consistent.

Updated 3:31 p.m.

UO President John Karl Scholz and interim provost Karen Ford, whom Gerard Sandoval said had played an instrumental role in negotiations, spoke at the meeting.

Scholz credited demonstrators for their stated desire to avoid violence, threats and destruction of property, but claimed that there has been an increase in vandalism and criminal activity in recent days. Scholz said that foremost in our mind is the safety and wellbeing of our community.

Behaviors specifically named by Scholz were obstructing a university building, barring entrances, defacing buildings and walkways and rallying and marching through academic buildings with amplified sound.

Scholz said that he hoped any encampment members listening to his remarks would support efforts to reach a resolution that will end the encampment.

Scholz briefly opened the floor to questions from senators, but none asked a question.

Updated 3:13 p.m.

At the University Senate meeting held over Zoom, Senate President Gerard Sandoval announced that the senate had proposed a new task force to focus on ethical investment, purchasing and contracting.

Sandoval said that negotiators, led by UO Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine member and sociology professor Michael Dreiling, have been meeting with leaders of the encampment daily from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. since negotiations resumed on May 17.

According to Sandoval, the senate met with encampment leaders last night to discuss the task force, which would help institutionalize some of their demands and serve as a platform for them to negotiate with administrators.

Salem Younes, an organizer of the encampment and co-leader of Students for Justice in Palestine, confirmed that encampment leaders voted in favor of the task force last night.

Younes also said that discussions on the task force took place at yesterdays mass meeting with faculty guests. Guests included Sandoval, Dreiling and Senate Vice President Alison Schmitke.

We shouldnt have had to do all this just so the university wouldnt put that money in a shtty place, but here we are, Younes said. Its only propelling us more towards our demands and what we can do here on the ground to help the liberation of the Palestinian people.

It is not yet clear what impact the task forces formation will have on the duration of the encampment.

Dyana Mason, a university senator and associate professor of planning, public policy and management, has been selected to serve as the chair of the task force. Mason has also worked extensively with nonprofit organizations. Sandoval, who was responsible for choosing a chair, said Mason was chosen for her calm and collaborative leadership style.

Updated 3:05 p.m.

The University Senate meeting has been called to order, with nearly 70 participants joining the public Zoom call. Remarks are expected from UO President John Karl Scholz and interim provost Karen Ford.

Updated 11:10 a.m.

With just under four hours before the University Senate meeting, Salem Younes, an organizer of the encampment and co-leader of Students for Justice in Palestine, said they expected the topic of the pro-Palestine encampment would be raised by members of the Senate.

Theyre probably going to acknowledge it, Younes said. Our hope is that they take us seriously, take our demands seriously.

Younes also said they do not anticipate the university to propose an appropriate deal with encampment organizers after rounds of negotiations.

I dont have very good faith that the deal that theyre gonna propose to us is going to be good or anything that were going for, Younes said.

Updated 9:32 a.m.

Its day 24 of the pro-Palestine encampment on the University of Oregon campus.

The morning is quiet as students walk to class and UO Planning and Facilities Management manages the land surrounding the encampment. UOPD has continued to visibly patrol the encampment throughout the week. One UOPD vehicle is currently stationed on East 13th Avenue outside of Columbia Hall.

A University Senate meeting today could provide more clarity on the universitys response to the encampment moving forward. President John Karl Scholz is scheduled to give remarks at the meeting, which is open to community members via Zoom and begins at 3 p.m.
Ready to start trading forex? Practise with a demo account or open a live account to get started

Although the forex market is usually closed over the weekend, IG is the only UK provider to offer weekend trading on the GBP/USD currency pair. This means you never need to miss an opportunity to trade, as well as enabling you to hedge your weekday GBP/USD positions with a trade on our weekend GBP/USD market.

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Learn more about weekend trading with IG

Broadly speaking, there are three main sessions to trade forex: the Asia-Pacific session, the Europe session and the US session. The first of these to open is the Asia-Pacific session, with Sydney opening at 9pm (UK time) and closing at 6am (UK time) the following morning. Tokyo  also part of the Asia-Pacific session  opens at 12am (UK time) and closes at 9am (UK time).

The next session to open is Europe, with London  the largest forex centre in the world  opening at 8am (UK time) and closing at 4pm (UK time). The US is the last session to open and to close, with trading in New York starting at 12pm (UK time) and closing at 9pm (UK time), at which point the Sydney session opens again.

It is important to remember that forex trading hours can vary in March, April, October and November, as countries shift to and from daylight savings or summer times on different days. They should also bear in mind, that no single forex trading session is open 24 hours on its own but rather, the forex market itself is open 24 hours because of the different sessions during which trades can be made.

Why are the forex markets trading times important?

The forex markets trading times are important because, although it is open 24 hours a day, the market is more active during different sessions, or when there is a crossover between two sessions in different geographic locations, which means that spreads are tighter. However, this increased activity is typically confined to currencies that are found in both locations of a crossover  for example, GBP/USD experiences greater trading volume when both the European and US sessions are open between 12pm and 4pm (UK time).

The beginning of each trading session is when the big institutions such as investment banks are active, and this is often when relevant economic data for each session is published. For example, the UKs major data releases come out at 8.30am (UK time), while the US tends to publish its numbers from 11.30am, until about 2.30pm (UK time).

These announcements can generate significant volatility depending on the market reaction, so every forex trader needs to know when they are published.

When is the best time to trade forex in the UK?

Typically, the UK forex market is most active just after the open of the London session at 8am (UK time). At this time, liquidity and volatility will likely be high as traders begin interacting with each other. Trading will usually become less liquid at around 10am (UK time), and it will pick up again after the American markets open at around 12pm (UK time).

Trading forex during the London session in the UK

Popular forex pairs to trade during the London session are the majors such as the GBP/USD cross or the EUR/GBP cross. This is especially true during the overlap between the London and New York markets, as well as the European session which is open during almost identical hours to the London session.

The Tokyo-London crossover is historically not as busy as the London-New York crossover because of the simple fact that there is a greater cross over in terms of trading hours between London and New York than between London and Tokyo. The table below has information about some popular forex pairs and their average daily pip movement over a 12-month period starting November 2018 during the London session.
Prince Edward is taking extremely seriously his debut Trooping the Colour next month on horseback.

Previously hes attended the event in a carriage but as the new colonel of the Scots Guards he will turn out in bearskin and full military fig.

He has been discreetly rehearsing with his brother Andrew providing practical training in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle.

Andrew, briefly colonel of the Grenadiers, took part in just two Troopings (2018, 2019) but had to undergo intensive preparation for his time in the saddle, a shock for a career naval man.

Training Edward has allowed Andrew to get his old bearskin out of mothballs, something he thought hed never wear again. At last a real job for the banished prince!

Previously Prince Edward (right) attended the Trooping of the Colour in a carriage

He has been discreetly rehearsing with his brother Andrew providing practical training in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle (pictured in 2023)

Andrew, briefly colonel of the Grenadiers, took part in just two Troopings (pictured in 2019) but had to undergo intensive preparation for his time in the saddle, a shock for a career naval man

No sooner is former health secretary Ken Clarke besieged by demands for the removal of his peerage over his inept handling of the infected blood scandal than the BBC start broadcasting repeats of his 2011 series Jazz Greats. Le timing est tout?

President Macrons wife Brigitte is reportedly less than thrilled at Gaumont Studios announcement of a six-part drama about her life.

How will the film boffins handle the seduction scenes between teacher Brigitte and the teenage Emmanuel Macron? Deep waters!

President Macrons wife Brigitte is reportedly less than thrilled at Gaumont Studios announcement of a six-part drama about her life

Meanwhile President Macron, whose final term expires in 2027, is being lined up to join Tony Blair in a dream lecture team by JP Morgan.

Lets hope Emmanuel gets paid as much as theyve promised Tone.

The ex-PM will trouser one million euros per conference appearance.

Meanwhile President Macron, whose final term expires in 2027, is being lined up to join Tony Blair (pictured) in a dream lecture team by JP Morgan

Declaring her love of sewing and jam-making, Liz Hurley, pictured, less than a decade from her old age pension, seems to have embraced a sedentary lifestyle.

On days when Im not working, she says, I normally get up fairly early, seven-ish, feed and walk the dogs, play with the parrot Ping Pong whom I love  and then Ill slurp endless coffees.

Could Meals on Wheels be revving up in the Gloucestershire shrubbery Liz?

Declaring her love of sewing and jam-making, Liz Hurley, pictured, less than a decade from her old age pension, seems to have embraced a sedentary lifestyle

Old Etonians Damian Lewis and Dominic West are among former school boys asked to open their wallets for a contribution to departing Provost William Waldegrave. The Old Etonian Association suggests 50 each lads!

Old Etonians Damian Lewis (left) and Dominic West (right) are among former school boys asked to open their wallets for a contribution to departing Provost William Waldegrave

Dashing veterans minister Johnny Mercer  photographed barefoot on a train journey and explaining he had just cycled across Dartmoor in the rain  takes more than a passing interest in his appearance.

One Westminster wag recalls Mercer being late for an adjournment debate when a fellow minister asked a doorman if hed seen him.

The reply? Perhaps he was delayed when he walked in front of a mirror, sir.'
What are we to make of a group of human rights lawyers recommending that an arrest warrant be issued for Israels elected prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu?

Yes, the International Criminal Court has done the same for various Hamas leaders, but these men were already hunted terrorists. An ICC warrant would make little difference to them.

Israel, by contrast, is a sovereign democracy. A flawed one, to be sure, but nonetheless a functioning state with independent institutions and a robust judiciary. In presuming to leapfrog Israels own legal system, the ICC prosecutor is engaging in calculated lawfare.

We must distinguish general principles from particular cases. I am open to a wide range of views about Israel. You can take the view that it is a beleaguered democracy defending itself against genocidal maniacs, or you can take the view that it is an illegitimate occupier carrying out atrocities. My own view is that Israel is broadly a force for good, but that Netanyahu has become a menace to civilisation.

Wherever you come down, though, you are expressing a political rather than a legal opinion. And that does not somehow cease to be true simply because you have a law degree.

In issuing a warrant for Israel's leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, the ICC has crossed a line, writes Daniel Hannan

In formulating his position, the ICCs chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, appointed a panel of six experts. While they have impressive legal experience, they also have their prejudices and assumptions, just like the rest of us.

One of them, the American-Israeli judge Theodor Meron, has argued consistently that there should be no Israeli presence in the territories conquered during the 1967 war.

Another, Danny Friedman KC, published an open letter on November 18 arguing that Israels response to the attack on its territory has involved catastrophic mass fatality and untold human suffering of Palestinians, and that these are also grave war crimes.

Now you can agree or disagree. Fine. But lets not pretend that either man is coming disinterestedly to the subject. Indeed, in my view human rights lawyers as a group tend to be well to the Left of the general population. Nothing wrong with that, of course. But wed be kidding ourselves if we believed them to be unemotional androids.

Consider a third panellist, the Labour peer Helena Kennedy, KC. Now I happen to admire Baroness Kennedy immensely. She is clever, witty and eloquent, and has an unfeigned zeal for raising up the poor and disadvantaged. You cant spend five minutes in her company without liking her. But she is just as much a party politician as I am.

The difference is that, while you will find plenty of human rights lawyers who share her Labour views, in my experience you will find almost none who support the Tories. Hence the suspicion that human rights law, at both national and supranational level, is being used to advance an agenda that would be rejected at the ballot box.

It is stunning to see how far and how fast we have moved. Twenty-five years ago, the human rights industry did not exist, and neither did the ICC. A multi-million-pound sector has grown up in an astonishingly short time, driven partly by the intimidating moral fervour of its practitioners and partly by grubbier calculations involving mortgages and school fees.

Outside the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands

Keir Starmer and Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy - who welcomed the ICC ruling - outside Berlin's Reichstag

International law used to have a narrow scope, covering the immunity of ambassadors and the rules of engagement on the high seas. When the first Geneva Convention was signed in 1864, establishing the Red Cross, it was a voluntary intergovernmental accord. The idea that it might have direct force within its signatory states would have been met by bewilderment. Even the 1945 Nuremberg trials, often cited by advocates of international law as an example of how the international community must sometimes step in to deal with the breakdown of legal norms in a nation, were nothing of the kind.

The Allies were clear that they were exercising their power as the legal occupiers of Germany, and thus its acting government. They turned down a German request for judges from neutral countries for precisely this reason.

No, the sight of supranational tribunals sitting in judgment over elected governments is a new one. What was until a generation ago the stuff of conspiracy theories is now happening. Except that there is nothing conspiratorial about it. Those involved could hardly seem more proud of themselves.

I would argue that when a country accepts a new human rights code or convention, it is not giving people extra rights. It is simply empanelling a different set of officials to arbitrate those rights.

Those officials, whether national, European or international lawyers, would no doubt protest furiously that they are impartial, that they leave their personal opinions at the courtroom door. But notice how their rulings always seem to come from the same direction.

For example, we have come to expect courts to strike down both individual deportation orders and broader attempts to crack down on clandestine entry. But when did you ever hear of a judge stepping in to order an illegal immigrant to be removed?

If judges are as concerned about the rights of victims as they are about the rights of scoundrels, they keep very quiet about it.

It is hardly surprising, then, that Labour should be keener on these various codes than the Tories. The Shadow Foreign Secretary, in welcoming the ICC ruling, adopted a deliberately partisan tone, condemning the Conservatives for refusing to go along with it. We can expect much more of this if Sir Keir Starmer, a product and exemplar of the human rights industry, becomes PM.

Again, the lawyers involved will insist that they are simply interpreting conventions and commitments freely entered into by governments. And, in most cases, they will believe it. But it strikes me as incontestable that they are now making rulings that would have been unthinkable a generation ago.

The case against Boris Johnsons prorogation of Parliament, for example, would until very recently have been deemed inadmissible, on grounds that, as the 1689 Bill of Rights puts it with admirable clarity, proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court.

Likewise the idea that courts should rule on a bilateral treaty between two states, such as the deportation agreement between Rwanda and the UK.

Likewise, come to that, the extraordinary notion that the climate change policy of the Swiss government, partly determined by Swiss voters in referendums, might be struck down by European human rights lawyers.

To repeat, you can agree or disagree with any of these decisions. But they are all fundamentally political. If the judges involved wanted to change policy, they should have stepped down, contested an election and introduced appropriate legislation as politicians.

This latest move by the ICC shows that, 22 years after its establishment, it too now sees itself as a geopolitical player, ready to legislate from the bench. And that is the most alarming thing of all. If a court with a mission is a menace, an international court with a mission is a tyranny.

Lord Hannan is International Secretary of the Conservative Party and serves on the Board of Trade.
Paul Whitley popped into WH Smiths for his usual oat milk coffee two weeks ago, but received short shrift - and now PETA has hit back on his behalf

Animal rights group PETA has hit back with a vegan billboard outside a northern train station where a coffee drinker went viral for being refused oat milk in his coffee.

Paul Whitley was left stunned last month when a staff member in WH Smith in Bolton station told him 'we don't do that sort of thing here' when he asked for the plant-based alternative milk in his hot beverage.

He posted on Twitter: 'I'm in Bolton train station and I asked for oat milk in my coffee and the lady told me they don't do that kind of thing here.'

PETA has now responded by placing a billboard outside the station, reading: 'Because You Consume Dairy, Calves Die. GO VEGAN.'

The bright blue sign on Derby Street, which features a bottle of milk containing the pained image of a cow, is just 500 metres from the railway station and will be in place for two weeks.

PETA has hit back with a large billboard outside the station reading: 'Because You Consume Dairy, Calves Die'

Paul Whitley, 39, from Sheffield went viral when he was refused oat milk in his drink at Bolton train station

Paul shared his experiences on X, where it went viral, racking up more than three million views

PETA vice president of programmes Elisa Allen said: 'Each time we grab a cup of coffee, we can choose to spare loving mother cows and their babies suffering and an agonising death by simply ditching dairy.

'Bolton station can help commuters make compassionate choices by adding delicious and humane vegan milk to cafe menus.'

PETA  whose motto reads, in part, that 'animals are not ours to eat' - says non-dairy milks are better for the environment and don't contain 'artery-clogging animal fat and cholesterol of cows' milk'.

Studies have shown animal milks are the most damaging to the planet due to cows being huge greenhouse gas emitters - but the impacts of other milks differ widely.

Paul, from Sheffield, had been waiting for a train on the platform of the Greater Manchester terminal when he went to the shop to satisfy his caffeine cravings.

The 39-year-old, who changed his name to 'celebr-oaty' on Twitter after the incident, claimed he was told that oat milk was not on the menu.

The billboard is placed just metres from the station and the animal charity hopes it will encourage it to offer vegan milks

The staff at WH Smith in Bolton train station (pictured, file image) said they only offered dairy milk

Paul, who has been happily married to his husband, Steve, for 13 years, later told The Bolton News: 'I don't think she was lying.

'They did offer iced coffee on the menu, so they do partially cater to the gays. The staff member was nice. I'd hate to get her in trouble.

'She did offer skimmed as an alternative. I noticed they had about six different flavours of syrup.'

When the arts centre manager shared his experiences on X where it went viral, racking up more than three million views.

Leading oat milk brand Oatly even gifted Paul his own supply of hundreds of cartons of oat milk after the incident.

It also sparked a debate on Jeremy Vine's Radio 2 phone-in show, with punters ringing in from around the country to share their points of view.

Paul had been waiting for a train on the platform of the Greater Manchester terminal when he went to the shop to satisfy his caffeine cravings

Many users on X also went on to detail their similarly 'surprising' culinary experiences in the North West region in the replies to Paul's original post.

One person wrote: 'My mother in law once asked for oat drink in her tea in a cafe.

'She heard the waitress around the back asking her boss what it was, and the boss replied: 'Just use skimmed milk'.

Others added: 'When my husband asked once in a hotel 'what milk choices have you got l' he got replied 'hot or cold'.';

'Having grown up in Bolton, I can confirm the milk choices available in the majority of Bolton are 'milk' and 'no milk'. We're a simple folk.'

'This is my home town. I salute her.'

These days, shoppers are usually spoilt for choice for milks when ordering their coffee, with alternatives such as oat, soya, coconut and almond being readily available in most outlets.

X users rushed to share their own experiences when asking for plant-based milk alternatives

Paul, 39, who has changed his name to 'celebr-oaty' on Twitter since the incident

Leading oat milk brand Oatly even gifted Paul his own supply of hundreds of cartons of oat milk after the incident

In January nutritionists issued a warning against oat milk, revealing that, despite being trendy, one cup can have more sugar than two Krispy Kreme donuts.

The plant-based milk alternative is very popular in the UK but contains more fat and sugar than traditional milk and less bone-boosting calcium.

Incredibly, one cup can contain up to 17g sugar, nearly as much as two Krispy Kreme donuts or four Chips Ahoy! cookies.

However, the Oatly brand itself does not contain any added sugar. A 100ml serving of Oatly Barista Edition contains 3.5g of natural sugar from oats.

FEMAIL has previously reached out to WH Smith for comment.
China welcomes US tourists to experience the real China: Xi

14:10, May 23, 2024 By Xu Liuliu, Wang Cong and Ma Tong ( Global Times

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday extended a warm welcome to US tourists to travel to China, meet Chinese friends, experience Chinese culture, visit beautiful landscapes and experience the real China, in a congratulatory message to the 14th China-US Tourism Leadership Summit held in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The summit, a crucial platform for officials and industry players from both countries to promote cooperation in the tourism sector, convened for the first time since 2019, is adding to the increased interactions between the world's two biggest economies as they seek to stabilize bilateral ties. The event is set to boost bilateral tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, officials and industry players said.

While increased dialogues and exchanges between the two countries send a positive signal of stabilizing ties, Washington's hostile attitude toward China and visa restrictions still pose a major hurdle to cooperation, Chinese experts said, urging the US to abandon its attempt to contain China's development and return to a path of win-win cooperation.

Under the theme of "Expanding China-US Travel and Tourism and People-to-people Exchanges," the summit officially kicked off in Xi'an on Wednesday, with about 400 representatives from the two countries participating. Highlighting the increased enthusiasm among Chinese and US tourism industry players to boost cooperation, the number of participants this year is triple that of the last summit in 2019, according to official data.

Warm welcome

In the message to the summit, Xi stressed that tourism is an important bridge for exchanges and mutual understanding between the people of China and the US, according to the Xinhua News Agency. "We warmly welcome American tourists to travel to China, meet Chinese friends, experience Chinese culture, visit beautiful landscapes and experience the real China," Xi said.

It is hoped that all walks of life in the two countries will take this summit as an opportunity to have in-depth exchanges, build consensus and take active actions to promote personnel exchanges through tourism cooperation, continue the China-US friendship with cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and help the San Francisco vision turn into reality, Xi said.

US President Joe Biden also sent a letter to the summit, saying that "this annual event plays a critical role in harnessing the power of travel and tourism to strengthen important ties between our peoples." He also said that "the US welcomes the people of China to discover our cities, learn about our history and engage with our people in destinations across the country."

Enthusiasm for boosting cultural and people-to-people exchanges is on vivid display at the summit in Xi'an. Students from Brigham Young University sang the Chinese song "Jasmine," while students from Shaanxi performed the song "Moon River" - both songs are familiar to the people of the two countries.

"Chinese kids can sing American songs so well and it is done in such a fine style," Rowena E Minott, CEO of Unlimited Connections, a Florida-based travel agency, told the Global Times on the sidelines of the summit on Wednesday, adding that she was impressed about Chinese city Xi'an and its rich cultures like the Tang Dynasty and the world-known terracotta warriors.

"I could not tell you how good it is to be back," Todd Davidson, board chair of Brand USA, a co-organizer of the summit, said in a speech on Wednesday. "The summit is especially full of hope and optimism for me."

The US is expecting rapid increases in Chinese visitor numbers to the US, a major source of tourism revenue for the country. "According to our latest forecast, we anticipate that Chinese visitation to the US will increase 150 percent from 2023 to 2025. That's 4.7 times faster than the rise in overall overseas visitations to the US during this time," Grant Harris, assistant secretary for industry and analysis of the US Department of Commerce, said at the summit.

With joint efforts to further boost tourism cooperation, industry players also expect a rise in trips. On Chinese booking platform Tongcheng Travel, Chinese tourist bookings to the US surged by 200 percent in the first five months of 2024, with the number jumping 247 percent since the start of May. Demand is expected to rise further with further resumption of China-US flight routes and the opening of new routes, the company told the Global Times on Wednesday.

US obstacles

While Chinese and US industry players have high hopes for growth in tourism cooperation, Chinese officials and experts urged Washington to remove obstacles to travel, including visa restrictions on Chinese nationals traveling to the US.

In April, Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie called on the US to remove obstacles hindering bilateral cultural exchanges, noting that in the past three years, nearly 300 Chinese citizens have been unjustly harassed and deported by the US, more than 70 of whom were students carrying legal and valid documents.

Facilitating tourism and cultural exchanges between the two nations results in win-win cooperation with high reciprocity, which will not only foster economic gains for both sides, but also help dispel misunderstandings amid grave global challenges, Xin Qiang, a deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Xin added that if the US further resumes flights, relaxes visa policies and adopts a positive attitude, it would not only help boost tourism but also set a positive example for other countries to follow.

On its part, China has recently taken effective steps to simplify visa applications for foreigners traveling to China and promote the facilitation of payments for foreigners, Zhang Zheng, deputy minister of the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said at the summit.

Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said that while the US continues to promote a so-called decoupling from China in certain high-tech industries, there is still great willingness among the people in both countries and massive potential for cooperation in areas such as tourism.

"Although the US has intensified its competition with China, there are complementary demands in both markets. As the bilateral economic link becomes more intertwined, the potential for cooperation increases," Zhou told the Global Times on Wednesday, adding that such a huge demand and potential could prompt policy shifts from Washington in certain areas.

While the US cracks down on Chinese high-tech industry, it also needs China in many areas, experts noted.

In the tourism sector, for example, US industry relies heavily on Chinese visitors. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the US welcomed nearly 3 million Chinese visitors annually, who spent $33 billion while visiting the country. Restoring Chinese visitation to 2019 levels would add over 50,000 direct American jobs. Including indirect jobs and students studying in the US, that number increases to an estimated 400,000 American jobs, according to the International Trade Administration under the US Department of Commerce.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
An American influencer has infuriated Britons after she attempted to make a 'proper' cup of tea - with some saying they need 'therapy' after watching her butcher the brew.

Kelsey Pomeroy, who is based in Kansas, took to her Instagram @kelsewhatelse to share a clip of herself attempting to make 'the perfect cup of British tea' to celebrate the new season of Netflix's Bridgerton.

However Kelsey raised a few eyebrows when she began mixing the cold water and milk in a pot first before boiling it into a frothy mixture.

Many rushed to the comments in horror, with one Brit saying: 'My eye is twitching with English rage.'

Speaking to her 178,000 followers, Kelsey said: 'I am an American learning how to make a proper cup of British tea because I'm throwing a high tea party in honour of the Bridgerton premiere.

Kelsey Pomeroy, a Kansas-based influencer, infuriated Brits as she attempted to make 'proper' cup of tea- with some saying they need 'therapy' after watching her butcher the brew

'Internet told me to buy these teas, the PG Tips and the Yorkshire Gold. Someone said that the perfect way to prepare this tea is to boil the milk with the water first and then pour it on top of the tea and then add the sugar. But no, I'll put it in a pan.'

The mother went onto bewilder her British followers as she took to the stove, boiling a concoction of water and milk until it frothed.

Looking confused she asked: 'How hot am I supposed to boil? [Is it] a low and slow situation, or do I boil it hot and high? I don't know.'

The content creator then proceeded to steep a tea bag in a mug, pouring the milky mixture over it.

She added a spoonful of sugar and pondering the brewing time, she asked: 'One tea bag or two? I'm going to go with one, [this box] says brew for one to two minutes but I feel like the internet said at least three to four.

'Do I do one to two minutes or three to four minutes? ... I let the tea bag steep for three minutes.'

Reaching out for advice, she asked: 'If you know how to make a proper cup of British tea, what should I change and try differently? Should I have boiled it in the kettle? '

British social media users rushed to the comments to leave their thoughts on the butchered brew.

However Kelsey raised a few eyebrows when she began mixing the cold water and milk in a pot first before boiling it into a frothy mixture

British social media users rushed to the comments to leave their thoughts on the butchered brew

One person joked: 'Sending hate from the UK x', while another said: 'As a Brit I'm going to need an obscene about of therapy to get over the boiling milk.'

Someone else wrote: 'I think its funny you said you were gonna make a proper cup of tea and then almost instantly chose violence.'

A fourth said: 'WHO TF TOLD THIS WOMAN TO BOIL THE MILK.' Another joked: 'Genuinely think you may be banned from the UK for this.'
The Greek royals looked in high spirits as they gathered in London to celebrate Crown Prince Pavlos' 57th birthday this week.

His wife Princess Marie-Chantal, 55, shared the snap on social media which featured the couple with three of their four children, Olympia, Constantine and Aristides.

Pavlos is the eldest son of Constantine II, the former King of Greece, who died at the start of last year and he is also the godson of King Charles.

The family were all smiles and looked relaxed as they posed around a table with a lavish birthday cake in the centre.

She captioned the picture: 'A little birthday celebration with our London lot. Happiest birthday to my numero uno!'

Crown Princess of Pavlos cut a relaxed figure in a birthday snap with this wife Marie Chantal, daughter Olympia and sons Aristides and Constantine-Alexios (right)

The family were all smiles and looked relaxed as they posed around a table with a lavish birthday cake in the centre in London. Pictured (L-R) Olympia, Aristides, Prince Pavlos Princess Marie-Chantal and Constantine

The family was dressed casually, with Prince Pavlos donning a casual blue shirt and his wife Marie-Chantal opting to wear a khaki button up blouse with a pair of jeans.

Their 27-year-old model daughter Olympia appeared to go makeup free and beamed for the snap in a simple black t-shirt and green trousers.

Constantine sported crisp white striped shirt and grey cargo trousers while his brother Aristides opted for a simple slate-coloured jumper.

The family are based all around the world. Olympia lives in Notting Hill, Pavlos and Marie-Chantal spend most of their time in New York, Aristidis also lives in the US and Constantine often flies between American and the UK.

Constantine dated Cara Delevingne's sister Poppy, but the couple split last year, according to Emily Prescott.

A source close to the couple - who had a 12 year age gap - says it was entirely amicable, adding: 'They are just at different stages of their life. There is no animosity.'

Royal fans rushed to the comments to wish Prince Pavlos a happy birthday, with some commenting on how happy they looked to be reunited.

One wrote: 'What a beautiful photograph.'

Another penned: 'Happy birthday Pavlos, we love you!'

Queen Anne Marie of Greece with Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece at the Coronation of King Charles last year

Royal fans rushed to the comments to wish Prince Pavlos a happy birthday, with some commenting on how happy they looked to be reunited

A third said: 'Happy birthday! May all your wishes come true. Love from Greece!!!'

A fourth commented: 'Happiest birthday! Beautiful photo... happy family.'

At the start of the year, Pavlos said he would like to change his surname back to 'of Greece'.

Currently the family is recognised as 'of Glucksburg', relating to their Spanish and German heritage, rather than their Greek one. Greece abolished its monarchy in 1973.

Pavlos - who is also a member of the Danish royal family - has no immediate German heritage.

In an interview with Greek television channel ERT, he said: that 'My last name has always been that, 'from Greece'. Why do I have to change it? When that law was made it was only to attack us.'

Glucksburg is a Danish castle which was conquered by the Germans during World War II.

Pavlos - who is also a member of the Danish royal family - has no immediate German heritage.
There are many reasons why we look for a new job: more money, better working conditions or career progression are some of the most common.

And while you might be drawn to certain roles because youve always wanted to work for a specific company or the job description looks interesting, its important to read between the lines and fully understand what a job description means.

From salary lingo that has been designed to confuse you, to the tell-tale signs of toxic culture, below were highlighting some of the biggest red flags to look out for in job descriptions.

If a job listing doesnt stipulate any workplace benefits, it probably means you wont be entitled to any

Salary DOE

When a company advertises a position, its usually because theyre replacing someone. And if theyre replacing someone, theyll have a budget allocated for that role. That said, if its a newly created role, theyll also have a pre-approved budget allocated for that role.

So, if you see a job description that stipulates Salary DOE (dependent on experience) know that your prospective new employer probably wants to save a few quid and negotiate your new salary based on what you currently earn, rather than what they can afford to pay you.

No benefits

UK employees are thankfully entitled to 28 days annual leave per year and new mothers can take up to 52 weeks maternity leave (and paid up to 39 weeks on a reduced rate). Most employers offer additional workplace benefits including subsidised health insurance, fully paid maternity leave and a defined or matched pension contribution.

If a job listing doesnt stipulate any workplace benefits, it probably means you wont be entitled to any. And while you might think healthcare or a pension dont really matter if youre being paid well, you could be losing out on as much as 3 per cent of your pre-tax salary.

Be wary of any job description that mentions a fast-paced environment as this usually equates to a rapid pace of work stretched resources and meeting tight deadlines

Fast-paced environment

While a dynamic workplace that values efficiency and growth is always a plus, be wary of any job description that mentions a fast-paced environment as this usually equates to a rapid pace of work, stretched resources, juggling multiple tasks and meeting tight deadlines.

And if you cant fit all of that into your 9-5, it will most likely result in you working overtime in the evenings and at weekends without any additional remuneration.

Any mention of family

Move over Sister Sledge, colleagues are not your family and any job description that refers to its staff as such should be avoided at all costs. Teamwork and collaboration are hugely important in the workplace but positioning co-workers as family is not only unprofessional, it sets unrealistic expectations and makes it difficult for employees to set boundaries.

Ready to put your job description know-how to the test? Head to the Mail Jobs Board where youll find thousands of jobs in companies actively hiring, including the three below.

Job openings in the UK Group Financial Accountant, Live Nation, London Live Nation is seeking a Group Financial Accountant to play a key role in delivering Live Nations internal and external reporting requirements for the UK group, including monthly and quarterly balance sheet and GAAP company reporting. While the team is small, it works flexibly to help facilitate a successful balance of your work and homelife. Interested? Apply here. Sales Manager 360 Workspace UK, Bachmann Group, London As a medium-sized family owned company, Bachmann Group leads with flat hierarchies and open door policies to foster personal and professional development. In this Sales Manager role you will be responsible for continuously developing the sales territory on-site within the UK, focusing on key market sub-segments within the office and furniture segments. An electrical or commercial background and an understanding of the electrical or related software application sector is preferable but not essential. Find out more here. Key Account Manager (Retail), UK&I SumUp card readers are available off-shelf in over 10,000 stores and webshops across the EU. As part of the Retail team, the Key Account Manager will play a key role in SumUps ambitious retail expansion activities and lead both existing retail partnerships and expansion by identifying, engaging, negotiating and closing partnerships with other strong retail brands. If this sounds like the kind of role youve been looking for, check out the full job description here.

Whether you want to escape a toxic work environment or are simply curious about what competitors are offering, check out the Mail Jobs Board today where you can find thousands of roles
Her debut novel, Piece Of My Heart, reflects the model's own experiences

At 74, she has never gone under the knife - and is happy being single

Penelope Tree was the ultimate Swinging Sixties It-girl; her style idiosyncratic, her hallmark look a kind of kooky luminosity that defied convention.

Such was her fame that, when asked to describe her in three words, John Lennon said she was Hot, Hot, Hot! Smart, Smart Smart!

The innocent daughter of wealthy well-connected parents, she was 18 when she became besotted by the photographer David Bailey, whose charisma was edged with danger. The attraction was instant and mutual. There was an electrical connection between us, she reflects now, 56 years later. In some ways he was a terrible, selfish, rampant male but he could also be very sweet and protective. Its just that he couldnt resist the women who threw themselves at him. I dont think many men, put in his position, could.

Penelope Tree, now 74, was a Vogue model and the muse of photographer David Bailey

Penelope was discovered in 1966 at Truman Capotes masquerade Black and White Ball

When they met, Baileys marriage to the French actress Catherine Deneuve was in its death throes. Penelope spent five-and-a-half years with the man everyone referred to by his surname and their relationship defined the era. It was also plagued by his multiple infidelities, but its vicissitudes helped shape and inform her life. So much so that after decades away from the spotlight, she is back with her debut novel, which draws heavily on her time with him.

Bailey, like his fictional alter ego, was constantly assailed by propositions from beautiful women  even when Penelope was with him. Models would use every seductive trick to get him to look at their books, she says. Wed be in a restaurant and a waiter would arrive carrying a silver salver with a little message inside. Bailey would read it covertly then stuff it in his pocket. Women propositioned him all the time: actresses, models; youd be shocked if I named them.

Oh, do! I plead.

Well, there was Nathalie Delon, an actress; quite a femme fatale. Another woman who openly went for Bailey was Raquel Welch. They werent exactly shrinking violets, nor were they members of the sisterhood.

At the time, Penelope was crushed by his insatiable philandering. She was an 18-year-old virgin when she first slept with Bailey, then 30, who had been married twice.

She was 18 when she became besotted by Bailey, whose charisma was edged with danger

Their five-and-a-half year relationship was plagued by Bailey's multiple infidelities

While she was his partner, sharing his North London flat in Primrose Hill, Bailey, it seems, had such a prodigious capacity for sexual infidelity that an ever-changing roster of beautiful women passed through the bed that Penelope had assumed was exclusively theirs.

She finally left him in 1973 when he went off to Paris with the wife of one of his best friends. She packed her bags, perched on what I had naively imagined was my side of the bed  rather than the busy timeshare it actually was  and looked round the room that had seen so much action over the years.

Sweet-natured and self-deprecating, now 74, she retains her youthful lithe bearing. Recent catwalk shows for Fendi in Milan and Valentino in Paris testify to her enduring appeal. I ask how it felt to return to modelling after a break of half a century.

Rather terrifying, she smiles, explaining how fashion has changed from a cottage industry to one of the worlds biggest manufacturing industries.

When I did catwalk shows in the Sixties, there would be ten models at most, and they had to change at least five times in the course of a show. It was hard work! Now there are 100 models in a show, and each only has to show one outfit. The productions are on a massive scale.

Today, she wears flat buckled shoes, a pleated kilt (from Zara), a sweater by her friend Edina Ronay and scarf by another friend, Jasper Conran. Look, it has pictures of all his old dogs on it! she cries, delighted.

Penelope suffered with anorexia from the age of 14, which was later usurped by bulimia

Post-Bailey, she was married to South African musician Ricky Fataar, with whom she has an adult daughter, and she shares a son with a Jungian psychotherapist, her partner until ten years ago.

She lived in Sydney for 17 years  raising her children, working as a TV researcher, travelling and sitting on the board of several charities  but has now settled in rural West Sussex.

An avid reader, she was 62 when she set about writing her novel: I could no longer find any more excuses not to get down to work.

Her main character, Ari, fights demons: eating disorders, drugs  and a high-profile bust that lands her in a police cell  as well as late onset acne, which puts an abrupt end to her modelling career. She also documents a dysfunctional relationship with her brittle, socialite mother and discovers her adoring father is bisexual.

All this is paralleled in Penelopes own extraordinary life. Her mother Marietta was, she tells me, accomplished, beautiful, worldly and sociable  but she just wasnt interested in being a mother. She lacked warmth. She didnt say she loved me; she wasnt demonstrative. She handed me over to a nanny.

My mother adored men and had passionate affairs while married to my father and being chatelaine of a grand house in Manhattan.

Her father Ronald Tree, a former Conservative MP and friend of Winston Churchill, was 20 years his wifes senior, a devoted father and, she says, genuinely bisexual in that he loved my mother and had affairs with men.

Vogues then editor-in-chief Diana Vreeland, as well as photographers Cecil Beaton and Richard Avedon, all took credit for discovering Penelope in 1966 at Truman Capotes famous Black and White Ball when she was 16 (she went bra-less in a floor-length gown with two daring side-slits originating at her bust).

A year later, modelling for British Vogue, she met Bailey sitting on the floor of the editors office surrounded by contact sheets.

We had this big moment of recognition. He was incredibly attractive with a dangerous vibe.

At this stage, Penelope kept her distance. She had been traumatised by an earlier sexual assault.

I had not had a sexual relationship before. Id had a bad encounter with an older man whod tried to force me to have oral sex with him. I didnt tell anyone about it at the time. I thought it was my fault.

It was shocking and scary and my body shut down. I grew a protective membrane around myself. I think it all contributed to my later eating disorders.

Besides, she was aware that Bailey was still married to  although separated from  Deneuve; conscious, too, of another girlfriend.

Then, a year or so on, she ran into him again in Paris.

I was modelling for American Vogue, working with Twiggy, she recalls. Bailey came to Paris and that was it. Richard Avedon warned me, Darling, dont go near him. Bailey was also being told to leave me alone. So it was bound to happen, wasnt it?

She smiles mischievously. And of course it did; their first sexual encounter was in a Paris hotel room.

Bailey didnt know I was a virgin and I was way too scared to tell him. These days girls are a lot more forthright but I was 18, and you didnt say things like that then. I would have been mortified.

After a brief interval Bailey went to fetch her from her parents house. My mother was extremely patronising to him and he couldnt bear her. Hed left school at 15 and she thought he was dumb, which he wasnt. He was hugely knowledgeable about books, films and art.

When he came to New York to take me back to London, my mother, who never usually opened the front door herself, on this occasion did. She tried to shut it in Baileys face when she saw him, but he jammed it open with a toe of his Cuban-heeled boot and said: It could be worse, love. I could have been a Rolling Stone. 

She laughs at this memory. And I went straight from my parents house to living with him in Primrose Hill.

She forfeited a place to study English literature to be with him. Of course my parents were disappointed. Id dropped out of university to become a model and live with a 30-year-old man whod been married twice and had countless girlfriends.

She was, she now recognises, perilously dependent on Bailey.

He became, not just my lover, but a sort of parent figure. I was mature socially  I knew how to talk to people  but emotionally immature.

He became my centre of gravity. Without him panic and doubt overwhelmed me. I just could not imagine life without him.

 Slide me  After a break of fifty years, she is back on the catwalk for fashion houses Fendi and Valentino

Surely, though, she revelled in her success during those heady days?

I really enjoyed working with creative people and travelling to amazing places but I never felt as if I were successful.

I was constantly comparing myself to other more beautiful models and felt I was really just a novelty act.

She was  and remains to this day  sweetly self-effacing, attributing to other models like Veruschka the poise and grace she (wrongly) felt eluded her.

Allied to her suffocating level of dependency on Bailey was his control; he insisted she ditch her agent, complained if she worked with other photographers and carped if she put on a few pounds.

Bailey was consistently affectionate, she says, but his mood could turn ominously dark without warning. He could be shockingly hurtful. He had an instinct for the jugular.

She felt defined by her appearance and eating disorders plagued her. I was no one unless I was thin and, at first, as a model, I was rewarded for being thin, she observes.

The anorexia she had been prone to since she was 14 was usurped by bulimia when she was with Bailey.

Then, in her early 20s, she suffered a bout of late-onset acne caused by a hormonal imbalance she believes was brought on by her eating disorders. The acne was so disfiguring it put a halt to her photographic modelling career.

I lost my self-confidence completely and it took a long time to come back because it was so caught up in my appearance, she says. At that point I just felt as if I was on the rubbish heap of life. It was very difficult.

Her response was to hang out with friends in the fashion world smoking dope and taking cocaine.

I became heavily into drugs  although I never took heroin  and Bailey (who never touched drugs) was really disapproving.

This self-destructive episode ended when police raided her friends flat while Penelope was there, discovering cocaine, marijuana, Drinamyl and Mandrax in her handbag.

She was locked in a police cell for a few hours before a thunderous Bailey rescued her, raging at her stupidity.

He was extremely disappointed in me, just as a parent would be, she recalls.

He engaged a lawyer and Penelope got a conditional discharge. A few months later she summoned the courage to leave him.

Today, she has attained a happy equilibrium and pretty much embraced ageing. Its an ongoing challenge but Im learning to live in the present and hopefully to see beyond appearances, she says.

She still has the easy grace and style that identifies her as a model, but today she welcomes comfort and practicality.

Her face  with the barest hint of make-up  is framed by long blonde hair. She has never had cosmetic work done.

Im not saying I wont, but I doubt it quite frankly. I make no judgment on those who do. I just try not to look in the mirror too much (which is easy in Sussex) and Im interested in life. So many books to read; so many things to do. My appearance is not that interesting to me.

It is one of the liberating corollaries of ageing that she no longer feels defined by her appearance.

She keeps fit by walking and sea swimming; she practises yoga. And she cherishes the memory of the strong women mentors who helped shape her life, among them Vreeland (who never did anything to her face) and her late sister-in-law Lady Anne Tree, a prison rights activist.

Now, in later life, she relishes being single: I dont have any desire to find a partner and that is a release. I feel really happy on my own. It is great to have time to write and practise Buddhism. I like the solitary life as well as seeing my friends.

Is she still in touch with Bailey? She is; their friendship is, astoundingly, thriving.

Bailey, 86, now married to his fourth wife Catherine, has vascular dementia.

Penelope has never had work done, saying: 'My appearance is not that interesting to me

Her debut novel tells the story of well-bred Ari, who is launched into the modelling world of the Sixties when she is discovered by notorious bad-boy photographer Bill Ramsey

But oh God, yes, he still remembers me! says Penelope.

Hes very on the ball, still very funny. His mind is still pretty good.

Do you tease him about giving you such a hard time back in the Sixties?

Yes, I say: You really put me through it, didnt you? and he laughs and says, Its just my nature. Hes still painting and doing some amazing work. His creative drive was always very linked to his sex drive.

She reflects: I endured some painful, difficult times with him that affected me deeply and after we broke up we didnt get along for quite a few years.

But he made efforts to mend fences and he has made it clear he still feels close to me. He is incapable of bulls****ing.

Does she regret the tumult of the 1960s; the febrile intensity of her era-defining relationship with Bailey?

Penelope looks back with equanimity: If difficult things never happen to you, you dont really wake up, do you?

All these young people come up to me and say: You were so lucky to have lived through the Sixties. And it was fantastic in many ways, but there was also an ingrained prejudice against women.

Bailey was selfish, but he was also great company. He had a strong spirit but he was also vulnerable. He was a mass of contradictions, as I guess we all are. He also made me laugh.

He still does. And that counts for a lot.

Piece Of My Heart by Penelope Tree (18.99, Moonflower Books) is out today.
Whenever I hear the word 'will', I'm afraid I dont feel a sentimental pull for a departed loved one. Rather, I see pound signs and want to know what I'm getting out of it.

My husband Kevin calls me mercenary. But I know from bitter experience how vital a clear will is. That's why I tweak my own on an almost monthly basis.

In theory, Im leaving almost everything to my daughter, Hannah, whos 33, with small bequests for my five granddaughters.

But mercurial should be my middle name, because I am known to refine the details after every family spat or fallout. (My older sister has been written out entirely. I was going to leave her some jewellery but were currently not on speaking terms.)

To me, a will is an insurance policy to ensure I get decent geriatric care from my daughter and grandchildren, and it gives me a lot of power to wield over my loved ones.

To Emma a will is an insurance policy to ensure she gets good geriatric care from her children

Thats why Im stunned that TV presenter Anne Robinson says she has already given away all her money to her daughter and grandchildren, insisting they may as well enjoy it now. Wheres the leverage in that?

At 57, I hope I still have decades ahead of me. But all the same, inheritance is a term peppered into everyday conversations with my grandchildren, aged six to 16.

Kevin believes it should be an equal distribution regardless; however, they have had it drummed into them that if they dont visit me, theyll get nothing.

You might think theyd be offended or upset at such morbid talk, but my grandchildren are used to these occasional rants and power grabs. Theyve heard it since they were toddlers. I dont feel guilty at all  my 90-something parents do the same to me to make sure Im running around after them.

And though you often read about high-profile will disputes, with families arguing over whether a will really conveys a dead relatives true last wishes, when I go, everyone will know for certain that my will was bang up-to-date with exactly what I wanted.

Whether theyll be happy about the contents is another question.

I threaten to leave Hannah nothing all the time; she thinks its tongue-in-cheek and that Im using it as a darkly humorous bargaining tool, but Im not.

The first time I removed her was when, in her late teens, she cut ties with me and decided to play happy families with her first daughters father.

Inheritance is peppered into everyday conversations with her grandchildren, aged six to 16

She threatens to leave her daughter Hannah nothing, and has cut her out of her will before

So I left everything to their baby, Elise. Two years later, when she left him and returned to the family fold, I proudly popped her back in as the main recipient. Truth be told, Id happily leave the lot to Elise, my eldest and favourite grandchild, but Hannah has made me promise not to do that.

Mind you, at 16, Elise is already more mercenary than me, and is forever walking around my house asking When you die, Gran, can I have that?

Shes always eyeing up my jewellery and expensive perfumes. Ive caught her stroking my Murano glass collection as well. Elise might only be a teenager but shes canny enough to have priced it all up on the internet.

I dont find her approach upsetting, though. It makes me laugh, rather proudly, to see her do it. Shes a chip off the old block.

However, while I may drop hints at whos getting what, none of them knows exactly what is in my will. I protect my own interests at all costs.

Many would see my obsession as macabre, but I think about death and dying most days. And with good reason, because my beloved husband of 18 years Kevin, now 63, has stage four cancer that has spread to his lungs and lymph nodes. While there are times I spend hours sobbing at the thought of losing him, I try to remain strong.

Even so, the first thing I said after we got the terminal diagnosis is Whats going to happen to me? Not my finest hour, I know.

The poor man automatically assumed I was planning on getting married again. But the last thing I want is another husband (Ive been married twice before).

Instead, I was worried that as a widow and a woman who took early retirement from a career in the civil service aged 48, I would need to look for another job.

I was terrified, wondering how on earth I was going to be able to afford to stay in our house. Im very settled in our four-bedroom home and dont want to leave it.

Of course, Kevin is leaving everything to me in his will, as he has no children of his own.

Emma drew up her first will in 1994 not long after becoming a single mum

I know this because Ive seen it in black and white. I even helped him write it. Perhaps I was a bit too pushy, because at one point the solicitor asked me to leave the room.

As things stand, Ill automatically receive half of his private pension. Hes got another private one worth 250,000. Hes started talking about drawing down on it, but Im encouraging him to leave it there for now.

A quarter-of-a-million-pound pension pot might sound a lot but I could very well be alive for another 40 years, so its only natural Im worried. After all, my great gran lived until she was 105, my gran until 95 and Mum and Dad are still here at 91 and 90 respectively.

As there is just my older sister and me, when our parents die we stand to inherit their home and another property but we have both been taken out and put back in a few times, which has brought us to heel, as intended.

As much as I respect my sister, I have videoed the contents of their home so nothing accidentally goes missing when they die.

My so-called mercenary attitude has been fashioned after seeing the harsh realities of how an inheritance is divvied up first-hand over the years.

The first time I went to a reading of a will was 30 years ago when my poor mother found out shed only been left 3,000 from her great uncles 1million estate. Theyd been close, so she was upset and thoroughly blind-sided.

Then there was my great aunt who died, I discovered, last year leaving a farm worth more than 1 million.

As the family sleuth, I rang the solicitor because my mother was her last living descendant. But there wasnt a stick left to Mum, my sister or me. The estate went to charity. Wed lost out on a fortune and that is, I believe, due to my mother marrying an Englishman.

On Mums side of the family, they prefer to keep the money in Wales. Once again, I was spitting feathers because each of my great aunts did exactly the same, they left their money to one another.

Ive also come a cropper when it came to a friends will. I cared for a neighbour in her final years, often bathing her legs because she had cellulitis  an infection of the deeper layers of skin and the underlying tissue  and running errands for her. She was one of the family, I even invited her to share Christmas with us.

So, in front of her daughter, she announced that she was leaving me 5,000 (which Id mentally spent). But as this wasnt included in her will, the daughter wouldnt honour her wishes and I didnt see a penny. I sobbed my heart out and it was a harsh lesson to learn. Keep your will up to date!

That probably explains why I found a scheme where, for 200 a year, I can change my will up to four times a year. I drew up my first will in 1994 not long after becoming a single mum and since then, some years its a bit like the hokey-cokey.

Whenever I fall out with Hannah, the first thing I threaten to do is disinherit her  and out of the will she comes. It might only be for mere weeks, and I usually put her back in sharpish as I worry Ill drop down dead before changing it back again.

She used to get very upset but now she says she doesnt want my money. I dont believe that for a minute.

Hannah says its too morbid to make a will in her 30s. But that didnt stop her saying to Kevin one night when drunk: If Mum dies first, will you leave all your worldly goods to us still? She knows perfectly well she will get everything.

What will she inherit? Well, there is our four-bedroom home, and Kevin and I own a rental property each. Mine is my pension plan.

There are also valuable items of jewellery I keep in the bank  Im too worried to have them at home.

My grans opal ring is worth a small fortune. Thats going to Elise. Theyre both Librans and Elise was born three months after Gran died. I have five engagement rings (no, I never returned them as I believe I earned them) and my second grandchild Isabella is getting the nicest of those.

Theres also a sapphire necklace and earrings for the younger ones, also kept under lock and key.

While my granddaughters and daughter know about these jewels, they know that to receive them, they need to look after me. They dont question my choices  not at the moment, anyhow!

When the worst happens with Kevin, I will never marry again. How can I be so sure? I dont want anyone elses adult offspring conniving to get their hands on my money or my grandchildrens inheritance.

When I die I want to be cremated and my ashes buried with Kevins. His only stipulation is that his ashes arent buried with any of my ex-husbands.

At my funeral, Hannah wants Moon River played (the lines Two drifters, off to see the world reminds her of me always going my own way in life) but I intend to write my own eulogy if I get enough notice. No one knows you like you know yourself, do they?

Id like to think Ill be remembered as a generous person, but I suspect Ill be remembered as a lovable, interfering pain in the backside instead.

As told to Samantha Brick
When prime minister Rishi Sunak walked back into 10 Downing Street last night after announcing a general election on July 4, it's likely that the woman who has been by his side since the day he moved in was waiting in the lobby, carrying a towel for the sodden politician.

Meanwhile, when leader of the opposition Keir Starmer walked back into his family home, he too would have been greeted by his wife of around 20 years - although she probably had no need to dry off her husband, who addressed the nation from indoors.

As the two politicians battle it out for the keys to Number 10, either Akshata Murty or Victoria (Vic) Starmer will become the nation's 'first lady'. And, while they are both married to politicians and have two children, that's perhaps where the similarities end for the two women.

Akshata and Vic hail from vastly different backgrounds, with the former being a billionaire and the latter coming from much more humble beginnings in North London.

And their attitudes to life in the public eye also appear different, with Vic seen much less often making public appearances - of course, this will be in part influenced by the fact that Akshata is currently in Number 10.

Here, FEMAIL takes a closer look into the lives of the two women behind the men competing to win the votes of the nation...

BACKGROUNDS

Billionaire's daughter

Akshata Murty grew up in a suburb of Bangalore with her parents and her brother Rohan (pictured with her father and brother on a trip to London in 1989)

Akshata Murthy's father is N.R. Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys and billionaire

When Rishi Sunak and his wife moved into Downing Street in 2022, they became the richest couple ever to have occupied its halls - but much of that wealth came from Akshata.

The 44-year-old is a billionaire heiress and is said to be wealthier than King Charles due to her 430 million stake in her father's IT empire.

Akshata is the daughter of N. R. Narayana Murthy, a founder of the Indian multinational IT company Infosys.

Meanwhile her mother, Sudha, is an educator and philanthropist who was once a chair on the board of Infosys.

Akshata and her brother Rohan grew up in Jayanagar, a suburb of Bangalore. She studied in India until university, when she moved to the US and attended Claremont McKenna College in California, before moving on to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and later, Stanford University.

Despite being a daughter of a billionaire, Akshata recently revealed she likes the 'simple' 'everyday things' in life.

Speaking to the Times, she revealed she 'rarely' gets recognised and often walks the family Labrador in St. James' Park.

'I go to Tesco or the little Sainsbury's or I go to the M&S in Victoria,' she said.

Daughter of a GP

Victoria (Vic) Starmer grew up in Gospel Oak, North London where she was raised as part of the Jewish faith

In comparison to Akshata, whose education and career has spanned continents, Vic Starmer grew up in Gospel Oak, North London - and lives not far from her childhood home even today.

Her father, who now lives on the same street in Kentish Town as Victoria and her family, is of Polish-Jewish descent, and as such Victoria was brought up in the Jewish faith.

Her mother Barbara was a local doctor in North London, who was known among the community. She also converted to Judaism upon marrying Victoria's father.

Sadly, Victoria's mother died following an accident in 2020, just as her son-in-law Sir Keir Starmer launched his Labour Party leadership bid.

The leader of the opposition's biography, by Tom Baldwin, revealed she had fallen down the stairs at the hairdresser in what was a very unexpected accident.

She was taken to hospital where she remained conscious for a time, but sadly passed away two weeks later.

The Labour leader revealed in the book that he had offered to suspend his campaign entirely after the accident, but both Vic and her mother wouldn't hear of it.

CAREERS

Fashion designer

After moving to California, Akshata (pictured with Rishi at Stanford University) studied at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising

After moving to the US to complete her studies, Akshata received a diploma from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA.

In her earliest years with Rishi, she pursued a career in fashion and set up her own business in 2007, Akshata Designs.

The label intended to celebrate Indian culture, discovering artists in remote villages and working with them and their designs to create her own.

'Im about the story behind a particular garment, its authenticity, craftsmanship and protecting a rich heritage,' she told Vogue. 'I care about doing something in India, for India because its part of our familys DNA.'

However, her business venture fell flat and collapsed after just three years.

Despite this, Akshata has not shied away from business ventures and has held stakes in business over the years including the family empire, Infosys and a project she and Rishi set up together, Catamaran Ventures UK.

She has also been linked to Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria and Etonian tailor, New & Lingwood.

As of 2022, Akshata was listed as a director of the UK arm of software company Soroco, which was co-founded by her brother Rohan.

Solicitor-turned-NHS worker

During Keir and Vic's earliest years together, Vic was working as a solicitor - which is how they originally ,et

Meanwhile Victoria Starmer has also occupied a few the different roles in the course of her career - however they look a little different to Akshata Murty's millions.

Vic began her career as a solicitor, and met her husband during her time in law.

Alongside her legal role, Vic also took on a position mentoring deprived children, according to the Guardian.

In 2015, it was reported she had taken on a role of governor at her children's school in Kentish Town.

However, in recent years Vic has moved away from law and is no longer listed in the Solicitors Regulation Authority as a practicing solicitor.

Instead, she now works in occupational health in the NHS.

Sir Keir has previously revealed his wife is a sounding board for his health and public services policies.

He told the Mirror: 'She loves working for the NHS. She loves the team that she's working with.'

He added: 'I get a direct line of sight on a daily basis into the challenges of the NHS and the morale of the staff.'

ATTITUDES

Photo-op friendly

Akshata Murty has never shied away from a photo op during her time in Number 10 and portrayed a powerful image of solidarity with Olena Zelenska during her visit in February

Akshata Murty has never shied away from a photo-op - although, seeing as she's the incumbent 'first lady', it certainly comes with the territory.

Shortly after she moved into 10 Downing Street, Akshata started a public Instagram profile, on which she shared more information about public appearances and visits she carried out in her capacity as first lady.

They include receiving other world leaders and their partners in official state visits, playing with children at schools - and she even shared a selfie from the King's Coronation concert.

She has also shared glimpses into family life with Rishi, their two daughters Krishna and Anoushka, and the family dog Nova.

A notable guest hosted by Akshata during her time in Downing Street was Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska.

The pair cut powerful figures as they stood outside the door to the Prime Minister's residence - with Akshata dressed in blue, one of the colours on the Ukrainian flag.

They waved to the world's press outside the home while holding hands, in a show of unity while Ukraine remains under siege from Putin's forces since the 2022 invasion.

'Reluctant political spouse'

While Victoria Starmer is by her husband Keir's side for the important moments, the 'sassy' occupational health worker is quite happy to keep herself to herself

The role of partner to leader of the opposition no doubt allows one to maintain more privacy in their life - but for Vic Starmer, this appears to be of paramount importance.

She has previously been described as a 'reluctant political spouse' who largely shies away from the limelight - however, she is always by her husband's side during the important moments, and likely will remain so during the General Election campaign.

Keir previously told the Mirror of his wife: 'She's a streetwise grounded, brilliant, gorgeous woman who wants as far as she can to get on with her own life and to protect it.'

He added that his wife had 'never asked' for the role she now finds herself in.

A party insider previously told the Telegraph that Vic will not be a first lady akin to a Cherie Blair-type figure if her husband becomes the next prime minister.

The source, who instead likened Vic to Sarah Brown, said: 'Shes quite sassy in that shes quite unbothered by what hes doing.'

They added: 'They have a great dynamic  she spends quite a lot of time taking the mickey out of him because he can be so serious. Ive never known her to be particularly political  shes always had her own interests.'

STYLE

Lover of labels

Akshata is known for her love of designer clothing (pictured at the King's Coronation) however in recent years she has toned down the price tags in her wardrobe

Akshata Murty's introduction into public life brought plenty of scrutiny in many areas of her background - notably, her exceptional wealth and tax affairs due to her 'non dom' status.

However what she may not have expected was a backlash over her outfits.

Akshata's earliest appearances in the public eye saw her opting for very expensive pieces, including a 1,000 leather skirt and a pair of slippers costing 570.

Her fashion choices sparked criticism from some who thought her style was 'out of touch' with the average woman in Britain.

Since then, Akshata has altered her choices - opting for more upmarket high street brands.

Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL Akshata's style was 'fashion focused and forward'

Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL Akshata's image is 'fashion focused and forward'.

She said: 'She tends to wear colours and styles that are bold and make a statement, which I think represents her.

'As she has worked in fashion and I feel that is a big part of her and her personality she will naturally have an eye for colour palettes, styles and trend pieces that she can wear.

'I think she is also aware that eyes are on her and makes conscious decisions about what she is wearing and even in some cases who.'

Loyal to Labour?

Vic Starmer's chic style mixes more high street pieces with her designer items - but she knows how to make a statement when it matters (pictured wearing a 1,200 dress at the Labour Party Conference)

Rochelle described Victoria Starmer's fashion choices as 'relatable' for many women around the UK.

'She wears a mix of highstreet and higher end high street brands (like most people),' the stylist revealed.

Additionally, Vic is often spotted wearing scarlet hues, particularly at political events such as the Labour Party Conference in 2023.

'I feel that is her way of making a statement and supporting Labour without having to voice it. So, again using her outfits do the talking,' Rochelle said.

Vic shows her style prowess in her infrequent public appearances, with Rochelle suggesting she 'knows that eyes are on her'

'I would also say she much more relatable in regards to her style choices and pieces she chooses. She knows that eyes are on her and is putting her best foot forward.'

As she attended the party conference last year, Vic opted for a Dada dress from elegant brand Edeline Lee. The style retails at 1,200, marking one of the more expensive items in her wardrobe.

The frock featured a frilled hem, a belt at the waist - and, of course, it was red.

HOW THEY MET

University sweethearts

Rishi and Akshata (pictured at Whisky Mist private members club) met at Stanford University while she was studying for an MBA while he was on a prestigious scholarship

The couple married in a lavish ceremony in Bangalore, where Akshata grew up, in 2007

For Akshata and Rishi, their love story began in 2005 when they were both studying at the US's prestigious Stanford University.

Akshata had begun an MBA, while Rishi had won a prestigious Fulbright scholarship to study there.

Rishi recently admitted there was 'clearly something' there when he and Akshata first met  and added he is an enormous fan of rom-coms, prompting him to change some of his classes so that he could sit next to his wife.

Four years later, in 2009, they married in a lavish ceremony in Bengaluru in India, which was the couple's home for the next four years.

Since then, they have gone on to have daughters , Krishna,now around 13 years old, and Anoushka, who is around 10.

Workplace nemeses

Keir and Victoria's first meeting was a little less smooth, with the former QC winding up his future wife on the phone

Victoria Starmer's first meeting with her now-husband Keir doesn't quite match the fairytale of Rishi and Akshata's young love.

In fact, the Labour leader often jokes that the pair didn't get off on the right foot - to the point where Vic swore about him during their first interaction.

At the time, Vic was working as a solicitor and Keir was a QC. Having never spoken with her before, Keir called her at work one day to ask questions about the documents he had been given.

Keir and Vic married in Essex in 2007, the same year that Akshata and Rishi tied the knot. Pictured with Keir's parents, Jo and Rod

Recalling the call on Piers Morgan's Life Stories in 2021, Keir said: 'I was doing a case in court and it all depended on whether the documents were accurate.

'I [asked my colleagues] who actually drew up these documents, they said a woman called Victoria, so I said lets get her on the line.'

As he continued to question her over technical details in the documents and their accuracy, he sensed her becoming more and more agitated - to the point where he heard her mutter: 'Who the f*** does he think he is?'

However, the human rights barrister eventually managed to win over the solicitor, and the pair had their first date in the Lord Stanley pub in Camden.

The couple married a few years later in 2007, on the Fennes Estate in Essex. They share two children; 15-year-old Toby and a 12-year-old daughter whose name has never been made public.
They're featuring in the critically panned Buying London - but for some of the cast, the Netflix series won't be the first time they've appeared on TV.

Dubbed the UK's answer to Selling Sunset, the reality TV show follows glamorous estate agents working for tycoon Daniel Daggers at DDRE Global as they navigate the British capital's housing market and show off some of the most exclusive properties.

But despite the hype, the programme hasn't been well received so far, with one critic giving it a pitiful zero stars and viewers left less than impressed.

Yet that hasn't stopped the intrigue mounting surrounding its cast - in particular those who have already appeared in television programmes.

Indeed, Rosi Walden, one of the key players in the new series, is already a regular on the reality TV circuit having stirred up some drama in the 17th season of Made In Chelsea.

Rosi Walden cut her teeth on Made In Chelsea back in 2019 where she appeared on multiple episodes

Elsewhere, Olivia Wayne is no stranger to the limelight after appearing as the face of Sky Sports' Good Morning Sports Fans.

Equally used to the spotlight is Alex Bourne, the ex-husband of S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens who appears as a rival agent. He used to be an actor, performing in LA and New York and featuring in the TV drama Family Affairs.

ROSI WALDEN

The TV star, 28, was involved in a shocking storyline that saw Jamie Laing accused of cheating on long-term girlfriend, and now wife, Sophie Habboo in the early stages of their relationship.

Rosi, who was known as Rosi Mai on the show, in the Channel 4 show, had a brief fling with Jamie while he was dating Sophie.

After being challenged on his dalliance with Rosi, the Made In Chelsea star admitted he 'was just an ahole' over the situation and vowed to win Sophie back.

As the pair are now happily married, it's safe to safe Jamie was successful in his endeavours.

Rosi then appeared on the Channel 4 show again during an awkward encounter with Jamie, where she accused him of leading her on. The reality star left the Channel 4 show some time after in 2020.

It looks like there's more drama ahead in for the TV star in Buying London, whose unlikely friendship with fellow agent and reformed party boy Oli will be a focal point of the Netflix show's first series.

Rosi Walden joined DRE Global in 2022 after working at other luxury estate agencies in London

The 28-year-old TV star and estate agent joins a glamorous cast in Buying London

Rosi first appeared in Channel 4's Made in Chelsea in 2019

The two join forces against another DDRE Global agent, Lauren Christy, who accused of benefitting from favouritism after being given some of the capital's biggest properties.

Rosi first appeared in Made In Chelsea in 2019 as a love rival for Sophie Habboo.

Her arrival on the show caused quite the stir, considering that Jamie and Sophie were one of the most high-profile MIC couples.

After putting the drama behind her, Rosi went on to star in the show for a few years, with her final MIC appearance in 2020 - two years before she joined the team at DDRE Global.

Since leaving Made In Chelsea Rosi worked as a Lettings Negotiator for high-brow Chelsea estate agency Strutt and Parker, before landing a role with DDRE Global in 2022.

During her time on Made In Chelsea she worked as a Digital Marketing Manager.

The accomplished reality star graduated from The Courtauld Institute of Art in 2017, before studying Law at BPP University.

On her LinkedIn profile, the TV star and estate agent says of her experience in the property sector: 'I am a trusted Real Estate Advisor, with an extensive knowledge of the international Prime and Super Prime markets.

Rosi then appeared on the Channel 4 show again during an awkward encounter with Jamie, where she accused him of leading her on

Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo repaired the rift and went on to wed in April 2023

Made In Chelsea Rosi worked as a Lettings Negotiator for high-brow Chelsea estate agency Strutt and Parker, before landing a role with DDRE Global in 2022

'Working across residential sales, lettings and development, I strive to go above and beyond to support my clients, whatever their needs may be.

'Through previous roles within the luxury sector and the contemporary art market, I have developed a valuable network and take great care in nurturing long-standing relationships.'

Rosi is also an avid social media user, with over 40K followers on Instagram alone.

On her LinkedIn profile Rosi explains that her social pages, 'provide excellent exposure' for her clients.

Rosi grew up in Holland Park and still lives in London with her husband, Italian clothes designer Luco Faloni.

While London is a base for Rosi, her glossy Instagram account sees her travelling the world, enjoying holidays to Cape Town in South Africa, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Dubai.

The former made in Chelsea star is also regularly pictured in Marbella, where she also sells luxury properties, using her Instagram profile to drum up interest with guided tours.

OLIVIA WAYNE

Prior to joining Daggers and the gang, Olivia Wayne was familiar to many as the face of Sky Sports' Good Morning Sports Fans

The 38-year-old mother-of-three eventually left the broadcaster to carve out a career as a parent influencer

Olivia Wayne works as a content creator for DDRE and helps to shape the visual marketing

Olivia Wayne works as a content creator for DDRE and helps to shape the visual marketing that sets Daggers' motley crew apart from Apprentice candidates.

Under her stewardship, DDRE is able to produce glossy, high concept videos to appeal to the millionaires and billionaires who presumably wouldn't splash out on a property without that form of reassurance.

Prior to joining Daggers and the gang, Olivia was familiar to many as the face of Sky Sports' Good Morning Sports Fans.

The 38-year-old mother-of-three eventually left the broadcaster to carve out a career as a parent influencer.

Now she's back on the small screen and revealed that even though she's returning to TV, there's less behind the scenes magic at DDRE HQ.

She said: '[At Sky] I had the benefit of a hair and make up team to make me look normal and glowing even if I didn't need it.'

No such team at DDRE, but when you work at 100mph like Daggers, its hard to find time for a touch up.

ALEX BOURNE

Every hero needs a nemesis and in Alex Bourne, our Daggers may have met his match

Before he was a reality TV show property bad boy, Alex was in and out of the headlines through his marriage to S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens (pictured together in October 2011)

Every hero needs a nemesis and in Alex Bourne, our Daggers may have met his match.

The founder and director of a rival agency, slick Alex, 47, is a shrewd operator and one of Dannys oldest friends.

While their personal relationship goes back decades, when it comes to business, they're arch enemies and they know they can never truly trust each other as they battle it out on behalf of their wealthy clients.

Before he was a reality TV show property bad boy, Alex was in and out of the headlines through his marriage to S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens.

The couple broke up in 2022 and still share two daughter's together: Amelie, 13, and Minnie, nine.

Reflecting on the break up of their marriage, Rachel confessed: 'It's very hard to articulate the feelings, because there are so many. It's been really painful, really sad. It's been the biggest decision to make in our lives, obviously, with our kids.'

'Our split is very amicable and that's really helping. It's only the last two weeks that we've not been living together. That was definitely difficult. We're doing it with love and respect, but it's a process.

'It's taken a lot of navigating. We are going to mess up and make mistakes. But we are acknowledging that to them, and I feel so lucky.'

In his early 20s, Alex enjoyed a career in acting, performing around the world and featuring in such programmes as Family Affairs, reported Manchester Evening News.

But he eventually swapped his showbusiness career for a business in real estate, setting up a business with Richard Douglas.

He's now the co-founder of prestigious real estate agency London House, securing his first sale of 16.95 million in Knightsbridge.

RASA BAGDONAVICIUTE

Lithuanian agent Rasa Bagdonaviciute brings a canny steel to Daggers' group of well-dressed dreamers

Lithuanian agent Rasa Bagdonaviciute brings a canny steel to Daggers' group of well-dressed dreamers.

She has a black book bursting with numbers of the richest people in the world, but it wasn't always this way.

Growing up in Eastern Europe, Rasa, 35, had first intended to be a popstar in her native Lithuania.

When this failed, she turned to real estate and even appeared in Channel 4's Selling Super Houses.

Now though she's at DDRE, and she's here to take names (although fundamentally not give out any of the ones in her aforementioned black book).

'My strength is my wealthy contacts', she brags.

Always at the heart of the office politics, she's unafraid to speak her mind and never shies away from confrontation, even if that means locking horns with the other agents, causing Daggers to step in and to force her to resolve differences.

THE REST OF THE CAST...

DANIEL DAGGERS

Daniel Daggers is the head of DDRE and once described himself as 'the best agent that has ever lived'

Daniel Daggers is the head of DDRE and once described himself as 'the best agent that has ever lived'.

The 44-year-old property mogul amusingly refers to himself as 'Mr Super Prime' whilst at work and claims he wants to 'revolutionise the real estate industry'.

He spent 25 years shifting studio flats in the capital - but now as the head of DDRE Global, he is focused on acquiring as many of London's most expensive properties as is decent and says he demands his team work at 100mph just like he does.

Daniel has shown us in the past he's not afraid to break the rules - he left his previous job at Knight Frank 'under a cloud' after he was found to be sharing pictures of clients houses on social media.

In 2019, he managed to sell one of London's most expensive properties 3 Carlton Gardens to American billionaire Ken Griffin for 95million - although it had been on for 125million two years before.

Discussing his role on the Netflix show, Daggers mused: 'My reputation is on the line, but in the story of David Versus Goliath it's David who wins - or is it Daniel?'

LAUREN CHRISTY

Lauren Christy, from South Africa, is a no nonsense agent who never lets the rest of the office forget she's top dog - with her and Daggers going way bac

She has a steel belief that she alone has the expertise and experience needed to get the swankiest properties to market

Lauren Christy, from South Africa, is a no nonsense agent who never lets the rest of the office forget she's top dog - with her and Daggers going way back.

She has a steel belief that she alone has the expertise and experience needed to get the swankiest properties to market.

When she's not treading on toes to get where she deserves to be, Lauren enjoys travelling and posting her holiday snaps to her Instagram.

Reflecting on her intense work-life balance, the pensive estate agent revealed her top tip to stay healthy, happy, driven.

She said: 'I am one of the best agents here. Agency life is full of ups and downs. Dealing with the tough times for me starts with health so I prioritise some sort of physical activity every day.

'Not everything will go your way, so let go of the things you can't control and harness the things you can.'

REME NICOLE URUBUSI

Reme Nicole Urubusi may be a cub agent, but she has claws and the show sees her battle her more aged opponents in the office to win the admiration of top dog Daggers

In terms of experience, Reme is lacking but with over 200,000 Instagram followers she has more clout than the rest of the office combined

Rookie sensation Reme Nicole Urubusi is just 21 making her the youngest member of Daggers' flying squadron.

She may be a cub agent, but she has claws and the show sees her battle her more aged opponents in the office to win the admiration of top dog Daggers.

In terms of experience, Reme is lacking but with over 200,000 Instagram followers she has more clout than the rest of the office combined.

As with any first job, Reme is determined to make an impression and has revealed that she still can't believe she's been given the opportunity.

She gushed: 'I'm selling some of the most amazing homes in the whole of London.'

OLI HAMILTON

Oli Hamilton, Daggers' only male employee, is tall, dark, handsome and smooth-talking with enviable connections right across London's high society

Oli Hamilton, Daggers' only male employee, is tall, dark, handsome and smooth-talking with enviable connections right across London's high society.

Once a mad lad for the parties, Oli is now 'reformed' and has been sober for six years, taking time to focus on his new relationship with his wife Vivi, who he claims 'tamed him.

Reflecting on his sobriety, Oli said: 'I've always been one to live in the moment and have fun.

'But my life had spiralled completely out of control. I was ostensibly irrecoverable, crazed and absent. The real truth is I wouldn't be here today had I not put down the drink and drugs.'

JULIANA ARDENIUS

Juliana Ardenius claims to be 'the hottest interior designer in London' and her role within DDRE is to ensure the luxury properties they're selling look as good on the inside as the out

Juliana Ardenius claims to be 'the hottest interior designer in London' and her role within DDRE is to ensure the luxury properties they're selling look as good on the inside as the out.

Juliana, 30, is an office gossip and isn't shy about expressing her office crushes, which presumably puts Oli and Daggers in her targets.

She also claims she can be 'very naughty' when given half a chance and delights in the opportunity to push boundaries. These attributes make her a natural fit for Daggers' disruptive team.
A trio of celebrity chefs has revealed the meals that remind them of their loved ones ahead of Celebration Day, a new project dedicated to celebrating family members and friends who are no longer with us.

Award-winning Aldo Zilli, Richard Corrigan and Skye Gyngell have shared the dishes that take them back to special times spent with loved ones who have died.

Italian Zilli, 68, who is the author of 10 books, including vegetarian cookbook Fresh & Green, told The Times that his mother's duck ragu 'comes with me everywhere in the world'.

For Australian-born Gyngell, 60, who was awarded a Michelin star in 2011 for her work at Petersham Nurseries in Richmond, London, it is a baked aubergine dish which brings back memories of her late father Bruce.

And, Michelin-starred Irish chef Corrigan, also 60, shared that it is soda bread that reminds him of 'the Sundays he spent hunting rabbits for his mother's meals' as a child.

Aldo Zilli (pictured) shared that duck ragu reminds him of his mother, Maria, who would work hard to feed nine children

Zilli (centre) with his parents, who gave him his first pasta cutter when he was growing up

Richard Corrigan (pictured) said that soda bread makes him think of his childhood in Ireland where he would hunt wild rabbits for his mother's dishes

Syke Gyngell (pictured) serves a version of her mother's baked aubergine dish in her restaurants

Celebration Day, which launched in 2022 and is supported by Stephen Fry and Prue Leith amongst other celebrities, will take place on Monday 27 May this year and the focus is on food.

The initiative encourages people to 'take time out to remember and celebrate the lives of those no longer here', leading the three chefs to elaborate on why their chosen dishes hold such significance.

For Surrey-based Zilli, slow-cooked duck ragu reminds him of his mother, Maria, who worked hard to feed her nine children and taught him to cook when he was growing up in Abruzzo in southern Italy.

He told The Times: 'I used to help her to feed the family and was making fresh pasta aged six or seven'.

Aldo Zilli's pappardelle with duck ragu Serves 4 2 duck legsSalt (as per method below) Handful of thyme springs 300g Duck fat For the pasta 500g strong flour (00)2 eggs2 egg yolks 100ml Olive oil 100g flat pancetta cut into batons 1 onion finely chopped 3 cloves of garlic finely chopped 1 small carrot, finely chopped 1 celery stalk, finely chopped 400g tinned chopped tomatoes 250ml chicken stock 2 tbsp. chopped fresh sage leaves 400g Pappardelle pasta Pinch of sea salt Grated parmesan to serve Method For the confit duck legs For the duck, weigh the duck legs. You will need 15g/oz of salt per kilo of duck legs. Place the duck legs in a roasting tray, sprinkle with the salt and add the thyme, cover the tray with cling film and chill in the fridge overnight. To cook: Heat a heavy frying pan over a low to medium heat, then add the duck legs to the pan and cover them completely in the duck fat Bring the duck fat to a gentle simmer and cook the duck legs gently for 2-2 hours, or until the meat is very tender. Remove the duck legs from the fat, draining off any excess fat, pick the meat and skin off the duck legs, discarding the bones. To make the pasta: place the flour on a table top and make a well in the middle, add the whole eggs and yolks to the well and then drag the flour over the eggs and pull together, knead the dough briskly for 1 minute, it should be quite stiff and hard to knead. Wrap in cling film and leave to rest in a cool place for 1 hour before using. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over a medium heat, add the onion, garlic, carrot, celery and sea salt, coat in the oil and turn the heat down, cover with a lid and allow mixture to cook down and soften, for about 10 minutes. Now cut the pasta dough into 2 pieces. For each piece, flatten with a rolling pin to about 5mm/ in) thick. Fold over the dough and pass it through a pasta machine at its widest setting, refolding and rolling 7 times (not changing the setting) until you have a rectangular shape. It is important to work the dough until it is nice and shiny, as this gives it the "al dente" texture. Repeat with the second piece of dough. Alternatively roll out the dough with a rolling pin to  inch thick on a floured surface, cut into thick 3cm strips to make fettuccini and hang out to dry for  hour or till dry to the touch Add the tinned tomatoes and duck meat to the onion mixture and cook for a further 20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. Add the stock and simmer for ten minutes, and the sage and season, put aside. Boil the pasta in a saucepan of boiling salted water for a few mins until al dente (still with a bite) and drain To serve Toss the pasta through the duck ragu mix, spoon into pasta bowls, drizzle over some olive oil and grated parmesan Source: Aldozilli.com Advertisement

Corrigan, who opened his restaurant Corrigan's Mayfair in 2008 and even cooked for the late Queen, explained that he will be honouring his mother Kate on this year's Celebration Day.

He shared that he used to hunt wild rabbits on his family's farm in Ballivor, Ireland, which his mother would then use in her cooking.

Gyngell will be remembering her television executive father Bruce next Monday.

She told how 'it was exciting that Dad was at the table' on the rare occasions that the whole family sat down for dinner together.

Gyngell also shared that she makes an 'elevated version' of the baked aubergine dish that her mother used to make in her own restaurants.

'Its layered, with tomatoes, creme fraiche and herbs in it. It bubbles away in the oven and you can have it on its own with a green salad or with chicken,' she said.
The Swedish royal, 46, was dressed down in a purple parka and green trousers

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden was beaming on Thursday morning as she attended a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) event in Stockholm with her dog Rio in tow.

The royal, 46, who boarded a ferry to visit the Namdoskargarden National Park on the archipelago of Namdo, was dressed casually in a purple parka jacket, fitted green trousers and a pair of black walking boots.

Once inside for the annual meeting of the WWF, an organisation created to protect nature and the environment, she removed her jacket to reveal a cream silk shirt which she wore open at the neck.

Despite her dressed down look, mother-of-two Victoria looked elegant with her hair brushed back into a neat chignon.

Cavapoo Rio, a mix between a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and a Poodle, appeared contented as he sat down next to Victoria's chair.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (pictured) was accompanied by her dog Rio on Thursday morning as she attended a World Wildlife Fund event

The outing also incorporated a visit to the Namdoskargarden National Park on the archipelago of Namdo, which Victoria and Rio reached by ferry

Victoria paired her casual trousers and walking boots with a cream silk shirt for the WWF's annual meeting in Stockholm

Wearing a leather cross-body bag and carrying a navy New York Yankees cap in her hand, the relaxed Crown Princess smiled as she walked Rio and greeted local people.

As a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme, Victoria has long been committed to causes including sustainability and climate action.

Earlier this month, as she opened the 2024 Eurovision song contest in a surprise video clip, versatile Victoria stunned in a pale pink power suit.

In attendance for the final on Saturday 11 May, she opened the ceremony with a pre-recorded speech to the hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.

The royal appeared to be following in the footsteps of the Princess of Wales, who opened the song contest in Liverpool last year with a touching piano performance tribute to Ukraine.

'Good evening, it is my great honour to welcome you all to Sweden. I hope you will enjoy the show, and I wish all the contestants the best of luck,' Princess Victoria said.

The royal looked chic in a pale pink suit, which she paired with a white blouse and stilettos in the short clip.

She appeared to be standing in one of the main rooms in the Palace, revealing the opulent decorations and a large bouquet of flowers placed behind her.

The Crown Princess, 46, smiled as she led Rio, a mix between a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and a Poodle

Victoria, a mother-of-two, picked up Rio and helped him off the ferry and onto dry land

She held the dog close to her while seated in the meeting, which took place in the Swedish capital of Stockholm

Casually-dressed Victoria wore a leather cross-body bag and clutched a New York Yankees cap as she greeted local people

Victoria arrived at the contest held in Malmo accompanied by Scania Governor Annelie Hulthen, SVT CEO Hanna Stjarne and Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand.

Her address comes after Kate Middleton opened the final of the 2023 Eurovision with a piano performance tribute to Ukraine.

Kate played the piano alongside 2022's Ukrainian winners, the Kalush Orchestra, in a stunning opening sequence ahead of the grand final.

In 2023, Liverpool hosted the competition on behalf of war-torn Ukraine, with fans around the UK proudly showing their support for the nation.

Royal fans were delighted by Kate's surprise performance, which was recorded in the Crimson Drawing Room at Windsor Castle and was a closely-guarded palace secret.
Hannah Uzor created the painting by looking at pictures and videos of Kate

The artist behind a new portrait of the Princess of Wales has explained the story of how she created the painting - after fans were left divided by the bizarre artwork.

British-Zambian artist Hannah Uzor created the quirky painting for the cover of Tatler's July issue, inspired by Kate Middleton's first state banquet of the King's reign.

Kate - who has stepped back from public duties amid her cancer diagnosis -did not sit for the artwork, and Hannah studied pictures and videos of public engagements by the mother-of-three to help get a sense of the royal's character for the painting.

In a clip shared on Tatler's Instagram page, Hannah explained the process behind the drawing and said looking at Kate's expression was 'really key' to the painting.

Tatler has unveiled a new portrait of the Princess of Wales on its latest cover (pictured)

In a clip shared on Tatler's Instagram page, Hannah explained the process behind the drawing and said looking at Kate's expression was 'really key' to the painting

The portrait is inspired by Kate attending the first state banquet of King Charles 's reign at Buckingham Palace in November 2022

She said: 'It's really important to capture the soul of the person, so I spent a lot of time looking [at Kate], looking at her pictures, watching videos of her, seeing her with her family, seeing her in diplomatic visits, seeing her when she's rowing or visiting children in a hospice.

'It's been really interesting for me to get a sense of who she is.'

The artist said she studied the photographs and videos before beginning to sketch the Princess' face, adding that looking at Kate's facial expressions was 'key'.

'Once I'm happy with the sketch and I've done a series of sketches in my sketchbook, particularly looking at her expression was really key, and so I've done several sketches trying to capture her expression.'

Once Hannah was happy with the sketch and felt it represented the Princess' face, she then moved on to choosing the ensemble for Kate.

'This particular outfit I chose was striking. It made her look very regal and very confident,' she said.

Hannah chose the outfit that Kate wore to the first state banquet of King Charles's reign at Buckingham Palace in November 2022, after the death of Queen Elizabeth.

British-Zambian artist Hannah Uzor created the quirky painting for the cover of Tatler's July issue

The Princess, 42, stole the show in a gem-embellished white dress from her favoured label Jenny Packham as she entertained the president of South Africa.

Featuring a statement cape, the dazzling gown was paired with Queen Mary's Lover's Knot Tiara and her late mother-in-law Princess Diana's diamond and pearl drop earrings, all of which are captured in detail in Uzor's painting.

Hannah then chose a bold and vibrant sapphire blue backdrop for the painting and said she did this to match Kate's eyes.

'Colour is one of the most important things in a work of art because it can really speak to the atmosphere, and the colour I chose was something that really compliments Kate Middleton's green eyes,' she said.

'The bluey turquoisey background was predominately just to make sure that it matches her eyes because the eyes are really the window to the soul.

'So I focused a lot of time in trying to execute those eyes to match the colour palette of the background as well.'

But the painting has caused quite a stir and has been subject to much criticism from royal fans to those in the art industry.

The clip, posted on Tatler's Instagram racked up many comments, with people discussing their thoughts on it.

One wrote: 'But it doesn't look anything like HRH. She mentions how important eyes and colour are but those are the two things that she got very wrong. The Princess doesn't have hooded eyelids and her skin tone is much lighter.'

Another penned: 'This is a horrible portrait - this is not a true representation of the Princess.

'An artist should always project characteristics of the person by injecting a recognisable emotion that best represents the person's personality. This does not.'

A third said: 'Not for one second does this look like Princess Catherine at all. Disappointing.'

A fourth commented: 'The face is much rounder than Kate's, the eyes are nothing like hers. I would bet that if that painting was shown to a group of people, none of them would say Kate.'

Grove Gallery's managing director Alex Bury told MailOnline: 'Hannah Uzors new portrait of Kate , the Princess of Wales, graces the cover of Tatler Magazine, aiming to portray strength and dignity.

Hannah said that Kate Middleton's eyes were an important element to the painting because 'eyes are the window to the soul'

The clip of Hannah discussing the painting was posted on Tatler's Instagram racked up many comments, with people discussing their thoughts on it

'However, this depiction falls somewhat short of fully capturing these qualities. While the title suggests a portrait of strength, the artwork itself leans more towards a sense of calm and dignity.

'The light and dark blue background provides a soothing, tranquil atmosphere, a stark contrast to Jonathan Yeos recent portrait of King Charles III, dominated by chaotic red hues.

'This calmer backdrop suggests a different artistic direction, one that emphasises stability and serenity over overt strength.'

Alex added: 'The eyes in this portrait fail to capture the true beauty and engaging presence of the Princess of Wales.

'This misalignment between the serene, almost passive expression in the portrait and the vibrant personality seen in her public appearances detracts from the overall impact of the piece. It lacks the femininity of power and dignity that she naturally exudes.'

The Princess of Wales at the state banquet at Buckingham Palace in November 2022. She can be seen wearing Queen Mary's Lover's Knot Tiara, as well as a pair of diamond and pearl drop earrings, both of which were favourites of her late mother-in-law Diana

Artist Jonathan Yeo poses next to his painting of the King at Buckingham Palace on May 14

She follows Sarah Knights, whose portrait of King Charles III appeared on Tatlers July 2023 cover, and Oluwole Omofemi, whose tribute to Queen Elizabeth II graced the magazine's commemorative Platinum Jubilee cover in 2022.

Both of these projects inspired rugby star Maro Itoje and his business partner Khalil Akar to create The Akoje Residency Programme in collaboration with the Kings Foundation, which provides opportunities for African, Caribbean and diasporic artists to spend time at Dumfries House in Scotland to focus on their artistic practice.

Uzor's artwork comes after the release of the first official portrait of the King, which divided opinion online thanks to its 'fiery' shading.

The painting was commissioned back in 2020 to celebrate the then-Prince of Wales's 50 years as a member of The Drapers' Company.

Renowned artist Jonathan Yeo had four sittings over several years, beginning when His Majesty was Prince of Wales in June 2021 at Highgrove, and later at Clarence House.

Charles was still sitting for the portrait, unveiled earlier this month at Buckingham Palace, when Queen Elizabeth died on September 8 2022 and he became monarch.

The 'fiery' painting - which is mainly red in colour - depicts His Majesty wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, of which he was made Regimental Colonel in 1975.

See the full feature in the July issue of Tatler, available via digital download and on newsstands from Thursday 30 May.
Daniel Amos was outraged by the price of a large Coke at McDonald's Australia

A McDonald's customer was left fuming over the 'ridiculous' price of a large Coke in Australia compared to America.

Daniel Amos, who goes by the moniker Fleece King online, visited a McDonald's restaurant in Sydney only to be outraged by the amount he spent on the soft drink.

'I just want to express how outrageous I think this is,' the 27-year-old said in a TikTok video.

'This is probably a small in America. I've bought nothing else other than this Coke - and it was $5.40.'

In the short clip he held up the large Coke and was visibly angry about the cost.

Daniel Amos, who goes by the moniker Fleece King online, visited a local McDonald's restaurant in Sydney only to be outraged by the amount he spent on the large soft drink. The Coke was $5.40 with no option for a free refill

'And guess what? Unlike America we don't get refills. So you buy this large Coke for $5.40 with nothing else - and I don't get any free refills,' Daniel continued.

'That has to be one of the most ridiculous things.'

To compare, Americans can order a small, medium or large Coke for $1 USD ($1.51 AUD) on the '$1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu'.

Daniel told FEMAIL he travels to the US a few times a year and is best known in the Pokemon world for being the first person to reach level 50 on the popular game Pokemon Go.

'Every time I get fast food in the states, which includes Maccas, the drinks are huge, cheaper and you can get free refills,' he said.

'I've often finish my Coke then before I leave I fill it up again to take with me. I'd say it tastes about the same, but the value, sizes and prices are better even in USD.'

'That has to be one of the most ridiculous things,' Daniel declared

Daniel's video has since been watched more than 183,000 times and many McDonald's fans were on his side, admitting Aussies are being 'ripped off'.

'Welcome to Australia mate,' one wrote.

'We get ripped off left right and centre.'

Another wrote: 'What happened to $1 frozen Cokes bro?'

But others disagreed.

'Bro's forgetting AUD is different to USD. That converts to $3.33 USD, normal price,' one added.

'Yea but we have a free healthcare,' another pointed out, someone else asked: 'Did you tip your server?'

One more said bluntly: 'Start your own restaurant and let us know how much the soft drinks cost to make it a viable business.'

A McDonald's Australia spokesperson responded to the complaint.

'We're committed to providing our customers with great value across our menu and exceptional service every day, whether that's in our restaurants, drive-thru or McDelivery,' the spokesperson told FEMAIL.

'Customers can take advantage of our year-round Loose Change Menu, which offers great savings, with frozen beverages from $1, desserts from $1.50 and hamburgers from $2.00.

'We know our customers are watching every dollar they spend, and we're committed to earning their visits by doubling down on the things that matter most to them.

'Whether that's great value Macca's Bundles to feed the whole family, Loose Change Meals, personalised offers through the MyMacca's loyalty program, or through exciting new offers like our $5.95 Breakfast Offer, we will continue to delight and reward our customers.'
Dozens of irate Australians have vented their fury after noticing a 'tone deaf' phrase on a Melbourne agency's 'For sale' sign.

A local, Rose, was stopped in her tracks by the sign outside a home in Brunswick West, Victoria, which read 'Why pay rent when you could buy your new home, move in and make it your own?'.

The question left a sour taste in her mouth given the current housing crisis and soaring cost of living sweeping the country.

'Hey everyone, have you considered not being a renter??' Rose captioned the image on social media, before others joined her in blasting the 'ignorant' tone.

'Wait it's that simple??' one wrote. 'Oh my god I have NEVER thought of this.'

Dozens of irate Australians have vented their fury after noticing a 'tone deaf' phrase on a Melbourne agency's 'For sale' sign

'Why pay rent, just buy this and then make others pay rent for it,' another added.

'Have you tried just not renting?' Stop being stupid and poor, buy a house!'

Another described the sign as 'absolutely ridiculous' and said they were surprised that the company 'thinks [renting vs buying] is a choice'.

'No, I haven't considered not paying rent because I need to live somewhere while I'm trying to save to purchase a property, while mitigating the constant increasing drain of rent,' they wrote.

'Unfortunately investors just think they are total business opportunities and a way to exploit have-nots while they try to bridge the gap to become a "have" despite facing ever-increasing greed. But thanks for asking!'

Darren Barr, Director at Grantham Real Estate, was surprised by the reaction and has never had a complaint before.

He told FEMAIL such an ad encouraging Aussies to consider buying has been around for years - and the company 'never intended to offend anyone'.

'Majority of our clients are young first home buyers - there's a lot in the area,' he said.

'I think people are realising that, at the moment, it's better to buy and pay the bank rather than to rent.

'The ad on the sign was only meant to prompt people to think differently and consider buying - but I'd put a sticker over it if it's upsetting people.'

Mr Barr added that he's seen an influx of investment properties up for sale over the past 12 to 18 months because owners and investors are being 'forced to sell'.

'The government is making it harder for investors to keep their properties too - but people don't focus on that,' he said.
Aldi Australia is set to release a range of luxury travel accessories that won't break the bank including luggage, tracksuits, toiletries and electronics.

Launching on Wednesday 29 May as part of the retailer's Special Buys deals, the range is perfect for those looking to put more stamps in their passport or get out and embark on an Aussie winter escape.

Thousands of Australian shoppers revealed that they have been 'waiting impatiently' to get their hands on buys from the popular annual sale.

The budget range includes everything you need to travel in style and comfort including a $16.99 memory foam pillow, travel joggers with memory foam insoles ($19.99), and tracksuits sets from $29.99.

Aldi's memory foam pillow has already been dubbed a 'must-have' because of its unique design that includes a soft hood.

Aldi Australia is set to release a range of luxury travel accessories that won't break the bank including luggage, tracksuits, toiletries and electronics

Thousands of Australian shoppers revealed that they have been 'waiting impatiently' to get their hands on buys from the popular annual sale

The pillow also clasps around the front of your neck which ensures it won't slip off your shoulders when you're dozing on the flight or rushing through the airport.

Australians frequently struggle with the weight of their bags, and sometimes don't realise their mistake (be it over or under packing) until it's too late - which is why everyone needs a digital suitcase scale ($9.99).

The hard shell suitcases ($79.99) will ensure your belongings get to your desired destination unscathed while the anti-theft cross body bag ($19.99) is the ideal place to store valuables with lockable zippers and secure compartments.

Aldi's $29.99 rolling duffle bag makes for perfect carry-on luggage as it has a spacious main compartment, 52l capacity, and an integrated rolling trolley system with a telescopic handle.

The in-flight accessories are sure to be highly coveted.

Among the deals is a comfy clothing range including the men's hoodie or quarter-zip set for $29.99.

The women's funnel neck top with elastic waist pants are also $29.99 and come in blue or grey soft brushed fabric.

You can also sit back and relax in the travel joggers ($19.99) designed for comfort.

The shoes have been described as 'lightweight' and 'flexible' and have high density cushion for added comfort.

Joggers are only available in white for women and black for men.

Aldi's memory foam pillow has already been dubbed a 'must-have' because of its unique design that includes a soft hood

Australians frequently struggle with the weight of their bags, and sometimes don't realise their mistake (be it over or under packing) until it's too late - which is why everyone needs a digital suitcase scale ($9.99)

There are also several must-haves for when you get off your flight and dive into the holiday.

Shoppers are sure to obsess over Aldi's travel hair appliances that can keep you looking glamorous on the go.

The bargain range includes mini hair curlers, wavers, or straighteners for just $14.99 each and the buys are compatible with universal voltage.

Aldi's travel toiletry bag is ($14.99) the ultimate chic accessory to hold all your essentials - from toothbrushes to mini shampoo and conditioner bottles.

The travel adaptor kit ($29.99) is another must-have for jet setters as it comes with four adaptors (Australia, Europe, UK/Hong Kong, and US/Japan) - suitable for use in 150 countries.

There is also a six-pack of suitcase organisers for $9.99 with assorted sizes for space-saving.
Sunscreen is one of the best ways you can protect your body against the lifelong harms of the sun's rays.

But many sunscreen brands don't actually provide the protection they claim to, according to independent testers.

This means that you could be unwittingly letting cancerous rays into your skin  mistakenly thinking you've been protected by the impenetrable shield of sunscreen.

Both drugstore favorites, like Alba and Hawaiian Tropic, and luxury brands, like Dior and Lancome, have come under scrutiny from regulators, consumers or lawyers for their sun protection claims.

Between not providing the amount of sun protection that they claim on their label and making assertions that their product is more resilient than it really is, there's a whole world of products to look out for.

SPF protects against the sun's harmful rays, but many products contain far less of the protective ingredient than is stated on the label, analyses show.

'People place too much trust in high SPF products,' the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that releases public health reports about a range of products in the US, said on their online guide to sunscreens.

This could be partially based on a 2021 study the group ran which looked at 51 sun products available from Amazon, CVS, Target and Walmart.

By running the products through a battery of chemical tests, they discovered that their tested products contained only between 59 and 42 percent of the SPF that was stated on their labels.

'US sunscreens significantly underperform relative to the labeled SPF,' the paper found.

EXPL WHAT SPF MEANS SIMPLY..REFERS TO HOW OFTEN U NEED TO REAPPLY ETC

Clinique SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen, $37

Clinique rejected the report that said their SPF 30 Mineral sunscreen provided a third of the sun protection it advertised on its product.

SPF is a measure of how well a product protects against one kind of radiation that the sun gives off, called UVB rays.

UVBs only affect the upper layers of the skin, but cause DNA mutations and sunburns in them, which over time can increase your cancer risk.

A sunscreen with an SPF of 30 should be able to block as much as 97 percent of UVB rays from reaching your skin, according to MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Mineral sunscreens, like Clinique's, protect against UVB rays by using ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to reflect the radiation, stopping it from affecting the skin.

These products are sometimes thick and chalky and give sunscreen it's infamous white cast.

Chemical sunscreens, use organic chemicals to absorb the suns rays before they can reach the skin. These are lighter and more convenient, but might rub off easier than mineral sunscreens, Dr Anisha Patel, an MD Anderson dermatologist, said.

A sunscreen with an SPF of 30 should be able to block as much as 97 percent of UVB rays from reaching your skin, according to MD Anderson.

These products give sunscreen it's traditional, and infamous, white cast.

Though Clinique does contain both titanium and zinc oxide, a 2022 report from Which?, a UK based consumer testing company, found that it only provided a third of the SPF protection it claimed on the bottle.

Clinique Mineral Sunscreen Lotion currently costs $37 online, and is sold at retailers like Amazon, Sephora and Ulta.

The company rejected Which?'s findings. Their statement read in part, 'all our products are subjected to rigorous testing - we guarantee our claims are clinically valid.'

Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Skin Nourishing Milk, $12.99

An SPF of 30 is more than sufficient to use daily to protect yourself against skin cancer, dermatologists say. But not all SPF 30 products are equal.

An SPF 30 sunscreen should be more than enough to protect you against the sun, assuming its an accurately labeled product, Dr Saira George, a dermatologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, said.

Regular sunscreen use, of as little as SPF 15, can reduce your risk for developing skin cancer by 40 to 50 percent, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

But it's difficult to know if what on your label is reflected accurately in your sunscreen.

Which? also tested the SPF 30 of Hawaiian Tropic's mineral sunscreen, and found it only provided a third of the protection against UVB rays that it claimed.

Like Clinique, Hawaiian tropic rejected Which?'s findings, stating that, 'we firmly disagree with the testing results obtained by Which?.'

Alba Botanica Lotion, Sensitive Mineral, $15.78

Alba botanicals failed to protect against UVA rays in a 2022 test, but it did live up to it's SPF claims.

Another complicating factor is that for a sunscreen to be truly effective, it needs to protect against both kinds of rays that the sun gives off - both UVA and UVB.

SPF only measures protection against UVB rays. Sunscreens that are labelled 'broad spectrum' are supposed to protect against both types of rays.

UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin - causing wrinkles, aging and sunburns. The American Academy of Dermatology calls UVA rays aging rays and UVB rays burning rays.

Over time, these rays can lead to skin cancer, Dr George said. She added: 'UVA partners up with UVB to cause more serious problems, like skin cancer.'

Alba Botanica, a chemical sunscreen which is currently sold at Walmart and other national chains, failed to absorb both UVB and UVA rays in Which?'s 2022 test.

Other products, like Green People's Scent free mineral sunscreen, passed the SPF test - but 'failed to adequately block UVA light'.

Dior Forever 24 hour Foundation, $57

Dior was the subject of 2023 class action suit, filed by a consumer who claimed that it's 24-hour wear description was misleading.

No matter how high your product's SPF is, and how good the product itself is, you should re-apply sunscreen every two hours, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

This is because sunscreen wears off - clumping from friction, decaying in the suns rays or washing off with sweat and water.

Some popular cosmetics with SPF in them have run into trouble with this fact - with consumers claiming that their advertising makes it seem like they'll be protected from the sun all day.

In 2023, a Californian woman filed a class action suit against Christian Dior, claiming that it's Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation, which called itself a 24-hour foundation with sunscreen, claiming that its labelling was misleading.

'Reasonable consumers interpret these labels to mean that the sunscreen in the Products will last longer than two hours,' the complaint reads.

'However, the products do not and cannot provide more than two hours of SPF protection as claimed. The labels are therefore false, deceptive, confusing and/or misleading.'

The suit was dismissed at the end of 2023, saying that if 'reasonable consumers' read the back label on the product, they would know that they needed to reapply every two hours.

That decision has since been appealed by the plaintiff.

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation, $57

L'Oreal had two products come into question in a class action in 2022 - their Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear and L'Oreal Infallible 24 hour fresh wear foundation.

Other cosmetic companies have had similar complaints lodged against them. In 2022 - L'Oreal was slapped with a class action from California Consumers claiming that their 24-hour wear products with broad spectrum sunscreen were 'false, deceptive and/or misleading.'

It was specifically against L'Oreal Infallible 24 hour fresh wear foundation and Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear, which retail online for $16.99 and $57 respectively.

The L'Oreal suit, which includes claims against their higher-end brand, Lancome, makes a similar argument to the Dior case.

The attornies argued, 'Consumers are not expected to inspect layers of stickers on the back label to discover the instructions to reapply the product every 2 hours. Nor would a reasonable consumer expect that the buried back label would contradict the front label SPF representations.

La Roche-Posay Ultra Light Spray, SPF 60, $26.99

Using SPF above 60 might lull consumers into a 'false sense of security', Dr George said.

Dermatologists have a whole new set of concerns when it comes to sunscreens that advertise an SPF higher than 30.

'A high SPF can give people a false sense of security', Dr George said, meaning that when people see an SPF over 30, they might be misled into forgetting to reapply their sunscreen, thus making the product ineffective.

The FDA agrees, and has taken a public stance against high SPF products since at least 2007. The agency proposed a 2021 rule that puts a ceiling on sunscreen labels at SPF 60.

Studies have found that people spend more time in the sun when they're given a higher SPF. High SPF sunscreen cause 'profound changes in sun behavior', Dr Philippe Autier an epidemiologist at International Prevention Research Institute, said in his 1999 study.

In addition, Dr George said you don't really need more than SPF 30, because 'after a point, going higher doesnt mean you are getting dramatically more protection.'

Outside that, independent testing of some high SPF products has shown that they can yield disappointing results.

In the case of La-Roche Posay's Anthelios SPF 60 Lotion Spray Sunscreen, the 'UV protection is significantly lower than the SPF value would indicate,' the EWG reported on their sunscreen database.

They also flagged the product as a concern that it might cause a person to 'misuse the product'.

The Banana Boat Kids Max Protect and Play 2018 formulation, $13

The EWG took issue with the lotion formation of the Banana Boat Kids Max Protect and Play Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, specifically of the 2018 formulation.

The EWG took issue with Banana Boat Kids Max Protect and Play Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, SPF 100 for the same reasons that it flagged the La Roche formula.

An SPF of over 30 can be misleading, they said, adding tha tit likely doesn't provide the amount of SPF protection that it claims.

Banana boat products are sold at national chains, like CVS and Walmart for approximately $13.00

This brand has had problems with their SPF claims before. In 2016, Consumer reports found that Banana Boat Kids Tear-Free, Sting-Free SPF 50 lotion, actually had an SPF of about 8.

In the same report, Consumer Reports found that 42 percent of other chemical sunscreen brands did not meet their SPF claims.

EWG and Consumer reports had similar concerns about CVS's products.

Their CVS Kids Sun Lotion SPF 50, tested at an SPF 8 in 2016.

CVS Health Sheer Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100, $12.49

As of 2022, the EWG flagged CVS Health Ultra Sheer Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100 with their highest level of concern. They cited doubts that it provided the UV protection listed on the label, and the same concerns about using a high SPF label at all.

The drugstore brand was under similar scrutiny in the past. CVS Kids Sun Lotion, which was supposed to have an SPF of 50 tested at an SPF 8 in the 2016 Consumer Reports trials.

This sunscreen can be found across the United States, or ordered online through the pharmacy for $12.49.

APIEU's Pure Block Waterproof Sun Cream, $12.99

The FDA doesn't allow US based sunscreen manufacturers to label their sunscreens as waterproof. But other countries do.

Another thing to look out for with sunscreens is if a brand claims that it is more resilient than it is. For example, there is no such thing as a waterproof sunscreen, according to the FDA.

Sunscreens can be water resistant, meaning that they can stick to wet skin for as long as 80 minutes, but non are truly impervious to water, which means that you need to reapply no matter what.

As of 2011, US based companies are no longer allowed to claim their sunscreens are waterproof. This is because 'such claims overstate the product's effectiveness, leading to a false sense of security,' Dr Christopher Schmidt, a dermatologist and co-founder of Dermasport, wrote in a 2023 blog.

But other countries aren't bound by those regulations.

A February 2024 class action suit was leveled against the makers of two popular Korean sunscreens, MISSHA and A'PIEU, in New Jersey, for making 'false, deceptive, misleading and unfair' statements about their products.

Chiefly, that their products don't wash off with water or sweat.

The specific products include MISSHA's All Around Safe Block Waterproof Sun Milk, All Around Safe Block Essence Sun Milk and All Around Safe Block Soft Finish Sun Milk. Also, APIEU's Pure Block Waterproof Sun Cream.

MISSHA and A'PIEU products are available for sale online through online vendors like Amazon and Walmart.
Vaping products disguised as colourful lip gloss and candy are being openly sold to children on TikTok with secret codes designed to trick parents, a study found.

Researchers analysed hundreds of posts on the Chinese video-sharing app to identify hashtags that indicate addictive and potentially dangerous e-cigarettes are being sold.

While a clip may appear to be advertising harmless items suitable for young children, the wording on the screen tells in-the-know youngsters that vapes will be hidden in any package they order.

The study, published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research, identified popular hashtags including #puffbars, #geekbar and #elfbar  all brands of disposable e-cigarettes.

Code-words that indicate sellers are offering concealed vapes with pictured products include #puffbundles, #discreetshipping and #hiddennic.

One of the posts identified by the researchers appears to be selling candy and lipgloss, but the words 'elf bundle' tell youngsters that a vaping product will be included in the package

Colourful disposable vapes can currently be sold in sweet shops and other venues that appeal to children

The words ALL FAKE are used in captions to evade TikToks illegal activity detection algorithms, the researchers said, while #noID indicates the seller will not require identification for sale.

Almost one in five of the vape-selling accounts that were studied advertised themselves as a small business.

Vaping products were found to be concealed among harmless items in sealed pouches, or hidden inside hair scrunchies.

Professor Page Dobbs, of Arkansas University, said: Parents should be aware that children may be receiving e-cigarette products through the mail.

These self-proclaimed small businesses are targeting youth by advertising that they dont check for identification.

If your child receives a bundle of candy or beauty products in the mail, check inside the packaging or inside the scrunchie with a zipper.

Also, policymakers and enforcement agencies should be aware that these products are being shipped internationally, meaning people are circumventing tobacco laws in multiple countries.

Overall, the researchers found that 50.4 per cent of the videos studied advertised popular vaping brands, and 45 per cent included cannabis products.

Videos directed customers to other social media platforms - most often Instagram - which guided them to use anonymous messaging apps including Telegram to actually purchase the nicotine products.

Almost half (45.2 per cent) of the posts said they did not require age verification. No video indicated customers needed to provide identification for purchase.

Although the legal age for vaping is 18, the number of children using them has tripled in the last three years, according to the Department of Health. A staggering 1 in 5 children have tried vaping.

The long-term effects of vaping are unknown, though they have been linked to lung scarring, organ failure and asthma.

They are also highly addictive and the cheaply-made, battery-powered devices have been known to explode in users hands.

Disposable vapes are particularly linked to the rise in popularity among children. They are cheap and easy to use, with 69 per cent of vapers aged 11 to 17 using them.

Meanwhile, 63 per cent of children aged 13 to 17 use TikTok, where users can post short-form video clips from unverified and anonymous accounts.
Patients taking antidepressants are being warned to beware of side-effects that could leave them 'asexual' even after they stop using them - a problem that could affect millions of Brits.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most common class of antidepressant drug in the UK, are relied upon by one in eight Brits - 8.6million in all - who are dealing with mental health issues like anxiety and depression.

Common SSRIs prescribed in the UK include citalopram, fluoxetine and sertraline, sometimes known by brand names Cipramil, Prozac and Lustral - but their use has been linked to long-term and even permanent sexual dysfunction by researchers.

The NHS has warned that side effects such as a loss of libido and achieving orgasm, lower sperm count and erectile dysfunction 'can persist' after taking them - and patients have described feeling 'carved out', relationships wrecked, from their use.

Men and women say SSRI side-effects have hampered their sex lives, even after coming off of the medications - a condition known as Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD), which is not officially recognised by UK health authorities.

For millions, antidepressants can be a life-saving drug - but the authors of a US petition urging more warnings to be applied to the drugs say it can be 'impossible... to weigh the benefits of treatment against the harms'.

Has your sex drive been hampered by SSRIs? Email jon.brady@mailonline.co.uk

The condition mentioned in the lawsuit is Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD), which can cause genital numbness, a complete loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, and other sexual function issues for years after going off the medications

Statistics issued in the US show fertility rates have fallen while SSRI prescriptions have risen

Escitalopram - also known by the brand name Lexapro - is one of many SSRI drugs prescribed by the NHS

Sertraline is also a commonly prescribed SSRI in Britain. Around 8.6million Brits were prescribed antidepressants last year

Antidepressant side-effects affecting men and women have been well-known for decades, following early trials in the 1980s - but the drugs have become widespread in their use for treatment of depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions.

One London student, speaking on the condition of anonymity, previously told the Mail his genitals had been left 'basically inanimate' after he began taking the SSRI escitalopram.

He said: 'This area of my life used to be so much fun, and now it's a source of anxiety and has become a dark place in my head.

'It feels like someone has gone into my brain with a scalpel, carved some bits out and left me with this strange, numb, asexual person.

'No doctor will even consider that it might be related to the SSRI.'

Rebecca Graham, a British woman in her 40s, said she had 'given up on the idea of children' - but that she had been 'gaslit' by doctors who refused to believe SSRIs were causing numbness below the waist.

'I feel like I've been castrated,' she added.

Despite this, the drugs are readily prescribed to Brits as they try to overcome the conditions, which affect between four and 10 percent of people in England in their lifetime, according to the Mental Health Foundation.

Dr Ben Davis, an expert on sexual medicine, said antidepressants are often prescribed quickly - perhaps too quickly.

'There are people for whom they are life-saving medication,' he told BBC News.

'But the other side is a 10-minute consultation with someone you've never met before, with the pressure of someone who is seeing 30 people a day.

'Do good decisions about long term medication happen in that environment? I think not.'

Warnings have been aired about the long-term use of SSRIs to treat anxiety and depression - with some reporting side-effects even after they stop taking them

Advocacy groups such as the PSSD Network have called for better recognition of the condition and better support for those experiencing a loss of libido.

But their campaigning is limited by a lack of research being carried out into the long-term repercussions of SSRI use.

In the US, a Harvard molecular biologist has lodged a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for allegedly ignoring requests to slap warnings on SSRIs about the long-term and even permanent repercussions of their use.

Dr Antonei Csoka, an adviser to the PSSD Network, says in his filings that the FDA never followed up on a petition he counter-signed in 2018 begging officials to require drug companies to add the alerts to their medicines.

He believes long-term SSRI use can rewrite DNA - which can in turn affect the genes relating to sexual function. But exactly why it happens with some patients and not others is unknown - and research remains lacking.

Dr Csoka said: 'Without adequate warnings about the risk of potentially permanent damage to sexual function, patients and health care professionals cannot weigh the benefits of the drugs' use against the potential harms.'

Scientists do not know for sure how many people are affected by PSSD, though more than half of all antidepressant users have reported some degree of sexual dysfunction while taking them.

And a 2018 review of the scientific literature on PSSD found that around five to 15 percent of people on antidepressants developed sexual side effects such as erectile dysfunction and lack of sex drive after taking SSRIs and SNRIs.

Patients sharing their stories through the PSSD Network have described a range of disturbances from erectile dysfunction, genital shrinkage, and numbness to a lack of any sense of attraction to others and an inability to feel pleasure.

One male patient had been prescribed various antidepressants at different points when he was 16 to deal with the death of his father and was able to stop taking them at 20.

Now, at 25 and off the meds, he has 'extreme genital shrinkage and discomfort, I have neurological dysfunction of the smooth muscle in my penis causing hypercontraction or persistent arousal disorder.

'I have constant overactive bladder, urination, I have severe erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation I never had any of this before the meds.'

He added: 'I have seen a urologist that specializes in sexual health acknowledges the existence of PSSD; he conducted an ultrasound on my privates and told me that I have fibrosis in it, and he said it's very common to see that in men who are on antidepressants for a while.'

A female patient, meanwhile, stopped taking her antidepressant three years ago, but said now her sexuality is gone.

What are antidepressants? Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression symptoms. There are around 30 different types that can be prescribed. The NHS says that most people who have moderate or severe depression notice improvement when they take antidepressants. But it notes that this isn't the case for everyone. Side effects vary between different people and antidepressants but can include nausea, headaches, a dry mouth and problems having sex. Antidepressants aren't addictive but patients may have withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking them suddenly or miss a dose. These can include an upset stomach, flu-like symptoms, anxiety, dizziness and vivid dreams. Advertisement

She said: 'My clitoris feels like a dead lump.'

And a third patient who had been taking Lexapro for about three months said he is 'asexual now from the medicine.'

He said: 'I used to be able to look at people that I was attracted to and you feel something but now I feel nothing, it's just like looking at the wall. Basically taking away almost all positive emotions, they went from 100 to maybe less than one, that's how strong it is.'

He added that the hardest part of the general emotional blunting caused by the medicines: 'When you hug the people you love, your mother, your father, your nephew, you don't feel anything You cannot get any emotional bond at all.'

Dr Csoka has been researching sexual dysfunction linked to antidepressants since the early 2000s and was one of the first to posit that the medicines, as a side effect of driving up serotonin levels in the brain, caused DNA modifications that affect the activity of genes that regulate sexual function.

He told the Guardian: 'Various scientists, including myself, have published studies showing that an SSRI can change epigenetics and human cells.

'If that's happening, then those cells or tissues may not immediately revert back to how they were once treatment stops. It's as though an imprint has been left there. However, it's still not known precisely what these epigenetic changes are. So what we need to do is narrow it down  what is happening?'

His lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia seeks to force the FDA to issue a decision on the petition.

A 2022 meta-analysis in Frontiers in Pharmacology found that SSRIs have 'a statistically significant impairment on semen quality, such as sperm concentration, sperm morphology, sperm motility,' the researchers wrote. However, semen volume was not impacted.

But it is not possible to say whether SSRI use is having an effect on Britain's birth rate.

In England, antidepressant prescriptions more than tripled between 1998 and 2018, according to an analytical study of prescribing data.

In the same time period, average births per woman in the UK rose from 1.73 to a high of 1.94 in 2010 - falling to 1.65 in 2018, according to the Office for National Statistics.
A desperate mum claims she was forced to remove her own coil by hand after her GP surgery told her they 'didn't have the funding' for the procedure.

Kierra Platt, from Nuneaton in Warwickshire, had the contraceptive intrauterine device (IUD) fitted at the practice last September after a nurse said it could help reduce her painful endometriosis symptoms.

But within three weeks of having it inserted in the womb she began experiencing agonising pain, continual bleeding and even 'constant rage'.

The 27-year-old returned to her GP for help but claims she was told she would have to wait six months for her body to adjust to the contraception.

It was only in April, after four further appointments where the mother-of-two sought help, that medics agreed to remove it.

Kierra Platt, from Nuneaton in Warwickshire, had the intrauterine device (IUD) fitted at the practice last September on the advice of a nurse to reduce her painful endometriosis symptoms. But within three weeks she began experiencing agonising pain, continual bleeding and even 'constant rage'

The 27-year-old returned to her GP but claims she was told she needed to wait six months for her body to adjust to the contraception. It was only in April after four further appointments that medics agreed to remove it. When booking a slot, however, the mother-of-two says the receptionist advised her to go to a sexual health clinic or A&E as the surgery was no longer offering family planning services

But when the moment finally came, Ms Platt said she was sent back to square one when the GP receptionist told her to go to a sexual health clinic or A&E as their surgery was no longer offering family planning services.

Unable to endure another three-month wait for the clinic, she took the drastic step of taking matters into her own hands pulling it out herself.

Recalling her ordeal, she said: 'Within three weeks of being on the coil, I noticed my mood changing. I continued to bleed and spot and I found myself constantly in a rage.

'I was having to take myself outside and take a minute and I was crying constantly. I just thought I needed to give it some time to settle and I thought I'd be okay.

'Every now and again, after starting to experience these symptoms, I'd tell the GP that something didn't feel right and I told them I thought it was because of the coil.

Everything you need to know about intrauterine devices (IUDs) How does it work? The IUD releases copper into the womb. The copper alters the cervical mucus, which makes it more difficult for sperm to reach an egg and survive. It can also stop a fertilised egg from being able to implant itself. If you're 40 or over when you have an IUD fitted, it can be left in until you reach the menopause or you no longer need contraception. How do you know if it's still in place? An IUD has 2 thin threads that hang down a little way from your womb into the top of your vagina. The GP or nurse that fits your IUD will teach you how to feel for these threads and check that it's still in place. Check your IUD is in place a few times in the first month and then after each period, or at regular intervals. It's very unlikely that your IUD will come out, but if you cannot feel the threads or think it's moved, you may not be protected against pregnancy. How is an IUD removed? Your IUD can be removed at any time by a trained doctor or nurse. If you're not having another IUD put in and do not want to get pregnant, use additional contraception, such as condoms, for 7 days before you have it removed. It's possible to get pregnant as soon as the IUD has been taken out. Source: NHS Advertisement

'I told them I thought my symptoms were linked to the coil but the doctor told me that the hormones were localised to my cervix and therefore shouldn't be making me feel depressed.

'I started suffering from acne on the coil too and this is not something I'd suffered with before.'

After begging her GP again to remove the IUD in April, she agreed but told Ms Platt she needed to book an appointment, she claimed.

'I went to the receptionist but she said they were no longer running family clinics as they didn't have the funding so I couldn't get it removed.'

She said the news left her 'gobsmacked'.

'I didn't want to use emergency services and use up their time for something that can be removed in two seconds,' she said.

'I needed it out immediately as it was causing me a lot of stress, I couldn't take any more of it.

'I felt like I had no other choice but to remove it myself. I felt helpless and like I was losing my mind.'

The copper coil prevents pregnancy by releasing copper ions into the womb.

The copper alters the cervical mucus, which makes it more difficult for sperm to reach an egg and survive.

It can also stop a fertilised egg from being able to implant itself.

Some experts have suggested IUDs can help with managing endometriosis symptoms as they inhibit ovulation, reducing the amount of estrogen in the body and preventing the endometrial tissue from growing.

The device  which has two little threads hanging down so women can check it's still in place in their vagina  only needs replacing after ten years.

More than one million women in the UK and 4.5million in the US use the contraceptive coil.

Around 45,000 Brits undergo the procedure to have one fitted every year.

But experts have long warned access to the coil 'varies' from area to area, with wait times for fittings stretching from four to more than 12 weeks in some NHS trusts.

She said: 'I started suffering from acne on the coil too and this is not something I'd suffered with before.' After begging her GP again to remove the IUD in April, she agreed but told Ms Platt she needed to book an appointment, she claimed

Ms Platt said she was 'not glorifying' DIY coil removals, a procedure recommended only being done by healthcare professionals. Instead she was left with 'no choice' due to the long waiting time

Doctors today also warned women against removing them yourself, given the potential risk of infection from DIY extraction.

London-based NHS GP Dr Hana Patel told MailOnline: 'I definitely not to advise removing it with fingers, as it can get twisted, stuck or cause womb issues, including cuts, bleeding and infection.

'I'm a women's health GP and remove and fit coils. It definitely needs to be done by someone with relevant experience and qualifications.

'A trained doctor or nurse can remove your IUD at any time.'

She added: 'Talk to your doctor to find out when your IUD is due to be removed or replaced.

'It's possible to get pregnant as soon as your IUD has been taken out.'

Ms Platt said she was 'not glorifying' DIY coil removals, a procedure recommended only being done by healthcare professionals.

Instead she insists was left with 'no choice' due to the long waiting time.

She added: 'I lay down on my bed, popped a pillow under my bum and just tried to see if I could feel the strings of my coil.

'I found the strings, which I was quite surprised about as I didn't think I'd be able to.

'I got it between my two fingers and started to pull and it felt like I was just pulling a tampon out.

'I was gobsmacked. I didn't think it would have been that easy to remove. I was in shock but I was so relieved to have it out.'

Now Ms Platt is urging others to demand answers from their doctors and not give up 'if they don't think something is right'.

She said: 'I knew I wasn't the only person going through this with their health and I thought 'if I can just help one other person and show they are not alone', that is what I wanted to do.

'After this experience, I will never use hormonal birth control again.

'Having something in your body and not being able to have it removed is just appalling to me.

'I have now changed to a different doctor's practice too.'

A practice spokesman said they are unable to comment regarding individual patient circumstances.
A record 252,122 abortions were recorded in England and Wales in 2022, with Britain's cost of living crisis to blame, according to charities.

This figure is about 17 per cent higher than the previous year, itself another record breaker since the Abortion Act was introduced in the 60s.

It's equivalent to one in every 50 women in England and Wales between the age of 15 to 44 having a termination.

Women aged 22 were the most likely to have an abortion in 2022, at almost 38 terminations, per 1,000 women nearly double the national average.

Charities said the 'unprecedented' spike in pregnancies in ending termination was the cost of living making it unaffordable for many women to have a child.

Heidi Stewart, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), which provides abortion said: 'No woman should have to end a pregnancy she would otherwise have continued purely for financial reasons.

A record 252,122 abortions were recorded in England and Wales in 2022, with Britain's cost of living crisis to blame, according to charities

'The stories women have shared with us are heartbreaking. The costs of living crisis has placed immense strain on women and families, with too many having to choose between financial stability and having a baby.

'With the second highest childcare costs in the developed world, whichever party is elected come 4 July needs to prioritise curbing the cost of living and making childcare more affordable.'

She added another reason was long NHS waits for contraceptive appointments meaning women were becoming pregnant without wanting to, leaving abortion their only option.

'No woman should become pregnant because healthcare services are failing to provide women with the contraception they want and need, when they need it,' she said.

Official abortion data, published by the Department of Health and Social Care, also recorded that 82 per cent of women who had terminations were unmarried, a figure that has remained constant for the past decade.

Women in the North West had the highest rate of abortion, at 24.2 terminations per 1,000 women.

In contrast, the South West has the lowest rate at 17.6 abortions per 1,000 women.

The vast majority, 88 per cent, of abortions performed in 2022 were performed under 10 weeks.

Such terminations can be carried out at home using medications and this has become an increasingly frequent way to end a pregnancy in the UK, with 61 per cent of terminations done this way according to Government data.

This is up 9 percentage points compared to the previous year's figure.

Current rules mean pregnant women can legally request an abortion in the UK until 24 weeks pregnant, but it is up to medics if it is granted.

Under the 1967 Abortion Act terminations are granted on grounds of physical or mental health as well as for financial reasons, such as being unable to afford to care for a child.

There is no access to abortion on demand in the UK. A woman cannot legally terminate a pregnancy without cause, she must have reason.

Abortions can still legally be carried out after the 24-week limit, but this is only done under very strict circumstances.

These include the mother's life being at risk from the pregnancy or if the child would be born with a severe disability.

Abortions carried out after 24 weeks account for a tiny fraction of total terminations.

The vast majority, 88 per cent, of abortions performed in 2022 were performed under 10 weeks. Only 260 abortions after the 24-week limit were carried out in 2022, 0.1 per cent of the total

Only 260 abortions of this kind were carried out in 2022, 0.1 per cent of the total.

Reacting to the data anti-abortion group Right To Life UK spokesperson Catherine Robinson, called it a 'national tragedy'.

'Every one of these abortions represents a failure of our society to protect the lives of babies in the womb and a failure to offer full support to women with unplanned pregnancies,' she said.

'This significant rise in abortions has accompanied the second full year that abortion services outside of a clinical setting have been operating in England and Wales.

'Ahead of the General Election, we are calling on the next Government to urgently bring forward new protections for unborn children and increased support for women with unplanned pregnancies.'

Down's syndrome charities also condemned the fact that 760 pregnancies where the disability was detected in prenatal screening , ended in termination.

Lynn Murray, spokesperson for the campaign group Dont Screen Us Out campaign, and mother of child with Downs syndrome said the figure was 'deeply concerning'.

'Despite the leaps that advocacy groups have made in raising awareness in support of people with Downs syndrome, abortion in the case of Downs syndrome is still so commonplace and widespread in the UK.

'In fact, we hear from parents all the time how abortion was repeatedly presented to them in the hospital as an obvious solution following the receipt of the news that their baby had Downs syndrome.'

Debate about abortion legislation in England follows the case of Carla Foster, who at 45, was given a 28-month jail sentence in 2023 for illegally taking abortion pills to end her pregnancy during the Covid lockdown

Access to abortion varies around the world with some countries allowing full access though gestational limits still apply. Others only allow abortions on medical grounds or forbid it entirely

Down's syndrome inclusion in a list of medical conditions allowing termination after 24 weeks of pregnancy is controversial and there have multiple calls to stop people terminating pregnancy for this reason.

There have also been multiple calls to change law surrounding abortion from both side of the debate.

One attempt, led by Conservative MP Caroline Ansell, seeks to lower the abortion limit from the current 24 weeks to 22.

This is, in part, based on calls from medics that babies born at 23 weeks now have a significant 40 per cent chance of survival thanks to medical advances.

It has been backed by 30 MPs including former business secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, ex-home office minister Sir John Hayes and former health minister Maggie Throup.

In contrast, another proposal put forward by Labour's Dame Diana Johnson, who is also the chair of the home affairs committee, seeks to decriminalise abortion after 24 weeks.

This wouldn't change the 24-week legal limit for abortions but would stop women facing jail if they have terminations after this time, like in the case of Carla Foster.

Ms Foster, 45, was given a 28-month jail sentence in 2023 for illegally taking abortion pills to end her pregnancy during the Covid lockdown.

The mother-of-three was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant at the time.
Women on social media have been urged to thoroughly wash their intimate areas in the shower to avoid parts of their genitals 'fusing' together.

Responding to a thread about feminine hygiene on Reddit, a Maryland-based urologist explained how a build-up of bacteria and dead skin cells on specific tissues can result in parts 'sticking' together.

Last month, a user in the Reddit group r/TwoXChromosomes wrote a post warning of the problem, which affects the clitoris  the highly sensitive part of the vulva that contains an abundance of nerve endings.

In the post, user PeculiarOcelot suggested that nearly one in four women may have had part or all of their clitoris  a woman's main sexual pleasure zone  fused together from not properly washing the area.

Not properly washing your intimate areas could lead to clitoral adhesions, when the body part 'fuses' together

Urologist Dr Rachel Rubin weighed in and explained the phenomenon is called clitoral adhesions, which is when the protective hood above the clitoris becomes attached to it.

This is essentially the female equivalent to a man's foreskin.

Normally, when a woman becomes sexually aroused, the clitoris swells and the hood retracts. However, clitoral adhesions can keep the hood from moving, which makes it more difficulty to stimulate the clitoris during sex.

According to the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM), improper hygiene is one of the most common causes of clitoral adhesion because it leads to a buildup of smegma, a combination of skin cells, oils, and other moisture.

Additionally, irritation around that area from clothing friction or frequent sex can result in adhesions.

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In 2022, a study from Dr Rubin found that 23 percent of women who visit a sexual health practice, regardless of the reason, have clitoral adhesions.

Dr Rubin told Buzzfeed that cleaning the clitoral hood is similar to boys being taught to pull back their foreskin to prevent a similar issue called phimosis.

In phimosis, uncircumcised boys and men cannot easily retract their foreskin.

This usually does not cause issues, but in some people, it can lead to redness, discoloration, swelling, soreness, pain while urinating, and pain with erections or sex.

'When you get erections and it moves and stretches, it doesn't feel so good. It hurts. It's restricted. It's not comfortable,' Dr Rubin said.

She noted that the clitoris and the penis are actually very similar, as they have the same tissues, muscles, and nerves, though the clitoris has not been studied nearly as much as the penis. 'The clitoris is exactly the same in every way, shape, and form,' she said.

'It's just that we don't pee through or penetrate with our clitorises, so science has completely abandoned hearing about them.'

ISSM notes that 'maintaining good hygiene practices, including regular cleaning of the genital area, can help prevent recurrence of adhesions.' This includes pulling back the hood when showering.

Dr Rubin recommends using a handheld mirrror to check for adhesions. 'The head of the clitoris should look like the head of the penis that has a rim around it like a mushroom,' she said.
An Illinois woman could be awarded $640million in damages from the makers of heartburn drug Zantac  as she claims the pill she took for 18 years caused her deadly colon cancer.

In a landmark court case, Angela Valadez, 89, from Brookfield, Illinois, has accused the firm of failing to disclose risks of the disease, which she was diagnosed with in 2015.

The case is one of more than 10,000 lawsuits brought against manufacturers of the drug that alleges it caused cancer, but this is the first that has made it to trial.

It is thought that the active ingredient in the drug, ranitidine, contains a 'probable carcinogen' called NDMA, which is a 'forever chemical' which accumulates in our body over time.

Such was the concern about the drug's safety, that the FDA ordered all products with rantidine including Zantac be removed from shelves in 2020 and urged patients to stop taking any medications containing the ingredient.

Ms Valadez's case is one of tens of thousands against GSK, Boehringer Ingelheim, and other pharmaceutical companies, which link Zantac's active ingredient - ranitidine - to cancer

Sanofi, drugmaker behind discontinued heartburn medication Zantac, agreed to settle 4,000 lawsuits alleging that the drug's active ingredient created cancer-causing chemicals

Speaking to the jury, Ms Valadez she has dealt with uncontrollable diarrhea and suffered multiple humiliating incidents as a result of her cancer.

She is forced to stay at home the majority of the time out of fear of having an accident.

'I suffered a lot,' Ms Valadez said, adding that she pursued the lawsuit because 'if Zantac caused my cancer, I don't think it's right that they get away with it.'

She started taking Zantac during a stressful time of her life in late 1996 after seeing an ad for Zantac on TV.

'I got heartburn real bad,' she said. 'I was suffering all the time.'

She took the Zantac every day 'because it worked, and it was the only thing that worked for me.'

To begin with, Ms Valadez took the branded version but then started taking the generic version instead because it was cheaper.

At 80 years old, Ms Valadez was diagnosed with colon cancer after receiving her first colonoscopy. She had surgery to get rid the cancer and has remained cancer-free ever since.

In the years after her diagnosis and surgery, she suffered with debilitating diarrhea and often had to wear adult diapers, as well as taking medication for it.

The above graph shows colon cancer cases among under 50s by year. There is a drop in 2020 because the Covid pandemic led to fewer people coming forward for screenings

In 2020, only 0.6 children ages 10 to 14 per 100,000 population were diagnosed with colorectal cancer compared to 0.1 per 100,000 in 1999 - a 500 percent increase. Escalations were also found in older adults, with rates rising by 71 percent to 6.5 per 100,000 people in aged 30 to 34 and by 58 percent to 11.7 per 100,000 in ages 35 to 39 in 2020

Ms Valadez's attorney, Mikal Watts, said the companies knew that ranitidine would turn into a cancer-causing substance called NDMA as it aged or was exposed to extreme temperatures, but did not ensure it was properly handled by transporters, distributors and stores.

Attorneys for GSK, which developed the active ingredient in Zantac but later sold the brand to other companies, and Boehringer Ingelheim, which sold the drug from 2006 until 2017, countered that Zantac has been repeatedly proven to be safe and effective.

Zantac, an over-the-counter pill for heartburn and indigestion, was pulled from shelves after animal studies found that ranitidine released 'probable human carcinogens' linked to esophageal, kidney, and colorectal cancer.

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Concerns relate to the compound NDMAN-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA, which) is a chemical byproduct of industrial manufacturing processes, including the production of rocket fuel.

It's also common in low quantities in many foods, such as cured or smoked meats, fish and beer as well as tobacco smoke.

NDMA is a 'forever chemical,' meaning that it doesn't degrade, or break down, naturally in the environment or our bodies. Over time, it accumulates, and our exposures build up.

A number of theories have been put forward to explain how the toxic chemical ended up in the supply of some heartburn medications, as well as in the blood pressure drugs, valsartan and losartan, in recent years.

Some have suggested it's due to poor manufacturing, while others have initially suggested that the way the body metabolizes the drug could make levels of NDMA surge in the stomach. However, the latter theory was debunked in 2019.

Animal studies have shown that NDMA can increase the risk of cancers in the esophagus, kidneys, and stomach. They have also been linked to colorectal cancer, which is on the rise among young Americans.

There have been no cancer cases officially linked to Zantac, the WHO states, though thousands of patients have alleged otherwise.

GSK's attorney Tarek Ismail told the jury there is 'no objective evidence linking Ms. Valadezs cancer to Zantac.'

'No genetic test, lab report, imaging study nothing whatsoever.'

Mr Ismail also said Ms Valadez had a host of risk factors that made her more likely to develop colon cancer.

First approved in 1983, Zantac became the world's best selling medicine in 1988 and one of the first-ever drugs to top $1 billion in annual sales.

It was originally marketed by a forerunner of GSK and later sold successively to other companies.

In 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration asked drugmakers to pull Zantac and its generic versions off the market after NDMA was found in samples of the drug.

Thousands of lawsuits began piling up in federal and state courts.

A new version of Zantac now on the market has a different active ingredient and does not contain ranitidine.

The companies notched a significant win in 2022 when a judge dismissed about 50,000 claims centralized in federal court in Florida.

That judge concluded that claims brought by plaintiffs' expert witnesses linking Zantac to cancer were not supported by sound science.

More than 70,000 Zantac cases remain pending in the US, many of them in Delaware state court where a judge is considering similar arguments.

Some other cases were previously settled, including several individual cases just before trial, and about 4,000 state court lawsuits outside of Delaware against French drugmaker Sanofi SA.
With rates of cancer soaring among young people, oncologists are pleading with Americans to stay on top of their risk using simple tests that can be done at home.

The test that saved the life of actress Olivia Munn, who was recently given a shocking breast cancer diagnosis at age 43, is called the risk assessment tool, according to her gynecologist, eminent OBGYN Dr Thais Aliabadi.

Speaking at Fortune's Summit on cancer in young people this week, Dr Aliabadi said it is used by oncologists nationwide, and is recommended for some that are too young to be considered for mammograms.

While an inherited gene mutation is often considered the most important driver of early-onset cancer, experts increasingly warn that a collection of other factors that can strongly determine risk.

This includes a womans age during her first menstrual period, age at the time of the birth of a first child, and family history of breast cancer.

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Olivia Munn has revealed she was diagnosed with luminal B breast cancer last year - having undergone four surgeries in the last 10 months. She credited her OBGYN (here) for 'saving my life'

Dr Thais Aliabadi insist that risk takes more than that into account, such as the womans age during her first menstrual period

Rates of breast cancer in under 50 year-olds have ticked up over the past two decades.

A recent study by Canadian researchers found that over the past 30 years, breast cancer rates in 20-somethings have rocketed 45 percent.

All types of the disease have shot up by a third in people under 50 over the last 20 years.

However, screening tools rarely apply to women aged below 40, leaving a gap that allows more women to fall through the cracks.

Such is the concern that the US Preventative Services Task Force has recently lowered the minimum screening age to 40, down from 50.

The breast cancer risk assessment administered by Dr Aliabadi was able to flag Olivia Munns risk, despite mammograms and other scans missing the tumor.

The most popular risk assessment tool is the National Cancer Institutes Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT), sometimes known as the Gale Model after Dr. Mitchell Gail, who developed it in 1989. The test is accessible via the NCIBC website.

Dr Aliabadi said: If youre tall, if you had children after 30, if you have dense breasts, if you have family history, if youre overweight, you add your risk factors, and you get a risk score.

'If its 20 percent or above, that means you fall into the high-risk category and you have to start your imaging at early as 30, not 40, and you have to add MRI to it.

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Thats exactly what i did for myself an Olivia Munn.

Roughly 12 percent of US women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, studies show.

And Dr Aliabadi says it is challenging to predict which women will be within that 12 percent.

She continued: Olivia had a negative mammogram, negative ultrasound, but because her lifetime risk was 37 percent, I added an MRI [a more detailed scan that can spot tumors in dense breasts].

'All of her friends were telling her why is your doctor so paranoid? And with my paranoia, she had three cancer lesions on her right and one on her left breast.

Women who begin menstruating at an earlier age are exposed to estrogen for a longer time, making them more susceptible to cancer.

This also goes forwomen who go through menopause at a later age, as they are also exposed to estrogen for a longer period of their lives.

And pregnancy changes breast cells for the better, making them more resistant to cancer. Having a baby at an older age reduces that protective effect.

The test takes into account age, age at first menstrual period, age at the time of the birth of a first child (or has not given birth), family history of breast cancer (mother, sister or daughter), number of past breast biopsies, number of breast biopsies showing atypical hyperplasia, and race/ethnicity.

Ms Munn had a negative mammogram, negative ultrasound, but because her lifetime risk was 37 percent, Dr Thais Aliabadi added an MRI

While mammograms are recommended for women 40 and over, the DIY risk assessment tool can be done independently at home at any age.

A high-risk score is considered to be above 20 percent.

And with rates of cancer in under 40s ticking up, it can be a lifesaver. An MRI is not typically recommended as a screening test by itself because it can miss some cancers that a mammogram would find.

But it has been known to find that which is missed. Very high-risk women such as Olivia Munn are recommended to undergo a mammogram or an MRI every six months.

As well as dense breast tissue, an MRI can detect small lesions, and detailed information about a tumor, its size, shape, and reach.

However, doctors are often reluctant to order MRIs due to the risk of detecting false positives  lesions that would never become cancerous.

MRIs can also be prohibitively expensive, especially if a person does not have health insurance.

Dr Aliabadi says genetic testing that tells whether a person has genes that could raise their risk would also be helpful.
Mental illness isn't caused by transmissible viruses like the flu - but one new study suggests it might be spreading amongst teenagers nonetheless.

People who shared a ninth-grade classroom with someone diagnosed with a mental condition were nine percent more likely to develop the same condition at some point in the future, the study from University of Helsinki psychologists found.

Further, if someone had multiple classmates with a mental condition - they were 18 percent more likely to develop a condition of their own than those without mentally ill classmates.

But many other experts say that mental illness isn't contagious, instead they blame the increase on things like the prevalence of social media and an increased focus on academic achievement.

'These increases are significant especially because there is a notable service gap worldwide for mental health care,' Dr Tracy Vaillancourt, a psychology professor at the University of Ottawa who wasn't involved with the research, told DailyMail.com.

A new study from the University of Helsinki found people who had one classmate with a mental disorder were nine percent more likely to develop one themselves.

The researchers caution that their findings merely show there might be a link between these variables - and it doesn't prove mental illness can spread amongst teens.

The study is just the latest a controversial topic of psychology, known as social contagion.

Social contagion is the idea that people are more likely to develop medical conditions - either they see their friends dealing with - a concept particularly potent among teenagers.

In a country where depression rates amongst adolescents are skyrocketing - some point to this phenomenon as the cause.

The Pew Research Center estimated there was a 59 percent increase in the number of teens who experienced depression from 2007 to 2017.

Roughly 5million teenagers had a depressive episode in 2021, representing about 20 percent of all 12-to-17 year old in the country, the NIH reported. Approximately one in nine kids have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to a recent CDC report.

The psychological theory was thrust into the spotlight in 2021, when girls across the world claimed they were developing symptoms of Tourette's syndrome after watching TikTok creators who have the neurological condition that causes people to make involuntary movements or sounds.

Many were quick to blame social contagion.

Anti-trans activists also often leverage this idea to invalidate young trans adults.

But this has been robustly debunked by multiple papers - the most recent of which was published by Stanford psychiatrists in 2023.

Social contagion studies are often flawed, Dr Ezra Golberstein a professor of health policy at the University of Minnesota, wrote in a review of the topic while at the University of Michigan.

This is because the studies usually can't rule out the affect that a teen's environment and decision-making plays in their mental health.

For example, someone with depression might be more likely to befriend someone with depression simply because they have similar tendencies. In that case, it might seem like the pair influenced each other, when they were both going to develop the condition regardless of the scenario they were put in.

'People choose where they live and work, and with whom they interact, and they may share characteristics with others in their social network that lead to similar outcomes,' Dr Golberstein wrote.

Considering these shortcomings while reviewing previous studies, Dr Golberstein and colleagues concluded there was evidence that mental health could be 'moderately contagious.'

But it's likely less common and less influential than people think, he wrote.

This new study, lead by scientists at the University of Helsinki, attempted to address some of these shortcomings.

Instead of studying friend groups, they looked at the effect that classmates - whom young people are randomly assigned to spend a lot of time with - on each others' mental health.

The study, which was published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, looked at 713,800 Finnish people who were born between 1985 and 1987.

Even after accounting for factors like income, parental mental health conditions and location, the researchers found a correlation that could suggest mental illness could spread amongst peers.

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This was particularly applicable for conditions like anxiety and depression - but wasn't as clear for other mental disorders like schizophrenia.

Co-rumination is a psychological term that describes the common practice of rehashing and complaining about your problems over and over again.

Multiple studies have shown that even when controlling for other factors - people who co-ruminate with their friends are more likely to feel more depressed. This, studies have concluded, can spread.

Co-ruminating, 'may serve as one mechanism in the dramatic rise in depression observed during adolescence, particularly among adolescent girls,' Dr Lindsay B Stone, a psychologist from Georgia Southern University, wrote in one study about the phenomenon.

Another reason teens could be vulnerable to contagion is because an increased amount of education about mental illness could encourage impressionable kids to see everyday stressors through a medical lens, the authors wrote.

Dr Vaillancourt said the study was, 'well done,' and supports the idea that she, and many have long held, that social spreading could be contributing to the rise of teenagers with mental issues.

Psychologists who treat conditions that have long been seen as potentially 'contagious', like eating disorders, take this concept into account when treating teenagers, Dr Vaillancourt said.

However, it may be important for physicians treating minors for other conditions to consider as well, she told this website: 'It will be important to carefully examine how the increased awareness of mental health influences the scope and presentation of mental disorders.'

One of the ways to combat this problem is to make sure that mental health awareness campaigns are clear about what is a medical condition and what is a normal reaction to stress, study author Christian Hakulinen, a psychologist at the University of Helsinki, told New Scientist.

'We have to be careful that we dont overtreat and think that normal reactions are somehow abnormal behaviour,' he said.
The number of young people vaping has tripled in two years, but smoking continues to decline, a new study shows.

Researchers from University College London (UCL) said the use of disposable vapes among people aged 18 to 24 is driving the use of highly-addictive nicotine in England.

And while experts said vapes are better than smoking, they warned that they are not risk-free and should not be used by those who have never smoked.

The study, funded by Cancer Research UK, looked at data on vaping and smoking for 132,252 people in England from July 2016 to May 2023.

Researchers wanted to examine changes in vaping and smoking before and after disposables became popular in June 2021.

Colourful, candy-flavour disposable vapes are marketed to young people and their use among this group has tripled in two years

Unregulated disposable vapes can be sold in sweet shops, novelty shops and even toy shops

Vapes come in many different flavours, including this one in 'juicy peach'

Disposable vapes are usually sold in bright packaging and come in a variety of flavours including pineapple ice and cherry cola.

The study found that, in England up to June 2021, smoking and vaping had been stable or declining across all age groups.

'However, since disposable vaping started to become popular, vaping has been increasing across all age groups  especially younger adults (18 to 24-year-olds),' it said.

The proportion of youngsters who said they vaped tripled over the period, rising from nine per cent in May 2021 to 29 per cent in May 2023.

Smoking in this age group declined from 25 per cent to 21 per cent, but overall nicotine use increased from 28 per cent to 35 per cent.

In older age groups, vaping prevalence increased from five per cent to six per cent among those aged over 45, while smoking also increased from 12 per cent to 14 per cent.

The rise in vaping was greatest in people who had never smoked, rising from two per cent to nine per cent in 18 to 24-year-olds.

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As of February, a total of 1,009 reactions to vapes have been recorded by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Here are the 10 most common reports

Overall, the researchers said that, after disposables became popular in 2021, the odds of people saying they vaped increased by 99 per cent per year among 18 to 24-year-olds, compared with 39 per cent in 25 to 44-year-olds and 23 per cent in those aged 45 or older.

The team concluded: 'Since disposable vapes started becoming popular in England, historic declines in nicotine use have reversed.

'Now, nicotine use appears to be rising, driven primarily by sharp increases in vaping among young people.

'Smoking declines have been most pronounced in age groups with the largest increases in vaping.

'Urgent action is needed to curb the rise in disposable vaping among people who would otherwise avoid nicotine entirely.

'This could include an excise tax, packaging restriction or putting vapes behind shop counters.'

Lead author Dr Harry Tattan-Birch, from University College London (UCL), said: 'The rapid rise in vaping would be less concerning if smoking rates had come down more rapidly.

'The overall increase in the use of nicotine shows this has not happened.

'Instead, driven by the arrival of highly popular disposable e-cigarettes, vaping has become much more common among young people, some of whom would likely otherwise have avoided nicotine entirely.

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'Given these findings, the UK Government's current Tobacco and Vapes Bill to reduce youth vaping is welcome.'

Senior author Dr Sarah Jackson, also from UCL, said: 'While action is needed to counter the rise in vaping among young people who otherwise would not use nicotine, policies should avoid signalling that e-cigarettes are a worse alternative to smoking tobacco.

'Vaping may not be risk-free, but smoking is uniquely lethal.

'It is also critical that policies designed to make e-cigarettes less attractive to young people do not inadvertently make these products less effective for helping people to stop smoking.

'Measures that target vaping products' appearance, packaging, and marketing rather than their flavours and nicotine content may be most effective in striking this balance.'

Dr Ian Walker, Cancer Research UK's executive director of policy, said: 'This study shows a concerning increase in the number of young adults using vapes since disposables came on the market in the UK.

'Evidence to date shows that vapes are far less harmful than cigarettes, but they can't be considered risk-free and certainly shouldn't fall into the hands of children or those who have never smoked.

'A continued decline in smoking rates is encouraging to see, but we can't become complacent  smoking is still the biggest cause of cancer in the UK and it's vital that we protect the next generation from a lifetime of addiction.

'All parties must ensure the world-leading Tobacco and Vapes Bill is passed through Parliament before the dissolution of Government ahead of a General Election.'

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill would make it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009.

It also aims to cut youth vaping through tighter controls.

However, unless it is passed into law before parliament is dissolved ahead of the July 4 general election, it will be shelved until a new government is in place.

Both the Tories and Labour have said they will revive the bill if they get into power.

The vaping study was published in the journal Lancet Regional Health  Europe.

It comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) published a report saying vapes and other new tobacco and nicotine products 'present a grave threat to youth and tobacco control'.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general, said: 'History is repeating, as the tobacco industry tries to sell the same nicotine to our children in different packaging.

'These industries are actively targeting schools, children and young people with new products that are essentially a candy-flavoured trap.

'How can they talk about harm reduction when they are marketing these dangerous, highly addictive products to children?'

Dr Ruediger Krech, WHO director of health promotion, said: 'The use of child-friendly flavours like cotton candy and bubblegum, combined with sleek and colourful designs that resemble toys, is a blatant attempt to addict young people to these harmful products.'
Two abortion-inducing drugs could soon be reclassified as controlled and dangerous substances in Louisiana under a first-of-its-kind bill.

The legislation, which was approved by the state senate Thursday, would make carrying mifepristone and misoprostol, commonly known as 'abortion pills,' without as valid prescription punishable by up to five years in prison.

This would put the drugs, which went on sale over-the-counter in March as a historic first, in the same category as opioids, sleeping aids, amphetamines, and other drugs that have the 'potential for abuse,' according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The bill will now head to Republican Governor Jeff Landry, who is expected to sign it into law.

Louisiana lawmakers have approved a first-of-its-kind bill that would classify two abortion-inducing drugs as a controlled and dangerous substance. The final Senate vote Thursday, May 23, 2024, came despite widespread criticism from doctors, who note that the drugs have other critical reproductive health care uses

Limiting access to the abortion pill would have less impact on states with near total abortion bans because abortion is already completely blocked in most cases. It could have some impact on states where there are further restrictions in the books depending on the states

Supporters of the reclassification say it would protect expectant mothers from coerced abortions. However, several doctors have said it will make it harder for them to prescribe medications for other reproductive health concerns.

Passage of the bill comes as the US Supreme Court decides whether or not to restrict access to mifepristone by revoking the FDA's approval of the drug.

Additionally, the GOP-dominated Legislature's push to reclassify mifepristone and misoprostol could possibly open the door for other Republican states with abortion bans to seek tighter restrictions.

Louisiana is one of 14 states with a near-total abortion ban in place, applying both to surgical and medical abortions. The state currently already requires a prescription for both drugs and makes it a crime to use them to induce an abortion in most cases.

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The bill would make it harder to obtain the pills by placing it on the list of Schedule IV drugs under the state's Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law.

The DEA classifies drugs into five categories based on how likely they are to be abused. Schedule IV represents a 'low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence.' Drugs in this category include Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Ambien, and Tramadol.

The classification would require doctors to have a specific license to prescribe the drugs, which would be stored in certain facilities that in some cases could end up being located far from rural clinics.

Knowingly possessing the drugs without a valid prescription would carry a punishment including hefty fines and jail time.

More than 200 Louisiana doctors signed a letter to lawmakers warning that it could produce a 'barrier to physicians' ease of prescribing appropriate treatment' and cause unnecessary fear and confusion among both patients and doctors.

They also warn that any delay to obtaining the drugs could lead to worsening outcomes in a state that has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country.

State Sen. Royce Duplessis, a democrat, said: 'This goes too far. We have not properly vetted this with the health care community and I believe it's going to lead to further harm down the road.'

'There's a reason we rank at the bottom in terms of maternal health outcomes, and this is why.'

Abortion-rights activists holds a signs as they protest outside of the Supreme Court during a rally, March 26, 2024, in Washington

In March, Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control, became available online and in select retail stores like CVS and Walgreens

Supporters say people would be prevented from unlawfully using the pills, though language in the bill appears to carve out protections for pregnant woman who obtain the drug without a prescription for their own consumption.

The reclassification of the two drugs in Louisiana is an amendment to a bill originating in the Senate that would create the crime of 'coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud.'

The sister of Republican state Sen. Thomas Pressly, who authored the bill, has shared her own story, of her husband slipping her abortion-inducing drugs without her knowledge or consent.

'The purpose of bringing this legislation is certainly not to prevent these drugs from being used for legitimate health care purposes,' Senator Pressley said. 'I am simply trying to put safeguards and guardrails in place to keep bad actors from getting these medications.'

In addition to inducing abortions, mifepristone and misoprostol have other common uses, such as treating miscarriages, inducing labor and stopping hemorrhaging.

Mifepristone was approved by the FDA in 2000 after federal regulators deemed it safe and effective for ending early pregnancies.

It's used in combination with misoprostol, which the FDA has separately approved to treat stomach ulcers.

Abortion opponents and conservative Republicans both inside and outside the state have applauded the Louisiana bill.

Conversely, the move has been strongly criticized by Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who in a social media post described it as 'absolutely unconscionable.'

A recent survey found that thousands of women in states with abortion bans or restrictions are receiving abortion pills in the mail from states that have laws protecting prescribers.

The survey did not specify how many of those cases were in Louisiana.
So, when would you like to transfer from monsieur to mademoiselle? asked Dr Georges Burou at his clinic in Casablanca.

Immediately, replied George Jamieson. The year was 1960. Aged 25, he was desperate. All his life, hed known for certain he was a female trapped inside a male body.

Born in working-class Liverpool in 1935, hed suffered an appalling childhood, with a mother who loathed his effeminacy and bashed his head on the ground like a pneumatic drill while the city was being bombed to pieces. He was bullied so violently in the playground that he was once crippled for four months.

But none of that was as bad as the inner conflict he was suffering.

Aged 17, he escaped and went to work, first as a sailor (during which he was pumped with male hormones and underwent electric shock therapy to try to suppress his urge to change gender) and then in a cross-dressing nightclub in Paris called Le Carrousel. One of his co-workers, Coccinelle, showed him sex change was possible. Shed had it done. She opened her legs to prove it.

Born male in working-class Liverpool in 1935, April Ashley underwent gender reassignment surgery in 1960

Tall, skinny and beautiful, April became a supermodel. Pictured here performing a song and dance act at the Astor Club in London's West End in 1962

April with her mother Ada Jamieson at London Airport on their way to Gibraltar

George decided that he, too, would have to change sex and went to Morocco to meet the Gauloises-chain-smoking surgeon who could help him.

During the consultation, Dr Burou tested his resolve by showing him photographs of blood-soaked, chopped-off body parts, reminding him what the gender-reassignment operation would entail: photos so graphic that, as he put it, only a real transsexual would stay put.

George didnt flinch.

Ill book you in for 7am tomorrow morning, said Dr Burou.

This was 12 years before that same doctor would perform the operation that made acclaimed travel writer James Morris into Jan Morris. When it came to gender reassignment, George Jamieson  soon to be reborn as Miss April Ashley  was the true trailblazer.

The next morning, the operation went ahead. Look away now if you dont want to know the full details: castration, after which penis skin was inverted into the newly created space, and the remaining tissue used to complete the new vagina. The official name of the operation: an anteriorly pedicled penile skin flap inversion vaginoplasty.

The post-op pain was excruciating, but there was no question in Aprils mind: she was reborn. Shed done the right thing.

From then on, she only spoke of George, the boy shed been, in the third person. As Douglas Thompson writes in this lively, if rather fawning and gushing, book about her (they were friends, and reminisced in her house in Provence), April would always stress that the operation didnt transform her, it completed her.

And then the fun started. The first thing she did was sleep with a muscular dancer at Le Carrousel called Skippy. Hed promised her hed be the first to have sex with her after the operation  and it worked.

Tall, skinny and beautiful, April became a supermodel. David Bailey and Terry ONeill photographed her for Vogue, modelling underwear.

April signs the marriage register with her husband Arthur Corbett on their wedding day in Gibraltar in September 1963. The marriage later failed and was annulled in 1970

In 2012, April was awarded an MBE for her services to transgender equality

April died in 2021, aged 86. She was one of Britain's first transsexuals and her lovers included Omar Sharif, Peter O-Toole and Michael Hutchence

Even when shed been a cross-dresser at Le Carrousel, Salvador Dali and Elvis Presley had been magnetically drawn to her. Now, as a fully fledged woman, she was the toast of London.

I could have slept with all the Beatles, she boasted. She claimed to have turned down Paul McCartney at Club dellAretusa on the Kings Road, escaping his advances in a taxi.

She became friends with a married Old Etonian transvestite called The Hon Arthur Corbett, who wanted to marry her. She told him about Casablanca, and he claimed not to mind.

The only problem, as she put it, was there were four people in his life: himself, his other self (the nasty person he became when he was dressing as a woman), April, and his wife Eleanor. Also, he was a schizophrenic.

In November 1961, a former colleague who needed money outed Aprils sex change to the Sunday People newspaper.

The Extraordinary Case of the Top Model April Ashley: Her Secret is Out, ran the headline. That was the end of Aprils modelling career and every one of her bookings was cancelled.

Shed been the model for Bournville chocolate, but Bournville said they could not have their name associated with a sex change.

Reading her story, we accompany April on the rollercoaster of her life, soaring and plummeting from victory to catastrophe. She ran off to Spain to be near Arthur, who ran the Jacaranda Club in Marbella. While there, she enjoyed some pleasurable fumbling with Peter OToole and a full-on affair with Omar Sharif. She did go on to marry Arthur Corbett, after he divorced, and became the Hon Mrs Arthur Corbett.

With that title, doors opened again, socially. But the marriage was a disaster, and the next thing April knew, she was caught up in a horrible law case: Corbett v. Corbett (Ashley).

Arthur declared the marriage null and void, and fraudulent. He was refusing to support her financially, saying that on their wedding day she was a person of the male sex and the marriage was never consummated. April claimed that Arthur refused to, or couldnt, consummate.

The case rumbled on and, in December 1969, she endured 17 days in court, being quizzed about endless private bodily details, such as the size and activity of her penis pre-operation. Nine medical experts were on hand and she was subjected to medical examinations to decide whether she was still a man.

April lost the case. Judge Ormrod decreed: The respondent is not, and was not, a woman at the date of her marriage, but was, at all times, a male. Cut adrift, she fell into penury.

Its pitiful to read what she went through. She escaped to the U.S., married a gay man called Jeff West to get a Green Card, and did menial jobs in restaurants and working for Greenpeace. As she put it, she was condemned to be a freak living in exile.

It wasnt until 2005 that she received the document shed longed for: her birth certificate from HM Government, identifying her as a female. The Gender Recognition Act had been passed in 2004.

Then, as a crowning upwards swoop of the rollercoaster, in 2012 she was awarded an MBE for her services to transgender equality.

The following year, a million people came to see the exhibition, April Ashley: Portrait of a Lady, at the Museum of Liverpool. Her mother, surely, turned in her grave.

April died in 2021, aged 86. At her memorial celebration in St Georges Hall, Liverpool, the place erupted with the singing of her favourite anthem: I Am Miss April Ashley.

The actor Simon Callow, one of her greatest fans and supporters, gave the tribute, saying that shed led the way for others.

Against all possible odds, shed managed to correct what nature had got wrong, and lead the life she knew she was born to live.
Howard Kosky discovered his mother Shirley had fallen victim to a befriending scam

When Howard Kosky cleared his late mother's house last year, he found an envelope of used Apple vouchers worth thousands of pounds.

As he looked through, he found that they were all in 250 and 500 denominations amounting to around 13,000.

At the same time, when his mother's estate went into probate, Howard, who lives in St Albans, received her bank statements and found a worrying number of withdrawals and bank transfers.

Sadly, the vouchers and payments weren't made to friends or family, but rather scammers who preyed on and cruelly took advantage of her loneliness in the two years before her death.

Howard's mother, Shirley, used Facebook on her iPad to chat with her friends. But six months after Howard's father passed away in October 2020, she started to use friendship websites.

'Occasionally she'd speak to me and say "I've met this man, how would you feel" and I'd say "Well mum, if you're happy I'm happy".'

'But my suspicions were there. I'd ask his name, where he lives and she'd often say he's in America.

'I remember going out for lunch with mum and she said "how would you feel if I met someone"... she showed me a picture of this guy who was in his early 50s and he was better looking than George Clooney.

'With all due respect to mum, she was knocking on 80

'I tried to say to her "mum it's a scam" she was almost offended by my cynicism.'

Howard's story is not an isolated one, as romance scammers continue to fleece people across the country - and warnings from family members and friends are brushed aside.

'The suspicions were raised when she said someone in America had asked her to transfer $3,000.'

He warned his mother not to move any money anywhere, but sadly she didn't heed the warnings and lost 30,000 as a result.

'Unfortunately on each occasion it followed a very similar pattern, and as much as I'd say to mum it's a scam, it's not a real person.

'Ultimately I couldn't chaperone or babysit my mother 24/7. She had control of her own money and her bank account, and unfortunately it comes across to me that the professional scammers know exactly what they're doing.

'Obviously they're very literate and there are certain language and pinpoints in terms of how to try and get people to respond and react in a certain way. Unfortunately, mum fell victim to it.'

Romance and befriending scammers tend to target more vulnerable people

Howard would visit his mum every Sunday to spend time with her, but he was not aware she had transferred thousands of pounds to the scammers until after her death in June 2023.

As well as the 13,000 Apple vouchers, Shirley lost around 17,000 to the scammers through bank transfers.

'I don't know what was going through her mind, obviously loneliness. She'd been married to my father for over 50 years. They hadn't spent a day apart.

'That void in her life I presume she was looking for that to be filled somehow.'

Howard is unsure whether Shirley might have realised it was a scam, but he hopes that if she had she wouldn't have made the same mistake.

'Who knows when someone is that lonely? All I could is ask mum each week how things were.

'It's not for me to access her phone and go through her messages.

'It's not my place to try to log in to all her different bits and pieces online, I just had to rely on what she told me.

'The fact that on more than one occasion she met someone online who was in America, and after a number of weeks there was the question of "can you transfer me money" I would have hoped mum would have realised there's a pattern these scammers have. Sadly that wasn't to be the case.'

Although Howard had power of attorney, he says she was of sound mind and there was no need to monitor her.

'Mum was mentally fit and healthy, so I felt no need to execute the power of attorney which I had. Because that's taking away her freedoms and liberties. She was still driving, she was more than capable of living on her own.'

'I felt a mixture of anger and frustration'

When Howard realised Shirley had been a victim of a number of scammers, he says he felt a 'combination of sadness and anger.

'It's very sad that mum fell victim, that she had that level of loneliness after dad's passing that she felt befriending someone they'd get close if she transferred money. I don't know.

'The anger was towards the scammer and a little bit towards my mother, no matter how many times I told her not to do it, she still did it.

'I know it's not uncommon. It's weird that no matter how many times you see programmes on television, or listen to radio, or read articles warning people it feels as if among the lonely older age group they are slightly more susceptible to being victims than perhaps others.'

It feels as if among the lonely older age group... they are slightly more susceptible to being victims

New figures from Wealth At Work show 14 per cent of the 6.2million adults who were fraud victims fell for a befriending or romance scam.

The research found that of those who had lost money to a financial scam, the average amount was over 1,000.

Despite Howard's anger towards the scammers, he didn't get in touch with the police to tell them what had happened.

'There's nothing you can do. I remember afterwards I got in touch the bank and asked how the transfers were made. The reality is, there's no crime being committed. The cleverness of the scam is it's not fraud, you're not paying for something you're not receiving.'

There was been a proliferation of authorised push payment (APP) scams when someone is tricked into sending money to a fraudster posing as someone else.

The latest figures show 239.3million was lost to APP scams in the first half of 2023. Meanwhile, UK Finance said yesterday that romance scams are at record levels, with victims losing 36.5million last year.

Often these scams are executed over months and tens of thousands of pounds are siphoned off, once trust is built.

It is also likely that the 36.5million figure is the tip of the iceberg, with many victims not reporting the crime, including the case above.

'It's an awkward one. You feel as if you've been defrauded and money's moved, but the reality is [my mum] bought a load of vouchers. So do lots of other people.

'It just so happened that these vouchers were given to someone that claimed to be someone and my mum was a victim of a scam.

'It's loneliness. All I can do is try and understand. She was with my dad for 50 years as soon as dad is gone, there's a massive void. I assume chatting to people online she felt was a way of having a friendship.'
Local authorities are taking bewilderingly polarised approaches to classifying potholes, a new investigation has exposed.

The RAC and Channel 4's Dispatches programme found that whether potholes get fixed or not depends entirely on the council's own criteria. And the yardstick for what is deemed requiring repair can be wildly different from one region to another.

The probe found that a third of councils will only fix potholes when they reach a specific depth, irrelevant of how wide they are.

This means many dangerous potholes go unrepaired, posing a continuous risk to road users  especially those on two wheels.

*Find your council in the interactive chart below to find out the size and depth requirements to fix potholes in your area

A third of councils only fix potholes when they reach a specific depth, leaving dangerous road ways for users and particularly cyclists

Out of 206 councils approached by the motoring group, just 76 (37 per cent) said they take a 'risk-based approach' to deciding which potholes to fix and how quickly.

However, what this risk-based approach entails is anyone's guess, as none of the 76 authorities provided much information to explain their decision making.

Incredibly, three-in-10 councils (29 per cent) don't state any public criteria for repairing potholes.

This varied approach to repairing potholes is causing an enormous frustration for those road users who report potholes to local authorities having suffered vehicle damage or personal injury having driven or ridden through them.

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The investigation found a variety of different approaches by 206 local councils when it comes to identifying and repairing potholes

Potholes will often simply left to get bigger before they are deemed large enough by the elusive criteria to merit repair.

A report by trade body Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) published in March put the bill for pothole-related compensation claims at 15.2 million. The AIA put the average cost of filling a pothole at 72.26, up from 66.54 in 2023.

Among the 35 per cent of councils (71) that say they'll only act on potholes if they meet certain barometers - the most common depth stated is 4cm (by 54 councils).

But for unlucky road users in Warwickshire, Torbay, Thurrock, Nottingham, Torfaen and South Lanarkshire, potholes must be at least 5cm deep before roadworkers are sent out to fill it.

And you'll need a sheet of paper on hand to know whether a pothole is worth reporting to the council for repair if you live in Buckinghamshire, Stockport and Devon.

These three are among 13 councils that state a pothole must be 30cm wide  the length of A4  and 4cm deep to be fixed.

The RAC is concerned that the use of specific size-based criteria could be a way of 'kicking the can down the road' and avoiding repairing potholes.

It's calling on 'Whitehall to provide fresh guidance to councils to bring about consistency when it comes to prioritising potholes and taking action to fix them,' as reports surface of councils dodging compensation claims on repair technicalities.

RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis said: 'We're concerned that some councils are refusing compensation claims from drivers who have damaged their cars from potholes, by stating they already have them scheduled for repair  even if that repair isn't due for months.'

A recent report by the trade body Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) put the bill for pothole-related payouts at 15.2 million

Residents of Charlton-All-Saints, in Wilshire have been left with a 41ft long, seven foot wide, crater that makes it near impossible to reach their homes after a wet winter

Out of 206 councils approached by the RAC and Dispatches, just 76 (37%) take a 'risk-based approach' to deciding which potholes to fix and how quickly

Cllr Darren Rodwell, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association, responded to the investigation saying councils are 'on the side of all road users' and want to focus on 'properly resurfacing our roads', including tackling the 16.3billion backlog of road repairs.

'Many factors affect repair rates, such as the road profile, traffic levels and available budgets,' Rodwell said.

'Councils would much prefer to focus on preventative repairs but only greater, year-on-year long-term funding certainty for maintaining all parts of our highways will help them achieve this.

'The Government should award council Highways Departments five-yearly funding allocations, on a par with National Highways, to give them more certainty to develop resurfacing programmes and other improvements to help prevent potholes in the first place.'

The investigation's findings follow a report from Citroen last month that similarly found a lack of standardised national approach to reporting, measuring and repairing potholes.

The French car maker said this is causing a postcode lottery for road-repair responses in the UK.

Citroen submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) to local authorities across England, Scotland, and Wales, which also showed there is no centralised government policy to follow.

Councils in England and Wales are only required only to complete repairs within a 'timely manner' according to the Highways Act 1980.

As well as difference width and depth criteria that determines fixing rates, Citroen revealed the repair timeframe differs massively: Barnsley Council has two categories of repair timeframes ranging from 24 hours to one month, compared to Warrington Council which has seven, allowing potholes to remain on roads for up to 40 days until addressed.

The RAC similarly observed little consistency: East Riding Council is a shining example of pothole management, using a risk-based approach to repairing road defects. It inspects all reported potholes within 24 hours, fixing the most urgent within the same timeframe, and then clearly sets out how it prioritises repairing the rest.

In complete contrast, Redcar and Cleveland Council doesn't appear to have a single page on its website even referencing potholes, nor an ability for people to report them online.

Citroen's managing director at the UK department of the French car firm, Greg Taylor expressed kindred worries: 'The lack of consistency around the way councils report and tackle potholes allows room for even greater numbers of essential road repairs to fall through the gaps, leaving more motorists at risk.'

*The War on Britains Motorists: Dispatches airs Thursday 23 May at 8pm on Channel 4
Mark Hicks, head of Active Savings, Hargreaves Lansdown, asks how savings will be impacted by the announcement of a general election:

The savings market moved quickly in response to the election announcement. The Bank of England is going to want to skip changing the base rate around the time of an election, to avoid the risk it becomes politicised.

As a result, the savings market has now fully priced in a delay to September. Before the announcement, August was still a reasonable possibility, and June was an outside chance. All that has changed.

Savers could stand to benefit, because it could mean a pause in rate cuts, so easy access savers would continue to earn rates at or above 5% for a while longer. If you have cash you can tie up for a period, it also opens the window of opportunity, because fixed rates around 5% could hang around for longer too.
Popular: Sarah J. Maas (pictured) recently released House of Flame and Shadow, the latest title in her Crescent City series

Soaring demand for Sarah J. Maas's fantasy novels has enabled Bloomsbury Publishing to post another record year of revenues and profits.

House of Flame and Shadow, the latest title in Maas's Crescent City series and her 16th book with Bloomsbury, became a number one New York Times Bestseller after its release in February.

The sequel continues the adventures of a half-human girl called Bryce Quinlan and her friend Hunt Athalar, who fight the Asteri, a race of god-like conquerors who rule the planet Midgard.

Its popularity spurred further purchases of Maas's backlist titles, including those in the Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

Nigel Newton, chief executive of Bloomsbury, described the New York-born author as a 'publishing phenomenon, whose books 'have captivated a huge audience'.

He said her novels have been supported by significant promotional campaigns and word-of-mouth, especially on social media channels.

Analysts have attributed the success of Maas's titles to 'BookTok,' where social media influencers use TikTok to promote new works and writers.

As a result, total sales of the New York-born author's books climbed by 161 per cent in the 12 months ending February.

This helped Bloomsbury's overall turnover increase by 30 per cent to 342.7million and pre-tax profits jump by 63 per cent to 41.5million.

Other major recent sellers have included Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon, and Tom Kerridge's Pub Kitchen.

Harry Potter novels also remained highly sought after, with The Philosopher's Stone becoming the biggest-selling children's title in the UK for the first time in over two decades.

Commercial spell: Bloomsbury is best known for publishing the Harry Potter books

Demand for these titles offset declining sales of Bloomsbury's non-consumer books, which were affected by the higher education sector returning to more normalised levels.

However, the London-based company said it is 'well-placed to capitalise' on the international growth in post-secondary education.

It pointed to estimates by the World Bank that the number of higher education students globally will accelerate from 220 million in 2021 to 380 million by 2030.

For the current financial year, the group anticipates trading will be 'slightly ahead' of forecasts even though it does not expect another newly published title from Sarah J. Maas.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, compared this absence to 'a famous band saying they're going on a hiatus  disappointment now, but the potential to make even more money when they return'.

He added: 'It's the waiting period that will test investors' patience, and not even news that current trading is ahead of expectations can stop the share price from going into reverse.'

Investors responded negatively to the potential absence of a new Maas novel, sending Bloomsbury Publishing shares diving 6.3 per cent to 5.62 just before midday.

Bloomsbury also announced that its chairman, Sir Richard Lambert, would stand down following its annual general meeting on 16 July.

Subject to shareholder approval, he will be replaced by John Bason, who was the finance director of Primark owner Associated British Foods for 24 years until April 2023.

Lambert was formerly editor of the Financial Times, a member of the Monetary Policy Committee, and director-general of the Confederation of the British Industry.

Newton said Lambert had been an 'exceptional chairman' since joining seven years ago and had 'helped Bloomsbury achieve so much during his tenure.'
But broader market reaction to surprise elections has been broadly muted

Labour is understood to have big plans for UK infrastructure

London-listed utilities shares sank today as investors digested the looming general election.

Creaking national infrastructure, recent peaks in consumer bills and public outrage at water firms' pollution and spillage failures are all likely to be under the microscope ahead of the 4 July vote, with Keir Starmer's Labour party expected to propose a major shake-up in some areas.

National Grid, which is also suffering the impact of a planned 7billion capital raise, Severn Trent, United Utilities Group, SSE and Centrica were all among the biggest fallers on the FTSE 100.

National Grid is the biggest faller at 3.30pm, down 11.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, Drax Group and under-fire South West Water owner Pennon were the biggest drag on the FTSE 250, falling more than 5 per cent each.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner and Keir Starmer prepare to reveal plans for UK utilities if the party wins the General Election on 4 July

Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'A tougher stance towards water companies which pollute rivers and seas, is also likely to weigh further on the utilities sector.

'[Labour] plans to give the regulator more power to increase fines and force firms to strip executives of bonuses.

'Already the cost of repairs to leaky and inefficient infrastructure is a heavy future burden, and with the risk of fines becoming more severe, it's likely to make the UK water utilities sector even less attractive.'

She added Labour would likely enact a 'significant shake up of the public transport sector', with plans to let more councils run bus franchises and renationalise the country's rail network by not renewing contracts with private operators.

Streeter said: 'This is set to affect companies like First Group, which runs services in the West, commuter services in London and an Edinburgh to London route. Mobico also runs bus services in the West Midlands, and so could also potentially be hit by increased competition.

'However, with other train companies already taken into state control, further renationalisation would not come as a big surprise, so is unlikely to move the dial extensively in terms of share prices.'

Last October, Labour members voted to nationalise critical infrastructure, bringing ownership of the railways and energy sector under public ownership.

However, Starmer's team are thought unlikely to make a commitment to such a plan in the party's forthcoming manifesto.

Starmer has previously committed to bringing rail infrastructure under public ownership, but high-profile Labour figures have openly said the party will not touch energy.

Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds told the BBC late last year: 'We're not going to nationalise the energy system.'

Labour has, however, committed to launching 'publicly-owned clean energy company' GB Energy, which the party says 'will harness Britain's sun, wind and wave energy' to save 93billion for UK households, create 'thousands' of jobs, and deliver '100 per cent clean power by 2030'.

'UK investors have become accustomed to political drama over the past few years'

Despite pressure on utilities shares, analysts at ING on Thursday noted that the market has largely shrugged off the prospect of a looming election.

They said: 'UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has caught the country by surprise and called a snap election for 4 July, setting the scene for a short and swift campaign.

'But you wouldn't know it looking at UK markets, where the impact so far has been minimal.

'UK investors have become accustomed to political drama over the past few years.'

ING suggested investors' muted reaction to the snap election is partly driven by the major polling lead currently enjoyed by Labour, with the result looking like a 'foregone conclusion' amid a 20-point lead among most pollsters.

They also note that, unlike in 2019, 'Brexit is no longer a major unknown', meaning 'the country's economic relationship has been settled and none of the major parties are keen to reopen the debate'.

ING said markets are also calmed by the prospect of another Scottish independence referendum being 'unlikely', while 'neither party is promising radical fiscal policy shifts'.

Finally, the investment bank said an election does not change the outlook for Bank of England interest cuts this summer  the major driver of market gains this year.

The analysts said: 'BoE independence is a well-established and respected principle among the major parties, and a rate cut has been telegraphed long before the election was called.'
Royal Mail last night came under fresh scrutiny after its owner delayed the publication of its latest accounts as it heads towards a 3.5billion takeover by a Czech billionaire.

In an announcement that took the City by surprise, International Distributions Services (IDS) said that accountants at KPMG needed more time to assess its financial results.

It came as Daniel Kretinsky, the West Ham United co-owner dubbed the Czech Sphinx, mulls whether to make a formal offer before a deadline next week.

What a shambles, was the verdict of one investor. IDS, which also owns European parcel business GLS, had told the market it would publish its results for the year ended March 31 at 7am yesterday.

The figures were expected to show the Royal Mail arm lost over 300million.

Deadline: Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky (pictured), has until next week to make a formal offer for IDS

But just before 2pm IDS said that the financial statements had been indefinitely delayed.

The groups auditor KPMG has requested additional time to complete the usual standard procedures after their internal reviews were late in the audit timetable, thereby delaying their final audit process, IDS said.

Last week the board, led by chairman Keith Williams, said it was minded to accept Kretinskys 370p per share offer after rejecting an earlier bid.

That shocked the City and Westminster as a deal would see the postal service, established by Henry VIII in 1516, taken into foreign ownership for the first time.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch sought commitments from Williams and IDS chief executive Martin Seidenberg that Royal Mails universal service obligation (USO) would be protected.

Under the terms of the offer, Kretinsky has promised to keep six-day-a-week first class letter deliveries, protect workers rights and the Royal Mail brand, as well as its UK headquarters and tax residence.

But there are fears for second class posts future and the cost of first class stamps.

The service, privatised in 2013, has been lobbying for reform of the USO.

Royal Mail lost 319million in the first half of the last financial year after falling 1billion into the red the previous year.

Kretinsky, IDSs largest shareholder, has until 5pm on Wednesday, May 29 to make a formal offer or walk away.
The boss of defence group Qinetiq said global threats are accelerating as it reported a 21 per cent rise in annual sales and shares hit a record high.

UK-based Qinetiq has  like other defence firms  been boosted by heightened government spending amid conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine as well as tensions over Taiwan.

Chief executive Steve Wadey said: The world is experiencing the highest and most rapidly evolving threat environment for a generation.

There is an increasing threat of wider global conflict. He said the areas Qinetiq specialises in are being boosted by attempts by countries to stay ahead of the threat.

He added: Our governments are increasing spending at reasonably significant levels particularly in our areas of strength.

Take-off: Qinetiq has been boosted by heightened levels of government spending amid conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine as well as tensions over Taiwan

Qinetiqs strategy is focused on serving the security needs of the UK, Australia and the US and their allies.

It specialises in high-tech areas such as robotics, laser and cyber. It has played a key role in developing and testing the UKs new Dragonfire laser weapon.

Wadey said those countries continue to review their evolving defence and security capabilities and are increasing spending in high-priority areas aligned with our strategy.

Revenues for the year to the end of March rose to 1.91billion while pre-tax profits dipped 5 per cent to 183million as a result of one-off costs.

Qinetiq said it would raise its revenue forecast for the current year.

Wadey said strong momentum and increasing spending in our major markets underpinned its target of 2.4billion in sales by 2027.

Shares rose 13.4 per cent, or 50.2p, to 424.4p.
Payday: Tesla boss Elon Musk is set for 44bn windfall

Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust is set to back Elon Musks 44billion pay package next month.

Tom Slater, who manages the 14.1billion trust, said he believes the award should be paid after it was agreed in 2018.

As one of Teslas longest-standing investors, it is a vote of confidence for Musk as he faces a potential backlash at the car companys annual meeting on June 13.

We agreed the remuneration because it introduced extremely stretching targets that would make a huge amount for shareholders if they were reached, Slater told the Financial Times.

In January, a Delaware court ruled Teslas board had not acted in investors interests when agreeing the deal.

Shareholders now vote again on the plan next month. Eight investors are calling for others to strike down the pay.
The co-founder of Hargreaves Lansdown last night said he was looking at all options after a shock foreign takeover bid threw the investment platforms future into doubt.

Peter Hargreaves said he was watching with interest after the board rejected a 4.67billion approach from a consortium including private equity group CVC and Abu Dhabi investors.

The tycoon, 77, who is no longer involved in the firms day-to-day running, owns a near-20 per cent stake worth just over 1billion.

Stake: Hargreaves Lansdown co-founder Peter Hargreaves (pictured) said he was 'watching with interest' after the board rejected a 4.67bn approach from a consortium of investors

Reports suggested Hargreaves was open to taking the firm private but he told the Mail: Thats a lie. I have never said that.

But he added: I am looking at all options. I am not really making any comment because I dont think there is enough information out there.

Asked whether Hargreaves Lansdown ought to engage with its takeover suitors, he said: That is not for me to say. The directors must make that decision not me.

The board said that it unanimously rejected the surprise proposal of 985p per share, stating it substantially undervalues the business.

Another London-listed company  shopping centre operator Capital & Regional  confirmed it had received a takeover proposal from South African competitor Vukile, while another rival Newriver was circling.

Shares in Hargreaves Lansdown, which was set up in 1981, rose 14.4 per cent, or 141p, to 1120p while Capital & Regional climbed 18.5 per cent, or 9.5p, to 61p.

The latest flurry takes the total value of bids made for UK companies so far this year to more than 80billion.

New figures from the investment firm Dealogic, shared with the Mail, suggest that there have now been 73billion completed or pending deals this year and 8.5billion in withdrawn or cancelled advances.

Among those targeted are packaging group DS Smith, telecoms testing company Spirent Communications and haulage firm Wincanton.

FTSE 250 cyber-security group Darktrace recently backed a 4.2billion takeover by US private equity firm Thoma Bravo.

But some companies, although targeted, have been putting up a fight.

Anglo American this week rejected its third bid from rival BHP worth 39billion, while Currys and Direct Line have both defended themselves from bids.

Rumours had swirled that Hargreaves Lansdown could be approached because of its weak share price.

Activist investor UK hedge fund Palliser Capital has called for Rio Tinto to abandon its primary London listing for Sydney, saying the miners dual corporate structure is a barrier to strategic plans, making it difficult to do major acquisitions.

Rio is the seventh-largest company in the FTSE 100, with a value of over 70billion.
Parents and grandparents in St Albans have lent their support to plans for the city to become Britain's first smartphone-free area for children aged under 14.

Some 20 headteachers in the Hertfordshire city have signed a letter insisting they want to change the 'normal' age that children are given high-tech devices.

They say parents could opt for a basic 'brick' which allows youngsters to contact their family when needed  but have encouraged them to hold off on smartphones which allow access to the internet, social media and an endless library of apps.

It comes amid fears over the impact smartphones have on the mental health and development of children, with some as young as seven years old now owning them and concerns that those who do have phones in class generally get lower grades.

The headteachers urged parents to resist pressure from their children to buy the devices, even though many schools in the city already have a no-phone policy.

Yesterday, MailOnline spoke to a series of mothers, fathers and grandparents in St Albans city centre, who were mostly positive about the idea.

** Is your area facing an under-14 smartphone ban? Email: tips@dailymail.com **

Grandparents Karen and Steve Mitchell, 64 and 65, said smartphones posed a danger  but it is a 'good idea' to have a basic phone at secondary school for contacting their parents if needed

Grandmother Sian Jay, 61, said in St Albans yesterday: 'I think it would be impressive to not let your kids have a phone until 14  but I do think it's good as I worry for children'

Mother Ariana Stanciu, 33, said: 'I've seen the letter and I completely agree. I don't think kids should go anywhere near a smartphone until at least the age of 14.

Smartphones 'expose children to negative risks': The full letter

This is the full letter sent by the St Albans Primary Schools Consortium: We understand the importance of being able to contact your child as they become more independent, walking to and from school, in order to give you peace of mind and for children to be able to call in emergencies. Childrens phones do not need to have access to the internet in order for you to keep them safe however. The use of smartphones is now a feature of daily life for most adults and over the last few years the age at which children are given their first smartphone has dropped significantly. We know that in our schools some children as young as Key Stage 1 have smartphones. Whilst smartphones can be a very helpful piece of technology for adults, they can equally expose children to a number of negative risks. They are highly addictive, with the lasting effects on young and developing brains being similar to that of gambling.

Smartphones have been linked to poor mental health, depression and low self-esteem, especially in young teenagers.

They expose children to harmful content including pornography, grooming, bullying and material that is not age appropriate.

By changing the way childrens brains develop and fundamentally affecting their ability to concentrate they reduce attention spans.

Smartphones rob children of their childhood. Time spent on a device reduces time spent playing, interacting and developing vital social skills. To show our professional support for this campaign, we encourage all parents to delay giving children a smartphone until they reach the age of 14, opting instead for a text/call phone alternative if necessary. As headteachers, we have committed to promoting our own schools as smart-phone free. We believe we can all work together across St Albans and join the growing movement across the country to change the normal age that children are given smartphones. However, to be successful, this movement relies on you, our childrens parents, to resist the pressure from your children and their peers and hold back on giving your children smartphones until they are 14. In this way you will be working together with a wide network of parents and schools to re-set the expectation and remove social peer pressure. Our childrens futures are so important, to you and to us. In a world where fast-changing technology is actually impacting the development of our childrens brains, it is up to us to stand up for them, and their futures. If not us, then who? Advertisement

'Nowadays, children aren't exploring the world outside of their phones. They're not using their brains  they're becoming less creative.

'You hear all the time about a change in behaviour among children who get abandoned in front of screens. They communicate less, they cooperate less, they can become more aggressive.

'And when kids get older and they're on social media, it can have a huge impact on their mental health. It's dangerous online. This is for their safety.'

Grandmother Sian Jay, 61, echoed these thoughts. She explained: 'I do think it's a case of the longer you can hold off with the phones, the better.

'I think it would be impressive to not let your kids have a phone until 14  but I do think it's good as I worry for children.

'You hear awful things about what children end up seeing online  and there's a lot of concern around social media and mental health.

'I also think that I have adult children and I see how phones affect them. So just imagine what it's like for children.'

Grandparents Karen and Steve Mitchell, 64 and 65, also feel smartphones posed a danger  but argue that it was important for kids to be able to contact their parents.

'We've always thought phones at secondary school as that's when kids start travelling to school by themselves or going out with friends,' Mr Mitchell said.

'But it's a good idea to have a basic phone for that at secondary school  to ring and say, 'Mum, I missed the bus.'

Ms Mitchell meanwhile mentioned the dangers of social media  but added that children who do not have smartphones may find themselves left out.

She explained: 'You do worry about the Internet and social media apps, that's a really big concern. But I also think there's so much peer pressure when you're that age.

'If all the kids have a phone, it's difficult for the ones who don't. I agree that no primary school child needs a phone of any kind. But maybe secondary school is the time.'

Parents Ash and Saln Khanam, 33 and 32, were particularly worried about the dangers of online bullying when it comes to phones  but admitted that it may be difficult to hold off giving children devices when they have become so embedded in people's everyday lives.

Mrs Khanam said: 'Bullying is a scary prospect as on social media people feel they can say whatever they like and that can be really harmful.

'Especially when kids start secondary school I think, as that's when you're figuring out your identity  and it's also when you're least likely to go to a parent or a teacher and say, 'Hey, this is happening to me'.

'I think if you're a parent that can pick your child up every day from school then it's good to hold off for as long as you can. But it depends on the child and the situation.'

But Mr Khanam thought that while the idea sounded good in practice, it may be difficult to follow through with in reality.

He said: 'The thing is, technology is taking over all of our lives. I think there's no stopping it. So you'll want to delay giving phones to your kids but the thing is, adults are using phones all the time.

St Albans is bidding to become Britain's first smartphone-free city for children aged under 14

'We're all on our phones all the time. It's the way things are and it's hard to control.'

Mrs Khanam thought a way around this might be to use parental controls or apps where you can check what your children are looking at online.

She said: 'I know it's a violation of privacy, but at the end of the day, this is our children's safety we're talking about.'

Nursery school teachers Chloe 25, and Karen, 55, who declined to give their surnames, also voiced their support for smartphone-free children.

Karen said: 'I think for younger children, it's such a huge distraction. It's a distraction from life and the real, outside world  and all the things we used to do as children.'

Chloe added: 'And for older children, there are a lot of dangers online. I understand that as a parent, you want to contact your kids  so I think a basic Nokia or something is a good idea.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, pictured in Westminster on May 16, has urged schools to crackdown on smartphone use by children

'But social media is such a dangerous place. There's so much pressure about how to live and so many threats.

'So I do think waiting until the legal age for social media  which I think is around 14  is definitely a good idea.'

It comes after a letter was sent to parents by the St Albans Primary School Consortium, which urged parents to wait until at least Year 9 before buying a smartphone for their children.

'We encourage all parents to delay giving children a smartphone until they reach the age of 14, opting instead for a text/call phone alternative if necessary,' it said.

'As head teachers we have committed to promoting our own schools as smartphone-free. We believe we can all work together across St Albans and join the growing movement across the country to change the 'normal' age that children are given smartphones.'

The consortium's letter, which was signed by 20 of the 24 primary school headteachers in St Albans, said it was supporting the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign which has gained traction in recent months.

Justine Elbourne-Cload, executive head of Cunningham Hill Schools and chair of the consortium, said that there are 'lots of issues' of children joining WhatsApp groups that are then bombarding them with inappropriate material.

She told The Times: 'There was a WhatsApp group that started in schools and then became a wider WhatsApp group and there was pornography. Somebody had joined from TikTok and was sending all sorts of dodgy images.'

The school group said that the connectivity of these devices means that there is little chance for children to break away from their peers, opening them up to the dual threats of addiction and bullying.

Ms Elbourne-Cload said she hopes that the movement will work to the extent that 'it would be a shock to see a child under the age of 11... with a smartphone'.

She said: 'It is far easier if it is the general norm that no children or very few children have smartphones. If the norm is they will walk around with old Nokia bricks, that's what everyone will have and that will be fine. Because it always was fine. We're just trying to roll back that age.'

She added that parents had been 'overwhelmingly positive' about the idea and 'they would love the fact that it was taken out of their hands'.

There have been concerns raised about the impact such a policy could have on secondary school students who use their smartphones to access homework and have to take buses that only allow tickets to be used via an app.

The campaign against smartphones in schools has gathered pace in recent months, with many schools putting in place no-mobile policies in the classroom.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan unveiled new guidance earlier this year that she said could 'change the norms' of children using mobiles at school as part of a crackdown on the devices.

It set out four options for 'bans', including insisting devices are left at home, teachers collecting them every morning, or having to keep them out of sight in bags.

There are fears over the impact smartphones have on children's mental health (stock image)

Heads were also urged to include devices as items that can be searched for under behaviour policies.

Ms Keegan said she wanted to give teachers the tools to 'take action to help improve behaviour and to allow them to do what they do best  teach'.

In a round of interviews, Ms Keegan told GB News: 'Many of the ones who have a ban today will say you can't take your phone out your bag, and if you take your phone out of your bag, then you'll get the phone confiscated and you'll get detention.

'Sometimes that is effective. What we're trying to do is change the norm in our schools, that phones are not acceptable in our schools. Some other countries have already done this, quite a few countries have already done this.'

She added: 'There's been some calls recently for social media to be banned for younger people, for smartphones to be banned for younger people. This is a step that I can take, which is to set the social norm that phones are banned in schools.

'People will have a conversation, between parents and children as well, to say, 'look, if your school says it's no good for you in the day, then obviously it's right to limit it', though. That's something that I hope will just set new norms really.'

The benefits of having 'effective bans' are stark according to one think-tank which claimed that students achieve higher grades when smartphones are forbidden in class.

A report by Policy Exchange found that there was a 'clear correlation' between schools with an effective phone ban and academic performance.

From this, the think-tank recommend that headteachers 'implement effective bans on mobile phones', which would see the devices 'handed in or stored in lockers' for the duration of the school day.

Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered transgender teenager Brianna Ghey, has also been campaigning to restrict phone use among teenagers.

Her daughter, Brianna, 16, was murdered by two teenagers from her school, who plotted her death over vile messages exchanged on WhatsApp and Snapchat.

Scarlett Jenkinson, who was sentenced to a minimum term of 22 years imprisonment for Brianna's murder, had downloaded a special browser to watch real-life torture and murder on the dark web.

Ms Ghey, 37, has campaigned for mobiles phones for those under 16 without access to social media - an idea backed by the Children's Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza.

She had a video meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan in February to discuss her campaigns.

Speaking about the meeting, Ms Ghey said: 'Approaching the meeting as both a parent and the Prime Minister, Rishi listened to my thoughts around both mindfulness in schools and concerns over mobile phone safety for our children.

'The Prime Minister showed his concerns and support for many of the points raised, making a real commitment in supporting parents and taking suggestions on board around the dangers and issues faced by our young people.

'It was an encouraging start and I hope to continue to work with Rishi, Michelle and other leaders across Government to make the world a safer, more empathetic and resilient place.'

** Is your area facing an under-14 smartphone ban? Email: tips@dailymail.com **
A retired engineer died after a routine scan following a 17-minute delay as a lifesaving hospital crash team was delayed by a medic's poor command of English, an inquest heard today.

Bowel cancer survivor David Horsman, 65, had previously experienced 'no reaction whatsoever' while undergoing annual CT scans to check the disease had not returned, his widow Jane told the hearing.

In March 2022 he was invited to a mobile scanning unit in the car park of Royal Bolton Hospital, operated by a private firm as part of efforts to tackle post-Covid backlogs.

Tragically the 'proud grandad'  an internationally renowned expert in overhead power networks - went into anaphylactic shock after being injected with contrast dye used to highlight organs during the scan.

Radiographer Idongesit Okon  who had flown in from Nigeria weeks earlier and had never used a defibrillator before  frantically tried to raise help from the hospital switchboard as Mr Horsman began 'foaming at the mouth'.

Retired engineer David Horsman, 65, died following a routine scan following a 17-minute delay at Royal Bolton Hospital, an inquest has been told

Diagnostic radiographer Idongesit Okon, who was carrying out the scan, told the hearing at Bolton Coroner's Court that he had 'difficulty understanding' when talking to an operator

David Horsman had been invited in March 2022 to a mobile scanning unit at Royal Bolton Hospital (pictured) operated by a private firm as part of efforts to tackle post-Covid backlogs

Today's inquest heard that Mr Okon admitted he and the operator 'were having difficulty understanding each other'.

Meanwhile, she complained that the medic 'didn't speak much English' and that she wondered if it had been a hoax call.

In the first of a series of calls played to the hearing in Bolton, Mr Okon  speaking in heavily accented English - told the operator: 'Yeah, please we have an emergency at the CT van, the patient reacted to contrast, please.'

The operator wrongly believed that Mr Okon was calling about an emergency on the children's ward, the inquest heard.

With no sign of the crash team, Mr Okon rang three more times - at one stage being told he needed to call an ambulance as the scanner was outside the hospital.

A healthcare assistant tried to restart Mr Horsman's heart using the scanning unit's defibrillator, only to find it didn't work, the hearing was told.

Eventually the crash team was seen walking outside the hospital building, starting work on Mr Horsman 17 minutes after the alarm had been raised.

He was placed in an induced coma but died the following day after suffering multiple organ failure.

The inquest heard Mr Okon had flown in from Nigeria  where he qualified as a radiographer in 2014  just two months before Mr Horsman's death.

His job  which he still holds - involves seeing patients at a mobile scanner operated by InHealth, which describes itself as 'the UK's largest specialist provider of diagnostic and healthcare solutions'.

Mr Okon had done online training after coming to the UK but had yet to attend a face-to-face session and had never used a defibrillator, he said.

He told the hearing that after the scan finished at 3.48pm, Mr Horsman complained of feeling 'warm'.

Initially he believed it was a 'mild reaction', but after he began deteriorating he made his first call to the hospital switchboard at 3.58pm.

Asked by coroner John Pollard why he did not read from a pre-prepared script giving the unit's location, Mr Okon said he had been feeling 'anxious' and 'thrown off balance'.

Asked by Mr Pollard why he did not attempt to use the defibrillator nor give Mr Horsman oxygen, the radiographer blamed the 'tension' of the moment.

Mr Okon said it finally 'dawned on me' that the crash team had been sent to the wrong place and tried to pass on 'landmarks' to help them locate the scanning van.

'Do you think you and the operator were having difficulty understanding each other?' Mr Pollard asked.

'From my side, yeah,' he replied.

In an exchange with the switchboard operator played to the inquest as she realises the patient is not on the children's ward, she can be heard telling Mr Okon he needs to be 'precise'.

Later she could be heard telling the ambulance handler that Mr Okon 'doesn't understand much English' and 'didn't speak much English'.

The crash team finally entered the van at 4.15pm, the hearing was told, but Mr Horsman died without regaining consciousness.

As well as travelling the world designing overhead power networks during a 45-year career, Mr Horsman had competed around the country with his team of springer spaniel gundogs, the inquest heard.

Following successful surgery for bowel cancer diagnosed shortly after he retired in 2019, he was required to attend annual CT scans.

On Sunday March 27, 2022  Mother's Day - the father-of-two walked his dogs and painted a fence before driving to Royal Bolton Hospital, the hearing was told.

Due to Covid restrictions on visiting, Jane - his wife of 25 years - stayed at their home in Westhoughton, packing for an upcoming holiday.

The inquest in David Horsman's death is being held at Bolton coroner's court (pictured)

But several hours after she had been expecting him home, she said a doctor called to say Mr Horsman had 'become poorly' and they had almost 'lost him'.

'Panicking,' Mrs Horsman rushed to hospital where she was told he had been placed in an induced coma and that medics believed the dye was to blame.

'This is what I still can't understand,' she told the hearing.

'He'd been fine, every time he'd had the scan, there's been no reaction whatsoever.'

To compound her shock, she was told her husband had been marked 'do not resuscitate' as his heart was too weak.

Initially, Mrs Horsman said she was 'confident' that he would pull through 'because he beat the cancer'.

'He was strong-willed as well as a strong man,' she added.

But she said the reality became clear when she saw him unconscious in intensive care.

Following his death, she was given his belongings in two black bags and went home alone, she said.

Mrs Horsman said she later learned that a man had died in Blackburn in similar circumstances, while a woman fell ill at the unit where her husband was scanned a week later, but survived.

Mr Horsman's cause of death was given as anaphylactic shock, with heart disease a contributing factor.

At the outset of the hearing at Bolton coroner's court, Manchester West assistant coroner Mr Pollard described Mr Horsman's death as 'strange, sad and totally unexpected'.

'He went off to hospital to have one of his annual scans following successful cancer treatment,' he added.

'He then apparently had some form of reaction to the contrast medium while he was being scanned. That led to him having anaphylactic shock which led to him dying.'

The hearing continues.
Thousands are descending on The Bronx for Donald Trump's historic rally on Thursday night as he bids to do what most think is impossible: Flip New York Republican for the first time since 1984.

The former president's faithful fans braved heavy rain too at Crotona Park, hours before he was due to take the stage in the deep-blue district Joe Biden won with more than 80 percent of the vote in 2020.

Supporters lined up and listened to MAGA rappers, showed off tattoos paying tribute to the GOP leader and insisted he can emulate Ronald Reagan by taking victory in the Empire State.

Thousands are descending on The Bronx for Donald Trump's historic rally on Thursday night as he bids to do what most think is impossible: Flip New York Republican for the first time since 1984

Trump, 77, is the first Republican to visit the the area for a campaign event in 40 years and is looking to woo black and Hispanic voters away from Biden.

In the event's announcement, his campaign said the visit will highlight Biden's 'disastrous' record on the economy and surge in violent crime.

The ex-president's chances of winning New York are extremely slim for Trump and an even greater stretch in the Bronx.

But some locals are furious at Biden and his handling of the economy and are happy to see Trump visit.

A MAGA fan shows off his neck tattoo as he awaits the arrival of the former president

Trump, 77, is the first Republican to visit the the area for a campaign event in 40 years and is looking to woo black and Hispanic voters away from Biden

A shirtless Trump supporter with jeans, a flag and a Trump license plate walks around outside the rally

MAGA fans cheer as they await the arrival of the former president

A campaign sign at the site of Trump's rally declares New York is 'Trump Country'

A banner in support of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is set up before a campaign rally in the Bronx

New Yorkers line up in Crotona Park in the South Bronx ahead of Donald Trump's rally on Thursday night

Mel Easy of the Bronx, wearing his MAGA hat, told DailyMail.com Trump can 'absolutely' win the state.

Tatiana Ibrahim from Carmel, New York, said: 'Because Trump is honest, devoted, godly, honest and he cares about the American people.

'Everything he's doing is for we the people, not for himself.... Trump loves the people of America.'

Biden beat Trump in the Empire State by double-digits in 2020 with more than 60 percent of the vote to Trump's less than 38 percent.

Trump won less than 10 percent of the Bronx in 2016. In 2020, he won just 16 percent of the borough against Biden.

Tina Forte wearing a Trump cowboy hat a patriotic top in the South Bronx. The Republican is running against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in NY-14

Rappers Trump Latinos and Forgiato Blow perform ahead of the Trump rally

Forgiato Blow shows off his leg tattoo as he joins the crowd before the event on Thursday

A member of the MAGA fan army shows off a pair of gold sneakers outside of the rally

No Republican presidential candidate has won New York state in the presidential election since Reagan in 1984.

Trump has been in New York for his criminal trial as he faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records over the hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Outside the courthouse, he has made several stops throughout the city including visiting a firehouse, construction site and a bodega.

Lines form to get into the rally. Trump believes he can do what only Ronald Reagan has done in recent history

Supporters of the Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gather for a campaign rally in the Bronx borough of New York

People with Dominican Republic and US flags chant while waiting in line to attend a rally for former US President Donald Trump at Crotona Park in the Bronx borough of New York

Ahead of the rally in the Bronx, Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres who represents the districts slammed the ex-president visiting his neighborhood.

'It's obvious to all of us that his priority is not the people of the Bronx,' Torres said on MSNBC. 'His priority is a self-pardon and self-preservation.'

'His presidency was a catastrophe for the Bronx, his mismanagement of COVID left a death toll of more than 7,000 in the Bronx which is greater than the combined death count of Pearl Harbor and 9/11.'

MAGA fans take selfie with George Santos, the former Republican congressman expelled from Congress for lying over swathes of his resume

Santos smiles with one of Trump's fans. He is still a favorite of the MAGA army despite a short career in Congress mired in Scandal

Torres said instead of holding a rally he should be 'apologizing for the damage he's done.'

The congressman said he's confident the people of the Bronx are not going to 'buy the snake oil he's selling.'

On Thursday morning, the region was pummeled by thunderstorms. Progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reposted a video of the torrential downpour soaking the location of the Trump rally with the caption 'God is good.'

While conditions are expected to improve later, the park could be damp and muddy for those attending.

A New York member of the MAGA faithful wears a shirt with a version of Trump's mugshot

Another man using Donald Trump's mugshot as part of his attire prepares for the Bronx rally

NYPD sets up on the outskirts of the rally in the deep-blue Bronx which kicks off Thursday night

Meanwhile, the Biden campaign on Thursday released a 30 second ad warning Trump poses a 'dire threat to black America.'

The ad highlights Trump calling for the execution of the Central Park Five. The five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem were wrongfully convicted for the brutal assault of a white woman in New York's Central Park in 1989. Their convictions were vacated in 2002.

A Trump supporter sits outside a merchandise stand in an RV ahead of the campaign rally

2024 vision is clear: A Trump fan shows off her MAGA sunglasses in Crotona Park in the Bronx

Donald Trump is set to hold a campaign event in the Bronx on Thursday. He is the first Republican presidential candidate to campaign in the borough since Reagan

It began airing digitally ahead of Trump's visit targeting Bronx and New York zip codes. The campaign also is airing the ad in battleground states.

One of the Central Park five is now a New York City Councilman. He blasted Trump on Thursday.

'During that dark period, Donald Trump took out full-page ads in New York City newspapers calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty. He pointed his finger at us, calling for our execution without a shred of evidence,' Yusef Salaam said in a statement.

"It's obvious to all of us that [Trump's] priority is not the people of the Bronx... His presidency was a catastrophe for the Bronx... Instead of holding a rally in Crotona Park, he should be apologizing for the damage he's done."



 @RepRitchie on Trump's rally in the Bronx pic.twitter.com/N3Knh0MB3j  Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) May 23, 2024

The Biden campaign released a 30 second political ad on Thursday calling Trump a dire threat to Black America. The ad highlighted Trump calling for the death penalty for the Central Park Five. It began airing in New York ahead of Trump's visit as well as battleground states

'Unfortunately, this personal experience is not just a chapter of my life but a stark illustration of the kind of leader Donald Trump isa man who has consistently disrespected and dehumanized our community,' Salaam added while urging black and Latino communities not to sit out the election.

In the Bronx, more than 28 percent of the population identified as black and more than 56 identified as Hispanic in 2022.

Reagan is the last Republican presidential candidate to hold a campaign event in the South Bronx. He visited the borough when he ran against President Jimmy Carter in the summer of 1980.

He gave remarks in front of a vacant lot on Charlotte Street, the same place Carter had visited in 1977 and vowed to make improvements, but little had change since then.

Ronald Reagan during his visit to the South Bronx in 1980 giving remarks in front of a sign that said 'decay.' The Republican presidential candidate went to Charlotte Street, the exact spot where President Carter had visited years earlier. It was still lined with vacant lots and rubble

President Reagan was the last Republican presidential candidate to campaign in the Bronx. He was also the last Republican to win the state of New York.

President Jimmy Carter in the South Bronx on October 5, 1977 as they toured one of the city's most ravaged areas.

Reagan's visit was met with some protests. Demonstrators behind barricades across the street shouted 'you ain't going to do nothing' and 'go back to California.'

During his 1977 visit, Carter's motorcade drove past blocks of burned-out buildings and vacant lots. Twice he got out of his motorcade to chat with residents and praised the spirit and hope of the people.

Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton both visited the borough as well. President George W Bush threw out the first pitch during the World Series only weeks after the attack on 9/11.
House Republicans set up with a clash with the Washington, D.C. city council when they voted to overturn a new law that allows non-citizens to vote in local elections that was supported even by 52 Democrats.

The bill, which passed 262-143, would ban non-citizens from voting in the nation's capital of Washington, D.C., after it was revealed that nearly 500 are signed up to do just that.

Speaker Mike Johnson warned in a news conference on Wednesday that if the voting bill doesn't pass it'll be 'proof positive' that there are 'some Democrats who want illegal aliens deciding elections.'

'It's going to be clear, they don't want Americans deciding American elections,' he went on.

The legislation is almost certain to die in the Democrat-controlled Senate. It comes as Republicans make a larger push to enforce restrictions on non-citizen voting at the federal level.

D.C. Board of Elections Chair Gary Thompson revealed earlier this month that there are 489 non-citizen registered voters in the district.

House Republicans will vote on legislation to ban non-citizens from voting in the nation's capital on Thursday after it was revealed that some 500 are on Washington, D.C.'s voter rolls

The D.C. City Council amended its code in 2023 to allow non-citizen voting. It went a step further than other jurisdictions by allowing not just non-citizens but those who are here illegally to participate in local elections.

Non-citizens are banned from voting in federal elections under federal law.

D.C. residents were already allowed to vote while they are incarcerated, along imprisoned felons of Maine and Vermont.

Republicans questioned how elections officials would be able to differentiate between non-citizen voters and others and make sure non-citizen voters only got a ballot for local elections.

'Our system will also easily generate a unique ballot for a non-citizen, excluding the presence of any federal contests. This is much like ensuring that a ballot for someone voting in the Republican primary does not include Democrat contests, and vice-versa,' Thompson ensured.

'You know, why should somebody at the Russian embassy be able to vote in elections here in the United States of America? Yet that is what is allowed today,' Majority Leader Steve Scalise said in a news conference on Wednesday.

'They shouldn't be able, as a citizen of China, be able to vote in America's elections, for goodness sake.'

Foreign nationals can only vote in local elections if they renounce their right to vote in their home country.

Rep. Eleanor Holmes-Norton, D.C.'s non-voting delegate in Congress, slammed the bill ahead of the vote: 'D.C. laws are matters for the duly elected D.C. Council and mayor, not unaccountable members of Congress who do not represent D.C. residents. The almost 700,000 D.C. residents are worthy and capable of governing their own local affairs.'

Republicans have in recent weeks given more vocal credence to the Great Replacement Theory - that Democrats embrace illegal immigrants to dilute the voting power of U.S. citizens and help them in the census.

'Democrats here in Washington wants illegal aliens in our country. Why? So they can become voters, and they can affect the outcome of the census and security to affect reapportionment of Congress,' Johnson told reporters this week.

The bills come as Republicans make a larger push for legislation to enforce restrictions on non-citizen voting at the federal level.

Federal law prohibits requiring documentary proof of citizenship in elections. Arizona requires it for state elections.

The SAVE Act, authored by Rep. Chip Roy and being pushed by Johnson and former President Donald Trump, aims to force election officials to verify citizenship in elections. It's not yet clear when it will come up for a vote.

Johnson, speaking alongside Trump world heavyweights Stephen Miller and Hogan Gidley and Roy last week, did not give a full accounting of how many non-citizens have voted in elections, but warned the number could be 'dangerously high.'

Republicans have in recent days given more vocal credence to the Great Replacement Theory - that Democrats embrace illegal immigrants to dilute the voting power of U.S. citizens and help them in the census

'We all know, intuitively, that a lot of illegals are voting in federal elections. But it's not been something that is easily provable. We don't have that number. This legislation will allow us to do exactly that.'

Non-citizens who vote in federal and state elections are already breaking the law and putting themselves at risk of jail or deportation.

A small handful of municipalities in California, Maryland and Vermont allow illegal immigrants to vote in local elections.

'If a nefarious actor wants to intervene in our elections, all they have to do is check a box on a form and sign their name. That's it. That's all that's required,' Johnson said.

Miller, the architect of Trump's immigration policy, called the bill the 'most important vote that most members of Congress take in their entire careers.'

'If this bill does not become law then Joe Biden and Democrats will have engineered, one of the greatest interferences in any democratic nation in the history of the world.'

The bill would aim to close any loopholes that allow people to register to vote without proof of US citizenship or photo ID, require all 50 states to remove any unlawful immigrants from their voter rolls, add penalties of up to five years in prison for election officials who register non-citizens to vote and require proof of citizenship for those who vote overseas.

There's little evidence that non-citizen voting is impacting election outcomes, and unlawful immigrants often steer clear of giving out personal information for fear or being caught by immigration authorities.

It is possible to vote illegally as an undocumented immigrant, though.

Most voting ballots require some kind of proof of identity to register to vote, such as a driver's license. Not all of those proofs of ID require citizenship - the bill would specifically require ID requirements like passports or birth certificates.

A sampling from 2002 to 2022 of over 1 billion ballots found fewer than 100 cases of voter fraud.
The daughter of Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann made a rare sighting as she turned up at the family's Massapequa Park home after cops launched a new raid earlier this week.

Victoria Heuermann, 27, was seen getting out of the vehicle of attorney Robert Macedonio, who is representing her mother, Asa Ellerup, and estranged wife of Rex Heuermann, around 1pm on Wednesday afternoon.

Dressed in pink pants and a beige cardigan, with her strawberry blonde hair swept up in a ponytail, Victoria appeared somber as Macedonio escorted her to her car that was parked in front of one of the neighbor's houses down the block.

The street has been blocked off by Suffolk County PD and NYS Trooper since a new search warrant was executed on Monday.

Victoria quickly drove off. It was unclear where she was going.

Attorney Robert Macedonio is pictured walking with Victoria Heuermann, 27, to her car that was parked in front of one of the neighbor's houses down the block from her home

Victoria's street has been blocked off by police since Monday

According to the attorney, Victoria had been in the house on Monday when police arrived to execute the warrant.

'They knocked on the door everything was very peaceful, no resistance, fully cooperative. They asked her to leave so they can execute the search warrant,' he said.

'We had her taken to a location that was safe for her, and we returned to pick up the car today.'

After Victoria drove off, Macedonio stayed behind and spoke to the news crews that have been stationed outside the home since Monday.

Standing outside not too far from the Heuermann's home, Macedonio said they were there to pick up her vehicle that was left there the other morning.

'We have a place to stay while the police are executing the search warrant,' he said. 'I am sure when they get it all done they will return back to the residence.'

He said, Victoria was 'doing okay,' but said 'the family was surprised,' another search was taking place.

'It was such an extensive search done 10 months ago because I cant imagine what was missed and left behind.'

He also said that he had not received a copy of the warrant.

The young woman did not linger but got into her car, and quickly drove off. It is unclear where she was heading

'We are anticipating that and looking forward to going through the affidavit to see what probable cause was obtained to get back into the residence,' he said.

As of Wednesday afternoons, crews were still removing boxes and storage containers out of the home. Household items, furniture were some of the items being loaded into a white box truck.

Macedonio said, he was unable to comment, nor had 'any idea' on any of the items that were being taken from the property.

During the ordeal, he said that the family has had 'post traumatic stress.'

'This family has been through something unimaginable, he said.

'Asa, Christopher and Victoria are collateral damage. Their lives have been upside down, destroyed, personal property taken obviously for legal purposes, but they dont understand that. They cant understand that. Never could have anticipated this.'

He added: 'It has become as a complete shock last year and this is a complete shock.'

He confirmed that when the warrant served his client was in South Carolina, a 'previously planned trip to South Carolina.'

'They have property in South Carolina nothing to do with the search warrant,' he said.

He added she 'wasnt asked to leave they knew she was out of town.'

'The police obtained their probable cause and went and searched. It had nothing to do with Asa being out of town,' said.

Attorney Robert Macedonio confirmed that when the warrant served his client was in South Carolina, a 'previously planned trip to South Carolina'

He also said, they did not go down and get her in South Carolina, nor does he anticipate anything of that happening.

Before, he ended his talk, he continued to defend Asa and her children.

'The DA has always been clear - each alleged homicide it has been emphatically stated by the DAs office and all investigators that Asa and the children were out of the jurisdiction. There is no connection to any of these homicides to Asa, Victoria and Christopher.

He added, 'you have to realize Victoria was 10, 11 or 12 years old when these crimes were committed.'

'There is no allegation she was even remotely involved and Asa has been out of the jurisdiction in Islip, New Jersey, South Carolina, Maryland, on each homicide that was allegedly committed,' he said in part.

He further stated: 'She was not here.'

When someone asked if she had been in touch with her ex, he said, 'the only way she can get contact with Rex, is if Rex calls out.'

Asa's attorney helps escort her daughter, Victoria to her vehicle Wednesday afternoon

Investigators were searching the accused's home on Wednesday for third day as they hunt for clues to lock him up.

White tents were erected in the driverway of Heuermann's Massapequa Park home with a Suffolk County command center vehicle stationed.

Heuermann, 60, is awaiting a murder trial accused of killing four women whose bodies were found in burlap on a stretch of Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach.

Vess Mitev, the lawyer representing Heuermann's children, told DailyMail.com on Tuesday, that family was just making their home more comfortable before the new search warrant was executed the day prior.

'The family had just ironically, finished putting together the last touches on sort of completing their living room - with no small degree of irony, no sooner were they done cobbling together the pieces of their life inside the home - that this has occurred,' he said.

At the time, Mitev was unable to disclose if Asa and the children knew ahead of time about the search.

He said they are 'understandably in some degree of turmoil because that's just the 'byproduct of what is going on'.

Investigators and state police swarmed the Massapequa Park home of alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann (pictured in court in February) with a new search warrant

White tents are erected outside the Massapequa Park home on First Avenue, with NYS Troopers blocking off the street

On Monday, the medical examiner arrived at the home and saw large evidenced bags being carried out

A backpack is carried outside by police and loaded into a van

'My clients have a very deep visceral chagrin in any police presence in their house, in their home, and especially where we are almost a year later,' he said.

'Their lives are once again upended, even though by all accounts this time around, it's much more controlled chaos, but chaos nonetheless.'

Since the police raid that began Monday, dozens of items were being taken from inside the house and the backyard.

A medical examiner arrived at the house Monday afternoon, and saw large evidenced bags being carried out.

Their presence at the home could indicate Heuermann was also being investigated for even more murders.

The new search of Heuermann's home was after police scoured a shock new location in the case in woods near Manorville, about 40 miles away, last month.

Days later, Gilgo Beach murders investigators used K-9 units to search an area in North Sea, Long Island, where a woman's body was found in 1993.

Their search was in the area were Sandra Costilla's body was found three decades ago in a murder case that remains unsolved.

What connection either search has to this week's search of Heuermann's house was unclear and police would not comment.

Retired NYPD Sergeant Joseph Giacalone told NewsNation that the size of the search, and the presence of the medical examiner could mean Heuermann was being investigated for deaths beyond the Gilgo Beach murders.

'Since they already did this 10 months ago, they had to be able to prove to a judge that they had probable cause to go in there,' he said.

'The medical examiner showing up is really interesting.

'If we see the forensic anthropologist show up, that would be even more interesting and a bit of an eye-opener because they are the doctors that go out and determine what is a human bone or what is an animal bone.'

Approximately., 15 detectives from the Suffolk County PD entered the property moving out boxes and bags which they loaded into a white box truck (left)

A new search warrant was executed at the home and dozens of items were being taken from inside the house and the backyard

Aerial view shows police evidence fans parked outside the house and a tent outside

On Tuesday next door neighbor, Etienne de Villiers, who has been living next door to the Heuermann household for almost 30 years spoke to news crews.

He recalled last July, the chaos that took place on the block when Heuermann was first arrested.

He said that he knocked on their door and tried to speak with Ellerup.

'I wanted to see if they needed anything because I like the kid. She kind of blew me off pretty bad,' he said. Ellerup later apologized.

He said that he was surprised when he saw the police again early Monday morning outside his home, and remembered the search that took place last summer.

'Asa and Chris told him that they tore the place apart the first time - that there was no stone unturned,' he said.

'In my opinion, they didn't find anything the first time I really don't know what they can possibly find this time,' he said.

When asked if he ever thought he would be living next to an alleged serial killer Villiers replied: 'Life has strange curves. Right?'.

When asked if they think they got the right guy. He responded: 'I don't know. I have never seen Rex as a violent person. For the sake of the kids, I hope they don't have the right guy.

'I just hope they catch the right person period.'

Ellerup, and their children, Victoria Heuermann, 26, and Christoper Sheridan 33, were not home at the time.

Heuermann was arrested in July and initially charged with killing Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, and Amber Lynn Costello 27 in 2010 and 2011.

In February, he was also charged with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25.

Heuermann pleaded not guilty to all counts and remains in jail awaiting trial.

The women were among 11 found on the desolate stretch of coastline close to Heuermann's Long Island Home between 2010 and 2011.

All of the victims worked as escorts who advertised themselves on Craigslist.

According to Fox News, Heurmann's family held onto an album of crime scene photos taken by California detective Jack Huddleston and was allegedly spotted on a kitchen table in the home, according to a source with knowledge of the incident.

The book, Death Scenes: A Homicide Detective's Scrapbook, is a collection of grim photos.

Detectives cataloged the album book during the initial search of Heuermann's home and returned it to his family, the source told Fox.

Investigators said Heuermann frequently searched the internet for gruesome images.

Ellerup's lawyer, Robert Macedonio, told the news outlet he had no knowledge of the book.

It was not clear at this time what prompted the search of the Long Island property or what officials were looking for.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office declined to comment other than to say 'the work of the Gilgo Beach Homicide Task Force is continuing their investigation'.
Portland's progressive District Attorney Mike Schmidt has conceded victory to a tough-on-crime challenger after his policies were blamed for ruining the city.

Schmidt, who is the prosecutor for Multnomah County, which covers the Oregon city, conceded the race to Nathan Vasquez shortly after 7pm ET Wednesday.

Voter counts are ongoing, but Vasquez has secured around 54 percent of votes, with Schmidt trailing well behind on 45 percent.

The Soros-backed progressive was elected with 77 percent of the vote in 2020 after touting a host of 'equity'-focused policies, in a county that has not voted for a Republican president since 1960.

Vasquez also works as a prosecutor for Multnomah County, but decided to stand against his boss after accusing him of ruining the city.

Portland DA Mike Schmidt promised 'equity focused' policies after his 2020 election

Challenger Nathan Vasquez has unseated him after promising a tough on crime approach

Schmidt released the following statement: 'It is looking as if I will not be serving another four years as Multnomah County District Attorney.

'I have called Nathan Vasquez to congratulate him on his victory. While we do not always see eye to eye, I am committed to a smooth transition.

'Thank you to this amazing community for the support they have shown for this campaign. And thank you for the opportunity to serve these past four years. It is an honor I will cherish for a lifetime.'

Schmidt's loss means he has now become of the highest profile casualties of a backlash to liberal DA's across the country after a vicious election battle against one of his own prosecutors.

'He set the bar incredibly low for me, and when I come into office, it will literally be me trying not to trip over that bar,' Vasquez said.

Schmidt was elected May 2020 just before the death of George Floyd and the riots that pulverized cities across the country.

He vowed not to prosecute rioters unless there was evidence of 'deliberate property damage, theft, or threat of force, and of 550 cases referred by police just 47 went to trial.

Oregon became the first state to decriminalize possession of all hard drugs in 2020 and Schmidt raced to implement the measure several months before it took effect statewide.

But fatal opioid overdoses surged from 280 in 2019, to 628 in just the first six months of last year as nearly 800 homeless encampments and open-air drug markets sprang up in the city center.

More than 2,600 businesses had fled the city center by September 2022 as shoppers avoided downtown areas and retail theft began to spiral.

The city council voted to slash $15 million from the police budget in 2020 in response to the defund the police movement.

But homicides jumped from 57 to a record 96 in Schmidt's first two years in office.

'What I hear when I'm knocking on doors, is 'Hey, I consider myself very liberal but this is out of step  we're not getting served well',' Vasquez told Politico.

Drugs deaths in Portland surged from 280 in 2019, to 628 in just the first six months of last year

Homelessness jumped by 65 percent to more than 6,300 from 2015 to 2023

Schmidt vowed not to prosecute rioters unless there was evidence of 'deliberate property damage, theft, or threat of force, and of 550 cases referred by police just 47 went to trial

'People definitely want public safety. It doesn't mean people are wholly abandoning the idea of criminal justice reform. They just want it delivered in a pragmatic, practical way.

'It's pretty clear I'm the only candidate in this race who is consistently in the office prosecuting serious cases, standing up for victims, and providing the present, dedicated leadership that my fellow prosecutors need day in and day out.'

Vasquez said he was 'optimistic and very hopeful' as the results started to come in with his rival losing ground across the city to the shock of some observers.

'There's this dynamic that's playing out in Portland where I think probably the most vocal, most politically active, where a lot of opinion leaders live isn't reflective of where the overall sort of voters in the community are in terms of public safety and crime, drug use, homelessness,' John Horvick of polling firm DHM Research told Oregon Live.

Politics professor Todd Lochner said the same pattern was likely to play out across the country.

'Beginning in about 2020, you see this rise of the progressive prosecutor, but some of those candidates were essentially replaced or recalled,' he told the Free Press.

Several big-name employers, including Umpqua Bank, have closed amid the mass exodus, carried out by owners who have taken issue with the rising crime levels - and the city's failure to address it

'I think what's going on now in the DA's race has something to do with this backlash to what is perceived, correctly or incorrectly, as prosecutors who are not as zealous in convicting people as some might prefer.

'Generally speaking, tough on crime sells well.

'Most voters routinely say that crime is important to them. We know that homelessness is a very important issue.

'And I would expect that if people perceive those problems are not materially getting better, then they would vote for the challenger under the premise that, well, let's just let someone else give it a try.'
An Aussie passenger aboard the horrifying, turbulence-hit Singapore Airlines flight has revealed it was the 'most traumatising experience' he and his new wife had ever experienced.

Ali Buhari was among the almost 60 Australians on-board flight SQ321 from London to Singapore on Tuesday when the plane suddenly plunged more than 6,000 feet in just five minutes.

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was travelling near the Gulf of Martabar, off the coast of Myanmar, when it struck an air pocket which caused wild turbulence.

Mr Buhari, who was travelling home from his honeymoon with his wife, said the cabin became a scene of bloody chaos as other passengers were flung from their seats.

A passenger on the Singapore Airlines flight that suddenly dropped during wild turbulence on Tuesday, Ali Buhari (pictured), said it was the 'most traumatising' experience of his life

Mr Buhari said he and his wife are still recovering from the shock of the experience.

'We were going ok... we're still quite shook from the whole experience, it was probably the most traumatising experience my wife and I have ever experienced.

'We didn't really hear or feel anything right before the plane went through that three second freefall,' he told Sunrise on Thursday morning.

'There was no pre indicators at all ... It was just even more of a shock when it did happen, it threw everyone in the plane completely off.'

He and many others 'temporarily blacked out' during the freefall and only realised the damage the drop caused after 'coming back into their senses'.

'I saw ... a fellow who was sitting right in front of me, he's full on his side in the aisle,' Mr Buhari said.

'(There were) people are all over the place. There's blood on the ceiling ... a lot of the oxygen masks have come down as well.'

While other passengers were bleeding and had other injuries, the newlyweds were luckily unscathed during the incident as they both had their seatbelts on.

'I myself usually don't have my belt on when I go on flights once the seatbelt lights off, but just by chance, this time I just had it on,' he said.

'I'm really lucky 'cause it did save us.'

The flight from London to Singapore plunged more than 6,000 feet in just five minutes as it crossed the Gulf of Martabar off the coast of Myanmar (pictured, the cabin after the plummet)

A British grandfather died of a suspected heart attack while a number of passengers and cabin crew were injured during the turbulence (pictured) as the seatbelt sign was off at the time

British grandfather, Geoff Kitchen, 73, suffered a suspected heart attack shortly after the sudden descent and died on the flight.

He was sitting next to his wife, Linda, who suffered severe spinal injuries during the freefall and is currently in hospital.

Experienced pilot and flight simulator instructor for Qantas, David Evans, said the particular piece of airspace 'is fairly notorious' among airlines for its unpredictable weather.

'That bit of airspace does incorporate a lot of weather, traditionally at all times of the year really,' Mr Evans said.

'I think we try to avoid it in the first instance, going into that sort of weather.'

He added that safety procedures from the cabin crew and pilots are usually enacted after hitting turbulence.

'Once we encounter that sort of turbulence, there is a turbulence penetration procedure where we slow the aircraft down,' Mr Evans said.

'But before that, hopefully we've got everybody strapped in with seatbelts on and ... everyone secure before we enter that sort of turbulent air.

'Well, that didn't seem to happen here.'

The pilot said the plane's sophisticated weather equipment could have missed the pocket of turbulence with high density clouds in the way. meaning there was no way to know about the air pocket.

Experienced pilot and flight simulator instructor for Qantas, David Evans (pictured), said the particular piece of airspace 'is fairly notorious' and often avoided by airlines

Singapore Airlines CEO, Goh Choon Phong, said in a statement that he and the airline extend their condolences to 'the family and loved ones of the passenger who passed away'.

'We are deeply saddened by this incident, and are committed to providing all necessary support and assistance to the passengers and crew members who were on board SQ321, as well as their families and loved ones.'

He added the airline had 'swiftly dispatched a team' to Bangkok to aid crew on the ground.

Eight Australians are also in hospital while others have finally arrived home after SQ321 made an emergency diversion to the Thai capital of Bangkok after the chaos.
An Australian mother-of-five could face the death penalty in Taiwan after 7kg of cocaine and heroin were allegedly discovered in her suitcase.

Debbie Voulgaris, 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after the drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her luggage.

Taiwanese police allege she initially 'vehemently denied' she had known about the drugs before later claiming her ex-husband John was behind the scheme.

Ms Voulgaris's lawyer Leon Huang said it was 'essential' her ex took the stand as he was the only person who could confirm her claims.

Voulgaris was allegedly handed the category one drugs in Malaysia around December 10 before she flew to Taiwan, the ABC reported.

The Aussie mum was allegedly paid $US1,800 (AUD$2,700) to take the drugs in addition to her accommodation and transport costs.

Debbie Voulgaris could face the death penalty in Taiwan

Debbie Voulgaris, 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her luggage

The drugs had a street value of about $1.25million according to Chen Po-chuan, the captain of Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Brigade.

Mr Po-chaun said Voulgaris told authorities she was in Taiwan for a holiday.

He said officers had been sent to her hotel to see if anyone came to collect the drugs, but no one had arrived.

Voulgaris has been detained in a Taiwanese prison since her arrest.

Her lawyer Leon Huang said his client was a 'good-natured person' who 'believed people easily' and had been used as a drug 'mule'.

'Based on her description it appeared that number one, Ms Debbie Voulgaris was not aware of the nature of her travelling,' Mr Huang said.

'And number two, she had no idea of what's placed inside and under her luggage, because there is a hidden compartment and she wasn't aware of that.'

Mr Huang said that because his client had admitted guilt early, while still maintaining she didn't know about the drugs, she may avoid the death penalty.

'If the court finds someone worthy of sympathy, like Debbie's case, typically, they would not want to offer the option of death sentence,' he said.

Authorities allegedly discovered 7kg of cocaine and heroine inside her luggage (pictured)

Taoyuan District Prosecutors alleged Voulgaris was part of a 'drug transport syndicate' in documents submitted to a Taiwanese court.

'Although the defendant confessed to the crime during the court's preparatory proceedings, it is noted that she had previously vehemently denied the crime during the investigation and detention interrogation by this court, and her statements have been inconsistent,' the documents state.

'Notably, the defendant claimed that the co-conspirator, John, who instructed her to bring category one narcotics to Taiwan, is her ex-husband, indicating a close relationship.

'The defendant and her lawyer requested that John be summoned to testify during the preparatory proceedings, implying that there remains a risk of collusion with John before his testimony.'

Voulgaris has been denied visits from family members but can be visited by her legal team and officials from the Australian Office in Taipei.

An application for her release was denied in March, with judges Cai Yirong and Hou Jingyun ruling there was substantial evidence she was a flight risk.

Her lawyers had argued their client hadn't spoken with family in three months, was struggling to adapt to Chinese food and could not speak Chinese.

Voulgaris was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport (pictured) in December

However, the judges ruled these were 'not factors to be considered when determining the necessity of detention'.

'It is noted that the defendant's daughter is aware of John's contact information, therefore it cannot be ruled out that the defendant could use her daughter to contact John, making this request [for contact] ungrantable,' they said.

Voulgaris will next appear in court in August. She could face the death penalty or life in prison if found guilty or a minimum of five years behind bars.

However, the chances she receives the death penalty are unlikely after Taiwan's Constitutional Court ruled last August that imposing a life sentence or the death penalty for drug offences is partly unconstitutional.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said a detained Australian woman in Taiwan was receiving consular assistance.

A change.org petition for Voulgaris's release has received 3,000 signatures.

'Anyone who knows her or has met her, understands the pure, kind heart she has,' the author of the petition wrote.

'She is a mother to five children and she could be facing a death penalty or life in prison. Please sign the petition to help towards the freedom of an innocent, pure-hearted mother.'
A 'lovely, friendly' 78-year-old woman who died following a 'disturbance' at a house in a leafy Edinburgh neighbourhood has been pictured for the first time as police confirmed they have charged a 36-year-old man.

Armed officers were called to an incident at a house at Fernieside Crescent in the south east of Edinburgh at about 8.25am on Tuesday.

Emergency services attended, but despite their best efforts Ms Parker was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with her death, and has also been charged with the attempted murders of two other women aged 42 and 55. Neither required medical treatment.

Police Scotland said inquiries are ongoing into the exact nature of the disturbance.

Tributes have been paid to Margaret Parker, 78, who died following a 'disturbance' at a house at Fernieside Crescent in the south east of Edinburgh at about 8.25am on Tuesday

A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with Margaret Parker's death and inquiries are ongoing

Police at the scene of the incident as enquiries into the disturbance continue

The man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

Detective Inspector Dougal Begg said: 'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Margaret Parker and everyone affected by this tragic incident.

'A continued police presence can be seen in the area as officers continue their enquiries into this isolated incident.'

Reports emerging in the immediate aftermath suggested local residents feared they had heard gunfire, as multiple bangs - believed to be a police tactical device - were captured at the time of the incident on a Ring doorbell, The Sun reports.

It is understood no-one involved in the incident was shot with a gun.

In a statement, the force previously said: 'This was an isolated incident and officers remain in the area to provide public reassurance and anyone with concerns should speak to officers.'

Earlier on Wednesday, local community members paid tribute to Margaret, who was known by friends and family as Mags.

One neighbour paying tribute to Margaret Parker revealed she had lived in the area for 40 years

One neighbour told Daily Record: 'Mags was a lovely, friendly woman and would always stop to say hello.

'She was very close with her family and spent a lot of time with them.'

Another revealed how Margaret had lived in the area for 40 years.

'She was a quiet lady and kept to herself but she would chat away if you saw her on the street.'

Forensic officers were at the scene on Tuesday afternoon and the area remained cordoned off.

A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Labour will make Britain a 'magnet for every illegal migrant in Europe' if it wins the next election, Rishi Sunak warned last night.

The Prime Minister told a Conservative election campaign rally that Sir Keir Starmer's migration policies would be 'a de facto amnesty for asylum seekers'.

'Just look at our plan to cut migration and stop the boats with our Rwanda scheme,' he told Tory activists in east London.

'Across Europe, the penny is dropping that ours is the right approach.

'But if Labour become the next government, they'll scrap the Rwanda scheme and enact a de facto amnesty for asylum seekers, making us a magnet for every illegal immigrant in Europe.

Rishi Sunak has warned Labour will make Britain a 'magnet for every illegal migrant in Europe' if it wins the next election

Tory chiefs say the Opposition has no plan to deal with Channel crossings and will effectively create an amnesty for 115,000 illegal migrants by halting the Rwanda scheme (Migrants pictured in May crossing the Channel)

'In every way, Labour would make our country less secure.'

Rwanda is expected to be one of the key dividing lines in the election campaign.

The Conservatives want to get the first deportation flights off to East Africa before polling day to show Mr Sunak's pledge to 'stop the boats' is becoming a reality.

They will hope the Prime Minister's tough line on illegal immigration wins back voters who were considering backing the upstart Reform UK party instead.

And Tory chiefs say the Opposition has no plan to deal with Channel crossings and will effectively create an amnesty for 115,000 illegal migrants by halting the Rwanda scheme.

Sir Keir recently said he would create a new Border Security Command to tackle people-smuggling gangs, and would seek a new returns agreement with France.

Mr Sunak told the Mail this week on a trip to Austria  whose chancellor hailed the UK as a 'pioneer' in using third countries to tackle illegal migration: 'It's clear that we're leading in Europe, and Keir Starmer wants to make us the soft touch of Europe when it comes to migration.

'Not only is Labour going to grant an amnesty to illegal migrants, that is also going to mean thousands more will want to come.

The Prime Minister told a Conservative election campaign rally that Sir Keir Starmer 's migration policies would be 'a de facto amnesty for asylum seekers'

The number of arrivals of 2,600 more than the total counted at this time last year

Your browser does not support iframes.

Last year, there were 67,337 asylum applications to the UK. Of those, 29,437 came from people who arrived in small boats

'All Keir Starmer wants to do is give people more incentives to come to the UK.'

He also referred to the topic in his speech outside No 10 yesterday, saying: 'Immigration is finally coming down and we will stop the boats with our Rwanda partnership.'

Tory sources told the Mail last night that the plan is still for the first deportation flight to take off by July. However, there are still several hurdles to clear including last-minute legal challenges.

Ministers also believe attempts to cut legal migration to the UK are working. Provisional data highlighted by the Home Office yesterday showed the number of foreign people moving to the UK to work or study has fallen by 25 per cent  to 175,500 in the first four months of 2024 from 235,400 in the same period last year.
Shock CCTV footage has revealed how a sly thief in north London tried to pickpocket a woman twice as she shopped in a clothing store.

The footage, shared online, shows a woman in smart black clothes while partially wearing a face mask slinking over to a mother with a pram in the Stamford Hill shop.

Having eyed up her target, the alleged thief walks over to her with several items of clothing in hand.

She can then be seen using the clothes in one hand to cover up the actions in the other, before unzipping the unsuspecting woman's handbag.

But before she can swipe the handbag's contents, the mother walks away to the front of the store.

Have you been targeted by pickpockets? Email elizabeth.haigh@mailonline.co.uk

The footage, shared online, shows a woman in smart black clothes while partially wearing a face mask slinking over to a mother with a pram

She can be seen using the clothes in one hand to cover up the actions in the other, before unzipping the unsuspecting woman's handbag

The brazen thief then follows her, before dipping her hand in, dropping the clothes she carried on a nearby rack and scarpering out the front door. It is unclear if the thief actually took any items from the woman.

Unbeknownst to her, however, a wily witness watched the theft take place, and pointed out the alleged theft to the clueless mother.

It is not currently know if the Met Police is investigating the incident, which took place on May 19 at around 3pm according to the CCTV footage's timestamp.

MailOnline has contacted the Met for comment.

It comes as MailOnline reported that gangs of muggers on e-bikes are terrorising the streets of London as they target children, mothers and commuters by snatching their mobiles.

Having eyed up her target, the alleged thief walks over to her with several items of clothing in hand

It is not currently known if the Met Police is investigating the incident

A spate of attacks has shocked many Londoners as the horrific crime wave has swept through the capital.

Figures have shown mobile phones reported as stolen in London every six minutes.

There were almost 91,000 phones snatched from Londoners in 2022, at an average of 248 a day, with only two per cent of the stolen devices recovered.

It comes days after an alleged pickpocket was filmed being confronted in London's St James' Park.

A passerby was seen trying to punch a man who had reportedly stolen his wallet, then dropped it on the floor when he was caught.

The incident, which occurred at around 1pm on May 10, unfolded at the park's Blue Bridge.

The video, posted to TikTok, shows a man in a grey jumper and jeans, wearing a dark flat cap, pushing the alleged thief up against the railings of what is understood to be the Blue Bridge in St James' Park.

The man, who has not been identified, shouts at him and grabs him by his collar.

It follows an incident in London's St James' Park on May 10 which saw a wallet and passport stolen

The alleged thief is then seen furtively sliding a brown-coloured wallet out his back pocket and dropping it on the floor, before pointing to it in an apparent attempt to conceal his actions.

After swinging several times at the man, the passerby then chases him through the park.

A statement from the Met Police about the incident revealed a wallet and passport were reported stolen, but no arrests were made.

Recent data shows between 2017 and 2022, the Met Police recorded nearly 31,000 instances of mobile phone thefts.

Phones were most likely to be stolen in the Borough of Westminster, which saw nearly 9,300 thefts in the given period.

Data from late last year shows that crime on the Tube increased between April and September 2023 by 56 per cent compared to the same period in 2022.

Thefts soared by an eyewatering 83 per cent, while robberies were up by nearly 107 per cent.

This was despite passenger numbers falling by 11 per cent.
After Australia recorded its first human case of a bird flu strain that's been spreading globally, Aussies are being warned about the symptoms they need to be aware of.

On Wednesday, a child returning from India was confirmed as Australia's first case of avian influenza A(H5N1), which has caused widespread bird deaths around the world.

The child experienced a 'severe infection' after contracting the strain in March, but has since made a full recovery, Victoria's chief health officer said.

'This is the first human case of H5N1 avian influenza in Australia,' Dr Clare Looker said.

Symptoms of H5N1 infection may include fever, cough, headache, aching muscles and respiratory symptoms.

After Australia recorded its first human case of a bird flu strain (pcitured) that's been spreading globally, Aussies are being warned about the symptoms they need to be aware of.

Symptoms of H5N1 infection may include fever, cough, headache, aching muscles and respiratory symptoms (stock image)

'The avian influenza virus was detected through further testing of positive influenza samples that takes place to detect novel or concerning flu virus strains, as part of Victoria's enhanced surveillance system.

'Contact tracing has not identified any further cases of avian influenza connected to this case.'

Dr Looker said the chance of additional human cases was low as avian influenza does not easily spread between people.

The revelation came on the same day that agricultural authorities revealed a different strain of bird flu had been detected at an egg farm in regional Victoria.

Agriculture Victoria ordered urgent testing after avian influenza was detected at a farm near Meredith, about 40km northwest of Geelong, following a number of poultry deaths.

Chief veterinary officer Graeme Cooke said the outbreak likely involved the H7N7 strain, different to the highly pathogenic H5N1 variant.

'There is a type of virus which is causing great concern in the USA and other parts of the world and has behaved unusually in that it has infected dairy cattle and some other marine mammals,' Dr Cooke told the ABC's Country Hour.

'This is not the strain that we're dealing with. This is a strain that's occurred in Australia before. It's likely not new.'

Agriculture Victoria on Wednesday confirmed the presence of the H7N7 strain after a number of poultry deaths at an egg farm near Meredith (pictured), about 40km north-west of Geelong

H7N7 was the most common strain of bird flu in Australia, Dr Cooke said.

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One of the strains in the last bird flu outbreak in Australia in 2020, which affected one-in-three egg farms in Victoria, was a H7 strain and testing is underway to determine if it's the same one.

'Agriculture Victoria is responding with staff on the ground supporting the business with further laboratory investigations as necessary,' Dr Cooke said.

The property has been placed into quarantine with a 5km radius set up and affected animals will be 'depopulated'.

Samples of the virus have been sent to the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong for testing.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral infection which can cause severe symptoms and sudden death in domestic poultry, wiping out entire populations.

Wild birds are the natural host for the disease and it can spread through close contact or contaminated environments.

All bird species are thought to be susceptible to the deadly H5N1, which has also been detected in more than 50 mammal species, including humans. Chickens are pictured in a factory farm

All bird species are thought to be susceptible to the deadly H5N1, which has also been detected in more than 50 mammal species, including humans.

Infected people have observed mild symptoms or have been asymptomatic, but some experience severe illness.

Authorities have reassured the public that eggs and poultry products in supermarkets do not pose a risk and are safe to consume.

Bird owners have been reminded to keep enclosures clean, quarantine new birds before integrating them with existing flocks, ensure footwear is clean and to always wash hands before and after handling birds or eggs.
Schoolgirl Charlise Mutten was shot in the face by a gun held just a foot away from her, a forensic examiner has told the trial of her stepdad accused of her murder.

Justin Stein, 33, denies killing the nine-year-old schoolgirl in January 2022, but admits helping to dispose of her body by dumping it near a remote river.

Forensic pathologist Dr Marna Du Plessis conducted the post mortem on Charlise's body after it was found in the sand-filled barrel with her pink Nike slides.

She said possible 'powder tattooing' marks around the gunshot wound on the girl's face led her to believe 'the end of the muzzle... was about a ruler's length' away.

Despite being in 'an advanced state of decomposition', Dr Du Plessis said Charlise had been 'shot in the right side of her face, with the bullet entering her brain'.

Dr Du Plessis said this was the fatal shot, and that she was still alive when it was fired as another shot to Charlise's back above her left hip would not have killed her.

The victim's autopsy revealed that she had an amount of the anti-psychotic drug Quetiapine, which was the same medication Stein took for his schizophrenia.

The trial heard on Thursday morning how Stein had been 'very agitated' in the days after Charlise was reported missing and offered various theories where she was.

The fatal shot which killed nine-year-old Charlise was shot 'within a ruler's length' of the end of the muzzle to her facec, the trial has heard

The court heard he and Charlise's mother, Kallista Mutten, had been 'very affectionate' towards the 'charming, chatty and affectionate' girl in the week before her death.

Charlise's final days were described in detail by Jane Hutt, a neighbour of the Steins at their luxury Wildenstein property in Mount Wilson in the NSW Blue Mountains.

Ms Hutt said she had met Charlise at a dinner party at Wildenstein on January 3, when the child had been 'affectionate with us too'.

'She gave my mother a big hug,' she said.

'She seemed really chatty and comfortable with adults.'

But just days later, on January 15, Ms Hutt said she heard sirens and saw police cars at Wildenstein, before Stein's mother Annemie appeared and said 'I need a drink'.

At the time of her death, Charlise was visiting her mother during the school holidays at Stein's family home.

Stein, who was engaged to Ms Mutten, 40 at the time, is on trial at NSW Supreme Court in Parramatta accused of killing the girl between 7.16pm on January 11 and 10.06am on January 12, 2022.

Ms Hutt revealed Stein's mother stayed the night at their home because of the police activity at Wildenstein and drove her down to Penrith Police Station the following day to collect her son.

Stein returned with them to the Hutts' home, dressed in a blue police forensic suit, where he stayed the night, and the next morning, he was 'very agitated, wringing his hands', Ms Hutt told the court.

She said she asked him directly: 'Justin where do you think the girl is?' and he replied, 'I don't know, Kallista's done something with the girl. She didn't want to give the girl back. She wanted the three of us to run away.'

When Ms Hutt asked Stein what he thought Ms Mutten had done with Charlise, he said she had the girl 'taken by some of her friends' who were 'bad people'.

Ms Hutt said Stein told her he had left Charlise with a Lawson's Auctions antique expert, and that the young girl had been sick at the time and 'had vomited into a bucket'.

He said Ms Mutten had driven off in his red ute, then abandoned the vehicle 'up the lane'.

Ms Hutt then reported the conversation to the police after Stein left her house.

Annemie Stein's friend and former partner, Peter Moraschi, had known Stein for years and met Ms Mutten when she went to live at Wildenstein.

Asked about plans for the schoolgirl's return to live with her grandparents at Tweed Heads after the holiday, Mr Morashci said: 'Kallista didnt want Charlise to go back.

'She wanted Charlise to stay with her.'

The trial had heard earlier how the nine-year-old's body was bound with bloodstained ties and buried in a sand-filled barrel with her pink Nike slides.

The barrel was then dumped by a lonely riverbank, where it was later discovered by detectives before being taken to Sydney's major mortuary, the court was told.

On Wednesday, the alleged murder weapon - a BSA .22 calibre bolt-action rifle, which had been wrapped in plastic with its magazine, ammunition and scope - was shown to the jury, who were allowed to handle it as they passed it around.

Police allege that Charlise Mutten was killed at Wildenstein, the Stein family's luxury estate at Mount Wilson in the Blue Mountains

Grisly details about how Charlise Mutten's (above) body was buried in sand in a barrel with her pink Nike slides have emerged in the trial of her alleged murderer, Justin Stein

The body of schoolgirl Charlise was found in a foetal position in the barrel (pictured in the back of the red ute) which was dumped on the banks of the Colo River in January 2022

Stein was arrested on January 18 after Charlise's body was found in a barrel on the Colo River, 58km from Mount Wilson.

Homicide Squad Detective Senior Constable Justin Haydon revealed he had gone to to search the riverbank at a set of GPS co-ordinates taken from Stein's mobile phone.

He told the court he found a 'red-brown coloured drum with a lid  down an embankment' which was later recovered via a hydraulic crane.

After unscrewing the barrel lid and clearing sand away, police located 'what appeared to be human remains'.

Former forensics and crime scene police officer, Mitchell James, described how the post-mortem of 'the unknown female within the barrel' began at 8.30am on January 20, 2022.

Reading from his post-autopsy statement, Mr James said 'the deceased appeared to be head down in a foetal position... bound with a number of blood-stained wrappings'.

Also inside the barrel was up to 100kg of sand, vegetation and soil 'with apparent blood staining', he said.

'The deceased was bound in a number of bloodstained wrappings, her head and legs... in a bloodstained blue tarpaulin with clear and brown packing style tape' and a 'plastic bag with a pair of pink Nike slides,' he told the court.

The custody of Kallista Mutten's (above) daughter Charlsie was a topic of discussion at a dinner party not long before the schoolgirl's alleged shooting murder

Kallista Mutten's heavy ice use has been laid bare during the trial

Mr James said the girl's head and torso was within a white plastic woven bag, which was bloodstained and bound with black tape.

Apart from the pink Nike slides, Charlise clothes included a black jacket, red shirt, boys' boys black track pants, a size 10 black Target skirt 'with penetrating damage to the rear' and a sole black, hooped earring in her left earlobe.

An internal examination during the post-mortem revealed lead fragments in the deceased girl's brain and in her left hip.

Examination of the body also found a 5mm x 5mm entry wound to the right cheek where the bullet struck and dislodged a tooth and stuck in the base of the skull.

There was also an oval-shaped entry wound to the lower left back above the right hip which was 5mm high and 8mm wide and had perforated the pelvic bone.

ON Wednesday, Tony Hutt, one of the Steins' next-door neighbours at Mount Wilson, told the court he frequently socialised with Stein's mother at dinner parties at their respective homes.

He described a bizarre encounter with Stein when he was lying face down in a culvert and claimed he was 'digging for treasure' when he was disturbed by Mr Hutt and his German Shepherd dog.

Mr Hutt told the court he later led police to that location where they allegedly found two firearms, the .22 BSA rifle and a .30 lever action Winchester rifle.

On another occasion at a dinner with Stein, his mother, Charlise and Kallista, he told the court the accused had made an odd remark.

The post mortem revealed details about the 9-year-old's fatal gunshot wounds sustained while on holiday with her mother and then stepfather, Justin Stein

Justin Stein, 33, is charged with the alleged murder of Charlise Mutten while the schoolgirl was staying at his family property, Wildenstein

Describing Ms Mutten's apparent relationship with her daughter as 'exceptional', Mr Hutt said the question of Charlise's custody was discussed.

Due to Ms Mutten's extensive drug history with methamphetamines, Charlise normally lived with her maternal grandparents at Tweed Heads.

The court heard Ms Mutten had been using 17 points of ice daily and been admitted to hospital twice in the months before Charlise's planned visit.

Mr Hutt said he remembered one remark in particular from Stein about Charlise.

'I can remember the conversation,' he told the court.

'Justin said that if anything happened and the child didn't go back to Queensland that he would end up in prison again.'

The trial before Justice Helen Wilson continues.
The Liberal Democrats will hope to continue their recent electoral successes in traditionally Conservative voting areas of the south of England known as the 'blue wall' on July 4.

England's third-largest party - with 15 MPs, including four elected in by-elections since 2021 - won 104 new council seats in local elections earlier this month.

The party has made a point of targeting disillusioned Tory voters in traditional 'Tory shire' heartlands such as Surrey, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

Leader Sir Ed Davey even knocked down a prop blue wall with a hammer following their 2021 by-election victory in Chesham and Amersham.

Twenty-four of the 30 seats they could win with a 10 per cent swing are currently represented by the Tories - including Godalming and Ash, held by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, and former Cabinet minister Dominic Raab's Esher and Walton constituency.

The Liberal Democrats and leader Sir Ed Davey will hope to continue their recent electoral successes in traditionally Conservative voting areas of the south of England known as the 'blue wall' on July 4

Former Cabinet minister Dominic Raab's Esher and Walton constituency could be won by the Lib Dems at the election. Mr Raab has announced he is standing down as an MP

Last night deputy leader Daisy Cooper told the Mail: 'Conservative MPs right across the blue wall are on notice and it's the Liberal Democrats who can beat them here.

'This General Election is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for people in the blue wall to send this appalling Conservative Government a message.'

The party's campaigning strategy has been to pour resources into seats where they have a realistic chance of winning.

While there is no official pact with Labour, the two parties have often stood 'paper candidates' in races where the other has a chance to unseat a Conservative incumbent.

Officials are hoping that similar tactical voting can return the party to being the third-largest in Westminster.

By-election victories in Somerton and Frome, Tiverton and Honiton, Chesham and Amersham and North Shropshire saw massive swings from the Tories to the Liberal Democrats after campaigners focused on local concerns such as sewage, housing and ambulance waiting times.

A party spokesperson said last night: 'Ed Davey is on his way now to Michael Gove's true blue Surrey seat. Cabinet ministers in former Conservative heartlands will be looking nervously over their shoulders at the Liberal Democrats.'

The Green Party, meanwhile, are aiming to capitalise on progressive voters disappointed in Labour's shift to the right under Sir Keir Starmer.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is under serious threat of losing his Godalming and Ash seat but he has killed rumours he won't stand

The party only has one MP, but gained 74 council seats earlier this month - boosting their numbers for the fifth election in a row.

Co-leader Carla Denyer said they picked up Labour voters annoyed over their U-turn on the 28billion green investment plan and stance on the Gaza conflict.

Party figures say they hope to elect four MPs this year to hold a potential Labour government to account.

They consider their best chances in Brighton Pavilion, the only seat they currently hold and where Caroline Lucas is standing down, and Bristol Central, where they will try to unseat Labour frontbencher Thangam Debbonaire.
A tradie has been labelled a hero after rushing to help kids escape from a horrific bus crash that killed the driver.

The bus was carrying 32 students from Assumption College in Kilmore, one hour's drive north of Melbourne, when it careened off Wandong Road and into a tree just after 3.30pm on Wednesday.

Carpenter Colby Bartels happened to be driving by at the same time and didn't hesitate to pull over and rush to the aid of the trapped schoolchildren.

He and other good Samaritans were able to quickly smash a window to help the terrified children out of the vehicle.

The 65-year-old bus driver died at the scene.

Carpenter Colby Bartels (pictured) has been hailed a hero after jumping into action to help 32 Assumption College schoolchildren escape a bus after it crashed

Mr Bartels said he and another man quickly jumped through the broken driver's-side window to assess the damage.

'All the kids had sort of gathered at the back of the bus and bags were strewn across the aisle a bit,' he told Sunrise on Thursday.

'We tried to calm everyone down a bit before we broke the side window to try and get the kids out.

'As you can imagine a few of them were a bit shaken up and a bit frightened ... The older students were doing a pretty good job of trying to calm down the younger kids.'

The tradie said they managed to smash one of the side windows and help the students out one at a time with the help of a ladder propped against the side of the bus.

Mr Bartels' quick-thinking helped garner the nickname 'hero tradie', which he said he doesn't agree with.

'I'm not a hero, I was at the right place at the right time as were many people passing by, we all stopped to help and did the right thing,' he said.

The bus careened off of Wandong Road near Kilmore north of Melbourne and into a tree just after 3.30pm on Wednesday, killing the driver (pictured)

The school updated parents on the seriousness of the crash just after 5:30pm on Wednesday, saying some students were treated for 'minor injuries' at the scene.

'Thankfully, none of the students were seriously injured,' the Facebook post reads.

'The College immediately notified all families and Principal Paul Finneran and other staff travelled to the scene.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved in this accident.'

The college thanked emergency services for their 'rapid and professional response' while committing to counselling and support for students and families.
Rishi Sunak last night warned that Britain needs to plan for uncertain times on the global stage, telling the voting public: You must choose in this election who has that plan.

With defence spending set to be a key general election issue, Mr Sunak highlighted the threat posed by Russia and other regimes.

Pointing to Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict and Chinas efforts to dominate the 21st century, he said: This election will take place at time when the world is more dangerous than it has been since the end of the Cold War.

These uncertain times call for a clear plan and bold action to chart a course to a secure future.

You must choose in this election who has that plan.

Rishi Sunak pictured last night warning that Britain needs to plan for uncertain times on the global stage

Pointing to Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, the Prime Minister said: This election will take place at time when the world is more dangerous than it has been since the end of the Cold War

His comments come against the background of last months pledge to increase military investment to 2.5 per cent of GDP - in a victory for the Mails Dont Leave Britain Defenceless campaign.

Hours before the election was called, however, Tory grandee David Davis likened the Defence Secretary Grant Shappss six-year schedule to saying in 1939 we will be ready in 1945.

The former Shadow Home Secretary and SAS reservist suggested taking so long could convince Russia and China to act sooner, knowing the UK was not ready to respond.

Speaking at yesterdays London Defence Conference, Mr Davis launched his broadside just minutes after the Defence Secretary said China is providing Russia with lethal military aid.

Mr Shappss claim, which he said was based on declassified Western intelligence, would mark a major shift in Chinese foreign policy.

Until recently, Beijing has only offered Moscow dual-use technologies, which it uses in components in drones and in its production of military hardware.

This policy has protected Chinese companies and senior officials from sanctions, because the technologies also have civilian applications.

But President Xi has seemingly abandoned any attempt to appear a neutral party to the conflict in Ukraine.

Mr Shapps told the conference: We should be concerned about China providing lethal military aid, because in the earlier days of this war China liked to present itself as a moderating influence on Putin.

I can reveal that we have evidence that Russia and China are collaborating on combat equipment for use in Ukraine. This is new intelligence. I think it is quite significant.

We have also seen a 64 per cent increase in trade between the countries, which reveals there is actually a much deeper relationship there.

Lethal aid is now, or will be, flowing from China to Russia and into Ukraine. They are covering each others backs.

President Xi (pictured) has seemingly abandoned any attempt to appear a neutral party to the conflict in Ukraine

As recently as last month, China insisted publicly it was not supplying weapons to Russia.

Intelligence sources now regard China, Russia and Iran as a genuine axis of evil, deliberately coordinating their actions to thwart the West.

The development comes against the backdrop of growing concern about Britains military capability - an issue that is likely to feature prominently on the hustings in the coming weeks.

In March, a Daily Mail poll revealed voters no longer view the Tories as the party of defence. The survey revealed Labour was more trusted after the Conservatives hollowed out the Armed Forces with spending cuts.

The dire findings rocked Downing Street, and may have forced the Prime Ministers hand on defence spending. A decade ago the Tories enjoyed double-digit leads over Labour in polls on this issue.

The poll also found seven out of ten voters will consider the defence of the UK before deciding which party they will support.

Labour intends a major review of defence procurement and expenditure should it oust the Conservatives on July 4. It has already offered a commitment to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP - but only when economic conditions permit such an increase.
JK Rowling issued a warning to politicians last night, declaring, 'If you want women's votes, protect our rights', amid fears the issue could cost parties the general election.

The Harry Potter children's author was joined by women's rights charity Sex Matters who called for politicians to 'stand up for single-sex services'.

And the Women's Rights Network said political parties must confirm that 'sex-based rights must be defended'.

Their intervention follows concerns the Labour Party would continue to push an agenda influenced by trans activists.

The publication of the landmark Cass Review into NHS England's gender identity services for children recently forced several Labour politicians into humiliating U-turns on their position.

Announcements by the Tory Government have shown a tougher approach to gender ideology, notably recent guidance for schools that outlined plans to ban teaching about gender identity.

JK Rowling issued a warning to politicians, declaring 'if you want women's votes, protect our rights', amid fears the issue could cost parties the general election

It follows concerns the Labour Party would continue to push an agenda influenced by trans activists (Pictured here is Sir Keir Starmer speaking to the media in January 2021)

Ms Rowling posted the message on social media alongside a poster for Sex Matters' manifesto to politicians.

Maya Forstater, chief exec of Sex Matters, said: 'The next government must stand up for single-sex services. This means it has to know what a woman is, and be willing to say it.

'Standing up for single-sex services is not a political 'gotcha'; still less is it waging a 'culture war'. This is a serious, real-life issue for all women and girls.

'If politicians are too afraid to say clearly that they stand up for single-sex services and know that women are adult females, how can they be trusted to stand up for women's rights or for child safeguarding?

'Any party that wants to be in government must be clear that it won't destroy women's rights by bringing in gender self-ID, whether explicitly or by stealth, and that it won't destroy single-sex services by saying trans-identifying people can use the opposite sex's facilities or compete in the opposite sex's sports.'
A morbidly-obese woman from Texas stood trial for raping her 12-year-old male relative and is also accused of stabbing a man to death while she was out on bail.

Brittany Ann Rouleau, 38, faces up to life behind bars for accusations of aggravated sexual assault of a child and prohibited sexual conduct with a relative.

The 38-year-old is also accused of murdering Kenneth Douglas, 57, who suffered a single stab wound to the heart, according to preliminary autopsy reports.

Testimony began before a jury of nine men and three women on Wednesday - with the prosecution, led by Chelsea Carlton, informing the jury that the trial was going to be 'rough'.

According to Carlton - Rouleau and the victim, who is now a senior in High School, had a happy relationship during his early childhood.

A morbidly-obese woman (Pictured: Brittany Ann Rouleau) from Texas stood trial for raping her 12-year-old male relative and is also accused of stabbing a man to death while she was out on bail

Brittany Ann Rouleau, 38, (pictured) faces up to life behind bars for accusations of aggravated sexual assault of a child and prohibited sexual conduct with a relative

However, after a traumatic event took place in the family - the Rouleau's house was no longer a safe place. Rouleau is accused of sexually assaulting the boy in 2018, when he was 12, Texomas reported.

Rouleau's defense, led by Public Defender Lee Ann Marsh, painted a different version of events and claimed that the 38-year-old was in fact the victim of the sexual assault.

Marsh said that the incident took place after Rouleau and the victim had gotten into a fight, and said that the 12-year-old sexually assaulted Rouleau while she was unconscious after the altercation.

Carlton called the alleged victim to take the stand just after 11am on Wednesday. The now-18-year-old testified that Rouleau treated her like a boyfriend and would ask him to cuddle when he was just 11 or 12 years old.

The alleged victim went on to recount, in detail, multiple instances of sexual activity between himself and Rouleau - which he testified he had not wanted to participate in and felt wrong after the incidents occurred.

The 38-year-old, pictured here in court, is also accused of murdering Kenneth Douglas, 57, who suffered a single stab wound to the heart

Rouleau's former neighbor was also called to the stand as a witness and revealed shocking details about the alleged abuse.

Brandy Winfrey, the former neighbor, testified that while she and Rouleau were driving to the food bank together in 2020, Rouleau became lost and was visibly agitated.

Winfrey revealed that Rouleau told her that she'd had sex with the victim when he was 12-years-old and confessed that it had happened multiple times.

Though Winfrey did not initially believe Rouleau, she called Child Protective Services to report her.

During cross-examination, Marsh questioned Winfrey about her history of drug use and she revealed that when she'd met Rouleau she was on probation for possession of drugs.

Winfrey was sure that Rouleau was 'high' when she told her about the sexual abuse of her 12-year-old relative.

Another witness called to the stand was Robert Welch, a detective with the Wichita Falls Police Department.

Rouleau and the victim, who is now a senior in High School, allegedly had a happy relationship during his early childhood - but things turned south after a traumatic family event

Welch testified about the initial forensic interview of the victim - which was conducted in September 2020, as well as his investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse by Rouleau.

The detective testified that he was unable to collect any physical evidence because too much time had passed between the alleged incident of abuse and the forensic interview.

According to Rouleau's social media accounts, she is a 'Countrybumpkin' and a 'Real RedNeck Babe'.

Her Facebook account suggests that she was in a relationship with Douglas prior to the stabbing. On March 22, 2022, Douglas updated his relationship status on the social network to 'in a relationship with Brittany Ann.'
Mega sandwich company Subway is again facing backlash for its ingredients

Subway - the sometimes beloved, sometimes controversial sandwich mega-chain - is facing heat on TikTok after a video was posted by someone who appears to be preparing the steak used to make sandwiches.

The account @howfoodismade posted a video last week showing the method used by workers to prepare subway meat for serving.

The clip has now amassed 8.8million views, and thousands of comments, many from shocked and disgusted users.

In the video, which is captioned 'How we make steak at subway,' an employee cuts open a transparent plastic bag of ground up meat and dumps its contents into a large bin, before proceeding to mix it around with his hand.

After the mushy-looking meat has been 'scrambled,' the employee portions it out by hand into smaller containers, each of which weigh in at 2.5 ounces.

The comments section of the viral video lit up with horrified comments, some even coming from former Subway workers.

'I worked at Subway and still have nightmares about prepping the teriyaki chicken,' said one person.

'I promise you making the tuna is worse,' wrote another former employee.

'Thank you for this information my fellow brother. Jersey Mikes it is,' wrote another viewer, advocating for a switch in loyalty to Subway's direct competitor.

The official Eggo Waffle account also weighed in to say: 'I will never recover from this.'

Others said it's essentially the fault of anyone going to Subway and ordering steak for expecting anything different than what's shown in the video.

Several years ago, Subway made headlines when a lawsuit questioned the quality and ingredients in its tuna - another divisive menu item.

At the time, the chain set up a website called SubwayTunaFacts.com, which is still active, to defend its tuna supply chain.

The suit, as the website points out, was dismissed last July.

A viral TikTok video shows the process of an employee preparing steak at Subway

The mushy-looking meat is essentially dumped in a plastic container before being portioned out into smaller containers, according to the video

Several years ago, Subway made headlines when a lawsuit questioned the quality and ingredients in its tuna - another divisive menu item

The viral TikTok account has so far posted a limited number of videos revealing the behind-the-scenes workings of several enormous fast food chains, including McDonalds and Taco Bell.

With the rise of TikTok and other short-form video posting platforms, came the introduction of these sorts of behind-the-curtain clips that show (mostly American) consumers what they don't see about the preparation of their favorite on-the-go orders.
The implosion of the SNP could give Labour a major boost in winning back seats in Scotland.

After a chaotic year, the nationalist party has slumped in the polls and was forced to replace its leader just a few weeks ago.

A bombshell YouGov poll earlier this week revealed that just 29 per cent of Scots intend to vote for the SNP, putting it 10 percentage points behind a resurgent Scottish Labour.

SNP support is lower than at any point since the 2014 independence vote - and its leader, John Swinney, has negative approval ratings just weeks after replacing Humza Yousaf.

According to the YouGov poll, Labour is on 39 per cent of the vote - five points higher than last month - while the SNP fell four points to 29per cent.

The implosion of the SNP could give Labour a major boost in winning back seats in Scotland (Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pictured with leader of the Scottish Labour Party Anas Sarwar)

SNP support is lower than at any point since the 2014 independence vote - and its leader, John Swinney (pictured), has negative approval ratings just weeks after replacing Humza Yousaf

Analysis suggests that could see Labour, which currently has two Scottish MPs, win 35 seats north of the border.

But the SNP's tally of MPs could fall to 11.

That would represent a massive drop in representation at Westminster for the party, which at the peak of its success in 2015 won all but three of the constituencies north of the border.

Then, the SNP won 56 of the 59 seats up for grabs, leaving Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Tories with just a single MP each.

Their electoral dominance has continued in Scotland since then - though subsequent election results have seen the party fail to achieve such stratospheric success.

In the December 2019 election, the SNP won 48 of the Scottish 59 seats, however defections and the loss of the Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat in a by-election mean it currently has 43 MPs.

Labour won Rutherglen with a swing of just over 20per cent from the SNP, boosting the party's hopes it can once again send a significant number of Scottish MPs to Westminster.

Boundary changes mean that when Scots go to the polls, they will elect 57 MPs, down from 59.

Mr Yousaf, who stepped down as first minister and SNP leader earlier in May, cited the Police Scotland investigation into the party's finances as one reason why the SNP lost the Rutherglen by-election in October last year.

Humzar Yousaf stepped down as first minister and SNP leader earlier in May following the collapse of the SNP's power-sharing deal with the Greens

Since then Ms Sturgeon's record as first minister has come under further scrutiny, with confirmation that she deleted WhatsApp messages during the Covid pandemic, sparking criticism.

With the election also taking place during the school holidays - most schools in Scotland finish for the summer at the end of June - parties will also be concerned about the impact this could have on voter turnout.

Earlier this month, Chris Hopkins, political research director at pollsters Savanta, warned of the 'major uphill task' Mr Swinney faces going into the election.

Mr Hopkins said: 'While our research suggests that the SNP continues to have a solid base, they're likely to fall quite far from the 43 seats they currently hold at the next general election, as things stand.

'Even if Swinney can begin to turn things around, the spectre of Sturgeon and everything her time in power is now associated with will continue to hang over the party and hamper any recovery.'
A Catholic fraternity is taking the White House to court after it was banned from holding an annual mass it has staged at a national cemetery for more than 60 years.

The Knights of Columbus has held a Memorial Day mass at the Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Virginia every year since 1960.

But it is claiming religious discrimination after the National Park Service (NPS) decided the religious service amounted to a 'demonstration' and decided to ban it on the Petersburg site.

'The policy and the decision blocking the Knights of Columbus from continuing their long-standing religious tradition is a blatant violation of the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act,' their lawyer John Moran said in a press release.

'We urge the court to grant our restraining order and allow the Knights to hold their service this Memorial Day.'

The Knights of Columbus, pictured here in DC, have been banned from holding their annual Memorial Day mass at the Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Virginia

The Catholic fraternity had staged the service every year since 1960 but have been told it infringes National Park Service rules on 'demonstrations'

The group was founded in New Haven, Connecticut as a welfare organization in 1882 and boasts more than two million members around the world.

The NPS has had a rule in place since the 1980s classifying religious services and vigils as 'demonstrations'.

There was a specific exemption for 'official commemorative events conducted for Memorial Day, Veterans Day and other dates designated by the superintendent as having special historic and commemorative significance to a particular national cemetery'.

But the NPS clamped down on the Knights after a policy change in 2022 requiring 'demonstrations' that are likely to attract 'onlookers' to take place elsewhere.

'National Cemeteries are established as national shrines in tribute to those who have died in service to our country,' Alexa Viets, superintendent of the Petersburg National Battlefield, told the Washington Times.

'As such any special activities within the cemetery are reserved for a limited set of official commemorative activities that have a connection to military service or have a historic and commemorative significance for the particular national cemetery.'

Former President John F Kennedy was a member of the Knights but his fellow Catholic successor in the White House now faces a court battle over religious discrimination.

President John F Kennedy was a member of the fraternity but his fellow Catholic successor in the White House now faces a court battle over religious discrimination

'We assume that there must have been some kind of oversight or miscommunication, and that the park service is simply going to approve the permit,' said Roger Byron of law firm First Liberty Institute.

'If they don't, we'll know that something else has happened  something that bears the unmistakable marks of religious discrimination.

'The National Park Service is way out of line.'
The BBC has 'more work to do' when it comes to the issue of impartiality, the Culture Secretary said yesterday.

Lucy Frazer told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that the Corporation had 'particular responsibilities' as a publicly funded broadcaster.

She added: 'The BBC needs to be impartial and I think that it isn't always The BBC has more work to do on impartiality and I think the BBC absolutely accepts that.'

Ms Frazer said it 'made an error' by not referring to Hamas as terrorists in its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.

She also backed Ofcom after it warned GB News it faces sanctions over a 'serious and repeated breach' of impartiality rules during an hour-long programme, People's Forum: The Prime Minister, in which Rishi Sunak took questions from the audience which were not considered to cover broad enough views.

Lucy Frazer (pictured) told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that the Corporation had 'particular responsibilities' as a publicly funded broadcaster

A BBC spokesman said: 'No other organisation takes its commitment to impartiality more seriously. We have well-established and detailed plans to sustain and improve standards.'

Ms Frazer said: 'I think Ofcom is doing its job in terms of making sure that the Broadcasting Code is complied with.'

When asked about the BBC's plans to run adverts on its podcasts on third-party platforms such as Spotify, she said the Government had set out 'requirements on the BBC to consult with commercial entities' if it did 'start to look at encroaching on things that would affect them'.

A BBC spokesman said: 'No other organisation takes its commitment to impartiality more seriously.

'We have well-established and detailed plans to sustain and improve standards.'
Cradling in her arms a young boy battling cancer, Princess Diana can be seen staring intently at the child - and she did so with tears in her eyes, according to the photographer who captured the poignant moment on camera.

The image is just one of thousands that Anwar Hussein, now 86, and his sons Samir, 44, and Zak, 43, who have followed in their father's footsteps, have taken of the Royal family over the years.

But it also held a very special place in the late Princess of Wales's heart.

'Out of all the pictures you've taken, this is probably my favourite one', she told Anwar.

Now the veteran snapper and his talented sons are exhibiting a selection of these remarkable photographs of the late Princess and her family, paired with their first-hand accounts of the stories behind each moment.

'Favourite': Of the thousands of photographs Anwar Hussein took of Princess Diana, this one of her cradling a young cancer patient in Lahore, Pakistan in 1996 was her most cherished

Wearing a yellow jumpsuit, Diana can be seen putting all her attention to Princes William and Harry while on holiday in Palma, Majorca, in 1987.

Motherly bond: Anwar Hussein captured the moment Diana emerged from the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, London, following the birth of Prince Harry in 1984

Princess Diana: Accredited Access Exhibition, is arriving in St Katharine Docks, London for the first time from May 25.

It has previously featured in Melbourne, South Carolina, Las Vegas and more to critical acclaim.

The exhibition consists of 'larger than life images, bespoke art installations and first-hand narration' in a 60-minute experience delving into the lives of the royal family.

Accredited by the Royal Family, the Husseins make up the longest-standing family of official royal photographers, having collectively spent over four decades working side-by-side with the princess and her family.

They received special access to document the lives of the royals in public, as well as capturing more intimate, private moments, including the unforgettable revenge dress which dared to break royal protocol and the princess' simple handshake with an AIDS patient that showed the world how to be human.

Samir and Zak followed their father's footsteps into royal photography by capturing the lives of Diana's sons Prince William and Prince Harry, and now are multi-award winning and celebrated photographers themselves.

The story behind Diana's 'favourite' photograph reveals that she met the youngster during her visit to Imran Khan's cancer hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, during April 1996.

Sadly, he was gravely ill and did not survive.

'She was so sad when she found out the boy had passed away shortly after her visit,' the photographers note.

She's got the touch: Diana leans down to shake hands with an 'Untouchable', India's lowest caste, in Hyderabad, India, in 1992

Another image reveals further how the late Princess related to children and adored her sons, William and Harry.

Wearing a yellow jumpsuit, Diana can be seen putting all her attention to the young boys while on holiday in Palma, Majorca, in 1987.

The trio sit in front of Prince Charles and Queen Sofia of Spain on the steps of Marivent Palace.

Just three years earlier, Anwar had snapped the moment Diana left the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital following the birth of Prince Harry on September 16, 1984 in London.

Other iconic moments are captured on camera - including Diana's lone visit to the Taj Mahal in India in 1992.

As Charles had engagements, the late princess cut a very lonely figure in front of the ivory white marble mausoleum, which stands as a timeless symbol of love.

The now infamous photograph incredibly preceded one taken by his son, Zak, 24 years later while accompanying William and Kate on their tour of the country.

Diana's 1992 trip to India also resulted in the unforgettable image of the royal shaking hands with the 'Untouchable', so-called because they are from the country's lowest caste.

The late princess cut a very lonely figure in front of the Taj Mahal, an ivory white marble mausoleum, which stands as a timeless symbol of love, in 1992

Revenge in style: On the same night in 1994 that Prince Charles admitted to the nation he had cheated on his wife, Diana attended a Vanity Fair party - and made sure the world's media was firmly fixed on her

There is of course an image of the unforgettable 'revenge' dress.

On the same night in 1994 that Prince Charles admitted to the nation he had cheated on his wife, she attended a Vanity Fair party - and made sure the world's media was firmly fixed on her.

Speaking to The Sun, Zak said: 'Sometimes you don't even realsie you're documenting history until after, like this photo my father took of Diana wearing her 'revenge dress' on the night Charles made his notorious adultery admission on television.'

On the exhibition, Anwar said: 'I am honoured and humbled to have been given the opportunity to photograph Princess Diana so extensively and to have had the pleasure of having many friendly and insightful conversations with her.

'I am delighted that the images captured, as well as those of my sons, are coming home to London to recognise and memorialise such a remarkable woman and her sons.

'There are so many memories of our two families connecting and creating a special relationship, which I am pleased to be able to display in such a unique way through the exhibition.'

The Princess Diana: Accredited Access exhibition opens on Saturday and runs until Monday, September 2, at Dockside Vaults in London. For tickets, visit princessdianaexhibit.com.
Former Prime Minister Theresa May and ex-Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi are among more than 100 MPs standing down ahead of the general election.

The pair are part of a 65-strong Tory contingent that will leave Parliament after voters go to the polls on July 4.

This also includes former deputy PM Dominic Raab, COP26 president Sir Alok Sharma, and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris.

Former Health Secretaries Sajid Javid and Matt Hancock are also passing on the political baton, along with short-lived Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng.

Former prime minister Theresa May (pictured) is standing down as an MP before the election

Ahead of the 2019 election, 74 MPs chose not to contest their seats again. Pictured: Former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi

On the other side, Mother of the House Harriet Harman, 73, is the most experienced of 20 Labour MPs to be standing down.

The group also includes ex-Foreign Secretary Dame Margaret Beckett and ex-Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw.

Labour's deputy chief whip Holly Lynch became the 103rd MP to announce her decision not to contest her seat last night.

The future of some legislators is still unknown. Rishi Sunak (pictured) announced a general election yesterday

Nine SNP MPs announced they will not contest their seats, along with seven independents, two from Sinn Fein, one from Plaid Cymru and the Green Party's sole MP, Caroline Lucas.

The future of some legislators is still unknown.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been barred from standing for the party in his Islington North seat, but has not yet announced whether he will run as an independent.

Ahead of the 2019 election, 74 MPs chose not to contest their seats again.
A teenager who killed a seven-year-old when he ploughed into her at 52mph while riding a stolen motorcycle has been locked up for more than five years.

Katniss Seleznev had been playing in the street close to her home in Walsall when she was hit by the 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to his age, on a blue Suzuki motorbike.

The incident, which took place in full view of Katniss's twin brother and older sister on July 27 last year, saw the girl thrown 20 metres down Turnstone Road - which is a 20mph limit - after the crash.

Katniss, who had been dressed in a pink T-shirt and denim shorts and was riding a pink three-wheeled scooter, was fatally injured and despite the best efforts of witnesses who rushed to her aid, passed away the same day.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told that the boy, who did not stop to help after hitting Katniss, had been convicted of multiple driving offences just a month before the crash only to receive a referral order.

Katniss Seleznev (pictured) was killed when she was hit by a boy riding a stolen motorbike while playing outside her house in Walsall

On Wednesday her killer was sentenced to 64 months detention. Pictured: Floral tributes left to Katniss close to the scene of her death

On Wednesday at the same court he was sentenced to 64 months in detention after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, of which he will serve half before he is released on licence.

Prosecutor Robert Price told the court the estate where the crash happened, just as the school summer holidays were starting, was 'pleasant' and children often played 'safely' in the street.

Katniss's mother Lina, who listened to proceedings through a Bulgarian interpreter, cried quietly as CCTV images showing her children riding their scooters in the street were played before a clip showing her youngest daughter flying through the air after the collision.

The boy, who was 14 at the time of the incident, looked solemn in the dock. Dressed in a blue hooded top and black trousers, he kept his head down.

A witness, who had left her home moments before the crash, told police the motorbike, being ridden by a boy with his hood up and his face covered by a balaclava, narrowly avoided crashing into her vehicle as the bike travelled on the wrong side of the road towards her.

Seeing Katniss hit by the motorbike in her rear-view mirror seconds later, she ran over to give CPR while emergency services were called.

The youth did not stop at the scene, instead returning to a nearby road before hiding the bike, which was later found burnt, in some bushes.

Collision investigators said there were no obvious signs the rider had tried to brake before hitting Katniss.

After his arrest, the boy gave no comment answers in interview, but pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court in April.

Mr Price told the court that a month before the fatal crash, the teenager had been convicted of taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, driving without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and had been given a referral order.

Defending, Robert Cowley said the boy had a difficult upbringing and was developmentally immature for his age.

He said: 'There was a point in time, hitting Katniss and not stopping at the scene, where his behaviour was deplorable and he didn't help himself by following the advice he was given during interview not to comment, but he has shown remorse and the greatest sign is that early guilty plea.

'At his age, facing an offence this serious, I think that took real courage on his part and shows he is able now to demonstrate some maturity.'

Judge Michael Chambers KC, Recorder of Wolverhampton, said he could not begin to imagine the impact Katniss's death has had on her parents and siblings as a result of the 'appalling' crash.

He said: 'Katniss died as a result of you deliberately riding a motorbike on the wrong side of a residential street towards an oncoming car, and then driving so fast you collided with Katniss who was out with her brother and sister, riding quite properly, on the street by her home.

'This was, as you now appreciate, an appalling offence, aggravated by the fact you didn't even stop to help but rode on and you sought to dispose of the motorbike, presumably to try and frustrate the police investigation.

'It was a motorbike that was stolen some weeks prior and because of your age, you shouldn't have been driving at all.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was shown CCTV footage of the moment Katniss was hit and catapulted into the air by the force of the collision. Pictured: The entrance to Wolverhampton Crown Court

'There is no suggestion you braked and Katniss had no chance. It is fair to say that you were upset after the collision and I accept you are remorseful, but it was the police who came to you, not the other way round.'

Addressing Katniss's parents in the public gallery, the judge added: 'It is one of the most appalling things to have to bury your own child and I cannot begin to understand the impact that has occasioned her family, not least her twin brother and her sister.'

In a statement read to the court, written by Katniss's father Bojil, their youngest daughter was described as 'full of joy' and a 'dream child'.

It added that Katniss and her twin brother were born after the couple 'fought for five years' through multiple miscarriages and IVF rounds.

It said: 'God finally gave them to us. Then Katniss was left to die like an animal in the street.

'Time isn't going to heal this loss. We shouldn't have outlived our child.'

In the aftermath of the fatal crash Katniss's mother paid tribute to her daughter.

'God took her away too young and fragile. I don't have strength and I don't want to say goodbye to you, my star.

'How to let you go, my heart is bleeding, my soul is aching. Who will take care of you now up there, my angel! I'm powerless, words are not enough, no consolation.'

Ms Seleznev told how Katniss's father begged the little girl to 'open your eyes' as she lay dying in the street, as neighbours ran to perform CPR.

She continued in her online post: 'Every day she told me, 'I love you mum, you are the best mother and the most beautiful because you take care of me and do everything to make me happy'.

'You became a star in the sky. [You] cried that one day mum would be a star in the heaven and you would be left without me.

'You were so strong, healthy and smiling, always in the three races. Why couldn't you fight for your life. Your dad was calling you, 'open your eyes Katniss's, dad is here, open them' but you closed them forever.

'Rest in peace sweet treasure! May your path be bright so you are not afraid in the dark without mum and dad!'

Speaking after the sentencing on Wednesda, Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, from the West Midlands Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said 'This was a totally avoidable death on our roads and is down to the selfish and reckless actions of one individual. Katniss was playing with other children and I cannot begin to contemplate how close others were to being killed.

'I cannot comprehend the impact this whole event has had upon Katniss' family. Throughout the whole process they have shown immense patience and control and whilst today's sentence will never bring Katniss back, hopefully it brings some closure to assist them.

'The impact these tragic circumstances have had on everyone involved cannot be forgotten, especially the local and wider community. The willingness of people to come forward and provide the investigation team with information was overwhelming and we received over 70 separate pieces of information which speaks volumes to how much the local community wanted to help.

'I can't thank everyone enough but I do wish to highlight the bravery of other children who came forward and spoke with us which demonstrated immense moral courage beyond their years.'
The electoral map of Britain will look markedly different after polling day regardless of which party wins - due to major changes to constituencies.

While the total number of seats across the UK will stay fixed at 650, only 55 of those in England remain completely unchanged.

Under the plans made by the Boundary Commission, the size and territory of dozens of the long-established electoral areas are being changed while some are being abolished completely.

Many are being reshaped so that each is home to roughly the same number of voters - between 69,724 and 77,062 - apart from a handful of islands.

While the total number of seats across the UK will stay fixed at 650, only 55 of those in England remain completely unchanged. Pictured, ballot papers delivered to the count centre in Blackpool, north-west England on May 2, 2024 during the Blackpool South by-election

Even Tory chairman Richard Holdens current constituency of North West Durham has been abolished and absorbed into four others

The true effect of the changes will only become known once the votes are counted on the night of July 4th

Some sitting MPs from the same party had to compete against each other to stand in newly created constituencies, with then Home Secretary Suella Braverman winning a selection battle dubbed the Battle of Waterlooville.

Even Tory chairman Richard Holdens current constituency of North West Durham has been abolished and absorbed into four others.

He said he was frankly devastated at the decision and is known to have made an unsuccessful attempt to stand in a new seat in Yorkshire instead.

Some polling experts have predicted that the boundary revisions will overall benefit the Tories, however. Ballots arrive at the counting centre during the Stoke On Trent Election Count And Declaration on May 4

One academic told the Mail: We can estimate the new boundaries but thats all they are - estimates. A ballot box is emptied as counting of votes commences in the City of Chester parliamentary by-election at the Northgate Arena Leisure Centre on December 1, 2022 in Chester

Other Conservative MPs face a difficult fight to hold onto their seats where they have lost rural areas where their loyal supporters live or gained Labour-voting towns.

Some polling experts have predicted that the boundary revisions will overall benefit the Tories, however.

They could gain as many as 10 seats purely because some of their large rural constituencies in areas such as Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire are being cut down to size and additional ones created.

Meanwhile, Wales will lose eight MPs in a likely blow to Labour.

However, the true effect of the changes will only become known once the votes are counted on the night of July 4th.

One academic told the Mail: We can estimate the new boundaries but thats all they are - estimates.
An elderly couple have been left devastated after their neighbours erected a two-metre high fence beside their home, directly blocking their view of the ocean.

Tensions have been building between John and Judy Dewar, aged 81, and 77, and their neighbours Simon Bicknell and Carol McLennan over the past four years regarding their properties in Napier, on New Zealand's North Island.

The Dewars live in a seaside home that sits on a block of land owned by their daughter and son-in-law.

At the side of their home is a 100m by 20m wide stretch of grass that is owned by Mr Bicknell and Ms McLennan.

On the other side of the grass is the beach.

It's understood that a feud between Mr Bicknell and the Dewars' daughter and son-in-law began over the parcel of land, which resulted in Mr Bicknell putting shipping containers over the grass, blocking their sea views.

An elderly couple have been left devastated after their neighbours erected a two-metre high fence beside their home, directly blocking their views of the ocean in New Zealand

Their latest move is the installation of the fence that went up at the end of March.

The fence sits just 50cm away from the existing low wooden fence the Dewars have on the property, and completely blocks any views of the ocean.

The patch of grass beside the Dewars' home is now scattered with two shipping containers, old cars as well as being cut off by the fence.

A crane is also seen in the yard in recent pictures of the property.

'We're constantly wondering what they're going to do next. It's no way to live,' Mrs Dewar told Stuff.

The Dewars have got their lawyers on the case who told Mr Bicknell and his partner the fence was breaching the Property Law Act.

'It is unreasonable to expect Mr and Mrs Dewar to live with the status quo, and they are not prepared to do so,' the letter sent to the couple read, the publication reported.

'They therefore seek the removal of the various items your clients have placed between the Dewars' house and the sea.'

The Dewars have even said they'll pay to have the fence removed and threatened to take legal action if nothing was done.

Mr Bicknell's lawyer Matt Lawson said the couple have responded to the legal letter saying they will remove the shipping containers and cars, but the fence is set to remain.

'There is no proposal to remove the fence at this stage,' Mr Lawson told the publication.

The nightmare began in May, 2020, when Mr Bicknell told the elderly couple he would be putting a shipping container in their backyard.

The Dewars have lived in their home since 2017 while Mr Bicknell and his partner moved in in 2015.

Tensions have been building between John and Judy Dewar (pictured), aged 81, and 77, and their neighbours Simon Bicknell and Carol McLennan over the past four years regarding their properties in Napier, in New Zealand 's north island

When the Dewars asked why the shipping container had been dropped outside their home, Mr Bicknell reportedly said 'I'm doing this because you're family', meaning they were related to their daughter and son-in-law who he had been feuding with.

The elderly couple took Mr Bicknell and Ms McLennan to court in August, 2021, hoping to receive an order for them to remove the shipping container.

Mr Bicknell told the court he had to place the container beside their home as it would interfere with his children's outdoor activities if it was anywhere else.

Judge David Harvey said he was satisfied that Mr Bicknell's actions had been 'malicious'.

'It was intentional, it was designed to distress,' the judge said.

But Judge Harvey didn't make the order as there was no law that recognised a person's right to a view.

'I find that Mr Bicknell's behaviour throughout this entire matter has been reprehensible, but he is entitled to judgment,' he said.

A second shipping container then appeared beside the Dewars' home in October last year, further blocking their view.

Tarpaulins were also set up between the containers.

'We moved here to be near our daughters and grandchildren. The first few years were ideal and we looked forward to spending the rest of our lives here with views of the sea. But the last four have been hell, to be honest,' Mrs Dewar said.

'The emotional and mental impact of this has been huge. We just find it impossible to believe that people would behave like Simon and Carol have.'
One in four transgender university applicants have been in the care system, compared with just one in 20 of their peers, a new study shows.

The Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) found 24 per cent of trans youngsters applying to courses have been in local authority care, while only four per cent of other applicants have.

In addition, trans applicants were more likely to come from deprived areas than their peers - 18 per cent compared with 13 per cent.

But while disadvantage appears to be over-represented among trans students, so too does privilege.

Trans applicants were more likely to have been to private school - 16 per cent compared with 9 per cent of non-trans applicants.

Protesters draped in Rainbow Pride and Transgender flags wait to take part in a London Trans+ Pride march in July 2022

The report also found nearly half of trans applicants - 47 per cent - declare a disability, compared with 12 per cent of other applicants.

And more than a fifth - 22 per cent - declare a mental health condition, compared with three per cent generally.

Hepi estimates that nearly 39 per cent of trans people are of traditional university age - 18 to 21 - for at least some of the time they are transitioning.

It found trans students apply to higher education with lower attainment levels than students who are not trans. They also have consistently lower-than-average A-level grades and are less likely to apply for Oxbridge universities.

Trans students earn on average 2,000 less 15 months after graduation than their non-trans peers and are less likely to be in professional roles.

And the report found trans students are less likely to live at home during their studies - 24 per cent compared with 33 per cent generally.

This may be partly down to 46 per cent of trans young people being estranged from at least one relative, previous data has shown.

The report's authors, Josh Freeman and Rose Stephenson, called for more university support for trans students who may also have other challenges.

They said: 'Students who are estranged or care-experienced may need additional support through university, including through financial support and with year-round housing provision.

A protester holds a placard during the Trans Pride march in London in July 2022

'Ensuring that trans students can access this support at university is important to their success.'

Yesterday, campaigners suggested the challenges associated with being from extreme ends of the societal spectrum may be contributing to some youngsters' feelings of gender dysphoria.

Stephanie Davies-Arai, of Transgender Trend, said: 'For students away from their family and friendship groups for the first time, finding a way to fit in is the priority.

'As so many universities across the UK now elevate and celebrate all things 'trans', adopting a trans identity may the easiest way for vulnerable students to do this.'

A spokesman for Bayswater, a support group for parents of children who identify as trans, said: 'Parents of all vulnerable teenagers - whatever their socioeconomic background - are concerned that universities continue to promote an ideological rather than evidence-led approach to trans identity.

'Many universities signpost to gender clinics, which ignore underlying conditions such as autism, ADHD, trauma and eating disorders when agreeing with a patient's self-diagnosis.'

The report draws together existing data, new surveys and interviews with students.
Payments to asylum seekers in Ireland will be means tested within weeks, after a review found that more than a third of recipients have been claiming the State allowance while also working.

A memo to the country's Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys in April advised that annual savings of around 9.2million could be made through the introduction of means testing, the Irish Daily Mail can reveal.

An audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the State's spending watchdog, found that the State was not complying with existing regulations  which came into effect six years ago  by failing to means test asylum seekers.

A payment of 33 per week is currently made to adult asylum seekers, which amounts to a little over 131.90 a month, for those in State accommodation.

But that rises to 96.84 per week for those who cannot be provided with accommodation.

Payments to asylum seekers in Ireland will be means tested within weeks, after a review found some recipients have been claiming the allowance while working (Pictured: A tents belonging to an asylum seekers in Dublin)

A payment of 33 per week is currently made to adult asylum seekers, which amounts to a little over 131.90 a month (Pictured: Migrants at a makeshift camp in Dublin)

The audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) last year found that the Department of Social Protection was 'not in compliance' with regulations and should 'proceed with implementing income testing'.

The scheme is administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of the Department of Integration.

An internal memo prepared for Minister Humphreys by her officials and obtained by the Mail advised her to approve the introduction of means testing.

Regulations introduced in 2018 state that the Social Protection Minister 'shall assess the relevant portion of the recipient's weekly income' and where it 'exceeds the Daily Expenses Allowance, cease to pay the Daily Expenses Allowance'.

The relevant legislation was included in the memo to Ms Humphreys with a blunt assessment that the current policy is at odds with the legislation.

'DSP [the Department of Social Protection] were not in compliance with the regulations and that DSP should proceed with implementing income testing,' they wrote. 'This income test has not been implemented up to now,' they added.

Ms Humphreys signed an order on April 10 approving the introduction of means testing.

Her department confirmed when queried by the Mail that 'an income assessment' will come into effect from June.

The Mail also asked if the department has tried to recoup any of the payments received by asylum seekers if they were working and what this figure amounts to, but no response has yet been received.

A memo to the country's Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys (pictured) in April advised that annual savings of around 9.2million could be made through the introduction of means testing

Pictured: Asylum seekers pitch up tents along Dublin's Grand Canal. A review of all 'pull factors' making Ireland an enticing destination for asylum seekers is under way

A truck-mounted crane was deployed to tear the canvas structures away from the pavement in Dublin and deposit them into a skip

In updated advice now published online, the Government says: 'An income assessment is being introduced for the Daily Expenses Allowance with effect from June 2024, for persons 18 years or over.

For claims involving couples or families, the Daily Expenses Allowance payment of the person who has income may be reduced or withdrawn.

This will not impact on any payment in respect of other family members. Income includes pay from employment, self-employment and social welfare payments.

'The Daily Expenses Allowance payment will cease where a person has income of more than 125 per week for a combined total of 12 weeks or more.'

Figures provided by the Government for up to May 12 show that there are over 30,000 asylum seekers in State accommodation, including some 7,300 children. This has risen from 19,000 at the end of 2022, having soared from 7,200 at the end of 2021.

The majority are from Nigeria, Georgia, Algeria, Somalia, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. In the week of May 12, there were 459 arrivals, or 66 per day.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has told the Dail: 'Record numbers of people are now seeking protection in Europe and Ireland due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and, indeed, due to other conflicts across the world.

In excess of 138,000 people from Ukraine and asylum seekers from elsewhere have arrived in Ireland since the start of 2022.'

Following the publication of a white paper in February 2021, the Government committed to ending direct provision and introducing a new payment system.

However, the memo also states that the Department of Integration has been 'constrained' in its efforts to end direct provision since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

A spokesman for Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman did not reply to repeated queries from the Mail about the scheme.

In excess of 138,000 people from Ukraine and asylum seekers from elsewhere have arrived in Ireland since the start of 2022

People seeking international protection were moved from outside the International Protection Office on Mount Street this morning

Tents cluster near Dublin's Office of International Protection, serving as temporary homes for asylum seekers

Asylum seekers can apply for access to the labour market after six months here, while they wait for a decision on their application.

Ministers were briefed just last week that a review of all 'pull factors' making Ireland an enticing destination for asylum seekers is under way.

The Cabinet is divided on whether to extend the waiting time before asylum seekers can work beyond six months while their application is being processed. Two Cabinet sources told the Mail that extending the waiting time was 'on the table'.

However, on Monday Mr O'Gorman outlined his opposition to changing the rules, saying that the current system 'worked well'.
QUESTION It is now common for films to be adapted into TV series. What are the earliest examples of this?

These days successful films often make the transition from big screen to small; The Mandalorian (Star Wars), The Gentlemen, Fargo and Cobra Kai (The Karate Kid) are some successful examples.

The benchmark was set in the 1970s with M*A*S*H, the TV spin-off of Robert Altmans film about American medics in the Korean War. This was followed in the 1990s by Buffy The Vampire Slayer, in which Sarah Michelle Gellar was so successful in the leading role that few people remember Kristy Swanson was the original chosen one.

However, the TV spin-off is nothing new. The first big success was CBSs Mama. It was based on the 1943 novel Mamas Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes and the subsequent film I Remember Mama (1948). Set in the 1910s, it told the story of a Norwegian family in San Francisco. The light-hearted drama ran from 1949 until 1957 and became a must-watch for millions of Americans.

A shot from Lassie Came Home which featured Rodd McDowel (pictured) and came out in 1943

The benchmark was set in the 1970s with M*A*S*H, the TV spin-off of Robert Altmans film about American medics in the Korean War

Other early entrants include The Front Page (1949-50) about reporters on a police beat which was based on a 1928 Broadway comedy and a 1931 film. There were also the sci-fi series Buck Rogers and the detective drama Dick Tracy (both 1950-1951). These were both based on comic strips that became popular film serials in the 1930s.

The most successful was Lassie. British writer Eric Knights 1940 novel Lassie Come-Home, following the exploits of a courageous rough collie, was adapted into a feature film in 1943 that starred Roddy McDowall and Elizabeth Taylor. Lassie, the TV series, ran for 19 seasons between 1954 and 1973 and remains one of the best-loved shows of all time.

Elaine Murray, Inverness.

QUESTION Why has Berlin been cited as the least favourable place to site a nations capital?

In 1417, Frederick I, elector of Brandenburg, moved his capital from Brandenburg an der Havel to Berlin (stock image)

Berlins story is, to an extent, that of Germany.

Tomorrow's questions Q: What is the origin of the term fleapit when speaking about a local cinema? Jeff Rush, Chandlers Cross, Herts. Q: Does anyone remember girls romance comics such as Valentine and Serenade? Lea Drayton, North Hykeham, Lincs. Q: Who was the flying housewife who inspired a generation of young athletes? John Cotton, Belper, Derbys. Advertisement

Fate bequeathed Germany a difficult strategic geography. The country was situated in a central position among powerful rival states, with sparse natural defences. For centuries, petty German kingdoms, duchies and other minor states were the battleground for quarrels among the major powers of France, Austria and Russia.

Historically, there were dozens of German-speaking territories in Central Europe. Border regions were known as Mark (from the Old German for frontier). Mark Brandenburg was the largest and most important of these.

In 1417, Frederick I, elector of Brandenburg, moved his capital from Brandenburg an der Havel to Berlin, a flat, marshy area susceptible to invasion. However, Berlin had the advantage of being on the River Spree and Frederick I wanted to forge trade links along it.

During the 17th century, Brandenburg inherited the Duchy of Prussia and in 1701, Frederick III of Brandenburg declared himself King of Prussia and determined to establish Berlin as a modern city. He was followed by Frederick William I, the Soldier King, who instituted a huge army and efficient bureaucracy while his son, Frederick the Great, took the army to war, conquering the wealthy Austrian region of Silesia and proving Prussias military might.

This period established the supremacy of Prussia in Germany and Berlin as the nations capital.

Graeme Klein, Faversham, Kent.

QUESTION What determines the shape  and even colour  of a piece of fruit or vegetable?

Environmental conditions such as sunlight, temperature, soil nutrients, water availability and even latitude have influenced the development of fruits and vegetables (stock image)

This is the story of evolution. The shape and colour of a fruit or vegetable is determined by genetics, environmental factors and human intervention. Each plant species has its own genetic code that determines the general shape and colour of its fruits or vegetables.

Environmental conditions such as sunlight, temperature, soil nutrients, water availability and even latitude have influenced the development of fruits and vegetables.

Pollination may affect the shape and characteristics of fruits. It is speculated  although scientists claim the evidence is mixed  that the colours of fleshy fruits evolved in order to get the attention of certain animals, which would then eat them and ultimately spread their seeds.

In some cases, the shape and colour of fruits and vegetables may be influenced by the need to resist pests and diseases.

Over centuries, humans have selectively bred plants to emphasise desirable traits, including specific shapes, colours and flavours. This has resulted in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables with a diverse range of characteristics.

Dr Ian Smith, Cambridge.
The son of rodeo star Spencer Wright has tragically been declared brain dead after driving his toy tractor into a fast-moving river.

The horror unfolded on Tuesday in Beaver County, Utah, when three-year-old Levi Wright drove into a river and vanished under the water, leading to a desperate scramble to find him.

Levi's mother reportedly dove in and saved him before he was raced to hospital, but while life-saving measures restored his heartbeat, the boy never regained consciousness and was declared brain dead, reports ABC4.

In a heartbreaking statement to Facebook, it was said that Levi's 'sweet little brain was without oxygen too long and there is no coming back from that.'

Levi Wright, 3, the son of rodeo star Spencer Wright, was raced to hospital after driving his toy tractor into a fast-moving river stream

The boy's heartbroken family said that although Levi began breathing again, he was declared brain dead as his 'sweet little brain was without oxygen too long and there is no coming back from that'

When Levi drove into the river around 6pm Tuesday, it was reported that the person who called 911 frantically told the dispatcher that they couldn't see him under the fast-moving currents.

His mother reportedly realized he had sneaked off and ran to the river, and jumped into the currents to save him, with her friend saying she 'was the one who found him, she got him out.'

A huge response of rescue teams from the Beaver County Sheriff's Office, the Utah Highway Patrol, the Beaver County Search and Rescue team, and Beaver firefighters were quickly on the scene.

The crews administered life-saving efforts before an ambulance raced him to Beaver County hospital, and he was later airlifted to Salt Lake City via helicopter.

Wright's close friend and family spokesperson Mindy Sue Clark told ABC4 that he is being cared for at Salt Lake City Hospital, but unless he makes a dramatic recovery, he is not expected to survive.

In a statement shared by Clark, the family said Levi's heart is 'beating on its own', but he is not showing signs of rehabilitation.

'He has a will to breathe, but his sweet little brain was without oxygen too long and there is no coming back from that,' the family said.

'We cuddled him all night and feel strongly that his spirit is no longer with us. We cant be selfish and drag this out for days, he doesnt deserve that. Shortly we will stop care and hold him close until his last breath on earth. My Baby, my beans, Mom & Dad love you always and forever!'

Levi snuck away from his family in the toy tractor, and his mother reportedly dove into the river to save him after he disappeared under the currents

Levi's family said he is the 'sweetest, kindest little boy'

Spencer Wright, ranked 35th in the rodeo world rankings, and his family said the outpouring of support they have received 'means the world' to them

Clark added that the family will have 'more to share soon', but asked to 'please give them more time to navigate through this process.'

'Please send prayers for healing and comfort,' she said.

Although Levi has been declared brain dead, Clark said the family have not given up all hope and continue to watch for any signs of a recovery.

Clark previously told Fox13Now that after Levi was admitted to hospital, his uncle had been tickling his feet for a response, that led him to 'open his eyes a few times', however he did not recover further.

'Even though Levi is such a sweet and tender-hearted little boy, he's a boy through and through, he's a cowboy through and through, he's a Wright through and through,' she said at the time.

Clark described Levi as the 'sweetest, kindest little boy', adding: 'He will tell you he is a T-Rex, and he is as strong as a T-Rex.'

Levi's family described him as 'sweetest, kindest little boy', and that 'he will tell you he is a T-Rex, and he is as strong as a T-Rex'

The Wright family have not publicly spoken since the tragedy, but Clark said the support from the rodeo community 'means the world' to them.

Spencer Wright's family is among the most prominent in the history of rodeo, and his father, Bill Wright, was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

Spencer is ranked 35th in the world rankings, and his siblings are also renowned athletes in the sport.

ProRodeo CEO Tom Glause said in a statement: 'The entire ProRodeo communitys heart aches for the Wright family. We will continue to hold them in our thoughts and prayers.'
A desperate search is underway to find a missing woman and a one-year old girl.

Police are seeking public assistance to locate the woman, 24, and the young girl missing from Maryborough in the Fraser Coast region of Queensland.

The woman and child were last seen walking from Horsburgh Lane onto Bazaar Street, Maryborough at approximately 5pm on Wednesday and both have not been seen since.

Police and family have concerns for their welfare due to the woman having a medical condition.

The woman was last seen wearing a long-sleeve shirt and blue leggings, pushing a black pram.

Police are seeking public assistance to locate a 24-year-old woman and one-year-old girl missing from Maryborough

The woman and child were last seen walking from Horsburgh Lane onto Bazaar Street Maryborough

The girl was last seen wearing a pink jumper and cream-coloured pants.

Anyone with information about their whereabouts, or CCTV footage of the area, is urged to contact police.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hours per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers.

Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au

Quote this reference number: QP2400870276
Rishi Sunak faced a backlash from some nervous Tories yesterday after he called a shock snap election  despite his party's dire poll ratings.

Rumours have emerged that Conservative MPs are working on a plot to call off the election and oust the Prime Minister by writing letters of no confidence to 1922 Committee chair Sir Graham Brady.

But the rebels will have to act fast to prevent the election before Parliament is dissolved next Thursday.

Many MPs had expected an autumn poll when they hoped the story on the economy and flights to Rwanda would have improved further.

There are claims that Sir Graham has received 'several' more no confidence letters in the PM since talk of a snap election began.

Rishi Sunak (pictured) faced a backlash from some nervous Tories yesterday after he called the election  despite his party's dire poll ratings

Rumours have emerged that Conservative MPs are working on a plot to call off the election and oust the Prime Minister by writing letters of no confidence to 1922 Committee chair Sir Graham Brady (pictured)

One former minister said that the announcement yesterday was an 'absolute disaster' but suggested it can still be 'aborted' until Parliament is dissolved on May 30.

They said that Tory MPs who fear losing their seats could write to Sir Graham triggering a leadership ballot, which could stop the poll.

However, it is unclear how that could be achieved with Parliament only sitting until the end of this week.

Another said the the election announcement was 'absolutely madness' and a 'farce'.

As election fever grew in the morning, ministers cancelled interviews, foreign trips were pulled and MPs panicked at the prospect of losing their seats.

In order to attend Cabinet, Foreign Secretary David Cameron had to return early from Albania, where the streets had been adorned with Union Jack bunting and a giant portrait of him with the words 'Welcome Lord Cameron'.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps delayed a trip to eastern Europe and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt axed a scheduled television interview.

When the announcement came, it triggered a backlash against the PM, with one MP texting him: 'Are you off your rocker'. Another accused him of having a 'death wish' for going to the polls when the party languishes more than 20 points behind Labour.

MPs said many colleagues were 'frenzied' about the prospect of a July 4 election. Others joked that the only place there would be a celebratory party last night was Labour HQ.

While some on the Right of the party erupted in fury, others in the moderate One Nation caucus were more supportive. One made the point that despite two cuts to national insurance and better news on the economy, the polls are not moving. He added: 'Makes sense on a lot of levels to go now. Genuinely a snap.'

But one Tory MP said colleagues were 'furious', adding: 'He's pulled the rug from under us. I can't make rhyme nor reason of it. I can only think he's given up. That he's thrown in the towel.'

Rishi Sunak pictured announcing the July 4 General Election outside 10 Downing Street

There was also talk of staging a coup to prevent Mr Sunak going to the King to dissolve Parliament by calling a vote of no confidence. Another said the PM should have held a meeting of the 1922 Committee of backbenchers to explain the announcement.

Most MPs were wearily resigned to their fates as they contemplated the loss of their seats  and the end of 14 years of Tory rule.

Some 65 Tory MPs are standing down at the next election. Many lamented that they would be unable to say proper goodbyes to their colleagues. As soon as Parliament is dissolved, all MPs head back to their constituencies to campaign for their seats until the election result.

But another MP said: 'To be honest I think many of my colleagues just want to get the damn thing out of the way.' Yet another welcomed the date, saying 'the sooner the better for me'. Special advisers lose their jobs when Parliament is dissolved  and the prospect of their return is highly unlikely.

And a former adviser said: 'Everyone thinks this is a disaster for the Tories.

'Classic Rishi not making strategic choices. And the optics of getting soaked? He deserves to lose.'

As rain drenched the umbrella-less PM and the New Labour victory song Things Can Only Get Better drowned out his speech, another ex-adviser said: 'How have they even messed this up?'

After May's dire local election results, many Tories had expected to sit tight till autumn  now they will go back to their constituencies to fight a battle many fear they will not win.
Aussie holidaymakers fear they will be forgotten on small islands adjacent to embattled New Caledonia as airports and other forms of transport shut down across the territory.

Rioting has continued on the French-controlled island as locals express their anger at electoral changes passed last week.

The protests have resulted in the deaths of six people while cars and roadblocks were set on fire around the capital, Noumea.

All domestic and international travel has been grounded during the unrest, forcing the Australian Government to launch two repatriation flights so far.

While more than 180 Aussies touched down in Brisbane on Tuesday, other holidaymakers on the country's smaller islands remain 'trapped'.

About 100 Aussies still remain trapped on New Caledonia after all travel to or from the country was halted as riots grip the Pacific nation (pictured)

Sydney woman, Sarah Melrose, said she feels 'unsafe' while waiting for news on repatriation from officials, nine days after she was supposed to leave.

The 35-year-old arrived in Noumea on May 8, before the riots, then made her way to the Isle of Pines, a 15-hectare island south-east of the main island.

Ms Melrose said her hotel, one of the few on the island, is slowly running out of food nine days after the riots started.

She has been in contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) but is yet to hear of any plans to get them home.

'So far they have no update or plans to help us it seems,' she told Yahoo.

'We're waiting to be called but they've told us the flights are only for people who are already in Noumea.

'We keep trying them every day but I'm not confident they understand we can't get to Noumea  and I'm scared they'll forget about those left on the islands.'

She estimated about 10 Aussies are trapped on the Isle of Pines, while 'many more' are on the several other smaller islands.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Senate leader, Penny Wong, said that Australia 'stands ready to undertake further flights as soon as approvals can be granted'.

'We have not been given clearances for additional flights,' she wrote on X.

'We know this is frustrating for the Australians who remain.

'We are working to ensure flights tomorrow.'

One of those Aussies is Sydney woman, Sarah Melrose (pictured), who was meant to leave the country nine days ago but is waiting on authorities to bring her back

She and two friends are trapped on one of the country's smaller islands, the Isle of Pines (pictured) where she says her hotel is quickly running out of food

It is unknown when those flights will be and where they will come from, however they can be announced on short notice.

DFAT warned all Aussies stuck in the country to be ready to leave at a moment's notice.

The protests were sparked by the French Government allowing French residents to vote in provincial elections, including New Caledonia.

A number of New Caledonians and the French territory's indigenous Kanak people saw the bill as a way to dilute the power of their vote in elections.

About 270 rioters have been arrested and a 12-hour curfew imposed from 6pm to 6am.

France has sent more than 1,000 security personnel, with hundreds more to join to help quell the unrest.

The reopening of the international airport for commercial flights will be reassessed on Thursday.

Australia has urged people to reconsider travel to New Caledonia.
Has received two notes after returning from funerals

A grieving mother has been left disgusted by an abusive note she received from a neighbour while attending a funeral.

The woman from Eagleby, a suburb in the city of Logan southeast of Brisbane, shared the note complaining about her barking dog on social media.

The note was addressed to her and read, 'Shut your f***in dog up you f***head'.

She said this was the third note from the same neighbour.

The latest note was left at her door as she returned from her brother's funeral and she claimed to have received another after her daughter's funeral.

The woman had a defiant response to the note, 'I will not shut up my guard dog, get over it.'

The resident said this was the third note she had received from the same neighbour

The woman had a defiant response to the note, 'I will not shut up my guard dog, get over it'

The woman also said there were 10 other barking dogs in her street.

'I deal with barking dogs too and I am a shift worker who starts at various times of the day and night.

'Have the guts to come and see us when both cars are parked out the front,' she said.

Responses on social media to the woman's post were mixed, with some agreeing with her and others defending the neighbour for leaving the note.

'I am sure there is a better way to deal with it but excessive barking could be a problem too, maybe they are also shift workers trying to sleep,' one said.

Another agreed, posting that he has to put up with the constant barking of his neighbour's dog.

Others suggested the neighbour was barking up the wrong tree and should have complained directly, rather than leaving an anonymous note.

'At the end of the day the note is rude, the right (thing) to do is to say something politely after knocking on the door.'

Another appreciated how barking dogs provided security in the community.

'I love my neighbour's dogs as they let me know when someone is around, not only protecting their yard but my yard too.'

One resident offered some friendly advice: 'Some people will complain about the wind blowing a gentle breeze these days, because they need to get out of their boring houses and enjoy life.'

Logan City Council's website states that 'excessive barking' is when a dog barks, howls or whines 'for 6 minutes in an hour between 7:00am and 10:00pm on any day, or for 3 minutes in half an hour between 10:00pm and 7:00am on any day.'

The council encourages neighbours to talk to each other to resolve barking dog issues and offers advice on how to deal with barking dogs.
READ MORE: Two people die and a third left fighting for life after car hits tree

Car rolled several times and hit tree east of Perth

Teen is killed and two others left fighting for life

A teenager has died and two others are fighting for life after a horror rollover.

The three young men had been travelling in a blue Toyota Corolla hatchback when the vehicle came off the road, rolled several times and hit a tree in Gooseberry Hill, 21km east of Perth, at about 8.40pm on Wednesday.

The driver, a 17-year-old male, and an 18-year-old male passenger were airlifted by the RAC Rescue helicopter to Royal Perth Hospital.

A 16-year-old male passenger who suffered catastrophic injuries in the crash was rushed to Midland Hospital where he died a short time later.

One teenage boy has been killed and two others have been left fighting for life after a horror crash in Gooseberry Hill, east of Perth, on Wednesday night (the scene is pictured)

A Royal Perth Hospital spokesman said the two other teenagers remained in a critical condition on Thursday morning.

WA Premier Roger Cook said the death of any teenager in any motor vehicle accident was 'horrible and tragic'.

'We know that these kids are looking forward to the future. And just as a result of a split-second decision, lack of control, they can lose their lives,' Mr Cook said.

'It's just another reminder to, please, everyone out there that gets behind the wheel of a car to think about the consequences. '

'Think about your safety. Think about the safety of others.'

The driver, a 17-year-old male, and an 18-year-old male passenger were airlifted to hospital

WA Police said major crash investigators had launched an investigation.

Anyone with information or dash cam footage is urged to contact police.
A blazing row erupted in a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday over a Biden-nominated judge who put a 62 transgender woman convicted of multiple child rapes in a womens prison.

New York judge Sarah Netburn dismissed the Bureau of Prisons concern for female inmates safety and moved July Justine Shelby, born William McLain, to a womens prison in August 2022.

Shelby, 60, had previously been convicted in two separate Indiana state cases of child molestation of a nine-year-old boy and rape of a 17-year-old girl, served 18 years in state prison, then violated parole and was sentenced to 15 years in state prison in 2017 for distributing child porn.

During Netburns confirmation hearing for a federal judge position on Wednesday, Republican senators grilled her on the case.

Senator Ted Cruz lambasted Netburn for being willing to subjugate the rights of individuals to satisfy your political ideology, and Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana labeled her a political activist  accusations which the judge denied.

The hearing devolved into a screaming match between senators when Cruz accused Netburn of contradicting herself, as freshman California Senator Laphonza Butler struggled to regain control of proceedings.

You took a 62 serial child rapist with male genitalia, and he said you know Id like to be in a womens prison and your answer was that sounds great to me, Cruz said in a fiery tirade.

Let me ask you something, the other women in that prison, do they have any rights? Do they have the right not to have a 62 who is a repeat, serial rapist put in as their cellmate?

Netburn said that Shelby had serious medical needs and had engaged in no physical violence and no acts of sexual violence whatsoever after her first 18-year sentence.

Court documents show that Netburn dismissed the Bureau of Prisons concerns over the danger Shelby posed as overblown,' in a report she filed on August 3, 2022 ordering the inmate be transferred to FMC Carswell, a female federal correctional facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

While still going by the name William McLain, Shelby pleaded guilty to raping nine and 17-year-old children in 1994.

When he was released 18 years later, he violated his parole by using the internet in his apartment, and was imprisoned again until 2015.

Court documents say that after being released at age 51, Shelby started hormone therapy to transition genders in August 2015.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz got testy Wednesday during a back-and-forth with a Biden-nominee

Shelby is currently serving his sentence at the women's Federal Medical Center in Carswell, Texas

But Shelby was arrested again a year later after police discovered the rapist, now identifying as a woman, sent horrific, graphic child porn images to registered sex offender Beau Thornburgh, a boyfriend Shelby met during their 18-year stint in Indiana state prison.

Shelby pleaded guilty to child porn distribution and was sentenced by an Indianapolis federal court to 15 years, beginning in the New York medium security mens prison Otisville FCI.

She launched legal attempts to get out of prison that were unrelated to her gender, including claiming that she didnt get a proper legal defense. Those failed.

And when she claimed that she was being denied her constitutional rights by being housed with men, the Bureau of Prisons denied her claims, arguing that moving her to a womens prison would be traumatizing and possibly dangerous for the female inmates.

But in August 2022, Magistrate Judge Netburn overruled those concerns.

There are no signs that Petitioner is at risk of re-offending. The record is devoid of evidence of incidents of violence or assault during Petitioners incarceration, Netburn wrote.

She highlighted testimony from Shelby, who said: People see a 62 tattooed prisoner, I see a girl.

The judge ruled that a theoretical risk of sexual assault by Petitioner, without more, cannot support the BOPs position, and ordered Shelby moved to a womens prison.

The judicial nominee, Sarah Netburn, previously signed off on the transfer of a biologically male, child rapist to a women's prison

A report by the group Keep Prisons Single Sex USA, using data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, said that there about 1,980 transgender offenders in the federal system, of which 1,295 are transgender men  half of whom were incarcerated for sex offenses.

Last year, the number of federal inmates identifying as transgender increased by 23 percent.
EXCLUSIVE

A chiropractor who wrote a book promoting the practice of 'internal treatments' has been found guilty of professional misconduct after two female patients complained about his 'creepy' behaviour to police.

Dr Terry Power, 60, who worked at the Powers Health Practice in Port Macquarie, faces being struck off the medical register after a tribunal found he had failed to obtain informed consent from two female patients.

In 2020, the two women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, made separate and unrelated complaints to NSW Police and the NSW Healthcare Complaints Commission.

The first woman alleged that Dr Power kneaded and squeezed her breast in a 'creepy' way, while the second alleged that he inserted two fingers into her vagina.

In August 2020, Dr Power was charged with 'sexual intercourse without consent' by NSW Police in relation to the second patient but the charges were dropped six months later.

He was also banned from consulting and treating female patients in August 2020 and has not practiced since.

But now, a NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal brought by the Health Care Complaints Commission has found that Dr Power was guilty of professional misconduct.

Dr Terry Power (pictured), 60, who worked at the Powers Health Practice in Port Macquarie, faces being struck off the medical register after a tribunal found he had failed to obtain informed consent from two female patients

Dr Power denied that he had kneaded and squeezed the patient's breast.

Although he admitted to inserting his fingers into the other patient's vagina, he denied that he did so without 'proper and sufficient clinical indications'.

The first patient, who was then in her early 50s, alleged that 'Dr Power kneaded and squeezed her right breast for about a minute' during her first-and-only consultation with him in May 2020.

She told police that she had experienced 'nothing like this ever with any doctor or chiropractor', adding that it was 'like he was just playing with my breast'.

'Patient A said Dr Power then moved his hand "to right under my right breast" and went "right up into the crease against my rib cage  pushing quite hard", the pocle statemnt said.

'After a little while Dr Power said, "Ah, its your liver  Youre angry."

'At some point Dr Power asked Patient A whether she was in a relationship, to which she answered "no".

'Later he asked, "Are you angry at your ex-partner, Im getting the impression you are angry at your ex".'

Dr Power denied 'kneading or squeezing' the patient's breasts but the tribunal found hat he did so on the balance of probabilities

Dr Power, who had a 36-year career as a chiropractor, ran the Powers Health Practice (pictured) with his wife

The woman later told the HCCC that she was 'in shock (because) it was creepy', claiming the breast examination was 'like he was kneading dough'.

Dr Power denied 'kneading or squeezing' the patient's breasts but the tribunal found hat he did so on the balance of probabilities.

The tribunal also heard from the police statement the second patient provided in August 2020.

In it, she claimed Dr Power had asked her how she would 'feel about an internal' to which she said yes - if it would help relieve her pain.

'While standing to her side, Dr Power put on white latex gloves and then inserted two gloved fingers into her vagina,' the statement read.

'This caused some pain and discomfort. The Patient could feel Dr Powers fingers pressing on parts of her body inside her vagina, "it hurt like hell and I wanted to scream".'

After around a minute had passed, Dr Powers removed his fingers.

The patient later described the consultation as 'weird' to family members.

The procedure is known as an 'intravaginal technique', which uses internal vaginal soft tissue massage to relieve pelvic pain by accessing muscles that a doctor could not reach externally.

The tribunal found that Dr Power did not gain informed consent from the patient because he did not adequately explain what the procedure entailed, meaning his conduct 'fell significantly below the relevant standard'.

'Dr Powers combined failures were egregious and amounted to a significant departure from the standard reasonably expected of any health practitioner, still less one of his significant experience,' the tribunal found.

A spokesperson for the HCCC said 'Dr Power was found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct'.

'It was also alleged that Dr Power failed to notify Ahpra within 7 days of being charged in August 2020 with an offence of sexual intercourse without consent and later made a false declaration in his annual renewal form concerning this change to his criminal history,' the spokesperson added.

Dr Power, who had a 36-year career as a chiropractor, ran the Powers Health Practice with his wife.

It is understood she still practices there.

Dr Power published 'The Inner Pelvis: Pelvic Floor and Wall Manual for Chiropractors and Other Health Professionals' in October 2020 - two months after he was barred from treating female patients.

A blurb for the health manual argues that 'not all muscles and fascia of the pelvis are able to be treated from external treatments'.

Dr Power published 'The Inner Pelvis: Pelvic Floor and Wall Manual for Chiropractors and Other Health Professionals' in October 2020 - two months after he was barred from treating female patients. The book argues that chiropractors, osteopaths or physiotherapists are the best medical professionals to perform 'internal' pelvic treatments

'In order to help some patients who have an internal myofascial pain syndrome, that can affect pain or bowel, bladder or gynecological symptoms, a well-trained therapist may need to treat those areas internally,' the blurb states.

'In addition, there are some joints that at times need to be treated internally. This is a special expertise of well trained musculoskeletal health professionals.'

The book argues that chiropractors, osteopaths or physiotherapists are the best medical professionals to perform these 'internal treatments'.

Dr Power has been approached for comment.

His disciplinary orders will be decided at a future hearing.
An Australian dad allegedly caught with meth in Bali will be reunited with his wife after being moved out of jail and into rehab - as the 'pain and suffering' he has caused his loved ones is revealed.

Troy Smith, from Port Lincoln in South Australia, was allegedly caught with 3.19g of methamphetamine at Champlung Mas Hotel in Legian, Bali, on April 30.

Police allegedly found a further 0.4g of the drug that had been bought in Bali, along with a bong and a lighter.

Mr Smith, 49, was initially charged with drug possession, which carries a maximum sentence of 12 years, but was later charged with drug trafficking.

He had been languishing in a shared prison cell with 12 other inmates inside a notorious prison but was released into a rehabilitation facility on Wednesday night.

Now, it has been revealed that his new wife Tracy Ijusa will be able to visit him in rehab.

The pair, who met on Tinder, were wed in her hometown of Nairobi, Kenya's capital, in December.

Troy Smith (pictured0, from Port Lincoln in South Australia , was allegedly caught with 3.19g of methamphetamine at Champlung Mas Hotel in Legian, Bali, on April 30. He had been held in a shared prison cell before being released to a rehab facility on Wednesday night

Now he faces the prospect of being reunited with his wife Tracy (pictured) who he married in December last year

'Troy is coming to terms with his addiction and has begun the difficult journey to recovery,' John McLeod, director of the consultancy firm Mr Smith's family has hired, said.

'He is now clean from drugs and alcohol, and the sobering reflection of the pain and suffering he has caused his loved ones over the years is real and confronting.

'Tracy will be able to visit Troy under the policies of the rehabilitation facility, no special arrangements have been made.'

Mr McLeod, a high-profile fixer who runs Tora Solutions, helped free Schapelle Corby from Kerobokan Prison in 2014 after she was charged with drug trafficking.

It had been reported that Mr Smith was struggling in the crowded concrete cell at police headquarters in Denpasar with only a bucket to use as a toilet.

Mr Smith's lawyer, Edward Pangkahili, said that Mr Smith had been crying in jail and was very stressed following the charges, The Advertiser reported.

Mr Smith's lawyers said the drug package was allegedly sent to him by a friend as thanks for helping with the purchase of a car, and Mr Smith did not know what it contained.

The father is a newlywed after meeting his wife, Tracy Ijusa, on Tinder and marrying in her native Kenya in late December

Troy Smith, 49, has been moved from a crowded cell to a rehabilitation centre, in what could be seen as a positive move for the father

At a press conference on Monday, one of Mr Smith's lawyers, Sienny Karmana, claimed his client had tried to evade arrest 'because he was scared', with police firing two warning shots into the air before he was detained.

'Police said that he tried to run away, but police got him back. They fired shots into the air, he was surprised and then he fell down and then police got him,' she said.

Mr Smith struggled with alcoholism earlier in his life, which resulted in his children cutting off contact with him and his marriage breaking down.

Just weeks ago, he was enjoying a globetrotting life as a newlywed, having tied the knot with his wife.

'I've had an interesting last twelve years,' Mr Smith said in a video.

'Chronic alcoholic, absolutely hit rock bottom. You couldn't have drunk any more than me.

'I didn't see any way out and I probably should be dead to be honest. Kids don't speak to me anymore.

'But then in the most bizarre of circumstances, in a Tinder meeting I met this girl in Nairobi and I've since been to Bali.

'Now I'm loving life. This girl gives me motivation to do everything. She's my life now.'
He testified in court on Tuesday that his cocaine addiction made him violent

A TikTok star accused of murdering his wife and her 'lover' told a court that he 'snapped' after she bragged about sleeping with one of his friends.

Ali Abulaban, 32, who went by the handle JinnKid on social media, is accused of shooting his wife, Ana Abulaban, 28, and her friend Rayburn Cadenas Barron, 29 on October 21, 2021, in San Diego.

Abulaban took the stand for trial on Tuesday to face first-degree murder charges - but Tuesday's day-long testimony didn't even get the chance to touch on the events of October 21.

The TikToker, who has a history of domestic violence, was allegedly kicked out of the couple's apartment at the Spire San Diego luxury apartment complex.

Prosecutors allege that he secretly obtained a room key and gunned down his wife and Barron while they sat on the couch.

Ali Abulaban, 32 (pictured left), who went by the handle JinnKid on social media, is accused of shooting his wife , Ana Abulaban, 28 (pictured right), and her friend Rayburn Cadenas Barron, 29 on October 21, 2021, in San Diego

Abulaban took the stand for trial on Tuesday to face first-degree murder charges

During Tuesday's testimony, Abulaban admitted to punching and pushing his wife on various occasions - but claimed that he would have never done so before the family moved from Virginia to San Diego in early 2021.

Abulaban then painted a picture of the volatile state of his relationship with Ana following the couple's move - a decision he insists was driven by his wife.

Ana became obsessed with moving to San Diego - and grew angry if anything interfered with their plans to move, according to Abulaban.

After his brother suffered a mental health episode, Abulaban wanted to postpone the move - but Ana allegedly said 'take me to San Diego or I'm divorcing you.'

When the pair finally moved, they dove head first into a life of drugs and partying - a lifestyle which was allegedly brought on by Ana's friend group. Abulaban claims he felt like an outcast and struggled to fit in during his time in San Diego.

'We were a close-knit unit and then we brought in these friends into our life,' Abulaban testified.

Abulaban said the pair began arguing frequently about alleged infidelity on both sides. He recalls a particular fight in July 2021 in which Ana claimed she had slept with one of his friends.

High on cocaine at the time, Abulaban said the remark 'shook me and I snapped.' He then punched her three times in the face.

The accused murderer testified in court that he was using cocaine to cope with his emotional struggles, but that the drugs were making him violent and aggressive.

A few days after the argument, the couple fought again because Ana was going to a girls only party, which Abulaban felt was an attempt from her friends to ostracize her.

PICTURED: Victim Rayburn Barron on his Facebook page. Prosecutors said that the jealous Tiktoker believed that his wife was cheating on him with Rayburn, as Brast said that Ana and Ali had already been separated 'for quite some time' before that

Abulaban then painted a picture of the volatile state of his relationship with Ana following the couple's move - a decision he insists was driven by his wife

He was also concerned because his wife mentioned bringing their young daughter to the party, which he felt would not be appropriate because he assumed there would be drugs there.

He testified that he tried to block Ana from leaving through the front door and in his effort to keep her out, pushed her and she struck her head against their refrigerator.

Prosecutors previously said Abulaban had surreptitiously installed a listening device on his five-year-old daughter's tablet device, and when he heard his wife and another man talking, he went to her apartment in San Diego and shot them to death.

Around 3.10pm on the day of the slayings, police discovered both victims dead on the 35th floor of the Spire San Diego luxury apartment complex.

Prosecutors said that the 'jealous' TikToker believed that his wife was cheating on him with Rayburn, as Brast said that Ana and Abulaban had already been separated 'for quite some time' before that.

According to Brast, Ana had asked her husband to move out on October 18 as he checked into a hotel.

Three days later, Brast said, Abulaban sneaked back into the apartment and trashed it while his wife was gone. While he was there, she said that he also installed the listening app on his daughter's iPad.

Prosecutors believe that Abulaban copied a key to Anna's apartment and used it to get in.

Abulaban then listened to the app hours later and heard his wife and a man talking and giggling, before he raced back to the high-rise, Brast said.

Security camera video showed him running out of the elevator on the 35th floor toward the apartment.

Brast said Abulaban shot Rayburn three times at close range - in the neck, cheek and back of the head - before he turned the gun on his wife, shooting her once in the forehead.

Abulaban faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of all counts and allegations and jurors are expected to begin deliberating toward the end of the week

Pictured: Abulaban alongside his wife in one of his viral TikTok videos

The suspect then called his mother and confessed, Brast said.

'The defendant then fled the building, went to pick up his daughter from school, still had the loaded gun in his car,' Brast said. '[He] told his daughter that he "hurt mommy" and then he was soon apprehended by the police.'

With his young daughter still in the car, Abulaban was stopped by police later that day and arrested, according to investigators.

Abulaban faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of all counts and allegations and jurors are expected to begin deliberating toward the end of the week.
A Minnesota mother shared her horror after discovering her nine-year-old daughter was ambushed on the school playground because she 'wasn't Muslim.'

Shawna Larson, 33, told Alpha News' Liz Collins that her daughter was attacked on April 29 while at Hidden Valley Elementary in Savage, MN.

She said that she was stunned to be approached by her daughter's teachers and told that four female classmates set upon her 'due to her race and her religion because she wasn't Muslim.'

'So that was pretty jarring to hear,' Larson added.

Shawna Larson, 33, said she was stunned to be told that her nine-year-old daughter was ambushed on the school playground because she 'wasn't Muslim'

The Minnesota mother said her daughter developed heavy bruising from the attack, after four classmates pulled her to the ground by her hair before punching and kicking her

After first being told about the bullying incident, Larson said she was shocked by the bullying but was initially glad that it didn't appear to have caused any real damage.

But by the next day, she said she realized that it was worse than she feared as her daughter began to bruise heavily.

'Thats when we noticed that she had a black eye, and we immediately took a picture of it,' she said.

'When she came home that day, I just kind of looked her over and she had bruises on her arms and a bruise on her back, bruises all over her legs.'

Larson pried details of the attack from her daughter after realizing the extent of her injuries, and was told by the nine-year-old that the girls pulled her to the floor by her hair before punching and kicking her.

'She told me she tried to get up and when she tried to get up and go for help the first time, and I believe it was the first time that they had gotten her on the ground, that she was trying to fight back,' she said.

'They had told her that if she hit them or she touched them, that they would hurt themselves and tell the teacher that she had hurt them.'

Larson said her daughter admitted that 'all I could do there is lay there, Mom.'

The mother slammed the response from her daughter's school over the attack, and particularly pointed to camera footage that she said showed the group of bullies running out of camera view to carry out the ambush.

'My daughter hadnt done anything to initiate this or create what had happened. This was just because of her race and her religion. So that was a big thing,' she said.

The day after learning of the ambush, Larson said her daughter began to develop heavy bruising on her arms, legs and back

Larson said her daughter's bullies threatened her not to fight back, and later admitted to her mother that 'all I could do there is lay there, Mom'

Larson stressed that she believes if a group of Christian students had done the same to a Muslim child, there would be a nationwide outcry. .

'This would be all over national news. You know, and it shouldnt be that way. Our children shouldnt even be in the media for stuff like this in the first place,' she said.

'The same outrage should be there for every child because no child should be attacked on a playground and made to feel unsafe at school because her attackers are still there.'

Larson said she decided to report the attack to the Savage Police Department, because the school district failed to.

'Just the lack of action the school was taking, which I do understand to a point that the school has their own rules and their own laws that they have to follow,' she continued.

'But the fact that because this was race and religion fueled, the fact that they were never suspended or expelled from school or redirected to distance learning instead of continuing to stay in the classroom.'

In a statement to Alpha News, the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District said student safety was a 'top priority' but declined to offer specifics.

'We cant share any private data about students, including specifics about student behavior or discipline,' the statement read.

'Student and staff safety is our top priority, and we take any incident that could endanger others very seriously.

'Were committed to working with families as we do that, and as always, we follow our established policies and procedures when it comes to student behavior, which are outlined in the board-approved student handbook.'

The mother criticized the response from her daughter's school Hidden Valley Elementary in Savage, Minnesota (pictured) and said she filed a police report when the school district didn't

Larson concluded that although she didn't want her daughter to switch classes, she was forced to as two of her attackers shared a classroom with her.

'I thought that if anybody should have to switch classes, it should have been the students who attacked my daughter because I feel like her having to move is telling her that she did something wrong and she didnt do anything wrong,' she said.

'She just was outside playing on the playground that day.

'But ultimately, it came down to her just not feeling safe and we let this be her decision and her decision was that she wanted to move because she didnt feel safe.'
Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz will get married in June

Brittany Higgins' lawyers have revealed she will marry her fiance David Sharaz in early June.

The wedding date was revealed on Thursday when legal teams for Ms Higgins returned to WA Supreme Court amid Senator Linda Reynolds' defamation action against her.

Ms Reynolds is suing Ms Higgins for social media posts which she claims damaged her reputation.

Outside court on Thursday, Ms Reynolds' lawyer Martin Bennett said he made an application to get a copy of documentation relating to a trust account in her name.

The Brittany Higgins Protective Trust was established in February last year after she was given $2.4million in compensation over the way her rape claims were handled between 2019 and 2021.

Chief Justice Peter Quinlan was told Ms Higgins was getting married early next month and her lawyers would need more time to prepare submissions for the application.

David Sharaz propsed to Brittany Higgins in Byron Bay on New Years Eve in 2022 (pictured)

Brittany Higgins is pictured in Byron Bay on December 31, 2022, just after David Sharaz proposed to her

Mr Bennett said: 'We do not know who the trustee is, we do not know what law of Australia, Victoria, NSW or the ACT that governs it, we need to know those facts and we get that by finding a document.'

The application will try to determine who the trustee is and who to sue in the event Ms Higgins says she cannot pay damages, if she loses the case.

Chief Justice Peter Quinlan accommodated for her wedding date and ordered that the matter return to court for a directions hearing on June 17.

The matter is set down a six-week trial in July.

Ms Higgins and Ms Reynolds tried to settle the matter through mediation on Tuesday, but they were unable to reach an understanding.

Ms Reynolds' defamation case centres on social media posts fired off by Ms Higgins' in relation to her rape claims against her former colleague Bruce Lehrmann.

She is also suing Mr Sharaz over similar posts however, earlier in May, he said he would bow out of the legal stoush because he could not afford it.

The senator has remortgaged her house to cover the trial.

Linda Reynolds is pictured outside court on Tuesday, with her lawyer Martin Bennett

David Sharaz (pictured in Perth in March) is also being sued by Senator Reynolds

She claimed the social posts imply that she pressured Ms Higgins not to proceed with a police complaint about her rape claims, and that she interfered with Lehrmann's trial in 2022.

Ms Higgins is also accused of breaching a non-disparagement clause in a settlement contract she entered in 2021 that prevents her from speaking negatively about Ms Reynolds.

The senator is seeking aggravated damages, an injunction to stop Ms Higgins from publishing allegedly defamatory material, and another injunction to stop her from breaching the settlement contract.

Ms Reynolds first threatened legal action in July last year, claiming she has been the target of 'unwarranted criticism and abuse' since Ms Higgins went public with her rape claims in 2021.

Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz permanently relocated to France at the end of last year, having bought a house near Bordeaux.

In December, Ms Reynolds wrote a letter to Ms Higgins' lawyer Leon Zwier pointing to reports stating the former political staffer had permanently moved to France.

'If such reports are true, we consider that an application for freezing orders is appropriate,' the letter read.

'Please advise as a matter of urgency your client's intentions in respect of her travel to France and your availability to confer in respect of our client's proposed application.'

In April, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee found on a balance of probabilities that Lehrmann did rape Ms Higgins in Parliament House on March 23, 2019.

The finding marked the end of Lehrmann's defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson.
A former teenage speedway racing champion has been jailed for killing his sister's abusive boyfriend after he boasted, 'You should see what I do to her in the bedroom'.

Newcastle Supreme Court Justice Natalie Adams on Thursday said she was unable to say if Tyler King had intended to kill Jesse Tattersall and was sentencing him on the basis he wanted to cause Tattersall grievous bodily harm in the hope he would never hurt his sister again.

After stabbing Tattersall twice, King told his sister, 'No one's going to f***n' hit you again, no one's going to hurt you again' before stabbing Tattersall a third time.

King, 27, of Budgewoi, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Tattersall, 33, at Hamlyn Terrace on September 8, 2022.

Justice Adams said King claimed, from his perspective, his sister Tenille was being violently attacked by Tattersall and he had to do something.

King, 27, of Budgewoi (pictured), pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Tattersall on September 8, 2022

The judge noted King (pictured) had been a talented speedway racer from a loving family

King (pictured) was jailed for six years and nine months with a minimum of four years and three months

'Tenille had told him she was scared of the deceased and asked him to come to the house to protect her,' the judge said when jailing King for six years and nine months, with a minimum of four years and three months.

'After that, the deceased had smashed his way into her property through a security door and immediately begun to violently assault her. She was defenceless against this attack.'

When King confronted Tattersall just after 8.10pm as he was dragging his sister through the living room, Tattersall said, 'Sorry bro, sorry bro. I won't hit her again.'

Tattersall, a father of two, then slammed King's head through a plasterboard wall before telling him, 'You should see what I do to her in the bedroom'.

King, who had been on bail for aggravated burglary, grabbed a knife from the kitchen as the pair fought and he stabbed Tattersall three times while Tenille tried to separate them.

Tattersall, who earlier in the night threatened to kill Tenille after an argument, stumbled out of the house, and collapsed and died outside a neighbour's home.

Justice Adams said it was clear Tattersall intended to assault Tenille and she accepted, to some degree, King had acted out of fear and panic.

'At the time of the assault by the deceased on Tenille, the deceased no doubt thought she was alone in her home and he could assault her freely. There was no evidence, when he commenced his physical assault on her, he knew Mr King was present.

'It is a feature of domestic violence offences that they often occur at home with no witnesses.'

The judge noted King had been a talented speedway racer from a loving family who left school and travelled to the United Kingdom to compete professionally at the age of 15 on a one-year contract but didn't have the success he expected.

He returned to Australia, never went back to school and his life spiralled out of control when he became addicted to drugs.

After stabbing Tattersall, King's then girlfriend, Maddison York, 21, called an Uber and the pair fled the scene before being arrested at Gorokan.

York, who pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to the killing, was convicted on Thursday but allowed to walk free after spending 19 months in prison following her arrest.

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A wheelchair motocross star has blasted Qantas, claiming the airline severely damaged his chair on a flight back from the US.

Timothy Lachlan travelled with the airline from Dallas, Texas to Sydney in February but claims his wheelchair was so badly damaged while on board, it is now unusable.

He said the wheels are now uneven and the smallest incline sends the wheelchair falling backwards.

Mr Lachlan has been using his custom-made chair for more than a decade but has since had to borrow one from a friend after the flight, claiming the wheels and guard were left bent and broken.

Timothy Lachlan travelled with the airline from Dallas, Texas to Sydney in February but claims his wheelchair was so badly damaged while on board, it is now unusable

'This wheelchair is basically my legs, Qantas has basically broken my legs,' he told Seven News.

The airline offered Mr Lachlan $3,500 in compensation, an increase of $1,000 to their initial offer, but said it would be 'subject to the receipt of a signed confidential settlement'.

'That's not even going to cover a set of wheels,' Mr Lachlan said.

Mr Lachlan, who is neurodivergent and lives with Spina Bifida and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (a condition affecting skin, joints and blood vessel walls), also works as an occupational therapist.

He said the damage to his wheelchair has left him unable to work.

Mr Lachlan said the wheels are now uneven and the smallest incline sends the wheelchair falling backwards

'I invite the CEO of Qantas to jump in this chair and tell me it doesn't need to be replaced,' Mr Lachlan said.

A Qantas spokesperson said: 'We sincerely apologise to Mr Lachlan for the damage caused to his wheelchair.

'We have offered him compensation and are waiting to hear back.'

Mr Lachlan gained notoriety in the wheelchair motocross world after becoming the first Australian to land a wheelchair backflip.

He was also selected to represent Adaptive Skating on the world stage alongside skateboarding superstar, Tony Hawk.
Nine people are dead, including a child, and at least 50 injured after strong winds caused a stage to collapse during an election rally in northern Mexico.

The terrified crowd fled on Wednesday night as lights and a giant screen crashed during longshot presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez's campaign event in Nuevo Leon.

Medical teams were seen moving bodies into vans as soldiers roamed a field littered with debris and campaign posters scattered on the ground.

Maynez escaped without serious injury, but some members of his team were being treated at the hospital. Their injuries remain unknown.

The presidential hopeful, who has suspended upcoming campaign events, said he would remain at the scene until the last injured person was taken to hospital.

Mexico's current President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he is sending 'a hug to family members, friends of the victims and political supporters.'

Vides on social media show the moment the stage collapsed into the large crowd on Wednesday night

Security forces cordon off the area after a stage collapsed due to a gust of wind during presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez's campaign event on Wednesday

BREAKING: Stage collapses during political rally in northeast Mexico. At least 4 dead, many injured pic.twitter.com/9Aik66gdyv  BNO News (@BNONews) May 23, 2024

The rally was held in San Pedro Garza Garcia, an affluent suburb outside the city of Monterrey.

Videos appeared to show Maynez waving at the crowd as they chant his name before realizing that a giant screen is about to topple onto him. He quickly dashes toward the back of the stage in an effort to avoid being crushed by the falling structure.

Horrifying footage shows how the terrified crowd screamed as they attempted to run away from the collapsing infrastructure.

Some attempted to climb out from under the metal polls that had fallen onto the large crowd.

Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia confirmed there were multiple fatalities in the accident, which he described it as 'a tragedy.'

'I regret to report that so far the number of people killed in the accident stands at eight adults and one minor,' Governor Garcia wrote on social media platform X.

Security forces stand around a stage that collapsed due to a gust of wind during a political rally in northern Mexico on Wednesday night

Citizens' Movement party president Jorge Alvarez Maynez reacts at the site after a gust of wind caused a structure to collapse, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries, at a campaign event for the Citizens' Movement party, in San Pedro Garza Garcia

A Mexican Red Cross rescuer checks a girl at the site after a gust of wind caused a structure to collapse at a campaign rally

The event was a closing campaign rally for the Citizens' Movement candidate for mayor of San Pedro Garza Garcia, Lorenia Canavati

On his social media accounts, Maynez posted that he had been taken to a nearby hospital following the accident at the campaign rally.

He said that he was okay, but that there had been 'victims' of the crash.

'I am fine and in communication with the authorities' over what happened, the 38-year-old wrote on X, adding that the 'only important thing at this point' was to take care of the victims.

The event was a closing campaign rally for the Citizens' Movement candidate for mayor of San Pedro Garza Garcia, Lorenia Canavati. Candidates for senators and lawmakers from the party also participated.

Rally attendee Jose Juan recounted how the structure came crashing down on the candidates and their supporters. He told broadcaster Televisa: 'It hit me on the head and I fainted. The rest was pure hysteria, pure panic.'

Mexico's meteorological service had earlier warned of heavy rain, wind gusts of up to 70 kilometers (43 miles) per hour and possible tornadoes in Nuevo Leon and other northern states.

Governor Garcia called on people to avoid going outside because of the storms.

At least 50 people were injured in the accident, some seriously. Medical teams were seen moving bodies into vans

Soldiers roamed a field littered with debris and campaign posters scattered on the ground

Electoral signs lay on the ground as security forces secure the area after a stage collapsed

Police vehicles and ambulances are seen at the site after a gust of wind caused a structure to collapse, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries

In a post on social media, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered his sympathies to the family members and friends of the victims.

The other two presidential candidates also expressed solidarity with those affected.

Frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum said that she was canceling a rally planned for Thursday in Monterrey, expressing 'solidarity with the family and friends of the victims.'

Main opposition presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez offered 'condolences and prayers' to the families of those killed and 'wishes for a speedy recovery to all the injured.'

The mayor of San Pedro Garza Garcia, Miguel Trevino, said 'my prayers are with the victims' after confirming that some people had been 'trapped and injured.'

Campaign events are being held across the country this week ahead of the anticipated June 2 presidential election, which will also include state and municipal elections.

A soldier stands guard after a gust of wind caused a structure to collapse, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries

Emergency personnel work at the site after a gust of wind caused a structure to collapse

A relief worker tends to a man after a stage collapsed due to a gust of wind during Alvarez Maynez's campaign event on Wednesday night

The lead up to the election has included a significant amount of political violence - including the murders of about two dozen candidates for various local offices.

The stage collapse is, however, the first accident of its kind to plague the campaign trail.

Alvarez Maynez has been polling behind the two frontrunners in the presidential race.

The favored candidate ahead of the forthcoming election is Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Morerna Part, and behind her is is opposition coalition candidate Xochitl Galvez.
Shocking video has showed the moment a female middle school teacher was thrown to the ground while she tried to break up a fight between two students.

The horrific incident took place at Hurshel Antwine Middle School in East El Paso, Texas on Monday, May 20.

In the unsettling footage, the female teacher can be seen frantically trying to get in the middle of the two students.

All of a sudden, one of the boys aggressively grabs the teacher and hurls her to the ground as fellow classmates cry out in shock.

After the teacher was thrown to the ground, the boy proceeded to launch himself at his opponent once again.

Shocking video showed the moment a female middle school teacher was thrown to the ground while she tried to break up a fight between two students

The pair continued to brawl, slamming into desks and sending fellow students scrambling out of the way in fear.

Finally, two other members of staff appeared to arrive in the doorway and ask 'what are you doing?' as they help the teacher, who was still on the ground in the corner of the room.

Video of the crazy fight has since gone viral online and the school's principal released a statement to concerned parents in light of the unnerving incident at the middle school.

In the unsettling footage, the female teacher can be seen frantically trying to get in the middle of the two students. All of a sudden, one of the boys aggressively grabs the teacher and hurls her to the ground as fellow classmates cry out in shock

'Hello, this is Patricia Fernandez, principal of Hurshel Antwine Middle School. I am calling to inform you that an altercation occurred among students in a classroom on our campus today,' the statement began.

'This was an isolated incident between individual students. The students involved are being addressed by administration and law enforcement, as appropriate.

'There was no threat to other students or the campus. Thank you for your continued trust and support of Hurshel Antwine Middle School and Team SISD.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Hurshel Antwine Middle School for comment.
The plane plummeted 6,000 feet in just five minutes

The number of Australians confirmed to have been hospitalised after deadly turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight forced an emergency landing has increased.

Almost 60 Australians on-board flight SQ321 from London to Singapore on Tuesday when the plane suddenly plunged more than 6,000 feet (about 1.8km) in just five minutes.

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was travelling near the Gulf of Martabar, off the coast of Myanmar, when it struck an air pocket which caused wild turbulence.

Australian officials were helping 12 Australian citizens and one permanent resident in hospital in Bangkok who were injured during the incident, a Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said on Thursday.

Another Australian had been hospitalised but has since been discharged, the spokesperson said.

'The Australian government offers its sympathies to those affected by the Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 incident,' they said in a statement.

The number of Australians in hospital being treated for injuries after the horror Singapore Airlines flight has increased to 13, including a permanent resident

Some of the 56 Australians on board the flight have begun making their way home as relieved passengers touched down in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Beverley Mayers recalled non-stop tears after getting off the plane.

'My son has come to pick me up and I said to him, 'I have to stay with you tonight and see my other children, and just hold them close',' she told Nine News.

Another passenger, Ali Buhari, was travelling home from his honeymoon with his wife when the turbulence kicked in.

He said the cabin became a scene of bloody chaos as other passengers were flung from their seats.

Mr Buhari and many others 'temporarily blacked out' during the freefall and only realised the damage the drop caused after 'coming back into their senses'.

'I saw ... a fellow who was sitting right in front of me, he's full on his side in the aisle,' he told Sunrise.

'(There were) people are all over the place. There's blood on the ceiling ... a lot of the oxygen masks have come down as well.'

While other passengers were bleeding and had other injuries, the newlyweds were luckily unscathed during the incident as they both had their seatbelts on.

'I myself usually don't have my belt on when I go on flights once the seatbelt lights off, but just by chance, this time I just had it on,' he said.

'I'm really lucky 'cause it did save us.'

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was travelling near the Gulf of Martabar, off the coast of Myanmar, when it plummeted 6,000 feet in five minutes and causing chaos on board

A 73-year-old British man died of a suspected heart attack while dozens more were injured after being flung around the cabin (pictured, blood on the ceiling)

A 73-year-old British man died of a suspected heart attack after the plane plunged in mid-air and sent passengers flying around the cabin.

At least 30 passengers were injured 10 hours into the flight from London to Singapore after it hit an air pocket.

While traumatising, the severe level of turbulence was uncommon, Australian and International Pilots Association safety and technical director Steve Cornell said.

There would have been less injuries if passengers had kept their seatbelts fastened, even when the sign was off, he said.

Singapore Airlines CEO, Goh Choon Phong, said in a statement that he and the airline extend their condolences to 'the family and loved ones of the passenger who passed away'.

'We are deeply saddened by this incident, and are committed to providing all necessary support and assistance to the passengers and crew members who were on board SQ321, as well as their families and loved ones.'

He added the airline had 'swiftly dispatched a team' to Bangkok to aid crew on the ground.
A 12-year-old boy suffered 'horrific' injuries when a bus driver allegedly drove off with the boy's foot trapped in the vehicle's door, dragging him 300metres.

Schoolboy Jeremy Thompson was getting on the bus with friends in Mandurah, Western Australia, 71kilometres south of the state capital Perth.

But before he was fully on the bus, the driver allegedly shut the door and drove away, smashing Jeremy's pelvis and hand and ripping skin from his back.

His friends and other witnesses yelled out about what was happening, but the driver reportedly accelerated the bus and dragged the boy along the road.

'I took one foot on the bus, he closed it and he dragged me from the bus stop all the way to the lights,' Jeremy told 9News.

Schoolboy Jeremy Thompson (pictured) was seriously injured when a bus driver allegedly trapped his foot in the vehicle's door and drove off, dragging him 300metres

'If I leant back more my head would have went into the wheel.

'He just closed the doors, the boys were telling him to stop and they like, kicked the door and stuff ... telling him to stop but he just kept going.'

Witness Jamie Phillips said she chased the bus, shouting at the driver to stop.

'I heard a boy yelling and banging, "Let me in, let me in", and when I turned he was like obviously banging on the bus door,' she said.

'So he began to hop and then lost his footing and then was dragged by the bus.'

Jeremy was allegedly dragged along busy Pinjarra Road, which has a speed limit of 60km/h, before the driver stopped at the Mandurah Road intersection traffic lights.

Witnesses said he opened the door to release the boy and then drove off.

The boy was taken to the Peel Health Campus then transferred to the Children's Hospital in Perth, where he had two skin grafts.

The Public Transport Authority (PTA) said the bus driver had been stood down, pending an investigation.

'During the incident a 12-year-old boy had his foot stuck in the door and received injuries after being dragged by the bus,' it said in a statement.

'The PTA can confirm the driver of the bus has since been stood down by our contractor.

'As the matter is under investigation by police, we cannot comment further at this time.

'The PTA and its contractor are assisting with the inquiries.'

WA Premier Roger Cook said Jeremy's were 'horrific' and that there may be a police investigation into what happened.

Witness Jamie Phillips (pictured) said she chased the bus, shouting at the driver to stop

'I took one foot on the bus, he closed it and he dragged me from the bus stop all the way to the lights,' Jeremy said. A Transperth bus door is pictured

'This is a very distressing report and I believe the bus driver involved has been stood down,' Mr Cook said.

'The PTA will undertake a thorough investigation and potentially the police as well.'

Jeremy's grandmother Brenda Hart - who he had been on the way to visit by bus - said the trauma had left him with nightmares.

'At nighttime, he's waking up screaming, so I need to try to organise some counselling for that,' she said.
More than 1,000 people were killed during the Nazi occupation of Alderney during World War Two but the island was no 'mini-Auschwitz', a new report has found.

A review conducted by a panel of international experts has provided a shocking insight into the exact number of prisoners and labourers who died on the German-occupied Channel Island between 1941 to 1945.

The panel found that between 641 and 1,027 people, which included Jews, prisoners of war and some Romanis, died as a result of ill-treatment on the island after earlier figures suggested there had been only 389 deaths.

But while labourers were subject to atrocious conditions and executions, the site did not constitute a 'mini-Auschwitz', the report added.

The review was commissioned last year by Lord Eric Pickles, UK Special Envoy on Post Holocaust Issues with an aim to dispel conspiracy theories and misinformation about the island.

More than 1,000 people were killed during the Nazi occupation of the Islands during World War Two. Pictured: German officers pose outside Lloyds Bank in St Annes, Alderney

Captives comprising of Jews, prisoners of war and some Romanis, who were transported to Alderney to build fortifications as part of the German war effort. Pictued: German troops march through the main street of Alderney during the occupation

The remains of Battery Annes on Alderney, which formerly an open naval gun battery position that formed part of Hitler's Atlantic Wall defence against Allied invasion

The Alderney Expert Review Panel calculated that the minimum number of prisoners or labourers sent to Alderney during the German occupation was between 7,608 and 7,812 people.

Labourers were transported there from countries across Europe to build fortifications as part of the German war effort.

They were housed in camps that shared many similarities with those in mainland Europe - and the labourers were subject to atrocious living and working conditions and executions.

The investigation was launched to dispel conspiracy theories and provide the most accurate figure of those who lost their lives on the island.

The report also aims to bring justice for those who died, and ensure that this period of history, and the Holocaust, is 'remembered fully and accurately.'

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said: 'The findings of the review are a significant and welcome development. Having an authoritative account of this harrowing element of the island's history is vital.

'It enables us to accurately remember the individuals who so tragically suffered and died on British soil. Marking the relevant sites will now be an appropriate step to take, to ensure that this information is widely available.'

The panel also investigated why German perpetrators were not tried by Britain for war crimes committed in Alderney and concluded that an investigation carried out in Alderney immediately after the war was 'wholly serious in intent'.

But because most of the victims were Soviet citizens, the case was handed over to the Russians. And in exchange, Germans who murdered British servicemen in Stalag Luft III during the 'Great Escape' were handed over to Britain.

The broken remains of Sylt concentration camp on Alderney which was destroyed by the fleeing Nazis in 1945

People visit a German bunker on the island of Alderney, in Guernsey where thousands of labourers were killed during WW2

A model of a German officer is displayed inside The Odeon, a 15-metre high, concrete naval range-finding tower that was built by forced labourers on Alderney

A plaque on the island of Alderney reads 'In memory of all foreign labour who died in Alderney between the years 1940 - 1945. They also served.'

The report says the Soviet Union did not follow up the Alderney case and were thus responsible for the failure to bring the perpetrators to justice, causing much anger among members of the British government.

A spokesman for the States of Alderney today welcomed the work to establish the most accurate information possible, based on comprehensive evidence and rigorous analysis.

'While the events that took place in Alderney do not compare in scale with other parts of Europe, it is a harrowing part of the Island's history which its community continue to remember and commemorate. In fact, today's publication comes just a few days after the annual service by the Island at its dedicated memorial. '

The President of the States of Alderney, William Tate, said: ' On behalf of the States of Alderney and our community, I would like to express my deep gratitude to Lord Pickles and the Review Panel for their dedication in resolving an important issue which has been the subject of much debate for many years.

'The review makes clear what terrible conditions the people who had been brought to the Island had to endure and how cheap their lives were to the occupying forces.

'The brave Islanders who returned home in 1945, having been evacuated in 1940, saw first hand the devastation that had been wrought upon their Island home.

'As a community we will never forget the suffering that these poor souls endured and the tragic loss of life, resulting from the callous and inhumane behaviour of the occupying forces.'

Dr Carr, Associate Professor in Archaeology at Cambridge's Institute of Continuing Education, and Fellow of St Catharine's College, who co-ordinated the panel, said: 'I am proud of the way the team of experts came together to provide answers to the questions set by Lord Pickles.

'It shows what can be achieved when you bring together the right people with the right experience and expertise who are committed to working in memory of those who suffered in Alderney during the Occupation.'
Gen Z police recruits do not want to work overtime or weekends and rotas should take into account their 'work-life balance', bosses have been warned.

Young people have a 'different expectation' of work-life balance and police forces must alter its working demands if they are to appeal to Gen Zers - those born in 1997 or later - Chief Superintendent Rob Hay, the president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS), said.

Speaking at the group's centenary conference, Chief Superintendent Hay said: 'Young people don't want to come in and work overtime, they want their weekends off, they aren't like Gen X that came in before them.'

Sleep expert Dr Sophie Bostock, also appearing at the conference, told attendees that officers should request afternoon naps and schedule in 'intimate time' with their partners, the Times reports.

It comes as figures show Police Scotland is facing a recruitment crisis, with officer numbers at their lowest for 16 years.

Chief Superintendent Rob Hay said: 'Young people don't want to come in and work overtime, they want their weekends off, they aren't like Gen X that came in before them'

A recruitment freeze at Police Scotland remains in place, but does not apply to priority areas including contact centres and custody.

The force announced a hiring freeze last August amid a 19 million predicted overspend, and currently has 16,300 officers.

Chief Superintendent Hay told the conference the force had lost 60 superintendents since its inception in 2013.

Dr Bostock told those gathered senior officers could counter fatigue using yoga, meditation, cold-water swimming, progressive muscle relaxation and sex.

'I hear from [police] all the time that they need the stress, by all means turn on the cortisol tap if it works but ensure you also know how to turn it off,' she said.

Superintendent Sara Crane of Devon and Cornwall Police added young people 'expect flexibility' and she has seen recruits drop out due to a lack of support.

According to Hay, one of the major issues plaguing the force is its reputation.

'Why would anyone want to join when they are told again and again about misogyny [within the force]?', he said.

The recruitment freeze at Police Scotland remains in place, but does not apply to priority areas including contact centres and custody.

Unions criticised the move, brought in in August, saying it would mean more work for already overstretched staff members.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said at the time: 'The revenue budget does not allow us to maintain our workforce at the levels of previous years and at the same time make a fair pay award.

'Hard choices are being taken to deliver effective policing within the funding available.

'Urgent action is being taken to achieve savings, with areas which encounter the greatest demand and which carry the greatest risk in keeping people safe being prioritised for resources.'
Taiwan was forced to scramble fighter jets and put missile, naval and land units on alert this morning after China launched huge military exercises around the self-governing island.

Beijing said the menacing war games, dubbed 'Joint Sword-2024A', were a 'strong punishment' for Taiwan following the inauguration of its new president, Lai Ching-te, who is detested in Beijing as a 'separatist'.

China claims Taiwan is part of its national territory and the People's Liberation Army routinely sends navy ships and warplanes into the Taiwan Strait and other areas around the island to wear down Taiwan's defences and seek to intimidate its people.

But this week's wargames are massive in scale.

The PLA released a map of the intended exercise area which completely surrounds Taiwan's main island concentrating major firepower at five key points, as well as places like Matsu and Kinmen, outlying islands that are closer to the Chinese mainland than Taiwan.

China's coast guard also said it organised a fleet to carry out law enforcement drills near two islands close to the Taiwanese-controlled island groups of Kinmen and Matsu just off the Chinese coast.

They come after the island swore in President Lai who said in his inaugural speech on Monday that Taiwan 'must demonstrate our resolution to defend our nation'.

China denounced Lai's speech as a 'confession of independence'.

A Taiwan Air Force Mirage 2000-5 aircraft prepares to land at Hsinchu Air Base in Hsinchu, Taiwan May 23, 2024

A Taiwanese air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet prepares for take off at a base in Hsinchu in northern Taiwan on May 23, 2024

This handout photo taken and released by the Taiwan Coast Guard on May 23, 2024 shows a Chinese military ship northwest of Pengjia Island, off the coast of northern Taiwan. China on May 23 encircled Taiwan with naval vessels and military aircraft in war games aimed at punishing the self-ruled island after its new president vowed to defend democracy

Taiwanese air force Mirage 2000 fighter jets wait for take off at a base in Hsinchu in northern Taiwan on May 23, 2024

China on May 23 encircled Taiwan with naval vessels and military aircraft in war games aimed at punishing the self-ruled island after its new president vowed to defend democracy. Taiwan's Mirage 2000 fighter jets prepare for takeoff in this image

A Taiwan Air Force C-130 aircraft takes off at Hsinchu Air Base in Hsinchu, Taiwan May 23, 2024

China publishes a map of the intended scale of the war games, showing how warships and planes will conduct drills in five areas surrounding Taiwan

Taiwan's former President Tsai Ing-wen (L) and new President Lai Ching-te (R) wave to people during the inauguration ceremony outside the Presidential office building in Taipei, Taiwan May 20, 2024

Members of an honor guard hold flags during an inauguration ceremony of Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, May 20, 2024

Chinese soldiers stand in formation during the Cambodian-Chinese Dragon Gold-2024 drill at a military police base in Kampong Chhnang province on May 16, 2024

Chinese soldiers stand in formation during the Cambodian-Chinese Dragon Gold-2024 drill at a military police base in Kampong Chhnang province on May 16, 2024

A flight of Mirage 2000 jet fighters were seen taking off from an airbase in northern Taiwan in anticipation of the oncoming wargames this morning as the defence minister issued a scathing statement in response to China's aggression.

Why does China claim Taiwan? The island's history as Taiwan is relatively new, and the island has been populated by Malayo-Polynesian peoples for centuries. China descended into civil war 1927 - 1949, between the nationalist KMT party and the CCP in power today. Through WWII, Britain and the US offered much support to the KMT to fight Japan and restore stability. But Russia allied more closely with the CCP, which hoped to solve China's problems through socialism. Ultimately, the nationalist government was forced out and relocated to Taiwan along with 1.2 million people from China. Today, the CCP governs mainland China and still lays claim to the island and waters around it through its 'One China' policy. Taiwan's democratic capitalist government meanwhile maintains that it is a sovereign nation and wants its freedoms and democracy preserved. Most Taiwanese people oppose joining China for fear of losing these freedoms. Read more here. Advertisement

China's 'irrational provocation has jeopardised regional peace and stability,' the ministry said.

It added that Taipei will seek no conflicts but 'will not shy away from one'.

'This pretext for conducting military exercises not only does not contribute to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, but also shows its hegemonic nature at heart,' the ministry's statement said.

The PLA's Eastern Theatre Command said the land, navy and air exercises around Taiwan are meant to test the navy and air capabilities of the PLA units, as well as their joint strike abilities to hit targets and win control of the battlefield, the command said on its official Weibo account.

'This is also a powerful punishment for the separatist forces seeking ''independence'' and a serious warning to external forces for interference and provocation,' the statement said.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sees Taiwan as a renegade province to be brought back under Beijing's control - something the authoritarian president Xi Jinping has said he's willing to do by force.

But Taiwan's elected Democratic Progressive Party steadfastly argues it presides over a self-governing, democratic, capitalist society with overwhelming support from its people.

Self-ruled Taiwan is separated by a narrow 110-mile strait from China, and Taipei's coast guard said it had encountered Chinese ships around the Taiwan-administered outlying islands of Dongyin and Wuqiu early Thursday morning.

Two Chinese coast guard ships had sailed into the 'restricted waters of Dongyin' at 7:48am, while another was outside the restricted zone to 'provide support', Taipei's coast guard said.

Another two Chinese ships were detected around Wuqiu, about 70 miles from Taiwan's western coast, 'entering restricted waters', with a third outside the restricted area, the coast guard said.

Footage released by the coast guard showed Taiwanese officers ordering Chinese ships to leave over a loudspeaker.

'Your movements affect our country's order and safety, please turn away and leave our restricted waters as soon as possible,' an officer said, according to the coast guard video.

'Leave right away, leave right away!'

The incidents near Dongyin and Wuqiu marked the seventh time this month that Chinese vessels breached Taiwan's restricted waters.

China's President Xi Jinping

Two people ride a motorcycle as a Taiwanese Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jet approaches for landing at an air force base in Hsinchu in northern Taiwan on May 23, 2024

A Taiwan Air Force Mirage 2000-5 aircraft prepares to take off at Hsinchu Air Base in Hsinchu, Taiwan May 23, 2024

Chinese soldiers prepare machine guns on armoured vehicles ahead of war games

Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te gives a speech at his inauguration ceremony on May 20, 2024 in Taipei, Taiwan. Lai urged China to stop its military threats against Taiwan in his inaugural address

FILE PHOTO: A fishing boat sails past a Chinese warship during a military drill off the Chinese coast near Fuzhou, Fujian Province, across from the Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands, China, April 11, 2023

FILE - In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese naval frigate Binzhou takes part in a joint naval drills with Russian warships in the East China Sea

In his inauguration address on Monday, new president Lai called for Beijing to stop its military intimidation and pledged to 'neither yield nor provoke' the mainland Communist Party leadership.

Lai has said he seeks dialogue with Beijing while maintaining Taiwan's current status and avoiding conflicts that could draw in the island's chief ally the U.S. and other regional partners such as Japan and Australia.

While China has termed the exercises as punishment for Taiwan's election result, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has now run the island's government for more than a decade.

Speaking in Australia, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Stephen Sklenka, the deputy commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, called on Asia-Pacific nations to condemn the Chinese military exercises.

'There's no surprise whenever there's an action that highlights Taiwan in the international sphere the Chinese feel compelled to make some kind of form of statement,' Sklenka told the National Press Club of Australia in the capital Canberra, in a reference to Monday's presidential inauguration.

'Just because we expect that behaviour doesn't mean that we shouldn't condemn it, and we need to condemn it publicly. And it needs to come from us, but it also needs to come, I believe, from nations in the region.

'It's one thing when the United States condemns the Chinese, but it has a far more powerful effect, I believe, when it comes from nations within this region,' Sklenka added.

Japan's top envoy weighed in while visiting the U.S., saying Japan and Taiwan share values and principles, including freedom, democracy, basic rights and rule of law.

'(Taiwan) is our extremely important partner that we have close economic relations and exchanges of people, and is our precious friend,' Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa told reporters in Washington, where she held talks with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

She said the two ministers discussed Taiwan and the importance of the Taiwan Strait, one of the world's most important waterways for shipping, remaining peaceful.

FILE PHOTO: missile from the rocket force of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) takes part in operations during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around Taiwan

Air Defence and Missile Command of Taiwan Air Force takes part in a military exercise, at an undisclosed location in Taiwan in this handout picture provided by Taiwan Defence Ministry and released in April 2023

Taiwanese soldiers pose for group photos with a Taiwan flag after a preparedness enhancement drill in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan on Wednesday, Jan 11, 2023

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia, November 14, 2022

Beijing's incessant war games in the Taiwan Strait and Xi's declaration that 'China will never renounce the right to use force' to bring the island under the control of the mainland suggest the CCP may be laying the groundwork for an invasion.

Speaking last year, China's leader said the People's Liberation Army, which is now the second largest force in the world, must conduct 'military struggles firmly and with flexibility'.

'You must strengthen real combat military training,' he said in a statement carried by state news agency Xinhua, adding that the military must 'resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests, and strive to protect overall peripheral stability'.

Taiwanese and US defence officials have since warned they expect the PLA to be ready to launch an attack on the island well before the end of the decade.

CIA Director William Burns in February 2023 claimed US intelligence suggests Xi has instructed his country's military to 'be ready by 2027' to invade Taiwan.

'We do know, as has been made public, that President Xi has instructed the PLA, the Chinese military leadership, to be ready by 2027 to invade Taiwan, but that doesn't mean that he's decided to invade in 2027 or any other year as well,' Burns told CBS' 'Face the Nation.'

But for all of Xi's posturing and declarations that Beijing will not renounce the right to use force to 'reunite' the island with the mainland, China has shown in recent decades it is very reluctant to fight a war.

Beijing last engaged in a large-scale military operation in Vietnam in 1979 which failed just as the US effort had four years prior - and the CCP has plenty to lose in a war with Taiwan.

The conflict would be widely condemned by its Western trading partners, and Xi has the hindsight of watching the damaging economic response levied by Western powers on Russia following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

And launching an invasion would run the risk of triggering a military response from the only world power whose armed forces have the might to overcome the sheer size of the People's Liberation Army - the United States.
Britons faced major rail disruption due to severe flooding today after a girl died in a mudslide amid a month's worth of rain and a Met Office 'danger to life' warning.

Avanti West Coast cancelled services between Preston and Scotland after the River Caldew burst its banks and flooded tracks at Carlisle, blocking the West Coast Main Line in both directions. Avanti urged passengers: 'Do not travel north of Preston.'

Other trains in the North of England were cancelled or delayed by speed restrictions due to the stormy weather, with Northern warning affected routes included York to Blackpool, Leeds to Manchester, Bradford to Huddersfield and Hull to Halifax.

The washout will continue today, especially in the North West which is under an amber warning. A further month's worth of rain is due in 24 hours between 12pm yesterday and 12pm today - after that same figure in the previous 24-hour period.

Downpours led to some homes being flooded, with properties in Cumbria and Essex evacuated - while sandbags were distributed in Harlow after drains overflowed. The Environment Agency imposed 20 flood warnings and 116 alerts for England today.

The wettest place yesterday was Toddington in Bedfordshire which saw 79mm (3.1in) of rain in 24 hours - compared to the UK's average rainfall for May of 71mm (2.8in).

As for the bank holiday weekend, Saturday will see dry conditions with temperatures of up to 21C (70F) in the South, but showers could return for Sunday and Monday.

It comes after ten-year-old Leah Harrison died in a mudslide while on a school trip to Carlton-in-Cleveland on the edge of the North York Moors yesterday afternoon.

Avanti West Coast cancelled services between Preston and Scotland today after the River Caldew burst its banks and flooded tracks at Carlisle, blocking the West Coast Main Line

Muddy conditions in the Oxfordshire countryside this morning after heavy rain at Dunsden

The Environment Agency imposed 20 flood warnings (in red) and 116 alerts (in amber) today

A major operation involving 30 mountain rescuers was launched to save the Year Six pupil from Darlington while heavy rain fell in the area, but she could not be saved.

Her family said in a statement: 'Leah Harrison, the happy, bubbly, go-lucky little girl. The beautiful smile, the giddy laugh, the silly jokes.

'You will never ever be forgotten baby girl. You will achieve your dream and become a player for the Lionesses. Spread those wings. May you rest in paradise.'

Leah was a pupil at Mount Pleasant Primary School, which is part of Lingfield Education Trust. Its chief executive Nick Blackburn said: 'The full details are still emerging but this is clearly a heartbreaking tragedy.

'Leah was a much-loved part of our school and our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and the school staff. Counselling is being arranged within the school for pupils and staff.

'We are all in a state of shock and we would ask that the privacy of the family and the school community is respected while we try to come to terms with what has happened.'

Leah Harrison, 10, from Darlington, died in a mudslide on a school trip in Yorkshire yesterday

Carlton Bank near Carlton-in-Cleveland in North Yorkshire today, after yesterday's mudslide

A photograph released by Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team today of the scene in Carlton-in-Cleveland, North Yorkshire, after one person died in a mudslide yesterday afternoon

A major operation involving 30 mountain rescuers was launched at Carlton-in-Cleveland

The Met Office said the area had seen almost a month's worth of rain in the past day, with 41.6mm (1.6in) recorded over the last 24 hours in Loftus, a town 20 miles away.

Simon Partridge, a forecaster at the Met Office, said: 'The average monthly rainfall for May in North Yorkshire is 57.5mm so they've almost had a month's worth of rainfall.'

Carlisle in Cumbria also experienced significant rainfall, with 65.6mm (2.6in) falling over the previous 24 hours.

The Environment Agency has issued a severe flood warning for the rivers Roe and Ive from Highbridge to Stockdalewath, south of Carlisle. The warning says flooding will be rapid due to rapidly rising water levels.

Flooding near Carlisle also resulted in thousands of train passengers due to travel between northern England and Scotland suffering major disruption.

What does an amber rain warning mean? An amber weather warning is one step up from a yellow warning. The Met Office said the following should be expected within the area covered: Delays and some cancellations to train and bus services are likely

Fast flowing or deep floodwater is likely, causing danger to life

Spray and flooding probably leading to difficult driving conditions and some road closures

A good chance some communities will be cut off by flooded roads

Power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses likely Advertisement

National Rail Enquiries said the West Coast Main Line between Carlisle and Lockerbie was blocked.

Operators affected include Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express, ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper. Major disruption is expected for the rest of today.

Avanti West Coast told passengers: 'Please do not attempt to travel with us between Preston and Scotland. We're really sorry if this affects your journey today.'

The company told ticketholders they can travel with other operators such as LNER on the East Coast Main Line, postpone their journey or request a refund.

TransPennine Express commercial director Darren Higgins said: 'Due to flooding on the railway line north of Carlisle, train services are significantly disrupted.

'The safety of our customers and colleagues is our priority and we are urging customers not to travel between Manchester, Liverpool (or) Preston to Carlisle, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

'Anyone planning on travelling by train today can choose to defer their travel or claim a refund.'

ScotRail services between Carlisle and Glasgow Central are expected to start or terminate at Dumfries.

Cumbria Police said a number of properties have been affected in the Stockdalewath area, with one property evacuated.

Chief Superintendent Mick Bird said a multi-agency co-ordination group has been set up overnight to deal with localised flooding in the area.

'Emergency services have been responding throughout the night to calls for service following persistent rainfall, which has resulted in flooding in some parts of the county,' he said.

'The flooding is on a small scale and the public can be reassured that the weather forecast is expected to be much more favourable throughout today.

'We do expect some impact to travel within Cumbria with some flood water in parts of the county.'

A total of 20 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, have been issued across England with one in Scotland.

A driver negotiates a flooded road amid heavy rain in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, yesterday

Water is seen rushing across the Brown's Lane ford in Holme Hale, Norfolk, yesterday

Heavy rain hits Cambridge yesterday as the UK experiences severe downpours

Motorists in the rain on the M5 northbound between the South West and Midlands yesterday

Mr Partridge said there was still 'quite a long way to go' until the rain was due to stop, with wet weather expected to continue in the area until this evening.

An amber warning for rain had been in place across parts of North Wales and North-West England, including Manchester and Liverpool, since midday yesterday.

A yellow warning for rain covered the North of England, the Midlands and North and central Wales until 6am today, while another was in place for southern and eastern Scotland until 6pm today.

Fast flowing or deep floodwater which may cause 'danger to life' was likely, the Met Office warned.

Heavy rainfall may also cause delays and cancellations to public transport services, difficult driving conditions and power cuts, the forecaster said.

Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: 'A band of prolonged and heavy rain will move north and west across the UK during Wednesday and Thursday.

People under umbrellas in the rain at Newcastle's Quayside by the Tyne Bridge yesterday

Roads in the Romford area of East London became flooded yesterday following heavy rainfall

A vintage Porsche 356 kicks up floodwater near Mountsorrel in Leicestershire yesterday

A man walks in heavy rain in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, yesterday as downpours continue

'Areas exposed to the strengthening northerly winds are most likely to see the highest rainfall amounts, with a chance of some areas, particularly over higher ground in North Wales seeing more than 150mm, with parts of North West England seeing more than 80mm.

'Many places could see 30-40mm of rain, while a few areas may receive 60-80mm.

'Areas over higher ground in the Amber warning areas could see the equivalent of more than one months' worth of rain before the low pressure moves on, later on Thursday.'

Regarding staying safe in wet weather, Mr Partridge said: 'Although it may not look too bad when you leave home, it could turn much heavier once you're out and about, so the best thing is to plan your trips and if you don't need to go - the best advice is to try and avoid it.

'Keep an eye on your local warnings from the Environment Agency which are just as important as ours as well.'

He added that the forecast for the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend was looking 'uncertain' but the weather seemed to be 'getting better'.
Shamed ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells had 'no inkling' there were issues with the Horizon IT software despite Alan Bates claiming evidence undermined the safety of convictions, an inquiry heard.

The 65-year-old businesswoman has begun her second day of evidence at the Horizon IT Inquiry into why hundreds of branch managers were wrongly prosecuted amid claims they stole from the business.

More than 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted for theft by the Post Office and given criminal convictions between 1999 and 2015 as Fujitsu's faulty IT system, known as Horizon, made it appear as though money was missing at their branches.

Ms Vennells, who was chief executive at the company from 2012 to 2019, today told the inquiry she was 'concerned' after getting an email from campaigner Alan Bates claiming prosecutions by the Post Office 'should never have taken place'.

The ordained priest said she had 'no inkling' that subpostmaster convictions were unsafe in May 2013 despite Mr Bates' email which said he was 'surprised' she had not offered to meet 'bearing in mind what has been discovered so far'.

There were audible gasps in the audience as Ms Vennells later told the inquiry that she could not remember if she took advice from the Post Office's PR supremo in 2013 that they should not review historical prosecutions from 'five to 10 years' ago.

The inquiry chairman was forced to intervene as members of the gallery groaned at her response after being shown an email from 'PR guy' Mark Davies where he advised not to look at historical cases because it would end up 'on the front page'.

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells arrives to give her second day of evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry at Aldwych House, central London

The 65-year-old businesswoman arrives at Aldwych House, escorted by police officers, to give evidence for a second day at the Horizon IT scandal

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells on her second day of giving evidence to the inquiry at Aldwych House, central London

Alan Bates, former sub-postmaster and founder of the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance

On the second day of Ms Vennells evidnce, the inquiry was shown a note from Mr Bates, who spearheaded the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance (JFSA) campaign, in 2013.

At the time forensic accountants Second Sight were drafted in to independently review cases involving the Horizon system in 2012.

In his email, Mr Bates said he was 'surprised' the pair had not met, 'bearing in mind what has been discovered so far' in the investigation.

He wrote: 'I have little doubt it is now feasible to show that many of the prosecutions the Post Office has pressed home should never have taken place.'

Ms Vennells replied saying she was happy to meet, but added: 'We are too early in the investigation to suggest that things have been discovered which call into question the integrity of the system or the validity of the prosecutions.'

And she reiterated to the inquiry into the scandal today her insistence that she had no reason to doubt Horizon's integrity.

Ms Vennells told inquiry lawyer Jason Beer KC: 'I was concerned to get the email from Alan. The point he was making about prosecutions was the point the JFSA made for a number of years - that wasn't new news to me at this stage.'

Mr Beer asked her: 'Is that how you would have thought of it, that this is just Mr Bates saying something that he's always said?'

The former Post Office boss replied: 'No, not at all.'

Mr Beer then said: 'Had you been given any inkling that anything had emerged that might undermine the safety of convictions?'

Ms Vennells responded: 'No.'

The inquiry heard the Post Office's PR supremo Mark Davies gave Ms Vennells 'personal advice' on the extent to which past Post Office convictions were reviewed, on the basis that media coverage of each decision might make it 'front page news'.

Mr Davies said in 2013 that the Post Office should not review historical cases involving the Horizon IT system from 'five to 10 years' ago because it would be 'on the front page'.

Referring to an email from July 2013 from Mr Davies, counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked the former chief executive: 'This says 'you can't do that, you'll be on the front page'. That's a grossly improper perspective isn't it?'

Ms Vennells said: 'Yes it is.'

Mr Beer continued: 'Do you know why he cut everyone else out of the chain and replied directly to you?'

Ms Vennells said: 'No, I don't.'

Mr Vennells said she 'would never have taken a decision based on the advice of one colleague', despite the inquiry being shown evidence she would 'take your (Davies') steer'.

The inquiry was shown an email from Ms Vennells replying to Mr Davies' advice to review a smaller number of cases.

Ms Vennells wrote: 'Mark, thanks for this and, I don't think we are far apart - I didn't say this approach would be our media statement but they would need to be aligned.

'You are right to call this out. And it will take your steer. no issue.'

Mr Beer KC then asked: 'You did take the advice of the PR guy, didn't you?'

Ms Vennells began her answer by saying 'I don't remember', before loud groans came from the public gallery.

After chairman Sir Wyn Williams intervened, Ms Vennells continued: 'As I tried to say before, what we were working to at this stage was numbers of cases going through a scheme, and a scheme that was going to be opened up to anybody who wanted to come forward.

'I understand how this reads, but I don't recall making any conscious decision not to go back and put in place a review of all past criminal cases.'

The inquiry was shown this email from Ms Vennells replying to Mr Davies' advice to review a smaller number of cases

PR guru Mark Davies is seen giving evidence to the inquiry at Aldwych House, central London, on May 14, 2024

Police escort Former CEO of the Post Office Paula Vennells as she arrives at the Post Office inquiry in London

Paula Vennells, former Chief Executive Officer of the Post Office, arrives at Aldwych House, where the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry is taking place on Thursday

Ms Vennells later revealed to the inquiry she remained in contact with Mr Davies even after she left the Post Office.

Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked: 'Did you exchange messages with him about media statements that you might make and the media lines that you might take in the announcement of this inquiry, for example?'

Ms Vennells replied: 'I believe the inquiry has texts that show that.'

Mr Beer continued: 'Even though you'd moved on, he was still advising you into 2020 as to the lines to take in your media statements?'

Ms Vennells said: 'I had kept in touch with Mark Davies for reasons that were very personal to him and I think he offered that advice at the time.'

Earlier today, Ms Vennels was questioned on whether a deliberate choice was made to choose forensic accounting firm Second Sight over Deloitte to review independently the Horizon system because the former's proposal was 'much narrower in scope' and 'only looked at a sample of past cases'.

Ms Vennells said in repsonse: 'From a personal point of view, I would say that is absolutely not the case. I have no recollection of that at all.'

The inquiry heard the probe by Second Sight into the Horizon system in 2012 set out to probe a selection of past cases where subpostmasters were prosecuted despite insisting they did nothing wrong.

But Mr Beer said the review did not undertake what it had set out to.

He said: 'If what is described here had in fact been undertaken, there is a possibility that the decade that followed until faults in Horizon and the miscarriages of justice may have been discovered earlier?

Ms Vennells replied: 'I think that is a possibility.'

Asked if after reading a line in Second Sight's interim report that there were 'no systemic defects' in the system, the Post Office 'paraded that conclusion', Ms Vennells said: 'It did come to that conclusion in its interim report.

'There is no way I would have wanted to persuade Second Sight on something they were not prepared to say and I don't believe Second Sight would ever have agreed to that.

'If they came to that conclusion in their interim report, that was their conclusion.'

Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC then asked: 'Isn't that what the Post Office wanted to drive them to and isn't this the evidence of such driving?'

Ms Vennells replied: 'The Post Office certainly wanted the reassurance that the Horizon system could be relied upon - that has been the objective all the way through this.

'At no stage did I get the sense that anybody in the Post Office was going to be able to influence Second Sight over what conclusions they came to.

'I would be very surprised if that was the case here.'

The inquiry later heard Alwen Lyons, former company secretary, emailed Ms Vennells in June 2012 expressing former Post Office general counsel Susan Crichton's concerns about including former subpostmistress Seema Misra's case in an independent review into the Horizon IT system.

Ms Misra, who ran a Post Office in West Byfleet, Surrey, was jailed in 2010 after being accused of stealing 74,000. She was pregnant at the time.

Ms Lyons wrote: 'The issue that came to light with the list of MP cases was that they included the Mishra (Misra), you will remember the case and the publicity, she went to prison and had her baby whilst in there.

'The husband got publicity through radio and press.

'Susan's anxiety, and she raised this at the meeting with Alice before you joined, was whether now contacting her to tell her we review the case would be a red rag to a bull.'

Asked if she shared Ms Crichton's concerns that even contacting Ms Misra 'would be a red rag to a bull', Ms Vennells told the inquiry: 'No.'

Paula Vennells is sworn in to the Horizon inquiry at Aldwych House on Wednesday

Post Office boss Paula Vennells gestures as she gives evidence to the inquiry at Aldwych House, central London on Wednesday

Yesterday Ms Vennells wept when questioned about subpostmasters being wrongly convicted, including Martin Griffiths who killed himself after he was accused of stealing money from the Post Office.

She became emotional again as she apologised for misleading MPs who were looking into constituents' complaints about the faulty software.

What Paula Vennells told the inquiry on Wednesday 'I am sorry' 'I would just like to say, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to do this, how sorry I am for all that subpostmasters and their families and others have suffered as a result of all of the matters that the inquiry is looking into.' 'Too trusting' 'One of my reflections of all of this - I was too trusting. I did probe and I did ask questions and I'm disappointed where information wasn't shared and it has been a very important time for me... to plug some of those gaps.' 'Unacceptable' 'It's completely unacceptable that that (not knowing the extent of the Post Office's criminal investigations) was the case and that people, including myself, didn't know. 'Status quo' 'My only explanation for that is that it had been going on for so long, that it was an accepted reality, it was the status quo that I joined and accepted, I shouldn't have done.' 'Disappointed' 'I have been disappointed, particularly more recently, listening to evidence of the inquiry where I think I remember people knew more than perhaps either they remembered at the time or I knew of at the time.' 'No conspiracy' 'I have no sense that there was any conspiracy at all. My deep sorrow in this is that I think that individuals, myself included, made mistakes, didn't see things, didn't hear things.' 'Should have known' 'I should have known and I should have asked more questions, and I and others who also did not know should have dug much more deeply into this.' Advertisement

And she fought back tears when recalling reading 'disturbing' evidence of the impact of the scandal on Post Office workers.

The 65-year-old said her mistakes would 'live with me for ever.'

But she insisted she did not think there had been any miscarriages of justice until long after she left the organisation in 2019  having previously told MPs the Post Office had 'never lost a case'.

Ms Vennells, who served as chief executive for seven years, came face-to-face with victims at the public inquiry in central London, and had to wipe away tears as she opened her evidence with a short apology.

Turning to address the more than 100 campaigners present, she said: 'I would just like to say  and I'm grateful for the opportunity to do this in person  how sorry I am for all that subpostmasters and their families and others who suffered as a result of all of the matters that the inquiry has been looking into for so long.

'I followed and listened to all of the human impact statements and I was very affected by them. I am very, very sorry.'

In a 775-page statement to the inquiry, she said she wished to repeat her apologies to all those who 'have suffered so much from this terrible miscarriage of justice'.

She added: 'Their lives were torn apart by being wrongly accused and wrongly prosecuted as a result of the Horizon system. I am truly sorry and will so [sic] for the rest of my life.'

Ms Vennells had to return her CBE earlier this year after ITV's acclaimed drama series Mr Bates Vs The Post Office brought the scandal  and her central role in it  to a new audience.

The ordained Anglican priest had refused to comment publicly since, but was taken to task by Jason Beer KC, lead lawyer to the inquiry, during her first of three full days in the witness box.

Ms Vennells wept as she apologised for telling the Commons business select committee in 2015 that the Post Office was successful in every court case against subpostmasters as it probed Horizon's integrity.

Inquiry lawyer Mr Beer said: 'Why were you telling parliamentarians every prosecution involving the Horizon system had been successful and had found in favour of the Post Office?'

Ms Vennells, becoming tearful and reaching for a tissue, said: 'I fully accept now  excuse me...

'The Post Office knew that (not every case was won). Personally, I didn't know that and I'm incredibly sorry that that happened to those people, and to so many others.'

There were murmurs in the inquiry room as she broke down briefly.

The inquiry heard Ms Vennells had sought advice from senior colleagues ahead of her appearance before the MPs when she asked for assurances that the system could not be accessed remotely.

She was subsequently presented with briefing notes on how to respond to MPs, which stated she was to say there was no functionality to change transaction data.

But, if pushed on the issue, she could add that there in fact was, although 'there are numerous test and checks including daily checks'.

She agreed with the inquiry chairman Sir Wyn Williams, who said the briefing note suggested Ms Vennells was being advised to 'be very precise, very circumspect, and very guarded' with her answers to MPs.

Ms Vennells also agreed with Mr Beer that it was a 'serious issue' for 'folklore' to develop within the Post Office, relating to incorrect claims about its 100 per cent success rate on prosecutions, that Horizon was faultless, and that remote access to the system was not possible  meaning errors were the result of the subpostmaster.

Mr Beer said: 'Each of these things turn out to be false. How is it that on all of these critical issues, so many false statements were circulating within the Post Office?'

Ms Vennells said: 'At the time they were not considered to be false statements. I didn't believe any of those statements were folklore at all.'

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells is seen breaking down in tears as she gave evidence at the Horizon IT inquiry on Wednesday

Paula Vennells, former CEO of the Post Office cries as she gives evidence at the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry on Wednesday

Crucial to Ms Vennells' evidence was the extent to which she knew about Horizon's failings, and when.

She drew laughter from a handful of those watching when she insisted that she believed the reassurances given to her by colleagues.

'One of my reflections of all of this  I was too trusting,' she said. 'I did probe and I did ask questions.'

She said she was 'disappointed' that some detail 'wasn't shared' with her. But she denied there was a 'conspiracy' to keep information from her. Mr Beer asked: 'Was there a conspiracy at the Post Office which lasted for nearly 12 years involving a wide range of people, differing over time, to deny you information and to deny you documents and to falsely give you reassurance.'

Ms Vennells smiled briefly as she replied: 'No, I don't believe that was the case.'

She added: 'I have been disappointed  particularly more recently listening to evidence at the inquiry  where I think I have learnt that people know more than perhaps they remembered at the time or I knew of at the time.

'My deep sorrow in this is I think individuals, myself included, maybe didn't see things, didn't hear things. Conspiracy feels too far-fetched.' She pointed the finger at unnamed 'colleagues' who 'did know more information than was shared'.

The probe later was shown a text message exchange between Vennells and Dame Moya Greene in January 2024, after the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office aired.

Ms Vennells, the former Post Office chief executive, said Dame Moya was suggesting that there was a conspiracy within the Post Office.

Dame Moya messaged: 'When it was clear the system was at fault, the PO should have raised a red flag, stopped all proceedings, given people back their money and then tried to compensate them for the ruin this caused in their lives.'

Ms Vennells replied: 'Yes I agree. This has/is taking too long Moya. The toll on everyone affected is dreadful.'

Dame Moya said: 'I don't know what to say. I think you knew.'

Ms Vennells responded: 'No Moya, that isn't the case.'

Dame Moya said: 'I want to believe you. I asked you twice. I suggested you get an independent review reporting to you. I was afraid you were being lied to. You said the system had already been reviews multiple times. How could you have not known?'

Ms Vennells replied: 'Moya, the mechanism for getting to the bottom of this is the inquiry. I've made it my priority to support it fully.'

Dame Moya later said: 'I am sorry.. I can't now support you.'

'I have supported you. All these years.. to my own detriment. I can't support you now after what I have learned.'

Dame Moya said: 'I want to believe you. I asked you twice. I suggested you get an independent review reporting to you. I was afraid you were being lied to.

On Wednesday Ms Vennells also said she had no idea when she joined the company in 2007 that the Post Office was investigating its own staff, taking them to court, and trying to recover money from them.

She said: 'I didn't understand that the Post Office was bringing its own criminal investigations.

'Investigations can be taken at all sorts of different levels. I certainly didn't read into this that the Post Office was conducting criminal investigations to the level that I later understood.'

She said she did not appreciate the situation fully until 2012, when she became chief executive.

Text exchange between former Post Office boss Paula Vennells and former Royal Mail boss Moya Greene

As Vennells spoke, postmasters watching the inquiry livestream from Fenny Compton could be seen shaking their heads and laughing

Ms Vennells said: 'I should have known and I should have asked more questions. I and others who also didn't know should have dug much more deeply into this.

'It was a serious mistake that I didn't understand before 2012 the extent of what this meant.'

She said she thought Post Office workers were instead prosecuted by 'external authorities'.

She said she and other colleagues 'were surprised' when they learned about the prosecutions by the organisation.

Sir Wyn said it was 'extremely surprising' that news 'did not filter through' to Ms Vennells about high-profile convictions.
She faces the death penalty if found guilty

EXCLUSIVE

The ex-husband of an Australian mother-of-five who is accused of smuggling 7kg of cocaine and heroin into Taiwan has claimed the pair are innocent and were set up by drug traffickers.

Debbie Voulgaris, 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after the drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her suitcase.

Taiwanese police allege she initially 'vehemently denied' she had known about the drugs, before later claiming her ex-husband John was behind the scheme.

Ms Voulgaris remains in custody in Taiwan and is banned from speaking to Mr Voulgaris, who is based in Melbourne.

If convicted under the East Asian Island's strict laws, she could face the firing squad.

Debbie Voulgaris, 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her suitcase

Her ex-husband John Voulgaris says his wife was 'set up' by traffickers

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, Mr Voulgaris angrily denounced the allegations.

'She is bloody innocent!' he raged.

'We have been set up!

'We don't know anything about bloody drugs and have never seen or touched them in our lives!'

Mr Voulgaris, who runs a home loan company, said he and his ex-wife were scammed by criminals posing as overseas investors.

He said he first met the group 16 years ago and had even attended a bank with them in Taiwan in 2007 as part of their business proceedings.

Over the years, they remained in contact. However, he said their solicitor recently got in touch with a new proposal.

'All we were doing was an overseas investment,' he said.

'They wanted to invest. I sent $3million out of my money...

'When I found out [about her arrest], I tried to get in contact with them but they switched off their phones.

'She hasn't done anything wrong!'

Speaking to the ABC this week, Ms Voulgaris' lawyer Leon Huang said it was 'essential' her ex took the stand as he was the only person who could confirm her claims.

Debbie Voulgaris, 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her luggage

Taiwanese police allege Ms Voulgaris was handed the category one drugs in Malaysia around December 10 before she flew to Taiwan.

They further allege the Aussie mum was paid $US1,800 (AUD$2,700) to take the drugs in addition to her accommodation and transport costs.

The drugs had a street value of about $1.25million, according to Chen Po-chuan, the captain of Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Brigade.

Mr Po-chaun said Ms Voulgaris told authorities she was in Taiwan for a holiday.

He said officers had been sent to her hotel to see if anyone came to collect the drugs, but no one had arrived.

Ms Voulgaris has been detained in a Taiwanese prison since her arrest.

Her lawyer Leon Huang said his client was a 'good-natured person' who 'believed people easily' and had been used as a drug 'mule'.

'Based on her description it appeared that number one, Ms Debbie Voulgaris was not aware of the nature of her travelling,' Mr Huang said.

'And number two, she had no idea of what's placed inside and under her luggage, because there is a hidden compartment and she wasn't aware of that.'

Mr Huang said that because his client had admitted guilt early, while still maintaining she didn't know about the drugs, she may avoid the death penalty.

'If the court finds someone worthy of sympathy, like Debbie's case, typically, they would not want to offer the option of death sentence,' he said.

Authorities allegedly discovered 7kg of cocaine and heroine inside her luggage (pictured)

Taoyuan District Prosecutors alleged Ms Voulgaris was part of a 'drug transport syndicate' in documents submitted to a Taiwanese court.

'Although the defendant confessed to the crime during the court's preparatory proceedings, it is noted that she had previously vehemently denied the crime during the investigation and detention interrogation by this court, and her statements have been inconsistent,' the documents state.

'Notably, the defendant claimed that the co-conspirator, John, who instructed her to bring category one narcotics to Taiwan, is her ex-husband, indicating a close relationship.

'The defendant and her lawyer requested that John be summoned to testify during the preparatory proceedings, implying that there remains a risk of collusion with John before his testimony.'

Ms Voulgaris has been denied visits from family members but can speak with her legal team and officials from the Australian Office in Taipei.

A application for her release was denied in March, with judges Cai Yirong and Hou Jingyun ruling there was substantial evidence she was a flight risk.

Her lawyers had argued their client hadn't spoken with family in three months, was struggling to adapt to Chinese food and could not speak Chinese.

Voulgaris was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport (pictured) in December

However, the judges ruled these were 'not factors to be considered when determining the necessity of detention'.

'It is noted that the defendant's daughter is aware of John's contact information, therefore it cannot be ruled out that the defendant could use her daughter to contact John, making this request [for contact] ungrantable,' they said.

Ms Voulgaris will next appear in court in August. She could face the death penalty or life in prison if found guilty or a minimum of five years behind bars.

However, the chances she receives the death penalty are unlikely after Taiwan's Constitutional Court ruled last August that imposing a life sentence or the death penalty for drug offences is partly unconstitutional.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said a detained Australian woman in Taiwan was receiving consular assistance.

A change.org petition for Voulgaris's release has received 3,000 signatures.

'Anyone who knows her or has met her, understands the pure, kind heart she has,' the author of the petition wrote.

'She is a mother to five children and she could be facing a death penalty or life in prison. Please sign the petition to help towards the freedom of an innocent, pure-hearted mother.'
Germany will arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters the country amid allegations of war crimes by the International Criminal Court, a spokesperson has confirmed.

Steffen Hebestreit, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, confirmed on Wednesday the country would 'abide by the law' and arrest the under-fire Israeli leader should he visit the EU nation.

This comes after British prosecutor Karim Khan announced on Monday that he is seeking warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three Hamas terror chiefs including Yahya Sinwar, the ruler in Gaza who masterminded October 7.

Netanyahu labelled the allegations a 'distortion of reality' and accused the prosecutor of 'callously pouring gasoline on the fires of antisemitism that are raging across the world'.

Germany's decision comes after Israels Ambassador to Berlin, Ron Prosor, made a desperate plea to the German government to reject the ICCs proposed arrest warrant.

Israel's prime minister (pictured earlier this month) has slammed comparisons between his government and Hamas

Olaf Scholz (pictured) is under fire after a spokesperson confirmed Germany would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he entered the country

Arrest warrants have also been issued for three Hamas leaders including Yahya Sinwar (pictured), who masterminded the October 7 attacks

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday Prosor wrote: This is outrageous! The German "Staatsrason" is now being put to the testno ifs or buts.

This contrasts with the weak statements we hear from some institutions and political actors. The public statement that Israel has the right to self-defense loses credibility if our hands are tied as soon as we defend ourselves.

Staatsrason refers to Germanys long-standing commitment to the defence of Israel, a policy declared by former Chancellor Angela Merkel during a 2008 speech to the Knesset.

Prosor added: The Chief Prosecutor equates a democratic government with Hamas, thereby demonizing and delegitimizing Israel and the Jewish people.

He has completely lost his moral compass. Germany has a responsibility to readjust this compass.

This disgraceful political campaign could become a nail in the coffin for the West and its institutions. Do not let it come to that!

Netanyahu has furiously condemned the ICC for 'daring to compare' Israel with 'mass murderers' after an arrest warrant was issued for both the Israeli prime minister and Hamas leaders.

This is outrageous! The German 'Staatsrason' is now being put to the testno ifs or buts. This contrasts with the weak statements we hear from some institutions and political actors. The public statement that Israel has the right to self-defense loses credibility if our hands are https://t.co/otONmN1ck5  Ambassador Ron Prosor (@Ron_Prosor) May 21, 2024

The aftermath of an Israeli strike on a house in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip on May 18

Israeli soldiers walk among the remains of a scorched house following the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas gunmen

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz also slammed the move, calling it an 'unrestrained frontal assault' on the victims of October 7 and a 'historical disgrace that will be remembered forever'. He said he was establishing a task force to fight against the decision.

In an interview on Monday, prosecutor Khan said the warrants are for war crimes and crimes against humanity over the Hamas terror group's deadly October 7 attack on Israel and Israel's subsequent war in the Gaza Strip.

The ICC's decision has been met with mixed reactions from the international community, with Downing Street labelling it 'unhelpful' and US President Joe Biden calling it 'outrageous', while other world leaders said they supported the investigation.

Khan said warrants were being sought for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri (aka Mohammed Deif), the leader of the Al Qassem Brigades - Hamas' military wing, and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' political leader.

He told CNN that the charges against the trio include 'extermination, murder, taking of hostages, rape and sexual assault in detention.'

The ICC is also seeking the arrest of Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri (aka Mohammed Deif, pictured left), the leader of the Al Qassem Brigades - Hamas' military wing, and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' political leader who is based in Qatar

'The world was shocked on the 7th of October when people were ripped from their bedrooms, from their homes, from the different kibbutzim in Israel,' Khan told CNN host Christiane Amanpour, adding that 'people have suffered enormously.'

In a separate statement, he said that he saw for himself 'the devastating scenes of these attacks and the profound impact of the unconscionable crimes charged in the applications.

'Speaking with survivors, I heard how the love within a family, the deepest bonds between a parent and a child, were contorted to inflict unfathomable pain through calculated cruelty and extreme callousness. These acts demand accountability.'

He also said the ICC was applying for warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for their part in the assault on the Gaza strip which was launched in the wake of October 7 and continues to this day.

'We have applied for warrants  of course the judges must determine whether or not to issue them, but we have applied today,' he told Amanpour on Monday.

He said the charges against Netanyahu and Gallant include 'crimes of causing extermination, causing starvation as a method of war including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies, deliberately targeting civilians in conflict.'

Speaking of Israel's actions, Khan said in a statement that 'the effects of the use of starvation as a method of warfare, together with other attacks and collective punishment against the civilian population of Gaza are acute, visible and widely known.

Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (pictured) is the other official accused of war crimes by the ICC

In an interview on Monday, Karim Khan (pictured in April) said the warrants are for war crimes and crimes against humanity over the terror group's deadly October 7 attack and Israel's subsequent war in the Gaza Strip

'They include malnutrition, dehydration, profound suffering and an increasing number of deaths among the Palestinian population, including babies, other children, and women,' he added.

Hamas has also rejected the equivalence to Israel, with the group saying it 'strongly denounces' the prosecutor's attempts 'to equate the victim with the executioner by issuing arrest warrants against a number of Palestinian resistance leaders.'

'Hamas... demands the cancellation of all arrest warrants issued against leaders of the Palestinian resistance, for violating UN conventions and resolutions,' it added.

Meanwhile senior Israeli officials slammed the ICC's move to seek warrants against Netanyahu and his defence chief.

One slammed the ICC's move as a 'baseless blood libel' against the country, while senior figures including President Isaac Herzog called the move 'outrageous,' saying it 'cannot be accepted by anyone'.

'[The] ICC prosecutor's baseless blood libel against Israel has crossed a red line in his lawfare efforts against the lone Jewish state and the only democracy in the Middle East,' the official said, according to the Financial Times.

'The blood libel will not deter Israel from defending itself and accomplishing all its just war objectives' in Gaza, the official added.

'Any attempt to draw parallels between these atrocious terrorists and a democratically elected government of Israel - working to fulfil its duty to defend and protect its citizens entirely in adherence to the principles of international law is outrageous and cannot be accepted by anyone,' President Herzog said.

Benny Gantz, an Israeli war cabinet minister, called the ICC's move a 'distortion'.

'Drawing parallels between the leaders of a democratic country determined to defend itself from despicable terror to leaders of a blood-thirsty terror organisation (Hamas) is a deep distortion of justice and blatant moral bankruptcy,' he said.

Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz said he would 'speak with foreign ministers of leading countries around the world to urge them to oppose the prosecutor's decision and declare that even if warrants are issued, they do not intend to enforce them against Israeli leaders.'

Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz (right) confirmed his plans to seek support from world leaders following the ICC announcement

Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right politician and finance minister, said the decision was a 'show hypocrisy and Jew-hatred'.

'Arrest warrants against them are arrest warrants against us all,' he said.

Foreign leaders also rebuked the ICC for seeking the warrants.

A spokesperson for British prime minister Rishi Sunak said: 'This action is not helpful in relation to reaching a pause in the fighting, getting hostages out or getting humanitarian aid in.'

The spokesperson said that the ICC did not have the jurisdiction to request the arrest warrants.

'The UK, as with other countries, does not yet recognise Palestine as a state and Israel is not a state party to the Rome Statute', which outlines the ICC's areas of jurisdiction, the spokesperson said. Israel and the US are not signatories.

Asked if the police would arrest Netanyahu if he came to Britain, the spokesperson said he would not comment on what he called 'hypotheticals'.

'We fully respect the independence of the ICC,' Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer said. 'The fact however that the leader of the terrorist organisation Hamas whose declared goal is the extinction of the State of Israel is being mentioned at the same time as the democratically elected representatives of that very State is non-comprehensible.'

Gaza has been under attack from Israeli forces since the Hamas terror attacks of October 7

Palestinians sift through the remains of a home following an Israeli bombardment in the Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood of Rafah in southern Gaza on May 20, 2024

Meanwhile, country's including Belgium and Slovenia said they supported the ICC's ongoing investigation and that it must be allowed to run its course.

'Crimes committed in Gaza must be prosecuted at the highest level, regardless of the perpetrators,' Belgian foreign minister Hadja Lahbib said, hailing the arrest warrants for both Israeli and Hamas officials as an 'important step in the investigation of the situation in Palestine'.

The United Nations and other aid agencies have repeatedly accused Israel of hindering aid deliveries throughout the war. Israel denies this, saying there are no restrictions on aid entering Gaza and accusing the UN of failing to distribute aid.

The UN says aid workers have repeatedly come under Israeli fire, and also says ongoing fighting and a security vacuum have impeded deliveries.
Rumours are swirling about a Nigel Farage comeback today as Reform prepares to launch its election push.

Party leader Richard Tice has called a press conference at 11am after Rishi Sunak fired the starting gun on a July 4 contest.

But uncertainty surround Mr Farage's intentions, with even senior Reform insiders admitting they have no idea whether he will turn up this morning.

In interviews last night, the Brexit champion said the PM had chosen to go for political 'suicide' branding the Tories 'Big State liberals'.

But he only said he would 'think about' his own plans overnight, suggesting Mr Sunak's decision to go early had 'quite a lot to do with me' - so he did not have time to gain momentum in a campaign.

Rumours are swirling about a Nigel Farage comeback today as Reform prepares to launch its election push

Mr Farage said last night he will 'think about' his plans, suggesting Mr Sunak had gone early to prevent Reform from getting ready for the contest

Party leader Richard Tice has called a press conference at 11am after Rishi Sunak fired the starting gun on a July 4 contest

Anxiety has been growing in Tory ranks about the prospect of Reform gifting Keir Starmer victory by tempting natural supporters away.

The party has been registering above 10 per cent in polls, potentially enough to doom significant number of Conservative MPs - although experts believe they will not be able to win any seats.

Richard Tice is currently leader of Reform, but Mr Farage founded the party and has been mulling a comeback for months.

The timing of the poll in the summer means he might find it easier to campaign, as it is before the US election where he will be stumping for Donald Trump.

But Mr Farage has also pointed out that it is incredibly difficult to get MPs elected under first past the post - having failed himself to win a seat many times.

Speaking to GB News, where is a presenter, Mr Farage said: 'I think the timing of this general election has quite a lot to do with me.

'He (Mr Sunak) was scared. He'd heard rumours - true or not, he'd heard rumours - that I was going to go into the frontline political fray, and if he gave me a six-month run against the worst most insincere Conservative prime minister in history, against the most boring house party guest as leader of the Labour party  I think Reform was a very big factor in this decision.'

He added that Mr Sunak had 'chosen suicide over obliteration', and was likely to be left with 150-180 seats, compared to 50 if he waited another six months.

Mr Farage has previously stressed that he will not be joining the Tories, despite a 'very sweet' suggestion from Liz Truss that he would be welcome.

Mr Sunak hit the election campaign trail today urging Brits to back his 'bold' vision - as a poll showed Labour 25 points ahead.

The PM joked he is 'drier' than yesterday as he gave interviews from Derbyshire after shocking the country - and his own MPs - by pulling the trigger on a July 4 contest.

He launched a highly personal attack on Keir Starmer, swiping that he had 'no convictions' and voters cannot trust him. With ministers braced for potentially grim immigration stats this morning, Mr Sunak also suggested the Labour leader would make the UK a 'magnet' for Channel boats.

Mr Sunak was left dripping with water yesterday after a downpour during his election launch speech

Mr Farage has previously stressed that he will not be joining the Tories , despite a 'very sweet' suggestion from Liz Truss that he would be welcome

Nigel Farage mocked Rishi Sunak's 'farcical' rain-soaked election launch amid fears his Reform insurgents will split the right-wing vote

However, the scale of the task facing the premier was underlined this morning with YouGov research showing Labour 25 points ahead - enough for a landslide bigger than that secured by Tony Blair in 1997. Polling guru Sir John Curtice said Mr Sunak's decision to call a ballot meant he is 'either very brave or extremely foolhardy'.

Mr Sunak told GB News: 'If you elect me, if I'm Prime Minister on July 5, those flights will go off to Rwanda and we will begin to put in place the deterrent that we need to stop the boats.

'Because there is no way to stop this problem unless you can have a deterrent, unless it's clear that if someone comes to our country illegally they won't be able to stay and they will be removed.

'Unless you're able to deliver that people will keep coming.'
His 90million raid on a Mughal ship became the stuff of legend and was the most lucrative act of piracy the world had ever seen.

But what happened next to Pirate King Henry Avery has remained a mystery. Until now.

The notorious pirate captain vanished off the face of the earth in 1696, a year after the 150 crewmen of his 46-gun ship the Fancy pillaged gold, silver and jewels from an armed trading ship of the Mughal empire.

His disappearance had puzzled experts for more than 300 years but researchers now believe an unearthed letter written by Captain Avery himself in December 1700 has solved the case.

Dr Sean Kingsley, a marine archaeologist and pirate expert, says the letter shows that Captain Avery had taken a royal pardon to work for her Majesty's Secret Service.

The story of one of Britain's most fabled men has now been revived by Dr Kingsley in a book he has co-authored called - The Pirate King: The Strange Adventures of Henry Avery and the Birth of the Golden Age of Piracy.

Notorious pirate Captain Henry Avery (portrayed as an engraving) committed the most lucrative act of piracy the world had ever seen before disappearing in 1696 to never be seen again

Experts believe an unearthed letter (pictured) written by Captain Avery himself in December 1700 has solved the 300-year-old case of his disappearance

'Pirates weren't good guys, but Avery is misunderstood,' says Kingsley. 'He's seen as a thug who stole an English frigate off Spain in May 1694 and turned pirate out of greed. That's not true.'

'Avery lives on in the public imagination because he was larger than life. Not only did he strike it big, he escaped the authorities with his head intact.'

Before turning to piracy, Avery began his life upon the sea fighting pirates of the Caribbean as a sailor working for the Spanish shipping expedition.

But this all changed when his Spanish employers refused to pay him and 80 of his other crew members, leading them to steal a ship in May 1694 and take to the high seas.

The following year, Captain Avery and his crew plundered an armed trading ship belonging to Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor in India, which contained treasures worth 600,000  90million today.

It was the biggest act of piracy ever known and England put a 1,000 (120,000 today) bounty on Avery's head to spark the world's first global manhunt.

Some versions of the story also suggest, grimly, that Captain Avery himself found 'something more pleasing than jewels' onboard the vessel  often said to be the daughter, granddaughter or another relative of emperor Aurangzeb.

Captain Avery and his crew initially took their ill-gotten gains to Bourbon (now Reunion), before making way to the island of New Providence in the Bahamas.

Yet news of the bounty placed on their heads soon caught up with them  and what happened to the pirate and many of his crew after they fled has been a mystery ever since.

Avery's fate had stumped centuries of shipwreck hunters until 1978 when a misfiled letter was found in the Scottish Records Office by writer Zelide Cowan, whose husband, Rex, is Kingsley's co-author and pirate enthusiast.

But Mr Cowan was unable to decipher the coded letter until he met Kingsley decades later.

Captain Avery (portrayed as an engraving on the left) and his crew plundered an armed trading ship belonging to Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor in India, which contained treasures worth 600,000  90million today

In September 7, 1695, Captain Avery's ship, the Fancy, engaged the Ganj-i-Sawai, which was owned by one of the world's most-powerful men, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. (Pictured: a 19th century artowrk depicting the battle between the two vessels)

Some versions of the story suggest, grimly, that Captain Every himself found 'something more pleasing than jewels' onboard the vessel  often said to be the daughter, granddaughter or another relative of emperor Aurangzeb (Pictured: a 20th Century illustration depicting Captain Every's encounter with the Emperor's granddaughter)

Dr Kingsley is convinced the letter is a genuine and appears to show that Captain Avery was working to prevent a 'Catholic' invasion from France.

Speaking to the Times, Dr Kingsley said: 'There were fake pirate letters that people were pitching around in the 18th century to sell as a get rich quick scheme, but they are really dodgy and easy to identify  they say things like, 'By this rock walk three steps and go left etc'.

'In this, when he wants to conceal his meaning he uses letters and numbers in a code, and this is exactly what spies and ambassadors were using. It's also really unlikely that anyone would have the intelligence and information to forge it.'

The pair of authors also believe the document also details a list of treasures that are still waiting to be found.

'The mystery lives on today,' says Cowan. 'At the end of the 'Avery the Pirate' letter is the most astonishing list of treasure that he kept as his share of the booty looted off India. It's the stuff of dreams.'

'Part of it, so the legend goes, is still out there, somewhere buried away just waiting to be found.'
Jersey's parliament has voted in favour of drawing up controversial laws to establish an assisted dying service on the island for terminally ill people.

An impassioned and emotional States Assembly debate saw members become tearful as their voices broke while speaking during a lengthy and divisive discussion.

This follows a report in March setting out how such a service might work for adults resident in Jersey, with a voluntary, settled and informed wish to end their own life.

It comes amid continued debate over assisted dying, which is currently illegal across the UK and carries a maximum jail term of 14 years. The last attempt to change the law was defeated in 2015, although the movement is once again gaining momentum amid a strong campaign launched by television presenter Dame Esther Rantzen.

Jersey's government has said that to be able to access the assisted dying service, a person must have been a resident of the Channel Island for at least 12 months prior.

Members at States Greffe in St Helier yesterday voted by a majority of 32 to 14 for a service for terminally ill people with a life expectancy of six months, or 12 months if they have a neurodegenerative disease - known as route one.

But an option, known as route two, to extend a law to people with an incurable physical condition which might not be terminal but is causing them unbearable suffering - was rejected by a majority of 27 to 19.

Dignity in Dying protesters demonstrate while States of Jersey Government Ministers were entering the States Assembly building to debate the Assisted Dying Law yesterday

This is the moment Jersey's parliament voted yesterday for a service for terminally ill people with a life expectancy of six months, or 12 months if they have a neurodegenerative disease

Most members voted in favour of an opt-out for health professionals, giving them a right to refuse to participate in assisted dying.

What is the status on UK assisted dying law? Assisted dying is illegal in the UK, with a maximum jail sentence of 14 years. The last attempt to change the law was defeated in 2015, and it is a divisive topic for religious and ethical reasons. But the right to die is legal in the likes of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, some US states and Canada. Jersey is the second of two self-governing British Crown Dependencies - the other being the Isle of Man  to have taken steps towards legislating on the issue. In the Isle of Man, a bill passed a vote its parliament last October. Politicians there will discuss the Assisted Dying Bill again in June after amendments to strengthen safeguards were scrutinised last week. If passed, it would allow terminally ill adults, with less than a year to live and 'clear and settled intention', to end their lives. Scotland, which has powers on health policy, is also looking to legalise it. A bill brought to its parliament in March proposes that two doctors would have to deem a patient medically fit to make a decision to end their own life. They would have to be aged over 16 and also have to administer the life-ending medication themselves. The bill is still in its early stages and could be voted on next year. But it raises the prospect of a divergence of laws between Scotland, England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, which all have separate but broadly similar legal systems. Advertisement

A majority also voted for a minimum timeframe between the point at which a person makes a first formal request for an assisted death and the administration of the substance that leads to that death - proposed as 14 days.

In 2021, just over three-quarters (78 per cent) of the members of a citizens' jury in Jersey agreed that assisted dying should be permitted.

Later that year, the States Assembly became the first parliament in the British Isles to decide 'in principle' to allow assisted dying.

During the discussion yesterday, Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham praised members for the 'respectful, considerate and sensitive debate'.

Assembly member Constable Mike Jackson suggested a public vote by way of referendum would have been a better approach.

He said he felt the proposed legislation 'should have been the subject of a referendum, given the clear split in views on the matter'.

Mr Jackson added: 'That may yet come, of course.'

Deputy Tom Coles, speaking of the right to choice both for those who support assisted dying and those who do not, had to pause to compose himself, before saying: 'I know my wife would do anything for me. But if I get to my end... if I get to my end, I do not want her to do the things that I don't want her to do for me.

'I want this to be my choice. And I think that, by denying anybody their right to choose, when they get into that situation, that is not fair.

'But I also respect that there are people who will not wish to do this service. There are people who do not want this to be their choice. And I also support that.

'So the fact that this entire process is completely opt-in and not opt-out is where I find my balance with all this.'

Fellow States Assembly member, Reverend Michael Keirle, known as the Dean of Jersey, warned of the risks of people coming under pressure to end their lives, especially under what is known as route two for those with an incurable physical condition which might not be terminal but is causing them unbearable suffering.

Members of the States Assembly voted for a service for terminally ill people on the island

He told the Assembly: 'It would be fantastically naive to think that people won't come under some kind of indirect societal pressure, especially under route two.

What did politicians in Jersey vote on? The States Assembly in Jersey were asked to respond to the assisted dying proposition in five votes as follows: A) To request the Minister for Health and Social Services to bring forward primary legislation that permits assisted dying in Jersey and that requires the Minister to establish an assisted dying service in accordance with the essential provisions and safeguards outlined and to agree that assisted dying will only be lawful where a person meets all of the eligibility criteria. APPROVED - 31 votes for, 15 against B) Route 1  terminal illness. To agree that, in addition to meeting all the eligibility criteria detailed in paragraph a, the person must have been diagnosed with a terminal physical medical condition which is giving rise to, or is expected to give rise to, unbearable suffering that cannot be alleviated in a manner the person deems to be tolerable and that terminal condition must be reasonably expected to cause the persons death within the timeframe specified. APPROVED - 32 votes for, 14 against C) Route 2  Unbearable suffering. In addition to meeting all the eligibility criteria detailed in paragraph a, and if the person does not meet the eligibility criteria in paragraph b (terminal illness), the person must have an incurable physical medical condition that is giving rise to unbearable suffering that cannot be alleviated in a manner the person deems to be tolerable. REJECTED - 19 votes for, 27 against D) To agree that no person should be under a legal duty to participate in the provision of assisted dying and any such person will have a right to refuse participation. APPROVED - 45 votes for, 1 against E) To agree that there will be a minimum timeframe between the point at which a person makes a first formal request for an assisted death and the administration of the substance that leads to that death. APPROVED - 44 votes for, 1 against, 1 abstention Advertisement

'As a priest I've seen grooming at every level. In 35 years of ministry I've seen humanity at its absolute best in death and, sadly, at its absolute worst.

'As the old saying goes, where there's a will, there's a family.'

Deputy Elaine Millar acknowledged that, due to the divided nature of opinion on the controversial issue of assisted dying, 'very large numbers of people would be disappointed by the outcome' no matter which way the vote went.

It is expected the process for drafting a law could take around 18 months, with a debate then taking place by the end of 2025.

If a law is approved, it is expected a further 18-month implementation period will then begin, meaning the earliest for it to come into effect would be summer 2027.

Jennifer Bridge, leader of Jersey Assisted Dying Action Group, described it as a 'historic day for Jersey'.

She said: 'I hope States Members will continue to give their support to this reform because the vast majority of us agree that an assisted dying law would be safer and kinder than the status quo.'

Sarah Wootton, from pro-change organisation Dignity in Dying, described the vote as a 'victory for compassion and common sense'.

'We congratulate States members for listening to the wishes of Jersey citizens and rejecting the assisted dying ban,' she said.

'They have recognised that doing nothing and maintaining the status quo is unconscionable.'

And Humanists UK chief executive Andrew Copson said: 'This is a momentous victory for human dignity and personal autonomy. Jersey's politicians have shown great courage and compassion in their assisted dying vote.

'We hope this progressive move will inspire politicians across the UK to follow suit, recognising the right of individuals to make decisions about their own lives, free from unnecessary suffering.'

However, he added that the vote was 'bittersweet' because it 'lets down people who are suffering from incurable conditions, like multiple sclerosis, denying them the choice of an assisted death'.

Trevor Moore, the chair of My Death, My Decision, said: 'This is an encouraging step for Jersey in its progress to a compassionate assisted dying law. Politicians in the UK should take note.

'The proposals put forward are detailed, safe and compassionate. Finally, residents of Jersey will have the choice of a dignified end.'

Alistair Thompson, from anti-euthanasia group Care Not Killing, has warned that legalisation could lead to so-called 'suicide tourism'.

It is expected the process in Jersey for drafting a law could take around 18 months

Assisted dying is illegal across the UK, with a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.

The last attempt to change the law was defeated in 2015, but there are signs that public opinion is changing.

An Opinium poll in February for the Dignity in Dying group indicated 75 per cent support for a change in the law.

UK MPs have since debated an e-petition signed by more than 207,000 calling for a vote on it.

The petition was launched by television presenter Dame Esther Rantzen, who signed up to assisted dying facility Dignitas after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

According to Dignity in Dying, nearly 350 Britons have ended their lives at the clinic in Switzerland, where assisted dying is allowed.

Leaders of both main UK political parties have indicated they would be open to a vote on the matter.
A deadly tornado flattened the small town of Greenfield, Iowa, as tornados in the area left around five people dead and nearly 40 people injured as homes were obliterated and thousands are left without electricity.

The twister that tore through the city on Tuesday was rated at least an EF-3 by the National Weather Service and was so destructive that it took authorities more than a day to account for the area's residents.

Its believed that the number of people injured is likely higher, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said.

The fifth person was killed about 25 miles from Greenfield when her car was blown off the road in a tornado, according to the Adams County Sheriffs Office.

Monica Zamarron, 46, died in that crash Tuesday afternoon as her car was blown from the road, officials said. A GoFundMe page has been set up for Zamarron's family.

Officials haven't yet released the names of the other victims.

People embrace in front of their home which was destroyed by a tornado that obliterated homes in Greenfield, Iowa

Monica Zamarron, 46, died in that crash Tuesday afternoon as her car was blown from the road, officials said

The severe weather turned south Wednesday. In Texas, officials issued an emergency declaration in Temple, a city of more than 90,000 people north of Austin, after powerful storms ripped through the area.

Thousands of residents lost power, schools canceled classes for Thursday and nearby Fort Cavazos reported significant debris blocking traffic at the Army installation.

In Iowa, the Greenfield tornado obliterated homes, splintered trees and crumpled cars in the town of 2,000 about 55 miles southwest of Des Moines. The twister also crumpled massive power-producing wind turbines several miles outside the city.

Greenfield resident Kimberly Ergish and her husband dug through the debris field Wednesday that used to be their home, looking for family photos and other salvageable items.

There wasnt much left, she acknowledged. The reality of having her house destroyed in seconds hasnt really set in, she said.

'If it werent for all the bumps and bruises and the achy bones, I would think that it didnt happen,' Ergish said.

The deadly twister was spawned during a historic tornado season in the U.S., at a time when climate change is heightening the severity of storms around the world. April had the second-highest number of tornadoes on record in the country.

Through Tuesday, 859 tornadoes had been confirmed this year, 27% more than the U.S. sees on average, according to NOAAs Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Iowa has so far recorded the most, with 81 confirmed twisters.

Officials were still assessing the full extent of property damage in Greenfield, a community of 2,000 about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines, the state capital

The tally of casualties was announced by the Iowa Department of Public Safety at the end of a day in which rescue teams picked through fields of debris left by the deadly twister in search of people who might be trapped in the wreckage

An aerial view shows the devastation left behind in Greenfield

This satellite photo taken by a BlackSky Technology satellite shows the trail of destruction left by the twister

On Tuesday alone, the National Weather Service said it received 23 tornado reports, with 21 in Iowa.

Tuesday's storms also pummeled parts of Illinois and Wisconsin, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers in the two states.

The National Weather Service said initial surveys indicated at least an EF-3 tornado in Greenfield, but additional damage assessment could lead to a more powerful ranking.

The tornado appeared to have been on the ground for more than 40 miles (64 kilometers), AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said.

A satellite photo taken by a BlackSky Technology shows where the twister gouged a nearly straight path of destruction through the town, just south of Greenfields center square.

'Debris was lifted thousands of feet in the air and ended up falling to the ground several counties away from Greenfield. Thats evidence of just how intense and deadly this tornado was,' Porter said.

People as far as 100 miles away from Greenfield posted photos on Facebook of ripped family photos, yearbook pages and other items that were lifted into the sky by the tornado.

About 90 miles away, in Ames, Iowa, Nicole Banner found a yellowed page declaring 'This Book is the Property of the Greenfield Community School District' stuck to her garage door like a Post-It note after the storm passed.

'We just couldnt believe it had traveled that far,' she said.

Of the 35 people reported injured by the tornado, at least 14 were taken to out-of-county hospitals for medical treatment, officials said, adding that the actual number of people hurt was most likely higher

Images from Greenfield showed a wide swath of utter destruction, with homes reduced to splinters, trees uprooted, vehicles crushed and debris strewn everywhere

The twister that touched down in Greenfield was among a swarm of tornadoes reported in southwestern Iowa on Tuesday afternoon and evening

Landyn Ergish, 12, of Greenfield, Iowa looks at the basement bathroom where he hid with his three siblings and mother as a tornado destroyed their home

Phillip Ergish of Greenfield, Iowa holds his dog Kobe while looking at the remnants of his home

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks with a worker at a command station after touring tornado damage

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said FEMAs administrator would be in Iowa Thursday and that the White House was in touch with state and local officials.

She said they were 'praying for those who tragically lost their lives' and wished those injured a 'speedy recovery.'

Greenfield's 25-bed hospital was among the buildings damaged, and at least a dozen people who were hurt had to be taken to facilities elsewhere.

Hospital officials said in a Facebook post Wednesday that the hospital will remain closed and that full repairs could take weeks or months.

An urgent care clinic was set up at an elementary school with primary care services to start there Thursday, the post said.

Residential streets that on Monday were lined with old-growth trees and neatly-appointed ranch-style homes were a chaotic jumble of splintered and smashed remnants by Wednesday.

Many of the homes' basements where residents sheltered lay exposed and front yards were littered with belongings from furniture to children's toys and Christmas decorations.

Roseann Freeland waited until the last minute to rush with her husband to a concrete room in her basement. Seconds later, her husband opened the door 'and you could just see daylight,' Freeland said. 'I just lost it. I just totally lost it.'
Rishi Sunak received a huge boost on the first day of election campaigning today as Nigel Farage dramatically killed off hopes of a comeback.

The Brexit champion insisted he wants to focus on backing Donald Trump's campaign in the US, as he announced he will not be a candidate for the Commons.

The bombshell will be a massive relief for Mr Sunak, after months of uncertainty about Mr Farage's intentions.

Meanwhile, there was some other positive news for the premier with signs immigration is finally dipping. Official figures showed a 10 per cent drop in net long-term inflows last year - although the level was still an eye-watering 685,000, bigger than the population of Sheffield. The previous record for 2022 was also revised upwards to 764,000.

Ministers argue that reforms tightening rules on dependents and students have only just taken effect.

The PM joked he is 'drier' than yesterday and had 'brought an umbrella' as he gave interviews from Derbyshire this morning after shocking the country - and his own MPs - by pulling the trigger on a July 4 contest.

He launched a highly personal attack on Keir Starmer, swiping that he had 'no convictions' and voters cannot trust him.

However, he conceded that Rwanda flights will not now take off until after the election.

And the scale of the task facing the premier was underlined this morning with YouGov research showing Labour 25 points ahead - enough for a landslide bigger than that secured by Tony Blair in 1997. Polling guru Sir John Curtice said Mr Sunak's decision to call a ballot meant he is 'either very brave or extremely foolhardy'.

The PM was in Derbyshire this morning after shocking the country - and his own MPs - by pulling the trigger on a July 4 contest

Rumours are swirling about a Nigel Farage comeback today as Reform prepares to launch its election push

The Brexit champion insisted he wants to focus on backing Donald Trump 's campaign in the US, as he announced he will not be a candidate for the Commons

Keir Starmer was on the campaign trail in Gillingham with Angela Rayner this morning

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Official figures today showed immigration easing slightly after reaching a record high

Even senior Reform insiders had admitted they had no idea whether he would turn up to a press conference scheduled this morning.

In interviews last night, the Brexit champion said the PM had chosen to go for political 'suicide' branding the Tories 'Big State liberals'.

But he only said he would 'think about' his own plans overnight, suggesting Mr Sunak's decision to go early had 'quite a lot to do with me' - so he did not have time to gain momentum in a campaign.

Ministers claim progress as figures show immigration finally easing to 685,000 - but record high from 2022 is revised UP Ministers claimed progress today after net immigration dropped by 10 per cent last year - although it was still 685,000. The latest figures on the key election battleground suggested that net long-term inflows were slightly more than the population of Sheffield in 2023. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) also revised up the previous year to 764,000 - increasing the already eye-watering record high. The ONS said it was too early to tell if a downward trend had begun, but the number of people coming to the UK is slowing while emigration is rising. Work was the biggest driver of migration in 2023, overtaking study, and there was a substantial increase in the number of people arriving from outside the EU on work-related visas, the figures suggest. The measure  which is the difference between the number of people arriving and leaving the country  has been revised upwards by 19,000 for 2022 from an earlier estimate of 745,000 now that more complete data for the year is available. Some 1.22million people are estimated to have arrived in the UK in 2023 (immigration), while 532,000 are likely to have left (emigration). This is compared with 1.26 million and 493,000 respectively in 2022. The rise in the number of people emigrating from the UK long-term has been driven largely by increased emigration from non-EU nationals, particularly among those who initially arrived on a study visa, the ONS said. The figures precede a raft of restrictions brought in by the Government since the start of 2024 amid pressure to cut the record number of people legally arriving in Britain. The Home Office stressed the estimates 'do not take into account the major package measures announced in December which have already started to have an effect'. Home Secretary James Cleverly said: 'The latest migration statistics show a 10 per cent fall in net migration last year, with visa applications down 25 per cent so far in 2024. 'This shows the plan under Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives is working but there is more to do. That is why we must stick to the plan, not go back to square one.' Advertisement

In a statement posted on X, Mr Farage said: 'I have thought long and hard as to whether I should stand in the upcoming general election.

'As honorary president of Reform UK, I am fully supportive of Richard Tice's leadership and urge voters to put their trust in him and Lee Anderson.

'I will do my bit to help in the campaign, but it is not the right time for me to go any further than that.

'Important though the general election is, the contest in the United States of America on November 5 has huge global significance. A strong America as a close ally is vital for our peace and security. I intend to help with the grassroots campaign in the USA in any way that I can.

'The choice between Labour and the Conservatives is uninspiring, and only Reform have the radical agenda that is needed to end decline in this country.'

Anxiety has been growing in Tory ranks about the prospect of Reform gifting Keir Starmer victory by tempting natural supporters away.

The party has been registering above 10 per cent in polls, potentially enough to doom significant number of Conservative MPs - although experts believe they will not be able to win any seats.

Richard Tice is currently leader of Reform, but Mr Farage founded the party and has been mulling a comeback for months.

The timing of the poll in the summer means he might find it easier to campaign, as it is before the US election where he will be stumping for Donald Trump.

But Mr Farage has also pointed out that it is incredibly difficult to get MPs elected under first past the post - having failed himself to win a seat many times.

Speaking to GB News, where is a presenter, Mr Farage said: 'I think the timing of this general election has quite a lot to do with me.

'He (Mr Sunak) was scared. He'd heard rumours - true or not, he'd heard rumours - that I was going to go into the frontline political fray, and if he gave me a six-month run against the worst most insincere Conservative prime minister in history, against the most boring house party guest as leader of the Labour party  I think Reform was a very big factor in this decision.'

He added that Mr Sunak had 'chosen suicide over obliteration', and was likely to be left with 150-180 seats, compared to 50 if he waited another six months.

Mr Farage has previously stressed that he will not be joining the Tories, despite a 'very sweet' suggestion from Liz Truss that he would be welcome.

The campaign got off to a less than auspicious start last night as Mr Sunak announced the summer election in a dramatic - and soaking wet - Downing Street statement.

As his suit became drenched, and with protesters playing the New Labour anthem of 'Things Can Only Get Better' in the background, Mr Sunak pointed to inflation being 'back to normal' and insisted he was 'stopping the boats'.

Mr Farage said last night he will 'think about' his plans, suggesting Mr Sunak had gone early to prevent Reform from getting ready for the contest

Party leader Richard Tice has called a press conference at 11am after Rishi Sunak fired the starting gun on a July 4 contest

'The question now is how and who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure future... now is the moment for Britain to decide its future,' he said.

Even his own Cabinet was kept in the dark until the last minute, with Mr Cleverly telling ITV's Peston 'we don't get particular advance notice' and it was largely a matter for Mr Sunak and his inner circle.

The news caused disquiet among Tory MPs fearful of losing their jobs, and those who have already said they will not stand and are having to say goodbye to Parliament sooner than expected.

Despite speculation at Westminster about a Tory rebel effort to oust Mr Sunak and call off the election, one prominent critic of the Prime Minister said it was 'too late' to get rid of him.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns, who has called for Mr Sunak to go, said she understood 'other letters have been going in' to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady but 'colleagues, it's too late, I told you six months ago we should have done this'.

Just two more days of Commons business have been scheduled, during which important legislation will have to be rushed through.

Mr Sunak launched a highly personal attack on Keir Starmer, swiping that he had 'no convictions' and voters cannot trust him

The campaign got off to a less than auspicious start last night as Mr Sunak announced the summer election in a dramatic - and soaking wet - Downing Street statement

Party whips from the Conservatives and Labour are holding talks to work out what outstanding legislation can become law before prorogation  the end of the current parliamentary session  on Friday.

That includes the Victims and Prisoners Bill, which includes measures to establish a compensation scheme for victims of the infected blood scandal.

Sir Keir responded with his own statement last night saying he welcomed 'a moment the country needs and has been waiting'.

'A chance to change for the better your future, your community, your country,' he said.

'It will feel like a long campaign, I am sure of that, but no matter what else is said and done, that opportunity for change is what this election is about.'

Preparations are being made for a Conservative rally at the Excel centre later tonight with campaigning due to kick into overdrive.

But before today the election had widely been expected in the Autumn, and the bombshell is threatening to set the Tory tinderbox ablaze, with MPs telling MailOnline that Mr Sunak has a 'death wish'. They warned that the Parliamentary party will go 'nuts' at the prospect of charging towards a disastrous defeat.
January 5

On January 5, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 - a Boeing 737 Max 9 - lost a door plug at 16,000 feet on a flight from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California.

That part is designed to replace an unneeded emergency exit door, and it blew out within just 20 minutes of takeoff.

An emergency landing was required and the plane landed safely, but a teddy bear, two mobile phones, a child's t-shirt were all said to have have flown out during the incident.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded 171 of the 737 Max 9s in the aftermath and six of the flight's passengers went on to sue the airline.

Alaska Airlines and United Airlines also went on to find loose parts on their grounded jets' door plugs.

On January 5, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 - a Boeing 737 Max 9 - lost a door plug at 16,000 feet on a flight from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California

The missing door panel was found in a high school physics teacher's back yard

January 16

An anonymous whistleblower broke rank to say that the door plug blowout 'was Boeing's fault', rather than its supplier Spirit AeroSystems.

First reported by The Seattle Times, they claimed the fuselage panel was removed for repair then reinstalled improperly at its Washington factory

'The reason the door blew off is stated in black and white in Boeings own records,' they wrote on aviation site Leeham News.

'It is also very, very stupid and speaks volumes about the quality culture at certain portions of the business.'

February 6

A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report said that the January 5 incident was down to four crucial bolds being missing from the panel which blew out.

February 21

Boeing's 737 Max program chief, Ed Clark, was reportedly fired in a structural shakeup at the company.

Clark was also general manager at the company's Renton, Washington, facility and had been at Boeing for 18 years.

He was replaced by Katie Ringgold, while a 'senior vice president of quality' role was created too.

March 3

A United Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 veered off the runway after landing in Houston due to some sort of gear collapse.

Shocking footage showed the plane lying flat on its wings on grass by the side of the runway, while passengers were hurried off from an emergency gate ladder.

A Boeing 737 Max operated by United Airlines veered off the tarmac into the grass when exiting the runway at George Bush Airport in Houston early Friday

March 4

An audit by the FAA of both Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems 'found multiple instances where the companies allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements'.

March 6

The head of the NTSB accused Boeing of 'not cooperating' with its investigation into the January incident.

Jennifer Homendy said investigators sought the names of the 25 people who work on door plugs at the Renton facility, but had not received them from Boeing.

She told a Senate Committee hearing 'it is absurd that two months later we don't have it'.

However, Boeing spokesperson Connor Greenwood pushed back and insisted that names of employees were provided 'early in the investigation'.

The same day, a 737's engine caught fire in mid-air above Texas, causing an emergency landing minutes into its journey to Fort Myers, Florida.

March 7

A wheel fell off a Boeing 777-200 shortly after takeoff from San Francisco, crushing cars below.

The plane with 235 passengers and 14 crew diverted to Los Angeles Airport after it was alerted to the landing gear failure and landed safely with no further incident and no injuries reported on the ground.

March 9

Boeing whistleblower John Barnett, 62 - a former quality control manager and employee of 32 years - was found dead in his truck outside a South Carolina hotel days after testifying against the company in a lawsuit.

The coroner put it down to a 'self-inflicted' gunshot wound in the head, though the police confirmed that they would investigate further.

Barnett had made a string of complaints to his higher-ups in his time as a quality control manager before leaving the company on health grounds in 2017.

In January 2024, he appeared on TMZ to say that the 737 Max 9 aircraft were being launched back into the air too soon in the wake of the accident, suggesting corners had been cut.

Boeing whistleblower John Barnett was found dead in his truck outside a South Carolina hotel days after testifying against his former employer

March 11

A Boeing 777 was was forced to land due to hydraulic fluid spewing from its landing gear area.

The forced landing happened as the San Francisco-bound 777-300 embarked from Sydney, with fluid filmed leaking from its undercarriage.

March 15

A United Airlines 737 was grounded after it was found to be missing a panel after it touched down successfully in Medford Airport, Oregon, despite the missing part.

March 20

A Boeing 737 900 bound for Atlanta was forced to turn back and make an emergency landing after an engine blow out on take-off from Aruba.

The Delta flight circled the Caribbean island four times before coming back into land following the 'mechanical issue'.

March 29

United Airlines flight 990 - a Boeing 777-200 - from San Francisco to Paris had to touch down early in Denver after engine problems.

April 4

Alaska Airlines announced that they had received $160 million in compensation from Boeing after their 737 Max 9s were grounded following the January 5 door blowout.

The amount was equal to the revenue lost according to a filing from the airline, but Alaska added that it anticipated receiving extra compensation too.

April 10

Another whistleblower, Sam Salehpour, came forward in a Senate committee hearing to accuse Boeing of taking shortcuts when building its 777 and 787 Dreamliner jets and added that the company had retaliated against him when he raised concerns.

He doubled down on the claims a week later, adding on NBC that 787s should be grounded fearing 'fatal flaws' which could case them to fall apart mid-air.

In a 1,500 word statement, Boeing said it was 'fully confident' in the 787 and called concerns about structural integrity 'inaccurate.'

Pictured: Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour testifies before the US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations on April 17

April 11

An internal Boeing review in response to an initial Wall Street Journal investigation found that CEO Dave Calhoun and other bosses at the aviation firm spent $500,000 on company private jets for personal trips which were improperly recorded as business travel.

Boeing's review concluded that some of the flights taken by executives in 2021 and 2022 'were not previously classified as perquisites by the company'.

In the company's proxy filing on April 5, Boeing said that these flights 'should have been classified as such in accordance with SEC rules and guidance'.

April 16

United Airlines indicated it will reduce reliance on Boeing after announcing a $124m loss in the first quarter of 2024, which it blamed on the scandal-laden manufacturer.

April 24

Boeing's CEO assured investors after a first-quarter loss of $355m was announced which coincided with a six per cent dip in share prices.

Calhoun added that he had a successor lined up for his departure at the end of 2024 who would come from inside the company.

April 26

Delta flight 520 was forced to make an emergency landing at JFK Airport when an emergency slide fell off the Boeing 767 an hour into its journey to Los Angeles.

FAA records indicated that the plane was 33 years old.

April 30

Joshua Dean (pictured) died suddenly on April 30 aged 45 having raised the alarm about supposed defects in 737 Max jets

Dean was employed by Spirit AeroSystems based in Wichita, Kansas

A second whistleblower, Joshua Dean, died suddenly aged 45 having raised the alarm about supposed defects in 737 Max jets.

The former Spirit employee previously said he was fired from his quality auditing role for questioning standards at the supplier's plant in Wichita, Kansas, in October 2022.

His family said on social media that Dean died in hospital after a sudden illness.

Earlier in 2024, Dean spoke with NPR about being fired. 'I think they were sending out a message to anybody else. If you are too loud, we will silence you,' he said.

May 6

The US Federal Aviation Administration revealed it has opened an investigation into Boeing after the company reported that workers at a South Carolina plant falsified inspection records on certain 787 planes.

Boeing said its engineers have determined that misconduct did not create 'an immediate safety of flight issue'.

No planes have been taken out of service, but having to perform the test out of order on planes will slow the delivery of jets still being built at the final assembly plant in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Boeing must also create a plan to address planes that are already flying, the FAA said.

Shocking footage showed the moment the plane attempted an emergency landing, smashing down into the runway and scraping its nose along the concrete

May 8

A FedEx Airlines Boeing cargo plane landed at Istanbul Airport without the front landing gear deployed and managed to stay on the runway, Turkey's transport ministry said, adding that there were no casualties.

The Boeing 767 aircraft, flying from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, informed the traffic control tower at Istanbul Airport that its landing gear failed to open and it landed with guidance from the tower, the ministry said in its statement.

Airport rescue and fire fighting teams made necessary preparations on the runway before landing, and no one was injured, the ministry also said, without giving a reason for the failure.

Footage showed sparks flying and smoke billowing as the front end of the plane scraped along the runway before being doused with firefighting foam.

May 9

A Corendon Airlines Boeing 737 plane's front tire burst upon landing at an airport in southern Turkey on Thursday, the Turkish transport minister said, adding there were no casualties and all 190 passengers and crew were evacuated.

The front landing gear strut was damaged on the Corendon Airlines plane, arriving from Cologne, Germany, as it landed at Alanya-Gazipasa airport in Antalya.

The same day, a Boeing passenger plane came off the runway during takeoff from Dakar international airport, injuring 11 people and shutting the hub for hours.

A Boeing 738 plane of Corendon Airlines that operated Cologne-Antalya flight gets stuck on runway due to a burst tire in Antalya, Turkiye on May 9, 2024

Pictures from the scene in Turkey showed the stationary aircraft on the tarmac flanked by emergency vehicles - its front wheels and landing gear crumpled underneath. Corendon Airlines denied Turkish reports that the aircraft had landed on its nose

In this grab taken from video people jump down emergency slides, running from a plane, in Dakar, Senegal, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. A Boeing 737 plane carrying 85 people caught fire and skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 11 people

The Air Senegal flight was bound for the Malian capital Bamako and had 78 passengers on board, plus a crew of six including two pilots, airport management company LAS said in a statement.

Images showed the aircraft in an overgrown area with first aiders surrounding an injured person. Smoke and flames are also visible near the plane.

Also on May 9, the US Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating statements made by Boeing Co. about its safety practices after a mid-air panel blowout on a 737 MAX flight in January.

The SEC will examine whether the planemaker or its executives misled investors in violation of the Wall Street regulator's rules, the report said, citing three people familiar with the development.

May 14

Boeing has violated a settlement that allowed the company to avoid criminal prosecution after two deadly crashes involving its 737 Max aircraft more than five years ago, the Justice Department told a federal judge.

It is now up to the Justice Department (DOJ) to decide whether to file charges against Boeing. Prosecutors will tell the court no later than July 7 how they plan to proceed, the department said.

May 21

One person died and others were injured on a flight from London to Singapore which plummeted 6,000ft in five minutes before making an emergency landing in Thailand.

The Boeing 777 plane operated by Singapore Airlines left the UK's Heathrow airport on Monday evening at 22.17pm local time with 211 passengers and 18 crew on board.

However, flight SQ321 experienced severe turbulence while flying close to Myanmar airspace in a region being battered by extreme tropical thunderstorms.

Pictured: Passengers are seen in the cabin after the incident on Tuesday, with belongings strewn across the floor and oxygen masks dangling from above

Passengers are seen on the Singapore Airlines plane after it made an emergency landing in Bangkok on Tuesday. Oxygen masks fell from the ceiling, as did other components

Geoffrey Kitchen, 73, (pictured) who ran the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group in Bristol, was on board the plane when the incident happened

After around 11 hours of flying time from take off in London, the aircraft sharply dropped from an altitude of around 37,000 feet to 31,000 feet within just five minutes as it finished traversing the Andaman Sea and neared Thailand.

Boeing said: 'We are in contact with Singapore Airlines regarding flight SQ321 and stand ready to support them.

'We extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one, and our thoughts are with the passengers and crew.'
Masterchef winner Brin Pirathapan, 29, is the son of two Sri Lankan war refugees and was helped to victory by his 'biggest supporter and toughest critic' - his doctor fiancee Anna.

The qualified veterinary surgeon from Bristol beat 57 other contestants to be crowned victorious in the 20th series by Greg Wallace and John Torode in the final episode, which aired on the BBC on Wednesday night.

Now it can be revealed that Essex-born Brin is set to be married this summer to his beloved partner who has long been supportive of his culinary ambitions.

But fans of the chef were especially touched last night after a segment of the show revealed Brin's Tamil parents had to flee to Britain from Sri Lanka during the country's 26-year civil war.

The talented chef became emotional when asked about his past, telling Masterchef producers: 'They came to the UK because Sri Lanka was not a safe place to be.'

The qualified veterinary surgeon from Bristol beat 57 other contestants to be crowned victorious in the 20th series

Brin Pirathapan, 29, was born to Tamil parents who fled the bloody Sri Lankan war for their own safety

Brin's parents Gopal and Darley told the programme they are extremely proud of their son

It is believed Brin's family may have lost relatives in the war, which was waged between the Sinhalese-dominated government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) insurgent group.

When asked if many of his family had been lost in the conflict, he told the Times: 'I don't know how much I want to go into that. I think it's my parents' story and I'd rather leave it to them.'

Since the war, which lasted from 1983 until 2009 and led to the deaths of an estimated 100,000 people, the state has been globally criticised for its conduct due to the persecution of minority Tamils during the conflict.

Growing up in Chelmsford, Brin was immersed in Sri Lankan Tamil flavours as a child - but did not exactly take to the chef's hat from birth.

'I remember vividly when I was eight or nine putting pizzas in the oven for my brother and thinking I was this amazing chef,' he told Masterchef producers.

'I'm really lucky because I've got this amazing spicy culinary background from my parents.'

He added he thought himself 'more sophisticated' when he began prepping meals with mutiple ingredients - frankenfurters and packet noodles.

Brin moved to Bristol to attend university, where he studied to become a vet. It is here that his culinary prowess really took off as he challenged himself to be creative with meals on a budget.

'He does love his job but I think he's always been much more passionate about cooking,' Brin's fiancee Anna told the programme.

'It's always been something that when he has a stressful day at work he can come home and he can cook and it makes him feel really calm and relaxed.'

Brin's career as a vet may now be put on hold but arose out of a love of animals.

Brin met his girlfriend Anna at university in Bristol, where he studied to be a veterinary surgeon

The happy couple are engaged and are set to be married this summer - although Brin joked on Masterchef that the cooking experience was better

Brin, pictured with his brother, only discovered his love of cooking after attending university

'I was very academic kid. I wanted to do something medical but I thought it might be easier talking to animals than talking to humans,' he said.

'I love the thought of going into something with a patient that is potentially broken and hopefully coming out of it [with them] fully mended.'

He said that crucial skills in surgery, such as multitasking and working at speed, greatly helped him during the competition.

'You get pretty skilful at handling tweezers in both jobs,' he told the Times.

Brin's engineer father Gopal told how the family had chickens and goats to satisfy their son's love for animals.

Now, he says, they are 'very proud' of his journey on the cooking competition show.

'We never ever expected he was going to make us this proud,' his mother, Darley, added.

Speaking about the competition, Brin said: It's been fantastic. It's been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. All I know is I have to involve cooking into my future.'

In the final Brin created a winning three-course meal starting with fried capers, pickled chilli, pickled and charred shallots, orange and honey-glazed octopus with tempura mussels, herb tuilles dusted with scallop roe, an orange gel and samphire, on a romesco sauce.

Brin and his brother grew up in Chelmsford, Essex, with their parents, chickens and goats

Following his dramatic win, Brin can now focus on his wedding plans with his partner, Anna, who is a doctor

Brin's parents said his love of animals meant they had chickens and goats when he was a child

Cooking his way past 57 other culinary competitors after eight weeks of challenges, Brin's high stakes cook-off was in the Final Three, against Louise Lyons Macleod and Chris Willoughby

MasterChef viewers praised Brin Pirathapan as a 'worthy winner' after he was crowned champion of the 2024 series on Wednesday night

The main course was spiced venison loin, beef short-rib and pickled mushroom tartlet, celeriac and miso puree, salt-baked beetroot and pak choi, served with a gochujang and red wine sauce split with a herb oil.

His dessert featured white chocolate and cardamom and saffron cremeux, with pistachio meringue shards, whisky-poached mango, raspberry gel, pistachio crumb and a mango, lime and chili sorbet.

Fans of the young chef were initially concerned after they saw him peering intently at a piece of paper with just 30 seconds to go in the mammoth challenge.

But Brin explained he was simply checking he had all of his ingredients on the plates.

'I was creating between 10 and 15 separate elements for each dish. Multiplied over three courses thats 40-odd elements so without a tick list it could go wrong.

'With 30 seconds to go I realised the salt-baked beetroot was still sitting in its bowl of marinade. That couldve been the difference between losing and winning.'

His dishes saw him praised by Wallace as 'one of the cleverest talents I've seen'.

Following his dramatic win, Brin can now focus on his wedding plans with his partner, Anna, who is a doctor.

During the show he joked: 'I'm getting married next year and I don't think it's going be as good as today.'

Speaking to the Times after his win, Brin said: 'I got in the car immediately after and rang her. I said, "Youre going to be happy because it got a laugh, but I may have told them the banquet was better than our wedding, which hasnt even happened yet."

'Anna is a trouper; she found it funny and knows I didnt mean it.'
Another farm in Australia has been hit by a case of bird flu with around 400,000 chickens set to be slaughtered to stop the spread of the disease.

Health officials and farmers are on high alert, after the second case of the Avian Influenza, a contagious infection found in birds, was detected at a rural property in Terang, 141km west of Geelong, Victoria on Thursday.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral infection which can cause severe symptoms and sudden death in domestic poultry, wiping out entire populations.

The farm is the third place the disease has been detected, after the virus was found at an egg farm in Meredith, also in Victoria's west, on Wednesday, and a less dangerous strain was detected in Western Australia.

A second case of the highly contagious avian influenza also known as bird flu, has been detected at another farm in Victoria (pictured health workers in hazmat suits arrive at an egg farm in Meredith, in western Victoria after the disease was detected on a property)

The disease was detected following several poultry deaths at the Terang farm, with the mass slaughter of around 400,000 chickens now underway at the property.

Agriculture Victoria said the H7N3 strain of the virus has also been found at the Terang Property, with the virus linked to the egg farm in Meredith.

'The property is located in the Terang region and is linked to the property at Meredith where the H7N3 high pathogenicity strain of avian influenza virus has resulted in numerous poultry deaths,' Agriculture Victoria said in a statement on Thursday.

'Control orders are in place restricting the movement of poultry, poultry products, equipment and vehicles on or off properties in designated areas around the two infected premises.'

Agriculture Victoria said an area of 1.5km has been closed off around the farm in Terang by health and safety workers, while a 15km buffer zone has also been established.

Earlier dozens of health workers, supervised by officials from Agriculture Victoria, arrived at the farm in Meredith wearing hazmat suits, masks, and other protective gear in grim scenes.

Several vehicles were also seen delivering large gas canisters, after the property was placed into quarantine and contact tracing has begun.

Health officials and farmers are on high alert after the H7N3 variant of the influenza was detected at two farms (pictured health workers and officials near a rural property in Meredith, Victoria)

The strain of the virus at the farm in Terang is linked to the disease found at the egg farm in Meredith (pictured) on Wednesday

Despite concerns the virus could be deadly health officials said the H7N3 variant of avian influenza, is not a major health threat.

'This not the type of avian influenza which is a risk to humans, it [has a] very small risk [and there are] very few cases globally,' Dr Graeme Cook, Chief Health Officer, of Victoria Health told Nine News.

'It's totally safe to consume eggs and carry on eating poultry,'

The cases come after a young child who arrived back in Victoria from India in March became the first confirmed case of bird flu on Wednesday, after she contracted the more virulent H5N1 strain.

'Contact tracing has not identified any further cases of avian influenza connected to this case.' Victoria's chief health officer Dr Clare Looker said.

Another case of the virus, which is not connected to the outbreaks in Victoria, has been found on a farm in Western Australia.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional WA acting Chief Veterinary Officer Katie Webb, told Daily Mail Australia in a statement the department is aware of the case.

Bird flu has resulted in several poultry deaths but health officials have stated the strain of the disease detected, is not virulent and people should not be concerned about poultry products sold in supermarkets (pictured stock image)

'The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is managing a detection of low pathogenic H9N2 avian influenza in a poultry operation in the South West of Western Australia,' Ms Webb said.

'DPIRD has been working with the affected poultry operation to manage the detection and reduce the likelihood of spread, and to implement additional biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of new introduction from wild birds.'

The H5N1 strain of avian influenza continues to spread across bird populations worldwide.

More than 90million poultry in US has been affected by the disease according to figures from the Centres for Disease and Control Prevention.

'While cases among humans in direct contact with animals infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses are possible, the current risk to the public remains low,' Agriculture Victoria said.
A groom who claims she was 'lied to' about a 'dangerous' horse that threw her off and left her with a broken spine when she landed with her legs astride a fence is suing a stables owner for 1.5million.

Amy Mahon, a work rider and groom with 30 years' experience, was doing a shift at Leicestershire livery stable Stonehouse Equestrian Farm in 2019 when a horse she was riding 'exploded' and sent her 'flying into the air'.

Ms Mahon, 45, somersaulted backwards out of the saddle and landed on a fence, suffering 'life changing' fractures to her spine which she says have left her unable to work or to ride horses, and needing two crutches to get around.

She is now suing stables boss Helena O'Regan for up to 1.5million, claiming she was 'lied to' about the fact the horse - Cisco - was 'an abnormally difficult and dangerous' animal, with a history of throwing off riders.

Amy Mahon (pictured above) is suing a stables owner after suffering 'life changing' fractures to her spine when a horse she was riding 'exploded' and threw her off. She claims the fact the horse was 'abnormally difficult and dangerous' was concealed from her

Ms Mahon, aged 40 at the time of the incident, is suing for damages under the Animals Act 1971, as well as accusing the stables boss of negligence at the High Court in London.

However, Mrs O'Regan denies liability for the injuries, pointing to text messages Ms Mahon had sent her post-accident, stating: 'It's not your fault: horses are horses and stuff happens.'

The court heard that at the time of the accident in August 2019, Ms Mahon had only just started working for Mrs O'Regan at Stonehouse Equestrian Farm, near Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire.

Cisco was being looked after on a livery contract by Mrs O'Regan, under which she agreed to care for and exercise the horse for its owner, the court was told.

Ms Mahon was riding Cisco for the first time and had been exercising the 16 2/3 hand warmblood thoroughbred gelding for about half an hour, having been asked to do so by Mrs O'Regan, when the horse suddenly 'exploded', her barrister Emily Read told the court.

'He "turned himself inside out"...with enough force to pull the reins from Ms Mahon's hands, dislodge her, a very accomplished and experienced rider, from the saddle, detach her from her stirrups (and send her) flying into the air so that she somersaulted backwards, landing with her legs astride the arena fence,' she said.

Stables boss Helena O'Regan appears outside London's High Court where the case is being heard. She denies liability for the injuries, pointing to text messages Ms Mahon had sent her post-accident, stating: 'It's not your fault'

She told the judge the horse 'sent Ms Mahon flying with such force that she broke her spine.'

'This was not the only report of Cisco reacting with such force that a rider was sent somersaulting, reins snapping as the rider attempted to pull him back up.

'This also occurred on the next occasion he was ridden.'

Ms Read also told the court that, after the accident, Ms Mahon was informed by other riders that Cisco was 'dangerous,' having caused injury before, including to Mrs O'Regan herself.

'Ms Mahon was shocked to hear this, because had she known, she would either have declined to ride Cisco at all, lunged him first, or not pushed him as she did or ridden for as long as she did; and the accident would not have occurred,' the barrister said.

Ms Mahon says she had been told by Mrs O'Regan that Cisco could be 'quirky' when being ridden out.

But she accuses the stables boss of having failed to tell her about Cisco's 'mischievous propensities' and did not warn her that the arena had known features, such as cats and other wildlife dashing nearby, which could cause some horses to spook.

The barrister said, just before trial, Ms Mahon had 'discovered that Cisco had a degenerate spine and hocks, confirmed with veterinary imaging five weeks after her accident.

'She will say that it is very likely to have been known to Mrs O'Regan at the time of her accident that Cisco had something wrong with him, causing him to become more prone to napping or spooking, if he had not been so before.'

Ms Mahon - pictured here on one of her own horses - has been unable to work or to ride horses since the incident. She told the court she was informed by other riders after the accident that Cisco was 'dangerous,' having caused injury before

A horse dealer had, shortly after the accident, declared Cisco 'unsalable' after a 'spooky' test ride and a vet's examination which revealed he was 'unsound and lame' and suffering with painful bone issues, 'kissing spine' and arthritic hocks.

The horse was subsequently put to sleep, with the vet who did so saying that it was partly down to his 'spooky' behaviour, she added.

The barrister continued: 'Ms Mahon challenges the credibility of Mrs O'Regan as to the characteristics of Cisco and what she knew of these.

'In short, she will say that Mrs O'Regan has lied to her, she has persistently lied about the fact that she knew that Cisco was difficult to ride and prone to spooking, failed to comply with her duty of disclosure, deliberately concealing that Cisco was known to be abnormally spooky and to have had dangerous mischievous propensities.'

She told the judge, 'any horse may spook on occasions' but went on to insist that Cisco was an 'abnormally difficult and dangerous horse and prone to being wooden and spooking or napping, bucking or bronking to get rid of his rider and flee,' adding that 'his medical issues may well explain this'.

'She has injured her back and she will never recover. She can't go back to work and she can't ride. She has two crutches and is disabled,' she added.

Ms Mahon, in the witness box, said that 'all four of the horse's legs left the ground' in a sudden 'bronc' when she was thrown out of the saddle and injured.

She said she was later told that another rider had been 'thrown from the same horse' and a second had been 'warned off from riding Cisco'.

Describing her feelings on discovering the horse had painful medical issues, she told the judge: 'It explains why he folded that day. The horse was suffering from an incredibly painful ailment that in my experience can cause horses to be unpredictable and explosive.

'For four and a half years, the defendants have claimed there was nothing wrong with the horse that he was a saint.

'I was enraged to be honest. If I'd known he was spooky I wouldn't have ridden him. At 40 years old, I have no need to be thrown around and have to re-school somebody else's horse.

'He was subsequently put to sleep five weeks after he caused me significant injury when clearly everybody knew there was an issue with the horse based on the X-ray and his spooky behaviour.'

Cross-examining, Mrs O'Regan's barrister Roger Harris pointed out text messages Ms Mahon had sent to the stables boss after her fall.

In them, she stated: 'This was nothing more than a freak accident of the type which can happen when you are on horses. It's one of those things. Its not your fault: horses are horses and stuff happens.'

'That was my initial impression,' Ms Mahon responded in her evidence, adding that later she had received a text from a friend who knew Mrs O'Regan and her stables, who had told her: 'That b**** knew the pony was naughty and had bucked off people before' and also that Cisco had been 'stuck in its box for a couple of weeks' before the incident.

Giving evidence, Mrs O'Regan denied that Cisco was put down because he was 'spooky' and denied that she knew he was an especially 'dangerous' horse.

She also denied he had been cooped up in his box, telling the judge 'the horse definitely would have been put out overnight'.

In her witness statement, she insisted: 'There were no issues with Cisco. He was not naughty and had no propensity to buck or abnormal characteristics.

'He was also not 'an unbalanced ride' as now alleged by Amy....Cisco was no more likely to spook than any other horse.'

The trial is continuing at the High Court in London.
This is the terrifying moment a driver smashed into the back of a lorry at 91mph before flipping on the motorway - but avoided jail because his girlfriend is pregnant.

Footage shows Arron Bond, 31, swerving violently and crashing on the M2, leaving his passenger Kerry Yates with serious injuries.

A dashcam recording of the crash showed Bond's blue Volvo car careering across all three-lanes of the motorway and smashing into the rear of a lorry at high speed, before flipping over multiple times.

Dangerous driver and expectant father Bond faced up to five years in prison after Ms Yates required surgery for fractures to her arm, wrist and hand.

But a judge sympathised with Bond - whose girlfriend was in labour during his sentencing hearing - and handed him a suspended prison term.

Footage shows Arron Bond, 31, swerving violently and crashing on the M2, leaving his passenger Kerry Yates with serious injuries

Dashcam footage of the crash on July 3, 2022, showed Bond's blue Volvo car careering across all three-lanes of the motorway and smashing into the rear of a lorry at high speed, before flipping over multiple time

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Bond had been driving with Ms Yates on the eastbound carriageway of the M2 between Chatham and Gillingham, Kent, in July 2022.

Prosecutor Brian Reece told the court Ms Yates had already complained about Bond driving 'extremely fast' during an earlier journey on the morning of the crash, and had asked him to slow down.

However, at around 7pm that evening, she noticed her friend again driving too fast.

Ms Yates told police Bond had been driving 'faster than everybody else' when another vehicle pulled out - possibly without indicating - to overtake a lorry.

'The defendant needed to either slow down, as he clearly had no intention of doing, or move to the outside lane,' Mr Reece explained.

'Ms Yates saw the car move into the centre lane ahead of the Volvo, saw the obvious danger, and shouted to the driver, 'Brake!'.

'He left it far too late, with the result being that he couldn't move safely from the centre lane to the outside lane...

'He swerved violently to the right and then over-compensated, swerving to the left, losing control and rolling over several times before coming to a rest.'

Numerous emergency vehicles, including the air ambulance, rushed to the scene where debris was scattered across all three lanes and the hard shoulder.

Firefighters were forced to use hydraulic cutters and spreaders to remove the doors and roof of Bond's car and extract him and his passenger from the wreck.

The collision (pictured) led to numerous emergency vehicles, including the air ambulance, rushing to the scene where debris was scattered across all three lanes and the hard shoulder

The vehicle flipped multiple times after colliding with the lorry and the court was told the car was travelling at between 84 and 91mph when it careered from the outside lane

The vehicle's recovered speedometer showed the vehicle was locked at just under 100mph, though the court was told the car was travelling at between 84 and 91mph when it careered from the outside lane.

As well as her fractures, Ms Yates also suffered a severe gravel burn from sitting with her arm outside the open front passenger window during the horrific crash.

She underwent two operations - including one to fit a permanent metal plate with pins into her arm - and has still not had full function returned to her hand nearly two years on.

Although Ms Yates has now returned to her job in the security industry following a period off after the crash, the court heard it has been to a different role with a much-reduced income.

Bond, from Rochester in Kent, denied driving too fast when interviewed by police and sought to blame the driver who had pulled out into his lane.

'However,' Mr Reece added, 'When shown the dashcam footage he appeared not to be able to argue with [it], saying, 'Evidence is evidence'.

'But he still denied he was driving too fast.'

Bond, who suffered a broken finger in the crash, was initially charged with causing serious injury by careless driving, which he admitted.

But the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) later decided the charge should be elevated to one of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Having initially denied the new charge, Bond later admitted the offence in March last year.

His lawyer Trevor Wright explained that although the friendship with Ms Yates had ended, he wanted to tell her how 'genuinely and deeply sorry' he was for what had happened.

Maidstone Crown Court (pictured) heard Bond had been driving with Ms Yates on the eastbound carriageway of the M2 between Chatham and Gillingham, Kent, in July 2022

Mr Wright also revealed that Bond's girlfriend had gone into labour in the early hours, and urged Deputy Circuit Judge Shani Barnes to spare him a jail sentence - saying the family home would be at risk if his client could no longer work.

Taking into account the impacts on Bond's girlfriend and unborn child - as well as the current overcrowded conditions of prisons across Britain - Judge Barnes handed him a two-year jail term, suspended for 18 months.

'People drive too fast,' she told Bond.

'People think they are in control of their car and they will be fine. It's usually what someone else does that makes you realise how dangerous cars are.

'Your partner is somewhere giving birth. It must be horrendous that you are not there, and horrendous for her. She has no idea whether you will be there when she gets back [home].

'This was, as everybody acknowledges in your [character] references, completely out of character. Sending you to prison today would serve no purpose.'

As part of his sentence, Judge Barnes also ordered Bond to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation requirements.

He was also banned from driving for two years, and will have to take an extended test to regain his licence.
An evil father and son have revealed to Israeli investigators how they killed and raped innocent civilians after taking part in the Hamas invasion.

Shameless Jamal Hussein Ahmad Radi, 47, and his son Abdallah, 18, were captured by IDF forces in Gaza and questioned about the atrocities they committed in a kibbutz close to the border.

In video footage of their confession obtained by MailOnline, the men chillingly describe murdering innocent civilians in their homes, kidnapping others and brutally raping women they found and shooting them once they had finished their evil acts.

Details of the horrific sexual-related violence carried out emerged in the weeks after the invasion which left more than 1,200 people dead and has sparked a fierce retaliation by Israeli forces in Gaza.

In the footage the men  dressed in grey tracksuits and with handcuffs - are seen sitting in front of an Israeli flag as they are questioned by an Arabic speaking member of the Shin Bet security service at a secret location.

Shameless Jamal Hussein Ahmad Radi, 47, was captured by IDF

Abdallah, 18, describes raiding homes and brutally raping women

The parents of Liri Albag 19, Naama Levy 19, Daniela Gilboa 20, Agam Berger 19 and Karina Ariev 19, have taken the agonising decision to release the footage (pictured) as their daughters still remain hostages over seven months later. One of the Hamas terrorists seen holding them captive in the video (pictured) is heard telling the women 'You are so beautiful'

Israeli female soldiers from the Nahal Oz military base are placed against the wall and shackled by members of Hamas after they were taken captive on Oct. 7, 2023

Footage of five Israeli female soldiers being captured by Palestinian militants from a military base during Hamas's October 7 attack

Father-of-seven Radi, a member of the Hamas Security Service, who was captured in March in Gaza, describes how he, his son and other terrorists broke into the Nir Oz kibbutz.

Without any visible sign of remorse he said: 'In each house where we found someone, we either killed them or kidnapped them.'

Pressed further he added: 'In the first house I found a woman and her husband, and we hit them with fire and killed themthey were in their late 40s.'

He then went on to confess how he had raped one woman and said: 'She was screaming, she was crying, I did what I did, I raped her.

'I threatened her with my gun to take her clothes off, I remember she was wearing jean shorts, that's about it.'

'I don't know what happened to her, I was there for fifteen minutes and then I left.'

But according to his son Abdallah, his father killed the woman, as he told investigators: 'My father raped her, then I did and then my cousin did and then we left but my father killed the woman after we finished raping her.

'Before this woman, we had raped another girl as well, I killed two people, I raped two people, and I broke into five houses.'

The chilling confessions come two months after Pramila Patten, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, released a report on sexual violence carried out during the October 7 attacks.

She questioned several victims and said:' What I witnessed in Israel were scenes of unspeakable violence perpetrated with shocking brutality.'

During a month-long visit earlier this year she spoke to 34 survivors and visited four kibbutzim as well as morgues where the bodies of victims were kept.

This image taken from video provided by the Hostage Families Forum, shows a bloodied Israeli female soldier from the Nahal Oz military base after she was taken captive by Hamas on Oct. 7

The footage was taken by Hamas militants who stormed the Nahal Oz military base, part of the militant group's wider assault on southern Israel that killed roughly 1,200 people and took about 250 others hostage

This video grab from footage released by the Israeli Hostage and Missing Families Forum campaign group on May 22, 2024, shows what the group described as an Israeli female soldier being taken away by Palestinian Hamas militants during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel

Ms Patten said: 'It was a catalogue of the most extreme and inhumane forms of killing, torture and other horrors.'

Women who attended the Nova music festival were also targeted for conflict-related sexual violence during the October 7 attack.

The video confessions come after horrifying footage of five terrified women captured by Hamas fanatics being threatened at gunpoint, was released on Wednesday.

Commenting on the confessions video an IDF spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Over the past months, we've seen countless evidence of the brutal violence used by Hamas on October 7th, including harrowing acts of gender-based and sexual violence.

'These confessions further prove that any attempt to deny the horrors of October 7th, and discredit the testimonies of witnesses, survivors and freed hostages, is part of a campaign to de-legitimize Israel, and to promote the justification of terrorism.'

The spokesperson added that both father and son were in custody awaiting trial.
Norway, Ireland, Spain announce formal recognition of Palestine

Xinhua) 08:12, May 23, 2024

This video screenshot provided by Norwegian Government shows Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store attending a press conference in Oslo, capital of Norway, May 22, 2024. (Norwegian Government/Handout via Xinhua)

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide highlighted the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza.

OSLO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Norway, Ireland and Spain announced on Wednesday that they would officially recognize Palestine as a state.

Speaking at a press conference in Oslo, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Norway supports granting Palestine full membership status in the United Nations (UN).

"Norway's formal recognition of Palestine as a state will enter into force on May 28. There will be no peace in the Middle East without a two-state solution. And there can be no two-state solution without a Palestinian state. In other words, a Palestinian state is a prerequisite for achieving peace in the Middle East," Store said.

He further explained that the territorial demarcation between Palestine and Israel should be based on the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem serving as the capital for both states. This stance is without prejudice to a final settlement on borders, which may include land swaps.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide highlighted the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza. "What is most urgent at the moment is to achieve a ceasefire, ensure that enough humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza, and obtain the release of the hostages," he said.

A pedestrian walks past a Palestinian flag in Oslo, capital of Norway, May 22, 2024. (Photo by Chen Yaqin/Xinhua)

On the same day, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed that their countries would join Norway in recognizing the State of Palestine.

"Today Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognize the State of Palestine, each of us will undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision," Harris said in Dublin, the Irish capital.

The Irish prime minister said that "permanent peace can only be secured upon the basis of the free will of a free people."

"Palestinians in Gaza are enduring the most appalling, suffering, hardship and starvation," he said. "A humanitarian catastrophe, unimaginable to most, and unconscionable to all -- is unfolding in real time."

Spain's recognition will also take effect on May 28, following a Council of Ministers session. Sanchez stressed that Spain recognizes Palestine "for peace, for justice, and for consistency," urging both parties to engage in dialogue to achieve a two-state solution. He highlighted the necessity of ending reported abuses in the occupied territories.

The Palestinian presidency on Wednesday welcomed the recognition. In a statement published by the official news agency WAFA, the Palestinian leadership stated that it highly appreciated the contribution of Norway, Ireland and Spain towards "consecrating the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination on their land and in taking actual steps to support the implementation of the two-state solution."

On the other hand, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said he has instructed the immediate recall of Israel's ambassadors to Ireland and Norway for consultations in light of the countries' decisions to recognize a Palestinian state.

"I'm sending a clear and unequivocal message to Ireland and Norway: Israel will not remain silent in the face of those undermining its sovereignty and endangering its security," Katz said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

VARIED EUROPEAN REACTIONS

European reactions to the recognition varied. Malta, Slovenia, and Slovakia expressed support, with Slovenia also initiating steps towards recognizing Palestine.

The Slovenian government launched on May 9 procedures for Slovenia's recognition of Palestine. Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon expressed hope that the procedures would be completed as soon as possible, as Slovenia wants to help ensure an end to the horrors in Gaza.

A spokesperson from Malta's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Xinhua that Malta had recently affirmed its readiness to recognize Palestine but will wait until such recognition can make a positive contribution, when the circumstances are right.

Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said his country supported the resolution on strengthening the rights of the State of Palestine. "It is the only way to achieve sustainable peace in the region and confirm the historic right of Palestine to self-determination as well as a place in the UN," he said in a statement.

Conversely, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Lithuania expressed reservations.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that it makes no sense to recognize Palestine as a state if it is not clear who represents it and on what territory.

The UN Security Council holds a meeting on the situation in Gaza at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 20, 2024. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

The Dutch government commented it does not recognize the State of Palestine and is not expected to change its position in the near future.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda warned that recognizing Palestinian statehood could escalate the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

In Belgium, top ministers also met to consider the situation in Gaza, but no agreement on a possible recognition was reached.

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said such recognition is not a taboo while stressing the timing, saying conditions had not yet been met. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also made a similar statement.

Independent EU commentator and analyst Shada Islam said that the recognition of a Palestinian state by Norway, Ireland and Spain is almost certainly going to be followed by Malta and Slovenia in the coming weeks.

"The move by Spain, Ireland and Norway will further isolate Israel in the UN... Their decision sends a strong message to Palestinian people that at least some EU member states have retained their moral compass," she told Xinhua.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
China ranks first globally in number of AEO mutual recognition arrangements signed

14:20, May 23, 2024 By Luo Shanshan ( People's Daily

The 6th World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Conference was held in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province from May 8 to 10. It marked the first time for China to host the event.

The conference, hosted by the WCO and co-hosted by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) of China and the municipal government of Shenzhen, was themed "harnessing the power of AEO programmes for inclusive and sustainable global trade."

Automation and intelligent technologies applied at ports are providing greater space for the development of the AEO program. Photo shows unmanned cranes loading containers onto a container vessel at an automated terminal of the Qingdao port in east China's Shandong province. (People's Daily Online/Han Jiajun)

More than 1,200 delegates from customs, international organizations, AEO enterprises, governments agencies, academic institutions, and industry associations from over 100 countries and regions gathered at the event, with an aim to advance AEO mutual recognition and promote trade growth.

So far, China has signed AEO mutual recognition agreements with 28 economies including Singapore, the European Union and South Korea, which cover 54 countries and regions. Both numbers rank first globally.

The AEO program is a core system of the WCO Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade, under which customs authorities certify companies based on the latter's credit status, compliance records and security standards. As of the end of April this year, China was home to 5,882 AEO enterprises, whose foreign trade volume accounted for 36.3 percent of the national total.

"For enterprises, an AEO certificate not only means convenient customs clearance, but also serves as a prestigious endorsement," said Sun Yunsong, customs manager of SF Express' international supply chain business.

With the assistance of Qianhai Customs under Shenzhen Customs, the company has finally obtained an AEO certificate, Sun said. Certified enterprises have the highest credit rating from customs, and they can enjoy benefits such as fast customs clearance, low inspection rates, and international mutual recognition. AEO is also hailed as a 'green pass' and 'golden signboard' in global trade.

Under the guidance of Kunming Customs, Yuxi Walvax Biotechnology Co., Ltd. obtained an AEO certificate in November 2023.

"The frequency of cargo inspections has significantly decreased, and the overall export time has been compressed from nearly a month to around three days, greatly enhancing the company's international market competitiveness," said Yin Guoqing, head of the company's international cooperation department.

In recent years, Chinese customs have implemented high-quality AEO facilitation measures to improve regulatory and service efficiency, allowing compliant companies to operate smoothly while reducing costs and increasing productivity.

Officers of Tongle Customs under Shenzhen Customs launch AEO certification for AEO enterprises. (Photo from the public account of the information office of the Shenzhen municipal government on WeChat)

According to reports, over the past two years, the average inspection rate for AEO enterprises was only 0.33 percent, 1/5 of that for conventionally managed companies, and AEO enterprises enjoyed expedited customs services 1.53 million times.

The AEO program is an important measure for customs to explore credit supervision, and promoting international AEO mutual recognition is an essential aspect of institutional opening up. After signing an AEO mutual recognition agreement, AEO enterprises recognized by one party can enjoy the same customs facilitation treatment as the recognized enterprises of the other party, which significantly reduces trade cooperation barriers and promotes international trade growth.

During the 6th WCO Global AEO Conference, China signed AEO mutual recognition arrangements with Burundi and Iceland. According to the agreements, AEO enterprises from China and these two countries will enjoy four facilitation measures: lower inspection rates, priority inspections, designated customs liaison officer services, and prioritized clearance should trade be disrupted and resume.

Frederic Manirambona, commissioner of Customs of Burundi, said that the agreement demonstrated the shared aspiration of the two countries to strengthen ties and promote cooperation on secure customs clearance and trade facilitation. Both sides will work together to create a more secure, efficient and predictable business environment for AEO enterprises, he added.

China is Iceland's largest trading partner in Asia. The signing of the AEO mutual recognition agreement between the two countries marked a new stage in customs cooperation between them. Snorri Olsen, commissioner of Iceland Revenue and Customs, said that the development of friendly relations between Iceland and China is unstoppable though the two countries are geographically distant.

"In our globalized operations, we have benefited from the efficiency gains and facilitation policies provided by the AEO program. We are beneficiaries of and witnesses to the AEO program," said Song Yiwen, president of the supply chain management department of technology company Honor, at the conference.

He hopes that customs authorities around the world would expand international AEO mutual recognition, continuously improve trade facilitation, and create a more open and collaborative AEO program, so as to bring benefits to all participants in global trade and achieve win-win outcomes.

Lin Jiantian, director of the GAC's Department of Enterprise Management and Audit-based Control, said he hopes customs administrations of all WCO members could promote the implementation of the AEO program across a wider scope and in more countries and regions. He also called for facilitating mutual recognition of AEO enterprises among more countries and regions, in order to provide them with greater policy dividends.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
This is the shocking moment Israeli women covered in blood after being beaten up by Hamas militants during the October 7 massacre are told they will be murdered.

In harrowing footage, five injured teenage girls can be seen pressed up against a wall as the terrorists yell insults and make veiled threats to rape them.

The distraught parents of Liri Albag, 19, Naama Levy, 19, Daniela Gilboa, 20, Agam Berger, 19 and Karina Ariev, 19, made the agonising decision to release the footage as their daughters - the five youngest women held in Gaza - still remain hostages more than seven months later.

The families released the images of their terrified daughters as they beg mediators to quit the stall in peace deal talks and get their children home.

The 3 min 10 seconds video has been edited by the IDF to preserve the identities of the murdered - meaning it does not show some of the worst violence.

But the clip did capture the sickening moment a terrorist pointing at teenager Karina, still wearing her Snoopy pyjamas after she was dragged from her bed during the initial Hamas storming.

The parents of Liri Albag 19, Naama Levy 19, Daniela Gilboa 20, Agam Berger 19 and Karina Ariev 19, have taken the agonising decision to release the footage (pictured) as their daughters still remain hostages over seven months later. One of the Hamas terrorists seen holding them captive in the video (pictured) is heard telling the women 'You are so beautiful'

The young girls were seen covered in blood as Hamas terrorists hurled abuse at them and made veiled threats to rape them

These are the horrifying first moments in captivity for the five youngest women held in Gaza by sick Hamas fanatics since October 7

At another point, the terrorist calls the terrified group of girls Sabaya - an ancient Islamic term used to describe female slaves.

After the disturbing remark, he adds chillingly in Arabic: 'You are so beautiful.'

Another terrorist can be heard shouting: 'You dogs, we will step on you,' as Naama is seen bleeding severely, her face pushed against the wall.

'I have friends in Palestine,' says the teenager who volunteered for Palestinian charities and dreams of becoming a diplomat.

Liri can then be heard trying to tell them she can speak English, with terrorists screaming at them to be quiet and sit down.

This is when they make the distressing threats to murder them.

'Our brothers died because of you, we will shoot you all,' they tell the girls.

Agam, whose mouth is covered in blood, is asked where she is from. 'Israel, Tel Aviv,' the terrified girl responds.

Just hours earlier they had been taken from the Nahal Oz base on the Gaza border doing mandatory national service as observation lookouts.

Agonisingly, it was Naama's first day on base when she was taken.

The Mail first highlighted the girls' plight in January in a powerful article that was shown to the UN and The Hague.

The newly released footage starts at 9am on October 7 a few hours after the Hamas slaughter of 1,200 innocents began across southern Israel.

The terrified teenagers - their hands tied behind their backs, still dressed in their pyjamas - try to speak to the heavily armed terrorists who are telling each other: 'Take pictures of them.'

In one scene some of the fanatics appear to be praying on the floor next to the captives.

Liri Albag, 19 (centre), is heard in the video trying to tell the Hamas gunmen she can speak English, with the terrorists screaming at them to be quiet and sit down

19-year-old Agam Berger (right) is seen, her face covered in blood. In the video she is asked where she is from. 'Israel, Tel Aviv,' the terrified girl responds

A group of Hamas terrorists are seen gathered in the footage, with the terrified young women sat with their back against a wall

Early in the video, the young women are seen pinned against the wall with their hands tied

Karina, still in her Snoopy pyjamas, is seen being bundled into the back of a truck by the Hamas gunmen in the video that was released today

Naama Levy's oldest brother Amit Levy, 21, who now advocates for the hostages, told MailOnline that the video made him feel sick.

'It's unbelievable that human beings are capable of treating other human beings this way,' he said. 'And what we should remember is that human beings from the same terror organisation are the ones holding them now for 230 days.'

The video ends with the girls being loaded, visibly injured, in pain and limping, into a jeep where they are taken into Gaza.

Part of the same series of footage was from the infamous scene where Naama's tracksuit bottoms were bloodied, triggering fears of abuse.

Testimonies of sexual abuse, rape and torture have emerged since hostages were released as part of a temporary ceasefire deal which fell through when Hamas refused to return some of the female hostages.

Back in November, released hostages said they saw the girls inside captivity.

However, the last time Daniela and Karina were seen was on January 26 when Hamas released a proof of life psychological video that also featured 30-year-old Doron Steinbrecher which was made under duress.

'It's very hard to watch and it shows just a glimpse of the horrors that my sister has been going through. But it also gave me some strength because I really think that Naama and the other girls in the video handle this horrific situation well.'

Amit, who is currently in London meeting with politicians to highlight the hostages' plight, said: 'I see her like a superhero and that does give me and my family strength. She is an athlete and it gives me strength to know how mentally strong she is.

Naama Levy, pictured in this poster distributed by the campaign calling of the Israeli government and Hamas to bring the terror group's hostages home, was one of the five young Israeli women who were seen in the video

Agam Berger (left) and Liri Albag (right), pictured in 'Bring Them Home' posters, were also seen in the footage released by the five young women's families today

Karina Ariev (left) and Daniela Gilboa (right) are also seen in the chilling video. Just hours before the clip was recorded, the group of five young women had been taken from the Nahal Oz base on the Gaza border doing mandatory national service as observation lookouts

'She's amazing. In the video you can hear her say she has friends in Palestine. She really believes in building bridges and peace. That's Naama.

'She is a kind soul that volunteered a lot for kids in poverty,' he added.

'It's not too late, we can save them, we just need a deal to bring them home.'

In a statement released along with the video, The Hostages Families Forum said the clip was a 'damning testament to the nation's failure to bring home the hostages' and demanded that the Israeli government negotiate for the hostages' released.

'The disturbing video has been the reality of Agam, Daniela, Liri, Naama, Karina, and 123 other hostages for 229 days,' the group said.

'The video is a damning testament to the nation's failure to bring home the hostages, who have been forsaken for 229 days. There is no greater mission, no more significant achievement, and no chance to restore hope to Israel without the return of all - the living for rehabilitation and the murdered for burial.

The Israeli government must not waste even one more moment - it must return to the negotiating table today!' it added.

On Monday, Amit was joined by Ilay David, 27, whose brother Evyatar David, 23, was kidnapped and Gal Gilboa Dalal, 29, whose brother Guy Gilboa Dalal, 23, was also taken by Hamas when he was at Nova music festival with his brother.

The families, speaking from the Israel embassy in central London, urged the world not to forget about their siblings' plight.

Pressed on whether they blame the Israeli government for not doing enough to secure their loved ones' release, Mr David said: 'I don't blame anyone. I focus on who can help us right now.

'I'm focusing my energy on the things that can make my brother return home.'

This family handout photo shows 19-year-old Naama Levy, one of the five young hostages seen in the video that has been released by their families

Naama Levy (second right) and her siblings are pictured on holiday together in Italy two years ago. Left to right: Michal, 16, Omri, 12, Naama, 19 and Amit, 21

Naama Levy's oldest brother Amit Levy (pictured right), 21, who now advocates for the hostages tells the Mailonline that the video made him feel stronger emotions than feeling sick

Mr Dalal added: 'There is only so much they can do. I have to trust in my army and in my government because if I can't trust them, then who can I trust?

'I don't have any other option. I just want to see my brother back. I have to believe he (Netanyahu) can do what he can.'

Mr Levy said: 'We trust them (the IDF) because we don't have another choice. I believe they're doing whatever they can in very tough circumstances. The relatives of the hostages said Hamas bore responsibility for those remaining in captivity.

Mr Dalal said: 'The ball is in Hamas' hands. They're using our loved ones as prisoners.

'Until now we did not receive any sign that they're treating our people fairly. We don't know their condition. It makes us think like the world is asking us to fight a knife with hugs and kisses - and you can't.'

Asked how he manages to get on with his life with his sister in captivity, Mr Levy said: 'I don't think I really have a choice. All our family members are suffering.

'We can't let ourselves give up on them. If they wake up every morning, we should wake up every morning and fight for them. Naama (my sister) is the strongest person I know. I'm telling myself stories about how she's surviving this.'

Mr Dalal recalled how his brother was taken hostage while he was still on the run from Hamas gunmen.

The tech support worker said: 'I was rescued at 2pm. I was running and hiding for nine hours. When I got out, they told me that my brother was kidnapped and the video (of him in Gaza) was published at 11am.

'My family did not tell me so I could focus on saving my life.'

Asked about how they cope with the failure of recent ceasefire negotiations, Mr David said: 'It was hard to hear that maybe there's something on the table and it was not accepted, but we cannot know for sure.

'It's like we are looking at a chess game and we can only shout. We cannot understand what's going on in their heads.'

(L-R) Ilay David, brother of hostage Evyatar David, Gal Gilboa Dalal, Nova survivor and brother of Guy Gilboa Dalal, and Amit Levy, brother of Naama Levy, speaking at the Embassy of Israel in London with young family members of hostages currently being held in Gaza, May 20

Mr David also said that the war has brought the hostages' families closer.

He said: 'We became like a big family, that's the only thing we have.

'It breaks my heart every time to see hostages alive coming back (when Evyatar is not among them), but it's the only thing that really gives me hope.

Mr Dalal added: 'I want to see (my brother) soon. The most awful thing I can think about is that he'll return home in a coffin. We hope that the world is with us.'
A man has been arrested after a woman and a man were both stabbed in Sydney's inner west.

Paramedics were called to Sydenham Road in Marrickville just before 6pm, where they found the two injured people near Marrickville High School.

A 25-year-old man was found with stab wounds to his neck, face, head and back while a 55-year-old woman had been knifed in the throat.

A woman and a man are in hospital with stab wounds after a knife attack in Sydney 's inner west

The man was seen with blood pouring from his head as he was taken to an ambulance.

He is now fighting for life at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where the woman is in a serious condition.

A 22-year-old man known to both of the injured people was arrested at the scene and is assisting police with their inquiries.
A farmer has been jailed for more than three years for raping a British backpacker who was working on his land to secure her visa.

Wayne Robert Green was found guilty on Thursday of rape and of procuring a sexual act by intimidation after a three-day trial at Kingaroy District Court in Queensland. He was found not guilty of assault.

The 53-year-old had denied the charges.

The father-of-three was aware that his victim and had no money and wanted to stay in Australia, Judge Glen Cash said, the South Burnett Times reported.

Wayne Robert Green was found guilty on Thursday of rape and of procuring a sexual act by intimidation after a three-day trial at Kingaroy District Court in Queensland

'You took advantage of that position,' Judge Cash said.

'There was no real consent given by her. It's caused her relationship problems and a fear of men.'

The court heard how Green raped the woman while she worked on his farm in Mondure for two weeks as part of her working holiday visa.

She needed to complete 88 days of farm work to extend her visa and found Green's ad offering work on Gumtree.

The woman's prosecutor Christa Nicola had earlier told the court how the woman came home from the pub one evening and Green 'would pay her' for oral sex.

'She was worried he was going to rape her if she didn't comply,' Ms Nicola said, adding that the woman only had $4 to her name at the time.

The man was naked at the time and the victim was drunk.

'She felt as though she had no choice. He laid her on the sofa, she was naked, he was naked, he was touching himself  at some point she had his penis in his mouth,' Ms Nicola said.

'He said the words "suck my c*** you w***" and he was aggressive and pushing her head down.'

The court heard how Green raped the woman while she worked on his farm in Mondure for two weeks as part of her working holiday visa

In another incident, Green allegedly touched the woman's breasts without her consent while she was in a truck with Green and a male farm worker.

But the other man told the court he didn't see Green touch her breasts during the trip.

'There was one point where we were all drunk and she was all flashing cars with her breasts,' the witness said. 'I was flirting with her, I might have touched her breasts.'

He also said he may have 'sucked on her breast' during the journey, that he was friends with the woman and slept with her a couple of times.

The man said the backpacker had told him about having oral sex with Green, but that he 'didn't really ask questions about it'.

However, three other witnesses told the court that the British woman told them that she had been sexually assaulted by Green, with one saying she said it 'was the worst time of her life'.

Two witnesses said the victim said Green had a 'no doors policy' in the house, would walk around naked and sometimes go into the bathroom while she was showering.

This made her uncomfortable and scared to be there alone with him, one witness said.
Two tradies are being hailed as heroes for helping to save schoolchildren when their bus crashed after their driver suffered a medical episode and died.

Colby Bartels And Adam Smith were among the first on the tragic scene at Wandong Road, near Kilmore, north of Melbourne, just after 3.30pm on Wednesday.

The Assumption College school bus had about 32 students on board when it veered off the road and crashed into a tree.

Speaking on The Project, the tradies, who had never met before the incident, explained how they set about helping the students trapped inside.

Mr Smith said he was on his way home from work when he noticed the bus had gone through the barrier on the side of the road.

Tradies Adam Smith (left) and Colby Bartels (right) have been hailed heroes after rescuing trapped school children from the crashed bus on Wednesday afternoon

The Assumption College Maeve's bus (pictured) veered off the road, with police believing the driver had a medical episode

'My initial reaction was just to go and grab my ladder out of my glass ute,' he said.

'[I] pretty much put it up to the side of the bus, get up to the window and break the window to get access to inside the bus.'

The carpenter said he then sent each child over to Mr Bartels.

'[He] gave them a hand to get out the window and down the ladder.'

Mr Bartels said the students were shaken by the ordeal.

'As you can imagine they were pretty shaken up and teary about the whole situation. I couldn't blame them for what they have been through.'

Mr Bartels said when he first arrived, there was a woman on scene who was trying to help the driver.

'When I got there [the bus driver] was unconscious,' Mr Bartels said.

Gary MacDonald, 65, (pictured left) was killed in the crash and has been described as an outstanding human being

The school's bus driver (pictured) was described as a 'generous soul' and has been remembered as a 'lovely man' with the school community 'grateful for the person he was'

'He wasn't responding to us. I moved the door out the way so she could get to him easier. By the time I had done that, everybody else started turning up, including Adam.

'We tried to figure out how to get on [the bus] and help the kids.'

Only some of the students suffered minor injuries and one had serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The 65-year-old driver has been named as Gary MacDonald and he is believed to have suffered a medical episode.

Assumption College principal Paul Finneran told the Herald Sun that Mr MacDonald was a 'generous soul' and an outstanding human being.

'He had a great relationship with the kids, he was such a lovely man,' he said.

'I was speaking to his family last night and the school community, everyone was so grateful for the person he was.'

Mr Finnernan said the school has offered students counselling 'to process what's happened'.

Victoria Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.
An Australian mother of five is facing the death penalty in Taiwan after she was allegedly caught with a stash of cocaine hidden in her suitcase.

Debbie Voulgaris, 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after the drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her luggage.

Taiwanese police allege she was carrying 15lbs of the drug, which - they say - she initially 'vehemently denied' having any knowledge of.

She later claimed her ex-husband John was behind the scheme, police say.

Ms Voulgaris's lawyer Leon Huang said it was 'essential' her ex took the stand as he was the only person who could confirm her claims.

Under Taiwan's strict legal system, capital punishment remains legal - despite repeal attempts. The death penalty can be imposed for a long list of crimes, including murder, treason, terrorism, extreme cases of rape and robbery, and drug trafficking.

Although Taiwan has studied other methods of execution, such as the lethal injection, executions are today carried out by shootings using a handgun.

Condemned prisoners are sedated and put face down on a mattress and shot three times through the heart. If the prisoner has opted to donate their internal organs, then they are instead executed by a single bullet to the back of the head.

Even if she is not handed the death penalty, the mother is facing minimum of five years behind bars, but could also be looking at life in prison.

Debbie Voulgaris could face the death penalty in Taiwan

Voulgaris was allegedly handed the category one drugs in Malaysia around December 10 before she flew to Taiwan, the ABC reported.

The Aussie mum was allegedly paid $US1,800 (1,400) to take the drugs in addition to her accommodation and transport costs.

The drugs had a street value of about $1.25million (1 million) according to Chen Po-chuan, the captain of Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Brigade.

Mr Po-chaun said Voulgaris told authorities she was in Taiwan for a holiday.

He said officers had been sent to her hotel to see if anyone came to collect the drugs, but no one had arrived.

Voulgaris has been detained in a Taiwanese prison since her arrest.

Her lawyer Leon Huang said his client was a 'good-natured person' who 'believed people easily' and had been used as a drug 'mule'.

'Based on her description it appeared that number one, Ms Debbie Voulgaris was not aware of the nature of her travelling,' Mr Huang said.

'And number two, she had no idea of what's placed inside and under her luggage, because there is a hidden compartment and she wasn't aware of that.'

Mr Huang said that because his client had admitted guilt early, while still maintaining she didn't know about the drugs, she may avoid the death penalty.

'If the court finds someone worthy of sympathy, like Debbie's case, typically, they would not want to offer the option of death sentence,' he said.

Taoyuan District Prosecutors alleged Voulgaris was part of a 'drug transport syndicate' in documents submitted to a Taiwanese court.

'Although the defendant confessed to the crime during the court's preparatory proceedings, it is noted that she had previously vehemently denied the crime during the investigation and detention interrogation by this court, and her statements have been inconsistent,' the documents state.

'Notably, the defendant claimed that the co-conspirator, John, who instructed her to bring category one narcotics to Taiwan, is her ex-husband, indicating a close relationship.

'The defendant and her lawyer requested that John be summoned to testify during the preparatory proceedings, implying that there remains a risk of collusion with John before his testimony.'

In Taiwan, category one drugs refer to heroin, morphine, opium, cocaine, and their derivative products.

Debbie Voulgaris, 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her luggage

John's exact whereabouts are currently unclear. Mr Huang said that the legal team was seeking to subpoena him.

Voulgaris has been denied visits from family members but can be visited by her legal team and officials from the Australian Office in Taipei.

An application for her release was denied in March, with judges Cai Yirong and Hou Jingyun ruling there was substantial evidence she was a flight risk.

Her lawyers had argued their client hadn't spoken with family in three months, was struggling to adapt to Chinese food and could not speak Chinese.

However, the judges ruled these were 'not factors to be considered when determining the necessity of detention'.

'It is noted that the defendant's daughter is aware of John's contact information, therefore it cannot be ruled out that the defendant could use her daughter to contact John, making this request [for contact] ungrantable,' they said.

Voulgaris will next appear in court in August. She could face the death penalty or life in prison if found guilty or a minimum of five years behind bars.

However, the chances she receives the death penalty are unlikely after Taiwan's Constitutional Court ruled last August that imposing a life sentence or the death penalty for drug offences is partly unconstitutional.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said a detained Australian woman in Taiwan was receiving consular assistance.

A change.org petition for Voulgaris's release has received 3,000 signatures.

'Anyone who knows her or has met her, understands the pure, kind heart she has,' the author of the petition wrote.

'She is a mother to five children and she could be facing a death penalty or life in prison. Please sign the petition to help towards the freedom of an innocent, pure-hearted mother.'

Authorities allegedly discovered 7kg of cocaine and heroine inside her luggage (pictured)

On April 23 this year, Taiwan's constitutional court debated debated the death penalty and whether it was compatible with the country's constitution.

This was after rights groups Amnesty International and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty challenged the constitutionality of the practice in the country.

When the challenge was brought forward in 2023, Eeling Chiu, Director of Amnesty International Taiwan, said: 'This historic challenge to the constitutionality of the death penalty in Taiwan is an opportunity not to be missed.

'The death penalty is a violation of human rights and human dignity and must be consigned to the history books once and for all. The protection of human rights cannot be compromised on.'

According to Focus Taiwan, the debate this year lasted five hours.

Attorneys representing both sides covered several topics, including whether the death penalty violates the right to life and equality, the principle of proportionality - as well as the United Nations' treaty on civil rights.

Three justices recused themselves from the case, leaving 12. They are expected to make a judgement in July, the news outlet reported.

Although there is a long list under Taiwan law of crimes punishable by the death penalty, all executions in the country since the early 2000s have been for murder.

Prior to 2000, Taiwan had a relatively high rate of executions, but controversial cases in the 1990s and changing attitudes towards capital punishment have seen the number of executions come down since the turn of the century.

Three were carried out in 2005, and then none were carried out between 2006 and 2009. Executions resumed in 2010, with 35 being carried out since.

Amnesty International said in 2023 that no executions have been carried out in the country since 2020.

However, according to the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, 49 people are currently under the sentence of death.

According to a study in the Asian Journal of Criminology, around 80 percent of the Taiwanese public support the use of capital punishment.

The execution process involves some of the most senior Taiwanese officials.

A judicial execution requires a final sentence from Taiwan's supreme court and a warrant of execution signed by the Minister of Justice - who also issues a final and secret execution date.

Once the warrant is issued, the prisoner must be executed within three days.

If new evidence comes to light, or evidence of a procedural flaw, then the execution date may be delayed. However, this has only ever happened once.

Taiwan's president can also award clemency, but again, this is rare.

Death row prisoners are known to be kept in conditions that are harsher than those in general population. It is believed they are no longer shackled for 24 hours, as was once the case, but they are only allowed out of their cells for 30 minutes a day.

Voulgaris was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport (pictured, file photo) in December. There is no suggestion that those pictured are involved in the suspected crime

Executions take place at 7.30pm and are performed in secret. Nobody is informed of the date, including the condemned.

When the time comes, they are brought to the execution range where the prisoner's identity is confirmed by a special court, which can also record any last words.

The prisoner is then served a last meal, which usually includes a bottle of kaoliang wine, before a strong anaesthetic is administered to cause unconsciousness.

The prisoner is then laid flat on the ground and shot, either through the heart or - if they are an organ doner - through the brain stem under their ear. It is tradition for the condemned to place a banknote in their leg irons as a tip for the executioners.
The brutal turbulence that befell a Singapore Airlines flight on Tuesday morning left 22 passengers with considerable spinal cord injuries and six with brain and skull injuries, hospital officials decalred today.

Twenty people remain in intensive care and a 73-year-old British man died after the Boeing 777, which was flying from London's Heathrow airport to Singapore suddenly descended sharply after hitting the turbulence over the Andaman Sea on Tuesday.

Pilots performed an emergency landing in Bangkok, Thailand, where more than 100 people received medical treatment and around 80 were rushed to two hospitals.

But it was revealed by Thai doctors this morning that many of the 22 passengers with spinal injuries will need surgery, and 40 people still remain in hospital.

Adinun Kittiratanapaibool, Director of Bangkok's Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, said the oldest patient at the hospital is 83 years old and the youngest a two-year-old child who suffered a concussion, he added.

Ten Brits, nine Australians, seven Malaysians and four Philippine citizens were among the 40 people in hospital, according to a presentation made by Adinun.

Australian citizen Keith Davies suffered several injuries on the flight, while his British wife Kerry remains in intensive care

The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, May 21, 2024.

The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, in Bangkok, Thailand May 21, 2024 in this handout image

The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, May 21, 2024

A man is stretchered out of the plane by Thai emergency services following landing in Bangkok

It remains unclear what exactly caused the turbulence that sent the plane, which was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, plunging around 6,000ft in just 180 seconds.

But passengers have described the 'sheer terror' of the aircraft shuddering, loose items flying and injured people lying paralysed on the floor of the plane.

Travellers said people standing in the aisle were smashed into the ceiling and 'did somersaults', while others suffered nasty gashes and poured blood from their wounds.

In one of the latest accounts of the chaos on board, 43-year-old Malaysian Amelia Lim described finding herself face down on the floor.

'I was so afraid .. I could see so many individuals on the floor, they were all bleeding. There was blood on the floor as well as on the people,' she told the online Malay Mail newspaper.

The woman who had been seated next to her was 'motionless in the aisle and unable to move, likely suffering from a hip or spinal injury,' she added.

Thai authorities said the British man who died, Geoff Kitchen, likely had a heart attack.

Passengers have described how the flight crew tried to revive him by performing CPR for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, Australian citizen Keith Davis said his British wife Kerry was one of the Brits who suffered critical injuries and is now in the Intensive Care Unit at Bangkok's Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital.

He did not reveal what Kerry's injuries were, but said he wants her to be medically evacuated back to their home in Adelaide.

Davis's injuries were clearly visible on his face with a dark bruise and swelling under his right eye when he visited a hospital cafe.

He also had a bandage wrapped around his head after he sustained a cut from smashing his head into the panel above his seat.

The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, May 21, 2024

Josh Silverstone, from Britain, who was injured during the flight of the Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER, talks to reporters at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital

Mia Stevenson was one of several Brits on the flight

Geoff Kitchen, 73, suffered a suspected heart attack on the plane and ultimately died

A general view shows the exterior of Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, where some of the injured passengers were being treated two days after the turbulence-hit Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore, in Bangkok on May 23, 2024

British student Mia Lawrence revealed how she 'froze with terror' after being catapulted out of her seat on the ill-fated Singapore Airlines flight.

Other passengers were ejected from their seats as coffee and cups of water were thrown into the air and their mobile phones, shoes and cushions flung around the cabin.

Some feared they were about to die - 24-year-old Jim Silverstone said he paid for on board WiFi for the first time ever so he could text his mum that he loved her.

Silverstone, from south London, was on his way to meet friends in Bali.

As he left the hospital in Thailand yesterday, he described the ordeal as 'simply terrifying' as he was thrown to the floor when the Boeing 777 plummeted 6,000ft in three minutes.

He suffered a cut to his cheek and a chipped tooth.

Another Brit, Mia Stevenson, told MailOnline: 'I was partially asleep and the next thing I remember is that I just flew upwards and crashed into the ceiling and then fell down really hard into the aisle.'

Hospital chiefs were unable to reveal the names of those being treated due to patient confidentiality.

But one of the women in intensive care is the widow of 73-year-old Geoff Kitchen who is believed to have suffered a fatal heart attack.

Linda Kitchen is among the passengers who sustained significant spinal injuries.

Adinun Kittiratanapaibool, director of Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, speaks to the press about the treatment and condition of injured passengers two days after the turbulence-hit Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore, in Bangkok on May 23, 2024

A blood smear is seen on the overhead baggage locker following turbulence

The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, May 21, 2024

Most people associate turbulence with heavy storms, but the most dangerous type is so-called clear air turbulence.

Wind shear can occur in wispy cirrus clouds or even in clear air near thunderstorms, as differences in temperature and pressure create powerful currents of fast-moving air.

According to a 2021 report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, turbulence accounted for 37.6% of all accidents on larger commercial airlines between 2009 and 2018. The Federal Aviation Administration, another U.S. government agency, has said there were 146 serious injuries from turbulence from 2009 to 2021.

Tourism and aviation expert Anita Mendiratta, who is based in London, said the extreme turbulence was 'extremely unusual.'

She said passengers should listen to instructions to keep their seatbelts on, ensure that hand baggage is put away safely when not in use, and reduce items stowed in the overhead compartments.

'When there is turbulence, those doors can open and all of the items up top, whether it's our hand baggage, our jackets, our duty free items, they become movable and they become a risk to us all,' she said.
French police have thwarted a plot to carry out a 'mass killing' during the Olympic Flame parade in Bordeaux on Thursday.

A 26-year old man was arrested on Tuesday in Eysines, Gironde, French publication CNEWS reported, on suspicion of planning a mass killing today.

Concerns were first raised on a report from the intelligence platform Pharos, which detected a message referring to a 2014 mass killing in the US.

The suspect, named in French media as Alex G. and born in 1998, lives in Gironde and has no criminal record, a judicial source revealed. He was said to be a sympathiser of the 'Incel' movement, known for its hatred of women

On the suspect's Facebook profile, investigators discovered a post referring to 'Virgin Killer' Elliot Rodger, who was responsible for the 2014 Isla Vista killings in California, exactly 10 years ago today, with the comment: 'We miss you Elliot'.

Members of the public look at a torch bearer holding the Olympic Torch as part of the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in Saint-Emilion, southwestern France on Thursday, where police thwarted a plot to carry out a mass attack

Mayor of Saint-Emilion Bernard Lauret holds the Olympic Torch as part of the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in Saint-Emilion, southwestern France on Thursday

During a search of his home, police also seized a rubber bullet revolver, several mobile phones and a computer.

While in police custody, the man arrested spoke of his plan to commit a mass killing. The man added that he planned for the attack to end in his suicide.

The planned attack would have come exactly 10 years after Rodger shot six people dead and injured 14 others in Isla Vista, near the University of California in 2014, before taking his own life.

Prior to his rampage, he had posted a chilling video warning of 'retribution' because he was still a virgin aged 22.

Bordeaux prosecutor Frederique Porterie said of the arrest in France: 'Initial investigations revealed the individual's interest in the Incel movement.'

The suspect admitted in custody to 'having considered an act with no specific location' in mind, and no mention of the Olympic flame relay.

He was also described as 'psychologically highly fragile'.

Minister of the Interior of France Gerald Darmanin praised the police officers, as well as 'all the agents of the Ministry of the Interior' for their commitment to stopping the violent attack.

Pictured: Elliot Rodger killed six people on May 23, 2014 before dying in a shootout with police, in the community of Isla Vista near the University of California, Santa Barbara

'Thanks to the police officers and, more broadly, to all the Ministry's agents who are providing security for this popular celebration with remarkable professionalism and commitment,' he wrote on X.

The torch relay started in the morning and is scheduled to end around 1930 local time (1730GMT). The Olympics will be held from July 26-August 11.

Paris 2024 organisers have been gearing up for an unprecedented security operation, with an opening ceremony involving some 10,000 athletes carried along the River Seine.
A Jewish billionaire who donated millions to the University of Manitoba has slammed a speech made by a valedictorian as being filled with 'hate speech and lies'.

In a letter dated Monday, Ernest Rady told university officials at the school in Winnipeg, Manitoba, that he was left hurt and appalled by the speech made by valedictorian Gem Newman.

Newman gave a speech last week to those graduating from the Max Rady College of Medicine and referenced the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

The school had been renamed in honor of Rady's father after he donated $30 million in 2016.

Rady had attended the University and went on to found American Assets Inc, a real estate investment company, which has a market value in excess of $2 billion.

In his letter he said: 'Newman's speech not only dishonored the memory of my father, but also disrespected and disparaged Jewish people as a whole.'

In a letter dated Monday, Ernest Rady, seen here, told university officials he was left hurt and appalled by the speech made by valedictorian Gem Newman

Gem Newman gave a speech last week to those graduating from the Max Rady College of Medicine and referenced the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict

During his speech, Newman referenced what he called Israel's 'deliberate targeting' of hospitals in Palestine.

He also called for an 'immediate and lasting' ceasefire in Gaza and called on those gathered before him to do the same.

Newman said: 'Israel's deliberate targeting of hospitals and other civilian infrastructure has lead to more than 35,000 deaths and widespread famines and disease.

'I ask that you join me in calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Palestine, join me in calling for unrestricted humanitarian and medical aid in Gaza.

'I'm sure that some of you here today are worried that you might face censure for speaking about the genocidal war that Israel is waging on the people of Palestine, that it could jeopardize your career before it's even begun.

'I understand that fear. Surely, I don't have to remind any of you that advocacy is literally in our job description. It is never too late to join the right side of history.'

CBC reported that a video of his speech had been shared onto the University of Manitoba's YouTube page before it was removed after Rady demanded it.

The letter, first reported by the Winnipeg Free Press, also hit out at the University for allowing Newman to 'spew these hateful lies to a captive audience'.

'For failing to call out Gem Newman's words for what they are, the university is no better.'

Rady called on them to 'acknowledge they were not only inaccurate, but flat-out lies, that they were hurtful to the university's Jewish students and all people of the Jewish faith, and that the remarks do not have a place in any setting at the university.'

A video of his speech had been shared onto the University of Manitoba's YouTube page before it was removed

Rady added: 'When I make a gift to an institution, I do it because I believe in that institution and I trust its governing body to do important, significant, and good work with that money.

'But in this instance, by remaining silent, I would be complicit. Those words are not political opinion. They are hate speech and they are lies.

'They espouse the same age-old prejudices about Jewish omnipotence and thirst for domination that have been used for centuries to justify the atrocities committed against this religious group.'

'Having failed to vet the valedictorian's speech in advance, I beg that the University of Manitoba step up and finally do the right thing.

'Take down the convocation video and do not repost it unless the valedictorian's entire speech is removed.

Acknowledge that they were not only inaccurate, but flat-out lies, that they were hurtful to the University's Jewish students and all people of the Jewish faith, and that the remarks do not have a place in any setting at the University.

During his speech, Newman, seen here, referenced what he called Israel's 'deliberate targeting' of hospitals in Palestine

'Advocating for the protection of one group of people, while in the same breath calling for the destruction and elimination of another is not advocacy. It is hate.'

The day after the letter, Dr Peter Nickerson, Dean of the Max Rady College, said in a statement: 'I have heard from individuals who were present yesterday and who were disappointed and alarmed by the political message in the valedictorian's address.

'I share these concerns. I, too, am disappointed that the address was delivered in a way that didn't represent all students and that was disrespectful to some audience members who were there to celebrate and be celebrated.

'This isn't the purpose of a valedictorian address and the speech should have better reflected shared experiences, successes and a commitment to serve all communities.

'The valedictorian was expressing his own views, and this was not a message vetted or endorsed in any way by the College.'

In a statement shared on his social media, Newman said: 'In my valedictory address, I was critical of a national government that is currently engaged in its campaign of collective punishment of the Palestinian people, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians.

'It is frankly incredible to me that advocating for a cessation of hostilities is seen as not only controversial, but somehow hateful.

'I have been and will continue to be vocally critical of the state of Israel's horrifying and disproportionate response to the awful tragedy of October 7th.

'But criticism of the actions of the Israeli government does not in and of itself constitute antisemitism.

The school, pictured here, had been renamed in honor of Rady's father after he donated $30 million in 2016

'That accusation (which has been levelled not only at me but at countless others) is not only unserious, but it also serves to trivialize the regrettably very real instances of antisemitism that do occur.'

He added: 'Since my valedictory address, I have received hundreds of messages from doctors, medical students, and members of the public thanking me for my words.

'I have also received more than my share of harassment and threats. But at the end of the day, I still get to hug my kids, something that so many parents in Gaza will never get to do again.'

Newman obtained his PhD from the college while also having a BSc in Computer Science.

He also produces a podcast based around promoting secular humanism and scientific skepticism.
Oxford students occupied a university building today in their latest demonstration against Israel's actions in Gaza - only for police to move in and arrest 16 of them.

The occupation began this morning at the University of Oxford's administration offices in the city's Wellington Square, with students saying they would not move until they had spoken with the university's Vice Chancellor.

Pictures show a heavy police presence at the scene with students and protesters seen trying to engage with officers.

Around 150 people gathered outside the offices with the crowd chanting 'let them go', Cherwell, the student newspaper has reported.

Police have moved in to arrest Oxford students as they occupy a university building in a pro-Palestinian protest

Protesters outside the university building waving Palestinian flags

Sixteen people staging the demonstration at the University of Oxford offices at Wellington Square have been told they are under arrest, Oxford Action for Palestine has claimed

Pictures show a heavy police presence at the scene with students and protesters seen trying to engage with officers

The protesters entered the university building at 8am today and occupied an office on the first floor.

University staff have also been trapped inside their offices with no access to toilets, witnesses have claimed.

A source said: 'They are literally locked in their offices with no access to toilets etc and the VC's office has an ensuite toilet so at least the protesters have that.

'All they have been told is that this is continuing indefinitely.

'The VC left, no senior staff were in yet, so the staff are just sat there waiting.

'I was on my way in, so turned around and went home like most.'

A spokesman for Oxford Action for Palestine said: 'Today, Oxford students staged a peaceful sit-in to demand that the University meet with us after two weeks of non-response.

'Instead of engaging in dialogue with her students, the Vice Chancellor chose to evacuate the building, place it on lockdown, and call the police to make arrests.'

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: 'We are aware of an ongoing protest at Oxford University this morning (May 23).

A spokesman for Oxford Action for Palestine said: 'Today, Oxford students staged a peaceful sit-in to demand that the University meet with us after two weeks of non-response'

Pictures show a heavy police presence at the scene with students and protesters seen trying to engage with officers

Protesters hold a sign that reads 'negotiate with us'

Around 150 people have also gathered outside the offices with the crowd chanting 'let them go', Cherwell, the student newspaper has reported

A University of Oxford building on lockdown as protestors occupy the site

Oxford Action for Palestine has previously spoken out against the 'university's lack of engagement' with their demands

'We are in contact with the University and if anyone has any concerns then please speak to one of our officers in the area.

'Whilst we are dealing with this, we ask that any photos or video of the incident is shared with us and not on social media.

'We will provide an update when we are in a position to do so.'

The incident comes after an encampment was set up at the university to protest against Israel's actions in Gaza.

Oxford Action for Palestine has previously spoken out against the 'university's lack of engagement' with their demands.

On Saturday, the group staged a 'Gaza die-in' protest outside the Sheldonian Theatre and Bodleian Library while graudations were taking place.

Furious members of the group posted a video on social media on Saturday, accusing a security guard of 'slamming the door on the heads of students protesting the university's complicity in genocide'.

However, instead of acting violently towards the students, the video shows the member of staff gently prodding them with his foot as he tries to access a door that they are obstructing.

Seperate pictures show graduands and their families having to step over the protesters as they attempted to leave the hall - with the group also alleging that members of the public trampled on their hands.

MailOnline has contacted Oxford University for comment.
The Horizon IT Inquiry has heard former CEO Paula Vennells sought advice from her husband over how to deal with IT issues which saw subpostmasters wrongly prosecuted for theft.

While the shamed former boss was at the Post Office, Fujitsu's faulty IT system, known as Horizon, made it appear as though money was missing at various branches - resulting in hundreds being wrongly prosecuted for theft.

In 2013, Vennells had asked John, her 'engineer/computer literate husband', for his advice on how to describe the issues in a 'non-emotive' way.

The advice he gave resulted in Post Office executives swapping the word 'bug' for the word 'exception' when referring to issues with Horizon.

On April 24, 2024, the Horizon inquiry was shown a July 2013 email from Vennells to the Post Office's communications chief Mark R Davies where she told him: 'My engineer/computer literate husband sent the following reply to the question: "What is a non-emotive word for computer bugs, glitches, defects that happen as a matter of course?"

One of the revelations of the Horizon IT Inquiry into the Post Office's computer system issues - which resulted in hundreds of subpostmasters being wrongly prosecuted for theft - is that the former CEO Paula Vennells asked her husband for advice on 'bugs' in their system. Pictured: Vennells tearing up on her appearance on May 22

The advice Vennells' husband, John, gave resulted in Post Office executives swapping the word 'bug' for the word 'exception' when referring to issues with Horizon

In July 2013, Vennells asked John: 'What is a non-emotive word for computer bugs, glitches, defects that happen as a matter of course?' His reply was to recommend use of the word 'exception' or 'anomaly'

'Answer: "Exception or anomaly. You can also say conditional Davies exception/anomaly which only manifests itself under unforeseen circumstances xx."

Vennells then asked: 'Does that help? (The xx was for me I think!)'

Mr Davies replied: 'I like exception v much.'

John, now retired, used to be the global vice-president at the international engineering firm ABB.

The pair met at Bradford University dinghy club. Vennells studied Russian, French and Economics there and graduated in 1981.

They married in 1994 and went on to now have two adult sons - Luke and Edward, both born later that decade.

After the engineer's advice was given, problems with post office branches were subsequently referred to as 'branch exceptions' rather than 'bugs' in a note prepared for a meeting between the Post Office and Tory MP James Arbuthnot, the inquiry heard.

Inquiry counsel Julian Blake described the language change as 'absolutely Orwellian' to Susan Crichton, the Post Office's top in-house lawyer who quit in 2013, and asked whether this demonstrated the use of 'smoke and mirrors'.

She replied: 'It certainly reads in that way, yes.'

Inquiry counsel Julian Blake asked Susan Crichton (pictured), the Post Office's top in-house lawyer before she quit in 2013, whether this demonstrated the use of 'smoke and mirrors'. She replied: 'It certainly reads in that way, yes'

When Mr Blake suggested there had been discussion at the 'highest levels' of the Post Office over changing the language around bugs, Mrs Crichton said she could recall no such discussion.

She was later grilled about a July 2013 email in which she herself wrote it 'wasn't a good idea to mention bugs'.

Asked if this revealed changing the word 'bugs' was at the 'forefront' of her mind, she replied: 'That's certainly what this email says, yes.'

Auditors Second Sight released an interim report which identified bugs that raised concerns over the reliability of Horizon data used to prosecute subpostmasters in July 2013.
This is the moment Post Office scandal victims groan as Paula Vennells claims she 'can't remember' if she took PR advice not to review a decade's worth of wrongful convictions.

The 65-year-old businesswoman drew audible gasps from the audience as she gave evidence at the Horizon IT Inquiry into why hundreds of branch managers were wrongly prosecuted amid claims they stole from the business.

More than 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted for theft by the Post Office and given criminal convictions between 1999 and 2015 as Fujitsu's faulty IT system, known as Horizon, made it appear as though money was missing at their branches.

Ms Vennells, who was the chief executive from 2012 to 2019, told the inquiry she could not remember if she took advice from the Post Office's PR supremo in 2013 that they should not review prosecutions from 'five to 10 years' ago.

The inquiry chairman was forced to intervene as members of the gallery groaned at her response after being shown an email from 'PR guy' Mark Davies where he advised not to look at historical cases because it would end up 'on the front page'.

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells arrives to give her second day of evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry at Aldwych House, central London

The 65-year-old businesswoman arrives at Aldwych House, escorted by police officers, to give evidence for a second day at the Horizon IT scandal

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells on her second day of giving evidence to the inquiry at Aldwych House, central London

On the second day of Ms Vennells' evidence, inquiry heard the Post Office's PR supremo Mark Davies gave Ms Vennells 'personal advice' on the extent to which past Post Office convictions were reviewed, on the basis that media coverage of each decision might make it 'front page news'.

Mr Davies said in 2013 that the Post Office should not review historical cases involving the Horizon IT system from 'five to 10 years' ago because it would be 'on the front page'.

Referring to an email from July 2013 from Mr Davies, counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked the former chief executive: 'This says "you can't do that, you'll be on the front page".

'That's a grossly improper perspective isn't it?'

Ms Vennells said: 'Yes it is.'

Mr Beer continued: 'Do you know why he cut everyone else out of the chain and replied directly to you?'

Ms Vennells said: 'No, I don't.'

Mr Vennells said she 'would never have taken a decision based on the advice of one colleague', despite the inquiry being shown evidence she would 'take your (Davies') steer'.

The inquiry was shown an email from Ms Vennells replying to Mr Davies' advice to review a smaller number of cases.

Ms Vennells wrote: 'Mark, thanks for this and, I don't think we are far apart - I didn't say this approach would be our media statement but they would need to be aligned.

'You are right to call this out. And it will take your steer. no issue.'

Mr Beer KC then asked: 'You did take the advice of the PR guy, didn't you?'

Ms Vennells began her answer by saying 'I don't remember', before loud groans came from the public gallery.

After chairman Sir Wyn Williams intervened, Ms Vennells continued: 'As I tried to say before, what we were working to at this stage was numbers of cases going through a scheme, and a scheme that was going to be opened up to anybody who wanted to come forward.

'I understand how this reads, but I don't recall making any conscious decision not to go back and put in place a review of all past criminal cases.'

Ms Vennells later revealed to the inquiry she remained in contact with Mr Davies even after she left the Post Office.

Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked: 'Did you exchange messages with him about media statements that you might make and the media lines that you might take in the announcement of this inquiry, for example?'

Ms Vennells replied: 'I believe the inquiry has texts that show that.'

Mr Beer continued: 'Even though you'd moved on, he was still advising you into 2020 as to the lines to take in your media statements?'

Ms Vennells said: 'I had kept in touch with Mark Davies for reasons that were very personal to him and I think he offered that advice at the time.'

The inquiry was shown this email from Ms Vennells replying to Mr Davies' advice to review a smaller number of cases

PR guru Mark Davies is seen giving evidence to the inquiry at Aldwych House, central London, on May 14, 2024

Police escort Former CEO of the Post Office Paula Vennells as she arrives at the Post Office inquiry in London

Paula Vennells, former Chief Executive Officer of the Post Office, arrives at Aldwych House, where the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry is taking place on Thursday

Elsewhere, the inquiry heard Ms Vennells received a letter from the independent Criminal Cases Review Commission in summer 2013 asking for evidence about some of its previous convictions, following mounting coverage in the Press.

But the inquiry heard the Post Office failed to disclose concerns it had about the reliability of evidence of its expert witness, Horizon engineer Gareth Jenkins.

Ms Vennells denied Mr Beer's suggestion the letter, while unusual, was 'unwelcome'.

Mr Beer asked: 'The right and honest thing to do would be to have let the CCRC know promptly over its concerns about the truthfulness and reliability of the evidence that Gareth Jenkins had given to court wouldn't it?'

Ms Vennells replied: 'It would, yes.'

Mr Beer replied: 'But that didn't happen for years, did it?'

Ms Vennells replied: 'I understand that to be the case.'

Mr Beer added: 'Is it every day of the week in the Post Office that it is told that the safety of its convictions may be called into question by unreliable evidence by an expert witness?'

Ms Vennells replied: 'No. I now know much more than I did at the time.'

Ms Vennells said she 'accepted the explanations' she had been given that the bugs identified in the system in mid-2013 had been dealt with.

Mr Beer said: 'You had been told repeatedly for six years since you joined the Post Office (in 2007) that there were no bugs in Horizon, that mantra is key to your witness statement. It was the consistent message to your business.

'And then you are told: No they are just red herring bugs.'

Ms Vennells said: 'I was told that where cases had gone to court, the court found in favour of Horizon. I knew there were always glitches and issues with the system, I knew that from having visited branches.'

Asked if it was 'world-changing information' that contradicted what she had previously been told about the integrity of Horizon, Ms Vennells replied: 'This was important, but I was reassured at the same time that these bugs had been dealt with.'

Ms Vennells agreed with Mr Beer that she should have asked for a 'watertight assurance' from Fujitsu, the Japanese tech giant behind the software, that there were no further bugs.

It comes as earlier today, the inquiry was shown a note from Mr Bates, who spearheaded the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance (JFSA) campaign, in 2013.

At the time forensic accountants Second Sight were drafted in to independently review cases involving the Horizon system in 2012.

In his email, Mr Bates said he was 'surprised' the pair had not met, 'bearing in mind what has been discovered so far' in the investigation.

He wrote: 'I have little doubt it is now feasible to show that many of the prosecutions the Post Office has pressed home should never have taken place.'

Ms Vennells replied saying she was happy to meet, but added: 'We are too early in the investigation to suggest that things have been discovered which call into question the integrity of the system or the validity of the prosecutions.'

And she reiterated to the inquiry into the scandal today her insistence that she had no reason to doubt Horizon's integrity.

Ms Vennells told inquiry lawyer Jason Beer KC: 'I was concerned to get the email from Alan. The point he was making about prosecutions was the point the JFSA made for a number of years - that wasn't new news to me at this stage.'

Mr Beer asked her: 'Is that how you would have thought of it, that this is just Mr Bates saying something that he's always said?'

The former Post Office boss replied: 'No, not at all.'

Mr Beer then said: 'Had you been given any inkling that anything had emerged that might undermine the safety of convictions?'

Ms Vennells responded: 'No.'

Alan Bates, former sub-postmaster and founder of the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance

The Post Office has come under fire since the broadcast of ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, which put the Horizon scandal under the spotlight

Some of the 39 convicted postmasters celebrate as their convictions are quashed in 2021

Ms Vennels was questioned on whether a deliberate choice was made to choose forensic accounting firm Second Sight over Deloitte to review independently the Horizon system because the former's proposal was 'much narrower in scope' and 'only looked at a sample of past cases'.

Ms Vennells said in repsonse: 'From a personal point of view, I would say that is absolutely not the case. I have no recollection of that at all.'

The inquiry heard the probe by Second Sight into the Horizon system in 2012 set out to probe a selection of past cases where subpostmasters were prosecuted despite insisting they did nothing wrong.

But Mr Beer said the review did not undertake what it had set out to.

He said: 'If what is described here had in fact been undertaken, there is a possibility that the decade that followed until faults in Horizon and the miscarriages of justice may have been discovered earlier?

Ms Vennells replied: 'I think that is a possibility.'

Asked if after reading a line in Second Sight's interim report that there were 'no systemic defects' in the system, the Post Office 'paraded that conclusion', Ms Vennells said: 'It did come to that conclusion in its interim report.

'There is no way I would have wanted to persuade Second Sight on something they were not prepared to say and I don't believe Second Sight would ever have agreed to that.

'If they came to that conclusion in their interim report, that was their conclusion.'

Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC then asked: 'Isn't that what the Post Office wanted to drive them to and isn't this the evidence of such driving?'

Ms Vennells replied: 'The Post Office certainly wanted the reassurance that the Horizon system could be relied upon - that has been the objective all the way through this.

'At no stage did I get the sense that anybody in the Post Office was going to be able to influence Second Sight over what conclusions they came to.

'I would be very surprised if that was the case here.'

The inquiry later heard Alwen Lyons, former company secretary, emailed Ms Vennells in June 2012 expressing former Post Office general counsel Susan Crichton's concerns about including former subpostmistress Seema Misra's case in an independent review into the Horizon IT system.

Ms Misra, who ran a Post Office in West Byfleet, Surrey, was jailed in 2010 after being accused of stealing 74,000. She was pregnant at the time.

Ms Lyons wrote: 'The issue that came to light with the list of MP cases was that they included the Mishra (Misra), you will remember the case and the publicity, she went to prison and had her baby whilst in there.

'The husband got publicity through radio and press.

'Susan's anxiety, and she raised this at the meeting with Alice before you joined, was whether now contacting her to tell her we review the case would be a red rag to a bull.'

Asked if she shared Ms Crichton's concerns that even contacting Ms Misra 'would be a red rag to a bull', Ms Vennells told the inquiry: 'No.'

Paula Vennells is sworn in to the Horizon inquiry at Aldwych House on Wednesday

Post Office boss Paula Vennells gestures as she gives evidence to the inquiry at Aldwych House, central London on Wednesday

Yesterday Ms Vennells wept when questioned about subpostmasters being wrongly convicted, including Martin Griffiths who killed himself after he was accused of stealing money from the Post Office.

She became emotional again as she apologised for misleading MPs who were looking into constituents' complaints about the faulty software.

What Paula Vennells told the inquiry on Wednesday 'I am sorry' 'I would just like to say, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to do this, how sorry I am for all that subpostmasters and their families and others have suffered as a result of all of the matters that the inquiry is looking into.' 'Too trusting' 'One of my reflections of all of this - I was too trusting. I did probe and I did ask questions and I'm disappointed where information wasn't shared and it has been a very important time for me... to plug some of those gaps.' 'Unacceptable' 'It's completely unacceptable that that (not knowing the extent of the Post Office's criminal investigations) was the case and that people, including myself, didn't know. 'Status quo' 'My only explanation for that is that it had been going on for so long, that it was an accepted reality, it was the status quo that I joined and accepted, I shouldn't have done.' 'Disappointed' 'I have been disappointed, particularly more recently, listening to evidence of the inquiry where I think I remember people knew more than perhaps either they remembered at the time or I knew of at the time.' 'No conspiracy' 'I have no sense that there was any conspiracy at all. My deep sorrow in this is that I think that individuals, myself included, made mistakes, didn't see things, didn't hear things.' 'Should have known' 'I should have known and I should have asked more questions, and I and others who also did not know should have dug much more deeply into this.' Advertisement

And she fought back tears when recalling reading 'disturbing' evidence of the impact of the scandal on Post Office workers.

The 65-year-old said her mistakes would 'live with me for ever.'

But she insisted she did not think there had been any miscarriages of justice until long after she left the organisation in 2019  having previously told MPs the Post Office had 'never lost a case'.

Ms Vennells, who served as chief executive for seven years, came face-to-face with victims at the public inquiry in central London, and had to wipe away tears as she opened her evidence with a short apology.

Turning to address the more than 100 campaigners present, she said: 'I would just like to say  and I'm grateful for the opportunity to do this in person  how sorry I am for all that subpostmasters and their families and others who suffered as a result of all of the matters that the inquiry has been looking into for so long.

'I followed and listened to all of the human impact statements and I was very affected by them. I am very, very sorry.'

In a 775-page statement to the inquiry, she said she wished to repeat her apologies to all those who 'have suffered so much from this terrible miscarriage of justice'.

She added: 'Their lives were torn apart by being wrongly accused and wrongly prosecuted as a result of the Horizon system. I am truly sorry and will so [sic] for the rest of my life.'

Ms Vennells had to return her CBE earlier this year after ITV's acclaimed drama series Mr Bates Vs The Post Office brought the scandal  and her central role in it  to a new audience.

The ordained Anglican priest had refused to comment publicly since, but was taken to task by Jason Beer KC, lead lawyer to the inquiry, during her first of three full days in the witness box.

Ms Vennells wept as she apologised for telling the Commons business select committee in 2015 that the Post Office was successful in every court case against subpostmasters as it probed Horizon's integrity.

Inquiry lawyer Mr Beer said: 'Why were you telling parliamentarians every prosecution involving the Horizon system had been successful and had found in favour of the Post Office?'

Ms Vennells, becoming tearful and reaching for a tissue, said: 'I fully accept now  excuse me...

'The Post Office knew that (not every case was won). Personally, I didn't know that and I'm incredibly sorry that that happened to those people, and to so many others.'

There were murmurs in the inquiry room as she broke down briefly.

The inquiry heard Ms Vennells had sought advice from senior colleagues ahead of her appearance before the MPs when she asked for assurances that the system could not be accessed remotely.

She was subsequently presented with briefing notes on how to respond to MPs, which stated she was to say there was no functionality to change transaction data.

But, if pushed on the issue, she could add that there in fact was, although 'there are numerous test and checks including daily checks'.

She agreed with the inquiry chairman Sir Wyn Williams, who said the briefing note suggested Ms Vennells was being advised to 'be very precise, very circumspect, and very guarded' with her answers to MPs.

Ms Vennells also agreed with Mr Beer that it was a 'serious issue' for 'folklore' to develop within the Post Office, relating to incorrect claims about its 100 per cent success rate on prosecutions, that Horizon was faultless, and that remote access to the system was not possible  meaning errors were the result of the subpostmaster.

Mr Beer said: 'Each of these things turn out to be false. How is it that on all of these critical issues, so many false statements were circulating within the Post Office?'

Ms Vennells said: 'At the time they were not considered to be false statements. I didn't believe any of those statements were folklore at all.'

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells is seen breaking down in tears as she gave evidence at the Horizon IT inquiry on Wednesday

Paula Vennells, former CEO of the Post Office cries as she gives evidence at the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry on Wednesday

Crucial to Ms Vennells' evidence was the extent to which she knew about Horizon's failings, and when.

She drew laughter from a handful of those watching when she insisted that she believed the reassurances given to her by colleagues.

'One of my reflections of all of this  I was too trusting,' she said. 'I did probe and I did ask questions.'

She said she was 'disappointed' that some detail 'wasn't shared' with her. But she denied there was a 'conspiracy' to keep information from her. Mr Beer asked: 'Was there a conspiracy at the Post Office which lasted for nearly 12 years involving a wide range of people, differing over time, to deny you information and to deny you documents and to falsely give you reassurance.'

Ms Vennells smiled briefly as she replied: 'No, I don't believe that was the case.'

She added: 'I have been disappointed  particularly more recently listening to evidence at the inquiry  where I think I have learnt that people know more than perhaps they remembered at the time or I knew of at the time.

'My deep sorrow in this is I think individuals, myself included, maybe didn't see things, didn't hear things. Conspiracy feels too far-fetched.' She pointed the finger at unnamed 'colleagues' who 'did know more information than was shared'.

The probe later was shown a text message exchange between Vennells and Dame Moya Greene in January 2024, after the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office aired.

Ms Vennells, the former Post Office chief executive, said Dame Moya was suggesting that there was a conspiracy within the Post Office.

Dame Moya messaged: 'When it was clear the system was at fault, the PO should have raised a red flag, stopped all proceedings, given people back their money and then tried to compensate them for the ruin this caused in their lives.'

Ms Vennells replied: 'Yes I agree. This has/is taking too long Moya. The toll on everyone affected is dreadful.'

Dame Moya said: 'I don't know what to say. I think you knew.'

Ms Vennells responded: 'No Moya, that isn't the case.'

Dame Moya said: 'I want to believe you. I asked you twice. I suggested you get an independent review reporting to you. I was afraid you were being lied to. You said the system had already been reviews multiple times. How could you have not known?'

Ms Vennells replied: 'Moya, the mechanism for getting to the bottom of this is the inquiry. I've made it my priority to support it fully.'

Dame Moya later said: 'I am sorry.. I can't now support you.'

'I have supported you. All these years.. to my own detriment. I can't support you now after what I have learned.'

Dame Moya said: 'I want to believe you. I asked you twice. I suggested you get an independent review reporting to you. I was afraid you were being lied to.

On Wednesday Ms Vennells also said she had no idea when she joined the company in 2007 that the Post Office was investigating its own staff, taking them to court, and trying to recover money from them.

She said: 'I didn't understand that the Post Office was bringing its own criminal investigations.

'Investigations can be taken at all sorts of different levels. I certainly didn't read into this that the Post Office was conducting criminal investigations to the level that I later understood.'

She said she did not appreciate the situation fully until 2012, when she became chief executive.

Text exchange between former Post Office boss Paula Vennells and former Royal Mail boss Moya Greene

As Vennells spoke, postmasters watching the inquiry livestream from Fenny Compton could be seen shaking their heads and laughing

Ms Vennells said: 'I should have known and I should have asked more questions. I and others who also didn't know should have dug much more deeply into this.

'It was a serious mistake that I didn't understand before 2012 the extent of what this meant.'

She said she thought Post Office workers were instead prosecuted by 'external authorities'.

She said she and other colleagues 'were surprised' when they learned about the prosecutions by the organisation.

Sir Wyn said it was 'extremely surprising' that news 'did not filter through' to Ms Vennells about high-profile convictions.
A woman who forced her daughter to marry a violent older man who later killed her with a kitchen knife told her: 'I can make decisions for you.'

Sakina Muhammad Jan was found guilty in Victoria's County Court on Thursday of coercing her daughter Ruqia Haidari, 20, into marrying Mohammad Ali Halimi, who was 25 in November 2019.

Just six weeks after the wedding ceremony in January 2020, when Ms Haidari turned 21, Halimi slashed Ms Haidari's throat twice and left her on the floor of their Perth home to die.

He was sentenced to life in prison.

A Federal Police investigation into the horror domestic violence murder eventually uncovered the disturbing trail of events which led to the tragedy - and the role of Muhammad Jan.

Ruqia Haidari was just 20 when she was forced into marriage with a man who murdered her

Sakina Muhammad Jan (pictured being arrested) has been found guilty of coercing her daughter into marriage

The two-week trial heard Halimi travelled from Perth to meet Ms Haidari's family in Shepperton in May 2019.

The couple had been set up by Shukria Muqudas, a local matchmaker in the Hazara community, who was also a former friend of Muhammad Jan, ABC News reported.

The court heard Ms Haidari did not want to get married.

Social worker Kerrie Young, who knew the bride, had contacted police to raise concerns that Ms Haidari was being forced into the union.

'I remember Ruqia indicating that she was given an ultimatum. She was advised that she should get married to this man,' she said.

Federal police had travelled to Shepperton and interviewed Ms Haidari over fears 'she was at risk of forced marriage'.

Despite the concern, two Islamic 'nikah' religious ceremonies took place to formalise the union prior to the wedding in November 2019, which 500 guests attended.

The matchmaker told the court Ms Haidari wanted to end the relationship before the second nikah took place, but was overruled by her mother.

Ms Haidari had her throat slashed twice by her husband who left her bleeding on the floor in their home (pictured)

The couple were married in November 2019 (pictured) with 500 guests attending

The court heard Ms Haidari told her parents: 'I don't want to get married  I don't want this and I'm not going to accept this at all.'

Muhammad Jan responded: 'Are you my mother or I'm your mother? I can make decisions for you.'

At this time, the mother had already given a dowry payment to the groom.

The mother also did not want to stop the arranged marriage because she was fearful the family's reputation would be damaged.

Muhammad Jan was charged in October 2020 by human trafficking investigators with the Federal Police.

She pleaded not guilty but the jury, which deliberated for over a day, found her guilty.

The forced marriage offence comes under Commonwealth law and has a maximum penalty of seven years in jail.

Muhammed Jan was released on bail ahead of a pre-sentence hearing on July 23.
Reform MP Lee Anderson has been mocked for the 'worst full English ever' after he posted a picture of his fry-up and wondered how long it would take for someone to call it 'racist'.

The Member of Parliament for Ashfield posted an image of his meal from the canteen in Westminster shortly after 9am yesterday.

His picture showed a grey tray with cutlery lying next to a plate consisting of two sausages, fried mushrooms and several pieces of slightly undercooked bacon.

A large fried egg and a hash brown were also on the plate completed by a piece of black pudding which appears to still have the string attached.

Incredibly, the meal doesn't feature baked beans despite them being much-loved around the country.

The canteen appears quite empty with plenty of seats - however behind the tray sits a sign reading: 'Reserved for members only.'

Reform MP Lee Anderson has been mocked for the 'worst full English ever' after he posted a picture of his fry-up and wondered how long it would take for someone to call it 'racist'

The Member of Parliament for Ashfield posted an image of his meal from the canteen in Westminster shortly after 9am yesterday

Following the criticism of his full English breakfast, Anderson posted a picture of his porridge with the caption: 'Porridge today. That fry up was far too opinionated.'

Anderson, who defected to the Reform UK party after having his Conservative whip suspended in March, captioned the post: 'Full English breakfast.

'A great start to the day but how long before some highly educated expert tells us our traditional breakfast is racist?'

The tweet was followed by several emojis including a frying pan, bacon, a mushroom and three Union Jack flags.

His post received over 3,400 likes with thousands of comments from social media users who were quick to criticise the politician's breakfast.

Brendan Clarke-Smith MP commented: 'Outrageous omission of baked beans from that breakfast.'

Another said: 'Who burnt your breakfast?'

A third commented: 'Where's the beans?'

A fourth added: 'One of the worst breakfasts I have ever seen.'

Another said: 'All for 30p! I assume.'

Following the criticism of his full English breakfast, Anderson posted a picture of his porridge with the caption: 'Porridge today. That fry up was far too opinionated.'

In 2022, Anderson came under fire over his claim that there wasn't a 'massive use' for food banks in Britain as he offered 'proof' that meals can be cooked for 30p each.

The politician further suggested that struggling Britons are only using food banks because they 'can't budget' and 'can't cook a meal from scratch'.

He also invited fellow MPs to visit a 'real food bank' in his Nottinghamshire constituency that allowed people to 'make a meal for about 30p'.

Lee Anderson MP is now on his third political party having been a member of the Labour Party between 1983 and 2018 before joining the Conservatives.

Lee Anderson, pictured with fellow Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith, took part in a 'Ready, Steady, Cook' challenge in November 2021

Mr Anderson said the event managed to create 170 meals for 50 as he sought to back up his claims that meals can be prepared for 30p each

In a post on his Facebook page, under-fire Mr Anderson insisted that many people had been asking him 'how batch cooking works' following his Commons remarks

His affiliation with the Government lasted just six years before he defected to the Reform Party earlier this year.

A full English was ranked as the fifth most popular British dish in a YouGov poll in the first quarter of this year.

The meal was bested by soup, roast chicken and the most popular meal fish and chips in the poll.
Extraordinary footage shows how a Ukrainian FPV drone operator blew a Russian assault boat out of the water in the Dnipro delta.

The vessel and the seven Putin troops on board were thrown high in the air with the force of the explosion.

The assault soldiers landed in the water, and most were seen swimming towards Nestryha island in Kherson region, which Russia has been seeking to control since last year.

In scenes too graphic to show, the survivors of the boat explosion were killed by drone-dropped grenades as they scrambled onto the island.

Drone warfare has become a central part of Ukraine's defence since Putin launched his invasion in 2022

The strike took place in the Kherson region, where Russian and Ukrainian troops continue to battle for control

A report on the ambush stated: 'It is noted that there were several boats, on which landed more than 15 occupants.

'The Birds of Madyar [drone unit] disrupted the operation of the Russians and eliminated at least seven Russians.

'Note that Nestryha island is the last before the mouth of the river and actually the last island on the right bank.'

As such it is strategically important 'as the positions on the island allow shelling the right-bank Kherson region with mortars and artillery'.

Both Ukraine and Russia have developed attack drones as military weapons as war continues to ravage Europe.

This comes as Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Moscow will retaliate with strikes on British targets if British weapons are used by Ukrainian troops to attack Putin's territory.

Zakharova told reporters that British targets "on Ukraine's territory and beyond its borders" could be hit in such a scenario.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova speaks during a news conference in Moscow, Russia

This stark warning comes after British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Ukraine had a right to use weapons provided by London to hit targets inside Russia.

He said: 'Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure it's defending itself.'

Russia responded to Lord Cameron's assertion with outrage and cited it as one of the reasons why it has opted to hold exercises this month to simulate the launch of tactical nuclear missiles.

'This is a direct escalation of tension around the Ukrainian conflict, which would potentially pose a threat to European security,' said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Meanwhile, British Defence Minister Grant Shapps has accused China of preparing to provide Putin's forces with lethal aid in its ongoing war with Ukraine.

Speaking at a conference in London on Wednesday, Shapps said British defence intelligence had evidence that "lethal aid is now, or will be, flowing from China to Russia and into Ukraine, I think it is a significant development".
The moment a disgruntled shopper threw coffee over $1,000 worth clothing at a boutique store has been captured on video.

CCTV from Villains Clothing at Perth's Westfield Carousel shows a woman with a child arguing with a retail worker at the counter, before storming off in a rage and pouring coffee over a rack of clothes.

The owner of the store Paul Clarke told Daily Mail Australia the woman was furious after being refused a refund on a $10 crop top.

'So we have a rack out the front of our store, it's 10 bucks and all things on there are $10 for a reason,' he said.

'So their either slightly faulty, or they've got make up all over them, all that kind of stuff.

'Our staff member said I'm sorry it's not a refundable item, you can exchange it for something else but she wanted her money back.'

A disgruntled shopper poured coffee over dozens of clothes at a Villains clothing store (pictured)

The owner of the Villains Westfield Carousel store Paul Clarke (pictured) claims the woman damaged the clothing items, because she was refused a refund on a non-refundable $10 crop top

'She said top was for her daughter who is in the video.'

Eventually, Mr Clarke attempted to resolve the complaint over the phone.

He claims the woman went on a tirade during their conversation.

'I couldn't get a word in, she swore at me, and threw the phone back on the counter,' Mr Clarke said.

'Then she picked up the top and walked out, spilling the coffee all over the clothes.'

Mr Clarke said up to 16 items of clothing were left with coffee stains, prompting the business-owner owner to file a complaint with police.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted WA Police for comment.

Mr Clarke claimed that up to 16 clothing items that were stocked in the store were damaged, (Pictured: Villains Booroogan store)

Mr Clarke said he filed a complaint about the incident with police (Pictured: Westfield Carousel Villains store)

Villains uploaded footage of the incident to its TikTok and Instagram accounts.

The clips were flooded with thousands of commenters left in disbelief by the woman's behaviour.

'I'm so sorry, that this happened, hope the staff are ok,' one person said.

'Disgusting,' another person wrote.

'That's so embarrassing an adult acting like a child in front of her child,' a third added.

'This just reminded me why I quit working in retail. The poor workers.'
A 16-year-old boy has died after a car he was travelling in rolled and crashed into a tree.

Dylan Soklich was a passenger in a Toyota Corolla that overturned several times as it came off a road in Gooseberry Hill, east of Perth, at about 8.40pm on Wednesday.

He was taken to St John of God Hospital in Maitland but could not be saved.

ylan Soklich was a passenger in a Toyota Corolla that overturned several times as it came off a road in Gooseberry Hill, east of Perth, at about 8.40pm on Wednesday

A 17-year-old P-plate driver and another 17-year-old passenger were seriously injured and were flown to Royal Perth Hospital, where they are now both stable

A 17-year-old P-plate driver and another 17-year-old passenger were seriously injured and were flown to Royal Perth Hospital, where they are now both stable.

A resident who was among the first on the scene said she held Dylan as if he was 'one of her own'.

'It was very sad, a horrible situation  I held him as if he was mine, it was a very sad night,' she said.

Dylan's brother Jamie visited the scene on Thursday, where he told Nine News that his loved one 'was the most loving and caring person'.

'Everyone loved him and for good reason. He had the sweetest soul,' Jamie said.

'I love you Dylan. Everyone misses you so much.'

'These are kids in the prime of their life looking forward to a future and just as a result of making a split second decision or lack of control they could lose their lives,' he said.
A mother has been forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars after her children were caught collecting dozens of clams.

Charlotte Russ of Fresno took her five children on a family vacation to Pismo Beach, California, at the end of last year. Her curious children started collecting seashells - or so they thought.

'My kids they thought they were collecting seashells, but they were actually collecting clams, 72 to be exact,' Fresno resident Charlotte Russ told ABC 7.

As it turns out, clamming is highly regulated in California. If you don't have a fishing license or the clams are small, catching clams is off limits.

She received a citation right there on the beach and was later notified she has to pay close to $89,000 for her kids' seemingly innocent treasure hunt.

Charlotte Russ of Fresno took her five children on a family vacation to Pismo Beach, California, at the end of last year

Her curious children started collecting seashells - or so they thought. They actually collected 72 clams - a highly illegal practice in California if you don't have a license

'It made me really sad and depressed, and it kind of ruined our trip,' said Russ.

But the rules are in place for a reason, Department of Fish and Wildlife's Lieutenant Matthew Gil told the outlet

'The reason we got it we have these regulations is because we have to let them get to 4 and a half inches so they can spawn so they can have they can have offspring every year, and they have juvenile clams,' said Lt. Gil.

Gil stressed the importance of becoming familiar with wildlife regulations and how to identify the different animals.

He said you can tell a clam apart from other mollusks based on how hard it is to pull apart their shell.

'If you have a dead sand dollar, a dead animal, or something like that, or you have a broken seashell, that's fine,' said Lt. Gil.

'Pismo clams -- what you're gonna see is both shells will be intact together.'

Russ said her kids have learned their lesson.

'They know now at the beach don't touch anything, but they know now what a clam is, compared to what a seashell is now, I've had to explain that to them,' said Russ.

The mother was able to plead her case with a San Luis Obispo County Judge, who reduced her fine to $500 dollars.

After she 'won' her case, Russ got a shellfish tattoo to commemorate the incident.

She received a citation right there on the beach and was later notified she has to pay close to $89,000 for her kids' seemingly innocent treasure hunt

The mother was able to plead her case with a San Luis Obispo County Judge, who reduced her fine to $500 dollars

'It was definitely one expensive trip to Pismo, unforgettable,' said Russ.

Russ's citation was not an isolated incident; last year, 58 tickets were issued for illegal clamming in San Luis Obispo.

While there were signs posted around the beach that warned beach-goers of consequences of clamming, Russ said she wishes she had taken the time to read them.
A former California Highway Patrol officer who retired to Idaho says he has never been happier after having previously avoided telling strangers what he did for work.

Seth Horst left the Golden State and his career in law enforcement to move his family to Coeur d'Alene in Idaho in 2020.

After starting up a real estate business covering North Idaho, Horst said he couldn't believe the amount of support for law enforcement he witnessed.

Horst told Fox News that the term police officer felt like a four letter word when he had lived and worked in the Democratic stronghold state.

While attending Independence Day Celebrations in Coeur d'Alene, he was blown away at the support for the local law enforcement.

Seth Horst, pictured here, left the Golden State and his career in law enforcement to move his family to Coeur d'Alene in Idaho in 2020

While attending Independence Day Celebrations in Coeur d'Alene, he was blown away at the support for the local law enforcement, seen here

Speaking to the outlet, Horst said that the Kottenai County Sheriff was part of the parade and waved to residents from a pickup with a revolver against his hip.

Cars, homes and businesses around the city also display the blue line flag year round in a show of solidarity with officers.

According to Horst, it is not uncommon for people to offer to buy coffee for police when they see them out in the streets.

He told the outlet: 'That is so powerful for the men and women in uniform up here to have that backing. It's a pretty phenomenal place to do the job.'

Horst and his wife Kristen moved out of the state due to them feeling like they were losing freedoms around medical help and what was being taught in schools.

He added: 'My wife was really pushing, like, Hey, we need to get out of here because California does not feel safe anymore.

'We felt like we were losing a lot of our freedoms as far as medical freedom and the choice to where our kids went to school, what happened at school, things like that.'

According to Horst, the area has become a haven for retired officers like him seeking a better way of life.

In a post to his social media, Horst said that he was put on disability retirement from an on-duty injury that stopped him from wearing his duty belt and sitting for long periods.

According to Horst, it is not uncommon for people to offer to buy coffee for police when they see them out in the streets

Horst and his wife Kristen, seen here, moved out of the state due to them feeling like they were losing freedoms around medical help and what was being taught in schools

In a post to his social media, Horst said that he was put on disability retirement from an on-duty injury

Horst said that the Kottenai County Sheriff was part of the 4th of July parade and waved to residents from a pickup with a revolver against his hip, a picture from parade last year is seen here

He continued: 'Based on my own experience of how many people I meet that come from that background, it is the largest concentration of former first responders than anywhere in the US.

'In the 70's, LAPD officers started coming up after retirement. So I think that kind of put that on the map. That's just become a thing.

'There's a ton of officers from LAPD, San Diego County, Sheriff's Department that have found their way up here.

'There are definitely some that are unhappy where they are working right now, love the job, find that whatever state or city they are working for they can't do the job.

'The district attorney doesn't back them, there's too much liability, so the department won't let them enforce the law, which is their job. And that bugs a lot of people

'They get a job up here, oftentimes taking a huge pay cut because the pay here does not compare to a lot of other states.

'But it's worth it to them to raise their families in a place that is safe and has those old-school values.'

Idaho Fraternal Order of Police President Bryan Lovell told the outlet: 'They come to Idaho where they can enjoy their career and make a difference.

'They see that, in large part, our communities are supportive of law enforcement and public safety.'

Cities across the country suffered staffing shortages on the heels of widespread anti-police protests in 2020.

Lovell said that Idaho hasn't been immune to those recruiting challenges, they saw a rise in the number of out-of-state police applications around that time.

The number of out-of-state officers doubled from 2019 to 2021 and while applications have slowed down they still remain above pre-2020 levels.

As well as Idaho, officers in California are also fleeing to Texas to escape 'soft-on-crime' policies they say have made their job 'pointless'.

Rank-and-file officers up to department chiefs have hit out at state legislators, claiming a succession of 'anti-law enforcement' policies have made their work impossible.

Overworked and unsupported, they have instead taken up jobs in Texas and other states that are seen as tough on crime.

Evan Leona, 38, who ditched his job as a detective in a multi-agency gang unit in Fresno, California, to work for Denton Police in Texas, in 2022, said he had met 'more than a hundred officers' in the Dallas / Fort Worth area who had fled California.

The number of law enforcement officers in California has fallen by more than 5,000 since 2019

'There are five officers who have come from various agencies in California on my shift alone in Denton,' he told DailyMail.com. 'The justice system just works a lot better here.'

It comes as the Golden State is hemorrhaging thousands of police every year, with numbers down by more than 5,000 since 2019.

There are now fears that high-crime Californian cities are suffering a brain drain in law enforcement, leaving the public unprotected as criminals run riot.

Many in law enforcement blame controversial legislation including Proposition 47 and 57 for turning prisons into 'revolving doors' and putting their lives at risk.

Liberal politicians have staunchly defended their policies, arguing they have been misinterpreted and blamed unfairly for rising crime.

They say the aim of the reforms was to alleviate pressure on the state's overcrowded prisons and refocus policing efforts on more serious crimes.

Regardless, their efforts appear deeply unpopular among many who patrol the streets.
A mother and her disabled daughter who were found dead at their home after their bodies lay undiscovered for 'months' have been pictured for the first time.

Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, in her 40s, and her teenage daughter, were found by police on Tuesday after 'concerns were raised' about their wellbeing.

Residents said they hadn't seen the pair 'for months'.

One neighbour reported hearing what she thought at the time was animal cries coming from the vicinity of the property some months ago.

The mother believed to have lain dead alongside her disabled daughter for 'months' before their bodies were discovered at their home fled an abusive relationship in Italy before settling in the UK, neighbours said.

Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, in her 40s, and her teenage daughter, were found by police on Tuesday after 'concerns were raised' about their wellbeing

Residents said they hadn't seen the pair 'for months' and said they thought the younger woman could have had Down's Syndrome

The mother believed to have lain dead alongside her disabled daughter for 'months' before their bodies were discovered at their home fled an abusive relationship in Italy before settling in the UK

The mother was taken in by a Good Samaritan who found her on a city centre street with her two daughters around seven years ago.

Tatiane Nulah told how she housed the trio after finding them sat on the pavement with their luggage outside Nottingham's Victoria Centre mall.

Ms Nulah, 42, recognised the family as a friend from her church had previously taken Alphonsine in when she travelled to Nottingham to see if she should flee there with her kids.

Ms Nulah said Alphonsine, who like her was originally from Cameroon, 'didn't know anybody and had nowhere to go' and recalled she had two daughters, the youngest of whom, then aged nine or ten, was disabled and couldn't talk.

Ms Nulah, 42, said the family only stayed with her in the Bulwell suburb for around a fortnight before they suddenly 'just disappeared'.

Tributes were left outside their home after their bodies were found

Someone who knew the woman told the Mail said she even visited Alphonsine at the council house in Radford, Nottingham, where the two bodies were found on Tuesday, after police forced entry when 'concerns were raised' about the wellbeing of the pair

Nottinghamshire Police said the bodies lay 'undiscovered for quite some time' but do not believe the deaths were suspicious

Someone who knew the woman told the Mail said she even visited Alphonsine at the council house in Radford, Nottingham, where the two bodies were found on Tuesday, after police forced entry when 'concerns were raised' about the wellbeing of the pair.

Nottinghamshire Police said the bodies lay 'undiscovered for quite some time' but do not believe the deaths were suspicious.

The 'shocked' friend said: 'I think she was struggling with the cost of living. She last texted me asking for 100. Sometimes I could help her and transfer money but sometimes I couldn't.'

She said that when she last saw the family at the property in 2022, Alphonsine was living there with both of her daughters.

But the source said that looking after the disabled younger child was a 'weight' on Alphonsine, because 'it meant she couldn't work'.

She added: 'I know she struggled (for money).'

She told how her husband found the mother and daughters stranded outside Nottingham railway station as he headed for a night shift.

'They told him the person that was supposed to collect them hadn't turned up', the woman said.

'Alphonsine told me that her husband was violent, and somebody they knew in France had suggested that Nottingham would be a safe place for her to flee to with the children. Alphonsine said that if she went to France, it was too close to Italy and the husband might find them.

'She had come to Nottingham with the girls to see if it was safe for them. They were aged around three or four years apart. They all went back to Italy before returning to Nottingham with their belongings, and that was when Tatiane found them outside the shopping centre, completely by chance.'

Detective Chief Inspector Ruby Burrow said: 'This is a tragic case and we are currently working to understand exactly how and when these people died'

A spokesman for Nottingham City Council said: 'We were deeply saddened to hear the news and our thoughts are with the friends, family and neighbours of the two residents at this time'

The source said that after leaving Tatiane's house, Alphonsine and her daughters rented a run-down property, 'but they had to leave because it was leaking'.

They were put up by the council in a budget hotel, before in 2019, the authority eventually found them the property in Radford where the bodies were discovered.

Deborah Williams, 48, a neighbour in Radford, said social services had visited her home on a number of occasions in recent months because they were unable to get hold of Alphonsine, who is originally from the coastal city of Doula in Cameroon.

Ms Williams added: 'The social workers would ask if I had seen them recently. But I would only really notice them when they left the house to go out shopping.

'I never heard the girl speak. I don't know how severe her disability was, but I think she was non-verbal.

'It is very sad. I think social services have probably finally triggered the police to break in.'

Mrs Williams believes she last saw the pair in February but thought little of it, because they often went away for 'months at a time'.

Two bouquets of flowers have been tied to the railings outside Alphonsine's end-of-terrace home. A message on one of the floral tributes reads: 'It's so sad and heartbreaking to hear what has happened at this house. Two beautiful lives have been lost.

'A mother and daughter. RIP.'

Detective Chief Inspector Ruby Burrow said: 'This is a tragic case and we are currently working to understand exactly how and when these people died.

'We have enlisted the help of a forensic pathologist and will be in a better position to determine what has happened once they conclude their report.'

A spokesman for Nottingham City Council said: 'We were deeply saddened to hear the news and our thoughts are with the friends, family and neighbours of the two residents at this time. We are currently liaising closely with the police to understand the circumstances around this tragic incident.'
READ MORE: Defense for Kouri Richins withdraws from her case

She accused prosecutors of doing 'anything they can' to 'hide their corruption'

The mother-of-three made her first comments since her May 2023 arrest

The Utah mother-of-three accused of spiking her husband's cocktail with a deadly dose of fentanyl has made her first comments since her arrest.

Kouri Richins, 34, has remained behind bars since a judge denied her bail last year. She stands accused of killing her husband, Eric, by slipping fentanyl into his Moscow mule on Valentine's Day.

In remarks provided exclusively to correspondent Andrea Canning and the Dateline: True Crime Daily podcast, Richins lambasted prosecutors for doing 'anything they can to prolong this process and hide their corruption.'

'Ive been silent for a year, locked away from my kids, my family, my life, living with the media telling the world who they think I am, what they think Ive done or how they think Ive lived,' she said.

'You took an innocent mom away from her babies. And this means war.'

Kouri Richins, 34 (left), has spoken out for the first time since her arrest in May 2023, accusing prosecutors of corruption and blasting them from taking 'an innocent mom away from her babies'

Richins stands accused of murdering her husband, Eric (right) by slipping a lethal dose of fentanyl into a Moscow mule cocktail

The comments came after a judge granted her lawyers' May 17 request to withdraw from her defense, with lead attorney Skye Lazaro attributing the decision to an 'irreconcilable and nonwaivable situation,' according to documents reviewed by DailyMail.com.

'To properly safeguard the Defendants constitutional rights, this Court should immediately grant the Firms motion to withdraw and should immediately appoint new counsel to continue the vigorous defense of the criminal charges against Ms. Richins,' Friday's filing read.

In her remarks, Richins directly addressed her legal team's withdrawal from the case.

'Represented or not, we all know and should understand theres only so much I can say,' she said.

'But what I will say is this withdrawal was not my choice. And it was not a personal choice of any counsel on my defense team.'

The request was filed just a day after the defense asked a judge to disqualify prosecutors over 'severe violations' of Richins right to effective counsel.

The motion pointed a finger at prosecutor Brad Bloodworth, alleging he infringed on attorney-client privilege in multiple breaches of Richin's 6th Amendment rights.

The document accused authorities of recording jail calls between Richins and her defense team without their consent. Bloodworth allegedly accessed and listened to the recordings from May to December 2023.

Prosecutors allege the mother of three was in debt and fraudulently obtained four different life insurance policies totaling $1.9 million before Eric's death

The comments came after a judge granted the defense's request to withdraw from the Richins case, citing an 'irreconcilable and nonwaivable situation'

The request was filed just a day after the defense asked a judge to disqualify prosecutors over 'severe violations' of Richins constitutional rights, including listening in on attorney-client jail calls

When one of Richins' lawyers made the discovery and asked prosecutors whether they were aware of it, Summit County Attorney Margaret Olson insisted that she had no idea, according to filings.

Bloodworth, meanwhile, asserted that the defense was 'well aware' that the calls had been recorded, seeing as one of the lawyers had refused to use a phone application that shields attorney-client calls.

He claimed prosecutors had not listened to any of the calls and insisted that the defense had been provided with the recorded calls through discovery over the nearly eight-month span.

'I will not play into the prosecutions unconstitutional behavior anymore,' Richins said in statements provided to Dateline.

'Although I am extremely disappointed where were at right now with this case, Im anxious. Im anxious to prove my innocence. Im anxious to get to trial.'

Prosecutors allege the mother of three was in debt and fraudulently obtained four different life insurance policies totaling $1.9 million before plying her husband Eric, 39, with the spiked Moscow mule in March 2022.

One year after his death, Richins published a childrens book that depicted a father watching over his children while sporting a pair of angel wings.

She dedicated it to Eric, calling him an 'amazing husband' and 'wonderful father.'

Richins faces charges of aggravated murder, forgery, and mortgage and insurance fraud. This year, she was hit with an additional count of attempted murder for allegedly drugging her husband's sandwich in an earlier attempt.

'I think my wife tried to kill me,' Eric told his friends at the time, according to witness testimony.

A month later, Richins called 911 after finding Eric 'cold to the touch' at the foot of their bed, according to a police report. Medical examiners discovered that he had five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system.

DailyMail.com revealed last week that the 34-year-old was romantically entangled with 41-year-old Robert Grossmann, a handyman.

'If I was divorced right now and ask you to marry me tomorrow, you would?' Richins texted Grossmann just weeks before Eric's death.

The mother-of-three is currently being held at the Summit County Jail. She has not entered a plea and maintains her innocence.
Jeremy Corbyn is reportedly preparing to announce he will run against Labour, the party he once led, at the general election.

The 74-year-old far Left icon has sat as an independent for almost four years, having been kicked out of the parliamentary party over comments he made about a probe into anti-Semitism under his leadership.

Labour last night unveiled a two-name shortlist for Islington North, the seat Mr Corbyn has represented since 1983, after he was banned from standing.

He has repeatedly dropped hints that he could run as an independent, a move that would kick off a bitter campaign in the north London constituency.

It would also create a headache for Keir Starmer, who has been keen to distance Labour from the policies and controversial of his predecessor.

ITV News reported this afternoon that Mr Corbyn is soon to announce his campaign. If he won he would be able to serve in Parliament until he is 79.

It also raises questions about the future of Diane Abbott. The Hackey North and Stoke Newington MP was also suspended by Labour over remarks she made downplaying anti-gypsy racism.

The 74-year-old far Left icon has sat as an independent for almost four years, having been kicked out of the parliamentary party over comments he made about a probe into anti-Semitism under his leadership.

A run as an independent would create a headache for Keir Starmer, who has been keen to distance Labour from the policies and controversial of his predecessor

It also raises questions about the future of Diane Abbott. The Hackey North and Stoke Newington MP was also suspended by Labour over remarks she made downplaying anti-gypsy racism.

Mr Corbyn spoke in parliament today in a debate about the remaining bills to be passed by Parliament before the election.

But while several MPs who are standing down pointed out they were making their final contributions to the Commons, Mr Corbyn made no such comments, suggesting he hopes to stay on.
A man has been arrested after allegedly hitting a 27-year-old police officer with a stolen car in Melbourne's east.

Acting Commander Matthew Baynes said police officers were responding to reports of a stolen car that was spotted in the car park of the Burvale Hotel in Nunawading about 2.20am on Thursday when the incident occurred.

The car, a white Honda civic hatch, was allegedly stolen from outside a property on Langley St in the Ringwood East area at about 1.50am.

A man has been arrested after allegedly hitting a 27-year-old police officer with a stolen car in Melbourne's east

Police cordoned off the car park before they attempted to arrest two men.

The officer was allegedly struck while he was attempting to set up a tyre deflation device to stop the stolen vehicle.

A 32-year-old Preston man was arrested at the scene and has been charged with theft of motor vehicle and theft of petrol.

He was bailed to appear at Ringwood Magistrates' Court on November 6.

A 20-year-old Ringwood East man, who is believed to be the driver, was arrested in Ringwood about 4pm on Thursday.

He is currently in custody and the investigation remains ongoing.

Supplied Editorial Man arrested after officer struck by car in Nunawading. Picture: Supplied / Victoria Police Media Unit

The 27-year-old police officer was taken to hospital with serious upper body injuries, where he remains.

Acting Commander Baynes said the two men, who were inside the hotel at the time, exited and one got in the stolen car before police could arrest him.

'A male Senior Constable was setting up a tyre deflation device at the Springvale Rd exit of the car park when a man returned to the stolen car,' Victoria Police said in a statement.

The man proceeded to drive 'erratically through the car park and out, ultimately, onto Springvale Rd,' Mr Baynes said.

'At that time police members were looking to deploy stop sticks and the vehicle has driven erratically and in doing so to try and avoid the stop sticks, has collided and struck one of our members.'

The Honda was discovered abandoned a short time later on Tucker Rd in Vermont.

Mr Baynes said the driver was travelling at 'high speeds' and 'highly erratically' and that the police officer - a senior constable in the eastern region - suffered 'significant injuries,' including 'upper body injuries'.

'After the member was struck, he was then thrown into the air, and then landed heavily. resulting in his injuries,' Mr Baynes said.

'It's a really tragic circumstance.

'He's OK, he's in hospital at the moment with non-life threatening injuries, however significant injuries. It will take some time to recover just for doing his job.'

The other man, a 32-year-old from Preston, who allegedly travelled in the stolen car when it arrived at the hotel, was arrested by police.

'He has been charged with vehicle theft and also an additional theft of petrol,' Mr Baynes said.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam, CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Birmingham Airport is set to scrap the 100ml liquid hand luggage rule next week as it leads the way in time for the half-term weekend.

It will be the first major British airport to drop the restrictions, with the introduction of new fast-track scanners ending the need to remove liquids from carry-ons during security checks.

The current rules - which state that liquids can only be carried in containers of up to 100ml - were brought into place in 2006 after police foiled a terrorist plot to bring down at least seven transatlantic flights with liquid explosives disguised as 500ml drinks bottles.

But now, the new 3D scanner technology set to be implemented at all UK airports will produce more detailed images, meaning passengers can pass through airport security with containers holding up to two litres of liquid in their hand luggage.

The new technology will slash waiting times by allowing passengers to leave laptops and liquids in their carry-on baggage

A June 2024 deadline was previously set by the Department of Transport for all airports to introduce the new CT scanners, however almost none of the major travel hubs are likely to meet this date.

The first major UK airport that looks set to hit the deadline is Birmingham Airport, according to The Times.

It will be introducing the new, more relaxed measures at the beginning of next month, coinciding with the last weekend of the half-term holidays.

Some smaller airports - London City, in the Docklands, and Teesside Airport in Darlington - have already installed the new technology, but the vast majority are yet to.

This means holidaymakers across the country will still face long waits at most major airports this summer, with London Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester unlikely to be ready to roll out the new scanners. It is understood they now have until June 2025.

Birmingham Airport will become the first major UK airport to implement the new scanners which will scrap the need for the 100ml liquid rule

The new technology also means passengers would no longer need to remove laptops or liquids from their bags when putting them through security scanners.

Luton and Bristol airports are aiming to follow Birmingham in introducing the scanners by June, with Bristol investing more than 10million in security equipment.

Several airports already have the technology installed in some security lanes, but have not yet implemented them across the board.

Gatwick has said it hopes to have all remaining scanners installed by the first three months of next year, a time frame similar to that of Stansted and Manchester.

Speaking of the innovative technology, Nick Barton, chief executive of Birmingham airport, told The Times: 'The existing scanner is like a large domestic washing machine.

'The new machines are the size of a Ford Transit.'

The 2006 Al-Qaeda bomb plot saw terrorists attempt to take home-made mixtures of chemicals concealed as ordinary drinks bottles onto a number of US and Canada-bound flights departing from London.

An immediate ban on all liquids except baby milk in carry-ons was put into effect in both the UK and the US, but was relaxed in November 2006 to the 100ml liquid limit.

The new technology will work by allowing staff to rotate, tilt and zoom in on each 3D image, allowing them to better inspect the contents without passengers having to remove them from their bags.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fumed that a Supreme Court Justice is a threat to democracy because of a flag displayed at his beach home last year.

AOC went on MSNBC to slam Justice Samuel Alito for flying a Revolutionary War-era flag featuring a pine tree and the slogan 'An Appeal to Heaven' at his New Jersey vacation home last summer.

The flag originally was designed to be flown by U.S. naval ships in the Revolutionary War that were directly under the command of George Washington. Like the Gadsden Flag, which popularly features a snake and the 'Don't Tread On Me' slogan, and the American flag itself, it was flown on January 6, 2021, by some protestors.

And because of its use at the protest, at least in the eyes of the New York Democrat, whoever flies it therefore supports the Capitol riot.

'Samuel Alito has identified himself with the same people who raided the Capitol on January 6,' AOC told host Chris Hayes.

A photo from Google Maps' street view shows the pine tree 'Appeal to Heaven' flag flying outside of Alito's New Jersey vacation home in August 2023

She continued, saying Alito 'is now going to be presiding over court cases that have deep implications over the participants of that rally.'

'And while this is the threat to our democracy, Democrats have a responsibility for demand defending our democracy.'

Ocasio-Cortez then went on to claim that she has been at the forefront of protecting democracy.

'This is an alarm that I've been sounding for quite some time now,' she said.

'I think that what we are seeing here is an extraordinary breach of not just the trust and the stature of the Supreme Court, but we are seeing a fundamental challenge to our democracy.'

The progressive 'Squad' member also suggested that the Democrat-controlled Senate should investigate Alito for flying the falg.

'In the Senate, we have gavels and there should be subpoenas going out,' the progressive said.

'There should be active investigations that are happening.'

WATCH-- @AOC: "Samuel Alito has identified himself with the same people who raided the Capitol on Jan. 6, and is now going to be presiding over court cases that have deep implications over the participants of that rally." pic.twitter.com/jHXKTsIf7n  All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) May 23, 2024

The Revolutionary War flag was also flown at the January 6,2021 Capitol riot, which means, at least to AOC, that Alito should be investigated for having 'identified himself' with protestors

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said Justice Alito should be investigated by the Senate

Ocasio-Cortez said that House Democrats are also prepared to protect democracy once they have the majority, presuming they win in November.

'I believe that when House Democrats take the majority, we are preparing and ensuring to support the broader effort to stand up our democracy but I also believe that when Democrats have power, we have to use it.'

This is just the latest flag drama for Alito, who has recently come under fire from Democrats after his wife flew an American flag upside down at their Virginia home days before Biden was inaugurated in 2021.

Flying the flag in that manner is typically seen as a way to signal distress, and Democrats believe it was a political statement Alito made against their then president-elect Joe Biden.

Supreme Court Justices are not supposed to express political views - and many liberals have said that the upside down flag was an inappropriate form of expression by Alito.

The Justice, meanwhile, has said it was his wife who raised the inverted American flag.

Apparently, Alito's wife raised the upside down flag due to a dispute she had at the time with their neighbors.
Teachers at one of Australia's top private schools have slammed a move to ban water in the classroom.

Ballarat Clarendon College, a private co-ed day and boarding school in Victoria's central highlands, enforced a 'water trial' for years 5-9, where students must leave their water bottles outside the classroom during lessons.

The concept was brought in to improve concentration in the classroom, but has been criticised for breaching the students' human rights.

The state's fifth oldest private school has since assured that students will still have access to water throughout the day at recess, lunch and between classes.

Students are also permitted to use the taps and bubblers on campus or their water bottles on their way to class.

Ballarat Clarendon College (pictured), a private co-ed day and boarding school in Victoria's central highlands, enforced a 'water trial' for years 5-9, where students must leave their water bottles outside the classroom during lessons

The concept was brought in to improve concentration in the classroom, but has been widely criticised for breaching the students' human rights (stock image)

But staff at the college have pushed back at the school's trial ban, with one saying it's a 'laughable knee jerk reaction to an issue nobody has ever complained about', reported Herald Sun.

Many staff complained they were first alerted about the trial by media reports.

One faculty member said staff were 'outraged and uncomfortable about enforcing the ban'.

'I've never spoken to a single staff member in my many years at College who has ever complained about this issue,' the staff member said.

'It is a policy completely divorced from the realities of teaching at College. It's a complete non-issue.'

Adding to concerns are that classrooms are not airconditioned with temperatures soaring to over 30C in the summertime.

'These conditions are unbearable for staff and students. Kids are lethargic, disengaged, and under duress during these times,' the staff member said.

Staff at the college have pushed back at the school's trial ban, with one saying it's a 'laughable knee jerk reaction to an issue nobody has ever complained about'

A Ballarat Clarendon College spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia students will still have access to water throughout the school day.

'No student will go thirsty as there are ample opportunities during the day to drink water,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

The spokesperson also said the trial so far has seen improved classroom results.

'Early feedback results indicate improved classroom climate, student learning and concentration due to reduced noise and fewer restroom breaks,' they said.

'The trial will run during the colder months and, as always, we remain open-minded about its benefit and impact.'

Ballarat Clarendon College was the top performing school in Victoria in 2023, with its students achieving a median VCE score of 39.

According to the school's website, Year 5 parents pay $13,500 a year for their children to go there, which increases to more than $20,000 by Year 9.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Ballarat Clarendon College for comment regarding classroom temperatures.
President Joe Biden greeted Kenyan President William Ruto with full military honors during an elaborate arrival ceremony that is a start of the first state visit for an African leader since 2008.

Ruto, 57, leads an east African democracy noted for its stability in a region torn by civil war, militias, and pitched battles for resources.

The president is set to ask Congress to give Kenya a special 'major non-NATO' U.S. ally designation in the latest effort to keep the regional power close and demonstrate to other nations some of the benefits of U.S. cooperation.

It is the first sub-Saharan nation to get it.

'Kenya and America are also standing united against the terror of ISIS and al-Shabaab ... that they continue to perpetrate in east Africa. The aggression that Russia is inflicting on Ukraine. The violence that has toppled too many democracies across both our regions ... The past is our proof that we are stronger and the world is safer when Kenya and the United States work together.'

'Democracy is obviously on the back foot globally and we see Kenya as an important, stable democracy in East Africa,' said a senior administration official in advance of the visit.

The new status is directed 'towards elevating and really acknowledging that Kenya is already a global partner of ours,' a senior administration official told reporters.

Kenya's First Lady Rachel Ruto, Kenya's President William Ruto stand with US President Joe Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden attended the arrival ceremony. 'Violence toppled too many democracies across both our regions,' Biden said, as he prepares to inform Congress of a new allied status for the east African country

Biden spoke about the day Kenya gained independence 60 years ago, reading from printed remarks.

'That new democracy is endearing and enduring,' he said.

U.S. forces have spent years battling ISIS forces, and al-Shabaab continues its insurgency in neighboring Somalia.

'This is the first state visit by an African head of state in nearly 20 years. It is long overdue,' White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters in advance of Thursday's events.

The visit marks 60 years of a U.S.-Kenya partnership 'founded on shared values, deep cooperation, and a common vision for the future,' according to a White House fact sheet.

The big event on the schedule is a lavish state dinner for 500 inside a huge tent on the South Lawn. Former President Barack Obama, who has Kenyan roots, is not expected to attend, but a clutch of bold-faced names and deep pocketed donors are expected this election year.

Business is on the table as well. Kenya's highway authority announced an agreement with U.S. firm Everstrong Capital for a $3.6 billion highway construction agreement linking the capital of Nairobi with Mombasa.

'The project anticipates attracting investments totalling $3.6 billion, sourced from international investors, development agencies, pension funds and an exceptionally large number of Kenyan private investors,' said Everstrong in a statement.

Biden approached a podium to speek before catching himself and waiting for a military honor guard

The White House packed the South Lawn with visitors for the event

First lady Jill Biden held the president's hand after his remarks

Ruto was greeted with military honors in a visit that highlights the importance of the democratic ally in a region filled with conflict

The ceremony featured military bands and a fife and drum corps

White House and National Park Service staff prepare for the official state arrival ceremony for Kenyan President William Ruto on the South Lawn

Biden promised in December 22 to visit Africa the following year, but that hasn't happened.

Sullivan isn't getting pinned down on an exact timeframe. 'He intends to do so as president of the United States,' he said Wednesday.

Ruto is considered an 'international operator,' and Kenya's troops are set to lead an international peacekeeping effort designed to bring a measure of stability to Haiti.

The morning ceremony was attended by Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and other top officials.

Ruto and first lady Rachel Ruto arrived in a black SUV. The Bidens greeted them, with first lady Jill Biden pointing to her counterpart where to stand.

The group then greeted Vice President Harris and other officials of both governments.

At one point, after viewing gathered U.S. troops with Ruto, Biden walked up to the lectern as if to speak, then corrected himself and waited for a fife and drum corps to perform.

Ruto began his remarks with a greeting in Swahili. 'Jambo,' he said. He called Kenya a 'proud democratic nation, and mentioned challenges of climate change and 'debt distress.'
A man has been arrested after 12 children were rushed to hospital following a serious crash between a tractor and a school bus on a narrow country road.

A youngster, who has not been named, had been airlifted to King's College Hospital in London by air ambulance and remains in a 'serious but stable condition' after the crash in Meopham.

While the bus driver and 12 children were taken to hospital, four more people were treated by paramedics at the scene following the incident on the A227 South Street near Gravesend, Kent, on Wednesday afternoon.

A youngster, who has not been named, had been airlifted to King's College Hospital in London by air ambulance and remains in a 'serious but stable condition'.

A 33-year-old man from East Sussex was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He has been bailed pending further investigation.

It is believed the tractor involved had it's bucket lifted up in the air at the time of the collision around 3.25pm.

Photos posted on social media show the top floor of the bus was ripped apart in the collision

A tractor with its scoop raised, which is believed to have been involved in the collision, was seen close to the site of the crash

Pictures seen on social media showed the left side of the top deck of the bus ripped open.

Kent Police are asking anyone who saw the incident to get in touch with their Serious Collision Investigation Unit.

This includes anyone who may have captured footage on their phones and motorists with potential evidence on dashcams.

A Kent Police spokesperson said: 'The bus driver and 12 children were taken to hospital. One child remains in a London hospital in a serious but stable condition.

'Of the casualties taken for medical attention at local hospitals, three continue to be treated for injuries described as serious.'

The road was closed at the location on the A227 South Street near Culverstone Green after the collision.

The spokesperson said: 'The collision is being investigated by Kent Police's Serious Collision Unit (SCIU) and officers are appealing to any witnesses to contact them.'

Here is a look at where the crash occured on the A227 South Street in Meopham near Gravesend, Kent, on Wednesday afternoon
Moscow will retaliate with strikes on British targets if weapons from the UK are used by Ukraine to attack Russian territory, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova declared today.

She quickly added that British targets 'on Ukraine's territory and beyond its borders' could be hit in such a scenario - an even more direct warning that echoed the sentiments of former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev earlier this month.

Her statement is the latest example of the Kremlin's outrage at remarks from British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who declared Ukraine had a right to use weapons provided by London to hit targets inside Russia.

Lord Cameron's comments broke with the policy that Kyiv could only use British weapons to defend Ukrainian soil - and Moscow cited the move as one of the reasons it is holding exercises this month to simulate the launch of tactical nuclear missiles.

Zakharova's statement came hours after Russia bombarded Ukraine's second city with yet more missiles, killing at least seven people as of this afternoon.

Shocking images showed scenes of utter devastation at a printworks in Kharkiv with rescuers pulling bodies out of the charred rubble.

Volunteers carry the body of a person killed by Russian missile strikes at a compound of a printworks, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 23, 2024

Firefighters work at compound of a printworks hit by Russian missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 23, 202

Volunteers carry the body of a person killed by Russian missile strikes at a compound of a printworks, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 23, 2024

Burned books are seen amid the rubble of a printworks in Kharkiv

Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is launched from an air field during military drills in Russia

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

Earlier this month, the speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament Vyacheslav Volodin said that the use of US and Western weapons against targets inside Russia could trigger a new level of confrontation.

'Any use of American and European weapons to attack peaceful cities of the Russian Federation will require the use of more powerful weapons to protect the citizens of our country,' Volodin said.

Those statements came as Dmitry Medvedev engaged in yet more sabre-rattling - and mocked Lord Cameron.

Medvedev - who was Russian president when David Cameron became prime minister in 2010 - warned the Foreign Secretary he was risking nuclear over his vow to Ukraine that they can use British missiles to target Russia.

He branded the peer a 'moron' for seeking to 'fight with Putin to the bitter end'.

Cameron had earlier said that Ukraine was free to decide how to use British-supplied weapons.

'In terms of what the Ukrainians do, in our view, it is their decision about how to use these weapons, they're defending their country, they were illegally invaded by Putin and they must take those steps,' he said.

This appeared to change an understanding that Western long-range missiles would be used on Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine, but not in Russia itself.

Medvedev was modern Russia's longest-serving prime minister, and was also Russian president between 2008-2012.

He is now Putin's deputy on the Russian Security Council, which now has ex-defence minister Sergei Shoigu as its secretary.

Volunteers carry the body of a person killed by Russian missile strikes at a compound of a printworks, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 23, 2024

Firefighters work at the compound of a printworks hit by Russian missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 23, 2024

Putin's parliamentary speaker Vyacheslav Volodin

Russia's Deputy head of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev

The Borei-class nuclear-powered submarine K-535 Yuri Dolgoruky launches an RSM-56 Bulava ballistic missile in the Barents Sea

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The fresh attack on Kharkiv today comes as Kyiv's army labours to hold off an intense cross-border offensive by the Kremlin's larger and better-equipped forces.

At least 16 people were injured as S-300 missiles struck the city of Kharkiv, regional governor Oleh Synehubov said.

The sound of 15 explosions reverberated around the city of some one million people.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack 'extremely cruel', and went on to express renewed frustration at not getting enough air defence systems from the country's western partners to prevent the barrages after more than two years of unrelenting war.

The city of Kharkiv, which is the capital of the region of the same name, lies just 12 miles from the Russian border.

Moscow's troops have in recent weeks captured villages in the area as part of a broad push, and analysts say they may be trying to get within artillery range of the city.

Now, outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces are being pressed at several points along the roughly 600-mile front line that snakes from north to south along the eastern side of the country, in what is shaping up to be Ukraine's biggest test since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Emergency workers carry the body of a person killed by Russian missile strikes at a compound of a printworks, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 23, 2024

Paramedics stand next to the body of a man killed by Russian missile strikes at a printworks compound, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 23, 2024

Smoke rises after Russian missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 23, 2024

With Ukraine short of air defences and waiting for more western military support that recently started trickling in, its army has been pushed backwards in places while Russia has pounded its power grid and civilian areas. Kyiv endured further power outages on Thursday.

Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said the attacks underscored the country's 'urgent' need for more US-made Patriot systems to defend its skies.

Germany recently pledged one of the missile systems 'but getting six more as soon as possible remains critical not only for Ukraine's survival but for peace in Europe', Mr Kuleba wrote on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Mr Zelensky said the main hot spots in recent fighting had been Kharkiv and the neighbouring Donetsk region, where in February Ukraine's defenders withdrew from the stronghold of Avdiivka.

For the Kremlin, taking control of all of partially occupied Donetsk is a war priority.

At the same time, and in an apparent effort to stretch Ukraine's depleted forces, Russian troops have made incursions in the northern Sumy region.

Nearly 1,500 people, including 200 children, have been evacuated from the towns of Bilopillia and Vorozhba in that region, according to regional governor Volodymyr Artiukh.

'The main focus (of the fighting) is on the entire border area,' Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address on Wednesday.

In Liubotyn, a small town about six miles west of Kharkiv city, Russian missiles struck the town's centre, injuring eight civilians.

But Ukraine has also trained its sights on Russian regions across the border.

Russia's defence ministry said that 35 Ukrainian rockets and three drones were shot down over the Belgorod region overnight.

Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said one drone had struck a house and exploded after being shot down, killing a woman.
Gov. Chris Sununu says almost all of the 50 governors get along...except 'prick' Gavin Newsom who 'no one cares for' and 'complete jacka**' former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The New Hampshire Republican governor poked fun at his Democratic colleagues during a fireside chat at the Reagan Institute Summit on Education in Washington, D.C.

'Look, almost all the governors get along,' he said. 'In my eight years, there's really only maybe been two - maybe a third - but two governors that really nobody likes or particularly cares for.'

When pressed about which governors are on the outs with the rest, he replied: 'Andrew Cuomo...complete jacka** no one likes him,' to laughter.

'And I gotta be honest. No one cares for Gavin [Newsom]. Gavin's just a prick, excuse me,' he went on.

'He just is. It's really disappointing. All of us got along for awhile, but even the Democrats - they won't tell you out loud - but behind closed doors they're like 'oh God, look who's coming.''

'They all roll their eyes because...I'm sure that'll hit social media who cares,' he joked.

He went on to say he gets along with other Democrats despite their vastly different policies - including Phil Murphy of New Jersey and the governor of Oregon Tina Kotek.

A spokesperson for former Gov. Cuomo fired back in a statement to DailyMail.com: 'Its nice to see that they both feel the same way about each other.'

Sununu talked about the importance of education and how he's prioritizing civics in particular in his state.

He said teaching kids of the 'pros and cons' of where they source their information, and not always believing the first thing they read, is critical.

Earlier at the Reagan Institute Education Summit, Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia discussed how he prioritizes education initiatives as leader.

He told the audience that he wakes up every morning with a prayer about how to better serve residents of the commonwealth.

Education is at 'the top of the list' to be able to give people 'confidence' to achieve an 'expectation of excellence,' he explained.

The crowd burst into applause when the governor talked about the importance of providing kids with an education on the key foundation of the U.S. including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

He said that students in the commonwealth are tested on their knowledge of those critical foundations, among other important civics topics.

And Gov. Kim Reynolds, R-Iowa, who joined virtually due to recent tornadoes in the state, expressed the importance of protecting access to school choice.

'I was hearing it over and over from parents,' she said. 'I want to be involved in choosing the best facilities for my children.'

'And I gotta be honest. No one cares for Gavin [Newsom]. Gavin's just a prick, excuse me,' said Sununu

The New Hampshire governor poked fun at his Democratic colleagues during a fireside chat at the Reagan Institute Summit on Education in Washington, D.C.

Gov. @GlennYoungkin is first up at @ReaganInstitute Education Summit in D.C.



He says he wakes up every morning with a prayer.



Education is at the top of the list to be able to give people confidence to achieve an expectation of excellence, he says. pic.twitter.com/v8KMaL1Erc  Kelly Laco (@kelly_laco) May 23, 2024

She said that her 'universal school choice plan' has been implemented over three years.

Parents have the choice to choose between public and private schools, 'wherever they think best for their children to receive an education.'
The bosses of a World War Two event have defended re-enactors dressed as Nazis - including ones resembling Waffen-SS, Hitler Youth and concentration camp guards.

Organisers of the Spirit of Wartime event in Nottinghamshire said the event was designed to let people experience life in military camps of both the Allied and Axis military.

But the event, which was billed as 'family friendly', has caused outrage after some of the participants appeared in full Nazi dress, as well as the flying the Swastika flag.

Photographs from the event appeared to show several people dressed in a variety of Nazi uniforms, alongside famous Nazi weapons and vehicles.

German reenactors even fired an 8cm Granatwerfer 43 mortar during the event.

But the event, which was billed as 'family friendly', has caused outrage after some of the participants appeared in full Nazi dress

Organisers of the Spirit of Wartime event in Nottinghamshire have defended the event by saying it was designed to let people experience life in military camps of both the Allied and Axis military

The Swastika flag has become a worldwide symbol of Hitler's fascist state, which carried out the murder of six million Jews, two-thirds of Europe's entire Jewish population

Some visitors alleged Nazi memorabilia was being sold from a stall, which organisers The Sherwood Forest Trust said it was unaware of and did not approve of.

The charity held the annual event last weekend and said it had over 8,000 visitors.

Families were encouraged to bring a picnic and soak up the history while listening to songs from the 40s.

But Professor Dr. Waitman W. Beorn, an expert in Holocaust history and assistant professor at Northumbria University, was critical of how the history was represented at the event.

He told Nottinghamshire Live: 'You don't need people people dressed up as Nazis to talk about the Nazis.'

The academic also said people 'shouldn't be comfortable' dressing like the SS as they need to have a think about the message it sends.

Many countries around the world, including Germany, France, Poland and Russia, have long-standing laws which make flying the Swastika in public illegal

The annual event was held last weekend at Thoresby Park and had over 8,000 visitors

A man reenacting as a soldier inspects his WWII-era weapon

The event included a 'live battle' at 1pm for 20 minutes on both days of the event

An academic questioned why some attendees were wearing uniforms which signify some of the most depraved criminality in human history

The SS was the paramilitary wing of the Nazi party and was the organisation most responsible for the Holocaust.

Mr Beorn added that the inclusion of Swastika flags was unnecessary and appeared to be 'a bit celebratory'.

Many countries around the world, including Germany, France, Poland and Russia, have long-standing laws which make flying the Swastika in public illegal.

It has become a worldwide symbol of Hitler's fascist state, which carried out the murder of six million Jews, two-thirds of Europe's entire Jewish population.

The academic said the uniforms signify some of the most depraved criminality in human history.

He also questioned the logic of people who spend money to dress up as Nazis as a hobby.

The expert said there are great WWII history events that don't allow German re-enactments.

Patrick Candler, chief executive of the Sherwood Forest Trust, told the website Nazi reenactors had been attending the event for years.

He argued the both sides and 'balanced approach' by the charity was important for education.

The boss said no complaints were received from any of its nearly 8,000 visitors over the weekend.

He said organisers had also consulted with a Holocaust centre in the lead-up to the event.

The charity which organised the event said it consulted with a Holocaust centre in the lead-up to the event

A hall at the event was used for educational purposes with information printed out on boards

Soldiers reenact a battle in WWII by wearing German uniforms and flying the Nazi flag

According to a report on the Spirit of Wartime Sherwood by The Sherwood Forest Trust, the organisation was developing partnerships with larger organisations such as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Clumber Park and Nottingham University.

In the report it stated the National Holocaust Centre and Museum (NHCM) partnership was also made recently following staff changes and a 'wariness' about the nature of the war depictions.

But the report stated the relationship was being negotiated after reassurances of the sensitivity with which the project dealt with the subject matter.

The director of the National Holocaust Centre and Museum Marc Cave said: 'We would ask these people to reflect on how their actions look to others. To us, dressing up in Nazi uniforms looks distinctly like glorifying a barbaric, murderous regime.

'Every day at our Museum, which is down the road in Laxton, we host and work with survivors of that barbarism. We would be happy to show the organisers around our Museum, so they can see exactly what this ill-judged Nazi "cosplay" has glorified.'

Sherwood Forest Trust is a small charity established in 1995. The trusts work centres on nature, people and local communities around the forest.

The Spirit Of Wartime Sherwood WW2 event was held on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 of May 2024 from 10am to 4pm at Thoresby Park.

Car parking for the event was 3 for all day and it included a 'live battle' at 1pm for 20 minutes on both days.

The event included a teddy bingo, hamper raffle, guess the bears name, books and amazing knitted items for sale.

Visit Nottinghamshire, the county's tourist board, appeared to remove a promotional article of the event from its website after it became aware of the concerns around the Nazi outfits.

A spokesperson for the organisation apologised for any offence that may have been caused.

Visit Nottinghamshire said it has no affiliation with or influence over the events content.
A Conservative Party donor and a property developer who met the King and late Queen has appeared in court accused of bribing a foreign government minister.

Hardip Singh Virdee, also known as Peter Singh, allegedly bribed Michael Asot from January 2015 to July 2017 when he was the minister for tourism in Antigua and Barbuda.

The 50-year-old the runs the 4 billion B&S Property group in Mayfair, London and PV Energy Limited.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court where he was bailed to attend Southwark Crown Court on 20 June for a preparatory hearing.

According to charges brought by the National Crime Agency, Virdee: 'bribed a foreign public official, namely Asot Michael, with the intention of influencing his capacity as a foreign public official.'

His company PV Energy Limited faces an accusation of 'failing to prevent bribery in relation to the same offences.'

Hardip Singh Virdee allegedly bribed an Antiguan government minister from January 2015 to July 2017

The 50-year-old the runs the 4 billion B&S Property group in Mayfair, London and PV Energy Limited.

He is a prominent figure on social media with 260,000 followers on Instagram- which he uses to promote himself as a mentor in the finance world.

Virdee has posted pictures of himself claiming to be taken next to members of the Royal Family including the late Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles, and the Duke of Edinburgh.

He also posts pictures of himself jetting across the world, inside expensive cars such as Rolls Royces and at prestigious events with the Army.

He runs The Virdee Foundation, a charity which helps vulnerable women and children.

At the next hearing it is expected that Virdee will enter a plea to the allegation.
A prominent New York City chef and business owner, once honored for his involvement in the community, was arrested in a massive drug bust.

Ettore Mazzei, 61, owner of Chez Vous Catering and Edgewater Hall in Staten Island, was indicted on 61 counts including criminal sale of a controlled substance, grand larceny, identity theft and falsifying business records.

Mazzei and nearly 20 others were arrested on Wednesday during an extensive law enforcement raid of his business on Bay Street.

Prosecutors said the business man was the ring leader of an operation that made tens of thousands of dollars selling deadly narcotics.

'Like a modern-day Fagin, the character from Dickens' Great Expectations, Mazzei preyed on vulnerable people who suffered from addiction illness and oppressed them into servitude in his catering business, for housing and ultimately, for drug dealing,' Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon said.

Prominent chef Ettore Mazzei (center), 61, was arrested in a massive drug bust Wednesday

'The breadth of his criminal activity is truly mind-boggling. Mazzei built a labyrinth of crime including drug dealing, extortion, and fraud against numerous government programs including COVID-19 aid, housing support, food stamps, and other financial assistance.'

'He is a successful businessman for sure - a crooked, evil businessman,' McMahon said.

In January 2022, Mazzei was bestowed a leadership award from the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce for his contributions to the community.

Now he is accused of running an operation that sold 20 grams of heroin, 461 grams of cocaine and 140 suboxone strips to undercover officers over a 14-month period starting in March 2023, according to prosecutors.

Investigators connected drugs sold by Mazzei's crew to multiple overdose deaths on Staten Island.

Prosecutors said Mazzei (pictured) was the ring leader of an operation that made tens of thousands of dollars selling deadly narcotics

He is accused of using his businesses (pictured) to run a drug operation that is connected to several overdose deaths

Over 150 people died of overdoses in 2023 in Staten Island, adding to the more than 830 people that died of overdoses since 2016 in the borough, according to the district attorney's office.

'Losing over 150 of our neighbors and loved ones to a fatal overdose just last year, Staten Islanders know all too well the devastating and deadly ramifications of the opioid and overdose crisis,' said McMahon.

'And yet, shameless poison purveyors like Ettore Mazzei and his associates continue to flood our streets with death-dealing and harmful narcotics, choosing to prioritize profit over the pain and suffering they leave in their wake.'

Video captured by NBC New York showed Mazzei and the others being rounded up by New York City Police officers.

The chef is accused using his position as a business owner to advance his drug operation.

Prosecutors said he would house several of his employees at his properties and pay them for their work in drugs

Nearly 20 others were arrested on Wednesday during an extensive law enforcement raid of his business on Bay Street

His operation allegedly sold 20 grams of heroin, 461 grams of cocaine and 140 suboxone strips to undercover officers over a 14-month period starting in March 2023

Prosecutors said he would house several of his employees at his properties and pay them for their work in drugs.

'The defendants' alleged actions plagued neighborhoods in Staten Island by littering the streets with illegal narcotics that led to overdose deaths and endangered countless more New Yorkers,' said NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban.

'These allegations are particularly galling given that the driving force behind this illicit drug operation  a local landlord, chef, and entrepreneur  was recently recognized as a pillar of the community by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce'

'Putting personal and financial gain above people's lives is the polar opposite of what New Yorkers expect and deserve from their leaders,' Caban said.

Mazzei's bail has been set at $3 million cash and $5 million bond. His attorney did not return DailyMail.com's request for comment at the time of publication.
Former President Donald Trump has posted on social media that he will use his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin to get Wall Street reporter Evan Gershkovich freed from a Russian prison.

Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that this would happen soon after the November election in the United States, when he is seeking to defeat President Joe Biden and return to the White House.

'Evan Gershkovich, the Reporter from The Wall Street Journal, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the Election, but definitely before I assume Office. He will be HOME, SAFE, AND WITH HIS FAMILY,' Trump said.

'Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and WE WILL BE PAYING NOTHING!'

Trump did not refer to any contacts with Putin or say what grounds he had to believe that the Russian leader would release Gershkovich.

Former President Donald Trump (left) has posted on social media overnight Thursday that he will use his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin to get Wall Street reporter Evan Gershkovich (right) freed from a Russian prison

'Evan Gershkovich, the Reporter from The Wall Street Journal, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the Election, but definitely before I assume Office. He will be HOME, SAFE, AND WITH HIS FAMILY,' former President Donald Trump claimed

A campaign spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment on whether the former Republican president or his advisers have been in touch with any Russian officials.

Asked about the comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin has 'naturally not had contacts with Donald Trump.'

Gershkovich was arrested in Russia in March last year on spying charges that he, his paper and the Biden administration have all strongly denied. He has spent well over a year in a Moscow prison, with no date set for a trial.

Putin said in February it might be possible to free him in exchange for a Russian imprisoned in Germany for murder.

Peskov reiterated previous Kremlin statements that contacts with Washington regarding any exchange of prisoners must be conducted 'in complete silence and absolutely discreetly. This is the only way they can be effective.'

During his 2017-2021 presidency, Trump expressed admiration for Putin.

In 2018, he refused to blame the Russian leader for meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, casting doubt on the findings of his own intelligence agencies and sparking criticism at home.

Trump has also claimed he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of returning to the White House, though he has not said how he would do this.
A Somalian refused to come to court as he was jailed for at least 32 years for knifing a woman to death two days after slashing three other strangers faces.

Mohamed Nur, 35, grabbed 31-year-old Johanita Dogbey and stabbed her three times in the neck in a random attack near Brixton's O2 academy in south London on May 1 last year.

He refused to attend his sentencing today saying there was 'no point' coming and the judge said proceedings would begin to punish him for the 'clear contempt' shown.

Ms Dogbey was killed while on the phone to her grandmother on the way home from buying a birthday gift for her mother at about 4.30pm on the bank holiday Monday.

Nur had been waiting on the streets of Brixton before he saw Ms Dogbey and followed her before launching his 'violent and unprovoked' attack while she shouted for him to leave her alone.

Pictured: Mohammed Nur used the weapon to cut the throat of Johanita Kossiwa Dogbey in broad daylight last May 1

Johanita Kossiwa Dogbey (pictured), 31, had been walking alone in Stockwell Park Walk in Brixton after going into central London to do some shopping

She was able to get to her feet briefly before collapsing as members of the public rushed to her aid but she later died at the scene. Nur replied 'What, who's she?' when he was later arrested for murder.

He had attacked Rebecca Wilkes, Tomasz Kmiecik and Katie Matthews in a five minute rampage using a make-shift weapon from broken glass and rubber bands, between 11.25pm and 11.30pm, on 29 April 2023 in the same area.

The night after killing Ms Dogbey he went out with another weapon to the same area again and was arrested by police.

Nur admitted murder and denied three counts of unlawful wounding but was convicted by an Old Bailey jury last week.

The killer refused to come to court from prison for a single day of his two week trial saying there was 'no point' coming when he had already admitted murder.

He again sent a refusal notice to the judge today saying there was 'no point' attending the sentencing hearing.

Addressing the empty dock, Judge Angela Rafferty, KC, jailed Nur for life with a minimum term of 32 years.

She said: 'All of these victims were complete strangers to you. Someone who saw Johnita said she sounded happy. You would have seen she was talking and had her hands occupied.

'It is a sickening piece of footage to view but it must have been even more horrific for those present to witness.

'The savagery of your attack is hard to say in words. She was in the prime of her life and now with no warning whatsoever before she was killing in this vicious and horrifying attack.

'You have never offered any explanation or remorse for this senseless killing. There was a deliberate decision to go out and target the innocent and the defenceless.

'You are a very dangerous man and the risk you pose is incalculable. It is my firm view that had you not been arrested on 2 May you would have been likely to attack again.'

Ms Dogbey was attacked from behind by a man wearing all dark clothing, and died at the scene

She directed that a prison officer read her remarks to Nur in HMP Belmarsh later today.

The judge added: 'This defendant has not attended any day of his trial and has sent notices to say he sees no point and has not come today for his public sentencing hearing and I am taking this very seriously.

'He has in effect committed a number of contempt of court offences and so he could face consecutive sentences for a number of years and I am minded to mark it.

'We cannot have defendants in a case like this just not turning up to court without any penalty whatsoever.'

Nur had also refused to leave his cell to be interviewed by police and had to be questioned though the opening in the cell door to which he did not respond.

Ms Dogbey's mother, father, brother, sister and uncle attended court today. Her uncle remained in court while footage of Ms Dogbey's murder was played while the rest of the family exited the courtroom.

Her mother left the court in tears after the prosecutor described the attack on her daughter.

Ms Dogbey's younger sister Laura Dogbey sobbed as she read a victim impact statement to court with her brother stood at her side.

She told the court she was an experienced writer having had work published in a book when she was 15 but had struggled to put into words her feelings after her sister's death.

She said: 'What words can I really use to describe how broken I am? I ask if these words even exist and answer is no.

'To say when my sister was murdered was the worst day of my life would be too simple. To say that it broke me is an understatement.

'There were so many pieces of me that left when the police confirmed to my father the news that his pure, innocent, loving, selfless daughter had been murdered.

'I was the youngest child and had an older sister and older brother sheltering me from the brutality of the world.

'My sister was my protector and it hurts me to know no one was able to protect her from the actions of this man who snuck up behind her and took her life.

'You often hear of cases like this but never in a million years think it would hit this close to home. How can a person be so selfish killing someone like that? My sister is dead - she didn't get to plead for her or tell her family she loved them.'

She said she had delayed her A Level exams after her sister was killed and was struggling to focus on them this year.

The judge and barristers took off their wigs as Laura read her statement.

In a victim impact statement read to the court by the prosecutor Ms Dogbey's father Yao Dogbey said his daughter was 'loving, kind and humble' as the oldest of three siblings.

A post-mortem examination identified the cause of death as sharp force trauma to the neck

He said: 'She was much loved not only by her family but also her many friends and people she helped.

'She created a charity to support people suffering from sickle cell. Having had sickle cell herself she was devoted to this cause and made a great change to many people's lives.

'She loved making jokes and always had a smile on her face. She was always putting others first and helping others. We never expected her to go like that and struggle to understand how this could have happened at all.

'Johnita passing so violently has left a big hole in our lives and a massive hole in our hearts.'

Nur left his home on May 1 wearing dark clothing concealing a weapon consisting of two triangular-shaped blades wrapped in fabric tied together with elastic bands.

He took a tube to Vauxhall and was seen walking around alone for 25 minutes, apart from briefly interacting with a woman.

Prosecutor Julian Evans, KC, said: 'At about this time, Johanita Dogbey was walking towards Stockwell Park Walk. Johantia was on her own. She was on her way home.

'Earlier that day, Johanita had been shopping in Oxford Street and she had gone there to buy a birthday present for her mother.

'Johanita walked past Mohamed Nur. She was holding a mobile phone in her left hand, and her bag of shopping in her right hand. Johanita was on the phone talking to her grandmother.

'As Johanita walked by, so Mohamed Nur saw her. There is nothing to suggest that Johanita was in any way known to him, or that he had ever seen her before. She was a complete stranger to him.

'Shortly after Johanita walked past, Mr Nur began to follow her and at some point removed his weapon.

'With Johanita walking ahead of him, Mr Nur then started to quicken his pace, he started to close the distance between him and Johanita and he approached Johanita from behind.

'When he got close to Johanita he grabbed her from behind. It is clear from the CCTV footage she had no idea that Mohamed Nur was close behind her, or that he was about to attack her.

'Mohamed Nur attacked Johanita with his weapon. The attack was sudden, it was violent, and it was without warning. It was completely unprovoked.

'Mohamed Nur repeatedly stabbed Johanita in the area of her neck. He did so until she fell to the ground. And after Johanita fell, Mohamed Nur ran away into the housing estate. She was defenceless and blameless.'

A police community support officer who witnessed the stabbing heard Ms Dogbey shout 'leave me, leave me' as she was attacked.

Nur ran away and discarded the weapon in a bush where it was later found by police. Members of the public called 999 and paramedics attended but Ms Dogbey was pronounced dead at the scene at 4.42pm.

Her grandmother heard a commotion down the phone before the call ended abruptly. Family members rushed to the scene to be told she had passed away.

The three assaults had happened in the same area two days before.

The scene in south London following the stabbing last May. Now Nur faces life in jail for murder

Mr Evans earlier said: 'In each case, the man used his weapon to cut the face of each of the three victims. All three suffered a wound to the side of their face.

'The first of the three incidents happened at about 11.25pm. In this incident, the man approached Rebecca Wilkes from behind. He grabbed her by the face and he cut her on the right side of her cheek.

'She suffered a wound to her face that was about 9cm long. The second incident happened very soon afterwards about a minute or so later at about 11.26pm.

'In this second incident, the man walked towards Tomasz Kmiecik, and as the two of them passed one another, the man cut him on the right side of his cheek. He suffered a 15cm long wound to the face.

'The third incident happened about three minutes later at about 11.29pm. In this incident, the man walked towards Katie Matthews. And as they passed one another, the man cut her on the right side of her cheek. She suffered a 6cm long wound to the face.'

Nur was heard saying 'you f--ng c-t' as he walked away from Ms Matthews.

In a victim impact statement Ms Wilkes said she had been scarred for life and in constantly reminded of the incident when people stare at her or ask about the scar.

Events photographer Mr Kmiecik said he and his wife now struggle with anxiety when walking about at night.

Ms Matthews, a mother to young children, said she had become irrationally fearful of strangers.

After killing Ms Dogbey on 1 May Nur returned home but left his house again that night with another makeshift weapon.

He was stopped by police at 12.45am on 2 May near to the McDonald's where he had started to follow Rebecca Wilkes.

Police had identified him as wearing similar clothing to Ms Dogbey's attacker. Asked what he had been doing that day Nur replied: 'Nothing I'm just getting something to eat bruv.' He then said: 'Just been f-ing smoking crack and s-t bruv.'

Officers found he was wearing two pairs of trousers with a weapon concealed in the right pocket of the inner pair.

He was later arrested on suspicion of the murder of Johanita Dogbey at the police station and replied 'What, who's she?'.

Shards of broken mirror were found in Nur's room in the Lambeth Assessment Centre- a homeless shelter in Vauxhall. His room has last been checked by staff on 25 April 2023.

Nur's barrister Jeremy Wainwright, KC, said he had been given no explanation to offer form Nur about the murder or the other attacks.

Nur was born in Somalia and moved to south London in 1993. He went to college to study IT but dropped out when he began smoking cannabis.

From December 2022 he was living on the streets addicted to drugs. He has previous convictions for possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of a knife.

When arrested on suspicion of dealing drugs and found with a knife he told the police: 'I'm Somalian, people are always after me'.

In June 2022 he was arrested on suspicion of threatening to kill his sister but he was charged only with possession of a bladed article and drugs after a razor blade and cannabis were found in his pocket.

Nur had admitted murder in November but a reporting restriction was put in place until the conclusion of his trial. Jurors were visibly shocked and distressed after the judge told them Nur had also committed a murder which was not revealed during the trial.

Nur admitted murder and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon. He denied but was convicted of three counts of wounding.
Known for its star-studded red carpets and award-winning film premiers, the Cannes Film Festival hides something far more salacious behind all the glitz and glamour, a new report claims.

The festival is home to a secret escort ring where womens company is bought and sold over WhatsApp by billionaire Arab, Russian and American businessmen.

Agents are using the messaging service to recruit models for their wealthy employers, sometimes paying as much as 50,000 for one night, according to BILD.

The publication gained access to one of these WhatsApp groups, where adverts are posted, offering women thousands to spend the night with the festivals wealthy attendees.

According to BILD, one ad read: We are looking for real top models, beautiful girls, amateur models. All nationalities, Latinas preferred.

Women are paid as much as 50,000 for sex by wealthy businessman at the film festival (File image purely for illustrative purposes)

Another offered top models 10,000 euros for a day trip to Monaco while a third was willing to pay only blonde models $10,000 a week for a yacht trip

These massive WhatsApp groups ask women to send in photos, alongside their age and weight.

Many requests, often made by wealthy foreign businessmen, are for so-called image jobs, where models are asked to accompany guests to dinner or high-end parties.

These men allegedly pay for entire groups of women to spend the night at their star-studded gatherings.

Other transactions, however, are known as Image+ jobs and see the women receive a cash bonus in exchange for having sex with paying festival goers.

These women often meet their hosts for the first time on-site and receive very little information about the dealings in advance, BILD added.

Startlingly, women often have their passports confiscated and are banned from using mobile phones during their trips, in a bid to prevent the identities of these wealthy men leaking to the public.

Some women reported having their passports confiscated upon meeting with men at the festival (File image purely for illustrative purposes)

This is not just modern prostitution, an insider revealed.

This is also about a lot of black money, there are no bills.

Young women are often offered 3,000 euros for a dinner, 10,000 euros for a party, and 50,000 euros for a night.

Last year, an investigation by MailOnline revealed that sex workers from across Europe, known as 'putes de luxes' in France, flock to the annual event to sell their bodies in luxury hotels and yachts.

Models, aspiring actresses and some Instagram influencers are invited to parties or to stay on board superyachts, enjoying champagne on tap.

But the unwritten expectation in some cases is that so-called 'yacht girls' will have to thank their hosts by having sex with them or other guests.

Unlike the WhatsApp groups where escorts often know how much they will receive in advance, these women are often handed an envelope filled with cash once their visit is over.

One escort, hailing from Slovakia, told MailOnline: 'You have to be careful because the hotels don't like it going on, but they cannot stop it. This is the oldest industry in the world and the film business is all about glamour and excitement. Of course, people want to have sex.

Yachts are often used as discreet locations for these deals to take place

'I charge 1,000 euros an hour, but there is a discount for two hours or more, and the rate for the whole night is 5,000 euros - but in reality, people often only take a few minutes.

'Then, it is just a question of chatting to them for the rest of the hour if they cannot rise to the occasion again. It doesn't help that they may be drunk or on drugs, unless it is Viagra and then I am in for a hard time.

'The money is no problem if they can afford to stay somewhere like Le Majestic. But what they are paying for is discretion. I would never disclose the name of anyone.'

One yacht crew member told MailOnline that the use of these vessels for prostitution has become 'much more discreet' in recent years.

He said: 'I guess nobody wants to be seen openly buying or selling sex. You might want to have beautiful women on your yacht, but you don't want to be seen as a sleazy old man taking advantage of girls.

'Another factor is the sanctions against Russia because of the war in Ukraine. It has meant that Russian oligarchs have disappeared from European waters. Those guys knew how to party.

'The term 'yacht girl' also seems to have changed in recent years. I have heard it being used to describe any woman hanging out with a rich man, whether it is on a boat or some place in a resort.'
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

The Lib Dems vowed to smash the Tory 'blue wall' today as they launched the election campaign in a Cabinet minister's constituency.

Ed Davey kicked off his push towards July 4 in the marginal seat of Cheltenham, currently held by Justice Secretary Alex Chalk.

After a series of eye-catching by-election wins, the party is targeting 80 constituencies where they are in second place to the Conservatives.

But senior figures have also pointedly refused to rule out a deal to prop up Keir Starmer if he falls short of a majority. Many Tories fear that the opposition parties have already informally come to an arrangement about what seats to focus resources on.

Mr Chalk has a majority of just 981 votes, with Lib Dem candidate Max Wilkinson determined to take the seat that the party held from 1992 to 2015.

Ed Davey was alongside his Lib Dem candidate Max Wilkinson in Cheltenham today

Ed Davey kicked off his push towards July 4 in the marginal seat of Cheltenham, currently held by Justice Secretary Alex Chalk

Mr Chalk has a majority of just 981 votes, with the Lib Dems determined to take the seat that the party held from 1992 to 2015

During an election rally with party activists, Sir Ed said: 'For far too long people across the UK have been let down and taken for granted by this Conservative Government and this out-of-touch Conservative Party.

'But with this election we have the chance to win the change the country so desperately needs.

'As I go around the country, I might meet people who are working really hard, they're raising their families, they're caring for their loved ones, they're doing everything right, playing by the rules.

'But they're finding it harder and harder to make ends meet.

'The people seeing their bills go up, pensioners and families seeing rocketing food bills, energy bills, rent and mortgages.

'The Conservatives have just made it worse.

'The NHS is on its knees under the Conservatives. They promised to build lots of hospitals, and they have not delivered and people are waiting hours just for an ambulance, they're waiting weeks for a GP appointment and months for urgent cancer treatment.

'These Conservatives have allowed the water companies to get away with pumping their filthy sewage into our rivers and onto our beaches.

'It really is time for change. And that means the Conservatives have to go.

'Across the country we've seen so many parts of the country where it's a vote for the Liberal Democrats that will get rid of the Conservative MP.

'There's a real chance in this election if people vote, they will get that change.

'But it's not just a change of Government, we need to transform our politics.

'Our politics is broken. If you can transform it that unlocks the chance to fix our health and care system, to get our economy back on track, to end the scandal of sewage, to get the fair deal that people so, so deserve.

'Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote for a local champion who's going to fight for you, your family and your community  for that fair deal.

'A fair deal where everyone can have a decent home that's secure and clean, an affordable retirement when the time comes, a fair deal where every child has a decent school, where they can have the opportunity to realise their potential.

'A fair deal when everyone can access high quality healthcare they need when they need it, where they need it.

'That's the fair deal that the Liberal Democrats are fighting for. So come and join us and help make it happen.'

The party's deputy leader, Daisy Cooper, dismissed doing a deal with the Conservatives.

But she struck a different note when asked to rule out a pact with Labour.

'We're not thinking about what happens the day after the polling day, we're determined to win over the trust and support of as many voters as possible between now and 10pm on polling day.'
A New York City liquor store owner has been charged after shooting a thief who attacked him inside his store, sparking fury with his union.

Francisco Valerio, 53, is alleged to have caught two suspects stealing a bottle of Ciroc vodka inside Franja Wines and Liquors in Ridgewood, Queens, on Monday.

Valerio and his brother Luis are said to have grabbed the suspects Edwin Poaquiza and Kevin Pullatasi, both 20, and shoved them towards the door of the store.

The four then spilled onto the street outside with Poaquiza and Pullatasi then said to have engaged in a heated dispute with the brothers before leaving.

Poaquiza and Pullatasi then ran back towards the store, with Pullatasi throwing kicks and punches at the men, according to officials.

Valerio is then said to have took a swing at Pullatasi with his gun, which fired, hitting Pullatasi in the abdomen, according to the Queens District Attorneys Office, which could see Valerio spend seven years behind bars.

Valerio, top right, is then said to have took a swing at Pullatasi with his gun, which fired, hitting Pullatasi in the abdomen. Pullatasi is seen here on the ground after being shot

Surveillance footage captured inside and outside of the store shows the incident unfold, with Pullatasi stumbling to the ground after the shot was fired.

In court on Tuesday, Valerio was arraigned on charges of assault in the second and third degrees, reckless endangerment in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

Judge Anthony Battisti ordered Valerio, who has a license for the pistol, to return to court July 29.

While Poaquiza was arraigned on a charge petit larceny, he was ordered to return to court next month and faces up to 364 days behind bars.

Pullatasi was taken to a local hospital where he is being treated for internal bleeding, with criminal charges against him still pending, according to the DA's office.

District Attorney Melinda Katz said: 'Two crimes, inside and outside a liquor store, resulted in three people being charged in this case.

'As alleged, brazen thieves stole merchandise from a neighborhood liquor shop.

'After the store was targeted by these shoplifters, the stolen merchandise was recovered and the two men were escorted out of the store.

'At that point, the store owner was physically attacked by one of the men. Unfortunately, as alleged, that led to a reckless shooting by the store owner on a public street in broad daylight.

'All three of the defendants in this incident will have to answer charges against them.'

The United Bodegas of America released a statement asking for the charges against Valerio, seen here with his wife Jael, to be dropped

Valerio and his brother Luis are said to have grabbed the suspects Edwin Poaquiza and Kevin Pullatasi, both 20, and shoved them towards the door of the store

The United Bodegas of America released a statement asking for the charges against Valerio to be dropped.

Group President Radahmes Rodriguez said: 'We are threatened, robbed, assaulted and looted every day, and the bad guys get away with it.

'They are freed without bail and nothing ever happens to them. When we fight back, we are jailed and in some cases prosecuted. This must stop.'

Outside the store earlier this week, brother Miguel Valerio said they had dealt with Poaquiza and Pullatasi before and are repeat offenders.

He said: 'We are dealing with these guys all the time. All the time we ask them to leave, this time was different.

His wife Jael added: 'If he has to go to jail I don't know what the kids are going to do. He's one of the good ones.'

Fernando Mateo, spokesman for the group, added: 'We are once again asking DA Melinda Katz to drop the charges.

'Mr. Valerio is an honorable man in society, this should not change his life.'

Outside the store earlier this week, brother Miguel Valerio said they had dealt with Poaquiza and Pullatasi before and are repeat offenders

Valerio is alleged to have caught the two suspects hiding a bottle of Ciroc vodka into their jackets inside Franja Wines and Liquors

Israel Ruiz, who lives just a block away from the store, said it was a disgrace that Valerio has been charged by the DA's Office.

He told DailyMail.com: I have lived in this neighborhood since 1978 and nothing like this has ever happened before.

Its a disgrace that Francisco has been charged by the DA. Unfortunately the gun went off, it happens.

You have a right to defend yourself. I would have done exactly the same thing- Im a Vietnam veteran.

I know the owner hes a nice guy, the people that run the store are good people everyone knows them.

They arent the type of people who just hurt people. I think the DA should drop the charges, its not fair. Guys like that are messing up for everyone in the country.

Alba was famously charged by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg but was freed after widespread public outrage

Alba was released from Rikers Island after his bail was lowered from $250,000 to $50,000

In July of 2022, Jose Alba was freed and had his charges dropped after he stabbed a career criminal to death in self-defense.

Alba was arrested for stabbing Austin Simon after he charged into the Harlem bodega where he worked and attacked him.

Alba had refused to open a tab for his girlfriend, who couldn't pay for a bag of chips. He was charged with second-degree murder.

Alba was famously charged by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg but was freed after widespread public outrage. He gave up on New York afterwards, moving to the Dominican Republic.

Mayor Eric Adams offered his support for Alba at the time, declaring him to be a 'hard-working New Yorker' who was just 'doing his job, and someone aggressively went behind the counter to attack him'.

Earlier this year, former President Donald Trump visited the same bodega in Hamilton Heights as he met with the new owners.
The ex-husband of an Australian mother of five who is facing the death penalty in Taiwan after she was allegedly caught with a stash of cocaine hidden in her suitcase has claimed the pair are innocent and that they were set up by drug traffickers.

Debbie Voulgaris, 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after the drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her luggage.

Taiwanese police allege she was carrying 15lbs of the drug, which - they say - she initially 'vehemently denied' having any knowledge of.

She later claimed her ex-husband John was behind the scheme, police say.

But speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, Mr Voulgaris angrily denounced the allegations, saying his ex-wife is 'innocent' and 'we have been set up'.

Debbie Voulgaris, 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after the drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her luggage

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, John Voulgaris (pictured) angrily denounced the allegations, saying his ex-wife is 'innocent' and 'we have been set up'

'She is bl**dy innocent!' he raged. 'We have been set up! We don't know anything about bloody drugs and have never seen or touched them in our lives!'

Mr Voulgaris, who runs a home loan company, said he and his ex-wife were scammed by criminals posing as overseas investors.

He said he first met the group 16 years ago and had even attended a bank with them in Taiwan in 2007 as part of their business proceedings.

Over the years, they remained in contact. However, he said their solicitor recently got in touch with a new proposal.

'All we were doing was an overseas investment,' he said.

'They wanted to invest. I sent $3million out of my money. When I found out [about her arrest], I tried to get in contact with them but they switched off their phones.

'She hasn't done anything wrong!'

Ms Voulgaris's lawyer Leon Huang said earlier that it was 'essential' for Mr Voulgaris to take the stand as he was the only person who could confirm her claims.

Voulgaris was allegedly handed the category one drugs in Malaysia around December 10 before she flew to Taiwan, the ABC reported.

The Aussie mum was allegedly paid $US1,800 (1,400) to take the drugs in addition to her accommodation and transport costs.

The drugs had a street value of about $1.25million (1 million) according to Chen Po-chuan, the captain of Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Brigade.

Under Taiwan's strict legal system, capital punishment remains legal - despite repeal attempts. The death penalty can be imposed for a long list of crimes, including murder, treason, terrorism, extreme cases of rape and robbery, and drug trafficking.

Although Taiwan has studied other methods of execution, such as the lethal injection, executions are today carried out by shootings using a handgun.

Condemned prisoners are sedated and put face down on a mattress and shot three times through the heart. If the prisoner has opted to donate their internal organs, then they are instead executed by a single bullet to the back of the head.

Even if she is not handed the death penalty, the mother is facing minimum of five years behind bars, but could also be looking at life in prison.

Mr Po-chaun said Voulgaris told authorities she Ms Voulgaris in Taiwan for a holiday.

He said officers had been sent to her hotel to see if anyone came to collect the drugs, but no one had arrived.

Voulgaris has been detained in a Taiwanese prison since her arrest.

Her lawyer Leon Huang said his client was a 'good-natured person' who 'believed people easily' and had been used as a drug 'mule'.

'Based on her description it appeared that number one, Ms Debbie Voulgaris was not aware of the nature of her travelling,' Mr Huang said.

'And number two, she had no idea of what's placed inside and under her luggage, because there is a hidden compartment and she wasn't aware of that.'

Mr Huang said that because his client had admitted guilt early, while still maintaining she didn't know about the drugs, she may avoid the death penalty.

'If the court finds someone worthy of sympathy, like Debbie's case, typically, they would not want to offer the option of death sentence,' he said.

Taoyuan District Prosecutors alleged Voulgaris was part of a 'drug transport syndicate' in documents submitted to a Taiwanese court.

Debbie Voulgaris, 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her luggage

'Although the defendant confessed to the crime during the court's preparatory proceedings, it is noted that she had previously vehemently denied the crime during the investigation and detention interrogation by this court, and her statements have been inconsistent,' the documents state.

'Notably, the defendant claimed that the co-conspirator, John, who instructed her to bring category one narcotics to Taiwan, is her ex-husband, indicating a close relationship.

'The defendant and her lawyer requested that John be summoned to testify during the preparatory proceedings, implying that there remains a risk of collusion with John before his testimony.'

In Taiwan, category one drugs refer to heroin, morphine, opium, cocaine, and their derivative products.

John's exact whereabouts are currently unclear. Mr Huang said that the legal team was seeking to subpoena him.

Voulgaris has been denied visits from family members but can be visited by her legal team and officials from the Australian Office in Taipei.

An application for her release was denied in March, with judges Cai Yirong and Hou Jingyun ruling there was substantial evidence she was a flight risk.

Her lawyers had argued their client hadn't spoken with family in three months, was struggling to adapt to Chinese food and could not speak Chinese.

However, the judges ruled these were 'not factors to be considered when determining the necessity of detention'.

'It is noted that the defendant's daughter is aware of John's contact information, therefore it cannot be ruled out that the defendant could use her daughter to contact John, making this request [for contact] ungrantable,' they said.

Voulgaris will next appear in court in August. She could face the death penalty or life in prison if found guilty or a minimum of five years behind bars.

However, the chances she receives the death penalty are unlikely after Taiwan's Constitutional Court ruled last August that imposing a life sentence or the death penalty for drug offences is partly unconstitutional.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said a detained Australian woman in Taiwan was receiving consular assistance.

A change.org petition for Voulgaris's release has received 3,000 signatures.

'Anyone who knows her or has met her, understands the pure, kind heart she has,' the author of the petition wrote.

'She is a mother to five children and she could be facing a death penalty or life in prison. Please sign the petition to help towards the freedom of an innocent, pure-hearted mother.'

Authorities allegedly discovered 7kg of cocaine and heroine inside her luggage (pictured)

On April 23 this year, Taiwan's constitutional court debated debated the death penalty and whether it was compatible with the country's constitution.

This was after rights groups Amnesty International and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty challenged the constitutionality of the practice in the country.

When the challenge was brought forward in 2023, Eeling Chiu, Director of Amnesty International Taiwan, said: 'This historic challenge to the constitutionality of the death penalty in Taiwan is an opportunity not to be missed.

'The death penalty is a violation of human rights and human dignity and must be consigned to the history books once and for all. The protection of human rights cannot be compromised on.'

According to Focus Taiwan, the debate this year lasted five hours.

Attorneys representing both sides covered several topics, including whether the death penalty violates the right to life and equality, the principle of proportionality - as well as the United Nations' treaty on civil rights.

Three justices recused themselves from the case, leaving 12. They are expected to make a judgement in July, the news outlet reported.

Although there is a long list under Taiwan law of crimes punishable by the death penalty, all executions in the country since the early 2000s have been for murder.

Prior to 2000, Taiwan had a relatively high rate of executions, but controversial cases in the 1990s and changing attitudes towards capital punishment have seen the number of executions come down since the turn of the century.

Three were carried out in 2005, and then none were carried out between 2006 and 2009. Executions resumed in 2010, with 35 being carried out since.

Amnesty International said in 2023 that no executions have been carried out in the country since 2020.

However, according to the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, 49 people are currently under the sentence of death.

According to a study in the Asian Journal of Criminology, around 80 percent of the Taiwanese public support the use of capital punishment.

The execution process involves some of the most senior Taiwanese officials.

A judicial execution requires a final sentence from Taiwan's supreme court and a warrant of execution signed by the Minister of Justice - who also issues a final and secret execution date.

Once the warrant is issued, the prisoner must be executed within three days.

If new evidence comes to light, or evidence of a procedural flaw, then the execution date may be delayed. However, this has only ever happened once.

Taiwan's president can also award clemency, but again, this is rare.

Death row prisoners are known to be kept in conditions that are harsher than those in general population. It is believed they are no longer shackled for 24 hours, as was once the case, but they are only allowed out of their cells for 30 minutes a day.

Voulgaris was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport (pictured, file photo) in December. There is no suggestion that those pictured are involved in the suspected crime

Executions take place at 7.30pm and are performed in secret. Nobody is informed of the date, including the condemned.

When the time comes, they are brought to the execution range where the prisoner's identity is confirmed by a special court, which can also record any last words.

The prisoner is then served a last meal, which usually includes a bottle of kaoliang wine, before a strong anaesthetic is administered to cause unconsciousness.

The prisoner is then laid flat on the ground and shot, either through the heart or - if they are an organ doner - through the brain stem under their ear. It is tradition for the condemned to place a banknote in their leg irons as a tip for the executioners.
An 83-year-old grandmother who dumped the Egyptian toyboy lover less than half her age has set out to expose the 'scammers and con-artists' trying to fool women on dating sites.

Iris Jones, 83, who previously tied the knot with Mohamed Ibrahim, 37, before dumping him three years later, has issued a stark warning to her social media followers.

In a Facebook post, Ms Jones said: 'A warning to all vulnerable women on-line, chatting to scammers and con-artists, thinking they are messaging genuine males on legitimate dating sites.

'Be aware that these criminals are only interested in getting their filthy paws on your money, and will sweet-talk you for weeks or even months in order to achieve their goal.

'I, myself have been targeted by four scammers in the last few months and regard myself now as a competent scam hunter!'

Iris Jones (right) tied the knot with Mohamed Ibrahim (left) in 2020 and assured critics, including those in her family, that their relationship would last

Last year it emerged Ms Jones (right) had thrown him out of her home near Weston-super-Mare

The pensioner posted the email she sent to the most recent scammer for the 'perusal' of her followers.

The email read: 'Lets cut to the chase shall we, you evil snivelling gobshite?

'For the length of time youve been trying to con me out of $3,500, I have been deceiving you with a carefully prepared script, which has had me in fits of laughter, because you swallowed every word I said!

'You see, you pig-faced moron, you picked on the wrong woman this time, because I make it my business to expose scammers such as you and your ilk.

'I have really enjoyed being the puppet master, having you dance to my tune.

'It only remains for me to say that I am delighted that you exited my life EMPTY-HANDED!!!! Tootle-pip, sunshine.'

Ms Jones has had her fair share of scammers.

In early 2020, Ms Jones raised eyebrows when she appeared with Holly and Phil on This Morning  reducing them to hysterics.

The pensioner opened up about her first night of passion with Mr Ibrahim after she travelled to Egypt to meet him.

The couple married in November 2020 and they spent almost two years apart before Mr Ibrahim was finally granted a visa which allowed him to move into Ms Jones's bungalow.

Soon after Ms Jones dumped Mr Ibrahim he moved onto another woman.

He started dating mother-of-11 Angela Rogers, 61, after he won her over with supermarket flowers.

Ms Rogers initially reached out to see how Mr Ibrahim was doing in the aftermaths of his break-up and he told her he was 'lonely and depressed' on a video call.

She said he showered her with compliments, telling her she was beautiful and asking to meet up in person.

Ms Rogers, who had been single for 14 years, told the toyboy that he could come and stay in her spare room, but admitted: 'He's the biggest mistake I ever made.'

In early 2020, Iris raised eyebrows when she appeared with Holly and Phil on This Morning  reducing them to hysterics  as she opened up about their first night of passion

Soon after her interview on This Morning the couple married in November 2020

They spent almost two years apart before Mr Ibrahim (right) was finally granted a visa which allowed him to move into Ms Jones's bungalow in Weston-super-Mare

'He's a freeloader who clearly has a thing about older women. I don't want to see him hurting anyone else.'

Mr Ibrahim travelled 225 miles on the train from Somerset to Leeds where he picked Ms Rogers up, swung her round and told her she was his 'Queen'.

He proceeded to buy her flowers and grapes from Marks & Spencer before cooking her up a Spaghetti Bolognese at her flat.

Despite planning to have him stay in the spare room, Ms Rogers admitted that he ended up in her bed where they had the 'best sex'.

Mr Ibrahim is said to have proposed to his new girlfriend on a foot-bridge over the A64 York Road in Leeds just five weeks after they started dating.

Although Ms Rogers declined, this did not put Mr Ibrahim off, proposing a second time without ever buying her a ring.

This relationship sadly ended when Ms Rogers - who splashed out 5,000 on her younger beau - dumped Mr Ibrahim after she caught him messaging a 69-year-old widow.

Ms Rogers claims that he never offered to pay for anything and that she would fund his clothes, trainers, aftershave, bus fares and meals among other luxuries.

He also allegedly asked her for 800 to pay for his divorce from Ms Jones but she refused to hand him the money.

But she did give him 550 after he told her his father was ill and he needed to visit him in Egypt.

He later told her that his dad had made a miraculous recovery and promptly returned to the UK.

Ms Rogers is determined to find out the truth about why Mr Ibrahim married Ms Jones and why he used both elderly women.

She fears that Mr Ibrahim is using women to extend his visa, which runs out in June.

Soon after Ms Jones dumped Mr Ibrahim (right) he moved onto another woman and started dating mother-of-11 Angela Rogers (left) after he won her over with supermarket flowers

This relationship sadly ended when Ms Rogers (right) - who splashed out 5,000 on her younger beau - dumped Mr Ibrahim (left) after she caught him messaging a 69-year-old widow

Mr Ibrahim has since accused Ms Rogers of trying to gain fame by associating with his name and in a video on social media said: 'I moved to the north after I separated with this woman for a few weeks. But I'm back again in my area.'

In another he told women to 'leave me alone'.

He said: 'Some idiots, some trollers want to be famous on my back.

'This message is for all women and girls who follow me. Leave me alone.'
Former President Donald Trump went after the FBI for rummaging through son Barron's 'private quarters' during the 2022 Mar-a-Lago raid and floated that federal agents wanted a gun battle with the ex-president's Secret Service detail.

Trump made the claims in an overnight post Thursday on Truth Social, expanding on the unfounded and shocking assertion he had made Tuesday - that President Joe Biden was 'locked & loaded ready to take me out.'

The conspiracy theory grew out of language included in a document outlining the legal parameters for the FBI's search for classified materials taken from the White House and stowed at Trump's Florida estate and social club.

In Trump's late night post he talked about getting Secret Service protection after his historic 2016 Victory against "Beautiful" Hillary Clinton.'

'Shockingly, however, Crooked Joe Biden's Department of Injustice authorized the use of "deadly force" in their Illegal, UnConstitutional, and Un-American RAID of Mar-a-Lago, and that would include against our Great Secret Service, who they thought might be "in the line of fire,"' Trump claimed.

Former President Donald Trump (left) went after the FBI for rummaging through son Barron's (right) 'private quarters' during the 2022 Mar-a-Lago raid and floated that federal agents wanted a gun battle with the ex-president's Secret Service detail

Trump made the claims in an overnight post Thursday on Truth Social , expanding on the unfounded and shocking assertion he had made Tuesday - that President Joe Biden was 'locked & loaded ready to take me out'

Documents seized during the August 2022 FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago. This week Trump falsely claimed that language in the force limiting document actually meant that the FBI was trying to assassinate him

'As I told Crooked Joe's DOJ, if they needed anything, "all they had to do was ask,"' the ex-president continued. 'They did not have to ILLEGALLY AND UNCONSTITUTIONALLY RAID my home, and rummage through my family's, including Barron's, private quarters.'

He then ended the Truth post by using all-caps: 'END THESE THIRD WORLD WITCH HUNTS, AND MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!'

Attorney General Merrick Garland was asked about Trump's assassination claims Thursday at a press conference on an unrelated matter.

'That allegation is false,' Garland said. 'And it is extremely dangerous.'

'The document that is being referred to in the allegation is the Justice Department's standard policy limiting the use of force,' the Biden appointee continued. 'As the FBI advises, it is part of a standard operations plan for searches and, in fact, it was even used in the consensual search of President Biden's home.'

Trump's wild assassination claim came the same week that Judge Aileen Cannon reconvened lawyers in the ex-president's classified documents case since indefinitely postponing the trial.

In court on Wednesday, Cannon schooled prosecutor David Harbach, a member of special counsel Jack Smith's team.

At the same time, prosecutors working for special counsel Jack Smith and Trump aide Walt Nauta and his attorney were back in court in front of the Trump appointed Judge Aileen Cannon discussing the classified documents case

Trump aide Walt Nauta (left) departs court with defense attorney Stanley Woodward (right). Woodward says there has been prosecutorial misconduct in the case, alleging special counsel Jack Smith's team suggested that Woodward wouldn't be appointed to the judicial bench unless Nauta, his client, cooperated

'I'm going to have to ask that you calm down,' Cannon, a Trump appointee, told Harback, according to Politico.

Cannon had asked Harbach if prosecutors had withheld evidence of an August 2022 meeting with defense lawyer Stanley Woodward, who is representing Trump aide Walt Nauta, charged with obstructing the government's classified documents probe.

While also having Nauta as a client, Woodward was up for a judicial appointment, which would be made by Democratic President Joe Biden.

Woodward contends that during the August 2022 meeting with prosecutor Jay Bratt, Bratt implied that Woodward would not be appointed to the judicial branch unless Nauta cooperated in the Trump classified documents case.

Harbach argued in court Wednesday that Woodward bringing up the meeting was part of a 'garbage argument' to try and get charges against Nauta dismissed.

The prosecutor added that Woodward's version of the meeting was a 'fantasy' that 'did not happen,' Politico said.

Cannon made no decisions this week on whether there was prosecutorial misconduct in Nauta's case, nor did she make any decisions on whether other charges should be dropped due to technical issues.
Rail Minister Huw Merriman became the latest Tory big-hitter to announce they are walking away at the general election amid fears over the part's chances of winning.

Huw Merriman confirmed he would not contest Bexhill and Battle, the East Sussex seat he has held since 2015.

He is one of four Tories to step down today, meaning 69 have now said they will not seek re-election.

Among them is also Dame Eleanor Laing, one of the Deputy Speakers of the House of Commons and a former shadow minister, who has been MP for Epping Forest in Essex since 1997.

They join a number of senior Conservatives who are stepping away from frontline politics on July 4 amid fears hundreds of Conservative MPs could lose their seats.

They include ex-PM Theresa May and three former chancellors, Sajid Javid, Nadhim Zahawi and Kwasi Kwarteng.

Dominic Raab, the former deputy prime minister and foreign secretary has also far decided not to contest the election.

COP26 president Sir Alok Sharma, current Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and ex-health secretary Matt Hancock - now an independent are also passing on the political baton.

More than 100 from across all parties have already decided to bow out. And with MPs now having only until June 7 to decide whether they will stand or not, all eyes will be on the remaining big beasts to see whether they will fight or flee.

Many Tories in marginal seats the North and Midlands have already decided to stand down rather than risk being defeated. But a large number of MPs in more affluent seats in the South are also calling it a day.

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Huw Merriman confirmed he would not contest Bexhill and Battle, the East Sussex seat he has held since 2015.

Dame Eleanor Laing, one of the Deputy Speakers of the Commons, became the latest to step down this afternoon, confirming she would not contest her Epping Forest seat in Essex.

Mr Merriman did not specify a reason for his departure but thanked his staff, local Conservative association and the Prime Minister, and paid tribute to his constituency.

In a letter posted on X, he wrote: 'I wish my successor well in their role as Member of Parliament.

'To both the next MP for Bexhill and Battle and to a future rail minister: if these roles bring even half the amount of happiness as they have brought me, then it will make you very proud.'

In a transport-themed sign-off, he added: 'Thank you to all of the amazing people I have met on my journey. I will miss everything but, as I sit in the political departure lounge, I am looking forward to a new journey (whatever that might be).'

Suffolk MP Jo Churchill and Leigh's James Grundy also quit today. Mr Grundy became the first non-Labour MP for the seat in Greater Manchester in a century in 2019.

In a statement on his website he said: 'I have spoken before about the death threats aimed at my elderly parents after the Gaza debate, seen a colleague murdered, seen another have his office burned down and others either stepping down or changing constituencies due to harassment and abuse, to give just some examples during this Parliament.

Theresa May and former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi are standing down in July

Former senior ministers Dominic Raab and Sajid Javid are also quitting

'This not healthy for our national politics and needs to change, and with that in mind I have decided not to seek re-election.'

On the other side, Mother of the House Harriet Harman, 73, is the most experienced of some 20 Labour MPs to be standing down.

The group also includes ex-Foreign Secretary Dame Margaret Beckett and ex-Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw.

Labour's deputy chief whip Holly Lynch became the 103rd MP to announce her decision not to contest her seat last night.

Nine SNP MPs announced they will not contest their seats, along with seven independents, two from Sinn Fein, one from Plaid Cymru and the Green Party's sole MP, Caroline Lucas.

The future of some legislators is still unknown.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been barred from standing for the party in his Islington North seat, but has not yet announced whether he will run as an independent.

Ahead of the 2019 election, 74 MPs chose not to contest their seats again.
A tin of corned beef has been spotted on a supermarket shelf locked inside a secure case amid a shoplifting epidemic that has seen retailers increasingly fitting security tags to everyday essentials.

The Princes canned meat was also priced at a whopping 4.15 at a Co-Op store in Catford, south east London.

Shocked shopper George Dibb posted a photo of the item onto his social media, which sparked comments from equally surprised consumers over the security measures needed, as well as the price of the meat.

The tinned meat is just the latest in a range of supermarket products that have been subject to additional security, including coffee, energy shots, cheese and baby formula as shoplifting levels have surged during the cost-of-living crisis.

New figures released last month reveal that shoplifting has risen to the highest levels on record.

Shopper George Dibb was shocked to see a tin of corned beef locked inside a secure box at a Co-Op in Catford, South London - as well as being priced at a whopping 4.15

George Dibb posted the bleak photograph of the corned beef with a security tag and added: 'The economy has turned a corner'

Posting the photograph on X, formerly known as Twitter, George Dibb wrote: 'The economy has turned a corner.'

Other customers were left stunned by George's find.

Alex Eccleston stated: 'Thank God my grandma didn't live to see corned beef in a cage for four quid.'

Matt Bryan added: 'When I left England five years ago I was getting that for 1.'

One other shopper said: 'This used to be poor man's food.'

Another added: 'Almost as salty as the prices.'

One other shopper stated: 'Corned beef used to be a struggle meal.'

Another questioned: 'How is wartime ration food this expensive?

'They had to gaslight the nation into thinking this was good during times of poverty so they wouldn't miss fresh, real food.'

Co-Op has been approached for a comment.

New data on shoplifting, released in April, showed a total of 430,104 offences were recorded by police in the year to December 2023, up by more than a third (37%) from 315,040 in the previous 12 months.

The figure is the highest since current records began in the year to March 2003, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

A Tesco branch in Theydon Bois, Essex, has slapped security tags on shopping baskets

This security-protected bar of Dairy Milk Wholenut was seen at a Co-op in Codsall in Staffordshire

The low-fat Cathedral City cheddar was in a security box on the shelf at a Tesco Express in Dalston next to other cheese, which had security tag stickers on

Industry leaders have called on the police to help retailers crack down on shoplifters and tackle unprecedented levels of theft.

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) chief executive James Lowman said: 'The unprecedented levels of shop theft being faced by retailers cannot be allowed to continue.

'We have set out a three-pronged approach for police forces across the UK to adopt and make it clear that they are committed to tackling the problem.

'Theft and abuse are a blight on communities, with addicts and criminal gangs repeatedly targeting hardworking retailers and their colleagues.

'These are not victimless crimes, and they must be investigated to bring the most prolific offenders to justice.'

Chicken for sale in a Tesco Express was seen with security marking that will set off an alarm if shoppers try to steal the item

A recent study found 54.4 per cent of shoplifting involved supermarkets, with Co-op the worst affected, ahead of Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Aldi.

The John Lewis group, which includes the supermarket Waitrose, recently put its shoplifting losses at 12million.

Both Home Secretary Suella Braverman and policing minister Chris Philp have already called on police to be tougher on shoplifting.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's second attempt to revive a border security bill failed spectacularly Thursday as even more Democrats joined Republicans to kill his effort.

The liberal leader was trying to alleviate pressure on his more vulnerable Democrat colleagues whose constituents are upset by Biden's border policies, which have ushered in record illegal immigration.

But his plan backfired as Democrats joined Republicans to shoot down the effort in a 43 to 50 vote.

In many states, immigration is the top issue for voters, who say that the additional 10 million migrants who have entered under Biden - dubbed by the White House as 'newcomers' - are straining the states.

Republicans, meanwhile, have maintained that Biden does not need new laws to secure the border and point to the 94 executive actions he took to reverse Trump's border policies.

President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., arrive in New York

But Biden and the White House have refused to take executive action to secure the border, with Press Sec. Karine Jean-Pierre incredulously responded to reporters 'Why should he?'

The measure was brought back up after it failed in February, when the GOP - at the direction of Donald Trump - tanked it for having inadequate border security reforms.

But Schumer will get a silver lining from the border bill burnout: He, and his fellow Democrats, get to tell their voters they tried.

Whether that message will be well received by voters is another question entirely.

The measure would have provided $22.5 billion for border security measures and was negotiated by Senate Republicans and Democrats for months before being unveiled in February.

The Border Act would reform U.S. asylum laws, hire thousands of border agents and seek to curtail fentanyl smuggling, among other measures, according to Schumer's office.

The bill would have provided $2.3 billion in refugee assistance inside the U.S. and $20.2 billion for improvements to U.S. border security.

Sen. Chuck Schumer has said that President Joe Biden needs additional laws passed to be able to effectively address the immigration issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

Firefighters (from L) Rodrigo Pineda, William Dorsey and Lt. Julio Valdes of the Eagle Pass Fire Department recover a body from the Rio Grande river on March 1, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. Eagle Pass Fire and EMS assisted with a body recovery of a suspected drowned migrant. The Fire Department has seen an increase in calls for assistance from Border Patrol as the number of migrants crossing has steadily gone up in the area

Asylum seekers walk for their asylum interview appointment with US authorities at the El Chaparral crossing port in Tijuana, Mexico

Groups of migrants of different nationalities arrive at the Rio Grande, to cross it and surrender to the American authorities

But earlier in the week before flatlining the pulse of the borer bill, Republicans insisted the status quo would be more effective than the Border Act.

'This bill is worse than doing nothing,' Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said of the bill Wednesday.

He and a group of other Republicans explained their case against the bill at a press conference hosted by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.

'It is not a border, and it is not a border security bill,' she said at the Wednesday presser.

'This is an election year political stunt designed to give our Democratic colleagues the appearance of doing something about the problem without doing anything at all.'

'We are a nation of law and order, and yet the Biden administration has allowed over 10 million illegal aliens to flood our border that's higher than the populations of seven major US cities, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, la Knoxville, Memphis Nashville, combined,' she continued.

She and her colleagues made it clear: Reviving the already beaten-down border bill is just an attempt to give campaign fodder to Senate Democrats at risk of losing their seats in Congress.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn is seen during a news conference on Capitol Hill on May 22, 2024 in Washington, DC. Senate Democrats have revived the bipartisan border bill that was already blocked once earlier this year

Blackburn and a cohort of Republican lawmakers claimed the revival of the bill was an election year stunt to give vulnerable Senate Democrats something to campaign on

'Whether it's John Tester, or any other the Democrats that are up for [reelection] in purple states, the American people are going to hold them accountable,' Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said at the event.

Sens. John Tester, D-Mont., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Bob Casey, D-Pa., Jack Rosen, D-Ne., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., are all thought to be in trouble with voters in their states over immigration.

In May 2023, House Republicans passed a border bill that they believe would appropriately address what they claim is a 'border crisis,' but that measure, H.R.2, has not been touched by the Democrat-controlled upper chamber.

Trying to explain the difference to voters, Schumer said Wednesday on the Senate floor 'Tomorrow, Senators face an important decision: will both sides come together to advance a bipartisan border security bill, or will partisanship get in the way yet again?'

'Unlike H.R. 2, a very partisan bill, this bipartisan bill was written with the goal of getting sixty votes in the Senate. It had input from both Republicans and Democrats. H.R. 2 cant claim that. It was totally put together by Republicans, and got virtually no Democratic support,' the New York Democrat added.

But Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., later shot down those claims in his floor remarks.

'The American people aren't fooled. They know the president's summary reversal on common sense border authorities is what started the crisis,' he said Wednesday.

A migrant with a child crosses the Rio Grande river from Mexico into Texas

A caravan wades past a string of buoys, being constructed to deter migrants crossings through the Rio Grande river, as they look for an opening in the concertina wire to enter into the U.S.

'And they know the solution is not cynical senate theater.'

'The solution is a president who's willing to exercise authority to use the tools we already have at his disposal and to start cleaning up this mess,' McConnell continued.

'If Senate Democrats wanted to start fixing the crisis tomorrow, they would be urging the president to do exactly that.'

Earlier that day, Democrats blocked consideration of Sen. John Barrasso's, R-Wyo., Build The Wall Act, which would have finished construction on a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border using unspent COVID-19 pandemic funds.

'Democrats in this body have done nothing to secure the border. Theyve done nothing to stop the flood of illegal immigrants,' Barrasso said Wednesday.
A baby mauled by a 'pocket bully' dog suffered a fractured skull - as the court in South Wales heard the owner 'will have to deal with this for rest of her life'.

The dog - which was a cross between an American bully and a Patterdale terrier- also fractured the child's cheekbone in the attack in Caerphilly last year.

A woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control causing injury.

Newport Magistrates' Court heard how the baby was mauled by the dog - which had not previously been aggressive - after the woman failed to properly shut a baby gate.

Prosecutor Dave Thomas said that the baby was left with permanent scarring after the attack and needed surgery within hours of the incident to remove pieces of skull.

Newport Magistrates' Court (pictured) heard how the baby was mauled by the dog - which had not previously been aggressive - after the woman failed to properly shut a baby gate

The dog - which was a cross between an American bully and a Patterdale terrier- also fractured the child's cheekbone in the attack in Caerphilly last year. Pictured: File pic of an American Bully

'I think the child is making good progress now,' he added.

The court heard that the dog had not previously displayed aggressive behaviour and that the woman could not have reasonably foreseen the incident.

Ed Mitchard, defending, said the woman had been guilty of a 'momentary lapse' and 'will have to deal with this for the rest of her life.'

He said that the woman was a fit and proper person to be in charge of a dog.

'There is nothing to rehabilitate here,' he said.

District Judge Charlotte Murphy told the woman that 'it was clearly a tragic accident.'

Judge Murphy added: 'You had a lapse in concentration and it has had tragic consequences which you will have to live with for the rest of your life.

'The dog had never given cause for concern before, and it had never been aggressive or shown concerning behaviour.'

The judge imposed a 200 fine, 80 victim services surcharge and 35 in prosecution costs.

The pocket bully dog involved in the attack has also since been put down.

The attack happened in Caerphilly - where in recent years there have been two fatal dog attacks and police have seized 18 dogs over fears of illegal breeding.

Jack Lis (pictured) who was mauled to death by an XL Bully dog

Grandmother Shirley Patrick, 83 who died two weeks after being savaged by a dog

Great-great grandmother Shirley Patrick, 83, and schoolboy Jack Lis, 10, were killed by XL Bully breeds just streets away from each other and one year apart.

The baby, who has not been named, was injured just half a mile away.

Jack's mother Emma Whitfield, 34, campaigned for changes in the law on breeding and selling dogs.

A UK government ban came in response to an increase of injuries and death from dog attacks - with some linked to XL Bullies.

The government ban on American XL Bully dogs in England and Wales came into force on December 31, 2023.

Since February, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully without an exemption certificate.
A Pennsylvania father is demanding answers after a fourth grade student 'threw' his 5-year-old son 'headfirst into a table' leaving him with a gash and missing teeth.

Stephen Callahan's video about the alleged attack went viral on TikTok last week as he slammed Keystone Elementary School for failing to monitor the child and refusing to share footage of the incident with him.

Callahan said his son Grayson was attacked by a student with special needs in the school cafeteria on May 16 while the student's teacher was 'not paying attention'.

Grayson was taken to the hospital with a deep gash on his forehead and missing teeth and is now 'too scared to go to school', according to his father.

He said: 'A teacher's aide who works with special needs students in the county was not paying attention, and not handling the child she was supposed to and a fourth-grade special needs student attacked my son.'

Stephen Callahan said his son Grayson was attacked by a student with special needs in the school cafeteria while the student's teacher was 'not paying attention'

Callahan said the school called his wife to tell her their child had been involved in an accident.

He rushed to the school to find Grayson where he said teachers repeatedly told him 'it was an accident', but wouldn't give him any details.

They rushed the boy to hospital with a long cut to his forehead and missing teeth.

Later Callahan spoke to the school principal Mark Wilicki and demanded to know what had happened.

He said Wilicki told him a 'special needs student grabbed my son by the back and threw him headfirst into a table which caused all the damage to the face.'

The incident was caught by a surveillance camera, but Callahan said the school have refused to share the video with him, despite his doctors asking to see it.

Callahan shared an update on TikTok on Sunday saying: 'The situation keeps getting uglier and uglier.

'At the end of the day I need answers. There is no reason a fourth-grader should be around my son.'

Callahan is now pursuing legal action against the school, but made it clear that he does not think the child or the child's parents are to blame.

Grayson was taken to hospital with a deep gash on his forehead and missing teeth and is now 'too scared to go to school', according to his father

The family's lawyer David Langsam told Fox News Digital: 'It's probably the most disconcerting thing to take your children to a place where they're supposed to learn, where they're supposed to be safe and then get a call that something as horrible as this has happened to them.'

He added: 'While the physical injuries are bad, obviously, the emotional injuries, its going to take some time to really understand the extent of them, and they very well may dramatically trump what happened to him physically.'

The Bristol Township School District said they are investigating the incident.

They said: 'On Thursday, May 16, a Keystone Elementary Kindergarten student was injured when he was pushed in the cafeteria by a 4th grade student from a special education program run by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU).

'We are apologetic to the student and family, and wish the child a speedy recovery. Our primary concern is the health and safety of all our students, and whenever a student is hurt in school, we are saddened.'
A judge in Spain has closed a case against three regional police officers who blinded a young woman after firing projectiles during a protest in 2021.

The magistrate concluded that the fault lied with the unnamed woman, who was 19 at the time of her injury, for having 'put herself in danger', after attending a protest, stating that she must 'bear the consequences', according to Spanish news outlet ABC.

The woman was injured during clashes in Barcelona between police and demonstrators in February 2021, who were protesting against the imprisonment of rapper Pablo Hasel.

Catalan human rights group Iridia had stated that the injury was caused by a foam-tipped projectile.

However, on Thursday Judge Joaquin Aguirre said that in the face of an 'illegal demonstration' which became 'increasingly tense', police officers were 'forced to use, with prior authorisation from the head of the operation, the rubber balls.'

Judge throws out case against a young woman who was injured while protesting against the imprisonment of musician Pablo Hasel, who was convicted in 2018 for glorifying terrorism, slander and libel after he attacked the monarchy and accused police of killing and torturing immigrants in a string of tweets

Woman is injured in the eye after being shot with a foam bullet by Barcelona police

The woman was protesting against the imprisonment of rapper Pablo Hasel, after he barricaded himself to avoid a jail sentence

'I have spent three years waiting for this judge to give a resolution to my case and the only thing he has done is indirectly blame the victim,' said the woman in an open letter on Thursday.

She maintained that she was a victim of police violence for attending a protest.

'I was just exercising my right to demonstrate and I ended up getting mutilated.'

'The funny thing is that for the judge my mutilation is considered fair because I exposed myself to it. Does that mean that it is not safe to go out on the streets to demonstrate?', she added.

This incident came after dozens of Spanish riot police stormed Lleida University in Catalonia and arrested Hasel, who had barricaded himself inside to avoid a controversial nine-month jail sentence.

The rapper, who is known for his radical leftist views, had locked himself inside the campus in Lerida, near Barcelona with over 50 supporters the previous day.

The musician was convicted in 2018 for glorifying terrorism, slander and libel after he attacked the monarchy and accused police of killing and torturing immigrants in a string of tweets.

After a 24-hour standoff between police and the rapper, riot police officers arrested Hasel and he was escorted out of Lleida University's rectorate building.

After a 24-hour standoff between police and the rapper, riot police officers arrested Hasel and he was escorted out of Lleida University's rectorate building

Dozens of Spanish riot police stormed a Catalan university and arrested rapper Pablo Hasel who had barricaded himself inside to avoid a controversial nine-month jail sentence

Hasel was found in 2018 to have encouraged violence and insulted the monarchy for his lyrics and tweets, which included references to banned guerrilla groups, compared a court to Nazis and called former king Juan Carlos a mafia capo.

His case sparked demonstrations in Madrid and Barcelona with his supporters protesting against the rapper's jailing.
Almost as many Afghan nationals arrived in the UK having made the dangerous Channel crossing as through the Government's legal routes in the year to March, the latest figures show.

There were 5,662 Afghan nationals coming to the UK having crossed the Channel in that period, plus 350 of what the Home Office described as inadequately documented air arrivals, making a total of 6,012 people.

Meanwhile, 6,042 Afghans were resettled in the same period under the schemes created by the department following the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in 2021.

A total of 1,854 of those came under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) - which is split into three pathways.

The number resettled under pathway one - for 'vulnerable and at-risk' people who arrived in the UK during the evacuation programme in 2021 and those who were eligible but not able to board a flight at that time - was down 91% year-on-year from 434 in the year ending March 2023, to 40 in the year ending March 2024.

The Government has previously pledged to establish a route for families who ended up being split apart when some were evacuated initially and loved ones left behind.

There were 5,662 Afghan nationals coming to the UK having crossed the Channel in that period, plus 350 of what the Home Office described as inadequately documented air arrivals (File image)

Afghans struggle to reach the foreign forces to show their credentials to flee the country outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul

Then-immigration minister Robert Jenrick said in October that a route related to pathway one would allow eligible individuals to refer one spouse or partner and dependent child for resettlement, and that the Government was aiming for referrals to that route in the first half of 2024 'if not sooner'.

Just yesterday, the Home Office bragged that it had achieved the 'biggest-ever cut' in legal migration.

Visa applications across key routes fell by a quarter in the first four months of 2024, which the Government claimed was owing to its tightening of visa and migrant employment laws.

Yet critics pointed out that record numbers were making illegal crossings and suggested the Government was driving migrants to break the law by curbing legal routes.

Evacuees wait to board a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul

An inflatable dinghy carrying migrants passes a French navy vessel as it heads towards England in the English Channel

The ACRS, which began in January 2022, prioritised people who had assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan as well as vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups at risk.

Those arriving under pathway two - for vulnerable refugees referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - rose to 623 in the year ending March 2024, from 40 the previous year.

Numbers settled under pathway three - for women and girls at risk and those who supported the UK and international community effort in Afghanistan - rose to 1,191 in the year ending March 2024, from 16 the previous year.

The Arap scheme, which launched in April 2021, is for Afghan citizens who worked for or with the UK Government in Afghanistan.

Arrivals under this scheme were up by a quarter to 4,188 in the year to March 2024.
This is the dramatic moment a heroic Florida cop shattered a car window and rescued a one-year-old child from the hot vehicle.

Around 5pm on Monday, deputies from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office responded to a call about a locked car in a Walmart parking lot.

When authorities arrived, they spotted a man and woman standing outside of a red Nissan Altima while the child was locked in the car.

The officer called the fire department for assistance as the adults told him that the toddler had been in the car for 10 minutes.

He quickly worked to get the trapped child out of the hot car by breaking the window and unlocking it from the inside.

A deputy from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office rescued a one-year-old child from a locked car in a Walmart parking lot on Monday evening in Florida

The two adults that were found standing outside of the car when officers arrived said that the child was inside the Nissan Altima for 10 minutes. (pictured: the little girl being taken out of the driver's seat)

It is unclear if the adults are the children's parents and if they were charged or fined. It is also unclear where exactly the incident took place.

DailyMail.com contacted the Flagler County Sheriff's Office for more information.

Bodycam footage of the startling incident starts with the officer pulling up behind the car as he shouts: 'Sheriff's office, did y'all call?'

The adults are heard in the background saying that they did call and that a baby is in the car.

The cop quickly gets out of his patrol car and asks them if the car is running.

'Shut up, shut up,' the woman says to the man standing near her and the car.

The responding officer says: 'Whose car is it?'

'It's mine,' the woman replies.

The officer says: 'Alright, it's not on?' as he whips out a tool, looks in the car and speaks into his radio, asking how far the fire department is from the scene.

'I'm gonna smash the window here in a sec if FD's not close,' the officer tells the woman.

When the officer arrived, he approached a male and female who appeared to be arguing. The woman said that the child was locked inside her car

As they waited for the fire department, one officer decided to break the window on his own as the baby was trapped in the hot car

The woman then turns to the male behind her and says something inaudible.

'I didn't do anything,' the man tells her as the cop asks how long the child had been in the car.

'For about 10 minutes,' the woman replies.

'Alright, I'm gonna smash the window then,' the officer says as other cops respond to the scene.

'No, no, no,' the woman tells the cop.

'I have to because she's been stuck in there. I don't know how far FD is out, she's been in there for 10 minutes,' the officer tells her.

The woman asks him if he has another tool as the cop tells her that he doesn't before slamming the stick into the ground, collapsing it.

He then makes his way back to this patrol car and says: 'We're gonna have to shatter the window,' into his radio.

The officer retrieves another tool from his car before he heads back to the locked vehicle and asks the other officer: 'You've done this before?'

Moments later the officer whacks the back passenger side window with the stick-like tool and breaks the glass.

He then steps back and hits it again as the other officer walks to the side of the car.

The officer is seen shattering the window with a tool as the other officer talks to the adult on the other side of the vehicle

Once the window was broken, the officer reached inside the car to unlock the door. The car was filed with piles of laundry and scattered items

Once he clears all of the glass from the window, the officer reaches his hand inside and unlocks the rear door.

He reaches into the car, which is filled with mountains of laundry and other items, and presses the button to unlock the car as the child cries.

The cop shuts the backseat door and opens the passenger side door as the woman picks the baby up from the driver's seat.

The video ends with the officer saying: 'Keep FD in route just to access the child,' while the adults appear to speak to the other officer.

It is unclear how the child got locked in the car and why she was found in the driver's seat.

The Flagler County Sheriff's Office posted the bodycam footage on X and said that the child was 'accidentally locked inside a vehicle.'

'After the rescue, the child was determined to be in good health despite the heat exposure,' the post said.
Scientist found drinking water in a Long Island has high levels of cancer causing chemicals in its century old water system and officials are calling for federal help to replace it.

An agent known as 1,4 dioxane, a carcinogen linked to liver and kidney cancer, was found in all nine wells in the Village of Hempstead, reported WABC.

Traces of 'forever chemicals' - microscopic, man-made chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that can take thousands of years to break down in the environment or in the human body - were also found.

Scientists said the chemicals seeped into system through commercial and industrial sources over time, and now the town is searching for ways to provide safe water for over 58,000 residents.

'We don't want to panic our residents but we want them informed,' said Village Mayor Waylyn Hobbs Jr.

An agent known as 1,4 dioxane, a carcinogen linked to liver and kidney cancer, and traces of 'forever chemicals' were found in the Village of Hempstead drinking water

Village Mayor Waylyn Hobbs Jr. (pictured) warned the Village's more than 58,000 residents about the chemicals and said they are trying to replace the treatment plant

'Although there are still ongoing studies on the effect of this on human beings, most of the tests have been done on lab animals.'

'Here in the Village of Hempstead, we don't want to wait to find out what the results are that affect our residents, so that's why we are acting now to make sure that we remove the high levels of dioxin in our water,' said Hobbs.

The New York State Department of Health said, 'The delivered water in the Village of Hempstead does not pose a significant health risk and continues to be acceptable for all uses, as MCLS are set well below levels known to cause health effects.'

'While the water supply has had samples that tested higher than the maximum contaminant level (MCL), they have taken interim steps to minimize 1,4-dioxane in delivered water.'

The Village has drafted plans to replace the water treatment plant and estimate a new facility would cost $55 million, reported FOX 5 NY.

Hobbs said the Village Board voted unanimously to make a measure for the Village to be able to bond for $50 million.

The Village has drafted plans to replace the water treatment plant and estimate a new facility would cost $55 million

Meaning they voted to borrow $50 million to fund the project, but are hoping the federal government will help cover the bill.

Governor Kathy Hochul's office said they have given Long Island $700 million for clean water, including $72 million for the town of Hempstead.

Village officials said that money was only for specific projects. It desperately needs help because they only have one treatment plant and need to be able to provide water when it is shut down.

Work is scheduled to being in the fall and is expected to take 2 to 5 years to complete.

Recent EPA data found more than 70 million Americans are drinking from tap water that contains toxic 'forever chemicals' linked to cancer.

The worst hit areas are along the East Coast, including New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

Recent EPA data found more than 70 million Americans are drinking from tap water that contains toxic 'forever chemicals' linked to cancer

'Forever chemicals' are microscopic, man-made chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), can take thousands of years to break down

The main purpose of PFAS compounds is to repel water and oil, which is what makes non-stick cookware so much easier to clean and why certain jackets and tents can withstand rain.

Texas researchers found the chemicals in seven out of 10 insecticides - but six had extremely large quantities of a particularly dangerous type that has been strongly linked to cancer.

PFAS can seep into the water supply by simply washing the dishes. The compounds can also end up in our food if the packaging is made to be grease-resistant - think fast food cheeseburgers - or if the non-stick coating on pots and pans begins to deteriorate.

PFAS are also common in pesticides used to feed crops.

This produces chemical-rich runoff that can enter the drinking water supply.

In April, chemical drums filled with toxic liquid were dug up in the Town of Oyster Bay in Long Island, where residents said there has been a mysterious rise in cancer over the years.

In April, chemical drums filled with toxic liquid were dug up in the Town of Oyster Bay in Long Island

The drums were buried by Northrop Grumman when it operated an aerospace facility in the town from the 1950s to 1990s

Construction workers unearthed six barrels of chlorinated solvents and waste oil petroleum.

The drums were buried by Northrop Grumman when it operated an aerospace facility in the town from the 1950s to 1990s.

Officials fear the waste may have leaked into the soil and is on the way to public drinking supply.

The town is home to more than 17,200 people who have long raised concerns about the Grumman Aerospace waste, specifically a four-mile-long carcinogenic plume flowing underground that they claim contributed to a rise in cancer diagnoses.

Residents have also found toxic compounds in their attacks and the soil - and a family of three living close to the park were all stricken with cancer.
He's known for his love of flying around the country on private planes paid for by rich donors when he could drive or take the train.

But Rishi Sunak has fuelled suggestions he is trying to play down his multi-millionaire image ahead of the election after taking a - slightly - more economic approach to his domestic travel arrangements.

The Prime Minister rocked up in Inverness this evening in a chartered aircraft. But the The Eastern Airways Jetstream 41 is a prop plane with no business or first class seating. Instead it has 29 economy seats.

And its specifications show it was built in 1993, when the PM was just 12 or 13 years old. It is the smallest aircraft in the Eastern fleet.

A Labour source said: 'The Tory image consultants have finally realised that Rishi's luxury jet lifestyle is undermining his pitch as a ''man of the people'', so their answer is to rent out a budget airplane instead.

'These must be the same geniuses who sent him out to announce the election in a downpour. They are making Theresa May's 2017 election campaign look positively slick by comparison.'

The Prime Minister rocked up in Inverness this evening in a chartered aircraft. But the The Eastern Airways Jetstream 41 is a prop plane with no business or first class seating

Instead it has 29 economy seats. And its specifications show it was built in 1993, when the PM was just 12 or 13 years old

Earlier this week Mr Sunak flew to Vienna in an RAF jet

After stunning Westminster with the announcement he is sending the country to the polls on 4 July, the Tory leader embarked on a blitz of campaigning.

Mr Sunak has previously faced criticism over his use of private aircraft - planes and helicopters - to get around the country instead of using trains or cars.

His team have argued that he is under extreme time pressure in the role and it is the best way for him to keep to his schedule.

Earlier this year it was revealed a millionaire Tory donor at the heart of a racism row bankrolled a helicopter journey to Yorkshire last year.

Frank Hester, who in March was accused of a vile rant aimed at Diane Abbott, forked out 15,900 last November to fly the PM from London to Leeds.

Official Parliamentary documents show the money was paid by Hester's firm, The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), for a Conservative Party 'political visit'.

Last May Downing Street defended the PM's use of a taxpayer-funded helicopter to fly to Southampton and back.

The Prime Minister made the trip from London to the South Coast to visit a pharmacy. It is around 70 miles as the crow flies from the capital to Southampton.

Rishi Sunak is pictured disembarking a plane at Inverness Airport

The PM was greeted by Leader of the Scottish Conservative party Douglas Ross as he arrived at the Port of Nigg

The two Tory politicians have kicked off the general election campaign in Scotland

Rishi Sunak speaks with workers during a visit to Global Energy at the port

Mr Sunak speaks to members of the media during his tour at the Port of Nigg, which is one of Scotland's most important energy industry facilities

The train from Waterloo to Southampton Central takes a little over an hour and a quarter, with an off-peak return ticket costing around 53.

No10 stressed Mr Sunak's choice of transport was the 'best use' of his time due to the 'pressure' of his schedule.

But critics accused the wealthy PM of being 'wildly out of touch' with the British public and 'throwing taxpayer money away so he can travel in luxury'.

Mr Sunak was previously accused of behaving like an 'A-list celebrity' after he used an RAF jet to fly 250 miles to northern England to promote 'levelling up' funding in January.

That was the third time he had used an RAF aircraft in 10 days for trips within Britain.

In March 2023, it was revealed the PM had spent more than 500,000 of taxpayers' cash on private jets to take him on foreign trips totalling eight days.

Last week it was revealed the personal fortune of the PM and his wife Akshata Murty grew by more than 120 million over the past year.

Members of the media record a chat between Mr Sunak and Mr Ross over a hot drink

The PM has a trip to Northern Ireland scheduled for tomorrow as he visits all four nations of the UK to deliver his election message. Pictured today near Inverness

Mr Sunak travelled 550 miles to Inverness in Scotland to begin in campaign with Scottish Conservative party leader Douglas Ross

The latest annual Sunday Times Rich List revealed their wealth grew substantially despite the wider UK billionaire boom coming 'to an end' in the face of tough economic conditions.

Mr Sunak and Ms Murty's wealth was 651million in the latest list, soaring from 529million in 2023.

The rise was linked to Ms Murty's small stake in Infosys, the $70billion (55.3billion) Indian IT giant co-founded by her billionaire father.

Her shares grew in value by 108.8million to nearly 590million for the year.

But the couple's wealth still remains below its level from 2022, when it sat at around 730million for the year.

He today began his first full day since confirming the earlier-than-expected election date with a morning visit to Ilkeston.

The PM took a light-hearted view of his rain-sodden address in Downing Street yesterday by posing with an umbrella in the Derbyshire town, quipping: 'Better late than never!'

He then made a 170-mile trip to Barry, South Wales, before travelling a further 550 miles to Inverness in Scotland.

The PM has a trip to Northern Ireland scheduled for tomorrow as he visits all four nations of the UK to deliver his election message.

As he began a gruelling schedule of events over the next six weeks to polling day, Mr Sunak also threw down the gauntlet to Sir Keir Starmer, who launched Labour's campaign this morning in Gillingham, Kent.

The PM challenged the Labour leader to six TV debates during the general election campaign by making it known he is willing to face-off against Sir Keir every single week before 4 July.
A super-rich banker who gave his wife 80million to get around inheritance tax, but split before they could put the money in a trust for their children, won back 20million of her divorce payout after beating her in court.

Clive Standish, 69, a sheep-farming tycoon and former CFO of UBS, married Anna Standish, 55, in December 2005, but the couple separated in 2020 after a 15-year marriage during which they had two children.

The marital assets at the time of the split were an enormous 132m, almost all of which had grown from the 57.3m fortune that Mr Standish brought into the marriage.

After months in court, the Court of Appeal has ruled that a 'fair outcome' would leave Anna Standish, 55, with 25million, revised down from 45million, after nearly six months debating the division with her former partner.

At court in December, Mr Justice Moor ruled that husband should get 87.6m of the total family wealth of 132,648,326, with the wife to walk away with 45m.

Mrs Standish had argued that 80million in assets transferred to her to avoid a potential 40 per cent tax levy was 'matrimonial' money to be divided, despite her having brought 'no significant wealth' of her own into the marriage.

Mr Standish, a sheep-farming tycoon and former CFO of UBS, had transferred the assets to his then-wife after HMRC announced changes to the tax regime in 2016, with a plan being put in place for them to eventually be placed in an offshore trust for the benefit of their children.

But the marriage hit the rocks before that could happen, leaving the couple estranged and Mrs Standish claiming the 80m was hers outright, having been 'gifted' to her.

Multi-millionaire banker turned sheep farmer Clive Standish (pictured), 70, is locked in a divorce battle with his ex-wife over the 132million family fortune - after handing her 80m during a failed tax avoidance bid

Anna Standish (front left) with celebrity divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton (front right) outside the Appeal Court in London, undated

In the appeal ruling, top judges Lady Justice King, Lord Justice Moylan and Lord Justice Phillips have left the door open for Ms Standish, who married Clive in December 2005 before separating in 2020, to fight again to get her payout increased.

They backed arguments made by lawyers for the husband, who said the division was unfair as he brought nearly all the wealth into the marriage and did not intend the 80million to be a 'gift' to his wife.

But Lord Justice Moylan said that a proper assessment of the wife's reasonable 'needs' to maintain the lifestyle she is accustomed to had never been carried out and ordered another hearing for that to take place, giving her a second chance at a bigger share.

Tim Bishop KC, for the husband, had told the Appeal Court that the husband had 'a very successful career in banking.'

He told the judges that in June 2004 the husband was worth 57.3m, whilst the wife 'has no significant pre-marital wealth'.

Mr Standish is British, but moved to Australia in 1976, before moving back to England with his family in 2010.

He had retired in 2007, living off the profits of a 28m sheep farm in Australia, while the couple enjoyed life in 18-bedroom mansion Moundsmere Manor, set in 83 acres near the Hampshire village of Preston Candover, on the site of an original manor once owned by Henry VIII.

This situation left him open to a potentially huge inheritance tax hit when prospective changes were announced in 2016, affecting anyone with a British domicile of origin returning to the UK from a country they had made their new permanent home.

In the face of this, he 'commenced a process to shield his property from IHT' by 'transferring his assets to the wife to hold for a period and for the wife then to settle the transferred assets into a trust'.

'The husband made the transfers in March 2017, but the wife failed to transfer the assets into trust by the time the marriage ran into problems in 2019 and then broke down finally in 2020,' the barrister said.

Criticising the divorce judge's eventual division of the assets last December as 'unfair,' the husband's barrister argued it had been wrong for the 80m to have been regarded as 'matrimonialised' property, rather than the personal property of the husband and not to go into the pot for division.

'The judge confused the assessment of what had happened to the title of the assets with the assessment of whether it was fair to treat them as matrimonial,' he argued, going on to urge the court to cut the wife's share to between 25m and 29m.

For Mrs Standish, Richard Todd KC argued that the 80m was the wife's property and everything else apart from the sheep farm ought to be equally split, leaving each of the former spouses with 56.3m.

But the Appeal Court dismissed the wife's appeal and allowed the husband's.

Lord Justice Moylan said: 'The wife appeals and the husband cross-appeals from the financial remedy order. They disagree as to what makes an asset matrimonial or non-matrimonial property.

'In my view, it is clearly established that, in the application of the sharing principle, the source of an asset is the critical factor and not title.

Moundsmere Manor in Hampshire, home of Clive Standish

'I conclude, therefore, that the transfer of the 2017 assets into the wife's sole name did not change their characterisation. This did not transform them into matrimonial property.

'The sharing principle is founded or based on each party, in accordance with the objectives of fairness, equality and nondiscrimination, being entitled to an equal share of their matrimonial property, namely the 'fruits of the partnership' or the wealth built up by the parties' endeavours during the marriage.

'The judge's application of the sharing principle was flawed and has resulted in an unjustified division of the family's wealth in the wife's favour.

'In my view...a fair application of the sharing principle would have resulted in the wife receiving/retaining wealth of approximately 25 million in place of the judge's award of 45 million.'

However he went on to remit the case back to the High Court Family Division for an assessment of the wife's 'needs' to be carried out, commenting: 'A judge may well decide that the wife's needs could be met by a sum in the region of 25 million...but they might not.'
A coroner has warned about the lack of support for vulnerable women who receive disturbing information about abusive partners from the authorities after a mother-of-four killed herself.

Katie Madden, 32  who survived child sex abuse and a string of toxic partners  was hoping to have her children returned to her from her mothers care when she asked police for information about her partner under Clares Law.

The response she received led to an argument with the man and social services deemed her too inconsistent to have her children back.

Shortly afterwards, she hanged herself at her home in Lowestoft, Suffolk.

Recording a conclusion of suicide while the balance of the mind was disturbed, Suffolk coroner Nigel Parsley said he would be issuing a Prevention of Future Deaths Report based on his findings in the case.

It is understood the report will be sent to Suffolk Police, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health care in the region, and Suffolk County Councils adult care services.

Katie Madden, 32  who survived child sex abuse and a string of toxic partners  (pictured) was hoping to have her children returned to her

She hanged herself at her home in Lowestoft, Suffolk

Mr Parsley said: There has been no evidence that recipients of a Clares Law domestic violence disclosure are being treated as a higher risk, or of being of great vulnerability, when action is being considered to remove their children or further toxic or coercive behaviour is occurring.

The state knew that Katie was at risk because they delivered a Clares Law disclosure to her and yet, throughout this inquest, Ive barely seen it referenced.

Ive barely seen any professionals treat Katie as more vulnerable because she is in a toxic relationship  one in which we know domestic violence has already occurred.

With someone with Katies mental health issues, this is invariably going to make her more vulnerable.

The two-day inquest in Ipswich heard Miss Madden had suffered trauma during her childhood and was involved in her latest toxic relationship.

Her mother, Bernadette Sutton, said her daughter had witnessed domestic violence as a child but otherwise she had no concerns about her in her younger years.

This changed suddenly when she was 12, she added, saying: She went from this bubbly girl to being really low in mood, sleeping a lot, and not wanting to engage with anyone.

I subsequently learned years later that she was abused at that age sexually by an older family member.

Aged 16, Miss Madden moved out to live with a couple under the care system but soon after fell pregnant with her first child and left school. Another child followed six years later in 2013.

There was a pattern in Katies life where she chose bad partners, Ms Sutton said.

Every partner used her to have a roof over their heads and live off her.

By 2017, Miss Madden had met a new partner and they had two children together.

But her mother added: The relationship was very toxic. He was violent and controlling and remained in Katies life up until her death because Katie wanted him to have a relationship with his children.

Miss Madden received a notification from police after applying for information and a friend found her dead at home on June 4 last year.

The inquest was told she had been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and an emotionally unstable personality disorder.

This, Mr Parsley said, made her act impulsively when confronted by stress or emotionally painful decisions.

He added: Katie had previously received a Clares Law domestic violence disclosure and was known to be in a toxic relationship. Katie had historically and recently been the victim of domestic violence.

Despite contact restrictions, Katie had argued with the subject of the domestic violence disclosure just prior to her death.

Katies toxic relationship, in conjunction with her known mental health conditions, affected her state of mind and therefore contributed to her death.

Ms Sutton told the inquest her daughter had been a lovely, kind, caring and polite woman who had once aspired to become a mental health nurse.

Potential victims of domestic abuse were given the right to request background checks on their partner following a campaign by the father of Clare Wood.

The mother-of-one, 36, from Salford, Manchester, was strangled and set on fire by her former partner, George Appleton, in 2006. She had not been aware of his history of violence.

Set up in 2014, the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, known as Clares Law, gives police 35 days to respond to a request for information.

A Suffolk Police spokeswoman said: We are unable to provide a comment at this time, pending sight of the report being issued.

A Suffolk County Council Spokesperson said:We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of Miss Madden.

We will wait to receive the recommendations from the coroners Prevention of Future Deaths report. We are always open to learning and will carefully consider the recommendations made in the report.

 For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
Rep. Ilhan Omar tore into UCLA Chancellor Gene Block for 'allowing' a violent clash between pro- and anti-Israel demonstrators on campus where they say rats were released into their pro-Gaza encampment.

'You could have prevented this by protecting these students' First Amendment right to assemble,' Omar said.

She went on:

'You could have prevented this when you learned about rats being released into the encampment. You could have prevented this when an anonymous group funded and constructed a giant video with loudspeakers to play vile and disturbing footage.'

The pro-Israel camp set up screens outside the pro-Gaza camp to play footage from the October 7 Hamas attack.

Rep. Ilhan Omar tore into UCLA Chancellor Gene Block for 'allowing' a violent clash between pro- and anti-Israel demonstrators on campus where they say rats were released into their pro-Gaza encampment

An anti-Israel demonstrator told CNN that at an encampment on April 30 at UCLA 'Zionist thugs' had issued rape and death threats and released rats into their demonstration.

'We have warned the university about the threats of rape, death threats against our students, physical harassment, the release of rats on our encampment by Zionists during the nighttime,' the student, 'encampment media liaison' and political science Ph.D. student Vincent Doehr said.

Dr. Gene Block, Chancellor, University of California, Los Angeles arrives at a hearing called 'Calling for Accountability: Stopping Antisemitic College Chaos'

A general view shows the pro-Palestinian protest encampment at the UCLA on May 1, 2024

California Highway Patrol officers detain protestors while clearing a pro-Palestinian encampment after dispersal orders were given at the UCLA campus on May 2, 2024

LAPD officers keep watch near a pro-Palestinian encampment after a dispersal order was given at the UCLA campus, on May 1, 2024

'Every night, Zionists have come and harassed the encampment, harassed students trying to peacefully call for divestment of the UC's endowment from corporations that profit off of the Israeli genocide of Palestinians . We saw Zionists grab our barricades and tried to rip them down. Zionists maced the majority of students in the encampment and the police that the university had hired, the private security guards, stared and watched as this happened,' Doehr added.

At the height of the pro-Gaza encampments that sprung up at universities across the nation, about 100 pro-Israel counter-protesters showed up to a pro-Palestine demonstration and clashed them for about three hours before police intervention.

'How did you fail these students at many critical points where you could have intervened? she asked.

'I reject the premise,' said Block. She cut him off again before he could finish his response.

Omar insisted Block was 'responsible' for violence.

'Because of your inaction, they acted on the intention and brutally attacked students. You were responsible for this.'

Block replied: 'LAPD is working on trying to identify the people who were assailants that evening' 'It's been over a month!' Omar interrupted.

Omar has visited university Palestinian demonstrations in support and her daughter was arrested at Columbia University - where the encampments began.

At another point in the hearing, Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., hammered Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway for an agreement he made with protesters to allow space for 10 displaced Palestinians at the unversity. The congressman asked Holloway if he thought that would violate anti-discrimination law.

'We have existing programs to support refugee students and scholars and we would lean on those programs,' Holloway said. 'We actually don't believe in quotas, sir.'

Grothman said the agreement seemingly rewarded Palestinians for the 'trouble they are causing and the hate they are encouraging.'

'On this whole Gaza situation the Palestinians could not have taken a more outlandish position,' Grothman said. 'Their little ethnic group here is rewarded with 10 spaces.'

'I'm sure there are all sorts of foreigners around the world that would be happy to have those 10 spaces. Do you think that's a wise thing to do?' the Wisconsin Republican went on. 'In reward for this support of Hamas?'

Holloway reiterated they have many programs to support refugees.

Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens meanwhile blasted Republicans for 'pretending' to care about equity and having three antisemitism hearings over the past months and none on college costs.

'We have tons of issues before us in this country, and frankly those who pretend to care about equity, as we have seen time and time again in this committee, is an outrage. It is an absolute outrage," Stevens said.

She went on: "We know what it costs to go to your schools. It's unbelievable how much it costs. That's what we should be focusing on, not this pretend argument about equity."

And at another moment, all three university presidents were unable to say who was funding pro-Gaza encampments on their campuses during a hearing on Capitol Hill on Thursday.

'Who is behind these encampments?' Rep. Brandon Smith, R-N.Y., asked. 'Which groups, faculty, maybe departments, student organizations, who's behind these encampments?'

'I don't know,' said Northwestern University President Michael Schill.

'We have a lot of outside organizations involved,' said Holloway. 'I'm unable to tell you which organizations.'

'I'm uncertain,' said Block.
A middle-aged woman has died after being hit by a lorry on a notorious road in East London known for being an accident blackspot.

The Met Police were called to Cambridge Heath Road at 10:44am on Thursday morning alongside the London Ambulance Service who treated the 50-year-old woman.

Despite the efforts of paramedics the woman died at the scene and police officers are in the process of identifying her next of kin.

The force confirmed that the driver of the lorry stopped after hitting the woman and that no arrests have been made.

Cambridge Heath Road, which has seen numerous accidents in recent years, was shut in both directions following the fatal collision.

A blue tent is put up at on Cambridge Heath Road following the collision

A lorry collided with a 50-year-old woman who was later pronounced dead at the scene

The road in Bethnal Green is home to the Young V&A, formerly the Museum of Childhood, which attracts families with children.

In February this year a man's body was found in a large white transit van near the popular family museum.

Officers were seen trying to force open the doors of the van with battering rams as families were led away from the scene.

In 2020 the Met Police issued an appeal after a lorry collided with a cyclist at the junction between Cambridge Heath Road and Hackney Road.

And a bus had its top deck ripped out when a truck swung its rear end into it in 2016.

When asked about today's accident, a spokesman for the Met Police said: 'Police were called at 10:44hrs on Thursday, 23 May to reports of a collision involving a lorry and a pedestrian on Cambridge Heath Road, E2.

'Officers and London Ambulance Service attended. A woman, aged in her 50s, was treated at the scene. Despite the efforts of paramedics, sadly she died a short time later.

'Officers are in the process of notifying her next of kin.

'The driver of the lorry stopped at the scene. There have been no arrests.'

Cambridge Heath Road, which has seen numerous accidents in recent years, was shut in both directions following the fatal collision

The Met Police are urging anyone who witnessed or who may have footage of the collision to call the police on 101.

A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said: 'We were called at 10.50am on Thursday 23 May to reports of a road traffic collision involving a lorry and a pedestrian at the junction of Hare Row and Cambridge Heath Road, E2.

'We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an incident response officer and members of our hazardous area response team. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London's Air Ambulance.

'Our first paramedics arrived on scene in approximately three minutes.

'Sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene.'
A soldier whose body lay undiscovered for three weeks in his barracks room was the victim of 'systematic harassment, bullying by those responsible for his welfare', an inquest heard today.

It was also alleged that the bullies included some of Lance Corporal Bernard Mongan's superiors in his own chain of command.

Lance Corporal Mongan, 33, was found dead in barracks at Catterick, North Yorkshire, on January 23, 2020 - three weeks after he was last seen.

An inquest heard today that he had complained to his bosses about feeling suicidal over Xmas in his single living accommodation over the previous two Christmases.

Welfare checks were supposed to be made on him over the Xmas of 2019-20 - the very period in which he met his death, Northallerton Coroner's Court in North Yorkshire was told.

Lance Corporal Bernard Mongan, 33, was found dead on 23 January 2020 - three weeks after he was last seen

An inquest heard today that he had complained to his bosses about feeling suicidal over Xmas in his single living accommodation over the previous two Christmases

Lance Corporal Mongan was found dead in barracks at Catterick, North Yorkshire

He was last seen alive on January 2, 2020 but not found until January 23, the hearing was told by Craig Hassall KC, independent counsel appointed to advise the inquest.

'He was not missed from January 3,' Mr Hassall continued. He was also the victim of a serious racially aggravated assault in 2018, the hearing was told.

Barrister Jesse Nicholls, for Lance Corporal Mongan's widow Bethany, complained there had been 'an inhumane and completely unacceptable period of time' before Lance Corporal Mongan was found.

There was also concern from the family that the Army's official investigation had never properly investigated the bullying - concluding rather just that it should be investigated.

He said the widow was also concerned that the truth would not come out unless those accused of bullying her late husband were called a witnesses at the hearing.

He continued: 'There is copious evidence from multiple witnesses that those responsible for his welfare were bullying and harassing him,

'They recognised he was vulnerable. He had felt suicidal over the two previous Christmases and did not like being in single living accommodation.

'They put him on a regime of welfare checks because of that concern. They are now saying the evidence is there were systems in place but it appears they were not complied with.'

The Ministry of Defence (headquarters pictured) was accused of making submissions based a view of the evidence that was 'highly selective' and 'cherry picking' of the facts in order to 'down play the case'

He argued those doing the bullying and 'undermining' involved 'among others - his chain of command'.

He alleged the Army had presided over two failed internal investigations into 'key matters' that must now be determined by the inquest and did not involve the family at all.

He accused the Ministry of Defence of making submissions based a view of the evidence that was 'highly selective' and 'cherry picking' of the facts in order to 'down play the case'.

'It is a matter of public concern that these matters happened at all.' Mr Nicholls added.

There was also the question over whether the case came under Article Two of the European Convention of Human Rights, which imposes a duty on the state to protect its citizens.

Mr Hassall argued it should not and underlined in this case there was no medical cause of death for Lance Corporal Mongan.

In fact, the last thing he had spoken off to mental health personnel were 'thoughts for the future, the making of plans, and getting posted away from Catterick in January 2020', the barrister added.

Coroner Jonathan Leach ruled he would not be bound by Article Two but would keep an open mind about whether it applied.

He added: 'There will be a full, fair, and fearless investigation into the death of Lance Corporal Mongan and the circumstances surrounding his death.'

He will give a ruling on the scope of the inquest over the next seven days and a written ruling on an Article 2 inquest in 14 days.

The inquest will resume later in the year.

Anyone seeking help can call Samaritans free on 116 123 or visit Samaritans.org
Former President Barack Obama quietly met with Kenyan President William Ruto on the sidelines of Thursday's White House state dinner with President Joe Biden.

The meeting, which Ruto confirmed in social media posts, was squeezed into a packed schedule that included a South Lawn ceremony, an Oval Office meeting and a press conference where Biden had to ask for stage directions multiple times.

Obama, whose late father was Kenyan, met with Ruto at Blair House, the ornate guest house across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, where foreign dignitaries often stay.

The former president later headed across the street to the White House to attend a private VIP reception in the residence - alongside former President Bill Clinton - but wasn't expected to stay for the official state dinner.

'How have you been? Welcome to Washington. I hope everything is going well,' Obama told Ruto at the top of the Blair House meeting.

Former President Barack Obama (left) met at the Blair House Thursday with Kenyan President William Ruto (right) instead of attending Thursday night's glitzy state dinner

Former President Barack Obama (left) visited with Kenyan President William Ruto (right) at Blair House, the official presidential guest house located across the street from the White House

In his Facebook post, Ruto said he and the former president discussed 'opportunities available to Africa's young' as well as 'democratic developments, climate and peace and security challenges in Africa.'

Former presidents tend not to be invited to White House state dinners in order to not overshadow the current Oval Office occupant.

But the Bidens already bucked that tradition last month by inviting former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Democratic nominee and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to a dinner feting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

That opened the door to the Obamas attending Thursday night's state dinner with Kenya, especially with the former president's familial connection.

Instead of being present at the main affair, however, the ex-president opted for the Blair House meeting with Ruto and the private reception.

The two men previously met in 2015 during President Obama's visit to Kenya and while Ruto was serving as deputy president.

Kenyan media captured former President Barack Obama (right) greeting Kenya President William Ruto (left) at a meeting at Blair House Thursday

Obama made history as the country's first black president when he was elected in 2008.

His mother was a white woman from Kansas, while his father was from Kenya.

Obama's father, Barack Obama Sr., didn't play an active role in his son's life.

Obama Sr. returned to Kenya when the future president was only a few years old and the two only saw each other one more time, when Barack was 10.

The elder Obama died at age 48 in 1982 from injuries sustained in a car crash.
President Joe Biden repeatedly had to ask for stage directions during a press conference with Kenyan President William Ruto Thursday where he appeared stunned by TV reporters who shouted questions to him at the end.

'Is that it?' Biden asked at one point during the proceedings, as reporters from U.S. and Kenyan media asked questions to each leader in a pre-cooked format.

'What was my question?' Biden asked a U.S. reporter who asked a long inquiry to Biden and Ruto at the same time.

'Sir, your question was Haiti,' the reporter told him at the first press conference in a month for the 81-year-old president.

Biden brought down the hammer when the first reporter he called on from a prepared list tried to ask him a pair of questions: one on Haiti, and another an International Criminal Court warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

'One question,' Biden intoned, although the reporter tried for two anyway.

Biden read conspicuously from printed notes during several of his answers, including while speaking about international lending institutions, injecting a few bromides.

President Joe Biden tried to limit a reporter to a single question, then asked 'is that it' when his presser with the president of Kenya was nearly completed Thursday

'Were happy to do our part,' he said.

Members of the press, who haven't had the chance to question the president in a press conference format since April, weren't satisfied.

A handful of TV correspondents seated up front jumped up from their seats at the end of the 30-minute event to shout at Biden with simultaneous questions about Ukraine, Russia and other matters.

'Woah!' Biden said, in apparent shock at the cacophony and burst of questions.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre shut it down and ended the event before Biden said anything outside of the predetermined 'two-and-two' format  two questions for each country's president.

On Israel, Biden dodged a question about whether the U.S. would share relevant information with the ICC.

'Do I ask the next question as well?' Prestident Biden asked allowed about the run-of-show during his 'two and two' press conference, which follows a well established format

He groused at the reporter who shoe-horned the inquiry into his question to Ruto despite Biden trying to limit him to one.

'You guys never keep the deal but thats okay,' Biden said.

Then for his substantive answer he said 'we don't recognize the jurisdiction' and 'We dont think theres an equivalency between what Israel did and what Hamas did,' in reference to the Oct. 7 attack inside Israel.

Biden appeared to inquire whose turn it was to engage with a reporter after that question, the first.

'Do I ask the next question as well? he asked.

The typical format is for the two leaders to alternate, and it was in fact Ruto's turn to go next.

Biden also spoke to why the U.S. was contribution resources, but not troops, to help try to bring stability to the chaos in Haiti, where Kenyan forces are set to play a role.

We concluded that for the United States to deploy forces in the hemisphere, raises all kinds of questions that can be easily misrepresented about what were trying to do,' said.
A pair of car thieves in Milwaukee wrecked a vehicle in the middle of a TV interview about a local shooting before the driver took off running and left his injured friend behind.

The hit-and-run crash was caught on camera at around 7pm on Sunday by the TMJ4 television crew which was interviewing residents about the fatal shooting of 15-year-olds Monroe Weso and Alejandro Sanchez.

A grey sedan smashed into a parked mini-van and caused significant damage with debris flying everywhere.

The driver of the stolen vehicle sprinted away as the 16-year-old passenger crawled out injured and was tended to by a woman who witnessed the crash.

He was taken to hospital for treatment while the driver got away after stealing a second car and police are still searching for him. A 57-year-old man was in the mini-van at the time of the crash and was also treated for his injuries.

A pair of car thieves in Milwaukee wrecked a vehicle in the middle of a TV interview before the driver took off running and left his injured friend behind

The television crew was finishing an interview about a fatal shooting when the grey sedan came speeding past and smashed into the parked mini-van.

Footage shows the driver getting out and running away while his injured friend is left hurt on the floor.

Two women then went to help the injured passenger and took him out of the wreck of the car.

He was then arrested by the Milwaukee Police Department and treated in hospital for his injuries.

But the driver is still on the run and authorities say he made his getaway in a freshly stolen car.

Grey McEachern, who witnessed the crash said: 'You could see the first kid, the driver, he got out and he ran. I've never seen something like that before.

'That car could've killed somebody. It ran onto the grass, there were children on the grass.'

The hit-and-run crash was caught on camera at around 7pm on Sunday by the TMJ4 television crew which was wrapping up filming

A grey sedan smashed into a parked mini-van and caused significant damage with debris flying everywhere

The driver of the stolen vehicle sprinted away as the 16-year-old passenger crawled out injured and was tended to by a woman who witnessed the crash.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson reacted to the horror-crash and said: 'The passenger in that video that you just showed me, he couldn't even get up, he couldn't even move.

'He tried to get out of the car and he collapsed. You don't want that to be your kid or a kid you care about. Let's have these conversations and let's put a stop to this.'

Police are still searching for the driver of the vehicle and have appealed for anyone with any information to get in touch.

It comes after teenage boys Monroe Weso and Alejandro Sanchez were shot dead in Milwaukee on May 19.

Police have arrested a 13-year-old boy in connection with their deaths and are looking for two other suspects.

The families of the victims have set up GoFundMe pages to help raise funds for funeral costs.
The toddler's father, Schaffer Grindstaff, 29, was arrested on Thursday

The father of a one-year-old boy found dead in a California playground has been arrested.

Schaffer Grindstaff, 29, was arrested for accessory to conceal a crime and child endangerment.

His son Cameron Flores, who was 19 months old, was found unresponsive in Melville J. Courson Park, 38226 10th Street East just before 9am on Wednesday.

Flores' mother called police saying the child could not breathe and officers rushed him to the Antelope Valley Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

The cause of his death is under investigation.

Cameron Flores, 19-months-old, was found unresponsive in a playground in Melville J. Courson Park, 38226 10th Street East just before 9am on Wednesday

According to neighbors the child lived with his father in an apartment complex across the street from the park.

The Sheriff's department told local news: 'When deputies arrived on scene, they contacted the father of the child, who stated his young son suddenly began suffering from a medical emergency at the park.

'The child was immediately transported to a local hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced deceased.'

Neighbors told ABC7 that the boy was in a car with his father when he stopped breathing.

Grindstaff then reportedly started performing CPR on the child in the passenger seat until police arrived and took over.

A witness told the outlet: 'Next thing you know the cop gets the dad out of the way and starts doing CPR as well, and pulls the kid out the car, puts him on the floor and completes doing CPR on the kid.'

Neighbor Destiny Tibbs told KTLA: 'My boyfriend woke me up this morning and told me that a little boy had passed out at the park and stopped breathing.'

Tibbs said that authorities believed something may have happened to the child inside his house across the road from the park before his death.

She added: 'The police who came knocking at my door asked if we had cameras and if we saw anything but we told them no.

'He was really devastated and I am too because that's really sad.'

Detectives were seen investigating the playground and the boy's home and interviewing neighbors

The child had no prior medical history or known issues.

Detectives were seen investigating the playground and the boy's home and interviewing neighbors.

The Department of Children and Family Services told ABC7 it could not disclose whether the agency has been involved with the child or his family.

They said: 'The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services joins the community in mourning the loss a child from the Antelope Valley.'
A London-born computer prodigy killed by leukaemia as a teenager is set to be made the Catholic Church's first ever millennial saint by Pope Francis after being credited with a series of miracles after his death.

Carlo Acutis, who died in 2006 aged 15, has been given the nicknames of 'God's influencer' and 'the patron saint of the internet' because of his devotion to promoting Christ's work online before he died.

His body is on display in Assisi, where he is wearing his favourite Nike trainers, jeans and a sweatshirt, but he was born in the UK to an Italian mother and a half-English, half-Italian father who was working in Britain as a merchant banker.

The family moved to Milan where from the age of three Carlo would donate his pocket money to the poor and later at school supported victims of bullying and spent his evenings cooking and delivering meals to the homeless, along with clean blankets.

When he died shortly after being diagnosed with leukaemia, he told his parents: 'I'm happy to die because I've lived my life without wasting even a minute of it doing things that wouldn't have pleased God.'

And almost 20 years after his death Pope Francis has recognised a miracle attributed to Carlo - after he passed away - where the mother of a Costa Rican woman involved in a serious bike accident prayed at his glass casket and left a note asking for her to be healed in 2022.

The same day her daughter began to breathe independently and 10 days later she was discharged from intensive care because the haemorrhage in her brain had completely disappeared.

Pope Francis has now signed a decree which paves the way for Acutis becoming a saint because the Vatican says Carlo also interceded from heaven in 2013 to cure a Brazilian boy suffering from a rare pancreatic disease.

15-year-old Carlo Acutis, an Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia, lies in state in Assisi. One mother prayed here and left a note to heal her seriously ill daughter, who was out of hospital within weeks

Carlo is also credited with saving a boy with a rare pancreatic condition

Carlo Acutis (pictured) has been given the nicknames of 'God's influencer' and 'the patron saint of the internet' because of his devotion to promoting Christ's work online before he died almost 20 years ago

Born in London to an Italian mother and a half-English, half-Italian father who was working in the UK as a merchant banker, he grew up in Milan where he took care of his parish website and later of a Vatican-based academy

Carlo was a devout Christian (pictured) when he was alive and attended daily mass. Before he died, he set up a website where he researched and documented miracles attributed with the Eucharist

Cardinal Agostino Vallini, center, in the St. Francis Basilica, in Assisi, Italy during Carlo's beatification ceremony, one of the steps towards sainthood

As well as being committed to his faith, Carlo also helped the homeless and stood up for bullied classmates at school. Pictured: Young Carlo with his dog at Christmas

The couple then moved to Milan where their son took care of a parish website and later of a Vatican-based academy. He also created an online database of miracles.

Pope Francis, 87, has canonised 912 people since he assumed the papacy in 2013, with the most recent birth date previously being 1926.

What are the five steps to becoming a saint? Five-year wait: Five years usually needs to have passed after someone's death for the process to begin. This allows for a period of reflection on the case. Servant of God: The bishop of the diocese where the person has died investigates whether their life was holy enough to be deemed a 'servant of God'. Life of heroic virtue: The Congregation for the Causes of Saints looks at the case. If they approve it is passed onto the Pope, who declares the subject a person of 'heroic virtue'. Beatification: A miracle needs to happen to a person who has prayed to the person in question. Canonisation: A second miracle is attributed to the person who has been beatified. Advertisement

Carlo died in Monza, Italy after moving to Milan as a child but was born in London to mother Antonia Salzano and father Andrea Acutis.

His mother said that her son dedicated himself to supporting classmates struggling with life, would defend disabled friends who were being bullied and would take meals out to homeless people across the city.

Catholics are encouraged to pray to deceased people who they believe are in heaven.

And Pope Francis believes that Carlo helped perform a miracle two years ago.

The miracle in question, according to the Vaticans Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, involved the healing of Valeria Valverde.

The Vatican has attributed to prayers made to Carlo, the miracle allowed Valeria, 21, to recover following a serious bicycle accident in 2022.

She was studying in Florence at the time of the crash.

Ms Valverde underwent an emergency operation to relieve pressure on her brain and was in a critical condition.

Six days later, her mother prayed for her daughters recovery at the tomb of Carlo in Italy.

On the same day, the church says Ms Valverde recovered the use of her limbs, was able to speak and signs of her head trauma disappeared.

She was discharged from intensive care ten days after her mothers prayers and only needed a short stint of physiotherapy.

The Vatican has also claimed Carlo interceded from heaven in 2013 to cure a Brazilian boy suffering from a rare pancreatic disease.

Carlo (pictured) would be only the second Briton to become canonised in nearly 50 years, after Cardinal John Henry Newman was made a Saint last year

Since his death, Carlo has garnered a global following, and his body was moved to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Assisi where it is currently on display.

Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi told The Times: The Church in Assisi is in celebration. I plan to arrive in Assisi this evening to thank the Lord in a Eucharistic celebration. But as of now I join the faithful who are in the shrine for a prayer of praise.

In the UK, Carlo has been remembered by the Archbishop of Birmingham, who in 2020 established the Parish of Blessed Carlo Acutis with churches in Wolverhampton and Wombourne.

Miracles, when reported, are investigated by the church to establish their validity and are understood to be an act that is impossible in nature.

There is no date for the canonisation, but such events can draw in huge audiences with thousands of pilgrims in attendance.
Two Jordanian nationals who attempted to breach a critically important military base are in the U.S. illegally, as fears over foreign espionage escalate.

The Jordanian nationals were detained after attempting to drive a box truck onto Marine Corps Base Quantico on May 3. During their attempted entry, the two individuals claimed to be working for Amazon as subcontractors.

Despite their goal to infiltrate the installation, military officials were able to deploy vehicle barriers and foil the Middle Eastern nationals' efforts.

Now, a Fox News report indicates that one of the individuals illegally crossed into the U.S. by way of Mexico through California in April and the other overstayed a student visa.

The new details about the Jordanians' who tried to unlawfully enter Quantico - one of the largest Marine bases in the U.S. - comes just a week after Congress held a classified hearing on attempts by foreign nationals to infiltrate and surveil U.S. military installations.

The two Jordanian nationals attempted to breach Marine Corps Base Quantico on May 3

Both of the individuals are now in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, according to multiple Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials in the report.

The Jordanian who illegally entered the U.S. in April did so through the San Diego, California, sector, which has seen a dramatic increase in illegal immigration this year.

According to the DHS sources, the male apprehended was issued a notice to appear - a legal process requiring him to show up for an immigration court hearing at a date in the future.

The pair are now being prepared for removal proceedings, the sources disclosed.

An Amazon spokesperson told the outlet that it seems the Jordanians in question were not making deliveries on behalf of the company and that they will investigate the incident further.

Recently migrants from Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, India, Bangladesh and China have been crossing through holes in the U.S.-Mexico border in Jacumba Hot Springs, California. It is likely that the Jordanian national entered through a similar path

The crossing spot, in the San Diego sector, has been popular in recent months and has become the new ground zero for migrants seeking to enter the U.S. illegally

Quantico, where the Jordanians hoped to enter, is one of the largest and most secure Marine Corps facilities in the U.S.

Lawmakers and government officials are also probing the matter.

Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee sent a letter to DHS, the Pentagon, and the FBI seeking additional information on the incident.

The GOP lawmakers said one of the Jordanians may also be on federal terrorist watchlist.

'The Committee fears that the Department of Homeland Security's relaxed vetting standards, which complement President Biden's avowed desire to 'surge the border' with inadmissible migrants, have created an environment ripe for exploitation by individuals aiming to undermine the United States at its most critical points.'

'If individuals on the terrorist watchlist are so emboldened to attempt to breach a Marine Corps base, the Department of Homeland Security and the entire executive branch must act swiftly to identify, apprehend, and detain such hostile actors on American soil,' the Republicans letter stated.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin also expressed his dismay in a letter to Biden.

'The attempted breach at Quantico, and the federal government's silence on the immigration status of the individuals involved, reiterates the gravity of your failure to secure the southern border, and to provide state governments notice of illegal migrant relocations so I can protest the safety of all Virginians.'

The Virginian demanded that Biden provide state officials a briefing on the attempted intrusion.

'Please explain how they came to the United States. Were they here illegally? Are either of them on any terrorist watchlist?' Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., asked DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas in a recent letter.

Previously, a top Republican told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview that foreign nationals from a multitude of countries have been attempting to infiltrate U.S. military bases.

China, Iran, Russia and terrorist groups from the Middle East are involved in attempting access to U.S. instillations Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., said.

A Chinese national broke into the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in California in March before being detained

A group of Chinese nationals were stopped in 2023 while scuba diving close to missile row in Cape Canaveral, shown here

'There have been reports that off of our military bases ... that we have had foreign nationals here taking pictures and recording what's going on.'

He also claimed that various foreign nationals 'maybe getting jobs as DoorDash or something or other and then poking around, seeing what they can find out' from the U.S. military bases.

Reports further indicate that foreign nationals have operated drones to enhance their surveillance efforts.

And Grothman warned that these attempts have grown significantly in recent years.

'It's not something that we believe was going on a very significant degree just a few years ago,' he said. 'So this new stuff.'

The Wisconsin Republican said the rise in espionage attempts comes as record numbers of non-hispanic foreign nationals are pouring across the U.S.-Mexico border into the American heartland.

And the details now revealing the Jordanians are in the U.S. illegally are sure to add to Grothman and his fellow lawmaker's suspicions.
Rishi Sunak has ruled out any election deals with Reform UK or a coalition if there is a hung parliament following the General Election.

This comes after Nigel Farage said he would not stand as a parliamentary candidate for Reform UK in the upcoming vote.

Reform UK - founded by Farage as the Brexit Party in 2018 and now led by Richard Tice - hopes to stand a candidate in every seat on the July 4 poll, which could seriously hamper Sunak's chances of remaining in No10.

And when asked today if he could rule out deals or a potential coalition government with Reform UK, the PM said 'of course I can rule that out', LBC reports. 'I'm not really focused on personalities elsewhere,' he added.

He said his focus was 'delivering for the country' in the 'an uncertain time'.

Rishi Sunak (pictured at the West William Distribution in Ilkeston, Derbyshire today) has ruled out a coalition or any deals with Reform UK if there is a hung parliament following the General Election

Nigel Farage (pictured) has said he would not stand as a parliamentary candidate for Reform UK in the in the General Election

Reform UK leader Richard Tice (pictured) has already repeatedly ruled out deals with the Tories, saying the Conservative Party 'has to be punished for what it's done to this country'

The PM said the question facing the country is who can build on economic stability and the 'clear plan' to deliver it.

Sunak said that the choice for those concerned about illegal immigration is between himself and Sir Keir Starmer as it will be one of them who will be in the top job after polling day.

No love will be lost between the Tories and Reform over the PM's reticence to make a deal, as Tice has already repeatedly ruled it out, saying the Conservative Party 'has to be punished for what it's done to this country'.

And last night he again indicated that he would not stand down his candidates, including recent recruit former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson, saying it was only his party 'that can now save Britain'.

He said: 'We're ready for the General Election on July 4. Reform UK is the party with the common-sense policies.

'But what a scene: the Prime Minister drenched in rain, drowned out by the boogie blaster of Steve Bray, no less, highlighting the utter incompetence of this Conservative government. The electorate have a clear choice, people know that the Tories have broken Britain, Labour and Starmergeddon will do what they always do which is bankrupt Britain.

'It's only Reform UK's common-sense policies that can now save Britain.'

But many Tories fear Reform could put a real dent in Rishi Sunak's hopes of a return to Downing Street come the election.

Nigel Farage said he was preparing to launch a campaign next week to stand as an MP before the Prime Minister announced the General Election date.

On Thursday morning, the GB News host announced in a statement that he would not stand as a Reform UK candidate in the upcoming election but that he will 'do my bit to help' the party in the UK campaign.

Mr Farage admitted the Prime Minister had 'wrong-footed' him by calling an election for July 4

Rishi Sunak and Leader of the Scottish Conservative party Douglas Ross visit the Port of Nigg on May 23

Rishi Sunak speaks with staff at the Global Energy Group facility at the Port of Nigg

Sunak said that the choice for those concerned about illegal immigration is between himself and Sir Keir Starmer (centre with Angela Rayner, left, and councillor Naushabah Khan, right, in in Gillingham today) as it will be one of them who will be in the top job after polling day

Appearing on GB News as a guest during his typical show slot on Thursday, he said: 'I have always said that there will be a moment when I throw my hat in the ring fully into British politics. I've also said aged 60, I've got one more card to play and it's about when I play it.

'I had, to be honest with you, put in place some preparations to launch next week.

'I wonder whether the Conservative Party found out about it. I think the sense of panic that we saw yesterday, the badly prepared speech, might perhaps have prompted it a little bit.'

Asked to clarify that he was referring to launching a campaign to stand as an MP, he confirmed saying: 'Yes, absolutely.'

But Mr Farage admitted the Prime Minister had 'wrong-footed' him by calling an election for July 4. He said: 'What I could not do in the space of six weeks... was to find a constituency from scratch and go around the country.'

He added he had not decided which constituency he would run in as of yet as there were 'a variety of options' which he felt he could have gone for.

Despite not running as a candidate, Mr Farage said he would campaign for Reform UK and stressed his support for party leader Richard Tice.

He told GB News: 'Am I going to be campaigning? Yes. Am I backing Richard Tice? One hundred per cent... I am utterly committed to Reform.

'I believe their agenda is the only one that can actually stop the sense of national decline that we're in.'

There had been speculation that Reform UK's honorary president could return to frontline politics for the national vote for which Rishi Sunak on Wednesday set the summer date.

But earlier on Thursday, Mr Farage said he would focus on getting Donald Trump re-elected rather than stand as a Reform UK candidate in the general election.

The arch Brexiteer also said he would 'do my bit to help' the party in the UK campaign, but that it was not the right time 'to go any further than that'.

Ahead of the launch of Reform UK's campaign on Thursday, Mr Farage said in a statement posted on X: 'I have thought long and hard as to whether I should stand in the upcoming general election.

'As honorary president of Reform UK, I am fully supportive of Richard Tice's leadership and urge voters to put their trust in him and Lee Anderson.

'I will do my bit to help in the campaign, but it is not the right time for me to go any further than that.

'Important though the general election is, the contest in the United States of America on November 5 has huge global significance. A strong America as a close ally is vital for our peace and security. I intend to help with the grassroots campaign in the USA in any way that I can.

'The choice between Labour and the Conservatives is uninspiring, and only Reform have the radical agenda that is needed to end decline in this country.'

Mr Farage has a longstanding relationship with the former US president, having been the first UK politician to meet Mr Trump after his 2016 White House election victory.

The Prime Minister rocked up in Inverness this evening in a chartered aircraft. But the The Eastern Airways Jetstream 41 is a prop plane with no business or first class seating

Rishi Sunak visits the Port of Nigg on the campaign trail today in Inverness, Scotland

Mr Sunak speaks to members of the media during his tour at the Port of Nigg, which is one of Scotland's most important energy industry facilities

Nigel Farage (pictured) announced that he would not stand as a Reform UK candidate in the upcoming election but that he will 'do my bit to help' the party in the UK campaign

Mr Farage is cancelling his GB News show to free up time for campaigning.

Reform UK leader Mr Tice, a multimillionaire former Tory donor, said on X: 'Delighted to have Nigel's help during the election campaign.

'If you want change, you must vote for @reformparty-uk on July 4th.'

Mr Tice inherited the leadership of Reform UK, originally called the Brexit Party, from Mr Farage when he decided to step back from frontline politics in 2021 in the aftermath of Britain's withdrawal from the EU.

The party is seeking to attract disillusioned Conservative voters, mainly over the issues of immigration and net zero.

Many Tories fear it could put a real dent in Mr Sunak's hopes of a return to Downing Street come polling day.

They are likely to be relieved ex-Ukip leader Mr Farage has decided against taking on a more prominent role, as this could have massively boosted Reform's prospects.

Tory former Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg previously said: 'The fact that he's not a candidate for an opposition party is inevitably helpful for the Conservatives.'

Mr Farage has unsuccessfully stood for Parliament several times, most recently in 2015.

In the 2019 election, he withdrew Brexit Party candidates in Conservative-held seats, a move that is thought to have contributed to Boris Johnson's victory.

Mr Anderson, the former Tory deputy chairman, is the only current Reform UK MP following his defection from the Conservatives.

At Reform's election launch event, former MEP Ben Habib appeared to take a coded dig at Mr Farage's decision not to stand.

Mr Habib, who is standing in Wellingborough, said: 'For any political movement to succeed, it needs a leader who is prepared to absolutely stay the distance and make the fight.'

He said Mr Tice 'has the moral courage not to vacate either when the going gets tough, or when it might suit him'.

Asked if he was referencing Mr Farage, Mr Habib said: 'You interpret (my comment) as you see fit. In any walk of life, you have to stay the distance.'
A former public schoolgirl kicked two police officers outside a McDonald's restaurant, as it emerged she has previous convictions for assault and homophobic abuse.

Hanita Dadswell, 31, assaulted PC Nathan Hayward and a colleague after they found her drunk outside an off-licence in Kensington High Street on 9 April last year.

Samir Amin, prosecuting, told Westminster Magistrates' court: 'The officers approached her with the intention of assisting her in getting home safely. She walked away from them.

'They followed her into a McDonald's where she caused some disturbance.

'When they came out of McDonald's the officers tried to apprehend her.'

Hanita Dadswell, 31, of Maida Vale, London, admitted assaulting PC Nathan Hayward and a colleague after they found her drunk outside an off-licence in Kensington High Street on 9 April last year

The former public schoolgirl has twice been involved previously in incidents against police officers, including homophobic abuse and lunging at them with a wine bottle

Dadswell has twice previously been involved in incidents against police officers prior to her latest arrest for assault.

She was convicted of shouting homophobic abuse at a police officer in October 2022 and handed a conditional discharge for two years.

Dadswell, of Maida Vale, London, was fined for threatening behaviour in 2019 for lunging at police officers with a wine bottle after a boozy date with her boyfriend.

She had drunkenly ranted she 'didn't bloody like the police' after officers were called out to investigate a report she had been assaulted on Valentine's Day.

Then in March 2021, she was handed a 12-month community order for assaulting a police officer and calling another PC a 'Welsh dyke' following an incident at a boyfriend's home in Chelsea.

This week, Dadswell admitted two counts of assaulting an emergency worker and was released on unconditional bail ahead of sentencing at Westminster Magistrates on 19 June.
A nearly century-old home in Arlington, Virginia, has caused a dispute between a family and their county government.

The house, located at 1802 Columbia Pike and built in 1929, has been in Sandra Fortson's family since the 1950s and is currently owned by her cousin, Karen Newman.

However, after a carbon monoxide leak at the home left Newman with brain damage, Sandra has been named as the home's conservator and is fighting to save it from demolition.

Arlington County is attempting to invoke eminent domain to acquire the property for traffic and safety improvements.

'[Karen] can't fight for herself, so I'm fighting for her,' Sandra told Fox 5. 'There are very few African-American-owned properties in the neighborhood, and they're trying to take this one.'

The century-old house, located at 1802 Columbia Pike, has been in Sandra Fortson's family since the 1950s and is currently owned by her cousin, Karen Newman.

'If they offered me a million dollars, I still wouldn't want to take the money. I want the house to remain in the family,' Sandra said, emphasizing the historical and sentimental meaning behind the home

Negotiations have been ongoing for several years, but Sandra maintains that the county's offer of $620,000 falls well below fair market value.

She also emphasized the home's historical and sentimental significance.

In fact, to Sandra, she said the home is priceless.

'If they offered me a million dollars, I still wouldn't want to take the money. I want the house to remain in the family,' she said.

Dr. Scott Taylor, president of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, highlights the disproportionate impact that situations such as Sandra's have on historically black neighborhoods.

'Let's just talk about it because if you've got a plan A, there's got to be a plan B somewhere where everybody can be satisfied,' he said.

'This is repeating history. Every time it feels like a project comes through, and they have to demolish something, it happens to black residents.'

Sandra said renovations are already underway inside the house, and her attorney is preparing legal action before the June 8th deadline set by the county for a title change.

After a carbon monoxide leak at the home left Newman with brain damage, Sandra has been named as the home's conservator and is fighting to save it from demolition. (Pictured: old pictures of Karen and her family at the dinner table in the house decades ago)

Negotiations have been ongoing for several years, but Sandra maintains that the county's offer of $620,000 falls well below fair market value. (Pictured: Old family portrait with Karen)

She said she also has the backing of her neighbors, who sent a letter to the county, expressing their opposition to their demolition plan.

Arlington County Board candidate Natalie Roy, voiced her support for Sandra's case, echoing Dr. Taylor's words that there has to be a better solution to the problem.

'This is outrageous,' Roy said. 'This is a situation where - think about it - where else in the county would this be happening? I think the county should reassess quickly, regroup, and say we've come up with a better plan.'

Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey released a statement to Fox 5, acknowledging Sandra's concerns but also maintaining her reasoning.

'The resolution and offer are the procedural steps the County needed to take to keep the possibility of the realigned intersection in play while we continued negotiations with the property owner; it was not meant to signal the end of all negotiations and conversations,' the statement said.

Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey said in a statement that demolishing the house (pictured) is vital to the 'Columbia Pike Multimodal Project' for traffic and safety improvements

Dr. Scott Taylor (pictured), president of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, highlights the disproportionate impact that situations such as Sandra's have on historically black neighborhoods

The statement also maintains that demolishing the house is vital to the 'Columbia Pike Multimodal Project, which seeks to turn this major road into a complete street that balances all modes of travel and supports high-quality, high-frequency transit service in one of Arlingtons most diverse neighborhoods.'

Garvey also claimed that the county has been attempting to communicate with Sandra and reach an appraisal agreement, but they have not received a counter appraisal.

'The County is committed to exploring as many options as possible to come to a mutually agreeable solution,' the statement concluded.
Violent clashes broke out between police and protestors near a famous Barcelona park after it was closed for a private fashion event on Thursday.

Chaotic scenes showed friction between baton-wielding officers and residents rallying against the use of public property for a Louis Vuitton runway where stars from around the world had gathered.

Emma Stone, Sophie Turner, Jennifer Connelly and Ana de Armas were among the top names welcomed by the luxury French brand to parade their 2025 range this week. But organisers have been accused of 'privatising' public space.

Video showed protestors being beaten back by masked police in riot gear as they raged against Louis Vuitton's use of the historic Park Guell, with critics voicing opposition towards both the event itself and the disruption it causes in the city for days.

Matters came to a head on Thursday as huge crowds wielding banners encircled officers, who were seen shoving residents and beating one man to the ground after he lashed out with a kick.

Police and demonstrators clash during a protest outside the Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday May 23, 2024

Protesters clash with police officers during a protest against the Louis Vuitton fashion show

A man is detained by police officers during a protest against the Louis Vuitton fashion show

Models present creations from the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2025 collection by French designer Nicholas Ghesquiere, in Barcelona

Police and demonstrators clash during a protest outside the Park Guell in Barcelona on May 23

Crowds of Barcelona residents blocked the street as they protested various issues surrounding the show

A neighbourhood council reported damage during 'works' for the Louis Vuitton parade

Officers were seen in harrowing footage wildly striking at protestors as they gathered in protest of the event.

In one video, the crowd appears to shuffle forward before one man is beaten back with a baton, crying out in pain.

The group, some appearing with cameras, seem to step away from the officers in an apparent attempt to defuse the situation before the violence erupts again.

One officer appears to push a woman back towards the crowd, who falls back into him.

It is unclear from the clip whether she is pushed by the large mass of people behind her or moves forward of her own volition.

The officer responds quickly by lashing out at the encroaching crowd with his baton, before giving the woman a heavy shove back into the mass.

A man in a grey T-shirt, stood next to the woman, then lunges forward at the officer, who strikes another person with his baton in the melee.

The man in grey dives in with a wild kick but finds himself in the centre of eight officers, all masked and all with batons, who surround him and drag him away from the crowds.

Officers strike officers in the confusion, and projectiles are thrown in their direction as tensions boil over.

Protesters were seen yelling at police and being pushed back by officers in riot gear

An animal rights activist demonstrates against Louis Vuitton in Barcelona

Protesters in elaborate costumes demonstrated against the show over animal rights concerns

The man in grey is then seen on the floor with his arms behind his back as some officers circle while others try to manage the crowd.

In more peaceful scenes, protestors were seen staging a parodic catwalk in the Travessera de Dalt road through the district of Gracia to the applause of bystanders.

A journalist for Catalan channel Rac 1 claimed a person had been detained by officials and taken to a police station.

'Before, there had been moments of tension and there have been police charges,' Rac journalist Mar Poyato wrote on Twitter/X this evening.

The outlet claimed preparations before the event had damaged one of the stairs at the historic cite, sparking outrage.

At the improvised catwalk in Gracia, one bearded man strutted across the street and back in a red dress off both shoulders, with an improvised lace net over his face.

An animal rights activist demonstrates against Louis Vuitton in Park Guell, Barcelona

Masked demonstrators paraded in a fake fashion show to protest against Louis Vuitton

Another protestor in black coat with 'ACAB' (All Cops Are B******s) emblazoned across the back joined the march, trailed by a black cape.

And a third person in a vibrant green jacket and black sunglasses also confidently walked past in apparent ridicule of Louis Vuitton's statement party.

The event itself is one of many organised by the luxury fashion brand for the 37th America's Cup, held in the creative hub of Barcelona this year and sponsored by the brand.

Among those attending was LVMH owner and CEO Bernard Arnault, who this year retained his spot as the richest man in the world, worth a staggering $206bn according to Forbes.

On Wednesday, dozens turned out to complain about the event, judging it 'privatising public space', as reported by Catalan News.

Park Guell was completed in 1914, some 14 years after it was first drawn up under instruction of Catalan entrepreneuer Eusebi Guell.

A banner near Park Guell reads 'Louis Vuitton go home' during the event on May 23

Protestors clash with Mossos police in Barcelona amid demos over the fashion show, May 23

A police officer strikes at members of the crowd as they appear to push back amid clashes

British actor Sophie Turner poses for photographs upon arrival to the presentation of Louis Vuitton's Cruise 2025 collection today

Officials stand guard at the historic park amid multi-day clashes with protestors, May 22

Guell aimed to 'recreate the British residential parks', even naming the site in English, with views over the flat plain of Barcelona and the adjacent Mediterranean.

Early on, private plots were sold off in small quantities, but a lack of buyers eventually saw works abandoned in 1914.

The park was thus reserved for large public events as a private garden of sorts for Guell, before being sold to the City Council by his heirs after his death in 1918.

Since 1926, the park has been designated a municipal park and now hosts the Gaudi House Museum - both recognised as important artefacts of local culture in their own right.

In 1984, the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Thousands more electricity pylons will be built across Britain as the National Grid 'rewires the nation' for net zero.

The company will spend more than 30billion to overhaul the network to prepare for the switch to green energy.

Thousands of miles of new cables will be constructed by 2030 to connect wind farms and power stations to towns and cities to meet soaring demand for electricity.

Net zero is set to be a key battleground ahead of this summer's General Election.

Labour wants to decarbonise by 2030, while Rishi Sunak has argued that too fast a shift risks driving up energy bills.

Demand is expected to rise by 50 per cent by 2035 as households switch to electric cars and heat pumps.

Thousands more electricity pylons will be built across Britain as the National Grid 'rewires the nation' for net zero

Rishi Sunak (pictured) has argued that too fast a shift towards net-zero risks driving up energy bills

Chief executive John Pettigrew (pictured) said: 'Governments and regulators are moving with increased urgency to attract the levels of investment required to meet their net zero ambitions'

National Grid already owns and operates around 21,000 electricity pylons across England and Wales, as well as 4,500 miles of overhead power lines  which is enough to stretch from London to Miami.

The company will raise 7 billion from shareholders to help fund the plan.

The public will also contribute, as a portion of household energy bills goes to National Grid.

Chief executive John Pettigrew said: 'Governments and regulators are moving with increased urgency to attract the levels of investment required to meet their net zero ambitions.'

A further 30 billion will be pumped into the US where National Grid owns infrastructure.
She's an author, broadcaster, businesswoman and sometime WeightWatchers champion.

Now, Sarah, Duchess of York has taken on a new challenge: speaking up for young people.

The 64-year-old says she is now an 'ambassador' for Generation Z, a term generally referring to those aged 13 to 26.

'I am the generational bridge between Gen Z and the outside world,' she declares at the Knights Of Charity gala dinner in Cannes.

'I'm saying, 'No, Gen Z, I'm very sorry for hurting your planet and I'm listening'.'

Sarah, Duchess of York, has taken on a new challenge: speaking up for young people

'I am the generational bridge between Gen Z and the outside world,' she declared at the Knights Of Charity gala dinner in Cannes on Wednesday

Explaining why she is taking up the cause of those less than half her age, she tells me: 'I can relate to the pressure they face because Fergie's always been judged.'

Sarah has two daughters with her ex-husband, Prince Andrew: Princess Beatrice, 35, and Princess Eugenie, 34.

'Gen Z are very strong people,' she says.

'No one should be judged on anything, not race, creed, colour, or any other denomination  and I'm a great supporter of LGBTQ. 

'Everybody just needs to be themselves  why is that not good enough?'

The Duchess was enjoying visiting the South of France after being diagnosed with two types of cancer in the span of eight months.

She was told by doctors in March that it appeared her malignant melanoma skin cancer had not spread.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery last year.

Fergie, who was wearing a green Vivienna Lorikeet dress, joined Milutin Gatsby, who conceived the philanthropic platform, Knights of Charity

'I've won a wonderful new body,' she tells me, joking about her choice of outfit for the evening.

'I thought I looked like a palm tree.'

Her green Vivienna Lorikeet dress is said to be worth 5,155.

She was reunited at the dinner with her old chum by Milutin Gatsby, who conceived the philanthropic platform, which highlights the work of numerous foundations by donating the funds raised to them.

Knights of Charity is well-anchored as one of the world's most significant charity events and is sponsored by Ulyssia, Samer Halimeh, and Flyeralarm.

Fergie, whose marriage ended in divorce in 1996, was linked to Fernandez, founder of Braveheart Films, for two years until 2016.
Police successfully foiled plans for a potential terror attack involving firearms in Scotland, the British FBI has revealed.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the counter-terrorism probe was led by Police Scotland and centred on the apparent preparation for a firearms attack in the Edinburgh area.

Specialists from the NCAs Major Crime Investigative Support unit were drafted in to aid the operation, including forensic clinical psychologists and behavioural investigative advisers.

The NCA is the UKs lead agency against organised crime including human, weapon and drug trafficking, and cybercrime and economic crime.

Details were mentioned in a report to the board of the Scottish Police Authority

Its involvement in Operation Ferulic  the counter-terrorism probe which uncovered the potential threat  is mentioned

in its report to the board of the Scottish Police Authority, the civilian body that oversees policing.

The report details the NCAs activities in Scotland between October 2023 and March this year.

It said more than 100 officers from the NCA, Police Scotland and a unit from the south-west of England executed 12 search warrants against organised crime group members based across Greater Glasgow.

This was part of a national investigation into fraud targeting vulnerable victims, with seven people arrested for money-laundering and fraud offences.

The NCA said it had helped Scottish police in scores of cases involving murder, rape, suspicious and unexplained deaths, and missing people.

The agency said its work had resulted in 131 cases where criminal activity was disrupted in Scotland from October to March.

The NCAs report discloses that Eastern European criminals have been trafficking women to the UK to work in Scottish brothels.

It said support was provided to a Police Scotland probe into the group, which is believed to force Romanian women as young as 18 into sex work. The gangsters, based in Scotland, attempted to launder 500,000 allegedly raised from the brothel operation.

Meanwhile, the NCA said 15 organisations in Scotland had been hit by ransomware attacks in the past two years, carried out by the LockBit criminal group.

Earlier this month, a Russian leader of LockBit  Dmitry Khoroshev  was unmasked and sanctioned by the UK, Australia and the US following an NCA-led international campaign.

Khoroshev, also known as LockBitSupp, thrived on anonymity and had offered a 7.9million reward to anyone who could reveal his identity. He will now be subject to a series of asset freezes and travel bans.

The operation targeting him formed part of an extensive and ongoing investigation into the LockBit group by the NCA, FBI, and international partners in the Operation Cronos taskforce.
Sheriffs have been urged by Scotlands top judge to send fewer criminals to jail for short sentences amid a prison overcrowding crisis, the Mail can reveal.

Lord Carloway  the Lord President  has encouraged sheriffs to consider alternatives to jail such as Community Payback Orders to ease pressure on prisons.

It emerged last week that up to 500 prisoners are set to be released early after SNP ministers announced they would use emergency powers to tackle overcrowded jails.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said she was taking the controversial step to release criminals serving less than four years in response to the critical risk facing the countrys prisons.

Top judge Lord Carloway

Scottish Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay said: The Justice Secretary has signalled her intent to free prisoners early due to severe overcrowding, which is cause for concern. If the government is also lobbying the judiciary in any way in order to persuade them to stop sending people to prison, they must be transparent about this.

Wendy Sinclair-Gieben, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, warned that a prison population of more than 8,300 presents a risk, and a trade union said the situation was becoming so dangerous that prison officers could lose their lives while at their work.

The Mail has been told that Lord Carloway wrote to sheriffs principal [senior sheriffs who are in charge of regions or sheriffdoms] on May 15, telling them of the looming government bid to free-up jail space and encouraging them to consider alternatives to short-term sentences.

There is an existing presumption against short sentences of less than 12 months  but Lord Carloways intervention was aimed at driving home the importance of diverting more offenders away from jails.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: It is entirely for the Lord President to decide how he engages with members of the judiciary.
You could have heard a pin drop. In this case, a grenade pin, for John Swinney had just lobbed an explosive into his partys election hopes.

Shortly before FMQs, Holyroods standards committee had released its decision in the case of Michael Matheson, the chancer who tried to bill us for watching the Celtic while he was sunning himself in Morocco.

Its a grand old team to see, especially if someone else is paying for the mobile data.

The committee recommended booting Matheson out of parliament for 27 sitting days and withholding his pay for 54 days.

Michael Matheson looks tense, anxious and fearful as his day of reckoning rolls around, months after his iPad story spectacularly unravelled

Understandably, Tory leader Douglas Ross had a spring in his step when he toddled into the chamber just before noon. He was readying himself to give the SNP a kicking. Little did he know he would have to wait in line behind the partys own leader.

Will John Swinney do the right thing and kick Michael Matheson out of the SNP? Ross asked.

He would not. Boy, would he not.

Remember that grenade? Here is where it went bang. And then Swinney set the rubble on fire. And drove a steamroller over the dust.

He began by telling us that Matheson was a friend who had made mistakes, then stunned the chamber by alleging that the process has been prejudiced. By who?

Annie Wells, a Tory member of the committee. The Glasgow MSP had previously accused Matheson of lies and cover-ups over the iPad bill. That will happen when you tell lies and cover things up.

Wells should have recused herself, the First Minister stated, and announced he would oppose the recommended sanction.

The leader of the SNP, about to face the electorate at the ballot box, let it be known that he was sticking by the bloke who tried to claim 11 grand for a holiday iPad bill. Its the worst case of self-sabotage since Glenn Hoddle.

The Tories were in an uproar. Rosss flabber was well and truly gasted.

That is incredible, he sputtered, before accusing the First Minister of defending the indefensible.

The Tory leader had to contend with some Nationalist heckling, but not as much as usual. A fair few of Swinneys backbenchers sounded lost for words, too.

All of a sudden Honest John had been replaced by Hauners John, stepping in to shield his mate from those big bullies on the standards committee. Now, instead of bashing the Tories, they faced six weeks on the doorsteps defending their bosss dubious impression of Atticus Finch.

Anas Sarwar was livid, so much so he even earned a rebuke from the Presiding Officer. (For calling Swinney Mr Wanting-To-Pretend-That-He-is-the-Integrity-Symbol-of-the-Parliament. He should have been rebuked for aggravated hyphenation alone.)

Swinney had demeaned himself and the office of First Minister, Sarwar railed, telling his rival that he was a party first, country second politician. That earned a scowl.

Perhaps the Labour leaders most damaging broadside was his comparison of Swinneys protection of Matheson with Tory efforts to shield their MPs from the consequences of wrongdoing at Westminster.

Swinney will not have appreciated being bracketed with Boris Johnson on the subject of respect for parliament. His expression was icy.

The SNP, Sarwar thundered, liked to demand accountability in the House of Commons but hold itself to a lower standard in Scotland.

But what will get up the punters noses is how sanctimonious Swinney was. He prated that he came at this matter from the fundamental Christian maxim of doing unto others what you would have done unto yourself.

This particular chapter and verse concerns Matheson lying about the data bill. I seem to recall another Christian maxim about bearing false witness.

Forty-one days till the election. Nationalist MPs had better pray for a miracle because John Swinney isnt going to save them.
Rishi Sunak has launched a stinging attack on the SNP for failing Scotland  as he insisted only the Tories have delivered on the economy.

The Prime Minister accused Nationalist ministers of focusing on woke laws such as hate crime legislation at the expense of Scotlands public services.

Writing exclusively in todays Mail, he said he has supported every corner of our great nation and urged Scots to trust him to deliver a secure future for the Union.

His passionate plea to Scots comes after he yesterday fired the starting gun on the General Election campaign north of the Border with a visit to Port of Nigg on the Cromarty Firth.

The Prime Minister hit the election campaign trail with Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross at the Nigg Energy Centre in Ross and Cromarty

Mr Sunak insisted he has the economy back on track by supporting all parts of the UK. He said: While we have delivered for Scotland, the SNP has failed.

Too busy caught up implementing woke laws that have left the police drowning in thousands of reported incidents, the Scottish Government has let standards slip in public services across the board.

He said Labour would take Britain back to square one and claimed the SNP had driven Scotlands finances into the ground.

The Prime Minister said: Ultimately, this election is about who do you trust, in these uncertain times, to deliver a secure future for you and your family.

We Conservatives have a clear plan and are prepared to take the bold action necessary to deliver that secure future for our Union, and our United Kingdom.

Speaking at his partys campaign event in Nigg yesterday, he added: My observation on the SNP is that they are so obsessed with independence and constitutional change that they take their eye off the ball on the day-to-day things that matter to people in Scotland.

His comments come as John Swinney yesterday put independence at the very heart of the SNPs campaign.

But voters are abandoning his party in their droves. Launching the campaign at an event in Edinburgh, Mr Swinney urged voters: On July 4  Independence Day  make sure your voice is heard. He added: I couldnt have imagined even two months ago standing here launching the SNP campaign for the 2024 General Election.

But I am here because I knew I could unify my party.

Meanwhile, Labours Sir Keir Starmer, who will make a campaign visit to Scotland today, insisted people across the country are desperate for change.

A Labour government will take Scotland in a different direction and give people hope for the future, he said.

Read More: Rishi Sunak - This election is about who you TRUST to deliver for our United Kingdom
Next door to rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez' district, a majority-minority crowd came out to support Donald Trump in the Bronx.

Thousands of mostly Hispanic and Black Trump supporters gathered at Crotona Park on Thursday hours before the Republican candidate for president's rally in one of the most Democratic counties in the nation.

Despite president Joe Biden's recent comments that another Trump presidency would represent a threat to Black Americans, rally-goers told DailyMail.com their actual fear is a second Biden term.

'Biden is president. He's currently a threat to black people. So that's what I say about that,' said Lily Robinson, from the Bronx.

'We definitely cannot continue to keep going in the direction that we're going in,' she added. 'I'm here because I want to show support for Trump as a black person and just in general.'

'Biden is president. He's currently a threat to black people. So that's what I say about that,' said Lily Robinson, from the Bronx.

Her friend Jasmine Gray, from New Jersey, added: 'A lot of people said nobody was going to show up because I was in the Bronx. And I know that's just a fear tactic. That's a fear mongering tactics'

Her friend Jasmine Gray, from New Jersey, added: 'A lot of people said nobody was going to show up because the rally was in the Bronx. And I know that's just a fear tactic. That's fear mongering tactics.'

When asked whether Trump represented a threat to Black Americans, Keith from Detroit recalled Biden's 2020 comments where he claimed those who couldn't decide between him and Trump 'ain't black.'

Keith, who travels the country following Trump rallies, told DailyMail.com: 'You know, [Biden] told me I wasn't black when I didn't vote for him - and I voted for Trump twice.

'One thing I like about Trump, he opened a door for people to think a little bit more and look behind the curtain a little bit more.'

Navarra, 19, said she attended the rally because the country 'needs' Trump. She's originally from Bangladesh

Christina Gallagher, born and raised in the Bronx, attended the rally to to support Trump and ask for congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortes to be fired

At the entrance for the line, a booth where attendees could change their registration from Democrat to Republican was popular.

Angel, a young Latino man from Brooklyn, said he used to be a Democrat but slowly turned away from the party over the last decade.

'It was a 10-year process,' he said when asked why he turned to the Republican Party.

'It was chipping away and chipping away, and one day I woke up and was a conservative. Holy sh** how did that happen?

'But yeah, it just took time. Once you get out of your little circle and get to meet new people... They say you're not supposed to. But then you start seeing what life or reality is.'

Two young men from Long Island, Salvador and Walter said they support Trump because he represents the American Dream that their parents left El Salvador for

When asked whether Trump represented a threat to Black Americans, Keith from Detroit recalled Biden's 2020 comments where he claimed those who couldn't decide between him and Trump 'ain't black'

Angel, a young Latino man from Brooklyn, said he used to be a Democrat but slowly turned away from the party over the last decade

When asked about claims by Democrats that Trump is a racist, Angel said 'they're the actual racists.'

'I noticed that when I became a conservative, that's the most racism I've ever experienced - from blacks, Hispanics, whites that are liberal. I encountered more racism from liberals than when I was when I was a liberal.'

Nearby, a Latino group was dancing to the Trump's popular Spanish campaign song.

'Voy a votar por Donald Trump!' they screamed in unison. ('I'm going to vote for Donald Trump.')

Two young men from Long Island were helping with the registrations, and said they support Trump because he represents the American Dream that their parents left El Salvador for.

That 'American Dream', according to them, has been put in danger by the Biden administration over the last four years.

Walter, 27, said: 'I think that today is a testament of the love and support that Latinos have for the president. We have been registering people all day ever since we got here.

'And we have actually gotten a lot of Democratic Latinos who are registered Democrat currently, but want to reregister, all because of the president [Trump].'

A Latino group dances to the Trump campaign 's popular Spanish jingle

'Voy a votar por Donald Trump!' they screamed in unison. ('I'm going to vote for Donald Trump')

Walter added: 'For a long time Democrats promised a lot, whether it's immigration reform that protects Americans and public safety here, a lot of promises that they deliver economically.

'Latinos come here for the American Dream. We're not seeing the American dream.'

Walter's friend Saldavor weighed in: 'They always have this rhetoric that [Trump's] a racist and he's not. He's a phenomenal human being. He cares about the everyday hard worker.'

When asked about Trump's promise of mass deportations, both young men said they support clamping down on illegal immigration.

Salvador continued: 'My mother came here 30 years ago, and it's not fair that somebody that has been here for a long time, they pay their taxes and somebody that just crosses the border, they got everything.

'It's not fair. If you ask all of the Latinos that are here, they'll tell you that it's not fair at all.'

As he seeks the presidency for a third time, Trump is aiming to win over black and Hispanic voters - both groups that he has seen gains in.

People with Dominican Republic and US flags chant while waiting in line to attend a rally for former US President Donald Trump at Crotona Park in the Bronx borough of New York

As he seeks the presidency for a third time, Trump is aiming to win over black and Hispanic voters - both groups that he has seen gains in

'Have you seen our poll numbers with African Americans and with Hispanic Americans? But Im not that surprised because I see it, I feel it,' Trump declared during a rally in Atkinson, New Hampshire, days before the states primary.

'We did great in 2016, we did much better in 2020 but there is much more enthusiasm now.'

Most black Americans continue to support Biden. Still, black voters are flocking to Trump in huge numbers, while simultaneously leaving President Biden, CNN's average of polls showed.

Trump's support among black voters surged to 22 percent compared to 2020, when the 45th president only had the support of 9 percent of the demographic.

Biden, on the other hand, saw his 81 percent of black voter support in 2020 dip to 69 percent.

CNN data analyst Harry Enten said this could be a 'troubling sign' for the Biden campaign, which heavily relied on black voters to get him into the White House last time around.

If the trend of black voters aligning with Trump continues, he could win a larger share of them than any Republican presidential candidate since 1960, Enten added.

Trumps campaign believes he can chip away at President Bidens support among Black and Hispanic voters, particularly younger men who may not follow politics closely, but are frustrated by their economic situations and drawn to Trumps tough-guy persona.

Trumps campaign believes he can chip away at President Bidens support among Black and Hispanic voters

Bidens campaign on Thursday released two ads aimed at undercutting Trumps attempts to make inroads with Black voters, highlighting his propagation of the birther conspiracy against former President Barack Obama and his calls for the death penalty for five men wrongly convicted of rape in the 1989 Central Park Five case.

A radio ad fictionalizing a conversation between a Trump campaign volunteer and a Black voter will air on national Black radio stations while a shorter television spot will air in major cities, in swing states and on digital platforms, aiming to reach voters in the Bronx near Trumps rally.

The Bronx was once the most Democratic borough in the city. Barack Obama won 91.2 percent of the boroughs vote in 2012, the highest anywhere in the state. Biden won 83.5% of the borough in 2020. Trump garnered only 16 percent of the vote.

The area Trump is visiting is overwhelmingly non-white  a departure from most of his rally locations.

About 65 percent of residents are Hispanic and 31 percent Black, according to U.S. Census data. About 35 percent live below the poverty line.
A man has been charged after allegedly stabbing his mother and brother in Sydney's innerwest.

Paramedics were called to Sydenham Road in Marrickville just before 6pm, where they found the two family members with stab wounds near Marrickville High School.

Jackyy Dang, 22, was arrested at the scene and taken to Newtown Police Station.

His 25-year-old brother was allegedly found with stab wounds to his neck, face, head and back while his 55-year-old mother had allegedly been knifed in the throat.

Dang has been charged with two counts of cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder.

Paramedics were called to Sydenham Road in Marrickville just before 6pm, where they found the two injured people near Marrickville High School

The brother was seen with blood pouring from his head as he was taken to an ambulance.

He is now fighting for life at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where the mother is in a serious condition.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (15, 148 mins)

Verdict: Max power

Rating:

The only letdown in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the fifth film in George Miller's Mad Max series, which began in 1979 and made a star of the little-known Mel Gibson, is that it won't propel anyone to stardom.

The two leads, Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, have a high profile already, although the latter has never been better than he is here as the story's enigmatic baddie.

The film is a worthy prequel to that high-octane 2015 blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road, which remains one of the best action movies of the last 25 years. This one, similarly, is stunning on the eye, decidedly loud on the ear, and a thousand-watt jolt to the spirits. I loved it.

Taylor-Joy is fabulous in the title role, the warrior queen-to-be, likewise Alyla Browne who plays Furiosa as a girl.

The film is a worthy prequel to that high-octane 2015 blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road

Anya Taylor-Joy is fabulous in the title role, the warrior queen-to-be

This one, similarly, is stunning on the eye, decidedly loud on the ear, and a thousand-watt jolt to the spirits. I loved it

But as ever the real laurels belong to Miller.

The veteran Australian director, who doesn't just have oily-rag credits (he also made The Witches Of Eastwick and Babe: Pig In The City), is pushing 80 but is still firmly in command of the petrol-soaked dystopian world he created 45 years ago in the original Mad Max.

At the start, a voiceover tells us that 'gangs are marauding like locusts across the land'. Frankly, it would be disappointing if they weren't. Miller needs marauding gangs like other story-tellers need star-crossed lovers.

Unsubtly, unabashedly, he feeds off classic Westerns such as John Ford's 1956 masterpiece The Searchers to set up the tale of spirited young Furiosa, abducted from a peaceful oasis by raddled Hell's Angels types who find her sabotaging their bikes.

Eventually, with her formidable mother (Charlee Fraser) giving frantic chase across a parched desert, she falls into the hands of the charismatic, messianic warlord Dementus.

The film is a worthy prequel to that high-octane 2015 blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road, which remains one of the best action movies of the last 25 years

At the start, a voiceover tells us that 'gangs are marauding like locusts across the land'

A scarcely recognisable Hemsworth plays him like a post-apocalyptic Charles Manson, seductively charming when he wants to be, but a sociopath

Unsubtly, unabashedly, he feeds off classic Westerns such as John Ford's 1956 masterpiece The Searchers to set up the tale of spirited young Furiosa, abducted from a peaceful oasis by raddled Hell's Angels types who find her sabotaging their bikes

Furiosa finds a courageous ally, Praetorian Jack (pictured left and played by Tom Burke), who pledges to teach her the secrets of 'road war' as she attempts to escape from this hell-scape and get back to her benign homeland, the Green Place of Many Mothers

I saw Furiosa last week at Cannes where it went down a storm as any film should that is a crazy hybrid of a Western, a biblical epic, a road trip, a sci-fi fantasy and, of course, Top Gear on steroids

The veteran Australian director George Miller (pictured), who doesn't just have oily-rag credits (he also made The Witches Of Eastwick and Babe: Pig In The City), is pushing 80 but is still firmly in command of the petrol-soaked dystopian world he created 45 years ago in the original Mad Max

A scarcely recognisable Hemsworth plays him like a post-apocalyptic Charles Manson, seductively charming when he wants to be, but a sociopath.

Furiosa finds a courageous ally, Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke), who pledges to teach her the secrets of 'road war' as she attempts to escape from this hell-scape and get back to her benign homeland, the Green Place of Many Mothers. But she also has a violent grudge against Dementus, not that he knows it.

Anyway, he has his hands full dealing with Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme), whose army of petrol-heads is a match for his own as they both seek to control the Wasteland, as it is quite reasonably known.

I saw Furiosa last week at Cannes where it went down a storm as any film should that is a crazy hybrid of a Western, a biblical epic, a road trip, a sci-fi fantasy and, of course, Top Gear on steroids.

A longer review of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga ran last week. Furiosa, Hit Man and Garfield are in cinemas now.
Driver rushed to hospital after crash in St Kilda

A young man has been rushed to hospital after colliding with a tree.

Emergency services rushed to the scene St Kilda, in Melbourne's inner southeast, after the driver collided with the tree at about 5.30am on Friday.

The driver, a man believed to be in his 20s or 30s, was trapped for a short time inside their vehicle before they were rushed to The Alfred for treatment.

Emergency services rushed to the scene St Kilda, in Melbourne's inner southeast, after the driver collided with a tree at about 5.30am on Friday (the scene is pictured)

The driver was trapped for a short time inside their vehicle before they were rushed to hospital

The scene remains cordoned off from the public with police tape.

A Victoria Police spokesperson said the investigation was ongoing.

Anyone with information about the crash has been urged to call Crime Stoppers.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ambulance Victoria in relation to the incident.
On May 22, 2004, the heir to the Spanish throne married a divorced television journalist.

Well-known news anchor Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano captivated guests as she made her way down the aisle in Madrid's Almudena Cathedral.

Her exquisite Manuel Pertegaz gown, featuring intricate embroidery and a dramatic 15 foot train, was complemented by a veil gifted by her beau, now King Felipe VI of Spain.

To complete her ensemble, the bride wore the magnificent Prussian tiara, previously worn by her mother-in-law, then Queen Sofia, on her wedding day in 1962.

Letizia chose a cascading bouquet of symbolic blooms. Apple blossom represented her home region of Oviedo, while orange blossom paid tribute to her husband's late grandmother, the Countess of Barcelona.

And blue-tinted Hildegarde iris and ivory Elizabethan roses offered a nod to her new husband's royal dynasty, the House of Bourbon.

After they met when Felipe visited the site of an oil spill disaster that Letizia was covering as a journalist, the couple kept their relationship under wraps before announcing their surprise engagement in November 2003.

The grand ceremony the following spring took place just two months after the tragic Madrid train bombings and the couple dedicated their nuptials to the victims of the attack.

Last year, Letizia's former brother-in-law claimed that he had an affair with her after her wedding. Jaime Del Burgo, 53 plans to produce an eight-part TV series to detail the 'truth' about his claims.

But as they celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary today after sharing sweet family photographs, we reflect on the unforgettable moments shared by one of Europe's most glamorous royal couples.

On May 22, 2004, the heir to the Spanish throne married a television journalist. Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano captivated guests as she made her way down the aisle in Madrid's Almudena Cathedral. Above: The newly wed couple

Letizia, now the Queen of Spain, presenting the TV news on Television Espanola

The newlyweds were greeted with a military salute as they emerged from the cathedral to waiting crowds

Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano smiles to crowds as she approaches the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid on her wedding day, May 22, 2004

The bride arrived at the Cathedral alongside her father Jesus Ortiz. She wore an exquisite gown by Manuel Pertegaz boasting a 15 foot train

The young bridesmaids and page boys wore a traditional Spanish dress featuring rich golden hues

Letizia greeted her fiance in a sweet moment, assisted by bridesmaids, as she arrived at the front of the cathedral

Crown Prince Felipe of Spain exchanges rings with Letizia in the presence of Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco

Letizia's cascading bouquet featured blue-tinted lilies, representing the House of Bourbon. It also included apple blossom, offering a nod to the bride's home region of Oviedo

Letizia topped her look with the magnificent Prussian tiara, previously worn by her mother-in-law, then Queen Sofia, on her wedding day in 1962

The royal couple looked elated as they left the Cathedral in a Rolls-Royce

Letizia and Prince Felipe appeared on the Zarzuela Palace's balcony to wave to well-wishers

The bride shared a tender moment with one of her young bridesmaids before the official photographs were taken

The bridesmaids help to arrange Letizia's 15 foot train for the couple's portraits

Letizia and Prince Felipe had kept their relationship under wraps before announcing their surprise engagement in November 2003 and marrying the following spring
An exuberant Meghan Markle could barely contain her excitement when she arrived in the land of her forebears, ready to explore and reconnect with her roots.

The trip was mostly about trying to understand where I come from, my identity, she gushed after her three-day whistle-stop tour. There is something so lovely about fitting in a piece of the puzzle. It felt like home.

To be clear, this wasnt last weeks much-trumpeted trip to Nigeria where the Duchess of Sussex  who recently claimed to be 43 per cent Nigerian  thanked locals for welcoming me home to my country.

This was another jaunt, now long-forgotten, to the Mediterranean island of Malta.

There, in 2015  barely a year before she went on her first date with Prince Harry  the then Suits actress embarked on a jolly to explore her ancestry in the land from which my great-grandmother hailed.

The Duchess of Sussex visited towns, including Mdina (pictured), to explore her family's heritage on the Mediterranean island

Foreshadowing her aristocratic links, the then Suits actress visited the 16th-century palace Casa Rocca Piccola

Speaking of her visit, Meghan said: Before I came, people were telling me, When you go to Malta, everyone will look like you, and I started to say, Oh my gosh I do sort of blend in, and its the loveliest feeling. The Maltese people have been so kind.

More, in a moment, of her trip which, by all accounts, was a delightful affair featuring a luxury boutique hotel, a trip to a vineyard and an impromptu photoshoot in traditional costume, all organised by the countrys tourist board.

More too, of Meghans ancestry, which even to genealogists is somewhat muddled due to lack of documents and long-lost memories. Or  to borrow an oft-repeated phrase first uttered by the late Queen Elizabeth  because recollections may vary.

W hile the Sussexes visit to Nigeria last week shone a new light on her African-American roots, the story of Meghans European ancestry, on her fathers side, is equally fascinating.

Back in 2015, then 33-year-old Meghan was commissioned to write an article about her Malta trip for Elle magazine. But, in the end, she chose to focus on life in the U.S. and finding her voice as a mixed-race woman. The Elle article, published in 2015, made no mention of Malta or Meghans European ancestors.

Instead, the trip in March that year was mentioned on her now defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig, in which she heaped praise on the islands hospitality and its food and drink.

When asked to go to Malta for ElleUK, to not only discover the beautiful island, but also the land from which my great-grandmother hailed, I said yes without hesitation, she wrote.

Its Malta! A beautiful jewel of an island dotted in the Mediterranean between Sicily, Tunisia and Libya. A dream for one who relishes culture and history set against a backdrop of the ever-so beautiful sea.

Those who crossed paths with Meghan during her brief sojourn on the island had no idea they were rubbing shoulders with a woman who would, one day, become one of the most recognisable faces on the planet.

To be honest I had no idea who she was when I met her, says Kurt Arrigo, the Maltese photographer commissioned by Malta Tourism Authority to accompany Meghan around the island along with a private tour guide and Meghans then business adviser, Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne. Her fame wasnt what it is. I knew she was an actress but I had never watched Suits. She was a bit guarded at first but it became easier as time went on and she relaxed.

It was a pleasant time. She was easy to work with because she had done modelling and photoshoots before. She knew what to do and how to pose and how to hold herself.

Meghan arrived in Malta in early March 2015 and stayed at the newly opened, small luxury boutique hotel, Casa Ellul, where fabulous suites cost around 600 a night. Co-owner Matthew Ellul, whose family have owned the historic building for 250 years, remembers that Meghan stayed in Suite No 7  the one with the terrace and the Jacuzzi  at the four-star hotel, a former palazzo, which has just nine rooms.

Meghan hugs her then business adviser, Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne, during a visit to Malta in 2015

Meghan waxed lyrical about the food and drink on the island, enjoying a meal at the 19-acre Meridiana Wine Estate

Meghans suite boasts views stretching across the rooftops of Valletta to the sea.

It was a cultural visit, he recalls. The Maltese Tourism Authority were taking care of her. She was a very nice lady, very outgoing. She was interested in food and wine. She had a fabulous time.

The future royal had such a good time that she left behind a hand-written card, stamped with The Tig logo, thanking Matthew and his brother Andrew for their hospitality and promising to return soon.

Meghan toured around the island in a people carrier. In addition to her business adviser Gina, and photographer Kurt, she was accompanied by private guide Clive Cortis who was contracted by Malta Tourism Authority.

First stop was a tour of the island capital, Valletta, where Meghan looked around St Johns Co-Cathedral and paused inside its Baroque interior to admire two early 17th-century masterpieces by Caravaggio: The Beheading Of St John The Baptist and St Jerome Writing. She later wrote on her blog that the art took her breath away.

Mr Cortis wrote on his website that he immediately felt at ease in Meghans company, adding: Shes a very down-to-earth person, fun and humble to be with.

Meghan tries on a traditional Maltese cloak, called a ghonnella, which belongs to the 9th Marquis de Piro (right) and his wife Frances (left)

Nicholas, the 9th Marquis de Piro, in his ancestral home Casa Rocca Piccola

Meghan laughs as the 9th Marquis de Piro shows her his books and 'aristocratic bric-a-brac'

The future wife of Prince Harry also tries on a traditional white headdress, as might have been worn by her ancestors

Meghan poses for photographer Kurt Arrigo as they stop off at Casa Roca Piccola near Valletta

After the cathedral, Meghan  dressed in ripped jeans, grey T-shirt, pumps and her favourite 1,600 Max Mara Manuela coat  pootled through Valletta with her entourage, stopping off at Casa Rocca Piccola, a stunning palace built for a Maltese knight almost 500 years ago and the ancestral home of the 9th Marquis de Piro.

She turned up and said I think my great-grandmother was born in Malta, the marquis, Nicholas, told me this week. Then we found out that she was a model. She seemed very kind and said nice things and that she was interested in modelling and that sort of thing. She had a photographer with her. Meghan posed for photographs in rooms replete with marble floors, statues, gilt-framed mirrors and artwork and was given a glimpse of the cellar where an old World War II air-raid shelter, cut out of the rock, remains.

Amongst the aristocratic bric-a-brac the marquis showed the future duchess, was a traditional cloak with a hood framed around a whalebone.

In one of my more creative moments I asked her if shed like to try it on, recalls the marquis. I said it might amuse people.

Photographs taken by Kurt Arrigo show Meghan smiling gently from beneath the cloaks starched hood.

The duchess, pictured exploring the country in her favourite Max Mara coat, was commissioned to write an article about the trip for Elle magazine

She did not appear to have made any discoveries about her past while staying on the island

Worn by Maltese women from the 16th century onwards, it is just the type of garment that Meghans female forebear might have been expected to wear.

Alas, as the marquis himself reflects: I dont think she necessarily had Malta blood in her veins.

During the run-up to her Malta trip, Meghan believed mistakenly that her great- grandmother, Gertrude Merrill, held the key to her Maltese connection and, after being born on the island, had emigrated to Pennsylvania.

In fact it was Meghans great-great-grandmother, Mary Bird, who, records reveal, was born in Malta in the mid-19th century.

Her birth took place there because her British father, Thomas Bird  Meghans great-great-great grandfather  was a foot soldier who was living, along with his Irish wife, in a garrison on the island.

A few years after her birth in 1862, Mary moved with her family to Canada, thus ending her brief connection with Malta but her British-Irish backstory, as the Daily Mail discovered this week, is nonetheless fascinating. Thomas Bird was a private in the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment, part of the Prince of Waless division which, in 1860, was stationed in Beggars Bush Barracks in Dublin. In January that year, Thomas married Irish farmers daughter Mary McCague in the Dublin parish of Donnybrook.

Five months later, in June, Thomas Birds regiment  along with the wives and children of many of the soldiers  set sail from County Cork in Ireland to Malta which was then a Crown Colony and a key strategic staging post for British forces in the Mediterranean.

Meghan and Ms Nelthorpe-Cowne joke as they explore the streets of Malta's capital Valletta

The then 33-year-old later said that she felt she 'blended in' when she visited the island

Pointing at the architecture, Meghan was impressed by the buildings she visited

Life in Malta was hard to say the least. Families housed in barracks in the Cottonera district were forced to endure conditions in which poor hygiene was commonplace and fresh water scarce. In the dry August months in particular, they were afflicted by sandfly fever and cholera. Infant mortality was high among children of British troops.

The Bird family are believed to have remained on the island until 1866 when the 22nd Regiment went by ship to New Brunswick in Canada.

But Thomas Bird is believed to have died around this time. His Irish wife, Mary, married for a second time in 1867 and had more children in Canada before moving to the U.S. in around 1881.

The Mails latest research into Meghans past also puts a dampener on a previous, somewhat romantic, suggestion which emerged around the time that she and Prince Harry became engaged, that she was descended from a Mary Bird working as a cook at Windsor Castle in 1856.

Her great-great-grandmother was born after this date and her great-great-great-grandmother, Belfast-born Mary McCague, only became a Bird when she married Thomas in 1860.

It is thought that no records exist for Marys 1862 birth but Malta is given as her birthplace on dozens of census and civil registration documents in Canada and the U.S. She married carpenter George Merrill in 1883 and died in Laconia, New Hampshire, in June 1925, aged 63.

Meghan's great-great-grandparents Mary Bird, who was born in Malta, and George Merrill

The duchess described herself as a 'California girl' and 'foodie' on her The Tig blog as she praised the wine in restaurants such as the Meridiana Wine Estate

Her daughter Gertrude and her husband Frederick Sanders were the parents of Meghans grandmother, Doris, whose son is Thomas Markle, Meghans estranged father. Doris died, aged 91, four years before Meghans Malta trip.

A connection then, albeit a fleeting one. And Meghan does not appear to have made any new discoveries about her familys Maltese past while staying on the island.

She did mention that she had some sort of connection to Malta, says photographer Kurt Arrigo. But as far as Im aware, she didnt visit any archives. She didnt go down that route. She followed a programme suggested by the tourism authority. As well as Valletta, Meghan and her entourage toured the towns of Dingli and Mdina. She feasted on traditional gastronomical delights in the rural restaurant Diar il-Bniet, including sheep milk cheeselettes and spaghetti with rabbit, and sampled wines not only from the cellars at Casa Ellul but at the 19-acre Meridiana Wine Estate.

The duchess tries on a ghonnella, made with a hood framed around a whalebone

Meghan later described Malta as a 'beautiful jewel of an island' and the land from which her ancestors hailed

Writing on The Tig, she later waxed lyrical about the food she tasted on the island, describing herself as a California girl foodie and mentioning goats milk cheese and sun-dried tomato paste and pastizzi  flaky pastry stuffed with peas or ricotta.

Kurt Arrigo, who spent two days with Meghan, recalls that she relaxed and spoke affectionately about her father.

She said he was a lighting director in the film industry and so she knew about photography, he says.

He also recalls that she mentioned her divorce, two years earlier, from her first husband, director Trevor Engelson, but didnt really open up about that.

The only disappointment, he says, was that having promised to meet his two star-struck teenage daughters who wanted to meet a beautiful American actress, Meghan called the meeting off the next day due to sickness.

Even so, he says, he appreciated the fact that she later name-checked Livia and Kate on The Tig, writing: Sad I didnt get to meet you . . . your dad is the best! Xo MM.

In the card she left for the Ellul brothers, Meghan assured them that she would return to their beautiful island. Sometimes Matthew shows the card to guests staying in Suite 7.

I think she had a great time here, he says. But soon after, she met Prince Harry, and since then I think shes been quite busy. As far as I know, she hasnt been back.
Texas border cops stopped an attempt to sneak $18 million worth of methamphetamines into the US by concealing it in boxes of Mexican squash.

Pictures of the bust released by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) show the narcotic, secured in green wrapping, blending in with green Mexican squash.

The drugs arrived inside at tractor-trailer to a port of entry in Otay Mesa, California, near San Diego on Monday, according to a news release from the agency.

The 44-year-old driver the commercial cargo truck had all the proper documentation and told authorities he was bringing squash from Mexico into California.

During a secondary inspection of the truck, a scan of the truck revealed 'irregularities,' prompting inspectors to bring in a drug-sniffing K-9.

Meth in green wrapped were found inside a shipment of squash near San Diego, California, CBP confirmed

The drug dogs alerted officers to the presence of the meth.

A total of 1,419 packages with the highly addictive stimulant were discovered inside the shipment of squash.

About 11,469 pounds of the drug that could be sold for $18,350,400 will never make it on the street, the release boasted.

Meanwhile, the driver was turned over to Homeland Security Investigation, the investigative branch of CBP.

The feds explained the discovery is part of an increased effort to stop fentanyl from crossing into the US.

Smugglers tried to conceal the drugs in green wrapping

The drugs were found during a secondary inspection of a commercial tractor trailer bringing produce into the US

Known as Operation Apollo, the effort began on October 26, 2023 in southern California, and expanded to Arizona on April 10, 2024.

The bust is latest bizarre found along America's southern border.

In March, a person trying to enter El Paso, Texas from Mexico had a hamburger with fentanyl hidden inside, authorities said at the time.
It's released another five never-before-seen images of galaxies, nebula and more

Stunning new photos from the European Space Agency's (ESA's) Euclid probe show the largest images of the cosmos ever taken.

The UK-backed spacecraft, which blasted off from Florida last summer, returns five new snaps from its vantage point about one million miles from Earth.

Among them is a shot of a spiral galaxy 30 million light-years away that looks like our own Milky Way and a beautiful cloud of faraway gas and dust shaped like a jellyfish.

There's also distant 'galaxy clusters'  several galaxies held together by gravity  captured in 'exquisite' detail thanks to the probe's infrared sensors.

This second trove comes six months after Euclid returned its first full-colour images of the cosmos.

The new collection includes a nebula (left) a spiral galaxy that looks like our Milky Way (top right) and galaxy clusters (bottom right)

Since being launched by a SpaceX rocket in July 2023, Euclid has been stationed at L2, the 'second Lagrange point' of space  a position in space between Earth and the sun where objects sent there tend to stay put.

L2 is located 930,000 miles (1.5 million km) directly 'behind' the Earth as viewed from the sun  nearly four times further away from the Earth than the moon ever reaches.

'These are the largest images of the Universe ever taken from space, covering large swathes of the sky in fine detail,' said Mark Cropper, professor of Astrophysics at University College London.

'They demonstrate Euclids wide-ranging potential, from discovering new planets to surveying vast clusters of galaxies.'

MESSIER '78

The pick of the bunch is a 'breathtaking' shot of nebula called Messier '78, located about 1,600 light-years away from Earth.

Nebulae are enormous clouds of dust and gas occupying the space between stars, and act as a 'nursery' for new stars.

This 'vibrant' stellar nursery is enveloped in a shroud of interstellar dust, which Euclid was able to peer through using its infrared camera.

'Clumps' of gas and dust are pulled together by gravity to create 'complex filaments' of dark orange and pinky-purple  giving an overall shape similar to a jellyfish.

Messier 78: The colourful image looks like a bizarre species of jellyfish but it's actually a nebula - a huge cloud of gas and dust where stars are born

What is the Euclid mission? The Euclid space telescope will create a map of the universe across space and time by observing billions of galaxies out to 10 billion light-years, across more than a third of the sky. Euclid will explore how the universe has expanded and how structure has formed over cosmic history, revealing more about the role of gravity and the nature of dark energy and dark matter. Dark matter makes up most of the mass of galaxies and galaxy clusters, and is responsible for the way galaxies are organized on grand scales. Dark energy, meanwhile, is the mysterious influence driving the accelerated expansion of the universe. Source: ESA/Harvard Advertisement

ESA calls this image 'unprecedented' because it is the first time this young star-forming region has been captured at this width and depth.

NGC 6744

NGC 6744 is a spiral galaxy about 30 million light-years away in the constellation Pavo, also known as the Peacock.

'Exquisite' detail is revealed in the new image of the galaxy, including feather-like lanes of dust emerging as spurs from the spiral arms.

Astronomers believe that galaxies have spiral arms because galaxies rotate around a central axis, although the physics behind the structure of spiral galaxies is something thats still not fully understood even after decades of study.

What they do know is that the spiral structure is important in galaxies, because the arms move and compress gas to foster star formation (most of which occurs along these arms).

NGC 6744 has been described as a lookalike for our own Milky Way galaxy because they are both spiral and have similarities as seen in spacecraft images.

But NGC 6744 is twice as big as our galaxy  175,000 light-years across compared to the Milky Way's 100,000 light years.

NGC 6744: A spiral galaxy about 30 million light-years away in the constellation Pavo, also known as the Peacock

Euclid is stationed at L2, the 'second Lagrange point' of space - a position in space between Earth and the sun where objects sent there tend to stay put

ABELL 2390

Abell 2390 is a galaxy cluster  a giant conglomeration of many galaxies  located 2.7 billion light-years from Earth.

Galaxy clusters are the largest objects in the universe that are held together by their own gravity.

They contain hundreds or thousands of galaxies, lots of hot plasma, and a large amount of dark matter  invisible mass that only interacts with regular matter through gravity and doesn't emit, absorb or reflect light.

Galaxy clusters like Abell 2390 are large repositories of dark matter, making them ideal astrophysical laboratories for studying its properties.

In this single image, more than 50,000 galaxies can be viewed, each one appearing as a single bright blob, like fireflies in the night's sky.

Abell 2390: A galaxy cluster (a giant conglomeration of many galaxies like the Milky Way). More than 50 000 galaxies are seen here

ABELL 2764

Another galaxy cluster called Abell 2764 is seen in the top right of this fourth snap, discernable by an odd assortment of round and oblong blobs.

ESA describes Abell 2764 as a very dense region of space containing hundreds of galaxies orbiting within a halo of dark matter  matter that's completely invisible.

Also seen in this new image is a bright foreground star that lies within our own galaxy, called V*BP-Phoenicis.

In the southern hemisphere, the star is nearly bright enough to be seen by the human eye, but Euclid renders it bright and golden.

Abell 2764: Viewable in the top right of this image. Also note V*BP-Phoenicis (lower left), a star within our galaxy and in the southern hemisphere thats nearly bright enough to be seen by the human eye

DORADO GROUP

Lastly, the Dorado Group is another cluster of galaxies, collectively spanning more than 1,000 light years in the far southern sky.

As this image shows, Dorado's assortment of galaxies are of many shapes and sizes, from spirals to flat and disk-shaped, some very bright and others more faint.

As Dorado is a lot younger than other clusters, several of its constituent galaxies are still forming stars and remain in the stage of interacting with one another, while others show signs of having merged relatively recently.

Dorado Group; A loose group comprising an estimated 70 galaxies and located some 62 million light-years away

Amazingly, Euclid captured this new images in just a single day, in both visible light and infrared light.

They are at least four times sharper than those we can take from ground-based telescopes, according to experts.

'In these spectacular images we can see galaxies that were previously invisible, because the most distant galaxies can only be discovered using the longer near-infrared wavelengths seen by Euclid,' said Dr Rebecca Bowler, physicists at the University of Manchester.

Researchers have described the shots in a series of 10 scientific papers published today, but yet more incredible observations will be revealed in the years to come.

Photo just days prior to July 1 launch shows Euclid being secured on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands ready to launch the Euclid satellite for the European Space Agency at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, July 1, 2023

The probe's objective is to better understand two mysterious components that make up 95 per cent of the universe  dark matter and dark energy.

Dark matter, which unlike normal matter does not reflect or emit light, binds together galaxies creating the environment for stars, planets and life.

Meanwhile, dark energy is the mysterious phenomenon which is pushing galaxies away from each other and causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate.

Experts hope Euclid will answer two key questions  what the fundamental physical laws of the universe are, and how the universe originated and what it is made of.

The UK has contributed 37 million towards the 850 million mission, with scientists playing key roles in designing and building the probe and leading on one of the two scientific instruments on board.
A major outage struck Bing.com, Microsoft's search engine, early Thursday with the problem apparently spreading to the brand's application programming interface which means that services such as DuckDuckGo also went down.

According to reports the outage also impacts ChatGPT and Ecosia. Despite Google's dominance in the world of web searching, Bing's API has numerous high profile clients.

DuckDuckGo issued a brief statement on X. Users were greeted with an error page featuring a panda on Bing.com with the message: 'It's not you, it's us.'

'Announcement: We're currently experiencing an issue with DuckDuckGo Search that might prevent you from getting results. Thanks for your patience while we get our ducks in a row,' the company said.

On the X account Microsoft365 Status, the company said they were 'investigating an issue where users may be unable to access the Microsoft Copilot service. We're working to isolate the cause of the issue.'

DuckDuckGo's statement regarding the outage posted at 9:21am GMT

The message that greeted Bing Users in the early hours of Thursday

Downdector.com says that there was spike in outage reports for Bing.com just after 2am eastern time, at the same time DuckDuckGo was also reported as down.

In various reports on X, users said that they were either greeted with a blank page or a 429 HTTP code error when they attempted to log on.

Users claimed that both Bing.com and DuckDuckGo were loading but neither were producing search results when a query was typed.

The source of the problem has not been identified, but DuckDuckGo said its team is 'working on fixing this outage' and thanked users for their patience.

As of 7.30am, DailyMail.com was able to successfully conduct a search on Bing. DuckDuckGo's search engine loaded, but had an 'error displaying the search results'.

DuckDuckGo is a privately held company. In September 2023, founder Gabriel Weinberg disclosed that it brings in around $100 million in annual revenue while handling just 2.5 percent of US search queries.

By comparison, Google's parent Alphabet has revenues of close $240 billion. During a congressional testimony last year, Weinberg confirmed that much of DuckDuckGo's search capability originated with Microsoft's Bing search engine and was not homegrown.

The company had allowed Microsoft to track some DuckDuckGo users until a security researcher flagged the practice in 2022.

The Bing outage was first reported around 2.00am eastern time

This map shows the regions most impacted by the Bing.com outage on Tursday morning

DuckDuckGo, which accounts for about 2.5 percent of search queries in the US, remained down in the early hours of Thursday

This map shows were DuckDuckGo outages and problems have been reported this morning

Search engine users have taken to X to express their frustration over the outages.

'Can someone check if the hamsters running the wheels went on strike?' Microsoft MVP Michel de Rooij tweeted.

'Bing's and the kindred services are down. It feels so frustrating not to have access to chatgpt or copilot even for a few hours!' wrote one X user.

'Bing and duck duck go are down, essentially returning us all to the Stone Age where the only way to respond smugly to someone is if you actually know what youre talking about,' added another.

'Surely a browser in this day and age should never go down or have any technical issues!' one user stated.

Another joked: 'All the search engines seem to be down? Is this The Rapture?'

Microsoft's last major outage occurred in January 2024 when the tech giant's Teams brand went down in North and South America.

Search engine users have taken to X to express their frustration over the outages

Teams is a messaging and videoconferencing app with over 320 million monthly average users.

That same month, Microsoft confirmed that a Russian state-sponsored group hacked into its corporate systems on Jan. 12 and stole some emails and documents from staff accounts.

The Russian group was able to access 'a very small percentage' of Microsoft corporate email accounts, including members of its senior leadership team and employees in its cybersecurity, legal, and other functions, the company said.

Microsoft's threat research team routinely investigates nation-state hackers such as Russia's 'Midnight Blizzard,' who they say is responsible.

The company said its probe into the breach indicated the hackers were initially targeting Microsoft to learn what the technology giant knew about their operations.

The company said the hackers used a 'password spray attack' starting in Nov. 2023 to breach a Microsoft platform. Hackers use this technique to infiltrate a company's systems by using the same compromised password against multiple related accounts.
Britons have been urged to 'prepare for an emergency' by stockpiling essentials in case they can't leave their home.

On a new government website, a 'household emergency plan' reveals a list of 'emergency supplies' such as bottled water, wet wipes and non-perishable food.

But according to scientists, the list omits some important items that could aid survival in the event of flooding, fires, a new health pandemic or even nuclear war.

Robert Handfield, a professor of supply chain management at North Carolina State University, said households could also do with a gas-powered generator.

This could be used as a backup power source for homes during power outages in the event of a severe weather event, for example.

On a new government website, a 'household emergency plan' reveals a list of 'emergency supplies' such as bottled water, wet wipes and non-perishable food. But according to scientists, the list omits some important items

Gas-powered generators use a gas combustion engine  meaning users would have to feed theirs natural gas or liquid propane as a fuel source.

'We are subject to strong storms and flooding, and electricity is a fundamental need,' Professor Handfield told MailOnline.

Another item that could come in handy is a chainsaw  although not for the purpose of self-defence in the case of some sort of societal breakdown as you might initially think.

'Some people often carry a chain saw if you are in a neighborhood with a lot of trees,' Professor Handfield added.

'If they fall onto your home, its important to get them off.'

In the case of a pandemic or a scenario requiring protection from smoke, he recommends an N95 face mask, which is better at filtering out airborne particles than surgical masks or cloth face coverings.

On a less hopeful note, Professor Alan Robock, a climatologist at Rutgers University, said if there is a nuclear war 'there is nothing that can be done to prepare for it'.

'The only solution is to rid the world of nuclear weapons,' he told MailOnline.

According to scientists, the government's list of essentials needed in an emergency omits some important items that could aid survival such as flooding. Pictured, a flooded pub earlier this year in Croscombe, Somerset

Catastrophic events could leave people trapped inside their homes. Pictured, wildfire in Maricopa County, Arizona, May 19, 2024

The government's new website, prepare.campaign.gov.uk, aims to make sure people are aware of the risks in their local area so they can plan appropriately.

The site links to a printable 'household emergency plan' that includes its list of 'emergency supplies' such as bottled water, a wind-up torch, wet wipes, non-perishable food, a first aid kit and spare batteries.

One of the most-notable omissions from the government's list was toilet paper, possibly to avoid another shortage as seen during the Covid era, although wet wipes could make a more versatile substitute.

However, Brits are urged against panic-buying such items, which could lead to shelves quickly emptying, as triggered by Covid four years ago.

Ben Kerrane, an expert in consumer behaviour at Manchester Metropolitan University, was one of around 20 academics who helped the government compile the list.

'People need to start gathering things slowly and incrementally, if they can,' he told MailOnline.

On a new government website, a 'household emergency plan' that includes a list of 'emergency supplies' such as bottled water, wet wipes and non-perishable food

Empty shelves where toilet roll is usually stocked in an Asda store in Clapham Junction, London, March 7, 2020

The government also advises people to 'consider what supplies you and your household might need during an emergency lasting a few days'.

The initiative was spearheaded by Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, who has been inspired by similar preparations in countries such as Finland.

The Nordic country expects households to be able to cope for 72 hours in situations where 'society's services are disrupted or even discontinued'.

Finns are encouraged to stockpile food and water and be prepared to 'shelter indoors' by taping up gaps in windows and 'waiting calmly for instructions' on the radio.

Mr Dowden has previously introduced an 'emergency alert' system, which allows authorities to trigger an alarm on millions of mobile phones to inform people of a potential crisis.
NASA has discovered an Earth-like planet 40 light years away that could be a promising candidate to host human life.

The exoplanet, called Gliese 12 b, is slightly smaller than our planet and has an estimated surface temperature of 107 degrees Fahrenheit - assuming it doesn't have an atmosphere.

Gliese 12 b sits just inward of the habitable zone - the distance from a star at which liquid water could exist on orbiting planets' surfaces.

Astronomers now plan to analyze Gliese 12 b to determine if it does have an Earth-like atmosphere which could reveal if the exoplanet can maintain the right temperature for water to form on its surface - an essential compound to supporting life.

Gliese 12 b has been labeled as the 'nearest, transiting, temperate, Earth-size world to date,' and is a candidate for future exploration by NASA's $9.5 billion James Webb Space Telescope.

An international team of astronomers discovered Gliese 12 b, an exoplanet that is located 40 light years from Earth and has a surface temperature of 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Pictured: Image of Gliese 12 b's location in 1998 (left) and 1949 (right)

An international team of astronomers used NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) to narrow down Gliese 12 b's location.

These discoveries are commonly made using the 'transit method' - when the planet crosses in front of its star, causing a drop in its brightness.

During the exoplanet's transit, light from the star passes through it's atmosphere, absorbing some of the wavelengths which releases gas molecules that telescopes, like the James Webb can detect.

The team found that Gliese 12 b has a much tighter orbit than Earth, meaning it crosses its cool red dwarf star, called Gliese 12, more often and completes one orbit every 12.8 days.

'Gliese 12 b represents one of the best targets to study whether Earth-size planets orbiting cool stars can retain their atmospheres, a crucial step to advance our understanding of habitability on planets across our galaxy,' said Shishir Dholakia, a doctoral student at the Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia.

The exoplanet's distance from its dwarf star is only seven percent of the distance between the earth and the sun, providing it with 1.6 times more energy.

However, Gliese 12 b's habitable conditions depend on whether it has the same type of atmosphere as Earth, making its temperature closer to the average of 59 degrees Fahrenheit found on our planet.

Astronomers have discovered roughly 5,000 exoplanets, but estimate there are likely over a trillion in the Milky Way alone. Pictured: location of Gliese 12 b

'Atmospheres trap heat and - depending on the type - can change the actual surface temperature substantially,' Dholakia explained.

'We are quoting the planet's 'equilibrium temperature', which is the temperature the planet would be if it had no atmosphere.

The team compared Gliese 12 b to Venus, reporting that it is roughly the same size and receives slightly less energy from its star - about 85 percent.

But because Venus doesn't have an atmosphere to block the sun's harmful rays, it developed a greenhouse effect, reaching temperatures of 752 degrees Fahrenheit.

'The Earth is habitable, but Venus is not due to its complete loss of water,' said Larissa Palethorpe, a doctoral student at the University of Edinburgh and University College London.

'Because Gliese 12 b is between Earth and Venus in temperature, its atmosphere could teach us a lot about the habitability pathways planets take as they develop,' she added.

An important factor for understanding whether the exoplanet could be habitable is looking at the level of storms emitted from its star.

Typically, red dwarf stars are magnetically active which causes them to project frequent X-ray flares that could destroy the atmosphere.

The teams have high hopes that this isn't the case though because the Gliese 12 star hasn't exhibited any signs of extreme storms or behavior.

Astronomers have already discovered roughly 5,000 of these planets, but estimate there are likely over a trillion exoplanets in the Milky Way alone - so far, only a handful are thought to have the environment needed to sustain life.

'We know of only a handful of temperate planets similar to Earth that are both close enough to us and meet other criteria needed for this kind of study,' said Michael McElwain, a research astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and a co-author of the Gliese 12 b study.

'To better understand the diversity of atmospheres and evolutionary outcomes for these planets, we need more examples like Gliese 12 b,' he added.
We once lived among Neanderthals but around 40,000 years ago, they disappeared.

Reasons for their demise vary, but experts have suggested interbreeding, climate change and violent clashes with humans may be to blame.

Now a new study of teeth indicates that humans provided prolonged childcare to their offspring, while young Neanderthals may have gained earlier independence.

And this could also be one of the reasons why Neanderthals eventually went extinct, according to experts.

Experts say Neanderthal children, who lived between 400,000 and 40,000 years ago, and modern human children living during the Upper Palaeolithic era  between 50,000 and 12,000 years ago  may have faced similar levels of childhood stress but at different developmental stages.

We once lived among Neanderthals but around 40,000 years ago, they disappeared. Reasons for their demise vary, but experts have suggested interbreeding, climate change and violent clashes with humans may be to blame (stock image)

The team, from the University of Tubingen in Germany, suggest that these findings could reflect differences in childcare and other behavioural strategies between the two species.

They analysed the dental enamel of 423 Neanderthal teeth and 444 Upper Palaeolithic human teeth.

Horizontal grooves of thinner enamel in the teeth indicated early-life stress, which previous research has demonstrated can be linked to childhood stressors such as illness, infections, malnutrition, nutritional deficiencies and trauma.

The authors found that the overall likelihood of enamel defects was similar in both Neanderthal and Upper Palaeolithic modern human teeth but that the developmental stages that these defects were likely to occur in varied between both species.

Among Upper Palaeolithic humans, enamel defects were more likely to occur around the ages weaning is estimated to have occurred  between one and three years of age.

A new study of teeth indicates that humans provided prolonged childcare to their offspring, while young Neanderthals may have gained earlier independence

Among Neanderthals, however, enamel defects were more likely to peak after the weaning period  suggesting that during this time they were more likely to experience malnutrition.

The authors believe that the stress experienced by Palaeolithic human children during weaning could have been caused by increasing energy demands.

They propose that Upper Palaeolithic humans may have helped reduce developmental stress in children after weaning through strategies such as encouraging prolonged dependence on parents, exploiting resources more efficiently, and providing children with access to food.

These strategies may not have been used by Neanderthals, they said, which could have contributed to long-term survival advantages for modern humans compared to Neanderthals.

Writing in the journal Scientific Reports, they said humans may have been better at 'mitigating stress in newly-weaned children'.

Meanwhile, for Neanderthals, the period shortly after the completion of weaning coincides with the 'most stressful childhood phase'.

Study author Laura Limmer said: 'We are suggesting that Upper Palaeolithic modern humans and Neanderthals had different post-weaning childcare strategies, with that of the Upper Palaeolithic modern humans resulting in a better reduction of stress in later childhood.

'These strategies might not only be support from their parents but might have been linked to other social factors.

'We would perhaps say that Neanderthal children might have gained earlier independence or started to have been treated more like adults at a younger age compared to modern human children.'
The Flower Moon will is set to rise near a red supergiant star Thursday night.

The moon will peak 50 minutes after the sun goes down and be visible in the east.

Adding more wonder to this event will be the star Antares, which lies about 600 light-years from Earth, as it will appear in close proximity to the Flower Moon.

The star, while a blazing ruby color, is nearing the end of its life because it is running out of fuel and is expected to explode in at least one million years.

The moon will appear full at 9:35am Thursday and reach its peak 50 minutes after the sun goes down. Pictured is a super Flower Moon that happened May 25, 2023. Picture taken on May 22 in New York City - the Flower Moon's preview

The term 'flower moon' also marked the beginning of the Reign of Terror against the Osage Nation in the 1920s when white men murdered members of the tribe to inherit their oil assets.

The historical events inspired the 2017 book, 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' written by journalist David Grann that was later turned into a Martin Scorses film.

The Flower Moon coincides with the flowers blooming in May, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac.

And it is also called a 'Mother's Moon', 'Milk Moon' or 'Corn Planting Moon.'

Native Americans named the celestial event as they knew it was time to start planting crops.

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise will happen by roughly 8:35pm ET Thursday, crossing the meridian at 1:14am before setting at 5:46am on Friday. morning.

The Flower Moon will also shine near Antares, an aging giant star that is set to explode, located in the constellation Scorpius

The moon will appear close to Antares, but will eventually block the star as it travels across the night sky.

The star has been a subject of study for decades, as scientists are closely monitoring its collapse. will collapse and become supernova - the powerful and luminous explosion of a star.

Antares is only about two or three percent of the sun's age, but because of its great mass, its time is about up.

The star has a a diameter of 400 to 430 million miles, while the sun is about 865,000 miles.

Scientists captured images of Antares in 2017 using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLTI), revealing the most detailed look yet.

The photos showed that there was a turbulent, low-density gas much further from the star than predicted.

The team suggested that this movement could not result from convection  the process by which the movement of matter transfers energy from the core to the outer atmosphere of many stars.

This indicated that a new, currently unknown, process may be needed to explain these movements in the extended atmospheres of stars like Antares.
Millions of people worldwide store their credit and debit cars on their smartphone to eliminate the need of carrying around too much plastic.

But a TikTok video has warned that users shouldn't link their bank accounts to digital payment apps like Samsung Wallet and Apple Pay.

TikTokers Dean and Alexis, who offer financial advice on their account, urged users to instead only have their credit cards linked.

The reason is if someone steals your smartphone they can access the stored information to send themselves money - ultimately draining your bank account.

'Losing your phone is often the modern age's equivalent of losing your wallet,' Verizon warned on its site.

'Smartphones include your credit cards, contact information, calendars, personal photos, and social media accounts, among other personal data,' it continued.

'If your phone ends up in the wrong hands, a plethora of valuable information could be disseminated or exploited.'

Dean and Alexis posted a video advising viewers to remove their bank account from any of the payment systems on your devices including Google Pay, Apple Pay and even apps like Starbucks.

'Just don't link your checking,' Dean warned when he was asked if Apple Pay is a safe payment method.

'Link your credit card to it. If you wanna be safe, remove your debit card from that,' he advised.

The video included a response from a user who posted: 'My phone got stolen and they apple cashed themselves $700.'

TikTokers Dean and Alexis, who offer financial advice on their account, posted a video telling viewers to remove their bank account details from payment apps like Apple Pay on their phone

While it is unclear how the user had money stolen, the only way it would happen if the thief was able to bypass their iPhone's passcode.

Apple has stated that its digital payment system is 'safer than using a physical credit, debit, or prepaid card.'

The reason being is that the tech giant takes the extra step of encrypting the data so that your actual card information isn't even in your iCloud.

Samsung also requires users to authenticate every transaction and does not store payment information on servers and account details are not stored on devices are shared with merchants.

With a credit card, users can easily dispute the charges before they are processed.

But bank transfers are typically instant - so thieves can make off with your funds in a second.

While Dean was very much against linking bank accounts to digital wallets, viewers of the TikTok argued that it was the safest bet.

'I'm a cybersecurity engineer, I would recommend using payment methods such as Apple Pay,' user John Stevens shared.

'It's extremely safe. With physical cards the store gets your card number. Apple Pay generates a one time use' card number' that even if it's stolen they can't use again,' another viewer of the clip replied.

But other TikTok users came to Dan's rescue.

Ive used Apple Pay for years without issue. I agree, NO debit or checking account tie-in, one viewer posted.

I agree 100%, another shared.
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Think youve explored all the nature, trails and wildlife near your home? Think again!

There could be a secret route, only shown on the AllTrails app - a new app that gives you help exploring nature, hiking and enjoying the outside world by planning routes, showing you path conditions and giving you weather advice.

AllTrails+ Outdoor Adventure App Looking for adventure this summer, but dont know where to start? AllTrails+ helps you explore the outdoors with ease. AllTrails was awarded Apples 2023 iPhone App of the Year and a Google Play Best of 2023 honorable mention. Save 50% using code SUMMER24. Shop

Whether you live in the city, countryside or by the beach, you can see routes to walk, bike, run, backpack, rock climb, camp and more, using the AllTrails+ app,

Even if you think you are useless at navigation, the app shows you exactly where you are thanks to advanced GPS so its virtually impossible to get lost.

AllTrails+ app has a photo gallery that offers inspiring and informative previews to help trail-goers plan their next adventure.

Keep it open while you walk and AllTrails+ will send you alerts if you stray off the route. Its like having your own personal guide in your pocket.

Worried about your battery dying? AllTrails+ allows you to access downloadable maps or sync with your Apple Watch to avoid getting your phone out on uneven terrain.

Your phone will record your route, even if you leave it on AirPlane mode so that your friends and family can locate you, should you want to share where you are.

There are routes for beginners through to advanced so you dont have to push yourself too far if youre not used to hiking.

AllTrails community of more than 65 million members share their thoughts of different routes to help you plan your next adventure. You can find routes around the world, making it an excellent travel companion

All routes are community approved, with other AllTrails users able to comment on or say if theyve liked particular paths. This means youre not relying on an algorithm to choose somewhere to go and you can see what other people have experienced before setting out.

Switching off the TV, getting outside in nature and exploring new places has proven benefits for mental health and this easy to use app has a huge amount of fans positive reviews in Apples App Store.

'Whatever town Im in I just look up whats around and can go for a hike,' praised one impressed App user. 'Whenever Id Google places to go there was NOTHING. Or very short and disappointing places. This app is great because it will give you direction right in the app instead of trying to Google Maps it yourself. You can map your route and GPS where you are to ensure you stay on track and dont get lost.'

The Alltrails+ App is so highly rated on the App store that it won Apple's Best App 2023 and was highly commended in the Google Play App store as well

Another added: 'I absolutely LOVE this app!! I hike alone 90% of the time and I love this for finding new trails, staying in trail and keeping someone in the know of my whereabouts. I love the pictures, reviews and recordings submitted by real people so I can understand whether its something I think I could handle or not.'

So what are you waiting for? Make the most of the 50 per cent off Memorial Day offer and snap up a year's access to AllTrails + premium here.
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A series of fascinating reworked maps have revealed the most popular forms of exercise in countries around the world  and its dance workouts that are the globes No.1 way of keeping fit.

The maps, which include a main global map and regional breakdowns, are colour-coded to indicate the types of exercise each countrys residents like the most, with the results generated by an analysis of the types of exercise people are searching for most on Google, using a master list of 200 workouts.

Dancing is the top exercise search in 51 countries, including Finland, Egypt, Kenya, Botswana and Papua New Guinea.

Pilates is top in 40 countries, including the UK, Portugal, Poland, the U.S, Australia and New Zealand.

The research was conducted by PureGym, which said that dancing is a fun and accessible way to get some exercise.

A series of fascinating reworked maps have revealed the most popular forms of exercise in countries around the world  and its dance workouts that are the globes No.1 way of keeping fit

The maps are colour-coded to indicate the types of exercise each countrys residents like the most, with the results generated by an analysis of the types of exercise people are searching for most on Google

Dancing is the top exercise search in 51 countries, including Finland, Egypt , Kenya, Botswana and Papua New Guinea

Georgia Boyle, personal trainer at PureGym Edinburgh, added: Dance is a fantastic form of exercise for several reasons. Not only is it a fun full-body workout, but its also an amazing form of creative expression, stress relief, and above all, is a form of exercise that can bring people together.

Easily accessible for all ages, starting with dance is so easy - try a class either in person or at home, or even put some music on and dance around your house.

I think one of peoples biggest barriers with dance is feeling that theyve got two left feet or wont be a technical pro. However, getting yourself moving and enjoying the music is all that matters.

On second-place pilates, PureGym explained for the uninitiated that it focuses on improving strength, flexibility and balance.

It continued: The prominence of pilates should come as no surprise. The original form of the exercise, which began in the 1920s, now offers variations for people to practice, such as reformer and wall pilates - the latter of which was named by PureGym as the number one fitness trend for 2024, having seen a massive 4,461 per cent increase in interest.

The third-most-searched form of exercise, according to the study, is yoga, which comes top in 26 countries

Pilates is top in 40 countries, including the UK, Portugal, Poland , the U.S, Australia and New Zealand

The third-most-searched form of exercise, according to the study, is yoga, which comes top in 26 countries, including Canada and China. But not its birthplace, India, which favours parkour (which originated in France).

CrossFit comes fourth (22 countries, including Mexico and Spain) and ab workouts is fifth (17 countries).

The rest of the top 10 comprises boxercise (sixth, 12 countries), running (seventh, 10 countries), calisthenics (eighth, eight countries), climbing (ninth, six countries) and hiking (10th, five countries).

THE MOST POPULAR WORKOUTS IN THE WORLD 1. Dancing - 51 (number of countries that search for it more than any other form of exercise) 2. Pilates - 40 3. Yoga - 26 4. CrossFit - 22 5. Ab workouts - 17 6. Boxercise - 12 7. Running - 10 8. Calisthenics - 8 9. Climbing - 6 10. Hiking - 5 Source: PureGym

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CrossFit comes fourth (22 countries, including Mexico and Spain) and ab workouts is fifth (17 countries)

This regional map shows that in South America, boxercise and pilates rule the fitness roost

Laura Melia, PT and General Manager at PureGym Manchester, said that keeping fit is all about finding what works for you.

She commented: Everyone is at a different stage of their fitness journey, with different levels of strength and mobility, and what works for one person might be too much or too little for another. Dont feel pressured to match anyones workouts and avoid comparing progress with other people.

To find out more about the research and the most popular form of exercise in each country, visit: www.puregym.com/blog/how-the-world-works-out.
This is the moment former Southern Charm star Kathryn Dennis, 32, was involved in a hit-and-run outside a South Carolina elementary school, when her car was seen blowing through a police officer directing traffic during the busy morning drop-off.

Video obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, captured by Whitesville Elementary School's surveillance camera and seen here for the first time today, clearly shows the incident which took place on October 20, 2023.

In the grainy footage, Dennis's black Ford Bronco SUV can be seen speeding across the screen, blasting past 40-year-old Berkeley County Sheriff's Office corporal Michelle Ward and knocking her stop-sign from her hand.

The officer sustained minor injuries from the shocking incident after which Dennis did not stop but instead fled the scene.

Kathryn Dennis was arrested for driving under the influence on Monday after she was involved in a three-car collision in Goose Creek, South Carolina. She is pictured in her mugshot after the May 20 DUI

Now, footage of a hit-and-run incident Dennis was allegedly involved in last October, when her car was seen speeding through a school crossing in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, has been revealed for the first time by DailyMail.com

The footage has emerged just days after it was revealed Dennis was arrested for driving under the influence following a three-car-collision in Goose Creek, South Carolina on Monday.

According to booking documents Dennis appeared to be impaired and had 'glossy eyes and an odor of alcohol coming from her person.'

The troubled former Bravo reality show star was also booked for driving with an open container.

Dennis was not arrested for the earlier incident which took place last fall, but images obtained by DailyMail.com show that she was later named as a suspect in the hit-and-run.

Police officers visited her home in Monck's Corner, South Carolina, where they took pictures of her dirty and damaged Bronco.

According to Ward she was, 'directing traffic at the entrance of the school,' when she noticed a vehicle traveling through the school zone and 'not slowing down.'

Dennis's car was seen zooming through a school zone and striking Berkeley County Sheriff's Office corporal Michelle Ward, 40, (pictured) who was directing traffic at the time

The short clip captured the moment Dennis's black Ford Bronco fails to stop after knocking a stop sign out of Ward's hand

School resource officer deputy Michelle Ward confirmed she was the victim of the hit-and-run by reposting the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office accident report on her Facebook account at the time

In a statement taken by the South Caroline Highway Patrol investigator, Ward said: 'I blew on my whistle and stepped to the left to get out of the vehicle's way.

'As I stepped to the left, the vehicle drove past me, striking me on the right side. The stop sign broke in my hand and landed in the roadway.'

The officer added that the driver  identified as a female with dirty blonde hair  neither slowed down nor attempted to avoid her as she careened in her direction.

Ward took to Facebook in the aftermath of the incident to confirm her involvement and told followers that she was 'sore but good' after the SUV 'hurt my hand.'

She told one commenter: 'It wasn't part of the plan for my day. I was a bit p***ed as well.'

She was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police images show several large dents caused by her collision with officer Ward's stop sign as well as a wing-mirror shorn of its casing.

All, clear evidence of the force with which Dennis's vehicle hit the cop.

According to the incident report filed Dennis's vehicle was 'traveling South [when] a traffic control officer was directing traffic for an elementary school.'

Images obtained by DailyMail.com reveal police officers later visited her home in Monck's Corner, South Carolina, where they took pictures of her dirty and damaged Bronco

Police images show several large dents caused by her collision with officer Ward's stop sign

The vehicle's sideview mirrors were shorn of their casings, the photos reveal

The hit-and-run incident took place outside Whitesville Elementary School and was captured by its surveillance cameras

It notes: 'The driverdisregarded the traffic officer's stop sign and struck [it].'

She then 'failed to stop.'

Dennis first appeared on Southern Charm as the on-again-off again partner of Thomas Ravenel with whom she ultimately had two children, Kensington 'Kensie' Calhoun, 9, and St Julien 'Saint' Rembert, 7.

The couple were notorious for their tumultuous relationship which ended in 2018 when he was struck with sexual assault charges by three different women.

A protracted custody dispute followed which saw Dennis lose custody last February and her alleged substance abuse issues come to the forefront, along with other ugly allegations.

Dennis, 32, entered rehab in 2016 after failing a drug test during her custody battle with her ex.

Acknowledging a dependence on marijuana to deal with stress and depression, Dennis entered a 30-day rehab program in Malibu in June of 2016, according to court papers.

According to court filings, she was suffering from cannabis abuse, alcoholism, amphetamine use disorder, self-harm and major depression.

An incident report obtained by DailyMail.com lists Dennis as the owner of the vehicle but the driver as 'unknown' since she was not stopped nor arrested at the time of the collision

The granddaughter of Senator Rembert Coney Dennis, Kathryn joined Southern Charm in 2014 and left the series in early 2023

Dennis first appeared on the show as the on-again-off again partner of Thomas Ravenel with whom she ultimately had two children, Kensington 'Kensie' Calhoun, 9, and St Julien 'Saint' Rembert, 7 (pictured)

In July 2018, following a recovery period, she was granted 50/50 custody.

But in October 2018 she filed for sole custody of the children in the wake of sexual assault allegations made against Ravenel by the couple's former nanny, Dawn Ledwell. He ultimately plead guilty to third-degree assault charges.

As Dennis fought for custody against Ravenel, ugly allegations against her emerged.

In January 2019 court documents, Ravenel claimed Dennis 'abuses prescription drugs, is engaged in the use of illegal drugs, and consumes alcohol in combination thereof regularly.

Dennis also had another brush with the law at age 20, when she was arrested for underage drinking and disorderly conduct.

The star, an original cast member who announced her departure from the show after eight seasons in January 2023, now has supervised visitation every other Saturday and Sunday.
Georgia Harrison looked incredible in an orange and green bikini as she enjoyed a sun-soaked getaway to Tulum, Mexico on Wednesday.

The Love Island star, 29, showcased her amazing figure in the colourful two-piece as she frolicked in the ocean with pals.

The TV personality seemed in good spirits as she layered two gold necklaces with the eye catching triangle top, teamed with a pair of matching skimpy bottoms.

Georgia kept cool by tying her long brunette tresses back in a ponytail and accessorised with a pair of chunky white earrings.

The reality star looked happier than ever as she jumped into the waves with a stunning female pal.

Georgia Harrison looked incredible in an orange and green bikini as she enjoyed a sun-soaked getaway in Tulum, Mexico on Wednesday

The Love Island star, 29, showcased her amazing figure in the colourful two-piece as she frolicked in the ocean with pals

The TV personality seemed in good spirits as she layered two gold necklaces with the eye catching triangle top, teamed with a pair of matching skimpy bottoms

The TV personality later pulled her long wet tresses loose as she cooled off in the ocean during the beach day.

Heading back to a beach bar, Georgia was seen slipping into a colourful mini skirt which matched her bikini.

She shielded from the sun behind a pair of large black sunglasses and carried her belongings in a small woven handbag.

It comes after Georgia admitted she 'doesn't need a man' to be happy following her shock split from Anton Danyluk.

The ITV2 star, placed fifth on the All Stars edition of the ITV2 reality show earlier this year alongside Anton, 29, but they revealed in April that they had split and she has now claimed that perhaps romance is not her 'purpose' in life.

She told The Sun: 'I'm happy and doing what's important and stepping up to what the universe has for me.

'I'm not manifesting a man...I clearly don't do dating very well, I've done enough dating shows and they never seem to work out for me.

The reality star kept cool by tying her long brunette tresses back in a ponytail and accessorised with a pair of chunky white earrings

Georgia looked happier than ever as she jumped into the waves with a stunning female pal

Georgia jumped through the waves as she soaked up the sun on her Mexican retreat

The reality star flashed her gorgeous smile as she walked through the water

Georgia showed off her toned figure in the swimwear as she frolicked in the ocean

The TV personality later pulled her long wet tresses loose as she cooled off in the ocean during the beach day

'I'm at a stage in my life where I literally just want to concentrate on what does work well for me. I am genuinely at the point where I don't need a man to be happy  maybe that isn't my purpose in life.'

The former couple had come to face-to-face at the BAFTAs earlier this month having arrived separately but Anton - who took model Hannah Kenyon with him - claimed that Georgia told him where to go upon spotting him.

He said: 'I saw Georgia and wanted to be civil. 'I said 'hi' and she replied "f*ck off'"...'I've been nothing but good to her. I don't understand.'

And just weeks ago, Anton publicly shut down rumours surrounding a potential romance with fellow Islander Hannah Elizabeth after they were spotted looking close.

Since the breakup, his 'bestie' Hannah, 33, has been a constant source of support, accompanying him to public events and nights out.

Responding to a fan on Instagram, he said: 'So this girl deserves the absolute world and any man would be luck to have her. Unfortunately, that man is not myself.

'We are the best of friends but I am more like a brother.'

They have also been very close on social media as they shared sweet pictures and funny videos of the two of them spending a lot of time together.

Former Celebs Go Dating star Georgia has been in Parliament after becoming the victim of a revenge porn scandal at the hands of ex-boyfriend Stephen Bear and insisted that she is just going to 'concentrate on the campaigning' in the future rather than pursue romance.

Since finding fame on Love Island and TOWIE in 2014, Georgia has become a regular face on reality TV and explained that while she will 'always be a face' on screen, she has ruled out ever doing a dating show again.

She claimed that she was 'absolutely terrible' at trying to document her love life in front of the cameras and believes there is 'no point' in trying again.

Heading back to a beach bar, Georgia was seen slipping into a colourful mini skirt which matched her bikini and wore a pair of large black sunglasses

Georgia was seen chatting to friends while heading to a beach bar

The girls seemed in good spirits during the holiday

The ITV2 star's pal looked incredible in a brown bikini

Georgia looked to be having fun as she swam in the sea

The girls were seen chatting away as they walked into the water

It comes after Georgia admitted she 'doesn't need a man' to be happy following her shock split from Anton Danyluk

She said: 'I'm happy and doing what's important and stepping up to what the universe has for me. I'm not manifesting a man'

'I'm at a stage in my life where I literally just want to concentrate on what does work well for me. I am genuinely at the point where I don't need a man to be happy'
Catherine Deneuve looked sensational as she led the stars attending the photocall for Marcello Mio at Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday.

The French actress and film producer, 80, wowed in a black crochet midi dress which boasted flared sleeves and a frilly hem.

Catherine - who plays as herself in the French-Italian comedy film - added inches to her frame with a pair of low block heels.

She toted her essentials around in a pink Chanel flap bag and further accessorised the stylish number with a gold bangle bracelet and a gold chain bracelet.

The former model showcased her age-defying beauty as she styled her blonde locks in voluminous waves and adorned a flawless palette of makeup.

Catherine Deneuve looked sensational as she led the stars attending the photocall for Marcello Mio at Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday

The French actress and film producer, 80, wowed in a black crochet midi dress which boasted flared sleeves and a frilly hem

Director Christophe Honore, 54, cut a casual figure in a blue denim jacket and jeans and seemed in high spirits during the event.

He was also joined by Charo Mastroianni, 51, and Fabrice Luchini, 72, who cut smart casual figures in suits.

Hugh Skinner, 39, Benjamin Biolay, 51, and Melvil Poupaud, 51, also attended the photocall for the hit new film.

Meanwhile, Nicole Garcia, 78, cut a stylish figure in a navy blue and white striped shirt.

The actress teamed the ensemble with a pair of white flared trousers and black loafers.

Marcello Mio is a 2024 French-Italian comedy film written and directed by Christophe Honore.

During the film actress Chiara Mastroianni confronts living in the shadow of her real-life father Marcello Mastroianni's legacy.

She portrays a version of herself alongside her real-life mother, French actress Catherine.

Catherine - who plays as herself in the French-Italian comedy film - added inches to her frame with a pair of low block heels

She toted her essentials around in a pink Chanel flap bag and further accessorised the stylish number with a gold bangle bracelet and a gold chain bracelet

The film follows actress Chiara and portrays her living like her father during summertime.

During the film, she dresses, speaks, and breathes like him with such conviction that others start calling her 'Marcello'.

Marcello Mio had its world premiere on May 21 and was scheduled for theatrical release by Ad Vitam Distribution on the same day.

Cannes is the world's biggest film festival, first conceived in 1939 as an alternative to the then-fascist-influenced Venice Film Festival.

It has been held annually since 1946 except in 1948 and 1950, when it was cancelled due to lack of funds.

The festival is known for its carefully selected programme of films that have gone on to Oscar glory or launched the careers of directors like Quentin Tarantino.

Cannes' top prize is the Palme d'Or, or Golden Palm, whose past winners include Taxi Driver, Apocalypse Now, Pulp Fiction, The Pianist and Parasite.

Jane Campion became the first female director to win in 1993 with The Piano, followed by a nearly three-decade gap until Julia Ducournau received the award for Titane in 2021.

Meanwhile, director Christophe Honore, 54, cut a casual figure in a blue denim jacket and jeans and seemed in high spirits during the event

Nicole Garcia, 78, cut a stylish figure in a navy blue and white striped shirt before adding a pair of smart black loafers

Fabrice Luchini, 72, cut a smart casual figure in a grey button-up jacket, a white shirt, and denim jeans

Him and Christophe were also joined by Chiaro Mastroianni, 51, (center) who cut a chic figure in a navy pinstripe suit

Hugh Skinner, 39, Benjamin Biolay, 51, and Melvil Poupaud, 51, also attended the photocall for the hit new film (Pictured L-R)

Justine Triet became only the third female director to take the prize last year with Anatomy of a Fall.

There is also an honorary Palme d'Or, which is awarded in recognition of notable bodies of work, with past recipients including Harrison Ford, Jane Fonda and Clint Eastwood.

There are two honorary winners this year: George Lucas of 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' fame, and Japanese animation legend Studio Ghibli, the first group to receive the prize.

Other awards include the Grand Prix, jury prize, best director, best actor, best actress, best screenplay and best short film.

Marcello Mio is a 2024 French-Italian comedy film written and directed by Christophe Honore. During the film actress Chiara Mastroianni (pictured) confronts living in the shadow of her real-life father Marcello Mastroianni's legacy
Anya Taylor-Joy left little to the imagination when she emerged in New York on Wednesday amid the publicity rounds for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

The 28-year-old plays the title role in the origin story of Imperator Furiosa, the character first portrayed by Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road.

While dashing between media appearances in support of her new film, Anya has caught the eye with her eminently stylish ensembles.

However her latest look may have been her most head-turning yet - a skimpy backless cocktail dress that hugged her lithe figure.

Her saucy ensemble featured spaghetti straps down the back, with a weave so open that it hinted she had no underwear on.

Anya Taylor-Joy, 28, left little to the imagination when she emerged in New York on Wednesday amid the publicity rounds for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Her latest look may have been her most head-turning yet - a skimpy backless cocktail dress that hugged her lithe figure

The wine-colored dress was cut to emphasize her taut midriff and show off her statuesque legs as she pounded the pavement in the city that never sleeps.

Sweeping her signature platinum hair into a ponytail, she brought out her luminous complexion with a blood-red shade of lipstick.

Her latest outing comes after she confessed she had no driver's license before she had to stunt-drive for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

'They just threw me in the car and went you're going to do this. I was like: "Okay,"' she said while being interviewed with her co-star Chris Hemsworth on Lorraine.

She noted how 'fun' it was 'that the first thing I learned how to do in a car was' the strenuous stunts she had to perform for the movie.

'I have fallen in love with it, I want to get my normal driving license, I want to get my stunt driving license. It's a really cool way to learn how to drive.'

Fury Road starred Charlize Theron as Furiosa, an avenging warrior who leads a tribe of women in a relentlessly macho, post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Now Anya's new movie is on the verge of release, relaying the heartrending origin story that turns Furiosa into a hardened, ruthless killer.

Anya plays the title role of Furiosa, starting off as a long-haired beauty who turns into the cropped-haired, warpainted bruiser that Fury Road fans will instantly recognize.

While dashing between media appearances in support of her new film, Anya has caught the eye with her eminently stylish ensembles

The star plays the title role in the origin story of Imperator Furiosa, the character first portrayed by Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road

The warlord Dementus, played by Chris Hemsworth, kidnaps her from her luscious, green homeland and out of the arms of her 'magnificent' mother

The warlord Dementus, played by Chris, kidnaps her from her luscious, green homeland and out of the arms of her 'magnificent' mother.

Dementus and his gang are at that point waging a conflict with another warlord called Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme) - later the villain of Mad Max: Fury Road.

During the events of the prequel, Immortan Joe is seen developing an alliance with Furiosa, who enters his employ on the basis of their common enemy.

Directed by George Miller, the mastermind behind the whole Mad Max franchise, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga debuted at Cannes last week.

The movie was met with a warm reception at the festival, including a six-minute standing ovation and glowing reviews to the tune of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes.

While promoting the movie, which bows on Friday, Anya recently revealed that one extended 15-minute sequence took a staggering 78 days to film.

'We shot it for 78 days, 78 days!' she shared on The One Show. 'Yes. It's called Stowaway. It was 100 per cent the mountain we were all trying to climb.'
Justin Bieber and wife Hailey are currently expecting their first child together.

And now fans of the couple have cooked up a bizarre conspiracy theory about what the baby's name could be.

In recent weeks, both fans and trolls on social media have suggested that the happy couple name the bub Emory Bieber - which just so happens to be Selena Gomez's dream baby name.

At an event in 2010, Gomez gushed about her love of the unique name.

'I've had these names picked out for a while,' she told fans in the audience.

Justin Bieber and wife Hailey are currently expecting their first child together, and now fans of the couple have cooked up a bizarre conspiracy theory about what the baby's name could be

In recent weeks, some fans and trolls on social media have suggested that the happy couple name the bub Emory Bieber - which just so happens to be Selena Gomez's dream baby name

The internet has been flooded with requests for Hailey to name her daughter Emory

'I like Emory. Which is E-M-O-R-Y. Insert my husband's last name,' she continued, before adding, 'Yeah, Emory Bieber.'

Now fans on social media have dug up the interview and are urging Hailey to use the name for her child with Bieber.

'Hailey should name the child Emory just for s***s and giggles,' one posted to X.

'If Hailey was REAL like REALLL bad mind shed name their baby Emory,' wrote another, while one posted, 'Wouldnt it just be funny if Hailey named her kid Emory.'

The suggestions enraged one loyal Selena fan, who took to X to blast Hailey on the off chance that she does indeed follow through and use the name.

'I swear to Jesus if Hailey Bieber is having a girl & she REALLY chooses the name Emory instead of ANY OTHER BABY NAME THAT B***H CAN USE- god better NEVER let me meet her cause I'll do a good one for Selena. idc b***h be so f***ing for real. theres only ONE NAME U CANT USE,' they raged.

Earlier this month, Hailey revealed her pregnancy - with the pair unveiling Hailey's baby bump during a surprise vow renewal in Hawaii.

Justin and Selena dated on and off between 2010 and 2018. (Pictured in 2012)

Following their final breakup, Justin created shockwaves when he quickly turned his attentions to Hailey Baldwin, before marrying her in 2018

She announced her pregnancy joy with a beautiful video debuting her bump in a custom Saint Laurent lace wedding dress by Anthony Vaccarello, paired with a flowing veil.

The star and the Canadian crooner - who recently sparked concern with a crying selfie - shared a sweet kiss as they celebrated their news during their outdoor ceremony - with Hailey sporting a new diamond ring.

The pair also both wore Tiffany Forever bands  made of platinum with a full circle of diamonds  to celebrate their vow renewal, as per People.

Justin - who was casually clad in a backwards cap, bomber jacket and jeans - was seen filming his bride cradling her bump - with the video set to a new track by the Grammy winner.

Justin and Selena dated on and off between 2010 and 2018.

Following their final breakup, Justin created shockwaves when he quickly turned his attentions to Hailey Baldwin, before marrying her in 2018.
Love Island Australia star, influencer and podcaster Anna McEvoy has dropped a bombshell about her marital status.

31-year-old Anna made the revelation about her wedding to Michael Staples on Wednesday's episode of Where's Your Head At?, the podcast she hosts with fellow Love Islander Matt Zukowski, 28.

'I have a little secret. I have only decided this morning that I'm sharing this secret. Obviously we're getting married in Greece, as you know,' she began.

Anna then went on to say that because the celebrant she chose for the wedding in Greece is not officially recognised, she decided to actually marry Michael back home in Australia before they left.

'On the 28th of April, Michael and I went to the registry office with both of our parents in Melbourne. Our dads were the witnesses. It was actually a very special moment,' she said.

Anna McEvoy has dropped a bombshell about her wedding to Michael Staples: 'I have a little secret. I have only decided this morning that I'm sharing this secret. Obviously we're getting married in Greece, as you know,' she began. Pictured: Anna McEvoy

Anna then went on to say that because the celebrant she chose for the wedding in Greece is not officially recognised, she decided to certify her union with Michael back home in Australia before they left. Pictured: Anna and Michael Staples

Anna went on to detail the process of getting married in the registry office in Melbourne.

'It's a beautiful old building,' she said.

The cost of the marriage registry is $500 for either a 6-person or 50-person room.

According to the influencer, the couple was made to stand in front of their parents and say 'I do' in unison.

'On the 28th of April, Michael and I went to the registry office with both of our parents in Melbourne. Our dads were the witnesses. It was actually a very special moment,' she said

'It was so awkward. Imagine your parents and your in-laws just staring at you and you and your partner are just standing there holding hands,' Anna said.

Anna reflected that the entire experience at the registry office was overly formal and 'too serious.'

'It just felt too serious, it was giving me the ick a little bit,' she said, before telling Matt that she and Michael could only bring themselves to do a 'peck' for the kiss at the end of the ceremony.

Earlier in the episode, Anna said that they were already in Greece for the 'official wedding.'

Anna went on to detail the process of getting married in the registry office in Melbourne. 'It's a beautiful old building,' she said. The cost of the marriage registry is $500 for either a 6-person or 50-person room

According to the influencer, the couple was made to stand in front of their parents and say 'I do' in unison. 'It was so awkward. Imagine your parents and your in-laws just staring at you and you and your partner are just standing there holding hands,' Anna said

'By the time this episode comes out, I will be officially Mrs Staples. I will be married.'

Co-host Matt was astounded by the news in the pre-recorded episode: 'How cool is that?' he said.

'And today, when this episode comes out, will be our recovery. We'll be recovering from the wedding, having a little pool party,' Anna added.

Anna revealed she'd was getting married on the Greek island of Corfu early last year, after getting engaged to her fiance Michael Staples in October 2022.

Their wedding venue is part of a fully renovated nine-bedroom estate, where the bride and groom's family and close friends will be staying.

'We put a deposit down on a wedding venue in Corfu, but Michael and I have both never been to Corfu,' she said on her podcast in 2023.

Anna revealed she'd was getting married on the Greek island of Corfu early last year, after getting engaged to her fiance Michael Staples in October 2022

Their wedding venue is part of a fully renovated nine-bedroom estate, where the bride and groom's family and close friends will be staying

The couple acknowledged a lot of people wouldn't be able to attend their wedding due to the distance.

So an intimate engagement party for family and friends was held in April.

Anna and Michael are planning a large affair with up to 90 guests so those who can't fly to Greece will be able to celebrate with them.

Anna said she had done a lot of research on Greece, and thought there would be heaps of suitable venues, but only a few caught her eye.

She rose to fame on season two of Love Island Australia, and won the show with Josh Packham but they split in December 2020.
Caroline Stanbury has revealed she splashed out 27,000 on a facelift after realising that she 'couldn't go any further' with fillers alone.

The Real Housewives of Dubai star, 47, underwent the procedure in November and has now told The Sun she has no regrets.

Caroline admitted she considered a facelift, which helps improve the definition of the jawline as well as reducing the appearance of jowls and loose skin around the neck area, after realising she'd reached a limit with just fillers.

She said: 'They are great when you are young, but you get to a certain point and can't go further.

'I should have dissolved them after a period of time, then started over again, because after a while, your face starts to look incredibly round. That's why I started to wonder if there is something else out there.'

Caroline Stanbury has revealed she splashed out 27,000 on a facelift after realising that she 'couldn't go any further' with fillers alone (left after her surgery in November, and right in June)

After liking a pal's facelift, Caroline took the plunge with a surgeon, but did fear that her children wouldn't recognise her new face.

She added: 'I wanted my kids to recognise me, not go: ''Mummy, what have you done?'''

Caroline previously offered insight into her experience having a facelift, admitting it left her looking like she'd 'been in a car crash'

The TV personality was left covered in bandages following the cosmetic procedure, but she insisted the decision to go under the knife had nothing to do with her marriage to 29-year old Sergio Carrallo, who is 18-years her junior.

Asked why she had the facelift if she was confident in her husband, she said: 'This had zero to do with @sergiocarallo he begged me not to do it! I don't worry about my relationship with him one minute of the day.'

In November Stanbury revealed that she had undergone her facelift in Los Angeles 'with no information whatsoever'.

Since returning back to the UK she has appeared on her podcast Uncut and Uncensored with her Spanish husband.

Footage shared from the podcast on their Instagram shows her covering up her face with huge sunglasses as she has her hood up and microphone in front of her.

Caroline admitted she considered a facelift, which helps improve the definition of the jawline, after realising she'd reached a limit with just fillers

The socialite admitted on the podcast: 'I decided to have a face-lift with no information whatsoever. I skipped into that surgery like I was having a mole removed.

'This is LA  so, unlike other places where you're sort of taken to hospital and feel like you're having a medical experience, here you're taken to a back room of an office just as if you're having a filler. They put you to sleep and remove your face.

'I looked like I'd been in a car crash and the car definitely didn't win.'

Stanbury said of the ordeal: 'He managed to cut off three inches on my neck and then the full width of my ear from my face.

'The shape of my face is completely wrong for a human: the top half is wider than the bottom half, and my neck is too thick. I have stitches at the front and back of my ear and on my eyelids.'

She explained why she went under the knife: 'I wanted to look exactly like me but fresh.

'I did my upper lip, my eyelids, where they take off the excess skin because I'm 47. I did lower neck, and my neck is so tight right now.

'I really thought it was a half face-lift and I only had one appointment and paid the money.'

She said of the results: 'There is no sign of my face in that face  which is petrifying. I wanted to sue my doctor because when you slightly look at your face everything is in the wrong place.

'Obviously after surgery, things swell differently, on each side, nothing looks even, and my neck doesn't move so it's like a tree trunk.'

In November, Stanbury revealed she'd undergone a facelift at the age of 47 that left her looking like she'd 'been in a car crash'

In December she shared a glimpse of her healing scars- 23 days after undergoing surgery that left her looking like she'd 'been in a car crash'

Meanwhile Carrallo admitted he'd been left distraught after her surgery.

'There are two wives  the one last week and the wife this week  I don't recognise her,' he said.

'It was the worst experience of my life. I was crying; I was trying to look for her and find my wife.'

He added: 'Mentally and emotionally, I've been on the floor. No words can describe how much I'm suffering looking at my wife. I don't want my wife to look fake, I want her to look natural.'

Stanbury, who was previously married to Turkish businessman Cem Habib, said she was also moved to tears.

'When he was crying, I started crying, but my tears were blood,' she said. 'It's the hardest thing I've ever done and no one prepares you for it.'
Farmer Wants A Wife star Daisy Lamb has thanked her fans for their support, after revealing the cruel messages she had received since going rogue on social media.

The gym manager, 28, shared a heartfelt statement to Instagram on Wednesday night, in which she thanked her fans for messaging her kind words of support.

'Absolutely overwhelmed by the messages, guys. I'm more than fine. Just sick of the c**p from naive people who can't see past the trash editing,' she began.

She added while she was used to seeing nasty comments on social media pages she had no tolerance for being directly sent trolling messages.

'It's one thing to see the s***ty comments on social media, but I draw the line at c**p in my personal inbox. Love and appreciate you all for your support.'

Farmer Wants A Wife star Daisy Lamb (pictured) has thanked her fans for their support, after revealing the cruel messages she had received since going rogue on social media

Lamb previously claimed her budding romance with Farmer Todd's was edited in a 'BS' manner to discredit her, and later revealed upset fans were lashing out at her.

Earlier this week, she shared a collage of nasty direct messages she had recently received from disgruntled fans, who were blaming her for some events on the show.

'You are a s**t and absolutely gross,' one nasty troll wrote, while another DM'ed her: 'You and Todd won't last. You are like his ex.'

The gym manager, 28, shared a heartfelt statement to Instagram on Wednesday night, in which she thanked her fans for messaging her kind words of support

'What a joke you are! So much falseness, just a wannabe!' a third hater wrote.

Daisy did not mince words when calling out this kind of behaviour, writing: 'Oh, how social media is delightful! Y'all need to get a life and stop being so invested in mine.'

Lamb, who is Farmer Todd's love interest on FWAW, recently went 'rogue' against the matchmaking series on social media by revealing her shock view of the show.

Lamb previously claimed her and Farmer Todd's (left) budding romance was edited in a 'BS' manner to discredit her, and later revealed upset fans were lashing out at her

Earlier this week, she shared a collage of nasty direct messages she had recently received from disgruntled fans, who were angrily blaming her for some events on the show

'It's so heavily edited. This was not the conversation, so disappointed in Channel Seven for even publicising this BS,' Daisy commented on an Instagram clip posted by the network.

'Disappointed. That's all I can say. Just completely sick that not only myself, but friends and family of Todd have been portrayed as something we are not.'

Her outspoken nature has ruffled some feathers both on and off the show, with Farmer Todd's friends telling him she was not a good match.

However, the chemistry between the pair was undeniable and on Monday Farmer Todd made the decision to choose Daisy as his partner - and they are reportedly still together.
Paris Jackson, Barbara Palvin and Nicky Hilton dressed to the nines on Wednesday night as they led the star arrivals at the Kilian Paris 'Sunkissed Goddess' party during the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

Paris, 26, put her best fashion foot forward in a black gothic style minidress, which showed off her toned legs.

The figure-hugging number boasted a draped bodice and semi-sheer flared sleeves, allowing a glimpse at her extensive tattoo collection on her arms.

The only daughter of Michael Jackson elevated her height in a pair of towering black platform heels.

Paris piled her long hair in a messy bun on top of her head, with several strands left down to frame her face.

Paris Jackson , Barbara Palvin and Nicky Hilton dressed to the nines on Wednesday night as they led the star arrivals at the Kilian Paris Sunkissed Goddess Cannes Film Festival party

Paris, 26, put her best fashion foot forward in a black gothic style minidress, which showed off her toned legs and elevated her height in a pair of towering black platform heels

The figure-hugging number boasted a draped bodice and semi-sheer flared sleeves, allowing a glimpse at her extensive tattoo collection on her arms

The model added some sparkle to her monochrome look with chandelier earrings and a slew of gold bracelets and rings.

Meanwhile, Barbara, 30, channelled a Greek goddess at the bash, wearing a draped white gown with an asymmetrical neckline and gold hardware detailing.

A daringly high side slit flashed a peek at her long legs, while the model opted for no jewellery to keep all eyes on her outfit.

Barbara gave herself a couple of extra inches in a pair of gold high heels, and wore her hair in an elegant updo while sporting a classic nude lip.

Nicky, 40, made a statement with her eye-catching ensemble, sporting a long-sleeved minidress in a snakeskin pattern by Rebecca Vallance.

Her fashion forward number featured central keyhole cutouts and was adorned with two large gold buttons.

The socialite added diamond earrings and drew added attention to her long legs with a pair of black patent leather high heels.

Also in attendance at the glitzy party was Bambi Northwood-Blyth, who displayed her slender figure in a black sequinned gown.

The daughter of Michael Jackson piled her long hair in a messy bun and added some sparkle to her monochrome look with chandelier earrings and a slew of gold bracelets and rings

Meanwhile, Barbara, 30, channelled a Greek goddess at the bash, wearing a draped white gown with an asymmetrical neckline and gold hardware detailing

The model opted for no jewellery to keep all eyes on her outfit and wore her hair in an elegant updo while sporting a classic nude lip

Nicky, 40, made a statement with her eye-catching ensemble, sporting a long-sleeved minidress in a snakeskin pattern with keyhole cutouts and two large gold buttons by Rebecca Vallance

The socialite added diamond earrings and drew added attention to her long legs with a pair of black patent leather high heels

Also in attendance at the glitzy party was Bambi Northwood-Blyth, who displayed her slender figure in a black sequinned gown

Clara Berry pulled out all the stops in a sheer mesh skirt and a matching peplum corset top, encrusted in beads, sequins and flowers.

She accessorised with a bold choker adorned with pearls and a matching pair of earrings, as well as white buckled heels.

While, Cara Santana sent temperatures soaring in a black semi-sheer dress, which hugged her enviable curves.

She boosted her height with a pair of strappy black stilettos and slicked her hair into a bun to show off her glitzy earrings.

Coco Rocha stood out from the crowd with the night's most extravagant look, opting for a dramatic black concertina dress.

Her outlandish outfit was adorned with a red sequinned flowers, which she teamed with a pair of tights with the matching pattern.

Rebecca Vallance stunned a black one-shouldered gown, designed to expose her bra underneath, decorated with a bejewelled flower.

Michelle Salas dressed to impress in a dazzling gold gown, featuring semi-sheer net panels and cape that flowed into a dramatically long train.

Clara Berry pulled out all the stops in a sheer mesh skirt and a matching peplum corset top, encrusted in beads, sequins and flowers

She accessorised with a bold choker adorned with pearls and a matching pair of earrings, as well as white buckled heels

While, Cara Santana sent temperatures soaring in a black semi-sheer dress, which hugged her enviable curves

She boosted her height with a pair of strappy black stilettos and slicked her hair into a bun to show off her glitzy earrings

Coco Rocha stood out from the crowd with the night's most extravagant look, opting for a dramatic black concertina dress

Her outlandish outfit was adorned with a red sequinned flowers, which she teamed with a pair of tights with the matching pattern

Rebecca Vallance stunned a black one-shouldered gown, designed to expose her bra underneath, decorated with a bejewelled flower

Michelle Salas dressed to impress in a dazzling gold gown, featuring semi-sheer net panels and cape that flowed into a dramatically long train

Angelina Frerk also chose a sparkly gold number with cape-like sleeves, but opted for a minidress to show off her long legs.

While Leonie Hanne and Kelsey Merritt also complemented each other in very similar metallic gold dresses.

Leonie chose a strapless minidress that gleamed under the lights and emphasized her tiny waist.

While Kelsey sported a flowing one-shoulderd maxidress with a slash across her middle to expose her toned midriff underneath.

Kilian Paris founder, Kilian Hennessy cut a dapper figure in a black waistcoat over an open collared white shirt, as he posed with Ellen von Unwerth, who caught the eye in a zebra print blazer.

Angelina Frerk also chose a sparkly gold number with cape-like sleeves, but opted for a minidress to show off her long legs

While Leonie Hanne and Kelsey Merritt (pictured) also complemented each other in very similar metallic gold dresses

Leonie chose a strapless minidress that gleamed under the lights and emphasized her tiny waist

While Kelsey sported a flowing one-shoulderd maxidress with a slash across her middle to expose her toned midriff underneath

Kilian Paris founder, Kilian Hennessy cut a dapper figure in a black waistcoat over an open collared white shirt, as he posed with Ellen von Unwerth, who caught the eye in a zebra print blazer

Rebecca and Nicky posed with Bijou Phillips (L)

GKAY cut an edgy figure in a black lace up dress
Hannah Elizabeth and glamorous twins Jess and Eve Gale were dressed to impress as they attended Sol De Janeiro's Rio Radiance SPF50 launch party at Blue Marlin Ibiza private members' club in London on Wednesday night.

The Love Island star, 33, looked nothing short of sensational as she wore a floral one-shoulder maxi dress which boasted a daring split at the leg.

The stunning ensemble hugged Hannah's enviable curves and showed off her slender figure.

She added inches to her frame with a pair of gold open-toe stiletto heels and further accessorised with some gold hooped earrings.

The mother-of-one completed the look by styling her blonde locks up in a chic Pamela Anderson-inspired up-do and adorned a flawless palette of makeup.

Hannah Elizabeth dressed to impress as she attended Sol De Janeiro's Rio Radiance SPF50 launch party at Blue Marlin Ibiza private members' club in London on Wednesday night

She was also joined by glamorous twins Jess and Eve Gale, both 25, who cut effortlessly chic figures

The 33-year-old reality TV star looked nothing short of sensational as she wore a floral one-shoulder maxi dress which boasted a daring split at the leg

Love Island twins Jess and Eve Gale, both 25, cut an effortlessly chic figure at the event.

Jess looked incredible as she wore a skin-tight black bodysuit that cinched her in at the waist.

She teamed the number with a pair of faded denim jeans which boasted a flared leg and kept it lowkey with a comfy pair of trainers.

Meanwhile, her sister Eve, wore a figure-hugging black jumpsuit which boasted a plunging neckline and a figure-hugging design.

The stunning ensemble showcased Eve's enviable curves and the beauty opted for further elevating her height with a pair of black knee-high boots.

She adorned a flawless palette of makeup for the evening and styled her blonde locks in voluminous waves as she struck up a pose for the cameras.

Jessica Wright also attended the star-studded event wearing a classy black trench coat.

The former TOWIE star, 38, toted her essentials around in a Yves Saint Laurent tote handbag and added inches to her frame with a pair of knee-high boots.

The stunning ensemble hugged Hannah's enviable curves and showed off her slender figure

Abi Moores, 25, (left) also put on a show-stopping display in a smart casual ensemble consisting of a grey blazer and a black mini-dress

Jessica Wright, 38, also attended the star-studded event wearing a classy black trench coat and toted her essentials around in a black leather Yves Saint Laurent handbag

Meanwhile, Love Island star Samie Elishi, 24, looked incredible in a beige crop top and white denim skirt

She was also joined by Claudia Fogarty, 29, who wowed in an all white ensemble.

Meanwhile, Love Island OG Cara De La Hoyde-Massey, 33, let out her wild side as she wore a leopard print jumpsuit

TV personality Zara McDermott, 27, cut a casual figure in a blue denim jumpsuit which hugged her curves perfectly

Meanwhile, Love Island star Samie Elishi, 24, looked incredible in a beige crop top and white denim skirt.

The chic ensemble gave a glimpse of her toned midriff and showed off her glorious tan.

She was also joined by Claudia Fogarty who wowed in an all white ensemble.

The Love Island beauty, 29, gave a glimpse of her washboard abs as she wore an open textured blouse and a pair of low-rise satin trousers.

Abi Moores, 25, also put on a show-stopping display in a smart casual ensemble consisting of a grey blazer and a black mini-dress.

Meanwhile, Love Island OG Cara De La Hoyde-Massey, 33, let out her wild side as she wore a leopard print jumpsuit.

TV personality Zara McDermott, 27, cut a casual figure in a blue denim jumpsuit which hugged her curves perfectly.

It comes after the Love Island All Stars contestant proudly showed off her new bum in March after undergoing another bottom enhancement.

The reality star got an early start to her birthday celebrations ahead of turning 34 as she was joined by her celebrity pals for a wild party at Jin Bow Law rooftop bar in London.

She looked sensational for her big night out as she showcased her surgically enhanced physique in a plunging, skintight unitard.

The baby blue and pink garment was slashed to the navel to expose her ample cleavage and toned stomach, while a diamante buckle across the bodice protected her modesty.

She matched her hair to the eye-catching ensemble, ditching her recently dyed pink locks for ice blond with pink and blue hearts sprayed in.

The mother-of-one completed the look with a small silver handbag and towering stiletto heels adorned with hearts.

Sabrina Bahsoon, aka Tube Girl, stunned in a floral print halterneck dress

Lucy Edwards looked incredible in a blossom print jumpsuit which she teamed with a red cross-body bag

Love Island star Mal Nicol, 26, also cut a smart casual figure in a khaki green blazer and a pleated mini skirt

Meanwhile, Lana Summer wowed in a colourful co-ord set which boasted a ribbed design

Laura Simpson stunned in a sparkly sequin mini dress and added inches to her frame with a pair of red stiletto heels

Beauty creator Olivia Kirkby also attended and cut a casual figure in a red cardigan and a pair of light blue denim ripped jeans

Meanwhile, India Harl put on a leggy display in a black blazer dress and knee-high leather boots

Sophie Murray, Terrie McEvoy Fitzpatrick, and Carol Bryne all stunned in pastel coloured ensembles as they arrived at the event (pictured L-R)

Last month, Hannah shocked fans as she explained plans to get her bum filler 'topped up' after returning to the UK following her villa stint in South Africa.

The Liverpudlian TV personality took to Instagram to detail how she is getting back to her cosmetic maintenance and having 500ml of filler put in her bottom.

Hannah told her followers she would 'video the whole thing' for them to see after many fans approached her to ask about her famous rear following her Love Island appearance.

She told her 543,000 followers: 'Hello everybody, so obviously since the show and having spoken about having my bum done, loads of people have been asking me about the booty.

'So I get my bum done ay Lift Aesthetics and being fresh out the villa I am excited, literally can't wait to go and have my top up.

'I'm going to get 500ml by the amazing Lift Aesthetics and I will show you the whole process.'

Hannah, who posts content on OnlyFans, regularly shows off her cosmetically enhanced features online and has remained open and positive about her cosmetic procedures.

Hannah's most recent procedure spoken about publicly was in October 2023, when she decided the set the record straight following facial surgery to fix her 'twisted septum'.

She took to Instagram to quickly shut down trolls before they had a chance to 'pipe up' after noticing her latest surgery.

The bombshell, who has undergone multiple procedures to alter her appearance, revealed that her most recent operation wasn't for cosmetic purposes.

It comes after Hannah recently slammed the 'jealous and bitter' trolls over their abuse following her facial surgery transformation posts

She returned to the spotlight this year with a stint on Love Island All Stars nearly 10 years after she first appeared on Love Island in 2015

She penned: 'Before anyone pipes up on my post I had to have a small procedure done to correct my septum and a cast placed on to help it keep in place. Not changing anything, something I needed to fix as it was twisted.'

Hannah had to take to her social media just weeks prior to slam the 'jealous and bitter' trolls over their abuse following her facial surgery transformation posts.

The doting mother, who revealed the results of her brand new facial surgery after travelling to Turkey to undergo various procedures, received backlash from followers after sharing a sneak peek at her recovery.

She told her fans she was 'sick' of messages 'from vile bitter women', describing it as 'disgusting' that people comment on 'what I do with MY BODY'.

Writing to her 417,000 Instagram followers, Hannah wrote: 'Sick of messages from vile bitter women honestly it's disgusting. It stinks of nothing but bitterness and jealousy.'

She continued: 'Please don't comment on what I do with MY BODY I'm a 32-year-old woman not a young child.

'Also allow me it's day two from surgery I clearly am not going to look well but unlike a lot of people who hide it I want to show you my journey.

'Blows my mind how many women comment in the dms yet wouldn't dream of coming up to me in the street to comment on my looks. Can u imagine?

'My body my face and if I do say so myself I've always done things nice etc and to suit me. Can't win.

'On a nicer note thank you for all the LOVE my inbox is flooded with questions I will be answering for you on here over the next few days. Lots of love.

'P.S. if you don't like surgery ur following the wrong girl (I've been like this since I was 18 my playboy days) xxxx'.

The Love Islander veteran - who made her first appearance on the very first series in 2015 - was voted out of All Stars by her fellow islanders alongside Tyler Cruickshank.
Julia Morris has revealed she suffered a miscarriage mid-flight while travelling to South Africa.

The I'm A Celebrity Australia co-host, 56, opened up about the heartbreaking moment during an appearance on the Two Doting Dads podcast with Matty 'J' Johnson and Ash Wicks this week.

Morris, who was 38 at the time of the ordeal, explained how she'd fallen pregnant with her now ex-husband Dan Thomas and was heading overseas to perform at the Cape Town Comedy Festival for six weeks.

Speaking on the podcast, the comedian recalled: 'I got on the flight and I thought, "Oh, I'm bleeding".

'As I was getting on the flight, I had nothing with me. I was in the bathroom for ages and I'm like, "OK, this is happening".'

Julia Morris has revealed she suffered a miscarriage mid-flight while travelling to South Africa

Morris found humour in the heartbreaking situation, as a comedian who sat next to her made a light-hearted joke about her lengthy time spent in the aeroplane bathroom.

'So I was sitting next to the comedian Andrew Maxwell, who is a very funny Irish comedian,' she continued.

'I came back from the bathroom and he goes, "How long... was the poo that you had to do?"'

The I'm A Celebrity Australia co-host opened up about the heartbreaking moment during an appearance on the Two Doting Dads podcast

The television personality recalled the emotional toll the ordeal had on her, but she remained hopeful knowing that she'd try for another baby with her then-husband.

'I was sitting there along with this kind of sadness  But I also knew wed try again,' she added.

'I was 38 and then I started to think  Which again, fertility wasnt talked about as much. I would love people to speak about it more because what it will give us is a proper spectrum into the many different feelings you can have about it.

'I was in a headspace of, "I just want to get on with trying again because I want that sadness to go away." Because that sadness will then be replenished by the happiness.'

Morris (left) went on to become mother to two daughters - Ruby, 17, and Sophie, 15 - with ex-husband Dan Thomas (right)

Morris went on to become mother to two daughters - Ruby, 17, and Sophie, 15 - with ex-husband Thomas.

She married the British comedian on New Year's Eve in 2005, and announced their divorce in May 2022.

During a subsequent interview with Stellar magazine she said the breakup was a long time coming.

'Let's just say I wasn't married to the person I thought I was,' Julia explained candidly.

'I have become an Olympic medallist in running him down. But to be honest, I have been trying to stop doing that because I don't want to let him into my life at all anymore. I'm free.

'Unfortunately, I've had my eyes opened and I've had a big awakening about my people pleasing and what I will tolerate and how I see the best in people  and that's not always the truth.'

Julia also announced she is 'no longer interested in sex' following her divorce.

Speaking to The Kyle and Jackie O Show in October 2022, Julia insisted: 'I think I'll shut up shop. I'm done with roots.'
Lisa Vanderpump discussed her competitive dynamic with fellow restauranteur Gordon Ramsey as they filmed the second season of his show Food Stars.

The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 63, admitted that she and the British celebrity chef, 57  who recently made a vulgar remark about her  'butted heads' at times.

'There was a little bit of butting heads, but it was all faced with respect,' she shared in an interview with Us Weekly on Monday.

'I think I can't minimize what he accomplished in his life. It is extraordinary. But it was also handling him as well and getting him to settle down and shut the f**k up sometimes.'

Season 2 of Food Stars sees Lisa and Gordon in a head-to-head competition as they create their teams of food and beverage entrepreneurs who will then compete in their Business Bootcamp for a $250,000 prize.

Lisa Vanderpump, 63, discussed her competitive dynamic with fellow restauranteur Gordon Ramsey, 57, as they filmed the second season of his show Food Stars

Vanderpump shared the pair knew each other prior to filming the show, as they are both in the restaurant business.

The star, along with her husband Ken Todd, 71, has owned over 30 restaurants and bars across the United States and England, including SUR, which serves as the main setting for her reality show Vanderpump Rules.

Gordon also owns and operates a vast restaurant empire, which includes Hell's Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay Burger, Bread Street Kitchen and more.

'When he first asked me to do it, we had a kind of playful relationship, albeit competitive because we had restaurants opposite each other, restaurants next to each other,' she said.

'In fact, we're opening a restaurant each in the Flamingo now, so, you know, off we go again.'

Lisa said she wondered how Gordon, who is known for his strong leadership style, would acclimate to there being two bosses on his show.

'I just also thought it was very interesting on many different levels because it was going to be about the emotional component between the contestants, the business strategy, the challenges, survival of the fittest, the iconic places that we were gonna go.'

'And ultimately how Gordon and I would handle each other and he is used to kind of being autonomous and being the boss of everything he does, and suddenly there are two bosses in the picture.'

The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star admitted that she and the British celebrity chef 'butted heads' at times in an interview with Us Weekly on Monday

'I think I can't minimize what he accomplished in his life. It is extraordinary. But it was also handling him as well and getting him to settle down and shut the f**k up sometimes'

'He is used to kind of being autonomous and being the boss of everything he does, and suddenly there are two bosses in the picture,' Lisa added

Season 2 of Food Stars will premieres on Fox on Wednesday, May 22, at 9 p.m. ET

Lisa said her competitive side was ignited when she noticed Gordon's desire to win.

'I saw how important it was to him for him to win, the more important it was for me to beat him,' she shared.

However, Lisa also noted that the viewers will also see a more 'more sensitive side' of Gordon on the show.

'When I saw that, I was like, "Whoa," because normally it's like, "Hey, come on."... and I saw him moved a couple of times where I thought, "Oh my God, you big softie."'

Season 2 of Food Stars will premieres on Fox on Wednesday, May 22, at 9 p.m. ET.

It comes after Gordon made a vulgar remark about Lisa on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen earlier this month.

Host Andy left Gordon and Lisa completely red-face after making a foul-mouthed joke about the pair 'hooking up'.

To Gordon's disgust, he quickly hit back at the host while rudely digging at Lisa's age unexpectedly.

Andy asked: 'Are you married Gordan? You don't wear a ring?'

Gordon, who is married to wife Tana, 49, said: 'Yes. No [I don't wear a ring] because I lost it once in a ball of pasta from kneading.'

It comes after Gordon made a vulgar remark about Lisa on Watch What Happens Live, saying he 'never f***** a sixty-year-old' after host Andy Cohen said they have great chemistry

Andy said: 'Because I was going to say, no offence to Ken [Todd] but the chemistry between the two of you is great. I think you two might hook up tonight.'

Taken aback, Gordon said: 'Oh Jesus Christ. I've never f***** a sixty-year-old.'

In stitches of laughter, Lisa, who is married to husband Ken, responded: 'Nor have I!'

Viewers were left in total shock following the outrageous scenes, while others were in gags of laughter over Lisa's savage response.
China rebukes US claims of overcapacity in new energy sectors, condemns protectionism

(People's Daily App) 15:32, May 23, 2024

The G7 Finance Ministers' Meeting could make US overcapacities a priority instead of worrying about China's developments in the clean energy sector, China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
A Farmer Wants A Wife insider has revealed the 'unfair' reality for the show's finalists as they dished on some filming secrets.

They claimed the farmers on the Channel Seven dating show are 'heavily discouraged' from contacting their other love interests after their big final choice.

They alleged that Farmer Dustin hasn't spoken to Anna since bombshell scenes saw him pick Sophie in the final episode in what he said was a very difficult decision.

'The farmers are heavily discouraged by Channel Seven producers to talk to the other finalists ever again,' the insider told Yahoo! Lifestyle.

'The cold shoulder from each farmer is brutal and many of the girls are left wondering where it all went wrong, especially the girls who make it to the final two!'

An insider on Farmer Wants A Wife has revealed the 'unfair' reality for the show's finalists as they dished on some filming secrets

'Other girls have explained that it would have been nice to encourage the men to give more of an explanation, as most of them leave questioning the whole process, it is unfair,' they added.

However, they claimed Farmer Bert did check in with his love interests after deciding to walk away from the show single, deciding he wasn't ready for a relationship.

The insider said he contacted his co-stars after the cameras stopped rolling, allegedly against producers' wishes, to check in with all of the women.

Bert quickly became a fan favourite on the show and left fans devastated when he made the decision to quit before the finale in a shock twist.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for comment.

They claimed the farmers are 'heavily discouraged' from contacting their other love interests after their big final choice (the farmers are pictured with host Samantha Armytage)

They alleged that Farmer Dustin hasn't spoken to Anna (left) since bombshell scenes saw him pick Sophie (right) in the final episode in what he said was a very difficult decision

The hotly-anticipated final episode saw the remaining farmers finally decide who they wanted to leave the show with, with Farmer Joe picking Sarah.

Farmer Dustin had a difficult decision in the finale but ultimately chose Sophie, declaring that he was 'falling in love with her'.

Farmer Todd also found love with Daisy in the finale, admitting it was a 'big risk' as he declared his love for her in the sweet scenes.

Meanwhile, Farmer Dean left the show a week-and-a-half into filming after finding love with Teegan, while Farmer Tom also departed the show early with his love interest Sarah.

It was claimed Farmer Bert did check in with his love interests after deciding to walk away from the show single, deciding he wasn't ready for a relationship

However, one woman from the 2024 series admitted she doesn't think any of the budding couples will still be together in one year's time.

'I highly doubt anyone this season will still be with their farmer in one year,' she told Yahoo Lifestyle.

'As the show finished with a hero's edit for most farmers, not all is what it seems - I can guarantee you that.'

She went on to claim that the cast felt pressure from producers to sell the 'happily ever after image' at the reunion and said a lot has changed since then.
After showing off his new work at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, Nicolas Cage is back home in the States.

The Academy Award winner, 60, rocked a bold look in a yellow bomber jacket on Wednesday as he stepped out for some shopping in Los Angeles.

He layered the jacket over a white t-shirt and paired the look with black skinny jeans covered in zippers.

Cage finished the ensemble with a pair of yellow lens sunglasses, a neon green watch and a pair of black flip-flops.

The Dream Scenario star was seen shopping at Maxfield and Chrome Hearts after his recent jaunt to France.

Nicolas Cage rocked a bold look in a yellow bomber jacket on Wednesday as he stepped out for some shopping in Los Angeles

He layered the jacket over a white t-shirt and paired the look with black skinny jeans covered in zippers

He previously joined director Lorcan Finnegan and his The Surfer co-stars for the movie's world premiere at Cannes.

Cage filmed the movie in Australia, playing a man who returns to his seaside hometown, where he's humiliated in front of his son by a local group of surfers.

The premiere came after he attended SXSW for the debut of his movie Arcadia back in March.

Cage has also signed on for a live-action series spin-off about his Into the Spiderverse character Spider-Man Noir, which will stream on MGM+ and Prime Video.

Before turning 60 back in January, Cage told Vanity Fair he's started thinking about retiring from the industry.

'It's starting to solidify. I'm starting to cement my plan,' he said. 'I may have three or four more movies left in me.'

The Longlegs actor added, 'I do feel I've said what I've had to say with cinema. I think I took film performance as far as I could.'

Explaining that his father August Coppola died of a heart attack at age 75 in 2009, Cage acknowledged that he might only have 'a good 15 years' left.

'What do I want to do with those 15 years, using my father as the model?' said Cage. 'It occurred very clearly to me that I want to spend time with my family.'

Cage previously joined director Lorcan Finnegan and his The Surfer co-stars for the movie's world premiere at Cannes

He filmed the movie in Australia, playing a man who returns to his seaside hometown, where he's humiliated in front of his son by a local group of surfers

Cage tied the knot with his fifth wife Riko Shibata in 2021, and they share 20-month-old daughter August Francesca

Cage tied the knot with his fifth wife Riko Shibata in 2021, and they share 20-month-old daughter August Francesca.

The National Treasure star told ET he wants to 'spend more time with my daughter' as he's been 'taking more stock of what's important.'

He described fatherhood as 'profound' and a 'totally new experience.'

Cage also shares 18-year-old son Kal-El with ex-wife Alice Kim.

Additionally, he and ex Christina Fulton share son Weston, 33, through whom he has four grandchildren.
Abbie Chatfield has revealed why she hates America and how her luxury holiday to Mexico has cemented her opinions.

After travelling to Los Angeles with her boyfriend, Peking Duk frontman Adam Hyde, the FBoy Island host, 28, has decided it's not for her.

Uploading a video of herself eating breakfast while overlooking a beach in Tulum, she said: 'Coming to Mexico has proven that I really do hate America.

'I thought that I was in a bad mood or something, or hormonal. Then I got here,' she added as she turned the camera around to reveal the stunning shoreline.

She continued: 'The people are f**king lovely. The food is f**king lovely. They're f**king funny.

Abbie Chatfield has revealed why she hates America and how her luxury holiday to Mexico has cemented her opinions

'There's more banter in one person than all the banter in all America and I can't even speak Spanish... I'm just loving it.'

It comes after Abbie revealed the X-rated reason behind her latest saucy snap with the musician.

After travelling to Los Angeles with her boyfriend, Peking Duk frontman Adam Hyde, the FBoy Island host, 28, has decided it's not for her

On Wednesday, the former Bachelor star posted a racy photo of her boyfriend's crotch, joking it was a 'semi-soft launch' of their relationship.

The image sparked a wave of mixed responses about sharing her boyfriend's bulge to her 477,000 followers.

Abbie later clarified the very raunchy reason for posting the photo, explaining that her partner was 'horny' at the time.

Abbie is pictured in the pool at her hotel in Los Angeles

'What he wants you to know is, he was like, "Maybe I was horny and was thinking about you sucking my d**k in that photo," So maybe it translated,' she said.

'To me, that was quite an innocent photo with a mere pun. But to all of you sick f**ks, it's penis-centric.'

The former radio host shared a selfie with her face against her beau's crotch, captioning her post: 'Semi soft launch.'

'U guys wanted a hard launch? Here's a semi x,' she later wrote to her Instagram Story.
Courteney Cox channeled her Friends character as she joked about the humidity in Miami on Wednesday.

The actress, 59, shared a fun clip on her Instagram where she recreated a famous scene from the classic NBC sitcom, where she starred as Monica Geller.

In the video Courtney  who recently shared that her late co-star Matthew Perry 'visits' her  starts out inside her hotel room, with her raven tresses looking sleek and polished.

'I love Miami!' she says as she opens the door and takes a step out onto the balcony, with her hair immediately transforming into frizzy voluminous curls.

Cox then mouths a voiceover with one of Monica's most well-known lines: 'It's the humidity!'

Courteney Cox, 59, channeled her Friends character Monica Geller as she joked about the humidity in Miami and how it was affecting her hair on Wednesday

Monica famously battled increasingly frizzy hair in a Friends episode titled, The One in Barbados Part 1, where she blamed the humid weather; Cox seen in a still from the show

Monica famously battled increasingly frizzy hair in a Friends episode titled, 'The One in Barbados Part 1', in season nine, where she blamed it on the humid weather.

In this episode, the friends travel to Barbados for a vacation.

Throughout the trip Monica's hair continues to get bigger due to the humid climate.

Frustrated that her friends keep on making fun of her, she finally yells 'It's the humidity!' to explain her hair woes.

The comment section underneath the clip was filled with fans referencing some of the jokes Monica's friends made about her voluminous hair in the episode.

'Diana Ross is back!' one person wrote.

'Thats not true. I came with Monica, I'm leaving with weird Al,' another added.

'ARE YOU LEAVING THE SUPREMES?' someone else inquired.

Actress Hannah Waddingham left a number of laughing-out-crying emojis.

In the video Courtney starts out inside her hotel room, with her raven tresses looking sleek and polished

'I love Miami!' she says as she opens the door and takes a step out onto the balcony, with her hair immediately transforming into frizzy voluminous curls

Cox then mouths a voiceover with one of Monica's most well-known lines: 'It's the humidity!'

Friends aired for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004, and followed six friends in their 20s and 30s navigating life in New York City.

Cox starred alongside Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and the late Perry, who played her love interest.

Just weeks after Courteney commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Friends finale, the actress opened up about her late co-star earlier this week.

She talked to CBS Sunday Mornings about Perry, who passed away at just 54 years of age in October 2023.

'I'm so thankful I got to work so closely with him for so many years. He visits me a lot, if we believe in that,' Cox said.

She added, 'I talk to my mom, my dad, Matthew. I feel like there are a lot of people that, I think, guide us.'

'I do sense  I sense Matthews around for sure,' she added.

Earlier this month, Cox opened up about the 20th anniversary of the Friends series finale, while sharing a short video of a scene from the final episode on Instagram.

'It's been 20 years since the series finale of Friends,' the Scream star captioned the post of the last scene of the series.

'I don't know how we were able to act through all the tears. Forever grateful,' she wrote.

Friends aired for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004, and followed six friends navigating life in New York City. The show will celebrate its 30th anniversary in September

Cox starred alongside Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and the late Matthew Perry; (Top L-R) Schwimmer, Cox, Kudrow, (Bottom L-R) Aniston, Perry, Leblanc

Earlier this week Courteney revealed her late co-star Matthew, who passed away at just 54 years of age in October 2023, still 'visits' her from time to time; the two seen in a still

In the scene the cast, Jennifer, David, Matt, Lisa and Matthew stood in Rachel's old apartment before Monica and Chandler left to go to their new home with their new baby.

The sitcom is also celebrating 30 years since the premiere of the show and the two anniversaries come at an awkward time for the bonded members of the cast in the wake of the death of Perry.

Matthew was found face-down in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home on October 28 last year, with the autopsy confirming that he died from the 'acute effects of ketamine' and drowning.

As a result, the stars of Friends are trying to decide how to best celebrate the end of the iconic series, according to a source for Us Weekly.

'They will most certainly be commemorating it somehow,' said a source, noting that Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc and Schwimmer will likely post something on social media.
Matt Poole has moved on with a new woman almost two years after his split from Tammy Hembrow.

The former Ironman was spotted jetting out of Gold Coast Airport on Thursday with girlfriend Annelyse Oatway and his daughter Posy to celebrate his birthday.

Matt looked smitten as he walked alongside his new love, who carried his baby girl as she slept ahead of their flight to Sydney.

He dressed comfortably for the trip in black track pants and a white jumper as he pushed a suitcase through the airport.

The sportsman completed his look with a black cap, dark sunglasses and wore a pair of black sneakers.

Matt Poole was spotted jetting out of Gold Coast Airport on Thursday with his new girlfriend Annelyse Oatway and his daughter Posy

Matt looked smitten as he walked alongside his new love, who carried his baby girl as she slept ahead of their flight to Sydney

Meanwhile, Annelyse looked stylish in blue jeans and a white T-shirt.

She completed her look with a pair of sneakers and was all smiles as she carried Posy through the airport while she slept.

Annelyse, who has over 10,000 Instagram followers, is very private online and little is known about her.

She is originally from the Gold Coast, Queensland.

Matt announced his split from his former fiancee Tammy, who he shares Posy with, in December 2022 and was most recently linked to Bella Cicero.

He dressed comfortably for the trip in black track pants and a white jumper as he pushed a suitcase through the airport

The Ironman completed his look with a black cap, dark sunglasses and wore a pair of black sneakers

Meanwhile, Tammy is currently enjoying a getaway in Greece with her new fiance Matt Zukowski.

The Love Island star proposed to the fitness influencer in December last year during a holiday in the Maldives.

Tammy and Matt had only been dating three months before they took their romance to the next step.

Annelyse looked stylish in blue jeans and a white T-shirt

She completed her look with a pair of sneakers and was all smiles as she carried Posy through the airport while she slept

Tammy has been engaged two times before. Her first time was with fellow influencer Reece Hawkins.

In November 2021, the fitness guru became engaged to restaurateur and former Ironman Matt.

The pair welcomed their daughter together in June 2022, but split that same year in December.

Annelyse, who has over 10,000 Instagram followers, is very private online and little is known about her

She wrapped her arms around Posy who enjoyed a nap before their flight to Sydney
Ella Ding has opened up about the 'intense' side effects of coming off the contraceptive pill.

The Married At First Sight star, 30, took to her Instagram Stories on Friday to reveal that she has stopped taking the contraceptive pill for the first time in 15 years.

In a candid post, she shared a selfie of herself while getting acupuncture and detailed her struggles in an accompanying caption.

She admitted she has been struggling with a fluctuating mood since coming off the pill as she detailed how acupuncture has helped her hormones.

She penned: 'This whole coming off the pill for the first time in 15 years has been intense to say the least, the ups and downs and waves of feeling numb and then short-tempered.

Ella Ding has opened up about the 'intense' side effects of coming off the contraceptive pill for the first time in 15 years

'Anyway @drabbieacupuncture I just want to say a huge thank you... you have been a support in many ways.

'And if you guys are genuinely looking to up the ante with your health, she has just been amazing with educating me and supporting my hormones and overall wellbeing through Chinese medicine and other alternatives.

'Can't recommend her enough for anything health related... even your sinuses! It just continues to blow my mind what acupuncture does.'

Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine which sees fine needles inserted into the skin at specific points, which are considered to be lines of energy.

Ella recently spoke about her desire to have children in the next two years, after tying the knot with Guy Palmero in a surprise wedding last month.

The Married At First Sight star, 30, took to her Instagram Stories on Friday to share her struggles and revealed how acupuncture has helped her amid the difficult time

'I'm not in any rush to have children, that's about it really. I don't really know,' she said in a video.

'Ideally I would like to say I would like to have kids in a year and a half to two years but I don't know how long that could take.

'I'm gonna continue to be on Accutane for another few months so I don't know when I have kids, but you'll be the first to know.'

Elsewhere, Ella and her podcast co-host Domenica Calarco issued an apology earlier this week after interviewing 'villain' MAFS groom Jack Dunkley.

The pair found themselves in the firing line last week when they spoke to Jack about the controversial moment he told co-star Jonathan McCullough to 'muzzle' his wife Lauren Dunn at the dinner table.

Ella recently spoke about her desire to have children in the next two years, after tying the knot with Guy Palmero in a surprise wedding (pictured) last month

The episode triggered a wave of online backlash, with Abbie Chatfield accusing the pair of 'platforming a misogynist' and failing to confront Jack about his statements.

Ella and Dom have now addressed the online backlash in an episode of their Sit With Us podcast titled A Time To Reflect, Learn and Grow.

In their 35-minute apology episode, Ella said: 'I personally think if you are a Sit With Us listener and you've been a loyal listener for two years, if you genuinely think that we support misogyny, I think it's very silly.'

'We're not doubling down here,' Dom added. 'Yes, we may have stumbled. But we strongly push back on the horrendous comments that we are anti-feminist.'

Elsewhere, Ella and her podcast co-host Domenica Calarco issued an apology earlier this week after interviewing 'villain' MAFS groom Jack Dunkley

The pair both went on to apologise and insisted it was never their intention to 'offend or hurt people' by featuring Jack on their podcast.

'This is something that I really want to say in the right way and I've written down the notes. I've written so many words and notes over the last four days. I'm trying to put all this down,' Dom said.

'But I now understand that by having Jack on the podcast, people are upset because it potentially had shown that we weren't supportive of women because we platformed him and that was never what we wanted to be putting across at all.

'But for upsetting people, for making people feel uncomfortable and for triggering them in that situation by having Jack on, I apologise. We never wanted to offend or hurt people by having him on the podcast. That was never our intention.'

The pair found themselves in the firing line when they spoke to Jack about the controversial moment he told co-star Jonathan McCullough to 'muzzle' his wife Lauren Dunn

Ahead of their apology, Dom opened up about her mental health following the wave of backlash and revealed she'd taken time out to visit a mental health retreat.

'Over the last month, I have been struggling with some deep issues that have left me emotionally, physically and psychologically drained,' she began in an Instagram post shared on Sunday morning.

'Everyday, I am trying to be the strong, independent and bubbly person that you all know me to be, but the reality is that I am not okay and the recent social media discourse has forced me to realise that I am at the end of my tether.'

Their apology came after Abbie unleashed on Domenica and Ella during last week's episode of It's A Lot with Abbie Chatfield.

The episode triggered a wave of online backlash, with Abbie Chatfield (pictured) accusing the pair of 'platforming a misogynist' and failing to confront Jack about his statements

'I don't think those girls even know why the muzzle comment was wrong. I think that's the biggest issue,' she claimed.

'I didn't think at this point that they were malicious. I thought they just didn't understand feminism or patriarchy fully... they had an entry level understanding of feminism.'

'I think the first step would be, because you aren't equipped to have these conversations, would be to not have him on at all,' the FBoy Island host went on.

'And say, 'I'm not going to platform misogynist if I can't call him out.' Another thing you could do is if you are going to platform him, stand your ground and question him on why he thinks this is okay and also understand why the muzzle comment was wrong.'
MasterChef Australia fan favourite Anna Polyviou sent fans wild when she returned to the popular cookery show.

The beloved pastry chef appeared on the show in an episode earlier this week as she shook up the competition with a very difficult challenge.

Famous for her inventive desserts, Anna tasked one aspiring chef with creating a unique 'sunny side up' dessert as part of the infamous pressure test.

Recognisable for her trademark pink mohawk, Anna made a guest appearance alongside judges Sofia Levin, Poh Ling Yeow, Andy Allen and Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Fans were sent completely wild when she returned to the Channel 10 cookery competition, and took to social media to share their excitement.

MasterChef Australia fan favourite Anna Polyviou sent fans wild when she returned to the popular cookery show

Famous for her inventive desserts, Anna tasked one aspiring chef with creating a unique 'sunny side up' dessert as part of the infamous pressure test

Married At First Sight's Lauren Dunn, who is a friend of Anna's, was among the gushing admirers.

'Yewww cannot wait,' the MAFS bride wrote in the comments ahead of her episode airing.

'It's fabulous to see you back on telly Anna!' wrote another follower.

'Go girl,' said another fan, while one more added: 'Can't wait to see what inception is waiting under there.'

Anna previously became a firm fan favourite on MasterChef when she appeared on the show as a guest judge from 2014-2016.

Recognisable for her trademark pink mohawk, Anna made a guest appearance alongside judges Sofia Levin, Poh Ling Yeow, Andy Allen and Jean-Christophe Novelli

Fans were sent completely wild when she returned to the Channel 10 cookery competition, and took to social media to share their excitement

The pressure tests challenge the contestants' abilities to work under extreme pressure and see them tasked with creating dishes under short time constraints.

Anna is a familiar face on the culinary scene and even won 2016 Pastry Chef of the Year by Gault&Millau for her unique and masterful creations.

Elsewhere, new MasterChef judge Sofia Levin has impressed the cast and crew of the hit cooking competition show.

A source has told how she has 'real' on-screen 'chemistry' with Andy, 36, and the pair have become good friends since appearing on the show together.

MasterChef Australia has seen a huge shake-up this year as Sofia Levin, Poh Ling Yeow and Jean-Christophe Novelli have all joined the panel alongside Andy Allen

'You can see they have real chemistry, and casting has a lot to do with making these judges pop on camera,' they told Woman's Day.

'The long days were hard but Sofia made everything fun for cast and crew.'

Andy, who is married to Alex Davey, won the fourth season of MasterChef Australia in 2012 and made his debut on the judging panel in 2020.

The three new judges have replaced the outgoing Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo, who tragically died in April last year.
Beach season is upon us, and Britney Spears is ready... swimsuit not required.

The Grammy Award winner, 42, shared another naked video Wednesday of herself crawling around the shallow waters of a beach while showing off her pert derriere.

'Hello to my ass!!!' Spears captioned the video of herself striking a pose in the sand.

Before revising the caption, she also wrote, 'Raised my ass a little higher so I have more booty!!! Thinking of getting injections on my ass to make it fuller like that.'

She shared more nude beach snaps last month from a recent tropical getaway, raving that her favorite part of the trip was being 'naked in the water.'

Britney Spears shared another naked video Wednesday of herself crawling around the shallow waters of a beach while showing off her pert derriere

'Hello to my ass!!!' Spears captioned the video of herself striking a pose in the sand

Spears previously opened up about the 'serious nerve damage' she said she suffered during her 13-year conservatorship.

'I'm not here to be a victim, I'm here to express that even though I did a book about my experiences, the trauma is still there and probably will always be,' Spears wrote in a since-deleted post on Wednesday.

'It's extremely deep and to my knowledge, all I can do is do the best I can and know it's okay to be upset some days or not be okay and that's something I don't feel like the world has allowed me to do!!!!' she added.

Spears was placed under conservatorship in 2008, lasting until 2021, when she gave testimony about 'abusive' treatment she allegedly suffered.

The Glory artist has recently sparked concerns of another mental health episode after sustaining an injury at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.

She was doing cartwheels outside her hotel room when she twisted her ankle, following some drinks at the hotel bar with boyfriend Paul Soliz.

Spears said she was 'harassed and gaslit and tricked to go on the street' barefoot to meet the ambulance.

'I was in my pajamas and yes, I had been crying because I hurt my foot!!! No breakdown!!! I'm a grown a** woman who is actually very naive in most situations!!!' she wrote on Instagram.

A source previously told DailyMail.com that it was Britney's mother Lynne who 'called 911 and told them that Britney was having a breakdown and had injured herself,' knowing that her daughter 'was in a traumatized state.'

Spears previously opened up about the 'serious nerve damage' she said she suffered during her 13-year conservatorship

Spears was placed under conservatorship in 2008, lasting until 2021, when she gave testimony about 'abusive' treatment she allegedly suffered

The Glory artist has recently sparked concerns of another mental health episode after sustaining an injury at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles

'Britney was crying in pain and she called Lynne in Louisiana to tell her what had happened,' the insider said. 'At the time, Lynne was the only one who knew that she had hurt herself.'

Seeing a gurney was 'traumatizing' for Spears, triggering 'a severe panic attack' after she was placed under a 5150 involuntary psychiatric hold in 2008.

Spears has since reportedly threatened to sell her Kentwood, Louisiana mansion Serenity, where her mother has lived rent-free since it was built in 2001.

According to TMZ, Spears' loved ones are concerned her 'mental health is in a tailspin,' potentially requiring another conservatorship.
Julie Goodwin could not contain her laughter during a recent podcast recording when a guest who said she was a big fan of MasterChef Australia failed to recognise her as the winner of series one.

Goodwin, 53, and Welsh woman Val were guests on the PodVan Podcast, which is recorded in a van driven across NSW by radio star Dave 'Rabbit' Rabbetts.

Val told Rabbets she loved MasterChef and began talking about the winner of series one - not realising it was Julie who was sitting right next to her.

'I just saw it the other night and it was mentioned who won series one. I can't remember her name,' the confused woman said.

Julie cheekily asked her if she remembered what the winner looked like and Val said she would Google it to refresh her memory - and became very red-faced after realising she was talking to the woman she was looking up.

Julie Goodwin (left) could not contain her laughter during a recent podcast recording, when a guest who was gushing about MasterChef Australia failed to recognise her as the series one winner

'Sod off!' an embarrassed Val said, before Julie joked she might have been hard to recognise because the first season aired 15 years ago.

Julie was the original MasterChef Australia winner after she narrowly defeated runner-up Poh Ling Yeow, and is now widely regarded as one of the country's most accomplished home cooks.

In October, she praised her granddaughter Delilah for helping her 'stay present' after she bravely revealed her mental health battles.

Goodwin, 53, and a Welsh woman, Val, were guests on the PodVan Podcast, which is recorded in a van driven across NSW by Dave 'Rabbit' Rabbetts (right). Val said she had been a big fan of MasterChef since series one and began talking about the winner - not realising it was Julie

The reality star spoke to Woman's Day magazine about the beloved two-year-old.

'Little kids are the best at being present and that's one of the things they tell you all the time about anxiety,' she told the publication.

'You're either thinking about what's happened or worrying about what is going to happen and the best thing you can do is be present.'

Goodwin was the original MasterChef Australia winner after she narrowly defeated runner-up Poh Ling Yeow, and is now widely regarded as one of the country's most accomplished home cooks

Julie went on to praise the light-hearted nature of children.

'When you're with a child that age, they don't know how to worry about what's happened in the past, [or] how to worry about what's going on in the future,' she said.

'I'm not going to spend time with her and worry about what's for dinner or whether I have to get to the shops.'

Julie added while she doesn't blame MasterChef for any of her issues with anxiety, she admitted fame did heighten them.
Will Smith and his estranged wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, posed for several glammed-up photos during the world premiere of Bad Boys: Ride Or Die, which was held in Dubai on Wednesday evening.

The 55-year-old performer and the 52-year-old actor - who have been separated for over seven years since 2016 - were also joined by the former's costar, Martin Lawrence, as well as the film's co-directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, during the event.

The actor - who recently opened up about one of his own 'ride-or-dies' - looked sharp while wearing a patterned gray three-piece suit, as well as a sparkling necklace and tinted sunglasses, to the premiere.

Pinkett Smith turned heads in an eye-catching black-and-white dress, which exposed her toned upper arms, as she posed for a few photos on the event's red carpet.

The actress completed her look for the evening with several earrings and sparkling high-heeled shoes.

Will Smith and his estranged wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, posed for several glammed-up photos during the world premiere of Bad Boys: Ride Or Die, which was held in Dubai on Wednesday evening

Pinkett Smith turned heads in an eye-catching black-and-white dress, which exposed her toned upper arms, as she posed for a few photos on the event's red carpet

The 55-year-old performer and the 52-year-old actor were also joined by the former's costar, Martin Lawrence, as well as the film's co-directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, during the event

Lawrence opted for a navy blue double-breasted jacket that was paired with matching pants during the premiere event.

The 59-year-old performer also wore a black shirt and matching tie, as well as aviator-style sunglasses.

El Arbi, 35, kept it classy in a jet-black suit that was paired with a matching shirt and tie as he celebrated the launch of his new movie.

Fallah, 38, stood out while wearing a turquoise jacket and matching pants, as well as a low-cut white t-shirt and a New York Yankees cap at the event.

Smith and Lawrence made their respective debuts as Detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett in the first Bad Boys movie, which was released in 1995.

The pair went on to reprise their roles in Bad Boys II and Bad Boys For Life, which were released in 2003 and 2020, respectively.

It was announced that development on the fourth film in the action-comedy franchise was underway just after the release of the third movie.

Smith confirmed that both he and Lawrence would return for the new movie in February of 2023, when it was also revealed that El Arbi and Fallah, who directed the third installment in the franchise, would also direct the fourth film.

The actor - who recently opened up about one of his own 'ride-or-dies' - looked sharp while wearing a patterned gray three-piece suit, as well as a sparkling necklace and tinted sunglasses, to the premiere

The actress' outfit exposed her toned upper arms, as well as her legs as she posed for a few photos on the red carpet. She also accessorized with a set of sparkling earrings

Pinkett Smith completed her look for the premiere with a pair of high-heeled shoes

El Arbi, 35, kept it classy in a jet-black suit that was paired with a matching shirt and tie, while Fallah, 38, stood out while wearing a turquoise jacket and matching pants, as well as a low-cut white t-shirt and a New York Yankees cap

Smith and Lawrence made their respective debuts as Detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett in the first Bad Boys movie, which was released in 1995

Smith confirmed that both he and Lawrence would return for the new movie in February of 2023, when it was also revealed that El Arbi and Fallah, who directed the third installment in the franchise, would also direct the fourth film

Bad Boys: Ride Or Die is currently scheduled to premiere in the United States on June 7

Performers such as Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig and Rhea Seehorn rounded out the movie's cast.

Production on the new film commenced in April of last year, with much of shooting taking place in Atlanta and Miami.

Although filming was briefly paused due to the onset of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, the cast and crew reconvened earlier this year and wrapped in March.

Bad Boys: Ride Or Die is currently scheduled to premiere in the United States on June 7.
Beef star Ali Wong has officially finalized her divorce from Justin Hakuta  two years after announcing their separation.

The stand-up comic, 42  who is in a relationship with SNL alum Bill Hader, 45  filed for divorce in December 2023.

According to docs obtained by ET, the former couple came to an agreement last week with Wong representing herself.

Wong and Hakuta, 41, tied the knot in 2014 and are parents to two daughters: Mari, eight, and Nikki, six.

They will be 'legally single' as of July 17. Details regarding custody and any division of assets was hidden 'for privacy reasons.'

Beef star Ali Wong has officially finalized her divorce from Justin Hakuta  two years after announcing their separation; seen in 2019

The last development in the pair's divorce came in February when Hakuta requested joint custody of their girls.

Ali had made the same request when she officially filed to end their marriage two months prior.

As for child support, the PEOPLE claimed that Hakuta did not make a direct request but it was noted that he and Wong were working out their divorce in mediation.

In her December 22 divorce filing, Wong  who is dating SNL alum Bill Hader  cited 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for the split, TMZ previously reported.

Their date of separation was listed as April 10, 2022, which was days before they publicly announced their split.

These documents also revealed that Ali and Justin are in mediation to establish spousal support and sorting their assets.

It was reported that the two want to settle their issues themselves.

According to docs obtained by ET, the former couple came to an agreement last week with Wong representing herself; seen in 2017

Wong, 42, is in a relationship with SNL alum Bill Hader, 45; seen in January

Ali noted that the couple had a prenup, and she wants it to be enforced by the court.

The pair met at a friend's wedding reception in 2010 and married in San Francisco in 2014.

In her 2016 Baby Cobra special on Netflix, Ali explained that when she learned Justin was a Harvard student and Fulbright scholar, she played hard-to-get.

'I was like, "Oh, my God, I'm gonna trap his a**. Going to trap his a**!" And I trapped his a** initially by not kissing him until the fifth date, which is a very unusual move on my part. But I did it on purpose, because I knew that he was a catch,' she said to a live audience.

In her book, Dear Girls: Intimate Tales Untold Secrets and Advice for Living Your Best Life, Ali credited the prenup she signed before walking down the aisle as one of the secrets to her success.

'My father always praised "the gift of fear,"' she explained. 'And that prenup scared the s*** out of me.

'In the end, being forced to sign that prenup was one of the greatest things that ever happened to me and my career.'

In February 2022 Ali referred to her marriage as 'monogamy jail' in her Don Wong comedy special on Netflix.

The stand-up comic filed for divorce in December 2023; seen in 2016

In February 2022 Ali referred to her marriage as 'monogamy jail' in her Don Wong comedy special on Netflix; seen in December 2023

Shortly after her separation, Ali began dating actor Bill Hader for a several months. He had recently ended his relationship with Anna Kendrick.

Wong and Hader reportedly split not long after, but rekindled their romance in April 2023 when they were seen kissing while hiking in LA.

Two days prior to the sighting, a rep for Bill confirmed to Page Six that he and Ali were back together.

Since then, they've continued to pack of the PDA in public. They were seen holding hands in LA on May 16.
Only two months after seemingly threatening early retirement, Lizzo is getting ready to put out new music.

The Grammy Award winner, 36, opened up about her recent mental health journey on Tuesday as she shared a mirror selfie and teased her new album.

'I'm the happiest I've been in 10 months,' wrote Lizzo in the caption. 'The strange thing about depression is you don't know you're in it until you're out of it.

'I'm definitely not all the way as carefree as I used to be.. But the dark cloud that followed me every day is finally clearing up.'

She added, 'My smile reaches my eyes again and that's a win. I thought my album was finished.. but I gotta get some of these good vibes off in a banger real quick. Thanks for your patience.'

Lizzo opened up about her recent mental health journey on Tuesday as she shared a mirror selfie and teased her new album

'I'm the happiest I've been in 10 months,' wrote Lizzo in the caption. 'The strange thing about depression is you don't know you're in it until you're out of it'

Lizzo previously led fans to believe she was quitting the music industry as she aired her frustrations on social media amid the sexual harassment lawsuit against her.

'All I want is to make music and make people happy and help the world be a little better than how I found it,' she wrote in part. 'But I'm starting to feel like the world doesn't want me in it.

'I'm constantly up against lies being told about me for clout & views being the butt of the joke every single time because of how I look my character being picked apart by people who don't know me and disrespecting my name.'

The Special artist added, 'I didn't sign up for this s**t I QUIT.'

After support from fans and friends like Paris Hilton, Queen Latifah and Tordick Hall, Lizzo clarified that she only meant she 'quit giving any negative energy attention.'

'What I'm not going to quit is the joy of my life, which is making music, which is connecting to people, 'cause I know I'm not alone,' she said.

'In no way, shape or form, am I the only person, who is experiencing that negative voice that seems to be louder than the positive,' added Lizzo.

Last August, Lizzo was sued by three of her former dancers  Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez  who accused her of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment.

Her 'I QUIT' post came after the dancers' attorney Ron Zambrano slammed 'shameful' President Joe Biden for having her perform at his $25 million Radio City fundraiser in March.

She added, 'My smile reaches my eyes again and that's a win. I thought my album was finished.. but I gotta get some of these good vibes off in a banger real quick. Thanks for your patience'

Lizzo previously led fans to believe she was quitting the music industry as she aired her frustrations on social media amid the sexual harassment lawsuit against her

After support from fans and friends like Paris Hilton, Queen Latifah and Tordick Hall, Lizzo clarified that she only meant she ' quit giving any negative energy attention'

'It's shameful that Lizzo would be chosen to headline an event like this amid such egregious allegations,' said Zambrano.

Lizzo responded to the 'false allegations' in a statement, calling the claims 'unbelievable' and 'outrageous.'

'These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional,' she said.

Lizzo added, 'I'm hurt but I will not let the good work I've done in the world be overshadowed by this. I want to thank everyone who has reached out in support to lift me up during this difficult time.'
Bella Thorne dressed to impress in a plunging figure hugging gown as she attended the Motel Destino premiere during Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday evening.

The actress, 26, looked incredible in the glamorous off the shoulder number which featured a dramatic collar sleeve.

Showcasing her amazing figure, Bella elevated her frame in a pair of towering heels as she posed on the star-studded red carpet at the iconic Palais des Festivals.

The Midnight Sun star added an eye catching dazzling necklace and wore diamond earrings to complete her evening outfit.

Styling her dark tresses in a neat up do, Bella flashed her gorgeous smile as she posed up a storm ahead of watching the film.

Bella Thorne dressed to impress in a plunging figure hugging gown as she attended the Motel Destino premiere during Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday evening

The actress looked incredible in the glamorous off the shoulder number which featured a dramatic collar sleeve

The former Disney star made a solo appearance during the evening without fiance Mark Emms.

Earlier in the week, Bella exuded glamour as the couple attended the Chopard Once Upon A Time dinner.

She looked sensational in a strapless dress and flashed her toned legs through the thigh-high split detailing as she arrived at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.

Bella elevated her frame with strappy gold heels and opted for a dramatic makeup to make her eyes pop.

Her dashing fiance looked incredibly dapper in a smart black tuxedo as he joined Bella for a sweet photo arm-in-arm.

Businessman Mark, who owns the New York city nightspot The Mulberry, ensured Bella took the spotlight at the star-studded evening.

The pair met in 2022 at Cara Delevingne's birthday party on a beach in Ibiza, and one year later - on Mother's Day last year - he proposed.

Bella recently revealed that Mark in fact presented her with five engagement rings so that she could try each one on for two weeks apiece before selecting one.

'He got me one ring that was so beautiful, and I didn't see anything that was wrong. We actually went through four rings after that one. This is my fifth one,' she dished.

Showcasing her amazing figure, Bella elevated her frame in a pair of towering heels as she posed on the star-studded red carpet at the iconic Palais des Festivals

The Midnight Sun star added an eye catching dazzling necklace and wore a number of silver earrings to complete her evening outfit

Styling her dark tresses in a neat up do, Bella flashed her gorgeous smile as she posed up a storm ahead of watching the film

Bella made her way up the red carpet steps and into the theatre

Bella commanded attention as she posed for photos at the 77th annual film festival

'He saw my face when I saw the first one, and he was like: "Yeah, let's go get you a different ring." And I was like: "What, why?" And he was like: "Well, I can just feel that something's not right with that,"' she recalled to The Messenger.

'I was like, "What are you talking about, the ring is beautiful! Don't be silly." He's like: "No, I just know you, and I saw your face, and there was something not right about it.

'So let's just go get other ones,"' Bella explained to the outlet. 'And then he went and got literally four other rings, and it was so ridiculous.'

Mark evidently 'wanted it to be perfect,' which is why he encouraged her to wear 'each ring for like two weeks to try it out' before deciding on one.

The bauble that Bella eventually settled on, she revealed, was an emerald-cut diamond ring that boasted more than 10 carats.

Cannes is the world's biggest film festival, first conceived in 1939 as an alternative to the then-fascist-influenced Venice Film Festival.

It has been held annually since 1946 except in 1948 and 1950, when it was cancelled due to lack of funds.

The festival is known for its carefully selected programme of films that have gone on to Oscar glory or launched the careers of directors like Quentin Tarantino.

The TV star wore a glamorous palette of makeup to accentuate her beauty

She showed off her incredible figure in the evening gown

The former Disney star made a solo appearance during the evening without fiance Mark Emms

Earlier in the week, Bella exuded glamour as the couple attended the Chopard Once Upon A Time dinner held at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

Cannes' top prize is the Palme d'Or, or Golden Palm, whose past winners include Taxi Driver, Apocalypse Now, Pulp Fiction, The Pianist and Parasite.

Jane Campion became the first female director to win in 1993 with The Piano, followed by a nearly three-decade gap until Julia Ducournau received the award for Titane in 2021.

Justine Triet became only the third female director to take the prize last year with Anatomy of a Fall.

There is also an honorary Palme d'Or, which is awarded in recognition of notable bodies of work, with past recipients including Harrison Ford, Jane Fonda and Clint Eastwood.
Amanda Abbington 's fiance Jonathan Goodwin has fired back at a troll who accused her of trying to 'ruin' Giovanni Pernice's career.

The Strictly Come Dancing professional, 33, has reportedly quit the show and is currently under investigation by the BBC after three stars - including Amanda - filed complaints about him.

Amanda, 52, dramatically withdrew from Strictly last year and was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following her partnership with Giovanni.

Before the news broke that Giovanni will not be appearing in the 20th series later this year, Amanda's fiance Jonathan Goodwin posted a cryptic message about experiencing 'terrible circumstances'.

He wrote: 'We don't control what happens to us but we do control how we feel about it. Every single moment that we live adds depth and weight to our identity.

Amanda Abbington 's fiance Jonathan Goodwin has fired back at a troll who accused her of trying to 'ruin' Giovanni Pernice 's career

The Strictly Come Dancing star, 33, has reportedly quit the show and is currently under investigation by the BBC after three stars - including Amanda - filed complaints about him

Amanda, 52, dramatically withdrew from Strictly last year and was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following her partnership with Giovanni

'The good and the bad it is literally impossible to become an adult and not experience at least a few terrible circumstances the real test of character is how we react to them.'

A user commented on the post, writing: 'Can you tell Amanda that thinking someone is 'abrasive' doesn't mean you set out to ruin their career?

'I know you found it uncomfortable watching them both together, perhaps even jealousy, but that's not his problem, that's yours.'

Refusing to take the bait, Jonathan replied: 'Hi lovely thanks for this. I wish you well.'

Amanda and former escapologist and stunt performer Jonathan began dating in 2021 and were reported to have got engaged in May last year.

Friends close to Amanda spoke about how she found the pro dancer 'abrasive' and would have to have 'crisis talks' with show bosses every week after being left in floods of tears at his 'tough' training method with claims it left her 'bruised'.

The BBC are reportedly scouring nine years of footage from Strictly professional Pernice's training sessions, as the explosive show scandal continues to rumble on.

Before the news broke that Giovanni will not be appearing in the 20th series later this year, Amanda's fiance posted a cryptic message about experiencing 'terrible circumstances'

A user commented on the post, writing: 'Can you tell Amanda that thinking someone is 'abrasive' doesn't mean you set out to ruin their career?'

Refusing to take the bait, Jonathan replied: 'Hi lovely thanks for this. I wish you well'

It's also claimed that Amanda has vowed to leave 'nothing unsaid' in her meeting with investigators this week.

On Monday evening, industry colleague Korina Travis, who performed with Pernice at private functions and has no association with Strictly, accused the Italian dancer of behaving questionably when they worked together.

'Ive known him for years as a fellow competitor and he has done horrendous things to me,' she said in a statement.

She added: 'I will not speak about my experiences with him... Ill leave it at that.'

Travis works for ballroom company Burn The Floor alongside numerous former Strictly Come Dancing professionals.

She was previously considered for a role on the BBC show in 2016 before producers opted for Chloe Hewitt.

Former Strictly contestants Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh have also been critical in their review of Giovanni's methods.

According to The Sun, several women who have danced with the Italian on Strictly are contemplating joining the three existing claimants in a Beeb investigation for 'serious workplace misconduct claims'.

Friends close to Amanda spoke about how she found the pro dancer 'abrasive' and would have to have 'crisis talks' with show bosses every week

Giovanni faced further claims of workplace misconduct on Monday after professional dancer Korina Travis accused him of 'horrendous' behaviour

A source disclosed that several former dance partners of Pernice's have been communicating privately and suggested that even more names could come forward.

The source went on to say that the future is unclear for the professional dancer, who vehemently denies any claims of threatening or abusive behaviour and has vowed to 'clear his name.'

They revealed: 'Numerous celebrities, all former partners of Gio's, have been in contact with one another behind the scenes.

'Three women that we know of have come forward, and taken things a step further with legal action.

'But Carter Ruck, the prestigious firm acting on behalf of these stars, have quietly been speaking to one or two other potential claimants. In other words, more names could come out of the woodwork.'

The fresh claims come after the professional dancer reportedly quit Strictly after the scrutiny became 'too much'.

Amanda is said to have met with Laura and Ranvir earlier this year for an 'emotional summit' to 'compare notes' about their time working with him.

Giovanni shared a post to Instagram detailing that he was 'totally surprised' by the allegations, which he denies.

He said in a statement: 'You will be as surprised as I am that allegations have been made about my dance teaching methods in the media this week.

'Of course, I reject any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour, and I look forward to clearing my name.

'Those who have followed my journey on Strictly Come Dancing over the last decade will know that I am passionate and competitive. No-one is more ambitious for my dance partners than me.

'I have always striven to help them be the very best dancers they can be. This has always come from a place of love and wanting to win - for me and my dance partners.

'Thank you all once again for your continued love and support!'

Following his statement, Pernice was dealt a fresh blow after friend and former Strictly dance partner Rose Ayling-Ellis was said to 'not be getting involved' while he fights 'to clear his name' amid a probe into his workplace conduct.

It was believed Giovanni was still on good terms with Rose, who he won Strictly Come Dancing with in 2021.

Now though, it's been claimed that Rose is 'shocked' by the allegations but 'believes what the others are saying'.

A source told The Sun: 'Rose is finding the whole situation really tough. She had a really great experience with Gio so is really shocked by it all.

'She of course believes what others are saying but she is just trying to not get involved. She won't be speaking about it publicly.'

The news will no doubt come as a surprise to Giovanni, who had a positive relationship with the deaf contestant Rose, 29, whom he led to victory in 2021, with the pair going on to win a TV BAFTA for their silent dance routine.

Amanda (pictured) is one of the women named in the suit, while the likes of Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh have also been critical in their review of him

The professional dancer shared a post to Instagram detailing that he was 'totally surprised' by the allegations, which he denies

Giovanni has faced a wave of scrutiny ever since Amanda (pictured) dramatically quit last year

In 2016, former Love Island host Laura Whitmore said she 'cried every day' and felt 'uncomfortable' while training with him

Now, Giovanni looks set to be planning a whole new career after leaving Strictly under a cloud.

Last month, the professional dancer quietly set up two new companies, which suggest that hes embarking on a life outside of the BBC show and heading for the classroom.

The Latin and Ballroom champion filed Rock You Productions Ltd at Companies House, which relates to the operation of arts facilities.

This suggests that hes making a move to create his own dance school, similar to ones set up by other performers such as Kevin Clifton.

Giovanni's new business is with Paul Irving, who produced his and other Strictly stars' tours.

Paul is also the founder member of The Strictly Foundation, set up to 'raise funds to place talented youth in stage schools and arts training courses.

Giovanni's second firm is called GP Ballando and the nature of its business is cultural education.

Debbie Lee serves as director after working with Giovanni and other Strictly celebs on their dance classes.

Last year, Giovanni turned his hand away from dancing to set up his own cosmetics range GP Vita, selling fragrances for men and women.

He announced on Instagram at the time that 'my dream come true is finally here!' adding: 'VITA is my new fragrance for men and women - an intoxicating scent that captures the sensuality, vitality and energy of Sicily.'

The Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh also complained about Giovanni to producers back in 2020, during their time on the show

Former partners have also come out to back him, including Debbie McGee, the widow of the magician Paul Daniels, who was paired with him in 2017

Giovanni's former partner Rose Ayling-Ellis reportedly admits she believes what others are saying amid BBC probe into 'abusive behaviour' (pictured in 2021)

As well as teaching, Pernice could be set for a career in Hollywood.

The dancer is set to make his film debut this year with insiders predicting he'll 'have more acting roles coming his way.

Giovanni has filmed a role in Man & Witch - a heart-warming homage to the lo-fi fantasy films of the Eighties.

He will appear alongside Back to the Future star Christopher Lloyd in the movie, which follows the tale of a lonely goatherd - who cursed at birth to never take a wife - bargains with a witch to reverse the spell if he can complete her three 'impossible' tasks.

Giovanni takes on the role of the Master of the Dance, the best dancer in the kingdom and the only person who knows the Dance of a Thousand Steps which is one of the tasks the Witch sets the Goatheard to master in order to find love.

Speaking about Giovanni's new role, a movie insider told MailOnline: 'Its a really fun role where not only does he show his amazing dance talent but also gets to show his comedy and acting chops.

'Hes in the film with most amazing cast, including some Hollywood legends, so who knows what might happen, he may well find some more acting roles coming his way.'

Giovanni, who also stars alongside Sean Astin (Goonies, Lord of the Rings), Tami Stronach (The NeverEnding Story) and Michael Emerson (Lost).

Man & Witch premieres in the UK on June 2 and will be released in US at the end of August.

While Strictly fans may miss seeing him every weekend in the ballroom, there might not be that long to wait to see him back on the small screen.

Insiders confirmed that Pernice is already mulling over offers away from BBC and he would find it 'difficult to resist' a lucrative contract with jungle show I'm A Celeb.

While a cloud surrounds his Strictly exit, a new career could be around the corner, with Pernice set to appear in Man & Witch (pictured with co-star Daniel Portman)

Giovanni takes on the role of the Master of the Dance in the movie and will star alongside acting legends Christopher Lloyd (left) and Sean Astin

Another insider revealed that the BBC are considering commissioning another travel series with Anton Du Beke following strong viewer feedback

A source told MailOnline: 'Giovanni has been under intense pressure and scrutiny following last year's series of Strictly when Amanda quit.

'The last thing he wants is for that to continue for him and whoever he could be paired with next so he felt there was no other option but to take a step back from the show.

'His close friendship with Anton Du Beke has made it difficult, he really wants him to stay and tried convincing him to look past everything that's happened.'

A TV insider added: 'With I'm A Celeb round the corner, Giovanni would be a dream signing for producers, especially now he's looking for new opportunities and a way to hopefully show audiences he's a good guy.

'The money ITV could offer would be seriously tempting for him too, plus, he loves a challenge.'

He hasn't completely cut ties with BBC, however, with another insider revealing that the BBC are considering commissioning another travel series with Anton Du Beke following strong viewer feedback.
Kate Beckinsale has revealed her methods for warming up as she continues filming for her new acting role in Italy.

The English actress, 50, has been busy filming scenes for her new kidnapping movie Stolen Girl, starring alongside Scott Eastwood.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Kate shared a collection of snaps and videos as she revealed that getting ready for a day of shooting 'takes many forms'.

From dancing to The Nolans and The Proclaimers, to stretching out her hamstrings with a friend and practising some yoga, Kate gave fans an insight into how she prepares.

The post also showed Kate wearing a scarf on her head in her dressing room before getting a blonde wig fitted and styled by Italo Gregorio.

Kate Beckinsale revealed her methods for warming up on Instagram on Wednesday as she continued filming for her new acting role in Italy

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Kate shared a collection of snaps and videos as she revealed that getting ready for a day of shooting 'takes many forms'

'Warming up takes a many forms, a village, ideally a couple of folk you love and occasionally the Nolans ,' Kate captioned the post.

In one video, Kate could be seen dancing to I'm In The Mood For Dancing with her friend Gabriella Morpeth, while in other the pair are seen singing 500 Miles by The Proclaimers - but changing miles to stairs as they walk down flights.

And Kate was also seen using Gabriella to stretch ahead of filming, as she puts her leg on her friend's shoulder and stretches it out into a Y-stand.

Kate also revealed her love of yoga, as she shared a video of her and hairstylist Italo practising a notoriously difficult pose - the crow.

In her post, Kate shared a video of Italo getting her ready for filming as she grasped a cup of tea and debuted a blonde hairdo.

But many fans were quick to notice the actress's pants, which were peeking out of her trousers, had 'F*** you, you f***ing f***,' written on them. As well as this, her mug said: 'Mother f***er.'

Taking to the comments, they wrote: 'Love the pants, my type of humour,'; 'My favorite underwear quote,';

'Lol where do you get your briefs? I want!'; 'Great underwear!! U never disappoint!! You're f***ing awesome,';

The post also showed Kate wearing a scarf on her head in her dressing room before getting a blonde wig fitted and styled by Italo Gregorio

From dancing to The Nolans and The Proclaimers, to stretching out her hamstrings with a friend and practising some yoga, Kate gave fans an insight into how she prepares

Kate also revealed her love of yoga, as she shared a video of her and hairstylist Italo practising a notoriously difficult pose - the crow

Kate was also seen using Gabriella to stretch ahead of filming, as she puts her leg on her friend's shoulder and stretches it out into a Y-stand

In her post, Kate shared a video of Italo getting her ready for filming as she grasped a cup of tea and debuted a blonde hairdo

But many fans were quick to notice the actress's pants, which were peeking out of her trousers, had 'F*** you, you f***ing f***,' written on them

'I need those underwear in my life!!'; 'I love and need those underwear. Where did you get them?!!'

On Sunday, Kate joked on Instagram that she was 'almost shot by a farmer' when she attempted to stroke a goat while filming in Italy.

Kate, who is a big animal lover, seemed in good spirits as she was seen chasing a goat in a field while wearing a towering pair of tan heels.

However, in the short clip she quickly turned around and ran away from the animals as she claimed a farmer was watching her.

Kate looked incredible for the outing in a white long sleeved blouse which she teamed with skinny jeans.

She wrote: 'Oh Italy: your sunny, enveloping charm except when you try and pat a goat and almost get shot by a farmer'.

In another picture, the Underworld star looked stunning in a white and green dress as she posed for behind-the-scenes pictures while filming on set in Italy.

Kate was in high spirits as she beamed for photos while checking her phone between scenes.

She shielded from the sun under a large umbrella in which a crew member held above her head before she continued filming in the busy Italian streets.

The new film Stolen Girl, directed by James Kent, is based on the real story of Maureen Dabbagh who spent years tracking down her daughter after she was abducted by her child's father.

Taking to the comments, they wrote: 'Love the pants, my type of humour,'; 'My favorite underwear quote,'

Kate joked on Instagram on Sunday that she was 'almost shot by a farmer' when she attempted to stroke a goat while filming in Italy

Kate, who is a big animal lover, seemed in good spirits as she was seen chasing a goat in a field while wearing a towering pair of tan heels

She wrote: 'Oh Italy: your sunny, enveloping charm except when you try and pat a goat and almost get shot by a farmer'
Andy Lee and his fiancee Rebecca Harding are restoring a 150-year-old derelict mansion by the river in Hawthorn, Melbourne.

The pair have recently commenced work on a planned $5million renovation of the home they bought in 2021.

Pictures loaded to Andy, 42, and Rebecca's social media show that the enormous two-storey property is in an advanced state of disrepair.

The damage includes decay from leaks, wrecked ceilings, cracked plaster and stripped walls inside the grand old structure.

In a series of recent Instagram videos, the couple shared an inside look at their renovation project, giving a preview of what's to come.

Andy Lee and his fiancee Rebecca Harding are restoring a 150-year-old derelict mansion by the river in Hawthorn, Melbourne. Both pictured

The pair have recently commenced work on a planned $5million renovation of the home they bought in 2021

Andy showcased the top floor of the property, revealing plans to demolish the old staircase, which currently blocks the entrance.

Moving to another room, he pointed out a wall slated for demolition to create a larger, open space.

He also mentioned that pigeons will need to be evicted in the process and that seaweed was discovered in the roof, an insulation method used 100 years ago.

Meanwhile, Bec's tour of the ground floor highlighted a massive hole in the ceiling, which has caused water damage, additionally, she showed a number of plants that have grown through the mansion's walls.

Despite the issues, she noted they are planning to preserve the green walls and detailed archways.

The local council gave the couple the green light to begin their luxury renovation of the derelict Melbourne mansion last June.

Pictures loaded to Andy and Bec's social media show that the enormous two-storey property is in an advanced state of disrepair.

The damage includes decay from leaks, wrecked ceilings, cracked plaster and stripped walls inside the grand old structure

In a series of recent Instagram videos, the couple shared an inside look at their renovation project

Andy mentioned that pigeons will need to be evicted in the process and that seaweed was discovered in the roof, an insulation method used 100 years ago

Bec's tour of the ground floor highlighted a massive hole in the ceiling, which has caused water damage, additionally, she showed a number of plants that have grown through the mansion's walls

Andy showcased the top floor of the property, revealing plans to demolish the old staircase, which currently blocks the entrance

Plans for the site include adding a second building which will be connected by a tunnel to the original Italianate mansion, which was built around 1876.

Other highlights planned for the 1950square metre holding include a home theatre, a gym, a swimming pool and a 'mega bedroom'.

The dilapidated Italianate style manor property, built in circa 1876, sits on a princely 2,000sqm lot and looks out onto the Yarra River.

Historically, the front of the property faces the river, as it was the original arrival point for residents.

Bec and Andy revealed that the home was last occupied in 1992.

The previous owners left the property in a horrid state for over a decade after their own renovations ceased for unknown reasons.
Channel Nine's Married at First Sight appears to be setting out to diversify in 2025.

An insider close to the ratings juggernaut has revealed that the show's producers are 'actively' pursuing applicants who identify as transgender.

And contestants are already being questioned on whether they would be willing to be matched with gender neutral partners as part of the experiment.

A source interviewed by Yahoo Lifestyle said that MAFS Australia are out to diversity after producers in the UK version of the show cast Elle Morgan, who identifies as transgender.

Morgan entered the experiment as a bride in 2023 which stimulated massive media attention as a result, the insider said.

Channel Nine's Married at First Sight appears to be setting out to diversify in 2025. An insider close to the ratings juggernaut has revealed that the show's producers are 'actively' pursuing applicants who identify as transgender. Pictured: experts John Aiken, Mel Schilling and sexologist Alessandra Rampolla

Contestants are being questioned on whether they would be willing to be matched with gender neutral partners as part of the experiment. Pictured: MAFS couple Michael Felix and Stephen Stewart

'Producers are now under immense pressure to raise the bar on our version to keep the format fresh,' the source claimed.

The casting process for the new season also asks applicants on whether they identify as non-binary and transgender.

Applicants have also been asked about their 'same-sex' experiences and whether they have had any cosmetic surgery.

The insider said that producers are also pressing applicants on intimate details, including whether they would engage in sex same experiences during filming - no matter their own gender identity.

MAFS Australia has featured three same sex couples to date - Michael Felix and Stephen Stewart, Craig Roach and Andy John and Amanda Micallef and Tash Herz.

MAFS Australia has featured three same sex couples to date - Michael Felix and Stephen Stewart, Craig Roach and Andy John (pictured) and Amanda Micallef and Tash Herz

The experiment featured its first lesbian couple in 2020. Pictured: Amanda Micallef and Tash Herz

lExpert Mel Schilling has previously confessed to the experiment's shortcomings in representing LGBTQ+ relationships.

'For us, it was really important to find people who genuinely wanted to find love. We didn't want to simply match people based on sexual orientation,' she told Metro last year.

Schilling admitted that the Australian series 'got that horribly wrong' in the early seasons, suggesting that 'great lessons' could be gleaned from the experience.

Back in 2019, a spokesman for Nine told Daily Mail Australia that they hadn't included a same-sex couple due to the limited number of applications from gay singles.

'Unfortunately, we didn't feel there was a good enough match, and we didn't want to include a gay couple just for the sake of appearances,' they said.

A source interviewed by Yahoo Lifestyle said that MAFS Australia are out to diversity after producers in the UK version of the show in 2023 cast Elle Morgan who identifies as transgender. Ellie is pictured with groom Nathanial Valentino

While the show received a staggering 10,000 applications from heterosexual singles, only about 20 came from gay singles.

The following year, the experiment featured its first lesbian couple, with Amanda Micallef and Tash Herz tying the knot.

In 2016, MAFS Australia welcomed its first gay couple, Craig Roach and Andy John, which didn't go as planned.

This new season is expected to push the boundaries like never before and feature the most diverse cast yet, Daily Mail Australia can reveal.
Giovanni Pernice's supportive girlfriend Molly Brown was spotted wearing a gold band on her wedding finger amid a BBC probe into allegations of 'serious misconduct' against the professional dancer.

The model stepped out wearing the ring hours after the couple revealed they had welcomed a 'new addition' to their family - a Pomeranian puppy named Roxy - following their return from a romantic getaway.

The dancer, 33, and his girlfriend recently returned from a trip to Dubai and Portugal amid furore over his 'militant' training style, with the BBC forced to investigate 'serious workplace misconduct' after three of his partners sought legal help.

After jetting back to the UK, Molly was spotted out for the first time in London wearing a smart white blazer with a pair of leggings and knee-high black boots.

The blonde beauty held up her left hand to her face, revealing the simple gold band, which will no doubt leave fans questioning if their was a proposal on their getaway.

Giovanni Pernice 's supportive girlfriend Molly Brown was spotted wearing a gold band (pictured) on her wedding finger amid a BBC probe into allegations of 'serious misconduct' against the professional dancer

The model stepped out wearing the ring hours after the couple revealed they had welcomed a 'new addition' to their family - a Pomeranian puppy named Roxy - following their return from a romantic getaway

The dancer, 33, and his girlfriend recently returned from a trip to Dubai and Portugal amid furore over his 'militant' training style, with the BBC forced to investigate 'serious workplace misconduct' after three of his partners sought legal help

The sighting comes hours after Molly revealed her new pup on her Instagram page on Wednesday evening, suggesting they had other things on their mind than the impending prob into Giovanni's behaviour.

Alongside a snap of Giovanni cuddling the Pomeranian, Molly wrote: 'Meet Roxy'.

There was no reference to the current media storm Giovanni finds himself in, following claims that Strictly bosses are bracing themselves for yet more complaints from former contestants.

The BBC are reportedly scouring nine years of footage from Strictly professional Giovanni's training sessions, as the explosive show scandal continues to rumble on.

It's also claimed that Amanda Abbington - one of the three stars who have filed complaints against Giovanni - has vowed to leave 'nothing unsaid' in her meeting with investigators this week.

On Monday evening, industry colleague Korina Travis, who performed with Giovanni at private functions and has no association with Strictly, accused the Italian dancer of behaving questionably when they worked together.

'Ive known him for years as a fellow competitor and he has done horrendous things to me,' she said in a statement.

She added: 'I will not speak about my experiences with him... Ill leave it at that.'

After jetting back to the UK, Molly was spotted out for the first time in London wearing a smart white blazer with a pair of leggings and knee-high black boots

Molly looked glamorous and wore her blonde hair loose with a light coverage of make-up

The model looked pensive as she left a building in London

Korina works for ballroom company Burn The Floor alongside numerous former Strictly Come Dancing professionals.

She was previously considered for a role on the BBC show in 2016 before producers opted for Chloe Hewitt.

Former Strictly contestants Abbington, Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh have all been critical in their review of Pernice's methods.

According to The Sun, several women who have danced with the Italian on Strictly are contemplating joining the three existing claimants in a Beeb investigation for 'serious workplace misconduct claims'.

A source disclosed that several former dance partners of Giovanni's have been communicating privately and suggested that even more names could come forward.

The source went on to say that the future is unclear for the professional dancer, who vehemently denies any claims of threatening or abusive behaviour and has vowed to 'clear his name.'

The sighting comes hours after Molly revealed her new pup on her Instagram page on Wednesday evening, suggesting they had other things on their mind than the impending prob into Giovanni's behaviour

Yet Pernice clearly had other things on his mind on Wednesday, as Brown took to Instagram to show off their new addition

Pernice faced further claims of workplace misconduct on Monday evening after professional dancer Korina Travis accused him of 'horrendous' behaviour

They revealed: 'Numerous celebrities, all former partners of Gio's, have been in contact with one another behind the scenes.

'Three women that we know of have come forward, and taken things a step further with legal action.

'But Carter Ruck, the prestigious firm acting on behalf of these stars, have quietly been speaking to one or two other potential claimants. In other words, more names could come out of the woodwork.'

The fresh claims come after he reportedly quit Strictly after the scrutiny became 'too much'.

Off the back of his departure, friends close to Amanda spoke about how she found the pro dancer 'abrasive' and would have to have 'crisis talks' with show bosses every week after being left in floods of tears at his 'tough' training method with claims it left her 'bruised'.

In recent weeks, the professional dancer has come under fire for his 'militant' training style, with the BBC forced to investigate 'serious workplace misconduct claims'

Amanda, who dramatically withdrew from last year's competition and was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after the show, is said to have met with Laura and Ranvir, 46, earlier this year for an 'emotional summit' to 'compare notes' about their time working with him.

Giovanni shared a post to Instagram detailing that he was 'totally surprised' by the allegations, which he denies.

He said in a statement: 'You will be as surprised as I am that allegations have been made about my dance teaching methods in the media this week.

'Of course, I reject any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour, and I look forward to clearing my name.

'Those who have followed my journey on Strictly Come Dancing over the last decade will know that I am passionate and competitive. No-one is more ambitious for my dance partners than me.

'I have always striven to help them be the very best dancers they can be. This has always come from a place of love and wanting to win - for me and my dance partners.

'Thank you all once again for your continued love and support!'

Following his statement, Giovanni was dealt a fresh blow after friend and former Strictly dance partner Rose Ayling-Ellis was said to 'not be getting involved' while he fights 'to clear his name' amid a probe into his workplace conduct.

It was believed Giovanni was still on good terms with Rose, who he won Strictly Come Dancing with in 2021.

Now though, it's been claimed that Rose is 'shocked' by the allegations but 'believes what the others are saying'.

A source told The Sun: 'Rose is finding the whole situation really tough. She had a really great experience with Gio so is really shocked by it all.

'She of course believes what others are saying but she is just trying to not get involved. She won't be speaking about it publicly.'
Katie Price has confirmed for the first time she's finally moving out of her Mucky Mansion after she was served an eviction notice to leave the property.

The mother-of-five, 46, revealed she will soon be collecting the keys for a new home and denied recent reports she was looking to move her family into a caravan.

After nine years, Katie says she 'can't wait' to relocate and admits, 'I've had nothing but bad memories in that house', insisting moving will be the start of a new chapter in her life.

The former glamour model, who's currently in a relationship with Married At First Sight UK contestant JJ Slater, 30, was declared bankrupt for a second time in March over an unpaid tax bill of 761,994.05.

Speaking about the West Sussex property, branded the 'Mucky Mansion' because of its constant state of disrepair, Katie said: 'I absolutely hate the Mucky Mansion, even how it's been called the Mucky Mansion because of all the stuff that happened there before.

Katie Price has confirmed for the first time she's finally moving out of her Mucky Mansion after she was served an eviction notice to leave the property

The mother-of-five revealed she will soon be collecting the keys for a new home and denied recent reports she was looking to move her family into a caravan

The former glamour model, who's currently in a relationship with Married At First Sight UK contestant JJ Slater, was declared bankrupt for a second time in March over an unpaid tax bill

'I can't wait to get out of that house I've had nothing but bad memories in that house for nine years. I hate the Mucky Mansion, I never want to see it again and I can't wait to move into my new place, I am so excited. New beginnings, new start, reset button, I love it.

'But don't worry, I'll be featuring my new house on my YouTube channel when I get the keys and welcoming you to my new house, I can't wait, I just want to get rid of all the bad stuff in the past and have a fresh start. Although I would love a big caravan, it wouldn't fit us all in so it's definitely not a caravan I'm moving into.'

Katie, who's a mum to Harvey Price, 21, as well as Junior, 18, and Princess, 16, who she shares with Peter Andre and Jett, 10, and Bunny, nine, from her relationship with Kieran Hayler, was first declared bankrupt in 2019.

In March, she became bankrupt for a second time after she failed to pay her taxes, saying the reason she has debts is because she went through a 'breakdown.'

Speaking on the Stripping Off podcast with Matt Haycox, Katie said she wasn't even aware of the second bankruptcy, insisting, 'I will pay it, but it just has to be when I've got it.'

She said: 'Yeah, you should always pay your tax, this and that. But obviously, I went through a breakdown so then I didn't pay tax and that's sort of where the bankruptcy thing has come from.'

Katie has been given until June 26 to leave the Mucky Mansion, which became the subject of a Channel 4 documentary when she attempted to install life back into the property for the last time.

During an Instagram live on Tuesday, she confirmed there will be no further renovation shows based around the house, saying, 'Is there going to be anymore Mucky Mansions shows? No.'

In March, Katie became bankrupt for a second time after she failed to pay her taxes, saying the reason she has debts is because she went through a 'breakdown'

She has been given until June 26 to leave the Mucky Mansion, which became the subject of a Channel 4 documentary when she attempted to install life back into the property

She was served an eviction notice on April 24 and told to leave by the end of May but has been given an extension by her mortgage provider.

Katie was due to give evidence at the High Court over her finances last month but failed to turn up because she was on holiday in Cyprus with boyfriend JJ.

The 'Mucky Mansion' earned its nickname following years of damage to the property, including flooding, burglaries, mould and even reports of it being haunted.

On Wednesday, Katie celebrated her birthday and was presented with a cake by JJ, who joined her on stage as she tours with her podcast The Katie Price Show.

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, JJ revealed he's already thinking about proposing to Katie and he sees their 14-year age difference as 'irreverent.'
In what kind of unjust world can a man simply be cancelled over unproven allegations that he caused a female colleague to suffer PTSD and reduced other women to tears?

How can a high-profile celebrity lose the job he loved  and for which he was adored by fans  as a result of unsubstantiated claims of bullying and horrendous behaviour?

What exactly was so horrendous about his behaviour? Of course, the accuser hasn't told us, so were just left with an ugly slur.

Yes, we can only be talking about the trial by media of Strictly Come Dancings star dancer Giovanni Pernice. And to think this pernicious witch-hunt is taking place in the supposedly innocent world of ballroom dancing.

It was Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington who started the ball rolling. Last October she withdrew from the show on medical grounds

The dancer, 33, and his girlfriend Molly Brown recently returned from a trip to Dubai and Portugal amid furore over his 'militant' training style

Enough already. I am among the countless Strictly fans demanding Justice For Gio.

It was Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington who got the ball rolling against Giovanni. In October she withdrew from Strictly on medical grounds, which it later emerged was post-traumatic stress disorder, saying on Instagram: I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue.

Tellingly, she did not pay tribute to Giovanni, who was, of course, her dance partner.

Only in the past six weeks has she made a formal complaint about him to the BBC. After meeting with two other distressed Strictly contestants, the trio decided to pursue their claims together against him and the BBC with vigour through the law firm Carter-Ruck.

Again, I ask, what claims? And if they were serious enough to cause Abbington PTSD, why didnt she and the other contestants take them to the BBC at the time?

I was delighted to learn yesterday that Giovanni has hit back, vowing he wont be cancelled by what he terms spurious and unfounded allegations. And that he fully expects to clear his name and has employed the services of another big law firm, Schillings, to help him do so.

According to a source close to him, the only substantive allegation is that he stepped on someones toes, which of course, they point out, is an occupational hazard dancing professionally or at a wedding.

Could it be that his partners couldnt cope with the fact he is  as he claims - a perfectionist, 100 percent whose only aim was to make his dancers look the best they can on a Saturday night?

Whatever the case, let battle commence. If he has behaved so badly, been a Paso Doble demon, some kind of Mambo monster, then why dont his accusers come out and say exactly what he did, rather than attempt to destroy his career through vicious backstage whisperings.

Frankly, Im ashamed on behalf of the sisterhood. The damaging briefings have all come from women, beginning after Abbingtons dramatic departure in week five of partnering Gio.

As many who have taken to social media defending Gio have pointed out, perhaps Abbington was already stressed when she entered Strictly. She had divorced her long-term partner, the actor Martin Freeman, who has found love with another woman, and had earlier declared herself bankrupt when faced with a 120,000 tax bill.

Maybe Amanda was not in the right place to take part in Strictlys gruelling daily training sessions with Gio, the hardest taskmaster who turns ugly dancing ducklings into graceful swans.

Perhaps the responsibility lies with the BBC which surely has duty of care not to allow celebs to enter the ballroom if they are fragile.

Giovanni has been on Strictly since 2015, with never a whisper about any unacceptable behaviour  no commentary except to say what a brilliant dancer he is, with an unerring desire to win.

Who knows what Amanda and Cos lawyers will actually accuse him of. Like him, as of this moment we have absolutely no idea.

All I do know about is my own ballroom journey with Giovanni. For me the most sublime instant of Strictlys nearly 20 years was in 2022 when he danced with the little-known EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, who is deaf.

In order to allow us to appreciate her experience of their dance, Gio had choreographed the dance so that the music stopped halfway through, and the couple danced in silence so people could understand Roses world. There wasnt a dry eye in living rooms across the land when Giovanni signalled in sign language to Rose, thank you and she became a national treasure.

Bafta gave the performance its award for the Must-See Moment on TV that year.

But now, even Rose  who won the glitterball with Gio - seems to have turned on him. An unnamed source has said: She of course believes what others (women) are saying, but is trying not to get involved, she wont speak about it publicly.

This is the woman who told Hello! Magazine of her magical experience with Gio. I started off finding dancing very confusing. Giovanni has been incredible, she said.

Tellingly, when Ms Abbington quit Strictly she did not pay tribute to Giovanni who was, of course, her dance partner.

For me the most sublime instant of Strictly's nearly 20 years was when the little-known EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, who is deaf, won the glitterball with him

If we were together, I could follow him. If he left me alone, it was much harder for me. He had to arrange the choreography so that I could see him all the time.

She praised Giovanni for taking a leap of faith with a deaf dancer. She always knew he would catch me if I fell.

A leap of faith, what a perfect way to sum up our partnership she gushed on Instagram. Trust is super important.

Instead of repaying that trust, she has chosen to stay silent.

It is appalling that his accusers are acting as judge and jury in this ugly spat which threatens to shatter the glitterball for good.

Public opinion is firmly behind Gio as the Justice For Gio campaign shows only too clearly.

And I am proud to be one of his many sequin-loving supporters.
Amanda Holden turned heads as she went braless in a skintight mint green dress as she made a glamorous departure from her Heart FM breakfast show on Thursday morning.

The TV and radio host, 53, made sure all eyes were on her as she showcased her incredible figure in a one-shoulder bow midi dress, which is part of her summer collaboration with High Street brand Lipsy.

The figure-hugging garment, priced at 75, showcased Amanda's stunning curves and featured a daringly high slit up her leg.

Adding inches to her frame, the blonde beauty slipped into a pair of nude strappy heels as she left the Global Radio studios in London's Leicester Square.

To accessorise, the Britain's Got Talent judge wore a pair of trendy tinted sunglasses, a myriad of bracelets and two gold necklaces.

Amanda Holden turned heads as she went braless in a skintight mint green dress as she made a glamorous departure from her Heart FM breakfast show on Thursday morning

The TV and radio host, 53, made sure all eyes were on her as she showcased her incredible figure in a one-shoulder bow midi dress, which is part of her summer collaboration with Lipsy

Amanda's stylish display comes days after MailOnline revealed a first look at her new Netflix show, Cheaters: Unfinished Business.

It will be filmed in an idyllic 10-bedroom Mallorca villa where contestants will live together and attempt squash any qualms between them.

Amanda will work alongside a dating expert to help guide eight former couples.

They will confront each other at the Spanish retreat with the hope of moving past the betrayal or coming to terms with their relationships being over for good.

And the host is looking to 'rival' Love Island with a bigger and better villa.

It boasts a glamorous pool complete with canopy draped daybeds, a cobbled courtyard and 10 bedrooms with king size beds for couples hoping to reconcile.

The 14th Century manor house is set on a 40-hectare black truffle estate.

MailOnline first revealed Amanda's signing with Netflix to present the dating series.

The figure-hugging garment, priced at 75, showcased Amanda's stunning curves and featured a daringly high slit up her leg

Adding inches to her frame, the blonde beauty slipped into a pair of nude strappy heels as she left the Global Radio studios in London's Leicester Square

To accessorise, the Britain's Got Talent judge wore a pair of tinted sunglasses, a myriad of bracelets and two gold necklaces

She appeared in top spirits for her morning slot and left work with a huge smile

The star confirmed it is a 'dream come true' and urged her followers to sign up to the risky run-in with their former cheating partners.

A TV source told MailOnline: 'Amanda can't wait to start filming her new dating show, she adores hot weather, and the villa is better than she could have ever dreamed of.

'It will provide the perfect backdrop for Cheaters: Unfinished Business, a sexy setting gives contestants the excuse to forgive and fall back in love with each other, at least that's what producers are hoping.

'The villa being in Mallorca will of course invite comparisons with Love Island, which is also filmed in Palma, and Amanda hopes her series will be just as popular.'

The Heart Breakfast show host will work alongside a dating expert to help guide eight former couples as they confront each other at the Spanish retreat with the hope of moving past the betrayal or coming to terms with their relationships being over for good.

Amanda told MailOnline: 'It is my dream job, if I could have manifested a job this would have been it.

'It is the job I have wanted my whole life and it's finally happening. I'm going to be filming the show over the summer. It is my own thing and it's the genre of it, it's what I've always wanted.'

The new show, Amanda's first on Netflix, will be filmed this summer but won't land on the streaming giant until 2025.

The show comes 31 years after Amanda first appeared on TV as a contestant on Cilla Black's Blind Date, making her signing as host even more significant, as she celebrates a full circle moment in her long-lasting career.
Ana de Armas made a low-key outing on Wednesday as she stepped out for dinner with a mystery man in Barcelona, Spain.

The Bond actress, 36, wore a casual, but chic, white shirt to ensure she didn't stand out from the crowd.

Her male companion politely opened the car door for her before they both entered the car after a chilled night in the city.

While it is not confirmed who Ana was with, the duo kept a close distance to one another as they made their way to dinner.

The short-haired man looked dashing in a brown linen shirts, teamed with off-white trousers and brown loathers.

Ana de Armas, 36, made a low-key outing on Wednesday as she stepped out for dinner with a mystery man in Barcelona, Spain

Her male companion politely opened the car door for her before they both entered the car after a chilled night in the city

MailOnline have contacted Ana's representatives for a comment.

Ana, who currently resides in Spain, shared some fun beach snaps on Instagram on Tuesday.

The actress' outing comes just weeks after her two of her fans finally settled a bizarre lawsuit they had triggered with Universal Pictures.

In 2022, two fans sued the company after they used actress Ana in a trailer for the 2019 movie Yesterday but cut her from the film.

Peter Rosza and Conor Woulfe, two dedicated fans, sued Universal Pictures in 2022, claiming they had spent $3.99 to rent Yesterday after seeing the actress in a trailer.

Despite appearing in the trailer, her role was cut entirely from the film, leading Peter and Conor to sue the studio for $5 million for false advertising.

Peter and Conor scored one legal victory, with a judge allowing the case to move forward in December 2022 and it has now been settled.

No terms of the settlement were disclosed and it's unclear if any money actually changed hands, despite the huge amounts both sides were asking for.

Ana, who currently resides in Spain, shared some fun beach snaps on Instagram on Tuesday

She showed off her incredible figure in a cream bikini top and a white ruffled mini skirt

The actress' outing comes just weeks after her two of her fans finally settled a bizarre lawsuit they had triggered with Universal Pictures

In 2022, two fans sued the company after they used actress Ana in a trailer for the 2019 movie Yesterday but cut her from the film

The film Yesterday was released in 2019, following a struggling musician named Jack (Himesh Patel) who is hit by a bus one day.

When he wakes up, he realizes that he's the only person on Earth who remembers who The Beatles actually are, and sets out on a profound musical journey.

Brazilian actress Ana was initially set to play a woman vying for Jack's affections, who appeared in a brief role late in the movie.

While scenes shot with de Ana were used in the trailer, director Danny Boyle ultimately decided to cut the character altogether after her arc failed to connect with test screening audiences.

Ana did not appear in the finished film, which earned a solid $154.6 million worldwide from a $26 million budget.

Despite this legal victory, allowing the case to move forward, the class action lawyers failed to provide any data that would comprise an actual class for the lawsuit.

Then in August 2023, a judge dismissed the class action status, meaning the false advertising case could only move forward with the two plaintiffs - dropping the case's value from a prospective $5 million down to $7.98 - the cost of the rental fees.

The studio then filed a motion to have the plaintiffs cover the studio's legal fees, which they calculated to $672,000, though offered a, 'generous' deduction to $472,000.

The judge knocked it down even further to $126,705, with Universal offering to settle, though the plaintiffs' lead attorney, Cody R. LeJeune, hinted at still fighting.

He filed multiple discovery requests, while his former co-counsel, Matthew A. Pequignot, filed a settlement proposal of his own, stating his clients would drop the lawsuit for a $750,000 lump sum payment.

Universal's lawyers were not amused, with Stephanie Herrera writing, 'The attorneys who filed and sunk two years into this frivolous case are trying to pressure Universal into making a huge monetary payment (with no legal or factual basis) to end a case that is now worth $7.98.'

She then asked the judge for another $43,000 for 'abuse of the discovery process,' with a hearing that was set for April 30, and the trial set to start May 21.

Both parties filed a joint notice of settlement on Friday with the case believed to be fully dismissed in April
Bella Hadid has managed to steal the spotlight once again as she departed the iconic Hotel Martinez on Thursday during Cannes Film Festival.

With just days to go until the 77th Film Festival draws to a close, Bella ensured to go all out with her racy ensemble.

For this look, the model, 27, displayed her jaw-dropping figure in a backless midi dress which she teamed with a number of pieces of gold jewellery from sustainable brand, Monica Vinader.

She couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she was greeted to an array of people when departing the star-studded hotel.

Bella joined glamorous stars Sofia Carson, Lily Gladstone, Cara Delevingne, Barbara Palvin, Poppy Delevingne and Joey King, who also left the hotel.

Bella Hadid, 27, has managed to steal the spotlight once again as she departed the iconic Hotel Martinez on Thursday during Cannes Film Festival

With just days to go until the 77th Film Festival draws to a close, Bella ensured to go all out with her racy ensembles

Sofia looked effortlessly stylish as she stepped out head to toe in Gucci, wearing a chic tweed co-ord and heeled shoes.

The actress, 31, showed off her long legs in the black and white two-piece and slightly elevated her frame with cream Gucci heels.

To finish her look, Sofia accessorised with a black patent bag and dark-rimmed sunglasses.

Meanwhile, Lily, 37, wore a striking gold mini dress as she stepped out of the popular hotel.

She complemented her look with a black crossbody bag and shielded her eyes with a pair of Akoni sunglasses

Model and actress Cara, 31, opted for a casual fitting as she stepped out during the festival.

She looked stylish in black and white pinstripe trousers, paired with a white T-shirt and vintage tweed jacket.

Her famous sister Poppy, 38, looked French-chic in blue and white satin trousers and stylish white trainers.

She couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she was greeted to an array of people when departing the star-studded hotel

Bella joined glamorous stars Sofia Carson , Lily Gladstone, Cara Delevingne, Barbara Palvin, Poppy Delevingne and Joey King, who also left the hotel

Bella displayed her trim figure in the elegant gown, flashing her toned back

Bella was in high-spirts as she left her hotel to enjoy the last couple of days in the French city

She elevated her frame with white-high heels

Bella was seen posing for photos with fans on the sidelines

The model was completely swarmed by fans outside her hotel

She accessorised her stylish look with a pop of blue colour and chunky jewellery

She teamed her look with a pale blue Jacquemus handbag and gold bangles

Sofia looked effortlessly stylish as she stepped out head to toe in Gucci, wearing a chic tweed co-ord and heeled shoes

To finish her look, Sofia accessorised with a black patent bag and dark-rimmed sunglasses

Barbara Palvin, 30, looked stylish in a beige oversized shirt co-ord as she sweetly waved to fans.

The Hungarian model teamed her look with stylish black court heels and a quilted clutch bag.

Elsewhere stepping out in France, Joey King, 23, arrived at Nice airport with husband Steven Piet.

She held hands with her dashing director husband as they rounded-up their trip following a busy few days in the festival.

Elle Fanning also made her way to Nice airport as she was seen in an incredibly chic pale blue suit.

The actress went make-up free as she was spotted pushing her luggage around the airport.

Cannes is the world's biggest film festival, first conceived in 1939 as an alternative to the then-fascist-influenced Venice Film Festival.

It has been held annually since 1946 except in 1948 and 1950, when it was cancelled due to lack of funds.

Meanwhile, Lily, 37, wore a striking gold mini dress as she stepped out of the popular hotel

She complemented her look with a black crossbody bag and shielded her eyes with matching sunglasses

Model and actress Cara, 31, opted for a casual fitting as she stepped out during the festival

She looked stylish in black and white pinstripe trousers, paired with a white T-shirt and vintage tweed jacket

Cara's famous sister Poppy, 38, looked French-chic in blue and white satin trousers and stylish white trainers

Unlike tired-eyed Cara, Poppy was in full spirits on her outing

The blonde beauty couldn't wipe the smile off her face

Barbara Palvin, 30, looked stylish in a beige oversized shirt co-ord as she sweetly waved to fans

The Hungarian model teamed her look with stylish black court heels and a quilted clutch bag

Elsewhere stepping out in France, Joey King, 23, arrived at Nice airport with husband Steven Piet

She held hands with her dashing director husband as they rounded-up their trip following a busy few days in the festival

Elle Fanning also made her way to Nice airport as she was seen in an incredibly chic pale blue suit

The actress went make-up free as she was spotted pushing her luggage around the airport

She looked the epitome of chic in the glamorous tailored suit

The Cannes Film Festival officially kicked off last week as celebrities walked the red carpet into the plush Grand Theatre Lumiere to honour Hollywood actor Meryl Streep before settling in to watch this year's opening film, The Second Act.

Almost as prestigious as winning the Palme d'Or, the Cannes Film Festival's top prize, is being on the jury that picks the winner.

Artists from around the world who have made a name for themselves in their respective field are picked to sit on the jury, with one member designated as jury president.

This year's jury president, U.S. director Greta Gerwig, comes to Cannes after the massive success last summer of Barbie.
Georgia Kousoulou is pregnant with a baby girl.

The former TOWIE star, 32, broke down in tears in a video taken during her IVF treatment which was shared on Instagram on Thursday along with the announcement.

The happy news comes just over a year after Georgia - who is married to Tommy Mallet, 31 - suffered a devastating miscarriage.

Georgia wrote alongside the new video: 'Our little rainbow baby due December. Words cant express the emotions we have, we have prayed, wished & with a little help its happened..

'I cant thank my team enough. Rehan Salim you are the best IVF specialist - Im so blessed we met you & Michelle my amazing nurse who helped me every step of the way!

Georgia Kousoulou is pregnant! The former TOWIE star broke down in tears during IVF treatment as she revealed she's expecting a baby girl - a year after her devastating miscarriage

The sweet moment she and Tommy Mallet held up a picture of their scan was also documented in the video

Georgia shared this post alongside the video of the highs and lows of her IVF treatment

'These guys made my experience with ivf so much better than I could of even imagined.

'I was so scared as all the things I had heard beforehand but they were simply the best & held my hand the whole way through. Thank you for giving us the best gift of all.'

'To anyone watching who is suffering .. I am with you & i know how you feel. I pray this post doesnt trigger you. I know how hard it is seeing announcements.

Please know you are not alone & please dont give up hope.

Georgia previously said she will 'never get over the feeling' of losing her baby after she suffered a devastating miscarriage at 12 weeks.

The star, who shares son Brody, two, with husband Tommy had started having therapy after struggling with emotional triggers and feeling 'drained' by grief.

And Georgia's sadness was brought back to the surface as she reflected on her trauma while writing new book I Wish I Knew, where she speaks openly about the heartache of baby loss.

After almost a year since since the nightmare, Georgia says she's 'distracted' by 'dream child' Brody but often experiences negative thoughts, especially when she's on social media.

But she wants to try to have four children with Tommy, who she married in a surprise ceremony last year, as she's always visualised having a big family, like it was when she grew up with two siblings.

Georgia shared moments from her IVF journey

She shared the moment the family dicovered they are having a little girl

Georgia previously said she will 'never get over the feeling' of losing her baby after she suffered a devastating miscarriage at 12 weeks

The former TOWIE star, who shares son Brody with husband Tommy Mallet, has started having therapy after struggling with emotional triggers and feeling 'drained' by grief

Georgia wants to try to have four children with Tommy, who she married in a surprise ceremony last year, as she's always visualised having a big family

She said: 'I don't think you ever get over the feeling.

'I have just started therapy, I'm much better, luckily for me I have Brody who's the love of my life, he's a dream child and keeps me distracted, but there are still triggers. The problem with baby loss is there are triggers everywhere.

'All my Instagram is either babies or weddings. The hardest thing I have learned is that it's okay to feel sad but happy for other people.

'I really struggled with that... I thought I was a bad person.

'The aftermath is draining, it is hard. Hopefully one day I will be pregnant again and maybe that will make me feel better, but I don't know.

'I really want a big family; I see us having three or four children. When you're old, you look at your table and it's full of people, that's what it comes down to.'

While Georgia says writing her book was a cathartic experience, she also had to cope with reliving a lot of her previous trauma.

The Baby Steps star has previously explained that she had to undergo a termination after doctors discovered a rare chromosome disorder that meant the couple's baby had no chance of survival.

Tommy and Georgia, stars of ITV reality show Baby Steps, have been together for over a decade and are planning to celebrate their recent vows with a big party in Spain next year

Georgia also discusses in her book feeling 'lost' after becoming a mother for the first time, saying 'I looked like a different person'

If she had continued with her pregnancy, her baby would have been miscarried or stillborn.

Recording the audio book was particularly difficult but Georgia says confronting her heartache head-on has helped her to move forward, and she urges women experiencing similar emotions to do the same.

She said: 'Writing the book resurfaced a lot of bad memories... especially baby loss because that wasn't in the brief.

'I was pregnant when I was writing the book and then it all changed and that was hard. I was like s*** I've got to add this chapter. I didn't want to talk about it, but I had to.

'I did the audio recording in January... that was hard. I remember just coming off my period and I told the producer I needed a minute because you are really... it's so raw.

'I'm talking from my heart, and I was reliving it again. I know it will help people though, so I have to keep going. It does help me afterwards because the more I talk, the better I feel.'

Georgia also discusses in her book feeling 'lost' after becoming a mother for the first time, saying 'I looked like a different person.'

She went from being a glamorous TV star to only wearing 'baggy clothes' and says once Tommy returned to work and visits from friends stopped, she asked herself 'What am I supposed to do now?'

The TV personality has revealed she's the opposite of a bridezilla and is under pressure from her wedding planner to start making some important decisions

Georgia has asked 12 of her closest friends to be her bridesmaids when she marries Tommy again in Spain next year including former TOWIE co-star Lydia Bright

Learning how to be a mother was tough too, with Georgia admitting she was paid to endorse some baby products that she wasn't even sure how to work herself.

She said: 'I remember having Brody and I was in a really dark place, my hormones were everywhere, and I felt so low.

'It's really, really hard because you are you all this time and then you're a mother and you've got to look after this human.

'They need you all day, the TV you're watching is children's TV, the food you're cooking is for them, your whole life is focused around this little, tiny person telling you what to do.

'Looking back now, if I could give myself some advice it would be don't put too much pressure on yourself, allow yourself that time because it's a lot.'

Georgia credits partner of ten years Tommy for helping to find her confidence again.

She recalls the footwear entrepreneur organising a babysitter and taking her shopping, where he treated her to some new clothes.

The gesture is one Georgia says will stay with her forever because it was the first step in her starting to feel like her old self again.

Georgia says writing her new book I Wish I Knew was like 'therapy' as she reflected on the highs and lows of her childhood and becoming a mum for the first time to son Brody

She said: 'Tommy saved me. He was amazing with me.

'I will never forget it, one day he took me shopping and I said I didn't want to go but we went out and he bought me really nice gym stuff.

'I got really excited about my new little wardrobe that he bought me, I felt confident in it, just by giving me a few more outfits, it boosted my confidence and then I started to get my hair done again, and feel like me.'

Georgia and Tommy shocked their fanbase by posting an image from the day of their legal wedding after tying the knot in secret last December.

Writing on Instagram, Georgia said: 'After a challenging year, we decided we wanted to end the year happy, in love and together as husband and wife. Wedding part two coming soon'

And now Georgia has revealed she's the opposite of a bridezilla and is under pressure from her wedding planner to start making some important decisions.

She said: 'I am so excited for our Spanish wedding next year.

'I have barely organised anything because I am the worst bride. I haven't thought about this since I was a child like most girls. I haven't been that girl.

'I've got no band, all I have are 12 bridesmaids, which is so dramatic. It's going to be chaos and like one big party.

'I know what I want to wear though, I'm going to get my dress designed and have an evening dress because I just want to get down and dirty and dance the night away.'
Phoebe Dynevor showed off her new engagement ring as she attended the Louis Vuitton party in Barcelona on Thursday.

The Bridgerton star, 29, recently became engaged to her boyfriend Cameron Fuller, the son of Hollywood producer Brad Fuller.

Phoebe displayed the rock, which featured a silver diamond wrapped in a gold band, as she arrived to the star-studded bash in the Spanish city.

The actress looked incredible for the outing as she donned a white low-cut top with a sheer floral neckline.

The star also sported a pair of dark blue jeans and cinched her waist with a brown Louis Vuitton belt.

Phoebe Dynevor showed off her new engagement ring as she attended the Louis Vuitton party in Barcelona on Thursday

Chloe Grace Moretz cut a casual figure for the event as she wore a pair od dark blue jeans with a black jacket

Also in attendance at the party was Ana de Armas who put on a leggy display in a black leather mini skirt

Letting her brunette locks fall loose down her shoulders, Phoebe completed her look with a pair of sunglasses.

Also in attendance at the party was Ana de Armas who put on a leggy display in a black leather mini skirt.

The Knives Out actress, 36, also wore a black short-sleeved T-shirt along with a pair of matching shoes and socks.

Also carrying a black bag, the film star added to her look with black sunglasses.

Meanwhile, Chloe Grace Moretz cut a casual figure for the event as she wore a pair od dark blue jeans with a black jacket.

The actress, 27, complimented her outfit with a Louis Vuitton handbag and styled her blonde tresses into a bob.

Chloe previously dated Phoebe's partner Cameron back in 2013.

Earlier in the day, Chloe was seen sporting a light blue denim jacket along with matching jeans as she went for a stroll with her stylist friend Nell Kalonji.

Chloe opted for a double denim look as she strolled through the city with her stylist friend Nell Kalonji

Phoebe looked incredible for the outing as she donned a white low-cut top with a sheer floral neckline

The Knives Out actress, 36, also wore a black short-sleeved T-shirt along with a pair of matching shoes and socks

Matilda Lutz turned heads in a black strapless top which she paired with matching skim-fitting trousers

Matilda Lutz turned heads in a black strapless top which she paired with matching skim-fitting trousers.

Phoebe and Cameron are thought to have got engaged earlier this month and Cameron has already got the seal of approval from Phoebe's mother Sally Dynevor.

The Coronation Street star was overjoyed when Phoebe, 29, shared her happy news and she can't wait for the wedding.

She said: 'My daughter has just got engaged ... He's gorgeous, he's such a lovely man. I'm so, so happy. I'm thrilled, it's actually made my year.'

Sally insisted she won't be getting involved in the couple's wedding plans and will let them decide what they want for their big day.

Discussing the ceremony, she said: 'To be honest, I'll be keeping well out of it.'

Bridgerton actress Phoebe and Cameron - the son of Hollywood producer Brad Fuller - appeared to announce their engagement earlier in May 2024, and Sally, 60, has given the American actor-and-producer her seal of approval

Phoebe Dynevor's mother Sally confirmed her daughter's engagement to actor Cameron as 'thrilled' Corrie star called him a 'lovely man' on Loose Women

Sally's attention has turned to what comes after the nuptials, and she is hoping that grandchildren come along sooner rather than later.

The soap actress - who is married to scriptwriter Tim Dynevor, with whom she has two other children - said: 'I can't wait for my grandchildren, [although] let's not jump ahead!'

Phoebe and Cameron shared the news of their engagement via Instagram on May 13, uploading a photo of Cameron embracing his shocked fiancee from behind on a stone balcony.

Phoebe had her hands clasped to her face in shock with her engagement ring on display.
They're six-month romance seems to be heating up, with JJ Slater already dropping the L-bomb on girlfriend Katie Price's birthday.

The MAFS star, 31, said the three words 'I love you' as he shared a touching tribute to his beloved girlfriend, 46, on Instagram.

Sharing two of his favourite snaps with Katie on his social media, JJ wrote: 'Happy birthday my darling. I love you.'

JJ also surprised Katie with a sweet birthday cake while she was on stage during her podcast tour in Birmingham on Wednesday.

The former glamour model couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she saw JJ walk on the stage with a cake.

They're six-month romance seems to be heating up, with JJ Slater, 31, already dropping the L-bomb on girlfriend Katie Price's, 46, birthday

JJ also surprised Katie with a sweet birthday cake while she was on stage during her podcast tour in Birmingham on Wednesday

The mother-of-five has previously discussed her desire to have a baby with JJ, before it's 'too late'.

Last month, friends of Katie revealed that she's read to get serious about her future family plans.

A friend told The Sun: 'She's happy and she has always said she wants even more children so that's what she aiming for.'

'She knows she doesn't have much time if she wants to try,' the insider added. 'Katie has always fallen pregnant quite easily in the past, but now she is older, she worries it might not happen as quickly so she doesn't want to wait until it's too late.

'Katie knows some people will think it's too soon with JJ but she doesn't care what other people think - she's confident in their relationship and thinks he'd be a great dad.'

The former glamour model has five children: oldest son Harvey, 21, whose dad is Dwight Yorke and Junior, 18, and Princess, 16, with ex-husband Peter Andre.

She also has ten-year-old Jett and eight-year-old Bunny, with ex-husband Kieran Hayler.

Last year Katie heartbreakingly discussed her failed IVF attempt as she tried for baby number six with her ex fiance Carl Woods.

The former glamour model couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she saw JJ walk on the stage with a cake

The MAFS star, 31, said the three words 'I love you' as he shared a touching tribute to his beloved girlfriend, 46, on Instagram

The mother-of-five has previously discussed her desire to have a baby with JJ , before it's 'too late'

Last month, friends of Katie revealed that she's read to get serious about her future family plans

Speaking to Michelle Visage on her Rule Breakers podcast, Katie spoke of her hopes to expand her brood with Carl.

The host asked: 'Are you done having babies?'

'No, are you joking?,' Katie replied, before she added: 'I tried IVF last year and it failed - so I'm going to try again, try again. I'm not giving up. I need more babies.'

Michelle questioned: 'Do you have frozen eggs?

'No, unfortunately I can only use what I've got,' Katie explained.

Appearing on the Turning Adversity Into An Asset podcast in May 2023, Katie revealed she doesn't think she could carry another baby herself.

She said: 'I have got a surrogate, I haven't got any eggs anymore, I'm 44, I want another baby so what am I supposed to do? I can't pop it out.'

When host Lewis Raymond Taylor asked who would be having the baby, Katie said: 'I have got this lady, it will be my egg - she's been a fan of mine for years and she does do surrogacy.'

Asked who the father would be, Katie replied: 'If I was with someone it would be with them, if not it would be a sperm donor.'

JJ spoke to MailOnline about his six-month romance with Katie, revealing the couple are already talking about marriage.

He spoke exclusively to MailOnline about his relationship with Katie which he says makes him very 'happy.'

After Katie reached out to JJ in December 2023 to send her well wishes following his diabetes diagnosis, the pair met for a lowkey coffee, and the attraction between them was instant.

And now JJ, who found fame on the E4 series last year, wishes it could have been Katie waiting for him at the end of the altar, as he admits to falling head over heels for the former glamour model.

The former glamour model has five children: oldest son Harvey, 21, Junior, 18, Princess, 16, Jett, 10 and eight-year-old Bunny

JJ spoke to MailOnline about his six-month romance with Katie, revealing the couple are already talking about marriage

He even confesses to messaging Katie years ago in a bid to strike up a romance, but he was ignored until he caught the TV star's eye when she watched on the Channel 4 show.

JJ said: 'It wasn't something I was looking for... I had been on Married At First Sight UK, which was a stressful and intense experience but with Kate and I... it just happened super naturally.

'We met for coffee and met as friends, and we got on really well as friends and it developed from there, which was really nice. There was no pressure, we both just really fancied and liked each other.

'Kate actually reached out when she heard about my diabetes diagnosis saying she was really sorry to hear this and again, this is how something good has come from it... is Kate. She was being kind, which I appreciated and then it went from there

'Of course, she is obviously a very, very attractive lady and I do fancy her, she's my girlfriend now but I have always thought she was fit.'

Katie's romantic life has seen get married three times and engaged eight times including to ex-partners Warren Furman, Scott Sullivan, Leandro Penna, Kris Boyson and most recently, former Love Island contestant Carl Woods.

Meanwhile, JJ took part in a TV wedding last year, which saw him marry Bianca Petronzi, before he started a new romance with Ella Morgan, who was the Channel 4 show's first transgender bride.
The BBC's Bargain Hunt has announced a huge shake-up, bringing in a new presenting line up for the new season.

Roo Irvine, Danny Sebastian, and Caroline Hawley are set to join the show as regular hosts, reports The Express.

But, if you're a big fan of the longstanding hosts, there's no need to worry as the original four presenters - Natasha Raskin Sharp, Christina Trevanion, Eric Knowles, and Charlie Ross - won't be going anywhere.

Instead, the bigger and better team of seven are set to front the popular reality game show series, as contestants battle it out to find treasure among trash at car boot sales.

The experts will take it turns stepping into the role of host on a rotational basis throughout the series.

The BBC 's Bargain Hunt has announced a huge shake-up, bringing in a new presenting line up for the new season

Antiques fanatic Roo, 44, is set to present upcoming episodes on Friday and Monday

Caroline Hawley said she is 'thrilled and honoured' to be part of the Bargain Hunt presenting team

Danny Sebastian, who is gearing up to host the show later this month, admitted being asked to join the team was a 'dream come true'

Fans will recognise the three familiar faces of the new presenters as they have actually fronted the show before, however now they will be taking the lead more regularly.

Bargain Hunt has been a cornerstone of British daytime TV ever since it first aired two decades ago in March, 2000.

The show was originally hosted by David Dickinson between 2000 and 2004, before he was succeeded by Tim Wonnacott.

Ever since its launch, viewers have tuned in regularly to see teams donning blue and red fleeces battle it out to see who can bag the biggest profit.

Antiques fanatic Roo, 44, is set to present upcoming episodes on Friday and Monday - she was initially discovered when BBC Antiques Road Trip visited her in her antique shop in Scotland in early 2015.

Talking about being on the presenting team, Roo said: 'I love every second of it! Its a fabulous presenting team with each person bringing their own personality and style, so its a real honour to join such a line-up!

'I feel like a conductor in an orchestra made up of experts, contestants and crew, and the joy lies in bringing them all together in harmony to make our very own Bargain Hunt music!

She added that her favourite part of the role is 'the social element and 'meeting new people'.

Antique expert Eric Knowles (pictured 2023), who hails from Nelson, Lancashire, will continue hosting the programme

The show's youngest presenter, Natasha Raskin Sharp (pictured 2021) also won't be going anywhere

Christina Trevanion will also continue to present the series

Charlie Ross boasts a staggering 50-year career in the business ever since he became an auctioneer in 1963 - he will continue to front the show on a rotational basis

Roo, real name Arusha, said: 'As a presenter, I feel it is very much my responsibility to make sure everyone has the best, easiest, smoothest and most fun day possible.

'When everyone finishes up for the day, and there are big smiles and laughter all round, that is the best feeling for me.'

Danny Sebastian, who is gearing up to host the show later this month, admitted being asked to join the team was a 'dream come true'.

The presenter first made his Bargain Hunt debut as an expert in 2017, and he has previously hosted Cbeebies Junk Rescue and the series Street Auction.

He gushed: 'Being asked to present Bargain Hunt is such an honour and a pleasure. Its a great, fun, exciting show thats aired all over the world. I mean come on talk about the cat that got the cream!'

Meanwhile, Caroline Hawley said she is 'thrilled and honoured' to be part of the Bargain Hunt presenting team.

She exclaimed: 'It is fantastic to have this amazing role within the Bargain Hunt family where I have been an expert for many years. It is a challenge which I have taken to, with relish!

'It is the best fun ever to spend time with talented experts and crew, and fabulous, enthusiastic teams all on the hunt for bargains.'

The expert initially got involved with the programme in the summer of 2013 after already working on the BBCs Flog It! for a year.

With a career that has lasted over three decades, Caroline opened the doors of her very own antiques shop in 1983 named Penny Farthing Antiques.

Similarly to other Bargain Hunt presenters she has also made appearances on Flog It and Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.
Diane Kruger cuts a stylish figure in a white minidress as she attended the Human Prize event at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival on Thursday.

The actress, 47, looked incredible in the sleeveless number which featured an eye-catching sheer netted panel around the hem.

She added inches to her frame in a pair of coordinated sandals and shielded from the sun behind a pair of cool white framed sunglasses.

Leaving her long blonde tresses in loose waves, the Troy star clipped her fringe back with two dazzling silver clips.

Diane seemed in good spirits as she posed for photos at the event before putting on a wireless headset microphone to speak to guests.

Diane Kruger cuts a stylish figure in a white minidress as she attended the Human Prize event at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival on Thursday

The actress, 47, looked incredible in the sleeveless chic number which featured an eye catching sheer netted panel around the bottom

During the day, she posed with French film director Camille Etienne who looked stylish in a beige oversized blazer and matching wide legged trousers.

They were also joined by actress Golshifteh Farahani who turned heads in a pattered pink maxi dress which she teamed with gold sandals and dramatic drop earrings.

It comes after Diane looked sensational as she attended the photocall for The Shrouds on Tuesday.

The actress wowed in a strapless duck egg satin pleated midi dress, adorned with mesh thrills.

The star completed the look with some small white heels and sparkling diamond heart earrings.

Diane, who plays Becca in the film, was joined by her co-stars Vincent Cassel, Guy Pearce and Sandrine Holt as they posed together for snaps.

The Shrouds earnt a subdued 3.5 minute standing ovation from the audience as director David Cronenburg returned to the south of France to premiere the film at this year's festival.

The project is a rather personal one - inspired by the 2017 death of his wife Carolyn Zeifman, who he had been married to since 1979.

She added inches to her frame in a pair of coordinated sandals and shielded from the sun behind a pair of cool white framed sunglasses

Leaving her long blonde tresses in loose waves, the Troy star clipped her fringe back with two dazzling silver clips

Diane seemed in good spirits as she posed for photos at the event before putting on a wireless headset microphone to speak to guests

Diane seemed in high spirits while speaking to the guests

She was joined by Camille Etienne (L) and Golshifteh Farahani (R)

The 81-year-old director put an end to the standing ovation himself, according to The Hollywood Reporter, when he took the mic and thanked the crowd.

'This is the first time Ive seen the movie with an audience, and its completely different. Im very happy that you are all here,' the director said.

The report described the reception as 'rather reserved,' speculating that fans were simply being respectful of the director, given how it was inspired by his wife's death.

However another report from Variety described the ovation as 'polite' and 'lackluster,' compared to raucous ovations received by other films.
Renee Zellweger and Doyle Bramhall appear to be the friendliest of exes as she showed her support at his Royal Albert Hall gig in London on Tuesday evening.

The Bridget Jones star, 55, is currently in the capital filming the fourth instalment of the romcom franchise, Mad About The Boy, alongside her younger on-screen lover Leo Woodall, who is slated to play a love interest.

But during some downtime from shooting, Renee was pictured catching up with her old flame as they proved they are still on great terms following their split.

Renee and Doyle, 55, who is now in a relationship with supermodel Elle Macpherson, dated for seven years before it was revealed in 2019 they had parted ways.

Despite this, Renee and Doyle still appeared delighted to see each other as they sweetly embraced inside the iconic venue.

Renee Zellweger and Doyle Bramhall appear to be friendly exes as she showed her support at his Royal Albert Hall gig in London on Tuesday evening

The Bridget Jones star, 55, is currently in the capital filming the fourth instalment of the romcom franchise, Mad About The Boy

Renee seized the opportunity to check out Doyle's performance with Eric Clapton, after he was announced as the singing legend's lead guitarist.

The former couple when they were just students at the University of Texas in the early nineties. In 2012, two years after ending his marriage, they decided to give dating a try.

Though they never considered a romantic relationship during their college days, the two made by for lost time as they stuck by each other's sides from 2012 to 2019.

Doyle is known for his work in Arc Angels and for touring with Eric for six years.

Upon speaking about their romance in 2015, she gushed: 'Isn't he cute? He's a very sweet man. I'm very, very happy right now,' the star told People.

According to the documents, obtained by E! News, he lived for free with her and she paid his credit card bills in the midst of his separation from his former spouse, Susannah Melvoin.

The site reports that Renee has been subbing the credit card fees which vary between $4,000 to $5,000 a month, with the court documents detailing that this a loan and a repayment is expected.

Renee is also said to have paid for Doyle's expenses in 2015 that added up to nearly $60,000.

Renee and Doyle, 55, who is now in a relationship with supermodel Elle Macpherson , dated for seven years before it was revealed in 2019 they had parted ways

Doyle has been in a relationship with Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson for over a year

During a hearing in Doyle's divorce from ex Susannah Melvoin, the judge ruled that Renee's income should not have any bearing on what the musician pays in spousal and child support to his estranged wife.

Doyle, who also dated Sheryl Crow, was married to Susannah from 1997 to 2010 and they have two daughters together.

According to Radar Online, his jealousy contributed to the end of their longtime relationship.

'She and Doyle built a happy home life together and they even discussed adopting a baby together,' a source told the outlet in 2016.

Ultimately, they 'drifted apart emotionally when they were separated for weeks at a time' and weren't 'able to rekindle the spark.'

The insider added: 'Renee hit her breaking point over the jealousy issues.'

The American star, who is now in a relationship with Ant Anstead, is reportedly set to quietly wed her partner of three years after confirming plans to friends.

The couple were last pictured together in March before the actress flew to the UK to begin filming on the fourth Bridget Jones film.

Despite this, Renee and Doyle still appeared delighted to see each other as they sweetly embraced inside the iconic venue

Renee seized the opportunity to check out Doyle's performance with Eric Clapton, after he was announced as the singing legend's lead guitarist

The couple have been dating since June 2021 after they met on Anstead's Discovery+ show Celebrity IOU: Joyride and were spotted a month later at his beach house.

In August of that same year, Anstead spoke about their relationship for the first time publicly at E!'s Daily Pop.

'Look, everybody knows that Renee and I have become quite close, because we kept it secret for a while,' he said at the time. He then added that it was a 'real pleasure' to work with her on his show.

In September 2021, the pair went Instagram official as Anstead shared an adorable black-and-white selfie of the pair.

Last year, the pair moved in together after Anstead sold his home in Laguna Beach, California.

In early April 2023, a source revealed to People that Zellweger and Anstead had 'found a house that they both love and are moving in together'.

A couple of months later reports emerged that the pair had a low-key and secret engagement.
Jay Blades has been seen for the first time since his wife Lisa Marie Zbozen announced the couple had split after 18 months of marriage.

The Repair Shop star, 54, was spotted driving in Shropshire, not far from where he runs his companty Jay and Co.

The TV star was not wearing his wedding ring as he headed out in his black Land Rover Range Rover.

Jay looked dapper for the outing as he sported a crisp white shirt along with a dark waistcoat and glasses.

He maintained a sombre expression during the drive which comes just weeks afer his split from Lisa was confirmed.

Jay Blades has been seen for the first time since his wife Lisa Marie Zbozen announced the couple had split after 18 months of marriage

The Repair Shop star, 54, was spotted driving in Shropshire, not far from where he runs his companty Jay and Co

The TV star was not wearing his wedding ring as he headed out in his black Land Rover Range Rover

Lisa walked out on Jay, 54, earlier this month, saying their 18-month marriage 'just got worse and worse, until I grabbed a bag of a few things and I left'.

It was announced that Jay would be taking time away from TV in light of the separation - which came soon after the murder of his uncle.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Lisa shared an emotional poem by Billie Brooks, which spoke of trusting that 'someday soon this pain you are feeling won't be so unbearable'.

Lisa announced her split from the TV star who she married in November 2022, in an emotional social media post on May 2.

She said: 'I have been quiet until now, but the papers seem to be picking up this story, but some parts have been definitely missed, so it's forced my hand...

'This was the whole post on a private forum: 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 wanted my husband to love me & keep me safe, and I would love him right back, but it just got worse and worse, until I grabbed a bag of a few thing's & I just left. Anyway, That's why there's been no new wkouts [workouts].'

Fitness instructor Lisa walked out on Jay earlier this month, saying their 18-month marriage 'just got worse and worse, until I grabbed a bag of a few things and I left'

In a statement posted on Instagram, Lisa said: 'I don't know how to say this because it's still really raw'

In another post, she said: '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 x.'

It all came as Jay was expected to be back filming the hugely-popular BBC show The Repair Shop but had reportedly been absent on set.

Last week, MailOnline revealed that Jay would be 'given the time' he needed to deal with personal issues impacting his life.

Amid reports that Jay had thrown BBC's The Repair Shop filming into chaos, a source has confirmed to MailOnline that the presenter is being 'given the space' he needs to get 'his head straight'.

The insider said: 'Jay is a much-loved member of the team on The Repair Shop. It is a really close-knit group, who are like a family.

'Jay will be given the time he needs to deal with things and sort out what he needs to get sorted.

'He's been through a really difficult time with his uncle and now he is having to deal with the breakdown of his marriage.

'The BBC fully expect Jay to return but they won't be rushing or pushing him to come back before he is ready and he'll be given the space to sort things out and get his head straight.'

Reports recently suggested that the Christmas special of the Repair Shop was in jeopardy due to Jay's absence.

But MailOnline later understood that this was not the case.

Lisa announced that she had ended her marriage with Blades with a surprise post on social media in the early hours of Thursday (seen on wedding day)

The source added: 'Filming for the Christmas show is almost wrapped up. There's no chance it won't go out. It's one of the jewels in the crown.'

Just a week before his marriage split was confirmed, Jay revealed that his uncle Richard Brathwaite had been killed.

Jay announced that he would be taking time away from social media to process his grief following the death of his uncle, Richard, 72.

Richard was stabbed to death on a quiet residential street in North London in March.

The Old Bailey heard that the killing came after a 'long-running neighbour dispute'.
Bethenny Frankel unloaded on the fashion house Chanel on Wednesday after she was denied entry to one of its stores during a trip to Chicago.

The 53-year-old former Real Housewives Of New York City star posted an impassioned video to her Instagram account describing how she had tried to do some shopping at the Chanel store while dressed in casual clothing.

But when she arrived, a security guard allegedly wouldn't let her enter because she didn't have an 'appointment.

However, Bethenny  who reportedly split from her fiance Paul Bernon two months ago  noted she was also wearing casual clothes and carrying a 'basic-b**** purse, though it wasn't clear if her attire could have played an unspoken role in her being refused entry.

DailyMail.com has reached out to a representative for Chanel to comment.

Bethenny Frankel unloaded on the fashion house Chanel on Wednesday after she was denied entry to one of its stores during a trip to Chicago

The 53-year-old former Real Housewives Of New York City star posted an impassioned video to her Instagram account describing how she had tried to do some shopping but couldn't without an 'appointment'

Bethenny noted that she was visiting the Second City at the start of her clip, which she filmed on the street while wearing a simple white T-shirt with sunglasses perched on her raven tresses and gleaming diamond stud earrings.

The reality star joked that the guard she spoke to was barely willing to open the door, making a crack so small that '[the rat from Disney's] Ratatouille couldn't fit in there.'

'"Hello? Do you have an appointment?"' she recalled the man saying, and she compared him to the hulking Lurch from the Addams Family films.

'Im like, "No, I dont have an appointment. I have a credit card. I have a bag of Garretts popcorn, a basic b**** purse. Am I not allowed to come in at 3:54 on a Tuesday?" Evidently not,' she said.

Bethenny seethed at allegedly being 'treated like youre an interloper.'

'I didnt realize we werent allowed to walk into stores anymore. Gotta get a pap smear appointment and also to walk into Chanel. No big deal,' she added dismissively.

She had a more measured response in her post's caption, in which she said that 'security is critical' because 'crime is at an all-time high.'

However, crime has been decreasing for years, according to FBI statistics, via ABC News.

Although there was an uptick in some forms of crime at the height of the novel coronavirus pandemic, crime has continued to decrease, and as of 2024 it is now at one of its lowest levels in the past 50 years, contrary to Bethenny's perception.

Although business leaders have claimed that retail theft, and particularly organized retail crime, is on the rise, those claims also don't hold water.

After Walgreens claimed in early 2022 that retail theft accounted for its increasing rate of shrink compared to the previous year, the company's Chief Financial Officer James Kehoe admitted in January 2023 that 'Maybe we cried too much last year.'

Late last year, a report by retail analysts at William Blair determined that retailer complaints about rising crime were overblown.

'Companies are also likely using the opportunity to draw attention away' from decreased profit margins and higher spending on promotions and a failure to properly plan for inventory needs, the report said, according to CNN.

In her caption, Bethenny added that she 'could easily call one of my salespeople and get on this [appointment] list.

Bethenny noted that she was visiting the Second City at the start of her clip, which she filmed on the street while wearing a simple white T-shirt with sunglasses perched on her raven tresses and gleaming diamond stud earrings

She noted that she was dressed casually with a bag of 'Garrett's popcorn' and a 'basic-b**** purse.' The guard, whom she compared to Lurch from The Addams Family, would allegedly barely open the door for her.

Bethenny complained about needing an appointment to shop now while claiming that she understood the need for security measures amid an alleged rise in crime

However, crime has continued to drop in 2024, and crime levels are currently at one of the lowest points in 50 years, despite retailers' overblown claims that shoplifting and organized retail theft are on the rise

Ironically, Bethenny's previous Instagram post from Chicago showed her displaying a pricy denim Chanel handbag

'Thats besides the point. I was straight off a plane in a sweaty tshirt and not dolled up or looking wealthy,' she continued, seemingly suggesting that she might have had a different experience if she arrived in a luxurious outfit.

'There are several ways to convey a message and this way was rudeness and elitist and exclusionary, which is also a crime,' she claimed. 'In business, first impressions are lasting.

'I would never want anyone to feel lesser than, particularly from a luxury brand making billions off of people buying into the hype. Chanel is a beautiful brand with timeless classic pieces,' she declared. 'Being kind to customers of all socioeconomic backgrounds is also timeless and classic.'

Ironically, Bethenny's previous Instagram post from her trip to the Windy City featured her in a dark blue denim off-the-shoulder dress while carrying a blue denim Chanel handbag, which would have cost several thousand dollars.
Jamie Oliver has admitted that he prefers chef rival Gordon Ramsay's meatballs over his own as he took part in a blind taste test on Thursday.

Jamie, 48, tucked into three different plates of spaghetti and meatballs made with three famous celebrity chefs recipes while speaking with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden on Heart Breakfast.

While having a good taste to try and figure out whos recipe was whos, Jamie revealed his favourite was in fact Gordons before describing Gino DAcampo's 'salty'.

Presenter Jamie asked: 'Can I also just get which one is your favourite?'

Prompting the chef to reply: 'Look at the moment, number 3 is a fav.'

Jamie Oliver has admitted that he prefers chef rival Gordon Ramsay 's meatballs over his own as he took part in a blind taste test on Thursday (pictured in 2005)

Jamie, 48, tucked into three different plates of spaghetti and meatballs made with three famous celebrity chefs recipes while speaking with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden on Heart Breakfast

Amanda then went onto reveal: 'You thought plate number 2 was Gordonsplate number 2 was yours. And third was your favourite, and that was Gordons'.

The radio hosts then joked: 'Was it the soft onions that he clearly nicked from your earlier recipes that you liked?'

The British chef added: 'I like the sweet, caramelized onions in it, less Italian, a bit more, Anglo-French. Very good!'

Giving some feedback on Gino's meatballs, Jamie added: 'Yeah his were a bit saltier. You know what Gino is like, very nice Gino'.

It comes after Jamie made Cat Deeley tear up as he told a heartbreaking story about dyslexic children being let down by the education system on This Morning.

The presenter, 47, became visibly emotional when chatting to the chef - who has lived with dyslexia all his life - about his new children's book Billy and the Epic Escape.

Jamie told on the show how the book features dyslexia friendly font and clear spacing to help those with the learning difficulty.

Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that mainly causes problems with reading, writing and spelling. Unlike a learning disability, intelligence isn't affected.

While having a good taste to try and figure out whos recipe was whos, Jamie revealed his favourite was in fact Gordons before describing Gino DAcampo's 'salty'

Presenter Jamie (pictured) asked: 'Can I also just get which one is your favourite?' Prompting the chef to reply: 'Look at the moment, number 3 is a fav'

Discussing Gordon's meatballs, he said: 'I like the sweet, caramelized onions in it, less Italian, a bit more, Anglo-French. Very good!'

Giving some feedback on Gino's meatballs, Jamie added: 'Yeah his were a bit saltier. You know what Gino is like, very nice Gino'

Jamie has worked in schools for years campaigning for healthier meals and was asked by Cat about one interaction he had with a child during his time at a primary school.

She said to him: 'One time you had a 10-year-old boy come up to you and ask 'Do you ever feel like you're worth nothing?' And he had dyslexia didn't he.'

Her voice then began to break as she added: 'That really upset me...'

Jamie replied: 'Me too, and with school dinner campaigns I've done I've been through 15 education secretaries in sort of 17/18 years and I think if you've got a child or you were that child and you didn't fit into conventional learning...'

He then looked up at Cat and said: 'And I can see you're getting emotional...'.

Cat, teary-eyed, then responded saying: 'Yeah it makes me so sad to feel that kids feel that!'

Billy and the Epic Escape is the second book Jamie has written that follows his first best-selling book Billy and the Giant Adventure.

He said on This Morning: 'Last year when I promoted the first book I got emotional out of nowhere and as a nearly-50-year-old adult I'm like 'What's going on I didn't expect this'.

'But I think it's about when you're a kid you want to fit in and for me you want school to be where anyone can flourish and I think there's a lot of work to be done to make every child feel that they can'

Cat then said to her co-host Ben Shephard about the 10-year-old by they previously spoke about: 'He also said (to the young boy) 'Come back to me when you're 16 and I'll give you a job if you need one'. That's what I loved. The end of the story.'

Amid his struggles at school and dyslexia Jamie said that 'food saved him' and that the boy from his story 'hadn't found his thing yet'.

It comes hours after Jamie left Cat Deeley in tears as he told a heartbreaking story about dyslexic children being let down by the education system on This Morning

Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that mainly causes problems with reading, writing and spelling. Unlike a learning disability, intelligence isn't affected

The chef, who has written 35 cookbooks, has five children - Poppy Honey, 20, Daisy Boo, 19, Petal Blossom, 13, Buddy Bear, 11 and River Rocket, five. Pictured with his children and wife Jools

What is Dyslexia? Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects accurate and fluent word reading and spelling

It can result in poor or inconsistent spelling and writing - along with potential struggles following directions or being organised

Children and adults of all intellectual abilities can be affected by dyslexia

People with dyslexia often have good skills in other areas, including creative thinking and problem solving Info from NHS.org Advertisement

He said: 'Of course many of us don't find that thing until later in life!'

Last year when promoting his first book Jamie shared the touching reason he wrote it.

The celebrity chef told Australia's The Project that his dyslexia left him struggling to read to his kids, and so he made up stories for them instead.

'It just happened. It was a secret little project. And one which just came about me putting my kids to bed at night. I'm dyslexic, so I was never very good at reading' the star explained.

'At a certain age, they sort of say, "Dad, don't read. Just make something up from your head." And I just started recording them, so I could remember who the characters were'.

Jamie said that he has always struggled to get his thoughts down and used a dictaphone to plot his cookbooks.

'For me, as a dyslexic kid, words were the enemy, right? They were the thing that sort of frightened me. I could never get my ideas down on paper' he said.

'So you just find other ways. I mean, even in my cookbooks, I've never written or typed them. I've always used dictaphones'.

The chef, who has written 35 cookbooks, has five children - Poppy Honey, 20, Daisy Boo, 19, Petal Blossom, 13, Buddy Bear, 11 and River Rocket, five.

He has been open about his dyslexia and previously revealed he had never got through a book before reading Catching Fire in 2013 at the age of 38.

The 391-page sci-fi novel is the sequel to Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

Billy and the Epic Escape is the second book Jamie has written that follows his first best-selling book Billy and the Giant Adventure
She was forced to turn down a place at the prestigious Italia Conti drama school as a teenager as she couldnt afford to attend.

And decades on, Vicky McClure has said the industry has 'gone backwards' in terms of opportunities for working class actors who are being priced out of the industry.

The Line of Duty star, 41, who grew up in Nottingham and went to Fernwood Comprehensive School, has said that attending pricey drama schools and going to auditions isnt possible for many aspiring stars.

Her comments come in the wake of a new report by The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, which revealed working class representation in film and TV is at its lowest level in a decade.

Just one in 12 people working in film, TV and radio are from lower socio-economic backgrounds, with 60 per cent coming from middle or upper class backgrounds.

Vicky McClure, 41, has said the industry has 'gone backwards' in terms of opportunities for working class actors who are being priced out of the industry

She was forced to turn down a place at the prestigious Italia Conti drama school as a teenager as she couldnt afford to attend but got her break years after in This Is England '88 (pictured)

'What frustrated me so much about that particular article is that were going backwards', she told BBC Radio 4s Front Row.

She added: 'Why is that okay when the majority of people that are watching the shows that youre producing are from working class backgrounds?

'And I think one: We should represent that authentically on telly and, two: You shouldnt need to pay to get into the arts because it makes everything so samey.'

Vicky was offered a place at Italia Conti when she was 16 but could not pay tuition fees, spending the next few years working in retail until she got her break in Shane Meadows' This is England.

She said she wasnt able to audition for the parts she wanted as she didnt have money to pay for train tickets to get to them.

She added: 'I couldnt afford the train tickets that I was having to pay for back then and the fees are even as extortionate as they are now'.

'How is a kid that is working as much as they can going to afford to just get to London the next day?

'That can often be the case - your agent will ring you and say theres a meeting tomorrow.

The Line of Duty star, who grew up in Nottingham and went to Fernwood Comprehensive School, has said that attending pricey drama schools and going to auditions isnt possible for many aspiring stars

Her comments come in the wake of a new report by The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, which revealed working class representation in film and TV is at its lowest level in a decade

Just one in 12 people working in film, TV and radio are from lower socio-economic backgrounds, with 60 per cent coming from middle or upper class backgrounds

Vicky (pictured right in This Is England) was offered a place at Italia Conti when she was 16 but could not pay tuition fees, spending the next few years working in retail until she got her break in Shane Meadows' This is England

She said she wasnt able to audition for the parts she wanted as she didnt have money to pay for train tickets to get to them

She said that 'nine times out of 10' she wouldnt get the part when she did audition, meaning the whole process was not 'accessible' to a certain demographic

'Well then youve got to get the time off work, then youve got to book a train without doing it 50,000 days in advance so you can get it cheaper, and then you go and do the audition.'

She said that 'nine times out of 10' she wouldnt get the part when she did audition, meaning the whole process was not 'accessible' to a certain demographic.

'Self-taping has definitely been a massive help to people I think thats great. But its just not fair and it needs to be fair because the creative arts is for everybody so Ill continue to bang that drum', she said.

Vicky, who still lives in Nottingham with director husband Jonny Owen, has her own production company, Build Your Own Films, which champions local talent.

She recently said that she doesnt regret not going to Itali Conti as 'there are many ways to skin a cat'.

She told Radio Times: 'This business is too creative to need one set of skills. We cant just give it to those who can afford it.

'What are we going to get from that? Its not fair to expect an audience to always watch something they cant particularly relate to. The worlds changed. Telling different stories is really important.'
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As the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival enters its final stages the red carpet once again transformed into a makeshift catwalk for the premiere of L'Amour Ouf (Beating Hearts) on Thursday evening.

And once again it was Bella Hadid who led the glamour, as she has so many times this season, ahead of the film's official launch on the Croisette.

The American supermodel, 27, looked stunning in a sweeping black evening with a plunging decolletage as she greeted photographers shortly after arriving.

Just hours earlier Bella made a public show of support for war-torn Palestine amid the Israel-Gaza conflict as she stepped out wearing a dress fashioned from a Keffiyeh.

Outside of the Middle East and North Africa, the Keffiyeh gained popularity among pro-Palestinian activists; it is widely considered to be an symbol of solidarity with the Palestinians in their fight against Israel.

As the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival enters its final stages the red carpet once again transformed into a makeshift catwalk for the premiere of L'Amour Ouf (Beating Hearts) on Thursday evening, with supermodel Bella Hadid leading the glamour

Just hours earlier Bella made a statement of support for Palestine amid the Israel-Gaza conflict as she stepped out in Cannes wearing a dress fashioned from a Keffiyeh

Gracing the red carpet in yet another show-stopping look, Bella exuded glamour as she posed for snaps at the premiere

Bella, whose father is Palestinian real estate businessman Mohamed Hadid and mother is Dutch model Yolanda Hadid, made the subtle nod to the country while out during the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday.

Also in attendance for the premiere was Australian actress Katherine Langford, who showed off her svelte physique in a red fringed gown.

The 13 Reasons Why star swept her brunette tresses into a sophisticated beehive as she posed for snaps on the red carpet.

Izabel Goulart also showed off her model physique in a plunging black gown with quirky mosaic detailing, teamed with a dramatic frilled neckline.

The Brazilian model's dress consisted of a tight fitted skirt as she made her latest red carpet appearance at the star-studded festival.

Translated to Beating Hearts, L'Amour Ouf focuses on a girl from an upper-middle-class family and a boy from a modest background who fall in love, but things fizzle out as they begin to drift apart.

Going down the wrong path, the boy eventually becomes a criminal and spends 12 years in prison.

The show of support comes after Bella was fact-checked after posting pictures taken in a refugee camp in Syria as she voiced support for Gaza and Palestinians.

The American supermodel looked stunning in a sweeping black evening with a plunging decolletage as she greeted photographers shortly after arriving

Bella swept her raven tresses into a sleek curled up-do as she posed for photographers during Cannes' latest red carpet

Her show of support comes after Bella was fact-checked after posting pictures taken in a refugee camp in Syria as she voiced support for Gaza and Palestinians

Izabel Goulart also showed off her model physique in a plunging black gown with quirky mosaic detailing, teamed with a dramatic frilled neckline

The Brazilian model's dress consisted of a tight fitted skirt as she made her latest red carpet appearance at the festival

Izabel beamed as she posed for snaps at the glitzy red carpet event

Translated to Beating Hearts, L'Amour Ouf focuses on a girl from an upper-middle-class family and a boy from a modest background who fall in love, but things fizzle out as they begin to drift apart

Bella shared an image of children in Yarmouk after an assault by dictator Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian civil war in 2013.

She captioned the Instagram post: 'Gaza on my mind.' After social media users began pointing out the photos were from in Syria, Instagram added a note saying the post was missing important context and could mislead people.

The note links to a web page that explains the images are from a refugee camp in Syria showing the victims of Assad's regime, not Israel.

It reads: 'This post is misleading. This video was not filmed in Palestine. The video dates back 2013 from within the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus.'

The misleading post remains on Bella's Instagram after it was published and has been liked more than 1.6million times.

The footage is part of a film called Little Palestine, Diary of a Siege, that shows the aftermath of Assad's siege in Yarmouk, what was then the largest Palestinian refugee camp in the world.

It's not the first time Los Angeles native has shared images from Syria that are missing context.

Back in November, the millionaire posted the same images of children in Syria sharing their hopes and dreams amid war and claimed they were taken in Gaza during the ongoing conflict with Israel.

At the time, she wrote: 'Thousands of innocents Palestinian men women and CHILDREN imprisoned without trial.'

Syrian-Americans have been quick to call out the model over the misleading posts on the war.

'This is not the first time she's done this with these SAME IMAGES of children from Yarmouk,' wrote American Enterprise Institute media strategist Kareem Rifai.

'Completely unacceptable and irresponsible for a mega-celebrity with massive reach. Syrians are still being killed by Assad every day.'

Bella's older sister Gigi apologized last November after claiming Israel 'is the only country in the world' keeping children as prisoners of war.

To prove her point, she had shared an image of Palestinian Ahmad Manasra, who was 13 when he was arrested after stabbing a 20-year-old Israeli security guard and a 13-year-old boy in Jerusalem.

Bella spoke publicly for the first time about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, saying that 'there is an urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza that must be attended to' in an Instagram post in October last year.

She shared a detailed statement calling for pressure to be put on political leaders to 'stand together in defending humanity and compassion.'

Also in attendance for the premiere was Australian actress Katherine Langford, who showed off her svelte physique in a red fringed gown

The 13 Reasons Why star swept her brunette tresses into a sophisticated beehive as she posed for snaps on the red carpet

Katherine completed her look with a silver diamond tardrop earrings

Boris Becker was also in attendance as a guest of the festival, alongside fellow tennis star Ion Esiriac

The former Wimbledon champion (pictured third left) cut a dapper figure as he attended the festival's latest red carpet

Ting Ting and Nic Kaufmann were also in attendance at the swanky bash

Bella spoke about the sensitive issue more than two weeks after her sister Gigi talked publicly about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

'I have yet to find the ideal words for this deeply intricate and horrific past two weeks, weeks that have turned the worlds attention back toward a situation that has been taking innocent lives, and affecting families for decades,' she said. 'I have much to say, but for today, I will keep it short.'

She continued: 'Ive been sent hundreds of death threats daily, my phone number has been leaked, and my family has felt to be in danger.

'But I cannot be silenced any longer. Fear is not an option. The people and children of Palestine, especially in Gaza, cannot afford our silence. We are not brave - they are.'

She said that 'seeing the aftermath from the air strikes in Gaza, I mourn with all the mothers who have lost children and the children who cry alone, all the lost fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, friends, that will never again walk this earth.

'Regardless of the history of the land, I condemn the terrorist attacks on any civilians, anywhere. Harming women and children and inflicting terror does not, and should not do any good for the Free Palestine movement.'

Bella addressed the plight of 'the Israeli families that have been dealing with the pain and aftermath of' the October 7 attack from Hamas, saying she 'mourned' for them.

'I believe deep in my heart that no child, no people anywhere, should be taken away from their family either temporarily or indefinitely,' she said. 'That goes for Israeli and Palestine people alike.'

Bella said that 'its important to understand the hardship of what it is to be Palestinian, in the world that sees us is nothing more than terrorist resisting peace,' calling the characterization 'harmful,' 'shameful' and 'categorically untrue.'

Bella in her statement opened up about her family's 'generational trauma' stemming from the longtime conflict in the Middle East.

'My heart is bleeding with pain from the trauma I am seeing unfold, as well as the generational trauma of my Palestinian blood,' she said.

Bella continued: 'My father was born in Nazareth in the year of the Nakba (the displacement of 750,000 Palestinians in 1948).

'Nine days after he was born, he, in his mothers arms, along with his family were expelled from their home in Palestine, becoming refugees, away from a place they once called home. My grandparents, Never being allowed to return.'

Bella said her family has 'witnessed 75 years of violence against Palestinian people  most notably, brutal settler invasions, which led to the destruction of entire communities, murder in cold blood and the forcible removal of families from their homes.'

The supermodel, who has worked for labels including Balmain, Givenchy, Chanel and Victoria's Secret, added that 'the practice of settlements and Palestinian land still continues to this day,' and 'the pain of that is unimaginable.'

Bella in her post said that 'we must all stand together in defending humanity and compassion  and demanding that our leaders do the same. All religions are peace  it is governments that are corrupt, and intertwining.'

She continued: 'The two makes for the greatest sin of all. We are one and God has created all equal. All bloodshed, tears and bodies should be mourned with the same respect.'

Bella said that 'there is an urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza that must be attended to,' as 'families need access to water and food' and 'hospitals need fuel to power generators, tend to the wounded and keep people alive.

'Wars have laws - and they must be upheld no matter what.'
Abigail Heringer and fiance Noah Erb will tie the knot in Oklahoma later this year.

This week People reported that the Bachelor in Paradise stars  who got engaged last August  will have their wedding in Tulsa in the fall.

The city is also where the couple bought their first home.

Heringer, 29, told the publication: 'We knew we wanted to tie the knot in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where we currently live, because it's where we spent the majority of our time when we were in hiding while Paradise was airing.'

She added, 'It really was the place where our relationship blossomed and where we fell in love.'

Abigail Heringer and fiance Noah Erb will tie the knot in Oklahoma later this year; the couple pictured in August 2023

About Tulsa, Abigail also said, 'We're so excited to show our friends and family how special this place is to us and to highlight Tulsa as a city.'

She added, 'I think some of my friends thought I was crazy when I told them I was moving to Oklahoma, so I'm just excited to show them the life that Noah and I have been creating here and just how special Tulsa is!'

The star appeared on season 25 of The Bachelor, and later met her husband-to-be on season seven of Bachelor in Paradise.

She continued about their wedding plans, 'The venues we picked for our welcome party and wedding are some of our most special places in town and we just can't wait to kick off the wedding celebrations!'

In tandem with marriage preparations, the influencer is revamping the couple's house and getting ready to debut her memoir.

Her book, called The Deaf Girl: A Memoir of Hearing Loss, Hope, and Fighting Against the Odds, will hit shelves in September.

The literary effort will document Abigail's 'journey of navigating life with a profound hearing loss and her transformation from merely accepting her disability to embracing it wholeheartedly.'

Per People, the book's synopsis reads in part: 'Growing up deaf and introverted, [Abigail] dreaded being the center of attention, fearing her disability would burden those around her.'

This week People reported that the Bachelor in Paradise stars  who got engaged last August  will have their wedding in Tulsa in the fall

Heringer dished about the wedding plans, 'We knew we wanted to tie the knot in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where we currently live, because it's where we spent the majority of our time when we were in hiding while Paradise was airing'; pictured in March 2023

Last August, Heringer and Erb announced their engagement news on social media

Last August, Heringer and Erb announced their engagement news on social media.

The proposal took place at sunset by the beach in La Jolla, San Diego.

Noah presented his then-girlfriend with a four carat, oval-shaped, lab grown diamond ring from Keyzar Jewelry.

Quoting Taylor Swift's 2019 song Lover in an Instagram caption at the time, the beauty wrote, 'Ive loved you three summers now, honey, and I want em all.'

And last November, while wishing her man a happy birthday online, she gushed, 'You make life a whole lot more fun and loving on you is my favorite thing. Lets make this your best year yet!'
Gisele Bundchen is feeling grateful for the outpouring of compassion and donations to the Luz Alliance.

Earlier this month southern Brazil was hit by catastrophic floods and Gisele shared footage from her native country.

As Gisele  whose mother recently died at age 75  detailed the conditions in Brazil and thanked people who had generously donated, the video panned over destroyed houses, people standing in waist-deep, cloudy brown water.

One clip showed dogs who were displaced by the flooding and volunteers trying to comfort them.

'I want to thank every person and organization that has donated money to the Luz Alliance Fund to help the people in southern Brazil affected by the floods,' her caption began.

Gisele Bundchen is feeling grateful for the outpouring of compassion and donations to the Luz Alliance

Earlier this month southern Brazil was hit by catastrophic floods and Gisele shared footage from her native country

She continued: 'More than 17,808 people donated; today, we raised about R$6.130.000. Now, we will focus on helping rebuild so people can return to their homes.

'Nobody does anything alone, and to overcome a tragedy of these proportions, we will need everybodys help. Please keep donating, sharing, and giving a voice to those affected by the floods in Rio Grande do Sul. Thank you so much,' she ended the post.

She also shared a translation of her caption in Brazilian. The post reveled donations have exceeded $1 million USD.

The Luz Alliance Fund, is an initiative of Gisele created in 2020 ito provide humanitarian pandemic relief to families in Brazil.

In the clip she expressed that amid the devastation floods she's gained hope for humanity in the survivors, the volunteers and the people who donated.

On May 8, the ex-wife of Tom Brady shared another video. In it she revealed that her home state in Brazil had experienced the worst flooding it had ever seen.

The flood affected more than 350 cities in the South American country.

'There are many still to be rescued. Nobody was ready for such devastation,' she said in the video. 'Many have been separated from their loved ones. And the saddest is that many lives were lost. Its painful. Its devastating.

'Lets all join together to help the thousands of people who need us. No amount is too small. Together we can make a difference,' she wrote in a call-to-action at the end of the clip.

The flooding in Brazil is one of the reasons the catwalk veteran skipped the Met Gala this year.

As she detailed the conditions in Brazil and thanked people who had generously donated, the video panned over destroyed houses, people standing in waist-deep, cloudy brown water

One clip showed dogs who were displaced by the flooding and volunteers trying to comfort them

'I want to thank every person and organization that has donated money to the Luz Alliance Fund to help the people in southern Brazil affected by the floods' her caption began

She continued: 'More than 17,808 people donated; today, we raised about R$6.130.000. Now, we will focus on helping rebuild so people can return to their homes

'Nobody does anything alone, and to overcome a tragedy of these proportions, we will need everybodys help'

'Please keep donating, sharing, and giving a voice to those affected by the floods in Rio Grande do Sul. Thank you so much,' she ended the post. She also shared a translation of her caption in Brazilian

The post reveled donations have exceeded $1 million USD. The Luz Alliance Fund, is an initiative of Gisele created in 2020 to provide humanitarian pandemic relief to families in Brazil

'She's been working tirelessly this past week to help her home state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, which is suffering from the most devastating flood it's ever had. She has family there and she's been consumed with worry,' a source told People.

Another reason is her family. She shares 14-year-old son Benjamin and 11-year-old daughter Vivian with ex-husband Brady.

'She's busy with her family down in Miami,' the source said. 'She has a totally full life and she's very busy with her kids.'

The source added, 'Plus, she's been working more than she has in 20 years this past year. She has so many projects; she's been working all the time.'
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Heidi Klum and her daughter Leni led the glamorous arrivals as they graced the red carpet for the annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala during the 77th Cannes Film Festival on Thursday.

The charity event is one of the star-studded highlights in the Cannes Film Festival schedule and supermodel Heidi ensured she pulled out all of the stops in a pink tulle gown as she posed for snaps with her daughter, 18, before planting a sweet kiss on her cheek.

As a slew of A-Listers graced the red carpet for the event, some couples used it as a chance to pack on the PDA, with Cher and her boyfriend Alexander Edwards enjoying a steamy smooch on the red carpet, while Robin Thicke also shared a kiss with his fiancee April Love Geary.

As always the night began with champagne and cocktails under the stars and the sweeping hotel walkway was transformed into a carpet of red glitter down to the ocean.

Guests were offered champagne, margaritas, palomas and vodka martinis as they posed for cosy snaps together and schmoozed their way around the stunning gardens of the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.

Heidi Klum cut a glamorous figure in a dramatic dusky pink gown as she joined her daughter Leni (second left), Demi Moore (second right) and Bella Thorne (far right) for the annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala during the Cannes Film Festival

As a slew of A-Listers graced the red carpet for the charity event, some couples used it as a chance to pack on the PDA, with Cher and her boyfriend Alexander Edwards (left), and Robin Thicke and April Love Geary enjoying steamy smooches

The model put on an extravagant display in a dusky pink tulle gown as she posed for snaps with her daughter, 18, before planting a sweet kiss on her cheek

Showing off her incredible figure, Heidi posed up a storm in a beautiful pink gown which boasted a voluminous tulle skirt and a matching train

Many of the works of art and sculptures from the event's auction were on display around the grounds including an iconic hand signed Andy Warhol lithograph of Elizabeth Taylor, which later raised 350,000 euros (298,274.51).

A specially commissioned hand drawn picture of the Queen with Swarovski crystals on an aluminium frame, from royal artist Chris Levine, reached 475,000 euros (404,844.88) for the charity.

Sarah Ferguson took to the podium to help auction this lot with a plea of 'this was my mother-in-law' and 'stop being so bored, stop looking at your phone' to the diners in the audience.

Guests were served a starter of truffled zucchini flower with cream of mushroom to the live soundtrack of Jess Glynne's opening performance, followed by beef brulee with a potato emulsion and a strawberry and elderflower profiterole dessert while auctioneers called for bids.

Part way through the dinner guests paused and took to their feet to line the temporary catwalk through the tables for the fashion runway show curated annually by Carine Roitfeld and auctioned off to the highest bidder.

This year's collection, entitled Fairy Tales included 26 looks from Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Vivienne Westwood and Prada to name a few. After the models gathered on stage to help the auctioneer up the bids, the collection finally went for 500,000 euros (426,158.20).

As part of the experiences on offer, a walk on part in Emily in Paris series 5, plus an invite to the season 4 Los Angeles premiere went for 250,000 euros (213,078.31).

Nick Jonas brought brother Joe on stage for a medley that got the room dancing before singing icon Cher closed the show with a high-octane performance of Believe complete with gyrating dancers.

The afterparty carried on by the hotel's swimming pool with Diplo on the decks and more drinks as guests danced outdoors until the early hours.

AmfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research is dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education and advocacy, raising nearly $900 million in support of it's programs since 1985.

The star posed up a storm with her daughter, who contrasted her mother by slipping into a daring sheer black gown with dramatic roses to define her trim waist

Hours after enjoying a spot of sunbathing at their hotel, Heidi and Leni looked incredible in their show-stopping gowns

As they posed for snaps together, Heidi planted a sweet kiss on her daughter's cheek

Leni is the daughter of Vogue model Heidi and her businessman ex Flavio Briatore, 73

Heidi has been a fixture at this year's Cannes Film Festival with a slew of dramatic outfits

Heidi and Leni were every inch the glamorous mother-daughter duo as they graced the glitzy gala together

After arriving on the red carpet, Heidi changed into a revealing white ruffled gown, opting to go braless under the sexy look

The America's Got Talent judge added height to her frame with a pair of sparkly open toe heels and complimented her outfit with a white clutch

Heidi, Leni Olumi Klum, Mohammed Al Turki and Yasmine Sabri posed for a snap inside the event

During the evening, Heidi posed up a storm in a beautiful pink gown which boasted a voluminous tulle skirt and a matching train.

The star posed up a storm with her daughter, who contrasted her mother by slipping into a daring sheer black gown with dramatic roses to define her trim waist.

It comes just hours after Heidi and Leni displayed their jaw-dropping physiques in skimpy bikinis as they lark around on a diving board at famous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in France.

Leni is the daughter of Vogue model Heidi and her businessman ex Flavio Briatore, 73, but as he was based in London they did not see each other.

TMZ first reported in 2018 that Leni and Flavio had reconnected with the help of her parents. Now it seems as if they see each other now and then.

Demi Moore showed off her ageless physique as she arrived on the red carpet in a Grecian-inspired white thigh-split gown.

As she arrived at the event, the actress was joined by Cher and the singer's partner Alexander Edwards, who were quick to showcase their love by enjoying a steamy kiss.

Also in attendance for the occasion was Bella Thorne, who flashed a glimpse of her underwear through her daring sheer silver gown.

The former Disney star showed off her eye-popping cleavage in the plunging dress with a sleek white top, that flowing into the semi-sheer silver skirt.

Kelly Rowland brushed off her recent red carpet drama as she attended the glitzy gala, showing off her impressive abs in a sparkly green bralet and a matching skirt.

The Destiny's Child star showed off her jaw-dropping figure in the diamante-studded bralet and shimmering skirt, after being filmed during a tense dispute with a security guard at Cannes earlier this week.

Demi Moore showed off her ageless physique as she arrived on the red carpet in a Grecian-inspired white thigh-split gown

Demi and Michelle Yeoh posed inside the ceremony

The pair couldn't contain their laughter at the table

As she arrived at the event, the actress was joined by Cher and the singer's partner Alexander Edwards

After walking the red carpet, Demi changed into a plunging silver gown as she took to the stage during the charity gala

Cher and Alexander put on a loved-up display as they attended the glitzy gala together

Cher opted for an elegant all-black ensemble as she arrived alongside her dapper boyfriend

Demi was every inch the Grecian goddess in a stunning white satin gown as she joined music legend Cher at the event

The pair shared a sweet embrace as they arrived for the launch together

Demi looked as stunning as ever as she arrived for the annual charity event in an elegant white gown

Also in attendance for the occasion was Bella Thorne, who flashed a glimpse of her underwear through her sheer silver gown

The former Disney star was joined by her dapper fiance Mark Emms, as she showed off her eye-popping cleavage in her plunging white and silver gown

Kelly Rowland brushed off her recent red carpet drama as she attended the glitzy gala, showing off her impressive abs in a sparkly green bralet and a matching skirt

The Destiny's Child star showed off her jaw-dropping figure in the diamante-studded bralet

She teamed her look with a matching shimmering skirt, after being filmed during a tense dispute with a security guard at Cannes earlier this week.

Winnie Harlow came dangerously close to suffering a wardrobe malfunction in a dangerously high-split pink satin gown as she joined a slew of models at the charity gala

The former America's Next Top Model star was joined by her boyfriend Kyle Kuzma

Paris Jackson made a dramatic entrance in an edgy black gown that showed off her pins, boasting a revealing open skirt which she teamed with towering Santoni heels

The singer opted to bring Australian model Jordan Barrett as her date for the evening

Robin Thicke and April Love Geary were every inch the picture-perfect duo as they attended the launch together

The couple packed on the PDA as they arrived for the glitzy charity event

April left little to the imagination as she posed for solo snaps on the red carpet after slipping into a sheer black lace gown

Coco Rocha showed off her extravagant sense of style in a dramatic gold gown with an enormous feathered headpiece as she joined a slew of stars at the charity event

The Canadian model caught the eye with her show-stopping gold look, channelling her inner bird for the Cannes gala

Coco, Karolina Kurkova and Toni Garrn also graced the stage during the gala in their glitzy gowns

Diane Kruger bought an edgy twist to the red carpet in the form of her bright green illusion gown with a flowing train, while her brunette tresses were styled into a funky curled look

The legendary model showed off her incredible figure in the glamorous ensemble, which she teamed with white pointed-toe stiletto heels

Elsa Hosk exuded Hollywood glamour in a stunning white satin gown with peacock feathers adorned the neckline. The dress' thigh-high split perfectly accentuated her famous pins

Toni Garrn flaunted her famous model figure in a sparkly midnight blue dress adorned with sequins, with the look boasting a strapless top and a sheer skirt

Michelle Yeoh cut a glamorous figure in a vamped-up black long-sleeved gown with metallic silver heels

Kelly Rowland schmoozed her way around the bash chatting with Hofit Golan and Nick Jonas

Nick also posed for a snap with his dapperly-dressed brother Joe

Joe looked sharp in a pale grey suit with a bolo tie as he posed for a picture with Evan Ross

Joe and American DJ Diplo were sat at the same table

Coco Rocha showed off her extravagant sense of style in a dramatic gold gown with an enormous feathered headpiece as she joined a slew of stars at the charity event.

Diane Kruger bought an edgy twist to the red carpet in the form of her bright green illusion gown with a flowing train, while her brunette tresses were styled into a funky curled look.

Winnie Harlow came dangerously close to suffering a wardrobe malfunction in a dangerously high-split pink satin gown as she joined a slew of models at the charity gala.

Elsa Hosk exuded Hollywood glamour in a stunning white satin gown with peacock feathers adorned the neckline. The dress' thigh-high split perfectly accentuated her famous pins.

Paris Jackson displayed her signature gothic glamour style in a black textured dress with a daringly high hem, leaving her long legs on full display which she teamed with towering Santoni heels.

Sarah Ferguson also appeared in great spirits as she attended the gala donning a bracelet with her daughters names on it.

The Duchess of York, 64, appeared in great spirits as she waved enthusiastically to the press and was very animated as pictures were taken.

The royal, affectionately known as 'Fergie', looked dazzling in a custom-made 13,202 Lilith Cocktail Dress embellished with striking wispy sleeves and jewels made to look like raindrops.

The intricate floral design made for an elegant look, as she matched her pearl earrings to the stunning fabric.

Each year, the gala held in Cannes brings a slew of A-listers to the south of France in order to bring awareness and raise funds for the nonprofit.

Cannes is the world's biggest film festival, first conceived in 1939 as an alternative to the then-fascist-influenced Venice Film Festival.

It has been held annually since 1946 except in 1948 and 1950, when it was cancelled due to lack of funds.

The festival is known for its carefully selected programme of films that have gone on to Oscar glory or launched the careers of directors like Quentin Tarantino.

Cannes' top prize is the Palme d'Or, or Golden Palm, whose past winners include Taxi Driver, Apocalypse Now, Pulp Fiction, The Pianist and Parasite.

Part way through the dinner guests paused and took to their feet to line the temporary catwalk through the tables for the fashion runway show curated annually by Carine Roitfeld and auctioned off to the highest bidder

This year's collection, entitled Fairy Tales included 26 looks from Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Vivienne Westwood and Prada to name a few

Leomie and Neelam both cut striking figures as they strut down the runway

Models took to the catwalk in a series of fairy-tale inspired looks including Yilan's Edward Scissorhands-esque ensemble

Mariacarla Boscono channelled Angelina Jolie's Maleficent in black horns with a cane prop

After the models gathered on stage to help the auctioneer up the bids, the collection finally went for 500,000 euros (426,158.20)

Toni wore a crown and carried a gold fairy tale book down the runway

The group gathered together with Heidi front and centre to help with the auction

3: (L to R) Karolina Kurkova, Heidi Klum, Anthi Fakidari, Sasha Pivovarova, Christian Levett, Carine Roitfeld, Ilana Hansen, Simon de Pury, Raya Martigny and Neelam Gill

Jane Campion became the first female director to win in 1993 with The Piano, followed by a nearly three-decade gap until Julia Ducournau received the award for Titane in 2021.

Justine Triet became only the third female director to take the prize last year with Anatomy of a Fall.

There is also an honorary Palme d'Or, which is awarded in recognition of notable bodies of work, with past recipients including Harrison Ford, Jane Fonda and Clint Eastwood.

There are two honorary winners this year: George Lucas of 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' fame, and Japanese animation legend Studio Ghibli, the first group to receive the prize.

Other awards include the Grand Prix, jury prize, best director, best actor, best actress, best screenplay and best short film.

The Cannes Film Festival officially kicked off on Tuesday night as celebrities walked the red carpet into the plush Grand Theatre Lumiere to honour Hollywood actor Meryl Streep before settling in to watch this year's opening film, The Second Act.

Almost as prestigious as winning the Palme d'Or, the Cannes Film Festival's top prize, is being on the jury that picks the winner.

Artists from around the world who have made a name for themselves in their respective field are picked to sit on the jury, with one member designated as jury president.

This year's jury president, U.S. director Greta Gerwig, comes to Cannes after the massive success last summer of Barbie.

She is the first female U.S. director to serve as jury president, taking the baton from the head of the 2023 jury, Triangle of Sadness director and two-time Palme d'Or winner, Ruben Ostlund of Sweden.

The breakout star of Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, Lily Gladstone returns to Cannes after becoming the first Native American woman to be nominated for an Oscar and winning a Golden Globe award for her performance.

Each year, the gala held in Cannes brings a slew of A-listers to the south of France in order to bring awareness and raise funds for the nonprofit

Hana Cross posed up a storm in a revealing white sequinned gown with plunging side splits

The model's dress proved to be a kaleidoscope of different coloured sequins

Michelle Rodriguez set pulses racing in a sparkly sequinned gown with a revealing thigh-high split as she posed for solo snaps on the glitzy red carpet

She put on a showstopping display in her dazzling champagne gown

Leomie Anderson showed off her quirky sense of style in a fun black velvet puffball dress with a beaded white underlay

Andie MacDowell showcased her ageless beauty in a sophisticated black velvet jumpsuit, that boasted a plunging front and flared trousers

The Notting Hill star vamped it up in the sophisticated black one-piece

Barbara Palvin brought a pop of colour to the event as she arrived in a strapless coral gown with a dramatic flowing train

She put on a glamorous display in her colourful dress which boasted elegant frilled detailing

Russian model Daria Konovalova put on a leggy display in a white corset leotard and matching tights, teamed with a blazer

Selling Sunset stars Jason Oppenheim and Mary Fitzgerald were also in attendance for the event, as fans eagerly await news of the Netflix reality show's eighth season

Mary exuded glamour in a dramatic silver satin gown with a intricately beaded skirt

British football star Alex Scott (left), and her girlfriend, singer Jess Glynne finally made their first red carpet appearance at the gala after posing separately at events for months

The former Arsenal legend exuded glamour in a dramatic nude gown covered with silver sequins and beaded detailing, while Jess oozed elegance in a white gown

After months of dating rumours, Alex and Jess put on a loved-up display as they sweetly held hands on the red carpet

The BBC Sport star set pulses racing in her plunging nude gown

While this was the first time that Alex and Jess had posed for red carpet snaps together, the pair also noticeably stood apart to get solo shots in their glamorous looks

Actress Tatiana Korsakova put on a glamorous display in a jaw-dropping sheer silver gown with a hooded top, showcasing every inch of her incredible figure

Designer Tommy Hilfiger put on a suave display as he joined his wife Dee for the evening

DJ Amazonica showed off her kooky sense of style in a busty black midi dress with a flowing matching sheer cape

Victoria Silvstedt flaunted her eye-popping cleavage in a plunging red bralet and a matching skirt that highlighted her jaw-dropping figure

The Swedish actress, who is a fixture at the Cannes Film Festival, put on a leggy display in the look, which included a matching thigh-split skirt

Lady Victoria Hervey amped up the glamour in a revealing black velvet gown, with a matching fishtail skirt and train

Victoria's daring outing caught the eye with an illusion bodice

Emma Weymouth, Marchioness of Bath, slipped into a plunging silver sequinned gown as she dazzled on the red carpet for Cannes' annual amfAR gala

The gorgeous star was seated inside the gala alongside Chopard President Caroline Scheufele

Sarah Ferguson was also in high spirits as she joined a slew of stars at the red carpet event

The Duchess Of York beamed as she arrived for the evening in a pretty pale pink beaded gown with matching caped detailing

Czech model Petra Nemcova exuded elegant in a dusky pink gown with a dramatic thigh-high split

After heading into the gardens for the swanky event Petra showcased the flowing scarves of her pink gown

She posed alongside Julia Restoin Roitfel

Influencer Rahi Chadda cut a stylish figure at the VIP event

Toni Garrn looked incredible in a strapless blue dress as she caught up with Coco Rocha and Vanessa Moody

Brazilian football legend Ronaldo was joined by his stunning wife Celina Locks as they made a joint appearance at the charity event during the final days of the Cannes Film Festival

They appeared in high spirits at the event

Rose Bertram, Neelam Gill, Vanessa Moody and Michelle Rodriguez all looked sensational as they took to the red carpet

Michelle pulled a playful expression while Andie MacDowell beamed for the camera

Nick Jonas put on a suave display in a sharp white tuxedo jacket

Tyga put on a dapper display in a sharp black suit, while Jordan was dressed in a sharp blue satin trouser suit

Kelsey Merritt looked incredible in a glittering silver dress and heels

Tyga looked suave as he posed for a snap with basketball player Kyle Kuzma

The rapper also showed off an eye-catching gold ring as he arrived to the star-studded event

As part of the charity event, an array of quirky art pieces were placed up for auction, including an ode to Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor

Ting Ting and Nic Kaufmann were also in attendance at the swanky bash

Another piece from the auction was a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II

One of the writers of the 2014 Palme d'Or-winning film Winter Sleep, Turkish photographer, actor and screenwriter Ebru Ceylan is a familiar face at the festival.

Her first short film, On the Edge, was selected to compete at Cannes in 1998, and she has co-written several movies that were in the main competition line-up, including About Dry Grasses, Three Monkeys and The Wild Pear Tree.

One of the select few women who have starred in a James Bond film, French actor Eva Green is also on the jury.

She has an eclectic resume that includes Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven, smaller-scale projects like Nocebo and TV series Penny Dreadful.

The 12-time winner of Spain's prestigious Goya Awards, Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona is on the jury.

He gained international recognition in 2007 with his first feature-length horror movie The Orphanage, produced by award-winning Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.

His latest, the survival drama and Netflix hit 'Society of the Snow,' netted the director an Oscar nomination for best international feature film at this year's ceremony.

After making a name with 2018's Capernaum, which earned her Golden Globe, BAFTA and Oscar nominations, Lebanese director and screenwriter Nadine Labaki, who has long had ties to Cannes, adds jury member to her list of accolades.

One of Italy's most famous actors with a parallel Hollywood career, Pierfrancesco Favino is no stranger to Cannes, having appeared in the competition films The Traitor, directed by Marco Bellocchio, and Mario Martone's Nostalgia and now on the jury.

Winner of the 2018 Palme d'Or for Shoplifters, which also nabbed an Oscar nomination, acclaimed Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda returns as a main competition jury member after his film Monster won best screenplay at last year's festival.

With a Cesar award - France's equivalent of an Oscar - under his belt for The Intouchables as well as several successful blockbusters, French actor Omar Sy is a Cannes veteran.

The actor with parts in X-Men: Days of Future Past and Jurassic World starred in the opening film of the 2022 Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, Father & Soldier, and will now serve on the jury.
A popular Bravo podcaster has launched a scathing tirade against the sandwich shop owned by Vanderpump Rules stars Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix.

Sarah Fraser attended the opening of the Something About Her eatery in West Hollywood on Wednesday and claimed that she waited almost four hours before eventually leaving without being served.

In an unhinged video shared to Instagram, Fraser raged about the wait time and said the service was 'terrible'.

Ranting into the camera, Fraser said, 'Do you think after waiting nearly four hours that I got a sandwich at Something About Her?'

She continued, 'Do you think at any point they came around with samples or a free cookie [or] a shred of peanut butter and jelly which is on their menu?'

Bravo podcaster Sarah Fraser has launched a scathing tirade against the sandwich shop owned by Vanderpump Rules stars Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix

The eatery had its grand opening on Wednesday, but Fraser claims that she waited in line for four hours before leaving without being served

Earlier in the day, Fraser posted videos of herself waiting in line with throngs of baying Bravo fans.

'Send help! We've been waiting 3hrs for #somethingabouther and they have run out of 3 sandwiches so far,' she captioned one post.

Fraser then released a brutal podcast about her experience with the restaurant, titling the episode, 'Something About Her was HORRIBLE! Why I won't be back!'

Diving into her review - which she partially walked back the next day after backlash fom Madix's fans - the former radio host said, 'I just came from the worst f***ing sandwich shop that I have ever experienced in my life!

'Zero stars! I will NEVER be back! Do you hear that? Now am I hangry? I'm hangry.'

Fraser explained that she was initially 'so excited' to attend the opening and insisted that she had a long history of supporting small businesses.

However, after waiting in line with nothing to eat and little to drink, Fraser vowed never to return to the premises again.

In an unhinged video shared to Instagram, Fraser raged about the wait time and said the service was 'terrible'

Ranting into the camera, Fraser said, 'Do you think after waiting nearly four hours that I got a sandwich at Something About Her?'

Fraser also posted videos of herself waiting in line with throngs of baying Bravo fans

She also blasted Maloney and Madix for not offering free samples and coupons to customers in line, and said that staff did a poor job of communicating the wait times and availability of certain sandwiches.

'The only people who were getting updates were maybe the first ten people in line,' she complained.

She also said that she'd had 'hardly any water all day' and blasted the shop for opening their doors at 10:20am - despite advertising a 10am opening time.

'I'm so upset, I'm so flustered and I'm so hangry,' she said, calling it 'terrible customer service'.

'I cannot even. I am so good, I am so done. I don't even think I need to watch the show anymore, quite frankly.'

Despite her many complaints, Fraser gave Maloney and Madix some credit towards the end of her rant and admitted that many Vanderpump Rules fans who showed up to the shop had left satisfied.

'People were happy to see them, people that ate sandwiches there said that they were delicious,' she admitted.

Fraser also revealed that the restaurant's point of sale system went down throughout the day, which contributed to the delays.

Hoards of fans flooded the street as they waited to enter the West Hollywood eatery

Hundreds of fans waited in lines that reached around the block on Wednesday

It was a full house as Vanderpump Rules viewers scoffed sandwiches inside the venue

She received a mixed reception from Bravo fans for her rant, with some supporting her brutal honesty - while others said she'd taken her criticism too far.

'Love this! Glad someone being honest and not gassing the place up because it's flop Katie and Ariana,' wrote one fan.

'Sarah is giving her opinion based on her experience. A four hour wait for a sandwich is just ridiculous,' wrote another.

'I can't imagine being this upset over an opening day at a business. This anger is highly unhinged,' added another.

Some fans also said that Fraser had been foolish to go to Something About Her on opening day, and that it would've been smarter to wait until the fanfare had died down.

'With their fanbase, never go on opening day. Wait a few weeks. IMO, you made the wrong call. Not a fair assessment,' commented one.

Another wrote, ' I mean they are popular Vanderpump Rules stars, it was day one isn't it on the people in line on whether they want to stand in line for a few minutes or a few hours?'

One fan who drove nearly an hour from Santa Clarita to attend the opening claimed that they had been standing behind Fraser in line, and offered a 'different perspective' of what happened that day.

'I drove from Santa Clarita. I'm 49, I have Lupus and [rheumatoid arthritis]. I went knowing that I would probably be standing in line for hours and I still made the decision to go. I met a lot of new people in line,' she wrote.

They continued, 'I made the best of it. I was bummed I didn't get to purchase sandwiches and yes, it would've been great if someone was passing out samples and talking to the crowd but I wasn't expecting that at all.

'I was happy the girls came and talked to us when they ran out of food and apologized and took pics with us. I'm definitely not going to join in a bashing bandwagon. I will definitely go back in a few weeks.'

Fraser later changed her tune and removed the podcast episode, before uploading a new version where she admitted that she'd been 'out of pocket' and 'unhinged' due to a lack of food that day.

'I hate getting that worked up - you miss communicating your points,' she explained.

'But I stand by everything that I said on yesterday's emergency podcast.'

Fraser also defended her decision to wait in line for four hours, insisting that she would never have waited that long if somebody had come out and informed her that she wouldn't get served before closing time.

Dailymail.com has contacted Maloney and Something About Her for comment.

Something About Her officially opened for business in West Hollywood on Wednesday

Maloney and Madix previously held a 'soft opening' with celebrity guests, including Stassi Shroeder and Andy Cohen

Something About Her officially opened for business in West Hollywood on Wednesday  following over two years of unexpected delays.

Vanderpump Rules fans arrived bright and early in the hopes of being the first to check out the Parisian-style eatery, with lines stretched down the busy block.

Madix and Maloney  who hosted a 'soft opening' over the weekend  first embarked on their joint business venture in 2021 with plans to open in 2023.

But the ladies faced a laundry list of challenges, including tricky permits, staffing changes and major refurbishments done to appease the LA health department.

These setbacks inspired brutal online discourse as fans expressed doubt that the restaurant would ever open and others even speculated that it was just part of a fake reality TV storyline.

'I know it's been a really long time coming and that's felt by everyone,' Maloney told Andy Cohen on WWHL last month as she confirmed the May grand opening.

'If we could have opened six months ago plus, we absolutely would have, but it's been completely out of our hands. But we're so excited.'

And that excitement was evident as Maloney, 37, and Madix, 38, welcomed first-time customers on Wednesday under the restaurant's bright yellow and white awnings.

Hanging above their heads was the chic, black 'Something About Her' sign. The eatery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Speaking to Us Weekly, Madix and Maloney said they hope 'everyone loves it' and vowed to 'continue to do the best that we can and grow and make it better and better as time goes on.'

Several staff members clad in black 'Something About Her' T-shirts happily waited on customers as they poured over the thoughtfully tailored menu with sandwiches named after actresses Reese Witherspoon, Drew Barrymore and even Maloney's mother Teri.

The inside of the restaurant features white tables on hardwood floors with opulent chandeliers overhead and Parisian-style artwork set across from a wall of green-framed mirrors.

'I don't think we have to say anything. Everything's going to speak for itself,' Maloney said to Us Weekly of the hard work that went into bringing SAH's interior to life.

In a recent video clip for Bravo, Maloney revealed that the the inside 'was designed by Jon Hutman, who is Nancy Meyers' production designer.

'That was the whole inspiration of this sandwich shop in general. We wanted it to feel like main-character energy in a rom-com.'

Madix explained: 'We also wanted it to feel like us. We wanted it to feel very California yet European,' while Maloney added: 'California country meets European cafe.'
Lady Victoria Hervey cut a glamorous figure on Thursday as she attended the annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala during the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

Victoria, 47, looked nothing short of sensational in a black floor-length gown which boasted a semi-sheer design.

The chic ensemble, which showed a glimpse of Victoria's slender figure, boasted a sheer floral velvet bust and featured a long satin train.

The socialite further accessorised the look with a pair of diamond gold earrings and carried a mini black clutch bag.

Victoria showed off her age-defying beauty as she struck up a pose on the red carpet and styled her luscious locks in voluminous waves.

Lady Victoria Hervey cut a glamorous figure on Thursday as she attended the annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala during the 77th Cannes Film Festival

Victoria, 47, looked nothing short of sensational in a black floor-length gown which boasted a semi-sheer design

She adorned a flawless palette of makeup and seemed in good spirits as she graced the carpet.

It comes after Victoria looked divine as she joined Kimberley Garner on the Kinds Of Kindness red carpet during the Cannes Film Festival last week.

The socialite cut a chic figure as she stepped out in a figure-hugging bedazzled mini dress which featured a sparkly gemstone choker.

She exuded glamour as she embraced the carpet with an elegant two-meter tulle train.

To accessorise she wore a silver sparkly box clutch, large silver earrings, and a pair of sensible metallic kitten heels.

Victoria appeared in high spirits for the evening as she showcased her natural beauty with a minimal makeup look and a tousled bun.

Each year, the gala held in Cannes brings a slew of A-listers to the south of France to bring awareness and raise funds for the nonprofit.

Cannes is the world's biggest film festival, first conceived in 1939 as an alternative to the then-fascist-influenced Venice Film Festival.

The chic ensemble, which showed a glimpse of Victoria's slender figure, boasted a sheer floral velvet bust and featured a long satin train

It has been held annually since 1946 except in 1948 and 1950, when it was cancelled due to lack of funds.

The festival is known for its carefully selected programme of films that have gone on to Oscar glory or launched the careers of directors like Quentin Tarantino.

Cannes' top prize is the Palme d'Or, or Golden Palm, whose past winners include Taxi Driver, Apocalypse Now, Pulp Fiction, The Pianist and Parasite.

Jane Campion became the first female director to win in 1993 with The Piano, followed by a nearly three-decade gap until Julia Ducournau received the award for Titane in 2021.

Justine Triet became only the third female director to take the prize last year with Anatomy of a Fall.

There is also an honorary Palme d'Or, which is awarded in recognition of notable bodies of work, with past recipients including Harrison Ford, Jane Fonda and Clint Eastwood.

There are two honorary winners this year: George Lucas of 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' fame, and Japanese animation legend Studio Ghibli, the first group to receive the prize.

Other awards include the Grand Prix, jury prize, best director, best actor, best actress, best screenplay and best short film.
Paris Jackson made a dramatic entrance as she hit the star-studded red carpet for the annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala during the 77th Cannes Film Festival on Thursday.

The model, 26, displayed her signature gothic glamour style in a black textured dress with a daringly high hem, leaving her long legs on full display.

Giving her look added dramatic effect, Paris' dress flared out at her waist and featured a semi-sheer tulle train which flowed behind her.

The only daughter of the late Michael Jackson elevated her height with a pair of towering Santoni heels.

She played up the elegance of her ensemble with a pair of satin evening gloves and a slew of diamond floral jewellery pieces, including a choker, earrings and several rings.

Paris Jackson made a dramatic entrance as she hit the star-studded red carpet for the annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala during the 77th Cannes Film Festival on Thursday

The model, 26, displayed her signature gothic glamour style in a black textured dress with a daringly high hem, leaving her long legs on full display

Paris completed her look with a light palette of makeup to accentuate her youthful beauty, while her hair was styled in loose waves.

Each year, the gala held in Cannes brings a slew of A-listers to the south of France in order to bring awareness and raise funds for the nonprofit.

Cannes is the world's biggest film festival, first conceived in 1939 as an alternative to the then-fascist-influenced Venice Film Festival.

It has been held annually since 1946 except in 1948 and 1950, when it was cancelled due to lack of funds.

The festival is known for its carefully selected programme of films that have gone on to Oscar glory or launched the careers of directors like Quentin Tarantino.

Cannes' top prize is the Palme d'Or, or Golden Palm, whose past winners include Taxi Driver, Apocalypse Now, Pulp Fiction, The Pianist and Parasite.

Jane Campion became the first female director to win in 1993 with The Piano, followed by a nearly three-decade gap until Julia Ducournau received the award for Titane in 2021.

Justine Triet became only the third female director to take the prize last year with Anatomy of a Fall.

Giving her look added dramatic effect, Paris' dress flared out at her waist and featured a semi-sheer tulle train which flowed behind her

The only daughter of the late Michael Jackson elevated her height with a pair of towering Santoni heels

She played up the elegance of her ensemble with a pair of satin evening gloves and a slew of diamond floral jewellery pieces, including a choker, earrings and several rings

There is also an honorary Palme d'Or, which is awarded in recognition of notable bodies of work, with past recipients including Harrison Ford, Jane Fonda and Clint Eastwood.

There are two honorary winners this year: George Lucas of 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' fame, and Japanese animation legend Studio Ghibli, the first group to receive the prize.

Other awards include the Grand Prix, jury prize, best director, best actor, best actress, best screenplay and best short film.

The Cannes Film Festival officially kicked off on Tuesday night as celebrities walked the red carpet into the plush Grand Theatre Lumiere to honour Hollywood actor Meryl Streep before settling in to watch this year's opening film, The Second Act.

Almost as prestigious as winning the Palme d'Or, the Cannes Film Festival's top prize, is being on the jury that picks the winner.

Artists from around the world who have made a name for themselves in their respective field are picked to sit on the jury, with one member designated as jury president.

This year's jury president, U.S. director Greta Gerwig, comes to Cannes after the massive success last summer of Barbie.

She is the first female U.S. director to serve as jury president, taking the baton from the head of the 2023 jury, Triangle of Sadness director and two-time Palme d'Or winner, Ruben Ostlund of Sweden.

Paris completed her look with a light palette of makeup to accentuate her youthful beauty, while her hair was styled in loose waves

Each year, the gala held in Cannes brings a slew of A-listers to the south of France in order to bring awareness and raise funds for the nonprofit

The breakout star of Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, Lily Gladstone returns to Cannes after becoming the first Native American woman to be nominated for an Oscar and winning a Golden Globe award for her performance.

One of the writers of the 2014 Palme d'Or-winning film Winter Sleep, Turkish photographer, actor and screenwriter Ebru Ceylan is a familiar face at the festival.

Her first short film, On the Edge, was selected to compete at Cannes in 1998, and she has co-written several movies that were in the main competition line-up, including About Dry Grasses, Three Monkeys and The Wild Pear Tree.

One of the select few women who have starred in a James Bond film, French actor Eva Green is also on the jury.

She has an eclectic resume that includes Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven, smaller-scale projects like Nocebo and TV series Penny Dreadful.

The 12-time winner of Spain's prestigious Goya Awards, Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona is on the jury.

He gained international recognition in 2007 with his first feature-length horror movie The Orphanage, produced by award-winning Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.

His latest, the survival drama and Netflix hit 'Society of the Snow,' netted the director an Oscar nomination for best international feature film at this year's ceremony.

After making a name with 2018's Capernaum, which earned her Golden Globe, BAFTA and Oscar nominations, Lebanese director and screenwriter Nadine Labaki, who has long had ties to Cannes, adds jury member to her list of accolades.

One of Italy's most famous actors with a parallel Hollywood career, Pierfrancesco Favino is no stranger to Cannes, having appeared in the competition films The Traitor, directed by Marco Bellocchio, and Mario Martone's Nostalgia and now on the jury.

Winner of the 2018 Palme d'Or for Shoplifters, which also nabbed an Oscar nomination, acclaimed Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda returns as a main competition jury member after his film Monster won best screenplay at last year's festival.

With a Cesar award - France's equivalent of an Oscar - under his belt for The Intouchables as well as several successful blockbusters, French actor Omar Sy is a Cannes veteran.

The actor with parts in X-Men: Days of Future Past and Jurassic World starred in the opening film of the 2022 Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, Father & Soldier, and will now serve on the jury.
A radio star has exposed the harsh truth behind Turkish hair transplants.

Many Australian men will travel to Turkey to get the procedure done, because the cost of a hair transplant there is typically lower there than in other countries.

However The Kyle and Jackie O Show director Bruno Bouchet revealed on-air on Friday that the results are far from immediate.

In fact, it typically takes 'four months' for the transplanted hair follicles to begin to grow.

'I thought I'd be coming back looking like Keith Urban,' admitted the radio star, 38.

A radio star has exposed the harsh truth behind Turkish hair transplants. Pictured: Kyle Sandilands and Bruno Bouchet

The Kyle and Jackie O Show director Bruno Bouchet revealed on-air on Friday that the results are far from immediate. 'I thought I'd be coming back looking like Keith Urban,' admitted the radio star, 38. Pictured: Urban in May 2024

Jackie 'O' Henderson expressed her surprise at the revelation, exclaiming, 'You don't?'

'They're not getting hair extensions transplanted!' quipped co-star Kyle Sandilands.

Bouchet -who is understood to have not yet gone through with the procedure- is far from the first star to admit to seeking help with thickening their mane.

Last year, Eden Dally showed off his new do after undergoing a hair transplant procedure.

The Love Island Australia star, 30, took to Instagram to flaunt his new hairline one year after surgery at Hair Doctors in Bondi, sharing before and after images of his hair.

'They're not getting hair extensions transplanted!' quipped co-star Kyle Sandilands. Pictured: Bruno in February 2023 (left) and December 2023 (right)

'WOW!!! What a difference over a year now since I had this painless procedure done,' he captioned the post.

'I usually don't let things get to me and I usually have very thick skin but once I came off Love Island I got hammered for my receded hairline and after a while I started to notice it and for the first time it got to me.

'The photo on the left I was in a bad head space lost my confidence a bit didn't care about anything and it shows! Twelve months on I'm feeling great.'

Love Island Australia star Eden Dally has showed off the results of his hair transplant after three years of feeling 'insecure' about his receding hairline

In the first image, he showed fans his slightly sparse hairline, and a second image revealed his impressive results a year later.

Hair transplant procedures normally involve transplanting the patient's hair from thicker parts of their hairline to thinner areas.

It can cost between $4,000 to $15,000 depending on how much hair is transplanted during the procedure.

Eden's partner, Cyrell Paule, underwent a breast augmentation last year

Eden told Daily Mail Australia he underwent a hair transplant after three years of feeling 'insecure' about his receding hairline.

'I had it done because I was getting a lot of comments on Instagram about how my hair was receding, and that I've got a big forehead,' he said.

'At first it didn't bother me, but now three years down the track I was getting the same comments,' he added.

Masterchef star Khanh Ong has revealed that he feels like a 'completely new person' after getting life-changing hair transplant nine months ago. Pictured before and after

MasterChef star Khanh Ong has also admitted to having sought treatment for his receding hairline.

During a candid Q&A session with his followers on social media last year, the I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! star explained his decision-making process in choosing a clinic and the type of procedure he wanted.

He said, 'I went to a couple of places and they were very like, this is what needs to be done in this amount of time. You have to shave your head for us to do it in the like appropriate amount of time. So I was like, no, well, like this is not like a motorbike service.'

The popular chef eventually chose Brisbane-based Gro Clinics, an Australian clinic recommended by a friend, because they listened to his concerns and worked with him to create a plan tailored to his specific needs.
Katie Holmes did her own heavy lifting while running errands in her New York City, where she moved back in 2012 following her split from ex-husband Tom Cruise.

The Alone Together star, 45, certainly had her hands full as she stepped out with a ginormous box, which was secured with clear duct tape on the top and bottom.

While out and about on Wednesday, the mother-of-one looked effortlessly chic in a white blouse, flared jeans and a black leather handbag, which she wore over her shoulder.

The Dawson's Creek alum completed her laid-back look with a pair of oversized black sunglasses and brown loafers.

While she had a hair tie around her wrist, in case she wanted to throw her hair up later, she opted to keep her long, straight brown hair down, behind her shoulders.

Katie Holmes did her own heavy lifting on Wednesday while hauling around a large brown box as she ran errands in her New York City, where she moved back in 2012

Holmes opted to show off her natural beauty by wearing minimal makeup, apart from a light-weight foundation and blush.

The actress' lookalike daughter, Suri, who turned 18 in April and is set to graduate high school next month, did not appear to be present on the outing.

Holmes welcomed Suri on April 18, 2006 with Cruise, 61.

She and Cruise began dating in April 2005 and Holmes, who grew up Catholic, began studying Tom's religion Scientology.

Seven months after the birth of their first and only child, Tom and Katie tied the knot in November 2006 during a Scientology ceremony held at Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano, Italy.

Katie shocked fans while she filed to divorce Tom in June 2012. She was eventually granted primary custody of Suri.

It's been reported that Tom has rarely seen his daughter in the last 11 years despite being afforded visitation rights.

Last month, Suri rang in her 18th birthday in New York City while her A-list father was busy shooting the next Mission Impossible film in Europe.

The Alone Together star, 45, certainly had her hands full as she stepped out with the ginormous box, which was secured with clear duct tape on the top and bottom

While out and about on Wednesday, the mother-of-one looked effortlessly chic in a white blouse, flared jeans and a black leather handbag, which she wore over her shoulder

The Dawson's Creek alum completed her laid-back look with a pair of oversized black sunglasses and brown loafers

Although he missed his daughter's milestone, Tom did find the time to attend Victoria Beckham's star-studded 50th birthday bash in London two days later.

Now that Suri is a legal adult, the Interview With The Vampire star no longer has to pay child support.

It's been reported that Tom forked over $33,000 per month, totaling around $400,000 a year, plus Suri's expenses, such as medical and education.

While she's estranged from Tom, Suri has a close relationship with mom Katie.

Katie has shared some insight on their tight bond over the years.

In an essay for Vogue Australia, the TV star said it was the 'most precious gift' to spend COVID-19 lockdown with her only child.

'To live for a moment in time without the pressure of results and instead appreciate the natural rhythms of mother and daughter was the most precious gift,' she wrote.

The actress' lookalike daughter, Suri, who turned 18 in April and is set to graduate high school next month, did not appear to be present on the outing; seen in 2020

Holmes welcomed Suri on April 18, 2006 with Cruise, 61 (seen in 2017 with Holmes)

She and Cruise began dating in April 2005 and Holmes, who grew up Catholic, began studying Tom's religion Scientology (Cruise, 61, pictured holding Suri in 2010)

Also in 2020, Katie gushed to InStyle about how much she loves Suri and marveled at how 'very strong' the teen is.

'I love her so much. My biggest goal has always been to nurture her into her individuality,' she told the magazine.

'To make sure she is 100 percent herself and strong, confident, and able. And to know it. She came out very strong  she's always been a strong personality.'

She described Suri as a 'hard worker' who works tirelessly to master her skills.

'She'll pick an activity and work her butt off until she's really good at it,' Katie said. 'Then she's like, "OK, I'm going to try the next thing."

'She's very focused and a hard worker.'
The business has been continuously falling in popularity over the past decade

An iconic American eatery's stock has plummeted in recent week after the company's CEO said the restaurant is no longer 'relevant'.

Cracker Barrel, the Southern country-themed restaurants with 662 locations across the nation, has been diminishing in popularity over the past decade - with its loyal clientele of elderly people failing to return after the pandemic.

The business tanked even more when its chief executive Julie Felss Masino told investors, 'We're just not as relevant as we once were.'

While speaking on an investor call, Masino, who took over the CEO position nine months ago, admitted, 'Some of our recipes and processes haven't evolved in decades.'

Cracker Barrel is a U.S. chain of restaurants with a Southern country theme - known for serving all-American dishes like biscuits and gravy and fried chicken

Since the call, the 54-year-old company's shares fell by nearly 20 percent.

On Thursday, Cracker Barrel traded as low as $45.35 - a 52-week low that marked its lowest level in over a decade.

The stock closed today at $45.67 - down 2.1 per cent since Masino's comments.

Cracker Barrel's yearly dividend was slashed from $1.30 per share to just 25 cents.

Last Thursday, the Southern eatery announced plans to spend $700 million over the next three years to drive up its popularity.

The restaurant rose to prominence after it was founded in 1969 as patrons flocked to its all-American dishes, like biscuits and gravy and fried chicken.

But as its footfall plummeted in recent years, company management believe that some of the restaurant's problems can be fixed by updating the menu and marketing, as well as 'refreshing the interior and exterior' with a 'different color palette.'

Two of the stores have already been revamped with a makeover and 10 others are experimenting with a refreshed menu.

Cracker Barrel is cutting 20 items from the traditional menu and replacing them with such dishes as 'premium savory chicken and rice, slow-braised pot roast and hashbrown casserole Shepherd's Pie.' The new menu items will be showcased this fall.

Cracker Barrel's stock has plummeted in recent week after the company's CEO said the restaurant is no longer 'relevant'

The business tanked even more when its chief executive Julie Felss Masino told investors, 'We're just not as relevant as we once were'

However, management don't anticipate the expensive re-brand to pay off until late 2026 and 2027.

Cracker Barrel has lost a significant 16 percent of diners over the past four years - and the trend is ongoing.

'A big reason the stock is down is that there wasn't much of a plan,' Truist analyst Jake Bartlett told the New York Post.

'They announced a plan for a plan but they didn't give investors enough information to judge whether reinvesting in the stores was a credible plan to address the traffic losses.'

One particular obstacle that the company is facing is attracting young customers. 'They have a lot of senior consumers, so long term they need to migrate away from that consumer,' Bartlett said.

However the company, which faced backlash for its anti-LGBT policies in the 1990s, has had a hard time keeping its senior clientele while bringing in Gen Z customers.

Last year, Cracker Barrel was accused of 'going woke' when the restaurant lined its front porches with rainbow-colored rocking chairs during Pride Month - and customers even boycotted the chain, which has locations in 45 states.

Cracker Barrel has lost a significant 16 percent of diners over the past four years - and the trend is ongoing

Cracker Barrel isn't the only classic American chain struggling to rally customers. The iconic casual seafood chain Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this week after closing almost 100 restaurants.

The seafood chain, which has closed restaurants in 27 states, was struggling with rising lease and labor costs in recent years and also promotions like its iconic all-you-can-eat shrimp deal that backfired.

Applebee's has also been rapidly shutting down locations - with 35 closures just this year.

The American grill chain, famous for its $10 burgers and 'dollaritas', closed 46 of its more than 1,500 locations due to 'underperformance' last year.

The franchise - which competes with the likes of Waffle House and Denny's - has been shutting hundreds of restaurants since 2017.
Apex body for leather and footwear exporters CLE has asked the government to formulate a national policy for the sector with a view to attract investments, boost Indias shipments and create jobs.

In a letter to Niti Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam, Council for Leather Exports (CLE) said that though there are schemes and support measures at central and state levels, there is a need for holistic development of the entire sector through a national policy.

The elements of the proposed policy, it said, can include incentives for setting up of manufacturing units, training of workers, support measures for adoption of sustainable technologies and innovative products.

This policy should cover the entire supply chain of the sector, starting from raw materials to finished products, including processing, product development, marketing, supply chain management, and backward integration, the council said.

Explaining the importance of the policy, CLE Executive Director R Selvam said that the sector needs a national policy as it is a labour-intensive sector, which employs about 4.4 million, with over 85 per cent women.

The sector has a huge socio-economic benefit. The policy would help the industry in boosting exports and creating huge number of jobs, Selvam told PTI.

The council asked the government to implement the production-linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the entire supply chain of the footwear and leather industry and also the machinery segment.

It added that there is a need to fine-tune special economic zone (SEZ) policy with a focus on increasing productivity through flexible labour laws, lowering the tax burden for the sale of goods in the domestic market.

Further, the CLE suggested that the policy should include a blueprint for infrastructure development in all leather and footwear clusters to make them smart clusters; measures for logistics management; and monetary policy; credit facilities; and insurance coverage.

I would request to frame the policy to facilitate growth and development and provide additional employment opportunities to at least two million youth in the next seven years, CLE Chairman R K Jalan said.

He also called for organising a meeting of global CEOs of major leather products and footwear brands with industry secretaries of states.

Such a meeting will be helpful in attracting more investments from brands, he said adding that there is a demand for setting up plug-and-paly models of factories wherein ready-to-use factory sheds with all required infrastructure and support services are provided by the government.
The global geopolitical landscape grows more complex with Russia-China ties

The gruelling Indian elections, one of the largest democratic exercises in the world will be over in a week or so. A hectic flurry of pending policy decisions is likely to start immediately. If the current party comes back, a hundred days action-packed agenda would be rolled out by most major Government departments, going by PM Modis Stated objective of not wasting a minute after polls are over. However, the geo-political space, which existed when the elections were declared, has become far more complex refusing to wind down any time soon.

To be fair some of the changes are driven by elections happening all across the globe during 2024, including in key European Union and US. This will ensure that almost all multilateral forums, where these key constituents and India are major contributors, would be subject to pressures of domestic politics and issues. Meanwhile, Indias long-standing partner Russia, finished their election nearly a month back and upon reelection President Putin undertook his first State visit to China last week. Russia and China have emerged as the key UN Security Council permanent members, whose interests and policies are not likely to align with the US-led block any time soon.

The joint Statement released after President Putins visit to China highlighted the importance of his visit to China. It was a message to the wider Western block of countries opposed to Russias invasion of Ukraine, coming at a time when the Chinese president had just come back after meeting every senior leader from the European Union, the French President and reaffirmed firm support from a couple of East European countries. The European Union and recently the US have expressed grave concerns and taken some tariff measures regarding Chinas non-competitive trade practices, especially regarding State-subsidised cheap Electric vehicles flooding their markets. Apprehensions have been raised by Indian trade associations that the loss of the lucrative US market for Chinese Electric vehicles could lead to, these automotive products being dumped in India leading to a situation similar to Europe and the US. In this context Russia seems to have come out in full support of the Chinese automotive sector, perhaps also sending a strong message to Europe and the US. In the media Statement released during Mr Putins State visit to China, he mentioned Regarding bilateral industrial cooperation, we are pleased to witness the proactive expansion of Chinese automakers and household appliance manufacturers in the Russian market. As discussed during our talks and as the President said, we acknowledge the detrimental effect of any unlawful actions, sanctions, or restrictions. We wholeheartedly embrace collaboration with our Chinese counterparts..

China has refrained from overtly criticising Russia over its war in Ukraine and has in the past been accused of supplying military equipment stealthily. Even though Ukraine found mention in both Statements by President Putin and President Xi Jinping, it was velvet-gloved, under larger international foreign policy issues and overall commentary on geo-political matters. On foreign policy matters Russian presidents Statement read We are working together to create a fairer and more democratic multipolar world order based on the central role of the UN and its Security Council, international law, cultural and civilizational diversity, as well as a calibrated balance of interests of all members of the international community. We believe that the creation of such alliances is extremely harmful and counterproductive. Reforming multilateral institutions, especially the UN and a permanent membership has been a long-term foreign policy goal for PM Modi. In the wake of geopolitics, the new Government will have its task cut out on foreign policy.

(The writer is a policy analyst; views are personal)
There is a concerning pattern of political leaders forsaking their party affiliations in pursuit of personal gain, but voters are giving them a run for their money

India, once a beacon of guidance in global affairs encompassing Statecraft, religion and politics, now confronts a disheartening reality. Presently, its political landscape appears adrift and devoid of purpose. Those in positions of authority seem driven solely by personal gratification. The completion of the fifth phase of the 2024 general elections has stirred heightened activity among political factions. Both ruling and opposition parties fervently urge the public to cast their votes in their favour. As the electoral process unfolds, leaders assess their prospects of triumph or defeat, often shifting allegiances between parties. Moreover, other political entities not only welcome defectors into their ranks but also offer them electoral tickets, even at the expense of their loyalists.

The phenomenon of leaders defecting from one party to another is not new. Reflecting on historical trends, in the 1960s, approximately 30 per cent of parties witnessed leadership changes. However, public sentiment, termed Janata Janardan, proved decisive, thwarting 31 per cent of defectors in 1977 and 85 per cent in 2019. Examining the success rates of party-switching leaders, in the 1960s, around 30 per cent of parties with new leadership secured victories. Contrastingly, in the 2019 elections, the success rate plummeted to less than 15 per cent. A recent example is Seema Soren from Jharkhand, a three-time MLA and sister-in-law of former Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who departed from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on March 19. Similarly, Congress MP Geeta Koda from Jharkhand also crossed over to the BJP and secured a ticket for the Singhbhum constituency.

The trend continues with leaders like Brijendra Singh and Rahul Kaswa, former BJP MPs now contesting under the Congress banner and Ritesh Pandey, previously a BSP MP, a BJP candidate. Afzal Ansari, once aligned with the BSP, is now a candidate for the Samajwadi Party, while Bibi Patil and Sangita Azad, both former BSP MPs, are now BJP candidates. Analysts attribute these defections to various factors such as the denial of tickets or perceived better prospects in another party. However, the prognosis for such defectors appears bleak as data analysis from the Trivedi Center for Political Data at Ashoka University indicates a dwindling success rate, dropping below 15 per cent in the 2019 elections from around 30 per cent in the 1960s.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, out of over 8,000 candidates, 195 were party-switchers, constituting 2.4 per cent of the total candidates. However, only 29 emerged victorious, marking a success rate of 14.9 per cent, significantly lower than previous years. The peak year for party-switching was 1977, post-Emergency, when disparate political forces united against Indira Gandhi, resulting in a success rate of 68.9 per cent for defectors. Conversely, the subsequent election saw this rate decline sharply. The question of which party, BJP or Congress, better accommodates defectors remains a subject of debate.

In 1984, following Indira Gandhis assassination, sympathy propelled the Congress, leading to a remarkable success rate of 81.3 per cent for defectors. Conversely, the BJP, contesting its inaugural Lok Sabha elections in 1984, saw no success among its 62 defector candidates. However, subsequent years witnessed shifts in these figures. In 2019, 5.3 per cent of BJP candidates were defectors, with a success rate of 56.5 per cent, whereas the Congress, with 9.5 per cent defectors, saw only 5 per cent success.

The future of defector leaders in the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections remains uncertain until June 4th, when the Indian electorate bestows its verdict, symbolised by the Vijayshree crown. Until then, further speculation would be premature, necessitating patience from all stakeholders.

(The writer is a columnist and a freelance journalist, views are personal)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Congress and said China thrashed India when the bubble of Pandit Nehru's aura burst in 1962. He also claimed that the INDIA Bloc is talking about having five PMs over the next five years and said the fight over 'ghee' has broken out in the alliance, even before the cow has given milk.

Addressing an election rally in Bhiwani, Haryana, Modi said, "1962 mein, pandit Nehru ke aura ka gubbara jo phoot gya, China ke haathon jo hamari pitaayi huyi', they (Congress) held our military responsible for that defeat. That family even today keeps looking for opportunities to demean our military. And in a sense of revenge, they have thrown Rs 500 and said OROP (One Rank One Pension) will be done. Modi has said what it means to implement OROP..."

Modi also said the INDIA Bloc is talking about having five PMs over the next five years and said the fight over 'ghee' has broken out in the alliance, even before the cow has given milk.

Hours before campaigning for the sixth round of the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls came to an end, Modi asserted that till he is alive, no one can snatch the reservation for Dalits and tribals. All ten Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will go to polls on May 25. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had secured all 10 seats. In this election, "you will not only choose the country's PM but also decide the country's future", the PM told the gathering. "On one hand is your tried and tested 'sevak' Modi. Who is on the other side, one does not know," he said, targeting the INDIA Bloc that has as its constituents Opposition parties, including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

The INDIA Bloc is "extremely communal, casteist and nepotist", he said while alleging that when the Congress was in power, it did not allow construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Recalling his days working for the BJP in the State in the mid-1990s, Modi said, "Haryana has showered a lot of love on me, I have deep relations with you."

"It is my guarantee that we will not let Haryana's development stop," he said while canvassing for BJP's Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha seat candidate Dharambir Singh. Modi also said in the last 10 years, "we have worked hard to wash off the sins of the Congress".

The Prime Minister also targeted the INDIA Bloc, saying it has already started making grounds for whom to blame for their defeat.

Campaigning ended on Thursday in the State for Lok Sabha polls and Karnal Assembly bypoll, in which political prestige of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, his predecessor M L Khattar, two Union Ministers and two Congress stalwarts including Kumari Selja is at stake.

The high-pitched campaigning, which saw the presence of top leaders including Modi, BJP chief J P Nadda, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, chief ministers of BJP-ruled States, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and BSP leader Mayawati, came to an end at 6 pm.

As many as 223 candidates, including 16 women, are left in the contest for 10 parliamentary seats in the State. Two Union Ministers -- Rao Inderjit Singh and Krishan Pal Gurjar -- and Congress heavyweight Deepender Singh Hooda are among the contestants. There are nine candidates in the fray for Karnal assembly bypoll necessitated after Khattar's resignation as MLA.

There are a total 2,00,76,768 registered voters in the state, which include 94,23,956 women and 467 transgender voters, officials said.

Meanwhile, Modi on Thursday launched a fierce attack on ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, saying that drug trade is flourishing in the state and the government is in debt.

Addressing his first election rally in the State for the seventh phase of Lok Sabha polls on June 1, Modi said Punjab has given leadership to the country in various sectors - from agriculture to industry.

He then attacked the AAP, saying industries are now leaving Punjab while drug trade is growing. "The entire Government is running on debt." The Government writ does not run here while sand and drug mafia, and shooter gangs' rule, Modi said.

"All Ministers are enjoying themselves and the 'kagzi CM' (Chief Minister just on paper) is always busy marking his presence in the 'Delhi darbar'," Modi said. "Can such people undertake development in Punjab," he asked.

He also attacked the AAP and the Congress for fighting the Lok Sabha polls together in Delhi and against each other in Punjab.

"In Punjab, they are fighting against each other in elections just to show people. Delhi's 'fiercely corrupt party' and the party which is guilty of anti-Sikh riots are doing a drama of fighting against each other (in Punjab)," he said.
When N Rangaswamy, the 73-year-old Chief Minister of Puducherry was handed over a pearl white Ambassador car on Tuesday, he was left speechless.

The soft-spoken Chief Minister could not believe that it was the same 1995 model Ambassador which he had entrusted to Thanjaneyan, a car mechanic at Thoothukkudi for restoration. This car had seen many summers and winters and was as good as scrap when Thanjaneyan asked him permission to restore the vehicle to its original form.

Rangaswamy, who had a sentimental attachment to the car, did not think twice and asked Thanjaneyan to go ahead. The Chief Minister always preferred the battered and bruised old Amby for his personal use. Though Hindustan Motors, the company that manufactured the car had stopped production in 2014 because of mounting losses and other factors, the passion for Ambassador remained intact.

For two years, Thanjaneyan worked on the car in his small workshop and once it was completed, the restored Ambassador resembled a showroom model in all respects. It is living up to the catchword 'the Car with Plenty of Drive', coined by the manufacturer," said Dr Anjan Chatterjee, a lawyer-turned-car lover. Dr Chatterjee is an authority on the 'horoscope' of the Ambassador, which extends from the genesis till the car took the last bow.

"It was exciting work because it is an Ambassador car. Restoring and maintaining the Amby is an intoxicating experience," said Thanjaneyan, an expert in restoring even the previous models of Ambassador like the Morris, Vauxhall, Land Master and Baby Hindustan. The white Amby that was lying in the backyard of N Rangaswamy's residence has been brought to the portico of the house.

One of the slogans used to promote the Ambassador and caught the national attention was "ideal at 200 potholes per hour". There were no national corridors or expressways in the country till former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee launched the six-lane highway mission in 1998 and which was pursued by the Narendra Modi government since 2014.

Dr Chatterjee lists many reasons for the shut down of the Ambassador plant in Hooghly district of West Bengal. "Militant trade unions and a management without any clue of what is happening around were the factors that led to the untimely demise of the car manufacturer," he said.

Doraiswamy Naveen, an avid car collector said he could not find any owners who made complaints about the Ambassadors. "There was a time when the choice of cars were restricted to Ambassador and Premier Padmini (owned by Walchand family).The liberalisation saw the gradual opening of the car sector to foreign investors and technology and this resulted in Ambassador making way for the newcomers," said Naveen who himself is busy restoring a Mark II Ambassador owned by his grandfather.

Dr Chatterjee said it was nice to see car enthusiasts reviving their passion for older cars like Ambys. "Ambassador tops the list as the most desired classic for their garage. It is beautiful to see owners spending much more than the market value of an Ambassador just to restore the carto its glory," he said.

It is equally important to note that there are car lovers who drive only Ambassadors. Chennai-based Belgamwalla, a Parsi gentleman and Rathna Nadar, in spite of their wealth, prefer only Ambassadors. Built to last will be how future generations would describe this machine. Ambassador is a splendid tribute to Calcutta too.
Sampoorna Bharat Kranti Party's national general secretary cum Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh in-charge Vijay Shankar Nayak today said that ED should investigate the personal movable and immovable assets of all the ministers/former ministers/secretaries/deputy secretaries/special secretaries/undersecretary level officers of the state. He was reacting to the summons sent by ED to IAS officer Manish Ranjan.

He further said that today all the departments related to Public Works are full of corruption. Today there is a free hand for loot in all these departments. Unabated scam continues, in the name of tender, the contractor is doing huge networking work of commission fraud in alliance with engineer and minister, which should be investigated by ED.

Nayak further said that today in all the departments related to Public Works Department, the coalition of bureaucrats, engineers, contractors and ministers have looted the development funds of Jharkhand with both hands, due to which today 40% commission is lost in Jharkhand. This is continuing and today government money is being looted in the name of development and there is no one to see it.

While congratulating the ED officials, he said that today the ED officials are doing excellent and wonderful work towards ending the loot and commission fraud in Jharkhand. Whenever the ED is conducting raids, it is doing the work of recovering crores of rupees. They are exposing the loot, which is a welcome step which cannot be praised enough. Today there is a fear of ED on the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats due to this and this is for a poor state like Jharkhand which is a den of corruption. This is a good sign for that poor state.
Politics and criminality in the border state go hand-in-hand. Nearly one-fifth of the candidates (21 per cent) have disclosed criminal cases against themselves, marking a troubling trend in the state's political fabric. Fourteen percent of the total 328 contesting candidates, that is 47, are facing serious criminal charges against them including murder, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, violence, forgery, among others.

Out of total 328 candidates, 69 have declared criminal cases against themselves, including one having declared a case related to murder (IPC Section -302) against himself; besides six candidates declaring cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section 307) against themselves.

Among these, Khalistani ideologue Amritpal Singh, who is contesting as independent candidate from panthic seat of Khadoor Sahib, is topping the list who is facing 12 different cases of 23 serious charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Amritpal, currently lodged at Assams Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act (NSA), is facing total of 12 cases with total 23 serious charges and 27 other charges  including seven charges related to punishment for criminal intimidation (Section-506); two related to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony (Section-153A); two related to harbouring offender (Section-212); two related to extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt (Section-386); one related to harbouring offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been ordered (Section-216); house-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with death (Section-449); attempt to murder (Section-307); voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty (Section-332); imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration (Section-153B); kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person (Section-365); rioting, armed with deadly weapon (Section-148); among many others.

A gangster-turned-activist Lakhvir Singh Lakha Sidhana, who is contesting from Bathinda as Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) (Simranjit Singh Mann) candidate, is facing a total of 15 cases against him, including 21 "serious" charges of attempt to murder (Section-307); punishment for criminal intimidation (Section-506); attempt to commit culpable homicide (Section-308); dacoity (Section-395); house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint (Section-452); attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon (Section-398); cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property (Section 420); rioting, armed with deadly weapon; assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty, among others. Lakha Sidhana has been convicted in two cases related to Arms Act.

Other than Amritpal and Lakha Sidhana, four other candidates  Congress Jeetmohinder Singh Sidhu from Bathinda; SAD (Amritsar-Mann) candidate from Firozpur Gurcharan Singh Bhullar; Akhil Bhartiya Parivar Partys Dharminder Singh Harman from Anandpur Sahib; and Independent candidate from Faridkot Kikkar Singh Dhaliwal are facing 'attempt to murder' charges.

Cabinet Minister and Aam Aadmi Partys candidate from Amritsar, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, is the only candidate facing the charges of murder (Section-302), besides causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender (Section-201); criminal conspiracy (Section-120B); among others.

Total 69 candidates, that is 21 percent, have declared criminal cases against themselves, which is higher than the previous figure of 14 percent  39 out of 278 contesting candidates  in 2019; nine percent  23 out of 253 contesting candidates  in 2014, and eight percent  18 out of 215 candidates  in 2009.

Among the parties, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is topping the list with its eight candidates emerging in the list, out of the total 13 it has fielded. Following it is the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) (Simranjit Singh Mann) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with seven and five candidates respectively, with three candidates each by the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

If the data regarding candidates criminal background, collected and analyzed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)-National Election Watch, was not enough, the analysis of their educational qualifications indicated that more than half of the total 328 contesting candidates, wholl be trying their luck in 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Punjab, have not even reached to the graduation level.

In all 184, that is 56 percent, out of total 328 candidates have education up to Class XII, which includes five literate and 23 illiterate candidates, 20 who have studied up to the primary level (Class V), 32 up to middle (Class VIII), while 73 of them have completed their matric (Class X), and 59 surpassed the senior secondary level (Class XII).

Among the rest, 46 are graduates, and another 23 are graduate professionals. Thirty-seven have done the post-graduate, while three of them have done their doctorate, and another six have done a diploma.

Besides, a total of 102 crorepatis, 31 percent of the total candidates, are in fray for the 13 parliamentary seats in June 1 polls. The number is seven percent higher than the 67 crorepatis out of 328 contesting candidates in 2019; and 56 out of 253 crorepati candidates in 2014 polls.

The average assets per candidate contesting from Punjab this time is Rs. 3.21 crores, against the average assets per candidate in 2019 parliamentary polls of Rs 5.06 crores and in 2014 Lok Sabha elections of Rs 4.48 crores.

Interestingly, all the contesting candidates of the three main political parties battling it out in the border state  the AAP (13 out of 13), SAD (13 out of 13), and the BJP (13 out of 13)  are in the crorepati group, followed by 12 out of 13 by the Congress.

The top three candidates with high assets are Bathindas sitting MP and SAD candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal with Rs 198 crore; followed by Patialas sitting MP and BJP candidate Preneet Kaur with Rs 60 crore; and Bholath MLA and Congress candidate from Sangrur Sukhpal Singh Khaira with Rs 50 crore of assets.
Voting for the five phases of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections has concluded, with an average voter turnout of around 57.44 percent across 429 seats. The Election Commission views a turnout of less than 60 percent as concerning. In light of this, it is crucial to address the factors contributing to the declining voter participation and to identify measures that could improve turnout.

To tackle this issue, we must first raise pertinent questions, seek solutions, and consider making certain facilities more accessible. For instance, why shouldn't any adult citizen be able to vote from any location within the country? Why not implement mobile polling booths for individuals over 75 years old or those who are unwell? Additionally, why can't there be a system to transport voters over 75 years old or those in need? Furthermore, why shouldn't voters who are traveling for tourism or essential work be able to cast their votes? Although elections incur costs amounting to thousands of crores of rupees, if increasing voter turnout can be achieved by investing a few crores more in such initiatives, then these measures should be taken into serious consideration.

According to the rules of the Election Commission, you have the right to vote only in your constituency, and for this, you need to register yourself in the voter list. While this is understandable, why not develop a system that accommodates voters who, due to employment, business, tourism, or medical emergencies, are unable to be in their constituency on polling day? Arrangements could be made in private or government buildings in every city to allow these voters to exercise their right to vote.

We live in an era of advanced technology with new innovations emerging daily. Why not create a technology-based system that allows a voter from Indore to cast their vote even if they are in Kanpur? This could be done through an online mode, with the vote being registered at the Indore polling station. Although there may be some initial challenges, these can be addressed to solve the issue of low voter turnout.

Just as members of the Army, security forces, or employees on election duty can cast their vote on a ballot paper from their place of work, similar arrangements should be made for individuals who, for various reasons, cannot be at their polling station. Such measures would ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in the electoral process, regardless of their location on polling day.

In the current Lok Sabha elections, there are 2.18 lakh voters over the age of 100. Why not arrange for mobile booths to accommodate these elderly voters? Mobile booths could operate in every city, positioned near the homes of identified voters, making it easier for them to cast their vote. Additionally, arrangements could be made to transport elderly individuals over 75 years of age to the polling station.

Furthermore, protective measures such as mobile healthcare vans, drinking water, and other necessary facilities should be available at each polling station. These provisions would not only enhance the voting experience for the elderly but also ensure their safety and well-being.

In the end, we cannot simply say that it is the duty of citizens to vote and expect them to do so regardless of their circumstances. To address the decreasing voter turnout, the reasons mentioned above and their potential solutions should be seriously considered. If the voting percentage continues to decline, it could be perceived as citizens losing faith in democracy, which is not a desirable situation for a developing country like India.

The writer is a Political Strategist. Views are personal.
In a politically charged atmosphere, Prime Minister Narendra Modis Patiala visit on Thursday is expected to be a high-stakes event, with security agencies ramping up measures to unprecedented levels. As intelligence agencies place the border state on high alert, the stage is set not only for a significant election rally but also for a showdown with protesting farmers. Their declaration to greet Modi with peaceful protest and black flags is likely to add a layer of tension and drama during his visit, ensuring that all eyes will be on Punjab for this potentially explosive intersection of politics and farmers protest.

Central security agencies, which have placed Punjab on high alert, have asked the Punjab Police to submit detailed security arrangements to the Prime Ministers Office (PMO), including coordination with the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos and seven companies from Gujarat Police, alongside local security measures. The PMO has also requested inputs from the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) concerning the farmers' agitation.

Security measures have been particularly stringent due to past incidents. Notably, on January 5, 2022, PM Modis convoy was stranded on a flyover in Ferozepur, near India-Pakistan international border, for 30 minutes due to a blockade by the protesters, raising significant security concerns. The Supreme Court subsequently ordered an investigation into the security lapse, underlining the critical importance of robust security protocols for the Prime Ministers visits.

On Wednesday, nearly 2,000 police personnel were deployed at the rally venue, Polo Ground, transforming it into a virtual fortress. These personnel have been tasked with managing barricades and maintaining internal security. Under the supervision of ADGP PK Sinha, Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) from four districts reviewed the security and barricading arrangements. Additionally, bomb disposal squads and dog units were actively inspecting the stage and sound systems.

From midnight on Wednesday, access to the rally venue will be restricted, with only individuals carrying valid identification being allowed entry on the day of the rally. Surrounding areas, including markets, have been closed off to prevent unauthorized access, ensuring the safety of both the Prime Minister and attendees.

Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar, who visit the venue to oversee the preparations for mega event, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming rally, noting the significant public interest and the party's thorough preparations. Jakhar, along with other senior leaders, has been overseeing the arrangements to ensure the rally's success.

Adding a layer of complexity to the event, Punjab's farmers have announced a peaceful protest against the Prime Minister's visit. Led by various factions of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), including the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ugrahan and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), the farmers plan to greet PM Modi with black flags and farmers flags. This protest is in response to what they perceive as unfulfilled promises made during the previous farmer agitations, particularly regarding the minimum support price (MSP) for crops and justice for the victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.

SKM senior member Jagmohan Singh Patiala emphasized their intent to peacefully demonstrate at every rally venue. He highlighted the farmers unity and their determination to question the Prime Minister on the unmet commitments he made on December 9, 2021, when they ended their year-long protest at the Delhi borders.

Another senior leader and member of SKM Balbir Singh Rajewal assured that a large contingent of farmers and labourers would peacefully protest in Patiala. Despite the assurances of peaceful protests, there are concerns about potential preventive arrests of farmers to avoid any disruption.

During the Patiala rally, only a select group of leaders will join PM Modi on stage, including the state unit chief Jakhar, Gujarats former Chief Minister and state party affairs in-charge Vijay Rupani, and former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, alongside partys national leaders and candidates. Other senior state BJP leaders and officials will remain offstage, a decision influenced by security considerations as directed by the PMO.

Farmers Gear Up for Protest

With the Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to kickstart partys poll campaign from Patiala on Thursday, the farmer groups in Punjab are mobilizing for protests. Wednesday marked 100 days since the farmers Delhi Chalo andolan began at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders in Punjab. To commemorate this milestone, a massive convention was held at the Punjab-Haryana border, drawing thousands of farmers. During the convention, farmers devised a strategy to confront the Central Government, while announcing their intention to march en masse to meet the Prime Minister during his Punjab visit and question him directly.

Farmer leaders at the convention criticized the Central Government's policies and urged the farmers to channel their anger through their votes in the upcoming elections. They highlighted that despite the Government's promise to address their grievances after repealing the three controversial farm laws in November 2021, many issues remain unresolved. The farmers planned to question Modi about the unfulfilled promises made when they called off their protests at the Delhi borders in December 2021.

Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee head Swaran Singh Pandher, expressing frustration, said: Despite our requests to allow us to go to Delhi being denied and our plea to engage with Modi unanswered, the authorities continue to restrict our movements. We will proceed to Patiala tomorrow, pushing until they concede. Democracy must apply to us too; we have the right to voice our dissent.

Determined to make their voices heard, Pandher asserted that the farmers would greet Modi with black flags and farmers flags, symbolizing their ongoing struggle and dissatisfaction. We have asked the administration to let us hold talks with the Prime Ministerbut they are not doing this, so we are left with no other option but to protest," he added.

During the convention, farmer leaders also decided to escalate their protests from May 28. They declared to gherao the residences of BJP leaders and set up pakka morchas (protest camps). On June 2, a large number of farmers with tractors and trolleys will march to the protest sites.

The farmers expressed their frustration over the governments lack of responsiveness to their plight, even after 100 days of continuous protest. They reminded the public that over 700 farmers had died during the initial phase of the agitation, and the struggle continues to take its toll.

Adding to the tension, farmers are angered by recent statements from BJP leaders Hansraj Hans and Ravneet Singh Bittu, who have challenged the farmers' resolve. Hans Raj Hans had reportedly said: We will deal with the farmers after June 2, prompting the farmers to intensify their protests starting May 28.

Pandher also reiterated the farmers demands for a guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) on 23 crops and increased labour guarantees and wages for farmworkers. He dismissed allegations that the farmers were causing public inconvenience, stating that the security forces, not the farmers, had blocked the roads around the Shambhu protest site.

The government, Pandher alleged, is manipulating the narrative to weaken the farmers movement, but the farmers remain steadfast in their resolve.

Khalistani Flag Found Hoisted in Patiala Ahead of PMs Visit

Just a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled rally in Patiala, tensions rose as a Khalistani flag was discovered hoisted atop an under-construction building along Mini Sachivalaya road on Wednesday. The building in question belongs to Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, former media advisor to former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. Notably, a pro-Khalistani slogan was also found graffitied at a separate location within the city.

The incident gained attention after Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), shared a video of the flags presence, which quickly went viral. Prompt action followed the discovery, with local authorities removing the flag and scrubbing off the pro-Khalistan graffiti found on a bridge near the old bus stand. However, no official case has been registered in connection with the incident as of now.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during a poll meeting in Siddharthnagar, made bold predictions about the Bharatiya Janata Partys performance in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, claiming that the party has already won 310 seats.

Speaking in support of Jagdambika Pal, the BJP candidate from Domariyaganj, Shah asserted that the BJP had secured over 310 seats in the first five rounds of polling, while the Congress would struggle to win even 40 seats.

The INDI Alliance has been wiped out in the first five phases. I am telling you, this time Congress is not even getting 40 seats, and Akhilesh Yadav will not even get four seats, Shah declared.

Addressing the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Shah reaffirmed BJPs stance on the territory. Leaders of Pakistan say that PoK is theirs. Congress leaders also say that they (Pakistan) have an atom bomb. The BJP people are not scared of atom bombs. PoK is and will remain part of India, and we will take it back, he said.

Shah accused the opposition of trying to end reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. Rahul Baba and Akhilesh Yadav, you have been blinded by vote bank politics. We will end reservation on the basis of religion and give it back to the SC, ST and OBCs, he asserted.

He also criticised the INDIA bloc for lacking a clear prime ministerial candidate, claiming the alliance would have five potential prime ministers if they come to power. Can the country run like this? he questioned.

Shah further alleged that Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav have planned vacations abroad after the election results. On the one hand, there is Rahul Gandhi who leaves for Italy, Thailand and Bangkok, and on the other hand, there is Narendra Modi who has not taken any leave for 23 years and even spends his Diwali with soldiers on the border, he said.

Highlighting the achievements of the BJP, Shah pointed out the implementation of the One Rank-One Pension (OROP) scheme for retired army personnel and expressed confidence that India would become the third-largest economy during Prime Minister Narendra Modis third term.

Addressing a rally in Ambedkar Nagar, where he sought votes for party candidate Ritesh Pandey, Shah said, Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi did not attend the consecration ceremony of Ram temple because they were scared of losing their vote bank. You know who their vote bank is? Ill tell you. Their vote bank is made up of intruders. They did not go for the fear of losing them. They jeopardised the safety of the country.

In another rally in Sant Kabir Nagar, Shah named several leaders from the opposition parties and accused them of nepotism.

Lalu Prasad Yadav wants to make his son the chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray wants to make his son the chief minister, Sharad Pawar wants to make his daughter the chief minister, Stalin wants to make his son the chief minister, Mamata Banerjee wants to make her nephew the chief minister, and Sonia Gandhi wants to make her son Rahul Gandhi the prime minister, he said, adding, someone who works for his family is not going to work for a constituency.

In Khalilabad of Sant Kabir Nagar, where Shah addressed a gathering campaigning for the partys Praveen Kumar Nishad, who is contesting on a NISHAD Party ticket, a partner of NDA, Shah accused the opposition of stalling the construction of Ram temple for over 70 years and said the temple could only be built because of Modi.

This election is between the one who constructed Ram temple and those who opened fire on Ram bhakts, he said.

On the abolition of Article 370 in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, he said, Article 370 which was protected by the Congress and Samajwadi Party was removed by Narendra Modi in 2019 and Kashmir was made a part of India forever. No one dares to explode bombs there.

Shah alleged that in the erstwhile SP government goonda raj was rampant in Uttar Pradesh, and it was Yogi Adityanath, the current chief minister, who set all goons right.

Polling in Domariyaganj, Sant Kabir Nagar, and Ambedkar Nagar will be held in the sixth phase of ongoing Lok Sabha polls on Saturday.
Having won four Lok Sabha seats in the last parliamentary elections out of the constituencies going to polls in the sixth phase in Uttar Pradesh on May 25, Bahujan Samaj Party is facing the biggest threat from its own sitting MPs who deserted the party to contest the election from other political outfits.

Those whom BSP once trusted the most and fielded them ignoring the demands of party cadre, today they are challenging the BSP by becoming strangers for the party. In this sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections, in the three constituencies which BSP had won last time, its rebel MPs are now challenging it by going to the rival camp. Now it remains to be seen how much success these BSP rebels get from other parties and how the BSP army is able to defeat them.

Last time, the BSP had won the Ambedkar Nagar, Shravasti, Lalganj and Jaunpur Lok Sabha seats amongst the 13 constituencies which will go to polls in this phase. Except Jaunpur, the MPs representing the other three constituencies have joined other parties. Ambedkar Nagar MP Ritesh Pandey is contesting the election on BJP ticket. Shravasti MP Ram Shiromani has joined the Samajwadi Party and is contesting as its candidate. Lalganj MP Sangeeta Azad has joined BJP, but the ruling party has given ticket to Neelam Sonkar from there. Actually, Jaunpur MP Shyam Singh Yadav was also looking to contesting the election on the ticket of some other party, particularly Congress, but after formation of INDIA Bloc and SP and Congress joining hands, he was left with no other option but to wait for Mayawatis nod to again contest on BSP ticket to retain his seat.

Interestingly, the BSP had given its ticket to gangster-turned-politician Dhananjay Singhs wife Shrikala Singh from Jaunpur, but just a day before the last day of nomination, her ticket was withdrawn and sitting MP Shyam Singh Yadav was asked to file his nomination from Jaunpur. Now Dhananjay and his wife are supporting BJP candidate Kripa Shankar Singh.

It is to be seen what support these sitting BSP MPs will get after they shifted their loyalties to contest the elections on tickets of other parties or support them.

Talking in terms of caste equation, Dalit voters in Ambedkar Nagar are said to be around 28 per cent. Muslims are around 15 per cent and Brahmins are around 14 per cent. The BSP has placed its bet on Muslim candidate Qamar Hayat Ansari on the basis of Muslim and Dalit equation. In Shravasti, Muslims are said to be around 28 per cent and Dalits around 17 per cent. The BSP had won the last election on this equation when it was in alliance with SP.

This time the BSP has placed its bet on Muslim candidate Moinuddin Ahmed from Shravasti. Lalganj is a safe seat for BSP as 27 per cent voters are Dalits and 14 per cent are from Muslims. Due to it being a reserved seat, the BSP has fielded Dr Indu Chaudhary from Lalganj. Indu Chaudhary is assistant professor in the English department of Banaras Hindu University. Now it remains to be seen how successful the BSPs strategy will be and how many voters support it especially when its sitting MP Sangeeta Azad has left the party to join BJP and is supporting Neelam Sonkar.
The Campaigning for 10 Lok Sabha seats and one Assembly Bye-Poll for Karnal in Haryana ended on Thursday. The polling in the State is scheduled on Saturday. The total number of voters in the State is a little over 2 crore.



All 10 Lok Sabha seats witnessed high-octane campaigns, rallies, door to door campaigns and roadshows by leaders of all political parties including senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP national president JP Nadda; Senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann among others.



On the last day of the poll campaign on Thursday, PM Modi addressed public rallies in Bhiwani and Mahendragarh Lok Sabha Constituency while Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi participated in a roadshow in Sirsa.



A total of 223 candidates of different political parties and independent candidates are in the fray for 10 Lok Sabha seats in the State. For the Karnal Assembly seat, where a bye-poll is scheduled to be held on Saturday, nine candidates are in the fray. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who replaced Manohar Lal Khattar as Chief Minister in March, is contesting the Karnal assembly seat.



In a multi-cornered contest, with BJP, Congress, JJP, INLD and AAP, fielding their candidates, the contest in the State has become interesting as it is a direct fight between the BJP and INDIA Bloc parties. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP, a constituent of the opposition's INDIA Bloc is contesting one seat in Kurukshetra seat while the Congress has fielded candidates in nine seats as per the seat-sharing agreement. BJP has put its candidates on all the 10 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP had won all 10 seats of Haryana in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.



Among prominent candidates in contest for the 10 Lok Sabha seats include former State Chief Minister and BJPs candidate Manohar Lal Khattar from Karnal; BJP's Naveen Jindal, INLD's Abhay Chautala and AAP's Sushil Gupta from Kurukshetra; BJP's Ranjit Singh Chautala, Congress' Jai Prakash and JJP's Naina Chautala from Hisar. Union Ministers Rao Inderjit Singh and Krishan Pal Gurjar are seeking re-election from Gurugram and Faridabad, respectively. From Gurugram, Singh faces Congress' Raj Babbar. Congress has fielded party general secretary and former Union Minister Kumari Selja to take on BJP's Ashok Tanwar from Sirsa Lok Sabha seat. From Rohtak, the grand old party has fielded Deepender Singh Hooda to take on BJP's sitting MP Arvind Sharma.



A total of 16 women among 223 candidates are in the fray for 10 Lok Sabha seats in the State. For the Karnal Assembly seat, nine candidates are in the fray, none of whom are women. None of the 22 candidates for Sonipat seat is a woman. Hisar has the maximum number of women candidates at three out of a total of 28 candidates. Kurukshetra will see the most number of candidates at 31, but only one woman candidate. At Ambala, 14 candidates, including two women, will contest the Lok Sabha election. At Sirsa Lok Sabha constituency, only one woman is part of the contest, which has 19 candidates. Karnal has 19 candidates, two of whom are women. Rohtak is witnessing a contest among 26 candidates, two women among them. Two women candidates are part of the 17 who will contest the polls in Bhiwani-Mahendragarh, one woman will contest 22 other male candidates in Gurgugram, and two women have filed nominations in Faridabad, which has 24 candidates in total.



Polling parties to depart for LS Election today



Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Agarwal on Thursday said all preparations for the elections have been completed. The total number of voters in Haryana in the Lok Sabha elections to be held on May 25 is 2 crore 1 lakh 87 thousand 911. In addition to this, 467 transgender voters will use their franchise. A total of 19,812 permanent polling stations have been set up in the state, while 219 more temporary polling stations have also been set up, he added.



The polling parties for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 in the state will depart for their respective polling stations on Friday. If any anti-social elements or if any political party attempts to disrupt the duties of these polling teams using their influence, strict action will be taken against them according to the rules. Agarwal said that no person, other than the Returning officer, the presiding officer, any police officer or any other person appointed to maintain peace and order at the polling station who is on duty at the polling station, shall, on a polling day, go armed with arms. If he does so, he commits an offence. Under Section 134B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the person can face up to 2 years of imprisonment or fine, or both.



Agarwal said that if any person fraudulently defaces or fraudulently destroys any ballot paper or EVM or the official mark on any ballot paper or EVM or puts into any ballot box anything other than the ballot paper or pastes any paper, tapes etc., on the symbol/names/ballot button of EVM for the purpose of the election commits an offence. Under Section 136 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, 2 years imprisonment or fine or both, if offence committed by any officer or clerk employed on election duty, and 6 months imprisonment or fine, for others. Adequate arrangements will be made at all polling stations, keeping in mind the current hot weather conditions. The voters will be welcomed outside the polling booths by Booth Level Officers on the day of voting, he added.



On the polling day, May 25, employees of various shops and commercial establishments falling within the jurisdiction area of the State of Haryana, enrolled as voters of the State, will be granted a holiday with wages so that they can exercise their voting rights. Workers employed in factories situated in Haryana, who are registered voters in Haryana, will also be granted leave for voting on May 25. In this regard, a notification has been issued by the Haryana Labor Department. The neighbouring states have also declared leave for the Haryana voters.



Over 35,000 police personnel, 112 companies of PAC forces, and more than 24,000 home guard personnel deployed for this LS Election



Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur on Thursday said that adequate personnel have been allocated to all districts. Over 35,000 Haryana police personnel (including SPOs), 112 companies of paramilitary forces, and over 24,000 home guards have been deployed for the Lok Sabha elections. Additionally, 300 checkpoints have been established at intra-state and inter-state borders. The state will have 10,343 polling locations with 20,006 polling booths. Among these, 1,362 locations with 3,033 booths have been identified as critical, and 51 booths as vulnerable, necessitating additional police presence. There will also be 418 flying squads, 415 static surveillance teams, and 34 quick response teams. A total of 1,039 patrolling parties will ensure compliance with law and order and the model code of conduct, operating round-the-clock, he added. DGP further said that Police officers have been instructed to maintain constant contact with control room staff and to monitor every election-related call. Each call must be handled systematically, ensuring that messages reach the appropriate officials efficiently.
As the election momentum moves to eastern Uttar Pradesh, also known as Purvanchal, the strength of alliances is set to be tested. Both the INDI Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance are going all out to secure a win in this critical region.

Key regional allies such as the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, NISHAD Party and Apna Dal (Sonelal), crucial components of the NDA, are under pressure to deliver. These parties, representing various communities, assert their influence across the state.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has skillfully crafted a social engineering umbrella, giving representation to leaders of these caste groups in both Central and state governments. Its alliance with Rajbhar, Kurmi and Nishad communities, as well as their sub-castes, is stronger compared to 2019, says Nomita P Kumar of the Giri Institute of Development Studies.

NISHAD Partys president Sanjay Nishad claims to represent about 54 per cent of the marginalised population, spanning from Kanpur and Kannauj to Gorakhpur and Ghazipur. Communities such as Sachan, Verma, Katiyar and Kurmi hold significant sway within this demographic.

To manage coalition dynamics, the BJP recently allocated a legislative council seat to Om Prakash Rajbhar and fielded him from the Ghosi Lok Sabha constituency, also nominating his son Arvind Rajbhar. Sanjay Nishad, a cabinet minister, has his son contesting from Sant Kabir Nagar constituency, with another son holding a legislative assembly position. Apna Dal (S) leader Anupriya Patel secured a Central ministry while her husband, Ashish Patel became a cabinet minister in UP.

The BJP has allocated a larger share of seats to Apna Dal (S) compared to other allies, including Mirzapur and Robertsganj. Anupriya Patels previous victories in these constituencies have significantly bolstered the BJPs position in Purvanchal, Bundelkhand and Rohilkhand regions.

The INDIA Bloc, comprising Samajwadi Party, Congress, and Trinamool Congress, faces significant challenges. The Mahan Dal, previously aligned with the INDIA Bloc, parted ways after SP gave a ticket to tainted Babu Ram Kushwaha from Jaunpur.

NDAs targeted campaigns

The NDA has launched targeted campaigns across Purvanchal. The BJP has initiated efforts such as the women's conference in Varanasi and a new voter outreach model. The party has compiled block-wise lists of beneficiaries of government schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission, housing, and sanitation projects to engage with voters and highlight the benefits delivered by the NDA government.

Each assembly constituency has been divided into three to four segments, with senior leaders conducting meetings in each segment. Specialised group meetings are also being held with professionals such as doctors, engineers, textile traders and pharmacists. Leaders in these sectors are tasked with engaging their peers to garner support.

A significant focus has been placed on backward classes. BJPs Backward Class Kashi region general secretary Subhash Kushwaha stated that Yadav leaders from Etawah, Etah, Farrukhabad and Mainpuri have been deployed in Varanasi and surrounding areas. Similarly, in regions dominated by the Nishad community, leaders from this community are spearheading the campaign.

INDIA Blocs counter strategy

The INDIA Bloc is adopting a meticulous approach on the 27 seats. Congress and SP have strategically placed office-bearers of their frontal organisations in these constituencies. A dedicated team monitors BJPs public meetings and prepares responses for their leaders.

Congress has applied the Rae Bareli-Amethi model, dividing assembly constituencies into sectors and assigning leaders of the predominant community to manage each booth. Both Congress and SP are emphasising leadership from castes beyond Yadav and Muslims to diversify their appeal.

Congress state in-charge Avinash Pandey is overseeing the Brahmin-dominated areas, coordinating meetings between SP and Congress leaders during the day and hosting night chaupals. Dr Rajpal Kashyap, state president of SP Backward Class Cell, is engaged with the Nishad, Kashyap, and Bind communities, highlighting SPs strategic placement of five candidates from the Nishad community.

High-profile contenders

This electoral phase sees many prominent figures contesting from 14 constituencies in the sixth phase and 13 in the seventh. Among them are Maneka Gandhi from Sultanpur, Dharmendra Yadav from Azamgarh, Laliteshpati Tripathi of Trinamool Congress from Bhadohi, Ujjwal Raman Singh from Allahabad, and former Maharashtra home minister Kripashankar Singh from Jaunpur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Congress president Ajay Rai are vying for Varanasi, while Apna Dals Anupriya Patel is contesting from Mirzapur, and SBSPs Arvind Rajbhar from Ghosi. The NISHAD Party also holds significant influence in this region.

As Purvanchal heads into the crucial sixth phase of elections, the political stakes are higher than ever. With alliances being tested and every party deploying its top strategies and candidates, the outcome here will play a decisive role in the overall electoral results. Both the NDA and INDIA Bloc are leaving no stone unturned to secure a win in this politically vital region, said Ramesh Kumar Singh, a local journalist in Varanasi.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday campaigned for the party's (AAP) candidate Pawan Kumar Tinu in Jalandhar and took out a roadshow in assembly constituencies of Phillaur, Nakodar, Jalandhar Cantt and Adampur and appealed to the people to make the AAP candidate win.

During the roadshow in Nakodar, Mann addressed the people and while recounting his work of two years, said that we have given government jobs to 43 thousand youth of Punjab without any discrimination. In one village, 40 people got government jobs. He said that for the convenience of the common people, electricity was made free and sufficient electricity was arranged for the farmers without any power cuts during the day.

Addressing the people in Phillaur, Mann attacked the opposition parties and said that the governments of Akali Dal, BJP and Congress have looted Punjab's three generations and built big palaces in the mountains for themselves. These people never cared about the people of Punjab, they only promoted their own families and agendas.

He attacked Sukhbir Badal and said that Sukh Vilas Hotel is built with the blood and sweat of the people of Punjab. There is a pool with every room of that hotel. He said that we will take Sukh Vilas under the control of the Punjab government and convert it into a school. It will be the first school with pools in every room. Attacking the Badal family, Mann said that just like they ruined Punjab, in the same way their party and family are getting ruined.

In Jalandhar Cantt, Mann launched a scathing attack on MP Sushil Rinku who left the Aam Aadmi Party and joined the BJP. He said that the Aam Aadmi Party made him an MP and gave him recognition at the national level but he betrayed the party. He said that he is a man without a stand. Such people cannot belong to anyone. The people of Jalandhar will exact the price of his betrayal from him.
Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan (VVM) is Indias largest Science Talent Search Examination for school students of standard VI to XI. It has been conceptualised to identify bright minds with a scientific aptitude from the student community. VVM is a national program for popularizing science among school students.In the recently organised national camp organized at IISER, Bhopal from 18 may to 19 may , the children of DAV Hazaribagh have brought pride to their school and city by securing three top positions at the national level. DAV's Ayush Raj, Class VI stood first in East Zone in his group, Saumya Palak, Class XI stood third in East Zone in her category and Dikshita Singh, currently a student of Class XII broke all the previous records. She set a new record by securing third place at National Level and became the National Himalayan 3rd rank scorer, For this achievement, Dikshita Singh will be given a cash prize of Rs 10,000 as well as a Bhaskar Scholarship Award of Rs 2,000 per month for one year. Not only this, Dikshita Singh is also being given an internship opportunity in Chandigarh for a week by the Government of India. Ayush has also been awarded a cash prize of Rs 5000 for securing first position and Soumya has been awarded a cash prize of Rs 2000 for securing third position. It is noteworthy that four students of DAV Hazaribagh had qualified for the national level, out of which three students registered their brilliant presence in the national level competition by securing top three positions. It may be noted that at the national level, there are four winners from Jharkhand in the Eastern region, out of which only three are children of DAV Hazaribagh. Certainly it is a matter of pride and happiness for the school. Last year, only one student had won the national level competition of VVM, but this year three children displayed their talent.

Principal in-charge of the school, Kavita Pandey congratulated the children and their parents on the excellent success of these students in this prestigious competition. Expressing happiness, Pandey said that this achievement is the result of hard work of the students, continuous support of their parents and proper guidance of dedicated teachers. She especially congratulated the science teachers, especially Physics teachers Tohid Akhtar and Rajendra Roy for continuously preparing the students with new strategies, due to which DAV Hazaribagh is touching new heights every day.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in support of BJP candidate Pankaj Choudhary from Maharajganj Lok Sabha seat of Uttar Pradesh, Ramkola in support of BJP candidate Vijay Kumar Dubey from Kushinagar Lok Sabha seat, Jaunpur in support of BJP candidate Kripashankar Singh from Jaunpur Lok Sabha seat.

While addressing the public meetings organized in 2017, he said that today the development that has taken place in the country and states is visible in the market and those who were corrupt, goons and scoundrels are visible in jail. This is India of the 21st century and there is democracy here. No one's dictatorship will last. Since the independence of the country, Congress has continuously tried to cut the roots of Sanatan Dharma. For 70 years, Congress kept questioning Lord Ram and demanding proof of his existence. Due to the mistakes of Congress, the borders of the country were unsafe, but now the enemy is afraid. It is very important to have Prime Minister Narendra Modi to destroy the enemies of the country.

During this, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav reached Gaya in Bihar and also participated in local programs. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that the country became independent in 1947. At the same time, a temple of Lord Ram should have been built in Ayodhya, but for 70 years Congress kept questioning the existence of Lord Ram. Kept asking for proof of his existence. Because of Congress, Lord Ram remained seated in a tent for 70 years, but then the countrymen gave a chance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and as per the promise he made, Lord Ram was seated in his sanctum sanctorum.

Now Ram is smiling in his sanctum sanctorum. Congress has always been working to cut the roots of Sanatan Dharma. She continued to earn her political fortune by creating division between Hindus and Muslims. The mentality of Congress has been that of the British. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that there are 20-25 families in the entire country who had occupied all the posts. No one else gets a chance. This is a blot on democracy and needs to be dealt with.

On one hand, BJP works on Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas. The tea selling son of a poor family becomes the Prime Minister in BJP, the son of a poor, laborer family becomes the Chief Minister, a poor man becomes a minister, MP, MLA. This should be the pride of democracy. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that due to the mistakes of Congress, China captured more than one lakh kilometers of Indian land. This stigma has been on the forehead of our country for a long time.

During the Congress rule, the borders around the country were unsafe. Now the country is safe during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that earlier tiffin bombs and bicycle bombs used to explode in the country. People were afraid to leave their homes, but now the trace of terrorism has been eradicated from the country.

It is very important to have Prime Minister Narendra Modi to destroy the enemies of the country. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that during the Congress rule, scams kept happening. New scams came to light one after the other. The condition of the entire country was bad. The country's economy had completely collapsed. He was the Prime Minister of the country who was an expert in economics, but Sonia Gandhi was running the government from behind the scenes.

The Prime Minister remained silent. One Sahebzade used to tear up cabinet decisions and throw them away in public. Chief Minister Dr Yadav said that Congress people used to make fun of our slogans. In 2019, we had given the slogan, this time we will cross 300, they made fun of it, but under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they brought more than 300 seats and silenced the Congress and its arrogant alliance. After independence, Congress gave the stigma of Article 370 to the country.
Director General's Commendation Roll (DGCR) Award Ceremony was organized at the Police Officers' Mess of Police Headquarters on Wednesday with the aim of honoring the police officers and employees who have made significant contributions in maintaining law and order in Madhya Pradesh by demonstrating their devotion to duty.

In the program, DGP Sudhir Saxena honored 51 police officers and employees who did remarkable work in various fields by giving them citations and discs.

On this occasion, DGP Saxena said that I appreciate the sacrifice and dedication of all the policemen. Our policemen, standing firm on the path of duty and facing all kinds of challenges, have set an example of dedicated public service in the field of crime control and civil security. Your family members also have an important contribution in your success. You have made the motto of patriotism-public service meaningful.

He said that crimes should be controlled while being sensitive towards the weaker sections and women.

In the investiture ceremony organized at the Officers' Mess of PHQ, DGP Saxena said that in the glorious journey of Madhya Pradesh Police Department since its inception till now, it has played an unforgettable role in maintaining intact the traditions of law and order, peace, mutual love and brotherhood in the state. have contributed.

Many brave officers and soldiers have played an important role in taking Madhya Pradesh Police to this position. Recognizing the work of police personnel encourages a culture of excellence. All the police officers and soldiers of the state should take inspiration from him. He said that police do not have personal lives, we always have to be ready to work amidst challenges to perform our duty. In such a situation, it is very important to honor and encourage the police officers and employees doing good work by organizing such events to boost their morale. DGP Shri Saxena said that apart from the 51 police officers and employees honored in this program today, there are many other policemen who have done excellent work. I request all the officers to identify such officers and employees and reward them in their respective units. He said that the Madhya Pradesh Police Department is also making efforts to increase the efficiency of all police officers and soldiers as well as to improve the working environment. Keep making continuous efforts to increase the efficiency of the police by doing self-assessment and always keep working with full devotion and dedication.

The conferment of the Director General's Commendation Roll (DGCR) is a unique tradition of the uniformed forces in which the Head of the Force confers a decoration in public recognition of the outstanding work done by his officers/men to boost morale.

Following this tradition, a grand ceremony was organized by DGP Saxena to confer this decoration from the year 2023. Under this, all the selected officers/employees are being respectfully invited to the Police Headquarters and given the said decoration in front of all the senior officers in a dignified ceremony. In this series, in November 2022, decorations were awarded to selected officers/employees who performed well in excellent work.

On achieving commendable achievements during anti-bandit campaign, anti-Naxal campaign and other campaigns. Having excellent and clean records continuously for 15 years. For drivers on continuous excellent and accident free driving for 15 years.On resolving unresolved issues. On doing other praiseworthy work.
DPS Bokaro alumnus Ayan Kumar Dey has made his school and state proud by securing All India Rank (AIR) 3 in the prestigious Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination (II), conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). In addition to his remarkable achievement in the Indian Naval Academy (INA) merit list, Ayan also secured AIR 17 for the Indian Military Academy (IMA).

Opting for the IMA, Ayan's training to join as a Lieutenant will commence in July 2024 in Dehradun. Previously, he earned a special entry through the NCC at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai, securing the 13th rank nationwide and being the sole candidate selected from Jharkhand.

The success of Ayan has created a jubilant atmosphere within the DPS Bokaro community. Principal Dr. A.S. Gangwar expressed his congratulations, highlighting Ayans achievement as an inspiration for future generations of students. Dr. Gangwar emphasized the school's commitment to providing opportunities that enable students to pursue their dreams.



Ayans educational journey includes completing his 12th standard at DPS Bokaro with an impressive 85.6% and securing a 10 CGPA in his 10th standard from Army Public School, Ramgarh. After obtaining his B.Tech in Bangalore, he worked as a software developer while simultaneously preparing for the CDS examination.


As part of response to the heatwaves currently afflicting Madhya Pradesh the Disaster Management Institute (DMI), in collaboration with UNICEF and the Inter-Agency Group of Madhya Pradesh, organized a half-day Multi-Stakeholder Heatwave Management Workshop. Participants from various government departments, such as the Health Department, SDRF, State Disaster Management Authority, Press Information Bureau, and the Indian Meteorological Department, attended the workshop. Additionally, there was participation from various stakeholders such as Reliance Foundation, Akashvani, FHI, MHSSS, PHDCCI, CHAI, Narmada Samagra, SNHC, OASIS, Samarthan, UN Women, Evidence Action, CARD, Setu the bridge etc.

Additional Director General of the Press Information Bureau Prashant Pathrabe spoke about efforts of the Government of India, do's and don'ts of heat wave and efforts of PIB Bhopal, Dr. George V. Joseph, Joint Director of the Disaster Management Institute, provided a brief introduction on the workshop's and facilitated the meeting and discussions.

Anil Gulati, Communication Specialist and DRR Focal point, UNICEF, spoke on the importance of meeting to work out a plan to support the State efforts and create an awareness push on the do's and don'ts in the heat wave situations. He spoke on the importance of the need for information and support to reach out to people especially the vulnerable.

Dr. Divya Surendran, Scientist from the Indian Meteorological Department shared a presentation on the current heatwave scenario and forecasts for Madhya Pradesh. She shared the heat index of the State for coming days and maps, which indicated the heat wave to persist till the end of May and need to collaborate to spread information.

Dr Prashanth Kumar, Health Specialist from UNICEF, highlighted the health impacts of heatwaves and advised on what to do during heat strokes. Dr. Rajesh Sisodiya, Deputy Director, National Health Mission, Government of Madhya Pradesh, presented the current initiatives by the Health Department related to heat-related illnesses.
: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Wednesday the Agniveer military recruitment scheme will be scrapped and thrown in the dustbin if the INDIA bloc comes to power, as he slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "turning India's jawan into labourers".

In his first election meetings in Haryana for the Lok Sabha polls, Gandhi also attacked Modi over the issue of farmers' debts. He claimed that the Modi government waived loans amounting to Rs 16 lakh crore for 22 "arabpatis (top industrialists)" but openly says it "won't waive farmers' debts as it will spoil them".

"We had brought the land acquisition bill to protect farmers and give them due compensation, but the Modi government scrapped it. They brought three black farm laws and farmers had to take to the streets," the former Congress president said at a rally in the Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha constituency.

At another rally in the Sonipat parliamentary constituency, Gandhi claimed that the BJP would change the Constitution if it came to power again. "This fight and election is to save the Constitution and reservation and rights of the poor," he said.

Gandhi also claimed that in the 10 years of the Modi government, the country has been divided into two parts -- 'arabpatis' on one side and farmers, labourers and unemployed youths on the other. "The rich are growing richer, poor are getting poorer," he said.

Slamming the BJP government over the Agniveer scheme at the Mahendragarh rally, Gandhi said, "This is Modi's scheme, not the Army's scheme. The Army does not want it. This scheme has been framed by the PMO (Prime Minister's Office)."

"When the INDIA bloc forms the government, we will chuck the Agniveer scheme in the dustbin, we will tear it up," he added. India's borders, Gandhi said, are secured by the youths of Haryana and the country. "There is patriotism in the DNA of our youth," he said, adding, "Modi has converted India's jawans into labourers."

Sharpening his attack on the BJP government, the Congress leader said, "They say there will be two types of martyrs -- normal jawans and officers who will get a pension, martyr status and facilities, and those from poor families who have been named Agniveer. Agniveers will neither get martyr status nor pension or canteen facility."

Gandhi also said when the INDIA bloc comes to power on June 4, debts of farmers in Haryana and other states will be waived, adding, "We will bring a 'karza maafi' commission." He also mentioned a legal guarantee on MSP. "Whenever Haryana farmers need their debts waived, the commission will tell the government and it will be done. When they can waive Rs 16 lakh crore for industrialists, why can we not help farmers, labourers and the poor," he asked.

Attacking the prime minister, the Congress leader said, "Modi's reputation has finished, the balloon has burst." "Today, I can make Narendra Modi say whatever I want... For 10 years, you (Modi) did not name Adani-Ambani and now you took their names in a speech. Modi said Adani-Ambani was giving money to the Congress. How could you know they were sending money in a tempo," he asked. "If you knew about it, then why did you not initiate an inquiry," Gandhi added.

The Congress leader also claimed that the whole nation knew "Modi ji and Ambani's partnership was running" the government. Referring to the schemes proposed in the Congress' poll manifesto, he said a list of all the poor people in every state would be compiled. "One woman will be selected from each family. On June 4, the INDIA (alliance) government will be formed. On July 4, work will start. Rs 8,500 will be transferred into the bank account of one woman from each family," Gandhi added.

He said Haryana had shown the country the path of development. "A storm is brewing here. Congress ka toofan araha hai. Congress and INDIA alliance will get all the seats here," Gandhi claimed. The Congress leader accused Modi of spreading hatred and alleged that the BJP was "openly" saying it would "finish off" the Constitution and scrap reservation.

Waving a copy of the Constitution, he asserted, "Leave aside the BJP, there is no power in the world that can finish off this book." Gandhi also hit out at a section of the media and alleged that they were "friends of 2-3 industrialists" as they would either show Ambani weddings, Bollywood stars or Narendra Modi on their channels round the clock.

The Congress leader spoke about several of his party's poll promises. Voting for 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will be held on May 25 in the sixth phase of the general election.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adorned in a saffron turban, seized the spotlight at the Patiala rally on Thursday, unleashing a barrage of poignant truths aimed squarely at the conscience of the Sikh community. With a thundering voice, he resurrected the ghosts of history, unearthing the painful wounds inflicted by the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the enduring struggle for access to Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib, while directing his attack on the Congress party.

As the crowd hung onto his every word, Modi illuminated the strides made by his government in the past decade, from the symbolic gestures of waiving GST on langar to the reverential observance of holiday on the martyrdom of Chhota Sahibzadas. Yet, amidst the echoes of his promises, he issued a stark challenge to the Congress, accusing them of perpetuating a legacy of division and humiliation.

These are the Congress leaders who divided India for power. Since independence, we used to view Sri Kartarpur Sahib through binoculars. In the 1971 war, we had 90,000 soldiers in our hands. The winning card was in our hands. I confidently say that if Modi had been there at that time, I would have taken Kartarpur Sahib from them. Only then would I have released those soldiers, he said adding that whatever service I could do, I have done, and today, Kartarpur Sahib is in front of us.

Our government has exempted langar from tax. Previous governments could have done this too. Earlier, devotees from abroad could not give donations at the Golden Temple, but Modi relaxed the rules. Today, anyone can do sewa in the temple. This is the Modi Government that declared Veer Bal Divas for the sons of Shahibzadas, but some people don't understand what declaring Veer Bal Divas means. I am surprised that some people don't understand thisThe sons of Shahibzadas are not known in other parts of the country. That's why we tried to spread the message of Veer Bal Divas throughout the country. If the people of Punjab do not understand this, then what could be sadder than this? he added.

He further said that everyone knows what happened in Afghanistan. Our leaders brought Sri Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan on their heads.Today, if you go to Jam Nagar, the biggest hospital there is named after Guru Gobind Singh Ji, but the truth is not reached to you.

Kickstarting his two-day Punjab visit from Patiala, Modi made a vote appeal for the BJP candidates, saying every vote to them would directly come in his kitty.

Amidst the massive farmers protests the BJP candidates and leaders are facing in Punjab echoing the sentiment of discontentment with the Modi led Central Government's policies, the Prime Minister presented a different narrative, emphasizing the significant strides made in agricultural reforms. He proudly proclaimed a 2.5 times increase in minimum support price (MSP) over the past decade  a testament to the government's commitment to uplifting the farming community.

Moreover, he highlighted the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, providing financial support of Rs 30,000 to each farmer in Punjab.

Pivoting to political rhetoric, Modi launched a scathing attack on the opposition, particularly the newly-formed INDIA bloc. With characteristic flair, he lambasted the opposition's lack of leadership and intent, branding them as bhrashtachariyon ka INDI gathbandhan  a coalition devoid of both vision and integrity. His jibes at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, labeling him a kagzi CM, struck a chord with the crowd, highlighting the fierce political battleground that Punjab had become.

Declaring that the 2024 election is the nation's election, Modi said: On one side stand the BJP and the NDA, while on the other side is the corrupt alliance of opportunists. This alliance lacks both leadership and intent. On one hand, there is the Modi Government, which is manufacturing aircraft. On the other hand, there is the opposition alliance talking about destroying nuclear weapons.

On one side is the courage to infiltrate and eliminate terrorists in their homes, on the other are those shedding tears over encounters with terrorists. On one side is the Modi Government, which has lifted 250 million people out of poverty in 10 years. On the other side is the opposition alliance, which will snatch half of your income and farm land, he said.

Continuing his attack against the Opposition INDI alliance, the Prime Minister said that here in Punjab, the corrupt party from Delhi and the party responsible for Sikh attacks are pretending to fight each other, but the truth is that there are two parties, but the shop is the same. People here may say anything, but in Delhi, they are carrying each other on their shoulders and dancing, he added.

Modi said that today, he has come to seek blessings on the land of the Gurus. Whether it's the defense of the nation, the development of the country, the Sikh community has always led the way. The people here have led the country's development from agriculture to entrepreneurship, but the corrupt have ruined Punjab. Industries and businesses are fleeing. The drug trade is flourishing, he added.

He said that the orders of the State Government do not work. Here, the sand mining mafia, drug mafia, and shooter gangs are rampant. The entire government is running on loans. All ministers are enjoying themselves, and those who are kagzi CMs don't even have time from attending court in Delhi, he said.

Capt Amarinder conspicuous absence

Punjabs former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, also the husband of BJP candidate Preneet Kaur for the Patiala Lok Sabha seat, was conspicuously absent from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inaugural rally in Punjab. The reason behind his absence is his health condition, as he has been advised against traveling due to illness.

In a personal letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Capt Amarinder expressed regret for his inability to attend the rally and personally welcome Modi. At the same time, he assured the PM of their commitment to securing the seat.

Capt Amaridners absence stems from health complications that emerged following his medical examination on May 13. Despite returning home on May 14, he suffered a severe gastroenteritis episode, requiring four days of intravenous treatment.

Following medical advice, he has been recuperating at his residence in Defence Colony, where he continues to rest due to extreme weakness. A close associate mentioned that although his health is improving steadily, attending the Patiala rally is not advisable at this time.

The absence of Singh, a key figure in Punjab politics, poses a challenge for Preneet Kaur and their daughter Jai Inder Kaur, who now must shoulder the responsibility of managing the campaign on their own.
AAP convener and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is crossing all limits in the alleged assault case of Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal and questioned do you think my parents are guilty? Prime Minister, today you have crossed all limits by targeting my parents to break me. Your fight is with me, stop harassing my parents. God is watching everything, said Kejriwal, addressing a virtual press conference. In a related development, Maliwals ex-husband Dr Naveen Jaihind appealed to the Delhi Police to question AAP supremo, not his parents, as he termed him the real mastermind of the incident. He also demanded that a narco test be done on Kejriwal to ascertain the truth in the matter while calling his residence a gutter house.

Addressing a virtual press conference, Kejriwal, who is also the AAP national convener, said he has a message for Prime Minister Modi. I have a message and appeal for PM Modi. You arrested my MLAs but I did not break. You arrested my minister but you could not make me bow. You arrested me and I was harassed in jail. But today you crossed all limits. To break me you targeted my old and ailing parents. My mother is suffering from multiple ailments. The day I was arrested, she had returned from hospital. My father is 85 years old and has hearing issues. Do you think my parents are guilty? Why are my parents being harassed? God will not forgive you, Kejriwal said.

However, the Delhi Police is unlikely to visit Kejriwals residence on Thursday, as he claimed, to question his parents according to the sources. On Wednesday, Kejriwal had said police were going to question his elderly and ill parents the next day. Bibhav Kumar has already been arrested by police in the case.

Sources said police may visit his residence for questioning in the coming days but are not going there on Thursday and may also question Kejriwal in the coming days. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) in Hindi, Kejriwal said, I am waiting for the police with my parents and wife. Yesterday the police called and asked for time to interrogate my parents. But they have not yet given any information about whether they will come or not. The AAP accused the BJP of committing atrocities on Kejriwals parents through police.

Ever since Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail, BJP has freaked out. They are attacking and conspiring against Arvind Kejriwal and AAP. But today, after summoning the parents of Arvind Kejriwal for questioning by Delhi Police, they have crossed all the limits, Atishi said.

Concurring, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, The BJP has stooped so low now they are using Delhi Police to commit atrocities on Kejriwals ailing and elderly parents. His father is 84, cannot walk without support and even has hearing problems. His mother had returned from hospital two days before his arrest and he could not even meet her at that time. People will respond to this with their votes.

The former Chairperson of Delhi Commission of Women (DCW) alleged that Kumar slapped her at least seven to eight times while she continued screaming and brutally dragged her while kicking her on the chest, stomach, and pelvis area, and threatened with dire consequences. While her party colleague Sanjay Singh on May 14 accepted that the misbehaviour with her took place, the party then took a U-turn claiming that she is doing so at the behest of BJP.
NTPC Swayamsiddha Ladies Club (SSLC) under its welfare initiative provided two water tanks and food packets were distributed to Adim Jatiya Seva Mandal (Orphanage Home for Tribal & Underprivileged Children). The objective of this initiative was to ensure availability of drinking water during peak summer and essential food items to the residents of the children home.



In addition, Swayamsiddha Ladies Club (SSLC), members visited Robinhood Army's cluster, an organisation catering support for education of the slum area underprivileged children in Bariatu,Ranchi. Education for underprivileged children lacked basic resources such as textbooks and school supplies. This makes it difficult for children to learn effectively. Keeping in view of this, SLC aimed to bridge between underprivileged children and education by distribution of stationery items, textbooks to children with willingness to learn.



The distribution was done under the leadership of Rekha Jain, President,SSLC. Speaking on this occasion, Jain said "The aim of our organization is to serve the backward sections of the society, and we are extremely happy to take this initiative to serve the society" Beneficiaries expressed happiness over this initiative and appreciated the efforts of the Ladies Club.



On the occasion, Vice President Shikha Rastogi, Purnima Shrikhande, Mansa Verma, General Secretary Deepa, Joint Secretary, Parmeshwari, Cultural Secretary Snigdha Majjhi,Treasurer and other members were present on the occasion.
State Congress Media Department Chairman Mukesh Nayak has described the Madhya Pradesh nursing scam as a disgrace to the educational world. He said that the way a college has been allowed in Madhya Pradesh, flouting the norms of Nursing Counseling of India, such an example has not been seen anywhere in the entire country.

While talking to media persons, he said that there are neither buildings, nor laboratories, nor libraries, nor labs nor hospitals, yet colleges are running. Nursing colleges are running only on paper, these colleges are visible only to those who have prepared the inspection report and are not visible to anyone else.

Mukesh Nayak, on Thursday, said that on the orders of the High Court, the CBI was entrusted with the responsibility of investigating the nursing scam in Madhya Pradesh, but the CBI investigators themselves sabotaged the investigation. Just tarnished it.

CBI officers are being caught taking Rs 10 lakh each, what kind of CBI investigation is this? The culprits whom the CBI agents had come to investigate were arrested even before they could investigate. This will be the first case in Madhya Pradesh in the country when the investigation committee itself got arrested before arresting the culprits.Deputy Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Hemant Katare, while expressing his reaction regarding the nursing scam, said that the Madhya Pradesh government could not come out of the Vyapam scam and now the stigma of nursing scam has come.

NSUI leader Ravi Parmar, who exposed the nursing scam, was sent to jail several times, many cases were registered against him, while the criminals were found talking on phone despite being in the custody of CBI, which shows the government's intentions towards the culprits. There is a clear view of giving protection.

I, along with my MLA colleagues, will raise my voice on this matter with full force in the Assembly.State Coordinator of Indian National Students Organization Medical Wing, Ravi Parmar said that after the arrest of CBI officers and operators of nursing colleges, Madhya Pradesh Nursing Registration Council recently released the list of 132 nursing colleges for enrollment of students for the session 2022-23. , which includes the names of those colleges whose college administrators have been arrested and whose principals have been caught red-handed taking bribes.

Due to nursing fraud, examinations of nursing students of Madhya Pradesh have not been conducted for the last four years, due to which their future is being ruined. After so many failures in colleges and large scale fraud coming to light, it has now been decided to conduct examinations from May 15 on the orders of the High Court.
The sub engineer and former building officer of Ujjain Municipal Corporation has been suspended after a bailable warrant was issued against the Municipal Corporation Commissioner for not removing the encroachment even after the order of the High Court.

In another case, an order has been issued to remove the cashier of Berasia Municipality, who came under the investigation of Lokayukta. Cashier has been posted to Municipal Corporation Gwalior.

Urban Development and Housing Department Commissioner Bharat Yadav has suspended former building officer and sub-engineer Harsh Jain posted in Ujjain Municipal Corporation.

During the suspension period, Jain's headquarters will be the office of the Divisional Joint Director, Urban Development, Indore, and he will get a living allowance from Ujjain Municipal Corporation. According to the order issued by Yadav, Jain was made the building officer in-charge in the order issued on January 11, 2023.

After this, on August 23, 2023, Neha Khattar had complained about encroachment on which action was directed. Due to non-action on this, a case was filed in the High Court, after which the court ordered action.

Jain was then given orders to take action on this. Instead of taking action on the order given in the case number WP 26258/2023 filed in the High Court, Building Officer in-charge Jain had only given notice.

Due to this, a bailable warrant was issued by the High Court against the former Municipal Commissioner Ujjain. In this way, taking serious note of the negligence of the former building officer and sub-engineer in the matter of removing encroachment, orders for their suspension have been issued.

On the other hand, another case is related to the cashier who came in the proceedings of Lokayukta police in Berasia municipality. It was told that Sachin Kathane is posted as Cashier and Assistant Accountant in Municipality Berasia. Crime number 45/24 has been registered against them in Lokayukta Police Organization, Bhopal under Section 7 Prevention of Corruption Act. Lokayukta Police had written a letter to the Urban Development and Housing Department to transfer this employee from Barisya Municipality to somewhere else.

After this, action has been taken in the case of traps and raids on the basis of the rules of the General Administration Department. In such cases, within three days of receiving information through any medium regarding the accused officer-employee or the case coming to cognizance, such officer-employee is removed from the post in which he was held, or has come under the radar of raids. There is a provision to remove it from somewhere else. Therefore, Sachin Kathane Cashier and Assistant Accountant have been transferred to Municipal Corporation Gwalior.
At a rally in Basti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a fierce attack on his political rivals Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of making false claims about winning 79 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.

Both these princes are indulging in wishful thinking about victory. On June 4, reality will dawn upon them, Modi declared.

He also criticised the oppositions stance on the Ram temple, alleging that they had the desire to reverse the temples progress.

These princes of Congress (and Samajwadi Party) aim to reverse the decision on the Ram mandir. They envision putting the Babri lock on the temple and relocating Ram Lalla, he remarked, urging voters to reject such propositions decisively.

Modi further accused Congress and Samajwadi Party of being sympathisers of Pakistan and instilling fear about its nuclear power.

They say we need to be scared of Pakistan because it has an atom bomb. Dont they know what a 56-inch chest means? This is not the weak Congress government, but the strong government of Modi, he said and added, India does not spare those who try to bully it.

Beginning his speech with the traditional greeting, Ram-Ram to all brothers and sisters, the prime minister connected directly with the people.

Reflecting on the ongoing elections, Modi emphasised the governments reaffirmation through five phases of voting, highlighting the oppositions inconsistency and forgetfulness.

Modi urged voters to consider the significance of their vote. A vote for Congress holds no meaning. No voter wishes to see their vote go to waste. Your vote should go towards forming the desired government, he stated.

Highlighting the moral duty of voting, Modi emphasised its role in fostering national development and self-reliance. He nostalgically recalled January 22, 2024, in Ayodhya, emphasising the nations roots in Ram, development in heritage, and modernity in spirituality.

Asserting Indias enhanced global stature, Modi criticised family-based parties for their appeasement politics and questioned Congress commitment to constitutional principles.

In a direct appeal to the audience, Modi promised the construction of three crore permanent houses for those living in dilapidated conditions.

Raise your hands and affirm your support. Every such family will receive a permanent house under the Modi government, he pledged, stressing the transformative potential of their vote.

The rally concluded with Modi underlining the critical importance of high voter turnout to ensure the continuation of development projects and the establishment of a robust government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold two rallies in Himachal Pradesh on Friday. He will address a public meeting in favor of Suresh Kashyap in Nahan of Shimla parliamentary constituency and Kangana Ranaut in Mandi. BJP -in -charge Sanjay Sood of Shimla parliamentary constituency said that there is a lot of enthusiasm among the workers about the rally.

Sood said eight thousand workers from Shimla will attend Nahan's rally. He said that a target has been set to gather 40 thousand workers in the rally. He claimed that the BJP will win all four seats by a big margin. In such a situation, Prime Minister Modi's rally will raise new enthusiasm among the workers and voters.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh bats for one nation, one election at Karnal rally



Karnal: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh batted for one nation, one election and said that the BJP has initiated steps in this field and it will implement it. While addressing a gathering at Gharaunda grain market, he accused the AAP and Congress of betraying Anna Hazare and Mahatma Gandhi. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that he would not form a party, but he did. Leaders of both parties are involved in corruption. Our government has taken steps to eradicate corruption and give powers to the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation. Previously, these agencies were not permitted to use their power, he said, adding that Kejriwal would go to jail. The Defence Minister praised the former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for good governance.



Heat wave Punjab BJP chief Jakhar seeks extension in polling hours



Chandigarh: Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on Wednesday wrote to the Election Commission, seeking an extension in voting time by two hours in the state in the wake of searing heat. He sought that polling be allowed from 6 am to 7 pm. Polling across the country is normally held from 7 am to 6 pm. Polling for 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be held on June 1. In his letter to the Election Commission of India, Jakhar said, "With the final phase of general elections scheduled for June 1, Punjab will be experiencing an intense heat wave, making it extremely challenging for voters to cast their votes during the peak sunny hours. The intense heat wave will pose health risks, particularly to vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children." "To ensure higher voter turnout and safeguard public health, I, on behalf of BJP Punjab, request that the voting hours be extended to include cooler periods of day and the voting be allowed from 6 am to 7 pm," the BJP leader said.



Priyanka Gandhi to hold roadshow in Sirsa today



Sirsa: Congress candidate from Sirsa Lok Sabha Constituency Kumari Selja on Wednesday said that Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi will hold a roadshow in Sirsa on Thursday. She said that the roadshow will start at 8:30 AM in front of Shri Shyam Bagichi in Anaj Mandi and will proceed through various routes, concluding at Sangwan Chowk.



ECI appoints new Police Commissioners of Ludhiana and Jalandhar



Chandigarh: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed Nilabh Kishore, IPS 1998 Batch (currently posted as ADGP STF Punjab, Shahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar), as Police Commissioner Ludhiana and Rahul S, IPS 2008 Batch (currently posted as DIG-cum- Director Vigilance Bureau Punjab, Shahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar), as Police Commissioner Jalandhar. A letter has been sent to the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab by ECI in this regard. Earlier, the police commissioners of Jalandhar and Ludhiana were transferred from their current posts to non-election duties, a spokesperson of the office of the Chief Electoral Officer said. In a letter to the Chief Secretary of Punjab, the EC directed that the two officers be assigned to non-election-related duties. Jalandhar Police Commissioner (2009-batch IPS officer) Swapan Sharma and Ludhiana Police Commissioner (2009-batch IPS officer) Kuldeep Chahal have been transferred from their present posts, the spokesperson said.
Nishatpura police have booked four miscreants for cheating a woman to the tune of Rs 9 lakh in the name of facilitating a job; search for the accused has been started.

A case of fraud has been reported in the Karond area after 4 fraudsters cheated a woman by depositing money online on the pretext of getting her a job. It is being told that the accused got around Rs 9 lakh deposited in their accounts by the woman. The accused had got this money transferred online. The woman has lodged a complaint about this in the police station. The police have registered a case under section 420 of the IPC against the accused and started action in the case.

Nishatpura police station in-charge of Bhopal said that Manorama Thakur (55) is a resident of Roop Nagar Colony Karond. She is a class IV employee in the Municipal Corporation. Manorama got a call from the accused Neeraj Sharma. Neeraj told him that election time is going on. Due to which a vacancy has emerged for a job in Railways. Neeraj said that I can get your daughter a job in Railways. The accused demanded Rs 15 lakh from the woman to get her a job.

Accused, Neeraj got his three other associates Ankit, Rahul and Sunil to talk to the woman. Neeraj described his three friends as railway employees who would help the woman in getting a job. He asked the woman to deposit the money in small portions in the accounts of all of them. Without thinking anything, the woman transferred Rs 9 lakh online to the accounts of the accused. After which the accused stopped picking up the woman's phone.

After this incident, the woman lodged a complaint in the police station. The police took all the information from the woman as to how many accounts she had deposited money into. Police has started searching for the accused.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday vowed to eliminate Maoism from Chhattisgarh in two years.

He told an election rally in Kanker that the Red menace has ended in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra and will be uprooted from Chhattisgarh too in two years if the BJP wins the Lok Sabha elections.

He charged that four generations of the Gandhi family had ruled the country but had done nothing for the poor in Chhattisgarh.

The Congress says the minority community has the first right over the countrys resources of the country but BJP says the Jal, Jungle and Jameen belong to the poor, Adivasis, Dalits and backwards," Shah said.

He also said that Congress leaders did not attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla at the Ayodhya temple to continue their appeasement policy of the minorities.

The Minister praised Modi's "good track record of 10 years and agenda for 25 years".

Shah during his speech appealed to the people of Kanker to vote for the BJP's Lok Sabha seat candidate Bhojraj Nag.

Polling in Kanker will be held on April 26 along with Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund.
Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan today addressed a public meeting organized at Manas Mandir ground in Digwadih, Jharia of Dhanbad Lok Sabha. On this occasion, he said that after a long struggle, Atal Bihari Vajpayee worked to create Jharkhand. Atal ji created Jharkhand, Prime Minister Modi beautified Jharkhand. INDI Alliance came in between and ruined everything, he said.

There has been news in the media about who gave how much commission to Minister Alamgir Alam. Rs 350 crore was found in a Congress MPs house. The MLA is looting. The MP is looting. The minister is looting. The Chief Minister went to jail itself. They looted the entire Jharkhand and made the people of the rich state poor. Congress, JMM and RJD looted coal, sand, stone, and made mountains disappear. The people of INDI Alliance are looting it and making a mountain of notes, he said.

Chouhan said that the INDI Alliance members are openly looting. With the looted money, water could reach the farmers' fields. Schools could have been built for the children. Colleges could have been built. Hospitals could have been built. These dishonest people looted and ruined this lovely Jharkhand. Do not leave them at any cost.

Prime Minister Modi passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Act and gave 33 per cent reservation in the Lok Sabha and Assembly. Prime Minister Modi ran programs like Beti Padhao Beti Bachao. Bharatiya Janata Party is now running the Lakhpati Didi programme. BJP has said that 3 crore Lakhpati Didis will be created in the entire country.

Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha have no strength left. One is in jail and the remaining ones are also about to leave. Those who have looted public money, money will be taken out of them.

He said that Congress was crying due to the arrival of Lord Shri Ram. They were invited, but they did not come. Until 2014, there were only scams. India's honour was destroyed. Congress also committed a great sin by dividing India. Pakistan occupied Kashmir also survived because of the sin of Congress. Congress had imposed Section 370. Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed him in one stroke. People of INDI Alliance used to say that if Article 370 is removed, rivers of blood will flow. Nothing happened by removing Section 370. POK is ours, we will take it. Indi alliance people say that Pakistan has a nuclear bomb. They got scared by this. We have a Prime Minister with a 56 inch chest.

He said that we should have only one goal - to save Jharkhand and take the country forward. Corruption has to be ended from Jharkhand. Whoever has looted Jharkhand, he has to be taught a lesson, so that the coming generation remembers that the public will not forgive those who looted. Press the lotus button on 25th May.

On this occasion, MLA Dr. Neera Yadav, Biranchi Narayan and Amit Yadav were also present.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Varun Gandhi held an election rally on Thursday to support his mother, Maneka Gandhi, the BJP candidate from the Sultanpur constituency. The constituency is set to vote on May 25 during the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

In his speech, Varun Gandhi emphasised the special bond between Maneka Gandhi and the people of Sultanpur, stating, There is only one constituency in the country where its people do not call their MP Sansad but Maa... I am here not just to gather support for my mother but the mother of Sultanpur.

While highlighting Maneka Gandhis achievements, Varun Gandhi notably avoided mentioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He refrained from discussing the BJPs accomplishments or explicitly asking for votes for the party. Instead he urged, Please vote for Maa.

Varun Gandhis speeches underscored the unparalleled power of a mother. A mother holds the power equal to that of the divine. Everyone may leave your side, but a mother never does. Today, I am here to seek support for my mother, he stated.

He also highlighted the unique respect the people of Sultanpur have for Maneka Gandhi, noting, In Sultanpur, people refer to my mother as Mataji.

Commenting on the high-profile nature of the election, he said, In many places, charismatic figures are contesting the elections.

Varun Gandhis campaign aimed to garner local support by emphasising the personal bond between Maneka Gandhi and the constituents of Sultanpur.

Maneka Gandhi expressed confidence in her sons efforts, stating that Varuns campaign would bolster her chances of increasing her winning margin.

The Sultanpur Lok Sabha seat holds significant importance, being situated next to Amethi, with the BJPs Gandhi candidate facing a tough battle against the Samajwadi Partys Ram Bhual Nishad and the Bahujan Samaj Partys Udraj Verma, who could split the Other Backward Classes vote traditionally aligned with the SP.

Maneka Gandhi is contesting from Sultanpur for the second consecutive time, having previously won with a margin of approximately 14,000 votes. This election, she aims for a more decisive victory. Despite limited campaign support from top BJP leaders, with only Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath campaigning for her, the BJP is hopeful of strong backing from the local fishermen community, which has around two lakh voters. This optimism is bolstered by their leader, Sanjay Nishad, head of the NISHAD Party, who is a minister in the Yogi Adityanath government.

The electoral history of Sultanpur is varied, with no single party maintaining consistent dominance. Since independence, the Congress has won this Lok Sabha seat eight times, the BSP twice, and the BJP four times.

Nearby constituencies also feature significant electoral battles. Rahul Gandhi is contesting from Rae Bareli, while in Amethi, Nehru-Gandhi family loyalist KL Sharma is challenging Smriti Irani.

As the campaign ended on Thursday, the results in Sultanpur would be closely watched, given the high stakes and the competitive nature of the race.
At least six workers were injured after a major fire broke out following a boiler blast at a chemicals factory at Dombivli in Thane district of Maharashtra on Thursday, an official said.

The explosion occurred in the boiler of Amber Chemical Company located in Phase 2 of the Dombivli MIDC area, the official said.

The blast was so loud that it could be heard from a kilometre away, an eyewitness said. Glass windows of an adjoining building suffered cracks, while many houses in the vicinity were damaged due to the explosion, he added.

The injured workers have been rushed to a local hospital, a civic official said.

Yasin Tadvi, chief of the Disaster Management cell of the Thane civic body, said the explosion ripped through the chemicals factory around 13.40 pm.

The blaze triggered by the blast spread to three adjoining factories and thick plumes of smoke and fire could be seen from a long distance, he said.

Terming the incident tragic, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said eight people, who were trapped on the premises, have been rescued.

Arrangements have been made to treat the injured and more ambulances have been kept ready. I have discussed with the Thane collector and they are also reaching the spot... Teams of NDRF, TDRF, and fire brigade have been called, he said on X.

I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured, he added.

A brigade call was given following which eight fire engines were rushed to the spot, said Tadvi.

Teams from Thane civic body's Regional Disaster Management Cell and 13 jawans from the Thane Disaster Response Force have also reached the scene, the official said, adding efforts are on to bring the blaze under control.
The initial probe into the murder of Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar revealed that one of his close friends, a US citizen, had paid around Rs 5 crore to kill him, a senior police officer claimed here on Thursday.

The Awami League MP's friend owns a flat in Kolkata, and is probably in the US at present, he said.

Police also said that the flat in Kolkata's New Town area, where the Bangladesh MP was last seen entering, was rented out to his friend by its owner, an excise department employee.

It was a well-planned murder. A huge amount of money, around Rs 5 crore was paid by an old friend of the MP to kill him. Further investigation is underway, the officer told PTI.

Anar, who went missing in Kolkata on May 13, was found murdered and three people have been arrested, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan had said on Wednesday.

The West Bengal Police had said investigation of the case has been taken up by the state CID.

Akhilesh Chaturvedi, IG, CID, had Wednesday said police had reliable inputs that Anar may have been murdered, but his body was yet to be recovered.

Asked whether the police found blood stains in the apartment of a luxury condominium in New Town in Kolkata's outskirts, where the MP's whereabouts were last traced on May 13, Chaturvedi said, Our forensic team is examining the suspected crime scene. It's too early to speak about that.

The state CID has found blood stains inside the New Town flat and also recovered several plastic bags, which they believe were used to dump the body parts.

Circumstantial evidence indicates that the MP was first strangulated and then his dead body was mutilated in several parts, police claimed.

The body parts were probably put inside plastic bags and scattered at different locations. We also suspect that some parts were kept in a refrigerator and we have collected samples, the officer said.

The search for the missing MP, who reportedly arrived in Kolkata on May 12 to undergo medical treatment, began six days later after Gopal Biswas, a resident of Baranagar in north Kolkata and an acquaintance of the Bangladeshi politician, filed a complaint with the local police on May 18.

Anar had stayed at Biswas's house upon arrival.

In his complaint, Biswas stated that Anar left his Baranagar residence for a doctor's appointment in the afternoon of May 13, while stating that he would be back home for dinner.

Biswas claimed that the Bangladesh MP went incommunicado since May 17, which prompted him to file a missing complaint a day later.
Barely two days ahead of the parliamentary polls, a woman BJP worker was killed in Nandigram in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, triggering large-scale protests by the saffron party activists there on Thursday, police said.

The region, which falls under the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat and is considered to be the backyard of Bengal's Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, is scheduled to vote on May 25 in the sixth phase of the elections.

BJP workers burnt tyres, blocked roads and pulled down shutters of shops in Nandigram, alleging that the TMC-backed criminals were involved in the killing of Rathibala Arhi (38), a saffron party worker in Sonachura village.

A large contingent of police and RAF have been deployed in the area to control the rioting mob, police said. No arrests in connection with the alleged murder have taken place yet.

The saffron camp called a bandh in Nadigram as part of its protest but withdrew it later, a local BJP leader said.

Arhi was killed and several others were injured after unidentified and armed motorcycle-borne assailants attacked them late Wednesday night, a police officer said.

Arhi and several other party workers were tasked with the job of guarding a local polling booth last night after poll campaigns in the area ended for the day. TMC-backed criminals attacked them. She was murdered and others were left badly injured, BJP's district general secretary Meghnadh Paul told PTI.

Among the seven people reportedly injured, the condition of one was critical and the person was shifted to a hospital in Kolkata, he said. TMC leader in Nandigram, Swadesh Das, dismissed the allegations, claiming, There were some family disputes and the killing could be the consequence of that.

Another senior officer of district police said that an investigation into the killing of the woman is underway.

Taking to his social media handle X, Adhikari, in an oblique reference to TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee's public speech in the area on Wednesday, alleged, The bloodshed was a direct fallout of Bhaipo (nephew)'s provocation in Nandigram yesterday. The barbaric murder was orchestrated by the Trinamool after realising its certain defeat. The hands of the jihadis do not tremble before hacking a woman to death.

The BJP will see this through to its end, exact revenge in a legal manner and respond by democratic means, he added.

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya posted on his microblogging site, "Such violence is unacceptable in a democracy. Mamata Banerjee must be held accountable for provocative statements and subsequent action by criminal members of her party. We will fight and ensure justice for Rathibala Arhi and all victims."

In an apparent dig at the Election Commission, Malviya added, "But when will the commission take note of Mamata Banerjee's repeated communal and murderous statements? After the election is over?"

TMC leader Santanu Sen, however, called the incident a reflection of BJP's internal feud between the party's old-timers and its new recruits in Nandigram.

The BJP realises that come Saturday it will fare badly from the region. In its desperation, the BJP is trying to pin the reflections of its factional fights on the Trinamool, Sen counter-alleged.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday claimed that in the first five rounds of polling, "BJP has crossed 310" and that the Congress is "not even getting 40 seats" this time.

"INDI alliance has been wiped out in the first five phases. I am telling you, this time Congress is not even getting 40 seats and Akhilesh Yadav will not even get four seats," said Shah, addressing a poll meeting in Siddharthnagar in support of Domariyaganj BJP candidate Jagdambika Pal.

In another rally in Sant Kabir Nagar, Shah named several leaders from the opposition parties and accused them of nepotism.

"Lalu Prasad Yadav wants to make his son the chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray wants to make his son the chief minister, Sharad Pawar wants to make his daughter the chief minister, Stalin wants to make his son the chief minister, Mamata Banerjee wants to make her nephew the chief minister and Sonia Gandhi wants to make her son Rahul Gandhi the prime minister," he said, adding, someone who works for his family is not going to work for a constituency.

Shah asserted that the PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) is a part of India and the BJP will take it back.

"Leaders of Pakistan say that PoK is theirs. Congress leaders also say that they (Pakistan) have an atom bomb. BJP people are not scared of atom bombs. PoK is and will remain part of India and we will take it back," he said.

He said the opposition was attempting to end reservation for SC/ST and OBC in order to appease their vote bank.

"Rahul Baba and Akhilesh Yadav you have been blinded by vote banks politics. We will finish reservation on the basis of religion and give it back to the ST/ST and OBCs," he said.

He also pointed out that the INDIA bloc did not have any prime minister face and claimed that the alliance, if it comes to power, will have five PMs. "Can the country run like this?"

Shah alleged that Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav have tickets booked for a vacation abroad once results of the Lok Sabha polls are announced, unlike Narendra Modi who works tirelessly for the nation.

"On the one hand, there is Rahul Gandhi who leaves for Italy, Thailand and Bangkok and on the other hand, there is Narendra Modi who has not taken any leave for 23 years and even spends his Diwali with soldiers on the border," he said.

Shah said the BJP ensured OROP (One Rank-One Pension) scheme for the retired army personnel and asserted that India will become the third largest economy in the third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Shah on Thursday also addressed a poll rally in Khalilabad of Sant Kabir Nagar in support of Praveen Kumar Nishad, who is contesting on a NISHAD party ticket, a partner of NDA.

There, he accused the opposition of stalling the construction of Ram Temple for over 70 years and attributed its construction to Modi.

"This election is between the one who constructed Ram Temple and those who opened fire on Ram Bhakts," he said.

On the abolition of Article 370 in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, he said, "Article 370 which was protected by the Congress and Samajwadi Party was removed by Narendra Modi in 2019 and Kashmir was made a part of India forever. No one dares to explode bombs there."

Shah alleged that in the erstwhile SP government "goonda raj" was rampant in Uttar Pradesh, and it was Yogi Adityanath, the current CM, who set all goons right.

Polling in Domariyaganj and Sant Kabir Nagar will be held in the sixth phase of ongoing Lok Sabha polls on Saturday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday claimed that the INDIA bloc is talking about having five PMs over the next five years and said the fight over 'ghee' has broken out in the alliance, even before the cow has given milk.

Hours before campaigning for the sixth round of the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls came to an end, Modi at a rally in Haryana's Mahendragarh asserted that till he is alive, no one can snatch the reservation for Dalits and tribals.

In this election, "you will not only choose the country's PM but also decide the country's future", the prime minister told the gathering.

"On one hand is your tried and tested 'sewak' Modi. Who is on the other side, one does not know," he said, targeting the INDIA bloc that has as its constituents opposition parties, including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

The INDIA bloc is "extremely communal, casteist and nepotist", he said while alleging that when the Congress was in power, it did not allow construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Claiming that the INDIA bloc is talking about having five PMs in five years, Modi said, "The cow hasn't given milk but the fight over ghee has started in the alliance."

Voting for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will be held on May 25.
The Congress Thursday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his silence on the ongoing farmers protest in Punjab and on the issue of unemployment in Haryana, as he canvassed for the BJP in the two states on the last day of campaigning for the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls.

Prime Minister Modi addressed a rally in Haryanas Mahendragarh during the day and is scheduled to speak at another in Patiala in neighbouring Punjab.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh asked, Todays questions for the outgoing PMs visit to Patiala: Why is the outgoing PM silent even after 100 days of farmer protests? What happened to the outgoing PMs allegations of corruption against Capt. Amarinder Singh? Why has Patiala been left out of the Smart Cities Mission? he asked.

The Congress leader also alleged that despite repeated promises, the BJP government has failed to provide permanent employment opportunities in Haryana and instead, it is promoting temporary contractual jobs through Skill Employment Corporation.

Ramesh said it has been 100 days since Punjabs farmers began their latest protest against the Modi government. Since 2020, more than 850 farmers have lost their lives and more than 400 have been injured in protests, he said.

Farmers are demanding a legal guarantee for MSP, farm loan-waivers, and increases in MGNREGA wages for labourers. Despite their clear demands for a dialogue, the outgoing PM continues to ignore their protests, instead meeting them with barricades and teargas wherever they go. Now, he is even threatening to withdraw MSP for farmers who engage in stubble-burning. Why is the PM so vindictive towards Indias farmers, the Congress leader asked.

He claimed that the Congress Nyay Patra  the partys manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls  has promised a legal guarantee for MSP, a loan-waiver for farmers, and an increase in the MGNREGA daily wages to Rs 400.

Does the BJP have any plan to make farming more remunerative, Ramesh asked.

Training his guns on the PM over the issue of corruption, he said that in a classic demonstration of its washing machine powers, the BJP has given tickets to leaders against whom the outgoing PM had once levelled serious allegations of corruption.

Ramesh said that during his 2014 campaign, Modi, when he was still the chief minister of Gujarat, launched a scathing attack on former then Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, accusing him of not disclosing the details of foreign bank accounts allegedly held by his wife Preneet Kaur, the current BJP candidate from the Patiala Lok Sabha seat.

He had labelled them lootere and demanded they bring back the black money they stashed abroad. Now, the outgoing PM has not only welcomed them with open arms but is also campaigning for them. Why is the outgoing PM campaigning for leaders who he accuses of having black money stashed in foreign accounts? he asked.

He also alleged that Patiala has been left out of successive rounds of the Smart City Programme despite being an education hub and an important centre of trade and commerce. In 2015, even Preneet Kaur, who is now the BJPs candidate from the city, had criticised this decision.

She said that she failed to find reason why Patiala has not been included in the list of the cities to be developed as Smart City. Why have the outgoing PM and the BJP neglected this bustling and historic city, he asked.

In another post on X on the Prime Ministers campaign in Haryana, Ramesh said, Outgoing PM. Now that we have his attention, here are todays questions for him in Mahendragarh: Who made Haryana Number 1 in unemployment? Why has BJP slowed down private investment in Haryana? Why are Bhiwani residents being forced to protest for clean drinking water and proper sewerage? Citing the latest data from the Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy (CMIE), Ramesh said Haryana has the highest unemployment rate in India at 37.4 per cent, far surpassing the national average.

Despite repeated promises and announcements, the BJP government has failed to provide perThe BJPs approach, characterised by hollow assurances and a lack of concrete action, has consistently failed the youth. Did the outgoing PM and the BJP ever plan to create better opportunities for Haryanas youth? he said.

Ramesh further said that having received just one per cent of all bank-assisted private projects in India in 2022-23, Haryana ranks in the bottom five states on this metric.

After 10 years in the state, why has the BJP failed to attract investment and job opportunities to Haryana, he asked. Why has the outgoing PM and his Double Anyay Sarkar failed to address the poor law and order situation? He also said the residents of Bhiwani have been struggling with problems of water scarcity, contaminated supply, and sewerage leakages.

Why are the people of Bhiwani struggling for basic necessities even after 10 years of the BJP rule? Can the outgoing PM tell us why, even after months of protests, the BJP has been unable to resolve these issues? he said, askinge prime minister to break his silence on the issue.
Tesla's "milestone" Shanghai battery factory breaks ground

Xinhua) 16:05, May 23, 2024

SHANGHAI, May 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. carmaker Tesla broke ground on a mega factory in Shanghai on Thursday to manufacture its energy-storage batteries, Megapacks, a project hailed by the company as a "milestone."

The latest move underscores Tesla's commitment to investing in the world's second-largest economy, defying the rhetoric of "decoupling" and "de-risking" from China ratcheted up by some U.S. politicians.

The new plant spans an area of approximately 200,000 square meters, with a total investment of around 1.45 billion yuan (about 203.94 million U.S. dollars), according to the administration of Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

The mega factory is the first of its kind built by Tesla outside the United States and the company's second plant in Shanghai, following the inauguration of its gigafactory in 2019 which involved an initial investment of over 50 billion yuan.

"I believe the new plant is a milestone for both Shanghai and Tesla," the company's vice president Tao Lin told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

"In a more open environment, we can create a new Tesla speed at the Megapack factory, and supply the global market with large-scale energy-storage batteries manufactured in China," she added.

At Thursday's ground breaking ceremony in Shanghai, Tesla representatives and local government officials formally initiated the construction of the Megapack factory, which is expected to begin mass production in the first quarter of 2025, with an initial capacity of 10,000 Megapack units a year.

"With Tesla's benchmark project, we anticipate that within the next three to five years, an industrial cluster centered around energy storage will rapidly emerge," said Lu Yu, an official from the Lin-gang Special Area Administration.

After the ceremony, Tesla signed a deal with Shanghai Lingang Economic Development (Group) Co., Ltd., securing the first batch of orders for its Megapacks in China.

Gong Wei, vice president of Lingang Group, said the Megapacks would be used for energy storage in a data center in the Lin-gang Special Area, as part of its efforts to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

Tesla's deep involvement in the energy storage industry now rivals its electric vehicles in importance, Tao said, adding that its energy storage products are currently applied in over 65 countries and regions.

The U.S. company already has a factory for its Megapacks in California, which has an annual capacity of 10,000 units.

Each Megapack unit can store over 3.9 megawatt-hours of energy, sufficient to power approximately 3,600 households for one hour.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Aontu Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly has warmly welcomed the announcement today by the Irish, Norwegian and Spanish Governments that they will recognise the State of Palestine.

Speaking today, the East Derry representative said: I am delighted to see this announcement today from the Irish Government. This is testament to the months of campaigning by people on the ground highlighting the urgent need to address what has been happening in Palestine  the action that has increased in recent years and months has forced this decision today. Todays news echoes international demands at the UN General Assembly to push to full UN membership for Palestine. It is also a shocking state of affairs in this current age, when an organisation, let alone the International Criminal Court must issue a warrant of arrest for the Prime Minister of any country. The ICC are currently seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

"That Israel has now recalled its Ambassador for consultation is unsurprising. The Ambassador in Dublin had been given ample opportunity to respond to Irelands pressure arising from the current situation in Gaza, and whilst we want to see the return of Hamas hostages, the hugely disproportionate response by the Israeli State has heightened already serious concerns about human rights in the region.

The Aontu Deputy Leader continued: "We are extremely proud of our own Blinne Ni Ghralaigh and the example she is setting for so many across the world. Many of our representatives in positions of authority could learn from Ms Ni Ghralaigh. We must do all we can to end this horror and bring peace, to ensure aid and support reaches those in need and those responsible are held accountable for their actions."
The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded funding of over 600,000 to organisations in the Mid Ulster area.

This is part of wider announcement of over 10.5 million across Northern Ireland, including grass roots community organisations delivering vital activities to local people to reduce isolation and build connections.

One of the organisations receiving funding is Dyslexia and Dyspraxia Support in Magherafelt, known as D.A.D.S., which is using a 496,098 grant to support young people with additional needs to cope with the extra challenges they face while going through important life stages.

Over five years the project will run activities, workshops, mentoring and therapies to teach the young people skills and strategies to prepare them for changes in their lives, and to increase their confidence, build support networks and improve their health and wellbeing. The project will also create a guide for families, carers and statutory agencies to better understand and support young people with additional needs through crisis points.

Josie McGuckin, Manager, D.A.D.S., said: Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund, D.A.D.S. will be launching a new programme for neurodiverse individuals who are worried about transitions in their lives. We aim to make transitions easier and will offer whatever support is required. We welcome anyone from the Mid Ulster area to join our project.

Meanwhile, St Johns Parish Church, based in Moneymore, is using a 20,000 grant over one year to replace the roof of their church hall and install a new kitchen. The project will allow the group to continue to open the building for community activities including a young farmers club, event and parent and toddler groups.

ABOVE: St. Johns: Back row: The Rural Dean, Church of Ireland, the Rev'd Dr Iain Jamieson, Mr Keith Buchanan MLA, CLR Wesley Brown Mid Ulster. Front row: Mr & Mrs Osmond Bell caretakers of the hall, Mrs Betty Bell Church Treasurer.

Ringsend Community Group, based outside Moneymore, is using a 10,800 grant to upgrade the kitchen facilities in their hall and make it a more accessible venue for the local community to use.

Thanks to National Lottery players, 30 million a week is raised for good causes like these across the UK.

Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: Its incredible to see this 10.5 million of funding going to the charities, community organisations and voluntary groups which are doing vital work every day to support people in their community.

Were proud to invest money raised by people who play the National Lottery back into communities, to strengthen them and improve lives. As part of our new strategy It starts with community, were developing a new large grant programme to continue to reach people most in need which will open in the Autumn.

More information on National Lottery funding can be found here
A Facebook group called Save Benbradagh have opened a fundraiser in opposition to the construction of new turbines on Benbradagh hill in Dungiven.

Catherine Hegarty, a member of Save Benbradagh, has opened the fundraiser via the Gofundme website.

We have a beautiful mountain in the background of Dungiven.

There are stories about it, and there's poems about it. The whole back end of it has a huge wind farm, but it doesn't break the ridge. You don't actually see it from the town, Catherine explained.

You can see the whole way over to Donegal from up there and we all enjoy it.

Everybody was going up to see the northern lights at the top last weekend.

Catherine says that the majority of the community does not want turbines placed above the ridge, as they will obscure the hilltop.

The local community is really up in arms about it, she continued.

We have poems, songs, Irish history about Benbradagh and some of the stones up there have names. Youre talking about hundreds of years of tradition.

It's not that we are anti-renewables. We're just trying to protect parts that shouldn't be touched.

Enough is enough, she said.

The money will be used to print flyers, for postal drops, banners and to pay for community meetings.

Catherine confirmed that the fundraising will stay open until the end of their campaign or significant results.
The Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Patricia Logue, this week held a civic reception for the family and friends of Susan Morgan who tragically lost her life in the Stardust Fire in Dublin in 1981.

Susan, who was from Derry, was only 19 when she died, one of 48 people who were killed in the fire on Valentines Day, three of whom were from the North.

The event was attended by Susans brother Paul, and Susans friends, Finola McDevitt and Yvonne Graham, who both survived the tragedy.

Speaking at the event Mayor Logue paid tribute to their bravery and dedication to the campaign for the truth surrounding the disaster. It was a privilege to welcome Susans friends and family to the Guildhall, I just cant comprehend what they have had to endure over the years in their pursuit of truth and justice, she said.

Susan had her life stolen from her before it even really began, and compounding that awful loss, her family, and the loved ones of all those who lost their lives, were failed when they most needed truth, support and compassion.

"I welcome the apology from the Taoiseach and I know that while it will bring some comfort, it comes 43 years too late for many of the victims families and survivors. I will be keeping them in my thoughts and prayers.
The Tower Museum, in partnership with the Greater Shantallow Community Arts, is set to host a special ten-day event that celebrates the arts and creativity while on its nationwide tour.

The Art Road Trip, organised and facilitated by the National Gallery, London, will travel right across the UK from 2024 until 2025.

The project will be see ten days of exciting arts and crafts activities and workshops running until Friday, May 1 in locations right across the city, including the Greater Shantallow Arts and the Guildhall.

The aim of the overall events is to create community-led arts projects, designing events for people with the least access to creative opportunities and the arts.

Creative sessions for all the family will be hosted from artists and educators of the National Gallery as well as workshops and a mobile art studio on display, bringing art and ideas inspired by the National Gallery collection to young people in Derry.

Attendees will have the opportunity to unleash their own creative side around relevant themes such as the River Foyle, the Atlantic Ocean, ships, people and trade as well as environmental issues.

Bernadette Walsh, Archivist at the Tower Museum, said they were delighted to welcome the team from the National Gallery London to the city as part of their UK-wide tour.

She said: Were really excited to host the team from London and help facilitate the ten-day programme alongside our friends at the Great Shantallow Community Arts organisation. This will be a fantastic opportunity for any budding artists or families to get involved and immerse themselves in the artistic themes already established here in our city and district.

"There will be a strong focus on what we already have here, from the River Foyle, the vast Atlantic Ocean as well as our history and culture with our background in ships and trading and everything in between.

Anna Murray, National Partnerships Programmer, said: 'Art Road Trip' is an exciting opportunity for the National Gallery in London to develop strong relationships and collaborate with new kinds of partners and inspiring creativity and joy through a collection of treasured paintings that belong to us all.

"This project is about inclusivity, making new ways for people to engage with the National Gallery, bringing art activities to their doorsteps. We are so excited to be coming to Derry and looking forward to making meaningful connections between people and paintings, spark dialogue, and create lasting memories that resonate with individuals and communities alike.

Call in to the Guildhall on Saturday, May 25 between 11-4pm to take part in some art activities all based around the River Foyle.

The project will be delivered in partnership with the Greater Shantallow Community Arts, which aims to promote artists, cultural activity, grow audiences, increase participation in the arts and provide opportunity for communities and individuals they might not otherwise have access to.

For more information, please visit www.nationalgallery.org.uk/exhibitions/across-the-uk/art-road-trip
The DUP will shortly announce its General Election candidate for Lagan Valley  the seat currently held by former party leader Jeffrey Donaldson, MP Gregory Campbell has said.

The Alliance Party has also said a decision will be made within days on whether leader Naomi Long would challenge DUP interim leader Gavin Robinson in East Belfast.

The Northern Ireland parties are gearing up for a poll during the school holidays in the region after the surprise announcement by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that the General Election will take place on July 4.

Sinn Fein has emerged as the largest party in the Assembly and local council elections in the last two years and will be hoping to repeat that success again.

The republican party won seven seats at the last General Election, compared with eight for the DUP, the largest unionist party.

However, Sinn Feins North Belfast MP John Finucane said the party was concentrating on its message, rather than political rivals.

He told the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme: First and foremost we want to retain the seven seats that we have and in other constituencies we want to grow our vote.

We want to increase our mandate.

Mr Finucane said one of his partys main election themes would be the need to address the underfunding of public services in Northern Ireland.

He said: We will be consistent in our calls to highlight the underfunding that we have faced which has completely restricted our ability to have proper public services.

We will continue that engagement with whoever leads the next British Government.

Mr Finucane also said his party would not be changing its abstentionist policy which sees it MPs not taking their seats at Westminster.

The DUPs East Londonderry MP Mr Campbell confirmed he would be standing again but said the partys selection processes across all constituencies was not completed.

The party faces a choice over which candidate to run in Lagan Valley after former party leader and long-time MP Donaldson was charged with a series of historical sexual offences  charges he denies. He will not seek re-election.

Two of the unionist partys most high profile MLAs  deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Education Minister Paul Givan  represent the constituency.

It is anticipated that the DUP will face a stiff challenge from the Alliance Partys Sorcha Eastwood in Lagan Valley.

Mr Campbell said: We havent completed our selection of candidates of yet.

We will be doing that in the next few days and Lagan Valley will be included in that.

He added: We have a number of very good candidates and I think our party leader (Mr Robinson) would be describing all of them as very suitably qualified.

The cross-community Alliance Partys North Down MP Stephen Farry said the election represented the opportunity for change.

He added: Here in Northern Ireland we have a huge opportunity to send a different balance of representation to Westminster.

He said that a successful election for Alliance would send the message that Northern Ireland is moving away from the politics of green versus orange.

Mr Farry said the party would make clear in the coming days if leader Ms Long would be challenging Mr Robinson in East Belfast, a seat she previously held.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie confirmed he would run a candidate in all 18 Northern Ireland constituencies and was not considering pacts with other unionist parties.

He added: We speak to other unionist parties on a variety of issues but I have also made it clear I am not somebody who does pacts work.

Mr Beattie also confirmed that he would be writing to Stormonts speaker to begin the process of Robin Swann being replaced as health minister by Mike Nesbitt.

Mr Swann will contest the South Antrim seat in the Westminster poll where he hopes to topple the DUPs Paul Girvan.

The SDLP is hoping to hold onto its seats in Foyle and South Belfast. Boundary changes have seen the latter seat renamed as Belfast South and Mid Down.

Party leader Colum Eastwood conceded he would face a tough fight from Sinn Fein in Foyle.

He added: The real fight here is to get rid of the Tories.

We have had 14 years of these people destroying our economy, doing Brexit, bringing in the Legacy Act, stripping our public services of funding.

Now there is an opportunity to get rid of them.
A recent report which suggested that a united Ireland would cost 400 billion euros is widely inaccurate, a leading academic has contended.

Last month, a report from the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) calculated the cost of unification at 20 billion a year for two decades.

The analysis took into account the current level of funding Northern Ireland receives from the British Government, as well as the share of UK national debt it presumed the province would carry into a unified state.

It was authored by Prof John FitzGerald, adjunct professor at Trinity College Dublin, and DCU economics professor Edgar Morgenroth.

However, DCUs vice president of research cast significant doubt on the study on Thursday as he calculated a true total of 25 billion euros spread across 10 years.

Prof John Doyle told the Oireachtas Committee on the Good Friday Agreement that the IIEA study contains significant errors and is based on entirely unreasonable assumptions.

He added: Consequently, the figures in the report are not even a worst-case scenario  they are just wrong.

Outlining his main objections, Prof Doyle said that the IIEA report adds more than 4.2 billion euros to the annual cost of unity through increasing public sector wages to Republic of Ireland levels.

However, he said this made no allowance for the taxes (which would be overwhelmingly at the higher rate of 40%), PRSI (4%) and pension contributions (expected to be around 10%) to be paid on that increase.

Prof Doyles calculations reduce the real cost of salary increases by 2.2 billion euros annually.

Furthermore, he said it was unrealistic and unnecessary to suggest that public-sector pay would immediately increase to Republic of Ireland levels in year one.

Merging salary levels over 15 years  half the time taken by Germany  would mean a cost of approximately 133 million euro in year one, rising on average by that amount each year.

The IIEA report includes an annual cost of 3.8 billion euros to bring average pensions in NI up to average rates in the Republic.

However, Prof Doyle said that it was highly unlikely to assume the state would cover the entire cost of the increase and that the figure again failed to account for tax to be paid on the pensions of those with higher outcomes.

He calculated the true cost at 400 million euros per annum.

Prof Doyle, who has expertise in cross-border studies, said the IIEA report uncritically uses the UK Governments figure for a subvention to Northern Ireland of 10 billion as a starting point for the fiscal balance of a united state.

It completely ignores recent research on this issue. For example, it includes the full cost of both state debt and pensions, currently paid by the UK, and which are part of the UK subvention figure.

It is impossible in reality, that after negotiations between the Irish and British Governments, and where the British side abandon all responsibility for paying pensions to those who have paid national insurance or employer-based public sector pension contributions, that the Irish side would then volunteer to pay a pro-rate share of UK state debt, for which they have no legal liability.

This is not a question of the debt being waived, as the IIEA report suggests. The state debt is owed by the UK and not by Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Prof Doyle said it is not believable that the Government of a united Ireland would agree to be left with liability for both debt and pensions.

Additionally, he told committee members that the previous study excluded any analysis of economic growth after unification and contained assumptions that other areas would not change.

It assumes that with the same political system, EU membership, policy framework, education system and tax regime, that NI would not economically converge with the

South.

This is a very unlikely outcome. Why would Belfast perform so much worse than Cork and Kerry with the same EU access, policies, education and tax system?

Prof Doyle put forward his own calculations which would see Northern Ireland running a surplus after approximately a decade.

He told the committee that the opening deficit for Northern Ireland in a United Ireland would be 1.5 billion euros, taking account of debt, pensions, defence and tax changes.

He also said there would be an increase in public spending of a further one billion euros per annum to cover the cost of likely policy decisions, including to state pensions and public-sector salaries.

An increase in the underlying growth rate in Northern Ireland, of 2% above recent long-term patterns would see the costs of transition covered and the fiscal deficit ended in approximately 10 years, after which Northern Ireland would run a surplus.

In this case, the level of transition costs can be covered by the Irish state, through a modest increase in borrowing or taxation.

Seamus McGuinness, adjunct professor at TCD and research co-ordinator with the Economic and Social Research Institute, also told the committee the IIEAs 20 billion per year figure was not plausible.

Prof McGuinness added: We do not believe the figures in that report represent a realistic scenario that would feasibly occur.

The IIEA has been contacted for comment.
A new childcare subsidy scheme is to be offered to working parents in Northern Ireland as part of a 25 million package of measures.

The investment announced by Education Minister Paul Givan also includes a plan to provide all children in the region with a minimum of 22.5 hours a week of funded pre-school education in the year prior to going to primary school.

At present, only 40% of children in Northern Ireland receive 22.5 hours of pre-school education, with the rest availing of 12.5 hours of part-time, pre-school provision.

Mr Givan said 2,200 new full-time places (an increase of 10%) would be on offer by September 2025, with continued expansion from then on.

In terms of childcare, working parents in Northern Ireland can currently secure 20% off their bills through a UK-wide, tax-free scheme run through HMRC.

The new Stormont-funded subsidy will see the parents who are eligible for the tax-free childcare scheme receive a further 15% reduction in their costs, with the Department of Education providing a top-up directly to childcare providers.

The Stormont subsidy, which is set to be rolled out in September, will initially only apply to children of pre-primary school ages.

Mr Givan said the initiative, when combined with the 20% reduction through the UK scheme, would save parents with two children in full-time childcare about 8,000 a year.

The minister said he would like to increase the subsidy above 15% if more funding became available.

The early learning and childcare package unveiled by the minister will also offer direct support to providers, with the minister vowing to both stabilise and expand the sector. That will include direct interventions to help childcare facilities at risk of closure.

The minister visited a Sure Start centre in east Belfast on Thursday afternoon after securing the approval of his Executive colleagues for the package.

The Sure Start programme supports parents with children aged under four living in disadvantaged areas.

This is an ambitious package of measures for early learning and childcare representing the most significant enhancement of early years investment in Northern Ireland in decades, said Mr Givan.

This investment clearly demonstrates that, despite an extremely challenging budget position, the Executive remains committed to making support for young children, their families and the services they rely on, a top priority.

Mr Givan had secured the 25 million of ring-fenced funding for the development of a new childcare and early learning strategy as part of the budget agreed by the Executive last month.

The minister has previously told the Assembly it would cost 400 million to fully fund a comprehensive strategy.

He told reporters that the measures announced on Thursday were interim steps ahead of the development of a longer-term early learning and childcare strategy. He insisted the package was only the start.

I very much welcome the Executives commitment to the delivery of 22.5 hours funded pre-school education for all children in their pre-school year, he added.

This is an unprecedented expansion of early years developmental provision in over 25 years and will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the lives of children in Northern Ireland for decades to come.

It is a necessarily ambitious programme which will ease current pressures on parents and providers and lay the foundation upon which I intend to build.

This is, by no means, the limit of my ambitions, but rather an important first step towards a full early learning and childcare strategy.
Exploring the Synergy of Nanoelectronics, AI, and Quantum: Interview with General Chair of IEEE INEC 2025

IEEE INEC, which stands for IEEE International Nanoelectronics Conference, was initiated in 2006 when the field of nanoelectronics was emerging and will host its 2025 conference in Taipei on Jan 3-6.

Dr. Cher Ming Tan, the General Chair of IEEE INEC 2025, was the founding chair of this conference while he was Director of SIMTech-NTU Reliability Laboratory and a Senior Scientist at SIMTech in Singapore. He spoke with DIGITIMES Asia regarding the theme, "Interplay between AI and Nanoelectronics." The conference is calling for papers with the deadline set at the end of August 2024.

Q: Could you give a brief introduction to the conference, and why set the theme to talk about the interplay between nanoelectronics and AI?

Tan: This event is a key initiative of the IEEE Nanotechnology Chapter in Singapore, created to provide a platform for global collaboration in nanotechnology. The conference has been held in various countries including Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong, attracting numerous participants involved in nanoelectronics research.

The primary goal of this conference is to create a starting point for countries worldwide to engage in nanoelectronics simultaneously, fostering international cooperation and advancement. Despite originating in Asia, the conference draws significant participation from Europe, America, and other regions.

In recent years, with the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), I decided to focus the theme of the 2025 conference on the interplay between nanoelectronics and AI. This theme highlights the crucial role of nanoelectronics in making AI technologies viable. Historically, AI theory has existed for decades, but practical implementation was hindered by inadequate hardware. The evolution of nanoelectronics has enabled the development of powerful, compact processing chips and sensors, which are essential for AI's data processing and sensory capabilities.

Nanoelectronics has made AI technology more feasible and cost-effective, integrating it into daily life. Conversely, AI's ability to process and organize vast amounts of data benefits nanoelectronics research, which involves extensive data from materials and device studies. Thus, the synergy between nanoelectronics and AI accelerates advancements in both fields. This mutual enhancement is the essence of the chosen theme, underscoring the importance of nanoelectronics in the impressive advancements of AI and vice versa.

Q: Any new applications and new research directions that you have been discovering through the existence of AI?

Tan: The advancements in computational power, partly due to the development of quantum computing, have significantly enhanced our ability to perform complex calculations. Quantum computing, enabled by nanotechnology, has revolutionized computation by increasing processing power. AI now leverages this platform to synthesize new materials, a task previously impossible due to computational limitations.

With the immense power of quantum computing, AI can combine different elements from the periodic table to create materials with unique or desirable properties. This capability allows for the exploration and synthesis of materials with tailored characteristics, expanding the range of usable materials. By using quantum mechanics-based modeling tools, we can predict the properties of these new materials, opening up numerous possibilities in material science.

The upcoming conference will include topics on these advancements, highlighting how AI and quantum computing are pushing the boundaries of material discovery and application.

Q: So not only AI, but quantum computing is also becoming one of the tools you have been leveraging in your research. But in Taiwan, there's not enough attention on quantum computing. So this conference may open the eyes of the researchers here.

Tan: Yes indeed. This conference will feature a variety of prominent plenary and keynote speakers who are distinguished researchers in their fields. The list of speakers includes both academic and industrial experts. From the industry side, we have the General Manager of Infineon China, who will discuss sensors, which are essential components for AI. Additionally, a chief from Microsoft's Cloud Computing Data Center will address the importance of cloud computing in AI, highlighting how AI relies on robust cloud infrastructure.

The conference will also host numerous academic researchers focusing on nanotechnology, device fabrication, material synthesis, and related areas. These speakers will provide insights into the latest advancements and future directions in nanoelectronics and AI. By bringing together these diverse experts, the conference aims to foster new perspectives and collaborations within the scientific community.

Holding the conference in Taiwan, a leader in electronics and nanoelectronics, is strategic. It will provide attendees with a comprehensive view of the current state and future potential of these technologies, enabling them to align their research and development efforts with the latest trends and innovations.

We have invited speakers from Singapore, Europe, and the United States. I hope more participants from Taiwan will share their work on the international platform. With this international conference, it will be a good chance for researchers to present their papers here. They not only can learn from experts, but local researchers can also present their work to showcase the capability of Taiwan in this area.

Q: As a prominent reliability research expert in the world, how do you see generative AI aiding the research of your field? How have the academics and the industry been adapting this new tool?

Tan: I attempted to use GenAI to improve reliability analysis, but the results were disappointing. Here's why:

Firstly, GenAI relies on existing information available on the internet. Unfortunately, in the field of reliability, there is a significant amount of incorrect information online. It struggles to discern accurate data from inaccuracies. This issue is exacerbated because our understanding of product failure and reliability is constantly evolving. What was once considered correct is often updated as new discoveries are made, but AI can't distinguish between outdated and current information. Consequently, it often aggregates incorrect data, leading to more inaccuracies than reliable insights.

Secondly, although AI uses statistical methods, it is notably weak in statistical analysis, which is critical for reliability studies. AI's limitations in handling statistical nuances mean it cannot provide reliable results in this area.

Thirdly, with the advent of nano-devices, new failure mechanisms are emerging. These novel issues are not well-represented in existing data, so AI cannot predict or analyze these new failure modes accurately. This is because AI's knowledge base is inherently historical and lacks the foresight to handle cutting-edge developments.

In practice, I now use AI to gather all relevant information on a specific reliability issue. Then, using my expertise, I scrutinize this data to identify what is valid and what is not. This combination of AI for data collection and human expertise for analysis is essential. Relying solely on AI without expert validation can perpetuate outdated knowledge rather than advance our understanding.

Overall, while AI can assist in collecting data, expert domain knowledge is crucial to interpret and validate this information, ensuring the advancement of accurate and current insights in reliability analysis.

Q: People may forget that it was the old information that generative AI gathered from the internet instead of helping to find the correct answers or helping to explore new possibilities. Are there other insights you would like to share from your research or nanotechnology?

Tan: Nanotechnology is advancing at an astonishing pace, revealing new physical phenomena and opening up areas we never anticipated. For instance, the miniaturization of transistors has led to a tremendous increase in the number of transistors in integrated circuits and significantly increased power consumption, leading to overheating issues in chips. To address this, researchers are developing 2D transistors, which reduce power requirements and heat generation. Some of this groundbreaking work will be presented at the upcoming conference.

Additionally, nanotechnology has enabled us to increase the surface area of materials, enhancing their reactivity. For example, rice husks, often discarded as agricultural waste, can be modified using nanotechnology to purify water, showcasing an unexpected and valuable application. These smaller dimensions and increased exposed surfaces reveal more prominent surface phenomena than those seen in bulk materials.

In display technology, quantum dots are a testament to nanotechnology's impact. These tiny particles are used in quantum dot televisions to produce brighter, more uniform images while consuming less power. This advancement highlights nanotechnology's potential to revolutionize electronics, making devices faster and more energy-efficient.

The integration of AI with nanotechnology amplifies these possibilities. AI's data analytics capabilities combined with nanotechnology can drive innovations that were previously unimaginable. This synergy has the potential to bring about significant technological advancements, though it also carries risks. In the right hands, these technologies can profoundly benefit humanity, but they could be dangerous if misused.

Overall, the convergence of AI and nanotechnology promises to revolutionize technology, offering a nearly infinite array of possibilities, from more efficient electronics to novel material applications.

Editor's note: Cher Ming Tan, now the Director of the Center for Reliability Sciences and Technologies, and professor at the Department of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University in Taiwan, was a Tenure Associate Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 1996-2014. He was named Top 0.15% of Scientists (across all science disciplines) in 2021, 2022, and 2023, as well as the USA Top 2% Scientists Lifetime Achievement Award 2022 and 2023 by Stanford University. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers, Singapore Fellow of the Singapore Quality Institute, and Fellow of the Institute of Association of Advanced Materials. He has won the Sweden IAAM Scientist Medal and has been an editor for several academic periodicals including IEEE TDMR, MDPI, and Scientific Report, Nature. He serves as Sweden IEEE Electron Devices Distinguish Lecturer, Chair of IEEE IRPS BEOL 2025, and is a founding member of the Taiwan Reliability Technology Association.

Credit: Cher Ming Tan
Shinfox Energy calls for new government backing on nuclear-free vision

Taiwan's newly inaugurated government has reaffirmed its commitment to a nuclear-free future, according to the Executive Yuan. Shinfox Energy Chairman Tai-chiang Gou urges the new administration to bolster support for businesses investing in renewable energy, to attract more infrastructure development in Taiwan.

Gou highlighted the challenges faced by Jiuwell Power, a Shinfox subsidiary, in constructing natural gas power plants amid ongoing local opposition. Despite the growing electricity demand, communities resist having power plants nearby. Gou insists that if the government maintains its net-zero emissions and nuclear-free goals, it must provide stronger policy and regulatory support to businesses.

Initially, Jiuwell Power aligned with government directives by securing a contract for a gas-fired unit from Taiwan Power Company. However, subsequent development has been stymied. Gou calls for clear governmental direction and robust support to facilitate future investments in renewable energy, enabling businesses to invest confidently.

Shinfox Energy, which has an extensive presence in the renewable energy sector, is also making significant strides in offshore wind power. Gou noted that offshore wind, in contrast to the unpredictability of solar energy, is gaining traction globally. Shinfox Energy is actively involved in the round 3.2 offshore wind farm auction, with results anticipated in June.

Additionally, a large construction vessel from Shinfox's Singapore-based Shinfox Far East Company is expected to arrive in Taiwan by June. Shinfox Energy stands as Taiwan's sole provider of comprehensive services spanning wind farm development, construction, equipment, and vessels.

The global supply-demand imbalance for large construction vessels, driven by the offshore wind boom, presents further opportunities. Shinfox Energy is engaging with wind power companies in Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and beyond. Gou aims to capitalize on the maintenance and repair demand anticipated by the growing number of offshore wind turbines.

Given the hefty investments required for offshore wind farms, Gou disclosed plans to bring in strategic partners, potentially including entities with green energy needs or financial institutions.

Gou emphasized the critical role of the renewable energy sector in future business ESG strategies and industrial development. As Taiwan advances in high-energy industries like AI and semiconductors, meeting customer demands for green energy in production processes will unlock significant, global business opportunities in the renewable energy market.
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US tariff hike on Chinese EVs, batteries, steel to take effect on August 1

The first group of China-made products that the US Biden administration targets will see their tariffs rise on August 1, 2024, according to an announcement from the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) on Wednesday. Some machinery for America's domestic manufacturing and solar production may be excluded temporarily.

US President Joe Biden disclosed on May 14 that the US will raise levies on an array of goods imported from China, including EVs, lithium-ion batteries, semiconductors, solar products, steel, and some medical supplies.

Tariffs on Chinese EVs were hiked from 25% to 100%, while those on solar cells were raised from 25% to 50%. Biden said the move was strategic and targeted.

The USTR said on May 22 that it is proposing that the tariff increases in 2024 become effective on August 1 and those that will rise in 2025 and 2026 be effective on January 1 of the corresponding year.

Lists of revised US tariffs on Chinese imports and their CIF import value Item Tariff increased to (%) Effective year 2021 import value (US$m) 2022 import value (US$m) 2023 import Value (US$m) Battery parts (non-lithium-ion batteries) 25 2024 40.38 51.32 6.61 EVs 100 262.22 447.61 396.72 Lithium-ion EV batteries 25 3,912.71 7,498.42 10,910.66 Other critical minerals 25 256.96 290.54 237.5 Ship-to-shore cranes 25 214.65 70.18 48.24 Solar cells (whether or not assembled into modules) 50 0 34.81 12.23 Steel and aluminum products 25 1,377.36 2,178.69 1,329.32 Facemasks 25 331.91 71.84 7.9 Syringes and needles 50 473.25 285.74 209.92 Semiconductors 50 2025 1,666.67 2,440.31 1754.23 Lithium-ion non-EV batteries 25 2026 521.48 1,719.15 2,306.65 Natural graphite 25 34.72 145.23 113.26 Permanent magnets 25 370.65 513.84 438.43 Medical gloves 25 0 540.85 418.43

Source: USITC, compiled by DIGITIMES Asia, May 2024

The US International Trade Commission's (USITC) data showed the country's growing dependence on China's batteries in recent years. Lithium-ion EV batteries that the US imported from China in 2023 held about US$10.09 billion of the Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) value. This number represented a 45.5% growth from 2022 and was the highest among the goods the Biden administration currently targets.

The CIF import value of Chinese non-EV-used lithium-ion batteries was US$2.3 billion in 2023, a 34% growth from the previous year, according to USITC's data. China-made semiconductors' import value was over US$1.7 billion last year, compared to US$2.4 billion in 2022.

According to the USTR, when requested, particular machinery used in US domestic manufacturing could be excluded from the new tariffs temporarily. The agency also suggested granting 10 temporary exclusions for certain solar manufacturing equipment. The public can provide their comments on the measures until June 28.

Tesla reportedly to use components produced outside China, Taiwan

US increasing tariffs on Chinese goods could further intensify the geopolitical tension. Global companies have taken different strategies to diversify risks.

Automotive supply chain sources told Nikkei Asia that Tesla has asked its suppliers to manufacture components outside China and Taiwan. The region has seen tension rise as China just announced "punishment" military drills around Taiwan on May 23.

Tesla has requested suppliers, including those that make PCBs and displays, to offer products produced out of China and Taiwan as early as 2025, Nikkei Asia reported. A supplier told the news outlet that it was increasing production capacity in Thailand due to Tesla's call.
China conducts major military drills around Taiwan, but local market resilient

In a bold display of military might, China initiated extensive drills encircling Taiwan on May 23, a clear signal to the newly inaugurated Taiwanese president, Lai Ching-te. The exercises, involving China's army, navy, air force, and rocket force, were described as a rehearsal for sea and air patrols, battlefield control, and precision strikes.

The military exercises commenced just days after Lai's inauguration, which was attended by over 500 international representatives, including a delegation from the Biden administration.

During his inauguration speech, Lai subtly rebuffed Beijing's territorial claims while expressing a willingness to engage with China. Nonetheless, Beijing criticized Lai's speech as harmful and an attempt to destabilize cross-strait relations. Chinese state media portrayed Lai as a separatist, using the drills as a stern warning against any moves toward independence.

Experts like Ben Lewis from PLATracker noted that the drills, dubbed "Joint Sword - 2024A," were extensive, involving significant air and naval operations. The scale of these exercises is among the largest since similar drills in late 2023, focusing on outlying islands close to China, emphasizing Beijing's ability to control these strategic areas.

Taiwanese officials expected the drills and had prepared accordingly, monitoring Chinese military movements closely. Despite the drills, there was no significant disruption in Taiwan's financial markets or public life. Taiwan's stock index showed resilience, and the central bank reported normal foreign exchange operations.

Capital market remains calm

Adding to the geopolitical tension, the US is increasing tariffs on Chinese goods, which could further escalate the situation. In response to the mounting pressure, global companies are diversifying their risks. Automotive supply chain sources told Nikkei Asia that Tesla has asked its suppliers to manufacture components outside China and Taiwan. Tesla's request includes suppliers of PCBs and displays, urging them to offer products produced out of China and Taiwan as early as 2025. One supplier revealed plans to increase production capacity in Thailand to comply with Tesla's demand.

A recent Bloomberg report also cited sources close to ASML saying that the Dutch company has remote kill switches in place to disable production at TSMC's Taiwan fabs, should China invade Taiwan and seize advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment such as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines.

Despite these tensions, economic interactions between Taiwan and major global markets remain robust. According to Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, the island received US$10.69 billion in orders from China and Hong Kong in April 2024, marking a 16.3% year-on-year increase. Orders for electronic products surged by US$1.29 billion, or 28.5%. Simultaneously, orders from the United States reached US$14.81 billion, reflecting an 11.8% year-on-year rise, driven by a 35.8% increase in electronic product orders totaling US$1.58 billion.

The local capital market was calm despite the drill, marking a stark difference from the reaction when similar drills were conducted back in 1995. The Taiwan Stock market plummeted 10% in days during the 1995 cross-strait tension.

Although the Taiwan stock market briefly dipped in the morning, it quickly stabilized, with the weighted stock price index closing at 21,607, up 55 points or 0.26%, and a turnover volume of NT$509.8 billion. The index peaked at 21,668 during the session, both hitting new record highs. TSMC closed at NT$875, up NT$11 or 1.27%, also hitting new record highs. Hon Hai (Foxconn) closed at NT$173, up 2.37%.

The drills highlight the ongoing tension between China and Taiwan remaining the most sensitive aspect of US-China relations. While China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory, Taiwan asserts its democratic governance and the right to self-determination. The situation remains a potential flashpoint for future conflicts involving major global powers.
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As part of its monthly lecture program, the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies Unit at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies hosted Faisal Abu Sulaib to present his lecture, Political Tribalism in Kuwait, on Saturday, 11 May 2024. The Professor of Political Science at Kuwait University and member of the Units advisory board was introduced by researcher Abdulrahman Albaker.

Abu Sulaib started by emphasizing the importance of examining the political role of tribes in Kuwait, and the factors that transformed the tribes from loyal supporters of the government to the political opposition. He used the terms Bedouin and tribes synonymously, in contrast to urban populations (hadar). From the first National Assembly in 1963 until the 1980s, tribal elites were traditional candidates for the tribe in Kuwait. This is due to their close ties to political authority and respect for the tribal hierarchy. The rise of the religious tide in the region, manifested in the Iranian Revolution, the war in Afghanistan, and the Grand Mosque seizure in Mecca contributed greatly to strengthening tribal loyalty to the government. When the political regime in Kuwait suspended the constitution in 1976 and dissolved the National Assembly unconstitutionally, the government allied with Islamists, especially Sunnis, and specifically with the Muslim Brotherhood, to confront opposition from non-Islamist movements, until 1981, when the National Assembly returned, and the Salafis participated in the elections. These Sunni movements dominated in tribal areas due to their conservative nature, and the authorities found a suitable vessel for coordination and cooperation.

The shift in tribal political loyalties within Kuwait began with the political opposition in the National Assembly in 1985, when Islamic organizations spread across the tribal regions. Members of the Assembly such as Mubarak Al-Duwailah, of the Rashaiyda tribe, representing the Muslim Brotherhood, were the first seeds of this political transformation. The National Assembly was once again dissolved in 1986, resulting in the birth of a political opposition movement in 1989-1990. This opposition established the Monday Diwaniyat and met every week to demand the return of parliamentary life and the Kuwaiti constitution, with widescale tribal participation. The authorities responded arbitrarily when these groups began to penetrate areas considered allied to the government.

After the liberation of Kuwait and the restoration of the National Assembly in October 1992, there was another shift in the opposition, according to Abu Sulaib. The tribal sheikhs were replaced by the emergence of a new generation that changed the hierarchy of the tribe in the elections, as they formed symbols in the political opposition, such as Mussalam Al Barrak, who would go on to become a prominent opposition leader. The rise in education among tribal youth in the 1990s was accompanied by a growing feeling of marginalization, exclusion, and lack of social justice, in a way that benefitted the opposition in the parliamentary elections. Internationally, the change in the global system, the emergence of globalization, liberalism, and the spread of freedom and democracy also had an impact. In 2005, a youth movement emerged from the tribes calling to amend the number of electoral districts from 25 to five. Meanwhile, in 2006 political rights were granted to women, with tribal women, especially girls, enrolling at universities, which changed political behaviour and the outcomes of the political process.

The researcher notes a shift in the relationship between the authorities and the tribes from 2009 to 2014, represented by the emergence of an opposition movement dominated by youth. It was evident in the governments fight in the by-elections that the tribes organized before each official election. This coincided with the beginning of the emergence of the issue of dual citizenship, which was linked inside Kuwait to tribal people. In 2012, the one-vote decree appeared to amend the electoral law, and after it came a broad political movement, called Dignity of a Nation, in which tribes participated widely. Large tribes boycotted the 2012 elections, then returned to participate in the National Assembly in 2016 and 2020.

Abu Sulaib concluded by supporting his statements with the results of the field questionnaire he conducted on a sample of 696 tribal members, through which he sought to understand tribal tendencies toward supporting the opposition in Kuwait and the motives that led them to do so. He explored the connection between supporting the opposition and factors such as feeling marginalized and excluded, media targeting, etc. He found that high percentages of respondents who supported the opposition reported feeling marginalized, excluded, helpless, deprived of social justice, and lacking equality, and that media networks deliberately misreported on them and called their patriotism into question. A large percentage of them agreed that parliamentary elections for the National Assembly are an effective means of gaining influence in political society, and that the tribe provides its members with social protection and political power.


Ryanair has issued a warning to holidaymakers over its strict holiday baggage rules for those heading off on holidays.

The budget carrier has reminded customers that the size of this baggage is being 'strictly enforced'.

Anything over the maximum allowed size of 40x20x25cm could be refused at the boarding gate, or where available, placed in the hold of the aircraft for a fee of up to 70.

A statement on the Ryanair website states: "Extra/oversized Baggage will be refused at the boarding gate, or where available, placed in the hold of the aircraft for a fee at the level set out in our Regulations. Ryanair accepts no responsibility for oversized or excess Baggage which is refused at the boarding gate and subsequently abandoned by you.

"You must adhere strictly to the baggage allowance on your booking. If your small bag or 10kg cabin bag does not fit in the baggage sizers, which are placed at every boarding gate, we will tag your bag and place it in the aircraft hold subject to payment of a gate bag fee. You can collect it on the baggage carousel at your arrival airport".

Some travellers have been shocked when having to pay extra charges due to their luggage being above the allowed size.

Fees vary depending on the route and travel dates selected.
There are still far too many Irish children going to bed hungry in a country that is one of the wealthiest in the European Union, the Taoiseach has said.

Simon Harris said he wants to make Ireland the best country to grow up in Europe.

He made the comments as he hosted the inaugural Child Poverty and Well-being summit held at Dublin Castle on Thursday.

More than 300 participants from across Irish society took part in the event.

Leaders from the statutory and non-statutory sector met with policy-makers, service providers, academics, and children and young people in order to chart a new course for Ireland.

Participants discussed how Ireland can play a leadership role in Europe and in the world in its elimination of child poverty.

The views of children and young people was represented through art, music and in an animated video which captures the key concerns of the Summits Youth Advisory Group.

Speaking in at the summit, Mr Harris said: Its my ambition as Taoiseach to make sure that we become the best country in Europe to be a child.

I am very conscious standing here today, as the Taoiseach of one of the wealthiest countries in the European Union, that there are still far too many children who go to bed hungry; that there are still far too many children who dont have a roof over their head; that there are still too many children who dont have that opportunity to reach their full potential through no fault of their own.

I am also conscious that we also live in a world in which children are starving. And sadly and quite disgustingly, we live in a world where starvation is now used as a weapon of war. We have a lot of work to do.

Mr Harris was also critical of the delivery of disability services for children in Ireland.

He pledged to break down silos and blame-shifting across government departments.

There is a resourcing issue and Im also convinced there is a silo issue and I dont want to be presiding over the biggest national game of pass the parcel when it comes to childrens disability services, he said.

We have to pull together. It can no longer be a question of, I am not responsible for that, that is a education issue, or health or thats a childrens issue. Children dont care, parents dont care and I dont care.

There is only one Ireland, there is only one set of children with a disability and they need services.

When we find ourselves investing in more money in services, but not meeting people in communities to say these services have significantly improved, that should haunt us.

I am determined to break down silos, blame-shifting and pass the parcel. We have to stop that cycle.

Former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown, who also spoke at the event, praised Irelands progress in reducing child poverty in recent years.

He told the audience: I want to tell you that the whole of Europe is looking at what youre doing because what has happened over these last few years, is while other countries have seen a rise in child poverty, and sadly that has been the case in my own country.

What you have seen in this country is a fallen child poverty as a result of deliberate decisions, constructive decisions that have been made by government.

When I read the reports of Unicef and the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), they point not just to the fact that Ireland has been doing more, but that you are moving up the league for the provision of childrens services.

And that does not make you complacent that makes you determined to do more.

But it is important to recognise that where a decision is made to take action, and its organised in such a way that action is actually leading to results on the ground, then you can see the improvement and you can see the case for taking further action in the future.

Addressing the summit, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic OGorman said: I am determined to ensure that every child in Ireland has the best possible start in life.

To achieve this, we must do everything possible to ensure access to key services and supports for all children, including children at risk of poverty or social exclusion, and to break cycles of intergenerational disadvantage.

The lasting impact of disadvantage in early childhood can be seen in inter-generational cycles of poverty and social exclusion.

Equal Start, announced earlier this week, is the new model of Government-funded supports to ensure children experiencing disadvantage can access and meaningfully participate in early learning and childcare.
The General Election is an opportunity for voters to send out a message over the systemic underfunding of public services in Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein has claimed.

South Down MP Chris Hazzard insisted the party was ready to fight the surprise July 4 election, and would not be distracted by other polls south of the border in Ireland.

He also insisted that the republican partys team of MPs was delivering effective representation despite not taking its seats at Westminster.

Sinn Fein currently has seven MPs and will be hoping to replicate its result from the last Assembly and council elections when it emerged as the largest party in the region.

Speaking at Stormont, Mr Hazzard said: It is going to be an opportunity to send a clear signal that the systemic underfunding of our public services and the undermining of the Good Friday Agreement has to come to an end.

We have had 14 years of the calamitous, cruel and deadly effects of Tory austerity.

We have had Brexit lumbered upon us and weve had successive Tory administrations attempt to breach international law and to undermine the Good Friday Agreement.

So, July 4, this has to change. It is also an opportunity to send a very clear message that we want locally accountable political leaders to take the decisions that matter to our lives and not to outsource us to the British establishment in London who care little for the north of England, never mind the north of Ireland.

We can build a better future for ourselves and the next generation by taking those decisions here (Stormont), working in partnership as this institution has shown in recent weeks.

The party will also be fighting European and local government elections in the Republic of Ireland in June.

But Mr Hazzard said this would not impact the partys efforts in the Westminster poll.

He said: We are ready; we have been having our selection conventions now for a number of months.

We are a national party, we fight on all fronts.

He also dismissed suggestions that the General Election was less important to his party than other elections.

Mr Hazzard said: We believe we supply the most proactive and the most effective representation when it comes to politics.

It is not about wasting time on the green benches or sitting on a needless committee, it is about being there across the table with the British government.

I myself personally, I have met with every successive British prime minister, tanaiste and taoiseach in the south, secretary of state, since I was elected in 2017, thats where the bread and butter issues are dealt with and that is where you can have the most effect.

Meanwhile, the partys Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew has confirmed she will not be standing for re-election.

Ms Gildernew will instead be running in the Midlands North West constituency in the European election in Ireland.

She said: That is my sole focus. I will not be running in the forthcoming Westminster election.

In 2001 when I was first elected by a margin of 53 votes to the seat held by Bobby Sands in 1981 I was humbled.

It has been both a privilege and an honour to represent the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone since; and I will be forever grateful for the trust they have placed in me.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - As the world continues to grapple with the aftermath of the most severe pandemic in a century, the Seventy-seventh session of the World Health Assembly will convene under the banner of "All for Health, Health for All", the UN health specialised agency, WHO, said on Thursday
In a significant move towards promoting high level advanced manufacturing skills and apprenticeship training across the Island of Ireland, the Louth Meath Education and Training Boards Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE) in Dundalk received a high-profile visit from the Norths Economy Minister Deirdre Hargey.

It was an inaugural visit for the Minister to the world standard advanced manufacturing facility, emphasising the AMTCE's pivotal role in the integration of advanced skills training on an All-Ireland basis.

The Minister was welcomed by Martin G. OBrien, Chief Executive of LMETB and founder of AMTCE and Sadie Ward McDermott, Director of Further Education and Training at LMETB.

During the visit, the strategic significance of the AMTCE was highlighted, particularly its ambition to enhance and be a key stakeholder in the provision of advanced manufacturing skills on an All-Ireland basis.

"Our goal is for the AMTCE to be the leader in the development and provision of advanced manufacturing training interventions including, for example, Robotics and Automation Apprenticeship, Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Schools Programme, 3 D Construction Printing which leverages our geographical position to foster an All-Island approach," stated Martin O'Brien.

AMTCEs role in facilitating high level advanced manufacturing skills training on an All-Island basis was further boosted by the signing of Memorandums of Understanding during the visit by Martin OBrien, Chief Executive of LMETB and Sam Turner, Chief Executive, Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) at Queens University and Lee Campbell, Chief Executive of Southern Regional College (SRC), marking a significant step towards enhancing educational and training synergy and collaborative skills development on an All-Island basis.

Minister Hargey said, Changing and improving the skills profile of the existing workforce will be key to delivering on the priorities set out in the Economic Vision. We need to work collaboratively across industry, government and the education sector to ensure we invest in and develop the skills that meet the needs of the emerging economy, supporting greater efficiency, productivity and better jobs for individuals.

I welcome the positive impact this facility will make on young people, particularly those most marginalised, by developing and delivering more accessible education and training in advanced manufacturing technologies. I want to expand work between local and central government to support the development of industries with a strong regional presence, taking advantage of opportunities which can boost productivity performance, and emphasising the importance of collaborative planning to boost prosperity in our regions.

Other attendees at the landmark event were Cllr. Wayne Harding, chair of LMETB, Andrew Brownlee, Chief Executive of SOLAS, Libby Shackles Director of Curriculum at SRC and Brendan Mackin, Chair of Portview Trade Centre in Belfast.

Substantial Cross Border initiatives already in train under the auspices of the LMETB-AMTCE include the first FET All-Ireland Robotics and Automation Apprenticeship programme, currently going through the approvement processes in both jurisdictions; the first cross-border advanced manufacturing pathways schools project, funded by the International Fund for Ireland; an Industry 4.0 Future Skills initiative currently being undertaken by LMETB-AMTCE in association with Queens University- AMIC and IMR (Irish Manufacturing Research) funded by InterTrade Ireland.
Louth County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service have announced over 117,000 in funding has been awarded from the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) to deliver seven projects in Louth.

The funding will contribute to improving conservation knowledge, awareness and management and enable the implementation of projects that promote the objectives within Irelands 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan.

The seven projects proposed for Louth include:

Funding to continue Louth Nature Trusts volunteer-led Little Tern conservation work at Baltray through 2024 and 2025. Little Terns are migratory species which nest in colonies on the shingle beach at Baltray during our summer months. They are highly vulnerable to disturbance and are on the amber list as a species of conservation concern. The reserve at Baltray is a site of national importance for the species with the work being carried out helping to bolster population numbers and raise awareness of what can be done to help protect them.

Funding for a new project which aims to increase the biodiversity potential of Louth County Councils parks with training and events planned to raise awareness of the importance of making space for nature and taking action for biodiversity.

Funding for a new two-year programme to increase the Swift nesting habitat in County Louth, identifying suitable sites and installing Swift nest boxes. Swifts in Ireland are in decline and are on the red list of birds of severe conservation concern. The 2022 County Louth Swift Survey showed that there are good colonies in Dundalk and Drogheda. These are a well-known bird in urban areas, but they are highly vulnerable to disturbance as they like to nest in cavities in walls or in spaces in eases of houses and buildings. Providing new nest boxes throughout the county will help to encourage further nesting and secure the future of the species here.

Funding for a new two-year programme to survey the extent and condition of Louths hedgerows with training and events planned to raise awareness of the importance of planting and managing new and existing hedgerows for biodiversity.

Funding to support the provision of biodiversity restoration, enhancement and management plans through Louth Tidy Towns groups.

Funding for a new two-year programme which will support the delivery of a national Local Authority collaborative project which will survey and record Irish Mayfly, establish their conservation status and raise awareness of the importance of good water quality for improving biodiversity in rivers.

Funding to carry out a species audit as part of Louth County Councils work to develop a Local Biodiversity Action Plan for the county.

Louth County Council Biodiversity Officer, Helen Hanratty said:

Louth County Council are delighted to be working with the National Parks and Wildlife Service to provide funding to deliver these Local Biodiversity Action Fund projects.

This investment in biodiversity projects across the county, shows our commitment to improving our knowledge, understanding and management of the valuable species and habitats we have in Louth.

The proposed work will help to raise awareness of what we have and how we can all work together to take action for biodiversity.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, has announced that  2.8 million has been awarded to local authorities to carry out 233 biodiversity projects through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF).

First established in 2018, the Local Biodiversity Action Fund was created to assist local authorities in the implementation of actions in support of biodiversity. A total just over 8.6m has been granted to local authorities through the LBAF since the scheme launched.

Minister Noonan said:

Local Authorities play a vital role in addressing the biodiversity crisis and in this important week for biodiversity, Im delighted to see a record number of projects approved through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund 2024.

The benefits realised by the locally led projects created through this Fund are shared by all of us, not least local communities.

Niall ODonnchu, Director General, NPWS said:

Were so impressed with the diversity and creativity of these projects. Partnership is the engine that will deliver the National Biodiversity Action Plan. By working with local authorities, we can make a difference in communities on the ground, and that combined effort will make a huge impact in delivering on the ambition of the plan.

To find out more about biodiversity in Louth please see the Louth County Council biodiversity webpages: https://www.louthcoco.ie/en/services/environment/biodiversity/ or scan the QR code.
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Dundalk-Carlingford's Cllr John Reilly says he has "very deep concerns" about heavy goods vehicle (HGV) traffic using St John Bridge at Toberona in Dundalk.

The Kilcurry-based councillor says this issue has only recently begun and he says, coincides with the opening of the Dundalk North Business Park on Armagh Road.

The Fine Gael councillor told the Dundalk Democrat that "HGVs coming down the M1 motorway from Dublin are being directed to exit the Castleblaney exit at junction 17 on Google Maps as the shortest route.

"The trucks are then driving down the Mill Road and turning for Balbriggan therefore having to cross St John Bridge ending up at a dangerous junction to take them out onto the Armagh Road."

Cllr Reilly continued, "many local residents who live on this route have been on the phone to me voicing concerns over Road Safety. That is only a narrow country road not suitable for large vehicles taking a short cut .
A 44 year old man who admitted intimidating a witness in a separate court case, has been given a three and a half year suspended sentence at Dundalk Circuit Court.

Judge Dara Hayes told Conor McLaughlin of Cornamucklagh, Omeath that if he comes back before him again he'll have no option but to activate the sentence.

The victim told gardai she had been travelling in a car with two adults and two children in the Omeath area, and noticed the defendant overtaking another car.

Conor McLaughlin had been directed to stay out of the area, as part of his bail conditions for a separate Circuit Court matter.

The woman got out to take photos as proof of this breach of bail, and he shouted at her that she was a rat.

As the victim was heading back towards the village, the defendant rammed back of the car she was in at 60 to 70 mph and tried to go to the side of it, but couldn't due to oncoming traffic. In all he rammed the car four or five times. The court heard a woman who was in his car, could be seen hitting him and telling him to stop.

When gardai arrived at his home, a woman claimed he wasn't there, but they returned with the ASU and heard rustling in the attic, where the defendant, who had a black eye was located in a hole in the wall.

He had 40 previous convictions and is serving a sentence that is due to end next month. The Defence barrister said his client had a prior interaction, and claimed his black eye was inflicted by one of the passenger's in the other car and windows had been smashed at his home.

The court heard the 44 year old self-referred himself to the Merchants Quay Project, has engaged in one to one counselling and says he has "learnt to stop and think and not to act out of impulse".

Judge Dara Hayes noted the witness intimidation offence, which is serious in itself, was also an attack on the criminal justice system. He added there were young children in the car that was rammed and Mr. McLaughlin was on bail for a pattern of offending against the same victim.

However, he noted in mitigation, the defendant had pleaded guilty, has enhanced prisoner status and has been of good behaviour in prison.

He imposed concurrent sentences of three and a half years for that offence and causing criminal damage to the VW Passat, in addition to six months for a dangerous driving charge along with a driving ban of four and a half years.

Addressing Conor McLaughlin he added "I've given you a big opportunity. If you come back before me again he'll have no option but to activate the suspended sentence.
Louth author Clara Kumagai is one of the six winners at this years KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards which were announced at a ceremony in Dublin this week in partnership with International Literature Festival Dublin.

Winners were selected by an independent panel of expert judges, including two Young Judges, and a network of Junior Juries island-wide. The judging panel read a record 158 titles from Irish-born or Ireland-based writers and illustrators, the biggest year so far in the history of the awards.

Louth author Clara Kumagai received the KPMG Book of the Year Award for her debut novel, Catfish Rolling, which explores Japanese legend alongside modern-day predicaments. The story was inspired by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan in 2011. Kumagai dedicated her award to those who had been impacted by that disaster and to the children living through disaster today in Palestine.

Kumagai touches on themes of identity, relationships and grief along with the ethics of scientific study, exploitation and capitalism. Born in Canada to Irish and Japanese parents, Kumagai moved to Ireland aged five and is now based in Dundalk. She writes fiction and non-fiction for children and adults.

Speaking at the ceremony, Elaina Ryan, CEO of Childrens Books Ireland, said: This years award winners showcase the outstanding quality and variety of contemporary Irish childrens literature. The fact that so many of the winners and shortlistees are debuts is remarkable  the Awards are an opportunity for us to celebrate both emerging and established creators and to connect them with their audiences.

Through our Junior Juries programme, we have seen the joy and excitement these shortlisted books have sparked in over 12,700 young readers across Ireland. Today, in front of an audience of 600 excited readers, were proud to recognise the talent and hard work of these extraordinary writers and illustrators whose work will no doubt be such a formative part of so many young readers childhoods.

Other Award-Winning Titles

The Honour Award for Fiction  Treacle Town by Brian Conaghan (Andersen Press).

The Honour Award for Illustration  Three Tasks for a Dragon illustrated by PJ Lynch (Walker Books).

The Eilis Dillon Award for debut childrens book Wider Than the Sea by Serena Molloy. (Hodder Childrens Books)

The Judges Special Award  The Hare-Shaped Hole, written by John Dougherty and illustrated by Thomas Docherty. (Frances Lincoln Children's Books)

The KPMG Junior Juries Award  The Hare-Shaped Hole, written by John Dougherty and illustrated by Thomas Docherty. (Frances Lincoln Children's Books)

A total prize-fund of 16,000 has been awarded to this years winners.

Damian Smyth, Joint Head of Literature and Drama for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented: These awards pay tribute to some of the most fantastically talented writers and illustrators producing new work on the island of Ireland today. The stories they create cross lands and seas, to shape and ignite the minds and hearts of young audiences across the globe. We send our congratulations to all of this years worthy winners!

Maria Flannery, Partner KPMG Ireland presented the annual Reading Hero Award at the ceremony. She said: Well done to all our winners, and a special congratulations to our Reading Hero Alannah ODonoghue who was nominated by her teacher, Clare Farrell. Alannah has displayed an unwavering determination and commitment to reading, and to learning through reading, whilst also finding magic in the turning of each page. She is a perfect example of what the Reading Hero Award is all about.

Through the KPMG Childrens Books Ireland Awards Junior Juries programme young people in schools, libraries and book clubs shadowed adult judges on the judging panel in reading, discussing and assessing the shortlisted books. Students from six schools in Louth participated in the Junior Juries programme. These schools included:

Aston Village Educate Together National School, Drogheda

Dundalk Creche, Dundalk

Tots & Co Playgroup, Afterschool Section, Drogheda

St. Oliver's Community College, Drogheda

Scoil Bhride, Lannleire

St. Peter's National School, Dundalk

The KPMG Childrens Books Ireland Awards and Junior Juries programme are supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaion and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Funding.
CORK University Hospital has acknowledged a 20% increase in demand for the emergency department (ED) compared to this time last year, and said this has led to 'a large number of patients having to endure lengthy waiting times' in recent days.

It comes as the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) highlighted out of control hospital overcrowding that is not normal for this time of year.

Eighty-nine people were on trolleys in Cork hospitals yesterday, with 74 of these in CUH, latest figures from the INMO show. Fifty-eight of these were in the ED and 16 were on a trolley in a ward or elsewhere.

CUH was the second-most overcrowded hospital in the country yesterday, after University Hospital Limerick. The two hospitals were the only two in Ireland where patients over 75 years of age had been waiting more than 24 hours to be seen  this was the case for two patients at CUH.

The ED at CUH is currently experiencing circa 20% increase in demand compared to this time in 2023, with the last two days having been particularly busy, a spokesperson for South South-West Hospital Group told The Echo.

Despite this, CUH has managed to improve their unscheduled care performance over previous years and continues to ensure the sickest patients are assessed and treated promptly. CUH wishes to apologise to all patients who continue to be affected by long waiting periods at the hospitals ED, the spokesperson added.

The hospital has a long-standing challenge with acute inpatient bed capacity on site which unfortunately has resulted in a large number of patients having to endure lengthy waiting times in the ED awaiting admission. Staff work very hard to provide ongoing safe care to all patients who await admission, and CUH is working with HSE colleagues regionally and nationally to address this.

Meanwhile, according to the HSE, there were also 60 delayed transfers of care in Cork hospitals, meaning there are patients ready for discharge who have completed their acute inpatient hospital care but are still occupying a bed. These are usually people awaiting transfer to a nursing home, but due to a lot of closures of nursing home beds during the pandemic, these places can be scarce in Cork.

There were 40 delayed discharges in CUH yesterday, with 11 in the Mercy, four in South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, three in Mallow, and two in Bantry.

The number of patients who have been admitted to hospital without a bed this week has been out of control, INMO director of professional services Tony Fitzpatrick said.

This level of unacceptable overcrowding, coupled with the fact that nurses and midwives are constantly working short in many emergency departments and wards because of the HSEs recruitment freeze, is bad news for patient and staff safety.

Vacancies that are arising because of staff retiring, leaving, or going on maternity leave are remaining unfilled due to this recruitment freeze, he said, adding that this is having a detrimental impact on staff morale and wellbeing.

This level of overcrowding warrants a serious response from the HSE and individual hospital groups, and cannot be allowed to continue into the summer, Mr Fitzpatrick warned.
A 29-YEAR-OLD man who allegedly made off from Monkstown, Co Cork, on a stolen electric bicycle with bottles of champagne and prosecco  whose fingerprint crosschecked for 27 different names across Britain and Europe  has been remanded in custody for a fortnight.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis said the director of public prosecutions had decided that it was a suitable case to be dealt with at Cork District Court level.

However, Judge Mary Dorgan said on Tuesday that she was not deciding on jurisdiction until the accused man revealed his true identity.

I will deal with it [the decision on jurisdiction for the case] when he tells us who he is, said Judge Dorgan.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, said he would be visiting the accused man in Cork Prison later that evening.

Judge Dorgan remanded the defendant in custody on the application of Sergeant Gearoid Davis until June 4.

Sergeant John Kelleher said at an earlier sitting of Cork District Court that the 29-year-old mans identity was checked through a fingerprint taken from him, and it matched six names in France and 21 identities in England.

He has not provided any information on his identity in Ireland, said Sgt Kelleher.

We dont know who he is. So how can we deal with it? This man has not given any information  documents or anything.

Mr Burke, said the accused gave his name as Yousoof Angelina, adding: I would have thought a fingerprint would have been conclusive.

Mr Burke said the accused came from Syria and arrived in Cork by ferry at Ringaskiddy. The solicitor said the accused no longer had travel documents.

Judge Dorgan said previously that the accused man should arrange through friends or family to get his passport or identifying documentation.

The defendant spoke up at Cork District Court on the video link from Cork Prison to say: I dont have family. I dont have no one.

He faces a number of burglary charges at Cork District Court.

The charges against him refer to burglary at Marine Villas, Monkstown, Co Cork, on January 25, and burglary at Shamrock Place, Ringaskiddy, the following day.

He is charged with stealing a bicycle at Ensign Bar, Monkstown, on January 26; stealing another bicycle at another location in Monkstown; and stealing one at Ringaskiddy on the same date.

He is also charged with having cannabis for his own use. Finally, he is charged with failing to produce a valid passport or equivalent document at Togher Garda Station on January 26.
CORK campaigners have called for more to be done after Taoiseach Simon Harris announced that Ireland will officially recognise the State of Palestine.

Mr Harris said that recognition of the Palestinian State will be effective from May 28.

He said the decision was based on a belief in permanent peace and taken due to Irelands understanding of a countrys fight to be recognised internationally.

Joining Ireland in the move to make this official recognition is Spain and Norway, with Mr Harris stating that he is confident in other countries soon following suit.

Izzedine Alkarajeh, owner of Izz Cafe, a Palestinian restaurant in Cork, said: On a personal level, this is a long-awaited decision, [that] is in line with the recognition of the people of Ireland.

Palestinians in Cork, Ireland, and around the world are celebrating this day. Recognising Palestine as a sovereign state is a major milestone that we hope will influence other countries and nations to do the same.

This is the first move to politically recognise Palestine, [but] there should also be sanctions. We need to practice our freedom.

Meanwhile, Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign co-chairperson Martin Shiel said: This isnt something that any of the Palestinian groups that we work with have called for.

Its not an essential demand of the Palestinian movement. The main thing that we will be calling for at this stage, the most important thing that they should be doing, is sanctions. We fear that people will begin to think weve actually achieved something or made significant progress here, but in fact, we would say the opposite.

While Ireland is recognising the state of Palestine, it is not taking concrete actions to stop the destruction of Palestinian people. Without sanctions, recognition of the State of Palestine is of no real use.

Cork North Central Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Mick Barry said: Recognising the State of Palestine is positive insofar as it goes, but the Government need to go much further and implement sanctions now.

Tanaiste and foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin is to travel to Brussels on Sunday to meet with 40 countries, where a focus is expected on the Arab states proposed peace plan and Palestinian recognition.

Shortly before Mr Harris made the announcement outside Government Buildings in Dublin, Israel recalled its ambassador in Ireland, Dana Erlich, temporarily for consultations.

Israels foreign affairs minister, Israel Katz, called Palestinian recognition a distorted step and said he has issued a severe demarche to the Irish, Spanish, and Norwegian ambassadors to Israel.

Israels embassy in Ireland said that it views Irelands move to recognise Palestine as undermining its sovereignty and security and as damaging to our bilateral relations.
A NUMBER of organisations in Cork have joined forces to launch a smart street data pilot project, which is expected to provide a detailed picture of street usage and mobility patterns to help inform strategic planning.

The project, being undertaken by the Cork Smart Gateway, Cork City Council, Cork Business Association (CBA) and the VQ, has seen five Telraam S2 sensors installed across four streets in the city centre.

The Telraam device counts, categorises, and reports all activity on the street in real time which includes cars, bikes, pedestrians, buses, trucks, and more.

Those involved in the project say the data generated will provide a detailed picture of street usage and mobility patterns which will help inform strategic planning.

So far, sensors have been installed on Oliver Plunkett Street, MacCurtain Street, Bridge Street, and North Main Street with more streets to be included shortly.

The Cork Smart Gateway, an initiative which seeks to develop and promote Cork as a smart and innovative region is funded by Cork City Council, Cork County Council, and University College Cork and is supported by a wider steering group consisting of Nimbus Technology Gateway, Tyndall National Institute, Tech Industry Alliance, Cork Chamber and Energy Cork.

Cork city generates significant amounts of data which can be measured to provide detailed insights into how Cork city operates on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, Sean Lotty of the initiative said.

Understanding this data will allow for effective planning and data-driven decision making which will help ensure Cork citys place as a top European location to live, work and invest.

Ian OSullivan of Cork City Council and the Cork Smart Gateway added that one of Cork citys goal is to be an internationally recognised city for innovation.

One of our digital ambitions is the increased availability and usability of open data and empowering our citizens and business stakeholders to leverage the power of data to help make informed decisions on our citys development, he said.

President of the the CBA, Aaron Mansworth, said the pilot project exemplifies the power of multi-stakeholder partnerships in advancing our smart city ambitions.

By harnessing the insights from the Telraam devices, were not just counting movements; were shaping the future of our streets, paving the way for a vibrant, connected, and sustainable Cork, he added.

Director of operations for the VQ, Shane Clarke, welcomed the installation of sensors on MacCurtain Street and Bridge Street, which he said should evidence the increased pedestrian activity and street vibrancy.
AN east Cork primary school is set to move from Catholic to Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB) patronage, marking a new chapter in the schools long history.

Kyle National School, situated between Killeagh and Youghal, will become known as Kyle Community National School when the change comes into effect in the coming academic year.

A statement from Cork ETB confirmed agreement has been reached between the Department of Education, the Diocese of Cloyne and Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) for the transfer of patronage of Kyle National School from the bishop of Cloyne to Cork ETB with effect from September 1.

The board said the decision to transfer the patronage is part of the Department of Education pilot project for the divestment of patronage of Catholic primary schools and follows extensive consultation involving the department, the Diocese of Cloyne, Cork ETB, and the school community.

Cork ETB is aware of the outstanding tradition that Kyle National School has in serving its local community and it is our intention and commitment to support the school into the future in building on this tradition and continuing to provide an education based on excellence in education, care and respect for all, said Cork ETB chief executive Denis Leamy.

Cork ETBs statement paid tribute to all stakeholders involved for what it described as very positive engagement that characterised the process.

'A new chapter'

Kyle NS has been serving the educational needs of the local community since 1870.

School principal Joanna Kelly said the upcoming transfer of patronage marks a significant milestone in the schools history.

Were very excited. Its a time of great nostalgia as well. The school has been here for so long and it definitely feels like a new chapter in our story, she told The Echo.

Its just lovely for a small school to be progressive and looking to diversify and offer a choice of education to the community that we serve.

Shift in curriculum

The school is set to shift to the multi-belief and values curriculum, Goodness Me, Goodness You which is taught in community national schools.

I suppose the biggest change for our students and staff on the ground is that the Catholic religious programme Grow in Love is going to be replaced with Goodness Me, Goodness You, said Ms Kelly.

Theres a very strong Catholic contingent of families attending the school  all those children will still be offered the sacraments, but sacramental preparation will be done outside of school time. Ms Kelly also paid tribute to all involved.

This is understood to be the first instance in the diocese where a school has divested from Catholic patronage. We are grateful to all who have participated in this new arrangement and we pray that this time of transition will be positive and fruitful, said bishop of Cloyne William Crean.
Colm Meaney is to play Ian Bailey in a Jim Sheridan true crime drama about the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder.

Aidan Gillen has also been cast in 'Re-creation', which will look back on the murder of the French film and TV producer in Cork in 1996.

It will question what happened almost 30 years ago, using a fictional jury to debate the facts of the case.

Sheridan said that he is delighted to have two icons of Irish cinema join the cast.

Co-director of the film, David Merriman added, Colm and Aidan both have starred in some of my favourite films and shows. As artists, they both elevate any project, and we are so grateful to have them onboard.

Bailey was arrested twice by gardai in relation to the murder but released on both occasions.

He was convicted in his absence in Paris in 2019, but Irish courts rejected requests for his extradition.

Meaney has starred in many films and TV series, while he is well-known for playing chief Miles O'Brien in Star Trek.

Gillen has also appeared in many high-profile films but is best known for Game of Thrones and The Wire.
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CORKS claim to be Irelands culinary capital has been strengthened once again following the announcement that three of the top accolades at Irelands Restaurant Awards were won by restaurants in the city and county.

The countys only two star Michelin restaurant, Dede at Baltimores Custom House, was awarded the title of Irelands Best Restaurant while Aishling Moore of the Goldie Restaurant on Oliver Plunkett Street in the city centre was named as the countrys top chef at the awards event held in Dublin on Monday night.

The Cork city restaurant Ichigo Igie was awarded the title of Best World Cuisine while Rare 1784, the cocktail and fine dining eatery in Kinsale, was awarded the best innovator accolade and the Fota Island Resort was recognised for best learning and development.

There were a number of Cork establishments which won the Munster titles, including Levis Corner House, Ballydehob, which was crowned the best pub in the province while Elbow Lane Brew and Smokehouse on Oliver Plunkett Street was named as the best casual dining experience.

Speaking at the awards event which was held in Dublins Clayton Hotel, the chief executive of the Irish Restaurant Association, Paul Lenehan, said that these were undoubtedly tough times for our industry but that it was as crucial as ever to celebrate the countrys food and hospitality offering.

Above all, the awards give us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the hard work of Irelands talented restaurant, cafe and food-led hospitality staff, he said.

These awards highlight the resilience and innovation in our food industry.

Behind every great dish is a team of individuals committed to creating memorable dining experiences.

The Irish Kidney Association was the charity partner for the awards this year and its chief executive, Carol Moore, said the event had raised a substantial amount of funds and heightened awareness for the need for more organ donors and the need to screen for kidney disease.
WEEKS after 52 people seeking international protection arrived in a north Cork town, almost half of them are volunteering with the local Tidy Towns organisation.

Around lunchtime on Thursday, March 21, local members of An Garda Siochana closed off Fermoys Rathealy Road and, with the Garda public order unit in a support role, escorted 52 people, mostly in families, into the back entrance of Abbeyville House, which had recently been refurbished as an accommodation centre.

Esther Umekwe and PJ O'Leary, members of Fermoy Tidy Towns. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

In the weeks since, residents have settled into their new accommodation, and most of the 23 adults in the centre have begun volunteering with Fermoy Tidy Towns (FTT).

Abbeyville House is Fermoys second accommodation centre for people seeking international protection, after the former St Josephs Convent, which is home to 140 people, 69 of them children.

Solomom Stephen, member of Fermoy Tidy Towns. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

The towns former Grand Hotel was converted in mid-2022 to accommodate approximately 30 Ukrainian refugees.

On a recent evening, in bright but unseasonably chilly conditions, about a dozen of the residents were working outside Abbeyville House, cleaning and weeding the pavement and road.

By the end of the evening, over 20 bags of weeds and litter had been collected, and the flowerpots along the pavement had been planted with pansies and violets.

Noel McCarthy, Fine Gael county councillor and chair of FTT, said the group was grateful for the contribution of the new arrivals, and he said he had received overwhelmingly positive feedback from locals.

James Ronan from Fermoy Tidy Towns. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Were delighted to have the people from Abbeyville, like the friends from St Josephs and the Ukrainian friends, helping us in the Tidy Towns.

Theyre nice and friendly people and I have no doubt theyll make great friends and Im delighted theyre making Fermoy a better place, and we really appreciate their help, he said.

Israel Oludoyin, member of Fermoy Tidy Towns. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Paul Kavanagh, FTT project manager, said that most of the volunteers working that night were from Abbeyville House.

After all the criticism of them, here they are, doing a major clean-up, making Fermoy better and cleaner, and maybe its time to kill some of the myths about people seeking asylum in our town.

These people have huge pride in their new home and theyre on 38.80 a week, he said, referring to the amount paid weekly to adults seeking international protection.

One of the volunteers, Omosolape Olagunju came to Ireland from Nigeria, and she said Fermoy is a very calm and peaceful place for her children, who are 15, 12 and nine.

My kids are happy since we came here. I lost my husband, and we have been very depressed, but we are so happy here, and their school is so lovely.

I enjoy this work, because it helps me when I feel stressful, Ms Olagunju said.

Carlos Buhendwa, member of Fermoy Tidy Towns. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Carlos Buhendwa, who is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, arrived in Fermoy in March.

Im so happy to be in Ireland, and working with Tidy Towns.

What can I say, this is my new home, thanks everyone in Fermoy for being so friendly, Mr Buhendwa said.

People from Fermoy, they are welcoming people.
A shop worker at The Wine Buff store on Oliver Plunkett Street approached a woman leaving without paying for two bottles of wine and the culprit kicked her in the leg and threatened to break one of the bottles over her head.

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed a six-month jail term on Margaret Deasy for this assault at Cork District Court.

35-year-old Margaret Deasy of Cork Simon Community was arrested and charged with assault by Garda Patrick Houlihan who also charged her with another assault on a shop worker in another premises and counts of shoplifting on the afternoon of April 3.

Garda Patrick Houlihan said at an earlier court hearing that on April 3, Margaret Deasy went into Benneton shop on Oliver Plunkett Street and selected a womans jacket worth 70 and left the premises without offering payment. She was followed by security who asked for it back but she refused and kept on walking.

She entered Diesel on Oliver Plunkett Street and stole clothing to the value of 73.

She entered The Wine Buff on Oliver Plunkett Street and stole a bottle of wine valued 44.99 and while leaving she kicked the staff member in the leg.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis Ms Deasy picked up another bottle and threatened to strike the member of staff over the head with it.

In another incident she entered Penneys and stole 40 worth of clothing.

There was further evidence that she spat at a security guard in Marks and Spencer when confronted.
A FORMER guest at the Metropole Hotel in Cork who trashed the room in which he was staying has since paid 1,500 compensation for the damage he caused, a court has heard.

The matter, which occurred in February last year, has just come to light at Cork District Court where Jonathan Healy, aged 34, with an address at 25 Hazel Rd, Togher, Cork, was prosecuted for causing criminal damage to a bedroom.

He pleaded guilty to the crime and Sergeant John Kelleher gave an outline of the offence for Judge Mary Dorgan.

On February 8, 2023, Garda Kian OSullivan attended the Metropole Hotel following a report that the guests in a room were in the process of trashing the accommodation.

They found a large amount of damage: Broken chairs, smashed glass, a large amount of stains on the carpeting, and beds were in disarray, the court heard.

Jonathan Healy exited the bathroom and immediately squared up to Gda OSullivan, pushing him once in the chest.

He violently resisted arrest, attempting to strike gardai with his fists. He had to be pepper-sprayed and handcuffed, and he continued to be aggressive and attempted to kick gardai while waiting for transport to Gurranabraher Garda Station.

The cost of replacement of furnishings and cleaning amounted to 1,500.

Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer said on the defendants behalf: He made fulsome admissions when interviewed by gardai. He was profuse in his apologies and undertook to pay the damages, which he has done.

He booked into the hotel for a night out with a friend, shall we say. They had alcohol. The alcohol was excessive. There was an argument in the confines of the hotel and there was this damage.

It was immediately detected because of the noise factor. It was furniture damage rather than any structural damage.

He accepted without hesitation what he had done. He is in full-time employment. He has made up his difficulties with the party in question. And he put together the 1,500.

Judge Mary Dorgan said in relation to the payment of compensation: It is just as well, because otherwise he would be going straight to jail.

I will look for a probation report at this stage and find out if there is anything more he needs to do to stay out of trouble.

The judge adjourned sentencing until September 18.
WE have so much to write home about when it comes to Cork city and county  its a thriving metropolitan area, which has attracted 9 out of 10 of the worlds top life sciences companies; we have excellent universities and colleges which ensure a talent pipeline for our region, ambitious local authorities, and we have a dynamic, progressive and forward- thinking approach to business and life.

Our construction sector is vibrant with some fantastic, innovative and strategic leaders in the region, delivering world class projects in Cork and far beyond also.

And of course, in Cork, we always want more  and thats a strategy that has served us really well to date, in both our vision, ambition, and delivery for Cork.

As the representative body for the construction industry in the region, CIF Cork is always working with stakeholders in the area, and it is another testament to Cork that all the various organisations, public and private, work so well together, meeting and communicating regularly so that there is consistency and cohesiveness in the regions overall vision.

Even today as we look around Cork, we can see significant developments are underway  the South Docklands is progressing following the demolition of R&H Hall buildings and we will see further development here in the coming months, delivering jobs and new offices and homes for Cork.

Across the river, the key to unlocking even more potential for Cork lies in the delivery of the Port of Cork Masterplan.

The removal of large freight transport through Cork city and subsequent improvement in traffic congestion along with the motorway to Ringaskiddy are key enablers of Corks future growth and development. Yet they have not moved with the dynamism of our region, and there is risk that other regions will capitalise while Cork delays.

Roads and public transport in Cork must be prioritised, potentially in a fashion similar to the fast tracking of Strategic Housing Developments (SHDs) so that we are not only attractive to outward investment, but so that our own investment continues. Infrastructure was highlighted as a key challenge to development in Cork in recent research commissioned by CIF Cork.

It is essential we have a built environment which includes housing, roads, transport systems, schools, hospitals and utilities to meet the needs of the population and investment into Cork.

Significant constraints in maintaining the forward growth of Cork are the lack of adequate infrastructure such as water services, public transport, flood relief schemes, schools, healthcare facilities and these have a massive knock on impact on development. If a site cannot be accessed by road infrastructure, if there isnt a public transport route or a local school, or adequate water services, the construction sector is seriously hampered and development stalls.

Planning remains one of the most significant constraints to building out the National Development Plan in a timely and efficient manner. The length of time from project inception to execution is years and this means that the cost of carrying out projects inevitably changes.

We must be more streamlined in our assessment process and our process of adjudicating on planning applications to accelerate the delivery of critically needed infrastructure and housing.

Corks ambitious plans are achievable; the region has only ever demonstrated its ability to deliver regardless of the size and scale of any project. The government has identified Cork as a Regional Centre and as such, targeted investment and innovation from Government is required. A key example of this is the Government funding pledge needed for the delivery Corks Events Centre to be achieved. The Events Centre will not only bring upwards of the 1,000 jobs to the Region in the construction phase, but long-term could see the Regions employment opportunities grow by up to 3,000 jobs associated with the Events Centre itself and the hospitality boost it will consequentially provide.

Cork is ideally placed for future development opportunities, but we must progress with decision making, plan and invest in our infrastructure, open doors to ensure we retain our attractiveness for FDI, maximise the Regions potential for Renewable Energy both onshore and offshore and stimulate the upward growth of our workforce.
THERE will be big excitement at the Opera House from tomorrow (Friday) to Sunday, as the Montfort College of Performing Arts presents Applause 2024 - a song and dance extravaganza featuring more than 1,500 students from all over Cork city and county.

A range of dance styles, from jazz through ballet and hip hop to tap, will be on show, plus the Colleges musical theatre students perform some of the biggest hits from Broadway and Disney, including Phantom Of The Opera, Miss Saigon, Legally Blonde, The Little Mermaid, Oliver, Mary Poppins, and Annie.

Thats 6pm tomorrow (May 24), noon and 5pm both Saturday and Sunday. But be warned - tickets are selling very fast for this one!

From Wednesday to Friday next week, Irish National Opera are in with that wonderfully tragic Verdi romance, La Traviata. First performed in 1853, its more popular than ever. Not surprisingly, only a few tickets left for that too.

Call 021 427 0022 or see www.corkoperahouse.ie for Opera House information.

An end of year show at the Everyman also this Saturday and Sunday, May 25/26, when the students of Super Stars Cork perform The School Of Good And Evil, directed by Kate Gaffney and Maria OCallaghan.

See all your favourite villains and heroes/heroines in one place as the students take you through an epic battle of goodies and baddies! Perfect for a family audience.

Students from all over Cork city and county, aged 3-21, take part. Performances at 1.30pm and 6.30pm both days, and, as is to be expected with so many proud parents, grandparents, and friends attending, tickets will be in demand. 021 450 1673 or www.everymancork.com.

Irene Kellehers fifth play, the critically acclaimed A Safe Passage, opened at Cork Arts Theatre on Tuesday, and will continue until this Saturday, May 25.

Irene has spent almost two years working on this version which, while it explores dark topics, does so with a sense of play. I think this gives us two characters that the audience will care about and I am excited to see them come to life at Cork Arts Theatre, says writer and actor Irene.

After almost 30 years working in theatre, I think Irene is one of the most exciting and powerful voices writing and performing in Irish today, says director Geoff Gould. While short (less than an hours length), it is magical, funny, bewildering, beguiling, compelling and always intriguing.

New Years Eve, 1979. Two strangers are thrown together at Inish Dubh Lighthouse: Christy the Keeper, shining a ceaseless vigil for all at sea, and the young woman who does not want to be saved. As the storm rages and the tower door shuts, they must decide - to weather the storm together or take a leap of faith?

Well-known Leitrim actor, writer and director Seamus ORourke (Trad, Indigestion, From Under The Beds) plays Christy to Kellehers desperate girl. Until Saturday at 8pm nightly. Call 021 450 5624 or see www.corkartstheatre.com.

The Woman Who Shot Mussolini can be seen as part of Midleton Arts Festival

At Midleton Arts Festival, running from today until Sunday, you can step into the fascinating world of the Honourable Violet Albina Gibson in The Woman Who Shot Mussolini, written and performed by Alice Barry.

A privileged Dublin aristocrat, Violets life took a dramatic turn when she attempted to assassinate Italys fascist leader in 1926. How did she manage that?

Find out tonight in the My Place Community Centre at 8pm.

Lots more at the Festival too - exhibitions, walks, the Cork Light Orchestra at the Farmers Market on Saturday morning, plus workshops and literary readings. Check it all out on https://midletonartsfestival.com/.

Dont forget the Lee Sessions Trad Trail at the Corner House this evening and every Thursday. This extensive series of free traditional Irish music events features masters of traditional music. 6pm start. www.theleesessions.com
Here are the top stories in Thursday's newspapers.

The Irish Times reports that the Governments decision to officially recognise the state of Palestine on Wednesday was widely welcomed by many civil society groups, Opposition parties and supporters of Palestine.

Israel has warned there will be "severe consequences" following the formal recognition of a Palestinian state, according to the Irish Examiner.

The Irish Independent says Revolut's instant-access savings accounts will pile pressure on Ireland's established banks.

The Irish Daily Mail reports that payments to asylum seekers will be means-tested after a review found some claimants were receiving a State allowance while also working.

Foreign-born candidates in the local elections have told the Irish Daily Mirror about abuse faced while out canvassing.

The Irish Daily Star reveals that Colm Meaney will play Ian Bailey in Jim Sheridan's movie about the killing of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

The Belfast Telegraph focuses on Rishi Sunak's damp start to the UK general election.

The Herald says a young associate of a convicted Kinahan cartel killer is allegedly running a drugs business in south Dublin.

The British papers are led by Rishi Sunak announcing a date for the UK general election.

Metro and the Daily Mail report that Britons will head to the polls on July 4th. The British prime minister has declared that it is time for Britain to choose its future.

Daily Mail: Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/fsnpmsszOa  George Mann (@sgfmann) May 22, 2024

The Telegraph, i, The Guardian, The Times and the Financial Times all say Mr Sunak has taken a risk, with the Tories currently trailing Labour by 20 percentage points in the polls.

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:



'Sunak gambles on snap poll'#TomorrowsPapersToday #GeneralElection



Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/88FyFOU0bF  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) May 22, 2024

Financial Times: Sunak bets on July 4 election #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/8Uzc691t4o  George Mann (@sgfmann) May 22, 2024

Drown and out is the headline on the Daily Mirror as Mr Sunak braved a downpour to make the announcement outside No 10.

Thursday's front page: Rishi Sunak has called a summer general election#TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/RkKoWo3hMS pic.twitter.com/GqiNyszs6g  The Mirror (@DailyMirror) May 22, 2024

And the Daily Star leads with former UK Post Office boss Paula Vennells tearful first day of giving evidence to the Horizon IT inquiry.
James Cox

An Israeli minister has posted a video containing footage of the Hamas attacks on October 7th mixed with footage of Irish dancing, in response to Ireland's recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Israel's foreign affairs minister Israel Katz posted a video on X addressed to Taoiseach Simon Harris which shows violent scenes intercut with Irish dancing.

The short video is accompanied by the message : Ireland, if your goal was to reward terrorism by declaring support for a Palestinian state, youve achieved it."

Mr Harris has insisted Israel should not have been "surprised" at Ireland's decision to recognise the state of Palestine.

Ireland, if your goal was to reward terrorism by declaring support for a Palestinian state, youve achieved it.@SimonHarrisTD, Hamas thanks you for your service. pic.twitter.com/mgz7ZGtnCi    Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 23, 2024

A two-state solution is the only way to bring peace and stability to the people of Israel and the people of Palestine, Mr Harris told reporters on Thursday morning.

What I would say very clearly, to the Israeli government, is we very much recognise the state of Israel and its right to live in peace and security, but you can absolutely say that and also say the next bit - that the people of Palestine have a right to live in peace and security and that the humanitarian catastrophe thats unfolding in Palestine, in Gaza, needs to end.

Mr Harris said he spoke with Israeli president Isaac Herzog last Friday in an exchange which was firm but respectful.

We exchanged views, I outlined the Irish position. So I dont think anybody in the world, least of all Israel, would have been surprised by the decision that Ireland, Norway and Spain took yesterday."
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Sheep and cattle graze in the rangelands of Northern Mongolia on Aug. 15, 2018. Richard Mortel / CC BY 2.0

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has found that as much as half of the natural pasture land on Earth has been degraded by the impacts of climate change and overexploitation, putting a sixth of the planets food supplies at risk.

The new UNCCD report  Global Land Outlook Thematic Report on Rangelands and Pastoralists  emphasizes the importance of rangelands and points to ways to better manage and restore them while protecting pastoralism.

Degradation of Earths extensive, often immense natural pastures and other rangelands due to overuse, misuse, climate change and biodiversity loss poses a severe threat to humanitys food supply and the wellbeing or survival of billions of people, a press release from UNCCD said.

Most pastures are lost or compromised by conversion to cropland and other changes due to urban expansion and population growth and their accompanying rise in food and fuel demands; excessive grazing; policies that incentivize overexploitation; and the abandonment of land by pastoralists.

These land use changes lead to diminished soil nutrients and fertility, salinization, alkalinization, erosion and soil compaction, which inhibits plant growth. These effects all contribute to fluctuations in precipitation, drought and biodiversity loss on the surface of the land and belowground.

To have any chance of meeting global biodiversity, climate and food security goals, we simply cannot afford to lose any more of our rangelands, grasslands and savannahs. Our planet suffers from their ongoing conversion, as do the pastoralists who depend on them for their livelihoods, and all those who rely on them for food, water and other vital ecosystem services, said Joao Campari, WWFs global food practice leader, in the press release.

Rangelands consist primarily of the natural grasslands livestock and wild animals use to graze and forage. They also include savannas, wetlands, tundra, shrublands and deserts.

Rangelands make up 54 percent of all land on the planet.

When we cut down a forest, when we see a 100-year-old tree fall, it rightly evokes an emotional response in many of us. The conversion of ancient rangelands, on the other hand, happens in silence and generates little public reaction, said Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of UNCCD, in the press release. Sadly, these expansive landscapes and the pastoralists and livestock breeders who depend on them are usually under-appreciated. Despite numbering an estimated half a billion individuals worldwide, pastoralist communities are frequently overlooked, lack a voice in policy-making that directly affects their livelihoods, marginalised, and even often seen as outsiders in their own lands.

The UNCCD report was launched by the authors in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. In 2026, Mongolia will host the meeting of the UNCCD Conference of the Parties  the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP).

As custodian of the largest grasslands in Eurasia, Mongolia has always been cautious in transforming rangelands. Mongolian traditions are built on the appreciation of resource limits, which defined mobility as a strategy, established shared responsibilities over the land, and set limits in consumption, said H.E. Bat-Erdene Bat-Ulzii, Mongolias environment minister, in the press release.

Two billion people worldwide  small-scale farmers, herders and ranchers  depend upon healthy rangelands.

In many states in West Africa, 80 percent of the population is employed in livestock production. And in Mongolia and Central Asia, grazing rangelands make up 60 percent of land area, with livestock herding supporting almost a third of the population.

The report points out that efforts to bolster productivity and food security through the conversion of rangelands to crops in regions that are mostly arid have led to lower agricultural yields and land degradation.

The undermining of rangelands is due to poorly implemented policies and regulations, weak and ineffective governance, and the lack of investment in rangeland communities and sustainable production models, the report said.

More than 60 experts from over 40 countries contributed to the report.

The report details an approach to enable policymakers to restore, manage and stabilize rangelands backed by case studies that describe lessons learned from the missteps and successes of rangeland management.

One of the authors primary recommendations is to protect pastoralism  a mobile way of life dating back millennia centred on the pasture-based production of sheep, goats, cattle, horses, camels, yaks, llamas or other domesticated herbivores, along with semi-domesticated species such as bison and reindeer, the press release said.

From the tropics to the Arctic, pastoralism is a desirable default  and often the most sustainable  option that should be incorporated into rangeland use planning, Thiaw said.

Among the reports other key recommendations are integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies with sustainable plans for rangeland management to boost the resilience of rangeland and pastoralist communities while increasing carbon sequestration and storage.

The authors also recommend avoiding or reducing the conversion of rangelands and changes to land use that diminish the multifunctionality and diversity of rangelands, especially on communal and Indigenous lands.

Imbalance between the supply of and demand for animal forage lands leads to overgrazing, invasive species, and the increased risk of drought and wildfires  all of which accelerate desertification and land degradation trends around the world, said Maryam Niamir-Fuller, co-chair of the UN IYRP International Support Group, in the press release. We must translate our shared aspirations into concrete actions  stopping indiscriminate conversion of rangelands into unsuitable land uses, advocating for policies that support sustainable land management, investing in research that enhances our understanding of rangelands and pastoralism, empowering pastoralist communities to preserve their sustainable practices while also gaining tools to thrive in a changing world, and supporting all stakeholders, especially pastoralists, to implement measures that effectively thwart further degradation and preserve our land, our communities, and our cultures.
Exploring the hustle and bustle of Xi'an

People's Daily Online) 10:01, May 23, 2024

Tourists dressed in Hanfu, the traditional attire of the Han ethnic group, and costumes of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), pose for pictures at Datang Everbright City, a tourist landmark in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (People's Daily Online/Weng Qiyu)

Walking through the streets of Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, visitors enjoy the romantic and lively atmosphere.

As night falls, Datang Everbright City, a tourist landmark featuring a grand street with characteristics of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), lights up with colorful lanterns. Tourists dressed in Hanfu, the traditional attire of the Han ethnic group, and Tang Dynasty-style costumes pose for photos.

At a crowded spot in the scenic area, a popular interactive show named "Grand Tang Secret Box," featuring two actors portraying Tang Dynasty officials, elicits laughter and applause.

At the Muslim Quarter, a famous city attraction, a variety of delicious foods tempt both locals and tourists. After trying a green bean cake, a foreign visitor praised the chef's skills in the Shaanxi dialect, amusing everyone around.

Xi'an aims to become a globally recognized cultural city and has worked hard to boost its branding. The city has focused on combining culture, commerce, and tourism while exploring new areas for development.

Tourists dressed in Hanfu, the traditional attire of the Han ethnic group, and costumes of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), pose for pictures at Datang Everbright City, a tourist landmark in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (People's Daily Online/Weng Qiyu)

Tourists dressed in Hanfu, the traditional attire of the Han ethnic group, and costumes of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), pose for pictures at Datang Everbright City, a tourist landmark in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (People's Daily Online/Weng Qiyu)

Tourists dressed in Hanfu, the traditional attire of the Han ethnic group, and costumes of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), pose for pictures at Datang Everbright City, a tourist landmark in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (People's Daily Online/Weng Qiyu)

Tourists visit Datang Everbright City, a tourist landmark in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (People's Daily Online/Weng Qiyu)

Tourists watch an interactive show named "Grand Tang Secret Box," featuring two actors portraying Tang Dynasty officials, at Datang Everbright City, a tourist landmark in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (People's Daily Online/Weng Qiyu)

Tourists buy handicrafts at Datang Everbright City, a tourist landmark in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (People's Daily Online/Weng Qiyu)

Tourists visit the Muslim Quarter, a famous attraction in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (People's Daily Online/Weng Qiyu)

A foreign visitor buys delicacies at the Muslim Quarter, a famous attraction in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (People's Daily Online/Weng Qiyu)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Multiple Microsoft services including Bing and Copilot, along with ChatGPT internet search and DuckDuckGo are down in Europe, Bleeping Computer reported. Bing.com and Copilot return blank pages and 429 errors, while DuckDuckGo simply states: "There was an error displaying the search results. Please try again."

On its @MSFT365Status X page, Microsoft stated that "We're investigating an issue where users may be unable to access the Microsoft Copilot service. We're working to isolate the cause of the issue. More information can be found in the admin center under CP795190." OpenAI also confirmed the issue and said it's investigating.

Both ChatGPT internet search (available to Plus or corporate users) and DuckDuckGo rely on the Bing API, hence why those sites are down as well. The outage appears to have started at around 3AM ET today (May 23).

Microsoft was clobbered by another outage in January, when Teams went down across North and South America. The company was also hit by a massive breach that same month, with a US government review board calling Microsoft's security culture "inadequate" and in need of an overhaul.
OpenAI cast the actor of Sky's voice months before Sam Altman contacted Scarlett Johansson, and it had no intention of finding someone who sounded like her, according to The Washington Post. The publication said the flier OpenAI issued last year looked for actors that had "warm, engaging [and] charismatic" voices. They needed to be between 25 and 45 years old and had to be non-union, but OpenAI reportedly didn't specify that it was looking for a Scarlett Johansson voice-alike. If you'll recall, Johansson accused the company of copying her likeness without permission for its Sky voice assistant.

The agent of Sky's voice told The Post that the company never talked about Johansson or the movie Her with their talent. OpenAI apparently didn't tweak the actor's recordings to sound like Johansson either, because her natural voice sounded like Sky's, based on the clips of her initial voice test that The Post had listened to. OpenAI product manager Joanne Jang told the publication that the company selected actors who were eager to work on AI. She said that Mira Murati, the company's Chief Technology Officer, made all the decisions about the AI voices project and that Altman was not intimately involved in the process.

Jang also told the publication that to her, Sky sounded nothing like Johansson. Sky's actress told The Post through her agent that she just used her natural voice and that she has never been compared to Johansson by the people who know her closely. But in a statement Johansson's team shared with Engadget, she said that she was shocked OpenAI pursued a voice that "sounded so eerily similar" to hers that her "closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference" after she turned down Altman's offer to voice ChatGPT.

Johansson said that Altman first contacted her in September 2023 with the offer and then reached out again just two days before the company introduced GPT-4o to ask her to reconsider. Sky has been one of ChatGPT's voices since September, but GPT-4o gave it the power to have more human-like conversations with users. That made its similarities to Johansson's voice more apparent  Altman tweeting "her" after OpenAI demonstrated the new large language model didn't help with the situation and invited more comparisons to the AI virtual assistant Johansson voiced in the movie. OpenAI has paused using Sky's voice "out of respect" for Johansson's concerns, it wrote in a blog post. The actor said, however, that the company only stopped using Sky after she hired legal counsel who wrote Altman and the company to ask for an explanation.

her  Sam Altman (@sama) May 13, 2024

If you're wondering if Sky truly does sound like Johansson, we embedded a video below so you can judge for yourself. It's a recording of Johansson's statement as read by the Sky voice assistant, posted by Victor Mochere on YouTube. Opinions in the comment section are divided, with some saying that it does sound like her if she were robotic, while others say that the voice sounds more like Rashida Jones.
A political consultant who admitted to using a deepfake of President Joe Biden's voice in a robocall scheme this year is facing several charges as well as a hefty fine from the Federal Communications Commission. Steve Kramer (pictured above) told NBC News that his aim with the New Hampshire primary robocall was to warn people about the dangers of artificial intelligence.

Kramer previously worked for Dean Phillips, a long-shot Democratic presidential candidate who suspended his campaign in March. Kramer has called for "immediate action" on AI "across all regulatory bodies and platforms."

He has now been charged with 13 felony counts of voter suppression and 13 misdemeanor counts of impersonation of a candidate. The phony Biden voice allegedly urged people not to participate in the primary and to save your vote for the November election. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella, who announced the charges, said in February that the robocall reached as many as 25,000 voters.

The FCC has proposed a $6 million fine against Kramer, citing an alleged violation of the Truth in Caller ID Act as the robocall is said to have spoofed a local political consultant's phone number. The agency also proposed a $2 million fine against Lingo Telecom, the telecom carrier that operated the phone lines, for allegedly violating caller ID authentication rules. The FCC banned AI-generated voices in robocalls soon after the Kramer incident.

New Hampshire remains committed to ensuring that our elections remain free from unlawful interference and our investigation into this matter remains ongoing," AG Formella said. "The Federal Communications Commission will separately be announcing an enforcement action against Mr. Kramer based on violations of federal law. I am pleased to see that our federal partners are similarly committed to protecting consumers and voters from harmful robocalls and voter suppression."

Meanwhile, the FCC may soon require political advertisers to disclose the use of any AI in TV and radio spots. However, chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is not seeking to ban the use of AI-generated content in political ads. As artificial intelligence tools become more accessible, the commission wants to make sure consumers are fully informed when the technology is used, Rosenworcel said in a statement on Wednesday.
If you take in your Samsung device to an independent shop for repair, Samsung requires the store to send your name, contact information, device identifier, and the nature of your complaint to the mothership. Worse, if the repair store detects that your device has been previously repaired with an aftermarket or a non-Samsung part, Samsung requires the establishment to immediately disassemble your device and immediately notify the company.

These details were revealed thanks to 404 Media, which obtained a contract that Samsung requires all independent repair stores to sign in exchange for selling them genuine repair parts. Heres the relevant section from the contract: Company shall immediately disassemble all products that are created or assembled out of, comprised of, or that contain any Service Parts not purchased from Samsung. It adds that the store shall immediately notify Samsung in writing of the details and circumstances of any unauthorized use or misappropriation of any Service Part for any purpose other than pursuant to this Agreement. Samsung may terminate this Agreement if these terms are violated. Samsung did not respond to a request for comment from Engadget.

Samsungs contract is troubling  customers who take their devices to independent repair stores do not necessarily expect their personal information to the sent to the device manufacturer. And if theyve previously repaired their devices by using third-party parts that are often vastly cheaper than official ones (and just as good in many cases), they certainly do not expect an repair store to snitch on them to the manufacturer and have their device rendered unusable.

Experts who spoke to 404 Media said that consumers are within their rights to use third-party parts to repair devices they own under the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, a federal law that governs consumer product warranties in the US.So far, Right to Repair legislation exists in 30 states in the country according to the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), a consumer advocacy organization. But in states like New York, Minnesota and California where this legislation goes into effect this year, contracts like the one Samsung makes repair stores sign would be illegal, 404 Media pointed out.

This is exactly the kind of onerous, one-sided agreement that necessitates the right-to-repair, Kit Walsh, a staff attorney at the Electronic Freedom Foundation told the publication. In addition to the provision you mentioned about dismantling devices with third-party components, these create additional disincentives to getting devices repaired, which can harm both device security and the environment as repairable devices wind up in landfills.

This isnt the only incident around device repair that Samsung has found itself in hot water. Hours before the report from 404 Media, repair blog and parts retailer iFixit announced that it was ending its collaboration with Samsung to launch a Repair Hub less than two years into the partnership. Samsungs approach to repairability does not align with our mission, iFixit said in a blog post, citing the high prices of Samsungs parts and the unrepairable nature of Samsungs devices that remained frustratingly glued together as reasons for pulling the plug.


Union Home Minister Amit Shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that the two Shehzade (Princes) -- Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav -- have already booked tickets for their "vacation" abroad as they want to escape the heat here. They (Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav) are aware that in the five phases of elections, the BJP has already won 310 seats and will cross the 400 mark in the remaining two phases, the Home Minister said.



Speaking at a rally here, Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not taken even a single days leave in the past 23 years.



Now you know the difference. Hum kahan jayenge yahin jiyenge, yahin marenge, he said.



He further said that the INDIA bloc is a congregation of corrupt elements who have done a scam worth Rs 12 lakh crores.



But there is not a blot on the character of PM Modi, he pointed out.



Listing the welfare schemes launched by the Modi government, Amit Shah said that the BJP had fulfilled the demand for one rank one pension in the army.



During the Samajwadi regime, criminals were indulging in extortion, land grabbing, kidnappings etc. But when Yogi Adityanath's government came to power, he turned all such elements upside down, he said.



Referring to the reservation issue, the Home Minister said that the West Bengal High Court has already struck down the reservation given illegally.



I promise you that there will be no cut in the quota of SC/ST, OBCs and Muslims. It is the INDIA members who want to appease their vote bank, he added.



Home Minister Amit Shah underlined the importance of the region and said that the BJP government is working to develop the Buddhist circuit.




Former bassist for the band Train, Charlie Colin, has died after a bizarre shower accident.

He was 58.

The musician's mother announced his death on Wednesday, telling TMZ that Colin slipped and fell in the shower while he was house-sitting for a friend while residing in Brussels, Belgium.

According to his mom, his wasn't found until his friends returned home from their trip nearly five days later. With so much time passed, it remains unclear as to when the drummer fell or how it happened.

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Per the media outlet, Colin moved to Brussels to instruct a music master class at a conservatory. His mother also said he was working at a studio making music for a film.

Colin contributed to the band Train's first three albums, including the eponymous album, 'Train' (1998), 'Drops of Jupiter' (2001), and 'Save Me, San Francisco' (2009).

The bassist was one of the original members of the group, which initially included Pat Monahan, 55, Rob Hotchkiss, 64, Scott Underwood, 50, and Jimmy Stafford, 60.

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During his time playing alongside the band Train  started by lead vocalist Monahan who was later joined by Hotchkiss  the group was nominated for three Grammy Awards, winning Best Rock Song in 2002 with the smash hit "Drops of Jupiter."

"Charlie is one incredible bass player, but he was in a lot of pain," Monahan said to NBC San Diego regarding the late bassist, who was reportedly battling substance abuse at that time. "The way he was dealing with it was very painful for everyone else around him."

The beloved San Francisco band has a decorated list of musical accolades, racking up everything from Teen Choice to Grammy Awards. The "Hey, Soul Sister" band achieved mainstream success in 1998 and continues to push forward today.

Per TMZ, Colin's mother paid an emotional tribute to her son, calling him a beautiful human being.

"His unique bass playing a beautiful guitar work helped get folks to notice us in SF and beyond. I'll always have a warm place for him in my heart," a tribute on the band's official Facebook described. "I always tried to pull him closer but he had a vision of his own. You're a legend, Charlie. Go charm the pants off those angels."
Prince Harry might not be around during Prince William's coronation, according to royal experts.

Roya Nikkhah, royal editor for the Sunday Times, and Kate Mansey, journalist assistant editor and royal editor at The Times, discussed Prince Harry and Prince William's relationship in one episode of The Times' "The Royals" podcast. Nikkhah mentioned the Duke of Sussex's possible absence during his big brother's coronation.

"It always gets me thinking if God forbid we would have another coronation soon and long live the King, for you know his health and my own sanity, but if we were to have another coronation in the next few years, would Harry be there?" she asked before answering her own question. "I don't think William would invite him, and I don't think Harry would come, and that's an extraordinary thing. Isn't it?"





Mansey said the royal family's dynamic would change if King Charles were gone. She predicted that the Duke of Sussex's ties with the royal family would be severed without his dad around.

"I think that Harry is still part of the family while his father's still alive. I think when we move on to King William, I think it's a very different picture," Mansey said.

"Obviously, he's still part of the family and that you know, his birthright and all that sort of thing, but in terms of any invitations to Trooping in the Colour [or] any kind of official coronation, I think it will be very difficult for William to invite him to that. I just don't think it's going to happen."





Additionally, Mansey pointed out how the public seemingly accepted that King Charles' two sons were not on speaking terms. To clarify her point, she noted how the people were not talking about whether the Prince of Wales would meet his younger brother when the latter flew to England earlier this month to attend a Thanksgiving service to mark the Invictus Games' 10th anniversary. According to Mansey, the reports revolved around whether King Charles would see Prince Harry.

"It was all about 'Will the King meet Harry?' while he's over there during his visit, and from a journalist's perspective, that's quite interesting because last time, the story was 'William saying he had no plans to meet him.' But now the rift is so deep and so widely accepted that that's not even a story anymore," Mansey explained.





"No one assumed that William and Harry would meet, and I think that's really sad, but it's also the story's moved on, the narratives moved on, and that it's just now ingrained in people's minds they don't talk, there's no way back."

Prince Harry and Prince William's falling-out reportedly started when the latter told the former to slow down with his romance with Meghan Markle while they were still dating. Things got worse when the Sussexes stepped back from their royal duties and moved to California.

The Duke of Sussex took their beef to another level when he dished their disagreements in his interviews, docuseries "Harry and Meghan" and book "Spare." In his memoir, Prince Harry detailed a physical altercation between him and his big brother. He claimed that Prince William grabbed his collar, ripped his necklace and knocked him to the floor at his cottage in London, the BBC reported.




Joe Budden has accused his ex-girlfriend Tahiry Jose of being a "lying, failed gold digger" and abuser after she alleged that he threw her "down a flight of stairs" when they were together.

The exes -- who dated from 2005 to 2012 -- began flinging allegations against each other after Budden slammed Sean "Diddy" Combs on his podcast over the footage of the hip-hop mogul physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and his subsequent apology video.

After The Shade Room shared Budden's remarks on Instagram Wednesday, Jose responded by claiming that his comments were "triggering" because he was allegedly physically abusive to her during their relationship.

Budden fired back with a lengthy, savage response in which he accused Jose of being a "lying, failed gold digger that has abused, targeted and manipulated many men," as seen in a screenshot obtained by TSR.

He went on to claim that the "Love & Hip Hop" alum has "tried desperately to attach [herself] to [him] for over 15 years" because she has no identity outside of being his ex-partner.

According to Budden, Jose had no problem with him during their private interactions but allegedly changed her tune online to gain attention.

He added that he typically does not speak to Jose or about her "because it's low vibrational."

"I pray you heal and move on one day, hopefully this is our last exchange... Prayers to all real victims," Budden concluded his statement.

Budden posted the comment after Jose alleged that he once shoved her "down a flight of stairs."

She also claimed that he allegedly dragged her back into the house after she tried to leave and that she had to "talk him into letting [her] go."

Addressing Budden's comments about Combs, Jose wrote in another comment: "This whole s**t took me out. So hard to watch. So sorry for Cassie and every other woman [who] is currently going through it or has ever gone through it. It's tough."

This was not the first time Jose had made such allegations against Budden.

In a 2020 interview with Hollywood Unlocked, Jose claimed that Budden allegedly "hurt [her] bad" enough to land her in the hospital during their relationship but that she's now "forgiven everything he did."

According to the reality star, Budden allegedly broke her nose and then pushed her down the stairs during an argument.

"It started with verbal abuse, emotional abuse and it eventually turned to [physical abuse]," she claimed.

At the time, Budden also refuted her claims, calling her a "toxic liar" and alleging that she was the abusive one in their relationship.

Speaking on his podcast in September 2020, the former rapper claimed that Jose sustained her nose injury after getting punched by a man at a club.

He claimed that he even rushed to the hospital after she called him for help at the time.

"You used to beat my a*s. You threw s**t. You hit me, you kicked me. You did a whole bunch of s**t that's not normal for a man to speak out about because it makes you appear less manly," Budden claimed.
President Joe Biden offers his deep appreciation to Kenyan President William Ruto for the coming deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police forces to help quell gang violence in Haiti. Biden also defends his decision to withhold U.S. forces from the Haiti mission.
From: Author U -- Judith Briles For Immediate Release: Dateline: Denver , CO Thursday, May 23, 2024

When Authors Speak  Listeners Buy Books This week, the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing host Dr. Judith Briles will be the solo voice on the #1 way to sell books. Using her bestselling and award-winning book, How to Create a Million Dollar Speech, she will focus on the power and privilege of speaking by using the Cash-Cow Two-Step. Its a book marketing platform that should not be ignored by any author. Can speaking on your book  your expertise  morph your book sales? Why yes  YES it can. And the sooner you start speaking on both, the better for your influence building, your social media presence, and of course, your book sales. Your listening takeaways include: Why you should be speaking on your book and when to start.

How to structure the perfect sandwich speech.

When to start charging and what to charge for your speaking fee.

Why handouts are a must and what each should always include.

The key components that every presentation needs.

Why every presentation should have a contract, even free ones. And, of course, much more. Tune in for lots of ideas and how-to tips to enhance your influence and marketing via the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast which is ranked in the Top 10 podcasts for authors and book marketing. Since its inception, over 16,000,000 listeners have downloaded various shows for practical publishing and book marketing guidance. Join me and become a regular subscriber. Listen in at: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast Listen in at: http://bit.ly/iTunesAuthorPodcast Listen in at: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcastGoogle Listen in at: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcastAmazon see all) Latest posts by Judith Briles Was this helpful? Get more FREE tips and insight: see all) Latest posts by Judith Briles FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:

John Posner

443-507-8494

JPosnerBooks@gmail.com Calling Balticon 58 Attendees in Baltimore, Maryland May 20, 2024, Baltimore, MD. Bestselling sci-fi/fantasy author John Posner will be meeting fans and signing books at the 58th Balticon gathering this week. Held at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, located at 2020 E Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 from May 24 to 27. Posner is the author of Forever is Too Long. Setting the stage for 400 years in the future ... a future where human minds can be perfectly copied to live out a forever existence in the multiverse and become Mindars in the new digital world. Fans discover what happens when Humans crossover and become digital entities. They learn what happens when social boundaries are shattered. And what happens when the Unintended Consequences of technology occur. Visitors are encouraged to immerse themselves in a discussion of what future technology could do to us. Posner asks, What would you do to save the world? What would you do if you could live forever  or is forever too long? His forthcoming book, He Died Two Days Ago, will be released in June 2024. When assassins mistakenly shoot the wrong person, an alien race that secretly inhabits living beings of other planets across the universe is revealed. Unbeknownst to their hosts, the aliens feed off the emotions of the entities they reside within. Come explore Battleground Earth and alien possession. At the event, Posner will be selling and signing his current book, Forever is Too Long that was released last year and quickly earned bestseller status on Amazon. They will have the opportunity to sign up for his new book. John Posner is an IT project manager and technology writer creating Sci-Fi/Fantasy Psycho Thrillers exploring the unintended consequences that humans and technology cause. Discover his website: JohnPosnerBooks.com.


I cant remember when I first heard about the Livestock Conservancy. It was probably back when I fell in love with Shetland sheep and was researching the breed. The Livestock Conservancys stated mission is: To protect Americas endangered livestock and poultry breeds from extinction. Their website includes helpful information about the Shetland breed and other endangered varieties in the hope of educating people about all the cool animals that might be a good fit for their farms or ranches.

Its not a humble mission. To paraphrase their website, heritage breeds of livestock represent an irreplaceable piece of earths biodiversity and offer genetic variations that may be needed for future farms  As they say, These lesser-known farm animals are a vital part of ensuring food security for our planet.

As Ive written many times before, it turned out Shetland sheep were NOT a good fit for our operation. Shetlands sheep are considered a primitive or unimproved breed, and their genetics date back to the bronze age. They are hardy, independent, wiley and beautiful, but they also scatter when they sense a predator  a great tactic if youve got a thousand little caves and hollows to hide in, a terrible one if youve only got the open range and a band of coyotes that are purposefully trying to split you up and pick you off. In other words, they are perfectly suited for the rocky ridges and crags of the Shetland Islands, not so much for the prairies of South Dakota.

Ive tried several other breeds since bringing the Shetlands home, and all had their advantages and disadvantages: beautiful fleeces for spinning but not very good mothers, great mothers, terrible fleeces, too big, too smallId given up trying to find the perfect breed for my little operation until perusing the Livestock Conservancys website this winter and coming across a description of Clun Forest sheep, another endangered breed.

If you are a regular reader of this column, then you already know that the small flock of Cluns I brought home a few months ago have been everything Ive ever hoped for in a sheep. They are thrifty, hardy, small enough to be easy to work with, but large enough to hold their own, and lambing them was nearly effortless. Consequently, I owe the Livestock Conservancy a debt of gratitude, and I believe even more fully in their mission now that I am living it.

From microbes in the soil to the tallest trees, from the warblers to birds of prey, from the thousands of forbs that populate the grasslands to the thousands of corals that populate the ocean, every ecosystem on the planet thrives on variety. The same is true for our farms and ranches, and yet three-quarters of the worlds food supply draws on just 12 crops and five livestock species according to the United Nations, which is pretty shocking. To take it from the macro to the micro, Cluns might not be perfect for everyone, but they are perfect for me. Shetlands werent right for our region and setup, but absolutely would be for someone elses. Raising livestock isnt a one-size-fits all undertaking.

This week is International Heritage Breeds Week, a campaign created to increase global awareness of these lesser-known breeds and the irreplaceable genetic diversity they contain, explains Judy Brummer, interim executive director of The Livestock Conservancy. Many of these endangered breeds contain traits carefully developed over hundreds of years. Today, heritage breeds serve as primary reservoirs of the genetic diversityUp to 50% of a breeds biodiversity is found nowhere else within the species, she says.

Spurred by the Clun success, I had the kids pick out two heritage breeds of chickens from the Conservancys Conservation Priority list to raise for 4-H. When I stopped at a big box farm supply store for fencing materials, and I happened across a bin of Cayuga ducklings (another breed from the list) that had been ordered by accident and that nobody wanted  well, lets just say its now International Heritage Breed week every week here in my little pasture, and Im very proud of it.
The slowest dance on Capitol Hill, the writing of a new Farm Bill, gained tempo May 1 when both the House and Senate Ag committees released versions of their bills.

The House bill was a broadly worded, five-page outline; the Senates, a detailed 94-page report. Noting the differences in both heft and direction, veteran Senate Ag boss Debbie Stabenow told reporters that We have a bill. They have a framework. Ouch.

In fact, both bills are simply a starting point for the committees to cobble together the estimated $1.5-trillion, five-year law. Despite his brevity, House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson says his bill is done and has set May 23 for its mark up, or full committee meeting to push the stalled process forward.

It sounds silly to argue  especially after almost a years delay  that Thompson is hustling his bill through the Republican-dominated committee but he is.

The House bill contains classic GOP priorities: a $28-billion cut in SNAP food aid, rule changes to make the Department of Agricultures climate change billions available for conservation projects unrelated to climate change and a huge boost to reference prices  shorthand to substantially increase federal subsidies  for crop insurance.

The Senates Farm Bill doesnt feature any cuts to food assistance, leaves USDAs Climate Smart initiatives untouched and raises crop insurance reference prices a modest few percent.

The differences between the two are no surprise; Thompson and Stabenow have been waltzing around each others priorities for months. Thompson, however, is at an institutional disadvantage. His partys paper-thin House majority means he must advance a bill attractive to both GOP and Dem moderates to increase its odds of success.

And while Michigander Stabenow must work around a similarly slim Dem majority in the Senate, she has the advantage of experience. Stabenow shepherded the past two Farm Bills through Congress from her Senate perch after House ag leaders dug in on never-going-to-happen changes. They lost.

All of this, of course, presumes some House/Senate deal that marries the competing bills before this years extension expires Sept. 30.

Lost in loud talk and likely compromise is a question few in Congress  or, in fact, in farm and commodity groups  dare confront: Is this the best legislation to ensure the food and fiber future of America given what the next five years might bring?

What, for example, in these two bills addresses our rapidly evolving climate, foreign challenges to Americas role as a leading ag exporter, ethanols fading market, looming trade wars with China and Mexico and the likelihood of more political dysfunction at every level of government?

If the past is prologue, the answer is very little because todays farmers, ranchers and ag legislators are wedded to 40 years of ethanol production, 30 years of decoupled farm programs, 20 years of no conservation cross compliance and over 10 years of increasing reliance on crop insurance.

Moreover, powerful new interests now promote wildly expensive, highly dubious variants  subsidized carbon pipelines, subsidized sustainable aviation fuel, subsidized solar farms and even more subsidized crop insurance  as solutions to problems caused by these aging, taxpayer-dependent predecessors.

In the meantime, rural America continues its downward slide. By almost any social measure  increased poverty rates, the rising reliance on public sector income support, poor water quality, fewer rural hospitals, the loss of senior care and child care, the lack of food options  rural America is worse off now than in 1990.

Indeed, our increasingly popular, increasingly expensive federal farm programs have delivered far fewer, far bigger farms and an abundance of cheap ag commodities. But these same farm policies have also squeezed the lifeblood out of our small farms and ranches and nearly every rural community.

And nothing in either the House or Senate legislative proposals addresses that.
When it comes to fertility, among the most important factors influencing plant growth and stand life is soil pH. Maintaining proper soil pH levels is critical to legume growth in pastures, soil microbial activity and micronutrient availability.

Soil pH identifies the active acidity, or alkalinity, of a soil solution. The pH measurement is expressed as a measurement of hydrogen ion activity or concentration in a solution. The pH scale is from one to 14. A neutral solution of soil has a value of seven.

The ability of lime to neutralize pH is measured by the Effective Neutralizing Power, ENP. The effective neutralizing power of lime is expressed on the basis of pounds per ton, as a percentage of the fineness index, multiplied by the total neutralizing power and percentage of dry matter.

Buffer capacity (buffer pH) or cation exchange capacity of the soil best explains differences in lime requirements. The buffer capacity of a soil reflects the resistance to a change in pH. The amount of clay and organic matter influences buffer capacity.

This simple notion explains why soils of the same pH may have a different lime requirement. For instance, much more lime may be required to raise the pH of a clay soil than will be required to raise the pH of a sandy soil.

Liming materials vary significantly in terms of purity, fineness and moisture. In addition, materials will vary based on calcium and magnesium content. These factors help us select the most economical source of lime and determine the application rate of lime. Fortunately, state law, sections 905.51 to 905.66 of the Ohio Revised Code, requires lime manufacturers to label lime products. The most important item on the lime product label for determining application rate and value is the ENP.

Lime application is usually provided on the soil test recommendation report as a calcium carbonate equivalent basis, CCE, and is specific for the crop, soil, lime history and tillage depth indicated on the test submission form. This means that we must adjust the application of the liming material up or down based on ENP or CCE.

The application of agricultural lime to agricultural fields and pastures is an adjustment that takes time to react and will take time to lower once adjusted. For this reason, lime applications are generally applied once every three to four years.

In terms of fertility needs, lime should rank high on the priority list. Contact your local Ohio State University Extension office for a soil test kit and assistance in the interpretation of your soil test results.
COLUMBUS  Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the indictment of a Wilmington man accused of poaching an 18-point antlered white-tailed deer.

The indictment, returned May 10 by a Clinton County grand jury, accuses Christopher J. Alexander of unlawfully harvesting the deer on Nov. 9, 2023.

According to the Attorney Generals Office, Alexander claimed that the animal had been on property owned by his sister, Kristina M. Alexander, when he harvested the deer and presented written permission from his sister to hunt on her land to a wildlife officer. An investigation by ODNRs Division of Wildlife, however, revealed incriminating evidence to the contrary.

Wildlife officers discovered through warranted searches of cellphone data that Christopher Alexander had illegally hunted the trophy buck on private property about 10 miles from his sisters land, and later learned that the written permission from his sister he had presented to wildlife officers had been falsified  after the deer was killed  to mislead authorities.

Evidence revealed Christopher Alexander staged the deer taking at his sisters property with the help of Corey P. Haunert and his brother, Zachary R. Haunert, to conceal the poaching.

The investigation also found that Corey Haunert aided Christopher Alexander in poaching deer on multiple occasions, providing the crossbow used to hunt and assisting in deer retrieval and staging with Zachary Haunert. Kristina Alexander is accused of falsifying the date when the written permission to hunt occurred.

Likewise, wildlife officers learned that Christopher Alexander deceptively profited from the illegal deer taking, selling deer antlers and receiving payments totaling $20,000 from an antler collector, a hunting magazine and a company that sells deer products.

Christopher Alexander, 28, of Wilmington, faces 23 total charges, including five counts of illegally hunting deer without written permission, two counts of hunting without a license, one county of jacklighting and felony counts of theft by deception, tampering with evidence

Corey Haunert, 29, of Hillsboro, faces eight charges, four counts of aiding a wildlife offender, two counts fo hunting without permission and a felony count of tampering with evidence.

Kristina Alexander, 37, of Blanchester, faces misdemeanor counts of falsification and aiding a wildlife offender. Zachary Haunert, 31, of Lebanon, faces two misdemeanor counts of aiding a wildlife offender.

The cases are being prosecuted by attorneys from Yosts Environmental Enforcement section. Indictments merely contain allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law.
A man from Antioch was sentenced to prison time for robbing a Marina district bank in San Francisco in 2022. Rafe Swan / Getty Image

An Antioch man was sentenced to more than five years in prison for robbing a bank in San Franciscos Marina district in 2022  less than three weeks after being released from state custody for a separate robbery, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

Brandon Elder robbed the bank in September 2022 while still on post-release community supervision and having been out of state custody for 19 days for a separate robbery that occurred months earlier in Brentwood, according to the United States Attorneys Office Northern District of California.

The 29-year-old was previously convicted for 11 other thefts, including an incident in which he allegedly slashed a loss prevention officer with a box cutter, federal officials said.

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Repeat offenders like Brandon Elder should not be allowed to continue terrorizing the community, said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey in a statement. Enough is enough. This Office will ensure that criminals like Mr. Elder face serious repercussions for their actions.

Federal prosecutors said Elder threatened and intimidated employees of the bank he robbed in San Franciscos Marina district. Wearing a black hoodie, black facemask and blue gloves, Elder walked up to a teller window, told the employee this is a robbery and demanded $50 and $100 bills.

The employee handed over $10,000 in cash to Elder, who then fled in a getaway car that was parked in a nearby garage, federal prosecutors said.

Elder was arrested two days later while shoplifting a PlayStation from a Target in Pleasant Hill, authorities said. Officials said he had $7,867 in cash in his pocket when he was arrested.

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ASHLAND, Ohio  Sycamore Valley Farm will host the MOOchas GRASSias Conservation Chat on June 13 at 6 p.m. at Sycamore Valley Farms, 765 County Road 1775, Ashland.

The conservation chat will discuss how to plan, research and implement the best grazing techniques. Several speakers will be featured at the event including Bob Hendershot, former state grasslands conservation specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. He will go over hands-on tips and tricks to maximize grazing operations.

Additionally, Jason Jones from Pheasants Forever will talk about warm season grasses and cost-share opportunities, available through Pheasants Forever and the Farm Bill, to include in grazing operations.

Ashland SWCD Conservation Specialist Katie Eikleberry will also share information on on cost-share opportunities for livestock exclusion fencing and the benefits it provides for water quality and livestock health. Afterward, participants will go on pasture walk with Josh and Lyndsay Welch, owners of Sycamore Valley Farm. During the walk, the Welches will discuss their heritage livestock operation, among other things.

Dinner will be provided and the event is $5, but if you bring a friend the event is free. Registration is required beforehand. To register, call Eileberry at 419-281-7645 or visit www.eventbrite.com/e/conservation-chat-moochas-grassias-tickets-764537270557.
MCDONALD, Pa.  Located in the hilly backwoods of southwestern Pennsylvania, only a thin patch of woods sits perched between a row of houses and their noisy neighbors: Range Resources Augustine George well pad.

One residence on DePaoli Road is located roughly 530 feet away from the Augustine George well pad in Cecil Township, Pennsylvania. Thats 30 feet above the 500-foot-allowed distance as specified by a 2012 Cecil Township oil and gas ordinance.

The noise coming from the well pad is beyond what the human body can take, said resident Merle Lesko, at a recent Cecil Township Board of Supervisors meeting. Lesko lives on Coleman Road. His home is just over 600 feet away from the Augustine George well pad.

In recent years, increased complaints about the noise and potential health impacts from residents living close to these well pads has driven a push for tighter restrictions on where and how the oil and gas industry can operate in the township.

As a result, the Cecil Township Board of Supervisors will revise its existing ordinance to increase setbacks of future well pads from protected structures  like houses, schools, businesses and churches  and limit well pad hours of operations.

The board will hold a final public hearing on June 5 at 6 p.m. at the Cecil Township Municipal Building, 3599 Millers Run Road, Cecil, Pennsylvania, where the latest updates to the revised ordinance will be discussed.

Our goal is to get any future wells as far as possible from protected structures, yet, leave some spots (for wells), said Tom Casciola, chairman of the Cecil Township Board of Supervisors.

Zoning setbacks

Instead of simply increasing the minimum setback distance from residential areas, the revised ordinance would mark specific zones for potential oil and gas development based on certain criteria, Casciola said.

Were not looking at feet anymore. We are going a different way, Casciola said. Some municipalities (have) designated an area in the township where drilling will be permitted. This way is to find the remotest areas in the township and designate those areas as the only drillable (locations).

Some of the criteria the board used to locate these remote zones include areas not within 1,000 feet of existing well pads, not within 4,000 feet of major subdivisions and neighborhoods and parcels that intersect a storm line system.

The board identified two zones in the northeastern side of Cecil Township that matched all criteria. Within these zones, well pads would be located a minimum of 1,800 feet away from all protected structures.

Noise limits

The revised ordinance would also set restrictions on hours of operations for well operators. Currently, well operators are allowed to work 24/7. The current lack of restrictions has led to resident complaints of loud noises throughout the night and turbulence that shakes their homes.

It is hard to tell everybody what the noise might sound like but its basically a helicopter about 100 feet over your head that never lands. It just stays there and never lands, Lesko said, at the April 1 board of supervisors meeting.

Lesko told the board he has been in contact with Range Resources about reducing the noise. The company tried to decrease the sound of drilling operations but has been unsuccessful, he said.

The board of supervisors said they are also working with Range Resources to address the noise issue and that the new ordinance will set stricter limits on the noise future wells can produce. The Augustine George well pad, however, was permitted under the current ordinance; therefore none of the new limitations in the ordinance will apply to existing wells in Cecil Township.

Range Resources did not respond to a request for comment on the ordinance.

Why now?

The board of supervisors was supposed to update the ordinance in 2020, however, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the process. Now, an increased number of noise and vibration complaints is driving the need for change. Two public hearings on the revised ordinance were packed with residents who wanted to speak.

The first public hearing for the ordinance, held on April 3, featured acoustical engineer Will Thornton who discussed a series of independent noise and monitoring studies he conducted on behalf of the township. He measured the noise at two well sites in Cecil Township: one in the production phase and one in the drilling stage. The studies concluded the noise did not violate the ordinance.

However, Thornton said a series of deficiencies and loopholes in the ordinance is not allowing the township to effectively regulate and control the kind of noise and vibration being omitted by those operations. He provided a critique of the current rule so the board can consider necessary changes.

A recent study on the health impacts on people living close to unconventional wells, released by the University of Pittsburgh, also spurred residents to push for more restrictions on oil and gas activity.

The Pitt study, released in July 2023, found people living within 10 miles of an unconventional well during the production stage were four to five times more likely to see their asthma worsen. The study also found that children living within one mile of a well had a five to seven times greater chance of developing lymphoma than those living within five miles of a well.

The Pitt study recommended a 2,500-foot setback distance oil and gas well distance from protected structures to avoid such health impacts. Residents at the public hearings were pushing for this minimum set distance.

However, Casciola said 2,500 feet isnt possible as it would effectively drive out all drilling operations in the township, which the board cant do according to Pennsylvanias Act 13 law. Instead, at the latest meeting, the board discussed shorter distances like 1,500 feet and 1,000 feet.

The board ultimately decided to allocate certain zones for oil and gas wells to ensure they are located the furthest distance away.

If we designate 1,000 (feet) that would be county-wide. It might be 50 areas around the township that are 1,000 feet away, Casciola said. With this one, there might be only two or three areas.

(Liz Partsch can be reached at epartsch@farmanddairy.com or 330-337-3419.)
MARYSVILLE, Ohio  When he was a little boy, Tim Schacht got an idealistic impression of farming by looking through his great-grandfathers stash of old farm magazines with their Norman Rockwell-style illustrations.

Later, as a teenage gearhead working on old tractors, he was discouraged to discover how expensive it would be to start farming. But that didnt deter him and in his early 30s, Schacht decided he wasnt willing to wait until retirement to give farming a go.

Now, as he starts his fifth year farming, hes juggling a full-time job, a growing family, renovations on a 160-year old farmhouse and the production and marketing of seven specialty grain crops.

Logistically, its a lot, he said, but at the same time, its so fun.

Schacht began by raising popcorn and hull-less oats and has added heirloom corns, food-grade soybeans, einkorn, spelt, black oil sunflowers and hard red spring wheat. The growing consumer interest in local foods and the promotion possibilities of social media combined to give him a starting point for the farm, Schacht said.

In 2019, Schacht and his wife, Michelle, bought their 11-acre farm near Marysville, Ohio. Since then hes added rented acres, mostly in small scattered fields he found via social media.

I put a post on Facebook and said, Hey, Im a first-generation farmer looking for ground around us, and I was able to pick up another 30 acres that second year. He posted again the following year and gained even more fields.

Schacht is now farming about 85 acres, with 10 fields, some an hour away by tractor. Part of the land is owned by a friends aunt and other fields were sent his way by the realtor who sold him the farm.

Michelle helps him move equipment, but shes busy herself with their two sons, her own career and a second job teaching yoga. For the most part, Schacht works on his own.

Its a lot of work to manage that many fields to get that little bit of acreage, he said.

Eventually, hed like to consolidate with larger, closer fields rather than farming so many small, scattered patches, he said. The efficiency matters.

Career changes

While Schacht wasnt raised on a farm, he enjoyed country life growing up in Medina County, with free range over neighboring land owned by a gentleman farmer.

I always enjoyed the outdoors and nature, he said.

During and after high school, Schacht studied diesel technology. Then, he went on to work for a Kenworth dealership as a semi-truck mechanic for about five years. After a few years, though, he saw older co-workers having physical problems from the strenuous, fast-paced job.

He started taking night classes to change careers, first studying engineering, then switching to architecture. Michelle, who was his girlfriend at the time, helped him realize hed have a hard time finishing a degree while also working full-time, so he decided to go back to school full-time and enrolled at Ohio State.

While Schacht was working on his degree, he and Michelle settled in Marysville after she started working for Honda in supply chain logistics. After graduating in 2014, Schacht worked for OSUs Architectural Services before taking a job with an architecture firm. Thats when a mentor gave him some advice that nudged him back toward his goal of farming. He told me, You need to find a career that allows you to have the lifestyle you want. 

Still, Schacht figured farming would have to be a retirement occupation until his dad had a stroke in his 60s. Schacht realized that healthy retirement years werent guaranteed.

With farming theres only so many years you get to plant and harvest, he said.

Soon afterwards, the Schachts bought their farm and began planning.

One of the hardest tasks was settling on a farm name, Schacht said. Several of their first ideas were already taken. The name they chose, Ohio Till Farmstead, points to the value of local Ohio food production and recognizes their glacial till soils as well as income going in the till. Farmstead refers to the history of the land and their own stake in it. Before they bought it, the farm had been passed down through a family that originally cleared the land in the 1860s.

I wanted this to be a business, Schacht said I wanted this to be a money-making operation thats taken seriously from the start.

As it turned out, Schachts start in farming was well-timed. In 2020, he began working at home because of COVID, which gave him more time to spend with his sons on the farm. Then in 2021, he was laid off from his job with the architecture firm with three months severance pay.

At that point, he knew he wanted a job that wouldnt require long days away from the farm. He eventually returned to work for OSU Architectural Services as a building information model manager. He now works from home three days a week and on campus two days a week.

Starting with popcorn

When Schacht first started researching crop and marketing options, popcorn came to the top of his list. He grew up with an interest in row crops and row crop machinery, but, with his small acreage, he wanted something with higher value than commodity crops. He also wanted something that would be popular with consumers.

The average consumer understands what a popcorn kernel looks like and they know how to cook it, he said

Along with growing the crop, Schacht began researching food regulations, labeling, packaging and pricing. Using his knowledge of graphic design software, he was able to do his label designs himself. Their sons, Harrison, now 11, and Henry, 7, lend their names to different popcorn packages.

As he added acreage, Schacht has added additional grain crops. Social media posts about the farm have helped Schacht connect with buyers such as Farm and Sparrow, a mill in North Carolina that focuses on locally adapted landrace crops. He also packages his einkorn and spelt to sell directly to local consumers.

Hes raising non-GMO soybeans for KAPI Agri Products, a processor that supplies food-grade soybeans for export and for domestic use. Those sales help with cash flow, since most other sales are smaller, spread out and less predictable, he said.

Schacht is in the process of transitioning his ground to organic production, partly to meet demand and also because hes not comfortable handling herbicides.

It really aligns with my mentality of farming, he said. The market that Im targeting is all food-grade. I want to grow food for humans.

Schacht is on the board for the Union County Farmers Market in Marysville and sells his products there regularly, but its not his main marketing channel. Wholesale marketing to small, independent retailers brings more sales, he said. He sells popcorn and birdseed in about a dozen stores around Ohio.

To find those marketing opportunities, Schacht looks for shops that have a vision similar to his, he said. Its all been through social media and reaching out to folks.

One of his best retail outlets is Union Station, a welcome center and gift shop operated by the local tourism board. He also donates popcorn to the Avalon Theater, a re-built historic performing arts center in Marysville.

To Schacht, engaging with the community to sell his products is an important part of farming.

I love it, he said. I love talking to the people about the grains, I love growing the grains.
The cold and wet weather in early spring has reduced the nematodirus threat to 2024-born lambs, animal health experts say.

Due to the weather, the hatch of nematodirus eggs has been very gradual, the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group explains.

Many lambs have been able to build up natural immunity to nematodirosis without needing to be treated.

Anecdotal reports made to SCOPS suggest fewer lambs have been treated for nematodirus this spring, which means producers have been able to save time and money, and also preserve the efficacy of white wormers.

White wormers (group 1-BZ) are still largely effective against the nematodirus parasite, despite there being widespread resistance to these products in other worm species.

Continued use of white wormers will reduce this efficacy over time, but reducing exposure will delay this for as long as possible, explains Moredun scientist Dr Dave Bartley, who speaks on behalf of SCOPS.

However, Rudolf Reichel of APHA, another expert at SCOPS, says the nematodirus risk isnt quite over for 2024.

He urges farmers with later-born lambs in upland and northern areas of the UK to keep an eye on the SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast.

If the spot closest to you on the forecast map is only just turning red (high risk) or black (very high risk) then you need to be aware of the risk to younger lambs," he explains.

"If your spot is orange (moderate risk) or yellow (low risk) and youre not sure if on its ways towards turning red/black or on its way back from having already been red/black, use the Historic Data tab on the website to check.

For Rebecca Mearns, of Biobest, its a busy time in terms of returning faecal egg count (FEC) test results to farmers, vets and advisers.

She is aware that some of these are showing nematodirus eggs and is keen to emphasis this does not indicate a need to treat lambs.

Regular FECs are an invaluable tool for sheep farmers but, at this time of year, seeing nematodirus on the results sheet can be confusing," Ms Mearns says.

"Because of the different lifecycle of this worm, by the time were detecting nematodirus eggs in FECs its too late, as disease in lambs is caused by the immature larvae stages, so before eggs are detectable.

"Thats why the forecast is so important. Depending on individual circumstances, where there in eggs in dung samples, lambs may have already succumbed to disease or may be beyond the risk period and will have picked up natural immunity.

But that doesnt mean you should completely ignore the information, as it is really useful to understand the number of nematodirus eggs that are likely to overwinter later this year and pose a threat to lambs born in 2025."

SCOPS' online Nematodirus Forecast is a free resource for the UK sheep sector.
The government has announced new funding for farmers to tackle bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) and a range of health conditions in sheep.

At the recent Farm to Fork Summit in Downing Street, the prime minister announced new support for livestock farmers to tackle endemic diseases.

A set annual rate of funding will be available for each species, including 639 for sheep, and 215 for cattle with no BVD.

Higher rates of 837 and 1,733 will be available for beef and dairy herds respectively, where BVD is present.

This funding will be available from summer 2024, with it initially rolled out for sheep and beef cattle, with dairy cattle added soon after.

For cattle, the additional support will fund identification of persistently infected cattle on farms with BVD, alongside veterinary advice on how to eliminate endemic disease on farm.

A package of measures will be available for sheep farmers to choose from, in consultation with their vet, allowing farmers to target the specific health issues most prevalent in their flock.

All eligible farmers will also receive funding for a biosecurity assessment and advice to help identify how disease might enter and spread across their farm.

Welcoming the news, NFU Livestock Board chair David Barton said: I hope it will drive forward the eradication of BVD in our cattle herds.

I worked with our vet and have seen real productivity improvements since my herd became BVD free.

"To support this funding, we now need the new Livestock Information Service to provide individual disease status at the point of sale so that buyers can make an informed decision."

To access the new funding, farmers will first need to have had an Annual Health and Welfare review, which Defra launched in 2023.

The review funds an annual vet visit during which farmers can access advice and tests for endemic diseases using a vet of their choice; 436 is available for a sheep review, 522 for a beef cattle review and 372 for a dairy cattle review.

Speaking as a sheep farmer, NFU Livestock Board vice chair Oli Lee said strong health protocols were key to reducing costs and inefficiencies in his business.

This means getting on top of lameness and mastitis, as well as ensuring routine vaccination and effective worm control," he explained.

"I would encourage any livestock farmer that hasnt already to apply for an Annual Health and Welfare review with their vet  it is quick and easy to arrange.

From there we can then take advantage of this newly announced support.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called an early UK general election for Thursday 4 July, as rural campaigners warn that it is 'make or break' for the countryside.

Mr Sunak made the surprise move in a rain-soaked speech outside 10 Downing Street on Wednesday (22 May), as he bids to win a fifth term in office for the Conservative Party.

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of Labour, which is in the lead in national opinion polls, responded by saying it was "time for change" away from "Tory chaos".

As the election nears, countryside campaign groups are seeking radical ambition from political leaders amid a series of issues impacting rural areas.

These include new policies for increasing domestic food production, rural economic growth, tackling the housing crisis in the countryside and bearing down on crime which frequently blights farmers.

CPRE, a countryside charity that campaigns on rural issues, warned that the election would be "make or break" for the countryside.

"The next government will be faced with era-defining decisions on housing, environmental protections and energy supply," said Elli Moody, the charity's policy director.

"These will have big impacts on rural communities and our finite supply of land. We urge all political parties to think about the future while tackling the priorities of today.

"With enough political will, it is possible to build a Britain fit for the future and protect the countryside for everyone's benefit."

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents thousands of farmers and landowners, added that governments - both past and present - had treated rural areas as a 'museum'.

According to the CLA, the UK's rural economy is around 19% less productive than the national average, with many barriers to economic growth.

Its president Victoria Vyvyan said: "Every party needs to prove it matches the ambition, the talent, the work ethic and the values of the rural community.

"We don't want nice words, we want a plan, and a commitment to a realistic budget for the future of agriculture.

"Whichever party produces a robust and ambitious plan for growth in the rural economy will secure support, and the CLA stands ready to work with them to unleash its full potential."

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is welcoming the announcement from the prime minister because sheep farmers "need some stability and a clear future direction".

NSA chief executive, Phil Stocker said: You do get to a point where speculation and growing uncertainty gets in the way of progress.

"I welcome the fact that we now know the date of the election and we can get on with this, get it out of the way, and move forward again from the summer.

Sheep farmers, like others, need some stability and a clear future direction, accepting that we are working in a world where change is inevitable and, in many cases, desirable."
Phase two of 'shelfwatch', the largest ever survey of food being offered on Scottish supermarket shelves, is now underway.

NFU Scotland started the initiative in January, with an aim to shine a light on how and where Scottish produce is being made available to buy.

For phase one, an independent research firm visited 71 stores across mainland Scotland, looking at own-label beef, lamb, pork, chicken, eggs, vegetables and dairy.

Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Co-op, Marks and Spencer, Lidl and Aldi stores were all inspected. In all, more than 15,000 products were reviewed.

It revealed a completely mixed bag of what is going on in shops across the country and available to Scotlands consumers.

Some retailers had little or no Scottish produce amongst own-label goods on their shelves.

Results from phase two will be reported next month ahead of the Royal Highland Show, Scotlands biggest showcase for food and farming.

In total, four shelfwatch studies will be carried out this year. All retailers involved in the latest survey were notified 24 hours in advance of the study commencing.

Since phase one results were reported, Asda attended NFU Scotlands annual conference, and a further meeting is taking place.

NFU Scotland has also met with Aldi, Tesco and Sainsburys since Phase One and meetings with M&S and Morrisons are planned.

Requests for meetings with other retailers  Lidl and Co-op - have yet to receive a reply, according to the union.

Phase two will continue to look at the availability and origin of all fresh and lightly processed goods on Scottish supermarket shelves with a one-off look at branded Scottish products in the dairy category.

It will also examine the labelling on those products to better understand the transparency for consumers in making choices.

NFU Scotland chief executive, John Davidson said consumers wanted to support local farmers, and retailers had a 'huge responsibility' in delivering thar.

He said: The results of phase one, and what we discover during phase two, provide us with a fantastic opportunity to give credit to those who are tremendous supporters of local food production within Scotland.

"We will also use these results to inform discussions with those retailers who have been identified as having zero or low levels of Scottish produce available, to better understand any sourcing challenges they have and look to resolve these.

Our ambition is that, when we come to complete our final shelfwatch at the end of this year, there has been a marked improvement in the availability of Scottish produce in Scottish stores.
Industry concerns over a lengthy bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) legislative transition phase in Wales appear warranted, according to testing submissions data.

Following the cessation of free youngstock blood testing under the Gwaredu BVD programme in 2022, the industry expressed concern that the onset of legislation should be expediated or gains made under the programme would be lost.

The Wales Veterinary Science Centre (WVSC) said that despite such assertations, changes in larger farm policy areas have eclipsed such expedience and the current lack of momentum should therefore be of concern.

According to data from the WVSC, BVD testing submissions this year are some 83% less than the number of submissions in the last year of the Gwaredu BVD scheme.

Similarly, a comparison of submissions from Jan-April in 2023 with the same period in 2024 also show a significant decline of 33%.

The Gwaredu BVD scheme saw more than 85% of cattle herds in Wales screened for the disease, with more than 1000 Persistently Infected animals identified.

According to data obtained from Gwaredu BVD, at the end of the voluntary programme more than 2,000 farms tested were unable to demonstrate BVD negative antibodies and would have been placed under restriction under a legislative framework.

Dr Hazel Wright, WVSC centre manager, said the lack of testing submissions to the WVSC during the current gap should be of significant concern to the industry.

She said: "There is currently no way of demonstrating how many farms would now be placed under restriction following the intervening 2 years of significantly reduced testing.

The WVSC is therefore urging cattle keepers to continue surveillance testing for BVD. This will help avoid the perfect storm of a testing bottleneck at the onset of legislation and the proliferation of BVD within and between herds whilst we wait for legislation."
Oakland officials asked for a review of the citys policies around police chases after a drop in pursuits last year. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Editors Note: After this story was published, the Chronicle learned that Oakland has been publishing weekly reports on citywide crime statistics that are misleading for understanding year-over-year trends, particularly in the category of burglaries and theft. In the interest of transparency, we have added this editors note to every article containing data that relied on Oakland's misleading crime reports. We wrote about the source of the data problem and Oakland's response on July 10, 2024, and you can read that story here.

The following is the original version of this story. We have not amended the data.

Oaklands City Council ordered a review of the police departments pursuit policies this week that could result in officers getting more leeway to initiate pursuits amid a recent drop in police pursuits and enduring concerns about crime.

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The council directed the Police Commission to review its police-chase policies, even as some council members acknowledged the dangers of pursuits on city streets.

Council members Treva Reid and Kevin Jenkins said they proposed the review after hearing from residents who were concerned that limiting officers ability to pursue suspects in vehicles gave criminals the upper hand. The Police Commissions deadline to propose any changes to the pursuit policies is Sept. 24.

The departments current policies allow officers to initiate pursuits only when they suspect the crime was violent or involved a gun, or when they believe suspects are armed with a gun.

The last update to the rules came in December 2022, when then-chief LeRonne Armstrong banned pursuits that reach 50 mph on city streets. Theres an exception when officers get permission to continue the chase.

Pursuits in Oakland dropped significantly after the latest changes to the rules, which came after two chases left two bystanders dead in 2022, according to department data.

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San Francisco is expected to give its officers more leeway to engage in pursuits after voters approved Proposition E in March. The measure allows officers to pursue suspects in cases that involve any type of felony or a violent misdemeanor, and the policy changes are expected to go before the Police Commission this year. The current rules allow pursuits in cases that involve violent felonies and other limited situations.

Prop. E, which also expands other police powers, was passed in spite of concerns about the dangers of pursuits. A Chronicle investigation published in March found that two people are killed each day across the U.S. during a police pursuit. Most are bystanders and passengers, not the drivers who lead police on pursuits.

The review of OPDs policies comes as the city saw a 35% decrease in pursuits last year compared to 2022, according to annual data the department shared at a recent Police Commission meeting. The data also showed other policing trends, including an increase in traffic and pedestrian stops.

Officers initiated 85 pursuits last year, down from 130 in 2022 and 162 in 2019, according to a Chronicle analysis of the data.

Instances in which officers opted not to pursue suspects doubled  from 527 in 2022 to 1,052 last year.

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Police did not provide a possible explanation to the commission or the Chronicle about why pursuits decreased, although the drop came after the department faced scrutiny over two pursuits that left two bystanders dead in 2022. The pursuits killed 28-year-old Lolomanaia Soakai in June 2022 and 44-year-old Agustin Coyotl in October 2022. Soakai was standing near a taco truck; Coyotl was driving to work.

During the pursuit that killed Soakai, officers chased the suspect  a man they said participated in a sideshow  without their lights and sirens activated, as video posted to social media showed, in an apparent violation of department policies that require officers to active their lights and sirens during pursuits.

The most common crimes that led to pursuits in both 2022 and last year were armed carjackings and armed robberies, according to the data.

Fewer pursuits ended in crashes last year  about 8%  down from 22% in 2022, according to the data.

While pursuits decreased, the data showed there was a 32% increase in traffic and pedestrian stops: Officers initiated 10,324 stops last year, up from 7,825 in 2022, according to the data. In 2019, officers initiated 14,644 stops.

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The department attributed the trend to the reinstatement of the traffic enforcement unit. The team was disbanded in 2020, with officers reassigned to patrol duties because of staffing shortages, but the squad was reinstated in October 2022 as the city saw an increase in traffic fatalities. Oakland recorded 30 fatalities in 2021, 36 in 2022 and 33 last year.

Our primary goal is to ensure the safety of all residents and visitors, and the redeployment of our traffic enforcement officers is necessary to achieve this objective, the department said in a statement.

The data showed Black drivers and pedestrians accounted for 41% of the stops last year, down from 46% in 2022, but those drivers were handcuffed, searched and arrested at higher rates than their white, Latino and Asian counterparts.

Disparities in traffic and pedestrian stops are a persistent issue across the state. Some community members believe the data is proof of systemic racial profiling in policing.

We are committed to addressing any disparities in our policing practices, a department spokesperson said. We will carefully review the data and take appropriate actions, if needed, to ensure equitable treatment for all members of our community.

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Cat Brooks, co-founder and executive director of the Anti Police-Terror Project, said traffic stops lead to traumatic experiences for community members, especially residents in communities of color, and do little to curb crime. She pointed to the increase in crime last year, even as officers initiated more stops than in 2022.

We see no impact in terms of a safer Oakland, Brooks said.
Angelina Jolie has been ordered to turn over eight years worth of non-disclosure agreements she has signed as part of her winery fight with Brad Pitt.

Angelina Jolie has been ordered to turn over eight years worth of non-disclosure agreements she has signed as part of her winery fight with Brad Pitt

The Maleficent actress, 48, and Fight Club star, 60, have spent years locked in a battle over ownership of their $500 million winery, Chateau Miraval and a Los Angeles Superior Court judge has now made the NDA ruling in the latest development in the battle over the French vineyard.

It's been ruled Angelina must produce in the next month all non-privileged documents in her possession, custody, or control that are responsive to a request by Brads side to show any of the papers she has signed.

A source from Brads team told Page Six the latest ruling was a crushing blow after Angelinas side had previously argued in court papers that turning over her previous NDAs as prat of the case would be expensive, wasteful, unreasonable and abusive.

Angelinas lawyers also previously argued in court documents turning over other NDAs she has signed would be an invasion of privacy for other parties.

Its understood the documents would include NDAs with Hollywood employers, brands and employees,.

Her side said in legal papers they may contain contracts that include Jolies compensation or compensation she paid to third parties.

The new judges order also said Angelinas side should provide a list of any documents she deems as privileged in the case, so Brads team can evaluate the merits of Jolies assertions of privilege.

Lawyers for Brad, who divorced Angelina in 2019, filed papers in April asking his ex to reveal how many NDAs she has asked her employees to sign.

The move came after the actress accused him of trying to use what she branded a way to control her.

Angelina has sold her shares in the winery to a Stoli Group subsidiary  a deal Brad said was unfair.

A source added to Page Six: The (new) ruling is the latest in a series of pre-trial victories for Pitt.

Angelinas attorney Paul Murphy insisted it was a win for his side, saying: Common NDAs are simply not comparable to Mr Pitts last-second demand to try and cover up his personal misconduct.

We are more than happy to turn them over and we are gratified that the Court acknowledged that the only potential relevance is to the unconscionability of Mr Pitts conduct, a now confirmed key issue in this case.

We welcome that transparency in all parties discovery responses, including Mr Pitts. Angelina looks forward to the eventual end of this litigation with its false narratives that continue to hurt the family and interfere with their ability to heal.
Cate Blanchett is being mocked for declaring she is middle class  despite her estimated $95 million fortune.

Cate Blanchett is being mocked for declaring she is middle class  despite her estimated $95 million fortune

The Tar actress, who has banked her millions thanks to a decades-long acting career that has seen her bag two Oscars, was participating in a United Nations press conference during the 2024 Cannes Film Festival when she made the statement.

When asked about her experience as a UN goodwill ambassador and giving refugee filmmakers a platform, she said: Im white, Im privileged, Im middle class, and I think, you know, one can be accused of having a bit of a white saviour complex, but to be perfectly honest, my interaction with the refugees in the field and also in resettled environments has totally changed my perspective on the world.

Cate has been a long-standing activist for humanitarian causes, and stressed how utterly grateful she was for the experience and encouraged others with a platform to created a dialogue with these people.

She went on: Ive met some extraordinary people with extraordinary creative talents and amazing perspective.

Fans immediately began trolling the star for her middle class claim on social media.

One ranted: You think youre middle class, Cate Blanchett? while another raged: I love Cate Blanchett, but in what world is she middle class shes been in two major franchises and is worth an estimated $90 million.

A third said: Middle class my a**, while another stated: Under no circumstances is a net worth of $95 million middle class!!!

Other fans of Cates defended the actress, saying she may have meant she was middle class compared to billionaire showbiz figures.

Mum-of-four Cate, who is married to playwright Andrew Upton, is building an eco-mansion in a picturesque seaside town in Cornwall once dubbed Hollywood-on-Sea.

Neighbours have reportedly accused Cate of wrecking family holidays with the building noise from the property in Mawgan Porth, which she bought in 2020.

The original structure has been demolished to create a five-bedroom eco-home after Cornwall council granted planning permission in 2022.
Glen Powell is leaving Hollywood.

Glen Powell is returning to Texas

The 35-year-old actor has decided to leave Los Angeles after 15 years to return to his home city of Austin, Texas, after taking advice from Matthew McConaughey, who also relocated back to the state in 2020.

The 'Anyone But You' star told The Hollywood Reporter that the major benefit of "getting to this point in Hollywood is that I can now leave Hollywood."

He added: "It's like I've earned the ability to go back to my family...

"[Matthew was] like, 'Hollywood is the Matrix, man. You plug in and it's all fake world.' He's like, 'Then I go to Austin, and I unplug. It's all real. Those are my friends, that's my family, my actions matter there.'

"And hes right. If youre here, you live in the Matrix all the time, theres no separation of those worlds. And for me, especially as my parents get older and my niece and nephew are growing up, I want a separation of those worlds.

The 'Top Gun: Maverick' actor was keen to escape the "fishbowl feeling" of Hollywood.

He explained: "The thing that makes me feel in conflict with some parts of this moment is that I like choosing when Im out in front. And Im more than happy to be on a press tour. I love it.

"I love going on a Jimmy Fallon  you walk out, you sign autographs, you do the whole thing.

"[I am uncomfortable with] this idea that youre a function here.

"Someone will go, Hey, friend, want to come to this guys house? Yeah, come over. And then you show up, and suddenly youre there for, like, someones tequila launch and all of a sudden theres a photographer and youre like, Wait, what are we doing here? And I think you get enough of those that you just want to bring your family as close as possible  or run to them.
A United Airlines flight to San Francisco from Boston was diverted to Denver International Airport Tuesday due to a suspected mechanical issue. Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

A United Airlines flight to San Francisco from Boston was diverted to Denver International Airport on Tuesday due to a suspected mechanical issue.

United Flight 625, operated with a Boeing 737 Max 9, changed course five hours after its 6:34 a.m. departure from Boston Logan International Airport, according to aviation records.

The aircraft landed safely in Denver with 177 passengers and seven crew onboard. All individuals deplaned without any reported problems, a spokesperson from United Airlines confirmed to the Chronicle.

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 String of incidents: Is it still safe to fly with United Airlines?

The spokesperson added that an alternative aircraft was arranged for the displaced passengers, who reached San Francisco International Airport at 2:15 p.m. that same day.

Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administratio grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 jets after a door plug detached on an Alaska Airlines plane flying from Portland, Ore., to Ontario (San Bernardino County).
Kourtney Kardashian needed "terrifying" emergency fetal surgery for a "super rare" condition.

Kourtney Kardashian reflects on emergency surgery

The 45-year-old star welcomed her baby boy Rocky into the world with husband Travis Barker in November 2023, and two months before giving birth she needed a procedure after her doctor noticed something during a scan.

Speaking in this week's episode of 'The Kardashians', she recalled: "We had planned a scan at home, so that all the kids could see the baby.

"The doctor who will come to the house to do the scan is a high-risk doctor, who's really detailed and thorough at looking for everything.

"And something caught his eye where he wanted me to see a couple specialists."

After those appointments, she had to go for an operation on her son the next morning, and she admitted the situation was "terrifying" and "stressful".

Kourtney has not revealed what issue was found during the scan, but she admitted the timing of the discovery "saved everything".

She added: "The timing of it was miraculous. That saved everything.

"My doctor's like, 'There's nothing that you did wrong. It's not age-related. It's just a super rare thing that happened.'"

Travis had already left to go on tour with Blink-182 in Europe, which meant Kourtney's mother Kris Jenner needed to take her to hospital while he was flying back to the United States.

The reality star said: "The thing that was awful was his WiFi was broken on the plane. I was sending him updates and my mom was sending him updates.

"He couldn't get anything and he kept checking, like every two hours on the plane, Can you reset the WiFi?'"

Kourtney - who has children Mason, 14, Penelope, 11, and nine-year-old Reign with her ex Scott Disick - had already undergone the procedure by the time her husband landed because it needed doing "right away".

She remained calm in the moment, but once they left the hopsital she was able to process her emotions.

She explained: "There's some superpower that I have  that in emergency situations, I get really calm.

"And then right when we left, I was like, OK, I can take a deep breath. I could cry. I could get it out.'"

Despite the surgery being a "trauma" for both Kourtney and Travis, they both stayed hopeful for their baby's wellbeing.

She said: "I just feel so grateful that how everything played out and for the doctors that really helped make the best decisions that really saved our baby.

"After this happened, I was like, God's got this. We're good. This is a miracle and we're just going to be super positive.'"
Paris Hilton is planning to be "strict" with her kids when it comes to phones.

Paris Hilton does not want her kids to have phones too soon

The 43-year-old heiress has Phoenix, 16 months as well as four-month-old daughter London with husband Carter Reum, 43, and revealed that she is going to hold off on giving them devices in the hopes that they will stay away from social media.

She told the WSJ: "I hope that they are nerds like their dad and dont want anything to do with that. Im going to try to not have them have a phone for a while.

"Some of these kids are just getting phones at way too young of an age, and there are just so many things online that I wouldnt even want my children to be exposed to.

"I never thought I'd say this, but I'm going to be a strict mom."

The former 'Simple Life' star also noted that she is keen for her children to have a life off-screen because she is concerned that children do not spend enough time outside these days.

She said: "[I want them] to live a world outside of social media and being on their phone all the time. Kids are not going outside anymore and playing as much because everyones just so busy on their phones."

Earlier this year, Paris admitted that she had "always dreamed" of having a little girl named London and admitted that becoming a mother had shown her a kind of "love" she never knew was possible.

She wrote on Instagram: "Ive dreamed of having a daughter named London for as long as I can remember Im so grateful she is here I truly cherish every moment I spend with her. Together with Phoenix, my angel babies have shown me a love that I never even knew could run so deep before I became their mother."
The construction of the bungalow is almost complete and after the duo gets a green signal, Alia and Ranbir will move into their new house along with daughter Raha Kapoor. They will be celebrating Diwali this year in their new abode. The bungalow holds immense significance for the family which is why each one of them ensures a regular visit at the site.





The star couple is now overlooking the decor of the place. Alia will next be seen in Jigra, while Ranbir is busy shooting for his upcoming project Ramayana, where the star will portray the role of Lord Ram.

Power couple, Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor are often seen visiting the construction site of their new house, Krishna Raj (named after the actors grandmother) bungalow in Bandra. The couple is all set to move into the house in a few months from now, according to a leading media portal.
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan who recently celebrated his IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders big win against Sunrisers Hyderabad was admitted to a hospital in Ahmedabad on Wednesday as he suffered from dehydration. Even though the star was discharged the same afternoon after receiving primary care, fans across the country are concerned about his health.SRK's manager Pooja Dadlani shared an update on his health this afternoon on social media and she thanked all the fans and well-wishers of the superstar for their concern. She wrote, "To all of Mr Khan's fans and well-wishers - he is doing well. Thank you for your love, prayers and concern."On Wednesday, Shah Rukh Khan's wife and interior designer, Gauri Khan and his friend and co-owner of KKR, Juhi Chawla visited him at the hospital. Yesterday, after his discharge, the doctors said that Shah Rukh Khan was stable and asked him to take adequate rest.
Outward Digital Remittance Services to Drive Major Revenue Generation for Companies

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recently updated industry report published by Fact.MR, the global Digital Remittance Market will hit $23.4 billion in 2024 and surpass $83.2 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 13.5% from 2024 to 2034.

The ever-increasing use of smartphones and other electronic devices for international payments and remittance services will boost the global market growth over the next 10 years. Quick, easy, and safe transfer of funds is increasing the popularity of digital remittance services.

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The advanced remittance platforms are offering their users a secure and fast transaction experience. The conventional way of transferring funds is time-consuming and expensive, while digital remittance platforms are comparatively inexpensive, faster, and offer value-added services. The growing increasing competition among market players is leading to low costs associated with money transfer.

International remittances are aiding in revenue generation at a maximum level. The immigration of individuals in search of jobs, the surge in international business activities, and the trend of getting an education from overseas are contributing to the growing adoption of digital remittance solutions for fund transfer. The immigrant people make use of outward digital remittance services to transfer money to their families. The rising number of customers of international banks and financial institutions is further increasing the use of outward digital remittance services.

Key Takeaways from the Market Study:

Global demand for digital remittance services is forecasted to reach a market value of US$ 83.2 billion by 2034.

The United States market is set to register a CAGR of 13.3% through 2034.

Japan is expected to capture 28.9% of the East Asia market share in 2024.

Revenue from outward digital remittance services has been evaluated at US$ 12.9 billion in 2024.

"Integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning will enhance the capabilities and increase the adoption of digital remittance solutions in the years ahead", says a Fact.MR analyst.

Winning Strategy:

The global digital remittance market is offering lucrative opportunities for both prominent service providers and new companies. The established players are adopting strategies such as collaborations, mergers, partnerships, and acquisitions to increase their product offerings and market reach. New companies are investing in the production of digital remittance solutions integrated with the latest technologies. This move is aiding start-ups to earn high profits and attract early adopters.

The UAE-based fintech start-up Go F5 offers a mobile application to perform financial transactions. The company uses blockchain technology for secure and quick fund transfers. The app F5 offers services for both individuals and businesses.

Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions:

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U.S. and South Korea: Key Players and Growing Markets in Digital Remittance Services

The United States hosts prominent financial service and communication companies such as Continental Exchange Solutions, Inc., Western Union Holdings, Inc., and MoneyGram. Many individuals migrate to the U.S. for better education, job opportunities, and business prospects.

The increasing number of immigrants in the country is expected to create significant growth opportunities for digital remittance service providers. Additionally, the trend toward faster money transfers is driving high demand for advanced payment applications.

South Korea: Rapidly Growing Digital Remittance Market in East Asia

South Korea is emerging as the fastest-growing market in the East Asia region. Many South Koreans use digital remittance platforms to transfer funds annually to colleagues, business partners, and family members abroad. The increasing adoption of online banking and financial services in South Korea is expected to propel the demand for digital remittance services. The growing focus on mobile banking, cashless payments, and mobile-based payment solutions is also contributing to the growth of the digital remittance market in South Korea.

More Valuable Insights on Offer:

Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the global digital remittance market, presenting historical demand data (2019 to 2023) and forecast statistics for the period (2024 to 2034). Download a Sample Report

The study divulges essential insights on the market based on type (inward, outward), channel (banks, money transfer operators, online platforms), and end use (migrant labor workforce, personal, small businesses, others), across seven major regions of the world (North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, and MEA).

Check out More Related Studies Published by Fact.MR Research:

Real-Time Payment Market is forecasted to reach $447.7 billion by 2034

Mobile Payment Market Expected to Reach a Whopping $590 Billion by 2032

Recurring Payments Market to Reach a Whopping $268.7 Billion by 2033

AI and Automation in Banking Market to Grow at an impressive CAGR of 22.8% through 2032

Digital Transaction Management Market Set to Reach $93.25 Billion by 2032

About Us:

Fact.MR is a distinguished market research company renowned for its comprehensive market reports and invaluable business insights. As a prominent player in business intelligence, we deliver deep analysis, uncovering market trends, growth paths, and competitive landscapes. Renowned for its commitment to accuracy and reliability, we empower businesses with crucial data and strategic recommendations, facilitating informed decision-making and enhancing market positioning.

With its unwavering dedication to providing reliable market intelligence, FACT.MR continues to assist companies in navigating dynamic market challenges with confidence and achieving long-term success. With a global presence and a team of experienced analysts, FACT.MR ensures its clients receive actionable insights to capitalize on emerging opportunities and stay ahead in the competitive landscape.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/digital-remittance-market-rising-at-13-5-cagr-to-hit-83-2-billion-by-2034--factmr-analysis-302153098.html


EQS Newswire / 23/05/2024 / 09:00 UTC+8

Computing power centers, as new infrastructures, play a pivotal role in national development in China. Especially in the current era of artificial intelligence (AI), computing centers have become key facilities urgently needed in the market. Maiyue Technology Limited (stock code: 2501.HK, "Maiyue Technology"), as the only recommended company representative of the Guangxi Autonomous Region Big Data Bureau, was invited to attend the 2024 Hong Kong Promotion Conference and Major Project Signing Ceremony for Building Guangxi into an Important Strategic Hinterland of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area held on 22 May 2024. Witnessed by Mr. Liu Ning, the Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and relevant leaders of the autonomous region government and HKSAR, Maiyue Technology, Ternary Fund Management Pte Ltd ("Ternary Fund ")and a PRC GPU company jointly signed an investment cooperation intention agreement on the AI computing power center industrial integration project. The above three parties will work together to build a new highland for AI computing power center in Guangxi, injecting strong impetus into the development of the AI industry in Guangxi and even the country.

Strong Collaboration to Build an AI Computing Power Center Maiyue Technology is an industry-leading IT solution provider and service provider, and also the first Guangxi-based innovation-driven high-tech enterprise listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Company was established in 2003 and listed in October 2023 on the Hong Kong Main Board. The Company focuses on empowering its customers such as government, business, and education in their journey towards digital and intelligent transformation with its technologies such as AI, Big Data and Internet of Things. The cooperation among Maiyue Technology, Ternary Fund, and the PRC GPU company marks that Maiyue Technology is vigorously extending its presence to the emerging computility segment. Through the alliance, the three could dovetail their own strengths and foster complementarities among them. Ternary Fund is a fund management company that specializes in investing in technology-driven growth companies. Its active pursuit of growth in Asia and focus on AI field provide an international perspective and strong support for the cooperation. The core team of the PRC GPU chip R&D enterprise has extensive experience in research and development of high-performance GPU, and it will provide strong technical support for the project in terms of research and development. The AI computing center is benefiting from the policies of the Chinese government. In October 2023, six governmental authorities of China, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Education, the National Health Commission, the People's Bank of China, and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, jointly issued the Action Plan for the High-Quality Development of Computing Power Infrastructure, in which China has set quantitative goals to be achieved by 2025 in terms of its computing power, network carrying capacity, data storage capacity, and applications to guide the high-quality development of computing power infrastructure. As one of the new infrastructure, the computing power centers are playing a pivotal role in national development. In particular, they have become key facilities urgently needed in the market in today's AI era. The AI computing power industrial integration project is planned to be developed in two phases. In the first phase, the infrastructure including the computing power center, intelligent computing center and the computing power platform will be built. The second phase will involve further expansion of computing power scale and construction of new relevant supporting facilities. The completion of the computing power center will effectively enhance the level of computing power in Guangxi, and provide strong support for the digital transformation in education, finance, intelligent manufacturing and other industries in Guangxi, thus further promoting the healthy and sustainable development of the AI industry in Guangxi. Unveils Groundbreaking Advancements in AI Solutions In recent years, AI has become an important driving force in leading a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, as well as a key engine in promoting high-quality economic development. As the most popular AI subdivision in recent years, large models are treated as an important research direction in realizing general AI and are one of the core forces leading the new generation of industrial transformation. Maiyue Technology has been actively deploying in the AI industry. Recently, the Company has collaborated with Guangxi Beigang Big Data Technology Co., Ltd. to develop an AI intelligent platform for contract management. As one of the AI large model series products of the Company, this platform covers the full cycle management from contract drafting to initiation of the signing process, completion of signing, and contract execution. It is a digitized and process-based electronic contract management platform for users in government, enterprises and public institutions. In addition to helping customers solve the problems of low efficiency, error-prone and low standardization caused by traditional manual contract management, this product also integrates AI technology to realize the online, digital, intelligent and standardized contract management process, greatly improving the work efficiency of the customers. This collaboration is a significant breakthrough for Maiyue Technology in the AI sector. It also achieves complementary advantages with Beigang Big Data. Through deepening cooperation and counting on AI, big data, Internet of Things and cloud computing technologies, the two parties will jointly promote the development of general and special software, and actively build a local AI large model brand in Guangxi. Cooperation with Beitou IT Innovation to Deploy in Information and Innovation Industry Information and innovation industry (information technology application innovation industry) is an important part of China's national strategy. The information and innovation industry plays a vital role in the current global informatization trends. In recent years, China has clearly put forward the "Digital China" strategy and set up a "2+8+N" safe and controllable system, aiming to gradually realize the domestic substitution of the office work equipment system for the government party and authorities and the eight major industries related to the national economy and people's livelihood, and improve the development level of the industrial chain. In order to respond to the national strategic deployment of information and innovation and seize new market opportunities, Maiyue Technology and Guangxi Beitou IT Innovation Technology Investment Group Co., Ltd. are jointly committed to the in-depth expansion and innovative development of the information and innovation industry. Guangxi Beitou IT Innovation Technology Investment Group Co., Ltd. ("Beitou IT Innovation") was founded in October 2020 with a registered capital of RMB1 billion, it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guangxi Beibu Gulf Investment Group Co., Ltd., a large state-owned enterprise group directly under the Guangxi Autonomous Region Government. Relying on the strong strength of Guangxi Beibu Gulf Investment Group, it is committed to innovative development in the fields of intelligent transportation, smart cities, etc. The cooperation between Maiyue Technology and Beitou IT Innovation will achieve complementary advantages. The two parties will jointly promote Maiyue Technology's brand "Chuangpeng Cloud" as a local brand of information and innovative products in Guangxi, and accelerate its promotion and implementation in Guangxi and across the country. At the same time, both parties will strengthen cooperation in technology research and development, talent training, market expansion, etc., in order to explore new technologies, new models, and new applications, jointly promote the construction of the information and innovation industry ecosystem and the coordinated development of the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain, and jointly set up a safe and controllable information technology system to provide strong support for China's information security and economic transformation. Looking ahead, Maiyue Technology is actively deploy strategic expansion into AI computing power domain to further enhance its software development capabilities and meet the diverse needs of customers. At the same time, the Company and its partners continue to put forward the AI computing center integration project to meet the application needs of multiple fields including finance, education, intelligent manufacturing, etc. at home and abroad, strengthen computing capabilities, and assist in the digital transformation of various industries. In order to consolidate their development advantages in the information and innovation industry, Maiyue Technology and Beitou IT Innovation Group will continue to deepen their cooperation. Both parties will also actively participate in exchanges and cooperation in the information and innovation industry at home and abroad, promote the international development of the information and innovation industry, and contribute more to the construction of a smart society and digital transformation. The signature of the intention investment cooperation agreement was witnessed by Mr. Liu Ning, the Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and relevant leaders of the autonomous region government and HKSAR.

Mr. Li Chongqing (middle in the photo), the Chairman of the Board of Maiyue Technology Limited, signed the intention investment cooperation agreement on behalf of the Group for the AI computing power center industrial integration project. About Maiyue Technology Limited (2501.HK) Established in 2003, the Company is an industry-leading IT solution provider and service provider, and also the first Guangxi-based innovation-driven high-tech enterprise listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Company was listed in October 2023 on the Hong Kong Main Board, which focuses on empowering its customers such as government, business, and education in their journey towards digital and intelligent transformation with its technologies such as AI, Big Data and Internet of Things. For more information of Maiyue Technology Limited, please visit the company website: http://www.maiyuesoft.com/ 23/05/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


Kupfer wird oft als das Gold der Energiewende bezeichnet, weil es aufgrund seiner hervorragenden elektrischen Leitfahigkeit eine zentrale Rolle in vielen Technologien spielt, die fur nachhaltige Energiesysteme entscheidend sind. Experten gehen aufgrund der Angebotsknappheit von einem Superzyklus aus.

Korrektur als Einstiegschance

Nach Hochststanden im Mai korrigierte das rote Metall stark. Die Abwartsspirale verstarkte sich in den vergangenen Tagen aufgrund schwacher Konjunkturdaten aus den USA und China. Langfristig konnte sich die aktuell laufende Korrektur als exzellente Einstiegsmoglichkeit herausstellen.

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A pro-Palestinian encampment, shown on May 1, occupied an area near Sproul Hall for weeks this spring. As a tense year ends at college campuses around America, Jewish students at UC Berkeley describe a multitude of experiences. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Tyler Kaplan, a freshman at UC Berkeley who is Jewish, kept getting anxious texts from his grandmother last semester.

Once she asked him whether hed been harassed on campus. Later she warned him not to celebrate Passover openly, he said. Shed been reading the headlines about rising antisemitism at colleges around the country.

UC Berkeley, long seen as a bellwether for student activism and progressive politics, drew particular attention over such concerns during the past school year. While its pro-Palestinian demonstrations were peaceful, some of the aggressive rhetoric, slogans and symbols  such as graffiti equating the Jewish star with a swastika that was seen at protesters occupation of an abandoned university building near Peoples Park in mid-May  crossed what many see as a line between being critical of Israel and being antisemitic.

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The U.S. Congress and Department of Justice are both investigating the university over allegations of anti-Jewish discrimination, and UC Berkeley is the subject of a lawsuit filed by the Brandeis Center, a Jewish advocacy group, accusing the university of allowing antisemitism to spread unchecked.

But Kaplan, 19, who doesnt consider himself religious, said he felt that the fears  at least those expressed by his grandmother  were overblown.

Shes just seeing stuff thats in the media. Shes not actually here, he said. For people like himself, who havent gotten deeply involved in the politics of the issue, nothings really happening.

A wave of concern about antisemitism has been cresting in the United States for months  and crashing on college campuses amid protests. A robust pro-Palestinian student movement has taken root, voicing existential questions about the state of Israel and pitting classmates against each other like no other conflict in memory. Reports of anti-Muslim bias also have risen across the country.

Some lawmakers have tied antisemitism to the protests and demanded that universities take encampments down. Unlike clashes at several universities, UC Berkeley negotiated a settlement with students who had camped in Sproul Plaza for more than three weeks.

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The pro-Palestinian encampment covered lawns at UC Berkeley. Students agreed to dismantle it after the university agreed to consider some of their demands. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Students participating in the protests say their focus has been on the destruction that Israel has wrought in Gaza and on the complicity of the U.S. government and their own universities through investments and military connections. But some Jewish students and professors, particularly those who support Israel or identify as Zionists, have at times seen some of the protest messages as hostile.

With a tumultuous school year coming to an end, the Chronicle set out to explore the experience of Jewish students at UC Berkeley and whether the campus has become inhospitable to Jews by talking to those who would know best: the students themselves. Several spoke about their lives there during this emotional and politically charged moment.

Some described painful conflicts and disagreements with people protesting the war against Hamas. One described a physical clash. Others echoed Kaplans experience  that campus was a safe and largely calm space. Some Jewish students joined the very demonstrations that others have called antisemitic, hosting social justice-themed dinners and Jewish holidays along the way.

Dan Mogulof, a spokesperson for the university, said there have been seven reports of violence against Jewish students at Berkeley in the vicinity of demonstrations since Oct. 7. These include allegations about someone getting shoved, another person being hit and a law student who was punched in the face. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have reported at least two instances of violence against them, Mogulof said.

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But the nine reports of violence, on a campus of some 45,000 students, dont capture what many students say are larger questions about the climate on campus.

The schools Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination is reviewing hundreds of complaints to determine how prevalent antisemitic actions have been on campus since October. The results wont be known for months, and police are investigating the assault reports.

There have, in fact, been disturbing reports of expression and violence that may have been motivated by antisemitic sentiment, Mogulof said. We hope to be able to identify those responsible, and were committed to appropriate consequences.

Pro-Israel and feeling uncomfortable

Ori Rabina, an 18-year-old Berkeley freshman studying civil engineering, comes from a family of Kurdish Jews who relocated to Israel from Iran.

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Born in Los Angeles, Rabina is active in strongly pro-Israel groups at UC Berkeley: Tikva, which describes itself as the Zionist Voice on Campus, and Students Supporting Israel, a group that views the protests as a war on college campuses and argues that Jewish settlements in the West Bank are not illegal.

Rabina was one of many Jewish students who said they felt the debate over the war in Gaza had made the campus hostile.

Especially towards the center of campus where I have to cross through to get to pretty much all of my classes, he said, citing activists partial blockade of the universitys famed Sather Gate, which ended earlier this year.

Pro-Palestinian students had stretched a banner across the portal as part of an ongoing protest, and Rabina, who wears a Jewish star on a necklace and on his backpack, said he was heckled more than once while passing through.

UC Berkeley student Ori Rabina, shown outside the Clark Kerr dormitories, is active in strongly pro-Israel groups and said he has been heckled more than once walking through campus. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

One day, after he took pictures of the group there, someone called him by the antisemitic slur k as he walked away, he said. He described another incident when he saw a young woman holding a sign with the Israeli flag emblazoned with a swastika during a rally at the encampment in Sproul Plaza.

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In my day to day, walking through campus to go to classes  Ill feel like Im being watched, he said. Every interaction Ive had with the actual protesters or protesters coming up to me has been very aggressive and very angry and very hostile.

Other students, particularly those engaged in pro-Israel demonstrations, have reported similar experiences.

Their argument is like free speech,  said Jacob Malach, a 21-year-old computer science major who said he was struck in the back of his head by a metal water bottle after showing up to counterprotest with an Israeli flag earlier this year. Its highly hypocritical because these people are not fans of free speech on any other issue, except for this one. And secondly, free speech doesnt allow you to break the law and do public camping. And thirdly, theyre like actively intimidating.

UC Berkeley student Jacob Malach, who is Jewish, stands where he was hit with a metal water bottle on campus. He says some free speech claims by anti-Israel demonstrators are highly hypocritical. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

UC Berkeleys law school has also been a hotbed of conflict over the issue, which has bled into student groups and school events.

Yakirah Kates is a 26-year-old law student whose family in southern Israel fled after the Oct. 7 attacks, which prompted the country to declare war on Hamas. She said she was disturbed by hearing classmates dispute that the attack was terrorism, and other students saying things such as there is no such thing as an Israeli civilian.

Kates said the war in Gaza inflamed existing tensions at the law school, including controversy over a pledge some student groups began adopting in 2022 not to work with Israeli or Zionist groups and speakers.

Overall, Kates described a sense of isolation at Berkeley for people like herself who believe Israel has a right to exist.

I sometimes get this sense of feeling what some of my ancestors have gone through in different countries around the world, she said. The sense of alienation is very deeply felt. And it kind of feels like the choices are either to become like a complete pariah, or to hide.

Seder at the Gaza encampment

Val is a nonbinary third-year student who asked that his full name be withheld due to concerns about being doxxed. He studies science and math and uses all pronouns, and he sees things differently. He had a very Jewish upbringing  Shabbat every Friday night, synagogue every Saturday, and a job as an after-school teacher for years, helping children learn the Old Testament, study Hebrew and prepare for bar and bat mitzvahs. He kept kosher and was raised to be a staunch supporter of Israel, where he has some family.

Palestine wasnt part of the conversation, Val said. It was Israel, and it was terrorists.

But once he got to Berkeley, his strong faith and cultural connection with Judaism led him in a different direction  to criticism of Israel and its treatment of Palestinians. Finding other Jewish students who shared these beliefs was part of that evolution.

By last summer Val said he had come to believe that Israel was an apartheid state. He chafed against the ideas of Hillel, the Jewish cultural organization where he had spent so much free time earlier on, because he felt that strong criticism of Israel was not well tolerated there.

Val, a senior who studies science and math, is a Jewish nonbinary student who joined the pro-Palestinian encampment. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

So he reopened a campus chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, a national, anti-Zionist Jewish group that went dormant during the pandemic, with a group of like-minded others.

After Hamas attack, Val started attending protests, rallies and regular meetings about the growing conflict. He brought a Jewish orientation to this work, hosting Shabbat dinners themed around denouncing the Israeli response, and citing his upbringing with what he called Jewish ethics.

At the end of the day, when Im confused, if theres one thing I know I can fall back on it is that, he said, citing ancient Jewish scriptures that espouse the primacy of human life. It is the backing for everything that I do.

Val hosted a Passover dinner attended by about 50 students at the pro-Palestinian encampment in late April. He said he feels like the concerns about antisemitism are being used, at times, to distract from pro-Palestinian voices. Personally, he is far more concerned about antisemitism from white supremacists.

UC Berkeley students observe an April 22 Passover Seder that coincided with the first evening of the pro-Palestinian encampment on the steps of Sproul Hall. Dena Takruri

I cant tell anyone how they feel or how they experience antisemitism, Val said. What I can tell you is that there are no universities left in Gaza to have these discussions on, right?

The lonely middle

Many young Cal students are still working out their feelings on the issue. And those somewhere between enthusiastic Israel supporters and pro-Palestinian protesters said they found themselves in a lonely place politically.

One student, a freshman whose parents are Israeli, described being involved with an interfaith club that sought to create a dialogue between different groups on campus after Oct. 7, only to discover how challenging it was to motivate people to engage with others they didnt agree with.

Were not trying to solve the conflict, said the student, who requested his name be withheld due to fears of reprisal. Just provide a little bit of common ground. And I think thats been hard to do.

Kaplan said he stand with the Palestinian people and agrees with the protesters on many points, but still has felt an increase in what he says is antisemitic sentiment.

He said the bulk of this has been online, but he described what he said was a troubling incident at a mosque service, where he was taken by his roommate, who is Muslim. The imam made what he felt like was a prejudiced comment about how even regular Israeli citizens deserved to be smited by God.
A Finnish materials technology startup, Fiberwood Ltd, has raised 7.7 million euros in growth funding from existing investors Metsa Spring and Stephen Industries, together with public financiers. The company is preparing to enter a commercial phase with the aim of international growth.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240522371838/en/

Fiberwood's insulation and packaging material innovation lies in foam technology and raw material base. Photo: Fiberwood

Fiberwood, established in 2019, is committed to advancing sustainable and ecological construction and packaging. The company has developed a technology and production process to produce circular, fossil-free insulation and packaging materials from forestry side streams and other natural fibres.

"Our products offer eco-friendly, recyclable and resource-efficient alternatives to traditional mineral wool-based insulation and cellular plastic-based packaging cushioning. Additionally, we enable the use of sustainable products in entirely new applications," says Fiberwood's CEO, Tage Johansson

Fiberwood is preparing to enter a commercial phase with the aim of international growth

In the spring of 2023, Fiberwood received 3 million euros in funding for development work. With the additional funding now secured, the company will begin constructing a test line to finalise its product concept, ensure industrial scalability and accelerate R&D activities. The test line will enable the manufacture of fully market-compatible products for customers' commercial projects.

Fiberwood has several product development projects underway with strategic customers and is close to finalising its initial series of commercial agreements.

"The funding round strengthens Fiberwood's position as a pioneer in materials technology. We're setting the foundation for a future production line, minimising risks from the outset. Our investment in process technology distinguishes us, enhances our competitive position, and contributes to the development of the Finnish forestry and materials technology know-how," says Johansson.

Fossil-Free Insulation and Packaging The Clear Choice for a Greener and Cleaner Planet

Fiberwood is a materials technology startup that develops fossil-free insulation and packaging materials from the forestry side streams and other natural fibres. The company unlocks the potential of leftovers by converting them into valuable, recyclable, and carbon-sequestering materials for various applications. Breathable and compostable insulation and packaging materials are ecological alternatives to mineral wool-based insulation and cellular plastic-based packaging cushioning.

Learn more about Fiberwood on their website.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240522371838/en/

Contacts:

Tage Johansson, CEO, Fiberwood Oy, +358 40 726 1231, tage.johansson@fiberwood.com



Maarit Saari, Brand and PR, Mailand Communications Oy, +358 50 550 7599, maarit.saari@mailand.fi
Firm answers the call of multinational and local organizations in need of C-suite business leaders

VALLETTA, Malta, May 23, 2024, an established business leader in Malta, who joins the firm as a Partner.



This new market becomes part of Boyden's Greece & Cyprusfast-growing regional business, now Greece-Cyprus-Malta, creating a strong network between Greece and the two island countries of the Mediterranean. The arrival in Maltaof a global executive search firm specialising in board and c-suite appointments heralds the next stage of growth for both local and international organisations.

Alexander Lamnidis, Managing Partner, Boyden Greece-Cyprus-Malta, comments," In an economy with robust exports and domestic demand, a number of our clients have strong Maltese interests. We have now answered their need for on-the-ground, C-suite and senior level executive search expertise, with local knowledge backed by a regional and global network of sector and leadership specialists. We are delighted to welcome Vassilis Trochalidis, who has an impressive reputation as a senior business leader, board member and CEO mentor in Malta."

Vassilis Trochalidis has a distinguished track record in Malta, most recently as CEO of Celestar Malta Ltd. He has held leadership roles in tech and telecoms, including CEO of Bit8 Ltd and C-level positions at Cosmote Mobile Telecommunications, now part of Deutsche Telecom. Vassilis holds a Ph.D. in aeronautical engineering from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom.

Malta is thriving as a hub for hospitality and conferences, healthcare, pharma, technology, aerospace, real estate and retail organisations. Tech-driven companies in gaming and payments as well as electronic money institutes (EMIs) benefit from a digitally savvy population. Boyden has historically served clients from its global footprint and will now combine local expertise with sector specialisation and C-suite functional leadership, providing clients in Malta with the full global resources of the firm.

About Boyden

Boyden is a premier leadership and talent advisory firm with more than 70 offices in over 45 countries. Our global reach enables us to serve client needs anywhere they conduct business. We connect great companies with great leaders through executive search, interim management and leadership consulting solutions. Boyden is ranked amongst the top companies on Forbes' Americas Best Executive Recruiting Firms for 2024. For further information, visit www.boyden.com.

About Boyden Greece-Cyprus-Malta

Boyden Greece-Cyprus-Malta is a young and vibrant leadership and talent advisory firm based in Greece and currently expanding to Malta and Cyprus. Our partner's expertise enables us to serve client needs across industries providing high quality service, tailor-made to each client's need. Boyden Greece-Cyprus-Malta is rising fast in the world of Executive Recruiting, achieving very high grades in customer satisfaction.

For further information, visit Executive Search in Greece and Cyprus - Boyden
Strengthening of a unique NGO-corporation collaboration model that links conservation goals with economic potential and addresses societal issues like deforestation and land degradation.

Extension of multi-year agreement that started in 2018, focusing on five strategic projects across the globe.

By 2026, ambitious target to recover over 300 thousand hectares of degraded land in Cerrado Brazil and regenerate agricultural soils in China with a focus to impact the agricultural sector for the adaption of sustainable farming practices. In the US the focus lies in enhancing climate resilience of crop land.

Collaboration and innovation drive the transformation of agriculture into a climate solution that regenerates soil and nature.

Syngenta Group, the leading global agriculture technology company, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a world-wide conservation organization with the mission to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends, today renewed their successful collaboration that links conservation goals with economic potential and addresses societal issues like deforestation and land degradation. The two partners have been collaborating since 2009 and entered into a global collaboration in 2018.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240522378844/en/

Regenerating degraded land in Cerrado Brazil (Photo: Business Wire)

The new three-year collaboration builds on successful projects and focuses on further advancing business practices with the goals to scale up regenerative agriculture, improve resource efficiency to minimize impact of agriculture on climate, improve soil health, and promote habitat protection in major agricultural regions worldwide including the Cerrado region of Brazil, China, and the United States.

The collaboration embodies Syngenta's commitment to regenerate soil and nature, core to its new Group-wide sustainability priorities announced in April 2024.

Petra Laux, Chief Sustainability Officer of Syngenta Group: "We are very proud to continue our collaboration with TNC and our partnership for impact. We want to further leverage our efforts towards a climate solution-oriented agriculture fueled by innovation and partnerships that regenerate soil and protect nature. Agriculture must not only feed a growing global population over the coming decades, but it also needs to fight climate change and safeguard natural resources."

Restoring millions of hectares of degraded land in Brazil, China and the US

Syngenta has set an ambitious target to recover 1 million hectares of degraded land throughout Brazil, with a significant portion focused on the Cerrado where the TNC collaborates with the company.

The goal of the initiative is to make the restoration of degraded land the profitable option sought by farmers in Brazil when expanding their production, instead of clearing native vegetation. The REVERTE program, originally designed by Syngenta and TNC for the Cerrado due to its significant potential, includes Itau BBA bank as the organization offering a line of credit for the growers following socio-environmental criteria.

Michael Doane, Global Managing Director Food Freshwater Systems, TNC: "REVERTE aims to demonstrate, through an integrated solution involving good agricultural practices, financial tools, policy, and business models, the economic viability of restoring degraded pastures instead of opening new cultivation areas and avoiding deforestation. Restoring land in the Cerrado delivers soil and water conservation benefits, increases carbon sequestration, and can increase the resilience of the production systems to extreme climate events. The program aims to support the transformation of agribusiness in the Cerrado, generating social, economic, and environmental benefits today and in the future."

As of March 2024, REVERTE has garnered commitments from over 263 farms, encompassing a total of 202 thousand hectares of degraded land, with 137 thousand in the Cerrado biome.

China: The Run Tian project has already regenerated 2400 hectares of agricultural soils in the North China Plain, the largest wheat producing area in China. It has also trained more than 17 thousand farmers on regenerative agricultural practices, leading to increases in yields by 4%, soil moisture storage 300m3 per hectare and net benefit USD 360 per hectare. Moving forward, Run Tian will develop new business strategies to further improve soil health to empower and support frontline producers to protect the soil ecosystem. It will also leverage Syngenta Group's fast-growing network of Modern Agriculture Platform (MAP) centers that promote sustainable farming practices. The MAP offering helps farmers modernize their farms sustainably, while boosting crop quality, yield and farm profitability. As part of Syngenta Group's recently published Sustainability Priorities, the company has a target to expand the number of farmer service centers to 1000 by 2028.

United States: In the US, the collaboration will develop and launch two new projects. The first will focus on enhancing cropland's climate resilience and reducing farming pressure on water resources by unlocking diverse crop rotations with regenerative sorghum production. In a parallel effort, the collaboration will also look to scale regenerative agriculture practices with seeds producers in the US, as part of the broader global Syngenta Seeds effort to implement regenerative agriculture in seed production. The collaboration with TNC will bring new business value to farmers, while reducing the environmental footprint of the seeds supply chain and preserving the quality of seeds delivered to Syngenta Group customers. Syngenta Group supports a broad range of sustainability projects and partners with academia and industry around the world demonstrating its commitment to a collaborative approach.

Syngenta Group and TNC will hold a LinkedIn Live event on the partnership progress. Tzutzuy Ramirez and Roberto Castro, Syngenta, and Michael Wironen and Rodrigo Spuri, TNC, will discuss how the partners will continue to develop their unique NGO-corporation collaboration model and what the plans are for the future. The event will be hosted on the Syngenta LinkedIn page on Wednesday, May 29 at 14.30 CET

About Syngenta Group

Syngenta Group is one of the world's biggest agricultural technology companies, with roots going back more than 250 years. With around 60,000 employees, operating in more than 100 countries, the company strives to transform agriculture with science-driven, technological innovations to deliver high productivity and high-quality food while fighting climate change and restore nature. Syngenta Group works with farmers and partners to deliver four Sustainability Priorities: Higher Yields, Lower Impact; Regenerate Soil and Nature; Improve Rural Prosperity; and Sustainable Operations. The priorities are underpinned by regenerative agriculture practices to nurture and restore soil health, protect the climate and biodiversity, and enhance farm productivity and profitability. Syngenta Group, which is registered in Shanghai, China, and has its management headquarters in Switzerland, draws strength from its four business units: Syngenta Crop Protection, headquartered in Switzerland; Syngenta Seeds, headquartered in the United States; ADAMA, headquartered in Israel; and Syngenta Group China. Together, these businesses provide industry-leading ways to serve customers around the world.

For Syngenta Group photos and videos, please visit the Syngenta Group Media Library.

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 72 countries, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

Data protection is important to us. You are receiving this publication on the legal basis of Article 6 para 1 lit. f GDPR ("legitimate interest"). However, if you do not wish to receive further information about Syngenta Group, just send us a brief informal message and we will no longer process your details for this purpose. You can also find further details in our privacy statement.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as "expect," "would," "will," "potential," "plans," "prospects," "estimated," "aiming," "on track" and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta Group, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or grain prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta Group assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240522378844/en/

Contacts:

Media Relations

media@syngentagroup.com

Ciaran Clayton, Director of Global Media Relations

+1 703-841-4253

ciaran.clayton@tnc.org
Investing in early stage breakthrough opportunities across life sciences

Led by experienced former Genextra team

Supported by anchor investors European Investment Fund (EIF), CDP Venture Capital SGR (CDP VC) and Micheli Associati, as well as a broad institutional base including UniCredit, Quaestio Capital, Banco BPM, Inarcassa, ENPAM, Fondazione di Sardegna and Banca Sella Holding

Launched in December 2022, has so far invested in five companies

Fundraising to continue to end of Q3 2024

XGEN Venture a newly formed Venture Capital firm announces its first fund, XGEN Venture Life Science Fund, with 160 million in subscriptions. With this fund, XGEN Venture will be working alongside talented scientists and entrepreneurs to create and invest in up to 15 companies, delivering impactful solutions to patients through new therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and digital health solutions. While taking a global view to scientific innovation, a good portion of XGEN-backed companies will be formed from technologies originated in Italian research institutes.

Launched in December 2022, the fund will continue its fundraising efforts towards a final target of 200 million. It is supported by a strong base of institutional investors including EIF, CDP VC, UniCredit, Quaestio Capital, Banco BPM, Inarcassa, ENPAM, Fondazione di Sardegna and Banca Sella Holding, as well as many prominent family offices, with Micheli Associati, the majority shareholder of Genextra, participating to the launch of the fund as anchor investor together with EIF and CDP VC. XGEN has, so far, invested in five companies including Page Therapeutics and Nouscom, focused on breakthrough therapies to treat cancer, Protembis, improving cardiovascular interventional procedures, TES Pharma, a drug-discovery boutique targeting orphan receptors, and a soon to be announced gene-therapy company for rare diseases. The fund promotes best ESG practices within the meaning of SFDR art.8.

XGEN founders and managing partners, Paolo Fundaro, Federica Draghi and Daniele Scarinci have been previously working together building and investing in innovative life science startups for nearly two decades while at Genextra. The three partners were the first in Italy to specialize in life science venture capital investments, successfully investing over 200 million in early stage startups. XGEN's team also includes eight high profile venture partners that bring extensive operational backgrounds in various areas of the life sciences industry, and three investment professionals. The founding partners, the venture partners and the team members have all invested in the fund, with a total GP commitment of 2.5% of the total fund.

"We are pleased to have reached this ambitious target for our first fund" said Paolo Fundaro, "with a diversified investor base of over 75% institutional and with the participation as anchor investor of the Micheli family with whom we have worked for the past twenty years at Genextra we are deeply appreciative of the continued support and trust from our LPs. This new fund will allow us to continue our established strategy of building and growing companies that conduct complex clinical programs for serious health conditions."

XGEN has been assisted by the law firm ALMA LED for all legal and regulatory matters.

About XGEN Venture

XGEN Venture is a Milan-based, newly created life science venture capital firm. We work with a group of exceptional scientists and entrepreneurs to translate high level science into solutions for patients. Our company creation strategy identifies and supports the most convincing opportunities to build effective businesses and create value.

Investing in technologies that truly improve severe health conditions is at the core of what XGEN does and is committed to doing so in a responsible and impactful way, promoting best ESG practices within the meaning of SFDR art 8. For more information, please visit www.xgenventure.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240522122886/en/

Contacts:

Media and Investor Relations:

Mariagiulia Davide

Analyst

XGEN Venture SGR SpA

+39 02 36515110

mariagiulia.davide@xgenventure.com
Aigrette Financing (Issuer) Plc - Directorate Change

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, May 23

Aigrette Financing (Issuer) Plc

Anglian Water Services Limited

("Anglian Water" or "the Company")

Board Succession Announcement: Mark Thurston to be appointed as Anglian Water Chief Executive

The Board of Directors (Board) of Anglian Water is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Thurston as Group Chief Executive Officer Designate. Mark will join the business on 1 July 2024 and will be appointed to the board of both Anglian Water and Anglian Water Group Limited on 5 August at which point he will succeed Peter Simpson as Group Chief Executive Officer.

Mark is a highly experienced leader who, over more than 30 years, has held leadership roles for major infrastructure projects including the Olympics, Crossrail and most recently, High Speed Two (HS2), as well as playing a key role in the growth of engineering business CH2M. He was the longest serving CEO of HS2, the biggest infrastructure project in Europe. During his tenure he oversaw the development of an organisation and joint venture partnership model with the largest supply chain of any infrastructure project in the UK. With deep experience in both public and private sectors, Mark has a strong track record on projects requiring complex stakeholder engagement including high-profile regulatory and governmental interface.

Having started his career as a technician apprentice on the London Underground, Mark became a chartered engineer, honorary fellow of the Association for Project Management, and fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

As announced in October 2023, Peter Simpson will retire from the Board in August 2024, and will remain with the business as a Strategic Advisor to support a smooth leadership transition before taking retirement.

Ros Rivaz, Chair of Anglian Water Group, commented: "On behalf of the Board, I am delighted that Mark Thurston will be joining Anglian Water as CEO. He has substantial experience across major infrastructure with a focus on health and safety, and is expertly placed to lead Anglian Water as we deliver our biggest ever business plan. His diverse experience in the challenges of providing infrastructure while protecting and enhancing the natural environment fits squarely with Anglian Water's long-term ambitions. Mark's stand-out track record in leadership and his major projects expertise will be a huge asset for Anglian Water, creating value for all our stakeholders, through this crucial next phase.

"It has been a tremendous honour working with Peter, who has worked with our long-term shareholders to deliver more than 5 billion of investment in his 10 years as CEO. Most recently, together with the Board, Peter has worked to refresh his leadership team with top talent to facilitate his succession."

Mark Thurston commented: "It is a privilege to join Anglian Water at this crucial point when the business will be delivering some of the biggest infrastructure enhancements in the UK water industry. As well as providing vital services for millions of customers, Anglian Water has an outstanding culture, strong values and a clear purpose, which I am really excited to be part of. My focus will be on making sure the business is set up for success for the long term and I look forward to engaging with customers, colleagues, regional stakeholders, government, regulators and our shareholders to deliver on our objectives."

No other information is required to be disclosed pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13R in relation to Mark Thurston's appointment as the Group's Chief Executive Officer.

Remuneration details will be included in Annual Integrated Report.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Emma Staples, Corporate Affairs Director, Anglian Water

Estaples2@anglianwater.co.uk

07809300738

Headland Consultancy

Andy Rivett-Carnac

07968 997365

Antonia Pollock

07789 954356

anglianwater@headlandconsultancy.com

Aigrette Financing (Issuer) Plc LEI: 213800Y5R44IBGNSGT56
SINGAPORE, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With a commitment to broadening the reach and usability of blockchain technologies, HTX Ventures, the global investment arm of the cryptocurrency exchange HTX, has announced a strategic investment in Kelp DAO, a triple-income re-pledge protocol based on EigenLayer.

Kelp DAO has secured $9 million in its latest round of strategic private sales, which will support its vision to reshape the DeFi and restaking ecosystem. This funding will enable Kelp DAO to further develop its cutting-edge technology, expand its offerings, and refine its liquid restaking solutions. Currently, Kelp offers liquid restaking across the Ethereum mainnet and nine Layer 2 solutions, including Arbitrum, Blast, Linea, Base, and Scroll.

"We are excited to support Kelp DAO," said Edward, Managing Partner at HTX Ventures. "Their focus on enhancing user experience and driving developer experimentation is pivotal to the early success of restaking. We believe Kelp's innovative approach will transform the DeFi landscape, and we are thrilled to be part of their journey."

Dheeraj Borra, Co-founder at Kelp, shared, "This fundraise not only fuels our operational capabilities but also validates the vision we have for Kelp, which is now shared by our investors. We're excited to scale our solutions and enhance user experience even further with their support."

HTX Ventures is thrilled to support innovative projects like Kelp DAO, which offers a much-needed, user-friendly, and scalable solution. Users can stay connected with Kelp DAO through their official website and social media channels for the latest product updates.

About HTX Ventures

HTX Ventures, the global investment division of HTX, integrates investment, incubation, and research to identify the best and brightest teams worldwide. With a decade-long history as an industry pioneer, HTX Ventures excels at identifying cutting-edge technologies and emerging business models within the sector. To foster growth within the blockchain ecosystem, we provide comprehensive support to projects, including financing, resources, and strategic advice.

HTX Ventures currently backs over 200 projects spanning multiple blockchain sectors, with select high-quality initiatives already trading on the HTX exchange. Furthermore, as one of the most active Fund of Funds (FOF) investors, HTX Ventures collaboratively forges the blockchain ecosystem alongside premier global blockchain funds, including Figment Capital, Dragonfly, Bankless Ventures, Animoca, Shima, and IVC.

Contact Details

Michael Wang

glo-media@htx-inc.com

Company Website

https://www.htx.com/en-us/ventures

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NEW YORK, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- KPS Capital Partners, LP ("KPS") announced today that it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement with Tate & Lyle PLC (LSE: TATE.L, "Tate & Lyle") to acquire Tate & Lyle's remaining ownership interest of 49.7% in Primary Products Investments LLC ("Primient" or the "Company") for $350 million. Completion of the transaction is expected by end of July 2024 and is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals.

Primient is a leading producer of food and industrial ingredients made from plant-based, renewable resources. Founded in 1906 as A.E. Staley Manufacturing Co., Primient has an over 100-year history of producing corn-derived products in the United States. The Company produces corn-derived products which are used in a wide variety of applications including carbonated beverages, confectionary products, packaging applications and animal feed for some of the world's most recognizable food and beverage brands. Primient employs approximately 1,800 people across six manufacturing facilities in the United States and Brazil.

In April 2022, KPS acquired a controlling interest in Primient, Tate & Lyle's Primary Products Business in North America and Latin America. In connection with the transaction, Primient and Tate & Lyle entered into long-term agreements to provide security of supply to both Primient and Tate & Lyle's retained businesses.

Michael Psaros, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of KPS, said, "Primient's performance has exceeded our expectations, and this second investment represents KPS' continued commitment to Primient, its customers and employees. Under our ownership, Primient will continue to modernize its operations, supporting growth initiatives and industry-leading sustainability practices. We intend to make further strategic investments to strengthen Primient's role within the corn wet milling industry and the broader bioeconomy."

Jim Stutelberg, Chief Executive Officer of Primient, said, "We are excited for the future of Primient and to strengthen our partnership with KPS. Since KPS acquired Primient, I am incredibly proud of the tremendous progress we've made on our priorities of providing high-quality products and services to our customers and creating a safer workplace for our employees. Over the past two years, we have worked extensively with KPS to develop and execute our modernization and growth strategy to empower Primient to meet customer needs today and in the future. With strong KPS support, we are executing on more than $700 million in capital investments over the next five years to ensure the highest quality and most reliable production in the industry for decades to come. We believe the scale of our planned investments is unmatched in our industry and will position Primient to win new opportunities to serve the bioeconomy. In addition to the investments, Primient continues to set itself apart in the corn wet milling industry as the only corn wet miller to completely phase out coal, having transitioned all facilities to more sustainable energy sources, and enabling Primient to achieve its ambitious sustainability commitments."

KPS expects to fund the investment through a combination of equity and debt financing. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal counsel to KPS and its affiliates. Evercore is acting as exclusive financial advisor to KPS. Debt financing to support KPS' investment is being led by Barclays.

About Primient

Primient is a leading producer of food and industrial ingredients made from plant-based, renewable resources. Founded in 1906 as A.E. Staley Manufacturing Co., Primient has an over 100-year history of producing corn-derived products in the United States. The Company produces corn-derived products which are used in a wide variety of applications including carbonated beverages, confectionary products, packaging applications and animal feed for some of the world's most recognizable food and beverage brands. Primient employs approximately 1,800 people across six manufacturing facilities in the United States and Brazil. For more information, visit www.primient.com.

About Tate & Lyle PLC

Tate & Lyle PLC is a world leading provider of ingredient solutions for healthier food and beverages. Tate & Lyle has an over 160-year history of ingredient innovation, and partners with customers to provide consumers with healthier and tastier choices when they eat and drink. Through its expertise in sweetening, fortification, and texture, Tate & Lyle develops ingredient solutions which reduce sugar, calories and fat, add fiber and protein, and provide texture and stability in categories including beverages, dairy, bakery, soups, sauces and dressings. Tate & Lyle's purpose is Transforming Lives through the Science of Food which is lived by supporting healthy living, building thriving communities and caring for the planet. For more information, visit www.tateandlyle.com.

About KPS Capital Partners, LP

KPS, through its affiliated management entities, is the manager of a family of investment funds with approximately $21.4 billion of assets under management (as of December 31, 2023). For over three decades, the Partners of KPS have worked exclusively to realize significant capital appreciation by making controlling equity investments in manufacturing and industrial companies across a diverse array of industries, including basic materials, branded consumer, healthcare and luxury products, automotive parts, capital equipment and general manufacturing. KPS creates value for its investors by working constructively with talented management teams to make businesses better and generates investment returns by structurally improving the strategic position, competitiveness and profitability of its portfolio companies, rather than primarily relying on financial leverage. The KPS Funds' portfolio companies currently generate aggregate annual revenues of approximately $20.3 billion, operate 222 manufacturing facilities in 26 countries, and have approximately 48,000 employees, directly and through joint ventures worldwide (as of December 31, 2023). The KPS investment strategy and portfolio companies are described in detail at www.kpsfund.com.

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Flights to Operate Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, Enhancing Travel Options for Visitors and Business Travelers between the Two Countries

SEOUL, South Korea, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- T'way Air, a low-cost carrier based in Seoul, South Korea, has officially launched a new flight between Zagreb and Seoul on May 16th, marking the airline's first flight to Europe. This new route between Zagreb and Seoul (Incheon) is expected to enhance convenience for tourists and business travelers in both Croatia and Korea.

The inauguration event marking this new milestone for the airline was held at Sheraton Zagreb Hotel on May 17th, attended by Sung-Hun Na, Vice Chairman of T'way Air, Hong-Geun Jeong, CEO of T'way Air; Damir Kusen, Croatian Ambassador to Korea; and Joongkeun Oh, Minister-Counselor of the Korean Embassy in Croatia, along with other guests.

The Zagreb to Seoul flight operates three times a week - every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, departing Zagreb International Airport at 9:25 PM and arriving at Seoul Incheon International Airport the next day at 3:25 PM local time, with a flight duration of approximately 11 hours.

The return flight departs Seoul (Incheon) at 11:05 AM, arriving at Manas International Airport in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan at 3:50 PM for refueling, and arrives in Zagreb at 7:55 PM. The total flight duration, including the refueling stop, is approximately 15 hours and 50 minutes.

T'way Air will operate an Airbus A330-300 aircraft (347 seats) on this route. Alongside a regular economy cabin, there are 12 Business Saver seats. T'way Air offers complimentary in-flight meals twice to both Business Saver class and Economy class on this route.

"We are excited to launch our first European destination, connecting Zagreb and Seoul," said Hong-Geun Jeong, CEO of T'way Air. "This new service offers travelers an affordable and convenient option, and we believe this route will boost Croatia's tourism industry and enhance the exchange between two countries."

T'way Air operates routes to destinations such as Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Australia. The airline was listed on the Korea Exchange (KRX) in August 2018 and introduced its first long-haul route between Seoul (Incheon) to Sydney, in 2022 with the addition of the Airbus A330-300 to its fleet.

About T'way Air

T'way Air Co., Ltd., is a leading low-cost carrier (LCC) in South Korea providing affordable and reliable air travel since 2010. The airline operates a diverse route network that includes destinations in Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Australia, utilizing a modern fleet of Boeing 737-800s and Airbus A330-300s. Listed on the Korea Exchange (KRX) since August 2018, T'way Air continues to expand its global footprint, offering its exceptional service and value to passengers worldwide. For more information, please visit www.twayair.com.

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Crypto Valley: Two pioneers open up the global real estate market

DN -issuer Dynasty acquires stake in tokenization service provider BrickMark

Settlement of the investment of CHF 10 million with Dynasty payment tokens

Tokenization of real estate worth CHF 1.5 billion planned through BrickMark

SAO PAULO and ZUG, Switzerland, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tokenization pioneers Dynasty Global Investments AG (Dynasty) and BrickMark Group AG (BrickMark), based in Zug/Switzerland, today signed an agreement under which BrickMark will integrate the DN payment token issued by Dynasty into its tokenization platform for real estate. In return, Dynasty will acquire a strategic stake in BrickMark. The investment totaling CHF 10 million will be part of the Series A financing of BrickMark and settled mainly with Dynasty's payment token and cash. The financing is expected to close by the end of June 2024.

This transaction represents a significant step for both companies as part of their growth strategy on the global property markets. The real estate-focused payment token DN issued by Dynasty is going to take on a leading role for tokenized real estate transactions in the future. From now on, real estate tokenized through the BrickMark platform can be traded with DN without any further effort.

BrickMark is set to tokenize real estate assets worth over CHF 1.5 billion on its platform in the coming months, with CHF 400 million of these assets already sourced from Dynasty's network. Through its tokenization platform BrickGate, BrickMark is already active in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and across the African continent. The collaboration with Dynasty will significantly extend BrickMark's reach to the American continent. Dynasty Token holders will have preferred access to any Real Estate Token offering of BrickMark's platform in the future.

Eduardo Carvalho, CEO and co-founder of Dynasty Global AG, expects the company's token to establish itself worldwide as a Tether for the property market. "Every cryptocurrency goes through various validation processes. In the case of Bitcoin, this first happened in 2010 when it was accepted for the purchase of two pizzas. For DN, the integration into the BrickMark platform is a strategic step that further emphasizes its value."

For Stephan Rind, CEO and founder of BrickMark Group AG, the integration of DN and the participation of Dynasty Global AG marks another significant milestone in the company's growth strategy. "Thanks to DN, we are now in a position to offer a uniform and cost-effective solution for a wide range of real estate transactions worldwide on the basis of a universal and recognized crypto currency, which gives private and institutional investors access to markets that were previously only open to a few."

DN has successfully completed the authorization process in Switzerland and is qualified as a payment token by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority. On May 1, 2024, in addition CVM, the Brazilian Financial Market Authority, authorized DN as a payment token for the Brazilian market with its 220 million consumer base. Dynasty Global AG is regulated by the Swiss financial market supervisory regime. With a maximum of 21 million tokens issuance, DN is currently listed in Brazil via Mercado Bitcoin and with other international exchanges.

About

Dynasty Global AG

Dynasty Global AG is the first cryptocurrency issuing company in the world to use a real estate portfolio as a reference for its payment tokens. Through DN, the issuer can simplify financial and real estate transactions globally and provide a decentralized experience, as well as greater stability, since it has a reference value of a real asset. With a strong presence in the European, Asian, and Brazilian markets, the company is headquartered in Zug in Crypto Valley, Switzerland. With maximum of 21 million tokens issuance, DN is listed on various global exchanges, and in Brazil, it is available on the Mercado Bitcoin exchange.

BrickMark Group AG

BrickMark Group AG is a first-tier pioneer in the tokenization of real estate assets and a one-stop-solution provider to create, issue and manage digital assets and securities. Since its inception in 2018, the company has been a leader in a variety of transactions, including for the world's largest tokenization of a single commercial property on Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich. To date, the company has executed tokenization transactions with a total value of more than USD 160 million. BrickMark developed and operates the first fully scalable vertical tokenization infrastructure for real estate assets in Europe, BRICKGATE, to cater to the rapidly growing tokenization markets, whose volume is expected to grow from USD 310 billion in 2022 to USD 16 trillion in 2030. BrickMark Group is headquartered in the Canton of Zug, with a subsidiary in Luxemburg.

Contact

Brazil: Team MOTIM



Paola Cruvinel - paola.cruvinel@motim.cc

+11 98669-5183

Raphael Bueno - raphael.bueno@motim.cc

+11 99723-7397

Caroline Tondato - caroline.tondato@motim.cc

+11 98183-4482

Switzerland & Europe



Wolfgang Weber-Thedy, wwt@weber-thedy.com

+41 44 266 1586



Jessica Winkler, j.winkler@brickmark.net

Investor and Public Relations BrickMark Group AG

+49 176 1816 0008

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Tell that asshole to shut up and sit down.

The bar at Tadich Grill, the oldest of San Franciscos old school restaurants, is right in the middle of the action. If privacy is what you seek as youre making deals over oysters Rockefeller, thats what the semi-enclosed booths along the left wall of the dining room are for. But the long, J-shaped lunch counter is where you sit if you want to shoot the breeze with your white-jacketed bartender as he mixes your Manhattan or trade tips about the market with the guy sitting next to you. Its where Im seated when I hear two staff members griping about a problem customer.

The asshole in question, besuited in plaid and inebriated, is propping up the end of the bar closest to the door, and he will neither shut up nor sit down. Pity the couple hes buttonholed next to him. I can hear the words Biden and terrorist despite the fact that Im a good 25 feet away. Im initially taken aback by the servers pointed language, but he has a point. This guy sucks.

Read MacKenzie Chung Fegan's next review I have also reviewed another establishment where generations of Californians have gone to celebrate graduations and anniversaries with fresh seafood and white-jacketed waiters, but this spot does not take its guests for granted. Can you guess? Check out the review here.

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About 20 minutes later, the family of three next to me pays their bill and gets up to leave. My server and I have been cordially chatting throughout the evening, so Im not surprised when he leans over the counter to dish. I am surprised by what comes out of his mouth next. The fat slob, he says, showing me the less than 10% tip the customer left. He comes in here, eats cioppino and tips like this? How can he sleep at night?

Pedestrians stop to read the menu at Tadich Grill on California Street in San Francisco. The restaurant is the oldest in the state and among the oldest in the country. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

I dont think a 10% tip is acceptable. But, and I hope this goes without saying, I also dont think that type of pejorative language is acceptable. Not on a playground, not in a locker room, and definitely not in a restaurant where patrons are spending their hard-earned money. It is clear to me that theres a culture problem at Tadich Grill. If its common practice to speak coarsely and contemptuously about guests in front of and to other guests, what are they saying about us when were out of earshot?

Tadich has had its fair share of controversies in the recent past. There was the 2017 lawsuit filed against the restaurants owners by their business partners, who claimed allegations of racism made by an estranged daughter doomed its Washington, D.C., expansion. A year after one of the darkest days for American democracy, Tadich designated Jan. 6 as Dave Portnoy Day to celebrate a grant he had given the business, and if youre not sure why thats troubling, Google him (I guess?). I cant speak to the personal beliefs of the various members of the Buich family, who have owned Tadich Grill since 1928, and even if I could, theres a larger discussion to be had about whether those beliefs are relevant in a restaurant review. Many readers would say no. What I can convey is what I experienced personally.

I can also give you my honest assessment of the food. Weeks before the fat slob incident, I chose to omit Tadich from the Chronicles list of the best classic San Francisco restaurants based on the quality of the food alone. I heard from many of you. Why was Tadich slighted? How could I not recognize the greatness of its seafood? Was I eating at a different restaurant?

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Left: The pan-fried petrale sole served at Tadich Grill in San Francisco. On one lunch visit, the dish was overcooked and bland, but during a subsequent dinner, it was generously portioned, expertly cooked and less bland. Right: The crab and prawns a la Monza, a cheesy rice casserole in a paprika-heavy sauce. Photos by Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Above: The pan-fried petrale sole served at Tadich Grill in San Francisco. On one lunch visit, the dish was overcooked and bland, but during a subsequent dinner, it was generously portioned, expertly cooked and less bland. Below: The crab and prawns a la Monza, a cheesy rice casserole in a paprika-heavy sauce. Photos by Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Perhaps! I ate at Tadich three times, and the quality of the food was so varied that at times it did not seem like the same restaurant. One lunch, my pan-fried petrale sole ($38) was scrawny, overcooked and offensively bland. During a subsequent dinner, it was generously portioned, expertly cooked and slightly less bland.

Have you ever eaten a raw potato? I have. The thick-cut rectangular steak fries, known as long branch potatoes, arrive as a side to most of the fish entrees. Sometimes they are fully cooked, sometimes they are not. They share plate space with the vegetable of the day. Each day, every day, it is steamed carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, green beans and/or zucchini. I understand that a large part of Tadichs appeal is the nostalgia factor, but can so many people really be nostalgic for the cafeteria food of our youths?

The secret to a successful meal at Tadich, in my opinion, is Dungeness. Crab cakes ($51), which on first glance look disconcertingly like toasted English muffins in a sauce the color of melted Creamsicle, are tasty and light on the filler. Sauteed crab legs ($56.50) are served out of the shell, the better to bathe in a sauce of white wine and garlic. And the crab and prawns a la Monza ($39), a cheesy rice casserole in a paprika-heavy sauce, is as retro as it gets. Who, or what, is Monza? Would the landlocked suburb of Milan claim this seafood bake? No one seems to know, but I would happily order it again.

An employee sets a fresh white tablecloth for guests during the lunch hour at Tadich Grill. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

There are plenty of reasons to eat at a restaurant with middling food. Ask me about my affinity for Tatiana, a Russian supper club with a floor show in New Yorks Brighton Beach, or the unbelievably named Dublin fast-food chain Abrakebabra. Maybe you ride for Tadich because your parents gave you your first taste of cioppino ($58) there. Maybe your grandparents introduced you to the hangtown fry ($27). Lest you think I live to take shots at hallowed institutions, let me assure you that I love nothing more than slipping into some heels and ordering a martini and fries at a place where the walls are yellowed from cigarette smoke and a bartender will almost certainly misgender my spouse. But that martini had better arrive so cold it freezes the pads of my fingers (zero points Tadich) and the fries had better be  well, cooked.

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More importantly, I cannot in good conscience recommend a restaurant that treats its customers with obvious contempt. Tadich is woven into the fabric of the city, and for that you love Tadich. But I dont think it loves you back.

Tadich Grill

240 California St., San Francisco. tadichgrillsf.com

Hours: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 4:30-9:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible tables, no outside seating.

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Noise level: Moderate.

Meal for two, without drinks: $120 to $220.

What to order: Crab cakes ($51), sauteed crab legs ($56.50), crab and prawns a la Monza ($39).

Meat-free options: Not a friendly spot for vegetarians or vegans. Options are limited to salads and sides.

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Transportation: A 5-minute walk from Embarcadero Station; 1-California bus; street parking is possible at night.
OSLO, Norway, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker Solutions' consultancy has today announced plans to double its revenues and headcount by 2030 as it introduces its new name, Entr.

Entr's growth is driven by an increased demand for Aker Solutions' early phase offerings and the need to adapt its services for new and existing markets. Entr's growth will be achieved through a significant increase in core headcount from 300 to more than 600 employees across its global hubs in Norway, the UK, Canada, the US, India, and Malaysia.

In the last quarter, Entr has secured more than 170 studies across several markets including low carbon solutions for oil and gas production, CCUS, hydrogen, offshore wind, electrical transmission, and aquaculture.

The new brand reflects Aker Solutions' evolution and ongoing commitment to support customers in an increasingly complex and fast-moving energy landscape, building on the company's long and successful history of engineering innovation, project development and delivery to provide a broader set of advisory services.

Entr works with operators, developers, governments, and investors to de-risk the commercial, technical, supply chain, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects of energy projects.

"Over the past five years the rapid growth and evolution of new and emerging industries has called for different ways of working and collaborating. This has required us to build on our position as a renowned technical front-end engineer to deliver greater value and impact to customers," said Kjetel Digre, CEO, Aker Solutions.

"In the current energy landscape, many customers are exploring business models that are new to them, requiring insights on how these models relate to the overall project execution strategy. With our strong industrial and project delivery heritage, we have the experience, learnings and data needed to reduce the risk related to the commercial, regulatory, and technical aspects of energy projects, whilst ensuring safety and sustainability."

Entr's offerings include due diligence, business case analysis, concept screening, value improvement, conceptual development, technology selection and integration, regulatory processes, total system design, owner's engineering, and project execution management.

"Entr guides customers through the complexities of the energy transition, enabling them to make the robust business decisions needed to invest wisely and to achieve project and operational excellence, whilst minimizing emissions and cost," said Roddy Macpherson, SVP of Entr, Aker Solutions.

"With decades of insights gathered from executing landmark projects across the globe, Entr has the knowledge and industry expertise to link the commercial and the technical for maximum business impact. From strategy to implementation, we aim to accelerate the development of sustainable, low-carbon solutions, expanding our offer whilst continuing to deliver our renowned front-end engineering services."

Aker Solutions launched its consultancy business in 2021 with the aim to engage earlier in the value chain and develop new specialist skills and offerings building on its existing engineering capabilities. Entr will act as a growth engine for Aker Solutions, further accelerating its transformation within the global energy industry.

For more information, contact:

Rebecca Cox

media contact

rebecca.cox@akersolutions.com

+44 (0) 7809 550164



Preben rbeck

investor relations

preben.orbeck@akersolutions.com

+47 470 10 611

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Erinnern Sie sich, als Moderna und BioNTech von unbekannten Unternehmen zu globalen Marktfuhrern wurden und fruhzeitige Investoren reich belohnt haben?



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Die nachste Erfolgsgeschichte im Biotechbereich warten nur darauf, entdeckt zu werden. Wer jetzt investiert, hat die Chance, von gigantischen Durchbruchen und enormen Renditen zu profitieren. Warten Sie nicht, bis es zu spat ist - der nachste Biotech-Superstar konnte morgen schon durchstarten!



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WUHAN, China, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Co-hosted by the Fiber Network Council APAC (FNCA) and Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC), China FIBERTalk 2024 was held in China's Optics Valley on May 17th. The conference, which focused on "New Optical Network Technologies and Applications in the AI+ Era", brought together top management executives and senior engineers from leading telecom and mobile network operators, network service providers, research institutes, and corporate users of communications services.

XIONG Zhuang, President of FNCA and Chief Cable Scientist at YOFC, highlighted in his address that this event marks the second collaboration between FNCA and YOFC following the FTTH APAC Conference 2019, also held in the same location. FNCA is dedicated to advancing the widespread use of fiber optic network . In the AI+ era, the synergy of AI and fiber optic network is unlocking numerous possibilities. The integration enhances efficiency and reliability, while enabling new services and applications, launching the next wave of innovation in technology. As an industry association, FNCA is dedicated to fostering communication and cooperation within the industry. By promoting the advancement and adoption of fiber optic network technology, the organization aims to shape the future of connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

ZHUANG Dan, Executive Director and President of YOFC, delivered a welcome speech at the conference, extending a warm greeting to all the participants. He expressed his gratitude to FNCA for their trust and ongoing support. ZHUANG emphasized that AI is driving new opportunities for the development of fiber optic network technology. He highlighted the mutually beneficial relationship between AI and fiber optic network, noting that they drive each other forward. The sophisticated advancement of AI applications and the growth of data traffic are escalating the demand for fiber optic infrastructure. Concurrently, high-quality fiber optic network, empowered by new technologies, are enabling AI to process and analyze data at unprecedented speeds, providing fresh opportunities for innovation across multiple industries. ZHUANG also expressed his expectation that the conference would spark innovation and foster new breakthroughs in fiber optic network technology.

With the theme of the conference first and foremost on the minds of all industry's leaders, the leading researchers and engineers in optical communication engaged in an in-depth discussion about new optical networks in light of network deployment requirements.

AO Li, Chief Engineer of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, noted that the AI+ era is pushing optical communication to evolve towards higher speeds, greater capacity, and intelligence. He emphasized the need to enhance the integration and efficient support of high-speed transmission, modular devices, optical fiber and cables, intelligent management and control systems, as well as capacity assessment frameworks.

ZHANG Chengliang, President of China Telecom Research Institute, explained how China Telecom is advancing the development of FTTR by offering standardized products and solutions that center around networks, services and capabilities. He detailed how this is accomplished through multiple new technologies,such as intelligent middleware, open connectivity protocols, and AI computing power convergence.

WANG Guangquan, Chief Engineer of China Unicom Research Institute, described their digital transformation program. The program incorporates digital twin technology into optical networks and utilizes big data analysis, optoelectronic mathematical models, and deep learning algorithms to enable dynamic modeling and intelligent optimization of optical networks. The method, taking into account the characteristics of next-generation optical networks, aims to meet the requirements for intelligent network operation and maintenance.

GAO Junshi, General Manager of the Division of Optical Communication, China Mobile Group Design Institute, highlighted that due to network functions centralization, optical transport networks (OTNs) must meet the demands for higher bandwidth, and increased stability and reliability. Additionally, OTNs must have smarter operational and remote maintenance capabilities.

As a global leader in optical communications, YOFC showcased their latest innovations in optical fiber and optical module products, designed to address the demands for high-speed, high-efficiency, and intelligent communication networks within the AI-driven technology landscape.

Raadjkoemar Matai, Chief Scientist of Optical Fibre of YOFC, gave a presentation on "YOFC Advanced Fibre Innovation & Application". He detailed the R&D, progress, and industry applications of YOFC's new advanced offerings, including G.654.E, multi-core, few-mode, and hollow-core optical fibers. His presentation also covered the evolution of optical fibers and the challenges facing the industry.

CHU Yuanliang, Chief Scientist of Optical Transceiver of YOFC, focused on introducing YOFC's AI Generated Content (AIGC)-based large model applications. He also outlined the company's customer-side optical interconnect technologies with higher speeds and increased complexity for applications on both AI's server and user sides, along with advanced optical interconnect solutions such as optical modules.

Additionally, WU Guangzhe, Deputy Director of Communication Engineering Center of State Grid Information & Telecommunication Branch, shared his insights into the research and application of multi-source perception fusion technology for electric optical cable networks. Meanwhile, Melanie Germentil, Chief Procurement & Logistics Officer of InfiniVAN, a network service provider in the Philippines, detailed the company's domestic submarine cable network project. Nishiguchi Yuki, General Manager of Senko HK/China, delivered a keynote speech titled "Responsible AI Advancement, Balancing Growth with Sustainability". Representatives from Huawei, China Telecommunication Technology Labs, ZTE, and the University of Milan offered professional insights into key optical network technologies, the latest research findings and application cases.

Optical networks, originating from the invention of optical fiber, have evolved through iterations of information and communication technology and are now entering a significant period of opportunity due to the increasing focus on AI. Industry observers are all in agreement that with the collaborative efforts of the global industry, optical network technology is set to increasingly empower the advancement and application of AI technology, ultimately contributing to societal betterment.

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Agreement to support development of a vaccine against EBV

SpyBiotech, a biotechnology company with novel vaccine platform technologies that can target infectious diseases, cancer, and chronic diseases, today announced a sponsored research agreement with The University of Oxford for the development of a vaccine against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV is a commonly spread virus that can lead to several serious health conditions including infectious mononucleosis and is linked to various cancers and multiple sclerosis. This research project will combine Oxford's groundbreaking academic research capabilities with SpyBiotech's proprietary SPYVLP platform technology in order to advance three vaccine candidates targeting EBV and test these in a Phase I clinical trial.

"This research collaboration is an important step forward on a commonly spread virus with no currently available vaccines or therapeutics for its prevention or spread," said Mark Leuchtenberger, Chief Executive Officer of SpyBiotech. "Studies have found that EBV triggers a range of very serious health conditions including certain cancers and multiple sclerosis. A recent study led by Stanford Medicine and senior author Dr. William Robinsoni notes that 99% of MS patients have EBV antibodies in their blood, indicating prior infection. We see a great need for a vaccine against EBV."

SpyBiotech's novel SPYVLP vaccine platform is based on a proprietary protein "superglue" technology which binds antigens to vaccine delivery platforms in a way which minimizes delivery risk and enhances immunogenicity and efficacy. Under the terms of this agreement, SpyBiotech will provide Oxford researchers with access to the SPYVLP vaccine platform, and the Oxford team will work to advance the research into a Phase 1 clinical trial to be conducted through the University.

"We are very keen to progress these vaccine candidates that target multiple EBV antigens to Phase I clinical trials with Professor Sandy Douglas and his team at the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford after seeing the promising pre-clinical data generated," said Sumi Biswas, Ph.D., President and CSO of SpyBiotech.

The company is currently conducting a Phase I trial assessing safety and immunogenicity of its HCMV vaccine. The study features a six-month dosing schedule and is being carried out in the UK.

About Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)

EBV is transmitted through saliva and is one of the most commonly spread human virusesii. Most people recover within a few weeks, but for some individuals EBV can lead to a number of health conditions including mononucleosis, meningitis, encephalitis and certain cancersiii. Recent research suggests people with multiple sclerosis and some lymphomas are more likely to have been infected with the virus. There are no currently available vaccines or therapeutics for the prevention or treatment of EBV.

About SpyBiotech

SpyBiotech is a clinical stage biotechnology company with novel vaccine platform technologies to target infectious diseases, cancer and chronic diseases. The company was spun out of the University of Oxford in 2017 by Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE) and Google Ventures (GV). The company raised $32.5 million in a Series A equity financing in 2021. Based on science developed at the University of Oxford, SpyBiotech's novel vaccine platform is based on a proprietary protein "superglue" technology which binds antigens to vaccine delivery platforms in a way which minimizes delivery risk and enhances immunogenicity and efficacy. This makes it ideal for use against infectious diseases in challenging environments, such as in the developing world, but also with potential application in non-infectious disease settings such as cancer. SpyBiotech has the exclusive rights from the University of Oxford to apply, commercialize and sub-license the SpyTag/SpyCatcher and related "superglue" technologies in vaccine development. www.spybiotech.com

i Stanford Medicine. (2022, January 24). Study identifies how Epstein-Barr virus triggers multiple sclerosis. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2022/01/epstein-barr-virus-multiple-sclerosis.html

ii Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, September 28). About Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/about/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/about-ebv.html

iii Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020b, September 28). Epstein-Barr and mononucleosis: For Healthcare Providers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/hcp.html

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240523720903/en/

Contacts:

US Media:

Karen Sharma

ksharma@macdougall.bio

+1 781-235-3060

UK Media:

Sarah MacLeod, Adam Michael, Molly Ring

Powerscourt Group

spybiotech@powerscourt-group.com

+44 (0)20 7250 1446
Martingale Risk, a specialist in global securities loss recovery, is originating a group action in the Netherlands against Philips on behalf of institutional investors, together with Grant Eisenhofer as the Global Counsel and Old Haven Funding LLC as the Funder.

As reported by the U.S. regulator, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), starting from at least October 2015, Philips was notified by customer complaints regarding its respiratory devices (sleep therapy devices used for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea) causing potential health issues related to foam degradation. Upon receipt of this crucial information, Philips failed to proceed with any appropriate methods of risk analysis and to implement any corrective or preventive actions. Shareholders were not provided with any details regarding the severity of these matters nor the extent that Philips would be harmed financially, which in 2022 already resulted in 486 million in utilized provisions.

Following the June 14th, 2021 recall on millions of respiratory devices to address the health risks related to the foam, the FDA that classified the recalls as Class I, the most serious type of recall - moved to swiftly investigate Philips, closing their investigation with several critical observations

In response to an updated safety communication by the FDA, on Sept. 7th, 2023, Philips agreed to pay out at least $479 million to US consumers, as a means of managing and compensating for the health issues caused by its respiratory devices.

On April 4th, 2024, the FDA and the Department of Justice (DoJ) made a joint statement acknowledging Philips' supposed failure to abide by the instructions and procedures of the remediation plan. This led to a recent Court-approved Consent Decree of Permanent Injunction (filed on April 9th, 2024), whereby Philips' respiratory devices can no longer be manufactured or distributed from its US facilities, until they comply with various stringent reparative duties, as specified in the Recall Remediation Plan.

The finalization of the Consent Decree is undoubtedly a significant milestone for the protection of US-based consumers, yet action is still needed to further redress Philips' misconduct, namely for institutional investors who purchased its equities, which were greatly impacted by Philips' behavior. Martingale Risk, as the originator of the group action, will bring the proceedings in the Netherlands to recover its clients' investment losses, which occurred throughout the period Nov. 2015-Nov. 2021

Terms Conditions:

Martingale Risk, together with Grant Eisenhofer and Old Haven will be operating on a full contingent fee basis of the recovered amount as all legal, expert costs and expenses will be covered.

How to Proceed/Registration Deadline:

If your firm has invested or traded in Philips common stock and/or ADR from Oct. 30th, 2015-April 24th, 2023, please contact Mr. Marco Delzio (marco.delzio@martingalerisk.com) or Mr. Peter Ogden (peter.ogden@martingalerisk.com) for a free non-binding preliminary analysis.

The deadline to register for the proceedings is July 31st, 2024

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240522190127/en/

Contacts:

Rome (Headquarters) telephone: +39 06 32652828.
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2024) - The latest move empowers LinkDaddy to assist its customers in further enhancing their search engine rankings thanks to Ahrefs' toolset and web crawling solutions. LinkDaddy harnesses Ahrefs' large backlink database-an index that is updated every 15 minutes-to build more domain and page credibility for its clients.

More details can be found at https://linkdaddy.com.





LinkDaddy Announces Use Of Ahrefs Backlink Checker For SEO Ranking Service

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Using Ahrefs' proprietary Domain Rating metric, LinkDaddy can monitor the decline and growth of backlink profiles and swiftly assess the backlink strength of a target site. These insights allow the company to provide estimates of traffic increases based on the popularity of the linking web page. The Ahrefs model also means that LinkDaddy can easily source the most link-worthy pages based on competitor choices. Learn more at https://ahrefs.com.

According to MonsterInsights, SEO experts view high-quality content, backlinks, and search intent and relevance as the most crucial in achieving a high ranking. Studies suggest that top-ranked search results commonly have 3.8 times the number of backlinks than lower-ranked results.

LinkDaddy takes a client's current backlink profile and performs a detailed analysis to identify potential areas for improvement. This is followed by the creation of unique content as the basis for a ranking campaign before implementing high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites in the relevant niche. Performance is monitored on an ongoing basis, with detailed reports provided to keep clients abreast of progress.

Powered by Ahrefs' advanced toolset, LinkDaddy provides DoFollow SEO backlinks, domain power boosting, cloud authority backlinks, and click-through-rate manipulation, as well as Google Authority Stacks and local citations and business listings.

The company reports that most clients begin to see improvements in their SEO rankings within 3 to 6 weeks. LinkDaddy prioritizes quality over quantity in sourcing backlinks using white-hat SEO practices. Using the Ahrefs platform, the company can also analyze backlink anchor text to identify possible negative SEO attacks on a client's website, making service users aware of competitor tactics.

For more information, go to https://linkdaddy.com.

Contact Info:

Name: Tony Peacock

Email: tony@linkdaddy.com

Organization: LinkDaddy

Address: 1065 SW 8th St PMB 622, Miami, Florida 33130, United States

Website: https://linkdaddy.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/209919

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Miami Beach, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2024) - Wave Marine Group, a trailblazer in maritime innovation, proudly announces the launch of its groundbreaking Wave App, poised to transform the landscape of yacht crew hiring and onboard services.

The Wave App is now available for download in the Apple iOS App Store and the Google Play App Store.

Wave Marine Group Launches Wave App, Revolutionizing Yacht Crew Hiring and Services

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/209833_de480a00747048e9_002full.jpg

The Wave App introduces a revolutionary two-sided marketplace, providing distinct platforms for both boat owners and service providers. This innovative approach streamlines the process of connecting yacht owners with qualified crew members and service professionals, revolutionizing the traditional model of yacht management.

Boat owners can now seamlessly book a wide range of services through the Wave App, including interior cleaning, underwater cleaning, system checks, day crew, and boat washes, with the flexibility to schedule appointments for the same day or in advance. The app can also help owners or managers of fleets of yachts by streamlining many of the typically time-consuming tasks.

Leveraging the app's extensive network of service providers, requests are broadcasted to multiple professionals, with the first to accept the job securing the opportunity. Digital payments and feedback mechanisms ensure a transparent and efficient transaction process, empowering boat owners to access premium services with ease.

In addition to its existing service booking capabilities, the Wave App serves as a powerful tool for boat owners in need of specialized assistance. Whether addressing issues with onboard systems or seeking expert advice, boat owners can initiate requests that prompt responses from up to three qualified technicians.

This feature fosters meaningful connections between boat owners and service providers, facilitating informed decision-making and efficient problem resolution, and helps boat owners to find the services they need, and the service providers to find more customers that seek for their services.

About Wave Marine Group

Wave Marine Group is a pioneering force in maritime innovation, dedicated to transforming the yacht industry through cutting-edge technology and exceptional service. Headquartered in Miami Beach, Florida, the company specializes in developing innovative solutions that streamline yacht management and enhance the boating experience. The Company's flagship product, the Wave App, offers a revolutionary platform for yacht crew hiring and onboard service management, bringing convenience and efficiency to boat owners and service providers alike.

At the helm of Wave Marine Group are James Carter, COO, and Anthony Burns, CEO, whose combined expertise in boat sales, management, and technology drives the company's vision. Their commitment to excellence and passion for maritime innovation is reflected in the Wave App's user-centric design and robust functionality. By leveraging advanced digital tools and fostering strong connections within the yachting community, Wave Marine Group is setting new standards in the industry.

"We are thrilled to unveil the Wave App, a game-changer in the yacht industry that prioritizes exceptional service delivery and convenience for boat owners," said James Carter, COO of Wave Marine Group. "By harnessing the power of technology, we are empowering boat owners to access a diverse range of services and connect with top-tier professionals seamlessly."

Key features of the Wave App include:

Two-sided marketplace for streamlined yacht crew hiring and onboard service bookings.

Flexible scheduling options for same-day or future appointments.

Instant job acceptance and digital payment processing for enhanced efficiency.

Feedback mechanisms to facilitate transparent communication and service quality evaluation.

Capabilities for personalized assistance and expert advice.

Recurring order functionality for automated service scheduling.

Synchronized calendar between boat owner and service provider

Favorite provider feature, curate a team of favorites, and send the order directly to them

As Wave Marine Group continues to expand its user base, the Wave App will evolve to offer a growing range of services, ensuring sustainable growth and premium service delivery.

For media inquiries, please contact:

James Carter

COO

james.carter@wavemarinegroup.com

Anthony Burns

CEOWave Marine Group

Anthony.Burns@wavemarinegroup.com

Contact Info:

Name: James Carter

Email: james.carter@wavemarinegroup.com

Organization: Wave Marine Group

Address: 750 Michigan Avenue Suite 101 Miami Beach, FL 33139

Phone: +1 (954) 541-0105

Website: http://wavemarinegroup.com

Video URL: https://youtu.be/J9kVpMJgKmQ?si=GuQgUQZ_Ltyz75hU

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/209833

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Der Goldpreis haussiert und schwingt sich von Hoch zu Hoch. Getrieben von geopolitischen Unsicherheiten sowie der Aussicht auf eine lockere Geldpolitik der FED gehen Experten aktuell von weiter steigenden Notierungen bis sogar in den Bereich von 3.000 US-Dollar je Unze Gold aus.



Im Schatten des Basispreises notieren Goldproduzenten aus der zweiten Reihe sowie Explorationsunternehmen noch weit weg von ihren historischen Hochststanden entfernt und bieten dadurch erhebliches Aufholpotential.



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SHENZHEN, China, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from Xinhua Silk Road:

From May 23 to 27, 2024, Shenzhen hosted the 20th iteration of the China International Cultural Industries Fair ("the Fair"), a prominent event that heralded significant advancements in exhibition practices, transaction methods, and support services. This year's Fair featured a notable lineup of global premieres and introductions, highlighted by the debut participation of Germany's renowned Frankfurter Buchmesse. The German book fair's unique and carefully selected array of books drew considerable attention from attendees, underscoring its reputation as a leader in the cultural sector.

The inclusion of the Frankfurter Buchmesse at the Fair elicited strong interest and admiration from Chinese visitors. The fair's dedicated space for German literary and cultural works became a focal point for engagement, attracting large numbers of attendees eager to explore the country's rich literary heritage and cultural offerings. Noteworthy among the visitors, an attendee expressed his strong appreciation, noting that the Fair had significantly broadened his perspective, providing him with a profound insight into the captivating universe of German literature and culture.

Marking its first appearance at the 20th edition of the Fair, the Frankfurter Buchmesse, recognized globally as a leading showcase for the publishing industry, brought a renewed cultural dynamism to the event. The fair exhibited an extensive selection of German literary masterpieces and cultural artifacts, offering a lavish cultural banquet that captivated and enthused Chinese bibliophiles.

This year also commemorates the significant milestones of the 52nd anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Germany. The inclusion of Frankfurter Buchmesse not only enriched the Fair but also acted as a conduit for intercultural dialogue and synthesis, enhancing mutual comprehension through several initiatives and groundbreaking ideas. Moreover, it set the stage for expanding the scope of cultural and economic collaboration between the two nations.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/frankfurter-buchmesse-enhances-cultural-exchange-at-china-international-cultural-industries-fair-302154023.html
Department of Housing and Urban Development demographic rules combine San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties to determine the metropolitan statistical area median income, which is often used to set rates for income-based programs. Peter Hamlin/Associated Press

Regarding Affordable housing is out of reach for S.F.s extremely low-income households. Heres a plan to change that (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, May 20): It is true that rents at 30% of the area median income cannot support the basic operating costs of buildings without subsidy or lots of much higher income units with bigger rents.

The underlying problem is that federal Department of Housing and Urban Development demographic rules combine San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties to determine the metropolitan statistical area median income.

The very high incomes of San Franciscos neighbors drag up the overall median income, leaving the larger number of poor San Franciscans effectively competing with high-income households to the south and north. This happens in the East Bay as well.

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Math counts, and the system combining counties locks in arithmetic disadvantage.

Mary Dorst, Berkeley

Driving doesnt make sense

Regarding S.F. streets are for drivers and cars. Why everyone else needs to get out of the way (Letters to the Editor, SFChronicle.com, May 22): Martin Vatis writes that the high price of public transportation has made San Francisco seniors reliant on driving to get around. This is nonsense: Muni offers a free pass for low-income residents over 65.

Gas is more than $5 a gallon, and add insurance, maintenance and the cost to purchase a car  driving is the most expensive transportation choice anyone can make.

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Vatis laments that city streets are being given over to pedestrians, bicyclists, buses and special interests rather than the purpose they were built: driving first and foremost.

Vatis and others similarly misinformed should read Peter Nortons book Fighting Traffic to understand how this windshield-centric perspective has brought about more deaths than all our wars combined, including the recent horrific deaths of a family of four in West Portal.

Lastly, implying that most seniors should continue driving when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says they are statistically one of the more dangerous groups of drivers on our roads is a travesty. Seniors, like all San Franciscans, should be able to opt out of driving because of the many safe alternatives.

Hunter Oatman-Stanford, San Francisco

Prop. 13 helps all homeowners

Regarding Prop. 13 misrepresented (Letters to the Editor, May 22): Tran Nguyens letter dismisses the idea that Proposition 13 benefits low-income people. I dont care if it was liberals or conservatives responsible, it was much needed.

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My in-laws, who bought their Los Angeles home in 1959, were relieved of what promised to be a tax burden that would put them on the street. Back then, when counties needed money, they simply raised property taxes, and people were being taxed out of their homes.

Im an example of Prop. 13 saving me. I live in a house in Lafayette I bought in 1986 for $140,000. Its now worth $1.3 million, and if not for Prop. 13, I would not be able to keep it.

The only flaw in Prop. 13 is it should have been for residential properties only.

Karen Thomas, Lafayette

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Protect all children

By Friday, the state Senate is scheduled to vote on SB1414, a bill intended to make purchasing children for sex a felony. However, amendments forced to the bill by the Senate Public Safety Committee, led by Sens. Scott Wiener, Aisha Wahab and Nancy Skinner, and not corrected by the Senate Appropriations Committee, have severely weakened it.

Among other issues, SB1414, now only classifies the purchase of those younger than 16 as a felony. This egregiously undermines the bills original intent. By adding this loophole, the state effectively endorses abuse, giving sex buyers a free pass to exploit older children, knowing full well that prison is off the table.

About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies

Regardless of age, no one should be sold or bought. The government plays a crucial role in defining accepted behavior in our society, and this bill, in its current form, sends exactly the wrong message.

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We must urge our state senators to restore SB1414 to its original form, making it a felony to buy all children for sex and ensuring prison for those committing this crime.
Kunstliche Intelligenz hat spatestens nach dem Raketenstart von Chat GPT das Leben aller verandert. Doch der Superzyklus steht nach Meinungen von Experten erst am Anfang. Wahrend Aktien wie Nvidia von der ersten Aufwartsentwicklung stark profitieren konnten, versprechen aussichtsreiche Player aus der

zweiten Reihe noch enormes Aufwartspotenzial.



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Trotz der jungsten Erfolge steht die Entwicklung der kunstlichen Intelligenz noch am Beginn eines neuen Superzyklus. Experten gehen davon aus, dass der Sektor bis 2032 global auf 1,3 Billionen US-Dollar explodieren wird, wobei ein groer Teil auf Hardware und Infrastruktur entfallen wird.



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Options Technology, a trailblazer in capital markets infrastructure, today announced it has been awarded the prestigious Equinix EMEA Technology Trailblazer Award.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240523465541/en/

Options Wins Equinix EMEA Technology Trailblazer Award, Enhancing Strategic Collaboration and Expanding Global Footprint (Graphic: Business Wire)

The awards recognize excellence in sales, marketing, solutions, social impact, and sustainability. In a field of exceptional companies, Options emerged as a standout performer with "an unwavering commitment to excellence."

In 2023, Options' relationship with Equinix reached remarkable heights, marked by significant achievements and impactful collaborations. As a long-standing customer and collaborator since 2001, Options is currently deployed with Equinix in over forty data centers across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific regions, providing cost-effective, low-latency access to multi-asset trading environments.

Options facilitates trading at hundreds of venues worldwide with fully managed infrastructure and connectivity in conjunction with the firm's private financial cloud services, combining hosting with direct market access, TCO reduction, and best-in-class resiliency and security.

Samuel Farmer, SVP Managing Director, EMEA at Options, commented, "We are deeply honored to receive the Equinix EMEA Technology Trailblazer Award. This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence in the capital markets infrastructure. Our long-standing collaboration with Equinix has been pivotal in driving our global expansion and enhancing our service offerings.

Deploying in over forty Equinix data centers globally has allowed us to deliver unparalleled low-latency access and robust, secure trading environments to our clients. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Equinix to further expand and elevate our infrastructure solutions in support of the evolving needs of the financial services industry."

Lisa Miller, SVP, Platform Alliances and Global Channel, added, "We are excited to recognize Options' outstanding contribution to helping our joint customers drive their digital businesses by leveraging Platform Equinix. Options now stands as a top association globally in terms of annual recurring revenue, showcasing substantial growth and extensive alignment across regions. From executive engagement to sales and technical alignment, the Options team have demonstrated unwavering commitment to our mutual success. We deeply appreciate the team's dedication, innovative initiatives, and instrumental role in expanding our presence."

Today's news comes as the latest in a series of exciting developments for Options, including its partnerships with oneZero, Magtia and Trader Evolution, its achievement of a new Microsoft Cloud Security specialization and its partnership with Dukascopy

Options Technology:

Options Technology (Options) is a financial technology company at the forefront of banking and trading infrastructure. We serve clients globally with offices in New York, London, Belfast, Cambridge, Chicago, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Paris, and Auckland. At Options, our services are woven into the hottest trends in global technology, including high-performance Networking, Cloud, Security, and AI (Artificial Intelligence).

www.options-it.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240523465541/en/

Contacts:

For media inquiries, please contact Niall McAleer, niall.mcaleer@options-it.com.


EQS Newswire / 23/05/2024 / 17:27 UTC+8



[Hong Kong - 23 May 2024] Trio Industrial Electronics Group Co., Ltd. ("Trio Group" or the "Group", Stock code: 1710.HK) subsidiary, Deltrix recently signed a cooperation agreement with E-Car, a new energy vehicle dealer in Kazakhstan, where Deltrix will install EV chargers to E-Car's nationwide sales outlets, incorporating them to be part of Deltrix's local charging network. Initially, Deltrix has built the 30KW and 120KW EV chargers in E-Car's two shops respectively in Almaty and Shymkent.

In recent few years, China's export of new energy vehicles has been continuously surging. With reference to the data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, it shows that in 2020, China exported close to 70,000 new energy vehicles; and in 2021, this figure rose to 310,000 units. In 2022, the export volume of new energy vehicles reached a new high to 679,000 units. Since 2023, Chinese automakers have accelerated their "go overseas" plan, and new energy vehicles brands like BYD, NIO, and Xiaopeng have landed in overseas markets.

On one hand, Chinese EVs exporting overseas need to be equipped with corresponding home chargers. On the other hand, the imbalanced ratio of chargers to EVs in the overseas market is severer than in China. Some car companies who go overseas will choose to build their own chargers overseas to meet the market admittance requirements by local governments as a necessary infrastructure for exporting vehicles.

In this cooperation between Deltrix and E-Car, an EV dealer located in Almaty, Kazakhstan, it aims to upgrade E-Car's existing car maintenance centres to becoming fast charging stations. This is part of Deltrix's alliance strategy with domestic 4S shops. The 4S shops and after-sales service centres are the second key charging targets in Deltrix's Central Asia development after the gas stations. These fast-charging stations will provide fast charging services for the owners as a package together with new energy vehicles sold by E-CAR, releasing their agony to look for charging solution.

About Trio Group

Trio Industrial Electronics Group Limited is a manufacturer and distributor of advanced industrial electronic components and products in Hong Kong with 40 years of industry experience. It is also the first Hong Kong-based industrial electronic company awarded with the Industry 4.0 maturity certificate - Industry 4.01i level. The Group's major products include smart charger, electro-mechanical product and switch-mode power supplies, which are widely used in smart city system, medical and healthcare sector, as well as renewable energy field. The Group has built up good reputation and become a trusted supplier to various international well-known brands. Majority of its clients comes from Europe and US while some from Southeast Asia and PRC. In addition, the Group and its partner has developed its own EV charger solution - Deltrix since 2017, which has been launched in the European market in response to the global efforts to develop smart economies.

For more details, please contact:

PR media:

DLK Advisory

pr@dlkadvisory.com

23/05/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


Atlante's ultra-fast charging stations, designed by Bertone Design, equipped with solar panels and energy storage systems, will soon arrive on Italian highways to serve electric mobility

Regulatory News:

Atlante, the company of NHOA Group (Paris:NHOA) dedicated to electric vehicles fast and ultra-fast charging network, has won the first tender in Italy for the design, construction, and management of over 90 ultra-fast charging points for electric vehicles (EV) for Autostrade per l'Italia (ASPI).

The charging points will be located in 8 service areas along the highways managed by ASPI and will feature the exclusive design by the international firm Bertone Design, as well as the presence of solar panels and energy storage systems. This award represents an absolute innovation in Italy, where Atlante is the first independent operator to install its charging stations on the ASPI highway network, continuing the path towards widespread electrification on the entire Italian road infrastructure.

Atlante's charging stations, equipped with ultra-fast charging points up to 400kW, will allow electric vehicles to recharge in a few minutes and will be uniformly distributed throughout the national territory, particularly in service areas in Lombardy, Veneto, Tuscany, Campania, and Apulia.

All Atlante stations will be equipped with photovoltaic panels covering the charging station, combined with storage systems for better management of the solar energy produced on-site. This forward-thinking decision allows Atlante to continue providing an optimal charging experience while offering a charging experience powered by 100% renewable energy.

Atlante stations will be recognizable thanks to the iconic canopy designed by Bertone Design and will integrate various technological solutions, including: a system for detecting unauthorized parking of internal combustion engine vehicles, intelligent lighting and signage, and Wi-Fi connection. There will also be digital information totems and a 24-hour video surveillance system.

"Our mission is to contribute to achieving zero-emission mobility in Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. This award represents a further step after the 87 fast and ultra-fast charging points on the French highways for VINCI Autoroutes and consolidates Atlante's position as main independent operator in Southern Europe in the development and management of fast and ultra-fast charging networks on highway infrastructures", commented Stefano Terranova, CEO of Atlante

"Increasing charging stations on Italian highways is a concrete response to concerns about the compatibility of electric vehicles with long-distance travel. Making charging simple and ultra-fast even on highways simplifies the transition to electric mobility, thus contributing to a more sustainable future. These new ultra-fast stations increase Atlante's presence in strategic Italian infrastructures, from major airports to ring roads and major highways, allowing Atlante customers to recharge throughout the national territory without further worries", stated Gabriele Tuccillo, CEO of Atlante Italia

Atlante's charging stations will be accessible 24/7, even to people with reduced mobility, equipped with POS terminals for payment with bank cards, usable by all electric vehicles, and compatible with every charging standard and electric mobility service provider.

NHOA Group

NHOA S.A. (formerly Engie EPS), global player in energy storage, e-mobility and EV fast and ultra-fast charging network, develops technologies enabling the transition towards clean energy and sustainable mobility, shaping the future of a next generation living in harmony with our planet.

Listed on Euronext Paris regulated market (NHOA.PA), NHOA Group forms part of the CAC Mid Small and CAC All-Tradable financial indices.

For further information, go towww.nhoagroup.com

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Atlante

Atlante is a company of NHOA Group (NHOA.PA, formerly Engie EPS), global player in energy storage and e-mobility, which develops technologies enabling the transition towards clean energy and sustainable mobility, shaping the future of a next generation living in harmony with our planet.

Atlante is developing the largest fast and ultra-fast charging network in Southern Europe, 100% enabled by renewables, and enhanced by energy storage and on-site photovoltaic. It aims to install in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal 5,000 fast and ultra-fast points of charge by 2025, and over 35,000 by 2030.

Operating since October 2021, Atlante has today more than 2,000 charging points online in its four countries with thousands more under construction and development. Leveraging on the technological heritage of the NHOA Group, including via collaboration with its sister company Free2move eSolutions, Atlante is a preferential network of the Stellantis automotive group and its customers. Atlante stations are fully interoperable and can be accessed by virtually any e-mobility app or charging card, and by any make and model of electric vehicles.

For further information, go to www.atlante.energy

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240523898475/en/

Contacts:

Press Office Atlante:Davide D'Amico, PressMediaLab, +39 335 7715011, +39 011 7732952 -106,atlante@pressmedialab.com

Press Office NHOA Group: Claudia Caracausi and Davide Bruzzese, Image Building, +39 02 89011300, nhoa@imagebuilding.it

Financial Communication and Institutional Relations: Chiara Cerri, +39 337 1484534, media.relations@nhoagroup.com
DOHA, Qatar, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain, Vice Minister for Labor at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, led the Saudi delegation at the Doha Dialogue on Labor Mobility between Gulf and African countries.

The event, which commenced on May 22 in Doha, brought together labor ministers, delegation heads, and representatives from various Arab and international organizations.

In his address, Dr. Abuthnain highlighted the significance of regional and national initiatives and the need to share these efforts widely to foster development. He highlighted the need for a comprehensive understanding of global challenges and their connection to regional and national pathways to enhance labor market growth. He also outlined several initiatives by the Ministry aimed at labor market development, enhancing labor relations, and protecting workers' rights.

Participants discussed effective governance of migrant labor mobility and future recommendations. The Gulf-African Dialogue aims to facilitate idea exchange and discussions on best practices between African countries of origin and GCC countries. This initiative seeks to enhance regional cooperation, strengthen partnerships, improve the contractual labor cycle for migrant workers, and establish human rights-based protections benefiting all parties involved.

Additionally, the Vice Minister participated in the 61st coordinating meeting of the GCC Council of Labor Ministers, held alongside the dialogue. This meeting reviewed items from the dialogue and addressed other agenda topics of the Council.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420480/Dr_Abdullah_bin_Nasser_Abuthnain.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vice-minister-for-labor-at-the-ministry-of-human-resources-and-social-development-in-ksa-leads-saudi-delegation-at-doha-dialogue-with-gcc-and-african-nations-302154075.html
AMSTERDAM, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The race to create replacement antibiotics and antifungals to combat superbugs is falling dangerously short, putting people across the world at risk. However, a shift in research and development (R&D), including investment in access and stewardship planning, can make a significant impact against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

As most large research-based pharmaceutical companies are no longer active in antimicrobial R&D, there are very few new treatments making it to market, leaving patients vulnerable to the rapid spread of AMR. Despite this reality, a handful of projects in late-stage clinical development could have a significant impact.

New report from the Access to Medicine Foundation tracks five such projects across the pipelines of GSK, F2G, Innoviva, Venatorx (gepotidacin , olorofim, zoliflodacin and cefepime-taniborbactam, respectively) and Pfizer's recently approved aztreonam-avibactam (Emblaveo). Collectively, these projects could save at least 160,000 lives annually by providing much-needed medicines to treat drug-resistant gonorrhoea, urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections, respiratory infections, and invasive fungal infections. While these diseases affect a wide range of patients globally, women and children- especially those living in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs)- are disproportionately affected.

"We have a small, but effective, arsenal in the race to combat drug-resistant infections. The difference between us winning or losing this race depends on how companies enable access to people living on the frontlines of drug resistance."- Jayasree K. Iyer, CEO, Access to Medicine Foundation.

Findings reveal that companies are employing diverse range of strategies within their access and stewardship plans but structured advance planning has not yet become standard. Encouragingly, four of the five companies in scope, GSK, Pfizer, Innoviva, and Venatorx, are conducting or initiating clinical trials that directly target children, signalling progress in closing the gap between adult and paediatric access. Commitments for registration were identified in five LMICs: China, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand. However, for 108 of 113 LMICs in scope, where people also face high burdens of the diseases targeted by these projects, it is currently unclear whether any of them will be made available upon initial approval.

The report identifies opportunities and recommendations for companies in focus and outlines actionable steps for global stakeholders in antimicrobial R&D to promote widespread adoption of advance access and stewardship planning.

"Tackling the sheer scale and pace of drug resistance is a complex global health issue that will require action from pharmaceutical companies across several areas. This includes providing appropriate access and implementing stewardship measures to safeguard the effectiveness of innovative antimicrobials. Failure to do this will limit efforts to tackle drug resistance."- Marijn Verhoef, Director of Operations and Research, Access to Medicine Foundation.

As global health stakeholders prepare for 2024 UN General Assembly's High-level Meeting on AMR, this report comes at a crucial moment, emphasising the urgent gaps that need attention. Read the report here.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-report-from-access-to-medicine-foundation-shows-what-pharma-companies-can-do-to-ensure-the-few-promising-antimicrobials-in-development-reach-patients-on-the-frontlines-of-drug-resistance-302148886.html
PARIS, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

AIR LIQUIDE FINANCE

Pre Stabilisation Notice

HSBC (contact: syndexecution@noexternalmail.hsbc.com (mailto:syndexecution@noexternalmail.hsbc.com)) hereby gives notice, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilisation Manager(s) named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities

The securities: Issuer: AIR LIQUIDE FINANCE Guarantor (if any): L'Air Liquide SA Aggregate nominal amount: EUR 500,000,000 Description: Fixed rate due 29th May 2034 Offer price: TBC Other offer terms: Stabilisation: Stabilising Manager(s): HSBC Continental Europe, BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, Citi, Natixis, Societe Generale Stabilisation period expected to start on: 23rd May 2024 Stabilisation period expected to end no later than: 28th June 2024 Existence, maximum size & conditions of use of over-allotment facility[1]: 5% of the aggregate nominal amount Stabilisation Venue(s) Over the counter (OTC)



In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation") (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State.

This announcement and the offer of the securities to which it relates are only addressed to and directed at persons outside the United Kingdom and persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters related to investments or who are high net worth persons within article 12(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in the United Kingdom.

This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. There will be no public offer of securities in the United States.

___________________

[1] Please note that the existence and the maximum size of any greenshoe option, the exercise period of the greenshoe option and any conditions for exercise of the greenshoe option must also be disclosed, if such option exists. In addition, the exercise of the greenshoe option must be disclosed to the public promptly, together with all appropriate details, including in particular the date of exercise and the number and nature of securities involved
TOKYO, May 23, 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today the presentation of research across multiple types of cancer from its oncology portfolio and pipeline during the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting (ASCO24), which is taking place virtually and in-person in Chicago, Illinois from May 31 to June 4.Notable data includes an oral presentation on biomarker analyses from the pivotal Phase 3 CLEAR (Study 307)/KEYNOTE-581 trial (NCT02811861(New Window)), which evaluated lenvatinib (LENVIMA) plus pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA) versus sunitinib for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (Abstract #4504). An analysis of patterns of disease progression and subsequent therapy from this trial will also be presented in a poster presentation (Abstract #4524)."At Eisai, we let the science drive us to new approaches that accelerate progress in oncology, while also remaining grounded in our human health care concept that reinforces our commitment to prioritize the needs of patients and families impacted by a cancer diagnosis," said Dr. Takashi Owa, Chief Scientific Officer, Senior Vice President, Eisai Co., Ltd. "With this in mind, we look forward to sharing research that provides further insight into the role of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab as a first-line standard of care option in advanced renal cell carcinoma, as well as research that explores various modalities in our pipeline for the potential treatment of advanced diseases with the goal of improving patients' lives."Other key research of note from Eisai's pipeline include an oral presentation of Phase 3 data from the JBCRG-M06/EMERALD study in Japan evaluating trastuzumab and pertuzumab in combination with Eisai's eribulin mesylate or a taxane in patients with HER2-positive, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (NCT03264547(New Window); Abstract #1007).Additional pipeline research to be presented in poster sessions include an overview of a Phase 2 study of BB-1701, an antibody drug conjugate targeting HER2, in previously treated patients with HER2-positive or HER2-low unresectable or metastatic breast cancer (NCT06188559(New Window); Abstract TPS1122), findings from a Phase 1b trial of tasurgratinib (development code: E7090) with or without endocrine therapies for patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative recurrent/metastatic breast cancer after receiving a CDK4/6 inhibitor (NCT04572295(New Window); Abstract #3103), as well as the dose-expansion part of a Phase 1b global study of E7386 in combination with lenvatinib in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and other solid tumors including endometrial cancer (NCT04008797(New Window); Abstract TPS3169).This release discusses investigational compounds and investigational uses for FDA-approved products. It is not intended to convey conclusions about efficacy and safety. There is no guarantee that any investigational compounds or investigational uses of FDA-approved products will successfully complete clinical development or gain FDA approval.The full list of Eisai presentations can be viewed here: www.eisai.com/news/2024/news202435.htmlIn March 2018, Eisai and Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada), through an affiliate, entered into a strategic collaboration for the worldwide co-development and co-commercialization of lenvatinib, both as monotherapy and in combination with Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy pembrolizumab. Eisai and Merck are studying the lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab combination through the LEAP (LEnvatinib And Pembrolizumab) clinical program in various tumor types across more than multiple clinical trials.In May 2023, Eisai entered into a joint development agreement with Bliss Biopharmaceutical (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Zhejiang Province, China, "BlissBio"), for BB-1701, a HER2-targeting antibody drug conjugate (ADC), with option rights for a strategic collaboration. Eisai and BlissBio are currently investigating BB-1701 in a Phase 2 clinical trial in Japan and the United States for breast cancer and a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in the United States and China for HER2-expressing solid tumors.1. Eisai's Focus on CancerEisai acknowledges "Oncology" as one of its key strategic areas, and will continue to focus on the discovery and development of anti-cancer drugs within drug discovery domains including "tumor microenvironment", "proteostasis disruption", "cell linage and cell differentiation", and "inflammation, hypoxia, oxidative stress and cell senescence" under the Deep Human Biology Learning (DHBL) drug discovery and development organization. Eisai aspires to discover innovative new drugs with new targets and mechanisms of action from these domains with the aim of contributing to the cure of cancers.(1) KEYTRUDA is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.(2) E7386 is created through collaboration research between Eisai and PRISM BioLab Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kanagawa)(3) The presentation with TPS (Trial in Progress Submission) attached to the abstract number indicates that the study is in the intermediate stage, and the presentation does not report the final study results.Media Inquiries:Public Relations Department,Eisai Co., Ltd.+81-(0)3-3817-5120Source: EisaiCopyright 2024 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
BGI Genomics staff members work in an inflatable COVID-19 testing lab in Beijing. The Biosecure Act would ban U.S. companies from working with BGI Genomics. Chen Zhonghao/Xinhua News Agency 2020

Last week, the Biosecure Act, a bipartisan bill that would prohibit American agencies from working with several Chinese biotech companies and would require U.S. companies to sever their contracts by 2032, overwhelmingly passed in the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. The bills supporters believe that China is developing bioweapons using genomic data on Americans obtained from these companies. One of the bills co-sponsors, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., said in a statement that the Biosecure Act ensures our supply chains are free from interference and manipulation by countries that wish to do us harm.

While the act sounds like it is in the interest of national health security, it likely will do more harm than good.

The U.S. drug supply is inexorably linked to China. Most biotech and pharma companies use Chinese contract drug manufacturing organizations to obtain raw materials, components and active pharmaceutical ingredients. A recent survey by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization found that of 124 biopharma companies surveyed, 79% had China-based or owned manufacturing partners.

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While the Biosecure Act specifically calls out four Chinese contract drug manufacturing organizations, it also prohibits contracting with any firm that has ties to the Chinese government  which is potentially every Chinese company because Chinas national security laws require all the countrys firms to share any requested data with the government.

Given how intertwined U.S. biotech is with its Chinese counterparts, the bills stipulations are not feasible without severely impacting the industry and potentially grinding it to a halt.

Some companies have already begun warning their shareholders of potential fallout from the act. San Carlos-based Iovance Biotherapeutics, maker of the melanoma therapy Amtagvi that relies on WuXi, one of the blacklisted companies, said as much in its 2023 annual report: Current geopolitical tensions with China may impact our ability to expand manufacturing capacity at our contract manufacturer, WuXi. Emeryville-based Kyverna Therapeutics also indicated its use of WuXi to manufacture its autoimmune drug candidates would be impacted. Popular weight loss drugs like Eli Lilys Mounjaro are also manufactured in part by Wuxi and likely would have a supply shortage resulting in price hikes.

If the bill becomes law, the reverberations wont just be felt by patients. Some companies that would fall under the acts purview have offices and manufacturing locations in the United States. Wuxi Apptec, for example, is headquartered near Shanghai but has 1,700 employees in the U.S., including at a manufacturing site in Hayward. Its easy to see how the bills passage could lead to job losses or even a complete shuttering of these sites.

In truth, if there was a credible national security concern with Chinese biotech companies stealing genomic and other biological data on Americans, the Biosecure Act would do little to address it. As any high school advanced placement biology student knows, there is nothing in human DNA that points to an individuals nationality. Moreover, human DNA sequences have long been publicly available to anyone interested in them. Legislation would instead be needed at a much higher level of trade, prohibiting Chinese entities from forming operations or acquiring businesses in the U.S. altogether.

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If U.S. lawmakers had legitimate concerns about the misuse of American biological data, the controls would need to primarily be in the information technology sector. Hospitals, clinical laboratories, DNA sequencing companies, government agencies and law enforcement all collect, store and transmit magnitudes more biological data in electronic form. Data breaches via internet hacks or direct espionage and the sale of such large data sets would be the likely risk and where it might make sense for more legislative and regulatory oversight.

Given only a very small class of drugs contain human genomic data in the manufacturing process, it is hard to imagine what could be done with this information that would yield a threat to the American public. Moreover, since Chinese biotech and pharma companies already run clinical trials in the U.S. with the intent of pursuing drug approval through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, they already have a legal pathway to directly obtain human biological information which the act does not consider.

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If the goal of lawmakers is to prevent the Chinese government from obtaining and misusing American technological secrets and data, then the Biosecure Act is too narrow. China already has far more efficient means to collect information on us  be it through social media apps like TikTok or other industries, like the acquisition of Smithfield Foods in 2013 by Shuanghui Group.

It would not be surprising if the real push behind the act is by lobbyists and special interest groups in the industry wanting to drive more drug manufacturing back to the United States. To be clear, that is a laudable goal. As we learned through the pandemic, decades of offshoring critical capabilities such as vaccine and personal protective equipment manufacturing resulted in a dire supply shortage for this country. However, the way to achieve this is not by disrupting drug development and manufacturing through fear-based and anti-capitalistic trade prohibitions, but rather by creating more economic incentives for American companies to establish manufacturing operations here.
CHICAGO, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Synthetic Latex Polymers Market by Type (Styrene Acrylic, Acrylic, Styrene Butadiene, Vinyl Acetate Ethylene, Polyvinyl Acetate, Vinyl Acetate Copolymer), Application (Paints & Coatings, Adhesives & Sealants, Nonwovens), & Region - Global Forecast to 2029", is projected to reach USD 53.2 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 5.5% from USD 40.6 billion in 2024. The synthetic latex polymers market is driven by increasing demand in the paints and coatings industry, rapid urbanization and infrastructure projects in emerging economies, stringent environmental regulations regarding VOC emissions, and rising demand for biobased, eco-friendly, and biodegradable synthetic latex polymers.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Synthetic Latex Polymers Market"

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"Acrylic is the second largest type of the synthetic latex polymer, in terms of value."

Acrylic synthetic latex polymers offer enhanced durability, enhancing the longevity and performance of products such as paints, coatings, and adhesives. This durability ensures that these materials endure wear and tear, making them well-suited for applications demanding enduring finishes. These synthetic latex polymers offer outstanding water resistance, rendering them appropriate for situations necessitating protection against moisture. This attribute proves particularly advantageous in industries such as construction, where materials must withstand exposure to water and humidity. Acrylic latex polymers deliver a favorable blend of flexibility and strength, making them applicable in scenarios requiring materials capable of bending and stretching without compromising their structural integrity.

"North America captures the second largest share in the synthetic latex polymers market during the forecast period, in terms of value."

The expansion of the electronics industry in North America creates lucrative growth opportunities for synthetic latex polymer manufacturers by increasing demand for specialized materials, driving innovation in product development, and emphasizing the importance of sustainability and environmental responsibility in manufacturing processes. In North America, the construction sector serves as a significant market for synthetic latex polymers, employing them in paints, coatings, adhesives, and sealants across residential and commercial projects alike. These polymers offer crucial properties such as adhesion, durability, and water resistance, playing a vital role in safeguarding surfaces and prolonging the lifespan of buildings and structures.

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Mergers, new product launches and expansions are the major growth strategies adopted by the key players in the market. The key global players in the synthetic latex polymers market include Arkema (France), Wacker Chemie AG (Germany), Synthomer PLC (UK), LG Chem (South Korea), Celanese (US), Trinseo (US), Dow (US), BASF SE (Germany), Apcotex (India), ARLANXEO (The Netherlands), H.B. Fuller (US), Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan), The Lubrizol Corporation (US), and ZEON CORPORATION (Japan).

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Related Reports:

Polymer Emulsion Market - Global Forecast to 2025

Latex Binders Market - Global Forecast to 2026

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Lead, South Dakota--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2024) - Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC) ("Dakota Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it continues to encounter Tertiary epithermal gold mineralization associated with the Unionville Zone at the Maitland Gold Project ("Maitland") in South Dakota. Notably positive results from step-out hole MA24C-040, located more than 1,400 meters north of the Unionville Zone discovery area, supports the premise that Tertiary mineralization potential exists throughout Maitland.

Significant Highlights (See Table 1):

Step-out drill hole MA24C-040 intersected 3.94 grams/tonne gold (g/t Au) over 9.3 meters of Tertiary mineralization 148 meters below the surface. Mineralization is open north, south and to depth.

Drill holes MA24C-041 and MA24C-042 located in the central part of the Unionville Zone returned higher-grade intercepts including 4.08 g/t Au over 2.7 meters and 7.37 g/t Au over 1 meter of Tertiary epithermal mineralization, respectively.

Numerous structures, including the historical Maitland Mine structure, remain untested along strike and illustrate the larger potential for Tertiary epithermal mineralization at the Maitland Project. The Maitland Mine produced more than 200,000 ounces of Tertiary gold before 1945 when it was closed due to WWII.

The Unionville Zone target extension strike length could extend more than 3,000 meters and is open along strike both to the north and south of the discovery area.

James Berry, Vice President Exploration of Dakota Gold, said, "We continue to be impressed by the quality and extent of Tertiary epithermal gold mineralization in the Maitland area. Dakota Gold has now identified gold mineralization from surface through the entire stratigraphic sequence into the Pre-Cambrian basement. Gold mineralization occurs in numerous parallel north-south structures and is relatively shallow with locally high grades and has high potential to be developed into an economic deposit with further work."

Table 1. Released Drill Results (Metric / Imperial)1,2

Hole # From To Depth Interval* Gold From To Depth Interval* Gold Mineral Type g x m ft ft ft ft oz/ton m m m m g/t MA24C-039 31.0 45.5 32.0 14.5 0.097 9.4 13.9 9.8 4.4 3.33 Tert 15 132.4 151.3 131.0 18.9 0.063 40.4 46.1 39.9 5.8 2.16 Tert 12 MA24C-040 616.6 647.0 486.0 30.4 0.115 187.9 197.2 148.1 9.3 3.94 Tert 37 MA24C-041 37.6 63.4 36.0 25.8 0.062 11.5 19.3 11.0 7.9 2.14 Tert 17 99.9 117.3 70.0 17.4 0.045 30.4 35.8 21.3 5.3 1.54 Tert 8 188.0 200.4 139.0 12.4 0.080 57.3 61.1 42.4 3.8 2.74 Tert 10 680.8 689.7 456.0 8.9 0.119 207.5 210.2 139.0 2.7 4.08 Tert 11 707.2 746.3 482.0 39.1 0.030 215.6 227.5 146.9 11.9 1.03 Tert 12 MA24C-042 1035.4 1038.7 961.0 3.3 0.215 315.6 316.6 292.9 1.0 7.37 Tert 7 1776.4 1785.9 1498.0 9.5 0.091 541.4 544.3 456.6 2.9 3.12 Tert 9 MA24C-043 32.0 55.8 31.0 23.8 0.041 9.8 17.0 9.4 7.3 1.41 Tert 10 198.6 214.7 170.0 16.1 0.079 60.5 65.4 51.8 4.9 2.71 Tert 13 228.1 232.4 201.0 4.3 0.122 69.5 70.8 61.3 1.3 4.19 Tert 5

The table may contain rounding errors.

Abbreviations in the table include ounces per ton ("oz/ton"); grams per tonne ("g/t"); feet ("ft"); meter ("m"); Tertiary mineralization ("Tert"). True Thickness Unknown

Figure 1. Plan view of Dakota Gold Corp. Maitland drill holes with highlighted drill holes containing Tertiary epithermal gold mineralization.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/210181_f7fbe0c0c46f1915_002full.jpg

The Company currently has four drills on site at its properties in the Homestake District of South Dakota. The Unionville Zone drilling is testing for Tertiary epithermal gold mineralization and is one of three ongoing programs being advanced by the Company - the other two being Homestake Mine-Style gold mineralization in the JB Gold Zone at Maitland and the infill and step-out drilling at the Richmond Hill Gold Project to update to the S-K 1300 resource estimate.

About Dakota Gold Corp.

Dakota Gold (NYSE American: DC) is a South Dakota-based responsible gold exploration and development company with a specific focus on revitalizing the Homestake District in Lead, South Dakota. Dakota Gold has high-caliber gold mineral properties covering over 48 thousand acres surrounding the historic Homestake Mine.

The Dakota Gold team is focused on new gold discoveries and opportunities that build on the legacy of the Homestake District and its 145 years of gold mining history.

Subscribe to Dakota Gold's e-mail list at www.dakotagoldcorp.com to receive the latest news and other Company updates.

Shareholder and Investor Inquiries

For more information, please contact:

Jonathan Awde, President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 604-761-5251

Email: JAwde@dakotagoldcorp.com

Qualified Person and S-K 1300 Disclosure

James M. Berry, a Registered Member of SME and Vice President of Exploration of Dakota Gold Corp., is the Company's designated qualified person for this news release as defined in Subpart 1300 - Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations of Regulation S-K and has reviewed and approved its scientific and technical content.

The ranges of potential tonnage and grade (or quality) disclosed above in respect of the Maitland Gold Project are conceptual in nature and could change as the proposed exploration activities are completed. There has been insufficient exploration of the Maitland Gold Project to allow for an estimate of a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a mineral resource. The disclosure above in respect of the Maitland Gold Project therefore does not represent, and should not be construed to be, an estimate of a mineral resource or mineral reserve.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control consists of regular insertion of certified reference materials, duplicate samples, and blanks into the sample stream. Samples are submitted to the ALS Geochemistry sample preparation facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Gold and multi-element analyses are performed at the ALS Geochemistry laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS Minerals is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited lab. Check samples are submitted to Bureau Veritas, Vancouver B.C. as an umpire laboratory. Assay results are reviewed, and discrepancies are investigated prior to incorporation into the Company database.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. When used in this press release, the words "plan," "target," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "potential," "will" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Any express or implied statements contained in this announcement that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: our expectations regarding future drilling and our expectations regarding the development potential of Maitland. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the execution and timing of our planned exploration activities; our use and evaluation of historic data; our ability to achieve our strategic goals; the state of the economy and financial markets generally and the effect on our industry; and the market for our common stock. The foregoing list is not exhaustive. For additional information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the risk factors included in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as updated by annual, quarterly and current reports that we file with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. These statements speak only as of the date of this communication, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210181

SOURCE: Dakota Gold Corp.
Rogue Baron Plc - Notice of AGM: Amendment

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, May 23

23 May 2024

Rogue Baron plc

('Rogue Baron' or the 'Company')

Notice of AGM Amendment



Rogue Baron plc (AQSE: SHNJ), a leading company in the premium spirit sector, announces an amendment to its Notice of Annual General Meeting (the "AGM Notice").

On 10 May 2024, the Company announced the posting of its Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 6 June 2024.

The Company notes a mistake in Resolutions 5 and 6(b), whereby the Directors have sought authorities to allot and to allot out of the right of pre-emption new Ordinary Shares as if section 561(1) of the Companies Act did not apply to any such allotment, respectively, up to an aggregate nominal amount of 300,000. The amount stated for both Resolutions should read 1,500,000.

No new AGM Notice will be posted and a copy of the corrected AGM Notice is available on the Company's website. The Company intends to propose an amendment to correct the figure at the Annual General Meeting ("AGM") before Resolutions 5 and 6 are put to the meeting.

The AGM will be held at the offices of Hill Dickinson LLP, 8th Floor, The Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EW at 11 a.m. BST on 6 June 2024.



The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

END

For further information, please contact:

The Company

Ryan Dolder

rdolder@roguebaron.com

Aquis Corporate Adviser:

Peterhouse Capital Limited

Narisha Ragoonanthun / Brefo Gyasi +44 (0) 20 7469 0936

Aquis Corporate Broker:

Peterhouse Capital Limited

Lucy Williams +44 (0) 20 7469 0936

Joint Broker:

Clear Capital Limited

Bob Roberts +44 (0) 20 3869 6080
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2024) - Kirkland Lake Discoveries (TSXV: KLDC) (OTC Pink: KLKLF) ("Kirkland Lake Discoveries" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results from the thirteen drill holes totaling 3,376m that were completed to follow up on surface showings, mapping, prospecting and ground IP at the Hurricane Intrusive Zone. This fault-bounded zone is located on the KLD East Side (Figure 1) of the Company's Kirkland Lake project in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. The Company successfully intercepted wide zones of alteration, quartz veining +/- sulphide mineralization. This drill program was a progressive step toward understanding and unlocking the geological potential of the area.

Figure 1: Property map showing location of the Hurricane Intrusive Zone at the centre of the KL East Side

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5701/210196_cc69693704923847_001full.jpg

Highlights of drilling:

Highly altered zone with veining encountered at Whiskey Jack, with a four-metre zone of extremely bleached mafic volcanics (Figure 2)

Whiskey Jack East drilling intercepted highly altered syenites and feldspar porphyry with intense quartz veining and increased mineralization associated below the redox boundary defined by the transition from magnetite to hematite

The mineralized vein found at the Norwood showing was successfully intercepted at depth and contained visible gold indicating the continuation of the mineralized system at depth

Mineralization at Jensen did not continue below surface

Whiskey Jack Summary

The Whiskey Jack zone at depth consisted of a wide, highly altered zone within mafic volcanics and gabbro. Alteration within the two holes consisted of strong sericite, calcite, and epidote alteration. Within these strongly altered zones, there was an increase in at least two generations of veining. One generation was observed to be wider intersections of quartz, carbonate veins + pyrite, while the other consisted of quartz carbonate stringers with interstitial hematite alteration. Sulphide mineralization consisted dominantly of pyrite, which in areas, was semi-massive. To a lesser extent, chalcopyrite was present.

Figure 2: Highly altered and bleached zone at Whiskey Jack. Hole KLD24-14 from 138.51 m to 155.7 m.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5701/210196_cc69693704923847_002full.jpg

Whiskey Jack East Summary

Whiskey Jack East drilling consisted of syenite to mafic syenite, with strong, pervasive potassic-hematite alteration. The top of the hole within the Whiskey Jack East zone was drilled into a magnetic high, which is interpreted to be related to the patchy magnetite observed throughout the interval. Further downhole, the magnetite transitioned into specular hematite, coincident with the boundary in the magnetics from high to low. This represents a redox front and a potential geochemical trap. A significant intersection of stockwork quartz veining was intersected (Figure 3), representing a wide fluid flow pathway. Although significant values were not intersected within this stockwork section, this significant fluid conduit warrants further follow-up.

Figure 3: Highly altered syenite with intense quartz veining at Whiskey Jack East hole KLD 24-11 from 249.39 m to 266.52 m

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5701/210196_cc69693704923847_003full.jpg

Norwood Summary

The Norwood showing was drilled to investigate multiple mineralized vein sets determined through surface grab samples and historic trenching. Hole KLD24-20 successfully intersected one of the mineralized veins, hosted within a mafic syenite and intercalated mafic volcanics. Within this vein intersection, fine-grained visible gold was noted establishing that surface mineralization extends to depth.

Figure 4: Hurricane Intrusive Zone geological map with drill collar locations and showings

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5701/210196_cc69693704923847_004full.jpg

Drill Hole # Easting Northing Azimuth Dip Total Depth (m) KLD24-10 593601 5341396 215 -45 250 KLD24-11 593659 5341490 215 -60 400 KLD24-12 594631 5341645 150 -45 231 KLD24-13 594683 5341569 150 -45 138 KLD24-14 592930 5341616 205 -45 192 KLD24-15 592930 5341616 205 -60 262 KLD24-16 593118 5341813 258 -45 164 KLD24-17 593431 5341502 160 -45 327 KLD24-18 593852 5341761 350 -38 296 KLD24-19 594047 5342074 135 -45 394 KLD24-20 594425 5342134 20 -45 302 KLD24-21 594425 5342134 20 -72 96 KLD24-22 593852 5341761 55 -45 324

Table 1: Drill collar locations, orientations, and depth of holes at Hurricane Intrusive Zone



Drill Hole From To Interval Au g/t Cu ppm KLD24-10 3.35 53.15 49.80 0.06 56.00 122.00 66.00 0.02 142 KLD23-11 106.00 107.00 1.00 0.23 129.00 131.50 2.50 0.07 543 KLD24-12 45.00 50.00 5.00 0.04 KLD24-13 31.58 32.90 1.32 0.05 KLD24-14 143.20 147.23 4.03 0.44 including 146.30 147.23 0.93 1.18 KLD24-15 139.70 142.93 3.23 0.24 KLD24-16 139.00 146.73 7.73 0.08 KLD24-17 293.00 299.00 6.00 0.16 KLD23-18 79.50 80.50 1.00 0.46 KLD24-19 386.25 390.00 3.75 0.07 KLD24-20 58.80 60.93 2.13 0.11 204.50 204.90 0.40 0.75 262.47 263.18 0.71 0.21 289.17 290.00 0.83 0.14 KLD24-21 65.80 66.60 0.80 0.05 KLD24-22 95.14 97.00 1.86 1.11 including 96.37 97.00 0.63 2.91 213.60 214.90 1.30 0.25

Table 2: Drill results from Hurricane Intrusive Zone



QA/QC Protocol

Samples were halved by a core saw with one half being placed into a plastic bag with the sample number written on the bag and a sample tag placed inside the bag. The plastic bag was then zipped tied and secured in a locked container until delivery to the lab. Batches of samples were sealed in rice bags and hand-delivered by KLDC to MSA Labs in Timmins, ON. Samples were crushed to 70% passing 2mm with a riffle split of 500g to place in Photon jar for Photon Assay (gamma ray) for gold only. Another riffle split of 250g was pulverized to 85% -75 m for an aqua regia digestion analytical 39 multi-element ICP-MS method. KLDC inserted OREAS blanks and certified reference materials (OREAS 236 and 153a) into the sampling stream at a rate of 8% (4 blanks and 4 standards per 100 samples). The QA/QC results from the drilling program and the technical information contained in this news release have been approved by Mike Kilbourne, P.Geo. who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Kirkland Lake Discoveries Corp.

Kirkland Lake Discoveries Corp. is a TSX Venture Exchange-listed company that has recently consolidated a district-scale and highly prospective land package in the Kirkland Lake Gold Camp in Ontario, Canada. The properties are hosted in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, one of the world's best-endowed greenstone belts, with 200+ million ounces of gold produced to date.1 The properties are host to regional and property-scale mineralized structures that are considered second-order structures off the Larder Lake Cadillac Deformation Zone (LLCDZ), the regional structure in the belt known to be spatially associated with the gold mines hosted in the camp.

The properties assembled include the Lucky Strike Property, Arnold Property, KL Central, Goodfish-Kirana, and the optioned KL West Properties. The KLDC land position comprises approximately 38,000 ha, over 1,338 claims, and 29 patented claims and ranks the Company as the largest landholder in the Kirkland Lake region.

For additional information, please contact:

Stefan Sklepowicz

Interim CEO

www.kirklandlakediscoveries.com

+1 226 979 3515

stefan@kirklandlakediscoveries.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of Kirkland Lake Discoveries, are forward-looking statements. Forward-Looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-Looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the Company's three-phase drill program, the results thereof, and any impact therefrom. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-Looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Kirkland Lake Discoveries, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, changes in general economic, market and business conditions, and the ability to obtain any requisite approvals. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Kirkland Lake Discoveries does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

1 Canada's Gold Exploration Frontier: The Abitibi Greenstone Belt - https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/canadas-gold-exploration-frontier-the-abitibi-greenstone-belt/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210196

SOURCE: Kirkland Lake Discoveries Corp.
BCMA-CD19 compound CAR (cCAR) therapy was safe and well tolerated and achieved proof of concept of complete humoral reset delivering long-term medication-free remission -

iCell's BCMA-CD19 cCAR was the first CAR T evaluated in autoimmune disease with first SLE patient treated September 2019

Based on successful IIT study, iCell plans to file INDs in U.S. and China

iCell Gene Therapeutics, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on immunotherapies for autoimmune disorders and cancer, today announced the publication in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseasesof positive results of an investigator initiated clinical trial (IIT) for its BCMA-CD19 compound chimeric antigen receptor (cCAR) T cell immunotherapy.

The clinical trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of a complete humoral reset of both long-lived plasma cells and B cells in 13 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients treated with iCell's cCAR, including 11 patients with SLE and lupus nephritis (LN). All patients (12/13) who received an initial dose of 3x106 cCAR cells/kg were negative for all autoantibodies, including those derived from long-lived plasma cells, 3-months post-cCAR, and the complement returned to normal levels. These patients achieved symptom-free and medication-free remission (MFR), with post-cCAR follow-up to 46 months. cCAR therapy was well tolerated with mild cytokine-release syndrome (no CRS >1). iCell considers this IIT to be a successful proof of concept; the Company plans to file an investigational new drug application (IND) for its BCMA-CD19 cCAR in the United States and China.

iCell's cCAR, with two independently functioning CARs in a single construct targeting the B cell CD19 and the plasma cell BCMA surface antigens, is uniquely designed to completely reset humoral immunity and address the underlying cause of SLE/LN through the elimination of all elevated autoantibodies including those produced by long-lived plasma cells.

Unique armoring of iCell's cCAR allows for safe pretreatment conditioning with cyclophosphamide only (no fludarabine was used in LN patients), and patients in the study discontinued all lupus medications, including glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, prior to cCAR treatment and remained lupus medication-free post-infusion. There are currently no approved therapies that deliver MFR in SLE/LN patients who are at high risk of long-term organ damage and kidney transplant.

"This study demonstrates that the complete reset of humoral immunity results in elimination of all elevated autoantibodies, that long term medication free remission is achievable, and that treatment with a BCMA-CD19 compound CAR is well-tolerated in patients suffering from lupus nephritis. The data show humoral immunity recovering, a low rate of infections, no CRS greater than 1, and no ICANS observed to date," said Yupo Ma, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Founder of iCell. "iCell now has the largest clinical dataset of autoimmune patients receiving CAR therapy, and we are excited to continue the advancement of our BCMA-CD19 cCAR."

"iCell first envisioned the potential for CAR treatments in autoimmune diseases more than 10 years ago and subsequently became the first to patent a BCMA-CD19 compound CAR. Nearly five years ago, we were the first company worldwide to treat an autoimmune patient with a CAR, and we are delighted to see that this patient continues to do well," said Greg Deener, Chief Executive Officer of iCell. "We look forward to receiving further follow up data confirming the promising results to date, and we plan to present this data on June 12th at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) 2024 Congress."

Study Details:

iCell designed its cCAR T Cell immunotherapy to express two distinct and fully functional CAR molecules in a single construct, one that targets the molecule CD19 present on B cells and one that targets BCMA present on plasma cells. Targeting both B cells and long-lived plasma cells is needed to eliminate all elevated autoantibodies, given they have separate and redundant memory. iCell's cCAR is armored to safely promote T cell survival and function and to allow for cyclophosphamide-only conditioning.

The single arm IIT evaluating iCell's BCMA-CD19 cCAR was conducted in two leading centers in China, Zhongshan People's Hospital and Peking University Shenzhen Hospital. Initially two patients with SLE and comorbid localized lymphoma were treated with the BCMA-CD19 cCAR (the first in September 2019); 11 patients with LN with biopsy-confirmed active disease (Class III-V) and inadequate response to at least two lines of therapies were subsequently enrolled into the study and treated between June 2022 and February 2023. Ten LN patients received the target single cCAR dose of 3x106/kg.

Overall, the cCAR therapy was found to be generally safe and well-tolerated. The 10 LN patients receiving the target dose achieved depletion of B cells from peripheral blood within 10 days post-cCAR treatment and depletion of immunoglobulin within 42 days, and complete recovery of B cells and IgM was seen within 2-6 months post-cCAR. Excluding COVID-19, the only infection reported was a grade 1 urinary tract infection. In iCell's overall cCAR safety database of 18 patients with autoimmune diseases (including the 13 patients with SLE or LN), there have been no CRS >1 and no ICANS or CRES.

All lupus patients (12/13) who received the target dose were negative for all autoantibodies, including those derived from long-lived plasma cells, 3-months post-cCAR, and the complement returned to normal levels. Patients achieved symptom-free and medication-free remission (MFR), with post-cCAR follow-up to 46-months. Mean Systemic Lupus Erythematosus SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) reduced from 9.9 (baseline) to 2.3 (3 months), and mean renal function significantly improved in the 10 LN patients =90 days post-cCAR. The data suggest that cCAR therapy was safe and effective in inducing MFR and depleting disease-causing autoantibodies in SLE and LN patients.

About SLE/LN

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an antibody-mediated autoimmune disease, in which autoantibodies attack the body's own tissues, resulting in widespread damage in affected organs including kidneys, lungs, joints, brain and blood vessels. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, an estimated 1.5 million Americans, and at least five million people worldwide, have SLE/LN. Lupus nephritis affects ~40% of SLE patients and disproportionately burdens nonwhite women from lower socioeconomic groups. LN patients have a 6-fold higher risk of mortality with 1 in 4 progressing to end stage renal disease There are currently no treatments targeting the underlying causes of the disease delivering MFR. Standard of care LN treatments have substantial side effects. Prolonged immunosuppression increases the risk of serious infections and cancers. Glucocorticoid associated adverse effects include osteoporotic fractures, avascular necrosis, diabetes mellitus, cataracts, glaucoma, and premature mortality.

About iCell Gene Therapeutics

iCell Gene Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) immunotherapies designed to be innovative, first-in-class and lifesaving. iCell is focused on developing treatments for diseases where no treatment options exist and where dramatic improvements in quality and duration of life are needed, including autoimmune disorders, AML, and T-cell malignancies. The company is currently conducting clinical trials in the U.S. and China utilizing its CARvac, T-cell targeted CARs, compound CARs and non-gene edited universal CARs engineered as treatments for autoimmune diseases, cancer, and organ rejections. For more information, please visit http://icellgene.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240523089601/en/

Contacts:

Investor Contact:

Greg Deener, CEO

greg.deener@icellgene.com



Media Contact:

Argot Partners

icellgene@argotpartners.com
Oral presentation in "Developmental Therapeutics-Immunotherapy" session on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at 11:30 AM CDT

CatalYm today announced that positive new follow-up results from its ongoing "GDFATHER" Phase 1/2a trial (GDF-15 Antibody-mediaTed Human Effector Cell Relocation Phase 1/2a) will be featured in an oral presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2024 in Chicago.

The trial is evaluating CatalYm's lead GDF-15 neutralizing antibody, visugromab, in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab in late- to last-line, anti-PD-1/PD-L1 relapsed/refractory patients. Visugromab is designed to neutralize the tumor-produced Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15), a central mediator of immune resistance to cancer therapies. Early interim data of the study, which were previously presented at the ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress 2023, demonstrated signs for potent and durable anti-tumor efficacy as well as an excellent tolerability and safety profile for visugromab in combination with nivolumab in advanced-stage/last-line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and urothelial cancer patients (UC). Now matured data for NSCLC, UC and novel data for hepatocellular cancer (HCC) will be presented.

The ASCO Annual Meeting will be held in Chicago, Illinois, from May 31 to June 4, 2024.

Oral Presentation Details:

Presentation Title: Effects of neutralization of tumor-derived immunosuppressant GDF-15 on anti-PD-1 activity in anti-PD-(L)1 relapsed/refractory non-squamous NSCLC, urothelial, and hepatocellular cancer

Presenter: Dr. Ignacio Melero Bermejo, MD Clinica Universidad de Navarra

Session: Developmental Therapeutics-Immunotherapy

Session Date and Time: Sunday, June 2, 2024, from 11:30 AM 1:00 PM CDT

Location: S406 On Demand McCormick Place

Abstract Number: 2513

The full abstract details can be accessed via https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/234019. The company will provide further information and a summary of the data following the oral presentation at ASCO.

About the GDFATHER-2 Trials

The GDFATHER-2 trial (GDF-15 Antibody-mediaTed Human Effector cell Relocation Phase 2) (NCT04725474) is the Phase 2a part of the ongoing Phase 1/2a trial with several cohorts investigating the effect of visugromab (CTL-002) in combination with a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor in patients in various advanced-stage/last-line and by strict criteria anti-PD1/PD-L1 relapsed/refractory solid tumor types. The study can enroll up to 200 patients and has extensive biomarker-evaluations integrated to assess for potential responder patient population identification or similar.

About Visugromab (CTL-002)

Visugromab is a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the tumor-derived Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15), a locally acting immunosuppressant fostering immunotherapy resistance. Neutralizing GDF-15 with visugromab reverses key cancer resistance mechanisms to reinstate an efficient anti-tumor response by reenabling immune cell activation and tumor infiltration. Visugromab has demonstrated already in Phase 1 a good safety profile and potent and durable anti-tumor efficacy in combination with anti-PD-1 treatment in advanced cancer patients The antibody is currently being investigated in ongoing Phase 2 studies in multiple solid tumor indications.

About CatalYm

CatalYm has identified GDF-15 as a key cancer therapy resistance mechanism and is developing it as safe and efficacious immune therapy for solid tumors. GDF-15, an immunosuppressant important for feto-maternal tolerance, is hijacked by cancer cells to evade immune system attack. Visugromab, CatalYm's lead antibody, has demonstrated durable anti-tumor efficacy with long-lasting objective responses in relapsed and refractory metastatic solid tumor patients in combination with anti-PD-1 treatment. CatalYm is now advancing to Phase 2b studies to confirm visugromab as a new class of cancer immunotherapy in a broad range of anti-cancer regimens.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240523161993/en/

Contacts:

CatalYm GmbH

Dr. Phil L'Huilier, CEO

info@catalym.com

Media Inquiries

Trophic Communications

Dr. Stephanie May or Dr. Alison Opalko

Phone: +49 171 185 56 82 or +49 151 54041130

catalym@trophic.eu
(Madrid/Oslo, 23 May 2024) - Statkraft has completed the acquisition of the renewable company Enerfin, headquartered in Spain.



On 17 November 2023, Statkraft signed an agreement with the Spanish company Elecnor to acquire its renewables subsidiary Enerfin. The transaction has now been completed.



The closing of the Enerfin deal significantly builds scale and strengthens Statkraft's position in Spain and Brazil. The transaction adds a portfolio of 1.5 GW of wind and solar power projects in operation and under construction, as well as a pipeline of projects under development.



- This acquisition is a big leap for Statkraft and confirms our position as Europe's largest producer of renewable energy and aim to become a leading renewable company internationally. It places us among the top 10 wind power producers both in Spain and Brazil, which are key markets for Statkraft. The portfolio is a very good strategic fit with our current portfolio and future growth plans, says Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal, President and CEO of Statkraft.



The attractive portfolio and highly competent Enerfin team fits well with Statkraft's current activities, adding 170 new employees to Statkraft, mainly in Spain and Brazil.



- I warmly welcome all new employees to Statkraft. The Enerfin organisation has a strong track record in project development and operations of renewables. This will add great value to our organisation, Vartdal says.



The portfolio comes with significant opportunities for the repowering of wind farms, as well as hybridisation and battery storage possibilities. In addition, the acquisition enables increased market operations in both Spain and Brazil.



As announced earlier, Statkraft plans to divest the Enerfin portfolio in Canada, the US, Colombia, Australia, and Chile.



- We acknowledge the significant work done to develop the portfolios in these markets, and strongly believe in future opportunities for value creation. Statkraft are committed to finding new owners who can further create value by developing the business in these countries. Statkraft will run a sales process focusing on value preservation and care for all people involved, says Vartdal.

About Statkraft

Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europe's largest generator of renewable energy. The Group produces hydropower, wind power, solar power, gas-fired power and supplies district heating. Statkraft is a global company in energy market operations. Statkraft has more than 6,000 employees in over 20 countries.



For further information, please contact:

Torbjrn Steen, Vice President External Communications, Statkraft AS

Tel: +47 911 66 888

E-mail: torbjorn.steen@statkraft.com



Nuria Larragueta Follana, Communication Specialist, Statkraft Spain

Tel: +34 346 308 75143

E-mail:nuria.larragueta@statkraft.com

Attachment
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Silver X Mining Corp. (TSXV:AGX)(OTCQB:AGXPF)(FRA:AGX) ("Silver X" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the signing of a 15-year social agreement with the Community of Carhuapata in Huancavelica in Peru. This in addition with the 12-year agreement with the Community of Huachocolpa signed on November 6, 2023. This new social contract grants Silver X Mining access to the totality of the Plata Mining Area.

Highlights of the Agreement

Duration: The 15-year agreement encompasses 100% of the project, providing ample area for the planned expansion and development activities.

Exploration and Mining: Allows exploration and mining with no restriction within the area of the agreement.

Strong Support: The unanimous approval by Carhuapata's Community assembly highlights the strong social support to Silver X's activities in the district.

"This agreement with the Carhuapata community marks another significant milestone in our efforts to activate and rejuvenate an entire mining district. Plata holds enormous potential and is crucial for the organic growth of our company," said Silver X CEO Jose Garcia.

Company's Development Strategy

Exploration Data: Consisting of a historical mining area, Silver X has compiled geological information from approximately 30,0000 meters of existing drill core and 8,000 meters of underground samples.

High-grade veins: historical data shows the existence of several high-grade silver and polymetallic veins, some of which were subject to mining in the past century.

Upcoming Resource: The Company anticipates producing a resource update before the end of 2024.

District Scale Development: This new development area is expected to boost SilverX's resource development and mining activities to the full district potential.

The Plata mining area is a part of the Nueva Recuperada Silver District and is a significant component of Silver X Mining's growth strategy. This area spans over 3,829 hectares and includes 17 surface-exposed mineralized veins, offering substantial exploration potential. Historical data indicate rich silver-polymetallic deposits, with a non-compliant historical inferred resource of 448,812 tonnes grading 220.81 g/t Ag, 2.55% Pb, and 4.58% Zn. (See Preliminary Economic Assessment, Nueva Recuperada Project, Huancavelica, Peru, April 4, 2023.)

"The support from Carhuapata is instrumental as we harness this potential, driving shared prosperity for both the community and Silver X Mining. We are enthusiastic about the future and confident in the transformative impact this project will have on our operations and the local region," said Garcia.

About Silver X Mining Corp.: Silver X Mining Corp. is a premier silver mining company with a focus on exploration, development, and production in South America. Our flagship asset, the Nueva Recuperada Silver District in Peru, is positioned in a prolific silver-producing region, with extensive high-grade silver, gold, lead, and zinc mineralization. Our mission is to deliver outstanding value to stakeholders through sustainable and socially responsible mining practices.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Jose M. Garcia, CEO and Director

For further information, please contact:

Sebastian Wahl

Vice President, Corporate Development

+1 647 259 6901 x 101

s.wahl@silverxmining.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation ("forward-looking information"). Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain acts, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". All information contained in this press release, other than statements of current and historical fact, is forward looking information. Forward- looking information contained in this press release may include, without limitation, exploration plans, results of operations, expected performance at the Project, the Company's belief that the Tangana system will provide considerable resource expansion potential, that the Company will be able to mine the Tangana Mining Unit in an economic manner, and the expected financial performance of the Company.

The following are some of the assumptions upon which forward-looking information is based: that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; demand for, and stable or improving price for the commodities we produce; receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals, permits and renewals in a timely manner; that the Company will not experience any material accident, labour dispute or failure of plant or equipment or other material disruption in the Company's operations at the Project and Nueva Recuperada Plant; the availability of financing for operations and development; the Company's ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; that the estimates of the resources at the Project and the geological, operational and price assumptions on which these and the Company's operations are based are within reasonable bounds of accuracy (including with respect to size, grade and recovery); the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled personnel and directors; and the ability of management to execute strategic goals.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to those risks described in the Company's annual and interim MD&As and in its public documents filed on www.sedar.com from time to time. Forward- looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward- looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Silver X Mining Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Pampa Metals Corp. ("Pampa Metals" or the "Company") (CSE:PM)(FSE:FIR)(OTCQB:PMMCF) is pleased to report further outstanding copper-gold assay results for diamond drillhole PIU-03 (refer figure 1), recently completed to a downhole depth of 855m at the Company's Piuquenes project in San Juan Province, Argentina.

Highlights:

801 m @ 0.40% Cu, 0.51 g/t Au, 2.87 g/t Ag (from 54 to 855m (EOH)) including 518 m @ 0.53% Cu, 0.73 g/t Au, 3.45 g/t Ag (from 192 to 710) including 176 m @ 0.71% Cu, 0.74 g/t Au, 4.86 g/t Ag (from 192 to 368) including 64 m @ 0.75%, 1.2 g/t Au, 4.60 g/t Ag (554 to 618m) including 32m @ 0.64% Cu, 0.71 g/t Au, 4.54 g/t Ag (642 to 674m)



Hole PIU-03 was collared approximately 300m to the west of hole PIU-02 (refer figure 2) and drilled at an orientation of 75 degrees towards 085 (azimuth) to extend copper-gold mineralization to depth on the northeast and southeast sides of the Piuquenes Central porphyry, and to better delineate a newly identified core of strong chalcopyrite-bornite copper mineralization associated with intense porphyry quartz stockwork veining in hole PIU-02 (refer March 26 and May 6 2024 News Releases).

Assay results confirm a classic sub-vertical to vertical porphyry geometry with chalcopyrite, bornite and gold mineralization fully open at depth.

Joseph van den Elsen, Pampa Metals President and CEO commented: "Following on from the exceptional porphyry copper-gold intersections reported in the first and second holes of our maiden drill campaign at Piuquenes, we are very pleased to report extraordinary, long intervals of primary copper and gold mineralization in the third hole. Our initial drilling continues to extend the depth and lateral extensions of mineralization at Piuquenes Central and has confirmed a highly mineralized multi-phase porphyry system which remains open to depth and to the north-east. The Piuquenes project is a Company making asset and we look forward to more fully delineating the size and grade potential of this first deposit and concurrently testing a second undrilled, outcropping porphyry already identified at Piuquenes East. We see the potential for a cluster of deposits and will continue to advance several other nearby targets with surface exploration and geophysics."

Geology and Mineralization - Diamond Drillhole PIU-03

Moderate intensity porphyry A type quartz veinlets were intersected from 70 m downhole, with copper oxides evident from 60m and strongest between 190-230 m, followed by a zone of moderate supergene copper enrichment from 230m to 430 m. Copper sulphide (chalcopyrite and bornite) mineralization is evident in quartz veining from 300 m.

Image 1: Disseminated copper oxides in quartz A-type veinlets overprinting early biotite-magnetite altered quarzdiorite porphyry

Image 2: Intense porphyry A type quartz vein stockwork with evidence of secondary copper enrichment

Quartz veining remains strong to 760m downhole, with the exception of two zones of sparse veining (370 - 410m and 500 - 510m). The veinlets can be very thick, associated with several geological events, including late banded, sinuous grey veinlets. Finely disseminated chalcopyrite, chalcopyrite-bornite and bornite is evident with some sections containing coarse and abundant chalcopyrite mineralization. From 760 m downhole the frequency of quartz veinlets decreases, although copper sulfide mineralization and gold remain present, and the system remains open at depth.

Image 3: Intense porphyry A type quartz vein stockwork with disseminated chalcopyrite and late veins associated with intermineral potassic (Kfeldspar-quartz) alteration

Image 4: A type quartz vein with coarse dissemination of chalcopyrite and bornite associated with intermineral potassic (Kfeldspar-quartz) alteration

Figure 1: PIU-03 Schematic Cross Section

Figure 2: PIU-03 Plan View

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD / INVESTOR CONTACT

Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO

Joseph@pampametals.com

ABOUT PAMPA METALS

Pampa Metals is a copper-gold exploration company listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE:PM), Frankfurt (FSE:FIR), and OTC (OTCQB:PMMCF) exchanges.

In November 2023, the Company announced it had entered into an Option and Joint Venture Agreement for the acquisition of an 80% interest in the Piuquenes Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in San Juan Province, Argentina.

Reported intervals of significant copper and gold mineralization at Piuquenes Central include:

413.5 m@ 0.47% Cu, 0.52 g/t Au (167-580.5 m);

422 m @ 0.48% Cu, 0.61 g/t Au, 2.9 g/t Ag (198 - 620m); including 132m @ 0.71% Cu, 0.85 g/t Au, 4.3 g/t Ag (220 - 352m); including 80m @ 0.6% Cu, 0.77 g/t Au, 3.2 g/t Ag (468 - 548m)

558.2 m @ 0.38% Cu, 0.42 g/t Au, 2.4 g/t Ag (362-920.2 m EOH) including 130 m @ 0.81% Cu, 0.6 g/t Au, 4 g/t Ag (362-492 m)



QAQC

PIU-01 drill hole was collared with a PQ drill bit, reduced to HQ and, sequentially, to NQ as the drill hole progressed deeper. Drill core was extracted from the core tubes by the drill contractor under the supervision of Pampa Metals, marked for consistent orientation and placed in core boxes with appropriate depth markers added. Full core boxes were then sealed before being transported by Pampa Metals to the Piuquenes core-cutting facility in Barreal, San Juan. Core was processed, quick logged, checked for recovery, photographed, and marked for assays. Core trays were weighed before being cut using a diamond saw by Pampa Metals. Pampa Metals supervising geologist double-checked the selected two-metre sample intervals, placing the samples in seal bags and ensuring that the same side of the core was consistently sampled. Reference numbers were assigned to each sample and each sample was weighed. The core trays with the remaining half-core were weighed and photographed and stored at the Pampa Metals facility in Barreal. From Barreal samples were sent to the ALS preparation facility in Mendoza, an accredited laboratory which is independent of the Company. Prepared samples were then sent to the ALS laboratory in Lima, Peru for gold (Au-AA23), copper (Cu-OG62), and multi-element ICP (ME-MS61) analysis. No data quality problems were indicated by the QA/QC program.

Qualified Person

Technical information in this news release has been approved by Mario Orrego G. Mr. Orrego G. is a Geologist, a Registered Member of the Chilean Mining Commission and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Orrego G. is a consultant to the Company.

Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Pampa Metals expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will" or "may" occur. These statements are subject to various risks. Although Pampa Metals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guaranteeing of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Pampa Metals Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Bob Egelko has been a reporter since June 1970. He spent 30 years with the Associated Press, covering news, politics and occasionally sports in Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento, and legal affairs in San Francisco from 1984 onward. He worked for the San Francisco Examiner for five months in 2000, then joined The Chronicle in November 2000.

His beat includes state and federal courts in California, the Supreme Court and the State Bar. He has a law degree from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento and is a member of the bar. Coverage has included the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, the appointment of Rose Bird to the state Supreme Court and her removal by the voters, the death penalty in California and the battles over gay rights and same-sex marriage.
VENICE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism (CBMJ) announced in its most recently filed financials that during Q-1, the Company has significantly improved its financial position.

Specifically, it posted a revenue gain of 409% (384K in Q-1 of 2024 versus $94K in Q-1 of 2023). This revenue increase was accompanied by an operating margin of 50%.

The Company also successfully upgraded its platforms technology and increased its production capabilities by investing in infrastructure upgrades. CBMJ was also successful in reducing its liabilities by approximately 14%. The Company reported a mild loss per share of ($.03). The contributing non-cash expense items of stock based compensation, amortization and depreciation accounted

for 74% of total expenses.

The revenue increases and infrastructure upgrades during the first quarter are attributed to the successful launch of Patriot.TV, its flagship streaming service.

Additionally, after having successfully built the foundation of Patriot.TV and delivering a robust lineup of show hosts, as he was brought in to do, Brannon Howse and Patriot.TV parted ways effective 5-16-2024.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors, we wish to thank Mr. Howse and express our appreciation for his contribution in the early development of Patriot.TV. We wish him further success in his next venture." - stated General Michael Flynn.

The company's CEO Mark Schaftlein announced that two key members of his executive management team, Industry veterans Marc Garabedian and Anni Cyrus will handle daily activity of Patriot.TV. Garabedian, newly appointed COO will manage technology, advertising and operations while Cyrus will direct all content production delivery through show hosts and social media.

Marc Garabedian has had a trailblazing career spanning over four decades carving an extraordinary path in the media industry since the mid-1980s, leaving an indelible mark as a visionary executive, producer and business owner. With an eye for innovation and a knack for strategic partnerships, Garabedian's career has been defined by groundbreaking achievements and solid relationships.

"We are thrilled to have two highly talented individuals spearhead our growth as we add enhancements to grow a world class conservative streaming media platform." stated Schaftlein.

About Patriot.TV: Patriot.TV is a leading media broadcast platform wholly owned by CBMJ dedicated to providing cutting-edge, informative content across television, radio, and online platforms. With a focus on truth, freedom, and empowering narratives, Patriot.TV is at the forefront of shaping the future of media consumption. Visit www.patriot.tv for more information.

About CBMJ: (OTC PINK:CBMJ) Conservative Broadcast Media and Journalism is a media and web-based Patriot Company.

Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters disclosed at www.otcmarkets.com. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially.

CONTACT:

Mark Schaftlein

877-704-6773

SOURCE: Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Highlander Silver Corp. (CSE:HSLV) (the "Company" or "Highlander Silver") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated November 30, 2023 and March 28, 2024, it has acquired the San Luis gold-silver project (the "San Luis Project") from SSR Mining Inc. ("SSR Mining"), pursuant to a share purchase agreement dated November 29, 2023 (as amended, the "Share Purchase Agreement"). The San Luis Project is located in the Ancash Department of central Peru.

Highlights

Transformational acquisition for Highlander Silver of the San Luis Project.

Historical Measured & Indicated mineral resources of 348,000 ounces (oz) of gold (Au) grading 22.4 g/t Au, and 9,003,300 oz silver (Ag) grading 578.1 g/t Ag.

Multiple targets for growth on the property given limited and focused historical drilling, open extensions to resources, and undrilled targets supported by highly anomalous (> 4 g/t Au) trenching and rock samples.

Extensive ground holding totalling 23,098 Ha has yet to be systematically explored with many structures that have not yet been sampled providing further exploration potential.

Highlander Silver to implement a comprehensive program of geological mapping and sampling to develop targets for growth and discovery before more focused exploration on the highest priority targets.

Ancash Department is well-known for mining in Peru with major past and present production from the Pierina gold mine and Antamina copper-zinc mine, respectively.

Financing for this transformative acquisition has been provided by the Augusta Group, members of the Lundin family and affiliates, and Eric Sprott.

(See "San Luis Historical Mineral Resource" below for further details.)

A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource.

David Fincham, President and CEO commented: "We are thrilled to have acquired the high grade San Luis gold-silver project from SSR mining. I would like to thank our shareholders for their support and the SSR Mining team for their careful stewardship of the project to date.

We believe that the historical resource at the Ayelen - Ines vein system may be one of the highest-grade gold-silver deposits yet to be mined in the world, and we are very excited about the exploration potential given this district-scale property has only been partially prospected and explored. As such the acquisition has the potential to be transformative for Highlander Silver in delivering a world-class gold silver project that can benefit all our stakeholders."

Fig. 1 San Luis Project location

Historical Mineral Resource

The San Luis Project has a historical measured and indicated mineral resource estimate of 348,000 ounces (oz) of Au grading 22.4 g/t Au, and 9,003,300 oz Ag grading 578.1 g/t Ag. Test work developed on the historical mineral resource projected gold and silver recoveries of greater than or equal to 90% using conventional cyanide leach processing methods. The Company plans to undertake work to verify and update the historical estimate as a priority. See "San Luis Historical Mineral Resource" below for further details.

Exploration upside potential and first phase exploration plan

The San Luis Project is district-scale, with the mining concessions covering 23,098 hectares, or approximately 230 km. The fertility of the district has been demonstrated by both evidence of multiple deposit styles and by the high number of targets generated to date from limited exploration. Following discovery of the Ayelen - Ines vein systems where the historical resource is located, the main focus was on resource development, meaning that systematic exploration has yet to be completed across much of the property. Targets on the property include low to intermediate sulfidation epithermal gold-silver veins, copper - molybdenum porphyries, silver, lead, zinc  copper hydrothermal breccias and silver, lead, zinc  copper replacement mantos.

The Highlander technical team aims to start the first exploration phase by conducting prospecting work on what are considered to be the most prospective parts of the vein field, around known high grade mineral occurrences and on the underexplored areas in between them. The primary objective of this phase is to define and prioritize drill targets that have the potential to yield bonanza grade Ayelen-Ines vein style mineralisation.





Fig. 2 San Luis tenure map highlighting the priority area for the first phase of exploration, the historical resource area (Ayelen - Ines vein system), Bonita target and anomalous gold samples distributed across the property.

Information relating to the larger property exploration work including geological mapping, surface sampling, and the two holes drilled at the La Bonita target reflect work performed by SSR Mining on the property to-date. In October 2023 and April 2024 visits to the property by Highlander Silver staff, drill core from both Ayelen and the Bonita vein systems were inspected observing significant low-sulphidation style vein intercepts. In addition, work aimed at verifying sample data, analytical techniques or quality assurance and control measures that were in place during the execution of the exploration work as well as the historical mineral resource estimate is in progress but has not been concluded.

Community engagement

Community access agreements have been established by previous operators. As a new operator, the Company recognizes the opportunity to establish fresh long-term mutually beneficial relationships with the local communities and will strive to do this from the outset.

San Luis Project Acquisition

Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, the Company acquired a 100% interest in the San Luis Project through the purchase of SSR Mining's direct and indirect shareholdings of four subsidiary companies, in consideration for an initial payment of US$5,000,000 in cash.

The Company may pay up to an additional US$37,500,000 in cash to SSR Mining as contingent consideration (the "Contingent Consideration") upon completion of certain milestones in relation to the San Luis Project. The Contingent Consideration is only accrued and payable if and when the following milestones are achieved:

(a) $2,500,000, after the commencement of an initial drilling program at the San Luis Project; (b) $5,000,000 after the completion of a feasibility study on any portion of the San Luis Project; (c) $10,000,000 after the beginning of commercial production; (d) $10,000,000 after the first anniversary of commercial production; and (e) $10,000,000 after the second anniversary of commercial production.

A 4% net smelter returns royalty (the "Royalty") on the San Luis Project was granted to SSR Mining prior to closing of the Transaction. At any time before the commencement of mine construction on the San Luis Project, the Company may buy back half of the Royalty for US$15,000,000, which if, exercised, would reduce SSR Mining's royalty interest to 2%.

San Luis Historical Mineral Resource

The historical mineral resource is included in a Technical Report titled "Technical Report for the San Luis Feasibility Study, Ancash Department, Peru" (the "Technical Report"), with an effective date of June 4, 2010. The report was prepared as a National Instrument 43-101 - Standard of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("National Instrument 43-101") technical report for Reliant Ventures S.A.C. and Silver Standard Resources Inc. by Mine and Quarry Engineering Services, Inc., RR Engineering, Milne & Associates, Resource Modeling Inc, Resource Evaluation Inc., and Montgomery Watson Harzag Americas Inc, and can be accessed on SSR Mining's SEDAR+ profile. The historical estimate is considered to be relevant and reliable for the purposes of the Company proceeding with the Transaction as it provides an indication of the potential significance of the San Luis Project.

The Technical Report provides details on mineral resources and reserves, as well a potential development option for the San Luis Project that considers underground mining and processing using conventional cyanide leach methods. However, the prices, costs, and development strategy and options are no longer current and need to be re-evaluated using assumptions and qualifications that are more reflective of today's environment.

Below is a summary of the historical resource estimate from the Technical Report.

The San Luis system is a volcanic hosted, low sulphidation, epithermal quartz, precious metals deposit. Gold occurs as electrum and silver is present as acanthite, electrum, and other silver sulphosalts.

The Ayelen vein is the better of the known vein structures with more than 85% of the historical mineral resource derived from this single structure. Trenching and diamond drilling have traced this structure along a NNW strike for over 700 meters, with a steep (80) down dip extension of more than 300 meters. True thicknesses of individual vein segments vary from tens of centimeters to more than 10m, with an average width of 1.5m to 3.0m.

Mineral resource models were developed based on samples obtained from 96 surface trenches (947m) and 136 drill holes (22,354m). Capping was used to reduce the influence of erratic high-grade values. Block grades were estimated using one-meter composites and inverse distance weighting. Estimated blocks were classified as either Measured, Indicated or Inferred mineral resources based on distance to samples. For the Ayelen vein, blocks within 15 meters of surface trenches were classified as Measured. Ayelen vein blocks within 25m of sample data were classified as Indicated. The remaining estimated Ayelen blocks were classified as Inferred. An average dry density value of 2.61g/cm3 determined from 193 bulk density measurements was used for the resource calculation. The resulting historical mineral resource is shown in the table below.

Historical Mineral Resource Summary

Category Tonnes Average grades Contained Metal Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (Oz) Ag (Oz) Measured 55,000 34.3 757.6 61,000 1,345,100 Indicated 429,000 20.8 555.0 287,000 7,658,200 Measured & Indicated 484,000 22.4 578.1 348,000 9,003,300 Inferred 20,000 5.6 270.1 3,600 174,900

Notes:

The historical mineral resources are reported using a 6.0g/t Au equivalent cutoff grade. The gold equivalent calculation assumed a gold to silver price ratio of 65:1, and metal recoveries were not considered.

The historical measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources use categories as defined by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves

A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. Additional work including some re-sampling of historical intervals and a review of the geological model, is ongoing to verify the historical resource estimate.

Qualified Person

All scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and is approved by Graeme Lyall (FAusIMM N224791), non-executive Director at Highlander Silver Corp, who serves as the qualified person (QP) under the definitions of National Instrument 43-101.

About Highlander Silver

Highlander Silver Corp., backed by the Augusta Group, Lundin Family members & affiliates and Eric Sprott, is a mineral exploration company focused on the discovery of exceptional silver-gold-polymetallic projects in the Central Andes, leveraging the team's significant technical and operational experience in Peru and South America more widely. Currently the Company is developing the La Estrella project in central Peru. The Company is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the ticker symbol HSLV and additional information about Highlander Silver and its mineral projects can be viewed on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at (www.sedarplus.ca) and its website at www.highlandersilver.com.

Neither the CSE nor the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

For further information, please contact:

David Fincham

Chief Executive Officer

Highlander Silver Corp.

(604) 283 7630

info@highlandersilver.com

Forward - Looking Information

Certain information contained in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. This includes, but is not limited to the belief that the San Luis deposit is one of the highest-grade gold-silver deposits of its size that is yet to be mined in the world; information or belief that there is exceptional discovery potential on this large, partially explored property; that there are numerous compelling exploration targets based on previous field mapping and rock chip sampling, and we are confident that systematic exploration will likely produce several more; that the Company plans to undertake work to verify and update the historical estimates as a priority; that the Company may pay up to an additional US$37,500,000 in cash to SSR Mining as Contingent Consideration upon completion of certain milestones being completed in relation to the San Luis Project. Such forward looking information or statements can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipates", "plans", "suggests", "targets" or "prospects" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "will" be taken, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company and/or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertainty relating to the geologic potential of the project, and risks relating to the Company. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information contained herein are made as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Highlander Silver Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Solar Simplified, a leader in the Community Solar industry, is proud to announce a significant expansion of its footprint into Massachusetts. In partnership with LastMile Energy, they will be offering the opportunity for Community Solar subscription to hundreds of new accounts within the Eversource utility through eight new Community Solar projects in the first tranche in 2024 and additional projects in 2025 and beyond.

Solar Simplified's innovative Community Solar offering enables residents and local businesses to enjoy the benefits of solar energy without the need for onsite installation or upfront investment. By subscribing to local solar farms, participants can expect guaranteed savings on their electricity bills while contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable environment.

Aviv Shalgi, CEO of Solar Simplified, expressed his enthusiasm for the new collaboration, stating, "We are thrilled to work with LastMile Energy and bring our services to Massachusetts. This partnership allows us to extend our mission of making solar energy accessible and affordable to more communities. We look forward to making a positive impact in the region while helping people save money on their utility bills."

Low and moderate-income households, who will see the most significant financial benefit, are the focus of these upcoming projects. Income-qualified households will receive a guaranteed 20% discount on all applied solar credits, which is the highest discount available in Massachusetts today. Households that don't fall within these income brackets are also welcome to enroll and will qualify for a 10% discount.

"It's a pleasure to partner with Solar Simplified and serve the local communities in Massachusetts," said Sachin Patel, CEO and Founder of LastMile Energy. "The Maynard projects are committed to serving low-income families in the region and offer a deeper discount, which is likely to significantly improve the savings to our subscribers."

Solar Simplified's Community Solar offering provides a risk-free opportunity for participants, with no subscription or cancellation fees. By prioritizing residential and small commercial accounts, Solar Simplified ensures broad accessibility and substantial savings for the community.

This expansion presents an appealing opportunity for Community Solar project owners and developers as well. Partnering with Solar Simplified means tapping into a well-established network and benefiting from industry-leading expertise in managing and promoting Community Solar projects. Our proven track record of successful campaigns across various states and programs, in addition to fostering community engagement across the nation, ensures that with Solar Simplified, projects will reach full enrollment regardless of their location. Uniquely to the industry, Solar Simplified does not charge anything for subscriber acquisition and guarantees full subscription and full collection. This minimizes risk for developers and aligns incentives with project owners and financing parties, ensuring a simple, seamless and efficient project execution.

This expansion into Massachusetts marks a significant milestone in Solar Simplified's growing portfolio of Community Solar projects across the United States. The company continues to support the development of renewable energy infrastructure through sustainable community benefit, engagement and continued education.

For more information about Solar Simplified and Community Solar, please visit www.solarsimplified.com.

About Solar Simplified: Solar Simplified is a leading national Community Solar aggregator, revolutionizing the industry by removing customer-associated barriers and risks, allowing Solar Developers and IPPs to scale quickly and effectively. With a commitment to sustainability and equity, we aim to make clean energy accessible to all through community-focused engagement and consumer education. The ability to seamlessly match residents and businesses with local solar farms, and handle acquisition, management, billing and collection makes Solar Simplified the best choice for Community Solar aggregation.





Contact Information

Sasha Lukovenko

VP of Sales and Marketing

sasha@solarsimplified.com

312-216-0978





SOURCE: Solar Simplified

View the original press release on newswire.com.
InMoment, the leading provider of Experience Improvement (XI), is thrilled to announce it has been named the winner of the European CX Solution of the Year at the Customer Centricity World Series 2024. The company also achieved an impressive second place in the overall global rankings.

This prestigious award highlights InMoment's commitment to innovation and demonstrates how its integrated CX approach has led to faster improvements in customer lifetime value and bottom-line performance for its customers compared to industry averages.

This year's competition was the largest and most competitive to date, with nearly 400 entries from 38 countries. After a rigorous shortlisting process, 230 finalist entries were evaluated by a panel of independent expert judges. The judges stated that, "InMoment's initiatives showcase a forward-thinking and impactful approach to enhancing customer and employee experiences, positioning it as a leader in the CX domain."

Stephan Thun, President and Managing Director of EMEA at InMoment, commented, "We are incredibly honoured to be recognised both globally and regionally as the CX Solution of the Year. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our employees, who are committed to ensuring our clients lead the way in customer experience excellence."

The Customer Centricity World Series is the premier event for customer-centric organisations worldwide, celebrating both global winners and regional champions. This year's awards ceremony took place in Dubai and was organised by ARCET Global. Now in its fourth year, the event honours companies excelling in superior customer and employee experiences. The gala ceremony attracted 250 attendees, with an additional 250 participants joining via live stream from around the world.

About the Awards

The Customer Centricity World Series is the ultimate gathering of Customer Centric Organisations from around the Globe. In its fourth year, the awards not only celebrate Worldwide Winners but also regional winners from North America, Europe, Middle East North Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific. The programme seeks to recognise the very best Customer Experience stories.

All of ARCET Global's awards are Certified by the Customer Institute and their scoring model is endorsed by the University of Westminster in the UK. The large panels of over 150 expert independent Judges choose winners after all entrants submit 1000 word case study and a 10 minute video presentation.

About InMoment

InMoment, the leader in improving experiences and the highest recommended CX platform and services company in the world is renowned for helping clients collect and integrate customer experience data to uncover the insights that enable the smartest actions. As the pace-setters in applying award-winning AI, its global clients activate every byte of their experience data-from structured surveys and social reviews to unstructured conversations from call logs, emails, support tickets, and chat transcripts to break down data silos. This unique technology combined with in-house industry experts empowers brands to gain ROI from their CX programmes in half the time as its competitors. Unlock the true potential of every piece of customer data with InMoment. To learn more, visit inmoment.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240523337648/en/

Contacts:

Rebecca Edwards, InMoment, redwards@inmoment.com
SAN FRANCISCO, May 23, 2024, a global leader in consumer, media and social intelligence, today announced the launch of ExpertsWithInsights, a content creator program designed to cultivate a community of thought leaders and serve as a hub for industry insights in the PR, communications, and marketing fields. The program provides a dedicated platform for knowledge sharing, enhanced community learning and supporting marketers and communicators in developing their thought leadership.



The program is part of mCommunity, Meltwater's customer community where communications professionals can connect, learn, and inspire each other. To facilitate enhanced learning, ExpertsWithInsights offers a formal way for participants, beyond Meltwater customers, to share their expertise in various formats.

Participants in the program will enjoy a range of benefits, including the opportunity to create thought leadership content and gain external recognition as industry authorities. Additionally, experts can build a following, develop relationships, and expand their professional networks. Sharing knowledge with an established audience will further enhance their personal brands and solidify their positions as industry experts.

The program provides multiple avenues for experts to showcase their expertise including:

Content Creation: Writing posts or recording videos on industry topics, use cases, or product tutorials.

Writing posts or recording videos on industry topics, use cases, or product tutorials. Expert Exchange Podcast: Leading panel discussions, sharing educational presentations, or discussing expertise and use cases on the podcast.

Leading panel discussions, sharing educational presentations, or discussing expertise and use cases on the podcast. In-Person Meetups: Leading meetups at one of Meltwater's 50 global offices as part of the Chapter's meetup initiative.

Leading meetups at one of Meltwater's 50 global offices as part of the Chapter's meetup initiative. Virtual Workshops: Running workshops that will be recorded and added to Meltwater Academy, for those who prefer a virtual setting.

Industry experts with unique perspectives are invited to join the program for their expertise and real-world experiences. Chosen for their ability to contribute meaningful dialogue, these guests are encouraged to speak freely and authentically, ensuring each contribution offers depth and genuine insight.

"With this program, we are giving industry professionals the chance to bring their unique stories, experiences, and expertise to life. We believe that by empowering experts to share their knowledge, we can collectively drive innovation and thought leadership across industries," said Kelly Bebenek, Senior Director of Education at Meltwater.

For more information about the ExpertsWithInsights program and how to participate, click here to apply.

For more information, please contact:

Stacy Slayden

pr@meltwater.com

About Meltwater

Meltwater empowers companies with a suite of solutions that spans media, social, consumer, and sales intelligence. By analyzing ~1 billion pieces of content each day and transforming them into vital insights, Meltwater unlocks the competitive edge to drive results. With 27,000 global customers, 50 offices across six continents and 2,300 employees, Meltwater is the industry partner of choice for global brands making an impact. Learn more at meltwater.com.




Toronto, Ontario and Boston, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2024) - PurMinds NeuroPharma ("PurMinds" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage neuroscience company focused on advancing a robust pipeline of small molecules, psychedelic compounds, and other modalities for the treatment of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, today announced that Vanessa Williamson has joined the company as Chief Business Officer effective May 20, 2024.

"We are thrilled to welcome Vanessa to the PurMinds leadership team during this pivotal stage of our growth," said Janet Qi, CPA. MBA. Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of PurMinds NeuroPharma. "Her impressive track record in forging strategic alliances, fundraising success, and fostering innovation ecosystems will be invaluable as we accelerate the development of our breakthrough therapies and explore new avenues for value creation."

Prior to joining PurMinds, Williamson held executive roles at companies such as SQI Diagnostics Systems, Inc., Precision BioMonitoring, Inc., and the Ontario Centres of Excellence among others. She has a proven ability to identify and execute upon unexpected opportunities, establishing win-win partnerships and strategic alliances that drive corporate growth and exceed stakeholder expectations.

"I am excited to join the pioneering team at PurMinds and contribute my expertise to advance their groundbreaking work in neuroscience," said Williamson. "PurMinds' innovative approach to developing novel therapies for neurological and neurodegenerative disorders has the potential to transform lives, and I look forward to supporting the company's mission through strategic collaborations and partnerships."

ABOUT PURMINDSTM

PurMinds is a neurological drug development company pursuing breakthrough solutions to neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. Its clinical pipeline includes innovative therapeutics that combine proven mechanisms of action with the powerful ability of psychedelics and other neuroplastogens to rapidly promote neuroplasticity and neuro-rejuvenation. The company's Ontario NeuroLab and Production Facility was granted a Health Canada approved Dealer's License for Controlled Drugs and Substances authorizing the production, formulation and global supply of pharma-grade Psychedelic compounds including Psilocybin and MDMA for clinical trials and research studies. PurMinds champions a de-risked business model that includes a multi-modal approach to drug development, progressing long-term value creation through the accelerated development of novel therapeutics, accompanied by short and mid-term revenue paths. PurMinds is headquartered in Toronto, ON Canada with offices in Montreal, QC and Boston, MA USA. For further information about PurMinds NeuroPharma, please visit the Company's website at PurMinds.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to PurMinds' future business plans and partnerships. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as "proposed", "anticipated", "will", "subject to", "near future", "in the event", "would", "expect", "prepared to" and other similar words or expressions and include, but are not limited to: the ability of PurMinds to secure patent protection; the regulatory environment in which PurMinds operates; the ability of PurMinds to carry out its business plans and unforeseen challenges in carrying out such plans; trends in the future use of psychedelics; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the state of capital markets; and other unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the aforesaid expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.

PR Contact

Kristina Spionjak

pr@hlthcommunications.com

SOURCE: PurMinds NeuroPharma

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210075

SOURCE: PurMinds NeuroPharma
NEW YORK, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wafra Inc. ("Wafra"), the global alternative investment firm, today announced Euromoney has recognized Wafra's Global Sukuk Team as its Best Islamic Fund Manager1 at the Euromoney Islamic Finance Awards 2024. The award recognizes Wafra's performance and contribution to the Islamic finance and investment community during 2023. Wafra's Global Sukuk Strategy is co-managed by Ron Solenske and Elias Scheker Da Silva, within Wafra's broader Portfolio Solutions offering for its institutional investors.

The Wafra Global Sukuk Strategy uses a comprehensive research and analytical-driven investment approach that seeks to outperform industry benchmarks and deliver consistent returns. The Global Sukuk Strategy is designed to deliver Sharia-compliant fixed income-like exposure while also seeking to outperform on an absolute and risk-adjusted basis. In addition to the investment team's combined experience of over 40 years, Wafra's Global Sukuk Strategy features a Shariah board to ensure its adherence to the principles of Islamic Finance.

"This recognition is a direct result of our innovative investment philosophy, rooted in the systematic implementation of quantitative frameworks, and our contribution to the growth of the industry as a whole. We are honored to receive this award. Our efforts are not just about delivering strong performance, but about advancing growth and innovation in the Islamic Finance industry," said Elias Scheker Da Silva.

The Euromoney Islamic Finance Awards showcase Islamic finance institutions that have demonstrated outstanding performance in their respective categories in the past 12 months. The awards are judged by a panel of Euromoney journalists and researchers and are awarded after a research and interview process. The winners were announced at the Euromoney Middle East Awards for Excellence ceremony held in Dubai on May 22, 2024.

About Wafra

Wafra is a global alternative investment manager with approximately $30 billion of assets under management across a range of alternative assets, including strategic partnerships, real estate, and real assets. By providing flexible and accretive capital solutions and focusing on long-term partnerships, Wafra aligns and partners with high quality asset owners, companies, and management teams. Headquartered in New York, Wafra has additional offices in London and Bermuda.

For more information please visit, https://www.wafra.com/.

Media Contacts

Diana Estupinan

Managing Director and Head of MENA, Prosek Partners

destupinan@prosek.com

+971 58 534 3668

1The accolade noted herein is independently determined and awarded by Euromoney and represents the opinions of the publisher and not those of Wafra. There can be no assurance that other publishers or market participants would reach the same conclusion. The Euromoney Islamic finance awards are judged by a panel made up of Euromoney's journalists and research team. Award decisions are based on an evaluation of criteria including, but not limited to new or enhanced products and services, highlighted deals, digital solutions and technology, environmental social and governance, financial performance, business development and transformation. Additional information can be found on the Euromoney website at https://www.euromoney.com/islamic-finance-awards-home. Wafra is a sponsor of Euromoney's Islamic Finance Awards 2024 conference.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2419849/Wafra_Logo.jpg

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BlakYaks proudly announces its recognition among the elite in the UK's Best Workplaces for Development 2024, a list compiled by Great Place To Work (GPTW). BlakYaks ranked third in the brand new UK's Best Workplaces for Development List within the 'Small category', which recognises companies making employee development a key part of their company culture.

Founded in 2021, BlakYaks have consistently demonstrated their commitment to fostering an environment where employees are empowered to develop their skills, pursue personal growth, and advance within the organisation. Recognising that development is unique to each individual, BlakYaks actively support tailored journeys for every employee, resulting in a workforce imbued with purpose, value, and dedication. The BlakYaks team are fuelled by a sense of purpose, feel valued by their employer, and give their best to the organisation.

Dirk Anderson, CEO of BlakYaks, commented, "Being named in the UK's Best Workplaces for Development List is a huge accolade that we treasure. We are a company that's hugely invested in the development of our team members and our business. I know that I speak for the whole management team when I say that this achievement in particular fills us with pride, and I want to thank our entire team for their ongoing support in creating a development culture that we should all be proud of."

Acknowledged for Commitment to Employee Growth

To compile the UK's Best Workplaces for Development List, GPTW reviewed each participating company's culture, benefits, approach to leadership and development, alongside anonymous responses from employees. These data insights are then used to benchmark each company's employee value proposition against the culture employees experience, with the highest scoring businesses achieving Best Workplaces status.

Over the past three years, the company has implemented a multitude of initiatives to reinforce its commitment to employee development, notably the establishment of the 'BlakYaks Academy'. This bespoke technical training program equips team members, particularly those newer to the workforce, with advanced cloud native skills encompassing technologies such as Azure, DevOps, Terraform, and Ansible.

Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place To Work UK, said, "Employee training and development isn't just about teaching employees to do their jobs. It's about showing employees they are valued and that there is a path of progression available. Congratulations to BlakYaks for being part of our 2024 UK's Best Workplaces for Development List."

This achievement marks BlakYaks' fourth recognition from Great Place To Work, following its inclusion in the UK's Best Workplaces 2024, UK's Best Workplaces 2023, and UK's Best Workplaces in Tech 2023 lists.

About BlakYaks

BlakYaks is a UK leading cloud native consulting, engineering, and managed service Microsoft Partner that deploys and operates cloud native Azure platforms and solutions entirely with code. With deep Azure platform expertise and proficiency in GitOps, DevSecOps, Containerisation and IaC, their team of experts build and manage secure and compliant cloud platforms that support modern application development technologies including PaaS, Microservices and serverless. With a commitment to innovation and employee development, BlakYaks strives to cultivate a workplace where every individual can thrive and contribute to organizational success.

Website: https://www.blakyaks.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blakyaks

About Great Place To Work

Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviours. Through rigorous assessment, benchmarking, and certification programs, Great Place To Work recognises outstanding workplaces and empowers organisations worldwide to build and sustain high-trust, high-performance cultures.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240523716301/en/

Contacts:

Sofia Haltrup

Sofia.haltrup@blakyaks.com
Eric Trump, center, greets supporters during the Inland Empire Family PAC fundraiser in Temecula (Riverside County) on Wednesday. Sandy Huffaker/The Chronicle

TEMECULA, Riverside County  Eric Trump took the stage at a line-dancing club Wednesday night to the stomps of cowboy boots and chants of USA, as the headlining act of a fundraiser to support far-right candidates in three Southern California school districts.

The event was held by the Inland Empire Family PAC, which was put together by an Inland Empire pastor to elect a platform of conservative candidates to school boards in Temecula, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore, all in Riverside County. In the 2022 elections, five of its seven candidates won, though one of them now faces a recall and was a focus of Wednesdays Temecula rally.

That the second-eldest son of Donald Trump  the former president and presumptive Republican nominee  attended a local schools rally underscores how critical the GOP perceives education in the November election, especially in purple parts of the country. Riverside County is almost evenly split between registered Democrats and Republicans.

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After mocking Gov. Gavin Newsom and asking the crowd how a state with one of the largest economies in the world could have a budget deficit, Eric Trump delivered a speech that mostly centered on his father and the presidential election, though he touched on education and religion to resounding applause.

Attendees cheer during the Inland Empire Family PAC fundraiser at the Temecula Stampede on Wednesday. Sandy Huffaker/The Chronicle

Make no mistake, there is a war happening in this country, Trump said. Why is there a war on faith in this country? Why is there a war on families in this country?  Weve got to get back to basics, and weve got to get back to practicality. Weve got to get back to the love of country and love of family and love of God.

About 500 people attended the event at the Temecula Stampede, a cavernous space with a mechanical bull and a Texas lone-star flag hanging beside the California banner. Attendees came decked in cowboy hats and Make America Great Again caps, clutching bedazzled American flag purses.

The government should have nothing to do with our local school district, said Christa Hoag, a Temecula resident who wore head-to-toe red, white and blue for the rally. We should be able to do whatever we want and how we want it.

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Hoag said shes been frustrated by state leaders, including Newsom, weighing in on local school district matters, including efforts to remove textbooks and require parents be notified if their students identify as transgender.

Its because our school board has done very, very pro-conservative things, like getting the grooming out of the textbooks and putting the American flag in the classroom and no other flags, said Hoags friend, Dawn Compton, as they waited in line to attend the fundraiser.

The Murrieta Valley and Temecula Valley school districts have been particularly mired in battles over conservative policies, which lately have mostly revolved around LGBTQ issues.

Temecula Valley last year attempted to ban a history textbook over a reference to Harvey Milk, the first out lawmaker in California, and its one of a dozen or so districts that have introduced parental notification policies. The school board president, Joseph Komrosky, faces a recall on June 4.

Many of Wednesday nights speakers  who included longtime Trump affiliates and Riverside County elected leaders  denounced what they characterized as liberal indoctrination happening in California classrooms and mocked policies to protect LGBTQ students.

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My pronouns are God, family, guns and MAGA, said Trump attorney Alina Habba as she took the stage and introduced herself. Kash Patel, who served in the Trump administration, also spoke.

Counterprotesters demonstrate outside the Inland Empire Family PAC fundraiser at the Temecula Stampede. Sandy Huffaker/The Chronicle

About a dozen protesters waved signs outside the fundraiser, and directly across the street, dozens of local teachers  many of whom have been outspoken opponents of the conservative school board policies  attended an annual appreciation dinner that had been scheduled months before.

We dont need Trumps dirty money in our school district, said Melania Beaussart, a Temecula Valley parent, as she protested outside the Stampede.

Beside her, Preston Miller, who graduated from the Temecula Valley district in 2021, said he worried about the stress that LGBTQ students in his former schools were under with the policies that have been introduced. He was protesting, he said, because hes frustrated with students being used as political pawns.

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DDRCCC-24-058 ("Hole 58") returned 154.0 m averaging 1.47 g/t gold, including 37.0 m of 3.07 g/t gold and 8.0 m of 4.61 g/t gold, confirming robust continuity of the higher-grade gold mineralization discovered south of the current Blackjack gold deposit

3D structural interpretation from winter drill hole results establishes new Blackjack Mineralized Gold Corridor demonstrating the potential of continued higher-grade gold mineralization to the south of the Blackjack gold deposit

Abundant sheeted quartz veins, quartz-arsenopyrite veins, and arsenopyrite veins were observed throughout the quartz monzonite intrusions intersected by Hole 58 with several instances of visible gold also noted

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Sitka Gold Corp. ("Sitka" or the "Company") (TSXV:SIG)(FSE:1RF)(OTCQB:SITKF) is pleased to announce that drill hole DDRCCC-23-058 ("Hole 58"), has intersected strong gold results south of the current Blackjack Gold Deposit resource. Hole 58 was the second of two holes completed during the 2024 winter diamond drilling program at the Company's 386 square kilometre, road accessible RC Gold Project ("RC Gold" or the "Project") located in Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt ("TGB"), approximately 100 kilometres east of Dawson City. (see Table 1). Hole 58 intersected 154.0 metres of 1.47 g/t gold including 37.0 metres of 3.07 g/t gold and 8.0 metres of 4.61 g/t gold, confirming persistent gold mineralization continues 200 metres downdip of the gold mineralization encountered in DRCCC-23-047 ("Hole 47"), which returned the best drill hole results to date with 219.0 m of 1.34 g/t gold, including 124.8 m of 2.01 g/t gold and 55.0 m of 3.11 g/t gold (see news release dated September 26, 2023). The results from Hole 58, when taken together with the results of Hole 47, and 57, have enabled the Company to generate a 3D model interpretation that shows this strong gold mineralization is associated with the Blackjack Fault, is open to the southeast and projects both to depth and to surface (see Figure 6).

Assay highlights from drill hole DDRCCC-24-058:

351 m of 0.85 g/t Au from 157.0 m including 154 m of 1.47 g/t Au from 354.0 m 37.0 m of 3.07 m g/t Au from 449.0 m 8.0 m of 4.61 g/t from 470.0 m



"The strong gold results from Hole 58 continue to highlight the potential of this area to add significant higher-grade tonnage to our gold resource while further demonstrating the prospectivity of the multiple intrusion related gold deposit targets we have across our 100% owned, district-scale RC Gold Project', stated Cor Coe, Director and CEO of Sitka. "The information from Hole 58 has also provided key insight into the three-dimensional continuity of the robust gold mineralization and associated structural controls in this recently discovered, higher-grade zone of the Saddle intrusion. The Blackjack Fault, which was previously unknown prior to our diamond drilling campaigns, appears to be an important control to the mineralization being discovered here with both this fault and the associated gold mineralization trending in the same direction to the south of our current extent of drilling. What has us really excited is that this mineralized corridor, which projects to surface and to depth, traces south of our resource, through a highly prospective area that has remained largely unexplored to date, and on towards additional intrusions that have similar geological characteristics to the Saddle intrusion (see Figures 2 through 5). This updated geological model has highlighted an area of approximately 1 kilometre in length along strike to the south of our resource as a high-priority target that could extend the higher-grade gold zone discovered at Blackjack significantly. This area, along with the Saddle Zone target area, which remains largely untested by drilling and contains the largest and strongest gold-in-soil anomaly on the property (see Figure 3), will be the primary focus of our exploration efforts this season.

"The higher-grade gold values being discovered near our Blackjack gold deposit are quite remarkable for a reduced intrusion related gold system and the results from Hole 58 further support our view that there is incredible potential for additional discoveries of similar calibre across our largely underexplored land package, where nine known intrusions with associated gold mineralization have been discovered to date. With the summer phase of drilling about to commence and the largest drilling campaign planned to date at RC Gold, with up to 15,000 metres diamond drilling proposed, we look forward to further unlocking this potential while we continue to expand our rapidly growing gold resource".

The results of Holes 57 and 58, when taken together with the results of Hole 47, have significantly enhanced the Company's understanding of the structural controls of gold mineralization at the Blackjack deposit (see Figures 3 through 6). The higher-grade gold intervals identified in these holes form a large volume of well mineralized rock that define a SSE trending corridor, now called the Blackjack Mineralized Corridor, that is coincident with the Blackjack Fault, a previously identified feature which is interpreted to have been important in the emplacement of the Saddle Stock and subsequent gold mineralizing episodes.

When placed in a district context, the results of the recent drilling further demonstrate the potential of significant gold mineralization in the Blackjack deposit to continue to the southeast (Figures 4 and 5). The area between the known southern extent of the Saddle Stock and the West Pukelman Stock is of particular interest as it is essentially unexplored. Soil sampling has been one of the key identifiers of gold mineralization in the Clear Creek intrusive complex area, but as shown in Figure 3, there has been virtually no soil sampling in the area between the Saddle Stock, the West Pukelman Stock and the western margin of the Pukelman Stock.

Hole 58 was collared approximately 70 metres north of recently completed DDRCCC-24-057, which also intersected visible gold in sheeted veining within megacrystic quartz monzonite and returned 191.0 Metres of 1.16 g/t gold (see press releases dated March 28 and May 1 , 2024). Hole 58 was drilled to a depth of 534.9 metres at an azimuth of 60 degrees and dip of -60 degrees (see Figure 1). It was drilled to test the down dip extension of the well mineralized quartz monzonite intrusion intersected in hole DDRCCC-23-047.

Hole 58 intersected 2 broad zones of feldspar megacrystic and vari-textured, quartz monzonite and feldspar porphyry within a large package of biotite schist, phyllite, and quartzite. A large lamprophyre dyke was intersected from 509.85-528.15 m at the footwall contact of mineralized quartz monzonite.

Both quartz monzonite intrusions were cut by abundant 1-2 cm sheeted quartz veins, quartz-arsenopyrite veins, and arsenopyrite veins. Visible gold was noted at several locations including 180.2 m, 240.5 m, 244.2 m, 276.3 m, 401.2 m, and 476.9 m, and several occurrences of bismuthinite were noted such as 476.8 m and 420.0 m (see Figure 6).

A focus for drilling up to 15,000 m in 2024 will be to continue to define gold mineralization along the newly recognized Blackjack Mineralized Corridor to the SSE. In addition, soil and rock sampling and geologic mapping will also be conducted along the Blackjack Mineralized Corridor to further evaluate the mineralization within this unexplored portion of the property.

Further Objectives for 2024

In addition to extending Blackjack gold mineralization to the southeast, objectives for the Company's 2024 exploration season include further drilling of the Saddle East zone (84 m of 1.21 g/t Au in 2023), further drilling of the Eiger Deposit (Inferred Resource of 440,000 oz Au in 2023), further drilling of the Josephine Stock (visible gold discovered at surface in 2023) and further investigation of the nine known intrusions with associated gold mineralization that have been discovered to date on the Company's 386 square kilometre RC Project.

Figure 1: Work map showing drill hole locations at the Blackjack gold deposit and summary results from Holes DRCCC-24-047, 057 and 058.

Figure 2: Cross section of DDRCCC-24-058 showing simplified geology and the extension of mineralization to depth. Mineralization remains open to the surface.

Figure 3: Plan map of the Northern Extent of the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex where several drill intervals and surface samples have demonstrated the high-grade nature of the Reduced Intrusion Related Gold System present. The projection of the Blackjack fault and Blackjack Mineralized Corridor are highlighted along with the priority target areas for 2024. Yellow stars indicate where outcrop rock samples or drill hole intervals have returned >10 g/t gold. Several additional targets with the potential to host intrusion related gold deposits of significant size and grade have yet to be drilled within this approximately 3 km x 5 km area. The Saddle Zone target area remains largely untested by drilling and contains the largest and strongest gold-in-soil anomaly on the property.

Figure 4: Geological and structural map showing the projected extent of the Blackjack Mineralized Corridor

Figure 5: Plan map showing proposed 2024 diamond drilling and the projection of the Blackjack Mineralized Corridor which remains open to the south of the Blackjack gold deposit

Figure 6: 3D cross section of Holes 47, 57 and 58 showing the Blackjack Mineralized Corridor (in pink) which projects south of the current extent of the Blackjack gold deposit along a strike of approximately 170

Figure 6. Example of drill core from DDRCCC-24-058 showing high grade gold mineralization and visible gold in strongly altered feldspar megacrystic quartz monzonite.

Figure 7. Photomicrograph showing visible gold and bismuthinite in quartz vein at 476.9m from hole DDRCCCC-24-058.

Table 1- Assay highlights for DDRCCC-24-058 and DDRCCC-24-057 (completed in winter 2024)

Drill Hole Easting (NAD83 Zn8) Northing (NAD83 Zn8) Azimuth () Dip () From (m) To (m) Length (m)* Au (g/t) DDRCCC-24-058 396881 7085278 060 -60 157.0 508.0 351.0 0.85 including 157.0 178.0 21.0 1.03 including 235.6 246.0 10.4 1.16 including 285.0 302.0 17.0 0.62 including 319.0 330.3 11.3 0.72 including 354.0 508.0 154.0 1.47 including 360.0 378.0 18.0 1.34 including 401.0 508.0 107.0 1.79 including 419.0 437.0 18.0 1.06 including 441.0 508.0 67.0 2.42 including 449.0 486.0 37.0 3.07 including 470.0 478.0 8.0 4.61 DDRCCC-24-057** 396867 7085211 060 -60 13.0 518.0 505.0 0.50 including 134.0 165.5 31.5 0.41 including 327.0 518.0 191.0 1.16 including 419.0 508.0 89.0 2.03 including 419.0 432.0 13.0 2.77 including 453.4 508.0 54.6 2.54 including 459.0 470.0 11.0 5.80 including 466.0 470.0 4.0 12.27 including 468.0 470.0 2.0 21.20 *Intervals are drilled core length, as insufficient drilling has been completed at this time to determine true widths

**Previously released results (see news release dated May 1, 2024) Quality Assurance/Quality Control On receipt from the drill site, the HTW/NTW-sized drill core was systematically logged for geological attributes, photographed and sampled at Sitka's core logging facility. Sample lengths as small as 0.3 m were used to isolate features of interest, otherwise a default 2 m downhole sample length was used. Each sample is identified by a unique sample tag number which is placed in the bag containing the core to be assayed. Core was cut in half lengthwise along a predetermined line, with one-half (same half, consistently) collected for analysis and one-half stored as a record. Standard reference materials, blanks and duplicate samples were inserted by Sitka personnel at regular intervals into the sample stream. Bagged samples were placed in secure bins to ensure integrity during transport. They were delivered by Sitka personnel or a contract expeditor to ALS Laboratories' preparatory facility in Whitehorse, Yukon, with analyses completed in North Vancouver. ALS is accredited to ISO 17025:2005 UKAS ref. 4028 for its laboratory analysis. Samples were crushed by ALS to over 70 per cent passing below two millimetres and split using a riffle splitter. One-thousand-gram splits were pulverized to over 85 per cent passing below 75 microns. Gold determinations are by fire assay with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) finish on 50 g subsamples of the prepared pulp (ALS code: Au-ICP-22). Any sample returning over 10 g/t Au was re-analyzed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish on a 50 g subsample (ALS code: Au-GRA21). In addition, a 51-element analysis was performed on a 0.5 g subsample of the prepared pulps by an aqua regia digestion followed by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) finish (ALS code: ME-MS41). About the flagship RC Gold Project The RC Gold Project consists of a 386 square kilometre contiguous district-scale land package located in the heart of Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt. The project is located approximately 100 kilometres east of Dawson City, which has a 5,000 foot paved runway, and is accessed via a secondary gravel road from the Klondike Highway which is usable year-round and is an approximate 2 hour drive from Dawson. It is the largest consolidated land package strategically positioned mid-way between Victoria Gold's Eagle Gold Mine - Yukon's newest gold mine which reached commercial production in the summer of 2020 - and Victoria Gold's former producing Brewery Creek Gold Mine. On January 19, 2023 Sitka Gold announced an Initial Mineral Resource Estimate prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") guidelines for the RC Gold Property of 1,340,000 ounces of gold(1). The road accessible, pit constrained Mineral Resource is classified as inferred and is contained in two zones: The Blackjack and Eiger deposits. Both of these deposits are at/near surface, are potentially open pit minable and amenable to heap leaching, with initial bottle roll tests indicating that the gold is not refractory and has high gold recoveries of up to 94% with minimal NaCN consumption (see News Release July 13, 2022). The Mineral Resource estimate is presented in the following table at a base case cut-off grade of 0.25 g/t Au: RC Gold Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate COG g/t Au Blackjack Zone Eiger Zone Combined Tonnes 000's Au g/t 0z Au 000's Tonnes 000's Au g/t 0z Au 000's Tonnes 000's Au g/t 0z Au 000's 0.20 35,798 0.80 921 32,523 0.45 471 68,321 0.63 1,391 0.25 33,743 0.83 900 27,362 0.50 440 61,105 0.68 1,340 0.30 31,282 0.88 885 22,253 0.55 393 53,535 0.74 1,279 0.35 29,065 0.92 860 17,817 0.60 344 46,882 0.80 1,203 0.40 26,975 0.96 833 14,506 0.66 308 41,481 0.86 1,140 Notes 1. Mineral resource estimate prepared by Ronald G. Simpson of GeoSim Services Inc. with an effective date of January 19, 2023. Mineral Resources are classified using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards.

2. The cut-off grade of 0.25 g/t Au is believed to provide a reasonable margin over operating and sustaining costs for open-pit mining and processing

3. Mineral resources are constrained by an optimised pit shell using the following assumptions: US$1800/oz Au price; a 45 pit slope; assumed metallurgical recovery of 85%; mining costs of US$2.00 per tonne; processing costs of US$8.00 per tonne; G&A of US$1.50/t.

4. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

5. Totals may not sum due to rounding. To date, 56 diamond drill holes have been drilled into this system for a total of approximately 19,962 metres including 16 drill holes totalling 6,515 metres completed in 2023 focused on expanding the initial resource. The drilling in 2023 produced results of up to 219.0 m of 1.34 g/t gold including 124.8 m of 2.01 g/t gold and 55.0 m of 3.11 g/t gold in drill hole DDRCCC-23-047 at Blackjack (see news release dated September 26, 2023). The Company recently completed two drill holes totalling 1,085 metres during the winter phase of a planned 15,000 metre diamond drilling program at the RC Gold Project for 2024. *For more detailed information on the underlying properties please visit our website at www.sitkagoldcorp.com RC Gold Deposit Model Exploration on the Property has mainly focused on identifying an intrusion-related gold system ("IRGS"). The property is within the Tombstone Gold Belt which is the prominent host to IRGS deposits within the Tintina Gold Province in Yukon and Alaska. Notable deposits from the belt include: Fort Knox Mine in Alaska with current Proven and Probable Reserves of 230 million tonnes at 0.3 g/t Au (2.471 million ounces; Sims 2018)(1); Eagle Gold Mine with current Measured and Indicated Resources of 233 million tonnes at a grade of 0.57 g/t Au at the Eagle Main Zone (4.303 million ounces; Harvey et al, 2022)(2); the Brewery Creek deposit with current Indicated Mineral Resource of 22.2 million tonnes at a gold grade of 1.11 g/t (0.789 million ounces; Hulse et al. 2020)(3); the Florin Gold deposit, located adjacent to Sitka's RC Gold project, with a current Inferred Mineral Resource of 170.99 million tonnes grading 0.45 g/t (2.47 million ounces; Simpson 2021)(4) and the AurMac Project with an Inferred Mineral Resource of 347.49 million tonnes grading 0.63 gram per tonne gold (7.00 million ounces)(5). Sims J. Fort Knox Mine Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, USA National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report. June 11, 2018. https://s2.q4cdn.com/496390694/files/doc_downloads/2018/Fort-Knox-June-2018-Technical-Report.pdf Harvey N., Gray P., Winterton J., Jutras M., Levy M.,Technical Report for the Eagle Gold Mine, Yukon Territory, Canada. Victoria Gold Corp. December 31, 2022. https://vgcx.com/site/assets/files/6534/vgcx_-_2023_eagle_mine_technical_report_final.pdf Hulse D, Emanuel C, Cook C. NI 43-101 Technical Report on Mineral Resources. Gustavson Associates. May 31, 2020. https://minedocs.com/22/Brewery-Creek-PEA-01182022.pdf Simpson R. Florin Gold Project NI 43-101 Technical Report. Geosim Services Inc. April 21, 2021. https://sedar.com/GetFile.do?lang=EN&docClass=24&issuerNo=00005795&issuerType=03&projectNo=03236138&docI d=4984158 Banyan Gold News Release Dated February 7, 2023 (Technical Report to be filed within 45 days of news release) https://banyangold.com/news-releases/2024/banyan-announces-7-million-ounce-gold-updated-mineral-resource-estimate-aurmac-project-yukon-canada/ Upcoming Events Sitka Gold will be attending and/or presenting at the following events*: Yukon Mining Alliance Property Tours, Dawson City, Yukon: June 20 - 26, 2024

Takestock Investor Forum, Stampede Event, Calgary, Alberta: July 3, 2024

Precious Metals Summit, Beaver Creek, Colorado: September 10 - 13, 2-024 *All events are subject to change. About Sitka Gold Corp. Sitka Gold Corp. is a well-funded mineral exploration company headquartered in Canada. The Company is managed by a team of experienced industry professionals and is focused on exploring for economically viable mineral deposits with its primary emphasis on gold, silver and copper mineral properties of merit. Sitka is currently exploring its flagship RC Gold Project within the Tombstone Gold Belt in the Yukon Territory with a 15,000 metre fully funded diamond drill program planned for 2024. The company is also advancing the Alpha Gold Project in Nevada and currently has drill permits for its Burro Creek Gold and Silver Project in Arizona and the Coppermine River Project in Nunavut. The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Cor Coe, P.Geo., Director and CEO of the Company, and a Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SITKA GOLD CORP. "Donald Penner"

President and Director For more information contact: Donald Penner

President & Director

778-212-1950

dpenner@sitkagoldcorp.com or Cor Coe

CEO & Director

604-817-4753

ccoe@sitkagoldcorp.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things, the use of the proceeds raised under the Offering and the Company's anticipated work programs. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will complete its anticipated work programs and use the proceeds of the Offering as currently anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market uncertainty, the results of the Company's anticipated work programs and that the Company will not use the proceeds of the Offering as currently anticipated. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. SOURCE: Sitka Gold Corp

View the original press release on accesswire.com
MEDevice continues to serve as the premier conference and event in Boston and Silicon Valley for medical device manufacturing

SANTA MONICA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Informa Markets Engineering, the leading B2B event producer, publisher and digital media platform for the advanced manufacturing industry, announces industry icon BIOMEDevice's transition to MEDevice. As part of Informa Markets - Engineering's leading MD&M event portfolio, MEDevice serves as a catalyst for tomorrow's groundbreaking medical devices and brings innovation to life by uniting the medtech industry.

Explaining the reason behind the rebrand, Melissa Magestro, VP Informa Markets Engineering states "MEDevice aims to pave the way in medical device manufacturing and the new name reflects our vision to be the most trusted source and partner in pioneering the future of medtech innovation." Magestro continues, "We wanted the event name to reflect our focus and commitment to connecting the medtech community, and we think MEDevice simply and perfectly states that."

MEDevice returns this year to the No. 1 and No. 3 most prominent medtech hubs in the nation, Silicon Valley and Boston, and features the products, technology and education that engineers and C-suite leaders from startups to top medical device OEMs need to stay competitive. With the medical device manufacturing industry forecasted to reach $800 billion in revenue by 2030, the marketplace needs a focused platform that offers a closer look at the essential components that make the healthcare industry's life-saving breakthroughs possible, and MEDevice is that platform.

The newly updated MEDevice events will feature hands-on demos from exhibitors, the introduction of the Power Hour Reverse pitches presented by OEMs, Quick-Connect Matchmaking, keynote presentations on the show floor, innovation showcases and an all-new pavilion dedicated exclusively to medical adhesives, highlighting the category as an important vertical for medtech innovation.

MEDevice Boston (Sep. 25-26), the East Coast's leading event for the medical technology industry, and MEDevice Silicon Valley (Nov. 20-21), the premier West Coast show connecting engineers and cutting-edge medtech companies, will retain the same locations and continue to facilitate the discovery of innovative components and solutions across automation, robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and more.

For more information on MEDevice Boston, please visit www.biomedboston.com. For more information on MEDevice Silicon Valley, please visit www.biomedevicesiliconvalley.com.

About Informa Markets Engineering

Informa Markets' Engineering portfolio, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), is the leading B2B event producer, publisher, and digital media business for the world's $3-trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the engineering market and leverage our proprietary 1.3-million-name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe. The Engineering portfolio is organized by Informa, the world's leading exhibitions organizer that brings a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.?

About Informa Markets

Informa Markets, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio comprises more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Engineering, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world's leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, visit www.informamarkets.com.

About MEDevice

MEDevice, an MD&M event, is the leading North American event brand for the medical technology industry, connecting engineers and cutting-edge medtech companies annually in the most prominent U.S. healthcare hubs. Visitors at the MEDevice events will learn from hands-on demo's, presentations from OEMs, keynote presentations, innovation showcases, an all-new medical adhesives pavilion, matchmaking and networking opportunities. MEDevice is organized by Informa Markets Engineering and includes MEDevice Boston and MEDevice Silicon Valley, as well as MD&M West, MD&M South, MD&M Minneapolis and MD&M East. Official listed media partners include Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry (MD+DI) and DesignNews. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.

Media Contact

Informa Markets Engineering

EngineeringPR@informa.com

SOURCE: INFORMA MARKETS - ENGINEERING

View the original press release on accesswire.com
By Nick Clegg, President, Global Affairs

Takeaways

Later this year Meta will launch a new education product for Quest devices.

It will allow teachers, trainers and administrators to access a range of education-specific apps and features, and make it possible for them to manage multiple Quest devices at once.

The new product is the result of extensive consultation and collaboration with educators, researchers and third-party developers working in the education space around the world.

Of all the ways in which metaverse technologies like virtual, mixed and augmented reality could prove to be transformative, the potential they have for education is one of the most exciting.

For most of us, learning is social - we learn from and with others, and from each other's experiences. It's about interaction and discussion as much as it is about absorbing facts. That's why the unique feeling of presence and immersion these technologies create can be so impactful in education.

They also make things possible that are impossible in the physical world. Instead of telling students what the dinosaurs were like, they can walk among them. Virtual science laboratories can be built and filled with equipment that most schools would never be able to afford. Classes can go on field trips to the best museums, no matter how far away they are. And they can be used to take the risk out of otherwise dangerous or expensive technical or vocational training.

Last year, I wrote about some of the ingenious ways teachers and trainers were already using these technologies . That momentum has continued to build, with more and more colleges and institutions incorporating them into their curriculums. For example:

New Mexico State University is teaching criminal justice by immersing students in virtual crime scenes to learn how to best investigate.

Stanford University is using virtual reality to teach its Business School students soft skills, like how to have a difficult conversation or how to nail an interview.

The University of Glasgow is teaching life sciences by placing students inside virtual intestines, to see how the body battles bacteria.

There is also a growing research base showing that learning in VR can improve students' performance, as well as their levels of engagement, attendance and satisfaction. In 2022, Morehouse College reported that students who learned in VR had an average final test score of 85, versus 78 in person. A survey by the XR Association found that 77% of educators believe these technologies ignite curiosity and improve engagement in class.

To make it easier for educators, later this year Meta will be launching a new product offering for Quest devices dedicated to education, just as last year's Meta Quest for Business was designed for the workplace. It will allow teachers, trainers and administrators to access a range of education-specific apps and features, and make it possible for them to manage multiple Quest devices at once, without the need for each device in a classroom or training environment to be updated and prepared individually. This will save teachers time and allow students to pick up the headsets and get started right away - something that educators using our devices have consistently told us they want.

Education and training providers represent a considerable market for technology products, and we see a growing number of developers building and releasing apps aimed at this sector. While it is still early days for the use of immersive technologies in these settings, we think there's scope for them to be adopted on a much wider scale.

The product's name and features will be announced in the coming months. At launch, we plan to make the product available in our Quest for Business supported markets to institutions serving learners aged 13+.

The new product is the result of extensive consultation and collaboration with educators, researchers and third-party developers working in the education space around the world. We want it to be something that makes it easier for students to learn, apply and practice new skills; feel a sense of presence with teachers and classmates; and to visit places or experience things that would otherwise be impossible. Above all, we want it to help teachers do what they do best: teach. We will continue to learn from them so we can keep improving and make sure Meta Quest headsets are the best devices, at the best value, to bring their classes to life.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Meta on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Meta

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/meta

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Meta

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2024) - Red Light Holland Corp. (CSE: TRIP) (FSE: 4YX) (OTCQB: TRUFF) ("Red Light Holland" or the "Company"), a company engaged in the production, growth and sale of functional mushrooms and mushroom home grow kits in North America and Europe and a premium brand of psilocybin truffles to the legal, recreational market within the Netherlands, is excited to announce a strategic update for its wholly owned subsidiary, 4316747 Nova Scotia Limited o/a Happy Caps Mushroom Farms ("Happy Caps") for it's launch and partnership with Costco Canada. Further to the Company's press release on May 6th, 2024 - Happy Caps 2 kg "Mega Block" Mushroom Home Grow Kits are now available at 67 Costco locations across Canada.





Happy Caps 2Kg "Mega Block" Mushroom Home Grow Kits

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2017/210225_c0cc0525848659d5_001full.jpg

"We are thrilled to have the exclusive Happy Caps 2Kg 'Mega Block' Mushroom Home Grow Kits available in 67 Costco locations across Canada. The amount of kits for distribution is the exact same as previously announced. We shipped 120 pallets and over 20,000 units which have freshly landed at the newly selected 67 Costco locations," said Troy Dufour, Red Light Holland's Senior Vice President of Sales. "This strategic alignment with Costco Canada will ensure replenishment at each warehouse, while reaching new consumers in underdeveloped markets for the Happy Caps brand."

The distribution to Costco includes 18 locations in Alberta, 16 in Ontario, 14 in British Columbia, 12 in Quebec, 3 in Saskatchewan, 3 in Manitoba, and 1 in New Brunswick.

Todd Shapiro, CEO and Director of Red Light Holland, emphasized the importance of this partnership: "Our collaboration with Costco Canada is a significant milestone for Happy Caps. We have also proven our ability to scale quickly and efficiently reinforcing Happy Caps' position as a leader in the mushroom home grow kit industry in Canada."

Commitment to Growth and Consumer Accessibility

Happy Caps' exclusive "Mega Block" 2kg home grow kit features three mushroom varieties: Shiitake, Lion's Mane, and Oyster. This innovative product allows consumers to easily cultivate fresh mushrooms at home, supporting a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. The initial order of over 20,000 units from Costco Canada underscores the significant demand for Happy Caps' products in the health and wellness market.

Continued Expansion Efforts

In addition to its partnership with Costco Canada, Happy Caps is actively exploring opportunities with major retailers across North America. This expansion aims to further enhance its distribution network and bring its premium mushroom products to an even broader audience. With this new Costco launch plan, Happy Caps products are now available in over 330 retail stores across Canada.

Costco Locations

Happy Caps 2kg "Mega Block" home grow kits can be purchased for $19.99 (plus applicable taxes) at the following Costco Locations across Canada:

CALGARY NORTH 2853 32ND STREET NE CALGARY AB T1Y 6T7 (403) 299-1610

EDMONTON NORTH 12450 149TH STREET EDMONTON AB T5V 1G9 (780) 455-7575

EDMONTON EAST 13650 50TH STREET EDMONTON AB T5A 4Y3 (780) 478-0066

LETHBRIDGE 3200 MAYOR MAGRATH DR. S. LETHBRIDGE AB T1K 6Y6 (403) 320-8917

RED DEER 162 LEVA AVE RED DEER AB T4E 0A5 (403) 347-1424

CALGARY SOUTH 99 HERITAGE GATE SE CALGARY AB T2H 3A7 (403) 313-7650

GRANDE PRAIRIE 9901 116TH STREET GRANDE PRAIRIE AB T8V 5W3 (780) 538-2788

EDMONTON SOUTH 2616 91ST STREET NW EDMONTON AB T6N 1N2 (780) 577-1200

CALGARY NORTHWEST 11588 SARCEE TRAIL NW CALGARY AB T3R 0A1 (403) 516-3701

SHERWOOD PARK 2201 BROADMOOR BLVD SHERWOOD AB T8H 0A1 (780) 410-2520

MEDICINE HAT 2350 BOX SPRINGS BLVD MEDICINE HAT AB T1C 0C8 (403) 581-5700

OKOTOKS 202-104 SOUTHBANK BLVD OKOTOKS AB T1S 0K4 (403) 995-5150

ROCKY VIEW 300-261200 CROSSIRON BLVD ROCKY VIEW AB T4A 0J6 (403) 516-5050

WEST EDMONTON 7259 WINTERBURN RD. NW EDMONTON AB T5T 4K2 (780) 341-2800

ST ALBERT 1075 ST ALBERT TRAIL. ST ALBERT AB T8N 4K6 (780) 544 2000

E CALGARY 75 EAST HILLS BLVD SE CALGARY AB T2A 6J8 (587) 470-4490

NISKU 2584 - 46 ST. EAST EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AB T9E 1K2 (825) 319-2061

SW CALGARY 12905 BUFFALO RUN BLVD TSUU T'INA AB T3T 0E3 (587) 441-8180

BURNABY 3550 BRIGHTON STREET BURNABY BC V5A 4W3 (604) 420-2668

RICHMOND 9151 BRIDGEPORT ROAD RICHMOND BC V6X 3L9 (604) 270-3647

SURREY 7423 KING GEORGE HIGHWAY SURREY BC V3W 5A8 (604) 596-7435

NANAIMO 6700 ISLAND HIGHWAY NORTH NANAIMO BC V9V 1K8 (250) 390-3231

PRINCE GEORGE 2555 RANGE ROAD PRINCE GEORGE BC V2N 4G8 (250) 561-0784

KAMLOOPS 1675 VERSATILE DRIVE KAMLOOPS BC V1S 1W7 (250) 374-5336

ABBOTSFORD 1127 SUMAS WAY ABBOTSFORD BC V2S 8H2 (604) 850-3458

PORT COQUITLAM 2370 OTTAWA STREET PORT COQUITLAM BC V3B 7Z1 (604) 552-2228

LANGFORD 799 McCALLUM ROAD LANGFORD BC V9B 6A2 (250) 391-1151

LANGLEY 20499 64TH AVENUE LANGLEY BC V2Y 1N5 (604) 539-8900

WILLINGDON 4500 STILL CREEK DRIVE BURNABY BC V5C 0E5 (604) 435-6695

DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER 605 EXPO BLVD VANCOUVER BC V6B 1V4 (604) 622-5050

COURTENAY 588 CROWN ISLE BLVD COURTENAY BC V9N 3P9 (250) 331-8700

KELOWNA 2125 BARON ROAD KELOWNA BC V1X 0B2 (250) 870-5200

WINNIPEG 1315 ST. JAMES STREET WINNIPEG MB R3H 0K9 (204) 788-4415

WINNIPEG EAST 1499 REGENT AVENUE WEST WINNIPEG MB R2C 4M4 (204) 654-4214

WINNIPEG SOUTH 2365 McGILLIVRAY BLVD WINNIPEG MB R3Y 0A1 (204) 487-5100

SAINT JOHN 300 RETAIL DRIVE SAINT JOHN NB E2J 2R2 (506) 635-5300

QUEBEC 440 RUE BOUVIER QUEBEC QC G2J 1E3 (418) 627-5100

NEWMARKET 18182 YONGE STREET E. GWILLIMBURY ON L9N 0J3 (905) 954-4733

SCARBOROUGH 1411 WARDEN AVENUE SCARBOROUGH ON M1R 2S3 (416) 288-0033

NEPEAN 1849 MERIVALE ROAD NEPEAN ON K2G 1E3 (613) 727-4786

VAUGHAN 71 COLOSSUS DRIVE WOODBRIDGE ON L4L 9J8 (905) 264-8337

PETERBOROUGH 485 THE PARKWAY PETERBOROUGH ON K9J 0B3 (705) 750-2600

ANCASTER 100 LEGEND COURT ANCASTER ON L9K 1J3 (905) 304-0344

GUELPH 19 ELMIRA RD S GUELPH ON N1K0B6 (519) 780-5700

CENTRAL MISSISSAUGA 1570 DUNDAS STREET EAST MISSISSAUGA ON L4X 1L4 (905) 566-2400

WATERLOO 930 ERB STREET WEST WATERLOO ON N2J 3Z4 (226) 215-1150

NW VAUGHAN 55 NEW HUNTINGTON ROAD VAUGHAN ON L4H 0S8 (289) 459-0921

ORILLIA 625 UNIVERSITY AVE ORILLIA ON L3V 0Y7 (705) 418-1706

STONEY CREEK 1330 SOUTH SERVICE RD STONEY CREEK ON L8E 5C5 (289) 335-4820

THORNCLIFFE PARK 42 OVERLEA BLVD TORONTO ON M4H 1B6 (647) 265-9377

NIAGARA FALLS 7500 PIN OAK DRIVE NIAGARA FALLS ON L2H 2E9 (365) 447-0200

N. OSHAWA 100 WINDFIELD FARMS DRIVE EAST OSHAWA ON L1L 0R8 (289) 316-4489

S LONDON, ON RELO 3140 DINGMAN DR LONDON ON N6E 3W8 TBD

LAVAL 2999 AUTOROUTE LAVAL (440) LAVAL QC H7P 5P4 (450) 686-7420

SAINTE-FOY 3233 RUE WATT SAINTE-FOY QC G1X 4W2 (418) 656-0666

BROSSARD 9430 BOUL. TASCHEREAU BROSSARD QC J4X 2W2 (450) 444-4466

POINTE-CLAIRE 5701 TRANS-CANADA NORD POINTE-CLAIRE QC H9R 1B7 (514) 426-5052

BOUCHERVILLE 635 CHEMIN DE TOURAINE BOUCHERVILLE QC J4B 5E4 (450) 645-2631

GATINEAU 1100 BOUL. MALONEY OUEST GATINEAU QC J8T 6G3 (819) 246-4005

BOISBRIAND 3600 DES GRANDES TOURELLES BOISBRIAND QC J7H 0A1 (450) 420-4500

LEVIS 1160 RUE DE LA CONCORDE LEVIS QC G6W 0M4 (418) 834-7100

ST-HUBERT 1000 BOUL SAINT BRUNO SAINT BRUNO QC J3V 6P4 (579) 314-0046

SHERBROOKE 3800 BLVD DE MONSEIGNEUR-FORTIER SHERBROOKE QC J1L 0J6 (873) 500-5544

ANJOU 9401 BOULEVARD DES SCIENCES ANJOU QC H1J 0A6 514-493-4814

SASKATOON 115 MARQUIS DRIVE W SASKATOON SK S7R 1C7 (306) 933-4262

SOUTH SASKATOON 225 MARKET DRIVE SASKATOON SK S7V 0L2 (306) 700-2883

REGINA 2110 ANAQUOD ROAD REGINA SK S4V 3T7 (306) 271-0912

For more information about Happy Caps and its range of mushroom home grow kits, please visit www.happycaps.ca.

About Happy Caps Mushroom Farm

Happy Caps is an urban gourmet mushroom farm specializing in quality 'grow your own mushroom kits' and mushroom plug spawn.

About Red Light Holland

Red Light Holland is an Ontario-based corporation engaged in the production, growth and sale of functional mushrooms and mushroom home grow kits in North America and Europe, and a premium brand of psilocybin truffles to the legal, recreational market within the Netherlands, in compliance with all applicable laws.

For additional information:

Todd Shapiro

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Tel: 647-643-TRIP (8747)

Email: todd@redlight.co

Website: www.redlight.co

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-Looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or its respective subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained in this news release. Examples of such information include statements with respect to: the stated plans, goals, and benefits of the partnership with Costco Canada, including the products and mushroom varieties to be offered for sale, the Costco Canada locations which the Company's products will be available for purchase, and the timelines thereof; the stated benefits of the Company's Happy Caps Mushroom Home Grow Kits; the Company's continued exploration of partnerships with major retailers across North America; and the Company's stated business plans and goals.

Forward-Looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: continued approval of the Company's activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities; the Company's ability to carry out its stated plans, goals, and benefits of the partnership with Costco Canada under the stated timelines; the Company's ability to realize upon the stated benefits of the Company's Happy Caps Mushroom Home Grow Kits; the Company's ability to continue its exploration of partnerships with major retailers across North America; and the Company's ability to carry out its stated business plans and goals.

Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, the Company's inability to obtain continued approval of the Company's activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities; the Company's inability to carry out its stated plans, goals, and benefits of the partnership with Costco Canada under the stated timelines; the Company's inability to realize upon the stated benefits of the Company's Happy Caps Mushroom Home Grow Kits; the Company's inability to continue its exploration of partnerships with major retailers across North America; and the Company's inability to carry out its stated business plans and goals.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements.

The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210225

SOURCE: Red Light Holland Corp.
Miami, Florida and Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2024) - Sekur Private Data Ltd. (OTCQB: SWISF) (CSE: SKUR) (FSE: GDT0) ("Sekur" or the "Company"), a leading Swiss hosted secure and private communications platform is pleased to announce the official launch of its Sekur Business Referral Program. This initiative aims to drive sales through business partners and large networkers, with the goal of achieving profitability by the end of 2024.

The Sekur Business Referral Program is designed to rapidly and efficiently expand Sekur's user base. Business partners, including those in credit and finance, real estate, mortgage, credit repair, legal, and other sectors, will receive a percentage of sales referred by them. The Company has partnered with a prominent U.S. firm and will launch a targeted campaign in June 2024.

This program is tailored for organizations or independent professionals who wish to refer Sekur to their client base, offering proprietary and unrivaled Swiss private and secure communications, including SekurMail and its SekurSend and SekurRelay applications.

Sekur's SekurRelay email technology allows governments and enterprises to selectively integrate Sekur and its SekurSend feature for specific roles, without migrating the entire enterprise onto the Sekur platform.

A second referral program is set to launch in July 2024, targeting existing Sekur users interested in referring to friends, family, and coworkers.

Alain Ghiai, CEO of Sekur Private Data, commented: "The Sekur Business Partner Referral Program will accelerate sales, reduce customer acquisition costs, and expedite our path to profitability. This program will help evangelize Sekur to business networks through a propagation model, presenting it as a solution for communication privacy, security, and a countermeasure to BEC attacks affecting millions of businesses daily.

To find out more about Sekur's privacy communications solutions visit: https://sekur.com

For more company information, please visit: https://sekurprivatedata.com

For sales brochure on our enterprise security solutions, or partnership opportunities, contact partners@sekur.com



About Sekur Private Data Ltd.

Sekur Private Data Ltd. is a cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure and private communications. The Company distributes a suite of encrypted e-mails, secure messengers and secure communication tools. Sekur Private Data Ltd. sells its products through its own website, https://www.sekur.com, approved distributors and telecommunications companies worldwide. Sekur Private Data Ltd. serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide. www.sekur.com or https://www.sekurprivatedata.com



Follow Sekur on X @sekurprivate

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sekurprivatedata-ltd



Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they do not guarantee future performance. Sekur cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Sekur's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Sekur's prospectus dated May 8, 2019, filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Sekur undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.



CONTACT

Alain Ghiai,

President and Chief Executive Officer

SEKUR PRIVATE DATA LTD.

Email: corporate@sekurprivatedata.com

www.sekurprivatedata.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210185

SOURCE: Sekur Private Data Ltd.
LONDON, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ION, a global leader in trading and workflow automation software, high-value analytics and insights, and strategic consulting to financial institutions, central banks, governments, and corporates, announces that ION LookOut has been named "Best Solution for Records Retention" by RegTech Insight Awards Europe 2024.

The RegTech Insight Awards Europe 2024, hosted by the A-Team Group, recognizes established providers and innovative newcomers who provide RegTech solutions that help firms respond effectively to evolving and ever-more complex regulatory requirements across the global financial services industry.

LookOut, developed by ION-owned LIST, is a multi-asset solution for record-keeping to which users can add market surveillance, regulatory reporting, and business analytics. The solution's rich functionality - trusted by buy-side and sell-side firms and trading venues for data collection, storage, retrieval, and analysis - made it the top choice for this award.

LookOut is a reliable and flexible buy- and sell-side solution, providing seamless integration with client data systems, a standardized data model for diverse data types, and effective data validation and transformation. The solution offers accurate information reporting and abusive behavior detection. It also provides extensive coverage across markets and asset classes, real-time data monitoring, and a comprehensive workflow management system. LookOut navigates all major regulatory landscapes, and complies with the retention and reporting obligations of MiFID2/MiFIR, EMIR, DFA, REMIT, SFTR, MMSR, and HKMA.

Mirko Marcadella, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at LIST, said, "We are honored that LookOut is recognized as the Best Solution for Records Retention in Europe. This win reflects ION's commitment to delivering innovative solutions to meet our customers' dynamic needs. Our solution can process large amounts of data and offers a workflow management system with built-in connectivity for reporting entities and National Competent Authorities."

LookOut also won the "Best Solution for Records Retention" at RegTech Insight Awards APAC and the "Most Innovative Trade Surveillance Solution" at the A-Team Innovation Awards this year. In addition, LookOut was among the ION products named in the FinCrimeTech50 list for 2024.

About ION

ION provides mission-critical trading and workflow automation software, high-value analytics and insights, and strategic consulting to financial institutions, central banks, governments, and corporate organizations. Our solutions and services simplify complex processes, boost efficiency, and enable better decision-making. We build long-term partnerships with our clients, helping transform their businesses for sustained success through continuous innovation. For more information, visit https://iongroup.com/

About ION Markets

ION Markets provides transformative technology and solutions to financial institutions dealing in equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, cleared derivatives, asset management, and secured funding. Our award-winning end-to-end solutions simplify clients' operations by automating the full trade lifecycle, providing tools to manage risk, and maximizing access to liquidity, while giving real-time access to critical information required for timely operational decisions and execution on a global scale. For more information, visit https://iongroup.com/markets/.

About LIST

An ION company, LIST is a leading financial technology provider to the global trading community, including trading venues, market makers, brokers, asset managers, risk managers, and compliance officers. LIST's innovative turnkey products and delivery, driven by customers' needs, play a key role in supporting successful business growth in today's volatile times. Continuous innovation and client partnerships around the globe have built trust and reliance on LIST's unique real-time and data analytics capabilities. For more information, visit https://www.list-group.com/.

About RegTech Insight Awards Europe

The RegTech Insight Awards Europe recognize both established providers and innovative newcomers providing RegTech solutions that have successfully improved firms' ability to effectively respond to evolving and ever more complex regulatory requirements across the global financial services industry. For more information, visit https://a-teaminsight.com/awards/regtech-awards/

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ion-lookout-wins-best-solution-for-records-retention-at-regtech-insight-awards-europe-for-second-consecutive-year-302153156.html
The significant growth in the ambulatory surgical centers market can be credited to several factors highlighting the rising need for multispecialty outpatient surgical facilities. A primary driver behind this upward trend is the growing favoritism towards outpatient surgical centers over traditional hospitals. The inherent benefit of reduced costs associated with outpatient centers compared to hospitals has become a crucial factor impacting patient decisions. This affordability, along with favorable reimbursement conditions, is anticipated to greatly impact the expanding ambulatory surgical centers market.

LAS VEGAS, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Insights report provides the current and forecast market analysis, individual leading ambulatory surgical centers companies' market shares, challenges, ambulatory surgical centers market drivers, barriers, trends, and key market ambulatory surgical centers companies in the market.

Key Takeaways from the Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Report

As per DelveInsight estimates, North America is anticipated to dominate the global ambulatory surgical centers market during the forecast period.

Notable ambulatory surgical centers companies such as AMSURG, Surgical Care Affiliates, HCA Healthcare, Tenet Healthcare, Surgery Partners, Cerner Corporation, United Surgical Partners International, Hunterdon Healthcare, Surg Center Gilbert, Beaumont Health, Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America, Center for Health Ambulatory Surgery Centers, TeamHealth, Pediatrix Medical Group, Quoram Health Corporation, and several others, are currently operating in the ambulatory surgical centers market.

and several others, are currently operating in the ambulatory surgical centers market. In January 2021, T.H. Medical announced the plans to acquire up to about 25 to 40 ambulatory surgical centers. The company plans to spend an estimated USD 150 million on the acquisition of these surgery centers.

announced the plans to acquire up to about 25 to 40 ambulatory surgical centers. The company plans to spend an estimated USD 150 million on the acquisition of these surgery centers. In January 2018, Medical Facilities Corporation announced an agreement with NueHealth LLC to form a joint venture and acquire seven ambulatory surgical centers from Meridian Surgical Partners of Brentwood.

To read more about the latest highlights related to the ambulatory surgical centers market, get a snapshot of the key highlights entailed in the Global Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Report

Ambulatory Surgical Centers Overview

Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) represent a pivotal evolution in healthcare delivery, providing specialized surgical procedures in an outpatient setting. These centers are designed to offer patients a more convenient, cost-effective, and efficient alternative to traditional hospital-based surgeries. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and staffed by skilled medical professionals, ASCs cater to a wide range of surgical needs, spanning from minor procedures to more complex interventions. Their streamlined operations often translate to shorter wait times, reduced overheads, and a focused approach to patient care, fostering a personalized experience that prioritizes both comfort and safety.

With their emphasis on same-day procedures and swift recovery, Ambulatory Surgical Centers have significantly transformed the landscape of healthcare. Their ability to perform surgeries outside of the hospital environment not only alleviates strain on inpatient facilities but also minimizes the risks associated with prolonged hospital stays, such as infections and patient discomfort. Furthermore, ASCs play a crucial role in enhancing accessibility to surgical care, particularly for individuals requiring elective surgeries or routine procedures. By combining efficiency with excellence in medical care, Ambulatory Surgical Centers continue to emerge as indispensable pillars of modern healthcare delivery, shaping a paradigm where convenience and quality converge for the benefit of patients and healthcare providers alike.

Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Insights

In the realm of global ambulatory surgical centers, North America maintained its leading position in 2023 and is forecasted to do so from 2024 to 2030. Several factors contribute to this expected dominance, including the increasing preference for ambulatory surgical centers among physicians and patients in the region.

The growing demand for these centers is fueled by factors like a rising number of patients with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and urological conditions. Additionally, the increasing elderly population in North America, who are more prone to cardiovascular, neurological, and urological disorders, is another significant factor driving the need for ambulatory surgical centers. As per the U.S. Census Bureau in 2021, there were over 54 million adults aged 65 and older in the United States, with projections indicating a rise to 85.7 million by 2050.

Furthermore, the region benefits from a growing awareness of minimally invasive surgical procedures and favorable reimbursement policies for ambulatory surgical centers. The rising demand for advanced imaging systems within these centers also contributes to market growth. Notably, governmental initiatives, along with significant investments from various organizations and key industry players, aimed at improving healthcare infrastructure in North America, are expected to significantly boost the market growth of ambulatory surgical centers.

Therefore, the combination of these factors creates a favorable growth environment for North America in the ambulatory surgical centers market. The region stands as a pivotal player in advancing healthcare solutions, driven by the collaborative efforts of stakeholders to address the evolving needs of the population and enhance overall health outcomes.

To know more about why North America is leading the market growth in the ambulatory surgical centers market, get a snapshot of the Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Outlook

Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Dynamics

The ambulatory surgical centers market has witnessed significant growth in recent years, driven by several key dynamics. One prominent factor is the increasing demand for cost-effective healthcare solutions, coupled with advancements in medical technology. Ambulatory surgical centers offer a convenient and efficient alternative to traditional hospital-based surgery, providing patients with high-quality care in a more comfortable setting. This shift towards outpatient procedures has been further accelerated by changes in reimbursement policies, which incentivize healthcare providers to perform surgeries in ambulatory surgical centers rather than hospitals.

Moreover, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the aging population have contributed to the expansion of the ambulatory surgical centers market. As the demand for surgical procedures continues to grow, ambulatory surgical centers play a vital role in meeting this demand by offering specialized services and shorter wait times. Additionally, ambulatory surgical centers such as minimally invasive techniques have enabled a wider range of procedures to be performed in ambulatory surgical centers, further driving ambulatory surgical centers' market growth.

However, the ambulatory surgical centers market also faces challenges such as regulatory compliance, reimbursement issues, and competition from other healthcare providers. Regulatory requirements vary across regions, and ambulatory surgical centers must adhere to strict standards to ensure patient safety and quality of care. Furthermore, reimbursement policies can impact the financial viability of ambulatory surgical centers, and changes in reimbursement rates or regulations can have significant implications for their operations. Despite these challenges, the ambulatory surgical centers market is expected to continue expanding as healthcare delivery models evolve, and ambulatory surgical centers play an increasingly important role in delivering efficient and accessible surgical care.

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Report Metrics Details Coverage Global Study Period 2021-2030 Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market CAGR ~6% Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Size by 2030 USD 820.57 Million Key Ambulatory Surgical Centers Companies AMSURG, Surgical Care Affiliates, HCA Healthcare, Tenet Healthcare, Surgery Partners, Cerner Corporation, United Surgical Partners International, Hunterdon Healthcare, Surg Center Gilbert, Beaumont Health, Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America, Center for Health Ambulatory Surgery Centers, TeamHealth, Pediatrix Medical Group, Quoram Health Corporation, among others

Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Assessment

Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Segmentation

Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Segmentation By Type: Hospital-Affiliated Ambulatory Surgical Centers (Single-Specialty Centers And Multi-Specialty Centers), and Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical Centers (Single-Specialty Centers and Multi-Specialty Centers)

Hospital-Affiliated Ambulatory Surgical Centers (Single-Specialty Centers And Multi-Specialty Centers), and Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical Centers (Single-Specialty Centers and Multi-Specialty Centers)

Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Segmentation By Application: Gastroenterology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Pain/Neurology, Urology, Dermatology

Gastroenterology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Pain/Neurology, Urology, Dermatology

Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Segmentation By Geography : North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World

: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World Porter's Five Forces Analysis, Product Profiles, Case Studies, KOL's Views, Analyst's View

Which MedTech key players in the ambulatory surgical centers market are set to emerge as the trendsetter explore @ Ambulatory Surgical Centers Companies

Table of Contents

1 Report Introduction 2 Executive summary 3 Regulatory and Patent Analysis 4 Key Factors Analysis 5 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 6 Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Layout 7 Global Company Share Analysis - Key 3-5 Companies 8 Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Company and Product Profiles 9 Project Approach 10 About DelveInsight

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CHICAGO, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloud usage, AI and machine learning for automation and analytics, and interaction with other enterprise systems are the key drivers of Enterprise Content Management's (ECM) future. Improved user experience and mobility, increased security and compliance, and the creation of Content Services Platforms (CSPs) for more adaptable, user-centric solutions are among the focus areas.

The global Enterprise Content Management Market will grow from USD 47.6 billion in 2024 to USD 78.4 billion by 2029 at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Enterprise Content Management Market"

322 - Tables

63 - Figures

354 - Pages

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Scope of the Report

Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2019-2029 Base year considered 2023 Forecast period 2024-2029 Forecast units Value (USD Million/Billion) Segments Covered Offering, Organization Size, Business Function, Deployment Mode, and Vertical Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East Africa, and Latin America Companies Covered Some of the significant enterprise content management market vendors are Microsoft (US), OpenText (Canada), Box (US), Hyland (US), IBM (US), Adobe (US), Xerox (US), Atlassian (Australia), KYOCERA Corporation (Japan), and Oracle (US).

The increasing volume of digital content drives the enterprise content management market, and organizations must manage it efficiently. With the rapid growth of data, organizations face challenges related to content creation, storage, retrieval, and security. ECM solutions help organizations streamline content management processes, improve collaboration, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. They enable organizations to access their content from anywhere, anytime, using any device, making them ideal for remote work environments and distributed teams. Additionally, ECM solutions eliminate the need for organizations to invest in expensive hardware and infrastructure, making them an attractive option for small and medium-sized businesses.

The increasing focus on regulatory compliance and data security drives the enterprise content management market. Organizations across various industries are subject to stringent regulations regarding managing and protecting sensitive information. ECM solutions help these organizations comply with regulations by providing features such as document encryption, access controls, audit trails, and records management.

The services segment is expected to capture the highest CAGR during the forecast period by offering segment.

The offering segment of the enterprise content management market is segmented into solutions and services. The services segment accounted for the highest CAGR during the forecasted period. Companies are one of the critical aspects of the enterprise content management market, which provide their customers with knowledge and assistance in implementing, customizing, and optimizing their ECM solutions. Implementation services become essential for all organizations that want to implement ECM solutions properly. These services include claiming, planning, and managing projects to adjust the ECM solution to align with the organization's objectives and needs. Implementation services are also performed through tasks, including data migration, configuration, and integration with the existing systems, thus making an easy transition from the old ECM solution to the new one.

Moreover, this involves providing services such as training and change management that aim at cultivating the employees' knowledge of how to use the system most effectively, enabling a smoother adoption process. Further, support & maintenance services are necessary for enterprises to be sure that the execution and operability of their ECM solutions are top-notch, secure, and stable. The services offered include technical assistance, troubleshooting, and software versions to solve problems and keep ECM software from encountering any issues. Secondly, managed services can be deployed with proactive monitoring, performance optimization, and system administration to take off a part of regular management duties from the organization's IT team. Through their specific services to ensure ECM investment's profitability and sustainability, ECM vendors contribute to an organization's general value of ECM and its success over time.

Based on the solution, the web & mobile content management segment is expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period.

The enterprise content management market, by solution, is segmented into document management, web & mobile content management, case management, record management, digital asset management, image & capturing, eDiscovery, collaborative content management, and other solutions. It is expected that during the forecast period, the web & mobile content management segment is expected to hold the largest market size and share in the enterprise content management market. Web & mobile content management is one of the significant elements of the enterprise content management market as it provides organizations with tools to deliver content across several online and mobile channels effectively. These solutions offer a single digital hub for creating, editing, and publishing web & mobile content, such as text, images, videos, and interactive features. Web & mobile CMS offer features such as content authoring, version management, and workflow automation that help organizations shorten the length of the content creation and publishing process. They also incorporate a responsive design, ensuring the material is displayed correctly on any device and screen size. Besides the content management solutions on web & mobile cover analytics tools that organizations can use to understand user engagement and behavior, they can also modify their content strategy for a better user experience. By providing a centralized channel for handling web and mobile content, the ECM solutions thus help organizations improve efficiency, enable collaboration, and ultimately deliver a coherent digital experience to the audiences through multiple channels.

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North America is projected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period.

By region, North America is projected to hold the most market share in the worldwide enterprise content management market in 2024, and this pattern is anticipated to be valid throughout the forecast period. ECM solutions and services are crucial in North America, as they help organizations efficiently manage, store, and secure their digital content. The demand for ECM solutions has been steadily growing due to the increasing volume of digital content generated by businesses. In North America, ECM solutions cater to various industries such as healthcare, finance, government, and manufacturing. This enables organizations to streamline content management processes, ensure regulatory compliance, and improve collaboration and productivity.

North America's enterprise content management market is highly competitive and technologically advanced. Key players in the region include IBM Corporation, OpenText Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, and Oracle Corporation, among others. These vendors offer various ECM solutions and services, including document management, record management, digital asset management, and workflow automation. There has been a shift towards cloud-based ECM solutions in recent years, driven by scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, adopting AI and ML technologies further drives innovation in the enterprise content management market, enabling organizations to automate content-related processes and gain valuable insights from their data. With the increasing digitization of businesses and the growing importance of efficient content management, North America's enterprise content management market is expected to continue its growth trajectory in the coming years.

Top Companies in Enterprise Content Management Market

Some of the significant enterprise content management vendors include Microsoft (US), OpenText (Canada), Box (US), Hyland (US), IBM (US), Adobe (US), Xerox (US), Atlassian (Australia), KYOCERA Corporation (Japan), and Oracle (US).

Recent Development

In April 2024, Hyland, a leading global provider of intelligent content solutions, launched Hyland Experience Automate (Hx Automate). This service is one of the first available from the next-generation, cloud-based platform, Hyland Experience (Hx). This new service is compatible with existing Hyland platforms, allowing customers to leverage the latest innovation from Hyland Experience while maximizing the value of their current solutions.

In April 2024, Box announced its collaboration with Bulletproof, an award-winning independent global brand agency, which selected Box as its single centralized cloud platform to manage content and production work. Bulletproof is deploying Box across the organization to eliminate on-premise servers and facilitate secure collaboration with clients and partners.

In February 2024, Microsoft announced its collaboration with SysKit, a company dedicated to simplifying management and governance in Microsoft 365, and announced the availability of Syskit Point on Microsoft AppSource. This integration underscores SysKit Point's commitment to providing seamless experiences for Office 365 users, empowering them with robust tools to optimize their governance, security, and compliance efforts within the Microsoft environment.

In January 2024, Oracle's content management enabled users to export and import repository content. The Export Jobs and Import Jobs pages would allow users to track new jobs.

In January 2024, Datamax extended its strategic partnership with KYOCERA. This partnership further bolsters Datamax's ability to adhere to its tagline, "Relevant Technology. Raving Results."

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Enterprise Content Management Market Advantages

ECM streamlines document management processes, automating tasks such as data entry, filing, and retrieval, which enhances overall operational efficiency and reduces the time employees spend on manual tasks.

ECM systems facilitate better collaboration by providing centralized access to documents and content, allowing teams to work together seamlessly regardless of their physical location.

ECM solutions help organizations comply with regulatory requirements by providing robust security features, audit trails, and records management capabilities, ensuring that sensitive information is protected and easily accessible for compliance audits.

By reducing reliance on paper and physical storage, ECM systems lower costs associated with printing, shipping, and storage. Additionally, improved efficiency and productivity lead to overall cost reductions.

ECM provides advanced search and analytics capabilities, allowing businesses to extract valuable insights from their content, leading to more informed decision-making and strategic planning.

Report Objectives

To define, describe, and forecast the enterprise content management (ECM) market based on offering, business function, deployment mode, organization size, vertical, and region.

To provide detailed information about the significant factors, such as drivers, opportunities, restraints, and challenges, influencing the growth of the market

To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high-growth segments of the market

To forecast the market size concerning five main regions - North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America

To analyze the subsegments of the market concerning individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall market

To profile the market's key players and analyze their size and core competencies comprehensively.

To track and analyze the competitive developments, such as product enhancements, product launches, acquisitions, partnerships, and collaborations, in the enterprise content management market globally

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JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of a market assessment report on the "Global Robotic Surgery Consumables Market- (By Product Type (Access and Facilitation Equipment, End Effectors, Closure and Others), By Application (General Surgery, Gynecology Surgical Procedure, Urology Surgical Procedure, Orthopedic Surgical Procedure, Cardiology Surgical Procedure, Head and Neck Surgical Procedure and Others), By End-user (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs), Others)), By Region, Trends, Industry Competition Analysis, Revenue and Forecast To 2031."

According to the latest research by InsightAce Analytic, the Global Robotic Surgery Consumables Market is valued at US$5.0 Bn in 2023, and it is expected to reach US$ 12.3 Bn by 2031, with a CAGR of 12.06% during the forecast period of 2024-2031.

The global robotic surgery consumables market has witnessed remarkable growth driven by advancements in minimally invasive surgical techniques and the increasing adoption of robotic-assisted surgeries. These consumables encompass various instruments and accessories utilized in robotic surgical procedures, including surgical staplers, scalpels, sutures, and electrosurgical tools.

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The market faced intense competition among key players such as Intuitive Surgical, Medtronic, and Stryker Corporation, leading to extensive R&D activities aimed at product innovation and portfolio expansion. Incorporating robotic surgery consumables into the healthcare sector has brought about transformative changes, yielding numerous advantages. These consumables have notably heightened surgical precision and broadened the range of procedures achievable with greater accuracy and efficiency.

Furthermore, the growing prevalence of bone degenerative diseases and the rising number of hip & knee replacement surgeries due to increasing cases of arthritis & osteoporosis are anticipated to drive growth. However, challenges such as high initial setup costs, reimbursement issues, and concerns regarding the efficacy and safety of robotic-assisted procedures posed constraints to market growth.

List of Prominent Players in the Robotic Surgery Consumables Market:

Johnson & Johnson (Auris Health, Inc.)

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

Medtronic plc. (Mazor Robotics)

Zimmer Biomet Holdings (Medtech SA)

Renishaw plc.

Venus Concept (Restoration Robotics, Inc.)

Smith & Nephew plc.

Stereotaxis, Inc.

Stryker Corporation (Mako Surgical Corporation)

THINK Surgical, Inc.

CMR Surgical Ltd.

Meerecompany, Inc.

Virtual Incision Corporation

Asensus Surgical US, Inc. (Transenterix, Inc.)

Robotic Surgery Consumables Market Report Scope:

Report Attribute Specifications Market Size Value In 2023 USD 5.0 Bn Revenue Forecast In 2031 USD 12.3 Bn Growth Rate CAGR CAGR of 12.06% from 2024 to 2031 Quantitative Units Representation of revenue in US$ Million and CAGR from 2024 to 2031 Historic Year 2019 to 2023 Forecast Year 2024-2031 Report Coverage The forecast of revenue, the position of the company, the competitive market structure, growth prospects, and trends Segments Covered By Product Type, By Application, By End-user, and By Region Regional Scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East & Africa Country Scope U.S.; Canada; U.K.; Germany; China; India; Japan; Brazil; Mexico; France; Italy; Spain; South East Asia; South Korea

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Market Dynamics:

Drivers-

In the last few years, robotic-assisted procedures have gained popularity over their conventional counterparts. Robotic-assisted procedures are becoming more common due to their various benefits, such as decreased blood loss, length of hospital stay, post-operative pain, and fewer post-operative complications.

The senior population benefits the most from the robotic-assisted approach. Additionally, the growing acceptance of robotic surgery among patients and healthcare professionals boosts market demand. Furthermore, technological innovations and increasing investments in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in emerging economies, contribute to market growth by expanding access to robotic surgical procedures.

Challenges:

The adoption of robotic-assisted surgical platforms faces a major hurdle due to their high costs. Additional expenses, including consumables and surgical instruments, contribute to the overall expense. Reimbursement issues and the need for standardized reimbursement policies for robotic-assisted procedures in some countries hinder market expansion by discouraging healthcare providers from adopting these technologies.

Moreover, the complexity of training required for surgeons to operate robotic systems effectively presents a challenge, slowing down the adoption rate of robotic surgery. Additionally, the limited availability of skilled personnel proficient in robotic surgery techniques constrains market growth.

Regional Trends:

The North American region has high market attractiveness for robotic surgery systems and consumable manufacturers, which can be attributed to high patient acceptance of advanced surgical technologies as well as a substantially large and well-established healthcare industry: favorable reimbursement policies and a robust regulatory framework support market growth. Furthermore, strong awareness among healthcare professionals and patients about the benefits of robotic surgery further solidifies North America's position as a key market for robotic surgery consumables.

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Recent Developments:

In March 2024, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) certification to da Vinci 5, the next-generation multiport robotic system developed by Intuitive. These developments will persistently optimize the operational room's workflow and have the potential to conserve significant time while upholding patient safety. This may allow a hospital to utilize its human and financial resources more effectively.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) certification to da Vinci 5, the next-generation multiport robotic system developed by Intuitive. These developments will persistently optimize the operational room's workflow and have the potential to conserve significant time while upholding patient safety. This may allow a hospital to utilize its human and financial resources more effectively. In August 2023, Stryker launched a direct patient marketing campaign aimed at enhancing patient engagement and education. The campaign is designed to reach patients directly & provide information about Stryker's innovative medical solutions, focusing on joint replacement procedures.

Stryker launched a direct patient marketing campaign aimed at enhancing patient engagement and education. The campaign is designed to reach patients directly & provide information about Stryker's innovative medical solutions, focusing on joint replacement procedures. In January 2022, Smith & Nephew acquired Engage Surgical, which is involved in manufacturing cementless knee systems in the U.S. This acquisition improved its position in meniscal tear solutions and other knee arthroscopy devices.

Smith & Nephew acquired Engage Surgical, which is involved in manufacturing cementless knee systems in the U.S. This acquisition improved its position in meniscal tear solutions and other knee arthroscopy devices. In January 2021, DePuy Synthes (Johnson & Johnson) received FDA approval for its VELYS robotic system, improving its offerings with the ATTUNE TOTAL knee system.

Segmentation of Robotic Surgery Consumables Market-

Global Robotic Surgery Consumables Market- By Product Type

Access and Facilitation Equipment Trocars Needle Holders Others

End Effectors Graspers and Forceps Dissectors Stapling Instrumentation Scissors Drilling and Cutting Equipment Others

Closure

Other Consumables

Global Robotic Surgery Consumables Market- By Application

General Surgery

Gynecology Surgical Procedure

Urology Surgical Procedure

Orthopedic Surgical Procedure

Cardiology Surgical Procedure

Head and Neck Surgical Procedure

Other Surgical Procedure

Global Robotic Surgery Consumables Market- By End-User

Hospitals

Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs)

Others

Global Robotic Surgery Consumables Market- By Region

North America-

The US

Canada

Mexico

Europe-

Germany

The UK

France

Italy

Spain

Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific-

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America-

Brazil

Argentina

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa-

GCC Countries

South Africa

Rest of Middle East and Africa

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Why should buy this report:

To receive a comprehensive analysis of the prospects for global Robotic Surgery Consumables market

To receive industry overview and future trends of global Robotic Surgery Consumables market

To analyze the Robotic Surgery Consumables market drivers and challenges

To get information on the Robotic Surgery Consumables market size value (US$ Mn) forecast till 2031

Major Investments, Mergers & Acquisition in global Robotic Surgery Consumables industry

Other Related Reports Published by InsightAce Analytic:

Digital Surgery Technologies Market

Genitourinary Robotic Surgery Market

Robotic Nurses Market

Autonomous Robots Market

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JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of a market assessment report on the "Global 3D Printing Photopolymer Market- (By Material (Polymers, Oligomers, Monomers, Additives, and Other), By Application (Surgical Models, Wearable Biosensors, Customized Prosthetics, Exoskeletons, and Hearing Aids), By Region, Trends, Industry Competition Analysis, Revenue and Forecast To 2031."

According to the latest research by InsightAce Analytic, the Global 3D Printing Photopolymer Market is valued at US$929.5 Mn in 2023, and it is expected to reach US$ 2,902.4 Mn by 2031, with a CAGR of 15.5% during the forecast period of 2024-2031.

The use of 3D printing in industries is commonly referred to as additive manufacturing (AM). With the use of software and a 3-dimensional printer, additive manufacturing comprises the layer-by-layer addition of material to construct an item, referring to a three-dimensional file. Significant use of 3D printing technology in pharmaceutical applications and aerospace & defence parts is anticipated to drive the market.

Photopolymers are the most commonly used materials under polymers in 3D printing technology. These materials are inexpensive compared to metals and significantly more reliable, which is one aspect behind their increasing popularity. As 3D printing matures, developers continue to explore photopolymer chemistries and capabilities to offer materials that compete with traditional ways.

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List of Prominent Key Players in the 3D Printing Photopolymer Market:

Bomar

Polysciences Inc.

Alfa Aesar

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Inoes

Rohm GmbH

BASF

SOLTECH LTD.

Mohini Organics Pvt. Ltd

Fushun Donglian Anxin Chemical Co., Ltd

Gelest Inc.

Sinocure Chemical Group

Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd.

AGC

Allnex GMBH

Evonik

Sartomer arkema

Miwon

Other Prominent Players

3D Printing Photopolymer Market Report Scope:

Report Attribute Specifications Market Size Value In 2023 USD 929.5 Mn Revenue Forecast In 2031 USD 2,902.4 Mn Growth Rate CAGR CAGR of 15.5% from 2024 to 2031 Quantitative Units Representation of revenue in US$ Mn, Volume (Tons) and CAGR from 2024 to 2031 Historic Year 2019 to 2023 Forecast Year 2024-2031 Report Coverage The forecast of revenue, the position of the company, the competitive market structure, growth prospects, and trends Segments Covered By Material, By Application and By Region Regional Scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East & Africa Country Scope U.S.; Canada; U.K.; Germany; China; India; Japan; Brazil; Mexico; France; Italy; Spain; Southeast Asia; South Korea

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Market Dynamics:

Drivers-

The demand for 3D printing plastics has grown in creating prototypes over the past few years. The demand for manufacturing in various industries, such as automotive, healthcare, aerospace, and defence, is driving the growth of the 3D printing plastics market. The ease of customized product development and favourable government investments also contribute to market growth. The increasing supply of 3D printing plastics due to the forward integration of major polymer companies is further enhancing the availability of polymers for 3D printing. It is expected to lead to market expansion. In 3D printing, photopolymers are used in processes like stereolithography (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP), where a U.V. laser or projector cures liquid resin layer by layer to build a 3D object. These techniques offer high-resolution and intricate details, making them popular in prototyping, dentistry, and jewelry manufacturing industries.

Challenges:

The major restraining factor for the market to grow is the need for a skilled workforce and higher lead time in the manufacturing process. One of the biggest obstacles is the need for more skilled technicians for the polymer-based 3D printing business in healthcare.

The pool of resources for employees skilled in 3D printing is relatively small, which is made worse by the industry's rapid technological and material development. Another barrier to the widespread adoption of photopolymer 3D printing is the production and equipment cost. The high cost and low availability of 3D printers in different regions also pose a problem for the revenue growth of the 3D printed medical devices market.

Regional Trends:

The North American 3D printing photopolymer market is expected to register a major market share and is projected to grow at a high CAGR in the near future. Growing population, rapid urbanization, and increasing industrialization are factors expected to increase the growth of the market in the region.

Besides, Europe had a significant share in the market owing to its developed economy and growing adoption of the product due to the adoption of new strategies by the major key players in the green chemicals market. Moreover, the involvement of key market players and increasing collaboration among them in the region provides the opportunity for growth of the global 3D printing photopolymer market.

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Recent Developments:

In March 2024, Desktop Metal and Evonik have announced that the qualification of the INFINAM ST 6100 L for the ETEC Xtreme 8K and the Pro XL signifies the expansion of their collaboration in the development of photopolymers and materials. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of Evonik INFINAM ST 6100 L is 90 MPa, while its flexural stress is 135 MPa and it reaches a thermal deflection temperature of 120C. Additionally, the material provides 'exceptional' precision, surface texture, and resistance to numerous chemicals and UV degradation.

In February 2023, iGM Resins signed a distribution agreement with Qualipoly Chemical Corporation, the leading company in the industrial supplies market.

In February 2023, Arkema Inc. signed a distribution agreement with Qualipoly Chemical Corporation, the leading company in the industrial supplies market.

In March 2022, BASF declared its plan to build a new world-scale production plant for alkyl ethanolamines at the Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium.

Segmentation of Global 3D Printing Photopolymer Market-

Global 3D Printing Photopolymer Market- By Material

Polymers

Oligomers

Monomers

Additives

Global 3D Printing Photopolymer Market- By Application

Surgical Models

Wearable Biosensors

Implants Cardiovascular Implant Orthopaedic Implant Dental Implant Others

Customized Prosthetic

Exoskeleton

Hearing Aids

Global 3D Printing Photopolymer Market- By Region

North America-

The US

Canada

Mexico

Europe-

Germany

The UK

France

Italy

Spain

Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific-

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America-

Brazil

Argentina

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa-

GCC Countries

South Africa

Rest of Middle East and Africa

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Why should buy this report:

To receive a comprehensive analysis of the prospects for global 3D Printing Photopolymer market

To receive industry overview and future trends of global 3D Printing Photopolymer market

To analyze the 3D Printing Photopolymer market drivers and challenges

To get information on the 3D Printing Photopolymer market size value (US$ Mn) forecast till 2031

Major Investments, Mergers & Acquisition in global 3D Printing Photopolymer industry

Other Related Reports Published by InsightAce Analytic:

3D Printed Medical Devices Market

3D Printed Medical Sensor and Biosensor Market

3D Bioprinting for Tissue and Organ Regeneration Market

Next Generation Bioprinting Market

About Us:

InsightAce Analytic is a market research and consulting firm that enables clients to make strategic decisions. Our qualitative and quantitative market intelligence solutions inform the need for market and competitive intelligence to expand businesses. We help clients gain competitive advantage by identifying untapped markets, exploring new and competing technologies, segmenting potential markets and repositioning products. Our expertise is in providing syndicated and custom market intelligence reports with an in-depth analysis with key market insights in a timely and cost-effective manner.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / GoDaddy

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

By Brenda Barron

Do you ever feel like a fraud, despite all the success and recognition that you have achieved? Do you worry that one day everyone will realize just how unqualified you are for your job or position? If so, then you may be experiencing impostor syndrome.

Impostor syndrome is an internal feeling of insecurity and self-doubt which can have major impacts on both your personal and professional life. It can cause mental health problems like anxiety, depression, or could even paralyze you with fear when faced with challenges.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to overcome this condition and build your confidence again. Today, we'll explore what impostor syndrome is, its symptoms and effects, as well as ways to combat it effectively.

This post also includes insights from entrepreneurs who've graduated from Empower by GoDaddy, our global social impact program, equipping entrepreneurs in underserved communities with training, tools and peer networks to accelerate their journeys.

Let's define impostor syndrome

Impostor syndrome, also called impostor phenomenon or impostorism by some, is a psychological issue in which individuals are plagued with self-doubt and insecurity despite their successes. Despite the evidence of accomplishment, they feel unable to accept credit for it.

"The cost can be high if you give in to the doubt. Opportunities cannot be gained if you don't own and believe that you are not an imposter. It can prevent you from gaining more experience or even trying. I've often felt like an imposter but instead of giving up or not trying, I did try. The things I didn't know, I learned and kept moving forward. You make your reality. If you adopt the aspects of the imposter mindset, I feel that then becomes your reality." - Chong Mi Land, Owner of Land of Moon and Empower by GoDaddy graduate (San Diego, CA)



Impostor Syndrome is marked by a sense of inadequacy and hesitancy, leading to distressing mental states. Those affected are often unable to recognize the part their own capabilities have in their successes, instead attributing it mostly to luck or external factors. There's an overall sense of phoniness about one's abilities.

And it's not an uncommon occurrence. According to a review of numerous studies conducted by the National Library of Medicine, anywhere from 9 to 82% of those surveyed experience impostor syndrome or symptoms that could be best described as such.

Likewise, Psychology Today reports that up to 70% of adults might experience "impostorism" at some point in their lives, indicating the prevalence is quite high across all groups.

"I believe that imposter syndrome can be a barrier to achieving your full potential. Giving in to the falsehoods perpetuated by that inner critical voice can hinder the growth of your self-esteem. Personal growth often arises from learning through trial and error, and if we become fixated on our mistakes, we may miss the opportunity to turn today's successes into even greater achievements tomorrow." - Tanika Nelson, Owner of Nika's Cupcake Bar and Empower by GoDaddy graduate (Baltimore, MD)

It's important to note that having impostor syndrome does not mean you are not capable or talented; it simply means you are struggling to recognize your own worth and achievements.

The good news is that there are ways to cope with impostor syndrome and build self-confidence. But more on that in just a bit.

The history of impostor syndrome

Impostor syndrome has been around for decades, but only recently has it become a widely discussed phenomenon. In 1978, psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes coined the term "Impostor Syndrome," a phenomenon in which individuals with proven successes still feel inadequate or fraudulent. Since its inception, impostor syndrome has been intensely examined and is now acknowledged as an ordinary occurrence among high achievers.

The 5 types of impostor syndrome

There are five distinct types of impostor syndrome according to Valerie Ed.D, author of a book intended for high achieving women called, "The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It." These types are centered around a variety of personality traits and include the Perfectionist, the Superhero, the Natural Genius, the Soloist, and the Expert.

The Perfectionist

This best describes someone who sets impossibly high standards for themselves and feels like they can never measure up to them. They may feel like they need to be perfect in order to be accepted or successful and put in countless hours of hard work. However, it's often never enough and this approach to life can lead to serious burnout.

The Superhero

The Superhero is someone who takes on too much responsibility and puts pressure on themselves to do everything perfectly. They may feel like they need to do it all in order to be successful.

The Natural Genius

Now, this type is someone who believes that success comes easily for others but not for them. They may feel like they don't have what it takes to succeed and that their accomplishments are due to luck or external factors rather than their own abilities. This can create a low sense of self-worth.

The Soloist

Also referred to as The Rugged Individualist, this type describes someone who believes that they must do everything alone in order to succeed. They may feel like asking for help will make them look weak or incompetent.

The Expert

Lastly, there's The Expert, or someone who believes that they must know everything in order to be successful. They may feel like they need to constantly prove themselves in order to be accepted or to get ahead.

No matter which type of impostor syndrome you identify with, it's important to remember that you are capable of achieving your goals and dreams without having to live up to impossible standards set by yourself or others around you. Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses can help you build confidence in yourself so that you can achieve success without feeling inadequate or fraudulent about it.

What causes impostor syndrome?

Impostor syndrome is thought to be caused by a combination of different factors such as perfectionism, unrealistic expectations, lack of self-confidence, and the pressures of success. It can also be triggered by experiences of failure or criticism.

Additionally, certain social and cultural norms may contribute to the development of impostor syndrome. For example, in some communities, there is a strong emphasis on academic success or perfectionism that can lead to feelings of inadequacy.

College students - both undergraduate and graduate students - are often under an immense amount of pressure to perform. Securing a new job in a high-pressure field can bring on impostor feelings, too.

Ultimately, impostor syndrome is caused by a combination of internal and external factors that make it difficult for individuals to recognize their own achievements and capabilities. It's important to be aware of these factors in order to take steps to manage and overcome impostor syndrome.

Symptoms of impostor syndrome

The impostor phenomenon can manifest itself in a variety of ways. According to Verywell Mind, some of these ways include:

Feeling like a fraud or an impostor.

Constant fear of being exposed as a fraud.

Believing that any success is due to luck rather than personal ability

Refusal to accept compliments or acknowledgements of accomplishment

Self-doubt and lack of confidence in one's abilities

Perfectionism and an inability to complete tasks or projects

Feeling like one needs to do everything alone in order to succeed

Fear of failure or taking risks

Difficulty celebrating successes, even small ones.

Sensitivity to criticism

Individual experiences may vary, but the above is generally considered to be the basic symptoms of this mindset.

How to deal with impostor syndrome

The good news is that impostor syndrome can be managed and even overcome with the right strategies.

Self-doubt is a natural thing. When we see other people doing great things it's easy to be in awe of that and compare ourselves to the very best. I think we do set the bar high for ourselves and even if we meet that bar, it is constantly moving higher. Imposter syndrome is a very real thing that affects many people for various reasons. I've often had these feelings of wondering if what I'm producing is good enough or if I'm working hard enough due to the bias against my gender and race. - Chong Mi Land

It's important to recognize that you are not alone in feeling this way, and it does not reflect your true capabilities or achievements. The following strategies may help you to manage and overcome impostor syndrome:

Acknowledge your feelings . It's important to recognize that these feelings are real and valid, even if they don't reflect reality.

. It's important to recognize that these feelings are real and valid, even if they don't reflect reality. Develop self-compassion . Talk to yourself with kindness and understanding rather than criticism.

. Talk to yourself with kindness and understanding rather than criticism. Practice positive self-talk . Remind yourself of your accomplishments and strengths rather than focusing on your failures or weaknesses.

. Remind yourself of your accomplishments and strengths rather than focusing on your failures or weaknesses. Set realistic goals . Break down large tasks into smaller, achievable steps and focus on your long-term well-being, not just the short-term ability to push yourself to the brink.

. Break down large tasks into smaller, achievable steps and focus on your long-term well-being, not just the short-term ability to push yourself to the brink. Celebrate small successes . Recognize and reward yourself for even the smallest accomplishments.

. Recognize and reward yourself for even the smallest accomplishments. Reach out for help . Seek feedback and support from those around you. Speaking with your mentors, in particular, can be helpful for recognizing your own personal growth, according to the American Psychological Association. Opting for therapeutic intervention and speaking with a mental health professional can be helpful as well.

. Seek feedback and support from those around you. Speaking with your mentors, in particular, can be helpful for recognizing your own personal growth, according to the American Psychological Association. Opting for therapeutic intervention and speaking with a mental health professional can be helpful as well. Prioritize self-care. Make time to relax, recharge, and take care of yourself.

By recognizing your feelings and taking steps to manage them, you can build confidence in yourself and achieve success without feeling fraudulent or inadequate.

I believe many entrepreneurs may struggle to fully embrace the recognition of their achievements because this challenge often stems from our initial motivations, which tend to be rooted in selflessness. We typically embark on our entrepreneurial journeys because we observe a need or possess a heightened sense of awareness, crafting our endeavors from those convictions. Consequently, when accolades and praise begin to pour in for work, as we never sought acknowledgement, it can feel foreign to us. While the recognition is undoubtedly well-deserved, it may take time for us to truly acknowledge and appreciate it. - Tanika Nelson

With the right strategies, anyone can overcome impostor syndrome and reach their full potential in a healthy way.

Closing thoughts on impostor syndrome

Impostor syndrome is a real phenomenon that can be debilitating, but it doesn't have to be. It's important to recognize the signs and take steps to manage and overcome the feelings associated with it. By acknowledging your achievements and strengths, developing self-compassion, and celebrating small successes, you can move past the feeling of being a fraud or impostor and achieve success with confidence.

Remember: everyone has doubts and moments where they compare themselves to others-it's natural. But you are capable of achieving your goals and dreams without having to live up to impossible standards set by yourself or others.

Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice from GoDaddy on any subject matter.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from GoDaddy on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: GoDaddy

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/godaddy

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: GoDaddy

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Reprinted from a Drawdown Georgia blog post

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Ray C. Anderson Foundation



Sustainable Georgia Futures community leaders in action

Investing in climate solutions can be a powerful way to improve lives, address historic inequities, create jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions all at once.

One organization that keenly understands these connections is Sustainable Georgia Futures (SGF), a recipient of the 2024-2025 Drawdown Georgia Climate Solutions & Equity Grant.

A conversation with Adrienne Rice of Sustainable Georgia Futures

We recently had the chance to connect with Adrienne Rice, the founder and executive director of SGF, about the important work the organization is doing to improve lives and scale climate solutions in our state.

Read on to be inspired by their work around energy efficiency, weatherization, solar energy, and workforce development in historically disadvantaged communities.

Tell us about the work that Sustainable Georgia Futures does in the community.

SGF is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to creating green economy pathways for Black and people of color in our state. We are a Black-woman-led collective of expert organizers and community leaders working to build power in Georgia's marginalized communities to advance an inclusive economy and promote environmental justice.



We seek to achieve our goals through actions including:

Holding Climate Justice Education Meetings to build consensus on issues and address and devise action plans.

Community organizing with a focus on addressing climate change and systemic racism.

Offering a paid fellowship program that provides education about climate change, training in organizing strategy, and introductions to industry leaders.

Hosting trainings, workshops, and other educational events for the community.

Congratulations on receiving a 2024-2025 Climate Solutions & Equity grant. Tell us about the projects this grant will fund.

Grant funds will be used to expand the already established WeatheRise energy efficiency program that provides weatherization improvements for low- to moderate-income Black households in Atlanta.

Beginning this summer, SGF will work alongside other local groups including the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA), Southface, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy to develop a Pilot Solar Pre-Apprenticeship Program that will provide hands-on experience with Atlanta-based solar installers.

Apprentices will be able to earn three different well-respected solar installation certifications. Training these apprentices will help ensure that people in previously disinvested communities of color have equitable opportunities to be hired in the wave of solar-related jobs that are coming to Georgia.

This truly groundbreaking initiative was designed to address energy burdens within Georgia's Low and Moderate- Income (LMI) Black households as well as to address the current lack of Black apprentices in registered apprenticeship programs. The program seeks to address the immediate issue of high energy burdens and creates long-term opportunities for economic empowerment within frontline communities.

By equipping participants with the skills and knowledge needed to address energy inefficiencies, this program seeks to create a more sustainable and equitable future for all residents.

>> Drawdown Georgia's free toolkit offers advice for improving energy efficiency in your home, including tips for finding loans, tax credits, and more to make these upgrades more affordable.

Tell us about energy burdens in Atlanta and why they tend to be so high for low- to moderate-income Black households in the city.

Energy burden, particularly in cities like Atlanta, is a pressing issue, especially for low-income, Black and minority communities. These populations often face disproportionately high energy costs compared to their income due to various systemic factors. When looking at energy costs as a percentage of household income, a high energy burden is defined as anything above 6%, and a severe energy burden is above 10%. The median energy burden of Black households in Atlanta is 33% higher than that of non-Hispanic white households.

One of the key factors contributing to this disparity is systemic environmental racism. This includes historical injustices such as unfair housing laws and redlining, which have led to the concentration of low-income and minority populations in areas with inadequate housing infrastructure and higher energy costs. Factors like unequal wages and lack of access to affordable housing also exacerbate the energy burden for these communities.

Addressing the energy burden requires tackling systemic racism and addressing its root causes. At SGF, we recognize the interconnectedness of workforce development, climate change, and systemic racism. By empowering Black and Brown communities and providing opportunities for them to participate in and benefit from a regenerative economy, SGF aims to dismantle oppressive systems and create positive change.

Addressing the energy burden and its underlying causes requires a paradigm shift in how society approaches and supports marginalized communities. Organizations like SGF are working towards a more equitable and sustainable future by building power within these communities and advocating for systemic change.

Why are energy efficiency/weatherization and workforce development projects so important for your community?

We believe that providing training in clean energy technologies such as solar and weatherization opens up new career pathways for community members, allowing them to join the growing clean energy workforce. This helps individuals secure employment and contributes to the expansion of this emerging economy.

Moreover, by involving community partners and experts, the program ensures that training is tailored to the specific needs and realities of the communities it serves. The localized approach fosters a sense of ownership and investment among participants, increasing the likelihood of program success and sustainability.

Additionally, by focusing on skill-building and professional development, the program equips participants with valuable tools and knowledge that can be applied beyond energy efficiency. This can lead to broader economic opportunities and entrepreneurship within the community.

The Pilot Weatherization and Solar Pre-Apprenticeship Programs have the potential to be a transformative model that not only addresses energy burdens but also empowers Black communities and promotes environmental justice in Georgia. By fostering skills, creating jobs, and promoting sustainable practices, this program aligns with SGF's mission to build a more resilient, equitable, and environmentally conscious future.

How can people follow the work you do and/or get involved in your projects?

To learn more about SGF or get more involved, please sign up for our monthly Climate Justice Education Meetings (CJEM) on our website and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Ray C. Anderson Foundation on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Ray C. Anderson Foundation

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/ray-c-anderson-foundation

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Ray C. Anderson Foundation

View the original press release on accesswire.com
World's largest cruise company recognized for sustainability leadership and impact in environment, social, and governance

Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK), the world's largest cruise company and its AIDA Cruises line were honored with three ESG Shipping Awards for environmental excellence at an international ceremony in Athens, Greece this week.

The ESG Shipping Awards International 2024, the world's inaugural event of its kind, was established in partnership with the Ministry of Shipping and the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping. Awards were presented in 11 categories to recognize companies in the global shipping industry that demonstrate innovation and exceptional commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.

"We're committed to leading the way in sustainable cruising and are incredibly proud to be recognized for the remarkable progress we've made toward cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reducing food waste across every aspect of our operation," said Bill Burke, chief maritime officer. "The programs honored in the ESG Shipping Awards are just three of countless examples of decisive actions we're taking to shrink our environmental footprint and pursue net zero GHG emission by 2050."

Carnival Corporation and AIDA Cruises were recognized in the following categories:

Gold Climate Change Leader Award:

Carnival Corporation received top honors for its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) program, a fuel technology it pioneered within the cruise industry as the best readily available fuel to deliver immediate GHG reductions. The 10 LNG-capable ships Carnival Corporation currently has in operation, in addition to three more expected for delivery, will collectively represent approximately 25% of its total fleet capacity by 2028 and are adaptable for renewable fuels when they become widely available. By investing in LNG powered ships and taking other decisive climate actions, the company is producing 10+% less total GHG emissions today than 2011, its peak historical year.

Gold Technology Leader Award:

AIDA Cruises was recognized for having onboard AIDAprima the largest lithium-ion battery energy storage system in passenger shipping, with a capacity of 10-megawatt hours. Installed in 2022 and extensively tested in 2023, this innovative technology can be used to supply energy to the ship and allows it to operate in a net-zero emission mode for limited periods of time. This next-generation battery storage system is just one example of AIDA's important efforts to reduce GHG emissions across its fleet.

Bronze Environment Leader Award:

Carnival Corporation was also awarded for its aggressive food waste reduction actions to minimize unused food across every aspect of food preparation and dining services onboard. This includes investments in innovative food waste management technologies such as biodigesters and dehydrators that naturally break down and responsibly dispose of unused food. Together, these strategies help reduce the company's "foodprint," delivering a 40+% reduction in food waste per person relative to its 2019 baseline. This performance surpasses the company's 2025 goal, building increased momentum toward its 50% reduction target set for 2030.

Collectively, these recognitions underscore Carnival Corporation's commitment to sustainability leadership and to reducing the company's environmental impact. For more information on the company's long-term sustainability vision and progress under its six focus areas - climate action; circular economy; sustainable tourism; good health and well-being; diversity, equity and inclusion; and biodiversity and conservation - visit Carnival Corporation's dedicated report website, www.CarnivalSustainability.com.

###

This release may include claims related to our greenhouse gas emissions reductions, goals, initiatives, accomplishments, and progress reports. Supporting data for such greenhouse gas emissions claims, including data verification information, is published in our Sustainability Reports on carnivalcorp.com/sustainability on an annual basis.

About Carnival Corporation & plc

Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company, and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines - AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn.

Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com, www.aida.de, www.carnival.com, www.costacruise.com, www.cunard.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.pocruises.com, www.princess.com , and www.seabourn.com.

For information on Carnival Corporation's industry-leading sustainability initiatives, visit www.carnivalsustainability.com.

Carnival Corporation Media Contacts:

Jody Venturoni, Carnival Corporation, jventuroni@carnival.com

Lucy Colonnetta Clifton, LDWW, lucy@ldww.co

Carnival Corporation honored with three prestigious ESG Shipping Awards for 2024, including the Gold Climate Change Leader Award for its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) program currently operating on 10 ships in the fleet. Carnival Mardi Gras is seen here refueling with LNG. Credit: Carnival Corporation

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Carnival Corporation & plc on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Carnival Corporation & plc

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/carnival-corporation-plc

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Carnival Corporation & plc

View the original press release on accesswire.com
ZIGUP plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, May 23

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

23 May 2024

ZIGUP PLC

("ZIGUP" or the "Group" or the "Company")

Transaction in Own Shares

ZIGUP plc (LSE:ZIG) announces that on 23 May 2024 it purchased the following number of its own shares to be held in treasury:

Class of shares : Ordinary shares of 50p ("shares") Number of shares purchased : 75,000 Weighted average purchase price paid 430.6667 pence per share Highest purchase price paid 431 pence per share Lowest purchase price paid 430 pence per share

Following the above transaction, the Company's issued share capital consists of 246,091,423 ordinary shares of 50p each, of which 19,714,362 ordinary shares are held in treasury, and 1,000,000 preference shares of 50p each which do not carry any rights to vote. Therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 226,377,061 which may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as incorporated into UK domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the Company's buyback programme.

Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions (as at 23 May 2024)

Number of shares

purchased Transaction price

(GB pence per share) Time of transaction Transaction reference number Venue 25,000 25,000 25,000 430.00 431.00 431.00 09:06:03 14:40:29 15:07:20 00070047422TRLO0 00070056115TRLO0 00070057173TRLO0 LSE LSE LSE

Notes

This announcement is made in accordance with the requirements of Listing Rule 12.4.6.

For further information contact:

Buchanan

David Rydell/Jamie Hooper/Hannah Ratcliff +44 (0) 207 466 5000

Notes to Editors:

ZIGUP (formerly Redde Northgate plc) is the leading integrated mobility solutions provider, with a platform providing services across the vehicle lifecycle to help people keep on the move, smarter. The Company offers mobility solutions to businesses, fleet operators, insurers, OEMs and other customers across a broad range of areas from vehicle rental and fleet management to accident management, vehicle repairs, service and maintenance.

The mobility landscape is changing, becoming ever more connected and ZIGUP uses its knowledge and expertise to guide customers through the transformation, whether that is more digitally connected solutions or supporting the transition to lower carbon mobility through providing EVs, charging solutions and consultancy.

The Company's core purpose is to keep its customers mobile, smarter - through meeting their regular mobility needs or by servicing and supporting them when unforeseen events occur. With our considerable scale and reach, ZIGUP's mission is to offer an imaginative, market-leading customer proposition and drive enhanced returns for shareholders by creating value through sustainable compounding growth. The Group seeks to achieve this through the delivery of its new strategic framework of Enable, Deliver and Grow.

ZIGUP supports its customers through a network and diversified fleet of approx. 130,000 owned and leased vehicles, supporting over 700,000 managed vehicles, with over 175 branches across the UK, Ireland and Spain and a specialist team of over 7,500 employees. We are a trusted partner to many of the leading insurance and leasing companies, blue chip corporates and a broad range of businesses across a diverse range of sectors. Our strength comes not only from our breadth of our award-winning solutions, but from our extensive network reach, our wealth of experience and continual focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience.

Further information regarding ZIGUP plc can be found on the Company's website: www.zigup.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2024) - ArcStone Securities and Investments Corp. ("ArcStone"), a leading independent investment bank with operations in the US and Canada, is pleased to announce the expansion of its investment banking team with the addition of three distinguished professionals. This strategic move enhances ArcStone's capabilities to better serve its clients and underscores its commitment to excellence in investment banking.

Joining the team is Boris Novansky, who will serve as Vice-Chairman, Investment Banking. Mr. Novansky brings a wealth of strategic guidance and investment banking rigor to ArcStone. With a career spanning significant roles at tier-one investment banks such as CIBC and TD, Mr. Novansky brings deep expertise and leadership that will be instrumental in driving ArcStone's strategic initiatives and growth plans.

Additionally, Jeremy Kamenschik joins ArcStone as Director, Mergers & Acquisitions. Jeremy's extensive experience includes his tenure as an investment banking associate at BMO and his role as Director of Corporate Development at Aurora Cannabis, the second largest cannabis company by market cap, in North America. Jeremy will cover several industries and focus on US Mergers & Acquisitions while leading the cannabis investment banking division. His industry knowledge and deal-making acumen will be pivotal in expanding ArcStone's footprint in this dynamic sector.

ArcStone is also pleased to welcome Vishal Gupta, serving as an Advisor, focused on Metals and Mining. Vishal is a seasoned mining executive, professional geologist, and investment banker. He has previously served in C-suite positions at several mining companies, and as a mining analyst at several investment banks, including Dundee Capital Markets, Cormark Securities, Fraser Mackenzie, Desjardins Securities and Global Financial. His expertise will support the growth of ArcStone's franchise in metals and mining, reinforcing the firm's commitment to providing specialized advisory services and robust industry insights in that sector.

The addition of these seasoned professionals will further enhance ArcStone's capabilities in providing comprehensive financial services, strategic advice, exceptional execution in mergers and acquisitions, and driving sustainable growth of ArcStone's footprint in Canada and the US.

Michael Astone, CEO and Chairman of ArcStone Securities and Investments Corp., expressed the executives team vision: "We are excited to advance our strategy with these strategic hires. Our goal is to build a firm focused on clients and having a team of partnership-oriented, entrepreneurial bankers who are dedicated to getting deals done and delivering enviable results for our clients is the backbone of that strategy. Boris, Jeremy, and Vishal bring a wealth of experience and a proven track record of deal execution, which will undoubtedly enhance our client relationships and service offerings."

Derek Hall, Managing Director and Head of Mergers & Acquisitions added: "The pedigree and expertise of our new team members significantly bolster our capabilities in M&A execution. Having recently announced a cross-border M&A deal involving Canadian, US, and Israeli clients, the addition to our team underscores ArcStone's commitment to providing top-tier advisory services and achieving outstanding outcomes for our clients."

For more information, please contact:

Jack Bensimon

Managing Partner

ArcStone Securities & Investments Corp.

jack@arcstoneglobalsecurities.com

About ArcStone

ArcStone Securities and Investments Corp. is a premier financial services firm offering a wide range of financial advisory, and capital markets services to corporate clients across various industries. With a focus on innovation and client service, ArcStone is dedicated to helping clients navigate the complexities of the financial markets and achieve their strategic goals. ArcStone has carved a niche by focusing on underserviced clients by large tier-1 banks in the $20 million to $1 billion market cap range seeking sophisticated bankers with proven track records in finance from tier-1 firms with an agile leadership committee.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210241

SOURCE: ArcStone US Corp.
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, May 23

For immediate release

23 May 2024

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announce that it has today purchased 157,642 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 855.80 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 23 January 2024.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 42,386,488; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 182,604,815.

The figure of 182,604,815 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
California has no statewide policy specifically dictating when police can direct their dogs to attack or threaten suspects. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

A year after civil liberties advocates sponsored a bill to restrict when California police can direct their dogs to attack suspects, the same advocates are trying to kill new versions of the legislation they say would actually make the situation worse.

California currently has no statewide policy specifically dictating when police can direct their dogs to attack or threaten suspects.

An analysis by the American Civil Liberties Union of data from California police agencies released earlier this year found most people severely injured by police dogs were unarmed, including people experiencing a mental health crisis. The analysis also found officers sometimes could not stop their dogs from continuing to attack people after they attempted to recall them.

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Last years AB742 by Assembly Member Corey Jackson, D-Perris (Riverside County), would have banned police from using dogs to bite suspects who were not threatening to kill or seriously injure someone or to arrest people not suspected of killing or seriously injuring someone. It also would have banned police from using dogs for crowd control.

That bill died amid fierce opposition from law enforcement, but Jackson is trying again this year. His new bill, AB2042, doesnt attempt to set standards, but rather delegates that authority to the Police Officer Standards and Training Commission, a state agency run mostly by former law enforcement officers.

Often bills are written by interest groups known as sponsors and taken on by lawmakers who agree with the policies to shepherd them through the Legislature. Jacksons 2023 bill was sponsored by ACLU California Action. But this year, he tried a different approach, intentionally not aligning himself with a sponsoring group.

POST, as a neutral arbiter, is better positioned than the Legislature to craft new standards, he said.

Civil liberties groups say two bills in the California Legislature to regulate use of police dogs could make the issue worse. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Both civil liberties and police organizations, they all have some type of mistrust with POST, which leads me to believe they (POST) probably have it right, which means nobody gets exactly what they want and its a balanced approach, he said.

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Carmen-Nicole Cox, the ACLUs director of government affairs, said she believes POST is overly deferential to police officers and will write ineffectual guidelines that wont adequately rein in the use of police dogs. The ACLU, in its letters describing its opposition to the legislation, details multiple other state laws that delegated authority to POST to set standards for police. In those cases, the ACLU argues, the commission acquiesced to police officers demands for the standards to be weakened or scaled back.

The ACLU has previously accused POST of working too closely with police to develop guidelines on when officers can shoot people after lawmakers passed a law to raise that standard. The ACLU published emails between POST officials and police groups that it alleges demonstrate an overly cozy relationship at the same time those groups were telling their members that the new law didnt actually raise the standard.

Meagan Poulos, a spokesperson for the commission, declined to comment on the ACLUs criticism, but said the ACLU was an active participant in the writing and development of the Use of Force guidelines that POST was required to develop.

Jacksons bill is now linked with another bill by Assembly Member Blanca Pacheco, D-Downey (Los Angeles County), which would set minimum standards for police canines and is sponsored by the California Police Chiefs Association. It would require California police departments to maintain a canine policy and provide reports on instances where dogs injure or kill people.

Jackson and Pacheco negotiated their bills and agreed to compromise legislation that joins the two measures together. The ACLU is still opposed to both measures and is urging lawmakers to kill the bills when they come up for votes this week.

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The ACLU argues the bills will result in weak police standards that will be worse than no standards at all because it will be harder for legal advocacy groups like themselves to push jurisdictions to implement strong policies through legal action.

Cox said its important for restrictions on how police use force, including with dogs, to go through the democratic process in the Legislature.

We absolutely have the right and deserve to limit how and when they inflict harm on the community, she said.

Jackson acknowledged that having a uniform policy may make it harder to successfully sue when people are harmed by police dogs, but he said he thinks its more important to have a policy in place that protects people from getting harmed in the first place.

Having a uniform policy that we can all see and people can be held accountable for, theres no way that is worse than not having something at all, he said. It just makes no logical sense to me.

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Under the amendments, POST will develop minimum guidelines on how police dogs should be used. The legislation does not ban any use of police dogs, something Cox says is necessary in some cases.

Poulos said POST is already updating its canine guidelines for police departments in anticipation of the proposed legislation potentially becoming law. POST has previously argued that it does not have enough funding to absorb all of the new duties lawmakers have assigned to it in recent years. Last year, the commission successfully convinced lawmakers to approve an exemption from the Public Records Act for police misconduct records because the commission said it did not have enough staff to process those requests.
WIT recognizes multiple CACI employees and honors the company for its commitment to supporting diverse talent.

RESTON, VA / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / CACI International Inc's (NYSE:CACI) President of Operations Support and Services Meisha Lutsey took home the 2024 Women in Technology (WIT) Leadership Award in the Corporate Large Market Sector category at its 25th awards ceremony.

Lutsey oversees a team of over 3,500 that is on the frontlines of the unrelenting efforts to keep our nation safe and defend American freedom. This team delivers strategic and integrated offerings focused on mission support to military, national security, and homeland security customers worldwide. Her leadership, marked by a steadfast commitment to authenticity, integrity, and trust, has profoundly strengthened customer relationships and consistently propelled CACI to success.

As a result, CACI recently secured a $2.7 billion intelligence contract to provide network and exploitation analysis in support of foreign intelligence and cybersecurity missions.

"Meisha's outstanding effort embodies CACI's core values of ethics, integrity, and grit," said CACI President and CEO John Mengucci. "She is a tireless leader who is widely respected for her unwavering commitment to her team and our customers. Whether on the ground in conflict areas or working to identify and confront threats on the dark web, she and her team are dedicated to making the world a safer place and protecting the security that all Americans depend on."

"I'd also like to honor two additional leaders-Neha Saijpaul and Neethu Shenoy-who were named as finalists in separate categories," said Mengucci. "These remarkable women exemplify the extraordinary expertise and dedication that CACI is known for, and the absolute best of our outstanding workforce."

Saijpaul was a finalist in the STEM Leadership category. At CACI, she serves as a delivery execution lead on an essential program supporting national security. She has played a central role in implementing the company's Agile Solution Factory, one of the largest agile software development initiatives for the federal government.

Shenoy was a finalist in the Rising Star category. She is a data management lead carrying out pioneering work and leveraging AI and machine learning to push the boundaries of cybersecurity, risk management, and data analytics. Shenoy works to establish security metrics and enforce information security policies, reflecting her commitment to maintaining high security standards and impacting the cybersecurity landscape.

CACI is a proud sponsor of WIT, a not-for-profit organization with the mission of advancing women in technology who work in the greater Washington, D.C. area.

CACI is home to countless talented women whose individuality and ingenuity elevate their teams and the company as a whole. The company is a proud sponsor of WIT as well as many other organizations that focus on promoting STEM education for underserved groups, including STEM for HER, Morgan State University's Society for the Advancement of Computer Science, and George Mason University's Early Identification Program and Chapter of the Society of Hispanic Engineers.

CACI is diligent in its focus on attracting and hiring diverse talent, supporting the next generation of STEM talent, and giving back to the communities where its employees live and work. Explore the boundless careers offered at CACI, a company where all employees are given the resources and support they need to thrive.

About CACI

At CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI), our 24,000 talented and dynamic employees are ever vigilant in delivering distinctive expertise and differentiated technology to meet our customers' greatest challenges in national security and government modernization. We are a company of good character, relentless innovation, and long-standing excellence. Our culture drives our success and earns us recognition as a Fortune World's Most Admired Company. CACI is a member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies, the Russell 1000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index. For more information, visit us at www.caci.com.

There are statements made herein which do not address historical facts, and therefore could be interpreted to be forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in CACI's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, and other such filings that CACI makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Any forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon and only speak as of the date hereof.

# # #

Corporate Communications and Media:

Lorraine Corcoran

Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications

(703) 434-4165, lorraine.corcoran@caci.com

CACI President of Operations Support and Services Meisha Lutsey takes home the 2024 Women in Technology (WIT) Leadership Award in the Corporate Large Market Sector category.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CACI on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CACI

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/caci

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: CACI

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Kingston, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2024) - Delta Resources Limited (TSXV: DLTA) (OTC PINK: DTARF) (FSE: 6G01) ("Delta" or "The Company") is pleased announce that it has entered into an agreement with Golden Share Resources Corporation ("Golden Share") acquiring the exclusive rights to earn a 100% interest in the Band-Ore property (the "Property"). The Bandore property is located approximately two (2) kilometres west of the Delta-1 Property which in turn lies 50 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Property hosts two historic high-grade gold resources that are not considered National Instrument 43-101 compliant1.

TABLE 1: Band-Ore Historical Resources





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8482/210255_73503d8af4cb5b05_001full.jpg

The 10 km long property covers approximately 2,115 hectares and comprises 16 patented mining claims, one mining claim lease, and 109 staked mining claims in Hagey and Conacher Townships of Ontario, on strike with the Delta-1 gold mineralization (see Figure 1). Both the Main Zone and the No. 4 Zone are open at depth and along strike.





Figure 1: Geological map of the Shebandowan greenstone belt showing the location of the Band-Ore option relative to the Delta-1 Property.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8482/210255_73503d8af4cb5b05_002full.jpg

Andre Tessier, President, and CEO commented: "This is an important acquisition for Delta, adding another 21 square kilometres of very prospective ground to our Delta-1 property but also adding to Delta's growing gold inventory in the area. Delta's team is looking forward to applying its exploration criteria to this new property."

The terms of the agreement are as follows:

On signing: $100,000 in cash

Anniversary 1: $150,000 in cash and $100,000 in Delta shares

Anniversary 2: $150,000 in cash and $100,000 in Delta shares

Anniversary 3: $200,000 in cash and $100,000 in Delta shares

Anniversary 4: $300,000 in cash and $200,000 in Delta shares

Anniversary 5: $400,000 in cash and $200,000 in Delta shares

*All share prices are based on 20 day VWAP.

Golden Share will retain a 2% Net Smelter Return Royalty ("NSR"). Delta will have the option to buyback a 1.0% NSR at anytime for $3M and will have a right of first refusal on the second 1.0% NSR.

If Delta defines a NI-43-101 resource on the Property after earn-in, Golden Share will be entitled to a bonus of $500,000 for an estimate of 500,000 gold ounces up to 1,000,000 ounces and a bonus of $1,000,000 for an estimate of greater than 1,000,000 gold ounces. There are no work commitments on the property.

With this option, Delta now controls an area of 152 square-kilometres in the central-north portion of the Shebandowan Greenstone Belt, which includes the gold-endowed, crustal-scale Shebandowan structural zone that hosts Delta's Eureka Gold Zone.

The agreement is subject to regulatory approval.

Qualified Person

Andre Tessier, P. Eng and P.Geo, and President and CEO of Delta Resources Limited, acted as the Qualified Person for this press release and has reviewed its content.

About Delta Resources Limited

Delta Resources Limited is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on growing shareholder value through the exploration of two very high-potential gold and base-metal projects in Canada.

DELTA-1 is Delta's flagship project, where the company is building on a large gold inventory 50 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, Ontario, at surface and adjacent to the Trans-Canada highway. To date, the gold mineralization is defined over a strike length of 2.0 km, from surface to a vertical depth of 250 m. Highlights include drill intercepts such as 5.92 g/t Au over 31 m (incl. 14.8 g/t Au over 11.9 m), and 1.79 g/t Au over 128.5 m. The property covers 152 square kilometres and Delta has identified a 5 km long corridor of intense alteration and deformation at the property, on strike with the gold zone, that has yet to be thoroughly explored.

The DELTA-2 property covers 205 square kilometres in the prolific Chibougamau District of Quebec. The property holds excellent potential for gold-rich polymetallic VMS deposits as well as hydrothermal-gold deposits. Delta targets VMS deposits such as the LeMoine past producer where 0.76 Mt were mined between 1975 and 1983, grading 9.6% Zn, 4.2% Cu, 4.5 g/t Au and 84 g/t Ag.

Note 1: The Band-Ore mineral resource estimates are considered to be 'historical' in nature and are not compliant with National Instrument 43-101. Neither Golden Share nor Delta have done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves in accordance with NI 43-101, however the data is relevant as it is indicative of potential mineralization on the Property. The Band-Ore Main Zone historical resource comes from the Report on Shebandowan Property Conacher Township Thunder Bay Mining Division Ontario for Band-Ore Resources Ltd., effective date February 15, 2006 with lead author David Gunning, which references the following reports: Report on Property of Band-Ore Gold Mines Ltd., Thunder Bay, Ontario, with lead author J.S. Crosscombe, Mining Engineer, effective date May 15, 1947. The Band-Ore No. 4 Zone historical resource comes from 1982 Diamond Drilling Report and Pre-Evaluation Study on the Band-Ore Option Conacher Township Ontario for Mattagami Lake Exploration Ltd. with lead author Karl J. Huska, December 1982.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DELTA RESOURCES LIMITED.

Andre Tessier

President and CEO

www.deltaresources.ca

We seek safe harbor. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has not approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein.

For Further Information:

Delta Resources Limited

Andre C. Tessier, CEO and President

Tel: 613-328-1581

atessier@deltaresources.ca

or

Frank Candido, Chairman

Vice-President Corporate Communications

Tel: 514-969-5530

fcandido@deltaresources.ca

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

Some statements contained in this news release are "forward looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases (including negative or grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and involves risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual facts to differ materially. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. The forward-looking information contained in this press release constitutes management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake to update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any particular event.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210255

SOURCE: Delta Resources Limited
Aduro provides premier fund administration services by combining the industry's top professionals with its best-in-class technology platform, FundPanel.io

Aduro Advisors, LLC ("Aduro"), a leading fund administrator to venture capital and private equity firms, has secured a strategic growth investment from Vitruvian Partners ("Vitruvian"), a leading global growth-focused investment firm. Aduro's leadership team and existing shareholder PPC Enterprises ("PPC") will retain a significant investment in Aduro going forward.

Established in 2012 and headquartered in Denver, CO, Aduro Advisors ("Aduro") has over $120 billion of assets under administration ("AUA"). Due in large part to its unique offering, Aduro has grown significantly, increasing AUA by over 150% since 2020.

Vitruvian has focused on investment opportunities in the fund administration subsector, given its attractive characteristics and structural growth drivers of alternative asset managers. Through this transaction, Vitruvian will support Aduro's long-term strategic growth, working in close partnership with Aduro's leadership team and PPC.

Braughm Ricke, Founder and CEO of Aduro, said: "This is an exciting opportunity to accelerate the expansion of Aduro's service and technology offerings to best serve the alternative asset industry. The Vitruvian team brings a wealth of experience and will provide strategic guidance and capital to support Aduro's continued growth and development."

Luuk Remmen, Partner at Vitruvian Partners, said: "Vitruvian's investment in Aduro builds on our significant track record in fund administration services. Together with PPC, we will provide significant capital and capabilities to support and further accelerate the growth and acquisition aspirations of Aduro. We are excited about partnering with Braughm and the broader Aduro team."

Thomas Uger and Kashyap Shah of PPC added, "The Aduro team successfully executed an aggressive growth plan while strengthening the Company's operational and technological capabilities and providing excellent service to Aduro's venture capital and private equity clients. We are thrilled to retain a meaningful equity stake alongside the Aduro management team, and we welcome Vitruvian, who we believe will be a very additive partner for the next stage of growth."

Jefferies LLC served as financial advisor and Covington Burling LLP served as legal counsel to Aduro. Kirkland Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to Vitruvian. Terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

About Aduro Advisors

Aduro Advisors, LLC is the premier fund administrator for venture capital and private equity firms. Our service-first, tech-forward approach helps clients navigate operations with ease while building durable businesses. Over 550+ firms rely on Aduro to manage thousands of funds representing more than $120B in assets under administration. Aduro's customized solutions, highly experienced professionals and purpose-built platform, FundPanel.io, elevate operations so clients can focus on what they do best: investing. To learn more, visit www.aduroadvisors.com.

About Vitruvian Partners

Vitruvian Partners is an international growth-focused investor with offices across London, Stockholm, Munich, Madrid, Luxembourg, San Francisco, Mumbai, Singapore, and Shanghai. Vitruvian focuses on dynamic situations characterized by rapid growth and change across asset-light industries. Vitruvian has c.$16bn of active funds which have backed many global winners and leaders in their sectors, including Just Eat, EasyPark, Skyscanner, Wise, CFC Underwriting, CRF Health, Darktrace, and Bitdefender. Further information can be found at www.vitruvianpartners.com.

About PPC Enterprises

PPC Enterprises is a New York City-based private equity firm founded by former senior partners of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts Co. PPC invests in a select group of industries, including Business and Financial Services, Industrial Services, and Healthcare Services. www.ppcenterprises.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240523533015/en/

Contacts:

Any queries please contact Siobhan Loftus at Vitruvian Partners at Siobhan.Loftus@vitruvianpartners.com
Portal Will Enable Participants and Attendees to Book Rooms for November Event in Baku

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Azerbaijan, the host of COP29, today unveiled its interactive accommodation portal, the system that will enable participants and attendees to book hotel rooms and other lodging for the United Nations Climate Change Conference being held in Baku in November.

In a press conference at the COP29 Office, Azada Huseynova, Deputy Chair of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, said the accommodation system has been designed to ensure that a range of room types and locations will be available to people who want to attend the event.

The accommodation platform will be available for reservations https://cop29-accommodation.bnetwork.com from 17:00 today, on 23rd May, 2024.

"We will be ready to welcome the world to Baku. We have studied the experiences of previous COP host countries and how they approached their accommodation programs and have integrated some elements of those practices into our plans as COP host country," Ms. Huseynova said. "We have put in place the infrastructure that will ensure that participants from around the world can make their accommodation booking in a smooth and speedy way."

The State Tourism Agency is working with hotels, on-line accommodation marketplaces, and other residential and lodging locations in the city and region, to ensure that the event will be able to host the full complement of attendees comfortably and enjoyably.

The lodging made available in the system today is the first phase of a comprehensive rollout. Further phases will release additional rooms at additional hotels and lodging facilities.

The hotels included in the platform have been selected on the basis of quality, location and transportation services that will be arranged for the event. The Agency audited more than 300 accommodation establishments, and approximately 200 have been classified and received a star rating. About 40 hotels that did not earn a star classification were given a period to improve facilities and performance before being re-audited.

Ms. Huseynova also provided details of a customer service training program being undertaken by the State Tourism Agency in advance of COP29. Approximately 2,000 employees from about 300 establishments in the cities of Baku and Sumgayit, and the wider Absheron region are participating.

In addition, the Agency plans to provide training and certification to 200 tourist guides, and training to a further 1,000 tourism volunteers, who will be assigned to hotels to support guests during COP29.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420875/COP29_Accommodation_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420878/COP29_Accommodation_2.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420876/COP29_Accommodation_3.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420877/COP29_Accommodation_4.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cop29-unveils-accommodation-platform-302154555.html
DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Mary Kay Inc., a corporate cheerleader in support of STEM education and youth pursuing their dreams, recently awarded three standout high school scientists, selected from more than 1,600 participants, with grants at the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles. The grants - totaling nearly $10,000 - were awarded to students with innovative projects focused on finding cures for cancers affecting women, sustainable packaging innovation, and protecting our planet's most valuable resources.

ISEF, a program of Society for Science for over 70 years, is the world's largest global science competition for high school students. Through a global network of local, regional, and national science fairs, millions of students are encouraged to explore their passion for scientific inquiry. Each spring, a group of these students is selected as finalists and offered the opportunity to compete for approximately $9 million in awards and scholarships.

"These future STEM leaders demonstrated innovative research, creative solutions, and novel approaches to complex problems that will directly impact cures for cancer, sustainable business practices, and redefine industry norms," said Kristin Dasaro, Director, Package Engineering and Sustainability at Mary Kay. "We have so much to learn from this next generation and Mary Kay is honored to support them in their STEM journeys."

MEET THE STUDENT SCIENTISTS

First Prize: Keshvee Sekhda and Nyambura Sallinen (Georgia, USA)

IdentiCan: The App That Detects Brain, Breast, Lung, Skin, and Pancreatic Cancer

App utilizing AI technology to identify cancerous tumors with 99.6% accuracy.

Second Prize: Madalena Filipe and Frederico Mauritty (Lisboa, Portugal)

HidroQapa: Waterproof Bioplastic Made From Chitosan Extracted From Shrimp Shell Waste

Creating sustainable, biodegradable materials from crustacean shells, helping to reduce waste and environmental pollution.

Third Prize: Carolina de Araujo Pereira da Silva (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Rock the Metals! Investigating Manganese as a Trigger of Malignancy and Metal Transporters as Targets in Cancer Treatment

Researching how metals and their transporters affect cancer cell behavior for novel therapeutic cancer treatments.

About Mary Kay

Then. Now. Always. One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women's lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 35 countries. For 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com , find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn , or follow us on Twitter.

###

Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications

marykay.com/newsroom

972.687.5332 or media@mkcorp.com

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Mary Kay on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Mary Kay

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/mary-kay

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Mary Kay

View the original press release on accesswire.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Marvel Discovery Corp. (TSX-V:MARV)(FRA:O4T)(OTCQB:MARVF) ("Marvel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has acquired 100% of additional ground ("Pecors West") east of Elliot Lake to complement its East Bull Property. The additional land package of 805 hectares (ha) brings the land holdings in the area to a total of 6,157 ha. (Figure 1).

The Pecors West property has the potential to host three unique styles of mineralization under the critical metals criteria:

PGM-Ni-Cu magmatic style mineralization associated with the large Pecors regional magnetic anomaly. Uranium mineralization typical of the Elliot Lake uranium camp within the Pecors Channel. Uranium and rare-earth oxide (REO) mineralization similar to the contiguous Radio Fuels Eco Ridge Project.

"The Pecors West property is a dynamic piece of ground with significant potential for Ni-Cu-PGM mineralization and uranium and rare-earth oxide mineralization in two completely different geological settings", Mr. Karim Rayani, Chief Executive Officer, commented. "The new land acquisition puts Marvel contiguous to the Eco Ridge Project with almost 60 Mt of uranium and rare-earth oxide resources. Drilling by Five Nine Ventures intersected shallow uranium mineralization along the Pecors Channel in 2012, and in 2015 PGM+Ni+Cu mineralization was intersected by International Montoro within the extensive Pecors magnetic anomaly, now held by Power One Resources (SpinCo from Mavel). This land acquisition gives Marvel a sizeable area of influence in the camp."

The Pecors Channel (Figure 1) located next door to the new land acquisition contains an inferred resource of 20,000,000 tons grading 0.037% (0.74 lbs./t) U3O8 or 14,800,000 lbs. U3O8 (Rio Algom,

Figure1: Regional Location of the Pecors West Property and neighboring companies

1977). This resource estimated is based on limited drilling and there is potential to expand the Pecors Channel onto the Pecors West property. Uranium is hosted within the quartz-pebble conglomerate of the Matinenda Formation at shallow depths within the Pecors Channel. 'Channels' within the Elliot Lake uranium camp were mined extensively in the 1950s where production grades averaged 0.100% U3O8. The resource estimate cited above predates and therefore does not conform to the more stringent reporting requirements of National Instrument 43-101 and should not be relied upon according to those standards. Marvel has not yet done exploration work to verify or classify the historical estimates as a current mineral resource, and the Company is not treating the historical estimates as a current mineral reserve or resource.

The Pecors West property also hosts the potential for significant PGM- Ni-Cu mineralization related to the Pecors Magnetic anomaly, a large regional magnetic high extending 18 km long and 4 km wide and largely hidden beneath Huronian sediments (Figure 2). The source of the magnetic anomaly has been confirmed to be at least partially comprised of lithologies of gabbroic affinity by International Montoro drilling in 2015. Hole P15-23 drilled by International Montoro intersected 0.33 g/t Pt+Pd+Au and 0.11% Cu and 0.04% Ni over 12m within contact style mafic intrusive mineralization. This style of mineralization appears similar to the East Bull PGM deposit to the east where Quest Critical Metals Inc., (formerly Canadian Palladium) reports a total indicated resources of 16.5 million tonnes at a grade of 0.93 g/t PdEq (see Quest Critical Metals news release dated February 22, 2023).

Figure 2. Pecors magnetic anomaly and inverted depth to surface. Location of 2015 drilling included.

The Pecors West property is contiguous to Radio Fuels Corp. (CSE:CAKE) Eco Ridge Project where indicated resources total 22.306 Mt grading 0.045% U3O8and 1,613 ppm REO (rare-earth oxides) and inferred resources total 36.955 Mt grading 0.046 % U3O8 and 1,560 ppm REO (https://radiofuels.ca/).

Transaction Terms

Marvel Discovery has signed an agreement with two vendors to purchase a 100% interest in 18 boundary cell mining claims and 35 single cell mining claims for $10,000 cash payable upon acceptance of the transaction by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Effective Date") and an additional $40,000 cash payable within 6 months from the Effective Date. On the Effective Date, Marvel must also issue 500,000 common shares and 500,000 share purchase warrants exercisable for a 3-year period at $.05 per share. The vendors retains a 2% NSR with a buyback option from Marvel for 50% of the NSR for $1,000,000 cash. All terms are conditional upon regulatory approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

Qualified Person

Mike Kilbourne, P. Geo, an independent qualified person ("QP") as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Company.

The QP has not completed sufficient work to verify the historic information on the properties comprising the Pecors property, particularly regarding historical exploration, neighbouring companies, and government geological work. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the Pecors property but may not be representative of expected results.

About Marvel Discovery Corp.

Marvel, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange for over 25 years, is a Canadian based emerging resource company. The Company is systematically exploring its extensive property positions in:

Newfoundland (Slip, Gander North, Gander South, Victoria Lake, Baie Verte, and Hope Brook - Au Prospects )

) Atikokan, Ontario (BlackFly - Au Prospect )

) Elliot Lake, Ontario (East Bull - Ni-Cu-PGE Prospect)

Quebec (Duhamel - Ni-Cu-Co prospect & Titanium, Vanadium, and Chromium Prospect)

Prince George, British Columbia (Wicheeda North - Rare Earth Elements Prospect)

The Company's website is: https://marveldiscovery.ca/

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Marvel Discovery Corp.

"Karim Rayani"

Karim Rayani

President/Chief Executive Officer, Director

Tel: 604 716 0551 email: k@r7.capital

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements which reflect the expectations of management. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: completion of the proposed Arrangement. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Marvel Discovery Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Press release

23 May 2024





Atos/Econocom: "Deep down, men can no more do without being led than they can do without eating, drinking or sleeping."

Charles de Gaulle

Jean-Louis Bouchard, Chairman and founder of Econocom, has explained his decision to join the consortium to buy out Atos.

He considers David Layani's approach to be ambitious, brave and informed by a sound understanding of Atos and IT services - qualities which, he believes, have been lacking since Thierry Breton's departure.

In joining the consortium, Jean-Louis Bouchard is showing his support and safeguarding the mutual interests Econocom and Atos have had for years.

Atos and Econocom have worked together for over 40 years, both as competitors and partners, as is often the case in the IT services and finance industries.

B ack when Atos was called SLIGOS and managed the newly emerging credit card services for a consortium of banks, Econocom supplied and leased second-hand IBM computers.

Today, Atos and Econocom still join forces to respond to major tenders in the field of IT outsourcing (Tech Foundation) and equipment financing (mostly Bull).

Econocom brings its recognized workplace expertise to the venture, while Atos brings its systems outsourcing experience.

With this venture, Econocom hopes to give the consortium the benefit of the relationship of trust it has built with corporate bankers and funders, a trust earned over the course of its many years in the finance leasing business and its operational experience, mainly in Europe (more than 50% of the company's 3 billion revenue is made outside France).

Econocom's prudent management policy as well as the timely disposal of non-strategic entities have enabled it to build up a successful, profitable business. In addition, its solid expertise of bank debt will prove valuable for turning Atos around - a venture Jean-Louis Bouchard intends to proceed with immediately, providing the conditions are met.

A BOUT ECONOCOM

The Econocom Group, created 50 years ago, is a pioneer in supporting the digital transformation of companies. Its solutions, focused on the development and transformation of the workplace, audiovisual & digital signage as well as infrastructure, cover the full range of responsibilities and expertise necessary for any digital venture: from the design phase and help in the choice of the solution to the deployment of the equipment and outsourcing. It includes the purchase or rental of equipment, customisation, associated and managed services, as well as the reconditioning of end-of-life equipment.

Present in 16 countries with more than 8,800 employees, Econocom is listed on Euronext in Brussels, Bel Mid and Family Business indices. It generated revenue of 2,681 million in 2023.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.econocom.com

Econocom Group Communications contact: anne.bruchon@econocom.com

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia , May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --The shores of the Red Sea at the St. Regis Resort provided a stunning backdrop for the conclusion of the "Red Sea Fashion Week". Led by the Saudi Fashion Commission, the inaugural launch spanned three days and attracted a diverse range of guests from around the world. The closing fashion show was a magical evening, with the warm rays of the sun blending harmoniously with the serene waves and golden sands of the Red Sea illuminating the wonderful experience RSFW had offered.

Red Sea Fashion Week showcased the latest collections from Saudi designers, alongside regional talents from the Arab world and international brands. Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, set the tone for the event, promising an unforgettable experience. This weekend delivered a truly one-of-a-kind spectacle.

Red Sea Fashion Week is a premier event that highlights the resort collections, emphasizing the importance of the continuous development and a step towards the acceleration of the fashion ecosystem in the Kingdom. The event introduced new clothing lines tailored for resort styles and summer destinations, adding a fresh dimension to the Kingdom's fashion scene.

The fashion show lineup featured seven female-owned brands from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Egypt. Additionally, a showroom hosted 21 brands, including the Saudi 100 Brands, Moroccan labels, Egyptian lines, and Turkish garments. RSFW's unique setting catered to a range of tastes, attracting buyers from local, regional, and international markets bringing the talents of Saudi Arabia to a global scale.

As the event came to a close, Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, emphasized that the fashion commission will continue to empower and showcase local talents through various initiatives dedicated to the development of the Kingdom's fashion sector.

"This three-day event at the St. Regis Red Sea Resort has been a cultural exchange connecting local, regional, and international brands in the heart of one of the kingdom's breathtaking natural landscapes. Our commitment to economic growth, sustainable development, and the promotion of local talents and creatives on a global scale is unwavering. The Saudi Fashion Commission is dedicated to fostering a dynamic ecosystem where creativity and business acumen flourish.

"The enthusiasm of buyers from around the world who have witnessed the diverse resort wear showcased, underscores the global appeal of this newly launched fashion week. Red Sea Fashion Week is instrumental in making Saudi Arabia a beacon of fashion and culture."

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420684/Red_Sea_Fashion_Week.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420685/Red_Sea_Fashion_Week.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-red-sea-shores-bid-farewell-to-red-sea-fashion-week-302154575.html
BY BEN FOX RUBIN

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Mastercard

Mastercard

In 1975, Kevin Kim's mom and dad picked up their lives and brought their two kids from South Korea to New York, moving into a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in Sunnyside, Queens.

Kevin Kim, left, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, right, at a June event in which they announced that more than 600 small businesses had received funding from the Opportunity Fund since its inception in January. (Photo courtesy of New York City Department of Small Business Services)

Kim, who is commissioner of New York City's Department of Small Business Services, was 5 at the time, his sister was 9, and their parents were working 14- to 16-hour days, seven days a week, trying to build up their artificial flowers business. Kim's maternal grandmother moved in to help out.

Mom would create the flower designs and dad would head over to the garment district, knocking on wholesalers' doors to sell those designs. After seven years of doing that, the family finally made it out of that tiny apartment.

His parents' struggle to make it - especially because they spoke limited English and "had no clue about any government resources," he said - informed a lot about how Kim has engaged immigrant small business communities in New York City. There are over 200,000 small businesses across the city, and about half of them are owned by immigrants.

Kim's own experience as an entrepreneur, even after living in New York City most of his life, was similar - he also didn't know what government resources he could access.

"When I came into this role, the first thing that was so glaring was that - wow, this agency New York City Small Business Services has so many incredible programs already," he said in a recent interview. "And yet, if people don't know about it, it's all for naught."

He set out to make sure people just like his parents would know about SBS, which provides a long list of resources for small businesses, including funding, commercial lease assistance and government contracting opportunities.

He spoke to the Mastercard Newsroom about his work at SBS and the sentiment he's hearing in the streets from small businesses today. Kim also talked about the creation of the city's $85 million NYC Small Business Opportunity Fund - the biggest public-private loan program for small businesses in the city's history - which was created in partnership with Mastercard and Goldman Sachs. He also made sure to plug the upcoming SBS Small Business Month Expo on May 29, which will bring a variety of small business resources under one roof.

After being appointed to the position more than two years ago, Kim this month announced plans to step down at the end of June.

The following Q&A was edited for length and clarity.

You mentioned how much you wanted to focus on outreach at SBS. So how did you manage to get the word out?

Kim: I came in and we ended up reorganizing our agency to create the first-ever outreach team, and we put a team of about 10 people in there. We also put the existing RV unit, which we affectionately call Mobie, into action - that allowed it to go around the city multiple times a week.

I realized that our social media was lagging and, in this day and age, without robust social media activity, you're not going to get the audiences that you're aiming to get. The way we disseminated the programming information out to this 8.5 million-person city of 700 different languages being spoken every day became my focus.

We are clearly seeing the engagement with our agency just skyrocket. It was an intentional effort to make sure people knew that if they needed us, we were there and they knew how to get to us.

And that was all part of this grand strategy to make sure that people knew about all of our services, in language and in historically underserved communities, and that they wouldn't have to wait seven years like my parents to have a successful small business - that maybe they could cut that time in half.

What are you hearing from small businesses today - is there more optimism since the pandemic?

Kim: One of the best parts of this job is that I do get to go around to all the commercial quarters in every borough in so many neighborhoods. I ran into this small business owner, a Haitian bakery in Queens who opened during the pandemic. The fact that they were doing really well by the time I visited tells you something, right? The history, the resiliency, the hope of New Yorkers coming here with very little and starting a small business and not just helping their own family, but I know that particular business was giving back to the Haitian American community. And so it's that cycle, living the American dream right here in New York City that still exists. That just really reminded me of my own personal story.

"It's not just them living their dream, but they're really impacting the community by hiring New Yorkers as well. So it feels like everybody's chipping in, the mood out in the streets is much more vibrant." Kevin Kim

It's not just them living their dream, but they're really impacting the community by hiring New Yorkers as well. So it feels like everybody's chipping in, the mood out in the streets is much more vibrant. I'm not trying to brush over some of the challenges that are still out there. Of course, retail theft is still out there.

The optimism, I feel it. I think the types of programs and investments the Adams administration has made, that's made a huge impact when you invest in the commercial corridors.

Tell me about the city's Opportunity Fund.

Kim: We were able to have such great private partners in Goldman Sachs and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. The design of the program was so collaborative, having discussions about not just how much money is going to go out there, but what's the biggest impact we can have.

When you come out with a loan program by a government entity, you sometimes look for the easiest way to implement it and that could have been just picking the three or four largest CDFIs [community development financial institutions, which provide financial services to low-income communities] and then just working through them and calling it a day. What was extremely impactful here was that Mastercard, Goldman Sachs, SBS - we all had that second layer of intentionality saying, if we're going to do this, and maybe it takes a little bit longer to design it and to roll it out fully, let's make sure we focus on capacity building for some of our smaller CDFIs.

And that's what we did. And that second prong to this, I think, really impacted the results we got and who got the money, because the smaller CDFIs were really rooted in historically underserved communities. So after one year of the implementation of this program, we ended up with 1,046 businesses getting an average of $80,000.

You could just see the demand that was out there, because in the first couple of weeks, we had over 10,000 businesses express interest.

The results again mirrored so much of that outreach, with 80% MWBEs [minority and women-owned business enterprises] receiving the money. We had 69% who are self-identified as BIPOC [black, indigenous, and other people of color]. We had 59% of recipients being located in low- and moderate-income communities.

Because of the success, we're already trying to think about what a 2.0 version would look like.

What's a success story from the Opportunity Fund?

Kim: We had chef Jae Lee, from a restaurant called Nowon. It is a Korean American bar and restaurant in the East Village. They became very well known on Instagram and social media for their kimchi burgers. I've tried it. It's very good.

They were trying to expand to a second location in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and the traditional bank said, "Sorry, you're not eligible." Chef Lee applied for this Opportunity Fund, got $250,000, subsequently was able to open in Bushwick - a larger space, and now he employs over 50 New Yorkers.

So what this story really highlights is that when you get the right business that gets the right capital access, again, it's not just about that business. It's about the impact of hiring those 50 New Yorkers. It's about that new, bigger location. It's about providing an experience to people in that community. And so that kind of economic impact is something that needs to be fully appreciated. So that was one of our great success stories.

Especially thinking about your parents' story, how does that make you feel that you were an important part in making success stories like Nowon's happen?

Personally, I feel as if this is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had, having the privilege of being commissioner of SBS. But I want to make it so clear that it was really the years-long effort of my capital access team and other leaders here at SBS who finally made this happen.

Originally published by Mastercard

Follow along Mastercard's journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Mastercard on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Mastercard

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/mastercard

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Mastercard

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Pedestrians gather outside the Mexican Museum on Mission Street in San Francisco. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle

A scathing city audit issued in March cast doubt over the Mexican Museums ability to activate its space inside of a downtown San Francisco condo tower and indicated that the museum could face eviction. Now, the nonprofit is poised to earn additional time to figure out its delayed construction project.

With a unanimous vote on Wednesday, the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure commission approved the museums request for a one-year extension of a city grant meant to support the build-out of its 40,000-square-foot space at 706 Mission St., which is set to expire in June. Wednesdays amendment to the existing grant agreement, which dates to 2010 and is under the purview of OCII  the citys former redevelopment agency  must still be approved by OCIIs Oversight Board and the citys department of finance.

If the amendment is approved, the museum would have an option to extend the grant agreement for another six months, for a total of 18 months, at the discretion of OCIIs executive director, who would be required to evaluate the nonprofits progress toward its fundraising goals. Roughly $4 million of the grant funding, which totals $10.6 million, has already been spent. In order to unlock the remaining funding, the museum would first need to raise $4.5 million from private donors.

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In exchange for the extra time, the museum has agreed to drop a lawsuit it filed against the city which accused the city of blocking off half of the museums currently unoccupied four-story facility in early 2021, a move that allegedly further delayed its progress in activating the space.

The $10.6 million grant was the subject of a recent city audit, which found, among other things, that the museum not only lacks the needed capital to complete tenant improvements within its 40,000-square-foot space, but has also misused a portion of the public dollars that it has received for the project to date.

The museum has disputed the audits findings, but its representatives said Wednesday that they are working to comply with a number of recommendations that require the museum to show that it can raise the necessary funding and return grant money that was spent on ineligible uses.

The city has previously estimated that the museum would need to raise $49 million  in addition to the OCII grant  to complete construction at 706 Mission St. Museum representatives said Wednesday that the organization has managed to reduce construction costs to about $38 million.

On Wednesday, Andrew Kluger, chair of the museums board of trustees, laid out a new fundraising plan and proposed activating the space in phases.

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The first phase would involve tenant improvements on the first and second floors, including a pop-up gallery featuring some of the museums artwork and the construction of its lobby and a cafe area. It is expected to cost $11 million, which would be funded by the remaining OCII grant as well as the $4.5 million that the museum must raise on its own to access the public dollars.

Kluger also said that the museum has formed a partnership with another nonprofit, Mission Neighborhood Centers, which will act as the museums fiscal sponsor and support its fundraising efforts.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, who is also a mayoral candidate, requested the audit last year to determine why the long-awaited project has been delayed and how the grant money has been spent. The lack of progress violates long-standing agreements among the city, the museum and the 706 Mission towers developers, which require the museum to complete tenant improvements within 24 months of the issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy for the core and shell of the space, which happened in September 2020.

The citys department of real estate, which owns the four-story space at the bottom of the condo tower and acts as the museums landlord, previously accused the museum of failing to keep current with its financial disclosure obligations under its lease agreement, specifically as it relates to submitting annual fiscal information to the city.

Peskin said that he called for an investigation into the matter in light of ongoing city efforts to activate vacant spaces downtown.

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The whole point of this audit was that they have been misspending public dollars and have nothing to show for it, other than a vacant space in Yerba Buena as we are trying to recover from the pandemic, he told the Chronicle on Wednesday.

However, representatives of the museum said during Wednesdays hearing that they did not formally take possession of the space until last year.

OCII commission Chair Bivett Brackett defended the museums lack of progress, stating that city bureaucracy is also to blame in regard to the delays.

When you think about how long this project took  from 1993 to 2022  the museum team did not really have access to this space, Brackett said. This is also part of government functions, the board and different members changing and things being done differently when different people are in charge, and some of that negatively impacts communities who are waiting on critical resources.

Brackett also said that the $10.6 million grant agreement forged in 2010 was not enough to cover current construction costs.

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We are now in 2024, and we are still expecting them to do the same amount of work with money we allocated over 14 years ago, its unrealistic, she said, and requested to modify the grant agreement further to give the museum a total of five extra years to raise the needed funding.

Commissioner Tamsen Drew, however, said that she found the results of the audit, including a finding that the museum had only raised about 2% of its needed capital by 2022, jarring.

I have serious concerns about the issues that were raised in the audit, Drew said, adding that she did not support extending the grant agreement beyond 18 months.

Peskin said that he plans to push for the amendment to include a requirement that the museums collection be assessed by an independent third-party expert, in light of allegations by a group of artists with affiliations to the museum who have accused the nonprofit of selling off pieces in violation of its own policies.

All of this begs the question: What has become of their collection? What items did they sell, and are they going to do a full accounting for art experts and the public before they get any more money? Peskin said. While I am dubious, after all these years  about their ability to raise the tens of millions of dollars that they have yet to raise, the most important thing is that we need to have information about the integrity of the collection.

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Max Ventures is ready to help newcomers to the Balearic island, with a wide range of services for both businesses and individuals

Palma de Mallorca, May 23, 2024, an established co-working space and startup accelerator in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, has expanded its offerings beyond workplace solutions. It now offers assistance ranging from acquiring Spanish residency to utilising the notorious Beckham tax Law. Its network of lawyers, accountants and business consultants also facilitate company incorporation, web design, accountancy, bookkeeping, and tax advice.

"In our work with startups, we realised that building a business isn't just about having a good idea; the tricky part is structuring a functional company around it," says Toni Grunwald, Managing Partner at Max Ventures. "Many newcomers to the island find the local bureaucracy stressful, so we have put together a team to try to streamline the arrival process, and get them to the startup stage".

In the popular neighbourhood of El Terreno, the Max Ventures office is conveniently located above a multi-story carpark, second line to Palma's waterfront. Having established itself as a popular co-working office and startup accelerator, the company is now moving toward helping brand new arrivals on the island to navigate the labyrinth of bureaucracy that may seem daunting to those who do not know where to start. Once the initial hurdles have been overcome, it also offers business and administrative support including monthly and annual accounting, establishing business procedures and tax declaration services.

"Mallorca is a hugely popular place for foreigners to live, but many struggle to settle if they do not speak the local language or know the intricacies of the system," says Toni. "We can offer support in German, Dutch, Ukrainian, English, Swedish, Spanish, and French."
Marijuana Rescheduling Process Normally Steered by the DEA had been taken over by the U.S. Justice Department. The decision would not be signed by DEA ANNE MILGRAM but by Attorney General Merrick Garland.







During a recent congressional hearing, Anne Milgram , Director of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), passionately addressed the alarming surge in illegal fentanyl-related deaths . Her plea for action against this epidemic resonated widely. However, amidst this urgency, a significant contradiction emerges- the DEA's hindrance of marijuana research and drug development.

DEA vs. Marijuana Research: A Troubling Double Standard

Despite the Biden administration's move to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which was hailed as "monumental," the DEA's stance on cannabis remains a point of contention. MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, which aims to grow pharmaceutical marijuana for FDA-sanctioned trials treating conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Huntington's Disease (HD), has faced significant obstruction from the DEA.

Further investigation reveals that several additional pharmaceutical companies are challenging the DEA, Director Milgram, and other officials over the constitutionality of the agency's administrative processes . Four separate actions in four different federal court districts suggest the DEA has an administrative problem at its core.

Constitutional and Regulatory Conflicts

Failure to Comply with Presidential and Congressional Mandates: The DEA's manner of appointing Administrative Law Judges has led to constitutional rights violations for affected pharmaceutical companies.

Refusal to Ease Research Regulations: Despite growing evidence of marijuana and psychedelics' efficacy in treating MS, HD, and chronic pain, the DEA's stringent policies continue to hamper progress in these areas.

Implications for Medical Cannabis

The DEA's staunch opposition to marijuana research has impeded large-scale clinical trials and drug development by companies like MMJ BioPharma, depriving patients of potentially life-changing treatments. This opposition starkly contrasts with Director Milgram's urgent call for action against the fentanyl crisis, highlighting a troubling double standard within the agency.

DOJ Steps In

In a secluded meeting at the DEA headquarters, Director Milgram revealed that the process of reclassifying marijuana, normally managed by the DEA, had been taken over by the U.S. Justice Department. Attorney General Merrick Garland, not Milgram, would sign the reclassification action. This unprecedented move underscores internal tensions and the Justice Department's pushback against the DEA's restrictive criteria for marijuana research.

MMJ BioPharma Cultivation's Legal Battle

On April 10, 2024, MMJ BioPharma Cultivation filed a lawsuit against Anne Milgram, Attorney General Garland, and several DEA personnel. The suit challenges the DEA's unexplained and unanswered delays in facilitating marijuana research, arguing that the DEA's actions deny suffering patients potential relief.

Industry and Congressional Outcry

Industry leaders and lawmakers have voiced their frustrations with the DEA. MMJ BioPharma's President, Duane Boise, criticized the DEA for failing its legislative mandate, while CEO Dr. Elio Mariani emphasized the company's determination to uncover the truth behind the DEA's inaction . Congressman Buddy Carter recently labeled the DEA the "EPITOME OF INEPTITUDE," questioning the agency's competence and motives.

Conclusion: The Need for Answers

The DEA's contradictory stance on addressing the fentanyl crisis while obstructing marijuana research raises critical questions. Is the DEA acting intentionally? Does it have a hidden agenda? Are its personnel incompetent? Millions of Americans depend on the DEA for their well-being, and they deserve clear, transparent answers to these pressing questions.

Is the DEA acting intentionally? Does the DEA have a hidden agenda? Is the DEA personnel incompetent or all of the above?

MMJ is represented by Attorney Megan Sheehan of Rhode Island.

CONTACT :

Madison Hisey

mhisey@mmjih.com

203-231-8583

SOURCE: MMJ BioPharma Cultivation





View the original press release on accesswire.com
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Signal Gold Inc. ("Signal Gold" or the "Company") (TSX:SGNL)(OTCQX:SGNLF) is pleased to announce that all resolutions proposed to shareholders at the annual general meeting held today were duly passed.

All the nominees listed in the management information circular for the meeting were elected as directors of the Company. Detailed results of the vote for the election of directors are set out below.

Nominee Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld Kevin Bullock 63,146,423 84.181 11,866,586 15.819 George Furey 50,268,089 67.012 24,744,920 32.988 P.E. (Ted) Kavanagh 66,860,234 89.132 8,152,775 10.868 Lewis Lawrick 61,726,736 82.288 13,286,273 17.712 Mary-Lynn Oke 65,474,828 87.285 9,538,181 12.715 Ian Pritchard 48,928,728 65.227 26,084,277 34.773

In addition, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was reappointed as the Company's auditors for the ensuing year and the directors were authorized to fix their remuneration.

For detailed voting results on each resolution, please refer to the Company's Report of Voting Results filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

ABOUT SIGNAL GOLD

Signal Gold is advancing the Goldboro Gold Project in Nova Scotia, a significant growth project subject to a positive Feasibility Study which demonstrates an approximately 11-year open pit life of mine ("LOM") with average gold production of 100,000 ounces per annum and an average diluted grade of 2.26 grams per tonne gold. (Please see the 'NI 43-101 Technical Report and Feasibility Study for the Goldboro Gold Project, Eastern Goldfields District, Nova Scotia' on January 11, 2022, for further details). On August 3, 2022, the Goldboro Project received its environmental assessment approval from the Nova Scotia Minister of Environment and Climate Change, a significant regulatory milestone, and the Company has now submitted all key permits including the Industrial Approval, Fisheries Act Authorization and Schedule II Amendment, and the Mining and Crown Land Leases. The Goldboro Project has significant potential for further Mineral Resource expansion, particularly towards the west along strike and at depth, and the Company has consolidated 27,200 hectares (~272 km2) of prospective exploration land in the Goldboro Gold District.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT

Signal Gold Inc.

Kevin Bullock

President and CEO

(647) 388-1842

kbullock@signalgold.com Reseau ProMarket Inc.

Dany Cenac Robert

Investor Relations

(514) 722-2276 x456

Dany.Cenac-Robert@ReseauProMarket.com

SOURCE: Signal Gold Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Learn how Josh Parsons and his team are combining traditional breeding with modern tools to improve the quality, sustainability and taste of the potatoes PepsiCo raises.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / "Harvest season has always been my absolute favorite time of year," Josh Parsons says. He arrives before sunrise to walk through the fields at PepsiCo's Rhinelander, Wisconsin, farm, filled with suspense about what's beneath the soil. After a year of waiting, he'll soon discover if his work is a success.

"The most exhilarating thing about potatoes is they grow underground," Josh says. "You don't know what you have until you dig them up."

Josh, an R&D Sr. Principal Scientist, leads a team that cultivates never-before-seen varieties of potatoes destined to become the future of Lay's potato chips. The annual harvest in Rhinelander yields bushels of new crops - and valuable information on the best ways to grow them.

There are more than 4,000 recognized potato varieties grown around the world, but fewer than 10 are the caliber for a Lay's potato chip. Each one of those is proprietary to PepsiCo - carefully selected to maximize crop yield, disease resistance, nutrition content, cooking quality and taste. "But we're always looking for better," Josh says.

The techniques for discovering a new variety of potato combine traditional breeding with modern tools like data science and AI to select desirable plant traits. Josh and his team start with sets of "parent" potatoes, analyzing data to determine which would meet Lay's standards for quality and sustainability. They add pollen from one plant to the flower of another to breed an entirely new seed with attributes from both parent plants - mimicking the same process that happens in nature.

"Each of those seeds is a unique individual, like siblings in a family," Josh explains. Only instead of one or two offspring, each set of parent plants produce 200 to 400. Multiply that by dozens of cross-pollinations, and Josh's team plants nearly 20,000 new seeds in Rhinelander each year. But only two or three of those seeds produce a potato variety that ever reaches a Frito-Lay kitchen.

"We're incredibly selective," Josh says. "We want to make sure the seeds we provide to growers benefit them, our business and the environment." Josh and his team are also working to develop potato varieties that contain more flavor and need less seasoning - one way PepsiCo's R&D and agriculture experts are innovating to support the company's PepsiCo Positive (pep+) nutrition goals, which include a 15% sodium-reduction target for Lay's Classic Potato Chips in the United States.

"We want to make sure the seeds we provide to growers benefit them, our business and the environment."

To better predict future performance, the new potato breeds undergo complex statistical analysis of the seed's genetics. "We don't do any genetic modifications," Josh says. "But we do use genetic information to forecast which crops have a chance to be successful and which don't."

Once Josh and his team have identified a successful crop, they send samples of the plant to partner farmers around the world so they can begin growing the new potatoes on their farms. The first variety Josh developed for PepsiCo was grown earlier this year and was recently cooked into a full batch of Lay's - two key milestones in a development process that takes nine years to complete.

"I'm biased, but it was the best potato chip I ever tasted," Josh says. There are still more hurdles the variety must clear before making it to store shelves but knowing that seedlings he bred could soon end up in Lay's bags around the world instills a deep sense of pride.

"This job gives us a chance to leave a mark on an iconic brand," Josh says. He keeps that thought at the forefront of his mind every day he goes to work. "Our team is small," Josh explains. "But the work we do reaches farmers, kitchens, stores and consumers all over the world. It's crucial that we act as owners, continuously seek ways we can improve and make sure the results of our efforts are felt far beyond the fields in Rhinelander."

Josh at PepsiCo's Rhinelander, Wisconsin, farm.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Frito-Lay North America on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Frito-Lay North America

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/frito-lay-north-america

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Frito-Lay North America

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / This week, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP) is bringing together nearly 300 senior social impact, corporate responsibility, and sustainability from the world's leading global companies for the 21st annual CECP Summit: Purpose + Persistence.

The CECP Summit will feature leaders engaging and learning together about powerful insights on trends, partnerships, and finding the return on corporate purpose. The variety of session topics reflect the many complex issues companies are currently facing as responsible purpose-driven businesses including: using data to guide social impact programs, community investments in sustainability, best practices and predictions in DEI, measuring social investments, the future of volunteering, communicating sustainability, and more.

"The leaders assembling at this week's CECP Summit serve as bridges within their organizations and in their communities, connecting a company's corporate purpose with business success to increase customer loyalty, build employee engagement, improve brand trust, attract top talent, and connect with strategic investors and other stakeholders," said Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, CECP. "CECP and its network empowers these leaders to both enhance the business' bottom line, and also create positive impacts as responsible businesses in society."

The Summit includes the presentation of the Charles H. Moore Award for Leadership in Corporate Community Engagement. The 2024 "Charlie Award" was awarded to Sandy Nessing, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, American Electric Power. The award is named in honor of CECP's founding Executive Director and is presented to senior leaders who exemplify perseverance in the pursuit of societal advancement, the trait for which Charlie Moore was best known.

"I'm truly honored to be receiving the Charles H. Moore Award, as Charlie demonstrated the power of the positive social impact that industry can have on society," said Sandy Nessing, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, American Electric Power (AEP). "CECP has been a valuable partner as AEP transforms to meet the changing needs of our stakeholders."

With nearly three decades of communications and sustainability experience in the utility industry, Sandy Nessing leads AEP's ESG/Sustainability strategy and disclosure, stakeholder engagement, and strategic initiatives. This includes overseeing corporate initiatives on climate change, environmental and social justice, and Just Transition; and regularly engaging with investors and customers on AEP's sustainability efforts and energy transition strategy. Sandy chairs AEP's Corporate ESG Steering Committee and Climate Change Executive Group. She is also a member of Datamaran's Board of Directors and serves on the Board of the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System. In 2023, she was named to Sustainability Magazine's Top 100 Women in Sustainability, recognizing her positive influence within this space.

CECP will also share with attendees' the first look at data from the 2024 Giving in NumbersTM Survey. Giving in Numbers is the unrivaled leader in benchmarking on corporate social investments, in partnership with companies. As the premier industry survey and research, Giving in Numbers provides standard-setting criteria in a go-to guide that has defined the field and advanced the movement. CECP tracks trends in the industry through the data, shared by more than 600 multi-billion-dollar companies, representing more than $439 billion in total community investments. See the new 2024 infographic.

The CECP Summit offers an unparalleled line up of speakers including:

Anthony Daniels, Jr., Minority Leader, Alabama House of Representatives

Carly Keller, Manager, Leadership Activation and Nonprofit Capacity Building, The Allstate Foundation

Sandy Nessing, Vice President & Chief Sustainability Officer, American Electric Power

Connie Montana, Philanthropic Giving Program Manager, Bank of America

Andrea Avtjoglou, Director of Data Product Management, Corporate Impact, Blackbaud

Jaha Cummings, Founder, Blanchard House Institute

Jason Cone, President & Co-Founder, BlueCheck Ukraine

Murphy Poindexter, Co-Founder, BlueCheck Charitable Foundation

Liev Schreiber, Co-Founder and Board member, BlueCheck Ukraine

Livia Konkel, CVP, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Corporate Citizenship, Charles River Laboratories

Charu Adesnik, Executive Director, Cisco Foundation Director, Social Impact Office, Cisco Systems, Inc.

Shannon McNary, Manager, Public Affairs and Corporate Citizenship, CITGO Petroleum Corporation

Collette Divitto, CEO/ Founder, Collettey's Cookie Corp & Collettey's Leadership Org

Gwyneth Gaul, Vice President Strategic Partnerships and Philanthropy, Comcast NBCUniversal

Cari Williams, Global Social Responsibility Leader, DPR Construction

Tonia Ries, Executive Director, Trust Barometer, Edelman

Christine Jordan, Senior Lead Program Specialist, Corporate Social Responsibility, Entergy Corporation

Rev. Luis Cortes, Founder / CEO, Esperanza

Kim Rice, Community Engagement Manager, Exelon

Justin Joyner, Sustainability Lead, Freshpet

Victoria Glazar, Managing Director, GE HealthCare Foundation

Heidi Magyar, Executive Director of Corporate Giving, General Motors

Lori Lampman, Chief Human Resources Officer, HARMAN International

James D. White, Board Chair, The Honest Company

Justina Nixon-Saintil, Chief Impact Officer, IBM

Molly Kohrs, Director, Data Citizens with Purpose, KPMG

Joe Scantlebury, President and CEO, Living Cities

Pritha Mittal, Regional Head of Foundation for the Americas, Macquarie Group Foundation

Alex Amouyel, President and CEO, Newman's Own Foundation

Shelly Lazarus, Chairman Emeritus, Ogilvy

Megan Lee, CEO/Chairwoman, Panasonic North America

Tyler Spalding, Senior Director, Corporate Affairs & Global Head of Social Innovation , PayPal

Caitlyn Brazill, Chief Revenue Officer, Per Scholas

Heather Meloy, Director, PwC

Lyndsay Harris-Kyei, Senior Director, ESG Social Strategy, ServiceNow

Kim Dabbs, Global VP, ESG + Social Innovation, Steelcase

Jackie Albano, ESG, Tapestry

Balaji Ganapathy, Chief Social Responsibility Officer, Tata Consultancy Services

Lynette Bell, President, Truist Foundation

Marion Phillips, III, Sr. VP Community Development & DEI, U.S. News & World Report

Gayatri Agnew, Senior Director and Head of Accessibility Center of Excellence, Walmart

Aldustus Jordan, Head of Community Stewardship, Vanguard

Jil Littlejohn Bostick, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility & Inclusion, Winnebago Industries

Monica Moradkhan, VP Community Relations, Wynn Resorts, Limited

Brian Sozzi, Executive Editor, Yahoo Finance

CECP thanks its sponsors for their generous support of 25th anniversary year: Visa Foundation, Bank of America, Exelon, Panasonic, RHR International, StateFarm, Tata Consultancy Services, Vanguard, and Wynn Resorts.

"25 years ago, Paul Newman and I undertook a program of encouraging public corporations to be more of a force for good, embracing a program that Lawrence A. Wien had personally pursued for 5 years in which he attended about 100 shareholder meetings as a shareholder to urge the corporations to increase their philanthropic giving," said Peter Malkin, Chairman Emeritus, Empire State Realty Trust and Co-Founder, CECP. "Today, over 200 CEOs of such corporations are paying members of Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose and their annual support of programs for "good" is more than $47 billion. CECP has come a long way!"

CECP also congratulates the 2023-2024 Company Spotlight honorees: Discovery Education, IBM Corporation, Lincoln Financial Group, MGM Resorts, 3M, Coupa, Tapestry, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, Starbucks, Adobe, Bristol Meyers Squibb Foundation, and Metlife Foundation. On a quarterly basis, CECP selects companies for the sought-after Company Spotlight through a thoughtful information-sharing and communications-support process. Company Spotlights are shared with CECP's nearly 2,000 affiliated corporate contacts, posted on the CECP website as case studies, and recognized at the CECP Summit.

Following the conclusion of the 2024 CECP Summit, CECP will be posting on its website photos, videos, guest blogs, and an Executive Summary.

The application process for the 2025 Charlie Award is open. Nominate a peer senior leader in corporate responsibility today. The deadline is August 30. The application can be accessed on the CECP homepage or by emailing CECP.

####

About Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP)

Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP) is the only business counsel and network dedicated to driving measurable returns on purpose. We promote responsible purpose-driven business as it increases customer loyalty, builds employee engagement, improves brand trust, attracts top talent, connects with strategic investors, and contributes to the bottom line.

More than 200 of the world's leading companies seek to improve their return on purpose through access to CECP's solutions in research and insights, strategy and benchmarking, and convening and communications. With our companies, we harness the power of purpose for business, stakeholders, and society.

For more information, visit http://cecp.co.

CECP Media Contact

Katie Leasor

kleasor@cecp.co

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CECP: Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CECP: Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cecp-chief-executives-corporate-purpose

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: CECP: Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2024) - The Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE" or "the Exchange") today welcomed the listing of Hemlo Explorers Inc. The company's common shares, which previously traded on the TSX Venture Exchange, began trading on the CSE today under the symbol HMLO.

Hemlo Explorers is focused on exploration within Ontario's legendary Hemlo gold camp. The Toronto-based junior mining company has assembled a claim package in the area totaling 380 square kilometres. Barrick Gold Inc., a subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corporation, has an agreement to earn into a portion of Hemlo Explorers' Pic project.

"The Hemlo gold camp has produced more than 20 million ounces in its history, and it is exciting to see that companies are still identifying fresh drill targets in the region today, more than 40 years after the initial discovery," said James Black, the CSE's Vice President, Listings Development. "We wish Hemlo Explorers great success and are pleased to welcome the company to the CSE."

"Hemlo Explorers is very pleased to list on the CSE, which allows issuers to develop their business in an efficient and cost-effective manner. We are looking forward to some exciting future developments for shareholders," said Brian Howlett, President and CEO of Hemlo Explorers.

About the Canadian Securities Exchange:

The Canadian Securities Exchange is a rapidly growing exchange invested in working with entrepreneurs, innovators and disruptors to access public capital markets in Canada. The Exchange's efficient operating model, advanced technology and competitive fee structure help its listed issuers of all sectors and sizes minimize their cost of capital and enhance global liquidity.

Our client-centric approach and corresponding products and services ensure businesses have the support they need to confidently realize their vision.

The CSE offers global investors access to an innovative collection of growing and mature companies.

STAY CONNECTED WITH THE CSE

=============================

Website: https://thecse.com/

Blog: https://blog.thecse.com/

CSE TV on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/csetv

CSE's "The Exchange for Entrepreneurs" Podcast: https://blog.thecse.com/category/cse-podcast/

Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/canadian-securities-exchange

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CSE_News

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canadianexchange/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanadianSecuritiesExchange/

Contact:

Richard Carleton, CEO

416-367-7360

richard.carleton@thecse.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210287

SOURCE: Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE)
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Recognized for introducing the Axial-Flow system in Brazil, Case IH, a brand of CNH, launches the new Axial-Flow Series 160 Automation, with 100% Brazilian production.

With an investment of R$ 100 million, the Sorocaba plant, in the interior of Sao Paulo, received improvements to become the World Production Pole for the smaller line of harvesters, which make up classes 5 to 7.

"The investment made was both in infrastructure, with a large number of technological applications using artificial intelligence, as well as for workforce training. There are more than 1,300 people involved in the project in manufacturing alone and all of them have undergone training," says Eduardo Domingues, vice president of Manufacturing at CNH for Latin America.

And the technology is not limited to the machine production line. The 160 Series has 60% of its machinery renewed, with emphasis on the Automation System and factory connectivity. Through machine learning and artificial intelligence resources, the entire operation has been reduced to four harvesting modes that provide simplicity and productivity in the operation. This is possible through 12 sensors that collect data from the industrial system and then self-regulate, finding the exact working point for each situation and automatically controlling 90% of the operations. This represents up to 1,800 daily interventions on the machine during the harvesting operation, a number that the operator would not be able to perform alone.

The Automation system was already present in Case IH's largest line of harvesters, the 250 Series. "Bringing Automation to the 160 Series is essential for our purpose of providing state-of-the-art technology and, consequently, high productivity, for all producers who want to become more professional every day. It is the only one in its category with real automation," emphasizes Christian Gonzalez, vice president of Case IH for Latin America.

To be available to farmers from all over the world, the project had more than 90 dedicated professionals, mostly Brazilian engineers, but also American and European engineers. In addition to internal tests, the machine was tested by farmers in the United States, some European countries, as well as Brazilian producers in the states of Goias, Parana and Sao Paulo.

With the launch of the new line, Case IH expects to double the current production volume of the Sorocaba plant. "Our expectation is that 50% will be allocated to the United States, as well as countries in Europe, Asia and the Pacific. More than exporting commodities, Brazil will be exporting technology developed here to the whole world," concludes Gonzalez.

The Axial-Flow 160 Automation Series will be one of the highlights of Case IH at Agrishow, the main agricultural technology fair in Latin America, which will take place from April 29 to May 3, in Ribeirao Preto (SP).

Axial-Flow Series 160 Automation

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH Industrial on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CNH Industrial

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh-industrial

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: CNH Industrial

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2024) - Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: PEX) (OTCQB: PEXZF) (FSE: PQWN) ("Pacific Ridge" or the "Company") announces a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$2,000,000 from the sale of non-flow through units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.07 per Unit, flow-through units of the Company (each, a "FT Unit") at a price of C$0.08 per FT Unit, and FT Units to be sold to charitable purchasers (each, a "Charity FT Unit", and together with the Units and FT Units, the "Offered Securities") at a price of C$0.115 per Charity FT Unit. Red Cloud Securities Inc. will be acting as a finder in connection with the Offering.

Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each FT Unit and Charity FT Unit will consist of one Common Share to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share") and one Warrant. Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of C$0.12 for a period of 24 months following the issue date of the Offered Security.

Pacific Ridge intends to use the proceeds raised from the Offering for general working capital and for exploration at Pacific Ridge's flagship Kliyul copper-gold project as well as for exploration at the Company's other projects in British Columbia and the Yukon. Proceeds from the sale of FT Shares will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" as defined in subsection 66.1(6) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and "flow through mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada). Such proceeds will be renounced to the subscribers with an effective date not later than December 31, 2024, in the aggregate amount of not less than the total amount of gross proceeds raised from the issue of FT Shares.

The closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). Finder's fees will be payable in accordance with the policies of the TSXV. The securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period ending on the date that is four months plus one day following the date of issue in accordance with applicable securities laws.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Pacific Ridge

Our goal is to become British Columbia's leading copper-gold exploration company. Pacific Ridge's flagship asset is its 100% owned Kliyul copper-gold project, located in the Quesnel Terrane close to existing infrastructure. In addition to Kliyul, the Company's project portfolio includes the RDP copper-gold project, the Chuchi copper-gold project, the Onjo copper-gold project, and the Redton copper-gold project, all located in British Columbia. Pacific Ridge would like to acknowledge that its B.C. projects are located in the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Gitxsan Nation, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Nak'azdli Whut'en, Takla Nation, and Tsay Keh Dene Nation.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Blaine Monaghan"

Blaine Monaghan

President & CEO

Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd.

Investor Relations:

Tel: (604) 687-4951

Email: ir@pacificridgeexploration.com

Website: www.pacificridgeexploration.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pacific-ridge-exploration-ltd-pex-/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PacRidge_PEX

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, which address exploration drilling and other activities and events or developments that Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. ("Pacific Ridge") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the Offering and receiving the necessary regulatory approvals. Although Pacific Ridge believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. These statements are based on a number of assumptions including, among other things, assumptions regarding general business and economic conditions, that one of the options will be exercised, the ability of Pacific Ridge and other parties to satisfy stock exchange and other regulatory requirements in a timely manner, the availability of financing for Pacific Ridge's proposed programs on reasonable terms, and the ability of third party service providers to deliver services in a timely manner. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Pacific Ridge does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210270

SOURCE: Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd.
San Francisco police are investigating the death of a woman who arrived at a city hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. ER Productions Limited/Getty Images

San Francisco police said Thursday that they are investigating the death of a woman who died after walking into a city hospital with gunshot wounds.

Police responded to the hospital just after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Despite the efforts of hospital staff, the woman died.

The woman was not immediately identified. There had been no arrests made in connection to the death as of Thursday afternoon, police said.
Part of the Future of Chemistry Scholarship program, the scholarships reflect Chemours' commitment to the community and investment in the future STEM workforce

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / As part of a global initiative to increase access to science and technical education, Chemours' Washington Works site has awarded scholarships to five local students who will pursue study in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields at universities this fall. The scholarships are part of Chemours' Future of Chemistry Scholarship program-a campaign to deliver scholarships to talented, high-potential young people who live in communities where the company operates and who will study a STEM-related field in college. Chemours Washington Works plans to invest nearly $1.1M in scholarships through 2030. The 2024 Future of Chemistry Scholarship recipients include George Ankrom, David Cobb, Bobbi Murphy, Andrea Mahr, and Ella Mendenhall.

George Ankrom, a Belleville, West Virginia resident, David Cobb, a Parkersburg native, and Bobbi Murphy, a resident of Davisville, have received two-year technical STEM scholarships in partnership with West Virginia University - Parkersburg. The $7,000 per year scholarships will support George, David, and Bobbi as they pursue the Associates in Applied Sciences: Production Technician Program. Andrea Mahr of Newport and Ella Mendenhall of Rutland, Ohio, will attend Ohio University. Andrea plans to study Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, while Ella intends to pursue an Engineering degree. Both have received four-year, renewable scholarships of $10,000 per year for their academic studies.

As a company, Chemours has pledged to invest $50 million by 2030 in safety and sustainability programs in communities near our sites and to broaden access to STEM education as part of its Corporate Responsibility Commitment goals. Washington Works Plant Manager James Hollingsworth was excited to celebrate with the students at a dinner held in their honor at the Blennerhassett Hotel. He shared, "We are happy to have the opportunity to help you pursue your STEM degrees. As the field continues to grow, smart problem-solvers like you are more important than ever. When you complete your programs, please keep Chemours in mind. We are always looking for individuals with the skill set you will develop over the next years."

Washington Works also promotes STEM education by partnering with area elementary, middle schools, and high schools, as well as Discovery World on Market, a Parkersburg children's museum. Over the years, the site employees have worked with local schools on science fairs, led "Fun with Science" programs, and participated in job fairs. In addition, the site is working to deepen its relationship with the Wood County Technical Center to improve access to technical degrees to create a more capable, diverse STEM workforce of the future.

Chemours' Washington Works proudly supports its college engineers with Co-Op opportunities and has partnered with West Virginia University - Parkersburg for a "learn and earn" program that allows students in the STEM field to work a semester and go to college a semester. As a result, many of the participating students have graduated and are now proud Washington Works employees.





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from The Chemours Company on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: The Chemours Company

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/chemours-company

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: The Chemours Company

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Patient enrollment and dosing ongoing in first-in-human study of BOXR1030 enhanced CAR T-cell therapy

SOTIO Biotech, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company owned by PPF Group, will present on June 1, 2024 (Developmental Therapeutics-Immunotherapy session) a Trial-in-Progress poster on the first-in-human DUET-01 Phase 1/2 study at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. The study is evaluating the use of BOXR1030, a metabolically enhanced CAR T-cell therapy, for the treatment of patients with solid tumors.

Patient enrollment and dosing in the DUET-01 clinical trial (NCT05120271) are ongoing at three leading cancer care centers across the U.S., with additional sites expected to be imminently initiated in the U.K.

"The arrival of CAR T-cell therapies has profoundly improved the therapeutic outlook for patients with some blood cancers. Unfortunately, the same has not been true for solid tumors, where cell therapies' success has been stymied by the challenges of overcoming the tumor microenvironment," said Ecaterina Dumbrava, M.D., Assistant Professor of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and primary investigator on the DUET-01 trial. "As a metabolically enhanced GPC3-targeting CAR T-cell therapy, BOXR1030 has shown promising preclinical results in resisting tumor microenvironment-like conditions and improving T cell proliferation compared with standard CAR T cells. GPC3 is a clinically validated tumor-restricted target with a high prevalence in several solid tumor indications with unmet medical need. Given these promising observations thus far, we are looking forward to continuing to evaluate its potential in a clinical setting in the DUET-01 study."

The DUET-01 clinical trial is a first-in-human, open-label, multicenter, dose escalation study to assess and determine the recommended Phase 2 dose of BOXR1030 in patients with GPC3-positive advanced solid tumors. The trial will enroll up to 98 patients with advanced, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, squamous cell lung cancer, myxoid/round cell liposarcoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma.

Presentation materials will be available on June 1, after presentations conclude, here.

About SOTIO Biotech

SOTIO Biotech (SOTIO) is shaping the future of cancer immunotherapies by translating compelling science into patient benefit. The SOTIO pipeline includes SOT102, a next-generation Claudin-18.2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate which entered the clinic in 2022; BOXR1030, a metabolically enhanced CAR-T cell therapy targeting GPC3-expressing tumors; as well as other molecules approaching clinical stage such as SOT201, our next-generation PD-1-inhibiting immunocytokine. SOTIO is a member of the PPF Group. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.sotio.com.

SOTIO is a registered trademark of SOTIO Biotech a.s. in selected countries.

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Assay identified 98% of relapses and 100% of cutaneous melanoma-related deaths in stage IB/IIA patients

Patients with stage IB/IIA melanoma identified as high-risk had a relapse rate comparable to later-stage patients for whom adjuvant therapy is already approved

The prognostic assay may be useful in selecting early-stage melanoma patients for adjuvant trials

Assay is being transferred to the Akoya Biosciences' PhenoImager HT multiplex platform to enable automation and tissue preservation

NeraCare, a leading developer of laboratory tests for personalized survival prediction of melanoma patients, today announced publication of an abstract describing the clinical validation of a prognostic seven biomarker immunohistochemistry (7-IHC; Immunoprint) risk categorization assay that stratifies patients with early-stage (IB/IIA) cutaneous melanoma into high-risk or low-risk groups for recurrence and melanoma-specific survival, on the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) website.

Results of the Melarisk-001 study demonstrated that use of 7-IHC identified 98% of relapses and 100% of cutaneous melanoma-related deaths in stage IB/IIA patients. Patients with 7-IHC high-risk had a relapse rate comparable to stage IIB-IV patients for whom adjuvant therapy is approved. Results of the study suggest its utility in selecting early-stage melanoma patients for adjuvant trials.

"Anti-PD-1 therapy is a standard of care adjuvant therapy for cutaneous melanoma patients with resected AJCC stages IIB-IV disease." said Jeffrey Weber, MD, PhD, co-author of the poster and Deputy Director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center and Co-Director of the Melanoma Research Center at NYU Langone Health. "Nonetheless, a smaller subgroup of earlier-stage patients with IB or IIA disease is at high risk of relapse and death, and remains without access to adjuvant therapy. This subgroup accounts for a significant share of overall melanoma-related mortality. While adjuvant clinical trials for these earlier-stage patients that will be destined to relapse may be merited, this subgroup is not detectable via current AJCC staging alone. The ability to identify these patients using 7-IHC may be useful in selecting such high-risk participants for adjuvant trials."

The multicenter MELARISK-001 archival study enrolled 382 patients diagnosed with stage IB/IIA cutaneous melanoma with available formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded primary melanoma tissue sections; 247 (65%) patients were categorized as stage IB and 135 (35%) were stage IIA, all sentinel node-negative. Tissue specimens were analyzed by the 7-IHC assay and patients classified as either high-risk or low-risk. The assay measures the expression of five risk markers (Bax, Bcl-X, CD20, COX-2, PTEN) and two protective markers (MTAP, -Catenin). Median follow-up for recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 90 months and for melanoma-specific survival (MSS), 98 months.

7-IHC classified 212 patients (55%) as high-risk and 170 (45%) as low-risk

7-IHC high-risk patients had significantly worse survival outcomes than 7-IHC low-risk patients

"As the majority of melanoma patients are diagnosed with early-stage disease, there is a critical unmet medical need to identify those at-risk patients to potentially enable earlier access to life-saving therapeutic agents," said Daniel von Janowski, Co-Founder of NeraCare.

"With clinical validation of 7-IHC and the potential for tens of thousands of early-stage melanoma patients to benefit from the test, we are already in the process of transferring the assay from IHC to the Akoya Biosciences' PhenoImager HT multiplex platform. In doing so, the assay can be fully automated and will require a much smaller tissue sample than is needed for IHC." said Friedrich Ackermann, Co-Founder of NeraCare.

Poster Presentation Details:

Title: Clinical validation of a prognostic 7-marker IHC assay (7-IHC) in 382 patients (pts) with stage IB/IIA cutaneous melanoma (CM; MELARISK-001)

Presenter: Teresa Amaral, MD, PhD, Skin Cancer Center, Department of Dermatology, Eberhard Karls University of Tubingen

Abstract: 9572

Poster Board: 356

Session Title: Melanoma/Skin Cancers

Session Location, Date, and Time: Hall A, Saturday, June 1 1:30pm CDT

ABOUT NERACARE

NeraCare is a developer of laboratory tests for individualized survival with offices in Frankfurt and New York. In addition to Immunoprint, the company markets the gene expression-based assay MelaGenix, which was used in the phase III NivoMela trial, the first clinical trial in melanoma to select patients for adjuvant treatment based on individualized risk for relapse. The company has raised more than $20 million in venture capital funding led by MIG Capital AG, also a founding investor of German biotech giant BioNTech.

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First-in-human data for potential first-in-class anti-CEACAM5 ADC with topoisomerase 1 inhibitor payload, M9140, in treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer to be featured in oral presentation

Phase I data for tuvusertib, lead asset from the company's unique portfolio of DDR inhibitors, including an oral presentation on the combination with a PARP inhibitor, support further clinical development

New analyses contribute to totality of evidence supporting BAVENCIO first-line maintenance as a standard-of-care in advanced bladder cancer

Not intended for Canada-, UK- or US-based media

Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced new research from the company's diverse oncology portfolio will be presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, May 31 to June 4, Chicago. Data from company- and investigator-sponsored studies include 31 accepted abstracts across more than 10 tumor types, including seven oral presentations, highlighting the company's innovative oncology pipeline encompassing potential first-in-class approaches designed to hit cancer at its core.

"Our research at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting showcases the advancement of our novel pipeline designed to exploit the major vulnerabilities of cancer, with new data from our lead investigational antibody-drug conjugate and our DNA damage response portfolio," said Victoria Zazulina, M.D., Head of Development Unit, Oncology, for the Healthcare business of Merck. "In addition, new analyses from pivotal studies and collaborations underline our determination to maximize the impact of our standard-of-care treatments as we seek to improve the lives of those living with cancer."

Highlights of the company's data include:

First-in-human data for the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) M9140 (Abstract 3000). This Phase I trial is investigating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and preliminary clinical activity of M9140, the company's investigational ADC against carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5) with a novel exatecan payload, in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Data from 40 patients treated across seven dose levels in Part 1A of the study showed encouraging clinical activity and a manageable and predictable safety profile in this population. The randomized dose-expansion part of the study is ongoing.

New findings for tuvusertib, the lead oral ATRi asset from the company's portfolio of DNA damage response (DDR) inhibitors (Abstracts 3018, 2612, 2614). Data from the DDRiver Clinical Trials program highlight the potential of the investigational oral ataxia telangiectasia and RAD3-related inhibitor (ATRi) tuvusertib in various combinations across solid tumors.

Part B1 of the Phase I DDRiver Solid Tumors 301 study assessed safety as well as PK, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy of different dosing regimens of tuvusertib in combination with the poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor niraparib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic unresectable solid tumors refractory to standard treatment. Data show a manageable safety profile and preliminary efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumors, confirming suitability of this combination for further evaluation.

Presentations from the Phase Ib DDRiver Solid Tumors 320 study showcase further data on the combination of tuvusertib with the company's ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) inhibitor lartesertib, building on the safety and efficacy data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting in April 2024, and for the first time, with the company's immune checkpoint inhibitor BAVENCIO (avelumab). The findings further support that both DDRi assets are well-positioned for combination development building on in-house expertise.

Post-hoc independent read confirmation of Phase II efficacy data for xevinapant (Abstract e18039). A previously published Phase II study of the investigational oral IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis protein) inhibitor xevinapant plus chemoradiotherapy (CRT) versus placebo plus CRT in patients with unresected locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA SCCHN) showed improved efficacy outcomes. This post-hoc analysis showed consistent outcomes when comparing the review of selected efficacy endpoints by blinded independent review committee (BIRC) with previously reported outcomes by investigator review. Xevinapant plus CRT demonstrated a 62% reduction in the risk of disease progression (by BIRC) or death compared with placebo plus CRT, with prolonged duration of response and increased complete response rates.

Long-term efficacy and safety analyses from JAVELIN Bladder 100 (Abstracts 4566, 4567). New analyses of this Phase III study, which has previously shown in a post-hoc exploratory analysis a median overall survival of 29.7 months in patients who received BAVENCIO plus best supportive care (BSC) as measured from the start of first-line chemotherapy, confirm the benefit of BAVENCIO first-line maintenance in key subgroups of patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma that has not progressed on platinum-based chemotherapy, including those who have low tumor burden and in those with mixed histologic subtypes. These findings further support the use of the JAVELIN Bladder regimen as a standard of care in this setting and as an important first-line treatment regimen for patients with low tumor burden in particular, where pronounced efficacy with BAVENCIO (vs BSC alone) was observed.

Health-related quality-of-life data for TEPMETKO (tepotinib) in NSCLC (Abstract 8575). This analysis reports health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes from the Phase II VISION study of TEPMETKO in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring METex14 skipping alterations with brain, liver, adrenal or bone metastases. These patients experienced stable HRQoL during treatment with TEPMETKO, with trends for improvement in cough, consistent with results for the overall population.

Additional company-sponsored activity at ASCO:

Medical Evening Lecture

What's new in LA SCCHN? An evasive enemy and an evolving landscape

Faculty: Kevin Harrington (chair), Institute of Cancer Research, UK; Ari Rosenberg, University of Chicago Medicine, USA; Jonathan Schoenfeld, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, USA; Sue Yom, University of California, San Francisco, USA

June 2, 2024, 7:00PM-8:00PM CDT

W Chicago City Center hotel (172 West Adams Street), Great Room I

Select Merck-related abstracts accepted for the ASCO 2024 Annual Meeting include (all times in CDT):

Title Lead Author Abstract Session Information M9140 First-in-human trial of M9140, an anti-CEACAM5 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) with exatecan payload, in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Kopetz, S 3000 Session Title: Developmental Therapeutics-Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology, HALL D1 Date: Saturday June 1, 2024 Session Time: 3:00-6:00PM Presentation Time: 3:00-3:06PM Location: Hall D1 DDRi A phase I study of highly potent oral ATR inhibitor tuvusertib plus oral PARP inhibitor niraparib in patients with solid tumors. Yap, T 3018 Session Title: Developmental Therapeutics-Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology Date: Monday June 3, 2024 Session Time: 8:00 -9:30AM Presentation Time: 9:00-9:12AM Location: S406 Pharmacodynamic and immunophenotyping analyses of ATR inhibitor tuvusertib ATM inhibitor lartesertib in a phase Ib study in patients with advanced unresectable solid tumors. Boni, V 2612 Session Title: Developmental Therapeutics-Immunotherapy Date: Saturday June 1, 2024 Session Time: 9:00AM-12:00PM Location: Hall A Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic findings from a phase 1b study of ATR inhibitor tuvusertib anti-PD-L1 avelumab in patients with advanced unresectable solid tumors. Tolcher, A 2614 Session Title: Developmental Therapeutics-Immunotherapy Date: Saturday June 1, 2024 Session Time: 9:00AM-12:00PM Location: Hall A Xevinapant Phase 2 study of xevinapant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) vs placebo CRT in patients with unresected locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: A post hoc activity analysis by blinded independent review committee evaluation. Bourhis, J e18039 Accepted for e-publication Xevinapant with radiation and concurrent carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients ineligible for cisplatin with locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (The EXtRaCT study) Mir, NA TPS6126 Session Title: Head and Neck Cancer Date: Sunday June 2, 2024 Session Time: 9:00AM-12:00PM Location: Hall A BAVENCIO (avelumab) Avelumab first-line maintenance for advanced urothelial carcinoma: Long-term outcomes from JAVELIN Bladder 100 in patients with low tumor burden. Bellmunt, J 4566 Session Title: Genitourinary Cancer-Kidney and Bladder Date: Sunday June 2, 2024 Session Time: 9:00AM-12:00PM Location: Hall A Avelumab first-line maintenance for advanced urothelial carcinoma: Long-term outcomes from the JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial in patients with histological subtypes. Loriot, Y 4567 Session Title: Genitourinary Cancer-Kidney and Bladder Date: Sunday June 2, 2024 Session Time: 9:00AM-12:00PM Location: Hall A Avelumab axitinib vs sunitinib in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma: Final overall survival (OS) analysis from the JAVELIN Renal 101 phase 3 trial. Motzer, R 4508 Session Title: Genitourinary Cancer-Kidney and Bladder Date: Monday June 3, 2024 Session Time: 8:00-11:00AM Presentation Time: 10:12-10:24AM Location: Hall B1 ERBITUX (cetuximab) Efficacy of FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab versus FOLFIRI plus cetuximab in RAS-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer: Final update on RAS mutant patients treated in FIRE-3. Weiss, L 3550 Session Title: Gastrointestinal Cancer-Colorectal and Anal Date: Saturday June 1, 2024 Session Time: 1:30-4:30PM Location: Hall A Encorafenib and cetuximab versus irinotecan/cetuximab or FOLFIRI/cetuximab in Chinese patients with BRAF V600E mutant metastatic colorectal cancer: The NAUTICAL CRC study. Wang, X LBA3559 Session Title: Gastrointestinal Cancer-Colorectal and Anal Date: Saturday June 1, 2024 Session Time: 1:30-4:30PM Location: Hall A TEPMETKO (tepotinib) Health-related quality of life with tepotinib in patients with MET exon 14 (METex14) skipping non-small cell lung cancer with brain, liver, adrenal, or bone metastases in the phase II VISION trial. Reinmuth, N 8575 Session Title: Lung Cancer-Non-Small Cell Metastatic Date: Monday June 3, 2024 Session Time: 1:30 -4:30PM Location: Hall A

Advancing the Future of Cancer Care

At Merck, we strive every day to improve the futures of people living with cancer. Our research explores the full potential of promising mechanisms in cancer research, focused on synergistic approaches designed to hit cancer at its core. We are determined to maximize the impact of our standard-of-care treatments and to continue pioneering novel medicines. Our vision is to create a world where more cancer patients will become cancer survivors. Learn more at www.merckgrouponcology.com.

About M9140

M9140 is an investigational anti-CEACAM5 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). Leveraging the company's novel linker-payload technology, M9140 is the first CEACAM5 ADC with an exatecan payload, a potent topoisomerase inhibitor (TOP1i), which has been rationally designed for stability in circulation and superior cancer cell killing activity. Beyond the direct effect on the target cell, M9140 has been shown in preclinical research to induce tumor cell death through a bystander effect permeating the cell membrane to neighboring cells, inducing apoptosis (cell death). This bystander effect within the tumor microenvironment may enhance efficacy, particularly in tumors with heterogenous CEACAM5 expression. M9140 is currently being investigated in advanced solid tumors in a first-in-human, Phase I dose-escalation clinical trial (NCT05464030).

About Tuvusertib

Tuvusertib (M1774), is the lead asset in the company's portfolio of DNA damage response inhibitors. Tuvusertib is an investigational, potentially best-in-class small-molecule oral inhibitor of the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase, which serves as a major regulator of the replication stress response. Early clinical data for tuvusertib have shown potency, selectivity, and the potential to achieve high therapeutic doses without rate-limiting side effects. The company's DDRiver Clinical Trial Program is exploring the potential of tuvusertib as a backbone therapy in a variety of combinations with other DDR inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, or cytotoxic agents, touching on multiple clinical hypotheses across several types of cancer.

About Xevinapant

Xevinapant (formerly known as Debio 1143) is an investigational first-in-class potent oral small-molecule IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis protein) inhibitor developed for the treatment of LA SCCHN, with a proposed dual mechanism of action: xevinapant releases the brakes on apoptosis and increases anti-tumor immunity, re-initiating the programmed cell death of tumor cells. Via this dual mechanism, xevinapant is thought to enhance the effects of chemo- and radiotherapy. Xevinapant has demonstrated improved efficacy outcomes in combination with chemoradiotherapy (CRT), including 18-month locoregional control, three-year progression-free survival and five-year survival, compared with placebo plus CRT in a Phase II study in patients with unresected LA SCCHN. Xevinapant is being studied in two Phase III studies: TrilynX, in patients with unresected LA SCCHN, and XRay Vision, in patients with resected LA SCCHN who are at a high risk of recurrence and who are deemed cisplatin-ineligible. In March 2021, Merck gained exclusive rights from Debiopharm to develop and commercialize xevinapant worldwide. Xevinapant is not approved for any use anywhere in the world.

About BAVENCIO(avelumab)

BAVENCIO is a human anti-programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) antibody. BAVENCIO has been shown in preclinical models to engage both the adaptive and innate immune functions. By blocking the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 receptors, BAVENCIO has been shown to release the suppression of the T cell-mediated antitumor immune response in preclinical models.

BAVENCIO Approved Indications

The European Commission (EC) has authorized the use of BAVENCIO as monotherapy for the first-line maintenance treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) who are progression-free following platinum-based chemotherapy. BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). BAVENCIO is also authorized by the EC for use as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).

In the US, BAVENCIO is indicated for the maintenance treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) that has not progressed with first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy. BAVENCIO is also indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic UC who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy.

BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib is indicated in the US for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced RCC. Additionally, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BAVENCIO for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with metastatic MCC.

BAVENCIO is currently approved for at least one indication for patients in more than 50 countries.

BAVENCIO Safety Profile from the EU Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)

The special warnings and precautions for use for BAVENCIO monotherapy include infusion-related reactions, as well as immune-related adverse reactions that include pneumonitis and hepatitis (including fatal cases), colitis, pancreatitis (including fatal cases), myocarditis (including fatal cases), endocrinopathies, nephritis and renal dysfunction, and other immune-related adverse reactions. The special warnings and precautions for use for BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib include hepatotoxicity.

The SmPC list of the most common adverse reactions with BAVENCIO monotherapy in patients with solid tumors includes fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, constipation, infusion-related reactions, weight decreased and vomiting. The list of most common adverse reactions with BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib includes diarrhea, hypertension, fatigue, nausea, dysphonia, decreased appetite, hypothyroidism, cough, headache, dyspnea, and arthralgia.

About TEPMETKO (tepotinib)

TEPMETKO is a once-daily oral MET inhibitor that inhibits the oncogenic MET receptor signaling caused by MET (gene) alterations. Discovered and developed in-house at Merck, TEPMETKO has a highly selective mechanism of action, with the potential to improve outcomes in aggressive tumors that have a poor prognosis and harbor these specific alterations.

TEPMETKO is the first oral MET inhibitor to have received a regulatory approval anywhere in the world for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring MET exon 14 skipping alterations, with its approval in Japan in March 2020. In February 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration granted full approval for TEPMETKO. The conversion from accelerated approval, which the company received in February 2021, to full FDA approval is based on additional data from the ongoing Phase II VISION study, the largest trial of its kind. The updated label includes revised data for overall response rate and duration of response, as well as safety outcomes for more than 300 patients who were treated with TEPMETKO once-daily for metastatic NSCLC with METex14 skipping alterations.

TEPMETKO is available in a number of countries. To meet an urgent clinical need, TEPMETKO is also available in a pilot zone of China in line with the government policy to drive early access for innovative medicines approved outside of China.

TEPMETKO Safety Profile from the EU Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)

The special warnings and precautions for use for TEPMETKO monotherapy include Interstitial lung disease (ILD) or ILD-like adverse reactions including pneumonitis, increase of liver enzymes (ALT and AST), QTc prolongation, and embryo-fetal toxicity.

The most common adverse reactions in 20% of exposed to tepotinib at the recommended dose in the target indication are oedema, mainly peripheral oedema, nausea, hypoalbuminemia, diarrhea and increase in creatinine. The most common serious adverse reactions in 1% of patients are peripheral oedema, generalized oedema and ILD.

About ERBITUX(cetuximab)

ERBITUX is an IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). As a monoclonal antibody, the mode of action of ERBITUX is distinct from standard non-selective chemotherapy treatments in that it specifically targets and binds to the EGFR. This binding inhibits the activation of the receptor and the subsequent signal-transduction pathway, which results in reducing both the invasion of normal tissues by tumor cells and the spread of tumors to new sites. It is also believed to inhibit the ability of tumor cells to repair the damage caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy and to inhibit the formation of new blood vessels inside tumors, which appears to lead to an overall suppression of tumor growth. Based on in vitro evidence, ERBITUX also targets cytotoxic immune effector cells towards EGFR-expressing tumor cells (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity [ADCC]).

ERBITUX has already obtained market authorization in over 100 countries worldwide for the treatment of RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer and for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Merck licensed the right to market ERBITUX, a registered trademark of ImClone LLC, outside the U.S. and Canada from ImClone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, in 1998.

About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. Around 63,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices the company is everywhere. In 2023, Merck generated sales of 21 billion in 65 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics.

All Merck press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2024) - Deveron Corp. (TSXV: FARM) ("Deveron" or the "Company"), a leading agriculture service and data company in North America, is pleased to announce that the Company's Q3 financial results will be released after market close on Tuesday May 28th, 2024. At that time, the financial results and related documents will be posted on SEDAR Plus and Deveron's financials web page at https://deveron.com/financials.

Deveron will hold a live audio webcast at 8:00 AM Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 29th, 2024, to discuss the Company's Q3 financial results and highlights. Participants who would like to listen to the live audio webcast can sign on at https://app.webinar.net/XNYKy749ePm or dial in at 1-888-664-6392. Following the event, a transcript and audio replay will be available on Deveron's Investor website at https://deveron.com/investors. Questions will be limited to analysts.

About Deveron: Deveron is an agriculture technology company that uses data and insights to help farmers and large agriculture enterprises increase yields, reduce costs, and improve farm outcomes. The company employs a digital process that leverages data collected on farms across North America to drive unbiased interpretation of production decisions, ultimately recommending how to optimize input use. Our team of agronomists and data scientists build products that recommend ways to manage fertilizer, seed, fungicide and other farm inputs better. Additionally, we have a national network of data technicians that are deployed to collect various types of farm data, from soil to drone, that build a basis of our best-in-class data layers. Our focus is the US and Canada where 1 billion acres are actively farmed annually.

For more information and to join our community, please visit www.deveron.com or reach us on Twitter @Deveron.

Philip Linton

VP of Corporate Development

plinton@deveron.com

647-622-0076

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under Canadian securities laws. Without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involve various degrees of risk. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current views with respect to possible future events and conditions and, by their nature, are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of agricultural commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in agriculture, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. Additional information regarding the material factors and assumptions that were applied in making these forward looking statements as well as the various risks and uncertainties we face are described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of our annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis of our financial results and other continuous disclosure documents and financial statements we file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company undertakes no obligation to update this forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210326

SOURCE: Deveron Corp.
Mississauga, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2024) - MyndTec Inc. (CSE: MYTC) ("MyndTec" or the "Company"), a medical technology company focused on neurological treatment, rehabilitation and regeneration, today announced that it has entered into a license agreement with the Governing Council of the University of Toronto ("University of Toronto" or "U of T") in respect of certain neuroregenerative technology and intellectual property.

License Agreement

Under the terms of the license agreement, the University of Toronto has licensed to MyndTec certain technology and intellectual property covering the use of neurostimulation and cell migration for neural tissue regeneration in the field of brain and spinal cord injuries, and diseases and disorders of the central nervous system, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and stroke. As consideration for the license, U of T will receive royalty payments on net sales of products covered by the license and MyndTec will reimburse certain patent related costs. U of T retains the rights to continue to use the licensed technology for research, educational and administrative purposes. Milos Popovic, PhD, director at MyndTec, is one of the inventors of the licensed technology.

Technology Overview

The licensed technology leverages the use of bi-phasic electrical stimulation to target areas of the brain for the migration of endogenous neural progenitor cells ("NPC") to the site of damaged or diseased cells for the restoration of neural connections as a treatment for neurological disorders and injuries, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and stroke. This form of neurostimulation, like deep brain stimulation, generally involves implanting two electrodes in the brain. One electrode is implanted near the subventricular zone ("SVZ") of the lateral ventricle ("LV") where NPCs reside and the other electrode at the site of the damaged tissue and connected to a neurostimulator. Once activated, electrical currents flow between the electrodes into the surrounding tissue, creating an electric field.

Pre-clinical testing of the technology in stroke models has shown that murine NPC survival, migration and differentiation can be modified by an electric field. Biphasic stimulation, which works by alternating the direction of the electrical charge between positive and negative resulting in zero net charge in the tissue, has the potential to allow for greater flexibility in adjusting stimulation parameters and in optimizing therapeutic outcomes while reducing the risk of unintended tissue damage or electrode corrosion generally associated with prolonged unidirectional stimulation.

"We are excited about this partnership with the University of Toronto and the technology, licensed through the Innovations & Partnerships Office, which produces biphasic waveform parameters generally similar to those used in MyndTec's MyndMove technology," said Craig Leon, CEO of MyndTec. "With our MyndMove technology we are able to demonstrate improvement in post stroke function through rehabilitation, however there remains a need for a treatment to reverse disabilities resulting from stroke and other neurodegenerative diseases as therapies for neurodegenerative disease are limited. We are excited about building on our expertise in neurostimulation and the potential of this neuroregenerative technology."

About MyndTec

MyndTec is a CSE-listed medical technology company focused on using neurostimulation to restore function and improve treatment for individuals who have suffered from diseases, disorders and damage to the central nervous system, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and stroke. The Company has developed the MyndMove system, a non-invasive functional electrical stimulation-based intervention, that uses neuroplasticity mechanisms to stimulate the development of new neural pathways allowing patients to re-establish voluntary movement and improve living independence. The company is researching new treatments and uses for neurostimulation and other technologies to improve patient outcomes.

For more information visit the Company's website www.myndtec.com.

Contact Information

Craig Leon, CEO

MyndTec Inc.

investor.relations@myndtec.com

Tel: (905) 919-3144

Bill Mitoulas, Principal

Venture North Capital Inc.

billm@venturenorthcapital.com

Tel: (416) 479-9547

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, all statements regarding: events, performance or results of operations that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are typically, but not always, identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "aim", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "could", "continue", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled", "goal", "target", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that include, but are not limited to: expected future development; general economic conditions; the ability of the Company to execute on its business objectives; and other estimates and assumptions described in the Company's Listing Statement dated February 18, 2022 and other public filings, including its most recent MD&A, available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to: the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the Company's research, development and commercialization of its products could be stopped or delayed if any third party fails to provide sufficient quantities of products or components, or fails to do so at acceptable quality levels or prices, or fails to maintain or achieve satisfactory regulatory compliance, or fails to obtain and maintain necessary intellectual property protections, as well as to navigate potential challenges from third parties asserting their own intellectual property rights; the Company expects to incur significant ongoing costs and obligations relating to its investment in infrastructure, growth, research and development, licensing, regulatory compliance and operations; and other risks and uncertainties described in its Listing Statement and other public filings. The Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, however, there may be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as expected and that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from current expectations.

These forward-looking statements are only current as of the date of this news release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and the Company provides no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained herein, other than as required by applicable law. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

The CSE has in no way passed upon the merits of the business of the Company and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210328

SOURCE: MyndTec Inc.
Allez Health, fka Zense-Life, a San Diego, CA-based provider of a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) biosensor platform, raised a $60M Series A+ financing.

The round was led by Osang Healthcare Co., with participation from existing investors.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate growth towards pivotal trials, to support regulatory approval filings, and to scale manufacturing operations.

Led by CEO Leif Bowman, Allez Health provides a CGM biosensor platform with sensor technology that is intended to enhance performance and user experience. Since its inception, it has accomplished several milestones including seven issued patents and over 40 pending patent applications, over 80 clinical studies aggregating more than 1,500 users, and a pivotal study in 120 insulin users. Having completed the pivotal study and having secured key strategic investment as well as select distribution and manufacturing arrangements, Allez Health expects to accelerate its progress toward commercialization in multiple global markets, assuming the receipt of the regulatory approvals and the continued availability of capital.

The Allez Health sensor is an investigational device that is not yet cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory authority.

FinSMEs

22/05/2024
Atropos Health, a Palo Alto, CA-based pioneer in translating real-world clinical data into high-quality personalized real-world evidence for care, raised $33m in Series B funding.

The round was led by Valtruis, with participation from new strategic investors including Cencora Ventures, McKesson Ventures, and Merck GHI Fund, along with existing investors Breyer Capital, Emerson Collective, and Presidio Ventures.

on the heels of the adoption of its Generative AI platform (GENEVA OSTM) by healthcare institutions, data platforms, research institutions, Life Sciences companies and more.

Founded in 2019 as a spin-out of the Green Button technology developed at Stanford University by Brigham Hyde Ph.D., Nigam Shah MBBS, Ph.D., and Saurabh Gombar M.D., Ph.D., Atropos Health is the developer of GENEVA OSTM, the operating system for rapid healthcare evidence across a network of real-world data.

Healthcare and life science organizations work with Atropos Health to close evidence gaps from bench to bedside, improving individual patient outcomes with data-driven care, expediting research that advances the field of medicine, and more.

The companys portfolio of evidence-generating applications supports whole-person care and value-based performance and has long been utilized by Atropos Health partners including Arcadia. Through Atropos Health, healthcare organizations are able to accelerate appropriate clinical decision-making to drive high-value, low-cost care for patients based on their unique physiology.

FinSMEs

23/05/2024
DeepL, a Cologne, Germany-based language AI company, received a $300m investment at a $2 billion valuation.

The round was led by Index Ventures, with participation from ICONIQ Growth, Teachers Venture Growth, and existing investors IVP, Atomico, and WiL.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to invest in research and product innovation to strengthen its suite of AI communication tools for businesses, double down on global market expansion and talent recruitment across multiple areas including AI research, product, engineering, and GTM.

Founded in 2017 by CEO Jaroslaw (Jarek) Kutylowski, DeepL provides a language AI platform for human-like translation and writing. Designed with enterprise security at its core, companies around the world use the companys AI language solutions to improve business communications, expand markets and improve productivity. DeepL has amassed a customer network of 100,000+ businesses across multiple industries including manufacturing, legal, retail, healthcare, technology, and professional services, governments, and other organizations worldwide, including Zendesk, Nikkei, Coursera, and Deutsche Bahn.

Within the last 12 months, DeepL has also broadened its product offerings tailored for businesses. In April 2024, the company launched DeepL Write Pro, a writing assistant specifically tailored for business writing, powered by its own proprietary LLM technology. The company also continues to expand the range of languages supported by its platform with the recent additions of Arabic, as well as Korean and Norwegian, bringing its total number of languages to 32.

DeepL has over 900 employees.

FinSMEs

23/05/2024
Singapore, Singapore, May 23rd, 2024, Chainwire

Dora Factory, the leading decentralized governance infrastructure, announced the closing of another $10 million strategic raise. Nomad Capital, No Limit Holdings, Sky9 Capital, Singapores UOB-Signum Blockchain Fund, Interop Ventures, Cai Wenshengs Longling Capital, and nine other renowned institutional investors joined the round.

The raise will accelerate the adoption and strategic expansion of Dora Factorys decentralized governance and public goods funding tech stack.

Dora Factory is a leading infrastructure focused on decentralized governance and public goods technology. Its core products include the flagship Public Good Staking infrastructure, which enables block incentive driven ecosystem funding; Dora Vota, a Cosmos SDK appchain hosting dGov protocols; anonymous MACI and general MACI, the privacy-preserving, collusion-resistant zk voting infrastructure, and the multi-chain Quadratic Governance protocol stack, the on-chain mechanism that democratizes public goods funding.

Last week, the Cosmos Hub community approved governance proposal No.917 and a $1 million grant to AEZ Quadratic Grant to run ten rounds of Quadratic Funding in the next 24 months via Dora Factorys Voting appchain, Dora Vota. All of the funding will be distributed to public good builders and start-ups in the Cosmos Hub and related ecosystems building a prosperous ATOM Economic Zone.

Earlier this year, Dora Factory announced its first strategic round led by dao5, a new venture capital firm founded by former Polychain General Partner Tekin Salimi, and Whampoa Digital, co-founded by Amy Lee, a former senior partner at Lee & Lee, a Singapore law firm started by Lee Kim Yew and Singapores first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew and his wife. Prior to this, Dora Factory had raised a total of $17.5 million in 2021, with investors including Binance Labs, HashKey, and The LAO.

Building leading public goods funding and governance infrastructure is a critical step for the Dora team to advance the global hacker movement and drive frontier tech innovation, said Eric Zhang, Architect of Dora Factory. We are humbled to receive much support from our ecosystem partners and the Web3 community. In fact, decentralized governance has a deep and interesting tech stack, and we are still at a very early stage. There are a lot of exciting developments ahead. The work from Dora Factory during the past three years has laid a solid foundation for them.

Since its founding in 2020, Dora Factory has dedicated itself to the research and development of decentralized governance infrastructure and applications. Over 2,000 startups have secured $20 million in grants on-chain with Dora Factorys infrastructure.

Over 30 Web3 ecosystems, including Aptos, Celestia, Injective, Klaytn, and Akash, have worked closely with Dora Factory as their core ecosystem partner and adopted Dora Factorys protocol stacks. Through Public Good Staking, an innovative initiative created by the Dora Factory team in 2022, they have provided long-term, block-native, sustainable funding support to public goods builders and early-stage developer teams.

The assets under governance for on-chain communities has grown to a hundred-billion dollar scale. Now is the golden era for governance technology, said Erick Zhang, Partner of Nomad Capital. Dora Factory has become the industrys cornerstone public goods infrastructure after four years of dedicated development and iteration. We are thrilled to support the Dora team in their mission to empower developers, foster innovation in the Web3 space, and expand the adoption of new technologies, including aMACI, through this investment.

Dora Factorys development of Dora Vota and anonymous privacy voting technology demonstrates their leadership in Web3 governance and public good funding. This is a crucial piece of blockchains value proposition, and we recognize their impact with millions of votes cast and over 2000 projects receiving funding via QF. Our investment is a first step in continuing to support their effort. said Gin Chao, Founding Partner of No Limit Holdings.

With support from new investors, we are excited to grow the Dora Factory ecosystem further. Our plans include innovations in multi-chain quadratic funding and Public Good Staking, encouraging developers to expand the use cases of anonymous MACI, and building new governance apps on Dora Vota. Our goal is to deliver a suite of products that provide an exceptional experience for on-chain communities and teams working on frontier technologies, commented Steve Ngok, core contributor to Dora Factory.

About Dora Factory

Dora Factory builds protocols and infrastructures to enable decentralized governance and efficient funding for the global hacker movement, open-source communities, and Web3 public goods. Dora Factorys flagship Public Good Staking is one of the fastest-growing multi-chain staking infrastructures, providing block-native incentives to grow the next generation of blockchains. Dora Vota is a special-purpose blockchain for decentralized governance, supporting general MACI interface, anonymous MACI, and quadratic governance rounds.

To use Dora Factory products, go to DoraFactory.org.

For more information, visit research.dorahacks.io

Contact

Community contributor

Chris Lee

Dora Factory

[email protected]
Mayor London Breed speaks during a convening of Black 2 San Francisco, an initiative led by the Human Rights Commission under Mayor Breed, in February. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

As San Franciscos recovery continues to be a critical issue in a competitive election year, two mayoral candidates are presenting plans to bring a satellite university campus into some of the vacant space downtown.

On Thursday, Mayor London Breed, who is seeking re-election, announced a proposal that would offer a city grant to qualified organizations to develop and operate a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) satellite campus. The plan is parallel to legislation proposed last month by District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who is also running for mayor, that would create an investment fund to help accredited public universities purchase distressed office properties for educational uses.

The proposals come as the idea of luring a university downtown to remedy the citys post-pandemic malaise remains popular. Though, its a concept that would require massive infrastructure investment when construction costs are high. And, its not an overnight fix. Experts have said it could take a decade for any such plan to become reality.

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Breeds office said that the funding for her proposal would come from the Dream Keepers Initiative, a citywide program launched in 2021 to reinvest $60 million each year into San Franciscos Black communities. A request for proposals was launched Thursday, in partnership with the Human Rights Commission and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD).

Sheryl Davis, director of the commission  which leads Black 2 San Francisco, an initiative focused on creating formal space for an HBCU  said that the funding would be based on a few factors, including the number of proposed partners, the location site, the amount of students that the campus would serve and the funding that will be available after budget cuts.

Weve been looking at sites downtown, Davis said, adding that the team is very interested in San Francisco State Universitys former space inside of the San Francisco Centre, formerly known as Westfield Mall. The university occupied roughly 58,000 square feet on the fifth floor above the Bloomingdales store inside of the mall, but exited the space in the wake of the pandemic after 15 years in that location.

Breed said in a statement Thursday that bringing an HBCU campus downtown would boost the area and the citys economy, while bringing new minds and ideas to grow within our world-renowned culture of innovation.

We have been building partnerships with HBCUs across the country, and we are bringing our first cohort of students here this summer, all part of our larger 30 by 30 initiative to help revitalize downtown, Breed said, referring to a plan announced earlier this year to attract 30,000 residents to downtown San Francisco by 2030.

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Through Black 2 San Francisco, a cohort of 60 interns from HBCUs across the country have been selected to participate in a six-week program at the University of San Francisco this summer, which Breeds office described as a first step to building the long term future of HBCUs in San Francisco.

This funding provides support for a lead organization to facilitate meetings, organize and coordinate space and schedules, work on accreditation, begin outreach and engagement, and launch classes, Davis said about Thursdays announcement. Funding will help cover costs of planning, staff and faculty, accreditation, space and engagement.

Supervisor Ahsha Safai is proposing to help universities buy distressed properties in downtown San Francisco. Juliana Yamada/Special to the Chronicle

Safais legislation, which aims to create the so-called Downtown University Attraction and Retention Fund, would provide financial incentives to public institutions interested in establishing a presence in three key downtown neighborhoods: SOMA, Union Square and the Financial District.

Amid a broad shift to remote work in the years after the pandemic, the citys downtown has seen office vacancy near 36% this year. Safai described the situation as an historic opportunity to purchase buildings for educational uses, citing a vacant, 16-story Mid-Market office tower that last month saw its value drop to $6.5 million, despite selling for more than $60 million in 2019.

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We have been talking about the reality of the office market being at one of its lowest points in the last 30 years  now is the right time to invest in our public education in an innovative way, Safai said while introducing his legislation last month. I believe San Franciscos downtown will thrive once again  but it needs a shot of adrenaline to do so.

He said that he intends the fund to get to $25 million, primarily through contributions from public and philanthropic sources.

Jeff Cretan, communications director for the mayor, said Safais plan is an empty legislative gesture.

You cannot mandate filling a fund. As part of the budget process you can choose to allocate funding to specific departments and purposes, Cretan said. But legislating a fund is the equivalent of putting a bucket outside and saying youre addressing the drought.

Although Safai said he isnt exactly mandating to fill a fund, he said it would likely be filled by philanthropic contributions and donations and bond revenue, but the mayor could fund it as well. This is a concrete proposal, Safai said  one that aims to replicate a model adopted by the city of Phoenix, causing its downtown to experience a resurgence in 2006 following the creation of the Arizona State University campus.

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Rick Naimark, the universitys vice president of development, said that downtown Phoenix was very challenged for a roughly 10-year period, causing the citys mayor and then ASU president to strategize around bringing students downtown in the early 2000s.

Voters agreed to invest some $233 million of property-tax-supported bonds that were part of a larger $800 million package into higher education. And as a result, the city built a campus for downtown and within 10 years of that of that vote, there were more than 10,000 students that we brought to the area, said Naimark. The downtown now has tons of residential high-rises, restaurants and bars, and people dont just come and go  they live there.

Its a model that was successfully adopted by Mesa, Ariz., and Naimark said that his team has been in conversations with Safais office regarding replicating that model in San Francisco.

I want to start the conversation about what it will take to bring students to downtown and how we, as a Board of Supervisors, can make that idea become a reality, Safai said.
Zest Protocol, a George Town, Cayman Islands-based company providing a lending protocol built for Bitcoin, raised $3.5M in Seed funding.

The round was led by Tim Drapers Draper Associates with participation from Binance Labs, Flow Traders, Trust Machines, Asymmetric, Bitcoin Frontier Fund, Gravity Fund, Primal Capital, Hyperithm, Miton Crypto, Tykhe Block Ventures, Elixir Capital and more.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and development efforts.

Zest Protocol leverages the upcoming Stacks Nakamoto and sBTC blockchain upgrades to create a fully Bitcoin native lending experience. Using sBTCs peg-in wire format, users deposit BTC through a native Bitcoin transaction to fund their balance on Zest Protocol  after which they are able to engage in lending or yield generating activities. In preparation for the sBTC launch, Zest Protocols lending infrastructure is currently live on Stacks mainnet with Stacks market.

FinSMEs

23/05/2024
Chris Hemsworth is having the time of his life playing what remains one of his most despicable and delightful characters read more

Cast: Anya-Taylor Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Nathan Jones

Director: George Miller

Language: English

Its getting strange to see how filmmakers pat their own backs when they share the trailers of their new films. Three names come to mind from the Hindi film industry- Ajay Devgn, Vivek Agnihotri, and Ahmed Khan. And from Hollywood, the recent name that pops up is George Miller, who calls himself a mastermind behind the Mad Max franchise. He made the first film all the way back in 1979 and 45 years later, hes still harping on the series which shows his scathing commitment to the world he created and envisioned ages ago. So for him, mastermind is actually a right word. His new film is called Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

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Miller, who with Byron Kennedy started the Mad Max franchise starring Mel Gibson in 1979, said he was grateful to shoot the film in his home country, thanks to financial support from the state and federal governments. Miller said he was also excited by the role an Australian film boom was playing in the nations recovery from the pandemic back in 2021.

His new film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga serves as a prequel to Mad Max: Fury (2015) and retains the scale and style of the same. Its about the survival of the eponymous character in a landscape where monsters have taken over and humans are being wiped out. A black-and-white shot gets into the color mode as the girl in question plucks an apple. The way Miller shoots the scene, its nothing but his idea of showing how danger is lurking for this heroic girl. And Anya Taylor-Joy breathes fire into this scorching role that will stop at no end to eliminate what eliminated the one that was closest to her.

And Chris Hemsworth is having the time of his life playing what remains one of his most despicable and delightful characters, thy name is Dementus, the warlord leader of the Biker Horde which abducted Furiosa. Hemsworth said being involved in such a project in his homeland (Australia) was a dream come true. This will be my fourth or fifth film here in Australia, the Thor star said in Sydney. It really is, out of everything Ive done, the biggest pinch-myself moment, because Ive grown up watching it and its so iconic, Hemsworth said.

And adding adrenaline to the actors fiery performances is cinematographer Simon Duggan, who also compliments the gargantuan vision of the mastermind that was referred to above. The sprawling shots deserve the big screen experience even though the plot is threadbare. What makes the film a lot more fun is the eccentricities of the villains. They are as conniving as they are cartoonish, and as entertaining as they are evil.

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For all those who are gratified by grandeur, Furiosa: Mad Max Saga is worth the price of your tickets. For those who derive pleasure out of dense plot and narrative, try for another saga.

Rating: 3 (out of 5 stars)

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is now playing in cinemas
With all her self-deprecating humor, Chadha said she probably wasnt good and sucked that day read more

Richa Chadha was recently seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Netflixs Heeramandi where she truly commanded the screen with her aura. The actress recently said in an interview that she didnt subscribe to the idea that all women are saints and narrated her own experiences.

And responding to a fans query on her Instagram account, the actress revealed there was a shot for which she gave 99 takes but ultimately it wasnt used by filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. With all her self-deprecating humor, Chadha said she probably wasnt good and sucked that day.

Speaking to News18, the actress said, I dont think I subscribe to the fact that all women are saints. Ive had some terrible experiences with female producers whose cheques bounced and they pretend to be feminists on Twitter (now X). Ive also had toxic co-actors constantly competing with me by not giving the right cues and cutting out the lights in scenes.

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On working with an insecure actress

Interacting with India Today, Richa shared, I have worked with a very insecure actress recently; she tried to change the script and block out my light. It became obvious to everyone. So, I did ask the DOP to step in and intervene to not block my light because thats very obvious, and very tacky and very 90s. For me, that person is blacklisted.

And in an exclusive interview with Firstpost, the actress spoke about her role in SLBs show and said, As Lajjo Jaan I worked on it very academically. I understood that this part had to leave an impact in some sense and I studied Meena Kumari as a reference character. Not just her on screen personas, but who she was, how her life panned out, her tragedy, her desire for love and poetry. I really immersed myself in it. I had to do a lot of unlearning because its a period film. Especially when you are doing a dance sequence, what are the reference songs that you need to look at.
Sharing multiple pictures on her Instagram account, the actress wrote- I took the liberty of inviting the P.M. and his family to come trek to Everest Base Camp. read more

Manisha Koirala is currently basking in the glory of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Netflixs Heeramandi. And the cherry on the cake seems to be her meeting with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The actress shared multiple pictures on her Instagram account and was elated by the opportunity.

She added, Can you believe that most of the attendees had seen #heeramandionnetflix and loved it ? I was thrilled, she added.

Manisha Koirala chats with Firstpost

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Heeramandi is such an intoxicating seriesso what was the preparation of the role like especially going back to that era?

When you are working with a great director, a lot of work is already been done like the costume, the look, tonality and everything. One has to co-create with the director and as you mentioned the costume and the jewellery bit, yes so we had to dress up for the role too.

As for me I read the script at least ten times so that the character is at the back of my head when I am performing. I hate to go completely blank and at the end of the day Sanjay is a person who used to like his artists to be well prepared, but now he likes magic and he also changes things last minute.

In a candid chat with Firstpost, she thanked OTT again and again for changing cinema. Thank God, we now dont need to dance around trees and every character is important now with no hero-heroine concept.
The actor recently recalled the mishap that happened during the making of the film, and how it took him four months to recover completely read more

Mani Ratnams Yuva turned 20 on May 21. It had an ensemble cast of Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Vivek Oberoi, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Esha Deol.

It was a political thriller that flirted with themes like greed, power, and ambition. This is no news that Oberoi met with a traumatic accident during the shooting of the film that rendered him helpless for a long time.

The actor had one revealed to Zoom, That evening when a perfectly fun day turned into pain with a terrible motorcycle accident breaking my left leg in three places. I remember my big brother Ajay and my buddy Abhishek at my side, carrying me to the hospital, being my side through the agony of broken bones tearing through my skin with blood everywhere.

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He added, I came to know Mani Anna had a heart attack after witnessing my accident. Whilst both of us were recovering in the hospital, Ajay and Abhishek were with me, lifting my spirits with jokes and painkillers in a not-so-lucid state.

Vivek Oberoi , who recently impressed everyone with his portrayal in Rohit Shettys Indian Police Force, revealed that Akshay Kumar helped him after he was boycotted by a certain section of Bollywood.

Vivek vented out his feelings and Akshay heard everything patiently. Bata kya problem chal rahi hai teri life mein? he asked me and then let me vent out, air my problems, pain. He heard me patiently and said, I can help you with a positive mindset. There are several shows going on, and you have blockbuster songs. I am shooting a lot, so I cant do these shows, but whatever enquiries come to me, I will divert it to you. You do it.
Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar travelled to Kolkata on 12 May and went missing a day later. Dhaka says he was murdered but his body has not been found. Blood stains have been found in the flat where he reportedly stayed read more

Anwarul Azim Anar, 56, was an MP from Bangladesh's ruling Awami League. He has been reportedly murdered. Image courtesy: Anwarul Azim Anar/Facebook

A Bangladesh MP came to India for medical treatment two weeks ago and then went missing. Now reports say he has been murdered but his body has not been found.

Anwarul Azim Anar , 56, travelled to Kolkata on 12 May and reportedly went missing a day later. Bangladesh home minister Asaduzzaman Khan said at a press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday that three people have been arrested in their country for the murder. Azim was murdered in a planned manner in a house in Kolkata, he said.

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Khan said that it was the people of our country who were involved in the killing. Police forces from India and Bangladesh are working to unearth the motive of the murder.

So who killed Anar? And what has the investigation revealed so far? We explain.

The life of the Anar

Anar was a member of Parliament in Bangladesh from the ruling Awami League. He represented the Jhenaidah-4 constituency and was first elected to Parliament on 5 January 2014. He was re-elected to Parliament in 2018.

An area of the India-Bangladesh border, Jhenaidah is known for its high crime rate.

In 2008, Interpol issued a notice against Anar in connection with several criminal cases including arms and explosives. He was cleared of charges after he became an MP in 2014, reports The Telegraph. He fled to India and stayed in Bengals Naida and had several acquittances here.

Anars last whereabouts

According to Kolkata Police, Anar arrived on 12 May via the Gende border in the Nadia district and he had visited a friends house in Mondolpara in Baranagar. The friend has been identified as Gopal Biswas, a gold trader.

The next day, he left to see a doctor and has remained untraceable since then, reports Al Jazeera.

A report in The Times of India (ToI) quotes the family friend as saying that the MP mentioned he would be travelling to Delhi. Messages were exchanged with his family in Dhaka and the friend which indicated that he had plans to travel to the capital, the report says.

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According to a Dhaka Tribune report, Anar messaged his friend Biswas to inform him that he had to leave for Delhi. Later the same night, he confirmed he had reached via a message. In the message, Biswas was instructed not to get in touch with him as he was busy, the report says.

However, there has been no direct contact with Anar since. Biswas filed a missing complaint at the Baranagar police station. The MPs daughter reached out to him after she failed to contact her father.

Anar came to India on 12 May and was reportedly missing since the next day.

The police investigation

Blood stains were found in the flat in the Kolkata suburb where Anar was reportedly last seen. He was seen entering there with three others on 13 May. This led to suspicion that there was foul play and that he was murdered. The police are yet to recover a body.

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According to a report in Anandabazar Patrika, Kolkata Police have installed barricades outside a flat in the citys New Town area.

Police investigation has revealed that on 13 May around 1.40 pm, Anar left to meet a neurologist at a Kolkata hospital in a cab. The driver told the police that they had picked up another Bangladeshi national from the New Market area and then headed to the flat in New Town, reports The Telegraph.

CCTV footage showed that two men and a woman entered the building apart from Anar. Over the next three days, the three were seen leaving the building but not the MP.

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The case, which was being handled by the local police has now been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

West Bengal CID Inspector General Akhilesh Kumar Chaturvedi told the media, Bangladeshi MP Anwarul Azim Anar was on his personal visit here about which we had no intimation. On 18 May, we got information that his associate Gopal Biswa(s) had reported him missing since 13 May.

A Special Investigation Team has been formed to trace him. As the investigation was going on, we got intimation from MEA [Ministry of External Affairs] to look into the inquiry of the West Bengal government on 20 May. On 22 May, we received input of his murder. Local police tracked his location and the case was transferred to CID, Chaturvedi said.

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A forensic team has reportedly surveyed the flat. We have received some information which cannot be divulged right now. The forensics and fingerprint experts are combing the flat, he told the media.

VIDEO | "Bangladeshi MP Anwarul Azim Anar was on his personal visit here about which we had no intimation. On May 18, we got information that his associate Gopal Biswa had reported him missing since May 13. SIT was setup to trace him. As investigation was going on, we got pic.twitter.com/xnhqFxOwNR  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 22, 2024

According to a senior Bangladesh intelligence officer, Mohammad Haroon Rashid, the two phones the MP used were intermittently active but remained unreachable.

On the morning of 16 May, a call was made from Anars phone to his personal assistant but it did not connect. When the assistant returned the call, it reportedly went unanswered.

The state police have also spoken to their counterparts in Bihar and Chhattisgarh because the last tower of one of the mobiles used by Anar was in Bihar.

The flat where the Bangladesh MP was last seen is owned by a Bengal government employee. He had rented it to a US national named Akhtaruzzaman, reports The Telegraph.

The story from Dhaka

The MPs daughter is reportedly on her way to Kolkata. The family met Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina about the missing MP, after which the high commission in Delhi and the deputy high commission in Kolata were immediately alerted.

After Hasina learned about the death, she expressed shock and conveyed her condolences to the family.

With inputs from agencies
Chat Xi PT has been trained on the Chinese presidents political philosophy  known as Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era or Xi Jinping Thought  as well as other works provided by Chinas powerful regulator Cyberspace Administration of China. While it can answer questions, create reports, summarise information and translate between Chinese and English, it is not yet available to the public read more

The large languade model (LLM) has been trained on locally generated data including a dozen books written by Xi Jinping. AP

Everyone knows about ChatGPT and its many, many imitators.

Well, add another to the mix.

China has now released Chat Xi PT  a chatbot trained on the philosophy of Xi Jinping.

But what do we know about the Large language model (LLM)?

Lets take a closer look:

According to Financial Times, the LLM has been trained on the Chinese presidents political philosophy as well as other works provided by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).

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The presidents writings are known as Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era or Xi Jinping Thought.

The philosophy, formally enshrined in the Chinas constitution in 2018, has also been added to the school curriculum.

The LLM is currently in operation at a research centre under the CAC  Chinas powerful internet regulator.

Chat Xi PT can answer questions, create reports, summarise information and translate between Chinese and English.

As per The Times of India, the LLM has been trained on locally generated data including a dozen books written by Xi.

The chatbot may later be released for wider use, a person on the inside of the project told the newspaper.

The expertise and authority of the corpus ensures the professionalism of the generated content, the CAC magazine wrote in a social media post.

The CAC has ordered generative AI providers to embody core socialist values.

It has ordered them to ensure that generated content cannot contain any content that subverts state power and held companies responsible for their AI output.

Tech powerhouses like Baidu and Alibaba have kept a strict watch on the output of their LLMs when it comes to the Chinese president other delicate issues remains

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As per Financial Times, their chatbots usually ask users to start all over again when queried about Xi or sensitive issues.

The Cyber Security Association of China in December released 100 million entries of high-quality and trustworthy data for tech companies to use to train LLMs.

The development comes as Chinese officials are making wide-ranging efforts to spread Xis views on politics, economics and culture across formats. AP

The data comes from government regulations and policy documents, state media reports and other official publications, according to portions reviewed by the Financial Times.

One text mentions Xi 86,314 times.

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Let us unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, reads one line.

We must ensure that in thought, politics, and action, we are always in high alignment with the Party Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core, says another.

The development comes as Chinese officials are making wide-ranging efforts to spread Xis views on politics, economics and culture across formats.

As per The Times of India, schoolchildren as young as 10 in China must study Xi Jinping Thought.

Popular apps also push articles about Xi from state media onto their feeds.

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Whether Xi was able to have his name crowned in the party constitution had been seen as a key measure of his power, elevating him to a level of previous leaders exemplified by Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory.

No other leader since Mao has had an eponymous ideology included in the document while in office. Dengs name was added after his death in 1997.

The state constitution was last amended in 2004 to include guarantees to protect private property and human rights.

While it theoretically offers broad guarantees to things like freedom of speech, religion and association, rights groups say in practice these are ignored.

It also highlights the primacy of the Communist Party in leading China.

With inputs from agencies
China is conducting full-scale military exercises around Taiwan and its outlying islands just days after Lai Ching-te, who it has branded as a separatist and troublemaker, was sworn in as the new president of Taiwan. Experts say Beijing is sending the message that it can blockade Taipei and bring the island to its knees any time it wants read more

People look at a Taiwan Air Force Mirage 2000-5 aircraft as it prepares to land at Hsinchu Air Base in Hsinchu,. Reuters

China is holding its largest ever military drills around Taiwan.

The development comes just days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as the new president of Taiwan.

The drills were conducted by the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in the Taiwacn Strait, the north, south and east of Taiwan, as well as areas around the Taiwan-con rolled islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin.

PLA conducts Joint Sword-2024A military drills surrounding Taiwan Islandhttps://t.co/WgNjL06cjZ pic.twitter.com/FDm3v9QnQp  CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) May 23, 2024

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They involved the army, navy, air force and rocket force sending up heavily armed warplanes and staging mock attacks.

But why is Beijing doing so? And what does it mean for Taipei?

Lets take a closer look:

Why is Beijing doing this?

A spokesperson for the PLA said the drills are a strong punishment for separatist acts.

Beijing, one might recall, has branded Lai a dangerous separatist who will bring war and decline to the island.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has denounced Lais inauguration speech on Monday, in which he called on China to stop its threats and said the two sides of the strait were not subordinate to each other.

On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called Lai disgraceful.

Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed.

He says only Taiwans people can decide their future, and rejects Beijings sovereignty claims.

The spokesperson also added that this was a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces."

As per NDTV, this is a reference to the United States.

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While the US does not recognise Taiwan as an independent nation, it remains its strongest backer and biggest weapons supplier.

Washington is obligated to protect Taiwan from invasion under a 1979 law.

Chinese state media said China sent out dozens of fighter jets carrying live missiles, and conducted mock strikes, along with warships, of high-value military targets.

The drills, dubbed Joint Sword - 2024A, are scheduled to last for two days. However, unlike a similar Joint Sword exercise in April last year, these drills are tagged A, opening the door to potential follow-ups.

The drills focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets, Japan Times quoted Li Xi as saying.

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SCMP quoted Zhang Chi, an associate professor at the National Defence University in the mainland, as saying the PLA was simulating blockading Taiwan.

Once it is besieged and blocked, it can easily lead to economic collapse and become a dead island. This time, the PLAs exercise focused on practicing the new model of blockade, he said.

Beijing has called Lai Ching-te a dangerous separatist who will bring war and decline to the island. Reuters

The exercise has the intention to strangle Kaohsiung port, Taiwans maritime gateway, and it could be a heavy blow to Taiwans foreign trade. This exercise shows that the PLA can firmly trap the Taiwan authorities navy in the port, he added.

Taiwans defence ministry condemned the drills, saying that it had dispatched forces to areas around the island, that its air defences and land-based missile forces were tracking targets, and that it was confident it could protect its territory.

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The launch of military exercises on this occasion not only does not contribute to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, it also highlights (Chinas) militaristic mentality, the ministry said.

Taiwans presidential office expressed regret that China was threatening the islands democratic freedoms and regional peace and stability with its unilateral military provocations, but said people could rest assured Taiwan could ensure its security.

Chinas state broadcaster CCTV said Lais inauguration speech was extremely harmful and Chinas countermeasures are legitimate, legal and necessary.

Taiwans defence ministry condemned the drills, saying that it had sent forces to areas around the island, with its air defences and land-based missile forces tracking targets. Reuters

Lais speech was a confession of a desire for Taiwan independence and undermined peace and stability across the strait, it said.

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Taiwans future can only be decided by Chinas 1.4 billion people, not just Taiwans 23 million people, it added.

What does it mean for Taipei?

Analysts told the BBC such tactics look to wear out an enemy over a long time  which is exactly what Beijing is attempting with Taiwan.

They said Beijing is sending Lai a clear signal  that it could take the island anytime it wanted.

BBCs China correspondent Stephen McDonell wrote that Beijing was sending a message that if we wanted to, we could blockade that place. So we could stop supplies getting in and essentially, potentially force the government to its knees.

It is a warning to Lai, Song Zhongping, a mainland military commentator and former PLA instructor told SCMP. It is not the first time the PLA did so, but this time it is more severe.

Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific programme at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, told Al Jazeera, The PRC evidently decided to wait until he [Lai] delivered his inaugural address and then determine their response.

Its clear that Beijing strongly objects to what they view as an attempt to develop a comprehensive Taiwan independence narrative with the goal of altering the nature of cross-strait relations. I expect that they will roll out a series of military, political, and economic measures over the coming weeks and months.

Wen-ti Sung, a specialist in Taiwan and China and a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Councils Global China Hub, said this could merely be the beginning.

This round of military drills is code-named Joint Sword-2024A, Wen-ti told Al Jazeera. The suffix A suggests there may be future rounds B, and possibly C. Beijing is showing muscle in the immediate wake of Lais presidential inauguration to unmistakably signal Beijings displeasure. But this is the signal. The real punishment is yet to come.

Tong Zhen, a research fellow at the Academy of Military Sciences of the PLA, told the Global Times this was part of a comprehensive plan to cover Taiwan and its outlying islands.

China last staged large-scale war games near Taiwan in 2023 and 2022.

To the west of the main island of Taiwan, the main operations are being held in waters around Wuqiu and Dongyin islands, while to the east of the main island of Taiwan, joint forces are organized to carry out sea and land assault drills, showing that the PLA has the ability to strike all directions of the island without any blind spots, forming a situation where the island is pinned down from both sides, Tong said.

This is the first time the mainlands coast guard vessels have entered waters around Wuqiu and Dongyin islands, Tong said.

The move, designed to serve as strong deterrence and warning destroyed the notion of so-called restricted waters imposed by the island of Taiwan, Tong added.

According to NDTV, the development makes things more difficult for the new regime.

This comes as Opposition lawmakers are changing a law aimed at restricting it. This has led to thousands of people taking to the streets  protests that are set to resume Friday.

A senior Taiwan official, speaking anonymously given the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters that the drills are part of a scenario Taiwan had anticipated and that the islands government had a comprehensive grasp of Chinese military movements.

Taiwanese officials had said in the run-up to the inauguration they were keeping watch for Chinese military movements. China last staged large-scale war games near Taiwan in 2023 and 2022.

A Chinese warship navigates on waters near Pengjia Islet in northern Taiwan, in this handout image released. Taiwan Coast Guard/Handout via Reuters

The drills focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrols, precision strikes on key targets, and integrated operations inside and outside the island chain to test the joint real combat capabilities of the forces, Chinas military said.

Chinese state media published a map of the drill zones, in five areas all around Taiwan and the islands Taiwan controls near the Chinese coast.

Taiwanese officials told Reuters those areas were outside Taiwans contiguous zone, which is 24 nautical miles from the main islands coast.

One of the officials said China has not announced any no-fly zones, nor has Taiwan observed any large-scale movements of Chinas ground and rocket forces.

Su Tzu-yun, a research fellow at Taiwans top military think tank, the Institute for National Defence and Security Research, said that although the drills would only last two days, the scope is large relative to previous exercises, as they included Taiwans outlying islands.

This is designed to demonstrate Chinas ability to control the seas and prevent the involvement of foreign forces, he said.

The political signals here are greater than the military ones, he added.

Taiwan shrugs off drills

There was no sign of alarm in Taiwan, where people are long used to Chinese military activity.

BBC reported that the exercises went nearly completely unnoticed.

Once again there is a collective shrug. Many will tell you they are not worried. But that is not quite true. People are worried, but there is a sense of powerlessness  and worrying about it is of little help. The government and military are considerably more worried, not least because each year the drills are getting bigger and more dangerous, the BBC reported.

The benchmark stock index, currently running at historic highs, was up 0.2 per cent on Thursday.

The drills will have a short-term psychological impact, but wont reverse the long-term upward trend of Taiwan stocks, said Mega International Investment Services vice president Alex Huang.

A central bank official told Reuters the foreign exchange market was operating as normal, with no abnormal entry or exit of foreign capital.

In August 2022, China launched live-fire military exercises around Taiwan immediately after a visit, much condemned by Beijing, by former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

That series of exercises, the scale of which was unprecedented, lasted for four days, followed by several days of additional drills.

With inputs from agencies
Delhi is hot and it is going to scorch further this week. The IMD has issued a red alert for the National Capital as temperatures are expected to soar above 47 degrees Celsius. But are heatwaves becoming more intense and frequent? Is climate change to be blamed? read more

A woman walks under an umbrella as protection from severe heat in New Delhi, India, 18 May 2024. AP File Photo

Delhi is reeling from an intense heatwave. The National Capital is grappling with scorching temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius. The city will be going to vote on 25 May amid this extreme heat.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Delhi for the rest of the week. Experts say climate change is making the situation worse.

Lets take a closer look.

Red alert in Delhi

Several states and Union Territories in north India, including Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and west Uttar Pradesh are under red alert over the next four days. Daytime temperatures are expected to soar over 47 degrees Celsius in these places.

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Last Sunday, temperatures reached 47.8 degrees Celsius in Najafgarh, an area on the outskirts of the city. This was the highest in India this summer.

A girl walks in a puddle of water inside the Humayuns Tomb complex on a hot summer day in New Delhi on 19 May 2024. AP File Photo

Voters will be exercising their franchise amid such blistering temperatures on Saturday. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, which will grapple with heatwaves this week, will also be polling in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections.

Last month, the weather office had predicted that heatwaves lasting 10 to 20 days, unlike the normal four to eight days, are expected between April and June this year.

Delhi grapples with extreme heat

Schools have been shut in Delhi amid the soaring temperatures.

While the IMD recommends staying indoors, outdoor workers such as labourers and gig employees are bearing the brunt of the extreme heat.

Suman Mandal, a construction worker in southeast Delhis Sewa Nagar, told PTI, It is very difficult to work in this heat. But I cannot skip work or I will lose income.

Speaking to Reuters, Banwari Singh, who is working on a highway project in Najafgarh, said he and other labourers are worried about getting sick in this extreme heat.

Singh, who earns between Rs 500-700 daily, says they have no option but to work in this excruciating heat. If we want to eat, we have to work whatever the conditions are, the 40-year-old said.

A gig worker in south Delhi who delivers food told PTI that the heat is slowing him down. I take a break and drink water every 30 minutes, otherwise I will faint or drop dead.

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Satish Kumar, a 57-year-old rickshaw driver in the city, also lamented about his work being affected due to intense heat. People are not coming outside, [markets] are nearly empty, he was quoted as saying by Associated Press (AP).

ALSO READ: In Graphics | What causes heatwaves?

Impact of climate change on heatwave

Experts blame climate change for fuelling the heat and making heatwaves last longer, more acute and more frequent.

Heat has become more severe in the past decade. According to a study by World Weather Attribution, an academic group that examines the source of extreme heat, the blistering heatwave that hit parts of Asia in April was 45 times more likely owing to climate change.

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The study also blamed climate change for making temperatures 0.85 degrees Celsius hotter in the continent.

Anna Walnycki, a principal researcher on the International Institute for Environment and Developments (IIED) human settlements team, said the extreme heat is having a notable impact on peoples health, well-being and productivity, especially those living in low-income and informal communities.

Low-income households have limited capacity to adapt to extreme heat because of poor access to water and electricity. In addition, the design and construction of informal houses often means there is poor ventilation and little shelter from extreme heat, she told PTI.

A man drinks water at a roadside stall serving free drinking water to commuters as heatwave continues to grip the Indian capital, New Delhi on 22 May 2024. AP

Extreme heat led to the death of 150 people in India last year. According to the government estimates, almost 11,000 people have died during heatwaves this century, however, experts say this figure is likely much more, reported AP.

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An alarming analysis by IIED shows that Delhi recorded temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or above on more than 150 days in eight of the last 10 years.

How to remain safe?

The IMD has warned of the impact of intense heat on vulnerable populations, including infants, elderly people and those with chronic diseases. It has recommended extreme care for vulnerable people".

IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy has asked people to avoid going outside during the afternoon. She told AP that people should drink lots of water and wear loose-fitting clothes in this weather.

The risk of heat strokes and other heat-related illnesses increases amid high temperatures.

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As Delhi goes to polls, the Election Commission (EC) has assured it has made necessary arrangements to beat the heat and ensure smooth polling. As per the poll body, air-coolers, drinking water and shaded waiting areas will be available at all the polling stations, along with medical assistants.

IMD has predicted that heatwave is likely to be more intense. We have asked our field officers to set up coolers, fans, and cold drinking water facilities at the polling station, Delhi Chief Electoral Officer P Krishnamurthy said, as per NDTV.

With inputs from agencies
Delhi chief minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said on X that Delhi police will visit his residence to interrogate his old and sick parents. They will be questioned about the alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal at the CMs residence. His parents and his wife, Sunita Kejriwal were reportedly present at the time read more

According to sources, police may visit Arvind Kejriwal's residence for questioning in the coming days but are not going there on Thursday. Image Courtesy: @ArvindKejriwal/X

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is embroiled in a fresh controversy after its Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal alleged assault against the Delhi chief ministers aide Bibhav Kumar.

The police have registered a case and arrested Kumar in connection with it.

In a fresh development, reports have emerged saying Kejriwals parents will be interrogated in the case.

Lets take a look.

Kejriwals family to be interrogated

Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday took to his X handle and said, Tomorrow Delhi police will come to interrogate my old and sick parents.

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In a post on X in Hindi, Kejriwal said, I am waiting for the police with my parents and wife. Yesterday the police called and asked for time to interrogate my parents. But they have not yet given any information about whether they will come or not.

  -                 -             -        pic.twitter.com/38Yswozmoi  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 23, 2024

The Delhi police may not visit Arvind Kejriwals residence on Thursday to question his parents in connection with Swati Maliwal assault case, PTI sources said.

According to the news agency sources, police may visit his residence for questioning in the coming days but are not going there on Thursday.

They may also question Kejriwal in the coming days.

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The reason

According to NDTV sources, former head of the Delhi Commission of Women Swati Maliwal claimed that on 13 May, when she visited the AAP leaders home, his parents and wife Sunita Kejriwal were having breakfast.

Maliwal claimed that after greeting them, she went back to the drawing room, where she alleged that Bibhav Kumar , Kejriwals personal assistant, attacked her.

According to the Rajya Sabha MP, Kumar slapped her, kicked her in the chest, stomach and pelvic area.

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He also brutally dragged her and pulled her shirt up.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has accused Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwals aide of assault. PTI File Photo

Maliwal claimed she ran out of the CMs residence and called the police immediately after the incident.

Kejriwal was present at his residence when the incident took place, she added.

Maliwal broke down several times while giving the statement and sought strict action against Kumar.

The AAP MP on Thursday underwent medical check-up at All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

The AAP accused the BJP of committing atrocities on Kejriwals parents through police.

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Ever since Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail, BJP has freaked out. They are attacking and conspiring against Arvind Kejriwal and AAP. But today, after summoning the parents of Arvind Kejriwal for questioning by Delhi Police, they have crossed all the limits, Atishi Marlena said, as per PTI.

Concurring, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, The BJP has stooped so low now they are using Delhi Police to commit atrocities on Kejriwals ailing and elderly parents. His father is 84, cannot walk without support and even has hearing problems. His mother had returned from hospital two days before his arrest and he could not even meet her at that time. People will respond to this with their votes.

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Kejriwals response to the allegations

In his first reaction on the matter, Kejriwal said he expects a fair investigation into the matter and justice should be served.

In an interview with PTI, the chief minister said the matter is currently sub-judice and his comment might affect the proceedings.

But I expect there will be a fair investigation. Justice should be served. There are two versions of the event. Police should investigate both versions fairly and justice should be done," Kejriwal said.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. PTI/File Photo

Irony died a thousand deaths

Reacting to his comment, Maliwal said irony died a thousand deaths, adding that Kejriwal has finally said that he wants free and fair investigation in the matter.

After unleashing the entire army of leaders and volunteers at me, calling me a BJP agent, assassinating my character, leaking edited videos, victim shaming me, roaming around with the accused, letting him re-enter the crime scene and tamper evidences and protesting in favour of the accused, the Chief Minister, in whose drawing room I was beaten up, has finally said that he wants free and fair investigation in the matter. Irony died a thousand deaths. I dont buy this one bit, she said in a post on X.

After unleashing the entire army of leaders and volunteers at me, calling me a BJP agent, assassinating my character, leaking edited videos, victim shaming me, roaming around with the accused, letting him re enter the crime scene and tamper evidences and protesting in favour of https://t.co/ybNwRqGq1K  Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) May 22, 2024

Earlier Wednesday, Maliwal alleged that there is a lot of pressure on everyone in the party to malign her.

Yesterday I got a call from a big leader of the party. They told me how there is a lot of pressure on everyone, they have to say bad things against Swati, they have to break her by leaking her personal photos. It is being said that anyone who supports her will be expelled from the party, the Rajya Sabha member said in a post on X.

Someone has got the duty of doing press conference and someone has got the duty of tweeting. It is someones duty to call the volunteers sitting in America and get something out against me, she added.

Bibhav Kumar in custody

Kejriwals aide Kumar is currently in five-day police custody in connection with the case.

Kumar was arrested on Saturday and was taken to the CM residence for recreation of the crime scene on Monday.

The police had taken the Digital Video Recorder (DCR) of the CCTV from the residence on Sunday.

On Tuesday, Kumar was taken to Mumbai for the discovery of data from his phone which he had allegedly formatted before his arrest.

Police suspect Kumar formatted his phone after transferring its data to some person or device in Mumbai.

Kumars phones and laptop as well as CCTV recordings from Kejriwals house have been sent for forensic examination, an officer said. As Kumars police custody is ending on Thursday, investigators are trying to collect all evidence related to the case, he said.

With inputs from agencies
The stuffed pelt of Monarch, one of the last surviving grizzly bears in California, is transported in a freight elevator at the California Academy of Sciences. Monarch is going on display in the new exhibit California: State of Nature. Loren Elliott/Special to the Chronicle The claws of Monarch, a California grizzly bear captured by trappers in 1889, who lived out his remaining years in a cage in San Franciscos Golden Gate Park. Loren Elliott/Special to The Chronicle For decades, Monarch was believed to have inspired the California flag, but new research by Cal Academy of Sciences Head Librarian Rebekah Kim calls that into question. Loren Elliott/Special to The Chronicle

On July 1, 1953, the San Francisco Chronicle published its first column linking Monarch the bear, a longtime Golden Gate Park resident and historys most famous grizzly, to the California flag. It quoted no sources, and was crafted like a fairy tale.

Once upon a time, columnist Marjorie Trumbull wrote, a San Francisco artist named Donald Greame Kelley was inspired by a famous grizzly bear named Monarch, and used his taxidermied body as a model for the states new flag. And there, the grizzly will live, we hope  happily ever after.

More Information Total SF: Want more history stories, more fun events and more guides to explore San Francisco? Sign up for the free Total SF newsletter! Were finding the Bay Area things we love the most and sharing them with you every Thursday at sfchronicle.com/totalsfnewsletter

Since 1953, Monarchs supposed link to the flag has been repeated by countless historians, scientists and journalists. In 2017 alone, the Chronicle had two separate columns that used Monarchs ties to the flag as a trivia answer. I promoted the legend just last year in a project about the Cal Academy archive, stating Monarch was believed to have inspired the California flag.

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So it was a bit humbling for me to sit with California Academy of Sciences head librarian Rebekah Kim earlier this year, and travel down a grizzly-size rabbit hole into a much more complicated story.

While researching for the museums new California: State of Nature exhibition, which features Monarch and opened Friday, Kim tracked down typewritten letters between flag designer Kelley, a zoologist and state officials. What she found seriously questions the oft-repeated legend.

You can see the back and forth, Kim said. There is no mention of Monarch in that correspondence.

The California state flag was designed by San Francisco artist Donald Greame Kelley in 1953. Douglas Sacha / Getty Images

San Francisco is full of myths. But the fabrications and exaggerations surrounding Monarch, and California grizzlies as a whole, deserve their own special category.

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Even UC Santa Barbara professor Peter Alagona, an environmental historian who founded the California Grizzly Research Network in 2016, said he has spent a career unlearning his own media-influenced beliefs about the California grizzly.

More from the archives: Join Total SFs Peter Hartlaub and Cal Academys Rebekah Kim at 6 p.m. June 6 at the San Francisco Public Library for a night of stories about sharks, earthquakes and grizzly bears. The event is free, but tickets are limited. Reserve yours here.

That they threatened livestock. That they were primarily carnivores. That they weighed 1,200 pounds. That they were apex predators incapable of coexisting with the states rapidly growing population. California grizzlies in the wild weighed closer to 500 pounds (not much larger than American black bears), were mostly vegan and  like grizzlies currently living in Europe  were capable of co-existing with man.

These werent these giant meat-eating monsters, Alagona said. They were just regular old bears.

That wasnt the narrative in the 1800s, when bear trapper and trainer John Grizzly Adams was a celebrity and newsmen including San Francisco Examiner publisher William Randolph Hearst shaped how Californians felt about the rise of industry and the fall of ecological balance and indigenous populations.

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Monarch, one of the last surviving grizzly bears in California, is prepared for public display at the California Academy of Sciences. His species went extinct about 100 years ago. Loren Elliott/Special to The Chronicle

Monarch was part of that sham. With most of the states estimated 10,000-plus grizzly population already slaughtered or poisoned, Hearst in 1889 tasked reporter Allen Kelley  no relation to the flag artist  with finding the last live grizzly bear in California. (California grizzlies actually went extinct in the 1920s, with the final sighting in 1924.)

Allen Kelley acquired Monarch in Los Angeles from trappers and hauled the grizzly to San Francisco, where the bear reportedly grew to over 1,000 pounds, was paired with a mate and lived another 22 years in captivity  mostly in a sad concrete cage in Golden Gate Park.

Monarch, the California grizzly bear, inside his enclosure in Golden Gate Park circa 1910. OpenSFHistory

By 1889, the state already had a flag with a bear, but it looked like a pig.

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In 1952, Donald Kelley, art director for Cal Academys Pacific Discovery magazine, was commissioned by the California Legislature to create a new flag, and his correspondence with UC Davis zoologist Tracy Storer and state finance official Fred Links exists in the California Historical Society digital archive.

The letters include what Kelley definitely did use as inspiration for his design, including four photos of grizzly bears from Yellowstone park and a grizzly wood carving and painting, as well as specific alterations that couldnt have been inspired by Monarch. Example: Storer and Kelley exhaustively discussed teeth placement for the bear on the flag, ending with visible canine teeth and a gap behind them. The Monarch taxidermy is not only toothless, by 1953 his entire skull was missing and presumed lost.

However, its possible, even probable, that Kelley had seen the celebrity grizzly. The bears remains were the only example of a California grizzly left in the state, on display about 100 yards away from where Kelley worked.

But in more than 20 pages of available correspondence, from conception to talk of payment, Monarch isnt mentioned once.

(Another stunning revelation in the letters: Kelley charged just $500 for his historic work, and finance official Links argued to cut his fee in half.)

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Preparators Liza Yee, left, and Pete Gibbons and exhibit technician Alejandro Valenzuela, front right, move Monarch to a new exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences. The California grizzly, captured in 1889, was one of the last of his species. Loren Elliott/Special to The Chronicle

For decades the Cal Academy repeated the Monarch/flag myth. At one point in the 1980s, Monarchs taxidermied pelt was mounted in the museum on a pedestal with the flag as a massive backdrop.

But the museum has evolved. In its new exhibit, California: State of Nature, Monarch is on display for the first time in more than a decade to show the parallels between California grizzly extinction and the deplorable impact of colonization on indigenous people.

Monarchs story was not unique, Alagona said. He was representative of the (tragedies) going on at that time.

Alagonas group is making a strong case that California grizzlies, last seen in the early 1920s, should be reestablished in the state.

While my generation may be mostly lost to this cause  I expect Ill be correcting peers about the Monarch/flag myth for the rest of my life  children walking through the museum are more sponge-like and more empathetic. They can use Monarch as a symbol, and write their own grizzly story.
US president Joe Biden will host his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto for wide-ranging talks that are expected to include debt relief for Kenya. The day also marks 10 years of the incumbent BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Repolling will take place at two booths in Odisha where voting was disrupted on 20 May read more

Kenya's president William Ruto talks during a Reuters interview on the sidelines of the IDA for Africa Heads of State Summit at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. Reuters

Its going to be a little busy Thursday, as US president Joe Biden will host Kenyan president William Ruto for wide-ranging talks that is expected to include debt relief for Kenya.

This day in history also marks 10 years of incumbent BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Repolling will take place at two booths in Odisha where voting was disrupted on 20 May.

Heres how the day will unfold.

Kenya president US visit

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United States president Joe Biden will be hosting Kenyan president William Ruto this week for wide-ranging talks expected to include debt relief for Kenya as well as the way forward for Haiti, Ukraine, Sudan and other areas.

Biden and Ruto are expected to hold a joint news conference after their talks on Thursday and then attend a state dinner.

Notably, the visit comes at a time when Kenya has been grappling with acute liquidity challenges.

A senior administration official told Reuters on Monday that the US is urging big creditor countries like China, Kenyas biggest creditor, to offer debtor countries relief.

10 years of Modi governm****ent

The year was 2014 when a lotus bloomed on the front pages of Indian newspapers and channels.

Narendra Modis BJP registered a landslide victory, with about 282 seats in 2014.

According to The Hindu, the incumbent saffron party got about 65 million more votes that its closest competitor, the then-incumbent Indian National Congress.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the saffron party bettered it with 303 seats alone.

Now, the saffron party has set a target of 400 seats.

PM Narendra Modis 4-km roadshow in Coimbatore is similar to the ones in other Southern cities  the first being in Hyderabad last Friday. File image/PTI

Yogis public meetings in Odisha and Bihar

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath will be on an election tour of Odisha and Bihar today.

He will address a total of four public meetings, covering two seats  Puri Lok Sabha seat and Kendrapara seat  according to The Statesman which cited its sources.

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Elections in the four seats will be held on 25 May.

Repolling in Odisha

Repolling has been ordered at two booths in Odisha where voting was disrupted on 20 May.

Repolling will be held at booth numbers 26 and 28 in Kantamal assembly segment of Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat from 7 am to 4 pm today.

Polling was held in these two booths in Kantamal assembly seat along with 34 other assembly segments and five Lok Sabha seats on Monday.

The polling process was disrupted in the two booths due to some incidents, sources said.

Buddha Purnima

The Buddha Purnima this year will be celebrated today, 23 May.

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Also known as Buddha Jayanti, Vesak, and Vaishaka, the day celebrates the life and teachings of Gautam Buddha, marking his birthday and the day of attaining enlightenment (nirvana).

Gautam Buddha, whose birth name was Siddharta Gautam, was a spiritual teacher on whose teaching Buddhism was founded.

He was born in Nepals Lumbini around 563 BC and attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree in Bihars Bodh Gaya.

Buddha died at the age of 80 in Uttar Pradeshs Kushinagar.

RSS chiefs visit to Tripura

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to arrive in Tripura on 23 May on a six-day visit to the northeastern state.

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During the visit, Bhagwat will join a 20-day training programme at Seva Dam, RSS headquarters in West Tripuras Khayerpur.

He will also have a separate session with the pracharaks.

Three-day synchronised elephant census of South Indian states from today

An elephant census in the border areas of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will be held from Thursday to Saturday, 25 May.

While the elephant census is usually held for an entire forest patch once every five years, this time it will be held only in the border areas of the southern states.

The New Indian Express quoted a senior Karnataka Forest Department official as saying, The exercise aims to understand the area, the conflict and chalk out better policies for better coordination and future planning.

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Armed Forces personnel on Lumbini-Colombo bike expedition

Armed Forces personnel from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal will embark on a bike expedition from Lumbini to Colombo, along the Buddha circuit, to strengthen ties and foster goodwill among south Asian nations.

The Heartfulness Bike Expedition will be flagged off from Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, by Nepals prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday and conclude in Colombo n 16 June.

Initiated by the Sri Lankan government in collaboration with the governments of Nepal and India, the expeditions will have 15 bikers from the Armed Forces of the three countries ride through diverse landscapes and historical landmarks linked to Gautam Buddha.

UN General Assembly votes on resolution to create an international day of commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide

The UN General Assembly has scheduled a debate on the resolution to establish an annual day to commemorate the 1995 genocide of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims by Bosnian Serbs on Thursday morning to be followed by a vote in the 193-member world body.

The resolution, sponsored by Germany and Rwanda, has sparked protests and a strong lobbying campaign against its adoption by Serbias president and the Bosnian Serb leadership.

The final draft of the resolution would designate 11 July as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenca, to be observed annually starting in two months.

The massacres started on 11 July 1995.

The draft asks the United Nations to prepare an outreach programme and invites countries, organisations, civil society and others to observe the day with special observances and activities in memory and honour of the victims as well as appropriate education and public awareness-raising activities.

A day to remember

Birth anniversary of former CAG chief Vinod Rai

Birth anniversary of director and author Padmarajan

Birth anniversary of US biologist and geneticist, Nobel Prize laureate Joshua Lederberg

Beatles released Paperback Writer in 1966
Lured by better pay, facilities and a healthier work environment, nurses in India are quitting in droves to pursue a future abroad. India, which has 1.96 nurses per 1,000 people as opposed to the recommended ratio of three nurses per 1,000 people by the WHO, is facing a significant shortfall of nursing staff read more

Shortage of nurses in Indian hospitals in about to get worse as many choose to emigrate abroad for better career. Representative image. Reuters

India has been making great strides in the field of medicine.

Technology, healthcare infrastructure and facilities for doctors are getting better.

However, amidst this progress, a major crisis is unfolding at hospitals  a shortage of nursing staff.

With an already existing poor nurse-to-patient ratio in Indian hospitals, the crisis is about to get even worse.

Medical experts and doctors are warning that more and more nurses are leaving India.

Dr Girdhar Gyani, director general of the Association of Healthcare Providers (India), said India has over 3.3 million registered nurses.

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However, this number is inadequate for Indias population of 1.3 billion.

But why are nurses choosing to leave India? Lets take a closer look:

A crisis at home

India produces 2 lakh nurses every year.

However, 40 to 50 per cent of these nurses opt to move to foreign countries shortly after gaining practical experience.

The numbers have surged notably since several European countries and the US eased their eligibility criteria to require just one year of nursing experience as compared to three years previously.

This change allows nurses with little experience to work abroad.

The US and several European countries have an acute shortage of nurses, and they have reduced their eligibility requirementsThis has been a boon for many, Shoby Joseph, president of the Kerala-based United Nurses Association (UNA), considered the largest association of nursing professionals in India told Livemint.

Private hospitals in India too are grappling with a severe shortage of nurses.

India falls short of the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended rate of three nurses per 1,000 population. Representative image. PTI

Kerala is experiencing a deficit of 25 per cent, while Maharashtras shortfall stands at approximately 40 per cent, as per a Livemint report.

With 1.96 nurses per 1,000 population, India falls short of the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended rate of three nurses per 1,000 population, Dr Gyani told PTI.

We have to realise that this is a big health crisis, said Joseph. A crisis created not because we dont have enough nurses, but because we are doing a bad job retaining them.

Better pay outside India

Experts say a higher salary is a big factor.

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Dr Satish Joshi, former president of the Indore Medical Association and Consultant Pathologist said, Many nurses are choosing to quit as they are looking for a better future abroad. They can earn far more abroad  sometimes up to even four times higher.

He explained that nurses who have finished their courses usually earn between Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000 per month at privately owned hospitals.

The pay in smaller institutions is far less.

Nurses who work more than 8 hours a day with one day off can expect a salary of about Rs 30,000 to 40,000 after 3 to 4 years of nursing experience, Dr Joshi added.

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Better paychecks and working conditions are one of many reasons why nurses are choosing to make their careers abroad. Representative image. PTI

They have fixed times to come at the hospitals, but sometimes when work pressure is high, they work extra-hours, we pay them over-time, but that does not make a major difference, he added.

But why is this so?

Hospitals are manpower-heavy. So, when the manpower cost increases substantially, the viability of the business becomes almost nil. Naturally, healthcare costs need to rise, which will become a socio-political problem, MI Sahadulla, the founder of Kerala-based KIMS Hospital, explained to Livemint.

Harsha Elizabeth Michael, a 26-year-old nurse trained in Kerala relocated to the UK couple of years ago.

She told The Times of India, If I work for five years in India, my salary would reach a maximum of Rs 40,000. However, in the UK, I can earn around Rs 4 lakh a month after five years of experience.

Better facilities abroad

Dr Joshi also pointed out that nurses who head abroad have the chance to receive better training and learn from a much larger network of professionals.

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This is something which we are missing, he added.

Harsha told TOI that she chose to work in UK for because of the myriad benefits.

Imagine after five years, I will be a permanent citizen of the country and I will be eligible for all other benefits like free education for children, free medical treatment, etc. I can also save a lot of money which I can send to my parents, she said.

Unlike the 12-hour shifts for five days a week in India, the UK offers a 37.5-hour work week, spread across three days, Harsha explained.

Moreover, if one chooses to undertake advanced courses, the hospital covers the expenses, she added.

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She also said she can earn extra income by working double shifts.

Need for more skilled nurses

Dr Joshi said to cope with staff shortages, small hospitals are preferring to recruit nurses who pursue shorter nursing courses (general nursing management of usually three years and six months), over those who hold a BSc degree (of four-and-a-half years).

The shortage is not only affecting patient care quality but also placing an immense burden on the existing healthcare workforce, Joshi said.

While it is the need of the hour to focus on increasing number of nurses, it is equally important to invest in upskilling the existing workforce, Dr Gyani said.

While the shortage of nurses and their mass emigration to foreign countries is a cause for worry, there is a need to train them at home, especially amid the advent of health tech and other technologies, Dr Shuchin Bajaj, director of the Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, told PTI.

The publics attitude towards doctors and nurses is another reason that many are heading abroad.

Medical staff and nurses face abuse and wrath of patients relatives, Dr Joshi said. Sometimes even a slight delay by the staff can result in harassment.

On-duty nurses often face the wrath and abuse of patients relatives. PTI

Harsha told The Times of India that healthcare professionals are respected in the UK  which is not the case India.

Gyani told PTI that the nursing community is looking for help from the government.

The challenges are more persistent in Tier-2 and 3 cities, where there is a lack of a trained healthcare force despite the establishment of state-of-the-art hospitals or health facilities. Apart from that, the nursing community also looks forward to greater support from the government," Dr Gyani told PTI.

By arming our nurses with advanced training and specialised knowledge, we dont just fill staffing gaps, we unlock a cascade of benefits: better patient care, reduced healthcare costs and happier and motivated nurses, he said.

With input from agencies
A state law mandating an early certification deadline for presidential nominees has created a barrier in Ohio. If unresolved, it could result in Joe Biden, one of the top presidential candidates in the country, not even being on the ballots as a choice for nearly 8 million voters read more

Joe Biden's name may not be on the ballot in Ohio. Reuters

United States president Joe Biden may not appear on the November 2024 presidential ballot in Ohio. A state law mandating an early certification deadline for presidential nominees has created a barrier, which, if unresolved, could result in one of the top presidential candidates in the country would not even be on the ballots as a choice for nearly 8 million voters.

We delve into the specifics of the Ohio law that is at the heart of the issue, and explain why this issue has been unresolved, while similar barriers is other states have been dealt with.

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The Ohio state law and its implications

Ohio law requires political parties to certify their presidential candidates with the Secretary of State on or before 90 days prior to an election. This rule, adopted in 2010, has been a point of contention in past elections, though usually resolved with bipartisan cooperation.

The key issue is that the Democratic National Convention. The Democratic National Convention is an event where the Democratic Party formally nominates its presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Biden is expected to be officially nominated at this convention, scheduled to begin on August 22, 2024, just 75 days before the election.

In contrast, the Republican National Convention will conclude well before Ohios August 7 deadline, ensuring Donald Trumps name will appear on the ballot.

Resolutions in other states

Ohio isnt the only state in the US. However, other states with early deadlines have found ways to accommodate the later nomination dates of the national conventions. For example, Washington state officials have agreed to accept a provisional certification of Bidens nomination before the convention. Similarly, Alabamas Legislature adjusted its deadline to ensure Biden could qualify for the ballot there. These adaptations show that solutions are available to mitigate such procedural conflicts.

Then why has the issue in Ohio not been resolved?

The stalemate in Ohio

Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, has indicated that he plans to exclude Biden from the ballot unless the law is changed.

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Two weeks ago, the House and the Senate proposed different approaches to extending the deadline for making a fix that would push the deadline to 74 days before the election. The Senates bill included the ballot fix and amendments that would prohibit foreign nationals from contributing to political campaigns, and it was added to House Bill 114, a campaign child care bill. The Senate passed their bill during the May 8 session.

On the other hand, the House took Senate Bill 92, removed its previous language about last years special election, and replaced it with presidential nomination language, essentially creating a clean bill. However, the House adjourned before voting to approve their bill. Ohio laws generally take effect 90 days after passage. So a change to the deadline had to pass by May 9, but the Legislature wound up doing nothing, according to an essay in The Conversation.

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LaRose has stated that passing the ban is the price that Democrats must fulfill to ensure that Biden is on the ballot. He also mentioned that he would otherwise enforce the law as written.

The problem with a legal battle

The Biden campaign may have to sue Ohio state if the stalemate continues. They could have a strong case, since they can argue that an arbitrary and unusually long deadline to bar a major-party presidential candidate violates voting and associational rights under the First and 14th Amendments. While Democrats could make a strong legal case, success is not guaranteed, and a protracted legal battle that last several months could ensue.

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Despite these obstacles, the Biden campaign remains confident that the President will be on the ballot in all 50 states. Charles Lutvak, a spokesman for the Biden campaign, emphasised that states typically ensure that presidential nominees from both major parties are on the ballot. Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states, Lutvak stated. He added, Election after election, states across the country have acted in line with the bipartisan consensus and taken the necessary steps to ensure the presidential nominees from both parties will be on the ballot. And this election is no different.
Portraits of leaders are central to North Koreas state-sponsored personality cult. Almost all North Korean homes and public offices must have portraits of Kims father, Kim Jong Il, and grandfather, Kim Il Sung, but portraits of the younger Kim were not required until recently read more

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, inspects a class room of a newly built central cadres training school in Pyongyang, North Korea. AP

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was speaking to officials in a classroom at Pyongyangs new Central Cadres Training School on Wednesday. At the time, his portrait alongside his grandfather, state founder Kim Il Sung, and father, Kim Jong Il, piqued interest. This is the first time Kim has installed a portrait of himself in a public space.

In North Korea, portraits of leaders are at the core of state-sponsored cult of personality that has buttressed the Kim familys rule since the countrys foundation in 1948. Almost all homes and public offices in North Korea must have portraits of Kims father and grandfather, but featuring that of the younger Kim hadnt yet been a requirement until recently.

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This event has sparked speculation about the message it sends. Lets take a closer look at what it means and why its significant.

What exactly happened?

North Koreas state media released a photo showing Kim Jong Uns large portrait hanging on the wall of a building alongside those of Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung, during his recent visit to the Central Cadres Training School of the ruling Workers Party.

Another state media photo showed the smaller portraits of the three Kims placed side by side at a classroom, where Kim Jong Un, seated in a chair, spoke to officials who took notes of his remarks.

Longtime North Korea watchers say its the first time for North Korea to publicise images showing the portrait of Kim Jong Un installed together with those of the two late North Korean rulers since the younger Kim took power in late 2011.

Is Kim boosting his personality cult?

Placing his portrait next to those of his father and grandfather would suggest he wants to elevate his status to a level similar to that of the past two leaders, who are the subject of a strong and loyal following and regarded like gods. By doing so, Kim Jong Un wants to announce the start of his own era, according to Kwak Gil Sup, head of One Korea Centre, a website specialising in North Korea affairs.

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Few foreign experts question Kims grip on power. But the 40-year-old has still avoided the same level of personality cult bestowed on his predecessors: they are memorialised in numerous statues and mosaics across North Korea, their birthdays are two of the countrys biggest holidays and pins bearing their likenesses are worn by all North Korean adults.

In North Korea, portraits of leaders are at the core of state-sponsored cult of personality that has buttressed the Kim familys rule since the countrys foundation in 1948. File image/AP

Kwak said Kim Jong Uns portrait will now likely be hung on the walls of all households while his birthday could also be designated as an official holiday.

The place where his portrait was recently hung is the highest education facility for ruling party brass. Kwak said it shows that Kim Jong Un wants to begin a new era with new people.

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Observers say Kim needs stronger domestic support of his leadership as he struggles to navigate his country past economic hardships and protracted tensions with the United States over his nuclear program. In January, Kim announced he will no longer pursue a peaceful unification with South Korea, a decades long policy cherished by his father and grandfather.

Any problem with propaganda drive?

Prospects for Kims push arent clear, though he likely thinks he has bolstered his power and built his nuclear and other military programs strong enough to elevate himself in the national mythology.

Kims headlong pursuit of a bigger nuclear arsenal has drawn punishing US-led sanctions, which together with border closures during the pandemic were believed to have badly hurt the Norths fragile economy. Kim has subsequently admitted policy failures as his vow that North Koreans would never have to tighten their belts again remained unfulfilled.

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For regime propaganda to reach such a stage of personality cult suggests both impressive confidence and insecurity, said Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

However, this is also a political gamble, with Kim betting that ideology can buy time to address North Koreas economic struggles and social divisions, Easley said.

Is his portrait foreshadowing another hereditary power transfer?

Cheong Seong-Chang, an analyst at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea, said Kims portrait is more likely associated with his possible bid to groom his preteen daughter, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae, as his heir.

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By hanging the portraits of all three  Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung  I assess that North Korea is underscoring the need to extend the Paektu bloodline to justify another hereditary power transfer for Ju Ae, Cheong said, referring to the Kim familys lineage named after the countrys most sacred mountain.

Ju Ae, aged about 10, has been the subject of keen outside attention as she accompanied her father on a series of high-profile events such as missile tests and military parades since late 2022. State media called her Kim Jong Uns most beloved or respected child while churring out footage and photos proving her soaring political standing and closeness with her father.

In January, South Koreas spy agency said it saw Ju Ae as her fathers likely heir apparent.

Some experts say its still too premature to determine Ju Ae is Kims heir, given her age and North Koreas male-dominated power hierarchy.

With inputs from AP
The Election Commission has told the Supreme Court that there is no legal mandate to provide Form 17C to any person other than candidates or their agents. This comes amid questions over the final voter turnout data and the delay in the release of these figures by the poll body read more

Election officials inspect polling materials at a distribution centre, ahead of the fifth phase of India's general election, in Howrah district in the eastern state of West Bengal on 19 May. Reuters File Photo

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has been battling questions over voter turnout data this election. On Wednesday (22 May), the poll body told the Supreme Court it cannot upload Form 17C  which is a record of votes polled at each polling station  on its website.

This comes ahead of the two remaining phases of the Lok Sabha elections. As India elects a new government, lets take a look at what is Form 17C and why it is in the spotlight.

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Whats Form 17C?

Form 17C is a documentation of votes cast at polling booths across the country. It consists of different data such as electors assigned to each polling station, the total number of registered voters in an area, the number of electors who decided not to cast votes, those who were not allowed to cast votes, the total number of votes recorded on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and information about ballot papers and paper seals.

The second part of Form 17C includes the name of the candidate and the total votes they received. It also has data about whether the votes recorded at a booth are the same as the total votes polled, noted NDTV.

As per Indian Express, under Rules 49S and 56C of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, the presiding officer puts together an account of votes recorded in Part-I of Form 17C and provides it to every polling agent.

Part II of Form 17C is filled by the supervisor of the counting station and has to be signed by each candidate, or their representative). It is then checked by the Returning Officer.

Row over voter turnout data

Opposition leaders and activists have questioned the EC over the delay in the release of final voter turnout data.

The final voter turnout figures were shared by the poll body 11 days after the first phase of polling on 19 April, while it was delayed by four days each for the next three phases.

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Critics have also pointed out that the EC has not disclosed the absolute numbers of voters in each Parliamentary constituency this time. They also flagged the sudden spike in the final voter turnout figures in the first two phases compared to provisional data shared on polling day.

Congress Pawan Khera expressed concern over the delay in releasing turnout data. Voters are worried about the strange goings on in the @ECISVEEP through the four phases of voting. First, the Election Commission takes 10-11 days to bring out the final figure of voting and then the difference between real time data and final figure turns out to be 1.7 crore votes. This is truly unprecedented. Unanswered questions about the missing EVMs are also very worrying, he wrote in a post on X on Wednesday.

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Voters are worried about the strange goings on in the @ECISVEEP through the four phases of voting.

First, the Election Commission takes 10-11 days to bring out the final figure of voting and then the difference between real time data and final figure turns out to be 1.7 crore pic.twitter.com/SsM03DWSg7  Pawan Khera  (@Pawankhera) May 22, 2024

On 14 May, Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra shared the voter data from the Krishnanagar seat, where she contested against the BJPs Amrita Roy.

She asked the poll body why it could not compile the data for the concluded phases.

Attention EC - here is data for my constituency with number of voters, compiled within 24 hrs Why are you not able to give this for four phases?

Attention @ECISVEEP - here is data for my constituency with number of voters compiled within 24 hrs of polling. Why are you not able to give this for 4 phases? @abhishekaitc @MamataOfficial pic.twitter.com/EsineMFOFn  Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) May 14, 2024

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ALSO READ**: Did the Election Commission delay voter turnout data of the first 2 phases?

What has the EC said?

A petition was filed by the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms which sought direction to the ECI to upload scanned copies of Form 17C on the poll bodys website as soon as polling ends.

On 17 May, the Supreme Court asked the EC to submit a response. As per Indian Express, the poll body highlighted the difference between the statutory disclosure of the number of votes recorded in each polling station under Form 17C and the non-statutory announcement of voter turnout on polling day in the form of press releases and its Voter Turnout app.

It is submitted that there is no legal mandate to provide the Form 17C to any person other than the candidate or his agent, the EC told the top court.

The poll body said in its affidavit that uploading Form 17C on its website could lead to mischief and there is a possibility of images being morphed, which can lead to widespread discomfort and mistrust.

a wholesome disclosure of Form 17C is amenable to mischief and vitiation of (the) entire electoral space. At the moment, the original Form 17C is only available in the Strong Room and a copy only with the polling agents whose signature is bears indiscriminate disclosure, public posting on the website increased the possibility of the images being morphed, including the counting results which then can create widespread public discomfort and mistrust in the entire electoral processes, the EC said.

In a previous hearing on 17 May, the Supreme Court had asked the poll body why it could not upload voter turnout data.

The poll body slammed ADR in its affidavit, saying it was trying to create an entitlement in the middle of the election period.

The NGO had alleged an undue delay by the EC in publishing the final voter turnout data. It also expressed apprehension over a sharp rise in the final figures compared to initial voter turnout percentages.

The EC told the apex court that the allegation of a surge in final voter turnout data by five to six per cent in the first two phases was misleading and unsubstantiated.

The top court is set to hear the case next on Friday (24 May).
Indian-origin Nikesh Arora is the CEO of California-based Palo Alto Networks. His salary of $151.43 million (around Rs 1,257 crore) has made him the second-highest top boss in the US. The list notably also features 17 other Indian CEOs in the top-500 read more

Its not Mark Zuckerberg, nor Sundar Pichai but an Indian-origin CEO, Nikesh Arora, who has earned the second spot on The Wall Street Journals 2023 list of highest-paid CEOs in the United States.

With a career, that includes several high-profile roles in tech and financial sectors, Palo Alto Network CEOs hefty pay cheque of $151.43 million (around Rs 1,257 crore) in 2023 is significantly more than many high-profile tech executives such as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerbergs $24.40 million (Rs 203 crore) and Google CEO Sundar Pichais $8.8 million (Rs 66.67 crore).

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Among those of Indian-origin, 17 made it into the top 500  Shantanu Narayen of Adobe came in at number 11 with a compensation of $44.93 million.

Arora ranks second only to Malaysian-born Chinese-American executive Hock Tan, the CEO of Broadcom, a leading semiconductor manufacturing company.

But who is Nikesh Arora? Heres a closer look at his journey

Nikesh Arora hails from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and received his early education at Delhis Air Force School, owing to his fathers service in the Indian Air Force. He completed his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi in 1989. After a brief nine-month stint at Wipro where he worked promoting computers to various government ministries, Arora relocated to the United States in 1990 to obtain an MBA from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Arora describes his first experience in the US as overwhelming.

Struggling to find jobs after graduation, Arora said he wrote around 400 application letters to different companies, before he was placed at American multinational Fidelity Investments in 1992, where he assumed roles in finance and technology management. Concurrently, he pursued a Master of Science (MS) in Finance from Boston University. Arora ultimately rose to the position of vice president of Fidelity Technologies. After switching jobs from Fidelity to Putnam, the 56-year-old began to feel itchy, saying, he didnt know what he wanted to do in 1999. After much deliberation, he started a mobile data business, the European telecom giant Deutsche Telekom, and launched T-Motion in 2000. Arora also held the position of chief marketing officer for the T-Mobile International Division of Deutsche Telekom AG, before his big break at Silicon Valley. Arora got a job at Google in 2004. Jonathan Rosenberg, who is a former senior vice president of product management at Google and who conducted Aroras interview said he was struck by Aroras presence and gravitas when he [came] into a room. What was surprising was how insightful he was at the nascent stages of this market, when he wasnt really in the market. He was the analyst who studied my industry but knew it better than I did. I dont think I succeeded in throwing him off his game, and I usually do, he added. During his 10 years at Google, Arora held major positions such as vice president of Europe operations, president of Europe, Middle East and Africa, and ultimately, senior vice president and chief business officer. By 2012, he became the firms highest-paid executive after getting a compensation package worth about $51 million on his way to collecting stock awards worth at least $200 million by the time he left in 2014. In the same year, SoftBank Group Corps Masayoshi Son himself recruited Arora and within the first year, he amassed a $135 million compensation package as vice chairman of the group and CEO of SoftBank Internet and Media that broke Japanese records and made him the worlds best-paid executive. At one point, he was touted as the legendary investors likely successor. However, in June 2016, Arora surprised everyone when is abruptly resigned from his role, and went to join Palo Alto Networks two years later. Arora, who now works as the chairman-CEO of California-based multinational firm Palo Alto Networks, has a millionaire dollar pay cheque. The company justified his compensation, saying the executive has a strong performance. Because of this significant vested ownership and the amount that Mr Arora was projected to vest in over the next several years, the Board determined that a meaningful equity award would be necessary to ensure that such award retains and engages Mr Arora, it said. As per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Aroras net worth stood at $1.5 billion in January.

With input from agencies
Ahmad Farhad, a poet and journalist, has been missing since 14 May, with his family accusing Pakistans spy agency for his alleged abduction. Known for his criticism of the establishment, he covered the recent anti-government protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir read more

Poet Ahmad Farhad went missing from outside his home Islamabad on late at night on 14 May. Image Courtesy: X/@AhmadFarhadReal

Ahmad Farhad, a poet and journalist, has gone missing in Pakistan. His disappearance has led to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) giving four days to the Pakistan government to locate him.

Farhad has reportedly been missing since 14 May.

Who is he and what do we know about his disappearance? Lets take a closer look.

Who is Ahmad Farhad?

Farhad hails from the Bagh district of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), as per an Al Jazeera article.

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He was associated with several media organisations, including Bol News. The 38-year-old, who is known for his criticism of Pakistans establishment  a term used for the countrys powerful military, had reported on the recent anti-government protests in PoK, the article added.

Violent protests erupted in PoK earlier in May over rising costs of food, fuel and other essentials amid Pakistans economic crisis.

How did he go missing?

The poets family has alleged Pakistan s spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is behind his disappearance.

Syeda Urooj Zainab, Farhads spouse, told Al Jazeera that her husband was returning to their residence in Islamabad late on the night of 14 May when he was grabbed by four men outside the homes gate.

She alleges he was put in a car and they sped away. It was past midnight on [15 May], when four men, wearing dark-coloured clothes, pushed him in a big four-wheel-drive vehicle as they all sped away, Zainab alleged.

She said three other vehicles also accompanied the car.

Zainab claims that her husband had expressed concerns about threats to his life due to his reporting on issues in PoK.

He had told me that his instincts are telling him his life might be at risk due to his commentary on what is happening in his hometown. But he was clear in his view that the establishment has been after him for a long time, she told Al Jazeera.

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According to Zainab, her husband told her that government agencies had been pressuring him for several months over his perceived support for Imran Khans party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

She said her husbands loyalty was not to any party but to human rights.

ALSO READ: Why has violence erupted in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir? Why are activists seeking Indias help?

Ahmad Farhads family moves IHC

His family petitioned the Islamabad High Court, blaming ISI for his disappearance because of his criticism of authorities.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Zainab alleged that she received communication on WhatsApp from Farhad, two days after his alleged kidnapping, asking her to withdraw her petition in the court for his return home.

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I could tell he was being coerced into sending the message. He asked me to withdraw my petition, and he would return home. He also said he is away for some private business, but it was clearly a forced statement she alleged.

On Tuesday (21 May), the IHC gave the Pakistan government four days to find the missing poet.

In its hearing on Monday, the court had warned it would summon the defence secretary if the police did not locate Farhad.

The court directed the police to investigate the allegations with reference to the officials of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) by recording the statement of officials.

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A defence ministry official told the court that the poet is not in the custody of the ISI.

During the Tuesday hearing, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan assured the court of Farhads recovery. [We] will do whatever it takes. [We] will rescue and recover [Farhad], the AGP said, as per Geo TV.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani asked the AGP to ensure that no one gets picked up from Islamabad.

If a person does not get recovered, it will be a failure of the state, the judge reportedly said.

The next hearing of the case is on Friday.

Rights organisation react

Farhads alleged abduction has put the spotlight on Pakistans history of targeting critics and politicians allegedly by ISI and the countrys military.

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Rights organisations have accused the spy agency and the establishment of illegally detaining and torturing dissenters. Pakistans military and intelligence agencies have denied any role in enforced disappearances.

Taking to X, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) wrote, Poet Ahmed Farhad must be released immediately by the authorities. HRCP demands that such abductions and arrests of those seen as political dissenters must come to an end immediately. There can be no compromise on artistic freedoms and freedom of expression.

Poet Ahmed Farhad must be released immediately by the authorities. HRCP demands that such abductions and arrests of those seen as political dissenters must come to an end immediately. There can be no compromise on artistic freedoms and freedom of expression.  Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) May 15, 2024

As per ANI, protests were also organised by the Awami Action Committee and students from PoK, calling for the release of Farhad.

With inputs from agencies
The 17-year-old accused in the Pune Porsche crash case, which has claimed the lives of two people, has been remanded to an observation home until 5 June. The minor will live with 30 other juveniles at the remand home and undergo counselling. Based on his time at the centre and the police evidence, the Juvenile Justice Board will decide if the teen should be tried as an adult. However, this decision could take at least 60-90 days read more

The Porsche car found without number plate, in Pune. The car was allegedly driven by a 17-year-old boy who knocked down two motorbike riders on Sunday, causing their death in Kalyani Nagar of Pune city, as the police claim. PTI

After much hue and cry, and public outrage, the Pune Juvenile court on Wednesday (22 May) cancelled the bail granted to the 17-year-old in the Porsche drink driving case, which claimed the lives of two people, and has remanded him to an observation/rehabilitation home until 5 June.

The move came after many questioned how the minor was let off on bail, asking him to write a 300-word essay . Even Maharashtras deputy chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, had expressed his shock at the courts decision, saying: The order of the Juvenile Justice Board is shocking. We have filed a revision petition I need not speak more on that.

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After two persons lost their lives, the 17-year-old boy was left off in an extremely lenient manner; we will not tolerate this, he added.

But what comes next in the case? How long will he have to stay at the remand home? We explain.

Sent to remand home

In the wee hours of Sunday (19 May), the 17-year-old, who was celebrating his Class 12 results, had reportedly been drinking in Pune following which he allegedly rammed his Porsche car into a motorcycle, killing two 24-year-old techies in the Yerwada area.

The minor was later apprehended and presented in court. But to everyones shock, he was released on bail, on the condition that he wrote an essay along with few other stipulations. The courts decision provoked public outrage, with many, including the Pune Police calling for him to be tried as an adult for the heinous crime.

Following this, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) of Pune issued a notice to him to appear before it on Wednesday (22 May). The defence and prosecution presented their arguments. The defence lawyer, Prashant Patil, told the media later that the State had argued that there is threat to the security of the CCL  Child in Conflict with Law  outside and for that he should be lodged in a rehab home. The police also pressed that as the probe is on, the CCL should be in a remand home.

And based off the arguments, the JJB ruled that the minor boy be remanded to the Nehru Udyog Kendra Observation Home in Yerwada until 5 June. During his stay there, he will undergo psychological assessments. The boys lawyer was quoted as saying that this had been done keeping in mind that there may be a threat to his life because of public anger.

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In the meantime, his father , a prominent realtor in Pune, has been remanded to police custody after being charged under sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Builder Vishal Agarwal, the teen accuseds father, is brought at Pune Police Commissioners office after his arrest, in Pune. PTI

Inside a remand home

But what exactly is a remand home where the 17-year-old has now been sent? As per Indias Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection Children) Act of 2000, every state needs to have a remand home where juveniles who have committed crimes are sent for rehabilitation.

A study in 2012 by the Asian Center for Human Rights had revealed that 733 such homes receive assistance from the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

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For minors in these institutions, life is regimented and authorities lay down a very strict routine for them. This includes a breakfast at 8 am, followed by lessons until 1 pm. At 4 pm, the inmates are provided with snacks, which is then followed up with play time. At 7 pm, they are serve dinner, which consists of vegetables, chapatti and rice. And at 8 pm, they are sent back to their dormitories.

The teen accused in the Pune Porsche case has been remanded to a remand home until 5 June. There are more than 30 minors currently lodged at the observation home with him. During his stay there, he will undergo psychological assessments. Image used for representational purposes/Reuters

While juvenile homes, known as remand homes or observation homes are meant for the minors to rehabilitate their lives, many reports state otherwise. A 2013 report by the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR), Indias Hell Holes: Child Sexual Assault In Juvenile Justice Homes", said: It will not be an understatement to state that juvenile justice homes have become Indias hell holes where inmates are subjected to sexual assault and exploitation, torture and ill-treatment, apart from being forced to live in inhuman conditions.

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What comes next for the minor now

The minor accused will remain in the remand home at Yerwada until 5 June following which the JJB will decide the future course of action.

In the meantime, the Pune Police are building a case against the teenager. In fact, the Pune Police have maintained that they want to try the minor as an adult, owing to the seriousness of the matter. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar told NDTV that the 17-year-old accused had knowledge that his act caused death. This case is not about an accident in which a mistake happened under the influence of alcohol and people died. Our case is that he had full knowledge that his conduct he parties in two bars, rashly drives a car without a number plate on a narrow, congested street. He was fully in his senses and he knew that people may die because of his actions. Our case is under Section 304 of IPC which carries a jail term of 10 years.

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Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his shock when the juvenile court earlier let the accused out on bail on the condition that he write an essay. File image/PTI

Section 15 of the Juvenile Justice Act allows for Children in Conflict with Law (CCL) to be tried as adults under certain circumstances. The legislation states that a child is someone who is under 18 years of age. The age of the date of the offence determines if a child is in conflict with the law and whether he or she is an adult or not.

In the case of the accused in the Pune Porsche matter, the JJB now has to decide if he should be tried as an adult or not. However, it is a long-drawn out process. The minors lawyer, Patil, speaking to Indian Express said that the entire process of whether his client should be tried as an adult could take as long as 60 to 90 days.

Police have to file a chargesheet within a month of registration of offence. In two months after that, reports are to be submitted on the overall state of the CCL, including his behavioural and psychological aspects. Reports on his rehabilitation and de-addiction efforts, if any, are submitted. These factors are considered. So, the decision on whether to treat him as an adult or not, takes 60 to 90 days," he said.

Trying minors as adults

While calls for the 17-year-old to be tried as an adult grow louder, its important to note that this isnt the first time that it will happen, if the JJB decides to do so. Earlier in February, a 17-year-old was tried as an adult for raping and murdering a five-year-old in Odisha. The teen was then found guilty and sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.

In June 2022, the police in Hyderabad had arrested five minors for the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl in a car in Jubilee Hills area. The cops said that looking at the seriousness of the crime, the minor accused should be tried as adults. However, in April 2023, the Telangana High Court set aside the order and sent the matter back to the fifth additional chief metropolitan magistrate-cum-principal magistrate of Juvenile Justice Board for a fresh preliminary inquiry.

In September 2022, the Supreme Court also rejected the Kathua gang-rape-murder case accuseds juvenility to order him to face trial as an adult. The case involved the abduction, gang rape and murder of an eight-year-old Muslim girl, belonging to the nomadic Bakarwal community by six Hindu men and the minor in January 2018.

Juvenile crimes in India

As per the National Crimes Record Bureau, a total of 5,352 cases were registered against juveniles in 2022, an eight per cent dip from the previous year. The report also shows that majority (79.3 per cent) of juveniles in conflict with law apprehended were in the age group of 16 to 18 years (5,596 out of 7,061) during 2022.

With inputs from agencies
The IAF has for the first time landed an aircraft using night vision goggles (NGVs) in the Eastern Sector. The C-130J aircraft Super Hercules transport aircraft was brought down safely on an advanced landing ground. Experts say this development greatly boosts the IAFs ability to operate in low-light conditions and increases its strategic advantage over its enemies read more

The IAF brought the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, safely down on an advanced landing ground. Image courtesy: @IAF_MCC

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has created history.

The IAF has for the first time landed an aircraft using night vision goggles (NGVs) in the Eastern Sector.

Achieving another significant milestone, an #IAF C-130J aircraft carried out a successful Night Vision Goggles aided landing at an Advanced Landing Ground in the Eastern sector.#IAF continues to expand capabilities, reinforcing commitment to safeguard nation's sovereignty by pic.twitter.com/nMAbDnWPhR  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 23, 2024

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The IAF brought the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, safely down on an advanced landing ground.

This operation is part of the IAFs strategy to continuously improve its skills and safeguard nations sovereignty by enhancing operational reach and defence preparedness, the IAF wrote. Har Kaam Desh Ke Naam.

But why is this significant?

Lets take a closer look:

First, lets briefly look at the Eastern Sector.

The Eastern sector comprises the northeastern states of India including Odisha, Jharkhand, Sikkim, West Bengal and Bihar.

It also supervises the 6,300-kilometre international border with China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

According to The Times of India, this development provides a great boost to the IAFs ability to operate in low-light conditions.

This, therefore, increases its strategic advantage over its enemies.

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Advanced Landing Grounds also play a critical role when it comes to the IAFs capacity to respond to emergency in remote areas.

The IAF, by make such landings, has shown its dedication to keeping a high level of readiness across all theatres of operation, as per the newspaper.

Experts say the importance of night vision goggles in modern warfare cannot be underestimated.

The website SPs Land Forces quoted soldiers, when asked what they needed, telling a senior NATO officer visiting Afghanistan more NVGs (Night Vision Goggles) Sir.

NVG is a post World War II development. It is no longer a luxury item for the modern soldiers but vital equipment, which may determine their survival in war zones. NVGs have the unprecedented features of being easy to deploy and to maintain, of providing a unique identification performance by night and to be relatively cheap but very rugged, unlike any other opto-electronic devices. Thus the US army is leading the way of all NATO countries by massively equipping all of their troops with at least one NV device per soldier, the piece noted.

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It also added that NVGs were crucial to India where terrorist attacks have displayed the susceptibility of Indias armed and security forces at night.

The IAF in January successfully conducted a night-landing of C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft at the Kargil airstrip.

In a first, an IAF C-130 J aircraft recently carried out a night landing at the Kargil airstrip, the IAF wrote on X.

The night landing of the aircraft occurred with the elite Garud commandos on board.

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The night landing demonstrated the IAFs operational capabilities in the strategically crucial sector, people familiar with the matter told PTI at the time.

The Times of India quoted an IAF officer as saying, This is the first time a fixed-wing aircraft has landed at the Kargil airstrip at night. The C-130J, which employed terrain masking en route, landed with the help of onboard avionics and night-vision devices.

The Kargil advanced landing ground is south of the LAC and at an elevation of 9,700 feet.

A strategically important location, it is situated between Dras on the west and Batalik on the east, as per NDTV.

It suffered great damage during the 1999 Kargil conflict when Pakistans forced crossed the LOC and occupied a height overlooking the Srinagar-Leh highway, the airstrip suffered damage from artillery bombing by enemy troops.

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The IAF during that landing used a tactic known as Terrain Masking  which pilots use to hide from the enemy radar  to camouflage their movements.

Taken together, these landings show the IAFs ability to improve on its capabilities and keep improving its operational reach and defence preparedness.

With inputs from agencies
Though US intelligence agencies are looking to join the AI revolution, large language models (LLMs) like Chat GPT are still in their infancy and unreliable. Experts say that AI isnt likely to replace human analysts who make decisions based on partial, unreliable information which is often contradictory read more

US intelligence and defence officials were experimenting with the technology years before OpenAIs ChatGPT set off the current generative AI marketing frenzy.

The AI revolution is here and everyone is afraid of getting left behind. And we do mean everyone.

US intelligence agencies are among those looking to join the AI revolution as data becomes the ubiqutious currency and competitors seek any advantage.

But there are plenty of problems.

The technology, for one, is still in its infancy. Officials also known that it is often unreliable.

Needle in haystack

Years before OpenAIs ChatGPT set off the current generative AI marketing frenzy, US intelligence and defence officials were experimenting with the technology.

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One contractor, Rhombus Power, used it to uncover fentanyl trafficking in China in 2019 at rates far exceeding human-only analysis.

Rhombus would later predict Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine four months in advance with 80 per cent certainty.

CIA director William Burns recently wrote in Foreign Affairs that US intelligence requires sophisticated artificial intelligence models that can digest mammoth amounts of open-source and clandestinely acquired information.

But the agencys inaugural chief technology officer, Nand Mulchandani, cautions that because generative AI models hallucinate they are best treated as a crazy, drunk friend  capable of incredible insight but also bias-prone fibbers.

There are also security and privacy issues. Adversaries could steal and poison them. They may contain sensitive personal data agents arent authorised to see.

Gen AI is mostly good as a virtual assistant, says Mulchandani, looking for the needle in the needle stack.

What it wont ever do, officials insist, is replace human analysts.

While officials wont say whether they are using generative AI for anything big on classified networks, thousands of analysts across the 18 US intelligence agencies now use a CIA-developed generative AI called Osiris.

It ingests unclassified and publicly or commercially available data  whats known as open-source  and writes annotated summaries. It includes a chatbot so analysts can ask follow-up questions.

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Osiris uses multiple commercial AI models. Mulchandani said the agency is not committing to any single model or tech vendor. Its still early days, he said.

Experts believe predictive analysis, war-gaming and scenario brainstorming will be among generative AIs most important uses for intel workers.

Machine learning

Even before generative AI, intel agencies were using machine learning and algorithms. One use case: Alerting analysts during off hours to potentially important developments. An analyst could instruct an AI to ring their phone no matter the hour.

It couldnt describe what happened, that would be classified, but could say you need to come in and look at this.

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AI bigshots vying for US intelligence agency business include Microsoft, which announced on 7 May that it was offering OpenAIs GPT-4 for top-secret networks, though the product is not yet accredited on classified networks.

The White House is also concerned that generative AI models adopted by US agencies could be infiltrated and poisoned. Reuters

A competitor, Primer AI, lists two intelligence agencies among its customers, documents posted online for recent military AI workshops show. One Primer product is designed to detect emerging signals of breaking events using AI-powered searches of more than 60,000 news and social media sources in 100 languages including Twitter, Telegram, Reddit and Discord.

Like Rhombus Powers product, it helps analysts identify key people, organisations and locations and also uses computer vision. At a demo just days after the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, Primer executives described how their technology separates fact from fiction in the flood of online information from West Asia.

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White House worried

The most important near-term AI challenges for US intelligence officials are apt to be counteracting how adversaries use it: To pierce US defences, spread disinformation and attempt to undermine Washingtons ability to read their intent and capabilities.

The White House is also concerned that generative AI models adopted by US agencies could be infiltrated and poisoned.

Another worry: Ensuring the privacy of people whose personal data may be embedded in an AI model. Authorities say it is not currently possible to guarantee thats all removed from an AI model.

Thats one reason the intelligence community is not in move-fast-and-break-things mode on generative AI, says John Beieler, the top AI official at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

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Model integrity and security are a concern if government agencies end up using AIs to explore bio- and cyberweapons tech.

How AI gets adopted will vary widely by intelligence agency according to mission. The National Security Agency mostly intercepts communications. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is charged with seeing and understanding every inch of the planet.

Supercharging those missions with Gen AI is a priority  and much less complicated than, say, how the FBI might use the technology given its legal limitations on domestic surveillance.

The NGA issued in December a request for proposals for a completely new type of AI model that would use imagery it collects  from satellites, from ground-level sensors  to harvest precise geospatial intel with simple voice or text prompts. Gen AI applications also make a lot of sense for cyberconflict.

The human element

Generative AI wont easily match wits with rival masters of deception.

Analysts work with incomplete, ambiguous, often contradictory snippets of partial, unreliable information, notes Zachery Tyson Brown, a former defense intelligence officer. He believes intel agencies will invite disaster if they embrace generative AI too enthusiastically, swiftly or completely. The models dont reason. They merely predict. And their designers cant entirely explain how they work.

Linda Weissgold, a former CIA deputy director of analysis, doesnt see AI replacing human analysts any time soon.

Quick decisions are often required based on incomplete data.

Intelligence customers - the most important being the president of the United States  want human insight and experience central to the decision options theyre offered, she says.

I dont think it will ever be acceptable to some president for the intelligence community to come in and say, I dont know, the black box just told me so.

With inputs from agencies
The highest temperatures and best weather of the long weekend will occur on Monday across much of the state. Baron Lynx

As Californians head into the three-day Memorial Day weekend, weather conditions across the state are set to be quite pleasant. A pair of relatively weak storm systems will move through the Pacific Northwest on Friday and Saturday, leading to an upper-level pattern that promotes onshore flow and lower temperatures initially, with Saturday being the coolest day of the holiday weekend. High pressure will start to build Sunday, resulting in much warmer temperatures and more sunshine on Sunday and into Memorial Day.

Whether youre planning a day at the beach, a hike in the mountains or a barbecue at home, here is a breakdown of what you can expect across different regions of the state.

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Lower temperatures than normal will persist across Northern California on Friday and Saturday before a warming trend and much more pleasant conditions on Sunday and Monday. Southern California will be cool on Friday and Saturday as well, especially at the coast, where clouds will be hard to clear. A warmup will occur Sunday, with weather becoming quite hot for inland parts of the region Monday. Baron Lynx

Northern California

North Coast

Residents and visitors along the North Coast between Eureka and Crescent City will see overcast skies for the first part of the weekend, with some scattered light rain showers possible Friday night and into Saturday morning. Conditions will gradually warm and sunshine will return as the weekend progresses. On both Friday and Saturday, skies should clear by the afternoon and temperatures will range from the mid-50 to mid-60s with overnight lows in low to mid-40s. Mostly sunny skies return on Sunday and Monday, with temperatures in the low 60s at the coast and close to 70 in the warmer spots. Overnight lows will be cool, with lows dipping into the low to mid-40s.

Interior warmth

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Inland areas of Northern California from Chico north to Redding can look forward to a warm and sunny Memorial Day weekend, with temperatures gradually rising as the days progress. Friday and Saturday will be sunny but cooler than normal, with highs ranging from the mid- to upper 70s and overnight lows in the low to mid-50s. Temperatures will soar into the mid-80s and close to 90 degrees on Sunday and Monday. Days will be hot, but evenings will offer some respite, with lows falling into the low to mid-50s.

The Bay Area

Expect the typical blend of morning clouds and fog with sunshine in the afternoon, all marked by generally cooler than average temperatures and gusty winds through Saturday before a warming trend begins. On Friday and Saturday, partly sunny skies will emerge by the afternoon for much of the region, but winds will be gusty from the west. High temperatures will range from the mid- to upper 60s on both days, with overnight lows in the low 50s.

Winds will relax and temperatures will be on the rise Sunday and Monday. By Sunday, mostly sunny skies will prevail. Highs are predicted in the mid-70s for places like Palo Alto and Fremont, and the upper 60s in San Francisco and along the coast. Monday will be even warmer, with highs in the upper 70s to around 80 degrees for inland areas and upper 60s near the coast. Overnight lows will remain cool throughout the weekend, dipping into the mid-50s.

Central California

Central Coast

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Friday and Saturday will start with coastal morning fog and reduced visibility for most places along Highway 1 between Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo. The clouds will be hard pressed to clear on Friday, with temperatures in the low to mid-60s and gusty winds out of the west in the afternoon. Some isolated pockets of drizzle may develop in spots on Saturday morning, with a better chance at sunshine by the afternoon, and high temperatures in the upper 50s to mid-60s. By Sunday and Monday, mostly sunny skies will dominate and winds will relax, with temperatures ranging from the upper 60s in coastal cities and mid-70s away from the water. Evenings will remain cool and partly cloudy, with lows ranging from the upper 40s to low 50s.

Central Valley

The Central Valley from Fresno to Bakersfield will have abundant sunshine all weekend, with temperatures cooler than usual on Friday and especially on Saturday. High temperatures will be in the mid-70s to around 80 degrees on Friday, with highs only in the 70s on Saturday. Much warmer conditions develop for the second half of the weekend, with temperatures rising into the upper 80s by Sunday and into the low 90s in some spots by Monday.

Sierra Nevada

The Sierra will offer a mix of conditions over the weekend depending on your destination. Friday and Saturday will feature mostly cloudy skies for the first part of the day, with some partial clearing expected around Tahoe and Yosemite and a chance of some pop-up afternoon showers and thunderstorms. High temperatures will be in the low to mid-50s and overnight lows in the mid-30s to low 40s. The rest of the weekend will see mostly sunny weather, warming temperatures and a reduced risk of afternoon storms. Highs on Sunday and Monday will top out in the low to mid-60s in Tahoe and in the mid- to upper 50s in Yosemite.

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Southern California

Santa Barbara to Los Angeles

Fog and clouds will plague the coastal areas and beaches around L.A. on Friday and Saturday, with isolated pockets of drizzle possible on both days. The clouds are unlikely to break up on either day and will extend into downtown Los Angeles at least on Friday, with temperatures remaining on the cool side with highs in the mid- to upper 60s and some gusty afternoon winds. Sunday and Monday will feature more favorable conditions, with coastal fog and low clouds more likely to clear out in the afternoon on Sunday and definitely by Monday. Highs range from the upper 60s to low 70s with cool and cloudy conditions overnight and lows in the low 50s.

Orange County

Clouds should mostly clear out in the afternoon on Friday and Saturday, except along the beaches. Temperatures will be cool, and winds will be a bit gusty in the afternoons. Highs both days will range from the mid- to upper 60s. Clouds build back overnight with low temperatures in the low to mid-50s. Sunday and Monday will definitely be the better weather days of the long weekend. Mostly sunny skies on both days will lead to high temperatures in the low to mid-70s on Sunday and in the mid-70s to low 80s by Monday.

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Coastal San Diego

Low clouds and fog will be hard to clear on Friday and Saturday, with pockets of drizzle possible both mornings. Temperatures will be cool, with highs in the low to mid-60s and overnight lows in the low 50s. Partly sunny skies on Sunday and mostly sunny skies on Monday will allow for temperatures to warm into the upper 60s to around 70 degrees with lighter winds.

High Desert
In relation to the case, Surendra Agarwal, the 17-year-old boys grandfather, is also being questioned by the Pune crime department. The police are interrogating him In an effort to learn more about his son and grandson and the conversations he had with them the day of the tragedy read more

In his initial statement, the family driver stated that he was driving the Porsche at the time of the accident

The 17-year-old youngster who was injured in the Pune tragedy has stated that the driver was his family member at the time of the incident. The minors accusations have been supported by his two buddies who were present when the tragedy occurred.

The teenager, son of real estate developer Vishal Agarwal, was in the car that crashed into a motorbike, killing two people. A day before, a Pune court cancelled the bail granted to him and ordered him to be sent to a juvenile centre.

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However, the latest update in the case is that the family driver, who was allegedly driving the Porsche on the fateful night, is being questioned by the police again today.

In his initial statement, the family driver stated that he was driving the Porsche at the time of the accident.

Vishal Agarwal has also asserted that the driver operating the Porsche was one of his employees.

In the meantime, Vishal Agarwals cellphone has been found, and investigations are on to learn more about the mishap.

In relation to the case, Surendra Agarwal, the 17-year-old boys grandfather, is also being questioned by the Pune crime department. The police are interrogating him In an effort to learn more about his son and grandson and the conversations he had with them the day of the tragedy.
Addressing the letter to BJP state general secretary Aditya Sahu, Sinha said that he was surprised to receive the letter. The leader clarified that he had informed well before the elections about his intentions to step back from electoral responsibilities read more

Three days after the BJP sent a show-cause notice to Jayant Sinha, the Hazaribagh MP said that the saffron party was unjustly targeting him and that he was surprised to receive BJP state general secretary Aditya Sahus letter.

With his response to the show cause notice, the rift between Sinha and BJP has intensified. The notice claimed that the BJP MP did not cast his vote from Jharkhand during the fifth phase of the election.

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The notice also claimed that Sinha has not been campaigning for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections and that he has distanced himself from the party.

Wrong to allege

Addressing the letter to Aditya Sahu, Sinha said that he was surprised to receive the letter. The leader clarified that he had informed well before the elections about his intentions to step back from electoral responsibilities.

I withdrew from the Lok Sabha elections on March 2, 2024. After consulting with JP Nadda and getting his explicit approval, I made it clear publicly that I was not going to be involved in these elections, he said, adding that he was always ready to support the party on economic and governance policies.

Sinha, in March, posted on X, requesting the saffron party to relieve him from electoral duties.

In the letter, the leader said that he was approached by many leaders in Delhi asking him not to withdraw and continue his candidacy. This was a difficult period, filled with intense public emotion. However, I maintained political decorum and restraint, Sinha added.

After Sinha, a two-time sitting MP from Hazaribag, stepped back, the BJP fielded Manish Jaiswal from the constituency.

My response to Shri Aditya Sahu jis letter sent on May 20, 2024 pic.twitter.com/WfGIIyTvdz  Jayant Sinha (Modi Ka Parivar) (@jayantsinha) May 22, 2024

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The saffron party had accused Sinha of not participating in any election rally with Jaiswal. Responding to this, he said, On April 29, I received a call from Manish Jaiswal inviting me to his nomination rally on May 1. Due to late notice, it was not feasible for me to arrive in Hazaribagh by the morning of May 1. Consequently, I travelled to Hazaribagh on May 2 and went directly to Jaiswals residence to express my regards.

However, Sinha found Jaiswal not present at his home. Following this, Sinha claims that Jaiswal did not contact him.

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About the BJPs allegation that Sinha did not cast his vote, the leader said that he sent his vote through a postal ballot as he had left India on May 10 to attend some pressing personal commitments.

Jharkhand went to polls on May 20 and will vote in four phases.

Sinha and BJP at odds?

Sinha, a BJP stalwart who has been entrusted with important portfolios including the Civil Aviation Ministry and Finance Ministry, requested the saffron party to relieve him from electoral duties.

In a statement posted on X, Sinha, son of Trinamool Congress leader Yashwant Sinha, sought a greater role in combating climate change. The leader, however, mentioned his intention to continue working for the party on issues like economic and governance.

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BJP also suffered another setback in Jharkhand after Sinhas son Aashir Sinha joined Congress last week.
The number of IIT graduates not placed is the highest in three years in 2024, according to RTI data read more

IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay have reached out to alumnus networks to help with placements (Photo: PTI)

As many as 38% of graduates of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) graduates in 2024 have not been placed so far, according to data accessed through the Right to Information (RTI) applications.

To place these students, at least IIT Delhi (IIT-D) and IIT Bombay (IIT-B) have reached to the alumni network, according to The Times of India.

Separately, the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani has also reached out to the alumnus network to place the current years graduates.

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Share of students not placed at 3-year high: Data

The share of students not placed so far from the IITs is the highest in three years, according to RTI data published by ToI.

While the percentage for 2021 was 19%, the figures for 2022 and 2023 were 21% and 38% respectively.

In terms of numbers, 17,900 students were not placed in 2022, 20,000 in 2023, and 21,500 in 2024.

ALSO READ: Why IIT placements are looking gloomier than ever this season

Dheeraj Singh, an alumna of IIT-D who filed the RTI application, told the paper that both the number of students sitting for placements and not being placed have gone up in recent years.

Over 7,000 IIT students are yet to be placed via campus placement this year across all the 23 IITs. Two years ago, this unplaced number was half at 3,400. While the number of students sitting in placements has gone up 1.2 times, the number of unplaced students has doubled to 2.3 times in two years, said Singh.

IITs & BITS tap into alumnus network to place students

Considering the large number of students not yet placed, IIT-B, IIT-D, and BITS Pilani have reached out to their alumnus for help.

In a message to alumnus, IIT-D sought them to provide the students from the current batch to give a helping hand.

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On behalf of the Office of Career Services (OCS) at IIT-Delhi, we appeal to you to consider extending a helping hand to our students. Your support and efforts in this matter will not only be greatly appreciated but will also serve as a crucial steppingstone for these students as they embark on their professional journeys, said the statement, as per the paper.

ALSO READ: Why IITs are struggling to get students placed this season

In a separate statement, BITS Group Vice Chancellor V Ramgopal Rao said that placements have gone down by 20-30% everywhere because of artificial intelligence and language models. He said the requirement of professionals have fallen. He also flagged over-hiring in recent years.

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Everywhere, placements are 20% to 30% lower. If some institute is saying all students have been placed, the quality of jobs leaves much to be desired. This is the first year when ChatGPT and large language models have started showing their impact. If two people can do the work of three people, we are already 30% down in hiring. There has already been a lot of over-hiring and many countries are holding elections this year, so companies are adopting a wait-and-watch policy, said Rao.
According to officials, the chemical facility situated in MIDC Phase 2 experienced a boiler explosion, which resulted in the fire. In the big explosion, approximately twenty-five people were hurt and four individuals killed read more

Three explosions were heard at the plant, according to witnesses. The deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis reported that at least eight individuals had been saved

Following a big blast on Thursday, a factory in Thanes Dombiwali, near Mumbai, caught fire, leaving several people fearfully trapped.

According to officials, the chemical facility situated in MIDC Phase 2 experienced a boiler explosion, which resulted in the fire. In the big explosion, approximately 39 people were hurt and six individuals were killed.

Three explosions were heard at the plant, according to witnesses. The deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis reported that at least eight individuals had been saved.

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The incident of a boiler explosion at Amudan Chemical Company in Dombivli MIDC is tragic. Eight people involved in this incident have been rescued. Arrangements have been made to treat the injured and more ambulances have been kept ready. I have discussed this with the collector and they are reaching the spot within 10 minutes. Teams of NDRF, TDRF, and fire brigade have been called, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the media.

The operation to douse the flames has begun, involving the deployment of approximately fifteen engines. The fire would take more than four hours to put out, according to officials.

The boom broke the windows of the surrounding houses. A car dealership is among the two more buildings where the fire has spread.

About 1:40 pm, a distress call was received. Preliminary reports state that the explosion caused damage to a number of cars and homes, and that at least seven individuals were hurt.
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team arrived in Pakistan last Friday to hold talks as they requested a longer and larger bailout package under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Cash-strapped Pakistan needs a rollover of around $12 billion in debt from key allies in 202425 to meet the whopping $23 billion gap in its external financing. Pakistani insiders are hoping to get a rollover of $5 billion from Saudi Arabia, $3 billion from the UAE, and $4 billion from China. Meanwhile, they are seeking fresh financing from China. China has provided developing countries with over $1.1 trillion in loans through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). According to a 2023 Aid-Data report, 80 per cent of the loans involve countries in financial distress, like Pakistan.

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Despite such heavy debt, Pakistan continues to spend significantly on defence. Its 2023 defence budget was $8.5 billion, a 16 per cent increase despite the IMF breathing down their neck. It was 1.7 per cent of GDP. Meanwhile, Pakistan has been in talks with China about adding numbers to the JF-17, buying more J-10 CE, and also indicating a desire to acquire the fifth-generation J-31 fighters. In parallel, Pakistan is working with Turkey for their fifth-generation Kaan fighter aircraft and unscrewed aircraft.

Pakistani Debt

Pakistans debt keeps increasing amidst failing export earnings. The current outstanding foreign debt is estimated at $124.5 billion, or 42 per cent of GDP. Further, the countrys annual foreign exchange earnings from exports are not enough to pay for imports. During 202223, Pakistans current account deficit was $30.5 billion, most of which was covered by the remittances of Pakistanis working abroad, and the rest by new foreign borrowing. With export earnings unlikely to increase, rescheduling foreign debt payments will be the only way forward. And this comes at a price.

The financial details of the CPEC are unclear. Pakistan is the worlds largest host of BRI projects, with CPEC involving $62 billion in spending. A significant debt owed to Chinese companies is not officially reported but has to be cleared in foreign exchange. The IMFs estimate of $25 billion for Pakistans debt service requirements in 202324 is based only on Pakistans reporting of the countrys foreign debt.

Pakistan has traditionally looked to China for concessions in light of their contribution to the debt through BRI. Saudi Arabia has become less liberal in support due to its own commitments and desire to move away from heavy reliance on oil (40 per cent of Saudi GDP and 75 per cent of fiscal revenue), which sees substantial fluctuations depending on oil prices. The UAE has been the other source of debt relief support, but they want value for their money. The economic relations of both Saudi Arabia and the UAE are on much more solid foundations than the much larger, more mature, and safer economy of India.

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In light of the continued negative trade balance, things will continue to get worse. Given the current difficulties in Chinas financial sector, it may be hard for Pakistan to expect concessions from China. And lenders like China extract their pound of flesh, as they did in leasing a substantial part of the Gwadar port and special economic zone.

China-Pakistan Strategic Congruence

Despite the current economic and political turmoil in Pakistan, the Sino-Pakistani strategic nexus remains stable. The military cooperation between the two continues to deepen. Beijing stands firmly behind Pakistan in terms of sovereignty and territorial integrity. China reiterates that military cooperation is at the core of bilateral relations, and they will jointly maintain the security interests of the two countries and of the region. Pakistans location is a gift of geography. It remains crucial for Chinas access to petroleum-rich West Asia, investment-hungry Africa, and power projection in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

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After the Sino-Indian War of 1962, Pakistan saw an opportunity to befriend China and ceded nearly 5,000 sq km in Shaksgam Valley in 1963. Very recently, China has built a road across the Aghil Pass (4,805 m, altitude) that enters the lower Shaksgam Valley. The roadhead is now less than 50 kilometres from Indias Siachen Glacier.

Immediately after the dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971, China and Pakistan forged a strategic alliance in 1972, which has since grown from strength to strength, especially in defence. While China supports Pakistan in Kashmir, Pakistan in turn supports China in Tibet, Taiwan, and Xinjiang. Pakistan also acts as a link between China and the Muslim world. Chinas national strategic interest in getting port facilities and a highway close to oil-rich West Asia made it commit huge sums to the road and rail corridor called the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The long-term plan is to lay an oil/gas pipeline from Gwadar to Central China. In 2023, China and Pakistan signed a $3.5 billion deal to construct Pakistans largest nuclear power plant at Chasma 5.

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Pakistan continues to be a key element of Chinas string of pearls policy to create a sphere of influence around India. For Pakistan, China is a low-cost-high-value deterrent against India. Beijings open belligerence, salami-slicing attempts on Indias borders, and Islamabads export of terrorism combined with strategic-military closeness pose a two-front challenge to India.

China-Pakistan-US Peculiar Combinations

While China and Pakistan call themselves the thickest of friends, there are serious dichotomies. For a long, Pakistan was part of the US-led strategic groupings CENTO and SEATO. Later, it helped the US come closer to China in 1971. Pakistan supported the US in the 19791989 SovietAfghan War and has ever since been a huge beneficiary of US aid, including during the US-led Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). But Pakistan double-crossed the US while hiding Osama bin Laden and during its two decades in Afghanistan, and also misused the funds.

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China remains deeply communist and is aggressively converting the Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Despite such a deep friendship with China, no Pakistani politician, military officer, or businessman has children studying in China, nor has any of them invested in property. On the other hand, they all have invested in Western countries. Pakistan is both a Chinese pawn (against India) and a platform for power projection. Pakistan is a master at taking unreasonable advantage, but it cannot be a reliable partner.

Military Industrial Complex

For the initial decades, Pakistans military depended almost entirely on American armaments and aid, which increased considerably during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Post-1963, China began supporting Pakistan to build the Military Industrial Complex. Meanwhile, the Pressler Amendment in 1990 resulted in the suspension of all American military assistance amidst concerns that Pakistan was attempting to develop nuclear weapons. Many Pakistanis saw this as a betrayal. Consequently, since 1990, Pakistan has tilted more actively towards China for military and economic cooperation. China helped Pakistan set up munitions factories and upgrade the existing ordnance factory at Wah, near Rawalpindi. China allowed licensed production of the MBT-2000 (Al-Khalid) tank, which was essentially a Chinese variant of the Russian T-90. The militaries started exercising together. China helped build a turnkey ballistic missile manufacturing facility near Rawalpindi. It also helped Pakistan with its submarine production capability. Chinese F-22P frigates joined the Pakistan Navy. China also supplied Pakistan with nuclear technology and assistance, including perhaps the blueprint for Pakistans nuclear bomb. Chinese security agencies were reportedly aware of the transfer of nuclear technology by Pakistan to Iran, North Korea, and Libya. After India secured a nuclear deal with the US, China agreed to set up two nuclear power stations in Pakistan. However, the greatest results have been seen in the China-Pakistan aviation relationship.

Military Aviation Production

Starting in 1965, China supplied the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) with Chinese-made Russian variants of the MiG-19 and MiG-21 and the Harbin H-5 (Ilyushin IL-28). China helped establish Heavy Industries at Taxila in 1971 for equipment rebuilding, and in 1973, the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at Kamra North of Islamabad.

In 2007, as a part of a joint project, China rolled out a designed for Pakistan Fighter JF-17 Thunder. The costs were kept low by borrowing technologies developed for Chinese J-10 fighters. The aircraft can carry a variety of Chinese air-to-air missiles (AAM), including the formidable PL-15. Currently, PAF has 150 of these, and the strength is likely to increase to over 200 a day. This programme is also a signal to the US that Pakistan has others to bank on for its security needs. China and Pakistan are aggressively trying to find possible export customers in Africa and Asia. Nigeria and Myanmar have ordered some small numbers. The reasonable price makes it attractive.

Other Military Acquisitions

Pakistan ordered 36 Chengdu J-10CE Vigorous Dragon multi-role fighters (20 delivered, 16 on order). There are reports that they will order 14 more to make it 50. A host of Chinese missiles and PGMs are part of the package. Pakistan has acquired the Chinese HQ-9/P AD system, a Chinese variant of the S-300 that covers high-to-medium-level threats. Pakistan operates a Chinese ZDK-03 AEW&C aircraft. 60 Chinese-designed, Pakistan-manufactured K-8 Karakorum intermediate jet trainers are in service. Pakistan operates Chinese CH-4 recce-cum-strike drones, which can carry up to four PGMs.

The Pakistan Navy has locally-built Zulfiquar-class frigates with Chinese assistance. Pakistan has acquired the Type 054A frigates from China. The national submarine programme for Hangor-class air-independent propulsion submarines is a joint-venture with China, with the expectation of being commissioned between 2024 and 2028.

Despite the Chinese pledge to the contrary, it has continued to provide Pakistan with specialty steels, guidance systems, and technical expertise in the latters effort to develop long-range ballistic missiles. The M-11 is a copy of the DF-11, and the Hatf, Shaheen, and Anza series of missiles have been built with Chinese assistance.

Military Exercises and Space Cooperation

Pakistans armed forces carry out regular military exercises with China. The most important and extensive is the Shaheen series between the PAF and the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). These are meant to improve interoperability and enhance responses to mutual threat. PAF gets exposure to Chinese Sukhoi Su-27/Su-30MKK aircraft, which are similar to Indian Air Force (IAF) frontline SU-30 MKI aircraft. PAF cannot operate F-16s mindful of US concerns. But China gets to learn Western tactics and large-force combat engagements from PAF pilots who regularly exercise with Western forces.

Pakistans Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) was established in 1961 but has little to show. The countrys first technology-demonstrator satellite, Badr-I, was built by SUPARCO and launched by China in 1990. Pakistan does not have its own launch vehicles and aims to launch more satellites with Chinese help.

Since 1992, China has helped Pakistan develop and launch communications satellites and remote sensing satellites, among others. Pakistan has access to the Chinese BeiDou satellite navigation system. ICUBE-Q, a scientific experimental Pakistani CubeSat, was launched aboard Chinas Change-6 lunar probe on May 3.

China-Pakistan Collusivity: Implications for India

The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) is fast catching up with Russia and the US in overall military power. Their aircraft carriers, naval vessels, and airborne platforms have global reach and precision. It makes a great military force for India to contend with. Pakistan is also set to increase its current 19 to 22 fighter squadrons.

China has begun major infrastructure buildups in Tibet and Xinjiang, especially in the area near Aksai Chin. The Kashgar-Karachi CPEC passes through the contested areas of Gilgit-Baltistan. Baluch nationalists have been protesting that the Pak government is conspiring to plunder the provinces waste natural resources. Wealthy and connected Pakistanis are being accused of a major land grab exercise all along the so-called economic corridor.

Indias potential to become a democratic counterbalance against authoritarian China bothers Beijing. Chinas closeness with Pakistan has to be factored in and balanced by India if it wishes to retain preeminence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). After India revoked Article 370 in August 2019, China raised the issue in the UNSC on three occasions and could well do so again, indicating its willingness to strain ties with India.

The Western Theatre Command (WTC) is the largest of Chinas five theatres. The WTC covers the entire Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India. China and Pakistan have a commonality of military equipment. Both exercise regularly and have sorted out interoperability issues. China will provide Pakistan with satellite-based ISR support, in addition to the use of the BeiDou GPS network. The intelligence establishments of China and Pakistan have developed very close ties over the decades. Pakistans Skardu airfield can be used by the PLAAF.

China might sell its first aircraft carrier, Liaoning, to Pakistan once its fourth aircraft carrier is ready. The convergence of Sino-Pak interests on strategic and territorial issues points to increased and enduring Chinese military pressure on India, as presently seen in Ladakh. China could well open hostilities through Pakistan, creating a two-front war situation for India.

After the Ukraine conflict, Russia has been pushed more into the Chinese corner and will be of little support in cases of regional conflict. Even Indias Western partners will only support satellite-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) at best. As a responsible power, India would have to fight its own battles yet build partnerships with friendly democracies.

India does need to re-look at the force structure. The IAF is down to 31 fighter squadrons, and numbers could dip further. The IAF immediately requires advanced fighters, sophisticated support platforms, and smart long-range weapons. Many contend that the IAF eventually needs to increase combat squadrons from the currently targeted 42 to around 50 squadrons. But presently, it may take nearly 15 years to even reach 42 squadrons. To achieve this, the defence budget must be increased to at least 2.5 per cent of GDP from the current 1.9 per cent. The soon-to-be third-largest economy must spare more money for its security.

The atma-nirbharta has to be pushed to its logical end through a whole-nation approach. The defence R&D and Indian aircraft industries too would have to get their act right if Make-in-India has to succeed. LCA Mk1A and Mk2 development and production must be hastened. Similarly, AMCA design and development must be pushed. India must have its own light tank soon. Also, the number of submarines has to increase. India may make an early decision on its next aircraft carrier.

India has to invest much more in critical game-changing technologies such as hypersonic, directed energy, cyber, electronic warfare, artificial intelligence, quantum, and robotics. India is way behind in inducting its own unmanned platforms.

India needs to accelerate the hypersonic cruise missile BrahMos II development. Manned-unmanned teaming also needs acceleration. The RFP for the new 114 aircraft must go out without any delay. Similarly, the AEW&C and FRA numbers are too low for a continental-sized country with serious threats on its borders. These are critical for Indias global reach and great power aspirations.

India must also get out of the heavily loaded Russian military asset basket. Initially, India should target 40 per cent indigenous, 30 per cent Russian and 30 per cent Western arms by 2040. Indias satellite navigation system must be operationalized quickly. India needs many more satellites for ISR and secure communications, including data handling. They are also required for redundancy. The time to act is now, lest we get left further behind.

The writer is former Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The ability to mobilise to the operational area and combat mobility within the war zone are foundational for the operational success of any professional armed force of the nation. Some military units can be declared unfit for war primarily because they could not shake out of their military stations within the designated time, which could be anything as little as 45 minutes to two hours of warning.

National mobilisation is a larger subject. The strategy of Cold Start was adopted by the Indian Army primarily against Pakistan to ensure that large military formations are so located and equipped that they can reach their operational areas faster than the adversary. Strategic mobility entails the heavy lifting of large military formations over longer distances; these are mostly trans-theater. The airborne troops are always prepared for such mobility, fundamentally by large aircraft such as the C-17 or IL-76 class. The standard military formations are generally mobilised by military special trains and trucks. In both cases, the dimensions of the equipment and vehicles matter.

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For companies manufacturing military hardware such as armour vehicles, artillery guns, earthmovers, and military vehicles, it is very important for them to design equipment that conforms to military standards of shape and size and is pliable for obilisation. The vehicles or equipment that cannot fit on standard military rakes or aircraft is called OSD (Over Sized Dimension). During the mobilisation, the satellites of the adversary are always on a lookout to track these military movements. Nations can ill afford to have sluggish, disorganised, and time-consuming mobilisation. Stealth and speed dictate the success of military mobilisation.

Once deployed, the forces have to be highly mobile and manoeuvrable. The Jeep was an expression used by Americans for a General Purpose vehicle and was used extensively for reconnaissance, movement of small bodies of troops and officers, or even for combat when fitted with automatic weapons. In combat, speed, stealth, survivability, and swiftness in combat and operational mobility are extremely important. Militaries cannot risk having combat transport that is slow, noisy, terrain-sensitive, and delicate. The tactical and operational manoeuvre is all about projecting a superior force at the time and place of decision by beating the enemy in time, space, and force ratios. Manoeuvre is a factor of physics that is effectively achieved by mobility and firepower.

For combat mobility and operations, one needs a vehicle that is also amenable to modifications in military workshops and that can be repaired in field conditions and then congenial for long-term MRO support. It must have a low weight-to-power ratio that can ensure universal cross-country mobility without losing the Centre of Gravity (CoG). Even if it rolls over, it should have strong anti-roll protection and return to the top position. The vehicle tyres must create enough traction in deserts, plains, and roads in winter or snow; no longer should there be a need to put tardy non-skid chains in snow-bound areas. The troop-carrying vehicles must be able to withstand splinters, direct bullet hits, and belly attacks. The store and equipment carrying vehicles need additional fireproofing. Certain transport needs should be catered to operate in the CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) environment that is scaled to every combat unit.

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Invariably and increasingly, the militaries are fielding sophisticated military equipment into the war zone. Most of the gadgets in vehicles need power and protection. EVs shall revolutionise and off-set the power generation in combat; however, in military combat, this may take some time. Some combat vehicles need double conventional engines that alternate between power generation and traction. When required, both engines can singly or together generate traction and power. Both engines need not be of the same power or be dependent on one type of fuel. Such vehicles should have the ability to perform the duties of Articulated All Terrain Vehicles (hook-pull-push) with easy reconfiguration.

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Quick mobilisation needs palletisation models. The air mobility, rail mobility, and road mobility pallets have to be configured by the industry for rapid mobilisation. Similarly, combat loads need palletization. Military logistics are simple, yet cumbersome due to the variety of echelons that need to cater for different terrain and operational cycles and manoeuvres. The military innovates on the go. The military transport should have combat kits that can make the same vehicle perform different roles. The self-recovery winches can work for pulling the small pallets into the truck body, especially for loading heavy ammunition boxes. Some vehicles need waterproofing for deep fording or the ability to floatwith simple modifications. Military ambulances are rarely comfortable in the mountains for an injured, lying soldier. The role of the ambulance in the mountains does not allow the patient to stabilise. The CoG of ambulances should be low, and these vehicles should lend themselves to juxtaposition to form a field hospital; this is being done in some cases. Military kitchen lorries, command posts, and caravans are being built in most armies.

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Internet Inside for combat vehicles is the future of swarm warfare with autonomous vehicles. In the battle, no vehicle can be classified as a non-combat vehicle. All vehicles, including troop-carrying, store carrying, specialist vehicles, and logistical vehicles, have to be able to fit into a combat role. Every military vehicle manufacturer must assign the CW (Combat Worthiness) value to the vehicle. Military vehicles are likely to be put under a hard test, never seen before, as future battles are networked, transparent, highly volatile, and require high speed, manoeuvrability, and survivability. The combat columns need high redundancy, self-recovery, and self-healing properties. Military vehicles need positioning and tracking systems that are secure. Ground-based hopping positioning systems would ensure that location spoofing is built into a combat vehicle column. Most of the mobilisation would be done at night. Certain guide and pilot vehicles need combined night driving and navigation aids. Future military vehicles will invariably have drone companions built in to act as guides, surveillance buddies, and logistic support systems.

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The combat monitoring and control vehicles would be necessary for mosaic battles. As and when the autonomous wars kick in, the column and combat commanders should be able to see themselves from terrestrial and space sensors. This would be necessary for any evasive or proactive decisions that the commanders would need to take. The commanders at all levels would be expected to be in the networked OOSDA (Observe-Orient-Share-Decide-Act) loop. These vehicles would need to have inbuilt jamming radiations to disturb the incoming guided ammunition targeting a vehicle or a column. These vehicles need to generate extra power to generate these energy waves.

Military vehicle designers need to cater for models that can be air-transported by Chinook helicopters and aircraft, such as C-295 aircraft, C-17 Globemaster, IL-76, and C-130. The vehicles and guns can either be loaded, taken underslung, or even paradropped. The traditional manufacturers in India, such as Tata, Ashok Leyland, and Mahindra, have their respective backgrounds in lorry and tractor manufacturing, both requiring heavy-duty and rugged designs and materials. Force Motors, with the background of manufacturing Light Commercial Vehicles also transformed, like the former three, into military grade vehicle manufacturing. Industrial houses like BEML, Kalyani Group, and Midhani brought in their traditional manufacturing strengths and expertise in materials to produce defence heavy lift and rugged mobility designs. These manufacturers are currently the suppliers of conventional war mobility hardware. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Research and Development and collaboration with future technology providers will make these companies stacked with designs and capabilities that will make them future-ready to work on networked and contested battlefields around the world.

Lt Gen (Dr) PJS Pannu is a former Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff. He is a PhD in Management with the subject Indigenization of Defence Industry. He initiated the raising of Defence Cyber Agency, Defence Space Agency and Armed Forces Special Forces Division. He is on the board of Valley of words, heading the Military History and Strategy Vertical. He is a distinguished fellow of USI. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The ICCs attempt to try Netanyahu for defending his countrymen is akin to putting an oversight over legitimate state action without any authority to do so. Today it is Israel; tomorrow it may be India read more

The International Criminal Court (ICC) took the world by surprise early this week when it announced that it was seeking warrants for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar.

Karim Khan, a prosecutor with the ICC, wants to prosecute them for war crimes and crimes against humanity over the October 7 terror attack in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. In addition to them, Khan is also looking to prosecute Israels Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, and two more Hamas leaders. The decision to prosecute a close ally of the United States may come as a shocker, but it is not the first time a head of state has come on the radar of the ICC. Previously, an arrest warrant was also issued against Russian President Vladimir Putin over his war on Ukraine and Libyas leader, Muammar Gaddafi, over crimes against humanity committed during the Libyan civil war.

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The action of the ICC has generated a volley of responses, with some outrightly criticising this move, some feeling amused, and some even celebrating that finally Israels leadership will be punished for whats happening in the Gaza Strip. In addition to the current attempt by the ICC to prosecute Netanyahu and Hamas leaders, another case is pending in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where South Africa has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. The ICC and ICJ have different mandates; the ICJ hears cases related to countries and nations, whereas the ICC has the mandate to try individuals for criminal cases such as war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC was created by the Rome Statute and has 124 countries as parties to the treaty. India, along with certain other countries such as the US, Russia, and Israel itself, are not part of the ICC.

In a situation where Khans application to prosecute Netanyahu is granted, any country that is part of the ICC would have to arrest him and extradite him to The Hague, Netherlands, where this organisation is headquartered. In other words, if Netanyahu sets foot in any of these 124 countries, he may face arrest and be deported to ICC headquarters for trial. Ironically, this will also include countries such as Germany and the UK, which are quite close to Israel.

Meanwhile, many of Israels allies have come to its defence, with US President Joe Biden calling the move outrageous for targeting a close US ally. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also joined in by fundamentally rejecting the application seeking a warrant to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant. Despite the criticism and opposition, ICC prosecutor Khan has maintained his stand in an interview with CNNs Christiane Amanpour, saying that no one is above the law.

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Interestingly, global politics is heating up over Israels war against Hamas in Gaza and the resultant collateral damage to civilian lives. However, the hypocrisy of the West in supporting Russian President Putins prosecution for war crimes in Ukraine but opposing Netanyahus prosecution for the same is something that must be duly noted. The US is backing a separate bid by the ICC to document and investigate President Putins actions in Ukraine to find out the extent of his war crimes. Despite the Wests apparent hypocrisy in the matter, the ICCs move is also very problematic. Firstly, it is helping Netanyahus case only because the ICCs targeting of him has consolidated even the Israeli opposition leaders behind him. The October 7, 2023, attack, which led to the loss of hundreds of innocent lives and brutal rapes of Israeli women, has stuck in the public memory as the worst form of terrorism that Israel has ever faced. This instance of gruesome violence, along with Hamass taking of hostages, became the ground for Israels retaliatory action in Gaza.

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Hamas is just a front for anti-Israeli forces in the region, with many other terror fronts ganging up on Israel from multiple corners. It is in this context that Israels actions must be understood. It is a given reality that Hamas has a track record of using civilians as human shields, with even the United Nations investigating this charge against the terror group. It is true that many civilians in Gaza have perished due to Israels retaliation, but it is Hamas that must be prosecuted for hiding behind civilians to target Israelis rather than Netanyahu.

Hamas, which can build hundreds of kilometres of tunnels to provide safety to its foot soldiers, hasnt deliberately created any shelter areas for civilians to hide in during the bombardment by Israel. In fact, these tunnels are built underneath the civilian infrastructure in a grave violation of international law just so that Hamas can continue to use civilian lives as a shield against Israeli military action. Hence, if someone is responsible for the loss of civilian lives in Gaza, it is fair and square to the Hamas leadership.

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The same sentiment is being echoed in Israel, where the ICC is impinging on Israels right to self defence, is a line that even the opposition has taken. They are firmly backing their leader, Netanyahu, by saying that the ICC is not just targeting him but it is also targeting Israel and its defence.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu is making full use of the ICCs attempt to prosecute him. In fact, the ICCs equating of Bibi with Hamas leader Sinwar is like giving fresh ammo to Netanyahu for riling up an even more violent response in Gaza. His pitch that Israel is being targeted and all anti-Semites have ganged up together will get even more support due to the ICCs actions. Importantly, not just the West but even a country like India must watch this episode closely. In Israel, opposition parties have firmly backed Netanyahu, but what if a similar treatment were meted out to an Indian leader? We have all seen how the Indian opposition parties have joined the global chorus against Indias right to defend itself from Islamist and Khalistani terrorism. The use of intelligence networks by current establishments to gather information and take other actions has come under attack not only from the West, which is playing a dirty game against India, but also internally from Indias myopic opposition.

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The ICCs attempt to prosecute Netanyahu would set a terrible precedent that will be further used to exploit a country like India. Today, the democratically elected government of Israel is being equated with a rogue terrorist group where one has the mandate to defend its people and the other is undermining the international system of states by using brute force.

States not only have the monopoly over violence internally, which is the oldest and most basic principle of International Relations, but they also have the right to defend their civilians and their country from state and non-state actors such as Hamas. The ICCs attempt to try Netanyahu for defending his countrymen is akin to putting an oversight over legitimate state action without any authority to do so. Today it is Israel; tomorrow it may be India. The ICCs attempt to undermine the states power is highly questionable.

The author is a New Delhi-based commentator on geopolitics and foreign policy. She holds a PhD from the Department of International Relations, South Asian University. You may follow her on X: @TrulyMonica. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The death of Irans president about a week after India and Iran signed a ten-year agreement on Chabahar Port has raised concerns over the speedier implementation of the agreement read more

Women attend a funeral procession for the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six other passengers and crew who were killed following a helicopter crash, in Qom, Iran, May 21, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS

The accidental death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash raised multiple questions and caused unexpected worries in Iran, in the Persian Gulf, in West Asia, and even in South Asia.

The death of Raisi in the midst of the ravaging Israel-Hamas war, attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, and the worsening war situation in Ukraine led to instant speculation that it could have been an orchestrated crash and, if proven, could lead to an unprecedented escalation of the conflict in West Asia. Israel is believed to have assassinated Iranian Revolutionary Guard Core commanders and Iranian nuclear scientists and cyber-attacked Irans nuclear facilities.

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On the other side, Iran is known to have been the principal sponsor of Hamas in Israel, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Houthi rebels in Yemen. Thus, the death of President Raisi in a helicopter crash intuitively raised suspicion of a covert foreign hand. The way Israel and its Western allies, including the United States, neutralised hundreds of Iranian missiles launched against Israel by Iran in recent times made people believe that the Iranian President could have been the victim of foreign operations.

However, the Iranian media has widely reported that the helicopter crash resulted from inclement weather, and both the US and Israel have openly denied any role in the death of the Iranian President, and consequently, the wild conspiracy theories have been put to rest. Nonetheless, there are repercussions of this unfortunate death of a president for Iran, its neighbourhood, and the larger West Asian region. Foreign policy pundits have already begun analysing and forecasting what may happen in Irans domestic politics and how it can impact the on-going regional conflict.

For the Iranian government and people, the tragic and untimely death of the President has come about at a time when Iran was in the process of providing full-throated support to the Palestinian cause, risking the negative consequences of engaging Israel and the US in region-wide conflict. The resistance forces, as Tehran would describe them, not only confronted Israel in Gaza, the West Bank, and other parts of Israel but also along Israels border with Lebanon and on waters in the Red Sea. Passing away a top leader and the foreign minister in the middle of a deadly international conflict can be perturbing for the country.

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Searching for a new leader to replace Raisi is not easy because of the suddenness of the event, but Irans ultimate political power and national security decision-making authority reside with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and whoever wins the presidential election now scheduled for June 28 will have to abide by the order and direction of the Supreme Authority. There are optimists in the Iranian political elite and common masses who may desire a moderate leader to emerge who can bring about reforms within Iran, try to end military adventures abroad, and negotiate deals with the US to end Irans isolation in global affairs. They may prefer a leader like Muhammad Khatami, who called for a dialogue among civilisations and sought to end Irans isolation to kick-start its economic growth.

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But there are hardliners who wish to have a new leader who can maintain Irans ability to withstand Western sanctions, punish Israel, befriend Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, reach out to both Pakistan and India, enhance closer strategic ties with Russia and China, protect its strategic autonomy, and safeguard its nuclear installations. They would prefer a Mahmoud Ahmadinejad type of personality in view of the prevailing geopolitical environment in the region.

The most likely scenario is that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will not allow any reformist or moderate candidate to contest the presidential election. The next elected president will most likely have the Ayatollahs blessings and backing. Supreme Leader Khamenei has not given any indications that he would back away from the current Iranian policy towards the region. On the contrary, there are clear signals that Irans policy towards Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and Israel will remain the same, or may be more of the same, post-Raisi era in Iranian foreign policy. Hints are many. For instance, Hamas, Houthi, and Hezbollah leaders attended the funeral ceremony of Raisi. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke with them, and the government allowed the local mourners to carry posters saying death to Israel.

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The death of Irans president about a week after India and Iran signed a ten-year agreement on Chabahar Port has raised concerns over the speedier implementation of the agreement. After all, it took several years and numerous negotiations for the two countries to arrive at an agreement. Iran is a crucial link in Indias international connectivity ventures. Indian diplomacy has succeeded in maintaining cordial ties with Iran in the face of hurdles arising out of US sanctions, Indias close partnership with Israel, and Irans emerging friendship with Pakistan. India also navigated successfully through the regional cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. India aspires to achieve success in the International North-South Transport Corridor Project, where Iran is a crucial pivot, and in the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor proposal, where Israel is also a connecting link. Both are crucial projects that can elevate Indias economic profile and commercial connectivity in a larger region.

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Keeping this national interest in mind, the Indian government promptly took steps and condoled the tragic death of President Raisi. New Delhi declared a national day of mourning, the Indian national flag flew half-mast, and the Vice President of India went to Tehran to attend the funeral and pay tribute. India hopes to continue its constructive ties with Iran both bilaterally and in multilateral forums, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS.

The writer is founder chairperson of Kalinga Institute Indo-Pacific Studies and former Professor at JNU. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Achieving bipartisan support in the US often seems elusive, even for seemingly innocuous resolutions. A telling example of this difficulty is the 2009 attempt to pass a resolution recognising National Pi Day (March 14, or 3/14, in honour of the mathematical constant ). Representative Bart Gordon introduced House Resolution 224 to celebrate Pi Day and underscore the importance of math and science education. Despite its benign nature, the resolution was not passed unanimously, as six members of Congress opposed it, underscoring the complexities of gaining consensus in a polarised political environment.

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Surprisingly, however, there is bipartisan agreement on the issue of China. Both Republicans and Democrats recognise the challenges posed by Chinas trade practices. Former President Trump introduced tariffs on imports from China to address these challenges, a stance that President Joe Biden has continued. On June 11, 2019, Biden had tweeted , Trump doesnt get the basics. He thinks his tariffs are being paid by China. Any freshman econ student could tell you that the American people are paying his tariffs. However, five years later, Biden has found himself doing the same thing Trump has pushed for.

In his remarks on May 14, 2024, President Biden announced a series of stringent actions to protect American workers and businesses from Chinas unfair trade practices. Key among these measures is the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on Chinese steel and aluminium products. This is aimed at countering the overcapacity and dumping practices of Chinese companies, which are heavily subsidised by the Chinese government. Additionally, Biden announced a 100 per cent tariff on electric vehicles made in China to prevent market flooding and ensure fair competition for American automakers. This is complemented by a 25 per cent tariff on electric vehicle batteries and the critical minerals used in their production.

Bidens measures extend to the renewable energy sector with a 50 per cent tariff on Chinese solar panels, a move designed to protect American solar manufacturers from subsidised Chinese competition. The semiconductor industry, vital for numerous technologies, is also shielded with a 50 per cent tariff on semiconductors made in China. This move is part of a broader strategy to reinvigorate domestic chip manufacturing, supported by the CHIPS and Science Act.

However, these impositions of tariffs also reflect the absence of other effective policy tools for dealing with China, partly due to the United States own role in making the World Trade Organization (WTO) dysfunctional. The United States has significantly contributed to the dysfunction of the WTO by systematically blocking the appointment of judges to its Appellate Body, effectively crippling the organizations dispute resolution mechanism.

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This strategic move, initiated by concerns over judicial overreach and sovereignty, has left the WTO unable to adjudicate trade disputes since December 2019, when the terms of the last remaining judges expired. As a result, the Appellate Body has been rendered non-functional, throwing the WTOs role in enforcing multilateral trade rules into disarray.

This obstruction is now backfiring on the U.S., particularly in dealing with Chinese subsidies. Without a functional WTO dispute resolution system, the U.S. is left with limited options to address what it perceives as unfair trade practices by China. Consequently, the U.S. has resorted to imposing tariffs on Chinese goods as a primary strategy. This approach not only risks escalating trade tensions but also imposes higher costs on American businesses and consumers.

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Moreover, the paralysis of the WTOs dispute settlement system undermines the predictability and stability that are crucial for international trade. The absence of a reliable mechanism to resolve trade disputes may lead to a rise in unilateral measures and trade wars, further destabilising the global economy.

However, this takes us to a broader issue of how countries are becoming more protectionist and inward-looking, especially those that have historically advocated for free trade from the highest pedestal. This shift in perspective can be traced back to the influential thoughts of John Maynard Keynes in his 1933 essay on National Self-Sufficiency .

Keynes, who once staunchly supported free trade, experienced a significant change of heart. In his essay, he reflected, I was brought up, like most Englishmen, to respect free trade not only as an economic doctrine which a rational and instructed person could not doubt but almost as a part of the moral law. However, he acknowledged a shift in his views: Yet the orientation of my mind is changed; and I share this change of mind with many others. He recognised that the global economic landscape and the challenges it presented were different from those of the nineteenth century.

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Keynes argued that greater national self-sufficiency might serve the cause of peace better than international economic entanglement. He noted, The protection of a countrys existing foreign interests, the capture of new markets, the progress of economic imperialism  these are a scarcely avoidable part of a scheme of things which aims at the maximum of international specialisation and at the maximum geographical diffusion of capital wherever its seat of ownership. He believed that reducing economic entanglements could minimise international conflicts and that the economic advantages of international specialisation had diminished compared to the past.

Keynes change of perspective was rooted in his belief that the world was moving towards a variety of politico-economic experiments, abandoning the uniformity of 19th-century free trade principles. He saw national self-sufficiency not as an end but as a means to create an environment where other ideals could be pursued without the interference of external economic forces.

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Countries such as the United States, the European Union, and India are imposing tariffs on goods from China as part of a broader strategy to enhance economic self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on a single, dominant global supplier. The Covid-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains, prompting nations to reconsider their economic dependencies.

The United States has maintained and expanded tariffs on Chinese imports, justified by concerns over unfair trade practices and national security. Similarly, the European Union has imposed tariffs and strict regulations on Chinese goods, particularly in sectors like technology and renewable energy, to protect domestic industries and ensure compliance with environmental and labour standards.

Thus, the bipartisan consensus in the United States to act decisively against China should be seen against this backdrop. Republicans and Democrats alike are driven by grave concerns over economic security, human rights abuses, and Chinas aggressive geopolitical manoeuvres. The pandemic starkly exposed the perils of over-reliance on Chinese manufacturing, prompting urgent calls for reshoring critical industries. Intellectual property theft, market access barriers, and Chinas militarisation in the South China Sea have united U.S. policymakers in their resolve to counter Beijings influence. However, needless to say, Chinas response will be swift and assertive, potentially igniting a new and intense trade war with far-reaching global consequences.

Aditya Sinha (X: @adityasinha004) is Officer on Special Duty, Research, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The Meta Advisory Group consists of four notable figures: Patrick Collison, the CEO and co-founder of Stripe Inc.; Nat Friedman, the former CEO of GitHub; Tobi Lutke, CEO of Shopify Inc.; and Charlie Songhurst, an investor and former executive at Microsoft Corp read more

Zuckerberg's new group will regularly meet with Metas leadership to provide advice on the companys advancements in artificial intelligence and technology. Image Credit: Reuters

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta Platforms Inc., has formed a new team called the Meta Advisory Group. This group will regularly meet with Metas leadership to provide advice on the companys advancements in artificial intelligence and technology.

The Meta Advisory Group consists of four notable figures: Patrick Collison, the CEO and co-founder of Stripe Inc.; Nat Friedman, the former CEO of GitHub; Tobi Lutke, CEO of Shopify Inc.; and Charlie Songhurst, an investor and former executive at Microsoft Corp. They wont be receiving any payment for their contributions, as confirmed by a Meta spokesperson.

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Zuckerberg expressed his gratitude towards this group, highlighting their expertise and achievements. He sees their input as crucial, especially now as Meta explores new opportunities with AI and the metaverse.

While Meta already has an 11-person board of directors, the Meta Advisory Group serves a different purpose. Unlike the board members who are elected by shareholders and have fiduciary responsibilities, the advisory group focuses solely on providing insights and recommendations regarding technological advancements, innovation, and strategic growth opportunities.

The creation of this advisory group aligns with Metas intensified focus on AI-driven products, including both hardware like virtual reality headsets and smart glasses, and software such as Metas AI assistant available across its apps.

During Metas recent earnings call, Zuckerberg emphasised the companys increased investment in AI development, expressing optimism about its potential. He acknowledged the necessity of patience from investors, as the outcomes of many AI endeavours may not yield immediate financial returns.

In the competitive landscape of AI development, Meta faces formidable rivals like Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic. Despite the challenges, Zuckerberg remains confident in Metas ability to lead in AI innovation.

While the frequency of the advisory groups meetings remains unspecified, Zuckerberg indicated that they would convene periodically to advise Metas management team in navigating the evolving AI landscape.
More than 290 lab workers, scientists, technicians, and administrators at New Zealand Blood Service have voted to strike after more than seven months of stalled negotiations.

Workers will strike for 4 hours on May 31 from 1pm to 5pm, and for 24 hours on June 4.

People working at the NZ Blood Service deliver all major blood services in Aotearoa. They organise donation drives, match donations with patients, process and transport blood and blood products, and manage hospital blood banks for both public and private health services.

The strike comes after months of fruitless promises from NZ Blood Service that theyre negotiating funding for pay parity with Te Whatu Ora.

"Its extremely unfair for us to be paid 13% - 35% less than our colleagues at Te Whatu Ora for the same work, with the same skills and experience," said PSA delegate Sian Dallaway.

"We waited in good faith for over seven months for NZ Blood Service and Te Whatu Ora to sort this out. But people are struggling with their bills now, and we just cant keep waiting.

"We need to resolve this as quickly as possible, or blood services will be put at risk. The pay gap is pushing experienced colleagues out, and blocking us from recruiting new people in."

Lab technicians are paid between 22% and 35% less by NZ Blood Service than Te Whatu Ora lab technicians. Administrators are paid between 13% and 36% less. For scientists its between 19% and 35%.

"Everyone who keeps health services pumping deserves to be valued, no matter where we work. Patients rely on the administrator who schedules an urgent blood donation for their care just as much as they rely on the administrator who schedules their surgery," said Dallaway.

Despite seven months of talks, members of the Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi still havent received a pay offer from their employer.

"This massive imbalance cant be allowed to persist, or our service doesnt stand a chance of keeping the skilled people we need. Te Whatu Ora and NZ Blood Service need to sort this out urgently."

Members will work with their employer to maintain emergency and life-preserving services. Unfortunately, elective surgeries will not be able to take place without blood services running during the strike actions.

Strike action will take place in Auckland, Waikato, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Wellington Christchurch, and Dunedin. Industrial action will also include:

- Refusal to do work outside of paid hours from May 29 to June 6

- A partial strike by refusal to conduct duties associated with processing AHF plasma from May 29 to June 6

- Refusal to do overtime or extra shifts between 6 June to 19 June

ENDS

Further information:

- NZ Blood Service is both a Crown Entity and Public Benefit Entity.

- PSA members work in administrative, scientific, logistics, and donor coordination roles. Their work includes processing blood products, managing stock and blood banks, ensuring blood products are transported safely and on-time, working with community groups to organise blood-drives, and booking, scheduling, and matching special donors for emergency situations.

ENDS





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Nadella, a major investor and close partner of OpenAI, criticised the practice of attributing human-like qualities to AI. Nadella also criticized the term artificial intelligence, proposing instead to call it different intelligence to better reflect its unique nature read more

Despite Nadella's assertion that AI should be viewed as a tool, the trend of humanising AI continues. Image Credit: AFP

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently expressed his reservations about humanising artificial intelligence (AI)

Nadella, a major investor and close partner of OpenAI, criticised the practice of attributing human-like qualities to AI, stating, I dont like anthropomorphising AI. I sort of believe its a tool, in a surprising interview with Bloomberg.

He went on to emphasize the distinction between AI and human intelligence, suggesting that while AI may possess intelligence, its fundamentally different from human intelligence. Nadella also criticized the term artificial intelligence, proposing instead to call it different intelligence to better reflect its unique nature.

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Although theres no indication of tension between Microsoft and OpenAI, Nadellas remarks may reflect ongoing debates within both companies teams of machine learning scientists and engineers. These debates are particularly relevant as advanced voice assistants, like the one involving Scarlett Johanssons voice, become more common, raising ethical questions about consent and privacy.

The tendency to humanize AI has been observed as technology advances. For instance, Google engineer Blake Lemoine faced repercussions after suggesting that Googles AI tool LaMDA was sentient. Similarly, incidents like the Tay chatbot, which became racist on Twitter (now X) back in 2016, highlight the risks of thinking about, as it were a human, in normal circumstances.

Despite Nadellas assertion that AI should be viewed as a tool, the trend of humanizing AI continues. People are increasingly forming emotional connections with AI, whether seeking companionship or thinking of AI relationships evolving in the future.

While debates continue about the possibility of achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), the immediate concern lies in addressing ethical considerations and ensuring responsible AI development. The focus shouldnt solely be on humanizing AI but also on evaluating its potential impact, especially regarding its role in replacing human labour, from voice assistants like Scarlett Johanssons to warehouse workers.

(With inputs from agencies)
OpenAI now has access to both current and archived content from News Corps properties, including The Wall Street Journal, Barrons, MarketWatch, and The New York Post to train its AI models read more

Recently, OpenAI also secured a content deal with Reddit, further expanding its access to diverse sources of information.

On Wednesday, News Corp unveiled a groundbreaking deal with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, allowing the AI firm to utilize content from News Corp publications in its artificial intelligence products.

Under this agreement, OpenAI gains access to both current and archived content from News Corps properties, including The Wall Street Journal, Barrons, MarketWatch, and The New York Post.

While the financial specifics were not disclosed, sources close to the deal revealed to the Wall Street Journal that it exceeds $250 million over five years. Additionally, the deal entails credits for News Corps utilization of OpenAI technology.

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The accord represents a significant milestone in the ongoing conversation surrounding the use of copyrighted content by AI firms like OpenAI. Generative AI models rely on extensive datasets to mimic human thinking processes. This collaboration allows OpenAI to access News Corps content to provide responses to user queries, with the permission of the media conglomerate.

This partnership adds to OpenAIs growing list of licensing agreements with prominent media entities, including The Associated Press, the Financial Times, and others. However, some outlets, such as The New York Times and The Intercept, have opted to pursue legal action against OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement, illustrating the complexities surrounding the use of proprietary content in AI training.

The collaboration with News Corp also extends beyond content access, as the media giant will share its journalistic expertise with OpenAI to maintain the highest standards of journalism. OpenAIs CEO, Sam Altman, hailed the partnership as a significant moment for both journalism and technology, envisioning a future where AI enhances and upholds the integrity of world-class journalism.

Meanwhile, amid this development, OpenAI faced controversy when actress Scarlett Johansson accused the firm of replicating her voice without consent for a new voice assistant named Sky. In response, Altman issued an apology and suspended the use of the voice assistant.

Led by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, announced a significant deal granting access to content from major news publications owned by media conglomerate News Corp, according to Reuters. This agreement follows closely on the heels of a similar deal between OpenAI and the Financial Times, facilitated by Microsofts backing.

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Access to a vast array of data is invaluable for OpenAIs ChatGPT, a chatbot renowned for its ability to generate human-like responses and summarise lengthy text. Partnerships like these are essential for training AI models and can also prove lucrative for news publishers, who have traditionally missed out on profits earned by internet giants for distributing their content.

Recently, OpenAI also secured a content deal with Reddit, further expanding its access to diverse sources of information.

While the financial specifics of the News Corp deal were not disclosed by OpenAI, the Wall Street Journal reported that it could exceed $250 million over five years. Moreover, the agreement includes provisions ensuring that content will not be immediately accessible on ChatGPT upon publication on News Corps websites.

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The deal encompasses access to current and archived content from various News Corp publications, including the Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch, and the Times, among others. News of the agreement drove a 4 per cent increase in News Corps shares following the announcement.

(With inputs from agencies)
Speaking at an event commemorating the 248th Independence Day of the US, Garcetti underscored the importance of India and the US coordinating their efforts in research and emerging technologies to capitalise on each others strengths read more

Garcetti also revealed that the NISAR project, a joint initiative between NASA and the ISRO aimed at enhancing Earth observation capabilities, is also expected to be launched by year-end. Image Credit: AFP

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti announced that an Indian astronaut is scheduled to embark on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) by the end of this year, fulfilling a commitment made during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the US in 2023.

Garcetti reaffirmed the United States dedication to this mission, emphasising the ongoing collaboration between the two nations in space exploration.

Additionally, he revealed that the NISAR project, a joint initiative between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aimed at enhancing Earth observation capabilities, is also expected to be launched by year-end.

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Speaking at an event commemorating the 248th Independence Day of the US, Garcetti underscored the importance of India and the US coordinating their efforts in research and emerging technologies to capitalise on each others strengths.

He noted the cost-effectiveness of Indias Chandrayaan 3 lunar mission compared to similar US missions, while acknowledging the unique capacities that each country possesses. Garcetti highlighted the potential synergies that arise when combining the capabilities of both nations.

In civilian nuclear energy, Garcetti mentioned that the US and Indian governments are poised to advance collaboration once the elections are concluded.

Two sites in India  Mithi Virdhi in Gujarat and Kovadda in Andhra Pradeshhave been identified for US companies to establish nuclear reactors. However, concerns have been raised regarding Indias Civil Liability Nuclear Damage Act 2010, which governs compensation in the event of a nuclear incident.

Garcetti stressed the importance of India and the US leveraging their respective strengths to drive progress and innovation. He emphasised that while the US possesses certain capabilities that India currently lacks, the combination of their strengths creates opportunities for mutual benefit and advancement in various fields.
Republican Partys Alexander Kolodin proposed a Bill which was passed unanimously by both chambers and was signed by the states Democratic governor this week read more

An Arizona state representative proposed a new legislation that regulates deepfakes used in elections. However, he wrote the proposed law with the help of the famous artificial chatbot, ChatGPT and attempted to define what deepfake is.

Republican Partys Alexander Kolodin proposed a Bill which was passed unanimously by both chambers and was signed by the states Democratic governor this week.

The law will allow candidates in Arizona or residents to ask a judge to declare whether a supposed deep fake is real or not. The law aims to provide candidates with a way to debunk AI-generated misinformation.

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While talking about the law, Kolodin mentioned that he used ChatGPT to help define what digital impersonation is for the bill. He said that it was a fun way to demonstrate the technology. He supported his case by providing a screenshot of ChatGPTs response to the question of what a deepfake is. He pointed out that the chatbots definition was similar to the one included in the bill.

Kolodin used ChatGPT in the past

While presenting his case in the Arizona chamber, Kolodin insisted that he is not a computer scientist. So when I was trying to write the technical portion of it, in terms of what sort of technological processing makes something a deepfake, I was kind of struggling with the terminology, he said.

So I thought to myself, well, let me just ask the subject matter expert. And so I asked ChatGPT to write a definition of what was a deepfake, the Arizona lawmaker added.

Kolodin also revealed that he has used ChatGPT in other lawmaking a couple of times and mentioned that the tool helped him write the first draft of the amendments and save time.

Why work harder when you can work smarter, Kolodin replied on Twitter when an Arizona reporter tweeted about his use of ChatGPT in the bill.

Why work harder when you can work smarter   Rep. Alexander Kolodin (@realAlexKolodin) May 21, 2024

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AI regulations during elections

It is pertinent to note that the federal government has not yet regulated the use of AI in elections, though groups have been pressuring the Federal Election Commission to do so. One of the major concerns is the fact that technology has moved much faster than the law and has the potential to disrupt elections.

Meanwhile, reports are emerging that the Federal Communications Commission might consider whether to require disclaimers on AI-generated content on political ads running on radio and TV, the Associated Press reported.

However, in the absence of such regulations on the federal level, many states have advanced bills to regulate deepfakes.

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With inputs from agencies.
Taiwan has called Chinese military drills around the self-ruled island as regrettable and said it threatens Taiwans democracy and freedom read more

Within days of Lai Ching-te taking over as the President of Taiwan, China has launched military drills around the self-ruled island nation as a punishment.

China dubbed the drills as a strong punishment for what it called were separatist acts of Taiwan.

Lai, the new Taiwanese president, is openly loathed by Beijing for his previous assertion of Taiwans independence. Beijing considers Taiwan to be a breakaway province is committed to the islands reunification with the Chinese mainland. It has not ruled out the use of force for the reunification.

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Taiwan has called Chinese military drills around the self-ruled island as regrettable and said it threatens Taiwans democracy and freedom. The United States has also dubbed the drills as concerning.

12 ships, 1 aircraft spotted around island, says Taiwan

In a statement, Taiwans Ministry of National Defence (MND) said 12 Chinese ships and one aircraft were spotted around the self-ruled island.

The MND further said that it condemned the drills and added it was confident of safeguarding the islands security.

We stand ready with firm will and restraint. We seek no conflicts, but we will not shy away from one. We have the confidence to safeguard our national security, said the MND in a statement.

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1793451213771637073

Separately, the Taiwanese presidency denounced the drills as regrettable.

It is regrettable to see China using unilateral, provocative military behaviour that threatens Taiwans democracy and freedom as well as regional peace and stability. In the face of external challenges and threats, we will continue to defend democracy, said presidential spokeswoman Karen Kuo in a statement.

The Chinese drills come two days after Taiwanese President Lais inauguration speech that Beijing denounced as a confession of independence. Previously, China has previously branded Lai a dangerous separatist who would bring war and decline to Taiwan. Before presidential election in January, Beijing had called Lai secessionist and confrontational. It called upon the Taiwanese people to make the right choice in the polls and warned that Lai would take them on the evil path of provoking independence.

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Drills a powerful disciplinary action, says China

The Chinese military drills around Taiwan began at 7:45 am on Wednesday, according to the People Liberation Army (PL

PLA Eastern Theater Command Naval Colonel Li Xi said the drills are a powerful disciplinary action against Taiwanese separatism, as per AFP.

Li said the drills serve as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces.

For weeks, it was expected that China would launch military exercise around the time of Lais inauguration in a show of force and as a pressure tactic.

The last time China launched similar drills was in 2023 when Lai, then the Vice President of Taiwan, visited the United States as a stopover in his visit to Paraguay. Before that, the Chinese launched drills in 2022 when US House of Representative Nancy Pelosi had visited Taiwan.
Efforts to boost cooperation among the Asian neighbours often hit snags because of a mix of issues, including historical disputes stemming from Japans wartime aggression and the strategic competition between China and the United States. read more

China, Japan, and South Korea are all prepared to hold their first trilateral summit in about five years, with top officials scheduled to meet in Seoul next week to discuss ways to improve ties among the economically powerful neighbours.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will attend the summit on Sunday and Monday, South Koreas presidential office said Thursday.

Since the inaugural trilateral summit in 2008, these meetings were intended to be an annual event among the leaders of the three countries. However, the summits have been suspended since the last one was held in December 2019 in China.

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The upcoming summit is seen as an opportunity for China, Japan, and South Korea to manage their relations amid various regional and global challenges. The United States has expressed its support for the summit, with a State Department spokesperson noting that the US respects the ability of nations to make sovereign decisions in the best interests of their people.

Efforts to enhance cooperation among the three Asian nations have often encountered obstacles due to historical disputes, particularly stemming from Japans wartime aggression and the strategic competition between China and the United States.

Relations between South Korea and Japan, for instance, deteriorated severely due to issues related to Japans colonization of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. However, their relations have significantly improved since 2023, as both countries have taken major steps to move beyond their historical grievances and boost cooperation in response to North Koreas advancing nuclear program and other shared challenges.

North Koreas growing arsenal of nuclear-capable missiles poses a significant security threat to both South Korea and Japan. Meanwhile, China, North Koreas last major ally and its biggest source of aid, is suspected of not fully enforcing United Nations sanctions on North Korea and providing covert assistance to help its impoverished neighbour. This support is seen as a way for China to maintain North Korea as a buffer against U.S. influences on the Korean Peninsula.

The summit in Seoul is expected to address these security concerns and explore ways to enhance trilateral cooperation amidst the complex geopolitical landscape of Northeast Asia.
China has been the principal ally of Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has been accused of providing dual-use goods and technology read more

China has been accused of implicitly supporting the Russian war of Ukraine (Photo: Reuters)

China has been sending lethal aid to Russia for use in its war on Ukraine, said UK Defence Minister Grant Shapps on Wednesday.

China is the main ally of Russia and has long been accused of sharing non-lethal but dual-use goods to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. These goods include parts and raw material potentially used in making ammunition, drones, artillery, etc.

The statement of Shapps makes the UK the first major Western nation that has accused China of sending lethal aid to Russia.

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Today I can reveal that we have evidence that Russia and China are collaborating on combat equipment for use in UkraineUS and British defence intelligence can reveal that lethal aid is now flowing from China to Russia and into Ukraine, said Shapps at a conference in London, as per AFP.

Last month, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the country will hike the defence spending to 2.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030 amid the Russian challenge to Europe. He further announced that the British military industry will be put on a war footing.

Its time for the world to wake up

Shapps said that the world had to wake up and improve their defence spending to meet the rising challenges of Russia and allied countries.

Shapps said all NATO member-states should start spending 2.5% of their GDP on defence.

Shapps mentioned Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, and said that these countries were emboldened by Western timidity towards repression at home and aggression abroad, according to Reuters.

Shapps further said that we we should be concerned about that because in the earlier days of this war China would like to present itself as a moderating influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin, as per the report.

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We havent seen Chinese lethal aid to Russia yet, says US

While British Defence Minister Shapps said there is evidence of China providing lethal aid to Russia, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Wednesday said the US has not seen it so far.

Sullivan further said that he would reach out to the UK to get a clearer understanding of the nature of Chinese aid to Russia.

We didnt see that [direct lethal assistance to Russia] in 2022. We didnt see that in 2023. We have not seen that to date. I look forward to speaking with the UK to make sure that we have a common operating picture. We have had one. Weve been on the same page. So, I just want to understand better what  what exactly that comment was referring to, said Sullivan at a White House briefing.
At the beginning of this month, Petro, who had already recalled the Colombian ambassador from Tel Aviv, said he would break diplomatic relations with Israel over its actions in Gaza. The embassy was closed on May 3 read more

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the opening of an embassy in the Palestinian city of Ramallah, Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo told journalists on Wednesday.

President Petro has given the order that we open the Colombian embassy in Ramallah, the representation of Colombia in Ramallah, that is the next step we are going to take, Murillo said.

This is nothing against Israel, the people of Israel, or the Jews, he said.

Murillo added he believes more countries will soon begin backing the recognition of a Palestinian state before the United Nations, efforts Colombia has already supported.

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At the beginning of this month, Petro, who had already recalled the Colombian ambassador from Tel Aviv, said he would break diplomatic relations with Israel over its actions in Gaza. The embassy was closed on May 3.

Petro has heavily criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has requested to join South Africas case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Petro of being antisemitic and full of hate following Colombias decision to cut ties with the Middle Eastern country, saying the move was a reward for Hamas.

Ramallah, in the West Bank, serves as the administrative capital of the Palestinian Authority.

On May 10, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly backed a Palestinian bid to become a full UN member by recognizing it as qualified to join and recommended the UN Security Council reconsider the matter favorably.

Israel has been rooting out Hamas in Gaza over a brutal rampage by Hamas militants in Israel on Oct 7 in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage. Nearly 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Israels response has drawn heavy international criticism, with aid access into southern Gaza disrupted since it stepped up military operations in Rafah, a move that the UN says has forced 900,000 people to flee and has raised tensions with neighboring Egypt.

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Colombia was not the first Latin American country to cut ties with Israel.

Bolivia broke relations with Israel at the end of October last year while several other countries in Latin America, including Chile and Honduras, have recalled their ambassadors.
The United States had sought the extradition of Nikhil Kumar, an Indian national, in the case of alleged assassination plot of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun read more

The Czech Constitutional Court has ruled that the Czech Republic can extradite Nikhil Kumar, an accused in the alleged assassination plot of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, to the United States.

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has accused Gupta of plotting to assassinate Pannun on American soil in league with an Indian government official.

The Czech Constitutional Court on Wednesday said it had rejected Guptas appeal against lower court verdicts approving his extradition, according to AFP.

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The report added that the Pavel Blazek, the Czech Justice Minister, still needs to approve the extradition.

Gupta was detained at the Prague airport on June 30, 2023. He has been held in a prison since.

What we know of the Pannun case?

Last year, the DoJ alleged that Gupta along with an Indian government agent were plotting to kill Pannun.

The Indian government has declared Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen, as a designated terrorist. He is a leader of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which the government has declared as an unlawful organisation.

While the US DoJ has not publicly disclosed the name of the Indian official, The Washington Post later in a story identified him as Vikram Yadav.

The report further said that the US agencies have assessed that Samant Goel, the chief of Indian foreign intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) at the time, had approved the Pannun plot and that National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval was probably aware of it.

While India has formed a high-level committee to look into the case and address the concerns raised by the US, it has rejected the contents of The Posts story.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called these claims unwarranted and unsubstantiated.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, The report in question makes unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter.

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Jaiswal further said, There is an ongoing investigation of the high level committee set up by the Government of India to look into the security concerns shared by the US government on networks of organised criminals, terrorists and othersSpeculative and irresponsible comments on it are not helpful.
It is the fourth arrest of a high-ranking defence figure in the space of a month, starting on April 23 when Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov was placed in pre-trial detention for suspected bribe-taking. read more

In a series of bribery arrests of high-ranking military officials, Russia has arrested a deputy chief of the military general staff on charges of large-scale bribery, Russian news reports said Thursday.

The arrest of Lt. Gen. Vadim Shamarin followed the arrest this week of Maj. Gen. Ivan Popov, a former top commander in Russias offensive in Ukraine, also on bribery charges.

In April, Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was arrested for bribery. Ivanov was a close associate of Sergei Shoigu, whom President Vladimir Putin dismissed as defense minister soon after Putins inauguration to a new term in May.

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Lt. Gen. Yury Kuznetsov, head of the Russian defence ministrys personnel directorate, was arrested on bribery charges just two days after Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was replaced. Kuznetsov is also the head of the ministrys main communications directorate. He is currently being held in custody for two months, as reported by Russian news agencies, though further details of the case remain undisclosed.

Shoigu had faced widespread criticism for Russias failure to capture Kyiv early in the Ukraine conflict. He was accused of incompetence and corruption by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group mercenaries, who launched a mutiny in June 2023 demanding Shoigus and military chief of staff Gen. Valery Gerasimovs dismissal.

Following Prigozhins failed uprising, there have been significant changes within the Russian military command. Less than a month after the mutiny, Gen. Ivan Popov was dismissed as commander of the 58th Army. Popov had reportedly complained to Shoigu about inadequate equipment leading to high Russian casualties, calling his dismissal a treacherous act against Russian forces in Ukraine.

His forces were engaged in fierce fighting in the Zaporizhzhia region, one of the most congested areas in the conflict. Popovs removal came a day after the 58th Armys command post in Berdyansk was struck by a Ukrainian attack, resulting in the death of a high-ranking general.

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These events illustrate the ongoing turmoil and power struggles within the Russian military leadership amidst the prolonged and challenging conflict in Ukraine.

With inputs from agencies.
Transport and logistics group, MOVE Logistics Group Limited (NZX/ASX: MOV), wishes to advise that Lorraine Witten, a Director since 2017 and Chair for the last two and a half years, has announced that she will retire from MOVEs Board at this years Annual Meeting in October.

The Board is undertaking a process to appoint a new independent Chairperson and will update the market in due course. Lorraine will then step down as Chair but will remain as a Director to enable a seamless succession prior to the Annual Meeting.

Lorraine is a dynamic and experienced director with over 25 years' governance experience and the Board is grateful for the contribution that she has made over the past seven years. She joined the Board in 2017 to assist as the organisation transitioned from private ownership to a publicly listed company, which involved transforming the company into a modern integrated supply chain business. Lorraine was chair of the Audit Committee for four years, prior to being appointed Board Chair in 2021.

Lorraine said: MOVE has excellent leadership, a clear strategy and is moving in the right direction as it continues to transition towards a sales led, customer-focused, streamlined organisation. Despite the challenging economic times, our people are delivering best in class customer service, and improving financial results. It has been a pleasure to work with the leadership team and Directors over the past seven years. I am looking forward to serving out the remaining time until the Annual Meeting and ensuring a smooth and orderly transition to my successor.

ENDS

REL - MOVE Board Succession Planning

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The Former US ambassador to the UNs proclamation came while she was speaking at the Hudson Institute think tank in Washington. This was her first public appearance since she opted out of the race read more

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has finally admitted that she would vote for the former US President in the upcoming 2024 US Presidential Elections. The so-called endorsement came months after Haley emerged as the most enduring rival of Trump during the Republican primary elections.

The Former US ambassador to the UNs proclamation came while she was speaking at the Hudson Institute think tank in Washington on Wednesday, The Guardian reported. This was her first public appearance after she opted out of the presidential race in March. Haley was asked whether Joe Biden or Trump would do a better job on national security issues, to which she responded that her vote would go to Trump.

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Trump has not been perfect on these policies, Haley said. I have made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So I will be voting for Trump," she said.

Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech. Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that theyre just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does that," the 52-year-old conservative leader averred.

Haleys U-turn garners backlash

With the recent remarks, Haley joined US Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, the former attorney general William Barr and Chris Sununu, the New Hampshire governor, who have publicly criticised Trump but mentioned that they will support him in the polls since he is the party nominee.

During her presidential campaign, Haley claimed that Trump had lost any sort of political viability, showed moral weakness and was thin-skinned and easily distracted. She even argued that the United States should move away from chaos and choose a young leader.

Hence, the U-turn made by the former South Carolina governor provoked a major backlash. So when Nikki Haley said It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him, Sarah Longwell, a political strategist and publisher of the conservative Bulwark website wrote on X, formally known as Twitter.

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So when Nikki Haley said It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him. She really meant, he can treat me and my voters like garbage and Ill still fall in line and support him.  Sarah Longwell (@SarahLongwell25) May 22, 2024

This isnt complicated: Nikki Haley believes Trump is unfit. And she believes he should never be back in the White House," Joe Walsh, an ex-Republican congressman wrote on X. But if she said that publicly, her career as a Republican would be over. So, as expected, she decided to not be truthful. To keep her career as a Republican, he added.

While Haley had already dropped out of the primaries in early March, she still continued to draw up to 20 per cent in the contests. In the past, Trump has dismissed the idea of appealing to Haley supporters. However, US President Joe Biden maintained this weekend: Let me say, theres always going to be a place for Haley voters in my campaign.

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It is important to note that Trump has been endorsed by Republican primary opponents including Doug Burgum, the North Dakota governor, Vivek Ramaswamy, a bio entrepreneur, and the South Carolina senator Tim Scott.
Amid the Ukraine conflict and the perceived threat from Russia, France has committed to spend around 13% of its military budget in coming years on its independent nuclear capability read more

A day after Russia held tactical nuclear weapons drills, France test-fired an updated version of a nuclear missile.

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said an ASMPA-R missile was fired without a warhead by a plane in a simulated nuclear aerial raid.

Even though the test-firing took place a day after the beginning of Russian nuclear drills, Lecornu said on X (formerly Twitter) that it was a long-planned operation. He further said the test-firing was part of enforcing French nuclear deterrence.

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This operation, planned for a long time, realises the ambition provided for in the military programming law for our nuclear deterrence, of which it demonstrates the excellence and operational credibility, said Lecornu.

Operation Durandal : un Rafale des Forces aeriennes strategiques vient de realiser avec succes le premier tir dessai en vol dun missile nucleaire supersonique ASMPA renove, sans charge embarquee.



Cette operation, prevue de longue date, concretise lambition prevue en loi de pic.twitter.com/DvEX3h62PV  Sebastien Lecornu (@SebLecornu) May 22, 2024

France goes bullish on nuclear & European security

Lately, France has gone bullish on nuclear military capability and the European security at large.

France has planned to spend around 13% of its military budget over the coming years on its independent nuclear capability, according to AFP.

The report further said that France is looking forward to developing next-generation air-launched missiles by 2035.

French President Emmanuel Macron has lately been highlighting the threat to Europe from Russia. He has also taken credit for an increased focus on security of the continent among European countries.

Europe is now thinking about its own defense. This has been a real revolution in recent years, and its a revolution that has been pushed forward by France, said Macron last month.

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Russian nuclear drills and threats to the West

Russia on Tuesday launched tactical nuclear weapons exercises in its Southern Military District bordering Ukraine.

The tactical nuclear weapons refer to short-range nuclear weapons that are of lower yields and are intended to be used for battlefield purposes. Unlike strategic nuclear weapons that could wipe out whole cities and regions, the intended damage from tactical nuclear weapons is limited to the battlefield.

The exercises simulated the usage of nuclear weapons for potential use, said the Russian defence ministry.

The goal of the drills is to unconditionally ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state in response to provocative statements and threats of individual Western officials, according to The New York Times.

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The Russian defence ministry further said that the drills were a response to a statement from Macron in which he did not rule out sending French soldiers to Ukraine, according to the report. The statement also referred to British Foreign Minister David Camerons statement in which he said that Ukraine could use British-supplied weapons to strike targets inside Russia.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has repeatedly issued nuclear threats. The day he announced the invasion, on February 22, 2022, Putin warned that any country intervening would face consequences such as you have never seen in your entire history.

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In the latest case, senior Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev threatened the West that any Russian nuclear attack will not be just limited to Ukraine. He also said the drills that Russia has now conducted were being done to plan for any attack on Russia soil aided by the West.

Under certain circumstances the response will be delivered not only to Kiev and it wont contain plain explosives but special ammunition as well. And to drill the response to such attacks is the aim of the planned military exercise. Even the semiliterate Imbeciles of His Royal Majesty should understand that, said Medvedev in a post on X.

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The special kind of arms is an apparent reference to nuclear weapons. The comment was a thinly-veiled threat of a potential Russian nuclear strike on Western nations.

A certain Mr. Cameron has called for fighting Putin to the bitter end.



Oh

I remember the guy quite well. I used to work with him after he became the prime minister: a usual fishy Briton. Back then he was gleefully foolish and looked like a young daredevil reveling in a  Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) May 10, 2024

In the expletive-laden post aimed at British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Medvedev also targeted the French for their display of support to Ukraine.

Basically, he tells Ukrainians to shoot the British missiles anywhere they wanted. And we the British are not afraid of anything, even of a nuclear conflict. A tough guy! You shouldnt have said it, laddie. Bear in mind that those who handle the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missiles are not the halfwits dressed in embroidered shirts, but the British and French, said Medvedev.
At least 1,015 civilian deaths have been documented from Nov. 1 through May 1 in Myanmar, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a watchdog group that tracks political arrests, attacks and casualties. It says 4,962 civilians have been killed overall since the military took power three years ago. read more

Three years after Myanmars military coup in February 2021, which led to the arrest of the countrys democratically elected leaders, foreign fighters have begun to appear alongside anti-regime forces.

These foreign volunteers, numbering about a dozen, have joined resistance efforts not as mercenaries but as adventurers, typically receiving only basic rations and accommodation.

The presence of foreign fighters is a recent development in Myanmars ongoing conflict and offers a small boost to the resistance forces in terms of battle training and experience. Although their numbers are relatively few compared to larger global conflicts, their involvement symbolizes international solidarity with Myanmars resistance.

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Analysts, however, believe that these foreign fighters are unlikely to significantly alter the overall dynamics of the conflict. Yet, the volunteers themselves hope that their combat experience can aid both established ethnic armed groups and newer resistance movements in their fight against the military regime. This year is considered potentially decisive for the conflict, which has seen escalating violence and widespread resistance.

The foreign fighters involvement remains a secretive and murky aspect of Myanmars conflict. Those who choose to speak about their experiences insist on anonymity to protect their identities and avoid potential repercussions. Their participation underscores the global reach and varied international responses to Myanmars struggle for democracy.

Opposition in Myanmar, also known as Burma, had been growing since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, but it gained new momentum in October when major militias known collectively as the Three Brotherhood Alliance launched a joint offensive.

Together, the Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Taang National Liberation Army  among the most powerful militias formed by Myanmars ethnic minorities  made quick advances.

As they captured huge swaths of territory largely in the north and northeast, including economically important border crossings with China and several major military bases, other ethnic armed groups sensed momentum and joined the fighting.

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At the same time, Peoples Defence Forces  armed resistance groups that support the shadow National Unity Government, which views itself as Myanmars legitimate administration  have been increasing in number and launching their own attacks, often supported and trained by the ethnic armed militias.

Both sides claim they have inflicted heavy tolls. And the military government under Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing has acknowledged it is under pressure, recently reintroducing conscription to increase its ranks.

That has pushed some young people into the resistance. Many more have fled to rural areas or neighboring countries to avoid fighting.

With the violence across its border, China helped broker a cease-fire in Myanmars north in January with the Three Brotherhood Alliance. But the alliances Arakan Army continues to fight in its home Rakhine state in the west and has made significant gains, while PDFs and other ethnic armed groups continue their own attacks elsewhere.

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With inputs from agencies.
In 2021, Germany for the first time, made possession of child sex abuse material a felony. The country had voted to remove the possession of child sexual materials as a criminal offence read more

The German national flag flies in front of the Reichstag building, the seat of the lower house of the parliament Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany. Source: REUTERS/FILE.

If some online reports are to be believed, Germany has decriminalised the possession of child pornography. Because of such reports, several people took to social media, voicing their concerns and condemning the move.

A pro-paedophile activist group called Krumme-13, or K13, a self-help organisation for paedosexuals celebrated the reversal of the law as a step forward for their sexual minority group.

An American web magazine, The Federalist, claimed German lawmakers argued the decriminalisation gave necessary flexibility to deal with the large portion of juvenile offenders, and also help protect parents and teachers who discover child pornography on the devices of any young person to pass them on to the relevant authorities.

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But has Germany actually decriminalised child pornography possession?

The answer is no. Germanys parliament, Deutscher Bundestag, has instead voted to lower the criminal penalties for possession of child pornography.

The parliament has amended a section of the German Criminal Code to significantly shorten prison sentences for dissemination, acquisition, and possession of child pornographic content.

The government in Germany introduced a bill according to which possession and acquisition of child pornographic content should in future be punishable with a minimum penalty of three months imprisonment, and distribution with a minimum penalty of six months imprisonment."

Making the amendments, the government cited feedback and demands from practice for a tightening of the penalty range in 2021 as justification.

The lack of the possibility of discontinuing proceedings or of settling them by means of a penal order has shown that in proceedings involving a suspicion of an offence at the lower end of the penalty range, this means that a reaction appropriate to the offence and guilt can no longer be guaranteed in every individual case, it further said.

The offences regulated in Section 184b of the Criminal Code are therefore classified as misdemeanors and not as crimes, it said.

The reduced penalty applied to all child pornography possession with no exceptions.

When Germany criminalised possession of child sex abuse material

In 2021, Germany for the first time, made possession of child sex abuse material a felony when Federal Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht of the Social Democratic Party implemented a mandatory one-year minimum sentence for the offence.

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The German parliament, in 2021, had voted to remove the possession of child sexual materials as a criminal offence.

Federal officials who supported the bill believe that decriminalisation protects parents and teachers who download the material for the purpose of informing the police.

Such cases have occurred particularly frequently among parents and teachers of older children or young people who found child pornography on their devices and passed it on to other parents, teachers or the school management to inform them of the problem, states the bill.

Rather than make certain exceptions to the criminal code to accommodate this concern, parliament cut the section of the bill altogether.

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A downgrade to a misdemeanor is also urgently required in order to be able to respond appropriately and with the necessary flexibility to the large proportion of juvenile offenders, it states.

Here, too, the perpetrators generally do not act to be sexually aroused by the child pornography content, but rather out of a drive typical of the adolescent stage of development, such as naivety, curiosity, thirst for adventure or the desire to impress.
Following a funeral procession held this morning in the eastern city of Birjand, where thousands of people paid their respects as Raisis remains were taken through the streets in a motorcade, his coffin was flown to Mashhad in northeastern Iran read more

Raisi will be buried at the gold-domed Imam Reza shrine, the holiest Islamic monument in Iran and the location that Shi'ite Muslims believe to be his final resting place Image Courtesy AFP

Four days after he and six other individuals, including Irans late president Ebrahim Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, perished in a helicopter crash, Raisi is scheduled to be buried on Thursday in the holy city of Mashhad.

Following a funeral procession held this morning in the eastern city of Birjand, where thousands of people paid their respects as Raisis remains were taken through the streets in a motorcade, his coffin was flown to Mashhad in northeastern Iran.

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When the jet carrying Raisis casket landed in Mashhad, his hometown, a guard of honor rose to salute. Raisi will be buried at the gold-domed Imam Reza shrine, the holiest Islamic monument in Iran and the location that Shiite Muslims believe to be his final resting place.

Widely considered as a contender to replace Irans 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Raisi, 63, held a position of ultimate authority. First vice president Mohammad Mokhber is acting as acting president until an election is held in June.

The helicopter crashed near the border with Azerbaijan in a mountainous area, killing eight of the passengers and crew.

Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani hailed Amirabdollahian as a martyr who had guaranteed the revolutionary nature of the foreign ministry during a ceremony conducted at the foreign ministry in Tehran to honor him.

Amirabdollahian will be laid to rest in the Shah Abdolazim tomb, a mausoleum that houses prominent Iranian artists and politicians, to the south of Tehran.

Iran declared five days of mourning for Raisi, who implemented his master Khameneis hardline policies, which included tightening restrictions on opponents, consolidating religious control, and taking a harsh stance on foreign policy matters like holding nuclear talks with Washington to resurrect Irans 2015 nuclear agreement.

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The presidential election has been scheduled for June 28.
With the three-day trip, Ruto became the first African leader to embark on an official state visit to the US in more than 15 years read more

As US President Joe Biden welcomes his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto to the White House, the United States is expected to extend a major non-NATO ally status to Kenya. With the three-day trip, Ruto became the first African leader to embark on an official state visit to the US in more than 15 years.

It is important to note that Kenya will become the first sub-Saharan nation to receive such a designation. The move will allow the recipient country to obtain more sophisticated weaponry from the United States and engage in closer security cooperation with NATO member states.

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Why it matters?

The new status will not only provide an upgrade to the relations between the United States and Kenya, but it could also give Washington greater influence in East Africa.

Both countries have worked together to combat the al-Shabaab terrorist group that has been responsible for launching deadly regional attacks for decades. Interestingly, Kenya is also part of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of about 50 nations that meet regularly to coordinate on how best to arm Kyiv against Moscow.

If any country in Africa that does not already have the status has a prima facie case for being designated a major non-NATO ally, it is Kenya, said J. Peter Pham, a former top Africa official in the Trump administration.

The Biden administration is focusing on growing its influence in Africa due to the growing concerns about Chinas sway in the continent. In addition to this, Russias growing ties with Kenya have also become a matter of worry to the United States. Biden said that the major non-NATO ally status might serve as a consolation and sign of intent.

Ruto is visiting Washington to discuss multiple economic and security matters, namely the deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police officers to curb gang violence in Haiti. While the new status is largely symbolic, it could offer more legitimacy to Kenyas mission.

With the highly-anticipated announcement, Kenya will become the 19th country to be named a major non-NATO ally, the most recent addition since Biden awarded the title to Qatar in March 2022. According to the State Department, the designation provides certain benefits in the areas of defence trade and security cooperation.

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While globally Ruto is lauded for ensuring Kenyas role as the regions diplomatic and business centre remains intact, domestically he has become an advocate for Africa on issues related to climate change and debt relief.

With inputs from agencies.
The massacre in July 1995 of Muslim men and boys by Bosnian Serb forces during the countrys bloody inter-ethnic war has widely been considered the worst atrocity in Europe since World War II read more

UK Minister of State (Minister for Europe) Nusrat Ghani, right, walks with Munira Subasic, president of the association Mother of Srebrenica, centre, next to the momument with the names of Srebrenica genocide victims, at the Memorial Center in Potocari, Bosnia, on 22 May, 2024. AP

The UN will vote Thursday on a resolution to recognise 11 July as an international day of remembering the genocide in Bosnias Srebrenica.

The massacre in July 1995 of Muslim men and boys by Bosnian Serb forces during the countrys bloody inter-ethnic war has widely been considered the worst atrocity in Europe since World War II and became a symbol of ethnic cleansing.

Here is a timeline of the events.

1992-1995: The siege of Srebrenica

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Shortly after the start of the siege of the capital Sarajevo at the beginning of the Bosnian war in April 1992, Bosnian Serb troops encircle the mainly Muslim town of Srebrenica in eastern Bosnia.

Other towns in the eastern Drina valley are also captured with the help of paramilitary groups who have crossed from neighbouring Serbia.

In April 1993, with the town coming under tank and artillery fire, the UN Security Council declares Srebrenica a safe area under the protection of UN and NATO forces.

But in July 1995 Bosnian Serb forces overrun the peacekeepers positions, taking some 30 Dutch troops hostage.

On July 11, the Bosnian Serb army led by Ratko Mladic take Srebrenica, causing tens of thousands of refugees to flee to the Dutch forces compound at Potocari on the towns outskirts.

The peacekeepers and thousands of refugees, mostly women and children, retreat into the UN base.

July 1995: The massacre

Mladic orders the evacuation of all civilians, including women, children and the elderly, while all men of fighting age are taken prisoner.

In the following days, more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys are systematically butchered by the Bosnian Serb forces and their bodies dumped in mass graves.

The Serbs later dig many back up and rebury them in other graves to try to hide the evidence.

Survivors tell harrowing tales of murder, torture and rape by the Bosnian Serb forces for which Mladic and former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic are indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

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To date, around 7,000 victims of the massacre have been identified and buried  6,751 in Potocaris memorial centre and 250 in other Srebrenica area cemeteries. Some 1,200 people are still missing, according to the Missing Persons Institute of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Genocide convictions

On 21 November, 1995, the Dayton Accords, hammered out under international pressure, bring an end to the war.

They divide Bosnia into two entities, the Serb Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation of Bosnia, each enjoying a large degree of autonomy and united by weak central institutions.

Karadzic and Mladic go on the run and are only captured in 2008 and 2011, respectively.

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They are put on trial separately in The Hague and both sentenced to life imprisonment for genocide and other crimes.

In all, nearly 50 people have been sentenced by courts in The Hague, Sarajevo and the Serbian capital Belgrade for crimes related to the Srebrenica massacre.
Over Myanmar, the Boeing 777-300ER encountered sudden extreme turbulence, according to an airline official, which sent the crew and passengers flying and caused some of them to crash against the ceiling read more

On the aircraft flying from London to Singapore, which was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, a 73-year-old British man died and 104 others were hurt Image Courtesy Reuters

According to the chief of a hospital in Bangkok, injuries to the skull, brain, and spinal regions were sustained by passengers and crew members of a Singapore Airlines flight that experienced severe turbulence over Asia.

Following the horrific high-altitude ordeal on Tuesday, flight SQ321 made an emergency landing in the Thai capital, leaving twenty people in critical care.

He stated that six of them are British, six are Malaysian, three are Australian, two are Singaporean, and one is from each of Hong Kong, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

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Over Myanmar, the Boeing 777-300ER encountered sudden extreme turbulence, according to an airline official, which sent the crew and passengers flying and caused some of them to crash against the ceiling.

On the aircraft flying from London to Singapore, which was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, a 73-year-old British man died and 104 others were hurt.

The director of Bangkoks Samitivej Srinakarin hospital, Adinun Kittiratanapaibool, reported that his team was attending to six patients with injuries to the skull and brain, 22 patients with spinal injuries, and 13 patients with injuries to the bones, muscles, and other body parts.

According to him, seventeen procedures have already been carried out, nine of them for spinal injuries and eight for other conditions.

When asked what the prognosis was for the worst cases, Adinun replied that it was too soon to say whether any patients would become paralyzed permanently and that doctors would have to wait and see if muscular function returned following surgery.

He said that the age range of the injured at the hospital is two to eighty-three.

During the drama at 11,300 meters (37,000 feet), a passenger said that individuals were flung around the cabin so forcefully that they caused dents in the ceiling.

According to Malaysias ambassador to Thailand, nine of the sixteen Malaysians on the flight are receiving medical attention in a Bangkok hospital.

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Goh Choon Phong, the CEO of Singapore Airlines, has apologized for the traumatic experience and sent his sympathies to the deceaseds family.

After the aircraft landed in Bangkok, photos were taken inside, revealing a disorganized cabin with oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling and food, drinks, and bags all over the place.

On Wednesday, a relief flight brought 131 passengers and 12 staff members to Changi airport in Singapore so they could resume their travels or head back home.
The nearly 40 Arab American activists in attendance came from across the country. Some already support Trump while others were attending to hear directly from his surrogates, according to Yahya Basha, a Michigan doctor in attendance. read more

Facing a room of Arab American activists from across the country angry at President Joe Bidens response to the Israel-Hamas war, a well-known adviser to Donald Trump was asked this week what the former president would have done differently had he been in office.

Richard Grenell, Trumps former ambassador to Germany, repeatedly pointed to Trumps governing record and said that other countries fear of him decreased global conflict. But two people in the room said Grenell didnt provide the specific policy changes they were hoping to hear, which left at least one leader dissatisfied and unswayed.

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The nearly two-hour meeting marked the beginning of increased outreach by Trump allies in swing state Michigan, where key parts of Bidens coalition are angry with him over Israels offensive following Hamas Oct. 7 attack. But any apparent political opportunity for Trump may be limited by criticism from many Arab Americans about the former presidents ban on immigration from several majority Muslim countries and remarks they felt were insulting.

We appreciate the outreach," said Khaled Saffuri, an Arab American political activist who was in attendance Tuesday night. But it wont be easy to convince the community to switch from Biden to Trump, because even though we are angry with Biden, many still have a bad taste in their mouth from the four years of Trump.

Grenell was joined in the meeting by Michael Boulos, the husband of Trumps daughter Tiffany, and his father, Massad Boulos, a wealthy Lebanese businessman. Palestinian American UFC fighter Belal Muhammad also took part in the meeting, which wasnt an official campaign event.

The nearly 40 Arab American activists in attendance came from across the country. Some already support Trump while others were attending to hear directly from his surrogates, according to Yahya Basha, a Michigan doctor in attendance.

I think most people were there to hear what specific policy changes Trump would have. It was a lot of back and forth with questions," said Basha, who left the meeting still uncommitted to any candidate in November.

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Grenell fielded questions related to a travel ban on majority Muslim countries enacted during Trumps presidency, which he denied was ever implemented, according to Saffuri. He was also asked about recent remarks from Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and a key adviser on the Middle East during his administration, on the potential of Gazas waterfront property.

Saffuri said the topic of Gaza was never addressed correctly by Grenell.

Most of the questions were not answered directly, and I didnt expect these issues to be answered in detail in such a meeting. That requires some thought. But at least engaging the community is one step forward, said Saffuri, who said that he leans Republican but voted third-party in 2020.

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Grenell declined to comment. In a statement in response to the meeting, a spokesperson for Bidens campaign, Ammar Mousa, said that Trump is the biggest threat to the Muslim and Arab community, and that he is openly speaking about allowing Israel to bomb Gaza without any regard.

President Biden, on the other hand, is working tirelessly towards a just and lasting peace, said Moussa.

Massad Boulos, Tiffany Trumps father-in-law, said he gave a speech sharing his experiences as an immigrant and how they shaped his conservative values. He also highlighted a more personal side of Trump, emphasizing his love and admiration for the Middle East in general, according to Boulos.

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And then we discussed the need to organize ourselves and get ready for November and to mobilize our respective communities, Boulos said in an interview.

Tuesdays meeting in Michigan was just the beginning of a series of larger gatherings between Trump allies and Arab American leaders, according to Bishara Bahbah, chairman of Arab Americans for Trump and organizer of the meeting. Bahbah, present at the meeting, said he is already arranging future meetings.

Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, said in a statement that while the campaign didnt request the meeting, they will continue to communicate to those voters and remind them that President Trumps policies in the Middle East brought that region historic levels of peace and stability.

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Arab Americans in recent history have overwhelmingly supported the Democratic Party, but are angry at Biden due to his refusal to call for a permanent ceasefire and cut all aid to Israel. Metro Detroit, where Tuesdays meeting took place, has one of the largest Arab American populations in the country and has become a focal point of pushback due to its electoral importance in the battleground state.

About 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israels offensive after the Oct. 7 attack, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which doesnt separate its death toll between combatants and noncombatants.

The anger has extended beyond Arab American voters to various groups, including young voters, evident in widespread protests on college campuses nationwide. A movement to choose uncommitted as a protest in Democratic primaries has garnered hundreds of thousands of votes across the country, receiving 18% of the vote in Kentuckys Democratic primary on Tuesday.
A total of 68 countries abstained from the vote, which resulted in an 84-19 vote in the 193-member General Assembly. This indicates that many countries were concerned about how the decision would affect efforts at reconciliation in the sharply divided Bosnia read more

On July 11, 1995, Bosnian Serbs took control of a safe enclave in Srebrenica that was guarded by the UN. At least 8,000 Muslim Bosniak men and boys were murdered after being split up from their spouses, mothers, and sisters Image Courtesy Reuters

A resolution to commemorate the 1995 genocide of over 8,000 Bosnian Muslims by Bosnian Serbs was passed by the UN on Thursday. Serbs are fiercely against this resolution, believing it will paint them all as genocidal sympathizers of the mass murder.

A total of 68 countries abstained from the vote, which resulted in an 84-19 vote in the 193-member General Assembly. This indicates that many countries were concerned about how the decision would affect efforts at reconciliation in the sharply divided Bosnia.

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July 11, which will be marked annually beginning in two months, is designated by the resolution as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica".

The president of Bosnian Serbs, Milorad Dodik, and the populist president of neighboring Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, vigorously lobbied for a no vote despite the resolution, which is sponsored by Germany and Rwanda, not naming Serbia as the offender.

On July 11, 1995, Bosnian Serbs took control of a safe enclave in Srebrenica that was guarded by the UN. At least 8,000 Muslim Bosniak men and boys were murdered after being split up from their spouses, mothers, and sisters. Those who attempted to flee were pursued outside the town and through the mountains.

Bosnias 19921995 war culminated in the horrific Srebrenica massacres. The war began when Yugoslavia broke up, igniting nationalist fervor and territorial aspirations that pitted Bosnian Serbs against the nations two other major ethnic groups, Muslim Bosniaks and Croats.

Despite the fact that two U.N. courts have proven that genocide occurred in Srebrenica, both Serbia and Bosnian Serbs have rejected this.

President of Republika Srpska, the Serb portion of Bosnia that makes up roughly half of its total area, Dodik stated on social media on Wednesday that the country will be divided by the U.N. resolution, which is being imposed on it by supporters of the Muslim Bosniaks. He proposed that his administration would leave Bosnia if the resolution were to pass.

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Dodik has already threatened multiple times to have the areas ruled by the Serbs break away from Bosnia and join Serbia, which is nearby. He and a few other Bosnian Serb officials are subject to British and American sanctions in part because they put a U.S. peace plan that put an end to the Bosnian war in jeopardy.

The General Assemblys unwavering commitment to maintaining stability and fostering unity in diversity in Bosnia and Herzegovina was reiterated in the resolutions final form.

The draft resolution includes the ruling made in 2007 by the International Court of Justice, the highest court in the United Nations, that the atrocities carried out in Srebrenica constituted genocide. It was the first genocide to strike Europe since the Nazi Holocaust during World War II, which claimed the lives of an estimated 6 million Jews and people from other minorities.

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The day the Hutu-led government started executing members of the Tutsi minority and their allies is April 7. This is the official UN commemoration of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, according to Germanys U.N. Ambassador Antje Leendertse, who made this announcement last week.

By designating a distinct U.N. day to commemorate the victims of Srebrenica, the draft resolution seeks to close the gap, she added.

The official day of remembering for the Srebrenica atrocity is July 11. Menachem Rosensaft, an adjunct professor at Cornell Law School and the son of Holocaust survivors, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that this is a moral and legal imperative.

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The slain Muslim Bosniaks deserve to have their deaths and the manner of their deaths commemorated and Srebrenica was supposed to be a safe area but was abandoned by Dutch U.N. peacekeepers, leaving the Bosniaks who sought shelter there to be murdered on the U.N.s watch," Rosensaft said.

Richard Gowan, U.N. director of the International Crisis Group, called the timing of the vote unfortunate, given allegations that Israel is pursuing genocide in Gaza.

The vote will be an opportunity for more political theater, he told The media.

I expect Russia and China will make a great point of asking why the U.S. and European governments are concentrating on a massacre in the 1990s rather than killings in Gaza today.
According to a readout by the Pentagon, Austin stressed the Biden administrations ironclad support for Israel and reiterated strong US objections to the International Criminal Court prosecutors outrageous application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders read more

US and Israel have a shared interest in defeating Hamas, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said as he reiterated Washingtons support to Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

In a phone call on Wednesday, Austin stressed the importance of an effective mechanism to ensure that military operations in Gaza do not impede humanitarian efforts.

According to a readout by the Pentagon, Austin stressed the Biden administrations ironclad support for Israel and reiterated strong US objections to the International Criminal Court prosecutors outrageous application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.

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The defence secretary also asked Gallant to work out ways to ensure more aid enters Gaza and acknowledged a shared interest in the enduring defeat of Hamas and the urgent release of all hostages.

They discussed how best to defeat Hamas Rafah remnants while minimizing civilian harm, the Pentagon statement added.

Meanwhile, the lack of food supplies and other humanitarian aid has forced the United Nations to suspend food distribution in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Palestinians in Gaza have not received aid for over two days via the US-made pier which was seemingly functioning and was being used to deliver supplies to Gaza via the sea route. UN has also warned that the $320 million project may prove futile unless Israel starts setting conditions safe for humanitarian groups to function safely in the region.

War cabinet approves new guidelines for negotiators

The Israeli war cabinet has unanimously approved new guidelines to be followed by negotiators to revive hostage talks with Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Office said that the war cabinet has ordered the negotiating team to continue negotiations for the return of the hostages.

The war cabinets meeting was held after families of the hostages released footage of five female soldiers getting abducted by Hamas from the Nahal Oz base by Hamas terrorists on October 7.
Long-standing brotherly ties with a strong religious and cultural bond exist between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. Regular high-level interactions are one of the characteristics that set the two nations fraternal relations apart read more

The prime minister praised the partnership between UAE and Pakistani enterprises to promote the digitisation of the economy and stated the wish to emulate this in Pakistan

On Thursday, Pakistans prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, declared that the days of its cash-strapped officials traveling to friendly nations with begging bowls to help ease its economic hardships were gone.

During a one-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister Sharif said these things.

Long-standing brotherly ties with a strong religious and cultural bond exist between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. Regular high-level interactions are one of the characteristics that set the two nations fraternal relations apart.

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Gone are the days that I will go to our brotherly countries with begging bowls. I have broken that bowl, Sharif said during a session in Abu Dhabi, the Gulf states capital, Geo News quoted Sharif as saying.

Addressing UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who was not present at the event, said: My dear brother, like your great father you have supported Pakistan like a family member like a brother.

But today, he said, I am here in this great country, this brotherly great country not to seek loans but to seek joint collaborations, seek joint investments, he said.

The prime minister, whose administration took office in March, claimed that these partnerships would benefit investors on both ends and that profits would be obtained via diligence, resourcefulness, and the use of contemporary equipment and expertise.

The prime minister praised the partnership between UAE and Pakistani enterprises to promote the digitisation of the economy and stated the wish to emulate this in Pakistan, emphasising the need to encourage IT skills to empower young, who make up 60% of the countrys population.

He pledged to give them the best vocational training possible using up-to-date knowledge so they can complete the necessary legal requirements and travel to the United Arab Emirates.

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The prime minister reaffirmed the governments unwavering commitment to totally overhauling Pakistans economy through cooperation, joint ventures, and information exchange.

The prime minister stated that in order to increase exports, his government is concentrating all of its efforts on advancing artificial intelligence and information technology in Pakistans mining and mineral industries, industry, and agriculture.

While Pakistan was still reeling from catastrophic floods in 2023, the UAE promised to lend the country USD 2 billion and an additional USD 1 billion.

China, Pakistans all-weather friend, has also sent aid to the country to help weather its financial difficulties.
China needs urgent impetus to regain investor confidence and to keep the morale high of its citizens in general as an overall gloom in the countrys economy is all-pervading read more

Before the crucial third plenum of the Communist Party in July, where the countrys leaders are slated to outline the roadmap for reforms and rejuvenate the struggling economy, President Xi Jinping urged for deeper reforms to tackle the economic issues facing the nation.

Reform is the driving force for development, Xi told a symposium in Jinan, in the eastern province of Shandong, where he met with the top brass of state-owned firms, private entrepreneurs and overseas investors.

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We must pursue an approach that is both goal- and problem-oriented to solve problems  focus on deep-seated institutional obstacles and structural issues, President Xi said according to a South China Morning Post report.

The worlds second-largest economy is facing myriad problems like a stagnant real estate sector, poor internal demand, rising debt and trade and tariff issues abroad mostly anchored by US.

As reported by Xinhua news agency, those present also shared thoughts on advancing reforms, facilitating favourable conditions for venture capital investments, modernising traditional industries, enhancing corporate governance in private enterprises and refining business environment for foreign companies.

President Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that China should take firm steps to remove ideological and institutional barriers standing as an obstacle in the countrys modernisation efforts.

China needs urgent impetus to regain investor confidence and to keep the morale high of its citizens in general as an overall gloom in the countrys economy is all-pervading.

Chinas economic miracle is ending, leaving President Xi Jinping with a challenge none of his predecessors faced: how to govern after the boom. For four decades, Chinas 1.4 billion population experienced unparalleled gains in income and wealth. But recently the blows have just kept coming. Real estate collapse, trade war with the US, a crackdown on entrepreneurs, and extended Covid lockdowns have stalled the prosperity engine, said a Bloomberg piece.

The Bloomberg piece said that even if the incomes in China are going up, but gains have been slowest under President Xi since the late 1980s. The property sector is in deep red with no signs of revival soon. A real estate bubble, overcapacity in industries, high debt and a low fertility rate are all major imbalances that Chinas current leadership didnt cause but are now forced to confront, it said.

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Importance of Third Plenum

The Third Plenum of the Communist Party of China (CPC) holds a special place in Chinas modern history. Taking place in December 1978, it was a crucial moment in Chinas shift toward economic reform and openness. Following chairman Mao Zedongs death two years earlier, this plenum marked a significant break from the turbulent Cultural Revolution era, signalling a new era under Deng Xiaopings leadership.

At this gathering, Deng Xiaoping, then the paramount leader, introduced sweeping economic reforms aimed at modernising Chinas economy. These changes included replacing collective farming with individual household contracts in agriculture, as well as opening China to foreign investment and trade. Additionally, the plenum stressed the importance of technological advancement and the development of a socialist market economy.

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Throughout history, the Third Plenum of the CPC has been instrumental in introducing major policy changes and reforms that have profoundly impacted Chinas development and its global role.

Although delayed by a few months, the Third Plenary in July is an extremely important one for President Xi Jinping as the Chinese economy is desperately looking for ways to recover from the gloomy numbers which is also hurting the presidents image.
A widespread campaign against perceived Indian hegemony gains momentum in Sri Lanka, sparked by a contentious issue at the airport involving the delegation of visa issuance authority to a foreign entity, reportedly linked to India. The protest underscores deeper concerns about economic control and sovereignty, as demonstrators decry what they see as a pattern of Indian encroachment across strategic sectors of the Sri Lankan economy and state apparatus.





Protest against Indian influence in front of Immigration and Emigration Department today in Colombo.





We are not a slave of Indian hegemony, one protester told the media. We will continue this protest in very strong terms if the government does not take proper action, she added.





Another protester articulated to the media, As you can see, we are in front of the National Immigration Office here to protest against the decision to transfer the right of our state to issue visas to visiting foreigners, non-Sri Lankan citizens, through an Indian proxy campaign. We see this incident not as a standalone issue, but as an interconnected issue of the wider Indian efforts to take over strategic sectors of our economy and our state.





Adding fuel to the fire, concerns are raised about political collaboration and economic exploitation. Akhand Bharat never existed in history and it will never be. But nevertheless, our corrupt politicians in this government and also in the opposition who want to come to power with Indian help think if they cooperate with India, it will be easier for them to take over, remarked another protester.





The sentiment is compounded by grievances over previous economic agreements and ventures perceived to favor Indian interests. Already the Mattala airport has been given to Indian management. We see how the efforts have been taken to sign ECTA, an extremely draconian free trade agreement that serves the interest of the Indian state, but not the Sri Lankan populace or the Sri Lankan state, highlighted a demonstrator.





Meanwhile, issuing a statement, the Indian High Commission in Colombo yesterday asserted that the foreign company involved does not belong to India, and its headquarters are not located in India. However, the statement did little to assuage concerns as the protest continues to escalate, prompting scrutiny of bilateral agreements and the broader geopolitical implications for Sri Lankas autonomy and national security.
May 22, 2024: In Myanmar (Burma) rural rebels, especially those belonging to tribal militias, continue their 34 year-old fight against an army dictatorship. The army was established in 1948 when Britain ended its colonial rule in South Asia. This meant Pakistan, India and Burma were now independent of colonial rule. While India managed to establish and sustain a democracy, Burma had persistent problems with its newly formed army and generals who believed they should rule rather than an unpredictable elected government. This dictatorship first appeared in 1962 when the generals took over and ran the government until they ran out of money and were unable to cope with the decades of sanctions imposed by most other nations.

The 1962 military government collapsed in 1988 and an elected government took over. That was made possible by concessions made to the generals that allowed them to keep most of their wealth and be granted immunity from prosecution for crimes committed while they were in power. This deal did not hold and since 2010 there have been continued efforts by the generals to regain power. The generals had stolen billions while they were running the country and managed to hang on to enough of that money to continue breaking agreements and attempting to regain power. The key problem was that too many Burmese believed these compromises were too lenient and that the generals must be punished for decades of misrule and atrocities against eh Burmese people. The generals also had the support of many wealthy business families in the major cities. These families owned businesses, including agricultural operations and provided the army with most of its officers, some of whom became generals. The families and the military were still a minority and unwilling to give up their political power.

As popular anger at the generals and wealthy families grew, it led to a series of rebellions and attempts at compromise. As these compromises continued to fail, the military became weaker and less able to stage more attacks on democracy. The latest military takeover took place in 2021 and the generals were unable to put down all the insurrections that resulted. Over the last two years the army has lost control over more and more territory. By 2024 all they had were some of the major cities and their suburbs. Cut off from most of the countryside means the cities cannot feed themselves. The military is retreating into the capital city and fortifying it to keep rebels out. The military has adopted scorched earth tactics to inflict major casualties on the rebels, including unarmed civilians. About five percent of the population has been driven from their homes and a third of the population lacks adequate food and other necessities. Hunger is increasing and the rebels do not have the resources to deal with all the hunger and homelessness.

What the rebels are doing is improvising to build needed military equipment, especially quadcopter UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) to keep an eye on the enemy. Some UAVs are equipped with a weapons release mechanism. A hand grenade is light enough to be carried by the larger quadcopters and dropped on troops. This improvisation keeps the rebels going because most of the rebel military supplies are captured from the military or, like the armed quad copters, improvised. The rebels have managed to obtain some 3D printers and build even more themselves. The rebels, many of the university students, are able to put to use technical skills they recently learned in the classroom.

Currently the rebels are using their recently formed government to increase the pressure on the shrinking military forces. Few of the generals are fleeing the country, mainly because their names and misdeeds are known and they will have a hard time finding sanctuary anywhere.

The military rapidly collapsed as the rebels wore down their resolve and morale. Many army generals were surprised at how suddenly and quickly the troops in the north lost their will to fight and either deserted or joined the rebels. These attitudes spread quickly. In the capital, Naypyidaw, radio, and telephone calls from army units grew increasingly desperate. Many of the calls were for air support, by armed helicopters or fixed wing aircraft. The Myanmar Air Force had few attack aircraft, and most were Chinese or Russian jet fighters, many with pilots who were now unwilling to carry out attacks on civilians, even if they were armed rebels. There was much anger over the many airstrikes the government had ordered against armed rebels and unarmed civilians. The military government was weakened by sanctions and was unable to pay the troops on time or at all. This was one reason nearly 20,000 soldiers deserted, many of them joining the rebels.

The generals had trashed the economy and put more and more Burmese out of work and without access to food, the Internet, or the banking system. The resistance not only continued, but it also kept increasing in numbers of armed rebels and the unwillingness of soldiers to again make war on their own people.

The generals had another potential problem; they had become more dependent on their Chinese business partners. The Chinese were not only partners-in-crime with the generals, but they were also the source of cash for the generals and more weapons for the army. The generals considered the Chinese connection the vital key to victory, or fatal flaw in continued efforts to take over the government. It all depended on how much Burmese were willing to resist China. This is important in many ways and the result of regional changes that have taken place over the last few centuries.

Many Burmese diplomats outside the country at the time of the latest army takeover continued to support the elected government. Some Western countries reported that the Burmese military was seeking to kidnap or kill these rogue diplomats. Not to be outdone, in the north one of the tribal militias offered $3,000 to any Burmese soldiers who defected with his weapon, and safe passage out of the country. The military has refused to negotiate and refused UN offers to mediate negotiations.

The rebels up north obtained weapons from the army. Thousands of soldiers deserted with their weapons and some of these men knew where the army had stockpiled weapons and ammunition. Army officers usually remained loyal to the generals, but they were outnumbered and often killed by the rebels or their own men. Within a few weeks, most military units in the north had disappeared because of desertions and mutinies rather than attacks by the rebels.

The Burmese Army initially tried to keep the death toll down. Six months after the 2021 coup only about a thousand civilians had died and very few soldiers were killed. The generals were under pressure to pay close attention to troop morale and realized that another boost in soldier pay would not be enough to maintain loyalty in a force where most troops belong to extended families with many members who are not in the military and more of whom are being shot at by the military.

The Chinese realize that if the Burmese could avoid open warfare with an increasingly angry population, the generals might prevail. More Burmese were obtaining weapons and using them, and the generals had a hard time portraying dead or wounded soldiers as martyrs. None of Burmas neighbors are eager and ready to invade, as India did in 1971 Bangladesh. Bangladesh consists of a Moslem Bengali population. Most Bengalese were Moslem, which is why you had East Pakistan from 1948 to 1970. But a third of Bengalis were Hindu, including a few Christians. In 1970, not all Moslem Bengalis lived in East, or West Pakistan. The massacre of Bengalis in East Pakistan generated a lot of Indian support for intervention. There are often times when ethnicity trumps religion.

Such is not the case in Burma, where the Buran group, while possessing ancient ethnic connections with the Han in China, now consider themselves, like the Han-related majorities in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, as very distinct ethnicities and want as little to do with China as possible. This is a common pattern on all the current borders of China, where Han who wanted no part of a Chinese empire are still struggling to escape Chinese Han domination.

In Burma the 2021 coup was another expression of Han hostility. The continued resistance developed an armed component within 90 days. The CDM or Civil Disobedience Movement was mainly about organizing peaceful protests but, as more civilians were shot, some CDM factions began shooting back. Worse, there were organized attacks as well. This began when someone fired five rockets at the Shante Air Force base outside the city of Mandalay. The rockets caused no damage or injuries and were believed aimed at the Chinese CH-3A UAVs that were delivered in 2015 and used mainly to keep an eye on tribal rebels in the north. After the coup the army asked China for assistance in using all the manned and unmanned aircraft and helicopters China and Russia has sold to Burma in the last decade. The military had imported $2.5 billion worth of military gear since 2010. China provided 58 percent of it and Russia 33 percent.

Now these weapons are being used against the nationwide uprising. China is something of an expert on this as it is installing a Big Brother level surveillance in China. An elected Burmese government would never divert the huge sums required to purchase and install Chinese Big Brother levels of surveillance. The Burmese military is another matter, especially when it has taken over the government again. At the moment the military is in charge and China sees another major export sale looming. Better surveillance capabilities will provide immediate help to suppress the rebels.

China faces huge economic losses if the Burmese military government loses, and knows this is a real threat because the military government has already lost control over most of the country. China is a major foreign investor in Burma and its projects often displace Burmese illegally and without compensation. Most of this misbehavior occurred in the northern border areas where hostile tribes live. These tribes tend to have armed militias that have been fighting the military for over sixty years. Chinese investments gave the tribal rebels more targets for unarmed protests and armed attacks. China will do whatever it can to protect those investments, which include oil and natural gas pipelines from southern China to the northeast Burma coast. The pipelines have come under increasing attacks.

The first thing the new military government did after the 2021 coup was assure China that Chinese assets would be protected. China promptly used their veto powers in the UN to block UN actions against the new military rulers of Burma. Soon Russia also proclaimed support for the military government. The response of the military was not unexpected, because the civilian government knew that the Burmese generals maintained their connections in China.

The Burmese Army has long been at the center of most illegal economic activity in Burma. Some estimates indicate that at least $20 billion has been illegally moved out of Burma during the fifty years of military rule (which shows how poor Burma is). Almost all of that involved military personnel or their gangster and commercial allies. Military families still control a lot of the economy and most of the wealthy families in Burma have a military connection. The illegal cash leaving amounted on average to about six percent of GDP. The military may have surrendered much of their political power in 2010, but they held onto their considerable personal wealth.

The Burmese military is comfortable with a cozy relationship with China and Russia, but most Burmese are not. This has led to Chinese businesses being attacked since the coup and a few have been set on fire. The military was forced to assign more troops and hire some armed guards to protect the Chinese businesses.

The alliance of separatist northern tribes, which reached a peace agreement with the elected government in 2016, refused to recognize or cooperate with the military government. Burmese military leaders were surprised at the extent and duration of mass protests during the last six months. Despite most of the economy being crippled, the military still has income because during their decades of rule they came to control many businesses and some of those were joint ventures with China. A lot of Chinese firms pay the Burmese military directly for joint ventures. This provides the military with over a billion dollars a year, assuming the Chinese operations can keep functioning. Burmese army officers made a lot of money allowing China to do business in the tribal north, often at the expense of local civilians, most of them tribal people. After the return of democracy in 2011, China no longer had as much freedom in the north. Russia is of little help economically but is one of the few nations supporting the military government.

China is in uncharted territory here but is mainly risking money, not a lot of Chinese lives. The Chinese see this as an opportunity to see how far this new version of conquest by economic aggression can go. This is an important experiment because it is a new version of the tactics the Europeans, especially the British, used centuries ago to replace Chinese dominance of East Asia.

One thing the current Burmese conflict is unlikely to change is the dominance of the government by ethnic Burmese (Burman) people at the expense of the third of the population consisting of minorities. The army always played on this during the decades after the 1962 coup. Even after elections were resumed the army still had allies in the form of militant Buddhist nationalists. Another thing that unites and divides the country is religion. Some 80 percent of Burmese are Buddhists, including many of the rebellious tribes in the north. A third of the non-Buddhists are Christians, mainly in the tribal north and about 30 percent are Hindu. The ethnic Burmese are most hostile towards Moslems, who make up only about four percent of the population and less than ten percent of the minorities. Until 2012 about half the Moslems were ethnic Bengalis (Rohingya) who until the 1980s were considered Burmese citizens. That changed after an elected government took power in 2011 and since 2012 nearly a quarter of the million Rohingya are believed to have fled Burma to escape the growing violence of radical Buddhist Burmese nationalists. China assures the Burmese generals that they have proven solutions for all these problems.
May 22, 2024: For nearly half a century North Korea has been selling weapons to anyone who could pay, and that often included the cost of stealthy delivery. Payment was preferably up front and no credit terms were allowed. Delivery was usually done by ships of the North Korean Ghost Fleet. North Korea also had a collection of Cold War era transports to deliver the goods. Occasionally these deliveries were detected and seized. Fingers were wagged at North Korea for naughty behavior. Not much could be done because North Korea had been living under numerous economic and military sanctions for decades. The incorrigible North Koreas ignored the obstacles and continued with their arms export to anyone who could pay, no questions asked.

North Koreas best customers were North African and Middle Eastern countries. These customers included the usual suspects like Libya and Syria who had suffered from civil war and foreign interference for over a decade. More affluent Iran manufactures many of its own weapons but has been under sanctions since the 1980s and needs help in getting some items. The North Koreans offered to help and they did. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, they have also turned to North Korea for weapons. Even the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas was found to be using weapons obtained from North Korea.

North Korea also provided essential components to nations building their own guided missiles. Key components are not available to outlaw states that are heavily sanctioned. North Korea found that supplying these countries was lucrative because North Korea could obtain these items vis its own smuggling network and provide them to customers at a very profitable markup. Many nations with assets and little desire to spend money on the welfare of their own people could afford to buy weapons from North Korea that they were prevented, by sanctions, from obtaining openly.

The most popular North Korean exports are the ballistic missiles it manufactures, mainly for export. These missiles are sold but rarely used. Recently that changed when Russia, after invading Ukraine, ran out of the missiles it manufactured. North Korea was able to provide Russia with all the ballistic missiles Russia could pay for. Russia was short on cash but North Korea was willing to accept oil, food, and technical help to improve the primitive North Korean nuclear weapons.

Russia quickly used North Koreas Hwasong 11 ballistic missiles against targets in Ukraine. With a 700 kilometer range, these missiles could be fired from inside Russia or Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory at targets throughout Ukraine. Not many of these missiles hit their intended targets in Ukraine because of construction defects. Some Hwasong 11 exploded before they reached their target and others reached the vicinity of the target where the guidance system proved incapable of getting the missile to land close enough to the target to do any damage. Many of the Hwasong 11s were intercepted by Ukrainian BMD (Ballistic Missile Defense) missiles. Ukraine was intercepting a lot of the Russian ballistic missiles but the Russians know that the Ukrainians could not intercept all the missiles if many were launched at a target at the same time. This is what made the otherwise second-rate Hwasong 11 useful as part of a mass attack.

One positive result of all these Hwasong 11 failures was that malfunctioning missiles often hit the ground largely intact and made it possible to collect many electronic components that would be blown into tiny pieces if the missile detonated. Larger electronic component fragments were easier to identify by type and manufacturer. Investigators were surprised to find so many electronic components from western countries. These components were often sold to a legitimate customer but then deliberately lost or waylaid by smugglers who marked up the price and sold the components to whoever could pay the asking price up front and arrange for the items to be delivered to them. This turned out to be where a lot more components were going than the manufacturers formerly believed possible. Since these components have serial numbers making it easy to track components to who originally purchased them and in many cases that led to identifying who was diverting shipments to smugglers. The disreputable purchasers, at least the successful ones, often shut down and reappear under a new name before the anti-smuggling efforts catch them. The component manufacturers are in a competitive industry and are always seeking new customers. As long as a new customer appears sufficiently authentic, the sales are made.
Hannah Celayeta holds back tears while thanking first responders and holding her daughter, Mia, 2, who received life saving measures from EMS who she now calls family, during the Phoenix Awards at St. Marys, an annual ceremony where first responders are recognized for giving life sustaining CPR or resuscitations to a patient as part of National EMS Week at St. Marys on May 22, 2024.
Former British Marine accused in Hong Kong spy case found dead

Matthew Trickett's death sparks calls for a review of the status of the city's London trade office.

By Kit Sung for RFA Cantonese, Chen Zifei and Jasmine Man for RFA Mandarin 2024.05.22 -- A former British Marine charged with spying for the Hong Kong government has been found dead in an English park, with police treating his death as "unexplained," prompting calls for a review of economic and trade links with the city.

"At around 5.15pm on Sunday (19/5) officers attended Grenfell Park, Maidenhead, following a report from a member of the public," the Thames Valley Police said in a statement on May 21.

"Officers attended the scene and found a man. Emergency treatment was commenced but sadly the man was pronounced dead at the scene," it said.

The dead man was identified as Matthew Trickett, 37, who had been charged along with Bill Yuen, an office manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, and British Border Force officer Peter Wai with spying for the Hong Kong government.

They had been due to appear at the Old Bailey - the central criminal court for Britain - on Friday, according to police.

The trio were charged with "assisting a foreign intelligence service" and "foreign interference" under the National Security Act 2023, and stand accused of forcing and entering a property in the U.K. and of targeting exiled Hong Kong activists on British soil, according to the Metropolitan Police and the prosecution.

Ran from court

Trickett's death came after he covered his face and ran from journalists following a court appearance on May 13.

The case has sparked controversy around the role of Hong Kong's Economic and Trade Office in London, amid calls from British MPs for a review of its status, with a view to possible closure if the espionage charges are upheld.

"We call on the Government to review the status and privileges granted to the London Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office," a group of cross-party lawmakers said in a statement on Wednesday that was co-signed by Hong Kong advocacy groups and posted to the Hong Kong Democracy Council website.

"If employees of the HKETO were operating as accomplices of transnational repression, beyond their legitimate remit of economics and trade, the option of closing the London HKETO should be considered," the statement said.

A senior Hong Kong adviser said last week that the role of the Economic and Trade Offices had changed, and that they should keep an eye on the activities of Hong Kongers living on foreign soil.

But a Hong Kong commerce and economic development official on Wednesday dismissed the adviser's comments as a "misunderstanding."

Finance Secretary Paul Chan declined to comment on Trickett's death.

Investigations are ongoing and a post-mortem will be carried out, the police statement said, calling on anyone who was in Grenfell Park before 5.15 p.m. to come forward with information.

At the time of his death, Trickett was out on court bail, which required him to register at a police station regularly.

Shockwaves

Trickett's death has sparked fear and concern in the community of Hong Kongers who have settled in the United Kingdom in the wake of an ongoing crackdown on dissent imposed on their city by Beijing to quash the 2019 protest movement that called for fully democratic elections.

"The UK must investigate Trickett's death THOROUGHLY to find out the reason leading to his death and whether any pressure from any parties was involved," U.S.-based activist Frances Hui, who has an arrest warrant and a bounty on her head issued by Hong Kong's national security police, said via X.

Former pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui, now in Australia, said Trickett's death could mean critical evidence is lost in the forthcoming trial.

"I think it will have a very serious impact," Hui said. "It can be seen from the charge sheet that the [defendant] who passed away provided very important evidence during the investigation."

"They have now lost the opportunity to cross-examine him in court and to get more information from him ... which will be a big gap when it comes to the court and the public finding out the truth," he said.

Carman Lau, U.K.-based International Advocacy and Program Associate at the Hong Kong Democracy Council, said the news had sent shockwaves through the exile community, many of whom are speculating about foul play.

"There is now one less suspect in the case, and therefore less evidence to investigate," Lau told RFA Cantonese in an interview on Tuesday. "One defendant has died before the trial even started."

She said reports and speculation are swirling around the expat community, creating panic.

"Hong Kongers in the U.K. have one wish: that we will get to the bottom of the matter through the court proceedings, so they don't have to be afraid," Lau said. She urged the British government to review the status of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, and to consider shutting it down entirely.

'Absurd accusations'

The Hong Kong economic offices' job is to promote trade and economic ties with partner countries, Undersecretary for Commerce and Economic Development Bernard Chan told reporters on Wednesday.

"In the future, HKETO staff will continue our work, fearlessly and impartially, following regulations and laws, to promote Hong Kong's unique advantages and to tell a good Hong Kong story," Chan said in comments reported by the Hong Kong Free Press.

He refused to comment on what he termed "absurd accusations" of spying activity.

"The ETOs' task is to liaise with the local government, think tanks, different sectors and all walks of life to try to improve or facilitate or foster the cooperation on trade and investment, and also in the area of art and culture," he said in comments reported by government broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong.

Yuen and Wai have been barred from leaving the U.K. while out on bail, and must abide by curfew regulations, as well as reporting regularly to the police.

The spying charges come amid simmering tensions between Britain and China, which has said the case had been "fabricated" to "smear and attack" the Hong Kong government.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said Britain is facing an increasingly dangerous future because of threats from an "axis of authoritarian states," including Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

More than 190,000 Hong Kongers have applied for the British National Overseas, or BNO, visa route to long-term residency and eventual citizenship since it was launched in 2021, according to government figures released in November.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.

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by Austin Bay May 22, 2024

So, the International Criminal Court has charged Israel with committing crimes against humanity.

International court! Wow. Sounds like global damnation from a wannabe global moral authority, doesn't it?

Of course. That's the propaganda slant. Remember the World Health Organization was bought off by China, and the WHO lied about the COVID-19 pandemic's origins -- to the detriment of all.

Sane humans deserve better than bought lies sold as moral outrage.

The World Court of Informed Human Opinion (dub it the WCIHO) doesn't exist as a formal institution, but by damn it should.

WCIHO humans, suspend judgment. Let me examine the ICC's fatuous charge.

Begin with this insight, one so obvious even the benighted Biden administration managed to give it genuine second thought: Hamas' use of so-called human shields -- that is, human hostages positioned between Hamas terrorist murderers and Israeli weapons -- is a crime.

Writing as someone who has analyzed real-world air and artillery targets, human shields means Hamas intentionally places innocent human bodies between Israeli explosives and valid Hamas military targets.

Think of bank robbers seizing a teller then telling the cops they'll kill the teller if the cops shoot.

Bottom line targeting issue and bottom line legal issue: Using human shields makes it very difficult to assess ("assess" being media slang for judge) Israeli combat actions in the Gaza Strip much less accuse Israel ("accuse" being media slang for condemn) of committing war crimes.

The gut quotes in the last paragraph essentially paraphrase a mid-May Washington Examiner report, a U.S. State Department pontification on the use of "human shields," and an official Israeli government statement. The paraphrases distilled: Israeli critics should get the hell off the battlefield and go spout nanny words in the United Nations playpen.

Credit Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu with adult clarity. In a TV interview, Netanyahu said, "The whole attitude to Israel here is absurd" given that Hamas intentionally wages war among Palestinian civilians.

Expanded quote: "They [Hamas] use [Palestinian human civilians] as human shields and they target civilians ... they target ours [Israeli civilians] and they hide behind theirs." Then Netanyahu added, "That is a double war crime. And, of course, this makes Israel's task so much more difficult."

Pay attention, ICC prosecutors: a Hamas double war crime.

Sure. The ICC claims it also indicts Hamas. But that's media fluff. Consider the historical facts. On Oct. 7, Hamas terrorists attacked Israel and killed some 1,200 Israeli human beings -- definitely mass murder. The Hamas savages also raped innocents and seized over 200 hostages.

And Hamas extolled its savagery.

Hostages become exceptionally valuable human shields, especially when the Israelis strike back.

I've already mentioned criminals seizing hostages in order to escape from a crime scene. Hamas took its Israeli hostages into its labyrinthine Gaza tunnel system.

Israeli hostages in Gaza tunnels is an operational problem -- Israel risks killing its own people if it attacks Hamas' tunnels.

Which is Hamas' operational military gambit. Kill us and you kill your own.

Or you kill Gaza residents -- see, Hamas Islamist extremists call Gaza residents "involuntary martyrs."

This is an old radical Islamist strategy. In Iraq and Afghanistan, the gambit restricted the U.S. military's rules of engagement.

But Israel is the major target. In 2009, StrategyPage.com wrote Hezbollah (Iran-backed Lebanese Shia proxy militia) and Hamas build "meshed, networked static defense systems comprised of bunkers and tunnels in their human shields' neighborhoods and selectively booby-trap houses with high explosives. They then dare Israel to counter-attack and, in the process, kill thousands of Arabs while losing several score Israeli soldiers in close combat with guerrillas."

That's when the strategic information warfare gambit kicks in. Hamas provides global media with heart-rending video featuring dead bodies and wounded survivors. A press paid for by anti-Jewish billionaires accuses Israel of war crimes. Anti-Israeli protests erupt in European capitals and on elite U.S. college campuses.

Then a corrupt ICC files charges. And the leftist media wail.
Pennsylvania Guard Military Police Deploying to Guantanamo Bay

By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith, 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 28th Infantry Division May 21, 2024

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. -- More than 100 Pennsylvania Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 28th Military Police (MP) Company, 165th MP Battalion, 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 28th Infantry Division, departed from Harrisburg International Airport May 19 to mobilize to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The company is augmented by Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 165th MP Battalion, and Soldiers from the 1069th MP Company and the 28th Infantry Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion.

During a departure ceremony for deploying Soldiers, family and friends at Fort Indiantown Gap May 18, the unit "cased" the company guidon. This tradition symbolizes a unit's change in location, as the guidon travels wherever the unit commander goes.

"We've received ample training and are ready for the mission at hand," said Capt. Victor Mayorquin, 28th MP Company commander. "We've been doing all we can to prepare for this, and I have full confidence in my unit's ability to complete our mission successfully and return home safely."

The unit will conducting detention operations for the Guantanamo Bay prison to ensure the secure, humane and orderly confinement of detainees and inmates.

"Several of the Soldiers mobilizing with us have been deployed to Guantanamo Bay in the past for a very similar mission," said Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Wilson, operations sergeant of the 28th MP Company. "The unit will definitely benefit from the experience and expertise those Soldiers are able to offer. To our younger Soldiers on this mission, I'd say to use this opportunity as a learning experience and an opportunity to become a better military leader."

Pennsylvania Army National Guard leadership from the 165th MP Battalion, the 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade command team, the 28th Infantry Division, and the Pennsylvania National Guard command group saw unit members off at the airport.

The 28th MP Company will complete additional training at Fort Bliss, Texas, before arriving at Guantanamo Bay and beginning their mission.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

21 May 2024

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** Artificial Intelligence

Good afternoon.

Quite a few updates for you on the humanitarian end, but I will start with today: The Secretary-General addressed via videoconference the Artificial Intelligence Summit that is ongoing in Seoul, in the Republic of Korea.

He said that artificial intelligence systems are still being deployed with little oversight and little accountability, and he warned that we cannot sleepwalk into a dystopian future, where the power of AI is controlled by a few people, or worse, by opaque algorithms beyond human understanding.

The Secretary-General called for universal guardrails and said the Summit of the Future that he will convene in September is an opportunity to build the foundations of artificial intelligence governance.

His full remarks were shared with you.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Update on Gaza and the work of UNRWA [UN Relief and Works Agency]. Our colleagues at UNRWA report that today, the Agency's distribution centre, as well as the World Food Programme's (WFP) warehouse  both in Rafah  are now inaccessible due to ongoing military operation.

UNRWA says that its health centres have not received any medical supplies in the past 10 days. Despite this, health-care staff continue to provide thousands of medical consultations each day at health centres that are still operational.

Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros [Adhanom Ghebreyesus], expressed deep concern over the safety of patients and hospital staff remaining at Al Awda Hospital in northern Gaza. In a social media post, he said the facility has been under siege since Sunday, with no one allowed to leave or enter.

Yesterday afternoon, you will have heard from Tor Wennesland, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, who said the situation in Rafah is becoming increasingly desperate and dangerous for the already besieged population.

He urged the parties to redouble all efforts and return to the negotiating table immediately and in good faith. Mr. Wennesland expressed concern that the failure to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and a large-scale military operation in Rafah increases the risk of escalating regional tensions.

For her part, Edem Wosornu, the Director of Operations and Advocacy for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told Council members that living conditions continue to deteriorate because of heavy fighting, particularly in the Jabalaya and eastern Rafah areas of Gaza, as well as Israeli bombardment from land, air and sea.

Among other things, she said that as of 18 May, just 10 bakeries are operational out of 16 that are supported by our humanitarian partners. However, it is expected that these will run out of stock and fuel within days if no additional supplies are received. An estimated 14,000 critical patients currently require medical evacuation out of the Gaza Strip.

** Security Council

Today, the Security Council is holding its annual briefing on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Briefing Council members on our behalf was the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Nderitu. In her remarks, she raised the alarm about the ongoing situation in Sudan, adding that the situation there today bears all the marks of a risk of genocide.

She said it is imperative to expedite all possible actions to protect innocent civilian populations.

Joyce Msuya, the Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator also briefed Council members. She reminded Council Members that the situation of civilians in armed conflict in 2023 was dire.

Also, to note  the seventh edition of the Protection of Civilians week is taking place this week, with 17 side events to amplify the voices of civilians impacted by armed conflict.

This year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Security Council's considering the protection of civilians as an item on its agenda, and the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Geneva Convention.

** Afghanistan

The Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, visited Afghanistan from 18 to 21 May. That is today. She met with the de facto authorities, the diplomatic community in Kabul and representatives of civil society. The meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan that the United Nations is organizing in Doha on 30 June and 1 July was the centre of her discussions.

She extended to the de factoMinister for Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, an advance invitation from the Secretary-General to participate at the forthcoming meeting of Special Envoys. The meeting aims to increase international engagement with Afghanistan in a more coherent, coordinated and structured manner.

Ms. DiCarlo discussed with her interlocutors the various challenges that Afghanistan is facing.

Among other topics, she discussed the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, particularly the restrictions on the education of women.

And on the humanitarian front, as you will recall the floods that struck the north-eastern and north-western areas of the country over the past two weeks.

Our colleagues at the World Food Programme (WFP) say that these floods have impacted more than 80,000 people and are likely to intensify in the coming months, with a significant impact on food security.

WFP is warning that the affected districts, most of which are "hunger hotspots", are already in crisis levels of food insecurity.

The food agency is saying that it is investing in climate adaptation projects designed and built by communities to shield them from the impacts of the climate crisis. These include protective walls, dams and irrigation.

** Haiti

Coming back to this hemisphere: On Haiti, our humanitarian colleagues continue to sound the alarm about the impact of the crisis on education.

Since the beginning of May, armed groups have taken control of several neighbourhoods in the capital, Port-au-Prince, as we have been telling you. That has led to the looting and burning down of schools.

According to our education partners, 30 attacks on schools have been recorded since the start of this year.

Between July of last year and mid-May of this year, violence has forced the closure of nearly 900 schools in Port-au-Prince and in the Artibonite province. This has impacted nearly 200,000 young people who are yearning for an education and 4,000 teachers.

Elsewhere in the country, we and our partners continue to support children. For example, as we mentioned previously, the World Food Programme and its partners continue to operate the school meals programme. They have reached nearly 400,000 schoolchildren since the beginning of the year.

** Ukraine

Flying over to Europe, and in Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that we and our partners are continuing to support civilians impacted by attacks and active fighting in the Kharkiv region.

In Kharkiv City itself, which hosts a transit centre for evacuees, humanitarian workers assisted some nearly 9,000 people who have been recently displaced. Our partners have also helped more than 800 evacuated people, including 170 people with limited mobility, hosted in premises provided by the authorities.

At the same time  as attacks in front-line areas continue  power cuts impacted 190,000 people in Kharkiv City this morning. That's what the Energy Ministry of Ukraine is telling us.

In the Sumy Region, in the north-east, people are also fleeing attacks in the communities on the Ukraine-Russia border.

** Burkina Faso

Heading to Africa: In Burkina Faso, our Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, has allocated $5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support the emergency response in Burkina Faso.

The funds will support 150,000 people in the Sahel, Centre-Nord and Est regions with life-saving assistance. The funds will also facilitate humanitarian air operations.

Nearly 3 million people across Burkina Faso are expected to face acute food insecurity  that is known officially as IPC Phase 3 [and above]  during the lean season  from June to September  and will require humanitarian assistance.

This year's $935 million is needed for our Humanitarian Response Plan. It is less than 13 per cent funded, with only $119 million in the bank.

** Democratic Republic of the Congo

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, our humanitarian colleagues say that clashes over land in the province of Tshopo in the country's north-east have resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians since the end of April.

According to humanitarian organizations, more than 740 civilians have been killed and over 75,000 people displaced in Kisangani due to clashes over land since February of last year.

Humanitarian organizations are mobilized to provide health care to the injured and the displaced. Aid workers are also aiming to provide shelter, access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation.

An assessment mission led by our humanitarian coordinator colleagues found that food, health care and shelter are the top needs for people who have been displaced.

They tell us that addressing the root causes of land conflicts is crucial to prevent an escalation of intercommunal violence in Kisangani, which is home to 1.4 million people.

OCHA reiterates its call on all involved to work together to end the violence, protect civilians and find a sustainable solution to the conflict in the area of Kisangani.

** South Sudan

And in South Sudan, our peacekeeping colleagues there report that they facilitated a joint visit with state authorities to Boro Medina in Raja County, near Sudan's border, to assess the security and humanitarian situation in the area where hundreds of refugees and returnees continue to arrive every day. The peacekeeping mission (UNMISS) has increased its presence, including patrols, in the area.

Just to give you a little bit of context with regards to Boro Medina, this town is the first major stop for thousands of refugees and returnees crossing into Western Bahr El Ghazal state since the start of the conflict in Sudan. Currently, more than 5,000 asylum-seekers and a little above 7,000 returnees have added to the strain on already scarce livelihood resources, which has led to increased tensions with the host communities in South Sudan.

** International Days

Two international days to flag. The first is a real UN day.

It is the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. This Day celebrates the richness of the world's cultures.

And I wish I had brought some scones and cream for you. It is the International Tea Day. Fun fact: Tea is the world's most consumed drink after water. This drink has been with us for a long time and is the main source of income for some of the world's poorest countries.

** Questions and Answers

Spokesman : Edith?

Question : Thank you, Steph. Can you give us an update on aid coming in via the land crossings and also on the distribution of aid that came in from Cyprus via the US pier?

Spokesman : Sure. I mean, I can tell you, on terms of the number of the crossings, on Rafah, it remains closed. And I think, our colleagues at OCHA, in their briefing to the Security Council yesterday, said the closure prevented the entry of some 82,000 metric tons of supplies, including food and medicines. Kerem Shalom, which as you know had been a main entry point for critical aid, remains open in principle in the sense that materials are arriving from the Israeli side. But as always, the challenge for us is accessing that area. The challenges to access remain because of the ongoing fighting, challenging logistics, and just the safety of our colleagues and the complexity of coordinating with all those involved. In terms of the north, Erez, was opened from the 1st to 9th, but has remained closed since then. And the newly opened Erez West crossing is now being used for limited quantities of aid. But now areas in the vicinity of the crossings are also under evacuation order. There's been no new arrival of trucks on the floating pier since Saturday.

Question : And was the aid from those trucks actually delivered to the warehouse or to anybody on land?

Spokesman : On Friday, there were about 10 trucks that made it. On Saturday, there were 16 trucks that left the floating pier. But 11 of those trucks never made it to the warehouse. Crowds had stopped the trucks at various points along the way. There was, you know, what I think I would refer to as self-distribution. These trucks were traveling through areas where there'd been no aid. I think people feared that they would never see aid. They grabbed what they could. So, only 5 of the 16 trucks made it to the warehouse.

Question : And has there been any distribution of any of that aid?

Spokesman : The aid is then... basically, WFP drops off the aid at its warehouse, and its local partners then distribute the aid as they can. But I don't have that sort of granularity. I think, you know, the fact that the trucks didn't make it underscores the need for consistent delivery of aid and obviously for a ceasefire so we have access to aid that is needed  so people know that when they see a truck, there will be more trucks, that there is more aid in the pipeline, and it's not just a one off.

Question : And just one final question. Who was responsible for security for those trucks?

Spokesman : There is no... we don't have any armed security. We operate separately, obviously, from the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). So, part of it is the work that we do with various community groups and humanitarian partners so that people understand where these trucks are coming from and where they're going and what they're being used for.

Gabriel?

Question : Thank you, Steph. Today, the Israeli authorities confiscated the television equipment from the Associated Press, a camera that was being used... that was in Israel to show a live feed of this Gaza skyline. Does the Secretary-General have any reaction to that?

Spokesman : I saw the reports in the Israeli press, this morning, and frankly, it's quite shocking. I think journalists need to be able to do their work freely. The Associated Press, of all news organizations, should be allowed to do its work freely and free of any harassment.

Question : And on UNRWA, regarding the suspension of food distribution, you said, if I heard you correctly, that the reason is because of ongoing military operations. Correct?

Spokesman : Yeah.

Question : Are you referring to Israeli military operations?

Spokesman : I mean, I spoke to one of my UNRWA colleagues just before coming in here. They're not sticking around to see who's doing the firing. It's an active combat zone. There are bullets flying, not to sound glib. So, they have no access to those areas, but it's clear that they are... that the parties who are in conflict are fighting.

Question : And just one last follow-up, what is the... what are the ramifications to the fact that UNRWA has suspended food distribution?

Spokesman : People don't eat.

Benny?

Question : Since you update us in a very granular way every day about the situation... [cross talk]

Spokesman : As much as I can.

Question : Oh, since you... is that better?

Spokesman : Yeah. Yeah.

Question : So, every day, you update us in a very granular way about food distribution  you have OCHA, you have UNRWA, you have WFP, so on and so forth. And just what you described now about the situation in Kerem Shalom, in Erez and on the pier; is it the UN determination that Israel is using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare?

Spokesman : I think we've... I will not make a legal pronouncement here. We have been very, very vocal about the fact that not enough humanitarian aid has been let through. We've told these to our Israeli counterparts. We have called for the reopening of all the crossings.

Question : I am not asking you to make legal determination; I am asking you... [cross talk]

Spokesman : No, I know. But I understand also the legal debate that is ongoing right now in terms of what is going on with the International Criminal Court (ICC). [cross talk]

Question : Yeah, but who would know better than the UN?

Spokesman : But I'm just saying, Benny, I think we've been very, very clear in the fact that we don't think the Israeli authorities are allowing enough humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

Question : So, it is their method of warfare?

Spokesman : You've asked me a question. I've answered it.

Question : No. You haven't.

Spokesman : Well, I've answered it to the best of my ability, counsellor. [laughter] I just don't want you to put words into my mouth. Thank you.

Yes, Jordan? And then, Benno. Sorry. [cross talk]

Question : Thank you. As you know, Gaza is a combination of refugees, 1.4 million people registered with United Nations' agency, which is UNRWA. And the other 800,000, they are the original Gazan citizens. Out of the 35,000 people who were killed, do you know how many of them are refugees?

Spokesman : No, sir. That is a question you need to ask to the people who own those figures, and that is the Ministry of Health.

Question : Second question, if you, do you have any update on the investigation about the attack against the DSS (Department of Safety and Security) vehicle? UN or other investigation?

Spokesman : About the OIOS (Office of Internal Oversight Services) investigation?

Question : No, with the DSS? [cross talk]

Spokesman : No. I do not. I do not.

Question : Okay. Two small and I go, if you allow me. The SG went to Middle East, and he went to Bahrain, to Oman, to Kuwait, and you issued some statements. Is there anything hidden about his meetings? Is he satisfied? [cross talk]

Spokesman : Is there anything hidden?

Question : Is there any benefit from his visit that you did not tell us?

Spokesman : I was in most of those meetings. I didn't see anything that I couldn't see.

Question : Is he happy?

Spokesman : Is the Secretary-General happy?

Question : That... yeah.

Spokesman : He's not very happy these days. I'll come back to you.

Benno?

Question : Thank you. I actually think that I need some more explanation about the pier and the trucks that were, I would say looted, or you said... [cross talk]

Spokesman : I think, you know, to... listen. [cross talk]

Question : But you didn't let anyone ask.

Spokesman : Sorry. You're right. I'm sorry. I'm a little... too much coffee this morning. Go ahead, Benno.

Question : So, the trucks coming from the pier, they had some security, I guess. Farhan [Haq] said we are working out some security details or whatever a few days ago. There was security that they had, or were they absolutely without anybody...? [cross talk]

Spokesman : There is no... as far as... I mean, we were working, I think what we've been referring to about was about the safety and security of our colleagues who are picking up the aid and just kind of the handoff point in a sense. Right? But there is no... we do not have UN armed security with these trucks. And we have seen, over and over again since the beginning of this conflict, issues with the safety of humanitarian workers. We've had drivers that have been attacked, and it's... so.

Question : Sorry. But, like... So, the truck drivers are Palestinians, maybe from UNRWA, even?

Spokesman : They're Palestinian. I mean, this is a WFP operation.

Question : Okay. Who provides the security to for them? You said, no, UN troops. Yes, of course not. But, like who...? [cross talk]

Spokesman : I mean, there is no armed security. They are... the best security, the best safety comes from the community. Right? When people understand and know that there will be a constant flow of aid, that there will be distribution that is well organized, that is timed. That is not possible in an active combat zone. I cannot put myself in the shoes of people who may have been displaced once, twice, three times over, who do not know where their next meal comes from, who see a truck laden with food stop for whatever reason or not stop and decide to take things. Right? So that is my understanding of what happened.

Question : Yeah. No. No question about that. I asked myself just, like, I think you said the IDF can't protect the convoys because that would, like, kind of violate the neutrality of this... [cross talk]

Spokesman : Right. We do not operate with armed escort because we need to be... there's certain humanitarian principles, especially operational neutrality, that need to be respected.

Question : And then very last one, just correct me if I'm wrong, but, like, I had in, I thought I remembered that the IDF was actually providing some security for some deliveries that came in from land borders. Is that... do I... [cross talk] Am I wrong about this?

Spokesman : We have... There may be other... I'm talking about UN operations.

Correspondent : Yeah.

Spokesman : There also... there's private sector. There are other things going on. I can only speak about what we do.

Dezhi?

Question : Yeah. First two follow-ups on the floating dock and the humanitarian aid in Gaza. Given the fact that you just said the constant aid delivery would be a solution to all those problems, but given the security and the safety issue, do you have plans for the future floating pier operations? WFP has it? The plans?

Spokesman : Sorry. Do we what? Say again.

Question : Do you have any more plans for future deliveries from the floating pier?

Spokesman : Yeah, I mean we are trying... WFP is in the business of delivering food. And I can tell you from the conversations that I've had, that's what they're focused on. Right? They're speaking to all the parties to see how quickly we can get more trucks being delivered. But obviously, there are a lot of other things that need to be worked out on a daily basis.

Question : Okay. My second follow-up, have the UN agencies in Gaza recently get any fuels? Because every day, I think last week, we heard about the fuel issue.

Spokesman : Yes. On the fuel, and you'll... this is what I just received. More... OCHA, I think this was yesterday. Right? I'm thinking to what Edem said. 650,000 litres of fuel have entered Gaza since the start of the Rafah operation, but that's a quarter of the allocations we had prior to 6 May. So, there was a limited amount of fuel that came in on an exceptional basis only. So, we're not getting enough for the fuel that we need. [cross talk]

Question : From where? From which border crossings? Do you have...? [cross talk]

Spokesman : I think it came in through Kerem Shalom.

Question : Okay. My question now is, today the Special Adviser to Secretary-General on prevention of genocide in the Security Council meeting talked lengthy on Sudan, but she did not even mention the word Gaza. May I know why?

Spokesman : You should... I mean, heard the remarks speak for themselves. You're welcome to contact her office.

Question : She said in her statement that early warning and her job is to make early warnings and make recommendations to Security Council by bringing to their attention potential situation that could result in genocide and actions to prevent or halt genocide. So... [cross talk]

Spokesman : As I said, I think that her remarks were clear. If you have any questions about what was in and what was not in, I would suggest you contact her office.

Abdelhamid?

Question : Thank you, Stephane. Two senior UN officials gave briefings to the Security Council, and both did not mention Palestine. Virginia Gamba, when she spoke about children in armed conflict, and today, Ms. Nderitu, when she spoke about protection of civilians in armed conflict. She did not mention one word about the genocidal war taking place in Gaza now. Can you explain that, please?

Spokesman : As I said, UN officials... I mean, you're welcome to contact their offices. Ms. Gamba will present her report, her annual report, children and armed conflict, later in June and judge her for what she says or what she doesn't say.

Question : My second question. Mr. Tor Wennesland said this, just last week, a staff member of safety and security from India died and another staff injured. Is using the word "died" correct now...? [cross talk]

Spokesman : But the person is no longer alive.

Question : And instead of being killed.

Spokesman : I mean, Abdelhamid, with all due respect things are said. You're welcome to say they were well said. You're welcome to say they were not well said. That is your freedom as a journalist. But we've... you and I have gone through this over and over again. [cross talk]

Question : We can go again, because... [cross talk]

Spokesman : The words used were those used. If you have another question, I'll...

Question : Yes. One more. We haven't heard from Sigrid Kaag for some time now. Where is she and what is she...? [cross talk]

Spokesman : Sigrid Kaag is based in Amman. I think every time she comes to New York, she speaks to you, but she's continuing her work.

Frank?

Question : I have a protocol question. The lowering...

Spokesman : You can put your microphone a little louder... closer.

Question : Yeah. I have a protocol question. The lowering of the flag, the UN flag for President [Ebrahim] Raisi, who orders that?

Spokesman : It's not an order. It was done at the request of the Permanent Mission of Iran. Traditionally, when a sitting Head of State dies in office, the flags are lowered if the mission so requests.

Question : As a follow-up, why don't they do that for a UN security officer that was killed on 13th?

Spokesman : This is a place of precedent. The national flags are lowered for certain reasons. They will be, I think, within the next, I think around 30 May, there will be the annual ceremony, which the Secretary-General honours all of those UN staffers who have been killed in the line of duty. And sadly, if you look at the number of UN colleagues who have died in the last year, and the flags were lowered, the flags would not fly many days of the year.

Stefano, and then we'll go to that side.

Correspondent : Thank you, Stephane. This is a question I wanted to ask before the press conference, but it was not possible. So, I'm going to ask to you.

Spokesman : I feel bad because I did ask you to be there.

Correspondent : I know.

Spokesman : Yeah.

Correspondent : And I'm going to... after all the Secretary-General is the boss, so that's... this Organization should be, according to the Washington Post, the European Union and individual European countries are supporting and funding aggressive operation by North African Governments to detain tens of thousands of migrants every year, dump them in the remote areas, often in the desert. We're talking about people starving here. Well, apparently, European funds were used to train personnel, purchase equipment for units involved in human rights violations. [cross talk]

Spokesman : Yeah. We read the story. Yeah.

Correspondent : So, yes, they say that there was, according to the Washington Post, [inaudible] in hospital... [cross talk]

Spokesman : I read the story at length. What is the question?

Question : What does the Secretary think? What does it do...? I think... [cross talk]

Spokesman : His reaction to reading the story was one of horror. It's a horrific story, and it is incumbent on all Member States, whether it's those that are doing these operations, those who are funding these types of operations, wherever they may be, that the human rights of each individual  migrant or refugee  whether they're a migrant or they're a refugee, they're a human being, be respected, and any violation be fully investigated and people be held accountable. It's a horrific... the story I mean, I encourage all of you to read. It appeared in many different places. It's a horrific story.

Question : Thank you for your answers, Stephane. But if I didn't ask the question because you didn't talk about it at the beginning, and before, we couldn't ask a question to people that should protect migrants. I mean, why the migrants are always left the last in this Organization?

Spokesman : Well, first of all, I think, listen, from our part and if you... the story also says the investigation done by these journalists confirms what has been said in UN reports. Right? So, it's not as if we don't talk about it. I often talk about it from here. Again, whether it's on migration or any other issue, we talk about it; whether or not journalists write about it is beyond my own authority.

Biesan and then Ibtisam.

Question : I have two questions. Do you have any comment on the raid in Jenin this morning? I mean, a surgeon, a teacher, a student was killed.

Spokesman : Not at this point. I just, I hadn't seen any report on it at this point, but I think we have expressed our very deep concern at the ongoing violence that Palestinian civilians are subjected to in the occupied West Bank, and I think Mr. Wennesland referred to it.

Question : So, a group of bipartisan Senators just put out a statement condemning the ICC. President [Joseph] Biden called it outrageous. Secretary [Antony] Blinken just now in a hearing said that the Administration would be willing to speak with Congress or, you know, discuss with Congress ways to respond. Isn't it concerning, I mean, for international order that these statements are coming out of the US?

Spokesman : Look, we're not going to comment on every statement that comes out of every Member State. But what is clear is that Member States, every Member State has a responsibility to respect the international institutions.

Ibtisam Azem?

Question : Thank you. Just a follow-up on two things. First, on Stefano's question, to which extent is this subject... does this subject even come up in discussions of the Secretary-General with European leaders and given the fact that we are seeing more and more human rights violations and the insistence of these countries to send migrants back or to countries where they know very well that there will be human trafficking and killing, et cetera?

Spokesman : It comes up often. And it also, I know is the subject of a lot of discussions, with the High Commissioner for Refugees, and I have no doubt the Director General of the IOM. We do a lot of work and reporting on it, also on our human rights... our human rights colleagues. I think, notably, I think the Mission in Libya, because we do have a big presence in Libya, our human rights have been very, very clear on what is going on in Libya. So, this is also the topic of discussions in the Secretary-General's executive office. As you know very well, the issue of refugees and migrants and people on the move is one that is very close and dear to his heart, given his 10 years he served as High Commissioner [for Refugees]. So, this is an issue that is never forgotten by him.

Correspondent : Sorry. I have another two, real quick.

Spokesman : Yes, sorry; go ahead.

Question : Follow up on the American pier something that I... you said that there was no delivery since Sunday. Like, for the third day. And the delivery that happened before was... [cross talk]

Spokesman : Yeah, there was Friday and Saturday. Yeah.

Question : Yeah. And the delivery, what you mentioned is in average is about 10 trucks, more or less.

Spokesman : Well, I mean it's hard to do an average on two days.

Question : Okay. Yeah. But American... [cross talk]

Spokesman : I think a good statistician would tell you that's not enough of a data point to do an average.

Question : You're the expert. So, I guess my question here, when the opening of that port was announced, the Americans, if I'm not mistaken, were talking about that they are aiming 200 trucks and 100 to 150 trucks, the max capacity that they have; and we are seeing that not even 10 per cent of that, if we look at these two days. So, my question here is, who is actually deciding about this? Like, how much comes to this port, and where does it go from there?

Spokesman : Well, I mean, there is a mechanism, and I think Sigrid Kaag has spoken to it. There's a framework that has been created, but there are also facts on the ground. And I think you would need to speak to WFP to get a little bit more detail about what the biggest stumbling block is. But I think all of this reaffirms what we've been saying for a while is that we welcome additional routes into Gaza. Right? We welcome this arrival of the US-built pier and the efforts of Cyprus, but it is not and cannot be a substitute to open massive delivery via land.

Question : Okay. Sorry. I have one last question on Tunisia. There is more and more, recently and before that, but recently, it's more arrests against journalists, crackdown on human rights defenders; do you have any statement on that?

Spokesman : We've been watching this situation for quite some time, and I know we and our human rights colleagues have expressed some very deep concern about some of the arrests that we've been seeing.

Let's go to the screen, Iftikhar and then Dawn.

Question : Thank you, Steph. Regarding your readout on the visit of the Ms. DiCarlo to Afghanistan, you have given us the issues she raised with the Taliban, but not their reaction, especially the invitation she extended to the Doha meeting. What was their response?

Spokesman : I think, Iftikhar, you would have to ask the person, the spokesperson, spokesman for the Taliban as to what their response will be.

Correspondent : He is in Kabul.

Spokesman : Sorry?

Correspondent : He is in Kabul.

Spokesman : I'm sure somebody's got a phone number somewhere, Iftikhar. [laughter] And I'm sure Associated Press of Pakistan has some stringer in Kabul.

Dawn?

Question : Thanks, Steph. It's actually a follow-up on Ibtisam's question. I apologize if I missed it, but just simply why haven't there been more trucks since... any trucks since Sunday coming off the pier? Do you have any detail on where things aren't working? Or...

Spokesman : Well, beyond the fact that there remains an active conflict, no. I do not have any more details at this point.

Correspondent : Okay. Thanks.

Spokesman : Edith and Benny. Oh, Benno. Sorry. Then Benny. I just get confused.

Question : Thank you, Steph. Yesterday, we heard that the number of displacements since the beginning of the... Well, the past two weeks had been over 900,000. Are there any new figures?

Spokesman : I did not get any new ones. Not today. [cross talk]

Question : And on the issue of the AP camera, does the Secretary-General urge the Israeli Government to return the AP equipment that is confiscated and to restore the AP position in southern Israel near the Gaza border?

Spokesman : Yes. On all those questions.

Benno?

Question : One more follow-up to the pier, and then I have other question. Given that the pier basically is just a workaround for existing routes, do you consider it a giant waste of money, as well?

Spokesman : No. There were trucks that got in. There was aid that got in. Right? That was good. All we're saying is that it's not enough.

Your other question?

Question : As you know, I guess, in two days, the General Assembly will decide if there will be a day of commemoration for the genocide in Srebrenica. I know that your boss is not voting on GA resolutions, but he has an opinion... [cross talk] Would he be in favour of such a day?

Spokesman : Look. We will let, the Member States decide in their wisdom what to do. As we've said before, a UN court did rule that there was genocide in Bosnia.

Benny?

Question : Yes, sir. And please don't call me counsellor, because I have another question that may be a little bit... So, you said before that every country has to respect international organizations and you made that comment in reference to the US and the ICC. Does...? [cross talk]

Spokesman : I mean it's in reference to a lot of comments that have been made. [cross talk]

Correspondent : Let me ask you a question, sir.

Spokesman : Yeah.

Question : Judge. Let me ask you the question. International organizations' authority comes from treaties? Is that correct?

Spokesman : Yes. Some do. Yeah.

Question : Yeah. The ICC is based on the Rome treaty.

Spokesman : Right.

Question : Now countries that have not ratified the Rome treaty and, therefore, are not members of the ICC, do they have an obligation, in your view, to respect that specific international organization? [cross talk]

Spokesman : My comment, as it was framed and phrased, stands.

Jordan?

Question : Thank you. Finally, this is two tiny questions. Okay. One, if you know who is the highest UN official in Iran?

Spokesman : The Resident Coordinator.

Question : Second question on, Ms. Sigrid Kaag, is she in any way in charge, or does she have any staff in Gaza currently working with...? [cross talk]

Spokesman : I mean, she has a role to play in Gaza because her role is senior.

Question : Staff. Staff? [cross talk]

Spokesman : I don't know where every one of her staff members is at this point.

Question : What is the relationship between your office and her communication officer? Because that's like the... [cross talk]

Spokesman : What exactly does that mean?

Question : That's like... the... like, OCHA sends you like daily, WFP. Does, like, Ms. Sigrid Kaag office send you updates on what's happening in Gaza? Since she's in charge?

Spokesman : I'm not sure where you're going with that question. I have... the beauty of this job is I get to call whoever I want and ask him whatever I want. Sometimes they tell me what's going on. Sometimes they don't. And when they tell me what's going on, I share it with you most of the time.

Question : You and... when the last time you spoke to the office of Ms. Kaag?

Spokesman : You know, and as much as I would like to be as transparent with you, my call logs and my WhatsApp logs, my signal logs, my SMS logs, my Facebook Messenger logs, my Twitter messages logs, will not be shared.

On that note, bon appetit.

Question : Stephane?

Spokesman : Go ahead. Go ahead.

Question : Briefly, unless you answered this in the last seven minutes, can you state what is happening in Haiti? Is the Kenyan Commander meeting with the Deputy Special Rep there today?

Spokesman : The short answer on that question, I do not know, and I think your colleagues need to try to reach out to our mission there.

Correspondent : All right. Thank you. Have a nice lunch.

Spokesman : Thank you.

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We Must Go Above, Beyond Compliance, Fully Protect Civilians against 'Harms They Are Suffering on Our Watch', Senior Humanitarian Official Tells Security Council

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9632nd Meeting (AM & PM)

SC/15702

21 May 2024

Amid ongoing armed conflicts across the globe that killed at least 33,000 civilians in 2023, the international community must not only ensure compliance with international law but "full" protection for civilians, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today during its annual open debate on the matter.

"The situation of civilians in armed conflict in 2023 was resoundingly dire," said Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator. Citing conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Sahel, Somalia, Syria and Ukraine, she reported that in total, the United Nations alone recorded more than 33,000 civilian deaths in armed conflict in 2023, up by 72 per cent from 2022.

Pointing to incidents of violence against medical workers, facilities, equipment, transport and patients; the record-breaking displacement of 110 million people globally due to conflict and human rights violations; and staggeringly high levels of hunger driven by conflict, she said: "The harm and suffering caused to civilians in 2023 signals an alarming lack of compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law."

The Council and Member States must demand and ensure compliance with the comprehensive protection framework in place. "And, if it is to have any real meaning for the millions of civilians affected by conflict, it is time to go above and beyond compliance: to strive for the full protection of civilians against the full range of harms they are suffering on our watch," she emphasized.

Alice Wairimu Nderitu, Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, voicing alarm about what is happening in Sudan, warned: "The situation today bears all the marks of risk of genocide, with strong allegations that this crime has already been committed." Civilian populations are targeted on the basis of their identity in Darfur and civilians are being attacked and killed because of the colour of their skin and ethnicity.

Pointing to the global community's "insufficient reaction", she stressed: "Only warring parties can stop the fighting, but the international community remains responsible to take action to protect the Sudanese people from genocide... The protection of civilians in Sudan cannot wait."

Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), underscored that the responsibility for protecting people affected by armed conflict lies with political leaders and military strategists, who can decide on the trajectory of war. Nonetheless, States must interpret and apply international humanitarian law to genuinely strengthen the protection of civilians on the ground and Council members have a special responsibility to do the same, she said, stating: "People caught in armed conflict need actions, not words."

Also briefing the Council was Hichem Khadhraoui, Executive Director of the Center for Civilians in Conflict, who said civilians, because of the "massive death toll" among humanitarian workers in 2023, are denied access to the most basic services. To advance the protection of civilians, every Member State must endorse  and fully implement  the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.

In the ensuing debate, which is scheduled to resume on 22 May, over 60 delegates reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the protection of civilians in armed conflict. They also voiced regret, however, that this year, which marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Geneva Conventions and the twenty-fifth anniversary of resolution 1265 (1999), which introduced the protection of civilians as an item on the Council's agenda, bears witness to warring parties' selective application of international law, and the multidimensional impact on civilians who are being killed and maimed on an alarming scale.

Thomas Gurber, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, noted that its proposed draft resolution, which is currently being negotiated and will soon be open for co-sponsorship, demands the rapid, safe and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance, and the protection of those committed to the protection of civilians. The international community must better prevent international violations and systematically use the early warning instruments at its disposal, for example in relation to famine, he said.

On that note, the Russian Federation's representative said the situation of hunger in Gaza is mentioned in one paragraph and is not addressed by its recommendations, as if the famine in Gaza were just another episode among many armed conflicts. Information pertaining to the situation in Ukraine is "yet another sad example of double standards", he said, noting that the Secretary-General forgot to state that the "special military operation" was started as a response to the years of shelling and bombing in Donbas.

China's representative, in a similar vein, said humanitarian assistance must not be politicized and basic goods such as food and medicine must not be weaponized. He urged the Council to continue to uphold and ensure the universal and consistent application of international humanitarian law.

Among delegations who underscored the role of peacekeeping operations was Sierra Leone's delegate who recalled Council resolution 1270 (1999), which authorized the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), and which was adopted with the first protection of civilians mandate. Highlighting the importance of early engagement among key stakeholders, he said the success in addressing the international humanitarian and human rights law violations was largely due to a common understanding and acceptance of the mandate and scope of operations by the Government of Sierra Leone, the UN Security Council, regional interlocutors and the Mission's leadership.

Rwanda's delegate, however, pointed to an increase in intimidation of civilians, increased political manipulation and, in many cases, calls for "extermination of targeted segments of communities in areas where UN peacekeeping missions are deployed". The Kigali Principles on the protection of civilians "reflect Rwanda's hope to right the wrongs of global security mechanisms by putting civilians trapped in violence first", he said.

Several delegations spotlighted the ways in which they are advancing the protection of civilians. The United Kingdom's representative said his country is supporting peacekeepers with training on preventing conflict-related sexual violence, increasing the participation of women in uniformed roles and helping to address misinformation and disinformation about peacekeeping missions.

Cuba's representative was among speakers who drew attention to the situation in conflict-affected States. Citing the United States' repeated obstruction of the Council's action, he proposed the consideration of an urgent dispatch of a General Assembly-authorized international protection mission to Gaza with a mandate to protect the civilian population and facilitate the delivery of emergency humanitarian aid, including water and food.

The representative of Morocco, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect, pointed out that the international community, through the United Nations, also has the responsibility to use appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means to protect civilian populations. Meanwhile, States must put in place appropriate legislative arrangements to comprehensively address violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

The representative of Norway, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, underscored that "more than ever, we as a global community must defend, protect and galvanize support for international humanitarian law". Effective protection of civilians and civilian objects must be made "a strategic priority" in the planning and conduct of military operations, she emphasized.

The representative of Denmark, speaking also for Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, said that harm inflicted upon civilians when hospitals are bombed or electricity infrastructure destroyed should not be written off as "mere unintended consequences of war". She therefore welcomed initiatives that give a more nuanced understanding of how patterns and types of harm affect different groups. "Humanitarian law and human rights law apply for everyone, everywhere  whether in the streets of Sudan or Gaza, the suburbs of Kharkiv or in cyberspace," she said.

PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT

Briefings

ALICE WAIRIMU NDERITU, Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide , noted that, unlike other similarly important mandates such as sexual violence in conflict and children in armed conflict, which report annually through the Secretary-General to the Security Council, no such annual reporting has been established for the prevention-of-genocide mandate. Urging the Council to periodically extend invitations for that mandate to present its concerns, she stressed: "Protection of civilians is at the core of my mandate." "Genocide does not happen overnight. Genocide is part of a process that is well-planned, prepared and followed through," she pointed out, raising her unequivocal alarm about the situation in Sudan.

"The situation today bears all the marks of risk of genocide, with strong allegations that this crime has already been committed," she said. Civilian populations are targeted on basis of their identity in Darfur and El Fasher and civilians are being attacked and killed because of the colour of their skin and their ethnicity. Citing her statements of concern in the last 20 months about the situation in the country, she recalled that on 15 April, the one-year anniversary of the Sudan crisis, she reiterated concerns about prevailing signs of genocide in Sudan. Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, alarms have been relentlessly raised of systematic and indiscriminate attacks against innocent civilians in Khartoum and Darfur, among others. During her visit to Chad, in October 2023, refugees from the West Darfur region recounted the vicious violence to which they are subjected and alluded to elements which could indicate an explicit intent to destroy their ethnic group, she said.

Further detailing the situation on the ground, she cited the bombing of medical facilities and transportation, deliberate limiting of access to water and electricity, the use of derogatory language, and sexual and gender-based violence. Ethnically motivated attacks against the Masalit have reportedly been conducted primarily by the Rapid Support Forces and allied and Arab militias. The unannounced nature of their attacks could constitute clear intent to destroy, she said, warning that explicit calls to a religious war by the leader of the Rapid Support Forces can go in the same direction. "Sudan is today the world's largest displacement crisis with almost 9 million people displaced," she underscored. Noting that the main parties to the conflict  the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces  continue to show disregard for international human rights law and international humanitarian law, she said the focus is on military victory rather than the protection of civilians.

Recalling the termination of the United Nations Integrated Transitional Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) in December 2023, she said her account of the dire situation in the country is not just a descriptive list of what is happening there, but a list of the risk factors and indicators for the crime of genocide. Citing the "insufficient reaction by the global community", she stressed that all must urgently protect the innocent civilian population in El Fasher and the entire territory of Sudan. Ethnically motivated violence must be stopped and the population's access to humanitarian assistance ensured. She reiterated her calls on the Council, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to continue considering all available tools within their respective peace and security architectures to urgently protect civilian populations and to create a conducive environment for the peaceful and durable solution of the conflict. She also encouraged the ongoing efforts of the League of Arab States (LAS) to persevere to that end.

"Only warring parties can stop the fighting, but the international community remains responsible to take action to protect the Sudanese people from genocide," she stressed. "The protection of civilians in Sudan cannot wait. The risk of genocide exists in Sudan. It is real and it is growing every single day," she warned.

JOYCE MSUYA, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator , briefed the Council on the Secretary-General's latest report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (document S/2024/385), recalling that 2024 marks 25 years since the 15-member organ added this topic to its agenda. It is also the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, a cornerstone of international humanitarian law aimed at protecting victims of armed conflict. "The situation of civilians in armed conflict in 2023 was resoundingly dire," she said, citing conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Sahel, Somalia, Syria and Ukraine. In total, the United Nations alone recorded more than 33,000 civilian deaths in armed conflict in 2023, up 72 per cent from 2022.

Across 21 conflicts, she noted, more than 2,300 incidents of violence and other forms of interference against medical workers, facilities, equipment, transport and patients were recorded. "Forced displacement also remained a defining feature of armed conflicts," she observed, adding that by mid-year, a record-breaking 110 million people globally were displaced due to conflict, persecution, violence and human rights violations or abuses. Conflict was also the major driver of staggeringly high levels of hunger, with 117 million people across 19 conflict-affected countries or territories experiencing crisis levels of acute food insecurity or even higher. In 14 conflicts in 2023, not counting the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 91 humanitarian workers were tragically killed, 120 wounded and 53 abducted. In Gaza alone, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) lost 142 staff members in the violence between October and December. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and World Health Organization (WHO) each lost a staff member.

"The harm and suffering caused to civilians in 2023 signals an alarming lack of compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law," she warned, pointing out that the Council's protection of civilians resolutions of the last 25 years remain largely unheeded. She then underscored the need to complement existing measures by adopting a more holistic approach. In that regard, she urged all States to endorse and implement the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas and the 2015 Safe Schools Declaration. Despite a culture of protection having root in the past 25 years and a comprehensive protection framework now in place, "civilians continue to suffer unacceptable harm", she said. The Council and Member States must demand and ensure compliance. "And, if it is to have any real meaning for the millions of civilians affected by conflict, it is time to go above and beyond compliance: to strive for the full protection of civilians against the full range of harms they are suffering on our watch," she emphasized.

MIRJANA SPOLJARIC EGGER, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said that today, there are 120 conflicts recorded by her organization. Over the past 25 years, civilians have been attacked, displaced, violated, wounded or killed by the most reprehensible means. In parallel, there are more and more conflicts where humanitarian action is prevented. Neutral and impartial providers of humanitarian assistance and protection  such as the ICRC  are regularly pressured to pursue political or military objectives. In this regard, the Geneva Conventions represent the strongest universal consensus on the need to preserve humanity in war. Drawing the Council's attention to two issues that are critical to building trust among warring parties  the protection of persons deprived of liberty and those who are at risk of going missing as well as compliance with international humanitarian law  she urged States to take concrete action to protect all people affected by armed conflicts.

Through the Geneva Conventions, States have given the ICRC a unique mandate that enables it to play an effective monitoring role focused on ensuring that persons detained are treated humanely. Through ICRC's visits with clearly defined modalities and confidential bilateral dialogue with detaining authorities, the organization can bring a critical layer of protection in places of detention. However, she expressed concern that the dehumanization of persons deprived of liberty is so prevalent, with many subjected to inhumane treatment and torture and poor detention conditions. "When I see our humanitarian access being challenged, our working modalities questioned, and when I read accounts of ill-treatment and torture, I must reassert the ICRC's special role and experience to support States to respect the law and preserve humanity in places of detention," she asserted.

Turning to missing persons, she observed that when people are detained without being registered and prevented from communicating with their families, administrative or enforced disappearances are likely to increase. Large numbers of people are at significant risk of disappearing as human remains are left in the rubble or abandoned on the battlefield; as they are buried in mass graves or left in overcrowded morgues not identified and documented; as they are taken hostage and used as bargaining chips. She underscored that amidst hostilities, States must ensure that human remains are recovered, identified and returned to their families in a timely and dignified manner and that persons detained are systematically accounted for and their families informed.

Further, she stressed that States must interpret and apply international humanitarian law to genuinely strengthen the protection of civilians on the ground. "When civilian lives are stripped of their worth and important norms that protect civilians are implicitly reduced to mere optional guidance [...] then, we lose the proper balance between the military necessity and the humanitarian imperative," she said. As a result, restraints in the conduct of hostilities  and ultimately humanity  disappear. However, "international humanitarian law is not a tool to justify death, endless suffering and devastation," she asserted, noting that its central purpose  to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being even during wars  must be defended. The responsibility for protecting people affected by armed conflict lies with political leaders and military strategists, who can decide on the trajectory of war. Also, Security Council members have a special responsibility to interpret international humanitarian law in a way that genuinely strengthens the protection of civilians on the ground, she said, stating: "People caught in armed conflict need actions, not words."

HICHEM KHADHRAOUI, Executive Director of the Center for Civilians in Conflict , recalled a Yemeni woman's words, said about living in close proximity to military bases: "We know anything may happen anytime, and we live with this reality and fear on a daily basis." Emphasizing that "this mother is far from alone in this fear", he said that  as wars grow longer and deadlier  civilians are constantly targeted by armed actors "with no safe place to go". While the protection of civilians "came into being at the UN" 25 years ago as a promising international tool to reduce the suffering caused by armed conflict, he pointed out that, today, civilians face higher risks than ever. State and non-State actors target civilians, civilian casualties are sometimes referred to as the "acceptable collateral damage" of war and technology and disinformation are being weaponized to directly cause harm and fuel conflict, he noted.

He went on to spotlight the "massive death toll" among humanitarian workers in 2023. "They become targets, we become targets  or 'collateral damage'," he said. As a result, civilians are denied access to the most basic services, and he underscored that "targeting humanitarian workers is attacking humanity". Further, civilian deaths caused by explosive weapons increased by 122 per cent in 2023. "States still use cluster munitions despite their well-known devastating effects on civilians," he said, adding that schools, hospitals, water and sanitation facilities continue to be targeted  "leaving entire areas uninhabitable and driving massive displacement". He also expressed concern over the "privatization of war"  where States outsource security to private military companies, sometimes escaping accountability for harm to civilians  as well as the over $2.4 trillion of global military expenditure in 2023.

"But I believe there is still hope," he stressed, noting that courageous civilians and communities are finding ways to survive amidst massive human suffering, that humanitarian workers and peacekeepers make tremendous sacrifices to protect civilians where they can and that brave national leaders and forward-looking Member States are prioritizing civilian protection. He then proposed three actions to advance the protection of civilians. First, every Member State must endorse  and fully implement  the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. Second, Member States must immediately end the supply of weapons to partners where there is an overriding risk of facilitating violations of international humanitarian law. Third, each State must develop a national policy on this issue, together with civil society and communities. "There's ample reason and opportunity to profoundly alter our approach," he urged.

Statements

THOMAS GURBER, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland , said that, to protect civilians, the international community must unequivocally call on all parties to conflicts to strictly respect international humanitarian law, everywhere and in all circumstances, even in the absence of reciprocity. He noted that Switzerland's proposed draft resolution, which is currently being negotiated and will soon be open for co-sponsorship, demands the rapid, safe and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance, and the protection of those committed to the protection of civilians. International humanitarian law must also be strengthened through the ratification and implementation of all relevant conventions, particularly the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions. Justice for victims of violations of international humanitarian law must be ensured, he added, calling on all States to recognize and support the International Criminal Court. Further, the international community must better prevent international violations and systematically use the early warning instruments at its disposal, for example in relation to famine.

The representative of the Russian Federation pointed out that the Secretary-General's report mentions the situation of hunger in Gaza in one paragraph. Nor do the recommendations of the report address this paragraph, as if the famine in Gaza were just another episode among many armed conflicts. "A one-sided approach is also used in other parts of the report," he said, noting that "for some reason" the report does not mention that a part of Syrian territory is under the occupation of the United States and this occupation is a source of instability and civilian deaths. Information pertaining to the situation in Ukraine is "yet another sad example of double standards", he said, noting that the Secretary-General forgot to state that the special military operation was started as a response to the years of shelling and bombing in Donbas. He proposed analyzing the role of terrorist and extremist groups in fueling and prolonging conflicts, as "poor attempts by Western countries, in particular France, to counter terrorism in Africa have led to armed conflict". The report does, although ambiguously, focus on the negative impact of unilateral, coercive measures on humanitarian action in armed conflict. This is an important point that requires further development, he said.

The representative of the United Kingdom , noting a 72 per cent increase in civilian deaths in armed conflict from 2022 to 2023, voiced concern over escalating violence in El Fasher, Sudan, the deaths of civilians in Israel and Gaza, and the shocking levels of conflict-related sexual violence in the central Sahel and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. "We should reverse these trends by taking a comprehensive approach to protection," he stressed, adding that warring parties must fully comply with international humanitarian law. Accordingly, he urged States to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. Also, States must take practical steps to improve international humanitarian law implementation, which will enhance protection. For its part, London is supporting peacekeepers with training on preventing conflict-related sexual violence, increasing the participation of women in uniformed roles, and helping to address misinformation and disinformation about peacekeeping missions.

The representative of France expressed alarm over increased and exacerbated humanitarian crises in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti, Yemen and Syria. Deliberate attacks against civilian infrastructure, the use of famine as a weapon of war and the creation of obstacles to aid delivery flagrantly violate international law. She also expressed concern over "unprecedented" attacks against humanitarian personnel, underscoring that safety and freedom of movement for "these key stakeholders" must be guaranteed. She also underlined her country's commitment to a two-State solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict, condemned the Russian Federation's ongoing aggression against Ukraine and underlined the need to combat impunity. Urging all Member States to join the "Call for Humanitarian Action" started by France and Germany in 2019, she stated: "The protection of civilians cannot be a vain hope." She therefore called on all Council members to bring an end to the suffering of civilians in areas of armed conflict.

The representative of Sierra Leone said that, to strengthen the protection of civilians, peacekeeping missions must function as political tools within the wider context of conflict resolution processes. They must be established based on valid and reliable analyses of the situations on the ground and operate on well-articulated mandates with clear terms of references guiding their operations. Further, the Council must authorize missions with the necessary agility, flexibility, and with the required resources to respond to rapidly changing dynamics. He highlighted the importance of early engagement with key stakeholders, including host countries, regional organizations, and other interlocutors, from the very early stages of the development and authorization of mandates to deployment and operationalization for peacekeeping missions, and peace support operations. Recalling Council resolution 1270 (1999), which authorized the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and which was adopted with the first protection of civilians mandate, he said the success in addressing the appalling catalogue of international humanitarian and human rights law violations was largely due to a common understanding and acceptance of the mandate and scope of operations by the Government of Sierra Leone, the UN Security Council, regional interlocutors and the Mission's leadership.

The representative of Slovenia said that the latest Secretary-General's report is "a call to do more", as armed conflicts are changing and growing in scale. Seven out of 10 recorded civilian deaths occurred in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel. Operations in Rafah pose a new disastrous risk to civilians. After a year of armed conflict, Sudan faces the world's worst displacement crisis and is on the verge of famine. Ukraine has become one of the most mine-infested countries and it would take decades to make it mine-safe again for civilians. "As the world continues to urbanize, so do armed conflicts," he said, underscoring the devastating consequences of conflict on civilian life, infrastructure, services and cultural property. Armed conflicts are also leaving millions of civilians without safe water. Slovenia intends to join others in launching a Global Alliance to Spare Water from Armed Conflicts later this week.

The representative of Japan said that the current trend of eroding the principles of international humanitarian law is "disheartening". Calling on States to respect and protect humanitarian personnel and UN personnel, she commended Switzerland's leadership in drafting the resolution on that matter. Further, she reiterated her country's commitment to ensuring the dignity of all persons  especially women and girls  in armed conflict. Turning to landmines, cluster munitions and explosive remnants of war, which are posing grave danger to civilians, including children, she said that, in 2023, Japan provided a total of approximately $67 million in mine assistance, distributed across 20 countries worldwide. Further, she emphasized the importance of protecting medical personnel and facilities and ensuring their safe passage in conflict zones.

The representative of Malta observed that today, just as in 1999, "civilians are not just victims of war  they are regarded as instruments of war." She added: "Neither sex nor age serve as a defence." Resolution 1265 (1999) emerged from one of the darkest periods in recent history, with the international community reeling from the horrors of genocide, such as that in Rwanda, and severe humanitarian crises, such as those in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Angola and Timor-Leste. While its adoption signalled "a commitment to our shared humanity", she noted that  regrettably  this commitment waned over the past 25 years. Stating that the "hard lessons" learned from past genocides underscore the vital role of accountability, she stressed: "Without it, our resolutions are merely words." She therefore urged that words be translated into action, commending Switzerland's drafting of a new resolution on this topic and expressing hope for its adoption.

The representative of Guyana said the road to implementation of resolution 1265 (1999) is fraught with obstacles, including the rise of non-State actors, misinformation and disinformation as a tool of war and the use of asymmetric warfare tactics. The lack of its implementation could also be attributed to the increasingly relative approach taken by some actors in the interpretation of international humanitarian law, she added, stressing: "The subjective application of international humanitarian law is self-serving and deviates from the objective for which this body of law was developed." Allowing the indiscriminate use of force, targeting of non-combatants and destruction of essential infrastructure to take place is an affront to the dignity of the human being, she underscored, urging that the interpretation and application of international humanitarian law prioritize the safety and dignity of civilians.

The representative of Ecuador expressed support for Switzerland's proposal to bolster the protection of humanitarian workers. Acknowledging the tools the Council has developed to protect civilians, he said that this progress, however, should not veil the brutal reality of conflict and its increasingly devastating consequences for civilians. Perpetrators of crimes against the civilian population must know that they will be held accountable before the law, he declared, stressing the importance of international justice mechanisms, particularly the role of the International Criminal Court. Quito supports a vision based on prevention and early warning for the protection of civilian mandates. This requires cooperation among military, police and civilian components, and adequate financing. With the adoption of resolution 1265 (1999), this Council assumed a commitment to protect civilians in armed conflict. "This commitment cannot be simply a dead letter," he stressed.

The representative of the Republic of Korea said that the world is facing the highest number of violent conflicts since the Second World War, with a quarter of humanity now living in places affected by conflicts. Emphasizing that States bear the primary responsibility for protecting civilians, he urged the Council to promote national accountability mechanisms, policies and institutions to that end. Further, the Council must enhance accountability for perpetrators of crimes against civilians by using sanction regimes and the International Criminal Court. The Council can also refer situations to the Court when crimes against humanity and war crimes appear to have been committed, he observed, urging Council members to "refrain from politicizing the narrative around the Court" and, instead, empower it to fulfil its role. Noting that humanitarian projects face significant funding gaps, he stressed the need to increase humanitarian assistance.

The representative of the United States highlighted the centrality of civilian protection to the mandates and work of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The international community is currently grappling with how to "develop new tools to deal with this age-old challenge" in Haiti and Sudan, and he recalled that the Council came together to authorize the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, which may deploy soon. He also recalled that, 20 years ago, the UN and African Union came together to protect civilians through the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). Now, horrific violence again requires the international community to consider the tools it can use to ensure that civilians in Darfur are protected today, he stressed, underlining the "centrality of this work to the institution of the United Nations".

The representative of China said the Council must urgently facilitate an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza and urge Israel to immediately stop its collective punishment of the Palestinian people and to stop advancing its military attacks on Rafah. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must never be the target of military operations. Humanitarian assistance must not be politicized and basic goods such as food and medicine must not be weaponized, he added, urging the Council to continue to uphold and ensure the universal and consistent application of international humanitarian law. Double standards and selective application of international humanitarian law are tantamount to condoning more violations, he emphasized. Noting the steady flow of illicit weapons leading to rampant gang violence in Haiti, relevant countries should strictly implement the arms embargo imposed by the Council on Haiti and shoulder their responsibility for stabilizing the security situation there and guarantee the safety and security of its people.

The representative of Algeria said that the Secretary-General's report lays bare the alarming reality civilians in armed conflict are facing. Although the legal framework, including the Geneva Conventions and Council resolution 1265 (1999), is universally acknowledged, "we bear witness to how the occupying Power in the Occupied Palestinian Territory bends it and flouts it with impunity." The situation in Gaza raises the fundamental question of the raison d'etre of the rule of law if it cannot protect the most sacred of existences  the lives of civilians, he insisted. In the absence of a deterrent mechanism, he asked how the international community can ensure that all warring parties adhere to international humanitarian and human rights law. He then stressed the importance of adopting a mechanism through which the Council is automatically notified of any flagrant and documented violation of international humanitarian law. However, he added that all proposals remain partial solutions unless the root causes are addressed.

The representative of Mozambique , Council President for May, speaking in his national capacity, said it is disheartening that thousands of civilians are caught defenceless in different armed conflicts worldwide. "Today's debate is about man-made human tragedies," he stated, adding that "behind every number of death or wounded person lies a trail of hardship, sorrow and bereavement, that leaves in its wake lifelong traumas and uphill of struggle to recover and overcome the painful present." He emphasized that the indiscriminate or targeted killings of civilians, the taking of hostages, and the use of hunger and rape as weapons of war fall into "a forbidden domain of acceptable human behaviour". The devastation in Gaza, Israel, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria and Ukraine have been particularly severe, he observed, adding that "the best way to protect civilians in armed conflict is by bringing these conflicts to an end".

The representative of Croatia , associating himself with the European Union, the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect and the Global Alliance for the Missing,noted "concrete" upcomingopportunities to mainstream prevention and protection. These include discussions on the "Pact for the Future"  which should result in a document that gives great importance to these two concepts  as well as the 2025 review of the peacebuilding architecture, which should further improve the UN's work in this area. Additionally, the Council can improve its cooperation with other bodies, including the Peacebuilding Commission and the Economic and Social Council. "We can strive to also utilize the concept of R2P [responsibility to protect] better, in a more effective and non-controversial way," he said. Also noting that Croatia will chair the Economic and Social Council's humanitarian affairs segment in June, he said this will focus on strengthening humanitarian assistance and respect for international humanitarian law.

The representative of Luxembourg , associating herself with the European Union, the Group of Friends of the Protection of Civilians and the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect, noted that preserving the humanitarian space has become an insurmountable challenge and what is lacking is not rules but a resolve to implement them. "We must do all we can to ensure that perpetrators of international humanitarian law are held to account for their actions and for justice to be brought to victims and survivors," she stressed. She underscored the key role of the International Criminal Court as a jurisdiction of last resort and condemned any threat or act of intimidation or reprisal against the Court, its Prosecutor and all its staff. She welcomed Switzerland's resolution on the protection of humanitarian workers and voiced hope that the Council will be able to adopt it this week unanimously.

The representative of Greece expressed regret over the "sobering" findings of the latest Secretary-General's report. A particularly vulnerable category of civilians are journalists. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 71 such workers were killed in 2023. His country and France initiated the adoption of Council resolution 1738 (2006), which outrightly condemns attacks against journalists in conflict situations. Since then, Greece remains committed to the protection of journalists, also by facilitating the biennial General Assembly resolution on the "Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity". While humanitarian assistance is essential, peace will always be the solution to civilian suffering. He pledged that if elected to a non-permanent Council seat for the 2025-2026 term, Greece will engage constructively to promote the protection of civilians' agenda.

The representative of Egypt drew attention to the suffering of the Palestinian people amid Israel's continued violations of the rules of international law. The conflict has cost the lives of over 34,000 people, mostly women and children. Due to Israel's illegal aggression in Gaza, most of the hospitals there are now unusable, he observed, noting the disastrous effects of such destruction of vital infrastructure on defenceless civilians. Against this backdrop, he called for a ceasefire, noting that the Geneva Conventions prohibit inflicting such suffering on civilians. He underscored the need to guarantee stability in the region and hold Israel accountable, reiterating his country's firm position of preventing forced displacement of Palestinians.

The representative of Turkiye expressed concern over the "erosion" of respect for international humanitarian law, the deliberate targeting of aid workers and civilian infrastructure and the obstruction of humanitarian assistance. Underscoring that abandoning international law in Gaza "will only bring more instability, more conflict and more suffering", she said that the international community demands an immediate ceasefire; the protection of civilians and the infrastructure on which they depend; and the unhindered delivery of aid into the Strip. Turning to Syria, where civilians continue to suffer from protracted crisis, she said that Turkiye has provided shelter to millions of Syrians fleeing the country and continues to support UN cross-border aid operations. She also spotlighted the suffering in Sudan and Ukraine, stressing that diplomacy is key to efforts to protect civilians and spotlighting the "Mediation for Peace" initiative launched by her country and Finland at the UN.

The representative of Jordan , noting the ongoing erosion in compliance with international humanitarian law, pointed to attempts in the past century to reinterpret or modify its rules and weaken the protection of civilians. These attempts give a green light to the aggressor and guarantee their impunity, he said, underscoring the international community's duty to counter those attempts. The number of martyrs, women and children in Gaza due to the Israeli occupation army's barbaric war against Palestinian civilians has exceeded the number of victims of all conflicts and wars in the last year combined, he emphasized, lamenting the failure of the international community and the Council to impose a permanent ceasefire, protect defenseless civilians and allow the sustainable entry of basic humanitarian aid to all parts of Gaza. He urged the Council and all Member States to ensure the effective implementation of international law and the Council resolution on the protection of civilians.

The representative of Chile highlighted the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their additional protocols as "the cornerstone" in protecting the civilian population. She however expressed regret that these instruments are not respected, urging Member States to incorporate the protection of civilians into national legislation. "States cannot remain indifferent to their obligation to protect the integrity, well-being and dignity of civilians, particularly vulnerable and defenceless groups," she said. On peacekeeping operations, she underscored the need for blue helmets to be properly trained to fulfil their mandates, as they are constantly called upon to face non-State armed actors seeking to destabilize Governments and attack civilians.

The representative of Germany underscored the need to raise awareness of the suffering of civilians trapped in armed conflict  "the main victims of war". Citing their protection during armed conflict as "a cornerstone of international humanitarian law", she voiced concern over the appalling harm inflicted on countless civilians across the world's conflict zones. Recognizing that the protection of civilians agenda calls for respect for international law with the Charter of the United Nations at its core, she spotlighted the situation in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She further emphasized that the protection of civilians is a matter of international peace and security, noting that increasing attacks on civilians and medical and humanitarian personnel make it impossible to ensure that those most in need can receive life-saving assistance. "Protection of civilians must be at the core of our humanitarian-development nexus efforts," she added.

The representative of the Philippines , noting that the protection of civilians in situations of armed conflict has been embedded in domestic law, spotlighted national legislation governing crimes against international humanitarian law, genocide and other crimes against humanity, as well as a statute relating to the special protection of children in situations of armed conflict. He also stressed that the protection of civilians must be "at the core" of peacekeeping mandates, stating that success in such operations "must be measured by how well we protect civilians and how effectively we ensure the sustainment of environments for peace to flourish". Therefore, expectations regarding protection tasks must be succinct and clear, connected to political strategies in the field and focused on prevention. He added that his country hopes to enhance its participation in this area in 2025 with a projected increase of Filipino peacekeepers on the ground  including highly trained women peacekeepers.

The representative of Liechtenstein , affirming the central role of the ICRC in moving forward the protection of civilians agenda, pointed to concerning trends in the use of artificial intelligence (AI), lethal autonomous weapons and cyberwarfare. Condemning the Russian Federation's ongoing aggression against Ukraine and the attacks by Hamas against Israeli civilians on 7 October, he said the response by the Israeli Government has inflicted yet further civilian suffering. Highlighting the "increasingly prevalent narrative present across the region that aims to blur the distinction between combatants and civilians", he expressed support for the work of the International Criminal Court. Also noting the widespread civilian harm in Sudan, Syria and Myanmar, he stressed the need for enhanced cooperation between the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Peacebuilding Commission.

The representative of Costa Rica said that his country, along with Ireland and Norway, will host the upcoming Conference on the Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas and called for more States to adhere to and implement the related political declaration. Data on the use and impact of those weapons, as well as records of victims disaggregated by age, gender and disability, and information on the types and effects of these deployed munitions in urban areas, must be collected, he said. As mines and other explosive devices also affect the development prospects of affected communities, the fight against mines and other explosive devices must be aligned into peacekeeping mandates. Further, the protection of civilians agenda must be updated to encompass cyber activities affecting the civilian population. Civilian data must enjoy the same protection as all other civilian objects and provide protections against operations that render cyberinfrastructure useless or inhibit its functionality, he added.

The representative of Romania said that protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a moral and strategic imperative for his country. Prevailing disrespect for international humanitarian law by some States and non-State armed groups, alongside pervasive impunity for violations, have become critical challenges. There is no alternative to holding those committing violations accountable. He said that his country places the protection of individuals at the centre of its humanitarian response. Romania has been supporting Ukrainian refugees and will also be sending food supplies in the first European Union aid shipment to Gaza via the maritime corridor.

The representative of Guatemala observed that the increasing number of civilian deaths in armed conflicts reflects their vulnerability and the urgent need to adopt specific measures to protect them. Also, the international community is at a crucial juncture, faced with the challenge to decisively address one of the greatest threats to civilians in armed conflict: the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas or indiscriminate attacks. Behind every statistic are human lives, broken families and entire communities devastated, she said, highlighting the urgency for States to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and for effective measures to be taken to respond to violations of human rights in conflict situations. Also, the security environment of the UN peacekeeping missions is increasingly volatile and requires a readjustment of the Council's mandates, she pointed out.

The representative of Ireland , aligning himself with statements to be delivered by the European Union and the Group of Friends of the Protection of Civilians, said that  while the situation has deteriorated globally in the 25 years since the Council first formally considered this issue  "the development of our toolkit for protecting civilians provides some hope". In this regard, he underlined the importance of the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Further, more must be done to deliver on the potential of resolution 2417 (2018) to reverse conflict-induced food insecurity. He also said that, given the drawdowns of UN peacekeeping and political missions  and the implications for humanitarian access and protection  there is a need to build on resolution 2594 (2021), which relates to peacekeeping transitions. Additionally, States must continue to implement resolution 2664 (2022)  which provides humanitarian exemptions for all UN sanctions regimes  and the Council must extend its application to the counter-terrorism sanctions regime.

The representative of Mexico , noting the 72 per cent increase in the number of deaths of civilians between 2022 and 2023, said the hostilities in Israel and Gaza as well as the conflict in Sudan and the uptick in violence in Haiti have led to devastation and displacement, with women and children most affected. Condemning attacks on humanitarian personnel, he said all parties to the conflicts must facilitate unhindered entry of aid into affected areas. The sanctions imposed by the Council must not affect humanitarian work, he stressed, adding that it is crucial to implement the legal framework for the protection of civilians, including the Geneva Conventions and the compendium of Council resolutions on the matter. "There must be consequences," he underscored, highlighting the French-Mexican initiative on restriction of use of veto in case of mass atrocities.

The representative of Indonesia said that full adherence to international law and international humanitarian law is the cornerstone of civilian protection. All parties to conflict must adopt that principle and adopt robust accountability mechanisms. Further, there must be no double standards in the implementation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. This helps foster trust among parties, including the host countries and the international community, and will lead to the effective protection of civilians. The politicization of humanitarian assistance must stop, and the Council must be firm in supporting safe and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance, while supporting the host country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Greater engagement with local populations by peacekeeping missions, including through soft diplomacy, is important to create effective communications and ensure that the missions can exercise the mandate to protect civilians. "Our discussion today must have real meaning to civilians affected by war," he stressed, urging all stakeholders' concerted efforts to ensure the full protection of civilians.

The representative of Spain said that the United Nations registered at least 33,443 civilian deaths in armed conflict in 2023, a 72 per cent increase from 2022, including two Spanish aid workers who were carrying out humanitarian tasks to help the local population in Ethiopia and Ukraine. "Their deaths and those of so many other humanitarian workers must not remain unpunished," he said, welcoming Switzerland's initiative to table a draft resolution on the protection of humanitarian workers. He then called for compliance with Council resolution 2286 (2016) on protecting hospitals, ambulances and health personnel in conflicts  a resolution his country brought forward. The protection of medical care during armed conflicts has unfortunately become particularly relevant in the current humanitarian contexts in Ukraine and Gaza, he warned.

The representative of Armenia underscored that impunity for past crimes can lead to the most severe violations in the future, the ultimate manifestation of which are genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. She expressed disappointment that the Secretary-General's recent report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict failed to adequately reflect on the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh and the ethnic cleansing of 120,000 people from their ancestral homeland. "The humanitarian catastrophe could have been prevented had the United Nations and this Council acted effectively and resolutely in addressing the starvation of entire population caused by illegal blockade of the transport corridor, the instances of extrajudicial killings, torture and inhuman and degrading treatment of the civilians," she said. Also, she underlined that the release and repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages remains an urgent humanitarian issue.

The representative of Bulgaria , aligning herself with the European Union and the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect, expressed concern "that, when nowhere is safe, the emblems of the United Nations and of the Red Cross can no longer provide protection". Humanitarian workers face not only extreme threats, but also political obstructions. Civilians are killed by explosive weapons, homes and schools are destroyed and hunger is used as a weapon. "The difficult truth is that legal norms and political commitments are largely overlooked and, therefore, undermined by States and non-State actors involved in conflict," she said. To address this, legal, institutional and operational measures to prevent harm should be enacted at the national level that focus on the type and effects of harm that civilians experience in conflict. Such measures should also focus on recourse to redress and on holding perpetrators and States accountable for the violations against civilians, she added.

The representative of Rwanda , stressing that the protection of civilians is best achieved through the prevention of armed conflicts in the first place, urged Member States to address the root causes of conflict, including hate speech, genocidal ideologies and divisive political rhetoric. While the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians lies with host nations, peacekeeping should bridge the gap if those nations lack the will and capabilities for that. "Recently, we have witnessed [an] increase in intimidation of civilians," he said, also noting increased political manipulation and, in many cases, calls for "extermination of targeted segments of communities in areas where UN peacekeeping missions are deployed". This must be condemned, he said, also highlighting the Kigali Principles on the protection of civilians. "Powered by the memory of our past, the principles reflect Rwanda's hope to right the wrongs of global security mechanisms by putting civilians trapped in violence first," he said. Noting that his country is the fourth largest contributor of peacekeeping troops, he said it is imperative to provide uniformed and civilian peacekeeping personnel with the resources to implement the brave work of protection.

The representative of Cuba , citing the United States' repeated obstruction of the Council's action, proposed the consideration of an urgent dispatch of a General Assembly-authorized international protection mission to Gaza with a mandate to protect the civilian population and facilitate the delivery of emergency humanitarian aid, including water and food. The Council must enforce its resolutions to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and to ensure the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and an independent and sovereign State. The State of Palestine's accession to a full UN membership must not be delayed for another minute. The brutal massacre of the Palestinian people must stop, he said, declaring: "Humanity must prevail over barbarism."

The representative of Argentina noted that last year's status of the protection of civilians was bleak, and the use of explosive devices in populated areas exacerbates the risk. Underscoring the value and significance of the Geneva Conventions, he said that prisoners of war, civilians and the injured must be protected under all circumstances and without distinction. Also, the provision of medical assistance must be strengthened, and accountability for perpetrators of atrocities must be ensured. Noting that international humanitarian law remains a tool to investigate serious violations of the Geneva Conventions, he also stressed the critical role of the International Criminal Court in combating impunity. Further, he urged the Council to advocate for a more robust implementation of the existing legal framework.

The representative of Canada said that his country was proud to have worked with its partners to bring this subject before the Council in 1999. While the organ has taken concrete measures to protect civilians since then, he stated that the words of the philosopher Blaise Pascal remain: "Justice without strength is powerless, but strength without justice is tyranny." Adding that it is also "total chaos"  as can be seen in many parts of the world  he said that "war is being waged with blatant disregard for civilian life". Humanitarian access must be urgently improved, and aid cannot be conditioned on political outcomes. Today, the architecture built over the last 25 years to protect civilians in armed conflict is under immense stress. "The weight of this disintegration and this collapse is borne not by us in New York, but by the civilian men, women and children who are living through what can only be called the 'hell' of conflict," he observed.

The representative of Latvia , noting the devastating humanitarian crises in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and other places, stressed that the deliberate targeting of civilians, sexual violence, rape and torture are war crimes. Media play a critical role in the struggle for accountability, she said, adding that journalists often become targets themselves for documenting the devastating human cost of war and giving voice to civilians caught in the crossfire. The international community must steadfastly defend their fundamental right to free and independent reporting. Drawing attention to structural factors that lead to suffering of civilians in conflicts, she highlighted the challenges posed by illicit flows of small arms and light weapons. The upcoming Fourth Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons provides an opportunity to step up efforts in this field, she said.

The representative of Lebanon said that since 8 October, his country has been "the victim of yet another aggression by Israel", an aggression that has targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure. Israel has killed more than 80 of his country's civilians, including 26 women, 14 children, 18 health workers and three journalists. It has injured more than 1,000 civilians and displaced more than 93,000 civilians. According to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), an Israeli tank killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah in October 2023 by firing at a group of "clearly identifiable journalists" in violation of international law. "These are just a few examples of the magnitude of the crimes being committed by Israel against us on a daily basis," he said, asking how many more lives should be lost before these atrocities stop. His country remains committed to fully implementing Council resolution 1701 (2006). "We come here, once again, to stress that Lebanon does not wish confrontation, does not seek escalation and does not want war," he said.

HEDDA SAMSON, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union , underscored that "to prevent suffering from conflict, we must prevent conflicts". When prevention fails, strict and full compliance with international humanitarian law is non-negotiable, she asserted, adding that parties to armed conflict must adhere to it in their choice of methods of warfare and consider the direct and indirect civilian and environmental impacts. Voicing deep concern over the use and humanitarian consequences of explosive weapons in populated areas, she welcomed the continued work on the Political Declaration on this topic. She also emphasized the need to implement the responsibility to protect populations from mass atrocity crimes.

Climate change can cause displacement and food insecurity and exacerbate conflicts, she observed, noting the bloc's commitment to protection through resilience-building. This includes investing in disaster risk reduction measures, strengthening early warning systems and scaling up anticipatory and early action, she continued. To alleviate suffering, all parties to conflict  and all States concerned  must allow and facilitate rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, she said, stressing that international humanitarian law prohibits depriving civilians of supplies essential to their survival and the targeting of humanitarian and medical workers. Accordingly, she called for increased contributions from the private sector and international financial institutions. Also, the decisions of international courts and tribunals must be respected and implemented, with a particular emphasis on placing the victims and survivors at the centre of judicial action.

The representative of Qatar , aligning herself with the Arab Group, pointed out that the Israeli occupation continues its aggression against unarmed civilians in the Gaza Strip, using policies of forced displacement, starvation and collective punishment as well as targeting humanitarian relief and medical workers. She also condemned the bombardment of Rafah  as well as the threat of forcibly displacing people from their shelters and homes  and called on the international community to "prevent the offensive against this city" and the commission of genocide. She also called on the Council to shoulder its responsibility and ensure implementation of its resolutions  particularly 2712 (2023), 2720 (2023) and 2728 (2024). For its part, Qatar will continue its mediation efforts in cooperation with Egypt and the United States, which succeeded in freeing dozens of prisoners and detainees on both sides and allowing access for relief convoys in November 2023, thereby contributing to the protection of civilians.

The representative of Belgium , noting the chilling increase of civilian deaths among women and children, expressed solidarity with the families of victims. "Gaza has become the symbol of what is at stake" in the discussion on protection of civilians, he said, noting the intensification of the Israeli military offensive despite Council resolutions. Also noting the escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he said the war in Ukraine continues to have disastrous consequences for its population. There are too many other examples of places where civilians are in danger, he said, adding that the international community must redouble efforts to hold perpetrators accountable. The participation of women in protection mechanisms is crucial, he said.

The representative of Denmark , speaking also for Finland , Iceland , Norway and Sweden , echoed the Secretary-General's call for an urgent recommitment to international humanitarian law and the UN Charter. The adaption of military manuals; civilian harm mitigation policies; weapons reviews; and measures that facilitate and allow safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access during conflict are all important ways to further compliance with those instruments. Effective protection of civilians and civilian objects must be made a strategic priority in the planning and conduct of military operations. The harm inflicted upon civilians when hospitals are bombed or electricity infrastructure destroyed should not be written off as "mere unintended consequences of war". She therefore welcomed initiatives that give a more nuanced understanding of how patterns and types of harm affect different groups. Today is an important opportunity to reaffirm and strengthen collective commitment to the basic principles of international law. "Humanitarian law and human rights law apply for everyone, everywhere  whether in the streets of Sudan or Gaza, the suburbs of Kharkiv or in cyberspace," she said.

The representative of Portugal , aligning herself with the European Union and the Group of Friends of Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts, observed that conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, the Sahel, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine and Gaza have cast a deep shadow on the international community's ability to ensure respect for international humanitarian law. "From conflict-induced hunger to attacks on humanitarian workers, from explosive weapons in populated areas to conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, civilian lives keep being severely harmed," she said. While full responsibility and accountability of States and parties to conflicts must remain paramount, she urged for more robust accountability mechanisms. "We need practical and meaningful actions to prevent violations and abuses of international humanitarian law, and to address impunity whenever such violations and abuses occur," she said, citing the forthcoming Pact of the Future as "an excellent opportunity" to recommit to the protection of civilians.

The representative of South Africa said that the selective application of international law  "the hypocrisy and the double standards displayed by some Member States"  has resulted in prolonged conflict and civilian suffering. Asking whether lives in some parts of the world are worth more than others, he answered: "By actions and words  or, rather, inaction and silence in some cases  it appears so." The utter disregard for international law in Gaza cannot go unchallenged, and it is within this context that South Africa again approached the International Court of Justice on 16 May, amidst the intensified crisis in Rafah and a humanitarian crisis beyond measure. It did so to seek urgent provisional measures, in addition to those granted in January and March that Israel has ignored. "Let us be clear today," he stressed, "if we are serious about the protection of civilians, no one should be above the law".

The representative of Morocco , speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect , said that while each State has the responsibility to protect its population from genocide, war crimes and ethnic cleansing, the international community, through the United Nations, also has the responsibility to use appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means to protect civilian populations. Stressing that all parties to conflicts are obliged to respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law, he said States must put in place appropriate legislative arrangements to comprehensively address such violations. The humanitarian system is "overwhelmed, overstretched and critically underfunded," he observed, calling on States to urgently respond to the Organization's humanitarian appeals. Also drawing attention to the French-Mexican initiative on the suspension of the use of veto in cases of mass atrocities, he said the shortest way to protect civilian populations is by investing in conflict prevention.

Speaking in his national capacity, he called for an immediate, sustainable and verifiable ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of food aid in sufficient quantities. Rejecting "the imposition of a new reality on the Gaza Strip", he said the threat to expand military operations is unacceptable. Noting that his country is a major contributor of troops to peacekeeping, he said that socioeconomic revitalization and empowerment of women and youth should be part of keeping peace. Protection of civilians should be included in a holistic way, taking into account the local context.

The representative of Poland said that his country, as a close neighbour, is helping Ukraine and its civilian population to stay strong against the Russian Federation's brutal aggression. Poland hosts one of the biggest communities of war refugees from Ukraine and serves as a hub for transferring international humanitarian aid. In the Middle East, it recently contributed an additional $1 million to UNRWA and $1 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) to address the food needs of Palestinians. Stressing the importance of conflict prevention and accountability, he said that investing in resilience-building, promoting sustainable economic growth, good governance and democracy, and implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are all "cornerstones" to enhance the protection of civilians in the long term.

The representative of Italy , aligning himself with the European Union and the Group of Friends of Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts, said conflicts worldwide have proliferated and become increasingly complex. He voiced particular concern over the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Also, attacks against hospitals, schools and other vital infrastructure heightened the risks for civilians, while climate change and natural disasters are exacerbating their suffering. Against this backdrop, he stressed the need to uphold the rule of law and protect all individuals' human rights and dignity. Strengthening compliance with international humanitarian law is central to protecting civilians, he said, adding that all parties must ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access. He further highlighted the vital role of peacekeepers in the protection of civilians.

The representative of Nepal said that protecting civilians "is the primary responsibility of the host State". However, the UN and humanitarian agencies should support States that lack the capacity to protect. Effective protection, he said, should involve a holistic approach that includes political solutions, prevention and peacebuilding strategies, humanitarian support, peacekeeping and community engagement and ownership. Noting that Nepal  currently the largest troop- and police-contributing country  deploys professional peacekeepers well-versed in the concept and execution of the protection-of-civilians mandate, he detailed its thorough vetting process and dedicated pre-deployment and in-theatre training. To deliver best on this mandate, "we need proper strategies, national ownership, political solutions, community engagement, communication and a whole-of-mission approach supported by adequate financial and human resources", he emphasized. Recalling his country's experience of a nationally led peace process that emphasized inclusive policies and participatory State architecture, he added: "Preventing or ending conflicts is the ultimate protection of civilians."

The representative of India , noting the disproportionate impact of the Ukraine conflict on the Global South and developing countries, said such crises also have a debilitating effect on access to humanitarian aid, as seen in Gaza. While international law sets the ground rules, the fundamental duty to protect the safety and security of populations lies with national Governments. Solutions often lie in the political and social domains and not just in security. The threat of terrorism is pushing societies towards instability and violence; therefore, it is essential to address the destruction caused by terrorist groups, especially those supported by States, she said. Further, the ever-expanding peacekeeping mandate scope has prompted her country to call for realistic mandates, backed by adequate resources and the consent of all stakeholders. The Council does not have equitable representation from the very countries that are mired in conflict, she noted, emphasizing that "it cannot remain frozen in time".

The representative of Austria said that civilian casualties are reported daily in different regions around the world. "So, it's profoundly clear, more needs to be done for protecting civilians," he said. The Council has an important role in condemning violations of international humanitarian law, which binds all parties to armed conflict under any circumstances. "This is a red line, this is non-negotiable," he stressed. The Council must do its part in holding perpetrators of violations accountable. Under Austria's presidency, the Council adopted resolution 1894 (2009) on protecting civilians in armed conflict, which is still referred to and has been built upon. In January 2024, his country convened the first Vienna military workshop on implementing the Political Declaration on strengthening the protection of civilians.

The representative of Cyprus , aligning himself with the European Union, voiced concern over worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Given its geographical proximity, Cyprus  in coordination with humanitarian partners and other countries  initiated the establishment of the Cyprus Maritime Corridor Initiative, which outlines a mechanism for securely delivering significant quantities of assistance to the Strip via sea. The maritime corridor is part of a sustained effort to increase the flow of humanitarian aid and commercial commodities into Gaza through all possible routes. She also stressed that the number of forcibly displaced persons worldwide continues to grow, urging the Council to take more robust action to ensure the right of return as early as possible, respect for displaced people's property rights and prohibiting the settlement of other populations in areas of forced displacement. Cypriots experienced all the above due to foreign aggression and therefore have a first-hand knowledge and understanding of the profound disruption of these phenomena on civilian lives, she said.

The representative of Ghana , aligning himself with the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect, noted Africa's commitment to protect civilians in conflict  as exemplified in regional responses such as Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone. In that context, he said that the African Union and the UN must proceed with the implementation of resolution 2719 (2023) in a manner that ensures sustainability in the protection of civilians. This must be mindful, however, of host States' primary obligation to safeguard their civilian populations amidst the difficulties they encounter in mitigating the impact of violent extremists, terrorists and other insurgency groups. "There can be no better protection for civilians than avoiding conflicts altogether," he went on to say, emphasizing that protecting civilians should not be a reactive measure. Rather, it should be a proactive approach that leverages regional early warning mechanisms.

The representative of Bahrain , underscoring the urgent need for parties to conflict to comply with international law, cited the statement issued by the League of Arab States Summit in her country earlier this month, condemning the Israeli aggression on Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians are sheltering. Calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, she said that at the Summit, Bahrain proposed various initiatives to create a secure and safe environment for all people of the region. This includes providing educational services to those affected by conflicts in the region, she said, calling for intensified efforts to develop preventive measures that will ensure the safety of civilians in armed conflict.

The Permanent Observer of the African Union highlighted some critical milestones in implementing directives of the regional bloc's Peace and Security Council. The African Union reviewed its 2010 draft guidelines on protecting civilians and 2013 aide memoir and adopted a new protection of civilians' policy. The bloc continues enhancing its compliance and accountability framework, including establishing a tripartite project with the United Nations and the European Union that facilitates prevention, response and remedial actions at headquarters and field missions. The African Union also continues to facilitate training and ensure the signing of memorandums of understanding with all its troop- and police-contributing countries to guarantee their obligations to uphold all applicable standards of conduct and discipline when deployed in African Union peace and security operations. Within this context, the African Union implements a robust accountability mechanism that includes in-mission court-martials and home-country prosecutions of personnel violating the bloc's codes of conduct, he said.

The representative of Norway , speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict , said that, across continents, the international community witnesses armed conflicts with killings and maiming of civilians on an alarming scale. The use of explosive weapons in populated areas is causing civilian harm in multiple ongoing armed conflicts; schools, hospitals, homes, places of worship, and cultural heritage are reduced to rubble; the numbers of missing and forcibly displaced people are increasing to record levels; women and girls especially  but also men and boys  are exposed to conflict-related sexual violence and gender-based violence; and children are being abducted, recruited and used by armed forces and armed groups. While the conduct of hostilities and the denial of humanitarian access are contributing to unprecedented levels of hunger and acute food insecurity, climate change and natural disasters further aggravate the plight of civilians in armed conflict.

Against this backdrop, she underscored that "more than ever, we as a global community must defend, protect and galvanize support for international humanitarian law". All parties to armed conflicts must fully comply with their obligations under this body of law and perpetrators of its violations must be held accountable, she asserted. Also, effective protection of civilians and civilian objects must be made "a strategic priority" in the planning and conduct of military operations, she observed. Noting that humanitarian personnel need safe, rapid, unimpeded, effective and sustained access to all persons in need, she sounded alarm over the many killings of humanitarian personnel and medical workers.

The representative of El Salvador noted that conflict's impact on civilians is "particularly serious" when it involves the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. She therefore encouraged those yet to do so to join the 87 countries who have supported the Political Declaration on this issue, as well as the 119 countries who have signed the Safe Schools Declaration. Noting that conflict was the main cause of acute food insecurity in 2023, she recalled that the Council has repeatedly condemned the use of hunger as a weapon of war. On the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, she stressed that this "directly impacts the protection of civilians" and urged national oversight and control of these weapons. Further, she said that effective implementation of marking measures  in line with the International Tracing Instrument  would help prevent the deviation of these weapons, particularly towards "unauthorized actors".

The representative of Kuwait , speaking on behalf of the Global Alliance for the Missing, noted that the ICRC has registered 40,000 new missing persons in 2023. This sharp increase is the result of the surge in conflicts, he said, noting that often, the remains of combatants who died over the past year are left "under the rubble or on the battlefield or buried without having being documented or identified", while others disappear in detention. The Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols set out clear obligations concerning the treatment of the dead and the search for missing persons. They also established the right of families to know the fate of their missing loved ones, he pointed out. Drawing attention to Council resolution 2474 (2019) on missing persons as a result of armed conflict, he called on States to cooperate to effectively solve cases of missing persons. "Search, recovery, documentation and identification of the dead" must be integrated into humanitarian and reconstruction operations from day one, he stressed.

The representative of Lithuania said that journalists were among those targeted in military conflict, recalling that a Lithuanian documentary filmmaker was murdered by the Russian Federation troops in occupied Ukrainian territory in March 2022. He strongly condemned the targeting of journalists and media workers who are considered civilians under international humanitarian law. In 2023, 103 medical facilities and 294 educational institutions were destroyed or damaged in Ukraine. "It is important to note that this is being perpetrated by the permanent member of the Security Council that adopted resolution 1265 (1999) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict 25 years ago". In this regard, his country welcomes the official opening in April of the claim submission process to compensate for damage caused by the Russian Federation's aggression against its neighbour.

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Southern Africa seeks $5.5B in aid to fight El Nino effects

By Mqondisi Dube May 21, 2024

Southern African leaders have launched a $5.5 billion humanitarian aid appeal as the region faces acute grain shortages due to El Nino-induced droughts.

Leaders from the region's bloc, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), met Monday to deliberate on the crisis following widespread drought and flooding that has left millions without enough to eat.

In a communique released after the virtual meeting, leaders from 15 SADC member states agreed to launch an appeal to help affected populations.

The leaders said the SADC Regional Humanitarian Appeal will augment domestic resources in response to the impact of El Nino weather patterns.

El Nino resulted in warmer and drier conditions, leading to record-breaking droughts across the region in 2023 and the beginning of 2024.

SADC executive secretary Elias Magosi said the humanitarian appeal will be revised in August as more member states finalize their assessments on the impact of El Nino and look toward an expected change to the La Nina weather pattern later this year.

"Summit called member states to be proactive and strengthen anticipatory action programs to mitigate climate risks such as the La Nina phenomenon, which is projected for the 2024-2025 season," Magosi said.

Magosi said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Food and Agriculture Organization have pledged a combined $43 million toward the humanitarian appeal.

Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who chaired the Monday meeting, appealed to the international community to respond.

"This is a very important step taken by the organization (SADC) by launching this humanitarian appeal and we hope that there will be good feedback on the part of the international community of support to help us overcome this difficult moment that the region is facing," Lourenco said.

El Nino has resulted in widespread crop failure within Southern Africa and has resulted in national emergency declarations in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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African Lion 2024 starts in Senegal

By Philip Regina May 22, 2024

DODJI, Senegal -- African Lion 2024 (AL24) has officially started in Senegal. The Senegal portion of the exercise began on May 20 and will run through May 31.

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command's premier and largest annual, combined, joint exercise, African Lion. The exercise began on April 19 and will continue to May 31 and is hosted across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia with more than 8,100 participants from over 27 nations and contingents from NATO.

African Lion 24 focuses on enhancing readiness between the U.S. and partner nation forces.

An array of U.S. military units, along with the Royal Netherlands Army [Koninklijke Landmacht], will partner with the Armed Forces of Senegal [Forces armees du Senegal] to execute AL24.

Key activities include a combined field training exercise led by the Maryland Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, medical training provided by Marine Forces Reserve Europe and Africa and a complex staff exercise directed by the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade.

"The start of African Lion 2024 marks a pivotal moment in our continued commitment to strengthening military cooperation and ensuring regional stability," stated Col. Matthias Greene, senior National Guard advisor, SETAF-AF, and senior responsible officer for AL24 Senegal. "The expertise and collective efforts showcased here will undoubtedly advance our strategic objectives and operational readiness."

About African Lion

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Army Africa Command's premier and largest annual, combined, joint exercise African Lion. This year's exercise will take place April 19 through May 31 and is hosted across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia with more than 8,100 participants from over 27 nations and contingents from NATO. African Lion 24 focuses on enhancing readiness between the U.S. and partner nation forces. This joint all-domain, multi-component, and multinational exercise, employs a full array of mission capabilities with the goal to strengthen interoperability among participants and set the theater for strategic access.

About SETAF-AF

SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.

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Georgia should repeal the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence in its current form, says Venice Commission

Council of Europe

Venice Commission

Strasbourg

22 may 2024

In an urgent opinion published on 21 May 2024, the Council of Europe's Venice Commission strongly recommends repealing the Law of Georgia on Transparency of Foreign Influence in its current form, as its fundamental flaws will involve significant negative consequences for freedoms of association and expression, the right to privacy, the right to participate in public affairs as well as the prohibition of discrimination.

Following a request of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, the Venice Commission has assessed the law through its urgent procedure. It regrets that the Georgian parliament did not wait for its opinion before adopting the law, despite calls by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly and by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

The opinion analyses the law's compatibility with applicable international and European standards. It concludes that the restrictions set by the law to the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association and privacy are incompatible with the strict test set out in the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as they do not meet the requirements of legality, legitimacy, necessity in a democratic society and proportionality, as well as with the principle of non-discrimination.

The Law, under the alleged aim of ensuring transparency, has the objective effect of risking the stigmatizing, silencing and eventually elimination of associations and media which receive even a low part of their funds from abroad. A strong risk is created that the associations and media which come to be affected will be those who are critical of the government, so that their removal would adversely affect open, informed public debate, pluralism, and democracy.

The Venice Commission strongly recommends that the Georgian authorities abandon the special regime of registration, reporting and public disclosure requirements for civil society organisations, online media and broadcasters receiving foreign support, including administrative sanctions. While existing Georgian legislation already contains provisions requiring organisations concerned by the law to register and report, including on their sources of funding, no convincing explanation has been given on why the existing obligations would be insufficient for the purpose of ensuring transparency.

In case the existing provisions proved insufficient, the Georgian authorities should consider amending the existing laws in compliance with European and international standards. In particular, genuine representation (lobbying) activities on behalf of foreign countries could be regulated in line with European standards, should the current legislation prove inadequate.

The Venice Commission moreover regrets that this Law, which is human-rights sensitive but is also highly controversial in Georgian society, as is demonstrated by the massive reactions in the country, was adopted in a procedure which left no space for genuine discussion and meaningful consultation, in open disregard for the concerns of large parts of the Georgian people. This manner of proceeding does not meet the European requirements of democratic law-making, the Venice Commission concludes.

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May 22, 2024

Release

Readout of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict Christopher Maier Meeting With Director General at the Defense Policy Department of the Ministry of Defense of Finland Janne Kuusela

Department of Defense Spokesperson Lisa Lawrence provided the following readout:

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict Christopher Maier met with Director General at the Defense Policy Department of the Ministry of Defense of Finland Janne Kuusela yesterday at the Pentagon for the signing of a Special Operations Forces Statement of Intent (SOI).

This SOI builds on the strong defense cooperation between the United States and Finland and provides a framework for future enhancements of shared capabilities. Through agreements such as this one, the United States and Finland seek to strengthen the bilateral relationship and enhance cooperation and interoperability of Special Operations Forces.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3784764/

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May 22, 2024

Release

Joint Statement for the 15th U.S.-Kuwaiti Joint Military Commission

The United States and Kuwait held the 15th U.S.-Kuwaiti Joint Military Commission (JMC) in Kuwait City from May 20-21, 2024. The Chief of Staff, Kuwait Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Bander Salem Al Muzaien led the Kuwaiti delegation and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro led the U.S. side. The JMC serves as the preeminent bilateral defense forum for senior U.S. and Kuwaiti defense officials to raise strategic issues and advance the defense partnership.

Both delegations reaffirmed the strength of the bilateral strategic partnership and the importance of continuing to expand the defense relationship.



Lt. Gen. Al Muzaien and DASD Shapiro exchanged views on regional security challenges, including border security threats, maritime security, ballistic missiles, and uncrewed aerial systems. Both acknowledged the need for close coordination during a time of unprecedented challenge in the region. The delegations also discussed bilateral defense initiatives, regional integration, and strategic competition in the region.

Both co-chairs agreed on the critical role of U.S. forces in the region and discussed the importance of deepening the interoperability of U.S. and Kuwaiti forces. They reaffirmed the shared commitment of the United States and Kuwait to work together to strengthen and expand the successful integration of air and missile defense and early warning systems across the Middle East.

During the JMC, Maj. Gen. Sean Salene, Director (J5), U.S. Central Command, co-chaired the Military Cooperation subcommittee alongside Maj. Gen. Mohammad Al Dhafairi, the Kuwait Assistant Chief of Staff. The subcommittee explored the full scope of bilateral cooperation, focusing on interoperability requirements, military construction, and opportunities to participate in CENTCOM's women, peace, and security initiatives.

Maj. Gen. Salene and Brig. Gen. Fahad Al-Otaibi, Kuwait Ministry of Defense Director of Military Cooperation, co-chaired the Security Cooperation subcommittee, detailing critical security cooperation programs, synchronizing Foreign Military Sales and Procurement efforts, and identifying opportunities for continued cooperation.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3784869/

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May 22, 2024

By Jim Garamone, DOD News

Chairman Discusses Challenge Posed by Russia, Great Power Competition

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed threats emanating from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and why alliances matter in an era of Great Power competition.

Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke with NBC's Courtney Kube as part of the Atlantic Council's Commanders' Series today.

He also spoke of how the National Defense Strategy's list of concerns  China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and violent extremists  have all been active and working together.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of neighboring Ukraine is a clear warning to the world, Brown said. "When you have a conflict in one part of the world, it doesn't necessarily stay in one part of the world," he said.

Putin's invasion, and the response of the world to it, may inspire others. China, for example, may take lessons from Russia's illegal actions and believe they can be applied to Taiwan.

The world's response to support Ukraine in its fight against its much larger neighbor also sends a message. Brown noted that on Monday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III convened the latest meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. "This is 50 nations [that] have a vested interest in supporting Ukraine and providing capability," he said. "If you just look at history, ... just one, small conflict can broaden into a much larger conflict. That's why [Ukraine] is so important."

Ukraine is part of Europe. It borders four NATO members. The conflict has implications for national sovereignty, the rights of nations and the ability of people to choose how they should be governed. These tenets are important around the world, he said. "It's part of my job, I spend a lot of time thinking about all the things and getting updates on what's going on all around the world, because one of those could be a spark elsewhere," Brown said.

Russia's invasion was unprovoked against a smaller nation to eliminate the sovereignty of another country. "I think we all should be concerned about that," the chairman said. "And we don't want that model to be repeated in other parts of the world."

The Ukraine Defense Contact Group works to ensure Ukraine has the capability to defend itself. Right now, that means air defense, antiarmor systems, tanks, artillery and more. The focus is on the close battle, Brown said. He also noted that it is not only what the United States provides the Ukrainians, but the rest of the partners too.

Kube asked the general if it limits Ukraine to not use American weapons to strike Russian formations massing for attacks outside the borders of Ukraine. He said Ukraine has other systems it can use to attack outside the nation without using American systems. "They've been attacking into Russia," he said. "We will continue to have dialogue on this."

Brown said Ukraine has been doing well against a bigger and stronger military. "If you think about it, since the beginning of this conflict, [the Ukrainian military] took back 50 percent of the territory that the Russians first took," he said. "And the defensive lines that they are sitting on now haven't changed dramatically in the course of the past year."

Part of this is because of Ukrainian tenacity, he said. Part of it is because of the help the international partners have provided.

Ukraine will get stronger as a new draft law goes into effect, the chairman said, and those formations receive their equipment and  importantly  the training to use that equipment.

There isn't one "magic" weapon system that partners could give Ukraine that will turn the tide against the Russians, the general said. "It's the combination of capability that that has been provided."

Brown said that when the Russian invasion is defeated, U.S. service members will go back into the country to train the Ukrainian military. Currently, training happens outside the nation.

Russia is desperately looking for allies to help them in their war on Ukraine. "In our national defense strategy, we have five challenges: the People's Republic of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and violent extremists," the general said. "The thing that I've noticed over the course of the past several years is they are all active in some form or fashion, and in some cases, working together."

North Korea is providing capabilities and munitions to the Russians for their war in Ukraine, he said. Iran is providing attack drones. China is "providing some levels of technologies to support [Russia's] industrial base," he said. "This is something that we pay attention to closely. It goes back to what I said earlier: What happens in one part of the world, ... provides the opportunity for things to spread.

"The goal here is to make sure it doesn't spread," he said.

Kube asked the general what he is worried about that Americans are not paying enough attention to?

"That's like, asking, who's your favorite child?" Brown said. "The key part for me personally is, it is very easy to get focused on a particular topic of the day and then get your head down and miss something else."

"It's important for me to just be able to step back from some of these, so you can actually have a broader perspective, and see if there's things that are connected," he continued. "Then look a little bit further down the path."

The chairman has made it a priority to understand what is happening, and also what are the longer-range implications of what is happening. "Part of that is actually kind of just pulling the strings on certain things of what could happen moving forward," he said.

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May 22, 2024

By Joseph Clark, DOD News

DOD's AI Chief Aims to Build on Long Strides in Delivering Capabilities to Warfighter

The Pentagon's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office is focused on maturing and sustaining its progress in delivering key capabilities to the warfighter, CDAO's top official said today.

Radha Plumb, who assumed the role as the Defense Department's top digital and AI officer last month, said CDAO has made big strides on efforts ranging from responsible and ethical AI adoption to laying out expectations for data stewardship across the department.

In the less than two years since being formed, CDAO has also notched several victories, including taking a lead role in the delivery of an initial iteration of the Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control, or CJADC2, capability announced in February.

"Building on those foundations, the question, of course, is 'What's next?'" Plumb said during an address at Defense Talks 2024. The event, a gathering of military and industry leaders, was hosted by Defense Scoop, a defense trade publication, in Washington.

"At our almost two-year anniversary in CDAO, we need to mature, institutionalize and sustain our gains so we can reliably and effectively ensure these capabilities are available in an enduring and effective way," she said.

Specifically, Plumb said CDAO is focused on ensuring data, analytics and AI capabilities are accessible across the DOD enterprise to support a variety of missions.

She also outlined initiatives focused on leveraging mission analytics to drive decision-making behavior and ensuring data-driven capabilities are understandable and usable "from the boardroom to the battlefield."

"But of course it's not just analytics," she said. "What we need to foster at scale is also AI adoption. Data is foundational to applications, but CDAO is also building the tools needed to support scaled adoption."

Doing so, she said, means building labeled data sets, machine-learning operations environments, and the assurance processes required to deploy AI models that meet DOD safety and assurance standards.

Those efforts are being carried out with partners across the department and the private sector, Plumb said.

And CDAO remains committed to driving interoperability with allies.

"We cannot accomplish successful data and AI transformation alone," Plumb said. "The collective knowledge provided by engaging with our international partners is extraordinary."

Plumb also underscored CDAO's alignment with the 2022 National Defense Strategy, which outlines the DOD's roadmap for meeting the challenges posed by near peer competitors Russia, Iran, North Korea and China, DOD's pacing challenge.

She said CDAO's core mission is to provide warfighters what they need to maintain the decision advantage that enables deterrence.

"The CDAO has a big piece of work to deliver to make real that NDS mission," she said. "It's hard to imagine a more compelling mission, really a no-fail mission, and we're up for the challenge."

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May 22, 2024

By C. Todd Lopez, DOD News

At Gulf Cooperation Council, U.S. Participates in Maritime, Missile Defense Working Groups

Defense Department representatives will sit down today with partners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting to discuss ongoing and mutual security concerns in the Middle East, including those posed by Iran.

"The region is experiencing one of its most challenging periods in recent years," said a senior defense official on Monday. "Threats from Iran and its proxies are pervasive, demonstrated by an unprecedented number of Iran-backed attacks since October, such as the 175 Iranian-aligned militia group attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, Syria and Jordan; more than 90 Houthi attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea; and more."

Members of the Gulf Cooperation Council include the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. The council first met in 1981 to strengthen relations among the member states.

The U.S. last participated in talks with the GCC in February 2023. During today's discussions, representatives from the Joint Staff, U.S. Central Command, Naval Forces Central Command, Air Forces Central Command, the Missile Defense Agency, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency are participating in two working groups, including one on maritime security and the other on air and missile defense.

"In the maritime security working group, we'll focus heavily on these Houthi terrorist attacks against international shipping, which have used an unprecedented array of anti-ship ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, one-way attack UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles], unmanned surface vehicles, and unmanned underwater vehicles," the senior defense official said. "These attacks endanger freedom of navigation and the lives of innocent mariners."

More than 24 nations are now participating in the U.S.-led "Prosperity Guardian" mission in the Red Sea to counter Iranian-backed, Houthi-led attacks on merchant and naval vessels.

"[Those attacks] have resulted in the kidnapping and deaths of innocents, immense property destruction, and environmental despoliation and immense hardship for the peoples of the nations of the Red Sea," the official said. "These attacks are not just a U.S. problem. They impact the entirety of the region, and they have global ramifications. So, we look forward to discussing how we can expand cooperation with our Gulf partners to mitigate the Houthi threat to maritime security."

Last month, on April 13, Iran and its proxy groups launched more than 300 airborne weapons at targets in Israel, but the U.S., Israeli and partner forces destroyed a significant portion of those before they reached their targets.

Among the weapons launched from locations in Iran, Syria and Yemen were over 110 medium-range ballistic missiles, more then 30 land-attack cruise missiles, and more than 150 uncrewed aerial vehicles.

During the meeting, the U.S. will also participate in the integrated air and missile defense working group, which the official said now takes on more significance in light of those Iranian missile launches at Israel.

"This attack really was a watershed moment in the Middle East, the official said. "Together with our partners, we ... successfully defeated Iran's attack, and that's a stark testament to the value of integrated air and missile defense and its vital importance for regional stability."

The official said the attack  and the defeat of that attack by partners in the Middle East  demonstrated what can be achieved by partnerships, such as the ones the U.S. has with some Middle East nations.

"It really showcased what we're collectively capable of when we work together on defeating regional security threats," he said. "Ironically, ... April 13, which was really a proof-of-concept of integrated air and missile defense, was ultimately successful in sparking a deeper cooperation among our partners. Iran's destabilizing and dangerous behavior has given a newfound urgency and newfound energy to convene this working group and build out the elements of integrated air and missile defense."

Discussions within the integrated air and missile defense working group will include, among other topics, multilateral efforts to counter existing threats, expansion of air and missile defense early warning systems, and the sharing of information to ensure a common air picture.

"We'll focus on improving U.S. and GCC interoperability and integration to ensure that the region is postured to counter, to deter, and to defeat air and maritime threats and ultimately to advance peace and security in the region," the official said. "Our basic message as we head into these discussions is: 'We're stronger when we act together.'"

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Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna's comment about Russia's plan regarding sea borders

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

22.05.2024

Through media reports, we have received information on Russia's alleged plans to unilaterally shift the borders of sea areas in the Baltic Sea.

We are determining the specific circumstances and we are in close contact with Finland and Lithuania. At first glance, it seems to be an absurd notion. Russia is party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and we expect their steps to be in line with the convention.

At the moment, it cannot be ruled out that the report is an attempt to sow confusion. We will not allow any confusion; we are thoroughly analysing all possible and actual steps and the international law regulating this area, and we are coordinating our actions with our Allies and partners.

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Comment from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the application of the ICC prosecutor to issue arrest warrants for the leaders of Hamas and Israeli prime minister and defence minister

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

22.05.2024

Comment from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the application of the ICC prosecutor to issue arrest warrants for the leaders of Hamas and Israeli prime minister and defence minister.

"The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent and impartial international court that investigates and tries the most serious international crimes if the country that has jurisdiction for proceedings is unable or unwilling to do so. The International Criminal Court and the prosecutor must be free of external interference and pressure. Estonia supports the independence of the ICC and has always done so.

The ICC prosecutor has submitted an application for issuing arrest warrants but the court has not made a decision yet. The ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber must now debate the prosecutor's application for arrest warrants and assess the evidence submitted and the relevant circumstances. As the court has not yet examined the application of the prosecutor, we should not speculate on possible arrest warrants.

At the same time, we must admit that it was curious to hear about the simultaneous applications for arrest warrants for both the leaders of Hamas as well as the Israeli prime minister and defence minister. Hamas is a terrorist organisation. Israel has the right and responsibility to defend its people, naturally while respecting and adhering to international humanitarian law. Equating Hamas with the State of Israel is something we cannot consider appropriate in any sense.

Estonia is also working to make sure that crimes receive a just punishment in independent trials. We call on all countries to cooperate with the ICC and strive to ensure an independent investigation of potential offences."

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Three European nations to recognize Palestinian state; 'two-State solution only way out of conflict'

Global Times

Move may trigger global wave, but root cause lies in US' indulgence

By Fan Anqi Published: May 22, 2024 09:55 PM

In a historic move expected to quell the flames of war in the Middle East, Ireland, Norway and Spain announced the recognition of a Palestinian state on Wednesday. The move is hailed by Chinese experts as representing an overdue correction of "a previously skewed balance," while bringing the Palestinian question, which had intentionally been obscured before, back to the center stage.

Experts believe the decision may trigger a global wave of recognition for the state of Palestine, not only in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people but it will also exert significant international pressure on Israel's aggressive practices.

However, they noted that there is still a long way to go for the actual establishment of a Palestinian state, and the root of the problem preventing the realization of the two-State solution lies in the bias and indulgence of the US.

Ireland, Norway and Spain have all confirmed that the decision will take effect from May 28, the BBC reported.

"In the midst of a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in peace and security," said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, per a government press release on Wednesday.

The statement adds, "There will be no peace in the Middle East without a two-State solution. There can be no two-State solution without a Palestinian state."

In Madrid, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stressed that the recognition "is not against anyone, but in favor of peace and coexistence." While his Irish counterpart Simon Harris said that the decision "is taken to help create a peaceful future" for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, commenting on the latest development, said at Wednesday's press briefing that China always firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights, supports the two-State solution and is one of the first countries to recognize the State of Palestine. China's stance on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is consistent.

"We believe the immediate priority is to implement UNSC Resolution 2728, realize ceasefire at once, end the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza and return to the right track of seeking a political settlement of the Palestinian question on the basis of the two-State solution as soon as possible," Wang said.

China will continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role for ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as early as possible and promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, the spokesperson said.

"The three countries' announcement reflects a growing dissatisfaction and concern in the international community regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, particularly on the Israeli side, as its assault has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, intensifying worries about the region's future," Zhu Yongbiao, director of School of Politics and International Relations of Lanzhou University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"Against this background, the decision in fact signifies a process of correction from the previously skewed balance, with more public opinion and practical support now contributing to rectifying the past practices," Zhu said.

Liu Zhongmin, a professor with the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, believes that as the horrors and sorrows in Gaza have brought the previously marginalized Palestinian question back to the center of Middle Eastern affairs, more countries are pushing the implementation of the two-State solution, not only to safeguard the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, but also to provide a long-term peace and security solution for Israel as well.

One of the reasons that the announcements came at such a point is that, on May 11, the UN General Assembly voted by a wide margin to approve a resolution granting Palestine new rights and reviving its UN membership bid. However, the US has made it clear that it will block Palestinian membership and statehood "until direct negotiations with Israel resolve key issues."

The vote reflects the wide global support for Palestine to establish a state and a growing divergence within the Western camp on the issue, Liu told the Global Times on Wednesday. Although not yet able to be achieved at the UN level, many are turning to recognize Palestinian statehood through bilateral means, Liu said.

Chain reactions

Chinese observers believe the decision by these three European countries will likely trigger a series of chain reactions around the globe. "Ireland, Norway, and Spain have a weighty role especially in matters concerning human rights on the global stage," Zhu noted. So not only more EU members will follow suit, countries from other regions may also join in.

It could potentially spark a wave of recognition for the Palestinian statehood, with more countries supporting Palestine's formal membership in the UN, Zhu said.

According to the AP, several EU countries have in the past weeks indicated that they plan to make the recognition, arguing a two-State solution is essential for lasting peace in the region. The decision could also spur further steps at the UN level, deepening Israel's isolation.

In response, Israel says it is recalling its envoys to the three countries, and called the plans "distorted," which will "fuel extremism and instability," the BBC report said.

Some 140 of 190 represented in the UN countries have already recognized a Palestinian state, according to media reports. The UK and the US are among nations that do not formally recognize a Palestinian state.

The root cause of the problem lies in the obstruction by the US, experts noted. Despite verbally claiming to support the two-State solution, the US has done nothing but consistently show bias and indulgence toward Israel, whether it is by obstructing Palestine from becoming a member state of the UN or refusing to recognize the Palestinian statehood.

"As the world's largest superpower and leader of the Western camp, the US opposition to the elevation of Palestine's status will make the others hesitate," Tian Wenlin, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Wednesday. "However, it is evident that the gap within the West on the Middle East stance is growing, or even drifting apart."

Tian added that the decision of the three countries may have limited influence on the current situation in Gaza. "It seems that international pressure is unlikely to change Israel's unilateral actions."

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PLA Navy hospital ship visits islands and reefs in South China Sea

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: May 22, 2024 10:27 PM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently deployed a hospital ship on a mission to support troops stationed on islands and reefs in the South China Sea, with experts saying on Wednesday that physical and mental health is vital to combat capabilities particularly under challenging natural environment in the region.

The Youai hospital ship attached to an auxiliary ship detachment affiliated with the navy of the PLA Southern Theater Command recently embarked on a seven-day voyage covering more than 600 nautical miles, in which it visited multiple islands and reefs and hosted health checkups, diagnoses, treatments, psychological counseling and health lectures for troops stationed on the Xisha Qundao (also known as Xisha Islands), China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday.

Health is combat capability, and the hospital ship will go wherever the troops need it to, Liu Jingjun, a medical specialist member at a naval hospital, said in the CCTV report.

The hospital ship will provide medical services for troops stationed on islands and reefs, so they can safeguard maritime borders in optimal condition, Liu said.

During the voyage, the hospital ship also conducted a series of trainings including transiting the wounded under emergency situations, carrying out first aid at frontline and rescuing damaged vessels, the CCTV report said.

The report shows that the Youai released a small boat and a small landing craft during the training.

Another hospital ship of the PLA Navy, the Peace Ark, is well-known by the public as it has conducted several visit tours around the world to provide humanitarian medical services, but hospital ships like the Youai, which is smaller compared to the Peace Ark, have advantages when conducting missions in islands and reefs, experts said.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times that since water is often shallow around islands and reefs in the South China Sea, smaller ships can move among them more flexibly.

The living conditions on islands and reefs in the South China Sea are challenging due to the natural environment and distance from the mainland, which inevitably have negative impact on physical and mental health, another Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday, noting that visits by hospital ships can ease such effect.

Providing international public security goods, China's deployment of hospital ships in the South China Sea also allows emergency treatments in case accidents happen to Chinese and foreign vessels passing by in the region, observers said.

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Tanaiste Micheal Martin's remarks on Palestinian Statehood

Government of Ireland

From Department of Foreign Affairs

By: Minister for Foreign Affairs; Micheal Martin

Published on 22 May 2024

Check against delivery

The decision yesterday by Government to recognise the State of Palestine, which will formally take effect on 28 May, is a historic moment for Ireland.

It is a clear and immutable statement of our deeply-held belief that there can be no peace in the Middle East until the Israeli and Palestinian peoples alike enjoy the same rights to self-determination, statehood, peace, security and dignity.

The principle of equality is the foundation for justice, for peaceful co-existence, and for a better future.

And that is why today, with this principle under concerted attack across the Middle East, that we have taken this step.

Few states in the world have invested as much intensive diplomatic engagement, energy and application as Ireland into supporting, nurturing and protecting the viability of a negotiated pathway to the realisation of that statehood, on equal and sovereign terms, for Palestinians and Israelis.

Over decades, we have engaged with the governments, leaders and peoples of the Middle East.

In recent months we have worked intensively with European and Arab partners to ensure that our decision to recognise a Palestinian state would be taken as part of a comprehensive, political framework that can finally end this brutal conflict.

It is with a heavy heart that we watch those intent on imposing by force a future based on violence, domination, subordination and exclusion, become some of the most prominent voices in Israel and Palestine today.

We reject that future.

Instead, we endorse a future that so many people, in the Middle East and internationally, have put so much time and energy and commitment into developing over decades - one based on mutual respect, equality, and on two states for two peoples.

It is important that our decision to recognise Palestine is not misrepresented as a hostile act towards the State of Israel.

We unequivocally support the right of the State of Israel to exist and the right of the Israeli people to peaceful self-determination, just as we unequivocally support the right of the State of Palestine to exist, and the right of the Palestinian people to peaceful self-determination.

We acknowledge the heartbreak, loss and anguish of the Israeli people. We condemn without equivocation the savagery of Hamas on October 7th.

We recognise, validate and agree with your desire to live in security and dignity, as a strong, vibrant and independent state.

Just as we acknowledge the heartbreak, loss and anguish of the Palestinian people and recognise, validate and agree with your desire to live in security as a strong, vibrant and independent state.

Israeli and Palestinian citizens alike are a valued and cherished part of our society here in Ireland, and I challenge and reject anyone who would seek to delegitimise either's history, culture, or beliefs.

In recognising the State of Palestine, we also unambiguously reject those, in Palestine and in Israel, who call for the entirety of the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the River Jordan to be a mono-ethnic state, based either on forcible exile or subjugation.

A new pathway is needed towards the aim that is overwhelmingly endorsed by the international community; a two-state solution based on 1967 borders, with the State of Israel, and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign, and viable State of Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security and mutual recognition, with Jerusalem serving as the future capital of both states.

A solution that will bring to an end the 57 year Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.

To realise that aim, we believe that the parties must, in the future, meet as equals - as two states, with the responsibility to come to a final settlement in direct negotiations.

Today, we make clear to the Palestinian people that our relationship with you is one of two equal states and - as described in the UN Charter - on the basis of respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to strengthen universal peace.

We are also clear that in order for the State of Palestine to become the reality that its people aspire to, much is needed from its leadership.

Just as we will always affirm Palestine's legitimate rights as a State, we will always expect Palestine to fulfil its obligations, as we do of all States. The Palestinian people are entitled to democracy, to human rights, to good governance, and to the rule of law, and the State of Palestine must provide this.

This is a future that we passionately believe in, and we will continue to support you in building this future.

Recognition of Palestine is not the end of a process; it is the beginning. On Sunday, I travel to Brussels to meet more than 40 Arab, European and other international partners, to discuss how recognition can make a concrete, practical impact to ending this horrible conflict and implementing a two state solution; based on a comprehensive vision of piece that the Arab states have developed.

I will also continue to work tirelessly on the immediate priority of securing a ceasefire in Gaza, the unconditional release of hostages, and full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access.

There is a long road ahead.

And today, Ireland says unambiguously that this road must be walked by Israelis and Palestinians on the basis of an equal right to sovereignty, dignity and peace.

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Norway recognises Palestine as a state

Government of Norway

Press release | Date: 22/05/2024

'The Norwegian Government has decided that Norway will recognise Palestine as a state. In the midst of a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in peace and security,' said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre.

Norway's long-term engagement has supported and sought to advance the two-state solution. Recognition of Palestine as a state further highlights the long-held Norwegian position that a lasting solution to the conflict in the Middle East is only achieved through a two-state solution.

Two-state solution

The Palestinian people have a fundamental, independent right to self-determination. Both Israelis and Palestinians have a right to live in peace in their respective states. There will be no peace in the Middle East without a two-state solution. There can be no two-state solution without a Palestinian state. In other words, a Palestinian state is a prerequisite for achieving peace in the Middle East,' said Prime Minister Stre.

The territorial demarcation between the state of Palestine and the state of Israel should be based on the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, and without prejudice to a final settlement on borders, including the use of land swaps.

'Recognition of Palestine is a means of supporting the moderate forces which have been losing ground in this protracted and brutal conflict. It also sends a strong message to other countries to follow the example of Norway and a number of other European countries and recognise the state of Palestine. This could ultimately make it possible to resume the process towards achieving a two-state solution and give it renewed momentum,' said Prime Minister Stre.

Recognition as the impetus for peace

Since the Oslo Accords of roughly 30 years ago, Norway and many other countries have pursued a strategy in which recognition would follow a peace agreement. This has not been successful.

'In the absence of a peace process and a political solution to the conflict, developments have gone in the wrong direction. Neither the Palestinian nor the Israeli people can live their lives in security. That is why we need to think differently and act accordingly. We can no longer wait for the conflict to be resolved before we recognise the state of Palestine,' said Mr Stre.

'Palestine is caught in a downward spiral of economic instability and aid dependency, as well as lack of fundamental rights. Terrorism and violence from Hamas and other militant groups undermine the trust that is so essential to achieving lasting peace. Israel's long-standing policy of establishment and expansion of illegal settlements diminishes the basis for a viable Palestinian state. A general sense of hopelessness has grown stronger among the Palestinians for every year that has passed,' said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

Several reasons to recognise now

There are several reasons why this is the right time to recognise Palestine as a state.

'The ongoing war in Gaza has made it abundantly clear that achieving peace and stability must be predicated on resolving the Palestinian question. The war is the lowest point in the prolonged Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The situation in the Middle East has not been this grave for many years,' said Mr Stre.

The UN General Assembly recently adopted a resolution stating that Palestine is fully qualified for membership of the United Nations, with an overwhelming majority of 143 countries voting in favour.

'Efforts are underway to draw up a comprehensive Arab peace vision. A number of Arab countries are involved in this, and recognition of Palestine as a state is a key component. Norway is cooperating closely with Saudi Arabia and is taking active steps to mobilise European support for the Arab peace vision. Norway and Saudi Arabia recently hosted a high-level meeting of foreign ministers in Riyadh to discuss this initiative. In a few days, Norway will be chairing an international partner meeting about Palestine in Brussels, where the new Palestinian Prime Minister and Government will be presenting their reform plans. We are hoping to make some major progress there,' said Mr Eide.

The Government is taking these steps as part of the follow-up to the decision taken by the Storting (Norwegian parliament) on 16 November 2023.

Norway's expectations

In its role as chair of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), the international donor group for Palestine, Norway has been a strong advocate of the Palestinian state-building project. At the same time as it recognises Palestine as a state, Norway also has clear expectations that the new Palestinian Government will continue the effort to implement democratic reform, strengthen the judiciary and combat corruption.

'Norway will continue to support the Palestinian state-building project. We must strengthen the Palestinian Authority under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa, and we must work for the Palestinian Authority to govern in Gaza following a ceasefire and for there to be one Palestinian government. The goal is to achieve a Palestinian state that is politically cohesive, and that derives from the Palestinian Authority,' said Mr Eide.

International consensus

There is broad international consensus, in, among others, the US, the EU, China, and the Arab, African, Asian and Latin American countries, that a two-state solution is the only solution that will provide lasting peace and stability for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Norway's formal recognition of Palestine as a state will enter into force on Tuesday 28 May 2024. A number of other likeminded European countries will also formally recognise Palestine on that same date. These countries will be making their own announcements. A total of 143 countries have previously recognised the Palestinian state.

'Recognition by various European countries is not, in itself, sufficient to ensure that a Palestinian state will be sustainable. By recognising a Palestinian state, we are supporting the Arab peace plan which has been further developed by key actors in the region in the wake of 7 October. Norway has taken a leading role in mobilising European support for the plan. Its main elements are an irreversible process towards the establishment of a Palestinian state, strengthening of the Palestinian Authority, credible security guarantees for Israel and demobilisation of Hamas and other armed groups and normalisation of relations between Israel and Arab countries. While none of these steps can solve the Israel-Palestine conflict on its own, the sum of them can lead to great advancements,' said Mr Eide.

30 years after the Oslo Accords

Norway's recognition of a Palestinian state is taking place just over 30 years after the signing of the first Oslo Accord in 1993. Since then, the Palestinians have taken important steps towards a two-state solution. In 2011, the World Bank concluded that Palestine had met the key criteria required to function as a state. National institutions to provide the population with crucial services have been established. Nonetheless, the war in Gaza and the ongoing expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank have made the situation in Palestine more difficult than it has been in decades.

'Israelis and the Palestinians alike need security and hope for the future. What is most urgent at the moment is to achieve a ceasefire, ensuring that enough humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza, and obtaining the release of the hostages. In the longer term, we hope that the recognition of Palestine as a state will encourage the parties to restart peace talks with a goal of finding solutions to the outstanding final status issues. A Palestinian state will also enhance security for the Israelis,' said Mr Eide.

It is Norway's view that intensifying efforts to achieve a Palestinian state and a two-state solution will help to reinforce the moderate forces that are seeking a political solution on both sides.

Norway condemns terrorism

Both the Palestinian and Israeli authorities have been informed of the Norwegian Government's decision to recognise Palestine as a state.

'Norway intends to continue its close contact with the Israeli authorities. Norway was one of the first countries to recognise the state of Israel in 1949. Israel is in a vulnerable security situation, and Norway recognises Israel's legitimate right to defend itself, within the framework of international law. We believe that the two-state solution is in Israel's best interests. It will help to establish a more peaceful, safe and stable region,' said Mr Stre.

Facts

Norway recognises Palestine as a state in line with international law and relevant resolutions by the UN Security Council. The territorial demarcation between the state of Palestine and the state of Israel should be based on the pre-1967 borders, i.e. the demarcation line as set out in the 1949 Armistice Agreements, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states and without prejudice to a final settlement on borders, including the use of land swaps.

Recognition of the state of Palestine is part of the follow-up to the 2023 decision in the Storting (Norwegian Parliament) that the Government may choose to recognise Palestine as a state at a time when the decision could be of value to the peace process and without any conditions relating to a final peace agreement.

The decision to recognise Palestine as a state is considered a matter of importance which, in accordance with Article 28 of the Constitution, requires approval by the King in Council of State. Following the adoption by Royal Decree on Friday 24 May, Palestine will be formally informed of the recognition by verbal note. Norway's formal recognition of Palestine as a state will enter into force on Tuesday 28 May 2024.

The recognition of Palestine as a state means that Norway will consider Palestine to be an independent state with the rights and duties this entails. This includes, among other things, the expectation from Norway that all relations with Palestine will be founded on the fundamental rules of international law regarding independence, equality and peaceful coexistence.

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Hamas welcomes recognition of Palestine by 3 EU states; Israel furious

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 22, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has welcomed a decision by Norway, Ireland, and Spain to recognize the independent Palestinian state and its UN membership simultaneously on Wednesday.

According to Al Jazeera TV network, Hamas issued a statement underlining that the decision is an important step in proving the authenticity of the Palestinian nation in their own homeland.

Hamas urged other nations to recognize the national rights of the Palestinians and support their fight for liberation, independence, and end of occupation.

In response to the three European states' decision, the Israeli regime's foreign minister Israel Katz charged that the move is "support for terrorism".

The Zionist official said that the decision would weaken the occupying regime and enhance the Palestinian resistance and Iran.

The Tel Aviv regime also recalled its ambassadors from Ireland and Norway for consultations over the move.

4208**4354



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Foreign Minister Baiba Braze to meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the NATO Headquarters

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

22.05.2024

On 23 May 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze, will be visiting the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The Minister is scheduled to meet with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for a discussion on the priorities of the NATO summit to be held in Washington in July, the future development of NATO's deterrence and defence capabilities, comprehensive support for Ukraine, as well as the need to develop a strategy to rein in Russia.

The Minister will also meet with the Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber, David van Weel, and the Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, Angus Lapsley. The Minister will take part in a meeting of Ambassadors to NATO of the member states on the Alliance's eastern flank, and meet with officials from NATO's Public Diplomacy Division.

Baiba Braze will also have a meeting with the winners of the "Latvia's 20 Years in NATO" quiz organised by the Foreign Ministry, who won a visit to NATO Headquarters as the prize.

From 2020 to 2023, Baiba Braze held the post of Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Public Diplomacy.

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Position on media reports about legislative amendments planned in Russia, related to state maritime boundaries

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2024.05.22

Russia's actions are seen as a deliberate, targeted, escalatory provocation to intimidate neighbouring countries and their societies. This is further proof that Russia's aggressive and revisionist policy is a threat to the security of neighbouring countries and Europe as a whole.

Lithuania today is summoning a representative of the Russian Federation for a full explanation. We are also coordinating our response with partners.

Lithuania recalls and urges Russian Federation to respect and abide by the universally recognised principles and norms of international law, in particular UN Convention on the Law on Sea, to which Russia is a party as well as international and bilateral agreements on the inviolability of frontiers, namely the 1991 Treaty on the Foundations of Inter-State Relations, the 1997 Treaty on the State Border between Lithuania and Russia, the 1997 Treaty on the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf in the Baltic Sea, the 2005 Agreement on the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf Boundaries in the Baltic Sea, and other agreements.

A post on X by Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs https://x.com/glandsbergis/status/1793183674847862872?s=46

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Deputy Secretary General reaffirms importance of NATO's partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

22 May. 2024

Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana met with the Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, on Wednesday (22 May 2024) at NATO Headquarters. He reiterated NATO's strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Alliance's steadfast commitment to its long-standing partnership with the country.

NATO is supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina's defence reform efforts through a new Defence Capacity Building package. This will help to strengthen the capabilities of the country in areas like crisis management, cyber defence, and countering terrorism. Allies have already contributed several million euros and pledged a number of subject matter experts to this end.

Mr Geoana also reaffirmed that the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina matters for the stability of the Western Balkans, and for the Euro-Atlantic area more broadly. He underlined that separatist calls risk putting hard-won progress at risk, and reiterated that NATO remains fully committed to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina on its Euro-Atlantic path.

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A look at the Defence news 13 - 19 May

Netherlands Ministry of Defence

News item | 22-05-2024 | 12:43

Military leaders from various partner countries discussed global tensions in Utrecht

Last week, military leaders from various partner countries met in Utrecht at the invitation of the Netherlands Chief of Defence, General Onno Eichelsheim.

The aim was to invest in a joint approach to the complex global challenges of today. The meeting covered topics such as the war in Ukraine, Russia's expansionism, and its global impact.

Armoured vehicles with remote-controlled weapons for Ukraine

In the short term, the Netherlands will supply YPR armoured vehicles to the Ukrainian armed forces. This was announced by Netherlands Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren during an online meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group earlier this week. The announcement follows a request by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ollongren on cyber threat: "Strengthening defence essential for NATO countries"

NATO countries face cyber attacks from Russia, Iran and North Korea on a daily basis. Only through closer cooperation with each other and with the business community can the alliance effectively address this cyber threat. Netherlands Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren said this at the Cyber Defence Pledge Conference in The Hague last week. The conference was attended by representatives from all member states and NATO partner countries.

Afghans honoured for their work for Dutch military personnel during missions

155 Afghan nationals who worked for the Defence organisation were honoured last week because of the contribution they made when Dutch servicemen and women were deployed to the country. The Afghans received a commemoration coin in The Hague.

Three marines posthumously rehabilitated in Pakisaji case

Three marines, Joop de Hoog, Louis Stokking and Martinus Smit, were posthumously rehabilitated by Netherlands Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren. This was done after a verification investigation by the Netherlands Institute of Military History. During the war of independence in the former Dutch East Indies, the three marines had refused an order to set fire to an Indonesian village. The marines considered this an act of revenge against innocent civilians, against which they had moral and religious objections. They were severely punished for their refusal to carry out the order.

Strategic movement no problem for the army

Over 800 military personnel and 200 army vehicles arrived at Camp Jonas in Kazlu Ruda, Lithuania, last week. Two convoys managed to cover the long distance from Germany through complex terrain within a few days. This shows that the army is capable of making a strategic move to an area of operations.

RNLN seizes ton of cocaine in Caribbean

HNLMS Groningen intercepted more than a ton of drugs in the Caribbean Sea. This was done in operations on 24 and 28 April, Defence announced last week. These are the first seizures of the naval vessel since it was again deployed as a 'drugs hunter'.

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Central African Republic: UN expert urges State cooperation for execution of arrest warrant against ex-president Francois Bozize Yangouvonda

Press releases

Special Procedures

22 May 2024

GENEVA (22 May 2024) -- Prompt execution of the arrest warrant against former President Francois Bozize Yangouvonda is crucial to bring justice to the victims of his heinous crimes and serious human rights violations, a UN expert on human rights in the Central African Republic (CAR) said today.

On 30 April, the Special Criminal Court in the CAR issued an arrest warrant for the former President of CAR for crimes committed between February 2009 and March 2013 by his presidential guard and internal security services in the civilian prison and military training centre in the town of Bossembele between 2009-2013.

"In the Central African Republic, all perpetrators and accomplices of serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity will sooner or later answer before the courts," said Yao Agbetse, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the CAR.

Bozize is accused of the crimes of murder, enforced disappearance of persons, imprisonment, or other forms of deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental provisions of international law, and practices of torture and inhuman acts. The Court also listed crimes of rape or other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity and other inhuman acts of a similar nature intentionally causing great suffering or serious injury to physical integrity or physical or mental health in the warrant.

"I appeal to Central African authorities to mobilise intelligence services, defence forces and internal security forces to execute the arrest warrant and call for the support of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) in this regard," Agbetse said.

He also called for collaboration from the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, where ex-president Francois Bozize resides and cooperation from all neighbouring states of the CAR.

"I also urge the African Union, as the architect and guarantor of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (APPR-RCA in its French acronym), to mobilise its Peace and Security Council and call on the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to activate and intensify its actions with its partners, including AFRIPOL, to ensure that the suspect is brought before the court to answer for charges against him," the expert said.

Agbetse also urged the UN Security Council which has placed Bozize on its sanctions list, to provide support for the prompt execution of the arrest warrant against the former President.

He warned against the obstruction of the execution of the arrest warrant, whether national, sub-regional or international in origin, and by any entity whatsoever.

"It would be considered an obstacle to the fight against impunity, an attack on the peace and reconciliation process and a denial of justice for his victims," Agbetse said.

"Any person or entity responsible for or complicit in such acts of obstruction would be considered an enemy of peace and reconciliation in CAR," he said.

ENDS

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Meeting of Weimar Triangle foreign ministers

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

22.05.2024

On 22 May, Minister Radosaw Sikorski met in Weimar with his counterparts from France and Germany, Stephane Sejourne and Annalena Baerbock, to discuss how far their declaration has been implemented since its adoption on 12 February 2024 in La Celle-Saint-Cloud and to speak about a number of current topics on the international agenda.

The ministers debated such on-going matters as support for Ukraine and Moldova, preparations for the NATO summit, transatlantic relations, ties with the EU and China, and the situation in the Middle East and Africa. Apart from the current international issues, the discussion focused on European affairs, the upcoming elections for the European Parliament and its new institutional cycle, the EU enlargement process, as well as preparations for the new EU strategic agenda 2024-2029.

The Weimar Triangle top diplomats agreed that the Weimar cooperation to counteract foreign disinformation is excellent and likely to set an example for future EU action. This is particularly important before the European Parliament elections as we now face continuing attempts to spread disinformation.

As for Ukraine, the possibilities of further support were discussed, especially given that the Weimar Triangle states have a special role to play in these efforts. The ministers also addressed the prospects of starting accession negotiations with Ukraine by the end of June. Another subject raised was the situation in Moldova which is experiencing Russia's continued hybrid attacks.

The Weimar meeting's tangible outcome was the adoption of a document with suggested actions to strengthen the geopolitical role of the European Union by the Polish, French, and German ministers.

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Israel has forced 75% of Gaza population from homes: UNRWA

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 May 2024 6:59 PM

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) says 75 percent of the Gaza population has been forcibly displaced by Israel since October.

In a post on X on Wednesday, UNRWA said many of these people have been forcibly displaced "up to 4 or 5 times."

"For thousands of Palestinian families there is nowhere left to go: military operations & bombardments pose a continuous threat, buildings have been turned to rubble. Nowhere is safe in Gaza," the UN's agency stated.

Simultaneous Israeli assaults on the southern and northern edges of Gaza have caused a new exodus of hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and sharply restricted the flow of aid.

Since May 9, Israel launched its new wave of forced displacement, ordering residents of Rafah to leave the flashpoint city. The UN said on Tuesday that more than 900,000 people in Rafah have so far fled.

According to UNRWA, its facilities in Khan Younis alone, used as shelters for forcibly displaced Palestinians, have increased in occupancy by 35 percent since May 6.

The occupying regime, however, prevents UNRWA from delivering the desperately needed aid to starving inhabitants of Gaza. The UN agency has long been considered a lifeline for people in Gaza.

Founded in 1949, the agency provides services for over six million Palestinian refugees living across the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. In Gaza, it is the primary UN agency delivering healthcare, and essential humanitarian support to the Palestinians trapped in the blockaded territory.

Many of UNRWA's 13,000 staff are Palestinian.

Israel has repeatedly equated UNRWA staff with members of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, claiming that the agency has links to the group without providing any proof of the allegations. Israel has also been lobbying hard to have UNRWA closed as it is the only UN agency to have a specific mandate to look after the basic needs of Palestinian refugees.

Last month, an independent investigation said the Tel Aviv regime had yet to provide evidence of its allegations that a "significant number" of UNRWA employees are "members of terrorist organizations."

Separately on Wednesday, at least 16 countries put forth a "statement of shared commitments" in support of UNRWA that will be circulated to UN members later in the day.

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Ireland, Norway, Spain 'on right side of history,' Arab world hails trio for recognizing Palestine

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 May 2024 4:41 PM

Arab counties have praised the decision by three European Union nations to formally recognize a Palestinian state.

Ireland, Norway, and Spain announced Wednesday they had formally recognized the state of Palestine.

The recognition will come into force on May 28.

Reacting to the news on Wednesday, Benjamin Netanyahu immediately recalled ambassadors to Oslo, Dublin and Madrid and ordered a "severe Demarche" to the three countries' ambassadors in Tel Aviv.

And his staunch ally, President Joe Biden of the United States, said he opposed "unilateral recognition" of a Palestinian state, according to the White House.

Biden "believes a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties."

France also distanced itself from the trio, saying conditions were not right to officially recognize an independent state of Palestine.

But several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, welcomed the development and urged other countries to follow suit.

Riyadh called the recognition as a "positive decision" that "affirms the international consensus on the inherent right of the Palestinian people to self-determination."

The kingdom also called "on the rest of the countries to quickly make the same decision."

In a Wednesday statement, Egypt praised the announcement as a "welcome step."

It said the move supports "international efforts to create a political horizon that can lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state."

Qatar similarly welcomed the announcement as an "important step in support of a two-state solution."

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement carried by the official Wafa news agency that the recognition of an independent Palestinian state will enshrine "the Palestinian people's right to self-determination."

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas also described the move as "an important step on the path to establishing our right to our land."

The head of the Arab League called the decision "a courageous step" that puts the three European countries "on the right side of history in this conflict."

Most countries in the world already recognize Palestinian statehood.

Prior to the Wednesday announcement, more than 140 out of 193 member states of the United Nations had made their recognition official.

In the past weeks several other European countries indicated a plan to recognize a Palestinian state, saying the move is essential for lasting peace in the region.

The planned recognition will add pressure on Israel as its bloodiest-ever military campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip is in its eighth month now.

The barbarous regime has massacred more than 35,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza since early October.

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May 21: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 May 2024 2:29 PM

By Press TV Website Staff

Israel has killed over 35,600 Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip since early October. Still, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers.

The major operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Tuesday, May 21, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on May 21:

Sniped an Israeli soldier and bombed a gathering of regime forces in the "Netzarim" axis, southwest of Gaza City.

Detonated a "shock" explosive device on a group of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Al-Bashir Mosque, leaving behind many casualties.

Detonated an anti-personnel device on an Israeli infantry force in the Jabalia camp, northern Gaza Strip.

Al-Quds Brigades' operations on May 21:

Targeted an Israeli force on the Al-Hamamah roundabout axis with a barrage of bullets.

Shot down an Israeli military "EVO MAX 4T" drone while it was carrying out spying missions in the skies of central Gaza Strip.

Bombed a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles near "Sultan Studio" in the Jabalia camp with a barrage of mortar shells.

Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles with a number of "Ababil" explosive projectiles east of the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip.

Detonated several explosive devices prepared in advance on Israeli military vehicles along several axes in the city of Jenin in the northern Gaza Strip.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on May 21:

Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli soldiers using machine guns and RBG rockets in the axis of advance around the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque in Tal Al-Zaatar, north of the Gaza Strip.

Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli forces in several areas on Al-Nasra Street, Al-Jaberbat neighborhood, Al-Ahmadin roundabout, and Al-Hussan roundabout.

Targeted an Israeli military "Merkava" tank with an anti-armor shell in the center of the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip.

Mujahideen Brigades' operations on May 21:

Targeted an Israeli infantry force with appropriate weapons and engaged in heavy clashes with them at close range on Al-Albani Street, east of Jabalia camp, northern Gaza Strip.

Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on May 21:

In a joint operation with Al-Quds Brigades, bombed the occupied city of Asqalan with a rocket barrage.

Al-Asifah Forces' operations on May 21:

Detonated an explosive device on an Israeli military vehicle and destroyed it.

Bombed a gathering of Israeli soldiers on the axes of advance in Al-Salam and Al-Jeneina neighborhoods in the southern Gaza city of Rafah using heavy-caliber mortar shells.

Hezbollah's operations on May 21:

Eastern sector:

At around 13:00 local time, Israeli soldiers at the Ruwaisat al-Qarn site in Lebanon's Shebaa were targeted with a guided missile.

At around 16:50 local time, the Al-Marj site was targeted with artillery shells.

At around 17:00 local time, the Zibdin site in Lebanon's Shebaa was targeted with missiles.

Western sector:

At around 02:30 local time, Israeli soldiers at the Al-Raheb site were targeted with missiles and artillery shells.

At around 15:05 local time, Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Raheb site were targeted with missiles.

At around 16:04 local time, the Al-Malikiyah site was targeted by artillery shells.

At around 17:20 local time, Israeli soldiers on Karantina Hill were targeted with artillery shells.

Islamic Resistance in Iraq's operations on May 21:

Targeted a drone base of the Israeli military in the occupied Golan Heights.

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Ireland, Norway, Spain formally recognize Palestinian state

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 May 2024 9:49 AM

Ireland, Norway and Spain have formally recognized the Palestinian state, angering the Israeli regime that recalled its ambassadors from the two European states.

"Today Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognize the state of Palestine, each of us will undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision," Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said at a news conference in Dublin on Wednesday.

"I am confident that further countries will join us in taking this important step in the coming weeks."

He added that the move was a statement of "unequivocal support" for the so-called two-state solution, which he described as "the only credible path to peace and security."

Shortly after Harris's statement, his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said both countries will recognize the Palestine state from May 28.

Sanchez said it is clear is that "[Israeli] prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not have a project of peace for Palestine."

Store, for his part, noted that there cannot be peace in the West Asia region if there is no recognition.

"Norway's formal recognition of Palestine as a state will enter into force on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. A number of other like-minded European countries will also formally recognize Palestine on that same date. These countries will be making their own announcements," added a statement by the Norwegian prime minister.

Palestine welcomes recognition

Meanwhile, secretary general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Hussein al-Sheikh, welcomed the decision by Norway, Spain and Ireland to recognize the state of Palestine, calling it a "historical moment."

"Historical moments in which the free world triumphs for truth and justice after long decades of Palestinian national struggle, suffering, pain, occupation, racism, murder, oppression, abuse and destruction to which the people of Palestine were subjected to," he said in a post on social media platform X, describing the recognition as a path to stability, security and peace.

"We thank the countries of the world that have recognized and will recognize the independent State of Palestine. We affirm that this is the path to stability, security and peace in the region."

In reaction, Israeli authorities have ordered the regime's ambassadors from Ireland and Norway to immediately return, and said they would do the same for Spain.

The Spanish prime minister has been one of the most outspoken European leaders when it comes to criticism of the Israeli regime's genocidal war on Gaza. He has also repeatedly asserted that the so-called two-state solution remains the only answer to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This comes amid Israel's brutal war on Gaza, which was launched on October 7 after Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory operation into the occupied territories.

Concomitantly with the war, the regime has been enforcing a near-total siege on the coastal territory, which has reduced the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory into a trickle.

So far during the military onslaught, the regime has killed at least 35,456 Gazans, most of them women, children, and adolescents. Another 79,476 Palestinians have sustained injuries as well.

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New U.S. Legislation To Target Democratic Backsliding In Georgia

By Todd Prince May 22, 2024

U.S. lawmakers are set to unveil a bill this week that seeks to persuade Georgia's government to kill a controversial "foreign agent" law widely viewed as rolling back democratic achievements.

The Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia's Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence (MEGOBARI) Act offers a combination of carrots and sticks to stop the final passage of the Georgian bill that would force nongovernmental organizations and media that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as "foreign agents." The acronym for the bill, MEGOBARI, is also the Georgian word for "friend."

The proposed legislation -- expected to be introduced to Congress by South Carolina Republican Congressman Joe Wilson -- would require the U.S. administration to impose sanctions on Georgian officials responsible for the controversial law as well as individuals involved in human rights violations such as members of the security forces and those who have engaged in large-scale corruption.

Tens of thousands of Georgians, mainly young adults, have taken to the streets over the past few weeks to protest the "foreign agent" law, which experts say is aimed at undermining the opposition ahead of parliamentary elections in October and could be used to clamp down on civil society and media.

The Georgian legislation is similar to a law passed by the Russian government in 2012 that served to tighten the noose around the opposition and has sparked concerns in the United States and European Union. Some Georgian NGOs have said they will not comply with the bill, potentially opening themselves up to police raids and closure.

A bipartisan group of 29 lawmakers in the House of Representatives, the lower house in the U.S. Congress, earlier this month addressed a letter to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze condemning the "foreign agent" bill and warning its passage would force Washington to review its ties with Tbilisi.

"The situation in Georgia is clear. The government can choose to listen to the voices of the Georgian people or continue down a dark road to Russian-style authoritarianism. We state, in no uncertain terms, that choosing this latter path would cause the United States to fundamentally reassess the nature of our relationship," the lawmakers said in their May 10 letter.

Russian Intelligence Assets

With the Georgian parliament passing the bill in a third and final reading on May 14, the U.S. lawmakers are now making good on their word.

Work on the MEGOBARI Act has been in progress for months as experts on Capitol Hill expected Georgian Dream to pursue its passage a second time after pulling it in 2023 amid protests, a person close to the legislation told RFE/RL. The person asked their name not be used so they could speak freely on the issue.

The bill also requires the U.S. administration to report to Congress on any Russian intelligence assets in the country as well as Chinese influence, including in the security sphere.

The person familiar with the bill said work on those matters, including the sanctions list and details of Russian and Chinese malign influence, are already under way and could be announced quickly were the MEGOBARI Act to pass.

Exposing Russian agents among the Georgian elite, as well as cases of Chinese influence peddling, would serve to undermine Georgian Dream's narrative that it is protecting the sovereignty of the nation with the "foreign agent" bill.

The ruling Georgian Dream party has accused foreign-funded NGOs of instigating protests following elections in 2020 and after the introduction of the "foreign agent" bill in 2023.

The person familiar with the proposed legislation indicated that the United States possesses information that could torpedo the reputation of members of the Georgian elite.

In a statement posted on Facebook on May 21, Georgian Dream accused U.S. lawmakers sponsoring the MEGOBARI Act of seeking to "blackmail" them.

U.S. sanctions bar individuals, as well as the companies they control, from doing business with U.S. persons. More importantly, it bars them and their companies from conducting any financial transactions in U.S. dollars, the world's most widely used currency. The sanctions could sting as Georgia's economy is highly dollarized with a large chunk of outstanding bank loans and deposits denominated in the U.S. currency.

The bill does offer carrots as well, providing the ruling party drops the "foreign agent" law, including fewer barriers to trade, better access to U.S. visas, and economic aid. The United States Agency for International Development already allocates about $70 million annually for Georgia to support education, small businesses, and NGOs among other spheres.

The person familiar said the incentives are also a signal to Tbilisi that the United States wants to rejuvenate the bilateral relationship, which they described as having been on cruise control in recent years, noting the U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Commission hasn't met for some time.

"This is a constructive & well-timed way to lay out for the Georgian people the friendly alternative that awaits if they manage to take back their government," Josh Rudolph, a senior fellow and the head of the German Marshall Fund's Transatlantic Democracy Working Group, said in a tweet.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili vetoed the "foreign agent" bill last week but the Georgian Dream-controlled parliament is expected to override her veto when they vote next week.

"The Georgia-U.S. strategic partnership is currently a prisoner of Georgian Dream's party politics," Irakli Sirbiladze, an international relations researcher, told RFE/RL's Georgian Service.

The Georgian ruling party "is ready to give up the country's national interest -- the strengthening of political, defense, economic, and people-to-people ties with the U.S. -- in order to achieve the party's goal," Sirbiladze said.

William Courtney, the former U.S. ambassador to Georgia from 1992-95, agreed that the MEGOBARI Act is unlikely to persuade Georgian Dream from killing the bill.

"There is no sign that this government is going to be deterred from taking Georgia in a more authoritarian and anti-Western direction," said Courtney, who is now an analyst at the Washington-based Rand Corp think tank.

"It may be too late for diplomacy to make much difference," he said, referring to the act.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Georgian Service

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/megobari-act-georgia-us- sanctions-georgian-dream/32959477.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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UN General Assembly To Vote On Resolution To Commemorate Srebrenica Genocide

By RFE/RL May 22, 2024

The UN General Assembly has scheduled a debate on a UN resolution to establish an annual day to commemorate the 1995 genocide of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims by Bosnian Serbs on May 23 to be followed by a vote.

The resolution would designate July 11 as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.

The resolution has sparked protests and a lobbying campaign by Serbia's president and the Bosnian Serb leadership to block its adoption by the 193-member General Assembly. Approval requires a majority of those countries that take part in the vote.

The draft resolution condemns "without reservation any denial of the Srebrenica genocide as a historical event." It also "condemns without reservation actions that glorify those convicted of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by international courts, including those responsible for the Srebrenica genocide."

Sponsored by Germany and Rwanda, the resolution also asks the United Nations to prepare an outreach program and invites countries, organizations, civil society organizations, and others to observe July 11 with "appropriate education and public awareness-raising activities" in memory and honor of the victims.

The killings began near the end of the 1992-95 Bosnian War, which broke out after the breakup of Yugoslavia and pitted Bosnian Serbs against the country's two other main ethnic populations, Croats and Muslim Bosniaks.

On July 11, 1995, Bosnian Serbs overran a UN-protected safe area in Srebrenica and began targeting Bosniak men and boys. Those who tried to escape were chased through the woods and over the mountains around the town.

The International Court of Justice, the UN's highest tribunal, determined in 2007 that the acts committed in Srebrenica constituted genocide, and the court's determination is included in the draft resolution.

Germany's UN Ambassador Antje Leendertse said the resolution "has the support of a large cross-regional group. She noted in a statement to the Associated Press last week that there is an official UN commemoration of the 1994 Rwanda genocide every year on April 7, and the Srebrenica resolution aims to do the same for Bosnia before the 30th anniversary of the start of the genocide in 2025.

Serbia's nationalist president, Aleksandar Vucic, and the leadership of the Bosnian Serb entity, Republika Srpska, have vehemently opposed the adoption of the resolution, saying it brands Serbia as a "genocidal nation."

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric told the UN Security Council on April 30 that Serbia has consistently condemned the "horrific" Srebrenica massacre and other crimes committed during the Bosnian War. Duric called for the resolution to be withdrawn and replaced by one that honors all victims of the war.

Vucic said the resolution should be subjected to a vote in the UN Security Council, not the General Assembly. Those put to a vote in the Security Council can be vetoed by any of its five members, therefore allowing Russia and China to sink it.

Russia's envoy to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, dismissed the resolution as "one-sided" and "politically charged" in his comments to the Security Council on April 30. Nebenzya said the move would not promote reconciliation among the peoples of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Milorad Dodik, Republika Srpska's Russia-friendly leader, has repeatedly threatened that if the resolution is adopted, the entity "will withdraw from the decision-making process in Bosnia."

Dodik, who has regularly reiterated his denial of the Srebrenica genocide, told supporters at a rally in Banja Luka last month that the actions of the Republika Srpska Army in Srebrenica in 1995 were "a mistake that left the crime," but he denied it was genocide.

With reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bosnia-serbia-un-general- assembly-srebrenica-genocide-day/32959682.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Bulgarian Prosecutor Seeks Closure Of 2 Pro-Russian Paramilitary Groups

By RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service May 22, 2024

Two pro-Russian paramilitary organizations operating in Bulgaria should be closed because their activities violate the constitution, a district prosecutor's office said on May 22.

The request to shut down BNO Shipka and the Vasil Levski Military Union was submitted to the district court in Varna by the local prosecutor's office. The court is expected to schedule a hearing to consider the request.

The two paramilitary organizations are connected to one another and known for their pro-Russian rhetoric. They have been conducting combat training for years and oppose Bulgaria's Euro-Atlantic affiliations, including its membership in the European Union and in NATO.

The request comes a year and a half after the state prosecutor's office announced that it was investigating BNO Shipka for sedition.

Investigators found that the two paramilitary organizations violated the constitution's prohibition of actions "against the sovereignty [and] territorial integrity of the country and the unity of the nation" and its prohibition of inciting hatred and creating "secret or paramilitary structures."

The Varna district prosecutor's office said members of both groups had made organized visits to the border with Turkey aimed at "catching illegal migrants."

In addition, the leaders of the two associations have maintained contacts with representatives of German political factions, including people known for their far-right beliefs, the investigators said.

The groups describe their activities as patriotic.

The leader and spokesman for the organizations, a man who introduces himself as Vladimir Rusev, has spread conspiracy theories against NATO and the European Union on social media for years. Rusev, who has gained fame in the past with the nickname Walter Kalashnikov, opposes COVID-19 vaccination, linking it to disinformation that circulated on social media during the pandemic.

Questions about the organizations were raised last year by investigative journalist Hristo Grozev, who reported that they were linked to a 2016 attempt by Russia to destabilize Bulgaria using a model deployed in Montenegro the same year.

Grozev's investigation looked into a protest in Sofia in April 2016 organized by BNO Shipka and the Vasil Levski Military Union in front of the National Assembly. Many of the activists of the paramilitary organizations were preemptively detained before the protest.

A few months later members of the organizations beat protesters who demonstrated against the visit of the pro-Russian biker Night Wolves club to the Black Sea port city of Burgas. The Burgas district court in April 2019 convicted three people in the case.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-protest-russia- paramilitaries-varna/32959539.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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6 Kyrgyz, 4 Foreign Nationals Detained Over Mob Attacks In Bishkek That Triggered Exodus

By RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service May 22, 2024

BISHKEK -- The Kyrgyz Interior Ministry said on May 22 that six Kyrgyz and four foreign citizens had been detained on suspicion of being involved in a brawl that sparked mob attacks on foreign students in Bishkek, triggering a mass exodus of Pakistani students from the Central Asian nation.

According to the ministry, nine investigations have been launched into hooliganism, robbery, mass disorder, and inciting ethnic hatred. Thirty-three people were injured in the violence, the ministry added.

Hundreds of Pakistani students have left Kyrgyzstan since the May 18 violence, which was triggered by the appearance on social media of a video purportedly showing a group of "people of Asian appearance" harassing foreign students on the night of May 13.

The group then pursued the students to their dormitory, where at least one foreigner was assaulted by several men and dragged along the floor.

Kyrgyz officials said later that the foreigners involved in the brawl on video were Egyptians.

The Kyrgyz government has vowed to pursue those responsible for the violence.

Still, it appeared to lay the blame for the attack on illegal migrants, saying authorities had been taking "decisive measures to suppress illegal migration and expel undesirable persons from Kyrgyzstan."

On May 22, Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security (UKMK) said in a statement that five Egyptian citizens were arrested on charges of extortion, illegal drug possession, and violating immigration laws.

A day earlier, the UKMK said six Pakistani nationals were detained overnight while trying to illegally enter Kyrgyzstan from Kazakhstan.

Just three days before the violence, the UKMK detained 28 Pakistani nationals for "working illegally" in a sewing shop in Bishkek.

The same day, Bishkek city police shut down delivery services conducted by more than 400 foreign students, mostly from Pakistan, on motorcycles and scooters, citing traffic safety concerns.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyz-foreign-nationals- detained-mob-attack/32959434.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Baltics Criticize Russian Proposal On Maritime Borders; Moscow Withdraws Draft

By RFE/RL's Russian Service and Current Time May 22, 2024

Russia has withdrawn without explanation a Defense Ministry draft that proposed revising Moscow's maritime border in the eastern Baltic Sea and expanding its territorial waters that raised the ire of littoral NATO members Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, and Estonia.

The draft, dated May 21, was initially published on an official Russian portal of legal drafts. It proposed expanding Russia's territorial waters in the Gulf of Finland and around the Kaliningrad exclave near the maritime borders with Finland, Estonia, and Lithuania.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland and Sweden have joined NATO, leaving Kaliningrad completely surrounded by members of the alliance.

According to the draft, expanding the border off the coast of Kaliningrad between Baltiysk and Zelenogradsk and in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland would have allowed the corresponding maritime areas to be used as internal sea waters of Russia as vessels made the trip from St. Petersburg.

It also proposed changes off the coast of Lithuania in the area of the Curonian Spit, the crescent-shaped sand dune separating the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea.

Following the publication of the draft, Lithuania's Foreign Ministry said it was "summoning a representative of the Russian Federation for a full explanation." Moscow has not had an ambassador in Vilnius since April 2022.

Lithuania expelled Moscow's envoy and downgraded its diplomatic relations with Russia following the atrocities allegedly committed by Russian forces in the Ukrainian town of Bucha.

"Another Russian hybrid operation is under way, this time attempting to spread fear, uncertainty, and doubt about their intentions in the Baltic Sea," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"Finland acts as always: calmly and based on facts," Finnish President Alexander Stubb wrote on X.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Helsinki will monitor Russia's moves, while Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen told reporters that Helsinki was "following the situation."

"We don't have any official information on what Russia is planning," she said.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson reminded Moscow that it was a signatory to the UN convention regulating maritime border changes.

"Both we and Finland assume that Russia -- which is a signatory party to that convention -- lives up to that responsibility," Kristersson was quoted as saying by the Swedish news agency TT.

The draft was withdrawn without any explanation just hours after the wave of criticism, with an unnamed Russian diplomatic source telling Interfax that Moscow had no intention of revising its maritime borders, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters there was "nothing political" in the draft.

"You see how tensions and the level of confrontation are escalating, especially in the Baltic region. This requires appropriate steps from our relevant bodies to ensure our security," Peskov said.

News of the Russian proposal to redraw the maritime border was first reported by the Moscow Times

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/baltics-russia-proposal-maritime- borders/32959189.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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European Trio's Recognition of Palestine Constitutes 'Big Failure' for US, Israeli Diplomacy

Sputnik News

20240522

Ilya Tsukanov

Norway, Ireland and Spain have announced plans to join the growing bloc of European countries which recognize Palestinian statehood. Sputnik asked a pair of respected experts in Mideast politics and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict what happens next.

Israel recalled its ambassadors to Norway, Ireland and Spain on Wednesday for "urgent consultations," summoning envoys in Tel Aviv and threatening the countries with "severe consequences" after the trio announced plans to formally recognize Palestine - likely based on its pre-1967 borders, starting next week.

"Israel will not remain silent in the face of those undermining its sovereignty and endangering its security," Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement after the recognition announcement.

"Today's decision sends a message to Palestinians and the world: Terrorism pays," Katz alleged, accusing the three countries of "choosing to reward Hamas" with statehood after its surprise incursion into southern Israel last October.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the trio's move, saying it will help enshrine "the Palestinian people's right to self-determination" and bring a two-state solution closer to reality. Hamas - which doesn't recognize Israel's right to exist - also welcomed the development, calling it "an important step on a path to establishing our right to our land," and urging more countries to follow suit.

A White House National Security Council spokesperson rushed to Israel's defense, emphasizing that while President Biden "is a strong supporter of a two-state solution and has been throughout his career," he believes a Palestinian state "should be recognized through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition."

The "direct negotiations" the spokesman mentioned refer to an effort by Washington to broker a Palestinian-Israeli settlement - with talks failing spectacularly over the course of more than three decades thanks largely to Israeli intransigence, US favoritism for Tel Aviv and efforts by Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, to divide the Palestinian liberation movement.

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne criticized the three countries' move, saying that recognition was "not just a symbolic issue or a question of political positioning, but a diplomatic tool in the service of the solution of two states living side by side in peace and security." Sejourne suggested conditions are not ripe to recognize Palestinian statehood.

A spokesperson for Germany's Foreign Ministry echoed Washington and Paris's sentiments, saying Berlin would realize its "firm goal" of recognizing an independent Palestine only through a "dialogue process."

Sweden became the first Western European country to recognize an independent Palestinian state, doing so in 2014, 26 years after five former Eastern Bloc countries including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania did so in 1988, together with Cyprus.

143 of 193 members of the United Nations, including Russia, every country in the Middle East and South America, most of Africa and Asia now recognize Palestinian statehood, with Wednesday's announcement shrinking the bloc of Western countries which have not done so.

Norway, Ireland and Spain represent a unique group of countries in terms of socio-economic development and political persuasion. Norway, for example, is not a member of the European Union, and while it was one of the first countries to recognize Israel in 1949 and boasts a "long history of friendship" with the Jewish State, it has also been highly critical of Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem, and of the brutality of Tel Aviv's military operations in Gaza after October 7.

Spain and Israel only established relations in the mid-1980s, and while ties quickly warmed after that, they worsened dramatically last October, when several Spanish officials recommended that Prime Minister Netanyahu be brought before the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges. This prompted Tel Aviv to accuse the Spanish government of sympathies with terrorists. Spain, interestingly, is only of the few NATO allies which has not recognized the US-sponsored puppet regime in Kosovo, Serbia, indicating at least some readiness to act against Washington's interests when Madrid sees fit.

Ireland has also had a rocky relationship with Israel, with embassies between the two countries set up only in 1996, and Dublin regularly criticizing Tel Aviv over its threat to Irish peacekeepers serving in the UN-led peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, over the construction of the West Bank security wall, and over illegal Mossad operations on Irish soil.

'Big Failure of US Diplomacy'

"Of course recognizing Palestinian state is a big step - it is significant," Dr. Mehmet Rakipoglu, an assistant professor at the Mardin Artuklu University in Turkiye, told Sputnik.

Rakipoglu believes the three countries have been outside the US and Israeli orbit politically for some time, with some, like Ireland, sharing a special sympathy for the Palestinians based on their own experience of suffering at the hands of British imperialism.

"So, of course, this is a big failure of US diplomacy," the observer stressed.

"This is a normal failure of Israeli diplomacy, not [only] in these countries, but also at international level," Ayman Yousef, professor of political science and international relations at the Arab-American University in Palestine, told Sputnik.

"It will have very good implications for other countries within the EU to recognize Palestine. We see drastic changes within the foreign policy priorities of these countries. We expect countries such as Belgium, Malta, Slovenia and even Greece and Portugal to recognize Palestine as well," Yousef said.

Wednesday's move "means, implicitly and explicitly, an alliance of these countries within the EU to shape its policies vis-a-vis Palestine, and it will push other countries to have the same diplomatic move here," the observer believes.

For Palestine, the trio's decision will also mean improving bilateral economic, political and cultural relations, and put pressure on the US, "the traditional ally of Israel, to be more balanced in its policies and reactions to the conflict in the Middle East," Yousef said.

Israel Has No One to Blame But Itself

Israel has only itself to blame for world opinion shifting against it, even among its traditional friends in the West, the observer stressed, pointing to the brutality of Israeli operations in Gaza, which have now killed or maimed more than five percent of the Strip's prewar population.

"Israel destroyed nearly everything: hospitals, mosques, churches and universities, schools and all civilian foundations of Gaza. I think the level and magnitude of this destruction have pushed these countries to change their policies in the right direction. And I think many EU countries start thinking that the stability and security in the Middle East will not be achieved, it will be a remote option if they don't recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign country," Yousef said.

"Israel is failing not only within the EU, even in the United Nations to convince other countries. Even in the US, there is a huge opposition to policies adopted by the Israelis - the student demonstrations in many American universities being just one example of that," the observer summed up.

 Sputnik

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Polish Army Ready to Increase Number of Troops on Eastern Border

Sputnik News

20240522

WARSAW (Sputnik) - Poland is ready to increase the number of troops at it eastern border and provide them with better equipment amid increased tensions in the country's relations with Belarus and Russia, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Wednesday.

"We are ready to increase the military presence on the Polish-Belarusian border. We will protect the Polish border. The police and the border guard service will be supported and provided with even better equipment," Kosiniak-Kamysz told the lower house of the Polish parliament.

Moreover, various types of fortification and other equipment would be deployed on the border as part of preparations for the Shield-East plan announced last week by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the defense chief said.

"It will not only be reinforced concrete hedgehogs or picket fences, it will not only be a set of equipment used at the right time and in the right place. Everything is aimed at surveillance, full-fledged monitoring, reconnaissance, and anti-drone systems. All these modern systems will be located on 400 kilometers (248 miles) of our border, especially with Belarus and Russia," Kosiniak-Kamysz explained.

In addition, Poland is "building drone forces," which are also the key part of the Shield-East national defense and deterrence plan, Kosiniak-Kamysz said, adding that the events in Ukraine had proven that component was of great importance.

"There will be tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of drones, unmanned, air, ground, surface and underwater vehicles in the Polish army, in all areas, in every division, in all parts and in all types of forces," the defense minister said.

During his speech in the parliament, Kosiniak-Kamysz also recalled that Poland had taken part in the training of almost a third of the Ukrainian soldiers within the European program, that is, 16,000 troops.

"Together with bilateral activities, this is 22,000 soldiers trained by the Polish army," the Polish defense minister added.

The Shield-East national defense and deterrence plan entails an investment of over 2 billion euros ($2.17 billion) in reinforcing Poland's eastern border with Russia and Belarus. Poland, along with other NATO countries, increased military training of its troops after Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The alliance started reinforcing its eastern flank by sending additional ships, planes, helicopters and ground troops to the region and putting them on high alert.

Moreover, Poland has been continuously taking measures to reinforce its eastern border following the migrant crisis that unfolded in 2021. Tens of thousands of irregular migrants from the Middle East and Africa crowded on Belarus' side of the border, aiming to cross into the European Union via Poland, as well as neighboring Latvia and Lithuania. Polish authorities tightened border controls, deployed troops, and accused Belarus of orchestrating the migrant crisis. Minsk rejected the accusation, saying Warsaw was abusing the migrant crisis narrative to aggressively push migrants into Belarusian territory.

 Sputnik

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Some EU States Mulling Sanctions Against Georgia Over Foreign Agents Bill - Reports

Sputnik News

20240522

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Some EU member states are considering imposing sanctions on Georgia, including the suspension of visa-free travel regime, over the foreign agents bill, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the situation.

On Saturday, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed the controversial foreign agents bill that had been adopted by the country's parliament last Tuesday. The parliament needs a simple majority to override the veto.

A number of EU countries, led by Estonia, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Sweden, aim to discuss restrictive measures towards Georgia at the EU Foreign Affairs meeting next week, the Financial Times reported.

The potential sanctions include suspending visa-free travel to the European Union by Georgians, freezing of EU funds for the country and some targeted sanctions, the newspaper cited the officials as saying.

If the foreign agents bill is enacted, Georgia's EU accession progress will face a major setback, an EU official said.

The draft law "On the Transparency of Foreign Influence" was initially submitted to the Georgian parliament in February 2023 but was withdrawn the following month amid a wave of protests and pressure from Western countries. After revision, the term "foreign influence agent" was replaced with "organization promoting the interests of a foreign power," while the rest of the content remained the same.

The latest iteration of the bill has sparked weeks of mass protests in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi amid concerns that it could block the South Caucasus nation's path to EU membership. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell criticized the bill in March, saying its adoption could have serious repercussions for EU-Georgian relations.

The West is acting as harshly and "crazily" as possible with regard to Georgia because it failed to destabilize the situation in the country earlier, as it did with Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

The EU's call on the Georgian authorities to ensure the right of citizens to protest can be interpreted as interference in internal affairs for the purpose of regime change, Maria Zakharova said. According to her, otherwise the EU's call "can be interpreted as interference in the internal affairs of the state with the aim of regime change.

 Sputnik

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Norway, Ireland and Spain Recognize Palestinian State

Sputnik News

20240522

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - In late March, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that Madrid had reached an agreement with Ireland, Slovenia and Malta to take the first steps toward recognizing the State of Palestine to promote the peace process.

Norway, Ireland and Spain have announced they are officially recognizing Palestinian statehood.

"The Norwegian Government has decided that Norway will recognise Palestine as a state. In the midst of a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in peace and security," said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre on Wednesday.

He added that the Palestinian people have a fundamental right to self-determination.

"Both Israelis and Palestinians have a right to live in peace in their respective states. There will be no peace in the Middle East without a two-state solution. There can be no two-state solution without a Palestinian state. In other words, a Palestinian state is a prerequisite for achieving peace in the Middle East," said the PM.

Ireland's taoiseach Simon Harris has also confirmed at a press conference that Ireland will recognise a Palestinian state, with a similar move announced by Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez.

Palestinian movement Hamas has welcomed statements from Norway, Ireland and Spain on the recognition of Palestine as a state.

"The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) welcomed the announcement by Norway, Ireland and Spain to recognize the state of Palestine," the movement said in a statement, calling this an important step towards establishing the Palestinians' right to their land and the creation of an independent Palestinian state with its capital in Jerusalem.

Earlier, Politico reported that Ireland will officially recognize Palestinian statehood in coordination with at least two other European countries. It is reported that over the past few weeks Ireland had discussed the timing of Palestinian statehood recognition in meetings with the governments of Belgium, Spain, Slovenia, Norway and Malta.

Israel Reacts

The Israeli Foreign Minister has ordered recalling of ambassadors from Ireland, Norway and Spain for consultations over the countries' decision to recognize the Palestinian state.

"Foreign Minister Israel Katz ordered the recall of the ambassador to Spain for consultation and the summoning of the ambassadors of Ireland, Spain and Norway (to Israel) for a conversation with reprimand, during which they will watch a video of the abduction of female military personnel (responsible for monitoring the border with the Gaza Strip)," the ministry said in a statement.

Israel's foreign minister Israel Katz shared a post on X, saying:

"I'm sending a clear and unequivocal message to Ireland and Norway: Israel will not remain silent in the face of those undermining its sovereignty and endangering its security."

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in late March that Madrid had reached an agreement with Ireland, Slovenia and Malta to take the first steps toward recognizing the State of Palestine to promote the peace process. The nations later issued a joint statement, in which they expressed their readiness to recognize the State of Palestine under the "right circumstances."

Palestinians seek diplomatic recognition of their independent state in the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government refuses to recognize Palestine as an independent political and diplomatic entity and builds settlements in the occupied areas despite objections from the United Nations.

Up until now, the State of Palestine had been recognized by nine EU member states. Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia took this step in 1988, before joining the EU, while Sweden recognized the State of Palestine in 2014.

 Sputnik

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

22 May 2024

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Good afternoon to all of you. I'll start with an update on Gaza. Our colleagues from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) say that civilians displaced by escalating hostilities and evacuation orders in Gaza lack shelter, they lack food, they lack water and other supplies and services essential for human survival.

This comes amid reports of the ongoing Israeli bombardment, as well as heavy fighting and ground incursions, particularly in eastern Rafah in the south and Jabalya in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Since 6 May, nearly 815,000 people have been displaced from Rafah, with about 100,000 others displaced in the north.

Over the past 10 days, nearly 150,000 people have registered with UNRWA [the UN Relief and Works Agency] in Khan Younis  they've registered to receive services from UNRWA  with a 36 per cent increase in the number of people at UNRWA facilities there.

The agency says that families are living among rubble in damaged schools, and they lack tents, essential services as well as vital supplies.

Yesterday, supply shortages and insecurity forced UNRWA to suspend food distribution in Rafah.

Every effort is being made to establish additional kitchens in Khan Younis, in Deir al Balah and Gaza City and scale up the distribution of hot meals. However, our partners working to get food to people in need warn that supplies for hot meals might soon be exhausted. Persistent shortages  including of cooking gas, which is essential  are hindering efforts to keep community kitchens and bakeries running.

UNRWA says the agency is working with communities in Khan Younis to provide water, sanitation and waste collection support. However, the challenges are immense, including scarce water, fuel and sanitary resources.

Meanwhile, as hostilities continue in northern Gaza, the World Health Organization (WHO) says Kamal Adwan hospital  the largest partially functional hospital in the north  was reportedly hit four times yesterday. In a social media post, the Director-General of WHO [Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus] noted that efforts were under way to evacuate 20 health staff and more than a dozen patients who were still inside the facility.

And turning in the West Bank, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that 16 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since 14 May, including nine in Jenin and four in Tulkarm governorate.

** Haiti

Coming back to this hemisphere, in Haiti, our humanitarian colleagues say that violence continues to affect the health sector, further limiting people's access to life-saving care in and around the capital, Port-au-Prince.

According to our health partners, only 20 per cent of health facilities in Port-au-Prince are fully operational. The fact that 80 per cent of them are not fully operational is due to attacks and looting by armed groups.

The resumption of some commercial flights at the Port-au-Prince International Airport at the beginning of the week is a positive development.

Our humanitarian colleagues say it is critical for the airport to be fully operational, but we also need the seaport to reopen to bring in a larger volume of supplies. A lot of the seaport is crucial to ensure the entry of medicine and medical supplies into the country to replenish dwindling stocks.

Since late February, the International Organization for Migration and its partners have supported the delivery of health-care services to more than 21,000 displaced men, women and children; that is in Port-au-Prince and that is being done through mobile clinics.

Meanwhile, UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) said yesterday that it facilitated the delivery of 38 tons of supplies, including health and cholera kits and other essential medical commodities.

The delivery was made possible via an airbridge from Panama into Cap-Haitien, and that is being supported by the European Union Aid Office and operationalized by the World Food Programme (WFP), who as you know deal with logistics, among other things.

** Burundi

In Burundi, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, has allocated $2.5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), and that allocation was made to support the response to the floods impacting the country.

With these new funds, the UN and its partners will provide life-saving assistance to more than 63,000 people, including water and hygiene kits, latrines, health support and cash assistance.

Since the beginning of the year, heavy rains have caused severe flooding and landslides across the country, particularly by Lake Tanganyika, in the south-west. Nearly 300,000 people have been impacted, with more than 47,000 people displaced. Thousands of homes and schools, as well as 10 per cent of Burundi's food crops, have now been damaged. And our humanitarian colleagues warn that the floods have also increased the spread of water-borne diseases.

** Central African Republic

And moving north to the Central African Republic, our peacekeeping colleagues there tell us that work is ongoing in the Bamingui-Bangoran prefecture  in the country's north  to rehabilitate roads and bridges, including as part of the five main axes.

The goal of this work is to better protect the population in the prefecture. The Mission (MINUSCA) reports that work on the Bamingui-Ndele axis is already helping improve the speed of response by UN peacekeepers and national security forces.

The security situation there remains generally calm. However, the presence of armed groups in certain remote areas, particularly areas rich in natural resources and close to grazing routes, remains of concern.

At the start of the rainy season, roads that are already in poor state in those areas can soon become impassible, causing movement limitations and impacting prevention and rapid response to security issues.

Beyond providing support to the national and local authorities in responding to violence, the peacekeeping mission says it is also helping to resolve local conflicts through mediation.

** Biological Diversity

Today is the International Day for... it's not easy... Biological Diversity.

In his message, the Secretary-General warned that we are contaminating land, oceans, and freshwater with toxic pollution, wrecking landscapes and ecosystems, and disrupting our precious climate with greenhouse [gas] emissions.

He underscored that to protect and restore biodiversity, Governments must take the lead. But we all have a role to play.

** Noon Briefing Guest

Tomorrow, we will have a guest and that is the Director of Advocacy and Operations for OCHA, Edem Wosornu. She will be here to update you on her recent missions to Afghanistan and Pakistan last week, as well as to Sudan earlier this month. That is it. I will go to Benno because I've been picking on you too much.

** Questions and Answers

Spokesman : Benno?

Question : So I thought that I had a chance. Thank you. You heard, I guess, about Norway, Ireland and Spain recognized Palestine as a State. Do you have any comment about that?

Spokesman : I mean, these are sovereign decisions by Member States. I mean, it's been getting a lot of coverage, because obviously they're European countries. For our part, the Secretary-General will continue to work towards a two-State solution for two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, and to honour the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people.

Question : So the legal action of these three countries now aside, do you hope that actions like this could change the trajectory of the conflict so they can find a common ground for ceasefire in the region?

Spokesman : Listen, I will leave it to others to predict what these actions will take. For our part, we are very focused on the parties finding the will and the courage to come to an agreement on a ceasefire, so we can get the humanitarian aid in, so we can... the hostages can be released without any condition. Then we can get back on track towards a political agreement. Edie?

Question : Thank you, Steph. First, has any more aid that came off the US pier made it to the WFP warehouse?

Spokesman : My understanding from our WFP colleagues is that there may have been some activity late yesterday. They're just trying to harvest the information from the field, and it takes a little bit of time before it gets here.

Question : Okay. Secondly, on Gaza, is there any update on fuel and whether it's getting in or how dire the situation is? I know you mentioned cooking.

Spokesman : Yeah, no great updates on fuel. Rafah remains closed since 5 May. The last trucks that went in for us were 80 trucks on 4 May. Kerem Shalom, there have been some trucks going in, but no fuel that I know of.

Question : And does the Secretary-General support the move to commemorate the Srebrenica genocide?

Spokesman : Again, this is a resolution in front of Member States. They will vote as they see fit. It's been clear for us that there was a genocide in Srebrenica, as it was ruled on by competent courts. We've commemorated it. Whether or not there's a General Assembly resolution, that is up to Member States. Dezhi and then Benny.

Question : Yeah. First, a follow-up on the floating dock. I just kind of want to know, is WFP the only operator so far to get things from the floating dock to Gaza warehouses?

Spokesman : They are for the UN system. They run the logistics, right? So they hire the trucks that go in and they pick up the aid. So that's their job. They do it on behalf of the UN, the UN system. Whether there are other non-UN entities that are operating, that's a question for those non-UN entities.

Question : So for UN, so far there are 25 trucks plus what the activities, what happened yesterday.

Spokesman : Yeah, we've been reporting, sharing the data as we...

Question : But you're not aware or you're not familiar with the information with other people who... other non-UN people?

Spokesman : For the UN, it is only WFP that is running this on behalf of the UN humanitarian system, as they are the logistics lead.

Question : And on the land crossing, it seems the Israeli COGAT, they said there are hundreds of trucks passing through Kerem Shalom into Gaza. So if that was the case, why the UN would encounter difficulties to do that, not the other partners?

Spokesman : I can't speak for other partners.

Question : Yeah. But for UN?

Spokesman : I mean, I feel I've been asked this question a lot of times. I've tried to answer it in words that I hope... and concepts everybody can grasp. I'm not disputing the fact that the Israeli authorities have moved in aid and trucks through the Kareem Shalom crossing. From the Palestinian side, from the Gaza side, it is complicated for many reasons, including the fact that there is not enough security, that there is an active conflict going on in Gaza for us to pick up the aid and distribute it. We also have problems with having enough trucks, having enough fuel. So I'm not debating the fact of what COGAT is saying; what I'm saying to you, it is only half of the story.

Question : So then it seems the accusation of COGAT's is somehow right, that UN didn't do that much of the job?

Spokesman : I'm not saying... That's not at all what I said. I'm not debating the facts that they have transferred the aid. What I'm saying, there's another side. There are two parts. There's Karem Shalom, Karem Salam on the Palestinian side. Right? The situations are not the same on the different sides of the crossing.

Question : Okay, one last question. Yesterday, you asked me to ask the Office of Special Adviser on Prevention of Genocide directly on why she's not mentioning Gaza yet on during her briefing in the Security Council. I did reach out. She and her office did not return. So can you help me ask why?

Spokesman : I can always help you. I will try to help you.

Question : Thank you. Please do.

Spokesman : Benny, how can I help you?

Question : First of all, congratulations on moving to summer attire.

Spokesman : I know it's bold to put on seersucker before Memorial Day, but I think climate change has pushed the bounds of the rules.

Question : Bold move. Steph, first of all, why do you find it so hard to say that on the Palestinian side of Kerem Shalom, there's Hamas is shooting? You should you keep saying...

Spokesman : No, I'm not finding it hard. I'm just saying it is...

Question : The Israelis are not shooting at it because the Israelis are facilitating.

Spokesman : Benny, we have talked about this before. It is also the lack of security. We've talked about our gas. We have been very transparent about the challenges.

Question : Why can't you say that Hamas is shooting at it? Anyway, there's a new research that was done at Hebrew University by food scientists, and they just published a paper. And according to that paper, based on their research with COGAT and with the UN, they found that from January to April, 124 trucks carrying food and humanitarian aid enter Gaza each day, on an average. That adds up, they say, to 3211 calories worth of nutrition per Gazan per day. The World Health Organization's standard for calorie consumption is 2900 per day for a man, average man, and 2200 for an average woman. So that if that is true, that doesn't add up quite to the verge of famine, which the UN keeps saying there is.

Spokesman : I think two points, again, relating to the question that Dezhi brought up. The fact that things are delivered at the crossings does not mean that we have the ability and the capacity, due to all the reasons that we've been talking about for quite some time, to distribute the aid. That's one. The IPC, the body that is in charge for the United Nations of tracking hunger, tracking famine, and I think you've heard Cindy McCain of the World Food Programme (WFP) being extremely eloquent on this, is really the tip of the spear in terms of the study of hunger and famine. We stand by what they say, we stand by their numbers, but we're always happy to take a look at other studies, and I haven't seen the one from Hebrew University.

Question : But if indeed there's enough, at least trucks coming in with enough food for an average... if that is the case, does that show you that a country is using famine as a weapon of war?

Spokesman : You know, it's not, I mean, it is also measured by what we see, right? Seeing hungry people, seeing hungry children, people not being able to eat, that is really the most important metric, as opposed to the number of trucks.

Question : Again, on the question of the recognition of Palestine by the three States, Israel has recalled the three ambassadors. But beyond that, the Ministry of Finance has kept the taxes, revenues that they say they will not go to the Palestinian Authority for the time being. So how do you judge this measure?

Spokesman : On the bilateral issues, we have no comment. On the issue of financing, it is very important that the tax revenue that is owed to the Palestinian Authority be paid to the Palestinian Authority.

Question : One more on Haiti, if possible.

Spokesman : Of course.

Question : Any update on the deployment of the troops as of today?

Spokesman : Sir, I think you were not here when I said you could ask everybody about the deployment of the troops except us. I would reach out to the Kenyans, to the Americans. In fact, I think the President of Kenya is in Washington today... and to the Haitians. Alright, let's go to the screen. Oh, I'm sorry. You have a very good producer. Gabriel, please. She's tough. And then we'll go to Elizabeth.

Question : Thank you. Thanks, Steph. You said 815,000 displaced from Rafah now are the latest numbers. Do you know, do you have some numbers on how many civilians remain in Rafah, by any chance?

Spokesman : Not more than what I've shared with you, but we can check.

Question : Okay. On the floating dock or floating pier, how would the Secretary-General characterize how it's functioning so far in days? I think we're on day six or seven now.

Spokesman : Obviously, even a small amount of trucks that we're able to get in is good, because it's an addition, but it is clearly not the replacement to the roads, to the land routes, which we've been talking about for quite some time. So every manner, every way through which aid can arrive into Gaza is welcome, but the best, the most efficient and the most, the one that makes the most sense financially is through the land.

Question : And in an interview with the Associated Press, at least one person from the WFP hinted that at the current rate, the floating dock could potentially not be successful. Does the Secretary-General echo those concerns or not?

Spokesman : I would leave it... You know, WFP is in the lead on this. They are closer to the ground. We will let them make the assessment. Let me go to Prensa Latina on screen.

Question : Thank you. Steph, can you hear me?

Spokesman : Perfectly.

Question : Okay. As you know, the US Government took Cuba off the list of countries that are not fully cooperating with efforts against terrorists; that happened a few days ago. My question is, does the Secretary-General consider that Cuba should be removed from the main list, which is the list of the States that sponsored terrorists?

Spokesman : Well, we've seen the announcement by the US, and we hope for further improvements in relations between the US and Cuba.

Question : Another question. Is this possible?

Spokesman : Yes, please, of course.

Question : Does the Secretary-General consider, what are his considerations in relation to Cuba's efforts against terrorists?

Spokesman : To Cuban efforts against terrorism? I would have to get some guidance on that from our colleagues in the counter-terrorism office, but I will get back to you on that. Let's go to Mushfiqul, then we'll go back to this, to the room.

Question : Thank you. Thank you. Steph, can you hear me?

Spokesman : Yes, sir.

Question : Yeah. May I draw your attention to the recent DW investigative documentary revealing that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are sending officers implicated in extreme human rights violations, such as torture and extrajudicial killings, on US [sic] peacekeeping mission? In particular, numerous human rights abusers from Bangladesh have been deployed... [cross-talk]

Spokesman : I've seen it. Mushfiqul, I've seen it. What is the question?

Question : Is the Secretary-General aware of this?

Spokesman : Yes, we've seen the documentary and as you know, our colleagues in the peacekeeping department have been interacting and gave a statement to the producers. But, you know, we want to restate very clearly that the Secretariat is committed to deploying personnel that meet the highest standards of efficiency and integrity, including respect for and commitment to human rights, and has established the relevant procedures and mechanisms under the policy on human rights screening of UN personnel. Let me go to people who haven't asked. Sorry?

Question : So can I make a follow-up statement?

Spokesman : You may ask a follow-up question. Yes.

Question : Yeah. So the screening is done by the host, the sending, which country is sending to the US [sic] peacekeeping missions, but when a country or when a regime itself abusers of human rights, how can they, you know, identify who is abusers and who is not, because regime is itself is human rights abusers extremely?

Spokesman : Look, there are three parts to the screening. One thing involves self-certification; the other one involves the certification by the sending country, and obviously, there's a procedure also by the office for human rights, the High Commissioner's Office for Human Rights. Over the years, I can tell you that there have been cases where we were informed of allegations of past human rights violations committed by uniformed personnel from a small number of countries deploying in our peacekeeping missions. When such cases occur, our peacekeeping colleagues take appropriate action in accordance with their screening policy and other relevant frameworks, including in consultation with troop-contributing countries. And sometimes it can result in uniformed personnel not being deployed or even being repatriated by the UN if allegations are substantiated.

Question : Thank you,

Spokesman : You and then Beisan.

Question : Thank you, Steph. I'll go back to Gaza. So my question is about OIOS (Office of Internal Oversight Services). Do you have any update? As I remember, they are going to Israel.

Spokesman : No, the contacts continue with Israeli authorities. But I have no update to share with you at this point. Madame?

Question : So just today, the Israeli military lifted, is actually allowing Israelis to go back to settlements around Jenin. These were settlements that were evacuated in 2005. And there has been reporting that this also comes within some calls within Israel as a response to the announcement by Ireland, Norway and Spain. I mean, what's the SG's position on this?

Spokesman : First of all, our position on settlements, on the legality of settlements under international law remains constant and the same. We feel that any policy that encourages more settlements or more settlers moves us further away from achieving the two-State solution. Stefano. And then we'll go to round two.

Question : Thank you. Secretary of State [Antony] Blinken, answering a question if the world is a better place now that [Ebrahim] Raisi, referring to the President of Iran, now the Raisi is dead, he says yes. He said the Iranian people are probably better off. Does the Secretary-General think that Iranian people, especially women, are better off with Iran President dead?

Spokesman : We issued a very clear statement upon the death of President Raisi and his Foreign Minister. Our position on the issue of human rights of women and girls in Iran, our deep concern about the situation remains the same today as it was yesterday or a week ago. It's issues we continue and will continue to raise, and again, that the Secretary-General will continue to report to the General Assembly. Benny?

Question : So, two quick questions that really are quick. So one is about 120,000 that were dislocated from Rafah. Is it your impression that they mostly moved or all of them moved to the tent city, Mawasi?

Spokesman : No, some of them move further, further north.

Question : Right, but is it a large number that moved to Mawasi?

Spokesman : I don't. We only have the numbers in terms of people who register with the UN for help. We don't run the Mawasi tents. So I can't. I don't have... It's a simple question, but I don't have a simple answer.

Question : Okay. The second simple question is, did you see a video today that was issued by the US from the pier in which the US intercepted a mortar that flew over the pier?

Spokesman : I did not see that video, but I will look at it.

Question : I mean, are we concerned that could be a problem?

Spokesman : Of course we're concerned that it's still an active combat zone. That's our concern. On that note, I wanted to wish you a happy weekend, but it's so early for that. Goodbye.

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Droughts and floods threaten 'humanitarian catastrophe' across southern Africa

22 May 2024 - Droughts and floods in southern Africa stemming from El Nino have left millions of people food insecure, warns World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain during a recent visit to Zambia - the epicentre of the crisis.

The droughts have destroyed harvests in areas where 70 per cent of the population depends on agriculture for survival.

Executive Director McCain said what she has seen has been both alarming and heartbreaking.

"I met farmers who usually grow enough to feed their families and communities. This year they harvested nothing. Now imagine a similar scenario for millions of people throughout Southern Africa, and we have a humanitarian catastrophe," Ms. McCain said.

El Nino's impact

Though the latest El Nino weather pattern is nearing its end, droughts caused by the weather-changing cycle will have repercussions for months ahead.

Temperatures have dramatically increased resulting in the driest February in decades in the region which caused a 20 per cent reduction in rainfall necessary for crop growth.

According to WFP, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi have been impacted the hardest and have all declared states of drought disaster. They risk significant crop loss with 40 and 80 per cent of their maize harvests decimated.

'Step up now': McCain

Recognising that 61 million people were affected by El Nino, Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at an Extraordinary Summit launched a humanitarian appeal for US$5.5 billion that will complement the internal resources of the impacted countries.

The team is calling for support to meet these humanitarian needs. Ms. McCain echoes the call for support.

"I'm asking the international community to join us and step up now. We can't ask millions to wait for the next harvest season - a year from now - to put food on their tables. These families need our support today while we help to build a more resilient future," she said.

Major funding shortfall

Though WFP has responded to this crisis, the programme still needs $409 million for six months of aid to benefit 4.8 million people in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

WFP has been working with governments and partners to help prepare communities for climate disasters before they hit. WFP "unlocked over $14 million of anticipatory finance" to aid over 1.2 million people expected to be impacted by El Nino in August 2023.

They have also offered support to communities in Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe by providing early warning alerts on

"weather risks, anticipatory cash transfers, drought-resistant seeds, agricultural training, and improved water sources."

WFP continues to work with governments to protect communities affected by climate shocks and in just a few weeks, will distribute about $10 million in insurance payouts to nearly 280,000 affected people over the coming six months.

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Haiti's health system pushed to breaking point: UNICEF

22 May 2024 - Haiti's health system is now "on the verge of collapse" UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Haiti Bruno Maes warned on Wednesday, amidst an alarming decrease in the number of hospitals still functioning in the violence-wracked Caribbean nation.

There are only six out of ten hospitals which still have some operational capacity as the gang-led chaos continues across the capital, Port-au-Prince, leaving vulnerable children deprived of essential care.

Mr. Maes said that the increased violence along with "mass displacement, dangerous epidemics and increasing malnutrition" has stretched the country's health system to the limit and the "strangling of supply chains" may fully break it.

"The escalating violence in Port au Prince and Artibonite is plunging Haiti into a humanitarian disaster. Not only are children trapped, but so are the critical supplies that are meant to cure and nourish them," Mr. Maes told UN News.

Strained resources

Warehouses, pharmacies and containers filled with essential supplies have either been held up or looted, according to UNICEF.

Yet, hundreds of containers holding humanitarian aid including neonatal, maternal, and medical necessities, remain stranded in Port-au-Prince.

The country's capital usually receives and releases all imported health supplies, but with rampant violence and over 160,000 displaced civilians, Port-au-Prince can no longer care for a population that is "concurrently fighting physical trauma and the risk of disease."

UNICEF says many of the displaced families, especially those in the southern parts of the country, are seeking safety and security, piling pressure on local health services. The agency reported that about 40 per cent of staff have had to leave the country because of high levels of insecurity.

Widespread disease outbreaks

Haiti has reported 82,000 cases of cholera between October 2022 and April 2024, UNICEF said.

Nearly 4.4 million people in Haiti desperately need food assistance, and 1.6 million civilians are dealing with acute food insecurity increasing the risk of child wasting and malnutrition.

This situation is likely to be worsened by the coming rainy season which may cause a rise in waterborne diseases and diseases spread by mosquitoes, such as malaria.

UNICEF and other humanitarian partners are establishing alternatives to Port-au-Prince's import and dispatch hubs.

These alternative routes have allowed the agency along with the Ministry of Health and international donors and partners, to deliver vaccines, medicine and medical supplies to children with the greatest needs.

On 18, 20 and 21 May, UNICEF delivered 38 tons of essential medical and lifesaving supplies, including health and cholera kits, through a new operational hub established by the UN and the children's find.

Mr. Maes told UN News these supplies will be dispatched to health facilities "that are only barely keeping their heads above water."

UNICEF says more aid is desperately needed.

"We cannot allow vital supplies that could save children's lives to remain blocked in warehouses and containers. They must be delivered now," said Mr. Maes.

He told UN News that UNICEF is also "sourcing vital, ready-to-use therapeutic food right here in Haiti."

He said that these supplies will go to 600 health facilities across Haiti as well as several other mobile clinics in areas with limited access.

"When supply reach children, children have a chance to a healthy life...children can go to school. They can play, they can just be children," Mr. Maes said.

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Combined Maritime Forces' Combined Task Force 154 Marks Productive First Year

US Navy

22 May 2024

From Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain -- Combined Maritime Forces' Combined Task Force (CTF) 154 marked one year as the partnership's multinational maritime training task force, May 22.

CTF 154 provides multinational maritime training across the Middle East, centered on five core areas: maritime awareness, law of the sea, maritime interdiction, maritime rescue and assistance, and leadership development. CTF 154 customizes training to meet partner needs, enabling more nations to participate in training evolutions, even without ships or aircraft.

Since standing up last year, CTF 154 has completed nearly 30 training exercises across five operations: Compass Rose I and II in Bahrain; Southern Readiness in the Seychelles, and Northern Readiness I and II in Jordan. These events connected more than 135 subject matter experts with over 400 participants from 23 countries.

"Working and training collectively allows us to operate more effectively," said Vice Adm. George Wikoff, CMF commander. "With CTF 154 we're boosting regional maritime security by providing the 'go-to' training that partners and members need to keep the advantage in a dynamic environment."

The task force conducted their inaugural event, Compass Rose, in Bahrain May 22-25, 2023. The training included more than 50 participants from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and United States and focused on first aid and vessel boarding procedures. The second Compass Rose exercise also occurred in Bahrain that December, with training on visit, board, search and seizure procedures, vessel security, and watch officer fundamentals.

In July, CTF 154 traveled to the Seychelles for Exercise Southern Readiness. The exercise involved vessel boarding, search-and-rescue operation techniques, maritime law and navigation. This was undertaken by field experts from Canada, Australia, France, United Kingdom, India, Italy and the United States of America, including experts from Seychelles Coast Guard and the locally based office of the United Nations on Drugs and Crimes.

CTF 154 conducted operation Northern Readiness at the Royal Jordanian Naval Base in Aqaba, Jordan, in October. More than 30 CMF facilitators from eight nations led training courses on maritime awareness, law of the sea, VBSS, search and rescue, medical evacuations, seamanship development, public affairs, and leadership development.

In February, the Task Force held its largest scale event to date, Operation Northern Readiness II. Approximately 150 participants, facilitators, and observers took part, including representatives from CMF, European Union Naval Force Operation, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.

"Being the commander of Combined Task Force 154 is an honor for the Royal Jordanian Navy and for myself," said Capt. Ayman Salem Alnaimat, who became CTF 154's second commander in November. "As we celebrate a year of impressive accomplishments, I believe the task force has more to achieve. All CMF members and our regional maritime partners support our efforts, which promote interoperability, capacity, capability and cooperation."

CMF is the largest multinational naval partnership in the world, with 43 nations committed to upholding the international rules-based order at sea, which promotes security, stability, and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, encompassing some of the world's most important shipping lanes.

CMF's other task forces include CTF 150 that focuses on maritime security in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean; CTF 151, which leads regional counter-piracy efforts; CTF 152, dedicated to maritime security in the Arabian Gulf; and CTF 153 in the Red Sea.

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U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and U.S. Sixth Fleet Standup All-Domain Task Force

US Navy

22 May 2024

From Petty Officer 1st Class Cameron Edy

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY NAPLES, Italy -- U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and U.S. Sixth Fleet announced the integration of the U.S. Navy's first all-domain task force into theater-wide fleet operations, May 21, 2024.

Commander, Task Force (CTF) 66 will drive innovation, development, and acceleration of asymmetric capabilities in support of Allies and partners across the European and African theaters. The task force staff will consist of 40 military and civilian personnel based at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy.

While attending the Combined Naval Event in Farnborough, U.K., Rear. Adm. Mike Mattis, commander of CTF 66 noted that the task force reflected the Navy's response to integrating naval capabilities across all-domains (e.g., information, cyber, space, land, sea and air) in a highly competitive, increasingly contested maritime environment.

"CTF 66 is just starting this journey," said Mattis. "We look forward to working with our government and industry partners to rapidly integrate new capabilities, while also working with our NATO Allies and partners to codify standards that we can all employ."

CTF 66 will leverage collaboration between the government, industry and academia - including pairing operational tacticians with international experts to accelerate development and fielding of new systems at scale:

- Unmanned - integrate all-domain unmanned systems (UxS) across the joint force, Coalition, Allies, and partner nations.

- Maritime Domain Awareness - support multinational efforts to address transnational issues like illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUUx) activities.

- All-Domain - drive operations to integrate capabilities across information, space, cyber, sea, air, and land domains enabled by UxS.

The task force will work closely with the Navy Disruptive Capabilities Office (DCO) on rapid experimentation and prototyping. It will also work with Naval Postgraduate School's Naval Innovation Center (NIC) established by SECNAV on ways to accelerate technology solutions and applications.

CTF 66 recently participated in Triton surface/subsurface drone testing from aboard USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4) during exercise Obangame Express off the coast of Gabon, Africa. In the coming months, the task force will support several more exercises in the European and African theaters, including Baltops, Dacia, Seabreeze, Phoenix Express, and Cutlass Express. These exercises will validate concepts of operations, accelerate capability development, and support integration across fleet operations as well as with Allies and partners.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with Allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

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SECNAV Del Toro Announces Names of DDGs 143 and 144 at U.S. Naval Academy Naval Academy Commissioning Week Ceremony

US Navy

Annapolis, Md.

Speech by Carlos Del Toro

Presented on 22 May 2024

Date Published 22 May 2024

Good afternoon, everyone. How wonderful to gather here today to celebrate everything good about our Navy and our Blue Angels.

Vice Admiral Davids, thank you for that kind introduction. Thank you, as well, for hosting this event and for your service to our alma materyou truly have earned the title of 64th Superintendent of the Naval Academy, and I couldn't be prouder to serve with such an immensely impressive leader and example for all our midshipmen.

But let us not forget that even while we're here todayand this week, while we congratulate the Class of 2024 on Fridaythat nearly a third of our Fleet and 30 thousand Marines are deployed around the world on any given day.

Just Sunday, I was in Mayport to welcome home the crew of the USS Carney (DDG 64)named in honor of Admiral Robert Carney, a Veteran of both World Wars who would go on to serve as the 14th Chief of Naval Operationsafter their eight-month deployment to the Fifth, Sixth, and Second Fleet Areas of Operations.

As many of you know, since October 7th, our Fleet and our Force have defended against nearly daily missile and drone attacks from the Iranian-aligned Houthis in Yemen.

The operations of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and the Eisenhower and Ford Strike Groupsexemplified by Carneyhave proven time and time again the professionalism, expertise, and bravery of our Sailors and Marines.

Our peopleincluding the pilots and crew of the Blue Angels, the Naval Academy's Class of 2024, and indeed all the Midshipmen here at USNAtruly represent the best this country has to offer.

Their actions have also proved that we have the best, most capable ships in the world, defending our allies and partners against threats both at-sea and in the air.

And the backbone of our air defense fleet, the Aegis Combat System, first became a programthen named the Advanced Surface Missile System60 years ago this year.

And 51 years ago, the first model of SPY was installed on USS Norton Sound (AVM 1).

These air defense systems our ships have used to engage scores of anti-ship cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and lethal and non-lethal drones can be traced back to decisions made by visionary naval leadersand Naval Academy graduateslike Admiral George Anderson Jr. and Rear Admiral Wayne E. Meyer in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

Still, it is hard to believe how much these systems have grown and changedand become yet more capablein the past sixty years.

Late last year, we commissioned the first Flight III destroyer, USS Jack H. Lucasthe most technologically advanced surface combatant ever built.

And the destroyers that came before it in Flights I, II, and IIA have created an already storied legacy of defending American interests and promoting peace around the world.

And now I have a very special announcement.

I am incredibly grateful and proud to be able to announce that our next two destroyers will bear the names of two other truly extraordinary naval leaders.

The future DDG 143 will be named USS Richard J. Danzig, and the future DDG 144 will be named

USS Michael G. Mullen.

Secretary Danzig and Admiral Mullen are visionary leaders in the mold of the greatest naval leaders that came before them. Together they devoted nearly 100 years of service to our Nation.

While the challenges we face today are different than the challenges faced by the Department of the Navy, our Fleet, our Force, and indeed our Nation during Secretary Danzig and Admiral Mullen's time at the helm, our priorities remain similar.

For Secretary Danzig, that meant emphasizingas he wrote for Proceedings in 1999improving "how we work, how we fight, and how we live."

And for Admiral Mullen that meantas he said in an All Hands Call at Naval Station Norfolk in 2007prioritizing efforts to "get it right for our people, operate our fleet, and build the fleet for the future."

Both Secretary Danzig and Admiral Mullen worked tirelessly to ensure our Sailors and Marines had the resources, technologies, and capabilities to succeed in warfighting and times of peace.

And after they both left naval service, they continued providing significant national security counsel to future CNOs, Commandants, and Presidents of the United States, which they still do to this day.

DDG 143 and DDG 144once built and commissionedwill be the most technologically advanced warships ever built, just as Jack H. Lucas, Carney, Arleigh Burke, and each of their predecessors in the long and storied life of this class.

And these ships will carry on the legacies of public service that Secretary Danzig and Admiral Mullen personify, and will be crewed by the most capable young men and women our nation has to offer.

Gentlemen, thank you both for your incredible service to our Nation, and may God continue to bless our Sailors, Marines, civilians, and their families with fair winds and following seas. Thank you.





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SECNAV Del Toro Names Two Future Guided Missile Destroyers (DDG 143) and (DDG 144)

US Navy - Press Release

22 May 2024

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced the names of the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class Guided Missile Destroyers, the future USS Richard J. Danzig (DDG 143) and the future USS Michael G. Mullen (DDG 144) during a U.S. Naval Academy Commencement Week ceremony, May 22.

DDG 143 honors the Honorable Richard J. Danzig, the 71st Secretary of the Navy, and DDG 144 honors retired Admiral Michael J. Mullen, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Chief of Naval Operations. These are the first ships to bear their names.

"Secretary Danzig and Admiral Mullen were visionary leaders in the mold of the greatest naval leaders that came before. Together they have nearly 100 years of service," said Secretary Del Toro. "Both Secretary Danzig and Admiral Mullen worked tirelessly to ensure our Sailors and Marines had the resources, technologies, and capabilities to set them up for success. I am proud to honor them with these new DDGs."

Born in New York City in 1944, Secretary Danzig received a B.A. degree from Reed College, a J.D. degree from Yale Law School, and Bachelor of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Oxford University.

Secretary Danzig served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981, first as a Deputy Assistant Secretary, then as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower, Reserve Affairs and Logistics. In these roles, he contributed to the Department's mobilization and deployment of manpower and material. Secretary Danzig later served as Under Secretary of the Navy from November 1993 to May 1997, before being sworn in as Secretary of the Navy on Nov. 16, 1998.

Secretary Danzig's tenure emphasized four themes: ridding the Services of "a conscript mentality" by treating Sailors and Marines as skilled workers and supporting them with new capital investments and personnel systems; achieving better synergy between the Navy and Marine Corps; strengthening the ability of the sea services to influence events ashore; and embracing new technologies to better achieve those goals. Since the end of his tenure, he has served in multiple technology and national security-oriented think tanks, councils, and panels.

"This is such a wonderful honor. It's certainly a wonderful and touching thing," said Secretary Danzig. "What is most important to me is that this provides a connection among all of the Sailors who will be on this ship."

Commissioned in 1968, Mullen first deployed aboard the USS Collett (DD 730) for operations off the coast of Vietnam as part of U.S. Seventh Fleet. His command tours include the USS Noxubee (AOG 56), USS Goldsboro (DDG 20), USS Yorktown (CVN 10), Cruiser-Destroyer Group TWO with concurrent duties as commander of the USS George Washington (CVN 73) Aircraft Carrier Battle Group, U.S. Second Fleet with concurrent command of NATO Striking Fleet Atlantic, and U.S. Naval Forces, Europe with concurrent command of Allied Joint Force Command located in Naples, Italy. Staff and shore tours include service at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Bureau of Naval Personnel, and multiple tours in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

As Chief of Naval Operations, Mullen led the united maritime strategy, oversaw support for the Global War on Terror, and expanded relations with partners and allies.

As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he focused on Joint/combined combat operations in Afghanistan and Libya as well as a major humanitarian operation in Japan; implemented the repeal of Don't Ask/Don't Tell; and stood up U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Cyber Command.

"This is an honor of a lifetime and one I certainly never expected. It says so much about the Navy that I love, and it represents most of my life at sea," said Mullen. "So, along with my wife, Deborah, and my family, this is just something that is so very, very special."

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, built around the Aegis Combat System, are the backbone of the U.S. Navy's surface fleet providing protection to America around the globe.

"DDG 143 and DDG 144, once built and commissioned, will be the most technologically advanced warships ever built, just as Jack H. Lucas, Carney, Arleigh Burke, and each of their predecessors in the long and storied life of the class," said Secretary Del Toro.

They incorporate stealth techniques, allowing these highly capable, multi-mission ships to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence to national security, providing a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface and subsurface domains. These elements of sea power enable the Navy to defend American prosperity and prevent future conflict abroad.

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SECNAV Del Toro Discusses Building Comprehensive U.S. and Allied Maritime Power at National Maritime Day Ceremony

US Navy - Press Release

22 May 2024

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro today reiterated his commitment to restoring the Nation's vital strategic shipping and shipbuilding industry.

Secretary Del Toro made the remarks at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD) National Maritime Day ceremony, May 22, in Washington, D.C.

"History reveals that no nation has endured as a great naval power without also being a commercial maritime power, both in shipbuilding and shipping," said Secretary Del Toro. "And for the first time in 125 years, we have a full-spectrum, global maritime competitor. That is why, as Secretary of the Navy, I have advocated so forcefully to revive commercial shipbuilding and the U.S. Merchant Marine."

To achieve this goal, Secretary Del Toro has engaged across the Cabinet to advance a whole-of-government effort to rebuild the Nation's comprehensive maritime power.

For example, last May, Secretary Del Toro met with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Administrator for the Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) retired Rear Adm. Ann C. Phillips to begin laying key groundwork for interagency collaboration that is at the center of our new national Maritime Statecraft.

"Our collective efforts have catapulted the importance of restoring America's comprehensive maritime power to the top of the national agenda. We are now participating in multiple White House-led interagency processes on naval and commercial shipbuilding," said Secretary Del Toro.

In addition, last year, Secretary Del Toro brought together the Maritime Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Army to form a Government Shipbuilder's Council to tackle common challenges.

"We are also working closely at the state level, including with the Governors of Wisconsin and Michigan, on improving shipyard communities and mobilizing the 'North Coast's' world-class industrial workforce," said Secretary Del Toro.

Other efforts include:

Engaging with organized labor . Last month, Senior Advisor Steve Brock was present at the signing ceremony of an innovative union contract between Bartlett Maritime and the President of the Boilermakers Union. This new program will train union welders in the construction trades in shipbuilding work and deploy them as a rotational force to shipyards around the country.

. Last month, Senior Advisor Steve Brock was present at the signing ceremony of an innovative union contract between Bartlett Maritime and the President of the Boilermakers Union. This new program will train union welders in the construction trades in shipbuilding work and deploy them as a rotational force to shipyards around the country. Working to restore competition in the U.S. shipbuilding marketplace . Earlier this year, Secretary Del Toro traveled to Asia to meet with the top executives of the world's most advanced and productive commercial shipbuilders. He brought to the table a simple, yet profound opportunity: "Invest in America"modernize and invigorate the U.S. shipbuilding ecosystem with your cutting-edge technology and processes.

. Earlier this year, Secretary Del Toro traveled to Asia to meet with the top executives of the world's most advanced and productive commercial shipbuilders. He brought to the table a simple, yet profound opportunity: "Invest in America"modernize and invigorate the U.S. shipbuilding ecosystem with your cutting-edge technology and processes. Expanding opportunities. Recently, the Department of Energy (DOE) expanded eligibility for its significant infrastructure and IRA loan program to include new and modernized commercial shipyards, as well as, construction of commercial ships at scale. These incentives should open a path for U.S. built ships to once again be part of our commercial sealift programs.

"On this National Maritime Day, I want mariners and those who love and support them to know a renaissance in American maritime power has begun, and we, in the Department of the Navy, are with you," said Secretary Del Toro.

Congress established National Maritime Day in 1933 to honor the maritime industry's significant contributions to the United States. Congress established National Maritime Day to honor the American steamship Savannah's historic voyage from the United States to England, marking the first successful transatlantic crossing using steam propulsion, 91 years ago.

Read Secretary Del Toro's full remarks online.

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Ireland, Norway and Spain to recognize Palestinian statehood

By VOA News May 22, 2024

Ireland, Norway and Spain each announced their intention Wednesday to recognize Palestinian statehood, citing the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and a need to achieve a two-state solution for lasting peace in the region.

"The ongoing war in Gaza has made it abundantly clear that achieving peace and stability must be predicated on resolving the Palestinian question," Norway Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said. "The war is the lowest point in the prolonged Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The situation in the Middle East has not been this grave for many years."

Israel quickly denounced the diplomatic declarations by the three countries, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that Hamas had won a "prize for terrorism."

He said a Palestinian nation "would be a terrorist state. It would try to carry out the October 7 massacre again and again - and that, we shall not agree to."

Norway said there is broad international consensus about the need for a two-state solution, including an overwhelming vote at the U.N. General Assembly this month to recognize the Palestinians as qualified to join the world body.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the decision was based on "peace, justice and coherence."

"Time has come to move from words into action," Sanchez said.

The three countries said their recognition of Palestinian statehood will take effect May 28.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, called it "a wonderful moment.... This European wave, hopefully, will be followed by other waves."

In Washington, the White House National Security Council said President Joe Biden "is a strong supporter of a two-state solution and has been throughout his career."

However, it said Biden "believes a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition."

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz immediately announced the recall of Israel's ambassadors from all three countries that recognized a Palestinian state.

"History will remember that Spain, Norway, and Ireland decided to award a gold medal to Hamas murderers and rapists," Katz said.

Katz said recognizing a Palestinian state is a reward to Hamas and Iran, and an "injustice to the memory" of those killed in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of about 250 hostages.

Israel's subsequent seven-month counter-offensive in Gaza has killed more than 35,000 civilians and combatants, although the Gaza Health Ministry says most of the dead are women and children.

"Israel will not remain silent in the face of those undermining its sovereignty and endangering its security," Katz said.

Ireland's prime minister, Simon Harris, said Ireland unequivocally recognizes Israel and its right to exist "securely and in peace with its neighbors." Harris called for all the hostages currently being held by Hamas in Gaza to be released.

Harris pointed to Ireland's own history and the importance of getting recognition from other nations.

The vision for a Palestinian state put forward by Norway is not one led by the Hamas militants who have ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, but one derived from the Palestinian Authority in charge of parts of the West Bank.

Norway's Stre said the situation in the Middle East "has not been this grave for many years," and that recognizing a Palestinian state is a way of "supporting the moderate forces which have been losing ground in this protracted and brutal conflict."

"In the midst of a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in peace and security," Stre said.

Aid suspension

The United Nations has suspended food distribution in Rafah on Gaza's southern border due to depleted supplies and insecurity.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday the distribution centers of the World Food Program and UNRWA, the agency for Palestinian refugees, are inaccessible because of the ongoing Israeli military operation in Rafah.

About 1.1 million people face high levels of hunger, the U.N. said. The Rafah crossing into Egypt, once the main entrance for aid, has been closed since May 6, and no aid trucks have crossed the U.S.-built floating pier in two days, the U.N. said.

A WFP spokesperson said the "humanitarian operations in Gaza are near collapse." Abeer Etefa warned that if food and other supplies don't resume entering Gaza in "massive quantities, famine-like conditions will spread."

In addition, UNRWA said its health centers have not received any medical supplies in 10 days, but its health care staff still conducts medical consultations at its centers that remain open.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Finland debates measure to block asylum-seekers at border with Russia

By VOA News May 22, 2024

Finland's parliament is debating a bill that would allow border agents to block asylum-seekers at the Finnish-Russian border.

The right-wing government on Tuesday proposed the emergency measure because Finland believes Russia is responsible for orchestrating a migrant crisis on its 1,335-kilometer border in retaliation for joining NATO, which supports Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

Moscow denies the accusation.

Finland closed its eastern border stations late last year after more than 1,300 migrants from third countries entered Finland from Russia without proper documentation. Since then, a few dozen migrants have arrived.

Since the December border closures, only a few dozen migrants have arrived from Russia, but Helsinki is concerned that numbers could surge again.

The legislative proposal aims to restrict "the reception of applications for international protection" in limited areas in the immediate vicinity of and along Finland's border. The restriction would last for fixed periods of no more than one month.

Under the bill, only asylum-seekers who require special protection, like children or people with disabilities, would be permitted to seek protection in the restricted areas. Border guards would determine their eligibility on a case-by-case basis.

Some Finnish lawmakers expressed support for the measure.

"In principle, we think it is a good thing that the government has set out to draft this type of law," said parliament member Tytti Tuppurainen, who is part of the largest opposition group, the Social Democrats.

The Centre Party, the second-largest opposition group, said the legislation was "absolutely necessary."

But the Left Alliance, which makes up less than 6% of parliament, opposes the proposal.

The proposed legislation requires a five-sixths majority to pass. A plenary vote has not yet been scheduled.

Some information for this story came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Vietnam's security chief elected president by parliament

By VOA News May 22, 2024

Vietnam's National Assembly elected General To Lam, the country's top public security official, as its new president Wednesday.

The 66-year-old Lam succeeds Vo Van Thuong, who resigned in March after just one year in the post. The ruling Communist Party cited "shortcomings" with Thuong it said led to violations of rules that hurt the reputation of himself and the party.

As Vietnam's top security official, Lam has spearheaded the massive anti-corruption drive known as Blazing Furnace initiated by the party's general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong. The drive has led to the arrests of thousands of government officials and business leaders in recent years.

Dozens of high-ranking government officials have also been purged due to Blazing Furnace, including Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Thuong's predecessor. Six members of Vietnam's 18-member governing politburo and a former speaker of the National Assembly have also been forced from their posts.

Observers say Lam's elevation to the largely ceremonial post puts him in a strong position to succeed the 80-year-old Trong, who was re-elected to an unprecedented third five-year term in 2021. Lam has been accused by human rights activists of launching a crackdown on civil society groups in recent years, as well as the kidnapping of a former Vietnamese politician from Berlin in 2017, leading to fears that he could transform the country into a police state.

Lam has found himself at the center of controversy. A video surfaced in 2021, when Vietnam was under a strict COVID-19 lockdown, showing him being served a steak smothered in edible 24-carat gold leaf at a London restaurant run by Turkish chef Nusret Gokce, known by his millions of social media followers as Salt Bae. The meal was estimated to cost more than $1,000.

Anger over the video prompted a noodle vendor to post a video mocking Salt Bae. The vendor was arrested on charges of spreading anti-government propaganda and sentenced to five years in prison.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse.

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Remarks by President Biden and President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya During Arrival Welcome

May 22, 2024

South Portico

4:03 P.M. EDT

Q Mr. President, when are you going to Africa, sir?

PRESIDENT BIDEN: When do you want to go?

Q "When you want to go"?

PRESIDENT BIDEN: When do you want to go?

Q When do I want to go? I'll go with you, sir.

(President Ruto arrives.)

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Welcome.

PRESIDENT RUTO: Thank you very much, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT BIDEN: (Inaudible.)

PRESIDENT RUTO: Thank you very much. Thank you for having us.

PRESIDENT BIDEN: We're going to watch your car go by, and we're going to say  say hello to the press.

PRESIDENT RUTO: Okay.

PRESIDENT BIDEN: We're heading today to Africa.

Q You said what, sir?

PRESIDENT BIDEN: I'm joking. (Inaudible.) (Laughter.) Anyway 

Q Do you think you'll get there before January?

PRESIDENT BIDEN: My  I plan on going in February after I'm reelected.

PRESIDENT RUTO: You're welcome, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT BIDEN: You guys  are these questions relevant? (Laughs.)

4:04 P.M. EDT

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Palestinians welcome European nations' state recognition

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:39, May 23, 2024

RAMALLAH, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian presidency on Wednesday welcomed the recognition of a Palestinian state by Spain, Norway and Ireland.

In a statement carried by the official news agency WAFA, the Palestinian presidency highly appreciated the contribution of this decision by Spain, Norway and Ireland in "consecrating the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination on their land and in taking actual steps to support the implementation of the two-state solution."

"The right of peoples to self-determination is an established right recognized under international law," said the statement, calling on countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to stand up to their responsibilities and acknowledge the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

Before the announcement, eight European Union member states recognize the State of Palestine, including Bulgaria, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Cyprus, and Sweden.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization Hussein Al-Sheikh considered the step a "historic moment."

Expressing gratitude to countries that have recognized and will recognize the independent State of Palestine, Al-Sheikh stressed that this is the path to stability, security, and peace in the region.

The Palestinians demand the establishment of an independent state alongside Israel with pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.

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Norway, Ireland, Spain announce formal recognition of Palestine

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:12, May 23, 2024

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide highlighted the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza.

OSLO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Norway, Ireland and Spain announced on Wednesday that they would officially recognize Palestine as a state.

Speaking at a press conference in Oslo, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Norway supports granting Palestine full membership status in the United Nations (UN).

"Norway's formal recognition of Palestine as a state will enter into force on May 28. There will be no peace in the Middle East without a two-state solution. And there can be no two-state solution without a Palestinian state. In other words, a Palestinian state is a prerequisite for achieving peace in the Middle East," Store said.

He further explained that the territorial demarcation between Palestine and Israel should be based on the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem serving as the capital for both states. This stance is without prejudice to a final settlement on borders, which may include land swaps.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide highlighted the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza. "What is most urgent at the moment is to achieve a ceasefire, ensure that enough humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza, and obtain the release of the hostages," he said.

On the same day, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed that their countries would join Norway in recognizing the State of Palestine.

"Today Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognize the State of Palestine, each of us will undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision," Harris said in Dublin, the Irish capital.

The Irish prime minister said that "permanent peace can only be secured upon the basis of the free will of a free people."

"Palestinians in Gaza are enduring the most appalling, suffering, hardship and starvation," he said. "A humanitarian catastrophe, unimaginable to most, and unconscionable to all -- is unfolding in real time."

Spain's recognition will also take effect on May 28, following a Council of Ministers session. Sanchez stressed that Spain recognizes Palestine "for peace, for justice, and for consistency," urging both parties to engage in dialogue to achieve a two-state solution. He highlighted the necessity of ending reported abuses in the occupied territories.

The Palestinian presidency on Wednesday welcomed the recognition. In a statement published by the official news agency WAFA, the Palestinian leadership stated that it highly appreciated the contribution of Norway, Ireland and Spain towards "consecrating the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination on their land and in taking actual steps to support the implementation of the two-state solution."

On the other hand, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said he has instructed the immediate recall of Israel's ambassadors to Ireland and Norway for consultations in light of the countries' decisions to recognize a Palestinian state.

"I'm sending a clear and unequivocal message to Ireland and Norway: Israel will not remain silent in the face of those undermining its sovereignty and endangering its security," Katz said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

VARIED EUROPEAN REACTIONS

European reactions to the recognition varied. Malta, Slovenia, and Slovakia expressed support, with Slovenia also initiating steps towards recognizing Palestine.

The Slovenian government launched on May 9 procedures for Slovenia's recognition of Palestine. Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon expressed hope that the procedures would be completed as soon as possible, as Slovenia wants to help ensure an end to the horrors in Gaza.

A spokesperson from Malta's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Xinhua that Malta had recently affirmed its readiness to recognize Palestine but will wait until such recognition can make a positive contribution, when the circumstances are right.

Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said his country supported the resolution on strengthening the rights of the State of Palestine. "It is the only way to achieve sustainable peace in the region and confirm the historic right of Palestine to self-determination as well as a place in the UN," he said in a statement.

Conversely, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Lithuania expressed reservations.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that it makes no sense to recognize Palestine as a state if it is not clear who represents it and on what territory.

The Dutch government commented it does not recognize the State of Palestine and is not expected to change its position in the near future.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda warned that recognizing Palestinian statehood could escalate the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

In Belgium, top ministers also met to consider the situation in Gaza, but no agreement on a possible recognition was reached.

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said such recognition is not a taboo while stressing the timing, saying conditions had not yet been met. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also made a similar statement.

Independent EU commentator and analyst Shada Islam said that the recognition of a Palestinian state by Norway, Ireland and Spain is almost certainly going to be followed by Malta and Slovenia in the coming weeks.

"The move by Spain, Ireland and Norway will further isolate Israel in the UN... Their decision sends a strong message to Palestinian people that at least some EU member states have retained their moral compass," she told Xinhua.

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Operation Iron Swords - Day 229 - 22 May 2024

At any point, Hamas could have ended this burgeoning tragedy to

surrender and release every hostage.

Hamas instigated and owns this humanitarian catastrophe.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)

The US government said it is against the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, which should instead be achieved through diplomatic negotiations, according to media reports. Norway, Ireland, and Spain announced on Wednesday that they will formally recognize Palestinian statehood from May 28, in support of the so-called two-state solution intended to bring peace to the Middle East.

A White House National Security Council spokesperson told CNN and Reuters that US President Joe Biden is a strong supporter of a two-state solution and has been throughout his career. He (Biden) believes a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition, the spokesperson stated. Over the weekend, Biden said he supported a two-state solution in remarks at Morehouse Colleges commencement, calling it the only solution where two people live in peace, security, and dignity.

On Tuesday, a US official told reporters that Washington is holding talks about the post-conflict, two-state phase with other Arab capitals and Israel. The two-state solution, a plan to create a Palestinian state within the territory occupied by Israel since 1967, is supported by the UN and many nations. If implemented, it would likely require the removal of Israeli settlers from the occupied territories.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly vowed to prevent Palestinian statehood. Norway, Ireland, and Spain are just the latest Western countries to recognize Palestine. Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia did so in 1988, with Sweden joining them in 2014. Russia and China support an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

War Termination

The head of the Israeli National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, said Wednesday that "Israel" did not achieve any of the goals of its war on Gaza. "We did not achieve any of the strategic goals of the war, no conditions for a prisoner deal, we did not topple Hamas and we did not enable the residents of the [Gaza] envelope to return to their homes safely," Hanegbi said during a briefing to the Israeli Foreign Affairs and Security Committee. "They say in the [Israeli forces] that this will take a lot of time, not one year, but years," Hanegbi added. "The Cabinet did not set any clear goal for the north, no dates, no targets, no strategic goals," he added.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari confirmed that mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt and the United States are continuing for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Al-Ansari added, "The mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the United States are continuing to exchange prisoners and detainees and to achieve peace, security and stability in the region." He explained that "Qatar calls for not paying attention to media reports questioning the ongoing mediation efforts to stop the aggression against Gaza." He also stressed "the need for the focus, at this sensitive time, to be on ways to end the war in the Gaza Strip."

A senior Israeli official revealed Tel Aviv's intention to return to Qatari mediation in efforts to release hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Commenting on the CNN report, a high-ranking Egyptian source expressed on Wednesday Cairo's astonishment at " the attempts of some parties to deliberately insult the Egyptian efforts made to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip." He explained that "some parties are playing a game of constantly accusing the mediators, accusing them of bias and blaming them for evading making the required decisions."

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced that Washington and Riyadh may complete preparations for their part of the agreement to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel in the coming weeks. Blinken said during a hearing in the US House of Representatives: We are continuing to work to try to reach this agreement (normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel). This will require some understandings and agreements between the United States and Saudi Arabia in the areas of security, nuclear energy and defense cooperation. These agreements, in terms of "The principle is very close to being concluded now, but it may be several more weeks before it is completed."

He pointed out that Saudi Arabia clearly demonstrated that if the part of the deal with the United States is completed, and in order to continue the process of normalizing relations with Israel, they need calm in the Gaza Strip and a reliable path towards establishing a Palestinian state. Blinken added that the United States wants to see this and that and continues to work to achieve this. But he found it difficult to answer the question about "whether the Israeli government is ready to act now on this basis."

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation announced yesterday that US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is "disappointed " after a series of meetings with senior Israeli officials, including the Prime Minister, Defense Minister Yoav Galant, Minister Benny Gantz, Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy and other officials. He put on the table for discussion a number of issues, including Rafah, the prisoner exchange deal, and normalization with Saudi Arabia.

Operational Update

Following the alert in the Ajar area a short time ago, this is a false alert. Further to the alerts that were activated in the areas of Dafna and Mayan Baruch in the north of the country, these are false alerts.

Tomorrow (Thursday), starting in the morning until noon, a military exercise will take place in cooperation with the security forces in the area of the city of Eilat and the Eilot Regional Council. During the exercise, a lively movement of vehicles and many security forces will be felt in the area. The exercise was planned in advance as part of the IDF's annual training plan for 2024, and as part of the IDF and security forces' readiness in the city for the various threats in all sectors.

The Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Hertzi Halevi, visited today (Wednesday), the exercise of the reserve brigade "Hafti Hash" (551) for readiness for the North, with the participation of the commander of the Northern Command, Major General Uri Gordin, the commander of the land arm, Major General Tamir Yedai, the commander of the National Center For training on land, Brigadier General Kobi Heller, commander of the 551st Brigade, Col. Ido Kess and other commanders.

"Fighting in Gaza, or in Lebanon, requires tenacity," stated the Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, "there are no easy achievements. And we need to be much more tenacious than the other side, much more tenacious. And we are looking forward, and you will see, the way to bring the residents back At the northern border with security, she also goes through a lot of talent and proper planning and a lot of stubbornness."

"Look at the brigade with a lot of work, a lot of experience, a lot of achievements along with a price, which we are well aware of," he continued, "but I tell you, we are determined, persistent, also ready for challenges in the north, also in action in the south, also in fighting Terrorism in IOSH. And with that we are moving forward, very much trusting the people, very much trusting the reservists that this strong presence gives a lot of confidence both in readiness and professionalism. Train, lift up, we will move forward."

Operational Update - Gaza

Politico reported that US intelligence, in its latest assessments, said that Israel was only able to eliminate about 30%-35% of Hamas fighters from October 7, 2023. The US intelligence assessment revealed that 65% of Hamas' tunnels are still active, indicating that Hamas has been able to recruit thousands of new fighters. The newspaper indicated that the Biden administration has become increasingly concerned about Hamas's ability to recruit thousands during the past few months during wartime, and this has allowed them to withstand Israeli attacks for months.

The newspaper explained that it is possible that these and other intelligence assessments contributed to the startling recent comments made by senior administration officials. Politico newspaper said that the administration of US President Joe Biden has become publicly critical of the Israeli military strategy in Gaza after it had been secret for a long time. Politico stated that this level of criticism of the Middle East ally has not been seen since the war began in October 2023, noting that Washington, over the course of months, quietly pushed Israel to change the way it wages its war on Gaza, but the frustration resulting from watching Israel refuse to change its course has spread increasingly. To the public and widen the gap between Washington and Tel Aviv.

The Biden administration fears that Israel may disastrously squander its chance to achieve victory over Hamas and lose its best chance to eliminate the movements control of the Strip. Senior officials publicly describe Israel's strategy in Gaza as self-defeating and likely to open the door to the return of Hamas. The newspaper pointed out in the context that the result is that Hamas is still clinging to the land and retains great capabilities, even after the comprehensive war launched by Israel over a period of nearly eight months.

Officials said the Israeli government failed to control parts of Gaza after it was cleared, turned the civilian population and the rest of the world against it through widespread bombing and inadequate humanitarian aid, and enabled Hamas to recruit more fighters. An official told the newspaper that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan used his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel last week to discuss how the military operation could lead to achievable and lasting success against Hamas.

In an interview on Tuesday with CNN, Netanyahu said: We have to get rid of Hamas or there will be no future for Gaza, but US intelligence, in its assessment, raises growing concerns that such an outcome is not possible. Western officials believe that while Israel has weakened Hamas' capabilities in Gaza, Hamas has been able to protect thousands of its fighters, many of whom operate and hide within a sprawling tunnel network and others believed to mingle with the civilian population.

The officials said that "Israel" has turned the world against it with its continuous bombing and blocking of humanitarian aid, which they claim has enabled the Palestinian Resistance to recruit more fighters. A person familiar with US intelligence revealed that Biden officials are becoming increasingly concerned that Hamas has been able to recruit during wartime which has allowed them to withstand the 7 months of conflict.

Recent satellite images showed the massive destruction left by the recent Israeli attacks on the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. Although Israel describes the ground incursion as limited, it is practically a deep ground operation, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz , which described the destruction in the southern Gaza Strip as similar to the destruction seen in other cities throughout the Gaza Strip. Gaza during the early stages of the war. The latest satellite images were taken on May 19 by the private satellite company Planet Labs, and show that the Israeli army has flattened several buildings between the Kerem Shalom border crossing and the Rafah crossing.

This type of satellite imagery is considered extremely important for monitoring the progress of the war, as the army imposes severe restrictions on the entry of journalists into Gaza. The Israeli army's ground incursion into Rafah began on May 6, when the army ordered residents in parts of the area to quickly evacuate. Israeli forces entered through the Kerem Shalom crossing, and moved north along the Philadelphia axis, parallel to the Egyptian border.

The brigade combat teams of the 162nd division, joined by the Nahal TKS, continued their offensive activity in Rafah tonight. The forces are now acting precisely following information about terrorist targets in the area of the 'Brazil' neighborhood and the 'Shabura' area while preventing as much as possible harm to the civilian population, after the citizens have evacuated the area. The activity began with a preliminary attack flight of fighter jets of the Air Force against Hamas terrorist targets in Rafah.

In the last day, the forces of the 98th Division operating in the Jabalia area in the north of the Gaza Strip have eliminated many terrorists in face-to-face battles and by directing attacks by Air Force aircraft and fighter jets. In one of the attacks, the fighters of the paratrooper brigade directed an aircraft that eliminated eight terrorists from the terrorist organization Hamas who were staying in a weapons warehouse.

The terrorists who were eliminated were operating in the fields of rockets, operating drones and observing Israeli forces. Soldiers of the 679th Israel Defense Forces have killed a number of terrorists in the center of the Gaza Strip in clashes and tank fire in the last day. Earlier today, IDF forces identified terrorists entering a military building in the Mis al-Jabal area, shortly after the identification, fighter jets attacked the building where the terrorists were staying.

Soldiers of the TSK 401 are operating in the Rafah area against terrorist targets, along with advancing on the Philadelphia Axis with the help of which they managed the fighting in the last few days. The fighters of the brigade located and destroyed launch sites that were loaded and ready to fire towards Israeli territory with several canisters. The launch sites are located in East Rafah on the Philadelphia axis near the border. All the launchers were destroyed.

The fighters of the 7th Brigade Combat Team are fighting in a lumbering manner in the Jabaliya area. So far, the forces have destroyed dozens of terrorist infrastructures, attacked about 100 targets from the air and fired about 500 artillery shells. The forces raided dozens of Hamas combat compounds. As part of the effort to destroy the military's capabilities, the forces located and destroyed a number of ready-to-use launchers and dozens of rockets. In addition, during the searches, the forces located weapons, including explosive belts, ready-to-use charges, grenades, weapons and ammunition.

Led by the Gaza Division and under the intelligence guidance of the Amman and the Shin Bet, fighter jets attacked a compound inside a UNRA school where Hamas terrorists were operating, including an anti-tank operative and a Nakhaba terrorist. In the compound that was attacked there were weapons including mortars, weapons and explosives. The attack was carefully planned and carried out using precise weaponry and avoiding harm to those not involved as much as possible. At the end of the destruction of the compound, many secondary explosions were detected which testified to the presence of weapons in the area.

Led by the Gaza Division, Amman and the Shin Bet, an Air Force aircraft attacked and killed in Khan Yunis the terrorist Ahmed Yasser al-Kara, a key anti-tank operative in the terrorist organization Hamas who led attacks and terrorist plots against IDF forces during the war and was monitored by Southern Division. Al-Kara took part in the terrorist attack in the Gaza Envelope on October 7 and during the fighting he made many shooting attempts at our forces in the Gaza Strip. During the preparation for the attack, Unit 414 identified a child near the terrorist, so they stopped the attack immediately after the identification. After the boy moved away from the building, the attack was carried out in which two more terrorists were killed: Zahib Ra'ad Abu Riva, a Nakhaba terrorist in the Hamas terrorist organization, and Anas Muhammad Abu Hasliha, a terrorist in the GAP terrorist organization.

In addition, Air Force fighter jets, under the direction of the Southern Command and the Intelligence Wing, killed five Hamas terrorists who were operating out of the 'Fahmi Aljarjaoui' school compound in the Derg Tafah area in the northern Gaza Strip. Among the terrorists who were killed in the attack, the terrorist Fadi Salim, head of the information system in the organization's Gaza division. Along with him, three terrorists in the organization's intelligence system and another Nakhaba terrorist were killed. This is another example of the cynical and clear use that the terrorist organization Hamas makes of civilian spaces and facilities while using the Gaza population as a human shield.

The Philadelphia axis is considered a buffer zone and is subject to the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, but two weeks after the Israeli military operation in the city of Rafah on the Egyptian border, the Israeli army took control of half of the axis, according to its assurances to the Al-Hurra website, which raised questions about the reasons and repercussions. On May 14, eyewitnesses reported seeing tanks crossing the strategically important Salah al-Din Road to the Brazil and El Geneina neighborhoods, according to the British newspaper The Guardian. On May 15, CNN reported that Israeli forces took control of parts of the Philadelphia Axis.

Israeli forces advanced deep into Rafah, and the Israeli army took control of more than half of the Philadelphia axis, which is also called Salah al-Din Road, according to what Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported on Tuesday. This is what the Israeli Army Spokesperson Unit confirms to Al-Hurra website, and says: This matter is real, in reference to controlling half of the Philadelphia axis. But the unit refused to give the reasons for taking this step, or talk about the extent of the possibility of controlling the entire Philadelphia axis during the coming period.

The Philadelphia Axis, also called the Salah al-Din Axis, is located along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, and is 14 km long. Israeli military and strategic expert, Kofi Lavie, believes that controlling the Philadelphia axis "is very important in light of the complex situation on the border between Israel and Egypt." He pointed out that "all tunnels that were discovered in the Philadelphia axis must be destroyed," as he put it.

Last January, the head of the Egyptian State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, said in response to statements by Israeli officials, in which they indicated the existence of weapons smuggling operations into the Gaza Strip from Egyptian territory, considering them to be false allegations and allegations. In a related context, Israeli political analyst Eddie Cohen points out that Israel seeks to eliminate the Hamas movement, and this will not be done except by fully controlling every area in the Gaza Strip. He says that Hamas obtained weapons and technology through tunnels, with or without the knowledge of the Egyptian side, which prompted the Israeli army to seize and control the Philadelphia axis, according to Cohen.

The Israeli political analyst, Mordechai Kedar, agrees with him, who talks about the smuggling highway through tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Kedar told Al-Hurra website that seizing the Philadelphia axis will enable Israel to "stop and eliminate the smuggling movement through tunnels."

Egypt is the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with Israel on March 26, 1979, a year after the signing of the Camp David Accords in 1978. Under the peace agreement, Cairo was able to recover the Sinai Peninsula, which Israel controlled in 1967, and Egypt fought a war to regain it in 1973. The Salah al-Din axis, or Philadelphia, is considered a buffer zone by the peace treaty signed in 1979, and Israel withdrew from it completely as part of the plan to disengage from the Gaza Strip in 2005.

Al-Hurra website contacted the head of the Egyptian State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, to clarify the official Egyptian position on the Israeli move, but we did not receive a response until the time of publishing the report. Speaking to Al-Hurra website, Imad Gad, advisor to Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, points out that Israel is trying to impose a fait accompli policy on Egypt, by controlling parts of the Philadelphia axis. Israel will continue its quest to control the entire axis, and they will not listen to the Egyptian side until the plan to eliminate the main force of the Hamas movement is completed, according to Gad. The advisor to Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies denies what Israeli analysts said about arms smuggling from Egypt to the Gaza Strip, and says: This is not true, and it is the same exhausted and inaccurate allegations... and the same outdated arguments. The opposite is true. Egypt suffered from weapons smuggling through tunnels that came from the direction of the Gaza Strip towards Egyptian territory, and Cairo made every effort to close all of these tunnels, according to Gad.

For his part, the Egyptian military and strategic expert, Major General Staff Samir Farag, explains that the region is buffered according to the peace agreement, but Israel is trying to escalate the situation with Egypt and drag it into other problems. The lands of the Philadelphia Axis are not Egyptian, but what is currently happening by the Israeli army is a violation of the peace agreement between the two countries, according to what he told the Al-Hurra website.

In a related context, the Egyptian military and strategic expert, Major General Al-Sayyid Al-Jabri, stresses that Israeli control of the Philadelphia axis threatens the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. The essence of the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel is the absence of any military forces in the buffer or separation zone, as he explains to the Al-Hurra website. The entry of armored vehicles and artillery weapons is a clear violation of the essence of the peace agreement, which gives Egypt the right to rearrange the situation of its armed forces in the entire Sinai.

The " Peace Agreement " allows Israel and Egypt to deploy forces limited in number and equipment, and limited in numbers and types of weapons and vehicles, with the aim of patrolling the side of the Egyptian axis, to prevent smuggling, infiltration, and other criminal activities. The agreement provides an Israeli presence within this buffer strip, known as the Philadelphia Axis, which is located within Area D in accordance with Annex I, the Protocol on Israeli Withdrawal and Security Arrangements, which allows the presence of a limited Israeli military force of four infantry battalions, field fortifications, and United Nations observers.

The Israeli force does not include any presence of tanks, artillery, or missiles, except for individual surface-to-air missiles. The Israeli infantry forces in this area can have up to 180 military vehicles, with a total number of infantry not exceeding 4,000.

In Area D, including the Philadelphia axis, the Israeli forces controlled this until they withdrew from it and handed it over to the Palestinian Authority in 2005.

In Area C of the agreement, the presence of United Nations forces and the Egyptian civil police is allowed.

In Area B, Egyptian border units of four battalions equipped with light weapons are allowed.

In Area A, there are military forces consisting of an infantry division, an armored brigade, and artillery brigades, not exceeding 22 thousand Egyptian soldiers.

To arrange an Egyptian presence for border guard forces, the  Philadelphia Agreement  was signed, which is in line with the Crossings between Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreement that was signed in the same year. For his part, Cohen confirms that Israeli forces will remain in the Philadelphia axis in order to "stop and prevent the introduction of weapons from Egypt to the Hamas movement." As for Kedar, he points out that Israel does not want to harm Egyptian national security from near or far, but if Cairo had done its duty and stopped the smuggling movement under the Philadelphia axis, Hamas would not have had the current power.

The Egyptian and Israeli sides must sit down to negotiate, discuss and reach understandings on the Philadelphia axis, according to the Israeli political analyst. For his part, Lafi talks about internal pressures in Egypt and Israel to "tamper with relations and each party accuses the other of not fulfilling its duties." But there must be a "military understanding" of the importance of relations between the two countries, as the Israeli military analyst points out. According to Lavi's estimates, the Israeli army's control of the Philadelphia axis "will not affect relations between Egypt and Israel."

But on the other hand, Gad asserts that what Israel is currently doing is a violation of the security annex of the peace treaty. It is assumed that there will be an angry, practical Egyptian reaction by diplomatic protest or withdrawal of ambassadors, according to an advisor to the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies. In a related context, Major General Farag points out that Egypt will not submit to Israeli provocations, and will take diplomatic paths to respond to the violation of the peace agreement. Regarding the diplomatic tracks, the Egyptian military and strategic expert explains that they relate to Cairo informing Washington, as the guarantor of the peace agreement, that the Israeli moves violate that agreement.

Egypt can also go to the Security Council and file a complaint against Israel as it violated an international agreement, according to Major General Farag. But Major General Al-Jabri talks about 3 future scenarios after the Israeli forces took control of half of the Philadelphia axis. The first scenario is the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the axis and not clinging to the land, but if the Israeli army clings to the land, friction may occur between the Egyptian border guards and the Israeli forces, according to Major General Al-Jabri. Al-Jabri talks about the third scenario, which is the occurrence of clashes or escalation between the Egyptian and Israeli sides, something whose repercussions cannot be predicted, and the military situation may develop very quickly. At that time, the form of the conflict will change and there will be a new reality in the entire region, according to the warnings of the Egyptian military and strategic expert.

Operational Update - Judea-Samaria

Palestinian Resistance fighters confront Israeli occupation forces raiding the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, leading to the martyrdom of several people. The al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) repelled an Israeli forces unit in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank. Palestinian media sources said the Resistance fighters engaged in fierce confrontations with the occupation forces in the Damaj neighborhood inside the Jenin refugee camp.

The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah Resistance movement said that it engaged in fierce confrontations with the Israeli occupation forces in the al-Damaj neighborhood inside Jenin refugee camp. Israeli media reported that an IDF officer was hit by an explosive device in Jenin, adding that a soldier from the undercover force was injured in Jenin in the West Bank.

The Israeli forces carried out a large raid on Palestinian homes in the al-Damaj neighborhood in the Jenin refugee camp and arrested several Palestinians, including Hilal Jaramneh, a woman from the al-Hamid family, and Yazan Ali Samoudi, who sustained several gunshot wounds after being shot by the Israeli occupation forces in Jenin. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) announced that its teams managed to reach a martyr in Jenin, raising the death toll to eight following the Israeli occupation's large-scale invasion of the city, which began earlier on Tuesday. Additionally, the PRCS reported that at least 21 Palestinians have been injured, with some injuries considered severe.

The PRCS stated that its teams reached an unidentified martyr in the al-Hadaf neighborhood in Jenin before Israeli forces seized the ambulance while it was transporting the martyr to the hospital for identification and later burial. Moreover, the PRCS added that Israeli forces targeted their ambulance with live bullets in the al-Hadaf neighborhood while it was heading to assist the injured, causing damage to the vehicle.

As part of the ongoing operation, the Israeli forces called for reinforcements to Jenin, as confirmed by local Palestinian media. The Israeli forces continued their military operation and expanded throughout several neighborhoods in Jenin and its camp. In turn, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that Israeli bulldozers worked on destroying infrastructure near Jenin Governmental Hospital and obstructed ambulance crews from reaching the injured, including school students.

In a continuation of its systematic operations against cities, towns, and camps in the West Bank, Israeli forces stormed several areas. In the northern West Bank, forces from the Israeli army entered the city of Qalqilya, arresting the parents of young Tareq Dawoud after raiding their home to pressure him into surrendering, according to local Palestinian media. In the central West Bank, cities west of Ramallah were also stormed.

Operational Update - Lebanon

Air Force fighter jets attacked military buildings of the terrorist organization Hezbollah in the Eyta al-Sha'ab area, alongside observation posts of the organization in the Alma al-Sha'ab area in southern Lebanon. IDF fighters, Shin Bet, MGB fighters and undercovers continue the operation in Jenin to thwart the terrorist infrastructures located in the area. As part of the operation, the forces exchanged fire with armed men and killed a number of terrorists, including two terrorists who threw explosives at the forces. In addition, the fighters confiscated military equipment and uncovered charges that were planted under the axles and were intended to harm the troops. Yesterday (Tuesday), a gunman was identified in Jenin who entered the government hospital area and barricaded himself in it. This is another example of the cynical use by armed men in the Jenin area of humanitarian infrastructure including hospitals as shelters and hiding places.

Fighter jets attacked two Hezbollah launchers in the areas of Marvin and Aita al-Sha'ab in southern Lebanon. In addition, warplanes attacked a terrorist infrastructure of Hezbollah in the Rav al-Taltin area. Also, an explosive UAV that crossed Lebanese territory fell this evening in the area of Beit Hillel, there were no casualties and no damage was caused.

Operational Update - Syria / Iraq

Operational Update - Yemen

Al-Masirah TV, affiliated with the Houthi Ansar Allah movement, reported on Wednesday that Hodeidah International Airport in western Yemen was targeted by a series of air strikes by American-British aircraft. According to the channel, American and British aircraft launched 6 raids on Hodeidah Airport, without giving further details about the material or human damage.

It should be noted that this is not the first time that Hodeidah International Airport has been targeted. Since the beginning of this month, American and British aircraft have launched a series of raids targeting the airport. On May 2, they carried out about 5 raids on Hodeidah Airport, and on the 13th of this month, they launched an air strike on the airport. On the 14th, it launched 4 raids targeting the airport and its public facilities south of Hodeidah.

Hodeidah overlooks the Red Sea, and it is one of the most important governorates in Yemen, as it contains an international airport, in addition to having a long coastal strip. Since last November, the Houthis in Yemen have been carrying out attacks in the Red Sea on Israeli ships or those heading to Israel, "in support and victory for the Palestinian people and Gaza."

Bloomberg reported that the Pentagon confirmed that the Houthis are using weapons that can reach the Mediterranean. The US government is concerned that the Houthis have the ability to expand strikes on shipping beyond the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden into the Mediterranean, said an official who requested anonymity to discuss the private talks. He added that the Ansar Allah group in Yemen has advanced weapons and that their deployment of anti-ship ballistic missiles is almost unprecedented, in addition to their use of drones in their attacks. This assessment came as defense officials from the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The United States seeks to use this group to achieve greater integration in air and missile defenses, including the exchange of radar data and the development of early warning capabilities.

Al-Monitor reported that the Houthis in Yemen warned early this month that they would expand their ongoing campaign of attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea to include ships in the Mediterranean . The Houthis have launched more than 90 attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023, and also struck at least one commercial ship linked to Israel in the Indian Ocean about 300 miles east of the African coast in late April.

Maps

All maps are lies. Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential, wrote cartographer Mark Monmoneir in his book How to Lie with Maps. He showed that condensing complex, three-dimensional spaces onto a two-dimensional sheet of paper [in old days] is bound to be reductive. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. The first characteristic of guerrilla warfare is the loss of a front line. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. These processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, there remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness.

Bystanders

Norway, Ireland and Spain announced plans to join the growing bloc of European countries which recognize Palestinian statehood. Israel recalled its ambassadors to Norway, Ireland and Spain on Wednesday for urgent consultations, summoning envoys in Tel Aviv and threatening the countries with severe consequences after the trio announced plans to formally recognize Palestine  likely based on its pre-1967 borders, starting next week.

Israel will not remain silent in the face of those undermining its sovereignty and endangering its security, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement after the recognition announcement. Todays decision sends a message to Palestinians and the world: Terrorism pays, Katz alleged, accusing the three countries of choosing to reward Hamas with statehood after its surprise incursion into southern Israel last October.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the trios move, saying it will help enshrine the Palestinian peoples right to self-determination and bring a two-state solution closer to reality. Hamas  which doesnt recognize Israels right to exist  also welcomed the development, calling it an important step on a path to establishing our right to our land, and urging more countries to follow suit.

A White House National Security Council spokesperson rushed to Israels defense, emphasizing that while President Biden is a strong supporter of a two-state solution and has been throughout his career, he believes a Palestinian state should be recognized through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition. The direct negotiations the spokesman mentioned refer to an effort by Washington to broker a Palestinian-Israeli settlement  with talks failing spectacularly over the course of more than three decades thanks largely to Israeli intransigence, US favoritism for Tel Aviv and efforts by Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, to divide the Palestinian liberation movement.

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne criticized the three countries' move, saying that recognition was not just a symbolic issue or a question of political positioning, but a diplomatic tool in the service of the solution of two states living side by side in peace and security. Sejourne suggested conditions are not ripe to recognize Palestinian statehood. A spokesperson for Germanys Foreign Ministry echoed Washington and Pariss sentiments, saying Berlin would realize its firm goal of recognizing an independent Palestine only through a dialogue process.

Sweden became the first Western European country to recognize an independent Palestinian state, doing so in 2014, 26 years after five former Eastern Bloc countries including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania did so in 1988, together with Cyprus. A total of 143 of 193 members of the United Nations, including Russia, every country in the Middle East and South America, most of Africa and Asia now recognize Palestinian statehood, with Wednesdays announcement shrinking the bloc of Western countries which have not done so.

Norway, Ireland and Spain represent a unique group of countries in terms of socio-economic development and political persuasion. Norway, for example, is not a member of the European Union, and while it was one of the first countries to recognize Israel in 1949 and boasts a long history of friendship with the Jewish State, it has also been highly critical of Israels occupation of East Jerusalem, and of the brutality of Tel Avivs military operations in Gaza after October 7.

Spain and Israel only established relations in the mid-1980s, and while ties quickly warmed after that, they worsened dramatically last October, when several Spanish officials recommended that Prime Minister Netanyahu be brought before the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges. This prompted Tel Aviv to accuse the Spanish government of sympathies with terrorists. Spain, interestingly, is only of the few NATO allies which has not recognized the US-sponsored puppet regime in Kosovo, Serbia, indicating at least some readiness to act against Washingtons interests when Madrid sees fit.

Ireland has also had a rocky relationship with Israel, with embassies between the two countries set up only in 1996, and Dublin regularly criticizing Tel Aviv over its threat to Irish peacekeepers serving in the UN-led peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, over the construction of the West Bank security wall, and over illegal Mossad operations on Irish soil.

Of course recognizing Palestinian state is a big step - it is significant, Dr. Mehmet Rakipoglu, an assistant professor at the Mardin Artuklu University in Turkiye, told Sputnik. Rakipoglu believes the three countries have been outside the US and Israeli orbit politically for some time, with some, like Ireland, sharing a special sympathy for the Palestinians based on their own experience of suffering at the hands of British imperialism. So, of course, this is a big failure of US diplomacy, the observer stressed.

This is a normal failure of Israeli diplomacy, not [only] in these countries, but also at international level, Ayman Yousef, professor of political science and international relations at the Arab-American University in Palestine, told Sputnik. It will have very good implications for other countries within the EU to recognize Palestine. We see drastic changes within the foreign policy priorities of these countries. We expect countries such as Belgium, Malta, Slovenia and even Greece and Portugal to recognize Palestine as well, Yousef said.

Wednesdays move means, implicitly and explicitly, an alliance of these countries within the EU to shape its policies vis-a-vis Palestine, and it will push other countries to have the same diplomatic move here, the observer believes. For Palestine, the trios decision will also mean improving bilateral economic, political and cultural relations, and put pressure on the US, the traditional ally of Israel, to be more balanced in its policies and reactions to the conflict in the Middle East, Yousef said.

Israel has only itself to blame for world opinion shifting against it, even among its traditional friends in the West, the observer stressed, pointing to the brutality of Israeli operations in Gaza, which have now killed or maimed more than five percent of the Strips prewar population. Israel destroyed nearly everything: hospitals, mosques, churches and universities, schools and all civilian foundations of Gaza. I think the level and magnitude of this destruction have pushed these countries to change their policies in the right direction. And I think many EU countries start thinking that the stability and security in the Middle East will not be achieved, it will be a remote option if they don't recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign country, Yousef said.

Israel is failing not only within the EU, even in the United Nations to convince other countries. Even in the US, there is a huge opposition to policies adopted by the Israelis - the student demonstrations in many American universities being just one example of that, the observer summed up.

The Egyptan Information Service denied CNNs allegations and warns of its complete withdrawal from mediation efforts between Hamas and Tel Aviv. The Egyptian Information Service denied the allegations that came in an article published by the American CNN channel entitled Egypt changes the terms of the ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip. The head of the State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, stated that the article published by the American website is in fact pure allegations, devoid of any information or facts, and is not based on any reliable journalistic sources in accordance with internationally accepted journalistic professional rules.

Diaa Rashwan challenged CNN to attribute the allegations it published to specific official American or Israeli sources, and asked him and all international media outlets to be accurate in what they publish about such highly sensitive issues and not to base the publication of some allegations on anonymous sources that he calls informed sources. Rashwan announced that Egypt categorically rejects these allegations, noting that the State Information Service sent an official letter to CNN explaining this rejection and the grounds on which it was based, and demanded that the Egyptian response be published immediately.

Diaa Rashwan added that the site had responded and published parts of this response, which included some of the observations contained therein and in this statement. The head of the State Information Service explained that such a false article, full of untruthful allegations, does not lead to, and perhaps aims to, distort Egypts main and prominent role in the ceasefire attempts and negotiations in the Gaza Strip since the start of the bloody Israeli aggression against it about eight months ago.

He expressed Egypt's astonishment at the attempts of some parties to insult the enormous efforts it has made and is still making over the past months in an attempt to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to prevent the killing and wounding of hundreds of innocent civilians daily and the systematic destruction of all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip.

Rashwan stated that Egypt has noticed during recent periods that certain parties have been playing a game of constantly accusing the Qatari mediators at times and then the Egyptian mediators at other times, accusing them of siding with one of the parties and blaming them for procrastinating and evading decisive decisions regarding the ceasefire deal and the liberation of Israeli detainees in the Gaza Strip in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. This is to preserve the personal political interests of some of these parties and their attempts to confront the major internal political crises they are experiencing.

He stated that Egypt's exercise of the mediation role in the ceasefire deal and the liberation of detainees in the Gaza Strip and prisoners in Israel was based on repeated demands and insistence from Israel and the United States to play this role, which came as a result of their awareness of the extent of Egyptian experience and professionalism in managing such negotiations, especially since Egypt has previous successful experiences. Multiple conflicts between Israel and Hamas.

Rashwan stated that the false publication and lies being promoted about the Egyptian role cannot be interpreted as an attempt to punish Egypt for its firm, principled positions towards the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in light of its mediation role and Egypts declared adherence to the necessity of the presence of Palestinian elements on the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing. To agree to Egypt operating it on its part and not to recognize the legitimacy of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian side of the crossing, in addition to Egypts position consistent with international law and international humanitarian law by joining the State of South Africa in the lawsuit filed before the International Court of Justice against the practices of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip.

The head of the State Information Service stressed that continuing attempts to cast doubt on and insult the Egyptian mediation efforts and roles with allegations that contradict reality will only lead to further complicating the situation in Gaza and the entire region and may push the Egyptian side to take a decision to completely withdraw from the mediation it is carrying out in the current conflict.

Rashwan held the concerned parties, especially those who spread lies about the Egyptian position, fully responsible for the unprecedented humanitarian disasters and the war of extermination in the Gaza Strip, the killing and wounding of thousands of innocent Palestinians, their displacement and starvation, and the destruction of everything in the Strip, in addition to the loss of the lives of Israeli detainees as a result of the aggressive Israeli military operation on the Strip.

Axis of Resistance

The divine promise of Palestines liberation from the river to the sea will be fulfilled, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said. Following the martyrdom-like demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage, Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, and his accompanying delegation met with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Wednesday to convey their condolences to the Leader and the Iranian government and nation.

During the meeting, the Leader thanked the Palestinian nation, especially the people of Gaza, for offering their condolences. He also extended congratulations and condolences for the martyrdom of Mr. Haniyeh's children, and commended the head of the political bureau of Hamas for his patience, Khamenei.ir reported. Referring to the remarkable resistance displayed by the people of Gaza, which has surprised the world, Ayatollah Khamenei remarked, Who would have believed that one day, slogans in support of Palestine would be raised in US universities and that the flag of Palestine would be raised there? Who would have believed that one day in Japan and in demonstrations in support of Palestine, the slogan Death to Israel would be chanted in Persian?

He highlighted that there may be future events related to Palestine that may seem unimaginable at present. The Leader then referenced Quranic verses regarding the realization of God's two promises to the mother of Prophet Moses (PBUH). Now God's first promise about the Palestinian people has been fulfilled, and that is the victory of the people of Gaza, who are a small group, against the big, powerful group [consisting of] the US, NATO, England and a number of other countries. Accordingly, the second promise, which is the elimination of the Zionist regime, can also be realized. With God's grace, the day will come when Palestine will be established from the river to the sea.

Mr. Mokhber, who, as stipulated in the Constitution, is in charge of the countrys executive affairs, will uphold the late Presidents policies and beliefs regarding Palestine with the same drive and spirit, Ayatollah Khamenei stated. Ayatollah Khamenei has declared five days of public mourning, appointing the first vice president as the manager of the executive power.

Allied for Democracy

Operation Iron Swords - By the Numbers

1,900,000 IDPs in Gaza

79,852 Gazans injured, 28% adult male

70,000 tons of explosives dropped on Gaza

70,000 Gaza housing units completely destroyed

70,000 Israeli IDPs from Lebanon border

45,000 bombs dropped in Gaza

45,000 Gazans killed, including buried under rubble

35,655 Gazans martyred

33,000 Gaza targets attacked

20,528 Palestinians in Israeli prisons [Haaretz, 20 Mar 2024]

15,140 Israelis injured [i24 TV]

15,000 terror operatives killed in Gaza [Israeli officials]

15,000 rockets launched from Gaza

14,520 Gazan children martyred

13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [N12]

13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [IDF]

11,000 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank in 2023

10,000 Gazans missing under the rubble

9,920 Gazan women martyred

9,400 Palestinians in Israeli prisons

9,000 IDF needing psychological assistance

8,665 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank since Oct.7th

7,209 IDF injured admitted to rehabilitation [IDF]

6,800 IDF officers and soldiers injured [Channel 12]

6,000 HAMAS combatants killed [HAMAS]

5,500 IDF wounded [reports]

4,800 West Bank Palestinians wounded

4,700 sites targetted in Lebanon

3,850 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria

3,600 administrative detainees

3,188 IDF wounded [IDF]

2,100 Gazan women are missing

1,609 terrorists killed on the first day

1,650 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria affiliated with Hamas

1,160 Israelis killed on the first day

620 Israeli officers and soldiers killed since the start of the war

514 West Bank Palestinians martyred

364 people [including fighters] killed in Lebanon

274 Israeli officers and soldiers killed in Gaza

240 Hezbollah fighters killed in Lebanon

126 people recovered, including 91 Israelis, 11 bodies, and 24 foreign workers

116 living hostages in Palestinian custody

70 civilians killed in Lebanon

29 IDF deaths were caused by "friendly fire"

15 Israelis killed in the West Bank and Israel

Not every number is reported every day, so sudden jumps generally reflect reporting artifacts rather than actual upticks. Many of these numbers fluctate, up and down, with no apparent explanation. This list records the highest number reliably reported for each matter, under the theory that reality with catch up with reports, as is relentlessly the case.

Some reports claimed that the UN cut in half its earlier estimates of women and children killed in Gaza. Initially, they reported 9,500 women and 14,500 children killed, but later revised it to 4,959 women and 7,797 children on 08 May 2024. The UN acknowledged its inability to independently verify casualty figures. The seeming discrepancy is that HAMAS had about 10K KIA bodies on hand for which they do not have positive ID. It is possible to report the gender and approximate age [ie, juvenile] without knowing the name of the deceased.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 22 May 2024 - Day 819

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that in April 2024, Ukraine exported the highest volume of grain and oilseed since the outbreak of war, reaching 6.6 million tonnes. This demonstrates Ukraine's ability to export unilaterally via its shipping corridor in the Black Sea. Throughput at the Black Sea ports have almost certainly reached a monthly export volume higher than any other point in the conflict, including that achieved under the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI). Approximately 5.2 million tonnes out of the total grain and oilseed exports in April 2024 departed from Ukraine's Black Sea ports, compared to a peak of 4.2 million tonnes under the BSGI in October 2022.

Ukraine's maritime corridor has enabled around 1,600 transits by vessels and exports of a total of 45 million tonnes of cargo since its launch in August 2023. The majority of this has comprised of agricultural exports, consisting of more than 30 million tonnes in the 9-month period. The remainder is primarily iron ore and steel products, which previously was unable to be exported by sea during the BSGI. Overall, this will support Ukraine's economic recovery in 2024.

Shipping from Ukraine is highly likely vital for global food security, with Ukraine's grain exports likely to be around 9.7% of global grain exports between July 2023 and June 2024. While agricultural exports are almost certainly dependent on the Black Sea ports, representing around 78% in volume, other routes remain in use. Ukraine continues to export grain and oilseeds via the Danube River at around 15% by volume, rail at around 6% by volume, and road at under 1% by volume.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian forces concentrated his efforts in the Kharkiv region, as well as on the Pokrovsky and Kurakhivsky directions. The defense forces are aware of the Russian forces' plans and do whatever it takes to thwart them.

Aviation, missile troops and artillery units made a fire attack on four personnel concentration areas, two control points, two control stations, one REB device, two cannons and a C-400 ZRK. Information regarding the results of the impact is being clarified.

Since the beginning of the day, there have been 121 combat clashes, Russian forces launched four missile strikes with five rockets, 37 air strikes with 47 CABs and 376 kamikaze drones, carried out 3,280 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops using different types of weapons.

In the Kharkiv direction, 8 Russian attacks in the areas of the villages of Liptsi and Starytsia. Fighting in the direction of Pletenivka-Vovchansk continues. The situation is controlled by the Defense Forces, Ukrainian defenders give a decent cut.

As of now, since the beginning of this day in the Kharkiv direction, Russia has lost 87 soldiers and 21 units of military equipment, including the completely destroyed two artsystems.

In the Kupyansky direction, the defense forces repelled 22 attacks of the zagarbnikiv. There are still four combat clashes in the areas of Berestovogo and Makiiivka. The situation is under control.

Six Russian attacks were repelled in the Lyman direction today. Russian forces did not succeed.

In the sivers komu direction there are two Russian attacks in the area of viymki. The situation is under control. The current day, eight more Russian attempts to advance in the direction of Bilogorivka and Verkhnyokamiansky did not succeed.

In the Kramators komu direction the number of warfare increased to 10. Defense forces have held their positions. For today, the Russian occupiers have lost 58 people killed and wounded, T-90 tank, two BMDs and four BMP-3 units destroyed. Two more such armored infantry vehicles were damaged.

In the Pokrovsky direction, the number of attacks increased to 25. In particular, Russia is trying to infiltrate Ukrainian combat orders with assault groups and technology. The situation remains tense - there are still nine combat clashes. According to available information, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed the Russian attacker Su-25.

In the Kurakhivsk direction, fighting in the area of Georgiivka continues. Just since the beginning of the day, Russian forces 18 times attacked Ukrainian units in the areas of novomikhailivka, krasnogorivka, konstantinivka and paraskoviivka.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that as a result of active actions, units of the Sever Group of Forces advanced to the depth of the enemy's defences and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 3rd Tank Brigade and 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade near Volchanskiye Khutora, Beliy Kolodez, and Petropavlovka (Kharkov region).

Three counter-attacks launched by the enemy's assault detachments were repelled near Volchansk and Liptsy (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up 255 Ukrainian troops and seven motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one 122-mm Grad MLRS combat vehicle, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzer, one 100-mm Rapira anti-tank gun, and two U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare stations were neutralised.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 66th Mechanised Brigade and 106th Territorial Defence Brigade near Makeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic) and Ivanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

One counter-attack launched by the AFU assault detachment was repelled near Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 130 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 towed howitzer, and two U.S.-made 155-mm M-198 howitzers were neutralised.

As a result of active actions, units of the Yug Group of Forces liberated Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Moreover, losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of the AFU 33rd Mechanised Brigade, 79th Air Assault Brigade, and 116th Territorial Defence Brigade near Georgiyevka, Ostroye, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 365 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 18 motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzer, and one UK-made 105-mm L-119 howitzer.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line, as well as inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 24th, 100th mechanised brigades, 68th Jaeger Brigade, and 71st Infantry Brigade near Semyonovka, Sokol, Novgorodskoye, and Karlovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Seven counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 47th, 110th mechanised brigades, 142nd, and 143rd infantry brigades were repelled near Arkhangelskoye, Netaylovo, Solovyevo, and Umanskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 420 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, including one German-made Marder infantry fighting vehicle, three motor vehicles, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and two U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzers.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Prechistovka, Velikaya Novosyolka, and Neskuchnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade was repelled near Vladimirovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 125 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, one Polish-made 155-mm self-propelled artillery system, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 towed howitzer, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 35th Marines Brigade, 65th Mechanised Brigade, and 126th Territorial Defence Brigade near Novoandreyevka (Zaporozhye region), and Tyaginka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 35 Ukrainian troops, seven motor vehicles, two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, and one 152-mm D-20 howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces destroyed two AFU ammunition depots, as well as engaged AFU manpower and hardware clusters in 102 areas during the day.

Air defence units shot down 34 unmanned aerial vehicles, two French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, and one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectile.

?? In total, 601 airplanes and 274 helicopters, 24,498 unmanned aerial vehicles, 523 air defence missile systems, 16,121 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,307 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 9,740 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 21,915 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Security Council Al-Shabaab Sanctions Committee Adds Three Entries to Its Sanctions List

Press Release

Security Council

SC/15703

21 May 2024

On 21 May 2024, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 2713 (2023) concerning Al-Shabaab approved the addition of the entries specified below to its Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the measures imposed by the Security Council and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

A. Individuals

SOi.023 Name: 1: ABDIKADIR 2: MOHAMED 3: ABDIKADIR 4: na

Title: na Designation: Senior Al-Shabaab leader DOB: 1985 POB: Somalia Good quality a.k.a.: na Low quality a.k.a.: a) Abdukadir b) Abdukadir Mohamed Abdukadir c) Abdulkadir d) Abdulkadir Mohamed Abdulkadir e) Ikrima Nationality: a) Somalia b) Kenya Passport no: na National identification no: na Address: Somalia Listed on: 21 May 2024 Other information: Gender: Male. Listed pursuant to paragraph 26(b) of resolution 2662 (2022): (i) participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of Al-Shabaab and (iii) recruiting for, or otherwise supporting acts or activities of Al-Shabaab or any cell, affiliate, splinter group or derivative thereof.

SOi.024 Name: 1: MOHAMED 2: MOHAMUD 3: MIRE 4: na Title: na Designation: Previously in charge of Zakat; member of Shura of Al-Shabaab DOB: a) 1962 b) 1960 c) 1955 POB: Kismayo, Somalia Good quality a.k.a.: na Low quality a.k.a.: Mohamed Mire Nationality: Somalia Passport no: na National identification no: na Address: a) Jilib, Somalia b) Qunyo Barrow, Somalia Listed on: 21 May 2024 Other information: Gender: Male. Listed pursuant to paragraph 26 of resolution 2662 (2022): (a) having engaged in, or provided support for, acts that threatened the peace, security or stability of Somalia, including acts that threatened the peace and reconciliation process in Somalia, or threatened the Federal Government of Somalia or ATMIS by force; and (b)(i) participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of Al-Shabaab.

SOi.025 Name: 1: MOHAMED 2: OMAR 3: MOHAMED 4: na

Title: Wali Designation: Leader (Wali) of the Al-Shabaab group in Diinsor DOB: 1976 POB: Taflow Village, Berdaale District, Bay Region, Somalia Good quality a.k.a.: a) Ma'd Umurow b) Mohamed Omar Haji c) Mohamed Omar Ma'alin d) Mohamed Haji Omar Low quality a.k.a.: a) Mo'alin Nationality: Somalia Passport no: na National identification no: na Address: a) Diinsor District, Bay Region, Somalia b) Buur Hakaba District, Bay Region, Somalia Listed on: 21 May 2024 Other information: Gender: Male. Listed pursuant to paragraph 26(b) of resolution 2662 (2022): (i) participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of Al-Shabaab; and (iii) recruiting for, or otherwise supporting acts or activities of Al-Shabaab or any cell, affiliate, splinter group or derivative thereof.

Press releases concerning changes to the Committee's Sanctions List may be found in the "Press Releases" section on the Committee's website at the following URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/2713/press-releases.

The updated version of the Committee's Sanctions List, available in HTML, PDF and XML format, may be found at the following URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/2713/materials.

The United Nations Security Council Consolidated List is also updated following all changes made to the Committee's Sanctions List and is accessible at the following URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/un-sc-consolidated-list.

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Two Alleged Members of a Transnational Money Laundering Organization Arrested for Laundering Millions of Dollars in Drug Proceeds

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

Two alleged members of a transnational money laundering organization were arrested on criminal charges related to their alleged involvement in a scheme to launder millions of dollars in illegal drug proceeds for Mexican drug trafficking organizations, including the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels (also known as CJNG).

Li Pei Tan, 46, of Buford, Georgia, was arrested today. Chaojie Chen, 41, a foreign national residing in Chicago, was arrested on April 18.

According to court documents, Tan and Chen allegedly worked for a money laundering organization that laundered millions of dollars in proceeds related to the importation of illegal drugs into the United States, primarily through Mexico, and the unlawful distribution of these drugs. Tan, Chen, and their co-conspirators allegedly traveled throughout the United States to collect proceeds derived from trafficking in fentanyl and other drugs (or to cause them to be collected). They allegedly communicated and coordinated with co-conspirators in China and other foreign countries to arrange for the laundering of these proceeds through financial transactions that were designed to conceal the illicit source of the drug proceeds.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) National Drug Threat Assessment, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are at the heart of the fentanyl crisis in the United States.

Tan and Chen are charged in separate criminal complaints with conspiring to commit money laundering. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia; and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram made the announcement.

The DEA's Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit is investigating the case, with assistance from the DEA's Office of Special Intelligence, Document and Media Exploitation Unit and the DEA's offices in Chicago, Atlanta, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Trial Attorney Mary K. Daly of the Criminal Division's Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edgardo J. Rodriguez for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorneys' Offices for the Northern District of Georgia and Northern District of Illinois.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Topic: Drug Trafficking

Components: Criminal Division

Criminal - Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

USAO - Georgia, Northern

USAO - Illinois, Northern

USAO - Virginia, Eastern

Press Release Number: 24-647

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16th Meeting of India-UK Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism

India - Ministry of External Affairs

May 22, 2024

The 16th meeting of the India-United Kingdom Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was held in New Delhi on 21 May 2024. Shri K.D. Dewal, Joint Secretary for Counter Terrorism in the Ministry of External Affairs, and Mr. Chris Felton, Head of Counter Terrorism Network for Asia and Oceania, Government of United Kingdom, led the respective delegations to discuss the ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries.

India and the UK strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, and emphasised the need for strengthening international cooperation to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner, in accordance with the UN charter and international law.

The two sides shared their assessment of the terrorist and extremist threats in their respective territories and regions including threats posed by globally sanctioned terrorist entities and individuals. The two sides also exchanged views on the proscription of individual terrorists and entities as a tool to combat terrorism, as well as ways of working together in multilateral forums.

Both countries exchanged perspectives across a range of CT challenges: countering radicalisation and violent extremism; combating financing of terrorism; preventing exploitation of new and emerging technologies for terrorism; law enforcement and judicial cooperation; information sharing; aviation and maritime security. It was agreed to further strengthen and deepen bilateral cooperation to meet these shared challenges.

The 17th India-UK Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism will be held in the UK at a mutually convenient date.

New Delhi

May 22, 2024

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'Not Violating Anything': Kremlin Hits Back at US Claim Russia Launched Anti-Satellite Arms

Sputnik News

20240522

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia does not violate international law, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, commenting on the Pentagon's statement that Russia allegedly launched a satellite carrying a counterspace weapon.

"I cannot comment on this in any way. Here, we act absolutely in accordance with international law, we do not violate anything," Peskov told reporters.

On Tuesday, US Defense Department spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that Russia launched last week a satellite carrying a counterspace weapon that is presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit. Ryder claimed that Russia deployed the satellite without communicating this fact to the United States. On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov call the statement misinformation.

Russia has repeatedly advocated bans on the deployment of any weapons in space, but its initiatives are rejected, Peskov said.

"We have repeatedly advocated for a ban on the launch of any weapons into space. Unfortunately, these initiatives of ours were rejected, including by the United States," Peskov told reporters.

A Sputnik

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Russia Dismisses US Claims of Counterspace Weapon Satellite as Misinformation

Sputnik News

20240522

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The recent statement by the US Department of Defense alleging that Russia launched a satellite carrying a counterspace weapon is misinformation and Moscow will not respond to it, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, US Defense Department spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that Russia launched last week a satellite carrying a counterspace weapon that is presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit. Ryder claimed that Russia deployed the satellite without communicating this fact to the United States.

"I do not think we should respond to any misinformation from Washington. The Russian space program is developing as planned, launches of spacecraft for various purposes, including devices that solve the problem of strengthening our defense capability, are also not news. Another thing is that we always consistently oppose the deployment of strike weapons in low-Earth orbit," Ryabkov told reporters.

If the United States wanted to ensure the safety of space activities, it should have reconsidered its approach to Russia's space proposals, the senior diplomat added.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that US officials said Russia launched a research spacecraft into space in February 2022 intended to test components for a potential nuclear anti-satellite weapon.

In February, the US government claimed that Russia was developing a space-based anti-satellite weapon that poses a serious threat to US national security.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia has always been categorically opposed to deploying nuclear weapons in space. Russia's activities in space are no different from those of other countries, including the US, Putin added.

Speaking about introduction of the Bulava ICBM into service, Ryabkov said that Russia does not violate the limits set by the New START Treaty.

The R30 3M30 Bulava (RSM-56 for use in international treaties, SS-NX-30 according to NATO classification) is a Russian three-stage solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, designed to arm the advanced Borei-class nuclear-powered strategic missile submarines. It was officially reported that the missile is capable of carrying several hypersonic nuclear warheads with individual guidance. The Bulava is expected to form the basis of Russia's strategic nuclear forces grouping until 2040-2045, according to Russian military statements.

A Sputnik

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Hong Kong trade offices 'keep an eye' on 'anti-China' activities

A top adviser in the Hong Kong cabinet appears to confirm that the offices are engaged in political espionage.

By Kit Sung and Kwong Wing for RFA Cantonese 2024.05.21 -- The role of Hong Kong's overseas Economic and Trade Offices has changed, and should include "keeping an eye" on 'anti-China' activities, a top government adviser has said, appearing to confirm claims that the offices have been targeting pro-democracy activists on foreign soil.

Regina Ip, a former secretary for security who is currently convenor of the city's Executive Council, or cabinet, made the comments after British police charged three men with spying for the Hong Kong authorities, accusing them of running surveillance and other operations targeting exiled democracy activists on U.K. soil.

Hong Kong and Chinese officials typically refer to pro-democracy activists at home and overseas as "anti-China" forces, accusing them of trying to undermine the government with the help of foreign powers.

Ip appeared to refer to those activists in an interview with Hong Kong's Now News on May 18.

"A group of anti-China members in [the U.K. Parliament] and some Hong Kong exiles are causing trouble there, often introducing bills against the city and even calling for sanctions," she said.

"The [trade office] must pay attention, probably by gathering intelligence," she said in comments reported by the English-language South China Morning Post newspaper. "Such so-called gathering of intelligence means merely paying attention to these developments."

Ip's comments came as Bill Yuen, an office manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London who holds dual Chinese and British nationality, prepares to appear at the Old Bailey on May 24 charged with "assisting a foreign intelligence service" and "foreign interference" under the National Security Act 2023.

Yuen's co-defendants, Peter Wai, 38 and Matthew Trickett, 37, face similar charges, and the trio stand accused of forcing and entering a property in the U.K. and of targeting exiled Hong Kong activists on British soil, according to the Metropolitan Police.

The accusations come amid growing concerns over Chinese Communist Party infiltration of all aspects of British life, and warnings from Hong Kongers in exile over growing acts of violence by Beijing supporters and officials alike.

More than economic activities

Political commentator Benson Wong said Ip's comments will likely damage the reputation of the trade offices.

"Regina Ip's comments ... seem to confirm that some staff working in the London office aren't engaged in economic and cultural activities," Wong said.

"It's still unclear whether the Economic and Trade Office will be required to abide by certain commitments, or even have some of its privileges canceled," he said.

U.S.-based exiled activist Anna Kwok, who heads the U.S.-based Hong Kong Democracy Council, said the Hong Kong offices have long spied on overseas activists wherever they are located.

"We've always had good reason to believe that the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices are carrying out a lot of activities including monitoring Hong Kongers, not just in the U.K., but in the United States as well," she said.

"We've heard in the past few years of Economic and Trade Offices monitoring Hong Kongers in the United States," said Kwok, who has an arrest warrant and a bounty on her head issued by Hong Kong's national security police.

"The simplest example is that when we go to a demonstration, people we suspect are employees of the Economic and Trade Offices take photos of everyone there to identify them."

"One person told us that he was asked about the Hong Kong Democracy Council at a very ordinary dinner by a member of staff at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, including personal information about the Council's members," Kwok said.

Kwok said the Hong Kong Democracy Council will step up its campaign for a bill banning the offices to be introduced to Congress.

Gathering intelligence

Meanwhile, Regina Ip said foreign consulates in Hong Kong likely also engage in such activities.

"I believe that each of the consulates based in Hong Kong is gathering intelligence. Some of the intelligence is publicly available, [such as] TV programmes, media and online information," she said.

"If our personnel are making similar collection efforts at the [trade offices], why would it be against the law? I really do not understand," Ip said.

U.K.-based Hong Kong activist Simon Cheng, who has reported being followed on April 9 in central London by unidentified people speaking Mandarin, said Ip should know the difference between a consulate and Hong Kong's trade offices, which aren't regulated by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

"Some countries allow the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices a quasi-diplomatic status, but that's up to the host country to allow them that courtesy," Cheng said. "Some countries may do this according to agreements signed with the Hong Kong government, but such agreements aren't regulated by the Vienna Convention either."

"Such diplomatic courtesies can easily be revoked unilaterally," he said.

Cheng, a former trade representative for Scotland based at the British consulate in Hong Kong who was detained and tortured by Chinese state security police during the 2019 protest movement, said consulates have teams of staff dedicated to gathering news and information about their host country or city, but such newsgathering is part of legitimate attempts to understand the places they are posted to, and to get a feel for public opinion there.

China's ambassador to the United Kingdom Zheng Zeguang expressed "serious concerns" to the British government about the spying accusations on May 15, saying the case had been "fabricated" to "smear and attack" the Hong Kong government.

"All those accusations are groundless and slanderous," Zheng said in comments posted to the embassy website, accusing the British police of "wantonly harassing, arresting and detaining" Chinese citizens in the U.K.

Eleven people including Yuen, Wai and Trickett were arrested in a nationwide operation but eight were later released without charge, the Metropolitan Police said on May 13.

"This constitutes a grave provocation against China and severely contravenes basic norms of international relations. It is totally unacceptable," Zheng said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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China hits US defense companies, executives with countermeasures

Global Times

Move targets hegemony, secessionist activities: experts

By GT staff reporters Published: May 22, 2024 11:24 PM

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday announced countermeasures against 12 US defense corporations and 10 US individuals.

The latest targets for China's countermeasures include Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Raytheon Missile Systems, and senior executives of General Dynamics Information Technology. In Wednesday's announcement, the Chinese foreign ministry cited China's Anti-foreign Sanctions Law, noting that the US has imposed illegal unilateral sanctions on multiple Chinese entities under the pretext of alleged Russian factors, engaging in unilateral bullying and economic coercion.

The foreign ministry also stressed that the US has continued to sell weapons to the Taiwan region of China, seriously violating the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiques, interfering in China's internal affairs, and seriously undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China's countermeasures are aimed at the hegemonic actions of the US policies against China and its overall hostile China policy. The US often coerces China and other countries through typical long-arm jurisdiction, carrying out policy planning according to its narrow hegemonic interests, Chinese experts said.

It is now clear that if the US sanctions and punishes Chinese companies using the Ukraine crisis as a pretext, China will resolutely defend its interests with countermeasures, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

China's countermeasures clearly highlight the extreme absurdity of US actions amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict against Chinese firms and take decisive counteractions. These actions are significantly different from the past. Previously, China primarily expressed its principles through diplomatic language and declarations of its stance, but now it is more resolute in implementing specific actions. With the countermeasures, it is hoped that the US will stop harming China's national interests and the legitimate rights of Chinese enterprises, he noted.

One day earlier, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it will take countermeasures in accordance with the law against Mike Gallagher, a former US Representative from Wisconsin and former US congressman, for his frequent words and actions over the past years that have interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and infringed on China's interests.

Experts said the latest move appears to be unprecedented in intensity and strength, sending a clear signal and warning to the US as well as to Lai Ching-te, the new regional leader of Taiwan island who blatantly made an "independence manifesto" in his inaugural speech on Monday, said experts.

The countermeasures are quite strong and are defensive in nature. They aim to safeguard our sovereignty and national security and target the inappropriate actions of the US that involve long-arm jurisdiction over China and infringe upon China's sovereignty, Li said.

The countermeasures targets are evidently the stubborn, irrational anti-China extremists in the US and US companies that violate China's sovereignty and dignity. The countermeasures will remind US politicians and business entities that they cannot expect to profit and gain political capital by infringing on China's interests, Li said.

Xin Qiang, director of the Taiwan Studies Center at Fudan University, told the Global Times that the intensity and strength of this countermeasure appears to be unprecedented, as basically all major companies that have been involved in arms sales to Taiwan island in recent years have been on the list.

Such countermeasures will also signal to the international community China's firm stance on sovereignty and security, and convey the message that any action that undermines China's sovereignty and violates the one-China principle, will face countermeasure. This, in turn, will strengthen the international community's understanding of China's stance on its core interests, observers said.

By taking countermeasures against certain companies and individuals in the US, the international community can gain a clearer understanding of the destructive nature of the US' long-arm jurisdiction over other countries' sovereignty and security, exposing the domineering and bullying aspects of Washington's foreign policy, they said.

Xin noted that some companies may reconsider the issue of arms sales to Taiwan island, especially companies with significant interests in the mainland's civilian market.

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China ready to work with Vatican for steady improvement of ties: Chinese FM spokesperson

Global Times

By Zhao Yusha Published: May 22, 2024 11:13 PM

China is ready to work with the Vatican for the steady improvement of relations, and two sides have maintained engagement, had in-depth communication on bilateral relations and international hotspot issues and increased understanding and trust, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday in response to the Vatican's top cardinal suggesting that it wants to establish a permanent office in China.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a routine press briefing on Wednesday.

The Vatican's Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said on Tuesday that "We have been hoping for a long time to be able to have a stable presence in China... The form [of it] can be different, let's not fixate on only one way," he said.

Parolin spoke at a Vatican-hosted conference on the Catholic Church in China, and his words are being seen as a sign of an upgrade in diplomatic relations with China.

Attendees had wide exchanges during the conference, which has enhanced people-to-people communication between China and the Vatican, Yan Kejia, director of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Religious Studies, who participated in the conference, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Top Chinese researchers on Catholicism and representatives from China's religious field were in attendance, and they had extensive exchanges with religious figures from several European countries, Yan said.

Bishop Shen Bin of Shanghai also made a speech at the Vatican conference.

Yan said the atmosphere at the meeting was good, and hopefully China and Vatican can meet each other half way to improve ties.

China and the Vatican signed a provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops in Beijing on September 22, 2018. On October 22, 2020, the two decided to extend that agreement for another two years.

This was the second time the agreement was extended for another two years since it was first reached in 2018.

In October 2022, Wang, the spokesperson, confirmed China and the Vatican had agreed to extend the provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops for another two years.

The two sides will keep in close contact and engage in consultations to push forward proper implementation of the provisional agreement and constantly advance the process of improving bilateral ties, Wang said in 2022.

The agreement is due for renewal again in the latter half of this year.

Yan said that "renewing the agreement is not a problem, but whether further progress can be made is worth looking forward to."

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on May 22, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2024-05-22 20:53

President Xi Jinping's Special Representative, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Zhang Guoqing will attend the memorial service for Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran on May 22.

At the invitation of President Azali Assoumani of the Comoros, President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy and Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference He Baoxiang will attend the inauguration of President Azali Assoumani in Comoros' capital Moroni on May 26.

AFP: Spain and Ireland just said they're gonna recognize the Palestinian State. What's China's reaction and is China planning to do the same?

Wang Wenbin: China always firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights, supports the two-State solution and is one of the first countries to recognize the State of Palestine. China's stance on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is consistent. We believe the immediate priority is to implement UNSC Resolution 2728, realize ceasefire at once, end the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza and return to the right track of seeking a political settlement of the Palestinian question on the basis of the two-State solution as soon as possible. China will continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role for ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as early as possible and promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question.

CCTV: Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the meeting of the SCO Foreign Ministers Council yesterday. Can you share more details with us?

Wang Wenbin: On May 21 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the Meeting of the Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development has become a fundamental guidance for the SCO to grow from strength to strength and a banner in building a new type of international relations.The more fluid and turbulent the world is, the more important that we stay committed to the Shanghai Spirit, keep to the right direction, and safeguard common interests, respond to various challenges and uphold fairness and justice more effectively through making the SCO more substantive and stronger.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi made four proposals. First, uphold strategic independence, maintain solidarity and coordination, and never allow external forces to turn the region into an arena for geopolitical games. Second, jointly protect security and guard against risks, step up coordination, follow the guidance of the Global Security Initiative, and make relentless effort to safeguard world peace. Third, work for universal benefit and achieve development through cooperation. China stands ready to work with all parties to enable high-quality synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the development strategies of all SCO member states, and create more opportunities for development. Fourth, uphold openness and inclusiveness, deepen exchanges and mutual learning, respect each unique civilization, and deepen mutual understanding among people of various countries.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated China's solemn position on the Taiwan question. He noted that the Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests. "Taiwan independence" separatist activities are the biggest disrupting factor to cross-Strait peace. Those like Lai Ching-te have betrayed their nation and ancestors. What they have done is simply disgraceful. No matter what gimmicks they play, they will not stop China's complete reunification and Taiwan's return to the embrace of the motherland. All "Taiwan independence" separatists will see their names written on the wall of shame. China appreciates SCO member states' firm commitment to the one-China principle. We believe SCO member states will continue to support the Chinese people's just cause of opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and striving for national reunification.

Foreign ministers attending the meeting spoke highly of the role and development achievements of the SCO. They agreed that in face of the complex international and regional landscape, member states need to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, tap the potential for cooperation, uphold openness and inclusiveness, step up cooperation in political, economic and security areas, promote connectivity, work for common development and prosperity, and make new contribution to world peace and sustainable development. The foreign ministers condemned all forms of terrorism, and agreed to intensify fighting against terrorism, separatism and extremism, and safeguard peace and stability in the region. Parties expressed the belief that we need to address hotspot issues through political and diplomatic means, respect countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity, uphold the authority of the UN Charter, oppose unilateralism, and build a multipolar world.

The meeting made full preparation for the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in Astana in July.

Bloomberg: The Philippine President over the weekend said he plans to order the investigation over the taped conversation between a ranking naval officer from the Philippines and a Chinese diplomat in Manila on reaching agreement on resolving issues concerning the South China Sea. The naval officer told the Philippine Senate inquiry today that he denies entering into any agreement with Beijing. What's the Foreign Ministry's comment?a

Wang Wenbin: Whether it's the "gentlemen's agreement", or the internal understandings, or the "new model" reached between China and the Philippines on properly managing the situation in the South China Sea, they all have clear timelines and are supported by solid evidence. No one can deny their existence. The Philippines' replacement of the official concerned is exact evidence that China and the Philippines did reach agreement on managing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao. The Philippines' persistent denial and breach of commitmentaand blaming it all on Chinaashows exactly their guilty conscience and who is acting in bad faith, infringing the other side's sovereignty and making provocations on Ren'ai Jiao.a

We once again urge the Philippines to abide by the already reached agreements and understandings, observe the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and respect the common will of regional countries in keeping the South China Sea peaceful and stable, rather than heighten tensions in the region.

Global Times: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari stated during a recent interview that Pakistan firmly upholds the one-China principle and stressed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. What's your comment?

Wang Wenbin: President Zardari has, on behalf of Pakistan, reaffirmed Pakistan's firm commitment to the one-China principle and opposition to "Taiwan independence." His remarks reflect the firm support for China's legitimate stance and, more importantly, the common aspiration of countries that uphold fairness and justice, and fully demonstrate that the commitment to the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and the arc of history bends. China commends President Zardari for his remarks.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and ironclad friends. We will firmly support each other on issues concerning our respective core interests and major concerns, and jointly build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

Reuters: The Vatican has said it would like to establish a permanent office in China that would be a major upgrade of diplomatic relationship with Beijing. What conditions does the Vatican need to create in order for this to happen? And will China allow the Vatican to open an office in Beijing without full diplomatic relationship being established?

Wang Wenbin: In recent years, China and the Vatican have maintained engagement, had in-depth communication on bilateral relations and international hotspot issues and increased understanding and trust. China is ready to work with the Vatican for the steady improvement of relations.aa

Shenzhen TV: Today marks the 24th International Day for Biological Diversity with the theme "Be part of the Plan." Could you share with us China's contributions to biodiversity protection and global governance?

Wang Wenbin: We humanity are the stewards of our home planet Earth, and biodiversity is the key to keeping our planet healthy and making sure that humanity and the global economy will continue to thrive. As one of the first parties to sign and ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity, China highly values biodiversity conservation. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, biodiversity conservation has become a national strategy and good progress is made by improving policies and regulations, implementing major steps, regulatory capacity building, and encouraging public engagement. According to the Catalogue of Life China 2024 released by the Chinese Academy of Sciences today, China added 6,423 species and 267 infra-specific taxa compared with last year.

China is dedicated to building a community of all life on Earth. By embracing openness, inclusiveness and cooperation, we are committed to working with the rest of the world to open up new prospects in global biodiversity governance. In 2021, China hosted the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) and relevant activities. We were able to bring all parties together for the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework with a package of supporting policy measures, which provided a new blueprint for global biodiversity governance in the next 10 years and beyond. In January this year, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment released the China National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2030), which made China one of the first countries to update biodiversity conservation strategies and actions after the adoption of the Framework. Since 2019, China has been the largest contributor to the core budget for the Convention on Biological Diversity and its protocols, as well as the largest developing country contributor to the Global Environment Facility.

China's action speaks to its contribution and commitment and makes us an advocate and champion in global biodiversity governance. We will remain part of the global effort to uphold a fair and equitable global order, form stronger and cohesive global synergy and establish coordinated and effective global dynamics on biodiversity protection for a beautiful world of harmony between humanity and Nature.

Reuters: What conditions must the Vatican create if it wants to elevate ties with China?

Wang Wenbin: As I just said, China is ready to work with the Vatican for the steady improvement of China-Vatican ties.a

AFP: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hinted yesterday that the EU might impose tariffs on China's electric vehicles, but will take a different approach from the US. She said that should it be confirmed that China's subsidies on electric vehicles are illicit, the EU will impose targeted duties. What's your comment on her remarks?

Wang Wenbin: China's development and openness bring the EU and the world opportunities rather than risks. Protectionism does not solve the EU's problems, but only protects backwardness and costs the EU its future. China and the EU are each other's second largest trading partners. Both are major contributors to an open world economy. It's important for the two sides to handle specific economic and trade issues through dialogue and consultation. We noted the EU side's remarks and hope that the EU will act on its commitment to supporting free trade and opposing protectionism, and work with us to uphold the overall economic and trade cooperation between the two sides.

Beijing Daily: The Foreign Ministry announced on its website the decision to take countermeasures against former US Congressman Mike Gallagher. What message does the Foreign Ministry hope to send?

Wang Wenbin: Over the past few years, driven by selfish interest and bias, former member of the US Congress Mike Gallagher grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, which seriously undermined China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, disrupted China-US relations and harmed China's interests as well as the common interests of China and the US. His actions were egregious in terms of both their nature and impact.

In accordance with China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, China decided to take countermeasures against Mike Gallagher, including banning him from entering China, freezing his property in China, and prohibiting organizations and individuals in China from transactions and cooperation with him. The details have been released in the decree of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It must be stressed that China has unwavering resolve in upholding national sovereignty, security and development interest. China will bring the full weight of the law to bear against anyone or any organization bent on countering and containing China.

AFP: My question is about a former Royal Marine charged with assisting the Hong Kong intelligence service. He was found dead in a park in southeastern England last Sunday. What's your comment?

Wang Wenbin: We noted the report. We have previously made clear China's position on the UK's so-called "Chinese spy" cases. We firmly oppose the vilification of China under the pretext of so-called "spying" and urge the UK to stop the political manipulation aimed at China.

CCTV: It's reported US Treasury Secretary Yellen said yesterday Chinese production in areas such as electric vehicles, batteries and solar panels "significantly exceeds global demand," the US and Europe need to respond in a "strategic and united way" and the subject will be a focus at the forthcoming meeting of G7 finance ministers this month. What's your comment?a

Wang Wenbin: We have made it clear that China's new energy sector has thrived because of our companies' decades-long technology accumulation and participation in open competition. They competed their way to excellence rather than relied on industrial subsidies. That's fully consistent with the principles of market economy and fair competition. China's new energy sector offers advanced capacity urgently needed for the global economy's green transition. It's not "overcapacity."a

The US "overcapacity" narrative against China's new energy sector is diametrically opposed to facts and the laws of economics. It is pure protectionism. According to US logic, any large export of a particular product means an "overcapacity." If so, shouldn't US soy, plane and natural gas exports in large amounts be considered overcapacity? Shouldn't the G7 finance ministers meeting first and foremost focus on US overcapacity in those areas?

"Overcapacity" is just a pretext the US uses to try to coerce G7 members into creating fences and restrictions for Chinese new energy products. This could mean building a coalition for protectionism which is completely against the trend of the times that calls for openness and mutual benefit. It will not only hurt the consumers in those countries but also impede global green transition.

We need to point out that green double standard is not an option. It does not get anyone the best of both worlds and will only backfire. If you want to deal with climate change, then you must say no to protectionism. If one resorts to protectionism, there will be no real solution to climate change. The US can't just wave the banner of climate response and ask China to take on greater responsibility on the one hand, while wielding the stick of protectionism and not letting Chinese green products benefit the world on the other.

China stands ready to work with all countries to deepen cooperation on new energy industrial and supply chains, and promote tech innovation and industrial development. We hope that countries will embrace open cooperation, reject protectionism, strive for win-win and prevent lose-lose.

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China In Eurasia Briefing: Can The China-Russia Partnership Outlast Xi And Putin?

By Reid Standish May 22, 2024

Can The China-Russia Partnership Outlast Xi And Putin?

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently wrapped up a two-day state visit to China.

Here's what you need to know.

Finding Perspective: Putin's May 16-17 visit got plenty of attention but was light on deliverables.

There was pomp and pageantry in Beijing when Putin met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, as both leaders sought to showcase that their partnership is growing stronger against sustained Western - mostly American - pressure.

The optics of that shared bond were on display as both Xi and Putin took aim at the United States as a threat to the global order and praised what their shared autocratic world view has to offer.

In their joint statement, they said that Washington is pursuing a policy of "dual containment" aimed at Russia and China and of "hegemonic" behavior. In contrast, Putin said that the China-Russia relationship is "one of the main stabilizing factors in the international arena."

Beyond the favorable optics and strategic rhetoric, the pair also said they discussed the war in Ukraine during their official meeting and later during a state dinner and unofficial talks together.

Behind The Scenes: As I reported ahead of Putin's trip, deepening defense ties and finding new ways to circumvent U.S. sanctions and trade restrictions in order to keep fueling Russia's war machine were the unofficial focus of this visit.

Putin touched down in Beijing with a heavyweight team of advisers, ministers, and business leaders - including newly appointed Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. Many analysts saw this as part of an effort to build more rapport between high-ranking Chinese and Russian officials, but also a sign that Putin is shifting Russia into a war economy.

Various analysesof Chinese customs data show that in 2023 some 90 percent of "high priority" dual-use goods used in Russian weapons production was imported from China. But data for February, March, and April shows that those same exports to Russia are declining, reportedly due to concerns by Chinese banks of being hit by secondary sanctions by the United States.

Why It Matters: We don't know what those conversations looked like, but it's clear that despite all the talk about eternal friendship, there are still some limits to this "no limits" partnership.

Beijing has so far drawn a red line at supplying Russia with lethal aid for its war, and negotiations over the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline to China are believed to be increasingly tense, with not much progress reported.

Even each country's official state-run news agencies acknowledged the other as a complicated partner in their coverage and that Beijing and Moscow do not see eye-to-eye on every issue.

But still, it seems clear that Xi and Putin want to lay the foundations for a partnership that can outlast them. Putin used his second day to go to Harbin, a city in northeastern China once known as "Little Moscow" that has deep cultural and historic ties to Russia and where Putin played up the two countries' lasting ties.

Xi, too, hit a similar note while speaking beside Putin in Beijing, where he said that China was prepared "to consolidate the friendship between the two peoples for generations to come."

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. Preparing For The SCO Summit

Ahead of a leaders summit for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) this July in Kazakhstan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently visited the capital, Astana, where he said Beijing was ready to support the Central Asian country's independence and sovereignty.

What It Means: Speaking after a meeting with Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev in Astana on May 20, Wang echoed several similar statements made by China's Xi in recent years, including when he visited Kazakhstan in 2022.

"China will support a series of strategies for development and important measures initiated by President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev [and] oppose with resolve against any external forces that are trying to interfere in the internal affairs of that country," Wang said.

Kazakhstan remains a close partner with Russia but has walked a tightrope with Moscow since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Kazakhstan has faced threats from pro-Kremlin politicians and political commentators in Russia for taking a middle ground on the war.

Toqaev, speaking alongside Wang, praised Chinese-Kazakh ties and emphasized that his country's giant neighbor "will remain Kazakhstan's reliable partner."

Wang also held talks with the foreign ministers of Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan while in Astana.

Leaders from SCO member states - China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan - will gather in Astana on July 3-4 for a summit.

2. A New President In Taiwan And An Eye On Ukraine

Lai Ching-te took office as Taiwan's new president on May 20. While focus was centered on Taipei's relationship with Beijing and tensions across the Taiwan Strait, his incoming national-security adviser had some words about Russia and Ukraine.

The Details: Joseph Wu is Taiwan's outgoing foreign minister and has been tapped by Lai as secretary-general of the country's National Security Council.

In a recent interviewwith the Associated Press, the 69-year old Wu said that Beijing and Moscow are "supporting each other's expansionism" around the world, referencing spots like Ukraine and the South China Sea.

Wu called on democracies to align in countering Russia and China's assertiveness and to do more to support Ukraine.

"If Ukraine is defeated at the end, I think China is going to get inspired, and they might take even more ambitious steps in expanding their power in the Indo-Pacific, and it will be disastrous for the international community," he said.

The interview follows similar arguments outlined by Wu in an article for Foreign Affairs magazine.

3. Surveillance Cameras And Security Concerns

Central and Eastern European countries have purchased millions of Chinese-made surveillance cameras over the last five years, despite the devices' security vulnerabilities and the manufacturers' lax data practices and ties to the Chinese state, an RFE/RL survey of nine countries shows.

What You Need To Know: While public national databases for surveillance cameras do not exist for most countries, available data and reporting by a team of my colleagues and myself shows Dahua and Hikvision -- two partially state-owned Chinese companies that are among the world's leading providers of closed-circuit television and surveillance systems -- dominating markets in Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Bulgaria, and Georgia.

RFE/RL reporting shows that despite escalating scrutiny in Western capitals about an overreliance on Chinese technology in critical infrastructure, Dahua and Hikvision cameras are also in use at sensitive sites, including military bases in Romania and special police headquarters in Hungary, which experts say exposes them to hackers and foreign adversaries.

My colleague Manas Qaiyrtaiuly from RFE/RL's Kazakh Service also took a lookat the expansion of cameras and tech from both companies in Kazakhstan.

Across The Supercontinent

China In Kosovo: What is China's office in Pristina focused on? My colleagues Valona Tel and Arton Konushevci from RFE/RL's Balkan Service looked into this in a recent article in light of Xi's high-profile visit to Belgrade.

CPEC Concerns: After praising ties with Pakistan during a May 15 visit to Islamabad, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang urged his Pakistani counterparts to do more to address security concerns over militant groups targeting Chinese workers in the country.

Bratislava To Beijing: Matej Simalcik, the executive director of the Central European Institute of Asian Studies, a Bratislava-based think tank, looks at how some far-right media figures in Slovakia known for spreading disinformation are courting cooperation with Chinese media companies.

Nationalism Vs. Nationalism: Aleksander Dugin, a Russian nationalist ideologue known for his staunch support of Putin, was attacked and mocked online for his expansionist views that once included dismembering parts of China after he signed up on Chinese social media.

One Thing To Watch

While Xi and Putin's recent state visit in Beijing was about showcasing the durability of the China-Russia partnership, there's one area that could lead to mounting friction: Moscow's warming tieswith North Korea.

North Korea has supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells for the Ukraine war and transferred ballistic missiles and other weapons in exchange for food and raw materials to manufacture weapons. South Korea and the United States have since accused North Korea and Russia of trading arms in violation of UN sanctions and expressed concern that Moscow could supply Pyongyang with more advanced military technology.

Those concerns are also shared by Beijing, who is North Korea's closest partner but is also cautious about Pyongyang's erratic and destabilizing moves.

Putin could visit the reclusive country this year. He was invited in January by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and the Kremlin has said that talks are under way.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-eurasia-briefing-putin- xi-partnership/32958591.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Britain Accuses China Of Working To Provide Russia With 'Lethal Aid'

By Reid Standish May 22, 2024

Britain has accused China of preparing to or already providing 'lethal aid' to Russia for its ongoing full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

Citing U.S. and British defense intelligence, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said there was evidence that "lethal aid is now, or will be, flowing from China to Russia and into Ukraine."

"Today I can reveal that we have evidence that Russia and China are collaborating on combat equipment for use in Ukraine," Shapps told a defense conference in London on May 22.

The British defense minister did not provide details or evidence to back up his claim, but his assertion, the first such accusation from a Western official, would indicate a new level of support for Moscow from Beijing and that China had pivoted to directly supporting Russia's military.

"We should be concerned about that because in the earlier days of this war, China would like to present itself as a moderating influence on" Russian President Vladimir Putin, Schnapps said, adding that trade data since the Kremlin's February 2022 full-scale invasion of invasion shows that Beijing and Moscow "are covering each other's backs."

China has emerged as the Kremlin's leading international supporter as a vital consumer for oil and gas that has helped boost the Russian economy and by supplying Russia with key militarily useful, but nonlethal, dual-use components for the production and repair of weapons.

In April, senior U.S. officials said that Beijing was providing Moscow with drone and missile technology, satellite imagery, and machine tools.

Analyses of Chinese customs data show that in 2023 some 90 percent of "high priority" dual-use goods used in Russian weapons production was imported from China.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a late April visit to China that there was no evidence that Beijing was sending weapons to Russia to use in Ukraine.

"What China is doing, or what some of its enterprises are doing, is to provide critical components for Russia's defense industrial base, things like machine tools, microelectronics, and optics," Blinken said during his trip to the Chinese capital.

However, Shapps' accusation would mean that China is no longer shying away from directly helping Russia's war effort in Ukraine, where fighting is in its third year.

Putin visited China in May for a state visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping where the pair touted their burgeoning ties as a "new era" and as "one of the main stabilizing factors in the international arena," while criticizing the United States for "hegemonic" behavior.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/britain-china-russia-lethal- aid/32959315.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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UK's accusation of China providing lethal aid to Russia totally groundless: Chinese Embassy

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 23, 2024 08:53 AM

The Chinese Embassy in the UK called Britain's Defense Secretary Grant Shapps' accusation against China of "providing or preparing to provide Russia with lethal aid" in the Russia-Ukraine conflict totally groundless, the embassy said in a statement issued early Thursday.

On the Ukraine issue, China's position has been just and objective. We have worked actively to promote peace talks and facilitate a political settlement. We follow a prudent and responsible approach to arms export and oversee the export of dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations, a spokesperson of the embassy said.

British Defense Minister Shapps accused China on Wednesday of "providing or preparing to provide Russia with lethal aid for use in its war against Ukraine," Reuters reported.

Western nations have provided Ukraine with billions of dollars in weapons and aid since the Russia-Ukraine conflict started in 2022. Britain is, for the first time, accusing China of working to supply Russia with weapons for use in Ukraine, according to the media report.

"We urge the UK to stop its baseless accusations against China, stop fanning the flames on the Ukraine issue, seriously reflect on its role in international peace and security issues, and truly do something in the interest of world peace and justice," the spokesperson said.

China is neither the creator of, nor a party to, the Ukraine crisis, nor has the country provided lethal weapons to any party involved, a Chinese envoy refuted the US representative's unreasonable accusations against China at a UN Security Council briefing on Ukraine on Monday.

China has the right to conduct normal economic and trade cooperation with all countries, including Russia. China has always had very strict controls on the export of dual-use items, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN.

The UK has been ramping up efforts in hyping China-related issues as London aligns more closely with Washington in foreign policy, some experts said, who also noted that a smear campaign has been intensifying with the upcoming general election.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday called a national election for July 4, Reuters reported.

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In a first, Kim Jong Un's portrait is displayed next to his predecessors

The move implies he is to be revered on the same level as Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung.

By Lee Jeong-eun for RFA Korean 2024.05.22 -- For the first time, a large portrait of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was placed alongside portraits of his father and grandfather in a public place in what experts say is a move to boost the cult of personality surrounding him.

State media released images of the three portraits adorning the facade of the Central Cadres Training School of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang during the school's opening ceremony this week.

The three portraits were also shown above the chalkboard in one of the classrooms.

Photos of the first two dynastic leaders, national founder Kim Il Sung, and his son and successor Kim Jong Il, are displayed in every public building and private home. They are treated with such respect that citizens have been praised in state media for dashing into their burning homes to rescue the portraits.

Until now, Kim Jong Un's photo had not been displayed next to his predecessors in an official setting. It's not yet known if this will become the norm nationwide.

Should the display of all three leaders be mandated by law, it would suggest that Kim Jong Un demands more respect than his father did. Displays of Kim Jong Il's portrait only became mandatory upon his death in 2011, though people voluntarily hung it up while he was still living as a display of patriotism.

Kim Il Sung portraits, meanwhile, have been mandatory since the 1970s.

Murals and music video

The move comes amid other propaganda efforts to elevate Kim Jong Un's status.

Just a few weeks ago, the country debuted a new music video that casts him as the "friendly father of the nation." New murals depicting Kim have been erected nationwide over the past few years.

These are all examples of the systematic idolization of Kim Jong Un carried out in stages according to Kim In-tae, a senior researcher at the South Korea-based Institute for National Security Strategy.

The portrait display follows the trend of "placing Kim Jong Un at the pinnacle of North Korea's collectivism and totalitarianism," he told RFA Korean.

By placing his photo alongside his father and grandfather, Kim is trying to inherit the legacy and revolutionary tradition of his predecessors, Hong Min, from the North Korean Research Division at the Seoul-based Korea Institute for National Unification, told RFA.

"It shows that he has gone from prioritizing his predecessors and setting himself at a level lower than them to now standing as a leader of the exact same level," said Hong, adding his prediction that the country will now start heavily promoting Kim Jong Un's own ideological principles.

The cadre school's opening ceremony also served to cast Kim as a champion of socialism, as portraits of prominent communist ideologues Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin also were also on display, Hyun In-ae, from Seoul's Ewha Womans University noted.

"It seems they declared to the whole world, 'We are orthodox socialism,'" she said. "At the same time, this also signifies a declaration to the world that Kim Jong Un is the firm leader of North Korea."

Translated by Leejin J. Chung. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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French president arrives in New Caledonia to urge calm

By VOA News May 23, 2024

France's President Emmanuel Macron arrived Thursday in the violence-wracked Pacific territory of New Caledonia.

Macron's trip to the French-controlled archipelago comes a week after deadly riots broke out over a bill introduced in the French parliament that would allow French-born residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote in local elections.

Leaders of the island's pro-independence movement say the measure would dilute the voting power of the indigenous Kanak people, who have suffered under decades of discrimination.

Macron said he hopes to calm the violence.

"My aim here, along with the ministers and the whole government, is to stand by the people," Macron told reporters, according to Reuters.

"The return to peace, calm and security is the top priority. We will tackle the most sensitive political issues to discuss the future of New Caledonia."

The French president also said that security forces would remain in New Caledonia for as long as needed.

At least six people have been killed and hundreds more wounded in the violence. Scores of homes and businesses have been looted and burned in the capital, Noumea, prompting authorities to impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew and a ban on public gatherings. The violence has also prompted the closure of schools and businesses, as well as the island's airport, which left thousands of tourists unable to leave.

Groups of Kanak protesters have set up roadblocks leading in and out of Noumea which has prevented deliveries of food and medicine to citizens and tourists trapped in their homes and resorts.

Australia and New Zealand began sending planes to Noumea to evacuate their stranded citizens from the troubled island.

The first of two Australian military transport planes arrived at the airport to begin evacuating 300 Australian tourists.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong posted on the social media platform X late Monday that Canberra has been cleared by France for "two government assisted flights" to evacuate Australians and other tourists from the archipelago. Wong added that passengers are being prioritized according to need, and that the government will "continue to work on further flights."

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said the government there is sending a plane to Noumea to evacuate 50 of its nationals. Peters acknowledged that New Zealanders in New Caledonia "have faced a challenging few days" and that bringing them home "has been an urgent priority" for Wellington.

France has deployed more than 1,000 security personnel to help end the unrest, with hundreds more due to arrive Tuesday.

At least 270 people have been arrested.

France agreed in 1998 to grant New Caledonia more political power and autonomy and to hold three referendums over the island's status. Voters have rejected independence in all three referendums.

France's National Assembly approved the controversial measure last week by a vote of 351-153. The bill still must be approved in a special session of both houses of parliament next month.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse.

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Working together for Europe - Foreign Minister Baerbock welcomes her French and Polish counterparts for the Weimar Triangle meeting

Germany Federal Foreign Office

22.05.2024 - Article

Following the change of government in Poland, the Weimar Triangle moved into the new year with great momentum. Today, at their second meeting of this year, Germany, France and Poland want to maintain this momentum and draw up a new agenda for a stronger and more geopolitical EU.

"Naught's to be gained, but by those who dare," declares the Sergeant in a play from the Weimar Classical period, and with these words could almost have been coining a slogan for the European community. France, Germany and Poland are the driving force at the heart of the EU . Foreign Minister Baerbock is therefore welcoming her French and Polish counterparts StAphane SAjournA and RadosAaw Sikorski today for a meeting of the Weimar Triangle. Almost 33 years ago, Weimar gave its name to the trilateral dialogue format in which France, Germany and Poland have since regularly consulted.

In Weimar, current foreign and security policy challenges will be on the agenda of Foreign Minister Baerbock and her two colleagues. The Weimar Triangle stands firmly by Ukraine's side. The talks will also centre on security and defence policy in Europe and joint support for Ukraine. In all areas the focus will be on further developing the EU and strengthening its capability to act.

Weimar - a city bears witness to European history

On 28 August 1991, the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Poland at the time met in Weimar for the first time and launched the format that has since been strengthening Europe's fundamental interests as a trio.

Even though Weimar is not an international city, the birthplace of the Weimar Triangle is by no means a coincidence. Few places so closely represent the darkest chapters of German history and at the same time the new beginnings on our continent. From Weimar, ideas took shape which would go on to change Europe. It is well known that Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller were not the only ones who were active here. With its Bauhaus-UniversitAt, Weimar is a place where new designs were constantly emerging. Also in a political context: in 1919, the National Assembly convened here and drafted Germany's first democratic constitution - marking the birth of the Weimar Republic.

Twelve years later, Hitler's NSDAP held its first party conference in Weimar after its formation; subsequently the National Socialists built one of the largest concentration camps on German soil on the city's doorstep and murdered tens of thousands of people there. Buchenwald concentration camp near Weimar became synonymous with National Socialist atrocities. In the GDR, the city became an important location for Soviet armed forces, and ultimately its citizens were part of the Peaceful Revolution.

Standing together for a united Europe

Today, Weimar also stands for the French, German and Polish efforts to overcome rifts and strengthen Europe's capability to act. Yet the exchange within the Weimar Triangle is so much more than the so vital link between Paris, Berlin and Warsaw. Town twinning partnerships, youth exchanges and joint cultural events forge personal ties and enable people to grow closer together. And that is important. For Europe is facing unprecedented challenges - and, over three decades after it was founded, the Weimar Triangle has a more crucial role to play than ever before.

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CDS Gen Anil Chauhan attends Exercise Cyber Suraksha - 2024

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Ex Cyber Suraksha to further enhance collaboration & integration among military and national agencies

Posted On: 22 MAY 2024 6:26PM by PIB Delhi

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan attended 'Exercise Cyber Suraksha - 2024', on May 22, 2024, and underscored the importance of strengthening India's cyber defence capabilities.

The comprehensive cyber defence exercise is being conducted by Defence Cyber Agency from 20 - 24 May 2024. It aims to further develop Cyber Defence Capability of all Cyber security organisations and promote synergy amongst all stakeholders. It focusses on enhancing collaboration and integration among participants from various military and prominent national organizations.

The CDS highlighted the critical need for jointness among all stakeholders in the cyber domain and praised the initiative for fostering a collaborative environment to tackle emerging cyber threats. He commended the participants and staff for their dedication and efforts in organizing the Exercise.

Exercise Cyber Suraksha - 2024 aims to empower participants by enhancing their cyber defence skills, techniques and capabilities; share best practices, and work towards a unified and robust cyber defence posture. It will promote jointmanship and synergy in planning and preparation of a a Cyber Defence Framework. The event reaffirms the commitment of the Indian Armed Forces to safeguarding national security in the increasingly important cyber domain.

*****

ABB/Anand



(Release ID: 2021343)

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AI, deepfakes, social media influencers - India's mammoth election sees it all

By Anjana Pasricha May 22, 2024

From deep fake videos created by artificial intelligence to social media influencers who hold sway with young people, political parties in India are using all the tools of the digital age to expand their outreach to voters as the country holds its mammoth general election.

AI-generated images, audio and videos have helped politicians connect directly with tens of thousands of voters. Stalwart political leaders who have died have been resurrected to cash in on their popularity. Deepfake videos of Bollywood stars criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi have gone viral before being taken down.

"It's the first time that AI has been disseminated on such a large scale," said Divyendra Singh Jadoun, who calls himself the Indian Deepfaker and has had a packed schedule in recent months, creating synthetic content for political parties.

In a country where more than 800 million people are on the internet, how will it impact democracy?

"Are these uses significant enough to actually change someone's vote? That is still an unanswered question," says Prateek Waghre, executive director of the Internet Freedom Foundation, a digital rights group based in New Delhi. "In the Indian context, you already have political parties relying heavily on pushing certain narratives, misleading messages, etc. Over and above that, how much difference is synthetic content making is a question mark."

In a country where each parliamentary constituency has about two million voters, Jadoun and his team have created AI avatars that address voters by name to deliver personalized messages to seek their support. Then there are AI-powered chatbots that call constituents in the voices of political leaders.

Plummeting costs have made it possible to do it on a mass scale. "Four years ago, it used to take us several days to create a one-minute AI video. Now anybody, even if they don't have knowledge of coding, can take one single image of a person and an audio track to create one," said Jadoun.

During the election campaign in the southern state of Tamil Nadu where voting has now concluded, Muthuvel Karunanidhi, a tall leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regional party who died in 2018, was seen in videos wearing his trademark dark glasses praising the leadership of his son, M.K. Stalin, the state's current chief minister. The idea was to enthuse the party cadres.

Disinformation remains the biggest challenge. Days after India's phased election got underway last month, two videos that went viral showed Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh and Aamir Khan criticizing the government and seeking votes for the opposition Congress Party. Both were deepfakes.

Another video alleging that opposition Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi had resigned from the party took social media by storm last month a his AI-generated cloned voice was used to support the claim.

Jadoun said that among the enquiries he receives but turns down are requests to create deep fake videos of political opponents to tarnish their reputations. "A common way is to swap the face of the opponent leader and paste it on to a controversial comment he never made. The second is to clone his voice and make him say something he has never said to discredit him," he said.

India's Election Commission has warned political parties against using AI to spread misinformation, but there is little regulation in place.

"You can only create awareness among people," said Jadoun. "If a video is escalating their emotions, they should pause before sharing it."

He says he labels his videos "A.I. generated," and chatbots announce that they are A.I.-generated voices.

AI is also being put to softer uses. In Tamil Nadu, where Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to establish its footprint in a state far away from the Hindi heartland that the Hindu nationalists dominate, AI generated versions of Modi singing popular Tamil songs helped expand his reach, according to Muralikrishnan Chinnadurai, a fact-checker based in the state.

"These were widely shared. It made people see him as a more approachable, softer leader. While it may not influence older, more politically savvy people, such content has the power to impact young voters," he said.

AI is not the only new factor in India's election. In the country with the world's largest number of people on both YouTube and Instagram, political parties have also mobilized influencers in a campaign to woo voters.

The BJP, a party that was always savvy in its use of social media, is seen as being ahead of others. In March, just about five weeks before the election got underway, Modi handed out awards to 24 prominent social media influencers at the country's first-ever National Creators Award ceremony to promote "storytellers of a confident, assertive New India."

Critics saw it as an effort to coopt them in the election campaign and create an incentive for them to endorse the government.

State units of the BJP have been holding influencer meetings to persuade them to spread the message about the work the government has done. In the past year, prominent politicians and ministers have sat down with influencers for interviews.

"It's a fuzzy and pretty concerning development. The challenge is that these interactions are very different from what you would expect with a journalist," said Waghre. "It is going to be a very soft conversation where the politician is unlikely to be challenged on claims they make and then that message is being carried to the influencer's audience exactly as the politician wants it to go."

He says this tactic is going to be hard to regulate and over time one could result in less reliance on traditional media.

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Supreme Leader receives senior officials from Qatar, Tunisia, Lebanon

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 22, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei met the Emir of Qatar, Prime Minister of Tunisia, and Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon here in Tehran on Wednesday.

After the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani expressed his condolences in a meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei on behalf of the government and nation of Qatar.

Ayatollah Khamenei thanked the Qatar emir and nation for their sympathy in the recent tragedy and emphasized the need to continue cooperation between the two countries for progress.

He described the loss of President Raisi as difficult, but assured that the country's movement would continue and the relationship between Iran and Qatar would remain strong.

In light of the regional conditions and enemies' attempts to undermine stability and peace, he emphasized that the only viable path for the countries in the region is to pursue cooperation and unity.

Al Thani, for his part, offered condolences on the passing of the late president and his entourage, saying that the relations between Iran and Qatar have always been strong and this path will continue.

The only way to address regional threats is through the cooperation and solidarity of neighboring countries, he stated, adding, "There are no limits to expanding our relations with Iran."

Also, Prime Minister of Tunisia Ahmed Hachani met with the Supreme Leader and extended his condolences over the martyrdom of President Raisi and his accompanying delegation.

In a separate meeting on Wednesday, Ayatollah Khamenei received the Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon, Nabih Berri, in Tehran.

While thanking the Lebanese government and people's sympathy with Iranians in the recent helicopter crash, the Supreme Leader underlined that the declaration of public mourning in Lebanon indicates the full cooperation of the two countries.

He described the recent incident as the loss of a prominent figure, pointing out that this is difficult for Iranians. However, he expressed confidence that the Iranian nation will use this bitter event as an opportunity, just as it has been done in the past years with difficult events.

Referring to the Gaza war, he emphasized that Lebanon's entry into the recent war in Palestine and Gaza had a profound impact, and if this had not been done, it would certainly have caused the greatest damage to Lebanon itself.

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Supreme Leader meets Iraqi, Armenian PMs, Hamas leader

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 22, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei met prime ministers of Iraq and ArmeniaU as well as the Hamas chief here in Tehran on Wednesday.

Following the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions, Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani expressed his condolences in a meeting with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on behalf of the government and nation of Iraq.

He lauded President Raisi's honesty, sincerity, purity, effort, and service to the people.

Referring to the presence of millions of people at the funeral ceremony of the martyred president of Iran, he said that it had clear messages, the most important of which was the strong relationship between the people and the authorities in Iran, despite all the pressures and sanctions and this unfortunate incident.

Meanwhile, Ayatollah Khamenei appreciated the Iraqi Prime Minister's visit to Tehran, saying, "We have lost an outstanding figure."

President Raisi was a very good brother and an efficient, competent, sincere, and serious official, he stated.

In his meeting with the Armenian Prime Minister, the Supreme Leader said that Iran's policy of expanding relations with Armenia will continue under the guidance of Iranian Vice President Mohammad Mokhbar.

He stressed developing relations between Iran and Armenia, saying that the relations between Iran and Armenia have oppositions, so the issues related to the two countries should be handled with more attention.

Our late president was very sensitive to the border issues related to Armenia, and these sensitivities and cares should still be taken into account, he said.

We should be able to secure our interests, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed.

Meanwhile, Pashinyan said, "We were shocked to hear the news of the death of the President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran and his entourage in an air crash."

"We are sure that under your leadership, there will be no disturbance in Iran's affairs."

Head of the Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh also offered his condolences on the sad occasion on behalf of the Palestinian nation and government.

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Turkish drone failed to detect Iranian copter after crash: General Staff

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 22, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran says that a Turkish Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that helped domestic teams during a massive search operation for President Ebrahim Raisi's crashed helicopter over the weekend had failed to spot its location despite reports suggesting that it was the Turkish drone that first detected the wreckage of helicopter in mountainous regions in northwest Iran.

General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran said in a Wednesday statement that the Turkish UAV dispatched to Iran to help with search operations for president Raisi's helicopter had lacked required to spot the exact location of the helicopter.

The statement said Iranian authorities accepted Turkey's offer for helping with the search operation after it became known that Iranian drones equipped with SAR, a radar system that is able to detect objects from above thick clouds, were in an area in the north of the Indian ocean as part of major mission.

It said, however, that despite being equipped with night vision and thermal imaging devices, the Turkish drone was not able to detect the helicopter and returned to Turkey.

The Iranian general staff said that it had sent messages to other countries, including Russia, China and the "brotherly country of Turkey", to thank them for their efforts, cooperation and sympathies during and after the helicopter crash incident.



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Tehran holds mass funeral for President Raisi, companions

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 22, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- A glamorous funeral procession for the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his accompanying delegation, martyred in a chopper crash on Sunday, was held in the capital city.

Iranians from all over the country have travelled to Tehran to take part in the funeral procession of the late president and his entourage.

The lovers of the Islamic Revolution have flooded the streets of the capital city to bid farewell to the bodies of Martyr Raisi and the other officials who passed away in the May 19 helicopter crash in northwestern Iran.

Shouting, "It is the day of mourning", the mass crowd expressed condolences on the martyrdom of the president and his company.

Ayatollah Khamenei performed the prayers in a ceremony at the University of Tehran on Wednesday morning before a funeral procession in the capital city.

Over 40 high-ranking foreign delegations will participate in Wednesday afternoon ceremony to commemorate the martyrdom of President Raisi, and their companions in Tehran.

The funeral in Qom took place on Tuesday afternoon as another funeral was held earlier in the day in the northwestern city of Tabriz.

Then, the bodies of President Raisi and his companions were transferred to Tehran's Mehrabad Airport on Tuesday.

President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Tabriz Friday Prayer Leader Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, and Governor of East Azerbaijan province Malek Rahmati were returning from a dam opening ceremony in Iran's border with the Republic of Azerbaijan on Sunday when their helicopter crashed in mountainous areas in Varzaghan region. Two bodyguards, two pilots and a crew member were also killed in the incident.

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Supreme Leader performs prayers over bodies of president Raisi, companions

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 22, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said prayers over the bodies of late President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage.

Ayatollah Khamenei performed the prayers in a ceremony at the University of Tehran on Wednesday morning before a funeral procession in the capital city.

Innumerable Iranian people, heads of government branches and military officials took part in the procession.

More than 40 high-ranking foreign delegations will participate in Wednesday afternoon ceremony to commemorate the martyrdom of President Raisi, their companions in Tehran.

Among the foreign participants, approximately 10 delegations will be at the level of heads of state, nearly 20 delegations at the level of ministers, and the rest at various levels such as parliament speakers, special envoys, and so on.

Bodies of president Raisi and his companions were transferred to Tehran's Mehrabad Airport on Tuesday after a funeral in northwestern city of Tabriz.

President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Tabriz Friday Prayer Leader Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, and Governor of East Azerbaijan province Malek Rahmati were returning from a dam opening ceremony in Iran's border with the Republic of Azerbaijan on Sunday when their helicopter crashed in mountainous areas in Varzaghan region. Two bodyguards, two pilots and a crew member were also killed in the incident.

Heads of states as well as religious and resistance figures expressed condolences over the top Iranian officials' demise.

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Iranian President Raisi's death a great loss: Putin

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 22, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued yet another statement, expressing grief over the passing of his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi and calling it "a great loss".

According to IRNA, citing Tass news agency, Putin expressed his sorrow on Tuesday night, while meeting with Russian Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, who will travel to Tehran on Wednesday morning to attend the funeral ceremony of President Raisi.

In the meeting, Putin asked the speaker to convey his condolences to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and inform him that Russia hopes the continuation and development of bilateral relations in the same way as it is now.

The Russian President also stated that Ayatollah Raisi was a very reliable partner and "if we agreed on something with him, we could always be sure that those agreements would be fulfilled."

In a message a day earlier, the Russian President called Raisi a true friend who made serious efforts to develop the level of strategic cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

Meanwhile, Putin also announced Russia's readiness to help Iran investigate the causes of the copter crash that left President Raisi and an accompanying delegation dead.

According to IRNA, a parliamentary source in Russia on the condition of anonymity said that the head of the State Duma will also be present at a ceremony, which will be held in Mashhad, following a funeral service in Tehran.

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Prime Minister of Pakistan Meets the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif today visited the Islamic Republic of Iran to attend the funeral ceremony of President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and their companions, who embraced martyrdom in a tragic helicopter accident in the Eastern Azerbaijan province of Iran on 19 May 2024. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

In his meeting with His Eminence, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif offered condolences on behalf of the people and Government of Pakistan. Recalling late President Raisi's recent visit to Pakistan in April 2024, the Prime Minister highlighted his commendable role in advancing Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations.



The Prime Minister termed President Raisi as a visionary leader who manifested steadfast dedication to serving his country and his people. He added that President Raisi's contributions for the unity of Muslim Ummah as well as for the besieged people of Gaza will be etched in history. He also appreciated the role played by late Foreign Minister Abdollahian in promoting regional peace and dialogue.

The Prime Minister expressed unwavering solidarity with the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran at this time of national tragedy. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further strengthening the bonds of friendship and brotherhood with the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.



Islamabad

22 May 2024

89/2024

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Leader: Iran to keep on path of regional unity despite loss of President Raeisi

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 May 2024 6:57 PM

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Iran will continue to strengthen bonds of friendship with regional states despite the "difficult" loss of President Ebrahim Raeisi.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who was visiting Tehran to honor the late president, whom the Leader described as a "polyhistor."

The Leader expressed gratitude for Qatar's condolences and emphasized the importance of advancing collaborative relationship between Iran and Qatar.

Ayatollah Khamenei said countries in the region have no option but to unite in the face of adversarial efforts to disrupt stability and peace in the region.

Meanwhile, the Qatari emir said relations between Iran and Qatar have always been strong and this path will continue.

"We see no limits for expanding relations with Iran."

'Need to uplift Iran-Pakistan ties'

Ayatollah Khamenei also received Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The Leader expressed sincere gratitude for the sympathy of the government and brotherly people of Pakistan.

He said Iran attaches top priority to its relations with Pakistan, and believes in the possibility of uplifting ties under the new Pakistani government.

"Friendly relations between brotherly countries do not always go smoothly, and we must overcome obstacles and pursue the progress of cooperation with determination and in practice," the Leader stated.

"Raeisi's recent trip to Pakistan could be a turning point in relations between the two countries," the Leader said. Acting President Mohammad "Mokhber will pursue the path of cooperation and the agreements."

Sharif also described Raeisi's recent trip to Pakistan as beneficial and a foundation for further expansion of relations and the roadmap to the future.

Leader praises Tunisia's anti-Israel stance

The Leader also held a meeting with the visiting Tunisian President Kais Saied.

Ayatollah Khamenei welcomed the renewal of relations between Iran and Tunisia, facilitated by Saied's visit to Iran.

He underscored that the presence of a virtuous and academic figure like Saied at the helm of Tunisia presents an opportunity for the country to enhance its international standing after years of despotic rule and isolation from the Islamic world.

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the 2011 Tunisian protests that triggered a wave of movements across North Africa and remarked on the Tunisian nation's significant potential for progress and advancement.

He expressed hope that Saied's prudence would foster unity among Tunisians from all walks of life, laying the groundwork for further progress.

Ayatollah Khamenei also commended Saied's stance against Israel, stating that such positions should be promoted within the Arab world and that steadfastness and perseverance are the only avenues to success.

In the meeting, President Saied conveyed condolences from the government and people of Tunisia over the tragic loss of President Raeisi, saying he and the late president had planned to meet in Tehran soon.

The Tunisian president, referring to the shared intent of both countries to broaden relations in all areas, expressed hope that by pursuing the agreements, the expansion of cooperation would materialize in practice.

President Saied also addressed the ongoing crisis in Gaza, saying the Islamic world must abandon its current passive stance and actively seek to vindicate the rights of the Palestinian people across all Palestinian territories and push for the establishment of an independent state with al-Quds as its capital.

"Today, the global human society has outpaced the international community, with people in various countries uniting against the oppression and atrocities in Gaza.

'Gaza's successful resistance realization of divine promise'

Later in the day, Ayatollah Khamenei met with the visiting head of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas' Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh and his accompanying delegation.

The Palestinian official condoled with the Leader as well as the Iranian government and nation over the martyrdom of President Raeisi and his companions.

Ayatollah Khamenei reciprocally condoled with Haniyeh over the martyrdom of three of his sons and three of his grandchildren in an Israeli airstrike against the Gaza Strip last month and praised the Hamas official's patience.

The Leader pointed to the October-present genocidal war that the Israeli regime has been waging against Gaza, noting that the extraordinary resistance that has been put up by the people of the coastal sliver has been source of wonder for the people of the entire world.

"Who would have believed that one day, people would chant pro-Palestinian slogans and raise the Palestinian flag at the United States' universities?" Ayatollah Khamenei asked, referring to ongoing protests against the Israeli war across the American schools.

"In the future too, it is possible that some things may happen concerning the issue of Palestine that are not believable today," the Leader said.

Ayatollah Khamenei described the Gazans' successful resistance in the face of a "large and powerful group" comprising the United States, the Western military alliance of NATO, the United Kingdom, and some other countries as the realization of a divine promise regarding the people of Palestine.

"Accordingly, the second [divine] promise, namely annihilation of the Zionist regime, can be realized too," the Leader noted. "By divine grace, the day when Palestine would be established from 'the sea' to 'the river' would arrive too," Ayatollah Khamenei added in reference to the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.

The Leader insisted that Acting President Mokhber would keep up exercising late President Raeisi's policies concerning the issue of Palestine with the same "impetus and spirit."

Ayatollah Khamenei insisted that Acting President Mokhber would keep up exercising late President Raeisi's policies concerning the issue of Palestine with the same "impetus and spirit."

Leader praises Lebanon's resistance against Israeli regime

Meeting with Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the Leader expressed gratitude towards Beirut for announcing public mourning following Raeisi and his companions' martyrdom.

Ayatollah Khamenei described the Islamic Republic's relationship with the Lebanese people as "brotherly."

The Leader praised the struggle that has been put up by the Lebanese resistance against the Israeli regime amid the dire situation that faces Gaza.

Berri, for his part, expressed intense sadness and grief on behalf of the Lebanese government and nation over the tragic accident involving President Raeisi and his companions.

Addressing the regional situation, the senior parliamentarian said Lebanon could not stay silent vis-A -vis the slaughter of the people of Gaza.

He also described the primary condition for the transformation of the current regional situation as cessation of the ongoing war against Gaza.

Underlining continued attention towards expansion of Iran-Armenia ties

Ayatollah Khamenei also met with Armenia's visiting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, noting that Tehran would keep pursuing its policy of expanding its ties with Yerevan under Acting President Mokhber.

"Iran and Armenia's relations have some opponents," the Leader, however, said, stressing that the issue of the bilateral relations be, therefore, addressed with "attention and care."

Late President Raeisi used to be "greatly sensitive" towards the border issues that concerned Armenia, Ayatollah Khamenei stated, urging that the matter still be addressed with the same level of sensitivity.

For his part, the Armenian premier noted that his country had been "shocked" by hearing about the tragic accident involving the late Iranian chief executive, but expressed certainty that the Islamic Republic's affairs would be addressed without any disruption under Ayatollah Khamenei's directions and leadership.

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Iran committed to all agreements with Armenia: Acting president

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 May 2024 5:43 PM

Iran's Acting President Mohammad Mokhber says the country will remain committed to all agreements with neighboring Armenia despite an upcoming change of administration that has been required by law because of the death of President Ebrahim Raeisi in a helicopter crash on May 19.

"We will stand by all of our obligations and agreements with Armenia," Mokhber told visiting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in a meeting in Tehran on Wednesday.

He said Iran's strategy of expanding relations with neighbors will not change with the passing of a president.

The former vice-president and current head of the executive branch said people in Iran constitute the main element of national power.

That fact, he said, was proven with the massive presence of people in funeral ceremonies held for President Raeisi and Foreign Minister Hossien Amirabdollahian and other officials martyred in the helicopter crash.

Pashinyan was in Tehran to attend a state funeral for the crash victims. The Armenian prime minister said he was deeply saddened by the loss of both Raeisi and Amir-Abdollahian since he enjoyed close personal connections with them.

He said Armenia and Iran had reached a series of good agreements during the time in office of Raeisi and Amir-Abdollahian, adding that the government of Armenia is totally committed to the implementation of bilateral agreements.

Raeisi and Amir-Abdollahian, along with two top officials of the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan, and four other people on board the helicopter were returning from a dam inauguration ceremony on Iran's border with the Republic of Azerbaijan when the aircraft crashed into forests in Varzaqan region.

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Dignitaries from over 50 countries in Tehran for funeral of Raeisi, companions

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 May 2024 2:23 PM

Dignitaries from dozens of countries have arrived in the Iranian capital Tehran to take part in funeral ceremonies held for late President Ebrahim Raeisi and companions who were martyred in a helicopter crash northwest of the country over the weekend.

The official IRNA news agency said that nearly 68 senior officials from more than 50 countries and several international organizations attended an official ceremony at the Iran International Conference Center in Tehran to pay respect to the bodies of President Raeisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and other people martyred in the helicopter crash.

The delegations included 10 heads of state and 20 ministers as well as parliament speakers and special representatives dispatched by foreign governments to attend the ceremony.

The Qatari Emir, Turkmenistan's National Leader, presidents of Tunisia and Tajikistan, prime ministers of Iraq, Armenia, Qatar, and Azerbaijan as well as parliament speakers from Iraq, Russia, Algeria Uzbekistan Kazakhstan and Lebanon were among senior officials representing their countries in the funeral ceremony.

Raeisi, Amirabdollahian, two top officials of the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan, two bodyguards and a crew were onboard a helicopter that was returning from a dam inauguration ceremony on Iran's border with the Republic of Azerbaijan when it crashed into forests in Varzaqan region.

A mass public funeral was held in the capital Tehran early on Wednesday where hundreds of thousands turned out on the streets of the city to pay their respect to the martyrs.

The body of President Raeisi will be transferred to the city of Birjand in eastern Iran for a procession on early Thursday before it reaches his hometown of Mashhad in the northeast for a burial planned for the evening that day.

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Putin calls Raeisi martyrdom 'a great loss', says will continue to boost Iran ties

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 May 2024 6:40 AM

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raeisi, calling it "a great loss".

Putin made the remark during a meeting with chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, in Moscow on Tuesday.

"President Raeisi's death is a great loss, first and foremost for Iran and its people. He was a very reliable partner, a direct, self-confident man, who was motivated by national interests," Putin said.

He also described the late Iranian president as "a man of his word," adding that "if we agreed on something with him, we could always be sure that those agreements would be fulfilled."

Putin further noted that Moscow is ready to continue cooperation with Iran just like under Raeisi's administration, pledging to do his best to ensure the continuation and development of Russian-Iranian relations in the same manner.

Putin announced Russia's readiness to help Iran investigate the causes of the copter crash that killed President Raisi and his accompanying delegation.

The Russian president further asked Volodin, who will travel to Tehran to attend the president's funeral ceremony on Wednesday, to convey his heartfelt condolences to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

In an earlier message of condolence, Putin had called Raeisi a true friend who made serious efforts to develop the level of strategic cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

Raeisi was martyred alongside his accompanying delegation, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, after their helicopter crashed in the Dizmar forest in East Azarbaijan Province on Sunday.

Rescuers found the wreckage of the helicopter early on Monday after hours of extensive search which involved more than 70 teams.

President Raeisi was returning from a location on the border with the Republic of Azerbaijan, where he inaugurated a dam with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.

Following the tragic loss, world leaders sent condolence messages to the people of Iran.

Many countries, the neighboring states in particular, are observing days of mourning to honor the late president and those accompanying him.

In Iran, millions of mourners are gathering to honor the martyrs in towns and cities nationwide.

President Raeisi will be buried in his birthplace, the holy city of Mashhad, on Thursday.

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Ayatollah Khamenei leads prayers as millions of mourners gather for Raeisi funeral

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 May 2024 4:46 AM

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has led prayers over the bodies of President Ebrahim Raeisi and his companions in Tehran as millions of people gathered to hold funeral procession.

The martyred lost their lives in a tragic helicopter crash in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan.

The mass public received the coffins of the eight victims of the crash at the University of Tehran on Wednesday morning before Ayatollah Khamenei led prayers on the bodies.

World leaders, presidents, ambassadors and international personalities as well as high-profile figures of the Axis of Resistance, including Ismail Haniyeh, the political bureau chief of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, and Sheikh Naim Qassem, deputy secretary-general of Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement, attended the ceremony.

The millions-strong procession started from the University of Tehran to the iconic Azadi Square.

Iranians attended a ceremony at Imam Khomeini Mosalla of Tehran as part of mourning ceremonies in the late hours of Tuesday to pay homage to President Raeisi and his late associates.

The northwestern Iranian city of Tabriz and the holy city of Qom were on Tuesday morning and evening the scene of millions of people who had gathered to pay tribute to Raeisi.

The Leader said on Monday that he received the bitter news of the martyrdom of the popular, competent and hardworking president and his companions with great sorrow.

Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the tragic incident happened when Raeisi and his team were making an attempt to serve the Iranian people.

The entire period of responsibility of this noble and devoted man, both during the short term of the presidency and before that, was completely spent in non-stop efforts to serve the people, the country and Islam, Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized.

"Dear Raeisi did not know fatigue," the Leader said, adding that the Iranian nation lost a sincere and valuable servant in this tragic incident.

Speaking at the ceremony in Tabriz, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahdidi said that Iran is mourning the loss of a beloved, popular, and humble president.

The Iranian nation is also saddened by the death of a foreign minister who left active diplomacy in the critical moments of the resistance as his legacy, Vahidi added.

He also praised the constructive efforts of the late governor of East Azarbaijan province and the province's Friday prayers leader.

"We had a bad landing in this matter, but we will have a brilliant rise," Vahidi stressed.

Haniyeh said in an address ahead of the Wednesday's procession that, "On behalf of the resilient nation of Palestine and Palestinian resistance groups, we have come from Gaza to offer our condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran,"

"During the holy month of Ramadan and our trip to Tehran, we had a meeting with the martyred president, and he underscored the Islamic Republic of Iran's steadfast position in supporting the Palestinian nation," he noted.

Haniyeh quoted Raeisi as saying that the issue of Palestine is the "first issue of the Islamic Ummah," and the Islamic Ummah must fulfill its responsibility so that the Palestinian nation will be liberated.

The Hamas chief asserted that the resistance movement is confident that the Islamic Republic will continue to support the Palestinian nation by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and his officials.

On Sunday, the helicopter carrying Raeisi and his entourage crashed as it was on its way to Tabriz, the capital of Iran's East Azarbaijan province, from a location on the border with the Republic of Azerbaijan where the Iranian president had opened a major dam project.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and two senior provincial officials along with crew members and bodyguard also died in the crash.

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Turkey Claims Its Drone Was Instrumental In Finding Wreckage Of Iranian Helicopter

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda May 22, 2024

Turkey says its Akinci drone deserves more credit for helping to locate the wreckage of the Iranian helicopter that crashed in a remote and mountainous area of Iran on May 19, killing President Ebrahim Raisi and other top Iranian officials, according to Turkish media reports on May 22.

The reports say that the Akinci drone was first to find the site of the wreckage and accused Iran of changing its narrative about the use of the Turkish equipment after it provided information about the location of the wreckage and then made counterclaims that its own drone found the site.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier this week that the Akinci drone was sent at the request of the Iranian government.

According to Erdogan, despite the bad weather conditions the drone was able to conduct search operations in the region for seven and a half hours and fly a total of 2,100 kilometers.

After the Turkish drone identified the helicopter wreckage and detected heat sources believed to be the crash site in Iran's East Azerbaijan Province, the Iranian search team successfully located the downed helicopter and the bodies of Raisi and the others in the mountainous terrain, according to Turkish media reports.

However, Iran rejected the notion that there was foreign participation in the search operation despite data from the Turkish drone that revealed the coordinates of the crash, and confirmation of this data by some Iranian news agencies.

After the Akinci drone captured images of the wreckage using its night vision and thermal camera and released them on the Internet, Pirhossein Kolivand, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, called foreign participation in the search a rumor.

"We did not stop the search in the dark, fog, and rain, and when we discovered the wreckage of the helicopter with our own drone, we moved to the exact place where the helicopter fell," Kolivand said.

He claimed that rescuers from the Red Crescent found the wreckage at an altitude of 2,500 meters and "it took 40 minutes from the time of finding the wreckage of the helicopter to reaching the accident site."

But during the overnight search, the Red Crescent said in a statement at around 4 a.m. local time on May 20 that after the Turkish drone identified two potential "hot spots" the Red Crescent rescue teams headed toward the sites.

The head of the East Azerbaijan Red Crescent also cited the Turkish drone report that a "burning spot" had been detected and said rescue forces were sent to that area.

The head of Turkey, Asia, and Indo-Pacific studies at the Institute for International Relations and Strategic Research (ULISA) said in an opinion piece published by the state news agency Anadolu that the drone's role in finding the wreckage site demonstrated the need to recognize Turkey's commitment to fulfilling its humanitarian responsibilities through its defense capacity.

Professor M. Nazmul Islam said that, after Iran accepted Turkey's offer to send the drone, the Akinci took off from a Turkish base at around 11:30 p.m. local time and began searching nearly an hour later. Turkey claims that it transmitted the image of the wreckage of the helicopter at 3:06 a.m. Iranian time and shared the coordinates with the Iranian authorities.

But according to Iranian media accounts, an Iranian drone belonging to the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps found the remains of the helicopter at around 5:30 a.m. local time.

A statement issued by Iran's military said that, despite Turkey sending a drone equipped with night vision and thermal cameras, it "failed to accurately locate the crash site due to its lack of detection equipment and control points below the cloud," referring to the adverse weather conditions.

Iran Radio reported that it was "five o'clock in the morning when the correct coordinates were finally found with Iranian equipment and Iranian relief forces."

Iran, whose military has its own drone program, was not able to deploy its drones because they were located in the northern part of the Indian Ocean at the time, the Iranian military said. Western powers have accused Iran of providing drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

With reporting by Anadolu and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkey-iran- drone-raisi-search/32959633.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Khamenei Prays Over Coffins At Funeral For Raisi, Others Killed In Helicopter Crash

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda May 22, 2024

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led prayers in Tehran at the funeral of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on May 22 as thousands attended a procession for Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other officials killed in a helicopter crash over the weekend.

Khamenei presided over the start of the ceremony at a time of deepening crisis between the country's Islamic leadership and many citizens over a lack of freedoms and declining living standards. He delivered a traditional "death prayer" for Raisi and then left the ceremony without giving a speech.

Khamenei delivered a traditional "death prayer" for Raisi at the ceremony on May 22, three days after the accident in a remote, mountainous area of the country's northwest. Khamenei then left without giving a speech.

Crowds reached out to touch the caskets during the procession as Iran's acting president, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, stood nearby.

Besides Iran's top leaders, including the chiefs of the paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, several foreign dignitaries attended, including Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, and a delegation from Afghanistan's Taliban rulers led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqqi.

No Western leaders attended. Three former Iranian presidents -- Mohammad Khatami, Mahmud Ahmadinejad, and Hassan Rohani -- were also not seen among dignitaries in attendance.

After the ceremony, the caskets of Raisi and the other victims of the crash were carried out on the shoulders of people onto a platform truck amid chants of "Death to America!" and "Death to Israel!" from the crowds.

Some reports said Tehran residents received mobile phone messages urging them to attend the funeral procession, which headed toward Freedom Square in central Tehran.

The caskets were draped in Iranian flags with pictures of the deceased on them, while on Raisi's casket, a black turban was placed to mark his alleged direct descendance from Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

Although Egypt and Iran do not have diplomatic relations, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry traveled to Tehran to attend the funeral. Tehran and Cairo have recently floated the possibility of reestablishing relations, which were cut after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was to attend the memorial service, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, was also seen in live footage as attending. Iran has armed and supported Hamas during the ongoing war with Israel in Gaza. Sheikh Naim Qassem, the deputy leader of Hizballah, Iran's Lebanese proxy, was also present.

A presidential election to determine Raisi's successor was announced for June 28. The election is to be organized by a council consisting of the speaker of parliament, the head of the judiciary, and the first vice president.

According to Iranian media, Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri Kani was appointed acting foreign minister.

The ceremonies marking the deaths of those involved in the crash started on May 21 with tens of thousands of mourners in attendance in the city of Tabriz, the capital of Iran's northwestern province of East Azerbaijan where the crash occurred, and the Shi'ite clerical center of Qom.

Beyond the official display of public grief, many Iranians who have been victims of acts of repression by Raisi and the Iranian regime or had relatives who suffered from such acts were adamant in voicing their satisfaction at Raisi's death.

A woman who lost 11 relatives, including two daughters, in executions allegedly coordinated by Raisi in 1988 told RFE/RL that she was celebrating his death.

"Truly, I cannot express how limitless my happiness is," Esman Vatanparast said. "When Raisi became president, it was very difficult for us hurting mothers, the survivors of the massacres committed by him."

The White House, too, had harsh words for Raisi.

U.S. national-security spokesman John Kirby told reporters that "no question, this was a man who had a lot of blood on his hands" for supporting extremist groups in the Middle East.

U.S. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said Raisi's rule was "barbaric" and marked by "terror, danger, and oppression."

Raisi was elected president in 2021 and had tightened many restrictions on Iranians through the enforcement of morality laws and a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests spurred by the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody for allegedly violating the Islamic dress code on head scarves.

Thousands of people, including protesters, journalists, lawyers, athletes, and artists have been arrested and at least 500 people have been killed in Iran's brutal crackdown on the protests.

Raisi also pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers while also allowing the country to markedly increase its uranium enrichment program.

The director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that the death of Raisi has pushed back nuclear negotiations to improve Iran's cooperation with the agency.

"Now Iran is in a period of mourning and it should be respected, but when this period is over, we want to re-engage with Iran to improve cooperation," Rafael Grossi said on May 22 in Helsinki.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-tehran-raisi- khamenei-funeral/32958616.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Egypt's Foreign Minister Pays 1st Visit to Iran Since 1980 to Attend Raisi's Funeral

Sputnik News

20240522

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry went to Tehran on Wednesday to attend the funeral ceremony for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and other officials who died in a helicopter crash over the weekend.

This is the first time an Egyptian foreign minister has set foot in Iran since the ties between the two countries were severed in 1980 following the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the admission of the deposed Shah of Iran to Egypt and Egypt's recognition of Israel, Iranian news agency Fars reported.

An Azerbaijani delegation led by Prime Minister Ali Asadov also arrived in Iran to attend Raisi's funeral ceremony, the Azerbaijani cabinet told Sputnik.

"Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov have arrived in Tehran to participate in the official lying-in-state of Iranian President Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and other Iranian officials. The delegation also includes members of Milli Meclis [Azerbaijan's unicameral parliament] group on Azerbaijani-Iranian parliamentary relations, as well as a number of officials," the cabinet said.

On Sunday, Raisi, Amirabdollahian and other senior government officials died in a helicopter crash in northwestern Iran. The delegation was on its way back from a visit to Azerbaijan. Iranian authorities said the helicopter crash-landed in a remote mountainous region due to poor weather conditions and thick fog.

A Sputnik

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New Details Emerge on Iranian President's Deadly Chopper Crash

Sputnik News

20240522

Svetlana Ekimenko

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi and his delegation, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, died in a helicopter crash in northwestern Iran on May 19. The delegation was on its way back from a visit to the Azerbaijan border.

The weather at the time of the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi did not give any cause for concern, the late Iranian president's Chief of Staff Gholam Hossein Esmaili has claimed.

"The weather was clear, there was no weather condition to be worried about... After half an hour being in the air, prior to reaching the Sungun copper mine, there was a small patch of clouds," he told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

The official was on board one of the three helicopters of Raisi's delegation.

When asked during the interview if there was any fog, he replied, as per a translation into English, "Not at all. There was fog on the ground, but not up in the air where we were advancing with the helicopters."

He acknowledged there was a "small patch of clouds above a cliff," and the pilot of the helicopter carrying the president gave instructions to gain altitude and continue moving above the clouds. Those on board the chopper with Esmaili did not feel any excess turbulence, and after ascending observed no more clouds. There had not been any forecasts mentioning disturbances in the weather, the Iranian official noted. He added that when they realized that their own pilot was making a U-turn, and questioned him, he replied that one of the helicopters was missing.

"Our pilot circled around the area a couple of times, but the area with the cloud patch was also invisible to us and it was too risky to enter that area. We failed several times to make any radio contact. We were forced to make a landing after 30 seconds at the Sungun copper mine to investigate," the chief of staff is reported as saying.

According to Gholam Hossein Esmaili, throughout the flight they had continuous cell phone calls with the other convoy passengers. However, when they tried calling those on the presidential helicopter, they had no luck.

Finally, Ayatollah Ale-Hashem, the Friday imam of Tabriz, answered, saying he was "not feeling well," and didn't know what had happened, but described trees surrounding him.

Upon realization that the chopper had crash landed, a search team was formed, and immediate emergency help was requested. Ale-Hashem later also died.

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi went down in Iran's East Azerbaijan province. The incident occurred when Raisi was returning from an inaugural ceremony for a new dam constructed on the border with Azerbaijan, Tasnim News Agency reported. The presidential convoy included three helicopters, two of which managed to reach their destination safely. Iranian authorities said the helicopter crash landed in a remote mountainous region due to poor weather conditions and thick fog.

Speculation immediately swirled whether besides bad weather conditions or possible technical troubles, an act of sabotage may have caused the crash. Iranian President Raisi's helicopter was a US-made Bell-212, a very reliable, albeit outdated, aircraft most likely fitted with new engines, Vadim Bazykin, an honored Russian helicopter test pilot, earlier told Sputnik.

A probe into the crash launched by the Iranian authorities is ongoing. Five days of mourning have been announced in Iran, with the bodies of the late President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Tabriz Friday prayer leader Seyyed Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, and others were laid in Teheran for funeral ceremonies.

Under the Iranian constitution, an early presidential election must be held within 50 days after the incumbent president is pronounced dead or incapacitated, and his powers are transferred to the first vice president. Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will serve as interim president until a new presidential election is held.

A Sputnik

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May 22, 2024

Release

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today to discuss the situation in Gaza and the United States' ironclad support for Israel. Secretary Austin reiterated strong U.S. objections to the International Criminal Court prosecutor's outrageous application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.

The Secretary underscored the urgent need to increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza across all available crossings. Secretary Austin encouraged the Israeli government to conclude talks with Egypt to reopen Rafah Crossing and resume the flow of aid from Egypt through Kerem Shalom. The Secretary also advocated for an effective mechanism to deconflict humanitarian and military operations inside Gaza.

Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant acknowledged a shared interest in the enduring defeat of Hamas and the urgent release of all hostages, and they discussed how best to defeat Hamas' Rafah remnants while minimizing civilian harm.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3784909/

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On the Situation in Burma's Rakhine State

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

May 21, 2024

The United States is deeply troubled by the reports of increased violence and intercommunal tension in Rakhine State, including reports of towns being burned and residents, including Rohingya, being displaced. These developments follow concerning reports of forced conscription of Rohingya, as well as the spread of disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech.

The military's previous acts of genocide and other crimes against humanity targeting Rohingya, in addition to its history of stoking intercommunal tensions in Rakhine State and elsewhere across the country, underscore the grave dangers to civilians. The current increased violence and intercommunal tensions also raise the risks of further atrocities occurring.

We call on Burma's military, as well as all armed actors, to protect civilian populations and allow for unhindered humanitarian access. We encourage international partners to condemn this increased violence, take action to hold perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable, and provide protection to those fleeing violence to prevent future atrocities.

The United States remains committed to promoting justice for victims and survivors, as well as to holding accountable those responsible for atrocities, and will impose costs on the military and other armed actors who commit abuses.

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Myanmar rebels capture junta camp near capital of Kachin State

Junta forces killed six civilians and wounded 19 in counter-attacks, residents said.

By RFA Burmese 2024.05.22 -- Ethnic minority Kachin insurgents have captured a junta military camp near the state capital of Myitkyina, in northern Myanmar, which has also given them control of a main trade route to the border with China, a spokesman for the rebel group told Radio Free Asia on Wednesday.

The Kachin Independence Army is one of Myanmar's most powerful insurgent forces and has made gains in recent weeks with the capture of eight towns in Kachin State and northern Shan State, as well as about 100 junta military camps, it says.

On Tuesday evening, Kachin fighters took control of a junta infantry battalion base in Waingmaw township, about 20 km (12 miles) to the south of the Myitkyina, said Col. Naw Bu, the Kachin Independence Army's information officer.

"That camp was providing security for the villages such as Aung Myay 1 and 2, as well as Waingmaw town. So it can be said to be strategically important," he said.

The territorial gain has also given the Kachin force control of a main road going south, including to the border with China, which is about 40 km (25 miles) to the east.

"There are no military camps on the other side of the Waingmaw-Laizar-Momauk-Lwegel road. We are stationed here, but we are not allowing cars or others to travel yet due to security reasons," Naw Bu said. Lwegel is a main crossing for trade on the border with China.

The junta has also not issued any statements on the fighting. RFA tried to telephone Kachin State's junta spokesperson, Moe Min Thein, to ask about the situation but he did not answer.

The Kachin force is one several that have made significant gains recently against forces of the junta that overthrew an elected government in early 2021 triggering bloody opposition to military rule.

Pro-democracy fighters have taken up arms and linked up with ethnic minority armies, like the Kachin, which have been battling for self-determination for decades in hilly border regions.

While the opponents of military rule have captured numerous junta bases, towns and villages, in fighting that escalated sharply late last year, none has seized a state capital.

Naw Bu declined to comment on casualties on either side in the latest fighting, or on if any weapons and ammunition had been captured. Ethnic minority Lisu fighters loyal to the junta control two camps in Waingmaw town while a junta infantry battalion holds another position there, he said.

Civilian Deaths

Responding to the Kachin offensive, junta forces bombed Hkat Shu village in southern Waingmaw township on Monday and Tuesday, killing six residents, including children, and wounding 19, according to residents.

A severely wounded woman was taken to hospital in Myitkyina while the rest of the injured were getting treatment at Waingmaw's hospital, one resident, who declined to be identified, told RFA.

The junta-backed Myanma Alin newspaper said on Wednesday that the military regime was not responsible for the attacks on Hkat Shu village.

About half of Hkat Shu's population of 10,000 have fled because of the fighting, residents said.

According to data compiled by RFA, mostly from accounts from residents and the insurgents, nearly 80 civilians were killed in Kachin State due to the junta airstrikes and heavy weapons between Jan. 1 and May 21.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Pakistan claims killing dozens of Afghan-based 'terrorists' in recent operations

By Ayaz Gul May 22, 2024

Pakistan's military said Wednesday that its operations against a recent surge in terrorist attacks from Afghanistan, and cross-border militant infiltration attempts, have resulted in the killings of nearly 30 "terrorists" in the last month.

The announcement came a day after a U.S. research group said in a report that "Afghanistan has become a breeding ground for terrorist activities" since the Taliban regained power in 2021.

While sharing details of its ongoing counterterrorism actions, the Pakistani military said it was focused on parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan border provinces. It noted that one of the operations a week ago also led to the death of an army major.

"Of late, Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist incidents orchestrated from Afghan soil, wherein terrorists from Afghanistan attempt to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and target security forces as well as innocent civilians," the statement said.

Islamabad renewed its call for Kabul "to ensure effective border management" on the Afghan side, saying the Taliban government "is expected to fulfill its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan."

There was no immediate reaction from de facto Afghan authorities to Pakistan's assertions. The Taliban have rejected previous such allegations, saying they are not allowing anyone to use Afghan territory to threaten neighboring countries or beyond.

Pakistan maintains that fugitive commanders and combatants of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, a designated global terrorist group, are using havens in Afghanistan to launch deadly cross-border attacks against Pakistanis, including security forces.

The Washington-based Center for a New American Security released its report Tuesday, saying the TTP and other regional militant groups "are active and face few constraints on their activities from the Talibanawith whom they share core ideological beliefs."

The study warned that terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan "are intensifying and an Afghan-based Islamic State affiliate, the Islamic State-Khorasan, or IS-K, "constitutes the main international concern."

It also cited a recent United Nations report that highlighted the Taliban's close ties to al-Qaida operatives in Afghanistan, noting that "al-Qaida leaders are now part of the Taliban's administrative structure and are constructing their own training camps in the country."

On May 10, the United States hosted a bilateral counterterrorism dialogue with Pakistan, where the two sides agreed to intensify collaboration in the fight against the TTP and IS-K.

A post-meeting joint statement said the two countries "recognize that a partnership to counter" the TTP and IS-K and other regional terrorist groups "will advance security in the region and help "address transnational terrorism threats."

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Russia Not Planning to Revise Border in Baltic Waters

Sputnik News

20240522

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia has never had any intention whatsoever to revise its state border, economic zone and continental shelf in the Baltic, a military-diplomatic source said.

According to a document published on Russian legal documents website on Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry proposed changing the geographic coordinates of the Russian maritime border with Finland, as the previous ones did not match the "current geographical situation." The ministry argued that the current coordinates were registered with the use of small-scale navigation maps, based on research made in the middle of 20th century, and do not allow to determining the external border of Russia's territorial waters. The document is not available anymore, as of Wednesday.

"There were and are no intentions to revise the width of the territorial waters, the economic zone, the continental shelf off the mainland coast and the state border line of Russia in the Baltic," the source said.

The Finnish authorities called the Russian initiative "unexpected," saying that though there is nothing extraordinary in reviewing borders, such issues are usually settled by the involved countries in a "working order," the Finnish lawmaker and chairman of the parliamentary foreign affairs council, Kimmo Kiljunen, told Finnish broadcaster Yle on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said that Russia had not been in contact with Finland on the issue.

"The Finnish authorities are analyzing the reports in the Russian media concerning the maritime zones in the Gulf of Finland. The political leadership is monitoring the situation closely. Russia has not been in contact with Finland on the matter. Finland acts as always: calmly and based on facts," Stubb wrote on X on Wednesday.

Helsinki is to address Moscow through diplomatic and official channels with a request for additional information on the relevant proposal, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen told Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday.

The Russian Defense Ministry's proposal to update the coordinates of Russia's borders in the Baltic Sea is not politically motivated, although the level of confrontation in the region requires steps to ensure the country's security, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

A Sputnik

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'Expropriation': Kremlin Blasts EU Decision to Use Income From Russian Assets

Sputnik News

20240522

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow has castigated the decision by the EU to use income from frozen Russian sovereign assets to help Ukraine as expropriation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the Council of the EU said that it had officially approved the decision that will allow using income from frozen Russian sovereign assets to be used to provide military assistance to Ukraine. On Wednesday, the EU published a detailed decision on frozen Russian assets as part of the package of economic sanctions against Moscow, which is effective starting May 23.

"We have already said that such decisions, well, although we see that they are cautious, they see the potential danger of such decisions and understand the danger for them of the potential consequences that are inevitable, so they went for a truncated version, but the truncated version is nothing more than expropriation," Peskov told reporters.

Russia will continue assessing the consequences of the EU's decision and its response, the official added.

The Kremlin spokesman acknowledged that the Russian government was aware of warnings from global financial institutions about the West's intention to use funds generated from frozen Russian state assets to provide military aid to Ukraine.

"We have taken note of the recent warnings made by the heads of international financial institutions that [the West] should rethink any step that will inevitably damage the global monetary system," Peskov said.

IMF Communications Director Julie Kozack said last week that any action taken by the West should have "sufficient legal underpinnings" so that it does not undermine the functioning of the global monetary system.

A Sputnik

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Taiwan donates frigates to Tuvalu

ROC Central News Agency

05/22/2024 06:07 PM

Taipei, May 22 (CNA) Taiwan donated two frigates to Tuvalu on Tuesday in southern Taiwan as part of a cooperation plan to strengthen the Pacific island country's ability to patrol its waters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Wednesday.

The naming and handover ceremony of the frigates took place Tuesday in Pingtung County, and was attended by Tuvalu's prime minister, Feleti Teo, who was also present at President Lai Ching-te's () inauguration ceremony a day before, MOFA said in a statement.

According to the statement, Taiwan and Tuvalu signed a contract in July 2023 in which Taiwan pledged to donate the two frigates to the Pacific ally.

Taiwan's Ambassador to Tuvalu Andrew Lin () handed over the two frigates to Teo, who then announced the frigates were named "Te Kaleva" and "Te Akiaki," both of which are the name of birds native to Tuvalu and mean "perseverance" and "abundant catch," respectively.

In his speech, Teo thanked Taiwan's efforts in enhancing Tuvalu's maritime patrol capabilities and strengthening its marine ecological conservation, the MOFA statement said.

He also emphasized that the two countries have promoted various collaborative projects based on the universal values of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, and have brought significant results.

Taiwan and Tuvalu also signed an "Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Government of the Tuvalu on Coast Guard Cooperation" in September 2022 to work together on Coast Guard development and the prevention of maritime transnational crime.

MOFA said Taiwan will continue to expand its cooperation with Pacific allies and like-minded countries to jointly create sustainable peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

Tuvalu is one of 12 countries in the world that formally recognize the ROC.

(By Henry Wu and Bernadette Hsiao)

Enditem/ls



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Beijing warns Chinese Taipei of reprisals after 'dangerous' inauguration speech

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 May 2024 11:24 AM

Beijing has warned of reprisals against Chinese Taipei after Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te sent "dangerous signals" with a pro-independence speech during his inauguration ceremony.

Lai on Monday took part in the inauguration ceremony as the new president of the self-ruled island, succeeding Tsai Ing-wen to embark on an unprecedented third term for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) - which Beijing has consistently blamed as the cause of strained cross-strait relations.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) released a statement following Lai's inauguration speech, saying the new president had fully exposed his radical nature as a "Taiwan independence worker."

"We will never tolerate any form of 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities," TAO spokesman Chen Binhua said in the statement on Tuesday.

"No one hopes to achieve the reunification of the motherland through peaceful means more than we do. However, we must counterattack and punish the DPP authorities in colluding with external forces to pursue 'independence' provocations."

A second statement was later released by TAO in which it called Lai's attitude in his inauguration speech as "extremely rampant", noting "his advocacy is even more radical" than before. "The entire speech was filled with antagonism and provocation, lies and deception - the 'Taiwan independence' stance is even more radical and risky," said the statement.

Lai's inauguration speech reiterated Taipei's plans to bolster its military forces, warning Taiwanese people not to "harbor any delusions" about China.

"So long as China refuses to renounce the use of force against Taiwan, all of us in Taiwan ought to understand, that even if we accept the entirety of China's position and give up our sovereignty, China's ambition to annex Taiwan will not simply disappear," he said.

Mainland China reportedly aims to reunify Chinese Taipei by 2027, a timeframe that will fall in Lai's term in office. China has sovereignty over Chinese Taipei and almost the entirety of the global community recognize that sovereignty under the internationally recognized "One China" policy. It means states would not establish diplomatic contact with the secessionist government in Taipei.

However, Washington, which also recognizes that sovereignty, has long supported pro-independence leaders in Taipei, giving financial and military aid in an effort to unnerve Beijing.

Beijing has repeatedly warned it will use force, if necessary, to reunite the island with China's mainland.

China's President Xi Jinping and other top Chinese leaders have been articulate about the issue, clearly and repeatedly emphasizing the importance of the matter for Beijing.

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Tsai Ing-wen elevated Taiwan internationally, despite China challenge

By Tina Chung, Yang An May 22, 2024

Former President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen left office May 20, passing the baton to her Democratic Progress Party's (DPP) successor, Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai.

Analysts say her time as leader of self-ruled Taiwan saw it gain international support for a peaceful Taiwan Strait despite an increasingly assertive China - a legacy they hope President Lai can maintain.

Tsai was Taiwan's first female leader and one of the few top female leaders in Asia and she ushered in some of the region's most liberal laws on LGBTQ rights. Yet analysts say her foremost legacy will be the international attention and support she brought to Taiwan.

Hung-Jen Wang, a professor of politics at Taiwan's National Cheng Kung University, tells VOA that Tsai's biggest achievement was her effectiveness in getting major nations to consider and confront the possibility of China using force against Taiwan and the global impact that would be caused by conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

"President Tsai has made it clearer to everyone that the stability of the Taiwan Strait issue is not Taiwan's issue, nor is it an issue of internal affairs between Taiwan and China, but (relevant to) everyone's national interests," Wang said.

Since the 2021 Summit of the Group of Seven (G7) publicly used the phrase "the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait" for the first time, the phrase has become an indispensable part of the joint communiquAs of the G7 group of economically advanced democracies. The group is Britain, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States.

Beijing claims Taiwan is a breakaway province that must one day reunite with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which President Vladimir Putin has similarly claimed as part of Russia, and Moscow's close ties with Beijing, have further underscored concerns that China could follow Russia's lead in seizing territory by force.

China has in the past couple years increased its cross-straits threats, including military exercises, sending scores of suspected spy balloons over Taiwan, and interfering in its election with threats. Tsai increased military spending and submarine development to better defend Taiwan if China attacks.

Ryan Hass, director of the John L. Thornton China Center and the Chen-Fu and Cecilia Yen Koo Chair in Taiwan Studies at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington, tells VOA history will be kind to Tsai, who took Beijing's saber-rattling in stride.

"I think that she has been stable, steady, pragmatic, (and) principled. She has helped create conditions that have allowed Taiwan to attract more support from the rest of the international community than at any previous time. And really sort of pushed back against the notion that Taiwan can be isolated and intimidated by Beijing," Hass said, adding that he hopes that Tsai's successor "will carry forward the legacy of what she has left off."

Tsai and Lai both support Taiwan's status quo. Though Lai has in the past been an outspoken supporter of Taiwan independence, he has in the last few years softened his tone.

But Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office on Monday still denounced Lai as a "worker for Taiwan independence."

Michael Cunningham, a research fellow in The Heritage Foundation's Asian Studies Center, said China didn't see Tsai as moderate, either.

"China has refused to engage officially in talks, but she has been very pragmatic," Cunningham told VOA. "In fact, all parties essentially have the same general approach to China now, which is to preserve stability, preserve de facto sovereignty. Don't rock the boat, which is very important."

China has, however, engaged in talks with leaders of Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, who blame Tsai and Lai for stoking cross-straits tensions with Beijing.

During Tsai's eight years in office, China convinced almost half of the nations that were recognizing Taiwan as a country to switch diplomatic recognition to Beijing. Only 11, mainly small island nations and the Vatican, recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation.

Despite the lost recognition, analysts say Tsai successfully pushed trade and unofficial relationships that garnered more support for Taiwan's status quo as a self-governing democracy.

Cunningham told VOA Tsai managed to make Taiwan well-known on the international stage. "...And in that way, she's done a great job for Taiwan diplomatically," he said. "However, I hope President-elect Lai and his administration will be able to do a better job of holding on to the official diplomatic partners."

Lai inherits a politically divided Taiwan with the KMT wanting to engage with China and weaken his presidency.

Despite the tensions, Yao-Yuan Yeh, a professor at the University of St. Thomas, told VOA in a phone interview that Taiwan has already chosen its future.

"Tsai Ing-wen's biggest effort in the past eight years has been to help Taiwan choose the side of the United States in the environment of confrontation between the United States and China," Yeh said. "That is, Taiwan will stand on the same front as democratic countries in the future."

Lai inherits an unprecedented third term in a row for the DPP, coming off of high ratings for his predecessor.

The latest survey released by Taiwan's TVBS Polling Center last week showed that Tsai's policy satisfaction before leaving office was 42%, 19 percentage points higher than former KMT President Ma Ying-jeou's 23% and 29 percentage points higher than previous DPP President Chen Shui-bian's 13%.

As for Tsai's role after the presidency, Taiwanese media reports say she plans to organize an international think tank to continue advocating for Taiwan.

Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.

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UK to Offer Indo-Pacific Countries Closer Military Partnership - Defense Secretary

Sputnik News

20240522

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United Kingdom will propose to the countries in the Indo-Pacific to expand their military partnerships with London amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said on Wednesday.

"Next week I will travel to the Shangri-La Security Conference in Singapore with a clear message that if our partners in the Indo-Pacific overlook illegal invasion in Europe it has consequences for international security everywhere ... Which is why I will also offer to extend our military partnerships with countries in the Indo-Pacific," Shapps said at a security conference in London.

He said he would reference AUKUS and the Global Combat Air Programme as cases of successful intercontinental security partnerships. At the same time, the British defense chief said it was "no longer tenable for European countries to expect the US to subsidise our security."

Shapps expressed his frustration at the fact that only the UK and the US were striking at Houthi targets in the Red Sea, while the resulting safety of navigation was something enjoyed by stakeholders across Asia and Europe.

He said London was in need of not simply more partners but it also needed them "to be more committed," with the outlook of eventually "converting commitment into capability" and encouraging its partners to "play a bigger role in support of the world order."

A Sputnik

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Sunak Announces Snap General Election in UK on July 4

Sputnik News

20240522

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed on Wednesday that the next general election in the country will take place on July 4.

Earlier in the day, Sky News reported that Sunak could call the general elections in the country for July 4.

"Earlier today I spoke with his majesty the King to request the dissolution of parliament. The King has granted me this request and we will have a general election on 4th of July," Sunak said in a statement outside 10 Downing Street .

The current UK Parliament will be dissolved on May 30, while the new convocation will convene on July 9, The Telegraph reported, citing a statement issued by 10 Downing Street.

The state opening of parliament will reportedly take place on July 17.

Last week, Sunak said that he would stay on as a member of UK parliament and continue to represent the constituency of Richmond in North Yorkshire, even if the ruling Conservative Party lost the next general election.

According to the latest Ipsos survey conducted in April, the Tories' rating has dropped to a record low of 19%, the lowest since 1978, while the opposition Labor Party is ahead by 25%.

A Sputnik

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Readout of White House Meetings on the U.S.-UK Atlantic Declaration

May 22, 2024

Yesterday, senior officials from the United States and United Kingdom governments met at the White House to discuss progress and next steps since the June 2023 Atlantic Declaration for a Twenty-First Century U.S.-UK Economic Partnership. The meetings, co-chaired by U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and UK National Security Advisor Sir Tim Barrow, highlighted the U.S. and UK economic partnership and focused on progress towards meeting key objectives under the Atlantic Declaration framework for our transatlantic and strategic cooperation.

The group welcomed the progress made to date on delivery, including through the launch of a new Strategic Dialogue on Biological Security, the U.S-UK Sanctions Dialogue, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on AI Safety and launch of the U.S.-UK Data Bridge, and our engagement with industry on clean energy supply chains.

Officials discussed efforts to continue to deepen U.S.-UK economic, technological, commercial and trade relations and shared information on the latest threats, risks and opportunities related to critical and emerging technologies. The discussion particularly highlighted where the U.S. and UK could promote growth in these technologies - including quantum, biotechnology and AI - to our mutual competitive advantage. The group reviewed progress under the Atlantic Declaration framework on promoting U.S. and UK leadership in these technologies and strengthening our respective toolkits - including inbound and outbound investment screening and export controls - to protect advanced sensitive technologies from actors that may use them to undermine each countries' national security. Officials also discussed how to advance efforts to build resilient clean energy supply chains key to our energy transition, including through collaboration on civil nuclear, offshore wind and the development of other clean energy technologies, as well as by advancing negotiations towards a Critical Minerals Agreement. The group also discussed efforts to ensure that macroeconomic imbalances and non-market policies and practices creating PRC overcapacity in clean energy technologies and other strategic sectors do not undermine our efforts. Finally, officials discussed how to deliver high-standards infrastructure investment in developing countries and emerging markets through the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and via our efforts to boost the capacity of the Multilateral Development Banks.

The White House also hosted representatives from the U.S. and UK governments for the inaugural Strategic Technologies Investor Council, convening investors from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss strategies to mobilize private capital, close funding gaps and unlock new investments towards critical and emerging technologies.

###

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Ukraine and Sweden Launch Negotiations on a Bilateral Security Agreement

President of Ukraine

21 May 2024 - 20:35

According to the instructions of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and following his recent telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson, Ukraine and Sweden have started negotiations on the agreement on security cooperation.

According to the Presidential decree, the Ukrainian official negotiating delegation is headed by the Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak. Today's round of talks was led by the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva.

"We are grateful to Sweden for its significant support to Ukraine, including military assistance, in countering full-scale Russian aggression. It is important that today we are negotiating with Sweden as a new NATO member. We look forward to further deepening of bilateral security cooperation with Sweden in all strategic areas, which will be reflected in our bilateral agreement," Ihor Zhovkva emphasized.

The parties discussed in detail the provisions of the draft document and agreed on further steps to ensure its early finalization and subsequent signing.

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High-level conference on peace in Ukraine: military support and airspace restriction

Swiss Government

Bern, 22.05.2024 - At its meeting on 22 May, the Federal Council approved a temporary restriction on the use of airspace during the high-level conference on peace in Ukraine, which Switzerland will be hosting on 15 and 16 June at the BArgenstock resort in the canton of Nidwalden. The Swiss Air Force will provide air policing and advanced air surveillance services. The Armed Forces will also set up a subsidiary support service to complement the security measures of the cantonal authorities.

As part of the security measures surrounding the peace conference, which will be held in the canton of Nidwalden on 15 and 16 June, the Federal Council has approved a temporary restriction of airspace in the BArgenstock region. This measure is necessary to ensure the security of the high-level international conference. Under international law, Switzerland has an obligation to ensure the safety of guests in need of special protection.

The airspace restriction will apply from 8am local time on 13 June until 8pm local time on 17 June, and will be limited to the airspace around the BArgenstock resort. The Swiss Air Force will provide air policing and advanced airspace surveillance services. The airspace will be restricted for visual flight rules (VFR) and non-commercial instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic, and for pilotless aircraft.

Contribution of the Armed Forces

The Federal Council also approved the deployment of up to 4,000 military personnel to support the cantonal authorities in Nidwalden. The Armed Forces will support the cantonal police, particularly in the areas of property protection, surveillance, reconnaissance and logistics, and will provide Nidwalden with equipment and vehicles. These measures will complement the security measures taken by the cantonal authorities and should not entail any additional costs for the Confederation. The number of military personnel to be deployed is due to the difficulty of the terrain and the scale of the mission, and in particular the number of assets to be protected.

Article 70 para. 2 of the Armed Forces Act (ArmA) states that the Federal Assembly must approve the deployment of members of the Armed Forces at its next session if more than 2,000 people are involved or the deployment lasts longer than three weeks. If the mission is completed before the next session, the Federal Council must submit a dispatch to the Federal Assembly. As the time between now and the conference is too short, the Federal Council will submit a dispatch to the Federal Assembly for the autumn session.

Other contributions by the DDPS

The Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) will support the conference in the areas of communication security, monitoring of the civil protection and radiological situation, and protection against nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) incidents. Partner organisations will be kept informed of the situation through the National Emergency Operations Centre. Before and during the conference, monitoring for radioactive emissions will be intensified, in particular with the help of NBC specialists from Spiez Laboratory. The FOCP will also provide advice and additional infrastructure to ensure secure communications between the various response services.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will provide a communication platform for the federal and cantonal services involved. On this platform, the NCSC will report on cyberthreat developments during the conference. An emergency centre for technical analyses will also be set up.

The Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) will provide situation assessments to support an intelligence network that will work under its direction. The FIS will also assist in the early identification and prevention of threats.

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EU reaches historic decision to use revenues generated by Russian assets to support Ukraine

Government Offices of Sweden

22 May 2024

In response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU decided to immobilise the Central Bank of the Russian Federation's assets in the EU. During the Swedish Presidency of the Council, an EU Working Group was established to investigate the possibility of using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. This work as resulted in the EU's decision on 21 May to use the net extraordinary revenues generated by the immobilised assets to provide military and macroeconomic support to Ukraine.

"The decision is an important step towards compensating Ukraine for the widespread destruction Russia has caused through its aggression. This decision is the result of an initiative Sweden took during the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and an important part of the long-term support to Ukraine. The Government is in favour of additional and farther-reaching measures concerning Russia's immobilised assets insofar as they are compatible with EU law and international law," says Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias BillstrAm.

Extraordinary revenues have accrued to central securities depositories in the EU from their management of Russian Central Bank assets that were immobilised as a result of the EU's sanctions against Russia. These revenues will now be used to support Ukraine. The extraordinary revenues amount to an estimated EUR 3 billion in 2024.

This year, 90 per cent of the funds transferred to the EU will be used for military support through the European Peace Facility. The remaining 10 per cent will be allocated to the Ukraine Facility in the form of macroeconomic support. This allocation will be reviewed on an annual basis.

EU management of immobilised Russian assets The EU has adopted thirteen sanctions packages against Russia in response to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since February 2022, financial institutions in EU Member States have been prohibited from carrying out transactions related to the management of the Russian Central Bank's assets or reserves. As the central securities depositories are not permitted to transfer revenues generated by the Russian Central Bank's assets to the Russian Central Bank, extraordinary cash balances are accumulating in their balance sheets. It is incumbent on the central securities depositories to manage these funds the same way as their other holdings. This has resulted in extraordinary revenues and windfall profits accruing to the central securities depositories, which are in turn affected by the market conditions. These revenues will be allocated to Ukraine.



It should be noted that it is not the Russian Central Bank's assets that will be used to benefit Ukraine, but rather the extraordinary revenues accruing to the central securities depositories as a result of EU sanctions against Russia.



The terms 'freezing' and 'immobilising' refer to the measures taken against Russian assets in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Private assets that must not be used or transferred are commonly referred to as being 'frozen', whereas State assets are referred to as being 'immobilised'.

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Zelensky urges NATO to shoot down Russian missiles, give more weapons to Ukraine

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 May 2024 9:55 AM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the US-led NATO military alliance to shoot down Russian missiles over his country and to provide Kiev with more weapons against Moscow.

"What's the problem?" Zelensky said in a New York Times interview on Monday in Kiev. "Why can't we shoot them down? Is it defense? Yes. Is it an attack on Russia? No. Are you shooting down Russian planes and killing Russian pilots? No. So what's the issue with involving NATO countries in the war? There is no such issue."

Till now, the US and its allies have been providing Zelensky with weapons and ammunition, but Western leaders have resisted direct US-led NATO forces engagement in the Ukraine-Russia war.

However, Zelensky drew a comparison to how the US and its allies had reportedly helped the Israeli regime when it came under Iran's retaliatory strikes in April and urged NATO forces to extend similar military support to Kiev.

The Ukrainian leader, who claimed he was confused as to why his Western sponsors would not get directly involved in the war with Russia, asked his backers once more to increase the volume and speed of arms delivery to Kiev.

"Shoot down what's in the sky over Ukraine and give us the weapons to use against Russian forces on the borders," he insisted, asking the interviewer, "Do you think it is too much?"

In the meantime, Russian troops have been advancing all along the frontline, prompting Zelensky and his aides to intensify their calls for more weapons, ammunition, and everything else in their arsenal, including Patriot air missile systems and F-16 fighter jets, in particular.

Zelensky also said he had appealed to senior US officials to allow Ukraine to fire US missiles and other weaponry delivered to Kiev deep inside Russia.

He claimed the ability to shoot at targets deep inside Russia would boost Kiev in its war against Moscow.

The NATO forces claim they remain opposed to Kiev's use of Western-supplied missiles to strike targets inside Russia other than the regions Ukraine claims as its own, including Crimea, Zaporizhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Lugansk which joined the Russian Federation by holding referendums.

Russia launched the "special military operation" in Ukraine in February 2022.

Since Russia launched its operation in 2022, the West has given Kiev all-out support, including political support and substatial weaponry, while imposing unprecedented sanctions on Russian officials and entities.

Russia has repeatedly warned the continued supply of weaponry to Ukraine will only prolong the war.

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Ukraine Needs Improved Defense Against Russian Aerial Bombs, Zelenskiy Says

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service May 22, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a plea on May 22 for upgraded defense systems to protect Ukrainian cities against guided bombs, which have been used by Russian forces to hit Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

Zelenskiy said the need for improved air defense systems was discussed at a special meeting on Ukrainian arms production and countermeasures against Russian guided aerial bombs.

"This is a challenging topic, and while we see some good progress on electronic warfare, drones, and the missile program, there is still a lot of work to be done to counter Russian bombs," he said in a summary posted at his website.

He said Ukraine needs systems and tactics that will allow it to protect its troop positions and cities and other communities from the bombs, which he said are the "main instrument of Russian terror and the advance of the occupier."

Zelenskiy's comments came after a Russian air attack on Kharkiv injured at least nine people and set fire to a residential building, local officials said.

"One of the guided aerial bombs, according to preliminary data, hit a cafe. It is very close to a multistory residential building," Serhiy Bolvinov, the head of the investigative department of the regional police, told Ukrainian television.

Zelenskiy said earlier this month that Russia used more than 3,200 guided bombs against Ukrainian targets in April. Russia has increasingly resorted to these bombs, which are directed to a target by a guidance system, have great destructive potential, and pose fewer risks to air crews delivering them.

Commenting on the situation at the front, Zelenskiy said border issues are receiving maximum attention not only in the Kharkiv region but also in the Sumy region.

The areas of the main battles have not changed and remain primarily Pokrovsk and other areas in the Donetsk region and in the area around Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region.

The Ukrainian Air Force said earlier on May 22 that its air defenses shot down all 24 drones launched by Russia at targets on Ukraine's territory early in the say.

"The drones were destroyed over the Mykolayiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk, Sumy, and Odesa regions," the air force command said in a statement.

Separately, the Sumy city council said power lines and water pipes were damaged by falling drone debris and that the power supply to the city was disrupted. It said work was already under way to restore water and electricity to the city's inhabitants.

Zelenskiy also announced in his address that four more countries -- Albania, Austria, Chile, and Mozambique -- had agreed to attend a peace summit in Switzerland in June. The aim of the meeting is to create a broad front to oblige Russia to agree to a peace settlement under the terms of the UN Charter.

"Russian aggression has tried to turn the UN Charter into a museum exhibit," Zelenskiy said. "Our peace summit...can restore the full effectiveness and full protection of the UN Charter to every nation."

Zelenskiy's peace plan calls for the withdrawal of all Russian forces and the restoration of Ukraine's 1991 borders.

Russia, which rejects the plan, has not been invited to the summit and has dismissed any discussion of the conflict without its participation as pointless.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/drone-ukraine-sumy-strike- russia/32958651.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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In Occupied Areas, Russia Pushes Ukrainian Youth To Sign Contracts To Fight Ukraine

By Olha Modina and Donbas.Realities May 22, 2024

Residents of Ukraine's largely Russian-occupied Luhansk region report an intense effort by Russian officers to recruit male students at universities and institutes for contract service in the Russian armed forces.

"They say that if I sign a contract and don't get mobilized, I'll have better chances of surviving" Russia's war against Ukraine, said a 20-year-old Luhansk student who gave his name as Anton.

With no end in sight to a war in which more than 315,000 Russian men have been killed or wounded since the full-scale invasion of February 2022, by U.S. estimates, Russian President Vladimir Putin's government seems intent on maintaining or boosting troops numbers.

Eager to avoid a repeat of a 2022 mobilization that prompted hundreds of thousands of people to leave Russia, it's looking to contract soldiers to fill the ranks and help increase the size of the armed forces to 1.32 million in 2024. In December 2023, then-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu set a "top priority" target of 745,000 contract personnel by the end of 2024, state news agency TASS reported.

Russian recruitment and conscription efforts are not limited to Russian territory. While it is illegal under international law, the military is also targeting men in the five Ukrainian regions Moscow baselessly claims as its own: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, Kherson, and Crimea.

Numerous young men interviewed by RFE/RL's Donbas.Realities in the Luhansk region, almost all of which is under Russian control, said universities and institutes have become prime recruiting sites for Russian forces.

Serhiy, a 20-year-old student at an institute in the city of Luhansk, said recruitment posters for contract service in Russia's armed forces are now "the norm" and appear on walls alongside class schedules.

"We used to joke that it looked like a way of motivating us, like, 'If you don't study, you'll join the army," said Serhiy, who, like all interviewees, asked that only his first name be used for fear of repercussions.

'Soviet Standards'

Recruitment flyers target job-hungry students with promises of free housing, medical care, and at least a month of paid vacation each year. Pay varies according to rank and activities, with a sign-on bonus of 195,000 rubles ($2,150).

To make the pitch for contracts, Russian military officers "specially" positioned near one Luhansk institute approach students after breaks or classes and ask for a cigarette or a light, said Anton, who studies there.

The officers "tell you what a great future you'll have if you go fight" and assert that the Russian Army's contract troops are "treated with respect, valued, and protected," Anton said.

In a social media post on April 10, Britain's Defense Ministry said the Russian military "seeks to recruit 400,000 contract soldiers in 2024." The Russian Defense Ministry claimed in early April that more than 100,000 men already had signed contracts so far this year.

Official figures are not available for how many men in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine have responded to this recruitment campaign.

In January, the Russian government made it easier for men to join up by reducing the obligatory two-part medical exam to a single examination at the recruit's local military headquarters.

Ihor, a Luhansk region conscript who is currently at a regional training camp, said Russian Army officials follow "Soviet standards" and fixate on meeting their quotas without bothering about health exams.

"You come and say: 'I want a contract,'" Ihor said, citing relatives' experiences. "They don't even check you. They just ask: 'So, should I write down that you're healthy?'"

One mother in Luhansk, Anastasia, claimed the "hunt" for young men who will sign a contract with the military starts with high school students aged 16-17. Holders of Russian "internal passports" are eligible for contracts once they turn 18 and graduate from high school. Registering for military service is obligatory from the age of 17.

In recent months, Anastasia said, her son's school has reminded students constantly about that deadline. To encourage them, she added, the school often holds meetings with so-called war heroes who tell students "how important and prestigious it is to defend the homeland from Nazis" -- a reference to Putin's false claims about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's government.

Anastasia described the meetings as a pressure-free, "normal conversation," but her son, she noted, said the discussion also includes "alarming" questions about whether "you shoot well."

Empty Promises

But if the pitches and posters don't work, Russian officials use other tactics as well to increase the number of male students who sign contracts to fight, interviewed students said.

Under Russian law, illegally imposed on occupied areas of Ukraine, attending an institution of higher learning allows men between the ages of 18 to 30 to postpone their mandatory year of military service. But this is no guarantee of safety.

Students "can simply be 'failed' at the end of a semester because security officials came to the university and explained that they need new volunteers," said Anton.

Serhiy told RFE/RL that the Russian Army conscripted several of his classmates who did not pass their winter semester classes and sent them for training in Russia's Belgorod region, which borders the Luhansk region.

"They are digging trenches there" but "no one is teaching the boys how to fight and survive," he said. "You stand and dig."

His former classmates fear they'll be sent to the front, Serhiy added. Though the Russian Defense Ministry claims conscripts are not fighting in Ukraine, Luhansk residents indicate otherwise.

Anton said his older brother, conscripted in 2023, was promised a year of training but was sent to the administrative border of Ukraine's Luhansk and Kharkiv regions "within a few months."

"Daily shelling and constant fighting are what taught him to fight -- not conscription," Anton commented.

Kyiv has urged Ukrainians from Russian-occupied territories who are fighting for Russia to surrender "at the first opportunity."

Ihor said five to seven students in his training cohort also do not want to fight against Ukraine but believe that, after their military service, they will not immediately be called to fight in the war.

He doubts that: Russian officers have told him he could be summoned "at any moment" once his conscription is complete, he said. "After your military service, you're still a hostage."

Contracts don't necessarily provide better protection for inexperienced soldiers.

Anastasia said the son of poor neighbors of her relatives signed a contract when he turned 18 because he wanted to be "self-sufficient and independent."

"His parents did not refuse," she said. "They buried him within a few months."

Written by Elizabeth Owen based on reporting by Olha Modina and RFE/RL's Donbas.Realities

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/drone-ukraine-sumy-strike- russia/32958651.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Ukrainian Drone Attacks Territory of Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant

Sputnik News

20240522

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian armed forces have attacked the territory of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant with a drone, the plant's press service said on Wednesday, adding that no casualties and damage were reported.

"The Ukrainian armed forces attacked the territory of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. A kamikaze drone hit the territory of the transport workshop of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. There were no casualties or critical damage," the plant's press service wrote on Telegram, adding that shelling of civilians, as well as the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and its infrastructure, is unacceptable.

Located on the left bank of the Dnepr River, the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is the largest nuclear facility in Europe. It came under Russia's control in early 2022 and has since been repeatedly shelled, raising safety concerns. IAEA experts have been monitoring the situation on-site since the fall of 2022.

A Sputnik

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Russian Forces Liberate Kleshcheyevka in Donetsk People's Republic

Sputnik News

20240522

Earlier media reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have withdrawn a significant portion of their forces from the Kleshcheyevka area to redeploy them to Chasov Yar.

Units of the Battlegroup Yug have taken control of Kleshcheyevka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) as a result of active operations, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported.

"The Units of Battlegroup Yug has liberated the settlement of Kleshcheyevka in the Donetsk People's Republic as a result of active actions," according to the ministry's summary.

Russian servicemen of Battlegroup Tsentr have struck Ukrainian formations in four settlements of the Donetsk People's Republic and repulsed seven counter-attacks in four other settlements, with enemy losses totaling up to 420 servicemen, the ministry added.

"Enemy losses amounted to up to 420 military personnel, three armored combat vehicles, including the Germany-made Marder infantry fighting vehicle, three vehicles [among other military losses in battles with Russia's central group]," the ministry said in a statement, adding that the group has also repelled seven counterattacks by Ukraine in the DPR.

Russia's Battlegroup Yug has defeated Ukrainian troops in the DPR and Ukraine has lost more than 365 soldiers, while Russia's Battlegroup Vostok has improved its tactical position in the DPR and Kiev lost up to 125 soldiers.

Russia's northern group of forces has advanced into Ukraine's territory and repelled three counterattacks in the Kharkov region and the armed forces of Ukraine lost up to 255 soldiers, the ministry said.

"Russian units of Battlegroup Dnepr destroyed up to 35 Ukrainian servicemen, two US-made 155-millimeter M777 howitzers, a 152-millimeter MSTA-B howitzer and a 152-millimeter D-20 howitzer," the Defense Ministry said.

A Sputnik

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Russian Forces Strike Energy Infrastructure in Ukraine's Sumy Region

Sputnik News

20240522

DONETSK (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces carried out overnight strikes on energy infrastructure in the cities of Shostka and Konotop in Ukraine's Sumy region, Nikolayev underground network coordinator Sergei Lebedev told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"The city of Shostka in the Sumy region has been struck three times this night. The strikes hit energy facilities in the city of Shostka. The first strike was reported by locals at 12:05 a.m. [local time, 21:05 GMT on Tuesday]. The strike was described as powerful, which made the floor tremble. The second strike was at 12:20 a.m. and resulted in a power outage. The third strike on Shostka was at 12:45 a.m.," he said.

Lebedev cited reports from the underground network as saying that there were warehouses, which were used by the Ukrainian military, on the territory of a thermal power plant. He added that there was a heavy movement of trucks with police escort in the past week.

"Reports are also coming about strikes on energy facilities in the city of Konotop in the Sumy region. Konotop is known for being one of the largest railroad hubs in Ukraine," he said.

A Sputnik

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Russia's war and its effect on trade and transport: UK statement to the OSCE

Justin Addison, UK Delegation to the OSCE, tells the OSCE's Economic and Environmental Committee that Russia's war against Ukraine is harming trade and transport across the region

22 May 2024

The concept note for this meeting is right to mention the effect of Russia's war of aggression on international trade and transport. Russia has chosen this path of international isolation, which has led to the UK and many other nations banning Russian flights and prohibiting the registration of ships owned, controlled, chartered, or operated by persons connected with Russia. These and many other measures have been necessary to restrict an economy fuelling a brutal and unnecessary war against a sovereign neighbour.

And of course, Russia's illegal and cynical attacks against Ukrainian civilian transport infrastructure has damaged that country's economy; another example of the brutality for which Russia will ultimately be held responsible.

As Russia continues its war of choice, we look to other partners in the region to act as stable and reliable trading partners. Nowhere is this more true than in Central Asia. During his visit to Central Asia last month, our Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the UK's commitment to the long-term prosperity, sovereignty and independence of the region, and a desire for deeper economic cooperation.

Trade volumes with the UK have grown substantially in recent years, particularly with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

The Trans-Caspian transport route is critical to improving the connectivity of the region, both into Europe and between Central Asian states. For example, the UK and Uzbekistan recently signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of a high-speed rail expansion, from Tashkent to Samarkand. An increase in rail routes will reduce dependencies on the more polluting air freight for trade; and more efficient high-speed railways will reduce emissions. In addition, Uzbekistan produces and exports large amounts of copper, which is integral to numerous renewable energy production and storage processes.

We are supporting Uzbekistan in WTO trade accession; and signed a Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Kazakhstan that liberalises trade in services and procurement.

Mr Chair, it is important for all Central Asian States to have open and thriving markets, with strong economies that deliver for the people there. The UK stands by to continue cooperation with this important region to deliver this.

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UK sanctions collaborators of Russia's illegal sham referendums

The UK announces 92 sanctions in response to the Russian regime imposing sham referendums in 4 regions of Ukraine.

22 May 2024

the UK has announced a package of sanctions in response to the Russian regime's illegal sham referendums in Ukraine

sanctions target top Russian officials enforcing the illegal votes in 4 regions of Ukraine, as well as 'Putin's favourite PR agency'

sanctions also hit oligarchs with a global net worth totalling A6.3 billion and board executives from major state-owned banks

The Foreign Secretary has today (26 September) announced 92 sanctions in response to the Russian regime imposing sham referendums in 4 regions of Ukraine - a clear violation of international law, including the UN charter.

The Russian regime has organised these sham referendums in a desperate attempt to grab land and justify their illegal war. The process reflects their approach in Crimea in 2014, combining disinformation, intimidation, and fake results. These referendums do not represent the demonstrated will of the Ukrainian people and are a severe violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and political independence.

The Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

Sham referendums held at the barrel of a gun cannot be free or fair and we will never recognise their results. They follow a clear pattern of violence, intimidation, torture, and forced deportations in the areas of Ukraine Russia has seized. Today's sanctions will target those behind these sham votes, as well as the individuals that continue to prop up the Russian regime's war of aggression. We stand with the Ukrainian people and our support will continue as long as it takes to restore their sovereignty.

In order to implement these fake referendums, the Russian regime has deployed officials and collaborators to each of the these temporarily controlled regions - 33 of these individuals are being sanctioned today. These include:

Sergei Yeliseyev: the Head of Government in Kherson, recently installed by the Russian government and Vice Admiral in the Russian Navy. Since defecting from the Ukrainian navy in 2014, Yeliseyev has continued to undermine the independence of Ukraine

Ivan Kusov: the Minister of Education and Science of the so-called Luhansk People's Republic and tasked with "helping our educational institutions to seamlessly blend in the educational system of Russia" by Pasechnik - leader of the LPR

Yevhen Balytskyi: the Russian installed head of the so-called Government in Zaporizhzhia, who has been supporting the Russian invasion since March through public statements of support. In August, Balytskyi reportedly signed a decree to allow a referendum on Zaporizhzhia joining the Russian Federation

Evgeniy Solntsev: the Deputy Chairman of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic

IMA Consulting, branded 'Putin's favourite PR agency' has also been sanctioned. IMA has reportedly been awarded the contract to manage the public campaigns for these sham referendums - both to support their implementation within the four temporarily controlled territories and spin their false legitimacy back in Russia.

Goznak, a security documents company known for its monopoly on the production of 'tens of millions' of state documents including expedited passports in the temporarily controlled territories, has also been sanctioned.

Putin continues to rely on his cabal of oligarchs and selected elites in order to fund his war. Other high net-worth individuals have also been carrying on business in sectors of strategic significance to the Government of Russia while it has destabilised Ukraine. Today a further 3 individuals, oligarchs and high net-worth individuals alike, with a combined global net worth estimated at A6.3 billion, have also been sanctioned for supporting or obtaining benefit from the Government of Russia and operating in sectors of strategic significance. These include:

God Nisanov and Zarakh Iliev: known as the 'Kings of Russian real estate', and with a joint global net worth of A2 billion, the pair own and control the Kievskaya Ploshchad Group, a major construction company operating across Russia

Iskander Makhmudov: President and founder of Ural Mining and Metallurgic Company. A major metals magnate, Makhmudov has an estimated global net worth of A2.7 billion

Today's package also includes 55 board members from state-linked organisations that continue to bankroll the Russian war machine - serving as a stark reminder of the cost of supporting Putin's operation. Amongst those sanctioned are:

23 individuals from the Gazprombank Board of Directors and Management Board

16 members of the Sberbank Supervisory Board, Executive Board, and other Directors

10 individuals from Sovcombank, including the Deputy Chairman and members of the Supervisory Board and Management Board

The UK will never recognise the results of any sham referendums or attempts to annex Ukraine's sovereign territory. Ukraine voted overwhelmingly for independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and their continued brave resistance against Russian aggression clearly demonstrates their wish to remain an independent sovereign state.

We stand united alongside our international partners in condemning the Russian government's egregious actions. Alongside partners we will continue to pursue targeted sanctions and are committed to sustained economic and political pressure on Russia.

As of today, the UK has sanctioned over 1,200 individuals and over 120 entities, including over 120 oligarchs with an estimated combined global net worth of over A130 billion.

Background

Asset freeze

An asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person.

Travel ban

A travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, providing the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971.

Transport sanctions

Recently introduced powers make it a criminal offence for any Russian aircraft to fly or land in the UK and give the government powers to remove aircraft belonging to designated Russian individuals and entities from the UK aircraft register, even if the sanctioned individual is not on board. Russian ships are also banned from UK ports.

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Austria, Albania and Chile Have Confirmed Their Participation in the Global Peace Summit

President of Ukraine

22 May 2024 - 19:20

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had phone conversations with the Federal Chancellor of Austria, Karl Nehammer, the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, and the President of Chile, Gabriel Boric. The leaders confirmed the participation of their countries in the Global Peace Summit.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked them for the support of the Summit and spoke about the situation at the front, in particular, about the defense of the Kharkiv region and the protection of our people in frontline cities and villages.

During his conversation with Karl Nehammer, the President mentioned that Ukraine appreciates the contribution of Austria to the humanitarian demining of our territories and counts on the strengthening of cooperation. They also discussed the participation of Austrian business in the restoration of Ukraine.

In the conversation with Edi Rama, special attention was paid to the preparations for the Global Peace Summit and further defense cooperation between Ukraine and Albania.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Gabriel Boric for Chile's readiness to join the international mission of demining the territories and returning Ukrainian children illegally deported by Russia.

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Andriy Yermak Had a Phone Call with Jake Sullivan

President of Ukraine

22 May 2024 - 15:33

The Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak had a phone conversation with the National Security Advisor to the President of the United States Jake Sullivan within the framework of an ongoing dialogue.

Andriy Yermak informed the interlocutor in detail about the situation at the front and emphasized the importance of bolstering our air defense with modern Western systems.

During the conversation, the Head of the Presidential Office spoke about Ukraine's preparations for the first Global Peace Summit and the importance of countries from all continents attending. The parties also discussed the NATO Summit in Washington. Special attention was paid to the agreement on security commitments between Ukraine and the United States, which is nearing completion.

Andriy Yermak thanked Jake Sullivan, U.S. President Joseph Biden, both chambers and parties of Congress, and all the American people for their support of Ukraine in its fight against full-scale Russian aggression and for the support package that is already effective on the battlefield.

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UNICEF addressing child trauma and displacement in Ukraine's Kharkiv

22 May 2024 - Fresh fighting along the frontline in Ukraine has again driven thousands of civilians from their homes and villages near the country's second largest city, Kharkiv, close to the Russian border.

Some are children with disabilities along with orphans - all of whom are showing signs of extreme trauma.

In the Kharkiv region, those evacuated are staying at camps for the internally displaced and being given vital assistance by UN agencies, including the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Against this backdrop, UN News spoke with Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative in Ukraine, who has just been in the region, where a Russian advance has driven thousands towards the main city in search of relative safety.

He described the dire situation and the assistance needed in the immediate and longer term.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

UN News: You just visited Kharkiv. Can you describe the humanitarian situation in the city and around it, given the latest evacuations and intensive attacks over the last weeks?

Munir Mammadzade:So far, close to 11,000 people have been evacuated from the front areas, mostly to Kharkiv City. I visited the humanitarian hub where those evacuated by the government and volunteers are being registered and accessing services offered by UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations.

Children are among those evacuated and require dedicated and specialized support.

In the humanitarian hub, we established a child-friendly space. We particularly support children in foster families because they are more vulnerable than others. There are also children with disabilities and children who live with disabled parents. I spoke to some of the children who were evacuated to the IDP centre.

The situation is very difficult. Immediate needs are being addressed thanks to the collective response of the UN and partners on the ground. However, there are many challenges that need to be addressed in the medium and long term.

UN News: What are the main challenges for children right now?

Mr. Mammadzade: Each and every relocation or displacement is a lifetime trauma for these children. They have already been traumatized since the escalation of the war. The frontline areas are regularly attacked and shelled, they were already experiencing mental health problems and required support.

They have limited access to education, relying only on online or distance learning. For example, I spoke to a boy who is about to turn 15. He told me he feels okay, everything is fine, but it was clear he is very stressed and requires professional and psychiatric support due to the trauma he has experienced.

He was choked as he was watching videos on social media all the time, and showing me some of the pictures of what is happening there. But the way he was reacting made us conclude that he requires such support.

Children will need immediate and long-term arrangements, such as learning opportunities, growth and development support and access to health services. Although immediate needs are being addressed, we must realize that displaced people and civilians may not be able to return to their homes.

Host communities will need long-term solutions, but for humanitarians, our resources do not allow for systemic, long-term interventions. We foresee major challenges for over 100 vulnerable children without parental care who live with foster families.

They now need to be relocated and are getting used to new foster family arrangements without their support network.

There are challenges associated with the services that children rely on, including energy, water and heating infrastructure, which are currently dysfunctional and may continue to be so in the future.

UN News: Given these terrible developments, in your view, how well are people coping with this situation, which have been very hard for them even before these latest events?

Mr. Mammadzade:I spoke to a mother of three children and asked her what is next for her and the family: does she want to move further away from Kharkiv, relocate elsewhere or potentially even leave the country? She said the only thing she needs is to go back to her home.

This is what most of the people are saying. I think the major challenge for them would be to accept the new reality and the fact that they cannot return because now the infrastructure that civilians rely on is not there.

Their houses are destroyed. It is too early for them to accept that fact and realize it all the challenges that they will be going through. Of course, on the ground, we and humanitarian partners are providing psychosocial support.

We are addressing some immediate threats, but the longer they stay in this limbo, the longer they stay in IDP camps, the more difficult it will be for them to cope.

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US House speaker to VOA: Ukraine should be able to fight war as 'they see fit'

By Ostap Yarysh May 22, 2024

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday that the United States needs "to allow Ukraine to prosecute the war in the way they see fit," when it comes to how Ukraine uses U.S.-provided weapons in its war against Russia.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has intensified its appeals to the Biden administration to lift the ban on using U.S.-provided weapons to strike targets inside Russia.

When asked about the issue by VOA Wednesday, Johnson replied, "They [Ukraine] need[s] to be able to fight back. And I think us trying to micromanage the effort there is not a good policy for us."

Oleksandra Ustinova, a member of the Ukrainian parliament who recently visited Washington, said Russia is taking advantage of U.S. restrictions on how Ukraine uses U.S.-provided weapons.

"Realizing that we do not have the right to use, for instance, HIMARS [rocket launchers] on the territory of Russia, the Russians display all their equipment along the border and use it to destroy the Kharkiv region," Ustinova told VOA. "And we simply cannot get to them, because there's a ban on the usage of American weapons on the territory of Russia."

Last week, Ustinova and some fellow members of parliament met with congressional lawmakers to advocate for a change in policy.

On Monday, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, asking that Ukraine be allowed to use American weapons on strategic targets in Russian territory.

"It is essential the Biden Administration allows Ukraine's military leaders an ability to conduct a full spectrum of operations necessary to respond to Russia's unprovoked attack on their sovereign land," the letter said.

Following the 22nd Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on Monday, Austin indicated that there's no change in policy and that the United States is expecting Ukrainians to use the provided weapons within Ukrainian territory.

"In my view, their focus ought to be on the close fight and making sure that they're servicing those targets that will enable success in the close fight," Austin said.

At the same time, he said, "The aerial dynamic is a little bit different," responding to a question about whether Ukraine can use American air defenses to hit bombers that drop glide bombs on the Kharkiv region from Russian territory.

VOA tried to clarify this with Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder.

"We are focused on providing Ukraine with capabilities that it needs to defend itself within Ukrainian sovereign territory," he said. "I'm not going to get into picking apart a bunch of different scenarios. Again, the strategic intent here is enabling Ukraine to defend itself and defend its sovereign territory."

Former Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, now a senior director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, said the restrictions make it more difficult for Ukrainian forces to defend Kharkiv, which is currently under threat by a renewed Russian offensive.

"If Ukraine could strike at the Russian troops just across the border in Russia that are about to move into Ukraine, Russia would have much greater logistical problems launching this current offensive," Herbst told VOA. "And if we allow Ukraine to shoot at the Russian jets that are in Russian airspace and are launching the glide bombs, fewer people in Kharkiv would be dying."

Former Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer also shares this view.

"For 2+ years, Russia has struck military and civilian targets throughout Ukraine. Ukraine should be able to use US/Western weapons to hit Russian military forces inside Russia that support Russian forces operating in Ukraine," he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Pentagon's Ryder said the Department of Defense will continue to have conversations about Western weapons with Ukrainians, as well as international allies and partners.

Ryder said that for now, the policy remains unchanged.

"If and when we have anything else to provide on that, we certainly will," he said.

Tetiana Vorozhko, Kateryna Lisunova, and Maria Ulianovska of the VOA Ukrainian Service contributed to this report.

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Sweden providing Ukraine with military support totaling $7 billion

By VOA News May 22, 2024

Sweden is providing Ukraine with additional military support, totaling $7 billion, over three years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Sweden in his nightly address for the "long-term support."

"It will strengthen not only us, not only Ukraine," the president said, "but the entire European perimeter from the Baltic to the Black Sea."

Zelenskyy also made a fresh plea on Wednesday for more air defenses.

In his video address, he said Ukraine needed a weapon to counter the guided bombs Russia has used to attack energy and other infrastructure.

"There can be no alternative. Ukraine needs systems and tactics that will allow us to protect our positions, our cities and our communities from these bombs," he said, according to Reuters.

He said that in April alone, Russia sent more than 3,200 such bombs into Ukraine in addition to missiles and drones.

Also on Wednesday, the governor of western Russia's Belgorod region said falling fragments from a destroyed Ukrainian aerial drone damaged two residential buildings, while Russia's Defense Ministry said the country's air defenses shot down a total of three drones and six missiles over the region.

The Defense Ministry also said it destroyed an aerial drone over the Kaluga region. The governor there said there were no reported injuries or damage.

Ukraine's military said Wednesday it destroyed all 24 Russian drones involved in overnight attacks.

The intercepts took place over the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Odesa, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Ukrainian shelling killed two people and injured four on Wednesday in Lysychansk, the Russian-installed governor said. The city, with a prewar population of nearly 100,000 people, was captured by Russia in 2022.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, the British Defense Ministry intelligence update on Ukraine reported that Ukraine exported 6.6 million tons of grain and oilseed last month, the largest volume since the war against Russia began.

Ukraine's grain exports are "highly likely vital" for the world's food security, the ministry reported, comprising nearly 10% of global grain exports.

Some information for this story came from Reuters.

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Dublin, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Hydrogen Vehicle Market Report 2024-2034" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Revenue for the Hydrogen Vehicle Market is forecast to surpass US$28.53 billion in 2024, with strong revenue growth through to 2034.



Environmental Regulations and Emissions Reduction Targets



Stringent environmental regulations and emissions reduction targets imposed by governments around the world are driving automakers to explore alternative fuel options, including hydrogen fuel cell technology, to meet regulatory requirements and mitigate the environmental impact of transportation. Hydrogen vehicles offer zero-emission transportation solutions, emitting only water vapour and heat during operation, making them attractive options for achieving carbon neutrality and improving air quality.



Regulatory initiatives such as vehicle emission standards, carbon pricing mechanisms, and zero-emission vehicle mandates are incentivizing automakers to invest in hydrogen fuel cell technology as part of their long-term sustainability strategies. For instance, the European Union has set ambitious emission reduction targets for the automotive sector, spurring automakers to accelerate the development and deployment of hydrogen vehicles to comply with regulatory requirements.



Rising Demand for BEV and HEVs Restraining Hydrogen Vehicle Opportunity



The market for hydrogen vehicles faces a significant restraining factor due to the rising demand for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs). As consumer preferences shift towards electric vehicles, particularly BEVs, the demand for hydrogen vehicles faces stiff competition. BEVs and HEVs offer appealing advantages such as lower operating costs, reduced reliance on fossil fuels, and a more established charging infrastructure compared to hydrogen vehicles.



Additionally, advancements in battery technology have led to increased driving ranges and shorter charging times for BEVs, further enhancing their appeal to consumers. This rising demand for BEVs and HEVs limits the market opportunity for hydrogen vehicles, as automakers and consumers alike prioritise electric alternatives. Despite the potential environmental benefits of hydrogen vehicles, the current market dynamics favour the widespread adoption of BEVs and HEVs, presenting a significant challenge for the growth of hydrogen vehicle technology.

Key Market Dynamics

Market Driving Factors

Reduced Oil Dependency Driving the Market Growth for Hydrogen Vehicle

Global Efforts to Reduce Gas Emissions Driving the Market Growth

Government Initiatives Promoting Hydrogen Infrastructure Driving the Market Growth

Market Restraining Factors

Rising Demand for BEV and HEVs Restraining Hydrogen Vehicle Opportunity

High Cost of Platinum Catalyst for Fuel Cells Hinder the Market Growth

High Initial Investment in Hydrogen Fuelling Infrastructure Hinder the Market Growth

Market Opportunities

Collaboration and Partnership Between Market Players Opportunities for Market Growth

Expansion into New Geographic Regions, Opportunities for the Market

Investment in Hydrogen Vehicle and Infrastructure

Key Questions Answered

How is the hydrogen vehicle market evolving?

What is driving and restraining the hydrogen vehicle market?

How will each hydrogen vehicle submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2034?

How will the market shares for each hydrogen vehicle submarket develop from 2024 to 2034?

What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2024 to 2034?

Will leading hydrogen vehicle markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others?

How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2034 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2034?

Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period?

What are the hydrogen vehicle projects for these leading companies?

How will the industry evolve during the period between 2024 and 2034? What are the implications of hydrogen vehicle projects taking place now and over the next 10 years?

Is there a greater need for product commercialisation to further scale the hydrogen vehicle market?

Where is the hydrogen vehicle market heading and how can you ensure you are at the forefront of the market?

What are the best investment options for new product and service lines?

What are the key prospects for moving companies into a new growth path and C-suite?

Forecasts to 2034 and other analyses reveal commercial prospects

In addition to revenue forecasting to 2034, the new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares.

You will find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments.

Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges), cost structure, impact of rising hydrogen vehicle prices and recent developments.

Report Segmentation

Market Segment by Technology Type

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)

Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (HICEVs)

Market Segment by Range

Short Range

Medium Range

Long Range

Market Segment by Type

Passenger Vehicles

Commercial Vehicles

Public Transport Vehicles

Other Vehicle Type

Market Segment by Distribution Channel

Direct Sales (OEMs)

Dealerships

Fleet Leasing Companies

Online Platforms

Other Distribution Channels

In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for four regional and 20 leading national markets.

The report also includes profiles and for some of the leading companies in the Hydrogen Vehicle Market, with a focus on this segment of these companies' operations.



Leading companies profiled in the report

Alstom

Audi

Ballard Power Systems

BMW

Cummins

General Motors

Hino Motors

Hyundai Mobis

Hyundai Motor Company

MAN Truck & Bus

Mercedes-Benz Group

Nikola Corporation

Riversimple

Symbio

Toyota Motor

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3rtsgs

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Dublin, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Point-of-Entry Water Treatment Systems Market Report by Technology, Device, Application, and Region 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global point-of-entry water treatment systems market size reached US$ 10.2 Billion in 2023. Looking forward, the market is projected to reach US$ 15.3 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.61% during 2023-2032.







Point-of-Entry (POE) water treatment systems are equipment installed on taps to treat water distributed throughout the house or building. They consist of a two-stage filtration cartridge, an ultraviolet (UV) sterilizer, and ancillary equipment designed to ensure the safe operation of the system. POE water treatment systems are widely used to reduce or remove waterborne contaminants, including pathogens, at the end of the water supply system, such as the faucet or shower. POE water treatment systems are efficient, durable, and economical, and offer faster installation and simpler maintenance and operations. As a result, these systems are used in residential establishments and individual commercial activities, including hotels, lodges, restaurants, schools, and other public facilities.



Point-of-Entry Water Treatment Systems Market Trends



The rising instances of water contamination due to rapid industrialization and the growing concerns about safe drinking water are creating a positive outlook for the market. In line with this, the increasing awareness about the detrimental health effects of consuming water polluted with industrial chemicals, supported by the poor water treatment infrastructure at municipal water plants in various countries, is favoring the installation of PEO water treatment systems in individual homes.



Apart from this, the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) with POE water treatment systems to optimize water softening and distillation systems and improve compliance monitoring is providing an impetus to the market growth. Moreover, the emergence of new technologies in UV disinfection equipment with reduced maintenance frequency, improved performance, and increased reliability are supporting the market growth.



Furthermore, the widespread product utilization in commercial and residential establishments to eradicate the contaminants and dissolved particles from the water while making it safe for use is positively influencing the market growth. Other factors, including the rising expenditure capacities of consumers, growing infrastructural projects, and the implementation of various government initiatives toward formalizing dealers, consumers, and regulators with installation and operation training, are anticipated to drive the market toward growth.

Competitive Landscape



The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being 3M Company, Best Water Technology AG, Calgon Carbon Corporation (Kuraray Co. Ltd.), Culligan Water, Danaher Corporation, DuPont de Nemours Inc., General Electric Company, Pentair plc and Watts Water Technologies Inc.



Key Questions Answered in This Report

What was the size of the global point-of-entry water treatment systems market in 2023?

What is the expected growth rate of the global point-of-entry water treatment systems market during 2024-2032?

What are the key factors driving the global point-of-entry water treatment systems market?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global point-of-entry water treatment systems market?

What is the breakup of the global point-of-entry water treatment systems market based on the technology?

What is the breakup of the global point-of-entry water treatment systems market based on the device?

What is the breakup of the global point-of-entry water treatment systems market based on application?

What are the key regions in the global point-of-entry water treatment systems market?

Who are the key players/companies in the global point-of-entry water treatment systems market?



Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 137 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $10.2 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $15.3 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.6% Regions Covered Global

Key Market Segmentation



This report provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global point-of-entry water treatment systems market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2024-2032. The report has categorized the market based on technology, device and application.



Breakup by Technology:

Reverse Osmosis Systems

Water Softeners

Disinfection Methods

Filtration Methods

Distillation Systems

Others

Breakup by Device:

Faucet-Mounted Filters

Table-Top Pitchers

Countertop Units

Under-the-Sink Filters

Others

Breakup by Application:

Residential

Non-residential

Companies Featured

3M Company

Best Water Technology AG

Calgon Carbon Corporation (Kuraray Co. Ltd.)

Culligan Water

Danaher Corporation

DuPont de Nemours Inc.

General Electric Company

Pentair plc

Watts Water Technologies Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/i3x9ij

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Smart Finance Hardware Global Market Report 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The smart finance hardware market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $16.75 billion in 2023 to $17.77 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to various factors, including heightened security concerns, increasing consumer demand, adherence to regulatory compliance, global economic trends, and the emergence of fintech.



The smart finance hardware market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $22.26 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The anticipated growth in the forecast period can be attributed to several factors, including a heightened emphasis on cybersecurity, the rapid pace of urbanization and globalization, greater initiatives for financial inclusion, evolving consumer behavior, and ongoing regulatory developments. Noteworthy trends in the forecast period encompass sustained technological innovation, the continuous expansion of the digital finance ecosystem, advancements in technology, the escalating trend of digitalization, and the integration of blockchain and cryptocurrency.





The anticipated surge in the smart finance hardware market is fueled by the increasing adoption of contactless payments. Contactless payments involve initiating transactions without physically swiping or inserting payment cards, relying on smart finance hardware as the foundation for secure, convenient, and efficient payment systems. This hardware includes diverse devices such as contactless cards, wearables (such as smartwatches and fitness trackers), and phone cases equipped with NFC (near-field communication) technology to facilitate seamless contactless transactions. For example, as of March 2021, global digital payments were projected to reach $6.6 trillion, with mobile POS payments contributing nearly $2.5 trillion, expected to grow by 90% to $4.6 trillion by 2025. Hence, the rising prevalence of contactless payments is a key driver for the growth of the smart finance hardware market.



Major companies in the market are directing their efforts towards innovative solutions, such as smart financial cameras. These devices integrate advanced imaging technologies with artificial intelligence algorithms, focusing on financial applications rather than traditional surveillance or security purposes. For instance, Tinkoff Bank introduced a smart financial camera in December 2023. This device employs computer vision and natural language processing technologies to recognize various objects and financial information, allowing users to make transfers, payments, and support charitable foundations through the Tinkoff mobile application. The camera's capabilities include recognizing bank details without QR codes, transferring funds using phone numbers, and scanning various QR codes. Additionally, it can scan restaurant checks, store receipts for cashback, and potentially scan bank cards in the future.



In March 2023, Fanhua Inc., a China-based independent financial services company, acquired a majority stake in Zhongrong Smart Finance Information Technology Co., Ltd. This acquisition supports Fanhua's commitment to leveraging technology-driven digital platforms and empowering stakeholders in the insurance industry. Zhongrong Smart Finance Information Technology Co. Ltd. specializes in providing smart finance hardware products and services in China.



The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

Report Scope

Markets Covered:

By Product: Modules; Sensors; Other Products

By Technologies: Artificial Intelligence; Machine Learning; Robotic Process Automation

By End User: Bank And Financial Institutions; Independent ATM Deployer

Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain



Regions: Asia-Pacific; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa



Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.



Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita.



Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 175 Forecast Period 2024 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $17.77 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $22.26 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.0% Regions Covered Global

Companies Profiled:

Fujitsu Limited

KT Corporation

Thales Group

Block Inc.

Infineon Technologies

NCR Corporation

Zebra Technologies Corporation

Diebold Nixdorf Incorporated

WEX Inc.

Ingenico Group

SumUp Inc.

PAX Global Technology Ltd.

Newland Digital Technology Co.

Bluebird Inc.

Clover Network

Verifone Systems

Posiflex Technology

PayU

Castles Technology Co.

Ayden Systems Inc.

BIXOLON

Uniform Industrial Corporation

BBPOS Limited

Dejavoo Systems

Miles Technologies

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lam1ax

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Latin America Data Center Market Landscape 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Latin American data center market is projected to reach a value of $10.07 billion by 2029 from $6.36 billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 7.95% from 2023-2029

The market has several participants/vendors active in the Latin America data center market, leading to market growth. The vendors offering innovative and advanced technologies will likely gain a higher market share during the forecast period. Some top IT infrastructure providers active in the Latin America data center market include Arista Networks, Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Huawei Technologies, Dell Technologies, IBM, NetApp, and others.

Support infrastructure vendors, including ABB, Vertiv, Schneider Electric, Caterpillar, Johnson Controls, Eaton, Cummins, Rittal, and Delta Electronics, have a huge worldwide presence, including operations in the Latin American region. Most vendors operate through subsidiaries, distributors, and local regional partners.

Brazil led the Latin America data center market in 2023, accounting for over 40% of the market share in investments. Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina followed this country. In the Latin America data center market, several countries are actively establishing Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Free Trade Zones (FTZs), Export Processing Zones (EPZs), business parks, and industrial zones, which provide attractive benefits such as tax incentives for international businesses.

In 2023, Google started the construction of the Teros data center facility in Uruguay. The company acquired a property of around 30 hectares within the Parque de las Ciencias Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in the Canelones department of Uruguay. Other Latin American data center market countries include Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Uruguay, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Bolivia, Honduras, and the Caribbean.

Adoption of Renewable Energy

Latin American governments, such as Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Colombia, have set sustainability targets. They are working together to diversify their electrical networks to support policy and regulatory changes that encourage the use of renewable energy sources. Brazil, Chile, and Mexico have tremendous influence among neighboring countries, allowing them to present their renewable energy policies as viable models for the other countries in the region.

According to the 2023 bp Energy Outlook, renewables, including biofuels, will be Brazil's dominant energy source in 2050. Wind energy is expected to provide around 30% of renewable energy share and to increase by 40% for net zero scenarios.

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Mexico aims to generate at least 35% of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2024. In September 2023, Microsoft Brazil signed a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with AES Brasil, a renewable energy company, to procure 150 MW of wind energy.

Deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads in Data Centers

In Latin America, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico are the countries with the highest AI adoption rates and most significant technology investments.

Microsoft is developing a new data center/cloud region in Chile. The company agreed with the European Southern Observatory (ESO) to use AI and is already exploring AI technology in its operations in other countries. The company is estimated to use AI in its data center/cloud regions in Chile in the future.

Edge Data Center Deployment Fueled by 5G Launch

In Latin America, 5G will account for nearly 60% of the total mobile connections by 2030. The deployment of 5G networks is fueling modern edge devices, remote working, and the application of advanced technologies. Brazil is leading the way in 5G technology deployments. Other countries, including Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Peru, are in the trial stage.

According to Nokia, Brazil's 5 G deployment will drive economic growth of over USD 1 trillion by 2035. 5G implementation will also drive the deployment of more edge data centers across the country, especially in Tier II and Tier III states.

SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS

The Latin America data center market is increasingly adopting advanced air - and liquid-based cooling techniques. This includes innovations such as liquid-based immersion cooling and Google's incorporation of inventive air conditioning technology in its latest data center in Uruguay.

Eaton, Caterpillar, Cummins, Legrand, ABB, Rolls Royce, and Schneider Electric are some of the major electrical infrastructure providers in Latin America that are collaborating with data center operators for installing electrical infrastructure, such as UPS systems and generators, with a minimum of N+1 redundancy. For instance, the KIO Networks BOG 1 data center facility is installed with Cummins diesel generators.

Data centers are investing in cooling infrastructure due to the high-temperature climate in some Latin American countries. In 2023, cooling systems will account for a market share of more than 65% of the total mechanical infrastructure in data centers.

There has been significant growth in establishing data centers in the Latin American data center market, specifically in the Tier III and IV certification categories. Many private and public entities, such as BFSI, education, and the government sector, are obtaining the Uptime Institute certifications for their data centers, either in the design phase or completely developed. This demonstrates a strong commitment to high reliability and operational excellence in data center infrastructure.

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED

How big is the Latin America data center market?

What is the growth rate of the Latin America data center market?

What are the key trends in the Latin America data center market?

What is the estimated market size in terms of area in the Latin America data center market by 2029?

How many MW of power capacity is expected to reach the Latin America data center market by 2029?

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 101 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $6.36 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $10.07 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.9% Regions Covered Latin America



VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Prominent IT Infrastructure

Arista Networks

Broadcom

Cisco Systems

Dell Technologies

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)

Huawei

IBM

NetApp

Key Data Center Support Infrastructure Providers

ABB

Business Overview

Service Offerings

Alfa Laval

Assa Abloy

Axis Communications

Bosch Security Systems (Robert Bosch)

Caterpillar

Cummins

Daikin Applied

Delta Electronics

EATON

Honeywell

Johnson Controls

Legrand

Munters

Mitsubishi Electric

Piller Power Systems

Panduit

Rittal

Rolls-Royce

Schneider Electric

Siemens

STULZ

Vertiv

Prominent Construction Contractors

AECOM

Business Overview

Service Offerings

Aceco TI

Afonso Franca Engenharia

Constructora Sudamericana

Cundall

Fluor Corporation

Gensler

HDOS

Hyphen

Holder Construction

Jacobs Engineering

KMD Architects

Modular Data Centers

PQC

Quark

Syska Hennessey Group

Soben

Turner Construction

Turner & Townsend

The Weitz Company

ZFB Group

Zeittec

Prominent Data Center Investors

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Business Overview

Service Offerings

Ascenty

Angola Cables

Ava Telecom

Blue NAP Americas

Cirion Technologies

ClaroVTR

Digicel

Entel

Equinix

EdgeUno

EdgeConneX

Elea Digital

Gtd Peru

HostDime

IPXON Networks

InterNexa

KIO Networks

Microsoft

Millicom (Tigo Panama)

Nabiax

Oxygen

Onex

ODATA (Aligned Data Centers)

Quantico

Scala Data Centers

SONDA

Telecom Italia Sparkle

V.tal

New Entrants

CloudHQ

DHAmericas

EVEO

Layer 9 Data Centers

Surfix Data Center

SEGMENTATION

Segmentation by Facility Type

Colocation & Hyperscale Data Centers

Enterprise Data Centers

Segmentation by Infrastructure

IT Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

General Construction

Segmentation by IT Infrastructure

Server Infrastructure

Storage Infrastructure

Network Infrastructure

Segmentation by Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Transfer Switches & Switchgear

Power Distribution Units

Other Electrical Infrastructure

Segmentation by Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Racks

Other Mechanical Infrastructure

Segmentation by Cooling Systems

CRAC & CRAH Units

Chiller Units

Cooling Towers, Condensers, and Dry Coolers

Economizers & Evaporative Coolers

Other Cooling Units

Segmentation by Cooling Techniques

Air-based

Liquid-based

Segmentation by General Construction

Core & Shell Development

Installation & Commissioning Services

Engineering & Building Design

Physical Security

Fire Detection & Suppression

DCIM

Segmentation by Tier Standard

Tier I & II

Tier III

Tier IV

Segmentation by Geography

Latin America

Brazil

Chile

Mexico

Colombia

Argentina

Rest of Latin America

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/wg0qka

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Highlights



The newly acquired claims boast high-grade samples of up to 10.4% U 3 O 8 and 5.51% Cu3 5 kilometers along the trend of the historical drilling that intersected up to 9ft of 0.69% U 3 O 8 including 4.90% U 3 O 8 over 1ft from 8ft depth.1

The Project now consists of four contiguous mineral licences encompassing a total land area of approximately 5,854ha (~59km) (Please see Figure 1).

The Project sits within an intersection of multiple tectonic features including reactivated basement faults and a major unconformity.

The extent of the mineralization in the #3 showing area appears to be 8.4 meters of strike length, tested to a depth of 12.5 meters and thus should be followed up on to extend.

The combination of historically defined anomalies, an increase in the availability of modern exploration techniques and a proven model for success in the Thelon Basin provide prime ingredients for the potential of delineating a robust uranium system within the Project area.



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenridge Exploration Inc. (Greenridge or the Company) (CSE: GXP | FRA: HW3), is pleased to announce that it has acquired through staking a 100% interest (the "Acquisition") in the Nut Lake Uranium South claims (the Claims) located in the Thelon Basin, Nunavut Territory. The newly staked Claims contain historical grab sample results of up to 10.39% U 3 O 8 and 5.51% Cu. The new Claims cover an area of ~1,818 ha (18km2) making the Nut Lake Project (the Project) now a total of ~5,854 ha (59km2)

Figure 1: Newly acquired Nut Lake Uranium South Claims and historical highlights (Inset shown in Figure 3)

The Project is located approximately 55km north of the Angilak Uranium Deposit or 180Km southwest of Baker Lake, Nunavut in the Yathkyed Basin (a sub-basin of the prolific Thelon Basin) in Nunavut Territory, Canada. The Project now consists of four contiguous mineral licences encompassing a total land area of approximately 5,854 ha (~59km).

Russell Starr, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, The newly acquired ground was staked following a detailed geologic and historical exploration review of the area. The new ground covers additional high grade uranium and copper sampling that is located just south and along trend of the Tundra showing which yielded extremely favourable historical drilling results in 1979 by Pan Pacific with 9ft of 0.69% U 3 O 8 including 4.90% U 3 O 8 over 1ft from 8ft depth.

Figure 2: Nut Lake Project Regional Map

About the Nut Lake Uranium South Claims

A successful exploration season executed by Pan Pacific in 1979 and the discovery of Anomaly 448 (448) led to further exploration of the Nut Lake area, south of the Tundra and Lake showings. 448 consists of a frost boil in mafic gneiss yielding 22,700 ppm Uranium (~2.3% U) and the location of two radioactive shears in mafic gneiss. In addition to this, there were five main showing areas, #1-#4 and the Yell showings. Showings #1-3 were discovered by ground prospecting in 1979. The #1 showing consists of a limonitic shear, assaying 0.2-0.5% U 3 O 8 (1979 assay), measuring approximately 2 ft wide and exposed for 5 ft. strike length in mafic gneiss. Numerous radioactive fractures occur on the shoreline and immediately south of the #3 showing. The #2 showing is a similar occurrence to the #1 in frost-heaved boulders, assaying 0.07-2.81% U 3 0 8 .

Follow up prospecting by Pan Pacific in 1980 resulted in the discovery of two new showings. The #4 showing occurs as a fracture with pitchblende mineralization up to 1 cm wide, in mafic gneiss. The Yell showing area on 448W consists of a series of en-echelon tight fractures in a mixed mafic gneiss-granite.

In 1980 a total of 37 trenches were blasted over the showing areas with grab samples taken and assayed for uranium, copper, and nickel. Thirty-two diamond drill holes tested these trench exposures and assays were taken of radioactivity in the hole. The Yell showing assays ranged from 0.05% to 10.39% U 3 O 8 and 5.51% Cu. Mineralization occurs in mafic gneiss where fractures dilate to a maximum thickness of 5 cm, but in most cases where fractures run into granite they become hairline in thickness. The #3 showing when trenched under the radioactive frost boil, encountered a highly radioactive zone of pink calcite flooded gangue with chloritized breccia fragments in hematite altered greenish black mafic gneiss with quartz-feldspar vein injections and breccia clasts. Further trenching discovered a second trend of radioactivity along tight fractures to the west. This trend appeared to follow the radioactive soil zone discovered on the surface. Grab sample assays from this trench ranged from 0.001%-1.29% U 3 O 8 .





Figure 3: Area 448 (please see Figure 1 for location) showing high-grade uranium samples in trenches and drill core3.

Sixteen diamond drill holes for a total 171.75m were completed in the #3 showing area. Pitch 8-12 tested structures with weak radioactivity on the lakeshore. Pitch 10 intersected a 0.5 ft. interval of 0.022% U 3 O 8 in a pink calcite-hematite altered vein on strike with the radioactive trend in the trench. Pitch 11 was terminated in a non-radioactive hematite altered zone. Pitch 5 was collared too close to the main trench and therefore just intersected the radioactive structure assaying 0.433% U 3 O 8 over 0.25 ft. Therefore, Pitch 15, 16, 17, were stepped back and drilled to depth which determined the dip of the structure. Pitch 19, in drilling the east-west radioactive trend, intersected the 135 structure north of the trench at depth. Assays in these four holes are shown in Table 1.3

Table 1: Diamond Drill Hole Assays Area 448

Drill Hole ID Assay (U 3 O 8 ) Interval (ft) Pitch 15 0.025% 1.5 Pitch 16 0.14% 1.0 Pitch 17 0.001% 1.0 Pitch 18 0.063% 2.41

It became apparent from this drilling on the lakeshore and on the main trench that a radioactive structure trending 135/80E was the prime target as Pitch 6, 7, 19 and 20 did not intersect mineralization along an east-west direction. Pitch 18, 21, 22 attempted to pick up this structure along strike, but failed to do so. The extent of the mineralization in the #3 showing area appears to be 8.4 m of strike length, tested to a depth of 12.5 m and thus should be followed up on to extend.

Additional information on the newly acquired Claims

In late 1980, four holes were drilled using Winkie diamond drilling, totaling 202 feet, at the Lake showing. DDH Lake 1 and 2 were angled to intersect the main mineralized zone at dips of 45 and 60 respectively. DDH Lake 3 was positioned southeast, 13.5 meters down strike of the main mineralized fracture, to intersect this zone and a galena-erythrite radioactive structure. DDH Lake 4 aimed to intersect a radioactive fracture to the east but was abandoned due to weather.

DDH Lake 1, 2, and 3 encountered mafic gneiss and a chlorite-hematite alteration aureole up to 7 feet from the gneiss-biotite trachyte contact. The biotite trachyte trends at 140/45N, with microsyenite forming a border phase varying in thickness from 0.5 to 1.5 feet. Hematitic alteration and chlorite veining were observed in the mafic gneiss, sometimes associated with mineralization.

Silver mineralization was identified in three forms:

Disseminated mineralization (A and B zones) associated with finely disseminated galena in chloritic veinlets and pyritic stringers in hanging wall gneiss. Vein mineralization (C Zone) - thin veinlets of massive galena-sphalerite mineralization with associated silver values. Intrusive mineralization (D Zone) - associated with finely disseminated galena in the border phase microsyenite.



About The Nut Lake Property

The Project is located approximately 55km north of the Angilak Uranium Deposit or 180Km southwest of Baker Lake, Nunavut in the Yathkyed Basin (a sub-basin of the prolific Thelon Basin) in Nunavut Territory, Canada. The Project consists of four contiguous mineral licences encompassing a total land area of approximately 5,854 hectares (~59km).

In 1979, Pan Ocean Oil Ltd. performed an exploration program consisting of ground geophysics, geological mapping, prospecting and Winkie drilling as follow up to previous sampling with elevated uranium in dyke swarms, fractures and contacts between syenites and trachytes. The geology of the Project area consists of basal sedimentary rocks of the South Channel Formation, composed of white quartzites and pink to grey arkose and arkosic rocks. The sedimentary sequences of the lower Dubawnt Group are unconformably or disconformably overlain by volcanic rocks of the Christopher Island Formation.

The Project hosts high grade vein hosted grab samples of up to 4.36% U 3 O 8 , 53.16 oz/t Ag, 1.15% Pb and 7.0% Ni.

During the 1979 field season, geological mapping at a scale of 1:1,000 was completed on a major portion of the Project. This was concurrent with prospecting on, and in the immediate area of the Project. Results from prospecting were the discovery of two (41 m wide) syenite dikes and a frost heaved area of felsic gneiss with up to 3,000 cps on fracture surfaces. Two significant Uranium bearing showings were discovered, the Lake Showing and the Heartbreak Showing. The most noteworthy was the Heartbreak showing which revealed a 3.0 and 3.5 samples across a fracture that assayed 2.11% U 3 O 8 and 4.36% U 3 O 8 respectively. The results were followed up with a radon gal survey, a VLF-EM survey and an overburden sampling program. The radon survey results showed that the response is irregular with several good highs and the VLF-EM survey showed a series of northwesterly trending anomalies. It was concluded that further drilling of the Lake Showing is recommended.

The Project and surrounding proximal area have seen approximately 805ft of Winkie Drilling and 6920ft of diamond drilling completed on it. Multiple holes intersected significant uranium mineralization, with the most noteworthy being at the Tundra Showing Hole Winkie AX W-24 intersected 9ft of 0.69% U 3 O 8 including 4.90% U 3 O 8 over 1ft from 8ft depth. Additional noteworthy holes were hole P049 which returned approximately 0.20% U3O8 over a 1ft interval and hole 068 which was drilled to intersect fracture mineralization and successfully encountered approximately 0.59% over 1ft (Pan Ocean Oil Ltd., 1979 Assessment Report #81075).

The combination of historically defined anomalies and modern exploration techniques provides prime ingredients for the potential of discovering a high-grade uranium system within the Project area. The Nut Lake Project has the potential to host unconformity vein and breccia type, sygenentic and sandstone-hosted phosphatic type mineralization.

Acquisition/Staking Details

Following positive data compilation completed by the optionees of the original Nut Lake Project claims (the "Optionees"), the Company engaged the Optionees to assist the Company in staking the additional 1,818ha of Claims, subject to the cost of staking (CAD $4,455.00) and the granting of a 2.0% net smelter returns royalty to the Optionees.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Geochemical results and other technical information included in this press release were retrieved from publicly available historical assessment reports. This information has not been verified by the Company and should not be relied upon for investment purposes.

National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure

Nicholas Rodway, P. Geo, (NAPEG Licence # L5576) is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Rodway has reviewed and approved the technical content in this release.

References

1 Source: 1978 Assessment Report (number 81075) by Pan Ocean Oil Ltd.

2 Source: Reported by ValOre Metals Corp. in a Technical Report entitled Technical Report and Resource Update For The Angilak Property, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada, prepared by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geo. of APEX Geosciences, Robert Sim, B.Sc., P.Geo. of SIM Geological Inc. and Bruce Davis, Ph.D., FAusIMM of BD Resource Consulting Inc., dated March 1, 2013. Note: The historical mineral resource estimate was calculated in accordance with NI 43-101 and CIM standards at the time of publication and predates the current CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May, 2014) and CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practices Guidelines (November, 2019).

3 Source: 1980 Assessment Report (number 81190) by Pan Ocean Oil Ltd.

About Greenridge Exploration Inc.

Greenridge Exploration Inc. (CSE: GXP | FRA: HW3) is a mineral exploration company dedicated to creating shareholder value through the acquisition, exploration, and development of critical mineral projects in North America. The Companys Nut Lake Uranium Project located in the Thelon Basin includes historical drilling which intersected up to 9ft of 0.69% U 3 O 8 including 4.90% U 3 O 8 over 1ft from 8ft depth. Additionally, the Companys Weyman Copper Project in southeast British Columbia sits on the south portion of the famous Quesnel Terrance. The Company is led by an experienced management team and board of directors with significant expertise in capital raising and advancing mining projects.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Russell Starr

Chief Executive Officer, Director

Telephone: +1 (778) 897-3388

Email: info@greenridge-exploration.com

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the project acquisition bringing a low-risk opportunity, the Company, building a strong battery metals portfolio with low-risk opportunities that positively impact the Company and its shareholders and the Company providing an initial work plan are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Project and Claims and their mineralization potential; the Companys objectives, goals, or future plans with respect to the Project and the Claims; and the Company's anticipated exploration program at the Project and the Claims. These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at

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La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, May 23, 2024  Nestled on the shores of the Sea of Cortez, La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur, is emerging as a premier destination for travelers seeking relaxation and wellness experiences. With its stunning natural beauty, tranquil beaches, and laid-back atmosphere, La Paz offers the perfect setting to unwind and rejuvenate.



Known for its crystal-clear waters and abundant marine life, La Paz provides an ideal backdrop for activities such as yoga, meditation, and spa treatments. Visitors can start their day with a sunrise yoga session on the beach, followed by a relaxing massage or holistic wellness treatment.



In addition to its natural beauty, La Paz boasts a variety of wellness-focused accommodations, from boutique hotels to eco-friendly resorts. Many of these properties offer wellness amenities such as spa facilities, fitness centers, and healthy dining options.

Casa Retreat in La Paz is a wellness and retreat center that offers a serene environment for relaxation, rejuvenation, and personal growth. It typically features a variety of services and amenities aimed at promoting health and well-being, such as yoga sessions, meditation practices, spa treatments, healthy cuisine, and holistic wellness programs.



Beyond relaxation, La Paz offers a range of activities to nourish the body and soul. Travelers can explore the region's natural wonders, including the iconic Balandra Beach and Espiritu Santo Island, or embark on a whale watching tour to connect with nature.



For those seeking a wellness retreat, La Paz offers a range of options to suit every traveler's needs. Whether you're looking to relax on the beach, indulge in spa treatments, or explore the natural beauty of the region, La Paz is the perfect destination for your next wellness getaway.



For more information about La Paz and its culinary offerings, visit https://golapaz.com/

About La Paz, Baja California Sur

La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur, is a coastal paradise nestled between the Sea of Cortez and the desert landscape. With its rich cultural tapestry, diverse marine life, and commitment to sustainable tourism, La Paz invites travelers to explore, connect, and experience the true essence of Baja California Sur.



Connect with Us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/golapaz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/golapaz

For media inquiries in Canada, please contact:

Marisol Hernandez, +13053002249, mhernandez@gpoeuroamerica.com

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Salt Lake City, UT, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Utah Gastroenterology is proud to welcome the addition of Dr. Bill Quach, a physician passionate about treating all gastrointestinal diseases with dedicated training in transplant hepatology. He specializes in chronic liver disease, colon cancer screening, throat issues and celiac disease.

Dr. Quach is an experienced gastroenterologist who received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his medical degree from the University of Colorado. He completed his residency at University of Colorado Hospital and his fellowship at University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Early in my career I found positive, long-term patient-physician relationships to be the most rewarding aspect of medicine, says Dr. Quach. I spend time learning about patients and how their symptoms affect their quality of life; through shared decision-making, we work toward making a diagnosis and developing a treatment plan together.

Utah Gastroenterology is part of GI Alliance  the premier physician-owned and -led network of gastroenterology practices in the U.S. Dr. Quach will work to provide the best patient care for Salt Lake City residents.

Utah Gastro is at 6360 South 3000 E, Suite 310, Salt Lake City, UT , and is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. Call 801-944-3144 or visit utahgastro.com to schedule an appointment today.

For more information, or to interview Dr. Quach contact:

Joe E Carmean

(410) 845-0715

joe@punchingnungroup.com

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Austin, Texas, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RWE, one of the leading renewable energy companies in the U.S. and worldwide, has signed two 15-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Microsoft Corporation. Under the PPAs, Microsoft will purchase clean electricity from two new RWE onshore wind farms in Texas.

The official groundbreaking for the RWE Peyton Creek II onshore wind farm has just taken place and for the Lane City project, RWE made the investment decision. The two onshore wind projects have a combined capacity of 446 megawatts (MW).

Andrew Flanagan, CEO of RWE Clean Energy: As RWE, we are excited to be working with Microsoft to provide the clean electricity they need to achieve their sustainability goals. Together, were united in our efforts to deliver a clean energy future. As a growing green business, we are committed to driving our renewable targets, supporting local communities grow sustainably.

To build the Peyton Creek II and Lane City onshore wind farms, RWE has brought together leading renewable industry companies Vestas, Wanzek Construction, Inc., a MasTec Renewables company, and RES, a global renewable energy solutions company.

RWE will use the V163 4.5 MW turbines from Vestas North America. RWE has enlisted Wanzek and RES to lead construction activities at Peyton Creek II and Lane City on behalf of RWE.

Construction of the Peyton Creek Wind Complex is underway. The 243 MW project is located near RWEs Peyton Creek I wind farm in Bay City, Texas, which has been in operation since March 2020. Construction of the Lane City project will start this summer. It has a capacity of 203 MW.

The projects underscore RWEs leadership position as a preeminent clean energy player and will expand its footprint in Texas. Texas is RWEs largest U.S. market, with 33 operational renewable projects totaling 4.3 GW of installed capacity, enough to power 2.76 million homes per year. Once the two projects are completed, RWEs renewables footprint in Texas will grow to 4.8 GW, strengthening its position in this section of the ERCOT market. This will add to RWE's current renewables portfolio in the U.S. of 9.3 GW across wind, solar and batteries.

RWE is committed to partnering with the communities in which it owns and operates renewables facilities to ensure long-term economic benefits, employment opportunities and tax revenues to support local schools, law enforcement. fire districts and other essential services. Both Peyton Creek II and Lane City are expected to generate between 250-300 jobs each during construction and 20 full-time jobs once operational. Additionally, Peyton Creek II will provide approximately $300 million to the local tax base in Matagorda County and Lane City will provide $300 million to the local tax base in Wharton County.

For more information, visit americas.rwe.com.

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New York, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- French Toast, a leading provider of high-quality school uniforms, is thrilled to share its Memorial Day Sale, offering 20% savings on all items sitewide. This special promotion will run from May 23 to May 28, providing parents with an opportunity to enjoy savings on their childs favorite schoolwear essentials for the summer season.

At French Toast, we're committed to delivering exceptional value to our customers, said Alyson Shapero, VP of Marketing at French Toast. We hope families take advantage of these savings, allowing their children to enjoy durable and comfortable clothing for their summer activities.

High-Quality Outfits for Kids and Teens

Our Memorial Day Sale brings savings on durable, kid-friendly styles, perfect for everything from camp and family barbecues to road trips. Parents can also find stylish and comfortable summer outfits for teens, such as polo shirts and khaki pants, ideal for summer jobs. With our extensive range of classic styles, parents are sure to find exactly what their child needs for occasions inside and outside of school.

Key Sale Highlights

We invite parents to join our Memorial Day celebration by taking advantage of this timely offer. Visit our website at frenchtoast.com between May 23 and May 28 to enjoy 20% off your purchase (some exclusions may apply). Don't miss this chance to update your kids wardrobe with our versatile schoolwear styles that are durable for an active summer.

To explore more, visit our featured blog articles including: The Ultimate Guide to School Uniform Polos, The Ultimate Guide to School Uniform Skirts, and The Ultimate Fit Guide to School Uniform Pants.

About French Toast

French Toast is dedicated to making the best possible schoolwear accessible to all kids and all families from all walks of life. We are on a mission to help kids shine, whatever their passion, no matter the dress code, wherever they live or go to school. Since 1985, French Toast has been trusted by thousands of schools nationwide as their uniform provider and is committed to partnering with the communities we serve. For more information, visit frenchtoast.com.

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Urbo bankas UAB (hereinafter - the Bank), company code 112027077, address: Konstitucijos pr.18B, Vilnius.



We hereby inform you that on 23 May 2024, a new version of the Articles of Association of the Bank was registered in the Register of Legal Entities. The new version of the Articles of Association was approved on 20 March 2024 during the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of the Bank.

For more information please contact: Julius Ivaska, Head of Business Division, tel. +370 601 04 453, e-mail media@urbo.lt





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RICHMOND, VA, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virginia Credit Union was recently recognized by the Richmond Public Schools' Career and Technical Education (CTE) program as its Community Partner of the Year.

We truly appreciate Virginia Credit Unions partnership. From hosting CTE events to supporting Career Pathways events, Virginia Credit Union is enriching our programming, helping us inspire students, and enabling us to deliver hands-on, real-world experiences that support our academic programs, said Richmond Public Schools Career and Technical Education Manager Rhonda Turner, Ed.D.

The CTE program is designed to help students discover their career interests and personal strengths, and begin to gather the knowledge, skills and abilities to land jobs in their fields-of-interest or pursue a college degree.

CTE offers programs of study focused on a number of career fields, including finance, information technology, skilled trades and industrial education, manufacturing, science and technology, and business management.

Our partnership with Virginia Credit Union has been nothing short of remarkable. For the last three years, the credit union has supplied our high school students with valuable financial information, hands-on demonstrations, and personal face-to-face discussions, said Darlene Slade, lead transition mentor teacher at Huguenot High School. Our partnership has grown into one that has become a vital part of our quest to prepare our students for a quality life after high school and I am extremely grateful that we can offer these amazing opportunities through the Virginia Credit Union.

At VACU, we value deeply our longstanding and successful partnership with Richmond Public Schools and the CTE program, said Cherry Dale, the credit unions senior vice president of financial education and a member of the CTE Advisory Committee for Richmond Public Schools. We also embrace the important role we can play in helping our local schools prepare students for todays workforce.

An important component of VACUs participation in the CTE program has been to ensure students receive training in personal finance basics.

VACU Financial Education Program Manager Chris Woodbury recently worked with students on how to plan a family budget, factoring in costs like housing, transportation, food and child care. He also recently worked with students in the culinary arts program, mentoring them on money management basics.

We work to bring a real-world perspective to possible careers in finance and to highlight, for all students, the importance of being knowledgeable about money management basics, said Woodbury. No matter what career path a student pursues, the ability to manage and save money, use credit wisely, and make sound financial decisions is essential to achieving financial capability, confidence and security.

VACU has made an extraordinary investment in our members and the City of Richmond the last several years. The credit union has opened or relocated five branch locations within the city, not only to serve members, but to contribute to the financial strength of our community. Our partnership with Richmond Public Schools includes participation in the CTE program, classroom presentations on money management basics, and the launch of RPS Saves, a program designed to promote savings and financial education for city students, teachers and staff. Other recent initiatives include partnerships with the Office of Community Wealth Building, the Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority, the Richmond City Treasurers Office, the Richmond Public Library system, and the Mayors Youth Academy.

The credit union was honored with the Richmond Economic Development Partner of the Year Award in 2023 for its outstanding support of education and work to promote the economic vitality of the city.

Click here to learn more about VACUs community initiatives and financial education programs.

About Virginia Credit Union

A financial cooperative serving more than 320,000 members, Virginia Credit Union offers a variety of affordable banking services, loans, mortgages, and free financial education resources, with a focus on helping people feel more confident about their finances. Virginia Credit Union is an equal housing opportunity lender and is federally insured by NCUA.

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These educational activities are available to physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists and other health care professionals involved in the care of patients with cancer.



CRANBURY, N.J., May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Physicians Education Resource, LLC (PER), a top educational resource for health care professionals to advance patient care, is excited to host a wide range of in-person + virtual continuing medical education (CME) satellite sessions at the 2024 Annual Oncology Meeting. The symposia will deliver exceptional content and practical education with sessions focused on lung cancer, hematologic cancers, disparities in cancer care and more. The sessions will take place at the Hilton Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, from May 31 to June 2, 2024.

PER will host seven advanced CME sessions featuring top oncologists. After the sessions, join PER in the evening for an immersive Chicago culinary experience, where expert faculty will dive further into the latest in oncology care. PER will provide deep-dish pizza during the scheduled program on Friday, May 31, and Chicago-style hot dogs during the program on Saturday, June 1.

We are excited to host a diverse array of sessions at the 2024 Annual Oncology Meeting, said Robert M. Goldsmith, senior vice president of corporate development at MJH Life Sciences, PERs parent company. With cutting-edge insights and a unique Chicago experience, PER is committed to raising the standard of oncology education and delivering an unparalleled experience.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the latest advancements in cancer care and collaborate with distinguished experts. Additionally, PER pledges to donate $10 on behalf of each health care professional to the charity of their choice: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Make-A-Wish, American Cancer Society or Lung Cancer Research Foundation.

For event details and registration, please visit the PER Annual Oncology Meeting landing page.

About Physicians Education Resource

Physicians Education Resource (PER), is committed to advancing patient care through professional education. Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and approved as a nursing continuing education provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, PER is the educational resource of choice for live and online activities for health care professionals across a broad range of specialties. Based on identified needs and practice gaps, PER provides high-quality, evidence-based activities featuring leading national and international faculty with a focus on practice-changing advances and standards of care in treatment and disease management.

Media Contact:

Julia Paradizova

MJH Life Sciences

jparadizova@mjhlifesciences.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/91f2836a-f03d-4bde-b493-cba235fb6231
Now in its fourth year, the festival continues its rapid expansion, seeing growth in exhibiting brands from automakers and leading micromobility players

With over 1 million square feet of outdoor space, the fun-for-all-ages event offers attendees an unparalleled opportunity to ride, drive and demo the world's top electric cars & trucks, e-motorcycles, e-trailers, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards and more

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2, tickets can be purchased online and in person



LONG BEACH, Calif., May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electrify Expo , North Americas largest electric vehicle (EV) festival, is bringing its largest display of electric brands to Long Beach for an action-packed weekend, June 1-2, at the Long Beach Convention Center. Alongside returning brands from Tesla, Volvo, Kia, Toyota, Ford and more, the festival continues to grow its reach adding Hyundai, Fisker and Rivian to the lineup. The fun-for-all-ages outdoor weekend festival offers attendees an array of hands-on experiences to test out the newest EVs and plug-in electric vehicles, as well as electric motorcycles, electric RV trailers, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards and more.

We are thrilled to return to Long Beach this year bigger and better than ever with a record line up of EV manufacturers and new brands that will add to the thrill factor and fun of the many electric experiences offered at Electrify Expo, said BJ Birtwell, CEO and founder of Electrify Expo. We have filled over 1 million square feet for attendees to get first-hand experiences with not only the best EVs, but also e-bikes, e-motorcycles, powersports and recreational products, electric RV trailers, customized EVs and so much more. Do not miss this record setting event.

The public festival on Saturday and Sunday will follow the top networking event in the EV industry - Electrify Expo Industry Day - on Friday, May 31. Industry Day is a networking event for media, analysts, government officials and industry professionals packed with exciting and educational sessions moderated by leading journalists and influential brands. New products from leading brands that will be unveiled at Industry Day will be on display throughout the weekend for the public festival. Tickets are available at https://www.electrifyexpo.com/industry-day .

New Attractions for Long Beach:

The recently revealed all-new Rivian R3 hatchback midsize crossover will be on exhibit for attendees to check out all the newest features and specs.

Kawasaki will reveal an exciting new 2025 model on Industry Day and it will be on display for the weekend festival goers to get a first look at the latest technology from Kawasaki.

Hyundai will join the festival, bringing four models for attendees to experience and test drive.

Fisker will showcase its roomy midsize crossover EV, the Fisker Ocean.

Electrify Race League, an all-new electric race series set to unite top athletes in e-mobility from across the nation for a thrilling series of competitions.

Pebble will showcase the Pebble Flow, its all-electric RV trailer camper featuring a massive EV battery and integrated solar panels for exploring the outdoors up to seven days off the grid.

The Amazon Recharge Zone will address frequently asked questions pertaining to purchasing an EV, as well as debunking EV myths, through a full weekend of programming.

will address frequently asked questions pertaining to purchasing an EV, as well as debunking EV myths, through a full weekend of programming. The Ford Thrill Zone will be back to take attendees for a spin in the Mustang Mach-E GT with a professional driver for a hot lap.

Electrify Expo and Volvo are teaming up for a charitable mission, which will be announced at Industry Day on May 31.



Electrify Expo has something to offer for everybody - from enthusiasts to skeptics - through a range of products and experiences. The state of California has remained at the forefront of EV adoption, reaching record levels and accounting for 34% of the countrys new light-duty zero-emissions vehicle sales last year . Electrify Expo is the one place existing EV owners can head to check out the freshest EVs on the market and where new EV buyers can learn about what electric has to offer.

Get behind the wheel of an EV for a high performance experience or a comfortable street cruise demo. Electrify Expo is the place to try all things electric before you buy, including:

Rivian: R1T, R1S, all-new R2, R3 (display-only)

Tesla: Cybertruck, Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y

BMW: i4, i5, i7, iX, 330e, X5 50e, XM

Ford: Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning

Fisker: Ocean

Kia: EV9, Sorento, EV6, Carnival HEV, Niro EV Wave, Sportage PHEV

Hyundai: IONIQ 5 N, IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, KONA EV

Lexus: 2024 RZ 450e, 2024 RX 450h+, 2024 NX 450h+, 2024 TX 550h+

Toyota: Grand Highlander Hybrid, Prius Prime, RAV 4 Prime, bZ4X, SiriusXM (Sienna HV)

Volvo: EX30, C40 Recharge, XC40 Recharge, EX90

In addition to automakers, Long Beach attendees will experience exciting e-bike, e-scooter and other micromobility products on two and four wheels from top brands including:

Rad Power Bikes

SUPER 73

GoTrax Bikes + Scooters

Stacyc Stability Bikes for Kids

Land Moto

Monday Motorbikes

NIU

and many more

For more information and to purchase tickets to Electrify Expo visit www.electrifyexpo.com . Media interested in attending may request credentials by emailing ee@skyya.com .

About Electrify Expo

Electrify Expo is North America's largest outdoor electric vehicle (EV) festival showcasing the latest technology and products in electrification including startup and legacy EVs, electric motorcycles, bikes, scooters, skateboards, boats, surfboards and more. The festival addresses one of the most challenging barriers to mass adoption of electric vehicles - first hand experience with the product - with meaningful demonstrations and test rides. Top brands from around the world exhibit and attend Electrify Expos events to meet consumers at all stages on their path to electrification. 2024 events will take place in Long Beach and San Francisco, Calif., Phoenix, Denver, New York, Seattle, Orlando, and Austin, Texas. To stay up to date on the latest news and announcements from Electrify Expo, visit www.electrifyexpo.com and follow on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram .

Media Contact

Skyya PR

ee@skyya.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/775b12c2-2ef3-4a6d-8586-2224da863d10
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This week, Country Music Star John Rich, of the duo Big & Rich, railed against U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn Thompson's effort to hand American pork production over to China. Rich, who serves on the board of directors at Moms for America (MFA), and is working in a coalition with Competitive Markets Action, the Organization for Competitive Markets, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and others, brought the full court press on YouTube in his video against EATS. Rich's efforts follow a letter from MFA to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Leaders Hakeem Jefferies, D-NY, Chuck Schumer, D-NY, and Mitch McConnell, R-KY, from MFA against EATS earlier this year, and a recent op-ed Rich saw published in Newsmax last month on the issue.

If the final Committee-passed Farm Bill includes the EATS Act or any language that nullifies state and local agriculture laws that keep American family farmers in business, we will have no choice but to actively oppose the passage and enactment of the legislation and we will engage our grassroots army to help defeat it, said Kimberly Fletcher, President of Moms for America. Ensuring that the Chinese and other multinational conglomerates arent allowed to further consolidate food production in the U.S. is a critical component of our legislative agenda, and this federal power grab by the swamp must be defeated at all costs.

The legislation jeopardizes the viability of family farms and ranches across America, giving preference to foreign multinational conglomerates like the Communist Chinese-owned Smithfield who owns one in every six sows in the United States, said John Rich in his Newsmax opinion piece.

"Chairman Thompson's Farm Bill is a direct assault on states' rights that's designed to boost Chinese-owned companies like Smithfield, and will decimate small farmers and pork producers across America who have created their own niche markets in order to thrive and survive in the marketplace," said Marty Irby, President at Competitive Markets Action and Secretary at the Organization for Competitive Markets. "The swamp thing Thompson is trying to ram through Congress must be defeated if we are to protect our food supply."

In addition, farmers and ranchers against EATS and the nullification of Prop 12 at the Organization for Competitive Markets and Competitive Markets Action, were joined by Moms for America in a fly-in to Washington, D.C. this week where they conducted nearly 80 in-person meetings against EATS.

In a 5 to 4 decision last May, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld Prop 12 that EATS and other bills like it seek to nullify with Justices Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas, and Amy Coney Barrett voted in alignment with the views of Moms for America and countless conservatives across the country while Secretary Vilsack and the Biden Dept. of Justice submitted briefs to the contrary and sided with the Chinese interests and Chinese Communist Party that financed the purchase of Smithfield.

Two Republican-led House letters against EATS previously sent to Thompson authored by Reps. Andrew Garbarino, R-NY, and Anna Paulina Luna, R-FL were completely ignored in the Farm Bill process. Those letters were also cosigned by House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, R-VA, as well as Reps. Byron Donalds, R-FL, Matt Gaetz, R-FL, Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-GA, Nancy Mace, R-SC, Andy Biggs, R-AZ, Matt Rosendale, R-MT, Jeff Van Drew, R-NJ, Tim Burchett, R-TN, David Valadao, R-CA, Mike Waltz, R-FL, Alex Mooney, R-WV, Carol Miller, R-WV, Earl Buddy Carter, R-GA, Lance Gooden, R-TX, Mike Lawler, R-NY, Brian Fitzpatrick, R-PA, Young Kim, R-CA, Mike Garcia, R-CA, Tom Kean, R-NJ, Jeff Van Drew, R-NJ, Chris Smith, R-NJ, and Vern Buchanan, R-FL.

Founded in 2004, Moms for America is a national, non-profit 501c3 educational corporation rooted on the principles of liberty and virtue our nation was founded on, and focused on promoting these principles, values, and virtues in the home and family, particularly through the women and mothers of America.

To learn more about Moms for America, please visit momsforamerica.us. You can follow MFA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Savannah, GA, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clearwave Fiber, a leading Internet Services Provider, is proud to announce its inaugural Salute to Service program in honor of Military Appreciation Month. This initiative is designed to recognize and appreciate active and former military personnel, as well as first responders, among the companys associates and within the communities the company serves.

At Clearwave Fiber, we are privileged to serve active and former military and first responders stationed at military bases and in communities across our footprint, said Shelley Hallier, SVP of Marketing at Clearwave Fiber. We also have the honor of working alongside many active and former military personnel and first responders on our team. The Salute to Service program is our way of showing gratitude for their dedication and sacrifices.

Throughout May, Clearwave Fiber has been celebrating Military Appreciation Month with various activities in the cities it operates with:

Local Market Appreciation Events : hosting appreciation meals and delivering treats to first responders

: hosting appreciation meals and delivering treats to first responders Social Media Tributes : sharing stories and posts about Clearwave Fiber team members who have served or are currently serving in the military or as first responders

: sharing stories and posts about Clearwave Fiber team members who have served or are currently serving in the military or as first responders New Service Discounts: introducing a new discount specifically for former and active military personnel

As a culminating event of the Salute to Service program, Clearwave Fiber is partnering with the nonprofit A Million Thanks to distribute notes to United States Military men and women around the world. All Clearwave Fiber employees were encouraged to write a note of thanks, with the company providing the stationery and postage. Clearwave Fiber has made a donation to the organization, which will distribute the letters on behalf of the company's associates.



Clearwave Fiber hopes the Salute to Service program will inspire others to join in honoring and supporting our armed forces, police and firefighters throughout Military Appreciation Month and beyond.

About Clearwave Fiber

Clearwave Fiber is an internet service provider that operates a more than 10,000 route-mile Fiber network serving communities across the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States. With an emphasis on exceptional customer care and community engagement, the fast-growing company delivers advanced telecommunications solutions, providing fiber to business, enterprise and residential customers in Illinois, Kansas, Florida and Georgia. Committed to deploying 100% Fiber Internet service to 500,000 homes and businesses across the country by 2026, Clearwave Fiber is based in Savannah, Ga. Learn more at ClearwaveFiber.com, Facebook, X, YouTubeand LinkedIn.



CONTACT: pr@clearwaveFiber.com

SOURCE: Clearwave Fiber

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OTTAWA, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada) is thrilled to announce that our annual gala honouring our Global Citizen Award 2024 Laureate, Manjit Minhas, will be held on October 15 in Toronto.



This award recognizes Canadians who have demonstrated leadership in their communities and beyond to promote the mission and mandate of the United Nations. Ms. Minhas commented, I am incredibly honoured to be a Global Citizen Laureate and welcome the opportunity to help bring attention to UNA-Canada's work through our shared commitment to the UN goal of gender equality. Its a focus of much of my charity work, such as working with YW Calgary to raise $50 million for a crisis shelter for women and children fleeing domestic abuse.

Venturing into the entrepreneurial world as a 19-year-old, Ms. Minhas invested everything she had into her dream of starting a business. Many years, roadblocks, and big breaks later, she is the CEO of Minhas Breweries, Distillery, and Wineries, presiding over a network of 90 brands sold in 18 countries with a 2021 annual revenue exceeding $220 million.

Ms. Minhas was selected as this years Global Citizen Award recipient for her commitment to investing in women-run enterprises and her philanthropic efforts to empower women. Ms. Minhas has achieved barrier-breaking success in the male-dominated business world, exemplifying, through her own journey, strides towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 of Gender Equality. Ms. Minhas noted that Ive always been cognizant of encouraging women business owners on The Den and in other mentoring situations, because a more inclusive economy is a stronger economy.

The UN echoes this: empowering women and girls in all aspects of society is an essential tool in reducing poverty, promoting inclusive growth, and building resilient societies worldwide. If, by 2025, women participate in the global economy on an equal level to men, global GDP would increase by 26% - thats like adding an economy larger than that of the United States to the world (McKinsey Consulting Group). Yet women only occupy 30% of senior management positions in Canadian businesses (Statistics Canada).

"Since 2015, the global increase in women holding managerial positions has been a mere 1%. We urgently need more leaders like Manjit, whose commitment and influence are essential to accelerating progress toward the gender equality goals outlined in the SDGs," said UNA-Canada President and CEO Jaime Webbe.

Our annual gala is an exceptional opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Canadians who exemplify core UN values. This October, we are excited to honor Ms. Manjit Minhas, recognizing her remarkable contributions and leadership in gender equality. Her success as a trailblazing entrepreneur embodies the spirit of resilience and innovation, serving as a powerful inspiration for other women and girls to follow in her footsteps and drive positive change within their communities.

You can learn more about Ms. Minhas and UNA-Canada through the attached links. For any inquiries, please contact thomas.lenhard@unac.org
CALGARY, Alberta, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acceleware Ltd. (Acceleware or the Company) (TSX-V: AXE), a leading innovator of transformative technologies targeting the decarbonization of industrial heating, today announced its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2024 (all figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted). Accelewares results reflect contributions from the Companys two business units, radio frequency (RF) heating for industrial applications using the Companys proprietary Clean Tech Inverter (CTI) including enhanced oil recovery (RF XL), and high-performance computing ("HPC) scientific software. This news release should be read in conjunction with the Companys unaudited interim condensed financial statements and the accompanying notes for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and managements discussion and analysis (MDA) thereto, together with the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, notes and MDA thereto, all of which are available on Accelewares website at www.acceleware.com or on www.sedarplus.ca.

HIGHLIGHTS

Financial highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2024:

Three Months Ended Mar 31, 2024 Mar 31, 2023 Revenue 43,594 103,547 Comprehensive income/ (loss) (969,971) (255,617) Gross R&D expenditures 501,115 752,368 Government assistance - 434,023

Encouraged by positive results to date, the Company worked closely with industry partners to determine the most appropriate next steps in the RF XL Pilot. It was determined that the most practical path forward involves a redeployment of all subsurface components incorporating the multiple improvements and upgrades that Acceleware has made to the RF XL downhole system. Acceleware is actively sourcing an additional $5 million of funding to complete the redeployment. The redeployment is expected to enable higher power to be distributed in the reservoir for a sustained period in a second phase of heating. Please refer to the MDA for a complete RF XL Pilot update.

On April 11, 2024 Acceleware announced that is had been awarded Phase 2 of a potash ore drying project by the International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII). The new project phase will advance Phase 1 work and is intended to further validate the use of radio frequency energy from Acceleware's CTI to dry potash ore and other minerals. Phase 2 work will include the construction and testing of a lab-scale prototype dryer, and on a stage gate basis, the design, construction and testing of larger shop-scale prototype. IMII is a non-profit organization jointly funded by industry and government that is committed to developing and implementing innovative education, training, research and development partnerships for supporting a world-class minerals industry. IMII's minerals industry members include BHP, Cameco Corporation, Fission Uranium Corp., The Mosaic Company and Nutrien Ltd.

Acceleware continued to invest in developing and protecting new intellectual property with the total number of patents issued, allowed, applied for, or in development growing to a total of 61.

QUARTER IN REVIEW

Revenue of $0.04 million was generated in the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to $0.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2023 (Q1 2023) and $0.04 million in the previous quarter ended December 31, 2023 (Q4 2023). Revenue in Q1 2024 included software and maintenance revenue. Revenue was lower in Q1 2024 and Q4 2023 due the variability in revenue earned in the RF Heating segment for technology evaluation services in applying CTI to industrial heating. While interest has increased in EM Powered Heat and the CTI (see IMII project discussed above), there was no revenue recognised in Q1 2024 or Q4 2023.

Total comprehensive loss for Q1 2024 was $1.0 million compared to a comprehensive loss of $0.3 million for Q1 2023 and a comprehensive income of $0.6 million for Q4 2023. Comprehensive income in Q4 2023 was due to the receipt of government assistance from CRIN relating to costs incurred from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Offsetting lower spending in Q1 2024 and Q4 2023 were higher interest costs related to notes payable funding the Companys working capital. Comprehensive income/(loss) in all periods was impacted by changes in value of the derivative financial instruments embedded within the convertible debenture. The changes in derivative value are driven primarily by fluctuations in the Companys share price.

Gross R&D expenses incurred in Q1 2024 were $0.5 million compared to $0.8 million in Q1 2023 and $.07 million in Q4 2023. R&D spending was lower in Q1 2024 and Q4 2023 compared to Q1 2023 due to a change in the nature of RF XL Pilot activities. Most R&D activity in Q1 2024 was related to lab engineering, designing and testing, data analysis, and partner consultations. There was no government assistance received in Q1 2024 compared to $0.4 million in Q1 2023 and $2.1 million in Q4 2023, the latter constituting the first CRIN payment. Meanwhile, the Government of Albertas Innovation Employment Grant (IEG) to support research and development was effective January 1, 2021 and provides a grant of up to 20% of eligible R&D expenses incurred in Alberta. This new grant effectively replaced Albertas 10% scientific research and experimental development refundable tax credit that was eliminated as at December 31, 2019. The Company met the eligibility criteria, claimed eligible R&D expenditures and received $0.4 million in Q1 2023 related to 2021 eligible expenditures and $0.1 million in Q3 2023 related to 2022 eligible expenditures and $nil in Q4 2023. As at March 31, 2024 there was $nil million government assistance receivable however a claim for 2023 expenditures is in process. Government assistance offsets gross R&D costs.

G&A expenses incurred in Q1 2024 were $0.5 million compared to $0.3 million in Q1 2023 and $0.6 million in Q4 2023. There were higher non-cash payroll related costs incurred in Q1 2024 and Q4 2023 due to the timing of option grants, higher professional fees and lower salaries as the Company continues to prioritize cost control given uncertain economic conditions.

At March 31, 2024, Acceleware had negative working capital of $2,799,757 (December 31, 2023  negative working capital of $1,985,372) including $126,895 in cash and cash equivalents (December 31, 2023 - $951,569) and $852,069 in short-term notes payable (December 31, 2023 - $944,010). As of March 31, 2024, Acceleware also had $2,215,000 in long-term 10%, semi-annual interest, convertible debentures outstanding, the principal amount of which is owing four years from the date of issue or approximately Q1 2026. Fluctuations in non-cash working capital were attributable to the timing of receipt and recognition of government and partner funding and related R&D spending. During Q4 2023, Acceleware received the first claim for reimbursement under the new $3 million CRIN grant funding arrangement noted above. There was $2,064,434 received in Q4 2023. Cash and cash equivalents decreased in Q1 2024 due to timing of payments of trade payables. Increasing the deficit is deferred revenue of $4,350,000 as at March 31, 2024 (December 31, 2022  $4,350,000). Despite receiving non-refundable cash payments for these amounts, the milestone payments have not met all requirements for revenue recognition under IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers. These amounts will be recognized as revenue and increase shareholders equity when RF XL Pilot heating is complete or the data revenue contracts are terminated, whichever is earlier.

ABOUT ACCELEWARE:

Acceleware is an innovator of clean-tech decarbonization technologies comprised of two business units: Radio Frequency Heating Technology and Seismic Imaging Software.

Acceleware is piloting RF XL, its patented low-cost, low-carbon production technology for heavy oil and oil sands that is materially different from any heavy oil recovery technique used today. Acceleware's vision is that electrification of heavy oil and oil sands production can be made possible through RF XL, supporting a transition to much cleaner energy production that can quickly bend the emissions curve downward. With clean electricity, Accelewares RF XL technology could eliminate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with heavy oil and oil sands production. RF XL uses no water, requires no solvent, has a small physical footprint, can be redeployed from site to site, and can be applied to a multitude of reservoir types. Acceleware is also actively developing partnerships for RF heating of other industrial applications using the Companys proprietary CTI.

Acceleware and Saa Dene Group (co-founded by Jim Boucher) have created Acceleware | Kisastwew to raise the profile, adoption, and value of Acceleware technologies. The shared vision of the partnership is to improve the environmental and economic performance of the energy sector by supporting ideals that are important to Indigenous peoples, including respect for land, water, and clean air.

The Companys seismic imaging software solutions are state-of-the-art for high fidelity imaging, providing the most accurate and advanced imaging available for oil exploration in complex geologies. Acceleware is a public company listed on Canadas TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol AXE.

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND OTHER ADVISORIES

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally means information about an issuers business, capital, or operations that are prospective in nature, and includes disclosure about the issuers prospective financial performance or financial position.

The forward-looking information in this press release can be identified by terms such as believes, estimates, plans, potential, and will, and includes information about, the expected commercialization of RF XL, the expected cost of the RF XL Pilot, the timing of the execution of the RF XL Pilot and the redeployment, expected financing required for the RF XL Pilot redeployment, and the anticipated economic and societal benefits of the RF XL technology. Acceleware assumes that current cost estimates are accurate, current timelines will not be delayed by either internal or external causes, that research and development effort including the commercial-scale test plans will result in commercial-ready products, and that future capital raising efforts will be successful.

Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this press release due to certain material risk factors. These risk factors are described in detail in Accelewares continuous disclosure documents, which are filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Acceleware assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this press release, unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this release in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

DISCLAIMER

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information:

Geoff Clark

Tel: +1 (403) 249-9099

geoff.clark@acceleware.com

Acceleware Ltd.

435 10th Avenue SE

Calgary, AB, T2G 0W3

Canada

Tel: +1 (403) 249-9099

www.acceleware.com
Vince Tyra has Stepped Down as President and CEO

Sale Process has Ceased

MONTREAL, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL: TSX and NYSE) (Gildan or the Company) today announced that the full Board of Directors has resigned, and Vince Tyra has stepped down as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective at the end of the day. The outgoing Board has appointed Browning West nominees to the Board of Directors, effective at that time. The outgoing Board has ceased discussions regarding the previously announced sale process.

Shareholders have made their views clear as we approach the May 28, 2024 Annual Meeting. The outgoing directors believe that it was in the best interests of all Gildan stakeholders for them to resign and not stand for election at the upcoming Annual Meeting, allowing the new Board to be seated so that it can oversee the Company in the most orderly and efficient manner. The outgoing directors wish the new directors, the management team, Gildans 45,000 employees, and its shareholders success in the future.

About Gildan

Gildan is a leading manufacturer of everyday basic apparel. The Companys product offering includes activewear, underwear and socks, sold to a broad range of customers, including wholesale distributors, screenprinters or embellishers, as well as to retailers that sell to consumers through their physical stores and/or e-commerce platforms and to global lifestyle brand companies. The Company markets its products in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, under a diversified portfolio of Company-owned brands including Gildan, American Apparel, Comfort Colors, GOLDTOE, and Peds.

Gildan owns and operates vertically integrated, large-scale manufacturing facilities which are primarily located in Central America, the Caribbean, the United States, and Bangladesh. Gildan operates with a strong commitment to industry-leading labour, environmental and governance practices throughout its supply chain in accordance with its comprehensive ESG program embedded in the Company's long-term business strategy. More information about the Company and its ESG practices and initiatives can be found at www.gildancorp.com.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs of the Dominican Republic (MICM) announced a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Purdue University to propel the country's semiconductor industry and national development.

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

Strengthening Human Capital for a Technological Future

This collaboration highlights the Dominican Republic's commitment to building a robust semiconductor sector. Minister of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs, Victor Bisono, emphasized the agreement's role in strengthening human capital and fostering national development, particularly within the high-growth semiconductor industry. The alliance is expected to bolster research, ignite innovation, and prepare the Dominican Republic for the 21st century's technological advancements.

Purdue University to lead collaborative programs in the Dominican Republic

Purdue University representatives, Alyssa Wilcox, Senior Vice President of Partnerships, and Vijay Raghunathan, Vice President of Global Partnerships and Programs, expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership. They consider this collaboration as a significant opportunity for academic exchange and joint research efforts, benefiting Dominican students, faculty, and researchers. Purdue University will spearhead the development and implementation of various programs designed to boost the Dominican Republic's growth in the semiconductor industry and other high-value-added sectors.

Focus on STEM and Strategic Sectors:

In collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Development (MEPyD), Minister Bisono announced the preparation of a report on the Dominican Republic's human talent pool. This report will focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers and their alignment with strategic sectors like medical devices, pharmaceuticals, electronics, semiconductors, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). This strategic approach aims to position the Dominican Republic as a prime destination for investments, particularly in the booming semiconductor industry.

The announcement ceremony was attended by leading figures from government, education, and the private sector. These included: Pavel Isa Contreras (Minister of Economy, Planning, and Development), Franklin Garcia Fermin (Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology), Rafael Santos Badia (General Director of the National Institute of Technical and Professional Training), Omar Mendez Lluberes (Rector of the Technological Institute of the Americas).

About Purdue University

Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, is a world-renowned institution consistently recognized for its excellence in education, research, and innovation, especially in the areas of engineering, science, and technology.

About the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM)

MICM is the government body responsible for policy formulation, adoption, monitoring, evaluation, and control in the fields of industry, exports, foreign trade, free zones, special regimes, and SMEs.

Contact information

Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM)

Viceministry of Free Zones and Special Regimes

(1) 809-685-5171 Ext 1017

www.micm.gob.do
DONALSONVILLE, Ga., May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mediacom Communications announced completion of the first phase of construction to bring ultra-high-speed broadband to underserved areas of Seminole County. The activation of phase one means that over 100 of the 2,338 homes and businesses included in this project can now sign up for services.

Mediacom was awarded a $7.8 million grant through the Georgia Capital Project Fund Program for the Seminole County project. Construction of the 221-mile fiber build began in November of 2023 and will continue through this year. When completed, a total investment of more than $16 million will be put into this public-private partnership to extend broadband access for underserved Georgia residents.

Residents and businesses in the completed project area can now access a variety of service offerings including broadband plans with download speeds up to 2 gigabits-per-second as well as low-cost phone plans. Mediacom also offers XtreamConnect , a low-cost broadband plan designed specifically for qualifying low-income households. A public open house was held today in Donalsonville to introduce Mediacoms products to the community. State Senator Sam Watson and State Representative Gerald Greene as well as Donalsonville Councilman Mitch Blanks were in attendance to greet their constituents and share remarks.

During my time in the Georgia Legislature, strengthening the economy for Southwest Georgia has remained one of my top priorities, said Senator Sam Watson, District 11. Access to broadband, especially to our most rural areas is a crucial part of todays economy. Mediacoms partnership with the state to bring high-speed broadband to residents and businesses in Seminole County will not only strengthen the economic opportunities for District 11 but, will go a long way in improving our residents quality of life.

Since the launch of the Georgia Broadband Program in 2018, expanding access to broadband for all Georgians has been a top priority for the State, said Representative Gerald Greene, District 154. Seminole County residents deserve the same access to broadband as Georgias urban residents. I am grateful to Mediacom for their investment in District 154 and thrilled to support their investment with a Georgia broadband grant.

Mediacom excels at providing broadband to rural communities and is thankful for the opportunity provided by the State of Georgia to reach even more homes and businesses in Seminole County, said Darryl Chaney, Senior Director of Area Operations for Mediacom. We applaud Georgias commitment to closing the digital divide and are thrilled to assist the state in connecting more rural Georgians to our ultra-high-speed broadband.
Tucson, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tucson, Arizona -

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###

For more information about Umbrella Labs , contact the company here:



Umbrella Labs

Kristin McFadden

415-988-7551

kmcfadden@umbrella-labs.us

3280 E Hemisphere Loop

Tucson, AZ 85706
VANCOUVER, May 22, 2024 - Koryx Copper Inc. ("Koryx" or the "Company") (TSX-V: KRY) is pleased to announce that it has received commitments for CAD$2,000,000 proceeds pursuant to a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for the sale of up to 16,666,666 common shares of the Company (the "Shares") at a price of $0.12 per Share.

The Offering is subject to TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval, and all Shares issued under the Offering will be subject to a four month hold from the date of issuance. The Company will not pay any finder's fees and no new control person will be created as a result of the Offering. The total amount of the Offering has been committed to and the Company expects that the Offering will be fully subscribed.

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to advance the Haib copper project in Namibia the Luanshya West project in Zambia, and for general working capital purposes.

The Company also announces that its board of directors has approved the consolidation of all of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Company on the basis of one (1) new common share (a "Post-Consolidation Share") for every five (5) existing Shares, subject to TSXV approval (the "Consolidation").

It is anticipated that the Consolidation will reduce the number of presently issued and outstanding Shares of the Company from 227,445,142 Shares to approximately 45,489,029 Post-Consolidation Shares, subject to adjustment for rounding. Assuming the Offering is fully subscribed there would be a total of 244,111,808 Shares issued and outstanding immediately before the Consolidation and approximately 48,822,362 Post-Consolidation Shares upon completion of the Consolidation. The Company believes that the Consolidation will enhance its capital in a more market-friendly structure which will put it in a better position to attract additional capital and assist in executing its business plans. The Consolidation is subject to the approval of the TSXV.

The Company does not intend to change its name or its current trading symbol in connection with the Consolidation. The effective date of the Consolidation will be announced in a subsequent news release.

No fractional Post-Consolidation Shares will be issued as a result of the Consolidation. Shareholders who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a Post-Consolidation Share will be rounded up to the nearest whole number of Post-Consolidation Shares and no cash consideration will be paid in respect of fractional shares. The exercise price and number of common shares of the Company, issuable upon exercise of any outstanding convertible securities will be proportionally adjusted upon the implementation of the Consolidation.

The Company will provide a further update once it has received all applicable approvals and has set an effective date for the Consolidation.

As a consequence of the Consolidation, subscribers under the Offering will receive Post-Consolidation Shares at an effective price of $0.60 per Post-Consolidation Share.

This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements.

About Koryx Copper Inc.

Koryx Copper is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the development of the Haib copper project in Namibia. Haib is a large, PEA-stage copper/molybdenum project located along the Orange river in southern Namibia in close proximity to the border with South Africa. Since its discovery and mainly under the ownership of Rio Tinto and Teck Resources, the project has seen multiple phases of exploration and metallurgical testing with more than 70,000m of drilling, several metallurgical test work programs, geophysical surveys, geological mapping, mine modeling and feasibility studies. The Company also holds an interest in three exploration licenses in the Zambian copper belt.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Per: "Pierre Leveille"

Pierre Leveille

President & CEO

More information is available by contacting Pierre Leveille, President & CEO at +1-819-340-0140 or at: info@koryxcopper.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the future or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect ", "is expected ", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
VANCOUVER, May 22, 2024 - Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSXV: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) (Frankfurt: 0G3) ("" or the "Company") has filed the management information circular (the "Circular") and related meeting materials in connection with the special meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") to be held on June 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (PST) at 555 Burrard Street, 11th Floor, Suite 1165, Vancouver, British Columbia. The board of directors of the Company set May 13, 2024 as the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice and vote at the Meeting.

The purpose of the Meeting is to seek approval of the previously announced spinout by way of a plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") between Vizsla Silver and Vizsla Royalties Corp. ("Spinco"), whereby the owners of common shares of Vizsla Silver (each a "Vizsla Silver Share") are entitled to receive one-third of a common share of Spinco (the "Spinco Shares") and one-third of a common share purchase warrant of Spinco (the "Spinco Warrants") for each Vizsla Silver Share held immediately prior to the closing of the Arrangement. Each full Spinco Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Spinco Share at an exercise price of $0.05 per share for a period expiring on the earlier of: (i) 120 days after the date the Spinco Shares and Spinco Warrants are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"); and (ii) December 31, 2025.

The Arrangement will require approval by at least two-thirds (66.6%) of the votes cast by shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting. Vizsla Silver has obtained an interim order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the "Court"). Subject to approval by the Vizsla Silver shareholders, Vizsla Silver will seek a final order from the Court approving the Arrangement. The Company anticipates the Arrangement to close on or about June 24, 2024, and it is expected that shareholders of record on June 21, 2024 will be entitled to receive spinout shares.

Mailing of the management information circular and related meeting materials has commenced and shareholders should receive them shortly. All of the meeting materials can be downloaded from Vizsla Silver's website at https://vizslasilvercorp.ca and also from the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The deadline for returning proxies for the Meeting is June 15, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (PST).

This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or a proxy.

Post-Arrangement Matters

Immediately after completion of the Arrangement, shareholders of Vizsla Silver are expected to hold approximately 45% of the issued and outstanding Spinco Shares, while Vizsla Silver will retain the remaining approximately 55%.

Spinco has made an application to list the Spinco Shares and Spinco Warrants on the TSXV. There is no guarantee when, or if, such listings will be completed. Such listings will be subject to Spinco fulfilling all of the listing requirements of the TSXV.

Following closing of the Arrangement, Vizsla Silver and Spinco intend to complete a number of steps, including the following (collectively, the "Post-Closing Steps"): (a) the parties will settle an outstanding loan from Vizsla Silver into Spinco Shares, (b) Vizsla Silver will make an additional $3,500,000 loan to Spinco, (c) Spinco will exercise its buyback right on an underlying royalty on the Panuco Project, after which point the royalty held by Spinco will consist of a 2% net smelter returns royalty on the entire Panuco Project, (d) Spinco will complete a private placement for gross proceeds of at least $3,000,000, and (e) Spinco will complete a consolidation of the Spinco Shares on the basis of one new Spinco Share for every ten old Spinco Shares.

Vizsla Silver and Spinco have entered into a royalty right agreement which provides that, if Vizsla Silver or any of its affiliates acquires any a mineral property within a two-kilometer boundary around the Panuco Project, it must offer Spinco a net smelter returns royalty on such mineral property to Spinco on terms proposed by Vizsla Silver.

The foregoing discussion of the Arrangement and the Post-Closing Steps is intended to provide a general summary only. Shareholders are encouraged to read the Circular in its entirety.

About the Panuco Project

The newly consolidated Panuco silver-gold project is an emerging high-grade discovery located in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlan. The 7,189.5 hectare, past producing district benefits from over 86 kilometres of total vein extent, 35 kilometres of underground mines, roads, power, and permits.

The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation.

On January 8, 2024, the Company announced an updated mineral resource estimate for Panuco which includes an estimated in-situ indicated mineral resource of 155.8 Moz AgEq and an in-situ inferred resource of 169.6 Moz AgEq.

Vizsla Silver About

Vizsla Silver is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, focused on advancing its flagship, 100%-owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Sinaloa, Mexico. To date, Vizsla Silver has completed over 350,000 metres of drilling at Panuco leading to the discovery of several new high-grade veins. For 2024, Vizsla Silver is focused on de-risking the resource base located in the western portion of the district ahead of a development decision. Additionally, Vizsla Silver has budgeted +65,000 metres of resource/discovery-based drilling designed to upgrade and expand the Project's mineral resource, as well as test other high priority targets across the district.

In accordance with NI 43-101, Jesus Velador, Ph.D. MMSA QP, Vice President of Exploration, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release.

Website: www.vizslasilvercorp.ca

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to: timing, structure and completion of the Arrangement; the terms of the Arrangement; the Post-Closing Steps; and exploration, development, and production at Panuco.

Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of the Company, future growth potential for the Company and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold, and other metals; no escalation in the severity of public health crises; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect the Company's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; ongoing military conflicts around the world; general economic factors; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's management discussion and analysis and other public disclosure documents.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.



SOURCE Vizsla Silver Corp.







Contact

and to sign-up to the mailing list, please contact: Michael Konnert, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tel: (604) 364-2215, Email: info@vizslasilver.ca


Vancouver, May 23, 2024 - Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. (the "Company") (CSE:GCC) (OTC:GCCFF) (WKN:A042CQ) (FSE: 3TZ) announces a non-brokered private placement of up to 10,000,000 units, at a price of $0.25 per unit, for gross proceeds of $2,500,000. Each unit will consist of one common share and one share purchase warrant; each warrant is exercisable for a period of 3 years from the closing at exercise prices as follows: $0.28 in year one, $0.30 in year two, and $0.32 in year three.

The private placement is subject to CSE Exchange approval and all securities are subject to a four-month hold period. Finder's fees may be payable in connection with the private placement, all in accordance with the policies of the CSE Exchange. The proceeds from this private placement will be used for property exploration and for general working capital.

The Units will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

For additional information please contact:

Scott Young

Business Development

scott@goldencariboo.com

+1-705-888-2756

About Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd.

Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. is rediscovering the Cariboo Gold Rush by proceeding with high-grade targeted drilling and trenching programs on its Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine project which is almost fully encircled on 3 of 4 sides by Osisko Development (NSE-ODV/TSXV-ODV). Historically, over 101 placer gold creeks on the 90 km trend from the Cariboo Hudson mine north to the Quesnelle Gold Quartz mine have recorded production in excess of 2.6 million ounces of gold up to 1933 (Hall, 1986) and successful placer mining continues to this day.

Golden Cariboo's Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property is 4 km northeast of, and road accessible from, Hixon in central British Columbia. The Property includes the Quesnelle Quartz gold-silver deposit, which was discovered in 1865 in conjunction with placer mining activities and produced 2,048 tonnes grading 3.14 g/t Au and 4.18 g/t Ag in 1932 and 1939, with an additional 217 tonnes of unknown grade reported in 1878 (BC Minfile, 2021). Hixon Creek, which dissects the Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property, is a placer creek which has seen limited, small-scale placer production since the mid 1860's. From Ministry of Mines Reports prior to 1945, estimates of up to $2,000,000 worth of placer gold was mined from Hixon Creek.

Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd.

"J. Frank Callaghan"

J. Frank Callaghan, President & CEO

604-682-2928

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

www.goldencariboo.com

LIKE AND FOLLOW

Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn

Neither the "CSE" Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements:

This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and plans of the Company. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding: the number of Shares outstanding following the Consolidation; the effect of the Consolidation on the market for the Shares; and the treatment of fractional shares in the Consolidation.

Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including, without limitation, that the Company will complete the Consolidation; that the Company will receive the necessary approvals to complete the Consolidation; that the number of Shares outstanding following the Consolidation will be consistent with the number set out herein; that the Consolidation will make the Shares more attractive to new and current investors; and that the treatment of fractional shares will align with management's current expectations.

Additionally, forward-looking information involve a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: that the Company will be unable to complete the Consolidation; that the Company will not receive the necessary approvals to complete the Consolidation; that the treatment of fractional shares will differ for the treatment set out herein; that the Consolidation will not make the Shares more attractive to new and current investors; and that the number of issued and outstanding shares following the Consolidation will differ for the number statement herein. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Neither the Company nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this news release. Neither the Company nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this news release by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this news release.

The forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date they were originally made. The Company has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
VANCOUVER - Giant Mining Corp. (CSE: BFG | OTC: BFGFF | FWB: YW5) ("Giant Mining" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Andrew Mugridge to its Board of Directors. Mr. Mugridge brings a wealth of experience in finance and marketing, with a distinguished career in consulting for publicly traded companies since 2006.

David Greenway, President, and CEO of Giant Mining Corp., commented on the appointment: "We are thrilled to welcome Andrew to our Board of Directors. His extensive background in finance, marketing, and investor relations will be invaluable as we continue to advance our strategic initiatives. Andrew's expertise and leadership will greatly benefit Giant Mining Corp.."

About Andrew Mugridge

Andrew Mugridge has been involved in the finance and marketing sectors since entering the industry in 2006. His career began with consulting for publicly traded companies, focusing on financial and marketing strategies that drive growth and shareholder value.

From 2006 to 2014, Mr. Mugridge operated a successful investor relations firm, where he honed his skills in managing investor communications and corporate marketing. He then transitioned to a principal role at a financial advisory firm in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he continues to provide strategic financial counsel to a diverse client base. His professional experience is extensive, having served as a representative at ZLC Wealth Inc. from September 2015 to September 2021 and as Principal at Hotspur Financial Services Ltd. from June 2010 to July 2023. Additionally, he has been a Director at Recharge Resources Ltd. since March 2022.

Mr. Mugridge's educational background includes a Certificate of Marketing Management from the British Columbia Institute of Technology and completion of the Exempt Market Proficiency (EMP) Course from the IFSE Institute.

Further, the Company is pleased to announce that Mr. Richard Robins has joined the Advisory Board.

About Richard Robins, B.A., MBA

Mr. Richard Robins is a seasoned financial executive with over twenty years of distinguished leadership and extensive expertise across multiple sectors, including banking, financial technology (FinTech), mining, and public companies. His impactful contributions have left an indelible mark on the financial landscape, demonstrating remarkable acumen and strategic prowess.

Notably, his tenure as Chief Financial Officer at International Battery Metals Ltd. exemplified his exceptional leadership, steering the company through a successful public listing on the TSX Venture Exchange before strategically transitioning to the CSE. This pivotal move marked a significant milestone, shaping the company's trajectory under Mr. Robins' guidance. International Battery Metals Ltd., an innovative lithium exploration and extraction technology company, currently boasts a market capitalization of approximately $312 million, a testament to Mr. Robins' exemplary stewardship during his tenure. His strategic insights and pivotal role have been instrumental in the company's success.

Before his impactful role at International Battery Metals Ltd., Mr. Robins honed his skills through progressive leadership positions at esteemed banking institutions, including TD Bank, Citibank, Peoples Trust Company and Vancouver City Savings Credit Union. His diverse experience equipped him with invaluable insights that have consistently contributed to his success.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Mr. Robins is committed to philanthropic endeavors and serves on the Board of Directors of Odd Squad Productions Society, a registered not-for-profit charitable organization delivering prevention programs for youth in the Lower Mainland, throughout BC, across Canada, and worldwide.

Mr. Robins earned his B.A., in Economics, from McGill University in Montreal and holds a Master of Business Administration specializing in Marketing & Entrepreneurial Studies from the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto.

Site Visit

The company's executive team, alongside the geological technical team led by Buster Hunsaker and a group of consultants, will be heading to the Majuba Hill Copper Project in Pershing County, Nevada, USA, in the coming weeks. This site visit is a critical step in planning out the next phases of exploration. The teams will conduct thorough assessments, gather data, and strategize the most effective approaches to maximize the project's potential. Their goal is to ensure a comprehensive and detailed plan that aligns with Giant Mining's commitment to excellence and sustainable practices in resource development.

Copper Market Update

Copper prices have surged by 17.48% YTD in 2024, driven by fundamental factors and a tightening demand-supply environment. The persistent deficit in the copper concentrate market, exacerbated by ongoing mine disruptions, continues to exert upward pressure on prices. Additionally, the Federal Reserve's rate-cutting cycle could unleash pent-up demand, further boosting copper's value. Long-term, the energy transition is expected to become a significant tailwind for copper, sustaining its meteoric rise. These combined factors have propelled copper prices to new heights, reflecting a robust and dynamic market landscape. Below is a graph illustrating the year-to-date performance of copper. 1



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1: Copper Prices YTD 2024

Strategic Marketing Engagements

The Company is also pleased to announce several key strategic marketing and market awareness agreements (the "Marketing Agreements") aimed at enhancing its investor relations and expanding its market presence.

David Greenway, CEO of Giant Mining Corp., announced today, "We are excited to collaborate with these organizations to broaden our reach in the European and North American markets and effectively communicate our value proposition to a wider audience. These strategic engagements will help us strengthen our investor outreach and provide potential new investors with comprehensive insights into our operations and growth potential."

The Company has engaged 2686362 Ontario Corporation, doing business as CanaCom Group ("CanaCom"), with their brand TheDeepDive.ca ("TheDeepDive"). As part of this agreement, TheDeepDive.ca will produce and publish a featured company profile on Giant Mining in video format. This profile will highlight the investment opportunity, business model, company history, management backgrounds, industry comparable, forecasts, relevant risks, and the overall investment thesis. The videos will serve to educate the investor community about the potential of Giant Mining. A written version of this profile will also be published on TheDeepDive.ca and will be hyperlinked within the main menu. This Marketing Agreement is effective from May 15, 2024, for a twelve-month term, costing CDN $60,000 plus GST. All interactions and service provisions will be coordinated through CanaCom main contact, the authorized representative at 1836 Scarth Street, Regina, SK S4P 3G3. (email jay@thedeepdive.ca, or by telephone: (306) 993-4791. For more information, visit TheDeepDive.ca

Furthermore, the Company has retained the services of Plutus Invest & Consulting GmbH, ("Plutus") located at Buchtstr. 13, Bremen, 28195, Germany, for a term of seven months. Pursuant to this Marketing Agreement, Plutus will provide strategic consulting services focused on market analysis and financial advisory to support Giant Mining's business initiatives (collectively, the "Consulting Services"). These Consulting Services will begin June 1, 2024, the effective date of the agreement, and continue for a period of seven months, ending on December 31, 2024. Giant Mining will compensate Plutus with a fee of EUR 250,000, payable at the commencement of the Consulting Services. All interactions and service provisions will be coordinated through Plutus' main contact, the authorized representative at Buchtstr. 13, 28195 Bremen, Germany (email: contact@plutuinves.de, or by telephone: +49 421 17540174).

Additionally, The Company has entered into a Marketing Agreement with Mining Investor Resources Ltd. ("MiningIR") for a term of twelve months. MiningIR is a media-based consulting company established in 2018 that provides corporate communications and media services for publicly traded companies. The mining media portal provides corporate mining and resource news, videos, and information company profiles on the resource sector companies. MiningIR delivers a rich experience, making the investor's experience fulfilling and informative by giving investors and resource companies the means to connect as partners in the mining and resource sector. This Marketing Agreement is effective from May 15, 2024, for a twelve-month term, costing CDN $41,000. All interactions and service provisions will be coordinated through MiningIR main contact, (email info@miningir.com, or by telephone: (778) 340-2131. For more information, visit MiningIR.

Greenway further highlighted the company's proactive approach to market opportunities, stating, "Copper prices, having climbed 28% over the last three months to hit a 2-year high, are being leveraged by Giant Mining Corp. to advance our Majuba Hill Porphyry Copper Deposit. This flagship project, known for its substantial copper resources and strategic location, is positioned to benefit significantly from current market trends, further enhancing the company's long-term growth prospects."

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by E.L. "Buster" Hunsaker III, CPG 8137, a non-independent consulting geologist who is a "Qualified Person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43- 101").

About Giant Mining Corp.

Giant Mining Corp. is engaged in the identification, review and acquisition of latter stage copper and copper/silver/gold assets. This is in direct response to the growing worldwide demand and lack of supply for precious metals fueled by the Green New Deal in the US and most other developed nations with similar programs aimed at addressing climate change. Such programs are heavily reliant on silver, gold and especially copper to produce Electric Vehicles and other renewable power sources, as well as building infrastructure to provide clean and affordable electricity.

The flagship project is the Majuba Hill copper, silver and gold District located 156 miles (251 km) outside Reno, Nevada, USA. Management has been mandated to focus on safe, mining friendly jurisdictions where government regulations are supportive of mining operations.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

On Behalf of the Board of Giant Mining Corp.

"David Greenway"

David C. Greenway

President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Joel Warawa

VP of Corporate Communications

E: info@giantminingcorp.com

P: 1 (855) 475-0745

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

www.giantminingcorp.com

LIKE AND FOLLOW

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

DOWNLOAD INVESTOR INFORMATION

Click Here

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Giant Mining Corp. believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Giant Mining Corp. management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Giant Mining Corp. undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

###

1 Sourced online at Tradingview

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Vancouver, May 23, 2024 - Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. (TSXV: SM) (OTCQX: SMDRF) ("Sierra Madre" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jose Francisco Correa Robles as General Manager of La Guitarra Silver-Gold Mine and Mill Complex in Estado de Mexico, Mexico. The Company also announces the issuance of stock options to La Guitarra employees, advisors and consultants of the company.

Mr. Correa has more than 23 years of experience in underground mining operations. He has worked for Minera Frisco, LuisMin, Genco Resources, Farallon, Silvermex and First Majestic Silver Corp. He has an in-depth knowledge of the Guitarra mine having served as Head Planning Engineer from 2001 to 2008, Mining Superintendent from 2010 to 2011, and Operations Manager from 2011 to 2013. Mr. Correa was also General Manager of Guitarra in 2013 and 2015. He is a graduate of the Autonomous University of Zacatecas with a degree in Mining and Metallurgical Engineering.

Gregory K. Liller, Sierra Madre Chief Operating Officer and Executive Chairman, states "We are delighted to welcome Francisco to lead our team at La Guitarra. He has a long and positive history with the mine operations, employees, and local community."





Photo of Mr. Correa showing banded high grade quarts vein in the Guitarra mine.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10436/210294_9b754734943e4be1_002full.jpg

Sierra Madre also announces that, pursuant to its Stock Option Plan, it has granted stock options to 60 employees of La Guitarra Compania Minera, S.A. DE C.V., certain directors, management and consultants to purchase an aggregate of 7,350,000 common shares of the Company at the price of $0.50 per share for a period of 5 years from the grant date. The options will vest 1/3 immediately as of the date of grant; 1/3 six months after the date of the grant; and 1/3 twelve months after the date of the grant. The Company also announces that it has granted stock options to a certain consultant to purchase an aggregate of 225,000 common shares of the company at the price of $0.50 per share for a period of 2 years from the grant date. The options will vest 1/3 immediately as of the date of grant; 1/3 six months after the date of the grant; and 1/3 twelve months after the date of the grant. This stock option grant is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Sierra Madre

Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. (TSXV: SM) (OTCQX: SMDRF) is a precious metals development and exploration company focused on evaluating the potential of restarting the La Guitarra Mine in the Temascaltepec mining district, Mexico, and the exploration and development of its Tepic property in Nayarit, Mexico. The La Guitarra Mine is a permitted, past-producing underground mine, which includes a 500 t/d processing facility that operated until mid-2018.

The +2,600 ha Tepic Project hosts low-sulphidation epithermal gold and silver mineralization with an existing historic resource.

Sierra Madre's management team has played key roles in managing the exploration and development of more than 22Moz gold and 600Moz silver in combined mineral reserves and mineral resources. Sierra Madre's team of professionals has collectively raised over $1 billion for mining companies.

On behalf of the board of directors of Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd.,

"Alexander Langer"

Alexander Langer

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

1-604-765-1604

Contact:

investor@sierramadregoldandsilver.com

Cautionary Note

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

SOURCE: Sierra Madre Gold and Silver

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210294
Three-team battle shaping up for Monaco GP victory

After a long period in Formula 1 of predictable Red Bull dominance, it is no longer so certain that Max Verstappen will simply win another race at Monaco.

Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Miami GP 2024

 McLaren

Although he won from pole at Imola a week ago, the race weekend overall showed that both McLaren and Ferrari are now nipping at the triple world champion's heels.

Perhaps Max sometimes is a bit faster, said Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur. "But we have a pack with six or seven cars in one tenth.

That means that for details you can move from hero to zero.

Indeed, with McLaren's 'B' 2024 car now up and running since Miami, Lando Norris - who won at Miami - was less than a single second behind Verstappen at the chequered flag at Imola.

McLaren are managing to get the tyres with the medium-hard and hard compounds into the optimal working window now, said Red Bull consultant Dr Helmut Marko.

They have come closer to us with their technical improvements, and they have recently put together the better package in terms of race setup, he told Speed Week.

Marko thinks it could be Ferrari's Charles Leclerc posing the strongest challenge this weekend in Monaco.

It will certainly be tighter than last year, he said. Leclerc is a force in qualifying in Monaco, and everyone knows that the grand prix is largely decided by qualifying.

When considering that Ferrari might be ahead of both Red Bull and McLaren on the tight Monaco streets, Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers told NOS: "I agree.

I think the Ferraris will grab the kerbs better there than the McLarens and the Red Bulls, he added.

I think it could be a Leclerc weekend, but then again it could also be (Carlos) Sainz. Or just Verstappen again," Lammers laughed.

Marko agrees, this time telling De Telegraaf newspaper: "I think this will be the most difficult race for us, also because of the bumps and kerbs.

We will definitely have to deal with McLaren and I also expect a lot from Ferrari and above all from Leclerc.

(GMM)
MBABANE - Audios accusing former Assistant Master of the High Court, Khanyisile Masilela, who is now the Deputy Registrar of the High Court, of allegedly receiving a bribe from the late businessman Sipho Thulani Tsetla Bhembes widow were played at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry yesterday.

The widow, Thabsile Bhembe, provided the audios as evidence to bolster accusations she levelled against Masilela when she appeared before the commission a few weeks ago, about Bhembes estate. Masilela, who is now the Deputy Registrar of the High Court, was accused of demanding payment from Thabsile to speed up the distribution of the estate. The former assistant master, according to Bhembes widow, allegedly wanted to be paid various amounts, which added up to almost E80 000, to quicken the process of distributing Bhembes estate.

Masilela is purported to have made the demands for payment on different occasions.

Wanted

It was reported that she received only E30 000 from the monies she allegedly wanted to be paid, some of which were paid in cash at the Corporate Place in Mbabane. Last week, Masilela was expected to appear before the commission, but she sent a lawyer to represent her. Lawyer Mlindi Mthethwa, representing Masilelas attorney Ben J Simelane, requested a postponement of the matter, citing short notice. Thabsile told the commission that she had evidence of all the assertions she made before the commission. She submitted that she had bank statements of the monies that were given to Masilela. She told the commission that if need be, the bank statements could be provided.

Testified

Adding, Thabsile testified before the commission that she had some recorded phone calls of herself and Masilela. She told the commission that the calls were recorded after she allegedly gave Masilela the E20 000 and when she made requests for the alleged E50 000. The commission showed an interest in hearing the call recordings. An Information Technology (IT) technician was called to assist in setting up the sound system within the commissions chambers. However, playing the audio on the chambers sound system proved futile, as the speakers were said to be malfunctioning. Three phone call audios were produced by Thabsile, which were played via her cellphone.

In the first audio, which played for a few seconds, two women were heard talking, in which the caller is heard saying; Uphose waticabanisa nam (you nearly spoiled our relationship).

The other woman on the other end is only heard laughing. In the second audio, which was about five minutes, two women were also heard conversing. One made the call to the other and explained that what she was about to say was not allowed, however, because they knew each other, it would not be a problem. The caller said, Please give me 50. From their conversation, it was not clear what the 50 meant. The receiver of the call responded by laughing and told the caller that she was in a meeting, she would talk to her associate and call her back.

The caller insisted on the aforementioned figure, saying she was not taking advantage of her, but she needed to fix something on her side. The woman receiving the call is heard saying she would engage her associate about the request, and would come back to her the following day. The caller is then heard saying; Ngitabe ngingasebenti kusasa (I wont be working tomorrow) and said this should be done urgently. In their conversation, the other woman insisted on talking to her associate first. Their conversation then proceeded to other issues that surrounded the estate, where they discussed how some of the issues in the estate could be addressed. The commission also got the opportunity to hear a third phone call recording between two women, purported to be Thabsile and Masilela.

In the audio, two women are heard planning a meeting to be held at a location, to be decided by both parties. The caller was heard saying, the other woman should find a perfect place where they would meet, at an appropriate time. The caller also suggested that the meeting should be at around 11am. After listening to the audios, the commissioners said they needed to be transcribed so that everyone could follow.

Audio

Furthermore, Thabsile told the commission that she had another audio, where she recorded the meeting that was allegedly arranged by Masilela. She told the commission that there were many recordings on her phone and she needed some time to sift through them. The commission gave her time to look for the audio; however, she did not find it. She promised to go over her phone, to look for the audio so that it could be played for the commission. The matter was then adjourned and the commission proposed that it should return sometime next week.

The commission stated that they would be guided by the secretary when the matter would return at a time convenient for all parties.

Ex-assistant master denies taking E20 000 from Tsetlas widow

MBABANE  Former Assistant Master Khanyisile Masilela has denied taking E20 000 from late businessman Sipho Thulani Tsetla Bhembes widow for personal gain. Masilela also denied having any meeting with the widow, Thabsile Bhembe, at Tandoori Restaurant in Mbabane. She made these remarks when appearing before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry yesterday. She appeared with her counsel, Ben J Simelane.

Masilela told the commission that a meeting they had with the deceaseds wife was through her lawyers, after she wrote a letter, allegedly complaining why she was not being appointed an executrix in her husbands estate, since she knew how to run the businesses. I then told her that she must not dispute the children. I then said she must not be the only executor in the estate. Gama was made an executor, while Thabsile the co-executrix, Masilela said. She told the commission that the two executors came to her office to inform her how the business was going. According to Masilela, they submitted a requisition of E60 000 for maintenance. She alleged that she released the money and continued with their work. She told the commission that she further requested receipts, but they were not submitted.

Approached

On another note, she informed the commission that the duo approached her and asked for the executors fees, which amounted to E28 000. She said they were allegedly the ones who even suggested that the money should be deposited into Gamas account. Simelane further asked her about the extra E30 000 which was included in the maintenance fees, which was to be shared among the three of them. In response, Masilela said: Kute intfo lenjalo (there is nothing like that) which I discussed with them, she said. Masilela informed the commission that a meeting was held in April 2023 for the opening of the second distribution account. She said it was the duty of the Masters Office to examine it first. The account was within the Masters Office between April and May. They then called again to find out what the delay was. I told them that an examiner by the name of Thobeka Dlamini was busy with that process, she said.

Masilela said she then informed the executors that the account was not balanced and, therefore, needed some corrections. In May, Masilela said she received another call from the duo, asking why it was taking so long to approve the distribution account. The three of us went to Tandoori, where we talked about what they were to find out from the progress of the account, she said. Judge Lorraine Hlophe asked her why they met at Tandoori. She said she was on leave and did not want to be perceived as taking the Masters Office as her own organisation. She said after that meeting, the examiner called to inform her that she was complete with her process, but some things were not balancing up. She recounted that the co-executrix made certain objections. She pointed out six points why the distribution account was not balanced.

Missing

She said: I told them that the account enriched one person. I also told them that services happening at Usuthu were missing. Usuthu was transferring a deposit of E220 000 per term. The second distribution account was excluded. I found that E850 000 was going to Thabsiles personal account. I also told them that a Sprinter working on cross-border trips was not included in the second distribution account. Another issue was that a Toyota Fortuner had been excluded in the estate. Also, no child benefitted in the distribution of the kombis, since each of them was supposed to get a kombi. On the other hand, Thabsile stood by her previous words and said she had proof of all that transpired.

Masilela removed me from estate - assistant master

MBABANE  Masilela removed me from the estate before she was transferred to the High Court. This was said by Thobeka Dlamini, the Mbabane Assistant Master, when asked who was finalising Sipho Tsetla Bhembes estate. Dlamini said she discovered that there was no provision for maintenance of the children. She, however, remained speechless when asked whether the provision for maintenance of the deceaseds children had been included.

She further told the commission that Khanyisile Masilela did not prepare any handover notes to her. She further said she was not aware of most of the points pertaining to Quantums or kombis being shared among the beneficiaries, as stated by the deputy registrar. Lindelwa Magagula said she would finalise the estate.
County hesitantly approves MOU with airport for terminal project funding

While both the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners and representatives from the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport expressed frustration about the circumstances surrounding the decision, the county commissioners approved several agreements with the airport to help support and potentially fund plans for the completion of the airport renovation projects that have been delayed.

"The gateway to our community is in disarray," Airport Director Devin Brubaker said, explaining the desire to finish construction on the airport's terminal project.

Brubaker spoke to the commissioners during Tu...
From the Office of Governor Mark Gordon

Governor Mark Gordon responded forcefully to an announcement by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that it had selected the No Leasing alternative in its Buffalo Coal Resource Management Plan Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The BLMs choice means it is all but determined that coal leasing in the Powder River Basin will not be permitted past 2041. The Governors statement follows:

With this latest barrage in President Joe Bidens ongoing attack on Wyomings coal country and all who depend upon it, he has demonstrated his lack of regard for the environment, for working people, and for reliable, dispatchable energy. This decision, compounded by the recent EPA rules, ensures President Bidens legacy will be about blackouts and energy poverty for Wyomings citizens and beyond.

All the cards are on the table now. At the highest levels the Biden Administration  including Interior Secretary Haaland  have shown a complete disregard for blue-collar workers and their families; local communities and neighborhood businesses; the aspirations of local governments and economic development entities; university scientists and others diligently working on viable solutions to climate concerns; as well as the livelihoods of power plant employees and anyone who relies on dependable, affordable, and attainable electricity.

This SEIS is not about making a well-informed decision. It is about Joe Bidens partisan, vindictive, and politically motivated war on Americas abundant, cheap, efficient, and consistent energy sources  one that holds practical and achievable goals to remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. This administration touts its preference for best available science yet only chooses to highlight the science that advances their job- and career-killing agenda.

As Governor, I am profoundly disappointed that our nations highest executive leadership has chosen to ignore innovation and opportunity to grovel at the feet of coastal elites. I promise that the State of Wyoming will fully utilize the opportunities available to kill or modify this Record of Decision before it is signed and final. The issues we face globally right now are too important and too urgent to dither away with incoherent policies and wrongheaded initiatives. As with the other attacks on Wyomings fossil fuel industries, the Attorney General is actively pursuing options to challenge these destructive decisions.
Dear Editor,

Last November, I wrote and sent a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris. I recently received a reply. In her letter, among other things, she said: Today, our Nation faces many challenges. Together, we are responding with what I call American Aspiration. American Aspiration is the ability to see what can be, unburdened by what has been. It is the determination to do, not only to dream. I see it in Americas innovators, educators, small business owners, and nurses. I see it in people like you. Although these are tough times, I have never been more hopeful about our Nations future...
EZULWINI  MTN Eswatini customers will now receive cashback when purchasing Lula Combos, which can be redeemed as MoMo and is paid out monthly.

The cashback is a percentage which would be proportional to the cost of the bundle purchased. This was said by MTN Eswatini Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wandile Mtshali during the launch of the Doing4U campaign designed to address the pay points and provide the solutions the companys customers were seeking. The launch was held at the MTN Eswatini headquarters yesterday morning.

Unpacking this initiative, Desire Ruhinguka, the Chief Marketing Officer at MTN Eswatini, said whenever a customer purchased Lula Combos, they would be accumulating points for themselves and when they reached a certain point they would then be able to redeem them as cashback and use it as they wished. Ruhinguka further revealed that Lula Combos validity has changed from weekly to monthly and has additional value. He said, unlike the old Lula combos, the new offers are allocated according to three segments; high-value customers, mass and youth. He said the segmented offers would improve over time with external partnerships for customer discounts.

Objectives

He said the objectives of these changes were to allow all customers to, not only connect, but to get value for their money. He said it was also aimed at showing that they have heard the voice of the customer and have provided a solution. Meanwhile, CEO Mtshali said they have always placed their customers at the heart of their operations, through the invaluable feedback they received through the number of surveys they conduct annually, they were able to continuously innovate for an improved customer experience, offering value for money in their products and services. He said their customers have highlighted key issues such as data validity, value, and pricing. He said in response to these concerns, they were launching their new campaign, Doing4U designed to address these pain points. He said the key to their strategy was the provision of reliable and affordable products and services.

He stated that the Doing4U campaign was more than just a campaign; it was a commitment to reviewing their price offerings, ensuring that they meet customers halfway under the prevailing economic challenges.

Affordable

Our goal is to ensure that every LiSwati has full access to the benefits of the new digital world by enabling access to affordable data services, he said. He highlighted that in 2022, they reduced data prices by 22 per cent and 19 per cent in 2023, a commitment to bringing their strategic intent to life, year-on-year.
Local law enforcement was celebrated last week as part of National Police Week, and they also came out to show their support for other organizations, like Special Olympics Wyoming.

National Police Week is officially recognized as May 12 through 18, with May 15 being Peace Officers Memorial Day to recognize officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. On Peace Officers Memorial Day, Red White Buffalo hosted the fifth annual National Police Week Memorial Service outside their shop. Representatives from local and state law enforcement agencies came out for the event, which included a static...
Green River fourth grader Rowan Kinney from Harrison Elementary School is raising funds to be able to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum: Pathways to STEM event.

Rowan was nominated by his teacher, Melanee Litz, in honor of his "maturity and academic excellence" and his "leadership potential."

"NYLF Pathways to STEM is a unique learning experience for bright, forward-thinking elementary school students who will evolve into next generation innovators, engineers, doctors, software developers, and scientists," the Envision Experience website explains. "NYLF Pathways to STEM is a fantastic...
Grandmas Home 56 W. 22nd St., nr. Sixth Ave. Green-tea clay-pot chicken. Photo: Teddy Wolff

The chicken at Grandmas Home, a two-month-old restaurant in Flatiron, is a must-order: A server lifts the lid off a clay pot to reveal the whole bronzed bird underneath, a line of tea leaves and goji berries strewn across the backbone and a still-bubbling pool of concentrated chicken and green-tea jus underneath. The meat is yielding enough for them to dislodge the carcass with just a fork and spoon, leaving diners to pluck their desired pieces. It nearly falls off the bone after hours of baking under the tight seal and being finished on the stove to reduce the sauce. The cooking process seems to imbue the meat with its own gravy; even the breast pieces facing the bottom of the pot are  to put it delicately  succulent.

Thanks to the 200-plus locations of Grandmas Home in China, this chicken  which is $48 and designed to feed three or four people  is already very famous, and now the bird has made its overseas debut here in Manhattan at the newest Grandmas Home. Despite its name, the restaurant is not a rustic abode, nor does it feel like a franchise with its stone walls, contemporary art, and dining areas separated by carved wooden screens. You would never know it was an import but for the food, which was clearly practiced and perfected before arriving Stateside.

Grandmas Home specializes in the cuisine of Hangzhou province, where it first began. Hangzhou is most renowned for its Longjing green tea, also known as Dragonwell, hence the clay-pot chicken. Slices of yellow croaker also get the clay-pot treatment, this time roasted over a bed of whole garlic cloves that perfume the fish and the table.

The company has built a reputation for other things as well. The mapo tofu was once sold in China for the equivalent of 50 cents; the price has gone up but is still a reasonable $12 in New York. The sweet-and-sour pork is cubes of braised meat that are crisped and clad in a vinegary sauce. It is not like any version of the dish Ive had before. In the vegetable-heavy fried rice, each grain maintains its chew, while bouncy scallion noodles get their fresh onion flavor from an infused oil. For vegetables, there is bright-green choy sum, chopped and cooked just until the thick stems acquire a tender snap and sprinkled with translucent white dried baby shrimp, and blistered stir-fried string beans speckled with chile and ground-beef crumbles that are rendered until they resemble chicharron. You should order both.

There are nods throughout to current dining trends, like the black truffle in the tofu-skin rolls. Julia Zhu, the U.S. managing partner and daughter of one of the chains founders, said she wanted to focus on cocktails and an extended wine list in New York. (My friend and I were delighted with the $60 bottle of Macon-Villages we ordered.)

My favorite dish on the menu was another house spin on a classic: youtiao, or fried cylinders of dough typically consumed plain with soy milk for breakfast. At Grandmas Home, the hollow doughnuts are stuffed with shrimp paste before frying and served hot with a squiggle of honey mayo and a sprinkle of pineapple and lime zest.
According to a source close that spoke to Korean publication TheElec, Samsung is once again betting on a single-chip strategy for its upcoming foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6.

This report refutes earlier leaks suggesting Samsung is finally implementing the dual-chip strategy with its foldable handsets. However, it is quick to point out that the decision to go for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip instead of mixing it with the Exynos 2400 has nothing to do with performance concerns, and it has everything to do with cost-effectiveness.

Developing a device using two different platforms, in this case, the Exynos 2400 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, requires more resources for both development and after-sales support. Samsung seems to have done the math and concluded that it won't sell enough units to offset the added cost of going the dual-chip route.

That's not to say Samsung is expecting poor sales. Tha Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip lineups are gaining momentum with each year, but relative popularity compared to the Galaxy S series is still low.



Galaxy Z Flip6 case renders

In addition, Roland Quandt shared a set of case renders showing the Galaxy Z Flip6 and Z Fold6 designs, which doesn't add anything new to the already existing specs sheet, but he believes the case renders come from a reputable company further adding credibility to the images.

Galaxy Z Fold6 case render

Source 1 | Source 2
EZULWINI  Asibebete umsekenya.

This phrase, which loosely means being beyond reproach, was used by the Prime Minister (PM), Russell Mmiso Dlamini, when advising members of the House of Assembly Portfolio Committee of the PMs Office stance against corruption. He said corruption had become a huge cartel and corrupt people did not have the interest of the country at heart. Dlamini said such people wanted everyone to be corrupt. He stated that it did not matter the position, but if they hindered efforts to fight corruption, they were against curbing same and they were known. He said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and police were also there to assist in this regard. The PM said the escalating level of corruption was destroying the country and had roots. He stated that there were corrupt individuals who were fighting that those who were not corrupt should be sabotaged and get them arrested and not succeed in life as they were a threat.

Legislators

He said if the legislators had umsekenya (things they did not want to be known), it was easy for the media to use that against them and they could find themselves having taken a decision that they may not have taken if they were clean. Dlamini urged the legislators not to take money from those who would lobby them. Let us refuse to be influenced to make the wrong decisions through money and through lobbying, but look at whether the country is benefitting through the decisions we take. He said they should look at the issue they were urged to support critically, on whether it would be of benefit to the country and take a decision based on all the above-mentioned components. Avoid making a decision because someone has given you money to vote or support a particular idea.

This, he said, would destroy the country as people who had money would approach them and as a result pass laws that would lead the nation to another path to benefit those with money, even if they were not locals. He said this had happened in the past Parliament, where legislators who took legitimate decisions were not voted back into the House. The PM stated that the reason was that their decisions were unpopular with certain people in power, who did not like them. Dlamini said this was not how the current Parliament should operate. Let us open our eyes and ears and analyse this carefully, and if there is something which is not right, it should be exposed. He said the legislators should come out clean and expose those who wanted to give them money to gain favours. The PM said the MPs could even take the money to present it as evidence.

According to Dlamini, it did not matter who was lobbying or asking for the favour. The PM added that there was still a chance to repent for those who might have fallen into the trap of corruption. He advised that they should become upright from today going forward. Furthermore, the PM added that government departments should have the mindset of being ambitious in order for the country to be able to come up with strategies, among others, to reduce poverty by creating wealth. If you create wealth, you are reducing poverty. Dlamini said it was very important that as government and MPs, they reconsidered their way of thinking. Emphasising, he said: We all must understand that our thinking is mostly influenced by what we read and watch. This has led to the way we look down upon ourselves as a nation.

Dlamini mentioned that for instance, most of the buildings in the country were small in size. In 10 years time, he said, they would even be smaller, because they have been influenced to think small. I will give another example, the PM stated that some years ago, His Majesty King Mswati III shared his vision of building a highway in Eswatini and many people were opposed to the idea and thought it was not necessary. However, Dlamini said time had proven that even the highways in the country were no longer sufficient to accommodate our traffic volumes. With these examples, the PM said he was trying to make the legislators understand that it was time they started thinking big and be confident of who they were and be patriotic while doing so. To change the mindset of people, he stated that there was a need for quality education, which is why they had charged the Ministry of Education and Training to review the entire education system to ensure that it is world-class and fits into His Majestys vision of a First World country - from primary level all the way to tertiary.
The Philippine House of Representatives on Wednesday night unanimously adopted a resolution urging the countrys Department of Foreign Affairs to undertake a concerted effort to request that the U.S. president include the Philippines in the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Guam-CNMI visa waiver program.

This comes more than a month after Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros letter to US President Joe Biden, asking the White House to allow those from the Philippines to be able to travel to Guam without being required a U.S. visa.

Guams elected officials under different administrations have been pushing for the idea for decades now, but the White House has so far not considered the request.

We want to thank Congressman Rufus Rodriguez and Romy Go for moving this resolution through the Philippine House of Representatives. The Filipino Guam-CNMI visa waiver will be a game changer for Guam and the CNMI, Guam Visitors Bureau general manager Carl Gutierrez said Thursday.

Philippine House Resolution 332 was first introduced by Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez in 2022, in consultation with GVB.

A similar resolution was introduced in the Philippine Senate by former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Gutierrez said.

According to the latest resolution, the criteria for a program country designation stresses passport security, a non-immigrant visa refusal rate below three per centum (3%), as well as reciprocal visa waivers for U.S. passport holdersthe Philippine passport now ranks as the 77th most powerful with access to 66 nations without a visa, up five spots from calendar year 2021.

In the past, the big concern was potential overstays. Now the Philippine economy boasts an economy in the metro Manila area showing 40% in the middle-income bracket. Potential overstays will be minimal if any, GVBs Gutierrez said.

Currently, Philippine tourists can visit Guam with a U.S. visa. However, due to the high number of applications for a U.S. visa in the Philippines, processing wait times can be very long, approvals are not guaranteed, and the $160 filing fee is not refundable.

The Guam visa waiver program currently provides visa-free entry to citizens of 12 countries: Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

The Philippine House resolution states that Guam Visitors Bureau statistics indicate that the individual spending habits of Filipinos who visit Guam often exceed those of visitors from the Guam visitor industrys primary source markets of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

Gutierrez cited Guams large Filipino population as another reason why the visa waiver should be granted.

It makes sense that the U.S. government consider granting our greatest ally in the Indo-Pacific sphere to make it possible for relatives and friends to fly more easily and readily for just a three-hour flight.

The resolution adds that upwards of 70,000 Filipinos residing in Guam beckon their families to visit them and hundreds of H-2B visa workers now residing in Guam also wish to be visited by their families.
PHOTOS: Check out our third gallery of readers' photos from Typhoon Mawar
Over the past several months, protests over the Israel-Hamas war have erupted at more than 130 colleges and universities across the country, as thousands of students flex their First Amendment right to demonstrate their opposition to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

However, speculation over whether all the protesters are genuinely committed to the cause  or are instead driven by financial incentives  has grown.

In Florida, the Tampa Bay Times reports that since April 18, 37 people have been arrested on campuses across the state. And students at the University of Florida and the University of South Florida, have claimed they were threatened with tear gas and rubber bullets.

The ongoing discord prompted Floridas Gov. Ron DeSantis to threaten students involved with expulsion.

At places like Columbia and Yale, Hamas protesters rule the roost, and the universities are too weak and scared to do anythingeven as these mobs harass Jewish students and faculty.



If you try that at a Florida university, you are going to be expelled. pic.twitter.com/pY1VkoiTwn  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 25, 2024

Meanwhile Florida chapters of the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union and six other organizations have issued strong statements against censorship on Floridas campuses.

Paid to protest?

Former President Donald Trump has openly claimed that protests at Columbia University featured paid agitators.

But while The Hill reported theres no evidence that any protester at Columbia, or any other university protest, is paid, earlier this month, The New York Times confirmed that Lisa Fithian, a woman publicly described by police as a confirmed professional agitator who earns $300 a day to teach protest tactics, was among Columbias protesters.

Further, according to Columbia University, about 30% of the people arrested at Columbias Hamilton Hall protest on April 30, had no affiliation with the school.

And at least one public relations firm that pays people to show up to protests in exchange for pay, says its received more than 200 requests for the services of professional protesters related to the Israel-Hamas war, from more than 100 different donors and groups.

Based in Beverly Hills, California, Crowds on Demand hires (and pays) professional protesters to participate in demonstrations of public outrage or objection. And according to the companys CEO, Adam Swart, approximately 100 of these requests were tied to campus demonstrations, that he claims came from many different groups and donors including high profile donors many folks would recognize.

But according to Swart, despite the demand, theyve elected to stay out of it.

We dont want to simply be part of the noise, Swart said. My objective is to take up unique campaigns raising awareness and advancing underreported issues and nuanced perspectives. I am open to taking on a campaign on the Israel/Palestine matter but only if it fits that mold.

Yes, professional (or paid) protesters are a real thing and while Crowds on demand is currently claiming no involvement in any protests related to the Israel-Hamas war, their paid protesters do get around.

The business of paid protesters

Recently the company made headlines for recruiting individuals who are more than seven feet tall and weigh over 300 pounds, to join its team of professional protesters. And Swart said they did find a couple of seven footers and several more who are close enough to fill the spots.

In March, as a global artificial intelligence tech conference got underway in San Jose, California, a mob adorned in cat ears and matching Accelerate Catgirl Research t-shits, stood at the entrance, chanting, We have only begun to meow.

The protest made headlines and when it was over, each person had earned an extra $200-$300 as paid protesters, courtesy of Crowds on Demand. The whole thing was organized by ImgnAI, an Ai startup who wanted to promote their product under the guise of protesting AI censorship.

In New Orleans, the Entergy power company, alledgedly paid actors from Crowds on Demand to disrupt a city council meeting and advocate for a new power plant. The Lens reported the actors were paid $60 to attend meetings and $200 to speak on behalf of the plant.

Swart founded Crowds on Demand as a college student at UCLA in 2012 because, he said, he understood the power of a crowd to shape peoples perceptions.

The same speech by a politician has a different meaning if it is given in front of 1,000 people instead of 10, Swart said. A routine conference becomes controversial when 50 protesters are outside  an ordinary product launch becomes a newsworthy event when delivered with fanfare and flair.

How much can you earn as a professional protester?

Swart said pay depends on the location and duration of the event as well as the cause in question.

While location and duration are self-explanatory Swart said its the cause that determines pay because he claims, they only source people who truly believe in the cause to participate.

So, finding environmental activists is easy but identifying passionate articulate advocates for a more obscure cause might be more expensive, Swart said. Typical pay is around a few hundred dollars for a full day of work.

Paid protester provider opts out of Israel-Hamas war  for now

When it comes to protests surrounding the Israel-Hamas war, Swart said, thus far, the requests have been focused on repeating the same talking points everyone has heard a million times.

And while, he wouldnt go into specifics, he did admit that some of those requests included particular requirements related to certain factors, like age, build and ethnicity, but Swart said, Its not going to advance the dialogue or make a bit of difference.

I like to take on campaigns where we can make a difference, educate people about important issues and ultimately convince people to see things our way, Swart said. If an opportunity to do that comes along, Ill take it. Until then, Im staying out.

He did, however, extend an offer to mediate between campus demonstrators and administrators on a solution to allow demonstrators on both sides to make their voices heard while allowing campus life to return to normal and graduations (those that havent already happened) to take place.

I believe I am well suited to mediate given my stance as a First Amendment advocate and believer in peaceful assembly/protest but also my public criticism of pro-Palestine demonstrators for their rhetoric and their tactics, Swart said. I cant create peace in the Middle East, but I can mediate a long-lasting solution on college campuses.
MBONDZELA  The suspects who were taken in for questioning led the police to a place where clothes believed to have been worn by the missing Mbondzela security guard were found.

This happened on the third day of the search for the missing security guard, Vukani Mkhwanazi. Police officers took the search for Mkhwanazi to about six kilometres from where they started on the first day. The law enforcers were in the company of two suspects, who are assisting them with information to find the missing security guard. Mkhwanazi went missing while on duty at Mbondzela in the Shiselweni Region on May 18, 2024, at around 4pm.

Eyewitness

On the day that Mkhwanazi was last seen, according to an eyewitness, he had set out to look for livestock along the boundaries of the farm and came across a group of unknown people. The unknown people are suspected to be members of political parties, as they were allegedly seen wearing the same clothes around the area previously. It was said that the unknown people jumped over a fence to the road, where they met Mkhwanazi. He is said to have panicked and made a quick call to one of his colleagues, whom he told about the people he had spotted. Yesterday, during what was supposed to be a pointing out, the two suspects took the police deep into the forests, about a three-hour walk from where Mkhwanazi spotted the unknown people.

Police went to the specific area around 8am without the media and Mkhwanazis family. After about three hours, the family and the media were taken to the scene. Upon arrival, the police briefed them on how they got to that spot. Gege Station Commander Superintendent Pholani Nxumalo shared with the family that one of the suspects was from the Mbondzela community, while another was apprehended around Matsapha. They shared that the two led them to the place where they had assembled, which was where the suspects claimed to have last seen the missing Mkhwanazi. The suspects stated that they walked with Mkhwanazi for about six kilometres and stopped where the clothes were found. They alleged that they were four in number when they abducted Mkhwanazi and walked with him until they reached the area where the clothes were found.

The duo alleged that the other two, who are at large, told them to wait there as they were not supposed to see anything beyond that. It is alleged that these two people who are at large, went away and returned about 30 minutes later and they all went back. At the scene, the clothes that Mkhwanazi was last seen wearing were discovered in water. These were a navy blue pair of jeans, grey jacket, an orange and brown buffer as well as brown half boots. According to the police, Mkhwanazi went missing with a firearm; a panzer pump action that was loaded with 10 live rounds of ammunition; however, it was not found. Also found at the scene was a black cap that allegedly belonged to one of the four people who abducted Mkhwanazi.

The family, at first, kept their distance, as they allowed the police to conduct the search. After some time, some of the family members climbed the mountain to look around.

More family members, including the missing guards father, joined after two K9 sniffer dogs kept making rounds in one area. A drone was also used to search for the missing person, but could not be of much assistance as the scene where the clothes were found was bushy and it could not move around. The police were of the view that the missing man wouldnt be found very far from where the clothes, were discovered, but it was not the case. The police then considered searching for Mkhwanazi in the bushes and with the help of a family member and Mbondzela guards as well as K9 Security Company. There were three sniffer dogs from different companies that assisted in the search. The dogs were followed by police officers who were also searching around.

The search was eventually stopped around 5pm. The Gege station commander shared that the police would be on the lookout on the mountains to make sure that there were no movements during the search. He stated that they were working with police officers from different departments in the region to locate the missing Mkhwanazi. During the search yesterday, the two suspects were at the scene and were heavily guarded by the police.




Haiti - Politic : Important meeting of the CPT on the establishment of the National Security Council





On Wednesday May 22, 2024, the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) held an important meeting concerning the establishment of the National Security Council (CNS). This meeting brought together national experts, professionals from the diaspora as well as other personalities, in accordance with articles 25, 26 and 27 of the Agreement of April 3rd, 2024.



The main objective of this meeting was to define an effective response to the various aspects of the security crisis facing our country.



Under this Agreement, the CNS is responsible for defining and overseeing arrangements for international security assistance, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2699.



This mission will be accomplished in close consultation with all stakeholders concerned, as well as national and international experts.



Download the agreement of April 3rd (PDF in French, 14 pages) :: https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/accord-politique-pour-une-transition-pacifique-et-ordonnee.pdf



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Haiti - News : Zapping...





Election in December 2025...

Lesly Voltaire, member of the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT), confided during an interview on France 24 that the Council intended to hold elections in Haiti in December 2025 so that the new elected officials, including the President, take office in Parliament on February 7, 2026.



"400 mawozo" sows terror in Thomazeau

Tuesday May 21, men from the "400 mawozo" gang attacked the town of Thomazeau. At least 4 people were killed, around twenty houses burned and institutional premises looted.



4 sub-police stations seriously damaged

4 police sub-stations have suffered serious damage following attacks by armed bandits in recent days. These are the police sub-stations in Martissant, Portail Leogane, Pont-Rouge and Cesselesse in Lilavois.



Bassin bleu : at least 50 injured including 10 serious

A "large-scale whirlwind" and not a tornado as reported by certain media, specifies the Hydro Meteorological Unit (UHM) hit Bassin Bleu: Provisional assessment more than 50 injured including 10 seriously, more than 200 houses destroyed, 300 families without shelter... Humanitarian organizations, the Directorate of Civil Protection and the Haitian Red Cross are providing first aid and assessing the damage.



The CPT congratulates the new President of Taiwan

The Presidential Transitional Council (PTC) congratulated Lai Cheng-te, the newly elected President of Taiwan (Republic of China) and wished him every success in carrying out his new duties for the benefit of the Taiwanese people.



Cleaning in Cite Soleil is progressing

The cleaning, removal and dredging work of canals continues in the commune of Cite Soleil by the Departmental Directorate of the West. Started on Monday May 20, 2024, these activities intensify on Boulevard desAmeriques at the entrance to the Wharf Jeremie neighborhood.



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The Russian Ministry of Defence on Tuesday published a proposal for re-drawing the sea borders on grounds that current nautical maps, which are founded on measurements dating back to 1985, do not fully correspond to modern cartographical coordinates.

EXPERTS AND POLITICIANS in Finland have called for calm following reports that Russia is intent on re-drawing its borders with Finland and Lithuania in the Baltic Sea.

The proposal was deleted the following day, according to a report by Reuters.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Wednesday stated to Helsingin Sanomat that Finland is looking into the situation, assuring that the public have no need for concern. He revealed that even though it is possible that the proposal was released as part of a hybrid operation, the latest information points simply to a misjudgement.

The current information isnt too different from the information we had in the morning. Thats to say were still looking carefully into what this is about. And now the latest that weve received is that theres been some kind of a misjudgement, he said to the daily newspaper yesterday afternoon.

I dont think theres need for any kind of concern. Either it could be a hybrid operation, or it could be a pure accident. Thats why you shouldnt react too strongly.

The incident, he added, has no effect on how the security situation is perceived in Finland.

This is simply yet another indication that were well equipped to tolerate different potential hybrid operations, commented Stubb. With the European elections coming up, it isnt difficult to imagine that different kinds of hybrid influence operations and whatnot could pop up. Lets maintain our media literacy.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) similarly did not rule out the possibility of a hybrid operation but highlighted that thus far no evidence of such has emerged, according to YLE. Russia, he viewed, is most likely referring to a routine border measurement.

No matter how intriguing it may be to think about different scenarios, Id urge everyone for calm. Russia has after all wanted to communicate its intentions outward already at this stage, he remarked at a news conference on Wednesday.

Orpo said Finnish authorities are monitoring the situation constantly and have used diplomatic channels to reach out to Russia.

YLE on Wednesday also wrote that two experts in hybrid threats believe the proposal may have been published by accident.

Panu Moilanen, a lecturer at the University of Jyvaskyla, told the public broadcasting company that the proposal may point to a standard measurement of territorial waters, a process that is allowed under the UN Law of the Sea Convention.

I wouldnt rule out the possibility that a party would like to define its borders more accurately with more modern technology. And given that documents have been drawn up about it and published online, they were found by accident, so to say, he analysed.

He admitted that it is interesting that the documents were later deleted. Maybe it tells something about the possibility that they werent supposed to be there in the first place.

If the release was indeed an accident, it could well be a happy one for Moscow, according to Moilanen. In a way this could be an accidental but successful hybrid operation because it received so much attention in Finland.

Jukka Savolainen, the director of resilience and vulnerabilities at the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, similarly viewed that it is likely that the proposal relates to a desire to update territorial waters. Its release, he added, initially provoked an overblown response in Finland.

I think we made a mountain out of a molehill, a storm in a teacup, he said to YLE.

Savolainen also urged against drawing firm conclusions about the possibility that the proposal is part of a hybrid influence operation.

There were calls for a firmer response, too. Charly Salonius-Pasternak, a senior researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, told Helsingin Sanomat that Finland should dispatch Navy or Border Guard vessels to the Gulf of Finland in response to the proposal to demonstrate its disapproval with what he described as a unilateral announcement about re-drawing the border.

A quick and determined response, he argued, is warranted specifically because the proposal was likely released to provoke a response from Finland. A failure to produce one could lead Moscow to draw the conclusion that Finland does not value its borders and does not have the courage to act to safeguard them.

Russias actions align with its view that a great power is a great power thats capable of making these kinds of unilateral announcements and ignoring smaller countries, he said to the newspaper.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Local B&B among Southern Living's '20 Friendliest Places in the South'

No stranger to state and regional recognition, the Bed & Breakfast on Tiffany Hill in Mills River, has received another big shoutout. It's among the "20 Friendliest Places in the South," Southern Living says.

The magazine asked readers to share a hospitality experience in their travels that stood out.

"Narrowing down thousands of nominations for hotels, restaurants, stores, small towns, nonprofits, and more was no small feat, but it was very uplifting," Carolanne Griffith Roberts wrote. "As these 20 stand-outs show, Southerners go above and beyond to take care of one another."

What Tiffany Hill guests cited most were the "Breakfasts to Write Home About."

"At the Bed & Breakfast on Tiffany Hill, the morning provisions include a dessert coursethats our kind of place," Roberts wrote. "'You have the rest of the day to work it off,' reasons owner Selena Einwechter. Bring your appetite: In one sitting you may be served bananas Foster followed by savory or sweet treats like French toast or baked ham with grits plus a bit of dessert, which could be anything from lemon pot de creme to pecan pie. Hardly a gulp-and-go spot, its more of a linger-and-learn experience as Einwechter outlines the sites in nearby Asheville and the surrounding North Carolina mountains."

Tiffany Hill is at 44 Ray Hill Road, Mills River.

Also making the list was Mast General's original location in Valle Crucis. Each of the 11 locations, including ours in the 500 block of Main Street, "boasts genuine creaking floors, the kid-favorite candy barrels with retro sweets such as caramel bulls-eyes, kitchen items like cast-iron skillets, and an extensive line of delicious foods including apple butter and peach salsa," the magazine observed.

So did Chai Pani, an award-winning Asheville restaurant that lifts up of Indian street food. Address: 22 Banks Avenue.
SHE was the charismatic German model who earned the title Queen of the groupies because of her relationship with not one but three of the Rolling Stones in the Sixties.

Now the documentary Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg (15), which opens at the Henley Regal Picturehouse this week, mines a wealth of archive material to bring this force of nature to cinematic life.

Guitarist Keith Richards, father of her three children, admits he was bursting with love for her but it was a chance encounter with Stones founder Brian Jones at a concert in Munich that kicked off her role as muse to the young London rockers.

Two years with Jones were followed by 13 with Richards, during which she appeared in the movie Barbarella with Jane Fonda, and in Performance with Mick Jagger, with whom she also had an affair.

Pallenberg, who battled drug and alcohol addiction her whole life, died from complications from hepatitis in 2017 at the age of 75.

Her voice for the film is provided by Scarlett Johansson and there are contributions from, among others, Richards and supermodel Kate Moss.

It has a running time of 1 hour, 53 minutes.

Also new this week is IF (U)  no, not a remake of the 1968 boarding school drama but a family friendly film starring Ryan Reynolds, the letters in the title standing for Imaginary Friends.

The brainchild of director John Krasinski, best known to date for the horror film A Quiet Place, this part animation features the vocal talents of a host of big names to inhabit the imaginary friends that children discard once they grow up.

Matt Damon, Steve Carell, George Clooney, Emily Blunt and Bradley Cooper all bring their oddball characters to comedic life as Reynolds and his young neighbour, played by Cailey Fleming, set out to reunite the creatures with the adults that used to be their friends.

The films running time is 1 hour, 44 minutes.

If youre planning a holiday in the Mediterranean this summer, you might want to watch Two Tickets to Greece (15), a French language comedy romance in which two mismatched childhood friends reunite to take the holiday theyd always dreamed of.

The film stars Laure Calamy, Olivia Cote and Kristin Scott Thomas and has a running time of 1 hour, 55 minutes.

The Fall Guy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes both continue.

Julie Hanson
A CAR meet that took place in Henley on Sunday night was attended by about 1,000 people.

It took place in the car park at the Tesco store off Reading Road from 9.30pm to 11pm.

Drivers performed tricks, such as drags and doughnuts, accompanied by loud music played from car speakers.

A mobile food van was also at the event, which comes just weeks after a permanent barrier was installed to try to prevent boy racers getting into the car park out of hours.

The drivers managed to get into the car park after one vehicle was said to have parked under the barrier to prevent it from closing.

An eyewitness, who lives near Tesco, told the Henley Standard that Tesco staff could only watch and were unsure what to do.

He said: I got a call from somebody who said the racers were back as there were a couple of dozen cars lining the road outside.

I didnt hear it initially but I went down and had a look and it was absolutely jam-packed.

There was a patch where theyd done doughnuts and haltered stops, leaving tyre marks on the ground and causing lots of smoke from the burning rubber of their tyres. There was a food van there with a queue of about 20 people and a car was parked playing music really loudly. The atmosphere wasnt aggressive and it didnt seem dangerous but there was a strong smell of weed, burning tyres and food from the van.

The car meets, which now number 15, have caused rows between residents and the town council, which owns the land, and led former councillor Sam Evans to warn someone is going to get killed.

The council, which leases the land to Tesco, said it didnt want automatic recognition cameras being used as it would affect people using the neighbouring facilities at Jubilee Park.

Instead Tesco installed the permanent barrier and tasked its duty managers with ensuring that all cars are out of the car park before it closes at 9.30pm.

Ms Evans, 57, who lives in Mill Lane, said she had heard the revving of engines and loud music on Sunday.

She said: I cant believe theyre back. I thought we had got rid of them.

Mayor Rory Hunt said he was appalled to learn of the car meet, adding: This antisocial and intimidatory behaviour is not acceptable and the council will continue to work with the police, Tesco and others to prevent future recurrences.

A council spokeswoman said: We are in discussions with Tesco to see what else can be done.

A Tesco spokesman said: The antisocial behaviour that took place in the car park was disruptive for customers and colleagues and we apologise. We continue to work with local police and advise local residents with concerns to contact the police to help them keep a log of any incidents.

Our guidance to our colleagues is always that they should put their safety first and we would never ask them to put themselves in harms way. They will always alert the police when incidents like this happen.

Police wouldnt comment.
Adult day-care services can be invaluable for caregivers and their loved ones at any stage, and enrolling seniors in day programs early in their elder journey can benefit everyone involved. Fortunately, finding the right program for you or the seniors in your life is easier than ever as more and more adult day-care providers emerge.

Initially, caregivers may face pressure from well-meaning acquaintances to consider day care. It's essential to consider these suggestions but assert boundaries. When ready, seek advice from supportive sources.

Valid concerns about quality and cost should be addres...
This story was originally published on My Jewish Learning.

(JTA) - My son's hair is more unruly than usual, though that's typical for this time of year. In our family, we follow the custom of not cutting our hair during the Omer, the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot.

The Omer is treated as a time of mourning - first marking the deaths of many thousands of Jews in the Bar Kochba revolt and subsequent plague in 132 CE, and later taking on significance as the time of year when Ashkenazi Jews frequently experienced pogroms.

In a few days, we'll get a reprieve - a picnic, maybe a haircut - on t...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) - The International Bible Contest, an Israeli Independence Day tradition that features contestants from all over the world, will be held at the Jerusalem Theater on Tuesday with 16 youths competing-12 from the Diaspora and four from Israel.

All will vie for the title of World Bible Champion. The final list of contestants was determined through a qualifying exam held during a Bible camp preceding the event. As part of that process, contestants tour the country, meet figures such as Chief Rabbi David Lau, and visit Yad Vashem and the Western Wall in Jerusalem, in addition...
(JTA)  On Tuesday night, the president of Sonoma State University sent an email to his school community announcing an academic boycott of Israel and other concessions to pro-Palestinian protesters on his campus.

On Wednesday afternoon, he sent another surprising message: He was taking a leave of absence.

In my attempt to find agreement with one group of students, I marginalized other members of our student population and community, Mike Lee wrote in the second email. I realize the harm that this has caused, and I take full ownership of it. I deeply regret the unintended consequences of my...
The Eleventh Annual Commemoration of the largest mass arrest of Rabbis in US History will take place outdoors at the Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront, 32 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, at noon, Tuesday, June 18. This 30-minute event sponsored by the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society, is free and all are welcome.

On June 18, 1964, at the request of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 16 rabbis and a Reform Jewish administrator in St. Augustine were arrested and held in the St. Johns County Jail. Overnight, they wrote a letter, titled "Why We Went to St. Augustine," that will be...
(JNS)  Egypt has rejected an Israeli proposal to work together with Israel to reopen the Rafah Crossing into the Gaza Strip and manage its operation jointly, two security sources in Cairo told Reuters on Thursday.

The Egyptian government demands the crossing be managed only by Palestinians, the sources said, adding that Jerusalem had offered a mechanism for how to manage the crossing after its forces withdraw.

Officials from the Israel Security Agency presented the plan during a visit to Cairo on Wednesday, amid rising tension between the two countries following Israels military advance last...
(JTA)  An Iranian Jew who has been sentenced to death has reportedly received a one-month stay of execution after a global pressure campaign that included calls for prayer in Persian Jewish communities around the world.

The stay came as Iran was plunged into political turmoil when a helicopter carrying its president and foreign minister crashed under unclear circumstances. President Ebrahim Raisi is known by the nickname Butcher of Tehran for his role in overseeing executions in the country, whose top official is the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Arvin Ghahremani, 20, had been sche...
(JNS) - "Our unity gives us as much protection as our army. We need it just as much to secure our existence," Sapir Cohen, who spent 55 days in Hamas captivity, told JNS on Monday.

On Oct. 6, on the eve of Simchat Torah, Cohen and her boyfriend, Alex Trufanov, drove to Kibbutz Nir Oz to spend the holiday with his parents.

The next morning, they woke up to loud explosions.

"We hid under the bed. There was nowhere else to hide. Then, I heard screams of 'Allahu Akbar.' Terrorists were yelling and there were cries of victims they were executing. I quickly understood that they were entering every h...
(JNS)  Israel remains committed to destroying Hamas in Gaza, including its remaining battalions in Rafah, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone call overnight Sunday.

Gallant, according to the Defense Ministrys readout of the call, emphasized that the IDF is conducting a precision operation in the city along the border with Egypts Sinai Peninsula, including securing the Gaza side of the Rafah Crossing, which Israels military took operational control of last week.

For its part, the Biden administration is opposed to a full-scale ground invasi...
(JNS)  The Hamas terrorist organization has profited at least $500 million off humanitarian aid coming into the Gaza Strip since the start of the war on Oct. 7, according to a report that aired on Israels Channel 12 last week.

Veteran analyst Ehud Yaari, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told the broadcaster on Thursday that, according to a calculation he made with a friendI dont know if Im allowed to mention his name, Hamas earned no less than half a billion dollars from the aid.

We provide [this] for them, said the Arab affairs analyst, adding: We need to...
(JTA)  The prosecutor for the International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as well as the leadership of Hamas for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The charges Karim Khan announced Monday against Netanyahu and Gallant  the first ever to charge Israeli leaders by name  echo accusations Israels critics have made for months surrounding the war in Gaza: They include starvation as a means of war, willful killing and intentionally targeting civilians and crimes against humanity, including exterminati...
(JTA)  The student encampment at Cornell University is disbanding, in a rare instance of a campus pro-Palestinian protest dissolving on its own.

Encampments at a series of other schools have ended only after schools made agreements with protesters or called in police. Police action has led to thousands of arrests, chaotic scenes of violence and accusations of suppressing free speech. Agreements with protesters have incurred the wrath of many in the organized Jewish community, who argue that the encampments should face consequences for encouraging antisemitic behavior.

On Tuesday, Cornell Univ...
(JNS) - Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, known as the "Butcher of Tehran," was killed in a helicopter crash in the country's northwestern East Azerbaijan province on Sunday, Iranian state media confirmed on Monday morning.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the regime's representative in East Azerbaijan and Malek Rahmati, the province's governor, were also killed, along with the pilot and co-pilot.

They were returning from an inauguration ceremony for a dam built jointly by Iran and Azerbaijan on the Aras River.

An Israeli official told Reuters that the...
(JNS)  The ratio of terrorists to Palestinian noncombatants killed during Israels ongoing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip is approximately one to one, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed this week.

What Israel has done is take the effort to minimize civilian casualties as no other army has done, the Israeli leader said in an interview with U.S. author and political adviser Dan Senor on Monday.

We use leaflets, we use millions of text messages, phone calls. We actually call the people, give up the benefit of surprise, tell them: Get out of the way. Get out of the war zo...
Stuart E. Eizenstat in Foreign Affairs:

On September 17, 1978, U.S. President Jimmy Carter faced a momentous crisis. For nearly two weeks, he had been holed up at Camp David with Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, trying to hammer out a historic peace deal. Although the hard-liner Begin had proven intransigent on many issues, Carter had made enormous progress by going around him and negotiating directly with Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan, Defense Minister Ezer Weizman, and Legal Adviser Aharon Barak. On the 13th day, however, Begin drew the line. He announced he could compromise no further and was leaving. The talks on which Carter had staked his presidency would all be for naught.

But then, Carter made a personal gesture. Knowing that Begin had eight grandchildren and was exceptionally devoted to them, Carter signed photographs of the three leaders, which he addressed to each grandchild by name, and then personally carried them over to Begins cabin, where Begin was preparing to depart. As Begin read the names of his grandchildren, his lips quivered and his eyes watered and he put down his bags. Later that same day, he reached a breakthrough agreement with Sadat on what became the framework for the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty six months later.

More here.
(JNS)  The Israeli government on Wednesday unanimously approved a proposal to oppose a U.N. resolution promoting recognition of a Palestinian state.

No reward will be given for the terrible massacre of Oct. 7, which 80 percent of the Palestinians, both in the West Bank and in Gaza, support, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who initiated the proposal. We will not allow them to establish a terrorist state from which they can attack us even more, he added.

No one will prevent us, Israel, from exercising our basic right to defend ourselvesnot the U.N. General Assembly and not...
(JNS)  Washington has no real disagreements with Israel over its targeted raid in eastern Rafah and war aim of destroying the remaining Hamas battalions in Gazas southernmost city, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew claimed in an interview with Channel 12 on Sunday.

The interview came just days after U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed that the Biden administration decided to withhold approval of a sale to Israel of two types of precision-guided bombs.

Biden also told CNN last week that he would stop providing weapons to the Jewish state if the IDF goes into Rafah, where the f...
WASHINGTON (JTA)  Before sending the letter she knew would ricochet around the world, Lily Greenberg Call gave her parents a heads-up and said goodbye to her colleagues.

Then she went home and prepared for the storm that she correctly predicted would be unleashed Wednesday night, May 16, when she was revealed to be the first Jewish staffer to resign from the Biden administration to protest President Joe Bidens support for Israels war in Gaza.

Speaking to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency after watching her story unfold in public, Greenberg Call apologized for the ambient noises  distant voices...
(JNS) - Pro-Israel candidates fared well in primary races across the nation on Tuesday, although their opponents largely shared their views about the Jewish state.

Sarah Elfreth, a Maryland state senator, won the Democratic primary for the state's 3rd Congressional District with $4 million in spending from AIPAC's United Democracy Project super PAC.

She defeated Harry Dunn, a former Capitol Police officer who rose to national prominence for his actions defending the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot in 2021. The left-wing, Israel-focused advocacy group J Street endorsed him.

Dunn accused the AIPA...
A Proclamation expressing support for the State of Israel and condemning the Hamas terror attack was presented to the Seminole County Republican Executive Committee by Sandi Solomon on May 16. SCREC Chairman Bruce Cherry and the general body voted enthusiastically in favor of the proclamation supporting the State of Israel, recognizing the right of Israel to defend itself and to exist as a sovereign nation.

The Proclamation states:

WHEREAS, beginning on Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacked the State of Israel, raping, torturing, and murdering over 1200 innocent persons, including Israelis, Americans,...
(JNS) - "Somehow I know that Shani attended the Supernova festival on October 7 for a reason. Had she not, a lot more people would have died," Aviel Gabbay told JNS on Sunday.

Aviel's sister Shani Gabbay was murdered by Hamas terrorists and later mistakenly buried along with another victim.

"My father [Yaakov] would not have driven three hours from Yokneam [in the Lower Galilee] to Kibbutz Re'im [near Gaza] to look for her and would not have saved many others in the process," Aviel said.

Shani was working at the music festival. When her shift ended at 5:30 a.m., she joined her friends Ben and...
WASHINGTON (JTA)  At least twice while campaigning in the small towns of the western stretch of Marylands 6th District, Joe Vogel headed to Shabbat services.

Synagogues in Cumberland and Frederick were only too happy to accommodate when his campaign called ahead and said the Jewish candidate wanted to stop by on a Saturday morning. In fact, the Frederick congregation had a favor to ask of the young elected official: Could he lift up a Torah scroll?

Its a slightly older congregation and they needed someone that could do the hagbah, recalled Vogel, 27, referring to the delicate-yet-daunting...
(JNS)  The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reached a deal on Sunday with anti-Israel protesters two weeks after the latter set up tents on campus in defiance of a state rule banning camping on campus property, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Mark Mone, chancellor of the University of WisconsinMilwaukee, stated on Sunday that the voluntary dismantling of the encampment is the safest conclusion for everyone.

In response to the protesters demands, the public university called for a ceasefire in Gaza and for the release of the remaining Israeli and international hostages held by...
(JNS)  As Israel marks its 76th anniversary, it celebrates its achievements while reflecting on the ongoing challenges it faces. Despite significant progress, Israel must still defend its right to exist and work to secure its future against persistent threats. This duality of celebration and vigilance highlights the ongoing narrative of a nation striving for stability and peace.

Since its founding in 1948, Israel has been embroiled in conflicts that have shaped its national security policies and deeply influenced its international relations. Initially, these conflicts involved neighboring sta...
(JNS)  For some time, right-wing Jewish activists have called for a Jexit from the Democratic Party. They believe that the Democrats are now an anti-Israel and increasingly antisemitic party. Thus, for Jews to continue their monolithic support for the Democrats is suicidal.

American Jews have resisted the call, but post-Oct. 7 things may have changed.

While President Joe Biden and much of his party strongly supported Israel after the massacre, many Democrats did precisely the opposite. The Red-Green Alliance between the progressive left and radical Islam took to the streets to celebrate the...
(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs via JNS)  Only in the world of the absurd can a despicable purveyor of terror, Hamas, carry out a brutal massacre, killing over a thousand innocent people, torturing, murdering and carrying out sadistic mass rape, over a space of just a few hours, and then run home to Gaza taking with them hundreds of hostages.

Only in the world of the absurd can the Palestinian representative organization that encourages, finances, supports and represents such murderers be feted and upgraded by the majority of member states in the international community.

Only in the worl...


Wednesday May 22, 2024



Israel summons ambassadors from the 3 European countries, recalls its own ambassadors



From left, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris, Spain's President Pedro Sanchez and Norways Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre are pictured. Getty Images/PA/Reuters







WARNING: This story contains graphic video and descriptions of women being violently taken hostage as well as discussion of sexual assault.

Norway, Ireland and Spain said Wednesday they would recognize a Palestinian state, a historic but largely symbolic move that further deepens Israel's isolation more than seven months into its grinding war against Hamas in Gaza.

Palestinian officials welcomed the announcements as an affirmation of their decades-long quest for statehood in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip  territories that Israel seized in the 1967 Six-Day War and still largely controls.

While some 140 countries  more than two-thirds of the United Nations  recognize a Palestinian state, Wednesday's cascade of announcements could build momentum at a time when even close allies of Israel have piled on criticism for its conduct in Gaza.

The timing of the move was a surprise, but discussions have been underway for weeks in some European Union countries about possibly recognizing a Palestinian state. Proponents have argued that the war has shown the need for a new push toward a two-state solution, 15 years after negotiations collapsed between Israel and the Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government opposes Palestinian statehood.

Norway, which is not a member of the EU but mirrors its moves, has been an ardent supporter of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. The country helped broker the Oslo accords during the peace process in the 1990s.

"The terror has been committed by Hamas and militant groups who are not supporters of a two-state solution and the state of Israel," Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said. "Palestine has a fundamental right to an independent state."

In making his announcement Wednesday, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said the move was co-ordinated with Spain and Norway  and that it was a "historic and important day for Ireland and for Palestine."

'Not against the Israeli people'

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez made the expected announcement to the nation's parliament. He had spent months touring European and Middle Eastern countries to garner support for the recognition, as well as for a possible cease-fire in Gaza.

"This recognition is not against anyone, it is not against the Israeli people," said Sanchez, while acknowledging that it will most likely cause diplomatic tensions with Israel. "It is an act in favour of peace, justice and moral consistency."

Sanchez argued that the move is needed to support the viability of a two-state solution that he said "is in serious danger" with the war in Gaza.

Israel's government harshly condemned the decision taken by the three countries.

In addition to recalling its ambassadors from the three countries and summoned their envoys in Israel, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on social media the ambassadors from the three countries "will watch a video of the brutal and cruel kidnapping of our daughters by Hamas terrorists, to emphasize the distorted decision their governments have made. "

"History will remember that Spain, Norway, and Ireland decided to award a gold medal to Hamas murderers and rapists," he said. He also said the announcement would undermine talks aimed at a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza that came to a standstill earlier this month.

It was the second blow to Israel's international reputation this week after the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) said he would seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his defence minister. The International Court of Justice is also considering allegations of genocide that Israel has strenuously denied.

The ICC prosecutor is also seeking arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders over the assault it led on Israel on Oct. 7, which Israel has said saw 1,200 killed and some 250 taken hostage. Israel's ensuing offensive has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, and has caused a humanitarian crisis and a near-famine.

The ICC prosecutor has accused Israeli leaders of using starvation as a weapon.

This month, Israeli forces have led assaults on the northern and southern edges of the Gaza Strip in May, causing a new exodus of hundreds of thousands of people, and sharply restricted the flow of aid.

Abbas, Hamas praise decision

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking after Norway's announcement, welcomed the move and called on other countries to follow.

In a statement carried by the official Wafa news agency, Abbas said Norway's decision will enshrine "the Palestinian people's right to self-determination" and support efforts to bring about a two-state solution with Israel.

Hamas also welcomed the decisions and called on other nations to "recognize our legitimate rights." Hamas, which Western countries including Canada view as a terrorist group, does not recognize Israel's existence but has indicated it might agree to a state on the 1967 lines, at least on an interim basis.

The announcements are unlikely to have any impact on the ground. Israel annexed east Jerusalem and considers it part of its capital, and in the occupied West Bank it has built scores of Jewish settlements that are now home to over 500,000 Israelis.

The settlers have Israeli citizenship, while the three million Palestinians in the West Bank live under seemingly open-ended Israeli military rule. In Gaza, the war is still raging, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain open-ended security control of the territory even after any defeat of Hamas.

Recognition in most countries

The move Wednesday could put more pressure on continental heavyweights France and Germany to reconsider their position.

The United States and Britain, among others, have backed the idea of an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel as a solution to the Middle East's most intractable conflict. They insist, however, that Palestinian independence should come as part of a negotiated settlement.

"The president is a strong supporter of a two-state solution and has been throughout his career," a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said. "He believes a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition."

In Ottawa, a non-binding motion concerning Palestinian statehood introduced by the NDP was carried 204 to 117 in March. It passed after a Liberal government amendment stipulating that Canada will "work with international partners" to "pursue the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East," and work "towards the establishment of the State of Palestine as part of a negotiated two-state solution."


Thursday May 23, 2024





US President Biden welcomes Kenyan counterpart to the White House, pledging to deepen economic ties and investments.



US President Joe Biden speaks as Kenyan President William Ruto applauds during an official White House State Arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2024 [Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters]

The United States plans to designate Kenya as the countrys first key non-NATO ally in sub-Saharan Africa as Kenyan President Willam Ruto makes a state visit to Washington, DC, to deepen ties between the two nations.

The White House said US President Joe Biden will inform Congress on Thursday that he will give Kenya the largely symbolic title.

Speaking at the White House on Thursday morning, Ruto said his trip to the US capital is a sign of friendship and partnership and collaboration between two countries that share common values, including freedom and democracy.

Today we have an occasion to build synergies, to build partnerships, that will not only solve our current problems but also to build a future that is much more promising, much more prosperous, the Kenyan president said.

Rutos visit to the US, which began earlier this week, will see the Kenyan leader hold talks with Biden at the White House later on Thursday.

The non-NATO ally label will reflect Kenyas rise from a regional partner that has long cooperated with US counterterrorism operations on the continent to a global influence.

Reporting from the White House on Thursday morning, Al Jazeeras Kimberly Halkett said Rutos visit also marks 60 years of diplomatic ties and cooperation between the United States and Kenya.

There are security ties, trade ties, innovation when it comes to technology, also when it comes to global health, Halkett said.

The Kenyan leaders trip is the sixth state visit hosted by the Biden administration and the first for an African president since 2008.

This weeks meetings, dubbed the Nairobi-Washington Vision, come amid Bidens appeals to African nations that the US can be a better partner than China, as Beijing deepens its investment in the continent, often with high-interest loans.

In the past year, Africas political landscape has been upended by a spate of military coups, wars and shaky elections that have given US rivals China and Russia more significant influence.

The White House talks also come as a US-backed initiative to send a Kenya-led police force to crisis-hit Haiti appears to be solidifying.

Kenyan officials recently said the deployment, which aims to help the Haitian National Police restore order amid a surge in deadly gang violence in the Caribbean nation, is imminent. About 1,000 Kenyan police officers are set to take part.

The deployment to Haiti, Al Jazeeras Halkett reported on Thursday, is part of a longstanding tradition of counterterrorism efforts and cooperation between the United States and Kenya.

Meanwhile, Biden and Ruto are expected to announce new US-backed investments in green energy and health manufacturing, along with a plan to cut Kenyas high debt load, most of which is owed to China, the White House said in a fact sheet.

The US will also announce $250m in new investments in Kenya through the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

That includes $180m for a major affordable housing project and would bring the US financing agencys portfolio in Kenya to more than $1bn.

Across the region, Kenya and America are driving a race to the top with investments that we have and high standards for workers, Biden said during the news conference on Thursday morning.

And were trying to make sure debt doesnt leave these critical investments and crucial investments out of reach in low- and middle-income countries.

Biden, who is seeking re-election in November, has said he plans to visit the African continent in February 2025 should he win a second term.


Thursday May 23, 2024







Nairobi (HOL)  The European Union's anti-piracy force, Operation Atalanta, is responding to a reported attack on the Liberian-flagged merchant vessel Basilisk off the coast of Somalia. The incident highlights the resurgence of piracy in the region, which had been dormant until late last year.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that an unknown number of unauthorized people from two small craft boarded the Basilisk approximately 380 nautical miles east of Mogadishu. The vessel, managed by Germanys MINSHIP, was en route from Porto Grande, Cape Verde, to Jebel Ali in the UAE.

Somali pirates caused significant disruptions in the waters off East Africa between 2008 and 2018. Although pirate activity had subsided, recent incidents suggest a troubling resurgence. Earlier this year, the Iranian-flagged fishing vessel Almeraj 1 and the Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier Abdullah were hijacked, the latter released after a ransom was paid.

The UKMTO report initially placed the incident 420 nautical miles southeast of Merca, Somalia. As the situation unfolds, further updates are expected from Atalanta forces.
Adani Group's CFO Jugeshinder Robbie Singh reacted to a Financial Times (FT) investigative report that claimed the conglomerate's involvement in an alleged coal scam. On X (formerly Twitter), he said, "A major investigative report, on why #GreatBritain had to colonize India in 1757 AD, by FT, BBC et al. Finding of Investigative Report: To stop formation of Adani Group. Now you now everything. (sic)" The logo of the Adani Group seen on the facade of its Corporate House on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.(Reuters)

The report claimed that the Adani Group passed off low-quality coal as far more expensive cleaner fuel in transactions with an Indian state power utility. Citing documents secured by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, the report claimed that Gautam Adani may have obtained major profits at the expense of air quality.

Following this, Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress party will take cognizance of the investigation if the INDIA bloc government comes to power. Rahul Gandhi wrote on X, A huge coal scam has come to light under the BJP government. Through this scam that has been going on for years, Modiji's favorite friend Adani has looted thousands of crores of rupees by selling low-grade coal at three times the price, the price of which the common people have paid from their pockets by paying expensive electricity bills.

He added, "Will the Prime Minister tell how many tempos were used to keep ED, CBI and IT quiet on this open corruption? After June 4, the Indian government will investigate this mega scam and account for every penny looted from the public.
LOS ANGELES: The new Enhanced Voice tool in Magic Studio, which removes background noise from the video files you may be editing. An individuals voice, which is more of a writing style, which Magic Write can use to personalise a document or piece of text. AI powered style matching if youre working on a series of presentations. These are just some of the tools that Canva, popular suite for visual communication and workplace functionality, is adding as part of a big set of new updates which will allow it to become more relevant for enterprises, as well as use cases that involve teams required to collaborate on content creation as well as domain and specific functions within businesses. Cameron Adams, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Canva. (HT Photo)

Speaking exclusively with HT on the sideliners of the companys first global Canva Create keynote in Los Angeles, Cameron Adams, co-founder and Chief Product Officer, makes it a point to note Indias importance for Canva. India is actually our biggest market. Its huge and one of our fastest growing as well. Our user base there more than doubled in 2023, he says. The platform now has more than 180 million monthly active users, including 20 million paying premium Pro subscribers, clocking $2.3 billion in annual revenue. Individual users remain at the core of its strategy, and Adams insists that isnt about to change. Instead, enterprise and workplace focus with the new Canva Enterprise and teams tools, is an additive to the user demographic, and not exactly a pivot.

Adams speaks with HT about competing with big tech companies including Adobe and Google, AI model development in-house, their approach to data privacy, plans for AI content identifiers and more. Edited Excerpts.

Q. Canvas versatile, such as the Magic Studio, an AI marketplace, Docs and now a number of workplace tools. Does that put a big target on Canvas back, since youre competing with apps from a number of tech and AI companies?

Cameron Adams: To be honest, we havent thought about it that much. We just constantly want to build a great product and we really love building new products, what we have and listening to customers about what they like and what they want to see next What were constantly thinking about is the road ahead and how to truly empower the world to design.

Its a pretty huge mission. The last 12 years of Canva is still a drop in the ocean of what we want to build over the next decade with our own vision of what we want to build and incorporating feedback. The new enterprise features, for instance, a large part of the development of that has been from feedback from enterprise customers. It wasnt something that we focused on a huge amount three or four years ago because Thats what wasnt where our heads were, but as Canva has grown inside enterprises, it is often quite organically.

We have over 90% of the Fortune 500 companies using it now. And as it has grown there, weve gotten increasing amounts of feedback. So, the development of Canva Enterprise, which were launching today, has been driven by those set of requirements as well as our vision of how we would love to see collaboration happen. Throughout our history, its never been about just listening to the customer, and its never been just about us forging ahead and doing whatever we want. Its really about merging the two together to create something thats innovative, that people can appreciate and immediately see how they would use it.

Q. Is there pressure to speed up R&D, not only to keep products relevant, but also to keep pace with competition?

CA: We believe itll be incredibly important to not leave any of our existing customers based behind, and a lot of the new features weve launched, will still really appeal to students and teachers and individual business owners. But we are seeing rapid growth inside enterprises and teams, which I think is because more and more people are getting comfortable collaborating online. Its an expectation that your designs immediately sync across all your devices, and can immediately see the comment from someone else in your office, on the doc.

That really fuels the spread of the product as well. Today, Canvas been amazingly driven by word of mouth. So, being able to consolidate that and then have various teams grow Canva in a way that theyre comfortable with inside their organization. That is going to be a great channel for us. But its really additive, and not a pivot for us.

Q. How are you positioning the enterprise functionality, tools for teams and an updated AI layer for Magic Studio? Does it necessitate a change in messaging to consumers and enterprises?

CA: Roughly half of the employees at Canva are engineers, which I think is quite an unusual split particularly for a company of our size. Alongside, we have a big team of product managers and product designers, as were a very product-led company. As a result, were always thinking about how we can improve it. What new technology is available, how can we adapt that technology into an experience that works for our customers? AI has been a great example of that. We were very fortunate to have laid the foundations very early around six or seven years ago with a machine learning team and that meant that as generative AI arrived on to the scene, we were rapidly able to capitalize on it.

It actually took us six weeks to launch our very first generative AI product, which was text to image. It was based off of a small hackathon project that one of our engineers did and it was so impressive, we decided lets get this in front of 85 million people at the time. That six-week period is probably one of the fastest products weve ever delivered. But you can only do that when youve got the muscles built up, when you spent the last 10 years training and building the team and just being flexible, adaptable and agile. R&D is hugely important, and weve actually just brought on a new chief scientist who is keenly focused on AI as well as a bunch of other interesting technological areas inside Canva. We will have an AI research and development roadmap for the next several years.

Q. Is there a plan to place content credentials or identifiers of some sort with all generations done using AI?

CA: We definitely want people to be able to transparently know when AI has been used to produce content. We currently do put metadata that enables you to know when an image has been AI generated. Theres still a bit of work happening internationally and between different organizations to figure out the right standard for doing that. Were actually the only Australian company to be part of a US Consortium (editors note: Adams is referring to the US AI Safety Institute Consortium, announced in February this year; Adobe, Apple, Cisco, Meta, Microsoft, HP, IBM, OpenAI and Stability AI are also part of) thats working with the government. A part of that conversation is about AI regulation policy, and specifics like watermarking and content detection. Were really keen to have robust tools so that people can know the veracity of an image, and whether its entirely human or whether AI played a part.

Q. What is Canvas approach to use data and privacy, more as AI figures prominently?

CA: We think its really important for users to be able to understand where their data is going and to be able to control that. We think its really important for users to be able to understand where their data is going and to be able to control that. We launched canvas Shield at the end of last year and it covers AI as well as a bunch of other privacy and data settings. We have given people easy to understand switches in their settings that they can switch on and off if they want to include their data in any AI training that we might do, or they can say, no, I dont want that.

Q. This summer, weve already seen AI take significant steps forward with OpenAI and then Google. How do you foresee AI evolving over the next few years?

CA: Its moving rapidly, which is exciting. We see the future of AI is really weaving its way into your workflow. Rather than just being this one tool that you go to et an image or when you need, some text generated. The landscape at the moment is very fragmented. If you do want to go to an image generation, you might go to one tool. If you want some text, you might go to another tool. If you wanted anything to work on your code, you might go to a third app. This just creates all these friction points where you have to upload stuff, download stuff, you have to copy and paste and a lot to figure out. Its incredibly inefficient.

It is also causing Enterprises a lot of headaches. We did a survey with CIOs around six months ago and they were really keen to introduce AI into their workflows. In fact, nine out of 10 Indian CIOs said that they were interested in doing that, but seven out of ten of them said they were really suffering from too many apps inside the organization. That means theres too much to manage and administer, and too much cost from having to pay for all these different applications. They really want to consolidate.

We want to counteract that fragment action, app sprawl, and help people in using the software in a better way. A way thats more intuitive to them, that doesnt require them to bounce around between apps and is more efficient. By bringing Magic Write as a text tool into Canva, with Magic Media as an image and illustration generation tool and Magic Switch that can convert a whiteboard into a document, thats all part of the one platform thats seamless, and a workflow of going from idea to reality

And its a lot cheaper, frankly. Paying $15 or so a month for Canva as opposed to $10 a month for each of a whole bunch of other tools just makes it a lot cheaper and easier to roll out. Thats the way were approaching it.

Q. How important is the role of partners, particularly with the AI marketplace as it develops?

CA: Its been really great to partner with the worlds best AI providers, such as OpenAI and Runway ai, who help us with the text to video feature. Theyve been amazing to work with. You know, we get a lot of of the OpenAIs tech well before it hits mainstream, and its really cool to see how fast theyre going and how willing they are to partner with us. We were one of the very first companies to write a GPT for their ChatGPT program and were among the top places for most usages of the GPT.

Its been really good to be working directly with partners and then weve spent a lot of time with our ecosystem building an API thats really attractive to developers who want to access the 185 million Canva user base.

We have got over 100 apps in the Marketplace now, and a lot of those are AI apps. AI developers have been really keen to get their apps on Canva. AI generators, even AI presenters that you can put on a presentation or adding music to your presentation which is generated using AI. A whole slew of different AI use cases and these neatly fills the cracks, because we spend a lot of time building our own AI models. Inside Canva, some of the core things in the experience, we have partners such as OpenAI to handle the medium-sized rocks and then all the little gaps in between can be filled by the developers who want to bring their knowledge to a particular area.

Q. So how much of Canvas AI layer relies on in-house developed models, and how dependent are you on OpenAI and other AI companies?

CA: Itll be difficult to calculate a percentage split, but I can say a huge amount of the AI in Canva is developed in-house. Weve got a got a huge team of machine learning engineers, which is close to 100 machine learning engineers within Canva, and theyre constantly working on our own tech. Companies such as OpenAI are amazing at building large language models. Frankly, we like to drill in where we think we have the strongest know-how, the most data and the best understanding of what needs to go in. Basically, anything thats related to the visual side of things, we really focus on building in-house. That things like Magic Design and Magic Video which weve launched for the enhanced audio. Developing those things in-house is because we see the value. Simply put, we dont need to build everything ourselves. We use the best where we can get it, and when we think were the best, well build it.
Amazon is upgrading its Alexa voice assistant with artificial intelligence (AI) as it plans to charge a monthly subscription fee, CNBC reported citing people in the know. The company will launch a more conversational version of Alexa later this year as it competes with AI-powered chatbots from Google and OpenAI. The report also claimed Amazons subscription for Alexa will not be included in the $139-per-year Prime offering. The Amazon logo is pictured outside the company's JFK8 distribution center in Staten Island, New York.(Reuters)

This comes after OpenAI announced GPT-4o with the capability for two-way conversations- much more than that of Alexa. The updated version can translate conversations into different languages in real time.

Earlier, Amazons former SVP of devices and services David Limp told The Verge that the company was considering charging for a more powerful version of Alexa.

The report also claimed that development of new AI chatbots in recent months has increased pressure on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Former employees have pointed out how Alexa is one of Jeff Bezos' passion projects but this changed when Andy Jassy took over as CEO in 2021 as he remained more focus on Amazon's business and expansion during the Covid pandemic.

Citing a person in the know, the report claimed that Andy Jassy has been privately underwhelmed with what Alexa is capable of as its team is worried they had invented an expensive alarm clock, weather machine and way to play Spotify music.

The company said in its annual shareholder letter released last month that it is building substantial number of GenAI applications across every Amazon consumer business which included an even more intelligent and capable Alexa.

Jeff Bezos has also voiced concern that Amazon is behind in AI, it was earlier reported as he remains very involved in Amazons AI efforts.
Stock market today: Five index heavyweights contributed more than 50 per cent to Sensex's 1,115-point run today. These were: HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries, L&T, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank as Sensex rose over 1 per cent to reclaim the 75,000 mark hitting a record high of 75,336.44. The surge came after better-than-expected Q4 earnings, RBI's record dividend payout to government and more certainty about the Lok Sabha elections. Stock market today: The headquarters of India's HDFC bank is pictured in Mumbai. (Reuters)

Nifty 50 index reached a fresh all-time high of 22,959, Nifty Midcap index achieved a record high of 19,568 while Nifty SmallCap index was just 50 points below its peak of 15,973.

Vishnu Kant Upadhyay, assistant vice president of research and advisory at Master Capital Services, said, Market sentiment, particularly in the banking sector, improved substantially following the RBI's record dividend payout to government. The dividend payout is expected to help the government reduce its fiscal deficit and increase capital expenditure.

HDFC Bank was the top contributor to the Sensex's rally as the stock rose almost 2 percent. RIL contributed 145 points to the Sensex while L&T gave 132 points and ICICI Bank added 131 points.

Axis Bank contributed 89 points to the Sensex today. The stocks gained this much: RIL 1.6 per cent, L&T 3.6 per cent, ICICI Bank 1.9 per cent and Axis Bank 3.3 per cent.
The Washington Post CEO Will Lewis announced that the newspaper will be moving towards incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) as it faces dire financial situation. The top boss reportedly told The Washington Post staffers that the newspaper is looking for ways to use AI in its reporting as it lost $77 million it last year. Will Lewis said, "To speak candidly: We are in a hole, and we have been for some time. This is all repairable, all doable, particularly if we do it together." The Washington Post's chief technology officer said, AI everywhere in our newsroom.

Meanwhile, the newspaper's chief technology officer said, AI everywhere in our newsroom. Will Lewis' tenure at The Washington Post has been plagued by controversy since he began in early 2024.

NewsCorp's hacking scandal in the early 2010s, which involved the royal family and several celebrities, came to the fore this year and it was reported that Will Lewis attempted to downplay the hacking scandal in light of a new UK ruling in a lawsuit brought by Prince Harry.

The announcement also comes at a time when OpenAI and NewsCorp struck a deal to allow the former to use content from the conglomerate's properties, which include the WSJ, New York Post and the Times of London.

Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, said, Our partnership with News Corp is a proud moment for journalism and technology. We greatly value News Corps history as a leader in reporting breaking news around the world, and are excited to enhance our users access to its high-quality reporting. Together, we are setting the foundation for a future where AI deeply respects, enhances, and upholds the standards of world-class journalism.

Robert Thomson, chief executive of News Corp, said, "We believe a historic agreement will set new standards for veracity, for virtue and for value in the digital age. We are delighted to have found principled partners in Sam Altman and his trusty, talented team who understand the commercial and social significance of journalists and journalism.
At least 51 people fell sick after consuming 'prasada' at the Bhireshwar and Karemma Devi fair held at Hoolikatti village in the Belagavi district of Karnataka on Wednesday, officials said. More than 50 fall sick after consuming prasada at Karemma Devi fair in Belagavi (Pic for representation)

Also Read - Biker smashes car window in Bengaluru after failing to overtake it. Video

Of them, five people are in critical condition, they added.

According to police, those who were ill were immediately admitted to Savadatti Public Hospital and Belagavi District Hospital. The five people, who are in critical condition, have been shifted to Dharwad District Hospital.

They said that after consuming prasada, the people started vomiting and experienced dysentery.

At present, health department officials have camped in Hoolikatti village and are closely monitoring the health of the villagers. To prevent any untoward incident, a camp has been opened in the village and the taluka doctor is checking everyone's health, said authorities.

Following the incident, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao spoke to health officials and ascertained the situation. (ANI)
BENGALURU: Former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch HD Deve Gowda on Thursday asked his grandson Prajwal Revanna, who is accused in multiple rape cases, to return from wherever he is and surrender before the police or risk total isolation from the family. Janata Dal (Secular) chief HD Deve Gowda titled his statement, My Warning to Prajwal Revanna. (ANI FILE)

In a statement released on X, Gowda underlined that he was unaware of where his grandson was and could only issue a stern warning to return and face the law. He should not test my patience any further.

This is not an appeal that I am making, it is a warning that I am issuing. If he does not heed to this warning, he will have to face my anger and anger of all his family members. The law will take care of the accusations against him, but not listening to the family will ensure his total isolation, said Gowda in the statement, a sharp contrast to his first statement on May 18 when he suggested that the case had been created.

Referring to his May 18 remarks when he was on his way to a temple, Gowda said it had taken him some time to recover from the shock and pain inflicted on him and that it was of utmost importance for him to win back the trust of the people who have stood by him for 60 years of his political life.

Deve Gowdas public message to his grandson comes against the backdrop of efforts by the state government to get the central government to revoke the diplomatic passport issued to Prajwal, the Hassan Lok Sabha MP, and national outrage over the sexual assault.

To be sure, the 33-year-old MP has already been suspended by the JD(S) after a huge cache of explicit videos that allegedly showed him sexually abusing several women leaked hours after polling for the Lok Sabha on April 26. Prajwal Revanna was the NDA candidate from the Hassan Lok Sabha seat.

Prajwal Revanna fled to Germany the following day. Initially, his family insisted that Prajwal had gone abroad on a scheduled visit and would be back soon.

A special investigation team set up to probe the sexual assault charges had earlier issued a Look Out Circular, and an Interpol Blue Notice, seeking the whereabouts of the MP.

Deve Gowda said people had used the harshest words against him and his family. I will not try and argue with them that they should have waited until all the facts were found out. I also cannot convince people that I was unaware of Prajwals activities. I cannot convince them that I have no desire to shield him. I cannot convince them that I am not aware of his movements and that I was not aware of his foreign trip. I believe in answering my conscience. I believe in God, and I know the almighty knows the truth, the former PM wrote.

According to a senior SIT officer, the fresh First Information Report (FIR) against Revanna was registered on May 8 in Bengaluru, based on a complaint filed by the woman seen in one of the leaked videos. The woman recorded her statement before a magistrate in Bengaluru on Thursday under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

According to the SIT, the complainant is in her 60s and was rescued from a farmhouse in Kalenahalli village of Mysuru district on May 4.

The SIT alleged that she was kidnapped on the instructions of Revannas father and JD(S) MLA HD Revanna.

The first case was registered against Revanna and his father for alleged sexual harassment at the Holenarsipura police station in Hassan district on April 28, based on a complaint by a woman who worked in their house. HD Revanna was arrested on May 4 on the basis of the complaint filed by the woman, but was granted bail on May 16.

Prajwal is accused in three cases, and an arrest warrant was issued against him in one case.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday claimed that the INDIA bloc is talking about having five PMs over the next five years and said the fight over ghee has broken out in the alliance even before the cow has given milk. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was campaigning in Mahendragarh district of Haryana that goes to the polls on May 25. (ANI file photo)

Hours before campaigning for the sixth round of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections came to an end, Modi said at a rally in Haryanas Mahendragarh that in this election, you will not only choose the countrys PM but also decide the countrys future.

On the one hand is your tried and tested sewak Modi. Who is on the other side? One does not know, he said, targeting the INDIA bloc that has as its constituents opposition parties, including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

The INDIA bloc is extremely communal, casteist and nepotist, he said, alleging that when the Congress was in power, it did not allow the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Tearing into the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal after the Calcutta high court cancelled all OBC certificates issued in the state after 2010, Modi said that no one could snatch the reservation for Dalits and tribals until he is alive. In West Bengal, they have issued OBC certificates to Muslims overnight and that too to infiltrators. The high court has invalidated all the OBC certificates issued to Muslims in the last 10-12 years. See the mentality of the INDI alliance, the chief minister of Bengal has said that she will not accept the decision of the high court and will give OBC reservation to Muslims, he said.

Voting for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will be held on May 25.
The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday issued a strict warning to former Punjab chief minister and Jalandhar Congress candidate Charanjeet Singh Channi for violating the model code of conduct by terming the recent terror attack on air force personnel in Poonch an election stunt of the BJP. The Election Commission (on Thursday issued a strict warning to former chief minister of Punjab and Jalandhar Congress candidate Charanjeet Singh Channi for violating the model code of conduct by terming the recent terror attack on air force personnel in Poonch an election stunt of the BJP. (HT file photo)

On May 13, Punjabs chief electoral officer Sibin C had termed Channis comments on the May 4 attack a violation of the model code and sought the ECs advice for further action in the matter.

According to a spokesperson of the chief electoral officer, Punjab, the former chief minister was asked to provide an explanation to the district election officer-cum-deputy commissioner of Jalandhar.

The commission found Channis response unsatisfactory, deeming it a violation of the model code of conduct, the EC spokesperson said.

According to provisions of the code, Criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programmes, past record and work. Parties and candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of other parties. Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided.

Polling for the Lok Sabha elections in the state is scheduled in the seventh phase on June 1.

The EC has advised and warned Channi against repeating such violations.

Corporal Vikky Pahade had made the supreme sacrifice when the Indian Air Force convoy in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district came under fire from terrorists. Four of his colleagues were injured in the incident.

The BJP had lodged complaint before the EC on May 7, seeking the registration of an FIR against Channi besides an unconditional apology.

A complaint lodged by BJPs Om Thakur had said: Its shocking that a former chief minister belonging to the Congress, who is otherwise infamous for having being responsible for the breach of security and protocol in respect to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Ferozepur in Punjab during the 2022 state elections, has now once again indulged in an unpardonable rhetoric against the dignity of the armed forces of the nation and termed the injuries and loss of the life suffered by them in ambush or encounter with Pakistan-sponsored terrorists a stunt.
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of taking up divisive politics, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday said he (Modi) was talking about caste and mangalsutra instead of speaking about genuine issues in his election speeches. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal during an election rally in Tanda, Hoshiarpur, on Thursday. (HT photo)

Badal, who addressed rallies in Mukerian, Dasuya, Tanda and Sham Chaurasi in favour of party candidate Sohan Singh Thandal, said, The level of political discourse has gone down to claims that mangalsutras will be snatched from Hindu women and given to Muslims and that taps and tube well motors will be uprooted if the BJP doesnt come to power.

He also said the BJP had changed dramatically after the Atal Bihari Vajpayee era.

Targeting the Congress, Sukhbir reminded Punjabis of the Operation Bluestar in 1984. When you go to cast your vote on June 1, just remember the Sikhs who were massacred 40 years ago. It is painful to see people in Punjab queuing up to see Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. How can you forget the cruelty unleashed by his party, justice for which is still elusive, he questioned.

Coming over to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Sukhbir said, People voted for AAP without knowing its candidates many of whom have criminal antecedents. He accused the AAP government of terminating all welfare schemes started by the erstwhile SAD government. Every major development took place in the SAD regime. Your (voters) wrong decision pushed back the state by 10 years. Do not repeat the mistake, he added.
In the series of bomb threat incidents, Lady Shri Ram College and Sri Venkateswara College of Delhi University on Thursday received calls regarding bomb threats following which fire tenders and Delhi Police reached the spot, news agency ANI reported. The incident came a day after the Union Home ministry office on Wednesday received a hoax threat. Earlier, Delhi-NCR schools and hospitals have received similar threats. Bomb threat calls at Delhi's Lady Shri Ram, Venkateswara College(Hindustan Times)

Earlier on Thursday, three hotels, including a five-star one, in Karnataka's Bengaluru received bomb threats.

The series of incidents started on April 30 when Delhi's Chacha Nehru Hospital received a threat followed by 150 schools on May 1. The threats to the schools were issued from a Russia-based mailing service company.

Twenty hospitals, the IGI Airport and the Northern Railways CPRO office in Delhi received bomb threats through emails from a Cyprus-based mailing service company on May 12.

Seven Delhi hospitals and the Tihar Jail received bomb threats from the same Cyprus-based mailing service company on May 14.

The threat to the Home ministry office sent alarm bells ringing on Wednesday as an email was received by a senior officer which said the "building will explode as a bomb is planted'.
Blood stains were found inside a refrigerator kept in the apartment at New Town in Kolkatas Bidhannagar city, where Bangladesh MP Md Anwarul Azim Anar was last spotted, police officials said. An SIT has been formed to investigate the alleged killing of Bangladeshi MP Anwarul Azim Anar. (PTI file photo)

Azim, a three-time MP of Bangladesh Awami League, was reported missing on May 18 from Baranagar in North 24 Parganas in the northern fringes of Kolkata.

On Wednesday, authorities in both West Bengal and Bangladesh confirmed that the MP was murdered.

His body is yet to be traced, police said.

According to CCTV footage of the residential campus in New Town, Azim entered the society on May 13 accompanied by at least three persons.

Police probe claimed that the persons who accompanied Azim were Bangladesh nationals. Police searched the flat, but they could not find Azims body.

Azim had come to India for a medical checkup.

There was a refrigerator inside the flat. Blood stains were found in the vegetable tray. Only forensic analysis would be able to ascertain whether the stains were of human blood, or the residents had bought some meat for consumption, said another officer.

Even though Azim was never seen leaving the flat, the Bangladesh nationals could be seen entering and exiting the society over the next few days, police said.

They used to carry huge luggage bags sometimes, police added.

While confirming that Azim was murdered, Asaduzzaman Khan, Bangladesh home minister, told media persons in Dhaka on Wednesday that Bangladesh police have arrested three persons in connection.

Were trying to catch a few more... According to the information we have so far, the people of our country [Bangladesh] are involved in the killing, Khan was quoted to as saying by Daily Star newspaper.

We are yet to find his body. The state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has taken over the case, a senior IPS officer in Bidhannagar city police said on Thursday morning.

Also Read: Bangladesh MP murder mystery: Who killed Anwarul Anar? What we know so far

Police authorities knew Azim had come to West Bengal on May 12 and was staying at a businessman and friend Gopal Biswass house.

Azim left Biswas house on May 13 and was seen entering the New Town flat.

Over the next few days, Biswas and Azims family members received WhatsApp messages from his mobile.

The messages stated that he was going to Delhi for an important job, and nobody should call him as he was with VIPs.

It was on May 17 when Azims daughter called Biswas when she failed to contact her father.

Biswas then lodged a missing complaint with the Baranagar police station on May 18.

We received a missing diary on May 18. Barrackpore city police set up a special investigation team (SIT) to trace him. On May 20, we received an intimation from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) through the state government to investigate the matter. On Tuesday, we received input that he probably has been murdered. CID has taken over the investigation. We are yet to recover the body, AK Chaturvedi, IG of CID, told media persons in Kolkata on Wednesday.
letters@htlive.com Prof Om Shankar observing fast unto death in his chamber at SSL, IMS-BHU. (HT)

VARANASI: Professor Om Shankar, head of the department of cardiology at Sir Sundar Lal Hospital, IMS-BHU, said he would only end his fast when the entire fourth floor and half of the fifth floor in the super-specialty block were given to the cardiology department.

Professor Shankar has been observing a fast unto death in his chamber since May 11, demanding more beds for the cardiology department.

Prof. Shankar said that a committee, constituted in August 2023, recommended that the entire fourth floor and half of the fifth floor of the super-specialty block of Sir Sundar Lal Hospital, IMS-BHU, should be allocated to the cardiology department.

He said that the IMS-BHU director, Professor S.N. Sankhwar, also passed an order in this regard on March 8, 2024. It has not happened yet. Until it is done, I will continue my hunger strike, Prof. Shankar said.

Prof. Shankar said that there were only 47 admissible beds in the department of cardiology at present. The remaining 14 beds are non-admissible, with seven used for the preparation of patients for pre-angioplasty and the other seven for post-angioplasty care.

The department has three units, and each unit should have a minimum of 30 beds; thus, the department should possess 90 beds. However, it only has 47 beds, said Professor Shankar. In view of the growing number of cardiac patients, the department needs more beds, he added.

On Wednesday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav appealed to Professor Om Shankar to end his fast unto death. Meanwhile, the IMS-BHU director, Professor S.N. Sankhwar, also urged Professor Shankar to end his fast, stating that 61 beds had already been allocated to the department of cardiology.
As the seven-phased Lok Sabha election enters the penultimate round, discussions about the outcome are in full swing in various localities and busy intersections not just in Kaushambi where polling was held on May 20 in the fifth phase but also in Prayagraj, including Allahabad and Phulpur seats, and Pratapgarh where voting will be held in the sixth phase on May 25. Prayagraj and Pratapgarh will go to polls in the sixth phase on May 25. (For Representation)

Regardless of who is contesting the polls, everyones eyes are on 10 stalwarts who though themselves are not in the fray but have their prestige very much at stake on these four seats of Prayagraj region. Having climbed the ladder of success in politics on the basis of public connect and their political skills, now the onus is on them to ensure wins of candidates fighting the polls for their parties.

U.P. deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, a star campaigner of the BJP, is one such prominent name. Although he has the responsibility of ensuing wins on all 80 seats in the state, his prowess is especially at stake on the three seats including Kaushambihis birth place as well as Allahabad and Phulpur seats of Prayagraj his Karmabhoomi and his present residence.

Similar is the situation of Kunwar Rewati Raman Singh, an eight-time MLA from Karachhana and two-term MP from Allahabad seat. Congress has made his son Kunwar Ujjwal Raman Singh, a two-time MLA and former U.P. minister, its candidate from Allahabad seat.

Singh has taken charge of Ujjwals campaign and even at the age of 81 is being seen in public meetings despite scorching heat. Another such political heavyweight is Pramod Tiwari, a record 10-time MLA from Rampur Khas seat of Pratapgarh and a Rajya Sabha MP of Congress. He has the responsibility of ensuring INDIA bloc candidate SP Singh Patels win from Pratapgarh.

Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik) president Raghuraj Pratap Singh aka Raja Bhaiya, who has been elected MLA from Kunda seat of Pratapgarh seven times continuously from 1993 to 2022, has a significant influence on Pratapgarh and Kaushambi parliamentary seats. However, he has not fielded any candidate, saying his party will remain neutral in the ongoing LS polls.

Samajwadi Party leader Indrajeet Saroj, who has the image of a being a pro-development man in Kaushambi, has served as UP minister in the past. His standing is also at stake as he has the responsibility of ensuring victory of his son Pushpendra Saroj who is contesting his maiden election as INDIA bloc candidate on SP symbol from Kaushambi.

Even former U.P. minister Rajendra Pratap Singh aka Moti Singh, who has been active in politics since 1983, also finds himself with the responsibility of ensuring win of the BJP candidate in Pratapgarh as does the four-time MLA and two-time UP cabinet minister Shivakant Ojha of the BJP. U.P. cabinet minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi has the task of ensuring wins of BJP candidates on Allahabad and Phulpur seats.

This time, the BJP has not given tickets to sitting Allahabad MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who joined BJP before the 2017 assembly elections. However, she is busy trying to ensure her party candidate Neeraj Tripathis win from Allahabad seat. Likewise, BJP has not given ticket to its Phulpur MP, Keshari Devi Patel either. However, she has the responsibility of ensuring victory of BJP candidate Pravin Patel from the seat.
Thiruvananthapuram, The Kerala government is ready to meet all requirements of big players in the software development sector, Industries Minister P Rajeeve said and asserted that the state's biggest advantage is the abundance of skilled human resources. HT Image

Interacting with top executives of the Germany-based company dSPACE which opened its first global competence centre in Asia here on Wednesday, he said Kerala was fast transforming into a knowledge-based economy and society by leveraging its core strengths.

dSPACE provides critical solutions to auto majors across the world for developing connected, autonomous, and electrically powered vehicles.

Rajeeve said Thiruvananthapuram has a highly conducive ecosystem for space, IT and ITes sectors. The proposed Space Park will be an added advantage for the German company, he said.

The minister added that dSPACE can leverage the world-class infrastructure facilities available in the state capital and explore AI for their technologies, besides tapping into the talented youth by creating ample opportunities for them.

In a release, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Limited said, "The global Competence Centre at the Kinfra Park at Kazhakoottam in the city is the first facility of dSPACE in Asia with the other centres being located in Germany and Croatia."

The minister also visited the new facility at the Kinfra Film and Video Park, Kazhakoottam, and interacted with the officials and the employees there.

Expressing gratitude to the government for facilitating the setting up of the centre, Andreas Gau, the managing director and CEO of dSPACE India Software and Technologies, said the competent centre will have full responsibility for the products and projects.

Franklin George, the managing director of dSPACE India Software and Technologies, said the company scouted for many cities in the country and finally the Kerala capital was chosen considering the feasibility of setting up such a facility.

He said the centre will be working on all new-generation technologies by recruiting talented youths from Kerala.

Highlighting that a huge automotive market like India will make a difference in the companys activities, Elmar Schmitz, the vice president of dSPACE said the firm will hire more people from Kerala and wants to make use of their competence.

Schmitz added that dSPACE chose Kerala considering the world-class facilities offered by the state as a thriving ecosystem for global companies for their critical operations.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has issued a notice and imposed fine on Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro) for digging Satara Road without permission for underground extension of the Pune Metro connecting Swargate to Katraj. Besides soil testing at the stretch, tender has also been floated to engage a design consultant for the architectural and tunnel ventilation system of the Pune Metro underground project. (HT FILE)

Sahebrao Dandge, superintendent engineer, PMC road department, said, We have imposed a fine of 6,000 per square feet as per rule. Maha-Metro had submitted an application seeking permission to dig road.

Hemant Sonawane, public relations officer, Maha-Metro, said, We have started soil testing on the stretch and are yet to receive the PMC notice.

Besides soil testing at the stretch, tender has also been floated to engage a design consultant for the architectural and tunnel ventilation system of the Pune Metro underground project. Pits are dug up every 100 metres from Panchami Hotel to Bharati Vidyapeeth stretch of the five-kilometre-long and 60-metre-wide Satara Road for soil testing. The testing determines whether the soil is suitable for the proposed construction.

While the 5.4-kilometre Swargate to Katraj underground metro extension project proposal was approved by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in September 2021 and approved by the state government in April 2022, it is pending with the central government.

The Maha-Metro has prepared a detailed project report for the corridor. The project costs 3,668 crore with the state government contributing 891 crore, PMC 655 crore, and the state seeking 300 crore from the Centre. Pune Metro plans to secure 1,803 crore through soft loans.

The extended underground stretch of the Pune Metro from Swargate to Katraj will benefit the residents of Padmavati, Gul Tekdi, Market Yard, Dhankavdi, Bibwewadi, Balajinagar, Sainathnagar, Katraj and Ambegaon.
A coordinated move by Ireland, Norway, and Spain to recognise the Palestinian State may be largely symbolic but it reflects both the growing public outrage in Europe over the devastation and civilian death toll in Gaza and the deepening isolation of Israel. This followed weeks of behind-the-scenes discussions by several European States, based on the belief that there is a need for a fresh push for a two-State solution. Three countries speaking aloud for a Palestinian State is a symptom of the ground shifting in Europe against Israels genocidal war in Gaza. It is significant that one of those countries is Norway, which mediated the secret talks between the Israeli and Palestinian leadership that led to the Oslo Accords of 1993.

Israel had every right to respond after the brazen terror attacks of October 7 by Hamas, but dragging on the war that is now essentially targeting a civilian population already devoid of basic amenities such as food, water, shelter and health care, has turned the narrative against Tel Aviv. There is a groundswell even within Israel, where large sections of the population believe this brutal war is nothing but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus personal battle to save his political career. The thumbs up for a Palestinian State by the three countries has to be read with the process at the International Criminal Court, which has sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and several Hamas leaders on charges of war crimes, at a time when multiple countries have backed South Africas plea that the Israeli premier and others be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. The move by Ireland, Norway and Spain could spur similar efforts by other European States aimed at a two-State solution, which is the only long-term resolution to the conflict.
JAC Delhi Counselling 2024: The Joint Admission Committee (JAC) Delhi will begin the counselling process for admission to BTech and other courses through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main 2024) soon. Eligible candidates can apply for it on the official website, jacdelhi.admissions.nic.in. JAC Delhi counselling 2024 after May 27 (jacdelhi.admissions.nic.in, screenshot)

According to a message on the official website, "Registration for JAC-24 Admissions will start after 27 May, 2024."

JAC Delhi counselling is for admission to undergraduate programmes in Engineering, Architecture and Management offered by Delhi government-funded universities. It provides a single-window opportunity to apply for admission to the following universities based on the JEE Main score:

Delhi Technological University (DTU)

Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW)

Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIITD)

Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT) and

Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University(DSEU).

This year, 6372 seats in Engineering at the five participating institutions will be filled through the JAC Delhi counselling, as per information available on the committee's website.

The detailed schedule, eligibility criteria, important dates, counselling fees and process will be mentioned in the information bulletin. The information bulletin for the JAC Delhi counselling will be issued soon on jacdelhi.admissions.nic.in.

Last year, the counselling was done in five regular rounds, followed by spot admission rounds at institutes.

The registration fee was 1,500.

Eighty-five per cent of seats in all the participating institutions were reserved for applicants of the Delhi region (Indian nationals only), and 15 per cent were open for Indian nationals outside Delhi.

To visit the official website for JAC Delhi BTech counselling, click here.
Coming out of the oblivion, Bollywood actor Imran Khan has been quite vocal about his personal struggles from battling severe depression to seeking therapy. Now, as the buzz around his comeback project grows, we take a look at some of his comments which gave his fans a peek into his life and thoughts. (Also read: Exclusive| The Imran Khan interview: From his depression, to comeback after 10 years, to ladylove Lekha Washington) Imran Khan is often in the news for his relationship with Lekha Washington.

On battling severe depression

Imran took a break from acting after the release of Katti Batti in 2015. In an interview with Film Companion, the actor opened up about his battle, saying he was barely capable of functioning at that time.

In those years, I was just not capable of doing these things. I was barely capable of functioning. When you are tackling deep and severe depression, just getting up in the morning and brushing your teeth and taking a shower is a monumental task, he said.

During a conversation with Hindustan Times, he said, The thing about depression, anxiety, all of these things is there are shades that exist yet you don't recognize. Of course, until I had the vocabulary for a lot of it, I do not consider that I had anxiety. It's only as you start to become a little conscious... when you can't sleep in the middle of the night and you wake up at 4:30 in the morning- oh, is that anxiety? I didn't really consider that. It didn't strike me in a way that it was significant enough for me to pay attention. I guess around late 2016 I started to really get it.

I was like, you know what, I'm not feeling okay. It's like chronic back pain or something over time will go away. You don't pay attention until one day you stop and say man my back has been hurting. Maybe I should go to a doctor. So it was that kind of a gradual realization. I was not feeling like the guy who I think I am in my head. I realized that while I think of myself as that, actually, I was a very fearful person, I was very anxious, he added.

On realising the importance of mental health

In an interview, he revealed that the challenging period between 2016 and 2017 made him realise the importance of focusing on his mental health. "Being an actor is optional, but these things are not optional," he said as he stumbled on the changing dynamics of fame with every release.

He recalled, "The week before Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na released, nobody could have given a damn if I walked on the street; the week after it was released, suddenly there are people chasing my car."

On backing out of projects

He has admitted that his professional life also suffered because of the personal turmoil of his life. I was attached to a few films then. I backed out of a couple of films at that point. I was in extended talks on a film which I believe, ended up being called Thar (the Netflix film starring Anil Kapoor). I was in an early stage of development on that film. And Harsh Varrdhan played that role. I started pulling back. I never issued a press statement either saying on this day I retired. These are also years that I was very actively dealing with depression he told Hindustan Times.

On seeking therapy

Imran laid his heart out in a chat with Vogue magazine, where he revealed that therapy helped him get in touch with his core. He started going for therapy in 2017, and used to visit a therapist four times a week.

I felt damaged on the inside, and I wanted to fix that. If you pull a hamstring, you go to the physiotherapist. You dont feel good mentally? Seek therapy, he said.

Calling it a defining decision, the actor said, If you speak to someone who has given up an addiction or gone off alcohol, they could tell you the exact number of days theyve been sober. Its the same for me with my mental health.

On going minimalistic

In the process of dealing with his demons, Imran opted for a minimalist life. He gave up his bungalow in Bandras Pali Hill, and moved into an apartment around the time he divorced his wife, Avantika Malik.

I started by moving into what was basically an empty space. I started bringing things into the space based on my requirements. I had a television because I like to watch movies, and I had a sofa. And then, bit by bit, I started to bring in things only based on what I actually need, he told Film Companion.

On losing weight due to depression

Through an Instagram post, Imran revealed he got skinnier as he battled depression, and people claimed he was on drugs.

In recent years, as I battled depression and stopped working out, I became skinnier than I'd ever been. When I was photographed, it sparked a media discussion about my wellbeing, and speculations of drug abuse! I felt deeply ashamed, embarrassed to be seen by anyone in this state. So I retreated further, he wrote on his Instagram account, adding, While I'm still a tad jealous of those dudes with superhero muscles... I don't feel bad about myself.

On his comeback project getting shelved

Imran was set to make his comeback with Abbas Tyrewalas spy thriller. However, the project has been put on the back burner.

We started talking about it in July of last year. Abbas Tyrewala called me up out of the blue. I was in San Francisco for a holiday, and he told me that he has written this amazing thing. It was a cool story, and he asked me to do it together. The project was in early development at Hotstar. This was before the acquisition. The latter part of last year, Hotstar got amalgamated with Jio and somewhere within all of this, that project felt wayside, he told Film Companion.

He is happy about the development as he doesnt want to play a character who solves problems with a gun.

On his next project

There has been a lot of buzz around Imran next project. Recently, there were talks that he will return with the comedy film, Happy Patel, however, he dismissed the reports.

After spending 10 years trying to be invisible, for people to have that curiosity is somewhat counterintuitive. Almost all brands have approached me in the last year for endorsements. I turned down everyone. I don't want people to say 'he's back for the money', he told Hindustan Times.

At IFP Festival Season 13 in Mumbai, he had said, I don't have a clear answer, but I am reading scripts and having creative conversations with filmmakers.
Actor Deepika Padukone has been facing intense trolling ever since she gave a glimpse of her baby bump during her recent outing in Mumbai, with a section of the social media users calling her bump fake. While the actor has maintained a silence on it till now, actor Alia Bhatt has shown support for her. (Also read: Deepika Padukone, Richa Chadha, Natasha Dalal, Masaba Gupta: 11 pics of gorgeous Bollywood mommies-to-be) Actor Deepika Padukone flaunted her baby bump for the first time earlier this week when she stepped out to vote in Mumbai.

Earlier this week, Deepika flaunted her baby bump for the first time when she stepped out to vote in the fifth phase of Mumbai Lok Sabha Election 2024 in Mumbai with her husband and actor Ranveer Singh. With her pictures from the outing taking over the virtual world, certain sections of social media users body-shamed her.

Alia reacts against the trolls

One user wrote, "She is not pregnant. This is embarrassing, while another commented, Chal kiu rahi esyyy abi itna b baby bump bahar nai aya (Why is she walking like that, the bump isn't that big yet)."

As the chatter of the trolls grew louder on social media, journalist Faye DSouza, took to Instagram to support Deepika.

In her post, Faye wrote, Dear social media, Deepika Padukone stepped out to do her democratic duty and vote. She did not ask for your feedback on her body or her pregnancy. You have no right to comment on any aspect of her life. Stop it. Behave.

Several celebrities reacted to the post. Alia was quick to like the post. In fact, Alias sisters Pooja Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt along with mother Soni Razdan were also in agreement, and liked the post too.

Actor Shruti Seth also reacted to the post, writing, Luckily @deepikapadukone is too busy taking over the world to give a damn! Shes walking all over their damn opinions. Actor Tina Datta said, Exactly! People have lost it.

Deepikas fan come to support her

A section of social media users might be trolling, but Deepikas fans are coming forward to support. In fact, many of them praised Alia for being supportive and empathising. One user wrote, After the hate Alia got, I can see her empathising with DP (everyone sympathises but Alia went through the speculations too, so can personally relate).

This is the time they need to be supportive! Its just too personal to stoop at this level and interfere. Opinions by strangers on herself is the last thing she needs right now. Hope the baby and mama and dad are all okay and living every moment, wrote another.

Deepika and Ranveer, who have been happily married for almost 6 years now, recently announced that they are expecting their first child. They will be welcoming their baby in September 2024.

Alia was also trolled during her pregnancy

Back in 2002, Alia was also slammed on social media just sometime after she announced her pregnancy via a sweet Instagram post featuring an ultrasound (half-concealed with a giant heart emoji) and the back of her husband Ranbir Kapoor's head.

Alia reacted angrily to an Instagram post, which was shared by a news website. The post claimed that Alia's shoots have been delayed due to her pregnancy. It also stated that Ranbir Kapoor might go to the UK to bring his wife home.

Responding to the post, Alia wrote, Meanwhile we still live in some people's heads. We still live in a patriarchal world. FYI, nothing has gotten delayed. No one needs to pick anyone up. I am a woman, not a parcel. I do not need to rest at all but good to know you'll have a doctor's certification as well. This is 2022. Can we please get out of this archaic way of thinking? Now if you would excuse me. My shot is ready.
Hyderabad, Prabhas says Nag Ashwin's Kalki 2898 AD has turned out to be a lucky project for him as the film gave him the opportunity to collaborate with two stalwarts of Indian cinema Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan. Lucky to get opportunity to work with Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan: Prabhas on Kalki 2898 AD

Bachchan and Haasan play pivotal roles in the multilingual magnum opus that was greenlit as Project K in 2020.

The movie, which promises to transport audiences to a world never seen before in Indian cinema, is produced by Aswini Dutt, the founder of Vyjayanthi Movies.

"Im thankful to Amitabh sir and Kamal sir as they agreed to be part of Kalki 2898 AD, they both have inspired whole India. Im very lucky to act with these two legends.

"I think Amitabh sir, who hails from North India, has earned a huge fan base in the South and we all should be proud of him. Kamal sir is also a big star. They both have fans all over India, Prabhas said at a promotional event of Kalki 2898 AD here on Wednesday night.

The 44-year-old actor recalled that as a child, he used to dress up like Haasan's characters from his movies.

In my younger days, I fashioned myself on Kamal sir and also tried to get my clothes stitched, like the ones he wore in the 1983 film Sagara Sangamam, he said.

At the event, the makers introduced Bujji, a life-size futuristic car, which is driven by Prabhas in Kalki 2898 AD. The actor arrived at the event, which was attended by over 15,000 fans, in the customised car.

Kalki 2898 AD also stars Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani, and Prabhas expressed gratitude to both the actors for being part of the movie.

Deepika is the most gorgeous and beautiful superstar, she is doing international films, ads and we are lucky to have her in the film, Prabhas said.

The Baahubali star said he admires his producer Dutts passion and courage for making one of the costliest films in India with Kalki 2898 AD.

He is the only producer who has been in the industry for the last 50 years and imagine his second movie was with NTR. His two daughters also have the same passion, and we all should be inspired by them, he said.

Kalki 2898 AD will be released in theatres on June 27.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan was admitted at KD Hospital in Ahmedabad on Wednesday due to heat stroke. On Thursday, he was discharged after receiving treatment and has now returned to Mumbai. However, fans waiting to catch a glimpse of him after the health scare will have to wait longer. (Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan gets discharged from Ahmedabad hospital after getting admitted for heat stroke) Shah Rukh Khan hid behind an umbrella despite fans waiting to catch a glimpse of him.

SRK in Mumbai

Paparazzi photographer Viral Bayani shared a video on Instagram that Shah Rukh has returned to Mumbai after receiving treatment. The actor was in Ahmedabad for his Indian Premiere League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) qualifier match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). His team won the match and the actor even celebrated with his daughter Suhana and son AbRam, greeting fans and taking a victory lap at the stadium.

However, he was hospitalised a day later for dehydration. His manager, Pooja Dadlani, shared on Thursday that he was doing well, writing, To all of Mr Khans fans and well-wishers  he is doing well. Thank you for your love, prayers and concern. In the video, Shah Rukh can be seen accompanied by Gauri and Suhana. Agastya Nanda, Ajay Devgn and CM Eknath Shinde were also spotted at Kalina airport with the actor.

Juhi Chawla visited SRK

Juhi Chawla visited Shah Rukh when he was hospitalised. In a interview with News 18, Juhi assured Shah Rukh's fans about his health and said, Shah Rukh was not feeling too well last night but he is being attended to and was feeling much better this evening. God willing, he will soon be up, and in the stands on the weekend, cheering the team, as we play the finals.

Upcoming work

Talking to Star Sports for Kight Clubs King Khan Rules recently, Shah Rukh noted that he had three releases last year (Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki), which meant he was working non-stop. He stated that given that his roles required a lot from him physically, he decided to take a break and concentrate on his IPL cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) instead. He will soon reportedly be seen in King, apart from reprising his role as Pathaan for upcoming YRF spy films.
What Juhi said

Shah Rukh was not feeling too well last night but he is being attended to and was feeling much better this evening. God willing, he will soon be up, and in the stands on the weekend, cheering the team, as we play the finals, she said. Juhi and her husband Jay Mehta visited Shah Rukh at KD Hospital in Ahmedabad after the actor suffered dehydration and heat stroke on Wednesday. Shah Rukh's wife Gauri Khan also visited him there, looking worried.

Shah Rukh gets hospitalised

According to the Gujarat police, the actor was admitted to the hospital after he got a heat stroke. He was in Ahmedabad to watch the IPL match between KKR and Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday.

Shah Rukh was accompanied by his daughter Suhana Khan, younger son AbRam, and manager Pooja Dadlani. Juhi and Jay, along with Suhana's close friends Ananya Panday, Shanaya Kapoor, Navya Naveli Nanda, and Suhana's rumoured boyfriend Agastya Nanda, were also present in the stadium on Tuesday evening, cheering for KKR.

After the match, Shah Rukh, Suhana and AbRam treated the audience to a run around the Narendra Modi Stadium. Shah Rukh greeted the audience with a namaste and indulged them with his signature arms-spread-wide pose.

On the work front, Shah Rukh was last seen in Rajkumar Hirani's Dunki. The actor will reportedly begin shooting for his upcoming film King in July, in which he will share the screen space with Suhana.

Meanwhile, Juhi was last seen in The Railway Men. She's done over a dozen films opposite Shah Rukh, from Yes Boss, Darr to Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani. She was also a co-producer with Shah Rukh on films like Asoka and Chalte Chalte.
Shah Rukh Khan's fans can finally rejoice as they had been worried for his health. The actor who suffered a heat stroke in Ahmedabad has finally been discharged from the hospital. After his manager Pooja Dadlani confirmed about his well-being on her Instagram story, an ANI report has stated that Shah Rukh was discharged after undergoing treatment at KD Hospital. (Also read: Shah Rukh Khan's manager Pooja Dadlani shares update on his health: Thank you for your love, prayers) Shah Rukh Khan has been discharged from Ahmedabad's KD hospital. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)(AFP)

Ahemedabad SP shares Shah Rukh's health update

The ANI report quoted SP Ahmedabad Rural SP who said, Actor Shah Rukh Khan has been discharged from Ahmedabad's KD Hospital. The Dunki actor was admitted to KD Hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat yesterday due to heat stroke and dehydration. Ahmedabad (Rural) Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Jat had earlier told, Actor Shah Rukh Khan was admitted to KD Hospital after suffering from a heat stroke. He was in the state capital on Tuesday to support his team Kolkata Knight Riders during the IPL (Indian Premiere League) at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Juhi Chawla assures Shah Rukh's speedy recovery

After knowing about Shah Rukh's hospitalisation, his wife Gauri looked worried as she arrived at the KD hospital. His KKR business partners - Juhi Chawla and her husband Jai Mehta also visited him. In a interview with News 18, Juhi assured Shah Rukh's fans about his health and said, Shah Rukh was not feeling too well last night but he is being attended to and was feeling much better this evening. God willing, he will soon be up, and in the stands on the weekend, cheering the team, as we play the finals. Juhi was also a co-producer of the actor's home productions - Asoka (2001) and Chalte Chalte (2003).

Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming projects

Shah Rukh will be next seen in the action-thriller King, co-starring his daughter Suhana Khan. The actor will play an underworld Don in the film. He will also reprise the character of Pathaan in Aditya Chopra's Tiger vs Pathaan which is part of YRF's spy universe. The yet-to be announced film will be a spin-off to Tiger Franchise and War 2. It is expected that War 2 will set the premise for Tiger vs Pathaan and Pathaan 2.
Watch Shah Rukh Khan's wholesome video with fan

While the actor is hospitalised in Ahmedabad, a video has surfaced on social media, which is getting love from his fans. In it, Shah Rukh met a specially-abled fan right after attending the playoff match between KKR and SRH.

While the actor looked tired in the video, and was seen with his manager and security team, he didnt disappoint the fan and obliged him with a photo. Shah Rukh not only stopped to greet the fan, but also hugged him.

Shah Rukh Khan feeling much better

Shah Rukh's longtime co-star and KKR co-owner Juhi Chawla shared a health update after he was hospitalised due to heat stroke. Juhi and her husband Jay Mehta visited Shah Rukh at the hospital in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, as did Shah Rukh's wife, interior designer Gauri Khan.

In an interview with News18, Juhi assured fans that Shah Rukh is doing much better and will return to support their team in the IPL 2024 finals on Sunday. Shah Rukh was not feeling too well last night but he is being attended to and was feeling much better this evening. God willing, he will soon be up, and in the stands on the weekend, cheering the team, as we play the finals, she said.
Priyanka Chopras fans are miffed at British TV host Andi Peters for mispronouncing her name when he visited Madame Tussauds in London in March. Andi visited the wax museum for Good Morning Britain to talk about the celebrities immortalised in wax there. With the clip resurfacing on Instagram now, fans are not happy. (Also Read: Priyanka Chopra flaunts long hair in new pics after she stunned fans with short hairstyle: It was a wig, she got us) Andi Peters mispronounced Priyanka Chopra's name as Chianca Chopri when he visited Madame Tussauds.

Andi calls Priyanka Chianca

Good MorningAnchors Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins were at the studio while Andi talked to them from Madame Tussauds in the clip shared by a fan on Instagram. However, Andi struggles to pronounce Priyankas name correctly and calls her Chianca Chop Free, much to Adils chagrin, who corrects him, Honestly, Andi. If you're going to stand next to somebody at least work out what their name is. That's Priyanka Chopra, the Indian Bollywood actress who is now a massive star in America. Andi claimed then that he knew who she was and that she was married to that one from the Jonas Brothers according to the Daily Star.

Fans react

Fans, however, were not impressed, with an Instagram page sharing the clip on Instagram and writing, This was so unacceptable. One fan commented, 'chianka chop free' is absolute madness. Another miffed fan wrote, Someone needs to tell Andy Peters at least Priyanka Chopra has earned her place in Madame Tussauds because he hasnt. One thought it wasnt hard to pronounce Priyankas name right, writing, I used to like Andy - not anymore! That was really rude and its not that hard to say her name at all! Some fans pointed out that it looked rehearsed and that they were being racist on purpose, with one writing, This seems like they were deliberately doing this.....looks so staged and reheresed. MSM racsim at it's finest.

Upcoming work

Priyanka will soon star in Ilya Naishullers Heads of State with Idris Elba and John Cena as her co-stars for Amazon Prime Video. She wrapped up shooting for the film earlier this month, sharing on Instagram, This movie was a breeze because the cast and crew came prepared with their A game, everyday. Its been an honour to work with some legends in our business on this one.
All the NDAs that Angelina Jolie has signed in the last eight years would be produced for the ongoing civil lawsuit between her and Brad Pitt over their Chateau, fine wine, and vineyard in France. Angelina Jolie must produce all NDAs signed in the last eight years for her legal battle with Brad Pitt(AFP)

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Jolie to produce all non-privileged documents in her possession, custody, or control that are responsive to Pitts legal teams request.

This includes any NDAs that the Maleficent star has entered into. The judge has given Jolie a month to comply with the order.

Pitt's side, claiming that Jolie has no reason to reveal these agreements.

ALSO READ| Brad Pitt accused of using winery fund as 'personal piggy bank' amid legal battle with Angelina Jolie

Pitts team calls the ruling a crushing blow

A source from Pitts camp has described the ruling as a crushing blow to Jolie, who had previously contended that fulfilling such a request would be expensive, wasteful, unreasonable, and abusive.

Jolies lawyers had continued to indicate that the unveiling of the NDAs infringes on the privacy aspect of other individuals involved

These records most probably consist of relevant contracts with different entities of Hollywood, such as employers, brands, and employees; the contracts possibly contain contracts that include Jolies compensation or compensation she paid to third parties.

Now, Jolies team is expected to provide a list of documents they consider privileged, allowing Pitts attorneys to "evaluate the merits of Jolies assertions of privilege."

Earlier this year, the Bullet Train stars lawyers requested information on the number of NDAs Jolie has had staff members sign. This followed Jolie's accusations that Pitt was attempting to exert control over her through an overreaching agreement.

ALSO READ| Brad Pitt accused of 'sandbagging' Angelina Jolie as legal battle escalates: 'Let her go'

Jolies filings claim that Pitt demanded she sign a particularly onerous and expansive NDA, which would cover his personal misconduct, irrespective of its relation to Miraval, as a condition for her to sell her share of the winery to him.

The deal for Jolie to sell her half of Chateau Miraval to Pitt ultimately collapsed

Jolie alleges in legal documents that the breakdown was due to the unfair terms of the NDA. And she sold her shares to a subsidiary of the Stoli Group.

However, after the LA court's ruling, Jolies attorney, Paul Murphy, framed it as a victory for their side. Murphy said, Common NDAs are simply not comparable to Mr. Pitts last-second demand to try and cover up his personal misconduct. We are more than happy to turn them over and we are gratified that the Court acknowledged that the only potential relevance is to the unconscionability of Mr. Pitts conduct, a now confirmed key issue in this case.

ALSO READ| Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie's daughter flaunts confident dancing chops amid parents' escalating ongoing legal entanglement

We welcome that transparency in all parties discovery responses, including Mr. Pitts. Angelina looks forward to the eventual end of this litigation with its false narratives that continue to hurt the family and interfere with their ability to heal.
Oscar-winning actor Cate Blanchett is caught in a frenzy after calling herself 'middle class' during a press conference at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival 2024. The statement has left her fans baffled as the Hollywood stars estimated net worth is around $95 million. (Also read: Cate Blanchett sends a subtle and strong pro-Palestinian message on 2024 Cannes red carpet) Cate Blanchett recently spoke during the UNHCR: Displaced Stories press conference at the Cannes Film Festival.

The Lord of the Rings star has been a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) goodwill ambassador since 2016. It was during a United Nations press conference, titled UNHCR: Displaced Stories, at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday when the actor shared her views as an ambassador. The press meet was to have a dialogue around the global refugee crisis and the need to give displaced people a voice.

What she said

"I'm White. I'm privileged. I'm middle class. And I think, you know, one can be accused of having a bit of a White savior complex. But to be perfectly honest, my interaction with refugees in the film  in the field," she paused to correct herself, going on to mention, And also in resettled environments, has totally changed my perspective on the world. And I'm utterly grateful for that. And I think if you do have a platform, I want to be in dialogue with these people. I've met some extraordinary people with extraordinary creative talents and amazing perspectives.

When you give someone who is marginalized a phone to author their own experience, then I'm really happy, in any way, to help facilitate that. Because I personally, selfishly, am really fascinated by seeing that she added, while discussing efforts to give refugee filmmakers a platform.

Cate, who has been an activist for humanitarian issues for long, shared she was utterly grateful to encourage others with a platform to create a dialogue with refugee filmmakers.

"[Refugees] stories are so incredible and inspiring," the Australian actor share.

At the press conference, she added, There are so many stories to be told that are so inspiring and unusual and off the cuff and I wonder that we're all taught to be frightened by these stories," she considered. "The more we do that in our narratives, the more we exclude these voices from our narratives, the more we're othering them. And we're adding to the exclusion of people who have so much to offer.

Flak from social media users

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Cates net worth is $95 million. Many social media users were shocked to hear her views, and minced no words while slamming her.

Cate Blanchett thinks shes middle class compared to who? Jeff Bezos? Rich people are so out of touch, one X user wrote, while another wrote, She is disconnected from reality.

A third user shared, Yes, its really tough having to deal with the poors, while one joked, Cate Blanchett is middle class and I am a giraffe.

I love Cate Blanchett, but in what world is she middle class shes been in two major franchises and is worth an estimated 90 million, another wrote.

There were some fans to who supported the Blue Jasmine and Aviator star.

She is speaking of her class not her bank balance, one person explained on X, with one writing, Class and money are different. She might consider herself middle class because she isnt royalty.

Cate at Cannes

Apart from the conference, Cate attended the festival as her dark comedy, Rumours, made its debut at the fest. The film premiered on Saturday night, and received a four-minute standing ovation.

It follows the life of a group of world leaders who meet at the G7, but get lost in the woods while trying to compose a joint statement. Directed by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson, Rumours also stars Alicia Vikander, Charles Dance, Roy Dupuis, Denis Menochet, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Rolando Ravello.
New Delhi, Romanian director Radu Jude says his latest film "Don't Expect Too Much From The End Of The World" initially began with a simple desire to explore the life around in his country without worrying too much about its larger resonance in the world. Contradictions are interesting, I like to explore them in films: Romanian director Radu Jude

The black-and-white satire, hailed by critics for capturing the current state of the world, straddles many themes and ideas about gig economy, capitalism and social media madness throughout its two hours and 40-minute-long run.

"My desire was simple, just to try and describe the life around in Romania and express it in a cinematic way the best I could, relevant or not. Judging from reactions, it seems that it captures something of living in today's world, not just in Romanian society. But a film's relevance is not in my control," Jude told PTI in an interview.

At the centre of the film is Angela, an overworked production assistant. Her many duties include finding right candidates for a corporate safety video for her multi-national company looking to improve its image. Desperate workers who have been maimed in the company's factories are coerced to lie about workplace mishaps in the video.

Thanks to the nature of her job, Angela, played by Ilinca Manolache, spends most of her time on the congested roads of Bucharest. When not hustling, she transforms into Bobita, a social media persona parodying a real-life misogynistic influencer facing criminal charges.

"Don't Expect Too Much From The End Of The World" is available on MUBI, the global distributor, streaming service and production company.

Jude, one of the most prominent names in Romanian cinema today, has made a mark with his exploration of the many absurdities of modern age through his films such as "The Happiest Girl in the World", "Aferim!", "Uppercase Print" and "Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn".

"It's impossible to live on an empty island outside of social norms, only billionaires can. Everything is commodified for better or for worse. And that's one of the things I am interested in," he said, adding that "I Do Not Care If We Go Down in History as Barbarians" dealt with "how even protests are now commodified or become a part of mainstream discourse and can be ineffective in the end".

"I don't see a way that one can escape that. You have to live with this contradiction... And I like contradictions, I like to explore them in films. Things are interesting when they are contradictory. They are funny like a Moliere comedy," he said, referring to the famous French playwright.

It is difficult for him to pinpoint the origin of the movie but he traces it to his job as a production assistant "in the industry of creating images" about 26 years ago.

Some stories happened to him directly, while others he heard or witnessed and eventually decided to weave into the tapestry of the movie.

"Some experiences are more symbolic while others are more relevant to the landscape, at least of Romania. You can see that only when you look back. A few years ago, I decided to look back and explore these things.

"Also, this is a film about the economy in a sense and not many are made on the topic because they are boring. It may be the case with mine as well, I don't know," he said.

"Don't Expect Too Much..." premiered at the main competition of the 2023 Locarno Film Festival where it won the special jury prize. It was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. It was selected as Romania's entry in the Best International Feature category for the 96th Academy Awards.

The reviews have been glowing with international critics hailing the film for the way it mirrors the real world problems and anxieties. But Jude initially thought otherwise because the film was rejected by some film festivals.

"Actually, the first signs were very negative. I thought it's a complete failure because some festivals rejected it and others disliked it... But I am in favour of failures, one of the things that should be taught in schools and even in film colleges is how to fail and what to do with it," he said.

"In the professional life of a filmmaker, the possibility to fail or to be unsuccessful is very high. One of the things that people don't know is how to transform that. I also don't know but I try to learn little by little."

While most of "Don't Expect Too Much..." is in black-and-white, the 47-year-old filmmaker, a prominent face of the Romanian new wave, has interspersed its visuals from a 1981 Romanian film "Angela Goes On", about a woman taxi driver navigating the streets of Bucharest.

She, like his protagonist, is also named Angela.

Jude has also included a montage of hundreds of gravestones alongside the roads of Romania where people have lost their lives in traffic accidents.

Citing the works of American painter and graphic artist Robert Rauschenberg, the filmmaker said he is interested in creating collages in his cinema.

"This is part of the cinema grammar but somehow not used in this way at least. Some filmmakers have used it like Eisenstein and others.

"I don't paint myself but I am interested in painting work and collage. If you study Rauschenberg, one of my heroes, you can guess how his mind was operating while putting together all kinds of images, materials, colours and techniques... The overall aspect was much more important than the parts themselves. I tried to focus a little bit on it for this film," he said.

"Don't Expect Too Much..." also features noted German actor Nina Hoss, Katia Pascariu, Sofia Nicolaescu and German filmmaker Uwe Boll in a cameo.

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George Miller infused a visceral intensity into the full-throttle action spectacle that was Mad Max: Fury Road when he decided to return to the post-apocalyptic universe that began in 1981. More than justifying the choices for reviving the series, Miller also gave us an action heroine for the ages in the form of Charlize Theron's Furiosa. She was the one driving the action forward, quite literally. Nine years have passed, and Miller has come up with the back story that started her journey. Miller wants to say how, and in a formally ambitious fashion- how else. This is Miller still eager to take chances, and fire with all guns blazing. It doesn't land always, but when it does, Miller still reminds us of the exhilarating power of his vision. (Also read: Cannes 2024: Chris Hemsworth-starrer Furiosa A Mad Max Saga gets 7-minute standing ovation) Anya Taylor-Joy in a still from Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

Furiosa's journey takes the viewer back to Green Place, where we are only given a glimpse of the place where she was raised by a community of women called the Vuvalini of Many Mothers. Played by a superb Alyla Browne, she is just a young girl when she is abducted by a biker gang belonging to Dementus, played by Chris Hemsworth. With a fake nose and a big unkempt beard, he is cartoonish in his savagery. Revenge is a word cast early on young Furiosa, as she is tossed and held captive, and ultimately traded to the masked warlord Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme).

Furiosa grows up in this hellish landscape, now taken over by The Queen's Gambit actor Anya Taylor-Joy. With her ocean-blue eyes glowing against the black oil smeared all over her forehead, the actor molds the seething rage within Furiosa to thrilling effect. It is this rage that does most of the heavy lifting here, as the script co-written by George Miller and Nico Lathouris, is still not able to provide much of a dimension to her after all. Furiosa is hardly given any words, and in more ways than one, often a sidekick for the majority here. Even in the film's most dazzling action set piece- a circus-level carnage of fire and scale on a moving truck, edited brilliantly by Margaret Sixel and Eliot Knapman- Furiosa is almost entirely under the vehicle. The one in the driving seat is his unlikely companion in the form of Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke in fine form).

The issue with Furiosa is that even though Miller charges the narrative with a rigorous desire to know about the origin story of his unlikely heroine, we only remain a witness to her passive reactions. We watch her watch the feud that emerges between Dementus and Immortan Joe over gasoline. We watch her take charge of her destiny, but at what cost? Her connection with the women who are passed as sex slaves, which formed a gripping subtext in Mad Max, is completely missing here. Even as Furiosa gets a back story, where is the fable she once grew up in? Furiosa's loss of innocence is a crucial factor, but that impulse itself gets tangled within the larger framework of this episodic narrative.

The anticipation and the breathtaking momentum that made Fury Road so extraordinary is ultimately missing here. Miller's world-building is more interested in micro-aggressions that ultimately exhaust, and more importantly, do not land the claim Furiosa makes in the ultimate face-off with Dementus. We were there with Furiosa all this while, clinging on to her in her worst moments, yet why didn't we anticipate this question she placed in front of him? Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga works as long as it sees a clear road ahead from the top of the desert, but loses focus when it decides to listen to the thunderous beats of the vehicle it built in the first place. Furiosa contradicts and dazzles, infuriates, and sets the screen on fire. It is still a welcome thrill to witness the director taking risks, and asking, 'Shall we see, where the road ends?'
Cannes, An Austrian film with an Indian actor speaking German, a project without precedent, is nearing completion in Vienna. Indian actor plays German-speaking role in Austrian film

Written and directed by Indian-origin Austrian filmmaker Sandeep Kumar, the film, titled "Happy", features Mumbai-based actor Sahidur Rahman in the role of an illegal immigrant grappling with the repercussions of a deportation notice.

Rahman, a National School of Drama, Delhi, alumnus, was in Karan Tejpal's "Stolen", which world premiered at the 80th Venice Film Festival last year.

Kumar, whose last film was Mehrunisa, reveals that the lead actor learnt the German language for four months before the shoot got underway.

"I had first contacted a busy Mumbai actor to play the lead role in 'Happy'. He liked the script but his other commitments prevented him from boarding the project.

"Sahidur has done an incredible job," Kumar told PTI on the sidelines of the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

"I have had idea in my head since 2012," Kumar reveals. "Newspaper sellers in the subways and other spaces of Vienna are mostly immigrants from the subcontinent who lead precarious lives," says the filmmaker who is putting finishing touches to "Happy".

Kumar had a documentary in mind to begin with but as he interviewed people and heard their stories, he decided to turn it into a fiction film. "I felt I would be more at ease making fiction. Documentary filmmaking is not my forte, he says.

A large number of illegal immigrants were deported from Austria in 2023. "The time was ripe. I simply had to tell the story," says Kumar.

"Happy" revolves around the protagonist's relationship with his nine-year-old half-Austrian daughter. "The film is about his struggles to find happiness for himself and his daughter in the face of the prospect of being deported from Austria," says Kumar, who grew up in Delhi.

"The film also focuses on people around the protagonist who have it all but still have to fight to achieve happiness," says Kumar.

Sandeep Kumar's "Mehrunisa", starring the late Farrukh Jaffar, played at the International Film Festival of India Goa in 2021 before travelling to various other festivals.

Backed by the Austrian Film Commission, "Happy", which also has a smattering of Hindi and English, is set for a festival run followed by a theatrical release later this year.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Manjummel Boys, starring Soubin Shahir and Sreenath Bhasi, was released in February 2024. The Malayalam film has landed in legal trouble as renowned Tamil music composer Ilaiyaraaja has issued a legal notice over the unauthorised use of his song, Kanmani Anbodu Kaadhalan from the Tamil movie Guna (1991), in Manjummel Boys, reported The Hindu. Also read | Ilaiyaraaja's legal battle over music rights: Industry people speak up A still from Manjummel Boys featuring Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Balu Varghese, Ganapathi S Poduval, Lal Jr, Deepak Parambol and others.

Ilaiyaraaja vs Manjummel Boys makers

According to the report, Ilaiyaraaja accused the makers of Manjummel Boys of having 'unlawfully' exploited the song Kanmani Anbodu Kaadhalan, featuring Kamal Haasan, in their movie without obtaining his consent, permission or licence.

The notice issued through Ilaiyaraaja's counsel reportedly said that the song was composed by him. Though the makers of Manjummel Boys had recognised this fact in the title cards, 'the same or any underlying gesture cannot be a substitute for our clients permission/licence/content for such usage,' the notice read.

Choose either of the two options

Since the musical work had been exploited commercially without authorisation and payment of royalty or licence fee to Ilaiyaraaja, his legal team called upon Manjummel Boys's producers to either obtain the composers permission or remove the musical work forthwith from their movie, besides paying compensation for unauthorised usage.

The notice reportedly also warned that appropriate civil and criminal proceedings would be instituted against the films producers, Soubhin Shahir, Babu Shahir, and Shawn Antony, if they failed to exercise either of the two options.

About Manjummel Boys

Manjummel Boys is a survival drama that follows the story of a group of 11 friends from Kerala planning a trip to Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu. Their trip takes a turn, when one of the friends falls into a pit inside the Guna Caves, which is named after Kamal Haasan's 1991 film of the same title. Manjummel Boys then shows how the other friends battle against all odds to save their friend.
Actor Rajinikanth received a golden visa from the UAE's Department of Culture and Tourism. The actor, who was recently in Abu Dhabi, thanked the government and MA Yusuff Ali, the chairman and managing director of Lulu Group, for the honour and hospitality. (Also Read: Rajinikanth looks gleeful as he rides in a Rolls Royce in Abu Dhabi. Watch) Rajinikanth receives his Golden Visa for UAE.

I am grateful

Trade analyst Ramesh Bala took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a picture of Rajinikanth receiving his visa, writing, UAE Culture and Tourism Department grants #GoldenVisa to #Superstar. Rajinikanth also shared a video with the press saying, I am deeply honoured to receive the prestigious UAE Golden visa from Abu Dhabi Govt. My heartfelt thanks to the Abu Dhabi govt. and also to my good friend Mr Yusuff Ali, CMD of Lulu Group, for facilitating this visa and for all the support.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), Government of Abu Dhabi handed over the Golden Visa to Rajinikanth in the presence of Yusuff.

Rajinikanth in UAE

On Monday, Rajinikanth spent quality time with his friend Yusuff and some top company executives of Lulu Group. While in Abu Dhabi, he visited Yusuffs house and even took a ride in his Rolls Royce. A video shared by one of the companys employees shows Rajinikanth looking gleeful as he rides in the swanky car to the residence, where the duo chat away. Many had speculated why Rajinikanth was meeting these corporate executives, with some wondering if it was about business. But with this announcement on Thursday, its clear that he had taken Yusuffs help to get the visa.

Upcoming work

Rajinikanth has exciting films lined up for release. Apart from Vettaiyan, which will release in October and also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil and Rana Daggubati, he will star in Lokesh Kanagarajs Coolie. The films announcement teaser was met with a good response but ran into trouble due to the music composed by Anirudh Ravichander. Ilaiyaraaja sent the producers a legal notice for using one of his old songs without permission.
Mumbai, Krishna Shroff, the daughter of veteran actor Jackie Shroff, says she is excited to debut on Indian television with reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi, which gives her a chance to be authentic in front of the camera. Excited about my debut on TV with Khatron Ke Khiladi, says Krishna Shroff

Krishna said the idea of just being herself is more fascinating than acting in movies. She is confident viewers will get to know more about her through the Rohit Shetty-hosted show.

"There've been many questions around whether I want to do movies . It is always like, Why isnt she doing films? Is she going to do it?. I was very clear from early on in life that I'm comfortable just being me, Im comfortable in the reality space," Krishna told PTI in an interview

"It is something that I feel very sure about because I get to be me. Im excited to connect with a wide audience through this show because the platform is immense. Right now, Im on Instagram, theres only so much that you can show on that platform, Krishna added.

She said adventure-based reality show, Khatron Ke Khiladi resonated with her personality and hence she chose to do it.

"Ive always tried to do things that resonate with me, and I strive to do things that feel as authentic and real as possible. I dont think theres anything better than Khatron Ke Khiladi that could fit my brand specifically.

Krishan said her father Jackie Shroff and actor brother Tiger Shroff are looking forward to her show appearance.

"My brother had a great laugh. My parents were hesitant at first and were like, You are the youngest, going out for a long period of time. They were concerned about safety, which is normal but that nervousness became excitement, she said.

Krishna said she has no qualms being referred to as Jackie Shroffs daughter and Tiger Shroffs sister while striving to create her own identity.

"Im very proud to be known as my fathers daughter or my brothers sister. Theyve a massive legacy and to be related to them is an honour. Ill never shy away from that, she said.

"Im forever grateful for finding fitness. It has given me confidence to stay away from who they expect me to do and create an identity for myself, she added.

To be held in Romania, Khatron Ke Khiladi features a host of celebrities like Krishna, Sumona Chakravarti, Shilpa Shinde, Asim Riaz, Krishna Shroff, Shalin Bhanot, Abhishek Kumar, Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia, Karan Veer Mehra, Kedar Aashish Mehrotraa, Aditi Sharma, Gashmeer Mahajani, Niyati Fatnani, among others, vying to win the coveted title of the show.

The reality TV series will go on air next month or in July on Colors channel.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
These times are very different from those gone by. We seem thrust into unprecedented and unrelenting cycles of stress. For a world that prides itself on its progress, the prodders to our discomfort are mostly products of that very progress. Our tech and tools, in a quest to become faster, are driving us to confusion and anxiety; our attention spans are shorter than ever; our impatience levels, spiked. Noise (Unsplash)

One cause more, for progress-induced agitation, is noise.

Noise is an unwanted, unpleasant sound, a disturbance, and we arewell, a noisy species. Our modes of transport, our machinery, mining and manufacturing, thunder across the planet. It affects us all, however much we think we may have grown accustomed to it.

In the 1960s, Gerd Jansen from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Germany, reportedly examined a thousand German industrial workers to study the effects of noise on them, if any. He documented significant health problems, and equilibrium disturbances among other findings. Those working in very noisy industries were more affected than those who worked in relatively less noisy sectors.

Even earlier, John B. Watson, an American psychologist, suggested that infants feel few emotions, dominant among which are love, rage and fear. Watson said that infants feel fear first, if they experience a loss of body support, and second, if they hear a sudden, loud noise. The fact that noise sparks powerful negative emotional impulses, has been corroborated by research over the years.

Since then, data on chronic exposure to noise reveals bio-chemical linkages to disturbed sleep, high blood pressure, accelerated heart rate, irritability, anger, and inflammation in the brain, veins and arteries. Noise pushes our threat buttons by default. The brains stress response is activated which, once in motion continually, can lead to cardiovascular problems in the same way apparently that smoking, diabetes, hypertension and obesity can cause in us. In children, it can result in impaired memory and slow learning.

These results are not for just those who work in noisy environments. In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that exposure to noise from transportation--specifically from aircraft, trains and road vehicles--is responsible for the annual loss of over 1.5 million cumulative years of healthy life among people in Western Europe. For a country like ours, that figure would of course be higher.

If this estimate is difficult to relate to, heres another. Research suggests that the direct and indirect social costs of noise and air pollution (through air, train and road transport) in the European Union alone, could be nearly 1 trillion, accounting for disease and premature death.

Further, the effects of noise on living beings are much more than apparent. The relentless crisscross of cars, flights, ships and tourists traumatises wildlife, both on land and in sea. A study presented in the Ocean Sciences Meeting in 2022 reports on the effects of noise on turtles from off shore construction and shipping. Scientists warn that turtles could experience loss of hearing from minutes to days. This means that the reptiles could miss out on sounds of communication in their environment warning them of approaching predators, among other cues. Similar impact of noise on marine animals such as fishes and whales have also been documented.

The fact that noise created by human activity drives wildlife into hiding was evident during the Lockdown in 2020 and 2021. While we were forced to stay at home, bears, deer, giraffes and at least 40 other terrestrial mammals around the world roamed further than usual and seemed more at ease in the absence of human presence. Otters in Chile, shy marine fish off Ecuador, pumas in California, timid jackals, shy foxes and bird species, to name a few, all emerged from hiding. Loggerhead turtles laid eggs more frequently and the big cats relaxed and mated more, across continents, as the noise abated.

But heres the thing. It isnt just the disturbance created by the cumulative sound of our high-speed vehicles and big industry that impact us and other life. Research presented in 2003 by W Babisch from the German Federal Environmental Agency suggested that constantly experiencing low levels of noise of 50-60 decibels even, which is as much as in a conversation, interferes with concentration, communication, and our circadian rhythms to impact sleep. That causes annoyance, mental stress, and subsequent sympathetic and endocrine activation, the long-term consequences of which are coronary heart disease, anxiety and depression amongst other disorders.

As I sit at an airport cafe waiting to board a flight, Im struck guessing the levels of sympathetic and endocrine activation within and around me! Almost everyone in sight is talking. Two groups of young people in conversation behind me shout at each other across a two-feet table expounding their take on insurance policies. Nine people in my direct line of vision are walking or pacing in circular paths at the edge of the cafe, each talking on his/her phone. One of them hollers instructions into it, because he cant clearly hear the person at the other end. Two others sitting on my right swipe their screens for a minute or two before dialing and breaking into conversation as well.

Armed with our gadgets, and the choice to connect to whoever we wish from wherever we are, we all seem to be talking, all the time. Thats a lot of talking which inevitably grows louder and louder, as people struggle to be heard over and above the existing din, thus notching it up in amplitude. Thats a lot of noise.

The world is on steroids. As we talk more to do more business and move more goods across sea, air and land, to buy and sell more across continents, impelled by design to keep our economies going and growing, faster and faster, weve created a human-induced cacophony, unlike any other time in history. Add to that the invisible noise from all our gadget circuitry, and the frequency and amplitude of our noise pitches peak. As other creatures on the planet run for cover, we seem unaware and locked into an amplified, agitated mode that can only vibrate across and reflect back from layers of our atmosphere as drivers to further agitation.

While we figure that out, could we consider our own levels of quiet and noise?

Do we hear the sound of the fridge door open as we put a dish away, a morning bird chirp, or the newspaper rustle when we turn a page, rather than the noise in our heads? If yes, were in the now.

And are we (and our children) aware of our voices with respect to the spaces we visit  a public lobby, a medical facility, a mall or a restaurant? If not, then we are drivers of the din.

And lastly, would airport and railway authorities consider offering travelers a quiet room? Not akin to an unwanted, cramped space (often set aside for smokers), but one that is simple, spacious and pleasant, with seating placed afar, natural light and a few plants. Such a space might offer respite from an ever-growing ubiquitous ruckus, and relief to a mind buzzed into a daze. It might even prod us lightly again, into quietness.

This article is authored by Vandana Kohli, author, filmmaker and entrepreneur.
Actor Taha Shah Badussha is in the best phase of his career. His portrayal of Tajdar Baloch in Sanjay Leela Bhansalis magnum opus Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is getting him all the love, fame and adulation. And he recently made his debut at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Taha Shah Badussha was last seen in Heeramandi

It has been uphill for the past three weeks, says Taha describing his ridr to the national crush status and the audience lapping up his turn as Tajdar.

I feel shocked. Andar se mujhe yakeen tha ki ek na ek din log mujhe pasand karenge, but didnt realise that it will happen so suddenly. If you get something after working hard for 15 years, you feel very grateful," adds the actor.

From enjoying a modest following on social media to being hailed as the National Crush, Taha is gobsmacked about how the number of likes on his posts has shot into lakhs from a few hundred.

I didnt expect something like this coming, yeh bahut badi cheez hai. Mere posts par 500-600 likes aate the and pata nahi aisa kya hua hai that they have gone in lacs. This whole National crush thing is very humbling, he shares, attributing his newfound status to Bhansalis vision and the audiences reception.

Main wahi same banda hoon pichle itne saal se. It is because of Mr. Bhansali and people, he presented me in such a way. I feel that Tajdar is the National crush, Taha bas ek zariya hai. I am what people have made me today. I hope every character becomes a national or international crush, thats very encouraging," he gushes.

Also Read: Aditi Rao Hydari reacts to her viral Gajagamini walk from Heeramandi, how Bhansali told her not to lose weight for it

The Bhansali directorial has also spelt a brutal phase of trolling for Taha's co-star Sharmin Segal who portrays the role of his love interest, Alamzeb.

I spoke to her at the success party and she was very happy. Sharmin is a very strong person and she knows exactly what she is doing. She will get through this. There are so many people have also liked her performance. Whenever I have worked with her, I have seen her give her best. You cant really demand more from a person," says the 36-year-old, adding, I am no one to speak about how the audience perceives something, that is in no ones control. I have been on the other side as well, when the audience didnt accept me, but now I have been accepted, so its a journey. Its a phase that many people have to go through.

With films such as Luv Ka The End (2011), Gippi (2013), and Baar Baar Dekho (2016) to his credit, Taha finally got to make his Cannes debut, where he launched the poster of his film, Paro.

He describes the experience of his Cannes debut as phenomenal. He elaborates, Cannes is an animal. When you enter there, you understand the magnanimous event that it is. This city had a throbbing energy with creative geniuses. I believe that being in such a place gives you International exposure and to build some long lasting connections. Every year now, Cannes will be on my list. Many people from different countries were calling me Tajdar there, so they were recognising me because of Heeramandi, which is great.

Like many Indians who attend Cannes, Taha, too, had his share of criticism when some trolled him for his accent at the French Riviera.

Unfazed by these comments, he says. I was born in Dubai. I studied in the UK, US, and here, so my accent is all over the place. I have no single accent and I am an actor, my acting keeps changing. I accept my change and I hope that it keeps changing."
At least 360 Indian citizens who were scammed into working as cyber slaves in Cambodia, have been successfully brought back to India in the last four-five months, CEO of Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) Rajesh Kumar said on Wednesday, adding that another 60 Indians who are stuck in the Southeast Asian nation will arrive in the coming weeks. Representational image.

Amid rise in cybercrime incidents targeting India that originate in Southeast Asia, particularly from Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, the Union government on May 16 constituted a high level inter-ministerial committee under the chairpersonship of the special secretary (Internal Security), ministry of home affairs (MHA). The committee, comprising officials from the ministries of external affairs, finance, and electronics and information technology, department of telecommunications, CBI, NIA, CBIC, and department of post, has met twice thus far, Kumar said.

The committee has been created to take a very focused and concerted action on ending this menace which is going on from Southeast Asia, Kumar added.

These victims were lured to Cambodia through attractive job offers but on reaching, their passports were taken away and they were forced to engage in scamming people in India using online means of communication such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Google Ads, and other platforms and fake apps, Kumar said.

Cyber slaves are foreign nationals who are tricked into relocating to another country for better job opportunities but are instead forced to work as online scammers in locked compounds. Cambodia has emerged as a hot bed of this kind of exploitation. Many Indians reach Cambodia through Thailand, Kumar said. Many are victims of human trafficking but some go knowingly as well, Kumar said.

For people who want to come back, the kingpins of such organised crime demand that the victims buy back their independence, Kumar said. The victims themselves reached out to the Indian embassy in Cambodia and that embassy alone has been able to bring back 360 people, he added.

In addition, 150 of such victims, mostly from Andhra Pradesh, protested at a suspected scam compound (called Jinbei 4) in the Sihanouk City of Cambodia on May 20 night. Sixty of them will be repatriated to India in coming weeks, Kumar said. The other 90 did not want to come back; they were protesting to get their passports back, he added.

The Indian government is in touch with Cambodian authorities. These 60 people whom I mentioned will be soon back in this country [India], Kumar said.

On May 21, the Indian embassy in Phnom Penh released an advisory warning Indian nationals of advertisements for fake jobs in the country through which victims are coerced to undertake online financial scams and other illegal activities.

Kumar also said that Section 111 of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which will replace the Indian Penal Code, includes continuing cyber crimes within the ambit of organised crime, and will be useful in persecuting people involved in such large scale scams.

39.1% of all cyber crimes reported on portal originate in Southeast Asia

Kumar said that 7,40,957 complaints, at an average of 7,000 daily, have been registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal between January and April 2024. 85% of these are related to online financial frauds and about 46% of these (about 39.1% of the total) originate in Southeast Asia.

Four categories of scams originating from Southeast Asia, and Cambodia in particular, are the I4C focus  investment scams (62,687 complaints between January and April 2024 involving 222.58 crore); trading scams (20,043 complaints involving 1,420.48 crore); digital arrest (4,599 complaints involving 120.3 crore); and romance and dating scams (1,725 complaints involving 13.23 crore).

In 2024, the common modus operandi of crimes emanating from scam centres in Southeast Asia have been fake trading apps, investment apps and websites, fake loan apps, fake dating apps, and fake gaming apps that can involve algorithmic manipulation.

Tackling the scam of digital arrests

To deal with digital arrests, the MHA had issued an alert on May 14, and I4C, in collaboration with Microsoft, had got more than 1,000 Skype IDs blocked. In this scam, the perpetrators call the victim and pretend if a parcel, intended for the victim, has been intercepted for containing illegal goods or drugs. They may also pretend that a person close to the victim is involved in a crime and thus the victim is being places under digital arrest and must remain visually available over Skype or another video conferencing platform ill their demands are met. Such crimes rely on social engineering for which the criminals depend both on breached personal data as well as the wealth of personal data and details of relationships that people make publicly available on social media platforms.

Actually, we are careless about posting things on social media. Our suggestion would be that do not reveal of lot on social media. Even if you want to reveal, put controls on who can view your position ,your posts, or your connections. Do not display your phone numbers. Do not display your relationships, Kumar said.

The criminals dress up as law enforcement officials and use official agency logos in their display pictures to make the ruse more believable. The I4C is working with Microsoft to evolve a system using machine learning and artificial intelligence to track Skype IDs that misuse official logos, Kumar said.

Kumar clarified that thus far, in all the cases involving digital arrest that they have seen, the perpetrators have not yet used AI-generated voices or faces to scam victims. We have not yet seen that [use of AI]. There are actual human beings sitting in front of cameras. AI should be used by us... We are giving Skype data to train their model so that they can identify when someone is misusing logos of Indian government to commit crimes, Kumar said.
Around 38 per cent of students across 23 IITs remain unplaced so far this year, according to information obtained through RTI applications filed by IIT Kanpur alumnus Dheeraj Singh, The Times of India reported. A challenge remains as the placement session for the academic year 2023-24 at IIT-Delhi nears its conclusion. (File Photo)

Over 7,000 IIT students are yet to be placed via campus this year across all the 23 IITs. Two years ago, this unplaced number was half at 3,400. While the number of students sitting in placements has gone up 1.2 times, the number of unplaced students has doubled to 2.3 times in two years, Singh was quoted as saying.

Also Read | From NCERT to IITs, science takes a knock

As the placement session for the academic year 2023-24 at IIT-Delhi nears its conclusion, a challenge remains. Despite their efforts, nearly 400 students are still without job placements. In light of this, the institute contacted the alumni network, as revealed by RTI responses, seeking assistance in providing job opportunities for these graduating students.

The appeal extends beyond simply offering students jobs within their organisations. According to The TOI, it includes providing referrals, recommendations, and even internship opportunities, urging former students to lend support to their juniors.

IITs reach out to alumni network

IIT Delhi

IIT Delhi has reached out to its alumni, urging them to assist in placing the current batch or recommending graduates to companies seeking to hire engineers. On behalf of the Office of Career Services (OCS) at IIT-Delhi, we appeal to you to consider offering your support to our students. Your assistance in this regard will be highly valued and will play a pivotal role in guiding these students as they begin their careers, the institute reportedly said.

IIT Bombay

IIT-Bombay has also contacted alumni for support. Although placements are ongoing and will continue until the end of June, about 10% of the batch, equivalent to 250 candidates participating in placements, have yet to secure employment.

As per information from an RTI filed by Singh, last year saw 329 candidates remain unplaced, with 171 of them belonging to the class of 2022 who were unable to secure employment.

BITS reached out to alumni, too

Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), along with many other institutes, initiated outreach to its alumni approximately two months ago, with some doing so informally and others more prominently.

V Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor of BITS Group was quoted as saying, Placements across the board have seen a decrease of 20% to 30%. Even if an institute claims full placement, the quality of jobs offered may not meet expectations. This year marks the emergence of ChatGPT and other large language models, impacting hiring practices. With the capability of two people now condensed into one, there is a notable decrease in hiring demand. Overhiring has been prevalent, and with several countries holding elections this year, companies are adopting a cautious approach.
The grizzled 55-year-old farmer looks much older than he is, but Virsa Singhs wrinkled visage lights up when he begins to talk about his youngest son, Sepoy Gurtej Singh from 3 Punjab, who was among the 20 Indian soldiers killed in action during the Galwan Valley skirmish with the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in eastern Ladakh.

Sepoy Gurtej Singhs mother Parkash Kaur with his Vir Chakra. (HT PHOTO)
The Delhi Police will not visit Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal's house on Thursday, to question his parents over the alleged assault of AAP MP Swati Maliwal. Reports of deferment of the planned questioning emerged after senior AAP leaders, including Sanjay Singh and Atishi, congregated at the chief minister's house to show solidarity with the latter's parents. Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal with his family.(PTI)

Arvind Kejriwal had written on X on Wednesday that the Delhi Police would question his "elderly and ill" parents today.

The police may visit Arvind Kejriwal's house to question his family members in the coming days, PTI reported, citing sources. The news agency added that they might question Arvind Kejriwal himself in the near future.

On Thursday morning, AAP shared videos of Arvind Kejriwal guiding his parents, who appear to be walking with difficulty, to a room in his residence for questioning.

Arvind Kejriwal later wrote on X in Hindi that he was waiting for the police with his wife and parents.

"Yesterday the police called and asked for time to interrogate my parents. But they have not yet given any information about whether they will come or not," he said.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the BJP of committing atrocities on Arvind Kejriwal's parents using the police.

"Ever since Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail, BJP has freaked out. They are attacking and conspiring against Arvind Kejriwal and AAP. But today, after summoning the parents of Arvind Kejriwal for questioning by Delhi Police, they have crossed all the limits," said AAP leader Atishi.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh said Kejriwal's father can't walk without support and his mother returned from hospital two days ago.

"The BJP has stooped so low now they are using Delhi Police to commit atrocities on Kejriwal's ailing and elderly parents. His father is 84, cannot walk without support and even has hearing problems. His mother had returned from hospital two days before his arrest and he could not even meet her at that time. People will respond to this with their votes," he added.

Swati Maliwal has alleged that she was thrashed by Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar in the Delhi chief minister's house. She claimed that Arvind Kejriwal and his family were present inside the house when the alleged assault took place.

The AAP, meanwhile, has claimed that Maliwal's FIR was part of a conspiracy hatched by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In her statement to the police, ANI reported, Maliwal had told them that before being assaulted by Bibhav Kumar, she met Kejriwal's family.

"She came out after meeting them. That's why we are asking for two days to take their statement," ANI quoted Delhi police sources as saying.

The Delhi Police last week arrest Bibhav Kumar.
SILCHAR: A 42-year-old man detained by the police in north Assams Lakimpur district in connection with a stolen mobile phone died on Wednesday evening in the police outpost where he was being held, triggering protests against the Assam Police to demand action against the police personnel. Assam Police said the police officer in charge of the Khelmati outpost and the outposts sentry at the time of the death have been suspended.

Assam Police said the police officer in charge of the Khelmati outpost and the outposts sentry at the time of the death have been suspended.

Lakhimpur additional superintendent of police (Headquarters) LK Deka said the accused, who was sitting on a bench inside the police station, suddenly fell down and was immediately rushed to the civil hospital where he was declared brought dead by doctors.

Alis family insists that he was innocent and he was tortured to force him to confess to a crime he hadnt committed when he died, a relative said.

On Thursday morning, angry relatives of the victim turned up at the police outpost at about 8am to protest the death. Some of them also threw stones at the outpost, leading the police to fire three shots in the air to disperse the crowd.

Deka said a magisterial inquest will be ordered into the incident and a panel of doctors will conduct the post-mortem, which will be videographed, to ascertain the exact cause of the death.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Assam director general of Police Gyanendra Pratap Singhs office announced the suspension of two police personnel including the outpost in charge. Independent Enquiry has been ordered by Additional SP Biswanath. All the mandatory provisions of law & directions of NHRC/AHRC are being followed. DIG NR (Northern Range) has been directed to proceed to Khelmati immediately.

A police officer said two persons have been detained in connection with the attack on the outpost on Thursday morning.
A Bangladeshi parliamentarian, who travelled to West Bengal for medical treatment and went missing from the northern fringes of Kolkata last week, was murdered, authorities in both countries said on Wednesday. Residential complex where Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Amar stayed during his personal visit, at New Town area of North 24 Pargana, on Wednesday. (PTI)

Mohammad Anwarul Azim, a member of Bangaldeshis ruling Awami League, came to India on May 12 and was declared missing on May 18. His body has still not been traced, AK Chaturvedi, inspector general of CID, said.But a police officer familiar with the matter said blood stains were found during forensic analysis at flat in New Town where he was last traced.

He has been murdered in a flat in Kolkata. It was a planned murder. Both Indian police and Bangladeshi police are investigating, Asaduzzaman Khan, Bangladesh home minister, told media persons in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Bangladesh foreign minister Hasan Mahmud said in Dhaka that West Bengal Police entered the flat where Azim was reportedly murdered but did not find his body.

Khan said three people were arrested in Bangladesh in connection with the case, without giving further details. Were trying to catch a few more... According to the information we have so far, the people of our country [Bangladesh] are involved in the killing, Khan was quoted as saying by Daily Star newspaper.

West Bengal Police said Azim  a resident of Dhaka and is a three-time MP from Jhenaidah  came to India on a personal visit.

We had no intimation. We received a missing diary on May 18. Barrackpore city police set up a Special Investigation Team to trace him. On May 20, we received an intimation from Ministry of External Affairs through the state government to look into the matter. On Tuesday, we received an input that he probably has been murdered. CID has taken over the investigation. We are yet to recover the body, Chaturvedi said.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at Azims death and expressed her sympathy to his family members.

Police said Azim reached the house of his long-term friend Gopal Biswas at Baranagar in North 24 Parganas after reaching Kolkata on May 12. Biswas lodged the missing diary on May 18, after which the probe began.

Azim had two mobile phones  one with a Bangladeshi number and another with an Indian number. His Bangladeshi number was switched off on May 12 when he entered India, said another police officer.

According to the missing complaint lodged by Biswas with Baranagar police, a copy of which was seen by HT, Azim came to his house on May 12 around 7pm for medical treatment.

The next day on May 13, Azim left around 1.40pm, saying that he wont have lunch but would return in evening. In the evening Azim, however, sent a WhatsApp message to Biswas saying that he was going to Delhi for some work. In the message he also said that he would inform Biswas after reaching Delhi and that Biswas shouldnt call him, said a police officer, requesting anonymity.

On May 15, Biswas again received a WhatsApp message from Azim around 11.20am saying he reached Delhi and that there were some VIPs with him. Biswas, who was known to Azims family, later came to know that the MP sent the same message to his personal assistant and family members back home in Bangladesh.

On May 16, Azim called his PA in the morning. His PA couldnt receive the call. Later when he called back Azim, he failed to contact, police have learnt, according to an officer aware of the matter said.

On May 17, Azims daughter Mumtarin Ferdous Doreen called Biswas and said that she couldnt reach her father over the phone. Biswas and other family members tried throughout the day to reach Azim but failed. It was only then that Biswas lodged a missing diary on May 18 at Baranagar police station.

Investigation revealed that after leaving Biswass flat, Azim went to a flat in New Town around 20km away. Police collected CCTV footage and are checking mobile tower locations.

The flat belong to a man named Sandeep. He had given it on rent to one Rahaman, who happens to be a US national. Investigation is ongoing, said Chaturvedi.

Bangladesh detective branch chief Harun-or-Rashid told journalists in Dhaka that Bangladeshi criminals were behind the killing. It is a brutal murder. We are investigating whether family or financial causes, or enmity with local miscreants led to his death. We are working closely with the Indian police, he said.

Jhenaidah, the area which Azim represented in Bangladeshs Parliament, is known for its high crime rate, Khan said.
In the murder case of Bangladeshi MP Anwarul Azim Anar, Kolkata Police's forensic team on Thursday collected samples from a car found at the crime scene. Bangladesh Awami League MP Md. Anwarul Azim (Twitter Photo/ IANS)(HT_PRINT)

Anar, a ruling Awami League party member, had recently won his third consecutive term in the Jhenaidah border district. The MP, 56, was discovered dead in Kolkata, West Bengal, on Wednesday.

ALSO READ- Bangladesh MP, who went missing last week in Bengal, has been murdered: Official

Bangladesh MP Anwarul Anar found dead: What we know so far

 The Bangladeshi MP entered India on May 12 and was last seen on the afternoon of May 13, when he went with friends to Bidhannagar, near Kolkata, for a medical check-up.

 The MP's daughter tried to contact him but failed.

 A missing person's complaint was filed at Baranagar Police Station.

 A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed, and the CID is investigating the case.

 The West Bengal police said that ministry of external affairs urged the West Bengal government to investigate.

 The police have secured video footage from the housing complex where he was staying. Some blood stains were found during the investigation.

 A senior police officer suggested the assailants "may be" linked to terror outfits.

How did Anwarul Azim Anar go missing?

 Anwarul Azim Anar went missing after arriving in Kolkata on May 12 for medical treatment.

 The search began on May 18 when Gopal Biswas, a resident of Baranagar and an acquaintance of Anar, filed a missing person complaint.

 Biswas stated that Anwar left his residence on May 13 for a doctors appointment, saying he would return for dinner.

 On May 13, Biswas received a WhatsApp message from Anwars phone indicating he was moving to Delhi for urgent work and should not be contacted.

 On May 15, Biswas received another message, supposedly from Anwar, confirming that he had reached Delhi and was with VIPs.

 Anwar went incommunicado from May 17, prompting Biswas to file the police complaint on May 18.

ALSO READ- More Mamata harasses Suvendu, higher position BJP would give him, says Amit Shah

How did Bangladesh government react to MP's death?

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her condolences and profound grief over the lawmaker's death.

At a news conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh home minister Asaduzzaman Khan alleged that the MP was killed in a planned murder in Kolkata. Speaking to reporters at his residence on Wednesday, the minister announced that Bangladesh Police had arrested three persons in connection with the case, reported by the Bangladesh newspaper, Daily Star.

(Inputs from PTI)
Andrei IllarionovMay 23, 2024

For the last six months, public attention has been drawn to two versions of a Ukraine aid bill. One was prepared by the Biden administration and Democrats, the other by former president Trump, Speaker of the House Johnson and Republicans.

It was the Republican version of the bill (or more precisely, legislative package) that was passed by the House of Representatives on April 20, by the Senate on April 23, and signed by President Biden on April 24.

It is worth comparing the two bills.

Two bills to help Ukraine



In all aspects the second version of the bill is significantly better for the United States, Ukraine, Israel, and for the peaceful residents of Gaza.

It should be especially noted that the preparation of the Johnsons bill took almost three times less time than the preparation of the version of the bill done by the Biden administration and the Democrats.

For months, White House has argued that the House vote prevented the administration from delivering needed military aid to Ukraine.

But Republicans did not delay the supply of military assistance to Ukraine. Its provision could and should have been carried out without any obstacles, since all the necessary legal powers and material resources were available for the Biden administration the entire time.

Despite this, the Biden administration blocked military aid to Ukraine from December 27, 2023, to April 24, 2024 (with the exception of a small aid package announced on March 12, 2024). The administration had legal authority to supply arms in the amount of $4.2 billion via the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) and over $6 billion dollars to replace the weapons through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).

Since Congress passed the Ukraine Assistance Act last month, the administrations stance on limiting military assistance to Ukraine has not changed. Total U.S. military aid supplies in the first almost full five months of 2024 amount to $1.3 billion via the PDA channel mean that average monthly deliveries turned out to be only $362 million, which is 28% less than the $500 million monthly military supplies to Ukraine in September-December 2023 and 63% less than almost $1 billion monthly aid from February 2022 till August 2023.

The Ukraine Assistance Act means the Biden administration has no basis to blame Republicans, yet the delays, restrictions, and blockages of military aid supplies to Ukraine continue.

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The Belthangadi police in Dakshina Kannada district served a notice to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Harish Poonja in connection with two separate FIRs filed against him, said an officer in the know of the development, adding that the police waited outside Poonjas residence until Wednesday evening to detain him. During the gathering, MLA Poonja reportedly stated that he was willing to confront the police physically on behalf of the arrested activists (File photo)

The MLA was booked on Sunday for allegedly threatening police officers and obstructing their discharge of duty at the police station during a protest in the station demanding the release of BJP leader Shashiraj Shetty on May 18.

On Tuesday, an additional first information report (FIR) was filed against MLA Harish Poonja at the Belthangadi police station. The charges stem from his alleged threats towards the police during a protest against the arrest of Shetty. The president of the Belthangadi mandal of BJP Yuva Morcha is implicated in a case related to illegal stone mining and illegal stockpiling of explosives.

The protest, organised by the BJP, took place on Monday in front of Vikas Soudha in Belthangadi. However, it was conducted without prior permission from the relevant authorities.

During the gathering, Poonja reportedly stated that he was willing to confront the police physically on behalf of the arrested activists. His remarks included insults and threats directed at the Belthangadi station inspector, other police officers, and the entire police department. The protest also obstructed the publics access to the taluk office, which was disrupted due to the protest.

The additional FIR lists several charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including section 143 (unlawful assembly), section 147 (creating a riot), section 341 (unlawful restraint), section 504 (intentional incitement), section 506 (criminal intimidation), and section 149 (conspiracy by a group), Dakshina Kannada district SP CB Rishyanth told HT.  We have served notice to the MLA to appear for an inquiry. He did not turn up, so we are waiting to take him to custody for an inquiry and would initiate legal action as per law.

The police registered the case on Tuesday evening, and they arrived at the MLAs house in the early morning of Wednesday. Hundreds of supporters gathered at the house of Poonja in Gardadi village in Belthangady taluk. Police blocked the way to the house, and hundreds of police personnel, including the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) platoon, were deployed on the spot.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and MLA Vedavyas Kamat, also present in the house, have planned to call for Dakshina Kannada Bandh on May 23 if the MLA is arrested.

We condemn the registration of FIRs against elected representative Harish Poonja, state unit BJP chief BY Vijayendra told reporters on Wednesday. Vijayendra claimed that Shashiraj Shetty was framed by police, prompting Poonja to protest at the police station.

The governments vengeance on the BJP is through the police. The government is trying to hush up our agitation by booking cases. But the party would launch statewide agitation if police arrested innocent workers. The government should withdraw the FIR booked against Poonja, he added.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said a worker of the party was killed and seven others injured in a clash with ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters in West Bengals East Midnapore district on Thursday. The TMC blamed BJPs infighting for the clash. Eight Bengal constituencies are going to the polls in the sixth and penultimate phase of Lok Sabha polls on Saturday. (ANI/Representative)

Tamluk and Kanthi Lok Sabha seats in East Midnapore are among the eight West Bengal constituencies going to the polls in the sixth and penultimate phase of Lok Sabha elections on Saturday.

BJP leaders alleged their workers were at a booth in the early hours of Thursday when TMC supporters attacked them with rods and sharp weapons. They identified the slain worker as Rathibala Ari and added at least two workers were seriously injured.

In a post of X, BJP leader Subhendu Adhikari blamed TMC member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee for the alleged attack. This is the direct result of the provocation which [chief minister Mamata Banerjees] nephew [Abhishek) made yesterday [Wednesday]. They [TMC] have orchestrated this barbaric murder knowing that defeat is imminent. The BJP will see the end of it. Revenge will be taken legally and a befitting reply will be given democratically.

BJP workers blocked roads in Nandigram in protest and demanded immediate arrest of the accused.

TMC leader Sheikh Sufiyan blamed the factional feud for the attack. It is a factional feud between the BJPs old guard and new entrants. They fought among themselves and are now trying to malign the TMC.
The Calcutta high court on Wednesday scrapped other backward classes (OBCs) certificates awarded to 77 communities since 2010, an overwhelming majority of them Muslim, and called the classification process illegal, marking a significant verdict that came as a blow to the ruling Trinamool Congress in the middle of ongoing general elections. The judgment sparked a political controversy with chief minister Mamata Banerjee saying she wont accept the ruling, and Union home minister Amit Shah accusing the Bengal government of appeasement. (PTI)

The judgment sparked a political controversy with chief minister Mamata Banerjee saying she wont accept the ruling, and Union home minister Amit Shah accusing the Bengal government of appeasement.

Roughly 500,000 people are likely to be affected by the judgment. The court barred the state from appointing people from these communities with immediate effect but said those appointed so far on the basis of OBC certificates will not be touched.

This court is of the view that the selection of 77 classes of Muslims as Backward is an affront to the Muslim community as a whole. This courts mind is not free from doubt that the said community has been treated as a commodity for political ends, said a division bench of justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Rajasekhar Mantha.

Identification of the classes in the aid community as OBCs for electoral gains would leave them at the mercy of the concerned political establishment and may defeat and deny other rights. Such reservation is therefore also an affront to Democracy and the Constitution of India as a whole, the order added.

West Bengal provides 17% percent OBC reservation, divided into two buckets -- OBC A which has 10% and 81 communities, out of which 56 are Muslims, and OBC B which has 7% and 99 communities, out of which 41 are Muslims.

Muslims are a key demographic in the 17 Lok Sabha seats that will go to the polls in the sixth and seventh phases of the general elections in Bengal. The TMC holds 12of these and the BJP seven.

The court also struck down key sections of the 2012 law that subclassified the OBC pool.

Of the 77 communities, 42 were earmarked for OBC status by the erstwhile Left Front government in 2010, a year before it was ousted by Banerjees TMC. Out of these, 41 were Muslims, said the court. The other 35 -- 34 of which were Muslim, according to the verdict -- were included by the TMC government via a notification on May 11, 2012.

The order is a blow to the TMC, which counts Muslims as a key vote base and under whose regime the reservation benefits materialised. Chairman of West Bengal Imams Association Md Yahiya, said: We dont think this verdict follows the spirit of the Constitution. Why is everybody concerned only about OBC-A reservation? Why similar questions are being raised on reservation for scheduled caste and scheduled tribe people?

The authorities have violated the constitutional provisions and had practised protective discrimination in deviation to the constitutional norms. No data was disclosed on the basis of which it was ascertained that the concerned community is not adequately represented in the services under the government of West Bengal, said the court.

The high court said the backward classes welfare department of Bengal along with the backward classes commission will place a report before the legislature with recommendations, for inclusion of new classes or for exclusion of the remaining classes, in the state list of OBCs.

The order came on petitions filed by three individuals and Atmadeep, a human rights organisation, between 2010 and 2020.

The petitioners alleged that reservations under both OBC-A (most backward) and OBC-B (backward) categories were awarded to many communities since 2011, when TMC came to power, without any evaluation of their economic status.

If history and realities of life provide any guide, it would be axiomatic to say that human ingenuity has no limits in finding out the ways of avoiding and circumventing the provisions of law much more in cases where confidence of the people at large rests upon the government. The society at large has a stake in proper application of the yardsticks pertaining to reservation, said the court.

The allegations in the instant case are neither skirmishes nor bald, but speak of overt acts indicating non compliance of the statutory provisions and the law as laid down by the Honble Supreme Court.

The order cited the guidelines in the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes Act of 1993 which said consultation with the commission is mandatory both for the purposes of subclassification of OBCs and determining the percentage of reservation for the classes or the sub-classes.

After the commencement of the West Bengal Backward Classes (Other Than Schedule Castes And Schedule Tribes) (Reservation Of Vacancies And Posts) Act of 2012 only the state legislature is empowered to make provisions for reservation in the state services thereunder or under Art. 16(4). The state executive, therefore, is no longer permitted either under the Act of 1993 or even under Art. 16(4) to make provisions for reservation for OBCs in state services, the order said.

Article 16(4) of the Constitution has two wings, one is determination of backwardness and the other is whether the concerned class is adequately represented in the services under the State. No reasonable procedure has been followed for determination of such backwardness, said the order, striking down the state government orders through which the quantum of quotas was determined under OBC-A and OBC-B categories.

In 2010, the Left Front government headed by then chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya announced 10% reservation in state government jobs for economically, socially and educationally backward Muslims who come under the OBC-A category.

The 10% reservation in the OBC-A category was based on the recommendations of the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities whose report was tabled in Parliament in December 2009. At the time, there were 108 communities with an OBC tag, of which 53 were Muslims. Most of these communities were not affected by the order.

The states Muslim population stood at 27.01% during the 2011 census and is projected to have increased to around 30% now. After coming to power in 2011, Banerjee included more communities in the OBC lists.

Later in the day, Banerjee asserted that she will not accept the order . The OBC reservation quota introduced by the West Bengal government will continue. We had drafted the bill after conducting a house-to-house survey, and it was passed by the cabinet and the assembly, she said. If necessary, we will move a higher court.

Shah, who was in Bengal to address three BJP rallies, said, These OBC reservations were done to appease Muslims.
Raipur, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has spoken to some students from Chhattisgarh studying in Kyrgyzstan following incidents of violence there and assured them of all possible assistance and safe return to India. CM Sai speaks on phone to Chhattisgarh students in Kyrgyzstan, assures all help

As many as 15,000 students from India, including 70 from Chhattisgarh, are pursuing medical and other courses in Kyrgyzstan, officials here said in a release issued on Wednesday night.

Last week, India asked its students in Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek to stay indoors, days after mobs targeted foreigners in the city, triggering concerns over Indian students there.

CM Sai on Wednesday spoke over phone to students Vijay, native of Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district, and Shivani, hailing from Janjgir-Champa district.

He enquired about their well-being and asked them to take care of themselves, a public relations department official said.

The CM told them that the Indian government is in constant touch with Kyrgyzstan authorities and the students need not worry.

Sai asked students to contact the Chhattisgarh government if they need any kind of assistance and assured that the state and central governments stand with them in the difficult situation.

"The students informed the CM about the tense situation there. The students said they have been told not to leave their hostels and they are being provided food and water there itself. The students said they have booked return tickets for India," the official informed.

Sai said the state government, with the cooperation of the Government of India, will ensure safe return of all the students.

Meanwhile, the family members of Ayesha Sheren Rai, who is pursuing medical education in Bishkek, on Thursday appealed to authorities to ensure her safe return to India.

Rai hails from Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district in Chhattisgarh.

In a video message shared by her family members, Rai said, " I am a third year student of MBBS in Kyrgyzstan. I am stuck here and the situation is very bad. I want to return to my country. I would like to appeal to the Chhattisgarh government and the Government of India to rescue us."

Ayesha's maternal uncle Oliver Rai told reporters that his niece has been stuck in Bishkek.

"Foreign students are being targeted and assaulted there. The situation is not being clearly shown in the media but my niece told me about the violence happening there," he said.

"I would like to request our CM and Chhattisgarh assembly speaker to rescue her safely. She is in the 6th semester of MBBS course there," he added.

Students have been kept at a secret location there, Oliver said, claiming the Indian Embassy there was not responding to their phone calls.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
New Delhi: Senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday attacked opposition INDIA bloc partners Congress and AAP, alleging that they are responsible for the crisis of credibility in Indian politics. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addresses an election rally.(ANI)

Singh made the remarks while addressing an election meeting in favour of BJP's West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency candidate Kamaljeet Sehrawat, hours before campaigning for the May 25 round of polling ended.

Targeting Congress and A, which are contesting the general elections in the national capital under a seat-sharing arrangement, he said, "The leaders of the Congress and the A have contributed the most to the crisis of credibility in the politics of India."

While the A is contesting four seats, the Congress has fielded candidates from three seats. The seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi go to polls in the sixth round of the seven-phase general elections.

Taking a swipe at Delhi Chief Minister and A supremo Arvind Kejriwal on continuing on the post despite being arrested and jailed in connection with a Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case, Singh said, "I have heard about work from office and work from home. The chief minister here has done the miracle of work from jail."

Kejriwal was released from jail on interim bail on May 10 on the orders of the Supreme Court. He has to surrender on June 2.

Citing the alleged assault on A Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal, Singh said it was a "heart rending" incident but Kejriwal after maintaining silence for long is now saying that police are probing the matter.

"A person in whose presence a woman was beaten up in his house says probe is going on. Such people are cowards. A brave person is one who accepts that a mistake has been committed and is prepared to face the consequences," Singh said.

"Parties like the A should be wiped out from the country's politics. They have no moral right to remain in politics," the minister said.

Singh said under the Narendra Modi government, the country has jumped from the eleventh spot to become the fifth largest economy in the last eight years.

"Prominent financial firms are claiming that India is the fastest growing economy. With this speed, it will become the third largest economy of the world," he said.

Singh also asserted that he has full confidence that by 2070, India will become the "richest economy" of the world.

He also said that India aspired to be a super power in the world. "But we do not want to become a super power to attack any country or grab even one inch of its land. We wish this for the welfare of the world," the BJP leader said.

Singh asserted that the BJP practises what it says, citing the scrapping of Article 370, the ending of triple talaq and the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
NEW DELHI: Czech Republic justice minister Pavel Blazek will take a call on the extradition to the US of Nikhil Gupta, accused of involvement in the plot to kill Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil, following the rejection of his petition by the Central European countrys highest court. (Photo: ceska-justice.cz)

The Czech constitutional court on Wednesday rejected Guptas challenge against rulings by the Municipal Court and High Court in Prague that allowed his extradition to the US.

Gupta is being prosecuted in the US for the crime of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and aiding and abetting that crime and the constitutional court has confirmed the decision of the general courts on the admissibility of extradition, the top Czech court said in a statement.

The case will be now referred to the minister of justice, [who] shall decide whether or not to grant Mr Guptas extradition to the US, Vladimir Repka, the spokesperson of the Czech justice ministry said on Thursday.

The constitutional court rejected Guptas challenge as prima facie unfounded.

Gupta was named in an indictment filed by US prosecutors in a federal court in Manhattan last November as the person who allegedly worked with an unnamed Indian government employee to plot the assassination of Pannun. Czech authorities arrested and detained Gupta on June 30 last year, and Indian officials have been given consular access to him on several occasions.

The US indictment alleged the Indian government employee, who was a field operative responsible for intelligence, ordered the assassination of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Pannun in New York. SFJ has been outlawed by India and Pannun has been declared a terrorist under Indias anti-terror law.

The indictment further alleged that Gupta, acting on the instructions of the Indian official, contacted a person whom he believed to be a criminal associate, but was a confidential source working with US law enforcement, for help in hiring a hitman to murder Pannun. The source introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was actually an undercover US law enforcement officer.

The Municipal Court in Prague approved Guptas extradition to the US in November 2023, and this was followed by a similar ruling by the High Court in Prague in January 2024, which said the extradition would be logical, factually correct and in accordance with the law and international treaty.

In his challenge to these decisions, Gupta contended that the lower courts had not sufficiently assessed the political nature of the act he was accused of. However, the constitutional court said the lower courts had very thoroughly dealt with extradition documents supplied by American authorities and, in response to objections by Gupta, also requested additional information.

The top court also didnt agree with Guptas argument that he was hired by an Indian government agent who is in charge of security matters and is therefore likely to be on a mission assigned by the Indian government, the statement said.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday opposed a plea demanding the immediate disclosure of authenticated voter turnout records in the wake of alleged delays in publishing data for the first two phases of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, arguing that such a request is not maintainable at this stage of the election process and would potentially disrupt the orderly conduct of the elections. Voters queue at a polling station during the fourth phase of voting for national elections in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Submitting its affidavit two days ahead of the scheduled hearing in the top court, ECI raised a series of Supreme Court rulings stating that any petition that may have the impact of either creating a suspicion or impeding the conduct of the process and conclusion of elections would deserve to be rejected at the threshold itself.

Also Read: Supreme Court seeks Election Commission's reply on plea over voter turnout data

ECI emphasised its commitment to conducting elections transparently and efficiently, highlighting that the Indian electoral process is often looked up to by other democracies, while suggesting that there were certain elements who keep on throwing baseless and false allegations, creating unwarranted atmosphere of suspicion in close proximity of time of conduct of every election.

The affidavit claimed there were logistical and practical challenges in complying with one of the petitioners demands -- that turnout figures recorded by the polling agents at the close of polling in Form 17C, which is then used to declare results, be uploaded online.

The legal regime with regard to Form 17C is peculiar that while it authorises the polling agent at the close of the poll to get a copy of Form 17C, a general disclosure of the nature as sought by the petitioner is not provided in the statutory framework, ECI said, asserting that the current procedures and disclosures are sufficient and legally mandated. It added that Form 17C is never uploaded immediately after polling.

ECI pointed out that a wholesome disclosure of Form 17C is amenable to mischief and vitiation of entire electoral space, adding the original Form 17C is only available in the strong room and a copy only with the polling agents whose signature it bears.

Indiscriminate disclosure, public posting on the website increases the possibility of the images being morphed, including the counting results which then can create widespread public discomfort and mistrust in the entire electoral processes, claimed ECI.

Addressing allegations of delays and discrepancies in publishing voter turnout data, ECI stated that the data available on the Voter Turnout App is provisional and non-statutory, intended for transparency and public facilitation. The voter turnout data, as available on the Voter Turnout App (non-statutory), is only tentative or provisional in nature and through the secondary source. On the other hand, the votes counted are reported as per the statutorily created mechanisms, the affidavit said.

Also Read: Election Commission, Congress face off over voter turnout data

The tentative figures from secondary source, it added, can never be the final turnout figure as the final figures are on the basis of the statutory forms and the figures contained therein and are dealt according to the procedure laid down.

The Commission said out that the final voter turnout figures are recorded in Form 17C at the close of polling, which is then used to declare results. The recorded data is statutory in nature. The results of the election are only declared by the Returning Officer (RO) thereafter as per Rule 64 of the Conduct of Election Rules 1961, the affidavit stated.

The affidavit was filed in response to a plea by non-profit Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) asking ECI to upload scanned copies of voters entries for all polling stations after each phase of polling and to provide detailed constituency and polling station-wise turnout data in both absolute numbers and percentage form. ADR also sought the disclosure of candidate-wise results contained in a separate form prescribed by ECI after the compilation of results.

ADRs plea followed the ECs April 30 announcement of the final voter turnout percentages for the first two phases of the general election. Phase one saw a turnout of 66.14%, while phase two recorded 66.71%. However, ECI did not disclose the total number of voters per constituency, ADR claimed. These final figures were significantly higher than the provisional estimates previously released by the ECI, which were published over 10 days after the first phase and four days post the second phase of polling.

Citing these publications, ADR filed an application in the court, urging ECI to release the absolute vote counts immediately. The plea highlighted a discrepancy exceeding 5% between the final turnout figures and the initial data released on polling days, suggesting an unusual increase of 5-6%.

The plea argued that the substantial delay in releasing voter turnout data for the first two phases, coupled with the sharp increase in final figures, has created apprehensions among the electorate.

To be sure, voting percentages typically increase in the days following the release of the provisional turnout since it takes time for the poll workers to return from remote polling places located in difficult-to-reach geographic areas, depending on a variety of factors, including the weather. Re-polling in any constituency may also be the cause of the data update delay. The third phase of the ongoing polls addressed the longer lag experienced this time around.

ECI stated in its affidavit that ADRs request is not maintainable at this point in the election process and could interfere with the smooth running of the ongoing LS polls, besides being contrary to the legislative mandate given by the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the guidelines made thereunder for the conduct of the elections.

ECI criticised ADR for allegedly creating a false narrative and baseless suspicion regarding the election process. There is a consistent mala fide campaign/design/efforts to keep on raising suspicion and doubt in every possible manner and by misleading assertions and baseless allegations regarding the conduct of Election Commission of India, it said.
In separate but similarly worded guidances that take no names and are addressed to the presidents of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked the two parties to rein in their star campaigners. ECIs letters to J P Nadda of the BJP and Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress are a follow up to its notice dated April 21 to the two party chiefs, and a response to the reply provided by them. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge (L). BJP president JP Nadda (R).

Specifically (and this is the only substantive difference between the two advisories), ECI has asked Kharge to ensure that the Congresss star campaigners do not make statements like anyone can either abolish or sell or tear apart the Constitution of India etc. as it is alleged to be instilling fear in the mind of voters about an uncertain future and an attempt to spread anarchy in the country. The poll body noted that such practices may prejudicially affect the prospects of certain candidates and thus, may border as a corrupt practice under section 123(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

In its communication to Kharge, ECI reiterated that the MCC (Model Code of Conduct) has a specific prohibition against use of armed forces for campaigning purposes.

And it told Nadda that his partys responses to complaints by the Congress dwell at length to stoutly defend the campaign methods and utterances of your star campaigners, while making a case for action against INC, the political party that complained against you. However, such response ought not to raise or, aggravate anxiousness amongst citizens/electors on the basis of ascribable identity by use of suggestive expressions, it said.

The ECI also noted that despite being sent a notice, BJPs star campaigners continued to allegedly violate the MCC. It is noted that even after this notice dated 25.04.2024, and up to 13.05.2024 i.e., date of your reply, rather than accounting for ECI notice of 25.04.2024, in the minimum, as a red flag for future conduct, BJP star campaigners in different election meetings are alleged to be continuously making inter alia following statements alleged to be violative of MCC, the ECI said in the communication to Nadda.

While the original notices too did not take any names, the one to the BJP president was prompted by a speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 21 in which he suggested that the Congress intends to redistribute public wealth to Muslims.

And the one to the Congress president was prompted by a speech by party leader Rahul Gandhi in Keralas Kottayam on April 18 where he alleged the BJP is trying to create a nation with one religion and one language.

Those notices followed complaints by the Congress (against the BJP) and the BJP (against the Congress).

In its complaint addressed to ECI on April 21, the Congress listed five instances of MCC violations by Modi, including one where he appealed to people to not vote for the Grand Old Party as it is a party of sinners who oppose a particular religion.

And in its complaint, dated April 19, addressed to ECI, the BJP referred to Gandhis April 12 and April 18 speeches and accused him of making derisive and obnoxious utterances against Modi.

HT reached out to Congresss media and publicity department chairman Pawan Khera for a comment but did not get one immediately. There was also no immediate reaction from the BJP.

This is the first year ECI has written to party presidents regarding MCC violations by their star campaigners. Its usual practice has been to write to the individuals concerned.
Farmers have assembled at Shambhu and other border points to mark the completion of 100 days of the ongoing protest to press the Centre to accept their demands, which includes a legal guarantee of MSP for crops. Farmers during their 'Delhi Chalo' march near the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border in Patiala district. (Representative image)(PTI file photo)

The farmers are camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13 when their 'Delhi Chalo' march was stopped by security forces.

Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said farmers gathered at Shambhu, Khanauri and Dabwali border points for the occasion.

Pandher accused the BJP-led central government of preventing them from heading towards Delhi to continue their protests and condemned the deployment of heavy police force at the border points between Punjab and Haryana.

ALSO READ| Security up in Punjab before PMs visit as farmers plan stir

The KMM leader said that the farmers wanted to pose questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Patiala visit on Thursday and if they are not given access, they will hold a dharna.

Modi will start his poll campaign in the state by holding his first rally in Patiala on May 23. Polling for 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be held on June 1.

BJP candidates in Punjab are facing protests from farmers during poll campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls.

ALSO READ| Dont protest at PMs rally, submit memorandum, BJP urges farmers

As part of the protests, farmers ask questions to BJP leaders and show them black flags for not agreeing to their demands.

Farmers owing allegiance to various farm outfits are upset with the Centre for not accepting their demands, including a law on minimum support price.

They were also upset over not being allowed to head towards Delhi, forcing them to camp at Shambhu and Khanauri border points of Punjab and Haryana.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march by farmers to press the government on their demands which includes that the Centre should give a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price for crops.
Punes Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) on Wednesday cancelled the bail of the 17-year-old boy involved in the car crash that killed two people four days earlier. The boy was remanded in 14-day custody days after JJBs earlier order granting him bail within 15 hours provoked outrage. The Pune car crash involving a 17-year-old killed two people. (HT PHOTO)

The Pune Police, which booked the boy for causing death due to rash and negligent driving under the Indian Penal Codes Section 304A, on Tuesday filed a petition asking the accused be tried as an adult. It also sought a review of the May 19 order that granted him bail with lenient conditions including a 300-word essay on road safety.

The order for trying the boy, whose father is one of Punes prominent builders, as an adult was awaited.

Legal process for juveniles

All accused aged under 18 were tried under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act or JJ Act, 2000. This changed with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The law created a category of the juvenile accused aged between 16-18 involved in heinous offences punishable with a minimum sentence under the IPC or any other law for over seven years.

A JJB is mandated to carry out a preliminary assessment to ascertain whether a juvenile is to be tried as an adult after an application is made in this regard. Section 15 of the 2015 law refers to the assessment of the mental and physical capacity to commit an offence, ability to understand its consequences, and the circumstances in which it was allegedly committed. A JJB can seek the assistance of experienced psychologists or other experts for the assessment.

In the case of the Pune accident, the accused faces a maximum of two-year imprisonment under Section 304A. The offence does not fall under the definition of heinous.

The 2015 law categorises offences based on gravity. Heinous offences include murder, rape, or dacoity. The offences punishable with imprisonment from three to seven years are termed serious offences. Petty offences are punishable with under three-year sentences.

Supreme Court verdicts

A group of men and a minor raped a paramedical student on a moving bus in 2012 when the JJ Act of 2000 was in force. The rape and the students subsequent death provoked outrage.

A petition in the Supreme Court sought a sub-categorisation to allow the JJB to decide whether the minor offender in the case can be tried as an adult. The court in 2014 left it to the wisdom of the legislature to consider the matter. A power to classify being extremely broad and based on diverse considerations of executive pragmatism, the judicature cannot rush in where even the legislature warily treads. The court said the objective of the JJ Act is to ensure rehabilitation of children in conflict with the law in society.

The Supreme Court in its 2022 order in a 2017 murder of a six-year-old Gurugram student delved into the aspects required to determine the trial of juveniles as adults. A child with average intelligence/IQ will have the intellectual knowledge of the consequences of his actions. But whether or not he is able to control himself or his actions will depend on his level of emotional competence, the court said. Risky driving may result in an accident. But if emotional competence is not high, the urge for thrill-seeking may get the better of his intellectual understanding.

The court observed the decisions or actions of a child may be heavily influenced by peers or impulsive tendencies. It added this coupled with the childs lack of experience and inability to gauge the long-term consequences of actions can lead to impulsive/reckless decision-making.

Global practise

In 1985, the UN General Assembly adopted the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Rules), mandating member states to refrain from fixing the low minimum age of criminal responsibility. The rules emphasise factoring in emotional, mental, and intellectual maturity. They prohibit capital punishment for juveniles but do not advocate leniency in dealing with offenders in serious cases. India is also a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Child, 1990, which defines a child to be aged below 18.

Canada

In Canada, the Youth Criminal Justice Act of 2002 provides for criminal justice in the 12-18 age group. This law has special provisions for a young person who commits a serious offence punishable with over five-year imprisonment. It defines serious violent offences such as first and second-degree murder, manslaughter, aggravated sexual assault, and attempted murder. For violent and serious crimes, the punishment cannot exceed the maximum punishment awarded to adults for the same offence. Canadian law provides for a Youth Justice Court to order the mental and psychological assessment for deciding on an application to sentence a young person as an adult.

The UK

The law in the UK provides that juveniles, especially those under 15, should be tried as far as possible by the Youth Court while reserving trial in the Crown Court for serious cases. It makes a distinction for first-time offenders aged 12-14 and those under 12 years.

Under the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act, 2000, a person below 18 convicted of a serious offence may be sentenced to a period not exceeding the maximum term of imprisonment for adults. This includes a life sentence as well.

The young offenders are kept in separate institutions and not jails. A sentence exceeding two years in respect of youth aged 12-17 years and accused of a grave offence is made only when such a sentence is a realistic possibility.

The US

The age of majority in the US is 18. But the high rate of juvenile offences permits nearly all states to try persons under 18 as adults with suitable exceptions. In California, persons older than 14 can be tried as adults for committing crimes such as rape, robbery or murder. In New York, the age of juvenility is fixed at 16 years. This permits persons aged between 13-16 to be tried as adults.

A judge has the discretion to waive jurisdiction and transfer a case to the adult criminal courts for serious offences. In Florida, discretion is given to the state prosecutor to decide whether a juvenile is to be tried as an adult.
Kaamya Karthikeyan, at 16, became the youngest Indian and second youngest girl in the world to scale Mt. Everest - 8849 meters - from the Nepal side. She was accompanied by her father, Commander S Karthikeyan of the Indian Navy, and both successfully summited Mt. Everest. The Indian Navy took to X to congratulate the father-daughter duo. Kaamya Karthikeyan Himalayan endeavours commenced in 2015 with a trek to Chandrashila Peak at the age of seven.(source: kids chaupal)

"Kaamya Karthikeyan, a 16-year-old, class XII student of Navy Children School, Mumbai, and her father, Cdr S Karthikeyan of the Indian Navy successfully summited Mt. Everest (8849 M) on 20th May," the Western Naval Command, Indian Navy, wrote on X.

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"#IndianNavy congratulates Ms. Kaamya Karthikeyan, daughter of Cdr S Karthikeyan, on becoming the youngest #Indian & the second youngest girl in the world to summit Mt Everest from the Nepal side. Kaamya has exhibited immense courage & fortitude in summiting the highest peaks in six of the seven continents. #IndianNavy wishes young Kaamya the very best in her aspiration to summit the highest peaks of all seven continents, becoming the youngest girl to do so," the Indian Navy wrote on X.

Kaamya Karthikeyan's achievements

Kaamya Karthikeyan, accompanied by her father, began her journey to summit Mt. Everest on April 3. The Indian Navy and the Western Naval Command extended their best wishes to the father-daughter duo for their expedition.

Inspired by her father's mountaineering pursuits, Kaamya began trekking at the age of three, according to kids chaupal. Her Himalayan endeavours commenced in 2015 with a trek to Chandrashila Peak at the age of seven.

Subsequently, she progressed to more challenging treks such as Har-ki Dun, Kedarkantha Peak, and Roopkund Lake in 2016. In May 2017, at the age of thirteen, Kaamya trekked to the Everest Base Camp, becoming the second youngest girl worldwide to achieve this milestone.

In 2019, she conquered Brighu Lake and crossed the Sar pass in Himachal Pradesh. Despite facing numerous administrative and physical challenges, Kaamya became the youngest girl to summit Mt. Aconcagua, further enhancing her remarkable achievements.
A 23-year-old peon, named Prabhu Laxmikanth Lokare, who had scored 99.7 per cent in the Class 10 exam, allegedly can't read or write, reported India Today. The revelation has prompted an investigation into the allegation. A peon named Prabhu Laxmikanth Lokare who scored 99.7 per cent in the Class 10 exam, allegedly can't read or write, prompting an investigation into his education( (Getty Images/iStockphoto))

Thanks to his high marks, Lokare secured a job as a peon at a local court in Karnatakas Koppal district. As per the report, Lokare got selected for the job when his name appeared on April 22, 2024, on the final merit list for the peon's recruitment exam, based on his Class 10 marks. The court has ordered a probe into Lokare's academic records.

Lokare came under the radar of the court's judge observed that the former was struggling with reading and writing. The judge eventually filed a private complaint with the police to probe Lokare 's academic record.

An FIR in the case was filed on April 26. The FIR states that Lokare allegedly participated in the tenth class exam directly after seventh standard and scored 623 out of 625 marks. However, despite his exemplary academic performance, he cannot read or write in Kannada, English, or Hindi, raising serious doubts about his credentials.

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The judge has demanded a probe into whether other candidates secured government jobs through similar means. The complainant has also asked police to check and compare Lokare's handwriting with that in his Class 10 exam answer sheets. The judge highlighted that fraudulent academic achievements put meritorious students at a disadvantage.

In his defence on the matter, Lokare claimed that he appeared as a private candidate in the Class 10 exams in 2017-18, which were conducted by the Delhi Education Board. He claimed that the exam took place at an institution in Karnataka's Bagalakote district.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to not drag his parents into the Modi versus Kejriwal fight. Citing their age and ill health, Kejriwal said, 'Your fight is with me. Don't harass my sick, old parents. God is watching everything." Kejriwal's parents will be interrogated in connection with the Swati Maliwal assault case. (PTI)

The message came as the Delhi Police was scheduled to interrogate Kejriwal's parents in connection with the Swati Maliwal assault case. Kejriwal's parents were present when the AAP MP was reportedly assaulted by Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar. However, the questioning was deferred. According to reports, cops will visit Kejriwal's residence in the coming days to record his parents' statement but not on Thursday.

HT Interview: Conspiracy to force me to quit as CM... but I will not resign: Arvind Kejriwal

"This is my appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pradhanmantri ji, you have made several attempts to pull me down. You arrested me; harassed me in Tihar in several ways. But I did not give in. Today, you crossed all limits as you targeted my parents. My mother is very ill. She came home from the hospital on the day you arrested me, March 21. My father is 85 years old. He is short of hearing. Do you think they have done something wrong? Why will the cops interrogate them," Kejriwal said.

"I am waiting for the police with my parents and wife. Yesterday the police called my parents and asked for time for interrogation. But they have not given any information yet whether they will come or not," Kejriwal wrote on X.

Why Kejriwal's parents will be interrogated

In her statement, Swati Maliwal said Kejriwal's family members were having their breakfast when she went to the CM's residence on May 13. She said she greeted Kejriwal's parents and then sat in the drawing room waiting for Kejriwal but the CM's aide Bibhav Kumar followed her and assaulted her in the drawing room -- slapping, kicking -- prompting her to call the PCR. Kejriwal in his first reaction to the incident said he was not present at the incident site.

In her first interview after the May 13 incident, Swati Maliwal told ANI that Kejriwal was present in his residence and when she screamed for help, no one came to her rescue at the CM's residence.
The India Meteorological Department on Thursday revised its weather forecast and issued a red alert for two districts in Kerala amid heavy rainfall. The alert was issued for Ernakulam and Thrissur districts, which were earlier under orange alert. Meanwhile, an orange alert was also sounded in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts of the state. The low-lying areas in Kerala, including Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kozhikode remained waterlogged. (HT File )

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has advised people to remain cautious amid intense rainfall in Kerala. "Intense rainfall expected within a short period of time may lead to flash floods. Urban and low-lying areas are particularly vulnerable to waterlogging. Prolonged rainfall can also trigger landslides. People should exercise caution during such weather events," he said in a Facebook post. The low-lying areas in Kerala, including Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kozhikode remained waterlogged on Thursday amid heavy showers. Visuals aired on television channels showed a waterlogged KSRTC bus stand in Kochi, MG Road and other adjacent areas. Widespread damage was caused to roads.

ALSO READ: IMD issues red alert in five districts of Kerala, heavy rainfall predicted in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry | Updates

Around 223 people were accommodated in eight relief camps across the state, opened in Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram districts. According to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, seven rain-related deaths were reported in Kerala from May 19 to 23. A total of 154 houses were partially damaged, while three houses were fully damaged. The disaster management authority has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea.

The Thuravoor area on the national highway at Alappuzha was blocked for over three hours on Thursday amid heavy rain. Parts of the Kuttanad region in Alappuzha were inundated, whereas the Mavoor region of Kozhikode saw damage to agriculture. Minor landslides were reported in Malappuram and Kasaragod districts.

ALSO READ: Rajasthan's Barmer records highest temperature in India; heatwave to continue in most parts | Top Updates

Due to the heavy rainfall, shops and private hospitals remained flooded in the Thrissur district. The Thrissur district administration has instructed authorities to clear silt from drains within their jurisdiction within seven days.

Meanwhile, flight services from Kozhikode International Airport were delayed due to heavy rains. Earlier, four shutters of the Malankara Dam in Idukki district were opened, prompting the authorities to advise residents along the banks of the Thodupuzha and Moovattupuzha rivers to stay alert.

(With inputs from PTI)
Purba Medinipur: Security personnel detain an agitator during a protest of BJP over the killing of a woman BJP worker, at Nandigram. (PTI)

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Highlights: India is preparing for the sixth phase of the general elections, slated for this Saturday, May 25. With its seven parliamentary seats, the national capital will also go for voting in Phase 6. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), a total of 889 candidates from eight States and Union Territories (UTs) will contest in this phase of the Lok Sabha elections, set to take place on May 25....Read More

With five out of seven phases already completed, voter turnout stands at approximately 62.2%, slightly lower than the 2019 polls, when 64.16% of 51 seats across seven states went to the polls.

Latest election highlights for Phase 6

- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set for a poll campaign in Haryana and Punjab, beginning with his first rally in Bhiwani today, followed by Patiala. He will address gatherings in Gurdaspur and Jalandhar on Friday. The polling for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab is scheduled for June 1.

- Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal announced on Tuesday that farmers intend to display black flags to PM Modi during his Punjab poll campaigning. This decision emerged from a rally organised by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha in Jagraon, Ludhiana district.

States/UTs set for Phase 6 voting

Delhi: Chandni Chowk, North East Delhi, East Delhi, New Delhi, North West Delhi, South Delhi

Haryana: Ambala, Kurukshetra, Sirsa, Hisar, Karnal, Sonipat, Rohtak, Bhiwani-Mahendragarh, Gurgaon, Faridabad

Bihar: Valmiki Nagar, Paschim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, Sheohar, Vaishali, Gopalganj (SC), Siwan, Maharajganj

Jammu & Kashmir: Anantnag-Rajouri

Odisha: Bhubaneswar, Puri, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar (SC), Cuttack, Sambalpur

Jharkhand: Giridih, Dhanbad, Ranchi, Jamshedpur

Uttar Pradesh: Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Phulpur, Allahabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Shrawasti, Domriyaganj, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Lalganj, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Machhlishahr, Bhadohi

West Bengal: Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, Bishnupur

Lok Sabha election 2024 polling schedule

Phase 1: April 19 (voting done)

Phase 2: April 26 (voting done)

Phase 3: May 7 (voting done)

Phase 4: May 13 (voting done)

Phase 5: May 20 (voting done)

Phase 6: May 25

Phase 7: June 1

Counting of votes: June 4
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi supported his mother, Maneka Gandhi, in the Sultanpur constituency on Thursday and talked about the special connection between her and the people of her constituency. Varun Gandhi (HT/File)

Varun was campaigning for his mother, the BJP candidate and current MP from Sultanpur, on Thursday.

Addressing a public gathering in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur, Varun said, In the entire country, elections are being held in 543 constituencies. In many places, biggest of the leaders are contesting but Sultanpur is the only constituency where nobody calls the Member of Parliament (MP) as 'mantri ji', 'sansad ji' nor they call her by her name. Instead, everyone calls them 'Mother'.

Sultanpur is set to vote on May 25 in the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Gandhi expressed respect for the role of a mother, comparing it to divine power. He highlighted that mothers are universally known for their protection, fairness, help in times of need and endless love. A mother is considered to be a divine power, equivalent to God. Because when the whole world may or may not stand by you, a mother never leaves your side. Today, I am not here just to show support for my mother, but I am here to show support for the mother of Sultanpur. The definition of a mother is that she is a power that protects everyone, does not discriminate, helps in times of trouble, and always keeps love in her heart for everyone. A mother's scolding is also a blessing, he said.

Read Here | I only raise local issues that matter to voters: Maneka Gandhi

When we first came to Sultanpur 10 years ago to contest elections, people said, 'Sir, the vibrancy that exists in Amethi, the vibrancy that exists in Raibareli, we want the same vibrancy in Sultanpur too.' Today, it brings me great joy to say that when Sultanpur's name is mentioned in the country, it is mentioned in the first line of the mainstream, Varun added.

Maneka Gandhi on her son

Earlier, Maneka Gandhi expressed her wish for her son to be happy despite the political turmoil. When asked about the rumours of Varun's anti-BJP stance since 2019 and his exclusion from the BJP ticket list for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Maneka stressed that her main concern was her son's well-being.

I just want to see him (Varun Gandhi) happy, and what more can one ask from life, she said.

When asked about Varun not running from UP's Pilibhit, where he has been MP thrice, Maneka said he was ready to support her campaign in Sultanpur. When I asked Varun to campaign for me, he agreed to campaign for me. He has come to Sultanpur for this. Whatever has happened is done, now we should talk further. Opportunity comes from ability and it is a misconception in every party that only the MPs run the party. There are more than one crore members in the BJP. There are around 300-400 MPs, so are there no other leaders apart from them in the party? If you have the capability, a way will definitely be made.

Sultanpur constituency

The Sultanpur Lok Sabha constituency is set for a tough three-way contest between the BJP, the Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

The current BJP candidate is Maneka. The SP has chosen Rambhual Nishad, replacing Bheem Nishad, and the BSP has fielded Udraj Verma.

The Sultanpur seat includes five Assembly segments  Isauli, Sultanpur, Sadar, Lambhua, and Kadipur. It is a General seat. Since Independence, Sultanpur has had MPs from several parties, with no single party dominating. Congress has won eight times, BSP twice and BJP four times.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the Calcutta high court's verdict that struck down the OBC status granted to "77 classes" in West Bengal, was a tight slap to the Opposition's INDIA bloc. Meanwhile, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she would not accept the verdict, and her government might move the Supreme Court against the judgment. She also warned the BJP of a 1000 crore defamation suit for allegedly tarnishing her government's achievements with false claims. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a public meeting supporting Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Dum Dum seat, Sougata Ray. (ANI)

Striking down the quota eligibility, the high court observed that "religion appears to have been the sole criterion" for terming these classes as backward (OBCs). In a strongly worded statement, the court said its mind wasn't free from doubt that the "said community (Muslims) has been treated as a commodity for political ends".

"This is clear from the chain of events that led to the classification of the 77 classes as OBCs and their inclusion to be treated as a vote bank," the court added, reported PTI.

Reacting to the development, PM Modi said the West Bengal government had crossed every limit of their obsession with the politics of appeasement. Addressing a rally in Dwarka, PM Modi said the Opposition accused him of making communal statements whenever he uttered the word Muslim, but he only exposed the latter by stating facts.

Just today, the Calcutta high court has given a big slap to this INDI alliance. The court has cancelled all OBC certificates issued since 2010. Why? Because the West Bengal government issued unwarranted OBC certificates to Muslims just because of the vote bank," he said.

He also accused the Opposition of carrying out what he called "vote jihad".

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, addressing a poll rally in Khardah in the Dumdum Lok Sabha constituency, said the OBC reservation would continue in West Bengal.

"The OBC reservation quota introduced by the West Bengal government will continue. We had drafted the Bill after conducting a house-to-house survey, and it was passed by the cabinet and the assembly, she said.

"If necessary, we will move to a higher court (against the order)," she added.

Referring to the May 20 Calcutta high court order restraining the BJP from publishing advertisements that violate the Model Code of Conduct, the Bengal chief minister vowed she will file a defamation case of 1000 crore against the party for "peddling falsehood about their achievements".

SC, ST, OBC get the rights as per the Constitution. Minorities also have their rights. Can anyone say that he will frame legislation only for the benefit of Hindus and leave out Muslims and other communities?" she said, per PTI.

"I will file a defamation of 1000 crore (against BJP) for peddling falsehood about their achievements and also for levelling false charges against me and my projects. I hadnt taken even one paisa in my entire political career. And I will distribute the entire amount among the people, she added.
The Central Bureau of investigation (CBI) has terminated the services of its arrested inspector Rahul Raj and removed three more officers from its Bhopal office for allegedly accepting bribe from staff of Madhya Pradesh-based nursing colleges to give them a clean chit in the agencys probe into irregularities in the functioning of educational institutions, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. So far, 13 out of the 23 accused named in the FIR have been arrested by the agency for giving favourable inspection reports to nursing colleges in Madhya Pradesh in exchange for bribes collected through conduits, officials said. (Representational image)

CBI has named four agency officers, inspector Rahul Raj, deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Ashish Prasad, and two Madhya Pradesh police inspectors on CBI deputation, Rishikant Asathe and Sushil Kumar Majoka, along with 19 others, including chairpersons and staff of nursing colleges and some touts, in its first information report (FIR) in connection with the bribery racket.

The federal agency has terminated Rahul Raj from services with immediate effect following its zero tolerance policy towards corruption, a CBI officer aware of the matter said. The agency has initiated administrative action against DSP Prasad and has written to DoPT to take further action. It has also removed Asathe and Majoka from the agencys deputation and sent them back to the state police, the officer added.

Rahul Raj and Sushil Kumar were arrested after being caught red-handed while accepting bribe. Ashish Prasad and Rishikant Asathe have been suspended but they will be arrested after the probe, the officer said, requesting anonymity.

The action comes days after a CBI vigilance team from Delhi caught Raj, the agencys Bhopal anti-crime bureau (ACB) inspector, red-handed on Sunday while accepting a bribe of 10 lakh from Malay College of Nursing chairman Anil Bhaskaran and his wife Suma Anil Bhaskar.

So far, 13 out of the 23 accused named in the FIR have been arrested by the agency for giving favourable inspection reports to nursing colleges in Madhya Pradesh in exchange for bribes collected through conduits, officials said.

A special court in Bhopal has remanded them in CBI custody till May 29.

CBI swung into action after inputs and surveillance by its internal vigilance unit indicated that one of the support teams constituted on the orders of the Madhya Pradesh high court to examine infrastructure in nursing colleges in the state was indulging in corruption by giving a clean chit to educational institutions in lieu of bribes.

The agency has found that its officers were allegedly collecting 2 to 10 lakh from each institute to give favourable reports after inspection, officials said.

The CBI officer cited above, however, said it was wrong to raise a question on the entire investigation.

These officers, mediators and staff members were part of a team out of seven teams who were inspecting the nursing colleges. It is wrong to raise question on entire investigation because vigilance team has been keeping eye on all officers of other teams too, the officer added.

In a three-part series in August 2022, HT had highlighted how ghost nursing colleges were being run in Madhya Pradesh for providing degrees to students. The colleges were being run only on papers without staff, students, teachers and 100-bed hospitals  a mandatory requisite to get recognition.

In September last year, the Madhya Pradesh high court ordered a CBI probe into the matter.

CBI has inspected 308 out of the total 364 nursing colleges for which the high court had issued the direction to conduct probe. In its probe, CBI found a total 169 colleges suitable to run the nursing course, 74 colleges deficient with minimal problems that can be rectified and remaining 65 colleges have been found unsuitable to run nursing courses.

However, whistle-blower and petitioner in the nursing scam case, Vishal Baghel said: We will move application before the high court against this corruption because nursing colleges are putting all the efforts to save their business of crore of rupees that is being run for years.
SILCHAR: Over 1,000 people from Myanmar have taken refuge in Mizorams border district of Champhai after fighting intensified between Myanmars rebel forces and the ruling junta, the district administration said on Thursday. Champai: People take part in a rally against scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR), at Indo-Myanmar Friendship Gate, at Zokhawthar village along India-Myanmar border, Mizoram, on May 16 (PTI FILE)

Champhai deputy commissioner James Lalrinchhana said a fresh influx of people across the border started on May 17 and more than a thousand people including children and women had taken refuge in the district by May 22 (Wednesday).

They started entering our district on May 17 midnight. Most of them have taken shelter with their relatives in Khuangphah and Vaikhawtlang area near Indo-Myanmar international border, he told HT.

Officials said about 600 Myanmar refugees from Chin state took refuge in Vaikhawtlang village in Champhai district and another 200 crossed the border from an area near Khuangphah village in the same district.

Their lives were in danger in their country and they have taken shelter here. We are aware of the movement and believe that theyll go back home once the situation becomes normal there, officials said.

Lalrinchhana said the administration has not received any request for assistance and local NGOs have been supporting the new batch of refugees. We are yet to get calls for support from them. As per our reports, most of them are staying with their relatives. Some are staying in shelter homes and we are providing them security, he said.

Over 36,500 Myanmar refugees are estimated to be in the state across its 11 districts. The state government has built 149 relief camps in seven districts to accommodate the refugees.

Six Mizoram districts, Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Serchhip and Saitual share a border with Myanmar.

Mizoram shares a 510-km-long border with Myanmars Chin state and the Mizos share ethnic ties with people belonging to the Chin community. It is on account of these ties that a large number of people in Champhai district joined the protest last week against the central governments move to scrap the Free Movement Regime between India and Myanmar.

The protests were organised by Zo Re-Unification Organisation (Zoro), a Mizo group which seeks the reunification of all Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi tribes of India, Bangladesh and Myanmar by bringing them under one administration.

The free movement regime allows people to cross up to 16 km on both sides of the international border.
A police team drove to the fourth floor of Rishikeshs All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to arrest a nursing officer accused of molesting a junior resident doctor. A video of the entry of the police vehicle into the hospital premises went viral on social media. Satish Kumar, the accused, was admitted to the hospitals psychiatry department. (HT PHOTO)

The vehicle is seen passing through the triage area on the ground floor before reaching the fourth floor using a ramp. It can be seen driving through a crowded hall as hospital security staff make way for the vehicle by pushing stretchers carrying patients out of the way.

Satish Kumar, the accused, was admitted to the hospitals psychiatry department after he complained about his mental health issues on Monday.

Senior police superintendent Ajai Singh cited primary information and said the vehicle did not pass through the emergency ward but the waiting gallery where the patients are kept before admission. ....the hospital security officers guided the police through an emergency way to take the accused into custody.

ALSO READ | Chandigarh: GMCH-32 suspends nurse for sexually harassing female doctor

AIIMS public relations officer Sandeep Kumar said there was a possibility of an attack on Kumar and that is why police had to bring their vehicle inside the hospital premises and take it to the fourth floor. There were protests...the protestors even tried to block the police vehicle.

Doctors have been protesting outside the office of the AIIMS dean demanding action against the accused.

Shankar Singh Bisht, a local police officer, said Kumar allegedly molested the doctor when an operation was underway on Sunday evening. He added Kumar later sent objectionable messages to her on WhatsApp. Bisht said Kumar also mentally harassed the doctor by sending her a picture of a noose and threatened to kill himself if she complained.

A colleague of the doctor said they took up the matter with the head of the department and a complaint was forwarded to the internal complaint committee. Despite the complaint, the accused was allowed to perform his duties, said the colleague.

Kumar was booked under the Indian Penal Codes Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to outrage modesty) and 506 (criminal intimidation) on Tuesday and arrested the same day. He was suspended on Monday even as AIIMS was investigating the allegations against him.
Mumbai, Member of Parliament and NCP leader Supriya Sule on Thursday targeted Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saying those in power should reveal who tried to pressure police in the Pune Porsche fatal crash. Pune car crash: Those in power can pressure police, Sule targets Fadnavis

Speaking to reporters here, Sule also expressed her surprise over Fadnavis rushing to Pune and making veiled insinuations concerning the accident.

Fadnavis told reporters that police should not come under any political pressure. I want to tell him that those in power can pressure the police in such probes. My question to Fadnavis is who pressured the police and how despite such a heinous crime, the kid got bail, she asked.

A Porsche car, allegedly driven by a 17-year-old boy, who the police claim was drunk at the time, fatally knocked down two motorbike-borne software engineers at Kalyani Nagar in Pune city in the early hours of Sunday.

The teenager, son of real estate developer Vishal Agarwal , was granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board hours later, sparking public outrage. Police later approached the JJB, which remanded the boy to an observation home till June 5. His father was also arrested and remanded in police custody till May 24.

The Baramati MP claimed that MLA Sunil Tingare of NCP, led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, had intervened in the matter after the accident.

I also want to know how Sunil Tingare intervened and helped in getting bail. The state government is careless and insensitive. Be it drink and drive, drugs found in Pune or blasts in Dombivli MIDC, this government is not interested in solving issues, she said.

Asked whether she spoke to Ajit Pawar regarding the Pune Porsche crash, Sule said, I have not spoken to him in last many days. He is the guardian minister of Pune but I have not spoken to him lately.

In the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls in Baramati, Sule was pitted against Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Pune Police told a local court on Wednesday that the father of the 17-year-old boy -- who hit and killed two techies with his car on Sunday -- had told his driver to give the keys of his Porsche Taycan to his son whenever the latter demanded. The Porsche car found without number plate, in Pune, Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The car was allegedly driven by a 17-year-old boy.

The lawyer of the father, a prominent builder in the Maharashtra city, had said that he gave the car to the driver, not the teenager.

According to the police's statement, accessed by TOI, the driver had called the father, saying the teenager was insisting on driving the car. The man then asked the driver to sit in the adjacent seat and let him drive the car.

Bail of Pune accused cancelled

On Wednesday, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) cancelled the bail of the 17-year-old boy and sent him to a remand home for 14 days.

The Pune Police have filed a review petition before the Juvenile Justice Board, urging the authorities to let him be tried as an adult.

The police have arrested the father of the minor for allowing him to drive the car without a license. He was sent to the police custody till May 24.

The boy was allegedly drunk during the accident. The Pune Police have also arrested two owners of two bars for serving liquor to the minor. The former, reportedly, spent 48000 within a few hours at the bars.

Pune victim's mother claims murder

Two young IT professionals, identified as Ashwini Koshta and Aneesh Awadhia, both from Madhya Pradesh, were killed in the accident.

Savitha Awadhiya, the mother of Aneesh Awadhiya, told NDTV that the accident could be called a murder.

"It is the boy's mistake, you can even call it murder, because if he had not made such a big mistake, no one would have died. If only his family members had paid attention, then today my son would have been alive. This is straight up murder," she told the channel.

She demanded strict punishment for the boy

"They are trying very hard to save him. They are people with money and think can save their son. But my son died)," she said, appealing to the Maharashtra government to help her get justice," she added.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi continued his verbal tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government accusing him of working for industrialists. As the country prepares to vote for the penultimate sixth phase Lok Sabha polling, Gandhi has upped his ante against PM Modi. Rahul Gandhi said the INDIA bloc alliance will discontinue the Agnipath scheme after coming to power on June 4. (PTI photo)

Modi govt is Adani govt: Rahul Gandhi in Haryana

The Modi government is Adani government, Gandhi remarked while addressing an election rally to garner votes for party candidate Rao Dan Singh from Bhiwani-Mahendergarh seat.

Expressing confidence that the INDIA bloc will form the next government, he said the alliance will discontinue the Agnipath scheme after coming to power on June 4.

The PM office has introduced the Agnipath scheme without consulting army officials and is playing with youths futures. Modi has divided martyrs into two groups. Those recruited through Agnipath scheme are not considered martyrs even after sacrificing their lives on the border. They will not be given pension or government job benefit, while those recruited earlier are getting all benefits. We will not allow division of youths protecting the borders, he said.

Kejriwals first reaction on Swati Maliwal issue

Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal, in an interview to news agency PTI, spoke for the first time on the Swati Maliwal assault row and said he wants justice and a fair investigation of the incident as it has two versions.

Maliwal accused Kejriwals aide Bibhav Kumar of physical assault inside the chief ministers residence on May 13 when Swati Maliwal went to visit him.

Mamata threatens 1,000 crore defamation case against BJP

The Calcutta high courts decision to scrap all entries in the OBC category after 2010 came as a huge setback for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal, which came to power in 2011.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the verdict that struck down the OBC status granted to 77 classes in West Bengal, was a tight slap to the Oppositions INDIA bloc.

Meanwhile, chief minister Banerjee said she would not accept the verdict, and her government might move the Supreme Court against the judgment.

She also warned the BJP of a 1,000 crore defamation suit for allegedly tarnishing her governments achievements with false claims.

Striking down the quota eligibility, the high court observed that religion appears to have been the sole criterion for terming these classes as backward (OBCs).

ECI asks Congress, BJP to correct campaign discourse

In separate but similarly worded guidances that take no names and are addressed to the presidents of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked the two parties to rein in their star campaigners.

ECIs letters to JP Nadda of the BJP and Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress are a follow up to its notice dated April 21 to the two party chiefs, and a response to the reply provided by them.

Specifically (and this is the only substantive difference between the two advisories), ECI has asked Kharge to ensure that the Congresss star campaigners do not make statements like anyone can either abolish or sell or tear apart the Constitution of India etc. as it is alleged to be instilling fear in the mind of voters about an uncertain future and an attempt to spread anarchy in the country.

The poll body noted that such practices may prejudicially affect the prospects of certain candidates and thus, may border as a corrupt practice under section 123(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Kejriwal claims he doesnt want to become PM

Kejriwal said on Wednesday that he didnt want to become the next prime minister if the INDIA bloc wins the Lok Sabha elections.

His main goal is to protect the country and democracy from dictatorship.

Naveens witty response to AI speech allegations

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday dismissed BJPs claim that his videos were manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI).

In a video put out by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader VK Pandian, he is heard reacting to the claim, Thats great. They should use their own intelligence.

Pandian, who became a member of the chief ministers office in 2011, has been a close confidant of Patnaik. His responsibilities grew notably earlier this month when he was named the 5T Secretary, a role created to spearhead transformational projects across various government departments.

Meanwhile, BJPs Odisha unit chief Samir Mohanty on Tuesday cast doubts over the authenticity of CM Patnaiks short video messages, suggesting that AI technology might be used to create deepfake videos.

Mohanty argued that if the videos were genuine, the chief minister would have conveyed those messages in public forums as well.
NEW DELHI: Russia is ready to help India with the construction of high-capacity nuclear power units at a new site, in addition to the atomic power project at Kudankulam, as part of efforts to expand cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the head of the Russian nuclear agency said on Thursday. Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, and Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission held a meeting on Thursday at Seversk in Russia (Photo: Rosatom)

Alexey Likhachev, director general of the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, made the offer during a meeting with Atomic Energy Commission chairman Ajit Kumar Mohanty at Seversk in Russia. The two officials held talks when Mohanty visited the Proryv or Breakthrough project, which seeks to create a new power plant with a closed nuclear fuel cycle.

We are ready [for] serious expansion of the cooperation with India in the field of using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Likhachev said, according to a statement issued by Rosatom. This includes serial construction of the Russian-designed high-capacity nuclear power units at a new site in India, he said.

The Russian side is also open to the implementation of land-based and floating low-power generation projects, and cooperation in the nuclear fuel cycle and non-power applications of nuclear technologies, said Likhachev.

Russia is currently assisting India with the construction of the Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu, which will have six light-water nuclear reactors of 1,000 MW each. Work on the project began in 2002 and the first reactor began commercial operations in 2014, followed by the second in 2016. Work on two more reactors is underway.

During external affairs minister S Jaishankars visit to Russia last December, the two sides signed agreements to move forward on the fifth and sixth reactors for the Kudankulam project. Jaishankar told a news conference in Mumbai on May 13 that India is looking at additional sites for Russian reactors.

Mohanty and Likhachev met when the Indian official visited the Pilot Demonstration Energy Complex (PDEC) at Seversk in Tomsk region, which is part of the Proryv project. They also discussed the progress in the Kudankulam project, the statement said.

Besides creating a platform with a closed nuclear fuel cycle, the Proryv project is focused on resolving the problems of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste.

The Kudankulam project is Indias largest nuclear power plant, which Rosatom described as the flagship venture of Russian-Indian technological and power industry cooperation.

Currently, construction and installation works are underway and equipment supplies are being completed at Units 3 and 4, two power units of the projects third stage being built parallelly. Rosatom State Corporation is providing fuel to the power units of Kudankulam NPP throughout their entire life cycle, the statement said.
The BJP's target of winning at least 370 seats on its own in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections is not a "randomly mentioned number,' according to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. External affairs minister S Jaishankar (File Photo)

You (interviewer) have said that the 370 target is a slogan. Some thought has gone into it (fulfillng the target). I don't think PM Modi has ever mentioned a number randomly, Jaishankar told NDTV.

The minister explained how the saffron party aims to achieve its goal.

In several states, we will be able to hold our position, and in some states, we will increase our seats: West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh, the ex-foreign secretary stated.

Also Read | Congress can forget the dream of restoring Article 370: Narendra Modi

However, as some of these states are not traditional strongholds of the BJP, Jaishankar was asked how it would perform well there.

The BJP is a professional party and does not rely on guesswork. We analyse at the booth level and move upwards. When we say we will get this number of seats in this state, a lot of thought has gone into it, he replied.

Many have linked the BJP's 370+ target with the Narendra Modi government's abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. In August 2019, months after the Modi government was re-elected for a second consecutive term, the legislation, which granted special status to J&K, was revoked, and the erstwhile state was divided into two existing Union territories: J&K, and Ladakh.

Also Read | Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency to go for polls for first time after Article 370 abrogation

Overall, the ruling party aims to win over 400 seats with its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners in the 543-member Lok Sabha, in the current polls . It is also seeking what, if achieved, will be its third straight single-party majority, and a hattrick of terms for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections began on April 19 and the final round of polling is scheduled for June 1. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to entertain a petition by former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, who sought to challenge his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged land racket and requested interim bail to campaign in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, berating him for concealing key facts and engaging in blameworthy conduct. ED has accused Soren of orchestrating a complex scheme to acquire and possess land illegally in Jharkhand. (PTI)

A vacation bench of justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma criticised Soren for not disclosing in his petitions that a trial court in Jharkhand had already taken cognisance of the money laundering charges against him on April 4. The bench was irate that Soren was concurrently pursuing a parallel remedy by seeking bail from the trial court even as he pressed for interim bail in the Supreme Court.

We expected some candour from your client. We should have been informed that your bail was already pending when you approached this court... You were pursuing parallel remedies. You had applied for bail before the trial court and you also came to the Supreme Court seeking interim bail.. .We doubt your client was acting in bona fide, the bench told senior counsel Kapil Sibal, who appeared for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader.

While Sibal tried to defend Soren saying the JMM leader should not be made to pay for any possible default on the part of his lawyers, the bench pointed out that crucial facts about the cognisance order and bail plea before the Jharkhand trial court were found missing not only from Sorens present petition but also from the last one that complained against the Jharkhand high courts delay in deciding his challenge to the ED arrest. The previous petition was withdrawn on May 10 after the high court delivered its ruling earlier that month rejecting Sorens petition.

When you sought withdrawal of the petition on May 10, even at that point, it was not brought to our notice that the cognisance has already been taken... your conduct leaves a lot to be desired. You have approached this court under writ jurisdiction. This is not the way you try to come before the court without disclosing true facts. Even in your present petition, there is not a whisper of the cognisance order, the court said.

It was additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju, who pointed out that the present petition by Soren has also failed to list out the events of cognisance order and rejection of bail in the list of dates even though the plea was filed subsequent to these developments.

Sibal argued that it was his understanding that the April 4 order of taking cognisance or dismissal of bail by the trial court on May 13 could not come in the way of his challenge to the validity of arrest, which was premised on the points of law and Constitutional issues.

But the bench emphasised the importance of full transparency and adherence to judicial processes. Your detention was pursuant to an executive act but after a court has taken cognisance, it has transformed into a judicial act. Why is it that in none of your petitions, you disclose that the cognisance has been taken? It has entered the judicial arena once cognisance is taken, said the bench, adding it cannot simply brush aside the order of cognisance which is based on its prima facie satisfaction on the existence of incriminating material linked to Soren.

It pointed out that the Supreme Court could have still decided to hear Soren out but what was required on his part was to come to the court with clean hands, making full disclosure of the facts.

Your conduct is not free of blemish. You are coming to this court with blameworthy conduct, said the bench, as it proceeded to dismiss Sorens plea with a finding that the JMM leader did not approach the top court with clean hands. At this point, Sibal requested the bench to let him withdraw the plea without any adverse remarks against his client. The court allowed Sibals request.

The courts refusal to entertain the petition effectively means that Soren will have to challenge the rejection of his bail by the trial court on May 13 before the state high court. The benchs decision also highlights the apex courts stance on maintaining judicial propriety and discouraging the practice of seeking similar remedies from multiple courts without full disclosure.

ED has accused Soren of orchestrating a complex scheme to acquire and possess land illegally in Jharkhand. The alleged racket pertains to usurping prime landed parcels in Ranchi by the accused by making fake deeds using manufactured identities and falsifying original land records at circle offices and Registrar of Assurances (RoA), Kolkata, and circle offices in Jharkhand, according to the ED charge sheet. ED has reportedly recovered documents related to at least 27 properties of which alleged fake deeds were created by the people accused.

During the hearing of Sorens plea demanding annulment of his arrest and an interim bail in the meantime to enable him to campaign in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the court had on Tuesday put probing questions to his legal team, asking how he could contest the validity of his arrest by ED after the trial court had already acknowledged the existence of prima facie evidence of money laundering against him.

The bench underscored the distinctions that set Sorens case apart from that of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was previously granted interim bail in a money laundering case so that he could campaign in the ongoing elections.

When Kejriwal was granted interim bail on May 10, he had not sought regular bail from a trial court, nor had there been any judicial order of cognisance against him in the Delhi excise policy case, pointed out the bench on Tuesday. In contrast, a Jharkhand trial court has taken cognisance of the offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), relying on prima facie incriminating material against Soren, and his bail plea was rejected, the court observed.

Under rigorous questioning, Sibal requested some time to revert with replies, prompting the bench to adjourn the hearing till Wednesday.

While ASG Raju did not need to argue the case on merits following the benchs indisposition to entertain Sorens plea, the ED had on Monday submitted its affidavit accusing Soren of attempting to thwart an ongoing money laundering investigation in the case by misusing the state machinery and through his stooges. The agency stressed that the JMM leader is involved in the illicit acquisition and possession of properties deemed proceeds of crime and that his conduct disentitles him to any reprieve.

ED also contended that granting such bail would set a precedent allowing other incarcerated politicians to claim similar privileges, emphasising that elections are a constant feature in India, and accepting Sorens request would mean no politician could be detained during elections.
Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP in an interview with news agency ANI recounted her May 13 ordeal and said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was present when she was assaulted by his aide Bibhav Kumar. This contradicted what Kejriwal said on Wednesday that he was not present at his incident site when the alleged assault took place. Swati Maliwal spoke to ANI on what happened to her at Kejriwal's residence on May 13.

This is the first time that Swati Maliwal verbally narrated the incident as the earlier account was gathered from her FIR against Bibhav.

"I went to Kejriwal's residence on May 13 around 9am. The staff made me sit in the drawing room and told me that Kejriwal would come to meet me there...By that time, Bibhav barged into the room. I told him Arvind ji was coming to meet me, what's the issue. I said this much and he started beating me...He slapped me seven-eight times. When I tried to push him, he grabbed my legs and pulled me down on the floor. My head banged on the centre table. As I fell on the floor, he started kicking me. I screamed for help but nobody came," Swati Maliwal said.

"It's strange that no one came out to help me. I was screaming," Swati Maliwal added.

On a question on whether Bibhav was instructed to beat her up, Swati Maliwal said, "It is a matter of investigation whether he acted on his own or whether he was instructed to do so. I am cooperating with the investigation."

"I am not giving any clean chit to anyone. The fact is I was being beaten up and Arvind Kejriwal was there," the MP added.

Swati Maliwal on whether she was asked to vacate the Rajya Sabha seat for any advocate

Replying to a question on whether her disagreement with the AAP stemmed from any request from the party to vacate her Rajya Sabha seat for a special advocate, Maliwal said, "If I had been asked politely, I would have given my life. MP post is a very small thing. If you see my entire career, you will see that I never hankered after any post. I left my engineering job in 2006 and joined Kejriwal. I worked at the ground level."

"I can work without any post. But now that I have been beaten up so mercilessly, now I won't ever give up my Rajya Sabha seat. I am the youngest woman MP. I will work very hard and become an ideal parliamentarian," Maliwal said.

'I know Bibhav since 2006, he is not an ordinary PA'

On Bibhav Kumar, Swati Maliwal said he was not an ordinary PA. "I know him since 2006. He gradually became very close to Kejriwal. If you see his house, even ministers do not have such a luxurious house. He is so powerful that it is believed that if you ruffle his feathers, then you are finished," Swati said adding that there were assault cases against Bibhav in the past too.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday claimed that the police will interrogate his "old and sick parents" today, in connection with the alleged assault of AAP MP Swati Maliwal. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday reacted to the Swati Maliwal assault row. (Hindustan Times)

"Tomorrow Delhi Police will come to interrogate my old and sick parents," Arvind Kejriwal wrote on X.

Swati Maliwal, a member of the Rajya Sabha, has alleged that Arvind Kejriwal's personal assistant, Bibhav Kumar, slapped and kicked her inside the chief minister's house.

The Aam Aadmi Party has backed Arvind Kejriwal's personal assistant, claiming he was framed in the case as part of a conspiracy hatched by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). AAP leader Atishi claimed the BJP made Swati Maliwal file the FIR using an old ACB case as leverage.

Bibhav Kumar has been arrested.

Apart from Arvind Kejriwal's parents, his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, can also be questioned, reported ANI.

In her statement before the magistrate, Swati Maliwal has claimed that Kejriwal's wife and parents were present during the alleged assault.

"She came out after meeting them. That's why we are asking for two days to take their statement," Delhi Police sources told ANI.

Atishi slammed the Delhi Police and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the development.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent Delhi Police to interrogate the elderly parents of Arvind Kejriwal tomorrow. I want to ask PM Modi and BJP that the 85 years old father of Arvind Kejriwal who cannot walk alone without support and the mother of Arvind Kejriwal who just returned home a few days ago after spending a long time in the hospital, do they think that 85-year-old patients raised their hands on Swati Maliwal? Does the BJP feel this?" she said.

Arvind Kejriwal breaks silence

Arvind Kejriwal broke his silence over the case on Wednesday, saying he wanted a fair investigation because two versions of the incident had emerged.

Swati Maliwal slammed Arvind Kejriwal for his first reaction. She accused him of "unleashing the entire army of leaders and volunteers" at her and "assassinating my character".

"Irony died a thousand deaths. I don't buy this one bit," she added.

Swati Maliwal on Wednesday claimed that a conspiracy was afoot to "break me by leaking my personal photos".

AAP has claimed Maliwal attempted to meet Arvind Kejriwal without a prior appointment and created a ruckus.
Lakhimpur , Tension prevailed in Assam's Lakhimpur after a person accused of mobile phone theft died in police custody, leading to protests in Khelmati area, officials said. Tension prevails in Assam's Lakhimpur after death of accused in police custody

Two police personnel have been placed under suspension in connection with the incident, they said.

The accused was arrested along with four others on charges of mobile phone theft and other electronic gadgets by officials of the Khelmati outpost on Wednesday night.

Lakhimpur Additional Superintendent of Police L K Deka said the accused, who was sitting on a bench inside the police station, suddenly fell down and was immediately rushed to the civil hospital where he was declared brought dead by doctors.

The in-charge of Khelmati Outpost, Dipankar Changmai, and another personnel on duty, have been placed under suspension, the ASP said.

''Since the death happened inside the police station, a departmental inquiry will be conducted by an officer of the rank of ASP, he added.

A huge crowd had gathered in front of the police station since early morning to protest against the incident, and tension prevailed in the area, with senior police officers rushing to the spot to control the situation, the officials said.

Deka said a magisterial inquest will be ordered into the incident and a panel of doctors will conduct the post-mortem, which will be videographed, to ascertain the exact cause of the death.

''Reference death in police custody at Khelmati OP District North Lakhimpur - 1. IC of Khelmati OP has been placed under suspension along with on duty sentry at time of incident. 2. Independent Enquiry has been ordered by Addl SP Biswanath. 3. All mandatory provisions of law & directions of NHRC/AHRC are being followed 4. DIG NR has been directed to proceed to Khelmati immediately, Assam Director General of Police G P Singh said in a post on X.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
An Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) tribunal has confirmed the ban on the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) and their factions, wings, and frontal organisations, saying their cadres have been involved in kidnapping for ransom, extortion, etc. It said these groups have been carrying out activities from Bangladesh and have properties there. The Union home ministry declared NLFT and the ATTF as unlawful associations in 2023. (PTI)

The tribunal said the groups were trying to consolidate their strength with new recruitments and increasing their sympathizer base for their secessionist agenda. It added they also have significant weapons.

The Union home ministry declared NLFT and the ATTF as unlawful associations under the UAPA in October 2023. The tribunal scrutinised the material backing the ban and confirmed it in March. Its decision was made public this week.

In the absence of any materials against the declaration, the tribunal on an objective assessment of the materials placed before the tribunal on behalf of the Central government and the government of Tripura in support of the declaration, has reached a conclusion that the two associations [NLFT and ATTF] during the period under consideration, have been engaging themselves in activities which are unlawful activities, which have the tendency to undermine the authority of the democratically elected governments at the Centre and in the state..., the tribunal said in its order.

It said the unlawful activities of the groups reigned in fear and terror in the general populace, particularly of Tripura. Such unlawful activities pose a serious threat and are prejudicial to the security and integrity of the Nation, as the two organisations are found pursuing their secessionist agendas continuously.

The tribunal added there is sufficient cause to declare the organisations and their factions as unlawful associations.

The material the Centre and Tripura government shared with the tribunal is part of the order. It said NLFT has been working in nexus with other north-east insurgent organisations with their bases in Bangladesh. The organisations include the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup (KYKL), Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), and Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).

The [NTLF] outfit is found engaged in [the] supply of arms from Myanmar to Bangladesh-based outfits namely, United People Democratic Front (UPDF) and Marma Liberation Party (MLP), the tribunal said. It cited intelligence inputs and added they indicated that NLFT was trying to consolidate its strength by taking advantage of the political turmoil in Bangladesh.

The outfit has struck a deal with the forces inimical to Indo-Bangladesh friendship ties and they are determined to work together with an objective to create unrest in Bangladesh as well as to disintegrate India, said the tribunal. It is expected that violent activities of the outfit will further rise if there is [a] change in the political climate in neighbouring country Bangladesh.

The tribunal said ATTFs armed cadres operate from camps in Bangladesh. Though the ATTF is not very active at present, its leaders or cadres had reorganized in October 2017 and they are continuing with illegal and subversive activities like protesting against [the] merger of Tripura with the Indian union, it said. The ATTF has connections with various north-east insurgent groups like National Socialist Council of Nagaland  Khaplang (NSCN-K) and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO).

The tribunal said ATTF is maintaining its weapons in Bangladesh as well as its network with other Indian insurgent outfits and anti-Indian forces in Bangladesh. ...there is a real threat of ATTF reviving its activities in [the] future if the political climate in Bangladesh and Tripura becomes favourable.
The friction between Lok Sabha MP Jayant Sinha and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit in Jharkhand has intensified, with the former lashing out at the party for unjustly targeting him. BJP leader Jayant Sinha. (HT File Photo)

A few days ago, the BJP state unit issued a show cause notice to Sinha, pointing out that he had not only distanced himself from the partys campaign, but also failed to cast his vote in the ongoing parliamentary elections.

A lawmaker from Hazaribagh and a former Union minister, Sinha has responded to notice, alleging that the party did not invite him to be part of the election campaign.

In a two-page letter to the party, Sinha refuted the allegations against him and pointed out that he cast his vote through the postal ballot as he was travelling abroad for personal work.

...Before leaving India, I sent my vote through the postal ballot process. Therefore, it is wrong of you to allege that I did not exercise my responsibility to vote, Sinha said in his defense.

Ahead of the announcement of the 2024 general elections, Sinha had tweeted that he had written to party president JP Nadda to excuse him from the electoral exercise, and that he was not keen on contesting the polls.

Sinha, whose father Yashwant Sinha was a former Union minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpeyee cabinet, made a reference to his letter dated March 2, where he communicated his decision to step back from electoral responsibilities to focus on combating issues arising from global climate change.

He said he wanted to be relieved of direct electoral duties so that he can focus on combating global climate change in India and around the world.

Of course, I will continue to work with the party on economic and governance issues. I have had the privilege of serving the people of Bharat and Hazaribagh for the past 10 years. Moreover, I have been blessed by the many opportunities provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the BJP leadership. My sincerest gratitude to all of them, he said in response to the show cause notice.

Sinha claims his withdrawal from the contest had a profound reaction from thousands of Hazaribaghs constituents and party workers but he maintained political decorum and exercised restraint.

He pointed out that he supported the candidature of Manish Jaiswal but was not contacted by the party for any electoral work.

...However, not a single senior party official or MP/MLA from Jharkhand reached out to me after my announcement on 2 March 2024. I was not invited to any party events, rallies, or organisational meetings. If Babu Lal Marandi ji wanted me to participate, he could have certainly called me, but he did not, the two-time MP said in his defence.

A few weeks ago, Sinha was caught in the crosshairs of the party after the Congress claimed his son Aarish had joined the opposition camp. Sinha was quick to deny the claim.

Meanwhile, Yashwant Sinha had an acrimonious fall out with the BJP in 2014 when he was not given a ticket. He has since joined the Trinamool Congress.
The death of a junior doctor by suicide at a college hostel in Dehradun has triggered a massive uproar in Uttarakhand. The 26-year-old paediatric student at the Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences was found dead inside his hostel room on May 17. The death of a junior doctor by suicide at a college hostel in Dehradun has triggered a massive uproar in Uttarakhand. (File photo)

Launching a massive campaign on social media, the student's family and friends have alleged that harassment by his professors and long working hours forced him to commit suicide.

His thesis was rejected by a professor some days ago, reported India Today.

The doctor's father blamed the college's management committee and three people, specifically, for his son's suicide. Based on the father's complaint, the police filed an FIR against Dr Utkarsh Sharma, head of department of Paediatrics, as well as professors Ashish Sethi and Bindu Agarwal under section 306 of the IPC in connection with the suicide case.

My son joined college in October 2023. A few days later, Utkarsh Sharma, Ashish Sethi, Bindu Agrawal and the management committee started harassing him. They made him work 36-hour shifts even with a 104-degree fever. My son told me, 'Utkarsh Sharma rejected my thesis twice and demanded 500,000 rupees for passing. He insulted me in front of patients, and Bindu Agrawal mentally tortured me', the father alleged, as quoted by India Today.

"He had called me at 10 am on the morning of May 17 and said, 'take me away, or I'll commit suicide'. We assured him that we would come to get him the next day and urged him not to take any wrong step," the father added.

ALSO READ| Uttarakhand forest department releases report on 2,147 conserved plant species

The father said he received a call on May 17 night allegedly from Utkarsh Sharma, who informed him about his son being admitted to the emergency ward. He claimed he received another call at about 10:40 pm, informing him that his son's body was in the mortuary. Alleging conspiracy, the victim's father claimed when he reached for his son, students told him that the lights of his hostel room were switched off for 15-20 minutes and cleaned up.

Amid the social media uproar, the college's management said they have demanded an impartial probe into the matter and are cooperating with the police investigation. The management has demanded an enquiry from all angles, including investigation of phone call records, WhatsApp chats, and social media activities of the deceased.
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri on Thursday offered a scathing critique of Prashant Kishor's media presence and approach after the poll strategist-turned-activist found himself embroiled in a heated exchange with journalist Karan Thapar during an interview for The Wire that has since gone viral on social media. Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri and poll strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor.

Talking too much to the media will eventually ensure your downfall. First, you cant remember all the lies you have uttered in the past, Agnihotri posted on X.

You can be a hero only if you are a high achiever or have logic, personal charm, and an emotional connect. PK (Prashant Kishor) has only random data, arrogance, and a big ego with only focus on me, mine, myself. Its very easy for a clever journalist to destroy him.

Prashant Kishor has been asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to maintain or even surpass its 2019 Lok Sabha tally in the ongoing general election.

During the interview, Kishor bristled at the reminder of his earlier inaccurate predictions of an "impending rout" of Congress in the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections and a win for the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the Telangana assembly elections. The former political consultant challenged Thapar to show a video of him predicting a Congress rout in Himachal Pradesh elections.

To be sure, Prashant Kishor, commenting on the outcome of the mega brainstorming session held by Congress in Udaipur in 2022, had said on X (formerly Twitter), In my view, it failed to achieve anything meaningful other than prolonging the status-quo and giving some time to the #Congress leadership, at least till the impending electoral rout in Gujarat and HP!

Social media users shared a snapshot of Prashant Kishor taking a sip of water during the interview after what they described as his "meltdown".

Vivek Agnihotri observed, In this video, despite an egotistical anchor like KT, PK is found stammering and losing his composure because ego plus lies is a self-destructive combination. So far, PK has been playing on friendly turfs. For the first time, he played on an unfamiliar pitch. And, hence, the result.

Drawing a comparison, Agnihotri pointed to a recent ANI podcast involving Kapil Sibal and noted that while the interviewer started with the intention to destroy Sibal, it was the podcaster who ended up faltering.

This happened because Kapil Sibal was calm and wise. Also, he doesnt give many interviews, so he had something new to say. Whereas PK chose to be in the spotlight and he was repeating his half-truths and half-lies everywhere, he was bound to get caught in his own trap, Agnihotri said.
The Pune Porsche crash has ignited debates about underage driving, justice, and privilege. But for two families in Madhya Pradesh, it's an irreparable loss. Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, both IT professionals, were on their way home when a drunk teenager crashed into their bike. Both died on spot. Pune Porsche accident: Ashwini Costa died on the spot after a speeding Porsche rammed into the bike on which she was riding a pillion.

ALSO READ- Pune civic body demolishes pubs following fatal Porsche accident

In Jabalpur, Ashwini's mother, Mamata, mourns the daughter she was supposed to send off to her wedding. "We were supposed to send her off in a palanquin (to the groom's house) after her marriage (in future), but now we were forced to carry her body on a bier," Ashwini's inconsolable mother Mamata Costa told PTI in Jabalpur after performing her last rites.

ALSO READ- Pune Porsche crash: What teen's lawyer said about him being tried as adult

"We demand justice," she said, criticising lax parenting of the minor boy. "The minor boy and his parents should get stringent punishment. They have not raised him properly...They should have not given him the car," she said.

She remembered Ashwini as being a "very talented girl". "She was one among a million. She had so many dreams and now everything is left here only," her mother said.

The Juvenile Justice Board revoked the boy's bail, remanding him to custody until June 5. Police commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed the development in the case saying, "We had filed in a review application before the Juvenile Justice Board, praying that the accused be tried as an adult and that he be sent to a remand home."

ALSO READ- Grandfather of Pune accident accused paid Chhota Rajan to kill corporator: Charge sheet

"The operative order was communicated to us by the Juvenile Justice Board and the accused was sent to the remand home for 14 days until June 5. The orders in respect of him being tried as an adult will follow in due course," the police commissioner said.

(Inputs from PTI)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday addressed criticism about its schedule and work hours, turning the spotlight back on the Centre, highlighting that those in governance who question the judiciarys efficiency and vacations should first ensure that the Union governments appeals are filed in a timely manner. The Supreme Court. (ANI)

It is unfortunate that despite judges putting in so much, it is said that we work for a few hours and have long vacations. There was a recent article about us... What are we doing here, burning the midnight oil even during vacations, a bench of justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chadra Sharma remarked.

The bench was apparently referencing a recent article by Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modis economic advisory council. Sanyal had called for judicial reforms, arguing that judges work fewer hours and enjoy long vacations.

Since some of those criticising the Supreme Court are in governance, justice Datta added, the top court would expect the Centre to file its petition within the stipulated time at least in one matter.

Let one matter come to us within the limitation period prescribed under law. There are hardly any matters which are filed within the stipulated time. Authorities never come within the prescribed time of 60 or 90 days. All petitions are filed in this court with applications for the condonation of delay. So those who castigate judiciary should take note of this, commented the bench, prompting the senior counsel present in the courtroom to show solidarity with the apex court judges.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta and additional solicitor general SV Raju called such criticism misplaced, adding some people perhaps fail to acknowledge that judges work in two shifts: in the courtroom and after they take back work to their residential offices or chambers.

This is the only court which works this much, said Mehta, who found support in senior counsel and the new president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Kapil Sibal. I have always maintained that the judges of our country are the most overworked, said Sibal.

The sharp reminder to the government came from the bench while hearing a plea of former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren in a money laundering case.

The exchange touched on broader issues of judicial functioning and public perceptions, sparked by Sanyals article. This was the second instance this month when the Supreme Court defended itself against criticism on long vacations. On May 1, a bench led by justice BR Gavai said, People who criticise us for having long vacations do not know that we do not have a holiday on Saturdays and Sundays. These days are filled with conferences and other assignments... We also get the time to write long judgments during vacations.

The debate over judicial vacations is ongoing. A parliamentary panel in August last year recommended ending long court vacations, citing the common mans perception about the judiciary and the huge pendency of cases. Although the panel acknowledged that vacations are not the sole reason for case backlogs, it viewed these breaks as a colonial legacy causing inconvenience to litigants.

In January, at an event marking the 75th anniversary of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud addressed this criticism, wondering whether alternatives such as flexitime for lawyers and judges were possible in the present set-up.

In 2009, the law commission recommended that vacations be curtailed by at least 10 to 15 days while increasing the retirement age by at least three years. While the amendment in the Supreme Court Rules in 2014 by the then CJI RM Lodha cut the summer vacation by about three weeks, the SCs sanctioned strength went up by just three judges and the retirement age remained static at 65. The law commission, in 1987, recommended 107 total judges per million by the year 2000. At the last count in 2022, the number stood at 21.

The criticism around vacations in the top court requires an evaluation on three key benchmarks: the bench strength of judges, the time needed to write detailed judgments and the calendar of other apex courts around the world, according to people aware of the matter.

From a sanctioned strength of eight judges in 1950 to 34 at present, statistics reveal that the rise in the volume of cases far outstripped the increase in the judges strength. In 1950, the SC had 1,215 cases and decided 525 of them, averaging about 75 cases per judge. However, in 2019, there were 43,613 cases filed and the apex court decided 41,100 of them  an average disposal of around 1,400 cases per judge.

Furthermore, each bench, which comprises two or three judges, handles a significant caseload, often hearing 50-60 matters daily, leaving judges with little time to examine intricate questions of law and the Constitution  work that is exhaustive and needs sifting through delicate interpretations of the law. Judges have maintained that they spend a a substantial time during vacations researching, deliberating and drafting judgments, which is a vital process for ensuring that justice is delivered with clarity and precision.

Moreover, during the break, the court registry and staff work like any other government office, and judges sit in rotation for vacation benches that hear cases five days a week. These benches not only take up urgent matters but also fresh appeals and some old cases, where the lawyers have agreed to argue during the vacation. At present, there are three vacation benches hearing at least 50 cases every day, ensuring that the wheels of justice dont come to a grinding halt.

Comparing the vacation schedules of the Supreme Court of India with those of other apex courts worldwide may also provide valuable context. Indias Supreme Court sits for an average of 200 days every year while the US Supreme Court does so for 80. The apex court of Australia sits for only two weeks per month and does not sit at all for two months. In all, it sits for less than 100 days in a year. Similarly, Singapores Supreme Court sits for about 145 days in a year. The UK Supreme Court is one of the few apex courts which sits for almost the same number of days as Indias top court. In many of these jurisdictions, the apex courts only handle constitutional cases while the Indian Supreme Court not only acts as the highest constitutional court but also as the last court of appeals. This increases its workload manifold.
New Delhi, No garlands, no loudspeakers, no slogans and no frenzied crowds. Yet, a band of Independents, most with no funds and far from the electoral spotlight, are in the fray in Delhi, their trade varied and their motivations different, except for the fact they want to see their name on the ballot sheet. Welder, former MNC employee, stock trader join Delhi political race as Independents

The eclectic list of 49 contesting as Independents across Delhis seven Lok Sabha constituencies includes a welder, a mechanic, a former corporate, a social worker and a stock trader. They are clearly not there for victory or for money but it doesnt matter.

"Contesting the Lok Sabha election is a big thing. For someone like me who barely earns 20,000 a month deciding to fight elections might make me the butt of everyone's jokes. But god knows my intention is right and I only want to serve the people, said Hari Kishan, a home appliances mechanic by profession contesting from North West Delhi.

The 47-year-old has little to boast about in his CV as he fights heavyweights Yogendra Chandolia from the BJP and Congress' Udit Raj.

"I am getting a really good response, which makes me hopeful for a favourable result on June 4," the Rithala resident told PTI.

His aim is modest.

Kishan is hoping to make a dent, at least amongst those whose broken refrigerators and washing machines he has fixed over the past two decades. Maybe they will choose him over candidates who have broken their promises election after election.

With no loudspeakers blaring their name and no media channel vying for their interview, most of these Independents  those not aligned with any recognised party won't fit the image of a archetypal politician fighting for attention in the festival of democracy that is an Indian election.

With Kishan in the master list of 162 candidates fighting in Delhi, which votes on May 25 in the sixth round of the seven-phase election, is Subash Chander.

The 67-year-old is an old hand in the stock market and is betting on his chances in the prized Chandni Chowk seat against BJP's Praveen Khandelwal and Congress former MP Jai Prakash Aggarwal.

He lives in Sirsa, Haryana, but doesnt mind commuting every alternate day for door-to-door campaigning. The cash-strapped candidate spends the night in different gurudwaras to save money.

His push factor to contest not a single MP is raising people-centric issues in Parliament.

"PM Modi did the right work in his first regime. Now, he also, like others, is busy doling out freebies and hiding from real issues. Delhi has become a gas chamber and no one is doing anything about it.

"Farmers are protesting, the youth of the country is unemployed... I can't tolerate this anymore and decided to take the matter in my own hands," said Chander. He contested in 1996 too  then for the Haryana assembly from Sirsa and won 5,000 votes.

Achla Jethmalani, an economics major and a postgraduate in human resource development management, was propelled into joining the fray because of the unemployment issue.

The former corporate employee is fighting against BJP's Bansuri Swaraj and A's Somnath Bharti for the high profile New Delhi seat.

The 57-year-old, who is using savings from her corporate career to fund her political debut, said the pressing issue of jobs could lead to social delinquency without remedial measures.

"I feel someone who is conscientious and who is professionally qualified can deliver justice. And it was high time that they took the plunge in politics. So it is due to that sense of obligation towards society that I decided to contest the elections this time," said Jethmalani.

However, Jethmalani is also pragmatic and admits her limitations as a candidate without deep pockets or political clout.

According to recent data compiled by the Election Commission of India , voters' trust in Independent candidates has been diminishing, with over "99 per cent" of them losing their deposits since 1991.

"I don't have the resources or the money to throw around... It is very difficult for the underprivileged to trade in long term goals for the short term. If a party satisfies them monetarily, they'll be swayed by that party and vote there. That way I know I am at a disadvantage," she said, adding that she is in for the long haul.

Also, making his tryst with politics in the 18th general elections is Naveen Kumar, a welder with no qualifications. His focus is strengthening the education system.

Kumar, a resident of Dwarka, is fighting from South Delhi constituency against BJP's Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and A's Sahi Ram Pehelwan.

"I want to focus on cleanliness and education. Our education system is in shambles. I see children living in my area, they go to school, but they are really not getting the education they deserve. Many of them are dropping out from schools due to this," explained the 36-year-old.

He has a team of 12 and has been campaigning door to door. Kumar said he has spent close to 1 lakh in publicity material, logistics, food and other maintenance expenses of his team members.

"Much of what I have spent is from my own pocket. The rest was given to me by my friends and family members. I am fighting the elections to win, why would I think about loss? Mark my words, I'll get close to six lakh votes," said Kumar, who makes 25,000 per month from his welding business.

Social worker Anju Sharma, who is contesting from West Delhi, has a completely different agenda.

The former Congress worker, who left the party following its "unholy alliance" with the A, said she is living her dream.

With the financial backing from her businessman husband and moral support from her children, the 53-year-old from Tilak Nagar promises to fulfil the aspirations of people from the constituency.

"I didn't get the support from a political party but I have support from the people of my constituency. They know me. I have been working for their betterment for the past many years.

"Now, if I get elected, I'll only get to serve them better with more resources at my disposal," said Sharma, whose social media account is filled with videos of her addressing rallies and events canvassing for votes.

The debutant aims to overtake BJP's Kamaljeet Sehrawat and A's Mahabal Mishra in the poll race.

An Independent needs at least 10 candidates from the same constituency to sign nomination papers.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday promised that if the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance, NDA, wins 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, it will construct temples at the birthplace of Lord Krishna in Mathura and the mosque in Varanasi. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses an election rally for the Lok Sabha polls. (Pitamber Newar /ANI)

There is a decades-old dispute between Hindu and Muslim sides over Mathura's Shahi Idgah mosque adjoining the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple.

On the other hand, local priests have petitioned to worship in Gyanvapi mosque complex, claiming it was originally part of the Kashi Vishwanath temple demolished by Aurangzeb.

ALSO READ- Read Elections 2024 News and Lok Sabha Election Updates

"Give 400 seats to Modi-ji, we will raise temples at the birthplace of Lord Krishna in Mathura and the Gyanvapi mosque in Kashi (Varanasi)," Assam CM Sarma said, addressing a public meeting in Jharkhand's Bokaro in favour of BJP candidate Dhullo Mahto, ANI reported.

"Our work is still incomplete. Still today, at Krishna Janambhoomi, there is a Shahi Eidgah. In place of a Gyanvapi Mandir, there is a Gyanvapi Masjid. Modi-ji ko 400 seat dijiye, hame Krishna ka janabhoomi bhi banana hai aur Gyanvapi Mandir bhi banana hai (give 400 seats to PM Modi as we have to accomplish our unfinished tasks of building temples at Krishna Janmabhoomi and at the Gyanvapi mosque," he added.

ALSO READ- Lok Sabha elections: Delhi metro services on all lines to begin at 4am on May 25

'With 300 seats, we freed Ram Lalla from the makeshift tent': Sarma

Sarma said that after securing 300 seats in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. "We freed Ram Lalla from the makeshift tent and helped him return to take his throne," Sarma said, lauding the grand 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony in Ayodhya.

Himanta Biswa Sarma credited the strength of 300 seats for PM Modi's decision to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Give Modi ji 400 seats and PoK will be in India: Assam CM

Invoking Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Assam CM stated, "Kashmir has two parts: one with Pakistan and the other with India. Give Modi-ji 400 seats, and watch how we bring Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir back to India."

He will also make India a 'Vishwaguru' and the world's best economy," Sarma claimed.

ALSO READ- Mallikarjun Kharge takes 600 paar jibe at PM Modi over 400 plus' pitch

The general elections are being held in seven phases and the counting is scheduled for June 4.

With inputs from ANI
The winner of the 2024 International Booker Prize is tipped for a Nobel Prize in literature and has received worldwide acclaim  yet she's relatively unknown in her home country of Germany. Renowned outside Germany, Jenny Erpenbeck has not garnered the same acclaim at home (picture alliance/dpa )

Ask your average German about Jenny Erpenbeck, and they may very well respond, "Jenny who?"

Yet the contemporary German author has made a name for herself beyond Germany's borders; she's showered with prizes and has even been predicted to one day win the Nobel Prize in literature. Her books have been translated into more than 30 languages, and she's read to thrilled audiences in Uzbekistan, Mexico and India during her global book tours.

ALSO READ: Germany's Jenny Erpenbeck wins International Booker Prize

So why the discrepancy?

It's not as if Erpenbeck is totally unknown in Germany  quite the contrary. She has a loyal readership, and she can usually count on one literary prize a year, earning her media mentions.

Her 2021 novel, "Kairos," has also received different awards  just no major Germans one, like the German Book Prize or the Leipzig Book Fair Prize. Yet, in keeping with the pattern, the novel's English translation has garnered acclaim beyond Germany's borders, earning her, and her translator Michael Hofmann, the prestigious International Booker Prize .

'East German' problems

Perhaps there is something to Erpenbeck's feeling that the wall that once separated East and West Germany never really fell, that West German cultural perspectives continue to dominate public discourse.

Erpenbeck is from the former East Germany. Born in East Berlin in 1967, she was 22 when the Berlin Wall came down. The state in which she had grown up, the German Democratic Republic (GDR), simply ceased to exist shortly thereafter, and she found herself in a new country, the Federal Republic of Germany, which wasn't really interested in the history of the GDR.

"Kairos" addresses the end of the GDR. In an interview with the German weekly magazine Die Zeit, Erpenbeck said it was no coincidence that the novel didn't garner much attention within Germany, since not a single East German-born individual sat on the juries of the major German book prizes the year the novel came out.

"I'm not interested in your problems either," she said in the interview with the Hamburg-based publication, whose roots lie in West Germany.

End of the world as we know it

"Kairos" is about life's turmoil. It's a toxic love story set during the final days of the GDR. The lovers: a young woman and a man 34 years her senior  a former fascist in Nazi Germany turned zealous communist. It's also the story of artists in the GDR  a state with omnipresent censorship that required critique to be subtle and well-hidden.

"Kairos" tells of people experiencing the transition from a communist-socialist regime to a free-market state  an earthquake that fundamentally shakes how they see themselves. The lovers' breakup captures the instability they face as their world crumbles.

Erpenbeck powerfully captures the end of the GDR; she knows what it felt like. In a 2018 essay for the German women's magazine Emma, she wrote, "Freedom wasn't gifted. It had a price, and the price was my previous life. The price was that which had just been called the present now was called the past [...] From here on out, my childhold belonged in a museum."

Writing is a family tradition

Before she turned to writing, Erpenbeck first trained as a book binder. She then worked as a theater props manager before studying theater and musical theater direction. Yet it would be the page, not the stage, that called her.

Writing was part of her family's history: two of her grandparents were writers, and her father, John, a physicist, also published multiple books.

Erpenbeck made her writing debut in 1999 with "Geschichte vom alten Kind," known in English as "The Old Child" (translated by Susan Bernofsky in 2005). The novella is about a girl who is found in the street and seems to have no background and no memory. The story was seen by many as an allegory of the disorientation GDR citizens experienced after their state ceased to exist.

Nothing lasts forever

Impermanence is a recurring theme throughout Erpenbeck's works. For instance, in her 2008 novel "Visitation" (translated by Bernofsky in 2011), the inhabitants of one house experience multiple upheavals: the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, World War II, the GDR, the transition to democracy and the period after.

Her 2015 bestseller "Gehen, ging, gegangen" ("Go, Went, Gone"), about the hopeless situation of asylum-seekers in Berlin, was shortlisted for the year's German Book Prize; the 2017 English translation by Bernofsky was long-listed for the 2018 International Booker Prize.

Erpenbeck and Bernofsky won the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize  the forerunner to the International Booker Prize  in 2015 for "The End of Days," the English translation of "Aller Tage Abend," a novel that asks what the life of a girl might have been like had she not died in infancy.

Good timing for 'Kairos'

Erpenbeck becomes the first German author to win the International Booker Prize. The prestigious annual British award, which recognizes a work of fiction translated into English, was announced in London on May 21. The winning author-translator duo receives 50,000 (58,000/$63,000).

The other 2024 short-listed author nominees were Ia Genberg (Sweden), Selva Almada (Argentina), Hwang Sok-yong (South Korea), Jente Posthuma (Netherlands) and Itamar Vieira Junior (Brazil).

"Kairos" is the first translation of Erpenbeck by the established German-English translator Michael Hofmann, and the first translation from German to win the Booker Prize. The book's title comes from ancient Greek and refers to the god of opportunity and luck  of things coming at the right moment. It appears to have been a good omen for Erpenbeck.
The 77th Cannes Film Festival is in full swing. Ever since the global event started on May 14, it has been in the headlines for all the right reasons. Celebrities from all over the world have descended on the French Riviera to attend the prestigious global event, which runs until May 25. From glittering gowns to chic hairdos, a lot is happening at Cannes. Every year, the festival is known for setting fashion trends with celebs donning glamorous outfits and stunning beauty looks. Apart from that, what also catches the attention of fashionistas are the creative hairstyles. And this year is no exception, as celebs play around with their tresses and style them in ways that are sure to inspire you. (Also read: Cannes 2024: Jacqueline Fernandez, Bella Hadid, Greta Gerwig and others stun on day 7 of the Cannes Film Festival. Pics ) The Cannes Film Festival is renowned not just for its cinematic showcases but also for its dazzling red carpet fashion. Each year, celebrities debut stunning hairstyles that set trends and turn heads.

Uzma Edroos, Fashion Expert and Brand Manager, Floractive Profissional shared with HT Lifestyle five must-try Cannes-inspired hairstyles to elevate your look.

Cannes-Inspired Hairstyles You Must Try

Timeless Bob

Kelly Rowland poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the screening of the film "Le Comte de Monte-Cristo" (The Count of Monte-Cristo) Out of competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes.(REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne)

Bob hairstyle, a timeless classic, continues to reign supreme at the Cannes Film Festival. Despite the ever-changing trends, the Bob has remained a steadfast choice, proving its adaptability and enduring appeal. Whether it's a blunt bob, A-line bob, shaggy Bob, the money bob, or a long bob with bangs, all variations are making a statement on the Cannes red carpet, reaffirming Bob's status as a perennial fashion favourite.

Stylish Side Parting

US model Bella Hadid arrives for the screening of the film "The Apprentice" at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes.(Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)

The iconic side parting look is dominating the Cannes Film Festival 2024. On the red carpet, celebrities frequently choose side partings because they can be styled to fit both classic and modern looks, like Hollywood waves or a stylish wet-look haircut. You too can make a glamorous statement by giving your basic hairdo a more polished appearance with a side-parting hairstyle. Whether it is the simple side parting, a side-parted ponytail, or a deep side parting, everything about this hairstyle screams style.

Sleek Hydro Hair

US model Taylor Hill arrives for the Opening Ceremony and the screening of the film "Le Deuxieme Acte" at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP)

Who knew that looking wet could be so hot? Yes, the wet-look hairstyle is making a prominent presence at Cannes 2024 with several celebrities donning the trending hairstyle on the red carpet. It is simple to style with the wet-look effect giving a refined, moisturized and more controlled look to your hair all at the same time. So go ahead and recreate your favourite celebrity's wet-look hairstyle to spell enchanting magic wherever you go.

Tousled Braid

Pull off the Cannes look this season with a messy yet amazing braid to become the envy of everyone. You can opt to make a large, loose braid by pulling your hair back or to the side, then secure it at the end. Release the shortest layers that frame your face, and use hairspray to finish. You can bring a touch of glamour to your braid by adding embellishments such as pearls, beads or even ribbons.

Glamorous Pixie

Jury member Greta Gerwig poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'The Shrouds' at the 77th international film festival, Cannes, (AP)

The pixie cut is making a comeback, so it's time to get playful with your short hairstyle. Many A-listers have gone for a curly pixie crop for a chic red carpet finish. There are many variants of pixie cuts that you can experiment with for your Cannes 2024 look. The asymmetrical pixie hairstyle exhibits so much character, while you can add a whole lot of volume and texture to your pixie chop with bangs.
Buddha Purnima 2024: The auspicious festival of Buddha Purnima marks the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Gautama Buddha and founded Buddhism. The sacred festival is also known as Buddha's birthday, Buddha Day or Buddha Jayanti. Primarily a Buddhist festival, the day is celebrated in most of South, Southeast and East Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and more. It is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Vaisakha, which falls in April or May. Buddhists celebrate the day with great devotion and joy, participating in various religious ceremonies and rituals. Know the date, history, significance, and more about the festival inside. Buddha Purnima 2024: Know the date, history, significance and all you need to know about Buddha's Birthday. (Freepik)

Buddha Purnima 2024 Date:

This year, Buddha Jayanti falls on Thursday, May 23. This year marks the 2586th birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha.

Buddha Purnima Timings:

Purnima Tithi Begins: 6:47 pm on May 22, 2024

Purnima Tithi ends at 7:22 pm on May 23, 2024

Buddha Purnima 2024 History and Significance:

While the precise dates of Buddha's birth and death are unknown, historians typically estimate his lifespan to be between 563-483 BC. Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal, and attained Nirvana at 35. Buddha Purnima is observed as a day for reflection on the core principles of Buddhism: peace, compassion, and enlightenment. In some parts of South and Southeast Asia, the festival coincides with Vesak - a celebration of Buddha's enlightenment and his passing into Nirvana. The festival offers a chance to spread the message of peace and harmony.

Meanwhile, the full moon holds significance in Buddhism as three significant events in Gautam Buddha's life took place on this day. The full moon in May is especially important as Prince Siddhartha was born at Lumbini Grove. Secondly, Prince Siddhartha Gautam attained enlightenment under the shade of the Bodhi tree and became Gautama Buddha at Bodh Gaya after six years of hardship. Thirdly, after 45 years of teaching the Truth, when he was eighty, at Kusinara, he passed away to Nibbana (Nirvana) - release from the cycle of rebirth.
The increasing heat and humidity during summer invite a plethora of health problems where the cases of hepatitis and gastroenteritis also surge during the scorching heat and there is a significant spike in cases of Hepatitis A and E cases in children aged 2-7 years owing to food and water contamination during summer. As the scorching heat outside sets the stage for bacteria and viruses to thrive and multiply in unhygienic conditions, it will be imperative to seek timely intervention for hepatitis as it can induce liver failure. Cases of hepatitis and gastroenteritis are on rise amidst spike in temperatures. How to stay safe, precaution tips (Photo by Health Advisor)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Seema Joshi, Senior Consultant Pediatrician and Adolescent Counselor at Ankura Hospitals in Pune, shared, Children are complaining of various signs and symptoms such as jaundice, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite and fever and will require timely medical attention to tackle this condition. To prevent hepatitis in children, parents should exercise caution by cutting down on the consumption of outside food and drinks. Ensure to give fresh and well-cooked food to your children. Try to inculcate the habit of eating homemade food in your children to ensure overall well-being during summer.

Highlighting that another important condition to watch out for in children during summer is gastroenteritis or stomach flu, which is a painful stomach infection accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, abdominal distress, diarrhoea and dehydration, Dr Seema Joshi said, Spoiled food, contaminated roadside food and water are the causes of gastroenteritis in kids. Pre-cut fruits and juices cause food poisoning and the ice used for them is also contaminated, if the child drinks these juices or eats fruits then he/she will fall sick. Gastroenteritis happens due to viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection. Parents should ensure that the child is given fresh homemade food, avoid roadside foods and beverages, wash hands before eating food, and maintain good personal hygiene. Parents should consult the doctor on an immediate basis after spotting symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea in children.

Bringing his expertise to the same, Dr Aklesh Tandekar, Head Consultant Critical Care at Wockhardt Hospitals on Mira Road, revealed, To combat the heat, a majority of people tend to drink roadside juices such as lemon, rose, mango, watermelon, pineapple, or orange that contain ice. However, if hygiene is not maintained then the ice gets contaminated with E. coli bacteria and one can suffer from hepatitis causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, joint pain, jaundice and fever. To prevent hepatitis, it is essential to drink boiled water, eat well-cooked food, avoid drinking roadside contaminated juices that contain ice and get vaccinated without fail as recommended by the doctor.

He further explained that gastroenteritis (a bacterial or viral infection) means the inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines leading to symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting due to contaminated food and water hence, the rising temperature during summer and poor eating habits can cause this unpleasant stomach infection. Dr Aklesh Tandekar concluded, Too much heat tends to spoil the food or one can also end up eating stale food kept uncovered for a longer time and suffer from this condition. Even poor hygiene while preparing food or not washing hands after accessing the washroom raises the risk of gastroenteritis. To prevent this condition, stay hydrated by drinking enough water to flush out toxins from the body, have rehydrating solutions, follow good personal hygiene, avoid eating roadside contaminated food, rest enough, drink a lot of fluids and dont eat stale food or raw foods. Cook the food properly and store it well.
Acne, the bane of many adolescents and adults alike, can be a stubborn and perplexing condition to tackle and from over-the-counter creams to prescription medications, individuals often try a plethora of treatments in hopes of achieving clear, blemish-free skin. However, what if the solution to this dermatological dilemma lies not in topical remedies but in a simple blood test? How a blood test can find the cause of your acne (Image by Freepik)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Ajay Shah, Managing Director at Neuberg Ajay Shah Laboratory, shared, Traditionally, acne has been attributed to hormonal fluctuations, excessive oil production, and bacterial overgrowth on the skin. While these factors certainly play a role, recent advancements in medical science have shown that what's happening inside our bodies can greatly influence the health of our skin, including the development of acne. This is where a simple blood test can come into play, helping to uncover the underlying causes of those stubborn breakouts.

Highlighting that one such blood test gaining traction is the comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), Dr Ajay Shah explained, This test evaluates various markers in the blood, including glucose levels, electrolytes, and kidney functions. While seemingly unrelated to acne at first glance, abnormalities in these markers can provide valuable insights into the root cause of skin issues. Another thing that a blood test can reveal is whether you have inflammation in your body. Inflammation is your body's natural response to injury or infection, but when it's out of control, it can worsen acne symptoms. By measuring markers of inflammation in your blood, your doctor can assess the severity of your acne and determine the best course of treatment.

He elaborated, Additionally, a blood test can uncover any deficiencies in vitamins or minerals that are important for healthy skin. For instance, low levels of vitamin D have been linked to more severe acne. If your blood test shows that you're lacking in certain nutrients, your doctor might recommend supplements to help improve your skin. While it might seem surprising that a blood test could be related to your acne, the truth is that what's happening inside your body can have a significant impact on the health of your skin. By analyzing your blood, your doctor can uncover clues about the root causes of your acne and tailor treatment recommendations to address them. So if you're struggling with acne and haven't found relief yet, consider asking your doctor about the possibility of a blood test  it could be the key to clearer, healthier skin.

Dr Smriti Naswa Singh, Consultant Dermatologist and Cosmetic Dermatologist at Fortis Hospital in Mulund, categorised how a blood test can find the cause of your acne -

1. Acne vulgaris: The common acne which occurs in teenage and early youth, typically anywhere between 9-30 years of age. One doesn't need a blood test as it is part of pubertal changes.

2. Hormonal acne (stubborn acne in any age group) and adult acne or acne tarda (where acne starts after 30 years age). These need tests to find out the cause. Typical tests include that of hormones like female hormones, male hormones, Androgens, Insulin Resistance and Thyroid. These tests help the dermatologist to find the root cause of the hormonal imbalance, and guide for further management.

3. Low vitamin D is independently associated with acne

The decision of when and which tests to perform is solely dependent on the clinical discretion and judgement of the treating dermatologist; one size fits all regime doesn't work here.
The transition from home to kindergarten is the first major step towards a child's early education and in this, a child experiences certain troubles such as attachment issues with a preschool teacher due to unfamiliarity, homesickness because of being away from their homes for longer durations, problems associated with social interaction, aggression and anxiety and in some ways even isolation. To make them feel their school to be their second home, there are certain strategies which the teachers can adopt to help these preschoolers adapt to their new environment. 10 strategies every teacher should adopt to help their students adapt to new environment (Image by Freepik)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Vijay Kumar Agarwal, Founder and CEO of Makoons Group of School, suggested some strategies that help teachers in enabling the preschoolers to adapt to a new environment -

Building Up A Bond Of Friendliness: Teachers should essentially take care of fostering a bond of friendship with their students. This brings them closer to their teachers, eliminates the anxiety of being away from their parents, and makes their interaction with learning much easier. Observing Patience: Handling early kids requires a lot of patience. Teachers, for this reason, must necessarily exhibit enough patience in their approach toward their children so that they may refrain from scolding them for their minor childlike errors. Indulging Them In Fun and Games: Fun and games have their own importance in the educational sphere of preschoolers. They help them become interactive, eliminate classroom monotony, stimulate their mind towards exploration, and make learning fun. Inviting Family Participation In Classroom Activities: The institution must invite the active participation of parents in different classroom activities of the children. This builds up communication, makes learning engaging, and helps the parents and teachers in understanding each others approach towards the children.

Employing the strategies mentioned above can enable teachers to help the kids adapt to the preschool environment where students feel empowered to embrace change and flourish, thus helping them grow up into well-rounded individuals completely. Bringing her expertise to the same, Rosy Ahuja, Vice President - R&D at Bachpan Play School, said, Parents face a great deal of apprehension after their childrens preschool admission. That apprehension mainly surrounds the new environment in which children have to adjust while being away from home for the first time in their lives. The role of teachers is huge in bringing credibility to the entire school by making the apprehension of parents go away.

Here are 6 strategies that teachers can deploy to provide students with a seamless transition -

Create a Welcoming Environment: A welcoming classroom environment can help reduce the stress level of students. Make use of soft lighting, colourful decorations, and paintings to make students feel comfortable. Get to Know Each Other: Teachers and students should build a good rapport. Try to interact with every student individually and foster open communication and a sense of trust. Establish a Routine: One of the best ways to make students comfortable in their new environment is by establishing a routine and providing them with a sense of consistency and security. Encourage Autonomy: When you encourage autonomy, it develops childrens self-help skills and goes a long way in nurturing their strong sense of self. Acknowledge the Emotions of Students: Students go through intense emotions, especially when the environment is new and they hesitate to trust and build relationships. Try to acknowledge and address them. Seek the Involvement of Parents: Seek parental involvement through regular updates on their childrens progress, PTMs, and events and activities. Ongoing communication is the key.

These are some general guidelines and strategies for teachers to help their students adjust and adapt to the new school environment they find themselves in. Feel free to improvise on them and contribute to every students personalised and active learning by transforming the classroom environment into a comfortable learning space.
When, on May 17, Indias Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) presented Shyam Benegals 1976 restored classic, Manthan, at one of the Cannes Film Festivals auditoria named after legendary Spanish filmmaker Luis Bunuel, the image that surfaced on my minds screen was that of the cow in Bunuels surrealistic film LAge dOr (The Golden Age, 1930). Bunuels big fat healthy cow leisurely sitting on the bed of a wealthy womans bedroom, when driven out of the room, in my imagination, joined the community of the cows in Manthan. Such a strange Bunuel-Benegal jugalbandi is, in fact, surrealism-realisms vulnerable equation. As its credits mention, Manthan is based on a story idea by Verghese Kurien and Shyam Benegal, turned into a screenplay by the playwright Vijay Tendulkar that is suffused by dialogues penned by the poet Kaifi Azmi. Both Tendulkar and Azmi were eminent presences in Indias progressive realist-dramatic literary traditions but sadly didnt survive to witness the Cannes Classics event at Salle Bunuel. Physical restoration of a film also, essentially, restores histories and memories  social, political, cultural, personal, and universal.

As much as the film was anchored in the real, there was also a fantasy, a yearning for utopia  evident in the song sung by Priti Sagar and composed by Vanraj Bhatia that presumably projected the interiority of the films young female lead, a Dalit woman named Bindu (played by Smita Patil): My village on the river bank / Where milk flows aplenty / As the nightingale sings / Do not forget to visit my house [] My village of such happiness and joy / Where peacocks dance / And there is milk for all / Where cows graze under / Shade of banyan trees

As we listen to these beautiful lyrics, we see on screen a dusty landscape dotted by cacti and a Dalit basti (art direction by Shama Zaidi), except for a farm somewhere with water and some foliage for flirting.

Manthan creates its own internal dialectical landscape of words and images. Its recent premiering at Cannes and the ongoing elections make it temporally and politically interesting. For the first time in the history of Indian electioneering, references to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and the Indian Constitution are so abundant. Benegal has also made a 10-episode series titled Samvidhaan: The Making of the Constitution of India.

Ambedkar, a Dalit by birth, was responsible for drafting the Constitution of India. In Manthans protagonist, Manohar Rao (essayed by Girish Karnad), an idealist, uncompromising veterinary doctor who wanted to set up a milk cooperative in a village in Gujarats Kheda district, we feel the implicit but definite presence of the Ambedkarian spirit. Rao, as an alter-ego of the pioneer of White Revolution in India (Kurien), wants a milk cooperative that just cannot exclude the poor, oppressed Dalits. Bhola (Naseeruddin Shah) is an illegitimate child born out of a sexual relationship a pardesi (city-bred) engineer had with a local Dalit woman. In his impassioned submission to Rao, Bhola narrates the history of exploitation in a society where rigid caste and class hierarchies dominate, and how city men exploit poor village women.

The implicit presence of Ambedkar in the film and in India of now is not a mere coincidence. The vocabularies of the film and contemporary Indian realpolitik still match. Half a century ago, Manthans Rao had asked Bindu to enumerate castes in her village. She counted five plus us (the so-called untouchables or Shudras). In my mind, Benegals realism somewhere intersected with Bunuels anti-bourgeois surrealism at Cannes Salle Bunuel. The image of Baba Ramdev Pir (from Rajasthan) hanging on the wall of Dalit Motis (played by Rajendra Jaspal) house distinguished itself from the gods and goddesses the crooked upper caste owner of Shri Ganganath Dairy, Mishraji (Amrish Puri), revered.

Milk also churns myth. Incidentally, Benegal was born in 1934, when the V Shantaram-directed bilingual (Hindi, Marathi) classic Amrit Manthan (The Churning of the Ocean) was produced. This 90-year-old history is a fascinating manthan (churning) in itself. Out of the mythical churning of the ocean, several objects had appeared. One was Kamdhenu, the divine cow fulfilling all desires. Perhaps, we are all in search of that Kamdhenu.

Around 1934 in France, Andre Breton, the principal theorist of surrealism, described it as a method creating a collective myth. And right now, the Indian political lexicon has added a new term Samvidhaan Manthan!

When the FHF presented Manthan at Salle Bunuel, it was midnight in India. Godhuli bela (dusk, when the cows return home after grazing) had already passed. But one of the end scenes in Manthan has stayed in my mind  amidst clouds of dust kicked up by their hooves, a herd of cows is returning home against the setting sun, so effectively captured by Govind Nihalani, Manthans cinematographer.

In the process of churning, the shubhra (whiteness) of milk gets dissolved into shyam. Bhola has inherited the legacy of indomitable hope; the subaltern will survive with its strength. A teenage Dalit boy has joined Bhola to continue with the cooperative milk sisoti (society). Metaphorically, the churning remains chiranjeevi (undying). If the vested crookery can brutally burn the Dalit basti, a Bhola can rise from its ashes.

Amrit Gangar is a Mumbai-based author, curator, and historian. The views expressed are personal
The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) on May 23 said that it has suspended registration of about 20,000 agents for a period of one year after they failed to obtain the MahaRERA Real Estate Agent Certificate of Competency. The MahaRERA has said 20,000 real estate agents cannot transact until they clear the competency certification exam. (Pratik Chorge/HT Photo)

The MahaRERA said it has restricted these real estate agents from engaging in any transaction.

Also Read: MahaRERA mandates self-declaration of real estate project quality by developers

This essentially means that more than 42% of the total registered real estate agents now do not have legal registration to practice in Maharashtra. As many as 47,000 real estate agents were registered in Maharashtra with MahaRERA ever since its inception in May 2017.

What is Certificate of Competency?

In an order dated January 2023, the MahaRERA had made it mandatory for agents to undergo training and obtain the prescribed certificate of registration.

According to MahaRERA, if the 20,000 real estate agents complete the training, obtain the Certificate of Competency, and upload the same on the portal within a year, their license will be renewed.

Also Read: L&T Realty signs real estate project spread across 12 acres in Thane having 697 crore potential

"Those who do not follow the procedure within the stipulated time frame, their registration will stand cancelled after a year," MahaRERA said in a statement.

MahaRERA chairman warns real estate agents

"MahaRERA has made it mandatory for agents to undergo training, clear the examination, and obtain certification. This decision was taken on January 10, 2023, and was extended multiple times before finally becoming binding for all agents on January 1, 2024. Despite this, around 20,000 agents operating are still unqualified and their approval was revoked," said Ajoy Mehta, chairman of MahaRERA.

Also Read: MahaRERA: Even after an extension to housing projects, buyers will be eligible for compensation

"MahaRERA will not hesitate to cancel the registration of developers who will continue to engage with the unqualified agents. Developers must not overlook this warning," added Mehta.
Edward Murray, 23, a resident of Ohio, was arrested after being accused of murdering his girlfriend's 1-year-old son. Murray has been charged with murder, felonious assault and child endangering after his May 10 arrest, as per reports. The child was discovered to be unresponsive when the paramedics arrived.

The paramedics were called to a Cincinnati home on May 1, where they found the child unresponsive. They then made an effort to save his life. He was sent to the intensive care unit at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center for treatment. The child was pronounced dead on May 5, reported WCPO.

An investigation into the one-year-old's horrific injuries showed that he had suffered cardiac arrest, which resulted in brain damage, a shattered rib, a lacerated liver, bleeding eye tissue, and brain swelling. As per physicians, the child's injuries "could only have occurred from violent impacts against objects or from delivered blows," reported People.

As per WCPO, Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers said in a press release, "Child abuse expert physicians at Cincinnati Children's determined these injuries could only have occurred from violent impacts against objects or from delivered blows. This case is both heartbreaking and sickening. I cannot imagine the amount of evil required to hurt an innocent child so severely." (Also Read: Before killing 3-year-old son, mom made him say goodbye to father on camera)

Murray and the child's mother, Aminata Keita, had reportedly been dating for roughly three months. The police said the night the child died (May 1), Murray was playing outside with him. Murray said the boy was exhausted, so he carried him "inside and straight to bed, skipping dinner."

According to People, Murray and Aminata Keita smoked marijuana afterwards and didn't check on the child again that night. The child was discovered to be unresponsive the next morning while Murray was purportedly alone with him.

Murray's defence attorney said to WCPO he's not the "typical murder suspect with zero criminal background. He's exhibit A for why you should not speak to the police. I believe you have statements from the defendant as a result of trickery that leads to false confession." The defence attorney also added that Keita's mother does not believe Murray was responsible for the death of her son.
As the Lok Sabha elections are being held in India across seven phases, the US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti has said that it is "extraordinary" to witness the world's largest democracy execute the biggest election in the world. US Ambassador Eric Garcetti is a first-time observer of the Lok Sabha elections in India. (PTI)

As a first-time observer, Garcetti said that he was very impressed with the vibrant campaigning, and rallies that were going on across the nation, and added that it was very inspiring to witness all of that.

While speaking to ANI, the US Ambassador said, "It's extraordinary to see the world's largest democracy execute the biggest election in the world and we've seen incredible, vibrant campaigning, we've seen parties, we've seen rallies, and it's something, just as a first-time observer, that is very inspiring to see. So, you know, I wish India and Indians luck..."

The Lok Sabha elections are being held in India across seven phases. The counting of votes will happen on June 4.

While Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third straight term to power, the Opposition INDIA bloc is aiming to wrest back power from the incumbent BJP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is seeking his third term from Varanasi. He won the seat with massive margins in 2014 and 2019.

Lauding India's growth, Garcetti said that the two nations are "natural partners". "India is the fastest-growing economy in the developing world. America is the fastest-growing economy in the developed world," he said.

"We're natural partners and we're friends and if the US and India can continue expanding our economies together, we can not only do good things for our own countries, jobs, and economic prosperity, but we can help the world by diversifying supply chains, going to places like Africa, Southeast Asia, Pacific island countries..." the envoy said, noting that India-US always had a strong bilateral partnership.

He also spoke on the relationship shared between India and the US in terms of space sector.

"You know, our relationship in space is like our relationship on Earth. It is stronger than it's ever been in our history. We have this ability to be able to make sure that the United States and India aren't just adding a relationship, but it's a multiplying relationship. We're going to put Indians in space this year on an American mission," Garcetti told ANI.

He noted that both countries are also going to have a satellite together, which will be launched this year.

"We're going to have a satellite that we built together. It can help save our planet, launching this year. I think we wouldn't have dreamt of this five years ago... that's why this theme was so important to us. We often say our relationship is from the sea bed to the stars. Now it is," Garcetti said.
Journalist Siraj Noorani made a shocking revelation about a restaurant in Mumbai's Kurla West LBS Road, near Kalpana Theater. Noorani alleged that an employee working in the restaurant was seen cleaning the kitchen drain with a utensil used to fry food. He also warned people to be careful when eating fried food from outside. The man was seen cleaning the drain with frying net.

The clip posted by Noorani shows a man in a blue-coloured uniform. As he was standing in the kitchen, he opens the drain and puts the frying net inside it. He then takes out a bunch of garbage from inside it and puts it in a bucket. In the middle of the video, the cleaner also notices the man recording him, however, does not stop his act. At the end, he walks away with the bucket and the dirty frying net. (Also Read: Waiter killed resisting robbery attempt in Navi Mumbai)

Here's the picture of the cleaner:

Snapshot of the Mumbai employee cleaning the drain with frying net. (X/@sirajnoorani)

Earlier, a 21-year-old waiter from Leawood, Kansas, USA, was arrested after he was found guilty of intentional food harm. Jace Christian Hanson posted videos of himself where he was "urinating in food contained in restaurant-style bins, pressing food items against his penis and buttocks, and using his feet to touch food items." A few of the videos also displayed Hanson urinating over various food items at the restaurant, such as sauces, desserts and more. He even uploaded videos of him spitting on "everything" in the restaurant.

While he confessed to masturbating in the restaurant's walk-in refrigerator, he said he did not put his bodily fluids on anything. When the police asked him about the motive behind his crimes, Hanson responded that his first motivation was because he disliked his job, but he continued doing it as he started to enjoy it. (Also Read: Pune: Waiter in police net for placing mobile in restaurant washroom)

Following his detention, Hanson faced charges of criminal threat, a crime carrying a maximum sentence of 13 months in prison and a fine of $100,000. He is due to appear in Johnson County District Court on June 6 and is now free on a $100,000 bail.
ASML Holding NV and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) have kill switch in place to disable their advanced chipmaking machines remotely if China invades Taiwan, according to insiders, Bloomberg reported. A logo of taiwanese chip giant TSMC is seen at southern Taiwan science park in Tainan, Taiwan.(REUTERS)

ALSO READ- Why China's military has surrounded Taiwan with aircraft and ships

US officials have privately voiced concerns to Dutch and Taiwanese counterparts about potential Chinese aggression towards Taiwan, which produces the majority of the worlds advanced semiconductors. ASML has reassured Dutch officials that they can remotely disable the machines if necessary. The Netherlands has conducted simulations to assess the risks.

The remote shutdown applies to ASMLs extreme ultraviolet (EUV) machines, which TSMC heavily relies on. These machines are crucial for creating advanced microchips used in AI and military applications. ASML, the sole manufacturer of these machines, has restricted sales to China under US pressure.

ALSO READ- Biden announces another huge deal with Taiwan-based semiconductor manufacturer; how will it benefit US?

China claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out military intervention. Despite US warnings of a potential invasion by 2027, Taiwanese officials have downplayed the threat. Meanwhile, China has made technological self-sufficiency a priority, with Huawei producing advanced smartphones using older ASML printers.

ALSO READ- Serious warning: China threatens to break heads of Taiwan independence forces

ASMLs EUV machines have made it Europes most valuable tech company, with a market cap of over $370 billion. Since 2016, ASML has shipped more than 200 EUV machines outside China, with TSMC being the largest client.

EUV machines require frequent upkeep, and without ASMLs spare parts, they quickly become non-operational. ASML provides joint service contracts, allowing clients like TSMC to perform some maintenance, but asserts it cannot access customers' proprietary data.

TSMC chairman Mark Liu had indicated that in the event of an invasion, their chipmaking machines would be rendered non-operational.

Nobody can control TSMC by force, Liu said. If there is a military invasion you will render TSMC factory non-operable, Liu said in a September interview with CNN.
A suspected gas explosion at a residential building in China's northeastern city of Harbin killed one person and injured three as it tore off a balcony, state media said on Thursday, while scattering rubble in the street. In this image, the aftermath of an explosion at an apartment building is seen in Harbin in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province on Thursday.(AP)

It is China's latest such incident after two people were killed and 26 injured in March following a massive blast caused by a suspected gas leak at a restaurant in the northern province of Hebei that ripped facades from buildings and crushed cars.

Thursday's blast, suspected to have been caused by an explosion of a gas tank, happened at about 7 a.m. (2300 GMT) at a building in the city's district of Xiangfang, the official China Daily said, citing district officials.

The official Xinhua news agency quoted witnesses as saying the blast was on the fourth floor of the building at a downtown intersection in the capital of the province of Heilongjiang.

ALSO READ | 5 Chinese nationals killed in suicide bomb attack in Pakistan

Residents heard a loud blast and suspected it was a gas explosion, the agency said, adding that the blast ripped off the balcony of the apartment and several others nearby.

People ran out of the building. Ambulances, public security and fire officials mounted a rescue operation at the site, Xinhua said.

The cause of the explosion is being further investigated, the China Daily said.

Video images from a car's dashboard camera showed the blast spewing debris onto a nearby highway. In other images rescue workers and firemen picked their way around concrete rubble scattered on the sidewalk outside the building.
A royal source has claimed Kate Middleton is "in a very different position" to King Charles as she battles cancer. In March, Kate announced that she underwent preventive chemotherapy after her diagnosis. She revealed the tragic news in a video message. Kate Middleton in a very different position to King Charles as she battles cancer (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Charles, too, is battling cancer. He returned to royal duties last month, and has already undertaken several royal engagements in May.

As Sovereign, His Majesty is in a very different position from the Princess of Wales

Kate will postpone decisions like staff appointments while she is recovering, an insider close to the royals told the Mail. "No one wants to put any pressure on Catherine, the source said. "The only thing that matters at the moment is her getting better. She has been through an ordeal this year.

"What this means in practice is that big decisions, such as the appointment of new staff, can wait. Its a reflection of Her Royal Highnesss importance to the future of the Monarchy that she has been given as much time as she needs, the source continued.

They added, "As Sovereign, His Majesty is in a very different position from the Princess of Wales. There is no need for her to be seen while shes recovering."

Although the Princess of Wales has not returned to work yet, she is up to date on The Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood report published this week. The report suggests that 45.5 billion could be added to the economy a year if more family-friendly working practices were introduced by businesses. According to palace sources, Kate has viewed the report in full from home.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson previously said, "Early childhood is a huge priority for the princess and so she has been kept fully updated throughout the development of the Taskforces work and she has seen the report."
A stage collapsed at a Mexican election campaign rally on Wednesday, killing nine people and injuring dozens as high winds tore apart the large, concert-style structure, scattering politicians and attendees. Video of the accident showed the structure suddenly falling forward into the crowd, sending politicians on the stage and panicked attendees running for cover. (AFP)

At least 63 people were injured at the rally for the Citizens' Movement party in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, Samuel Garcia, the state's governor, told reporters.

The victims were eight adults and one child, Garcia said, adding he was headed to a hospital where three people were in surgery. Many of the injured were being treated at local clinics, the director of Mexico's social security institute reported.

Jorge Alvarez Maynez, the presidential candidate for the centrist Citizens' Movement party, said a gust of wind caused the stage to collapse at the event in the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia, a wealthy enclave near the industrial hub of Monterrey.

Video of the accident showed the structure suddenly falling forward into the crowd, sending politicians on the stage and panicked attendees running for cover.

"I've never experienced something so sudden," Alvarez Maynez told reporters, referring to how quickly the wind picked up before the stage collapsed.

Alvarez Maynez, who returned to the scene of the accident after being cleared at a local hospital, said he was suspending campaign activities and that he hoped authorities investigate what occurred, requesting transparency in the process.

Alvarez Maynez's campaign coordinator Laura Ballesteros was hospitalized with a broken foot, according to the party, and mayoral candidate for San Pedro Garza Garcia, Lorenia Canavati, wrote on social media that she was coordinating with authorities to support those impacted and their families.

Members of Mexico's national guard and army were on the scene to provide support, Interior Minister Luisa Alcalde said on social media.

Governor Garcia warned residents to stay indoors amid strong thunderstorms in the area. Weather forecasters predicted more rain, strong winds and lightning across swathes of the county in the coming hours.

Alvarez Maynez is polling in third place in Mexico's presidential election set for June 2. He is trailing far behind ruling party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum and second-place Xochitl Galvez, who represents a broad opposition coalition.

Galvez and Sheinbaum both offered condolences for the families of the victims in posts on social media, with Sheinbaum canceling a rally planned for Thursday evening in Monterrey.
Norway said on Thursday that it will close its border to Russian tourists, shutting their last direct access to Europe's border-free Schengen area. Norway says will close border to Russia tourists

As of May 29, most Russian tourists will not be able to enter Norway, which shares a 198-kilometre border with Russia in its far north, the government said in a statement.

"The decision to tighten the entry rules are in line with the Norwegian approach of standing by allies and partners in the reactions against Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine," Minister of Justice and Public Security, Emilie Enger Mehl, said in the statement.

Norway, a member of NATO but not of the EU, stopped issuing most tourist visas to Russians in spring 2022, after Moscow invaded Ukraine.

But holders of long-term visas that had been issued before or those who had visas from other Schengen member countries could still enter via the Storskog-Boris Gleb border crossing, the only one between the neighbours.

From May 29, they will no longer be able to do so, the statement said.

Exceptions will be made for work and study, and those visiting close family residing in Norway.

Since the start of the year, 5,102 people with tourist visas have crossed the border from Russia, according to police.

Although not a member of the European Union, Norway works closely with the bloc, which had already adopted similar measures toward Russians in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The Schengen border-free area includes most European countries and allows people to travel freely within its borders.

Russia's embassy in Oslo have yet to respond to a request for comment by AFP.

In April 2023, Norway expelled 15 Russian embassy employees which it deemed to be "intelligence officers".

Norway's domestic intelligence service PST said last week that it expected "that Russia will try to compensate for the loss of intelligence officers."

"They may do this for example by sending more travelling agents," Beate Gangas, head of PST, told a foreign press briefing.

phy/jll/gv

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
WARSAW, - Polish and Greek prime ministers submitted a letter to the European Commision on Thursday urging the creation of a Europe-wide air defence system, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said. Poland and Greece urge EU to create common air shield, says Polish PM

The importance of air defence has been in sharper focus for Poland, which borders Ukraine and has seen missiles enter its airspace.

"I sent a letter to the European Commission, together with Prime Minister Mitsotakis, regarding a common European defence policy," Tusk said during an interview with TVP Info on Thursday evening.

"There is already a very positive reaction from the European Commission to make anti-missile air defence a common task for Europe, because it is a huge amount of money," he added.

He also said European countries should stop competing while creating their air defence systems and start cooperation, including on joint investments in the defence industry.

"We need less fragmentation and common projects. Like an air defence shield as proposed by Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Donald Tusk," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media platform X on Thursday.

In April Tusk said Polish generals and the head of the National Security Bureau Jacek Siewiera had told him it was a good idea for Poland to be part of several air defence projects.

"Only a strong, united Europe that pursues a common defence policy... will be able to prevent war. We are preparing for war not because this war is going to happen, but so that it won't happen," Tusk said on Thursday.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Several of the more seriously injured people who were on the Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence earlier this week will need spinal surgery, a Bangkok hospital said Thursday. An Australian passenger who was injured on the flight talks to reporters at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital in Bangkok.(AP)

Twenty people remained in intensive care and a 73-year-old British man died after the Boeing 777, which was flying from Londons Heathrow airport to Singapore on Tuesday, ran into bad turbulence over the Andaman Sea, hurling items and passengers and crew members around the cabin.

A public relations officer for Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, where most of the 104 people hurt in the incident were treated, told The Associated Press that other local hospitals have been asked to lend their best specialists to assist in the treatments. He spoke on condition of anonymity under hospital policy.

ALSO READ | Singapore Airlines tragedy: What's in-flight turbulence? Top 10 most turbulent routes

Hospital director Adinun Kittiratanapaibool said at a news conference Thursday that none of the 20 patients in ICU were in life-threatening condition. They include six Britons, six Malaysians, three Australians, two Singaporeans and one person each from Hong Kong, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

Passengers have described the sheer terror of the aircraft shuddering, loose items flying and injured people lying paralyzed on the floor of the plane.

It remains unclear what exactly caused the turbulence that sent the plane, which was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, on a 6,000-foot (around 1,800-meter) descent in about three minutes, after which the flight was diverted to Thailand.

In one of the latest accounts of the chaos on board, 43-year-old Malaysian Amelia Lim described finding herself face down on the floor.

I was so afraid ... I could see so many individuals on the floor, they were all bleeding. There was blood on the floor as well as on the people, she told the online Malay Mail newspaper.

ALSO READ | Singapore Airlines flight horror: 3 Indians among passengers hit by plane turbulence

The woman who had been seated next to her was motionless in the aisle and unable to move, likely suffering from a hip or spinal injury," she added.

Thai authorities said the British man who died possibly had a heart attack. Passengers have described how the flight crew tried to revive him by performing CPR for about 20 minutes.

Among some 41 persons who had remained at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital on Thursday morning, 22 had spinal or spinal cord damage, six had skull or brain injuries and 13 had damage to bones or internal organs, said hospital director Adinun. The 19 men and 22 women ranged in age from 2 years to 83 years.

Seventeen surgeries have already been performed  nine spinal surgeries and eight for other injuries, he said. Thirteen others injured in the incident remain at two other branches of the hospital.

Asked about the prognosis for the most serious cases, Adinun said it was too early to tell if any could suffer permanent paralysis, and doctors would have to observe whether muscle function recovered after surgery.

On Wednesday morning, a special Singapore Airlines flight took 143 uninjured or lightly hurt people onward to Singapore.

Most people associate turbulence with heavy storms, but the most dangerous type is so-called clear air turbulence. Wind shear can occur in wispy cirrus clouds or even in clear air near thunderstorms, as differences in temperature and pressure create powerful currents of fast-moving air.

According to a 2021 report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, turbulence accounted for 37.6% of all accidents on larger commercial airlines between 2009 and 2018. The Federal Aviation Administration, another U.S. government agency, has said there were 146 serious injuries from turbulence from 2009 to 2021.

Tourism and aviation expert Anita Mendiratta, who is based in London, said severe turbulence is extremely unusual.

She said passengers should listen to instructions to keep their seatbelts on, ensure that hand baggage is put away safely when not in use, and reduce items stowed in the overhead compartments.

When there is turbulence, those doors can open and all of the items up top, whether its our hand baggage, our jackets, our duty free items, they become movable and they become a risk to us all, she told the AP.
WHEN JOHN Le Carre joined MI5, Britains domestic security service, in the 1950s, long before finding fame as a spy novelist, his first job was not hunting the KGB. He was given the humdrum task of monitoring Commonwealth students in London. Chinese spies were thought to be using ethnically Chinese Singaporean and Malay students to gather industrial intelligence. It was not the most glamorous job. Le Carre was dismayed, recalls his biographer, to find that MI5s China experts were elderly retired missionaries with an imperfect command of the language.

Today, China policy is no longer a backwater in the intelligence world. On May 13th police charged three men, including a former Royal Marine, with aiding the intelligence service of Hong Kongin practice, controlled from Beijingand conducting foreign interference. The men were charged under the National Security Act, a law passed in July 2023 in part to give British police the powers to investigate and tackle Chinas covert activity. (China denies that Hong Kongs intelligence service was involved.)

That law is one facet of a remarkable change in Britains view of China over the past decadefrom a source of golden trade and investment opportunities to something much more malign. The relationship continues to raise complex questions over the balance between prosperity and national security, openness and protectionism. But the hawks are ascendant.

A foreign-policy review published last year warned that China posed an epoch-defining challenge to the type of international order we want to see. That assessment, as tough as any in Europe, has hardened as Chinas supply of dual-use items has fuelled the Russian defence industry and so the war in Ukraine. There is still room for nuanceon May 8th Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the chief of the defence staff, nodded to Chinas responsible role in rebuking Russian nuclear threats in late 2022. But officials increasingly mention China in the same breath as Russia, Iran and North Korea. On May 14th Anne Keast-Butler, the director of GCHQ, Britains signals-intelligence agency, said that it now devoted more resources to China than any other single mission.

The charges on May 13th were an illustration of what British spooks see as a multipronged assault on the countrys security. One strand is espionage. In a report last year Parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee noted that China had the largest state intelligence apparatus in the world, one dwarfing its British equivalents. In March the government publicly accused Chinese hackers of having targeted the countrys electoral commission and the emails of MPs critical of China. Those attacks suggested a clear and persistent pattern of behaviour that signals hostile intent from China, argued Oliver Dowden, the deputy prime minister. In April two men, including a former researcher in Parliament closely involved with the China Research Group, a club of China-sceptic MPs, were charged with spying for China under the rarely used Official Secrets Act. The Chinese embassy in London labels the charges as malicious slander.

All countries spy. What makes Chinese spying particularly egregious in the eyes of officials is not only its scale but also the damage it does to the British economy. In a speech in October, Ken McCallum, the director-general of MI5, said that 20,000 Britonstwice as many as two-and-a-half years earlierhad been approached by suspected Chinese agents on LinkedIn and other networking sites with the aim of extracting technology in areas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing and synthetic biology. He estimated that 10,000 businesses were at risk.

In April the government convened the heads of 24 top universities and security officials to discuss such things as transparency over sources of funding and vetting for researchers in sensitive areas. A report published by Civitas, a think-tank, last year found that 46 universities had accepted 122m-156m ($153m-196m) from Chinese sources between 2017 and the summer of 2023, of which around 16-20% came from entities sanctioned by America for their ties to the Peoples Liberation Army.

A second strand is political meddling. Members of the Chinese diaspora have long complained of intimidation and coercion by Chinese agents, both physically and virtually. That is a particular concern for emigrants from Hong Kong: a draconian national-security law passed there in 2020 came into force in March. According to Amnesty International, a human-rights group, students involved in political or human-rights activism on campus frequently find that they are followed, harassed and subjected to threats against their families in China. Every time, there is someone [we] dont know filming, noted one student. Standing to the side, using their phones and recording. They dont say anything but stand there holding their phone.

The third strand is the question of Chinese technology. In 2019 and 2020 Britain was thrust into an acrimonious debate over whether Western countries should remove equipment made by Huawei, a tech giant, from their 5G mobile networks. American and Australian spooks said the tech posed a grave security risk; British ones insisted they could manage the problem through careful scrutiny of the kit. In the end Britain relented, in part because of American sanctions on Huawei. It has since banned Chinese-made surveillance cameras from sensitive central-government sites.

That has not settled the debate over the use of Chinese tech. Local-government authorities still have no obligation to remove such cameras. At least a third of police forces in England and Wales use surveillance cameras made by Hikvision, a Chinese firm blacklisted by America for its role in supporting mass repression in Chinas Xinjiang province. A new row is brewing over the role of Chinese-made cellular Internet of Things modules, or CIMs, essentially small wireless components inside other deviceseverything from cameras and smart meters to internet routers and vehiclesthat, sceptics argue, could be exploited by China to steal data or disrupt critical national infrastructure.

In response to all this, the government has developed a battery of legal and regulatory instruments. One is the National Security Act, which gives the government new powers to prosecute people acting as agents of a foreign state. Another is the National Security and Investment Act passed in 2021, which allows scrutiny of inbound investment; over half its interventions in the first full year it was in force involved Chinese firms. Another still is the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, whose main provisions will come into force in August. It compels universities to protect free speech on campus and is likely to lead to limits on Chinese-funded institutes and scholarships in British universities, according to guidelines published by the Office for Students, a public body.

For China-sceptics, this still does not go far enough. One problem is implementing existing policies: BT, the countrys main telecoms operator, has missed two deadlines to strip out Huawei kit from the core part of its network. Another is that many key powers are devolved. The Higher Education Act, for instance, does not cover Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Theres a massive backdoor called Scotland, complains Stewart McDonald, an MP for the Scottish National Party, and nobody in Whitehall is giving this the thought it deserves. Hawks also want China to be placed in an enhanced tier of countries under the National Security Act, which would impose stringent registration requirements on people or organisations acting at the direction of China.

Not all banks and businesses like the sound of that. China has become Britains fifth-largest trading partner (see chart); it is enmeshed in supply chains. Unpicking this relationship involves big trade-offs. A debate over the rising tide of Chinese electric-vehicle imports, for example, pits the benefits of cheaper cars and faster emissions cuts against fears of unfair competition and security vulnerabilities. The faultlines run through government. Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, is thought to be wary of any decision which might involve economic pain, not least ahead of an election. Lord Cameron, who championed ties with China as prime minister between 2010 and 2016 and sought to establish a 1bn Britain-China investment fund after leaving office, is said to have converted to the China-sceptic camp as foreign secretary.

Where hawks and doves might agree is that Britain lacks the expertise to understand China. The number of students on Chinese-studies programmes dropped by 31% between 2012 and 2021, according to the Higher Education Statistics Association (it does not count those who take Mandarin as part of other degrees). In 2023 Whitehall pledged to double funding for China-related expertise in government, but Sam Hogg, author of Beijing to Britain, a newsletter, says that there is very little financial incentive to become a China specialist and work your way through the system. Many civil servants with China expertise, he says, are demoralised or have gone to the private sector. A poor foundation for what Mr McCallum has called a strategic contest across decades.

For more expert analysis of the biggest stories in Britain, sign up to Blighty, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
A United Nations expert called on Israel on Thursday to investigate multiple allegations of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of Palestinian detainees in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. Israel's military operation in Gaza was triggered by the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants who killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostage, according to Israeli tallies. (AP/File)

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, said in a statement that she had received allegations of people being beaten, kept in cells blindfolded and handcuffed for long periods.

There was no immediate reaction from the Israeli government or military. The military has said it acts according to Israeli and international law and those it arrests get access to food, water, medication and proper clothing.

The UN Special Rapporteur said she had received reports of some detainees being deprived of sleep, threatened with physical and sexual violence, insulted and exposed to humiliating acts, including "being photographed and filmed in degrading poses".

"I am particularly concerned that this emerging pattern of violations, coupled with an absence of accountability and transparency, is creating a permissive environment for further abusive and humiliating treatment of Palestinians," Edwards said.

"The Israeli authorities must investigate all complaints and reports of torture or ill-treatment promptly, impartially, effectively and transparently. Those responsible at all levels, including commanders, must be held accountable, while victims have a right to reparation and compensation."

Israel's military operation in Gaza was triggered by the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants who killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

The subsequent Israeli offensive has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian medics, displaced most of Gaza's 2.3 million people and caused a grave humanitarian crisis.
Bark Air, a dog-first airline, is offering various amazing benefits for our furry friends travelling with us. Before boarding the plane, a Bark Air concierge approaches every passenger and collects information about their pet dogs. The aircraft is meant to fit 10 dogs of all sizes. After arriving at the airport and an hour before takeoff, the dogs get to socialise with each other. How this US dog-first airline, Bark Air, is pampering your pets (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)(REUTERS)

A passenger who travelled with a terrier mix revealed that every dog is pampered, according to Robb Report. The flyer said that co-founder and CEO of Bark, Matt Meeker, said after they boarded the plane, What we say is first class for the dog, business class for the human. What weve seen is if our primary focus is making the dog happy, then the human will be very happy.

What benefits are dogs getting?

After boarding the flight, passengers will find the cabin filled with items to help ease the dogs anxiety, such as lavender-scented towels and soothing music. There are plenty of treats. Your dogs can enjoy doggie Champagne (chicken broth) and barkaccinos (cups of whipped cream).

At the airport, human passengers are given meals created by chef David Burke. During the flight, snacks and drinks are available in plenty.

The first order is to reduce the stress and anxiety for the dog, Meeker said, adding that during the test runs, the dogs made it their own flight. They took over and they started sitting in the chairs and it was so magical. They just mixed and matched, and people fell in love with other peoples dogs.

The first flight was scheduled to take off Thursday, May 23. The plane is flying from New York to London and Los Angeles. Bark Air plans to expand routes, including places like Paris, Chicago, and Florida, according to Meeker.

Passengers have already made 15,000 submissions to the company for routes they want to be included. The ticket price runs $6,000 for a human and a dog in Los Angeles. It is $8,000 for the trip to London.

In the first month or so here, weve sold a good number of tickets, Meeker said. And to some notable people that you would assume could charter the whole jet, but theyre choosing this.
NEW YORK  If there are bragging rights associated with Donald Trump praising your legal acumen when he speaks after a day's testimony at his criminal trial, Fox News analyst Andy McCarthy has already been cited at least a dozen times. Donald Trump may be stuck in a Manhattan courtroom, but he knows his fave legal analysts

The former president and current presidential candidate has routinely stepped to a metal barricade outside the courtroom in lower Manhattan to face cameras and get the last word on the day's proceedings. As the trial has wound down, his speeches  he rarely acknowledges shouted questions  more frequently consist of reading the words of friendly commentators from a sheaf of papers.

Besides McCarthy, a former Manhattan prosecutor and writer for National Review, Fox commentators Jonathan Turley, Gregg Jarrett and Mark Levin get frequent shoutouts.

Every legal scholar says, `They don't have a case,' Trump has said more than once while reading back supportive quotes.

McCarthy, quoted by the former president three separate times on May 13, is a great analyst, Trump said. Some favorites get personal praise: Byron York is a great person, great reporter. Alan Dershowitz is similarly a great person, Trump said. Occasionally, someone from CNN slips in. MSNBC gets the silent treatment.

For television, New Yorks ban on cameras in the courtroom means plenty of airtime for legal analysts. It evokes the high point of the form three decades ago, when the O.J. Simpson murder trial made household names of the likes of Jeffrey Toobin, Nancy Grace and Greta Van Susteren. Foxs Jarrett, who worked at Court TV in the 1990s, straddles the eras. OPINIONS FROM EXPERTS RUN THE GAMUT

Naturally, it's not hard to find those who contradict Trump. On the television news networks covering the trial extensively, prevailing opinions tend to reflect the audiences they seek: little sympathy for the prosecution's case on Fox, equally difficult to find praise for the defense on MSNBC. On CNN, it's more mixed.

The more experienced legal minds, like Chuck Rosenberg speaking on MSNBC on Wednesday, note that it would be foolish to predict an outcome. The only opinions that really matter are the jurors'.

More nuanced coverage can usually be found offscreen. Sunday's edition of The New York Times, for example, had a news story quoting experts that concluded: Several experts say the case remains the prosecution's to lose. In the same day's opinion section, columnist Ross Douthat concluded that the case has been a political winner for Trump so far.

Just as even paranoid people can have enemies, even sinful demagogues can face a politically motivated prosecution  and stand to gain from the appearance of legal persecution, Douthat wrote. And that appearance, so far, has been the trial's political gift to Donald Trump.

MSNBC was devoting a large part of its day to Trump's legal issues well before the current trial. Former prosecutor Andrew Weissmann is a huge presence there; he also contributes a podcast, Prosecuting Donald Trump, with fellow analyst Mary McCord.

Even MSNBC's biggest stars, including Rachel Maddow, have spent time in the courtroom. After listening to Trump's defense earlier this week, she reported that it was discursive, sprawling and uninteresting. TRUMP CHOOSES HIS FOCUS

Fox's commentators on this case have drawn much of Trump's attention. Turley made 47 appearances to talk about the trial on Fox's weekday programs from the start of the trial through May 15, with McCarthy logging 35, according to the liberal watchdog Media Matters.

McCarthy once prosecuted terrorism cases in the U.S. attorney's office in New York's Southern District and represented Rudolph Giuliani. Turley is a professor at George Washington University's law school and founded the Project for Older Prisoners, which helps seek release of geriatric prison inmates.

Writing about the trial in the National Review, McCarthy said that Trump ought to be acquitted for the simplest of reasons: Prosecutors can't prove their case. He criticized prosecution witness and former Trump attorney Michael Cohen on the air, saying Cohen's dishonesty and bias against Trump will be problems he has to overcome with the jury.

Turley, speaking to Fox's Jesse Watters last week, called Cohen the most compromised, unbelievable witness in the history of the federal legal system. On another Fox appearance, Turley said the judge, Juan Merchan, shouldn't even give the case to the jury.

I think this case is gone, Turley said. They didn't state the basis for a crime.

On Fox this week, anchor Martha MacCallum said that if you watch the legal experts on the other channels, this case is airtight.

The network on Monday, as it usually does, ran Trump's daily wrap in its 5 p.m. ET hour  the time slot of The Five, the most popular program on cable news. MSNBC didn't carry Trump. CNN showed the former president and immediately followed him with a fact-check.

As happened that day, and occasionally others, Trump singled out some CNN commentators for praise. He quoted CNN's Laura Coates, Elie Honig and Tim Parlatore, the latter a former Trump lawyer hired as an analyst.

CNN's fact-checker, Tom Foreman, said that Trump was doing a lot of cherry-picking in his citations.

It is certainly true that we have some panelists who say this is not a good case, CNN's Jake Tapper said. There are also people who feel the other way. And that's what we try to do here  bring a diversity of viewpoints.

David Bauder writes about media for The Associated Press. Follow him at http://twitter.com/dbauder

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
After the unexpected demise of two Boeing whistleblowers this year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that at least 300 planes of the world's largest aerospace company have a potentially fatal flaw that could set the entire aircraft to explode mid-air. After Boeing informed the FAA about the fault, the federal authority proposed a solution that would cost $14 million to repair all 292 susceptible US-registered aircraft.(AFP)

The aircraft maker found that Boeing 777 liners have fragile electrical insulation around their fuel tanks, as per a proposed rule the FFA posted in March.

This condition, if not addressed, could result in an ignition source inside the fuel tank and subsequent fire or explosion, the Airworthiness Directives stated.

The FAA reported the problem in March and sought response from Boeing and other independent experts by May 9, although it is still unknown whether the corporation did so.

Speaking to Daily Mail, Boeing representative highlighted that the FAA's March 25, 2024 notice was for a "proposed rulemaking," soliciting feedback from scandal-hit firm Boeing and others before the FAA formally mandated any planned modification to its 777 series of planes.

It is one of the biggest safety warnings issued by regulators to Boeing after its several passenger jets experienced door plug blowouts, mid-air engine blazes, and two fatal crashes that claimed the lives of 346 people.

The potential fatal flaw would affect almost 300 Boeing aircraft in the United States, including the 77-200, -200LR, -300, -300ER, and 777F series jets.

FAA issues proposal to resolve Boeing issue

After Boeing informed the FAA about the fault, the federal authority proposed a solution that would cost $14 million to repair all 292 susceptible US-registered aircraft.

The proposed AD, which the FAA issued in March 2024, would require installing electrical bonding and grounding to a component in the center fuel tank. It would make mandatory service actions that Boeing described in a November 2023 alert bulletin, an FAA representative said in a statement.

According to the proposal, each aircraft would be examined for approximately 90 hours before the installation of Teflon sleeves and cap fasteners in specific portions of the main fuel tanks.

Also Read: I pray Boeing pays: Whistleblower John Barnetts shocking 'suicide' note, autopsy results revealed

Here's what Boeing has to say

If implemented, Boeing would require 60 months to complete the modifications, indicating that the vulnerability is not a serious issue.

"We are aware of the FAA's notice of proposed rulemaking and had previously issued guidance to 777 operators on this," Boeing told Bloomberg.

It further added that it fully supports FAA's suggestions to make that guidance mandatory.

In a Senate testimony last month, Boeing whistleblower Sam Salehpour stated that there is no safety culture at Boeing. He accused Boeing workers of using erroneous and unproven ways to align parts on the 777.

Salehpour claimed that he was ignore and told to shut up after he reported the issue to the authorities.

Meanwhile, a Boeing spokesperson told The Post that this is not an imminent safety problem for flights. "There are multiple redundancies designed into modern commercial airplanes to ensure protection for electromagnetic effects."

The 777 fleet has been flying for almost three decades and has safely transported over 3.9 billion people, the representative added.

Boeing has been facing backlash for a variety of faults with its aircraft, including a door stopper that blew out during an Alaska Airlines trip in January.
Dr. David Morens, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) senior adviser, was grilled by House lawmakers after the release of crucial Covid-era emails. On Wednesday, the ex-Fauci advisor appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. He was questioned over the newly released emails that detail interactions between Morens and Dr. Peter Daszak, president of the EcoHealth Alliance, a non-governmental organization that funded coronavirus research in Wuhan, China. WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 22: Dr. David Morens speaks during a House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic hearing on Capitol Hill on May 22, 2024 in Washington, DC. A former top adviser to former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Morens is testifying before the committee on allegations that he attempted to delete emails related to COVID-19. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Andrew Harnik / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP)

Former top Fauci advisor accused of deleted crucial emails

Lawmakers allege that Morens deleted records critical to the origins of COVID-19, created a secret back channel to hide official records, and used his personal email account to skirt Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic released a 35-page memo containing the damning emails, per Newsweek.

The memo states that the evidence obtained under subpoena from Morens incriminates Dr. Morens in undermining the operations of the U.S. government, unlawfully deleting federal COVID-19 records, using a personal email to avoid the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and repeatedly acting unbecoming of a federal employee.

Lawmakers grill Morens over deleted emails

During Wednesday's hearing, Subcommittee Chairman Brad Wenstrup said, The information contained in these 30,000 pages of emails are deeply concerning, and in my opinion reflects poorly upon Dr. Morens and the Office of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease under Dr. Faucis leadership and the NIH under Dr. Francis Collins."

Meanwhile, Rep. Raul Ruiz said, What troubles me most about your conduct, Dr. Morens, is the extent to which it so willingly betrays decades of dedication, diligence and decorum from the thousands of federal scientists and public health workers who came before you, who have served alongside you and who will serve on into the future.

Morens laughs off emails as a joke

The NIH advisor, who is currently under administrative leave, laughed off his back channel emails with Fauci, calling them a joke. Morens argued that they had nothing to do with FOIA queries. I was not aware that anything I deleted like emails was a federal record, he said at one point during the hearing.

When asked whether he deleted any crucial Covid-19 records or had conversations with Fauci about deletions, Morens said, Not to my knowledge. But again, we're at the issue of defining what's a federal record? I deleted a lot of emails. I do it every day, he added, per Fox News.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Kenyan President William Ruto on Thursday announced investments in green energy, education and health manufacturing in the East African nation and a plan to reduce its debt burden. US President Joe Biden, right, and William Ruto, Kenya's president, at a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House during a state visit in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Bloomberg)

Ruto arrived in Washington on Wednesday as part of a three-day state visit that includes bilateral talks with Biden on Thursday, followed by a state dinner in the evening. Ruto's trip is the sixth state visit hosted by the Biden administration and the first for an African president since 2008.

Here are the key announcements:

DIPLOMACY

Biden will designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, making it the first sub-Saharan African country to receive the designation, a senior U.S. administration official said. Currently, 18 countries are designated as non-NATO allies, including Israel, Brazil and the Philippines.

The alliance - which is not a mutual defense pact - will bring some additional U.S. aid, including a new $7 million partnership to help modernize Kenyas National Police Service, with a focus on staff and training development.

The two countries said they would work together to support the Somali government in its fight against terrorism and pressed warring parties in Sudan for a ceasefire.

They will also establish a strategic dialogue on artificial intelligence.

DEBT AND FINANCE

The two countries launched the Nairobi-Washington Vision, a call to the international community to help debt-laden countries like Kenya manage debt while investing in economic growth. It asks international financial institutions to provide coordinated packages of support and on creditor countries to provide forms of debt relief.

The U.S. will soon make available lending of up to $21 billion to the International Monetary Funds Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust to support the poorest countries.

The U.S. also said it would give $250 million for crisis response to the World Bank's International Development Association.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Microsoft is partnering with United Arab Emirates-based artificial intelligence firm G42 to invest $1 billion in a data center in Kenya as part of its efforts to expand cloud computing services in East Africa. The data center, which will be built by G42 and its partners, will be powered by geothermal energy and provide access to Microsoft's Azure cloud computing platform through a new cloud region for East Africa.

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation announced it plans to open an office in Kenya's capital Nairobi, playing a key role in driving its efforts across key sectors in Kenya such as agriculture, health, e-mobility and energy.

The U.S. Agency for International Development will provide $15 million for new activities designed to reduce poverty and malnutrition and address global food security by expanding investment opportunities.

CLIMATE

The two countries launched the U.S.-Kenya Climate and Clean Energy Industrial Partnership. The U.S. and Kenya plan to work with international financial institutions and multilateral trust funds to identify mechanisms for mobilizing investment for clean energy manufacturing and services.

Virunga Power, a U.S. company and partner in the Power Africa effort to double access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, announced a pipeline of six hydropower projects in advanced stages of development in Kenya. With a total expected investment of $100 million, those projects will be built in sequence over the next five years and are expected to provide 31 megawatts of clean, renewable energy.

A $60 million grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation will fund a four-year program focusing on the transportation needs of underserved groups in Kenya, safer options for women and pedestrians, and climate-friendly public transportation.

HEALTH

Kenya and the United States announced that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kenya's government will share information, identifying best practices and defining steps toward the development and full launch of the Kenyan National Public Health Institute.

The International Development Finance Corporation is making a $10 million direct loan to Kenyan company Hewa Tele, which supplies medical oxygen to healthcare facilities in Africa, and equity investments in Kasha Global, a Kenya-based e-commerce company that provides personal care, healthcare, and beauty products to low-income women in Kenya and Rwanda.

EDUCATION

The administration intends to provide $3.3 million for a U.S. Department of State program for 60 Kenyan undergraduate students to study for a semester in the United States, with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The administration also plans to provide $500,000 to support Kenyan students, scientists, researchers, and engineers by encouraging U.S. universities to increase investment in relationships with Kenyan universities and research institutions.
The FBI on Wednesday raided a local prosecutor's office and business in Mississippi's capital city, although officials declined to say whether Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens is suspected of wrongdoing. Federal investigators load up their vehicle following a raid of a downtown business owned by Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The business was one of several businesses in Jackson that were raided by the FBI's Jackson office Wednesday morning. Officials declined after the raids to say whether Owens is suspected of wrongdoing. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)(AP)

FBI agents spent hours searching a cigar bar owned by Owens in downtown Jackson. They also removed items from his office in the Hinds County Courthouse.

Marshay Lawson, the spokesperson for the FBI's office in Jackson, said the reason for the search remains secret.

The FBI is executing federal search warrants at multiple locations, Lawson said. The affidavit in support of the search warrants has been sealed by the court and so I am prohibited from commenting further."

Owens also didn't say what the raid was about.

This morning, FBI agents came to our offices," the second-term district attorney said in a statement. "We are fully cooperating with their efforts. The Hinds County District Attorney's Office is fully functioning and continues its work on behalf of the citizens of Hinds County.

Owens is listed as the manager and sole member of the company that owns the Downtown Cigar Co., which agents also searched. The business also has a state permit to act as a bar selling alcohol.

WAPT-TV reports that while the searches at Owens' office and business were ongoing, two FBI agents also visited Jackson City Hall and spoke to the chief of staff for Mayor Chokwe Lumumba. The City Hall is across the street from the Hinds County Courthouse, where Owens has his office.

Before first being elected as district attorney in 2019, Owens had been the lead attorney in Mississippi for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a liberal-leaning group known for bringing lawsuits over issues including civil rights. Owens ran as a criminal justice reformer, saying he would focus on prosecuting violent crime while looking for alternatives to jail and prison for nonviolent offenders.

But Jackson has been challenged by the nation's highest murder rate, by some accounts, and Owens received more funding from Republican lawmakers to hire more prosecutors. Republicans have expanded the state-run Capitol Police controlled by Republican Gov. Tate Reeves to patrol all of Jackson and created a state-run court with judges that are appointed rather than elected.

Many Democrats have said those moves represent a white takeover of an overwhelming Black city and that more resources should be used for crime prevention. The law was upheld in federal court after an NAACP lawsuit, and the conflict has quieted somewhat in recent months.

In 2022, Owens was cited by the Capitol Police for simple assault, a misdemeanor, after police said he aimed and pointed a gun at a man from Hattiesburg who was visiting a woman in a downtown Jackson apartment.

Owens denied wrongdoing at the time.
U.S. President Joe Biden said he plans to make an official visit to Africa in February after the U.S. presidential election, an announcement that presumed he will defeat Donald Trump. President Joe Biden answers a reporters question as he welcomes Kenya's President William Ruto to the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP)

I plan on going in February after I am reelected, Biden said as he greeted Kenyan President William Ruto on his arrival at the White House for the first of two days of meetings and a lavish state dinner.

Youre welcome, Mr. President, said Ruto to Biden.

Biden, a Democrat, is seeking another term in the Nov. 5 election against his Republican rival, former President Trump.

Senior administration officials said Biden and Ruto would discuss a range of issues from trade to debt relief and the way forward for Haiti, Ukraine, Sudan and other areas.

Biden dangled the prospect of a trip to Angola during an Oval Office meeting with his Angolan counterpart, Joao Lourenco, in late November, although he did not specify when the meeting would take place.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan earlier told reporters that Biden looked forward to visiting Africa and intended to do so as president of the United States.

Sullivan said he had no formal announcement to make.

Biden has drawn attention for not visiting the African continent despite underscoring its importance on global issues.

More than two dozen senior Biden administration officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen have visited various African countries.
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) condemned House Republicans for "blindly" trusting former President Donald Trump after he peddled a disproved conspiracy theory that she warned could lead to mayhem and violence. Liz Cheney, who is the most known GOP critics of Trump, took to X on Wednesday to condemn the former president for spreading the conspiracy theory that Biden had planned to kill him,(AP )

Taking to his Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump alleged that the FBI used "DEADLY (LETHAL) FORCE" force as directed by Joe Biden's Department of Justice (DOJ) during raids on his Mar-a-Lago property in 2022.

Meanwhile, Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene in a post on X claimed that the DOJ and FBI "were planning to assassinate [President] Trump," and urged Republicans to take action.

"Does everyone get it yet???!!!! What are Republicans going to do about it? I tried to oust our Speaker who funded Biden's DOJ AND FBI, but Democrats stopped it," Greene wrote on X.

The FBI responded to Trump's claims by stating that they followed "standard protocol" during the raids, which "includes a standard policy statement" on the use of force.

Liz Cheney slams unfit Trump, urges Republicans to put aside your cowardice

Cheney, who is the most known GOP critics of Trump, took to X on Wednesday to condemn the former president for spreading the conspiracy theory that Biden had planned to kill him, a claim that has been strongly refuted by political experts and FBI officials.

Donald Trump is unstable and dangerous. He knows this is a lie that could again provoke violence from those who blindly follow him, she said.

Calling on Republicans in Congress, she said: You know Trump is unfit. When will you put aside your cowardice and stand up for what you know is right?

Also Read: 'They were authorized to shoot me!', Donald Trump shocks his followers with email claiming he nearly escaped death

Cheney's post garnered mixed reactions, with one X user writing, America stands with Trump and its only a matter of time before criminals like you are sitting in prison.

A second user commented, Liz Cheney is an out of work politician and a lying fraud who belongs in Prison for destroying J6 evidence that would cleared President Trump.

As Cheney is not currently facing criminal charges, this could be a reference to Trump's suggestion that she be imprisoned for her involvement in probing the January 6, 2021 unrest in the Capitol.

As you said before Trump must never be allowed near the White House ever again, one more chimed in.
After Scarlett Johansson raised concerns about OpenAI allegedly copying her voice for ChatGPTs Sky avatar, internal documents shared with The Washington Post suggest that the AI giant did not intentionally mimic the actors voice. OpenAI chief Sam Altman publicly apologized May 21, 2024 to Scarlett Johansson after the movie star said she was "shocked" by a new synthetic voice released by the ChatGPT-maker that sounds "eerily similar" to her. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)(AFP)

According to these documents, a different actress was hired to voice ChatGPT Sky months before OpenAI CEO Sam Altman approached Johansson about being one of the voices for ChatGPT.

Interviews with multiple individuals involved in creating Sky's voice confirmed that the company did not specifically seek someone with a voice similar to Johanssons.

The documents provided information about the process of choosing Skys voice, the actress who was employed through a casting session, and other factors in consideration.

The casting call sought a non-union actor between the ages of 25 and 45, possessing a warm, engaging, and charismatic voice.

There was no mention of Johansson or the movie Her, in which Johansson voiced an AI during the selection process.

ALSO READ| In OpenAIs her story, a crisis and a warning

Scarlett Johansson's options in potential OpenAI lawsuit

The agent representing the actress who voiced ChatGPTs Sky confirmed to The Washington Post that neither Scarlett Johansson nor the film Her were referenced by OpenAI throughout the hiring process. This further supports OpenAIs stance that any resemblance to Johanssons voice was coincidental and not deliberate.

Despite these explanations, legal experts suggest that Johansson might still have grounds for a lawsuit against OpenAI. The resemblance of the Sky voice to Johansson's and the timing of Altmans approach, which occurred just days before the voice's release, could bolster her case. Altmans public reference to the voice as Her adds another layer of complexity, potentially implying that the voice was modelled after Johanssons AI character from the Joaquin Phoenix movie.

The Ninth Circuit held that a celebrity with a distinctive voice could recover against someone who used a voice impersonator to create the impression that the celebrity had endorsed the product or was speaking in the advertisement, Christian Mammen, a partner at Womble Bond Dickinson told The Verge.

ALSO READ| Scarlett Johansson vs OpenAI: Actor says ChatGPT voice is 'eerily similar' to hers. 5 points to know about controversy

He also mentioned prominent personalities such as Bette Midler and Tom Waits, whose voices were used to create commercial jingles without the artists' permission.

Even in this case, the outcome of any likely litigation that may result from it would also depend on the state where it was launched. In the United States, right-to-publicity laws are especially different in each state.

For instance, no specific law prohibits a company in California, where OpenAI is located, from creating digital or AI voice replicas. However, it should be noted that California does demand consent for the utilization of a persons voice for commercial purposes.

As of now, Scarlett Johansson has not taken any legal action against OpenAI.
Indian-American politician Nikki Haley said Wednesday that she is planning to vote for Donald Trump despite the former president has not been perfect on policies important to her, but President Joe Biden has been a catastrophe. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at the Hudson Institute in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Haley says she will be voting for Donald Trump in the general election, encouraging the presumptive GOP nominee to work hard to win support from those who backed her in the primary. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)(AP)

Haley gave her first speech on national security and foreign policy since leaving the presidential bid in the middle of the race for the presidency at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C.

Haley said, Trump has not been perfect on these policies. Ive made that clear many, many times.

But Biden has been a catastrophe.

So I will be voting for Trump. Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech.

ALSO READ| Donald Trump clears the air on considering Nikki Haley for VP ahead of US elections: I wish

Haley emphasized the need for Trump to earn the support of her voters

This comes after Haley, who had quit the presidential race more than two months ago, did not endorse Trump during her earlier campaigns. She had called on Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond who did not support him.

However, the sentiment of the former hopeful is not a clear call for endorsement here, but an expectation for Trump to include the millions of voters who want her in their lives.

Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that theyre just going to be with him, she said.

Her support for Trump came at the same time as her new position as the head of the conservative Hudson Institute as the Walter P. Stern professor. This fact can be explained by the fact that, during her speech, she criticized the trend towards the isolationist party within the Republican Party.

She lambasted President Joe Bidens foreign policy.

ALSO READ| Trump slammed for insulting Colombia-born judge presiding over his trial: Take a look at where he comes from

On Wednesday, Haley came out heavily on both parties' different policies

Former United Nations Ambassador said, A loud part of each party wants us to abandon our allies, appease our enemies, and focus only on the problems we have at home.

This worldview has already put America in great danger  and the threat is mounting by the day.

The Biden campaign responded swiftly to Haleys comments, asserting that there remains a segment of GOP voters who reject the chaos, division and violence that Donald Trump embodies.

Biden spokesperson Michael Tyler stated, Nothing has changed for the millions of Republican voters who continue to cast their ballots against Donald Trump in the primaries and care deeply about the future of our democracy, standing strong with our allies against foreign adversaries, and working across the aisle to get things done for the American people.

Former Governor of South Carolinas preview of her role leading up to the November election highlights her unique position. As she criticizes Biden, she also champions an interventionist foreign policyone that aligns with her support for Israel. She plans to visit Israel soon to demonstrate her backing for the Israeli people.

ALSO READ| Biden campaign's job posting for meme manager triggers hilarious memes and jokes on Internet

During her Wednesday speech speech, Haley commended House Speaker Mike Johnson for securing military aid for Ukraine and accused fellow Republicans to push Ukraine off a cliff.

Republicans are wrong when they say we have to fix the border before doing anything else, she said.

We shouldnt pretend we can only solve one problem at a time.

Haley slammed Biden's recent policy to stop supplying ammunition to Israel amidst the ongoing conflict as foolish, and according to her, this decision is dragging out a war, emboldening terrorists, and making other wars more likely.

Haley pointed out the consequences of the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. She sees it as a catalyst for emboldening Iran and Russia, emphasizing, Joe Bidens legacy is already clear. He will go down in history as the commander-in-chief who refused to stop our enemies.
In a tragic incident, the son of rodeo star Spencer Wright has been declared brain dead after the three-year-old drove his toy tractor into a fast-moving river in Beaver County, Utah on Tuesday. In a heart-wrenching post on Facebook, the family declared "Levi's sweet little brain was without oxygen for too long and there is no coming back from that".(FB)

Levi Wright disappeared under the water with his toy truck, prompting a desperate search for him. Several rescue teams, including the Beaver County Sheriff's Office and Beaver firefighters immediately arrived at the spot.

According to ABC4, his mother reportedly jumped into the currents to save him before he was rushed to a hospital in Salt Lake City by helicopter. While doctors were successful in restoring his heartbeat, they declared Levi brain dead as he did not regain consciousness despite life-saving procedures.

Levi Wright's family issues statement

In a heart-wrenching post on Facebook, the family declared "Levi's sweet little brain was without oxygen for too long and there is no coming back from that".

We cuddled him all night and feel strongly that his spirit is no longer with us. We can't be selfish and drag this out for days, he doesn't deserve that. Shortly we will stop care and hold him close until his last breath on earth. My Baby, my beans, Mom & Dad love you always and forever!

Seeking some more time to navigate the tragic process, the family said that they would have more to share soon.

Please send prayers for healing and comfort, they added.

Also Read: 'Flying deer' caught on camera by Utah wildlife officials. Watch

Will Levi Wright survive?

Mindy Sue Clark, Wright's close friend and family spokeswoman, informed ABC4 that Levi is being treated at Salt Lake City Hospital, but he is unlikely to survive unless he makes a significant recovery.

According to a statement released by Clark, Levi's heart is "beating on its own", but he is not exhibiting indications of recovery.

Clark further said the family has not given up hope and is continuously monitoring any indications of recovery.

Speaking toFox13Now, Clark said Levi's uncle started his feet for a response, which caused him to "open his eyes a few times", but he did not recover further.

"Even though Levi is such a sweet and tender-hearted little boy, he's a boy through and through, he's a cowboy through and through, he's a Wright through and through," she stated.

The Wrights have not spoken publicly following the devastating incident, but Clark said the rodeo community's support "means the world" to them.

The family of Spencer Wright, who is ranked 35th in the world, is one of the most notable in rodeo history, with his father, Bill Wright, elected into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

In a statement, ProRodeo CEO Tom Glause extended full support to Wright family, stating that the entire ProRodeo community's heart aches for them.
On Tuesday, followers of former President Donald Trump were sent a shocking email addressed from President Trump, with the subject line declaring: They were authorized to shoot me! Donald Trump falsely claims Biden authorized to shoot him during Mar-a-Lago FBI raids.(AP)

According to a CNN report, the email continued with an equally dramatic preview, I nearly escaped death. Bidens DOJ was locked and loaded for deadly force at Mar-a-Lago 

The readers thought it to be a cry for help. But soon realised it was Trumps fundraising appeals. Considered as new low of sensationalism to grab attention this latest claim by Trump comes on the heels of a controversial argument made by his lawyer before the US Supreme Court. He suggested that presidents should have "absolute immunity" even from actions as extreme as ordering a hit on a political opponent.

So, what is Trump talking about?

The authorized to shoot me claim is based on a recently unsealed FBI document outlining the procedures for the search of Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in 2022. This document included standard language about the "use of force" in such operations.

CNN reported that the document, known as a law enforcement operations order, detailed what agents could bring and how they could act during the search. However, the actual events of the search were far less dramatic.

According to Stephen DAntuono, former FBI assistant director in charge of the Washington field office, the FBI coordinated with the Secret Service to ensure the search was low-key. Contrary to Trumps narrative, he claimed operation was conducted without banging down doors or using a large presence

Also Read: Marjorie Taylor Greene claims FBI wanted to assassinate Trump

Trump's other sensational and misleading fundraising emails

For example, one recent email falsely suggested Trump had chosen a running mate with the subject line: Ive made a final decision. What do you think of my VP choice?

Other fundraising emails promote merchandise or sweepstakes, like a mug featuring Trumps mugshot or a chance to win trips with a donation.

YOU, have you seen my mugshot? I put it on a mug for you.

In a social media post, Trump mixed the deadly force claim with other grievances, including complaints about the temperature in his trial courtroom and questioning President Joe Bidens fitness for office. He accused Bidens DOJ of illegal actions and suggested invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Biden from office.
Ahead of the first debate with incumbent President Joe Biden, GOP leader Donald Trump announced that he consented to "sit at a table" despite his strong desire to stand. The two upcoming debates between Biden and Trump will take place on June 27 and September 10. (REUTERS)

Appearing on the Cats & Cosby Show on WABC 770 AM, the former US president said the seated format was proposed by the 81-year-old Commander-in-Chief.

I hear now were sitting at tables. I dont want to sit at a table, Trump said.

I said, No, lets stand. But they want to sit at a table, the 77-year-old former president said. So well be sitting at a table as opposed to doing it the way you should be, in my opinion, in a debate.

"But they have [Biden] sitting at a table, so that's not so good," Trump remarked, noting that the seated debate format was "one of many" requests made by the Biden re-election campaign.

Trump further said that he agreed to the condition because I want to debate him, adding that he plans to question Biden about the chaotic US exit from Afghanistan in 2021.

"If [Biden] gets through the debate, they'll say it was brilliant," he added.

Trump's latest statement comes after he declared that he will demand Biden to go through a drug test before appearing for a debate, stressing that he doesn't want Biden "coming in like the State of the Union. He was high as a kite.

Meanwhile, Biden campaign rejected Trump's request for more debates, stating that there will be no games and the debate about debates is over.

Also Read: Trump or Biden? US stock market expert predicts presidential poll's surprising result basis indices movement

Will sit at a table format apply to both debates?

The two upcoming debates between Biden and Trump will take place on June 27 and September 10. While the first debate will be hosted by CNN, another will be conducted by ABC News. It is uncertain whether the sitting format will apply to both debates.

As requested by the Biden campaign, neither forum will have a live audience to witness the head-to-head debate.

Both Biden and Trump campaigns have expressed a readiness to take part in a vice-presidential debate, but the specifics of such an event have not been determined.

Biden wants the vice-presidential debate to appear on CBS, while Trump prefers Fox News to host the event.
As US Presidential elections are inching closer, former President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to do one major thing for him. Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that he will use his strong ties with Putin to release Wall Street journalist Evan Gershkovich from a Russian jail(AP)

Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that he will use his strong ties with Putin to release Wall Street journalist Evan Gershkovich from a Russian jail.

Last year in March, Gershkovich was jailed in Russia on spying charges, which the reporter and the Biden administration have strongly rejected. While he has been in a Moscow jail for over a year, there is no scheduled date for his trial.

According to Trump, the American reporter would be freed immediately after the presidential election in November, when he aims to unseat incumbent President Joe Biden and return to the White House. He claimed that Putin will do that for him, but not for anyone else if gets elected to the White House.

Evan Gershkovich, the Reporter from The Wall Street Journal, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the Election, but definitely before I assume Office. He will be HOME, SAFE, AND WITH HIS FAMILY, Trump wrote.

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and WE WILL BE PAYING NOTHING!

On many occasions, Trump, who has voiced respect for Putin during his 2017-2021 administration, claimed he could stop Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of returning to the White House. He, however, has not specified how he would accomplish this.

Reacting to Trump's Truth Social post shared on X, one person wrote: The question is: Why would Putin do that for Trump only? I can think of a couple of things #TrumpIsATraitor."

What else is Putin doing to help influence the election for you? Things you claim he won't do for anybody else. A dictator to dictator deals. Putting my money on because he knows that you will hand him Ukraine, another user reacted.

What a weird thing to say. Internal polling must be REALLY bad. It feels like a hostage negotiating letter, a third user chimed in.

Also Read: In interview, Tucker Carlson asks Russia's Vladimir Putin about jailed WSJ reporter, his reply

Here's what Russia has to say on Trump's claims

In his post, Trump made no mention of his interactions with Putin or the reasons he believed the Kremlin leader would free Gershkovich.

Reacting to Trump's statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the Russian President has naturally not had contacts with Donald Trump, NY POST reported.

Peskov underlined previous statements of the Kremlin that any discussion with the United States regarding a prisoner exchange must take place "in complete silence" and absolute discretion."

In February, Putin also suggested that he could be freed in exchange for a Russian imprisoned in Germany on murder charges.
In a fiery Senate hearing, Republican Senator Ted Cruz confronted Judge Sarah Netburn, on the issue of transgender inmates. He claimed, US president Joe Biden's nominee to be the judge for the Southern District of New York, is an absolute radical. Senator Ted Cruz calls US president nominee to be the judge for the Southern District of New York, Sarah Netburn an absolute radical. (Bloomberg)

Cruz focused on a case where the Judge had placed a biological male, who now identifies as a transgender woman but is convicted of child rape, in a women's prison after identifying as female.

Heated arguments between Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Judge Sarah Netburn

By strongly criticizing the decision, Cruz claimed her discretion was deeply impacted by her ideological beliefs. By strongly maintaining, he was a serial repeat child offender, so how could not there be no risk of re-offending?

Sen. Cruz did not hold back, criticizing the judicial decision to allow a biological male, who identifies as female, to be housed in a womens prison. He argued this posed a significant safety risk to female inmates, pointing out the individual's criminal history as a child rapist. He further went on to ask, In your court what matters more, the rights of individuals or your political ideology?

I think you are radical and don't have a business being a judge.

However, Netburn defended her ruling, citing legal precedents and the rights of transgender individuals to be housed according to their gender identity. She maintained, her (convicts) hormones were entirely female when she was transferred to a female facility'.

In a pointed exchange, Cruz asked the judge to justify the ruling, emphasizing the potential dangers and moral implications of such a decision. Cruz even pointed that the Bureau of Prisons warned against housing a convicted serial child rapist in a womens prison. But Netburn disregarded the recommendation and housed the rapist with women anyway.

Cruzs questioning was relentless, reflecting broader concerns and debates about the balance between ensuring the safety of inmates and respecting the rights of transgender individuals within the prison system.

The intense exchange has gone viral on the internet with many siding with Ted Cruz, "It is a sign of how severely gender ideology has corroded some people's brains - to the point that a judge believed a 6'2" serial rapist should be put in a women's prison - that *Ted Cruz* is now a voice of sanity," stated a user
As the US-Mexico border crisis has taken a centre stage in 2024 presidential elections, White House Press Secretary defended incumbent President Joe Biden for denying to use executive powers to deal with the issue. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre gives a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2024. REUTERS/Leah Millis(REUTERS)

In a press conference, Karine Jean-Pierre, the 49-year-old press secretary, admitted on Wednesday that Biden possesses the authority to put an end to the ever-increasing immigration crisis, but she surprisingly responded, Why should he?

After taking office, Biden issued 94 executive measures to overturn Donald Trump's border policy, but he has not implemented any while the number of migrants has increased.

Jean-Pierre appeared perplexed when asked why Biden isn't taking any initiative when he has the power to do do.

"Why should he have to do it unilaterally? Why shouldn't we do it in a legislative way?" she reacted.

Jean-Pierre remained on the defensive, claiming that while Biden has taken numerous unilateral moves in the past, a legislative solution is required to address what is happening at the border.

She went on to say that the Biden administration has been able to advance several legislation in a bipartisan manner during the last three and a half years.

"The President is clear about where he stands  he believes we are a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. We can expand lawful immigration pathways and ensure the United States remains a beacon of hope and opportunity," she wrote in a post on X.

Karine Jean-Pierre faces online mockery

Following her post on X, Jean-Pierre was quickly mocked online, with Trump's senior aide Jason Miller tweeting, "3-D chess from KJP right here."

"No chance [fellow White House spokesman John] Kirby would have been smart enough to shift the blame to others and act as though Joe Biden wasn't the sitting President of the United States," Miller wrote, ridiculing Kirby and Jean-Pierre.

"This is why KJP will remain in place as Press Secretary!"

Joe Biden doesnt need a bill to secure the border. He could use Executive Orders. He used them to undo Trumps orders that secured the border. The proposed border bill allows 1.8 million illegals in a year, one X user responded.

Thats as bad as now. Deport all illegals and close the border, he added.

Biden has betrayed America. Not arguable, another user wrote.

A third user chimed in, We are a nation of immigrants. We have immigration laws. Apparently, this administration thinks letting everyone and anyone in is lawful immigration. Explain please how these people are lawful immigrants. They are ILLEGAL ALIENS!

Also Read: Joe Biden finally admits US-Mexico border is not secure

Will Biden take any action?

Meanwhile, NY POST reported that Biden is planning to issue an executive order to close the US-Mexico border if migrant crossings exceed 4,000 per day.

After the border crisis erupted in 2021 during his first year in office, Biden utilised his powers to unilaterally remove Trump's "Remain in Mexico" policy, which obliged most asylum claimants to stay south of the border while US immigration courts examined their claims of persecution.

A record illegal immigrants were detained for crossing the southern border In fiscal year 2023, which concluded September 30.

Following his arrest for supposedly failing to protect the border, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas claimed in January that over 85% of those apprehended for unlawfully crossing the border were being allowed into the United States.
A prominent Texas judge has been mysteriously missing from the courtroom for nearly a month now. Judge Kelli Johnson is one of Harris Countys longest-serving current jurists, and was overseeing various key criminal trials. Who is Kelli Johnson? Renowned Texas judge disappears from court (Kelli Johnson/Facebook)

Since May 1, Johnson has not turned up at the 178th District Courthouse in Houston. No one knows where she is or when she might be back. As of now, a court spokesperson has only said that Johnson is out for personal matters.

However, a person who works at the courthouse has said that Johnsons manic behaviour is concerning, according to ABC13. Shes a danger to herself and to the community, the staffer claimed.

A May 4 police report stated that the judge was recently in touch with cops in relation to an incident that took place near her home. The report described a disturbance/CIT, which is a police acronym for crisis intervention. The circumstances around the incident is unclear.

Who is Judge Kelli Johnson?

Johnson says on her website that she served Harris County as both a judge and an ex-Assistant District Attorney. She is the first openly gay female judge to be elected in Harris County. She is married and has two sons.

I recognize pervasive problems of racial and ethnic disparity have plagued our justice system for too long so strive to create equality for everyone, her website says.

It adds, Since taking my oath of office in 2017, I have presided over cases ranging from low-risk state jail felonies to capital murder. I am honored and grateful to serve in my role of State District Judge for the 178th Criminal District Court and look forward to continuing my service to all the citizens of Harris County.

Shortly before her disappearance, Johnson presided over the trial of a man who beat his girlfriends eight-year-old son to death in 2020. In 20 minutes, Johnson found Brian Coulter guilty of capital murder in Kendrick Lees death. This is probably one of the most horrific set of facts that I have ever had to witness, to listen to and to imagine, she told the killer.

Johnson has also overseen the case of AJ Armstrong, a man who was convicted of shooting his parents in 2016, when he was a teenager. He was convicted in August after two mistrials.

After her disappearance, a visiting judge has been handed some of her cases and hearings. Last week, retired judge Jim Wallace began presiding over a trial.
Bangkok, 23 May 2024  Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand's leading hotel operator, is excited to announce its new strategic partnership with Central Restaurants Group (CRG), a leader in Thailands food chain industry, further enhancing the benefits offered to CentaraThe1 members. As part of this collaboration, members will now have the opportunity to exchange their loyalty points for cash vouchers and other perks redeemable at Central Restaurants Group outlets across Thailand.

This innovative partnership aims to provide Centara guests with unparalleled flexibility and added value to their membership experience. For example, CentaraThe1 members who redeem 900 points via https://centara1card.com/reward will receive a CRG cash coupon worth THB 100. These vouchers can then be utilised at a wide range of popular restaurants, including Mister Donut, Auntie Anne's, Pepper Lunch, Chabuton, Cold Stone Creamery, Yoshinoya, Tenya, Katsuya, Arigato, and Terraces de Bangkok.

This partnership with Central Restaurants Group underscores our commitment to enriching the Centara member experience, adding value to our customer offerings and strengthening the CentaraThe1 loyalty platform. said Tom Thrussell, Vice President  Brand, Marketing & Digital of Centara Hotels & Resorts. By offering the option to redeem points for cash vouchers and special menu items at CRG outlets, our guests have a greater choice than ever before when it comes to spending points - from hotel experiences to retail, from airlines to restaurants and beyond.

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For more information about this incredible offer, please visit https://centara1card.com/reward

About Centara Hotels & Resorts

Centara Hotels & Resorts is Thailand's leading hotel operator. Its 95 properties span all major Thai destinations plus the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, China, Japan, Oman, Qatar, Cambodia, Turkey and the UAE. Centara's portfolio comprises six brands  Centara Reserve, Centara Boutique Collection, Centara Grand, Centara, Centara Life and COSI Hotels  ranging from luxury island retreats and upscale family resorts to affordable lifestyle concepts supported by innovative technology. The group's newest Centara Reserve brand was unveiled in 2020 as an experiential luxury collection, inviting guests to discover a new era of story-driven hospitality starting with Centara Reserve Samui.

Centara also operates state-of-the-art convention centres and has its own award-winning spa brand, Cenvaree. Throughout the collection, Centara delivers and celebrates the hospitality and values Thailand is famous for including gracious service, exceptional food, pampering spas and the importance of families. Centara's distinctive culture and diversity of formats allow it to serve and satisfy travellers of nearly every age and lifestyle.

Centara aims to become a top 100 global hotel group, while spreading its footprint into new continents and market niches. As Centara continues to expand, a growing base of loyal customers will find the company's unique style of hospitality in more locations. Centara's global loyalty programme, Centara The 1, reinforces their loyalty with rewards, privileges and special member pricing.

Find out more about Centara at www.CentaraHotelsResorts.com

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BeCause , the Danish start-up transforming how the global hospitality, travel, and tourism industries manage their sustainability data, has partnered with d2o , a leading forecasting and resourcement management technology provider for the hospitality industry, to create a comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility Directive (CSRD) solution for hotels. The collaboration unites the BeCause Sustainability Hub with d2o's PMI GoGreen suite of prediction, targeting, tracking, and allocation tools to create an auditable CSRD reporting solution that goes beyond compliance to boost efficiency and profits. The partnership was announced yesterday at the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance Spring Summit in Nice, France.

By joining forces, BeCause and d2o have taken a giant leap toward building a viable, valuable ecosystem between the hotel industry and technology providers that leverages the power and potential of daily sustainability data management. CSRD compliance is just the starting point; BeCause and d2o are demonstrating that with the right technology, sustainability initiatives can drive operational efficiency and profitability for hotels around the world.

As an inventor and entrepreneur, it is a dream come true to have a product that fully meets the needs of our customers' stakeholders, including owners, guests, staff, authorities, and local communities. The partnership between d2o and BeCause will enhance the hotel industry's ability to transform a costly compliance challenge into a business opportunity. We call this partnership PMI GoGreen BeCause because the hotel industry and the planet require a comprehensive solution to address a complex issue."Going Beyond CSRD Reporting and Compliance. d2o CEO Young Nguyen

As a result of this partnership, the PMI GoGreen tools will be seamlessly integrated into the BeCause platform. This integration, facilitated by an API, allows for the sharing and mapping of data, making it reusable for CSRD reporting. This not only simplifies the compliance process for hotels but also ensures accuracy and auditability at the activity level, meeting financial-grade CSRD reporting standards.

However, the joint solution goes beyond compliance and reporting. By centralizing data within the BeCause platform and applying the integrated PMI GoGreen tools, hotel chains gain visibility into which individual properties are meeting their targets for reducing CO2 emissions, energy consumption, water usage chemicals, waste, towels & linens, and food waste. The combined solution also utilizes machine learning algorithms and predictive analytics to identify those targets and help properties optimize resource usage to meet them amidst daily fluctuating demand. System integration service ensures seamless interoperability between the BeCause Sustainability Hub, PMI GoGreen tools, and various internal hotel systems, including property management, point-of-sale, table reservations, sales and catering, timekeeping, and more.

These combined capabilities allow hotels to increase efficiencyhotels are projected to reap 12-15% in resource savingscultivate ownership among frontline managers, showcase their sustainability efforts to travelers, and, of course, meet their CSRD compliance obligations.

We believe in the power of ecosystems, and by partnering with d2o, we've built a particularly effective one. Not just in terms of helping hotels reach CSRD compliance, but by using the combined capabilities of our solutions to address everyday issues that impact their margins and organizational effectiveness. Why should compliance and reporting be a cost-heavy headache for hotels when it could be driving profitability and operational efficiency? BeCause CEO and Co-founder Frederik Steensgaard

An Efficient Solution Specifically Designed for Hospitality

BeCause is a purpose-built, AI-powered hub that centralizes a hotel's sustainability data and automates the transmission of that data amongst different stakeholders, such as travel and accommodation booking marketplaces and industry certifications. Additionally, once a hotel enters its data into the BeCause platform, it can be upcycled and automatically mapped to multiple frameworks, making qualifying for voluntary green certifications faster and more efficient while ensuring regulatory compliance.

The PMI GoGreen suite of tools developed by d2o enables hospitality groups to achieve their long-term environmental goals by breaking them down into monthly targets tailored to each property's attributes and seasonal variations. Each hotel's future targets are dynamically adjusted based on progress, ensuring the consistency of the group's end goal. Individual hotels and hotel chains can track their progress with forward looking data-based indicators and utilize predictive analytics to optimize resource allocation, minimize waste, and cut operating costs.

The combined PMI GoGreen BeCause solution leverages these capabilities to deliver at least 100% ROI for hotels that implement it. The solution will undergo a phased roll-out through the summer of 2024 before formally launching in September.

About BeCause
HSMAI Europes Sales Advisory Board has revealed the hot topics shaping the future of the hospitality sales industry and is calling on fellow members to be part of upcoming discussions addressing each.

The new expanded 2024 board, steered by incoming Chairman Kostas Ioannidis, Sales Director, Global Sales  Europe at IHG Hotels & Resorts, has pinpointed five focal points that it believes are critical to driving innovation and maintaining competitiveness, with topics ranging from the future of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to the impact of global events on the sector.

Its hit list of topics to tackle is the result of close collaboration between all HSMAI Sales Advisory Board members since its new line-up was announced at the start of 2024, with discussions accelerated at its first in-person meeting in Stockholm on February 28th.

With board members voting The Future of the RFP Process as focal point to address in its H1 report, a virtual roundtable on the subject will take place on Wednesday May 29th (15:00 to 16:40 CET). After sharing his thoughts on the RFP process evolution, Kostas will moderate a high-level discussion between senior executives in hospitality sales, taking recent Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) insights into consideration.

He will be supported by HSMAI Sales Advisory Board members including Evert Schuele, Vice President Sales & Marketing at Hurtigruten; Anant Vithlani, Vice President Sales at Strawberry (formerly Nordic Choice Hotels); Kerstin Gibert, Regional Director of Sales Germany, Premier Inn; Jostein Brustad, Vice President Sales, Thon Hotels; Jane Griffiths, Global Sales Director, Clermont Hotel Group; Lisa Schulz, Director Transportation  Global Sales EMEA at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts; and Annie Kristi Korsmo, Director of Sales, Nordic Hotels & Resorts.

HSMAI and the Sales Advisory Board are not only inviting members to register their interest in roundtable participation and supporting other upcoming discussions but urging senior hospitality sales professionals within the association to consider joining the board to play a pivotal role in determining the sectors future direction.

The HSMAI Sales Advisory Board Top 5

The boards H1 2024 report identifies five priority topics to tackle:

1) The Future of the RFP Process

The RFP process is undergoing significant evolution and the Sales Advisory aims to provide in-depth analysis and guidance on this topic, leveraging support from advisory members and external experts and sources, including the GBTA. Key discussion areas include enhancing efficiency through technology, improving response accuracy, and promoting industry-wide solutions, while strategic recommendations for the hotel industry emphasise innovative pricing models, predictive analytics, and personalisation, including the use of AI in RFP responses. The Advisory stresses the importance of a precise approach to RFPs, utilising software tools like QorusDocs and PandaDoc to streamline the process. Emphasising that innovation is critical, the hotel industry is urged to adopt new technologies and customer-centric pricing to meet evolving guest expectations. They also advocate for decisive and strategic action in rate management and pricing models.

2) Seller Education

The Advisory is committed to enhancing seller education through targeted initiatives. The goal is to align educational efforts with regional needs, similar to the successful HSMAI Sales Leader Forum held in Oslo in December 2023. There will be a focus on practical training, with programmes focusing on practical skills, industry trends, and innovative sales techniques, ensuring sales professionals are well-equipped to meet evolving market demands.

3) Creativity in Sales Versus Dry Digital/Data-Driven Sales

Balancing creativity with data-driven strategies is essential for modern sales teams. The Advisory emphasises the importance of innovative thinking alongside foundational sales tactics. There is a need for sales professionals to think outside of the box to stand out in a competitive market. This includes finding innovative solutions to client needs and integrating creativity into everyday sales practices Discussions will highlight the need for sales teams to manage their commercial responsibilities effectively, enabling them to serve as trusted advisors to their clients while balancing operational demands.

4) Customer Expectations, Trends, and Insights

Understanding and meeting customer expectations is paramount, and the Advisory is dedicated to providing comprehensive insights into customer requirements and trends. One proposed initiative is to create an annual customer trends paper, incorporating elements such as podcasts with industry veterans, client interviews, and collaborations with research organisations like STR. Analysing the customer journey is crucial and the Advisory plans to collaborate with other HSMAI Europe Advisory Boards, including Marketing and Revenue, to produce cohesive and comprehensive insights from an international perspective.

5) Global Events/Geopolitical Impact and Progress Management

While not an immediate focus, the impact of global events and geopolitical factors on the hospitality industry is acknowledged as a significant area for future exploration. The Advisory recognises the importance of understanding and managing the effects of global events and although current efforts are directed away from crisis management, there is potential for future white papers or reports to address these impacts comprehensively.

These topics, identified and developed by the HSMAI Europe Sales Advisory Board, are essential for driving progress and innovation in the hospitality sales industry. By facilitating discussions around these critical industry issues, the Advisory aims to equip sales professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to excel in an ever-changing market landscape. Kostas Ioannidis, Sales Director, Global Sales Europe, at IHG Hotels & Resorts and Sales Advisory Board Chair for HSMAI Europe

Id like to congratulate Kostas and the Sales Advisory Board on making strong headway with 2024 initiatives in a short space of time. Their efforts in championing hospitality sales excellence will undoubtedly drive the industry forward and I hope, inspire other leaders to join the discussion and the board. Ingunn Hofseth, President & CEO of HSMAI Europe

HSMAI Europes Sales Advisory is also hosting several Sales Leader Forums in key cities across Europe in 2024. These half-day events bring together off-property sales leaders and others to learn about important trends, critical insights, and best practices  and their impact on hotel teams. Attendees include national and global sales directors, strategic and key account directors, area directors and regional directors of sales.

For more information on HSMAI Europe Advisory Board opportunities, membership, initiatives, and events, email [email protected]

About HSMAI Europe

HSMAI  Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International  is a global organization founded in the US in 1927. HSMAI Region Europe is the European arm of the organisation. HSMAI Europe aims to be a key influencer, pioneer and the go-to industry resource for professional development, commercial strategies and sustainability in the hospitality, travel and tourism industry. Read More
Les Roches proudly hosted "ShiftIn powered by Spark" in Crans-Montana, a visionary event dedicated to exploring and testing cutting-edge innovations within the hospitality industry. The event, which took place from May 15 until May 17, served as a dynamic platform for industry leaders, innovators, and students to collaborate on fostering a sustainable future in hospitality.

A Hub for Sustainable Innovation

ShiftIn powered by Spark is more than just an event; it is a forum designed to highlight and evaluate groundbreaking technologies and sustainable practices in hospitality. This year, participants had the opportunity to be the first to learn about the latest trends and advancements in sustainability and technology for hotels, directly from industry pioneers and talented students.

Innovation Day: Pioneering Sustainable Breakthroughs in Hospitality

The highlight of Innovation Day on May 16th was the keynote presentations from three distinguished speakers:

Senami Akle , Director, Head of Design for Sustainability at Logitech, delivered an insightful presentation on "Sustainability without Technological Compromise"

, Director, Head of Design for Sustainability at Logitech, delivered an insightful presentation on "Sustainability without Technological Compromise" Javier Martin , Country Manager Italy at Keenon, shared his expertise on "Emerging Trends in Mobile Robotics for the Hospitality Industry"

, Country Manager Italy at Keenon, shared his expertise on "Emerging Trends in Mobile Robotics for the Hospitality Industry" Salva Ferri, Managing Partner at WeTangible, discussed "Navigating the Innovation Ecosystem: Crafting an Open Innovation Strategy for Entrepreneurs and Startups in the World of Venture Capital"

Mrs Akle emphasized the urgency of sustainable innovation, stating "Shift is needed now, theres no time to waste" and highlighted the company's commitment to designing for a positive future through relentless innovation. Javier Martin from Keenon Robotics addressed the transformative role of robotics in hospitality, and Salva Ferri from WeTangible focused on customer-centric innovation, stressing the need to adapt to ever-changing market demands with agility and foresight.

Empowering the Next Generation

This year, ShiftIn also empowered students to showcase their talents through the SEYS Awards Position Paper and an industry-led challenge with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Oceanic Global. These academic challenges encouraged students to devise innovative, sustainable solutions to real-world problems while connecting with global industry experts.

Specifically, students tackled operational challenges presented by three Fairmont hotels. The teams with the most feasible and innovative solutions had the opportunity to implement their ideas, receive mentoring, and access specialized training. This experience culminated in an enriching visit and a weekend stay at Les Roches in Crans-Montana.

Inspiring the Future of Hospitality

ShiftIn powered by Spark continues to inspire entrepreneurs to dive into the world of innovation while providing a platform for technological advancement, sustainability, and collaboration. The event underscores the importance of creating strong and lasting partnerships with brands that share a vision for a sustainable and innovative hospitality industry.

Innovation is transforming hospitality at an unprecedented pace, driven by new technologies and digital advancements. To prepare students to embrace these opportunities, Les Roches also created Spark, a global initiative designed to ignite intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. Spark brings together technology companies, industry partners, innovation specialists, and expert faculty, offering students real-life business consultancy and academic projects. This collaboration enables students to assess and enhance innovative solutions, such as VR training for realistic customer service scenarios and eco-friendly alternatives like body dryers instead of traditional towels. Spark ensures our graduates are ready to lead in a rapidly evolving industry.

Joceline Favre-Bulle, Director of Integrated Services, Innovation & Institutional Relations at Les Roches said: Once again, this has been a highly successful event which provides the perfect platform for thought leadership and knowledge creation around groundbreaking technologies and sustainable practices in hospitality. A huge thank you to all our speakers who shared the latest industry insight and thinking with delegates, and to Fairmount Hotels & Resorts and Oceanic Global who set some amazing challenges for our talented students. Planning is already underway for next year Shiftin event, as we continue to build and further develop Les Roches position as a leader in hospitality entrepreneurship and innovation.

About Les Roches

Les Roches is a bespoke experience to educate tomorrow's leaders in hospitality. Founded in 1954 in Switzerland, Les Roches offers undergraduate, graduate degrees and executive programs in Luxury, Hospitality and Tourism Management. Les Roches has campuses across Switzerland, Spain, UAE and China, as well as partner campus in near New Delhi.

Les Roches ranks in the top 5 in the worlds higher education institutions for hospitality and leisure management (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024).

Part of Sommet Education, worldwide leader in hospitality education, Les Roches is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

For more information, visit https://lesroches.edu/

Anouck Weiss

Chief Communication Officer, Sommet Education

Les Roches

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Rendering of the Anantara Dragon Seseh Bali Resort

Minor Hotels is announcing the signing of an agreement to manage a new-build resort and branded residences on the Indonesian island of Bali. Opening in 2027, the Anantara Dragon Seseh Bali Resort will be the first luxury beachfront resort on Seseh Beach and the third Anantara Hotels & Resorts property in Bali.

The Anantara Dragon Seseh Bali Resort is located on the black volcanic shores of Seseh Beach, a short drive from southern coast hotspots Canggu and Seminyak and an hour from Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). The propertys striking architecture, a creation of renowned British architect John Dawes, draws inspiration from the mystical Barong of Bali, a dragon-like guardian, lending the complex a sense of strength and grace with a touch of fantasy. The 216 keys, a mix of lead-in rooms and suites ranging from 52sqm to 120sqm, offer a serene sanctuary by the ocean. The Cocoon Residences blend nature and modern elegance, providing harmony between the interior and exterior and stunning views of the sunrise and sunset over the Indian Ocean.

The Anantara Dragon Seseh Bali Resort is developed and owned by the Taryan Group, a leading real estate and development company focused on progressive, innovative and ambitious development projects founded by Artur Mkhitaryan. The Anantara Dragon Seseh Bali Residences will be available for purchase through Taryan Group, with Anantara providing overall resort management.

In addition to enjoying world-class surfing on Seseh Beach, guests will revel in restorative stays at the peaceful hideaway along the Indian Ocean. Guests can rejuvenate themselves at the Anantara Spa, find their inner peace in dedicated yoga and meditation studios, level up their workout at the top-of-the-line fitness centre, how to ride the waves from the on-site surf school or relax at the beach lounge or one of three swimming pools. The property will include three dining outlets: an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty Japanese restaurant and a poolside bar.

Global travellers cannot get enough of Bali as arrivals grow well past pre-pandemic levels. Todays travellers continue to look for new ways to appreciate Balis rich heritage and the islands diverse experiences. We look forward to partnering with Taryan Group to show travellers why Seseh Beach is Balis next hotspot by offering guests unforgettable experiences on the island.

Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels and Group CEO of Minor International We are honoured to work with Minor Hotels in bringing Anantara Dragon Seseh Bali Resort and Anantara Dragon Seseh Bali Residences to Seseh Beach. The combination of the distinctive architecture and design of our cocoon residences, elevated by the Anantara signature hospitality, will offer guests and owners extraordinary experiences that celebrate Balis natural beauty and culture.

Artur Mkhitaryan, Founder and Owner of Taryan Group

Minor Hotels currently operates two properties on Indonesias most-visited island: the Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort, a 73-key resort on the southern tip of Bali, and Avani Seminyak Bali Resort, an upscale lifestyle resort of 37 suites and pool villas. The hotel group is expanding its footprint in Bali this year with the addition of the Anantara Ubud Bali Resort, opening in September. Nestled amid tropical jungle and verdant rice fields, Anantara Ubud Bali Resort brings Anantaras authentic luxury to the islands interior with 66 suites and pool villas and 15 Anantara-branded residences.
Melville's Linguistics Lecture

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  On May 29 at 6:30 pm, the Berkshire County Historical Society welcomes linguist Wren Wood to Arrowhead for a lecture demonstrating how we can hear Melville's dialect in samples of his work, even without audio recording.

Tickets are $5 for BCHS members, $10 for non-members and can be purchased by using the BOOK NOW button at berkshirehistory.org

Wren Wood is a linguist and webmaster for the Chicopee Historical Society. They use maps, statistics and linguistics to encourage discussions around local history and historic preservation, which can be found on Instagram @FollowingMassHistories.

Prior to moving to Western Massachusetts, they used GIS to study bilingualism and threatened languages in the U.S. They earned a bachelor's in English from Bridgewater State University and a master's in Hispanic Linguistics from the University of New Mexico.
Activating Dunham Mall Community Fundraiser

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association, with partners the City of Pittsfield, MassDevelopment's Transformative Development Initiative (TDI), Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI), and the Pittsfield Community Design Center, are seeking public input and contributions on a relaunch to activate Dunham Mall with lighting, plantings, programming, and seating.

Reimagine Dunham Mall aims to support area business, recreation, pedestrian networks, and parking accessibility for residents and visitors of downtown Pittsfield. Pittsfield residents and stakeholders have identified beautification as a top priority for downtown.

The project has gone through an initial phase of public input: a community session held on Jan. 31, 2024; feedback collected online after an initial set of design concepts; and additional feedback collected in person on May 3, 2024, at First Fridays at Five.

Feedback to date has changed the project significantly; organizers have moved away from stylized design concepts. The new iteration of the project will include a phased approach. Installation of elements and style will depend on what the community deems essential to the project's success.

The public is invited to provide additional feedback and contribute to a community fundraiser on Patronicity ( Patronicity.com/ ImagineDunhamMall ) to help determine the concepts that move forward to implementation. Every community dollar (up to $15,000) will be matched twice.

If the Reimagine Dunham Mall design team is able to raise $7,500 in public contributions, the team will be able to implement some basic improvements like cafe lighting, new trash receptacles, signage, and new tree planters. With $20,000 in public contributions, additional improvements can be implemented including ways to define the space, new edge plantings, more shrub and tree tubs with seating, and mobile planters or dividers for activities. With $35,000 in public contributions, the team will be able to purchase green benches and permanent picnic tables, public art, and more trees and shade.

In Nov. 2023, the Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association was awarded a $50,000 Commonwealth Places Grant: $35,000 to activate Dunham Mall and Burbank Place and $15,000 to enhance the Berkshire Lightscapes program. This award must be matched to access the funding. Pittsfield Beautiful has pledged to match each dollar crowdfunded on the Patronicity site up to $15,000. Berkshire Lightscapes will match $15,000 for Lightscapes internally. Administered by MassDevelopment, Commonwealth Places provides funding to support place-based, locally driven placemaking projects in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts throughout Massachusetts.
Bishop West Real Estate Welcomes New Agents

ADAMS, Mass.  Bishop West Real Estate welcomes Ashlee Colon and Vincent Leydet to its team.

Ashlee and Vince join as seasoned Realtors, bringing expertise and a dedication to excellence in every transaction.

"Our vision at Bishop West Real Estate has always been centered around providing the utmost in client-level service," said Corey Bishop. "With Ashlee and Vince's addition to our team, we reinforce our commitment to this principle."

West adds that Bishop West Real Estate is renowned for its full-service approach, ensuring every client receives personalized attention and support throughout their real estate journey.

"We believe in going above and beyond for our clients," said West. "That's why we offer a written service guarantee, providing assurance that their needs will be met with the highest level of professionalism and care."

Bishop West Real Estate was founded in 2001 and serves all of Berkshire County, Southern VT, and Eastern NY, as well as the Gulf Coast of Florida.
A dozen people rally for climate legislation at Park Square.

Environmentalists Push for Climate Legislation

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Local environmentalists joined statewide rallies for climate legislation on Tuesday, pushing the passage of four bills for cleaner air and energy.



A dozen people gathered in Park Square holding signs with pleas such as Let our grandchildren have a future and We need clean air. The Berkshire Environmental Action Team urged attendees to advocate for S.2135 for a gas moratorium, HD.2474/ SD.1180 and HD.2474/ SD.1108 for clean air, and HD.4024/ SD.505 for just energy citing.



The whole point of this is Mass legislative sessions last for two years. For the last three sessions, bills have always stalled out until the very last minute, said Rosemary Wessel, program director for No Fracked Gas in Mass.



Some of you may remember two years ago we were here 11 days before the session because they were saying Meh, we might not pass an energy bill, things aren't working out for us, So we want to make sure that they're on the ball earlier this year.



Executive Director Jane Winn emphasized that No Fracked Gas in Mass, BEAT, the 350 MA Berkshire Node, and Mass Power Forward joined ten simultaneous rallies for climate legislation with this event.



This is happening all across the state, she said.



It is now 60 days until the end of the session and Wessel said there are many bills that need to be resolved, reconciled, or put into an omnibus energy bill. She pointed to a spat between chairs of the state Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee earlier this year that divided the panel for separate hearings and resulted in less communication.



They've resolved their differences but things still aren't going through that fast and we're now 93% of the way through this legislative session, she said.



They have good legislation in front of them. They need to get working on it now because when these bills get left to the last minute, that's time for the utility companies to get to them, its time for the lobbyists to get to them to tinker with the wording.



Wessel reported that Sen. Paul Mark, who is on the committee, and State Rep. Tricia Farley Bouvier have championed the legislation.



When we brought up concerns to (Mark,) he actually relayed them to the committee heads as well, she added. So he's been helping push them forward as much as there has been movement forward.



Deputy Director Brittany Ebeling explained that these bills are no brainers and to meet the state's decarbonization goals, will support the state in moving forward equitably and with justice toward decarbonizing.



The gas moratorium bill asks for legislation to establish a moratorium on new gas system expansion. It is currently before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.



This bill is pointing to the fact that we need to transition away from fossil fuels, we need to curb our state's emissions, and by doing so, invest in clean energy infrastructure, she said.

They would also like to get the attention of the House speaker and Senate president, "Because they have all been in part of the process of stalling progress on clean energy legislation and environmental justice legislation. They're the ones who are dragging their feet and they're the ones who can move things forward more quickly.








Staff and officials of Community Health Programs and the Adams Dental and Family Services cut the ribbon at the Depot Street offices on Wednesday. Reception area. Pantry in the Family Services offices. One of the new operatories. Clockwise from bottom left: Brian Drake, Mary Feuer, Bethany Kieley, Christine Hoyt, Jonathan Butler and Casey Pease, representing state Sen. Paul Mark. PreviousNext

CHP Celebrates Opening of Dentist Practice in Adams



CHP's Director of Dental Services Nicole Wilkinson speaks at the celebration of the practice's opening in Adams. ADAMS, Mass.  Community Health Programs Inc. is expanding its reach into North County with the opening of a dental and family center in the former Adams Internists.

CHP celebrated the opening on Wednesday night with tours of the renovated portions of the building on Depot Street, speakers and the cutting of a ribbon.

"Human beings deserve the best dental treatment available, whether they have private insurance, Medicaid or no dental coverage at all," said Nicole Wilkinson, director of dental services. "With our dental expansion, we hope to bring that inclusion to all of Berkshire County starting here in Adams."

The opening of the dentistry, which will complement the North Adams Family Medical & Dental Center at North Adams Regional Hospital, will serve another 700 individuals in the area.

Brian Drake, president of the CHP board, said the organization will continue to fill the gaps in health care throughout the region.

"We're also of course driven by our mission to nurture and inspire healthy lives for people throughout the Berkshires by delivering exceptional and compassionate health care and family services," he said. "Adams is an example of these criteria."

CEO Bethany Kieley said these are the moments that they strive to become a reality. "Lots of years of hard work and we're just really delighted that it's come to fruition."

The dentistry consists of four "operatories" in light neutral colors and wide windows, including an accessible one to accommodate wheelchairs. The chairs also have built in monitors for displaying X-rays to patients, though Wilkinson said they've also been handy for showing cartoons to calm children.

There's cabinets and sterilization equipment and a $25,000 panoramic X-ray machine will allow for 360 degree radiographs once installed.

The renovation was about $847,000 and largely funded through donations and foundations.

"With my 30 years of experience in the dental sector, I saw a community here that deserved better access to dental care and to be treated with up-to-date, aesthetically pleasing facilities by a team as passionate as I am about the care of their patients," said Wilkinson. "We designed this office to be calming and bright and have state-of-the-art technology for more thorough and accurate diagnosis and treatment."

The practice will have two dentists with the potential for a third specialist who may rotate through and a hygienist. Plus with two dentists and three hygienists at the hospital, CHP is hoping to provide more access to care.

Wilkinson acknowledged the general shortage in not only dentists but hygienists and assistants as well.

"We have been lucky. We're really promoting our new offices. So we've been able to attract a lot of attention," she said. "And we've been lucky to find people that actually want to work in public health."

CHP is also working with McCann Technical School's dental assisting program and Wilkinson said enrollments are up at other dentistry schools.

The practice has a waiting list for regular appointments but Wilkinson thinks that the wait will drop once the second dentist starts within the month.

"We've already reduced our wait times a lot. It used to be six, eight months to get an appointment. We're now down to about three months to get an appointment," she said. "And then as these new people come on, we're going to shorten that to even like we should be able to get people in within a month for and that's a typical new patient. No problems, no pain. If somebody's in pain, we get them in within 24 hours. ...

"We really are truly open to everybody. It doesn't matter if you have insurance, don't have insurance. You don't have private insurance. MassHealth whatever you have, we have sliding fee schedules based on income levels."

There's still a number of vacant medical exam rooms in the building. Adams Internists and North Adams Family Medicine had joined CHP in 2015 and later moved its offices to the hospital.

"We focused everything on bringing Family Services, and bringing dental back and now we're looking to assess this area, find out what we can use this for what the community needs and what's going to be best," Wilkinson said.

The Family Services portion offers help in connecting to social service agencies, medical and dental referrals, insurance enrollment and other needs. It has a pantry and clothing and diaper exchange. The Food for All program offers fresh local food from farmers on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.

Mary Feuer, director of family services, said the connection with Adams goes back six or eight years when the Council on Aging had asked about the Mobile Food Bank at CHP's headquarters in Great Barrington and expressed how great the need for food was.

It took some time but now the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has a regular schedule and the Family Services office is open.

"We are we are taking our time to learn the families here, learn the individuals and as we get to know them we will understand what their needs are and that's how we will create our expansion of Family Services," said Feuer.

Local officials welcomed the opening of center, with 1Berkshire's President and CEO Jonathan Butler saying it was a welcome investment.

"It makes us a more viable place for families to live. It makes it a more viable place for us to continue to plan into our future and invest in this region," he said, adding that as a resident, it was also a great resource.

Selectmen Chair Christine Hoyt said, "it will have a positive impact here on our community and particularly on the health of our residents," adding the downtown location will make it even more accessible.
Mount Greylock School Committee Picks Interim Superintendent

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Mount Greylock School Committee on Wednesday voted 7-0 to enter negotiations with the district's assistant superintendent to serve as interim superintendent after the abrupt announcement that Jason McCandless intends to leave the district at the end of the school year.

Assistant Superintendent Joseph Bergeron told the committee that he would be willing to serve in the capacity and, at the same time, welcomed the prospect of a new permanent superintendent joining the office  likely some time in 2025.

"The opportunity to serve the students, staff and the community is something that, as a duty, is something I feel I need to do," Bergeron told the panel. "Doing that to bridge the gap between right now and when this committee is able to hire a permanent superintendent is something I'm willing to do. I'll provide the stability and support and the push for areas where I know we can and should improve.

"I do want to say to any potential superintendent out there that I would love to work with you. I'd love to work with you on behalf of this whole district.

"So please come."

The committee authorized Chair Christina Conry to negotiate a deal with Bergeron to serve in an interim role and to figure out a transition plan to make the change from McCandless, who did not attend Wednesday's virtual meeting.

In his absence, most of the School Committee members took the opportunity to thank McCandless for his service and express their shock and disappointment that both he and Williamstown Elementary School Principal Cindy Sheehy announced their departures within four days of one another.

"Over the last four years, our district has benefited greatly from [McCandless'] wisdom, unabashed honesty, kindness and experience," Conry said, reading from a statement she prepared for the meeting. "Dr. McCandless steered our team through our COVID reopening and began the difficult community conversation about bias in our district. He invested time in mentoring new leaders and built strong relationships with our classroom educators.

"[Sheehy's] depth of knowledge and experience, genuine kindness, infectious energy, engagement with our community, collaboration with staff and concern for the welfare of every individual child is deep."

Conry expressed her gratitude to both McCandless and Sheehy and to all the remaining professionals who make the district's three schools run.

The School Committee agreed that her note should be distributed to members of the Lanesborough-Williamstown school community as representing the sentiments of the full body.

Several of the elected officials offered their own thoughts as well  both about McCandless and the challenges faced by the school administration as it worked and will continue to work to achieve the goal he laid out of creating a more equitable and inclusive school community

"I was motivated four years ago [to run for School Committee] because of a whole range of experiences I learned our children were experiencing in the district," Jose Constantine said. "I was eager to be part of something that might address those challenges, those harms.

"I truly believe those two administrators [McCandless and Sheehy], both of them, cared about every single one of our children. That said, what we heard [at the May 9 meeting] from our families  all that remains true. Our kids do experience all kinds of harm in the district. We have a responsibility, not just as a district but as communities to call these challenges out, to recognize where they come from. They come from the fabric of our communities. Until we are brave enough to address these challenges  we will never make the real progress that's needed."

Julia Bowen, who echoed many of the sentiments expressed by Conry and Constantine, also said the disruption caused by McCandless' departure is an opportunity for the School Committee members themselves to look inward.

"It's challenging because the decisions were private," Bowen said, acknowledging that neither McCandless nor Sheehy has spoken publicly about their reasons for resigning. "But can we do differently or better to ensure our leaders have the support? We have the knowledge, and we can know when these things are bubbling in a way that is more supportive for the district.

"I want to name that because I hold right now, certainly, questions for myself of what I could do differently or better."

Most of the relatively brief (47-minute) meeting was devoted to looking forward to the committee's next steps as it enters into a search for McCandless' permanent replacement.

But it opened with a more critical comment on what at least one resident perceived to be the reason for his departure.

"I believe you've been unfairly attacked for trying to do the work, especially that referred to as DEI, the work that has been asked of you," Ralph Hammann said, addressing his remarks directly to McCandless. "Without having spoken to you or knowing your reasons for leaving, it seems clear to me and many, many other people that it's a certain viciousness of intolerant and hypocritical and, ironically, DEI-driven people who have rushed to judgment in search of a scapegoat.

"If you and your administration have been guilty of anything, it's of being nice. It's a virtue but not always a workable one when dealing with certain miscreants, whether they be young and in need of discipline or old enough to know better."

School Committee Vice Chair Carolyn Greene asked that other speakers at the meeting refrain from attacking, "not just individuals, but groups of individuals."

"If we could keep it all civil, that would be helpful," Greene said.

Conry reported to the committee that it has time to put together a search strategy for the new permanent superintendent. Representatives of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees advised Conry that this is the worst time of year to start such a search, and it really should begin in earnest in the fall, with candidate interviews taking place  at the earliest  in November.

Conry said the School Committee could discuss the search process at a future meeting, perhaps in consultation with advisers from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. Bowen noted that particular care will need to be taken to crafting a job description to make the district's priorities clear to potential candidates.

The School Committee that hires McCandless' replacement could have a different composition from the one that met on Wednesday. Voters in Lanesborough and Williamstown this November will have three committee seats on the ballot, those currently held by Bowen and Constantine of Williamstown and Ursula Maloy of Lanesborough; per the regional agreements, four members of the seven-person School Committee are residents of Williamstown, the larger of the two member towns. Residents in both towns vote for all seven positions on the panel.

Nomination papers are currently available at the district office on the Mount Greylock Regional School Campus. The deadline to return signed nomination papers is July 23. Conry said she intends to have the three incumbents up for re-election tell the community at the School Committee's June 13 meeting whether they plan to run again.

Several of the current School Committee members have experience with a superintendent hiring process, perhaps more than they have wanted.

Turnover among school superintendents, the "CEOs" of public school districts, is an issue nationwide and in the commonwealth.

In February 2022, the Watertown-based research firm Education Resource Strategies released an analysis of the nation's 100 largest school districts and found that the percentage operating under an interim or first-year superintendent rose from 19.6 percent from 2016 to 2020 up to 25.5 percent in 2021 and '22.

Closer to home, the director of member services of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents told Boston's WGBH last August that the average tenure for a superintendent is "about five years."

On Tuesday, MASS Executive Director Mary Bourque said in reply to an email from iBerkshires.com that the state group does not have hard numbers on the issue but is looking to start tracking average tenures across the commonwealth.

In the Lanesbourgh-Williamstown district, a five-year stretch would be a break from recent trends.

Douglas Dias, who was hired in the spring of 2015, left abruptly in November 2016 after about 16 months on the job.

Kimberley Grady, who served as acting and interim superintendent after Dias' departure, was hired full-time by the School Committee in April 2018. She departed in July 2020, about 27 months into her tenure.

McCandless was offered the job on July 31, just 20 days after Grady's resignation was announced. After giving the Pittsfield Public Schools 90 days notice, he took over in November 2020; last week he announced he will leave the district at the end of the current school year, less than four years after coming on board.
This summer season, Filipinos are experiencing intense heatwaves, with at least 36 key areas, including Metro Manila, facing dangerous heat indexes ranging from 42 degrees Celsius to over 50 degrees Celsius.

Here are ways operators need to know to mitigate potential damage

The highest heat index recorded so far, a scorching 53 degrees Celsius in Iba-Zambales on April 28, has reached the "extreme danger level."

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) warns that these high heat indexes are likely to persist in the next couple of weeks, due to the weakening El Nino. The heat index reflects what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature.

Data centers are particularly vulnerable to these extreme heat indexes. According to Pamela Albar, Sales Director, Vertiv Philippines, managing extreme temperature spikes is critical for data center operators. "Vigilance in monitoring facilities is key to maintaining reliability and connectivity. Failure to address these challenges can have serious implications for operations," said Albar.

To ensure data center operators keep their facilities cool and protect their operations from extreme temperature spikes during the summer, Vertiv recommends the following interventions:

Clean or Change Air Filters. Data center operators should regularly clean or change air filters in their data center Thermal Management and Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. These filters help protect sensitive electronics from particulates in the air, including smoke.

Accelerate Planned Maintenance and Service. Extreme heat and poor air quality can strain not only data center infrastructure systems but also electricity providers. To prevent unexpected failures, operators should accelerate planned maintenance and service. This includes cleaning condenser coils and maintaining refrigerant charge levels.

Activate Available Efficiency Tools. Modern Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems often come equipped with high-efficiency eco-modes that can reduce the amount of power drawn from the grid. During heatwaves, reducing demand on the grid can help prevent outages.

Leverage Alternative Energy Sources. Data centers with access to viable alternative energy sources should consider using them. This could include on- or off-site solar arrays, wind farms, or lithium-ion batteries for peak shifting or shaving.

It's important to note that using generators during heatwaves is discouraged due to the higher greenhouse gas emissions they produce compared to alternative energy sources.

These four essential steps are among the best ways to help prevent the damage that can be caused by heatwaves. For Vertiv, their solutions can help operators manage their data centers, particularly with their immersion, water-free, and evaporative free cooling systems designed to deliver reliability and efficiency in high-temperature environments. Vertiv also provides cutting-edge, sustainable, and innovative solutions that improve the performance and scalability of data centers, communication networks, and other critical IT facilities.

To learn more about how Vertiv supports the continuity of today's vital business, visit Vertiv.com.
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One of Londons oldest cinemas has been vandalised after making the decision to show a new film documenting the Hamas terror attack at the Nova Music Festival last year.

Supernova: The Music Festival Massacre features footage filmed by both survivors and Hamas attackers on the horrific October 7 attack.

The film is currently being aired as part of the Seret International Israeli Film Festival, which has been subject to boycott calls because of the countrys ongoing war on Gaza.

However, some pro-Palestinian protestors believe it should not be shown and is part of a broader attempt at justifying Israels ongoing war on Gaza.

Pictures on social media show the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley spraypainted in red with the message: Say no to art washing in block capitals.

Art Washing is a term used to describe the use of art to legitimise otherwise negative actions taken by a group or an individual.

The act of vandalism was met with outrage by locals, who took to social media to express their frustrations and spread word of a counter-protest taking place tonight (23 May).

open image in gallery The Phoenix Cinema has been targetted by vandals for taking part in an Israeli film festival ( Alamy )

Alongside a picture of the vandalism, Twitter (X) user Josh Howie wrote: My local cinema. Now. For committing the crime of showing a documentary about Jews being murdered at a music festival.

The modern Nazis are also protesting @Phoenixcinema tonight at 7. Ill be there to greet them.

My local cinema. Now.



SAY NO TO ART WASHING



For committing the crime of showing a documentary about Jews being murdered at a music festival.



The modern Nazis are also protesting @Phoenixcinema tonight at 7. Ill be there to greet them. pic.twitter.com/VwdmRarntG  Josh Howie (@joshxhowie) May 23, 2024

A second local questioned: How can a film about innocent young people butchered, raped and abducted be Art Washing?

East Finchleys beloved @Phoenixcinema has been desecrated with graffiti simply because they are showing a film about a massacre of innocent Jews at a music festival, wrote a third Twitter (X) user.

Shame on the people that did this.

East Finchleys beloved @Phoenixcinema has been desecrated with graffiti simply because they are showing a film about a massacre of innocent Jews at a music festival. Shame on the people that did this. pic.twitter.com/068niKEWT9  Hannah  BRING THEM HOME (@nice_cuppa) May 23, 2024

The October 2023 attack on the music festival at the Israeli-Gaza border saw 364 people brutally lose their lives in one of the most shocking and well-documented chapters of the ongoing conflict.

The International Israeli Film Festival aims to support the countrys culture through film.

Seret wrote in a statement: In recent months, the festival has faced challenges and pressures on cinema houses, with threats of boycotts and demands for cancellations.

However, SERET remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting Israeli culture through cinema and refuses to succumb to censorship or cancellation.

A GoFundMe has now been set up to support the Pheonix Cinema, which is the oldest cinema in London, in the aftermath of the vandalism. It has already surpassed its 1,500 target.

The Metropolitain Police told The Independent: Police were called at 10:11hrs on Thursday, 23 May to reports of criminal damage at the Phoenix Cinema in High Road N2.

An investigation has been launched. There have been no arrests.

While enquiries are ongoing, at this time the incident is being investigated as a potential hate crime.

Police had already been made aware of protests expected at the venue regarding a film screening on Thursday night.

Officers will be there to make sure those attending can protest safely whilst at the same time minimising serious disruption to the community.

The Independent has reached out to the Phoenix Cinema for comment.
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Robert Downey Jr playfully roasted Chris Hemsworth as the Australian actor received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today (23 May).

The pair co-starred in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Downey Jr, 59, playing Iron Man and Hemsworth, 40, as the Norse god Thor.

After taking to the podium on Hollywood Boulevard, Downey Jr opened his remarks by saying that hes eager to see Hemsworth in George Millers forthcoming Mad Max: Fury Road prequel Furiosa. This is going to be the film of 2024, he said. I can't wait. Im gonna see it three times.

He proceeded to compliment Hemsworth by calling him a remarkable human being with a contagious Aussie charm. He added: Chris is a bit daunting to describe. Hes very elusive because of the pretty packaging.

However upon further inspection, down under, he has a true blue wit, and he has a depth of soul, and it has been my sincere pleasure to know you over these many years. You keep us Hollywood folks on our toes because youre just a real dude.

Downey Jr then remarked: Now, here comes the roast! before explaining that hed reached out to fellow members of the Avengers cast to ask them to describe Hemsworth in just three words.

open image in gallery Robert Downey Jr and Chris Hemsworth during Hemsworths Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony on 23 May 2024 ( Kevin Winter/Getty Images )

He said Hawkeye actor Jeremy Renner had gone with: Absurdly annoyingly amazing while The Hulk star Mark Ruffalo came in strong with: Friend from work. The line is a reference to 2017s Thor: Ragnorok, which Downey Jr acknowledged with a smile: Oh that's a callback, now I get it.

He added that Scarlett Johansson, who plays Black Widow, called Hemsworth a sensitive leading lady while Captain America actor Chris Evans described him as: Second best Chris.

Following Downey Jrs remarks, Hemsworth gave a short speech thanking his family for their support before his star was unveiled.

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Earlier this month, Downey Jr revealed that he disagrees with Hemsworths public criticisms of his Thor character.

The Australian actor had admitted he felt like a security guard for the team, while others had cooler lines, and worried he had let fans down with his performance.

But Downey Jr argued that Thor in fact had the most complex psyche out of all of the superhero group.

First off, Thor as a character was super tricky to adapt  lots of implied limitations  but he and Ken Branagh figured out how to transcend, make him somehow relatable but godlike, he told Vanity Fair.

Hemsworth is, in my opinion, the most complex psyche out of all us Avengers. Hes got wit and gravitas, but also such restraint, fire, and gentleness.
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Native American costume designer Kristi Marie Hoffman sued Apple on Wednesday, claiming that she was excluded from awards consideration for her work on Killers of the Flower Moon, allegedly as retaliation for her complaints of racial discrimination on set.

Hoffman, who was credited as an assistant costume designer, filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, and alleged that she completed most of the research and costume design for the film, in particular those worn by the Osage actors.

Hoffman has also claimed that she designed the jacket worn by Leonardo DiCaprio, who played Ernest Burkhart, which she said garnered much praise for its authenticity and originality.

Despite her work, Hoffman said that her contributions were completely ignored and she was excluded from receiving credit at the Academy Awards and the Costume Designers Guild Awards.

Killers of the Flower Moon was nominated for 10 Oscars, seven Golden Globe Awards and three SAG Awards, several of these for best costume design, and also received a nomination from the Costume Designers Guild (CDG) for excellence in a period film.

The Western true-crime thriller is an adaption of David Granns 2017 non-fiction book of the same name, which follows the Osage Indian murders of the 1920s.

According to the lawsuit, Hoffman was initially listed alongside the lead costume designer Jacqueline West and identified as the first assistant costume designer when the nominations for the Costume Designers Guild Award were announced.

However, she was allegedly removed at Wests request and the credit was applied to all assistant costume designers, including those in secondary roles.

open image in gallery Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in a scene from Killers of the Flower Moon ( AP )

When Hoffman challenged the decision, the CDG found that the removal was improper.

However, Hoffman believes her removal was in retaliation for her filing an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint that was settled in December 2022 over racial discrimination she allegedly faced on the set that affected her mentally and emotionally.

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Since her EEOC Complaint, Hoffman has been targeted through elimination efforts by Defendants for her contributions to the film by Defendants promotion of West and O Keefe for her efforts, the lawsuit states.

Hoffman has sued Apple, the Costume Designers Guild, and Jacqueline West, the costume designer who hired her, in her lawsuit.

The lawsuit states that Hoffman was brought on the project because West wanted someone with the requisite cultural competency and ensure that Native Americans were represented among the crew.

Hoffman, who has been in the television and film industry since around 2004 and has contributed to many productions, poured her heart into KOTFM as a film about Native Americans to which she could relate as a Native herself, the lawsuit states.

Hoffman endured discriminatory conduct on the set of KOTFM, as she was subsequently discredited for her work during the films promotion and release and targeted with ads celebrating West and OKeefe for the results of her hard work.

open image in gallery Lily Gladstone and director Martin Scorsese on the set of Killers of the Flower Moon ( AP )

Further, the lawsuit claims that Hoffman was deliberately overlooked as the films costume work was promoted only by West and consultant Julie OKeefe, with no mention of Hoffman.

Throughout the multitude of award nominations for KOTFM, Apple teamed up with West and CDG to promote the film and its costume design, the lawsuit said.

Despite Hoffman being the primary ACD and completing most of the research and costume design for the film, the Defendants not only specifically excluded her involvement in its promotion but also completely ignored her work and instead represented to the public at large that the costume design work, her work, was the product of West and a consultant on the film, Julie OKeefe.

The Independent has reached out to Apple Studios for a comment.

Hoffman, who has been part of the industry since 2004 and worked on 2016s Captain America: Civil War and 2015s The Revenant, has brought claims for breach of contract, false advertising, retaliation, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction against further promotion of the film.
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A group of Louisiana-based musicians have filed a lawsuit against Beyonce over her 2022 hit Break My Soul.

The lead single from the stars 2022 album Renaissance samples the 2014 song Explode by New Orleans artist Big Freedia, a champion of bounce music, a subgenre of the citys dance and hip-hop scene.

According to a document filed in Louisiana federal court on Wednesday (22 May), Da Showstoppaz  comprised of Tessa Avie, Keva Bourgeois, Henri Braggs and Brian Clark  claim that Explode copies the lyrics and composition of their 2002 song Release a Wiggle without authorisation.

The lawsuit notes: Defendants used Plaintiffs words, melody, and musical arrangement from their copyrighted works to create an album as homage to Uncle Johnny who exposed the music and culture of the LGBTQ community of greater New Orleans, of which three members are strongly affiliated with themselves, all displayed in its full force  the tone, actual words, melody, musical arrangement of bounce music.

The group also claims: Any reasonable person listening to Release a Wiggle and Explode would conclude that the songs are substantially similar.

Along with Beyonce and Big Freedia (also known as Freddie Ross Jr), Jay-Z, Sony Music and other agencies have been named as defendants in the suit.

The filing further alleges that while Beyonce, Big Freedia and others have financially benefitted from the song, Da Showstoppaz have not received the same rewards.

open image in gallery Beyonce at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in April 2024 ( Getty Images for iHeartRadio )

Mrs Carter, Big Freedia, Parkwood, Sony, and others have received many accolades and substantial profits from Explode and Break My Soul and the Renaissance album, the Renaissance World Tour, and the Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce, Da Showstoppazs have received nothing  no acknowledgement, no credit, no remuneration of any kind, the suit reads.

According to Rolling Stone, Da Showstoppaz are asking to be credited on Break My Soul and Explode, and for compensation rights as well as royalties for future licenses on the tracks.

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The Independent has reached out to representatives of Beyonce and Big Freedia for comment.

Break My Soul was the first track released by the Cowboy Carter artist for Renaissance and was her first solo single since 2016.

After the albums release, Beyonce embarked on a world tour from May to October 2023, which reportedly made $579m (454m) worldwide.
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Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who was jailed for her reporting from Wuhan in the early days of the Covid pandemic, has been released from prison after four years, she confirmed in a video statement.

Ms Zhang said police escorted her to her brother Zhang Jus home on 13 May, the day her sentence ended. There had been growing concern among activists over her whereabouts in the 10 days since, with no confirmation that Ms Zhang was free.

I want to thank everyone for their help and concern, she said from what appeared to be the hallway of an apartment building.

open image in gallery File. An activist holds a picture of Zhang Zhan outside the Chinese central governments liaison office in Hong Kong on 28 December 2020 ( AP )

Reporters Without Borders also confirmed Ms Zhangs release but said her freedom was extremely restricted.

Although Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan was able to share a video today confirming her release from prison after four years, were worried about her situation under strict surveillance, the nonprofit said in a statement on X. Our call for her full & unconditional release remains urgent.

Ms Zhangs video confirming her release from jail was also posted by Jane Wang, an overseas activist who launched the Free Zhang Zhan campaign in the UK.

Ren Quanniu who represented Ms Zhang before he was stripped of his licence to practise law in February 2021, confirmed the authenticity of the video.

Shes not free, shes relatively free, he reportedly told the Associated Press. Shes still under the watch and care of the police.

Ms Zhang, a lawyer-turned-citizen journalist, travelled to Wuhan in February 2020 to document the Chinese governments efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus at the start of what was to become a global pandemic.

She posted firsthand accounts on social media from hospitals and streets that projected a more serious situation than the government acknowledged.

She also reported how the authorities were trying to censor criticism of its response to the viral outbreak on social media

Ms Zhang was arrested in May 2020 and convicted by a Shanghai court of picking quarrels and provoking trouble.

China has faced accusations of delaying the release of crucial information during the initial outbreak and attempting to cover up the crisis, thereby enabling the viruss spread to pandemic proportions.
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China has declared two days of major military exercises simulating an invasion of Taiwan, a provocative move that it describes as punishment for the islands newly inaugurated president.

Dozens of Chinese fighter jets carrying live missiles were scrambled towards Taiwan on Thursday morning without any advance warning, and Beijing conducted mock strikes in targeted areas around the island.

The drills are thought to be the most expansive yet, encompassing areas that include Taiwanese islands near the Chinese mainland and are by far the biggest since the aftermath of then US House speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to the region in 2022.

The exercises were dubbed 2024 A by Chinese officials, suggesting they could be the first of many this year. And while experts said they were clearly designed to send a message to the new Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te, the drills have also been met with deep concern by countries across the Pacific region.

Chinas mock strikes hit simulated high-value military targets, ships and warplanes of the enemy and were conducted in coordination with naval ships and missile forces, according to Colonel Li Xi, spokesperson for the Peoples Liberation Armys Eastern Theatre Command.

The drills came three days after Mr Lai  a man Beijing detests as a separatist  took office as Taiwans new president.

Taiwan responded by scrambling its own jets and putting its entire military on alert. Its presidential office expressed regret that China was threatening the islands democratic freedoms, as well as regional peace and stability, with its unilateral military provocations, but said people should rest assured Taiwan can and will ensure its security.

Chinas irrational provocation has jeopardised regional peace and stability, the islands defence ministry said. It said Taiwan will seek no conflicts but will not shy away from one.

Mirage 2000-5 aircraft prepare to take off at Hsinchu air base in Taiwan ( Reuters )

This pretext for conducting military exercises not only does not contribute to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, but also shows its hegemonic nature at heart, the ministrys statement said.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, reacted angrily to Mr Lais inauguration speech on Monday, in which he called on Beijing to accept the reality of Taiwan and stop threatening the island with war.

A Taiwanese air force C-130 takes off at Hsinchu ( Reuters )

Mr Lai says only Taiwans people can decide their future, and rejects Beijings sovereignty claims. He says he has repeatedly offered talks with China but has been rebuffed.

Later on Thursday, a spokesperson for Chinas Taiwan affairs office appealed directly to those living on the island who sympathise with Beijing, saying they should oppose independence separatism and work with like-minded citizens on the mainland instead. Beijing also said it would resolutely crush any attempt to pursue further autonomy for Taiwan.

The drills, which began at 7.45am local time, are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, to the north, south and east of Taiwan, as well as areas around the Taiwan-controlled islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, said the Chinese military.

A ship is seen near a fishing port in Taiwans Kinmen on 23 May 2024 ( Getty )

They said they were focused on testing the real combat capabilities of its armed forces operating both inside and outside the island chain, as well as the ability to conduct precision strikes on key targets.

This is also a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces, the military command added.

A member of ground staff walks next to a Taiwan Air Force Mirage 2000-5 at Hsinchu ( Reuters )

Chinas state broadcaster CCTV said Mr Lais inauguration speech was extremely harmful and Chinas countermeasures were legitimate, legal and necessary.

Mr Lais speech was a confession of a desire for Taiwan independence and undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, it said.

Although the drills will only last two days, the geographical scope is larger than any previous exercises as they include Taiwans outlying islands, said Su Tzu-yun, a research fellow at Taiwans top military think tank, the Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

They were designed to demonstrate Chinas ability to control the seas and prevent the involvement of foreign forces, he said.

A Taiwan Air Force Mirage 2000-5 aircraft prepares to land ( Reuters )

Tourists look over at the Chinese city of Xiamen from Shuang Kou Coastal Park in Kinmen on 23 May 2024 ( Getty )

The political signals here are greater than the military ones, he added.

Chinas drills are an attempt to shock both the newly elected president and Taiwans pro-democracy contingent as a whole, said Wu Xinbo, the director of the Centre for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai.

The speed with which China has been able to encircle Taiwan is also certainly a blow to the US, he said. The drills show that the mainland is willing to increase its deterrence towards Taiwan independence forces and strengthen its capability to mould the Taiwan Strait situation in response to the domestic changes in Taiwan.

I believe that the shock and awe military drills from today onwards will be a routine occurrence, he added.

Condemning the normalisation of abnormal actions, a US general demanded public criticism of Chinas actions.

We need to condemn it publicly and it needs to come from us but it also needs to come from nations in the region, said Lieutenant General Stephen Sklenka, deputy commander of the US Indo-Pacific command in Canberra.

It is far more powerful when it comes from nations in this region. It is concerning but I also believe in my heart of hearts that conflict between our two nations is not inevitable and its not a foregone conclusion, he said.

Countries including Australia, South Korea and Japan have raised concerns about the escalation of tensions.

It is important to clearly communicate the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait directly to China, and work closely with allies including the United States and clearly communicate the shared position of each country, said Yoshimasa Hayashi, the chief cabinet secretary of Japan.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Indian spice exporters are being investigated after tests revealed elevated levels of cancer-causing pesticides in their products, sparking concern among global food regulators.

The Spices Board, Indias main regulator for spice exports, said it has begun conducting inspections at processing and manufacturing plants belonging to MDH and Everest, two leading brands.

The investigation comes over a month after Hong Kong suspended the sale of three spice blends produced by MDH and one by Everest, saying they contained high levels of a carcinogenic pesticide named ethylene oxide.

Singapore ordered a recall of an Everest mix, while New Zealand, Australia and the United States said they are looking into complaints about the two brands.

Britains food watchdog has applied extra control measures to all spice imports from India, the Food Standards Agency said last Wednesday.

We have conducted three consultations with the industry, a senior Spices Board official was quoted as saying by the Mint newspaper, adding that the industry is taking a serious approach to the matter.

A report on Tuesday in the Financial Express said that initial testing by Indian officials found no evidence of ethylene oxide in MDH spices but that in the case of Everest, some of the samples (out of 12) were non-compliant.

We have told them to take corrective actions and we are working with them to ensure that they are compliant, the unnamed official said.

The two Indian companies have said their products are safe for consumption, with MDH denying it uses any ethylene oxide in its spice mixes. We reassure our buyers and consumers that we do not use ethylene oxide at any stage of storing, processing, or packing our spices, it said, according to NDTV. The Independent has contacted Everest for comment.

Ethylene oxide, which is generally used as a disinfectant, sterilising agent and insecticide to reduce microbial contamination, is considered carcinogenic beyond permissible limits.

This limit is not standardised around the world, however. Hong Kong completely prohibits the use of ethylene oxide in food, while the European Union limits its usage to 0.1mg per kg.

The US Environmental Protection Agency says regular exposure to ethylene oxide over many years raises the risk of cancers, including non-Hodgkins lymphoma, myeloma and lymphocytic leukaemia, and breast cancer.

Growing global scrutiny of Indian spices has caused concern about the risk posed to the countrys spice export industry, which according to the Spices Board was worth $4bn in 2022-23.

The Global Trade Research Initiative, a think tank in New Delhi, estimates that it is likely to impact more than half of all overseas orders.

About 14.5 per cent of MDH shipments to the US have been cancelled since 2021 due to the presence of salmonella bacteria, a Reuters analysis of US FDA data has found.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Indias election commission has served only a gentle rebuke to prime minister Narendra Modi, as well as to the primary opposition Congress party, for making divisive speeches during the campaign for the ongoing general election, leaving critics who accuse the watchdog of favouring the ruling party unimpressed.

At a campaign rally in western Rajasthan state last month, Mr Modi told the countrys Hindus that the Congress party, if elected, would snatch away their wealth and give it to the Muslim minority, inviting widespread condemnation and complaints to the election body.

The watchdog, in a break from its usual practice, sent a notice to Mr Modis ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and not to him personally. Nonetheless, it was the first time in Indias independent history that the commission had recognised a complaint against a sitting prime minister.

It did the same when a complaint was made against Mr Modis chief rival Rahul Gandhi for allegedly making false allegations on the campaign trail, including that the ruling party would change Indias constitution if it won a third term in power, sending a notice to his Congress party.

Now, almost a month later, the commission has ticked off Mr Modi for his election rhetoric, saying both his and Mr Gandhis defences were not tenable.

It asked the prime minister to maintain decorum as his partys star campaigner in a six-week general election that is widely expected to hand him a third term in power.

The complaint against Mr Modi accused him of making divisive speeches and fomenting religious, caste and linguistic animosity.

In his Rajasthan speech, the complaint said, Mr Modi sought votes in the name of religion by falsely claiming that the Congress party would take wealth from Hindu wives and daughters and hand it over to Muslims, whom he referred to by the Hindu nationalist dog whistles of "infiltrators" and those with more children".

Earlier, when they were in power they had said Muslims have the first right to the wealth of the nation, Mr Modi said, referring to the Congress. This means they will distribute the wealth to those who have more children, to infiltrators. Should your hard earned money be given to infiltrators? Do you approve of this?"

He went on to falsely claim that the Congress partys manifesto declared they would take stock of the gold mothers and daughters have and distribute that wealth.

The prime minister has since tried to argue that he was not referring to Muslims in his speech, but generally to poor people.

In response to the complaints against Mr Modi and leaders of the Congress party, the election commission on Wednesday expressed concern that campaigners had continued to make such speeches and ordered parties to refrain from making any statement prohibited under the election code.

The Congress was specifically told to not give the "false impression" that the constitution could be "abolished or sold".

The commission has the power to suspend political leaders from campaigning if they are found in breach of its rules, and has exercised such measures in the past. It decided not to do so in the case of Mr Modi or Mr Gandhi.

India is currently conducting the worlds largest election. Nearly a billion people are registered to vote in seven phases of polling to decide whether Mr Modi will stay on as the prime minister for a rare third term.

Mr Modis BJP began the election campaign season by claiming it would win an unprecedented 400 seats out of the 543 in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament. Recent predictions have been less convincingly in the partys favour, although it is still widely expected to win another majority.

The votes will be counted and the results declared on 4 June.
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A Czech court has cleared an Indian mans extradition to the US over his involvement in an alleged plot to assassinate an American citizen in New York.

Nikhil Gupta, 52, is charged in the US with conspiracy to murder Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic rejected Mr Guptas challenge to rulings by a municipal court and the high court of Prague granting the US extradition request.

He had argued that the lower courts didnt examine political motives behind the actions he was facing charges for.

Mr Gupta is lodged in a Prague jail and will be extradited after a final decision is made by the justice minister.

He was arrested in June last year under a bilateral extradition treaty between the US and the Czech Republic, according to the Associated Press.

Mr Gupta was recruited to murder Mr Pannun by an unnamed Indian government employee who has described himself as a "senior field officer" with responsibilities in security management and intelligence, according to the US indictment seen by the Associated Press. He has also claimed to have served in the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force and been trained in "battle craft" and "weapons.

Mr Gupta, the indictment stated, contacted a person he believed to be a criminal associate to help find a hitman to kill Mr Pannun. The person happened to be a confidential source working with the DEA.

The source introduced Mr Gupta to a purported hitman, who was actually a DEA agent.

In June, the Indian government employee gave Mr Gupta the home address of Mr Pannun, his phone numbers and details about his daily conduct, including surveillance photographs, which he passed on to the undercover DEA agent, the indictment added.

It said Mr Gupta told the undercover agent to carry out the murder as soon as possible but not around the time of anticipated engagements between American and Indian officials.

The US authorities learned about the alleged plot to kill Mr Pannun, who is considered a terrorist by the Indian government, last spring.

Mr Pannun has been a leading advocate for the Khalistan movement, which seeks to establish an independent Sikh homeland in Indias Punjab state.

"When we were made aware of the fact that the defendant in this case had credibly indicated he was directed to arrange the murder by an individual who is assessed to be an employee of the Indian government, we took this information very seriously and engaged in direct conversations with the Indian government at the highest levels to express our concern," White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement at the time.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said a number of exchanges had taken place with Indian government counterparts prior to Mr Guptas detention, in which it was stressed that those responsible for the plot must be held to account.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan reportedly told his Indian counterpart, Ravi Sinha, that the US needed an assurance that this would not happen again and warned that another episode could permanently damage the trust established between our two countries, the official said.

US president Joe Biden reportedly raised the matter directly with prime minister Narendra Modi when they met at the Group of 20 Summit in September in New Delhi.
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A Nepali woman has set the record for scaling the worlds highest peak, Mount Everest, in less than 15 hours.

Phunjo Lama reclaimed the title of the fastest woman to scale Everest on Thursday morning.

She started the climb from the base camp at 3.52pm on Wednesday and stood atop the 29,032ft summit at 6.23am local time on Thursday.

She has scaled Everest in 14 hours and 31 minutes, Khim Lal Gautam, a senior official with the Expedition Monitoring Field Office at the Everest base camp, was quoted as saying by The Himalayan Times.

Ms Lama is a mountaineer from a remote village called Chhokangparo in the Tsum Valley of Manaslu region.

She came to worldwide attention in 2018 when she set the record for being the fastest woman to scale the Himalayan peak in 39 hours and 6 minutes.

Her record was broken in 2021 by Ada Tsang Yin-hung, 45, of Hong Kong who scaled the peak in 25 hours and 50 minutes.

open image in gallery Phunjo Lama from Nepal set the record for fastest ascent of Mount Everest ( @Phunjo_lama / Instagram )

Before this climbing season started, Ms Lama had decided to reclaim her title, said Shiva Bahadur Sapkota, general secretary of the Everest Summiteers Association.

Ms Lama, who is reportedly a single mother in her thirties, has trained in the Swiss Alps and Nepals Himalayas. She summited Everest on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti  a significant Buddhist festival  and advocated for world peace.

Through my climbing I wish to promote womens empowerment in Nepal and inspire other young girls to chase their dreams and show them that anything is possible, she said earlier, and in the future become a mentor for other young women who wish to become climbers.

The Independent has reached out to Ms Lama for comment.

Ms Lama, who is the first female helicopter longline rescuer in Nepal, has been awarded the Tenzing-Hillary Award by her country.

Nepal, meanwhile, has announced a new set of rules for mountaineers in the Himalayas following a deadly year in which 18 people died on Everest and five bodies had to be left on the mountain.

As the spring climbing season gets underway, Nepali officials say climbers must carry small, passive trackers that can be sewn into a jacket and dont need power to run. They can be detected through packed snow up to 20 yards away and further when tracked from the air using a handheld detector.
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Six Britons are still fighting for their lives in hospital and survivors have spoken out after a Singapore Airlines flight was hit by severe extreme turbulence.

There was a total of 20 passengers in intensive care units in Bangkok on Wednesday evening as investigators arrived in the Thai capital to learn how the turbulence sent the plane into a sudden dive.

The incident happened 10 hours into the flight from London Heathrow to Singapore, when the Boeing 777 carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, dropped 6,000ft in about three minutes.

The dive tossed people around the cabin, with some suffering head injuries from hitting the ceiling.

After regaining control, the captain diverted the plane to Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport, where medical teams evaluated those aboard and sent more than 80 to hospital.

One person onboard the flight said passengers were doing somersaults as the plane was hit by severe turbulence ( Reuters )

In its latest update, Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, where most of the injured were taken, said 20 people were being treated in intensive care, including the six Britons.

A total of 58 people were still under treatment at multiple medical facilities, and 27 had been discharged.

There was also tragedy, with 73-year-old Geoffrey Kitchen dying from a suspected heart attack. Mr Kitchen, from Thornbury near Bristol, was described as the most wonderful human by a friend on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, passengers who survived the ordeal emerged to speak to the press.

Josh Silverstone, who suffered a cut to his eye and a chipped tooth, said he woke up on the floor of the plane ( AP )

Jerry, who was travelling to his sons wedding, told the BBC the day was the worst of my life.

Speaking with a bandage covering part of his head, he said: [It was] so sudden, there was no warning at all, and I ended up hitting my head on the ceiling, my wife did.

Some poor people walking around ended up doing somersaults. It was absolutely terrible, and then suddenly it stopped and it was calm again, and the staff did their best to tend to the injured people.

The British man killed in severe turbulence was named as Geoffrey Kitchen, from Thornbury near Bristol ( Facebook )

Josh Silverstone, from south London, was discharged from hospital after suffering a cut to his eye and a chipped tooth.

The 24-year-old, who was on his way to Bali, said: I woke up on the floor, I didnt realise what happened, I mustve hit my head somewhere. There were people laying out on the floor, they were paralysed.

Fellow passenger Beverley Mayers, who was not injured, described the situation inside the plane as sheer terror.

The whole plane was shuddering ... great pieces were falling off and dropping on the floor, people getting hit in the head, she told Australias TV channel Nine.

Singapore Airlines said the flight encountered sudden extreme turbulence at 37,000ft above Myanmars Irrawaddy basin.

131 passengers and 12 crew members were well enough to travel on to Singapores Changi Airport on Wednesday morning ( EPA )

The airlines chief executive, Goh Choon Phong, said: We are very sorry for the traumatic experience that everyone on board SQ321 went through. We are fully cooperating with the relevant authorities on the investigations.

The carrier said 131 passengers and 12 crew members from Flight SQ321 who were well enough to travel were picked up on a special flight and arrived early Wednesday at Singapores Changi Airport.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said officials are supporting the family of the passenger and are in contact with local authorities.
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The busiest Atlantic hurricane season on record is set to break records this year, thanks to unprecedented ocean heat and a brewing La Nina.

The warning comes as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted between 17 and 25 named storms will brew up this summer and fall, with 8 to 13 achieving hurricane status and four to seven of them becoming major hurricanes.

There's an 85% chance that the Atlantic hurricane season that starts in June will be above average in storm activity, the weather agency said.

An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, seven of them hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

This season is looking to be an extraordinary one in a number of ways, NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said. He said this forecast is the busiest that NOAA has seen for one of their May outlooks; the agency updates its forecasts each August.

About 20 other groups  universities, other governments, private weather companies  also have made seasonal forecasts. All but two expect a busier, nastier summer and fall for hurricanes. The average of those other forecasts is about 11 hurricanes, or about 50% more than in a normal year.

All the ingredients are definitely in place to have an active season, National Weather Service Director Ken Graham said. Its a reason to be concerned, of course, but not alarmed.

What people should be most concerned about is water because 90% of hurricane deaths are in water and they are preventable, Graham said.

When meteorologists look at how busy a hurricane season is, two factors matter most: ocean temperatures in the Atlantic where storms spin up and need warm water for fuel, and whether there is a La Nina or El Nino, the natural and periodic cooling or warming of Pacific Ocean waters that changes weather patterns worldwide. A La Nina tends to turbocharge Atlantic storm activity while depressing storminess in the Pacific and an El Nino does the opposite.

open image in gallery Bob Givehchi, right, and his son Daniel, 8, Toronto residents visiting Miami for the first time, walk past debris and palm trees blowing in gusty winds, at Matheson Hammock Park in Coral Gables ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

La Nina usually reduces high-altitude winds that can decapitate hurricanes, and generally during a La Nina there's more instability or storminess in the atmosphere, which can seed hurricane development. Storms get their energy from hot water. Ocean waters have been record warm for 13 months in a row and a La Nina is forecast to arrive by mid to late summer. The current El Nino is dwindling and is expected to be gone within a month or so.

We've never had a La Nina combined with ocean temperatures this warm in recorded history so that's a little ominous, said University of Miami tropical meteorology researcher Brian McNoldy.

This May, ocean heat in the main area where hurricanes develop has been as high as it usually is in mid-August. "That's crazy, McNoldy said. It's both record warm on the ocean surface and at depths, which is looking a little scary.

He said he wouldn't be surprised to see storms earlier than normal this year as a result. Peak hurricane season usually is mid-August to mid-October with the official season starting June 1 and ending November 30.

A year ago, the two factors were opposing each other. Instead of a La Nina, there was a strong El Nino, which usually inhibits storminess a bit. Experts said at the time they weren't sure which of those factors would win out.

Warm water won. Last year had 20 named storms, the fourth-highest since 1950 and far more than the average of 14. An overall measurement of strength, duration and frequency of storms had last season at 17% bigger than normal.

Record hot water seems to be key, McNoldy said.

Things really went of the rails last spring (2023) and they haven't gotten back to the rails since then, McNoldy said.

Hurricanes live off of warm ocean water, said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. That tends to basically be fuel for the hurricane. But also when you have the warm Atlantic what that tends to do is also force more air up over the Atlantic, more rising motion, which helps support strong thunderstorms.

There's the background of human-caused climate change that's making water warmer in general, but not this much warmer, McNoldy said. He said other contributors may include an undersea volcano eruption in the South Pacific in 2022, which sent millions of tons of water vapor into the air to trap heat, and a reduction in sulfur in ship fuels. The latter meant fewer particles in the air that reflect sunlight and cool the atmosphere a bit.

Seven of the last 10 Atlantic hurricane seasons have been more active than the long-term normal.

Climate change generally is making the strongest hurricanes even more intense, making storms rain more and making them rapidly intensify more, McNoldy said.

This year, Colorado State University  which pioneered hurricane season forecasting decades ago  is forecasting a season that's overall 71% stronger and busier than the average season with 23 named storms and 11 hurricanes.

That's at levels comparable to some of the busiest seasons on record, said Klotzbach.

Klotzbach and his team gave a 62% probability that the United States will be hit with a major hurricane with winds of at least 111 mph. Normally the chance is 43%. The Caribbean has a two-out-of-three chance of getting hit by a major hurricane and the U.S. Gulf Coast has a 42% likelihood of getting smacked by such a storm, the CSU forecast said. For the U.S. East Coast the chance of being hit by a major hurricane is 34%.

Klotzbach said he doesn't see how something could shift soon enough to prevent a busy season this year.

The die is somewhat cast, Klotzbach said.
 Close Multi-vortex tornado near Creta, Oklahoma during Memorial Day Weekend

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At least 21 people have died, including two children, in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kentucky after violent storms ripped through the central US over Memorial Day weekend.

At least 11 tornadoes swept through affected states on Sunday, with severe weather forecast to continue throughout Memorial Day. On Monday, a staggering 120m Americans were at risk of large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes as storm systems moved towards the Gulf Coast and East Coast, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center.

The storms could bring gusts up to 70 miles per hour and quarter-sized hail.

Meanwhile, record-high temperatures are feared in other parts of the country, with excessive heat warnings and heat advisories over southern Texas on Monday.

The death toll climbed to 21 people on Monday.

At least eight people have so far died as a result of the extreme storms in Arkansas, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at a news conference on Sunday evening.

Four people died in Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear confirmed on Monday morning. The victims included a 67-year-old woman in Mercer County, a 62-year-old woman in Hardin County, a 48-year-old woman in Hopkins County and a 34-year-old man in Jefferson County, the governor said.

A fifth person was injured and is fighting for their life as of Monday afternoon, Mr Beshear said.

Meanwhile in Oklahoma, at least two people were killed in Mayes County after a tornado ripped through the northeast part of the state.

In Texas, multiple tornados were reported throughout the state with one plowing through Cooke County on Saturday night  approximately 50 miles north of Dallas  leaving seven people dead.

The sheriff confirmed that a two-year-old and a five-year-old were among the dead. The victims also included three other family members who were found in a home near Valley View  a rural community close to the Oklahoma border.

Recommended At least 21 killed as severe storms and tornadoes pummel central US
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Bethenny Frankel didnt hold back after she was allegedly denied entry into a Chanel store because she didnt have an appointment.

In a video shared to Instagram on Wednesday, May 22, the former Real Housewives of New York City star explained that she had just landed in Chicago, Illinois, when she paid a visit to one of the French luxury brands retail locations. However, Frankel claimed that she was immediately stopped at the door by a security guard.

Im in Chicago and the man at the Chanel store opens the door like this much, she said in the clip, using her fingers to make a smidge gesture. Hes like: Hello, do you have an appointment?

The SkinnyGirl founder noted: Im like: No, I dont have an appointment. I have a credit card. I have a bag of Garretts popcorn, a basic b**ch purse. Am I not allowed to come in at 3.54 on a Tuesday? Evidently not.

Frankel claimed that she was treated like an interloper for not making an appointment to shop at the Chanel store, adding: I didnt realize were not allowed to walk into stores anymore. I dont have an appointment. Gotta get a pap smear appointment and also to go walk into Chanel. No big deal.

The 53-year-old entrepreneur further claimed in her caption that while she could call one of my salespeople and get on this list to enter the Chanel store, she was denied entry because of her attire. I was straight off a plane in a sweaty T-shirt and not dolled up or looking wealthy, Frankel wrote.

There are several ways to convey a message and this way was rudeness and elitist and exclusionary, which is also a crime, she continued. In business, first impressions are lasting. I would never want anyone to feel lesser than, particularly from a luxury brand making billions off of people buying into the hype. Chanel is a beautiful brand with timeless classic pieces.

Being kind to customers of all socioeconomic backgrounds is also timeless and classic, she added.

The following day, Frankel returned to the same Chanel retail store in Chicago  this time dressed head-to-toe in the high-fashion brand. Im going into Chanel now dressed much differently than I was dressed yesterday. If they let me in because of how I look, Christmas is canceled, she joked in a subsequent video.

The reality TV star wore a black collared suit dress with white buttons, along with a black Chanel purse, oversized black sunglasses, and a pearl-encrusted headband as she pulled up to the store. Frankel was filmed walking up to the front door of the retail location, where three security guards stood outside.

Its important that I mention that the three gentlemen outside (not present yesterday) were lovely, she noted in her caption. As one man went inside the door, Frankel waited for him to return before she was granted entry. However, after the experiment worked, Frankel immediately turned back around and exited Chanel.

The Independent has contacted Chanel for comment.

This isnt the first time the former Bravo star has called out a popular clothing company. In July last year, Frankel criticized TJ Maxx for allegedly selling fake designer shoes and condemned the retailer over the scam. She explained in a video that she came across a pair of pink heels, which were labeled Manolo Blahnik and priced at $869.

These are coming home with me, she said, before learning from another TikToker that the shoes were likely a knockoff.

Frankel revealed that she reached out to TJ Maxx about the allegedly fake Manolo Blahnik shoes and in response, the company told her that it did not purchase this particular shoe. The store then asked her to provide her receipt, which she said she didnt have because she doesnt return things to TJ Maxx for the most part.

While TJ Maxx ultimately told Frankel it would refund her the money shed paid for the shoes, she decided to keep the counterfeit heels.

Im going to wear these fake counterfeit shoes with pride because I own them now, but do not buy luxury goods at TJ Maxx, she concluded, before noting that the original retailer is the safest.
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Paris Hilton plans to crack down on her childrens social media use in the future.

With a one-year-old son (Phoenix) and a six-month-old daughter (London) at home, the 43-year-old doesnt have to worry about her kids technology use yet. However, Hilton knows what her rules for phone usage will be when the time comes.

The reality star  who shares her two children with husband Carter Reum  spoke at The Wall Street Journals The Future of Everything Festival on 21 May about the strict parenting method shes devised.

Im going to try to not have them have a phone for a while because I think its just some of these kids are just getting phones at way too young of an age, Hilton admitted at the New York City event. And theres just so many things online that I wouldnt even want my children to be exposed to.

So I never thought I would say this, but Im going to be the strict mom, she confessed.

Part of her motivation also stems from her knowledge of the dangers social media can pose on mental health. A lot of the time, platforms like Instagram and TikTok spur negativity, causing users to compare aspects of their lives to others and subject themselves to the criticisms of internet sleuths. And thats not what Hilton wants for her children.

She said: I just want my children just to feel just so loved and seen and want to be that next generation of someone that brings positivity to the world and just to have big hearts and big loving.

Thats something thats really important to me, the socialite continued. And also to live a world outside of social media and being on their phone all the time. So I feel thats really taken a lot from children. Kids are not going outside any more and playing as much because everyones just so busy on their phones.

She hopes to prevent her kids from being as addicted to social media as she is.

Already, Hilton has taken drastic measures to keep Phoenix and London away from the public eye. In fact, the mother of two never announced she was expecting London and waited a full week before she told her mother Phoenix was born.

The A-lister wanted to keep the news of her baby boys arrival completely private, even if that meant hiding him from her family.

Speaking on Today with Hoda & Jenna, Hilton made her decision, listing her reasons for keeping her mom in the dark.

No one knew, literally, until he was, like, over a week old. So it was really nice just to have that with Carter, (have) our own journey together, she admitted. It was hard to keep that in because we were so excited and wanted to tell our families, but youre just nervous because if you tell one person then you know they tell someone and then all of a sudden its like in TMZ or Page Six.
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Princess Dianas hairdresser Richard Dalton revealed the intention behind one of the icons most memorable fashion moments.

The late Princess of Wales was, and still is, widely deemed the original model for the preppy, refined style that shaped the 1990s. She was fearless in her fashion pursuits, wearing vibrant wide-brimmed hats, exaggerated shoulder pads and extravagant two-tone gowns. And while her hairstyle stayed quite consistent  short and feathered  she played with dazzling accessories to jazz up the look.

Of her notable ensembles, Diana  who tragically passed away in 1997 at the age of 36  wore a diamond choker necklace as a headband in Australia with then Prince Charles. The 1985 get-up had the royal in a satin one-shoulder cerulean dress by Elizabeth Emanuel with the emerald-and-diamond piece fastened around her forehead.

I think she had sunburn on her neck so we said, Lets make a headband of it, Richard Dalton, Dianas famed hairstylist, remembered at the Styling Princess Diana panel on 21 May, celebrating People Magazines 50th anniversary.

I asked Evelyn, her dresser, for six inches of knicker elastic, [the kind used by] grannies, he continued.

Dalton recalled working with Diana for more than 10 years. They first met when she was 17 years old. Now, the creative is publishing an entire recap with a book entitled, Its All About the Hair  My Decade with Diana, in partnership with Renae Plant, the founder of The Princess Diana Museum.

The stylist admitted his favorite hairdo of Dianas was her 1988 look in Thailand. Her short dirty-blonde locks were swept back in a bouquet of pink, white, and purple flowers.

My favorite [hairstyle] would be Thailand, Dalton said at the Fotografiska New York event. She wore a] purple and shocking pink dress and I said, Why dont we do orchids? I went into the hotel, stealing flowers for the princess. This was my favorite. She loved it.

We decided whatever charity she was representing, the hair would sometimes take away from what she was doing, he continued, discussing their creative process.

In] Saudi Arabia, she wanted it short. We would cut it every day about a quarter of an inch, he said. [After] eight weeks, nobody noticed!

open image in gallery Princess Diana dances with Prince Charles while wearing a necklace as a headband ( Alamy )

Speaking to Page Six in 2023, Dianas royal cosmetic chemist, Sheree Ladove, exposed the secret to the beloved figures perfect hair. Even after helicopter rides, Dianas hair somehow still looked perfect  thanks to Ladove, Dalton, and a special formula.

When she would get off the helicopter, the blades would just spin and spin and her hair [would blow]. So her beautiful coiffed, cute little cut would go crazy, Ladove told Page Six. She didnt want anything that would make her hair look glued down because she was so young and so beautiful. She didnt want  a helmet-head kind of look.

I was literally in [the lab] formulating myself, figuring out whats the melting point of this resin, how do we get it so that its not so sticky and tacky? How do we get it so that it doesnt harden? Its just a whole creative recipe.
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Watch again as Rishi Sunak kicked off Tory general election campaign in Derbyshire on Tursday (23 May).

Mr Sunak began the first full day of the general election campaign with a visit to a distribution centre in Derbyshire to answer questions from staff.

Speaking to around 50 staff at the warehouse, the prime minister repeated his message that the Conservatives would offer economic stability and a clear plan, while Labour would take the UK back to square one.

After the astonishing announcement on Wednesday, political parties have wasted no time in launching their campaigns.

Mr Sunak kicked things off touring broadcast studios this morning before visiting all four nations in the UK in two days. During an interview on BBC Breakfast, he announced Rwanda flights wont take off before the July general election, insisting they will go if I am re-elected.

Sir Keir Starmer is also officially launching Labours campaign and is heading to the south east of England to turn around key Conservative seats.
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A terrified 10-year-old boy was thrown over a 100ft cliff and incredibly survived the fall after trying to stop a man who was raping his sister, a jury heard.

Anthony Stocks, 54, is accused of taking the boy to a clifftop in Brighton, East Sussex and throwing him over the edge after the child had tried to stop him from raping his underage sister. He denies all charges.

Oxford Crown Court heard the incident unfolded in front of the eyes of a witness who was walking at the bottom of the towering white chalk cliffs when he heard a shriek and saw a small shape fall as if thrown from the cliff.

Stocks, described in court as manipulative and selfish by prosecution, stood before the jury accused of rape of a girl aged under 13 years and of attempted murder of the 10-year-old boy - charges he denies.

Prosecutor Zoe Johnson, opening the case, told the jury: The defendant forced a girl under 13 to have sexual contact with him, knowing it was wrong.

The boy had started to try to intervene. Unbeknown to the boys mother, the defendant then took him to Brighton and in particular, to the cliffs.

That afternoon, the boy fell 100 feet from the cliff edge onto the concrete underwalk below.

Anthony Stocks is currently on trial at Oxford Crown Court (Steve Parsons/PA) ( PA Archive )

Miraculously, he did not die, but was very seriously injured and had to be airlifted to hospital in London. Initially, it was believed that what had happened to him was a dreadful accident - but investigations revealed a different and much darker picture.

The prosecutor told the jury that Stocks deliberately pushed the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, off the edge of the cliff with the intention of killing him.

The defendant attempted to murder him by pushing him off the cliff, she explained to the jury. The defendant may have instantly regretted what he had done - but at the moment he pushed the victim, it was the climax of a plan to get the boy out of the way so he could no longer interfere.

She added that the attempted murder was planned as Stocks had previously taken the boy to a quarry in Oxfordshire and contemplated pushing the boy off the cliff, before changing his mind.

The twice-married defendant, from Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, took the boy on a train from London and arrived in Brighton on the afternoon of the alleged offence, which took place in the early 2020s.

An eye-witness was walking with a friend towards the cliff stairwell when he saw the boy and the defendant walking on the grass verge and heading towards the top of the cliffs.

The boy had his hands out as if he was balancing; he seemed to be having fun, said the prosecutor. The defendant was walking behind him and was matching his pace.

The jury heard that Mr Boulding and his friend made their way back to the undercliff and noticed a crowd of people. When they got closer, they realised they were surrounding the child who was clearly in a bad state - but still alive.

Stocks and the boy took a train from London to Brighton and took a taxi from the marina ( Getty/iStock )

The prosecutor added that Stocks did not run away from the scene but had instead joined the various members of the public that came to the childs aid, the jury heard.

The defendant spoke to a number of people at the scene, civilians and members of the emergency services. Jurors heard he was not consistent in his account of what had happened and rolled a cigarette and looked at his phone.

The court heard the childs injuries were very serious, including several deep lacerations to his scalp, abrasions to his chest, multiple bruises, multiple fractures to his left arm, and deformity to his left shoulder.

He was sedated, his arm placed into a splint and he was airlifted by helicopter to St Georges Hospital in Tooting, London where he had to be resuscitated before he was placed in a medical coma.

Because of the extremely high impact trauma the boy suffered, he does not have any memory of the fall itself, the jury heard.

The defendant, who is originally from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, was first arrested shortly after the fall on suspicion of child neglect and causing or allowing the serious injury of a child.

He told the police that he had asked the boy if he wanted to go to the seaside, before taking him to the top of the cliffs near the Brighton Marina.

The defendant said he sat on a bench and smoked a cigarette while the boy stood by the edge of the cliffs. The prosecutor continued: Mr Stocks had his head down and suddenly, the boy was gone. The defendant thought he was hiding. He ran and found him at the bottom of the cliff.

Stocks was arrested again on May 12 last year on suspicion of sexual activity with a child under 13 and rape of a child under 13.

At the beginning of the police interview his solicitor read out a prepared statement on behalf of the defendant in which he stated: Im not sexually attracted to children and have not tried to have or instigated sexual activity with children.

Thereafter, he refused to answer the officers questions. Stocks was re-arrested on November 23, 2023 on suspicion of attempted murder.

The trial is due to resume.
Constance Marten, 36, and her partner Mark Gordon, 50 ( PA )

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A jury has failed to reach verdicts in the trial of aristocrat Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon over the death of their newborn baby.

Marten, 37, and Gordon, 50, have been on trial for manslaughter since January after their daughter Victoria died the previous January while they were camping on the South Downs in wintry conditions.

The couple were on the run for nearly two months despite repeated public appeals for their whereabouts. Following their arrest, Victorias remains were found in a Lidl shopping bag in an allotment shed in Brighton, East Sussex, last March.

The couple denied charges of gross negligence manslaughter of Victoria between 4 January and 27 February last year and causing or allowing the death of a child. They also denied charges of perverting the course of justice by concealing her body, along with concealing the birth of a child and child cruelty.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC discharged the jury at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, almost six months after the trial began, and following more than 72 hours of deliberation.

Marten and Gordon may face a retrial.
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A knifeman armed with a makeshift blade has been jailed for life for a series of slasher attacks on strangers which culminated in the murder of a kind-hearted woman.

Johanita Kossiwa Dogbey, 31, had been walking alone in Stockwell Park Walk in Brixton on 1 May last year, when she was randomly approached from behind by Mohamed Nur, who attacked her in broad daylight.

Using a homemade blade, he cut her throat, causing fatal injuries and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Just two days previously, Nur had carried out three other attacks on strangers in south London, approaching them in quick succession at around 11.30pm last 29 April.

Johanitas family said she wouldnt hurt a fly' ( Metropolitan Police )

He pleaded guilty to Ms Dogbeys murder and convicted of three charges of unlawful wounding, and has now been jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years.

The first victim, Rebecca Wilkes, was approached from behind, grabbed and slashed on her right cheek, causing a 9cm cut.

The second victim, Tomasz Kmiecik, suffered a 15cm facial cut and the third victim, Katie Matthews, sustained a 6cm wound to her face.

Prosecutor Julian Evans KC told jurors: In each case, the victim did nothing to confront or provoke the man who attacked them. Each victim was attacked without warning and for no apparent reason.

In short, all three attacks were completely random. There is nothing to suggest that the man who carried out the attacks knew anything about any of three victims.

Nur was arrested last May 2 after being stopped by police in Brixton High Street in possession of a weapon fashioned from a piece of broken mirror.

Judge Angela Rafferty KC said the murder was random, vicious, horrific and without mercy.

Addressing Nur despite his absence, she said: You stabbed her three times in her neck causing the fatal wounds. You did not stop until she fell down.

Mohamed Nur has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years ( Met Police )

Referring to CCTV of the attack, she said: It is a sickening piece of footage to view but it must have been more horrific for those present to witness.

She added: You have led a life dominated by drug use. You are a very dangerous man and the risk you pose is incalculable.

Finding he was extremely dangerous, the judge said that if he had not been arrested, Nur would have struck again.

During the hearing, Ms Dogbeys younger sister Laura outlined the impact of losing her innocent, loving, selfless sister.

She told the court: To say it was the worst day of my life would be too simple. To say it broke me would be an understatement.

It hurts to think no-one was able to protect her from the actions of this man who snuck up behind her and took her life.

She condemned the selfish and premeditated killing, saying her sister would never hurt a fly.

In mitigation, Jeremy Wainwright KC said: It is accepted there cannot be any reason or justification for such a shocking and horrific offence such as this.

Mr Wainwright understood the victims family wanted to know why but he had no explanation to offer them.

Police on Stockwell Park Walk in south London after Ms Dogbey was murdered (Ben Roberts-Haslam/PA) ( PA Wire )

Nur, who came to the UK from Somalia in 1993, became addicted to drugs and was homeless from December 2022, the court heard.

At the time of the attacks, he was living in accommodation for vulnerable adults in Vauxhall, south London, and had previous convictions possession of cannabis, a firearm, ammunition and blades.

Graphic CCTV footage of the murder of Ms Dogbey was shown in court.

Mr Evans said that at about 4pm last May 1, Ms Dogbey had been walking alone in Stockwell Park Walk carrying a shopping bag and a mobile phone.

She was returning home after a trip to Oxford Street in central London to buy her mother a birthday present.

She was on the phone to her grandmother when she was attacked from behind by Nur.

Mr Evans said: From the CCTV footage, it is clear that Johanita had no idea that Mohamed Nur was close behind her, or that he was about to attack her.

The attack was sudden, it was violent, and it was without warning. It was completely unprovoked.

Mohamed Nur repeatedly stabbed Johanita in the area of her neck. He did so until she fell to the ground.

Ms Dogbey was heard to say leave me, leave me during the onslaught.

Afterwards, Nur ran away, discarding his weapon in a housing estate where it was later recovered by police.

Members of the public had phoned 999 and police and medics quickly arrived at the scene.

Despite the efforts of members of the London Ambulance Service, Ms Dogbey died at 4.42pm.

Ms Dogbeys grandmother had heard a commotion while on the phone with her and alerted the victims father after the call ended abruptly.

He and Ms Dogbeys sister rushed to the scene where police informed them that she had died.

Earlier, Judge Rafferty indicated possible consequences for Nurs failure to attend court, saying: We cannot have defendants in cases such as this not turning up to court.
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A man has been charged with assisting the Russian intelligence service after being arrested in cenrtal London, the Metropolitan Police said.

Howard Michael Phillips, 64, was arrested by UK-counter terror police and charged on Thursday under National Security Act powers.

He has been charged with an offence contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act  assisting a foreign intelligence service.

The country to which the charge relates is Russia and he is to appear in Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Investigators have also searched addresses in Hertfordshire and Essex.

The Met said: As part of the investigation, which is being led by officers from the Mets Counter Terrorism Command, officers also searched an address in the Hertfordshire area and an address in the Essex area. Both searches are now complete.

The arrest is not connected to any other recent charges or investigations linked to NSA offences, and there is not believed to be any threat to the wider public in connection with this matter.

Police have not disclosed details about the activities he is alleged to have engaged in but the charge covers actions which materially assist a foreign intelligence service in carrying out UK-related activities.
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Rishi Sunaks decision to call a snap election has dashed abortion providers hopes abortion will soon be decriminalised.

Cross-party MPs, including Labours Stella Creasy and Diana Johnson, had proposed amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill that would have decriminalised abortion that were due to be voted on in parliament on 4 June.

But the prime ministers shock announcement the next UK general election will take place on 4 July means parliament will be dissolved on 30 May so the vote will not go ahead.

The Labour Party was contacted by The Independent but has yet to say whether, and in what form, it would revive the legislation, should Keir Starmer become prime minister.

Louise McCudden, of MSI Reproductive Choices, a leading UK abortion provider, said: With rising investigations into vulnerable women accused of ending their own pregnancies outside the law, there has always been an urgency to making progress on reforming our unjust Victorian abortion laws.

Now that parliament will dissolve for a general election, women facing these violating investigations will now have to wait even longer for reform - and with laws dating back to 1861, women have waited long enough.

She urged all political parties to engage in civil discourse, challenge misinformation and whatever their views on abortion, root their arguments in facts and evidence as the UK heads into the election period.

Women and girls are facing traumatic and prolonged criminal investigations following pregnancy loss and abortion in numbers never seen before. Dr Jonathan Lord

Abortions can legally be carried out in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in England, Scotland and Wales.

But pregnancy terminations must be approved by two doctors, with the health professionals agreeing that continuing with the pregnancy would be riskier for the physical or mental health of the woman than having an abortion.

If a medical professional delivers an abortion outside of the terms of the 1967 act, they are at risk of being prosecuted. Legislation passed in 1861 means any woman who ends a pregnancy without getting legal permission from two doctors can face up to life imprisonment.

Earlier this year, The Independent reported that Britain was on the verge of convicting as many women for illegal abortions in 18 months as it had in the previous 55 years, as the number of prosecutions continues to rise.

Dr Jonathan Lord, the medical director of MSI Reproductive Choices, said: Women and girls are facing traumatic and prolonged criminal investigations following pregnancy loss and abortion in numbers never seen before.

A case this year was dropped, but the court heard how she had suffered so extensively while she was grieving the loss of her baby and that a psychiatric examination had confirmed that the proceedings had had a profound effect on her. Another woman is facing trial in September for an alleged illegal abortion.

Another case this year was dropped, but the court heard how she had suffered so extensively while she was grieving the loss of her baby and that a psychiatric examination had confirmed that the proceedings had had a profound effect on her. Dr Jonathan Lord

Dr Lord, a consultant gynaecologist at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, warned many more women are now facing investigation after going through the trauma of a pregnancy loss.

In several reported cases children have been removed from their family and contact banned or severely restricted, including where the child was still breastfeeding, he added.

Dr Jonathan Lord, co-chair of the British Society of Abortion Care Providers, said some of those women currently under investigation for suspected illegal abortions are distressed that this parliament wont have an opportunity to help them and others.

Dr Sonia Adesara, of the campaign group Doctors for Choice UK, added: We are hugely disappointed that yet again, our politicians have failed to address this. Womens health again deprioritised. Women should never be imprisoned for ending their pregnancies. We are calling on the political parties to make this a priority.
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The UKs top organisation for Muslims has urged political leaders not to use minorities as a punching bag during campaigns for the upcoming general election amid concerns over an increase in attacks on mosques in the wake of attacks in Gaza.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) is calling for hopeful political lobbying following Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks announcement on Wednesday that the next polling day will take place on 4 July.

Britains leading political parties face a crisis in confidence among Muslim communities amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

I urge our political parties and all those seeking our votes to pursue a campaign that is hopeful: to resist the urge to scapegoat Muslims and minorities and proposing a future where all Britons can play a positive role, Zara Mohammed, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain said.

The call comes in a year where we have seen politicians and their supportive media double down on their rhetoric against Muslims: casting them as the enemy within and questioning their right to play an equal part in our democracy.

As the general election campaign begins in earnest, we urge politicians and the media to resist the temptation of using Muslims as a punching bag to score cheap political points; such actions are reprehensible and must be firmly rejected to foster an inclusive environment that respects all communities.

A recent poll by HOPE not Hate revealed that 58 per cent of Conservative Party members think Islam is a threat to the British way of life while the Labour Partys support amongst British Muslims has sharply declined amid major concerns about Sir Keirs initial response to the Gaza war.

During the last general election in 2019, the MCB accused the Conservatives of having a blind spot when it comes to Islamophobia as former prime minister Boris Johnsons comparison of veiled Muslim women to letterboxes led to a 375 per cent increase in Islamophobic attacks the following week.

A damning 2021 inquiry revealed that anti-Muslim sentiment remains a problem within the party, while a separate report revealed that media coverage of Muslims and Islam in the UK is mostly negative.

The Gaza conflict, Ms Mohammed said, is currently a key concern for many Muslim people across the UK, as well as a range of other issues close to home.

It was recently revealed in March that Islamophobic incidents have skyrocketed by 356 per cent across the country, involving people being targeted over their support for Palestine as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues.

Speaking to The Independent, some Muslims have said they had bricks thrown through their windows for displaying the Palestinian flag, while one teenager said he was interrogated by his teachers after he wore a Palestinian badge at school.

In February, Scotlands then-First Minister Humza Yousaf said there is still deep-rooted, systemic and endemic Islamophobia in the UK and that it is getting worse.

British Muslim communities are diverse, yet there are common issues that affect us all, the MCB continued.

There is no doubt that the ongoing atrocities in Gaza is foremost on our mind, and Muslim communities are united with the majority of Britons in ending the killings, wanting their government to uphold international law and affirm Palestinian statehood.

There are also a range of domestic issues that we, as citizens and members of a faith community, will be considering when deciding our votes. These include combatting all forms of racism, including the adoption of a definition on Islamophobia.

It also involves defending religious liberty, and ensuring safety at places of worship. We urge proactive engagement with diverse Muslim communities, addressing health and elderly care disparities, and supporting refugees and asylum seekers. We advocate for increased participation and integration of minorities, fair press standards, and reforms in the criminal justice system.

This comes after the government committed over 117m to protect mosques, Muslim schools and community centres from hate attacks over the next four years.

In March, The Independent exclusively reported about an MPs warning of an explosion in Islamophobia attacks not being reported to police.

The Labour and Conservative parties have been approached for comment.

The London Mayors office declined to comment.
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As many as 40 passengers remain in hospital after their Singapore Airlines flight suffered severe turbulence resulting in the death of one Briton.

Six Britons are still fighting for their lives and two crew members who were on board flight SQ321 are still in Bangkok hospitals.

There was a total of 20 passengers in intensive care units in Bangkok on Wednesday evening as investigators arrived in the Thai capital to learn how the turbulence sent the plane into a sudden dive.

The number of patients in ICU remain the same, Adinun Kittiratanapaibool, Director of Bangkoks Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital told reporters, referring to the medical facilitys intensive care unit.

The meaning of those in ICU are those that need close attention, he said, and added that currently there were no life-threatening cases.

Of the 40 people on the flight still under treatment, 22 patients have spinal cord injuries and six have brain and skull injuries, he said.

The interior of Singapore Airline flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, 21 May 2024 ( REUTERS )

An update from Singapore Airlines, said: This includes 46 passengers and two crew members who are in the hospital receiving medical treatment.

Singapore Airlines is in contact with all the passengers and crew members who are still in Bangkok. 

Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong has been meeting the affected passengers, crew, their family members and loved ones in Bangkok today to personally offer his support and to understand their concerns.

Mr Goh Choon Phong said: The well-being of our passengers and crew members remains our priority. I have given them my personal assurance that we will take care of them during this difficult time. Our staff volunteers are here to provide each passenger with updates and the necessary assistance.

We have also facilitated the travel of their family members and loved ones to Bangkok and ensured that they are taken care of too.On behalf of Singapore Airlines, I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone in Singapore, Thailand, and around the world, who have assisted us during this difficult time.

The interior shows the damage on the flight ( REUTERS )

The incident happened 10 hours into the flight from London Heathrow to Singapore, when the Boeing 777 carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, dropped 6,000ft in about three minutes.

The dive tossed people around the cabin, with some suffering head injuries from hitting the ceiling.

After regaining control, the captain diverted the plane to Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport, where medical teams evaluated those aboard and sent more than 80 to hospital.

British man killed in severe turbulence named as Geoffrey Kitchen ( Facebook )

There was also tragedy, with 73-year-old Geoffrey Kitchen dying from a suspected heart attack. Mr Kitchen, from Thornbury near Bristol, was described as the most wonderful human by a friend on Wednesday.

Josh Silverstone, from south London, was discharged from hospital after suffering a cut to his eye and a chipped tooth.

The 24-year-old, who was on his way to Bali, said: I woke up on the floor, I didnt realise what happened, I mustve hit my head somewhere. There were people laying out on the floor, they were paralysed.
China seeks to build world's largest national park system

Xinhua) 08:14, May 23, 2024

CHANGCHUN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Across plateaus, mountains, and rainforests, wildlife is rebounding in China as the country strives to establish the world's largest national park system by 2035.

Ranging from the likes of Hainan gibbons to Tibetan antelopes, wildlife populations have increased in the country's national parks, an achievement worth celebrating on the International Day for Biological Diversity, which falls on May 22.

This screen image captured on July 26, 2023 at the Suiyang bureau branch of park administration of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province shows a wild Siberian tiger traced by an infrared camera. (Xinhua/Dai Jinrong)

Deep inside a dense forest in northeast China, a Siberian tiger cub was cuddling and playing with its mother.

This heartwarming scene in the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park (NCTLNP) was streamed in real-time on an intelligent screen at the park's control room.

Such new technologies have transformed biodiversity conservation in China. In the NCTLNP, which spans over 14,000 square km, it takes just a few seconds to trace a wild Siberian tiger, thanks to the park's network of more than 20,000 infrared cameras.

Situated in northeast China's Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, the park began trial operations in 2017 and was officially established in 2021.

Both the park's key and sensitive areas are covered by an integrated intelligent monitoring system that collects and records wildlife data.

"Last year, 20 Siberian tiger cubs and 15 Amur leopard cubs were born in the park. This is truly a surprise, considering that in 1998, there were only about 12 wild Siberian tigers in China," said Feng Limin, deputy director of the monitoring and research center for Siberian tigers and Amur leopards under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Also known as the Amur tiger, the Siberian tiger is one of the world's most endangered animals and a flagship species of the forest ecosystem, mainly living in Russia's Far East and northeast China. About 500 Siberian tigers are believed to exist in the wild today.

Forest rangers patrol the Bawangling area of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park in south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

China attaches great importance to biodiversity conservation, as evidenced by it being among the first countries to sign and ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity.

In 2021, China established its first batch of national parks, spanning a protected land area of 230,000 square km.

These parks, namely Sanjiangyuan National Park, the Giant Panda National Park, the NCTLNP, Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park and Wuyishan National Park, are home to nearly 30 percent of the country's key terrestrial wildlife species.

The progress these national parks have made in protecting biodiversity is evident when considering the numbers involved.

The population of Hainan gibbons, a rare primate that lives in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, had risen to 37 in 2022 from 13 in 2003. Sanjiangyuan National Park, meanwhile, is now home to more than 70,000 Tibetan antelopes, in sharp contrast to less than 20,000 in the 1990s.

To better protect wildlife species and their habitats, China also designated 49 candidate areas, covering around 1.1 million square km, as national park space, according to a spatial layout plan made public in 2022.

There are more than 5,000 wild vertebrate species and 29,000 types of higher plants in these candidate areas, which are expected to incorporate over 80 percent of China's strictly protected fauna and flora.

Pregnant Tibetan antelopes move across the Qinghai-Tibet highway in Hoh Xil, northwest China's Qinghai Province, May 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang)

Notably, the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, which is the highest plateau in the world, has 13 candidate areas. They cover an area of about 770,000 square km and account for 70 percent of the total area of national park candidate areas.

Over the years, Qiangtang Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, one of the candidate areas, has been ramping up efforts to improve its ecological protection measures and strategies.

At an average altitude of over 4,500 meters, wildlife rangers in this nature reserve brave thin air and blizzards to patrol protected areas and monitor wildlife. To their delight, the number of wild animals such as Tibetan antelopes and yaks has increased significantly in this region.

"The construction of the national park system greatly improves the protection of biodiversity and safeguards the authenticity and integrity of the ecosystem. National parks are becoming ideal homes for many rare wild animals," said He Xingyuan, a researcher at the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
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China is providing Russia with lethal aid for use in its war against Ukraine, Grant Shapps has warned.

The defence secretary suggested that British and US intelligence contradicts Beijings previous attempts to present itself as a moderating influence on Moscow and President Xis government is instead helping to arm Russia.

Mr Shapps used a speech at the London Defence Conference to reveal Chinas collaboration as he argued Nato needs to wake up and bolster defence spending alliance-wide.

This follows the UK government committing to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030. However, many Nato allies still do not meet the 2 percent minimum threshold.

Mr Shapps said: Today I can reveal that we have evidence that Russia and China are collaborating on combat equipment for use in Ukraine.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said lethal aid is flying from China to Russia (PA) ( PA Wire )

He added: US and British defence intelligence can reveal that lethal aid is now flying from China to Russia and into Ukraine.

That recent visit we saw, the I think 64 percent increase in trade that weve seen between the two countries, reveals that there is actually a much deeper relationship there.

And this is new intelligence which leads me to be able to declassify and reveal this fact today. I think its quite significant.

The defence secretary said democratic states must make a full-throated case for freedoms that are dependent on the international order, meaning we need more allies and partners worldwide.

Its time for the world to wake up. And that means translating this moment to concrete plans and capabilities. And that starts with laying the foundations for an alliance-wide increase in spending on our collective deterrent, he said.

It comes after Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russian president Vladimir Putin put on a strong show of unity during a meeting in Beijing earlier this month which was closely watched by Western capitals.

The Chinese president said there should be a political solution to the conflict in Ukraine but did not give any details, despite calls including from Downing Street for him to urge Russia to cease its illegal war.

Beijing is a key supporter of Mr Putin, who is widely regarded as a pariah after he ordered the invasion in 2022.

It continues to supply Moscow with key components that the Kremlin needs for its war machine, and its purchase of Russian oil and gas has helped boost the Russian economy.

Mr Shapps intervention comes after Julianne Smith, the US ambassador to Nato, said China is continuing to sell supplies such as drone technology and gunpowder ingredients to Russia.

It is the latest show of heightened tensions between Beijing and the US and UK, which earlier this month accused Beijing of a series of cyber attacks targeting millions of people in Western countries.

In an interview with digital newspaper Politico, Ms Smith said: The PRC (Peoples Republic of China) cannot claim to be entirely neutral in this case, (and) they are in fact picking a side.

If they were not providing some of these components, or this materiel support, Russia would be in a very different situation and would have trouble pursuing some of these acts of aggression.
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The Tories would need the biggest turnaround in the polls in British general election history to pull off a shock victory, Britains two leading pollsters have warned.

Professor Sir John Curtice and Lord Robert Hayward have both noted that a party has never before come from so far behind in the polls to win a general election.

The biggest bounce so far was Labour under Jeremy Corbyn in 2017 which gained 10 points on Theresa Mays Conservatives but still came 55 seats behind in a hung parliament.

Sir John, who is expected to be a regular on peoples TV screens analysing polls during the election, agreed that there is no historic precedent for a party to come from so far behind.

Rishi Sunak is facing a monumental task of historic proportions (PA) ( PA Wire )

Currently Labour enjoy a lead of between 18 and 24 points depending on which poll people look at. The Techne UK weekly tracker poll last week had it at 23 points.

Sir John said: Turnaround in 2017 was 10 points though polls also overestimated the Conservative lead by around another five points.

But he agreed that if Mr Sunak was to close the gap to get into hung parliament territory it would dwarf what happened in 2017.

Lord Hayward, who is a Tory peer, said that the gap is similar if not worse to what John Major faced in 1997 when he was defeated by Tony Blair.

Professor Sir John Curtice ( Getty Images )

He said: That didnt end well [for the Conservatives]! Although the polls narrowed.

Mr Blair led Labour to a record 179-seat majority while the Tories had their second-worst result in their 346-year history with just 165 seats. Only 1906 was worse when the party returned with 156 MPs.

Mr Sunak recently told activists and candidates that they can be part of the greatest comeback in history.

The expert analysis suggests that if he does manage to even become the largest party or even just force a hung parliament it would rate as one of the greatest comebacks.

Mr Sunaks calculation was partly based on the polls exaggerating Labours lead and the local election results being closer to the truth.

This would put Labour just 8 points ahead and, according to Sky News, would leave Sir Keir Starmer having to deal with a hung parliament 32 short of an overall majority.
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Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will dominate the headlines for the next six weeks, with one of the pair heading for Downing Street on 5 July.

But while the battle between the Conservatives and Labour will take precedence, the success of the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK will shape much of the outcome.

On the prime ministers right he faces an onslaught from Reform leader Richard Tice, who took the reins of the former Brexit Party from Nigel Farage.

And on Mr Sunaks left, attempting to win over more moderate disgruntled Tories, is the Lib Dems Sir Ed Davey.

Rishi Sunak launched his campaign on Wednesday night ( Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire )

Both parties are threatening to add to the scale of defeat facing the Conservatives, currently trailing Labour by 21 points in the polls.

But how many seats might the Lib Dems end up winning, and can Reform UK pick up any?

Reform UK election targets

Reforms aim in the election seems to be to inflict as much damage on the Conservatives as possible.

Mr Tice has said the party will win seats, plural, but refused to say how many. And after a series of underwhelming by-election contests, pollsters dont expect the party to win any.

Leader of Reform UK Richard Tice speaking during a General Election campaign launch (Lucy North/PA) ( PA Wire )

The multimillionaire former Tory donor sounds much more believable when he talks about wanting to punish the Conservatives for having broken Britain.

They need to be replaced, he said at Reforms campaign launch.

Mr Tice himself is standing in the countrys biggest Brexit voting constituency Boston and Skegness, where 75.6 per cent of voters backed leaving the EU.

And Reforms only MP, Lee Anderson, is hoping to hold Ashfield, which he won as a Conservative in 2019.

Political analysts at Electoral Calculus forecast Reform will win zero seats, but in a best case scenario said they could win as many as 15.

Either way, it can inflict huge damage on the Tories by splitting the right-wing vote. Pollsters have consistently warned it could cost the Conservatives majorities in more than 30 seats as voters disgruntled with record taxes and migration rebel against Mr Sunaks party.

Lib Dems hope to gain seats

By contrast, the Liberal Democrats are expected to win dozens of new seats and are taking aim at high profile Conservatives including several serving ministers.

Sir Ed has promised to smash the so-called blue wall of safe Conservative seats and launched his campaign in justice secretary Alex Chalks Cheltenham constituency.

His party is also presenting a real challenge to Jeremy Hunt in Godalming and Ash in what could be a stunning upset for the chancellor.

Sir Ed Davey launched his campaign in the justice secretary Alex Chalks Cheltenham seat ( Getty Images )

Electoral Calculus predicts the Lib Dems will jump from winning 11 seats in 2019 to 44 on 4 July. In the best case scenario, it forecasts Sir Ed winning as many as 58 seats, more than Sir Nick Clegg won in 2010 at the height of his popularity.

Recent by-elections have seen Labour and Lib Dem voters tactically choose the best candidate to oust Tory MPs, a trend likely to play out across the country in the general election as anti-Conservative sentiment runs rife after 14 years in power.

Other parties

Other parties whose performances will be crucial include the SNP, who are currently in meltdown north of the border and risk losing tens of MPs.

Senior party figures expect to lose at least a quarter of the partys 43 Westminster seats, however polls point to a much worse showing.

A decade on from Labours wipeout in Scotland, it is enjoying a resurgence that could leave the SNP with just 12 seats.

The SNP has been in meltdown since the shock resignation of Nicola Sturgeon last year ( Getty Images )

The Green Party is also expected to pick up another seat, leaving it with MPs in Brighton and Bristol to challenge Labour from the left.

Jeremy Corbyn is set to announce his candidacy as an independent, with friends of the former Labour leader confident he would have the support to beat the party which has turned its back on him under Sir Keir.

But overall the polls as they stand point to a thumping Labour landslide. Electoral Calculus puts the probability of a Labour majority at 98 per cent, just four years after Mr Corbyn led it to its worst election defeat since 1935.
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The biggest question in UK politics was answered on Wednesday when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a general election will take place on 4 July.

With just six weeks to go before voters take to the polls, the Conservative Party leaders choice of date has sparked a flurry of further questions from Independent readers.

Mr Sunak, outside the door of 10 Downing Street in the pouring rain, said: Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future. This came despite earlier indications that an election would be held in the autumn.

Naturally, many have been wondering why the prime minister chose this moment to fire the starting gun for the race to Number 10. While others simply wanted to know where his umbrella was...

Here are nine questions from Independent readers  and my answers from the Ask Me Anything event.

Q: What is the biggest opinion poll lead prior to a general election that was subsequently overturned come election day?

Mick OHare

A: The obvious answer is 2017, but then it was the government that was 20 points ahead of the opposition. That was overturned on polling day with the Tories narrowly deprived of a majority. I think the only time the opposition was ahead in the opinion polls at the start of the campaign and then lost was in 1992, but Labour was only 1 or 2 points ahead, before losing by 8 points.

Q: Why doesnt he own a brolly?

Charlie Beckett

A: Rishi Sunak partly answered that in interviews this morning, saying he was determined to do the traditional Downing Street thing, which didnt answer the question about the umbrella. If he starts to make a comeback, though, I could see the image of him, patriotically delivering his speech in the rain, being part of the fighting-spirit, John-Majors-soapbox story.

Q: When will the next but one General Election be?

Franzi

A: That is a clever way of asking how successful a Labour government will be, if elected. It is commonly said, including by me, that a Labour government would become unpopular quite quickly. But it is also said, including by me, that the Conservative Party is likely either to go on another holiday from reality, or to descend into civil war, or both.

In which case we may get an interesting situation in the spring of 2028. The traditional pattern for majority governments before the Fixed-term Parliaments Act (repealed in 2022), was for a PM who was ahead in the opinion polls to hold an election after four years  usually in May, at the same time as the local elections.

Q: Why snap? Six weeks notice seems about standard, and four-and-a-half years into the parliament?

Dean Bullen

A: It was snap in the sense that it was earlier than expected, but you are right that six weeks is standard: the statutory five weeks plus one week to allow parliamentary business to be wrapped up, as it will be today and tomorrow. Theresa May had a seven-week campaign in 2017 because she needed to allow extra time to get round the Fixed-term Parliaments Act.

Q: Has there been a more hilariously ominous election announcement?

Peter Metcalfe

A: Looking back, there was Theresa Mays announcement in 2017. It didnt rain, and Steve Bray hadnt got his loudspeakers in place, but her argument that she needed a mandate to negotiate Brexit in the teeth of opposition from Labour peers convinced no one, even if there was an element of truth in it. It was ominous in the sense that it contributed to a feeling that she shouldnt be handed too much power by the voters  a feeling that grew stronger during the campaign.

Q: It is suggested that Sunak has gone early because going late offered no benefit: things are going to get worse. But given that he asked us to judge him by his delivery of five key priorities, and he has failed on three, are voters supposed to just ignore his own yardstick?

Adrian Hilton

A: I think this is a real weakness in the PMs position: he hasnt got a good reason that he can express in public for holding the election five months before he needed to. All the reasons that have been canvassed by journalists are questions of tactics that boil down to things are likely to get worse.

Maybe most voters wont care  they wanted the election now anyway  but it adds to the impression of weakness. As does, of course, naming five key priorities for 2023 and still not fulfilling three of the five targets 17 months later (debt falling, cut NHS waiting lists and stop the boats).

Q: In what will likely be a general election of Portillo moments, who could be the biggest shock (to lose, rather than defy the odds)?

Jack

A: I think Jeremy Hunt would be the biggest scalp, vulnerable to the Lib Dems in his new Godalming and Ash constituency. I dont know if a serving chancellor has lost their seat in modern times.

Q: How many letters of no confidence from his own MPs were in at the time? His own MPs dont want him  is that why he called a snap election?

Smiler

A: Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the 1922 Committee, who is the only person who knows, wont say, but I am told that he said yesterday it was not as many as most people think. I think most Conservative MPs thought Rishi Sunak was the best leader, and all the talk of getting rid of him was coming from a very small minority  nowhere near the 52 needed to trigger a vote of confidence in Sunaks leadership.

The plotting to oust him was not one of the reasons for going for an election five months earlier than he needed to, although the prospect of continuing damage from discontent and defections may have been a factor.

Q: Whos gonna win then?

RulesOfEngagement

A: That is up to the British people, but my prediction is a Labour majority of 50.

These questions and answers were part of an Ask Me Anything hosted by John Rentoul at 12pm BST on Thursday 23 May. Some of the questions and answers have been edited for this article. You can read the full discussion in the comments section of the original article.

John also sends a weekly Commons Confidential newsletter exclusive to Independent Premium subscribers, taking you behind the curtain of Westminster. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, head here to find out more.
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Rishi Sunak ended months of speculation on Wednesday and announced a General Election on 4 July.

The prime minister, outside the steps of 10 Downing Street in the pouring rain, said: Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future.

However, research has suggested the Labour Party has consistently been ahead in opinion polls. On average, Labour is on 44 points, 21 ahead of the Conservatives.

Britains leading election expert Professor Sir John Curtice said the Conservatives face a major challenge to hold on to power and that the election is for Labour to win.

The Tories may also face more challenges with undecided voters and tactical voting.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was soaked while making a speech outside No 10 (Lucy North/PA) ( PA Wire )

Recent polling by Best for Britain showed in some constituencies, 36 per cent of people are undecided. It also identified 510 tactical voting seats where the Tories are vulnerable to losing.

But what exactly is tackle voting and how influential will it be in the General Election?

Tactical voting

Tactical voting is when a voter casts their ballot for the candidate they believe is most likely to defeat another partys candidate (usually the Conservatives), even if this candidate is not necessarily their first choice.

Some see this as a necessary practice due to the UKs First Past The Post (FPTP) voting system. Under FPTP, it is the candidate who gets the most votes that wins.

It may seem like the most democratic system to decide a winner at first glance, but many argue that FPTP does not always produce results that reflect the political leanings of the area.

This is because some parties are much more politically aligned than others. For instance, in areas where the votes for Labour and the Liberal Democracts outweigh that for the Conservative candidate, but neither beat them alone, the Conservative candidate wins.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer on the General Election campaign trail on Thursday ( Gareth Fuller/PA Wire )

However, the results would indicate that the majority of voters in this area support more progressive, left-wing or centre-left politicians.

Groups such as the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) campaign to change this, pointing out that the MPs elected to parliament rarely reflect the popular vote.

For instance, at the 2019 general election, 11.5 per cent of people voted for the Liberal Democrats, but they only secured 1.7 per cent of seats. The Conservatives 43.6 per cent, on the other hand, translated to 56.2 per cent of seats.

The ERS promotes voting systems that are designed to tackle this issue, such as the Single Transferable Vote or Alternative Vote where voters can rank candidates by preference.

However, in 2011 the UK was given a referendum on switching the way people vote to the Alternative Vote system, where the votes against it were nearly 68 per cent.

Does tactical voting work?

Tactical voting could work, if it was carried out en masse. However, despite talk of tactical voting at most major elections, there is little evidence that it has made an impact in the past.

There are many seats in the UK where a sustained tactical vote campaign would have changed the final result. For instance, in the 2023 Uxbridge by-election, the Conservatives secured 13,965 votes, while Labour secured 13,470.

Meanwhile, the Greens gained 893 votes, coming in third. If all these votes were instead tactically given to Labour, it would have been a victory for the party in Boris Johnsons former seat.

It is a similar story for the seat of Somerset North East, held by Jacob Rees-Mogg since 2010. In 2019, Mr Rees-Mogg secured 28,360 votes, while Labour and the Lib Dems combined secured 26,053.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey (Joe Giddens/PA) ( PA Wire )

It is possible a combined effort couldve secured the seat for either party, although neither has assented to a tactical voting pact in the past.

However, the Lib Dems won the seat of Somerton and Frome for the first time since 2010 in last years by-election, with tactical voting thought to be a major factor. The Labour vote share had dwindled from 12.9 per cent in 2019, to just 2.6.

It is no secret that some Labour and Green party voters lent us their votes in Somerset and we are very grateful for their support, said Lib Dem leader Ed Davey.

In many seats across the south-west, voters at the next election will be faced with a similar choice between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.

What impact will tactical voting have on the 2024 General Election?

Polling experts have said an increase in tactical voting is bad news for the Conservative Party, but there may still be some three-way marginal seats between the Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems.

Chris Hopkins, political research director at leading polling consultancy Savanta,told The Independent: "Voters have got increasingly sophisticated in understanding how in a first past the post system, their vote can be as effective as possible.

In particular this is bad news for the Conservative Party, where there will be plenty of natural Labour supporters in the the South West who will back the Lib Dems, as they know they are their best chance of getting rid of the Tories.

"That being said, because of the forecasted size of the swing from Conservative to Labour, there are some three-way marginals where Labour and the Lib Dems may be unwilling to step aside. That could mean voters are told different things about who is 'most likely to win here', and could lead to split, enabling some Conservative MPs to hold on."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a General Election campaign event at ExCeL London (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

Campaigners have also added tactical voting will help deliver a progressive government, but warned the first-past-the-post system (FPTP) must be changed to better represent voting intentions.

Neal Lawson, executive director at Compass, told The Independent:We desperately need a progressive government, and tactical voting will no doubt play a vital role in helping to deliver one - but voting tactically without conditions only entrenches the pendulum politics that grinds us all down and alienates voters from the political process.

The worry is that without a commitment to changing the system, tactical voting enshrines the abusive nature of First Past the Post and forces voters to continue voting tactically for ever more.

If Labour does win the next election on the back of lent votes, they should commit to getting rid of FPTP and replacing it with a system that can better represent the progressive majority that already exists in this country.

Naomi Smith, CEO of Best for Britain and founder of tactical voting platform, GetVoting.org, said: Our polling shows 13 million Brits are ready to vote tactically for change, and these voters will be key to a defeat that would keep the Tories out for a decade and the difference between deliverance or defeat for the likes of Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt and Liz Truss.

Best for Britain will be helping voters get it right at GetVoting.org with expert constituency level insights and voting recommendations before polling day.
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Richard Tice has claimed that the prime minister is terrified of Reform UK as his party challenges the Tories in every single seat.

The Reform leader, who took over from Nigel Farage in 2021, attacked Mr Sunaks admission that no asylum seekers would be sent to Rwanda before the 4 July contest.

And he responded to a meme produced by the Conservative Party about Reform, saying it proves how terrified they are. The more memes, the better, Mr Tice said.

His comments came after the launch of Reforms general election campaign, in which Mr Tice accused the Conservatives of having broken Britain.

Claiming he will win seats, but not saying how many, Mr Tice said he will fight the Tories in every seat in the UK excluding Northern Ireland - where Reform failed to register as a political party in time.

Leader of Reform UK Richard Tice speaking during a General Election campaign launch (Lucy North/PA) ( PA Wire )

And, in a blow to the Conservatives electoral hopes, Mr Tice said former leader Mr Farage will be everywhere during the campaign.

Despite confirming he would not stand as a candidate in the general election, Mr Farage has given up presenting his GB News in order to be able to campaign for Reform.

Mr Tice said the arch-Brexiteer will be on bus tours, knocking on doors and speaking at rallies. The role for Mr Farage poured cold water on Tory hopes he would take a backseat in the election.

Reform is expected to split the right-wing vote in swathes of seats across the country, denying the Conservatives tens of potential majorities.

The campaign launch came as Mr Sunak faced an electoral headache as Office for National Statistics figures revealed net migration his 685,000 in 2023.

Despite the slight dip from 2022s record 764,000 figure, Mr Tice laid into the Conservatives and said no one voted for mass migration.

The event also followed Mr Sunak admitting there will be no Rwanda deportation flights before the general election.

Rishi Sunak said no Rwanda flights will take off before the general election ( PA Wire )

On the first day of his own election campaign, the prime minister said asylum seekers will be deported to the east African nation only if he was re-elected.

Pressed repeatedly on whether any deportation flights would take off before voters go to the polls, Mr Sunak repeatedly said the scheme would only get up and running after the election.

Mr Tice said: Hes a bottler. We know its not a deterrent, he is just once again managing down expectations.

He said the only way to save lives and prevent migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats is to ignore whinging lefty lawyers and pick up asylum seekers and send them straight back to France.

Last month, Mr Tices deputy leader Ben Habib sparked outrage by saying Britain should absolutely let migrants drown in the English Channel. Mr Habib said that any migrants who scupper dinghies should not be infantilised, adding that Britain should not be held to ransom by their claim that they deserve protection as soon as they get into our territorial waters.

Talk TVs Julia Hartley-Brewer asked: Then you would leave them to drown?

Absolutely, he replied.

Challenged over the comments on Thursday, Mr Tice accused The Independent of lying.

Thats not what he said, he did not say people should drown dont be daft, Mr Tice added.

A tetchy Mr Tice blamed Ms Hartley Brewers very high speed questions and said people in the media who want to do us down deliberately try and misrepresent us.

Mr Tice will be standing in the Boston and Skegness constituency, which had the highest proportion of leave voters in the Brexit referendum, where 75.6 per cent backed pulling Britain out of the EU.

A Conservative Party spokesman said:Sir Keir Starmer knows that the more people that vote Reform, the more seats hell win.That would only mean one thing: a Labour majority meaning higher taxes, uncontrolled immigration, and taking us back into the EU.

Only the Conservatives will do whats right for this country to deliver a secure future for you and your family.
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There was a noticeable lack of enthusiasm among Tory MPs expected to join Rishi Sunak in the ExCel in east London where he was holding his first rally. Instead, many chose to drown their sorrows.

Several rolled their eyes when asked why they were not with the prime minister on Wednesday evening, consoling themselves with drinks in parliaments Strangers Bar as the enormity of what had just happened sank in.

Mr Sunaks bold move to call an early general election on 4 July had caught nearly everyone by surprise, especially those who had planned a weeks break on a sunny beach well away from British shores and driving rain which had hours before soaked the prime minister.

It did not take long though for a nickname for the election to emerge from the clatter of pints of beer, wine glasses and gin and tonics. One ex-minister said: "This really is the kamikaze election. We are not sure who will come out of this with their seats."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak watching beer being bottled at the Vale of Glamorgan Brewery (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

Others nodded in agreement.

There was discussion about whether the Conservatives could somehow turn things around in the next six weeks with the polls consistently putting them 20 or more points behind Labour.

I think Labour will only have a majority of around 40, was the most optimistic prediction from one Tory source.

Optimism was largely replaced by anger in many quarters.

One former cabinet minister blasted: Rishi Sunak is just a spoiled child! He has always been treated with privilege whether it was Winchester school or Oxford University being a Fulbright scholar, he has always been treated as the special one.

He just hasnt been able to bear the criticism and the backbiting and he has basically said stuff you all! Im going to call an election, Ive had enough!

There was continued speculation about whether he is planning on getting out of the country and moving to California.

Starmer launches his campaign ( Getty Images )

One donor privately claimed that friends of Mr Sunak had suggested he is already looking for school places for his daughters in the USA.

An early election makes sense because you need to know where your kids are going to school before September.

Among others though there was uncertainty about where a number of MPs will even be standing at the next election.

Many Tory seats are up for grabs, including some plum safe ones like the recently vacated Stratford upon Avon, currently held by former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi.

Stuart Andrew, whose Pudsey seat has been abolished by the boundary changes, was seen wandering around the terrace telling people: I still havent got a seat yet.

He is not alone among MPs who want to come back but do not know where.

Party chairman Richard Holden, who will be co-ordinating the campaign, still does not have a constituency to run in after his North West Durham seat disappeared and he turned down the chance to run again in the north east of England.

One Tory candidate, who was meeting MPs last night, shared an advert which revealed around 30 seats had been advertised on Tuesday just 24 hour before the prime minister made his announcement.

Other MPs - the ones who have decided to retire - looked a great deal more relaxed and happy.

Former minister for London Paul Scully was on the terrace with a broad grin telling people he was relieved and glad to be able to get on with the next stage of my life.

There were others speculating about the gold rush to the Lords.

Far more MPs are going than Rishi will be able to nominate for a peerage. There are a lot of soon to be former MPs desperately trying to secure their seats on the red benches and many are going to be disappointed.

But the really furious MPs were the ones who will have to give up their sun loungers for tramping around wet streets delivering leaflets.

One senior backbencher said: "This is utter madness. The Tory party is not ready, MPs are not ready. We need a break. This was the last chance for many to have a proper holiday.

"It shows that the PM does not give a s*** about backbenchers. I am not sure the party is ready yet to fight this election anyway."

But the morning after, Parliament had largely been deserted by its MPs who had gone back to get their local campaigns going.

The mood though had changed.

A former minister said: I think the anger has given way to a sense that we need to get on with it and see if anybody comes back.

But with former cabinet minister Jeremy Wright supposedly telling friends that he did not know his future with a majority north of 20,000 to defend, it was not clear who would survive what many believe will be a brutal six weeks for the Tories.
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Rishi Sunak has announced the general election will be held on 4 July and  as you might have guessed  this falls on a Thursday.

Speaking in the pouring rain outside No 10 on Wednesday, the prime minister said: Earlier today I spoke with his majesty the King to ask for the dissolution of Parliament. The King has granted this request and we will have a general election on the 4th of July.

While there is no actual law mandating that elections be held on Thursdays, this has been the custom for several decades now, and that typically includes voting in local as well as general elections and by-elections for individual seats.

How long have UK elections been held on Thursdays?

The last general election in the UK that wasnt held on a Thursday took place on a Tuesday in October 1931.

At that time, the day used for elections jumped around quite a bit, though it was always a weekday.

The polling day was a Wednesday in November 1922 and a Thursday in December 1923.

In October 1924, it was back to Wednesday, and then it was on a Thursday in May 1929.

In 1935 the election was held on a Thursday, and it has been that way ever since.

Why are general elections held on Thursdays in Britain?

The choice of Thursday is more a tradition than a rule.

It was likely driven by social and cultural factors such as avoiding overlap with paydays on Fridays or religious activities on Sundays. By holding the election in midweek, voters could be distanced from the influence of pubs or churches.

In the past, Thursdays were market days in many towns and villages which meant more people were out and therefore likely to vote.

Theres also a view that voting on a Thursday facilitates efficient ballot counting, with most results typically available by Friday morning, and allows for a smooth transition of power. The prime minister gets the entire weekend to pick their cabinet, settle into Downing Street if newly elected and prepare to brief civil servants by Monday morning.

This schedule enables an orderly transition and minimises disruption to governance.

There have, however, been calls in recent years to shift the voting day to the weekend  as is the case in many countries around the world.

Professor Ailsa Henderson from the University of Edinburgh previously told the BBC a weekend vote would appeal to a lot of people.

Allowing it on more than one day  where one is a weekday and one is on the weekend  you will probably maximise your turnout.

But the idea has faced criticism, not least as it would entail a high cost of overtime for election staff.
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Jersey is to move ahead with allowing assisted dying for terminally ill people after the islands parliament has voted in favour of drawing up laws to establish a service.

Following the impassioned debate over the divisive issue on Wednesday, an assisted dying service could be in place for residents as early as three years time.

It follows a report published in March setting out how such a service might work for adults resident in Jersey, with a voluntary, settled and informed wish to end their own life.

Protesters while States of Jersey Government Ministers were entering the States Assembly building to debate the Assisted Dying Law on Wednesday ( Christian Keenan /PA Wire )

Members voted for a service for terminally ill people with a life expectancy of six months, or 12 months if they have a neurodegenerative disease  known as route one  by a majority of 32 to 14.

But an option, known as route two, to extend a law to people with an incurable physical condition which might not be terminal but is causing them unbearable suffering  was rejected by a majority of 27 to 19.

Most members voted in favour of an opt-out for health professionals, giving them a right to refuse to participate in assisted dying.

A majority also voted for a minimum timeframe between the point at which a person makes a first formal request for an assisted death and the administration of the substance that leads to that death  proposed as 14 days.

In 2021, just over three-quarters (78 per cent) of the members of a citizens jury in Jersey agreed that assisted dying should be permitted, and later that year, the States Assembly became the first parliament in the British Isles to decide in principle to allow assisted dying.

Jersey politician fights back tears as he pleads for right to choose assisted dying ( PA )

On Wednesday, the States Assembly heard an at times emotional debate on what is accepted to be a controversial issue. Multiple members became tearful or had voices breaking as they spoke in a lengthy debate before voting began.

Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham praised members for the respectful, considerate and sensitive debate.

Assembly member Constable Mike Jackson suggested a public vote by way of referendum would have been a better approach.

He said he felt the proposed legislation should have been the subject of a referendum, given the clear split in views on the matter, adding: That may yet come, of course.

Deputy Tom Coles, speaking of the right to choice both for those who support assisted dying and those who do not, had to pause to compose himself, before saying: I know my wife would do anything for me. But if I get to my end if I get to my end, I do not want her to do the things that I dont want her to do for me.

I want this to be my choice. And I think that, by denying anybody their right to choose, when they get into that situation, that is not fair.

But I also respect that there are people who will not wish to do this service. There are people who do not want this to be their choice. And I also support that. So the fact that this entire process is completely opt-in and not opt-out is where I find my balance with all this.

Jerseys States Assembly has voted in favour of drawing up laws to establish an assisted dying service ( Alamy/PA )

Fellow States Assembly member, Reverend Michael Keirle, known as the Dean of Jersey, warned of the risks of people coming under pressure to end their lives, especially under what is known as route two for those with an incurable physical condition which might not be terminal but is causing them unbearable suffering.

He told the Assembly: It would be fantastically naive to think that people wont come under some kind of indirect societal pressure, especially under route two.

As a priest Ive seen grooming at every level. In 35 years of ministry Ive seen humanity at its absolute best in death and, sadly, at its absolute worst. As the old saying goes, where theres a will, theres a family.

Deputy Elaine Millar acknowledged that, due to the divided nature of opinion on the controversial issue of assisted dying, very large numbers of people would be disappointed by the outcome no matter which way the vote went.

It is expected the process for drafting a law could take around 18 months, with a debate then taking place by the end of 2025.

If a law is approved, it is expected a further 18-month implementation period will then begin, meaning the earliest for it to come into effect would be summer 2027.

Jennifer Bridge, leader of Jersey Assisted Dying Action Group, described it as a historic day for Jersey.

She said: I hope States Members will continue to give their support to this reform because the vast majority of us agree that an assisted dying law would be safer and kinder than the status quo.

Sarah Wootton, from pro-change organisation Dignity in Dying, described the vote as a victory for compassion and common sense while Trevor Moore, chair of My Death, My Decision, said it as an encouraging step.

He said it was regrettable that route two had been voted down but that Jersey was nonetheless moving in the right direction while England and Wales have stood still.
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Nigel Farage is not standing as a candidate in the general election, he has announced.

The former Ukip leader said he thought long and hard about contesting the general election, but has decided to help with Donald Trumps re-election bid in the US instead.

Important though the general election is, the contest in the United States of America on 5 November has huge global significance, Mr Farage said.

Nigel Farage will instead focus on Donald Trumps bid to return to the White House ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Despite not standing as a candidate, Mr Farage, who is Reforms honorary president, said he will do my bit to help in the campaign.

But it is not the right time for me to go any further than that, Mr Farage said.

He offered his full support to Reform and its current leader Richard Tice, adding that the choice between Labour and the Tories is uninspiring.

Only Reform have the radical agenda that is needed to end decline in this country, he said. Mr Farage has unsuccessfully stood for election to the House of Commons seven times, losing each by significant margins.

The shock announcement will be a major relief for Rishi Sunak, whose Conservative Party risked losing swathes of support if Mr Farage took on a frontline role with Reform.

Reform UK leader Richard Tice has said the Conservative Party is on the way down as a political force (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

The party is sitting in third place in the polls, with more support than the Liberal Democrats on 12 per cent. And while it may not win a single seat in the election, the Conservatives have been warned Reform may split the vote and risk their majorities in tens of seats.

It was founded as the Brexit Party by Mr Farage but is now led by Mr Tice, a multimillionaire former Tory donor.

A long-time Eurosceptic, Mr Tice made his fortune in the property business, following in the footsteps of his grandfather who once sought to demolish Londons landmark Ritz Hotel to make way for offices.

In the run-up to the 2016 EU referendum he displayed a similar iconoclasm, teaming up with fellow businessman Arron Banks to form Leave.EU rather than joining the Vote Leave campaign fronted by Boris Johnson and backed by many Brexit-supporting Tories.

The group was responsible for some of the more controversial adverts of the campaign with images of migrants pouring across a border, helping to earn them the sobriquet  along with Mr Farage  of the bad boys of Brexit.

A Tory member for all his adult life, Mr Tice finally broke with the party in 2019 in frustration at the failure of Theresa Mays government to deliver on the referendum result.

Instead, he joined Mr Farages new Brexit Party (as Reform was originally called), becoming party chairman and securing election as MEP for East of England in final European parliamentary elections held in the UK.

When Mr Farage decided to give up the leadership in March 2021  having accepted Brexit was secure and wont be reversed  Mr Tice was the obvious successor.
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A man who questioned Rishi Sunak wearing a hi-vis jacket in a warehouse is a Tory councillor asked to attend the event.

The prime minister kicked off a two-day trip around the UK with a visit to a distribution centre in Derbyshire to talk to staff.

Speaking to around 50 people, he was asked about his flagship plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

He was told that the biggest issue is going to be immigration over this election campaign before he was asked whether your Rwanda plan is going to see results and stop the small boats coming?

Broadcasters showed Prime Minister thanking the man for his important question.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak takes part in a Q&A with workers during a visit to West William Distribution in Ilkeston, Derbyshire ( REUTERS )

But the Tory leader did not mention that it had come from Conservative Leicestershire County councillor Ross Hills.

He told Byline Times that he had been invited to attend the event.

That was me (asking the question) yes, he confirmed to the paper.

As well as councillor, Mr Hills lists his occupation as part time dentist.

Mr Sunak has been accused of never believing in the Rwanda plan after he conceded flights would not take off before the election.

The PM admitted planes carrying asylum seekers to Kigali would now depart after polling day but vowed "preparation work" had already happened.

Speaking in Gillingham in Kent, a traditional Conservative heartland, Keir Starmer said: "I don't think he's ever believed that plan is going to work, and so he has called an election early enough to have it not tested before the election.

"We have to deal with the terrible loss of control of the border under this Government, we have to tackle the small boats that are coming across but nobody should be making that journey."

Mr Sunak insisted his Rwanda scheme would prove a deterrent, telling GB News: "Unless you're able to deliver that, people will keep coming."

In Derbyshire, he hammered home his message that the Tories have a "clear plan" while Labour would go "back to square one".

Both party leaders have been out and about at campaign events ( Reuters )

Labour's plan to curb small boat crossings include a new "border command" to work with other countries to crack down on people-smuggling gangs.

The news that Rwanda flights will not take off before the election came as new figures showed net migration - the difference between the number of people legally arriving in the UK and leaving  was still more than 600,000.

The Conservative party have been contacted for comment.
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Rishi Sunak has admitted there will be no Rwanda deportation flights before the general election.

The morning after calling a snap contest on 4 July, the prime minister said asylum seekers will be deported to the east African nation only if I am re-elected.

Pressed repeatedly on whether any deportation flights would take off before voters go to the polls, Mr Sunak repeatedly said the scheme would only get up and running after the election.

Rishi Sunak has promised to get Rwanda flights in the air by the second week of July ( PA Wire )

He has previously promised to start deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda in the first two weeks of July, with regular flights taking place over the summer.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Sunak said: We have already started detaining people, we have hired the escorts, we have an airfield on standby. We have booked the flights.

So all of that work is already ongoing and the choice at this election is clear.

If I am re-elected as prime minister on 5 July, these flights will go we will get our Rwanda scheme up and running.

A Tory source insisted there had been no change in our plans whatsoever and flights will go in the first two weeks of July.

Government lawyers had previously told the High Court that the earliest date for flights was the week commencing the 24th June.

The PMs admission raises the prospect that not a single asylum seeker will be deported to Rwanda at all, despite Britain having already spent more than 240m on the scheme.

Yvette Cooper said Mr Sunaks admission show this whole Rwanda scheme has been a con from start to finish.

The shadow home secretary said the reason Mr Sunak called the surprise general election is because he does not believe the Rwanda plan would have worked and was desperately hoping he wont be found out.

She added: The choice at this election is between a Tory Party with no credible plan and no grip, and a Labour government that will deliver a fully funded Border Security Command to smash criminal gangs and tackle dangerous boat crossings.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper have promised to scrap the Rwanda scheme ( PA Archive )

Labour has promised to immediately scrap the scheme if it comes to power, with Sir Keir Starmer vowing that not a single flight will take off if he becomes PM.

And Mr Sunak has accused Sir Keir of having no plan to stop migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.

In what is set to be a key general election attack line for the prime minister, he told GB News the Labour leader would scrap the Rwanda deportation scheme and offer an amnesty to illegal migrants.

Mr Sunak said: Thats the choice at this election. He thinks that we should offer an amnesty to illegal migrants to make us the soft touch of Europe.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised to flights to Rwanda will take place if the Tories win the General Election (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

It would make us a magnet for thousands of migrants coming from everywhere. So thats the choice of this election. Do you think my plan is the right one? Do you think Im the one thats taking bold action to secure our borders and to stop the boats? Or do you think hes going to do that?

In light of Mr Sunaks comments on Thursday morning, MPs and experts have called for migrants who have been detained for flights to be released.

SNP MP Alison Thewliss said: Those who have been detained under threat of removal to Rwanda must now be released and their cases properly considered here.

Jon Featonby, policy advisor at the charity Refugee Council, said: There are still an untold number of people who are in detention, under the Rwanda plan. Given the even greater uncertainty now that any flights will take off, they should all be released.

Charity Freedom from Torture hailed the news as a victory for compassionate people up and down the country who have joined our calls for an asylum system that treats people humanely.

The Rwanda policy was unveiled by then prime minister Boris Johnson and his home secretary Priti Patel in April 2022, but has been bogged down by legal challenges ever since.

But the governments Safety of Rwanda bill gained royal assent in April, legally deeming the east African nation a safe country for asylum seekers.

Sir Keir has said he will replace the Rwanda policy with a new approach to small boat crossings that will secure Britains borders.

Announcing his plans this month, he said: A scheme that will remove less than 1 per cent of arrivals from small boat crossings a year cannot and never will be an effective deterrent.

Sir Keir is promising to use new counterterrorism powers to tackle people-smuggling gangs.

The Liberal Democrats said it was an utter humiliation and admission of defeat from a prime minister who has thrown millions at his failing vanity project.
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Rishi Sunak has finally fired the starting gun on the general election campaign, stunning Westminster by calling a snap poll for 4 July, ending months of speculation.

In a speech in the pouring rain outside 10 Downing Street, the prime minister defended his record on the economy, national security and immigration as he set out the key battleground issues he intends to campaign on over the next six weeks.

The election, he said, would be a choice between himself and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who vowed to end Tory chaos and bring back economic stability during his own election address.

Voters will indeed choose between the two party leaders at the ballot box. But they will also select their local MPs  650 to be precise  and there are several Conservative Party big beasts at risk of being ejected from the Commons, with Labour commanding a 21 per cent lead in the polls, according to one tracker.

Jeremy Hunt

The chancellor faces a boundary change and a strong Lib Dem challenge for his Surrey seat ( Getty )

Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, is perhaps the most high-profile Tory MP at risk during the summer election.

Mr Hunt, who has served in the cabinet almost continually since 2010, is defending a majority of 8,817 in the new Godalming and Ash constituency, which takes in parts of Mr Hunts current South West Surrey seat.

A majority that big would usually leave the incumbent safe, but the size of the swing away from the Tories means Mr Hunt, a former health secretary, faces a battle to hang on in the blue wall seat.

The Liberal Democrats will be the main challengers in the seat. The party took control of Surrey Heath Council in May 2023 and has also become the largest party in Waverley Borough Council in Mr Hunts area.

Paul Fellows, a council leader campaigning on the NHS, will stand for the Lib Dems in the seat, having run for South West Surrey at the 2019 general election.

Grant Shapps

The defence secretarys majority may not be enough to withstand the swing away from the Tories ( Getty )

Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, has a majority of 10,995 in Welwyn Hatfield but the size of the swing away from the Tories means he is also at risk.

Labour came second in the seat at the 2019 general election, securing 31.6 per cent of the vote.

Andrew Lewin, who has worked in social housing, has been chosen as the partys candidate for the 2024 election.

Penny Mordaunt

The leader of the House has eyes on the the party leadership, but could be out of parliament altogether ( Getty )

View more

Penny Mordaunt is said to be on manoeuvres to take the Tory leadership crown should Mr Sunak lose the election.

But the House of Commons leader could find she is moving out of Westminster altogether come 5 July, if the polls ring true.

She holds a majority of 15,780 in Portsmouth North.

Labour, which came second in the second in 2019, has chosen Amanda Martin, a former teacher, to run for the seat.

Johnny Mercer

The veterans minister took his seat from Labour in 2015. They could be about to take it back ( Getty )

Johnny Mercer, the veterans minister, has a majority of 12,897 in Plymouth Moor View  the seat he pinched from Labour in 2015.

Labour will be hoping to win the constituency back and current polling suggests the party is in with a shout of doing just that.

Fred Thomas, a former royal marine, will stand for the party this year.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith

The former Tory leader has a majority of just 1,262 in Chingford and Woodford Green ( Getty )

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who has been an outspoken critic of China, is defending a majority of just 1,262 in Chingford and Woodford Green.

The former Tory leader has held the seat since 1992 but faces a major battle to hold on to it this year.

The outer London seat is near the top of Labours target list and Dr Faiza Shaheen, an academic and economist in the field of economic inequality, will stand for the party this year.

Jacob Rees-Mogg

The arch-Brexiteer has a solid majority in Somerset, but one poll put him behind the Labour challenger and the Lib Dems look strong ( Getty )

Arch-Brexiteer Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg is among the other big names who could face losing his seat after spending more than a decade in the Commons.

Sir Jacob, who previously served as the business secretary and was knighted last year, retained his North East Somerset seat with a healthy majority of 14,729.

But a YouGov poll published earlier this year found Sir Jacob was trailing his main challenger in the seat, which will become North-East Somerset and Hanham.

Labour has chosen West of England Mayor Dan Norris as its candidate for the seat. He lost it to Sir Jacob in 2014.

The Lib Dems say they are the main challengers in the seat.

Steve Baker

The man who delighted in bringing down Theresa May could himself be out of a job ( Getty )

Steve Baker, the self-styled Brexit hardman, was instrumental in bringing down former prime minister Theresa May.

But his own political career could have just weeks left to run  the MP for Wycombe is defending a majority of just 4,214.

Labour, who came second in the seat at the last election, has chosen Emma Reynolds as its candidate for 2024.

Ms Reynolds was the MP for Wolverhampton North East from 2010 to 2019 and served as a shadow candidate from 2013 to 2015.

Suella Braverman

The former home secretary has a 26,086 majority in Fareham, but Labour has eyes on a prize win ( Getty )

Suella Braverman could also find she is on her way out of the Commons less than a year after being sacked as home secretary.

She is defending a majority of 26,086 in Fareham.

Labour came second in 2019 and will be hoping for a big result come 5 July. The party has not yet chosen a candidate for the seat.

Liz Truss

The former PM has a majority of 26,195. Overturning that would be a coup for Labour ( Getty )

Liz Truss may be looking for a new job over the summer after setting fire to the economy during her short stint as prime minister.

She is defending a majority of 26,195 in South West Norfolk but has been warned she may be at risk.

Labour came second in 2019 and has selected Terry Jermy, a local businessman, as its candidate.

Rishi Sunak

Its a long shot, but a big Labour swing could even topple Sunaks 27,210 majority ( PA )

Such is the size of Labours lead in the polls that even Mr Sunak, with a majority of 27,210, is at risk of being booted out of the Commons, according to one survey.

The prime minister has represented his Richmond (Yorks) seat since 2015 but could find himself out of No 10 and the Commons in just over six weeks time.

Ukip came second in the seat in 2019. Labour recently won the York and North Yorkshire mayoral contest in the area and will be hoping to win Richmond and North Allerton in July.

The party has not yet selected a candidate for the new seat.
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Rishi Sunak has announced 4 July as the date for the next general election, giving just one weeks notice to the current parliament and firing the starting gun on campaigning.

Earlier today I spoke with his majesty the King to ask for the dissolution of Parliament. The King has granted this request, and we will have a general election on the 4th of July, the prime minister said outside Downing Street on Wednesday.

Heres how major newspapers covered the surprise announcement.

The Independent

We start with this newspapers front page, which describes 4 July as Judgement Day for 14 years of Conservative rule, a period that has included five prime ministers [and] countless scandals and resignations.

The Guardian

The Guardian led with the headline Sunaks big gamble, and reported that the prime ministers surprise announcement caused alarm among senior ministers.

It said that ministers Esther McVey and Chris Heaton-Harris expressed concern about the election date, fearing voters didnt yet feel economic improvement.

Michael Gove, however, supported Mr Sunak. Who dares wins, he reportedly told his cabinet colleagues, invoking the SAS motto. And you have dared, PM, and will win.

Daily Mirror

It led with the headline Drown & Out and pictured Mr Sunak walking back into No 10, soaking wet in the rain.

The paper reported that Mr Sunaks speech was overshadowed by protesters playing the New Labour anthem, Things Can Only Get Better at full blast.

It added that with rain pouring down on him, the prime minister told voters: I cannot and will not say that we have got everything right. No government should. But I am proud of what we have achieved together, the bold actions we have taken and Im confident about what we can do in the future.

The Daily Mail

Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future, the paper headlined its coverage, quoting Mr Sunaks speech. It reported that Mr Sunak was seizing the initiative by calling a general election amid Tory jitters.

The paper quoted the prime minister as saying that voters must decide between two very different visions.

Financial Times

The paper led with the headline Sunak bets on July 4 election and commented that Mr Sunak made a big gamble by calling the election while his party trailed Labour by over 20 points in polls.

A former Tory minister described the decision as bonkers, noting: Not a single colleague is saying theyre pumped up or ready.

The Daily Telegraph

Sunak gambles on snap poll ran the headline on the broadsheet.

Things can only get wetter, it commented with wordplay on the Labour anthem Things Can Only Get Better.

In an opinion piece on the front page, associate editor Gordon Rayner said Mr Sunaks message came across loud and clear: that things have indeed got better under his leadership, and if Sir Keir Starmer becomes prime minister things can only get worse.

The Times

Mr Sunak bet the house by unexpectedly calling a general election, surprising his own cabinet, the paper reported.

It said the prime minister tried to position himself as the underdog.

Metro

The Metro noted that Mr Sunak ended months of speculation with this decision. It called the announcement a bombshell move.

i

The i headlined its coverage Judgement day: 4 July snap election for UK.

Sunak gambles on snap general election - in attempt to catch Labour off guard, it said.

Daily Express

PM: I am fighting for our nations future was the Daily Express headline.

It quoted Sunak as saying that his partys economic credibility won by bringing inflation down from over 11 per cent to 2.3 per cent and that influenced his decision to take the fight to Labour.
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American Airlines says a statement issued by the company on Monday blaming a 9-year-old girl who was recorded while using a plane bathroom was made in error.

The airline is being sued in a Texas court after the now former flight attendant, Estes Carter Thompson III, 37, used a recording device to film girls between the ages of seven and 14 years old using the American Airlines bathroom for several months in 2023.

After Mr Thompsons arrest, the family of a nine-year-old victim sued the airline, alleging that the company should have known he was a danger to guests.

On Monday, a lawyer representing the airline wrote in a filing that the little girl should have been aware that a device was recording her while she was using the bathroom.

Any injuries or illnesses alleged to have been sustained by Plaintiff, Mary Doe, were proximately caused by Plaintiffs own fault and negligence, were proximately caused by Plaintiffs use of the compromised lavatory, which she knew or should have known contained a visible and illuminated recording device, the filing said.

Estes Carter Thompson III was arrested earlier this year

By Wednesday the filing had been widely reported in news outlets. When The Independent pressed American for an explanation, a spokesperson said the filing had been made in error by an outside legal entity on retainer with the airline.

Our outside legal counsel retained with our insurance company made an error in this filing. The included defense is not representative of our airline and we have directed it be amended this morning. We do not believe this child is at fault and we take the allegations involving a former team member very seriously, an American Airlines spokesperson told The Independent. Our core mission is to care for people  and the foundation of that is the safety and security of our customers and team.

Before the walk back, Paul Llewellyn, the attorney representing the girl and her parents, told the New York Post that her family was absolutely livid.

Instead of taking responsibility for this awful event, American Airlines is actually blaming our daughter for being filmed. How in good conscience could they even make such a suggestion? the girls mother said in a statement, according to WCVB. It both shocks and angers us. American Airlines has no shame.

I was absolutely shocked and I think its outrageous, Mr Llewellyn told The Post. The idea that American Airlines and its lawyers would blame a nine-year-old girl for being filmed, in my opinion, just smacks of desperation and depravity.

He said he did not believe American Airlines would have changed its filing without the backlash.

A former American Airlines flight attendant allegedly filmed a nine-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom. The company walked back a legal filing that originally blamed the girl for not noticing the recording device when she used the restroom ( Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

I believe the only way, the only reason they amended their answer to this defense is because of the backlash that they received, Mr Llewellyn told Fox4. Actions speak louder than words.

The little girl was allegedly filmed during a January 2023 flight. She and her family flew from their home in Austin, Texas, to Disneyland.

In September of that year, a 14-year-old girl from North Carolina noticed that an iPhone was recording her while she was using the bathroom. Her discovery ultimately led to the arrest of Mr Thompson in January of this year.

The parents of the 14-year-old victim offered their sympathies to the Texas parents after American Airlines blamed the child in its lawsuit.

This callous legal position shocks us. Our hearts go out to the Texas family, they said in a statement.

Police found that Mr Thompson had recorded girls on at least four occasions.

Mr Thompson has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of child sexual abuse material depicting a minor, according to the Boston Herald. His next court date is 1 July.

In addition to blaming the nine-year-old victim, American Airlines also made clear that Mr Thompsons alleged recording of children while they used the bathroom was outside the course and scope of his employment.

In my view, it just smacks of desperation, Mr Llewellyn told WCVB. Really, are they going to stand up in front of a Texas jury and point to a nine-year-old and say, Dont blame us, its her fault.
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Boeing and aviation regulators hit back at claims that a fleet of airplanes have an electrical flaw near a fuel tank that could potentially cause a fire or explosion, explaining there is not an immediate safety issue.

According to earlier reports in the Daily Mail and New York Post, Boeings 777 liners are at risk of electrostatic discharge near its center-wing fuel tank.

The accumulation of electrostatic charge in the cover plate assembly and the float valve assembly, which is attached to the cover plate assembly, could lead to electrostatic discharge to the surrounding structure, according to an Airworthiness Directives rule posted by the Federal Aviation Administration.

This condition, if not addressed, could result in an ignition source inside the fuel tank and subsequent fire or explosion.

In statements to The Independent on Thursday, the FAA said there was not an immediate safety risk to flights, and Boeing said the standard regulatory process had been "sensationalized".

The FAA bases its airworthiness directive timelines on the risk involved. If the agency determines something is an urgent issue, it requires immediate action," an aviation regulatory source told The Independent.

"The proposed Boeing 777 airworthiness directive would give operators a certain amount of time to make the fixes that Boeing described in its November 2023 alert.

In an email, Boeing described the Daily Mails original story as "misleading and reckless.

It makes incorrect connections and sensationalizes the standard regulatory process that has helped ensure air travel is the safest form of transportation, the aircraft manufacturer said. "This is not an immediate safety of flight issue. There are multiple redundancies designed into modern commercial airplanes to ensure protection for electromagnetic effects. The 777 fleet has been operating for nearly 30 years, and has safely flown more than 3.9 billion passengers.

The airworthiness directive would impact 292 airplanes in the US. American Airlines and United are among the airlines which operate Boeing 777 liners.

In the directive, the FAA proposed that electrical bonding and grounding should be installed on the 777 liners as well as new fasteners on the cover plate. The federal agency also proposes that existing maintenance or inspections should be revised to incorporate new airworthiness limitations.

In a separate statement, the FAA said: The proposed [airworthiness directive], which the FAA issued in March 2024, would require installing electrical bonding and grounding to a component in the center fuel tank. It would make mandatory service actions that Boeing described in a November 2023 alert bulletin.

Boeings safety record has been scrutinized since a door panel on a 737 Max 9 jet blew out over Oregon in early January. The panel plugged a space left for an extra emergency door on the jet, which was operated by Alaska Airlines. Pilots were able to land safely, and there were no injuries.

The company is also facing complaints from ten whistleblowers, and two men who publicly spoke out against the troubled company died in recent months. Earlier this week, the family of one of the deceased Boeing whistleblowers says that they hold the aircraft manufacturer responsible for his death, even if the company had not pulled the trigger.

John Barnett, 62, a quality control engineer at Boeing for 32 years, died by suicide in March. At the time he was testifying in a lawsuit against the aircraft manufacturer.

Joshua Dean, who worked as a quality auditor at Spirit AeroSystems, died earlier this month, according to his family. The 45-year-old, who had an active lifestyle and was believed to be in good health, passed away in hospital following the onset of a fast-moving infection.

This article was updated on 23rd May, 2024 with statements from the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing
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Officers who turned up to assist with the unfolding mass shooting incident in Lewiston, Maine, allegedly smelled of alcohol and almost crashed their armored vehicle into other emergency responders, according to a damning incident report.

The scene was described as utter chaos with some officers arriving in civilian clothes from a funeral, running the risk of being mistaken for the gunman, according to the after action report from the Portland Police Department.

Eighteen people were left dead and 13 more were injured after 40-year-old Robert Card, a Sgt 1st class in the Army Reserve, went on a rampage in the town last October. His body was later found close to the scene after a 48-hour manhunt.

The incident, which took place in several locations including a bowling alley and a local bar and grill restaurant was the states deadliest ever shooting.

A new report, obtained by the Associated Press, described how officers rushed to secure the scene following initial reports of the attack. Tactical team leader Nicholas Goodman said in the report that the officers who showed up without any orders risked doing more harm than good.

In a new report, the scene in Lewiston, Maine, was described as utter chaos with some officials arriving in civilian clothes from a funeral ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Mr Goodman said that a second tactical team that was also responding to the incident, and traveling from Cumberland County, nearly crashed their vehicle into his.

It locked up its brakes and came to an abrupt halt with the tires making a noise a large 18-wheeler makes when it stops abruptly while carrying a copious amount of weight, he wrote. Id estimate the armored car came within 20-30 feet of striking our armored car and most likely killing a number of us.

Mr Goodman added that the aroma of intoxicants was wafting from the armored vehicle. Its occupants later told him they had come to the scene from a funeral.

Eighteen people were left dead and 13 more were injured after 40-year-old Robert Card, a Sgt 1st class in the Army Reserve, went on a rampage in the town ( Lewiston Police Department )

Tactical vehicles used by the Cumberland Sheriffs Office and Portland police apparently were not aware of each others presence, the nine-page report added.

In addition, it suggested a number of self-dispatching officers had arrived to help in plain clothes  similar clothing to the suspect  had created a dangerous situation in which officers could have exchanged fire with each other in the dark wooded area.

I have never seen the amount of self-dispatching, federal involvement with plain clothes and utter chaos with self-dispatching in my career, Mr Goodman wrote in the report.

Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said in an earlier statement that an internal investigation had cleared his officers and that no one was determined to be intoxicated at the scene. He said any report of intoxicated officers should have been raised at the time, not six months afterwards.

Community members look at a memorial outside Schemengees Bar & Grille about one week after a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Daniel Wathen, the chairperson of an independent commission investigating the shooting, said the allegations included in the report were disturbing and that some, including those of intoxicated officers, were outside the scope of the panel.

The commission previously heard testimony from law enforcement officials about the chaotic hours after the shooting in which agencies mobilized for a search and police officers poured into the region.

The panel is set to reconvene on Friday to hear about communications and coordination problems from witnesses.

The Associated Press contributed to his report.
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The bodies of two missing Kansas moms were found by authorities in a freezer buried on a farm after they were allegedly killed by members of the Gods Misfits anti-government group.

It has been almost two months since Jilian Kelley, the wife of a local pastor, and her friend Veronica Butler set off from Kansas on a road trip to visit Bulters children in Oklahoma.

They vanished off the highway on 30 March, and their bodies werent found by authorities for another two weeks. On 13 April, four people were taken into custody on charges of murder and kidnapping in connection to the two missing moms. A fifth Gods Misfits member, 31-year-old Paul Grice, was also arrested later.

Newly filed Texas County court documents obtained by two local outlets are now shedding light on precisely where the bodies of the two mothers were found.

The two women were found inside a chest freezer that was located after a two-day excavation of a burial site in a cow pasture. A long list of other items were also dug up, most with possible blood on them, including jeans, sweatshirts, T-shirts, a black jacket, cloth gloves, ball caps, duct tape, a sheathed black knife and a black taser/flashlight, search warrants obtained by KFOR state. The documents do not provide more details on the manner of the moms murders and cause of death.

Veronica Butler, left, and Jilian Kelley were killed in rural Oklahoma after going missing at the end of March ( Facebook )

The burial site was on a property that was leased by Tad Cullum, one of the murder suspects, KATV reported.

The documents also alleged that Mr Grice had asked a witness on 18 April some suspicious questions in the aftermath of the four other suspects arrests.

Mr Grice asked the witness how long DNA would last in dirt if it was churned and also questioned if the witness knew how to get a guy and his family to Mexico, the documents say, according to the outlet.

He also allegedly told the witness he was concerned about his DNA being in the hole that the women were found in because he had been to the Twomblys house, although this was not further explained.

When Mr Cullum was arrested at his home on 13 April, Mr Grice was also there, the documents reportedly say, with the FBI noticing that his right pinky finger was bandaged.

Tad Bert Cullum, top left, Cora Twombly, top right, Tifany Machel Adams, bottom left, and Cole Earl Twombly, bottom right arrested in connection to ther murders of the two women ( OSBI )

Mr Grice told them he cut it working on his pickup, but a tip to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation stated someone saw Mr Grice on at the end of March and told them he injured it while cutting fencing, documents obtained by KATV state.

Data has also been seized from devices belonging to multiple suspects that could possibly link them back to the crime, the documents also reportedly detail.

The records allege that Cole and Cora Twombly, two of the suspects, had cellphones in a truck they were driving at the time of their arrest, with data on the devices linking them both to the site that the two women were abducted from, as well as the burial site, KFOR reports.

They also state that Tifany Machel Adams, another suspect, had purchased the cellphones and another device from a Walmart in February.

Before Mr Grices arrest, Tifany Machel Adams, 54; Tad Bert Cullum, 43; Cole Earl Twombly, 50; and Cora Twombly, 44 were all accused of luring Butler and Kelley to a rural crossroads before kidnapping and murdering them on 30 March.

That morning, Butler thought she was going to pick up her children, aged six and eight, from their paternal grandmother, Ms Adams, for her usual supervised visit.

According to court documents obtained by The Independent, the pair had been involved in a years-long, problematic custody battle over the children, whose father, Wrangler Rickman is Ms Adams son.

Veronica Butler, left, and Jilian Kelley disappeared on 30 March in rural Oklahoma. Their bodies were identified last week and five people have been charged over their murders ( OSBI )

Rickman had allegedly told his grandmother in February that they didnt have to worry about the custody battle much longer, because Adams had it under control and would take out Butler during a drop-off of the children, arrest documents said.

Mr Rickman denied having this conversation when questioned later, documents showed.

Ms Adams, Mr Cullum, Mr Grice and the Twomblys, who called themselves Gods Misfits according to court documents, allegedly plotted to kill Butler for at least a month, even staking out her home in Hugoton, Kansas, just across the border from Oklahoma.

Ms Butler was allowed supervised visits on Saturdays. The day before she disappeared, Ms Butler was told by Ms Adams that her usual, paid supervisor was not available, and she should bring her own chosen person.

Ms Kelley, a preachers wife, was that chosen person.

The pair were reportedly ambushed on the rural Highway 95, with their abandoned car found at the intersection with Road L by Butlers relatives after she failed to show up to a party with the children.

Butler and Kelleys causes of death are yet to be officially revealed, but it is believed they were not shot.

The Independent has contacted Texas Office of Court Administration for further information.
 Close Idaho murders: County police release footage of Bryan Kohberger traffic stop

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Bryan Kohberger returned to court this week for a hearing where his defense team questioned a Moscow Police Department detective over the handling of phone records, part of their motion to compel the prosecution to turn over additional evidence in the case.

Theyre seeking material including dashcam footage related to the search warrant at Mr Kohbergers Pennsylvania home and lab testing results.

The 29-year-old criminology PhD student is currently awaiting trial for the murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, who were killed on November 13, 2022, at their off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho.

Police linked Mr Kohberger to the murders that rocked the town of Moscow through DNA evidence, cellphone data, an eyewitness account and his white Hyundai Elantra.

However, his attorneys have tried to argue that the DNA may have been planted and that the state has not handed all the evidence for the defense to review.

Earlier this year, his attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the murder charges against him, citing a biased grand jury, inadmissible evidence and prosecutorial misconduct. But Judge John Judge denied the motion.

A trial date has not been set.
 Close Chad Daybells daughter testifies in his murder trial

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A new rebuttal witness for the prosecution testified that Chad Daybells son Garth had told him how he found his dead mother Tammy Daybell, which is different from what Garth told the court at his fathers triple murder trial earlier this week.

Shortly after the defense rested on Thursday, Jason Abegelen, who worked with Garth at a haunted house, recalled that Garth told him how he found his mother dead in the bedroom and that his father was not there.

But Garth had testified that in the early morning hours of October 19, 2019, his father woke him up to help after finding the mother-of-five dead and halfway off the bed on the floor, tangled up in sheets.

Daybell, 55, is on trial for the death of Tammy, and the murders of Lori Vallows two children, Tylee Ryan, 16, and JJ Vallow, seven. Two weeks after Tammys death, Daybell and Vallow married on a beach in Hawaii.

It was only after the children were reported missing  and authorities began delving into the couples bizarre cult beliefs  that questions were asked about Tammys death and her body was exhumed for an autopsy. It was determined she had died of asphyxia and Daybell was charged with her murder, as well as the murders of Vallows children, who were found buried in Daybells Idaho backyard nine months after they went missing.

Prosecutors say Daybell and Vallow justified the three killings by creating an apocalyptic belief system, which was part of an elaborate scheme to eliminate any obstacles from their life.

But Daybells attorney claims he was manipulated by Vallow, who was convicted of the murders last year and received three life sentences.

Like Vallow, Daybell did not testify in his defense.

Closing arguments are expected to be next week and then the case will be in the hands of the jury.

If convicted, Daybell faces the death penalty or life in prison.
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Three family members are set to face trial for the brutal killing of a 3-year-old girl with demons during an exorcism ritual.

A judge in Santa Clara County, California, determined that prosecutors had enough evidence to move forward in the case over the death of Alrey Naomi.

Her mom, Claudia Hernandez, 26, uncle, Rene Aaron Hernandez Santos, 20, and grandfather, Rene Trigueros Hernandez, 60, were all charged with assault on a child causing death.

The three were in court Monday for their arraignments and were ordered to be held without bail, according to KRON.

The three family members held the exorcism to get rid of a demon from the toddler, according to prosecutors, KRON noted. The family spent hours squeezing, choking and trying to induce vomiting from the young girl.

The exorcism happened on a Pentecostal churchs altar, according to the report.

Over the course of approximately 20 hours  Arely Doe fought for her life as three trusted adults forcibly grabbed her by the neck. While this assault was ongoing, Arely struggled to escape from her abusers, Deputy District Attorney Rebekah Wise wrote in court documents, according to KRON.

Claudia Hernandez, 26, (left), Rene Aaron Hernandez Santos, 20, (middle) and Rene Trigueros Hernandez, 60, (right) have all been charged in connection to the death of Arely Naomi ( San Jose police )

The 3-year-old girl died in the church during the exorcism.

Her mom told investigators that her daughter was possessed and said that God took Arely during the exorcism because she was not meant to be a mother. Caudia added that she accepted Gods plan.

Experts said Arely died from a combination of asphyxia and smothering. Her injuries included brain swelling, blood in the lungs and marks on her neck.

When police interviewed the family, Arron said he could speak in tongues and had gifts from Gods.

Arelys death made him question his gift to heal, court documents read.

The grandfather told police Claudia said her daughter was not a normal girl. When Rene arrived at the ritual, Arely was alive, but her mom said she was going to die, he told investigators.

Defense attorneys have argued the suspects did not intend to kill Arely. A trial date was set for August, and all three face life sentences.
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The murder of four college students rocked the quiet town of Moscow, Idaho, and led to the arrest of prime suspect Bryan Kohberger.

Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin  all students at the University of Idaho  were ambushed in their rooms and stabbed to death with a military-style knife that has yet to be found. Police were called to the gruesome scene at the off-campus residence almost eight hours after the vicious attack.

For weeks, only scant details about the carnage were revealed as the community reeled from the tragedy and grappled with fears of a murderer on the loose. That changed with the December 2022 arrest of Washington State University student Mr Kohberger, whose apartment, office and family home were raided and searched for evidence.

While more information has become public through the release of search warrants and arrest records in recent months, a gag order in the case remains in place and most aspects of the probe and its findings are still a mystery.

A grand jury indicted Mr Kohberger on four counts of first-degree murder and one burglary charge, effectively rerouting the case directly to the states felony court level and allowing prosecutors to skip the preliminary hearing process.

A trial was initially set for October 2023 but was postponed indefinitely when Mr Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial. Then in late December 2023, prosecutors submitted a request for the high-profile murder trial to begin in the summer of 2024.

On 28 February 2024, a hearing is set to take place where a trial date could finally be set.

Here, The Independent takes a deep dive into the developments in the complex case:

How did the stabbings unfold?

Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were stabbed to death in the young womens rental home on King Road in Moscow on 13 November 2022. Chapin, Kernodles boyfriend, was staying at the residence, which is just a few minutes walk from campus, on the night of the murders.

According to an affidavit for Mr Kohbergers arrest, the killings are believed to have taken place around 4am.

Among the revelations in the 18-page document is that Mr Kohbergers DNA was found on a knife sheath that the killer left behind at the crime scene. The tan leather Kabar sheath, which featured the United States Marine Corps symbol, was discovered on Mogens bed next to her butchered body.

At the time of the quadruple homicide, the two other roommates, Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortenson, were inside the home, but were left unharmed by the killer. The police report reveals that Ms Mortenson came face to face with the masked killer.

Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21 ( Instagram )

According to Ms Mortensons terrifying account, she had gone to sleep in her bedroom on the second floor of the three-floor home and was woken by what sounded like Goncalves playing with her dog in one of the third-floor bedrooms.

She told investigators she was in her bedroom on the second floor of the home  the same floor where Kernodle and Chapin were killed  and was standing in the doorway as the killer walked right past her. A short time later, Ms Mortenson said that she heard someone believed to be either Goncalves or Kernodle saying, Theres someone here.

Minutes later, Ms Morterson. said that she looked out of her bedroom for the first time but did not see anything. She then opened her door for a second time when she heard what she thought was crying coming from Kernodles room, the documents state.

At that point, she said she heard a mans voice saying, Its ok, Im going to help you.

When she opened her door for a third time minutes later, she said she saw a figure clad in black clothing and a mask that covered the persons mouth and nose walking towards her. As she stood in a frozen shock phase, she said the man  who she did not recognise  walked past her and headed toward the back sliding glass door of the home. She then locked herself in her room.

A private security officer sits in a vehicle on Jan. 3, 2023, in front of the house in Moscow, Idaho where four University of Idaho were murdered ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Despite the close encounter, a 911 call wasnt made until 11.58am  eight hours later. The call, made from one of the surviving roommates cellphones  reported an unconscious individual. It is unclear if the killer saw her or whether she simply had a lucky escape because he didnt notice her inside the dark home.

This raises the question around whether or not he planned to kill all four victims or whether some of the victims were treated as collateral damage in the horrific attack. Goncalves and Mogens bodies were found in a bedroom on the third floor, while Kernodle and Chapin were found on the second floor of the home.

The affidavit reveals no details about what connection  if any  Mr Kohberger had to his alleged victims.

Mr Kohberger, a criminal justice PhD student at Washington State University, lived just 15 minutes from the victims over the Idaho-Washington border in Pullman, having moved there to begin the academic programme in August 2022.

Who are the victims?

Goncalves and Mogen, both 21, were seniors at the University of Idaho and were expected to graduate this year.

At a vigil weeks after the murders, Goncalves father Mr Goncalves told how the two absolutely beautiful young women first met in sixth grade and became inseparable.

They just found each other and every day they did homework together, they came to our house together, they shared everything, he said at the time. Then they started looking at colleges, they came here together. They eventually get into the same apartment together.

And in the end, they died together, in the same room, in the same bed.

Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves pictured together before their murders ( Instagram )

Kernodle and Chapin were juniors at the college and had begun dating months before their deaths. The couple of 20-year-olds is believed to have been awake at the time the stabbings were carried out.

Six months after the stabbings, the families of the slain students accepted posthumous awards for their achievements.

Mogen and Goncalves relatives walked across the stage for their degrees in an emotional ceremony on 13 May. Kernodles family also accepted her certificate in marketing at a separate ceremony while Chapins award in sports, recreation and management was mailed to his parents.

Kernodles family accepted her certificate in marketing at a private ceremony last week while Chapins award in sports, recreation and management will be mailed to his parents this week.

Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle ( Jazzmin Kernodle )

Who is Bryan Kohberger?

At the time of the murders, Mr Kohberger was studying for his PhD and working as a teaching assistant in criminal justice at WSU.

Prior to this, Mr Kohberger studied criminology at DeSales University first as an undergraduate and then finishing his graduate studies in June 2022.

According to online school records, Mr Kohberger received an associate arts degree in 2018 from Northampton Community College in Albrightsville and received a masters degree in criminal justice this year from DeSales University.

Bryan Kohberger is seen in court

While studying at DeSales, he studied under renowned forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland who interviewed the BTK serial killer and co-wrote the book Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer with him.

He was working part-time as a security guard until August 2021 at Pleasant Valley School District, where his mother was listed as a paraprofessional.

The alleged murderer carried out a research project to understand how emotions and psychological traits influence decision-making when committing a crime.

Mr Kohberger reached out to potential participants on Reddit, with the chilling survey resurfacing after his arrest.

In particular, this study seeks to understand the story behind your most recent criminal offense, with an emphasis on your thoughts and feelings throughout your experience, the post said.

His fascination appears to have continued around the time of the murders when he applied for an internship with the local police department.

The affidavit revealed that he applied for an internship in the fall of 2022 with the Pullman Police Department and wrote in an essay how he had an interest in assisting rural law enforcement agencies with how to better collect and analyze technological data in public safety operations.

What the unsealed records reveal

After weeks of no updates on the investigation, law enforcement in Idaho and Pennsylvania announced Mr Kohbergers arrest on 30 December 2022. A search warrant was executed at Mr Kohbergers apartment in Pullman, Washington, the same day he was arrested at his parents home in Pennsylvania.

A record of evidence recovered during the apartment search revealed the seizure of 15 items including hairs, receipts, a computer tower, a disposable glove and items with peculiar stains.

In the search warrant record, investigators list several items with stains, including cuttings of a mattress cover, a reddish/brown stain on an uncovered pillow and a collection of dark red spot. Dr Monte Miller, a former crime scene investigator and forensic expert, and former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer told The Independent back in January that investigators most likely believed those items had blood stains.

List of items seized adt authorities served a search warrat at Bryan Kohbergers home ( Pennsylvania Courts )

A reddish or brown stain is a euphemism for, We found something that looks like blood, Dr Miller said at the time. It might be blood from the victims, might be his blood. They dont know until they test it, but theyll be able to get DNA if it is blood. We dont know what the stains in the cover sheets look like, but again theyre looking for any kind of DNA, evidence that might have come from the crime scene.

Ms Coffindaffer added: They dont call it blood, but its definitely inferred that it was blood.

Court documents, released by Washington authorities on 4 May showed that multiple items taken from Mr Kohbergers apartment in Pullman had been tested for the presence of blood. While most items came back negative, two unspecified items were positive.

Bryan Kohberger is seen in his mugshot ( Monroe County Correctional Facility )

Another item included on the list of seizures was a possible animal hair strand. While Mr Kohberger is not believed to have a pet, one of the victims he is accused of killing, Goncalves, had a dog that was at home at the time of the murders and was later found by police responding to the scene.

The possible animal hair theyll try to connect that to the dog left at the scene, according to Dr Miller. If theres a root on that, if there is any skin on that hair, they could do a DNA test with that dog. If its just a hair thats been shed and there is no skin, they would still be able to do a microscopical comparison and exclude most dogs but they wouldnt be able to connect it necessarily to that dog.

Mr Kohberger was also linked to the crime through cellphone records and his white Hyundai Elantra, a similar model of the car seen near the murder home around the time of the murders. Mr Kohberger changed the license plates on his Hyundai Elantra just days after the murders.

The suspects car had Pennsylvania plates when it was pulled over by police in Moscow, in August 2022, according to a citation from the Latah County Sheriffs Office. A review of documents on CarFax by Newsweek showed that Mr Kohberger changed the registration from Pennsylvania to Washington on 18 November, five days after four students were found stabbed to death in a Moscow home.

What we dont know

No murder weapon has been found, police said before the gag order was issued following Mr Kohbergers arrest.

It is not known if the killer personally knew one or more of the victims and whether the attack was carried out in a fit of jealousy or rage. No motive is known.

Authorities have refused to reveal who made the 911 call and will not release the audio. It is unclear what the roommates and other friends discussed in the call and what led them to describe a victim as merely unconscious.

Investigators have not revealed whether they believed the killer entered the house before the victims arrived home and hid before striking in their sleep or whether he entered the house after the students returned.

Idaho murder victims family slams move to demolish student home

Kohberger indicted by grand jury

A preliminary hearing, where prosecutors had to show a judge that there is enough evidence to justify moving forward with charges of burglary and four counts of murder, was previously scheduled for 26 June.

However, on 16 May, a grand jury indicted Mr Kohberger on the same charges, effectively rerouting the case directly to the states felony court level and allowing prosecutors to skip the preliminary hearing process, the Associated Press reported.

According to the indictment, Mr Kohberger is charged with four counts of murder in the first degree and one count of burglary.

Each murder count states that he did wilfully, unlawfully, deliberately, with premeditation and with malice aforethought, kill and murder each of the victims by stabbing.

On 22 May, Mr Kohberger refused to enter a plea in Latah County District Court, with his attorney saying that he was standing silent on the charges.

The response prompted the judge to enter a not guilty plea on Mr Kohbergers behalf, setting the stage for a trial in which he could potentially face the death penalty.

Kohbergers parents asked to testify in Pennsylvania death case

It has also emerged that Mr Kohbergers parents have been ordered to testify before a grand jury in the familys home state of Pennsylvania in the case of a woman found dead almost a year after her sudden disappearance.

CNN first reported the news on Wednesday (24 May), citing a source who said that the accused killers mother has already given evidence to the grand jury while his father will appear to testify on Thursday (25 May). The information can then be shared with Idaho prosecutors.

The investigation is said to be about the disappearance and death of a 45-year-old woman Dana Smithers, reported Eyewitness News.

Smithers vanished without a trace in May 2022 from Monroe County, Pennsylvania  where Mr Kohberger was living at the time. Her remains were found last month in a wooded area.

What comes next?

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case, citing five aggravating circumstances that could warrant the maximum sentence of capital punishment.

The judge had set Mr Kohbergers trial date for 2 October 2023 following requests by Kohbergers attorney and the state. But, in a shock move, Mr Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial, causing the trial to be delayed.

Mr Kohberger then attempted to have cameras banned in court  but Judge John C Judge indicated that would not happen.

In late December 2023, prosecutors then filed a motion requesting that the trial take place in the summer of 2024, arguing that the defence has had enough time to review the evidence in the case.

The state noted that the procedures should preferably unfold while high schools and universities in the area are not in the midst of the academic calendar, given the large media presence expected. In the filing, the state is also asking the judge to set deadlines for the prosecution and the defence to turn over all discovery in the case, to disclose any expert witnesses who will be called to testify at trial, and to file any pretrial motions including motions about the death penalty.

Deadlines for jury questionnaire proposals, jury instructions, proposed witnesses and any other matters are also being sought.

The State proposes that the Court schedule trial for the summer of 2024, and that the trial dates avoid times when Moscow High School and our area universities are in session, the filing states.

As the Court is aware, Moscow High School is directly adjacent to the courthouse premises and already the significantly increased amount of media and other vehicles related to this case has strained available parking as well as safety and convenience for pedestrians, including students.

No specific date was recommended in the court filing. However, the University of Idahos spring commencement  which closes out the semester  is scheduled for 11 May 2024 and Moscow High Schools classes end in the first week of June.
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A Utah grief author accused of fatally poisoning her husband has spoken out for the first time from jail.

Kouri Richins, 34, from Park City, is charged with murdering her husband Eric, 39, back on 4 March 2022 by slipping a lethal dose of fentanyl into his Moscow mule.

Now, two years on from his death and one year since her arrest on 8 May 2023, Ms Richins has broken her silence in s jailhouse interview.

Speaking out from Summit County Jail, east of Salt Lake City, Ms Richins protested her innocence and vowed war against authorities for taking an innocent mom away from her babies.

Ive been silent for a year, locked away from my kids, my family, my life, living with the media telling the world who they think I am, what they think Ive done or how they think Ive lived, she said in recorded comments to Datelines True Crime Daily podcast.

You took an innocent mom away from her babies. And this means war, Ms Richins concluded.

Prosecutors allege that Ms Richins was $1.8m in debt and had fraudulently obtained a nearly $2m life insurance policy on her husband.

Kouri Richins is accused of murdering her husband Eric (pictured) in March 2022 ( Facebook )

She first tried to kill her husband with a spiked sandwich on Valentines Day 2022, according to charging documents.

After ingesting the food, Richins broke out in hives and blacked out, prosecutors said.

I think my wife tried to poison me, Mr Richins friend claimed he said, after injecting himself with his sons EpiPen and drinking a bottle of allergy relief medicine Benadryl.

The couples housekeeper told investigators that she had given Ms Richins fentanyl pills a couple of days before that incident.

Later that month, Ms Richins allegedly told the housekeeper that the fentanyl had been too weak and asked her to find stronger pills, according to charging documents.

Then, in May 2022, Ms Richins allegedly tried to kill her husband again  and this time succeeded.

Prosecutors allege that she slipped five times the lethal dose of fentanyl  which is 50 times more porent than heroin  into his Moscow mule.

Kouri Richins broke down in a court hearing in August 2023 ( AP )

Ms Richins called 911 in the middle of the night to report that she had found her husband cold to the touch at the foot of their bed, according to the police report.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, with a toxicology report finding a lethal dose of fentanyl in his system. They also found trace amounts of the antipsychotic medication, Quetiapine, that seemingly belonged to his wife.

Following his death, the mother-of-three proceeded to write a childrens book about grief called Are You With Me?, with its blurb stating it gently guides children through the difficult experience of losing a loved one, a challenge personally faced from the loving mother who wrote the book.

She dedicated it to her amazing husband of nine years.

Her recent comments came after a judge granted her lawyers request to withdraw from her defense, with lead attorney Skye Lazaro attributing the request to the irreconcilable and nonwaivable situation, according to a recent filing.

Ms Richins said in a statement that it was neither her lawyers nor her own choice and described her great devastation.

Although I am extremely disappointed with where were at right now with this case, Im anxious. Im anxious to prove my innocence. Im anxious to get to trial, she added.

Kouri Richins defense attorney Skye Lazaro (L) talks to Summit County Chief Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth ( AP )

Their withdrawal came just one day after Ms Richins legal team asked the judge to disqualify prosecutors from the case. alleging that they had listened to jailhouse calls between Ms Richins and her legal team.

The defense argued that this violated the defendants constitutional right to effective counsel. Ms Richins lawyers, however, had failed to use an app to shield calls, which the lawyers seemingly consented to.

Summit Countys top elected prosecutor, Margaret Olson, denied being aware of the practice, according to court filings, while lead prosecutor Brad Bloodworth insisted prosecutors had not listened to any of the calls.
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A second-grade teacher and her husband were arrested after they were suspected of being under the influence of narcotics on school property, with authorities later revealing a stash of drugs in her classroom.

Candyce Leigh Carter, 35, was spotted on Thursday appearing to be under the influence of drugs by a school resource officer at Spotswood Elementary School in Virginia, police say.

It was later revealed that narcotics were found inside her classroom after further investigation, the Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office wrote in a news release, although it was not specified the volume or type of drugs found.

The teacher was then arrested on charges of felony possession of schedule I/II narcotics, felony child endangerment and felony child neglect or abuse.

Her husband was also found in a vehicle in the schools parking lot and was also thought to have been under the influence of suspected narcotics and required medical attention, police said. Authorities also found a two-year-old child in the car.

Candyce Leigh Carter, 35, was arrested on child endangerment and drug charges ( Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office )

Ms Carters husband, 34-year-old Kristopher Donald Carter, was arrested on charges of felony child endangerment and felony child neglect or abuse.

The couple were both taken to Rappahannock Regional Jail, and while Mr Carter was given a $5,000 bond, the school teacher received no bond.

The police said no students at the elementary school were reported as having injuries; however, out of an abundance of caution, they were medically checked and the classroom was professionally cleaned.

Spotsylvania County School Board member Lisa Phelps told Fox5 she has known there has been a presence of drugs in their schools between adults and children alike and has repeatedly expressed her concerns at school board meetings.

"I am thankful that the kids of Spotsylvania County were not impacted by the drugs through direct contact, she said. It seems as though there is no difference than any other school we often see in the news.

Kristopher Donald Carter, 34, was arrested on child endangerment charges ( Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office )

I believe the difference from when I attended school compared to present day, is the presence of fentanyl. Your child, your spouse, your friend might not get a second chance at life if exposed to fentanyl, Ms Phelps added.

Lorita Daniels, the schools board chair also told the outlet that any reports of personnel misconduct at Spotsylvania County Public Schools are taken very seriously.

The district appreciates the quick action of our Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Department, she added. We will continue to work diligently to ensure all students and staff remain safe while in our schools."

The Sheriffs Office was assisted by Spotsylvania Social Services and School Administration in its investigation.

The Independent has contacted Spotsylvania County Public Schools for comment.
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A man in Texas has been arrested after he allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman who was stranded on the side of the highway after her tire blew out.

Reynaldo Tapia-Arcibar, 31, has been charged with aggravated kidnapping and sexual abuse, according to KEYE-TV.

The victim was driving on a highway near Austin on 16 May when her tire blew out around 1:30am. Mr Tapia-Arcibar allegedly pulled over and offered to drive her to purchase a new tire.

After the two had driven a short distance the victim reportedly asked to be taken back to her car, and even tried to open the door to leave, but the driver had locked it, according to reporting by Law and Crime.

The woman used her phone to send her friend her location around 3:18am asking for help. Minutes after she sent the text, the driver allegedly took her about 10 minutes north of where her tire blew out to an apartment complex parking lot where she was assaulted.

Reynaldo Tapia-Arcibar, 31, is accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a Texas woman after offering to help her fix a blown tire ( Travis County Jail )

The victim managed to escape from the car and called 911. When cops showed up, the woman was screaming for help, and Mr Tapia-Arcibar allegedly fled the scene.

Police returned to the apartment complex approximately seven hours later and spotted Mr Tapia-Arcibar leaving one of the units. He was arrested at that time, KTBC reports.

Under Texas state law, charges of aggravated kidnapping in the first-degree is a felony carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Michael Bullock, the president of the Austin Police Association, told Fox News that people who are awaiting roadside assistance can call their local police to wait alongside them until help arrives.

He also advised anyone calling roadside assistance to ask for the names of the people who will be responding to them as well as the make and model of the vehicle being dispatched.

He also advised people to share their locations with loved ones as soon as theyre in a difficult situation, rather than waiting until they feel as though theyre in danger. Mr Bullock said that police were able to reach the victim within 10 minutes because she was sharing her location when she called for help.

If someones location is being shared, then were able to live track where they are, and it's a lot easier for us to get there more quickly," he told Fox News. What she did is something that's very helpful to us to be able to get there a lot quicker. It's very smart thinking on her part.

Mr Tapia-Arcibar was booked into the Travis County Jail under a $50,000 bond. If he posts bond, he will be required to wear a GPS ankle tracker and will be barred from having any contact with the alleged victim. His next court hearing is scheduled for 12 June.
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A TikTok star accused of murdering his wife after catching her with another man has given a harrowing account of the shocking incident, describing how he snapped and was unable to stop shooting them.

Ali Abulaban, 32, gave graphic testimony in his trial on Tuesday, where he said he had barged into Ana Abulabans San Diego high-rise apartment and flown into a rage after finding the couple cuddling on the couch.

Mr Abulaban, known as JinnKid, with more than 940,000 followers on TikTok, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder over the deaths of his wife, 29, and Rayburn Cadenas Barron, also 29. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in October 2021.

Prosecutors allege Abulaban had secretly installed a listening device on his five-year-old daughters iPad tablet and when he heard his wife and another man talking went to her apartment and fatally shot them.

After the shootings on 21 October 2021, Mr Abulaban, still armed, picked up his daughter from school, Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast said at a previous hearing.

Ali Abulaban, 32, gave graphic testimony in his own trial on Tuesday, telling the court how he snapped after finding his wife and another man cuddling on the couch of her San Diego apartment ( Court TV )

On Tuesday, Mr Abulaban took the stand and explained his version of events, describing how he had driven over to his wifes apartment at 90 miles an hour after taking copious amounts of cocaine.

He told the court that he had not meant to kill the couple, but that he could not take the betrayal. It was like he was a passenger in my own body, he said.

I didnt expect Ana would ever do that to me, Mr Abulaban told the court, becoming audibly and visibly emotional. [Barron] of all people. She knew how I felt about him. It is not clear how Mr Abulaban and Barron knew each other.

Mr Abulaban continued: I was trying to believe her. I was trying to believe that she wasnt cheating on me that she would let me fix this because I was sick. I was struggling from drugs and mental illness. And I f***** up a lot but I was trying to fix it.

And when I saw that it was him I couldnt take it. I couldnt take the f***** betrayal. I couldnt believe that she could do that to me. To her daughter.

Ali Abulaban, who had more than 940,000 followers on TikTok, pleaded not gulity to two counts of murder in October 2021 ( AP )

And before I could stop myself I just f****** snapped. My gun was in my hand and next thing Im shooting and I cant stop. Im just shooting. Im shooting. Im even startled.

Its like Im watching it happen. Im like Im in the passenger seat of my own body. I cant stop it. I hear Ana screaming and crying. I dont even remember shooting Ana.

I just remember running back to the front door and I grabbed the door handle and then it hit me like Did that just happen? and I turned around and I see her she had to lean forward and theres blood.

I couldnt believe I did that.

According to prosecutors, the Abulabans had argued frequently about alleged infidelity. At a previous hearing, Ms Brast said Ana Abulaban had asked her husband to move out on October 18 2021. He later checked into a hotel.

Mr Abulaban is accused of killing his wife, Ana Abulaban, left, after catching her with another man at her apartment in October 202 ( NBC San Diego )

Three days later, Ms Brast said, Mr Abulaban sneaked back into the apartment and trashed it while his wife was gone. He also installed the listening app on his daughters iPad.

Hours later, Mr Abulaban was listening to the app when he heard his wife and a man, Barron, talking and giggling, Ms Brast said, and he raced back to the high-rise and security camera video showed him running out of the elevator to the apartment.

Ms Brast said Mr Abulaban shot Mr Barron three times before shooting his wife in her head. Mr Abulaban then called his mother and confessed, Ms Brast said.

After he picked up his daughter, he called the police while driving and they arrested him 45 minutes later. His daughter was in the vehicle.

Judge Kimberlee Lagotta previously ordered Mr Abulaban jailed without bail. The judge also issued a protective order that requires Mr Abulaban to stay away from his daughter, who is being cared for by family.

If convicted of all counts, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. Jurors are expected to begin deliberating toward the end of the week.
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A stage collapse left at least nine people dead and 54 injured in northern Mexico when a political rally was hit by a violent storm on Wednesday night.

Wind and rain tore through the stage setup for presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez, sending it crashing into a crowd of supporters for the Citizens Movement party, the governor of Neuvo Leon said.

Governor Samuel Garcia said the victims include eight adults and one child. He said he was headed to a hospital where three people were in surgery.

Others are feared trapped under the stage, officials said.

Footage from the scene showed high winds toppling the stage in seconds as people were heard screaming and running to escape from collapsing metal poles.

Paramedics evacuate one of the injured people after a stage collapsed at an election campaign rally in a suburb of Monterrey, capital of the northern Nuevo Leon state, Mexico ( EPA )

Mr Alvarez Maynez was on the stage when the collapse occurred, and was seen escaping.

The candidate said he was ok after being taken to hospital, but that members of his team were hurt and he was suspending his campaign activities.

The victims will not be alone in this tragedy, he said.

"The only important thing at this point is to care for the victims of the accident," he wrote on X after the accident in the suburb of San Pedro Garza Garcia near the city of Monterrey.

A video of the incident showed Mr Alvarez Maynez cheerfully waving as the crowd chanted his name. Gusts of wind then start to pick up, and the candidate can be seen looking up at the giant screen behind him and its metal structure.

He ran towards the backstage area, away from toppling screen, as the falling structure landed in the thick of the crowd.

The screen was brightly lit by flashy theatre-style lights which also came crashing down, along with their metal support poles.

A campaign poster is seen on the ground after a stage collapsed during a campaign rally for Mexican presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon ( AFP via Getty Images )

Mr Alvarez Maynez is third in polls in the presidential race, trailing both front-runner Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Morena Party, and opposition coalition candidate Xochitl Galvez.

Police officials, soldiers and other officials were later seen inspecting the grounds of the park where the event was held as many witnesses from the crowd, visibly still in shock, were seen sitting nearby.

Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador expressed his condolences and said he sends a hug to family members, friends of the victims and political supporters."

Mexico is seeing a final flurry of campaign events this week and next ahead of the 2 June presidential, state and municipal elections.
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Searchers believe they've discovered what they believe is the wreckage of World War II ace Richard Bong's plane in the South Pacific.

The Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center in Superior, Wisconsin, and the nonprofit World War II historical preservation group Pacific Wrecks announced in March they were launching a joint search for Bong's Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter. Bong nicknamed the plane Marge after his girlfriend, Marge Vattendahl.

Another pilot, Thomas Malone, was flying the plane in March 1944 over what is now known as Papua New Guinea when engine failure sent it into a spin. Malone bailed out before the plane crashed in the jungle.

The expedition's leader, Pacific Wrecks Director Justin Taylan, said in a news release that the search team discovered the wreckage in the jungles of Papua New Guinea's Madang Province. He released photos of himself in the jungle with chunks of metal on the ground taken May 15.

In one photo he points to what the caption calls a wing tip from the plane stamped with 993, the last three numbers of the plane's serial number. Enlarging the photo shows markings that could be two 9s but they're obscured by what might be dirt or rust and difficult to make out. Another photo shows a piece of metal stamped with Model P-38 JK.

The plane's association with Richard Bong makes it one of the most significant World War II aircraft in the world, Taylan said in the news release.

Bong, who grew up in Poplar, Wisconsin, is credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft during World War II. He plastered a blow-up of Vattendahl's portrait on the nose of his plane, according to a Pacific Wrecks summary of the plane's service.

Bong shot down more planes than any other American pilot. Gen. Douglas MacArthur awarded him the Medal of Honor, the U.S. military's highest decoration, in 1944.

Bong and Vattendahl eventually married in 1945. Bong was assigned to duty as a test pilot in Burbank, California, after three combat tours in the South Pacific. He was killed on Aug. 6, 1945, when a P-80 jet fighter he was testing crashed. He died on the same day the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

Vattendahl was 21 at the time of Bong's death. She went on to become a model and a magazine publisher in Los Angeles. She died in September 2003 in Superior.

A bridge connecting Superior and Duluth, Minnesota, is named for Bong.

The Bong family is very excited about this discovery, James Bong, Richard Bong's nephew, said in the news release. It is amazing and incredible that Marge has been found and identified.
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A man who had seizures aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise in 2022 doesnt recall exactly what happened when he fell ill, but says he wont forget about the pricey medical bill he was handed as he was evacuated to a rescue boat.

Vincent Wasney was told that after having three seizures aboard the Independence of the Seas liner and receiving a blood test and medication, he owed more than $2,500, which had to be paid before he could disembark.

Mr Wasney, 31, told NPR he informed the crew he couldnt pay that much, and was asked by a cruise employee, How much can you pay?"

"Are we being held hostage at this point?" his fiancee, Sarah Eberlein, added, she told the broadcaster. "Because, obviously, if hes had three seizures in 10 hours, its an issue."

The couple had to drain their bank accounts and max out a credit card to pay for the bill, and even then they still needed another $1000 to cover the full list of services.

Vincent Wasney charged $2500 to get off cruise liner after medical incidents ( GoFundMe )

They were ultimately let off the boat despite not paying for the entire bill in the moment, and the credit card was overdrafted to make up the remainder.

The Independent has contacted Royal Caribbean for comment.

Under the cruise operators terms and conditions, guests are required to pay in full the expenses they incurred on their trip, and Royal Caribbean doesnt accept land-based health insurance plans. The company advises guests to consider travel insurance before setting sail.

Mr Wasney and Ms Eberlein had neither health insurance nor travel insurance before they boarded their Caribbean cruise.

The services onboard, as well as an additional round of doctor visits back on land, left them with thousands of dollars in medical debt.

Vincent Wasney charged $2500 to get off cruise liner after medical incidents ( Royal Caribbean )

The couple was able to reduce some of their expenses, including a looming house payment, by raising $2,690 via GoFundMe, and a Florida hospital reduced their billings once it learned Mr Wasney, who had a history of seizures, was uninsured.

Approximately 14 million people, or six per cent of US adults, owe more than $1,000 in medical debt, totalling a collective $220bn, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Last year, an estimated 8.4 per cent of Americans lacked health insurance, per the CDC.
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A Democratic political consultant accused of using AI technology to create a deepfake of President Joe Bidens voice and distribute robocalls spreading election misinformation has been hit with 26 criminal charges and a $6m fine.

Steven Kramer, 54, was indicted in New Hampshire on Thursday on charges of felony voter suppression and misdemeanor impersonation of a candidate for his actions in connection to a scheme that sought to stop Democratic voters from casting their ballot in the New Hampshire presidential primary.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigators allege that Mr Kramer made a deepfake of Mr Bidens voice encouraging prospective voters to save their vote for the November election and used a voice service provider to transmit them.

The calls violated the Truth in Caller ID Act by maliciously spoofing the number of a prominent local political consultant, the FCC said.

The agency said Mr Kramer should be hit with a $6m fine for apparent spoofing violations in addition to the charges in New Hampshire.

The New Hampshire attorney generals office had been investigating the situation since it received complaints about the calls back in January.

Days later, Attorney General John Formella named two Texas companies as the entities responsible for the calls.

He alleged Life Corporation created the message while Lingo Telecom provided the service. Both companies were ordered to cooperate with the investigation.

Steven Kramer, a political consultant, is accused of engaging in a voter suppression scheme in New Hampshire ( CBS News New York )

Mr Kramers alleged involvement in the scheme became known in February, when a Louisiana-based magician publicly claimed Mr Kramer paid him to create the AI-generated Mr Biden voice.

The magician told NBC News that Mr Kramer, a Democratic consultant who worked on ballot access for former candidate Dean Phillips, hired him to create the deepfake of Mr Bidens voice.

Mr Kramer later admitted to the news outlet that he commissioned the robocall, saying he did it to bring attention to the danger of AI in politics. He clarified that his actions had nothing to do with Mr Phillips.

This is a way for me to make a difference, and I have, he told NBC News. For $500, I got about $5m worth of action, whether that be media attention or regulatory action.

Now, the political consultant faces 13 charges of felony voter suppression and 13 charges of misdemeanor impersonation of a candidate in the Granite state.

In a press release statement, Mr Formella said he hoped the law enforcement action sends a strong deterrent signal to anyone who might consider interfering with elections, whether through the use of artificial intelligence or otherwise.
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Watch as Joe Biden hosts Kenyas president, William Ruto, for a state visit to mark the 60th anniversary of US-Kenya diplomatic relations on Thursday 23 May.

The White House meeting is aimed at deepening US relations with African nations, which have been sidelined by wars in Ukraine and Gaza, with a flurry of deal announcements.

Mr Rutos trip is the first state visit for an African president to the White House since 2008.

Successive US governments have said they wanted to offer a more sustainable and democratic alternative to relations with rivals China and Russia, but have failed to establish real ties.

Africas political landscape has been upended in the past year by a spate of military coups, wars and shaky elections that have given China and Russia greater influence.

Mr Biden hopes strengthening ties with Kenya, seen as a democratic stronghold, can help stabilise the continent and advance US interests.

The White House said Mr Biden would also designate Kenya as a major non-Nato ally, the first sub-Saharan African country to receive the designation.

Currently, 18 countries are designated as non-Nato allies, including Qatar, Israel, Brazil and the Philippines.
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Former FBI director James Comey says that there is zero chance that Donald Trump will be acquitted by the jury in his New York City hush money trial.

Mr Comey, who served as director of the FBI from 2013 until 2017, said that prosecutors built a very strong circumstantial case by tying together evidence like documents, checks, phone calls, messages and Mr Trumps words to prove their allegations.

Theres an overwhelming chance of a conviction, a significant, but much smaller chance, of a hung jury and zero chance of an acquittal, Mr Comey told host NewsNation Dan Abrams on Wednesday.

After weeks of testimony from 20 different witnesses, the prosecution against the former president rested its case on Monday.

That circumstantial case, at least in my experience having tried a lot of cases, is very, very powerful with a jury, Mr Comey added.

His current prediction is a significant deviation from his thoughts on the case when the indictment was unveiled last year.

I wasnt sure that I would have [brought the case] when I read the indictment, he explained to Abrams.

Mr Comey was a US attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) during the Bush administration.

He added, But now having seen the case, Im not sure after investigating it how they wouldnt bring it.

The former FBI director said Manhattan prosecutors have a much stronger case than he imagined.

Mr Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York. Prosecutors allege he was trying to cover up hush money payments made to an adult film star before the 2016 presidential election to prevent her from coming forward with a story about an alleged affair.

He denies the affair and has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Closing arguments are expected to begin next week. After, jury deliberations will commence where they will determine if Mr Trump is guilty of falsifying business records.
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Louisiana is set to be the first state in the US to criminalize possession of widely used abortion drugs, with a bill that has alarmed abortion rights advocates and doctors across the state and drawn warnings from the White House.

State lawmakers have approved a bill to label mifepristone and misoprostol  drugs used in a two-drug protocol for medication abortion, the most common form of abortion care in the US  as controlled dangerous substances, in a category alongside Xanax and Valium.

Possession of the FDA-approved drugs without a prescription, in a state where abortion is already effectively outlawed altogether, could carry a penalty of 10 years in prison.

Louisianas Republican-controlled state Senate passed the measure by a vote of 29-7 on Thursday. The states GOP-controlled House overwhelmingly approved the bill on Tuesday.

Republican Governor Jeff Landry has indicated he will sign the bill into law.

A letter signed by more than 250 obstetrician-gynecologists, emergency room doctors and physicians from across the state urgently warned the bills author that, if signed into law, the measure would severely impact womens healthcare in the state and delay potentially life-saving treatment.

Vice President Kamala Harris has called the legislation absolutely unconscionable.

Misoprostol tablets ( AP )

The bill, drafted by anti-abortion group Louisiana Right to Life and sponsored by Republican state senator Thomas Pressly, will assist law enforcement in protecting vulnerable women and unborn babies, according to a statement from Mr Pressly.

Mifepristone was first approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration in most cases up to 10 weeks of pregnancy in 2000, when a vast majority of abortions occur, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medication abortions account for roughly 54 percent of all abortions in the US, according to reproductive health group Guttmacher Institute.

The drug is also used to treat miscarriages. Roughly 10 percent of clinically recognized pregnancies end in miscarriages, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Abortion rights supporters demonstrate outside the US Supreme Court on March 26. ( AP )

The drug blocks the hormone progesterone, which helps support the uterus. A healthy uterine lining supports a fertilized egg, embryo and fetus. Without progesterone, the uterus will expel its contents.

Roughly 24 to 48 hours after a patient takes mifepristone, the patient then takes misoprostol, which helps empty the uterus. Misoprostol-only medication abortions are also common.

In June 2022, the US Supreme Court revoked a constitutional right to abortion by reversing the decades-long precedent held in Roe v Wade. In the months that followed, more than a dozen states moved to outlaw abortions in nearly all circumstances.

The nations high court is expected to make a decision in another abortion rights case within the coming weeks that will determine whether to strip the governments approval of mifepristone.

That decision could devastate abortion and miscarriage care across the US, including in states where abortion access is legally protected, and potentially open the door for other activist-driven challenges to other life-saving drugs, according to abortion rights advocates.
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A former senior adviser in Joe Biden's White House is running for a congressional seat in New Hampshire and has presented herself as a voice for renters in a government filled with homeowners.

I am a renter, and there should be more renters in Congress, Maggie Goodlander, whose husband Jake Sullivan serves as the White House national security adviser to President Biden, told The Boston Globe when she tossed her hat in the ring.

She's right  approximately half of congressional leaders are millionaires, and members of Congress are far more likely to be homeowners than the general American.

Whats up for debate is whether she can really count herself among the renters.

According to an analysis by The Daily Beast, Ms Goodlander and Mr Sullivan own a home worth more than $1.2m in a posh, historic seaside neighborhood in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Ms Goodlander is running for New Hampshire's 2nd District. Portsmouth is in the state's 1st District, but federal law only requires congressional candidates to reside in the state, not the district, they hope to represent.

Maggie Goodlander, a former Biden White House official who is running for New Hampshires 2nd District Congressional seat, has described herself as a renter despite owning a $1.2m home ( Maggie Goodlander for Congress )

Ms Goodlander, is, however, renting a home in Nashua, according to the Concord Monitor.

She also told voters and the press that her family has been part of the Nashua community for over 100 years, but her parents sold their property in that district in 2008.

The last time Ms Goodlander voted in the district was during the 2008 primary and presidential elections. She voted absentee in both.

The Independent has reached out to Ms Goodlander for comment.

A donor and Democratic adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Daily Beast the situation made them uneasy.

She didnt live in that district, and if that isnt the definition of carpetbaggerthats kind of harsh, but it doesnt sit right with me, the donor said.

Billy Shaheen, husband of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and a power broker in the state's political world, said elected officials at the congressional level were often transient and did not agree that the carpetbagger label should be applied to Ms Goodlander.

I dont think anyone will hold it against her, because we all travel around, he told The Daily Beast.

Ms Goodlander is hoping to pick up the seat left open by the departure of Congresswoman Annie Kuster.

Ms Kuster has endorsed Ms Goodlander's Democratic opponent, Colin Van Ostern. The two will face off in the states primary on 10 September.

Ms Goodlander recently said in an interview that, if she were elected, one of her top priorities early on is to address the high cost of living in her district. She said a lot of our laws that were designed to protect consumers and workers have not been updated in years, and needed to be in order to reflect the conditions of the modern US economy, WMUR reports.

When asked if her beliefs deviated at all from the Biden White House, she admitted that she believed the president could be tougher on China.
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Elon Musk says that hell host a presidential debate involving Robert F Kennedy Jr on X, formerly Twitter, ahead of the 2024 US elections in November  with the independent candidate calling on Joe Biden and Donald Trump to join.

The president, 81, and his 77-year-old predecessor have already agreed to take the stage on 27 June for a highly-anticipated debate on CNN. It marks the earliest-ever general election debate in a presidential race.

Mr Trump and Mr Biden have also agreed to partake ABCs televised debate on 10 September. There is a common theme among the two prime-time broadcasts: Mr Kennedy Jr is currently not on the guest list.

Xs CEO, Mr Musk, started an online back-and-forth after asserting that Mr Kennedy Jr should be in the debate.

The 70-year-old courted the tech mogul, asking: Will you host one? Mr Musk replied: Sure. No further details have been announced.

Robert F Kennedy has been publicly speaking with Elon Musk about the debate on X ( AP )

Xs CEO, Elon Musk, started an online back-and-forth after asserting that RFK Jr should be in the debate. The 70-year-old courted the tech mogul, asking: Will you host one? Musk replied: Sure. No further details have been announced. ( X )

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis car crash presidential campaign announcement on the platform in May last year seemingly hasnt put off Mr Kennedy Jr from taking the virtual stage.

More than half a million X users tuned in to that glitchy livestream event hosted by Mr Musk, which caused the melting of the servers, according to co-host David Sacks.

Mr DeSantis announcement was ultimately delayed by 90 minutes and half the audience didnt both to stick around.

On Thursday, Mr Kennedy Jr noted howoever that X was the right place for a debate to be held, claiming that its audience size is 100-fold that of CNN.

Mr Musk, once again responding concisely, writing on Thursday morning: True.

Now, the We the People party leader, which he created in January this year, has called on Mr Trump and Mr Biden to join him on the social media debate.

@realDonaldTrump, I know youve got the guts to do it. Do you want to call @POTUS or should I,? Mr Kennedy Jr wrote on X on Wednesday. Neither have rsponded to the request.

While Mr Kennedy Jr hasnt received an invite to the two debates set to be broadcast later this year, it may change if he meets the qualifying threshold for both ABC and CNN.

Rules state that he needs to attract 15 per cent support in four national polls. He currently has two of the four he needs garnering 16 per cent support in both CNN/SSRS and Quinnipiac University polls between 18 and 23 April.

Mr Kennedy Jr would also have to have ballot access in enough states to theoretically win 270 electoral votes  which he has not amassed.

Mr Trump and Mr Biden sparred on the debate stage during their race to the White House in 2020 ( AP )

If the threshold was met, Mr Kennedy Jr would become the first third-party presidential candidate to join a debate since 1992, which saw independent businessman Ross Perot of Texas take on Republican George Bush and Democrat Bill Clinton.

The possibility of a third contender joining the debate has raised tensions in both parties camps.

Mr Trump told Mr Kennedy Jr, who is the nephew of Americas 35th president John F Kennedy, that he cant just get in the debate for his name.

Mr Trump said he had no problem with Mr Kennedy Jr joining the debate. However, Junior needs more than his name to get on the stage!, he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

In a memo earlier this month, Mr Bidens campaign stipulated that the debates should be limited to just the president and the presumptive Republican nominee.
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A worrying number of Republicans have indicated that they may not accept the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.

The race is all but certain to be a rematch of the 2020 contest between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, which ended with a clear victory for the Democrat but that Mr Trump refused to accept.

The outgoing presidents denial sparked months of legal challenges, menacing phone calls and rampant, baseless conspiracy theories about rigged voting machines and lost ballots in support of his spurious narrative that the election had been stolen.

Ted Cruz appeared on CNN in a tense exchange about voter fraud on Wednesday ( CNN )

The feverish atmosphere boiled over on 6 January 2021 when a mob of Mr Trumps MAGA supporters stormed the US Capitol, engaging in violent clashes with law enforcement while lawmakers assembled to certify the results fled the legislative complex in fear for their lives.

Mr Trump has already alleged that Novembers vote may be rigged, effectively laying the groundwork for further denialism should he lose again.

Trump allies like JD Vance, Lindsey Graham and Dr Ben Carson have said they will accept the outcome of the election so long as its fair, but a number of fellow prominent GOP members have declined to make a similar commitment. Heres a look at the Republicans who have signalled they will not accept the results.

Elise Stefanik

During an interview on NBCs Meet the Press on 6 January, the New York congresswoman was asked: Would you vote to certify, and will you vote to certify, the results of the 2024 election no matter what they show?

We will see if this is a legal and valid election, she replied, going on to complain about efforts, then underway, to remove Mr Trump from primary ballot papers in Colorado and Maine citing an anti-insurrectionist clause in the US Constitution.

New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik complained about suppression of the American people ( AP )

What were seeing so far is that Democrats are so desperate, theyre trying to remove President Trump from the ballot. That is a suppression of the American people.

And the Supreme Court is taking that case up in February  that should be a nine to zero to allow President Trump to appear on the ballot because thats the American peoples decision to make this November.

Asked if that meant she would only accept the results if Mr Trump won, she answered: No, it means if theyre constitutional. What we saw in 2020 was unconstitutional circumventing of the constitution, not going through state legislators when it comes to changing election law.

Byron Donalds

The Florida congressman was interviewed by Axios in March and revealed that if he was Mr Trumps vice-president and in the same position as Mike Pence found himself on 6 January 2021, he may not act as the former VP did.

If you have state officials who are violating the election law in their states... then no, I would not, Mr Donalds answered, claiming that he knew some states did not follow election laws in 2020.

Mr Donalds subsequently told Abby Phillip on CNN on 23 May, when the question of accepting this years results was put to him: My answer is conditional because you want to see the processes of the election go according to law, not according to outside groups and legal cases.

Tim Scott

Speaking to Meet the Press, South Carolina senator and former primary candidate Tim Scott was asked on 5 May whether he would accept the 2024 results.

At the end of the day, the 47th president of the United States will be President Donald Trump, he said.

South Carolina senator Tim Scott can only envisage a Trump victory, he said ( Getty )

Pushed for a more emphatic commitment, Mr Scott said simply: That is my statement.

Pressed a third time, he repeated: I look forward to President Trump being the 47th president  the American people will make the decision.

Doug Burgum

The North Dakota governor, who like Mr Scott is a possible running mate for Mr Trump, took a similar line on 5 May.

He dodged the question on CNN and said that he was looking forward to next January when Vice-President Harris certifies the election for Donald Trump.

He continued: 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.

Marco Rubio

Appearing on NBCs Meet the Press on 19 May, the Florida senator  once derided by Mr Trump as Little Marco but who now says he would be honored to be the presumptive GOP nominees VP  was asked if we would accept the election results of 2024 no matter what happens.

No matter what happens? No, if its an unfair election, Senator Rubio answered.

Senator, no matter who wins, host Kristen Welker persisted.

I think youre asking the wrong person, he said. The Democrats are the ones who have opposed every Republican victory since 2000.

Ted Cruz

The Texas senator got into a tense exchange with CNNs Kaitlan Collins on 22 May after she asked him point blank whether he would accept the results of the 2024 presidential election.

Mr Cruz called the question ridiculous, then went on to argue that there was voter fraud in 2020, even if it was not enough to change the outcome of the vote.

If the Democrats win, I will accept the result but Im not going to ignore fraud regardless of what happens, he added.

In the same interview, he insisted that Mr Trump didnt attempt to block the peaceful transfer of power between him and Mr Biden, arguing that the ex-president went quietly (after the conclusion of the Capitol riot).
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New details have emerged about an alleged affair between Robert F Kennedy Jrs vice presidential pick Nicole Shanahan and Elon Musk  and about her past on the Silicon Valley party circuit.

Ms Shanahan, 38, was tapped as RFK Jrs running mate earlier this year  an unexpected decision that is said to have been made without much research.

As a wealthy aspiring philanthropist and Silicon Valley lawyer, she has so far funneled at least $8m into their campaign. Her contributions to the super PAC American Values 2024 also helped fund RFK Jrs Super Bowl ad.

According to The New York Times, much of Ms Shanahans wealth has come from her divorce settlement with her ex-husband  Google cofounder Sergey Brin. The couples divorce became front-page news in 2022 after The Wall Street Journal alleged Ms Shanahan had an affair with Musk, who was a close friend of Mr Brin.

Insiders told the Times that Ms Shanahan and Musk attended several parties together in 2021.

At one party in Miami that December  hosted by Musks brother Kimbal Musk in connection to the Art Basel festival  Ms Shanahan allegedly took the party drug ketamine with Musk.

Four people briefed on the event told the Times that the two disappeared together for several hours where they allegedly had sex.

Independent vice presidential candidate Nicole Shanahan speaks during a campaign event with Robert F Kennedy Jr ( Getty Images )

Three of the insiders claimed that Ms Shanahan told her husband about the sexual encounter.

Ms Shanahan and Musk have previously publicly denied the affair.

The Independent has reached out to RFK Jrs campaign and Musk for comment.

Neither Musk, Mr Brins spokesperson nor RFK Jrs campaign returned the Times requests for comment.

The 2021 encounter was not the first time Ms Shanahan took recreational drugs or engaged in an extramarital affair, theTimes reported.

According to the report, Ms Shanhan enjoyed partying and used recreational drugs like ketamine, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms. At one time, Ms Shanahan allegedly required an IV infusion after drinking and taking drugs.

Meanwhile, Ms Shanahans union with Mr Brin was her second marriage. The two allegedly began their relationship just weeks before Ms Shanahan was supposed to marry Jeremy Kranz, an investor in San Francisco.

Then, just 27 days after Mr Kranz and Ms Shanahan wed, he allegedly discovered texts about the affair and the couple separated.

After her divorce was finalized from Mr Brin in 2023, Ms Shanahan began dating Jacob Strumwasser, her current partner. The report alleges that Mr Strumwasser is the one who suggested to RFK Jr that Ms Shanahan could be a good option for vice president.
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Florida Senator Rick Scott is once again asking Republican colleagues to make him their partys leader in the upper chamber, giving GOP senators a chance to vote for a more right-wing candidate than his rivals for the post.

Mr Scott, a former Florida governor who chaired the Senate Republicans campaign committee during the 2022 election cycle, announced his candidacy in a letter to fellow senators on Wednesday.

This is not a time to make small adjustments, I believe we need a dramatic sea change to save our country and thats why Im running to be Republican leader, Mr Scott wrote.

He also pledged to lead colleagues in developing a positive, aspirational agenda that outlines our legislative goals and what Senate Republicans stand for.

The Floridian positioned himself as a bolder, more conservative choice than Senate GOP Whip John Thune of South Dakota and former whip John Cornyn of Texas, both of whom have announced bids to succeed Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving leader of either party in the Senates nearly 250-year history.

In February, Mr McConnell announced his intention to stand down from leadership next year while serving out the last two years of his six-year term, which ends in 2026. The Bluegrass State senator had been under scrutiny after several public episodes in which he appeared to freeze for several seconds, leading to concerns over his health.

Mr Scott previously ran for leadership against Mr McConnell but lost in what was understood to be a lopsided vote, with only a small portion of the chambers 48 Republicans siding with him against the veteran Kentuckian.

Mr McConnell has increasingly become the target of right-wing ire over his refusal to back the pugilistic approach of the Trump-aligned wing of the GOP. He also broke with Mr Trump after the January 6 attack on the Capitol and said the ex-president bore responsibility for the attack and suggested that he could be held accountable through the criminal justice system.

By contrast, the Florida senator has closely aligned himself with the twice-impeached, quadruply-indicted ex-president, even going so far as to travel to New York City to attend Mr Trumps criminal trial on charges that he allegedly falsified business records to cover up making hush money payments to an adult film star so she would not go public about an affair they had before the 2016 election.
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Another flag carried by January 6 rioters was seen flying outside the New Jersey beach home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on multiple occasions last year, according to a report.

The Appeal to Heaven flag, was carried by rioters during the pro-Trump attack on the US Capitol in 2021, was flown outside the vacation home of Justice Alito during the summer of 2023. Also known as the Pine Tree flag, it dates back to the Revolutionary War.

It comes days after reports from The New York Times, that a flagpole on the judges front lawn at a property in Virginia had flown an upside-down American flag in late 2020 and early 2021, in the days after Joe Biden took office.

The Appeal To Heaven flag and the inverted US flag were both embraced by supporters of Donald Trumps Stop The Steal campaign, which falsely claimed Mr Bidens was fraudulent.

Three photos obtained by the newspaper, along with accounts from a half-dozen neighbors and passers-by given to the outlet, confirmed that the Appeal to Heaven flag was flying at the Alitos home on Long Beach Island in July and September of 2023.

The Appeal To Heaven flag  used by rioters at the January 6 storming of the US Capitol in 2021  was pictured outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos New Jersey home on multiple occasions last summer ( Google Street View )

A Google Street View image from August 2023 also shows the flag flying.

The newspaper noted that the photographs it had obtained were each taken independently and were from four different dates, though it was not clear whether the flag was displayed continuously during those months or how long it was flown overall.

The Independent has contacted the Supreme Court for comment about the flag outside the Alitos New Jersey property. Mr Alito declined to comment to the Associated Press.

The Appeal To Heaven flag, seen middle right, was used by supporters of Donald Trump as part of their Stop The Steal campaign ( Getty Images )

News of the upside-down American flag at the Alitos Virginia home in 2020/ 2021 sparked an uproar last week.

Mr Alito previously said the inverted American flag was flown for a short time by his wife amid a dispute with neighbors, and he had no part in it.

The flag was visible up to 17 January 2021, The New York Times reported, 11 days after the violent insurrection in Washington DC, and three days before Mr Bidens inauguration.

The traditional military distress symbol was repurposed as a political symbol to indicate rejection of the legitimacy of Mr Bidens election victory.

Also known as the Pine Tree flag, it dates back to the Revolutionary War, though it was pictured multiple times at the January 6 insurrection ( Getty Images )

The flag furore comes ahead of two pending Supreme Court cases associated with January 6. Justices will decide whether Mr Trump has immunity from prosecution for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and whether a certain obstruction charge can be used against rioters.

Justice Alito also participated in the courts unanimous ruling that states cant bar the former president from the ballot using the insurrection clause, added to the Constitution after the Civil War.

Despite Justice Alitos denial about his involvement with the flag in Virginia, the Senate Judiciary Committees top Democrat, Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois, previously called for him to recuse himself from the cases related to the January 6 attack.

Protesters from January 6, 2021, with the Appeal To Heaven flag, top right ( Getty Images )

News of the second flag has brought renewed calls for Mr Alito to step aside from the Trump-related cases.

At this point it is difficult to make any reasonable case for Alitos impartiality. It can and must be questioned. As a result, he must not sit on cases about the 2020 election or the insurrection he appears to have supported, Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington told AP.

Mr Alito previously said the inverted American flag at his Virginia home was flown for a short time by his wife amid a dispute with neighbors, and he had no part in it ( Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The group represented Colorado voters in the insurrection clause case at the high court seeking to bar Trump from the ballot.

There has been no indication Mr Alito will be stepping aside from the cases.

Rep Adam Schiff also called for Justice Alito to recuse himself.

The Appeal to Heaven flag was carried by rioters at the Capitol on January 6. It was also flown  apparently for months  outside of Justice Samuel Alitos other home. Its yet another demonstration of his clear bias. And it demands his recusal from Jan. 6th related cases, he wrote on X.
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Ted Cruz got into a tense exchange with CNNs Kaitlan Collins after the host asked him point blank whether hed accept the results of the 2024 presidential election.

In 2024 will you certify the election results? Do you plan to object or will you accept the results regardless of who wins the election? Ms Collins asked.

The Republican senator insisted it was actually a ridiculous question, then went on to argue that there was voter fraud in 2020, even if it wasnt enough to change the outcome of the election.

The senator also suggested that there was a peaceful transfer of power in 2021, seemingly disregarding the January 6 Capitol riot and the multiple attempts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the election results.

If the Democrats win, I will accept the result but I'm not going to ignore fraud regardless of what happens, he said in the interview with Ms Collins, who asked if there was fraud in 2020.

Of course there was fraud, Mr Cruz said.

No, there wasn't and you still objected, the CNN host shot back.

Oh, you know, for a fact there was zero voter fraud. Really? What's your basis for that? Show me your evidence, Mr Cruz demanded.

Ms Collins noted that they did three hand recounts in Georgia, and she mentioned that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said on 12 November 2020 that the November 3rd election was the most secure in American history.

You're saying zero voter fraud occurred? That's what you just said, Mr Cruz pressed.

Nothing that would have changed the outcome, Ms Collins said.

Thats a different statement, the senator pushed on.

A few moments later, Mr Cruz said, I think there was significant voter fraud in 2020.

I tried to look through history and precedent and the best precedent I could find was the election of 1876, Mr Cruz said. 1876 was between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden, and what happened there, there were serious allegations of voter fraud and Congress didn't throw its hands up and say, You know what? CNN demanded that I accept the results no matter what. So ignore the fraud. I gotta go.

Mr Cruz said he wanted an election commission in 2020, similar to the one in 1876.

So in 1876, what Congress did is it appointed an election commission. It consisted of 15 people  five House members, five senators, five Supreme Court justices, he said. The Election Commission was charged with studying the evidence and making a determination of what voter fraud occurred and that determined the winner. And what I called for in 2020, was to do the same thing  appoint an Election Commission and 11 senators joined me.

Ms Collins noted that by that time, cases challenging the results had been thrown out of many courts.

There was no widespread fraud, she said.

I don't remember there being a president who was refusing to turn over the transition of power and facilitate it, she added in reference to the Capitol riot and Mr Trumps refusal to hand over power to President Joe Biden in a peaceful manner.

Trump didnt either, Joe Biden became president, Mr Cruz insisted.
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Donald Trump could soon become the first American president in history to serve time in prison after a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 felony counts in his hush money trial.

The presumptive GOP presidential nominee was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election. The jury deliberated for roughly nine and a half hours before reaching their decision on Thursday afternoon  just minutes before Judge Juan Merchan was set to dismiss them.

Trumps sentencing is scheduled for 11 July, just four days before the Republican National Convention (RNC), where delegates will almost certainly make him the official GOP presidential candidate.

Both sides can file motions in the case until 13 June.

Ms Daniels, her former lawyer Keith Davidson, Trumps former fixer turned arch nemesis Michael Cohen, ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and former Trump White House aides Hope Hicks and Madeleine Westerhout all took the stand to testify in the trial.

The 34 charges were stepped up from misdemeanors to class E felonies because prosecutors said the crimes were carried out in an effort to commit or conceal another crime  these crimes being election conspiracy and campaign finance and tax law violations.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to the media the day a New York jury convicted him of 34 felony counts ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

Trump could theoretically face more than a decade in prison, according to CNN chief legal analyst Laura Coates.

Under New York state law, the maximum prison sentence for a Class E felony is four years in prison. New York imposes a 20-year sentencing cap for this type of offence, with a decision on whether the sentences run concurrently or consecutively left up to the judge.

Given that Trump has no prior criminal record and the crimes are non-violent in nature, it is likely he will face no jail time.

Instead, New York Justice Juan Merchan could impose other penalties such as fines, probation or conditional discharge in lieu of jail time.

The bigger questions surrounding the hypothetical incarceration of Trump is what kind of Secret Service detail he might receive as the first former president-turned-inmate.

As the former president campaigns in the wake of this conviction, he is also battling three other criminal indictments in Florida, Washington DC and Georgia.
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A jury of 12 New Yorkers will soon decide Donald Trumps fate in the first-ever criminal trial of a sitting or former president  and their decision could hit the former presidents bank balance.

Mr Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records over a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election, in a bid to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter in 2006.

The 34 charges have been stepped up from misdemeanors to class E felonies because prosecutors allege the crimes were carried out in an effort to commit or conceal another crime  election conspiracy and campaign finance and tax law violations.

Though the jury will decide if Mr Trump is guilty or not, it will ultimately be up to the judge to determine what penalty the former president must face if he is convicted of a crime.

Even if he is found guilty, its unlikely that he will go to jail as a first-time, non-violent offender.

Instead, New York Justice Juan Merchan could impose other penalties such as fines, probation or conditional discharge in lieu of jail time.

Unlike his multi-million-dollar judgments in his civil fraud and defamation cases, Mr Trump would face a substantially lower fine in his criminal case.

Heres how much Mr Trump could be fined:

Under New York penal law, a felony fine cannot exceed $5,000.

However, it is unclear if the judge could impose a $5,000 fine for each of the 34 counts or $5,000 altogether.

The law indicates when a person is convicted of two or more offenses committed through a single act or omission and the court imposes a sentence of imprisonment or a fine or both for one of the offenses, a fine shall not be imposed for the other.

Former president Donald Trump sits at the defense table in Manhattan criminal court in New York City on May 21 2024 ( via REUTERS )

Julie Rendelman, a criminal defense attorney in New York City, told The Independent that there is an argument to be made that each count of falsifying business records is a separate act which could mean Mr Trump is charged a maximum of $5,000 34 times.

If that were the case, the maximum financial penalty Mr Trump could face if convicted on all charges would be $170,000.

But it will be up to Judge Merchan to make that decision.

Even if Judge Merchan chooses not to impose financial penalties, Mr Trump will still find himself out of pocket paying court fees and fines for violating the gag order.

The former president has so far racked up $10,000 in fines for breaking the gag order that prohibits him from talking about witnesses, jurors, attorneys, court staff or their families as well as the judges family.

He will also need to pay typical court fees but Ms Rendelman says that the gag order fines are bigger than anything else.

Closing arguments will begin next week in the case before the jury begins deliberations.
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The first-ever criminal trial of an American president is now drawing to a close in Manhattan Criminal Court after five weeks of extraordinary testimony and courtroom antics.

Donald Trump is accused of 34 charges of the illegal falsification of business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels one month before the 2016 presidential election, to ensure her silence about an alleged sexual encounter in 2006.

Mr Trump denies both the liaison and the charges against him.

Since 15 April, jurors have heard testimony from a string of colorful characters connected to the case, including Mr Trumps former fixer Michael Cohen, ex-tabloid boss David Pecker and Ms Daniels herself.

Meanwhile, outside the court, the American public has heard Mr Trump give daily remarks to reporters, railing against the case and those involved.

But, when it came to Mr Trumps chance to speak up on the witness stand, he backed out.

Now, both the prosecution and defense have rested their cases, with closing arguments held on Tuesday 28 May and the jury now into their deliberations to decide the fate of the former president.

With the trial nearing its end, heres what to expect:

What if Trump is convicted?

Prosecutors have stepped up the misdemeanor crimes (falsification of business records) to felony status by arguing that he falsified documents in an effort to commit or conceal another crime. Those other alleged crimes include election conspiracy and campaign finance and tax law violations.

Former president Donald Trump appears in court with his attorney Emil Bove on Tuesday 21 May 2024 ( Getty )

If convicted, Mr Trump could theoretically face more than a decade in prison.

The maximum sentence for each Class E felony count against him is four years in prison, which would add up to 136 years behind bars, although New York imposes a 20-year sentencing cap for this type of offence. A decision on whether the sentences run concurrently or consecutively would also be left up to the judge.

Given that Mr Trump has no prior criminal record and the alleged crimes are non-violent in nature, it is likely that he would face no jail time. Instead, New York Justice Juan Merchan could impose other penalties such as fines, probation or conditional discharge in lieu of jail time.

Mr Trump could of course be convicted of some of the 34 charges and acquitted on others.

Even if he doesnt face jail time, a conviction could hurt Mr Trumps chances in November. In an Reuters/Ipsos poll in April, one in four Republicans indicated that they would not vote for their partys candidate if he were a convicted felon.

What if Trump is acquitted?

If Mr Trump is found not guilty of all charges, he cannot be retried for the same crimes.

This is because of the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitutions Double Jeopardy Clause, which prohibits anyone from being prosecuted for the same crime twice.

What if theres a hung jury?

Under New York law, criminal trials require the jury to reach a unanimous verdict to convict a defendant.

So, it would only take one dissenting voice among the jurors to leave the case on a hung jury.

Judge Juan Merchan looks on as Trump attorney Todd Blanche cross-examines Michael Cohen on Monday 20 May 2024 ( Jane Rosenberg/Reuters )

If the disagreement is relatively close  for instance, if 11 are in agreement, with only one person holding out  New York Justice Juan Merchan would urge them to go away and resume their deliberations in the hope of finding common ground.

But if a consensus cannot be reached, the judge would be forced to call a mistrial.

In the event of a mistrial, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg would be able to retry the case.

It is also possible that the jury reaches consensus on some but not all of the charges, which could prompt the judge to accept a partial verdict. In that scenario, the prosecution could also retry Mr Trump on the charges.

When would he be sentenced?

If Mr Trump is convicted, Judge Merchan could choose to sentence him immediately or set a sentencing hearing for a later date.

Could Trump appeal?

Yes, Mr Trump could appeal the verdict.

Any initial appeal would first be heard by the First Department of the New York Supreme Courts Appellate Division and, if that proves unsuccessful, he could then take the appeal to the New York Supreme Court.

An appeals process would be unlikely to wrap up before Election Day on 5 November.
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Nigel Farage is not standing as a candidate in the UK general election, he has announced.

The former Ukip leader said he thought long and hard about contesting the general election, but has decided to help with Donald Trumps re-election bid in the US instead.

Important though the general election is, the contest in the United States of America on 5 November has huge global significance, Mr Farage said.

Despite not standing as a candidate, Mr Farage, who is Reforms honorary president, said he will do my bit to help in the campaign.

Nigel Farage will instead focus on Donald Trumps bid to return to the White House ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

But it is not the right time for me to go any further than that, Mr Farage said.

He offered his full support to Reform and its current leader Richard Tice, adding that the choice between Labour and the Tories is uninspiring.

Only Reform have the radical agenda that is needed to end decline in this country, he said. Mr Farage has unsuccessfully stood for election to the House of Commons seven times, losing each by significant margins.

The shock announcement will be a major relief for Rishi Sunak, whose Conservative Party risked losing swathes of support if Mr Farage took on a frontline role with Reform.

The party is sitting in third place in the polls, with more support than the Liberal Democrats on 12 per cent. And while it may not win a single seat in the election, the Conservatives have been warned Reform may split the vote and risk their majorities in tens of seats.

Donald Trump being interviewed by Nigel Farage ( The Independent )

It was founded as the Brexit Party by Mr Farage but is now led by Mr Tice, a multimillionaire former Tory donor.

A long-time Eurosceptic, Mr Tice made his fortune in the property business, following in the footsteps of his grandfather who once sought to demolish Londons landmark Ritz Hotel to make way for offices.

In the run-up to the 2016 EU referendum he displayed a similar iconoclasm, teaming up with fellow businessman Arron Banks to form Leave.EU rather than joining the Vote Leave campaign fronted by Boris Johnson and backed by many Brexit-supporting Tories.

The group was responsible for some of the more controversial adverts of the campaign with images of migrants pouring across a border, helping to earn them the sobriquet  along with Mr Farage  of the bad boys of Brexit.

A Tory member for all his adult life, Mr Tice finally broke with the party in 2019 in frustration at the failure of Theresa Mays government to deliver on the referendum result.

Instead, he joined Mr Farages new Brexit Party (as Reform was originally called), becoming party chairman and securing election as MEP for East of England in final European parliamentary elections held in the UK.

When Mr Farage decided to give up the leadership in March 2021  having accepted Brexit was secure and wont be reversed  Mr Tice was the obvious successor.
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Donald Trump has said that Valdimir Putin will release Evan Gershkovich immediately after the presidential election in November, brazenly claiming that the Russian president will do that for me but not anyone else.

Mr Gershkovich, 32, is a reporter at the Wall Street Journal covering Russia, who was detained in the city of Yekaterinburg by Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) on espionage charges in March last year. He has spent well over a year in a Moscow prison, with no date set for a trial. Mr Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal and the US government all strenuously deny the charges and any wrongdoing by Mr Gershkovich.

The US-born journalist, who has been held in Moscows Lefortovo prison, obtained full press credentials from Russias foreign ministry, according to his employer.

Just days after the journalists arrest, president Joe Biden demanded that the Russian government let him go, which the Kremlin ignored.

Mr Trump touted that the reporter would be released soon after 5 November if he was to defeat Mr Biden at the ballot box.

Evan Gershkovich smiles as he stands behind the glass at his April trial ( AP )

Evan Gershkovich, the Reporter from The Wall Street Journal, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the Election, but definitely before I assume Office, he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday morning.

He will be home, safe, and with his family, the former president added.

Mr Trump also trumpeted his special bond with Mr Putin, claiming that nobody but him could ensure the extradition of Mr Gershkovich to the US.

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and we will be paying nothing!, he added.

Mr Trump did not say whether he has had contact with the Russian president, nor the grounds he believed that Mr Gershkovich would be released. The Kremlin also denied any contact between Mr Putin and the former US president.

Putin has naturally not had contact with Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in a Moscow courtroom in September 2023 ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Mr Putin said in February that it might be possible to free Mr Gershkovich in exchange for Vadim Krasikov, a high-ranking high-ranking colonel imprisoned in Berlin for murder over the killing of Chechen exile Zelimkhan Khangoshvili.

A Berlin court called the killing a state-ordered murder; Mr Putin and the Kremlin deny these claims.

Mr Trump first publicly called for the release of the Wall Street Journal journalist on 30 April.

The reporter should be released and he will be released, Trump told Time Magazine.

I dont know if hes going to be released under [president] Biden. I would get him released, he added.

Mr Trump had long remained silent about Mr Gershkovichs detention.

He said that it was because I have so many other things Im working on,
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Donald Trump has finally offered some sort of explanation as to why he backtracked on plans to take the stand to testify in his hush money trial.

For weeks, Mr Trump flirted with the idea of standing to address his accusers in court, vowing he would absolutely take the stand just days before the criminal trial began on 15 April.

When the time came, however, Mr Trump did not take the stand. Instead, the defence rested its case on Tuesday after calling just on two witnesses including attorney Robert Costello.

Now, Mr Trump has claimed that the reason he didnt take the stand because of the judge  and over fears that his great, albeit chequered, past might come back to haunt him.

He (New York Justice Juan Merchan) made rulings that makes it very difficult to testify, Mr Trump said in an interview on WABC Radio on Wednesday evening.

Anything I did, anything I did in the past, they can bring everything up, and you know what, Ive had a great past  but anything.

Former President Donald Trump speaks alongside his attorney Todd Blanche outside the courtroom in Manhattan Criminal Court on May 21 ( AP )

He added: The other reason is because they have no case. In other words, why would  why testify when they have no case?

Mr Trump is charged with falsifying business records over alleged hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels to silence her over an alleged affair ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

He denies the affair and has pleaded not guilty to all 34 felony counts against him.

Whether he came to the decision not to testify on his own accord or following the advice of his lawyers is not clear.

Back on 12 April, Mr Trump told reporters that he would testify, absolutely.

I mean, all I can do is tell the truth. And the truth is that theres no case, they have no case, he added.

Then, after seven days of sitting in Manhattans criminal court, Mr Trump elicited a watered-down reponse, saying he would take the stand if its necessary.

Mr Trump continued to then toy with the idea.

Robert Costello was cross examined by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger before Justice Juan Merchan ( REUTERS )

While he has refused to speak about the case under oath, Mr Trump has repeatedly railed against the case in public, lashing out in daily comments to reporters in the hallways of the courthouse.

Mr Trump previously took the stand in his own defense during his civil fraud trial in New York last year.

But rather than answering questions directly, he seized on the opportunity to rant about his personal feelings about the case.

Legal experts told The Independent on Monday that Mr Trump taking the stand in his hush money triral would be an act of near-insanity.

We have all seen Trump in action. We have all seen his inability to stick to a party line, criminal defense lawyer Tony Wyatt told The Independent on Monday.

Donald Trump is a cross-examiners dream, and whilst he would never admit that to himself, his lawyers must know it, he added.
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Donald Trump has long called for convicted felons to be banned from voting in the US.

Now, he could become one.

The former president is currently on trial charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in order to silence her about an alleged 2006 affair in the lead-up to the 2016 election.

Mr Trump has denied that the affair took place and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The falsifying records charges on their own are classed as misdemeanors but have been raised to felonies because prosecutors allege they were carried out with the intent to commit or conceal another crime  in this case a conspiracy to influence the 2016 election.

Laws around felons voting vary considerably across the US.

In New York, where Mr Trump is on trial, convicted felons lose their voting rights during incarceration and are restored automatically upon completion of their prison sentence.

In Florida, where Mr Trump is registered to vote, the law states that a felons right to vote is governed by the law in the state in which they were convicted.

Based on this, its not only Mr Trumps freedom  but also his right to vote  thats currently on the line.

Donald Trump speaks to reporters at Manhattan criminal court in New York on Monday 20 May ( AP )

For years, Mr Trump has slammed the idea of convicted felons having the right to vote in US elections.

In August 2016, the then-presidential candidate Mr Trump slammed then-Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe for an order that restored some voting rights to convicted felons, claiming that he was attempting to help Mr Trumps opponent former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Hillary Clinton is banking on her friend Terry McAuliffe on getting thousands of violent felons to the voting booths in an effort to cancel out the votes of both law enforcement and crime victims, Mr Trump said at the time. They are letting people vote in your Virginia election that should not be allowed to vote. Sad. So Sad.

In the spring of 2019, both Mr Trump and his then-vice president Mike Pence went after Democratic candidates, including now-President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, over the matter.

At the time, Mr Sanders had said during a CNN town hall that every American citizen, including felons serving life sentences, should have the right to vote.

Mr Biden said he only wanted to see voting rights restored after felons had completed their sentences.

Speaking at the National Rifle Associations annual conference that year, Mr Trump railed against the comments.

Let the Boston bomber vote, Mr Trump said. I dont think so. Let terrorists who are in prison vote, I dont think so.

When Bernie Sanders made certain statements the other day, I said, Well, thats the end of his campaign. Then, what happened is everybody agreed with him, he falsely claimed. A number of Democratic candidates had also disagreed with Mr Sanders on the premise.

In September 2020, then-president Trump also slammed former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, accusing him of a serious crime for helping former prisoners to vote.

At the time, Mr Bloomberg had raised more than $16m to back an effort by the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, which works to pay fines and fees for ex-prisoners registered to vote in Florida in order to restore their right to vote.

Donald Trump seen in court sketch during hush money trial in New York ( REUTERS )

Wow, nobody realized how far Mini Mike Bloomberg went in bribing ex-prisoners to go out and vote for Sleepy Joe, Mr Trump wrote on X, then Twitter.

He is desperate to get back into the good graces of the people who not only badly beat him, but made him look like a total fool. Now hes committed a serious crime!

Mr Trumps comments could now come back to haunt him.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison on each of the 34 counts of a Class E felony, capped at 20 years over.

Though its unlikely that as a first-time, non-violent offender he will be jailed (he is more likely to be hit with financial penalties), a sentence is of course at the judges discretion.

So, this November its possible that the Republican partys presidential candidate will be running in an election that he cant actually legally vote in.
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A bipartisan piece of immigration and border security legislation died again on the Senate floor on Thursday after Republicans blocked a bill meant to clamp down on the number of migrants allowed to claim asylum at the US-Mexico border.

The legislation is now dead for a second time after failing a procedural vote with 42 Democrats and one Republican voting in favor of considering the bill; and six Democrats, one independent and 42 Republicans voting against.

The bill, negotiated by a bipartisan group of senators, was already rejected by most Republicans in February when it was linked to a foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other US allies. Had it passed, it would have provided the US president with the authority to shut down the asylum system if unauthorized border crossings reached a certain monthly threshold. It would also have tightened standards for asylum-seekers and empowered federal officials to quickly remove those who did not qualify.

The bill had initially seemed set up for success but quickly collapsed after Donald Trump and his cadre of loyalists in the House and Senate GOP came out against it. Mr Trump was reportedly apoplectic over Republicans joining with Democrats on one of his key campaign issues.

Two members of the Texas National Guard install razor wire along the US-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas ( Getty Images )

Now, with immigration and border security one of the top issues of the 2024 election, Democrats are looking for an answer to the barrage of GOP attacks, led by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mr Trump.

The bill was brought up for vote again on Thursday after being introduced by Democrat Chris Murphy, an attempt by the White House and its allies to underscore Republicans failure to come to the table. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer highlighted the GOP resistance to the bill following the vote.

Senate Republicans again rejected the strongest, most comprehensive bipartisan border bill weve seen in decades. A sad day. While the GOP isnt interested today in getting this donewell keep trying. Its too important to our national security, our communities, our country, he posted on X.

Minutes after it failed, the Biden campaign began hitting Republicans for its repeated defeats.

Trump says he sabotaged the bipartisan deal to secure the border because it made it much better for the opposing side pic.twitter.com/xZSe0mLl1b  Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) May 23, 2024

But the bill has also been heavily criticized by some progressive Democrats and Latino members of the party over the bills exclusion of key priorities including a pathway for citizenship for undocumented immigrants including Dreamers, those brought to the US by their parents when they were young children.

Thursdays vote, meanwhile, leaves Republicans with the dilemma of bad optics. The party took a political beating from Democrats after the failure of the border bill in February, with the presidents party blasting them for doing nothing on the issue. The GOP continues to face awkward questions from more engaged voters on border security.

On Thursday, Republicans such as James Lankford, the GOPs lead negotiator in the border negotiations, voted against it, as did frequent swing votes Susan Collins and Mitt Romney. The bill also picked up new Democratic opponents, Sens Laphonza Butler and Cory Booker.

Senator Mitch McConnell speaks to reporters at a press conference on Tuesday, 21 May 2024 ( Getty Images )

I think its going to be an overwhelming number that vote no, the GOP caucuss whip, John Thune, told The Independent ahead of the vote on Wednesday.

Senator Alex Padilla, one of a handful of Latino Democrats in the upper chamber, was also a no on the bill. Padilla has been a vocal critic of the legislation for months, not just of the policy itself but the process: he has strongly criticized the exclusion of Latino senators from the negotiations.

This bill contains some of the same tried and failed policies that would actually make the situation worse at the southern border, he said in a floor speech on Thursday.

Its not just whats in the bill that troubles me; its whats not in the bill. If enacted, this bill would fail to provide relief for a single Dreamer, for a single farm worker, or a single essential worker or long-term resident of the United States who has been here for years, in some cases decades, working, paying taxes, contributing to the strength of our communities and our country and the success of our economy.
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A man messaged his mother I dont want to scare you from the Singapore Airlines flight when the plane was hit by severe turbulence.

Josh Barker was among 211 passengers and 18 crew onboard the flight heading from London to Singapore when it was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok amid extreme weather conditions.

Passengers have spoken of their terror as some were launched into the ceiling by the sudden drop, with some 79 injured. One 73-year-old man, Geoffrey Kitchen, died from a suspected heart attack.

Its since emerged that in the chaos, Mr Barker, texted his mother believing he could be sending her his final words.

His mother Allison Barker relayed the message to the BBC, which read: I dont want to scare you, but Im on a crazy flight. The plane is making an emergency landing... I love you all.

For updates on this story - follow our live blog by clicking here

Passengers who experienced severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight embrace after landing in Singapore ( via REUTERS )

Ms Barker was then waiting for two hours before hearing from him again, saying she was petrified.

She said: One minute, he was just sitting down wearing a seatbelt, the next minute, he must have blacked out because he found himself on the floor with other people.

She added that her son, who was heading to Bali, had sustained minor injuries.

Passengers onboard the flight have shared the drama onboard since landing in Bangkok.

Pictures from the cabin showed oxygen masks hanging down from the planes ceiling, with sections fallen down or dented and broken.

Passengers have revealed the terror onboard the Singapore Airline flight hit by severe turbulence ( REUTERS )

Jerry, 68, who was travelling to Australia for his sons wedding, said: I hit my head on the ceiling, my wife did - some poor people who were walking around ended up doing somersaults.

On Wednesday morning, Singapore Airlines said 58 people remained under treatment at several medical sites across Bangkok, including 20 in intensive care facilities.

A total of 27 had so far been discharged, said the airline. Some 131 passengers have continued their journey on to Singapore.

As investigations start, the airlines chief executive officer Goh Choon Phong made an apology online.

In a video on social media, he said: We are very sorry for the traumatic experience that everyone on board SQ321 went through.

He said the airline was providing all necessary support and pledged it would fully cooperate in investigations.
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Police reinforcements in New Caledonia will stay as long as needed, president Emmanuel Macron has said after viewing areas devastated by deadly riots triggered by a contested electoral reform in the French-ruled Pacific island.

Describing the riots as an unprecedented insurrection whose degree of violence no one would have anticipated, Mr Macron said additional security totalling 3,000 personnel would remain, even during this summers Paris Olympics if required.

Mr Macrons hastily arranged visit comes after six people were killed in riots that have left a trail of looted shops, torched cars and businesses since they began more than a week ago.

In the coming hours and days, massive new operations will be scheduled where necessary, and republican order in its entirety will be re-established because there is no other choice, Macron said during a meeting with political and business leaders in the territorys capital Noumea.

Roads across the island remained blocked by protester barricades, and residents shared advice on social media on safe routes to find food, petrol and medicine.

Mr Macron had flown by helicopter over areas wrecked by arson, as bulldozers worked to clear away rubble. Mayors from these worst-hit suburbs joined Macrons meeting at Frances High Commission, along with pro-French and pro-independence leaders.

Beyond security, the key question was regarding the contentious electoral reform. It would allow thousands more French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote, which Paris says is needed to improve democracy on the island, where almost a quarter of the population identifies as European, mainly French.

Protesters at a separatist roadblock in the French territory of New Caledonia on Wednesday ( MMIIAS/ABACA/Shutterstock )

Leaders of the indigenous Kanaks who form the largest community  40 per cent  want the reform rescinded over fears it will dilute the Kanak vote and make it harder for any future referendum on independence to pass.

Other local leaders want the reform to be suspended to give time for a broader dialogue over the future of the island.

Electoral rolls were frozen by the 1998 Noumea Accord that ended a decade of violence by outlining a path to gradual autonomy. But the pacts expiry in 2021, and a Kanak boycott of an independence referendum held during the Covid-19 pandemic, led to a political impasse.

Mr Macron said later on Thursday that he had decided to push back plans to reform the voting laws by several weeks. However he added that he wont allow the result of the last referendum on New Caledonia's independence, in which citizens voted to remain part of France, to be called into question.

Kanak political leaders meeting with Mr Macron before that announcement included the president of New Caledonias government, Louis Mapou, and the president of its Congress, Roch Wamytan, who was a signatory to the Noumea Accord.

Macron visits the central police station in Noumea ( Reuters )

Before the meeting, the pro-independence Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) bloc issued a statement saying it expected Mr Macron to make a strong announcement that could breathe new life into dialogue.

Mr Macron said the aim of the meeting, which included French loyalist politicians such as Sonia Backes, was to get all parties back around the table.

Calming down cannot mean turning back the clock. Calming down cannot mean disregarding the popular expression that has already taken place, Mr Macron said.

Coming out of the meeting with Mr Macron, Georges Naturel, a New Caledonian representative in Frances senate and the mayor of Dumbea where stores were set on fire, said the society needed to rebuild in a different way.

Mr Macron had told the meeting more security forces are coming.

We are all convinced that this will not be enough. We also need strong, political messages, said Naturel, who belongs to the conservative Les Republicains party.

New Caledonia is the worlds number three nickel miner but the sector is in crisis and one in five residents lives below the poverty threshold in a territory with huge economic inequalities.

Reuters
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Interpol have granted Turkeys request over a well-known author and her son who fled to America after a fatal car crash.

A red notice has been issued for the 17-year-old involved in a fatal car accident in Istanbul, as well as his mother, Turkish novelist and poet Eylem Tok, who fled with him to the United States, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Thursday.

It said Interpol issued the red notice on Thursday for the pair who travelled to the United States via Egypt following the traffic incident in March.

A red notice is a request to law enforcement officials to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action.

The teenager was driving a car on March 1 when his vehicle ran into and killed one person and injured four others on the outskirts of Istanbul, authorities said.

Turkish media released footage in March showing Tok and her son in New York. Turkey submitted an extradition request the same month to US authorities for the mother and son.

Eylem Tok and son at Istanbul airport ( Turkish Police )

The pair had also apparently been photographed by a Turkish national who lives in New York.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutors Office was continuing its investigation into the death of Oguz Murat Aci and the injury of four others, Turkish media reported.

A few days after the incident, Tok issued a written statement published by Demiroren news agency: Well be brought to justice. On behalf of myself and my son, I sincerely apologise to the public.

On its website Interpol describes a Red Notice as a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

It adds: A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant.

The individuals are wanted by the requesting member country, or international tribunal. Member countries apply their own laws in deciding whether to arrest a person.

The majority of Red Notices are restricted to law enforcement use only.

Extracts of Red Notices are published at the request of the member country concerned and where the publics help may be needed to locate an individual or if the individual may pose a threat to public safety.
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A two-storey building collapsed on the beach in Palma killing at least four people and injuring 27 others in a tourism hot spot.

Firefighters rushed to the scene with at least ten feared trapped in the wreckage of the Medusa Beach Club - a restaurant popular with foreign tourists.

Public television for the Balearic Islands, IB3, reported there were people dancing on a terrace that collapsed on top of another floor underneath at about 8.30pm local time on Thursday.

( AFP via Getty Images )

The broadcaster added the emergency services were begging for the busy strip to fall silent so they could listen out for anyone still trapped in the rubble.

The authorities did not specify the nationalities of the victims or the cause of the collapse on Thursday night. But the death toll could rise.

Hundreds of people were held back at a police cordon with the high tourist season strip of the Balearic island off the coast of Spain.

Images from the scene show victims being taken away by stretcher and loaded into ambulances. Bodies are seen covered in silver blankets.

( EPA )

Raul, a worker from the shop next door to the devastated club, told CadenaSER: Everything fell, completely.

It was very loud and there were a lot of people inside.

A very loud sound was heard. There were people eating, people upstairs... the top floor fell.

Majorca Daily reported that one of the clubs security guards was feared among the dead as well as two tourists.

Local reports suggest the terrace on the first floor collapsed, sinking the ground floor under it into the basement of the building.

The mayor of Palma, Jaime Martinez, and the deputy mayor, Javier Bonet, both went to the scene to speak with the emergency teams.

File picture of tourists on Palma Beach in Palma de Majorca ( AFP via Getty Images )

I am closely following the consequences of the terrible collapse that occurred on the beach of Palma, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on X.

Sanchez said he had spoken to local and regional authorities, adding the government is ready to help with all the means and troops that are necessary.

I want to send my condolences to the families of the deceased and my wish for a speedy recovery to the injured, he said.

Marga Prohens, President of the Balearic Islands, said on X she was shocked to hear of the building collapse.

All my affection and warmth to the families of the four people who lost their lives in this tragic incident and wishing the recovery of all the injured, she said.

Rescuers are evacuating the injured through the back of the bar-restaurant, which faces Trasime Street, on the main tourist strip of Palma.
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At least seven people have been killed and two dozen injured after Russia launched a second massive airstrike on Ukraines Kharkiv region in as many days.

The attack came after a Russian glide bomb, a deadly explosive nicknamed the building destroyer by pro-Kremlin military bloggers, obliterated a cafe and injured 10 people in the middle of the day on Wednesday.

Moscows forces are increasingly hammering the regions capital, a city home to some 1.3 million people, as they attempt to press a ground assault on the wider area and stretch Ukrainian defences on the eastern front.

Authorities said Russia fired about 15 missiles on the cities of Kharkiv and neighbouring Lubotyn on Thursday, targeting mostly transport infrastructure and a printer in the regions capital.

Images showed smoke pouring out of the Faktor Druk printing house, whose roof was torn open, as exhausted rescue workers brought bodies in bags out of the building amid the flames. At least 50 people were believed to be inside at the time of the strike.

Speaking at the scene, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov described it as an absolutely civilian location. There are no military facilities either here or nearby, he said.

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a shelling on the printing business in Kharkiv ( EPA )

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky blamed the strike on the lack of anti-aircraft defences supplied by Kyivs main allies, as well as their insistence that Ukraine not use the provided weapons to strike inside Russian territory for fear of provoking Moscow.

The strikes were launched using S-300 missile systems from the Russian region of neighbouring Belgorod, military officials said. Because of how close it is to Kharkiv, just 50 miles, air raid sirens only sound after the missile has already hit. Ukrainian officials say they know the locations of the launch sites and that they could destroy them if their Western backers allowed it.

Russian terrorists take advantage of the fact that Ukraine still lacks sufficient anti-aircraft defence and a reliable ability to destroy terrorist launchers exactly where they are located  near our borders, Mr Zelensky said.

And this weakness is not our weakness, but the worlds, which for the third year already does not dare to treat the terrorists exactly as they deserve it.

Russias renewed assault on Kharkiv has, for many in the region, made it feel like the war has started all over again, and the destruction of the citys printing press, where many books detailing the first stages of the war were being published, was a stark reminder of the seemingly never-ending nature of Russias destruction of the region.

One of the books produced at the printing press was the diary of Ukrainian childrens writer Volodymyr Vakulenko, who was killed in his hometown of Izyum during Russias initial occupation of the Kharkiv region. The diary was found by Ukrainian novelist Victoria Amelina, who herself was then killed in a Russian airstrike on a pizza restaurant in Kramatorsk, a two-hour drive south, last June. The printing press in Kharkiv, with dozens inside, was yet another victim.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the most intense battles across the frontline were taking place in Kupyansk in the southeastern corner of the Kharkiv region.

He added that Russian forces were suffering significant losses in their offensives north of Kharkiv city, which they launched on 10 May.

After the first minor successes in the course of offensive fighting in the Kharkiv region, the opponent was completely engaged in the street fighting  and suffered very high losses, he said.
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The deputy head of the Russian army's General Staff has been accused of taking bribes and arrested, investigators have said  the latest in a slew of high-profile cases of alleged corruption to shake Vladimir Putin's top brass.

The arrest of Lieutenant-General Vadim Shamarin is the fourth detention of a high-ranking defence figure within a month, starting on 23 April when Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov was placed in pre-trial detention for suspected bribe-taking.

Since then, Lieutenant-General Yuri Kuznetsov, head of personnel at the defence ministry, and Major-General Ivan Popov, former commander of Russia's 58th army, have also been arrested.

Lieutenant-General Shamarin is accused of taking bribes between 2016 and 2023 from a factory in the Ural mountains that produces communications equipment, as a reward for placing bigger state contracts with it, Russia's Investigative Committee said. It said he had benefited to the tune of at least 36 million roubles (310,000).

Lt-Gen Shamarin, whose home was reportedly searched in connection with the investigation and who has been placed in pre-trial detention for two months, faces a prison term of up to 15 years if found guilty. There was no immediate word on how he pleaded.

Lt-Gen Shamarin has been in charge since 2020 of overseeing the army's Signal Corps, which is responsible for military communications, including ensuring confidential battlefield command signals.

The arrests are the biggest scandal to hit the Russian army in years and come at a time when it is has made some gains on the battlefield in Ukraine  which Russia invaded in 2022  and has a new defence minister, economist Andrei Belousov, at its helm.

The appointment of Mr Belousov, who has no army experience, was widely seen, among other things, as a move to eliminate wastage and corruption in defence spending. Sergei Shoigu, the previous minister, has been moved to become secretary of Russia's Security Council.

With no obvious end in sight to the war, now well into its third year, the arrests appear to underpin a major effort to stamp out corruption surrounding the awarding of lucrative military contracts, to try to ensure that the military-industrial complex is producing as much as possible for the right price.

The Kremlin, which said it was not authorised to disclose details of the case, played down Lt-Gen Shamarin's arrest and said similar anti-corruption work was being carried out across various Russian state agencies.

"The fight against corruption is consistent work," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "It is not a campaign, it is constantly ongoing work."

Other cases in other agencies are being pursued. On Thursday, investigators asked a Moscow court to place the deputy head of the Moscow region's prison service in pre-trial detention in a bribery case.

But Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser, said Lt-Gen Shamarin's arrest was the continuation of a sweeping shake-up among the army's top generals.

"The arrest of Shamarin, deputy chief of the General Staff, is not only an arrest, but also a large-scale audit of the work of the Main Communications (Signals) Directorate by the Audit Chamber," said Mr Markov.

He said one of the probe's aims was to "increase the army's morale and equip the army with modern communications equipment and missile and artillery guidance systems".

An influential military blogger close to the defence ministry who goes by the name "Rybar" and has more than 1 million followers, said the arrest and others like it were logical, but that investigators had probably sat on the alleged wrongdoing for a long time before acting.

"And the result is an ideal situation for everyone," Rybar wrote on the Telegram app.

"The fighters at the front get a portion of positivity, the team of the new defence minister gets a loud start, the problems start to be solved immediately (it does not matter that the military-industrial complex and other components of the solution had already started to be put in place), and the ordinary population celebrates," he said.

Lt-Gen Shamarin is a deputy to Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, who is managing the war in Ukraine. General Gerasimov has not been accused of any wrongdoing, though he has at times faced harsh criticism over the performance of Russia's military since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, something Moscow calls a special military operation.

Putin said last week that he did not plan changes to the General Staff because "combat work" was going successfully.

Reuters
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Greece simply seems built for holidays. With its treasure trove of beaches, informal, family-embracing culture and dazzling summer sunshine, it rarely disappoints.

A large, sprawling nation, it comprises 110,496 square kilometres of (largely underrated and under-visited) mainland, plus 227 inhabited islands  not to mention thousands more uninhabited islets. You could go back dozens of times and barely scratch the surface  especially if, like most Grecophiles, you find one place that suits you perfectly and end up going back.

When tourists think of the mainland, they usually picture Athens  one of Europes great culture capitals, with millennia-old ruins peppered around smart or hip neighbourhoods.

Meanwhile, Greek islands conjures a travel-brochure image of sugar-cube houses and dramatic, charcoal-grey cliffs, a look thats specific to the Cycladic islands. Other island groups have a different feel, many richer in dense pine forests or golden-sand beaches, though youll find classic Greek cuisine and warm hospitality all over. Heres where to start.

Best for history buffs: Athens

Athens is awash with historical ruins ( Lucy Thackray )

Greeces handsome capital is a must-do city break that works at any time of year  but if you go from May to October, youll also find ferries from its Piraeus port, making it easy to tack on a beach or nature break.

Read more: How to spend a day in Piraeus, Athens rejuvenated seaside neighbourhood

Most of the ancient Greek sites are based on and around the Acropolis Hill, so for very short breaks you should base yourself in central Monastiraki and Plaka so you can sightsee straight from your doorstep. If you have a bit more time to play with, you might want to stay in cooler Psyrri or Pangrati, where hole-in-the-wall restaurants and craft beer bars nudge up against concept stores and pavement cafes. Or Kolonaki, the upmarket Knightsbridge of Athens, where youll find the ritziest hotels.

Best time for weather

Outside of July and August to avoid soaring temperatures  breezy March and still-toasty October are loveliest.

Cheapest time to go

Winter, when flights are still running and few tourists are in town. In October, return flights start at around 80 return; in January that almost halves to around 45.

Dodge the crowds

November, January and February have the lowest hotel room rates and thinnest crowds.

Read more: Best hotels in Greece

Best for glamour: Santorini

Santorini deserves its glamorous rep ( Lucy Thackray )

This Cycladic icon is no secret  ever since the jet-set (and Instagram) found it, this has become the island that launched a thousand selfies. But when you go, you see why: the part-sunken edge of a long-dormant volcano rim, the islands western (caldera) side plunges down into the sea in a photogenic fashion. Uniformly pretty Cycladic-style hotels and houses are speckled along its tops, many with illuminated plunge pools and ribbons of hot-pink bougainvillea. Stay around Oia and Imerovigli, taking a sunset yacht cruise around the coast, and youll feel like youre starring in a movie.

Elsewhere on the island, affordable accommodation exists near flatter, black volcanic beaches and pretty hilltop towns; but if youre here for Santorinis unique looks, you want the caldera coast. Its not family friendly, due to the plunging cliffs and millions of steps connecting buildings. And everything here  from hotel rooms to dinners and drinks  is pricier than elsewhere in Greece. Cheapest choice? No way. Worth the cash? Absolutely.

Best time for weather

September  think highs of 25C by day, and a sea warmed up by months of summer heat.

Cheapest time to go

This is a holiday island, so most places shut up shop outside of spring, summer and autumn. Within that period, youll get some of the best rates in April and October.

Dodge the crowds

In April, compromise on chillier evenings and the odd bit of drizzle for a chance alone with the best caldera views. May is also pleasantly quiet.

Best for families: Corfu

Delfin Blu hotel in Corfu ( Lucy Thackray )

The buzzword here is ease: not only does Corfu have the shortest flight time from the UK, but young families will also love the logical tourist scene. Fly into its east-coast airport, connected to hotels by a well-paved coast road, served by plentiful taxis. Most resorts are within half-an-hours drive, with more secluded villas and lesser-known hotels slightly further away on the north and northeast coast.

Many of the best-known hotels nail being both both chic and family friendly (try the Marbella, Ikos or Grecotel groups), with many more that are simply affordable and welcoming. A sprinkling of adults-only finds are a hit with couples. Though the tourist scene is accessible, tried and tested, this huge, forested island is also perfect for hiring a car and exploring. Visit the pretty old port, Corfu Town, the sand-fringed north and west coast, and hop on a boat to Paxos island.

Best time for weather

June to August has that blazing hot, bucket-and-spade weather youre dreaming of.

Cheapest time to go

May is still warm and breezy, with highs in the low 20s  weeks at self-catering apartment holidays come in at 500pp per week, rising to more like 800pp by mid July.

Dodge the crowds

Go for a more active holiday in Feb-March or late October-November; in the latter, youll find few tourists, but locals still swimming in the summer-warmed sea.

Best for foodies: Crete

Youll find typical tavernas all over Greece ( Lucy Thackray )

This island is a giant  it would take around five hours to drive nonstop from one end to the other  so even if youve seen one beach town or region, theres far more to explore. But one thing youll find all over is exceptional food: Crete has a long farming tradition and a huge respect for produce, seasonality and provenance. It also has its own styles of salad, local cheeses and is a major producer of olive oil. Elsewhere in Greece, the most fashionable restaurants are often inspired by Cretan cuisine.

You fly into one of two north-coast airports: Chania towards the west and Heraklion towards the east. Theyre more than two hours apart, so make sure you book the best for your accommodation. The joy of a big isle like this is choice and diversity: there are affordable, family-friendly beach towns, stylish port cities, ancient archaeological sites and secret-feeling coves only reached by boat. The trade-off? A fair bit of research and planning.

Best time for weather

June to August for peak summer sun, but Crete also remains balmy into September  great news for adults-only parties seeking peace and quiet.

Cheapest time to go

April is a sweet spot  you can bag a week in a five-star beach hotel from 730pp, rising to 1,100pp in June. Daytime temperatures will be around 17-21C maximum.

Dodge the crowds

It empties out from cooler November to March, when there are still plenty of active pursuits, foodie experiences and ancient sites to entertain you.

Best for solos: Kefalonia

Assos town, Kefalonia ( Lucy Thackray )

While Crete is similarly backpacker and solo-travel friendly (with a rare-for-Greece bus network), Kefalonia has some of the most diverse landscapes, with historic towns, showstopping beaches and a huge range of places to stay. This sprawling Ionian island also has a bus route or two, allowing you, for just a few euros, to strike out from the smart port of Argostoli (near the airport) for pretty little coastal towns such as Assos, Fiskardo and Poros  many of which have boats onward to smaller islands. Ferries to nearby islands such as Lefkada and Ithaca can cost as little as 10 or 15 each way.

This network of affordable apartments, distinctive stops and transport options really lends itself to spontaneity and hopping around. Its also one of Greeces most photogenic islands: think pastel-coloured houses, plunging cliffs with mountain goats, shimmering sea caves and unspoiled beaches. Take a copy of Captain Corellis Mandolin (which is set here) to get a feel for the history.

Best time for weather

Unsurprisingly, most-popular June to August gets the best weather; those who can travel outside school holidays will bag the best deals.

Cheapest time to go

Direct flights from the UK tend to run between May and September. Of those months, youll find the best deals in early June and late September.

Dodge the crowds

Like Crete, you can fly via Athens to reach Kefalonia off-season: go in October to find lingering highs of 24C, plus warm, swimmable waters with few tourists.

Best for off-the-beaten-track: The Peloponnese

Mystras in the Peloponnese ( Getty Images )

Though theres been a trickle of tourism to this underrated slice of the mainland for decades, its only recently registered on the mainstream holiday scene. This hand-shaped peninsula just southwest of Athens has pine-scented mountains, ancient, crumbling monasteries, remote villages and lovely sandy beaches, especially along the central Mani Peninsula and Cape Malea.

Youll need a car to explore this rugged region, which has wonders such as Mystras, a 13th-century Byzantine city close to the historic warrior state of Sparta; the archaeological site of Mycenae; the Unesco-listed amphitheatre at Epidaurus; and the honeycomb-hued citadel of Monemvasia. There are remote spa retreats and cute coastal towns to chill at en route.

Best time for weather

May and September, outside of peak summer bookings, each get plenty of sunshine and highs in the mid-to-high 20s. Avoid December, the wettest month here.

Cheapest time to go

Direct flights to gateway airport Kalamata run May-Oct (though you can drive from Athens). Go in October for the best bargains on both flights and room rates.

Dodge the crowds

In April, just before direct flights kick in. Youll find delightful sunshine and up to 21C in the daytime  perfect for hiking around and exploring the sights.
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UK travellers have been warned to check vaccination requirements ahead of their summer holidays after an increase in travel-related malaria cases.

Data published in April by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that the number of imported malaria cases diagnosed in 2023 exceeded 2,000 for the first time in 22 years.

Malaria is a parasite-caused disease that can be passed to humans through a mosquito bite, and symptoms include fever, headaches, fatigue and abdominal discomfort.

There is no licensed vaccine against malaria, but anti-malarial tablets are recommended when travellling to certain regions. Vaccines are available, and in some cases required, to prevent other infections that can be caught while travelling.

The 2,004 cases across England, Wales and Northern Ireland were confirmed in individuals who had recently been abroad  a rise of 635 compared to the previous year.

In 2022, the World Health Organisation reported that global malaria cases had surpassed pre-pandemic levels by 16 million to reach an estimated 249 million diagnoses.

The NHS says malaria can be found in large areas of Africa and Asia, Central and South America, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, parts of the Middle East, and some Pacific islands.

UKHSA reminded travellers to follow travel health advice for their summer holiday destinations and take antimalarials and mosquito bite avoidance measures.

Professor Peter Chiodini, director of the UKHSA Malaria Reference Laboratory (MRL), said: All malaria cases are preventable and simple steps like using insect repellent, covering exposed skin, sleeping under treated bed nets and taking malaria prevention tablets can lower infection risks.

Boots, a UK health retailer, recommends booking an appointment up to eight weeks before travelling for any vaccinations or antimalarial medication.

Claire Nevinson, superintendent pharmacist at Boots, said: Its important to take steps to protect our health when we travel abroad so we can focus on enjoying our holiday. Travel vaccinations or antimalarial medicines may be recommended depending on where you are travelling, the activities you will be doing and your age and general health.

Some travel vaccinations may be recommended up to eight weeks before travelling for optimum protection  especially if more than one dose is required, so its important to check what vaccinations are recommended for your summer holiday destination as soon as possible.
The United States does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas, Joe Biden said on Thursday 23 May.

His comments came after ICC prosecutor Karim Khan requested an arrest warrant against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Khan said in his announcement that he had reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu, Israels defence chief, and three Hamas leaders bear criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

His move has yet to be reviewed by ICC judges who can amend, reject or approve it.

The US is not a member of the court but has supported past prosecutions, including the ICCs decision last year to issue an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.
Sir Keir Starmer has said growing up working class has inspired him to fight in the general election.

The Labour leader shared a new video on his social media account on Thursday 23 May, reflecting on his childhood.

My dad was a toolmaker, he worked in a factory. My mum was a nurse, but she was also sadly very ill. She couldnt work for very long. It was tough going at times, Sir Keir says in the video.

One of the things that helps me in the cost of living crisis were going through now is knowing what its like.

Sir Keir added that he has been fighting all his life and that he is ready to fight for the UK as prime minister.
Rishi Sunak calling a general election during Scotland's summer school holidays shows "disrespect," John Swinney has said.

On Wednesday (22 May), the prime minister confirmed the date the public will go to the polls is 4 July.

Schools in all but two of the 32 Scottish local authorities will be closed for the summer on that day, meaning it is likely some voters will be on holiday when the general election is held.

"This is perhaps the latest act of disrespect from a Conservative government, to call an election during the Scottish school holidays," the First Minister told reporters.
Watch as students take to the streets of Oxford in protest after police locked down a university building.

A pro-Palestinian protest group reportedly organised a sit-in at the university offices on Wellington Square on Thursday 23 May.

Oxford Action for Palestine (OA4P) is demanding a meeting with the university to review its policies relating to the Gaza conflict.

In recent weeks, student protesters across the UK and US have called for universities to cut financial ties with Israel following its offensive in Gaza.

Many in Oxford took to the streets of the city on Thursday afternoon, where chants of free Palestine and Palestine will be free were heard.
Rishi Sunak took a question from an audience member at a campaign event in Derbyshire this morning - who turned out to be a Conservative councillor.

The prime minister was speaking at a warehouse when he called upon someone who appeared to be a member of the public, dressed in a high-vis jacket.

Ross Hills, Leicestershire County Councillor for Mallory, then asked the PM about his Rwanda bill.

Mr Sunak thanked Mr Hills for asking an "important question."

A Tory source told The Independent: We do not control who asks questions - anyone can try and ask one.

Mr Hills's office has been contacted for comment.
The Cathal Friel-backed European Green Transition (EGT) venture has entered into an agreement to investigate a potential peatland carbon sink programme in Donegal.

EGT will seek to generate carbon credits at the site.

Peatlands can absorb and store large amounts of carbon dioxide.

The exclusive option agreement offers EGT the opportunity to conduct due diligence on the carbon credit project over a 12-month period.

Altan farm in Donegal spans around 1,370 acres. EGT says it does not plan on acquiring the land from its owner. Instead, it hopes to generate carbon credits through a revenue sharing model to lower its capital expenditure.

EGT has paid the landowner 100,000 as consideration for entering into the option.

The company said the option to acquire the project is in line with its plans to develop a portfolio of green economy assets with revenue potential in Europe.

The site also offers an opportunity for EGT to extend the business to trading third party carbon credits, as well as generating them.

This model follows a number of similar projects in Scotland, while a growing number of organisations actively purchase credits, EGT said.

The company noted that any further agreement with Altan is subject to the agreement of terms, purchase price and further documentation, adding that there is no guarantee the option will be exercised.

The Altan Option agreement offers EGT the opportunity to generate cash flow in a capital light manner by generating carbon credits, chief financial officer Jack Kelly said.

The market for voluntary carbon credits is projected to grow by a factor of 15 or more by 2030 as companies progress towards carbon-neutrality goals, and this agreement offers us an entry point into this high-growth market. Other European countries, particularly Scotland, already have a thriving carbon credit industry, generating credits from peatland sinks.

He said that blanket bog habitats are in poor condition in Ireland due to human activity and are leaking carbon back into the environment rather than absorbing it from the atmosphere.

EGT made its stock market debut on Londons Alternative Investment Market in March, raising 6.4m (7.5m) before expenses from institutional investors and family offices.

This is the fifth flotation on the AIM undertaken by Mr Friel, managing director of Raglan Capital.

Mr Friel, a former stock broker, is director and co-founder of EGT and is becoming well-known for raising equity via public markets for relatively early-stage businesses.

Oil executive Michael Nolan  who made a fortune when he sold stock market-listed exploration company Cove Energy to Shell in 2012  is also behind the plans for EGT.
Corre Energy raised 2.12m on Thursday in new equity by way of a subscription agreement following discussions with its founder shareholders, as well as another long-term shareholder.

The Dublin-listed company, which is headquartered in the Netherlands, focuses on the development, construction and commercialisation of long duration energy storage projects.

The new shares subscription comprises a total of 4,604,348 shares issued at a price of 0.46 each. It represent approximately 6.4pc of the issued share capital immediately prior to raise. The company said it now plans to launch a placing on similar terms to all eligible shareholders, which would allow participating investors to avoid seeing their stakes diluted.

Earlier this week, Corre Energy said that it planned to engage with shareholders regarding short-term funding requirements.

This investment would support the working capital of the company as it moves through the next stage in its strategic investment process being managed by Rothschild & Co, Corre said in a statement early on Thursday.

Shares in the company rose over 3pc following the update on short-term funding.

In March, the company reported that it had received multiple indications of interest: industrial, strategic and institutional to invest in the business.

It said at the time that discussions with each interested party remained at an early stage and did not confirm whether interest is for some or all of the business.

Last month, it appointed Rothschild & Co as financial advisor to the company while it assesses its options.

It says the additional funding for capital expenditure for various projects and working capital.

Corre added this week that there is no certainty that any investments will be made at this stage.

The subscription price is set to be 46 cent per share.

Shares in the business have dropped over 85pc in the past year, with Corre attributing the drop in share price to the overall trend in the energy transition market and uncertain economic conditions.

Davy analyst Michael Mitchell wrote in a note to investors that the proceeds of the subscription agreement will fund Corres short-term working capital needs.

The resulting >2m proceeds likely add approximately three months to its working capital runway, assuming a current monthly cash burn rate of c.0.7-0.8m, Mr Mitchell wrote.

It provides an important financial backstop for the business through the completion of its ongoing strategic investment process, which we understand is progressing in line with expectations.
The name of a senior official at the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) is being used in the latest online phishing scam.

The bank has warned the public, via a social-media post, that it has become aware of an email phishing campaign which pretends to be from Neil Whoriskey, who is the secretary of the bank, head of its internal governance division, and has previously been the CBIs official spokesman.

The messages impersonating Mr Whoriskey ask for money in other to release an inheritance. They are sent from an email address that resembles those of the Central Bank, such as CBI@secretary.net or variations on it.

The Central Banks systems are not affected by this issue and continue to operate as normal, said the CBI.

Asked how widespread the scam has been, whether there are any known victims, and if An Garda Siochana has been informed, the bank would not elaborate on its statement.

This is the second time in a matter of months that the name of a senior member of Central Bank staff has been used in a scam.

The ploy of pretending to be from the CBI has been in play for several years

The Central Bank also issued a warning on March 14 that there was a phishing email in circulation purportedly from Louise Dennehy, its chief information officer, seeking information on behalf of the regulatory department.

While attempts at financial fraud are becoming more sophisticated, the ploy of pretending to be from the CBI has been in play for several years.

In 2020, the bank said a scam was being attempted using email addresses that resembled its own, such as financialaudit@centralbank.ie and financialconductauthority@centralbank.ie.

The aim of a phishing email is to trick bank customers into sharing their personal details, such as PIN numbers, passwords or answers to security questions. They often take the form of an email pretending to come from a bank or service provider asking a customer to confirm their details.

The names and emails of staff in commercial banks have previously been used by scammers. The European Central Bank (ECB) has said that the public regularly alerts them to fraud attempts in which the name or logo of the ECB has been used, or where ECB staff members have been impersonated.

The Central Bank. Photo: Henry J Lyons architects

In other cases, criminals use phone numbers that look like they are from the ECB, it said.

Only last November, the Central Bank launched a fresh campaign to help Irish consumers avoid scams, warning that fraudsters were using increasingly sophisticated methods, and pleading with the public to be vigilant.

Earlier this week, Finance Minister Michael McGrath told the Dail that his department is drafting a National Payments Strategy that, among other things, is considering actions to prevent fraud, which he described as a critical issue.

He said it was important that the National Payments Plan examines payment fraud to identify further preventative domestic measures.
The group has leased a number of aircraft to the Asian budget carrier

Dublin-based aircraft lessor Avolon is sueing Vietnams Vietjet in Londons Commercial Court. The dispute is linked to jet leases between the pair, the Irish Independent has learned.

Six separate subsidiaries of Avolon, which are being represented by Clifford Chance, have taken individual actions against the budget Asian carrier.

Vietjet operates a fleet of more than 100 Airbus A320 and A321 jets and leases a number of wide-body A330 aircraft. It operates more than 400 flights a day to destinations across Vietnam as well as to countries including Japan, Australia, Singapore, South Korea and China. Vietjet also recently placed a provisional order for 20 Airbus A330neo wide-body jets as it eyes route expansion to Europe and the United States.

But the bulk of the carriers fleet is leased. Figures at the end of last December from Fleet Tracker showed that Avolon was the most exposed lessor to Vietjet by net book value at that time. The other top four were Carlyle Aviation, CCB Financing Leasing, SMBC Aviation Capital, and ICBC Aviation.

A spokesman for Avolon declined to comment on the legal action it has taken against Vietjet.

Vietjets non-executive directors include Donal Boylan, who joined the board in 2019.

Mr Boylan is a co-founder of Declan Ryans leasing firm TippAero, and is the former CEO of CDB Aviation Lease Finance. He was also the vice chairman of Bohai Capital, the Hong Kong company that owns most of Avolon. For a brief time in 2016, he was on the board of Avolon.

VietJet generated revenue of 2.2bn last year and posted a profit of 9m. That compared with a 133.7m loss the year before.

In 2023, Vietjet safely operated 133,000 flights and carried 25.3 million passengers. That excluded passengers on its Vietjet Thailand unit. The passenger numbers were 183pc higher than in 2022, and 7.6 million of them were carried on its international flights.

The airline launched 33 new domestic and international routes last year, bringing the total number to 125, including 80 international and 45 domestic routes.

Last year, Vietjet and Boeing concluded additional terms of a pre-Covid agreement to buy 200 737 Max jets from the US aeroplane maker over the next five years. The first 12 aircraft under that deal are due for delivery to Vietjet this year for use by its Thailand-based subsidiary.

Vietjet signed a memorandum of understanding with Carlyle Aviation Partners last year for pre-delivery payment financing facility worth up to $550m to fund the purchase of the Max aircraft.
The firm that operates the National Car Test (NCT) contract last year clocked up weekly revenues of 1.75m as it bid to clear a backlog in NCT tests.

New accounts show that Applus Inspection Services Ireland Ltd last year recorded pre-tax profits of 1.02m following a pre-tax loss of 981,010 in the prior year.

This followed revenues at the Spanish-owned company increasing by 15pc, or 11.65m, in 2023  from 79.32m to 90.97m.

The operation of the contract had been the source of controversy during 2023 with junior minister Jack Chambers stating last June that delays for motorists in getting mandatory NCT for their vehicles are absolutely unacceptable.

However, a spokeswoman for Applus said yesterday: The waiting list for appointments for the NCT was effectively eliminated before Christmas.

She said: In 2023, NCTS saw the highest volume of testing ever  with almost 1.6 million full tests carried out, nearly 200,000 more tests than in 2022 or 2021.

The first quarter of 2024 saw the highest throughput in a single quarter in the 24-year history of the NCTS  and over 80,000 more inspections were carried out compared with the same quarter in 2023.

Applus have recruited extensively in the Philippines for qualified mechanics to address the critical shortage of skilled staff in Ireland.

There are currently over 650 vehicle inspectors employed  the highest number ever in the history of the NCTS  and there are 40 more due to commence training this May-June. Plus recruitment is still ongoing, said the spokesperson.

These extra staff have made a real difference in the volume of tests carried out  and waiting times have been virtually eliminated in most centres.

Numbers employed by Applus increased by 37 from 812 to 849, and staff costs increased by 16pc from 37.03m to 43.95m. The NCT fee for a full test is 55 and a re-test costs 28.

The 10-year NCT contract operated by Applus concluded in June 2020 and the firm successfully re-tendered for a new 10-year contract.

The company last year recorded an operating profit of 671,822 before net interest payments of 358,112 are taken into account. The operating profit takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of 4.4m.

Shareholder funds totalled 5.19m.
The BYD stand at the 2024 Central China International Auto Show. Photo: Getty

Cheap electric vehicles from China are pushing into Europe and undercutting one of the regions biggest industries.

BYD, which overtook Tesla late last year as the biggest global EV maker, is about to raise the stakes.

The Chinese manufacturer announced plans last month to bring its Seagull hatchback to Europe next year.

The car offers premium features like a rotating touch screen and wireless phone charging  and in China it sells for less than 9,250.

Even after tariffs and modifications to meet EU standards, BYD executives expect to sell the Seagull for less than 20,000 on the continent.

That would price the four-seater thousands below electric runabouts that Stellantis (owner of Citroen, Fiat, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot and more), Renault and others are counting on to help them bridge the energy transition.

Its impending arrival is ratcheting up pressure on Europes automakers for dominance in the post-combustion engine era.

An anti-subsidy investigation by Brussels is unlikely to extinguish the threat.

We are looking very closely at this model and others coming from Chinese EV makers, said Martin Sander, head of Fords European EV business. Of course, we are nervous when new competition is coming to the market.

The Seagull has won plaudits for its build quality, design and technology.

And its no one-off: the company plans to introduce a higher-end 25,000 EV.

BYDs plans for two plants in the region will help it blunt the effects of any European Union tariffs meant to slow its path.

BYD is in the vanguard of Chinese carmakers that are increasingly targeting exports after seizing control of their home market. Tesla CEO Elon Musk warned in January theyll pretty much demolish most other carmakers, unless trade barriers arent erected.

While Joe Biden has moved to almost quadruple US duties on Chinese EVs, essentially slamming the door on those imports, tariffs are more complicated in the EU.

Tariffs should not be used to shield our lead manufacturers from meaningful competition

European carmakers are more dependent on the Chinese market than their US counterparts, making them vulnerable to retaliatory measures from Beijing.

And Europes plan to phase out the combustion-engine car also will require cheaper electric vehicles to boost mass-market adoption.

The EU launched a probe of Chinas EV industry last year and is nearing a decision on raising levies, but some industry executives and experts have pushed back.

Tariffs should not be used to shield our lead manufacturers from meaningful competition, said Julia Poliscanova, senior director for vehicles and e-mobility supply chains at lobby group Transport & Environment.

Judging by the reviews, incumbent carmakers in Europe and the US are right to take the Seagull seriously.

We have no intention to let this price band open for our Chinese competitors, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said last week about the upcoming European Seagull, dismissing calls for tariffs.

We dont think that protectionism will give us a long-term way out of this competition.
Dubliner Colm Meaney is set to play Ian Bailey in Jim Sheridans upcoming movie on the unsolved murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

Sheridans film Re-creation will revisit the murder of the Ms Toscan du Plantier in the town of Schull, Cork in 1996.

The French womans badly beaten body was found by neighbours in a laneway beside her holiday home in Schull on December 23, 1996.

Nobody to date has ever been charged in Ireland in connection with the 39-year-old's death.

The Commitments star (70) will play Mr Bailey, who was once the chief suspect in the murder and was arrested twice for questioning, however, the Director of Public Prosecutiions decided there was insufficient evidence to charge him.

Originally from Manchester, Mr Bailey, who was 66, died after he collapsed at home in his west Cork home in Bantry in January. Mr Bailey had a severe heart condition and was eligible for surgery before his death.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 23rd May 2024

Mr Bailey was a former journalist who lived two miles away from Ms du Plantiers holiday home in the town. He was one of the first reporters to arrive at the scene following her murder.

He was convicted in absentia of the murder by a French court in 2020, which put a 25-year sentence on him. He stringently denied any involvement in Ms Toscan du Plantier's murder and, due to not present being in court for the French proceedings, he could not appeal the verdict.

However, the High Court in Ireland ruled that he will not be extradited to France to face that jail term.

Jim Sheridans new movie on the unsolved murder will question what happened almost three decades ago, using a fictional jury to deliberate over the facts of the case.

Games of Thrones, Kin and The Wire star Aiden Gillen has also been cast in the upcoming production.

Sheridan, speaking of Meaney and Gillen stated that he is delighted to have two icons of Irish cinema join the cast.

The movie is not Sheridans first foray and deep dive into the murder. In 2021, he made a documentary about it entitled Murder At The Cottage: The Search for Justice for Sophie.

Sheridan, who met Mr Bailey several times and spoke with him over the phone, previously told the Sunday Independent: To say Ian Bailey died of natural causes is the Irish phrase for 27 years of torture.

He died of a bad heart, brought on by excessive drinking and smoking, but there was no doubt he had post-traumatic stress from all of this, he added.
Queens Gambit actor Anya Taylor-Joy has said that filming the forthcoming Mad Max prequel Furiosa helped her embrace her own female rage after years of getting angry on behalf of other people.

The 28-year-old stars as the titular character, a younger version of Charlize Therons Mad Max character Furiosa, who finds herself on a non-stop battle to find her way home.

Taylor-Joy has said she is grateful for her role in the George Miller film, because it allowed her to reflect on the ways she had expressed anger in the past.

For a long time, the only time I ever got angry was on other peoples behalf. Ive always internalised this thing of, Ive done something wrong. If you treat me badly, its because I am the problem, she said in an interview with British GQ.

And Im so grateful for Furiosa, because there was a real moment where I started getting angry for myself.

The actor said people around her had noticed a shift after filming Furiosa, especially her husband Malcolm McRae, who was surprised by the change.

My husband was like, Ive never heard you be like this. I was like, Im glad! Im glad that Im angry!. If someone steps on me now Im like, Hey, f**k you!. That makes me feel good.

Taylor-Joy added that women were not always dainty and unmessy, and that she wanted her character to embody authentic human rage.

Ive developed a bit of a reputation for fighting for feminine rage, which is a strange thing, because Im not promoting violence  but I am promoting women being seen as people, she said.

In an interview with The New York Times, the US actor revealed she and director Miller (79) had disagreed on several occasions over how stoic her character Furiosa should be.

Taylor-Joy only has 30 lines of dialogue in the two-hour and 28-minute-long film. And while Furiosa endures intense hardships throughout the film, she expresses her emotions mainly through her eyes.

The lead in the film said she fought hard to get Miller to agree to include a scream in the dialogue, and that her character was expected to be mouth closed, no emotion, speak with your eyes.

I am a really strong advocate of female rage, she said. Were animals, and theres a point where somebody just snaps. Theres one scream in that movie, and I am not joking when I tell you that I fought for that scream for three months.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga will be released in cinemas tomorrow
Court hears how elderly woman was barricaded inside asylum centre as nine charged over protest

The nine, aged between 20 and 60, were arrested over last nights incident at a migrant centre in Ballyogan, Carrickmines

David Noonan (left), Kathy Kennedy Byrne (centre) and Colin McGettrick pictured pictured leaving Dun Laoghaire District Court (Pics: Collins Courts)

Conor Feehan Thu 23 May 2024 at 14:38







Nine people have appeared in court this morning charged in connection with protests at a migrant centre at Ballyogan in south Dublin yesterday.
Englishman who beat Irish friend to death after night out jailed for life

The court hard that the two friends had been out drinking and playing pool before an argument broke out as they walked home

Lee Francis Burns and the late Vincent McDonagh

Neil Fetherstonhaugh Thu 23 May 2024 at 17:18







A man who beat his Irish friend and left him to die on a Manchester street after a night out drinking has been jailed for life.
The man, aged in his 20s, has hardly any criminal convictions and sources say he has been trading on the name of Quinn, who is serving a 22-year sentence in a Spanish jail for his role in the murder of Gary Hutch in 2015  the killing that sparked the Hutch-Kinahan feud.
Meet the baby-faced candidates in Irelands local elections, including a ministers son and the first person of African descent to run in Kerry

Youth not proving to be a barrier at the doors as the usual issues dominate voters concerns

Melissa Byrne was drawn to Aontu after party leader Peadar Toibin left Sinn Fein

Maeve McTaggart Thu 23 May 2024 at 03:30

Thousands of candidates are on the ballot in constituencies across the country ahead of next months local elections, with some entering the fray at much younger ages than is the norm.
Ex-DUP leader will remain an MP until polling day

Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, who is facing a series of historical sex offence charges, will not contest the UK general election, his solicitor has confirmed.

The statement came after a judge fixed a date for a hearing to establish whether there is sufficient evidence to send Mr Donaldson to trial.

The July 3 date for the committal proceedings  known as a preliminary enquiry (PE)  was fixed when the case against Donaldson and his co-accused, his wife Eleanor Donaldson, was briefly mentioned at Newry Magistrates Court yesterday.

After the hearing, Mr Donaldsons solicitor John McBurney confirmed that the Lagan Valley MP would not be standing for re-election, but indicated he intends to remain as an MP until the general election.

I can indicate that it is not Jeffreys intention, of course, to stand for re-election, he told reporters.

He will be concentrating on the case and defending the charges. He is continuing as the MP at the present time.

Theres various matters to be dealt (with), constituency matters and administrative matters to do with his offices and so forth.

Neither accused was in court yesterday morning, having been excused from attending.

Mr Donaldson (61) was arrested and charged in relation to historical sexual allegations at the end of March.

He faces 11 charges: one of rape; one of committing an act of gross indecency; and nine of indecent assault on dates between 1985 and 2006.

The offences relate to two alleged victims.

Ms Donaldson (58) of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, faces charges of aiding and abetting in connection with the alleged offences.

The next review hearing in the case will take place on June 12.

Barrister Fiona OKane, for the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service, gave an update on the progress of the case yesterday.

The case is progressing quite expeditiously, she told Judge Eamonn King. The position this morning is that we would hope to be able to have the PE (preliminary enquiry) itself on July 3.

She said the review hearing on June 12 would provide an opportunity to check that progress towards the committal hearing was still on track.

Judge King confirmed the preliminary enquiry would take place on July 3.

Mr Donaldson resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations against him emerged in March.
Back to MacCarthys Bar, 25 years after the visit that would make its name: It just might be the best pub in the world
Palestinian embassy to open in Dublin alongside Irish version in newly recognised state

Israeli ambassador says antisemitism is on the rise here

Eamon Ryan, Simon Harris and Micheal Martin announce the recognition of Palestine at a press conference outside Government Buildings in Dublin. Photo: Damien Storan/PA

Gabija Gataveckaite Thu 23 May 2024 at 03:30







Palestine is to open its own embassy in Dublin and Ireland will reciprocate in the newly recognised state in the coming weeks.
A review has been ordered in to the care of a man who died from sepsis late last year after being discharged from University Hospital Limerick.

Michael Cuddihy (76) died in November 2023, nearly a year after the tragic death of sixteen year old Aoife Johnson in December 2022, also from sepsis at the Limerick hospital, following almost sixteen hours on a trolley.

Mr Cuddihy attended to the hospital's emergency department on November 20 last but was discharged within 24 hours .

He died two days later from sepsis as a result of a trapped gallstone.

A spokesman for University Hospital Limerick confirmed this evening that the deceased man's care is being examined under the HSEs Incident Management Framework.

He said that a preliminary assessment has been completed and shared with the family. A number of recommendations were made and additional improvements identified following the meetings with the Cuddihy family.

The recommendations from the preliminary assessment have been implemented in full.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 23rd May 2024

The hospital expressed its deepest condolences to Mr Cuddihy's family "on their unimaginable loss. We are conscious that there are no words we can express to console them at this time".

On November 20 last, Mr Cuddihy felt unwell at home after suffering vomiting and severe pain.

His wife Aine called for an ambulance which took him to the Limerick hospital, the most overcrowded in the country.

Later that day, he was told he had a stomach bug and was free to go home but he asked to stay overnight as he was not feeling well, according to a report to be aired on RTE Investigates.

Despite his condition deteriorating during the night, he was discharged the following day.

Hospital notes seen by RTE Investigates show that having asked not to be discharged from hospital, Mr Cuddihy was moved to another section of the emergency department where overnight he was found vomiting by nursing staff.

The notes also record that he had a raised temperature, but it appears there was no medical follow-up.

His family said a scan was carried out on his heart and it was ruled out as a problem.

He was on a trolley for 18 hours without being assessed by a doctor. After discharge, he continued to suffer at home until his death on November 23.

The post-mortem results confirmed that a trapped gallstone had caused an infection, leading to sepsis and Michael's untimely death. The family met with the hospital in January and senior medical staff said they wished they could "rewind the clock".

His family claim that staff told them that the day Mr Cuddihy presented they were told of a shortage of 20 nurses.

However, in a statement this evening the hospital said there was an initial deficit of five nurses in the emergency department.

A number of staff were redeployed, leaving an actual gap of two nurses in emergency on that date.

Inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) visited the hospital on the day of Mr Cuddihy's attendance and in a report concluded while improvements were evident, including additional staff, patient risk was still not fully managed and it desperately needed more beds.

The hospital at the time had a risk assessment for sepsis in place but a more advanced version was still not implemented. This was later introduced last January.

According to RTE Investigates, the family was told at their meeting that a wider review was not necessary as all the deficits were identified in the preliminary assessment and another investigation would not garner any further information.

However, the family were contacted this week to say a full review would now take place.
Passengers on board a London-Dublin flight may have been exposed to measles, according to health officials (Niall Carson/PA)

The HSE has issued a public alert to Ryanair passengers and crew who may have been exposed to highly contagious measles on a flight from London to Dublin last Thursday.

The Ryanair flight FR123 travelled from London Gatwick to Dublin on Thursday, May 16 at 8.10pm.

The alert relates to passengers and crew on the flight.

We ask you to be particularly vigilant for symptoms of measles for 21 days from exposure until June 7, the warning read.

If you have received two MMR vaccines, have previously been infected with measles, or were born in Ireland before 1978, you are probably immune.

If you are not probably immune please avoid contact with vulnerable individuals (including pregnant people, babies under the age of 12 months, and people with a weakened immune system) until June 7.

If you are a healthcare worker please inform your line manager that you have been in contact with a measles case.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 23rd May 2024

The alert is the latest to be issued to passengers on flights to Dublin after it was confirmed one or more people on board had highly contagious measles.

Signs and symptoms of measles include cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing and a cough, sore and red eyes, a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above, rash, which usually appears on head and neck first and spreads to rest of body.

Latest figures show there have been 31 confirmed cases of measles so far this year including five outbreaks.

One man from Co Westmeath died earlier this year after contracting measles abroad.

Earlier this month, another alert was given to passengers on flight TK1977 from Istanbul to Dublin on May 6, the Monday bank holiday.

The letter from the HSE was sent to passengers telling them they have been in contact with a person who was diagnosed with measles, which is very infectious.

It is the third time such an alert has had to be issued to passengers this year on a flight to Ireland due to a person on the plane exposing them to the measles virus.

The risk is posed to passengers who never had measles or have not received the measles vaccine.

Some groups are at higher risk including pregnant women, babies under a year old and passengers who are immunocompromised. They should contact their local public health office via 1800 700 700.

Passengers need to be alert for symptoms that may arise until the end of the monitoring period on Tuesday, May 28.

Early signs include a runny nose, a hacking cough and a high fever with a rash in about four days after the start of symptoms.

A second alert was also issued to patients who attended Portlaoise Hospital emergency department between 1pm and 6pm on Friday, April 26 or between 2.40pm on Sunday, April 28 and 6pm the following day.

They may have been in contact with another patient who was diagnosed with measles.

The alert say if any of the patients were born in Ireland before 1978, if they had measles or received two measles jabs they are probably immune but they should ensure their family are up to date with vaccines. They should monitor for symptoms for 21 days after contact.
A Sky News reporter from Co Fermanagh has said he was forcibly removed from a Conservative Party event after being informed the broadcaster was not allowed to cover it.

Political correspondent Darren McCaffrey is seen in a video shared on Sky News X account being removed from the campaign launch event in east London.

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"And Im being forcibly removed we just simply wanted to have access tonight as Sky News but unfortunately were told that there are pool arrangements in place, were not allowed (here), he said, while being escorted from a room by two men.

Pool arrangements refers to an arrangement wherein a group of media organisations combine their resources in the collection of news. Typically, one outlet covers the event and the footage is then shared.

"What were trying to film is a campaign event where the Prime Minister is due to speak in the next couple of minutes, adds Mr McCaffrey in the video.

"Its in front of Conservative activists and eventually (hell) be trying to get across the message we had (from) Downing Street today from the Prime Minister talking about stability Im sure hes going to talk about about the decision he has made, but as youll see we just dont have access to it.

"Its not entirely clear why we dont have access to it, but as I said this was meant to be the campaign launch for the Prime Minister, for the Conservative leader in front of party activists, in front of the loyalists who will support him and go and knock on doors.

"This is a gamble hes taken were probably going to lose contact at this stage.

Mr Sunaks appearance in east London marks his first showing since he announced a July 4 General Election earlier today.

Speaking from Downing Street this afternoon, Mr Sunak pledged to take on the polls this summer to secure a fifth term in office for the Conservatives.
The Government has been urged to streamline leave entitlements for public servants after it emerged some workers get five days off when a relative dies, while others get nothing.

Forsa members have asked the union to seek equal bereavement, marriage and graduation leave for members after they voted for them to be standardised at the unions conference last week.

One delegate at the conference said a move to abolish inequality of leave would be sensible.

Bereavement is bereavement and grief is grief, he said, and questioned why one worker might get five days off while another might get nothing, or maybe three days.

It makes no sense to me, he added.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 23rd May 2024

A school secretary told delegates that when a members father died, she rang the principal, who asked her to pay for her cover.

She said school secretaries do not have an automatic entitlement to bereavement leave.

Another member whose brother had a cardiac arrest said she had no entitlement to leave when his life-support machine was turned off. The only option was unpaid leave or certified sick leave, she said.

Why is our loss, our bereavement, any less important than our working colleagues in the education sector? she asked.

This leave should be statutory. It shouldnt be a question of whether or not you are entitled to it. You should know automatically it is there.

A delegate said she has two brothers in the civil service, working in Revenue and Social Protection. She said every time she goes to a family funeral, they are on bereavement leave, whereas she is on annual leave.

One motion said there is a range of leave entitlements for employees in different sectors. It said some civil and public sector employees are entitled to three days bereavement leave for the death of a relative, while employees in other sectors have no entitlement.

Another motion called on the unions executive committee to ensure there is a minimum standard of bereavement leave in both the private and public sector.

Regardless as to where you work or what role you hold, grief is grief and loss is a loss, a minimum standards of bereavement leave should protect all workers in their time of loss, it said.

Another motion said sick leave, annual leave, bereavement leave and compassionate leave should be the same for all employees in the public sector.

The South Tipperary Health and Community Branch argued that lower entitlements should be brought up to the level of more enhanced schemes in other sections of the public sector.

A separate motion called for government departments to appoint bereavement liaison officers to help the families of deceased staff members and those who have been bereaved.

Forsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said the union would look at it, when asked whether it would move to standardise leave, although he said this might be restricted by the current wage agreement.

He said the issue may have to be considered during negotiations on future agreements. 

The Department of Public Expenditure was contacted for comment.
There is very high demand  the Irish visitor attractions releasing tickets at midnight, and free on first Wednesdays

As visitor numbers grow, its more important than ever to plan ahead for Irelands top attractions

Kilmainham Gaol. Photo: Chris Hill / Failte Ireland

Pol O Conghaile Thu 23 May 2024 at 03:30

Planning a visit to Kilmainham Gaol? It may need more planning than you think.
Venices new tourist tax scheme has been called a total failure in the Italian citys battle against overtourism.

On 25 April, the 5 charge to enter the historic centre of Venice started a 29-day trial to control visitor numbers on busy days until mid-July.

Nearly a month on, city councillors questioned the purpose of the ticketing system and claimed visitor numbers to the Italian city are instead on the rise compared to the same period in previous years.

Opposition councillor Giovanni Andrea Martini, architect Franco Migliorini and Enrico Tonolo, the head of a Venice residents association, spoke against the scheme at a Municipal Council Group of Venice press conference in Rome on Monday.

Mr Martini called the access fee a grand bluff, artfully created to generate media buzz, which does not solve the problem of overtourism in Venice and said the fee was introduced solely to generate revenue.

People protesting in Venice last month against the introduction of the registration and tourist fee. Photo: Reuters

A month after the introduction of the ticket, the data shows that the contribution has been useless, so much so that even the municipal administration has had to admit that the revenue from the 5 payments has far exceeded expectations, meaning more tourists have arrived, he said in a statement.

The Italian city has 49,000 permanent residents and receives over 80,000 tourists per day, a total failure in flow control according to the panel.

Venice suffers from social desertification. There are whole districts that have been emptied of Venetians. If this trend continues then it is a mathematical certainty that the city will die, said Mr Martini.

Simone Venturini, the councillor responsible for tourism, defended the scheme, according to The Times.

We are not going to curb tourism in 15 days, he said. This is a long-term project and we may increase the price next year so it is too soon to talk about results.

The people opposing this are from the left  the same people who opposed Venices Mose flood barrier and offered no solutions for countering tourism when the left was in charge of the city.

Critics also raised concerns about the safety of declaring personal data, including the reason for visiting a residence, medical visits and friends invited for lunch when registering movement in Venices historic centre.

People protest against the introduction of the tourist fee to visit the city of Venice for day trippers in a move to preserve the lagoon city. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri

Mr Tonolo called the entrance fee system a violation of privacy for residents that has done nothing to reduce tourist footfall in the popular area.

Despite being a Venetian citizen, I have to ask permission to invite friends, as though I was a subject appealing to my sovereign, he said.

Speakers at the conference also accused the system of being a ploy to exclude Venice from being included on the Unesco black list of endangered cities.

According to a survey by Demetra, an opinion survey group, 89pc of residents in the historic centre do not think that the introduction of the access ticket will reduce the problem of excess tourism in Venice.

The city councillor instead proposed a serious regulation of tourist accommodation to bring back the availability of rentals for residents and called for a cap on daytripper numbers to just 50,000.

Overnight visitors are currently exempt after they register online as the city tax is included in the accommodation charges of hotels and Airbnb rentals.

Mr Migliorini stressed the need to regulate the number of tourist apartments to combat the unmanageable level of tourism in Venice.
Declan Power: This is a bold diplomatic move by Ireland on Palestine that pressures Israel to realise its increasing isolation from the rest of world

Israel has reacted with anger, but recognition might open doors to negotiations

A little Palestinian girl carries containers to collect water as she walks by houses that were destroyed in an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

Declan Power Thu 23 May 2024 at 03:30

The recognition of Palestine by Ireland, Norway and Spain is a bold diplomatic move and may well go down in history as the instrument that started unblocking the logjam of factors preventing peace between Israel and Palestine.
Whenever the Irish public looks in on a rape trial, it tends to not like what it sees. As most people know, getting a rapist into court in the first place already requires a victim to defy the odds.

Rape must be one of the only crimes where the severity of it is almost inversely proportional to its prosecution rates. A cold, aggressive and intimidating criminal justice system  as well as deeply damaging and enduring myths about sexual violence  means that many survivors will quite reasonably calculate that bringing their attacker to justice could well bring the victim to their knees in the process. And that doesnt even begin to consider the vast swathes of victims who will never admit to a soul, even to themselves, that theyve experienced sexual violence.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking arrest warrants for high-ranking members of Hamas and the Israeli government, charging that they have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. Those offences, as detailed in a statement by prosecutor Karim Khan, include the taking of hostages, sexual violence and torture, all instigated by three named members of Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel. The alleged crimes committed by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant include using the starvation of civilians as a form of warfare and intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population.
Born into privilege, Michael Burke Jr hails from Irish business royalty. His father, Michael Burke Sr, built one of Irelands most successful companies, Chanelle Pharma, which was sold recently for up to 300m.

Burke Jrs sister, Chanelle, worked in the family trade for many years and was also a high-profile investor on Irelands version of Dragons Den. She is also married to legendary jump jockey Tony McCoy.

Now, a spotlight has been shone on Burke Jrs business dealings, following a recent money-laundering case against a former Chinese takeaway worker in a London court.

Burke Jr (43), originally from Galway, has been accused of involvement in a starkly fraudulent scheme, according to prosecution evidence heard by a court in London earlier this year. He denies any wrongdoing.

Convicted fraudster Jian Wen worked in a Chinese takeaway, earning 12,000 annually, before enjoying the trappings of wealth as result of an international money laundering scheme.

Today on The Indo Daily, Rory Tevlin is joined by Paris-based journalist Rory Mullholland and John Burns, Deputy Group Business Editor with Mediahuis Ireland, to discuss the curious case of money launderer Jian Wen and how a son from one of Irelands wealthiest families has been implicated in an international crypto scam worth millions.
The representative said that he regularly hears parents concerns about the impact smartphones have on children in school

Cork North-West TD Michael Moynihan has welcomed the decision made by the countrys leading mobile phone operators to support Education Minister Norma Foleys plan for voluntary agreements to keep childhood smartphone free.

Phone operators An Post Mobile, Eir, Tesco Mobile, Three, Virgin Media and Vodafone have all confirmed that they support guidelines providing advice for the setting up of voluntary agreements between parents to avoid buying smartphones for their children while in primary school.

Deputy Moynihan said that whenever he meets parents in the area, he hears their concerns about the impact smartphones, social media and being constantly online has on children in school.

That is why I welcome the news that leading mobile phone operators have all confirmed that they support the Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free guide for parents and parents associations of primary school age children, Deputy Moynihan said.

This guide provide advice for the setting up of voluntary agreements between parents to avoid buying smartphones for their children while in primary school.

The Fianna Fail representative said that research clearly shows mental health, educational and social damage linked to smartphone use among children, but acknowledged that parents and schools struggle to know how to address this.

I am encouraged by the positive response to tackling smartphone use among children by parents and parents associations and I would like to commend them for all the work they have put in. These voluntary agreements offer a guide for parents and I would encourage their take up wherever possible, Deputy Moynihan said.

"Fianna Fail in government is committed to tackling online safety, and to helping children get off their screens and back talking to each other.
An overall total of 234 million was made in CAP payments to farmers in Cork County in 2022.

The Department of Agriculture recently published the 2022 figures following a query from Aontu leader Peadar Toibin for the average annual CAP payments received by farmers in each county.

Becky Kealy a candidate for Aontu in Kanturk LEA said the CAP payments are evidence of the urban rural divide in Ireland. Figures released show that on average farmers in Dublin are getting far higher payments than farmers in rural Ireland. I find it astounding and annoying in equal measure that Cork farmers are not receiving a fair share of the annual CAP payments, she said.

Figures released to us lay bare the facts, Ms Kealy said. Dublin farmers are taking the lions share. Dublin farmers in receipt of CAP are getting an average annual payment of 25,500, the highest across all counties in the State. However, in Cork our famers get just 18,000. The shortfall of 7,500 is a lot at a time when our famers are to the pin of their collars trying to keep body and soul together.

The CAP payments should be focused on helping farmers in disadvantaged areas, especially those who farm on bad, rocky or wet land. The EU commission recently downgraded the north and west of Ireland to a 'lagging' region, based on GDP and poverty rates in the area. Regardless of farm size, the farmers there deserve preferential treatment to help pull them from the bog hole of debt and poverty they're currently stuck in, she added.

Ms Kealy said Cork farmers are being handed less than their farming counterparts in Dublin. We all know that the current government and indeed the European Commission have little regard for rural Ireland. Cork farmers work hard and they have the same bills and outlay. They have the same need for a decent, fair wage as their counterparts in Dublin, yet they are being handed less. It is incredibly unjust and smacks of a Dublin centric government and main opposition.
The Muslim Sisters of Eire accepting the Local Food Hero award at Irish Restaurant Awards earlier this week

The founder of the Dublin-based Muslim Sisters of Eire was presented with the Local Food Hero award at the Irish Restaurant Awards this week.

Lorraine OConnor, from Coolock, set up the Muslim Sisters of Eire in 2010 and was commended at the ceremony for her volunteer work.

The charity supports the homeless in a number of ways, including soup runs and food delivery to those in need at Dublins GPO each Friday.

We were the only women in hijabs there out of 1,200 people. This is what Ireland is. Its the Ireland that I grew up in and I love, its about respecting and understanding each other, she told the Irish Independent.

They gave our organisation recognition and that blew me away as a girl from the northside.

When I was shortlisted, The Irish Restaurant Awards said so many people were putting me forward, they had to do something about it, even though I dont have a restaurant.

All the local food heroes were restaurants, so I wasnt expecting any of this. Im still shocked but its such an honour, she added.

Volunteering is now busier than ever for the charity and Lorraine is delighted that the groups diligent work has been recognised.

Were flat out now. Were organising summer projects for young migrant girls, to take them out, help them experience things they never experienced in their life and give them a sense of identity in a new country, she said.

Being able to help people is a huge honour for me and to see the smiles at the GPO. To form friendships with people who you wouldve never met in your life, people who suffer from addiction, people who are in terrible situations, theres so many people who need help.

Were going down to meet our friends, the familiar faces who are waiting for us. Theyve the utmost respect for us.

Soup runs are a hub where people know they can come, be validated as a person, listened to, and not stereotyped by the situation theyre in.

There are people who come to us who have houses, but they have a low income and they cant keep food on the table for their children. Weve students coming down who cant pay their rent, they cant feed themselves, she added.
There was delight for Farranfore entrepreneur Mary B Teahan this week after she was named as winner of the All-Star Munster Business Person Of The Year 2024 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation.

Mary's, who runs her company, Irish Drain Services, was praised this week for her exemplary leadership and innovative strategies that have played a pivotal role in propelling the growth and prosperity of the business.

Citing some of the reasons behind Marys win, the All Ireland Business Foundation said that Mary has overseen the growth of a company that is well known for its cost effective, market leading drain services and solutions.

Reacting to the news of her achievement, here is what Mary herself had to say:

"I am truly honoured to be named Business All-Star Munster Business Person Of The Year 2024. For me, this recognition is a testament to the dedication of the team at Irish Drain Services and our collective commitment to delivering a top-notch service for our clients. I am excited about the opportunities this accreditation brings for collaboration and growth, and I look forward to contributing to the vibrant community of Business All-Star Accredited leaders dedicated to excellence.

Announcing the news of Marys achievement, Deputy Chair of AIBFs Adjudication Board, Kieran Ring, was full of praise for the Kerry woman.

I am delighted to recognise Mary B. Teahan, founder of Irish Drain Services, for receiving the Business All-Star Munster Business Person Of The Year 2024 accreditation. Her unwavering dedication and pursuit of excellence have enabled her to overcome obstacles and establish her company, Irish Drain Services as a paragon of reliability and integrity within the region, he said.

As a distinguished recipient of the Kerry business person of the year award and now the Business All-Star Munster Business Person Of The Year, Mary epitomises the essence of entrepreneurship and unwavering commitment to excellence, he continued.
The community of Drumshanbo in County Leitrim has been urged to rally around the 170 refugees who have been told to move out of a hotel in the town by the end of the month.

Lough Allen Hotel in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim has been home to around 170 Ukrainian refugees for the past two years.

The hotel is predominantly used by women and children who now work and attend school in the area.

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However, the hotels contract as an accommodation centre is coming to an end and the residents have been told they must vacate the property by May 31, 2024.

It is believed the residents were informed of the move at a recent meeting and hotel management has attempted to have the contract extended to allow the residents additional time to stay at the hotel.

Drumshanbo councillor Brendan Barry is now calling on the local community to support the Ukrainian refugees and provide temporary accommodation until they find an alternative option.

There are different people who may be finding it difficult to pay their mortgage or high rents and they might consider letting out a room in their house to some of these people who have settled in the area.

These people are familiar faces now because they be out and about and there has been no issues with them.

"They are good people who are working here in the community and they would like to settle here.

"Some of these people have already moved back to Ukraine or to other counties or countries but there is people in the hotel who want to stay here in the local area, said Cllr Barry.

Cllr Barry said there is a good and welcoming community of people in Drumshanbo.

"We welcome people to our area whether they are local, tourists, refugees or whoever they are.

"We are a very welcoming community and it is a good place for anyone to come, stay and visit, said Cllr Barry.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) said it will provide residents with alternative options, however, it is unknown where they will be moved too.

The residents can also seek to find a private rental option.

Cllr Barry said it is hoped that alternative accommodation will be found close to Drumshanbo.

"Anyone who has not found alternative accommodation themselves or with help of the local authority or the local people before May 31 will get alternative accommodation through the Department.

"They have said they will be moved as nearby as possible but I do not know what they consider to be nearby, said Cllr Barry.

The Lough Allen hotel has been up for sale for a number of years before hosting the refugees.

The hotel has been for sale for a long number of years and I do know if it is any closer to being sold but the accommodation contract was due to expire at the end of the month and it is just not being renewed, said Cllr Barry.

A spokesperson for The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) said, Temporary accommodation for those fleeing the war in Ukraine was provided at the Lough Allen Hotel, Drumshanbo, County Leitrim.

"This arrangement is due to come to an end shortly.

"All accommodation contracted by the Department is temporary in nature, moves happen frequently when contracts end.

Those who are residing at the accommodation have been contacted by the Department to notify them of the change.

"Alternative offers of accommodation will be provided to the residents, and every effort will be made to ensure that the alternate accommodation will be in the general area.

Beneficiaries of temporary protection are also entitled to make their own private arrangements, including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish or private accommodation, and can avail of some supports to do so.
President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina with local volunteers during a visit to Glaslough village in county Monaghan last weekend.

President Michael D Higgins addresses members of the public as local dignitaries look on.

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina have been afforded a hearty welcome by Monaghans tidiest town and the winner of multiple national accolades.

Glaslough village has been the Farney Countys Tidy Towns flagbearer for the past number of years, capped by its All-Ireland winning exploits in 2019.

Those successes were replayed in recent days when President Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina remained faithful to fulfil a Covid-enforced postponement by visiting the locality last weekend.

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Local Senator Robbie Gallagher said the occasion was one that will live long in the memory as he addressed the topic in the Seanad yesterday (Tuesday).

It was a beautiful, remarkable day, he said.

President Michael D Higgins addresses members of the public as local dignitaries look on.

In many ways, Glaslough is a remarkable village. Everyone turned out, from the very young to the not so young. Nearly the entire community is involved in Tidy Towns and the village is an absolute credit to them.

The Fianna Fail senator continued by referring to how the villages 2019 All-Ireland winning feat was not the first time it had graced the national stage.

In 1978, it was also crowned all-Ireland champions. It was fitting that a number of people who were on the committee that day in 1978 were present at the function last Saturday morning, he said, while singling out one of its chief mainstays at the time, the late Paddy Connolly.

Senator Gallagher said the areas continued advancement was down to its hard-working local volunteers as he extended open invite to Cathaoirleach Senator Jerry Buttimer, Acting Leader, Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee and elected members to see at first hand the village in all its glory.

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina with local volunteers during a visit to Glaslough village in county Monaghan last weekend.

To the people of Glaslough, I say well done, he said.

They are an absolute credit. To the Acting Leader, the Cathaoirleach and all the Members who have not had the pleasure of visiting Glaslough village, if they can take time this summer and come for the weekend, I trust they will be highly impressed by it.
Ignition by Inductive Automation is the industry-leading platform that digitalises and automates manufacturing and related processes with full SCADA and Manufacturing Execution System (MES) functionality.

It facilitates the connection of all devices and platforms in manufacturing facilities and bridges the gap between operational technology (factory floor systems and equipment) and IT, including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and similar enterprise-level systems.

Premier Integrator is the highest level of certification awarded by Inductive Automation. NNIT Group company SL Controls, based in Collooney, achieved the certification following a rigorous assessment process based on successful project delivery, consistent results, and high-level Ignition expertise.

Frank Quinn, Digital Transformation Executive at SL Controls, said: We have been working with the Ignition platform for several years now integrating it into customer facilities in the life sciences sector. It is a digital transformation platform that stands out from the competition because of its broad range of features, unlimited integration capabilities, minimal learning curve for end users, and straightforward, cost-effective pricing model.

Ignition is also highly customisable, enabling our engineers and systems architects to develop solutions that not only meet the specific needs of our customers but also deliver fast results and tangible returns on investment.

Those tangible returns on investment come from productivity, efficiency, and OEE improvements. Specific objectives we help our customers achieve include paper-to-glass transitions, automating processes, and making better use of data, as well as performance improvements specific to the life sciences sector, including batch release by exception.

We look forward to continuing to build on our relationship with Inductive Automation, and we are grateful for the support we have received from the team.

We also look forward to helping more of our customers achieve digital transformation success in their manufacturing operations by implementing and integrating the Ignition platform.

Inductive Automation recognises over 4,000 integrators around the world. Only 2 percent of Ignition integrators have Premier Integrator status. SL Controls is part of that 2 percent club. Some other key Ignition Premier Integrator stats include:

 SL Controls is one of only three Premier Integrators for the Ignition platform in Ireland.

 SL Controls is the only Ignition Premier Integrator in Ireland with expertise in both the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.

 SL Controls is one of only two Ignition Premier Integrators in Europe and one of only 12 in the world with expertise in both the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.

 SL Controls is a top 100 Ignition integrator across all certification levels.

Chris Fischer, Integrator Program Manager at Inductive Automation, said: Im very pleased to welcome SL Controls as a Premier Integrator of Ignition software. SL Controls have distinguished themselves by doing excellent work with leading companies in the life sciences sector, and by expanding the knowledge and expertise of their team. I sincerely look forward to working with SL Controls over the coming years.

Darragh McMorrow, Commercial Director at SL Controls, said: I would like to congratulate the SL Controls team who worked hard to achieve our Premier Integrator status for the Ignition platform. We identified Ignition several years ago as being a key part of our growth strategy. It aligns closely with the digital transformation and Industry 4.0 solutions that we have been delivering to life sciences sector companies for the past 20+ years. I know the whole team is looking forward to working even more closely with Inductive Automation over the coming months and years.
Fianna Fail Senator Lisa Chambers has called for enhanced cancer care to be made a priority for the Midlands North West region.

The call comes as Senator Chambers set out a comprehensive plan for her tenure in the European Parliament if elected, underscoring a decade of political service with a vision of transformation for the Midlands North-West constituency.

Chambers is steadfast in her pledge to enhance cancer care across the Midlands North West region.

Acknowledging the current disparities in survival rates between the west and east of the country, she emphasised the need for Ireland to align with European-wide strategies to elevate standards of care and bolster research initiatives.

The proposed regional cancer centre in Galway represents a beacon of hope, aiming to provide equitable and state-of-the-art care.

Senator Chambers has worked with her colleagues in Galway, Ministers Stephen Donnelly and Michael McGrath and Professor of Surgery and Director of the Cancer programme for the west and northwest Michael Kerin to ensure the inclusion of the new Regional Cancer Centre for the west and northwest in the National Development Plan.

Senator Chambers political journey, which began as a TD for Mayo, has been marked by key leadership roles, including Leader of Seanad Eireann and Fianna Fail Group Leader in the Seanad.

Her portfolio as party spokesperson on Foreign and European Affairs and as chair of the Seanad Brexit Committee exemplifies her dedication to complex legislative issues.

"My campaign is driven by the conviction that change is possible.

"My experience in Irish politics has equipped me to tackle the challenges we face in healthcare, energy, and infrastructure.

"I have dedicated ten years of elected service to understanding and navigating the complexities of European and Foreign Affairs, defence, and now as a barrister, EU law.

"This experience is crucial for anyone representing Ireland at the European level. I am prepared to use this knowledge to bring about real change for our constituency," said Chambers.

Chambers has also pledged to transform the region from a Transition region to a Developed region, on par with the rest of the country, so that the balance can be tilted back in our favour.

With a commitment to renewable energy, Senator Chambers looks to harness the power of the Atlantic, propelling the region to the forefront of green technology. "Our coastal location positions us uniquely to become a powerhouse in offshore wind energy, bringing with it a surge of employment and sustainable practices," she stated.

On infrastructure, Chambers vows to be a catalyst for major developments, advocating for significant investments in strategic projects like the expansion of Ireland West Airport Knock and the rejuvenation of the Western Rail Corridor to ensure maximum connectivity for Sligo.

"The time for action is now. Together, we can forge a path that leads to prosperity, health, and sustainability for all within the Midlands North-West," concluded Chambers.
A Sligo woman who popped into a supermarket to do some shopping and later have a cup of coffee in an adjacent restaurant was shocked when she returned to her car to see it clamped.

The woman was distraught at having to pay 120 fine after parking at Lidl on Finisklin Road in Sligo.

She went shopping at the store on Thursday 16th May and parked her car in what a sign stated was an additional car park behind the store. She came back after an hour only to find that her car had been clamped.

She told The Sligo Champion that she is very upset at what happened.

I went into the additional car park behind Lidl at 12.32pm and went in to the store. Then I stopped at the cafe in front of the store to have a coffee. I came back at 1.32pm and was shocked to see the clamp. Another customer who was there saw me worried and went into the store to get someone.

This store employee told me that I was parked in the wrong area. I told him that I could read English and that a sign clearly stated, additional car park.

It was all in vain though and I had to pay a fine of 120 to a Dublin based clamping company and after almost an hour the person responsible for clamping came to de-clamp my car.

I was in shock and despair all day. I dont mind paying the fine if I am in the wrong, but I dont want to pay for something that wasnt right.

She further said that these incidents have become very common, and it needs to be highlighted as 120 is not a small amount for people to pay for doing nothing wrong.

The customer who called the store employee told me that an old lady was also clamped in the same area earlier that morning. She was devastated as well.

I have been trying to resolve this issue through Lidl management but have got no response at all. I went to the store on Saturday again and found that the sign that said additional car park has been removed from there.

The Sligo Champion went to the store to get a response but the manager was not available at the time. The removed sign was spotted half lying in the car park at another spot.
Ultan Murphy (42), is an IT professional from Sligo. born and raised in Carraroe and later went to Trinity College in Dublin to study Information Technology and worked in various roles for almost 20 years.
Pictured at the launch of the HSEs national RESIST hand hygiene campaigns implementation in Millview rehabilitation and continuing mental health care centre in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford were (left to right): Clinical Nurse Specialists in Infection Prevention and Control, Wexford Quality Safety & Service Improvement division Marie Whelan and Kerensa McRedmond.

Pictured at the launch of the HSEs national RESIST hand hygiene campaigns implementation in Millview , Enniscorthy were (left to right): Kerensa McRedmond (Clinical Nurse Specialist in Infection Prevention and Control, Wexford Quality Safety & Service Improvement division) and Helen McGahan (Clinical Nurse Manager 2/Service Manager).

Pictured at the launch of the HSEs national RESIST hand hygiene campaign (left to right): Kerensa McRedmond (Clinical Nurse Specialist in Infection Prevention and Control, Wexford Quality Safety & Service Improvement division), Joanne O Neill (Asst. Director Nursing) and Helen McGahan (Clinical Nurse Manager 2/Service Manager).

Enniscorthys residential mental health care centre Millview has joined forces with the HSE Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control programme (AMRIC) on their latest campaign.

One of the initiatives under this campaign is RESIST a hand hygiene awareness programme that promotes a combination of hand hygiene training with standardised national training materials.

Opened in 2010, Millview is a 24-hour nurse staffed centre that currently provides rehabilitation and continuing care for 12 residents. The campaign effort is also supported by the staff and residents of the adjoining HSE mental health services Havenview Intellectual Disability Residential Care Unit, An Tearmann Respite Unit and Tus Nua Rehabilitation Unit.

Hand hygiene is at the frontline of all of the initiatives that the HSE has been implementing to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The RESIST campaign aims to refresh hand hygiene messages and to emphasize the continued importance of clean hands.

Clinical Nurse Manager 2/Service Manager Helen McGahan highlighted the significance of hygiene in the workplace at the RESIST launch in Millview, Cleaning your hands properly, at the correct time, when delivering care to patients and residents is the most effective way to stop the spread of many infections. When healthcare workers like doctors, nurses and carers keep their hands clean, they help prevent the spread of serious healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). These are infections that can happen in any healthcare service.

She called on the community to come together behind the initiative. Staff, residents, patients, and visitors all have a role to play, to help stop the spread of Healthcare Associated Infections and join the superbug resistance.

Additionally, Ms McGahan has advised on further implementations staff can do to continue to safeguard themselves and their patients from infection. This includes reminding fellow staff and visitors to wash their hands, using available alcohol hand gel, and keeping up to date regarding antimicrobial stewardship.
The Festival of Ferns, a free two day festival, will take place on Sunday, June 2 and Monday, June 3 this year.

The Festival of Ferns, a free two-day event celebrating community, heritage and culture, will take place on Sunday, June 2 and Monday, June 3 this year.

There are lots of activities taking place during the festival to appeal to a variety of interests. This years Festival of Ferns centres around Diarmait MacMurrough, his inauguration as the King of Leinster and his plans for the future.

Starting at 12 midday, MacMurrough, his followers and his Norman allies will lead the Parade on Monday, June 3 from St Edans Cathedral and will include a Samba band, medieval costumes, giant props and more.

The parade will finish at Ferns Castle where the inauguration and re-enactment will be followed by performances on an outdoor stage. A mix of contemporary dance, the Chord On Blues choir and Wexford music duo, Rag Doll are sure to be a crowd pleaser. There will also be face painting and The Snails Tale around the Castle grounds.

The main event is scheduled for 7p.m. on Sunday evening and will feature a Celtic Jazz concert on an outdoor stage on the grounds of Ferns Castle. A specially commissioned piece entitled the Marriage of Two Cultures will be performed by award winning vocalist and composer Melanie OReilly and her Celtic Jazz Ensemble. The performance will also feature renowned choreographer Karine Saporta and her dancers from Normandy.

Fringe events will begin from 2p.m. until 6p.m. on Sunday, June 2 and include a busking competition with a prize fund of 200, family fun activities at the Community Park located at the back of Ferns Community Centre.

Activities for kids include the bemusement games with Fuinseog Woodland crafts, the Setanta Challenge with medieval stocks and an exhibition of Coats of Arms researched and designed by pupils in both local schools will be displayed in Scoil Naomh Maodhog. Following workshops on Gaelic and Norman names and their meanings, pupils will be invited to research their own Coat of Arms and even to design their own.

For the first time in Ferns there will be guided walking tours to key medieval sites in four languages; Japanese, French, Irish and English. Other tours on offer are a Rebel Tour of Ferns focusing on 1798 Rebellion, the 1916 Rising and the Irish War of Independence and Civil War, a guided tour of the Ferns Tapestries in the Ferns Castle Visitor Centre, and local bee keeper Joe Kelly will give a Talk and Display on Bees. The tours offer a great variety to those interested in connecting with their heritage. Enjoy music in local pubs from 3.30p.m. to late on Sunday.

Follow Festival of Ferns on social media and visit www.festivalofferns.com for further details on all events.

The festival is funded by Failte Ireland Small Festival Grant, Creative Communities and Wexford County Council as well as local sponsorship from Roches Bus Hire and Irish Sea Contractors.
New butterfly murals in Sugarhouse lane with artists Magda Karol from Wicklow and Raffaele Muraca from Cork. Photo; MAry Browne

New butterfly murals in Sugarhouse lane with artists Magda Karol from Wicklow and Raffaele Muraca from Cork and Cllr Michael Sheehan. Photo; Mary Browne

With news of millions of euros having been announced for the town, New Ross is on the up and even has wings now to prove it.

Artists Magda Karol from Wicklow and Raffaele Muraca from Cork have created a series of colourful murals on what has become the most colourful street in the town  Sugarhouse Lane.

Costing around 6,500, the murals are the brainchild of Cllr Michael Sheehan.

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We found money in the council to do the project. Its something Ive wanted to do for many years. Anyone who has travelled around the world might have seen these urban wing type murals in cities.

The idea is a person stands in the centre of the mural and has their photo taken, which is shared on Instagram and other social media apps.

It makes you look like you have a set of wings. I have never had the opportunity or funding before to do this. He approached FDYS and asked the Wexford based body to see if a group of local students would like to get involved in creating the images that would adorn the Molloys Supervalu wall. They met with artists from Waterford Walls who were very enthusiastic about the project.

Michelle Sinnott and Claire Smith from FDYS brought young people to Waterford to see the walls there. The students went to the community centre and created the images you can now see on the walls. These murals are a direct result of young people from New Ross expressing their opinions about their town.

The first mural has a Norman design. If you look closely you will see ships and swords and Norman colours. This ties in with the murals in the towns lanes, said Cllr Sheehan.

The second murals features swan wings representing the Children of Lir from Celtic mythology.

The third is of butterfly wings, the colour mirroring the colourful walls on Sugarhouse Lane. Cllr Sheehan said the teenagers want to depict transformation and development in the town.

The fourth mural  which is lower down  features a bumblebee. Its for children and dogs as they want everyone in the community to have their own set of wings that they can stand into.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 23rd May 2024

New Ross Municipal District plan to put a QR code on the wall to grow the towns online presence.

We want to get more people thinking about visiting New Ross. We also plan to fundraise for local charities and community groups. The plan is that every six months we will have a new QR code. The first fundraising drive will be for Relay for Life.

Cllr Sheehan thanked Colum Molloy at Molloys SuperValu for the use of his wall, the people at Waterford Walls and the students at FDYS and New Ross Youth Together and the officials at New Ross Municipal District.

Now we want everyone to take pics and put them on Instagram to promote New Ross to a wider audience and show the towns beauty and creativity and the voice of the young people here.
Gardai are regarding the death of a farmer in rural Wexford on Wednesday night as a sudden death, after a multi-agency response which included the Coast Guards Rescue 117 helicopter.

The man, aged in his 80s, was found unresponsive in a farm yard near Our Ladys Island at around 8.30 p.m. prompting a significant emergency response.

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Less than an hour beforehand, he had been moving cattle with his son, who reportedly returned to find his father collapsed on the ground.

The emergency services were immediately called and the National Ambulance and gardai quickly responded.

The Coast Guard Rescue 117 helicopter was also tasked from Waterford and landed nearby, however, despite the best efforts of paramedics to resuscitate the man, he was declared dead at the scene and the helicopter was stood down.

A garda source indicated that the tragic incident is being treated as a sudden death and they believe the man may have suffered a cardiac arrest.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 23rd May 2024

His remains were taken to University Hospital Waterford where the usual post mortem examination will be carried out.
Arklow Golden Circle committee members Gertie, Liz, Deirdre and Joe with bus drivers Gary and Liam on their trip to Westport.

The Arklow Golden Circle group enjoyed a fabulous time on their first trip of the year to Westport, County Mayo, where they explored all the ancient town has to offer.

Making their base at the wonderful Castle Court Hotel, the group took in the sights in the Georgian town centre before visiting Knock, the Mayo Peace Park in Castlebar, the National Museum of Ireland  Country Life and taking a serene voyage down the River Shannon.

Declaring the trip a resounding success and thanking their hosts and all those who played a part in the excursion, a group spokesperson said: Our first holiday of 2024 was a great success, and we owe a big thank you to our two bus drivers Liam and Gary who stayed with us for the holiday and brought us home safely.

The Castle Court Hotel is one of the best hotels we have stayed in. The management and staff were so polite and helpful, and the food was superb, with music put on for us each night.

Everyone had a wonderful time and are already asking where are we bringing them all next year!
The need for green policies both locally and on a European level, including environment, transport, active travel, protection of green spaces  and a Blue Flag returning to Bray beach  were raised as Bray Green Party councillor and local election candidate Councillor Erika Doyle welcomed Green MEPs Grace OSullivan (Ireland South) and Bas Eickhout (Green Left, part of the European Green Party) to Bray last week.

All three are running for election on June 7, and agreed that the concerns of constituents remain much the same, regardless of constituency size.

Cllr Doyle said: Grace is a regular visitor to Wicklow, and as an ecologist and former surf champion she has a passion for marine protection and clean water and spoke to me of her desire to help Bray win back its Blue flag.

Grace is an inspiration to all of us who work towards fair and inclusive environmental action. A Greenpeace activist for 20 years, she spent many years aboard the Rainbow Warrior and was in fact a crew member when it was bombed in 1985. She is a skilled negotiator and has used this to good effect as a lead negotiator for the European Parliament on the Environment Action Plan 2030. She has led the campaign in the European Parliament to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Cllr Doyle continued.

Highlighting issues that are common to Bray and other areas, she added: As an Ireland South MEP we share Bray as a constituency and Grace is in regular contact with me to discuss the issues facing our community.

From traffic congestion solutions such as improved public transport and active travel schemes, to protection of our green spaces and natural and built heritage, we feel sustainable solutions and green policy provide far sighted solutions to many of the day to day challenges faced by people living in a growing town like Bray.

It was also great to welcome Bas, our lead green MEP candidate from the Netherlands, and see what we can learn from each other as fellow Greens in Europe. Bas got to experience Bray on a glorious sunny day and I was proud to tell him about the many great things the town has to offer, concluded Cllr Doyle.
Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore has once more raised the outstanding staffing issue for the neurorehabilitation centre in Bray, County Wicklow, as some people have been waiting up to five years to access care.

It follows a request in April for the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to ensure that the long-promised neuro-rehabilitation facility in Bray is not delayed any further by the HSE recruitment freeze.

Over 860,000 people throughout Ireland are currently living with a neurological condition and that number is set to increase significantly with our growing and ageing population. The appointment of specialist nurses to look after patients with these conditions is now caught up in the HSE's recruitment freeze.

Community neurorehabilitation teams are multi-disciplinary teams that provide vital care to support recovery and prevent disability for people with neurological conditions. According to National Neurorehabilitation Strategy, the implementation of which is a key commitment in the current Programme for Government, nine teams are required but only two have been delivered. This means that only 15pc of neurological patients in Ireland have access to a community neurorehabilitation team.

Community Health Organisation 6 (CHO6), which includes Wicklow, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin South East does not have a team in place, despite funding being made available.

During Questions on Promised Legislation on Tuesday, May 21, Deputy Whitmore raised the issue again with Taoiseach Simon Harris in the Dail Chamber.

Speaking after the debate, Deputy Whitmore said: Delays to staffing allocation to much-needed local health services in Wicklow are totally unacceptable. I have been raising the staffing needs for the neurorehabilitation team in Bray for years now. Every time I do, the Government makes all the right noises, but we do not see the follow-through.

The goalposts keep getting moved on the filling of these essential roles, and those who suffer the most are people living with neurological conditions and injuries who need speech and language therapists, physios and a range of other services not available to them locally.

"It is unfair to keep putting their recoveries on standby while the Government moves the pieces around the board. Every day matters to their recovery, and they have been waiting over five years to be able to access this care in their area.

When I asked the Taoiseach today about it in the Dail, he told me he would speak directly to the Minister of Health and get back to me. I hope he does because, in March, when I asked a similar question of the Tanaiste, I was told the same and have not heard back.

At the end of the day, the roles for this neuro rehab centre team were mooted years ago, long before the recruitment freeze introduced in October 2023 by the government. I was advised in March 2023 that recruitment would progress in Q2 and Q3 of 2023.

A team of 13 posts was being assembled. Funding was available, and recruitment was due to commence in July 2023. Yet here we are in 2024, and the roles are still unfilled. I will continue to raise this issue until we get a final answer for Bray and the patients across Wicklow," she concluded.

In 2018, the Government committed to setting up a new neurorehabilitation centre for CHO 6 area, that is, east Wicklow and South Dublin.

In April Deputy Whitmore pointed out that the centre was planned for Bray and work was under way to get it up and running over the last year, with a team of 13 posts being pulled together. Funding was available, and recruitment was supposed to have to commenced.
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
Palestinian children look out from a house destroyed by an Israeli strike in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

US secretary of state Antony Blinken yesterday urged Egypt to do everything it can to make sure humanitarian aid is flowing into Gaza, as food and medicine bound for the strip piles up on the Egyptian side.
Airline fired pilot who addressed passengers in Spanish when engine burst into flames

The Boeing 737 that experienced emergency moments after takeoff from Houston in August 2023

(Stock image)

Amelia Neath UK Independent Thu 23 May 2024 at 09:59







A Southwest Airlines captain has filed a complaint against the airline, which sacked him over his decision to speak to passengers rather than fly the plane during an emergency last year.
Rescue teams in Iowa searched through the ruins of homes and buildings in Greenfield yesterday, looking for survivors of a deadly tornado that tore through the town the day before.

Authorities were still determining how many people were killed, injured and displaced by the twister in the farming town of about 2,000 people, located about 97km west of the capital Des Moines, Sergeant Alex Dinkla, a spokesman with the Iowa State Patrol, told a news conference.
Prosecutors are targeting Donald Trumps valet for not co-operating with classified documents case

But claim by lawyer for former US president is dubbed garbage by prosecution

Donald Trump outside court in Manhattan in separate case. Photo: Reuters

Terry Spencer and Eric Tucker Thu 23 May 2024 at 03:30







A lawyer for Donald Trumps personal valet accused federal prosecutors yesterday of targeting the assistant because he refused to co-operate in the classified documents case against the former US president.
Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community!

Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.
Ratan Tata, the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Group and a globally influential industrialist, passed away in Mumbai on October 9, 2024, at the age of 86. We look back at his legacy at the helm of the group.
Photo courtesy: wikipedia.org

New Delhi/IBNS: Hinting at the likelihood of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven layoffs in the future, Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma, in a letter to shareholders on Wednesday (May 22), said that the fintech company will focus on its core businesses and improve cost efficiencies to create a leaner organization.

The Paytm CEO said the employee costs of the company have risen significantly over the years because of their investments in tech and financial services.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma said while investments will continue, the fintech firm will also take steps to cut employee costs.

He added that these measures could save up to Rs 400-500 crore annually.

For the coming year, while we continue to invest in the merchant sales team, as well as risk and compliance functions, we expect reductions in other employee costs. We expect annualized people cost savings of Rs 400  Rs 500 crore, Sharma said.

He also highlighted that Paytm is using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve its customer care and expects opening up of new sources of revenue generation and cost savings.

We anticipate tangible results from these initiatives in the coming quarters, further bolstering our competitive advantage in the market, Sharma said.

Paytm CEO said in the letter that the firm, in addition, is undertaking various steps to solidify its governance framework with the appointment of experts as advisors and independent directors.

"I am ensuring that we have greater regulatory engagement and have a higher focus on compliance, in letter and in spirit," he said.

Sharma said Paytm expects near-term financial impact to revenue and profitability following the disruptions in the last quarter, which includes impact due to pausing of PPBL [Paytm Payments Bank] wallet.

We had also paused a few other payments and loan products to our customers during the last quarter, and I am happy to share that many such products have been restarted or in the process of starting soon, Sharma said.

Earlier on January 31 this year, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had asked PPBL to stop offering banking services effective March 15, 2024, citing concerns of non-compliance with regulatory guidelines.

Since the RBI's directives came, Paytm, which powered most of its services via the associate entity, has been aggressively working to communicate with merchants and stakeholders to avoid misinterpretations regarding the impact of the directions, besides forging new partnerships with banks for UPI infrastructure and QR codes, previously powered by PPBL, according to a Moneycontrol report.

However, Paytm believes the full impact of the central bank's actions are likely to be felt in the first quarter results of FY25 as it warned that revenue during the three-month period could slip to Rs 1,500 crore to Rs 1,600 crore.

Moreover, the fintech firm expects improvements from the second quarter of FY25, "based on restarting certain paused products and achieving steady growth in operating metrics", as per reports.

On May 22, Paytm's parent company, One 97 Communications, reported net loss of Rs 550 crore in Q4 of FY24, a 3.2X jump compared to Q4 of FY23, as its margins took a hit post RBIs crippling ban on its associate company, PPBL in January.

The revenue from operations was down by 2.9 percent year-on-year (YoY) at Rs 2,267 crore, against Rs 2,334 crore in the same period last year, while Paytm's revenue was down by 20 percent, compared to the previous quarter, according to reports.

Meanwhile, the company said it has written off Rs 227.1 crore worth of investment in PPBL, and accounted for it as impairment losses, as reported by Moneycontrol.

"The value of the Companys investment in PPBL is impaired and, accordingly, has recorded an impairment provision of Rs 227 crore, representing the carrying value of its investment in PPBL and disclosed the same as Impairment of investment in associate," according to the company's financial statement.

Paytm, which holds 49 percent in PPBL, mentioned in its financial statement that there is an "ongoing uncertainty" associated with the business operations of PPBL since the restrictions on January 31, which led to the decision.
Photo Courtesy: Screengrab of viral video

Pune/IBNS: The grandfather of 17-year-old Vedant Agarwal , whose Porsche car ran over two techies leading to their death in Pune, has underworld connections, as per the chargesheet of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), media reports said.

The grandfather, who stood as the surety of the bail of the minor, was earlier booked by Pune Police for hiring a mercenary from gangster Chhota Rajan to kill Shiv Sena corporator, Ajay Bhosale.

The grandfather had first given a contract to Rajan to mediate with his brother with whom the former was having a problem related to properties.

Rajan in turn asked Bhosale, who was close to the brother, to sort out the matter. But Bhosale, who seemed to be inclined to the brother, did not intervene.

The grandfather then gave contract to Rajan to kill Bhosale, who contested the 2009 assembly elections from Wadgaon-Sheri on a Shiv Sena ticket.

As he was driving, a hitman fired at Bhosale but the bullet hit his driver instead. Bhosale escaped without any injury.

How did the accident happen?

A man and a woman, riding a motorbike, were killed when the car, driven by 17-year-old Vedant Agarwal, hit their vehicle in Pune's Kalyani Nagar in the wee hours of Sunday.

The accident happened at 3:15 am when Anish Awadiya and Ashwini Costa were returning home with friends on motorcycles after partying at a club, according to the police.

The two riders were flung into the air under the impact of the crash, causing them to land on another car. They died instantly. After hitting them, the car crashed into the pavement and came to a halt, said the report.

According to media reports, the minor accused is the son of a renowned builder in Pune.

Videos on social media showed a group of people thrashing the minor as he tried to come out of his mangled car.

The 17-year-old, whose speeding Porsche SUV knocked a two-wheeler down causing two deaths, was granted bail after he wrote a 300-word essay.

Vedant, the son of an influential builder named Vishal Agarwal, was asked to write a 300-word essay on the topic, titled Effect on road accidents and their solution.

As per police, the bail was granted as the court couldn't find the crime committed by the juvenile as "serious".

Vedant was also asked to learn traffic rules and submit a report by 15 days, The New India Express reported.
Photo courtesy:YouTube video grab

Nandigram (West Bengal): Ahead of the sixth and penultimate phase of polling for the Lok Sabha election in West Bengal on May 25, reports of violence have emerged from East Medinipur district's Nandigram , where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that its several workers were attacked by members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) last night, media reported.

The BJP held a protest march in Nandigram, alleging that one of its female workers, Rotibala Ari, was killed and seven others sustained injuries in the incident. The injured individuals have been hospitalized for treatment, reported News 18.

In the wake of the violence, an angry mob set fire to several shops, prompting a 12-hour bandh (shutdown) in Nandigram.

The local BJP leadership asserted that ahead of the elections, BJP supporters, including women activists, conduct night patrolling in the Sonachura area periodically to monitor and deter anti-social elements during the polls.

According to local BJP leader Meghnad Pal, in the early hours of Thursday, while a similar patrol was underway, a group of unidentified miscreants arrived on motorcycles and attacked the patrolling team with sharp weapons.

In that attack, Rotibala was killed and her son, who was injured, is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital. We strongly believe that these unknown miscreants were linked to the ruling Trinamool Congress, Pal was quoted as saying by News18.

Denouncing the violence, BJPs IT cell chief Amit Malviya said TMS Chief Mamata Banerjee must be held responsible for her inflammatory statements and consequent action by criminal members of her party.

16th May, 2024  Mamata Banerjee, at a rally in Haldia, threatened to take revenge for her defeat in Nandigram. She lost to BJPs Suvendu Adhikari, but still shamelessly took over as Chief Minister. On 23rd May, 2024  BJP worker Rathibala Arhi is murdered in Nandigram. I condemn Trinamool supporters cowardly attack on BJP workers in Nandigram. Trinamool supporters attacked BJP workers with sharp weapons in the Sonachura area of Nandigram. Seven people were injured in the incident. Rathibala Arhi, a woman BJP worker, lost her life. Such violence is unacceptable in democracy, he said in a post on X.

16th May, 2024 - Mamata Banerjee, at a rally in Haldia, threatened to take revenge for her defeat in Nandigram. She lost to BJPs Suvendu Adhikari, but still shamelessly took over as Chief Minister.



On 23rd May, 2024 - BJP worker Rathibala Arhi is murdered in Nandigram.



I pic.twitter.com/y9Vqrq53g2  Amit Malviya (  ) (@amitmalviya) May 23, 2024

However, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) denied any involvement in the violence, saying the clashes stemmed from internal rivalry among BJP workers.

According to the report, TMC leader in Nandigram, Swadesh Das dismissing the allegation. He said, There were some family disputes and the killing could be the consequence of that.

Another senior officer of the district police stated that an investigation into the killing of the woman is currently underway.

So far, no arrests or detentions have been made by the police in connection with the violence.

On Wednesday, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee held a rally in Nandigram, the assembly constituency of the leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari, seeking vote for his partys Tamluk candidate Debangshu Bhattacharya.

He told the rally that the BJP needed to be voted out of power to save the reservation rights of the people. Notably, the Calcutta High Court cancelled all the OBC reservation certificates issued after 2010.

Videography Alt



Political violence and murder in Nandigram after provocative comments by Mamata Banerjee or Abhishek Banerjee



     .

Tmc Jehadi brutality kill BJP worker Rathibala Hari ,we demanding punishment for those pic.twitter.com/oKcwE07Ju7    (@debajits3110) May 23, 2024

Abhishek Banerjee called Nandigram BJP MLA and former Mamata strongman Suvendu Adhikary a gaddar and questioned if he really worked for his constituency.

He claimed that a change in the Central regime was imminent and TMC will play a critical role in the formation of the government.
In images HD Deve Gowda & Prajwal Revanna/ courtesy: Facebook

Bengaluru/IBNS: Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has issued a stern warning to his grandson Prajwal Revanna, accused of sexual assault by several women, asking him to "surrender or face the anger of his family."

Prajwal, who is an NDA candidate from Karnataka's Hassan Lok Sabha seat, faces serious charges of sexual abuse, which has triggered a national uproar.

Allegations against him include include rape, sexual assault, disrobing women, and forcibly video-graphing sexual acts to intimidate the victims.

"I spoke to the media about Prajwal Revanna on 18 May when I was headed to the temple to offer pooja. It took me some time to recover from the shock and pain he has inflicted on me, my entire family, my colleagues, friends and party workers. I have already said that he should be given the harshest punishment under the law if found guilty. My son and former Karnataka Chief Minister, Shri. H.D Kumaraswamy, has advocated this line since the day the scandal broke," Deve Gowda wrote in his public letter.

I have issued a warning to @iPrajwalRevanna to return immediately from wherever he is and subject himself to the legal process. He should not test my patience any further. pic.twitter.com/kCMuNJOvAo  H D Deve Gowda (@H_D_Devegowda) May 23, 2024

Prajwal reportedly fled to Germany on April 27, a day after polling concluded in Hassan, where he was re-contesting his seat.

His sudden departure just days before the allegations became public has raised suspicions.

A Blue Corner Notice has been issued by Interpol at the behest of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and an arrest warrant from a Special Court is currently active.

In his letter, Deve Gowda's pain and betrayal are palpable.

He recounted the shock and pain inflicted upon his family, colleagues, and supporters and added that if Prajwal is found guilty, he should face the harshest legal penalties.

Gowda's son and former Karnataka Chief Minister, HD Kumaraswamy has also supported his stance. Prajwal is the son of Deve Gowda's other son, HD Revanna.

HD Revanna, a 66-year-old former minister, was arrested by the state police on May 4 in connection with an alleged kidnapping case of a woman allegedly raped by Prajwal Revanna and is currently out on bail.

"At this juncture, I can do only one thing. I can issue a stern warning to Prajwal and ask him to return from wherever he is and surrender before the police. He should subject himself to the legal process. This is not an appeal that I am making, it is a warning that I am issuing. If he does not heed to this warning, he will have to face my anger and anger of all his family members. The law will take care of the accusations against him, but not listening to the family will ensure his total isolation. If he has any respect left for me, he has to return immediately," Deve Gowda's letter reads.

The Congress government has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe these cases.

However, the BJP and JD(S)NDA partnershave called for the cases to be handed over to the CBI and for action against those responsible for circulating the obscene videos.
Photo courtesy: Video grab

Rishikesh (Uttarakhand): A recent incident at AIIMS Rishikesh evoked scenes similar to Bollywood action dramas, where Uttarakhand Police personnel drove a Mahindra Bolero PCR vehicle into a crowded ward in the hospital to arrest a suspect.

The incident was captured on video by someone inside the ward and has since gone viral on social media.

While the incident may prompt a debate about police procedures and hospital protocols, it also highlights the police force's commitment to pursuing suspected criminals, even if it means chasing and arresting them in unconventional locations such as hospitals.

The video shows a Mahindra Bolero PCR vehicle entering a crowded ward, a police officer making way for its entry.

#Uttarakhand police vehicle entered the emergency ward of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh to arrest a nursing officer who allegedly molested a female doctor at the premier health facility. #Viralvideo pic.twitter.com/YqmqnI3dKG  Meghana (@1_meghana) May 23, 2024



Patients can be seen lying on stretchers, and even the hospital's private security guards are seen clearing a path for the police vehicle by moving some of the blocking stretchers.

The police drove their vehicle directly into the hospital ward, manoeuvring through rows of patients on stretchers to arrest a male nurse accused of sexually harassing a female doctor at AIIMS Rishikesh.

While additional details about the incident are expected to emerge, reports suggest that hospital staff had protested against the accused's actions in front of the dean's office and had also sought police intervention.

Further investigations are anticipated to shed light on the case, including the police department's rationale for their actions.
Hazaribagh (Jharkhand): Senior BJP leader Jayant Sinha on Wednesday responded to the show cause notice issued by Jharkhand general secretary Aditya Sahu on why he did not vote in the Lok Sabha polls and participate in any election campaigning.

In response to BJP's Jharkhand general secretary Aditya Sahu, Sinha said he was surprised by the show cause notice as he had voted through the postal ballot process due to his absence from India over a "pressing personal commitments".

He explained that none of the senior party officials, MP or MLA from Jharkhand approached him after he announced in March to not contest the Lok Sabha elections.

Sinha is the sitting BJP MP from Hazaribagh.

"If the party had wanted me to participate in any election activities, you could surely have contacted me. However, not a single senior party official or MP/MLA from Jharkhand reached out to me post my announcement on March 2. I was not invited for any party events, rallies, or organisational meetings," he wrote.

My response to Shri Aditya Sahu jis letter sent on May 20, 2024 pic.twitter.com/WfGIIyTvdz  Jayant Sinha (Modi Ka Parivar) (@jayantsinha) May 22, 2024

The BJP nominated Manish Jaiswal as its candidate for the Hazaribagh seat, and Sinha stated that he had supported Jaiswal from the moment he was announced as a Lok Sabha nominee.

"The party announced Jaiswal ji as its candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. My endorsement was evident when I congratulated Jaiswal ji on March 8, an event that was well-documented on social media and demonstrated my unwavering support for the party's choice," Sinha said.

On April 29, Sinha said he received a call from Jaiswal and the latter had invited him to join his nomination rally on May 1.

As he could not make it to Hazaribagh on May 1 due to "late notice," he went directly to Jaiswals residence to convey his regards on May 2.

He was not present, so I conveyed my message to his family. There was no further contact from Jaiswal ji. I left Hazaribagh on May 3 and returned to Delhi," he said.

"After informing the Speaker, I left India on May 10 to attend to some pressing personal commitments overseas. The party had not asked me to participate in any events, so I saw no reason to stay. Before leaving India, I sent my vote through the postal ballot process. Therefore, it is wrong for you to allege that I did not exercise my responsibility to vote," he said in a two-page letter to Sahu.

Sinha said that he and Sahu could have addressed any grievances raised by Sahu through in-person meetings or phone conversations at any time.

"As the party official responsible for the Hazaribagh Lok Sabha elections, you could have reached me at any time. To send me a letter after the elections are over, is incomprehensible," he asserted.

Sinha stated he made this decision to concentrate on combating climate change both in India and globally and discussed not contesting the polls after consulting with BJP president JP Nadda.

"Of course, I will continue to work with the party on economic and governance issues. As it is obvious from this tweet, I withdrew from the Lok Sabha elections on March 2. After consulting with Shri Nadda ji and getting his explicit approval, I made it clear publicly that I was not going to be involved in these elections," he said.

Thousands of people in Hazaribagh and BJP workers urged him to reconsider his decision, but he affirmed that his decision was final, Sinha said.

"Despite my withdrawal, the reaction from thousands of Hazaribagh's constituents and party workers was profound, with many visiting me in Delhi, asking me not to withdraw and to continue my candidacy. This was a difficult period, filled with intense public emotion. However, I maintained political decorum and restraint," he said.

I am happy to support the party on economic and governance policies and have continued to do so. But I was very surprised to receive your letter and discover that you have released it to the media as well," he added.

The disagreement between Sahu and Sinha occurred shortly after Sinha's son, Ashish Sinha, attended an INDIA bloc rally in Hazaribagh, fuelling speculation about his political intentions.
Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

When the Calcutta High Court said on Wednesday that the Muslim community was treated as a "commodity for political ends" by the West Bengal government which classified 77 classes of Muslims as backward between 2010 and 2012, it triggered a debate on appeasement and vote bank politics vis-a-vis social uplift of the real backward people.

The high court set aside the classification of 37 communities as Other Backward Classes (OBCs) under the West Bengal Backward Classes (Other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Act, 2012.

After the Calcutta High Court cancelled all Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificates issued in West Bengal after 2010, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went ballistic and said she "will not accept" the order, which will "take away the rights granted to the Tapashili community".



The court verdict also focussed on the use of the Muslim community in India for political gains.

Calcutta HC scraps all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal after 2010

According to media reports, the Court found the recommendation made by the West Bengal State Backward Class Commission in this regard to be not in accordance with the Constitutional value of impartial and secular reservation.

The high court statement suggests that the inclusion of Muslims in the OBC category was motivated by political considerations rather than genuine efforts to uplift the community. This implies that political parties may have exploited the issue of Muslim inclusion for electoral gain rather than addressing socio-economic disparities within the community.

The court's assertion that the inclusion of Muslims in the OBC category was for electoral gain implies that political parties may have strategically targeted Muslim voters by offering them OBC status. This suggests a manipulation of affirmative action policies for electoral advantage rather than a sincere effort to address the socio-economic backwardness of the Muslim community.



The court's statement could have legal and policy implications, especially regarding affirmative action policies and their implementation. It may prompt a reevaluation of the criteria for determining backwardness and eligibility for reservation benefits.

The ruling or opinion may have political repercussions, leading to debates on the role of identity politics and electoral strategies that target specific communities. It could also influence political discourse on secularism and minority rights.

The statement may spark discussions on the socio-economic status of Muslims in India and the effectiveness of government policies in addressing their concerns. It may also raise questions about the intersection of religion, caste, and politics in India's social fabric.

The statement from the Calcutta High Court regarding the inclusion of Muslims in the OBC category reflects broader debates around affirmative action, identity politics, and electoral strategies in India. It underscores the complexities of addressing socio-economic disparities and the need for nuanced approaches to policymaking and social justice.
Image Instagrammed by KKR

Mumbai/IBNS: Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner Shah Rukh Khan , who suffered a heat stroke after the first playoff match in the Indian Premier League (IPL), was discharged from the hospital and returned to Mumbai on Thursday.

He flew back to Mumbai with his wife Gauri Khan and children suhana and AbRam.

Earlier in an Instagram post, his manager Pooja Dadlani shared a health update and said the 'Jawan' actor was doing well.

"To all of Mr. Khan's fans and well wishers- he is doing well. Thank you for your love, prayers and concern," she wrote.

Actress Juhi Chawla, who is also the KKR co-owner and SRK's close friend, said the 58-year-old superstar will also attend the IPL final to be played between his team and either of Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals on Sunday.

Juhi told News 18, "Shah Rukh was not feeling too well last night but he is being attended to and was feeling much better this evening. God willing, he will soon be up, and in the stands on the weekend, cheering the team, as we play the finals."

After suffering a heat stroke, SRK was admitted to a hospital in Ahmedabad, where the temperature was as high as 45 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.

The actor's wife Gauri Khan visited the hospital shortly after the news of his ailment broke out.

Accompanied by his children, Suhana Khan and AbRam Khan, the King Khan greeted the audience following KKR's impressive win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, which secured their place in the IPL 2024 finals.

He even delighted his fans with his iconic pose amid chants of his name.
US President Joe Biden | Photo courtesy: Facebook/The White House

Washington/IBNS: The Palestine state should be achieved through negotiations and not by unilateral recognition, the United States said in response to the move by Ireland, Spain and Norway, media reports said.

Washington aired its opposition after the three European nations said they would recognise the Palestine state this month.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said, "I have not heard the logic for how it contributes, what I can tell you is we believe the only way that you are going to achieve a two-state solution that delivers for both Israelis and Palestinians is through direct negotiations between the parties."

"That's what we have been driving towards, and that's what a larger regional strategy is engaging Arab states to try to generate momentum in that direction," he added.

Earlier, the US' efforts to achieve a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine living alongside the West Bank failed after the 2007 civil war where the Hamas Islamist movement seized the coastal strip for the Palestine Authority which ruled the West Bank.

Israel counterattacked Gaza strip last year after the Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israel killing 1,200 people.

Meanwhile, the United States has warned Israel against its withholding of funds to the Palestinian authority that provides "basic goods and services to innocent people".

"I think it's wrong on a strategic basis because withholding funds destabilises the West Bank," Sullivan told reporters.
Are you looking for the perfect travel destination without breaking the bank? Look no further! Cambodia is here to solve that problem for you! Recently, Cambodias national flag carrier Angkor Air announced the launch of the first-ever direct flight services between Cambodia and India, commencing from June 16 onwards.

The flight will operate four times a week, connecting New Delhi and Phnom Penh, making the travel even more convenient. Keep reading to learn more about this beautiful Southeast Asian country.

livingnomads.com/Pinterest

Must-Visit Places To Check Out On Your Trip To Cambodia

Cambodia is a unique amalgamation of old-world charm and modern beauty with beautiful beaches, historical monuments, lively nightlife, and stunning countryside. Here are the country's top 6 attractions that you can visit:

1) Angkor Wat

tripsavvy.com/Pinterest

Built between 802 and 1432 by King Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat is a Hindu-Buddhist temple complex in Cambodia. One of the largest religious monuments, the complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Siem Reap. And, Angkor Wat must be on your bucket list whether you are a history buff or a religious devotee.



2) Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, is a beautiful French-style city known for its vibrant streets, epicurean restaurants, boho bars and riverfront with parks. In this sophisticated modern capital, you must explore Silver Pagoda, also known as the Temple of Emerald Buddha, and the National Museum of Cambodia.

3) Kirirom National Park

angkorfocus.com/Pinterest

Officially called Preah Suramarit-Kossamak Kirirom National Park, it is Cambodia's first officially designated national park. Nestled in the Elephant Mountains, the park is known for its for high-elevation pine forests and is one of the most visited travel spots in the country.



4) Banteay Srei

Popular among history buffs, Banteay Srei is a world-renowned Shiva temple built with red and pink sandstone. The temple is an architectural marvel and features exquisite sculptures and intricate stone carvings. The complex also includes modern amenities like a shopping and dining area, designated parking spots and an exhibition centre.

5) Sihanoukville

asiamastertours.com/Pinterest

Sihanoukville is a mesmerizing coastal town flanked by several beaches and tiny islands. A perfect getaway for city dwellers, the town is famous for having some of the best beaches in Cambodia. The tropical town is home to both rocky and sandy beaches and also offers a great escape to relax.



6) Kampot

Known for its pepper plantations and salt fields, Kampot reminds you of times gone by with its Colonial architecture. The quaint riverside town has several boutique resorts and backpacker retreats for you to enjoy peace and quiet in the lap of luxury.

Whether you are a solo traveller or someone planning a trip with family and friends, Cambodia is an ideal place to create memories for a lifetime. So, immerse yourself in nature's grandeur and travel to this beautiful country for your next vacation.

Also Read: Azerbaijan: 7 Reasons Why Indian Travellers Are Flocking To This Tourist Hotspot

For more on lifestyle, astrology and health from around the world please visit Indiatimes Lifestyle.






Demon Slayer Season 4: Attention all Demon Slayer fans! Gather 'round! The Hashira Training Arc has begun, and it's already exceeding expectations! In the first two episodes alone, we've witnessed some jaw-dropping developments. Picture this: a bulked-up Tanjiro taking center stage, and tantalizing glimpses into Muzan's next moves. With each passing moment, the plot thickens, leaving us on the edge of our seats. Before you dive into the third episode, let's recap the thrilling events of the first two episodes of the Demon Slayer Hashira Arc.



Where to watch Demon Slayer Hashira Training Arc Episode 3

All episodes of 'Demon Slayer Season 4' will premiere on Netflix, Crunchyroll, and JioCinema. However, if you're watching on Netflix in India, expect each episode to drop a day after the specified release dates.



Demon Slayer Season 4 Episode Wise Release Date Schedule

Episode 1 - May 12, 2024 (Released)



Episode 2 - May 19, 2024 (Released)

Episode 3 - May 26, 2024

Episode 4 - June 2, 2024

Episode 5 - June 9, 2024

Episode 6 - June 16, 2024

Episode 7 - June 23, 2024

Episode 8 - June 30, 2024

Hashira Training Arc Episode 2: Recap

Titled Water Hashira Giyu Tomiokas Pain

Also read: Demon Slayer KNY Season 4: Recap, What To Expect From The Highly Anticipated Anime

Tanjiro found Giyu and immediately launched into a barrage of questions about Hashira training, pleading for Giyu to tell him. But Giyu flatly refused, his expression clouded with frustration. He couldn't shake the disappointment that the young DS hasnt mastered Water Breathing, the hallmark of a potential Water Hashira.

After persistent pestering, Giyu relented, finally sharing the heavy burden weighing on his mind. He confided in Tanjiro about his own failure: the Final Selection. At just 13, he had braved the trial alongside Sabito, a fellow disciple of Urokodaki. Sabito, with his kindness and unwavering sense of justice, had fought valiantly during the Selection. Yet, despite his efforts and sacrifices, he fell to a formidable demon lurking in the dark forest.



Giyu, too, suffered in that trial. A blow to the head rendered him unconscious, and when he awoke, it was over. He technically passed, but doubts gnawed at him. He wondered if he truly earned that success or if it was merely luck. These doubts shadowed his every step, leaving him feeling unworthy of his title as Water Hashira.

(Info credits: Crunchyroll)

Also read: Demon Slayer Season 4: Release Date, Total Episodes, Where To Watch And What To Expect

Hashira Training Arc Episode 3: What to expect

According to Screenrant, Tanjiro's wounds from the Swordsmith Village arc will be completely healed in the forthcoming third episode. He will be able to take part in the much anticipated Hashira Training bits now that he is back to his healthy self. Many fans are eager to see the amazing hero return in action because Tanjiro has been recovering after pushing himself to the brink during the previous demon confrontations. Demon Slayer's Hashira Training Arc appears to be one of the most intriguing seasons to date, even after two episodes.

Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc Episode 3 is titled "Fully Recovered Tanjiro Joins the Hashira Training!!"

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Movies Releasing This Week: This week offers an exciting lineup of new movies in different genres, promising something for everyone who loves films. Hollywood features a mix of big-action movies, touching dramas, and exciting adventures. Bollywood brings lively musicals, interesting stories, and famous stars. South Indian cinema also stands out with its great storytelling, intense action scenes, and rich culture. Whether you want a Hollywood blockbuster, a Bollywood musical, or a thrilling South Indian film, there's something for everyone in theatres this week.

Upcoming Movie Releases: From Bhaiyya Ji To CD (Criminal Or Devil)

Movie Releasing This Week Release Date Genre Language Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga May 23, 2024

Action/Adventure English Bhaiyya Ji May 24, 2024 Action/Crime Drama Hindi Barah By Barah May 24, 2024 Drama Hindi Mandakini May 24, 2024 Comedy Drama Malayalam Dandupalayam May 24, 2024 Crime Thriller Tamil CD (Criminal Or Devil) May 24, 2024 Drama Thriller Tamil The Heist May 24, 2024 Action Comedy Suspense Thriller Hindi

1. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Poster Of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga/X

George Miller is back with a prequel to "Mad Max: Fury Road." Anya Taylor-Joy stars as Furiosa, with Chris Hemsworth joining the cast in this action-packed origin story of the fierce warrior.

2. Bhaiyya Ji

A story of vengeance and protecting one's family, this film also celebrates Manoj Bajpayee's 100th career milestone. The teaser suggests a gripping story where attempts on a man's life result in surprising twists. Directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, the film promises intense drama and deep family emotions.

3. Barah By Barah

Poster Of Barah By Barah/X

The film follows the struggles of Gyanendra Tripathi (Sooraj), the last remaining death photographer in the ancient city of Varanasi, who captures the final moments of the deceased at Manikarnika Ghat.



4. Mandakini

Poster Of Mandakini/IMDb

"Mandakini" is a Malayalam comedy-thriller drama directed by Vinod Leela that traces the story of Aromal and Ambili, who tie the knot, but an unexpected event on their wedding night throws the whole family into turmoil. The film stars Altaf Salim and Anarkali Marikkar in key roles. Penned by the director, it is produced by Sanju Unnithan under Spire Productions. Shiju M. Baskar handles the cinematography, while Bibin Ashok composes the musical score.



5. Dandupalayam

Poster Of Dandupalayam/IMDb

Inspired by real events involving the infamous Dandupalayam gang, this Tamil-language film reveals shocking details of over 350 thefts, 150 murders, and 90 attempted rapes.



6. CD (Criminal Or Devil)

Poster Of CD (Criminal Or Devil)/IMDb

Actress Adah Sharma, known for her roles in "The Kerala Story" and "Bastar," is set to return to Telugu cinema with this new psychological horror thriller. The film is directed by Krishna Annam and produced by SSCM Productions. This film marks Adah's comeback to straight Telugu films.



7. The Heist

This one is about former FATF agent Ananya meeting a master con artist named Neel on the Dark Web. They team up to steal money from a billionaire criminal and mess up his smuggling operations.

Also Read: Movies Releasing This Month: From Srikanth To Kartam Bhugtam, Here's The May 2024 List

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
The only Indian who has stolen the limelight from big celebrities like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Kiara Advani, social media influencer Nancy Tyagi is over the moon. She has not only received accolades from stars like Sonam Kapoor and Rhea Kapoor, but she has also finally won her father's heartfelt support.

'My father didn't support my work at all': Nancy Tyagi

X

How a UPSC aspirant became a social media influencer with 1.6 million followers

Do you know Nancy Tyagi was a UPSC aspirant who became a social media influencer by chance? Leaving her hometown, a small village called Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, she had come to Delhi to prepare for UPSC but then lockdown happened. As her financial condition started deteriorating, she bought a camera with the leftover money and started making videos. When her dance videos didn't work, she started stitching using her mother's sewing machine. She then thought of uploading these videos on social media. Her brother would record her 'outfit from scratch' videos in which she recreated outfits of popular celebrities. Initially, she didn't get enough traction on her videos. She got trolled and body-shamed a lot.

Also Read: Did Nancy Tyagi Pay Lakhs To Be At Cannes? Here's How Much Influencers Pay To Walk The Red Carpet

Her mother used to work at a coal factory, and her father who stayed back in the village was a TV technician. Initially, no one supported her. Not just her relatives, even her father who didn't understand the social media world, didn't support her.

"Initially, my dad didnt support my work at all, but now he does, so now I feel stress free. Things have changed a lot after my popularity on social media. And after Cannes, papa ne yeh realise kiya ki videos bana kar bhi insaan bada ban sakta hai," she was quoted as saying by HT.



A TV technician, now Nancy Tyagi's father says he feels proud of her daughter

Also Read: 'Better Than Professional Designers', Nancy Tyagi Makes A Dramatic Outfit For Her Third Look At Cannes 2024

Her father, Gajendra Singh, a TV technician in Barnawa village, said, "I have never travelled beyond Delhi in my life but my daughter made it abroad. She worked really hard despite the criticism and achieved what she wanted."



For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who is currently unwell and hospitalised, had a touching moment with a special fan that is gaining widespread attention. Despite feeling under the weather after an IPL match, Shah Rukh was present in Ahmedabad to witness the Kolkata Knight Riders' exciting win, securing their place in the IPL final. Unfortunately, the following day, he was admitted to KD Hospital due to severe dehydration.



Unwell SRK's Meeting With Specially-Abled Man Goes Viral

After the match yesterday, even though Shah wasnt feeling well, he met with a specially-abled fan and took pictures with him. No media ppl around, but the same kindness and humility as always @iamsrk  pic.twitter.com/vGjqplnsg4  Samina  (@SRKsSamina_) May 22, 2024

While Shah Rukh was in the hospital, the video of him meeting the specially-abled fan started circulating on social media. Despite his tiredness and being accompanied by his team, Shah Rukh took the time to meet the fan, posing for a photo and even sharing a hug.

When Was This Viral Video Shot?

Shah Rukh Khan, a co-owner of the team, attended the IPL 2024 match on May 21. He walked around the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad with his son AbRam and daughter Suhana Khan, thanking fans for their support. His presence briefly interrupted the live coverage by Aakash Chopra, Parthiv Patel, and Suresh Raina for JioCinema.

Shah Rukh's close friend and fellow KKR co-owner, Juhi Chawla, provided an update on his health this morning. She, along with her husband and Shah Rukh's wife, visited him in the hospital. Juhi assured fans that Shah Rukh is improving and hopes to be back in action to support KKR in the IPL final. She expressed confidence that Shah Rukh will be cheering for the team from the stands soon, as he is expected to recover in time for the big match on Sunday.

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan Health Update: Juhi Chawla Says The Actor Is Feeling Much Better

As news of the 57-year-old actor's hospitalisation spread, fans gathered at the multi-specialty hospital on the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar highway, prompting the police to step in to manage the crowd.



Picture Of Shah Rukh Khan /PTI

Shah Rukh Khan had a great year in 2023 with movies like "Jawan." Now, his fans are excited for his next movie called "King," which will star his daughter, Suhana Khan.



For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


The Tamil crime thriller film "Dandupalyam" is all set to release tomorrow, and eager fans are buzzing with anticipation. But before you actually book your tickets for the film, do you know that the film is based on real-life events? The film is all about the dark underbelly of crime, sparking curiosity among audiences who watched the trailer about its authenticity.

Is "Dandupalyam" A Real Story?

Real Picture of The Dandupalyam Gang/Deccan Chronicle

The movie's name itself is inspired by "The Dandupalya Gang," also known as the Dandupalyam Gang or simply Dandupalya, a notorious criminal gang operating in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. The gang gained infamy for its involvement in a series of gruesome crimes, including robberies, burglaries, murders, and even rape, primarily in and around the Dandupalya area near Hoskote, a town in the Bangalore Rural district.

The gang was infamous for its ruthlessness and brutality in the 1990s and early 2000s. They targeted vulnerable individuals and households, often preying on the weaker sections of society. The gang's modus operandi typically involved gaining entry into homes under the pretext of seeking assistance or employment, only to perpetrate heinous crimes once inside.

Still From Dandupalayam Trailer/YouTube

One of the most infamous incidents associated with the Dandupalya gang was the mass murder of a family in the Dandupalya village in 1997. This incident shocked the nation and brought widespread attention to the gang's activities.

Also Read: Movies Releasing This Week: From Bhaiyya Ji To CD (Criminal Or Devil)

Over the years, the Dandupalya gang members were arrested and prosecuted for their crimes. However, the gang's notoriety continued to linger, with several movies and books inspired by their exploits. The gang's activities also sparked debates on law enforcement, criminal justice, and social issues such as poverty and marginalization, which are often cited as contributing factors to the rise of such criminal elements.

The Dandupalya gang's legacy serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by organized crime and the importance of effective law enforcement and social interventions in addressing such threats to society.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Dry Days in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad due LS 2024: The Lok Sabha elections 2024 in Delhi and Haryana for 2024 are all set to take place on May 25, and the results will be out on June 4. On the same day, Haryana and New Delhi will also have their elections, which is the sixth phase. Other states voting in this phase include Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. In the last two general elections in 2014 and 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won all the seats in Delhi and Haryana.



To prepare for Phase 6 of the Lok Sabha Election 2024, officials have announced a dry day alert in Delhi-NCR. Liquor shops in Delhi, Gurugram, and Faridabad will be shut for two days to make sure the election process goes smoothly and peacefully. This means no liquor will be sold during this time.

Dry Day Schedule:

Start: 6 PM on May 23

End: 6 PM on May 25

Dry Days in Haryana

Liquor Shops | Photo: BCCL

Haryana, including cities like Gurgaon and Faridabad, will observe dry days from 6 PM on May 23 to 6 PM on May 25. This is mandated by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to maintain public order and ensure a fair election process.



The ECI has directed that all wine shops and bars in the affected and adjacent constituencies must remain closed during the dry day period. "All wine shops and bars will be closed on polling day to maintain public order," stated the ECI directive. This measure is crucial for preventing disruptions during the elections.

The prohibition starts at 6 PM the day before voting and ends at 6 PM on the voting day. This measure is to prevent any attempts to influence voters with free liquor.

Dry Days in Delhi

According to the excise department, liquor stores and other licensed premises in Delhi will be closed nearly 48 hours before the end of the poll, from 6 PM on May 23 to 6 PM on May 25. Additionally, liquor will not be sold on June 4, the vote-counting day for the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Dry Day on June 4

In addition to the pre-election dry days, liquor shops will also be closed on result day, June 4. This additional dry day is to ensure that the announcement of the election results occurs without any disruptions or incidents related to alcohol consumption.

As the election date approaches, all political parties have named their candidates for four of the seven seats they will contest in Delhi  East Delhi, South Delhi, New Delhi, and West Delhi. However, the Congress is still to finalise its candidates for the remaining three seats  North East Delhi, Chandni Chowk, and North West Delhi.

With the election on the horizon, political parties are ramping up their campaigns, engaging with voters across Delhi. The results will not only decide Delhi's political landscape but also influence the national discourse, underscoring the significance of the capital as a pivotal battleground for all parties.

These measures are part of the broader efforts to ensure that the Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 6 is conducted in a fair, free, and peaceful manner. Authorities believe that restricting the sale of alcohol during this crucial period will help minimise any potential for disturbances and allow citizens to participate in the democratic process without any hindrance.

Stay informed about the dry day alert in Delhi-NCR and plan your activities accordingly to avoid any inconvenience. Remember, liquor shops closed for two days in Delhi, Gurugram, and Faridabad will help ensure a smooth and orderly election day on Saturday, May 25.
Vivek Ramaswamy's Net Worth: The famous biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has dropped out of the 2024 US presidential race and is endorsing former President Donald Trump. This decision has left many of his supporters wondering about the reasons for his departure from the race. Despite his initial promise as a candidate, Ramaswamy failed to make a significant impact, finishing at the bottom of the ranks in the Iowa caucus. He secured the last position, behind the twice-impeached former president as well as competitors Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley.

Who is Vivek Ramaswamy?

Vivek Ramaswamy is well-known in both politics and business. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Indian immigrant parents. His father, V. Ganapathy Ramaswamy, studied at the National Institute of Technology, Calicut, and worked as an engineer and patent attorney for General Electric. His mother, Geetha Ramaswamy, studied at the Mysore Medical College & Research Institute and worked as a geriatric psychiatrist.

Ramaswamy went to public schools until eighth grade, then attended St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, a Jesuit Catholic school, where he graduated as valedictorian in 2003.

Vivek Ramaswamy: How A Startup Prodigy Built His Billion-Dollar Empire | AP

In 2007, Ramaswamy graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in Biology. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Harvard Political Union, where he served as president.

Known for his bold and confident libertarian views, Ramaswamy performed Eminem covers and libertarian-themed rap music under the name "Da Vek" while at college. He also interned at the hedge fund Amaranth Advisors and the investment bank Goldman Sachs. His senior thesis on the ethical issues of creating human-animal chimeras won him a Bowdoin Prize.

In 2011, Ramaswamy received a fellowship from the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, which he used to attend Yale Law School. By then, he was already wealthy, with a net worth of about $15 million. He became friends with future U.S. Senator J.D. Vance at Yale and earned a Juris Doctor in 2013.

READ ALSO: Inside Anand Mahindra's Billion-Dollar Empire

Vivek Ramaswamys Career

Vivek Ramaswamy's Business Trajectory: A Journey of Diversity and Impact Vivek Ramaswamy's career in the business world is marked by remarkable diversity and significant impact. From fostering entrepreneurial aspirations among students to transforming the biotech industry and redefining investment paradigms, Ramaswamy's journey exemplifies his prowess as a multifaceted entrepreneur.

In 2007, he co-founded Campus Venture Network to connect university students with entrepreneurial aspirations. This early venture showcased his commitment to fostering innovation. Transitioning to the financial sector, Ramaswamy thrived at QVT Financial from 2007 to 2014, co-managing the firm's biotech portfolio. His move to biotechnology came with the founding of Roivant Sciences in 2014. Through Roivant, he pioneered an innovative strategy of acquiring patents for underdeveloped drugs and successfully bringing them to market.

His entrepreneurial spirit continued with the launch of Strive Asset Management in 2022, where he set a unique "anti-woke" and "anti-ESG" tone in the investment landscape. Ramaswamy's journey remains a compelling narrative of adaptability and impact.



Vivek Ramaswamy's Net Worth

Ramaswamys wealth comes from Roivant Sciences, a drug-development company that went public in 2021. In August 2023, Forbes estimated his net worth at over $950 million (Rs 7,900 crore in Indian rupees), mainly from biotech and financial businesses.

READ ALSO: Exploring Sundar Pichai's Luxurious Mansion And Multimillion-Dollar Net Worth



Vivek Ramaswamy's wife

In a video shared on X, Ramaswamy's wife, Apoorva, recounted their first meeting. She said, "I was in my first week of med school and Vivek was a law student. It was a party, probably the last party I went to. I saw Vivek there, and he seemed the most interesting person in the room, so I introduced myself. He was not that interested and actually walked away." The crowd laughed at this. She added, "Later that night, we ran into each other again. We realised how much we had in common and that we were neighbours. We've been together ever since."



Vivek Ramaswamy Net Worth: How A Startup Prodigy Built His Billion-Dollar Empire | Vivek Ramaswamy Wife

Vivek added that his parents taught him that "who you marry matters," a value they now pass on to their own children. He stated, "Neither of us grew up in economic privilege, but we had the ultimate privilege of having two parents in the house, focusing on education and belief in God. We are trying to give our two sons the same upbringing in Ohio. I see no reason why every kid in this country shouldn't have a chance to enjoy that privilege too, and that's part of the example we want to set as a family in the White House."

Ramaswamy, 38, is from southwest Ohio. His mother was a geriatric psychiatrist and his father worked as an engineer at General Electric. His parents migrated to the US from Kerala.

Ramaswamy's campaign gained attention, and he has risen in GOP primary polls, though he still trails behind Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here


In a major boost to India's space mission, the country could soon have an astronaut at the International Space Station (ISS). US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has said America will send an Indian astronaut to the ISS by the end of this year. We are going to put an Indian astronaut into the International Space Station this year," he said on Wednesday.

Promised to Modi in 2023

We promised when PM (Narendra) Modi came (to the US in 2023) that by the end of this year, we will do this and our mission is still on track to be able to go into space this year, he added.

PTI

Garcetti further said that the NISAR project, a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is also likely to be launched by the end of the year.

Also read: International Space Station Will Be Visible To Naked Eyes

What is ISS

The ISS, which was launched in 1998, is a joint mission of five space agencies - NASA (US), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).

The ISS is larger than a six-bedroom house with six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym, and a 360-degree view bay window and can accommodate a maximum of eight crew members at a time.

ESA

Astronauts and cosmonauts stationed at the ISS also regularly conduct spacewalks for space station construction, maintenance, and upgrades.

Also read: International Space Station Captures Breathtaking View Of Bengaluru

Sunita Williams on ISS

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams has spent a total of 322 days on the ISS during her two missions. With 50 hours and 40 minutes, she is second on the list of total cumulative spacewalk time by a female astronaut.

In November 2023, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson had said that the agency would train an Indian astronaut for a voyage to the ISS.

Indians who have been to space

So far, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma is the only Indian citizen to travel in space. Sharma, an Indian Air Force pilot, flew aboard the USSR's Soyuz T-11 in April 1984 as part of the Interkosmos program and stayed in space for 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes.

LINKEDIN

Aviator Gopi Thotakura is set to become the second Indian to venture into space and the first space tourist from the country aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin's NS-25 mission.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
A group of scientists from Cardiff University has developed a unique craft beer using extracts from the body of Africanised honey bees also known as the African killer bees. They used brewers yeast that resided in the gut microbiome of killer honeybees in Namibia and applied it to develop what they are calling The Killer Bee Beer.

Side project

According to a release issued by the University, the Killer Bee Beer was developed as a fun side project during a wider Pharmabees study.

"Our Killer Bee Beer is a fun side project to our wider Pharmabees studies. Our research into bees is uncovering how honey, beeswax and other bee biproducts can play a role in solving some of the worlds biggest challenges  including tackling antibiotic resistance and superbugs," Les Baillie, Professor of Microbiology at Cardiff University, said.

Also read: Guess What Honey Bees Use To Repel Giant Hornet Invaders

Unsplash

As part of the project, microbiologists from Cardiff University visited Namibia and became interested in the Africanised honey bee.

When we got back to Cardiff, we used the isolated killer bee brewers yeast, along with yeast from Welsh honey bees, to make several batches of beer, Baillie said.

What are African honey bees

The African honey bee is a hybrid produced by crossbreeding of the East African lowland honey bee with various European honey bee subspecies. They are extremely aggressive and have enough sing to kill horses, humans, and other large animals.

Also read: Swarm Of Honey Bees Attack Funeral Procession In Bengaluru

ATOZ ANIMALS

For the study, numerous bee hives were placed around Cardiff University, as well as specific plants, to encourage the production of super-honey and aid the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences' superbug research.

ATOZ ANIMALS

Can you buy killer bee beer

The Killer Beer aims to combine scientific understanding of microbiology and Cardiffs research into bee-related products to produce something unique. The scientists are now looking for a brewer to collaborate with to bring the killer bee beer to market, with proceeds helping to support bee research in Wales, the University said.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
If you're feeling down around the middle of the week, here's a video that will lift your spirits. A small kid with Down syndrome came onto the field as shouts rang around a crowded stadium in the Netherlands. What occurred next was nothing short of heartwarming, Good News Movement released a video of the episode on X (previously Twitter).

What did the boy with Down syndrome do?

The young athlete dribbled the ball down the field | Image: X

With determination in his eyes, the young athlete dribbled the ball down the field. He sent the ball soaring with a quick kick and scored a goal to tremendous acclaim. Enthralled by the boy's accomplishment, the Groningen stadium exploded in a symphony of cheers, applause, and happy tears.'



Also read: King's Guard Shocks The Internet, Breaks Protocol For Tourist With Down Syndrome

"Young athlete with Down syndrome scores a goal in front of a packed house at the @fcgroningen professional stadium!," the caption of the post read.

Where was the boy playing?

According to the caption the boy was playing in a Netherlands stadium | Image: X

According to the caption the boy was playing in a Netherlands stadium. Meanwhile, the small child was happy, celebrating the moment on the field. It's so sweet that you'll want to watch it repeatedly. Such films frequently appear on social media, making people shed happy tears.



Also read: Best Birthday Gift Ever! Sisters Sing For Brother With Down Syndrome On His 60th B-Day

Last year, the Good News Movement published a video of a small girl's surprise after receiving a stunning gift. A mother presented a wig to a girl with Down syndrome, who had alopecia. The little girl was overjoyed with her gift and smiled like a million bucks.

How did people on the internet react?

The video received thousands of views, with social media users leaving heart emojis in the comments.

A user wrote, "Let there be encouragement, light, care and happiness! Such a wonderful act."

Another added, "A win all around!." Check the viral video here.

Young athlete with down syndrome scores a goal in front of a packed house at the @fcgroningen professional stadium! 



(Groningen, Netherlands) pic.twitter.com/VW4d1ExELu  GoodNewsMovement (@GoodNewsMVT) May 19, 2024

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

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Trust the internet to make anything and everything go viral! Recently, a UK brewery Mitchell Brewing Co made headlines. Why, you ask? Well, for a freshly brewed beer of course! However, it wasn't the taste of the drink that got everyone talking but the name of the beer.



Called Osama Bin Lager, it soon skyrocketed to fame which was obviously a perk for the brewery as the beer started selling out faster.

All You Need To Know About Osama Bin Lager

The company's website describes it as their "most popular production," labeling it a "light, refreshing lager with a hint of citrus taste." Its label features a cartoon caricature of the Al Qaeda leader, who was killed in 2011.

Co-owners Luke and Catherine Mitchell are busy managing the high demand, even temporarily shutting down their website and unplugging their phones.

Several pictures of the beer were posted on social media.

"We've woken up the last couple of mornings with thousands and thousands and thousands of notifications," Mitchell told the BBC. "It's been crazy. The phone just hasn't stopped for the last 48 hours," his wife added.

Also Read: Sanjay Dutt's Whisky Glenwalk Records 3X Sales Surge In A Year; What's The Price Per Bottle?

Osama's Got Company!

Beyond the brews, their pub brims with laughter and camaraderie as patrons sip on quirky selections like Kim Jong Ale, Putin Porter, and the notorious Osama Bin Lager. Co-owner Mitchell describes these tongue-in-cheek names as a lighthearted take on infamous dictators.

Mr Mitchell said that people laugh when they see the names of the drinks. "Everyone laughs when they see the names on the bar. As far as I'm aware, no one's been offended, but I'm sure there is someone out there," he added.

"I think there's always a risk of somebody being offended," Mrs Mitchell continued.

Despite the eyebrow-raising names, the Mitchells emphasize their charitable endeavors. They donate GBP 10 for every barrel of 'Osama Bin Lager' sold to support victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Mitchell noted, "As far as I'm aware, no one's been offended, but I'm sure there is someone out there."

Also Read: Thirsty Times Ahead! Bengaluru Braces For Beer Shortage, Pubs Consider Ending Weekend Offers
The Attica Security police on Thursday announced the takedown of an international criminal gang importing large quantities of cocaine from Latin America for illegal distribution in Europe. Police said the drugs

were transported by sea , concealed in containers, and sold in European countries, including Greece, for extremely high illegal profits.

The criminal organisation was busted through collaboration with the DEA Office at the U.S. Embassy in Athens, the Hellenic Police special counterterrorism unit and the narcotics squad of the 3rd Piraeus Customs Office, with assistance from the SDOE and coastguard narcotics and smuggling squads.

According to the announcement, it was the culmination of an investigation lasting several months, using analysis, cross-checking of evidence and other methods to uncover the operational structure of the gang, whose operations allegedly garnered profits exceeding five million euros, and the role of each of its members.

Police have identified a 48-year-old man as the alleged leader, responsible for securing the drugs and for financing their purchase and transfer, a 36-year-old allegedly in charge of recruiting the other members, a 64-year-old man put in charge of communicating with other members of the organisation based abroad, as well as a 54-year-old in charge of protecting the 48-year-old and taking measures to avert his arrest.

The 48-year-old was arrested during a police raid on Wednesday morning, during which 210.3 kilos of cocaine were found in his possession. In a further search of residences and cars, police found another 510 grammes of cocaine, 131,675 euros, a loaded gun, ammunition and other evidence.

Police also noted that the 48-year-old faces an outstanding sentence of 20 years imprisonment and fine imposed on him in 2017, after he was found guilty of installing and operating a workshop producing the synthetic drug Captagon.

The 64-year-old, meanwhile, had served a prison sentence in the US for the transfer of weapons from Europe.

Police are continue to investigate the extent of the gang's activities and possible links with similar organisations, as well as to identify possible additional members.

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Theis the pinnacle of Greeces summer cultural calendar , celebrated annually with a rich legacy spanning over 60 years. This years festival promises an impressive lineup with 93 productions over 85 days, featuring around 2,500 performers and creators from across the globe
Lucy Frazer has emphasised the need for Greece to acknowledge the United Kingdom's ownership of the Elgin Marbles before any consideration of a loan agreement.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated that he will keep contesting for the Nigerian presidency as long as he is in good health.

He also remarked that he was inspired by the narrative of previous American President Abraham Lincoln, who had to run for president several times before being elected.

He said this during an interview on the Hausa service of the Voice of America in Abuja.

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Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy,

The 77-year-old was the Peoples Democratic Partys presidential candidate in both the 2019 and 2023 elections.

He lost against former President Muhammadu Buhari and current President Bola Tinubu in 2019 and 2023, respectively.

Atiku, who was former President Olusegun Obasanjos vice president from 1999 to 2007, will be 81 years old when the next presidential election is held in 2027.

Despite his age, the former vice president stated that he will keep contesting for the number one position till his health allows it.

READ MORE: FG Bans Money Ritual, Smoking Scenes In Nollywood Movies

Even the former US President Abraham Lincoln contested seven times before finally winning, he said.

However, given the current state of the PDP, it is clear that a single-handed effort will not suffice to win the election. Strong support and collaboration with other parties are required.
The Spokesperson of the Lagos State Police command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, hailed car dealer for raising alarm over a stolen vehicle.

Benjamin, in a tweet via his X page, titled: Be Like Nonso, narrated a story of a Lagos based car seller, identified as Nonso, who called the attention of a vehicle owner, after two men, suspected to be thieves, Galadima Adamu and Abubakar Lawal brought the Toyota Highlander to be sold at N3million.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that Nonso, reportedly called the owners number, written on the cars documents and checked for confirmation.

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READ MORE: Lagos Police Nab Man While Allegedly Vandalising, Stealing Cables At Midnight

The tweet reads: Be like Nonso!

Nonso (not real name) is a car dealer. One day, Galadima Adamu and Abubakar Lawal brought a Toyota Highlander to Nonso, offering to sell it for N3 million.

Nonso called the number on the vehicle documents for confirmation, which led to the discovery that the men are the driver and security guard of the owner of the vehicle.

They had indeed stolen the car some days earlier. Vehicle has been recovered, suspects in custody and prosecution follows.

Nonso is a smart man. Be like Nonso!
The embattled Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, has announced that he remains the leader of the assembly.

Ayambem statement is coming, following report over his impeachment by some members of the house who earlier signed a notice of impeachment to him.

It was gathered that the motion for his removal was moved on the floor of the House by a member representing Calabar South 1, Effiong Ekarika, and seconded by Charles Omang.

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Reacting to the development, Ayambem declared the process null and void in a statement made available by his Chief Press Secretary, Matthew Okache, on Wednesday night.

The speaker alleged that Akarika, who moved the motion of his impeachment, disrupted the session by inviting hoodlums to enter the chamber.

The statement reads: The Cross River State House of Assembly has been alerted to false news reports that the Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, has been impeached.

To be clear, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly is, without a doubt, Elvert Ayambem.

READ MORE: Cross River Assembly Impeaches Speaker Over Alleged Misconduct

He is in the current position. What happened earlier today (Wednesday) during the plenary, when Effiong Akarika, a member representing Calabar South 1, disrupted the session by inviting hoodlums to enter the chamber, is a ridiculous charade with no constitutional basis.

The House of Assembly is not aware of any impeachment notices being served to anyone before the frivolous act as witnessed at the chambers.

The alleged impeachment and replacement are speculative, and the general public is urged to disregard fake news and dismiss any notion of a crisis. The status quo is that Elvert Ayambem is the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, on Thursday, announced the appointment of Muhammadu Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano.

Former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje had dethroned Sanusi in 2020.

With the full support of the kingmakers, I have approved the reappointment of Malam Sanusi Lamido, the Governor said at the Art Chamber of the State

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He made the announcement after signing the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 into law.

The new law replaces the Kano State Emirates Council Law, 2019, and dissolves the emirate councils created by Governor Yusufs predecessor, Ganduje.

It was based on the law that Ganduje split the Kano Emirate into five in December 2019 and deposed the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II on March 9, 2020.

READ ALSO: Kano Assembly Dissolves Emirates Created By Ganduje

The Governor signed the law at exactly 5:10pm alongside his Deputy, the Speaker of the State Assembly and other principal officers in the government.

Yusuf also asked the Emirs who were removed following the return of Sanusi to leave the palaces within the next 48 hours.

Five emirs appointed by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje are the ones mainly affected by the order.

Ganduje had split Kano emirate into five and appointed an emir for each.

Among the newly created Emirates were Karaye, Gaya, Bichi and Rano.

Addressing a media briefing after signing the law, Governor Yusuf directed the sacked monarchs to vacate official residences and palaces and hand over to the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs within two days.
Yul Edochie, a Nollywood actor, has finally forgiven his late colleague Junior Pope.

Recall that on Tuesday, Yul Edochie had justified his absence from the late actors funeral, alleging that Junior Pope had repeatedly betrayed him during his lifetime, which led to their fallout.

Noting how that is life, he vowed to provide all of the specifics soon so that others might learn from him, but also cautioning people to be careful about what they desire for others.

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On his Instagram page on Wednesday, he declared that he had completely forgiven the late actor.

He did, however, express how severely hurt he was when a friend he adored, treated as a brother, stood for, and loved throughout the years, backstabbed him without remorse.

Unfortunately, that is the world we live in, as he pointed out that humans are filled with flaws.

Yul expressed his forgiveness for the late actor and wished his family the best.

READ MORE: I Was There For Him, Yet He Stabbed Me In The Back  Yul Edochie On Why He Didnt Mourn Junior Pope

He wrote,

Speaking about forgiveness. I forgive him completely. It hurts deeply when a friend you love, took like a brother, stood for and shown love over the years turns around to stab you in the back repeatedly without remorse.

Sadly thats the world we live. Humans are filled with flaws. To err is human, to forgive is divine.

I forgive him & wish his family the very best.

Yul also addressed a message to Nollywood and humanity, adding that he hopes this serves as a reminder that life is short and unpredictable.

He stated that none of us would be on this planet forever, and as such, we should restore love and unity because we gain nothing by bringing another person down.

He wrote,

Dear Nollywood & humanity, I hope this serves as a wake-up call. Life is short & unpredictable. None of us will be here forever. Let us bring back love and unity amongst us.

You gain nothing by trying to bring another person down.

The sky is big enough for all of us to fly.

When you see your fellow man to woman having issues, dont be that person who will add to the pain.

In this era of social media & monetized pages, resist the urge to use another persons pain to create content or to trend.

You have no idea the damage you cause each time you do it & in the end, the outcome may not be what you expected.

We real what we sow.

Let us bring back love & unity and be there for one another.

Everybody is passing through one thing or the other, rather than make fun of the person, call that colleague on the phone and ask, how can I help?

Let us kill hate with love.

Rest well brother.

You made your mark here.

May God be with your family, comfort them and grant them the strength to bear.

SEE POST:
The Labour Party (LP), on Wednesday, posited that the visit of Peter Obi, its 2023 presidential candidate, to the Partys National Chairman, Julius Abure, is proof that both men are on the same page in the quest to reconcile aggrieved Party leaders.

Obiora Ifoh, LPs National Publicity Secretary, said this in a statement issued in Abuja, while responding to an earlier statement issued by the media aide to the Obi Presidential Campaign Council, Yunusa Tanko.

Ifoh berated Tanko for attempting to twist the well-intentioned visit of Obi on Abure and the national leadership of the party.

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According to him, the Partys National leadership cherished Obis visit and described it as a positive wind blowing on the Party.

The statement reads, The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been called to a statement issued by the spokesperson to our National Leader, Peter Obi titled, Obi visits to LP, Reconciliatory, not endorsement.

Dr. Tanko Yinusa wherein he tried to twist the well intentioned visit of the Labour Partys presidential candidate on the leadership of the party.

As a party, we are pleased that our leader has chosen to reconcile all aggrieved members and stakeholders of the party.

READ ALSO: NAFDAC Bans Importation Of Caro White, Says Users Risk Endocrine Disruption

This noble step taken by Mr. Obi is in line with the call made by the Labour Partys National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure during his maiden press conference last week titled Triumphant Resumption of Abure led NWC wherein he pleaded with all the warring parties including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to sheath their swords and join in the rebuilding process in the party.

Peter Obis visit and speech on Tuesday during the FCT solidarity rally has been variedly described in some quarters as an endorsement on the Abure leadership being his very first visit after the successful National Convention of the party held in March.

But to us as a party, we cherish this visit on whatever nomenclature as a positive wind blowing on the party.

We believe that very soon, the reconciliatory efforts will be consummated and metamorphose into a political force that will usher in a government that will liberate Nigerians from the shackles of maladministration we are presently facing in the country.

We urge the NLC and its Political Commission to understand that we are not the foe, and to see us as an ally in the battle to rescue Nigeria.

They should emulate the Trade Union Congress, (TUC) which has shown greater understanding and willingness to partner with the Labour Party in our efforts to make a new Nigeria possible.
The Swehl billboard that was removed from Times Square earlier this month could be seen Wednesday near the corner of Fifth and Callowhill Streets in Philadelphia. Read more

Drivers near Callowhill Street in Philadelphia and on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Plymouth Meeting and Lower Southampton can now see a billboard that was, for a time, deemed too controversial for Times Square.

With pregnant belly out and breasts covered by her cookies, said to stimulate milk production, cookbook author Molly Baz poses with the words Just Add Milk in an advertisement for Swehl, a breastfeeding company that partnered with Baz on the recipe.

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Its incredible, said Elizabeth Myer, cofounder of the one-year-old start-up and a New Jersey native. Her family now lives in Philadelphia and has been texting her excitedly with images of the billboards.

Less than two weeks ago, the same image of Baz was removed by Clear Channel Outdoor, the operator of a Times Square billboard where the ad had been in the digital rotation for days.

The removal prompted swift backlash, with some, including Baz, saying it was a double standard that Times Square billboards often show racy lingerie ads yet censor images of pregnant women.

It also prompted companies like Keystone Outdoor Advertising, which owns dozens of billboards across the Philadelphia region, to offer free advertising, Myer said, in support of our message empowering moms and women to walk through the world as they choose.

The Cheltenham-based business is mom-owned, and they were absolutely incensed by this, said Myer, who called the response an example of moms supporting moms.

As an organization, we didnt find the Swehl x Molly Baz to be provocative at all. Quite the opposite, said Monica McGrail, marketing manager for Keystone, where 70% of executives and employees are women. Breastfeeding, lactation, and womens health content in general should be on everyones mind.

Since Monday, the Swehl ads have been shown on three rotating digital billboards across the region.

One is near Fifth and Callowhill Streets in Philadelphia, visible to drivers and pedestrians near Northern Liberties, as well as motorists heading west on the Vine Street Expressway. Another faces the eastbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Plymouth Meeting, past Route 23, according to Myer and McGrail, and a third can be seen on the turnpike westbound in Lower Southampton between the Route 1 and Route 611 exits.

Through the weekend, the ad will be on a constant loop with eight other advertisements at each of those locations, running for eight seconds at a time. Then for the next few weeks, Keystone will keep running the Swehl ads, free of charge, McGrail said, wherever they have unsold space.

Since the controversy, Swehl has also received free advertising in Los Angeles, where the company is based, and New York, where the probiotics company Seed has donated its Times Square billboard space for three weeks. Another company put the image on the side of a truck, Myer said, and drove it around New York for hours.

It was a really nice happy ending, a cherry on top, Myer said of the support. Everybody loves a David and Goliath story.
Chester Police investigate a fatal shooting at Delaware County Linen on West Fourth Street in Chester on Wednesday. A man whom Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer described as a "disgruntled employee" opened fire in the business, killing two of his coworkers and wounding three others, police said. Read more

A gunman took his anger out on five of his former coworkers at an industrial laundry and linen company in the city of Chester on Wednesday, killing two people and wounding three others as workers at the business began their morning shifts, Delaware County officials said.

The shooting was reported at 8:30 a.m. at Delaware County Linen on West Fourth Street in the citys West End, District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said, describing what happened as a shooting by a disgruntled former employee.

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Were here for an absolute tragedy, Stollsteimer said. This is a story that plays out too often in the United States of America.

The three surviving victims were taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center, where two were listed in critical condition Wednesday.

The gunman, who went to the business armed with a handgun, was arrested not long after near the intersection of Kane and Culhane Streets in Chester, after being stopped by an officer from nearby Trainer, Stollsteimer said.

He declined to identify the alleged killer at a morning news conference and did not provide a specific motive for the shooting. Stollsteimer also did not identify the victims, pending notification of their families.

Chester Mayor Stefan Roots said that one of the victims shot Wednesday was a supervisor at the business, but that persons condition was unclear.

Law enforcement sources and employees of the business confirmed that the gunman lived not far from where police took him into custody. He and his family had moved to the city from their native Puerto Rico in recent months.

An employee of Delaware County Linen who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of concern for his safety said Wednesday that the gunman was a recent hire, and had not been working at the business for long.

Murder charges will likely be filed against the suspect Thursday, along with related crimes, officials said, as prosecutors continue to investigate the shooting and attempt to locate victims families.

As many as 50 people were working Wednesday at Delaware County Linen, a family-owned business that has supplied towels and linens to hotels, restaurants and other clients in the region since 1988, employees said.

They described a working environment that lent itself to getting to know colleagues. In different sections, workers sorted, washed, and folded linens.

Older employees could become good friends with younger workers, they said, and most are Spanish speakers, with workers from Ecuador, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.

As for the alleged shooter, however, some employees struggled to remember personal details about him.

I dont know if he had friends, an employee of two years said in Spanish, declining to give her name out concern for her safety.

Other employees also struggled to recall how long the shooting suspect had worked there or whether he had had any problems on the job.

In the aftermath of the shooting, pockets of laundromat employees huddled behind police tape, comforting each other and waiting to tell police what they had seen. One of them stood crying uncontrollably holding her newborn, whom a babysitter had dropped off.

Im telling you, it was insanity, said the woman, who had worked there for a decade and asked not to be identified for safety reasons. Im telling you if I hadnt run.  He was coming after everyone like crazy, I didnt know where to go, but he went straight after two guys.

Sandra Castro, 19, a recent hire, said employees in the business were screaming, Hes killing them! Hes killing them! as gunfire rang out and they all bolted for the door.

In those chaotic moments, Castro said, she feared for her life. But she also worried about her sister, Esthe, 25, who was working at another washing machine. The two had separated as they fled from the gunfire, but later reunited.

I kept looking for her, the older sister said, holding back tears. I was just so happy when we found each other outside.

Roots and members of the Chester City Council arrived at the scene shortly before 11 a.m. after canceling their twice-monthly meeting, pledging to support the victims and the surrounding community.

Roots said he was frustrated that Chester, which he called a city challenged with violence, was the scene of morning gunfire.

Its heartbreaking. Its tragic. It has to stop, Roots said. Chester never expected to be the epicenter of another episode of workplace violence. Were a really tight-knit community, we all know each other, were family, and this is why it hurts for all of us.

A White House staffer reached out by email to lend support, said Roots.

City Council members said the Chester Community Coalition was working to reach victims and anyone else who witnessed the shooting. Police chaplains were being deployed to help survivors in need of spiritual support.

For Roots, what happened was a stark reminder of the prevalence of guns in America.

We dont want to see this happen over and over and over again, he said. We have to get stronger with our gun legislation. We cant have guns in the hands of the wrong people.

Still, the shooting came at a time when Chester has been experiencing a dramatic drop in gun violence.

The city once had one of the highest per capita homicide rates in the nation, but shootings and homicides dropped dramatically after the city formed a partnership with the Delaware County Gun Violence Task Force. Shootings fell from 119 in 2020 to 53 in 2022, while homicides declined from 32 to 19, according to Deputy District Attorney Matt Krouse, who oversees the task force.

Staff writers Ryan Briggs and Rob Tornoe contributed to this article.
Nehemiah Young-Graves has never seen his father outside of prison. The 22-year-old was born the day his dad was charged with taking part in a violent robbery in South Philadelphia  a crime in which two coconspirators also raped a woman  and he grew up watching as his father, Keith Graves, fought to prove his innocence.

On Wednesday, Young-Graves was inside a Center City courtroom as his fathers conviction was overturned. A judge agreed that the jurys guilty verdict could not stand because new evidence undercut the original theory of the case, and prosecutors said they were dropping all charges.

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Graves will likely be released from prison this week, possibly as soon as Wednesday evening.

Its surreal, Young-Graves said. Seeing my dad in the facility my entire life, and only really being able to hug him when I was little, its like a faint memory in my head. So this is something big.

Graves exoneration  which will free him from a sentence of 23 to 65 years  was years in the making. He had long insisted his conviction for the 2001 robbery was flimsy, and in 2017, a Common Pleas Court judge agreed.

Still, the judge, Teresa M. Sarmina, said she was unable to grant Graves appellate petition due to procedural issues, but she took the highly unusual step of writing to the District Attorneys Office and urging prosecutors to look into the case, saying [n]o one benefits from having innocent people in jail.

Prosecutors in the DAs Conviction Integrity Unit began reviewing the case in earnest in 2022, they said in court documents. And in January, Jessica Attie and Sara Cohbra, both assistant district attorneys, went to the State Correctional Institution-Dallas to interview a man imprisoned for an unrelated murder who had long been considered an alternate suspect in the robbery. Almost as soon as the prosecutors met the man, they said, he confessed, providing details that would have been nearly impossible to have known had he not been a participant, including where coconspirators were during the chaotic incident, and what role each of them played at various times.

The man became emotional, prosecutors wrote in court documents, asking them to apologize to Graves on his behalf, and saying he was sorry Graves had spent so much time in prison, away from his family.

Common Pleas Court Judge Scott DiClaudio said Wednesday that the level of detail in the mans confession was compelling, and he agreed to toss Graves conviction out. Prosecutors said they had almost no evidence left to retry Graves, and dropped all charges, securing his freedom.

David Rudovsky, one of Graves attorneys, said he was grateful that a two-decade fight for Graves release was finally over.

Weve now proven beyond any doubt that Mr. Graves was not involved and were grateful to the court for releasing him, Rudovsky said. Hes lost 20 years of his life which he should not have and were finally happy that hes been vindicated.

The crime for which Graves was convicted was a 2001 robbery at the Ten Spot Bar in South Philadelphia. At the time, police and prosecutors believed that Graves and two other men  Takay Taylor and his brother, David  entered around 1:40 a.m. with ski masks and guns, then ordered people to the ground and told them to hand over their valuables. The man initially identified as Graves took people to the basement, prosecutors said, while Takay Taylor and another coconspirator, Todd White, who had been in the bar posing as a patron before the robbery began, took a woman upstairs and raped her.

But prosecutors now say that the evidence implicating Graves was tenuous at best. Several witnesses said only that they heard a voice that sounded like Graves, prosecutors said, and the one witness to identify him as a participant gave a physical description of Graves that bore no resemblance to him.

In addition, prosecutors said, Takay Taylor and White said Graves was not involved, both before and after trial, although their statements were often inconsistent or conflicting.

Still, Graves was convicted, and for years his appeals were denied. And even though there were repeated efforts to interview the alternate suspect in the case, it wasnt until January that he confessed. Prosecutors, in court documents, didnt offer a theory about why he finally broke down.

With Graves now free, it appears unlikely that that man who confessed could be charged in his place. The statute of limitations for aggravated assault is just five years.

Still, prosecutors said in court documents that his confession may have other implications. Theyre reinvestigating the conviction of David Taylor, a fourth coconspirator whose connection to the crime they also said is limited. Prosecutors said the man who confessed told them David Taylor wasnt involved.

As for Graves, his sister, Donnamarie, 61, said she couldnt wait to hug him as a free man.

And Graves son, Young-Graves, said he planned to take his father out for a good meal  and begin the process of developing a relationship beyond the walls of a prison.

Ill take him anywhere he wants, Young-Graves said. Id love to get to know my dad. Thats going to be something interesting. A new adventure.
Drexel University will officially resume normal operations Thursday as the campus pro-Palestinian encampment heads into its fifth full day, president John Fry wrote in a letter to students and staff Wednesday evening.

It has been determined that we now have the personnel and systems in place to safely return to normal operations on the University City campus tomorrow, Fry wrote, noting that additional security measures will be put in place.

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All lectures and events on campus will be able to occur in person  save for those at the Korman Center, in front of which a mixture of Drexel students and community members have set up dozens of tents since Saturday night. That building will remain closed.

Fry has repeatedly condemned the encampment in letters to the Drexel community, writing on Monday that it has created a hostile, confrontational environment that has also placed added strain on Drexel Public Safety officers who have been called to patrol the surrounding area. The encampment compelled Drexel to move to remote learning for the first half of the week, Fry has said, and prompted the cancellation of several events.

 READ MORE: Drexel University president calls for campus pro-Palestinian encampment to disband immediately

I once again call on encampment protestors to disperse so that our community can return to normal, Fry wrote on Wednesday. I have heard from many concerned and frustrated members of our community over the last several days. I share your frustration and impatience, and am doing everything in my power to resolve this situation peacefully.

The encampment began on Saturday with about a dozen tents that protesters set up on the Korman Family Quad after a march from Center City commemorating the 74th anniversary of the Nakba, when Palestinians were expelled from Israel. It has since grown to contain about 35 tents and 75 people as of Wednesday night, police told The Inquirer Tuesday night.

Encampment members are demanding Drexel call Israels siege in Gaza a genocide and offer amnesty for student activists. The demands are the latest in a wave of campus protests in the United States that are calling on universities to publicize their endowments and divest them from corporations profiting off the war.

 READ MORE: Protesters descend on Drexel Universitys quad to erect a new encampment

In Mondays statement, Fry wrote that these demands have unacceptably targeted Jewish organizations on campus, as well as individual staff and faculty members.

Drexel administrators  including Vice President of Public Safety Mel Singleton  offered to meet with encampment organizers Tuesday, Fry wrote, but the group refused.

A spokesperson for the encampment, who declined to be named out of retaliation fears, said that characterization was false.

They gave us a time. We said we cannot make that specific time; we would love to meet at a separate time, the 19-year-old spokesperson said. There has been no communication since then.

The spokesperson declined to comment on why encampment members couldnt make the meeting.

Fry wrote on Wednesday that Drexel students participating in the encampment are violating the universitys code of conduct, and have been warned ... verbally, via emails, and posted signage that they are trespassing on University property and must disperse.

He also contended that the university will continue to take necessary steps to protect our community from individuals who may be bent on sowing chaos on our campus, noting that the encampment has become a rallying location for demonstrations in Philadelphia, including a peaceful one that took place Tuesday night.

 READ MORE: Swarthmore College will hold commencement off campus for first time since its founding in 1864

Drexel Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine has condemned Frys position, reiterating the rights of the protest to take place. The student protesters are not disrupting campus operations, the group wrote in a statement Monday, and claims about outside agitators have historically been used to delegitimize organized movements, particularly those driven by minoritized groups.

Drexels encampment is one of two remaining on college campuses in the Philadelphia area; students at Swarthmore College have had tents on campus for over a month. They continue to call on the liberal arts college to denounce the scholasticide in Gaza  where no universities remain  even as negotiations have devolved.

Another  albeit smaller  pro-Palestinian encampment also emerged in Clark Park in West Philadelphia on Wednesday, though its specific demands are unclear.

 READ MORE: https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/clark-park-pro-palestinian-encampment-philadelphia-protests-20240522.html

The two encampments in Philadelphia come on the heels of the University of Pennsylvania dismantling its own after three weeks of failed negotiations. During its removal, 33 protesters  including nine Penn students  were detained, and Penn has since sent letters to 24 people unaffiliated with the university banning them from campus.

Fry wrote that Drexel administrators are continuing to work with established students groups to have constructive dialogue about the ongoing crisis in Gaza. He did not name which ones.
Philadelphia and Drexel University police at the perimeter of a pro-Palestinian encampment as protestors left Drexel early Thursday. Read more

After dozens of Philadelphia police officers arrived at the scene on bikes just before dawn on Thursday, pro-Palestinian protesters abandoned their encampment on the Drexel University campus, evidently without incident or arrests.

The protesters quickly packed up their belongings  including multiple coolers, trash bags, and backpacks  after the officers showed up at the Korman Family Quad about 5:20 a.m. Within 25 minutes, a few folding chairs and tables, a plant, cardboard boxes, and bags were all that was left of what had been a 35-tent encampment.

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Protesters complied with police warnings to disperse peacefully, Drexel president John A. Fry  who called the groups demands repugnant and antisemitic  said in a statement Thursday morning.

In an Instagram post, encampment organizers countered that they had executed a planned strategic retreat.

Some of those who left the camp gathered briefly on the corner of 33rd and Market Streets, and a small crowd walked on 33rd Street hoisting a Palestinian flag and chanting Free, free Palestine.

For now, the encampment is closed, an organizer told The Inquirer, but otherwise protesters declined comment.

This was a difficult decision, but protesters left us no other choice, Fry said in a statement Thursday morning.

Drexel police had issued an order for the encampment to disband, and city police were on site to assist in enforcing the order, according to Philadelphia Police Sgt. Eric Gripp. The campers picked up their belongings for the most part and left by their own free will, Gripp said.

According to Frys statement, both Drexel security officers and city police were at the scene Thursday morning.

While Drexel University is committed to protecting the right of its community members to assemble peacefully and express their views, Fry said in the statement. I have the responsibility and authority to regulate campus gatherings in order to ensure everyones safety and well-being and to fulfill our mission to educate our students.

He said the encampment included a substantial number of protesters who were not affiliated with Drexel.

Protesters demanded that Drexel call Israels siege in Gaza a genocide and offer amnesty for student activists. The protesters also were calling for the termination of Drexels Hillel and Chabad, two Jewish campus organizations for students, according to their Instagram posts

In his statement, Fry cited the Instagram post and said that the protesters had harassed passersby and repeatedly verbally abused our public safety officers. He called the groups demands, which also included cutting ties with a Jewish faculty member and a Jewish member of a Drexel advisory board, repugnant and antisemitic.

The encampment was the latest in a wave of campus protests in the United States that are calling on universities to publicize their endowments and divest them from corporations profiting off the war.

The encampment began on Saturday with about a dozen tents that protesters set up on the Korman Quad after a march from Center City commemorating the 76th anniversary of the Nakba, when Palestinians were expelled from Israel. It then grew to contain about 35 tents and 75 people.

I expect to receive criticism from those who will argue that deploying police officers to end a protest encampment is both a disproportionate response to a nonviolent campus protest and a violation of the rights of individuals to express their views freely and to protest, Fry wrote. I respectfully disagree.

Meanwhile, about a mile west of the campus, no signs of protest were evident at Clark Park, where a cluster of tents in support of Gaza had appeared Wednesday, and Parks on Tap, the citys traveling beer garden, was set up for another night.

Inquirer staff writer Zoe Greenberg contributed to this article.
Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway (left) walks across campus with students and staff after hosting a Byrne Seminar called "Citizenship, Institutions, and the Public" at RutgersNew Brunswick in 2023. Holloway will testify before a congressional committee Thursday on his handling of antisemitism and speech related to the war in Gaza. Read more

Three more college presidents found themselves in an uncomfortable national spotlight Thursday at a congressional committee hearing on the handling of antisemitism on campus.

Unlike the charged exchanges that happened in December, after which two Ivy League presidents resigned, no viral moment seemingly emerged from this latest hearing, though calls for the resignation of one of the three  Michael Schill, president of Northwestern University  had begun making the rounds by the afternoon.

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For Rutgers University president Jonathan Holloway, the hearing offered a platform to defend the schools decision to negotiate an agreement with pro-Palestinian protesters who erected an encampment on campus, while reassuring lawmakers and others concerned about antisemitism that they also had his attention.

Even as the hearing was still going on, the university issued a news release saying it had notified Students for Justice in Palestine  the group involved in the encampment  that it had initiated a conduct process and that the groups alleged actions may have violated the terms of their current probation status. That step appears to be responding to a request from a group of Jewish faculty, administrators, and staff that called for the equal enforcement of campus policies against hatred, intimidation, and harassment.

 READ MORE: Rutgers faculty defend the university in advance of Thursdays GOP-led congressional hearing on antisemitism on campus

We were acting in the state of emergency in the case of the encampment, Holloway said during questioning. With [concerns about antisemitism], I will absolutely say we could have responded more quickly, more robustly, and we always will be trying to do better.

The university declined to comment further on the conduct process for the pro-Palestinians protesters; during testimony, Holloway said that cases were under investigation and that since Hamas Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel, four students had been suspended and 19 others disciplined in some other way.

 READ MORE: Rutgers president to testify before congressional committee probing antisemitism on college campuses

Critics have said the hearings, which feature indignant questions from lawmakers who often dont wait for witnesses to respond before moving to their next point, are largely political theater. During Thursdays more than three-hour hearing in Washington, Holloway, Schill  whose campus also negotiated an agreement with protesters  and Gene Block, chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles, were peppered with rapid-fire queries phrased as accusations. Both Schill and Block are Jewish and spoke of family members who survived the Holocaust. They were asked why they negotiated with the protesters, queried on what they have done to combat antisemitism on campus, and even shown videos, including one of a UCLA student being denied access to an area of campus by protesters, and asked to respond.

Each of you should be ashamed of your decisions that allowed antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R., N.C.), chair of the committee, said in her opening statement. Mr. Schill and Dr. Holloway, you should be doubly ashamed for capitulating to the antisemitic rule-breakers.

Holloway maintained that his university made the right choice when it decided against calling in law enforcement to end the encampment. He pointed out that the activists were not terrorists, as one lawmaker implied, but were students enrolled in the public university.

We made a choice: That choice was to engage our students through dialogue as a first option instead of police action, Holloway said at the hearing convened by the GOP-led Committee on Education and the Workforce. We had seen what transpired at other universities and sought a different way.

That point in particular was praised by several Democrats present at the widely streamed hearing, a highly partisan affair.

I really appreciate your focus on negotiation and a peaceful resolution and protecting all students, said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.).

Unlike the hearing in December when the presidents of the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology testified, there didnt seem to be one moment that stood out as particularly embarrassing for the presidents. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York who played a major role in the grilling last time, didnt have much involvement Thursday.

 READ MORE: Penn president Liz Magill has resigned following backlash over her testimony about antisemitism

At the December hearing, Liz Magill, then Penns president, and Claudine Gay, then president of Harvard, said it depended on the context when asked whether calling for the genocide of Jewish people represented a violation of their codes of conduct. Facing a backlash, both Gay and Magill resigned from their jobs in the aftermath.

One point emerged as a bit dicey for Holloway. He answered that he didnt have an opinion when asked whether he thought Israels government was genocidal.

I think Israel has a right to exist and protect itself, Holloway said.

Later in the hearing, when all three presidents were asked if they thought Israel was a genocidal state, Holloway, like the other presidents, unequivocally answered no.

Asked about the difference, Rutgers spokesperson Dory Devlin said: He clarified the response with the second statement.

Holloway, in his testimony, acknowledged the heavy impact that events in the Middle East have had on both Jewish and Palestinian communities at Rutgers, home to one of the largest populations of Jewish students and Muslim or Arab students in the nation.

We find ourselves here today because of the devastation that the Hamas terrorist attacks have wrought, he said. It is heartbreaking to think about the senseless and horrific violence of October 7, about the hostages still held captive by Hamas 230 days later, about the thousands of Palestinian children killed in the war, about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza that gets worse every day.

In the Oct. 7 assault in southern Israel that triggered the war in Gaza, Hamas-led fighters killed 1,200 people and took about 250 hostage. Israels ensuing offensive has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Holloways appearance before the committee came less than three weeks after the university negotiated a deal with students who had erected the pro-Palestinian encampment on the 43,859-student Rutgers-New Brunswick campus. The 75-tent encampment went up in late April and came down peacefully three days later after the agreement was reached.

Rutgers agreed to review, as part of the regular university process, a demand that the university divest its financial holdings from any firm connected to Israel. The agreement also included commitments for the president and chair of the joint committee on investments to meet with up to five students to discuss their request for Rutgers to divest, the establishment of an Arab Cultural Center, and staff training in anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim racism.

In the face of criticism, Holloway said at a board of governors meeting earlier this month that he was confident in the decision, which allowed us to maintain a safe and controlled environment, to protect Rutgers students and Rutgers property, and to assure that our students academic progress  taking finals and completing the semester  was not impeded.

Holloway during his testimony noted the university did not compromise on its stance against divestment or boycotts against Israel.

But the deal had quickly drawn bipartisan criticism, including from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat. Some Jewish faculty and students at Rutgers also were critical of it and said the university had not done enough to quell antisemitism on campus.

Others, however, including the Rutgers faculty union and a group of Jewish professors, supported the agreement and asserted that the school has not been rampant with antisemitism. During testimony, Holloway also asserted that Rutgers was not a hotbed of antisemitism.

During the hearing, faculty members from the three universities in the spotlight called the congressional hearings a kangaroo court and a McCarthyite campaign in a news conference in front of the U.S. Capitol.

They are manufacturing lies and weaponizing painful riffs in our community as part of an assault on higher education, said Todd Wolfson, president of the AAUP-AFT chapter at Rutgers and a professor of journalism and media studies there. Their goal is to control our campuses, and tell us what we can research, what we can teach, and what we can learn.

The professors and union members who spoke criticized the political theater of the exchanges.

A professor of English at UCLA, Mia McIver, noted to the laughs and cheers of the crowd that Foxx began her testimony by quoting from Ernest Hemingways The Sun Also Rises, a book that McIver described as containing one of the most notorious antisemitic caricatures in American literature.

I teach English and I give them an F, McIver said.

This article contains information from the Associated Press.
With their president next up to be grilled by a GOP-led congressional committee probing antisemitism on campus, some Rutgers University faculty, including leaders of its union and a group of Jewish professors, are speaking up in defense of the schools decision to negotiate an agreement with pro-Palestinian encampment protesters.

Jonathan Holloway, Rutgers president, will testify Thursday morning before the Committee on Education and the Workforce, along with Michael Schill, president of Northwestern University, and Gene Block, chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles. Following the last committee hearing on the subject in December, two of the three college presidents who testified  University of Pennsylvanias Liz Magill and Harvard Universitys Claudine Gay  ultimately resigned following a backlash against their testimony.

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The stakes are high.

 READ MORE: Rutgers president called to testify before congressional committee probing antisemitism on college campuses

We think that the education workforce committee is led by people who would like to bring down higher education and they are using accusations of antisemitism to try to push forward an anti-education agenda that they have been pushing for a long time, said Rebecca Givan, vice president of Rutgers AAUP-AFT. We appreciate the approach that President Holloway has taken and we hope that he will stand strong.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, spoke out against the committee and its approach at a news conference Wednesday, along with union leaders from Rutgers and Northwestern Universities.

Why is the teachers union speaking out against the congressional committee?

The union support for Holloways decision to broker an agreement with the pro-Palestinian protesters comes after years of conflict with the university president. Rutgers faculty union has long been at odds with Holloway over his leadership of the 67,672-student flagship university, especially during a strike last spring when Holloway had threatened to seek an injunction to make faculty return to class. And in September, the faculty senate voted no confidence in him, following several controversial decisions, including the ouster of the Newark campus chancellor and the planned merger of the universitys two medical schools.

 READ MORE: As free speech issues rage on campuses, Rutgers president is joining the national movement to promote civil exchange

Holloway, formerly the provost of Northwestern University who became Rutgers first Black president in 2020, has continued to be staunchly supported by the board of governors. A U.S. historian and professor of history and African American Studies, the Yale-educated Holloway has been a proponent of free speech on campus. He is part of a national movement of more than a dozen college presidents committed to championing free expression, civic preparedness and the civil exchange of ideas on campus.

I have all kinds of criticism (of Holloway) in other dimensions, said David Kurnick, an English professor, who has taught at Rutgers for 17 years. But I support him here as a representative of higher education and its autonomy and students rights to protest and free speech. In so far as he is being attacked for all of that, I support him.

Kurnick coauthored a letter titled Jewish Academic Support for Rutgers-New Brunswick Agreement, now signed by more than 600 Jewish faculty  about 100 of them affiliated with Rutgers  that praises the May 2 agreement between Rutgers and the protesters.

 READ MORE: While a few other universities reach compromises with protesters, why cant Penn?

The agreement, which brought the encampment to a peaceful end, makes a host of crucial commitments to the flourishing of Rutgers Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim communities, including the founding of an Arab Cultural Center, the hiring of several professors with specialties in Middle Eastern Studies, fellowship support for displaced students from Gaza, the development of a possible student exchange program with Birzeit University, and several other provisions, the Rutgers academics wrote.

Rutgers also agreed to review as part of the regular university process a demand that the university divest its financial holdings from any firm connected to Israel. The agreement included commitments for the president and chair of the joint committee on investments to meet with up to five students to discuss their request for Rutgers to divest.

We reject utterly charges that these commitments are in any way harmful to Jews, at Rutgers or anywhere, and denounce calls on President Holloway to rescind the agreement, the letter from the Jewish academic group said.

What is behind the antisemitism allegations at Rutgers?

At Rutgers-New Brunswick, a 43,859-student campus, the 75-tent encampment went up in late April and came down peacefully three days later after the agreement was reached. Rutgers has among the largest populations of Jewish students and Muslim or Arab students in the nation, according to the university. The outcome stood in stark contrast to other universities where encampments have been up for weeks and in some cases, including at Penn, taken down by police with protesters being arrested.

 READ MORE: Rutgers president on the medical school merger, that vote of no confidence, and the faculty strike

But the deal quickly drew bipartisan criticism, including from N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy, who said the university dealt with the protesters differently than it did with students who brought claims of antisemitism on campus.

We fear that the administrations accession to troublesome demands made by protestors failed to adequately take into account the perspectives and voices of members of the Jewish community at Rutgers, wrote U.S. Reps. Donald Norcross and Josh Gottheimer, both New Jersey Democrats. Furthermore, we are concerned that Rutgers appears to have incentivized people to act in a lawless and threatening manner by appeasing the demands of violent and hateful agitators ...

In the face of criticism, Holloway said he was confident in the decision, which allowed us to maintain a safe and controlled environment, to protect Rutgers students and Rutgers property, and to assure that our students academic progress  taking finals and completing the semester  was not impeded.

But some Jewish faculty in the community have denounced the agreement. More than 170 students and more than 200 faculty and staff have signed letters critical of the schools handling of antisemitism on campus.

We ... would like to share our experiences of the past academic year in the hope of conveying the hurt, pain, and isolation that many of us have suffered and suggesting ways that the entire university community might do better in the future not just to support its Jewish students, but to create a more tolerant climate for all its members.

People we once considered our friends celebrated Hamass atrocities. Our peers defended this act of resistance, calling it justified and deserved.

Rebecca Cypess, professor of music and an Orthodox Jewish professor, wrote a May 3 letter to Holloway and Francine Conway, chancellor of the New Brunswick campus, asserting that antisemitic incidents have occurred at Rutgers in classrooms, dorms and across campus.

Throughout this year, I have found it difficult to breathe, she wrote. I have lost my taste for my job; the job that I used to feel in working at Rutgers has disappeared.

She faulted Holloway for engaging in negotiations with groups that have held the university hostage all year, she wrote, yet not agreeing to implement antisemitism training across the university.

Neither the Chancellors Advisory Council on Jewish Life or the Jewish Faculty Administrators and Staff (JFAS) were consulted on the negotiations with the protesters, Cypess wrote.

She is leaving Rutgers and has accepted a job as dean of the mens and womens undergraduate colleges at Yeshiva University.

Joe Gindi, 21, a rising junior, who grew up in the Syrian Jewish community of Brooklyn, said he hopes Holloway will acknowledge at the hearing that he will live up to his agreement to enforce the code of conduct in regard to student groups that have flagrantly violated it, including those involved in the encampment.

Im guardedly optimistic that he will be very clear about where mistakes have been made and what our path forward will be, said Gindi, an economics major.

He cited as mistakes the agreement itself and not incorporating JFAS and students into the negotiations.

Some Jewish faculty, including Kurnick, said their voices in support of Palestinians have been discounted. They havent even been allowed to join JFAS, Kurnick said.

We want to change this idea that this activism that we are seeing on these campuses is somehow against Jews and that Jews are not a part of it, he said, noting that he spent the good part of several days at the encampment.

Todd Clear, a criminologist and law professor, in an opinion piece for the New Jersey Star Ledger countered the idea that antisemitism is rampant at Rutgers.

What is rampant is opposition to Israels war in Gaza, he wrote.

He hopes Holloway will stand up to the committees criticism.

Our president who is a scholar of the modern Civil Rights movement is in a better position, he said, than almost any other president to speak truth to power.
In the wake of last Thursdays ruling, numerous districts have informed parents whose children are turning 22 in the coming academic year that they will no longer be able to attend school. Read more

A Commonwealth Court decision striking down a directive that allowed students with disabilities to remain in school until age 22  and a subsequent appeal  has left potentially hundreds of families in limbo, as districts are making independent decisions on whether to cut or keep services.

In the wake of last Thursdays ruling, numerous districts have informed parents whose children are turning 22 in the coming academic year that they will no longer be able to attend school  an abrupt termination for families who had anticipated remaining enrolled until as late as next spring.

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We feel like the rug was just pulled out from underneath us, said Carolyn Kelly, whose 21-year-old daughter attends the Council Rock School District and was informed on Monday that her services would soon be ending.

Meanwhile, some districts say they will continue to provide services until students turn 22. They cited the Pennsylvania Department of Educations appeal, which officials said stayed the ruling.

Heres what led to the decision and what it means for families and districts:

What led to the latest decision?

Before last year, Pennsylvania had guaranteed services for students with disabilities only through the school year in which they turned 21.

But advocates for students with disabilities said federal law already requires services through a students 22nd birthday  citing language from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that refers to students between the ages of 3 and 21, inclusive. Courts have forced some other states, including Connecticut and Rhode Island, to provide services until students turn 22.

In July, lawyers sued Pennsylvania on behalf of a Lower Merion student, arguing that the state was illegally depriving a vulnerable population of needed services. As part of a settlement agreement, the education department announced the next month that it had revised its policy, and that any students who had turned 21 and exited in the previous school year could reenroll in their district.

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association and three districts  including Central Bucks and Upper Darby  then sued to block the change. The districts argued that the education department didnt have the authority to unilaterally make the decision, and also said they hadnt been given time to budget for the reenrolled students.

Our members were neither consulted about nor prepared to implement such a change, said a spokesperson for the association, Mackenzie Christiana.

What did the decision say?

On Thursday, the Commonwealth Court sided with the districts, finding that the education departments directive was void and unenforceable. The department needed to follow a formal rule-making process in order to institute the change, the court said, rejecting the departments contention that it had only issued guidance rather than a new regulation.

The court, however, said it did not consider whether the new age-out plan is necessary for the department to comply with the IDEA, just that the department must promulgate the change in accordance with state rule-making laws.

A spokesperson for the education department said it appealed the ruling Monday. The Shapiro administration is committed to ensuring that every Pennsylvania student receives a high-quality education  and PDE believes that its guidance, which helps to ensure students with disabilities receive the services to which they are entitled, is consistent with federal law, said Casey Smith.

Smith said the appeal meant the courts decision was stayed pending resolution of the appeal or further order of court.

How are school districts responding?

While Smith said the department had notified districts that it believes its guidance last year is consistent with IDEA  meaning, students would be entitled to receive services until 22  districts have been taking different approaches since the ruling.

As of Tuesday, the Public Interest Law Center  which was involved in filing the case against the state last July  said it had heard from parents in 10 districts that services were being cut off for their children next year.

Theyre telling parents the court has invalidated the directive, and were required to graduate you, said Claudia De Palma, a staff attorney at the law center. But our position is that federal law requires services provided through age 22.

At least one district reversed course. Central Bucks on Tuesday informed families of 23 students that in light of the education departments appeal, we will honor their current IEP and continue to provide service to age 22, said Acting Superintendent Jim Scanlon.

Upper Darby  another district that had challenged the education departments policy  said Wednesday that it was still reviewing the courts decision and departments appeal, and we will comment when it is best for all involved, said spokesperson Aaronda Beauford.

What does it mean for families?

Two parents told The Inquirer that they had been notified by their districts that their childrens services would be ending in light of the court ruling. It was really just a two-sentence email, said one parent, whose 21-year-old child attends the Norristown Area School District. The parent, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, said the district told her the court had overruled the age-22 policy, and her childs services would now end next month  rather than when he turns 22, nearly a year from now.

Now shes scrambling to get her child work through the state Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, which she first signed up for in 2022. The queue is very, very long, she said, though she was able to get a meeting with a case manager scheduled for June.

Shes worried about what will happen if her son cant obtain services in time.

It means my child would sit home and watch TV, 24 hours a day every day, she said. She and her husband have been discussing who might quit their job to help care for him.

Jillian Williamson, a spokesperson for the Norristown district, said the district must follow the law and abide by all legal rulings regarding student enrollment. She said the district will support our students and families to the greatest extent possible while remaining in compliance with our legal requirements as a public school district as this matter continues to be litigated.

Kelly, the Council Rock parent, didnt know there was litigation over the age-out policy until Monday, when she heard from the district out of the blue that her daughters services would be ending. Her daughter wont be turning 22 until next May, and we dont have anything with respect to a job lined up for her, Kelly said. Any transportation, any speech therapy or occupational therapy she was getting at school  all of that stuff just goes away in June, for her, with less than a months notice to us.

Shes started the process of trying to get her daughter a waiver from the state for adult services, but there are waiting lists.

Most providers dont have vacancies, said Josh Fields, executive director of the Next Step Programs in Bucks County, a nonprofit that creates opportunities for those with disabilities. He said he got calls from afraid and frustrated families after the ruling. We dont really know how this is going to play out, said Fields, who has been encouraging parents to work with county offices and case managers.

On Thursday, Council Rock said in a message to its community that in light of the appeal, it will continue to provide services for our disabled students until their 22nd birthday. It said the district would be in contact with each family for whom the decision applies.
Police at the encampment at the University of Pennsylvania campus on May 10. Read more

The University of Pennsylvania has barred two dozen people who were arrested during the clearing of the pro-Palestinian encampment earlier this month from being on the schools campus.

The schools Division of Public Safety informed the individuals, who are not affiliated with Penn, via recently issued letters. The correspondence states that the people who received the letters will not be permitted on Penns campus or in any school building or facility until further notice without written approval from Penn Public Safety, a university spokesperson said.

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Some of these individuals also engaged in destructive and unlawful behavior during a protest at the Presidents House later that evening, the spokesperson said. These letters were issued to protect the community and to prevent further disruption to University operations.

A copy of the letter, obtained by the Penn student newspaper the Daily Pennsylvanian, indicates that those banned from campus were targeted for their participation in the encampment despite numerous written and oral notices that they were trespassing.

Your participation in the encampment and disregard for university policy and state and federal laws contributed to unacceptable risks to the health and safety of our community, the letter read. It added that if the individuals did not observe the ban, they could be removed from the premises or arrested, the DP reported.

Penns move to ban some encampment participants from campus came days after university and city police disbanded the encampment that stood on College Green for more than two weeks. Amid the dismantling of the encampment, 33 people, nine of whom were Penn students, were arrested.

Since the encampment was disbanded, pro-Palestinian demonstrators have continued mounting protests, including one at Penn over the weekend in which 19 people were taken into police custody after allegedly attempting to seize a campus building.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has since declined to file charges against four protesters involved in that incident, but approved misdemeanor charges against three others. The other 12 people were given citations for failing to disperse.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have also since launched an encampment at Drexel University. Drexel president John Fry has called for that encampment to disband immediately, writing in a letter to students and staff that the university has the right to take action against illegal trespassing.
Philly-area Swifties are heading to Europe to see the "Eras Tour," thanks to cheaper ticket prices and a revamped setlist. Read more

Dear reader: How far would you travel for Taylor Swift?

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For some Philadelphia-area Swifties, the answer is to Lincoln Financial Field and back. For others, its over 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe to see Swifts record-breaking Eras Tour for a second, third, or even fourth time.

Swift last performed in Philly in May 2023, when the Eras Tour took over the Linc for three nights in a row and the Reading-born superstar declared her (now fickle) allegiance to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Since then, the tour has crisscrossed the United States, Latin America, and Australia, bringing with it billions of dollars in tourism revenue, several broken attendance records, and a litany of Swifties with a lasting concert hangover.

Now, the Eras Tour has landed in Europe. And with it, American Swifties.

The reasons for their journeys are both practical and sentimental: European Eras Tour tickets are significantly cheaper than those on sale in the U.S, where a scalper-driven resale market has pushed prices for nosebleed seats into the thousands. The show is fundamentally different, too, thanks to addition of The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD)  Swifts latest album  to the set list.

 READ MORE: For every three Taylor Swift attendees, one came just to hang in the parking lot of her Eras Tour in Philly

Going to multiple concerts on the same tour has also been a part of Swiftie culture for a while. Fans go to the same show again and again because of the dedication Swift inspires. She might notice you, the lore goes, and youll be in a crowd of people who get it.

Its a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but somehow Ive gotten to live it multiple times, said Lisa Jefferson, 37, who flew to Paris earlier in May to see the Eras Tour. This is our Super Bowl.

Jefferson flew to Paris with her boss, Kate Miller, whom Jefferson said waited until the wee hours of the morning on French Ticketmaster to secure $650 tickets for the La Defense Arena  $150 less than Jefferson said she paid for her seat in Philly.

Jefferson and Miller built a vacation around the show. They went to Versailles, Disneyland Paris, and the Eiffel Tower, said Jefferson. The sites paled in comparison to being among the first to watch Swift perform Whos Afraid of Little Old Me while moshing on an invisible platform.

It just felt like an entirely new show, said Jefferson, who works in marketing at an e-commerce company. To be one of the first people to experience [TTPD] live? Ill never forget it.

Ill cry about it when my credit card statement comes

Eras Tour tickets may be cheaper in Europe, but that doesnt mean theyre inexpensive.

Tickets for Swifts European tour dates average $340 apiece. Thats 87% cheaper than the average Eras Tour ticket in the United States, according to an analysis from TicketIQ. In other words, a savvy Swiftie couldve flown to Sweden last weekend, watched the Eras Tour, and stayed at a four-star hotel for less than the price of a ticket to one of Swifts three Miami shows in October.

Ashley Taragna booked a trip to Portugal after seeing videos of the TTPD set on TikTok. The 32-year-old attorney has attended every one of Swifts tours since Fearless dropped in 2008, and said the total cost of the trip is a little over $2,800 so far.

I was like, Why cant it be like this in the United States? said Taragna, who lives near Rittenhouse Square. (The answer: Resale ticket markups, like the ones seen in the U.S., are illegal in parts of the European Union.)

 READ MORE: Hundreds of copies of a rare Taylor Swift record were still available at one Kutztown record shop  until the Swifties found out

Ziy Martinez, 26, meanwhile has only spent $800 so far between flights and a ticket to see the Eras Tour in London. The price washed over Martinez like water off a ducks back; shed already seen the Eras Tour three weeks in a row across Philly, New Jersey, and Boston.

Ive spent so much money going to the Eras Tour already, so its like whatever, said Martinez, who works in higher education.

For others, the sticker shock is real.

Megan Walsh spent $500 on a VIP ticket for the Eras Tour in Amsterdam on July 4. For Walsh, 25, the overseas ticket is extra special: She only got as far as tailgating in the Lincs parking lot when Taylor came to Philly last May. This will be her first Swift show, and her second concert ever.

Ill cry about it when my credit card statement comes, said Walsh. Right now, I deserve it.

A sin to miss it

To some Swifties, however, seeing the Eras Tour abroad is less about girl math than it is about ritual.

Swifts fandom thrives on equal parts consumption and obsession: Swifties buy the album, then the vinyl, then the exclusive Record Store Day offering. They go to dance parties, make the friendship bracelets, and take the moment and taste it, or however the lyric goes.

It would be a sin to miss it, said Marina Nardini, 31, who runs social media for the famed South Philly Chiefs bar Big Charlies Saloon. Nardini has seen Swift perform 16 times, bringing her mom, Trudy Mazzone, along for the majority of those concerts.

 READ MORE: Swifties took over the Rittenhouse Hotel for Galentines tea. Yes, there were friendship bracelets.

This time, the mother-daughter duo is taking on a distinctly Philly doubleheader: Phillies play the New York Mets in London on June 8, followed by the Eras Tour in Edinburgh, Scotland, on June 9.

The pairing was automatic, said Nardini, whose mom is a Phils season-ticket holder. The pair is hoping the Kelces will be making a similar journey.

God, I hope Travis is there, Nardini wished aloud.

Veronica Heiselmoyer, 36, is building a similar family tradition. Her daughter Valerie, 10, is a recent Swiftie, who joined the fold last summer after a Swift sing-along at the Keswick Theatre.

Heiselmoyer said Valerie is preparing to sell homemade friendship bracelets to help supplement the cost of a trip to Miami for the Eras Tour in October. She wants to knock on doors in their Abington neighborhood, her mother said, and has even printed out her moms Venmo QR code to speed up transactions.

What Valerie doesnt know: Heiselmoyer is surprising her with a trip to see the Eras Tour in Amsterdam on July 4.

Shes going to be in disbelief, said Heiselmoyer, 36. Ive never seen her this obsessed with an artist, or anything really.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre with the season-nine cast of "RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars" at the Little Gay Pub in Washington. Read more

Three longtime Washington, D.C., bartenders plan to bring a branch of the Districts popular Little Gay Pub to Philadelphias Gayborhood. LGP has drawn a cadre of celebrity guests since opening in spring 2023, including Sen. Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), who ordered a club soda and took a selfie in one of the well-appointed restrooms last fall.

Dito Sevilla, Dusty Martinez, and Benjamin Gander have leased 102 S. 13th St., at the corner of 13th and Drury Streets, down the alley from Philadelphias oldest tavern, McGillins Olde Ale House. The building, which has a rooftop deck, was previously home to Broth Thyme, a soup spot  and before that, the bars APO and the Corner. The trio told The Inquirer that their mission is to create a pub for the LGBTQ community to be celebrated, more than just served.

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They hope to open by late December but would settle for next spring, ahead of Pride Month in 2025.

Sevilla said their decor and service harken back to an older age in the community, when the bars were nicer, a little bit more leathery and darker, and the fixtures were better.

The Philly and D.C. locations are both on corners and benefit from natural light, lending to a daytime drinking environment and not just a late-night scene. We like to think it represents new frontier in gay bars. In the early days, the gay bar was like a hidden little place, Sevilla said. You can always see inside the bar from the street when youre walking by with your friends.

LBPs restrooms have their own Instagram with the bio that reads, Yall holding up the line, make it good. But the partners didnt set out to be known for what Sevilla called a crazy selfie trend.

One of the things we agreed on when we started was that we wanted to have over-the-top bathrooms, and there was really no specific reason, Sevilla said. I wish that we could go back and say that we brilliantly thought about it as a marketing strategy, but we made them crazy and kitschy

 and so clean and nice, Martinez said.

All three have decades in the D.C. bar business and still work behind the stick. They came up with the name after reviewing what they said were 10,000 possibilities.

Just as the original location is very much a love letter to Washington, D.C., queer life, the new pub will celebrate Philadelphia. A mural of the late city planner Ed Bacon overlooks their roof deck. Hes Kevin Bacons father! Sevilla said in a chat Thursday. Were two degrees from Kevin Bacon!

That said, the last thing we want to be are interlopers into a city thats very tight-knit, Martinez said. They intend to be involved with the community, sharing an apartment so that at least one of them is always in town.

During construction, Martinez said, we plan to keep our doors open so the neighborhood can stop by pop in and ask us questions. Were just a very friendly bunch of people that have brought greatness to D.C. and we hope to do so in Philadelphia.
Prime Healthcare will downsize Suburban Community Hospital in East Norriton this summer to a micro-hospital with an emergency department and at least 10 inpatient beds, the California-based health system said this week.

Prime said the changes at the hospital, licensed for 126 beds, were designed to tailor the hospitals services to community needs. As part of the downsizing, Prime will also suspend services at Suburbans 15-bed behavioral health unit, citing low demand and difficulty retaining workers.

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Suburban is a nonprofit owned by Prime Healthcare Foundation. It remains affiliated with for-profit Prime Healthcare Services Inc., which also owns Lower Bucks and Roxborough Memorial Hospitals.

They will be converted to nonprofits like Suburban, Prime also said this week. As Suburban illustrates, however, converting to nonprofit status will not necessarily end the hospitals close affiliation with the for-profit system in Ontario, Calif.

With Suburban, the creation of a micro-hospital further advances a regional trend. ChristianaCare is converting the former Jennersville Hospital into a micro-hospital and plans to open two micro-hospitals in Delaware County next year. Lehigh Valley Health Network is building micro-hospitals in Gilbertsville and Macungie.

Micro-hospitals are designed to fill coverage gaps in areas that cant support a full-scale hospital. Also called neighborhood hospitals, they must have transfer agreements with hospitals that can handle more complex cases.

Prime said Suburban has transfer agreements with Jefferson Healths Einstein Philadelphia and Montgomery Hospitals, Temple Chestnut Hill Hospital, and Temple University Hospital.

Ownership change at Lower Bucks and Roxborough hospitals

Prime plans to donate Lower Bucks in Bristol Township and Roxborough Memorial in Philadelphia to the Prime foundation and convert the facilities into nonprofits. Prime acquired both hospitals in 2012. Lower Bucks is licensed for 175 beds and Roxborough for 131 beds, according to state records.

The conversion of Lower Bucks and Roxborough does not guarantee that their financial ties to the for-profit Prime Healthcare Services will end.

Prime Healthcare Foundation pays for-profit Prime entities for what Prime called advisory and supplemental services in a statement. Those payments totaled $84 million in 2022, according to the foundations audited financial statement. The for-profit also provides health insurance services and a 401(k) retirement plan for Prime Foundation hospital employees, the audit says.

The Prime foundation had $978 million in revenue in 2022, when it owned and operated 13 acute-care hospitals with 2,166 licensed beds in California, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.

Converting Lower Bucks and Roxborough into nonprofits aligns with prospective legislative changes in Pennsylvania, Prime said.

Some state lawmakers are questioning for-profit hospital ownership. A group of state senators introduced a bill last year that would prohibit for-profits from owning or managing hospitals in Pennsylvania. Another bill under consideration would require far more disclosure when for-profit health systems engage in health-care transactions in the state.
The University of Pennsylvania Health System reported operating profit of $205 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2024. The system includes the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center in University City. Read more

The University of Pennsylvania Health System has reserved an extra $80 million for future medical malpractice costs in the quarter that ended March 31, the nonprofit reported Wednesday.

The reserve, in addition to the typical $25 million the Philadelphia system sets aside each quarter, was increased not just because of last years extraordinary $183 million jury award to a child born with severe brain damage at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

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Generally, were seeing pressure across the entire medical malpractice space as more and more large awards come out of Philadelphia, health system chief financial officer Keith Kasper said. Cases that used to be $500,000 are now a million in damages.

Penn reported $205 million in operating profit in the first nine months of fiscal 2024, up from $160 million a year ago. Thats because the system received $129 million from a federal settlement involving a discount drug program in the quarter.

Other highlights:

Revenue: Penns patient revenue rose 8.7% to just over $7 billion in the quarter. Kasper said demand is strong across the board, citing increased emergency department visits and surgeries specifically. Total revenue climbed 9.2%, to more than $8 billion, including the drug settlement cash.

Expenses: Employee benefits were the fastest-rising expense category reported by Penn, up nearly 12%. In addition to surging expenses for weight-loss drugs, Kasper said overall health-care utilization started increasing last fall and continued into the first three months of this year. He said thats common throughout the region.

Notable: Penns long-term goal is for the health system to have a 4% operating margin before it transfers money to its owner, the University of Pennsylvania, to support education and research in the medical school. Its margin was at 2.5% in the most recent quarter, which was aided by the drug settlement.

We dont have it in our five-year forecast to get back to 4%, said Kasper, who will become the health systems chief administrative officer on July 1. The prices that were getting from Medicare and Medicaid and the commercial payers [are] not ample enough to offset what were seeing on the expense side.
U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, seen here speaking at a Democratic Party event, announced that he is being treated after a minor stroke. Read more

U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans said on Thursday that he is undergoing inpatient treatment following a minor stroke.

Evans, 70, a Democrat who has represented Philadelphia since 2016, said he received the diagnosis this week after unknowingly suffering the stroke days before.

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I wanted to let my constituents know that I am recovering from a minor stroke, and I want to emphasize the word minor, Evans said in a statement. It was minor enough that I didnt even realize what had happened for a few days. The main impact seems to be some difficulty with one leg, which will probably impact my walking for some time, but not my long-term ability to serve the people of Philadelphia.

Evans said he is recovering at an inpatient rehabilitation facility, where he expects to be for about a week longer, followed by outpatient therapy. He said he expects to be back in Washington in six weeks.

Im focusing on my healing and would ask for privacy during these six weeks, he said.

Last week Evans participated in a news conference at the Community College of Philadelphia and made an appearance at a fundraiser with U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D., S.C.). He missed votes in Congress over the last two weeks but voted the last time the House was in session prior to that on May 8.

Evans said in the statement he took some time to determine how to go public with the diagnosis.

In the coming months, I want to help educate people and remove the stigma that sometimes accompanies strokes  many people can recover and continue on with their life and their work.

Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat who had a stroke in 2022 while a candidate for U.S. Senate, said of Evans stroke: Its not an easy thing to face but know that we are all pulling for you, Congressman.

Fettermans public recovery from his stroke, and resulting depression, sparked a national conversation about stroke rehabilitation and mental health.

Evans represents Pennsylvanias 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest, and Center City Philadelphia.

He handily defeated Philadelphias former register of wills Tracey Gordon in the Democratic primary in April and faces no Republican challenger in November in the heavily Democratic district.

As news of his stroke circulated on Thursday, well-wishes came in from politicians around the region, including Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, a close ally of Evans.

Ive heard the news of Congressman Evans minor stroke, Parker said in a statement Thursday evening. However, nothing changes for us. Hes still Dwight to me  Congressman Evans. And I know this minor stroke wont get in the way of our 6 a.m. phone calls, when he shares his wisdom and provides his guidance to me.

Parker said she looked forward to Evans return to full and active duty.

Gov. Josh Shapiro, who worked with Evans in the statehouse also wished him well. If I know Dwight (and I do), I know hes already ready to get back to work for the people of Philadelphia, the governor posted on X.

Dwight is an outstanding colleague and close friend, said U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Democrat who also represents parts of Philadelphia. We work very closely together on many issues. Im happy to hear hes recovering well and look forward to having him back here soon.

Staff writer Anna Orso contributed reporting.
Scarlett Johansson arrives at the 77th Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton on Jan. 5, 2020, in Los Angeles. Read more

A public dispute between actress Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI provides the latest look at how artists across crafts are battling with artificial intelligence as new technologies develop.

On Monday, Johansson threatened legal action against OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT and other rising AI tools, claiming the company used her likeness after she told them not to. Hours earlier, OpenAI announced it would pause its new voice, named Sky, following widespread comparisons to Johanssons voice.

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In a statement released by the actress that evening, Johansson said OpenAI approached her last year and asked her to lend her voice to their GPT-4.0 chatbot. She said that after she declined, she was shocked and angered to hear from friends  as well as media and the general public  that Sky sounded eerily similar to her.

Experts say what happens next could set the tone regarding the future of AI, trust in OpenAI, and the matter of womens consent.

Here are six things to know.

OpenAIs CEOs favorite movie is Her starring Johansson as an AI assistant

The Sky chatbot was made to mimic a real conversation with a woman in real time. In her statement, Johansson suggested that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was drawing comparisons between Sky and the actress character, Samantha, from the movie, Her.

Following the launch of the new GPT-4.0 chatbot, Altman sent a one-word tweet that said her.

In an interview last year, he shared that Her  in which Joaquin Phoenix plays a heartbroken man who falls in love with an AI system voiced by Johansson  is his favorite movie.

I like Her, he said. The things Her got right  like the whole interaction models of how people use AI  that was incredibly prophetic.

Johansson shared in her statement Monday that Altman first pitched her on being a ChatGPT voice in September.

He told me that he felt that by my voicing the system, I could bridge the gap between tech companies and creatives and help consumers to feel comfortable with the seismic shift concerning humans and AI, she said. He said he felt that my voice would be comforting to people.

Johansson declined, adding that Altman followed up twice. But a preview for Sky launched shortly after.

Once previewed in September, Skys voice was quickly compared to the actress

Sky made her debut in September, with a demo preview launching two days after Altman asked Johansson to reconsider, she claims.

The comparisons to Johansson were quick to follow.

Each of the personas has a different tone and accent, an article by the Washington Post said at the time. Sky sounds somewhat similar to Scarlett Johansson, the actor who voiced the AI that Joaquin Phoenixs character falls in love with in the movie, Her.

The system was fully launched last week and the comparisons continued, even prompting a joke on Saturday Night Lives Weekend Update segment, which stars Johanssons husband, Colin Jost.

The resemblance was a punchline on Saturday Night Live

Marking SNLs season finale, Jost and his co-star Michael Che did their annual joke-swap segment, where they write heightened cringe-worthy jokes for the other to read for the first time live on air.

Che wrote for Jost, ChatGPT has released a new voice assistant feature inspired by Scarlett Johanssons AI character in Her, which Ive never bothered to watch because without that body, whats the point of listening?

By Monday, OpenAI announced it was pulling Skys voice.

In a statement, OpenAI said it would pause the use of Sky while addressing questions about how we chose the voices in ChatGPT, especially Sky.

The company denied it was deliberately mimicking Johanssons voice, and said the bots voice belonged to a voice actress using her own speaking voice. OpenAI said it wouldnt name the voice actress, citing privacy concerns.

But critics have pointed out that OpenAIs statement failed to mention that the company had approached Johansson. Some suggested taking down Skys voice was an admission of guilt.

Johanssons legal counsel has sent two letters, demanding transparency

Johanssons legal counsel wrote two letters to OpenAI demanding that they detail how they created Skys voice. The letters were sent after OpenAI rolled out its demo, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Ahead of Johanssons public recounting of events, OpenAI said it would pause its usage of Sky. But potential litigation looms as Johanssons team  and the general public  await more details.

I look forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to help ensure that individual rights are protected, Johansson wrote in her statement Monday evening.

Other legal battles with AI and growing distrust

Johanssons experience is the latest example of A-list celebrities voicing concerns with artificial intelligence.

AI technology firms have been accused of manipulating and profiting off the voices of artists like Drake and Ariana Grande.

Labor disputes between SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America have also raised concerns about AI replacing human talent. In a statement Tuesday, SAG-AFTRA commended Johansson for publicly calling out OpenAI.

Visual artists and photographers have raised similar concerns with the new tech.

The disputes mark a growing rift between content creators and technology firms.

If Johansson pursues legal action, her case could set a precedent for the future of how creators and AI work together.
A controversial flag flown by rioters at the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was reportedly displayed at the New Jersey beach vacation home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.

An Appeal to Heaven flag was spotted at Alitos Long Beach Island residence in July and September last year, according to the New York Times. The banner, also referred to as the Pine Tree flag, was photographed at the house on four occasions during those months, and it appears on a Google Street View capture of the home from August, the Times reported.

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Considered a symbol showing support for former President Donald Trump, the flag shows a green pine tree with the phrase An Appeal to Heaven emblazoned over top of it. Though it has roots going back to the Revolutionary War, the Appeal to Heaven flag today is often associated with a religious contingent of the Stop the Steal campaign, the Times reported.

The flag is the second Jan. 6-related banner to be seen flying at an Alito-owned property. Last week, the Times reported that an inverted American flag had been spotted at Alitos home in Virginia in 2021. That flag, Alito told the Times, was hung by his wife following a dispute with a neighbor.

Alito has not publicly addressed the Times report on the Appeal to Heaven flag seen at his New Jersey property, which the newspaper said he has owned since 2014.

The Appeal to Heaven phrase itself is a paraphrase for trial by arms, Princeton University historian Anthony Grafton told the Times. Dating to the 17th century, the phrase was popularized by philosopher John Locke.

The main point is that theres no appeal, theres no one else you can ask for help or a judgment, Grafton said.

Ethicists interviewed by the Times said the flag being flown at Alitos home is concerning, as it may further associate him with symbols utilized during the Jan. 6 insurrection. Additionally, the period during which the Appeal to Heaven flag was spotted coincides with the time when the Supreme Court began hearing a case focused on whether people who participated in the insurrection should face obstruction charges.

That case is pending before the Supreme Court, as is another case that would decide whether Trump is immune from election subversion charges.

A number of Republican members of Congress and state leaders have also displayed the flag recently, including Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Times reported. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) also faced criticism for his use of the flag, telling CNN on Wednesday that its George Washingtons flag and that it has nothing to do with Stop the Steal protests.

While the Appeal to Heaven flag was spotted at Alitos New Jersey home last year, the Times reports that it was unclear how long it had been displayed.
Tabernacle resident Natalie Stone resigned as deputy mayor earlier this month in the Burlington County township. Read more

The word piney is a point of pride for most people born and raised in New Jerseys unique Pine Barrens.

The word is on bumper stickers and shirts and celebrated in books and films. Sometimes, however, the word piney can be used against them.

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In Tabernacle, Burlington County, which dubs itself the gateway to the pines, former deputy mayor Natalie Stone resigned recently after someone dug up a Facebook group post she made about pineys before she was elected.

There is ACTUAL TRUTH to Pineys being incestuous, illiterate, mentally deficient, inbred imbeciles supposedly responsible for generations of morons and prostitutes, Stone wrote in 2020.

Stone apologized at a public meeting and told The Inquirer she was reading New Jerseys Lost Piney Culture when she made the post in a Facebook group for the small development where she lived. Stone, who has acted in numerous films, said her resignation earlier this month, however, was the result of a persistent online bullying attack that began before the post was unearthed. She claims detractors created digitally altered photos of her, and made comments about her body and even the death of her child.

The reason I left was because I realized I wouldnt be able to get anything done when it was apparent that people would rather spend more time ridiculing committee members than working together to find solutions to the many issues in Tabernacle, Stone wrote to The Inquirer Tuesday night.

Stone, a Republican who had been in office only since January, said her saga began when she, along with other elected officials, voted in favor of demolishing Tabernacles 19th-century town hall. Stone said the building had degraded due to decades of neglect.

That decision, Stone said, led to an uncontrolled uproar on social media, most of which was directed toward her and not the two male committee members who voted the same.

There have been daily posts about me for two months straight, Stone said.

Stones story has been chronicled at length by the Pine Barrens Tribune, a small, independent newspaper that covers the region. At an April public meeting after the post surfaced, the newspaper quoted committee member William Sprague Jr. asking whether Stone could be fired.

She made racial remarks! Sprague said, according to the newspaper.

The newspaper published a photo of Stone seemingly arguing with a local woman the publication described as a transparency advocate.

Several committee members, including Sprague, could not be reached for comment. Another declined. Jason Howell, a longtime Pine Barrens resident and environmental activist, blamed Stones resignation on a small contingent of people who used toxic tactics to obtain the political will.

Last year, The Inquirer interviewed author William J. Lewis about his book, New Jerseys Lost Piney Culture, which is a celebration of the word piney. The book does delve into early misconceptions of Pine Barrens residents, including former New Jersey governor James F. Fielders stance that its residents should be sterilized.

Lewis, who grew up in the Pine Barrens, breaks down the subset of New Jerseyans into categories, including tree huggers, woods, and out-of-town pineys, to name a few.

It isnt derogatory to most people today, but for some, it is, Lewis said last year.

Author John McPhee was credited for saving the region from development with his 1968 book The Pine Barrens. In it, McPhee immersed himself in piney culture and the way many there had lived off the land for generations.

I guess a piney is something that gives a place identity. I guess it makes a place different from another place. The way I see it, Im no different than the pines, or the animals and plants out here, Bill Wasiowich, who was featured in McPhees book, said in 2012.

Stone, who was born in Philadelphia, and lived in neighboring Medford before moving to Tabernacle, appears to embrace the Pine Barrens in other social media posts and websites.

New Jerseys Pine Barrens are home to legends Natalie M. Stone and the Jersey Devil, her IMDb.com biography begins.

Stone told The Inquirer she still intends to serve her community, but not as a politician.
In this file photo, Amtrak Acela trains sit in the Amtrak yard adjacent to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. Service was temporarily suspended Wednesday night between Philadelphia and New York City. Read more

Amtrak has resumed its normal schedule from Philadelphia to New York Thursday morning after disruptions caused service to be temporarily suspended Wednesday night along the the Northeast Corridor.

Full scheduled service is in effect today, an Amtrak spokesperson said.

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All trains traveling between Philadelphia and New York City were temporarily stopped just before 7:15 p.m. Wednesday due to downed power lines, Amtrak posted on X (formerly Twitter). We anticipate extensive delays as crews work to resolve this issue, the transportation agency wrote.

Minimal service had resumed by Thursday, but New Jersey Transit, which was affected by the outage, told riders on X to expect delays and cancellations.

Trains headed from Harrisburg to New York City terminated early in Philadelphia Wednesday night, while trains originally headed from New York City back to Harrisburg began their journeys in Philadelphia.
Members of the Jackson family of Pennsauken sit along the Camden waterfront with Philadelphia and the Ben Franklin Bridge in a smoky haze in the background last June when acrid smoke from Canadian wildfires shrouded much of the Northeast, What are the prospects of a repeat? Read more

Almost the entire Northeastern United States was transformed into a Canadian smokehouse. It was so noxious that the Phillies experienced the first smoke-out in the teams 140-year history.

The smoke, borne hundreds of miles on north winds from the wildfires in northern Ontario and Quebec, became so dense that people in the Philly region were calling 911 emergency dispatchers to report fires.

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For three days beginning on June 6 last year, Phillys air quality became about as bad as it ever gets around here, setting a record for fine-particulate pollution, officials reported. A walk outside was akin to inhaling two packs of Canadian woodland smoke. Smoky reinforcements arrived in the region later in the month.

While Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered an apology (he was kidding, we think) when he visited Philly this week, he also warned, We already started another wildfire season in Canada.

As ominous as that might sound, thats not quite accurate, said John R. Gyakum, an atmospheric scientist at McGill University in Montreal, who specializes in extreme-weather research: The 2023 season never quite ended.

It was not much of a winter in a lot of the continent, he said. Many of these fires that were burning last summer lingered into the winter. Some of these so-called zombie fires continued to smolder among the snowpacks, he added.

The long-range outlooks by Canadas government meteorologists call for above-average wildfire conditions in much of the country in June, July, and August.

What are the prospects of a smoky encore over the skies of Philly? Meteorologists are understandably circumspect: They are far more confident that atmospheric chaos will fill the air across North America than they are about the smoke.

Wildfire smoke may again blight the Philly summer

I think we will see some in the middle of the summer, said Paul Pastelok, the veteran long-range forecaster with AccuWeather Inc.

The company is calling for below-average wildfires in the United States, with drought conditions easing in the West. According to the interagency U.S. Drought monitor, more than half the West was in some state of drought last May, compared to about 40% with the latest weekly update.

However, AccuWeather says Canadas wildfires could end up being above average, as the Canadian forecasters suggest, and that could affect air quality in some parts of the United States, as it already has.

That said, Pastelok says that Philly and the rest of the Northeast are very unlikely to experience anything like last June when Philly became a smoky version of San Francisco. Although it favors above-normal activity nationwide, the Canadian outlook has wildfire activity about normal in most of eastern Canada

Here is what is looking different about the smoke this year

For one thing, theres less of it, especially in the unpopulated northeastern Canada woodlands that were the sources of last Junes torment. The world continues to warm and woods continue to burn, but the circumstances are very different.

That smoke, mixed down into lower levels of the atmosphere, was transported on persistent winds from the north  highly unusual in June, when prevailing winds are from the southwest.

Fires are common up that way, but last years were more extensive and intense than usual, said McGills Gyakum.

Along with warming, other factors may have included tropical storm remnants that took down trees up that way months earlier, and a beetle infestation that added more combustible wood to the pile, said Amy Freeze, a meteorologist with Fox Weather.

Fires in western Canada already have set off pollution alerts in the Upper Midwest. Recall that last year they clogged skies in some populated areas of North America into the fall. But they were so off the charts in 2023 that repeats of those intensities are unlikely, said Gyakum.

Why meteorologists cant tell us where the smoke is going to wind up

Predicting the path of straight shot smoke moving north-south from eastern Canada is one thing, said Pastelok, but if the prime smoke source region is going to be in the western part of the country, things get complicated. The smoke has to travel thousands of miles, typically six to seven miles in the atmosphere, sailing above irregular, air-disrupting terrain.

Because the pattern in June 2023 in the East was persistent, it was relatively easy to see the smoke coming. Predicting the onset of a given pattern and what it might do to the winds, however, is another matter, said Gyakum.

NOAA posts hourly smoke forecasts extending into the next day, but they arent always accurate.

This is a metric that is extremely difficult to forecast for many reasons, said Gyakum.

He likened predicting smoke forecasting to hurricane outlooks. Meteorologists can say, Were going to have an above-average number of hurricanes, but its just not at all clear that were going to have hurricanes that hit land.

Pastelok said he wouldnt mind a smoke-free summer.

Recalling last June, he said, It got in the house. It was pretty nasty  and scary.
A sign advises diners not to use the water-blended fountain soda in a Center City restaurant on Sunday, March 26, 2023, after Philadelphia officials suggested residents switch to bottled water to avoid ingesting chemicals spilled into a tributary of the Delaware River in Bucks County Friday night. Read more

Ten years ago, in the spring of 2014, the city of Flint, Mich., made a fateful decision that would soon threaten the health and safety of its residents. To save money, Flint officials switched their municipal water supply source from the water system in Detroit to the Flint River.

The new water wasnt tested or treated properly, and, as a result, distribution pipes began to leach lead and other contaminants into residents drinking water. (Pediatrician Mona Hanna-Attisha was an early whistleblower in this crisis.)

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The communitys plight became national news after it was discovered that the changes resulted in dangerous lead exposure for area residents and would cost millions of dollars in federal and state funding to fix. An outbreak of Legionnaires disease  a severe form of pneumonia caused by bacteria  killed at least 12 people (and maybe dozens more).

Of course, Flint is not the only place where residents suffer from poor water quality. Similar drinking water crises have emerged in Jackson, Miss., and throughout the U.S.

Including, of course, in our own backyard.

Last spring, my phone rang nonstop after news broke that chemicals had spilled into a Delaware River tributary, threatening Philadelphias water supply. Frightened families cleared out store shelves of bottled water until repeated tests detected no evidence of contamination, and then-Mayor Jim Kenney downed a glass of tap water at a news conference.

And now, unfortunately, some Pennsylvanians south of Pittsburgh are experiencing similar challenges.

For years, ongoing water quality and reliability issues have plagued customers of the government-run East Dunkard Water Authority. The community has faced numerous boil water advisories, and many were forced to buy bottled water because their tap water was unsafe to drink or cook with. A KDKA-TV news story from February depicted cloudy, brown water coming out of faucets; Damon Casseday, who lives in Greene Township, shared a harrowing experience of nearly losing his leg from sores he said developed as a result of bathing in unclean water.

As East Dunkard resident Clarissa Eggers told the Observer-Reporter, It feels like were the Flint, Michigan of Pennsylvania.

 READ MORE: Philadelphias water contamination was a test of the citys response to a crisis. It failed. | Opinion

After receiving numerous citations from the state Department of Environmental Protection over the past two years, Pennsylvanias Commonwealth Court recently ordered East Dunkards operations to be placed in the care of a private water company.

This happens all too often: A municipal system defers maintenance to avoid having to spend the money, leaving customers with bad water. In the end, private companies  which often have more expertise and the ability to make repairs more quickly  are asked to step in.

As this unfortunate scenario continues to play out in Pennsylvania and across the country, the federal government is trying to prevent the next water crisis. Later this year, the Environmental Protection Agency will require all water companies, whether they are run by the government or private companies, to map water service lines containing lead in efforts to expedite their replacement.

Last month, the Biden administration also issued the first-ever limits on PFAS, or forever chemicals, in the nations drinking water, which can accumulate in our bodies with prolonged exposure. The decision was largely hailed as a positive first step in combating this growing public health threat.

However, keeping drinking water safe by modernizing our nations aging pipes  including removing lead service lines and treating pollution from PFAS  cannot happen without significant investment.

The EPA estimates that improving drinking water infrastructure in Pennsylvania alone will cost more than $24 billion over the next two decades  only Florida, New York, Texas, and California need more. This is not a huge surprise: Pennsylvanias water infrastructure is outdated and much older than that of other states. The average age of water pipes in the U.S. is nearly 50 years old, and theyre often older in cities like Philadelphia.

Theres a price we pay for deferring maintenance.

While Philadelphia will receive $160 million in federal funding (via the Biden administrations bipartisan infrastructure law) to help upgrade the citys water infrastructure and replace lead service lines, that amount barely scratches the surface of the funding necessary to make these overdue improvements across Pennsylvania.

Looming over all of these changes is the scary reminder of the Flint water crisis. It comes as Pennsylvania lawmakers and regulators have renewed discussion on proposed rate increases from water companies.

Yes, fixing old water pipes costs a lot of money. But so does doing nothing.

If theres one lesson the water crises in Flint and East Dunkard have taught us, it is that theres a price we pay for deferring maintenance when critical investments are long overdue. Yes, there may be a cost to consumers in the short term, but smart infrastructure investments will protect public health and ensure access to clean drinking water. This benefits all Pennsylvanians in the long run.

If we make smart investments today, we can stay out of national headlines tomorrow. More importantly, we will sleep better knowing our water is safe, clean, and reliable.

Subodha Kumar is a distinguished professor at Temple Universitys Fox School of Business.
Shane Pryor's story is about more than his escape and recapture, writes Jennifer Merrigan. Its also about all the young people who are swallowed alive by our criminal legal system. Read more

In January, Shane Pryors story was in the news. It had all the hallmarks of a gripping tale: A young person, in custody after being accused of murder, managed to escape from Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. After a four-day manhunt, Pryor was captured on Jan. 28, and charged with escape, aggravated assault, hindering apprehension, and a host of other offenses.

When he was captured, the news was met with relief and praise for a job well done. The narrative served as a reassurance of the efficacy of our law enforcement and justice systems. A danger to the community escaped, was speedily captured, and now will face the consequences.

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But there is another side to Pryors story.

There is another side to Pryors story.

Although the news called the hunt for Pryor a manhunt, he wasnt a man. He was a boy, just 17 years old. He was in the custody of the Juvenile Justice Services Center, not Philadelphia police.

Before his escape, Pryor had been confined since he was 14 years old, when he was accused of killing a woman in an alley. Given the seriousness of the offense he was accused of, he was charged as an adult, though he was legally and developmentally a child. Again, he was just 14.

He spent more than three years  since October 2020  detained in a juvenile detention center for a crime he has not yet been convicted of, and for which he is presumed innocent. He has always maintained his innocence.

Throughout his incarceration, he was appointed five different attorneys, all while his case was delayed again and again without signs of a resolution. According to his counsel, the escape occurred during his roughly 10th visit to the hospital over the course of his three-year detention. As his 18th birthday approached, his lawyer said his client was scared about being transferred to the adult jail, where his codefendant  who was 15 at the time of the crime  was being housed.

Pryors story is about much more than his arrest, detention, escape, and recapture. Its also about all the young people who are swallowed alive by our criminal legal system.

 READ MORE: I was sentenced to life without parole at age 18. Im proof that redemption is possible. | Opinion

This is a story echoed repeatedly across the United States, and nowhere more than in Philadelphia.

People who are accused of homicide  of all ages  wait years behind bars prior to trial or plea. Though presumed innocent under the law, our legal system takes years of their lives, along with educational opportunities, jobs, homes, friends, and family.

Pryor spent more than three years in a juvenile facility during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was marked by overcrowded, unsafe, and unsanitary conditions. He was not adjudicated as guilty, yet he lost three years with his family. He has potentially lost three years of education and was facing even greater losses as he awaited transfer to an adult, maximum security jail.

At the same time, Philadelphia is facing a crisis characterized by a dearth of competent counsel. Philadelphia has failed to provide adequate resources for the advocates on whom Pryor and others in his position must rely.

In Philadelphia, the public defender system has funding to represent only 20% of individuals accused of homicide. Unless they can afford to hire an attorney, the remaining 80% are appointed private counsel. These appointed counsels operate under caps on compensation that are among the lowest in the country.

Defendants are entitled to a new attorney in their first post-conviction review, a type of appeal in which they can argue their trial lawyer was not effective, and failed to investigate and present evidence in their defense. But the prospect of getting better representation then is similarly bleak, since post-conviction review does not offer funding for a public defender and is also strangled by low fee caps.

While Pryors escape made headlines, generated conversation, and brought renewed attention to the fact of his existence, the conditions under which his desperation and isolation manifested are all too common throughout the country. It is against this backdrop that Philadelphia has sentenced more people to die in prison  84% of whom are Black and more than 50% of whom were under 25 years old at the time of arrest  than any other county in the nation. Historically, Philadelphia has also sentenced more juveniles to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole than any other county in America.

I am not involved in Pryors case. I have, however, had the privilege of spending decades fighting for those who have been ensnared by our legal system as young people.

It is my hope that when people think about Shane Pryor, they focus not on the fact that he ran away, but on the systemic failures that created conditions under which this young man could see no other choice. We need to guarantee young people have access to experienced and resourced advocates, as well as strong educational services, and are not placed in violent and unsafe environments.

This kind of hopelessness is not inevitable. We have the power to change the system before so many others are lost to it.

Jennifer Merrigan is a Stoneleigh Fellow with Phillips Black, where she and her team work alongside the Conviction Integrity Unit of the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office to improve the representation of wrongfully convicted and sentenced youth.
Kimberly Peterson (second from left) gets information about classrooms for her children as she arrives for the first day of classes at Bluford Elementary School in West Philadelphia last year. Read more

Was anyone really surprised when it was reported on the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Courts supposedly groundbreaking Brown v. Board of Education decision that many schools are as much or more segregated than they were decades ago? Anyone watching the children headed to urban schools each day  most of them Black and brown  had already figured that out.

Almost half of all public school students nationally are white, but the percentage of schools with fewer than 10% white students has nearly tripled over the past 30 years, from 7% to 20%. These intensely segregated schools are mostly in urban areas, where public school students are typically at least 75% Black or Latino.

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That disappoints some people, while others accept it as yet another lingering issue in America that they no longer expect to see resolved. Immigration reform is on that list, too. Its not that these issues lack solutions, but this country seems to have lost the resolve it once mustered when trying to battle past entrenched attitudes and find common ground.

 READ MORE: Phillys kids cant succeed in school if theyre not showing up to class | Editorial

Losing resolve is somewhat understandable when it comes to desegregating schools. No one wants a repeat of the decades-long war that broke out after the Supreme Court, on May 17, 1954, ruled states could no longer maintain segregated public school systems that often didnt even pretend to fund and equip Black classrooms as well as white ones.

That war raged from Birmingham, Ala., to Boston, as angry white parents railed against court-ordered desegregation plans, which in some instances included mandatory busing. When protests that sometimes became mob gatherings didnt work, many white families moved to suburban neighborhoods to flee schools with growing numbers of Black students.

The new suburbanites took their tax dollars with them, thus enriching suburban school districts while leaving urban school systems with less money to educate larger numbers of low-income and special-needs students whose education required more funding than their now tax-deficient school boards could provide. Thats right: The resegregation of Americas public schools has led to the same inequitable distribution of tax dollars for public education that led to the Brown decision in the first place.

Blame that on presidential appointments over the past 70 years that replaced Supreme Court justices and lower court judges with conservatives who diluted past court orders and never included suburban schools in desegregation plans that would bring more Black students to them.

Despite white flight, all public schools have become more diverse. Thats largely due to immigration. More than 80% of all public school students were white in 1968. By 2021, they made up only 45% of the student body. During that same period, the percentage of Latino students increased from 5% to 28% and Black students remained just under 15%. Since the 1990s, the percentage of Asian students has doubled to 6%, while Native American students have never been more than 1%.

That greater diversity, however, hasnt achieved the fair funding Brown sought.

Black students may no longer need to be escorted to school by U.S. marshals, and they may no longer face angry mobs on their way to school or eat at separate lunch tables, but today, we have a system where we have normalized underinvesting in schools that serve a majority of Black communities, said U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona at a White House celebration of Browns 70th anniversary.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia students deserve safe schools | Editorial

The fight to adequately fund public schools wont be in the federal courts; it will be in the individual state legislatures that control taxes and expenditures. Its estimated that this country spends $150 billion less than needed to educate its children. Included in that figure is a $2.5 billion funding gap for Pennsylvania and $1.3 billion for New Jersey. No matter the state, poor, mostly Black and brown students in urban school districts are more likely to need the added educational help that better funding would provide.

Cheryl Brown Henderson, whose father, Oliver Brown, was the lead plaintiff in Brown, said adequate school funding would be a fitting legacy for the court case. I always like to say that schools were the battle, but society was the target, Henderson said. Were still fighting the battle over whose children do we invest in. Any time we can talk about failing, underfunded public schools, there is a problem.

Seventy years later, we cant afford to quit trying to solve it. Our children deserve better than that.
Members of the U.S. Army place razor wire for a temporary encampment for the troops near the U.S.-Mexico international bridge, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, in Donna, Texas. Read more

Imagine this: Its exactly one year from today, Memorial Day weekend, 2025. Its 94 degrees in the shade, but the fact that the world keeps shattering monthly temperature records isnt even making the news  and thats not what has Philadelphians so hot and bothered. Its been about two months since Donald Trump, the 47th president of the United States, announced Operation Purify America in an Oval Office address, and about a week since a stunned Philadelphia watched an endless convoy of militarized vehicles and federalized troops from the Texas and South Dakota National Guards roll up I-95.

After a week of setting up a base camp at the Air National Guard base in Horsham, the actual operation began at midnight the day before, as a parade of Humvees and armored personal carriers cornered off a wide area in Philadelphias Hunting Park section and supported federal immigration agents who went door-to-door in the predawn chaos, bursting into homes and asking Latino residents for their papers. Journalists whod been kept blocks away by the troops now search for anyone who could confirm the rumors of screaming, scuffling, and dozens of arrests.

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As the hot sun rises, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, Gov. Josh Shapiro, and several hundred angry protesters gather outside the Horsham gate to denounce the raids. A phalanx of helmeted troops pushes the throng back, firing tear gas to clear the road for the first busload of detained migrants. They are bound for the hastily erected Camp Liberty, an already overcrowded and decrepit holding center on the Texas-Mexico border that Amnesty International calls a concentration camp.

This might sound like a page from the script of Alex Garlands next near-future dystopian movie, but its actually a realistic preview of the America Trump himself, his cartoonishly sinister immigration guru Stephen Miller, and the right-wing functionaries crafting the 900-page blueprint for a Trump 47 presidency called Project 2025 are fervently wishing for.

As polls show Trump in a dead heat nationally with President Joe Biden, and poised to win at least some of the battleground states where Biden was victorious in 2020, the presumptive GOP nominee is making no secret of his scheme for what he calls the Largest Domestic Deportation Operation in History. The audacious goal of tracking down and deporting all 11 million or so undocumented immigrants living and working within the United States is, experts agree, all but impossible. But even the forced removal of hundreds of thousands, or one million, would require a massive internal military operation on a scale not seen since the Civil War and Reconstruction.

I take all of it seriously, Joseph Nunn, a counsel who monitors national security and liberty issues for the Brennan Center for Justice, and an expert in the presidential uses and abuses of the Insurrection Act that allows for the deployment of soldiers on U.S. soil, told me this week. I think its irresponsible not to. Anytime somebody tells you what they are going to do, you should listen.

Yet, with the election just over five months away, too many voters arent listening to a plan that would fundamentally change America. In one way, thats understandable. Anti-immigrant bluster was central to Trumps 2016 campaign, which began with him calling Mexican migrants criminals and rapists. Yet, after he was elected, and despite moves like a cruel family separation policy for refugees seized at the border, Trump actually deported or removed fewer border crossers per year than his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama.

But the simple fact is that Trump never really planned for a victory in 2016. When he did win, the Trump administration lacked the elaborate plan or the infrastructure for millions of deportations, and there was resistance to his consigliere Millers more extreme demands from entrenched bureaucrats, some of the presidents own appointees, and some GOP allies in Congress.

Whats changed in 2024? Everything. Despite the Hannibal Lecter-ized outward chaos of Trumps rallies, behind the scenes, Team Trump is focused and determined not only to name the most rabid Trump loyalists to key political posts but also to dramatically strip civil service protections and remove recalcitrant midlevel government employees. And this time around, Republicans in Congress are going to be on board with whatever Trump wants.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whose parents immigrated from Cuba, and who had correctly blasted Trumps 2016 deportation plan as unrealistic, is a perfect example of the new zeitgeist. He used Trumpian exaggerated numbers to tell NBCs Meet the Press recently: We cannot absorb 25, 30 million people who entered this country illegally. Theyre here illegally, what country on Earth could tolerate that?

 READ MORE: The new book every American needs to read before they vote | Will Bunch

Miller has been making the rounds of right-wing podcasts and talk radio to explain the new math behind the Trump 47 deportation scheme. Experts on immigration enforcement told the Atlantics Ronald Brownstein, who wrote the definitive article on the Trump plan, that rounding up 500,000 to one million immigrants a year would require at least 100,000 to 150,000 more government agents than are now deployed, plus 50,000 more to run detention camps and man deportation flights. Millers idea is for the president to federalize the National Guard troops in red states like Gov. Greg Abbotts Texas or Gov. Kristi Noems South Dakota, and deploy them in areas run by recalcitrant Democrats  like Philadelphia.

The Brennan Centers Nunn told me that  given the legal complexities of federalizing guard troops and sending them across unfriendly state lines  Trump would be certain to invoke the Insurrection Act. That 1807 law, bolstered during the chaotic peak of Reconstruction after the Civil War, is the workaround for the supposed constitutional ban on deploying American soldiers on domestic soil and has been used roughly 30 times, especially during civil rights unrest and urban riots in the 1960s. The last time the Insurrection Act was used was during the Los Angeles race riots in 1992.

The problem, Nunn said, is that the Insurrection Act places no checks or balances, or restrictions like time limits, on the White House once it has been invoked. Its a law intended for emergencies, he said, but in practice, it gives a president unlimited powers. In other words: A Trump declaration of a Desert Storm-sized military operation on U.S. soil would make him essentially a dictator, and for a lot longer than just one day.

The remarkable logistics and the massive troop deployments arent the only aspects of Trumps deportation scheme that voters arent paying attention to. Remember how Marchs Baltimore bridge disaster accidentally revealed how essential recent immigrants, including the undocumented, have become to bedrock American industries like construction? Experts say abruptly removing millions of workers from the U.S. economy could send it into a tailspin.

Writing in the Washington Monthly, economist Robert J. Shapiro crunches the numbers and finds Trumps ambitious deportation goals would remove about 4.5% of the current U.S. workforce, and create ripples that would cause hundreds of thousands of native-born Americans to lose their jobs, as well. Shapiro posits that if Trumps program were carried out over three years, it would produce a downturn that could approximate the Great Recession in 2009, when GDP fell 2.6% and sluggish growth persisted for years.

Why arent Biden and his Democratic allies talking about this more? A February Gallup poll found U.S. voters ranking immigration as the number one issue for the first time ever, and while the number of asylum-seekers has dropped dramatically since then, Democrats inclination is to avoid looking soft on the issue. Im sure some fear that calling out the over-the-top fascist elements of Trumps plans might sound hysterical  even when thats what hes openly proposing.

And yet, there are so many unanswered questions. What would happen to the estimated 4.4 million children who were born here as U.S. citizens with at least one undocumented parent? How long would it take for heavily armed Insurrection Act troops to turn their firepower against the large number of Americans who would inevitably take to the streets in protest? Is a country where our neighbors and coworkers fear a knock on the door every night, while the world gawks at pictures of barbed-wire detention camps that look like colorized photos from the 1940s, really the future we want?

It was somewhat amazing to watch the furious debate online and on cable news this week over the weird incident in which small text about a unified Reich found its way into a Trump promo video the ex-and-wannabe president posted on Truth Social. The perplexing part, for me, is that this was discussed as some kind of Sherlock-Holmes-magnifying-glass a-ha moment, revealing Trumps secret plan for Nazi-style rule.

Folks, he is screaming his plan out loud at his rallies! The Trump deportation scheme is really Trumps blueprint for dictatorship.

If voters understood this reality, perhaps even the voters who strongly favor a reduction in immigration would oppose this militaristic nightmare. We can stop this at the ballot box in November, long before Texas National Guard tanks backing up the Schuylkill Expressway become the lead traffic report on KYW.

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A longtime public defender is President Joe Bidens latest pick to fill a federal judicial vacancy in Philadelphia as he races to surpass Donald Trumps record for confirming judges before the end of his first term.

The White House announced the nomination of Catherine Henry  who has spent nearly 30 years defending clients who cannot afford their own lawyers against criminal charges in state and federal court  to the U.S. District Court in a statement Thursday.

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She was one of four women Biden put forth that day as candidates for appellate and district judicial seats across the country.

These choices  continue to fulfill the presidents promise to ensure that the nations courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country  both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds, the White House said of the nominees.

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.), who recommended Henry, praised her record as a public defender and called her nomination a major win for Pennsylvania.

She will be an excellent federal judge, and I will do all I can to see that she is confirmed as soon as possible, he said.

Fettermans counterpart in the Senate, Democrat Bob Casey, said he is also backing Henry. She has committed herself to the people of eastern Pennsylvania, and I look forward to her bringing her integrity, experience, and fierce commitment to fairness and equal justice under the law to this critical new role, he said.

Henrys nomination came as Biden rushes to cement his imprint on the federal judiciary in the final months of his first term. Federal judges, who must be confirmed by the Senate and are appointed for life, oversee myriad civil and criminal cases each year and issue the first round of rulings on significant legal questions that can eventually rise to the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court.

After Trump made judicial appointments a focus  appointing more than 230 district and appellate judges and three Supreme Court justices during his single term in office  Democrats have pushed to leave their own stamp on the federal judiciary, a mark Trump would not be able to erase should he win a second term in office in November.

On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Bidens 200th judicial appointee  putting him slightly ahead of the 196 Trump had confirmed by this point in his tenure. According to the White House, 64% of Bidens confirmed judges nationwide are women and 62% are people of color. They include former labor lawyers, civil rights lawyers, and public defenders.

Biden has had seven judges confirmed in Pennsylvania, including Cindy Chung, the first Asian American judge ever to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia  which handles civil and criminal appeals for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware  and Arianna Freeman, the first Black woman ever to serve on that court.

Henry, who did not return requests for comment Thursday, earned her law degree from the District of Columbia School of Law in 1995 and began her career as a staff attorney at the Feminist Majority Foundation in Arlington, Va., before moving to Philadelphia to work for the Defenders Association in 1996.

Since leaving that office in 2001 for the Federal Community Defenders Office, she has become a fixture at the federal courthouse in Center City, defending those who cant pay for legal representation themselves.

Her clients in recent years have ranged from a former top lieutenant to ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor facing immigration charges for lying about his past as a war criminal to a shoe salesman at a Delaware mall department store who snapped the finger off a terra cotta Chinese warrior during an ugly sweater Christmas party at the Franklin Institute.

Lawyers with backgrounds in indigent defense have traditionally been underrepresented on the federal bench. But Henry is the fifth former public defender Biden has nominated in the nine picks hes made for the Philadelphia regions federal court vacancies.

Should Henry be confirmed by the Senate, that would leave two open seats in the federal court district that covers Philadelphia, its collar counties and the surrounding area  the latest of which opened up last week after the death of U.S. District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter  and one vacancy on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Bidens pick for the Third Circuit slot  New Jersey attorney Adeel Mangi, who would become the nations first Muslim appellate court judge  has been mired in controversy for months after Republicans threatened to tank his nomination.

During Mangis confirmation hearing at the Judiciary Committee in December, Sens. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and John Kennedy (R., La.) attempted to conflate his role as an advisory board member for the Rutgers Center for Security, Race and Rights with support for the terrorist group Hamas.

Several law enforcement groups also opposed his confirmation on the grounds that he is an advisory board member of the Alliance of Families for Justice, a criminal justice reform group that supports families of prisoners.

Two Democratic Senators from Nevada opposed Mangis nomination, making his chances of confirmation slim in the chamber, where Democrats hold a narrow 51-49 majority.

Fetterman said previously that he supports Mangis nomination. Casey, who is up for reelection in November, was noncommittal, indicating hed be open to supporting Mangi if his nomination came up for a vote.
HARRISBURG  Pennsylvanias top fiscal watchdog was set to become the highest-ranking official in the nation to affiliate with the centrist Forward Party this week, until he backed out at the last minute.

Republican Auditor General Tim DeFoor, who is seeking a second term in Novembers election, was going to announce his affiliation  but not a formal party change  with the Forward Party at an event in Harrisburg on Wednesday, changing his mind earlier this week.

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The Forward Party was created by former presidential candidate Andrew Yang. Its one of several organizations seeking to combat the countrys political polarization.

Forward organizers aspire for it to be its own political party one day and have begun to run their own Forward candidates in hopes of achieving that goal. But theyve also sought to endorse candidates  regardless of their political affiliation  who align with the values of compromise and civility.

DeFoor, in a statement, said he appreciates any endorsements from across the political spectrum, but was leery of any direct affiliation with outside parties which could be misrepresented or misconstrued by others.

I am a lifelong Republican and am proud to stand for reelection on the Republican ticket, DeFoor added.

DeFoor will face State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D., Philadelphia) in Novembers election. Kenyatta was one of President Joe Bidens earliest supporters in Pennsylvania in 2020 and continues to be a surrogate for his campaign.

But DeFoors decision to withdraw shows the challenge these so-called pro-democracy groups face when trying to build a legitimate third option in the nations two-party system. And it illustrates the role party loyalty plays in maintaining support from a candidates base, rather than cross-aisle appeals.

Unfortunately, because of the stranglehold the two legacy parties currently have on our system of governance, good people caught in this system arent given the freedom to serve a wider group of their constituents, said Forwards CEO Lindsey Drath in a statement.

A few other Pennsylvania elected officials have affiliated with the Forward Party, including State Sens. Anthony H. Williams (D., Philadelphia) and Lisa Boscola (D., Lehigh). The party is also running its own candidates in the attorney general and treasurer races  in hopes of getting 2% of the vote in November so they could gain minor party recognition in Pennsylvania for the next four years.

More than 1.3 million registered voters in Pennsylvania are registered to a third party or not affiliated, according to voter data from the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Sen. John Fetterman, pictured in 2023, will receive a high honor at Yeshiva University's commencement this year. Last year, the honor went to the founder of Israel's Iron Dome. Read more

Yeshiva University will honor Sen. John Fetterman for his staunch support of Israel with a medallion that last year went to the inventor of Israels Iron Dome.

The private New York City-based Orthodox Jewish university will honor the Pennsylvania Democrat at its May 29 commencement with the Presidential Medallion, the schools highest recognition for global leadership. The university, which supports the alliance between the United States and Israel, called Fetterman an American patriot and hero of Israel and a beacon of hope and strength for the country and the world.

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The honor was last year given to Daniel Gold, head of Israels Defense Research and Development Directorate and the inventor of the Iron Dome, Israels air defense system.

The university praised Fetterman for deeply engaging in the post-October 7th battle against antisemitism and pursuit of justice for hostages still in Hamas captivity.

It is truly humbling to be invited to share in this milestone with the graduates of Yeshiva University, Fetterman said. As we gather to celebrate the achievements of the graduating class, we must also acknowledge the profound significance of their journey within the context of the recent surge in antisemitism across the country.

The senator is known for his memes on X, and being blunt and unapologetic in his views. The Middle East has been no exception.

 READ MORE: Progressives say John Fetterman has abandoned them. But he says he hasnt changed.

The senator has put himself at odds with pro-Palestinian protesters and has unequivocally supported Israel in its war against Hamas. This has rubbed progressives the wrong way who say they supported Fettermans campaign and now feel betrayed by him.

Progressives called on the Florida Democratic Party to disinvite Fetterman as a keynote speaker for a major fundraiser earlier this month, and he faced protesters at the event.

 READ MORE: John Fetterman will speak at Florida Democratic Party gala. Progressives want it cancelled.

His views have pleasantly surprised conservatives, on the flip side.

Fetterman said in an interview earlier this year that he has been open about not being a progressive. He called himself a progressive prior to his 2022 swing-state Senate bid, but described himself as just a Democrat on the campaign trail, distancing himself from the label.

Yeshiva University has 7,400 undergraduate and graduate students across four campuses in New York City, according to the school, and more than 1,700 graduates this year.

The commencement will be at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, and more than 5,000 people are expected to attend, including students, faculty, and guests.

 READ MORE: All three of John Fettermans top communications staffers have resigned in the last month
City Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr. speaks in Philadelphia City Council in January. He introduced legislation Thursday to compel the Parker administration to testify about its use of a facility at 2100 W. Girard Ave. Read more

Philadelphia lawmakers may subpoena Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and members of her administration to testify about how the city is developing a facility in North Philadelphia to house people in addiction.

City Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr. took the extraordinary step Thursday to introduce legislation allowing Council to compel the Parker administration to testify and produce documents about its use of a shelter at 2100 W. Girard Ave. The administration quietly added 90 beds and additional services to the facility last month.

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The escalation of tension between Parker and Young comes less than six months after both Democrats took office in January. Philadelphias Home Rule Charter grants Council subpoena power, but its a step that is rarely taken, especially by a member seeking information from an administration led by his own party. There were audible gasps in Councils chambers Thursday when Young introduced the legislation.

The authorization to hold hearings on the use of the facility and to issue subpoenas related to it passed Council without opposition Thursday. A spokesperson for the Parker administration did not immediately comment.

Young said his goal is to provide some transparency to my constituents.

Were just looking for clarity on what the expanded services are, specifically, so we can mitigate some of the negative quality-of-life issues that can stem from a facility that intakes folks with opioid and other drug addictions, he said.

On Wednesday, a Council committee held a hearing on another piece of legislation Young introduced that would block the city from renewing its lease at the site, which is up in 2026. The Parker administration didnt send a representative to testify during the hearing, but a top official said in written testimony that the administration opposes the measure.

 READ MORE: Philly City Council advances bill to block Parker administration addiction facility in Fairmount

Young said he was disappointed that no one from the administration appeared, and that the purpose of the bill was to have a substantive conversation with the administration about the property.

Parker has said her administrations expansion of services at the site is part of a broader plan to bolster the citys drug treatment options amid a crisis of drug use and homelessness. While her administration has focused on ending the open-air drug market in the citys Kensington neighborhood, she has said her plan would address drug treatment availability across the city.

Young said he was not consulted before the administration expanded services at the site in his district, and hundreds of residents have expressed opposition, saying they fear threats to safety in the vicinity.

Parker said this week during an interview with The Inquirers editorial board that her administration should have met with Young before moving forward, saying, we should have been more proactive in our communication.

City Council President Kenyatta Johnson said Thursday that Young has a right to introduce legislation regarding development in his district, and so thats the direction he wants to go in terms of having a dialogue with the administration.

Hopefully theyll come to some level of resolve, Johnson said. But as a district Council member, he has a right to represent his constituents and make sure theres a level of transparency and accountability.
Councilmember At-Large Jim Harrity during the last City Council meeting of the year Dec. 14, 2023. Harrity called for the hearings on the city's hybrid work capabilities. Read more

Philadelphia city workers will have an opportunity to tell lawmakers why they should retain the ability to work remotely after Mayor Cherelle L. Parker ordered all employees to return to in-person work five days a week.

City Council on Thursday passed legislation to hold hearings on the citys hybrid work capabilities, a move that comes just days after leaders of one of the citys largest municipal unions blasted Parkers return-to-office plan.

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Councilmember Jim Harrity, a close ally of both Parker and of organized labor, called for the hearings and said while he understands Parkers policy, he wants to provide workers an opportunity to be heard. He said his call for hearings shouldnt be interpreted as an indication that Council opposes employees returning to work in-person.

Im curious to know: Has [remote work] been working? We want to hear it right from them, said Harrity, who represents the city at-large. And at least they can voice their opinion.

Parker announced Monday that all city employees must return to in-person work full-time by July 15, a policy she said will foster better collaboration among workers and lead to more effective city service delivery. She said about 80% of the 25,000-member workforce was already working in-person.

 READ MORE: Mayor Cherelle Parkers return-to-office policy causes rift with union leaders

But leaders of AFSCME District Council 47, which represents thousands of the citys professional and supervisory employees, immediately criticized the plan and said that it is subject to collective bargaining. The union has not said whether it intends to take legal action to try to block the policy or force the administration to negotiate it.

Robert Harris, vice president of D.C. 47, testified in favor of holding hearings.

To fully understand and appreciate the perspective of city workers regarding the return-to-office policy, it is imperative for the administration [and] City Council to have good-faith discussions with the city workers and the community, he said.

Hearings have not yet been scheduled.

Heres what else happened in Philly City Council on Thursday:

Your property tax bill could soon decrease

City Council President Kenyatta Johnson authored legislation that would increase the citys homestead exemption, a popular property tax relief program for homeowners that can reduce annual bills by more than $1,100.

Under Johnsons proposal, the assessed values of owner-occupied properties could be reduced by $90,000  the exemption currently allows for an $80,000 reduction.

That increase is more modest than the one Johnson championed two years ago amid soaring property values. That year, the city increased the exemption to $80,000 from $45,000.

Johnson said Thursday that his proposal represents an opportunity to provide tax relief to homeowners as the administration prepares to issue property reassessments this year.

Parking permits are likely to get more expensive

Philadelphians will pay more for residential parking permits and face new restrictions on the number of permits allowed per household under legislation passed Thursday by City Council.

The bill now heads to Parkers desk. If she signs it, residents will soon be required to pay $75 for a parking permit, an increase from the current pricing structure, which sets a households first vehicle permit at $35.

Currently, the price increases for subsequent permits from there, but there is no limit on the number of parking permits a single household can obtain. That would change under the legislation, which says no more than three residential parking permits can be issued for a single residence.

The bill also gives the Philadelphia Parking Authority the power to increase the price of permits itself and without Councils approval beginning in 2026, however, the PPA may only do so once every three years.

Council to investigate treatment availability in Kensington

A new special committee dedicated solely to examining the citys strategy in Kensington is poised to examine the availability of drug treatment in the neighborhood and explore the barriers people face to receiving care.

Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, whose district includes Kensington and who has led the charge in Council to change conditions in the neighborhood, introduced legislation Thursday to hold hearings on the limited bed availability in the neighborhood.

It notes that people who use drugs face significant barriers to entering various forms of treatment and shelter, including severe withdrawal symptoms, long wait times, language access, and limited options for couples.

One fun thing: Wedding bells are ringing

Congratulations to Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr., a new member who represents North Philadelphias 5th District. Hes getting married this weekend.

Inquirer staff writer Jake Blumgart contributed to this article.
Philadelphia City Council is moving forward with a five-year renewal of the deal that allowed Verizon to build its Fios network in the city. Read more

Fifteen years ago, Mayor Michael A. Nutter and City Council ended Comcasts effective monopoly over cable and internet services in its home city by allowing Verizon to build out its Fios network in Philadelphia.

That deal, which was approved following contentious negotiations with lawmakers, is up for renewal this year. But it appears likely to pass without the drama of the 2009 talks.

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A Council committee on Wednesday advanced legislation to extend for five years Verizons franchise agreement, which allows the company to build and maintain its network in city-owned right-of-way. It now heads to the full Council, which is expected to pass it before adjourning for its summer break in June.

Ultimately, this agreement is advantageous for all citizens of Philadelphia as it addresses the growing importance of broadband connectivity in narrowing the disparity between individuals who have online access to information and resources and those who do not, Melissa Scott, Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers chief information officer, told Council.

Negotiations over the deal began under former Mayor Jim Kenneys administration. Verizons original franchise was originally set to expire in February, but it was extended until August as Parkers administration took over negotiations for the city.

Aside from that delay, its been a smooth path for the renewal. Thats a far cry from 2009, when lawmakers questioned whether Verizon would build out its network in disadvantaged neighborhoods at the same rate as wealthy ones and Comcast suggested its new competitor wasnt being held to the same standards it was.

Under the renewal legislation, which was introduced by Councilmember Quetcy Lozada on behalf of Council President Kenyatta Johnson, Verizon will continue to pay the city 5% of its gross revenue from Philly cable customers, the maximum rate allowed under federal law. Over the last five years, the fee has brought in about $6.7 million per year to city coffers, Scott told Council on Wednesday.

Franchise renewals are opportunities for the city to push companies to pay for additional community benefits. Under the extension agreement, Verizon has agreed to provide a $500,000 grant to the city for digital equity efforts, public safety initiatives, and other uses.

The deal also involves Verizon building out publicly accessible 1G broadband internet service to 183 Philadelphia Parks and Recreation facilities at a cost to the city of about $5 million over five years. Additionally, Verizon will extend the citys internal network by installing dark fiber connection at the same facilities, with a price tag of $7.6 million over five years.

This means numerous students can access educational tools, easily stream videos, download or upload assignments and play video games with their friends, Eric Fitzgerald Reed, who leads Verizons public policy and state government affairs team, told Council. Residents will be able to conduct telehealth consultations with their physician or participate in remote job interviews.

Verizon spokesperson Chris Serico said the rec center plan was, to the companys knowledge, the first of its kind in the country.

The company will continue to support the citys public access television services by providing $8 million in grants over five years that will be spent on the school districts PSTV; the citys PHLgovTV; and PhillyCAM, the city-designated nonprofit that operates Phillys public access channel.
A $50,000 price tag for a home in Haddonfield feels like its missing a zero. But thats how much the borough is selling a historical home for.

The property is one of two historical houses that have been deteriorating for years and that Haddonfield is now off-loading. Buyers want to turn the properties into condos and an inn/restaurant.

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Some residents are upset about the homes deterioration and sales prices.

Keep scrolling for that story and to find out what Moorestown officials are trying to accomplish on their third try, see which housing assistance program Philly City Council members want to make permanent, and peek inside a Cheltenham home filled with antiques.

 Whats your favorite thing youve brought home from an antique sale or shop? For a chance to be featured in my newsletter, email me.

 Michaelle Bond

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Two historic houses and a prominent piece of land in Haddonfield are being reimagined.

Some quick facts about the houses:

Lullworth Hall

built in 1886 selling for $50,000 could become two condominiums (with two more in the adjacent carriage house), according to the buyers proposal

Boxwood Hall

built by a descendant of Haddonfields founding family selling for $200,000 bought by the borough in 2014 to settle a lawsuit by a developer who wanted to build 33 apartments there an ambitious proposal to build a 350-seat performing arts center there fell through years ago could become a 10-room inn and restaurant, according to the buyers plans

A resident who runs a community Facebook page told my colleague that residents are upset by the way these houses fell apart under [borough ownership] due to what looked like demolition by neglect. And now theyre being given away.

Haddonfields mayor called the deals a win for the borough, which, officials said, couldnt keep holding onto the properties.

Theres also a plan to build homes on about eight acres at the former Bancroft school campus in the borough.

Keep reading for details about those redevelopment plans and what made Lullworth Hall and Boxwood Hall challenging for the borough to sell.

Maybe the third times the charm?

Moorestown is on its third try in 25 years to create a historic preservation district. Legal challenges and votes against it have kept it from happening so far.

Opponents object to the government telling owners what they can do to their properties. A historic designation would prevent owners from demolishing or making certain changes to buildings. The proposed historic district would include commercial and residential properties.

One of the properties that would be included is an almost 4,800-square-foot house that a grassroots group called Saving Historic Moorestown is trying to save. The house was built as a single-family home in the late 1880s, but it was most recently a funeral parlor.

Its on the market for $750,000. And Saving Historic Moorestown is worried a buyer will tear it down.

Read on for more details and see exactly where the proposed historic district would be.

The latest news to pay attention to

Barbara Kotzin found the Victorian gingerbread cottage of her dreams on a winding road in Cheltenham.

I love this sentence from the opening paragraph of our latest home-tour story, which details how Kotzin has made the cottage her own.

Her home, which was built in 1868, isnt dark inside like you might expect in a Victorian. Shes made it bright and airy.

Speaking of airy, shes also hung more than a dozen mini hot air balloons from the ceiling in one of the rooms. Both folks in the Victorian era and Kotzin love them.

Peek inside Kotzins home and see some of her large collection of antiques, including candy tins and a wreath made of human hair.

 Trivia time

Philly is still the sixth-largest U.S. city. But between April 2020 and July 2023, it lost about 53,000 residents, according to recent estimates from the Census Bureau.

Question: Which fast-growing city is probably going to knock Philly down to seventh place this decade?

A) Phoenix

B) San Antonio

C) San Diego

D) Dallas

This story has the answer.

 Photo quiz

Do you know the Philadelphia location this photo shows?

 If you think you do, email me back. You and your memories of visiting this spot might be featured in the newsletter.

Last weeks quiz was a tough one. The photo showed the face of the Commonwealth Building at 1201 Chestnut St. Shout out to Lars W., a loyal reader and often-correct quiz answerer, who got that right.



Now that its basically summer, Ill leave you with a story from my colleague Ariana Perez-Castells about a hotel in Ocean City that recently got a makeover. The owner of Coastal Chateau calls it a luxury castle. It has pet-friendly villas, and the owner describes its aesthetic as French modern meets coastal elegance.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Weve always recognised that relationships and service are the key to our success and why our partners choose to work with us, Groenert said. As we continue to grow, we want to maintain our commitment to exceptional service and have hired the group of talented individuals that will ensure we will.
This was traumatising and potentially dangerous for her, she said. There was no safe way for her to provide sufficient evidence. She would either need to return to her old home or retrieve belongings through a third party. In the process, she said, she risked a violent response from her ex-partner.
Ukraine complications and escalation

Year of elections

US-China rivalry

Uncertain climate policy

Mismanaging China risk

Middle East escalation

The next big conflict

Home-market growth slowdown

Institutional decay

Grey zone action

After a couple of challenging years, companies seem to have accepted that significant political risk losses are the new normal and are working on building risk management capabilities, said Sam Wilkin, director of political risk analytics at WTW. He highlighted concerns about infrastructure attacks, such as sabotage of pipelines and cables, and attacks on assets in international waters, facilitated by the proliferation of drone technology.
Our aim is to help brokers have better cyber conversations with their clients and they need to be well informed to do that. It was an enlightening and invaluable day for insurance brokers whore committed to enhancing their cyber expertise, he said.
Deeply understanding customers is whats driven this research. We know that customers are affected by whats happening around them and were here to help them build a happier, healthier, and more secure financial future. By understanding what people say they will be concerned about in the future, were able to design products and services that are valuable and enhance the lives of our customers, she said. Our research tells us people are seeking out organisations that offer products and services that address their needs now and in the future. They are also looking for visionary leaders who are looking ahead to address the issues society is facing to help provide a sense of security and certainty.
Based in California, Alliant Insurance Services is a distributor of insurance products and services that operates through a network of specialized national platforms and local offices. It provides industry as well as risk solutions to various sectors and is considered to be one of the largest and fastest-growing insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the US.
Brock Purslow, regional vice president of BenefitMalls South region, had this to say about the team expansion in Texas: Trent brings both strong communication skills and business savvy to his role.
The world is getting more risky, and everyone wants to have stability and reliability, Winter said. Our core value proposition is a long-term, stable, reliable business model. Our clients appreciate that we will be there after the next event, bringing expertise and insights, Winter said, noting this will continue to drive the industrys development.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed a bill into law last Thursday to create a new statewide center to help prevent gun violence.

The governor described the center as the first of its kind since the White House urged states to form their own centers to better focus efforts to stop gun violence.

Moore also signed two other measures related to guns into law, including a bill that would enable state and local officials to hold the members of the firearm industry accountable in civil court, if they fail to meet minimum standards to prevent harm.

Another bill expands the definition of rapid fire trigger activator to include auto sears, also known as Glock switches, banning them in the state.

Last year, President Joe Biden created the first-ever federal office of gun violence prevention, which is overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris. The office coordinates efforts across the federal government to offer help and guidance to states struggling with gun violence. The administration has called on states to create their own offices to help focus federal grants to reduce violence.

Maryland became the first state in the nation to officially answer President Bidens call, Moore, a Democrat, said at a news conference during his fourth bill-signing ceremony of the year.

The center, which the governor proposed in his legislative package, is being created to foster a statewide partnership with federal and local agencies to reduce gun violence. The Center for Firearm Violence Prevention will be part of the state health department to implement a public health approach to the problem.

Other Bills

The governor also highlighted other public safety measures he signed Thursday that were passed in the states annual 90-day legislative session, which ended last month.

Two of the bills honor the memory of Baltimore tech CEO Pava Marie LaPere, who was killed last year. One of the new laws will prohibit a person imprisoned for first-degree rape from receiving early release credits automatically for good behavior. The man charged in LaPeres slaying was released from prison in October 2022 after serving a shortened sentence for a 2013 rape because he earned good behavior credits behind bars.

Another bill creates the Pava LaPere Innovation Acceleration Grant Program to provide grants to technology-based startup companies founded by students.

They both make sure that the tragedy that happened to Pava never happens again, and they also celebrate the light that Pava was and that she still is, Moore, who had met LaPere, said.

Moore also signed a package of juvenile justice reforms into law that are aimed at improving accountability and rehabilitation in response to complaints about increasing crimes like auto theft and handgun violations in parts of the state.

Children in the system do not have clear pathways to rehabilitation, and there is no meaningful oversight of this process, Maryland House Speaker Adrienne Jones said, before the governor signed the legislation designed to change that. All the while, weve seen a spike in behavioral health issues and a proliferation of handguns in our communities since the pandemic. House Bill 814 acknowledges this reality and says we want to help.

Moore also signed other public safety measures he prioritized, including a bill to increase apprenticeships in public safety to help boost the ranks of law enforcement officers. He also signed a bill to compensate victims of crime.

The governor also signed a bill to create a permanent funding source for the states 988 mental health crisis helpline by adding a fee of 25 cents to cell phone bills.

Topics Maryland Gun Liability
Holden Strub has joined Alliant Insurance Services, headquartered in Irvine, California, as a producer within its employee benefits group. Strub is based out of Alliants east region.

Before joining Alliant, Strub was a brand account manager for Corestream and an account project manager for Vancery. Strub will serve national employee benefits.

John Bell has joined Alliant Insurance Services as vice president within its employee benefits group. Bells will support clients in the Northeast with benefit selection, employee enrollment efforts, and the onboarding process.

Before coming to Alliant, Bell served as sales manager at Roofing Rochester, as an associate broker at Keller Williams Realty, Inc., sales director at US Employee Benefits Services Group and strategic benefits consultant at Brown & Brown Insurance.

Topics Alliant Employee Benefits
A Massachusetts orthopedic surgeon who prosecutors say was one of the top prescribers of opioid drugs in the state was sentenced in federal court in Boston for his role in a health care fraud scheme.

Dr. Olarewaju James Oladipo, of Canton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 16 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release.

In December 2023, Oladipo was convicted by a federal jury of 10 counts of health care fraud.

According to court documents, from approximately January 2016 through December 2019, Oladipo defrauded health care benefit programs by falsely billing for patient visits. Specifically, Oladipo used billing codes for more complexand thus more expensiveservices that were not provided. Oladipo falsified medical records of patient visits to reflect examinations and services that were not performed.

During the four-year period, Oladipo frequently billed for more than 60 patients per day and sometimes more than 100 patients per day. Prosecutors said the result was that many, if not most, of Oladipos patient visits on such days could have only lasted five minutes or less. However, Oladipo used billing codes that typically corresponded to visits of 15, 25, 30, or even 45 minutes.

Additionally, prosecutors say Oladipo ensured this high flow of patients to his practice by prescribing powerful, highly addictive opioids at a rate that made him one of the top prescribers of such drugs in Massachusetts. The evidence presented at trial showed that Oladipo knowingly prescribed oxycodone to patients suffering from opioid addiction, according to prosecutors.

The governments evidence included testimony of Oladipos former patients, Oladipos former employees, representatives of insurance payors, law enforcement officers (including an undercover agent who posed as a patient), and two expert witnesses.

Oladipo attempted to have certain evidence suppressed claiming it was obtained through unlawful searches but the judge denied that motion. The judge also denied motions for acquittal and a directed verdict in his favor.

Born in Nigeria, Oladipo received his initial medical training there and then in 1988 began further training and practiced in the United Kingdom. He and his wife emigrated to Boston in 1994 and he began his work in the U.S. as a clinical fellow at Boston Medical Center.

In his sentencing memorandum, he stressed that his career was as a physician in public hospitals, community health centers, and prisons, serving marginalized patients who had poor access to specialists, delays in their diagnoses, and could be denied treatment by physicians.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Health and Human Services Inspector General; and the U.S. Postal Inspector General were involved in the prosecution. They received assistance from the Massachusetts Attorney General; National Insurance Crime Bureau; and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Topics Massachusetts
New York can continue to require companies with health insurance plans to cover medically necessary abortions, the states highest court ruled Tuesday.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and other church groups challenged the rule, arguing that the policys exemption for religious employers was too narrow and would force some businesses to violate their religious freedoms.

State financial regulators approved the policy in 2017. The state Legislature then separately codified the abortion coverage regulation into law in 2022. The religious groups sued over the regulation, not the law.

The Court of Appeals case had larger significance because the states law could be challenged using a similar legal argument, if the religious groups were successful in their case against the regulation.

Arguments before the high court last month centered on whether the states criteria for religious exemptions were too vague and gave officials too much discretion to determine which companies wouldnt have to follow the rule.

The state defines a religious employer as one whose purpose is to spread religious values, primarily employs and serves people who share the same religious tenets, and is categorized as a religious nonprofit under federal law.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, called the ruling a critical step towards protecting these fundamental freedoms.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany said it would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

We believe this is unconstitutional since it involves government entanglement in the fundamental rights of free exercise of faith and conscience, a statement from the diocese read. The final decision on constitutionality will be by the United States Supreme Court.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New York
Courts around the world are hearing an ever-growing number of climate change lawsuits with some of the largest cases in history being decided in 2024 and 2025.

Here are the key cases to watch:

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ)

The worlds highest court is expected to issue a decision next year that will lay out U.N. member states obligations in addressing climate change.

The U.N. General Assembly asked the court last year to come up with an advisory opinion, following a four-year campaign by Vanuatu, a small Pacific island nation where a group of law students initially dreamed up the ICJ petition.

With scant precedent on climate change in international law, the ICJ opinion could draw on arguments from past regional and national court rulings.

Even a relatively conservative ruling asserting that one countrys emissions can harm another country could constitute a major victory for poor nations asking rich countries to pay more for climate action.

INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS (IACHR)

The climate case before the Inter-American Court is shaping up to be the largest climate case to date, drawing on 262 submitted legal briefs, more than 600 participants, and hearings in both Barbados and Brazil.

Considered one of the worlds more progressive courts, the IACHR could go further than its peers to set new legal rules and standards relating to national obligations around climate change.

For example, the judges advisory opinion could address special protections for environmental defenders facing violence, name fossil fuels specifically as a key culprit in climate change, or oblige states to regulate polluting companies.

The courts opinion is expected by the end of the year, and will immediately apply to its 20 member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE LAW OF THE SEA (ITLOS)

On Tuesday, the international ocean court ruled that greenhouse gas emissions absorbed by the ocean are a form of marine pollution, subject to international controls.

A representative for the small-island nations that brought the case hailed the decision as giving teeth to global climate change law.

The court said that states are legally obligated to take all measures necessary to limit the rise in the average global temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius of pre-industrial levels, the target set in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Countries are obliged to protect marine environments, even if they must go beyond the Paris requirements to do so, the court said.

EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS (ECtHR)

The European Court ruled in April that Switzerland had violated a group of 2,000 senior womens rights by not doing enough to combat climate change.

Unlike the other multilateral courts that are issuing advisory opinions, the European court case was a contentious lawsuit with a legally binding ruling that orders Switzerland to revise its climate policies.

The case establishes legal precedent for 46 countries that are signatories of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The European Court has seven similar cases on the docket including two that would directly impact Norways oil industry.

SOUTH KOREA CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

Asias first climate-related lawsuit in a national court joins together five different petitions into one megacase arguing that South Korea failed to protect more than 200 people from climate change.

The petitioners include young activists, children, infants and one individual who was a fetus at the time of legal filing.

AUSTRALIA: TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CLASS ACTION

An Australian federal court is hearing the first class-action lawsuit brought by Australian First Nations people, arguing the state has failed to protect them from climate change.

The plaintiffs live on the remote islands of Boigu and Saibai in the Torres Strait between Australia and Papua New Guinea. They argue that the countrys inaction on climate change means rising sea levels will destroy their homes and eventually lead to the disappearance of their islands under the waves.

(Reporting by Jake Spring; editing by Katy Daigle and Susan Fenton)
Lockton Caribbean & Central America (CCA) announced the launch of CCA FAB, the insurance broking industrys first Food, Agriculture & Beverage practice that focuses exclusively on the region.

The new Food, Agriculture & Beverage practice will deliver tailor-made insurance solutions to companies at all points on the value chain of these industries.

These offerings include bespoke liability insurance and contract review, crop insurance, stock throughput solutions, product liability and recall insurance, reputational damage insurance, and financial and professional coverages

Lockton CCA is the Miami-based wholesale insurance and reinsurance operation focused on the Caribbean & Central American region.

Lockton CCA has served many high-profile local and global food, agriculture and beverage companies with exposures in the region, including food distribution companies, distilleries, breweries, and soft drink manufacturers, on behalf of local independent brokers and insurers. The new CCA FAB practice, working as a wholesaler, will deliver new and innovative solutions designed for the food, agriculture, and beverage industry to these brokers and insurers to better serve their clients, Lockton said.

Lockton named Simon Arden and Mario Martinez as co-leaders of CCA FAB. They will jointly report to Julian Pratt, CEO of Lockton CCA, and Tony Matta, president of CCA. Arden and Martinez, insurance industry veterans with history and experience in the Caribbean and Central America, will work closely with Locktons global Food, Agriculture & Beverage practices in both London and the United States to help food, agriculture and beverage industry companies effectively manage their risk.

As the food, agriculture, and beverage sector in the Caribbean and Central America grows and evolves, businesses need tailored advice from brokers who understand the industry and the region, Arden said. Lockton CCA is excited to help deliver outside-the-box thinking and problem-solving to help industry participants manage their most critical operational, financial, and reputational risks and build competitively priced and responsive insurance programs.

Source: Lockton

Topics New Markets Agribusiness
The deadly turbulence on a Singapore Airlines Ltd. flight on its way from London to Singapore has put a spotlight on the worlds most unstable air routes.

A British man was killed and seven other people were critically injured after Singapore Air flight SQ321 encountered severe turbulence as it entered Thai airspace Tuesday, triggering an emergency landing in Bangkok.

While the most turbulent flights of all connect Santiago in Chile to Santa Cruz in Bolivia, there are similarly bumpy rides across the world, according to the turbli database. Flights leaving Tokyo dominate the list of the roughest long-haul services.

Strong turbulence is produced when air streams traveling at significantly different speeds come together. This is typically encountered at the boundaries of jet streams, over mountains and in certain cloud storms, according to the turbli website.

For instance, turbulence on the Santiago-Santa Cruz route is generated by winds from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean flowing almost perpendicular to the Andes. The equator is also a well-known region for turbulence because of strong upward currents and thunderstorm activity, turbli said. Japan has high levels of mountain- and ocean-induced turbulence.

The turbli website produced its rankings by analyzing 150,000 routes using data from UK and US government meteorological agencies.

Photograph: A passenger aircraft in flight; photo credit: Bloomberg Creative Photos/Bloomberg

Related:

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Aviation
Norfolk Southern NSC.N agreed to pay a $15 million civil penalty and $57.1 million in past government cleanup costs on Thursday, as well as millions in future costs to resolve a U.S. government lawsuit over a 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Under a proposed consent decree estimated to be worth more than $310 million, the railroad also agreed to significant safety improvements and training, which includes installing additional safety equipment. The railroad will also pay for medical monitoring for health impacts tied to the derailment and release of hazardous chemicals. The settlement will pay for treatment for individual medical needs stemming from the disaster, EPA said.

Norfolk Southern, which did not admit wrongdoing, said the deal means the company will face no criminal penalties and the settlement is included in the around $1.7 billion in related charges to date for the incident and said the settlement will not require it to take additional charges.

The U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency sued Norfolk Southern in March 2023 to ensure the railroad paid full cost of cleanup and any long-term effects of the derailment.

Under the settlement, Norfolk Southern will also reimburse EPA for future cleanup and other response costs. EPA estimates Norfolk Southern will spend an estimated $235 million for all past and future cleanup costs under the proposed consent decree subject to public comment and court approval.

The safety improvements include installing additional devices to detect overheated wheel bearings early enough to prevent derailments like the East Palestine incident. Norfolk Southern says under the agreement it will spend $244 million on safety initiatives through 2025.

Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw said the railroad was pleased we were able to reach a timely resolution of these investigations that recognizes our comprehensive response to the communitys needs and our mission to be the gold standard of safety in the rail industry.

The settlement includes $10-$15 million for continuing monitoring of groundwater and surface water bodies and a $25 million Community Health Program providing medical exams and mental health services for the community and first responders for up to 20 years.

The railroad previously has spent $780 million in environmental response and remediation costs.

Last month, Norfolk Southern agreed to pay $600 million to settle a class action lawsuit over the derailment. The settlement covers personal injury claims from residents and businesses in the city and impacted surrounding communities.

The incident sparked calls for railroad safety reforms in Congress but legislation has stalled.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Aurora Ellis)

Topics Ohio
Cyberattacks against water utilities across the country are becoming more frequent and more severe, the Environmental Protection Agency warned Monday as it issued an enforcement alert urging water systems to take immediate actions to protect the nations drinking water.

About 70% of utilities inspected by federal officials over the last year violated standards meant to prevent breaches or other intrusions, the agency said. Officials urged even small water systems to improve protections against hacks. Recent cyberattacks by groups affiliated with Russia and Iran have targeted smaller communities.

Some water systems are falling short in basic ways, the alert said, including failure to change default passwords or cut off system access to former employees. Because water utilities often rely on computer software to operate treatment plants and distribution systems, protecting information technology and process controls is crucial, the EPA said. Possible impacts of cyberattacks include interruptions to water treatment and storage; damage to pumps and valves; and alteration of chemical levels to hazardous amounts, the agency said.

In many cases, systems are not doing what they are supposed to be doing, which is to have completed a risk assessment of their vulnerabilities that includes cybersecurity and to make sure that plan is available and informing the way they do business, said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe.

Attempts by private groups or individuals to get into a water providers network and take down or deface websites arent new. More recently, however, attackers havent just gone after websites, theyve targeted utilities operations instead.

Recent attacks are not just by private entities. Some recent hacks of water utilities are linked to geopolitical rivals, and could lead to the disruption of the supply of safe water to homes and businesses.

McCabe named China, Russia and Iran as the countries that are actively seeking the capability to disable U.S. critical infrastructure, including water and wastewater.

Late last year, an Iranian-linked group called Cyber Av3ngers targeted multiple organizations including a small Pennsylvania towns water provider, forcing it to switch from a remote pump to manual operations. They were going after an Israeli-made device used by the utility in the wake of Israels war against Hamas.

Earlier this year, a Russian-linked hacktivist tried to disrupt operations at several Texas utilities.

A cyber group linked to China and known as Volt Typhoon has compromised information technology of multiple critical infrastructure systems, including drinking water, in the United States and its territories, U.S. officials said. Cybersecurity experts believe the China-aligned group is positioning itself for potential cyberattacks in the event of armed conflict or rising geopolitical tensions.

By working behind the scenes with these hacktivist groups, now these (nation states) have plausible deniability and they can let these groups carry out destructive attacks. And that to me is a game-changer, said Dawn Cappelli, a cybersecurity expert with the industrial cybersecurity firm Dragos Inc.

The worlds cyberpowers are believed to have been infiltrating rivals critical infrastructure for years planting malware that could be triggered to disrupt basic services.

The enforcement alert is meant to emphasize the seriousness of cyberthreats and inform utilities the EPA will continue its inspections and pursue civil or criminal penalties if they find serious problems.

We want to make sure that we get the word out to people that Hey, we are finding a lot of problems here,' McCabe said.

EPA did not say how many cyber incidents have occurred in recent years, and the number of attacks known to be successful so far is few. The agency has issued nearly 100 enforcement actions since 2020 regarding risk assessments and emergency response, but said thats a small snapshot of the threats water systems face.

Preventing attacks against water providers is part of the Biden administrations broader effort to combat threats against critical infrastructure. In February, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to protect U.S. ports. Health care systems have been attacked. The White House has pushed electric utilities to increase their defenses, too. EPA Administrator Michael Regan and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan have asked states to come up with a plan to combat cyberattacks on drinking water systems.

Drinking water and wastewater systems are an attractive target for cyberattacks because they are a lifeline critical infrastructure sector but often lack the resources and technical capacity to adopt rigorous cybersecurity practices, Regan and Sullivan wrote in a March 18 letter to all 50 U.S. governors.

Some of the fixes are straightforward, McCabe said. Water providers, for example, shouldnt use default passwords. They need to develop a risk assessment plan that addresses cybersecurity and set up backup systems. The EPA says they will train water utilities that need help for free. Larger utilities usually have more resources and the expertise to defend against attacks.

In an ideal world  we would like everybody to have a baseline level of cybersecurity and be able to confirm that they have that, said Alan Roberson, executive director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators. But thats a long ways away.

Some barriers are foundational. The water sector is highly fragmented. There are roughly 50,000 community water providers, most of which serve small towns. Modest staffing and anemic budgets in many places make it hard enough to maintain the basics  providing clean water and keeping up with the latest regulations.

Certainly, cybersecurity is part of that, but thats never been their primary expertise. So, now youre asking a water utility to develop this whole new sort of department to handle cyberthreats, said Amy Hardberger, a water expert at Texas Tech University.

The EPA has faced setbacks. States periodically review the performance of water providers. In March 2023, the EPA instructed states to add cybersecurity evaluations to those reviews. If they found problems, the state was supposed to force improvements.

But Missouri, Arkansas and Iowa, joined by the American Water Works Association and another water industry group, challenged the instructions in court on the grounds that EPA didnt have the authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act. After a court setback, the EPA withdrew its requirements but urged states to take voluntary actions anyway.

The Safe Drinking Water Act requires certain water providers to develop plans for some threats and certify theyve done so. But its power is limited.

Theres just no authority for (cybersecurity) in the law, Roberson said.

Kevin Morley, manager of federal relations with the American Water Works Association, said some water utilities have components that are connected to the internet  a common, but significant vulnerability. Overhauling those systems can be a significant and costly job. And without substantial federal funding, water systems struggle to find resources.

The industry group has published guidance for utilities and advocates for establishing a new organization of cybersecurity and water experts that would develop new policies and enforce them, in partnership with the EPA.

Lets bring everybody along in a reasonable manner, Morley said, adding that small and large utilities have different needs and resources.

Photo: The Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Cyberattacks against water utilities across the country are becoming more frequent and more severe, the Environmental Protection Agency warned. (AP Photo/Gene J Puskar, File)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Pollution
A coalition of U.S. business groups has filed a lawsuit seeking to block a Biden administration rule that would extend mandatory overtime pay to 4 million workers, saying it goes too far.

The groups filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas late on Wednesday claiming the U.S. Department of Labor lacked the power to adopt the rule and that it would force businesses to cut jobs and limit workers hours.

The Sherman, Texas-based court has two judges, one of whom in 2017 struck down a similar rule adopted by the Obama administration.

The rule would require employers to pay overtime premiums to workers who earn a salary of less than $1,128 per week, or about $58,600 per year, when they work more than 40 hours in a week.

sued the Department of Labor against a different rule regarding the classification of independent contractors. Earlier this year, other business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, alsoagainst a different rule regarding the classification of independent contractors.

The current threshold of about $35,500 per year was set by the Trump administration in a 2020 rule that advocacy groups and many Democrats have said does not cover enough workers.

The business groups in the lawsuit said the costs of complying with the new rule will force many smaller employers and non-profits operating on fixed budgets to cut critical programming, staffing, and services to the public.

The Labor Department declined to comment. In adopting the rule, the agency said that lower-paid salaried workers often do the same jobs as their hourly counterparts, but work more hours for no additional pay.

The groups involved in the lawsuit include the National Federation of Independent Business, the International Franchise Association and the National Retail Federation.

The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan, an appointee of Republican former President Donald Trump.

The only other judge in Sherman, U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant, in 2017 blocked a rule that would have raised the overtime salary threshold to about $47,000.

Mazzant said the cutoff was so high that it would sweep in some management employees who are not entitled to overtime pay under federal wage law.

The Departments 2024 Overtime Rule largely repeats the errors of the 2016 Rule and fails to address the flaws previously identified by this Court, the business groups said in their lawsuit.

Under the new rule, the salary threshold will increase to $43,888 on July 1 and to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025. And starting in 2027, the threshold will automatically increase every three years to reflect changes in average earnings.

Topics USA
LUFKIN, Texas (AP)  U.S. Highway 59, a major evacuation route from Houston, has been a problem for East Texas for decades. And as flooding rivaling that of Hurricane Harvey inundated the region in April, the highway closed in several places, cutting off a major evacuation route for countless people seeking shelter from the floods.

Plans to upgrade the highway, which stretches more than 600 miles through Texas from Laredo to Texarkana, to interstate standards have been on the books for decades. But the Texas Department of Transportation says it cannot guarantee that the billions of dollars being poured into the project will fix the flooding problem.

U.S. 59 was one of the issues during (hurricanes) Rita, Ike and Katrina, Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy said. So you think by now we would be committed to expanding that roadway.

Texas has poured millions of dollars over the past 30 years into upgrading parts of the highway to interstate standards  an effort known as the I-69 project  with the goal of relieving traffic congestion, supporting economic development, improving safety for travelers and upgrading a major evacuation route for the states most populous city.

Thus far, only the part of U.S. 59 that runs through Houston has been upgraded to interstate standards, with a minimum of two travel lanes in each direction, 12-foot lane widths and paved shoulders of a specific width on both sides.

Steps to upgrade the highway in other areas have focused on larger population centers, such as Lufkin and Nacogdoches.

Portions of U.S. 59 between Cleveland and Shepherd as well as between Shepherd and Livingston saw significant flooding in April. Those stretches of highway were closed multiple times between April 29 and May 4  then again when more heavy rain came the weekend of May 16  and are supposed to receive upgrades in the next four years.

Those sections are part of nearly $6 billion the state plans to pour into the highway over the next decade or more to upgrade the highway to interstate standards, address safety issues and cover basic maintenance. TxDOT says it has allocated $1.5 billion for projects already underway or that begin soon on U.S. 59. The agency has another $4.3 billion allocated for future projects scheduled to begin in the next four to 10 years.

But its unclear whether those upgrades will prevent the kind of flooding that submerged parts of the highway this spring and during Hurricane Rita in 2005 and Hurricane Ike in 2008.

TxDOT said the upgraded highway will be engineered to avoid flooding during a 100-year flood event. However, 100-year floods  which have a 1% chance of happening in any given year  have become more commonplace, as have 500-year floods  which are more severe and have a .2% chance of occurring in any given year.

For example, Hurricane Harvey in 2017 was the third 500-year flood to hit Houston in three years. Memorial Day floods in 2015 and 2016 were also classified as 500-year floods.

John Nielsen-Gammon, the states climatologist at Texas A&M University, warned that floods are becoming more extreme in Texas.

East Texas in general has experienced a large increase in extreme rainfall compared to last century, Nielsen-Gammon said. Part of that is due to climate change. Climate change has increased the intensity of very heavy rainfall across the southern U.S. by nearly 20%.

TxDOT would not say whether current improvement plans take into account warnings from climatologists of even more severe flooding to come due to climate change.

The projects being developed along the future I-69 corridor are designed to be serviceable for a 100-year flood event, however TxDOT cannot predict the amount of rain or potential flooding our lakes, rivers and streams could see in the future, said Rhonda Oaks, the public information officer for TxDOTs Lufkin District, where plans are currently underway to upgrade around a dozen miles of U.S. 59 to interstate standards.

Laura Butterbrodt, another TxDOT spokesperson, said the agency is currently developing the Statewide Resiliency Plan, which will specifically target critical routes for the most appropriate design, maintenance and operations to foster resilience.

The first draft will be available for review by the Resilience Steering Committee in June.

When the federal government authorized building 41,000 miles of interstate highways crisscrossing the nation in the 1950s, the federal government paid 90% of the cost, leaving the remaining 10% to the states.

But the I-69 project was not included in the original plans and didnt receive federal designation until the early 2000s, state Sen. Robert Nichols said. When completed, the interstate will stretch more than 2,600 miles across multiple states from the Texas-Mexico border to the Michigan-Canada border.

But each state along the proposed interstate highway is expected to cover the cost  not the federal government.

At present, there is no dedicated federal funding for the entire conversion of U.S. 59 to a future I-69 route through Texas, the Federal Highway Administration said in an email statement. It is up to the State (Texas Department of Transportation), to move projects forward.

___

This story was originally published by The Texas Tribune and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Texas Flood
Starting July 1, Florida insurance agents must have at least three appointments with authorized carriers before they can sell policies for the state-created Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

Thats the mandate laid down by Florida House Bill 1503, signed into law this month by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Upon the law becoming effective, Citizens will require each agent writing business with Citizens to hold at least three appointments with authorized insurers for each line of business, including personal residential, commercial residential and other commercial properties, reads a bulletin posted last week by Citizens.

Previous law required only one appointment for agents.

Agents who are unable to, or choose not to obtain the required appointments will lose the ability to write, service, or renew business in that line of authority, the bulletin notes.

Citizens will notify agents if they are in violation. At that point, agents will have to obtain appointments with other carriers or transfer their book of business to an eligible agent, Citizens said. A list of approved property insurance carriers can be seen here.

The law, which also allows surplus lines insurers to take out Citizens policies on secondary homes, is part of a continuing effort by lawmakers and regulators to trim the girth of Citizens and steer more business back to the private market  without actually removing the glidepath or statutory cap on Citizens rate increases. Citizens, by far the largest property insurer in Florida, reported 1.18 million policies in force at the end of April, a slight increase from March but down from the peak of 1.4 million policies in September 2023.

Citizens officials could not provide an estimate on the number of Florida agents who may be affected by the new rule, but some agents have estimated it could be more than 1,400.

The new requirement could be painful for some agents who have relied on Citizens and its often-lower premiums to cover properties in the stressed Florida market.

I would think it would be new agents that would be most affected  those that are trying to start their business and dont have many appointments, said Clayton Fischer, an agent with Blue Marlin Insurance, an agency in Miami that holds appointments with more than 15 carriers.

The logic behind the law is not disputed: More appointments give agents and insureds more choices when seeking or renewing coverage, agents have pointed out.

Its not a bad thing for consumers, said Karen Roeling, a commercial lines producer with Seibert Insurance Agency in Tampa. It gives more options.

If an agent is appointed only with one or two carriers, and one of those is Citizens, its more likely that the policyholder will end up with the corporation that was created to be something of an insurer of last resort for the state, she noted.

The whole deal is to keep policies out of Citizens, said David Thompson, an all-lines agent in Vero Beach.

The Florida Association of Insurance Agents B.G. Murphy said in a blog last week that the association had received many inquiries from agents about the new law. FAIA is communicating with Citizens leadership and will provide additional information as it becomes available, he noted.

Agents may have more options for appointments this year. Although more than a dozen carriers have gone insolvent or have pulled out of the Florida market in the last three years, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has approved at least eight new insurers so far this year, and more are expected.

Most of those are reciprocal exchange-type insurers, a business model that is still a new concept for some agents, Fischer said.

Topics Florida Agencies
A Los Angeles jury awarded $58 million to a train yard worker who slipped and fell on top of a train while performing electrical repairs at Kinkisharyo Internationals Palmdale train manufacturing yard.

According to the lawsuit, Pablo Scipione, 46, of Palmdale, was working as an independent contractor for Altech Services when he was called into work at 2 a.m. and told by his supervisor that the repairs had to be completed by 5 a.m. a.m. After taking only a few steps, he slipped and suffered a micro-fracture in his left foot.

Following the incident, Scipione went back to work the next day and worked full-time for nearly a year-and-a-half. Two months after his fall, he visited a foot doctor for the first time and received surgery, after which he was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome, a debilitating disease that reportedly forced him out of work.

The lawsuit says Kinkisharyo was responsible for ensuring every employees safety, but the defendant required a demanding pace of work that didnt take worker safety into account.

According to the complaint, the Kinkisharyos negligent attitude toward worker safety and unreasonable timeline to complete the repairs caused the mans injuries.

Throughout the trial, Kinkisharyo disputed liability, arguing the plaintiff was its employee and that he could only seek recovery for his injuries through the workers compensation system. The jury unanimously rejected that defense. The defense also disputed how the fall happened, how the plaintiff fractured his foot, the CRPS diagnoses and the nature and extent of every category of the plaintiffs damages.

The jury found in favor of the plaintiff and awarded compensatory damages of $54,158,431.00, and $4,200,000 in punitive damages.

Scipione was represented by Alexander R. Wheeler and Khail A. Parris of PARRIS Law Firm. Kinkisharyo was represented by Bradford DeJarin and Patricia Ball Alberts of Husch Blackwell.

The case is Pablo Scipione v. Kinkisharyo International LLC.

Not only did the jury recognize our clients suffering, they also sent a strong signal to Kinkisharyo by awarding punitive damages, Wheeler said.
May 23, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Analysts are eagerly watching the imminent decision by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the approval of a spot Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF). Recent regulatory developments have significantly increased the price of Ethereum, which has surged by over 25% this week, reaching a peak of $3,840.00. Major financial firms like Franklin Templeton, Fidelity, and VanEck have updated their ETF applications following feedback from the SEC, which is seen as a significant step forward in the approval process. Additionally, including a VanEck ETF on the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) website suggests that trading could be imminent.

The potential impact of an Ethereum ETF approval on the cryptocurrency market is of great interest to analysts. It is anticipated that such approval could significantly influence the price of Ethereum. However, some experts caution that the market's reaction might differ from that observed with Bitcoin due to market structure and investor base differences. The deadline for the SEC's decision on the Ethereum ETF is Thursday, May 23, a crucial moment for the future of this cryptocurrency.

Activity among fund managers has been intense recently, with renowned firms like BlackRock and Fidelity making amendments to their Ethereum ETF applications with the SEC. These actions reflect a growing interest in launching an Ethereum ETF in the United States, an initiative that could transform the cryptocurrency market landscape. The SEC's imminent decision on these submissions is highly anticipated by the financial sector.

Despite initial beliefs that the SEC would not approve cryptocurrency funds by the May deadline, recent rumors suggest a possible change in stance. This speculation has been enough to drive up the price of Ethereum, which has seen a 30% increase over the past seven days. The optimism surrounding a potential approval reflects investor confidence in Ethereum's prospects and its growing acceptance in traditional finance.

The emergence of a spot Ethereum ETF represents a significant milestone for the cryptocurrency, opening the door to greater participation from institutional and retail investors. The trading of this type of fund could facilitate access to Ethereum, promoting greater adoption and stability in the market. However, analysts also emphasize the importance of clear and consistent regulation to ensure the success and sustainability of these financial instruments.

In conclusion, the SEC's decision to approve a spot Ethereum ETF is a pivotal event that could transform the cryptocurrency market. Recent regulatory developments and the market's positive response reflect growing optimism. However, the final market reaction and the long-term impact of this decision will depend on various factors, including the ETF's structure and investor response. As the May 23 deadline approaches, analysts and investors are focused on the SEC, whose verdict could mark a turning point for Ethereum and the cryptocurrency market at large.

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1. Furiosa (May 24, cinemas)

Anya Taylor-Joy is front and centre in the latest Mad Max saga from edgy filmmaker George Miller. The action-heavy plot centres on how the young Furiosa battles to make her way home amid a fight for dominance between two fierce tyrants. Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burke bring the fisticuffs.

Young Woman and the Sea

2. Young Woman and the Sea (May 31, Disney+)

In 1926, a young woman named Trudy Ederle made history by becoming the first woman ever to swim across the English Channel. Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley swaps her lightsaber for her swimsuits in playing the real-life character who broke down barriers for women in sport.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

3. Bad Boys: Ride or Die (June 5, cinemas)

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence join forces for their fourth outing in the action series. This time around, theyre taking on corruption in the Miami PD, where a top-ranking officer has been accused of working with drug cartels. Expect badass swaggers, explosions and car crashes a-plenty.

Glen Powell in Hit Man.

4. Hit Man (June 7, Netflix)

Richard Linklater, the director who brought us such powerful dramas as Boyhood and Before Sunrise, is out to bring audiences some dark humour in this thriller. Described as a sunlit neo noir, it stars Glen Powell as a strait-laced lecturer with a secret - he moonlights as a fake hit man. Working undercover for police, he aims to expose those planning to bump off their rivals - until a steamy romance threatens to get in the way.

Inside Out 2

5. Inside Out 2 (June 14, cinemas)

One of the most-beloved movies in animation giant Pixars back catalogue is getting a sequel. We are back inside the mind of Riley, now in her teens, as her regular emotions are upended even further by the arrival of some unfamiliar ones. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust have been running a smoothish operation, until Anxiety shows up - and theyre not alone.

The Bikeriders

6. The Bikeriders (June 21, cinemas)

Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy star in this drama set around a renegade motorcycle gang in 1960s Chicago. Amid a backdrop of enormous political and social change in America, Hardy plays the charismatic leader of The Vandals as the club threatens to evolve into a much darker place. The movie is the latest from Jeff Nichols, the filmmaker who previously brought us Mud and Take Shelter.

7. Kinds of Kindness (June 28, cinemas)

Maverick filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos is reunited with his Poor Things star Emma Stone for his latest, which had its world premiere at this years Cannes Film Festival. The story, told in three parts, revolves around a man trying to control his life, a policeman whose wife seems different, and a woman searching for someone with special abilities.

Irelands Element Pictures are again producing Lanthimoss feature, which has drawn a starry cast including Jesse Plemons, Margaret Qualley and Joe Alwyn.

A Quiet Place: Day One

8. A Quiet Place: Day One (June 28, cinemas)

Following the success of the first two films, writer John Krasinski is bringing audiences a spin-off prequel. As the title suggests, the film is expected to tell of the initial events that made humans go quiet in a bid for survival. Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou and Lupita Nyongo bring the scares.

MaXXXine

9. MaXXXine (July 5, cinemas)

Horror movies are always a draw in the summer months, and British actress Mia Goth takes the lead here, heading a cast that includes Lily Collins and Elizabeth Debicki. Set in 1980s Hollywood, Goth plays a wannabe adult film star who lands her high-profile break. Unfortunately for her, fame comes at the precise time that an anonymous killer is stalking the starlets of Hollywood. Director Ti West has told how the film draws inspiration from Terminator.

10. Despicable Me 4 (July 12, cinemas)

Steve Carells Gru returns for the latest movie in the hugely successful series, which has also spawned spin-offs for their true stars, the Minions. This time out, Gru and his clan welcome a new member - Gru Jr - to their family. Hes fully committed to tormenting his dad, who faces a bigger challenge from the dastardly Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend, Valentina. Carell, Will Ferrell and Sofia Vergara bring their most colourful voices.

Twisters

11. Twisters (July 19, cinemas)

The disaster movie - long a staple of the cinematic summer but less prevalent in recent years - makes a comeback in this movie from Lee Isaac Chung (Minari). Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell are among the cast in this tale, which sets its stars against natures most-powerful elements. The filmmakers have described the movie as a standalone rather than a reboot of the 1990s hit, Twister.

12. Deadpool and Wolverine (July 24, cinemas)

Two of cinemas most boisterous comic-book characters cross paths in the upcoming superhero movie based on the popular Marvel characters. The duo join forces to take on a common enemy. Director Shawn Levy (Free Guy) will seek to milk movie magic from a cast that includes Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman and The Crowns Emma Corrin.

Cate Blanchett in Borderlands

13. Borderlands (August 9)

Best known for his horror films, director Eli Roth turns to a blend of sci-fi, action and comedy with his latest tale. It revolves around Lilith (a flame-haired Cate Blanchett), an infamous bounty hunter who returns to her home planet to crack a prolific missing-persons case. To do so she assembles a team of misfits including a seasoned mercenary (Kevin Hart) and an oddball scientist (Jamie Lee Curtis).

14. Trap (August 9, cinemas)

Mystery maestro M Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense) brings his latest to the big screen. Though plot details are being kept under wraps, the story centres on a father and his teenage daughter, who attend a pop concert and discover they have been unwittingly drawn into a sinister and dangerous event. Josh Hartnett and Ariel Donoghue star.

15. Kneecap (August 23, cinemas)

Northern Irelands most-talked about rappers have already brought their movie debut to the worlds festival circuit. Now Irish audiences will get to see what the buzz is about as the film sees out the summer. Based around the origin story of the riotous Irish-language rap trio Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai, the movie also stars a cast that includes Michael Fassbender and Simone Kirby. Set in west Belfast in 2019, it chronicles how fate brings the trio together.
Gavin Higgins was watching the TV in his home, a converted 60-year-old former RNLI boat called The Lilly Wainwright, when a loud boom alerted him to what he described as a tornado bearing down on him from across Drakes Pool in Crosshaven.
Israel has warned there will be "severe consequences" following Ireland, Spain, and Norway's formal recognition of a Palestinian state.

It is understood Israel will now impose similar restrictions to those rolled out when Sweden recognised a Palestinian state in 2014  this included an isolation of the country's ambassador, the severing of contact between the leaders of both countries and curtailment of political visits, including to Gaza.

State-owned broadcaster KAN reported that Israel intends to isolate and "boycott" diplomats from countries that recognise a Palestinian state.

Making the historic announcement yesterday, Taoiseach Simon Harris said recognising the state of Palestine is the "right thing" to do as the people of Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel deserve "a future filled with hope, a future defined by success instead of suffering. A future of peace."

Mr Harris said Ireland was sending a message to those in Palestine who advocate and work for a future of peace and democracy.

"We fully respect your aspirations to be living freely, in control of your own affairs and under your own leadership," he said.

However, Israel immediately described the joint move by Ireland, Spain and Norway as a prize for terrorism and recalled its Ambassador to Ireland Dana Elrich.

Irish Ambassador Sonya McGuinness, as well as her Spanish and Norwegian counterparts, have also been summoned to the Israeli foreign ministry, with Minister Israel Katz warning: Israel will not remain silent  there will be further severe consequences."

Irish officials had flagged the plans with Israeli counterparts ahead of the announcement. It is understood that Israel had called on Ireland to only recognise Palestine after Hamas released hostages still detained in Gaza, however, it was made clear that there would be no conditionality attached to the move.

Senior government sources said that this suggestion was never considered as "we have always been unequivocal that hostages need to be released".

Ireland also flagged its plans with the United States, but sources said that the reaction had been "fairly neutral" from Washington.

Minister Eamon Ryan, Taoiseach Simon Harris, and Tanaiste Micheal Martin speak to the media after announcing Ireland will recognise the state of Palestine. Picture: Damien Storan /PA

A White House National Security Council spokesperson yesterday said that President Joe Biden is a "strong supporter" of a two-state solution, but added that a Palestinian state should be realised through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition".

The formal announcement will see Ireland recognise the 1967 borders of Israel and Palestine, but sources stressed that the Government here does not recognise Hamas as a government and again described the group as a terrorist organisation.

Reflecting the same language used by Ireland in 1919 when this country sought international recognition, Mr Harris said the Government is formally recognising Palestine "because we believe in freedom and justice as the fundamental principles of international law, and because we believe that permanent peace can only be secured upon the basis of the free will of a free people."

During a phone call with the Taoiseach last night, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described the move as a beacon of hope to the Palestinian people.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin, who had been working with like-minded countries on the move since late last year, said the Government had hoped to recognise Palestine as part of a two-state peace deal but instead decided to press ahead with the announcement "to keep the hope of that two-state solution alive".

Mr Martin is set to discuss an Arab Peace Vision with 40 Arab and European leaders at an event in Brussels on Sunday, where he is also expected to have further contact with other countries that may also move to recognise Palestine in the coming weeks and months.

"We also emphasise that todays announcement does not in any way diminish our recognition of Israels right to exist. Instead, it should represent a first step towards the establishment of a two-state solution, which represents both Israel and Palestines best hope for a peaceful future," the Tanaiste said.
The PSNI is facing a 750,000 (881,497) fine for failing to protect the personal information of its workforce.

The service described the fine as regrettable given the financial pressures it faces as it highlighted measures it has taken since personal details of thousands of officers were released online.

Data relating to all 9,483 PSNI officers and staff was included in a spreadsheet published online last August in response to a freedom of information request.

The list included the surname and first initial of every employee, their rank or grade, where they are based and the unit in which they work.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said no disciplinary action is being taken against anyone involved (Liam McBurney/PA)

Police later said the information had got into the hands of dissident republicans.

In the aftermath of the leak, some officers chose to relocate their homes, cut contact with family members, and change daily routines.

The fine has been proposed by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), which said the breach was a potentially life-threatening incident which caused untold anxiety and distress.

However, the ICO said it was using discretion to significantly reduce the fine to ensure public money is not diverted from other areas of need.

Had the public sector approach not been applied, this provisional fine would have been set at 5.6m (6.5m).

The ICO investigation has provisionally found the PSNIs internal procedures and sign-off protocols for the safe disclosure of information were inadequate.

Simple procedures would have ensured this potentially life-threatening incident did not happen in the first place

The controversy contributed to the resignation of then-chief constable Simon Byrne and led the PSNI and Policing Board to commission a review.

Mr Byrnes successor said the error, which could potentially cost 240m (282m) in security and compensation payouts, was due to a systems failure.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher also said no disciplinary action is being taken against anyone involved.

Announcing the fine, UK Information Commissioner John Edwards said: The sensitivities in Northern Ireland and the unprecedented nature of this breach created a perfect storm of risk and harm  and show how damaging poor data security can be.

Throughout our investigation, we heard many harrowing stories about the impact this avoidable error has had on peoples lives  from having to move house, to cutting themselves off from family members and completely altering their daily routines because of the tangible fear of threat to life.

And whats particularly troubling to note is that simple and practical-to-implement policies and procedures would have ensured this potentially life-threatening incident, which has caused untold anxiety and distress to those directly affected as well as their families, friends and loved ones, did not happen in the first place.

The PSNI has also been issued with a preliminary enforcement notice which requires it to improve the security of personal information when responding to FOI requests.

The Commissioners findings are provisional, and his office is to consider any representations PSNI make before making a final decision on the fine amount and the requirements in the enforcement notice.

Reacting to the fine, deputy chief constable Chris Todd said the the PSNI accepted the notice to impose the penalty and is taking steps to implement recommend changes.

In a statement, he said: Todays announcement by the ICO that they intend to fine us 750,000 (881,497) following the data loss of August 8 2023 is regrettable, given the current financial constraints we are facing and the challenges we have, given our significant financial deficit to find the funding required to invest in elements of the requisite change.

We will make representations to the ICO regarding the level of the fine before they make their final decision on the amount and the requirements in their enforcement notice.

Deputy Chief Constable Chris Todd (Liam McBurney/PA)

He said the service had worked tirelessly to introduce measures for affected officers and staff, including crime prevention advice.

Mr Todd said 90% of named individuals in the data set took up an offer of 500 (587) towards equipment or items for their own particular safety needs.

He added: An investigation to identify those who are in possession of the information and criminality linked to the data loss continues.

Detectives have conducted numerous searches and have made a number of arrests as part of this investigation.

The PSNIs oversight body said it is awaiting an update on the implementation of recommendations it made in the wake of the data breach.

Following a meeting with the ICO, the chair of the NI Policing Board said: The Board remains profoundly aware of the personal and professional impact that the 8 August data breach has had on officers and staff.

The Board has continued to engage with both PSNI and staff associations over the last nine months to assess the ongoing effects of the breach and we welcome the actions taken by PSNI to mitigate the immediate impact and support those affected.

Chair of the Northern Ireland Policing Board Mukesh Sharma (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mukesh Sharma added: The board will continue to monitor the timely implementation of these recommendations alongside any additional recommendations made by the Information Commissioners Office.

Mr Todd said 14 of the 37 recommendations have been implemented, including the establishment of a Strategic Data Board and Data Delivery Group as well as his new role as Senior Information Risk Owner.
Irish Dancings governing body An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha (CLRG) has confirmed that it "will not be pursuing further disciplinary action" against individuals accused of "historical wrongdoing" at Irish dancing competitions.

According to the CLRG, the decision was taken by Coiste Faire, the organisation's ethics committee, and those involved are "now being contacted concerning this decision."

Back in October 2022, allegations were made against the CLRG in relation to alleged competition fixing.

Disciplinary hearings followed the allegations, and independent external panels examined complaints against over 40 individuals who were allegedly involved in attempts to fix higher marks for students.

The individuals concerned were suspended from judging competitions at this time.

By February of this year, the CLRG confirmed that the first ten disciplinary hearings were due to be heard and concluded by the middle of March.

However, on Wednesday night, the CLRG confirmed that no further disciplinary action would be pursued.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the organisation said: "Ensuring fair competition and effective adjudication at CLRG competitions has always been a key priority.

Enhanced competition and adjudication procedures were introduced in advance of the 2023 All Ireland Championships, that continue to be strictly adhered to and enforced at all CLRG competitions.

According to the spokesperson, "the procedure for selecting adjudicators for competitions has also been strengthened, with all registered 2,300 CLRG teachers and members now having a vote in the process."

The organisation said it is "undergoing a modernisation and transformation process" guided by the recommendations of an independent strategic review that took place last year.

A new managing director has also been appointed, with "further changes expected in the near future", including the development of a new, robust disciplinary code of practice.
The HSE has issued a measles exposure warning to passengers who were onboard a London Gatwick to Dublin flight last week.

People who were on the Ryanair flight FR123 from London Gatwick to Dublin on Thursday, May 16 at 8:10pm are asked to be particularly vigilant for symptoms until June 7, as the 21 days from exposure will expire.
Ireland's ambassador to Israel has been reprimanded by the country's foreign ministry and shown videos of Hamas hostage-taking in response to Ireland's recognition of Palestine.

Israel has recalled its ambassador to Ireland following the decision on Wednesday to recognise Palestinian statehood.

Israel called in the ambassadors of Ireland, Norway, and Spain, who met with Foreign Ministry director-general Yaakov Blitshtein.

The Jerusalem Post reports the three were shown a short video released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum depicting the moment five of the remaining 132 hostages were taken captive last October.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said that Sonya McGuinness had met with Israeli officials, but that no details of any specific retaliation by Israel had been made clear.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs can confirm that Irelands ambassador in Israel attended a meeting in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, alongside her Spanish and Norwegian colleagues.

The meeting included a forthright exchange of views on the issue of recognition of the State of Palestine, but did not include detail of any specific measures to follow as a consequence.

The meeting followed the release of a 19-second video by the Israeli Foreign Ministry that spliced footage of Hamas fighters with Irish traditional music.

Ireland, if your goal was to reward terrorism by declaring support for a Palestinian state, youve achieved it, the Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz said.

"@SimonHarrisTD, Hamas thanks you for your service.

Speaking on CNN's Amanpour programme, Taoiseach Simon Harris said that this video would not distract from the real issues in Gaza.

Mr Harris said that there was "never the wrong time to do the right thing" and that he would not tolerate "any country misrepresenting the position of the Irish people".

Mr Harris said that he does not wish to see Israel isolated, but said that the government of Israel should "listen" to other nations arguing for an immediate cessation of fighting in Gaza.

Taoiseach Simon Harris speaking during a press conference outside Government buildings on Wednesday, as Ireland recognised the state of Palestine.

He said that this position is the unanimous view of European nations and leaders.

The Government still expects more countries to join it in recognising Palestinian statehood, despite the Israeli reaction.

Senior government sources said that countries which had been considering joining the Irish, Norwegian, and Spanish leaders in doing so would will have "factored in the Israeli reaction" and would not have been surprised to see the recall of Israeli ambassador Dana Erlich from Dublin.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces killed at least 38 Palestinians in aerial and ground bombardments across the Gaza Strip on Thursday and battled in close combat with Hamas-led militants in areas of the southern city of Rafah, health officials and Hamas media said.
Staff at the Metropole Hotel in Cork alerted gardai about a visitor trashing the room in which he was staying, a court has heard, and the guest has since paid 1,500 compensation for the damage he caused.

The matter which occurred in February last year has just come to light at Cork District Court where Jonathan Healy, 34, with an address at 25 Hazel Road, Togher, Cork, was prosecuted for causing criminal damage to a bedroom.

He pleaded guilty to the crime and Sergeant John Kelleher gave an outline of the offence for Judge Mary Dorgan. On February 8, 2023, Garda Kian OSullivan attended the Metropole Hotel following a report that the guests in a room were in the process of trashing the accommodation.

They found a large amount of damage  broken chairs, smashed glass, a large amount of stains on the carpeting, and beds were in disarray. Jonathan Healy exited the bathroom and immediately squared up to Garda OSullivan, pushing him once in the chest.

He violently resisted arrest, attempting to strike gardai with his fists. He had to be pepper-sprayed and handcuffed and he continued to be aggressive and attempted to kick gardai while waiting for transport to Gurranabraher garda station.

The cost of replacement of furnishings and cleaning amounted to 1,500.

Defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said on the defendants behalf: He made fulsome admissions when interviewed by gardai. He was profuse in his apologies and undertook to pay the damages, which he has done.

He booked in to the hotel for a night out with a friend, shall we say. They had alcohol. The alcohol was excessive. There was an argument in the confines of the hotel and there was this damage. It was immediately detected because of the noise factor.

It was furniture damage rather than any structural damage. He accepted without hesitation what he had done. He is in full-time employment. He has made up his difficulties with the party in question. And he put together the 1,500.

Judge Mary Dorgan said in relation to the payment of compensation: It is just as well because otherwise he would be going straight to jail. I will look for a probation report at this stage and find out if there is anything more he needs to do to stay out of trouble.

The judge then adjourned the sentencing until September 18 to allow time for preparation of the probation report.
There aren't many times that you can group the voters of Corca Dhuibhne and Greystones, of Hook Head and Thomondgate, of Gurranabraher and Urlingford, but the European elections offer us a lot of unique opportunities.

Ireland South spans 10 counties and goes coast to coast from Kerry to Wicklow and Clare to Wexford. Having lost Laois and Offaly, the constituency is now effectively the lower third of the island and will take in more than 1.8 million people, or 371,000 for each one of its five MEPs.

Dr Niamh Hourigan, Labour candidate for Ireland South in the EU elections, is a Sociologist and Vice-President of Academic Affairs at Mary Immaculate College. Picture: Daragh McSweeney/Provision

The landscape in Ireland South has shifted slightly with Fine Gael's Deirdre Clune deciding to retire from politics rather than contest another election, leaving one of the seats open. The four remaining MEPs  Fine Gael's Sean Kelly, Fianna Fail's Billy Kelleher, the Green Party's Grace O'Sullivan and independent Mick Wallace  will all be back for another shot at Europe.

That quarter will be joined by no less than 19 other candidates, a slate that will include two sitting TDs, a sitting senator, a party leader, a UCC professor, an immigration lawyer, a former ICMSA head and a number of high-profile far-right activists.

It is a crowded field, a large constituency and some big names could be in line to miss out.

THE INCUMBENTS

Four of the five MEPs will return, each with records in Europe that they will point to as evidence that they should be given five more years to shuttle between Brussels and Strasbourg, arguing and negotiating in the EU maze.

In the Fine Gael corner, Mr Kelly will look to retain the seat that he has held since 2009. He was originally tapped up to run for the party by then-leader Enda Kenny, whose wife Fionnuala is a first cousin of Mr Kelly, after he had finished up as President of the GAA.

When Ms Clune decided she would not return, Mr Kelly said he was up for another tilt at Brussels and Strasbourg. "That's the plan. I have been asked by the party and am willing to do so. I'm here in Brussels and have a job of work to do and keep doing.

"I didn't get the flu bug, the covid bug, or the retirement bug," he added, though he has been at the centre of Fine Gael's friction with its European grouping, the European People's Party. That friction increased in March when all five Fine Gael MEPs voted in favour of the Nature Restoration Law in the European Parliament, something the EPP sought to derail.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, MEP Sean Kelly said the EPP was not happy with Fine Gaels position. "We did go against the group and they werent happy because our votes were crucial but we were right."

The Ireland South MEP was not appointed to go to Dubai last December to attend Cop28 despite being rapporteur for the EPP group to lead a directive that sought to modernise EU buildings to make them fit for a greener and more digital society. Although it cannot be proved, it is believed he was not sent due to his voting record on the NRL.

Billy Kelleher is now the vice-chair of the EU Delegation for relations with the US, and is a member of the Economic Committee at the parliament. Photo: Leah Farrell/ RollingNews.ie

Billy Kelleher of Fianna Fail spent 22 years as a TD for Cork North Central before running for Europe, though he did originally lose his selection convention to now-Senator Malcolm Byrne. At the time, he was rumoured to have been at odds with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and party headquarters officials over his decision to seek the MEP candidate selection, a claim publicly denied by all involved.

Mr Kelleher is now the vice-chair of the EU Delegation for relations with the US, and is a member of the Economic Committee at the parliament. In 2020, he apologised for having flew from the Belgian capital to attend the Dail sitting in the Convention Centre Dublin which saw his party leader elected Taoiseach. In 2022, he and Senator Timmy Dooley travelled to the Ukrainian city of Lviv to meet with political representatives at the outbreak of the Russian invasion.

Independents 4 Change MEP Mick Wallace has been arguably the constituency's most controversial representative over the last few years.

In March of last year, Mr Wallace was one of 13 MEPs who voted against an EU resolution condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine, having voted against a 2022 motion which called for harsher sanctions and increased military support for Ukraine, but also called for countries to "massively increase their military assistance, particularly in the areas where it is requested by the Ukrainian Government, in order to allow Ukraine to regain full control over its entire internationally recognised territory and successfully defend itself against any further aggression by Russia".

The resolution was passed with 504 votes in favour, 26 against and 36 abstentions, with Mr Wallace and Clare Daly supporting an amendment which "regrets the absence of EU diplomatic initiatives".

Mick Wallace was one of 13 MEPs who voted against an EU resolution condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Wallace said that he did not vote against a condemnation of Russian aggression, saying that he has done so frequently. He said that adding weapons to the Ukrainian war was not the right move.

"When we vote against a resolution, it isn't because...to say that we voted against the resolution condemning Russia's invasion, that's actually not true. That's a complete distortion of the reality. We voted against the resolution, because it contains a whole lot of stuff that we disagree with. Like for example, it calls on member states to massively increase their military assistance.

"We don't believe that pouring more weapons into Ukraine is a good idea. We think more Ukrainians will die and it's going to have a terrible impact on an awful lot of people."

In 2021, the pair defended a trip to visit an Iraqi militia. The two had visited a brigade headquarters of Hashed al-Shaabi in Iraq to criticise American foreign policy in the region. Footage of the visit was used in a YouTube video to promote the group. Fianna Fail senator Malcolm Byrne called the visit "an embarrassment to Ireland".

The Green Party's Grace O'Sullivan is a veteran of the Greenpeace movement, having been a member of the original Rainbow Warrior when it was bombed in New Zealand in 1985 by French Intelligence. A 2014 profile of the MEP talks about how she once climbed up the anchor chain of a Russian nuclear warship.

Environmental and humanitarian issues are at the forefront of Grace O'Sullivan's work in Brussels.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, she has put environmental and humanitarian issues at the forefront of her work in Brussels, acting as the lead reporter on files related to conservation, an EU action plan on climate and on the protection of the Southern Bluefin Tuna.

Ms O'Sullivan was the Greens-European Free Alliance political grouping on a new directive that could see single-use sachets of ketchup in fast-food restaurants and plastic wrapping on fruit and vegetables done away with.

THE ISSUES

Across the constituency, the issues are as varied as its many counties.

In urban areas, health and housing are cited as major concerns, while some candidates say that immigration is the leading concern. Recently released figures show that between them, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Clare have taken in around 15,000 Ukrainians and 4,000 or so international protection applicants.

Perhaps reflecting Ireland at large, there is little talk of the final shape of the European parliament, or what the Germans call the spitzenkandidat  the idea that MEPs effectively elect the next President of the European Commission. Much of what comes up on the doors, candidates say, reflects the local concern more than the European.

On the European end, there is a large part of the constituency in the southeast where there is a feeling that Europe has somewhat left them behind. Indeed, as recently as October, Taoiseach Simon Harris said that the "southeast is no longer left behind" when he opened the Wexford campus of the South East Technological University.

THE BREAKDOWN

There are as many variables in this contest as there are candidates, with everything from geography to place on the political spectrum to order of eliminations set to dictate how things go when the counting starts in Nemo Rangers.

The Irish Times/Ipsos poll published last Saturday shows Fine Gael's Sean Kelly holds a commanding 23% of support, with Fianna Fail's Billy Kelleher on 18% and Sinn Fein's Kathleen Funchion on 11%. Fianna Fail's Cynthia Ni Mhurchu is on 7%, Sinn Fein's Paul Gavan is on 6% and Labour's Niamh Hourigan is on 5%.

Cynthia Ni Mhurchu was added to Fianna Fail's European ticket in Ireland South in March. Photo: Gareth Chaney

Independent Michael McNamara, Fine Gael's John Mullins and Ireland First's Derek Blighe each follow on 4%, with the Green's Grace O'Sullivan and independent Mick Wallace on 3%, and Social Democrat Susan Doyle on 2%. All other candidates lie on 1% or less.

That fragmentation suggests that it will take some time before the final shake-up is known. Fianna Fail's 25% would put it in with a chance of taking two seats, but it would need to be strong on transfers.

Fine Gael took two last time out with around 30% of the vote across three candidates. Fine Gael would need to have Mr Mullins much higher to realistically have a chance, though a Sunday Independent poll put him on 6% and Mr Kelly on 14%.

That second poll was also much better reading for Mr McNamara, who lies fourth on 8% of votes.

Sources within a number of campaigns have cautioned reading too much into either poll, arguing that the constituency's size makes getting a read on it difficult and saying that many people will not decide their votes until the week of the poll.

Susan Doyle, who has been selected as the Social Democrat's European Elections candidate for Ireland South. Photo: Gareth Chaney

But whatever way you look at it, there are two incumbents who look relatively safe  Mr Kelly and Mr Kelleher  and two who look in real danger, Mr Wallace and Ms O'Sullivan.

That would leave three seats to be gained with Ms Funchion and Mr McNamara expected to be in the final shake-up. If they're right, that final seat could be the one to keep us all watching Ireland South for many days.

The Candidates

With four incumbents for five seats, that leaves 19 hopefuls in a crowded field that promises a long, long count and, wherein the order of eliminations could decide as much as the first preference votes.

For the parties which have MEPs, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have added running mates, with the Greens opting not to.

John Mullins

Businessman and entrepreneur John Mullins will join Sean Kelly on the ticket, hoping that his links to Cork can help him hold the seat currently held by Deirdre Clune.

Mr Mullins, 56, a former CEO of Bord Gais and the Port of Cork but who has spent the last decade building his renewables firm, Amarenco, has been a key strategist for the party since his student days.

He worked in senior positions in the ESB, PwC, NTR Plc, Greenstar and Bioverda, before he was appointed chief executive of Bord Gais in 2007.

He told the Irish Examiner: You only get one opportunity at life, and Ive done a lot to date but I felt now, this is the right time for me to do this.

I have spent the last few months discussing with family and friends the idea of standing for election and I only decided in recent days to throw my hat in the ring."

His addition to the ticket came amid speculation that Fine Gael had struggled to find someone based in the Rebel County to run. It is understood former Cork hurler Sean Og O hAilpin was sounded out to see if he would be interested in running, but declined.

Cynthia Ni Mhurchu

Fianna Fail added former RTE journalist Cynthia Ni Mhurchu in March. Ms Ni Mhurchu started her career as a primary school teacher in her native Carlow and currently works as a barrister.

She has previously worked as a bilingual broadcaster and journalist for a range of media organisations, including RTE, Raidio na Gaeltachta, the Sunday Independent and the Sunday Tribune, and co-hosted the Riverdance Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1994.

Paul Gavan

For Sinn Fein, it will run one candidate from each of the Houses of the Oireachtas. In December, the party announced Senator Paul Gavan as its candidate in Ireland South.

Mr Gavan, a Labour Panel senator from Limerick, has served in the Seanad since 2016. He is a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Seanad spokesperson on workers' rights.

Kathleen Funchion

He will be joined by Carlow-Kilkenny TD Kathleen Funchion.

She is the partys spokesperson on Children, Equality and Disability. She was first elected as a TD in 2016 having served on the Kilkenny county council from 2009 to 2016. She first contested the European elections in 2009 in the old East constituency and finished fifth, having taken 6.2% of the first preference vote.

Sinn Fein's Kathleen Funchion is expected to be in the final shake-up for a seat. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

She said that her candidacy would focus on issues in the southeast.

"In making the decision to contest I was conscious that it is time that the interests of the southeast are properly represented and that this region has a voice to ensure that it is not ignored in terms of investment and economic development as it has often been."

Michael McNamara

Another TD on the ballot will be Michael McNamara, a former Labour TD, now independent from Clare. He confirmed his candidacy for the Ireland South constituency last month.

He said that he believes that Europe must "work for Ireland" and has focused on the issue of immigration in recent months.

Announcing his candidacy he said: "When the Irish people voted for greater integration of the European Union, they voted to opt out of justice / immigration measures for reasons as valid now as then. This government is intent on ceding these key areas of national sovereignty to Brussels. Thats why, more than ever, we will need representation in Europe asking the difficult questions."

Mr McNamara was elected as an independent in 2020 having lost his seat in 2016. In 2018, he won an appeal against a conviction for dangerous driving against him on the same night that he was pepper-sprayed by a Garda.

Niamh Hourigan

Labour's candidate is not a TD, but rather the sister of one. Professor Niamh Hourigan is a Sociologist and Vice-President of Academic Affairs at Mary Immaculate College and her sister is independent TD Neasa Hourigan.

Susan Doyle

The Social Democrats will run Cork-based solicitor Susan Doyle. Ms Doyle will also be running in the local elections for Cork Citys South East Local Electoral Area.

Lorna Bogue

Rabharta leader Lorna Bogue, a former Green Party councillor, will also run. She holds a masters in economic analysis and was press officer for Cork Together for Yes during the Repeal campaign.

Patrick Murphy

Aontu's candidate will be Patrick Murphy, the Chief Executive of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation.

Cian Prendiville

People Before Profit will run the former Limerick City councillor Cian Prendiville.

Independent candidates

Eddie Punch, who was the general secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) for 25 years, is among the slate of independents which includes drug harm reduction campaigner Graham De Barra, Kerry barrister Una McGurk, Cork man Ciaran O'Riordan, nursing lecturer Mary Fitzgibbon and engineer Christopher V.S. Doyle.

Far-right candidates

The constituency will also see three candidates from the far-right contesting.

Former architect and planner Michael Leahy will contest for the Irish Freedom Party, the party led by Hermann Kelly, the former press officer for Nigel Farage.

Ross Lahive of the Irish People party has appeared in court in the last year in relation to incidents surrounding protests at libraries.

Construction worker Derek Blighe leads the Ireland First party, which has gained attention largely through anti-migrant rhetoric and protest. In 2023, he applied to have a court case against him struck out because of personal difficulties it is causing for him, having been charged with entering the Palyanytsya Ukrainian Hub, Merchants Quay, Cork, as a trespasser and committing an arrestable offence, namely theft of a T-shirt to the value of 4.
President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday met with local officials in riot-hit New Caledonia, having crossed the globe by plane in a high-profile show of support for the French Pacific archipelago gripped by deadly unrest.

Mr Macron briefly spoke to reporters after he arrived at La Tontouta International Airport, about 31 miles from the New Caledonian capital of Noumea.

He said he viewed a return to calm as the top priority.

He said his wish, along with that of his ministers and government, was to be alongside the people and see a return to peace, calm and security as soon as possible.

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a meeting with New Caledonias elected officials at the French High Commissioner Louis Le Francs residence in Noumea (Ludovic Marin/AP)

Mr Macron added that he would discuss the resources needed to repair the damage wrought by days of shootings, arson and other violence that has left at least six dead and destruction estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of euros.

We will discuss questions of economic reconstruction, support and rapid response, and the most delicate political questions as we talk about the future of New Caledonia, he said.

By the end of the day, decisions will be taken, and announcements will be made.

Les forces de securite deployees dans les prochaines heures en Nouvelle-Caledonie resteront aussi longtemps que necessaire.



Le retour de l'ordre republicain est la priorite.  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 23, 2024

When asked by a reporter whether he thought a 12-hour visit was enough, Mr Macron responded: We will see. I dont have a limit.

As he opened a meeting with local leaders, Mr Macron held a moment of silence for the people who lost their lives in the unrest before touching on the steps his government plans to take.

According to a list of attendees provided by the Elysee presidential office, officials from both pro-independence and loyalist factions were present.

Mr Macron said 3,000 security officers have been deployed to New Caledonia. He said they would stay as long as deemed necessary, even if that meant remaining there during the summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, which Paris and other parts of France would host starting in late July.

While he said he did not think the current state of emergency should be extended, he said it would only be lifted if all political leaders called for the barricades and roadblocks to be taken down.

He said his government was working with local leaders to assess the cost of the damage and was prepared to provide financial aid and insurance assistance.

He added that he hoped an open dialogue would decrease tensions and provide a way forward that respected the outcomes of previous independence referendums in favour of staying part of France.

The president had scrapped his previously announced schedule to make the journey of some 10,000 miles himself, spurred by the most severe violence to hit New Caledonia since the 1980s. The lightning visit, expected to last just one day, will allow him to see the destruction first-hand.

He climbed aboard his presidential jet late on Tuesday in Paris.

However, because of the distance and time difference, he arrived in New Caledonia early on Thursday morning, with unrest still simmering and his interior and defence ministers in tow.

Smoke rises during protests in Noumea, New Caledonia (Nicolas Job/AP)
Taiwan scrambled jets and put missile, naval and land units on alert on Thursday over Chinese military exercises being conducted around the self-governing island democracy where a new president took office this week.

Chinas military said its two-day exercises around Taiwan were punishment for separatist forces seeking independence.

Beijing claims the island is part of Chinas national territory and the Peoples Liberation Army sends navy ships and warplanes into the Taiwan Strait and other areas around the island almost daily to wear down Taiwans defences and seek to intimidate its people, who firmly back their de facto independence.

This pretext for conducting military exercises not only does not contribute to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, but also shows (China's) hegemonic nature at heart

Chinas irrational provocation has jeopardised regional peace and stability, the islands defence ministry said.

It said Taiwan would seek no conflicts but will not shy away from one.

This pretext for conducting military exercises not only does not contribute to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, but also shows its hegemonic nature at heart, the ministrys statement said.

In his inauguration address on Monday, Taiwans president Lai Ching-te called for Beijing to stop its military intimidation and pledged to neither yield nor provoke the mainland Communist Party leadership.

Taiwans former president Tsai Ing-wen, left, vice president Hsiao Bi-khim, right, were also in attendance at the inauguration ceremony for the countrys new president Lai Ching-te, centre, earlier this week (Chiang Ying-ying/AP)

Mr Lai has said he seeks dialogue with Beijing while maintaining Taiwans current status and avoiding conflicts that could draw in the islands chief ally the US and other regional partners such as Japan and Australia.

The Peoples Liberation Armys Eastern Theatre Command said the land, navy and air exercises around Taiwan were meant to test the navy and air capabilities of the PLA units, as well as their joint strike abilities to hit targets and win control of the battlefield, the command said on its official Weibo account.

This is also a powerful punishment for the separatist forces seeking independence and a serious warning to external forces for interference and provocation, the statement said.

The PLA also released a map of the intended exercise area, which surrounds Taiwans main island at five different points, as well as places like Matsu and Kinmen, outlying islands that are closer to the Chinese mainland than Taiwan.

Members of an honour guard held flags during the inauguration ceremony in Taipei (Chiang Ying-ying/AP)

Chinas coast guard also said in a statement that it organised a fleet to carry out law enforcement drills near two islands close to the Taiwanese-controlled island groups of Kinmen and Matsu just off the Chinese coast.

While China has termed the exercises as punishment for Taiwans election result, the Democratic Progressive Party has now run the islands government for more than a decade, although the pro-China Nationalist Party took a one-seat majority in the parliament.

Speaking in Australia, Marine Corps Lieutenant General Stephen Sklenka, the deputy commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, called on Asia-Pacific nations to condemn the Chinese military exercises.

Theres no surprise, whenever theres an action that highlights Taiwan in the international sphere, the Chinese feel compelled to make some kind of form of statement, Lt Gen Sklenka told the National Press Club of Australia in the capital Canberra, in a reference to Mondays presidential inauguration.

(Taiwan) is our extremely important partner that we have close economic relations and exchanges of people, and is our precious friend

Just because we expect that behaviour, doesnt mean that we shouldnt condemn it, and we need to condemn it publicly. And it needs to come from us, but it also needs to come, I believe, from nations in the region. Its one thing when the United States condemns the Chinese, but it has a far more powerful effect, I believe, when it comes from nations within this region, he added.

Japans top envoy weighed in while visiting the US, saying Japan and Taiwan shared values and principles, including freedom, democracy, basic rights and rule of law.

(Taiwan) is our extremely important partner that we have close economic relations and exchanges of people, and is our precious friend, foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa told reporters in Washington, where she held talks with secretary of state Antony Blinken.

She said the two ministers discussed Taiwan and the importance of the Taiwan Strait, one of the worlds most important waterways for shipping, remaining peaceful.
Norway has said it will further tighten its restrictions on the entry of people from Russia.

The Scandinavian country said that people with tourist visas issued before regulations were tightened in 2022 or issued by another European country would be barred from entering Norway as of next week.

Justice minister Emilie Enger Mehl said the tightening was a response to Russias illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

Russia now sees itself benefiting from carrying out sabotage in European countries in order to weaken Ukrainian defence capabilities

Norway has a 123-mile-long (198km) border with Russia in the Arctic.Aftenposten, a major Norwegian daily, said last week that Norways domestic security agency, known by the acronym PST, was worried that Russians involved in intelligence gathering were entering at the sole border crossing at Storskog near the town of Kirkenes.

Inger Haugland, head of counterespionage for PST, said on Wednesday that Russia now sees itself benefiting from carrying out sabotage in European countries in order to weaken Ukrainian defence capabilities. He gave no further details.

On Wednesday, PST updated its overall risk assessment, saying it appears that the threat of sabotage has increased against Norwegian companies producing weaponry that goes to Ukraine.

Of course, such decisions cannot remain unanswered. The decision is purely discriminatory

Enger Mehl said exceptions to the new entry restrictions would be made, including for people visiting close relatives in Norway or for Russians who worked or studied in Norway. Those who lived along the border had border resident certificates. Other Russians who planned to enter Norway for tourism or other non-essential purposes would be refused entry, he said. The ban would take effect next Wednesday.

Of course, such decisions cannot remain unanswered, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

The decision is purely discriminatory.

Although it is not a member of the European Union, Norway is part of the European ID-check-free zone known as the Schengen Area, which allows more than 400 million Europeans and visitors to move within the zone without showing travel documents.

Two years ago, the Norwegian government stopped issuing tourist visas to Russians. In September, it barred Russian-registered passenger cars from entering the Scandinavian country, mirroring EU sanctions against Moscow over its war on Ukraine.
A German party set for big gains in upcoming European elections suffered another setback on Thursday when it was expelled from a right-wing group in the European Parliament.

The Identity and Democracy group decided to expel Alternative for Germany (AfD) from the group with immediate effect, the Italian La Lega party, a member of the group, said in a statement.

Thursdays expulsion exposed deep rifts within the far right across the 27-nation bloc little more than two weeks ahead of elections in which they were supposed to surge.

We are optimistic about the election evening and the days to follow

It was not immediately clear what effect the expulsion would have on AfD but a swing to the right could raise questions about the blocs future direction in issues from climate protection and immigration to support for Ukraine.

AfD acknowledged Thursdays decision.

Nevertheless, we are optimistic about the election evening and the days to follow, co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said in a statement.

The statement added that AfD leaders were confident that we will continue to have reliable partners at our side in the new legislative period.

They did not indicate who they could team up with ahead of the vote.

The move comes amid growing controversy surrounding AfDs lead candidate for the European election, Maximilan Krah.

On Wednesday, the party barred Mr Krah from making any further campaign appearances after he told an Italian newspaper that not all members of the Nazis elite SS unit, which was involved in major war crimes during the Second World War, were war criminals.

Mr Krah had already been under scrutiny after authorities in Brussels searched his offices at the European Parliament in connection with one of his assistants who was arrested last month on suspicion of spying for China.
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By Colin John Irwin, University of Liverpool | 

With the announcement by Norway and Ireland that they have recognised Palestine as an independent state, and Spain expected to follow suit by the end of May, it appears that international momentum for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is growing.

The concept has long been supported by the US and its allies, as well as most Arab states and the United Nations. In 2017, Hamas amended its charter to accept the existence of Israel based on borders established after the six-day war in 1967. It reportedly indicated recently a willingness to disarm if a Palestinian state were established. But the present Israeli government led by the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu remains implacably opposed to a two-state solution.

Could things be different under different leadership? To answer this, we need to know whether the Israeli and Palestinian people could be persuaded to accept such a plan. Here its worth taking a look at what polling tells us.

Politicians all too often find it convenient to blame the public for their failures. This is particularly true of failed peacemaking. The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR) has tracked the ups and downs of support for the two-state solution from a high of 51% and 53% for Palestinians and Israeli Jews in polls taken in 2016 to a low of 33% and 34% respectively in 2022.

But pollsters in both Israel and Palestine, who do excellent work to the highest technical standards, sadly have had little or no opportunity to measure public opinion in support of a successful peace process. They measure the situation as it is  in the context of failure. Instead they need to measure what could be, how attitudes could change given proactive political leadership determined to get to peace. With such leadership the numbers change significantly.

Most recently, on the Palestinian side the Institute for Social and Economic Progress asked the two-state solution question in March 2024 in the context of serious negotiations and got a 72.5% positive response. This contrasted with PCPSR results a few months earlier in December 2023 which registered support for the two-state solution at only 34% among Palestinians when framed without the context of serious negotiations. Clearly serious negotiations are the key.

On the Israeli side, a poll run for the Geneva Initiative in January 2024 got a result of 51.3% support for the two-state solution. Specifically, this was framed in the context of a return of the hostages agreement, to establish in the future a non-militarised Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, and total normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia. This was only two percentage points below the high point of support at 53% recorded by the PCPSR in 2016.

Security has always been the top priority for Israelis and when that is factored in, success in negotiations can be assured. And significantly demilitarising a future Palestine is not a deal-breaker for the Palestinians, according to the Institute for Social and Economic Progress March 2024 poll.

A PCPSR poll completed for the Palestine Peace Initiative also in March 2024 found that 50.4% of respondents said the two-state solution would be acceptable to Palestinians providing they also get security and an independent state free from occupation.

The solution then to the implementation of the two-state solution appears to be to combine all the elements that can make it a success.

Additionally the scale that is used is also important. In real negotiations it is important to know where the red lines are and what the people can be persuaded to accept given positive political leadership.

Al Jazeera English Video: Ireland, Spain and Norway say they will recognise Palestine as a state

In Northern Ireland, where public opinion polls were used to detail every element of a peace agreement, the people were asked what was: essential (a red line), what was desirable or acceptable, what was tolerable (not wanted but with political leadership could be made into a yes), and what was unacceptable under any circumstances (another red line).

When we used this scale to gauge support for a two-state solution in 2009, only 21% of Israelis and 24% of Palestinians considered it unacceptable. This compares very favourably with equivalent results for views of power sharing in Northern Ireland in polls I conducted in January 1998 that found it was unacceptable for 52% of Protestants and 27% of Catholics. Despite this, with political leadership from the UK, Ireland, the US and EU working together, peace was made.

Clearly the same can be done for Israel and Palestine with the full support of the international community.

Positive polling

Just to make sure, Mina Zemach  the pollster I work with in Israel  ran the 2009 two-state solution (TSS) question for me again in May 2024. The findings are published here for the first time. The result among Israeli respondents was 43% unacceptable. It was not as good as the 2009 result  but still better than the result for Northern Ireland where peace was achieved.

Critically then, the two-state solution needs to be tested along with all the positive elements of incentives and process, both international and domestic, that can be deployed to maximise the potential for getting to peace. And when we know what that magic formula is  do it. Turn fiction into fact and end this forever war.

Colin John Irwin, Research Fellow, Department of Politics, University of Liverpool

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The announcement Wednesday that Spain, Ireland and Norway will recognize the State of Palestine diplomatically on May 28 is not unprecedented in Europe or in the world. In Europe, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Iceland have all done so. Indeed, most countries recognize Palestine. The outliers were the U.S., Australia and most countries of Western Europe. Now the Western European consensus against this step is crumbling, as well. Belgium came close to joining the other three and it could yet do so.

As for France, its foreign minister, Stephane Sejourne, said Wednesday that recognizing Palestine was not taboo. He said that France would prefer to take that step, however, when it would have a practical effect. He said, it is not just a symbolic issue or the challenge of taking a political position, but a diplomatic tool in the service of a solution yielding two states living side by side, in peace and security.

President Emmanuel Macron is not as free to act decisively as Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. He leads a centrist government that has increasingly sought support from the right and big capital, though he once served in a Socialist cabinet. His backing for the International Criminal Courts request for warrants against two top Israeli leaders has caused a backlash among his right wing colleagues.

Spains Sanchez, in contrast, is the Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party and the head of a left wing coalition in parliament. He is facing vehement demands from those further to his left that he unrecognize Israel the way Colombia has over the brutal Gaza campaign, and that he stop selling Israel arms.

Sanchez explained his reasoning in a speech, insisting that the step was not anti-Israel.

We must say to the Palestinians that we are with them, that there is hope, he said. He continued the affirmation that the land and identity of Palestine will continue to exist in our hearts, in international legality and in the future of a harmonious Mediterranean. In the past, Sanchez has defined the Palestinian state as the territory of Gaza, the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He said that Spains foreign policy has to be coherent. Madrid voted in the UN General Assembly for Palestinian admission as a member state in the United Nations. If Spain voted in favor of recognizing Palestine as a state with full rights in the UNO, he said, we must also recognize it bilaterally.

Spain to recognise Palestinian state, PM says  FRANCE 24 English Video

Sanchez has been scathing on Netanyahus Gaza campaign. He complained Wednesday, He doesnt have a peace project for Palestine. He said it was legitimate to fight Hamas after what it did on Oct. 7. But, he cautioned, Netanyahu generates so much rancor that the two-state solution is in danger of being made unviable. The present offensive, he said, will only increase hatred by worsening security prospects for Israel and the entire region.

In a subtle slam at the United States, the Spanish PM observed, The countries that believe in a rules-based international order are obliged to act in Ukraine and Palestine, without double standards, and to do everything in our power  providing humanitarian aid, assisting the displaced, and using every political avenue to say that we will not allow the two-state solution to be forcibly destroyed.

Sanchez made an excellent point when he went on to point out that a two state solution that guarantees security to both sides requires that the two parties feel themselves able to negotiate with legitimacy and must have the same status as states. He said that recognizing the State of Palestine was a way of enabling it to confront Hamas, an organization, he insisted, that must disappear so that the Palestine Authority can rule Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem as its capital.

I have long argued that the reason for which treaties like the 1993 Oslo Accords have been so easily trashed by the Israelis is that the Palestinians are stateless and so Israel, a state, does not have to treat them as a legitimate government. It can easily renege on any agreement with them, since they have no legitimate status. Only be recognizing them as a state can third parties actually push Israel and the Palestinians to a settlement. Sanchez sees this.

He accused right wing Spanish leader Jose Maria Aznar of not being able to see the Palestinians and their suffering, even though he was able to see what no one else was  the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in 2003.

Sanchezs comments on the issue are informed, ethical and insightful. No one on the US political scene speaks halfway so coherently on this matter.

The prime minister also said the step was intended to push for a cease fire in Gaza. In a while when shelling ceases and the dust of the tanks and the destruction of buildings dissipates, we will realize that we have witnessed one of the darkest episodes of the 21st century, and I want the Spaniards to be able to say with their heads high that they were on the right side of history.

They were. Americans were not.
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Last updated: May 28, 2024
Although considerable care is taken in preparing and maintaining the information and materials contained on this website, it is provided on an "as is" basis, and Junior Mining Network LLC, the Editors, the Reviewers and the Researchers (collectively referred to as the Publishers) do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness or correct sequencing of the information nor do the Publishers warrant any results from use of the information. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PUBLISHERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES AND MATERIALS OF THIS WEBSITE. This website is not intended as an offering, recommendation, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned or discussed, and is to be used for informational purposes only. Neither the Publishers nor any party affiliated with us are registered investment advisers or broker-dealers with any agencies or in any jurisdictions whatsoever. THIS WEBSITE IS INTENDED AS GENERAL INFORMATION AND NOT INFORMATION THAT YOU SHOULD RELY ON FOR INVESTMENT OR TRADING PURPOSES. THE PUBLUSHERS DO NOT GIVE ANY TAX OR ANY INVESTMENT ADVICE NOR ADVOCATE THE PURCHASE OR SALE OF ANY SECURITY OR INVESTMENT. ANY REFERENCE TO PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND THE LIKE ON OR THROUGH WEBSITE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY SITE CONTENT, APPLICATIONS AND/OR SERVICES, DOES NOT CONSTITUE NOR IMPLY ANY RECOMMENDATION OR ENDORSEMENT THEREOF. All trades, patterns, charts, systems, etc., discussed on this website are for illustrative purposes only and not to be construed as specific advisory recommendations. No system or methodology has ever been developed that can guarantee profits or ensure freedom from losses. No representation or implication is being made that using the methodology or system will generate profits or ensure freedom from losses. The testimonials and examples used herein are exceptional results, which do not apply to the average member, and are not intended to represent or guarantee that anyone will achieve the same or similar results.





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All data provided on Junior Mining Network is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended for trading or investing purposes. Junior Mining Network, its data or content providers, financial exchanges and each of their affiliates and business partners expressly disclaim the accuracy, adequacy, or completeness of any data and shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or other defects in, delays or interruptions in such data, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. You agree not to copy, modify, reformat, download, store, reproduce, reprocess, transmit or redistribute any data or information found herein or use any such data or information in a commercial enterprise without obtaining prior written consent. This website contains links to third-party web sites or services that are not owned or controlled by the Publishers. The Publishers have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party web sites or services. THE PUBLISHERS SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR DAMAGES OR LOSSES, WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT, CAUSED BY OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR RELIANCE OF THIRD-PARTY LINKS. Sponsors pay flat sponsorship fees. Fees fund general activities include aggregating and publishing content to the website as well as publishing sector-specific content in an electronic newsletter and conducting podcast interviews. We do not accept stock as payment of sponsorship fees. For transparency, all companies listed in the Featured Stocks section have entered into a commercial relationship with the Publisher or our affiliates for capital market services and have paid fees for being featured and mentioned. The Publishers may own shares and/or stock options of the companies featured on this website and therefore have additional incentive to see the companies stock perform well. The Publishers have no present intention to sell any of the issuers securities in the near future but does not undertake any obligation to notify the market when it decides to buy or sell shares of an issuer in the market. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL THE PUBLISHERS BE LIABLE FOR (1) ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES; (2) ANY LOSS OF USE, DATA, BUSINESS, OR PROFITS (WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT), IN ALL CASES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, THIRD PARTY APPLICATIONS, OR THIRD PARTY CONTENT, REGARDLESS OF LEGAL THEORY, WITHOUT REGARD TO WHETHER JUNIOR MINING NETWORK HAS BEEN WARNED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THOSE DAMAGES, AND EVEN IF A REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE; OR (3) AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATING TO THE SERVICE, THIRD PARTY APPLICATIONS, OR THIRD PARTY APPLICATION CONTENT TO THE EXTENT PERMISSIBLE BY APPLICABLE LAW.
VANCOUVER, BC, May 23, 2024 /CNW/ - First Nordic Metals Corp. (the "Company" or "First Nordic") (TSXV: FNM) (OTC: FNMCF) is pleased to announce the commencement of the 2024 diamond drilling program at the Barsele gold project located in Vasterbottens Lan, Northern Sweden ("Barsele" or the "Project"). The exploration program is being operated by joint venture partner Agnico Eagle Mines Limited ("Agnico").

First Nordic President and CEO Taj Singh states, "It's great to see drilling has resumed at the Barsele joint venture (45% First Nordic / 55% Agnico), which we consider a flagship asset in the Company's Gold Line belt portfolio. In addition to follow-up work to potentially expand the main resource area, it's exciting to see new targets being drilled for the first time; this demonstrates the highly prospective mineral endowment of the belt. Results from the Company's surrounding 100%-owned Paubacken and Storjuktan projects' exploration programs (geochemical survey and base-of-till drilling) will be finalized shortly and allow us to plan for diamond drilling on these projects in the coming months."

Q2 2024 Diamond Drilling Program

The spring 2024 drilling program has been initially planned for 2,100 meters ("m') of diamond drilling, comprised of an estimated 11 holes. The program is designed to test intrusive hosted orogenic gold and VMS (volcanogenic massive sulphide) mineral system targets identified through systematic geochemical surveys and interpretation of geophysical data. The proposed drill plan will test a shallow conductor target generated by the Titan-24 geophysical survey southwest of the Central-Avan zone of the Barsele deposit. Follow up drilling will also be conducted on the Risberget West (southeast Skirasen) structural trend to test continuity and extensions of previously intersected gold mineralization. Lastly, maiden drill testing of geochemical, geological, and geophysical targets will occur in the Sjoliden and Bastutrask areas. See Figure 1 in the Appendix of this release for a satellite view plan map of the planned program.

Q1 Work Program Overview

From January and April 2024, data analysis and field-specific exploration activities continued at several exploration sites throughout the property. Work completed included geophysical surveys, and analysis of previously collected MEFFA (multi-element fine fraction analysis) samples. The MEFFA sample interpretation utilizes automated pXRF scanning, together with laser ablation and ICP-MS, to define precious / base metal anomalous areas. This work was carried out in preparation for this year's diamond drilling campaign.

About the Barsele Gold Project

The Barsele Project is located on the western end of the Proterozoic "Skellefte Trend", a prolific volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits belt, that intersects with the "Gold Line" in Northern Sweden. Both polymetallic VMS deposits and intrusive hosted orogenic gold deposits are present in this region and on this property. Notable current and past producing mines in the region include Boliden, Kristineberg, Bjorkdal, Svartliden and Storliden.

The main gold-bearing system remains open in all directions. The structurally linked gold mineralized lodes occur mainly within a granodiorite host and to a lesser extent, volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Multiple parallel to sub-parallel lodes that vary in width from 10 m to 100 m, combine for a maximum known thickness (including low grade-waste islands) of 425 m. The AvanCentralSkirasen zones have a strike length approaching 3.6 kilometres ("km") and that same northwest trending structural corridor contains localized bodies with gold mineralization over an additional 4.4 km. The drill tested depth of the mineralized system approaches 1.0 km and remains open. Gold is generally associated with arsenopyrite and low base metal content and also occurs as native metal.

About First Nordic Metals

First Nordic's flagship is the Barsele gold project, located in Sweden and in a joint venture with senior gold producer Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. The Barsele project currently hosts a combined open pit and underground NI 43-101 Indicated Resource of 324,000 ounces gold and an Inferred resource of 2,086,000 ounces gold (2020, Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Barsele Property, InnovExplo). Immediately surrounding the Barsele project, First Nordic is the 100%-owner of a district-scale license position of close to 100,000 hectares on both the prolific Gold Line and Skellefte VMS belts. Additionally, in northern Finland First Nordic holds the entire underexplored Oijarvi Greenstone Belt.

Qualified Persons:

Art Freeze, P.Geo. and Benjamin Gelber, P. Geo., are Qualified Persons as defined in NI 43-101 and take responsibility for the technical disclosure contained within this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Taj Singh, M.Eng, P.Eng, CPA

President & CEO, Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This News Release contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements and First Nordic undertakes no obligation to update such statements, except as required by law.

APPENDIX
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2023 / Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. (the "Company" or "GSilver") (TSXV:GSVR) (OTCQX:GSVRF) has released financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2024. All dollar amounts are in US dollars (US$) and prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Production results are from the Company's wholly owned El Cubo Mines Complex ("El Cubo"), Valenciana Mines Complex ("VMC") and San Ignacio mine ("San Ignacio") in Guanajuato, Mexico, and the Topia mine ("Topia") located in Durango, Mexico.

James Anderson, Chairman & CEO of Guanajuato Silver, said, "Capex investments made in 2023 helped to lift precious metals production over the quarter, while simultaneously sending operating costs lower. Buoyed by this strong start to the year, we will look to continue the positive trends we have established as we enter into an environment of potentially higher spot prices for silver and gold."

Q1 2024 Highlights

Record metals production during the quarter of 987,312 AgEq (silver equivalent) was up 16% over the previous quarter ; AgEq ounces derived from 428,279 ounces of silver; 5,384 ounces of gold; 879,242 pounds of lead; and 922,297 pounds of zinc (see footnote to table below for assumptions regarding the calculation of silver equivalents).

; AgEq ounces derived from 428,279 ounces of silver; 5,384 ounces of gold; 879,242 pounds of lead; and 922,297 pounds of zinc (see footnote to table below for assumptions regarding the calculation of silver equivalents). Tonnes milled increased 20% over the previous quarter ; a total of 165,079 tonnes were processed among GSilver's three production facilities.

; a total of 165,079 tonnes were processed among GSilver's three production facilities. Both all-in sustaining cost ("AISC") 1 of $20.19 per AgEq ounce, and cash costs of $16.55 per AgEq ounce were 6% lower than the previous quarter (see footnote to table below for assumptions regarding the calculation of silver equivalents).

cash costs of $16.55 per AgEq ounce were (see footnote to table below for assumptions regarding the calculation of silver equivalents). Record revenue of $17.8M was 7% higher than the previous quarter ; net loss decreased by 3% in Q1 to $7.3M compared to $7.6M in Q4, 2024.

; net loss decreased by 3% in Q1 to $7.3M compared to $7.6M in Q4, 2024. Realized average metal prices for the quarter of $23.37 per silver ounce, and $2,068 per gold ounce sold.

1AISC is a non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized meaning under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For further information and detailed reconciliations of non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS measures see "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" in this News Release.

Silver equivalents are calculated using 88.72:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.05:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio for Q1 2024 and an 83.78:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.06:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio for Q1 2023, respectively. For the three months ended December 31, 2023, silver equivalents are calculated using 82.91:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.05:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio for YTD 2023 and an 83.22:1 (Ag/Au), 0.05:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.07:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio for 2022, respectively. Cash cost per silver equivalent ounce include mining, processing, and direct overhead. See Reconciliation to IFRS in the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release. AlSC per Ag/Eq oz include mining, processing, direct overhead, corporate general and administration expenses, on-site exploration, reclamation, and sustaining capital. See Reconciliation to IFRS in the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release. See Reconciliation of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization in the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release. Mine Operating Cashflow Before Taxes, Cash cost per silver equivalent, cost per tonne, AISC per Ag/Eq ounce, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and working capital are non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized meaning under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For further information and detailed reconciliations of non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS measures see the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release. Based on provisional sales before final price adjustments, before payable metal deductions, treatment, and refining charges. Mine operating cash flow before taxes is calculated by adding back depreciation, depletion, and inventory write-downs to mine operating loss. See Reconciliation to IFRS in the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release.

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

The Company has disclosed certain non-IFRS financial measures and ratios in this news release, as discussed below. These non-IFRS financial measures and non-IFRS ratios are widely reported in the mining industry as benchmarks for performance and are used by Management to monitor and evaluate the Company's operating performance and ability to generate cash. The Company believes that, in addition to financial measures and ratios prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use these non-IFRS financial measures and ratios to evaluate the Company's performance. However, the measures do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other companies. Accordingly, non-IFRS financial measures and non-IFRS ratios should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures and ratios of the Company's performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Non-IFRS financial measures are defined in National Instrument 52-112 - Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure ("NI 52-122") as a financial measure disclosed that (a) depicts the historical or expected future financial performance, financial position or cash flow of an entity, (b) with respect to its composition, excludes an amount that is included in, or includes an amount that is excluded from, the composition of the most directly comparable financial measure disclosed in the primary financial statements of the entity, (c) is not disclosed in the financial statements of the entity, and (d) is not a ration, fraction, percentage or similar representation.

A non-IFRS ratio is defined by NI 52-112 as a financial measure disclosed that (a) is in the form of a ratio, fraction, percentage, or similar representation, (b) has a non-IFRS financial measure as one or more of its components, and (c) is not disclosed in the financial statements.

WORKING CAPITAL

Working capital is a non-IFRS measure that is a common measure of liquidity but does not have any standardized meaning. The most directly comparable measure prepared in accordance with IFRS is current assets net of current liabilities. Working capital is calculated by deducting current liabilities from current assets. Working capital should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute from measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. The measure is intended to assist readers in evaluating the Company's liquidity.

MINE OPERATING CASH FLOW BEFORE TAXES

Mine operating cash flow before taxes is a non-IFRS measure that does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Mine operating cash flows are calculated as revenue minus production costs, transportation and selling costs and inventory changes. Mine operating cash flow is used by management to assess the performance of the mine operations, excluding corporate and exploration activities, and is provided to investors as a measure of the Company's operating performance.

EBITDA

EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure, which excludes the following from net earnings:

Income tax expense;

Finance costs;

Amortization and depletion.

Adjusted EBITDA excludes the following additional items from EBITDA:

Share based compensation;

Non-recurring impairments (reversals);

Loss (gain) on derivative;

Significant other non-routine finance items.

Adjusted EBITDA per share is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by the basic weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period.

Management believes EBITDA is a valuable indicator of the Company's ability to generate liquidity by producing operating cash flow to fund working capital needs, service debt obligations, and fund capital expenditures. Management uses EBITDA for this purpose. EBITDA is also frequently used by investors and analysts for valuation purposes whereby EBITDA is multiplied by a factor or "EBITDA multiple" based on an observed or inferred relationship between EBITDA and market values to determine the approximate total enterprise value of a Company. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results because it is consistent with the indicators management uses internally to measure the Company's performance and is an indicator of the performance of the Company's mining operations.

EBITDA is intended to provide additional information to investors and analysts. It does not have any standardized definition under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of operating performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. EBITDA excludes the impact of cash costs of financing activities and taxes, and the effects of changes in operating working capital balances, and therefore is not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined by IFRS. Other companies may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently.

Cash Cost per Ag/Eq Ounce, All-In Sustaining Cost per Ag/Eq Ounce and Production Cost per Tonne

Cash costs per silver equivalent oz and production costs per tonne are measures developed by precious metals companies in an effort to provide a comparable standard; however, there can be no assurance that the Company's reporting of these non-IFRS measures and ratios are similar to those reported by other mining companies. Cash costs per silver equivalent ounce and total production cost per tonne are non-IFRS performance measures used by the Company to manage and evaluate operating performance at its operating mining unit, in conjunction with the related IFRS amounts. They are widely reported in the silver mining industry as a benchmark for performance, but do not have a standardized meaning and are disclosed in addition to IFRS measures. Production costs include mining, milling, and direct overhead at the operation sites. Cash costs include all direct costs plus royalties and special mining duty. Total production costs include all cash costs plus amortization and depletion, changes in amortization and depletion in finished goods inventory and site share-based compensation. Cash costs per silver equivalent ounce is calculated by dividing cash costs and total production costs by the payable silver ounces produced. Production costs per tonne are calculated by dividing production costs by the number of processed tonnes. The following tables provide a detailed reconciliation of these measures to the Company's direct production costs, as reported in its consolidated financial statements.

AISC is a non-IFRS performance measure and was calculated based on guidance provided by the World Gold Council ("WGC"). WGC is not a regulatory industry organization and does not have the authority to develop accounting standards for disclosure requirements. Other mining companies may calculate AISC differently as a result of differences in underlying accounting principles and policies applied, as well as differences in definitions of sustaining capital expenditures. AISC is a more comprehensive measure than cash cost per ounce and is useful for investors and management to assess the Company's operating performance by providing greater visibility, comparability and representation of the total costs associated with producing silver from its current operations, in conjunction with related IFRS amounts. AISC helps investors to assess costs against peers in the industry and help management assess the performance of its mine.

AISC includes total production costs (IFRS measure) incurred at the Company's mining operation, which forms the basis of the Company's total cash costs. Additionally, the Company includes sustaining capital expenditures, corporate general and administrative expense, operating lease payments and reclamation cost accretion. The Company believes this measure represents the total sustainable costs of producing silver and gold concentrate from current operations and provides additional information of the Company's operational performance and ability to generate cash flows. As the measure seeks to reflect the full cost of silver and gold concentrate production from current operations, new projects capital at current operation is not included. Certain other cash expenditures, including share-based payments, tax payments, dividends and financing costs are also not included.

The following tables provide detailed reconciliations of these measures to cost of sales, as reported in notes to the Company's consolidated financial statements.

This news release should be read in conjunction with the Company's condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 and related Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") available at www.sedarplus.com.

About Guanajuato Silver

GSilver is a precious metals producer engaged in reactivating past producing silver and gold mines in central Mexico. The Company produces silver and gold concentrates from the El Cubo Mines Complex, Valenciana Mines Complex, and the San Ignacio mine; all three mines are located within the state of Guanajuato, which has an established 480-year mining history. Additionally, the Company produces silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates from the Topia mine in northwestern Durango. With four operating mines and three processing facilities, Guanajuato Silver is one of the fastest growing silver producers in Mexico.

Technical Information

Reynaldo Rivera, VP of Exploration of GSilver, has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Rivera is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM - Registration Number 220979) and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Rivera has verified the data that supports the technical information disclosed in this press release by reviewing production reports from each of the Company's mining operations.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"James Anderson"

Chairman and CEO

For further information regarding Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., please contact:

JJ Jennex, Gerente de Comunicaciones, T: 604 723 1433

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Gsilver.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, which relate to future events or future performance including, but not limited to, the continuation of the positive trends of higher production and lower costs; potentially higher spot prices for silver and gold; the ability of the Company to continue to increase production, tonnage and recoveries; the Company's future development and production activities; and GSilver's status as one of the fasting growing silver mining company in Mexico.

Such forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to and assumptions made by the Company; which assumptions, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include: the potential quantity, grade and metal content of the mineralized material at El Cubo, San Ignacio, VMC and Topia, the geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of such material conforming to sampled results and metallurgical performance; available tonnage of mineralized material to be mined and processed; resource grades and recoveries; assumptions and discount rates being appropriately applied to production estimates; prices for silver, gold and other metals remaining as estimated; currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; availability of funds for the Company's projects and to satisfy current liabilities and obligations including debt repayments; capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation) and inflation rates remaining as estimated; no labour-related disruptions; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner; and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.

Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements and information are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results, level of activity, production levels, performance or achievements of GSilver to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, currency rate fluctuations, high inflation and interest rates, geopolitical conflicts including wars, actual results of exploration, development and production activities, actual resource grades and recoveries of silver, gold and other metals from the Company's existing mines including El Cubo, San Ignacio, VMC and Topia, availability of third party mineralized material for processing, unanticipated geological or structural formations and characteristics, environmental risks, future prices of gold, silver and other metals, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, equipment or personnel delays, delays in obtaining governmental or regulatory approvals and permits, inadequate insurance, and other risks in the mining industry. There are no assurances that GSilver will be able to continue to increase production, tonnage milled and recoveries rates, improve grades and reduce costs at El Cubo, San Ignacio, VMC and/or Topia to process mineralized materials to produce silver, gold and other concentrates in the amounts, grades, recoveries, costs and timetable anticipated. In addition, GSilver's decision to process mineralized material from El Cubo, San Ignacio, VMC and Topia is not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability and therefore is subject to increased uncertainty and risk of failure, both economically and technically. Mineral resources and mineralized material that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them, and may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing, and other relevant issues. There are no assurances that the Company's projected grades of gold and silver at El Cubo, San Ignacio, VMC and Topiaand the anticipated level of production therefrom will be realized. In addition, there are no assurances that the Company will meet its production forecasts or generate the anticipated cash flows from operations to satisfy its scheduled debt payments or other liabilities when due or meet financial covenants to which the Company is subject or to fund its exploration programs and corporate initiatives as planned. There is also uncertainty about the potential resurgence of COVID-19, the ongoing war in Ukraine and conflict in Gaza, and elevated inflation and interest rates and the impact they will have on the Company's operations, supply chains, ability to access mining projects or procure equipment, contractors and other personnel on a timely basis or at all and economic activity in general. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. All forward-looking statements and information made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com including the Company's most recently filed annual information form. These forward-looking statements and information are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by law.
Vancouver, British Columbia  May 23, 2024  TheNewswire  Volcanic Gold Mines Inc. (TSXV-VG) (Volcanic or the Company) and joint venture partner Radius Gold Inc. report on the conclusion of the first pass drilling campaign at the Motagua Norte Project, Guatemala.

As previously reported (April 25th, 2024), the initial drillholes did not locate the source of the broad area of bonanza grade gold bearing quartz boulder float discovered by Company geologists and named the Mila target. The gold-bearing quartz float at Mila covers a thin serpentinite package and underlying schistose metasedimentary rocks which have been cut by a series of east-west trending structures hosting significant vein zones. The principal structures, such as the Veta Madre Fault and the Veta Padre structure, are located to the south and uphill from the field of gold-bearing boulders. A strong zone of stockwork veining separates these two larger structures.

A total of 13 holes were drilled in this first pass program testing a range of targets. Results have been received for the initial drill holes that tested for vertical and north-dipping veins at and near to the Veta Madre Fault. Results indicate that the gold-bearing quartz boulders did not originate from these structures. The last four holes were drilled in the opposite direction, from south to north, to test for south-dipping structures. Several veins of various sizes were intercepted in these drill holes. Assay results are pending, however no visible gold was seen in the drill core. Results will be released as soon as they become available.

In other developments in Guatemala, a new Minister of the Environment (MARN) was appointed on April 12, 2024 and initial public comments from the new Minister were not positive for mineral exploration and development in the country. Before committing further funds to Guatemala, Volcanic will monitor the two significant precious metal deposits where developments are on hold: the multi-million ounce gold deposit at Cerro Blanco and the large high grade silver-lead-zinc deposit at Escobal. These mines could employ thousands of people, providing jobs to Guatemalans so they can thrive in their own communities.

In the short term the Company is assessing exploration or development opportunities elsewhere.

About the Motagua Norte project

The Motagua Norte project is a gold system hosted by schists of the Motagua suture zone, an east-west striking belt of metamorphic rocks that outcrops at the line of collision between the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates.

Volcanic Gold Mines has an option agreement with Radius Gold Inc. to earn a 60% interest in the Cirilo I exploration licence and other licences under applications and negotiation within the Motagua Norte project, as well as the Holly Project where the joint venture has established a high-grade epithermal gold resource 60km north of the Cerro Blanco gold deposit. (See news release Sept. 18, 2023).

Technical Information

Luc English PhD, who is a Chartered Geologist and Fellow of the Geological Society of London, is the Companys Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Dr. English has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

About Volcanic

Volcanic brings together an experienced and successful mining, exploration and capital markets team focused on building multi-million-ounce gold and silver resources in underexplored countries. Through the strategic acquisition of mineral properties with demonstrated potential for hosting gold and silver resources, and by undertaking effective exploration and drill programs, Volcanic intends to become a leading gold-silver company.

For further information, visit our website at www.volgold.com.

Volcanic Gold Mines Inc.

Simon Ridgway, President and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward- looking statements and include, without limitation, statements about the Companys plans for its property interests in Guatemala and property investigations elsewhere. Often, but not always, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as estimate, estimates, estimated, potential, open, future, assumed, projected, used, detailed, has been, gain, upgraded, offset, limited, contained, reflecting, containing, remaining, to be, periodically, or statements that events, could or should occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in the mineral resource estimates; whether the Companys planned exploration work will be proceed as intended; whether the Companys plan for its property interests in Guatemala will proceed as intended; changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; the Company or any joint venture partner not having the financial ability to meet its exploration and development goals; risks associated with the results of exploration and development activities, estimation of mineral resources and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; unanticipated costs and expenses; and such other risks detailed from time to time in the Companys quarterly and annual filings with securities regulators and available under the Companys profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management, including but not limited to: that the Companys stated goals and planned exploration and development activities will be achieved; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; and such other assumptions as set out herein. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
VANCOUVER, BC, May 23, 2024 /CNW/ - Pan Global Resources Inc. ("Pan Global" or the "Company") (TSXV: PGZ) (OTCQX: PGZFF) (FRA: 2EU) is pleased to announce the addition of a second drill rig at the Escacena Project to augment the planned 2024 drilling program at the Company's 100%-owned Escacena Project in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, southern Spain.

"Building on the base of positive drill results to date and an exceptionally strong copper market we are adding a second drill rig to accelerate the planned drilling at the Escacena Project while remaining on-budget for the current fully funded 2024 drilling program," said Tim Moody, President and CEO.

Escacena Project Update

Pan Global is advancing the planned 30-40 holes (approx. 8,000  12,000 meters) drill plan that started last year testing both the near-surface mineralization west of the existing 1.5km surface strike extent at the La Romana copper-tin-silver deposit and also expanding the copper-gold-silver mineralization at the new Canada Honda discovery nearby. Approximately 70% of the planned drilling at the two discoveries has been completed.

Results are pending for three completed drill holes at Canada Honda, and drilling at the Escacena Project continues. Progress is also being made on access to the high-priority Bravo gravity target located east of the La Romana copper-tin-silver discovery, and work is expected to commence immediately on signing an access agreement with the surface rights owner. The Company's geology team in Spain continues to advance the pipeline of new discovery opportunities for drill testing.

In the first five months of 2024, Pan Global delivered excellent copper metallurgy (in March) and tin metallurgy results (April) as well as drill results confirming expansion of mineralization at both the La Romana (January) and Canada Honda (January, April) deposits.

About the Escacena Project

The Escacena Project comprises a large, contiguous, 5,760-hectare land package controlled 100% by Pan Global in the east of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Escacena is located near the operating mine at Riotinto and is immediately adjacent to the former Aznalcollar and Los Frailes mines where Minera Los Frailes/Grupo Mexico is in the final permitting stage for mine development with anticipated start of construction in 2024. The Escacena Project hosts Pan Global's La Romana copper-tin-silver and Canada Honda copper-gold discoveries and a number of other prospective targets, including, Bravo, Barbacena, El Pozo, Romana Norte, San Pablo, Zarcita, Hornitos, La Jarosa, and Romana Deep, and most recently El Cortijo.

About Pan Global Resources

Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively targeting copper-rich mineral deposits, given copper's compelling supply-demand fundamentals and outlook for strong long-term prices as a critical metal for global electrification and energy transition. The Company's flagship Escacena Project is located in the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in southern Spain, where a favourable permitting track record, excellent infrastructure, mining and professional expertise, and support for copper as a Strategic Raw Material by the European Commission collectively define a tier-one jurisdiction for mining investment. The Pan Global team comprises proven talent in exploration, discovery, development, and mine operations - all of which are committed to operating safely and with utmost respect for the environment and our partnered communities. The Company is a member, and operates under the principles. of the United Nations Global Compact.

Qualified Persons

Alvaro Merino. Vice President Exploration for Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information for this media release. Mr. Merino is not independent of the Company.

Forward-looking statements

Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this media release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental, and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products, and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission.

The forward-looking information contained in this media release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this media release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Vancouver, British Columbia, May 23, 2024  TheNewswire  Manning Ventures Inc. (the Company or Manning) (CSE: MANN; Frankfurt: 1H5) is pleased to announce that it has staked an additional forty-two (42) new unpatented lode mining claims (351.2 Ha/868 acres) adjacent to the claim block at Copper Hill. The Project is now comprised of 108 unpatented lode claims that cover 896.3 Ha (2,215 acres).

The claim block was expanded to cover newly identified target zones from geologic mapping that is in-progress, recent gravity survey results, recent soil geochemical results, and new U.S. Geological Survey regional magnetic data.

Current surface mapping in-progress by Manning has identified geologic controls for copper-bearing skarn mineralization, zoning of the skarn mineralization, and alteration veining in the Jurassic Granodiorite and Feldspar Porphyry.

The recent gravity survey identified strong indicators for copper in skarn that would be expected around a porphyry copper deposit, previously unrecognized fault trends, and geology that is favorable for copper target zones beneath post-mineral volcanic rocks that has never been drill tested.

Recent soil geochemical results correspond with known copper mineralization, skarn zoning, and trends that highlight the skarn/geology mapping correlations. In addition, it corresponds with skarn zoning and gravity indications of skarn, and correlates/aligns with gravity-based fault trends. U.S. Geological Survey Magnetic data is sufficiently detailed to highlight several trends in the Project ground magnetic data.

Image 1: Copper Hill Project with New Claims and Generalized Geology and Magnetic Interpretation

The Company is currently consolidating all data to identify first phase drill targets at Copper Hill and anticipates releasing details once the data compilation and targeting is complete.

Image 2: Location of Copper Hill, Walker Lane Trend, Nevada, USA

About the Copper Hill Project

Located within the prolific Walker Lane trend in southern Nevada, Copper Hill is situated one of the premier jurisdictions for precious metals mining in the world. Historic endowment within Walker Lane includes 50Moz Au, 700Moz Ag, and 4Mt Cu. Copper Hill hosts copper-gold-molybdenum mineralization in both porphyry and skarn styled deposits in Mineral County, Nevada. The property consists of 66 mineral claims covering an area of 2.3 miles. The property is located 22 miles north of Hawthorne, Nevada and is accessible using well-maintained County Roads.

The Project is centered on a Jurassic Age quartz monzonite porphyry intruding Triassic age Luning Limestone. The claims cover 2.3 sq miles and are 33 miles east of the Yerington Copper District which hosts the Yerington Copper Mine (Anaconda 1952-1978), Ann Mason Deposit, Bear Deposit, MacArthur Deposit, and the Pumpkin Hollow Mine.

Historically at Copper Hill, reported high-grade copper was mined from underground shafts from skarn and porphyry-copper styled mineralization at the Copper Mountain Mine. Between 1914 to 1926 mining from the Copper Mountain Mine produced an estimated 1,000,000 pounds of copper from shallow underground workings. Historic reporting from the period of production describes ore zones of contact skarn- type and porphyry-type mineralization with shipping grades ranging from 3.5 to 11.0% copper*.

*Historic Mining information was summarized from an Unpublished Report on the Carson Sink Area, Nevada by F.C. Schrader, U.S. Geological Survey (Field work 1911-1920) 1947. Manning Ventures cautions investors that the historic exploration and production information is believed to be accurate but has not been verified by a qualified person.

The Copper Hill mineralizing system forms a topographic high surrounded and partially covered by younger volcanic rocks. Mineralization identified at Copper Hill are bornite, chalcocite, chalcopyrite, chrysocolla, copper-native, covellite, cuprite, gold, malachite, molybdenite, silver, sphalerite (rare), and tetrahedrite.

The Copper Mountain area was explored between 1959 to 1979 by Idaho Minning Corp. and Walker-Martel who conducted ground geophysics, underground mapping, prospecting and reported 6000 feet of Rotary drilling. Since that time ground magnetics were conducted in 2007.

Rock sampling collected at this time returned values from select samples of 7.2% and 12.7% copper and 1.06 g/t gold and 1.19 g/t gold respectively.

The target being sought at Copper Hill is a porphyry styled copper-molybdenum-gold deposit.

Warren Robb P.Geo., is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information contained in this release.

About Manning

Manning Ventures is a mineral exploration and development company focused metals and materials critical to the growing Energy Metals space. Mannings project portfolio is focused on Copper in Nevada, Lithium/Copper in Ontario and Quebec, and multiple Iron Ore projects in Quebec.

For further information contact:

Manning Ventures Inc.

Alex Klenman - CEO

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Telephone: (604) 681-0084

www.manning-ventures.com

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Certain statements in this press release may contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation), including, without limitation, the Companys payment of the Exercise Price during the Option Term, the granting of the net smelter return royalty to the Optionor, and the Companys payment of the annual minimum payments to the Optionor. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If the Company updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.




VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2024 /Green Bridge Metals Corporation (CNSX:GRBM)(OTCQB:GBMCF)(FWB:J48)(WKN:A3EW4S) ("Green Bridge" or the "Company") is excited to announce the appointment of Michael Henrickson as Technical Advisor to the Board, effective immediately. Mr. Henrichsen, with his expertise in structural geology and a distinguished career at Newmont Corporation, brings strategic insights that will significantly enhance the leadership capacity of Green Bridge. Throughout his career, Mr. Henrichsen has distinguished himself in various leadership roles.

Newmont Corp 2008 - 2011: Mr. Henrichsen managed the technical program in Ghana, West Africa, where he oversaw projects involving a team of geoscientists. His oversight was critical in achieving multiple discoveries within the Ahafo district, contributing significantly to both the discovery of new gold deposits and the expansion of existing resources.

Newmont Corp 2011 - 2013: In his role as Global Structural Geologist, Mr. Henrichsen oversaw critical initiatives to locate high-grade ore near existing mining operations, notably at Yanacocha, Peru (South America's largest gold mine1), and Long Canyon, Nevada. His effective collaboration with local teams played a pivotal role in identifying new ore bodies in both districts, significantly enhancing the mining prospects.

Auryn Resources 2015 - 2020: Mr. Henrichsen held the position of Technical Lead at Auryn Resources, where he was instrumental in developing a comprehensive project portfolio across Canada and Peru. His strategic initiatives led to a major $35 million investment from Goldcorp, which significantly propelled the development of the portfolio. A notable achievement during his tenure was his pivotal recommendation for the acquisition of the Homestake Ridge Project in the Golden Triangle, purchased for $12 million in cash and shares in July 2016. This project was later sold to Dolly Varden Silver for approximately $55 million in December 2021, realizing a substantial return on investment.

Torq Resources 2020 - Present: Mr. Henrichsen, as Chief Geological Officer at Torq Resources, played a crucial role in forming a strategic partnership with a leading Chilean geological team to develop a premier exploration portfolio in northern Chile. This collaboration and the resulting portfolio led to a $15 million investment in Torq from Goldfields. The investment primarily supported the flagship Santa Cecilia project, strategically positioned near the Norte Abierto JV, which is a collaboration between Barrick Gold and Newmont Corp. Additionally, at the Margarita iron oxide-copper-gold project, a significant new Greenfields discovery was achieved under his guidance.

"We are extremely pleased to have Mr. Henrichsen joining as Technical Advisor to our Board. His vast geological knowledge and demonstrated success in resource and reserve development are invaluable assets that will greatly influence our strategic decisions. His expertise will undoubtedly accelerate our growth and help shape the future direction of our Company," stated David Suda, CEO of Green Bridge Metals.

1 https://www.newmont.com/operations-and-projects/global-presence/south-america/yanacocha-peru/default.aspx

About Green Bridge Metals

Green Bridge Metals Corporation (formerly Mich Resources Ltd.) is a Canadian based exploration company focused on acquiring battery metal' rich mineral assets and the development of the South Contact Zone (the "Property") along the basal contact of the Duluth Intrusion, north of Duluth, Minnesota. The South Contact Zone contains bulk-tonnage copper-nickel and titanium-vanadium in ilmenite hosted in ultramafic to oxide ultramafic intrusions. The Property has exploration targets for bulk-tonnage Ni mineralization, high grade Ni-Cu-PGE magmatic sulfide mineralization and titanium.

ON BEHALF OF GREEN BRIDGE METALS,

"David Suda"

President and Chief Executive Officer

For more information, please contact:

David Suda

President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: 604.928-3101

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Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain capital markets; and delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2024) - Zodiac Gold Inc. (TSXV: ZAU) ("Zodiac Gold" or the "Company"), a West-African gold exploration company, is pleased to announce that, further to the Company's news release dated May 6th, 2024, it has closed the first tranche of its previously announced private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of approximately CAD$301,740 (the "First Tranche"). The net proceeds of the First Tranche will be used for exploration of the Company's Todi gold project and for working capital purposes.

Pursuant to the first tranche closing of the Offering, the Company issued 3,017,400 units of the Company (each a "Unit") at a price of CAD$0.10 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at a price of CAD$0.20 per Warrant Share until the date which is 24 months following the closing date of the first tranche of the Offering.

All securities issued pursuant to the first tranche closing of the Offering, including Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of Warrants, are and will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day after the date of closing of the first tranche of the Offering. The first tranche closing and any subsequent tranches of the Offering remain subject to TSXV final approval.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

Insider Participation

An insider participated in the first tranche closing of the Offering and subscribed for an aggregate of 1,366,100 Units for a total of approximately CAD$136,610. Such participation is considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under the policies of the TSXV and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company has relied on exemptions from the minority shareholder approval and formal valuation requirements applicable to the related-party transactions under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, of MI 61-101, as the fair market value (as determined under MI 61-101) of the Units acquired by the insider and the consideration paid by such insider does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the first tranche closing of the Offering, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the first tranche closing of the Offering in an expeditious manner.

Early Warning Disclosure

In accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 62-103, John Esopa announces that he has filed an early warning report related to his acquisition of 1,366,100 Common Shares and 1,366,100 Warrants pursuant to the first tranche closing of the Offering, for a total purchase price of CAD$136,610. Prior to the Offering, Mr. Esopa owned 7,570,180 Common Shares and 4,074,073 Warrants, which represented approximately 9.9% of the then Common Shares outstanding on an undiluted basis and 14.4% on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of the 4,074,073 Warrants. Following the first tranche closing of the Offering, Mr. Esopa now owns 8,936,280 Common Shares and 5,440,173 Warrants, representing approximately 11.2% of the Common Shares outstanding on an undiluted and 16.9% on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of the 5,440,173 Warrants.

Mr. Esopa had acquired the Common Shares and Warrants for investment purposes. In the future, Mr. Esopa will evaluate his investment in the Company from time to time and may, based on such evaluation, market conditions and other circumstances, increase or decrease his shareholdings as circumstances require through market transactions, private agreements, or otherwise.

A copy of the early warning report filed by Mr. Esopa may be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR+.

About Zodiac Gold

Zodiac Gold Inc. (TSXV: ZAU) is a West-African gold exploration company focused on its flagship Todi Project situated in Liberia-an underexplored, politically stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction hosting several large-scale gold deposits. Strategically positioned along the fertile Todi Shear Zone, Zodiac Gold is developing a district-scale gold opportunity covering a vast 2,316 km2 land package. The project has undergone de-risking, showcasing proven gold occurrences at both surface and depth, with five drill-ready targets and high-grade gold intercepts.

For further information, please visit the Zodiac Gold website at www.zodiac-gold.com or contact:

David Kol

President & CEO

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Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation.

Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections, and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's planned exploration programs and drill programs and potential significance of results are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include actual exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital, and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials, and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events, or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and accordingly may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Zeus North America Mining Corp. (formerly Umdoni Exploration Inc.) (CSE:ZEUS) (OTCQB:ZUUZF) (FRANKFURT:O92) (the "Company" or "Zeus") is pleased to highlight its 2024 Exploration plans and highlights its flagship Cuddy Mountain Property, immediately adjacent to Hercules Silver Corp.'s Hercules Project ("Hercules")(BIG), which reported a copper porphyry discovery in Idaho. The Leviathan Porphyry Copper discovery was highlighted by intersecting 185metres ("m") of 0.84 percent ("%") Copper ("Cu"), 111 parts per million ("ppm") molybdenum ("Mo") and 2.6 grams per tonne silver ("g/t Ag"), including 45m of 1.95 % Cu (see Hercules Silver's news release dated October 10, 2023).

Zeus North America Mining Corp. prepares for a spring and summer exploration program at its flagship Cuddy Mountain Property. Specifically:

The Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Silver Corp.'s Leviathan Porphyry Copper Discovery;

Hercules ring-staked the Zeus Property prior to announcing their discovery, lending to the merits of the Cuddy Mountain Property (Figure 1);

Zeus' Cuddy Mountain Property has numerous similarities to the Hercules Property: Both properties have Olds Ferry terrane rocks including the Hercules Rhyolite and Seven Devils Volcanics; Both properties have a number of historical silver occurrences and/or small-scale mines hosted in rhyolite; Both properties are located along the Bayhorse Thrust Fault, a major structural corridor, which thrust the rhyolite (hosts the silver mineralization) overtop of volcanics (hosts the Leviathan Porphyry Copper mineralization; Figure 1); Both properties are within an erosional window through the younger Columbia River basalts that cover the vast majority of the district (Figure 1);

The Hercules Discovery was testing a large-scale chargeability anomaly from a 3D-DCIP Induced Polarization ("IP") and Resistivity Survey. Zeus has contracted Dias Geophysical Ltd. to conduct a property wide 3D-DCIP IP and Resistivity Survey during spring/summer 2024;

The area has been subject to a staking rush' whereby numerous companies and individuals have staked thousands of mining claims both to the Northeast and South of the Hercules discovery. This is highlighted by Barrick Gold and Rio Tinto's presence in the area and by Hercules' ring-staking of the Zeus Cuddy Mountain Property (see Figures 1 and 2);

Zeus plans to conduct soil sampling, mapping, prospecting and rock grab sampling and high-resolution ground magnetics at the Cuddy Mountain Property during summer 2024. The integrated data set will be used to identify specific high-priority drill targets.

Mr. Dean Besserer, President and CEO stated, "This is one of the largest staking rushes I've seen in my career. Many still don't recognize the magnitude of this discovery as it has unveiled a new and previously unknown Porphyry Copper belt. The fact that we have the Property directly adjacent such a great discovery and along the same major structure to is exciting and we are rapidly building our team to be the next in line to make a discovery in the district".

Figure 1: Zeus Property Location

Figure 2: Initial Staking Map as of May 1st.

Selway and Great Western properties

Zeus initially plans to conduct reconnaissance prospecting and rock grab sampling to further evaluate the potential mineralization within the properties for silver, copper, gold, lead and zinc. Further field programs thereon will be designed once results are compiled and interpreted.

Investors are cautioned that results from adjacent properties are not indicative of the presence of mineralization or mineral deposits on Zeus' properties.

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geo., the President and CEO of the Company and Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101.

In other news, Zeus is pleased to announce that it has engaged Resource Stock Digest ("RSD") for a three-month advertising and marketing program, for a total fee of $10,000 (U.S.) payable prior to commencement of the campaign. The Company may renew the engagement for subsequent three month periods at its option. RSD will be paid in cash and will not receive any securities of the Company as compensation. RSD and the Company deal with each other at arm's length, and, as of the time of engagement, neither RSD nor its principals hold any securities of the Company.

Zeus has also engaged Innovation News Network ("INN") for marketing program consisting of a banner and partner page on INN's website commencing May 2024 until December 2025 and three articles in their magazine during 2024 and 2025 at a cost of 11,000 payable in advance. INN will be paid in cash and will not receive any securities of the Company as compensation. INN and the Company deal with each other at arm's length, and, as of the time of engagement, neither INN nor its principals hold any securities of the Company.

On behalf of the board of directors.

"Dean Besserer"

President and CEO

For more information, please contact the Company at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:

Kin Communications Inc.

Ph: 604-684-6730

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About Zeus North America Mining Corp.

The Company is in the business of mineral exploration. The Company is focused on its exploration properties in the state of Idaho known as the: Cuddy Mountain; Selway; and Great Western properties, respectively. The Idaho properties consist of 82 (Cuddy Mountain), 57 (Selway) and 38 (Great Western) lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 3822.1 acres. The Company's flagship Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Silvers' Leviathan Copper Porphyry discovery.

Forward Looking Statements

When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include, amongst others, the Company's exploration plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions.

The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of its securities or its financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.




VANCOUVER, BC, May 23, 2024 /CNW/ - Rua Gold Inc. (CSE: RUA) (OTC: NZAUF) (WKN: A4010V) ("RUA GOLD" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has received its drone concession from the Department of Conservation ("DoC") for its Glamorgan Project, located on the North Island of New Zealand and situated 2.8km north of OceanaGold's Wharekirauponga Project ("WKP"). The exploration team has mobilized, and magnetic geophysical surveys are underway.

RUA GOLD has a well-funded exploration program allocated to the Glamorgan Project.

has a well-funded exploration program allocated to the Glamorgan Project. The Company has applied for minimum impact access from DoC, to allow soil sampling, resistivity geophysical surveys and geological mapping, expected to be received in Q2 2024.

Following this surface exploration work, the Company will design the drill program and apply for full access to commence exploration drilling by the end of the year.

On May 5, 2024, OceanaGold included the accelerated development of WKP in New Zealand's newly introduced Fast Track Approvals Bill, creating a road map for RUA GOLD . ( https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/one-stop-shop-major-projects-fast-track ).

Robert Eckford, CEO commented: "This is a great first step to have boots on the ground at our Glamorgan Project and enabling us to start surface exploration work, so we are ready for drilling by the end of the year. The continuous exceptional results coming from OceanaGold's WKP project are extremely encouraging, and we see the exact same surface features at our Glamorgan Project. The geology in this epithermal region is exceptional and we have mobilized a highly experienced operating team with a lot of region specific experience".

More information can be found at the Company's website: www.ruagold.com.

About Glamorgan

RUA GOLD's Glamorgan Project comprises of over 4,600 hectares in the Hauraki district, on the North Island of New Zealand. Lying 2.8km from OceanaGold's most significant pipeline project, WKP, which has Indicated resources of 1.01 Moz at 15.9 g/t1, the near-ology makes this a very compelling exploration target. The area has produced over 15M ounces of gold and 60 million ounces of silver. Surface work is underway and access permissions have been submitted.

RUA GOLD's Chief Operating Officer, Simon Henderson had previously joint-ventured both the Glamorgan Project and WKP Project and was a member of the exploration team that led to its discovery.

The Company is excited about the potential within this permit where previous exploration has outlined a zone of silicification, veining and alteration with > 50 ppb gold in soils over its 3.8km length, and rock samples in the vicinity returning up to 95g/t gold. These exhibit classic features of an epithermal gold mineralized system.

1 Based on OceanaGold's reported Resources and Reserves for the year ended 2023, see February 21, 2024 news release for more details.

About RUA GOLD

RUA GOLD (CSE: RUA, OTC: NZAUF, WKN: A4010V) is a new entrant to the mining industry, specializing in gold exploration and discovery in New Zealand. With permits that have a rich history dating back to the gold rush in the late 1800's, RUA GOLD combines traditional prospecting practices with modern technologies to uncover and capitalize on valuable gold deposits.

The Company is committed to responsible and sustainable exploration, which is evident in its professional planning and execution. The Company aims to minimize its environmental impact and to execute on its projects with key stakeholders in mind. RUA GOLD has a highly skilled team of New Zealand professionals who possess extensive knowledge and experience in geology, geochemistry, and geophysical exploration technology.

For further information, please refer to the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Technical Information

Simon Henderson CP, AUSIMM, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained herein.

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur and specifically include statements regarding: the Company's strategies, expectations, planned operations or future actions, including but not limited to exploration and drilling programs at its Glamorgan project; and the Company's expected receipt of permits or other regulatory approvals. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. A variety of inherent risks, uncertainties and factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Company and its business, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results expressed or implied by forward looking statements. Some of these risks, uncertainties and factors include: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; risks related to the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war; risks related to climate change; operational risks in exploration, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration projects or capital expenditures; the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; changes in labour costs and other costs and expenses or equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, including but not limited to environmental hazards, flooding or unfavourable operating conditions and losses, insurrection or war, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing, and commodity prices. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company's annual information form dated April 19, 2024, filed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca for a description of additional risk factors.

Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
VANCOUVER, BC, May 23, 2024 /CNW/ - Golden Arrow Resources Corporation (TSXV: GRG) (FSE: G6A) (OTCQB: GARWF), ("Golden Arrow" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its exploration activities in Chile and Argentina.

Highlights:

Multiple magnetite mantos that correlate with similar bodies in adjacent holes, and new specularite breccias confirmed in first drill hole of 2024 campaign at the central Rincones target, San Pietro Iron-Copper-Gold-Cobalt Project, Chile

Gold and Zinc target delineation at Yanso Project, Argentina , including up to 40% zinc in surface samples at new limestone-hosted stratabound target; 2024 exploration program initiated.

, including up to 40% zinc in surface samples at new limestone-hosted stratabound target; 2024 exploration program initiated. 2024 field season completed at Potrerillos Gold-Silver-Copper Project, Argentina ; new reconnaissance sampling and trenching advanced multiple targets.

Brian McEwen, VP Exploration and Development for Golden Arrow, commented, "Our field teams are fully engaged on exciting gold, copper and base metal projects both in Chile and Argentina. Drilling is progressing well at San Pietro, with the first hole already providing excellent information that will help our resource modelling. Argentina is once again a hotbed of activity, and our field work is generating excitement both internally and with potential partners in the exploration community. We look forward to strong news flow this summer and through the fall, which we think will be further supported by a robust commodity market."

In addition to the projects mentioned above, the Company is working to advance several other projects in its portfolio and continues to court potential joint venture partners. The Company's existing joint ventures at the Mogote and Caballos projects are advancing however the operating partners have not yet provided data for public release.

Drill Program at San Pietro IOCG Project

Golden Arrow is now drilling the second hole of an ~10,000m diamond drilling campaign designed to facilitate the first Mineral Resource estimate for the San Pietro project later in 2024. The 4,000m drill program in 2023 identified significant extensions to the known mineralization at the advanced Rincones target, highlighted by hole SP-DDH-12, which returned a 64.2m interval averaging 0.86% copper, 0.20 g/t gold, 196 g/t cobalt and 26.9% iron, starting at 42.8m downhole (see news release dated July 12, 2023). At San Pietro and other IOCG projects locally including Santo Domingo (Capstone Copper) and Candelaria (Lundin Mining), copper is mainly found in chalcopyrite, while gold and cobalt are associated with pyrite, mainly hosted in the iron-rich magnetite mantos, with additional mineralization often in specularite breccias. [Proximity to other deposits does not indicate that similar mineralization will occur at San Pietro, and if similar mineralization does occur, that it will occur in sufficient quantity or grade that would result in an economic extraction scenario, however identifying similarities to these deposits provides models to guide the exploration process.]

The first hole of the 2024 program (SP-DDH-14) was drilled in a sparsely tested central part of the Rincones target, to a downhole depth of 401.2m (see Figure 1). Logging of the core from SP-DDH-14 identified four magnetite manto bodies with thicknesses of over 10m, starting at approximately 42m downhole, with visible chalcopyrite and pyrite noted. Additionally, at 350m down-hole, a 35 metre-wide specularite breccia with visible chalcopyrite was intercepted, which had not been identified in previous drilling.

Preliminary modeling of the new information from SP-DDH-14 indicates that there is continuity of the magnetite manto bodies with previous holes on the north and south sides of the target, and the presence of a significant new sub-vertical specularite breccia body structure. (see Section A-B in Figure 2).

Readers are cautioned that assays have not yet been received for samples from this drill hole and the quantities of iron, copper, gold and cobalt are currently unknown and the widths herein are down-hole lengths as true width has not yet been established.

For additional details on the program, please refer to the news release dated April 24, 2024.

Gold and Zinc Targets at Yanso Project

The Yanso Project includes 100% control of 9,800ha in four non-contiguous concessions in San Juan province, Argentina, approximately 20 kms from the Gualcomayo Mine (Eris LLC). Reconnaissance mapping, sampling and geophysical surveying of the large property has been on-going for the last several field seasons and the database now includes results from over 2,000 rock chip and channel samples collected from surface and in trenches, as well as an IP-Resistivity survey of seven east-west lines totaling 6,450m and a ground magnetic survey covering an area of 744ha, with data processed by a third-party consultant. Multiple targets have been identified.

The original gold target recognized, named "FAP", is related to a dacitic intrusive body, with a 300m long by 90m wide zone of intense phyllic and kaolinite alteration (Figure 3A). At FAP, the IP-Resistivity survey showed a good correlation between low chargeability and the intense argillic-mineralized zone. The magnetic survey confirmed the presence of a magnetic dipole that may be associated with a buried intrusive. Three backhoe trenches across the target resulted in the following averages from channel samples:

Trench Sample Width Au (g/t) T-1 20 m 0.42 T-2 28 m 0.43 T-3 15 m 0.22

Detailed geological mapping detected three additional targets that are partially outcropping along a +3km belt of alteration: FAN, Cortadera and FAS (Figure 3A). The FAN target is located 1,000m north of FAP and partially outcropping argillic altered rocks averaged 0.88 g/t Au and 75 g/t Ag from 15 rock chip samples. The Cortadera target is 2,600m north of FAP and rock channel samples in four trenches also returned anomalous gold values as follows:

Trench Sample

Width Au (g/t) TYan-C-02 14 m 0.63 TYan-C-04 16 m 0.34 TYan-C-06 10 m 0.19 Tyan-C-09 21 m 0.38

At the FAS target located 380m south of FAP, 9 rock chip samples collected from altered sandstones in an area of 50m by 50m ranged between 0.13% and 1.47% Cu and between 0.5g/t and 94 g/t Ag. Detailed mapping and trenching are pending for this target.

In addition to the gold targets, the 2023 field program identified and sampled new zinc-lead mineralization approximately 12km north of FAP.

The zinc-lead mineralization is hosted in a thick package of the Ordovician limestones of the San Juan Formation. This formation hosts both the gold mineralization at the Gualcamayo gold deposit, and the small historic La Helvecia zinc-lead mine, located approximately 38km to the northwest. The mineralization identified at this new area of Yanso shows similarities in style to La Helvecia, which is a strata-bound deposit hosted in calcitic breccia. [Proximity to other deposits does not indicate that similar mineralization will occur at Yanso, and if mineralization does occur, that it will occur in sufficient quantity or grade that would result in an economic extraction scenario, however identifying similarities to these deposits provides models to guide the exploration process.]

Sampling of an initial creek boulder of interest at the new zinc-lead target returned an assay of 9.7% Zn, and follow-up mapping discovered a NW/vertical feeder that led to a mineralized strata-bound body up to 2 metres wide that returned 4 samples ranging from 3.5% to 18.8% Zn. Other subparallel bodies were also identified, up to 50m apart, and 2 samples returned assays from 9.9% up to 40.1% Zn. Zn values are associated with anomalous values of lead and copper. A total of 63 rock chip and channel samples were collected in this target area (Figure 3B), including from the creek boulder and sub-parallel strata-bound bodies mentioned above. The results of sampling are summarized as follows:

# of Samples Zn Range Pb Range Ag Range Cu Range 63 6.0 g/t - 40.2% 1.0 g/t - 14.4% <0.5 g/t  37.0 g/t 1.0 g/t  2.60%

The field team has now returned to Yanso, where mapping, sampling and prospecting of both the zinc targets in the north and the gold-copper targets in the south, continues.

New Target Delineation at Potrerillos

The Potrerillos Project includes ~4,000 hectares of 100%-controlled claims in the Valle de Cura district, just 8km east of Barrick's Veladero gold mine and Pascua-Lama development project. [Proximity to these deposits does not indicate that similar mineralization will occur at Potrerillos, and if mineralization does occur, that it will occur in sufficient quantity or grade that would result in an economic extraction scenario, however Golden Arrow uses these deposits as models to guide the exploration process.] Golden Arrow's previous campaigns identified high-grade structures, anomalous samples, and large areas of alteration at various targets. During the 2024 field season the historic targets were re-evaluated in order to update the project database and evaluate the potential for continued work or joint venture in today's improved exploration climate. Two main targets were defined (Figure 4A), 244 rock samples were collected and the data from an historic magnetometry survey was re-processed.

At the North Block a Low Sulphidation epithermal system has been identified, including quartz-calcite veins, stockworks and breccias with gold-silver mineralization, hosted in the Tillito Formation (Upper Oligocene-Lower Miocene). This block hosts the previously identified Panorama vein system where the Company drilled 3 holes in the 2010-2011 field season. In addition, the Caracoles sub-target covers 300m by 1500 m with boulders and sub-outcrops with historic gold anomalies. From a total of 53 rock samples taken during this field season, 13 reported anomalous gold (>0.13 g/t Au), averaging 0.72 g/t Au and 80 g/t Ag in quartz veins, stockworks and silicified tuffs. Approximately 200 m west of the Panorama vein system, a parallel system of quartz veinlets with an historic sample of 15.4 g/t Au was resampled. Of 16 samples collected, 12 samples collected over an area of 200m x 150m returned anomalous results (>0.13 g/t Au) averaging 3.19 g/t Au and 78 g/t Ag, including one sample of 27.88 g/t Au.

The South Block is limited by NW-SE trending faults and represents a deeper system, where the overlying epithermal system has eroded. Copper mineralization is hosted in various units of the Paleocene-aged Rio La Sal Formation. At the Sol Ridge sub-target, sub-horizontal conglomerates outcropping in an area of 120m by 70m carry copper oxides in the matrix. From the 30 samples collected in this area, seven returned highly anomalous samples (>0.65 % Cu), averaging 2.66% Cu and 130 Ag g/t (Figure 4B). Additionally, in basaltic and andesitic dikes of the same formation, copper oxides (cuprite, malachite, chrysocolla) and native copper are hosted in centimeter-wide quartz veinlets and nodules. This copper mineralization is very erratic but suggests a possible source of copper at depth.

Interpretation of all the data is on-going in order to refine drill targets. The Company has the necessary permits to drill at Potrerillos and may initiate a new drill program in the next field season.

Methodology & QA/QC

Samples from Yanso and Potrerillos were shipped for preparation and analysis at Alex Stewart Assayers, an internationally recognized assay service provider. Samples were prepared and assayed at their facility in Mendoza, Argentina and assayed for gold by Fire Assay/Atomic Absorption finish and analyzed for a multi-element package by ICP-OES following a four-acid digestion. The Company follows industry standard procedures, with a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. Blank, duplicate and standard samples were inserted in each batch of samples sent to the laboratory for analysis. Golden Arrow detected no significant QA/QC issues during review of the data.

Qualified Persons

The exploration programs are designed by the Company's geological staff and results are reviewed, verified (including sampling, analytical and test data) and compiled under the supervision of Brian McEwen, P.Geol., VP Exploration and Development to the Company. Mr. McEwen is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the contents of the news release.

About Golden Arrow

Golden Arrow Resources Corporation is a mining exploration company with a successful track record of creating value by making precious and base metal discoveries and advancing them into exceptional deposits.

Golden Arrow is actively exploring its flagship property, the advanced San Pietro iron oxide-copper-gold-cobalt project in Chile, and a portfolio that includes nearly 125,000 hectares of prospective properties in Argentina.

The Company is a member of the Grosso Group, a resource management group that has pioneered exploration in Argentina since 1993.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Joseph Grosso"

__________________________

Mr. Joseph Grosso,

Executive Chairman, President and CEO

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "anticipate", "will", "expect", "may", "continue", "could", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments management of the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, statements about the Company's plans for its mineral properties; the Company's business strategy, plans and outlooks; the future financial or operating performance of the Company; and future exploration and operating plans are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and, even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: risks and uncertainties related to the ability to obtain, amend, or maintain licenses, permits, or surface rights; risks associated with technical difficulties in connection with exploration activities; the possibility that future exploration. There may be other factors that cause results or events to not be as anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected future results. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof or the dates specifically referenced in this press release, where applicable. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, unless required pursuant to applicable laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties.
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California Privacy Rights

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Last updated: July 15, 2024
At least three European countries were expected to announce steps towards recognising a Palestinian state on Wednesday, after more than seven months of devastating fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Irish media reported that the government was expected to announce its formal recognition of a Palestinian state at a press conference by premier Simon Harris, deputy premier Micheal Martin and minister Eamon Ryan at 0700 GMT.

Norway was expected to make a similar announcement around the same time, according to two Norwegian newspapers.

And in Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was scheduled to address parliament about setting a date for recognising a Palestinian state.

Sanchez said in March that Spain and Ireland, along with Slovenia and Malta, had agreed to take their first steps towards Palestinian recognition, seeing a two-state solution as essential for lasting peace.

Israel's foreign ministry posted a video addressed to Ireland on X on Tuesday warning that "recognising a Palestinian state risks turning you into a pawn in the hands of Iran and Hamas".

And Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli previously accused Sanchez's government of believing "that the Palestinians should be rewarded for the massacre" perpetrated by Hamas and its allies in southern Israel on October 7.

Hamas's October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Militants also took 252 hostages, 124 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 35,647 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

Fighting has raged around the far southern city of Rafah, the last part of Gaza to face a ground invasion -- but a resumption of fighting has also been reported in the northern Jabalia area, where Hamas forces have regrouped.

An AFP team in Rafah reported air and artillery strikes in and around the city early Wednesday.

- 'Running out of words' -

Israeli troops began their ground assault on parts of Rafah early this month, defying international opposition including from top ally the United States, which voiced fears for the more than one million civilians trapped in the city.

Israel has ordered mass evacuations from the city, where it has vowed to eliminate Hamas's tunnel network and its remaining fighters.

The UN says more than 800,000 people have fled Rafah, with Edem Wosornu of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs saying most of the displaced had gone to camps in Khan Yunis and Deir al-Balah where "they lack adequate latrines, water points, drainage and shelter".

The World Health Organization has said northern Gaza's last two functioning hospitals, Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan, were besieged by Israeli forces, with more than 200 patients trapped inside.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, on Tuesday said aid distribution had been suspended in Rafah "due to lack of supplies and insecurity".

- Warrant request -

Starvation was among the allegations made against Israel by International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan when he announced on Monday that he had applied for arrest warrants for leaders on both sides, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In an interview with CNN, the prime minister described Khan as a "rogue prosecutor who has put false charges", adding that "he didn't check the facts".

The warrant request also targeted Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas's Qatar-based leader Ismail Haniyeh and its Gaza military and political chiefs, Mohammed Deif and Yahya Sinwar.

US President Joe Biden has backed Netanyahu in condemning the warrant request as "outrageous".

If granted by the ICC judges, the warrants would mean that any of the 124 ICC member states would be required to arrest Netanyahu and the others if they travelled there.

However, the court has no mechanism to enforce its orders.

- Broadcast ban walked back -

Israel on Tuesday shut down an Associated Press live video feed from war-torn Gaza and confiscated its equipment, before reversing the move hours later after the White House intervened.

The US news agency said Israel had accused it of violating a ban on Al Jazeera, which was ordered shut two weeks ago based on a new Israeli law governing foreign broadcasters.

Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi later announced he had issued an order to cancel the ban and return the equipment.

AP said that while it was "pleased with this development, we remain concerned about the Israeli government's use of the foreign broadcaster law and the ability of independent journalists to operate freely in Israel".

Israeli forces, meanwhile, were also engaged in deadly clashes in the other major Palestinian territory, the occupied West Bank.

At least eight Palestinians were killed in the northern city of Jenin, the Ramallah-based health ministry said, as the army said it was "fighting armed men" in a "counterterrorism operation".

Palestinian official news agency Wafa said a hospital surgeon, a schoolteacher and a student were among those killed in Jenin, a stronghold of Palestinian militant groups.

burs-gl-smw/kir

X
Israel reacted with fury after three European countries said Wednesday they would recognise a Palestinian state, more than seven months into the devastating Gaza war.

Ireland, Norway and Spain said they would formally recognise the State of Palestine on May 28.

Israel strongly opposes the move, arguing that it amounts to "rewarding terrorism" after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel which sparked the bloodiest ever Gaza war.

Israel said it was recalling its envoys to Ireland and Norway for "urgent consultations" and was expected to do the same with its ambassador to Spain.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz charged that "the twisted step of these countries is an injustice to the memory of the 7/10 victims."

Most Western governments including the United States say they are willing to one day recognise Palestinian statehood -- but not before agreement is reached on thorny issues like its final borders and the status of Jerusalem.

However, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez charged that his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu's campaign of "pain and destruction" in the Gaza Strip was now putting the two-state solution in "danger".

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said "recognition of Palestine is a means of supporting the moderate forces which have been losing ground in this protracted and brutal conflict".

"In the midst of a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in peace and security."

According to the Palestinian Authority, which rules parts of the occupied West Bank, 142 of the 193 UN member countries already recognise a Palestinian state.

A senior Hamas figure, Bassem Naim, hailed the three European governments for their decisions.

"These successive recognitions are the direct result of this brave resistance and the legendary steadfastness of the Palestinian people," he told AFP.

"We believe this will be a turning point in the international position on the Palestinian issue."

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris called the October 7 attack "barbaric" but added that "a two-state solution is the only way out of the generational cycles of violence, retaliation and resentment".

- Heavy battles -

Hamas's attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

The militants also took 252 hostages, 124 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 35,647 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

Israel also imposed a siege that has deprived Gaza's 2.4 million people of most water, food, medical supplies and fuel, and brought much of the population to the brink of famine.

Heavy fighting has raged around Gaza's far southern city of Rafah, the last part of Gaza to face a ground invasion, where an AFP team reported more air and artillery strikes early Wednesday.

Heavy battles have also rocked Gaza's northern and central areas where Hamas forces have regrouped, and more Israeli air strikes have hit Gaza City, Jabalia and Zeitun.

Ten people were killed in the central town of Al-Zawaida during the night, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

And the Gaza civil defence agency said six bodies were recovered from the rubble of a family house in Jabalia.

The World Health Organization has said northern Gaza's last two functioning hospitals, Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan, were besieged by Israeli forces, with more than 200 patients trapped inside.

Israeli troops began their ground assault on Rafah early this month, defying international opposition over fears for the more than one million civilians trapped in the city.

Israel has ordered mass evacuations from the city, and the UN says more than 800,000 people have fled.

- Global pushback -

Heavy fighting has also rocked the other major Palestinian territory, the occupied West Bank, where an Israeli raid entered its second day in the city of Jenin.

Explosions and gunfire were heard from inside the Jenin refugee camp, an AFP correspondent said, after eight Palestinians were killed Tuesday.

Amid the carnage of the Gaza war, Israel has faced growing international opposition to its devastating military campaign and siege.

International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan said Monday he had applied for arrest warrants for leaders on both sides, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The warrant request also targeted Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, Hamas's Qatar-based leader Ismail Haniyeh and its Gaza political and military chiefs, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif.

US President Joe Biden backed Netanyahu in condemning the warrant request against Israeli leaders as "outrageous".

If granted by the ICC judges, the warrants would mean that any of the 124 ICC member states would be required to arrest Netanyahu and the others if they travelled there, although the court has no mechanism to enforce its orders.

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Guinean prosecutors on Wednesday began their long-awaited closing arguments in the trial of former dictator Moussa Dadis Camara and 10 other former military and government officials over a 2009 massacre.

On September 28, 2009, and in the days that followed, members of the presidential guard, soldiers, police and militiamen brutally cracked down on an opposition rally at a stadium in the suburbs of the capital Conakry.

At least 156 people were killed, 109 women were raped and hundreds injured, according to a UN-mandated commission of inquiry, in one of the darkest chapters in the West African nation's history.

The prosecutor and other representatives from the public prosecutor's office could present their arguments to the court for several days before declaring the sentences they are seeking against the defendants.

Deputy prosecutor Abdoulaye Babadi Camara opened the critical juncture in the trial, which began in September 2022, by reiterating its "historic" nature.

He recounted the charges against the 11 men, ranging from murder to sexual violence, kidnappings, arson and looting.

"No Guinean is superior to another in this country," he added, going on to detail the events of September 28, 2009.

Opposition leaders and thousands of supporters had gathered in a Conakry stadium in a "good-natured" atmosphere of song, dance and prayer, Camara said.

"It was then that the presidential guard, security forces, police and militiamen dressed in civilian clothes burst in, firing in all directions," he continued.

"In the same stadium, women were raped, others were severely beaten... and people were stripped of their possessions," he said, adding that "it took the prompt action of the Red Cross to save some citizens".

Camara spoke of a "fateful day" which spurred "national and international indignation".

During the trial, prosecutors and lawyers for victims have called for the charges to be reclassified as crimes against humanity.

The defendants have denied responsibility for the crimes.
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik remained defiant Wednesday hours ahead of a UN vote on a resolution to create an international day of commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide, saying the move would cause irrepairable damage.

For weeks, the longtime leader of Bosnia's Serbs has been openly hostile to the UN resolution to mark the 1995 killings of thousands of Bosnian Muslims.

Dodik frequently rails against the issue in speeches and held a rally to protest the resolution in April.

On Wednesday, he took to social media for his latest salvo against the measure.

"There will be no possibility of repairing the damage that this resolution will create," he wrote on X. "Bosnia and Herzegovina has come to an end."

Hours later, Dodik told reporters in the capital Sarajevo that Bosnia's involvement with the United Nations was both "unconstitutional and illegal".

Ahead of the vote, signs in Serb areas of Bosnia and in neighbouring Serbia have been hung reading: "We are not a genocidal nation."

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic vowed this week to fly to New York for the vote, where he promised to push back against the resolution.

"I am going to New York to fight with all my strength and heart for the future of our country," Vucic wrote on social media, saying he had also sought the "blessing" of the Serbian Orthodox Church's leader, Patriarch Porfirije.

Bosnian Serb forces captured the eastern town of Srebrenica, a UN-protected enclave at the time, on July 11, 1995, a few months before the end of Bosnia's inter-ethnic war.

In the following days they summarily killed around 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys from the town.

The remains of most of the victims were found in mass graves in eastern Bosnia, where soldiers moved them from the original burial sites to try to cover up the crime.

The attack, Europe's worst single atrocity since World War II, was deemed genocide by international courts.

Under a settlement to end the war, Bosnia was divided into two semi-autonomous zones, one run by Bosnians and Croats, the other by Serbs.

Politicians in Serbia and ethnic Serbs in Bosnia have largely tried to play down the Srebrenica killings, with many refusing to call them a genocide.
Guinean prosecutors on Wednesday demanded life sentences for former dictator Moussa Dadis Camara and six other military or government officials over a 2009 massacre, saying they were guilty of crimes against humanity.

The chief prosecutor, Alghassimou Diallo, denied the defendants any mitigating circumstances, pointing to their lack of regret since the landmark trial began in September 2022.

On September 28, 2009, and in the days that followed, members of the presidential guard, soldiers, police and militiamen brutally cracked down on an opposition rally at a stadium in the suburbs of the capital Conakry.

At least 156 people were killed, 109 women were raped and hundreds injured, according to a UN-mandated commission of inquiry, in one of the darkest chapters in the West African nation's history.

In a silent courtroom, the defendants listened without flinching as chief prosecutor Diallo set out the prosecution's demands.

He asked the court to reclassify the charges against Dadis Camara as "crimes against humanity by murder, assassination, torture, holding people against their will, rape and superior responsibility".

Diallo requested that the charges also be reclassified for the 11 other defendants, one of whom is being tried in absentia and another of whom escaped prison after the trial began.

The chief prosecutor called for Dadis Camara and six other defendants to be sentenced to life imprisonment with a 30-year non-parole period, during which he would not be eligible for a modified sentence.

Diallo requested sentences of 15 years' imprisonment for three other defendants, and 14 years for two others.

The trial is due to resume Monday with the defence case, which is expected to last several days before the judges give their verdict at a date yet to be determined.

Victims had been waiting years for justice, before the case was brought before a court under the junta which seized power in 2021.

Nene Aissatou Ndane Doumbouya, a retired nurse who was raped at the stadium and left for dead, expressed her joy after the closing arguments.

When she heard the prosecutor's requests, "the rest didn't interest me anymore, I was so relieved, so drunk with happiness," she said.

- 'Got what they deserved' -

On Wednesday, three representatives from the public prosecutor's office recounted before the court the sheer brutality of the acts committed in September 2009.

One of the representatives, Elhadj Sidiki Camara, burst into tears as he recalled how a mother of a three-week-old baby was abducted from the stadium and held captive for a month by a soldier who used her as his sex slave.

"I remember this doctor who came with a photo of his mother cut up among other bodies," said prosecutor Diallo.

But, he said, "I have not felt the slightest remorse on the faces of these defendants", adding that it had been a "surprise throughout these 18 months".

"Mitigating circumstances are granted to those who regretted the acts they committed. Them? You must not even think about that, Mr President," he added.

During the trial, the defendants blamed each other for the events that took place in September 2009.

Dadis Camara always argued that he had been overtaken by his subordinates and denied any responsibility.

The prosecution disagreed.

"He did nothing to ensure that the meeting was not repressed. On the contrary, he planned it," said Elhadj Sidiki Camara.

He added that Dadis Camara later took no action against his men.

Convictions in line with the prosecution's requests would "put the sword of Damocles on the heads of every member of the nation to say that the path taken by these defendants here today is a path prohibited by law," said prosecutor Diallo.

"We couldn't have wished any better for our persecutors, they got what they deserved," one victim, Aminata Camara, a retired teacher, told an AFP correspondent who was himself a victim of the events.

"From this evening, I'm going to pray that the judge will follow the prosecutor's request exactly," she added.
Colombia, whose president has described Israel's campaign in Gaza as "genocidal," said Wednesday it will open an embassy in Ramallah in the Palestinian territories.

Foreign Minister Luis Murillo told reporters that President Gustavo Petro -- an ardent critic of Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu -- had given instructions "that we install the embassy of Colombia in Ramallah" in the West Bank.

The announcement came on the same day Ireland, Norway and Spain announced they would recognize a Palestinian state, more than seven months into the devastating Gaza war.

An unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

The militants also took 252 hostages, 124 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 35,709 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

Colombia severed ties with Israel as Petro called Netanyahu "genocidal."

Earlier this month, he called for the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for the Israeli leader.

On Monday, the prosecutor of that court said he has requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his defense minister and top Hamas leaders.
Nof Canaan is renting out studios and apartments in Kfar Adumim. Photos show a kitchen, a room with beds and a small balcony, panoramic views of the Yehuda Desert, several hikers and a sunset. A free swimming pool is nearby. The accommodation is offered by travel company Booking on its platform as a great location in an Israeli settlement on Palestinian territory.

This lodging is one of the examples presented by a coalition of four European and Palestinian organizations  SOMO, The European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Al-Haq and The Rights Forum  that investigated Bookings involvement in illegal settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The large Israeli settlement Kfar Adumim, northeast of Jerusalem, was founded in 1979 on land appropriated from the Palestinian village of Anata, says the coalition. Booking facilitates the rental of homes on land from which indigenous Palestinian communities were forcibly displaced.

Jericho Inn in Vered Yeriho is also advertised on the Booking platform. The host of the property claims the hostel is located in the territory of the State of Israel and further states that there is no entry to a Palestinian ID card according to security directives. However, Vered Yeriho is an illegal Israeli settlement on confiscated Palestinian land in the West Bank.

The settlements started to be established in the occupied territories on Palestinian land after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded in 2004 that the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (including East Jerusalem) have been established in breach of international law. The transfer by the occupying power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies, which is a breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention, is also listed as a war crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Profiting from war crimes

Settlements are the result of multiple war crimes. Profiting from war crimes is illegal under Dutch criminal law, the NGO coalition states. And late last year the four organizations filed a criminal complaint for money laundering against Booking, headquartered in The Netherlands, with the Dutch Public Prosecution Service. The case is made public today, 23 May 2024. We assert that Booking.com is bringing proceeds of crime into the Dutch financial system, which makes them guilty of money laundering, the complainants state. This is the first case of its kind accusing a company of money laundering in connection to war crimes. With this legal action, we aim to end Booking.coms involvement in international crimes in the OPT and to end the corporate impunity surrounding such violations, they point out. We are handing the Dutch prosecutor this case on a silver platter, says SOMOs researcher Lydia de Leeuw in the press file that was shared with Justice Info.

In a written reaction to Justice Info on May 23 Booking said: We do not agree with these allegations of illegal activities and believe that we fully comply with the laws of the Dutch and American authorities [Booking Holdings is US-based], to which we are bound. There are no applicable laws that prohibit listing accommodations in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

The Dutch Public Prosecution Service commented that it will first study the case and then decide whether to open an investigation.

The complaint against Booking was filed after 7 October 2023, when Hamas militants and other armed Palestinian groups launched a gruesome attack on Israel, killing hundreds of civilians, military and police, molesting victims, destroying properties, and taking at least 245 hostages of whom some were subjected to rape and other sexual violence, according to the ICC prosecutor Karim Khan. Israel reacted with a full war and a siege on Gaza killing, starving, persecuting and exterminating civilians, alleged Khan. On 20 May he requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence minister Yoav Gallant, and three top Hamas leaders.

Palestinians in the West Bank are also attacked, detained, tortured and killed. Israeli settlers took the opportunity to further expand their control over occupied territories. The settlements have worsened since 7 October, both by the Israeli army and by the settlers, Habib Nassar, from Impunity Watch, told Justice Info.

The UN database on business involvement

The matter of businesses facilitating and operating in the illegal Israeli settlements has been on the international agenda for years. In 2012, the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, which investigated the implications of these colonized areas on the rights of the Palestinians, looked into the issue of the responsibility of private companies. In its report the investigators stated that business enterprises have, directly and indirectly, enabled, facilitated and profited from the construction and growth of the settlements. They identified 10 different business activities that raise particular human rights violations concerns, ranging from the construction and the expansion of settlements, the wall and associated infrastructure; the supply of surveillance and identification equipment; the supply of equipment for the demolition of housing, property, agricultural farms, greenhouses, olive groves and crops; to the provision of services and utilities supporting the maintenance and existence of settlements.

Eight years ago, on 24 March 2016, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted resolution 31/36 which underlined that UN bodies (the Commission on Human Rights, the Human Rights Council, the Security Council and the General Assembly) affirmed the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. The HRC referred to the ICJs opinion and the Fourth Geneva Convention. To track business involvement, it also decided to create a database of all enterprises active in one  or more  of those ten activities in the Israeli settlements. The plan was to come out with a report every year.

However, it took the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) four years before it released in February 2020 its report with a database listing 112 business entities. In July 2022, the OHCHR sent a letter to all these companies saying it was reviewing the database and invited them to inform the office whether they were still active in the illegal settlements. In total 15 business enterprises were removed from the list because they were ceasing or no longer involved in the listed activities. Mostly these were Israeli companies, as well as General Mills from the United States and Indorama Ventures PCL from Thailand. Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US-based international NGO, would however note that some companies may have adjusted their business structures to avoid falling within the definition of reportable activity.

The UN under pressure

Finally, OHCHR published on 30 June 2023 the updated database, explaining the absence of annual reporting was caused by a lack of regular budget. HRW welcomed the report, but stated: Had the mandate been properly implemented, this year would have seen the seventh substantive report of the database, not its second.

The UN body was faced by political constraints, which are continuing. Certain countries are obstructing the ongoing development of the list, explains Tara Van Ho, senior lecturer at the School of Law and Human Rights Centre, University of Essex. One of the claims was that the database was antisemitic. There is some truth in it. The database is focusing on Israel, while there is no such list for instance for Russia. Yet, I dont see the kind of settlement and annexation, that we observe in the West Bank, being as present in other countries, says Van Ho, who lived a few months in Ramallah, in the West Bank, when she worked for a Palestinian organization in 2015.

HRW noted a highly pressurized environment, in which certain states have demonstrated hostility to the implementation of the mandate. This served to shield Israel and businesses from their international legal responsibilities, the NGO stated. The chronic under-implementation of the mandate is damaging to the integrity and credibility of both the Office of the High Commissioner and the Human Rights Council. It is unacceptable, and sets a dangerous precedent, that a mandate of the Council is largely ignored, especially over such an extended period, HRW said.

Bookings responses to the UN list

The new UN-database lists 97 companies. The vast majority, 81, are Israeli businesses. The other 16 are Western companies from the US (5), The Netherlands (3), France (3), UK (3), Luxembourg (1) and Spain (1). The OHCHR writes that the present list does not purport to constitute a judicial or quasi-judicial process of any kind, or to provide any legal characterization of the listed activities or business enterprises involvement therein. This paragraph is added to underline that as such the list has no legal power. Its not a criminal complaint or any other judicial procedure, Van Ho says.

On the UN-list feature four prominent travel companies: Booking (The Netherlands/US), Airbnb (US), Expedia (US) and Tripadvisor (US). Justice Info contacted all four travel companies for a reaction to their presence on the list. Only Booking responded to our questions.

A spokesperson of Booking explained in an emailed reaction that the company facilitates accommodations worldwide on its platform, including conflict regions. Its policy is to allow all providers to advertise their accommodation on the platform as long as they obey the relevant local law, the company says. Our mission at Booking is to make it easier for everybody to experience the world and therefore we believe its up to the travelers themselves to decide where they want and have to go. Booking claims that when it receives a warning that an accommodation is possibly linked to human rights violations, we look at this immediately and take, if necessary, appropriate action in accordance with the companys Human Rights Statement.The company didnt answer the question whether it was violating the law.

Booking says that the war in Gaza and the increasing violence on the West Bank are heartbreaking. The company states that it is sad because of the extreme pain, the suffering and the losses so many people in the region are suffering. It adds: our thoughts are with all those affected. We sincerely hope an end to the violence.

Partial view, in 2007, of the Israeli settlement of Kfar Adumim, between Jerusalem and Jericho, in the West Bank. Photo:  Gali Tibbon / AFP

Its so disconnected from reality

On their platforms the four travel companies show the beauty of the accommodations in the settlements and its surroundings. These enterprises play quite an important role. They help normalize the settlements for foreigners. It is almost propaganda, Van Ho says. When tourists visit the settlements they stay in nice places which have electricity, water and other services. They dont experience how Palestinians in their villages, towns and cities nearby, are denied these basic facilities. They dont experience the Israeli militarization of the Palestinian enclaves. They dont witness the humiliations, degradation, the increased monitoring, killings and torture that Palestinians face. Tourists are missing out this reality. The settlements are themselves a war crime and they are linked to other crimes committed against Palestinians. Tourists dont see how they themselves contribute to a war crime, she continues. When she lived in the West Bank she had friends who went on a trip along the settlements. Its so disconnected from reality. Its so different from my experiences when I was taking a Palestinian taxi. They werent stopped, as I was, at military checkpoints and passport checks.

This reality is absent on the platforms of the travel companies. On Tripadvisor the Metzoke Dragot Hostel is described as being in Israel located on a cliff 20 metres above sea level, boasting splendid views of the desert mountains and the Dead Sea. Tripadvisor fails to disclose the true nature of the place. Two guests, Sarah and Robert from Oxford, were shocked to find out they booked a room in an Israeli settlement therefore illegal under international law, they wrote in a review in 2019. It has huge fences around it and very much feels like a settlement. We were not at all happy to find this out and they really should make this clear on their website.

Booking only briefly mentions that Top of the cliff apartments is located in the Israeli settlement Metzoke Dragot in Palestinian territory, warning its not possible to book the place on its platform and referring tourists to Tranquilo  Dead Sea Glamping in nearby ex-Kibbutz Mitzpe Shalem, which is on land belonging to the Palestinian Bedouin village of Ayn Trayba, and other settlements such as Ovnat further north. Airbnb offers accommodations in Ovnat as well, claiming these are located in Israel, failing to mention this is an illegal settlement. Expedia advertises Nof Canaan as a comfortable guesthouse in Nofei Prat with free parking and only mentions in the address that this is an Israeli settlement.

A case against Airbnb

The West Bank is an important factor for tourists to choose Israel as a destination. The Israeli government developed programs aimed at enriching the tourism industry within Israeli settlements by providing assistance in setting up and maintaining hotels and accommodations, law student Mila Kelly wrote in 2021 in an article in William and Mary Business Law Review. Meanwhile Israel places strict limitations on access to the settlements. Not for tourists and Israeli citizens, but for Palestinian residents of the West Bank who are excluded from entering the settlements for the purpose of property rental, Kelly stated. Precisely what Jericho Inn writes in its profile on Bookings platform where it says theres no entry with a Palestinian ID. Tourism activities in the West Bank have led directly to the expansion of settlements, Kelly wrote. She argued that companies see the settlements as a viable source of business and are willing to risk potential repercussions of international corporate liability for the pursuit of financial gains.

Under international law all businesses should respect human rights. Regardless of their industry, size, ownership structure, or operational context. They are required to assess whether their operations have a negative impact on human rights, says Van Ho, referring to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. She has no doubt that the four travel companies, like the other companies on the UN list, all contribute to human rights violations. Legal enforcement is left to the domestic regulators. But what we see is that European and US authorities dont act in the case of human rights violations against Palestinians. Palestine is the exception in many Western states, claims Van Ho. She concludes: These four travel companies, like the other enterprises, should be investigated and the leadership should be charged with complicity in war crimes where the evidence supports this.

In its written reaction to Justice Info on May 23, Booking states that it is restricted to take action in the US as there are many American state laws that limit our ability to withdraw from the region. For example, 38 US states have measures discouraging boycotts or divestments from Israel, with some states explicitly prohibiting boycotts or divestments from the country or its occupied territories. Legal action has been taken against other companies that have attempted to withdraw their activities and we expect this will be the case for us as well.

In her 2021 article Kelly described a case against Airbnb, explaining that the travel company was facing criticism from the international community that it was profiting from illegal activity which is boosting settlement economies allowing for the furtherance of their development and maintenance and fostering discrimination against Palestinians who are unable to rent or list in these areas. In November 2018, Airbnb announced it was going to ban the listing of properties in the illegal settlements. Soon, however, Airbnb would change its mind. In Israel lawyers launched a class action lawsuit accusing Airbnb of outrageous discrimination as the delisting was directed solely against Israeli citizens living in the settlement and demanded compensation. Eleven Israeli settlers (U.S. citizens) who listed or planned to advertise their properties in settlements on Airbnb, as well as nine U.S. citizens who searched for such rentals, filed a complaint against Airbnb in the Delaware federal court. The plaintiffs referred to the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and argued that delisting illegal settlement properties discriminated against Jews and Israelis on the basis of race, religion and national origin. These legal actions were settled, Kelly wrote. In April 2019 Airbnb decided to stop the planned delisting of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The company said it would donate the money it made from bookings in the territory to international humanitarian aid organizations. I think Airbnb should have challenged the case based on the law, saying they dont want to be complicit in international crimes, says Van Ho. Meanwhile companies have continued their activities. They want to make money, choose to facilitate settlements, actively engage in crime but dont face the consequences for criminal complicity, alleges Van Ho.

What about institutional investors?

Van Ho thinks the problem stretches beyond these companies. There is a large structure with mother companies and institutional investors behind it, she says. Last year a coalition of 25 Palestinian and European organisations highlighted these ties. In a report called Dont Buy into Occupation the organizations stated that 776 European financial institutions  banks, insurance companies, and pension funds  had financial relationships with 51 businesses, including the four travel companies, that are actively involved with Israeli settlements. These financial institutions should make the decision to comply with their obligations, says Van Ho. In 2019 she investigated with two colleagues the Norwegian Statens Pensjonsfund Utland (SPU). The team concluded that this government pension fund was directly linked to a wide variety of adverse human rights impacts in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Van Ho points at the severe consequences of this reality. Israel and Palestine would not be in these circumstances today if states had taken their responsibility with respect to these companies, which are facilitating the ongoing conflict. If governments had really engaged, Israel would have responded and changed its policy. There is now a war with Israel and Hamas both committing international crimes. The conflict spiraled out of control partly because states and businesses didnt take their responsibility to stop fueling the settlements, she claims.

Now all eyes are on the case brought and made public by the coalition against Booking, to see how the Dutch prosecutors will handle the money laundering case against the company in connection to war crimes. For decades, foreign companies have contributed to and benefited from atrocities perpetrated in the occupied Palestinian territory, with full impunity, the coalition says. Third States have an obligation to end dealings with Israels illicit settlement economy.
The UN will vote Thursday on a resolution to recognise July 11 as an international day of remembering the genocide in Bosnia's Srebrenica.

The massacre in July 1995 of Muslim men and boys by Bosnian Serb forces during the country's bloody inter-ethnic war has widely been considered the worst atrocity in Europe since World War II, and became a symbol of "ethnic cleansing".

Here is a timeline of the events.

- 1992-1995: The siege of Srebrenica -

Shortly after the start of the siege of the capital Sarajevo at the beginning of the Bosnian war in April 1992, Bosnian Serb troops encircle the mainly Muslim town of Srebrenica in eastern Bosnia.

Other towns in the eastern Drina valley are also captured with the help of paramilitary groups who have crossed from neighbouring Serbia.

In April 1993, with the town coming under tank and artillery fire, the UN Security Council declares Srebrenica a "safe area" under the protection of UN and NATO forces.

But in July 1995 Bosnian Serb forces overrun the peacekeepers' positions, taking some 30 Dutch troops hostage.

On July 11, the Bosnian Serb army led by Ratko Mladic take Srebrenica, causing tens of thousands of refugees to flee to the Dutch force's compound at Potocari on the town's outskirts.

The peacekeepers and thousands of refugees, mostly women and children, retreat into the UN base.

- July 1995: The massacre -

Mladic orders the evacuation of all civilians, including women, children and the elderly, while all men of fighting age are taken prisoner.

In the following days, more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys are systematically butchered by the Bosnian Serb forces and their bodies dumped in mass graves.

The Serbs later dig many back up and rebury them in other graves to try to hide the evidence.

Survivors tell harrowing tales of murder, torture and rape by the Bosnian Serb forces for which Mladic and former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic are indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

To date, around 7,000 victims of the massacre have been identified and buried -- 6,751 in Potocari's memorial centre and 250 in other Srebrenica area cemeteries. Some 1,200 people are still missing, according to the Missing Persons Institute of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

- Genocide convictions -

On November 21, 1995, the Dayton Accords, hammered out under international pressure, bring an end to the war.

They divide Bosnia into two entities, the Serb Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation of Bosnia, each enjoying a large degree of autonomy and united by weak central institutions.

Karadzic and Mladic go on the run and are only captured in 2008 and 2011, respectively.

They are put on trial separately in The Hague and both sentenced to life imprisonment for genocide and other crimes.

In all, nearly 50 people have been sentenced by courts in The Hague, Sarajevo and the Serbian capital Belgrade for crimes related to the Srebrenica massacre.
Byeon Woo Seok, while still starring in the hit romantasy drama "Lovely Runner," revealed he's already receiving new offers.

Will we see him in a new project right after the finale?

Byeon Woo Seok Overwhelmed by 'Lovely Runner' Popularity, Support From Fans

On May 22, Byeon Woo Seok met the viewers through his first-ever "Yoo Quiz on the Block" guest appearance. Here, the actor talked about his career, personal life, and feelings toward the "Lovely Runner" fame.

During his interview with Yoo Jae Suk and Jo Se Ho, the "Record of Youth" star shared that since his drama started airing, he couldn't get enough sleep and kept on checking the news and various social media platforms.

He admitted to also searching for his name and "Lovely Runner" ratings, and doing this makes his heart race as it is his first time to experience such massive support from fans.

"When I watch the news, my heart starts racing. I have been working hard for the past 9 years, and I am surprised and grateful to receive this much love."

Byeon Woo Seok Admits He's Receiving Various Offers While Still Headlining 'Lovely Runner'

Byeon Woo Seok, whose popularity continues to rise sharply after playing the role of Ryu Sun Jae, revealed that drama offers keep coming his way. He humbly admitted that he is receiving more scripts than before.

"There are about 10 to 20 times as many scripts coming in."

Surprised by his revelation, Yoo Jae Suk asked if it all happened in a month, and the actor replied "yes."

Nonetheless, Byeon Woo Seok has not decided yet on what he would do next as he is still reviewing the offers.

Byeon Woo Seok Expresses Gratitude to Kim Hye Yoon

Apart from this, the model-turned-actor also expressed his gratitude to his "Lovely Runner" co-star Kim Hye Yoon, with whom he has an excellent chemistry with. He mentioned that if it were not for the actress, he wouldn't be able to express Sun Jae's emotions.

"The emotions Hye Yoon gave me were so sincere that I fell in love with Sun Jae and was able to do better."

Byeon Woo Seok also showed his affection for "Lovely Runner," which he considers a special work, and his role Ryu Sun Jae.

"The series took 3 years to produce. At that time, I was not well-known, so the script went to other actors first. I am grateful that they sent me this script. As soon as I read the script, I knew for sure that I wanted to do it."

Which drama genre would you love to see Byeon Woo Seok in next? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai San Miguel wrote this.
Netflix dropped a major announcement regarding the "All of Us Are Dead" Season 2 release date.

Headlined by rising stars Yoon Chan Young, Park Ji Hu, Choi Yi Hyun, Lomon, Yoo In Soo, and more, the series started 2022 with a bang, creating a huge craze globally.

One of the most awaited sequels, viewers are looking forward to watching the aftermath of the zombie outbreak and seeing how the survivors are coping with the new environment.

However, while various outlets initially mentioned that "All of Us Are Dead" Season 2 is expected to air in early 2025, the streaming giant will be delaying the highly anticipated broadcast.

Netflix Delays 'All of Us Are Dead' Season 2 Release Date - Here's Why

In an exclusive report by Star News, Netflix officials confirmed that the production of "All of Us Are Dead" Season 2 blhas been postponed.

It was after the streaming platform decided to halt the filming of the original series by one year, which means they are eyeing releasing it sometime in 2025.

As for the reason behind the sudden change, they are considering the "better production environment and higher completeness" of the whole project.

Originally, after Netflix confirmed the renewal of the mystery-thriller K-drama, outlets released an update saying that production for the upcoming season will start in June 2022. This includes the casting stage and the planning of the filming process.

With this, viewers are hoping that the streaming giant will release "All of Us Are Dead" Season 2 in late 2024 or before the year ends.

'All of Us Are Dead' Season 2 Cast, Plot

In Season 1, "All of Us Are Dead" showcased the unfortunate demise of several characters.

During the finale episode, it featured four surviving students: Nam On Jo (Park Ji Hyun), Lee Soo Hyuk (Lomon), Yang Dae Soo (Lim Jae Hyeok), and Jang Ha Ri (Ha Seung Ri), who were rescued after arriving at the military checkpoint.

Interestingly, this led to speculation that several key cast members might reprise their roles in Season 2.

Besides the remaining survivors, Season 1 left a clue hinting that Yoon Chan Young's character, Lee Cheong San, suggested a possible return.

As for the plot, "All of Us Are Dead" Season 2 might revolve around the survival period for zombies.

However, Netflix has yet to provide a possible premise and an overview of what to expect in the upcoming sequel.





For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Flores
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Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied allegations that he was starving Palestinians in Gaza as a method of war.

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan announced Monday that he had requested arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders and two Israeli politicians  Netanyahu and Israels Defense Minister Yoav Gallant  on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the October 7 attacks in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Khan said the accusations against Netanyahu and Gallant include causing extermination, causing starvation as a method of war, including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies, deliberately targeting civilians in conflict.

Responding, Netanyahu said an arrest warrant application currently under review in the International Criminal Court (ICC) is based on a pack of lies.

Speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper, Netanyahu called Khan a rogue prosecutor that has put false charges and created false symmetries that are both dangerous and false and insisted that Israel has been allowing food and medical aid to enter Gaza, where aid groups say that the blockaded Palestinian enclave is currently at risk of famine.

Israel has allowed 20,000 trucks of aid into Gaza, Netanyahu said, which is a fraction of what would have entered in the same period under normal times.

Israels ongoing war in Gaza, following Hamas October 7 terror attacks, has reached its seventh month and left more than 34,000 people dead.

Last week, Israels defense chief Gallant called on Netanyahu to publicly rule out Israeli governance over the Gaza Strip and to lay out his post-war plans for civilian rule in Gaza, warning that he opposes Israeli rule in the Palestinian enclave.

When Netanyahu was asked by Tapper if he would rule out the Israeli occupation of Gaza, the Israeli politician said that resettling the Palestinian territory was out of the question.

You mean resettling Gaza? Yeah. It was never in the cards, and I said so openly [and] some of my constituents are not happy about it, but thats my position.

The prime minister also reaffirmed his commitment to eradicating Hamas, which governs Gaza, before considering demilitarizing the strip.

Military action that we take against Hamas is in fact the way to get these hostages because without military pressure, basically, without, you know, squeezing them, Hamas is not going to give up anything, he told Tapper.

Netanyahu is deeply unpopular in Israel, where he is also facing an ongoing corruption trial.

In the interview, Netanyahu rejected accusations that he avoids Israeli media in favor of international press, saying he has done up to 20 press conferences with Israeli journalists.

Thats simply not true, he said. I speak to them and I speak to you and I welcome the opportunity to tell the truth and dispel the lies in both in both mediums.

The ICCs application for warrants over the war in Gaza marked the first time the international court has targeted the top leader of a close ally of the United States.






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - A group of African students have been dropped from their university courses and ordered to leave the United Kingdom after they struggled to pay tuition fees on time, BBC reports.

The Teesside University students have said the devaluation of their local currency has made it difficult for them to pay their tuition fees, leading to a breach of visa sponsorship requirements.

Some students have been prevented from continuing with their studies, reported to the Home Office, and ordered to leave the UK.

The university claims it has no choice but to take this action, citing strict external regulations.

Affected students have expressed their distress and disappointment.

The group of 60 students, who chose to share their names with the BBC, came together to urge the university to offer support after several of their peers faced severe consequences for defaulting on payments.

These students were abruptly locked out of their university accounts and forcibly withdrawn from their courses.

On Tuesday, May 21, the students held a peaceful protest on campus to express their displeasure.

Adenike Ibrahim, a student who was close to graduating, had her visa revoked and was told to leave the country, despite having paid 90% of her tuition fees.





I did default [on payments], but Id already paid 90% of my tuition fees and I went to all of my classes, she told BBC.

I called them and asked to reach an agreement, but they do not care what happens to their students.

It has been heartbreaking for my son especially, he has been in so much distress since I told him, Ibrahim added.

Esther Obigwe, another affected student, has been struggling with depression due to the situation.





She claims she repeatedly tried to speak to the university about her financial struggles but received no response until she was blocked from her studies and received notice to leave the country.

Jude Salubi, a student pursuing a degree in social work, was suddenly informed that his access to the university would be suspended and that he would be required to leave the country, despite being in the middle of a critical placement.





A university spokesman said, Teesside University is proud to be a global institution with a diverse student population but is also very aware of its obligations regarding visa issuance and compliance.






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - American model, Amber Rose has left her followers stunned after publicly endorsing Republican candidate, Donald Trump as President.

Amber took to Instagram to share a photo of herself, Donald Trump and Melania Trump, making it clear she'd be voting for the former President in November. She also wrote "Trump 2024."





Her post was however trailed by backlash as many pointed out how Trump's political stances directly contradict her own beliefs, at least those she has been open about.

Recall That Amber, an avid Women's Rights activist, founded the SlutWalk, a protest advocating for the end of rape culture, slut shaming and victim blaming.

A follower wrote "He's against LGBTQ+ community & supports State's rights to choose women's reproductive health. What??????"





Another follower wrote, "Lol I better never see you speak on womens rights again!!" A third wrote, Hes against everything I thought YOU believed in?! LGBTQA Womens rights! The list goes on super disappointing.

Several others declared they were unfollowing Amber over the update. She has now disabled comments on her IG post.

Amber's endorsement of Trump is a complete departure from her prior public feelings about the former President. She had slammed Trump on a number of occasions, including his stance on "locker room banter." Prior to his election in 2016, Amber declared she'd leave the country if Trump became president but didn't follow through on that in the end.




Thursday, May 23, 2024 - The United States Government has announced that it will designate Kenya as its first major non-NATO ally in sub-Saharan Africa, following a meeting between President Ruto and his US counterpart Joe Biden.

The designation gives non-members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization access to military and financial advantages that NATO members enjoy, but without the mutual defense agreement that holds NATO together.

A senior administration official told reporters late Wednesday that Biden would inform Congress of the designation, which takes 30 days to take effect.

The official said the move aims at "elevating and really acknowledging that Kenya is already a global partner of ours."

In the meantime, Ruto and Biden are using their daylong deliberations to iron out Kenyas plan to send 1,000 security officers to the fragile, chaotic Caribbean nation of Haiti.

The initiative, toward which the United States has pledged $300 million in support, faces stiff political and legal challenges in Kenya.

The mission was also delayed when Haitian armed gangs took control while the nations leader, Ariel Henry, was visiting Kenya in March.

Henry resigned in April and has not returned to the island.

The official said that Ruto would meet with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the mission but promised no progress.

"This is definitely an ongoing area of collaboration," the official said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - A bodybuilder's wife has died after he allegedly left her with brain injuries, broken ribs, and a broken shoulder blade following a vicious attack.

Marcela Luise, 31, spent 10 days unconscious in an intensive care unit at Santa Monica Hospital, in Brazil, following an alleged brutal assault at the hands of her husband while their daughter was at school.

Bodybuilder Igor Porto Brandao, who drove her to hospital, was quickly arrested on suspicion of femicide after Marcela was found to have suffered traumatic brain injuries, broken ribs, a broken shoulder blade, and bruises all over her face and body.

He claimed his wife had sustained the severe injuries after falling while cleaning at home.

The mum was pronounced dead on Monday night, May 20 after spending the week in hospital fighting for her life.

Igor, who reportedly has a history of domestic violence against Marcela and an ex-partner, was arrested last Friday after a post-mortem said his alleged victim's injuries were inconsistent with a fall.

The medical team at the hospital had called in the police force specialised in women's assistance (DEAM) who began their investigations into Igor.

Speaking in an interview with TV Anhanguera, the investigator said: 'The hospital contacted the police station informing them that there were multiple injuries, which is not consistent with a fall.

'She suffered head trauma on both sides of her head and at the base of her skull, fractured her collarbone, eight ribs and had several bruises on her body.'





Police chief Bruna Coelho said before his detention: 'He told the medical team she was cleaning the house when she slipped and fell.

'According to him she suffered convulsions and the injuries were caused by the fall.

'He said he gave her a bath and took her to hospital, where she was immediately taken to the operating theatre for surgery before being transferred to an intensive care unit.'

She went on to describe the bodybuilder as someone with an 'explosive and aggressive temperament' who had also had bust-ups with a neighbour and a supermarket worker.

Speaking to a Brazilian TV station while her niece was still fighting for her life in intensive care, her aunt Fernanda Paula Miranda said: 'She didn't work and he controlled her.

'He often told her she wasn't a good mum, that she didn't know how to do anything, insulted her and humiliated her.'






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - A Catholic monk came out as transgender this month, saying the church has "to deal with" trans Catholics.

On May 17, Brother Christian Matson, a Catholic monk in Kentucky, told Religion News Service, "This Sunday, Pentecost 2024 (May 19), I'm planning to come out publicly as transgender."

"You've got to deal with us, because God has called us into this church. It's not your church to kick us out ofthis is God's church, and God has called us and engrafted us into it, Matson, who holds a doctorate in religious studies, told the Church regarding transgender Catholics.

Matson transitioned during college and converted to Catholicism four years later. He hopes his coming out will spark meaningful discussions about the inclusion of transgender individuals within the Catholic community.

His announcement comes just a month after the Vatican released Infinite Dignity, a 20-page document that criticizes gender theory, abortion, and surrogacy as attacks on humanitys connection with God.

Matson expressed disappointment that the Vatican's stance on trans issues lacks scientific engagement. He has written multiple letters to the Vatican, urging leaders to interact more with transgender individuals.

Matson sought advice from a canon lawyer when he felt called to serve in the Church. The lawyer suggested the role of a diocesan hermit, which does not distinguish based on sex or gender.

Despite this, Matson faced rejections from several communities before finding acceptance in Kentucky.

People who knew me said, You clearly have a religious vocation, and these were all people who knew my medical history, Matson said.





However, those responsible for decision-making within communities often refused to meet with him.

Bishop John Stowe, a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ individuals in the Catholic Church, received a letter from Matson in 2020 and oversaw his vows in 2022.

My willingness to be open to him is because its a sincere person seeking a way to serve the church. Hermits are a rarely used form of religious life  but they can be either male or female, Stowe told the RNS.

Matson spent his initial year almost entirely in prayer or working at a local theater and renewed his vows in 2023.

I dont have a hidden agenda, I just want to serve the church, Matson said. People can believe that or not.




Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has sought the help of his Interior counterpart, Kithure Kindiki, to calm the storms in his ministry.

Speaking while appearing before the Senate yesterday, Linturi announced the formation of a multi-agency team targeting Kenyans who are selling unsafe meat to unsuspecting members of the public.

Linturi said the multi-agency team is led by Interior CS Kithure Kindiki.

The Agriculture CS noted that the team also comprises Health CS Susan Nakhumicha.

We have formed a multi-agency team in all the 47 counties. The lead CS in this matter is the Interior cabinet secretary, Agriculture and Health. This is to ensure that no meat is out there that is not safe, said Linturi.

He explained that the multi-agency team conducts highway patrols and does weekly patrols and routine inspections to ensure high-quality meat is sold to Kenyans.

CS Linturi also mentioned that the multi-agency has mapped out illegal slaughterhouses that deal with donkey meat.

We have highway patrols, road blocks have been mounted, we have weekly patrols and inspections for compliance we have mapped out illegal slaughterhouses which are especially dealing with donkeys, the Agriculture CS added.

Further, CS Linturi told the senators that the multi-agency is getting results in the crackdown against the outlawed business.

We are getting very good results. This is being done through the multi-agency team to ensure that our meat is safe for human consumption, Linturi stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, May 23, 2024  President William Ruto had a very rough time in the U.S. defending himself and his government after a Kenyan man confronted him, demanding compensation after spending Ksh250,000 on the alleged fake fertilizer.

The United States-based Kenyan expressed his displeasure after being granted an opportunity to address the president during the latter's meeting with a group of Kenyans living in the U.S.

While addressing his plight, the man narrated that he was a farmer from Narok County living in the U.S. and that he bought the fertilizer from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) only to realize it was fake.

"I am a diaspora farmer and I do a lot of acreages of wheat and this planting season I lost Ksh250,000 on fake fertilizer and we are suffering," the man narrated.

According to the farmer, despite spending such a huge amount of money, he was yet to receive any compensation from the government as initially promised.

"I am not sure if the government knows or the government is a party to it because I am trying to fight for my refund," the man added.

Ruto who addressed the matter noted that the government had already rolled out a compensation scheme for all farmers who were affected by the menace.

According to the Head of State, the compensation would be free and would done within the shortest time upon registration.

"We asked every farmer who bought fertilizer that was identified not to be good to register and 7,000 registered," Ruto clarified.

"Already we have begun compensation and you will get equivalent fertilizer without having to pay, it will be free of charge," the head of state added.

Ruto further clarified that top officials at NCPB had already been arrested and were awaiting prosecution upon completion of investigations.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Anti-Narcotics Unite detectives have arrested two suspected drug traffickers and seized three bales of bhang stashed in backpacks believed to have been destined for the capital, Nairobi

Ferdinand Wanjero, 29, and Daniel Juma Mwadimwa, 26, were arrested following information from members of the public that two men were spotted at the bustling Busia bus station, preparing to board a Climax bus bound for Nairobi, carrying suspected narcotics in their bags.

Anti-narcotics officers responded swiftly and managed to arrest the two, and upon thorough search discovered the 12kg of cannabis sativa with an approximate street value of Sh360,000.

Legal processes have been initiated against the duo.

The Kenya DAILY POST.




Thursday, May 23, 2024 - A retired teacher and well-known businessman based in Butere is fighting for his life after he was shot by three assailants who fled in a motorbike.

Alfred Aswani was walking home at around 8:30 PM when he was accosted by the assailants, 200 metres from his residence.

The assailants shot him and snatched 2 bags and a phone from him.

They thought he was dead and fled in a motorbike.

Luckily, he was able to identify one of the assailants.

The victim is admitted in hospital in critical condition with a bullet lodged in his chest.

The incident took place 300 metres from a police station.

The local residents are now raising an alarm over insecurity in the area.

Armed criminal gangs have been terrorizing the locals and flaunting firearms in changaa dens.

This is what a concerned resident wrote to Nyakundi.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - A man and his son have revealed to Israeli investigators how they killed innocent civilians after taking part in the Hamas invasion.

Jamal Hussein Ahmad Radi, 47, and his son Abdallah, 18, were captured by IDF forces in Gaza and questioned about the atrocities they committed in a kibbutz close to the border in October last year

In video footage of their confession, the men chillingly describe murdering innocent civilians in their homes, kidnapping others and brutally raping women they found and shooting them once they had finished their evil acts.

Details of the horrific crimes carried out emerged in the weeks after the Hamas attacks which left more than 1,200 people dead and has sparked a fierce retaliation by Israeli forces in Gaza.

In the footage, the men dressed in grey tracksuits and with handcuffs - are seen sitting in front of an Israeli flag as they are questioned by an Arabic speaking member of the Shin Bet security service at a secret location.

Without any visible sign of remorse he said: 'In each house where we found someone, we either killed them or kidnapped them.'

Pressed further he added: 'In the first house I found a woman and her husband, and we hit them with fire and killed themthey were in their late 40s.'

He then went on to confess how he had r@pd one woman and said: 'She was screaming, she was crying, I did what I did, I r@pd her.

'I threatened her with my gun to take her clothes off, I remember she was wearing jean shorts, that's about it.'

'I don't know what happened to her, I was there for fifteen minutes and then I left.'

But according to his son Abdallah, his father killed the woman, as he told investigators: 'My father r@pd her, then I did and then my cousin did and then we left but my father killed the woman after we finished raping her.

'Before this woman, we had r@pd another girl as well, I killed two people, I r@pd two people, and I broke into five houses.'

The video confessions come after horrifying footage of five terrified women captured by Hamas fanatics being threatened at gunpoint, was released on Wednesday.

Commenting on the confessions video an IDF spokesperson told MailOnline:

'Over the past months, we've seen countless evidence of the brutal violence used by Hamas on October 7th, including harrowing acts of gender-based and sexual violence.

'These confessions further prove that any attempt to deny the horrors of October 7th, and discredit the testimonies of witnesses, survivors and freed hostages, is part of a campaign to de-legitimize Israel, and to promote the justification of terrorism.'

The spokesperson added that both father and son were in custody awaiting trial.

Watch the video below






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - The man who died after suffering a heart attack when the Singapore Airlines flight on which he was travelling hit severe turbulence has been named.

Geoffrey Ralph Kitchen, 73, is believed to have been hurled from side-to-side when the plane was struck by treacherous conditions at 37,000ft above the Indian Ocean.

The plane, travelling from London to Singapore, had to make an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.

Images taken there show emergency services swarm the jet but Mr Kitchen, believed to be from Thornbury, Gloucestershire, was pronounced dead.





Mr Kitchen died and several other passengers aboard Flight SQ321 suffered injuries after it encountered difficulty amid thunderstorms.

It was destined for Singapore Changi Airport but had to make an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport after dropping 6,000ft in just three minutes.

Photos, which have emerged on social media site X, show distressed passengers, including a severely bloodied man in his seat.

In another picture, a woman is embraced by her fellow passenger.

Singapore Airlines staff are pictured in their seats, and one woman has a cut on her face.

Further images capture the carnage left on the floor of the cabin. Food from the in-flight meals is strewn on the floor amid the debris. Air masks are seen deployed, as in the case when aircrafts experience emergency landings.

However, one photo shows ceiling fittings ripped apart and the pipework exposed. Machinery is also seen hanging from the galley where trolleys are stored.

More than 200 passengers were aboard the Boeing 777, which left London Heathrow.

A passenger on board said the plane suffered a "dramatic drop", meaning people not wearing a seatbelt were "launched immediately into the ceiling".
Thursday, May 23, 2024  President William Rutos charm offensive in the US is on another level, his expensive private jet notwithstanding.

This is after he influenced US President Joe Biden to visit Kenya which he gladly agreed.

Speaking during a question-and-answer session with Ruto and business leaders to discuss an innovative future between the two countries, Biden hinted at visiting Kenya, which would make him the second US president to do so.

Biden pledged an official visit to the continent in February, subject to his re-election this November.

This commitment comes as analysts suggest that Bidens warm reception of President William Ruto aims to underscore the U.S.'s dedication to Africa, even at the end of his current term.

Biden made the announcement during President Ruto's arrival at the White House, where the two leaders commenced a two-day summit featuring high-level discussions and a state dinner.

The President, a Democrat, faces a re-election bid against Republican rival and former President Donald Trump in the November 5 election.

I plan on going in February after I am re-elected, Biden stated, indicating confidence in his electoral success.

This visit would mark Biden's first to Africa, despite his administration's repeated affirmations of the continents strategic importance.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Frances Foreign Ministry has come out to support the International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza and in Israel.

On Monday, May 20, the ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan said he had issued arrest warrants for three Hamas leadersYehia Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyehfor crimes committed in Israel and Gaza on 7 October 2023 and after, including extermination, taking hostages and Rape and other acts of sexual violence.

Khan also issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for crimes in Gaza following Hamas 7 October attack, including starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population and extermination and/or murder.

The arrest warrant drew equivalence between the militant group and an elected government with close ties to the US and West.

But France has now broken from its allies to support the ICC's arrest warrants against Israel.

France supports the International Criminal Court, its independence, and its fight against impunity in all situations, the Foreign Ministry wrote in a statement published Monday night, following the ICCs announcement.

The French Foreign Ministry said it has condemned, as of 7 October, the anti-Semitic massacres perpetuated by Hamas. This terrorist group claimed the barbaric attacks directed at civilians, accompanied by acts of torture and sexual violence that they themselves documented.

On Israel, France has been raising the alarm for many months on the imperative for the strict respect of international humanitarian law, notably on the unacceptable nature of civilian losses in the Gaza strip and an insufficient humanitarian access.

France's support for the ICC warrant came after the United States objected to the ICCs putting Israel and Hamas in the same warrant.

US President Joe Biden called the move outrageous, saying there was no equivalence between Israel and Hamas.

Italy's foreign minister agreed that it was was "unacceptable" to equate the Israeli democratic government with Hamas.

Netanyahu said Khan has created a "twisted and false moral equivalence" between Israel and Hamas, calling the warrants "a moral outrage of historic proportions".

In a video released by his office Tuesday, Netanyahu called Khan one of the "great anti-Semites in modern times," like the judges in Nazi Germany who denied Jews basic rights and enabled the Holocaust, and said the decision to issue the warrants was "callously pouring gasoline on the fires of anti-Semitism that are raging around the world.

A Hamas representative denounced the arrest warrants against its leaders, saying it was "equating the victim with the executioner", and demanded the withdrawal of the request.

In his warrant, Khan does not make any direct comparisons between Israel and Hamas, except to say they have both committed crimes against humanity.

A panel of three judges will determine whether or not to issue the arrest warrants after considering the prosecutors evidence.

If the warrants are issued, the courtwhich includes nearly all countries of the European Union could be put in a diplomatically difficult position.








Thursday, May 23, 2024  The alleged fallout between President William Ruto and his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, has taken a new turn.

This is after Embakasi North MP James Gakuya revealed that Gachagua was not Mt Kenya region's first choice to join Ruto as his running mate.

The lawmaker, who is part of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, revealed that the region's leaders and elders had their sights on Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.

He further noted that during a retreat in Nanyuki, they sat Nyoro down and asked him if he wanted the position.

However, Nyoro turned the opportunity down forcing the group to turn to Rigathi Gachagua as their last option since they had no other choice.

"Ndindi was in the same team with Honourable Rigathi and we asked him when the President was looking for a running mate, 'Are you ready Ndindi to go for the running mate then we play the mechanism and ask the President to give you the support from Murang'a area?" Gakuya stated

"We were in Nanyuki and he stated clearly that he was not interested and he just wanted to go to Kiharu and that was when we moved to the other candidate."

Gachagua's choice was, however, not devoid of its challenges which pitted the DP against Kithure Kindiki, who was reportedly angling for the same position.

In his opinion, Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch revealed that the alliance between Ruto and Gachagua was forced.

"The choice of Gachagua as Rutos running mate was forced and not made out of free will.

"Uhuru warned Kenyans that he knows Ruto more than we do, and theres a late realization of who we are dealing with," he stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Germany will arrest Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters the country amid allegations of war crimes by the International Criminal Court, a spokesperson has confirmed.

Steffen Hebestreit, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, confirmed on Wednesday,May 22 that the country would 'abide by the law' and arrest the Israeli leader should he visit the EU nation.

The announcement comes after British prosecutor Karim Khan announced on Monday that he is seeking warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three Hamas terror chiefs including Yahya Sinwar, the ruler in Gaza who masterminded the terror attacks on October 7.

Netanyahu labelled the allegations a 'distortion of reality' and accused the prosecutor of 'callously pouring gasoline on the fires of antisemitism that are raging across the world'.

Germany's decision comes after Israels Ambassador to Berlin, Ron Prosor, made a desperate plea to the German government to reject the ICCs proposed arrest warrant.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Prosor wrote: This is outrageous! The German "Staatsrason" is now being put to the testno ifs or buts.

This contrasts with the weak statements we hear from some institutions and political actors. The public statement that Israel has the right to self-defense loses credibility if our hands are tied as soon as we defend ourselves.

Staatsrason refers to Germanys long-standing commitment to the defence of Israel, a policy declared by former Chancellor Angela Merkel during a 2008 speech to the Knesset.

Prosor added: The Chief Prosecutor equates a democratic government with Hamas, thereby demonizing and delegitimizing Israel and the Jewish people.




Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba has attacked Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru as the battle for Mt Kenya region succession intensifies.

In a social media post on Wednesday, Wamuchomba criticized the governor, stating that she was in no position to lecture the region's leaders on matters of succession.

Wamuchomba added that the governor should either join them in their search for a kingpin or remain quiet.

The MP, who has been leading an onslaught against President William Ruto's administration, criticized the Council of Governors chairperson over what she termed as sitting pretty in leadership while her people suffer from economic challenges.

Dear Governor Waiguru, with much respect stop lecturing us on who should speak about what Mt. Kenya Region.

"You are the Chair of the Council of Governors sitting pretty as we struggle with the rising economic stress, closing businesses, alcoholism and neglect of projects by the Kenya Kwanza regime which you are now defending online, she said.

Wamuchomba went on to reprimand Waiguru following her trip to the United States in the company of President Ruto, pointing out that her focus should be to ensure she brings home goodies rather than giving political directions.

Now that you are in the USA with the presidential jet, enjoy the ride quietly but ask those wazungu to give you money to complete our projects na sio LOANS!

"And by the way here at home we are speaking the language of One Man One Shilling while you are away.

"Prepare to either Join us or shut up! said Wamuchomba.

According to the lawmaker, Waiguru has been mum on the issues affecting her people and has not used her position as the CoG chair to root for resources for her people.

She blames the governor for not voicing out the problems ailing both Dairy and Coffee farmers in Central Kenya and the stalled government projects.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Narc Kenya Chairperson Martha Karua has addressed the alleged summons by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) for using inciting words during last week's Limuru 3 meeting at Jumuiya Centre, Limuru.

In a statement via X on Thursday, Karua said the viral letter purporting to have come from Busia senator Okiya Omtatah claiming she uttered words inciting hatred against Luos, Kalenjins, and Luhya communities is fake.

NCIC Kenya has disowned the scandalous letter circulating containing falsehoods regarding our highly successful Limuru3 meeting. We shall not and cannot be gagged by the crooked maneuvers of our detractors, said Karua.

The Azimio principal went on to say as a legal practitioner, her duty is to advise on the law and not to break the law.

Karau dared anyone feeling she violated the law during the Limuru 3 conference to bring on the matter and face her head-on.

As senior counsel, my duty is to advise on the law not to break it. Anyone who feels I have violated the law should go ahead and bring it on without further delay, she clarified

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Thursday, May 23, 2024 - A prominent Indian TV channel has blasted President William Ruto after he hired a private jet for Sh 200 million to take him and his entourage to the United States.

Kenya is a developing country and most of its citizens live below a dollar a day.

In an editorial segment, Firstpost TV highlighted the jet's opulence and questioned the necessity of a 30-person delegation, including a comedian, funded by taxpayers money

"President William Rutro is being slammed, not because he's in the US but because of how he chose to get there.

He decided to fly in a luxury jet. Ruto pulled out all the stops. He brought along an entourage of more than 30 people, including a famous Kenyan comedian.

Everyone travelled to the US in style on the Kenyan taxpayers' dime, and this, more than anything else, has triggered the backlash," news anchor Palki Sharma said.

The anchor argued that such luxury contradicts Ruto's policies, particularly since he took office in 2022, increased taxes, and advocated fiscal responsibility.

"Ruto has been stringent with Kenyan taxpayers.

Since becoming president in 2022, he has raised taxes on salaries, doubled the sales tax on fuel, introduced a housing levy, a hospital insurance levy, and a turnover tax on small businesses.

His motto seems to be: if it moves, tax itall in the name of fiscal responsibility.

Yet, he's flying around in an Emirati jet with a large entourage, including a comedian,

The whole trip according to preliminary estimates will cost Kenya taxpayers Sh 1 billion.

Good morning, Daktari, @WilliamsRuto. We know you're currently busy having a family holiday on taxpayers' money to even catch up with the news, so I've done my patriotic duty to keep you in the know as I promised you when you left on Sunday. Don't thank me now, thank me later. pic.twitter.com/jII31lWYNz  Gabriel Oguda (@gabrieloguda) May 23, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Iranians erupted into acts of celebration and set off fireworks following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

Raisi, 64, and the countrys foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, were killed on Sunday, May 19, along with six others.

While Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared five days of mourning, plenty of Iranian citizens set off fireworks in several cities and posted videos of themselves dancing in the streets.

Many Iranian women also posted videos of themselves celebrating the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday, May 20, openly dancing on his dirty grave after he oversaw a brutal crackdown on 2022 protests against the Islamic morality police.

We freely dance and celebrate on your dirty grave, one woman, Mersedeh Shahinkar, tweeted.

The daughters of Minoo Majidi, 62  an Iranian woman who was one of hundreds of people shot dead by security services during the nationwide fallout following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022 - shared a video of them raising a glass to the presidents death.

In one video showing fireworks, a woman can be heard saying: People are rejoicing at the downfall of Raisi.

Another man said in a second clip: People are celebrating and I congratulate the presidents death.

I hope the rest of them die too.

State media halted all of its regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi.

However, one Tehran resident sent a video to the Iran International website cheering over fireworks: Lets celebrate the good news of Ebrahim Raisis chopper crash.

Two women, Mersedeh Shahinkar and Sima Moradbeigi, danced and smiled in a clip in response Raisis helicopter plunging into mountainside in heavy fog near the city of Tabriz.

Watch a video below.






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Spain, Norway and Ireland have announced plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state, in a move that is likely to bolster the global Palestinian cause but damage relations with Israel.

Palestinian statehood has been recognized by more than 130 out of 193 member states of the United Nations, according to the Palestine Liberation Organization. But the United Nations security council has never accepted to recognize Palestine as a member of the UN, facing vetos by the US.

"Today, Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognize the state of Palestine. Each of us will now undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision," Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris told a press conference in Dublin.

The recognition will come into force in all three countries on May 28, Irish foreign minister Micheal Martin said.

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said the war in Gaza has made it clear that achieving peace and stability must be predicted on resolving the Palestinian question.

In the midst of a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in peace and security, Stre said.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said:

We will recognize the state of Palestine for peace, coherence and justice.

"This recognition is not against the people of Israel and certainly not against the Jews. Its not in favor of Hamas. Its in favor of co-existence."

However, the government in Israel has rejected any unilateral attempts to impose a Palestinian state.

Recognising a Palestinian state will lead to more terrorism, instability in the region and jeopardise any prospects for peace, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said this week.





Israels Foreign Minister, Israel Katz announced the recall of the countrys ambassadors from Norway and Ireland.

I have instructed the immediate recall of Israels ambassadors to Ireland and Norway for consultations in light of these countries decisions to recognise a Palestinian state, Katz said.

Im sending a clear and unequivocal message to Ireland and Norway: Israel will not remain silent in the face of those undermining its sovereignty and endangering its security, he posted on X.




Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Undercover cops gunned down three motorbike-riding thugs on early Wednesday, who are believed to be behind phone snatching incidents in Nairobi and its environs.

The notorious thugs were ambushed while snatching phones and other valuable items from those reporting to work at the Industrial area.

Leone Shimoli Junior, the son of former well-known criminal Edward Shimoli, was among the thugs shot dead.

Leone has been on the police radar for a long time.

He is believed to be behind a spate of armed robberies in Nairobi.

His late father was at one time among the most wanted criminals in Kenya.

He specialized in bank robberies.

Shimoli escaped from Kamiti Maximum Prison three times after his arrest.

Leone followed his fathers footsteps and met his death after being cornered by undercover cops while robbing innocent Kenyans.

He was armed with a Berreta pistol.





See photos.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Azimio Leader Raila Odinga has left the country for the United Kingdom (UK).

In a statement by his Spokesperson Dennis Onyango, Raila will give a keynote speech at the University of Oxford during the Oxford Africa Conference 2024.

At the annual event, Mr. Odinga will deliver a lecture titled: Forging Africa's Future: A Journey of Resilience and Renewal, Onyango stated.

He further added that the former Prime Minister will address political stability, economic growth, equity, and social cohesion while highlighting stories of resilience and examples of renewal from across Africa.

Raila is accompanied by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who has been honoured to be invited as one of the panelists in the conference dubbed 'Navigating Democracy Dynamics in Contemporary Africa: Addressing Challenges and Embracing Opportunities'.

"Honored to be invited to a panel at this years Oxford University Africa Conference alongside Baba who will be giving the Keynote address," Sifuna remarked.

The conference will kick off on Friday, May 24, at Rhodes House in the University of Oxford, UK.

Raila's visit to the UK comes even as President William Ruto is busy in the US on a State visit.

However, his state visit has left Kenyans talking, considering the expenses involved where he hired a private jet worth Sh200 million and carried freeloaders in his huge delegation, among the comedians, governors, CSs, and joyriders at our expense.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - A 73-year-old British man has died and more than 30 other people have been injured on a Singapore Airlines flight from London which was hit by severe turbulence.

The Singapore-bound Boeing 777-300ER was diverted to Bangkok, making an emergency landing at 15:45 local time (08:45 GMT).

Passengers said the aircraft suddenly dropped - and people and objects were thrown around the cabin.

The flight was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, Singapore Airlines said.

It offered its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, who has yet to be named.

I was covered in coffee, Andrew from London told BBC 5 Live. During the few seconds of the plane dropping there was an awful screaming and what sounded like a thud."

Andrew said once the turbulence had settled he had been able to help a woman "screaming in agony" who had a "gash on her head".

Andrew says passengers are being kept in a special part of the airport in Bangkok.

"I will get on another flight, these are very rare occurrences," he said.

Another passenger told Reuters news agency the aircraft suddenly started "tilting up and there was shaking".

"So I started bracing for what was happening, and very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop so everyone seated and not wearing seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling," 28-year-old student Dzafran Azmir said.

"Some people hit their heads on the baggage cabins overhead and dented it, they hit the places where lights and masks are and broke straight through it."

The airline said 31 people who were on board the plane had been taken to hospital.

"The remaining passengers and crew are being examined and given treatment where necessary at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok."

The statement added that the airline was working with Thai authorities to provide medical assistance to passengers, and was sending a team to Bangkok to provide any additional help needed.

Thai authorities have despatched ambulances and emergency teams to Suvarnabhumi Airport. Singapore's Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said the government would provide assistance to the passengers and their families.

"I am deeply saddened to learn about the incident onboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore," he posted in a statement on Facebook.

Watch videos showing the interior of the plane following the incident below.






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - A Florida Sheriffs deputy broke a car window to save a toddler who had been locked in the car parked outside a Walmart in Flagler County.

A video posted to social media by the Flagler County Sheriffs Office shows the unidentified deputy roll up to a maroon car with tinted windows in the mega-stores parking lot on Monday, May 20.

A woman who said she owned the car told the officer the vehicle wasnt running, and the keys were locked inside, the video showed.





She also said the 1-year-old had been in the hot car for about 10 minutes.

The high temperature in the area reached 80 degrees on Monday.

Im going to smash the window here in a second if [the fire department] isnt close, the officer said. Im going to smash the window.

No, no, no! the woman replied.

I have to, because shes stuck in there! the officer said. Shes been in there for 10 minutes.

The womans relationship with the toddler was unclear.





The deputy shattered the glass with a window-breaker tool, then used his collapsible baton to clear the glass remnants that clung to the frame.

Then he busted out the remainder of the window, opened the lock and freed the child.

The Sheriffs Office said the toddler was in good health, despite the heat exposure they suffered, according to WPTV.





Hot-car deaths are common during the spring and summer when the weather is hot.

Watch the video below.






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Former US president, Donald Trump has claimed that he will use his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin to get Wall Street reporter Evan Gershkovich freed from a Russian prison.

Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that this would happen soon after the November election in the United States when he is seeking to defeat President Biden and return to the White House.

Evan Gershkovich, the Reporter from The Wall Street Journal, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the Election, but definitely before I assume Office. He will be HOME, SAFE, AND WITH HIS FAMILY, Trump said.

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and WE WILL BE PAYING NOTHING!

Trump did not say if he had made any contact with Putin or say what grounds he had to believe that the Russian leader would release Gershkovich.

Asked about the comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin has naturally not had contacts with Donald Trump.

Gershkovich was arrested in Russia in March last year on spying charges that he, his employer, WSJ, and the Biden administration have all strongly denied.

He has spent well over a year in a Moscow prison, with no date set for a trial.

Trump has also claimed he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of returning to the White House, though he has not said how he would do this.




Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has lied to Kenyans that his lieutenants who accompanied President William Ruto to the United States were invited by the Joe Biden-led administration and not the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi are among the opposition busybodies who are accompanying Ruto to the US on a trip that will cost Kenyan taxpayers more than Sh 1 billion.

However, the United States has denied funding Ruto's trip and said it is only catering for food, accommodation, and transport within the U.S. for Ruto and the first family.

This means that Wanga and Wandayi used taxpayers' money to travel to the U.S. and Raila Odinga is lying that their presence was sponsored by the Joe Biden administration.

President William Ruto started his historic four-day State visit to the U.S. in Atlanta on Monday, the first by an African leader in 15 years.

The President left Kenya on a leased aircraft provided by RoyalJet, a company based in the United Arab Emirates.

RoyalJet is a partnership between Abu Dhabi Aviation and the Presidential Flight (Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight).

Within RoyalJets collection of aircraft, President Ruto was allocated a Boeing Business Jet B737-77W.

Records indicate that a one-way flight from Nairobi to Atlanta costs USD 748,600 (Sh98 million). Since the President is scheduled to fly to Washington, it is expected that it will cost over Sh200 million.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, May 23, 2024 - A close ally of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was spotted hiding in Atlanta Georgia, and avoiding cameras after accompanying President William Ruto to his five-day tour of the United States.

Ruto began his tour on Tuesday and the penultimate of his visit will be today's meeting with United States President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

Ruto is accompanied by over 200 freeloaders including National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi, who is a close ally of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Wandayi is among a dozen opposition busybodies who are accompanying the President on his useless trip which will cost the Kenyan taxpayers a fortune.

Most of the leaders accompanying the President used taxpayers' money including the hiring of private jet for Sh 200 million.

Instead of using Fokker 70 assigned to the President, Ruto hired Boeing Business Jet B737-77W.

Records indicate that a one-way flight from Nairobi to Atlanta costs USD 748,600 (Sh98 million). Since the President is scheduled to fly to Washington, it is expected that it will cost over Sh200 million.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, May 23, 2024 - President William Ruto is expected to meet former US President Barack Obama during his visit to the White House on Thursday.

The meeting will come ahead of the official state reception by President Joe Biden at the White House.

Obama who was the 44th President of the United States was born of a Kenyan father.

On Wednesday, President Ruto visited the White House in an initial meeting where he was received by President Joe Biden.

During the visit, Biden hosted Ruto for a roundtable on technology as they also engaged on other bilateral and multilateral issues of concern.

Ruto and First Lady Mama Rachel later on laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery in the United States.

The wreath is to honour the sacrifices of American Soldiers as well as historic figures in the US, such as Thurgood Marshall and John F. Kennedy who had a profound impact on Kenya's history.

In their Thursday meeting, Biden and Ruto, together with their delegations will further engage in Kenya-US economic, health, and security partnership

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, May 23, 2024 - President William Rutos security advisor Monica Jumas husband, Prof. Peter Kagwanja, has confirmed that the Head of state has officially dumped his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, and they are currently going on different paths.

Appearing on Jeff Koinange Live on Wednesday Prof. Peter Kagawanja said Ruto is a brilliant political schemer and he appointed Gachagua as his deputy to finish former President Uhuru Kenyatta and since he has finished his job, he is no longer wanted in power.

The purpose for which he (Gachagua) was appointed is over, we needed to knock off Uhuru Kenyatta, he was the man to do the job, he knocked him down," Kagwanja said.

Kagwanja, who is among the cartels who have benefitted from the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government, further termed Gachagua as a village politician who will not change even after becoming the second in command.

It doesn't matter how many times you call a donkey a horse it will always be a donkey,  Kagwanja said in reference to Gachagua

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, May 23, 2024 - President William Rutos charm offensive seems to have paid off handsomely after two technology companies announced plans for comprehensive digital investments in Kenya.

In a statement, Microsoft and G42 on Wednesday expressed their intention to set up a Ksh132 billion ($1 billion) data centre in Olkaria.

According to Microsoft, the United Arab Emirates-owned company, G42, will lead the initial investment and handle the facilitys construction on land with abundant geothermal resources.

The initiative will be centered on four critical sectors including the establishment of a local-language Artificial Intelligence model development and research centre.

The move according to Microsoft will also provide digital jobs to Kenyans through partnerships with various local organizations.

Other critical sectors will include the construction of the East Africa Innovation Laboratory coupled with broad AI digital skills training, and international and local connectivity investments.

Another fundamental resource will be the provision of support for safe and secure cloud services across East Africa.

"To help accelerate digital adoption, Microsoft and G42 will collaborate with a wide array of local partners to provide a range of digital and AI skills across Kenyan society and create a future-ready workforce," Microsoft announced.

Following the agreement, a letter of intent formalizing the relationship will be signed on Friday as part of Kenyan Rutos state visit to the United States.

The letter sealing the deal will be signed between Microsoft, G42, and Kenyas Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy.

Kenya is set to utilize the new data center and cloud services for governmental and citizen services.

The new plant will also provide government support in adopting a cloud-first policy like those enacted in other countries to permit and encourage the government to move their data and computing services to the cloud.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Opiyo Wandayi is in the U.S. as part of President Rutos delegation.

His invitation did not come from the US govt as his press handlers are claiming.

I have it on authority that contrary to Wandayis team saying that Wandayi was invited by the US govt., nothing of the sort happened.

Hes the one who requested State House to be included and thereafter, Felix Kosgey wrote to parliament to officially include him in the Presidents delegation.

Once he arrived in the USA, he started hiding and avoiding cameras because of the way ODM has treated other MPs who embraced Ruto.

After Kenyans smoked him out, he used Railas spokesperson Dennis Onyango to write a press statement explaining his presence in the US.

My sources tell me Onyango works for Raila but is paid by parliament as part of Wandayis staff, the same as Gabriel Oguda. He is a Principal Media Officer.

Wandayis all-expense paid trip to the US is being shouldered by Kenyan taxpayers, the same as the rest of the freeloaders in the Ruto delegation which includes comedians, governors, cabinet secretaries, and other fringe lackeys of the regime.

By Cyprian Nyakundi.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Thursday, May 23, 2024 - A teen in Colorado, US, faces up to 60 years in prison for killing an innocent family of five by setting fire to the wrong home in a barbaric revenge plot over his stolen iPhone.

Kevin Bui, now 20, pleaded guilty last week to igniting the late-night blaze in a Denver neighborhood in August 2020 after using the Find my iPhone app to track his stolen phone to the general area.

Bui, who was 16 years old at the time, was portrayed by prosecutors as the ringleader of three friends who plotted the inferno that incinerated the Senegalese family, including two baby girls

Djibril Diol, 29, Adja Diol, 23, and their 22-month-old daughter, Khadija Diol, as well as their relative Hassan Diol, 25, and her 6-month-old daughter, Hawa Beye, were all killed in the blaze.

Three other people broke bones while escaping by jumping from the second floor of the home in the middle of the night.

The teens were arrested about five months after the blaze.

Dillon Siebert, who was 14 at the time, was sentenced last year to three years in juvenile detention and seven years in a state prison program for young inmates after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

Meanwhile, Gavin Seymour, 19, was sentenced to 40 years in prison in March after pleading guilty to one count of second-degree murder

Bui, who was prosecuted as an adult, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in a plea deal that proposes a sentence of up to 60 years in prison  30 years for each count.

Sixty other charges Bui had faced, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, arson and burglary, were dropped by prosecutors under the deal.

He is set to be sentenced on July 2.




Thursday, May 23, 2024 - The United States government has announced a donation of 16 helicopters and 150 armoured vehicles to the Kenya Defence Forces(KDF) to help in fighting Al-Shabaab terrorists.

The donation was announced on Thursday as President William Ruto met US President Joe Biden in the White House.

According to a statement released by the White House on Thursday, the 16 helicopters include eight Hueys (nicknamed the flying coffins) to provide regional peace and security as well as eight MD-500s to enhance Kenya's participation in peacekeeping missions.

The aircraft are expected to arrive in Nairobi between late 2024 and summer 2025, according to the White House.

Kenya will also receive approximately 150 M1117 Armored Security Vehicles from the U.S. Excess Defense Article stocks which are projected to arrive in Kenya in September 2024.

In a bid to fortify collaboration on counterterrorism, the two nations have pledged to deepen their information-sharing efforts.

Kenya is also in the process of joining Operation Gallant Phoenix, a program facilitating multinational cooperation in sharing terrorist-related information.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - The city of Uvalde has reached a $2 million settlement with families of the victims of a 2022 mass shooting at a public school in the Texas city, one of the lawyers of the victims said on Wednesday, May 22.

The announcement comes nearly two years after a teenage gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. Law enforcement officers killed the gunman in a classroom after waiting more than an hour to confront him, which was heavily criticized in the wake of the shooting.

In the settlement announced Wednesday, the city of Uvalde will pay a total of $2 million to the families of 17 children killed in the shooting and two children who survived, according to a statement from the families' attorneys.



"Pursuing further legal action against the City could have plunged Uvalde into bankruptcy, something that none of the families were interested in as they look for the community to heal," the statement said.

The money will come from the city's insurance coverage, attorney Josh Koskoff told reporters at a news conference.

"These families could have pursued a lawsuit against the city, and there's certainly grounds for a lawsuit," Koskoff said. "Let's face it, sadly, we all saw what we saw  but instead of suing the city and jeopardizing the finances of anybody, the families have accepted simply the insurance."

The city said the settlement will allow people to remember the shooting while "moving forward together as a community to bring healing and restoration to all those affected."

"We will forever be grateful to the victims' families for working with us over the past year to cultivate an environment of community-wide healing that honours the lives and memories of those we tragically lost," the city said in a statement. "May 24th is our community's greatest tragedy."

The families were also working on a separate settlement with Uvalde County, Koskoff said.

Javier Cazares, whose 9-year-old daughter Jackie Cazares was killed in the shooting, said the last two years have been unbearable.

"We all know who took our children's lives, but there was an obvious systemic failure out there on May 24," Cazares said. "The whole world saw that. No amount of money is worth the lives of our children. Justice and accountability have always been my main concern. We've been let down so many times. The time has come to do the right thing."

The settlement also includes the Uvalde Police Department committing to provide enhanced training for police officers and implement a new standard for officers to be developed in coordination with the U.S. Justice Department, according to the families' attorneys. The city also committed to supporting mental health services for the families, survivors and community members, creating a committee to coordinate with the families on a permanent memorial and establishing May 24 as an annual day of remembrance, in addition to taking other measures.





The families are also taking new legal action against 92 state Department of Public Safety officers and the school district, including former Robb Elementary School principal Mandy Gutierrez and Pete Arredondo, the school district's police chief who was fired months after the shooting.

"Law enforcement did not treat the incident as an active shooter situation, despite clear knowledge that there was an active shooter inside," Wednesday's statement said. "... The shooter was able to continue the killing spree for over an hour while helpless families waited anxiously outside the school."

Koskoff said the state's officers on the scene could have done more to respond to the shooting.

They acted "as if they had nothing to do as if they didn't know how to shoot somebody, as if they weren't heavily armed and the most well-trained," Koskoff said.




Thursday, May 23, 2024  As Mt. Kenya continues to whine for allegedly being shortchanged by the government of President William Ruto, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has responded to remarks by Kirinyaga Governor and Council of Governors (CoG) Chairperson Anne Waiguru over the 'One-Man, One-Shilling, One-Vote' agenda.

Taking on her social media, Wamuchomba blasted Waiguru for telling off Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his one-man, one-shilling campaign.

She reiterated that Gachaguas one-man, one-shilling, one-vote agenda was the way to go.

"Back at home, we are speaking the language of One-Man One-Shilling while you are away. Prepare to either join us or step aside," she added.

She further questioned Waiguru on what she had done as the CoG chairperson to help Mt Kenya residents grappling with low returns on their coffee produce, alcoholism, and improving the overall business climate especially since enterprises in the region are closing down due to a tough operating environment.

"Before you lecture us, please tell us as COG chair why are our coffee farmers not receiving cherry fund Ksh80 per kilogram as agreed during the coffee reforms," she questioned.

Wamuchomba further questioned why individuals from Mt Kenya were allegedly being fired from the government while she remained quiet.

She also asked why several projects in the region were still incomplete including; the Kenol-Marua road, Mau-Mau road, and the Ruiru Dam.

"You are the Chair of the Council of Governors sitting pretty as we struggle with the rising economic stress, closing businesses, alcoholism, and neglect of the projects by Kenya Kwanza regime which you are now defending online," she remarked.

Additionally, the former radio presenter also commented on Waiguru accompanying President William Ruto during his official State visit to the U.S.

Wamuchomba asked the Governor to leverage her position and secure loans that will go towards implementing projects in the larger Mt. Kenya region.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, May 23, 2024  Concerns have emerged after the government of President William Ruto started selling public land.

This is after the State-owned Kenya National Assurance Company (KNAC) Limited announced that it was placing 1,377 plots of land in Bamburi (Kwa Bullo) on auction.

In a notice carried in the local dailies, the company announced that it had partnered with Kencent Holdings Limited to oversee the exercise.

KNAC, as a result, invited competitive bids for the plots noting that squatters already occupying the parcels will be allowed to acquire the properties as well.

"Kenya National Assurance Company (2001) Limited and Kencent Holdings Limited are offering for sale 1377 plots derived from L.R Number MN/397/1 Bamburi (Kwa Bulo) through competitive bidding," read the notice in part.

"This offer is open to everyone including those to whom the offer had been made earlier but for whatever reason failed to take up the offer."

Earlier, KNAC had unveiled plans to offload a total of 1,413 plots where 10,000 squatters were living.

Two months ago, the company started issuing notices to residents asking them to place bids on the parcels of land that were going on sale.

At the time, the squatters argued that they were waiting a word from President Ruto who had promised to allow them to purchase the land before it went on sale for the rest of the country.

Interested applicants were directed to obtain bid documents from the company office at Social Security House in Mombasa which should describe the plot as well as the reserve price. Each document is sold at Ksh1,000.

Completed bid forms should be enclosed in a sealed envelope addressed to the Principal Officer, Kenya National Assurance Company (2001) Limited, and shall be deposited in the Tender Box at the KNAC (2001) Limited Offices. The deadline was set for June 18, 2024.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - A female hiker tragically fell 60 feet to her death while on a popular trail in Oregon with friends, but none of them saw her fall.

Elisha Angelic Macias, 22, from Hillsboro, was hiking near the Oreonta Trail on Sunday, May 19, when the horror incident happened.

She and her friends were exploring the 'Waterfall Corridor', west of Multnomah Falls, when she became separated from the group.

Deputies were alerted and when they arrived another hiker was performing CPR on Macias.

She was sadly pronounced dead at the scene by Cascade Locks Fire & EMS personnel at around 4.35pm, shortly after they arrived.





Search and rescue teams believe she fell 50 to 60 feet from a cliff west of the Horsetail Falls Trailhead.

"No one in the group saw her fall," the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

Search and rescue teams assisted in recovering her body and volunteers provided trauma-informed care and resources for those affected, it added.

According to her social media, Macias was a teacher at Belmont Academy and originally from the Bronx.

Just last month the 22-year-old vacationed with friends in Las Vegas to celebrate a birthday.

Friends of Macias took to social media to express their heartbreak over her death.

"No words are going to truly describe whats going on in my head but Elisha you were an amazing person through and through," her close friend wrote on Instagram.





"You helped me in one of my darkest and lowest moments and Im so grateful I got the chance to love and be loved by you.

"Youll always be in my mind and forever in my heart. Im just glad our little angel isnt alone in heaven anymore. Rest easy Elisha."

Another added on Facebook: "Rest in peace Elisha Macias You were a literal angel. Even your middle name is 'angelic'. You were such a special soul on this planet."

Macias's tragic passing marks the second fatality in the popular hiking area this Spring, as reported by the Statesman Journal.

On March 15, a 61-year-old woman was discovered dead at the bottom of a cliff near Horsetail Falls Trailhead after hiking the Oneonta Trail.






Thursday, May 23, 2024 - A woman has been mauled to death by her two XL Bullies.

The assault happened in Havering, east London, at around 1.10pm on Monday, May 20.

When paramedics arrived at her home at Cornwall Close in Hornchurch, there was nothing they could do to save her and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

She was only identified as a woman in her 50s, but her name is yet to be released.

The victim was attacked by the animals at the family home.

Before Metropolitan Police officers arrived the dogs were shut in a room of the house.

Officers were able to safely seize the two XL Bullies, but it is still unclear what will happen with them.

A spokesperson for the Met said: "Police were called to Cornwall Close at around 1.12pm to reports of a woman attacked by a dog.

"The woman was treated by medics from London Ambulance Service, but sadly she was pronounced dead at the scene.





"Due to the threat posed, armed officers attended. After assessing the situation, officers were able to safely seize two dogs.

"These were registered XL Bully dogs and prior to officers arrival had been contained inside a room in the house.

They did not leave the house at any time during the incident. The family of the woman, who was the owner of the dogs, are being supported by officers.

The American dog breed was banned in the UK at the beginning of 2024 after a spate of deadly attacks.
This piece is inspired by my recent patient encounter. Within the past week, I received a call from the ER to admit a 29-year-old African-American female whom, for the sake of this essay, I will call Keisha. Keisha presented with severe lower abdominal pain and was found to be in hypertensive crisis. Her systolic blood pressure consistently was in the upper 200s. It turned out that the young lady suffered from a terrible case of polycystic kidney disease, and since she didnt respond to oral medications, she was started on a Cardene drip, requiring ICU admission.

As I approached her bedside and introduced myself as an ICU doctor, the Keishers countenance swiftly shifted to one of distress, her eyes brimming with tears. Upon inquiry, she relayed a harrowing ordeal from her prior hospitalization wherein she was denied a more potent analgesic for her pain under the presumption of her exhibiting drug-seeking behavior. Despite her evident need for stronger medication, she was administered a less efficacious agent than what she was accustomed to at home. Fearing reprisal from her medical insurer, she reluctantly remained hospitalized against her own inclinations. Throughout her stay, she endured persistent and agonizing abdominal discomfort, her distress palpable as she contemplated the prospect of encountering the same health care provider who had previously disregarded her plight.

Offering some background, its noteworthy that this patient boasts a college-level education and maintains two stable jobs. Nevertheless, despite her credentials and the clear medical indicators of her condition, she encountered considerable difficulty in persuading health care providers that her intentions were not centered around obtaining narcotics. This skepticism persisted despite the well-documented association between her symptomsabdominal pain and severely elevated blood pressureand her diagnosed medical ailment. Connecting these dots is imperative, as effective pain management plays a pivotal role in addressing her hypertensive crisis.

Should one regard Keishas experience as an isolated anomaly, it suggests a lack of attentiveness to prevailing issues and perhaps even complicity in perpetuating systemic challenges. It is widely recognized that minority patients, particularly those of Black ethnicity, often receive inadequate pain management compared to their white counterparts. Despite the robust statistical evidence supporting this assertion, many health care providers remain oblivious to these glaring disparities.

As outlined in a study featured in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science, a concerning 40 percent of first- and second-year medical students surveyed subscribed to the erroneous belief that Black peoples skin is thicker than white peoples. Furthermore, those who held such misconceptions were less inclined to administer appropriate pain management to Black individuals. Moreover, a comprehensive meta-analysis spanning two decades revealed a disturbing trend: Black/African American patients were 22 percent less likely than their white counterparts to receive any form of pain medication.

These disparities in pain treatment are not always deliberate acts of bias; rather, they often stem from intricate influences, including implicit biases that health care providers may not even recognize within themselves. Providers, like all individuals, are susceptible to the pervasive stereotypes perpetuated by media portrayals, particularly those associating African Americans with substance abuse.

When confronted with pain lacking an obvious physical origin, such as traumatic injury, health care professionals may lean towards subjective judgment, which is susceptible to the influence of personal biases and preconceptions. Shockingly, the meta-analysis highlighted that the most pronounced racial disparities in pain management occurred in cases of backache, migraine, and abdominal pain. Consequently, neglecting to adequately address a patients pain, as seen in Keishas case, cannot be brushed off as mere medical oversight; it represents a morally reprehensible action akin to evil.

When we contemplate evil, our minds often conjure up images of heinous acts like mass murder or ritualistic violence. However, there exist everyday manifestations of evil that are subtle and commonplace, yet deeply impactful. These evils can manifest through acts of omission or commission.

If, as a physician, you withhold pain medication from a suffering patient simply because you believe certain demographics are inclined to drug-seeking behavior without conducting a thorough assessment, that constitutes evil. Similarly, if you, as a patient care associate, allow a patient to endure suffering in their own waste and only attend to them when the family is present, that is an act of evil.

Treating patients differently based on their socioeconomic status is also a form of evil. Evil permeates our daily lives, and by remaining passive, we become complicit. Ultimately, those who rely on us for their well-being are left to endure needless suffering, and that is undeniably evil.

In the renowned work Eichmann in Jerusalem, author Hannah Arendt delves into the concept of the banality of evil. Through the lens of Adolf Eichmanns trial for his role in the horror of the Holocaust, she illuminates how individuals can become complicit in perpetuating evil acts without fully comprehending their moral implications. As Eichmann orchestrated plans for the extermination of Jews, he justified his actions by claiming to merely follow orders as part of his duty.

Arendt emphasizes that the term banality in this context does not imply that Eichmanns actions were ordinary or mundane but rather that they were driven by a disturbing sense of complacency and an absence of moral reflection. Eichmanns compliance with orders highlights how individuals can become agents of evil through passive acquiescence to the actions or directions of others without critically questioning the ethical implications of their actions.

In confronting the insidious nature of systemic biases and the resulting injustices in health care, its imperative that we recognize the profound impact of our actions, both overt and subtle. As guardians of health and advocates for humanity, we must challenge the status quo, confront our biases, and strive for equitable care for all. For in the silence of indifference lies the perpetuation of suffering and evil. Its only by actively acknowledging and addressing these injustices that we can truly fulfill our duty to heal and uphold the dignity of every individual under our care, irrespective of skin color or socio-economic status.

Osmund Agbo is a pulmonary physician.
Health professionals have been asked to strengthen diagnosis as one of the sure ways of reducing Ugandas disease burden for Sexually Transmitted Infected (STIs).

This after a new World Health Organisation (WHO) report released on Tuesday this week indicated that, STIs such as Syphilis Gonorrhoea are on the rise in most regions of the world including here in Uganda.

The rising incidence of syphilis raises major concerns, said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Fortunately, there has been important progress on a number of other fronts, including accelerating access to critical health commodities, including diagnostics and treatment,Mr. Adhanom said.

We have the tools required to end these epidemics as public health threats by 2030, but we now need to ensure that, in the context of an increasingly complex world, countries do all they can to achieve the ambitious targets they set themselves. he added.

Speaking to KFM, Reproductive Health Uganda Executive Director Jackson Chekweko says to address this situation, health workers need to encourage their clients to always test for obstinate STIs such as Syphilis because if not treated it can stay in the body and be transmitted from generation to generation.

Chekweko adds that there is need to strengthen surveillance and public awareness about health systems.

What i can say is syphilis is treatable and whenever people have symptoms either there is a rush, burning sensation, some pains even cause advanced stages for example it can cause blindness and many more but it is treatable, so my appeal to the public people should screen themselves and it is affordable, Mr.Chekweko said.

The UN indicated earlier, that globally, Sexually Transmitted Diseases are killing up to 2.5m people every year and some of those that are spreading rapidly include syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis.
The Commander Land Forces, Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga, has commended Major General Dick Olum for the distinguished work in Operation Shujaa, which has enabled the wanainchi to carry on with their economic and social activities in the areas where the joint forces are operating.

Lt Gen Muhanga was speaking during the handover ceremony of Commander Mountain Division from Maj Gen Dick Olum to Maj Gen Richard Otto, which took place in Fort Portal.

Maj Bilaal Katamba is the Public Information Officer for the UPDF Mountain Division.

I thank Gen Olum for the work well done. Tour of duty is a must in the army. We wish Maj Gen Dick luck in his new duty station, said Lt Gen Muhanga in appreciation of Gen Olums service in Mountain Division and Operation Shujaa.

He implored the leadership of the Rwenzori region to embrace the new leader and work with him to sustain the peace.

In his remarks, Maj Gen Olum thanked the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, H.E, Gen (Rtd) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for entrusting him with the leadership and command of the Mountain Division and Operation Shujaa.

The incoming Commander, Maj Gen Richard Otto, said he will build on the foundation laid by Lt Gen Muhanga as the first Commander of Operation Shujaa and the achievements of his predecessor, Maj Gen Olum.

Battle-hardened Maj Gen Dick Olum, who has been the Mountain Division Commander since 2022 when he replaced Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga  the current Commander Land Forces handed over command to another battle-hardened Maj Gen Richard Otto.

Both Maj Gen Olum and Maj Gen Otto have, over their military service, served as Commanders in Somalia, the Central African Republic, 3 Infantry Division in Uganda among other appointments.

The function was attended by the second in command of Mountain Division, Brig Gen Stephen Mugerwa; the air wing Commander Entebbe, Brig Gen Kasaijja; Commander Commando Brigade, Brig Gen Asaph Mweteise; representative of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lt Col Jacob Apunia and leaders from Kabarole district.
The opposition Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) leader, Gen. Mugisha Muntu has warned Ugandas youth against joining politics for money.

Muntu was speaking during one of the partys grassroot mobilization activities in Agola and Nakatunya Sub Counties in Soroti city.

Addressing local party leaders, Gen Muntu has warned that those who are in politics for money often end up disappointing their voters.

He emphasises the need to prioritize the voices and needs of the people who trust them with their votes.

We have just been to west Nile, Zombo and from there we went to amur district and then Gulu it is our intention to tour every sub-county until we get honest men and women I leadership not only at the top right from down we are going to have a big problem in this country. Mr. Muntu said.

Several political parties including the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) have embarked on countrywide grassroot mobilisation campaigns ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries is today set to receive 3 million doses of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines from Egypt.

This was confirmed during a meeting between Agriculture Minister, Frank Tumwebaze and a delegation of Egyptian officials held at his office in Kampala.

He said the move would bolster efforts to curb the current outbreak of FMD that has affected farmers in several parts of the country.

The delegation led by Major General Mohsen Abdel Hakam Azouz, the Director of the Veterinary Service Department in Egypt, assured the Minister that the vaccines would arrive in the country this afternoon

His Excellency President el-Sisi ordered a quick supply of 6 million doses of the vaccine from Egypts strategic reserves to help our brothers in Uganda overcome the pandemic quickly. As I speak, there are people preparing to load the first batch of 3 million doses to land in Uganda tomorrow, Thursday, Mohamed noted.

Frank Mugabi, the spokesperson National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) said this would only be the first batch of the 10 million vaccines Egypt is set to dispatch to Uganda.

This collaboration has led to production of two types of vaccines one is injectable and while the other is oral vaccine, during the twelve month of field evaluation trial of these vaccines all the animals that was spread there was no death reported due to tick and tick born diseases during the trial period. Mr. Mugabi said.

He added that through this arrangement, NARO will produce a monovalent FMD vaccine with serotype SAT-1 to be reconstituted with the trivalent vaccine from Egypt containing serotypes O, A, and SAT-2, to have a complete quadrivalent vaccine.
The Uganda Aids Commission has warned about the likelihood of increased HIV/AIDs infections in the oil-rich city Hoima City, as Uganda moves towards commercialization of its oil and gas.

The warning has been sounded by Dr. Nelson Musoba, the Commissions Director General while speaking to journalists at Parliament, after his meeting with legislators on the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).

Dr. Musoba noted that prevalence rates are usually determined by activities taking place in different regions and with the highly anticipated commercial oil production in Hoima City, many workers will leave their spouses home and interact with people whose HIV status they are not aware of, thus increasing their risk of being infected with the virus.

In Hoima, with the anticipated commencement of oil production in the City, many workers will leave their spouses home to participate in activities in the oil sector, which would likely increase their risk of contracting through casual sex. So the government must brace for this, Dr. Musoba said.

According to Uganda Aids Commission, currently, Fort Portal City has the highest HIV prevalence based on 2023 data, followed by Mbarara City, and the Northern corridor especially along the highways.

Dr. Musoba also raised concern about the high HIV prevalence rate amongst young people and older persons between the age of 40-50 years, attributing the trend to the cross generational sex which puts the girl child at high risk of infection due to low bargaining power on ensuring the practice of safe sex.
A garda required medical treatment after they sustained injuries during a public order incident at Ballyogan refugee centre in south Dublin on Wednesday.

Gardai have confirmed that a total of thirteen people were arrested during the protests which continued for a number of hours.

Four men appeared before a sitting of the district court on Wednesday evening while nine more are due to appear in court this Thursday.

"While assisting IPAS personnel at a premises on the Ballyogan road on the evening of Wednesday, May 22 2024, gardai arrested nine persons for public order offences. Five men and four women were detained at garda stations in the Dublin Region," said a spokesperson who confirmed that the nine individuals have all since been charged and will appear before Dun Laoghaire District Court.

It's understood they are accused of public order offences including failing to comply with a garda's direction to leave the vicinity and preventing or interrupting the free passage of a person or vehicle.

The arrests were made following a number of incidents at the refugee centre which saw the entrance being blocked and staff being prevented from entering and leaving.

Gardai say investigations into all of the incidents are ongoing.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 72F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms. Low 52F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Despite being blacklisted in Korea, THIS K-pop group with LGBTQ+ members expressed a desire to continue serving with their music as they announced awaited comeback.

On May 23, the Korean media outlet GP Korea reported on the current status of LIONESSES, K-pop's first and only sexual minority idol group.

Following their hiatus for about seven months, the group is announced to be coming back to the music scene on June 1 with a new single, "Like Christina taught me."

The song is a tribute to the legendary pop diva Christina Aguilera, which was written and composed by the producer member, Damjun.

They said:

"Christina Aguileras 'Beautiful' is a song for which I am grateful for holding back my childhood when I was standing on the edge of a cliff. In addition to 'Beautiful', I worked on this song using a lot of quotes that pay tribute to great musicians who comforted me in the past, such as Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Yoon Bok Hee, and BTS. I thought I wanted to give back to DEN (Lionesses' fandom name) the comfort I received through their music. Compared to other star fandoms, 'Den' has a particularly strong feeling that it is a fandom that comes together and accepts each other with unspeakable wounds. Thats how much I wanted to return these comforts to my beloved Dens."

ALSO READ: Only LGBTQ+ K-pop Group Suffers Discrimination From MBC? Here's What Happened

Despite the three members' sincere intentions, LIONESSES has suffered and is continuously experiencing discrimination and hateful comments for being a part of the sexual minority and at the same time, being a K-pop idol.

They were not only banned from music shows by major channels, but Christian groups led by pastors of large churches would also stop their music from being played by other broadcasting companies.

The Christian groups would file malicious complaints and protests in front of these agencies, forcing LIONESSES to continue their activities without broadcast appearances.

However, sticking to their goal of spreading the story of the sexual minority community that has never been seen before in K-Pop history through their music, they gradually built support from neighboring countries and solidified their international fanbase.

Even without music shows appearances, they were promoted by performing exclusively at commemorative events at the Canadian Embassy in Korea and the U.S. Embassy in Korea, through campaigns and by participating queer festivals.

Meanwhile, this comeback will be special for member Lee Malrang because they will finally unveil their face behind their mask.

When they debuted, the members initially hid their identities using masks, but one by one, they started revealing themselves to the public.

In the article, Lee Malrang was hesitant to take off their mask since they were scared that the career of their cousin who is also a K-pop idol would be damaged (reportedly (G)I-DLE Soyeon).

However, as they aimed to give courage to fans who couldn't come out, Lee mustered the courage to do it as well and to live up to that goal.

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dela Cruz
A member of the Mexican girl group Jeans has mentioned NewJeans on her social media following accusations that the K-pop girl group plagiarized them.

Paty Sirvent, a member of the Mexican group Jeans, recently addressed allegations of plagiarism involving the K-pop group NewJeans.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Bunny Rages Online Regarding NewJeans' Plagiarism Accusations: 'I'm So Dumbfounded'

Through her personal Instagram account, Sirvent shared photos comparing NewJeans and Jeans, commenting, "I love it (me encanta)."

She then posted a photo summarizing the plagiarism allegations and added, "Wooow! We weren't so bad. (No estabamos tan equivocados)."

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: HYBE's Reputation in Flames After NewJeans Plagiarism Allegations Explode

The conflict between ADOR's CEO Min Hee Jin and HYBE has been ongoing. HYBE accused Min Hee Jin of attempting to take over total management rights of ADOR, while Min He Jin has claimed that the rookie girl group ILLIT, managed by BELIFT Lab under HYBE, plagiarized NewJeans.

Amid the ongoing conflict between the two, suspicions have arisen online suggesting that NewJeans may have plagiarized the Mexican girl group Jeans. El Siglo, a Mexican media outlet, highlighted this issue last year, reporting claims that NewJeans may have taken some of their ideas from Jeans, a popular group from the 90s. The report pointed out similarities in outfits and concepts between the two groups.

This article is currently going viral among knetz with almost 300k views in just 2 hrs. It highlights the similarities between New Jeans and the Mexican gg Jeans. And now knetz are questioning min heejin's originality. https://t.co/hP9T2ifQg8 pic.twitter.com/JdkIsc75AJ  lei (@pastelxsakura) May 20, 2024

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Min Hee Jin Called Out For Copying Mexican Girl Group Jeans For NewJeans Concept

The debate over whether NewJeans plagiarized Jeans continues, with some netizens arguing that NewJeans may have referenced rather than copied Jeans.

Previously, CEO Min Hee Jin claimed that ILLIT had plagiarized NewJeans's formula for their debut, criticizing their production formula for copying NewJeans's. She questioned the purpose of having a multi-label system if it did not foster originality.

CHECK THIS OUT: NewJeans Danielle Ethereal Visuals in Latest Event Garners Praise From K-Netz: 'She Looks Unreal!'

Currently, Min Hee Jin is facing a lawsuit from BELIFT Lab for obstruction of business and defamation, following her allegations against ILLIT. BELIFT Lab has stated, "We categorically deny the plagiarism allegations made by CEO Min Hee Jin against our artist ILLIT. We have submitted evidence to the judicial authorities proving the allegations are false and are committed to resolving this matter through legal processes, however long it may take."

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

FOR YOU: NewJeans 'Attention' Accused of Plagiarizing THIS Song Amid HYBE & ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin Conflict

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
A male MC is facing backlash after giving out Oh My Girl's used water battles to men in the audience.

On May 22, 2024, Oh My Girl was one of the artists who performed at the Sun Moon Balloon Festival. The girl group performed a nearly half-hour-long set for the university students in attendance. While the girls looked amazing during their performance, it was sadly not their set that garnered attention online.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Teen Vogue Includes THESE 6 K-Pop Acts in Best Girl Groups of All Time List

Instead, it was the "disgusting" actions of the MC following their performance that went viral.

It was noted that the majority of the audience members at the front were men. While this does not necessarily foreshadow an inappropriate interaction, the actions of the MC and several festival-goers following Oh My Girl's set make the whole situation even more disturbing for fans.

[2024/05/22] 

++        pic.twitter.com/l3s0Rvletv   (@sxyn_1) May 23, 2024

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW] OMEGA X Hangyeom Talks 'Jazz For Two,' Brotherhood, And More With KpopStarz!

Following Oh My Girl's performance, the male MC was seen handing out the members' used water bottles, which they were seen drinking from throughout their set, as prizes to male fans who watched the girl group. In some videos shared by fans from the event, some fans were able to come on stage to personally select which member's water bottle they wanted to take home.

   

  mc;; pic.twitter.com/9lpo3BYeMo May 22, 2024

After footage of this was shared online, Korean netizens expressed their disgust at the situation. Many pointed out that it was likely the male MC did not get permission from the members to do so, and wondered if this was considered sexual harassment. Some even believed that the male MC deserved to be reported for the situation.

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The male fans who received the water bottle also received backlash, with people wondering why they would do such a thing.

International fans also expressed their disgust, with many wondering how this could be considered "normal." Many hated how perverted the mindset of some men is, finding it even more disturbing that the men were able to select which member's bottles they wanted.

ALSO READ: 5 Female Idols Who Have Been Criticized For Their Live Vocals: LE SSERAFIM Sakura, TWICE Momo, More

Some comments read,

"What the hell?"

"Wow, this is a big deal."

"Doesn't this need to be reported?"

"Is that MC crazy?"

"This is a disgusting idea."

"This is so disgusting. Doesn't this count as sexual harassment?"

"I bet they didn't even get permission from the members."

"Why do men do stuff like this?"

"This is peak incel behavior."

"Ah, f*ck, this is so creepy and gross. I can't tell who is worse; the creepy MC or the degenerate men who accepted it."

"Disgusting pigs."

"How do they do this and think it is normal? How do they not realize how perverted they look?"

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

FOR YOU: 10 Japanese Female K-Pop Idols With Amazing Stage Presence: TWICE Momo, LE SSERAFIM Sakura, More!

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
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New Delhi [India], May 23: B.R. Guar Gum Private Limited, a pioneer in the cotton seed industry, has achieved a momentous feat by clinching the esteemed Most Trusted Cotton Seed Brand in North India Award at the prestigious Global Excellence Awards 2024 (GEA). Held on the 12th of May 2024 in the vibrant city of Mumbai, the event was orchestrated by Brand Empower, a leading Market Research company, popular for initiative of India's Most Prestigious Global Excellence Awards 2024 to honour & recognise Entrepreneurs, Professionals, Artists, Companies, Organisations & Institutions for their outstanding work, Creativity, Innovation & Quality. The presence of Shilpa Shetty Kundra as the Chief Guest added an air of elegance and sophistication to the occasion, elevating the significance of the awards ceremony.

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At the heart of the recognition bestowed upon B.R. Guar Gum Private Limited lies a legacy of unwavering commitment to quality, integrity, and customer satisfaction. Their relentless pursuit of excellence in the cotton seed industry has cemented their reputation as a trusted and reliable brand in North India. The Most Trusted Cotton Seed Brand in North India Award serves as a testament to their dedication to upholding the highest standards of reliability and trustworthiness, setting them apart as a beacon of excellence in the region. Stepping onto the stage to accept the prestigious accolade was Sumit Kedia, the esteemed Business Director of B.R. Guar Gum Private Limited. Sumit Kedia expressed his gratitude for the honor, underscoring the company's unwavering commitment to customer-centricity and quality excellence. He remarked, "At B.R. Guar Gum Private Limited, we are driven by a singular mission - to deliver superior quality products and exceed customer expectations. This award is a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence and our steadfast dedication to serving the needs of our customers." Established with a vision to revolutionize the cotton seed industry, B.R. Guar Gum Private Limited has emerged as a trailblazer in North India. Their diverse portfolio of high-quality cotton seed products, coupled with their commitment to innovation and sustainability, has positioned them as a frontrunner in the market.

The first edition of GEA 2018 was held on 7th October 2018 with Raveena Tandon, the second edition with Madhuri Dixit Nene, the third edition with Anupam Kher, and the fourth edition with Madhuri Dixit Nene as the chief guest. Among the notable winners at GEA 2024 were Abhishek Kumar, awarded the title of "Trending Face of the Year" for his impactful presence; Anjali Anand acknowledged as the "Best Supporting Actress" for her remarkable performance in "Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani"; and Manasi Parekh acclaimed as the "Outstanding Performer in Regional Cinema (Female)" for her stellar acting skills. Other winners included Nakuul Mehta, Pushkar Jog, Vijay Ganguly, Shivesh Bhatia, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Surbhi Chandna, Palki Malhotra, Siddharth Kannan, Anushka Sen, and Disha Parmar, each recognized for their exceptional talent and contributions to their respective fields. These individuals epitomized the spirit of excellence and innovation, inspiring others with their dedication and creativity.

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Brand Empower Pvt Ltd, the driving force behind the Global Excellence Awards, proudly unveils its esteemed collaborators for the event. These partners encompass Webpulse Solution Pvt. Ltd. as the Digital Marketing Partner, Radio City as the Radio Partner, Webpulse Foundation as the CSR Partner, GetManufacturers.com as the B2B Partner, LocalDukaan.com as the eCommerce Partner, and NaturalTherapyIndia.com as the Wellness Partner. From a pool of over 30,000 nominations, Brand Empower meticulously curated the top 120 winners spanning diverse sectors such as Manufacturing, Services, Healthcare, Education, Real Estate, Tour & Travel, Beauty & Wellness, and Spirituality. The ceremony also pays tribute to exceptional talents from Bollywood, Television, OTT platforms, YouTube, and Influencers.

Brand Empower, a leading Market Research company, popular for the initiative of India's Most Prestigious Global Excellence Awards 2024 to honour & recognise Entrepreneurs, Professionals, Artists, Companies, Organisations & Institutions for their outstanding work, Creativity, Innovation & Quality. Through strategic alliances like that with Webpulse Solution Pvt Ltd, founded in 2011 by Rahul Ranjan Singh, a visionary in web development, digital marketing, and branding services, Brand Empower continues to raise the bar in industry acknowledgement and advancement.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

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New Delhi [India], May 23 (ANI): India's engineering exports declined 3.2 per cent to USD 8.67 billion in April 2024, primarily due to lower shipments of metals, especially iron, steel and copper.

The growth of engineering exports has been steady in the past four months. The lower shipment of steel was mainly witnessed in Italy, Nepal, the UAE, the Netherlands, the USA, China, and South Korea, among others.

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Notably, engineering exports to the USA increased 1.2 per cent year-on-year to USD 1.41 billion in April this year. The value of shipments to Saudi Arabia was higher by 48.9 per cent in April 2024, at USD 435.72 million, as against USD 292.72 million in April 2023. Engineering exports to China went up 14.8 per cent to USD 210.29 million from USD 183.24 million in the same month last year.

Engineering exports recorded a growth of 2.61 per cent during April 2024, excluding the export of iron and steel.

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The exports of both metals declined by a substantial 36.41 per cent, which was the single biggest reason behind the fall seen during the current month, a statement added.

The decline in engineering exports was witnessed in almost all regions, barring North America, North East Asia, WANA, and the CIS.

Among top exporting destinations, the USA, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Singapore, UK, Mexico, and China experienced positive growth in April 2024, while Germany, Italy, Turkey, South Korea, Japan, Nepal, Brazil, Thailand, France, Bangladesh, and many more saw negative export growth.

The statement added that a high base effect caused a decline in engineering exports to Russia, as exports to the country stood at US$118.56 million in April 2024, 9.4 per cent lower compared to USD 130.91 million in the corresponding period last year.

Region-wise, North America and the European Union remained India's topmost destinations for engineering exports, with a share of 21.1 per cent and 18.4 per cent, respectively, in India's total engineering exports.

North East Asia registered the highest growth of 24.5 per cent during April 2024 vis-a-vis the same period last year, followed by CIS ( growth of 7.9 per cent), North America (growth of 4.7 per cent), and WANA (growth of 3.1 per cent). All remaining regions witnessed negative growth in exports.

India's total engineering goods exports in the financial year ended March 2024 had risen marginally to USD 109.32 billion from USD 107.04 billion in FY2022-23, despite numerous challenges. (ANI)

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Kourtney Kardashian celebrated two years of wedded bliss with Travis Barker by sharing a series of heartfelt photos from their opulent wedding in Portofino, Italy. The Lemme founder, took to Instagram to commemorate their second wedding anniversary, posting a carousel of images from their stunning nuptials held in May 2022. Kourtney Kardashian Adds Husband Travis Barkers Last Name On Instagram After The Lavish Italian Wedding (View Pic).

"2 years ago I married the husband of my dreams forever with you @travisbarker," Kardashian captioned the collection of photos, showcasing the couple's extravagant ceremony. Barker, echoed her sentiments in the comments, writing, "My dream wife, forever with you." The touching exchange drew a response from Kardashian's younger sister, Kylie Jenner, who exclaimed, "These pics !!"

Travis Barker & Kourtney Kardashian

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kourtney Kardashian Barker (@kourtneykardash)

The Instagram post featured ten photos of the bride and groom, both dressed in Dolce & Gabbana. Barker wore a classic tuxedo, while Kardashian donned a white corset mini-dress paired with a long, dramatic veil embroidered with flowers. Kourtney Kardashian Dons White Corseted Dolce and Gabbana Dress Inspired by 1960s Italian Lingerie As She Ties Knot With Travis Barker in Portofino.

Their wedding journey began with an unofficial ceremony in Las Vegas, officiated by an Elvis Presley impersonator, immediately after the 2022 Grammy Awards. The couple then made their union legal with a more intimate gathering at a California courthouse on May 15, 2022, attended by close friends and family. Last week, Kardashian also shared photos from their Santa Barbara courthouse ceremony, further celebrating their wedding milestones. Their third and most lavish celebration took place on the Italian Riviera, where guests stayed on luxury superyachts and oceanside villas owned by Dolce & Gabbana. Among the attendees were the couple's blended family of six children, Kardashian's sons Mason, 14, and Reign, 9, daughter Penelope, 11, and Barker's son Landon, 20, daughter Alabama, 18, and stepdaughter Atiana, 25. The couple welcomed their son, Rocky, in November 2023, adding to their joyous family life.

The wedding in Italy was marked by a special musical performance by Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo. A source close to the event revealed to People magazine that the duo performed "I Found My Love in Portofino", "Can't Help Falling in Love" and their 2018 single "Fall on Me". The insider described it as "an incredible moment and a very special performance."

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Gaya (Bihar) [India], May 23 (ANI): Amidst preparations for the grand celebrations of Lord Buddha's birth anniversary, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Mohan Yadav visited the UNESCO World Heritage site Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, along with his family, on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media persons, CM Mohan Yadav remarked, "Around 2,500 years ago, Lord Buddha attained enlightenment on this land. Today, I came here with my family, and I am so grateful to worship at the Mahabodhi Temple. His teachings on maintaining peace and spreading happiness are invaluable."

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He added, "I was heading to Azamgarh for a rally but managed to find some time in my schedule to visit the Mahabodhi Temple and Gaya."

CM Yadav also expressed his gratitude to the residents and party workers of the state who welcomed and supported him during his visit. He urged voters in the state to cast their votes in the remaining phases of the elections, regardless of party or candidate, to exercise their democratic power.

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In his address, he praised Prime Minister Modi, stating that PM Modi's great work is the reason why he is immensely liked by people.

Buddha Purnima is the most significant day for the Buddhist community as it commemorates the three crucial events in Buddha's life: his birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana. (ANI)

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Damhal Hanjipora (Kashmir), May 23 (PTI) On July 9, 2016, a mob attacked the Damhal Hanjipora police station and looted arms and ammunition in response to the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces the day before. It triggered weeks of violent protests that left more than 100 dead and put this place in global focus.

But on Thursday, the sounds and sights of democracy drowned out the echoes of its tumultus past as National Conference vice president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah embarked on a campaign like no other.

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The electioneering was intense despite a scorching summer day: thousands of National Conference workers and supporters turning up at the rally in traditional attire amid rhythmic beats of drums, raising slogans and showering love on their leader.

The villagers, including women, accorded a jubilant reception to Abdullah and other party leaders including the NC's Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat candidate Mia Altaf, provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, Abdullah's political advisor Tanvir Sadiq and former minister Sakeena Itoo.

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Abdullah acknowledged their affection as he began his impassioned address.

"I am thankful to the people for joining the rally despite scorching heat," he told the crowd. "Your passion and love for the National Conference remind me of our party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah who had ruled over the hearts of the people."

"I take a pledge to fulfill all the dreams of my grandfather for the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Abdullah said, seeking people's support for Mian Altaf, a former minister and an influential Gujjar leader.

The town lies in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat which goes to poll in the sixth phase on May 25. This rally marked the end of an extended campaigning in the seat where 20 candidates are in the fray.

Mian Altaf who is facing a major challenge from PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and Apni Party's Zafar Iqbal Khan Manhas who is backed by the BJP.

Abdullah reminisced about the events of 2015 when, despite losing the majority, he pledged unwavering support to the late Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's government.

"In 2015, we came forward with an unconditional offer to the PDP with the sole motive to keep the BJP out of power. But our sincere effort was declined and the PDP chose BJP. The rest is history," Abdullah said.

Questioning Mehbooba Mufti's claim of being associated with INDIA bloc on the basis of ideology, the NC leader said she did not attend a single election rally in favour of Congress candidates from Udhampur and Jammu Lok Sabha seats, while "we attended rallies in almost all parts including Udhampur, Kishtwar, Ramban, Doda, Jammu and Samba".

The July 9, 2016 attack on the police station triggered a wave of violent protests across the Valley, claiming over 100 lives and leaving scores of others injured. The National Conference rally was held in the vicinity of the police station, marking the change in the ground situation with people reposing their faith in democracy.

As Abdullah started leaving, scores of women presented 'Wanwun' (traditional folk songs) praising the National Conference and the party leadership.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the rally, Abdullah expressed hope of seeing a new prime minister taking oath in the country with the results of the Lok Sabha elections coming out on June 4.

"The BJP is frustrated which is evident from the statements of the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi). He is now saying he never made any remark against Muslims... Whenever they held any rally, except targeting Muslims, they did nothing. Now Insha Allah (God willing), they will get the answer from the public and a new Prime Minister will be elected after June 4," he said.

On the elections here being deferred from May 7 to May 25, Abdullah said the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat has witnessed a long campaigning, more than what was needed for canvassing.

"First, the election should not have been postponed but it was done on the pretext of weather. (Actually) it was only done to provide an opportunity to home minister (Amit Shah) to come here (Kashmir). What was supposed to happen happened and now it is time to vote on May 25," the NC leader said, requesting people to vote in large numbers in favour of the party candidate.

On unconfirmed reports that a particular party is using money power to buy votes in south of Pir Panjal (Rajouri and Poonch), he asked people to share the video if they have "so that we can take up the issue with the Election Commission".

"If they had so much money, they should give it to us as we are a poor party and we can utilise it in a better way."

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Siddharthnagar (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 23 (ANI): Sharpening his attack on the opposition's INDIA bloc, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday questioned the alliance's choice for Prime Minister if they succeed in getting a majority in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing a public meeting in Domariaganj Lok Sabha constituency today, Shah said, "This opposition has moved ahead by forming a 'Ghamandiya' alliance. Today I want to ask Rahul Gandhi, if you get the majority then who will be your Prime Minister? Can Sharad Pawar, Lalu Yadav, or Uddhav Thackeray become the PM? Can Rahul Gandhi become the PM?"

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"When a journalist asked them who would be their Prime Minister, one of their leaders said that they would become Prime Minister in turns for five years. Rahul Baba, this is not a grocery store, it is a great country of 140 crore people," the Home Minister said.

Reiterating that there could be no reservation based on religion, the Union Home Minister said that the INDIA Alliance intends to rob the reservation of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Castes.

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"The Indi Alliance intends to rob the reservation of SC-ST-OBC. A decision from the Bengal High Court has come just yesterday. The Bengal government had included 180 Muslim castes in the OBC list and gave the reservation rights of our backward classes to the Muslims. Our Constitution does not provide reservations based on religion. Therefore, yesterday, the High Court rejected all the OBC reservations given to Muslim castes by the Bengal government between 2010 and 2024," he said.

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday canceled all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal after 2010. The court has directed the West Bengal Backward Classes Commission to prepare a new list of OBCs in accordance with the 1993 Act. Those on the OBC list before 2010 will remain. However, all OBC nominations after 2010 were cancelled.

Hitting out at the opposition over their remark that India should "respect" Pakistan because it has an "atom bomb", Shah said the PoK belongs to India and the nation will take it back.

"Congress leaders say to respect Pakistan, they have the atom bomb. Rahul Baba, we BJP people are not going to be scared of the atomic bomb. PoK belongs to India and we will take it back," he said.

"The country's problems are not solved by atom bombs. The problems of the country are solved by the strong intentions of the leader like an atom bomb, which Modi ji has," the Home Minister said.

He further targeted Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav and said that the latter would not even win four seats in the Lok Sabha polls.

"Voting for five phases has been completed. Modi ji has crossed 310 seats in five phases. While the INDI Alliance has been wiped out. This time Congress is not going to cross even 40 and Akhilesh ji is not going to get even four seats," Shah said.

The date of voting for the Domariyaganj Lok Sabha Constituency Election 2024 is May 25 in the sixth phase of the general elections.

Jagdambika Pal has been fielded by the BJP in Domariyaganj whereas Bhishma Shankar Tiwari is the candidate of the INDIA bloc.

The BJP is contesting the elections in Uttar Pradesh in alliance with the local parties while Congress and Samajwadi Party are united in the fight as part of the INDIA bloc and BSP is going solo in the elections.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the winner by securing the majority of seats available. Of 80 seats, the BJP won 62, followed by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with 10 seats, the Samajwadi Party (SP) with five seats, and the Apna Dal with two seats.

Counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls 2024 will be held on June 4. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, May 23 (PTI) The Maharashtra government is seeking finance from the World Bank for the Marathwada water grid project and is also pursuing the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday.

Shinde met the divisional administration, collectors and a few guardian ministers over the water situation in the region in central Maharashtra.

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The Marathwada water grid aims to connect all irrigation projects in the region to overcome the water crisis there. It was conceived during the tenure of the Devendra Fadnavis government in the state between 2014 and 2019 and was then estimated to cost about Rs 40,000 crore.

Asked about the water grid, the CM said, We are seeking finance from the World Bank and pursuing the matter with the prime minister.

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Marathwada receives an average annual rainfall of 751 mm. This year, the eight-district region has received 589.9 mm of rainfall with a deficit of 21.44 per cent. The number of tankers ferrying water has risen to 1,814, including 1,249 villages and 512 hamlets, here, an official said.

Shinde said the administration has been directed to clear tanker proposals in three days.

Earlier, a fund was given by District Planning Committees for fodder farming. This produced good results and there is no shortage of animal fodder, he said.

Asked about the funds announced for irrigation projects on September 17 last year on the Marathwada Liberation Day, Shinde said, We have given a lot to farmers here. A crop insurance scheme is being offered at Re 1. We are also giving Rs 6,000 a year to farmers.

Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Ambadas Danve claimed the meeting was a "timepass" and officials took selfies with fodder. No planning has been done about how available water in the region will be utilised till July if it doesn't rain in time.

Danve also claimed that Maharashtra has lost a Rs 50,000-crore project.

The project by public sector undertaking Gail India has gone to Madhya Pradesh when they were looking for land in Dabhol and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

The government should clarify why this company went from Maharashtra to MP. Was there any pressure from the Centre to send this project to MP, he asked.

About Danve's allegations, Shinde said, We don't plant bombs near industrialists' homes. We have eased the process for investors in the state. Earlier, when they (opposition) levelled allegations over the Vedanta-Foxcon project, our government was two months old. Later, we brought a lot of investments and Maharashtra has become number one in terms of investment.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], May 23 (ANI): On the auspicious occasion of the 2,568 birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, President Droupadi Murmu urged Indian citizens to imbibe Buddha's message of truth, non-violence, and love for humanity for social harmony and nation-building.

President Murmu extended her greetings in a video-recorded message to commemorate the Vaisakha Buddha Purnima Divas at the National Museum celebrations, organised by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) on Thursday in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the National Museum (where the Holy Buddha Relic is enshrined).

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 6: High Decibel Campaigning Ends, 58 Seats To Go to Polls on May 25; Check Key Candidates and Constituencies Here.

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"The embodiment of compassion, Lord Buddha, has given the message of truth, non-violence, harmony, and, love for humanity and all living beings. Lord Buddha had said, 'Appa Deepo Bhava' i.e., be a light unto yourself. His teachings of tolerance, self-awareness, and good conduct inspire us to serve humanity," President Murmu said.

Also Read | Hyderabad Pothole Menace: Woman Sits in Pothole Filled With Muddy Water To Flag Poor Condition of Roads in City, Videos Surface.

"His eightfold path paves the way for leading a meaningful life. Let us strengthen social harmony and take the pledge for nation-building by imbibing the ideals of Bhagwan Buddha in our lives," she added.

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Observing the Triple Blessed Day with reverence and piety (Shakyamuni Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana, all three falling on the same day), prayers were offered in the chamber of the Holy Buddha Relic in the National Museum. These were led by Kundeling Taktsak Rinpoche Tenzin Chokyi Gyaltsen in the presence of revered monks and other dignitaries, including diplomats from Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

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Presenting a Dhamma talk, Kundeling Taktsak Rinpoche Tenzin Chokyi Gyaltsen reflected on the life and teachings of the Buddha.

"We are reminded of the timeless relevance of his message. In a world often plagued by conflict, polarization, suffering, and misunderstanding, the buddha's teachings of compassion, non-violence, and wisdom serve as a beacon of hope and a path towards harmony. His profound insights into the nature of suffering and the path to liberation provide us with the tools to cultivate inner peace and contribute to a more just and peaceful world," he said.

Rinpoche, stressing the point, said, "Today, India holds a special place in the heart of every Buddhist. It is the land where the Buddha attained enlightenment and shared his profound teachings. It is from this sacred soil that the light of Buddhism spread far and wide, touching the lives of countless individuals. Observing Buddha Purnima here in the capital of India is not only appropriate but also deeply meaningful. It serves as a reminder of the enduring connection between this great land and the path of the Buddha."

For the first time, prayers for unity, harmony and world peace were held at the Five Historical landmarks of Buddha Dhamma in Delhi.

These were the Shanti Stupa or Peace Pagoda, in the Indraprastha Park along the outer Ring Road; the famed Ashokan Rock Edict on the hillside of East of Kailash, which is among the edicts in the country on the teachings of the Buddha created by Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor; the Ashoka Pillar at the Firoz Shah Kotla grounds, which was first erected by King Ashoka between 273 and 236 BC in the then Topra Kalan, a Yamuna Nagar district in Haryana; the Buddha Jayanti Park along the ridge, which has an 8-feet copper statue of Lord Buddha, installed to mark the 2500th birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha's and finally at the Asoka Mission, in Mehrauli, a Buddhist temple complex.

Around 50 monks from Subharti University, Meerut, Delhi University, and the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association with representation from Nalanda, Theravada, and Mahayana traditions prayed at these sites to gain merit for everyone and for harmony and peace in the strife-torn world.

This year's celebrations presented a unique opportunity to witness a lively demonstration of the famous Nalanda debate by the nuns from the Jamyang Choling Institute. This debate system originated at the ancient Nalanda monastic university in India.

As Buddhist teachings and practices travelled to Tibet from India, so did the instructions on valid cognition, logic, and reasoning. Nalanda debate was then practiced and preserved since then in ancient Tibet and is still currently practiced in Tibetan Buddhist monastic institutions today. These nuns use debate daily as a primary part of their Buddhist philosophy education. Today, they demonstrated a debate focusing on investigation into the nature and characteristics of Bodhicitta (the mind of enlightenment) and great compassion.

The IBC also travelled overseas to participate in the Vaisakha Buddha Purnima celebrations in Lumbini, Nepal, at the invitation of the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT). The Indian team included 50 monks, academicians, a dance troupe, and prominent musicians of national repute. It is a matter of great honour for IBC that it is also during constructing a State-of-the-Art Buddhist complex--the India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage in Lumbini.

IBC is a Buddhist umbrella body that serves as a common platform for Buddhists worldwide. It is headquartered in New Delhi, India. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ahmedabad, May 23 (PTI) Amid protests by citizens against prepaid smart electricity meters in some cities of Gujarat, the state government on Thursday said there was no substance in the claims that the devices are overcharging consumers.

State-owned power distribution companies (discoms) MGVCL, DGVCL, UGVCL and PGVCL have already installed over 47,000 smart meters across Gujarat, the government said in a release.

Also Read | Dombivli Boiler Blast: Six Killed, 48 Injured in Fire Triggered by Triple Explosions at Thane Factory in MIDC Complex; Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis Takes Cognisance of Matter.

People have doubts about these meters due to the lack of knowledge about their functioning, the release said.

To clear the air regarding the new devices, the discoms will install check meters along with smart meters at residential units to enable consumers to compare their power consumption recorded by both meters, it said.

Also Read | Elephant Attack in Tamil Nadu: Security Guard Trampled to Death by Wild Tusker Inside Bharathiar University Campus in Coimbatore.

Since the calculation of daily power consumption is done as per various slabs and the calculation for tariff changes as per those slabs, a misunderstanding cropped up about the smart meters, the government said.

Verification of all such claims by the power distribution firms has been done and it was found that in all cases, the tariff was calculated based on the actual power consumption. Hence there is no substance in the claims of overcharging from the customer. People raised doubts because of lack of information about calculation of tariff, said the release.

It added that smart meter users can see daily consumption through a mobile application. Just like the present system, a monthly bill will be shared with the customer through the app and a grace period will be given as per the existing norms to pay the bill, it said.

Even if the smart meter holder's balance goes negative during the recharge month, his supply will not be disconnected, said the release.

Procedures followed in the normal meter connections will also be applicable if the smart meter holder fails to clear the bill in the stipulated time, it added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata, May 23 (PTI) Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday said people of West Bengal will ensure that those who do divisive politics on communal lines be driven out of the state after the Lok Sabha polls are over.

Speaking at a public rally in Bhangore, which falls within Jadavpur parliamentary constituency in West Bengal, Banerjee claimed that in the previous five phases of polling, anti-Bengali forces have been defeated. He asserted that the final blow will come after the last phase on June 1.

Also Read | Dombivli Boiler Blast: Six Killed, 48 Injured in Fire Triggered by Triple Explosions at Thane Factory in MIDC Complex; Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis Takes Cognisance of Matter.

Targeting the BJP, Banerjee vowed, "We will ensure that those who promote communal and divisive politics and seek to create unrest will have no political ground in West Bengal. The autocratic Narendra Modi government will be ousted from power at the Centre."

In an apparent reference to Bhangore MLA Naushad Siddique without naming him, Banerjee criticised him for not speaking out against the saffron party, accusing him of acting as the BJP's B-team. "Yesterday, the Calcutta High Court struck down OBC status granted to several communities in Bengal since 2010. Has the MLA commented on this?" he questioned.

Also Read | Elephant Attack in Tamil Nadu: Security Guard Trampled to Death by Wild Tusker Inside Bharathiar University Campus in Coimbatore.

"There is no place for divisive politics in the revered soil of West Bengal. The people of this state believe in unity in diversity," added Banerjee, the nephew of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee.

He claimed that after failing to gain power in West Bengal in the last assembly polls, the BJP stopped payments under several central schemes such as the 100 days' work programme and housing initiatives.

"But the Trinamool Congress government has compensated for the unpaid money under the 100 days' work programme from its own funds," he said.

Banerjee criticised the BJP-led central government for being indifferent to the rising prices of essential household items and life-saving drugs, despite claiming to be pro-poor.

He accused the central government of using federal agencies arbitrarily, noting, "Even my family has not been spared."

As the polling phases progress, Banerjee predicted grim prospects for the BJP, asserting that the TMC will play a decisive role in the next central government.

The TMC has fielded Sayani Ghosh from Jadavpur, which will go to polls on June 1.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Agartala, May 23: A man was arrested in Agartala for allegedly killing a tea seller after an altercation, which took a violent turn after the latter refused to serve him tea and cigarettes citing the 'dues' that he had run up with him.

The deceased, identified as Sukhen Das, succumbed to the injuries he suffered after the accused attacked him with a piece of brick. Mumbai Shocker: Man Enters Elderly Woman's House in Malad, Kills Victim by Banging Her Head Against Wall for Rs 15,000; Arrested for Murder.

Das suffered multiple injuries on his head after the accused, Dipankar Sarkar, rained repeated blows on him with the brick.

Das, according to sources, refused to serve tea and cigarettes till the accused cleared his dues. Kashipur Horror: Woman Kills Stepdaughter, Buries Dead Body at Under-Construction Site in Uttarakhand, Arrested (Watch Video).

Speaking on the incident, inspector-in-charge, East Agartala Police Station Sanjit Sen said, "On May 16, the accused person Dipankar Sen, who also happened to be a neighbour of the deceased, went to Das's shop. He was served tea and cigarettes as he wished. However, he refused to pay the money in return."

"On May 18, he again came to the shop, asking for cigarettes and tea but Das asked him to clear his dues first. Soon, matters escalated and a scuffle broke out. In a fit of rage, the accused attacked the tea vendor," the officer said.

"Thereafter, Das was shifted to GBP hospital in Agartala for treatment but couldn't be saved. Das's widow Bithi Das lodged a complaint with the East Agartala police station on the same day he succumbed to his injuries," the official said.

"We have made a prayer in court seeking the inclusion of IPC section 302 in the case. Dipankar Sarkar was arrested on the same day. He was produced before the court with a prayer for police remand. We were granted a police remand for four days," the official added.Tripura: Man kills tea seller for refusing to serve him; arrested. Further details on the matter are awaited.

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Jaunpur (UP), May 23 (PTI) BJP candidate Kripashankar Singh says his priority on winning the election would be to set up industries in this parliamentary constituency so that people don't have to leave home to find jobs like he once did.

For this, I will use my "Mumbai contacts", said Singh, who moved to the city in 1971 and was once considered a strong leader of the Maharashtra Congress and also served as a former Minister of State for Home in the state.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Amid Blistering Heatwave, PM Narendra Modi To Campaign in Haryana and Punjab Today.

"Jaunpur, with a population of about 46 lakh, is a district where most of the youth migrate to Mumbai and other cities every year in search of employment,' Singh told PTI.

"Every sixth North Indian in Mumbai is from Jaunpur district who has gone there for employment," Singh said.

Also Read | Buddha Purnima 2024: Devotees Take Holy Dip in Ganga at 'Har Ki Pauri' in Uttarakhand's Haridwar (Watch Video).

Singh started his political career with the Maharashtra Congress in the 1970s. About four years ago, he resigned from the Congress party and joined the BJP.

He said Jaunpur produces potatoes in huge quantities and its people are hardworking, yet there are no sugar and potato processing units here.

It is also very important to have a sugar mill in Jaunpur. About 900 acres of government land are available on the highway in the Shahganj assembly segment of the district where industries can be set up, yet so far it hasn't happened. But now it will be used, Singh asserted.

Singh said he would use his "five-decade-old contacts" in Maharashtra, which has a thriving sugar industry, to set up potato and sugar processing units along with a sugar mill in Jaunpur.

"On December 1, 1971, at the age of 21, I had to leave my home and go to Mumbai to earn a livelihood... Who would know better than me the pain of leaving home for a job or business? My wish is that in the coming three to four years, no youth of Jaunpur should have to go outside for work," Singh said.

Within a month of winning the election, work will start on the issue of generating employment for the youth of Jaunpur, he said, adding "An action plan for this is being prepared by a team of experts."

Asked about his chances of victory in the elections, Singh said, "I was born in Jaunpur and I grew up here. This is my home and my family members live here. The debt I owe to the people and my family members here will be repaid with the help of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.'

He also said that the people of Jaunpur are very happy with the work done by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

This is why the people of Jaunpur have made up their minds to make Narendra Modi the prime minister for the third time and ensure that the BJP-led NDA gets more than 400 seats in the Lok Sabha.

Polling in Jaunpur will be held in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 25.

Singh is pitted against Babu Singh Kushwaha of the Samajwadi Party. Outgoing MP and Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Shyam Singh Yadav is also in the poll fray.

Singh further said the erratic electricity supply in Jaunpur needs to be fixed and considering the population of the district, it requires a medical institute like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

Serious patients in the district and nearby areas have to go to either Varanasi or Lucknow for treatment. But we will make sure that the district gets a premier institute like the AIIMS and for this, our team has started the paperwork, Singh said.

"If I get the blessings of the people, the work on AIIMS will start here after a month," Singh said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], May 23 (ANI/WAM): Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, received Shaya Mohsin Zindani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs of Yemen.

Sheikh Abdullah welcomed and congratulated Zindani on his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs in the Republic of Yemen.

Also Read | Tanzanian Blast: 11 People Killed, Two Others Injured in Explosion at Sugar Factory in Morogoro.

During the meeting, which was held today in Abu Dhabi, the two sides discussed issues of mutual interest, in addition to cooperation in various fields to serve the interests of the two countries and their peoples.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed emphasised the strong fraternal and historical relations binding the two countries, wishing Zindani success in his duties.

Also Read | RuPay Service in Maldives: South Asian Country To Launch Indias Payment Service System That Will Bolster Maldivian Rufiyaa Amid Tense Bilateral Ties.

The UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs also affirmed his aspiration to work with Zindani to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries, wishing Yemen and its people stability, development, and prosperity.

Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, and Mohamed Hamad Al Zaabi, UAE Ambassador to Yemen, attended the meeting. (ANI/WAM)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Tel Aviv [Israel], May 23 (ANI/TPS): In response to the decision made by the governments of Ireland and Norway to recognize an independent Palestinian State, Israel's Foreign Minister ordered the recall of his country's ambassadors to those countries. Norway announced its recognition of such an independent state Wednesday morning and Ireland, as well as Spain, are expected to soon follow.

In making his announcement, Katz said, "I am sending a clear message today - Israel will not be complacent against those who undermine its sovereignty and endanger its security."

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Wishes Speedy Recovery to Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud Suffering From Lung Inflammation.

"Ireland and Norway intend to send a message to the Palestinians and the whole world today: Terrorism pays," he added. "After the terrorist organization Hamas carried out the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, after it committed the most horrific sex crimes the world has seen, these countries chose to give a reward to Hamas and Iran and recognize a Palestinian state."

Calling the recognition a "twisted step" and an "injustice to the memory of the 7/10 victims," Katz said it is also an "injury to the efforts to return the 128 abductees and the abductees - this is a back wind for the jihadists of Hamas and Iran, which distances the chance for peace and undermines Israel's right to self-defense."

Also Read | Pakistan: Imran Khan Hints at Launching Street Agitation; Instructs Party Supporters to Wait for His Call.

"The Irish-Norwegian stupidity parade does not deter us," he added, "we are determined to achieve our goals: restoring security to our citizens and the removal of Hamas and the return of the kidnapped. There are no more just goals than these." (ANI/TPS)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lahore [Pakistan], May 23 (ANI): Farmers' discontent over the wheat import scandal has escalated with the recent suspension of four officers implicated in the affair, dismissing it as a mere token gesture aimed at shielding the actual wrongdoers, Dawn reported.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's decision to suspend four officials--former National Food Security Secretary Muhammad Asif, ex-Director-General of Food Protection AD Abid, National Food Security Commissioner Waseem, and Director Suhail--on the recommendation of an inquiry committee has been met with scepticism.

Also Read | US Horror: One-Year-Old Boy Suffers Brain Damage, Dies of Cardiac Arrest After Being Assaulted by Mothers Boyfriend.

Farooq Tariq, the general secretary of the Pakistan Kisan Rabita Committee (PKRC), expressed dissatisfaction, asserting, "The federal cabinet's decision to suspend four Food Security officers involved in the wheat scandal is insufficient. We believe that these officers are being made scapegoats to protect the real culprits," as reported by Dawn.

Tariq continued, alleging, "They are trying to cover up the scandal by punishing a few junior officers."

Also Read | At Least Four Killed in Mexico After Stage Collapses During Political Rally: Live News Updates Today.

He further criticised the investigative process, highlighting the conflict of interest, "How can a federal secretary investigate his former boss?" He questioned the impartiality of the inquiry committee chaired by Kamran Ali Afzal, who previously served as the secretary of caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq's cabinet.

Amidst accusations of a cover-up, Tariq emphasised the economic ramifications, stating, "The wheat scandal has been covered up, and the real culprits who made this key economic decision are being protected." He pointed out the disproportionate gains made by certain entities, remarking, "60 companies have made huge money through the wheat scandal, while most farmers are still unable to sell their wheat at government rates."

In a show of defiance, Tariq warned of impending protests, declaring, "If the government does not start wheat procurement and take action against the real culprits of the wheat scandal, the PKRC would invite farmers from across the country for protests in Lahore and Islamabad." He called for a transparent investigation led by farmers' representatives to identify the true perpetrators.

The PKRC's demands for accountability and transparency underscore the depth of farmer discontent, signalling a potentially tumultuous road ahead for the government in addressing the wheat scandal, Dawn reported. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
In a unique protest to highlight the poor condition of roads in the city, a woman in Hyderabad sat in a pothole filled with muddy water on Thursday.
Ever since announcing her pregnancy with husband Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone has faced negativity online. This negativity reached a new low when trolls targeted her appearance after she cast her vote in Mumbai Lok Sabha elections, flaunting her 'baby bump'. Amidst this online shaming, actress Alia Bhatt offered her support by liking an opinionated Instagram post by journalist Faye D'Souza. The said post called out the trolls, reminding them that Deepika exercised her democratic right and deserves no commentary on her personal life, especially regarding her pregnancy. Alias sisters Pooja and Shaheen Bhatt and her mother Soni Razdan have also liked the post. Deepika Padukone Flaunts Baby Bump for the First Time As She Steps Out To Cast Her Vote With Ranveer Singh for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 (Watch Video).

Alia Bhatt Supports Deepika Padukone

Faye D'Souza's Post In Support Of Preggers Deepika Padukone

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Faye DSouza (@fayedsouza)

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
Former Union Minister and Member of Parliament, Jayant Sinha, expressed surprise on Wednesday at receiving a show cause notice from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The notice questioned his absence from voting in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 and his non-participation in election campaigning. In response to the letter from BJPs Jharkhand General Secretary, Aditya Sahu, Sinha clarified that he had voted through the postal ballot process due to being overseas for personal commitments. He expressed surprise not only at receiving the letter but also at its release to the media. Sinha, the sitting MP from the Hazaribagh seat in Jharkhand, addressed Sahus accusation of his lack of participation in organizational work and election campaigning since Manish Jaiswal was declared the candidate from the Hazaribagh Lok Sabha seat. He stated that he had not been invited to any party events, rallies, or organizational meetings. He emphasized his unwavering support for the partys choice. Sinha expressed his willingness to participate in election activities, stating that the party could have contacted him. However, he noted that no senior party official or MP/MLA from Jharkhand had reached out to him following his announcement on March 2. He reiterated that he had not been invited to any party events, rallies, or organizational meetings. Jayant Sinha Issued Show-Cause Notice by BJP for Not Taking Part in Campaigning for 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

Jayant Sinha Responds to BJPs Show Cause Notice

My response to Shri Aditya Sahu jis letter sent on May 20, 2024 pic.twitter.com/WfGIIyTvdz  Jayant Sinha (Modi Ka Parivar) (@jayantsinha) May 22, 2024

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There has been a steady rise in violent attacks across parts of Ecuador as of late, prompting President Daniel Noboa to declare a new Security State of Emergency in seven provinces. However, as this is happening, human rights groups have decried human rights violations done by Ecuadorian authorities in their crackdown against the violent gangs plaguing the country.

The provinces of Guayas, El Oro, Santa Elena, Manabi, Sucumbios, Orellana, and Los Rios will all be under the new state of emergency, along with one area in the Azuay province.

The decree has not been passed into law yet, even though Noboa had already signed it. It will still submitted to the Constitutional Court where judges will consider whether or not the measure will be approved. Earlier this month, the same court previously ruled that a previous emergency declaration in five provinces was not sufficiently justified and thus ruled that the declaration was null and void.

Should that decree pass, Noboa can order security forces to enter homes in those seven provinces and one area and intercept correspondence without any prior authorization. The president, who is currently feuding with Mexico, has stated that the recent violence happening in the country is the main reason for the state of emergency decree.

In his previous state of emergency declarations, Daniel Noboa increased police and military operations to fight the various criminal organizations that have infiltrated Ecuador from Mexico and Colombia. The government has claimed that violent deaths fell 28% in the first months of the year, compared with the same period in 2023.

However, the government also admitted that other crimes like kidnappings and extortion have risen since last year despite the intensified crackdown.

Daniel Noboa's Campaign Against Crime Resulted in Human Rights Abuses All Over Ecuador

Meanwhile, human rights groups have protested against this "internal armed conflict" declaration from President Daniel Noboa and pointed out that there have been "serious human rights violations by security forces" as a result of his declaration last January.

READ MORE: Ecuador Files Lawsuit Vs. Mexico in ICJ Over Granting Asylum to Former VP Jorge Glas

In his declaration on January 9, 2024, Noboa declared that Ecuador is in a state of "internal armed conflict" against 22 criminal groups operating in the country. He then labeled them terrorists and gave police more leeway to go after these criminal groups. However, this also resulted in civilians getting caught in the crossfire.

"The escalation of violence and the increase in organized crime in Ecuador jeopardize Ecuadorians' lives and institutions," Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement to Mirage News. "Instead of announcing a baseless 'armed conflict,' the government needs to respond with an effective and rights-respecting security policy that protects Ecuadorians."

Ecuador President Daniel Noboa's Wife Tried To Construct a Luxury Resort in a Protected Forest

The Esterillo de Oloncito is an Ecuadorian forest protected by law and was declared a nature reserve. However, it is located on the shores of the Pacific and was a good spot to set up a resort. Lavinia Valbonesi, the wife of the president of Ecuador, recently tried to build one there.

According to El Pais, the Oloncito community took action and stopped workers from cutting down the forest to make way for the resort. This company still managed to cut down 21 carob trees while police and military tanks were present to stop community members, but this action garnered much criticism and the company was forced to back down from its plans.

READ MORE: Mexico Vs. Ecuador Feud: White House Slams Ecuadorian Government Over Raid Vs. Mexico Embassy

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Ecuador violence: President calls for neutralisation of criminal gangs - Channel 4 News
Donald Trump once again made false claims about his porn star hush money trial after the defense rested its case, claiming Judge Juan Merchan did not allow a witness to testify. In reality, the judge made no such decision and the former president was soon fact-checked regarding this claim.

Trump claimed that Judge Merchan would not allow the defense to call campaign finance expert Bradley A. Smith to testify in the trial. However, a fact-check by the Associated Press noted that this claim is false, adding that the Trump defense team "chose to not call on him after the judge on Monday declined to broaden the scope of questioning the defense could pursue. The ruling echoed his pretrial ruling on the matter."

Trump advocates misrepresented the ruling and repeated the statement made by Donald Trump regarding the campaign finance expert where the former president said, "The expert witness that we have, the best there is in election law, Brad Smith, he's considered the Rolls Royce, or we'll bring it back to an American car, Cadillac, but the best there is. He can't testify. He's not being allowed to testify."

The ex-POTUS then repeated these falsehoods several more times and repeatedly claimed that Merchan was blocking Smith's testimony "because he's going to say we did nothing wrong."

However, in reality, Smith was permitted to testify, as it was the defense that decided not to call him in. The defense only called in two witnesses, paralegal Daniel Sitko and Trump-aligned lawyer Robert Costello, the latter being tripped up by prosecutors with evidence of him trying to influence star witness Michael Cohen.

Donald Trump Defense During Hush Money Trial Ends in a Fizzle

Meanwhile, Donald Trump himself has been questioned why he did not testify despite all his bravado coming into the trial and vowing to testify. Much like the issue regarding his witness, Trump falsely claimed that the judge was preventing him from testifying, a claim which immediately garnered some scolding from Judge Merchan who told Trump that he could in fact testify even though there is a gag order placed for him not to attack the jury or witnesses.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Lawyers Rest Their Case in Porn Star Hush Money Trial Without Former President Testifying

Trump has uncharacteristically remained quiet regarding whether or not he would testify in his defense soon after. However, his son, Donald Trump Jr., came to his father's defense despite all the bravado the former president had previously shown.

"Why would you justify this insanity? You don't subject yourself to that," said Don Jr., "You're going in a kangaroo court, nothing more, nothing less. There's absolutely no reason or justification to do that whatsoever. Everyone sees it for the sham that it is."

Donald Trump Campaign Video Shares Nazi Reference with 'Unified Reich'

Meanwhile, the Trump Campaign has raised several eyebrows as the former president posted a 30-second video to his Truth Social platform and that video was clearly referencing Nazi Germany which called itself the "Third Reich."

In the background of the video that Trump shared, it included hypothetical newspaper front pages with headlines that read g "BORDER IS CLOSED - 15 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS DEPORTED" and "ECONOMY BOOMS." However, the controversial headline appeared twice, and it read, "Industrial strength significantly increased ... driven by the creation of a unified Reich."

Trump has long been popular with Neo Nazis, with the controversial Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally by Neo-Nazi groups being decidedly pro-Trump, with the former president only distancing himself from these groups after much criticism.

He eventually removed the controversial video and blamed its posting on his aides.

READ NEXT: Donald Trump Hush Money Trial: Lauren Boebert Heckled While Michael Cohen Cross-Examination Got Heated

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Trump Leaves Ad with Nazi Reference Up for 18 Hours Before Deleting - Pod Save America
A driver and a 12-year-old passenger were killed and three other passengers injured when a vehicle slammed into a tractor-trailer stopped on the shoulder of I-78 in Warren County late Wednesday, State Police said.

The crash happened shortly before 11:30 p.m. at mile marker 6.2 in Greenwich Township, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron told lehighvalleylive.com.

The tractor-trailer was parked on the right shoulder of the highway and the vehicle was heading east, Lebron said.
A handful of local schools dismissed students early Thursday due to storm-related power outages.

Easton Area High Schools student were sent home at 10:30 a.m., according to a message on the school district website. All other Easton Area schools are operating on a normal schedule, the message says.

Phillipsburg Middle School sent kids home at 11 a.m. due to the outage, according to a Facebook post from the district superintendent.
Well before it became a standardized holiday in 1971, Memorial Day has been celebrated annually across the country. Falling on the last Monday in May, the day provides an opportunity to remember and pay tribute to veterans of the armed forces who were killed in action.

From parades to church services to speeches, the Lehigh Valley has already started marking the holiday, but there are plenty of opportunities left through Monday to recognize those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country.

Below is a list of some of the bigger events events happening around the area leading up to and including the holiday on Monday, May 27 (Editors note: This is not a comprehensive list, but email web@lehighvalleylive.com if theres an event that youd like us to consider including):

Bangor Memorial Day service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at St. Johns Cemetery, 110 Jones Ave.

Bethlehem Killed-in-Action Memorial is scheduled for noon Monday at the Killed-in-Action Memorial at 10 E. Church St. in front of City Hall. This event features prayer, music, a reading of the names of the 35 men whose names are inscribed on the memorial, and a short oration by a Bethlehem veteran. Bethlehem Detachment 284, Marine Corps League, runs the ceremony.

Bethlehem Memorial Day Parade starts at 9 a.m. Monday with the route running from Liberty High School north to Memorial Park Cemetery, where a brief ceremony will occur. The parade is hosted by the United Veterans of Bethlehem, a member organization working with the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council and the City of Bethlehem as sponsors.

East Bangor Memorial Day service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the East Bangor Cemetery, Park Road in East Bangor. U.S. Army Veteran Larry Rissmiller will speak, Hunter Zeman will recite the Gettysburg Address, and Amy Weaver will recite In Flanders Fields. The Martocci-Capobianco Post 750 American Legion in Roseto will fire a gun salute. Hannah Confalone will play Taps and sing the National Anthem. If it rains, the service will be at the East Bangor United Methodist Community Church, 136 W. Central Ave. (Route 512), East Bangor, PA. The church is sponsoring the service. For more informatin, call 610-588-4453 or visit ebumc.org.

Easton Cemetery Memorial Day service offers prayers and honors from American Legion Post 9 at 9 a.m. Monday at the Grand Army of the Republic plot by the flag pole and cannon area of the Historic Easton Cemetery, 401 N. Seventh St. At 1 p.m., the Friends of the Historic Easton Cemetery board will hold a presentation at the grave of General Charles A. Wikoff to replace the generals sword, which was stolen from the grave some years ago. The cemetery will host docent-led tours of Civil War veterans buried in the cemetery at 1:45 and 2 p.m.

UPDATE: Eastons Memorial Day Parade scheduled to step off at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Sixth and Walnut streets and end at the free bridge has been canceled due to forecast inclement weather, the city police department said Friday. The event was to feature the Phillipsburg and Easton mayors meeting on the bridge to toss a memorial wreath into the Delaware River, with closing ceremonies scheduled in Eastons Riverside Park.

Macungie Memorial Day Observance is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Monday with a flag raising and VFW Memorial Day Ceremonial that will take place at Macungie Memorial Park. A program with guest speaker will follow at 10:30 a.m. in the park bandshell. A memorial service will be held at noon at the All Gave Some-Some Gave All Memorial, Macungie Veterans Association, 287 Lehigh St.

Nazareth Memorial Day Parade forms at Center Square at 10 a.m. Monday. At 10:30 a.m., a Laying of Wreaths for Fallen Heroes will occur at the American Legion Post 415. At 11 a.m., a Memorial Day service will be held at borough hall. The speaker will be U.S. Army Lt. Col. John J. McGeehan (retired). He served from 1966 until his 1995 retirement and was part of the Green Beret unit, Delta Project (the precursor to Delta Force), in the Vietnam War.

Palmer Township Memorial Day Observance is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday with ceremonies conducted by the American Legion Brown & Lynch Post No. 9 at the veterans section of the Northampton Memorial Shrine cemetery, 3051 Green Pond Road. The color guard from the Northampton County Detachment No. 298 Marine Corps league will participate.

Pen Argyl Area High School Memorial Day Assembly is scheduled for 8 a.m. Friday at Alumni Stadium. The student-run assembly features addresses about the importance of Memorial Day and its history, with military traditions and services to honor fallen soldiers and a flag-folding ceremony complete with the playing of taps.

UPDATE: Phillipsburg Memorial Day Parade scheduled to start Monday morning at Abbott Street has been canceled due to a forecast for thunderstorms, according to a post on the organizers Facebook page. Ceremonies have been moved indoors starting at 11 a.m. Monday at the American Legion Bernardine May Post No. 457 at 321 Marshall St. in Phillipsburg. A luncheon will follow.

SteelStacks Memorial Day Commemoration, in its 14th year, transforms the 101 Founders Way campus in Bethlehem into a living memorial for hometown heroes Saturday until Sunday, followed by a community event at 3 p.m. Monday featuring Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure at the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks stage speaking about A Time to Remember in honor of the Lehigh Valleys fallen soldiers from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

Williams Township Memorial Observance is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday at the Williams Township. Municipal Building, 655 Cider Press Road. A Community Recognition Award will be given to Richard Seiffert, a Vietnam War veteran, son of U.S. Army Captain Robert F. Seiffert, who was killed in the Battle of the Bulge. Richard is an active volunteer with Tails of Valor, Paws of Honor where he has trained a service puppy for many years.
Separate, unrelated shootings over the span of about 12 hours Tuesday night into Wednesday morning in Pennsylvania left a total of four people dead and six more wounded, authorities said.

Tuesday night, a street shooting in Pennsylvanias capital city claimed the lives of two men dead and wounded three other people.

Harrisburg police found three of the victims when they responded to reports of shots fired shortly before 8:30 p.m. A fourth victim showed up at the scene a short time later, and all four were taken to a hospital, where the two men were pronounced dead, police said in a news release. Their names have not been released.

A few hours later, the fifth victim went to a hospital for treatment. The wounded victims  a man and two women  were all expected to recover, authorities said. Further details about their injuries were not disclosed.

Authorities said Wednesday a motive for the shooting remains under investigation. No arrests have been made.

Wednesday morning, a disgruntled employee opened fire at a linen company in suburban Philadelphia, killing two coworkers and injuring three others, authorities said.

The shooting took place at Delaware County Linen at about 8:30 a.m. in the city of Chester, about 18 miles south of Philadelphia. The shooter fled in a vehicle but was soon captured in a traffic stop, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said. The shooters name has not been released, and the specific motive remains unknown. Earlier statements said he was a former employee.

It speaks to guns in America, said Chester Mayor Stefan Roots, who said his small city has enjoyed a period of relative calm in recent years, with violent crime on the decline. Violence is always unpredictable. We dont know what conditions people are under, in a city thats impoverished like ours.

People embrace near the scene of a fatal shooting at Delaware County Linen in Chester, Pa., Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Authorities say a former employee armed with a handgun opened fire at a linen company in a Philadelphia suburb, killing multiple people and wounding three others.AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Roots called on state lawmakers in Pennsylvania to address the gun crisis, especially as it relates to people with mental health problems.

We cant have guns in the hands of the wrong people, Roots said. There had to be some type of mental health issue that would have an employee walk into his workplace on a day of work and take out his anger in such a violent way  to not just the boss, but his coworkers, who he probably worked side-by-side with for years.

Three people remained hospitalized, at least one in critical condition, police said.

The business had been in the community for more than 30 years, and some workers lived near enough to walk to work each day, residents said. Some of the workers on hand when the gunman opened fire gathered on the steps of a church across the street, behind barriers enacted by police. One had a bandage visible on his hand.

Its always quiet around here. We dont have too many issues, so this is surprising, said Doneshia Johnson, who lives next door to the linen company and was standing outside with her 1-year-old grandson. She said she was out at the time of the shooting.

You never know. Its why you got to wake up, say your prayers, and just hope that you make it home safely each day, she said.

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A bank robber who targeted a credit union Wednesday morning outside Phillipsburg is on the lam, and authorities are circulating a surveillance photo from the heist in hopes of catching him.

The Warren County Prosecutors Office reported in a news release that Lopatcong Township police at 9:50 a.m. Wednesday responded to the First Commonwealth Credit Union, 501 Baltimore St. for a robbery in progress.

A man entered the bank and demanded money from a teller, according to the news release, which did not specify if any weapon was displayed.

There were no reports of robbery attempts at any other area banks, the release said. The investigation is ongoing; therefore, no additional details are available at this time.

The prosecutors office asked that anyone with information about the man shown in the surveillance photo call either Lopatcong Township police at 908-859-1212 or the prosecutors office tip line at 908-475-6643.

The credit union was open for business as usual on Thursday, according to its website.
Doolin Ferry, Ireland's largest passenger ferry operator, had the honour of hosting world-renowned celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay during his visit to the picturesque Inis Oirr, the smallest of the three Aran Islands.

Ramsay's journey aboard Doolin Ferry marked a special moment for both the company and the upcoming season of National Geographic's acclaimed series "Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted."

During his visit, Gordon Ramsay brought a wave of excitement as he mingled with the crew and passengers aboard.

Liam O'Brien, owner of Doolin Ferry, fondly reminisced about Ramsay's visit, highlighting the chef's personable nature and his enthusiastic participation in the ferry experience.



Gordon Ramsay chatting onboard and with Doolin Ferry owner Liam O'Brien

"Having Gordon on board brought a buzz of excitement for us all. He was incredibly personable, chatting with the crew and posing for photographs. He even took the wheel of the ferry for a moment, fully immersed in the experience."

Ramsay even took the helm of the ferry briefly, immersing himself fully in the journey.

"We're eagerly awaiting his upcoming cookery show, knowing that it will captivate audiences, not only for Gordon's delicious culinary creations but also for showcasing the stunning landscape of the west coast of Ireland," Liam continued.

In the National Geographic series "Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted," the chef journeys to some of the most incredible and remote locations on earth in search of culinary inspiration, epic adventures, and cultural experiences.

The newest series, featuring an episode titled "The Cliffs of Ireland," is set to launch on Tuesday, May 28th, on Hulu and Discovery+.

Viewers can anticipate breathtaking scenes of the iconic Plassey shipwreck and captivating culinary collaborations, including a segment with Irish chef Anna Hugh cooking against the stunning backdrop of the Cliffs of Moher.
Sinn Fein has accused the housing minister of attempting to spin the findings of a report which was highly critical of the Governments housing policies.

Pearse Doherty and Darragh OBrien clashed on housing in the Dail on Thursday.

The report, which was leaked earlier this week, contained a number of reforms following an examination of the Governments housing policies.

The Housing Commission's report is a damning criticism of the government's housing policy, and it is further evidence that their plan is not working. Only a Sinn Fein-led government, with a housing plan focused on delivering tens of thousands of affordable homes for working pic.twitter.com/BgLiju2AoE  Pearse Doherty (@PearseDoherty) May 23, 2024

Outlining 83 recommendations, the Commission said that Ireland has an opportunity to change policy to improve the lives of citizens.

It said it had a major concern with Irelands housing deficit and urged emergency action coupled with a step-change increase in supply.

Mr Doherty pressed the housing minister on the report and accused him of attempting to spin its findings as an endorsement of their housing plan.

It is not credible, as youve tried to do to claim, that the majority of the Commissions recommendations are being progressed by your Government, he added.

Are you trying to suggest that the Government Commission didnt know what they were talking about?

Mr Doherty said the report is a damning indictment of the Governments failure, particularly in terms of affordable housing.

This is just some of what they have to say  systemic failure, ineffective decision making, reactive policymaking all undermine an affordability, he added.

Thats you minister that theyre talking about in that report, just in case you didnt realise.

The Housing Commission concluded that you, your decisions, your policy, your government made rents go up and made houses more expensive.

Sin e. Full stop. Thats what theyve concluded.

The report states that Ireland has the opportunity to change policy and I couldnt agree more, but after 12 years within of Fine Gael in Government, supported in the main by Fianna Fail through the majority of those years, change will not come from these parties that created the crisis.

The only change that will come in housing is with the change in government.

Mr Doherty called for the Government to schedule time in the Dail next week for a debate in relation to the findings of the report.

Mr OBrien said: I will debate you up and down, left, right and centre on housing because we have a plan.

If you had a plan that one could debate and analyse, you might ask your housing spokesperson why did he say publicly over 14 months ago that he will publish the Sinn Fein housing plan and he has not done so yet.

What would you replace the supports that weve brought in for first time buyers?

Labour leader Ivana Bacik described the findings as a searing critique of the Governments housing policy.

Findings which are damning, in fact, of the Housing for All plan, a plan which you stood over again this week, she said.

As you put it on Tuesday night, you said any plan worth its salt has review mechanisms built in. You said thats what the Commissions report was, but its not enough just to have a review mechanism.

Clearly, its also important that you accept when the review is scathing and that you undertake to act upon the recommendations and findings in the review.

The Commission report makes clear that Housing for All is not working. The Commission has called for a radical strategic reset for emergency action to address that massive shortfall of homes, over a quarter of a million homes, which are so badly needed for communities, families, individuals across the country.

She called on the minister to publish his departments revised housing targets.

Mr OBrien said the new targets will be published in the autumn.

He added: Last month alone, we saw 18,000 new homes commenced, breaking all records there.

Weve a significant target this year of over 34,500 and I intend for us to exceed that this year and to exceed it substantially.
Students from Dunamase College will travel to Kolkata, India next year to take part in an immersion programme aimed at providing crucial humanitarian aid.



As part of their commitment, the students are diligently working to raise 2,500, with all proceeds going directly to the Hope Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of street-connected children and underprivileged communities in Kolkata.



To help with their fundraising efforts, the students are inviting the community to join them for a "Walk for Hope" at Emo Court House on Saturday, June 1, at 11am.



This family-friendly event offers a wonderful opportunity to support a worthy cause while enjoying the scenic beauty of Emo Court House. The entry fees are 10 per adult, 5 per child, and 25 per family of four. CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO



Teachers in Dunamase College shared their enthusiasm for the programme and the fundraising event. "The immersion trip to Kolkata is a remarkable opportunity for our students to gain firsthand experience of global issues and to contribute to the well-being of others. The Walk for Hope is a great way for our community to get involved and support these dedicated young individuals."



For those who are unable to participate in the walk but still wish to contribute, donations can be made through the following link: https://www.idonate.ie/ fundraiser/AngelaBabikanga11






Danny Doyle from Rathangan, County Kildare is the overall winner of the Teagasc / FBD Student of the Year 2023 award. The Awards were presented by the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD in County Laois on Tuesday, 21 May.

The awards, sponsored by FBD, were presented to the top graduates of Teagasc Level 6 agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry training programmes in 2023.

Danny Doyle completed a Level 5 Certificate in Agriculture and then a Level 6 Advanced Crops and Machinery Certificate at the Teagasc Kildalton Agriculture College in Piltown county Kilkenny. He currently farms with his parents on a large scale tillage operation near Rathangan in County Kildare. In addition to winning the Overall Teagasc / FBD Student of the Year 2023 award he was successful in the Full-Time Agriculture Category award.

Two other category awards were presented.

Cormac Rowe comes from a mixed dairy and drystock farm near Navan in County Meath and won the Part-Time and Distance Education Category. Cormac is a primary school teacher who farms part-time with his family. Cormac showed outstanding commitment in his Distance Education course, where he completed the practicals at Teagasc Grange.

Alana King from near Ennis in County Clare, was successful in the Full-Time Other Land-based Enterprises Category. She graduated from the QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horsemanship  Equitation - from Kildalton College. She graduated with distinction on both her level 5 and level 6.

Speaking at the awards, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD said, The presentation of the Teagasc / FBD Student of the Year Awards is an important date in the annual agriculture calendar. Young, enthusiastic, educated farmers are fundamental to the future prosperity of the agricultural sector. The value and return from an agricultural education to the operation of modern farm enterprises cannot be overstated. This is not only for the financial, technical, and environmental skills it provides, but also through the opportunity to see best practice in operation on host farms.

I whole-heartedly congratulate all 15 finalists on their achievement. It is rightly a very proud day for them and their families to be recognised for their education achievements. I extend my congratulations in particular to the category and overall winners whose dynamism and enthusiasm for the agri-sector shone through to the judges.

On behalf of the overall sponsor of the Awards, John Cahalan, Chief Commercial Officer, with FBD Insurance said; At FBD Insurance we are committed to supporting every generation of Irish farmers and their families. We are always proud to sponsor the Teagasc FBD Student of the Year awards which highlight the outstanding achievements of the students in Teagasc Agricultural Colleges across the country. These finalists are wonderful representatives for Irish agriculture, and we can be sure that the future of Irish farming is in safe hands. On behalf of the team at FBD, I would like to congratulate Danny Doyle and all of the 2023 finalists on their achievements and wish them all the very best in the future.

Dr Anne Marie Butler, Head of Education in Teagasc said, This coveted award is a wonderful celebration of Teagasc education, our learners, teachers and facilities right across the country. Congratulations to all finalists and award winners. We look forward to their future career and personal achievements.

The other 12 finalists in the awards were:

Conor McAweeney, Ballinamore, County Leitrim

Cian Hourihane, Skibberreen, County Cork

Enda Shanahan, Nenagh, County Tipperary

Amy McGee, Drumkeeran, County Leitrim

Aidan Lynch, Gort, County Galway

David Stephenson, Hacketstown, County Wicklow

Rachel Lacey, Strand, County Limerick

Isabell Bourke, Westport, County Mayo

Tadhg Hanley, Askeaton, County Limerick

Ben Maguire, Mountnugent, County Cavan

Leanne O'Donnell, Miltown Malbay, County Clare

Charlotte Duff White, Ballinamult, County Tipperary

Find out more about Danny Doyle in this short video https://youtu.be/ SWUa2r6B9M0
Students from eleven schools and libraries in Kildare participated in a national Junior Juries programme for this years KPMG Childrens Books Ireland Awards. The winners were announced at a ceremony in Dublin this week in partnership with International Literature Festival Dublin.

Through the KPMG Childrens Books Ireland Awards Junior Juries programme young people in schools, libraries and book clubs shadowed adult judges in reading, discussing and assessing the shortlisted books. The judging panel read a record 158 titles from Irish-born or Ireland-based writers and illustrators, the biggest year so far in the history of the awards.

Schools and libraries in Kildare that participated in the Junior Juries programme included:

Celbridge Library, Celbridge

Kildare Libraries, Maynooth

Leixlip Library, Leixlip

Naas Community National School

Scoil Mhuire Senior School, Newbridge

Scoil na Naomh Uilig, Newbridge

Scoil Naomh Lorcain, Athy

Scoil Ui Riada, Kilcock

St Anne's National School, Co Kildare

St.Brigids Primary School, Kildare Town

Woodbine Books Limited, Kilcullen

Speaking at the ceremony, CEO of Childrens Books Ireland, Elaina Ryan said, This years award winners showcase the outstanding quality and variety of contemporary Irish childrens literature. The fact that so many of the winners and shortlistees are debuts is remarkable  the Awards are an opportunity for us to celebrate both emerging and established creators and to connect them with their audiences.

Through our Junior Juries programme, we have seen the joy and excitement these shortlisted books have sparked in over 12,700 young readers across Ireland. Today, in front of an audience of 600 excited readers, were proud to recognise the talent and hard work of these extraordinary writers and illustrators whose work will no doubt be such a formative part of so many young readers childhoods.

Award-Winning Titles

The KPMG Book of the Year Award  Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai (Zephyr).

The Honour Award for Fiction  Treacle Town by Brian Conaghan (Andersen Press).

The Honour Award for Illustration  Three Tasks for a Dragon illustrated by PJ Lynch (Walker Books).

The Eilis Dillon Award for best debut childrens book Wider Than the Sea by Serena Molloy (Hodder Childrens Books).

The Judges Special Award  The Hare Shaped Hole, written by John Dougherty and illustrated by Thomas Docherty (Frances Lincoln Children's Books).

The KPMG Junior Juries Award  The Hare Shaped Hole, written by John Dougherty and illustrated by Thomas Docherty (Frances Lincoln Children's Books).

A total prize-fund of 16,000 has been awarded to this years winners.

Joint Head of Literature and Drama for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Damian Smyth said, These awards pay tribute to some of the most fantastically talented writers and illustrators producing new work on the island of Ireland today. The stories they create cross lands and seas, to shape and ignite the minds and hearts of young audiences across the globe. We send our congratulations to all of this years worthy winners!

Maria Flannery, Partner KPMG Ireland said, Well done to all our winners, and a special congratulations to our Reading Hero Alannah ODonoghue who was nominated by her teacher, Clare Farrell. Alannah has displayed an unwavering determination and commitment to reading, and to learning through reading, whilst also finding magic in the turning of each page. She is a perfect example of what the Reading Hero Award is all about.

The KPMG Childrens Books Ireland Awards and Junior Juries programme are supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaion and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Funding.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is being urged to support a bill to ban protests outside the private homes of politicians, following a surge in recent protests.

Fianna Fails Senator Malcolm Byrne has brought a bill before the Seanad, and believes Minister McEntee needs to take a tougher line on the matter.

The bill comes in the wake of recent demonstrations outside the homes of high ranking politicians, including the Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman, Taoiseach Simon Harris and former government leader Leo Varadkar.

Minister McEntee has herself had protests outside her home, also experiencing multiple bomb threats.

Among the Cabinet, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has previously indicated he thinks legislation to ban protests outside politicians homes is worth considering, saying on Newstalk's the Hard Shoulder that it is a conversation we have to have.

This is moving into a different place now; we now have well-organised extremists, the far-right, we've seen the violence close to my own home in Newtownmountkennedy - not organised or orchestrated by people in Newtownmountkennedy, Donnelly said.
Colm Meaney and Aidan Gillen will join the cast of a true-crime drama film about the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder.

Six-time Oscar nominee and IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award winner Jim Sheridan will co-direct the upcoming true crime drama with David Merriman, titled 'Re-creation'.

Two-time IFTA winner Colm Meaney is best known by Irish film fans for his starring role in the cult-classic Barrytown film trilogy ('The Commitments', 'The Snapper', 'The Van'). The actor also received international acclaim for his role as Star Treks Chief Miles OBrien in 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' and 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'.

Vicky Krieps, star of Oscar-nominated 'Phantom Thread', is set to star alongside the Irish actors.

Re-creation will look back at one of the most famous murders in Irish history.

On December 20, 1996, Sophie Toscan du Plantier, a successful film and TV producer, was killed while on holiday at her holiday home near Toormore, Goleen, County Cork.

Initial investigations yielded no evidence or leads, yet Ian Bailey, a local resident and British journalist, was accused of the crime. The court of public opinion shifted as a speculative narrative began to form around the case.

Director Jim Sheridan has previously covered the same subject matter in his documentary series, Murder at the Cottage.

The film will blend documentary and drama elements, with the documentary sections of the production shooting in Ireland, France and the US, and the drama sections of the film shooting on a sound stage in Luxembourg.

The production is supported by Screen Ireland, Film Fund Luxembourg, and Eurimages.

I am delighted to have two icons of Irish cinema join the cast, said Sheridan on the casting of Meaney and Gillen.

Colm and Aidan both have starred in some of my favourite films and shows, added co-writer and co-director David Merriman.

As artists, they both elevate any project, and we are so grateful to have them onboard.

'Re-creation' is expected to receive a theatrical release later this year.
Women from across counties Leitrim, Longford and Westmeath came together on the 20th of May in The Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon to attend a Tri County Women in Business event.

The theme of the event was Women's Well-Being in the Workplace. Keynote speaker on the night was Louise Dennison, a Well-Being in the Workplace Expert and Founder and CEO of The Dennison Training Academy. She was accompanied by three guest business speakers from Leitrim, Longford & Westmeath.

The event was organised jointly by the Local Enterprise Offices of Leitrim, Longford and Westmeath with the aim of further developing relationships within the Women in Business Network across the counties involved.

Louise Dennison is a Workplace Well-Being Thought Leader, Researcher, Consultant, Trainer, Speaker, Mental Health Workplace Policy Writer and World Wellbeing Author.

As a qualified Advanced Mental Health Instructor and Registered EMT, she is aware of the many aspects that impact working life in areas such as productivity, health and safety, relationships, work-life balance, attendance, and workplace satisfaction - and increasingly, the risk of anxiety and burnout.

Alison Moffatt, Marketing Manager with Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway, was Leitrims guest business speaker on the night. Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway is an innovative hospitality project that has been captivating guests since opening in 2022.

Alison shared the story about this unique destination where luxury meets sustainability, and she offered insights into the fascinating history and experiences that awaits visitors at Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway.

Westmeaths guest business speaker was Olivia Curran from An Olivia Chocolate. To date Olivia has won 18 awards for her luxury handmade chocolates. Her chocolates are a labour of love, handmade using the finest Belgian Chocolate, Irish artisan products and ingredients, ranging from Irish Cream Liqueur, Honey, Salt, Potcheen, Cider, Guinness and Gin. Olivia makes everything from individual chocolates, Novelty Bars, Dinosaurs, Hot chocolate pots and everything in-between.

Geraldine Stewart, Founder & Director of DGS Business Consulting was Longfords guest business speaker. Geraldine has almost 30 years pan-European investment management experience, predominantly with Fidelity Investments.

She has demonstrated capability in building, developing and leading investment teams supporting a broad spectrum of funds on behalf of retail and institutional clients worldwide.

She recently set up DGS Business Consulting along with her business partner Doreen Gerety. Geraldine and her husband Robert have also been responsible for the renovation and development of the successful Cathedral View Apartments which offer short-term tourist and business accommodation.
The Bitcoin Fund Announces Extent of Participation in Annual Redemption





TORONTO, May 22, 2024 /CNW/ -- 3iQ Corp. ("3iQ") announced today that, as of May 15, 2024, being the cut-off date relating to the annual redemption feature of The Bitcoin Fund (the "Fund"): 1,194,214 units of the Fund (each, a "Unit"), representing 18.54% of the outstanding Units, were surrendered for cash redemption on June 17, 2024 (the "Annual Redemption Date").

Under the terms of the annual redemption of the Fund, the redemption price per Unit will be determined by 3iQ on the Annual Redemption Date and Unitholders who have redeemed Units can expect to receive payment of the redemption price per Unit on or before July 8, 2024.

About 3iQ Digital Asset Management

Founded in 2012, 3iQ is one of the world's leading digital asset investment fund managers, offering investors convenient and familiar investment products to gain exposure to digital assets. 3iQ was the first Canadian investment fund manager to offer public bitcoin investment funds: The Bitcoin Fund (TSX: QBTC) (TSX: QBTC.U) and the 3iQ Bitcoin ETF (TSX: BTCQ) (TSX: BTCQ.U), as well as public ether investment funds: The Ether Fund (TSX: QETH.UN) (TSX: QETH.U) and the 3iQ Ether Staking ETF (TSX: ETHQ) (TSX: ETHQ.U). To learn more about 3iQ, visit 3iq.io.

For more information about 3iQ:

Visit us at 3iQ.io

Twitter: @3iQ_corp

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3iq-corp/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/3iQDigitalAssetManagement

Voxels HQ: https://www.cryptovoxels.com/play?coords=S@203W,469N

Press Contact:

Pascal St-Jean ? President

E: [email protected]

P: +1 (416) 639-2130

Please read the prospectus before investing. Important information about The Bitcoin Fund is contained in the prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from 3iQ Corp. or at www.sedar.com.

You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell units of the Funds on a stock exchange or other alternative Canadian trading system (an "exchange"). If units of the Funds are purchased or sold on an exchange, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying units of the Funds and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES OR ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE SAME WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

This announcement should not be distributed, forwarded, transmitted or otherwise disseminated in or into the United States. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. The Funds' securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or under the applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold, resold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly within, into or in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or except in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with the securities laws of any relevant state or other jurisdiction of the United States. Neither this announcement, nor the fact that it has been disseminated, shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any future information that we distribute.

Not for distribution to U.S. newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

This announcement and the information contained herein is restricted and is not for release, publication, or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly in, or into or from the United States or any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. Further, this announcement is for information purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation to buy, subscribe for or otherwise acquire any securities of The Bitcoin Fund in any jurisdiction in which any such offer or solicitation would be unlawful.

SOURCE 3iQ

22 may 2024 at 19:00

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Greenridge Exploration Announces Increase in Land Position at Nut Lake Project with 10.4% U3O8 & 5.51% Cu





Highlights



The newly acquired claims boast high-grade samples of up to 10.4% U 3 O 8 and 5.51% Cu3 5 kilometers along the trend of the historical drilling that intersected up to 9ft of 0.69% U 3 O 8 including 4.90% U 3 O 8 over 1ft from 8ft depth.1

The Project now consists of four contiguous mineral licences encompassing a total land area of approximately 5,854ha (~59km) (Please see Figure 1).

The Project sits within an intersection of multiple tectonic features including reactivated basement faults and a major unconformity.

The extent of the mineralization in the #3 showing area appears to be 8.4 meters of strike length, tested to a depth of 12.5 meters and thus should be followed up on to extend.

The combination of historically defined anomalies, an increase in the availability of modern exploration techniques and a proven model for success in the Thelon Basin provide prime ingredients for the potential of delineating a robust uranium system within the Project area.



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenridge Exploration Inc. ("Greenridge" or the "Company") (CSE: GXP | FRA: HW3), is pleased to announce that it has acquired through staking a 100% interest (the "Acquisition") in the Nut Lake Uranium South claims (the "Claims") located in the Thelon Basin, Nunavut Territory. The newly staked Claims contain historical grab sample results of up to 10.39% U 3 O 8 and 5.51% Cu. The new Claims cover an area of ~1,818 ha (18km2) making the Nut Lake Project (the "Project") now a total of ~5,854 ha (59km2)

Figure 1: Newly acquired Nut Lake Uranium South Claims and historical highlights (Inset shown in Figure 3)

The Project is located approximately 55km north of the Angilak Uranium Deposit or 180Km southwest of Baker Lake, Nunavut in the Yathkyed Basin (a sub-basin of the prolific Thelon Basin) in Nunavut Territory, Canada. The Project now consists of four contiguous mineral licences encompassing a total land area of approximately 5,854 ha (~59km).

Russell Starr, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, "The newly acquired ground was staked following a detailed geologic and historical exploration review of the area. The new ground covers additional high grade uranium and copper sampling that is located just south and along trend of the Tundra showing which yielded extremely favourable historical drilling results in 1979 by Pan Pacific with 9ft of 0.69% U 3 O 8 including 4.90% U 3 O 8 over 1ft from 8ft depth."

Figure 2: Nut Lake Project Regional Map

About the Nut Lake Uranium South Claims

A successful exploration season executed by Pan Pacific in 1979 and the discovery of Anomaly 448 ("448") led to further exploration of the Nut Lake area, south of the Tundra and Lake showings. 448 consists of a frost boil in mafic gneiss yielding 22,700 ppm Uranium (~2.3% U) and the location of two radioactive shears in mafic gneiss. In addition to this, there were five main showing areas, #1-#4 and the Yell showings. Showings #1-3 were discovered by ground prospecting in 1979. The #1 showing consists of a limonitic shear, assaying 0.2-0.5% U 3 O 8 (1979 assay), measuring approximately 2 ft wide and exposed for 5 ft. strike length in mafic gneiss. Numerous radioactive fractures occur on the shoreline and immediately south of the #3 showing. The #2 showing is a similar occurrence to the #1 in frost-heaved boulders, assaying 0.07-2.81% U 3 0 8 .

Follow up prospecting by Pan Pacific in 1980 resulted in the discovery of two new showings. The #4 showing occurs as a fracture with pitchblende mineralization up to 1 cm wide, in mafic gneiss. The Yell showing area on 448W consists of a series of en-echelon tight fractures in a mixed mafic gneiss-granite.

In 1980 a total of 37 trenches were blasted over the showing areas with grab samples taken and assayed for uranium, copper, and nickel. Thirty-two diamond drill holes tested these trench exposures and assays were taken of radioactivity in the hole. The Yell showing assays ranged from 0.05% to 10.39% U 3 O 8 and 5.51% Cu. Mineralization occurs in mafic gneiss where fractures dilate to a maximum thickness of 5 cm, but in most cases where fractures run into granite they become hairline in thickness. The #3 showing when trenched under the radioactive frost boil, encountered a highly radioactive zone of pink calcite flooded gangue with chloritized breccia fragments in hematite altered greenish black mafic gneiss with quartz-feldspar vein injections and breccia clasts. Further trenching discovered a second trend of radioactivity along tight fractures to the west. This trend appeared to follow the radioactive soil zone discovered on the surface. Grab sample assays from this trench ranged from 0.001%-1.29% U 3 O 8 .





Figure 3: Area 448 (please see Figure 1 for location) showing high-grade uranium samples in trenches and drill core3.

Sixteen diamond drill holes for a total 171.75m were completed in the #3 showing area. Pitch 8-12 tested structures with weak radioactivity on the lakeshore. Pitch 10 intersected a 0.5 ft. interval of 0.022% U 3 O 8 in a pink calcite-hematite altered vein on strike with the radioactive trend in the trench. Pitch 11 was terminated in a non-radioactive hematite altered zone. Pitch 5 was collared too close to the main trench and therefore just intersected the radioactive structure assaying 0.433% U 3 O 8 over 0.25 ft. Therefore, Pitch 15, 16, 17, were stepped back and drilled to depth which determined the dip of the structure. Pitch 19, in drilling the east-west radioactive trend, intersected the 135 structure north of the trench at depth. Assays in these four holes are shown in Table 1.3

Table 1: Diamond Drill Hole Assays Area 448

Drill Hole ID Assay (U 3 O 8 ) Interval (ft) Pitch 15 0.025% 1.5 Pitch 16 0.14% 1.0 Pitch 17 0.001% 1.0 Pitch 18 0.063% 2.41

It became apparent from this drilling on the lakeshore and on the main trench that a radioactive structure trending 135/80E was the prime target as Pitch 6, 7, 19 and 20 did not intersect mineralization along an east-west direction. Pitch 18, 21, 22 attempted to pick up this structure along strike, but failed to do so. The extent of the mineralization in the #3 showing area appears to be 8.4 m of strike length, tested to a depth of 12.5 m and thus should be followed up on to extend.

Additional information on the newly acquired Claims

In late 1980, four holes were drilled using Winkie diamond drilling, totaling 202 feet, at the Lake showing. DDH Lake 1 and 2 were angled to intersect the main mineralized zone at dips of 45 and 60 respectively. DDH Lake 3 was positioned southeast, 13.5 meters down strike of the main mineralized fracture, to intersect this zone and a galena-erythrite radioactive structure. DDH Lake 4 aimed to intersect a radioactive fracture to the east but was abandoned due to weather.

DDH Lake 1, 2, and 3 encountered mafic gneiss and a chlorite-hematite alteration aureole up to 7 feet from the gneiss-biotite trachyte contact. The biotite trachyte trends at 140/45N, with microsyenite forming a border phase varying in thickness from 0.5 to 1.5 feet. Hematitic alteration and chlorite veining were observed in the mafic gneiss, sometimes associated with mineralization.

Silver mineralization was identified in three forms:

Disseminated mineralization (A and B zones) associated with finely disseminated galena in chloritic veinlets and pyritic stringers in hanging wall gneiss. Vein mineralization (C Zone) - thin veinlets of massive galena-sphalerite mineralization with associated silver values. Intrusive mineralization (D Zone) - associated with finely disseminated galena in the border phase microsyenite.



About The Nut Lake Property

The Project is located approximately 55km north of the Angilak Uranium Deposit or 180Km southwest of Baker Lake, Nunavut in the Yathkyed Basin (a sub-basin of the prolific Thelon Basin) in Nunavut Territory, Canada. The Project consists of four contiguous mineral licences encompassing a total land area of approximately 5,854 hectares (~59km).

In 1979, Pan Ocean Oil Ltd. performed an exploration program consisting of ground geophysics, geological mapping, prospecting and Winkie drilling as follow up to previous sampling with elevated uranium in dyke swarms, fractures and contacts between syenites and trachytes. The geology of the Project area consists of basal sedimentary rocks of the South Channel Formation, composed of white quartzites and pink to grey arkose and arkosic rocks. The sedimentary sequences of the lower Dubawnt Group are unconformably or disconformably overlain by volcanic rocks of the Christopher Island Formation.

The Project hosts high grade vein hosted grab samples of up to 4.36% U 3 O 8 , 53.16 oz/t Ag, 1.15% Pb and 7.0% Ni.

During the 1979 field season, geological mapping at a scale of 1:1,000 was completed on a major portion of the Project. This was concurrent with prospecting on, and in the immediate area of the Project. Results from prospecting were the discovery of two (41 m wide) syenite dikes and a frost heaved area of felsic gneiss with up to 3,000 cps on fracture surfaces. Two significant Uranium bearing showings were discovered, the "Lake Showing" and the "Heartbreak Showing". The most noteworthy was the Heartbreak showing which revealed a 3.0" and 3.5" samples across a fracture that assayed 2.11% U 3 O 8 and 4.36% U 3 O 8 respectively. The results were followed up with a radon gal survey, a VLF-EM survey and an overburden sampling program. The radon survey results showed that the response is irregular with several good highs and the VLF-EM survey showed a series of northwesterly trending anomalies. It was concluded that further drilling of the Lake Showing is recommended.

The Project and surrounding proximal area have seen approximately 805ft of Winkie Drilling and 6920ft of diamond drilling completed on it. Multiple holes intersected significant uranium mineralization, with the most noteworthy being at the "Tundra Showing" Hole Winkie AX W-24 intersected 9ft of 0.69% U 3 O 8 including 4.90% U 3 O 8 over 1ft from 8ft depth. Additional noteworthy holes were hole P049 which returned approximately 0.20% U3O8 over a 1ft interval and hole 068 which was drilled to intersect fracture mineralization and successfully encountered approximately 0.59% over 1ft (Pan Ocean Oil Ltd., 1979 Assessment Report #81075).

The combination of historically defined anomalies and modern exploration techniques provides prime ingredients for the potential of discovering a high-grade uranium system within the Project area. The Nut Lake Project has the potential to host unconformity vein and breccia type, sygenentic and sandstone-hosted phosphatic type mineralization.

Acquisition/Staking Details

Following positive data compilation completed by the optionees of the original Nut Lake Project claims (the "Optionees"), the Company engaged the Optionees to assist the Company in staking the additional 1,818ha of Claims, subject to the cost of staking (CAD $4,455.00) and the granting of a 2.0% net smelter returns royalty to the Optionees.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Geochemical results and other technical information included in this press release were retrieved from publicly available historical assessment reports. This information has not been verified by the Company and should not be relied upon for investment purposes.

National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure

Nicholas Rodway, P. Geo, (NAPEG Licence # L5576) is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Rodway has reviewed and approved the technical content in this release.

References

1 Source: 1978 Assessment Report (number 81075) by Pan Ocean Oil Ltd.

2 Source: Reported by ValOre Metals Corp. in a Technical Report entitled "Technical Report and Resource Update For The Angilak Property, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada", prepared by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geo. of APEX Geosciences, Robert Sim, B.Sc., P.Geo. of SIM Geological Inc. and Bruce Davis, Ph.D., FAusIMM of BD Resource Consulting Inc., dated March 1, 2013. Note: The historical mineral resource estimate was calculated in accordance with NI 43-101 and CIM standards at the time of publication and predates the current CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May, 2014) and CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practices Guidelines (November, 2019).

3 Source: 1980 Assessment Report (number 81190) by Pan Ocean Oil Ltd.

About Greenridge Exploration Inc.

Greenridge Exploration Inc. (CSE: GXP | FRA: HW3) is a mineral exploration company dedicated to creating shareholder value through the acquisition, exploration, and development of critical mineral projects in North America. The Company's Nut Lake Uranium Project located in the Thelon Basin includes historical drilling which intersected up to 9ft of 0.69% U 3 O 8 including 4.90% U 3 O 8 over 1ft from 8ft depth. Additionally, the Company's Weyman Copper Project in southeast British Columbia sits on the south portion of the famous Quesnel Terrance. The Company is led by an experienced management team and board of directors with significant expertise in capital raising and advancing mining projects.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Russell Starr

Chief Executive Officer, Director

Telephone: +1 (778) 897-3388

Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the project acquisition bringing a low-risk opportunity, the Company, building a strong battery metals portfolio with low-risk opportunities that positively impact the Company and its shareholders and the Company providing an initial work plan are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Project and Claims and their mineralization potential; the Company's objectives, goals, or future plans with respect to the Project and the Claims; and the Company's anticipated exploration program at the Project and the Claims. These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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23 may 2024 at 08:00

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goeasy Ltd. Announces Appointment of Patrick Ens as President, easyfinancial and easyhome





Experienced Consumer Lending Executive brings Expertise in Credit, Analytics and Operations

MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 23, 2024 /CNW/ - goeasy Ltd. (TSX: GSY), ("goeasy" or the "Company"), one of Canada's leading consumer lenders focused on delivering a full suite of financial services to Canadians with non-prime credit, announced today the appointment of Patrick Ens as President of its easyfinancial and easyhome brands, effective July 1, 2024.

Patrick joins goeasy from a successful tenure with Capital One Canada, where he acquired over 17 years of experience in consumer credit. Most recently, Patrick served as President of Capital One Canada, with responsibility for the overall strategic direction and operations of the Canadian business, while driving toward the goal of helping Canadians succeed with credit. Prior to being appointed President in 2021, Patrick held numerous other executive positions at Capital One, within the marketing, risk and product functions, after beginning his career there as a Business Analyst. Patrick obtained a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen's University in 2006.

In this new role, Patrick will have full accountability over the easyfinancial and easyhome brands, including easyfinancial's direct-to-consumer lending products such as personal loans and home equity lending. Patrick's appointment balances the organizational structure with the role of Ali Metel, who has served as President of the LendCare brand since 2021, when it was acquired by goeasy. Under the LendCare brand, Ali remains responsible for all indirect lending products, including automotive financing and point-of-sale lending. Each executive will be responsible for the operations and financial performance of their respective brands and lending products, reporting into Jason Mullins, President and Chief Executive Officer of goeasy Ltd.

"Patrick's appointment is a significant milestone and signal of goeasy's growth and evolution. Since opening our first easyfinancial kiosk in 2006, to fill the gap between traditional banks and high-cost payday loans, we have now acquired and organically served over 1.4 million Canadians, with more than 50% of our customers graduating back to prime credit after 36 months of borrowing activity," said Jason Mullins, goeasy's President and Chief Executive Officer, "Patrick is an excellent fit to lead our easyfinancial business through its next stage of growth and expansion. He brings the right combination of business and financial acumen, analytical prowess, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of the needs of everyday Canadians. His addition to goeasy will further strengthen our management team, as we continue our journey to become the largest and best performing non-prime lender in Canada and beyond," Mr. Mullins concluded.

About goeasy

goeasy Ltd. is a Canadian company, headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, that provides non-prime leasing and lending services through its easyhome, easyfinancial and LendCare brands. Supported by over 2,500 employees, the Company offers a wide variety of financial products and services including unsecured and secured instalment loans, merchant financing through a variety of verticals and lease-to-own merchandise. Customers can transact seamlessly through an omnichannel model that includes online and mobile platforms, over 400 locations across Canada, and point-of-sale financing offered in the retail, powersports, automotive, home improvement and healthcare verticals, through over 10,000 merchant partners across Canada. Throughout the Company's history, it has acquired and organically served approximately 1.4 million Canadians and originated over $13.5 billion in loans.

Accredited by the Better Business Bureau, goeasy is the proud recipient of several awards in recognition of its exceptional culture and continued business growth including 2024 Best Workplacestm in Financial Services & Insurance, Waterstone Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures, ranking on the 2022 Report on Business Women Lead Here executive gender diversity benchmark, placing on the Report on Business ranking of Canada's Top Growing Companies, ranking on the TSX30, Greater Toronto Top Employers Award and has been certified as a Great Place to Work. The Company is represented by a diverse group of team members from over 78 nationalities who believe strongly in giving back to communities in which it operates. To date, goeasy has raised and donated over $5.6 million to support its long-standing partnerships with BGC Canada and many other local charities. In 2023, the Company announced a 3-year, $1.4 million commitment to BGC Canada's Food Fund.

goeasy Ltd.'s. common shares are listed on the TSX under the trading symbol "GSY". goeasy is rated BB- with a stable trend from S&P and Ba3 with a stable trend from Moody's.

For more information about goeasy and our business units, visit www.goeasy.com , www.easyfinancial.com , www.lendcare.ca , www.easyhome.ca .

For further information contact:

Jason Mullins

President & Chief Executive Officer

(905) 272-2788

Farhan Ali Khan

Senior Vice President, Chief Corporate Development Officer

(905) 272-2788

SOURCE goeasy Ltd

23 may 2024 at 08:30

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Accenture Strengthens Embedded Software Expertise with Acquisition of Teamexpat





Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired Teamexpat, an embedded software specialist for complex high-tech products and systems, headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

An area Teamexpat focuses on is software development, testing and integration for lithography systems in the semiconductor industry. These systems use ultraviolet light to print the fine patterns on semiconductor materials that define the performance of microchips.

Teamexpat's team of software experts join Accenture's digital engineering team in the Netherlands. Their embedded software engineering expertise will strengthen Accenture's smart, connected products capabilities for clients in the semiconductor sector and other discrete manufacturing industries. Teamexpat was founded in 2014.

"Software is redefining products across the semiconductor, high tech, aerospace & defense, automotive, industrial equipment and medical technology industries," said Frank Rennings, who leads Accenture's digital engineering and manufacturing service, Industry X, in the Netherlands. "We're witnessing a shift from mechanical engineering first to software engineering first. Teamexpat's highly sought-after capabilities will allow us to help our Dutch and European clients in these sectors reinvent their businesses with smart, connected products and services."

"It is a unique time for the high tech industry as ?43 billion of government incentives are dedicated to funding semiconductor innovation in Europe, driven by the growing need for advanced chips," said Guido D'hert, Accenture's High Tech industry lead in Europe. "Teamexpat's experts will bring valuable embedded software expertise to our clients looking to innovate in the fields of embedded systems and complex mechatronics."

Vinay Dasa, CEO and founder of Teamexpat, said: "We are looking forward to the opportunities that becoming part of Accenture will bring to our clients and team. Accenture's global footprint and expertise will provide a scaling platform for our clients' near- and off-shore embedded software development projects."

Other acquisitions Accenture has made to strengthen its embedded software, digital engineering and smart, connected products capabilities include international engineering services firm umlaut, German embedded software company ESR Labs, and Dutch product design and innovation agency VanBerlo.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

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These risks include, without limitation, risks that: the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture; Accenture's results of operations have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company's clients' businesses and levels of business activity; Accenture's business depends on generating and maintaining client demand for the company's services and solutions including through the adaptation and expansion of its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings, and a significant reduction in such demand or an inability to respond to the evolving technological environment could materially affect the company's results of operations; if Accenture is unable to match people and their skills with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the company's business, the utilization rate of the company's professionals and the company's results of operations may be materially adversely affected; Accenture faces legal, reputational and financial risks from any failure to protect client and/or company data from security incidents or cyberattacks; the markets in which Accenture operates are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; Accenture's ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; if Accenture does not successfully manage and develop its relationships with key ecosystem partners or fails to anticipate and establish new alliances in new technologies, the company's results of operations could be adversely affected; Accenture's profitability could materially suffer if the company is unable to obtain favorable pricing for its services and solutions, if the company is unable to remain competitive, if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if it experiences delivery inefficiencies or fail to satisfy certain agreed-upon targets or specific service levels; changes in Accenture's level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in tax laws or in their interpretation or enforcement, could have a material adverse effect on the company's effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition; Accenture's results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; changes to accounting standards or in the estimates and assumptions Accenture makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; as a result of Accenture's geographically diverse operations and strategy to continue to grow in key markets around the world, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; Accenture might not be successful at acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; Accenture's business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; Accenture's global operations expose the company to numerous and sometimes conflicting legal and regulatory requirements; Accenture's work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; if Accenture is unable to protect or enforce its intellectual property rights or if Accenture's services or solutions infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company loses its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others, its business could be adversely affected; Accenture may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the "Risk Factors" heading in Accenture plc's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accenture's expectations.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world's leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services?creating tangible value at speed and scale. We are a talent- and innovation-led company with approximately 742,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Technology is at the core of change today, and we are one of the world's leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. We combine our strength in technology and leadership in cloud, data and AI with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability. We are uniquely able to deliver tangible outcomes because of our broad range of services, solutions and assets across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Song. These capabilities, together with our culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360 value, enable us to help our clients reinvent and build trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360 value we create for our clients, each other, our shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

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23 may 2024 at 09:45

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Lawrie Insurance Group Named One of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers for 2024





HAMILTON, Ontario, May 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lawrie Insurance Group is proud to announce its recognition as one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers for 2024. This award acknowledges our commitment to fostering an exceptional workplace that values employee well-being, professional development, and community involvement.

Here is why LIG was selected among other small to medium businesses:

Commitment to Financial Well-being and Recognition:?We deeply value our employees' hard work and dedication. That's why we believe in rewarding them through various financial incentives. Our profit-sharing program ensures that all employees share in the company's success. We also offer year-end bonuses and referral bonuses of up to $2,500 for successful hires, reinforcing our appreciation for our team's efforts and contributions.

Supporting Work-Life Balance:?Understanding the importance of work-life balance, Lawrie Insurance Group provides six paid personal and six paid sick days annually.?This?allows employees to manage their work and family commitments effectively and take time off to rest and recharge. Moreover, we offer additional paid time off for medical appointments, prioritizing our employees' health and well-being.

Community Involvement and Volunteerism:?We are not just a business; we are a community. We are dedicated to giving back, which is part of our core values. Our employees have donated an impressive 1,000 volunteer hours on company time in the past year. We encourage and support our employees' passion for community service by offering a paid day off to volunteer, underscoring our commitment to making a positive impact beyond our business operations.

Read more about why Lawrie Insurance Group was selected for this award here .

Over the years, we have grown, evolved, and solidified our commitment to our five core values: passion, integrity, excellence, results, and citizenship.

"I'm really proud of where we are and where we're going," says Bob Lawrie, President and CEO. "As an independent brokerage, we're not influenced by any of the large insurance companies or private equity firms. That sets us apart since it allows us to make decisions that are best for our clients and employees.

We work with the top insurance companies?from around the world?to provide tailor-made solutions that address each client's particular needs."

Read the full article? here ?(pages 46-47).

About Lawrie Insurance Group:

Lawrie Insurance Group Inc. is a leading privately-owned, multi-disciplined Canadian insurance brokerage specializing in commercial and personal insurance, employee benefits, life and living benefits and group retirement solutions. With a staff of over 125 dedicated professionals, Lawrie Insurance Group has become one of the largest and most trusted insurance organizations. It ranks in the top 5% of independent insurance brokerages in Canada. Lawrie Insurance Group is a member of the Canadian Broker Network (CBN), Intersure and Globex International with affiliated offices across Canada, the United States, and the world.

Please visit us online at www.lawriegroup.com .

Media Contact:

Brooke Lawrie

Marketing & Communications Manager

Lawrie Insurance Group

905-525-7259 ext. 7033

[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/df69d09d-cf4d-4104-a716-5343dec35c5d

23 may 2024 at 11:00

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Anywhere They Want to Carry You, They Should Come Carry Everyone of Us There
THE LAYING of the new track for the Foynes Limerick rail freight line project has started and phase one is now progressing well.

It is expected that the route will be ready for operations in December 2025 with freight services starting in early 2026.

Old track including rails, sleepers and fixings made up of jointed track on wooden sleepers, have all been removed, as they could no longer be used.

The main contractor Sisk and subcontractor Steconefer, have now started to replace the existing track with new materials.

This work will involve laying new concrete sleepers and rails to match the existing track alignment, which will be welded to form continuous welded rail.

Workers have started laying the track near Askeaton and it's expected that all of the track will be laid by the end of this year.

Boundary fencing along the route is also almost finished.

There are plans for the Robertstown viaduct to be installed this summer, while refurbishment works on the River Deel bridge are finished.

Phase two of the project will include the provision of a signalling system for the route, CCTV level crossings, train communications system and track connections and upgrades at Limerick and at Foynes Port.

Subject to funding for phase two, it is expected that this work will take a year and a half to complete.

For the announcement of the development, Jim Meade, chief executive of Iarnrod Eireann, was joined on site by national elected representatives, as well as members of the project team.

Mr Meade said this is a key milestone in the project: I am delighted to see how well work is progressing on the Foynes to Limerick freight line.

The commencement of track laying is a key milestone for the project.

I look forward to more sustainable rail freight services once again operating on this route in 2026, benefiting the environment, the economy and businesses availing of the service.

READ MORE: Uisce Eireanns 3m works to aid Mungret development

Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD said: The laying of these tracks marks a major milestone in reestablishing a rail link with one of our key ports, as recommended in the National Development Plan.

Re-opening the Limerick to Foynes line for the operation of rail freight services will play a vital role in promoting the shift from road to rail freight and will support us in meeting our decarbonisation goals.

Steven McGee, COO, Ireland and UK from main contractor, Sisk said: Upon completion, the Limerick Foynes freight railway line will be a major asset to the Mid West region to strengthen sustainable freight transport.

The 42km of railway has been closed to passenger traffic since 1963, while freight services continued until 2001.
A JUDGE has commented that "it is the kind of horseplay that gets people killed" after hearing how a woman was dragged along the tarmac by another in a moving car in the seaside resort of Kilkee last year.

At Kilrush District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett made his comments after hearing that is alleged that front seat car passenger, 21-year-old Ava Moloney told driver, 24-year-old Jeffrey Ryan "Go! Go!" before she dragged Sophie Ryan along the length of the Diamond Rocks Cafe car park last October.

Sgt John Burke told the court that it will be alleged that Mr Ryan drove the length of the Diamond Rocks Cafe car park with Ms Moloney holding onto the arm of Sophie Ryan through the open window on October 22, 2023, dragging the alleged injured party along.

Judge Gabbett commented: This lady could have been killed if she had gone under the wheels of the car. But for the grace of God that she didnt.

Judge Gabbett stated that: "it is quite a serious incident and it could have been much more serious.

He said that the endangerment charges that Mr Ryan and Ms Moloney are facing are usually associated with serious road traffic collisions.

Mr Ryan of Towerfield, Croom, Co Limerick and Ms Moloney of Hillcrest, Tullovin, Croom, Co Limerick are also both charged with assaulting Ms Ryan causing harm, contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act on October 22, 2023, at the Diamond Rocks cafe car park.

Sgt Burke told the court that Ms Ryan described having a conversation with Ms Moloney in the car park of the Diamond Rocks cafe.

Sgt Burke said it is alleged that Ms Moloney pulled Ms Ryan's head into the car by her hair through the fully open window.

Ms Moloney is then alleged to have let go of Ms Ryan's hair and pulled Ms Ryan's arm into the car and while doing so, she said to Mr Ryan to "Go! Go!"

Sgt Burke said that Mr Ryan drove the full length of the car-park while Ms Moloney held the arm of Ms Ryan which dragged her along the ground during the course of the incident.

Sgt Burke said that the injured party managed to release herself.

Solicitor for the two, Tara Godfrey said that both dont have a background in criminality.

Ms Godfrey said that the injuries sustained by Ms Ryan are at the lower end of the scale in terms of the assault charges before the court.

Ms Godfrey said that Mr Ryan is to also face a charge of dangerous driving that is due to come before the court in September.

Judge Gabbett said that he is declining jurisdiction in the case, which means that the case will now go before the circuit court where more serious penalties apply on conviction.

READ MORE: PICTURES: Were you one of the Limerick schools at day one of the ESB Science Blast?

In the case, Ms Moloney is charged with on October 22, 2023, at Diamond Rocks, Kilkee, intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct while seated in the front seat passenger seat and shouted at the driver, Jeffrey Ryan to "Go! Go!" while she was holding the arm of Sophie Ryan, subsequently causing Ms Ryan to be dragged along the tarmac surface of the Diamond Rocks cafe car park, Westend, Kilkee which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another.

Mr Ryan is charged with on October 22, 2023 at Diamond Rocks, Kilkee, intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct while knowing that Ms Moloney was holding the arm of Sophie Ryan, through the open front passenger window of the car causing her to be dragged along the ground for a considerable distance, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another.

The two accused are on garda station bail and Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to September 10, 2024.
THE FAMILY of a man who died in a road traffic incident in Canada are fundraising for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust who helped them to bring him home to Limerick.

On April 30, John Lyne from Woodlawn Park, Ballysimon Road, was driving on Highway 22 near Calgary when he tragically died.

There was a collision between Johns vehicle and another vehicle, in which an older woman died and a male passenger suffered serious injuries.

John, a skilled carpenter, moved to Canada ten years ago, but always thought of Limerick as home and remained in close contact with his friends and family.

He had been working for PCL Construction in Sparwood, Canada.

His family are now more than halfway to their fundraising target of 15,000.

In their plea for support on the GoFundMe page, Johns family said: We now understand more than ever the profound pain of losing a child. To any parent facing this unimaginable loss, our hearts ache with you.

John's absence leaves a gigantic void in our lives. We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of John's close friends who have been a source of strength during this incredibly difficult time. Also to PCL construction and their employees who have supported the family from the very beginning.

They said that they will forever be grateful to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, who within 24 hours of being contacted by the Lyne family, had put them in touch with an international funeral director and began the process of bringing John home.

READ MORE: Freight services on Foynes line by early 2026

The family said: Their compassion and the incredible network they've built allowed us to focus on grieving John's loss without the overwhelming burden of repatriation. This trust is a true testament to Kevin's memory and the unfaltering spirit of his parents.

While the loss of John has left us in despair, the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust gave us a spark of hope, when we needed it most. They helped us navigate the darkest waters of grief, and we are eternally grateful.

John travelled lots and had such a zest for life and genuine connection with people from all over the world. His last flight, AC800 from Toronto to Dublin Ireland, would not have been possible without Colin, Eithne, and the trust.

We pray that no family ever experiences such a loss. But knowing that people like this exist to support others in their darkest hour makes the world a little brighter, the family said.

They are now asking people to support the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust through their GoFundMe appeal.
RIVAL candidates in the mayoral election have called out a move by John Moran to not appear on the panel of a televised debate.

Independent candidate Mr Moran has declared he will not be a panelist on Upfront with Katie Hannon which will broadcast live from the Limetree Theatre on Monday night.

It comes after the State broadcaster initially announced it would only have eight mayoral candidates on stage - with others, including Mr Moran speaking for just 60 seconds.

However in a change announced this Thursday, RTE said it had invited all 15 participants to take part, and will split the panel in two to accommodate this.

Despite this, Mr Moran - who described the event as a "charade" - is maintaining that he will not appear on stage.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he claimed that it was his statement, released on Wednesday, criticising the broadcaster, which sparked the U-turn.

"Too little too late. This is just not the way public interest broadcasting should work. The debate process is already fundamentally flawed," he added.

However, Fianna Fail's Dee Ryan and Cllr Daniel Butler of Fine Gael have called out Mr Moran on the social network.

"Minor setbacks like decisions not going your way are part of the working life of a mayor. I note a more mature response from

@HelenDEM2024," Ms Ryan wrote, in reference to Helen O'Donnell who welcomed the chance to speak for a minute on national television.

Minor setbacks like decisions not going your way are part of the working life of a Mayor. I note a more mature response from @HelenDEM2024 https://t.co/8wig7wFuu4  Dee Ryan Dee4Mayor (@deecorbettryan) May 23, 2024

Cllr Butler shared a gif which showed a man having a tantrum with the caption: "wah". He wrote: "Someone's having a bad on X". He subsequently deleted it.

Earlier in the day, he also took aim at Mr Moran, writing: "When your competition is talking about you, you know you are doing something right. Very happy to debate @moranjohna1on the delivery of housing. Since 2014, I've helped to deliver many homes across Limerick. Remind me John, how many did you deliver as chair of the LDA?"

When your competition is talking about you, you know you are doing something right. Very happy to debate @moranjohna1 on the delivery of housing. Since 2014, I've helped to deliver many homes across Limerick. Remind me John, how many did you deliver as Chair of the LDA?

The LDA refers to the Land Development Agency, which is tasked with fast-tracking the delivery of houses on State-owned land.

Another mayoral candidate Brian Leddin of the Green Party had issued a statement supporting Mr Moran's inclusion.

"We're electing an executive rather than a ceremonial Mayor. RTE criteria for participation should be revised," he stated in a post on X.

Prior to their change of tack on the participation in the debate, the producers of Upfront with Katie Hannon, pointed to criteria approved by its election steering group governing the selection of candidates, which would have meant just eight candidates would have gone on stage.

The others would have had 60 seconds to make a contribution.

However RTE said this Thursday: "Following the declaration last weekend of the final list of candidates for the Limerick mayoral election, the RTE election steering group has been reviewing the format of the television debate on Upfront with Katie Hannon. Taking account of the unique and historical nature of this election, the fact there are just 15 declared candidates, and the flexibility for wider participation the theatre venue provides, additional broadcast time has been allocated for a specially extended programme."

READ MORE: ICMSA urges people to engage early with banks

Mr Moran said he would elect to take the initial 60-second slot he was offered by RTE - however, following the broadcaster's change of tack, it's unclear if this will be offered.

"Limerick has become used to being ignored up in Dublin. If nothing else, this sorry saga shows better than anything why having a strong independent mayor who can put Limerick first is so critical," he added.

Mr Moran said: "I believe the outpouring of anger from Limerick about the exclusion of new independent candidates, including the two leading ones has shown that the voters of Limerick already know that they want real change. The support I have received in particular comforts me that even without this debate they also have identified the type of experience and credentials they want to see in their mayor. They understand better than RTE who is needed to deliver on that change for Limerick against a Dublin dominated party system which has failed us for decades here on Shannonside."

Despite this, he said he has been invited to participate in a "more inclusionary" mayoral discussion on the national broadcaster's Late Debate radio show, alongside Limerick's Live95FM.

Upfront with Katie Hannon airs this coming Monday night from 10.35pm on RTE One and RTE Player.
The potential of solar energy presents a compelling opportunity for farmers to remove significant costs from their operations, secure long-term sustainability, and contribute to Irelands renewable energy goals.

With grants of 60% available on a system valued up to 90,000 and the removal of previous barriers, such as the need for planning permission and the inclusion of the farm dwelling, there has never been a better time for farmers to invest in solar.

IFA and Bord Gais Energy have over 100 years of experience between them representing and supporting farmers and providing energy solutions to farms, homes, and businesses around Ireland.

Their combined specialist knowledge and experience means they understand the unique requirements of farm businesses more than most.

The team has installed 1,500 solar PV systems in Irish homes, farms, and businesses and has provided post-installation support to over 2,000 solar PV installations.

Solar energy

1. Economic viability

Business decisions must be grounded in a thorough financial analysis.

IFA and Bord Gais Energy provide expert guidance, conducting detailed cost-benefit analyses to ascertain the economic feasibility of solar investments.

We evaluate installation costs, potential savings on energy expenditure, available incentives, and the anticipated return on investment (ROI) over the systems lifespan.

2. Financial facilitation

Accessing capital is paramount. IFA and Bord Gais Energy are working with the main lenders to ensure various financial mechanisms are available.

3. System design and sizing

One size does not fit all in solar energy. IFA and Bord Gais Energy collaborate closely with farm businesses to devise bespoke solar energy systems aligned with their operational needs and objectives.

We account for available space, orientation, shading, and energy consumption profiles through detailed planning and surveying to optimise system size and configuration.

4. Scalability

Forward-thinking businesses anticipate growth. Farmers should plan for scalable solutions that accommodate future expansion or upgrades, ensuring solar systems remain aligned with evolving energy demands and technological advancements.

5. Minimal disruption

Your solar supplier should seamlessly integrate solar installations into existing business operations.

Our expert teams coordinate construction activities, minimising downtime and avoiding interference with the day-to-day running of a farm.

6. Compliance

Compliance is non-negotiable. We leverage our expertise to guide farmers through the TAMS and NC7 process.

It is important to note that all installations on farms must have prior approval from ESB Networks to connect to the electrical grid.

It is illegal to do otherwise; only qualified and reputable people and companies can perform these tasks.

7. Maintenance and lifecycle management

In many cases, your solar system will have a life cycle of 30 years. Like buying any product or service, comeback is critical.

Are you confident that the supplier you purchase from will be there in one, five, or even 15 years should a problem arise?

Your supplier must provide comprehensive maintenance and lifecycle management services to ensure the long-term performance and reliability your solar PV system.

IFA and Bord Gais Energy use the highest-quality technology available, and our suppliers have been selected following an exhaustive tender process.

Additionally, our longevity in the market means that farmers can be completely confident that we will be there for the lifecycle of your system.

If you are interested in finding out more IFA and Bord Gais Energys solar solutions and how you can turn your roof into a source of power, visit www.ifa.ie/solar or call 0818 989 498.

Irish Farmers Association

Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell,

Dublin 12, Ireland,

EIRCODE D12 YXW5

Tel: +353 1 450 0266

Email: info@ifa.ie

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Mumbai: A clutch of senior and mid-level executives at Paytm and its associate company Paytm Payments Bank are seeking roles elsewhere amid regulatory restrictions on the group and top-level churn.

According to two senior recruiters, there are a lot of resumes from Paytm in the market, spanning corporate, business, and technology roles.

The recruiters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the resumes started coming ever since RBIs restrictions were imposed on Paytm Payments Bank, with the flow increasing of late.

On 31 January, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) barred the payments bank from accepting customer deposits after the end of February, which was later changed to 15 March. This stricture crimped the companys ability to do business.

Many of them (employees) had joined the company when things looked much different. Now they believe their growth aspirations will be curtailed if they do not look for other opportunities," said one of the recruiters who specialises in senior-level hires. We also have a bunch of CVs (curriculum vitae) with us from Paytm job-seekers."

High pay, low demand

The recruiter cited above said that moving out of Paytm might not be easy for these employees since their salaries are 20-30% above the levels seen in the market.

Their salaries are much higher than what other companies pay since they were hired from good organisations in the e-commerce space and other well-paying sectors," said the recruiter.

This was seconded by the chief executive of a bank who said that Paytm employees are difficult to absorb because of their salaries.

Another senior recruiter said that Paytm employees are often being forced to take a 20% pay cut as the value of ESOPs (employee stock ownership plan)included in the overall cost to company or CTCeroded over time.

Paytm has lost over half of its market value since RBI clamped down on its payments bank in January, showed data from Bloomberg.

Meanwhile, a senior banking recruiter from one of the leading search firms said, Many are moving from fintech space to core banking but recruitments in BFSI are no more at a frenzied pace. For CXOs, interviews are tougher since approval from RBI  a requirement for banks before appointing a director  will become a concern."

A Paytm spokesperson said the company has expanded the leadership team to strengthen succession planning and work directly with the senior management.

We will also be looking at promoting our high-performing employees to senior leadership. This commitment positions us as an employer of choice amongst our peers," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. We continue to appreciate the resilience of our employees during these times. As we look to recover fully in terms of business, we will also be looking to add new talent, especially at senior levels."

Result woes

On Wednesday, Paytm's parent One 97 Communications reported a net loss of 550 crore for the March quarter, as against a loss of 168 crore in the same period last year, with the company taking an impairment of 227 crore on its investment in the payments bank.

Analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein (India) said after the results that positives include the fact that merchant loans have seen a revival in April after seeing a complete shutdown in February and the volumes are back at 86% of January value.

Among the negatives, Paytm has pivoted to doing more distribution-only loans where the company is not responsible for collections and hence receives no collection incentive.

If this becomes a permanent switch, this would create a much weaker model in our view  more of a loan distribution agent (DSA) than a partner that adds more value as a loan service provider," they said in a note to clients on Wednesday.

The company on Wednesday said its employee costs have increased due to investments in technology, merchant sales, and financial services in recent years.

For the coming year, while we continue to invest in the merchant sales team, as well as risk and compliance functions, we expect reductions in other employee costs. We expect annualized people cost savings of 400-500 crore," it said in its earnings statement to the stock exchanges.

The company and its payments bank have seen some changes at the top, the most recent being the resignation of president and chief operating officer Bhavesh Gupta on 4 May.

Gupta, in charge of the payments and lending businesses, decided to leave citing personal reasons". Earlier, Surinder Chawla resigned from his role as managing director and chief executive of Paytm Payments Bank on 8 April due to personal reasons" and to explore better career prospects".
Beauty retailer Nykaa is pegging its next growth frontier on a new marketthe Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)as it aims to expand its market beyond domestic borders.

The Mumbai-headquartered company entered into a strategic partnership with Apparel Group, one of UAEs largest retail conglomerates, it announced in October 2022. Titled Nysaa, the e-commerce website was launched in January this year, and the first physical retail store in Dubai was opened in March, marking Nykaas first international foray.

Through a mix of offline and online multi-brand retail, Nykaa is looking to set up a significant presence in the region by replicating its domestic omnichannel beauty playbook.

 We do believe that Nysaa could be significant business over time as there is a clear market opportunity, Falguni Nayar, founder and CEO of Nykaa, said during the fourth-quarter analyst call on Wednesday.

The e-commerce firm has plans to pump in sizeable capital into the venture as well. In February, the FSN E-Commerces Board approved the infusion of $2.5 million into Nysaa. The company announced on Wednesday that it will invest an additional $1.9 million in the venture through its overseas subsidiary Nessa International Holdings.

Nykaa follows the footsteps of many Indian brands that have ventured into the GCC region, aiming to capture a technology-driven and wealthy customer base.

Also Read: Nykaa should double down on digital rather than foray into physical

Adventure gear maker Wildcraft India signed an agreement with Apparel Group on Wednesday to sell products in the GCC region. Last year, Tata Groups Titan said it will expand its jewellery brand Tanishq aggressively in the GCC among other countries.

Back in 2017, Kishore Biyanis Future Group too had forayed into the region to expand its fashion vertical FBB.

Significant opportunity According to Nykaas Nayar, the Gulf region offers a range of opportunities in the beauty market.

The beauty and personal care market in GCC is worth $30 billion with the worlds highest per-capita spend. Moreover, nearly 40% of its population is womenNykaas largest audienceand about 40% of the market is under the age of 25.

The regions affinity for beauty, high per capita consumption, potential for rapid growth, and profile of the consumer are clear opportunities, Nayar said during the analyst call, adding that Nysaa has the capability to materialize revenue and profits much faster than other markets.

Also Read: Nykaa raises fashion game but beauty segment fades

Nykaa stands to benefit from Apparel Groups network of more than 2,200 retail stores across the UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait among others.

According to Karan Taurani, research analyst at Elara Capital, Nykaa has the advantage of driving growth in new markets on the back of its technological expertise and understanding of e-commerce marketplaces.

However, growth may be stagnant beyond a point which may make it necessary to push private labels or exclusive brands. Nykaa does not have the first-mover advantage in the region like in India. The company will also have to invest a lot of capital towards marketing to make its mark, Taurani told Mint.

Nysaa is likely to give a small push to Nykaa's overall revenue in the near term, according to Taurani, while profitability will be a challenge.

Exclusivity of brands on the platform plays a key role in drawing and retaining customers. In India, Nykaa has a few beauty brands exclusively available on its platform including Charlotte Tilbury, Fenty Beauty, Colour Pop, and Elf Cosmetics.
The Securities and Exchange Commission under the Biden administration has made it easier for investors to try to drag corporations into political and cultural battles, but brewing lawsuits seek to silence the activists.

After a change in SEC policy eased the path for shareholders to bring forward certain proposals, investors of all political stripes have increasingly pressed companies on hot-button issues such as climate, abortion, guns and diversity, filing hundreds of proposals each year.

The trend has continued into this years proxy seasonthe period when most companies have their annual meetingswhich is unfolding now. But companies, many of which dont want to wade into reputationally risky areas, might get the chance to tell shareholders to pipe down.

Telling shareholders to pipe down

In one suit challenging the status quo, oil-and-gas company Exxon Mobil, a frequent target of shareholder proposals, sued two shareholder proponents, arguing that they were activists pursuing a Trojan horse" strategy to gain a platform to deliberately hurt its business despite only holding a tiny amount of shares.

In another suit now before a federal appeals court in New Orleans, the National Association of Manufacturers, a powerful Washington trade association, is arguing that the SEC has overstepped its bounds and shouldnt be involved in deciding which proposals make it through.

Under the current system, shareholders are allowed to commandeer" company proxy statements to try to advance their social or political goals in the corporate sphere after they failed in the political arena, NAM said in a court filing.

SECs gatekeeper role

The SEC is the gatekeeper on what companies must include in their proxy statements. Following a 2021 rule change that made it easier to float resolutions on issues that have a broad societal impact," the number of proposals has crept up, hitting a record 739 this year, according to an analysis released Wednesday by ISS Corporate Solutions, a data and analytics provider.

This year, for example, investors proposed votes on whether investment bank JPMorgan Chase should audit the impacts of its climate policy on developing countries, whether technology giant Apple should be more transparent about its use of artificial intelligence and if food and beverage maker PepsiCos diversity program discriminates against white job applicants.

The SEC greenlighted those three proposals despite objections from the companies. The agency did, though, permit several U.S. airlines to exclude proposals on changing their offerings to serve more lactose-free and vegan food.

The shareholder proposal process is akin to a public town square. Its a way to engage in a public and noisy way on a particular topic," said Michael Littenberg, a partner at law firm Ropes & Gray who advises companies facing proposals. In some casesit is being abused."

Shareholders with as little as $2,000 in company stock for at least three years are eligible to put forward proposals under the SECs rule.

The Exxon proponents targeted in that lawsuit have now withdrawn their proposal and argued that the lawsuit is mootone proponent, known as Follow This, says it wants to avoid a precedent that could stop shareholder democracy" and keep carbon emissions off the agenda. But Exxon wants a courts blessing to exclude them in the future, bypassing the SEC.

When rules arent enforced against activists masquerading as investors, who have publicly stated theyre working to stop production of oil and natural gas, it undermines the whole system," Exxon said.

Shareholders need to have a voice

The California Public Employees Retirement System, or Calpers, will vote to unseat Exxons board and chief executive in the companys annual meeting later this month, Calpers Chief Executive Marcie Frost and Board President Theresa Taylor said Monday in an open letter citing the lawsuit against investors as the public pension funds rationale. Other state officials on Tuesday also called for change at the top.

Some companies may view activist shareholders as bad-faith meddlers, but advocates for the current process argue that shareholder proposals can alert companies to changing sentiments and let investors push for new corporate policy without having to unseat the board.

Shareholders need to have a voice because management doesnt always get it," said Danielle Fugere, president of As You Sow, a left-leaning nonprofit foundation that is behind many proposals. Boards are not always focused."

As You Sow put forward more than 80 shareholder proposals this year, including one on alleged employee harassment at carmaker Tesla and another on competitor General Motors policies on deep-sea mineral mining.

Right-leaning organizations in recent years also have tried to hold companies to account. ISS Corporate Solutions said the number of so-called counter-ESG proposals increased in 2024.

One proposal targeted drug company Pfizer for donating to an equity index" that rates hospitals and scores them higher if they display LGBT symbols. The backer, the National Center for Public Policy Researchs Free Enterprise Project, says Pfizer is spending money on promoting a divisive agenda. Shareholders rejected that proposal at Pfizers annual meeting.

Though the NCPPR, a conservative think tank that owns shares in a range of companies, brought this and other proposals, it favors a system where companies can exclude more proposals and the SEC isnt the decider, said Scott Shepard, the director of the NCPPRs Free Enterprise Project, which writes the proposals. Shepard said he supports Exxons suit.

This proposal is a proposal that asks Exxon to lose money, to kick itself in the teeth," Shepard said. The NCPPR is a party to the lawsuit in which NAM is arguing to overturn the current system.

The SEC said in its own filing that the appeals court shouldnt upend settled expectations.

But some argue that todays system, though it may produce proposals that companies dont necessarily welcome, can help promote longer-term thinking on big issues. And investors have put up the money to get their concerns heard, said Heidi Welsh, the executive director of the Sustainable Investments Institute, a nonprofit that researches organized efforts to influence corporations.

Theres not really any basis for saying that some investors are better than others," Welsh said. This is about suppression of voice in general. If you are going to make it really hard for people to participate in questioning the powers that be, people will question it less. Is that good for us?"

Write to Richard Vanderford at Richard.Vanderford@wsj.com
Smartphones have become the fourth-largest export item from India, achieving 42 percent growth to reach $15.6 billion in FY24, as per a Business Standard report.

The item has moved up on spot in the export rankings, surpassing motor gasoline, compared to the previous year, it added. India began separately tracking smartphone export data in April 2022.

Notably, petroleum products continue to dominate India's top exports.

Key Export Destinations Top destination where smartphones are being exported is the United States, which welcomed $5.6 billion worth of shipment  an increase of 158 percent year-on-year (YoY), the report said citing data from the Commerce Department.

Next on the list is the the United Arab Emirates or UAE which exported $2.6 billion worth of smartphones from India, followed by the Netherlands ($1.2 billion), and the UK ($1.1 billion), it added.

The total value of mobile devices produced in India for both export and domestic markets in FY24 soared to 4.1 lakh crore ($49.16 billion), marking at least 17 percent increase YoY, the report added citing preliminary estimates by the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA).

Impact of the PLI Scheme The report said that this growth jump could be attributed to the governments successful production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the sector. It added that PLI in the smartphones segment has pushed India to second position, only behind China, among the world's largest mobile phone manufacturing countries.

This scheme has also played a crucial role in the China-Plus-One strategy, aimed at attracting companies manufacturing in China to shift operations to India due to geopolitical tensions between China and the US.

Eligible firms under the PLI scheme include Apples vendorsFoxconn, Wistron India (now Tata Electronics), and Pegatronas well as Samsung.

Apple has been the front-runner of this export growth, with the value of its outbound mobile device shipments expected to have surpassed 1.2 trillion ($14.39 billion) in FY24, a 33 percent increase from 90,000 crore in FY23, as per the report.
CHSE 12th result 2024: The Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), Odisha, has announced the much-awaited date and time of Odisha Board's Class 12 results.

As per media reports, the Class 12 scorecard will be released on Sunday, May 26, at 4:30 pm. The board chairman will announce the results at a press conference. The result link will be activated after the results are announced. Once the results are declared, candidates who appeared for the CHSE Class 12 exam can download their marks from the official website at chseodisha.nic.in.

Also read: BSE Class 10th Result 2024: Odisha Board results by May 28? How to check results at bseodisha.ac.in CHSE Odisha 12th Result 2024: 6 steps to download result Essential credentials needed to view the results include the registration number and roll number mentioned on the Odisha CHSE admit card. Follow the below-mentioned steps to download the scorecard.

Step 1: Visit CHSE's official website at chseodisha.nic.in

Step 2: Click on the Odisha CHSE Result 2024 link

Step 3: The login window for Odisha CHSE Result 2024 will open

Step 4: Provide login credentials and click on submit

Step 5: The result will be displayed on the screen

Step 6: Download and save the Odisha CHSE Result. Take a printout for future reference.

Also read: Odisha Board 10th result: OBSE SSC scores to be OUT soon; direct link, steps to check marksheet here This year, a total of 3,84,597 students appeared for the CHSE Class 12th exam in the arts, sciences, and commerce streams. The online marksheets available for download are only provisional, and students must visit their respective schools after the announcement of the results to collect their original scorecards.

Also read: Maharashtra HSC 12th Result 2024 Live Updates: 93.37% students pass exams, girls outshine boys Students can also access their scores via the Digilocker app and SMS facility. If students find any discrepancies in their Odisha Class 12 results, they must promptly notify their local school authorities.
With less than 48 hours left for the sixth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, a woman worker of the BJP was killed in Nandigram in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district. She reportedly belonged to the Scheduled Caste community.

Her murder triggered large-scale protests by saffron party activists there on Thursday, news agency PTI reported quoting police. To protest the BJP woman worker's death, workers of the saffron party burned tyres, blocked roads, and closed shops in Nandigram.

Nandigram falls under the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat and is considered to be the backyard of Bengal's leader of opposition, Suvendu Adhikari. The constituency is scheduled to vote on May 25.

Also read: Cyclone Remal to reach West Bengal, Bangladesh coasts by Sunday evening, says IMD | Key points The protestors have alleged that TMC-backed criminals were responsible for the killing of Rathibala Arhi, a BJP worker in Sonachura village.

PTI quoted police saying that Rathibala's son Sanjay and seven others were injured after unidentified assailants attacked them on Wednesday night.

Police, central forces and RAF personnel deployed in the area had to restore to lathi-charge to disperse the mob, officials said, adding a person was detained by police in connection with the alleged murder.

Also read: Congress warns leaders after Mallikarjun Kharge's posters defaced over snub to Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury A bandh was called by the BJP in Nandigram as part of the protest, but was withdrawn later, a local leader said.

"Rathibala and several other party workers were tasked with the job of guarding a local polling booth last night after poll campaigns in the area ended for the day. TMC-backed criminals attacked them. She was murdered and others were left badly injured," BJP district general secretary Meghnadh Paul told PTI.

After Sanjay's condition turned "very critical", he was shifted to a hospital in the city, Paul said, adding that others are being treated at a local medical establishment.

Also read: 'After June 4, action against corrupt will intensify...': PM Modi in Bengal's Purulia Nandigram TMC leader Swadesh Das dismissed the allegations and claimed, "There were some family disputes and the killing could be connected to it."

The murder snowballed into a political slugfest with the BJP and the TMC pointing fingers at each other.

Murder orchestrated by Trinamool Congress BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, in an oblique reference to TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee's public speech, alleged the bloodshed was a direct fallout of Bhaipo (nephew)'s provocation in Nandigram yesterday.

"The murder was orchestrated by the Trinamool after realising its certain defeat. The hands of the jihadis do not tremble before hacking a woman to death. The BJP will see this through to its end, exact revenge in a legal manner, and respond by democratic means," he said.

Also read: Bomb-making flourishing industry in Bengal', Amit Shah takes jibe at Mamata Banerjee The BJP leader later visited the hospital where the injured people are being treated. He also went to Nandigram police station and spoke to the officers there and alleged that they held a meeting with the "prime accused" in this case.

Bengal BJP also wrote to the chief electoral officer of West Bengal requesting to remove the SP of Purba Medinipur district immediately.

The BJP also alleged that the woman's murder was the "consequence of inflammatory statements made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during an election rally in Haldia on May 16."

Also read: I will visit Sandeshkhali when  here is what Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said in Basirhat "The murder is a direct consequence of the remarks made by Mamata Banerjee at a rally in Haldia on May 16. Banerjee had said she will take revenge on the people of Nandigram for her defeat during the 2021 assembly elections," the BJP wrote to the poll body.

TMC leader Santanu Sen, however, called the incident a "reflection of BJP's internal feud between the party's old-timers and its new recruits in Nandigram".
Uttar Pradesh: BJP leader Varun Gandhi held an election campaign on Thursday for his mother, Maneka Gandhi, the saffron party's candidate from Sultanpur constituency that will go to polls on May 25, the sixth phase of ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

There is only one constituency in the country where its people do not call its MP as 'Sansad' but as 'Maa'...I am here not just to gather support for my mother but the mother of Sultanpur..., said Varun Gandhi as quoted by newswire ANI.

Sultanpur Lok Sabha seat, next to Amethi, holds significance as BJP's Gandhi candidate is locked in a keen contest with her Samajwadi Party rival Ram Bhual Nishad and BSP nominee Udraj Verma, who threatens to divide the OBC votes of Akhilesh Yadav-led SP.

Maneka Gandhi is contesting from the Sultanpur seat in Uttar Pradesh for the second consecutive time. Previously, she had won by a margin of around 14,000 votes. This time, the BJP candidate is working hard to register a victory with a comfortable margin. Among the top BJP leaders, only UP CM Yogi Adityanath has campaigned for her in Sultanpur.

The BJP is optimistic about securing approximately two lakh voters from the fishermen community in Sultanpur, with their leader and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad becoming a minister in the Adityanath government, PTI reported.

Varun Gandhi was its first MP while Maneka swapped seats with him in 2019 and is contesting for the second consecutive time.

Since independence, Sultanpur has seen MPs from several parties, and no single party has outright dominance on the seat. Congress won eight times in Sultanpur, while BSP won twice, and BJP secured victory four times.

Amethi and Rae Bareli are close to the Sultanpur district. While Rahul Gandhi is contesting from Rae Bareli this time, Nehru-Gandhi family loyalist K L Sharma is pitted against Smriti Irani in Amethi.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday echoed the BJP's pledge to resolve the Gyanvapi and the Krishna Janmabhoomi case if the saffron party comes to power with over 400 seats.

He was addressing a public meeting in Jharkhand's Bokaro to support BJP candidate Dhullo Mahto in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

He listed the promises fulfilled by the Bharatiya Janata Party after winning more than 300 seats in the 2019 elections, saying Ram Lalla returned to his throne in Ayodhya on Pran Pratishtha day, Article 370 was abrogated in Jammu and Kashmir, and CAA was brought to provide permanent Indian citizenship to minority Hindus from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Our work is still incomplete. Give 400 seats to Modiji, we will raise temples at the birthplace of Lord Krishna in Mathura and the Gyanvapi mosque in Kashi (Varanasi), the Assam CM urged people to bring back the BJP-led NDA government on June 4.

He further stressed on Jammu and Kashmir, promising that the BJP will bring Pakistan-occupied Kashmir back to India if the saffron party wins over 400 seats. In addition, PM Modi will also make India a 'Vishwaguru' and the world's best economy," the BJP leader claimed, as perANI.

Opposition cant see NDA winning 400 seats' Sarma jibed at the Opposition parties and the INDIA bloc, including Congress and JMM, claiming that they don't have any problem with PM Modi winning 300 seats but cannot see the NDA with 400 seats in its third term.

The JMM leaders, while holding rallies and addressing the people, seldom chant 'Jai Shree Ram'. They say 'Assalam Walekum.' In India, you cannot practise the politics of insulting the Hindus. Modi-ji has always worked to uplift the poor in Jharkhand, the Assam CM said.

He also asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, How many backward, tribal and Dalit people were made industrialists by Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi?

PM Modi constructed 16 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana, provided free health treatment to once crore people through the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat, gave domestic cylinders to 37 lakh women under Ujjwala and tap water connections to 21 lakh families, he added.

It is worth mentioning that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is part of the INDIA bloc and is contesting elections in alliance with the Congress in Jharkhand and Odisha. The BJP-led NDA won 12 seats in Jharkhand in the 2019 elections, while the JMM and Congress got only one each.

In 2019, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 12 seats in Jharkhand, with the former alone winning 11. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress got one seat each.
Union Minister Amit Shah on Thursday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has already crossed the 310 mark in the five phases of the Lok Sabha 2024 elections held till now and is moving towards the 400-mark goal in the remaining two phases.

Shah also mocked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his ally under the INDIA bloc, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, saying that they will not be able to achieve their targeted seats.

Also read: BJP's Varun Gandhi campaigns for mother Maneka Gandhi in Sultanpur: 'People call her maa, not MP' Addressing a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Sant Kabir Nagar, the Union Home Minister said, In five phases, PM Modi has crossed the 310 mark and is moving towards 400.

If you see Rahul Baba somewhere, tell him that he is not getting more than 40 seats; Akhilesh Yadav won't cross the target of four seats he added.

Earlier today, Shah, in Domariaganj, questioned the alliance's choice for Prime Minister if they succeed in getting a majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Also read: UP Dy CM slams Opposition as bayaanveer, says BJP, allies will win 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh This opposition has moved ahead by forming a Ghamandiya alliance. Today, I want to ask Rahul Gandhi, if you get the majority, then who will be your Prime Minister? Can Sharad Pawar, Lalu Yadav, or Uddhav Thackeray become the PM? Can Rahul Gandhi become the PM? he asked.

Reiterating that there could be no reservation based on religion, he said that the INDIA bloc intends to rob the reservation of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribe, and other Backward Castes.

Also read: Tension in Nandigram as BJP workers protest over party worker's death The BJP is contesting the elections in Uttar Pradesh in alliance with the local parties. At the same time, Congress and the Samajwadi Party are united in the fight as part of the INDIA bloc, and BSP is going solo in the elections.
Alphabet Inc-owned Google has partnered with Taiwans Foxconn Technology Group to set up a plant in Tamil Nadu to manufacture Pixel smartphones.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday said that the decision to start its production unit was the result of negotiations between the state government and Google management.

ALSO READ: Apple aims to make a quarter of all iPhones in India by 2028

The chief minister said that the officials from Google would soon come to Chennai to discuss the project.

There's a bright opportunity for setting up Google Pixel's manufacturing factory near Chennai. A situation has also arisen wherein youth qualified in information technology will get employment, Stalin said in a statement.

A team from the Tamil Nadu government, including Minister for Industries TRB Rajaa, has recently met Googles senior management in the US to promote the state as a manufacturing location.

Last year, Google had said that it would begin production of its Pixel 8 smartphones in India.

Google is accelerating its plans to manufacture devices in India. Apple has already moved some of its iPhone production to India and Samsung Electronics has also set up an assembly line in the country.

In the last 10 years, mobile phone manufacturing in value terms rose 21-fold to 4.1 lakh crore in India as government policy measures like performance-linked incentive (PLI) schemes played a critical role in attracting global players to boost local production, industry body India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) had said in March this year.

According to ICEA, Apple and Samsung have played a crucial role in boosting mobile phone exports from the country.
The Ramco Cements Ltd saw a better-than-anticipated volume of 5.5 million tonne, up 17% year-on-year in the March quarter (Q4FY24).

The growth outpaced the industry average of 12%, according to Nomura. This indicates market share gains for the company. But the good news ends here.

Akin to peers, Ramcos realizations took a hit in Q4 due to muted prices in core markets of south and east India. Blended realization deteriorated 8% sequentially versus 5% sequential drop recorded by the industry, said the Nomura report.

Ramcos management pointed out that demand is expected to be robust post the general elections, but prices remain under pressure in its key markets, except Odisha. Consequently, earnings estimates for FY25 and FY26 have been revised lower by slew of brokerages.

Centrum Broking has tweaked its assumptions/estimates for FY25 and FY26; and its Ebitda estimates are down by 15%/12%, respectively.

True, the entire cement sector is grappling with muted realizations as prices fail to recover. But Ramcos investors have to deal with additional issues, apart from the weak profitability outlook, making its earnings growth trajectory bleaker.

Take, for instance, the capital expenditure (capex). Ramco had earlier guided for capex of 800- 850 crore for FY24, which was later increased to Rs1,650 crore. Eventually, including maintenance capex, the amount stood at 1,922 crore.

According to Centrum, Ramco has overspent on capex over the past four years resulting in lower return ratios.For FY25, the management has revised its capex guidance from 1,700 crore announced in Q3FY24 to 1,200 crore. But it is still elevated.

Further, net debt increased to 4,822 crore at March-end and the average cost of debt for FY24 rose to 7.70% compared to 6.35% in FY23.

In the current backdrop, where capacity additions continue, meaningful deleveraging looks unlikely in the near term. The company proposed to double the clinker capacity in Kolimigundla, Andhra Pradesh, to 6.30 mtpa and double the cement capacity to 3 mtpa with 15 MW of waste heat recovery system. This expansion is scheduled to be commissioned in FY26. Ramcos aggregate installed capacity would reach 19 mtpa for clinker and 26 mtpa for cement by FY26.

A quick reversal in Ramcos fortunes appears unlikely due to the multiple company-specific overhangs amid weak prices in core markets. So far in 2024, the stock has declined by 23%.

On the valuation front, the stock trades at an FY25 EV/Ebitda multiple of around 12 times, according to Bloomberg data. EV stands for enterprise value.

This is a discount to some south-focused peers and pan-India cement makers, but it is not encouraging enough.
The Indian IT services industry is facing near-term challenges due to the economic slowdown and weaker macroeconomic outlook. However, its long-term outlook remains robust with the economy showing signs of recovery. In a recent Q4 review note, brokerage house Axis Securities said it believes that the said recovery will begin in the start of the new year and FY25 will show strong revenue growth.

"After strong revenue growth momentum in FY22 and FY23, we believe IT services may face challenges on demand and margin fronts on account of the economic slowdown and macroeconomic uncertainties. We have a skeptical near-term outlook due to delayed decision-making for automation," said the brokerage.

However, it further noted that deal wins remained resilient even during the difficult times, which gives it confidence that automation spending will rebound strongly in the next couple of quarters. Demand in industries such as retail and manufacturing remains strong and is expected to regain momentum in the near future.

Read here: 'It's a good time to enter the market; optimistic about banks, defence, retail' The brokerage continues to believe that most IT services companies will regain momentum in a couple of quarters as deal wins remain resilient and supply-side challenges ease. The dovish stand taken by the Federal Reserve may encourage macroeconomics in North America which may drive demand for automation spend. Post the Q4 results, the brokerage has recommended 2 stocks from the IT space - Persistent Systems and KPIT Technologies.

But first, let's take a look at some key highlights from the Q4 earnings. Revenue The brokerage pointed out that most IT companies reported disappointing revenue growth in Q4FY24, reflecting subdued demand from major global economies. The Indian IT services sector does not anticipate a swift recovery in discretionary spending due to ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties. Revenue growth from North America continues to lag behind Europe for Tier-1 tech companies, as seen in recent quarters, it noted.

The BFSI sector experienced tepid growth, with no immediate improvement in discretionary spending, though some improvement is expected in FY25. Verticals like Telecommunication and Hi-Tech are also struggling to demonstrate strong growth. The outlook remains challenging, with many IT services companies lacking near-term visibility, said the brokerage.

Read here: General Elections 2024: Kotak Alternate Asset Managers suggests THIS strategy ahead of poll results Margin As per the brokerage, the margin performance for Q4FY24 was mixed, despite reduced supply-side constraints. Among Tier-1 tech companies, TCS and Wipro showed strong execution with margin expansion for the quarter. TechM's margins have begun to recover from previously unsustainably low levels. Most Tier-1 techs, except for Infosys and TechM (due to significant ongoing restructuring), managed to slightly improve margins in FY25 despite weak revenue growth, helped by tight cost optimisation, including lower subcontracting expenses, it informed.

Conversely, Tier-2 techs, which had previously excelled at defending or improving margins through FY20-23 due to superior growth, saw margins come under slight pressure in FY24. Companies like Persistent reported a year-on-year drop in margins despite benefiting from some one-time reversals, further stated the brokerage.

Meanwhile, mid-cap IT services and Tier-2 IT services companies, which showed relative margin resilience through FY21-23, were affected by moderating growth in FY24. Only a modest recovery is expected in FY25, leading to a tactical approach preference for TechM among Tier-1 techs and KPIT, Zensar, and Firstsource among the Tier-2s, it recommended.

Read here: HDFC Securities initiates coverage on these healthcare stocks with 'buy' rating Deal Wins Deal wins remained resilient despite ongoing uncertainty. The demand for newer technologies such as AI, cloud transformations, data analytics, and IoT remains strong, with the majority of companies closing all-time-high deals. This indicates that when macroeconomic factors turn positive, there will likely be a strong V-shaped recovery, it said.

Top Sector Ideas Persistent Systems: The brokerage has a buy call on the stock with a target price of 4,350, implying a potential upside of over 24 percent.

Persistent Systems' consistent growth, as highlighted by Axis Securities brokerage, persists amidst challenging times, driven by enhanced client engagement. In Q4FY24, Total Contract Value (TCV) remained strong, totaling $447 million in deal wins. Management's confidence in gaining medium-term demand momentum, supported by previous quarter wins, remains high, with anticipated margin improvement.

Read here: How large-cap stocks can offer a buffer against heightened volatility? The brokerage also noted ongoing strength in medium-term demand, particularly emphasising higher cost optimisation deals in the UK with faster decision-making, while the European market continues to be affected. Expectations of macroeconomic stabilisation suggest an uptick in decision-making. Across various verticals such as BFSI, Pharma, Tech, and Others, encouraging quarter-on-quarter growth ranging from 1% to 4% was observed. Most verticals showed robust growth trajectories, further bolstered by a strong deal pipeline in the near term.

"We believe Persistent is well positioned for encouraging growth given its numerous long-term contracts with the worlds leading brands. Improved revenue visibility gives us confidence in the company's continued growth. We assign a 35x P/E multiple to its FY26E earnings of 125.8/share to arrive at a TP of 4,350/share, implying an upside of 24% from the CMP. Hence, we recommend a BUY rating on the stock," said Axis.

Read here: 'These 30 shares to perform well irrespective of Lok Sabha election results' KPIT Technologies: The brokerage has a buy call on the stock with a target price of 1,750, implying a potential upside of over 16 percent.

Axis Securities observed KPIT's performance, noting the rising demand for digital Engineering, Research, and Development (ER&D) services across various industries. This transition to digital engineering presents significant opportunities for KPIT in sectors like Manufacturing, BFSI, Media & Technology, Retail, Healthcare, and Travel & Hospitality.

In the Passenger Car vertical, KPIT achieved a robust quarter-on-quarter growth of 6.2%, with management expressing confidence in maintaining this momentum. Strategic revenue from key clients increased by 8.4% quarter-on-quarter, while client concentration rose slightly from 85% to 86% from Q3FY24 to Q4FY24.

Read here: IT Sector: Between midcaps and largecaps, what should you pick? KPIT's services mix remains strong, with feature development and integration services, constituting 90% of revenue, showing solid growth of 7.5% quarter-on-quarter. Cloud-based connected services, contributing 26% of revenue, continued strong growth at 9% quarter-on-quarter, while Architecture and Middleware consulting, comprising 29% of revenue, demonstrated growth of 6.1% quarter-on-quarter, as noted by Axis Securities.

"Given the companys strong growth potential, supported by solid deal-making and excellent execution capabilities. We assign a 47x P/E multiple to its FY26E earnings of 37.1/share to arrive at a TP of 1,750/share, implying an upside of 16% from the CMP. Hence, we recommend a BUY on the stock," it said.
Shares of PG Electroplast, the flagship company of PG Group, surged by 8.4% in early morning trading today, reaching a new all-time high of 2598.90 apiece following the release of the company's Q4 and full fiscal (FY24) year performance on Wednesday.

The stock's current rally has resulted in a remarkable gain of 611% over the past three years and an astounding 3670% over the past five years.

In the March quarter, the company's operating revenues totaled 1,076.6 crore, marking a 30.0% year-over-year growth. Quarterly EBITDA stood at 119.8 crore, compared to 76.9 crore in 4QFY2023, representing a robust growth of 55.8%.

On the bottom line, the company reported a net profit of 71.59 crore for the quarter, up from 40.17 crore in 4QFY2023, marking a growth of 78.2%.

For the full fiscal year, the company's revenues from operations increased by 27.2% year-over-year to 2,746.5 crore, while net profit surged to 137.0 crore from 77.5 crore, representing a growth of 76.9%.

For the first time, consolidated revenues for FY24 surpassed 2,746 crore, with product business sales crossing 1,668 crore. PGELs 100% subsidiary, PG Technoplast, achieved revenues of over 1,450 crore in its third year of operations.

The product business contributed 72% of the total revenues in 4QFY24 and 60.7% for FY2024, growing by 25% year-over-year for the quarter and 24% for the full fiscal year. The company emphasised that its order book for the product business remains robust and anticipates significant scaling of the product business in FY2025.

The company's TV and electronics business contributed 13.6% of the total revenues and experienced a remarkable 132% growth in FY2024. The company announced that the TV business will shift to the new 50% JV, Goodworth Electronics, in FY2025.

Also Read: Kaynes Technology stock climbs over 16% on solid Q4 earnings

Despite capex and the acquisition of NGM, net debt decreased by almost 325 crore in FY24, the company said in its earnings report.

Guidance for FY2025 PG Electroplast is one of the leading diversified Indian Electronic Manufacturing Services providers and contract manufacturing to the leading consumer durables and electronics brands in India.

The company has one of the biggest capacities in plastic injection molding and has capabilities across the value chain in original equipment manufacturing (OEM) and original design manufacturing (ODM) products like washing machines, room ACs, air conditioners, and LED TVs.

PGEL projects revenues to soar to 3,400 crores, marking a substantial 23.8% surge over the previous fiscal year's consolidated revenues, despite the transition of its TV business to Goodworth Electronics.

Additionally, the company anticipates net profit to skyrocket to 200 crores, reflecting a robust 46.0% growth over the FY2024 net profit of 137.0 crores.

"The revenue guidance for Goodworth Electronics is for 600 crores in FY2025, implying group revenues of 4000 crore. The growth in the product business, i.e., washing machines, room air conditioners, and air coolers, is expected to be 44% to 2,400 crores from 1668 crores in FY2024," the company said in its Q4 earnings report.

In line with its growth trajectory, PGEL plans a capex ranging from 370380 crores for FY2025. The company will use these funds to establish two new greenfield facilities in North India and further expand its Supa facilities.

Future Outlook Government reforms such as Digital India, Make in India, Power for All, and the Jan Dhan-Aadhar-Mobile Trinity are injecting fresh momentum into the consumer appliance and durable industry. The rapid pace of urbanisation, coupled with a growing young population and rising income levels, is fostering the emergence of a significant middle class in India, indicating substantial potential demand for the consumer appliance and durable market in the coming years.

Low penetration levels, declining prices of durables and electronics, and the evolving lifestyles of Indian consumers are expected to remain major demand catalysts for the consumer durables and electronics industry in India in the near future.

Also Read: Will Indian share market continue to correct before Lok Sabha election result?

Furthermore, the government's initiatives to promote electronic manufacturing and treat the industry as a key pillar of the Digital India Program are opening up new and exciting opportunities for the industry.

PG Electroplast is optimistic about the overall opportunity size and anticipates high growth rates in the industry segments where the company has a presence.

With its newly acquired capacities and capabilities, the company believes it is uniquely positioned in the consumer durables and plastics space in India.

In the coming years, the company aims to achieve industry-leading revenue growth, gradual margin improvement through operational efficiencies and operating leverage, and best-in-class capital efficiency resulting from improved cash flows and balance sheet optimisation.
HBL Power Systems, a prominent player in the battery and power systems sector, has emerged as a lucrative investment avenue in recent years, exhibiting sustained upward momentum in its share prices without significant pullbacks.

Over the past twelve months alone, its shares have skyrocketed from 109 per share to the current trading price of 538.55 per share, translating to a remarkable gain of 394%. Long-term investors have witnessed even more impressive returns, with the stock delivering staggering gains of 1254% over the last three years and an astonishing 2143% over the past five years.

In the span of a decade, the stock has witnessed an extraordinary surge of 5367%.

Notably, the stock has consistently delivered positive returns on an annual basis, recording significant gains of 160%, 53%, 67%, and 312% in CY20, CY21, CY22, and CY23, respectively.

In the current year, the stock has sustained its upward trajectory, registering a 24% increase from 437.90 to its current level. In February, it breached the 600 milestone for the first time, reaching a new record high of 612 per share.

HBL Power Systems is engaged in the design, development, and manufacturing of specialised batteries and electronic solutions. The company is also engaged in service activities related to its products. The company operates its business under three primary verticals: battery, electronics, and defence.

It is the worlds second-largest nickel-cadmium battery manufacturer, India's third-largest telecom battery manufacturer, and the only Indian company with pure lead battery technology, as per the company's website.

The company's flagship products in the electronic business vertical were the train collision avoidance system (TCAS), which addresses the issue of safety, and the train management system (TMS), which is designed for efficient track utilisation.

For the December-ending quarter (Q3FY24), the company reported a healthy set of numbers, with its consolidated net profit growing by 230% to 76 crore compared to 23 crore for the same period last year. The consolidated revenue from operations during the same quarter surged to 595 crore, a growth of 80% YoY.
In recent months, metal stocks have been performing exceptionally well, driven by a sharp increase in industrial metal prices. This surge has fueled investor optimism, with expectations that higher prices will significantly enhance companies' profit margins.

Against this backdrop, the Nifty Metal index, a barometer of metal stocks, surged by 1,078.45 points in just nine sessions to 9,919 points. Notably, in Tuesday's session, the index crossed the 10,000 mark for the first time and it recorded a new all-time high of 10,051 points in the previous trading session, marking its fourth consecutive record high.

So far in 2024, the Nifty Metal index has gained 24.34%, surpassing its entire CY23 return of 18.66% in less than five months. This performance positions the index as the second-best sectoral performer, following the Nifty Realty index.

Among individual stocks, Hindustan Zinc emerged as the top performer in the index, boasting a staggering gain of 126% in the current year to date. Investors anticipate that the company will reap significant benefits from the substantial rally in zinc and silver prices.

Other notable gainers include Vedanta, MOIL, NALCO, Jindal Steel, SAIL, Coal India, and NMDC, all of which have recorded gains ranging between 26% and 80% so far this year.

Supply disruptions drive prices up The sharp rise in industrial metal prices can be attributed to a combination of increased demand from growing business activity in major economies and ongoing supply disruptions due to heightened tensions in key metal-producing nations.

Moreover, the recent ban on Russian metals, specifically nickel and aluminum, by Washington and London has raised concerns about potential disruptions to global supply chains.

Additionally, the rally has been bolstered by China's property support measures and better-than-expected industrial data, which have spurred momentum buying and driven base metal prices higher.

Further, banks, miners, and investment funds have been highlighting coppers promising long-term prospects for months. A recent surge of investment into the market has further supported prices, keeping them at elevated levels.

Copper: Crosses $11,000 mark Copper, a widely traded metal, hit historic highs this week across global exchanges, including LME, COMEX, and SHFE. In April, analysts from Citi, a global investment bank, projected that copper prices would reach $10,000 per metric ton by the end of the year and rise to $12,000 by 2026 under their base-case scenario.

However, copper futures already crossed the $11,000 mark on the LME during Monday's trade to hit an all-time high of $11,104.50 per ton. Copper is often viewed as a barometer of economic vitality due to its extensive use in various industries.

This essential base metal plays a crucial role in the energy transition ecosystem, serving as a vital component in the manufacturing of electric vehicles, power grids, and wind turbines.

Nickel: 9-month high Concurrently, Nickel prices surged to $21,762 per ton on the LME this week as investors expressed concerns over potential supply disruptions arising from heightened tensions in New Caledonia, the worlds third-largest producer of the EV metal.

Reports of unrest in French-ruled New Caledonia prompted a significant effort to regain control of the capital, Noumea, in a country that contributed 6% of global nickel mine output last year.

Aluminium: 2-year high Similarly, Aluminium, utilised in the power, construction, and transport sectors, reached a nearly two-year peak of $2,765.50 per ton this week, driven by supply concerns following Rio Tinto's declaration of force majeure on third-party contracts for alumina exports from its refineries in Queensland, Australia, as per the media reports.

Gold: Historic level Precious metals also rallied sharply this week, with Gold reaching a record high of $ 2450 per troy ounce this week and Silver prices hitting a 12-year peak. Platinum also surged past $1,000 per troy ounce to reach $1,104 per troy ounce, marking its highest level in almost a year, driven by fears of supply shortages and indications of robust demand.
Five index heavyweights  HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank, L&T and Axis Bank  contributed over 50 percent to the 1,197-point run in the S&P BSE Sensex today.

The benchmark index soared 1,197 points (over 1.6 percent) to reclaim the 75,000 mark and end at its record closing high of 75,418. In intra-day deals, the benchmark rallied 1,279 points to its record high of 75,499.91. Today's surge comes on the back of better-than-expected Q4 earnings, the RBI's record dividend payout to govt, increased certainty surrounding the election outcome, and reduced foreign investor selling in the last few days.

Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty 50 index climb to an all-time high of 22,993.60. At close, the Nifty 50 was at 22,967.65, up 369.85 points, or 1.64 percent. The broader market indices closed higher, with the BSE MidCap index gaining 0.58% and the BSE SmallCap gaining 0.27%.

Read here Why is the Indian stock market rising?- explained with 5 key factors "Indian markets hitting a new record is the markets message of political stability after the elections. The rally is healthy since it is led by fairly valued largecaps," said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

HDFC Bank was the top contributor to the Sensex's rally, with a 215-point contribution. The stock rose over 2 percent. Meanwhile, RIL (158 points), ICICI Bank (136 points), and L&T (121 points) also contributed significantly to today's gain in the benchmark index. Meanwhile, Axis Bank contributed 92 points to the Sensex jump.

Moving on to stock price performance in the index, RIL gained 1.8 percent, ICICI Bank advanced 2 percent, L&T rose 3.6 percent and Axis Bank added 3.3 percent. L&T was the top gainer in the index.

However, 3 stocks on the index were in the red - NTPC, down 0.43 percent, PowerGrid, down 1.8 percent, and Sun Pharma, down 2.9 percent.

Reasons behind today's surge According to experts, the unprecedented 2.11 lakh crore dividend from the Reserve Bank of India, announced yesterday, is anticipated to aid the government in managing the fiscal deficit. This a surprise for the market as the market was projecting a 1 lakh crore dividend.

Read here: Sebi: What does the new circular say about SMS alerts to investors? Furthermore, investors have now become more optimistic about a decisive victory for the BJP in the ongoing general elections. According to analysts at foreign brokerage Bernstein, there is a higher likelihood of the BJP government winning approximately 330-350 seats.

Additionally, foreign portfolio investors have decreased their selling activity in recent days. Over the past five trading sessions, FIIs have net sold stocks worth 1,813 crore, compared to net sales totaling 38,186 crore in May thus far. Moreover, the US 10-year yield has declined to 4.43 percent from a peak of 4.73 percent one month ago.

Sectors Barring Healthcare and Pharma indices, which were closed down 0.79% and 0.52% respectively, all othe sectoral indices closed in the green.

The Bank and Auto indices had rallied more than 2% at close, while Financial Services, IT, Realty, Consumer Durables, and Oil & Gas indices had climbed more than 1%.
The capital markets regular Securities Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Wednesday released a master circular for stock brokers. Last year, Sebi had released a master circular on May 17 in respect of stock brokers.

However, this 414-page master circular released on Wednesday now subsumes all the previous directions and instructions issued in the past.

Here we list out some of the key details pertaining to the requirement of sending alerts to investors. Stock exchanges are being told to send details of the transactions to investors through SMS and email alerts by the end of the trading day.

These would be subject to the following:

1. These guidelines are applicable to equity -- cash and derivative -- segments of the stock exchanges.

2. Stock exchanges will provide a platform to stock brokers to upload the details of their clients, preferably in sync with the UCC updation module.

3. Stock brokers are meant to upload the details of clients, such as, name, mobile number, address for correspondence and E-mail address.

4. The brokers are also told that they will have to ensure that the mobile numbers/ email ids of their employees and authorised persons are not uploaded on behalf of their clients.

5. There should be separate mobile number/ email IDs uploaded for each client.

However, there could be the same contact details when such clients belong to one family. This can be done at the specific written request of a client . And family means self, spouse, dependent children and dependent parents.

Confirmation from investors After uploading of details by the stock brokers, the Stock Exchanges are meant to take necessary steps to verify the details which include the following:

1. Sending SMS and e-mail directly to the investors at the contract details shared by the brokers.

2. Sending letters to the address of the investors shared by the stock brokers.

Once investors confirm the same, the stock exchanges will start sending the transaction details directly to them.

ALSO READ | How Sebi wants to prevent insider trading violations

The stock exchanges may use the amount set aside from the listing fees (20 percent of the listing fees) for providing services to investors, to meet the expenses for providing this sms and email facility.

It is worth mentioning that the new circular lists out a range of activities including registration of brokers, supervision and oversight to dealings with clients to investor grievance redressal.
Several Indians working abroad contribute to private pension plans provided by employers such as the 401(k) in the US. But what happens when they decide to return to India? They have a choice whether to hold it in the same country till retirement, transfer it to their home country or simply withdraw it prematurely. But the rules vary by country. Mint takes a closer look at what they are in the UK and the US.

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The UK scenario

One cannot access pension funds in the UK before retirement age. It has to be either transferred to a qualifying recognized overseas pension scheme (QROPS) in India or one can continue holding it till retirement in the UK.

After retirement, Indians can receive this in a specified bank account in India. In case of transfer, it is important to choose a QROPS approved by His Majestys Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the national taxing authority of the UK. The list of approved schemes can be readily found on their website.

Akshara Roongta, 28, who worked in the UK for two years before returning to Mumbai in December, decided to transfer her pension funds to India. She discovered she could apply for the transfer only after receiving the last paycheque. She did that before coming to India, but four months on, the transfer is yet to happen.

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Their document verification process is quite stringent. I was told to certify all documents by a lawyer. They shared a list of lawyers whom they trust. I spoke to almost all the lawyers, but they are quite senior and dont notarize the documents," Roongta said.

It is hard to explain to the UK insurer that inexperienced lawyers who do it in India may not appear convincing on a call due to the language barrier, but they are very much credible," she says.

Strangely, her husband, who worked with one of the group companies of the UK pension provider, could transfer his pension following the same procedure.

Also Read: Tax mistakes NRIs are making when selling property in India

Deepak Kumar, an independent consultant on overseas pension transfers, says UK-based pension providers try to discourage transfers.

Delays are quite common. When, despite multiple follow-ups, we dont get an answer, I tell my clients to file a complaint. One of my clients had to write to the legal team of the pension provider before his funds could get transferred," says Kumar.

When one holds the fund in the UK itself till retirement, the pension will get credited to the Indian bank account. But people usually do not want to wait that long.

One never knows what may happen in the future. I do not want to take a currency or country risk. Moreover, in the UK, they invest retirement money in all sorts of securities including private equity. I want to park my pension funds in stable instruments," says 32-year-old Dhavnish Shukla.

The US scenario

The US has primarily three types of private pension plans:

401(k), an employer-sponsored retirement plan

An individual retirement account (IRA)

Roth IRA in which contributions happen after deducting taxes

Unlike the UK, funds from 401(k), IRA or Roth IRA cannot be transferred. They have to be withdrawn or held until retirement age. Most people prefer withdrawal.

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Vamsidhar Atyam, 46, first rolled over his 401(k) funds into IRA because the latter gives more flexibility in choosing funds. He withdrew the amount in tranches.

401(k) levies administration charges which were borne by my employer when I was working in the US. After I resigned, I had a choice to continue with my 401(k) plan as it is but pay those charges out of my pocket or roll it over into an IRA which didnt have that overhead," he says.

However, withdrawal before retirement attracts a 10% penalty except in situations such as medical expenses or first home purchase. The tax liability depends on the persons residency status in Indiawhether they are resident but not ordinarily resident (RNOR) or resident and ordinarily resident (ROR).

No tax is levied in India while the person has RNOR status. This status can last up to three years after returning to India. In case of ROR status, while the tax could be withheld in the US, one can claim the tax credit.

If one has to withdraw the funds, tax experts advise doing it while RNOR status is active.

Keep a US bank account active after returning from the US and receive the withdrawal in that account. Remit it later to the Indian bank account," says chartered accountant Abhinav Gulechha.

In case of a lumpsum withdrawal after returning from the US and becoming a non-resident alien for US tax purposes, there will be a flat 30% tax deduction along with 10% early withdrawal penalty (if withdrawing before age 59.5 years). In certain limited cases pertaining to 401(k), periodic monthly payments may be opted whereby the payments are taxable only in India (and not the US) as per Article 20(1) of India-US DTAA (double taxation avoidance agreement)," says Gulechha.

Also Read: Unlocking tax benefits for NRIs

Looking at it from the financial planning angle, if you have a financial goal that requires overseas investment, you will be better off leaving the funds as is.

If one does not need money on an immediate basis and the corpus is not a big chunk of their investment portfolio, then they could let it remain that way till their expected retirement year," says Abhishek Kumar, a registered investment advisor and founder of Sahaj Money.

This is exactly what Palak Chauhan, who worked in the US for 10 years, did. My investments in 401(k) and Roth IRA are for servicing my long-term retirement goals. Moreover, I want to continue my exposure to the US market," she says.

One can also link their childrens foreign education goals with such funds. Withdraw the required amount close to the goal instead of bringing it back to India immediately. This might be a good way to diversify the portfolio and hedge it against country and currency risk," Kumar says.

If you keep the 401(k) or traditional IRA funds as is and withdraw after age 59.5, they will still be taxed in the US at a flat 30% rate, but there will be no penalty. If you opt for Rule 21AAA and Form 10EE for these funds in India, the income component in the withdrawal will be taxed in India only in the year of withdrawal. You can claim credit for US taxes in India at a lower threshold between India and the US tax rate on the income component of the withdrawal," he added.

One risk, however, for keeping money abroad is inheritance tax. What is often ignored is the death scenario. What if the person dies? A good chunk of money will get deducted as inheritance tax before it goes to the legal heirs," says Kumar.

Inheritance tax is up to 40% in the US with athreshold of $60,000 for non-residents. It can go as high as 55% in the UK in some scenarios. Hence, figure out your needs and take action accordingly.
Selecting mutual funds for long-term investments in turbulent market conditions requires careful evaluation of the fund's overall strategy and historical performance. Here are some things to think about:

Evaluating long-term performance Do not be fixated on a funds past year returns. Evaluate the funds long-term performance. Look at the fund's performance over a longer period, ideally 5-10 years, to see how it has fared under various market situations. Next, compare funds returns to benchmark returns: Examine how the fund's returns compare to a relevant benchmark index (such as the Nifty 50 for large-cap funds). Consistently surpassing the benchmark is a good sign.



Also Read: Top Mutual Funds: These are the best small-cap MFs to invest in 2024. Do you own any?

Check for investment strategy Are you conversant with the investment philosophies of the fund house? Recognize the development and value-adding approach and guiding principles of fund management. Verify that they align with your investing goals and risk tolerance. Analyse the risk control, select funds that have an effective risk management system to lower downside risk. Verifying the fund manager's experience is essential. Verify the experience and performance history of the fund manager. It is best to have a seasoned manager who has experience navigating market cycles.



Also Read: Mutual Funds: 5 best focused funds managed to beat the benchmark index in the past 5 years

There are other aspects to take into account in addition to the previously mentioned ones. Take the fund's expense ratio, for instance. Reduced spending ratios show that a larger portion of your funds are allocated to investment gains. The size of the fund is another crucial factor. Smaller funds may have more room for growth even though larger funds can provide stability.

When returns matter! Selecting the next fund to add to your investment portfolio can be done in part by comparing fund returns across multiple financial websites. Using a range of criteria, such as returns, to evaluate mutual funds can assist you in making an informed choice.



Also Read: Mutual funds: 5 money market schemes delivered over 7.5% return to investors in the past one year



Here is the list of top-performing large cap, multi cap and ELSS funds:

Name of the mutual fund Type of fund 5-year returns (in %) Nippon India Large Cap Fund Large-cap fund 94.01 ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund Large-cap fund 81.39 JM Large Cap Fund Large-cap fund 80.78 Quant Active Fund Multi-cap fund 141.24 Nippon India Multicap Fund Multi-cap fund 128.22 Mahindra Manulife Multi Cap Fund Multi-cap fund 113.68 Bank of India ELSS Tax Saver ELSS fund 116.05 SBI Long Term Equity Fund ELSS fund 115.88 Sundaram Long Term Tax Advantage Fund ELSS fund 113.96 Source: AMFI (As on May 22, 2024)

Mutual fund schemes need to be assessed with a fair and impartial methodology that considers both qualitative and quantitative factors. Long-term success in quantitative analysis requires delving into qualitative issues, even though historical performance makes an attractive starting point.



Also Read: Magic of compounding: Investing 1 lakh in this mutual fund at launch would have grown to 30 lakh now
Buddha Purnima 2024: Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti commemorates the birth of Lord Gautam Buddha. The holiday, also known as Vesak, is a yearly celebration observed on the first full moon of the Hindu calendar month Vaishakha.

Buddha was born around 563 BC in Lumbini (present-day Nepal) as Prince Siddhartha Gautam. Buddhists worldwide celebrate Buddha Purnima with great fervour. This year, the festival will be observed today, on May 23 (Thursday).

Notably. Buddha Purnima is a gazetted holiday and hence all government offices, schools, post-offices and banks will remain closed today.

We take a closer look at what is closed on Buddha Purnima and what's open.

What's Closed? All government offices closed: Since Buddha Purnima is a gazetted holiday, all government offices in most states are closed for a holiday today. Also Read | Buddha Purnima 2024: Quotes, best places to observe celebrations in India, and more

All schools closed: All schools also remain closed for gazetted holidays.

All schools also remain closed for gazetted holidays. All post offices closed: Post offices constitute as government offices and will this also be closed on the occassion of Buddha Purnima.

Post offices constitute as government offices and will this also be closed on the occassion of Buddha Purnima. All banks closed: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), determines and creates a schedule listing all bank holidays for the calendar year in conjunction with declared state government holidays. Besides this, bank holidays are also based on national/state holidays, cultural or religious observances, operational needs, government announcements, and coordination with other banks. The central bank shares this schedule through official channels such as its website and notifications to banks and other financial institutions. Also Read | Bank Holidays this week: All banks will remain closed four days in a row from tomorrow. Check details here

However, not all regional customs and religious festivals are celebrated across India and thus may be working days in some states. So, you must confirm all holidays and days off with your nearest branch to avoid any inconvenience.
The Indian embassy in Cambodia took to X on Thursday to inform that the "first batch of 60 Indian nationals rescued by the embassy from fraudulent employers" have now returned home. The Indian mission also thanked the Cambodian authorities for their support. "Always committed to helping Indians abroad," it said.

The development came just days after a human trafficking racket was busted in Andhra's Visakhapatnam. The Andhra Pradesh police said on Tuesday that around 300 Indians 'revolted' against their handlers in Cambodia on May 20, leading to most of them being arrested in the foreign country.

"As many as 150 youth from the port city and its vicinity have been stuck in Cambodia for a year already, where they are being coerced to carry out cyber crime and ponzi scams by Chinese handlers," police were quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

Meanwhile, Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner A Ravi Shankar said many people called up Visakhapatnam city police Whatsapp numbers and sent videos. The report cited Visakhapatnam Joint Commissioner of Police Fakkeerappa Kaginelli as saying that nearly 5,000 Indians were trafficked to Cambodia from across the country through various agents.

Shankar noted that these trafficked Indians caused large-scale riots in Jinbei and Compound, Sihanoukville in Cambodia, which is allegedly a hub for cybercrime, PTI reported.

On May 18, Vizag police arrested Chukka Rajesh, S Kondala Rao and M Jnaneshwar Rao on human trafficking charges for luring youth from India with data entry jobs in Singapore but actually trafficking them to Cambodia to carry out cyber crimes.

"In India, young people looking for job opportunities are recruited by unregistered agents and are then sent to Cambodia via Bangkok or Singapore," Ravi Shankar was quoted by NDTV as saying.

Once in Cambodia, the youth would be held captive, tortured and compelled by Chinese handlers to execute scams such as task game fraud, stock market fraud and others, police said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) told news agency PTI on Thursday that a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal will intensify and reach Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts as a severe cyclonic storm by Sunday evening.

It is the first pre-monsoon cyclone in the Bay of Bengal and will be named Remal, according to a system of naming cyclones in the Indian Ocean region.

IMD scientist Monica Sharma told PTI that the cyclonic system will concentrate into a depression over the central Bay of Bengal by Friday morning. "It will further intensify into a cyclonic storm on Saturday morning and reach Bangladesh and the adjoining West Bengal coast as a severe cyclonic storm by Sunday evening."
At least seven people reportedly died in Kerala after heavy rainfall lashed parts of the state on Thursday, officials said. The southern state witnessed "heavier than normal pre-monsoon rains," even as much of South Asia grappled with a heatwave, Reuters cited officials as saying.

As per the report, a 70-year-old person died in a lightning strike in Kasaragod district on Wednesday. Meanwhile, his brothers aged 18 and 21 died after falling into a quarry filled with water in Palakkad on Tuesday.

"Four people also died in Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts after falling into water," an official of the Kerala the state's Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) told Reuters.

Meanwhile, Currently, 223 people have been relocated to 8 camps across the state, according to an official release issued by the Kerala Chief Minister's office, as cited by ANI.

Kerala rain alert on May 23 and 24 The weather department had issued a red alert, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall, in Ernakulam and Thrissur. While an orange alert was issued in the Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts of Kerala on Thursday, May 23.

As per the IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls was observed at isolated places over Kerala on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) precited isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall to continue over south Peninsular India till May 24, "with possibility of extremely heavy falls over Kerala on 23rd May, 2024."

On Friday, May 24, a yellow alert has been issued in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad. And orange alert in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki.

In the wake of heavy rains, the IMD issued an alert for fishermen. It said, "As strong winds and bad weather are expected, it is not advisable to go to sea from the Kerala coast until further notice. The warning is requested to be followed strictly."
Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP, Swati Maliwal, has spoken about the alleged assault she faced by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal assistant, Bhibhav Kumar. Cheer haran mera uss ghar mein hua aur Charitra Haran mera roz chalaya ja raha ha (I was defamed in that house, and my character is being defamed every day).

Swati Maliwal accused Bhibhav Kumar of assaulting her at the Chief Minister's residence on May 13 in an interview with ANI on Thursday.

On Friday, Bibhav Kumar filed a counter-complaint with the police, alleging that Maliwal gained 'unauthorised entry' into the CM's Civil Lines residence and verbally abused him.

Here are ten things Swati Maliwal said about May 13 -"On May 13 at around 9 am in the morning, I went to meet the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence. The staff asked me to sit in the drawing room and told me that Arvind Kejriwal ji was at home and that he was coming here to meet me. After that, the PA of Arvind Kejriwal ji, Bibhav Kumar, came in a state of aggression, and I asked, 'Kya Hua Kejriwalji aa rahe hai. Kya hogya?' I said this much, after which he slapped me," Swati Maliwal said in the interview.

-Maliwal alleged that she was informed that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was coming to meet, which is why she visited the latter's house on May 13. Maliwal also claimed that she was screaming for help, but no one came to help her.

-"He (Bibhav Kumar) slapped me seven to eight times. When I tried to push him, he held my legs and mujhe ghaseet diya. Ensuring that my head bumped into the centre table. I fell to the floor, and he (Bibhav) started beating me with his legs. I was screaming and begging for help, but no one came there," Maliwal said.

-Swati Maliwal, asserting that Bibhav Kumar assaulted her, added that she is not giving clean chit to anyone.

-Elaborating on the alleged assault, Swati Maliwal said that she was unsure if Bhibhav Kumar acted on instructions or if he committed the deed independently.

-Swati Maliwal alleged, "Arvind Kejriwal ke sabse bade raajdaar, sabse karibi aadmi iss waqt Bibhav Kumar hain. He is not an ordinary PA. If you see his house, it is so luxurious; he has been given such a house, even no minister has got such a house in Delhi, so he is very influential and at present, he is a powerful man in the entire party, and the entire party is afraid of him."

-During the interview, Swati Maliwal, claimed that AAP wanted her Rajya Sabha seat. "Agar meri Rajya Sabha ki seat unhe chahiye thi, woh pyaar se maangte toh main jaan de deti, MP toh bohot choti baat hain... Ab chaahe duniya ki koi bhi shakti lag jaye main resign nahi karungi"(If they wanted my Rajya Sabha seat, if they had asked for it with love, I would have given up my life; being an MP is a very small thing Now, no matter what power in the world asks me to, I will not resign.)

-"I never thought what will happen to me and my career. What will they do with me?" Maliwal asked.

-Invoking the Nirbhaya case, which rattled India in 2012, Maliwal said, Nirbhaya was also asked why she did not travel in auto, why did she go out in the night and not in the day? Victim shaming happens with every woman. The sad part is that a woman Delhi minister said, Her clothes are not torn. I want police to conduct my polygraph test so that everything becomes clear. The Rajya Sabha MP hinted that victim blaming was going on, as AAP lawmakers alleged that Maliwal had been working with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Pune Porsche Crash: The seventeen-year-old, whose speeding Porsche killed two IT engineers in Pune on May 19, may be tried as an adult. The juvenile's bail was cancelled on Wednesday following an outcry, and he was sent to remand home.

The juvenile had allegedly drank alcohol at two separate establishments  Cosie Bar and Blak Bar  following which he sped through a narrow road in Maharashtra's Pune, killing two bike riders during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.

The juvenile was granted bail, with his grandfather as the guarantor. The Juvenile Justice Board asked the accused teen to write a 300-word essay and perform community service for 15 days as a punishment. Notably, the grandfather was charge-sheeted by CBI for allegedly contracting Chhota Rajan to kill Shiv Sena leader Ajay Bhosale in 2009.

Earlier on Wednesday, the sessions court ordered the detention of Vishal Agarwal (50), the father of the minor, along with two employees of Hotel Blak Club, Nitesh Shevani and Jayesh Gavkar, in police custody until May 24.

Pune Porsche Crash: Will the juvenile be tried as an adult? Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said on Wednesday that the Juvenile Justice Board has yet to receive an order requiring Maharashtra Police to treat the accused teen as an adult.

Advocate Prashant Patil, who represented the juvenile at the JJB hearing, said that treating a juvenile as an adult accused can take at least two months, as reports of psychiatrists and counsellors, among others, are required. Then, the JJB makes its decision.

The police have filed an FIR against a minor under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Motor Vehicles Act following an incident on Sunday.

Allegedly, the minor was under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred. Additionally, the father of the minor has been charged under sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act for allowing his son to drive without a license and for endangering his life by providing access to alcohol.

Furthermore, legal action has been initiated against the owner and employees of the two bars where the minor reportedly consumed alcohol before the accident. They are accused of serving alcohol to an underage person, contributing to the circumstances leading to the incident.

The FIR suggests that the minor's father, a real estate developer, knowingly allowed his son to drive without a license and consume alcohol, thereby placing his life at risk.
Britons will choose their next leader in the national election on July 4. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made the surprise announcement on Wednesday amid questions about his leadership due to falling popularity. Shrugging off the voices of criticism, Akshata Murty has shared a small but powerful message for her husband, Rishi Sunak, ahead of the elections.

Also Read: Royal family cancels public engagements as UK PM Rishi Sunak calls for surprise summer elections on July 4

In a recent post on Instagram, Akshata Murty shared her images with her husband Rishi Sunak and wrote, Im with you, every step of the way.

The couple was paired with blue apparel. In the pictures shared by Akshata Murty on Instagram, the Infosys founder's daughter can be seen wearing a blue dress, whereas Rishi Sunak was wearing a white shirt with blue trousers. In the first photo, the two can be seen posing together, whereas the second image was more of a candid click.

The social media post received several reactions with many people applauding Murty for her support.

Undoubtedly, your husband Rishi is the best PM the country has ever had. His multifarious skills of diplomacy, prudence,financial management, international relations and innovation are unmatched. The UK has never ever seen a more iconic,highly respected and competent PM than your husband, Rishi. I wish him every success and happiness in his and your familys future, commented an Instagram user.

The best Prime Minister Your husband has done a fabulous job and we are proud of him . Hope I get a chance to meet him someday to let him know he has done an outstanding job, commented another on the post.

You guys look lovely! commented an Instagram user wishing Rishi Sunak good luck for the election.
Ahead of the polling for Phase 6 of Lok Sabha Elections 2024, all liquor stores and other licenced premises in Delhi, Faridabad, and Gurgaon will remain shut from 6 PM on May 23 to 6 PM on May 25. Additionally, there will be no liquor sale in these cities on the day of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 result announcement, June 4.

Delhi dry days According to a notification issued by the excise department, various liquor stores and other licensed premises in Delhi will be closed nearly 48 hours before the end of the poll, from 6 p.m. on May 23 to 6 p.m. on May 25. Liquor will not be sold on June 4, the vote-counting day for the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Haryana Dry days Haryana's Gurgaon will also go to the polls on May 25. In another set of directions released by the Gurgaon district administration, all liquor shops in the city were ordered to remain closed for 48 hours ahead of the Lok Sabha election.

Liquor sales will remain shut on June 4, scheduled for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 vote counting. According to a Hindustan Times report, the Gurugram district administration seized illegal liquor worth 61 lakhs amid the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

To ensure free and fair voting in elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has made it compulsory for the cities going to poll to observe dry day on voting day.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 phase 6 A total of 58 constituencies will go to the polls across eight states and union territories on Saturday, May 25. The Lok Sabha elections 2024 voting will start at 7 a.m. and conclude at 6 p.m. The Lok Sabha Elections vote counting will be held on June 4, followed by the announcement of election results.
Several trains on the Mumbai-Pune route will remain cancelled or rescheduled due to the expansion work at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminal (CSMT) platforms 10 and 11 from May 28 to June 2, reported the Hindustan Times. The last destination of some trains will be changed to Dadar. The list of cancelled trains includes Pragati Express and Deccan Express.

Also Read: Union Budget and the path forward for Indian Railways

The platform maintenance work will last nearly a fortnight and will result in the cancellation of many trains operating between Pune and Mumbai.

List of trains cancelled According to an HT report, the Pune-Mumbai-Pune Pragati Express will stand cancelled from May 28 to June 2. Meanwhile, Pune Mumbai Intercity Express will be cancelled from May 31 to June 2. Services of the Pune-Mumbai-Pune Deccan Express, Pune-Mumbai-Pune Deccan Queen Express and Kurla-Margaon-Kurla will remain suspended on June 1 and June 2 because of maintenance work.

Railway services between Byculla and SCMT and several other local Mumbao stations were affected on May 22 due to a 15-day-long midnight block up to 1 May, 2024 for pre non-interlocking works. On May 22, suburban train services were shut between Byculla and CSMT from 00.30 hrs to 04.30 hrs (midnight of 22/23.05.2024). Trains were short-terminated and short originated at Panvel and Dadar stations.

Summer special trains To ease pressure on existing summer running trains, Central Railways has announced sixteen additional weekly summer special train services between Mumbai and Karimnagar.

CSMT-Karimnagar Weekly Special 01067 Weekly special will depart CSMT Mumbai at 15.30 hrs every Tuesday from 09.04.2024 and 28.05.2024 and arrive Karimnagar at 08.30 hrs next day. (8 trips)
President Joe Biden will likely miss a Ukraine peace summit next month because it conflicts with a campaign fundraiser in California hes set to attend alongside George Clooney, Julia Roberts and other stars.

Switzerland scheduled the conference for June 15-16, after a meeting of Group of Seven in Italy. Several G-7 leaders plan to join but neither Biden nor Vice President Kamala Harris are scheduled to be there, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named discussing private deliberations. President Vladimir Putin wasnt invited and leaders from other nations are also planning to skip.

Biden is scheduled to fly from the G-7 meeting in southern Italy to Los Angeles for the June 15 fundraiser. Along with Clooney and Roberts, former President Barack Obama and late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel are set to join him.

The decision underscores how Biden is further shifting into campaign mode as he looks to overcome former President Donald Trumps polling lead in key swing states ahead of the November election. Adding to the urgency, Trump eclipsed Bidens fundraising efforts for the first time in the current election cycle last month, raising $76 million to his $51 million.

It also reflects a broader pessimism about the conference, which Switzerland agreed to organize when President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited the country in January. Still, about 70 countries will take part in the summit at some level including major leaders such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, while , Japanese Premier Fumio Kishida is likely to be there too.

However, the absence of China is likely to disappoint Zelenskiy. Beijing has long been seen as crucial to the process given its close relationship with Moscow, but it has so far skipped most meetings leading up to the summit.

China and several other nations in the so-called Global South have pushed for Russia to be involved in the process. Ukraine and its allies dont want to engage with Moscow until a set of principles that would define any future peace settlement are broadly agreed. The Swiss summit was originally envisioned as a first step toward that aim.

Diplomats organizing the conference winnowed down its ambitions to focus on a narrow set of goals, such as nuclear safety and prisoner exchanges, in a bid to broaden participation. Those points fall short of Ukraines blueprint for peace, which calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops as well as future security guarantees.

Russia is also pushing nations in Asia, Africa and South America to stay away from the conference. President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other officials met and called counterparts from dozens of countries, from India to tiny Comoros, with the apparent aim of deterring participation in the Swiss conference, according to a diplomatic memo seen by Bloomberg.

Lavrov has also reached out to ambassadors in Moscow with the same goal, according to the memo, and a meeting of foreign ministers from the so-called BRICS countries and their allies on June 10-11 should seal that effort.

Zelenskiy on Thursday described Moscows efforts to scupper the summit as the key goal for Russian diplomacy and foreign intelligence for the nearest future.

With assistance from Alberto Nardelli, Daryna Krasnolutska and Hadriana Lowenkron.
By Abhirup Roy and Jody Godoy

SAN FRANCISCO, - Mike Lynch, the tech founder once hailed as Britain's answer to Steve Jobs, denied wrongdoing at his fraud trial on Thursday in connection with Hewlett-Packard's disastrous $11 billion acquisition of his software company in 2011.

Under questioning from his lawyer, Christopher Morvillo, Lynch said he was not involved in the transactions that prosecutors say amounted to a massive accounting fraud at Autonomy, the company Lynch co-founded.

HP wrote down Autonomy's value by $8.8 billion in 2012, saying it had uncovered serious accounting improprieties.

Lynch took the witness stand at the San Francisco trial for the first time earlier on Thursday. He told jurors that others were in charge of accounting and he was focused on Autonomy's technology and marketing.

The tech entrepreneur defended his company, saying that while Autonomy was not perfect and some things could have been done better in hindsight, it was still a lucrative business.

"I think Autonomy was an extremely successful company. From a financial point of view, it was highly profitable," Lynch said.

The testimony is a pivotal moment for Lynch, who has been embroiled in legal battles over the sale since it imploded and now faces potential prison time if convicted.

Lynch and former Autonomy finance executive Stephen Chamberlain face charges of fraud and conspiracy for allegedly scheming to inflate the company's revenue starting in 2009, in part to entice a buyer.

Prosecutors say the pair padded Autonomy's finances through back-dated agreements and "round-trip" deals that fronted cash to customers through fake contracts.

At the trial that began in mid-March, jurors have heard from more than 30 government witnesses including Leo Apotheker, the former HP chief executive who was fired weeks after the Autonomy deal was announced.

Lynch's legal team has argued at trial that HP was so eager to bag Autonomy and shut out potential competitors that it rushed through due diligence before the sale.

Lynch's attorney said in opening arguments that the Cambridge-educated entrepreneur was focused on tech issues and left money matters to Sushovan Hussain, Autonomy's then-chief financial officer.

Hussain was separately convicted in 2018 at a trial in the same court. He was released from U.S. prison in January after serving a five-year sentence.

Lynch was one of the UK's leading tech entrepreneurs, drawing comparisons to Jobs, the Apple cofounder, as well as to Microsoft's cofounder, Bill Gates.

In one of the biggest British tech deals at the time, the Autonomy buy was meant to fuel HP's software business. Instead, it spawned a series of bitter and expensive legal battles. HP largely won a civil lawsuit against Lynch and Hussain in London in 2022, though damages have not yet been decided. The company is seeking $4 billion.

At that trial, Lynch was on the stand for 20 days.

Lynch said HP did not know what it was doing with Autonomy, and was out of its depth in understanding his technology.
China, Japan and South Korea are set to hold their first summit in more than four years, with a gathering in Seoul next week for talks that offer the neighbors a chance to manage their relations amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will attend the summit on Sunday and Monday, an official for Yoons office said Thursday.

Bilateral discussions will take place on Sunday and the summit is planned to cover six areas of cooperation that include sustainable development, people-to-people exchanges as well as economy and trade, Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo told reporters. Kim added the summit would serve as a turning point for fully restoring a three-way cooperation system.

The trilateral summits have been on hold since 2019 due to the pandemic and Chinas anger at Japan and South Korea moving closer to Washington in recent years. The US and its two key allies in Asia have raised their security cooperation to some of the highest levels in decades, largely on concerns about North Koreas behavior and China becoming more assertive militarily.

The meeting will take place against the backdrop of an intensifying US-China rivalry for semiconductor supremacy. Washington has imposed a wall of restrictions to deny Beijing access to the latest semiconductors and sophisticated equipment needed to make the most advanced chips.

China will likely try to push Japan and South Korea not to join US-led efforts in further restricting exports of advanced chipmaking equipment, after Tokyo imposed export controls last year. Japan has been resisting US pressure to further curb sales to China. The Biden administration is also trying to bring South Korea into the agreement that includes Japan and the Netherlands.

Against the backdrop of complex and evolving international and regional situations, China looks forward to this meeting injecting new momentum into trilateral cooperation and better achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes among the three countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a briefing Thursday in Beijing.

The summit highlights the difficult balancing act faced by South Korea and Japan, which both had China as their biggest trading partner last year. Both also have a security alliance with the US, which stations tens of thousands of troops in the two countries and has stepped up military training with the two.

Economic and trade ties, which have been the bedrock of regional relations, appear to be weakening. While Japan is still the single most important source of investment for China, the speed of investment has slowed. New investment fell for a second year in 2023, and total new money into China and Hong Kong was less than a tenth of the spending in the US, according to government data.

The same is true for South Korean firms. Investment into China last year was the lowest in 20 years, while Korean companies continued to pour money into the US to take advantage of subsidies for high-tech investment.

The upcoming trilateral summit will be a first major diplomatic test for Yoon as he tries to maintain the momentum for the remaining three years of his term after suffering a major defeat in parliamentary elections last month.

Yoon and Kishida may be heading to the US in the next few months, possibly to hold a summit with President Joe Biden that will build on an unprecedented security meeting the three had about a year ago, according to reports from Kyodo News of Japan and other media.

Read more: Five Takeaways From the US, Japan and South Korea Summit

Their meeting last year at the Camp David presidential retreat in rural Maryland included practical steps such as real-time data sharing to counter threats by North Korea, measures to de-risk global supply chains from exposure to China and moves to bind the trilateral relationship so tightly that it would be hard to unravel.

Apart from security, Chinas import ban on Japanese seafood and the detentions of Japanese citizens have soured ties between the two nations. The ban, prompted by a release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, has continued despite ongoing protests from Japan.

South Korea, Japan and the US in turn are keen for Beijing to use its influence on Pyongyang to rein in Kim Jong Uns nuclear ambitions. China has been North Koreas biggest benefactor for years, providing a lifeline that has kept its economy afloat.

Kims regime has stated it has no intention of relinquishing a nuclear arsenal it says protects it from a US invasion, calling American offers for talks hypocrisy too shameless to blind the world people, its official Korean Central News Agency reported this month.

With assistance from Shinhye Kang, Seyoon Kim and Charlie Zhu.
A Democratic operative faces state criminal charges and a fine from federal regulators for using artificial intelligence to fake President Joe Bidens voice in robocalls aimed at dissuading Democrats from voting in the New Hampshire primary election.

Steve Kramer, who worked for Bidens Democratic primary challenger Dean Phillips, was accused by state prosecutors on Thursday of 13 felony counts of voter suppression and 13 misdemeanor counts for allegedly impersonating a candidate. The Federal Communications Commission also proposed fining Kramer $6 million for robocalls that were made using the spoofed number of a local political consultant.

I hope that our respective enforcement actions send a strong deterrent signal to anyone who might consider interfering with elections, whether through the use of artificial intelligence or otherwise, New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella said in a press release.

A spokesperson for Phillips didnt respond to a request for comment. Kramer, who acknowledged responsibility for the calls in interviews with NBC News and other media outlets in February, didnt immediately respond to voice and phone messages seeking comment.

The episode raised alarm among election officials and political operatives about the use of artificial intelligence to interfere with the election as the nascent technology has grown in popularity. Regulation of AI remains an elusive task for authorities and lawmakers in Washington, who are seeking to craft guardrails on the emerging field.

Read more: Deepfake Biden Audio Alarms Experts in US Election Lead-Up

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on Wednesday unveiled a proposed rule that would require political advertisers to disclose the use of AI to produce material for ads on radio and television.

Agency officials have sought to shield consumers from unwanted robocalls by telemarketers. The FCCs proposed fine in the New Hampshire case marks its most significant enforcement action over spoofed robocalls made with deepfaked audio.

The commission also proposed a $2 million fine against Lingo Telecom for transmitting the calls and allegedly violating caller ID authentication rules.

In a statement provided to the Associated Press, Lingo Telecom disputed the FCC move and said it has cooperated fully with authorities involved in the case. Lingo Telecom was not involved whatsoever in the production of these calls and the actions it took complied with all applicable federal regulations and industry standards, the company said.

The call circulated on Jan. 21, two days before the primary election, using a known catch-phrase of Bidens and encouraging voters to stay home on the day of the primary.

Save your vote for the November election, the phone message said.

While Biden was not on the ballot for the first-in-the-nation primary, Democratic leaders urged their voters to write him in to signal that he had overwhelming support. The deepfake failed to damp the large turnout among Democrats backing the president.
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Using Russian assets for Ukraine not simple, G7 chair says

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Agreement on Ukraine loan seen 'in principle'

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Central banks have reservations on US proposal

By Giuseppe Fonte and Gavin Jones

STRESA, Italy, - G7 finance chiefs are not expected to agree on details of a loan for Ukraine at their meeting in Italy starting on Friday, several officials said, leaving much work ahead in coming weeks or months to secure more financing for the war-torn country.

The United States has been pushing its allies to agree to a loan backed by the future income from some $300 billion of Russian assets frozen shortly after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the loan could amount to some $50 billion, but that no amounts have been agreed. Other G7 officials involved in the negotiations voiced caution, citing thorny legal and technical aspects to be hammered out.

"With great difficulty we have found a compromise for the use of the interest ," Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti told reporters, referring to a deal already struck by the European Union.

"The problem is how the legal basis for this can be used for future profits."

Giorgetti, who will chair the meeting as Italy holds the G7 presidency this year, said finding a solution "will not be simple," and added that several central banks had expressed reservations over the U.S. proposal.

Finance ministers and central bank chiefs from the Group of Seven industrial democracies - the U.S., Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada - are meeting in the northern Italian lakeside town of Stresa on Friday and Saturday.

One European official said the communique at the end of the meeting would probably include an agreement on a loan in principle, but no details.

"I don't think there will be any numbers," the official said when asked about the $50 billion figure.

"There will be no decisions on the matter taken at Stresa," another European official said.

'AGREEMENT ON THE CONCEPT'

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner also said many questions remained open and he did not expect the G7 to reach any concrete decision at the Stresa gathering.

In that case, officials will continue to negotiate in the hope of making progress by the time G7 heads of government meet in the southern Italian region of Puglia on June 13-15.

Yellen, at a news conference on Thursday, said she expected a "general agreement on the concept" of using the earnings from Russian assets to provide Ukraine with significant financial support beyond 2025.

A key condition for European Union countries, where most of the assets are held, is to not confiscate the asset principal and harness only the earnings.

Giorgetti said a loan backed by future income from the frozen assets would meet with Russian retaliation, and stressed any deal must have a "solid legal basis," echoing comments made this week by Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki.

Under the proposal being discussed, the loan would be disbursed to Kyiv in one lump sum, Giorgetti said, and could possibly be issued by the G7 countries directly rather than through a global financial institution such as the World Bank.
The assailant charged with shooting Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he acted out of frustration with the governments policies, above all the premiers decision to halt military support for Ukraine, a court document said.

The suspect, identified as 71-year-old Juraj C., told investigators that he acted alone and had no intention of killing Fico, whom he shot at close range after a government meeting northeast of Bratislava on May 15, according to the document, which Bloomberg received after making a request to the court for information on the case.

Following the first such shooting of a European leader in more than two decades, Fico has been recovering in intensive care in central Slovakia. As one of Europes most politically polarized nations grapples with the fallout from the attack, authorities have tried to piece together a motive.

The claim to have acted on his own may undercut a suggestion by government authorities that the assailant could have been part of a broader plot.

Read More: Slovak Lawmakers Unite Behind Condemnation of Premiers Shooting

The attacker, who was wrestled to the ground by security guards after firing five shots at Ficos abdomen, also expressed opposition to the prime ministers decision to abolish a special prosecutors office and what he called persecution of culture and media workers.

Regarding Ukraine, he told investigators that he considers Ficos nationalist-backed government treacherous toward the European Union.

Ficos coalition leaders have lashed out at Slovakias opposition and media, whom they blame for the suspects radicalization. Defense Minister Robert Kalinak, a close ally whom Fico entrusted with leading the government temporarily, has repeatedly accused the media of vilifying the premier.

Still, lawmakers earlier this week unanimously backed a parliamentary resolution condemning the shooting, an effort to dial back political recriminations.
Taiwan has again caught the world's attention, with China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) launching "punishment" military drills around the island country. The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese PLA launched a two-day joint military drill  on Thursday and Friday. It's code-named the Joint Sword-2024A exercise.

"Dozens of warplanes, multiple destroyers and frigates" of the PLA were spotted encircling Taiwan and its outlying islands. The drills began Thursday morning.

"The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Straits, the north, south and east of Taiwan island, as well as areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin," China state media Global Times reported.

It also shared a picture showing the locations where the PLA conducted Joint Sword-2024A exercises on Thursday.

This is not the first time China has conducted military drills around Taiwan. The Xi-Jinping-led country has conducted intense military exercises around the island almost daily over the past four years. It last staged large-scale war games near the island in 2023 and 2022.

In August 2022, China launched large-scale and unprecedented live-fire military exercises around Taiwan after former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.

What triggered China's 'punishment' military drills? China's move to launch new military drills signifies its displeasure with Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te. For the unversed, China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to bring the island under its rule, by force if necessary. Taiwan is currently a self-ruled island.

The drills came three days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwan's new president and made an inauguration speech that China denounced as a "confession of independence".

A Chinese fighter jet in an unknown location

Lai, dubbed by China as a "dangerous separatist" who would bring "war and decline" to the island, had hailed a "glorious" era for Taiwan's democracy in his inaugural speech. He had also urged China to stop its threats, saying the two sides of the strait were "not subordinate to each other", Reuters reported.

On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called Lai "disgraceful".

Following this, the Chinese state media cited a spokesperson for the PLA's theater command as saying that the latest set of drills "serve as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of "Taiwan independence" forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces".

As the drills got underway, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin was quoted by AFP as saying, Taiwan independence forces will be left with their heads broken and blood flowing after colliding against the great...trend of China achieving complete unification.

Two people ride a motorcycle as a Taiwanese Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jet approaches for landing at an air force base in Hsinchu in northern Taiwan on May 23, 2024.

How Taiwan responded Taiwan responded by deploying air, ground and sea forces, with the island's defence ministry vowing to "defend freedom". According to Nexta news, the Taiwanese army transported Hsiung Feng III (HF-3) supersonic anti-ship missiles to the coast in response to China's drills.

President Lai said he would "stand on the front line" to defend Taiwan in a speech on Thursday afternoon, without directly referring to the ongoing drills. "Faced with external challenges and threats, we will continue to defend the values of freedom and democracy, and safeguard peace and stability in the region," he said.

News agency AFP shared a video of his speech on X:

"The launch of military exercises on this occasion not only does not contribute to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, it also highlights (China's) militaristic mentality," the Taiwan's defence ministry said.

Why China conducts drills around Taiwan China believes Taiwan to be a part of it and propagates "One-China Policy". The policy states that "there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China".

The Chinese government rejects any idea of Taiwan independence separatism, two Chinas and one China, one Taiwan".

During former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visit to Taiwan in 2022, China had said any visit by Pelosi would "seriously undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity". The US had then reiterated that it remains committed to its One-China policy. It was after this that China launched heavy military drills around Taiwan.

Now, China's latest military activity around Taiwan is seen as a "show of force" and warning by Beijing, which sees Taiwan as its territory and vows to take it back by force if necessary.

Victor Gao, chair professor at Soochow University in China believe that Lai Ching-te's May 20 speech is a declaration of war because he clearly distinguished China from Taiwan and completely destroyed the one-China principle.

"China wants to show that if Lai still wants to take the path of Taiwan independence... it can make Taiwan collapse without a war within a week or two, which will deal a fatal blow to the people of Taiwan...," he was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Meanwhile, Collin Koh, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies in Singapore, said, "The drill is not meant to accomplish anything more than warn the just-inaugurated Lai administration that they are more than ready to react, and to deter any moves towards so-called Taiwan independence.

Here's more about Chinese drills around Taiwan The drills, dubbed "Joint Sword - 2024A", are set to run for two days. The latest drills are unlike a similar "Joint Sword" exercise in April last year. These drills are tagged "A", opening the door to potential follow-ups, report said.

"The drills focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrols, precision strikes on key targets, and integrated operations inside and outside the island chain to test the "joint real combat capabilities" of the forces," China's military said.
On 1 May 2024, the Madhya Pradesh high court in Manish Sahu vs State of Madhya Pradesh held that any sexual intercourse or sexual act by the husband with his wife not below the age of 15 years is not a rape, then under these circumstances, absence of consent of wife for unnatural act loses its importance."

This ruling has reignited the debate on criminalization of marital rape in India. As per Exception 2 of Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (which defines the offence of rape), sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his own wife, the latter not being under 15 years of age, is not rape. The age was raised to 18 for this exception by a decision of the Supreme Court in Independent Thought vs Union of India (2017).

In other words, the law gives immunity to husbands from the offence of rape in non-consensual sexual acts with their wives. Countries like the UK, US, Australia and South Africa have criminalized marital rape. However, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) from July, hasnt addressed the issue of marital rape, thereby allowing it to remain legal.

In 2021, the Chhattisgarh high court in Dilip Pandey & others vs State of Chhattisgarh observed that sexual intercourse or any sexual act with wife by the husband would not constitute an offence of rape, even if it was by force or against her wish."

Also read: Our criminal laws must uphold gender justice

On the contrary, the Gujarat high court in Nimeshbhai Bharatbhai Desai vs State of Gujarat (2018) observed that a woman is no longer the chattel [that] antiquated practices labelled her to be. A husband who has sexual intercourse with his wife is not merely using a property, he is fulfilling a marital consortium with a fellow human being with dignity equal to that he accords himself. He cannot be permitted to violate this dignity by coercing her to engage in a sexual act without her full and free consent."

Exception 2 of the IPCs Section 375, based on the archaic notion that men have control over womens bodies, presupposes that a woman has provided irrevocable consent to her husband for sexual activity. In doing so, it disregards the individual agency of women, which is inconsistent with the constitutional guarantee of right to life and non-discrimination based on gender. A marital union does not take away a womans right over her body.

In 2022, a two-judge bench of the Delhi high court in RIT Foundation vs Union of India missed an opportunity to protect the rights of married women. The court delivered a split verdict on the constitutionality of Indias marital-rape exception.

While striking down the provision, Justice Rajiv Shakdher observed that modern-day marriage is a relationship of equals." He asserted, The woman by entering into matrimony does not subjugate or subordinate herself to her spouse or give irrevocable consent to sexual intercourse in all circumstances.

Consensual sex is at the heart of a healthy and joyful marital relationship. Non-consensual sex in marriage is an antithesis of what matrimony stands for in modern times i.e., the relationship of equals. The right to withdraw consent at any given point in time forms the core of the womans right to life and liberty, which encompasses her right to protect her physical and mental being."

Justice C. Hari Shankar, however, while upholding the constitutionality of the marital-rape exception, held that the court is neither empowered to prescribe punishment nor create a new offence. Essentially, Justice Shankar shifted the onus to the legislature.

The Justice Verma panel, constituted in 2012 to suggest reforms in rape and sexual assault laws, had recommended the deletion of the marital rape exception. It was of the view that the relationship between the victim and the accused is irrelevant and consent in sexual acts should not be presumed in a marriage. The recommendations were not accepted by Parliament.

In 2018, Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor introduced a private bill, The Womens Sexual, Reproductive and Menstrual Rights Bill, which aimed to criminalize marital rape. However, the bill lapsed.

The Union government has shown reluctance in criminalizing marital rape, saying that it would destabilize the institution of marriage. The idea of marriage in todays world is changing, with the focus now on equality and individual rights. The gendered lens through which it was seen is fast being abandoned. Clearly, the institution can be protected while also upholding the bodily autonomy of married women.

The Supreme Courts observations in X vs The Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of NCT of Delhi (2022) have helped highlight the flaw in the IPCs marital-rape exception. The court disregarded the view that only strangers are guilty of gender-based violence" and acknowledged that intimate partner violence is a reality and can take the form of rape." Importantly, it held that rape includes marital rape for the purpose of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.

Also read: A female experience of the law as we know it

A constitutional challenge to the marital-rape exception is pending before the Supreme Court. We await the day when women do not suffer discrimination because of their marital status. We must ask ourselves whether we want a rights-based society whose laws apply equally to all, or a country that upholds outmoded patriarchal norms.
Vladimir Lenin is cited as having said, There are decades where nothing happens. And then there are weeks, where decades happen." The previous week was one such in the world of AI, even by the standards set by OpenAIs 2022 launch of ChatGPT. It started with a bang on Monday, 13 May, when OpenAI unveiled its new flagship product GPT4o .

Tuesday was Googles turn, with 121 mentions of AI over 110 minutes at its I/O conference. The same day, Ilya Sutskever, OpenAIs co-founder and chief scientist who had raised safety warning flags, left the company. The ripples created by each can have a profound impact on AIs future.

Lets start with the GPT4o announcement, for which OpenAI built effortless multimodality into its existing flagship product. The model has its expected share of gee-whiz features: fluid simultaneous translation, an ability to detect human emotion beyond just voice and an enhanced ability to write code, among others.

Quickly, people started discovering even more impressive use cases, like two GPT4o AIs talking to each other, personalized step-by-step trigonometry tutoring, and helping a sightless man hail a cab in London.

Many people had expected a new GPT5 or GPT 4.5 model, but to me, this is bigger. The reason is simple. Gartner made an insightful statement on GenAI, saying that It is not a technology or a trend. It is a profound shift in the way humans and machines interact." Bill Gates followed it up with, AI is the new UI." User interface, that is.

With GPT4 and others, with its text interface and lagged voice interface, you could sense you are talking to a machine. With GPT4o, if you didnt know it is an AI bot, you would believe its a human you are conversing with, seeing the same things you see, feeling the same emotions you feel and also cracking the same jokes your friends do. With GPT4o, the Sound Turing Test has been passed. The model has moved beyond voice to sound.

The next day, Google picked up the gauntlet OpenAI had thrown. It made a plethora of impressive announcements, though a lot were prototypes. Ask Photos allows intuitive search through Google Photos. It announced a more powerful and advanced version of its LLM Gemini, an intriguing AI agent that can return products you have shopped, and another that alerts you right away to scam phone calls.

Project Astra impressed onlookers with its ability to recognize code and cities, and even say where you have forgotten your glasses. It displayed better text-to-image, text-to-music and text-to-video conversions done by its AI tools.

The subtext: Basically, there is no Google product which is not going to be baptized with AI. Google Search, with 2 billion plus users and 6 million searches a minute, gets a GenAI makeover. Gmail with 1.8 billion users gets a strong dose of Vitamin AI. YouTubes 1.8 billion users can have AI-generated text summaries of the nearly 4 billion videos that the site hosts. Another 4 billion Android users get AI on tap. The list goes on.

Ironically, however, it seems that Google is following the Microsoft playbook here. Microsoft famously had an EEE strategy of Embrace, Extend and Extinguish: First it created a product using open standards, then created a proprietary extension which quickly gained dominance through its brute distribution and ownership of the PC market, and it finally used this extension to swamp the market and extinguish its competitor. Latest example: MS 365 has 345 million users, 320 million of them get Teams free; rival Slack languishes at 39 million.

So, OpenAI the plucky innovator can launch eye-popping products galore like ChatGPT, Sora and GPT4o, but what it lacks is distribution reach. The ChatGPT needle is stuck at 100 million plus. Impressive, but small potatoes compared to Googles sway over the internet with billions of users everywhere. Thus, Google does not need to out-innovate OpenAI. It just needs to out-distribute it, and that is precisely what its I/O huddle demonstrated.

While all this was exciting, the canary in the coal-mine could be Ilyas exit from OpenAI. With him went other prominent researchers, and the super-alignment team that was responsible for building safe artificial general intelligence (AGI) has been disbanded. This signals OpenAIs transition from an idealistic research lab to a capitalist entity driven by shareholder returns. This is where OpenAI and Google are similar. When it started, Google flaunted its Dont be evil" motto. But over the years, that got a quiet burial in the graveyard of capitalism.
In July, the commander of Irans air force used a set of public remarks to offer some offhand praise for the countrys chopper armada. Today, the Iranian Army Aviation functions as the largest and strongest helicopter fleet in West Asia," Brigadier General Yousef Ghorbani said at a press conference.

The crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister this past weekend tells a different story: They died aboard a decades-old U.S.-made helicopter, part of an aging fleet that has been starved of spare parts by Western sanctions.

Iranian authorities say they are still investigating what caused the crash. So far, they are attributing it to a technical failure amid mountainous terrain and foggy weather, according to Irans state media. A number of prominent voices inside and outside the country have blamed U.S. sanctions targeting Irans nuclear program, which Tehran says is peaceful.

Washingtons restrictions on Iran not only prohibit the purchase of American aircraft and spare parts but also threaten to cut off companies from the U.S. banking system if they trade with Iran.

For what was to be his last trip, Raisi boarded a Bell helicopter, according to state media reports and official footage of his visit to Irans northwestern border with Azerbaijan.

Iranian state media named the model that crashed as the dual-rotor Bell 212, first produced in 1968, and deployed by the U.S. military during its war in Vietnam. The last Bell 212 was made in 1998.

The chopper that Raisi boarded was manufactured in 1994 by the Canadian unit of what was then known as Bell Helicopter Textron, then delivered to Irans air force, according to Cirium Ascend, a U.K.-based aviation analytics company.

The model involved in the accident is the most recently acquired American helicopter. But Iran also still widely uses the Bell 214, a similar, older dual-rotor bought in the 1970s, before the Shah was toppled by the Islamic revolution.

By Sundays trip to the Iran-Azerbaijan border, the helicopter was in service for decades, an age when many others would have been retired.

While these two-blade Bell models can carry 15 people, more than the number that it ferried during Sundays fateful flight, some aviation experts say they wouldnt be the most suitable aircraft for the difficult conditions that day.

The engine may have struggled to safely power the chopper, given the heavy load and the mountainous terrain, said Patrick Hudson, professor emeritus at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. It could have broken down," said Hudson, who has advised Boeing and British Airways on airline safety.

The models limited navigational capabilities also made it a less than ideal vehicle in the foggy weather that Raisi and his companions were flying through, current and former Iranian air officials said. In Iran, pilots training to fly the Bell 212 model have to rely on observing the terrain from their seats, one former official at Irans civil aviation authority said.

Bell Textron, as the helicopter maker is known today, said it doesnt conduct any business in Iran or support its helicopter fleet there. We do not have knowledge about the active state of the helicopter involved in this accident," a Bell spokesman said.

The Bell 212 isnt the newest model in Irans fleet. The Iranian president had previously flown in Russian-made Mi-17 choppers, according to pictures of his travels published by Iranian state media.

The Mi-17, which made its debut in the late 1970s, roughly a decade after the Bell 212, is among the more recent purchases of helicopters made by Iran, having been procured from Russia two decades ago, according to Cirium Ascend. Most aircraft currently flying in Iran were bought in the 1970s, when the previous U.S.-backed regime ruled Iran. Today, the average age of the countrys 290 helicopters is roughly 38 years, compared with a global average of about 23 years, said Rob Morris , global head of consultancy at Cirium Ascend.

Restrictions on Irans aircraft have now been seized upon by Tehran and its supporters as a cause of Sundays crash. One of the culprits behind yesterdays tragedy is the United States, because of its sanctions that bar Iran from procuring essential aviation parts," former Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif told Iranian state TV on Monday, the day that the deaths were confirmed. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has also blamed the crash on restrictions targeting Irans airlines.

Western officials reject the allegations. One European official said Iranians typically dont use its latest aircraft for trips abroad, such as Raisis trip to the border with Azerbaijan, precisely to make this point about the impact of sanctions.

Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said Iran was ultimately responsible for flying an old helicopter under bad weather conditions. Sanctions, he added, would continue as long as Iran used its planes to transport equipment and support terrorism."

Iran has suffered 19 major aviation accidents over the past decade, many of them fatal, according to the Flight Safety Foundation, an Alexandria, Va.-based nonprofit. While a number of the incidents were attributable to faulty equipment, others were caused by poor visibility, including a crash in 2018 that killed 66 people in Irans southwestern mountains.

Even with newer helicopters at its disposal, former and current Iranian air officials say a lack of spare parts may have limited the choices available to Raisi. If you dont let people have proper equipment and maintenance, you can expect crashes," said airline safety expert Hudson, who recalls flying in a Bell 212 during the 1980s.

Iranian businessmen seeking to procure spare parts from secondhand Boeing or Airbus aircraft on the international market said in interviews that they have struggled to find anyone willing to sell to them because of the U.S. banking restrictions. Many have no choice but to rely on go-betweens, who charge hefty commissions.

A 2015 investigation by The Wall Street Journal showed the complexity of the undertaking required to secure even a small cache of secondhand Western aircraft parts worth roughly $500,000, relying on a Turkish intermediary who charged a 7% commission to access a Chinese bank account.

That same year, Irans airlines nearly got a reprieve after the U.S. and its allies under then-President Barack Obama agreed to lift sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

Iran opened talks to buy new Bell helicopters as well as new aircraft from Airbus, according to people involved in the talks. But the negotiations were halted after then-President Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal and restored restrictions on Tehran.

Irans attempts to buy from friendly nations, meanwhile, havent borne fruit, due in part to wariness around U.S. banking sanctions. A decade ago, China, a top buyer of Iranian oil, engaged in talks to sell 150 of its J-10 jet fighters to Tehran, although the plans never materialized largely because of Chinese concerns about U.S. retaliation.

Russia, which Tehran is supplying with attack drones that are being deployed in Ukraine, has for years discussed selling two dozen Su-35 jets to Iran. But repeated Iranian claims that a delivery was imminent never materialized.

Write to Benoit Faucon at benoit.faucon@wsj.com
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Mauryalaunched a scathing attack on the opposition on Thursday, May 23, labeling them 'bayaanveer'.

Maurya asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies are poised to achieve the target of winning 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh in the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Maurya dismissed rivals from the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Congress as 'bayaanveer', signalling escalating political tensions in the state ahead of upcoming elections.

We aim to win 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with its alliance, will achieve that goal. Be it SP, BSP, or Congressthey are all 'bayaanveer'.

Also read: Dry days in Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad: Liquor shops to shut for 48 hours for Lok Sabha Phase 6 voting He stressed the public's preference for good governance and development over criminal elements. He added, "They have nothing concrete on the ground. Nobody wants goons, criminals and mafia. Everyone wants good governance, security and development."

Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal expressed strong confidence in reclaiming the Congress strongholds of Amethi and Raebareli with a significant majority. ANI quoted Venugopal: "We will secure Raebareli with a significant majority and recapture Amethi. Both seats will return to Congress. Ground reports are unequivocal.

Also read: Lok Sabha Election 2024: Complete list of 58 seats voting in Phase 6 on May 25 The two most important seats in UP are Amethi and Raebareli, where voting has concluded. Smriti Irani, the BJP candidate and incumbent MP from Amethi, defeated Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Rahul Gandhi, the Congress candidate contesting from the family's bastion, Raebareli, whose seat was earlier held by his mother, Sonia Gandhi, is the incumbent MP from Wayanad, seeking a second term in these elections.

Also read: Lok Sabha Elections in Delhi: What's open and what's closed on polling day? According to ground reports, Venugopal claimed, that Congress would drastically diminish the BJP's representation in Uttar Pradesh by securing half of the state's seats.

"The ground reports are very clear. We are going to reduce BJP's number very drastically in Uttar Pradesh. We are going to get a minimum of half of the seats in Uttar Pradesh," ANI quoted KC Venugopal as saying.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress and the Samajwadi are part of the INDIA bloc, while the BJP is contesting the elections in alliance with local parties. BSP is also fighting solo.
Former Punjab minister Harminder Singh Jassi quit the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata party on Thursday, just ahead of the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. His decision to join the BJP came days before Punjab goes to the polls in Phase 7.

Jassi joined the BJP in the presence of Union minister Rajiv Chandrashekhar at BJP headquarters at DDU Marg in New Delhi on Thursday, May 23.

After joining the BJP on Thursday, former Congress leader Jassi said, I have been looking at his (PM Modi) policies for many years now. He developed the country and improved Indias image all over the world. I have joined the BJP today, inspired and impressed by PM Modi's policies..."

In Punjab, voting for all of it 13 Lok Sabha constituencies will take place in a single phase, with the seventh and final phase on June 1 seeing voting in Gurudaspur, Amritsar, Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nandpur Sahib, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Firozpur, Bathinda, Sangrur, and Patiala constituencies.

This year, the Lok Sabha polls began on April 19 for 102 seats spread across 21 states. Following this, Phase 2 was held on April 26 and the third Phase will be held on May 7, involving 94 seats across 12 states.

Phase 4 of the Lok Sabha polls is slated to be held on May 13, involving 96 seats and Phase 5 is scheduled to be held on May 20 for 49 seats, while Phase 6 is set for May 25 covering 7 states on 57 seats.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav is spearheading the INDIA bloc's Lok Sabha Elections 2024 campaign in Bihar despite facing health challenges.

The battle for Bihar's 40 crucial seats in the Lok Sabha 2024 elections is underway, spanning seven phases. The RJD is contesting elections as an alliance partner in the INDIA bloc. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in alliance with its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partnersthe Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) and the Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), among others.

'Unbearable Pain' Midway through his campaign, following the first two phases of elections, doctors advised Tejashwi bed rest for three weeks to treat his back pain. However, ignoring medical advice, the 34-year-old leader has continued to campaign.

On May 3, Tejaswi took to social media and shared a video of himself at one of his rallies. In the video, he lifted his shirt to reveal a waist belt that he was wearing to help alleviate his back pain.

I am on painkiller injections and medicines for unbearable back pain. I am wearing a belt too, Tejaswi said in a tweet in Hindi. Since then, the RJD leader has continued his campaign, addressing large crowds in his public meetings, occasionally, even in a wheelchair.

In one of his speeches, the issue of Tejashwis back pain led to a political war of words between the RJD and the BJP when he claimed he would not rest until PM Modi goes on bed rest. The RJD had to clarify later that its leader meant political bed rest, not the literal bed rest.

Many say Tejashwi has no choice but to campaign, especially due to the health of his ailing father, former chief minister of Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Crucial Contest The 2024 Lok Sabha election is a crucial fight for Tejashwi Yadav, who was deputy chief minister in the Nitish Kumar government until January this year when the JD-U chief decided to switch sides from the INDIA bloc to the NDA.

The Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD has remained out of power in Bihar since 2005, barring its 17-month coalition government with the JD-U, which ended earlier this year. However, the party's vote share has increased after Tejashwi's political debut, nine years ago.

In the 2020 assembly elections, the RJD, led by Tejashwi in its campaign, emerged as the single-largest party in Bihar, bagging 75 of the 243 seats and a 23.5 percent vote share.

The NDA won 39 of 40 seats in Bihar in 2019. Among its partners, the BJP had won 17 seats, the JD-U 16 and the LJP six seats in 2019. The RJD did not win any seat, while the Congress won just one seat from Bihar in the 2019 elections.

NDA Vs INDIA With two phases of the Lok Sabha 2024 elections still to go on May 25 and June 1, Tejashwi Yadav has already addressed close to 183 public meetings across Bihar, according to a report in Indian Express.

Among other INDIA bloc leaders, Rahul Gandhi has campaigned in Bihar just once, so far. Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge has also held a few meetings. As things stand, the INDIA bloc seems to rely completely on Tejashwi Yadav for its prospects in these elections.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held 13 rallies so far, and Union Minister Amit Shah has held about six public meetings in Bihar. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also addressed rallies in Bihar.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has addressed over four dozen public rallies.

Five Lakh Jobs Similar to the 2020 Assembly elections, Tejashwi's campaign largely targets youth, referencing the reported five lakh job appointments he made during his tenure as Bihars deputy chief minister. He has promised that the INDIA bloc will provide employment to over one crore youth.

Lately, in his speeches, Tejashwi has also started including the INDIA bloc promises of giving 10 kg free rations and 1 lakh annually to a woman per family. This is apart from the usual INDIA bloc campaign against Modi, which revolves around the need to save the Constitution.

'300 Paar'

Earlier this week, Tejashwi claimed that the INDIA bloc has already won the Lok Sabha election 2024 and has crossed 300 seats. Tejwaswi made his remarks a day ahead of the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, which took place on May 20, in which 49 constituencies voted. We have won. We have already crossed 300 paar (seats), Yadav said on May 19.

The five phases of the Lok Sabha elections to 428 of the 543 seats are over. Voting for the remaining two phases will be held on May 25 and June 1. The votes for all seven phases will be counted on June 4.
It always comes down to one haunting question. I can still hear the words, from an anguished father: Why werent you his friends?

This month it happened in Greenfield, Ind., but it goes on every day in cities and towns across the country: children being bullied and tormented by other children, sometimes to the breaking point. Children being singled out by other children who evidently enjoy seeing their tears.

This month in Greenfield, 10-year-old Sammy Teusch, a fourth-grader, took his own life after what his parents say was constant bullying by other children at his school. The parents, Sam and Nichole Teusch, told reporters they had appealed to school officials 20 times about the bullying that made their boys life a daily misery. They say he was mocked endlessly about his teeth and about his glasses; they say he was beaten on the school bus, that his glasses were taken from his face and broken, that something done to him in a school bathroom shortly before his death made him fearful to go to classes.

After Sammy took his life, the schools superintendent insisted that no reports of bullying had ever been submitted. The school district, however, later said: Our staff in Greenfield-Central has worked with the Teusch family quite a bit over the last 18 months. Contact between school personnel and the parents was frequent.

We hear about these stories only when they become so unbearable that a child commits suicide. But the bullyingsuch a mild term for something that can afflict boys and girls deep into their adult years, the taunting of the afraid and alone by the strong and manyhas been such a dark part of childhood for so long that it isnt considered news until the end result is a funeral.

I think often of a boy named Curtis Taylor, an eighth-grader in Burlington, Iowa, who in 1993 took his own life after what his father, Bill Taylor, told me was years of bullying by a group of boys at school. Like Sammy Teuschs parents in Indiana, Mr. Taylor tried repeatedly to get school officials to take what was happening to his son seriously.

Curtis would come home weeping, Mr. Taylor said, saying that boys would bang his head into metal lockers, would trip him in hallways to the laughter of other students, would knock things out of his hands and then, after Curtis had picked them up, would knock them out again. He had several books that were his favorites; the boys took them from him. He had a sweatshirt he enjoyed wearing; the boys poured chocolate milk on it in front of other students. After a while, his father said, he blamed himself for the other students not liking him.

Such suffering is happening today, in places we will never hear about unless a child like Sammy Teusch or Curtis Taylor decides he cant take it any longer. And that is why I have never forgotten the sound of Curtiss dads voice after his boy was dead, and after students at the school signed a memorial display, some of them writing that Curtis was a nice person.

But I could only think, Mr. Taylor said: Where were you kids? Why werent you his friends?
Once a week, Muhamed Jaber drives down a bumpy road to the Sudanese city of El Obeid, the back of his truck heaving with bags full of amber-colored chunks of gum arabic, a little-known ingredient in chocolate, soda, chewing gum and other consumer goods.

Near the end of his 50-mile trip, Jaber says he pays around $330 to fighters from the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group that the U.S. government has accused of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity in Sudans one-year-old civil war. The RSF has laid siege to El Obeid since June and controls three out of four major access roads to the city, which is one of Sudans main agricultural hubs and held by the countrys military.

Moving in convoys is the only way to stay safe, but its very costly," says Jaber. Everyone has to pay."

In addition to the payments at the main RSF checkpoints, Jaber says gum arabic traders also hand over between $60 and $100 to AK-47-toting RSF fighters, who accompany the convoys of traders in pickup trucks. Traders who refuse to pay risk losing their cargo and vehicles to militia, he says.

Around 80% of the worlds gum arabic is harvested from Sudans acacia trees, which grow in the desert belt that stretches from Sudans western border with Chad to its eastern border with Ethiopia, covering an area of roughly 200,000 square miles. Gum arabic is a tasteless and odorless dried sap used as a stabilizer, thickening agent or emulsifier for many foods, drinks, cosmetics and medicines.

The sap has become a key source of funding for both sides in the war, according to Sudanese traders. In addition to the RSF collecting money through its control of most major agricultural routes, the Sudanese militarywhich runs the countrys de facto governmentlevies taxes and other tariffs on the gum arabic trade.

The U.S. has accused both sides in the conflict of committing war crimes. In September, the State Department slapped sanctions on two senior RSF commanders for their alleged involvement in ethnic killings, sexual violence and the looting and burning of communities, among other abuses. Another two RSF commanders were sanctioned this month.

Around 8.5 million Sudanese have been forced from their homes since the start of the war in April 2023. Tom Perriello , the Biden administrations special envoy for Sudan, this month warned that the wars real death toll could be 10 to 15 times higher than the about 15,000 who are confirmed to have been killed.

Proceeds from the gum arabic exports are directly financing this fighting," says Rabie Abdelaty, a Sudanese academic who has researched the gum arabic industry.

Despite these concerns, few companies have taken steps to make sure they are avoiding Sudanese gum arabic, based on interviews with manufacturers, suppliers and end-users.

You dont want the customers to be out of gum," said Osama Idris , general manager at Morouj Commodities UK, a raw-gum importer and processor based in Weston-super-Mare, in England. Idris said that none of his customers, which include confectionary, beverage and flavor companies, have expressed concerns about sourcing gum arabic from Sudan.

Nestle, which adds gum arabic to chocolates and gummy candies, said that according to its suppliers, the small quantities it uses come primarily from Chad, Niger and Mali.

A spokesman for Kisses-maker Hershey said the company expects all of its suppliers to adhere to all laws in the countries in which they operate. A Ferrero spokeswoman said the chocolate maker has strict due diligence measures that all of its suppliers must comply with, including assessments and on-field audits.

Some companies have said that stopping purchases of Sudanese gum arabic would hurt hundreds of thousands of Sudanese who depend on the sap for their livelihoods, many of them subsistence farmers or members of nomadic communities, at a time when United Nations agencies warn of an impending famine .

French company Nexira, which says it has a 40% share of the global gum arabic market, paused its operations in Sudan for three months last year, but has since resumed and is receiving shipments of gum from the country.

Despite uncertainties in transportation and potential incidents affecting the crop, we have decided to continue buying from harvesters," a company spokeswoman said. This is part of our commitment to the local communities with whom we have worked for several decades."

She said some of Nexiras contacts recently had reported potential racketeering activity on Sudanese roads," and said the company has asked its partners in the country to avoid routes where free movement cant be guaranteed.

The U.S. Treasury Department, which is in charge of economic sanctions, declined to comment on whether it has considered gum arabics role in funding the war in Sudan. When the U.S. imposed sanctions against Sudan in the 1990s for its then-leader Omar al-Bashir s alleged support for international terror groups, including al Qaeda, President Bill Clinton created a loophole for gum arabic, largely exempting shipments from the embargo imposed on bilateral trade.

Gum arabic is one of Sudans main agricultural exports. In 2022, Sudan exported gum arabic valued at around $183 million, making it one of the countrys top 10 exports overall, according to the latest available data.

Traders say they expect Sudans production to decline by around half during this season, which runs from October through about May, as many young men who normally harvest the sap have signed up to fight and others were too afraid to go out and tap the trees. Prices, meanwhile, have increased by around two-thirds to as much as $5,000 a metric ton, traders say.

Netherlands-based FOGA Gum, which used to import and process Sudanese gum arabic mainly to supply flavor companies in the U.S. and Europe, ceased all trading activities in Sudan in April 2023, shortly after the start of the war.

Our business came to a complete halt," said Martijn Bergkamp, a partner at FOGA Gum. We work on a completely transparent food chain. Due to the war, it is not clear where gum comes from in Sudan. We dont want to cooperate with either party."

Now the company only supports tree planting by some nurseries in the western Darfur region, he said.

Traders say the bulk of Sudans gum arabic currently passes through El Obeid for onward export, mainly through Chad, Egypt and the Sudanese Red Sea city of Port Sudan.

If theres any big shortage of gum arabic on the world market, the repercussions could be quite serious," said Rachid Amui , who monitors commodity trade at the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development, an agency that promotes the interests of developing countries in world trade.

Write to Alexandra Wexler at alexandra.wexler@wsj.com and Nicholas Bariyo at nicholas.bariyo@wsj.com
Heineken last month introduced what it calls the Boring Phone, an early-00s style flip-to-answer- device featuring a keypad, flashlight, FM radio, low-resolution camera and not much else. With an ability to make calls and send texts, but under no circumstances access social media, the phone is designed to be a portal back to the days when people would socialize in person without continually maintaining parallel lives on the internet.

Young generations are craving release from their smartphones and the constant buzzing and dinging, especially on nights out and during social occasions," said Nabil Nasser, global head of the Heineken brand. We want to give them the freedom to discover that there is more to their social life when they are less on their phone."

The Boring Phone is really a marketing campaign disguised as a product drop, with only 5,000 units available via giveaways, part of a wave of advertising tapping the widespread fear technology is ruining our ability to fully experience and enjoy the real world.

Tequila brand Jose Cuervo last year ran a sweepstakes for hundreds of its own so-called dumb phones, in another example, urging drinkers to go off" their smartphones to go off" in real life. This years Super Bowl ad by web design company Squarespace imagined what would happen if nobody noticed an alien arrival because humanity wouldnt look up from its screens.

The message extends beyond borders. Chinese electronics firm Oppo last December ran a campaign encouraging consumers across Asia to put down their phones at the dinner table.

The advertisers are tapping into a concern over the role of technology in society, and particularly in the mental health of young people, that has grown as social media and smartphones have become omnipresent. Even Snapchat is running an ad campaign positioning its social-media app as an antidote to social media."

But marketing executives are treading gently, tending toward humor rather than activism, partly because their brands are at least as present in the digital world as any extremely online person. They advertise on the same social-media platforms that their campaigns suggest absorb too much of consumers time. Meta Platforms, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, generated $36.5 billion in revenue in the first quarter of this year, up 27% from the period a year earlier, almost entirely from advertising.

Were obviously not anti-tech, but what we do know is that consumers want to detox from their smartphones to dial up their social life and enjoy real world connections," Heinekens Nasser said. The Boring Phone campaign isnt designed to get people buying more beer by leaving them twiddling their thumbs at the bar, but to more indirectly bolster the brands association with the joy of socializing, he said.

Advertisers touch-grass campaigns represent a broader shift in the industry, away from an always-sunny and aspirational style of marketing and toward an acceptance of a grimmer reality.

The economy may be improving, but consumers remain gloomy. The U.S. dropped off the list of the worlds 20 happiest countries, and news of global conflicts and inflammatory politics at home is compounded by everyday annoyances, from the shrinking lifespan of refrigerators to concert tickets hidden fees.

Marketerswho spend millions of dollars listening" to the moods of consumers to refine their messagescan no longer tell consumers that everything is awesome. Instead, theyre leaning into the fact it isnt.

Celebrating tech can be dicey in this environment, even for companies typically lionized for their accomplishments in the field. Apple this month apologized for an ad that depicted the literal crushing of art supplies and musical instruments to yield a thinner-than-ever iPad.

Marketers dont want to be seen as out of touch, and saying, Buy this and your lifes going to be amazing, because they know that the default where people are coming from is that things feel worse than they did 20 years ago," said Lucy Jameson, co-founder of advertising and design agency Uncommon Creative Studio. Middle-class families, one of marketers most-coveted consumer groups, are particularly worried by the rise of tech use and the mental-health problems it might cause among children and teenagers, she said.

If its at the top of their concerns, then youre going to see loads and loads of brands start to play into it," especially among companies who rely on people socializing, dating and otherwise going outside into the real world, Jameson said.

Brands are also leaning into the tech use conversation to connect with Gen Z, a huge consumer group known for a lack of brand loyalty and a biting awareness of how growing up online has affected them. Companies who align themselves with Gen Zs anxieties around their phones can improve their chances of winning them over as customers, marketing executives say.

It just dawned on us that his group is feeling a disproportionate sense of loneliness and isolation, and really the root cause of that is the lack of time spent in person," said Jackie Jantos, the chief marketing officer of dating app Hinge. I think we all know what that time has been displaced by."

Hinge at the end of last year began its latest push to get young people to put down their phones and hang out in person under the marketing banner of One More Hour." The company promised as part of the campaign to donate $1 million to social clubs in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York City that provide Gen Z with opportunities to connect in-person.

Hinge also published a physical book of things to do without a screen in time for the annual Global Day of Unplugging" in March. Suggestions include birdwatching, reading, and lying in a park doing nothing."

Hinge mailed 4,000 copies of its offline-activity book, which it designed to resemble an iPhone, for free to users. The website promoting the book says there are no more left, but you can still download/read an online version."

Write to Katie Deighton at katie.deighton@wsj.com
A significant outage affecting Microsoft's Bing application programming interface (API) had resulted in widespread disruptions across various search platforms. The problems began around 3 AM Eastern Time (12:30 pm) and have since caused numerous services to either become completely inaccessible or intermittently responsive.

The issues were primarily linked to Bing's API, which many search engines and services depend on. Initially, Microsoft's own Bing search engine was affected, but it now appears to be functioning normally, as reported by TechCrunch.

However, other search engines that utilize Bing's API, such as DuckDuckGo and Ecosia, are still unable to generate search results. Microsoft's Copilot is similarly impacted, showing an endless loading loop that prevents users from accessing its features. ChatGPT, which offers web search capabilities to Plus subscribers, also displayed error messages when users attempt to perform searches.

Microsoft has acknowledged the issues with its Copilot service and stated that it is "working to isolate the cause of the issue." Despite these problems, Microsoft's service health dashboard does not indicate any other service outages at this time. Both OpenAI and Ecosia have confirmed experiencing difficulties with their search functionalities, with OpenAI noting that it is investigating the problem.

As the situation develops, users of these services may continue to experience disruptions until the underlying issues are fully resolved.

Moreover, thousands of users across the globe reportedly faced problems using the Bing Image Creator and other Microsoft products, reported Downdetector. As per the outage detection website, more than 55 percent reported problems with the website, 30 percent faced issues using the search and five percent could not login.

The report indicates that over 2,000 users in the US have been unable to use search engines, prompting numerous complaints on social media. This outage has also sparked a wave of humorous memes across various social media platforms.

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According to court records, Glasser met another person who gave him a satchel with meth in May 2023 in Nez Perce County. Glasser was arrested and during a search of his home a digital scale, several baggies and multiple ledgers were found, indicating intent to distribute, according to the news release.

Glasser is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 10 at the federal courthouse in Coeur dAlene. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison as well as a fine of up to $1 million, according to the news release.

Hurwit thanked the investigation by the Lewiston Police Department, the Quad Cities Drug Task Force, the Idaho State Police and FBI as well as the Nez Perce County Prosecutors Office for their assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson is prosecuting the case, according to the news release.
Matheny is being held at the Asotin County Jail without bond, and his next court appearance is set for June 3.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Matheny is a registered sex offender who has been camping at the city park. He allegedly raped a woman he was acquainted with in a tent at Foster Park.

When questioned by police, Matheny reportedly denied the allegations at first, but later admitted to having sexual contact with the woman, saying it was consensual.
PULLMAN  The Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport celebrated the first day of its new terminal by handing out commemorative medallions to passengers.

The keepsakes were given out as a token of appreciation to the first of many who chose to fly Wednesday.

Services at the airport have officially transitioned to the newly built terminal. The last flight out of the old terminal was Tuesday afternoon, and Transportation Security Administration employees spent Tuesday evening moving equipment to prepare for the first flight at the new building early Wednesday morning.

The $92 million, multi-year project has come a long way. Moscow Mayor Art Bettge, Pullman Mayor Francis Benjamin and many city councilors were sure not to miss the occasion.

Honestly, were thrilled over the top of what we have at the airport, Benjamin said. I really appreciate the vision of this airport and what its going to mean.  It gives us that expansion capacity. Its nice the airport is designed not just for today but also for the future.

Construction on the terminal started in 2022, but the airport had lots of work to do before the venture began.

A $158 million expanded runway was constructed in 2019 to allow Alaska Airlines Embraer 175 jets to replace Q400 turboprops, airport Executive Director Tony Bean said.

The new terminal is around 47,000 square feet. Benjamin said the facility is around six times larger than the former building. Its equipped with new amenities that werent available at the old space.

It includes two bridges, with a third coming in the near future. Passengers are able to board without stepping outside. It also contains a baggage carousel spanning two floors.

The new building provides 426 parking spaces and 90 rental car spaces compared to 320 total at the other building. It offers additional features like a separate space for charter aircrafts, two-lane TSA screening, restaurant and adult beverage space, a service animal relief area, outside courtyard area with seating, a conference room and more restrooms, Benjamin added.

The airport board hasnt decided what to do with the old building, but hopes it will become a space for cargo or charter flights, Airport Administration Cherri Gentry said.
Much-needed clarity

The headline Idaho goes to the Supreme Court to argue that pregnant people are second-class citizens pretty much reveals how The Intercept sees Idahos case before the U.S. Supreme Court (theintercept.com, April 19).

While the Tribune is running OMG, OBGYNs are fleeing the state in an endless loop, Jordan Smiths article provides much-needed clarity regarding the arguments in the case.

Of particular interest is this section: Idaho points out that the word abortion is not included in the EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act) statute, claiming there was no understanding that Congress meant to include abortion care among potential stabilizing treatments required under the law. In contrast, the statute does include the phrase unborn child, which according to the state, means that the well-being of the fetus must be weighed in addressing medical emergencies.

EMTALA only requires doctors to provide stabilizing treatments that are available at a given hospital, and since abortion is illegal, it is thus unavailable. And because abortion is unavailable in Idaho, a hospital could legally transfer a patient somewhere else for care, presumably without being accused of dumping.

If Idaho is right, then the executive branchs directive on EMTALA is another case of pro-choice forces depending on perceived emanations and penumbras from a nonlegislative branch instead of upon lawmaking.

If EMTALA should include reasonable provisions covering emergency procedures that necessitate abortion, and it should, then its up to Congress to amend it to stipulate such.

Said amendment can and should still happen ... .

Thomas A. Hennigan
While the Biden administrations decision affects most of an area a few states away, coal will continue to impact the Pacific Northwest, in the form of miles of train cars that move toward export terminals for shipment around the world. No new leases of coal in Powder River means light at the end of the tunnel for coals extraction there and transport by train through this state.

In recent years, Gov. Jay Inslees administration successfully pushed back against expanded train transport of coal from the Powder River Basin to Washington. The states Department of Ecology denied a water quality permit in 2017 that ultimately halted the construction of a coal terminal in Longview. Similarly, a coal export terminal at Cherry Point, in Whatcom County, was denied a federal permit to protect tribal treaty fishing rights.

Nonetheless, coal mining will continue in the Powder River Basin through 2041 in Wyoming and 2060 in Montana. The best result would be for renewable power sources to become so abundant and prolific that coal mining on federal lands would cease altogether because of a lack of demand. Because heres the thing: Even without weighing the detrimental effects on the environment, coal is becoming less competitive in the energy production mix. Power produced from solar panels, wind turbines, advanced nuclear reactors and natural gas has become far cheaper economically than coal, according to the International Energy Agency.

For both the future of human health and the economy, the Biden administration has taken the right step toward shutting off the longtime and harmful spigot of mining and transporting coal in America.

TNS
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There was deep regret in the area when word spread last Wednesday, May 15 of the peaceful passing after a long illness of Patrick Finnegan, Dublin and formerly of Texas and originally from Cloonagh.

Patrick was eighty-two years of age, and was one of five children of the late Joe and Katie Finnegan, who ran the post office in Cloonagh for many years.

After his education in Cloonagh National School and St Mels College, he went on to University College Dublin where he studied engineering and was academically very successful, going on to the University of London where he completed a PhD in the area.

When in Dublin, he met and married the love of his life Emily Barrett, a native of Dublin, and they were happily married for more than fifty years until his death.

After graduating with his doctorate, Patrick was employed for many years in the oil industry, working in many countries in the Middle East before settling in the United States where he worked for an American oil company.

Upon his retirement in the late 1990s he offered to help out a transport and logistics company near his home in Texas run by members of the Reilly family, themselves natives of Cloonagh, and while originally intending to only help out for a couple of weeks he remained with the company for almost twenty years, being an indispensable expert in the areas of technology and logistics. (Incidentally, a son of the Reilly family resident in Texas, Eddie, was the most recent person to be buried in Mullinalaghta cemetery.)

In recent years after his second retirement, he and Emily returned to Ireland and it was there that he passed away after an illness of many years. He was predeceased by his parents and by his sister Kitty who died in infancy.

He is survived by his wife Emily, his sister Moira (Carra), his brothers D.P. and Martin (Cloonagh), his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, his relatives, friends, and neighbours to whom we offer our sincere condolences.

Patricks Funeral Mass took place on Friday, May 17 in St Columbas Church where the large attendance testified to the respect and esteem in which he and the wider Finnegan family are held.

The Mass was celebrated by Fr Michael Bannon PP assisted by Fr Peter Beglan and Fr Simon Cadam, both natives of the parish, and his interment in the local cemetery followed afterwards.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal.
A member of the Irish Defence Forces is to retire after serving for 42 years, while his son has just started a six-month tour in Lebanon.

Company Sergeant Martin Clabby, of the 6th Battalion in Athlone, Co Westmeath, will retire in three weeks and become Mr Clabby.

CS Clabby has served on 13 overseas missions, including nine tours in Lebanon.

He said he has loved his career in the Defence Forces and has got to see the world.

His son Nathan Clabby, a sergeant in the 6th Battalion, has just started a six-month tour with the 124th Infantry Battalion.

The father and son have served two tours of Lebanon together.

Over the weekend, Tanaiste Micheal Martin spent the weekend at Camp Shamrock in southern Lebanon where he spoke to Irish peacekeepers.

CS Clabby, who joined the army when he was 17, said: Retiring is going to be a bit of a shock to me, trying to get used to civilian life after 42 years in the army.

Ive already served twice with Nathan overseas and I know hes capable, so Ive no worries about him.

Asked about his time in the Defence Forces, CS Clabby said: Ill be honest, I love it. Everything (about it).

If youre into fitness, its a great job. The lifestyle, getting to see the world. Ive been to Africa twice, Liberia, Chad. Ive been to Syria. Ive been to Lebanon nine times. Ive been to Kosovo. So Ive got to see the world.

Liberia and Chad is where I really soldiered. I like that. Im a soldier there.

CS Clabby is also Recce qualified and has previously served as the battalion commanders eyes and ears.

Recce soldiers can operate up to 10km forward of the battalion, gathering information about terrain, routes and the enemy and feeding it back to battalion headquarters to enable decision-making and planning.

It can be scary. Youd be going through the jungle and then youd see the rebels and their checkpoints, he said.

So we used to stop short and it was my job then to walk forward and try and chat to them (rebels).

They would have rifles. So you had to tell them to sling their rifles, put it behind their back, that there was a full company of men coming behind and they mightnt take kindly to pointing their rifles at them.

Theyve already heard. There was a UN radio station set up out there and they were broadcasting every day and telling them that the UN were coming through and to tell them to sling their arms and they did. I have to say they did.

He added: I have loved every mission. Ive actually loved doing my job. Ive done different jobs, numerous different jobs. Come overseas, get on with it. Thats all you do.

Asked if he is proud of his son, he said: Yeah, super proud of him.

Sgt Nathan Clabby said he is looking forward to his mission, adding that he was delighted to be out in Lebanon.

He arrived at Camp Shamrock earlier this month and went into Groundhog within days.

Groundhog is the Defence Forces term for taking cover in bunkers.

The first one goes off, and you are thinking to yourself, right, Im here now, this is the real deal out here now at the minute. But like I said, weve done all our training before, so were ready for any incident that happens, Sgt Clabby said.

Asked if he is looking forward to his mission, he said: Yeah, cant wait, looking forward to it.

Ive been here before so Im kind of used to it now, but for the first timers, I say, it (Groundhog) would have been more of a shock to them. But look, like I said, we are trained and were ready to go.
Students from Ardscoil Phadraig in Granard, Moyne Community School, and Ballymahon Vocational School took part in the recent Student Enterprise Programme National Finals in The Mullingar Park Hotel.



Representing County Longford in the Junior category was Maria Kelly from Hats Scents at Ardscoil Phadraig in Granard.

Grainne McKenna and Sarah Mollaghan from Trendy Threads at Moyne Community School took part in the Intermediate category, while Kiera Hopkins, Lara Flood and Grace Cassells from Handle Holders at Ballymahon Vocational School participated in the Senior category.



There were 81 student businesses in contention across three main categories for the Final in what is Irelands largest entrepreneurship programme for second level students. The initiative is funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country.



This year, 28,000 students from almost 500 secondary schools across the country took part. Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 400,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business.

Also read: Longford film company Harp Media set for National Enterprise Awards Final



Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD congratulated all the students who took part. Congratulations to everyone who made it to the National Finals. With over 28,000 students taking part in this years programme, it is a huge achievement to make it to the Finals and shows a real flair for entrepreneurship. Some amazing businesses and entrepreneurs have come from this programme  the majority did not win any prizes but are still running successful businesses today.



Minister Burke continued, So, to those of you who won something, a huge congratulations, but most importantly, to you all, this is the first step on the path, you are the entrepreneurs and business leaders of the future and everyone here is excited to see what you do next.



Head of Enterprise with Longford County Council Michael Nevin said; Year on year the Student Enterprise Programme continues to showcase the very best of Irish ingenuity and entrepreneurship amongst our secondary school students. This year produced a varied selection of businesses, from agricultural products and homemade gifts to pet apps and seaweed harvesting and some amazing winners across the board.

Also read: Longford to host first ever Pride Parade and celebration



Mr Nevin added. We see every year that the National Finals are not an end point for our student entrepreneurs, but a stepping stone on the next stage of their entrepreneurial journey. From our class of 23/24 we hope to see some of our next great wave of Irish business leaders and global entrepreneurs emerge.

The National Final students who competed across three categories (Junior, Intermediate and Senior) were all in attendance and exhibiting their businesses on the day. Each student enterprise was challenged with creating, setting up and running their own business, which must show sales of their service or product.



The Student Enterprise Programme is open to students of all ages at secondary level, with three separate categories: Junior (first year), Intermediate (second and third year) and Senior (fourth, fifth and sixth year, LVA, Leaving Certificate Applied and Youth Outreach).

Also read: Longford based company Technimark set for further expansion



The three main category winners on the day were: Finnegan Fabrication High Lift from St Patricks Classical School, Navan, representing Local Enterprise Office, Meath (Senior), Esker Timber Creations from Presentation College Athenry representing Local Enterprise Office, Galway (Intermediate), and Carry Caman from Presentation Secondary School Castleisland representing Local Enterprise Office, Kerry (Junior).



Longford is no stranger to success at this competition. In May 2023, Caitlin Morris from Moyne Community School, County Longford created history by winning first prize in the Intermediate category at the National Finals of the Student Enterprise Programme with her mini enterprise named: Clip Clop Designs. The sustainable business repurposes horseshoes to make colourful decorations.



Other recent Longford successes include Best Endeavour in 2022 for Saoirses Bakes and Cakes from Moyne Community School; Best Commercial Potential in 2021 for Handy Hooks from Ballymahon Vocational School; Best Commercial Potential in 2018 for Reel Easy from Moyne Community School and second place in the Senior category in 2017 for J&S Kitchen Aid from Mercy Secondary School in Ballymahon.



The Student Enterprise Programme is one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, National Womens Enterprise Day, and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland

PROPERTY WATCH | Beautiful stone house with big sheds in Longford for sale for under 300k
Over 1,800 Longford properties in National Broadband Irelands (NBI) Lismacaffrey deployment area can now avail of a high-speed fibre broadband connection.



The area covers the rural surrounds of Edgeworthstown, Granard, and Killasonna as well as premises along the Longford-Westmeath county border near Lismacaffrey.



9,000 premises in Co Longford are included in the States Intervention Area, which will see NBI deliver minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second to homes, businesses, farms, and schools. As the biggest investment in rural Ireland since rural electrification, Co Longford will receive 34m of Government investment under the National Broadband Plan.

PROPERTY WATCH | Beautiful family home with retro feel hits the market in Longford for just 160,000



There are 1,810 Longford premises in the Lismacaffrey deployment area that can join the National Broadband Ireland network.

Works have already been completed in other parts of Longford and there are a total of 4,735 premises that can now pre-order or order high-speed, reliable broadband across the county with 1,661 connections made so far. National Broadband Ireland is calling on people to visit nbi.ie/map/ and enter their Eircode to see if they are ready to connect.



Network build works are also continuing across Longford with works in progress for almost 1,400 premises near Ballymahon and almost 2,100 premises near Aughnacliffe. Signing up to the NBI email notifications at https://nbi.ie/eoi/ is the easiest way to get the most up-to-date status of premises during the rollout and when premises will be ready for order.

Also read: Thousands of households could be eligible for this once-off payment of nearly 1500



Peter Hendrick, Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland, said: We are delighted to announce that over 1,800 Longford premises around Lismacaffrey can now order high-speed broadband services through the National Broadband Ireland network. This will enable those who connect to experience the life-changing benefits of high-speed broadband with minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second.

Also read: Another vacant property set on fire as Gardai seek witnesses to 'any unusual activity'



Over 4,700 homes, businesses and farms in Co Longford can now order a high-speed fibre connection to the National Broadband Ireland network.



This includes over 3,300 premises near Longford Town. We are working hard on the ground to progress other areas of the county through engineering survey, design and construction phases.



We are encouraging Longford residents to visit the NBI website to check their Eircode and sign up for updates.

Also read: Thirty-nine candidates in the race to fill eighteen Longford County Council seats
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: May 23 2024

I was happy to take part in the installation of the Little Free Library at West Meadow Beach again this year, remarked Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich.

Recently, Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich was at West Meadow Beach to celebrate the early installation of the Little Free Library kiosk, hosted by the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library in Setauket-East Setauket. It was installed early so that residents may enjoy reading the books on the beach during the spring and summer. The Little Free Library at West Meadow Beach has been a welcoming sign since 2016 that summer is just around the corner. This year, the library staff built a new structure from recyclable materials because the original had seen better days. The sides of the new Little Free Library were assembled from end caps of previous library shelving units and the legs were made from an old library chair. Pictured left to right are Lisa DeVerna, Emma S. Clark Memorial Library Manager of Marketing & Communications; Emily Ostrander, Head Teen Services Librarian; Jennifer Mullen, Librarian; Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich; Ted Gutmann, Library Director; and Town of Brookhaven Environmental Educator Nicole Pocchiare.

I was happy to take part in the installation of the Little Free Library at West Meadow Beach again this year, remarked Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich. The dedication of the Emma Clark Library to provide access to books and knowledge for the community, especially younger readers, is truly commendable. I see the positive impact this resource has on the residents of our town. Thank you to all involved for continuing this project for nine consecutive years.



The Take a Book or Leave a Book kiosk is located under the pavilion at West Meadow Beach. Visitors are encouraged to take a book and/or donate one. The books are all donated by the public and cater to all ages. The little library is possible thanks in part to many generous booklovers and Emma Clark Library teen volunteers who adopt the Little Free Library each week to ensure that it is neat, undamaged, and well-stocked. The books are not curated or owned by the Emma Clark Library, so they are not to be returned there. Any visitor to the beach can take a book or leave a book. You dont have to be a Three Village resident.



Little Free Libraries have become an international phenomenon since their inception in 2010 and established in Wisconsin as a nonprofit organization in 2012. According to the official Little Free Library website, there are over 150,000 registered book-sharing boxes across the United States and in 120 countries worldwide. Emma Clarks Little Free Library at West Meadow Beach is registered on www.littlefreelibrary.org and can be found on the sites official map of all Little Free Libraries.



Located at 120 Main Street in Setauket and on the web at www.emmaclark.org, the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library provides public library service to residents of the Three Village Central School District. To contact the library, call 631-941-4080 or email askus@emmaclark.org.

CREDIT: Town of Brookhaven
Two Men Sentenced to Up to Life in Prison for 2021 Baldwin Murder

Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: May 23 2024

Darin Semple and Devin Obleanis lured Rafael Delossantos to Baldwin where they ambushed and shot him to death.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced two men were sentenced to up to life in prison for their roles in the October 2021 murder of a 23-year-old man in Baldwin.

Darin Semple, 22, of Freeport, was convicted on March 25, 2024, after a jury trial before Judge Helene Gugerty of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony); Robbery in the First Degree (a B violent felony); and Robbery in the Second Degree (a C violent felony). He was sentenced today to 23 years to life in prison.

Devin Obleanis, 22, of Central Islip, pleaded guilty on September 9, 2022, before Judge Gugerty to Murder in the Second Degree and Robbery in the First Degree. He was sentenced on April 15, 2024, to 20 years to life in prison.

Rafael Delossantos young life was snuffed out by Darin Semple and Devin Obleanis, who lured the 23-year-old to Baldwin intending to steal from him, and killed him in the process, said DA Donnelly. These defendants callously ended Rafaels life and will spend decades in prison paying for their violence. Our thoughts remain with Rafaels family and friends as they continue to mourn his loss.

DA Donnelly said that on October 25, 2021, at approximately 1:51 p.m. on Victoria Street in Baldwin, Darin Semple, Devin Obleanis, and another unapprehended suspect, met with 23-year-old Rafael Delossantos. Obleanis sent text messages to the victim requesting to meet under the guise of buying marijuana.

The defendants pulled up behind the victim in their car, entered the victims vehicle and held Delossantos at gunpoint. The defendants and the unapprehended other then stole the marijuana and shot the victim two times before fleeing. Delossantos died as a result of his injuries.

Semple and Obleanis were both arrested on the Meadowbrook Parkway in North Merrick by detectives of the Nassau County Police Departments Homicide Squad and the Bureau of Special Operations on December 10, 2021.

The investigation into the unapprehended suspect is ongoing.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: May 23 2024

Effective as of January 1, 2025, every NY employer will be required to provide pregnant employees with up to 20 hours of paid prenatal leave during any 52-week period.

On April 20, 2024, Governor Hochul signed into law the new annual budget for New York State. This budget promulgated important changes for New York employers.

Paid Prenatal Leave

Effective as of January 1, 2025, every New York employer will be required to provide pregnant employees with up to twenty (20) hours of paid prenatal leave during any 52-week period. Prenatal leave may be taken for health care services received by an employee during their pregnancy or related to such pregnancy, including physical examinations, medical procedures, monitoring and testing, and discussions with a health care provider related to pregnancy. Prenatal leave may be taken in hourly increments and must be paid at an employees regular rate of pay. This leave is separate and apart from paid sick leave or another PTO to which an employee may be entitled.

Paid Nursing Leave

Effective as of June 19, 2024, employers are required to provide 30-minutes of paid break time for employees to express breast milk during the workday. Employees may also use existing paid break time or meal breaks for this purpose for time in excess of thirty minutes. Employees are eligible for paid nursing time for up to three years following the birth of a child.

Upcoming End to Paid Leave for COVID-19

Effective July 31, 2025, the COVID-19 Paid Leave requirement will officially sunset and come to an end. However, employers will still be required to provide paid COVID-19 leave to eligible employees until July 31, 2025.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding any of the above changes, or if we can assist with any other employment-related issues.

Kimberly B. Malerba, Esq.

516.663.6679

Nicole E. Osborne, Esq.
Israels IDF Chief of Staff meeting with officers in northern Israel on May 22. (IDF)

On the evening of May 22, a drone crashed near the community of Beit Hillel in northern Israel. It was one of a number of drone threats targeting the area in recent months and is part of a wider Hezbollah campaign using drones, missiles, and rockets against Israel. According to the IDFs routine proportional response to these kinds of threats, the IDF used fighter jets to strike terror infrastructure in the areas of Marwahin, Ayta ash Shab, and Rab El Thalathine in southern Lebanon, the IDF said on May 22.

There have been an increasing number of drone attacks by Hezbollah in recent weeks. Hezbollah has launched thousands of projectiles at Israel since October 8 when it began its attacks on Israel. It is difficult to quantify how many drones have been used in these attacks. However, what is clear from Israeli apps that track sirens in northern Israel is that drones are playing what appears to be a larger role in the attacks.



For instance on May 21, there were two widespread alerts caused by suspected drone infiltrations as well as three separate incidents involving other projectiles. On May 20, there were also two suspected drone infiltration incidents and three separate incidents involved rocket or missile fire. On May 19, there were at least eight suspected drone incidents and four rounds of sirens caused by other projectiles. In some cases, sirens can also be false alarms and the IDF does not always report every incident in which it downs a drone or a drone crashes or strikes a target. On May 18, there were 12 rounds of sirens related to drone threats, beginning in the morning and ending in the evening.

The most serious recent drone incident by Hezbollah was the terrorist groups use of a drone to attack a site 21 miles inside Israel. The drone struck a large Israeli surveillance blimp. On May 20, Israel also faced multi-front threats from drones. IDF fighter jets successfully intercepted a suspicious aerial target that approached Israel from Syria. The target did not manage to cross into Israeli territory. Sirens concerning a hostile aircraft infiltration sounded in open areas in the Golan Heights according to protocol, the IDF said. In addition, an Israeli naval ship and aircraft intercepted two drones that approached the city of Eilat. These were likely launched by pro-Iranian militias in Iraq who have increased their attacks on Israel using drones over the last several months.

The overall picture is that drones, or what are sometimes called one-way attack drones or kamikaze drones, are becoming a weapon of choice for Iranian-backed groups in the region. This includes Hezbollah, militias in Syria and Iraq, as well as the Houthis in Yemen. Iran has been exporting drone technology for years to these groups. The multi-front war on Israel which the Iranian-proxies launched in October in the wake of the Hamas attack has provided Iran with the ability to increase the use of these types of systems. Iran has also exported the Shahed 136 delta-wing kamikaze drone to Russia for use against Ukraine since at least 2022. A similar type of drone appeared in Yemen in late 2020.

Amid the increased threats from Hezbollah, Israels Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi HaLevi went to northern Israel on May 22 to visit the IDFs 551st reserve brigade as it conducted an exercise. The drill was intended to continue preparations for possible escalation in the north. The 551st previously served in Gaza.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
Apples location services are handy, with many useful functions such as Find My, maps, routes, and Emergency SOS calls. However, researchers at the University of Maryland have discovered a crucial vulnerability in the way Apples location services work, which could allow an unauthorized person to access data on millions of routers and potentially information on a persons movements without much effort.

As reported by Krebs on Security, Erik Rye and Dave Levin from the University of Maryland have discovered one aspect of Apples location services that works strangely.

Positioning via WLAN instead of GPS

GPS and its constant queries are energy-intensive, so smartphone manufacturers try to use alternatives when available. An economical method of determining a devices location is to analyze the data from surrounding Wi-Fi networks and calculate location based on the networks detected and the current signal strength. Apple and Google operate their databases with active Wi-Fi network names (Wi-Fi-based Positioning Systems, WPS for short), which make these calculations much easier.

The researchers discovered an oddity in the way Apples WPS works: the system sends the necessary data to the users device so that these calculations can be carried out locally. But apparently, Apples WPS server sends up to 400 other known Wi-Fi networks that may be in the approximate vicinity of the device as part of its crowdsourcing location database. From this list, the requesting device searches for eight possible variants and calculates its location based on this data. Apples WPS system, the iOS device, and the router on which the network is based operate with the so-called BSSIDs (Basic Service Set Identification) and usually correspond to the MAC address of the device, which is static in most cases.

Data from almost 500 million WLAN networks

The researchers took advantage of this fact and used a Linux computer (not a Mac) to query Apples WPS servers for valid BSSIDs and their locations. They simply created the initial BSSID for the request using a random generator.

Using the already known lists registered with the IEEE, which router manufacturers use for their products, the number of guessed BSSIDs can be narrowed down significantly. For their experiment, the researchers used 16,384 (2^14) randomly generated BSSID parts. The request via Apples APIs is free, so Rye and Levin sent 30 requests per second with 100 guessed BSSIDs.

You can disable Apples location services on your network so it wont be visible to Apples database. You can disable Apples location services on your network so it wont be visible to Apples database. Martyn Casserly You can disable Apples location services on your network so it wont be visible to Apples database. Martyn Casserly Martyn Casserly

In the experiment, the researchers queried a total of 1,124,663,296 BSSIDs, and around 0.25 percent (2,834,067), were known to Apple. However, due to the way Apples location calculation works, the servers also sent additional registered BSSIDs, meaning that the researchers obtained data from a further 488,677,543 Wi-Fi networks. The researchers monitored the data from almost half a billion Wi-Fi routers over the period from November 2022 to November 2023 and used it to make their observations, particularly in crisis regions.

Using the manufacturer part of the MAC address, Rye and Levin were able to identify around 3,000 Starlink terminals in Ukraine. During the period observed, it was also possible to determine the location of some of them. However, the information on the current static location alone is life-threatening in the wrong hands, as it indicates the location data of the Ukrainian military units.

In Gaza, the researchers also monitored the development of the number of registered BSSIDs and their movements. After October 7, 2023, and until the end of November 2023, the number of Wi-Fi networks registered in the Gaza Strip decreased by 75 percent, with some moving from north to south.

How to exclude your Wi-Fi from Apples database

The researchers contacted Apple, Google, Starlink, and several other manufacturers with their discovery. Its not clear if Apple will change the way it handles Wi-Fi networks, but it did update a support document to provide a way for anyone to opt out of this data collection.

To do this, you need to add the character string _nomap to the end of the name (SSID) of your network. This also applies to Google and its WPS. With Microsoft, you must enter your MAC address in a form so that the manufacturer can add it to a block list in its database. This can take up to five days.
World Health Organization scoping review calls for urgent action to tackle the impact of climate change on malaria and neglected tropical diseases

23 May 2024



The World Health Organization Task Team on Climate Change, in partnership with Reaching the Last Mile, has launched a critical review exploring the effects of climate change on malaria and 20 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and the potential impact of mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Published in the Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, this unprecedented scoping review uncovers significant gaps in evidence and understanding of the actual and potential impact of climate change on malaria and NTDs. The review, led by Dr Ibrahima Soce Fall, comes at a critical time, with much of the progress made against malaria and NTDs at risk if future climatic changes render previously effective interventions ineffective.

Rising temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns are altering vector breeding habitats and pathogen development, changing the geographical distribution of many diseases. The review proposes several key recommendations to guide future research, emphasising standardisation and collaboration in modelling efforts as most critical, given that the overall impact of climate change on these diseases cannot be confidently predicted with currently available analyses.

Malaria Consortium in collaboration with Uganda Virus Research Institute and other partners is working in Uganda on the FORECAST project  Forecasting outbreak risks from extreme climate with active surveillance technology  to improve early warning of outbreaks of malaria and arboviral diseases, which stem from the intricate effects of climate and extreme weather on disease transmission.

Dr Tarekegn Abeku, Malaria Consortiums Principal Advisor and co-principal investigator of FORECAST explains, The effects of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks due to extreme climatic events are compounded by factors such as population immunity, human and livestock mobility, and ecological changes. The challenge is made even more complex by the limitations of surveillance systems and the scarcity of diagnostic tools, leading to delayed outbreak detection and response. There is an urgent need for global action and investment in building resilient health systems. By enhancing outbreak preparedness, we can better protect communities from the escalating climate health risks.

The scoping review spotlights the importance of modelling, based on multiple, clearly defined scenarios across multiple geographies, emphasising that modelling efforts must not ignore populations where diseases are currently endemic. It also emphasises a greater research focus on mitigation and adaptation strategies to safeguard progress made against malaria and NTDs. Since existing studies do not adequately focus on areas where adaptation strategies are most needed, future research  driven by local scientists in countries most vulnerable to the effects of a changing climate  should prioritise geographies where disease burdens are highest and communities are disproportionately affected. Women, children, older people, and marginalised and migrant communities contribute least to climate change, and yet are most likely to feel its impacts.

The review concludes that integrating climate resilience into health systems is critical. This will be achieved through investing in health infrastructure, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and accelerating research and development by local scientists to address knowledge gaps, which have historically led to a lack of advocacy and therefore funding for some diseases.

Craig Bonnington, Malaria Consortiums Senior Technical Advisor, commented, The increasing impact of climate change on malaria and NTDs clearly threatens to undermine the hard-earned progress of past decades. Immediate engagement is essential to sustain effective disease control commensurate with the affected communities' needs, today and in the future.

To safeguard and build on global health gains, the global health community must continue to work in tandem with affected communities, and across sectors and disciplines to predict, prepare for and respond to evolving epidemiological patterns, ensuring the resilience of health systems and communities.

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BOSTON  Don Sweeney doesnt expect to go to arbitration with Jeremy Swayman again.

On Sunday, Swayman said he was confident he and the Bruins would come to a long-term agreement during the offseason. Sweeney said he shared the goalies optimism at Wednesdays end-of-the-season press conference.

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Its clearly a priority, and Jeremy knows that, I told him, Sweeney said. Its a priority now and it will continue to be a priority until we get that across the finish line. Hes a big part of our current team and our record in playoffs and our future.

Swayman is likely seeking to be paid like a No. 1 goalie and strengthened his case for that with a strong postseason. At 25, hes in his second season as a restricted free agent. Swayman and the Bruins went to arbitration last year to produce his $3.475 million contract. On numerous occasions, he mentioned he didnt like the process.

After dealing with what I did this summer with arbitration, hearing things that a player should never hear, it feels pretty special to be in this situation, he said after being named an All-Star in January.

I learned so much about the business side of things. It doesnt matter what happens away from the rink. Its all about what happens when you step through the doors every night. Im very grateful to be in the position Im in, Swayman said on Jan. 15. It was a great learning experience. Im not going to lean on it. Whats happened is happened, Im living in the present moment. It just goes back to the experience. I wouldnt be the human being I am and the player I am if I didnt go through it.

Sweeney said it was Swayman, who chose to go to arbitration, where the player and team are pitted against each other to convince and independent party, what salary a restricted free agent should receive.

Sometimes those things happen of course, and its not an indication of whether or not we didnt believe in Jeremy Swayman, he said. We clearly engaged in conversation during regular season to define the longer-term extension, we havent gotten there yet.
A local fast food chicken chain known for its insanely good chicken is opening up a new shop later this month.

Yas Chicken will open its new Brockton store on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27. The shop is located at 645 Crescent St. in Brockton, and will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, according to a Facebook post from Yas Chicken.

With sauces made in-house and its famous parmesan fries, Yas Chicken was founded with the mission of providing insanely delicious chicken, the food chains website reads.

The food chain has several chicken sandwich options, such as the Cheesy Chick (spiced chicken patty stuffed with pepper jack cheese, topped with mayonnaise and pickles) and the Mac Zaddy (spicy garlic-glazed friend chicken on a bun with Mac and Cheese), according to the chains menu.

Yas Chicken has four other locations in Burlington, Lynn, Lawrence and Providence, Rhode Island.
Are you making $20,000 more than you were about a decade ago? You might not be considered middle class in Massachusetts anymore.

In 10 years, the salary required to be considered middle class has changed by about $20,000 in Massachusetts, according to GoBankingRates.

The study looked at middle income ranges in 2012 versus how it comes in 2022 by using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The study defined middle class as those with an annual household income that was two-thirds to double the national median income.

Overall, the household income required to be considered middle class in the U.S. has increased by 41.67% during that time frame, the website stated.

In the U.S. in 2012, a household income of $35,364 qualified you as a member of the middle class. But by 2022, the household needed to make $50,099 to be considered middle class.

Those numbers are even higher in Massachusetts, the study suggested.

In 2012, those in the commonwealth were considered middle class if they made between $44,439 to $133,316. In 2022, Massachusetts residents needed to make between $64,337 to $193,010 to be considered middle class.

The 10-year change is 44.78%, one of the top 10 biggest changes in the U.S., according to the study.

A report by the Washington Post in February found that most Americans think of a middle class as a household income of $75,000 to $100,000.

The Pew Research Centers definition goes even higher than the GoBankingRates study suggested. It defines income levels for the middle class as between two-thirds to double the national median income, which is $67,819 to $203,458 for a family of four.
Cambridge police are asking the public for information regarding a sexual assault by a masked man with a knife that happened in the city last week.

On Friday, May 17, officers responded to the Cambridgepark Drive area after the assault was reported around 9:20 p.m., police said in a press release. The victim told officers theyd been sexually assaulted by a masked man with a knife in a bathroom inside a commercial building.

As part of their investigation, detectives are now asking the public to send them any home surveillance, cell phone or dash cam video from the Cambridgepark Drive area from the hours of 5 p.m. to midnight on May 17, police said. The footage need not show a potential suspect to be helpful to police.

Read more: Cambridge police investigating reported sexual assault by masked man

The Cambridge Police Department continues to use all means and resources at its disposal to investigate the assault with the help of the Middlesex District Attorneys Office and state police, it said. The department has also added extra patrols in the Cambridgepark Drive area as a precaution.

Anyone with information about the assault is asked to contact Cambridge police through their tip line at 617-349-9151 or online at cambridgepolice.org/TIPS. Both communication methods allow for anonymous tips.
A man who Malden police shot during a reported disturbance earlier on Wednesday carried a knife towards officers and is accused of assaulting and robbing a Malden woman, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryans office.

At around 9:15 a.m., police were notified of a disturbance at 260 Eastern Ave., Ryans office said in a statement. Police found Dominique Matthew Long, 31, of Malden, in an altercation with a woman, 43. She and a witness previously called 911 and reported that Long carried a knife.

Officers spoke with Long but he did not at first comply when ordered to put down items he carried, Ryans office said. Long then dropped his possessions but pulled out a kitchen-style knife from his pants pocket and moved toward the officers.

Police used Tasers on him, but these were ineffective, Ryans office said. One officer then shot at Long and struck him.

Long was then taken to a Boston hospital and he is in stable condition, Ryans office said. The woman was also hospitalized and released.

A police officer was also taken to an area hospital but was later released.

Early findings in the investigation suggest that the woman was walking in the area of Eastern Avenue when Long threw a cup at her before he struck her in the head with his fist, Ryans office said. The woman then tried to record him with her iPad before he took out the knife. Long then kept walking along Eastern Avenue and threatened another person with the knife.

Long was charged with armed robbery, assault and battery, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and intimidation of a witness, Ryans office said. He will be arraigned when medically cleared, the statement rea.

The investigation remains ongoing.
A second suspect in a fatal shooting that happened in Fall River in December 2023 was arrested by authorities in Connecticut on Thursday, according to authorities.

Puerto Rico resident Lee George-Maldonado, 28, was wanted on charges including murder and armed kidnapping in connection with the death of Juan Manuel Batista Castro on Dec. 23, the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed. Police found Castro dead on his porch around 5:20 p.m that day after responding to a report of a shooting, the Bristol County District Attorneys Office said previously.

Read more: Fall River man shot and killed IDed as Juan Manuel Batista Castro

Another suspect in Castros murder, 22-year-old Angel Fabian Robles-Nicasio, was previously arrested in Willimantic as part of a large, gang-related arrest on Jan. 23, the district attorneys office said previously. Robles-Nicasio was charged with Castros murder soon after the arrest and is still being held without bail, but it is unclear where.

Last week, a grand jury indicted George-Maldonado on charges related to Castros death, the district attorneys office said in a press release.

Then, earlier this week, U.S. marshals and Willimantic police began an investigation into his whereabouts with the help of Massachusetts State Police and Fall River police, according to a press release from Willimantic police. In the early morning on Thursday, law enforcement officers from several different departments carried out an arrest warrant at a Taylor Court home where George-Maldonado was hiding out and arrested him without incident.

George-Maldonado is facing a fugitive from justice charge in Connecticut, according to Willimantic police. He is being held on a $2 million bail, but is expected to be arraigned Thursday.

If George-Maldonado waives rendition at his arraignment, he will likely be returned to Massachusetts to face the charges related to Castros death soon, according to the district attorneys office. If he refuses to waive rendition, returning him to Massachusetts will take longer.

George-Maldonado is also wanted on domestic violence charges out of Puerto Rico, according to a press release from the U.S. Marshals Service.

No further information about Castros murder has been released.
With just over five months until Americans cast their ballots in the 2024 presidential election, former President Donald Trumps legal battles continue as he looks ahead to debating President Joe Biden in June.

A lot has changed since the beginning of the year, as some of Trumps cases have been stalled indefinitely or are likely to continue after the election, regardless of who wins.

But two of his trials have since concluded.

One of these trials was the civil case with author E. Jean Carroll, who accused the former president of raping her in the 1990s and subsequently defaming her when she told her story in 2019. After she was already awarded $5 million in 2023, a judge ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million on Jan. 29, CNN reported.

Then on April 22, Trumps business fraud case was settled. Trump, his sons and several associates were ordered to pay more than $450 million in total, according to a statement from New York Attorney General Leticia James office.

As part of the settlement, Trump was banned from serving as an officer or director of any New York company for three years, and from applying for loans from any New York bank or financial institution for three years. His sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump were also banned from serving as an officer or director of any New York company for two years.

For years, Donald Trump engaged in massive fraud to falsely inflate his net worth and unjustly enrich himself, his family, and his organization, James said in the statement. While he may have authored The Art of the Deal, our case revealed that his business was based on the art of the steal.

Amidst his legal battles, he and Biden have agreed to two debates to be held on June 27 and Sept. 10, following a back-and-forth between them on X, formerly known as Twitter, and on Truth Social.

Trump has pleaded not guilty in all of the criminal cases, and he has denied accusations of wrongdoing in the civil cases. Here are the ongoing criminal cases and one trial that Trump faces going into the debate season and the general election.

Stormy Daniels trial

This was the first criminal case against the former president after he was met with 34 charges in connection with falsifying business records to pay hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels at the end of the 2016 election, NBC News reported.

The former presidents first criminal trial began on April 15. Despite a gag order, Trump has since been held twice in criminal contempt, been fined $10,000 for violating the gag order 10 times, and threatened with jail time, Politico reported.

Daniels and Trumps former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen both testified, though the former president chose not to despite verbally saying he wanted to testify. Testimony concluded on Tuesday, May 21, with closing arguments expected to be heard on May 28, according to the AP.

The classified documents case

Trump was indicted in June 2023 for taking classified national security documents in January 2021 from the White House, at the end of his administration, to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Documents were stashed throughout the resort, with attempts to retrieve the documents by the federal government regularly obstructed by Trump, Politico reported.

One year prior, the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago and left with 102 documents with classified markings. With the formation of a special counsel led by Jack Smith, his team requested an indictment of the former president by a Florida grand jury.

The indictment charged Trump with 32 felony counts of violating the Espionage Act, six felony charges of obstruction, and two counts of making false statements. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled the case can go to trial on May 20, 2024, PBS reported.

The trial would have started this week on Monday, May 20. However, Cannon postponed it indefinitely to resolve pretrial conflicts, Politico reported. She also asked prosecutors and defense attorneys to prepare two sets of jury instructions based on competing interpretations of the Presidential Records Act, which Trump previously cited as a reason to dismiss the case altogether.

2020 Election interference case

Special Counsel Smiths investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol Building resulted in a Washington grand jury-approved indictment of the former president for attempting to defraud the 2020 election to stay in power, the AP wrote.

Trump was met with three conspiracy charges and one count of obstructing an official proceeding. Prosecutors said he asserted he was still president knowing it was false, and pressured state and national legislators, including then-Vice President Mike Pence, to ignore Joe Bidens electoral victory.

The trial was due to start on March 4, but Judge Tanya Chutkan postponed it indefinitely on Feb. 2 without a new date set, Axios reported.

Georgia election interference case

Following the 2020 election, Trump made a phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find him the exact number of votes needed to win the state.

This phone call led to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis opening a criminal investigation in February 2021 that eventually saw Trump and 18 associates being charged with 41 felony counts, including racketeering and conspiracy in August 2023, ABC News reported.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee dismissed three of Trumps counts in the indictment on March 13, the AP reported. Less than a month later, McAfee rejected Trumps argument that the indictment seeks to criminalize political speech protected by the First Amendment.

Scandal also marred the case when Willis admitted to having a relationship with the special prosecutor she hired, resulting in his withdrawal, according to the AP. Still in her role, Willis won the Democratic primary election on Tuesday, May 21, The Georgia Recorder wrote.

Due to several delays, its not clear when the case could go to trial. Different legal experts told MSNBC and Fox 5 Atlanta that there is a likely chance it could go to trial in 2025, well after the November election.
A second Central Massachusetts town is at risk of shutting down its schools and laying off its staff after its residents voted by a wide margin to reject a proposed school budget.

Winchendon Town Meeting members voted Monday against a $17.4 million school budget proposed by Interim Superintendent Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen, Winchendon Town Manager Bill McKinney confirmed to MassLive on Tuesday. McKinney said that 267 voters attended the meeting, with 65% voting against the budget and 35% voting in favor of its passage.

Jacqueline Reis, Communications Director for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), told MassLive that Winchendon has until July 1 to pass a school budget. If no budget is passed, Winchendon Public Schools will have no money for the school year, resulting in all schools being shut down with teachers and school staff laid off from their jobs.

Reis confirmed that this was the second time in two weeks members of a town meeting had voted down a proposed school budget. Last week, the members of the Uxbridge Town Meeting voted against a proposed school budget by a margin of 221 to 216. According to Reis, a Town Meeting voting down a local school district budget is considered extremely rare.

Like Uxbridge, they will not have any money to operate their schools unless they approve a school budget, Reis said. And like Uxbridge, they still have time to pass such a budget.

McKinney told MassLive that another school budget will be brought back to Winchendon voters before the July 1 deadline for another vote but a meeting has not been scheduled as of May 22.

We will have to have a Special Town Meeting prior to June 30 to pass a budget, McKinney said. We are working on that timeline now.

Anger about cuts and administrative salary increases

During the meeting, voters spoke out against the $17.4 million budget, primarily expressing their anger over a proposed increase in the superintendents salary and the cutting of some positions.

According to the budget, the salary for the superintendent position rose from $172,700 in fiscal 2024 to $190,550 in fiscal 2025. The budget also cuts eight vacant positions, one full-time paraprofessional position, two full-time elementary school teaching positions and two full-time secondary school teaching positions. The budget also states that three additional elementary school teachers will retire from their positions, offsetting the need to cut three more positions.

Jennifer Hutchings, a Winchendon resident who attended the meeting, told MassLive that she voted no on the budget as she felt uncomfortable with how the money was being spent and expressed concern about how $144,000 was being spent on curriculum-based items.

That money could have been spent in other ways, Hutchings said. It potentially could have saved some positions.

A mother of three Winchendon Public School students, Hutchings said she thinks the School Committee is not listening to parents concerned about how the town allocates school funding. She expressed worry about the cuts to teaching positions and sent emails and telephone calls to several committee members. Despite sharing her concerns about the budget multiple times, the School Committee still voted in favor of the budget on April 11 on a margin of 3-0.

They need to know we are paying attention, Hutchings said. We care about our children and our teachers. They are much more than numbers on a spreadsheet.

Before the Town Meeting, Interim Superintendent Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen sent out a press release explaining that the budget cuts were the result of the decrease in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III funding that was distributed by the Department of Education since 2021. Petruno-Goguen wrote that the district faces challenging financial limitations as ESSER III funds become less available, giving way to some positions being eliminated. She clarified that of the positions eliminated, only four full-time employees were forced to leave because of the budget and decrease in enrollment. She added that those four individuals will be able to move into open positions if they become available.

School budget cuts are often difficult and upsetting, she wrote. I hope that the facts provided here and reviewed in the School Committee Chairs letter help clarify our positive intentions on behalf of the students of Winchendon, and help us to move forward together.

Petruno-Goguen did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment on Wednesday.

Regarding salary increases, Winchendon School Committee Chair Karen Kast-McBride told MassLive the $172,700 allocated for the superintendent position last year was the salary of former superintendent Thaddeus King and not the current salary of Petruno-Goguen. When King ended his term on July 31, 2023, the School Committee had to create a contract for an interim superintendent. Kast-McBride said the School Committee offered a contract to Petruno-Gogue worth $185,000, citing her previous experience as a superintendent for the Town of Webster. Kast-McBride said that because the contract was not part of last years budget appropriations, it was not listed in the fiscal 2025 budget. She said If the budget were to pass as is, Petruno-Goguens salary would only increase by a margin of $5,000, not $17,850.

The previous superintendent had zero experience, whereas she had 13 years of prior experience as a superintendent, Kast-McBride said. She also had prior experience as a school counselor, a teacher and in multiple other positions.

Despite Kast-McBrides explanation, many attendees were still angry over the proposed budget. When Kast-McBride attempted to clarify how the salary increases worked, many attendees booed her and told her they would vote against any pay increase for Petruno-Goguen.

She should not get any increase, period, one attendee yelled at Kast-McBride.

A rift between the interim superintendent and teachers union

The vote against the proposed budget comes a week after 90% of the Winchendon Teachers Association (WTA) voted in favor of a no confidence vote in Petruno-Goguen as an interim superintendent.

In a press release, the WTA criticized Petruno-Goguens proposed budget, arguing it prioritizes administrative salaries and curriculum materials over teaching positions. The union also accused Petruno-Goguen of creating a poor workplace environment.

The Winchendon Teachers Association emphasizes the urgent need for a Superintendent dedicated to the long-term welfare of the district, the union wrote. The association stands united in its commitment to advocating for the best interests of educators, students, and the broader school community.

In her press release on Monday, Petruno-Goguen responded to the union and accused them of spreading misinformation about the budget. She went on to write that those in the district leadership team had a better understanding of the situation than the WTA.

Budget reductions are painful, she wrote. I would contend that the leadership team and school committee have a clearer understanding of the financial constraints facing the system than the staff who took the no-confidence vote.
A New Orleans man was indicted on voter suppression charges in connection with impersonating President Joe Biden ahead of the New Hampshire primary election, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formellas office announced Thursday.

Steven Kramer, 54, was indicted on 13 counts each of felony voter suppression and misdemeanor impersonation of a candidate, Formellas office said in a statement.

On Jan. 22, an investigation started looking into reports of thousands of New Hampshire residents who said they got robocall messages asking them to save [their] vote for the November election and stating [y]our vote makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday, Formellas office said.

Residents heard what sounded like a recorded message of the president, but was in fact artificially generated, according to Formellas office. The message was spoofed to falsely show that it was sent by the treasurer of a political committee that supported the New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary write-in efforts for Biden.

The charges are spread across four counties based on the 13 residents across Rockingham, Belknap, Grafton and Merrimack counties who received the robocalls.

New Hampshire remains committed to ensuring that our elections remain free from unlawful interference and our investigation into this matter remains ongoing, Formella said in the statement. The Federal Communications Commission will separately be announcing an enforcement action against Mr. Kramer based on violations of federal law. I am pleased to see that our federal partners are similarly committed to protecting consumers and voters from harmful robocalls and voter suppression. I hope that our respective enforcement actions send a strong deterrent signal to anyone who might consider interfering with elections, whether through the use of artificial intelligence or otherwise.

The FCC also proposed two fines in connection with the robocalls. One phone proposed a $2 million fine for Lingo Telecom, which sent out these calls and falsely labeled them with the highest level of caller ID attestation and for apparent violations of the commissions caller ID authentication rules, according to one statement from the FCC.

The agencys second statement proposed a $6 million fine for Kramer for the spoofing violations.

The calls apparently violated the Truth in Caller ID Act by maliciously spoofing the number of a prominent local political consultant, the statement read. ... Commission rules prohibit knowingly causing the transmission of inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm or wrongly obtain anything of value. Mr. Kramers conduct apparently runs afoul of this rule.
A United Airlines flight heading to San Francisco from Boston was forced to make an emergency landing in Denver on Tuesday due to a potential mechanical issue, the latest incident involving Boeings 737 MAX planes.

The flight landed safely in Denver, and United arranged for the 177 customers to board another plane to get them to their destination. Officials did not say what exactly forced the emergency landing.

Flight Aware, an online flight tracking system, shows the flight left Boston at 6:34 a.m. and landed in Denver at 11:28 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The subsequent flight from Denver to San Francisco departed at 2:24 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating the incident.

The plane, a Boeing 737 MAX 9, has raised safety concerns in the past  including most recently with the blowout of a door plug on an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

The Max is the newest version of Boeings 737, a twin-engine, single-aisle plane that debuted in the late 1960s and has been updated many times. The 737 has long been a workhorse for airlines on U.S. domestic routes.

New 737 Max jets crashed in 2018 in Indonesia and 2019 in Ethiopia, killing 346 people. Boeing reached a $2.5 billion settlement with the Justice Department in January 2021 to avoid prosecution on a single charge of fraud  misleading federal regulators who approved the plane. Boeing blamed the deception on two relatively low-level employees.

Boeing has come under renewed scrutiny since that Alaska Airlines flight in January, when a door plug blew out of a 737 Max, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the jetliner. The company is under multiple investigations into the blowout and its manufacturing quality. The FBI has told passengers from the flight that they might be victims of a crime.

Prosecutors said they will meet on May 31 with families of passengers who died in the two Max crashes. Family members were angry and disappointed after a similar meeting last month.

Investigations into the crashes pointed to a flight-control system that Boeing added to the Max without telling pilots or airlines. Boeing downplayed the significance of the system, then didnt overhaul it until after the second crash.

After secret negotiations, the government agreed not to prosecute Boeing on a charge of defrauding the United States by deceiving regulators about the flight system. The settlement included a $243.6 million fine, a $500 million fund for victim compensation, and nearly $1.8 billion to airlines whose Max jets were grounded for nearly two years.

Boeing has faced civil lawsuits, congressional investigations and massive damage to its business since the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Editors note: A few hours after this article was published, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy confirmed the first 2024 sighting of a white shark in Massachusetts.

Shark-bitten mammals have been spotted off the coast of Massachusetts in recent weeks, signaling the return of white sharks to New England for the summer, according to the New England Aquarium.

Although we havent seen a white shark just yet this season, we know theyre here. With beach weather in the forecast and Memorial Day Weekend approaching, this is a good reminder for people to review shark safety guidelines and be shark smart, New England Aquarium Scientist John Chisholm said in a press release.

Just this week, the aquarium received a report from a fishing charter company of a minke whale with a white shark bite near Chatham, the aquarium said. Additionally, in late April, Chisholm discovered a seal with fresh bite marks in Plymouth.

A seal was spotted near Plymouth with a fresh white shark bite in late April.John Chisholm/The New England Aquarium

White sharks return to the Massachusetts coast every summer to feed on seals and other prey and can at times come close to the beaches, the aquarium said. This is why its important to be aware of sharks presence in shallow waters.

The aquarium also recommends avoiding areas where seals or schools of fish are visible and staying close to shore where emergency responders can reach you if needed.

You can report shark sightings and stay informed on shark activity in Massachusetts through the Atlantic White Shark Conservancys Sharktivity app. Sharktivity tracks white sharks movement through local coastal waters and can alert you when there may be a shark nearby.
The Bay States two U.S. senators are spearheading an effort to help states such as Massachusetts that are dealing with the rising costs of providing essential services to new arrivals.

Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey and Richard Durbin of Illinois sent a letter to U.S. Sen. Christopher Murphy of Connecticut, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committees Homeland Security Subcommittee, asking for authorization of a new $500 million Destination Reception Fund.

The fund, intended to complement the Federal Emergency Management Agencys existing Shelter & Services Program, would provide support for such basic services as housing, health care, workforce development and legal assistance as new arrivals work to transition out of emergency shelters.

As you develop the Fiscal Year 2025 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill, we urge you to expand federal assistance to destination states and localities helping families and individuals attain self-sufficiency, the lawmakers wrote to Murphy, and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, of Alabama, the panels ranking Republican.

In a statement obtained exclusively by MassLive, the lawmakers also call on Senate budget writers to set aside $20 million to create an Office of Reception Coordination within the Department of Homeland Security that would share timely information about released populations with receiving states and localities to better plan local responses.

The statement from Markey, Warren and Durbin came even as lawmakers in the Massachusetts Senate debated a $57.9 billion budget proposal that includes hundreds of millions of dollars in new funding for the states strained emergency shelter system, which provides services to new arrivals and permanent Massachusetts residents alike.

The Democratic Healey administration has pegged the cost of the system at more than $900 million a year for the next two years. But neither a budget bill passed by the House nor the one under consideration by the Senate for the new fiscal year that starts July 1, cover the cost of the system.

As lawmakers have passed, and the governor has signed, patchwork funding measures to help cover the systems rising costs, Healey and her allies in the Legislature repeatedly have called on policymakers on Capitol Hill to send help.

Last month, Warren and Markey, who cast procedural votes against a compromise immigration reform bill, called on DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to send support to Massachusetts and other states through the Shelter & Services Program.

The two senators were joined on that letter by all nine members of the Bay States U.S. House delegation, all of whom also are Democrats. The agency eventually released $7 million for Massachusetts from the program.

This week, Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill announced plans to revive the bipartisan reform proposal, as Republicans once again threatened to tank it, NBC News reported.
A recent stretch of warm, dry weather in Massachusetts came to an end Thursday afternoon with the possibility of strong to severe storms passing through the central and eastern parts of the state, National Weather Service forecasters warned.

The storms may bring damaging wind and hail to the state in the second round of storms on Thursday. Earlier in the morning, forecasters said one cluster of showers and thunderstorms moved through southeastern Massachusetts to Cape Cod and another to the west moving into Connecticut.

Forecasters said the cloud cover and showers would limit the heating potential across the region and would bring lowered temperatures.

A Flash Flood Warning was issued for Southeastern Bristol Country around 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, and forecasters warned of flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven and Acushnet were all expected to see the impacts of the flooding, forecasters said.

Drivers encountering flooded roads should turn around rather than attempt to drive through them. Forecasters noted that most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
For being spring, it felt like summer in parts of southern New England on Wednesday.

Several cities in Massachusetts hit highs just under 90 degrees as of 4 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Worcester reached a high of 86 degrees, while Boston hit 89, according to the post.

But further south, Hartford and Windsor Locks blew past 90 degrees and reached a high of 93, forecasters said.

[First 90+ Degree Day in 2024] Hartford/Windsor Locks records the first 90+ degree day in 2024 in Southern New England.



Current look at high temperatures as of 400 PM: Hartford/Windsor Locks 93, Boston (Logan Airport) 89, Worcester 86, Providence 85.  NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) May 22, 2024

Forecasters previously anticipated Massachusetts cities like Greenfield and Lawrence would breach 90 degrees, while Hartford originally would have hit a high of 87.

We should see a few more locations join the 90-degree club before things start cooling this evening, forecasters said.

Temperatures should stay warm going into Thursday, but forecasters expect a chance of thunderstorms hitting parts of the region between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. with accumulations of 1 and a half inches looking possible.

As these warm temperatures have hit parts of New England, the weather services air quality alerts remains in effect until 11 p.m. on Wednesday. These alerts apply to eastern Hampden and Hampshire counties, as well as Worcester, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex counties.
Within the first 72 hours of June, it wont be a starman waiting in the sky, but what youll see could still blow your mind.

At dawn on June 3, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune will line up in the sky in a planetary parade, according to Star Walk Astronomical News, the planetarium phone app.

Most of the planets should be visible to the naked eye, weather permitting, though Star Walks website stated that a telescope or high-powered binoculars will be needed to see the two planets furthest away from Earth, Uranus and Neptune.

A planetary parade is the colloquial term used to describe a planetary alignment, according to Star Walks website.

The term is also used to describe multiple planets seen together in one night. For example, a mini planetary alignment consists of three planets while a small planetary alignment is made up of four planets. Five or six planets seen together make a large planetary alignment, and all of the Solar Systems planets (even occasionally including dwarf planet Pluto) seen together makes whats called a great planetary alignment.

But dont expect the planets to look like a perfect string of orbs in the sky, Preston Dyches of NASAs Skywatching Tips video series told the Los Angeles Times.

Contrary to many reports and social media postings, there will not be a string of naked-eye planets visible on June 3, he told the Times via email. Mercury and Jupiter will be far too low in the sky at sunrise. Even under ideal conditions (a dark sky, free from light pollution) Uranus is very dim and challenging to spot. The skyglow near dawn makes matters worse.

The big question for June 3 will be the weather on that day across parts of Massachusetts. Depending on the city, you might only see clouds and rainfall, specifically if you live in or around Springfield, according to AccuWeather.

Its likely to be another story in Worcester and Boston, which should both see some sunshine but could also have clouds and rain, forecasters said.
TURNERS FALLS  Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection will be hosting remote hearings on FirstLights application for the states water quality certification.

Both hearings will take place virtually and will be open to the public.
SPRINGFIELD  The state would like to see at least 80% of all third graders reading proficiently every year, but now that idea is mostly a pipe dream.

Educators are now hoping that a new state Literacy Launch will give schools of all sizes and income levels a better chance to increase the number of children who are reading and reading well by the time they reach the third grade.
Two western Massachusetts men in separate child rape cases both pleaded guilty, according to Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gullunis office.

On May 9, Thomas Ciccolini, 48, of Chicopee, was sentenced to serve 12 to 14 years in prison while Roberto Vasquez, 41, of Springfield, was sentenced to 10 to 12 years in prison, Gullunis office said in a statement released Wednesday. They pleaded guilty in Hampden Superior Court to aggravated rape of a child.

Ciccolini was charged with eight counts of aggravated rape of a child, posing a child in a sexual act (two counts), indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and possession of child pornography, Gullunis office said. Along with his sentence, Ciccolini was sentenced to three years probation.
Renowned Sligo banjo player and respected figure in the traditional music community, Theresa OGrady, has been appointed as the Artist in Residence for Scoil Acla 2024.

The highly anticipated Scoil Acla Summer School returns to Achill Island from July 28 to August 3, 2024. This year's festival promises to be yet another remarkable celebration of traditional Irish music, culture, language and heritage, attracting enthusiasts from near and far.

Renowned Sligo banjo player, Theresa OGrady, has been appointed as the Artist in Residence for Scoil Acla 2024 and follows a long line of distinguished artists.

Expressing her excitement, O'Grady remarked: I'm absolutely honoured to be chosen as this year's Artist in Residence at Scoil Acla 2024. The opportunity to be involved with this long-established summer school is both a privilege and a pleasure.

Im excited to collaborate alongside esteemed teachers and passionate students who share a love for our music and furthermore, to contribute to the rich traditions of culture that Scoil Acla represents. I will take great pleasure in sharing my banjo knowledge, advice, and guidance throughout the week with a few stories and many, many tunes thrown in for good measure, she said.

With almost 70 percent of courses already sold out, the 2024 edition is shaping up to be one of the most popular in recent years. As usual, participants will have the opportunity to engage in a week filled with immersive workshops, captivating performances and vibrant music sessions. This year, Scoil Acla is delighted to announce that it is the 'Year of the Banjo' shining a spotlight on this beloved instrument and its significance in Irish traditional music.

This year's programme also includes a poignant event, 'A Night for Noel', in remembrance of the late Noel Kilkenny, a cherished Scoil Acla tutor and esteemed Mayo musician. The event will bring together friends, family, and students to honour Noel's legacy and celebrate his contributions to the world of traditional Irish music.

Cathaoirleach of Scoil Acla, Sarah Calvey said: Scoil Acla 2024 is set to be yet another unforgettable week of learning, music, and community. We are thrilled to welcome Theresa O'Grady as our Artist in Residence and to celebrate the 'Year of the Banjo' this year. Amongst our usual long-standing events, our 'Night for Noel' will be a heartfelt tribute to a wonderful musician and friend who left an indelible mark on all of us.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming old friends and new to Scoil Acla 2024, Calvey concluded.

Scoil Acla Summer School offers a diverse range of courses, including music, dance, language and crafts, catering to all skill levels from beginners to advanced practitioners. The unique setting of Achill Island provides a picturesque backdrop for this enriching cultural experience.

For more information and to secure your place at Scoil Acla Summer School 2024, visit www.scoilacla.ie. An early bird offer runs right through to the end of June so book today to avoid disappointment.
Westport-Belmullet Municipal District have designated a post office and shop in Erris to apply for a gambling license following a contentious vote at their monthly meeting.

The casting vote of Sean Carey, Cathaoirleach of the municipal district, and the abstention of Cllr John OMalley, gave permission for Carrowteige Post Office & Shop to apply to the courts for a license for a gambling machine on their premises.

The matter required approval from the municipal district under Part 111 of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956.

One submission on the matter was received by May 17, from Westport-based county councillor Christy Hyland, citing concerns over the negative impact that gambling can inflict.

The former garda said: I have personal experience of when I was in the force of the misery...where parents hearts are broke, where young teenagers get addicted to the machine, using all their pocket money.

If we adopt that [motion], what kind of a message are we sending out? Does that mean that in a month or six months time someone else will be coming in dealing with applications to have arcades in our town, which Id be totally opposed to. I think its wrong, very wrong.

The Independent councillor questioned how much extra footfall it would generate for the shop given the very sparse population of the area.

It baffles me why the survival of a shop is dependent on a one-arm-bandit, he commented.

Westport-based Independent county councillor Christy Hyland (Pic: Michael McLaughlin)

According to the 2022 Census, the two small areas closest to Carrowteige village had a population of 163.

Cllr Gerry Coyle, who proposed the motion, said that the closure of the shop would force locals to travel 40 miles for a litre of milk.

Cllrs Brendan Mulroy and Peter Flynn voiced similar concerns as Cllr Hyland regarding the machine.

Catherine McConnell, Director of Services for the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, said there was no provision for the council executive to make any formal recommendation on the matter but said they would have no objection.

The matter has been rejected by elected members when it appeared before the municipal district on previous occasions.

Cllr Hyland and Cllr Mulroy expressed disappointment that the executive member of the council did not oppose the motion.

I too, know people who have huge gambling issues  addictions. Believe me, it creates havoc, it ruins peoples lives, said Cllr Mulroy.

Cllr Flynn also voiced concerns about the impact of gambling, which he described as a silent disease.

Cllr Coyle is right, the phone is available, people can do all the online gambling at night, but were not sanctioning it here. Thats the difference.

Ms McConnell clarified that the matter was being brought before the municipal district council as the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland had not yet been established.

When established, the new state body will have powers to regulate gambling in Ireland and will aim to raise awareness around the issue.

Ms McConnell explained that the gardai will have the opportunity to object to the granting of the license after person seeking to operate the gambling machine presents in court.

She added that the council does not formally object to people selling lotto tickets or betting office.

My understanding is that this facility has been operating for in excess of 20 years with no gardai even objecting to it. This is a formality that had been overlooked in the process at some point in time, she said.

Addressing the meeting online, Cllr Coyle said that the person operating the facility presented at court every year before a judge discovered that it had not been formally designated.

The Fine Gael councillor said that the shop was providing a lifeline to people in the community.

We are not giving a license to this place, said the Geesala-based councillor, who said the facility was operating two tiny machines in a room the length of a radiator.

Theres not a one-arm bandit now, theres a one finger-bandit and its stuck in your pocket there now. Thats called a phone, and thats where people are gambling.

Cllr John OMalley (Independent), who previously opposed approving the license, abstained on the vote on the grounds that it was not in his area.

Cllr Hyland alleged that Cllr OMalley was got at for altering his stance on the matter after previously voicing concern over the effects of gambling.

Its a unique situation, its not in may area, its in a very rural area, and as far as I am concerned, I am abstaining, said Cllr OMalley.

Theres no people down there for it to cause misery to, he added.

Cllr Brendan Mulroy (Fianna Fail), Cllr Peter Flynn (Fine Gael) and Cllr Christy Hyland (Independent) voted against granting approval while Cllr Gerry Coyle (Fine Gael), Cllr Paul McNamara (Fianna Fail) and Cllr Sean Carey (Fianna Fail) voted in favour.

Cllr OMalleys abstention resulted in a even split of councillors for and against the motion, which was then passed by Cllr Careys casting vote.
MAYO TD Michael Ring has described a proposal to accommodate students from Westports Sacred Heart Secondary School at a building earmarked for one of the oldest schools in Mayo as a waste of taxpayers money.

Deputy Ring accused the Department of Education of letting Holy Trinity NS down after the former Scoil Phadraig was proposed as temporary accommodation for the nearby Secondary School.

Holy Trinity NS  whose existing building has been deemed not fit for purpose  were to be accommodated at a new school building in the former Scoil Phadraig on Altamount Street.

As it stands, the building is to be used as temporary accommodation for the Sacred Heart Secondary School, who are currently using modular accommodation on their school pitch.

Speaking in the Dail, Deputy Ring voiced disgust that neither Minister for Education, Norma Foley, nor the Minister of State for Education, were available to respond to his question.

I am extremely unhappy with the manner in which Holy Trinity National School are being treated and I will continue to highlight this at every available opportunity, said Deputy Ring.

Responding to Deputy Ring in the absence of Minister Foley, Fine Gael Minister of State Colm Burke said the existing proposal was the only viable solution to meet this urgent accommodation need in the timeline required.

Minister Burke said that Scoil Phadraig would only be used by Sacred Heart School students as an interim measure, adding that the Minister wants to reiterate the Departments commitment to the Holy Trinity National School project and getting it delivered as quickly as possible.

The Department is conscious that the use of the former Scoil Phadraig building as an interim solution for Sacred Heart School has raised some concerns on the part of the Holy Trinity National School community. In that context, the Department has had productive engagement with the schools patron, the Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe, said Minister Burke.

The Department officials have confirmed to the patron that there is a continued commitment to the delivery of the Holy Trinity National School project and set out some assurances and proposals of how the Department can support Holy Trinity National School in the interim as well as enhancing the overall outcome for the school in the medium term.

Minister Burke added that the Sacred Heart School project had been slotted into a delivery programme with existing project management support that would mean that the Sacred Heart School project is just one stage behind the Holy Trinity National School project.

He added that the safe operation of both schools was of paramount importance to the department.

While the interim works on the Scoil Phadraig building will serve as a first phase for the Holy Trinity National School project, the progression of the project for the remainder of the works will be managed in tandem with the Sacred Heart School project, to facilitate the commencement of the works upon the vacation of the building by the Sacred Heart School. Every effort is being made by the Department to fast-track the project, he added.

In reply, Deputy Ring said it was a waste of taxpayers money to renovate this building for temporary accommodation.

Local county councillor Brendan Mulroy has called on the Sacred Heart Secondary School to reject the offer of accommodation from the Department when the issue was raised at the May meeting of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District.

Cllr Mulroy has previously accused the Department of Education of discrimination against Holy Trinity NS on the basis of their Church of Ireland ethos.

A proposal to co-locate the school with Educate Together at the former Scoil Phadraig was scrapped following opposition.
Financial documents, electronic devices and a luxury Volvo were among assets seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) in during operations in Dublin and Donegal.

Support was provided to CAB officers by Gardai attached to the Milford District, Donegal Division, the Regional Armed Support Unit, Garda Dog Unit and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB).

The searches were carried out early on Wednesday, May 22 in county Donegal and west Dublin.

Over 70 personnel were involved in 23 searches of dwellings and business premises across Donegal and Dublin West.

Among the items seized or frozen in the course of this Wednesday's operations were a 2023 registered Volvo XC90, electronic devices, financial documents and up to 73,000 in a bank account.

"Todays searches relate to an ongoing investigation into the assets of persons suspected of being involved in drug trafficking on an international level," a spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said in a statement.

The search operation was conducted as part of an on-going proceeds of crime investigation targeting assets, including real estate, deriving in whole or in part from the proceeds of criminal activity.

"This particular investigation was supported by a number of Good Citizen Reports (GCRs) and also with the assistance of a Divisional Assets Profiler."

The organised criminal gang (OCG) at the heart of this investigation "operates within this jurisdiction as well as Scotland, Spain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)", the garda spokesperson continued.
by Fern Siegel , May 23, 2024

Old Mout Cider kicked off a summer campaign starring its Kiwi brand mascot, set in the fruity island fantasy world of Moutopia.

The new digital, OOH ads showcase Old Mouts delicious, natural fruit flavors and combinations.

The campaign, by London-based creative agency St Lukes, introduces Moutopia, where people live together harmoniously, side by cider. It runs through September.

A 30-second spot illustrates how Old Mout's flavors work together: pineapple and raspberry, strawberry and apple, berries and cherries, kiwi and lime. Old Mout (rhymes with fruit) is a 65-year-old cider.

The ad shows a kiwi bird springing from the Old Mout Cider logo and using a zip wire to get to an island made of pineapple. He harnesses a pineapple slice to build a bridge to an island of raspberries, before using blueberries to make stepping stones to the cherry island.

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The rap soundtrack is performed by Native Music, based on lyrics by St Lukes.

The spot has online and social elements launching this month, including a Snapchat filter that brings Moutopia to life. OOH activity begins in June, running across the U.K.

Alan Young, joint chief creative officer, St Lukes, said: The opening line of our Moutopia song says it all the joy of a fruit bowl is not in one fruit alone. Inside every bottle of Old Mout, delicious natural fruits come together in perfect harmony, so our aim was to celebrate Old Mouts natural, blended fruit flavors by showing how people, no matter how different, can blend and mix together just as perfectly.

St Lukes has been the brand agency for Old Mout since 2014. The New Zealand cider is owned by Heineken.

The agency's roster includes Ocado, Tyrells and Heathrow.
by Tanya Gazdik , May 22, 2024

TikTok is laying off a large percentage of the 1,000 employees in its global user operations, content and marketing departments.

The ByteDance-owned app plans to disband its global user operations team, which handles user support and user communications, staffers told The Information, which was the first to report the news.

Employees affected will be notified today or Thursday, according to The Information's report.

The video-sharing app already laid off dozens of employees at the top of the year, but The Information noted TikTok rarely carries out large-scale layoffs like those that have been more common at other tech companies, according to Business Insider.

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Ironically, the Chinese-owned company just yesterday announced its Change Makers Program, which highlights fifty creators across the globe who create content that aims to make a positive impact, according toMedia Daily News.

TikTok's alleged downsizing comes just weeks after President Joe Biden signed a law banning the platform in the U.S. unless it is sold to an American company, according toDaily Mail.

The law gives ByteDance until Jan. 19 to sell TikTok, which used by 170 million Americans, to a U.S.-based company or face a ban.

The law prohibits app stores like Apple, and Alphabet's Google, from offering TikTok and bars internet hosting services from supporting the short video app unless ByteDance divests TikTok, per Daily Mail.  The White House has said it wants to see Chinese-based ownership ended on national security grounds but not a ban on TikTok.

A group of TikTok creators last week filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court seeking to block the proposed law.

"Although they come from different places, professions, walks of life, and political persuasions, they are united in their view that TikTok provides them a unique and irreplaceable means to express themselves and form community," said the lawsuit.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, May 22, 2024

LG Ad Solutions launched the first 3D native digital display on its platform for the collection of high-end jewelry brand Chaumet's Josephine Aigrette, with support from Teads and Publicis Media Luxe International.

Chaumet, one of the oldest Parisian jewelers, as founded in 1780 and is renowned for its tiaras, which have been worn by European royalty, including Empress Josephine, Queen Victoria, and Princess Grace of Monaco.

For the very first time this luxury brand showcased its rings and bracelets in a 3D advertising format on connected television (CTV).

This initiative showcases Teads and LG Ad Solutions' commitment to innovation, but also highlights the strategic importance of these markets in consumer technology.

Rachid Ait Addi, senior vice president of strategic accounts at Teads, said the companies have worked together for several years, but in 2023 developed more of a creative strategy.

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They reached out to us with a more ambitious project that included motion and connected TV screens to show they are not an old luxury brand, but modern and dynamic and that they embrace new consumer behaviors, Ait Addi said.

He said consumers will click on the ad, which takes them to the Chaumet website to make a purchase.

Attention to detail in their projects is also evident in the creative. The rendering of 3D, which launched about two months ago, is viewed showing the details of reality, he said.

The international campaign -- which was broadcast in France, South Korea, the Middle East, and Japan -- ensures qualified visibility.

By using LG's ACR Data, the campaign explicitly targets high-income individuals and those with a strong interest in luxury, art, culture, watches, and jewelry.

The ad targets consumers with the largest LG screen, 72-inches and larger, for example, and those who pay for an ad-free experience on CTV.

Digital out-of-home (OOH) assets were adopted for the CTV screen from Chaumet's 3D campaign -- elements from a Piccadilly Circus billboard, broadcasting them within its premium environment among the largest publishers.

Chaumet continues to innovate with Teads and Publicis Media Luxe International, its dedicated media agency, by broadcasting its Josephine Aigrette creations in 3D on the LG Home Screen in several markets including France, Belgium, and eight global markets.

Other luxury brands have also embraced the 3D advertising unit, such as automotive.
by Ray Schultz , May 22, 2024

Riverfront Times, an alternative weekly serving the St. Louis area, has been sold and its entire editorial staff laid off, according to local reports.

The name of the buyer has not yet been reported at deadline. The seller is Big Lou Media, which acquired the Riverfront Times in 2023.

Sarah Fenske, former executive editor of Riverfront Times, says the staff knew something was up when Big Lou Media owner Chris Keating asked for a meeting Wednesday morning, according to St. Louis Public Radio.

Ive been in journalism long enough to know thats not good news, Fenske says.

There indeed was bad news  that the entire writing and editing staff was laid off, Fenske adds.

While somebody has purchased the RFT, its not going to be what the RFT was, Fenske continues, St. Louis Public Radio reports. My best guess is that this is just going to be one of those websites that is a shell of its former self. Thats devastating for St. Louis journalism.

Riverfront Times was founded in 1977.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 22, 2024

Federal lawmakers have made some advertiser-friendly revisions to a bipartisan privacy bill that would regulate the collection and use of consumers' data.

Among other changes, the new draft of the bipartisan proposed American Privacy Rights Act, unveiled late Tuesday, appears to require businesses to allow consumers to opt out of online behavioral advertising -- meaning ads served based on cross-site and cross-app data.

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce is scheduled to mark up the bill on Thursday.

The new language relating to online behavioral advertising is less restrictive than language in the original version, which was introduced last month by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington). That version, widely considered ambiguous, would have either required companies to obtain opt-in consent for online behavioral advertising, or banned such advertising altogether, depending on interpretation.

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In addition to provisions relating to behavioral advertising, the current bill would require data brokers to let consumers opt out of data collection, and request deletion of their data.

The measure additionally would allow consumers to sue over violations.

Chris Oswald, executive vice president at the Association of National Advertisers, said Wednesday the organization is still reviewing the revised draft, but is pleased that some of the revised language appears to reflect the importance of advertising in driving economic growth and funding a vast array of popular digital services.

He added that there are still critical issues in the bill that need to be addressed, including onerous restrictions on third-party data providers, which would prevent businesses of all sizes from delivering valuable offers, content, and services to consumers."

A coalition of business and ad organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce and Association of National Advertisers, separately expressed concerns about various provisions in the bill -- including one that would authorize private lawsuits.

That provision would empower plaintiffs attorneys to engage in sue-and-settle tactics, the coalition said in a letter sent to lawmakers on Wednesday.

Companies acting in good faith and not engaging in willfully harmful activity will be forced to agree to pay expensive settlements or risk costly litigation, that letter states.
by Teresa Buyikian , May 22, 2024

Shake Shack continues to shake things up in the burger wars, launching a classic summer BBQ burger menu for those not inclined to fire up the BBQ themselves.

The new line-up, available nationwide May 24 for a limited time, highlights two different types of BBQ flavors.

The Smoky Classic BBQ Burger (also known as the Red Burger) features American cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, pickles, crispy onions and Shake Shacks smoky BBQ sauce on a toasted potato bun. The new Carolina BBQ Burger with Fried Pickles (also known as the Gold Burger) features pepper jack cheese, applewood-smoked bacon and Shake Shacks new tangy-sweet Carolina-style BBQ sauce, also on a toasted potato bun.

It really comes down to taste, Shake Shack Vice President of Brand Marketing Mike McGarry told Marketing Daily on the choice of BBQ for the summer menu. Both the classic BBQ sauce and Carolina style pair perfectly with our 100% Angus beef blend. When we shared these burgers with some of our biggest fans the feedback was great. It hit the perfect note of finding a familiar classic and using our culinary chops to elevate it.

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Customers can also add sides like the new BBQ Fries and BBQ Cheese Fries, with BBQ seasoning and served with a choice of Shack BBQ or Carolina BBQ sauce.

As far as marketing the new BBQ offering goes, McGarry hinted at a yet-to-be-announced collaboration. From curated creator partnerships that live across social channels to one of the most unexpected partnerships the category has seen, we will ensure Shake Shack and BBQ sauce fans know about our BBQ menu.

Shake Shack fans can get early access to the new burgers before Friday by ordering through the chains app.
by Danielle Oster , May 22, 2024

Its perhaps unsurprising that a band that followed up its major commercial breakthrough with an album called Insomniac is awfully fond of coffee. And Ahead of an upcoming tour, the members of Green Day have partnered with Keurig Dr Pepper to launch a new coffee brand called Punk Bunny Coffee -- a reference to the bands mascot.

Green Day is no stranger to the coffee category. Its members brewed up a previous regional coffee brand, Oakland Coffee. That brand initially served as fuel for friends, family, and the tour bus crew, growing out of their initial rounds of roasting coffee in small batches, using Fair Trade and organic beans. That focus on sustainability is central to the Punk Bunny brand as well.

As part of the collaboration with Keurig Dr Pepper, Punk Bunny Coffee will be the first brand to launch all of its r K-Cup pod varieties in new pod varieties that use easier-to-peel lids, which make it easier to recycle the pods.

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Punk Bunny Coffee will also support Green Days Fueled By Love initiative, distributing a portion of profits for every bag or pod sold to the initiatives community nonprofit partners. For Punk Bunnys initial quarter, those organizations are: One Tree Planted, Oceana, Keep Memory Alive, Eat.Learn.Play., and The Ron Finley Project. The brand will also send out newsletters highlighting the work of its partner organizations

According to a release, the band wanted to take a more hands-on approach to the roasting process than they had with Oakland Coffee. To bring the brand to life, they merged with an unspecified artisanal, family-run coffee roaster out of Ohio to maintain more control over the line of coffee blends made with Fair Trade Certified, organic coffee beans. It also leaves open possibilities for fun collaborations, the brand notes.
by Barbara Lippert , Columnist, May 22, 2024

Of all the Wes Anderson films Ive loved, this one is right up there, in its signature mesmerizing, stylized way. (It even includes a long shot of a pile-up of luggage.) But its also funny in an atypically laugh-out-loud way.

Also uncharacteristic is the films three-minute length. Thats because its an ad -- or perhaps more of a sophisticated shill -- for Montblanc, the storied German luxury goods and penmaker.

But the biggest difference is that Anderson wrote, directed, produced and stars in this production. And hes perfect in establishing its formal, stumbling, weirdly promotional but totally charming tone.

Im still immature enough to laugh at long German words whose meaning I dont know. So I started giggling right at the beginning, with the title, 100 Years of Meisterstuck.

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Although this one seemed easy to translate. It sounded like masterstroke to me.

In this 180-second German romp, our main character, Wes, translates the word with the umlaut properly to Masterpiece, the title of the popular Montblanc pen introduced in 1924.

He says he admires the classic pen, but prefers the one he designed himself, which he has named Schreiberling (German for scribbler.)

Hes not kidding. His designer pen is a mini version with a green and yellow cap that will be released in the spring of 2025.

Not in the commercial is the fact that the maestro apparently showed up with the design when he arrived on set, unbidden by the Montblanc execs, but they are rushing it into production.

Lets go back to the actual spot, as worthy an ad for the filmmakers brand as it is for Montblanc.

It opens on Anderson, face visible from under a fur-hooded parka, standing against what looks like a mountain peak in the Alps, holding a rope and a pickaxe. Theres a biting wind a blowin and the snow is coming down. He introduces the mountain and its namesake company, and packs a lot of Montblanc information in.

Hes quickly joined by collaborators/pals Jason Schwartzman and Rupert Friend, who make a perfect triangular composition in the frame as they talk about the company and correct each other on historical details of Meisterstuck and its retractable nib (theres a word I love). Friend is the nib expert. He comes in from the rear, carrying the Montblanc Flag with its stylized snowcap logo which he announces directly, though we can see it.

Theres something in the freezing conditions, the snow, and the serious, exacting tone that reminds me of old Timex commercials. One spot from 1971 affixed the timepiece to the bottom of a ski to show that it takes a lickin. This ad is more meta.

The trio leaves to trudge inside a house. Its dropped like 10 degrees in 15 minutes, Anderson says as they move into a lovely wooden ski-chalet-like interior. He had me wondering if they actually shot the spot in the French Alps, but (spoiler alert) it was all part of a meticulous set and sound stage in Germany that will be recreated in various places around the world to go along with the Meisterstuck anniversary promotion. Currently, part of the set is reassembled in a Montblanc pop-up store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. It will be open until July.

One theme that keeps coming up among the three of them is Montblancs two slogans: Inspire Writing, and Make Your Mark.

The spot is in three parts: After the initial setup, the group hits the library, where Anderson announces that Montblanc produces excellent pens and watches. Friends holds up a bag and adds, This article is an example of the very good leather goods while Schwartzman shows some more pens, in a carrying case, as if he lifted them from a store.

"Lets make our way to the writing room, Anderson says, and the trio moves to the third part of the spot at the top of the house. I furnished it with very good paper and ink and leather goods, Anderson announces. Schwartzman adds and pens.

Anderson decides that all three of them should sit down and write, and tells his mates I thought I might write a novel set during the times of feudalism. Friend offers to read the first line in his plummy English accent, and does a comforting job of it: It was a week before the solstice when Little Helmut finally realized that he was being hunted by a polar bear.

They sit there scratching away with their luxury pens on the nice paper and make more dual slogan jokes.

It does leave its mark.
by Tanya Gazdik , May 22, 2024

Mazda North American Operations recently partnered with BirdDog Technologies on an experiential program for the 3-row Mazda CX-90.

BirdDog allows automotive brands to plan brand experiences with great accuracy. The Mazda program achieved a 70-point increase in Net Promoter Score an 118% of the attendance goal.

The company's advanced research techniques captures real-time consumer insights. By providing market-specific insights, its proprietary event planning platform enables brands to activate at locations most likely to resonate with prospective customers.

The exceptional results underscore the effectiveness of a more targeted, community-based alternative to traditional auto shows, driving meaningful engagement and brand affinity, says Kevin Killip, CEO of BirdDog Technologies, in a release.

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Through advanced research methodologies and technology, BirdDog captures consumer lifestyle that drives meaningful brand experiences and affinity.

The company has also recently worked with Polestar on a 32-market tour for its Polestar 2. The result was three times the forecast conversion rate.

BirdDog also worked with Toyota on events for its BZ4X electric vehicle in 24 markets. The result was double the hot lead rate, according to BirdDog.
by Colin Kirkland , May 23, 2024

In an effort to combat hate groups and violent extremism online, anti-extremism group Life After Hate is launching a new channel that is intended to help individuals disengage from violent extremist groups and hate space on the social messaging and live-streaming platform Discord.

Life After Hate, which was founded in 2011 by two former violent extremists, describes The Daily Former Discord -- its new Discord channel -- as a multi-level public engagement tool designed to help those currently engaged in violent extremism, those looking to exit such hate groups, and those who have successfully left lives of hate behind, reengaging in society.

Online spaces, including Discord, can be used to do both great good and horrific evil, said Patrick Riccards, Life After Hate's executive director. With a growing number of individuals looking to take accountability for their involvement in violent extremism, we must do all we can to engage in places seen as familiar and safe. If one can be recruited into an extremist group on Discord, one can successfully disengage with the help of Discord.

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To accomplish its goal, Life After Hate's Discord channel will provide monitored discussions on a range of issues, including current events, health and wellness, accountability, and life after extremism. Discord users can also use the channel to engage with others who have successfully disengaged from violent extremism, discussing how to leave, how to effectively tell their story and more.

The Discord channel is based on Life After Hate's The Daily Former (TDF) podcast, which launched in April 2023 and features conversations with former members of violent extremist groups, family members of former extremists and experts in violent extremism.

While Discord, a platform known mostly for its gaming communities, continues to update its hateful conduct policy to protect targeted users, the app harbors extremist groups and leaders trying to manipulate a younger generation of users on private servers. Weeks before the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Discords Counter-Extremism analysts reported a 13-year-old boy to the FBI for planning in detail to carry out a mass shooting at a temple in Ohio.

'At the time of the event, Discords VP of safety and trust John Redgrave said, We have a zero-tolerance policy against hate and violent extremism, and when we see it, we take immediate action. However, the platform has often struggled to act in time. Earlier this year, a teenager in Iowa killed a sixth grader, wounded several others at his school, and killed himself after posting about gearing up for the attack on Discord in a channel dedicated to school shootings.

According to a national survey conducted by Life After Hate in late 2023, two-thirds of Americans believe violent hate crimes have increased over the past decade. However, one third believe that those guilty of ideologically driven violence are capable of change. Overall, the group is trying to prove otherwise.

Change is possible, but only when one takes accountability for their past actions and responsibility for doing what is necessary to disengage from hateful ideology, Riccards said.
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

APA Dr. Preethi Balasubramanian. (2024, May 23). Green Tea Power: Matcha Mouthwash Takes on Periodontitis . Medindia. Retrieved on Oct 12, 2024 from https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/green-tea-power-matcha-mouthwash-takes-on-periodontitis-215818-1.htm.

MLA Dr. Preethi Balasubramanian. "Green Tea Power: Matcha Mouthwash Takes on Periodontitis". Medindia. Oct 12, 2024. <https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/green-tea-power-matcha-mouthwash-takes-on-periodontitis-215818-1.htm>.

Chicago Dr. Preethi Balasubramanian. "Green Tea Power: Matcha Mouthwash Takes on Periodontitis". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/green-tea-power-matcha-mouthwash-takes-on-periodontitis-215818-1.htm. (accessed Oct 12, 2024).

Harvard Dr. Preethi Balasubramanian. 2024. Green Tea Power: Matcha Mouthwash Takes on Periodontitis. Medindia, viewed Oct 12, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/green-tea-power-matcha-mouthwash-takes-on-periodontitis-215818-1.htm.
The Coast Guard said Tuesday that the chaplain serving its 7th District was fired due to a "loss of confidence" in his abilities to fulfill his duties -- the second chaplain fired by the service in recent weeks.

Navy Cmdr. Cristiano DeSousa, a Presbyterian chaplain, was relieved by the 7th District commander for what a Coast Guard official described as "poor judgment and performance constituting a breach of trust with the workforce."

The chaplain position provides pastoral care to roughly 9,000 members and is a trusted adviser to the commander, 7th District Public Affairs Officer Lt. Cmdr. John Beal said.

Read Next: Air Force General Charged with Sexual Crimes Has Retirement Request Denied by Service Secretary

But DeSousa's performance breached that trust, Beal said.

"His performance undermined his position of leadership and authority, and the Coast Guard has higher expectations of officers in these key leadership positions," Beal said in a statement Wednesday to Military.com.

The relief is the second of a Coast Guard chaplain in less than a month and the third of a high-profile Coast Guard member during the same time period.

The Coast Guard relieved the chaplain of the Coast Guard, Navy Capt. Daniel Mode, on April 24, also citing "loss of confidence in his abilities to fulfill his duties."

According to the service, Mode failed to take action when he was made aware of sexual misconduct by another chaplain that had taken place prior to the other chaplain joining the Navy and serving in the Coast Guard.

And Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Timothy Beard was temporarily relieved May 3 while the service investigated alleged inappropriate misconduct.

The Coast Guard announced May 15 that Beard's firing was permanent, citing "loss of confidence in his judgment and ability to fulfill his assigned duties."

Beal said DeSousa's relief is unrelated to Mode's removal.

Coast Guard chaplains are Navy officers. DeSousa will be reassigned to the Navy Chaplain Corps, where the service will determine his professional future.

DeSousa had served as 7th District chaplain, based in Miami, Florida, since July 2023. Beal said the district chaplain position will remain unfilled until a permanent replacement is named.

A Navy spokeswoman said that as a matter of policy, the "Navy does not comment or speculate on any pending administrative and disciplinary actions or internal personnel movement."

"The relief is based on the Coast Guard's loss of confidence in Commander DeSousa's ability to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of this key leadership position," said Lt. Lauren Larar with the Navy's Office of Information.

DeSousa earned his commission in 2006 and a master's degree in theology from Duke University in 2018. He has served with Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard units and previously was assigned as chaplain for the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Okinawa, Japan, according to press releases.

Related: Chaplain of the Coast Guard Fired for 'Loss of Confidence' After Not Acting on Case of Sexual Misconduct
A Marine stationed at Twentynine Palms, California, was killed in a park near the base Monday night in what local law enforcement authorities called a "completely random act of violence."

Gunnery Sgt. Robert James McDonald, 35, was in his car at a park with his dog just 10 miles south of the installation when 18-year-old Rudy Garcia fired a weapon into the vehicle's cabin, according to a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department press release Tuesday.

"Without provocation, Garcia fired his firearm into McDonald's vehicle," the sheriff's department said in the release.

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McDonald, who was hit by the gunfire, attempted to drive away, but lost control of his vehicle and collided with another car. Deputies provided care to McDonald, but he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

"The command is grieving with the family and fellow Marines of the deceased and is working diligently to provide them with much-needed support during this difficult time," Staff Sgt. Victoria Ross, a spokesperson for Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, told Military.com on Thursday.

At approximately 7:49 p.m. local time, authorities with the Morongo Basin Sheriff's Station responded to a call that several individuals, one of whom was Garcia, were drinking alcohol and "causing a disturbance" several blocks east of the dog park.

A local resident spoke with the individuals, who became confrontational. Garcia fired several shots at the resident before fleeing toward the park where McDonald and his dog were in their car. There, authorities said, Garcia approached McDonald's car and shot him.

Gloria Huerta, a public information officer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, confirmed to Military.com on Wednesday that McDonald was a Marine. She said that Garcia did not have any affiliation with the military.

Ross also confirmed that McDonald was stationed at the base at the time of his death, assigned to the Marine Corps Logistics Operations Group. Ross said that McDonald served as an operational contract support specialist and enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 7, 2010.

"This was completely a random act of violence," Huerta said. "There was no connection between the two."

Authorities recovered a handgun that they believe Garcia used in the shooting. Garcia was charged with murder and is ineligible for bail, according to inmate records reviewed by Military.com.

"The dog is safe," Morgan Cole, with the Palms-N-Paws Animal Shelter, told Military.com on Wednesday of McDonald's dog, which was in the car with him at the time of the shooting. "It did come to our facility for a short amount of time, and then we released it to a close family friend," who he said was McDonald's dog sitter.

KESQ, a local news channel, first reported the shooting based on the press release, which did not mention that McDonald was a Marine.

The shooting at Twentynine Palms happened two days after another service member, Army Pfc. Katia Duenas-Aguilar, 23, died in what authorities are investigating as a homicide near Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information from Twentynine Palms.

Related: 101st Airborne Soldier Murdered in Off-Base Residence Near Fort Campbell in Kentucky
A 19.5% pay hike for junior enlisted service members next year is one step closer to reality after the House Armed Services Committee advanced its must-pass defense policy bill Wednesday night.

The committee voted 57-1 to approve its version of this year's National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, that includes a host of measures aimed at improving quality of life in the military. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., was the lone "no" vote.

The committee approval came after a 12-hour meeting -- a comparatively short session by committee standards -- in which lawmakers also rehashed contentious debates they've had in recent years about diversity and COVID-19, though with less intensity than before.

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This year's House version of the NDAA is intently focused on military quality-of-life issues after the House Armed Services Committee empaneled a bipartisan group of lawmakers to study problems harming service members' well-being. As committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., noted at the top of Wednesday's meeting, this year's bill was even given a different official name than normal: the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act.

"We did that to underscore the tremendous gains this bill makes toward improving the quality of life for our service members and their families," Rogers said. "No service member should have to live in squalid conditions. No military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children. And no one serving this country should have to wait weeks to see a doctor or a mental health specialist."

The bill advanced by the committee endorses a 4.5% raise for service members of all ranks, in line with the Biden administration's budget request and the federal formula for calculating annual military pay raises.

But the bill would also give E-1s through E-4s another 15% raise on top of that, meaning those troops would get a total 19.5% raise next year if the bill becomes law as is.

Other major compensation-related provisions include increasing the Basic Allowance for Housing to cover 100% of housing costs rather than the 95% it does now and expanding eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance to help more troops facing food insecurity access the benefit.

To help fix the military's dilapidated barracks, the bill would require the military to report to Congress the full cost of maintaining the housing. In recent years, the military services have funded facilities sustainment at only about 80% of what's actually needed, lawmakers have said.

Culture war fights were more muted during the committee debate this year than last, but lawmakers still got some swings in.

The committee spent an hour and a half debating a pair of amendments from Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., to ban affirmative action at the military service academies and consideration of race in accessions, promotions and command selections. Both amendments were approved along party lines.

Last year, the Supreme Court banned race-based college admissions practices but exempted the service academies from its ruling. The same advocacy group that won last year's case has since sued to end affirmative action at West Point and the Naval Academy, but the Supreme Court earlier this year declined a request to intervene before lower courts consider the cases.

Affirmative action at the military academies "violates the military's long-standing meritocratic principles and undermines public confidence in our military," said Banks, who is running for the Senate this year.

Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Va., countered that "focusing on making sure that our armed services reflect the diversity of the country it protects and that the officer corps reflects the diversity of the country it protects will make us stronger and will make us safer."

After a short back-and-forth between Republicans and Democrats, the committee also approved by voice vote an amendment from Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., that would require the Pentagon to "develop and implement a strategy to specifically recruit" former service members who were discharged over their refusal to follow the since-repealed COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Pentagon officials have said they've reached out to those who were discharged to let them know they are allowed to reenlist but have found little interest in doing so.

The committee also easily adopted a range of less controversial but potentially consequential amendments, including ones to automatically register all 18- to 26-year-old men for a potential military draft rather than making them register themselves; allow service members to fill prescriptions for up to a year's worth of birth control at once so they don't have to worry about access while they are deployed; and conduct an independent study on creating a new branch of the military devoted to cybersecurity.

The NDAA now heads to the House floor with an expected vote by the full chamber in the coming weeks. The Senate Armed Services Committee will also consider its own version of the NDAA next month, followed by the full Senate. The House and Senate will then need to negotiate a compromise version of the bill before it can become law.

Related: Must-Pass Defense Bill Includes 4.5% Military Pay Raise on Top of 15% Increase for Junior Enlisted Troops
Governors would retain the right to nix proposed transfers of units from their National Guards to the active-duty Space Force under a measure approved by a House panel that significantly waters down a controversial Air Force plan.

The amendment to the House Armed Services Committee's National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, would also make transferring units optional, rather than required, if the legislation becomes law.

The changes, which were proposed by Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., to ensure governors approve of any transfers effectively defang a Department of the Air Force proposal that drew fierce opposition from the National Guard, every governor in the country, and a sizable number of lawmakers in both parties.

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Retired Maj. Gen. Francis McGinn, the president of the National Guard Association of the United States -- the nonprofit organization that has lobbied heavily against the Air Force's plan, praised Wilson's revisions.

"I respect the work of the Armed Services Committee on the issue. We look forward to continuing to work with them and the full Congress on matters pertaining to the Guard, our membership, and the defense and security of our nation," McGinn said in a Military.com interview Wednesday. "We do thank Rep. Wilson for taking the lead on the amendment that was passed."

Last month, Air Force officials submitted proposed legislation for consideration in Congress to transfer space-focused, state-controlled units out of the Air National Guard to the Space Force, where they would become part of the active-duty military. Most concerning for opponents, the proposal called for those units to be transferred by circumventing laws that require approval from governors.

The Air Force plan is meant to build up the part-time, active-duty service model that Congress approved for the Space Force last year in lieu of a new Space National Guard for which some lawmakers have advocated.

But opponents piled on criticism that the proposed legislation usurps governors' authority over their National Guards and ignores the will of Guardsmen who signed up to serve their states in addition to the country.

Leaders from the National Governors Association, a nonpartisan policy organization representing state authorities, spoke with Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall about their concerns over the proposal earlier this month but did not get assurances it would be pulled.

"Governors from both parties in all 55 states and territories unanimously object to the proposal to transfer certain National Guard units out of states, and the continued failure of the Air Force to meaningfully consider gubernatorial authority is very concerning," the National Governors Association wrote earlier this month. "We appreciated the opportunity to speak directly with Secretary Kendall, and we are disappointed that he did not commit to withdrawing the proposal."

While the fight over the authority of the Air National Guard's space units has brought staunch opposition from the National Guard Association, McGinn said following the amendment there's no bad blood between the Air Force and his organization.

"Disagreeing on a particular issue has not hurt that long-standing relationship with the Air Force," McGinn said. "We have the utmost respect for them as a force, the utmost respect for the secretary and the chief of staff of the Air Force."

As opposition swelled, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., softened his support for the Air Force plan and included in his first draft of the NDAA a version of the proposal with some changes meant to appease critics.

Among the changes Rogers made was to cap the number of Guardsmen who could be transferred at 580. He has said only 578 Guardsmen from six states are needed to fulfill the Air Force plan.

Rogers' proposal also required the Air Force to find a new position for any Guardsman who doesn't want to transfer to the Space Force, and it prohibited the Air Force from moving units to new states after they're transferred, among other tweaks.

The amendment approved during Wednesday's committee debate on the NDAA further guts the Air Force plan. It strikes the language that allows the units to be transferred without approval from the governors and says that the Air Force "may" transfer units, rather than "shall."

The amendment also requires the Pentagon to submit an annual report to Congress on how the transfers affected the Space Force and Air National Guard's capabilities and any challenges that arose during the transfers.

The amendment was approved by voice vote with no debate as part of a package of a few dozen bipartisan amendments.

Wilson, the amendment's sponsor, was one of 85 lawmakers who signed onto a letter earlier this month imploring the committee to keep the Air Force proposal out of the NDAA. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., one of the lawmakers who organized the letter, praised Wilson's amendment.

"This is an important step to protect our National Guard and safeguard their commitment to serve," Crow said in a statement. "Colorado's Guard members sign up to serve their community and nation, and that service should be respected."

There are still several legislative steps before the NDAA becomes law, including negotiations with the Senate. Senators have not indicated where they will fall on the Air Force proposal when the upper chamber starts work on its version of the NDAA next month.

"We can't speak for what they're going to do," McGinn said. "We'll continue to work with the leadership ... on the issue and provide whatever support we can or information that they need from us."

Related: 'Existential Threat': Air Guardsmen Slam Proposal to Move Their Units to Space Force
Airmen and Space Force Guardians would be allowed to grow beards -- one of the most requested policy changes among the rank and file -- as part of a proposed pilot program floated Wednesday evening by the House Armed Services Committee.

The beard proposal, sponsored by Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, was added into the committee's version of the National Defense Authorization Act. It directs the Air Force secretary to "establish a pilot program to allow members of the Air Force and Space Force to grow beards," as well as research "compatibility of beards with military equipment."

The legislation would also order the services to analyze "the effect of beard growth on discipline, morale and unity within the ranks." The Air Force and Space Force would be required to weigh whether allowing beards improves inclusivity or if beards cause any negative perceptions or bias against service members.

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While the added amendment must also face scrutiny from the Senate and more discussion before becoming law, its addition marks the strongest efforts to date to get the Air Force and Space Force to seriously consider letting their members wear facial hair.

Beards are allowed in the Air Force and Space Force only if a service member has a medical or religious accommodation to grow one.

Airmen and Guardians with shaving waivers have to "keep all facial hair trimmed to the same length and it may not to exceed 1/4-inch in length," according to the Department of the Air Force instruction, which states they "may shave or trim their facial hair to present a neat, clean, professional military image."

But Department of the Air Force leadership has been discussing for years how that may be affecting the force, particularly when it comes to razor bumps known as pseudofolliculitis barbae, a skin condition that affects about 60% of Black men, according to studies by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.

Service members have also reported in the past that shaving waivers have harmed their careers.

In 2022, Military.com reported that officials were discussing a beard pilot program with the department's Black/African American Employment Strategy Team. Later that same year, the Air Force began allowing members of its public-facing honor guard to sport beards, within regulations, if they had a waiver.

Military.com also reported last month that medical shaving waivers have exploded in popularity for the Air Force and Space Force, nearly doubling in just three years.

If the House legislation is passed, lawmakers would have six months to start implementation of the program, according to the amendment language. The committee's annual defense policy bill must still be voted on by the full House, and then a final version must be negotiated with the Senate, meaning the beard pilot program may or may not make it into the final law.

One year into the program, the Air Force would be required to submit a report to the House and Senate armed services committees on the initial findings. The pilot program would run for three years, and then a briefing about whether to expand it or make it permanent would be due to Congress.

Related: Medical Beard Waivers Nearly Double in Air Force and Space Force in Just 3 Years
Troops at Colorado Space Force Base Will Have to Bring Their Own To-Go Boxes for Dining Hall

While the initiative is aimed at reducing waste on base, the spokesperson added that they hope it will give troops on base...
Four families of Marines killed in a 2022 V-22 Osprey training crash in California filed a wrongful death lawsuit Thursday against the companies that manufacture the controversial tilt-rotor aircraft, claiming that unaddressed flaws are responsible for the crash.

The Marines died on June 8, 2022, after their Marine Corps Osprey, call sign Swift 11, crashed due to a mechanical issue called a hard-clutch engagement. The lawsuit, shared with Military.com, points to well-publicized issues with the Osprey's mechanics and names as defendants Bell Textron and Boeing, which design and manufacture the aircraft, and Rolls-Royce, which designs and manufactures the engines.

Military.com has reported on the circumstances of the Swift 11 incident; the ongoing mechanical issues with the V-22; and the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy's response to recent deadly crashes. The lawsuit follows an Osprey crash in Japan in November that killed eight airmen and a subsequent stand-down that officially ended in March, though the aircraft still faces flight restrictions that keep it close to landing spots.

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"We want assurance that these components have been successfully redesigned, tested and rendered safe," Amber Sax, the wife of Marine Corps Capt. John Sax, who was killed in the Swift 11 crash, said in an emailed statement. "The importance of addressing this cannot be overstated -- it is not just about fixing a machine, but about ensuring that no other family has to endure this loss again."

Media representatives for Bell, Boeing and Rolls-Royce did not immediately return a request for comment.

"For years, Bell-Boeing and others have asserted that this aircraft and all of its systems are safe, yet the facts keep telling a different story," Timothy Loranger, one of the attorneys representing the families, said in an emailed statement.

Thursday's lawsuit points to issues with the Osprey's interconnect drive system, or ICDS, which transfers power from one engine to both of the two rotors of the aircraft in case one of the rotor engines fails. It also raises the issue of hard clutch engagements, or HCEs, a clutch failure due to a slippage.

"The Osprey's ICDS also lacks redundancy, contributes to catastrophic systems failure, and grossly fails to meet specifications, because it allows a HCE on one side to initiate a HCE on the other side, which results in the assured loss of the aircraft and occupants with no corrective action available to the brave military pilots and crew, who are along for the ride to their deaths," the lawsuit states.

The suit claims that the aircraft's complex system of clutches and linkages is "flawed, unsafe, and does not meet the government's specifications for safety and/or reliability," and it cites the Osprey's engine-controlling computer as part of the issue as well.

The computer, called Full Authority Digital Engine Controls, or FADEC, has the ability to shut down the engines of an aircraft without input from the pilots. The complaint says that, in the case of Swift 11, it turned off the aircraft's right engine as the pilots were struggling to figure out what was happening and keep the Osprey in the sky.

The complaint argues that Bell, Boeing and Rolls-Royce failed to properly and adequately design, integrate and manufacture the "aircraft, engines, FADECs, transmission, clutch, ICDS, and other systems and their component parts" to work together and operate as intended.

The suit charges the defendants with nine counts that range from design and manufacturing defects to negligence, fraudulent representation and breach of contract.

The federal civil lawsuit was filed Thursday in the Southern District of California by attorneys at the Wisner Baum law firm on behalf of the families of Sax; Cpl. Nathan Carlson; Cpl. Seth Rasmuson; and Lance Cpl. Evan Strickland. Capt. Nicholas Losapio was also killed in the 2022 crash, but a family member for Losapio was not named in the lawsuit.

The Marine Corps first disclosed the existence of the HCE issue in August 2022, but the problem was framed by the service as manageable, infrequent and occurring usually right around takeoff.

However, later reporting by Military.com showed that, in at least one case, the issue struck an Air Force Osprey mid-flight over Arizona. That incident not only forced an emergency landing but caused more than $5 million in damage to the aircraft, according to an Air Force report.

Both of that aircraft's engines and five of its gearboxes needed to be replaced, as well as nearly a dozen other components. It took a team of six, working 12-hour days, 45 days to repair the aircraft, according to the report.

In July 2023, when the Marine Corps released the investigation results into the Swift 11 crash, it became clear that the HCE issue was a deadly one -- and without a clear fix.

Although military officials said they identified a fix -- replacing a component called the "input quill assembly" after 800 hours of flight -- leaders overseeing the aircraft's operation have also conceded they don't fully understand the issue.

"We have a good understanding of what happens and where it happens, and it happens inside of the input quill," Col. Brian Taylor, the manager of the V-22 program, told Military.com in July. "The piece that we're missing, really, is just the initiating events. ... That's the part that we're continuing to look for."

Despite the lack of understanding, the military said replacing the quill early would reduce clutch incidents by 99%, to the skepticism of experts and Sax herself.

Then, in March, months after another deadly Osprey crash claimed the lives of eight airmen off the coast of Japan, the military revealed the aircraft suffered a new, undisclosed mechanical failure that is not fully understood.

Taylor again went before reporters and said that he and his office had "high confidence that we understand what component failed, and how it failed," before noting that "what we are still working on is the 'why.'"

The Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy are all slowly returning to flight after that deadly crash but are proscribed in how they can fly the aircraft. The aircraft are limited to flying within 30 minutes of a suitable landing area in case anything goes wrong.

Related: Military Ospreys Can't Fly More Than 30 Minutes from Landing Airfield Months After Grounding Lifted
House lawmakers want to force the military to improve oversight at its child day cares, including a 24-hour rule on notification of parents in cases of abuse, following reporting by Military.com.

The move by the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday comes after the Pentagon inspector general this week announced reviews of military day care oversight, while Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently reassured Congress that inspections and policies are in place to protect children. The Army also on May 17 directed its day care centers to report incidents of sexual behavior between children to parents, adopting a policy already in place in many states for the private sector.

A Military.com investigation in April uncovered several cases of abuse and sexual behavior between children at military child development centers in three states. The cases highlighted a system of oversight that is frustratingly slow to notify parents when abuse occurs, emphasizes protecting the institution, and has a confusing chain of responsibility that slows progress in investigating and prosecuting cases of abuse.

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Workers at on-base child care centers serving military families would be required to notify parents and guardians of any incidents involving their children within 24 hours under legislation approved Wednesday night in the House committee's version of the annual, must-pass National Defense Authorization Act.

The requirement was sponsored by Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii. That state was the location of an instance of abuse at the Ford Island Child Development Center near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam that was included in the Military.com reporting.

In that case, a 15-month-old had a photo of her parents shoved in her face by a CDC worker while being restrained by another, and surveillance video showed she had been pinched, shoved, smothered and pushed up against a wall by at least two workers at the center, according to her family.

That military day care failed to document the abuse or notify the family of the full extent, and no police or command reports were filed on the day of her abuse. Two of the day care workers who were allegedly involved were allowed to keep working for five months. Eventually, after more than a year, three workers were charged with abuse in Hawaii civilian court.

"It is unacceptable that our military families have struggled to get information when their child experiences abuse or harm at a military child care center," Tokuda said in a statement to Military.com. "Military families deserve immediate action that gives them peace of mind in knowing their children are safe."

Senators demand answers

The House legislation must be approved by the full chamber and eventually negotiated with the Senate before becoming law. But it also comes as the Department of Defense inspector general announced its own independent reviews of the day cares on Wednesday -- one looking at the effectiveness of child development centers' policies on identifying and reporting abuse, and one on how the DoD and the services communicate on abuse -- and as the Senate has increased pressure on the Pentagon following the Military.com reporting.

The services generally have disjointed and confusing regulations on how day cares should be run, particularly with documenting incidents of abuse involving children and notifying parents. In many cases, it's unclear when parents should be notified when their child is abused or harmed. Military.com also found repeated situations of day care workers not documenting incidents.

Further confusing oversight, the Defense Department and services sometimes have contradictory rules, which is even more complicated by authority being delegated down to garrison commanders. That has left three sets of complex rules for child development centers and their staffs to follow.

In the civilian world, norms and state laws have typically kept the rules simpler -- directing civilian day cares to document all incidents and notify parents immediately.

Sens. Mazie Hirono, a Hawaii Democrat, and Alex Padilla, a Democrat representing California -- the site of another abuse case -- sent a letter to Austin in April pressing the defense secretary on the shortfalls in abuse policies and notifications identified by Military.com. Another letter was sent Wednesday by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., raising the same concerns and asking for information on how the DoD will address the problems from Austin, as well as the secretaries of the Army, Air Force and Navy.

"Not only is this child abuse absolutely unacceptable, but the CDC's failure to identify such misconduct, notify the parents, and swiftly remove the abusers from caring [for] children is deeply troubling," Warren wrote, citing the Military.com reporting.

Austin, in an earlier response to the Hirono and Padilla letter, said the department is "steadfast" in its commitment to a safe environment for children at the military day cares. Also, he said the DoD is doing its own review of abuse policies -- separate from the IG review -- to "identify gaps in prevention, identification and reporting."

"Any harm to children and lack of timely communications with families is unacceptable and these reports are being taken seriously," he wrote.

When asked whether he is confident that day cares adequately respond to abuse claims, Austin said each facility undergoes four annual, unannounced inspections, including a higher headquarters certification inspection.

New Army policy on notifying parents

Meanwhile, the Army last week directed its day care centers to report to parents incidents that involve sexual behavior between children. Many states have laws in place for civilian day cares, but the service has lagged behind. Previously, there was no clear guidance on notifying parents or guardians.

Military.com reported on an incident in December at the day care that serves the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania in which a child was inappropriately touched by another child, according to the family and internal Army documents on the investigation. It was unclear whether an adult was also involved.

The 4-year-old had several injuries to their genitals, according to medical documents. The mother also described behavioral issues and bleeding. The child was touched by another child numerous times on Dec. 5 and 6, according to the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

The director of the Army day care was notified immediately, but the parents weren't told until Dec. 7. The day care also did not document the touching and injuries in incident reports, though doing so is mandated by Army policy.

Such incidents are called problematic sexual behavior between children and youth, and are defined as adolescents engaging in sexual acts, typically before puberty and without context or sexual urges.

The 4-year-old's mother told Military.com that the child exhibited some behavioral changes months earlier that she believes were related, but investigators did not review security footage before the incident in December.

"The Army is dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing environment for the children of our soldiers and their families," Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen, who oversees much of the Army's personnel policy implementation, said in an internal memo to the force May 17. "We understand the importance of this responsibility and are committed to upholding the highest standards of care in our facilities."

The Army had a previous policy on problematic sexual behavior between children that was marked as Controlled Unclassified Information, or CUI, a designation for materials that often keeps them from the public. The service has since removed that designation and shared the policy with Military.com, after Congress pressed service leaders on the matter.

That earlier policy directed garrison officials to collect data and formally track problematic sexual behavior but did not establish clear guidelines on notifying parents.

However, the new Army regulation on problematic sexual behavior delegates much of the authority to the service's Family Advocacy Program, or FAP, the civilian clinicians and other officials who provide various resources to families, particularly in instances of abuse.

A February report from the Government Accountability Office, or GAO, found that most FAP clinicians do not have the expertise needed to appropriately handle incidents of problematic sexual behavior. FAP officials rarely complete a five-day course on treating the behavior, though the low completion rate is partly due to funding issues.

-- Rebecca Kheel and Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report.

Related: Unsupervised: Military Child Care Centers Slow to Report Abuse with Little Oversight
An artificial intelligence (AI) program designed to prevent suicide among U.S. military veterans prioritizes white men and ignores survivors of sexual violence, which affects a far greater percentage of women, an investigation by The Fuller Project has found.

The algorithm, which the Department of Veterans Affairs uses to target assistance to patients with the highest statistical risk for suicide, considers 61 variables, documents show. It gives preference to veterans who are divorced and male and widowed and male, but not to any group of female veterans.

Military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence  both linked to elevated suicide risk among female veterans  are not taken into account.

Recently released government data show a 24% rise in the suicide rate among female veterans between 2020 and 2021  four times the increase among male veterans during that one-year period. It was also 10 times greater than the 2.6% increase among women who never served in the military.

It was difficult enough to be a woman in the military. We get harassed; we get bullied, said Paulette Yazzie, a 45-year-old Air Force veteran from the Navajo Nation. She served 13 years in the military, including a tour in Iraq. Now were being pushed to the back  again, she said.

Yazzie, a former staff sergeant, teared up when informed that the VAs suicide prevention algorithm prioritized men. She said she faced constant sexual harassment and unwanted advances in Iraq and slept with the light on, the door locked, and a chair propped against it for extra protection during her deployment.

They always think about us second, she said. This is going to cost peoples lives.

The VA touts its machine learning model, REACH VET, as the nations first clinical use of a validated algorithm to help identify suicide risk. Launched in 2017, the system flags 6,700 veterans a month for extra help. VA officials say it produces a significant reduction in suicide attempts by those veterans over the following six months.

On May 13, the agencys undersecretary for health, Carolyn Clancy, called the system a game changer during a congressional hearing.

In an interview, Matthew Miller, the VAs executive director for suicide prevention, said the agency considered military sexual trauma, along with hundreds of other variables, as it crafted its algorithm. But officials decided to exclude a history of rape or assault from the model because it was not among the most powerful for us to be able to predict suicide risk, he said.

The VA uses a national screening program that asks every veteran if they have experienced military sexual trauma. About 1 in 3 women and 1 in 50 men respond yes, telling their provider that, while in uniform, they had been forced to endure sexual activity against their will. Separate anonymous surveys have put the figure at upwards of more than 2 in 3 women veterans, a potential sign of substantial underreporting.

The algorithm identified being a man, especially a white man, as more predictive of suicide than clinical factors known to impact women, he said. Divorce and death of a spouse were predictive of suicide risk when the patient was male, Miller added, but not when she was female.

Its offensive that VA could rationalize overlooking women veterans at risk of suicide, Allison Jaslow, chief executive of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said of the algorithm. This is a very serious issue..

Though female veterans are the VAs fastest-growing population, Jaslow said women are habitually ignored. She cited as an example the long, and ultimately successful, fight to get the VA to design prosthetics that fit women.

Meredith Broussard, research director for New York Universitys Alliance for Public Interest Technology, said she doubted the agencys AI system reached accurate conclusions.

"Whenever you have an algorithm that seems to favor the majority group  for example white men  and someone says its just math, its most likely the case where systemic bias is manifesting itself in the math," Broussard said.

Though the suicide rate among male veterans remains higher than that for their female counterparts, the rate among female veterans is rising faster. Joy Ilem, national legislative director for Disabled American Veterans, told The Fuller Project she was puzzled by the VAs decision to exclude a long list of factors known to increase suicide risk among female veterans  including military sexual trauma, intimate partner violence, pregnancy, menopause, and firearm ownership.

Ilem noted that the VAs own researchers have found that risk factors for suicide are different for female and male veterans. Given the rising suicide rate among women, it makes sense to conclude that something would be included thats more tailored, she said.

The issue of algorithmic bias has gained traction in recent years. Both Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden issued executive orders to promote transparency and accountability for AI products. The VA has identified more than 100 programs covered by those presidential decrees.

Last year, Biden issued two orders that require federal agencies to ensure AI models do not perpetuate discrimination. My administration cannot  and will not  tolerate the use of AI to disadvantage those who are already too often denied equal opportunity and justice, he said.

Miller, the VAs suicide prevention director, said he wasnt sure what the agency was doing to comply with the orders. A follow-up inquiry to the VA press office did not produce specifics. The Office of Suicide Prevention is working with the VA AI lead and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) on the development of compliance reviews and monitors, the agency said in a written statement.

The VA declined to provide data on veterans flagged by the REACH VET algorithm. The agency keeps a monthly dashboard tracking patients and outcomes, but an agency spokesperson said the VA would only share that information if it received a Freedom of Information Act request.

The VA is the nations largest integrated health care system, serving 9 million people across 172 hospitals and more than 1,000 clinics. It operates in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington, DC.

The number of women using VA services has quintupled since 2001, growing from 159,810 then to over 800,000 today. Women make up 30% of new VA patients, according to the agency.

Aaron Glantz is California Bureau Chief and a senior editor at The Fuller Project, the global newsroom focused on women. Reach him at aglantz@fullerproject.org.

The Fuller Project is a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to the coverage of womens issues around the world. Sign up for the Fuller Projects newsletter, and follow on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Veterans in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, or those who know a veteran in crisis, should call the Veterans Crisis Line for confidential crisis support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or send a text message to 838255.
SpaceXs latest launch on December 8th, 2017, was a historic moment in the world of space exploration. The mission, known as Demo-2, aimed to send the first cargo spacecraft from Earth to the International Space Station (ISS) using Dragon rocket.







(how will space x final launch of 2017 affeect the futute)

The success of this mission is expected to have a significant impact on the future of space exploration. Here are some potential ways in which the future could be affected by SpaceXs final launch of 2017:

1. Reduced dependence on Russian rockets: SpaceXs latest launch demonstrated that American companies can compete with Russian rocket manufacturers like Russia State Space Corporation (RSC). If SpaceX continues to produce and sell high-quality rockets at a competitive price, it may reduce Russias dominance in the global aerospace market.

2. Increased competition for resources: The successful launch of Demo-2 allowed SpaceX to demonstrate its ability to deliver more cargo to the ISS than previous missions. This increased competition for resources, such as fuel and life support systems, may drive down prices and make space travel more affordable for consumers.

3. Development of new technologies: SpaceXs latest launch also revealed the potential for new technologies in spaceflight. For example, the successful deployment of Dragon onto the ISS showed that there is room for improvement in the performance of reusable rockets. This could lead to the development of more efficient and cost-effective rockets for future missions.

4. Increased investment in space research: The launch of Demo-2 demonstrated that private companies can play an important role in space research. This could encourage more private investors to invest in space-related projects, leading to increased funding and innovation.







(how will space x final launch of 2017 affeect the futute)

In conclusion, SpaceXs final launch of 2017 is likely to have a significant impact on the future of space exploration. By reducing dependence on Russian rockets, increasing competition for resources, developing new technologies, and increasing investment in space research, we can look forward to a brighter future in space exploration.
Right-hander Brad Keller has elected free agency after going unclaimed on outright waivers, tweets Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. The White Sox had designated him for assignment on Sunday.

Keller signed a minor league pact with Chicago about halfway into Spring Training. He made three starts for their Triple-A team before being called up in late April. He started two of five appearances at the major league level, pitching to a 4.86 ERA through 16 2/3 innings. Three of Kellers first four outings were solid, but he gave up four homers in as many innings against the Yankees on Saturday. The Sox decided to go in a different direction, eventually recalling rookie right-hander Nick Nastrini to take the rotation spot.

The 28-year-old Keller has pitched in parts of seven major league seasons. All of that time has been spent in the AL Central. The Royals plucked him out of the Arizona farm system as a Rule 5 pick back in 2017. Keller turned out to be one of the better Rule 5 selections in recent history. He posted a 3.08 ERA as a rookie and turned in 28 starts of 4.19 ERA ball during his second season. His results have fallen off following a strong showing in the abbreviated 2020 season.

Keller allowed more than five earned runs per nine in both 2021 and 22. He was carrying a 4.57 mark with 14 more walks than strikeouts through 45 1/3 innings last year when he was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome. Kansas City let him walk in free agency last winter.

Teams seeking rotation depth could offer Keller a minor league deal. While his recent production hasnt been great, hes still adept at keeping the ball on the ground. He racked up grounders at a 56.1% clip during his brief run with the Sox. He has only had one season where opponents got the ball in the air more than half the time they put it in play against him.
Airbnbs anti-party technology is narrowing its sights on summer holiday house parties.

The short-term rental company issued a disruptive party ban in 2020. Last year it ratcheted up its efforts with an AI system blocking parties before they begin.

The anchor of this crackdown is a block on certain 1-night and 2-night reservations over both Memorial Day weekend and Fourth of July weekend for entire home listings, according to an Airbnb press release.

Last year, approximately 1,000 users were deterred from booking an entire home in Michigan for those summer weekends.

During holiday weekends, Airbnb deploys technology that impacts bookings identified as potentially higher-risk, and complements other party prevention systems.

Airbnb assesses the timing of the reservation, prior reservations, the guests Airbnb history and listing characteristics like booking a private room versus entire homes.

The anti-party filter was turned on during Halloween weekend and blocked 2,400 potential house parties in Michigan. The software was deployed on for New Years Eve bookings as well.

Airbnb says their defenses are working and pointed to 860,000 blocked bookings or redirected guests worldwide since reservation screening launched in May 2023.

The rental giant maintains that disruptive incidents are rare in the grand scheme of bookings. In 2023, just 0.035% of reservations globally resulted in a party report to Airbnb.

The overwhelming majority of guests and hosts on Airbnb are respectful neighbors and travelers, and disruptive parties are rare. Our aim is to reduce the risk even more, and were optimistic these efforts will have a positive impact for hosts and local communities, said Tara Bunch, Airbnbs Global Head of Operations.
DETROIT -- A 6-year-old boy suffered a non-life threatening injury Wednesday after he shot himself with an unsecured gun, according to WXYZ-Detroit. The incident happened around 6:30 a.m. at his grandmothers home on S. Ethel Street near Francis Avenue in Detroit.

Police say the boy found an unsecured gun in the home and went outside with it where he began playing with the weapon. At some point, the gun fired and the boy was shot in his left thumb. It is unknown who the gun belongs too, but police did say the grandmother was taking care of the boy at the time of the shooting.

The Detroit Police Departments child abuse unit is investigating the matter and charges could possibly be filed.

In February, the states safe storage law went into effect and requires gun owners to keep unattended weapons unloaded and locked either in a storage box or with a locking device when a minor is likely to be present on the premises.. If a minor comes into possession of a gun that was not stored properly, the owner of the gun can be charged for a variety of offenses.
Communities throughout Michigan are gearing up to celebrate and honor Memorial Day.

The federal holiday dedicated to respecting and mourning those who have died while serving in the United States armed forces is Monday, May 27.

Related: WWII veteran drafted in high school was happy to serve, happy to come home

There are parades, flag ceremonies, fireworks and other events.

Here is a list of stories about events in several Michigan communities.

Washtenaw County

Honor Memorial Day with these events in Washtenaw County 2024

Kalamazoo

Looking for Memorial Day plans around Kalamazoo? Here are 8 events happening

Jackson County

Parades, fireworks, ceremonies: Celebrate Memorial Day 2024 at these Jackson County events

Saginaw

Saginaws 2024 Memorial Parade will follow same route, new staging process

Flint

Here are Memorial Day events being held in the Flint area

Grand Rapids

12 parades and ceremonies around Grand Rapids to observe Memorial Day 2024

Muskegon

Honor Memorial Day 2024 with parades, events planned around Muskegon
More than half of Michigans ongoing road construction projects will be halted this weekend in an effort to ease congestion and increase safety.

The states Department of Transportation will lift traffic restrictions for 85 of 154 ongoing projects starting at 3 p.m. Friday, May 24. The restrictions will resume around 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Drivers traveling during Memorial Day weekend should still keep an eye out for equipment and certain traffic configurations that will remain in place, including temporary shifts and shoulder closures.

State Transportation Director Brad Wieferich said increased funding at the state and federal levels has allowed for more road and bridge work this year, furthering the importance of drivers following posted signs and speed limits in work zones.

We understand the frustration construction can cause but we implore all drivers to follow the law, be patient, and help make sure everyone, including themselves, their passengers, and road workers, all make it home each and every night, Wieferich said in a prepared statement.

Related: Memorial Day travel may be busier than usual in Michigan

AAA estimates more than 1.3 million Michigan residents will travel at least 50 miles from home for the holiday weekend. That would be the highest total since 2005, and up 4% from last year.

Below are some of the work zones that will remain active or have lane restrictions continue through the weekend. For a full list, visit michigan.gov/drive.

I-75 in Northern Michigan

If youre heading north, you may still encounter construction-related traffic congestion on I-75.

In Cheboygan County, northbound highway traffic will be shifted to the southbound lanes with a moveable concrete barrier. Theres also one lane open in each direction with traffic shifts in Otsego County.

Up in the U.P., I-75 will have one lane open in each direction in St. Ignace of Mackinac County, and one lane open over the Pine River in Chippewa County.

Mackinac Bridge

Drivers looking to cross the Mackinac Bridge between Michigans peninsulas will have one lane open in each direction throughout the weekend. Travelers should expect delays and traffic backups, especially from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.

U.S. 31 in Grand Traverse and Manistee counties

In Traverse City, one lane of U.S. 31 will be open for eastbound traffic. Drivers heading west will be detoured using city streets.

Then in Manistee, U.S. 31 will be closed at the bascule bridge. Traffic will be detoured using local city streets.

U.S. 2 in Mackinac County

Drivers on U.S. 2 in St. Ignace will have one lane open in each direction on the north half of the bridge over I-75. The south half of the overpass will remain closed.

Additionally, U.S. 2 west of Epoufette, will have an eastbound passing lane restricted to one lane using a lane shift.

I-196 in Ottawa County

The I-196 Business Loop will be closed to eastbound drivers between Holland and Zeeland. Drivers are directed to follow the posted detour.

U.S. 131 in Kent County

The ramp from northbound U.S. 131 in Grand Rapids to I-96 and M-37 (Alpine Avenue) will be closed to traffic. Drivers will be detoured using W. River Driver and southbound U.S. 131.

Drivers also wont be able to enter eastbound I-96 at Alpine Avenue.

On the southbound side of U.S. 131, lane closures and a traffic shift will remain in place between 68th Street and 108th Street.

I-94 in Southwest Michigan

In Stevensville, I-94 will be reduced to two lanes in each direction. The westbound exit ramp (Exit 23) will also be closed.

Over in Calhoun County, two lanes of I-94 will be open between Helmer Road and 17 1/2 Mile Road.

U.S. 131 in Kalamazoo County

Southbound U.S. 131 will remain closed between Shaver Road and XY Avenue in the Kalamazoo area. One lane will be open for northbound drivers in the same work zone.

I-75 in Monroe County

Both directions of highway will be down to one lane with a traffic shift between Erie and Otter Creek roads. Southbound ramps to and from Otter Creek Road are closed as well, with posted detours.

The I-75 Connector (Summit Street) in Erie Township will also have one lane closed in each direction with a traffic shift between Substation Road and E. Temperance Road.

I-96 in Eaton and Ingham counties

Drivers should expect traffic shifts and possible delays on I-96 between Canal Road and Washington Road. Total closures will continue on Washington Road and Billwood Highway at I-96.

Additionally, the northbound Lansing Road ramp to eastbound I-96 will be closed, as will one lane of M-99 in each direction at I-96.

U.S. 23 in Washtenaw and Livingston counties

In Washtenaw County, one lane of U.S. 23 will remain open in each direction over the Great Lakes Central Railroad.

In Livingston County, exit and entrance ramps to and from Silver Lake Road will be closed.

Metro Detroit

I-96 will be reduced to two lanes of traffic in each direction between I-275 and Kent Lake Road, and I-696 will have the same restrictions between I-275 and Lahser Road in Oakland County.

I-75 will have two lanes open in each direction between M-15 and the Oakland/Genesee county line.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  More than two dozen people Tuesday called on Grand Rapids city leaders to drop charges faced by four pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at a rally last week.

We are urging Mayor (Rosalynn) Bliss, the chief of police and the city prosecutor to drop the charges on the four protesters who were arrested at the end of the Nakba Day rally, one woman, who identified as a Palestinian-American, told city commissioners Tuesday, May 21.
JACKSON COUNTY, MI  Virginia and Duane Zwick were longtime Jackson residents and business owners before they were found dead in their Summit Township lakeside home.

Duane Zwick, 75, owned a truck and trailer equipment shop and his wife Virginia Zwick, 74, ran administrative duties using her experience working in her familys restaurant, Jackson Coney Island, and as an accountant for The Jackson Citizen Patriot, according to Duane and Virginia Zwicks obituaries.

MLive reached out to multiple members of the couples family for this story. Several declined to speak, stating the couple would have wanted privacy, while others didnt return messages.

Duane Zwick became co-owner of Automotive Service Co. in the 1960s alongside his brother Craig Zwick after taking the business over from their parents, who founded the company in Jackson in 1927. The company specializes in selling common and hard-to-find utility truck and trailer parts as well part installation services for vehicles.

The couple had two children together, Theodore and Angela Zwick. Angela, 46, died April 21, 2022.

When Virginia Zwick wasnt helping to run the family business, she loved to travel, see the world and have fun with those around her, according to her obituary, which noted she had a mad sense of style.

Duane Zwick enjoyed swap meets often buying and/or selling several different collectables including vintage motorcycles, American history items and antique model trains, according to his obituary.

When he wasnt pursuing his hobbies, he was spending time with his wife and his beloved basset hounds that stole his heart when he was originally only asked to watch over them for his son, the obituary states.

The couple was discovered about 1:30 p.m. May 13 in the 5000 block of Woodland Road. Both suffered fatal gunshot wounds. The preliminary investigation by the Jackson County Sheriffs Office indicated the couple died in a murder-suicide.

Related: Murder-suicide suspected in elderly couples death in lakeside home

The home, a classically designed residence with a well-kept old wood exterior, is in a community of lake houses on the southern shore of Brown Lake.

Anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide can seek help from the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo didnt mince words on Wednesday, May 22, in response to a state report accusing 19 former priests of sexual misconduct.

Though 12 of the 19 priests are presumed dead  and none of those named in the Attorney Generals report actively serve in ministry anymore  their tragic, appalling and inexcusable behavior leaves a long-lasting mark on the Kalamazoo community, said Bishop Edward Lohse.
BAY CITY, MI  Last week, Michael Balen, operating partner of the franchise group Jersey Mikes Subs, posted an announcement on his private Facebook page. The post teased he was to open a Jersey Mikes location in Bay City and was seen and shared by hundreds of people hungry to learn more.

Balen, a graduate of John Glenn High School in Bay City and current Swartz Creek resident, is the owner/operator of multiple Jersey Mikes locations in the state. His locations are in Grand Blanc, Fenton, Flint, Kalamazoo and Portage so far, with Lansing and Bay City to follow later this year. The Bay City location is slated for 803 N. Euclid Ave.

Balen opened his first Jersey Mikes store in 2019 in Fenton. He said he was attracted to the brand and its philanthropic nature, noting the chain collaborates with food banks, Special Olympics, Feeding America, local schools, Boys & Girls Clubs and others.

The brand is built around giving back to the community, which is why I chose to make my career out of this brand, Balen said. To date, all of my locations donate roughly $15,000 per year per store to the local community. ...Weve donated close to half a million in my six locations alone, and were looking forward to continuing to be a part of the community.

Jersey Mikes, a fast-casual sub sandwich franchise, originated in New Jersey. Today, the brand is still owned by founder and CEO Peter Cancro and is one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the nation.

We have built our business on our fresh-baked bread, and our high-quality meats that are sliced and served right in front of you, Balen said.

We make our tuna fresh in-house, and we cook all our chicken and steak cheesesteaks to order. We dont have any microwaves or toasters, so everything is truly made to order. It really is a true Sub Above experience. We have several vegetarian options as well as gluten-free options, which is very popular nowadays for people with gluten intolerances or celiac disease.

Balen said although the stores are franchises, they are run as family-owned and -operated small businesses. Currently, the closest store Balen owns to Bay City is in Grand Blanc or Flint. Another franchise owner operates a Jersey Mikes in Midland.

According to Balen, the new construction will take place this year, and the goal is to open before the end of the year. The 2,000-square-foot store will include storage space and seating for 20 to 25 people and will employ approximately 30 people.

Weve known that Bay City is a market where this is a little bit unique for this town, Balen said. We feel as though the new location is in a good area of town, its very centrally located. Euclid Avenue is a busy street, and having the location at an intersection with a traffic light will be huge for getting in and out.

Balen comes from a family with 35 years of experience in the restaurant business and a familiarity with the Bay City community. Hes happy to see the fellow excitement of current residents for the new eatery.

I had just posted on my personal Facebook page that we were opening the store, announcing it to my friends and family, Balen said. Then it kind of went viral and had over 500 shares in a matter of 72 hours. Jersey Mikes is a really well-respected brand, and these announcements always get a lot of excitement, but Ive probably never had a reaction like I did with the Bay City location. I can tell people are very excited about us opening up there.

There are also plans to open a new location in Saginaw as well, but no location has been identified.

Were really looking forward to serving subs in the tri-city area, Balen said.

Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw.
U.S. travel officials are telling Americans to avoid traveling to a popular South American vacation destination.

The U.S. Department of State reissued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory, the highest classification of travel warnings, for Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

Wrongful detentions, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure are also reasons to avoid Venezuela, officials said. The notice is the latest move by the U.S., which withdrew all diplomatic personnel from U.S. Embassy Caracas and suspended operations in March 2019.

All consular services, routine and emergency, remain suspended until further notice. The U.S. government has no ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela, the travel advisory said. U.S. citizens in Venezuela who require consular assistance should try to leave the country as soon as safely possible to do so and should contact a U.S. embassy or consulate in another country.

Venezuela has been in turmoil with random demonstrations and political rallies against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro happening without notice.

Maduro is seeking a third term in office in the countrys July elections, but he hasnt been popular with many. Under Maduros tenure as president, millions of people have fallen into poverty and more than 7.7 million others have tried to flee the country, according to The Associated Press.

Anti-Maduro demonstrations have elicited a strong police and security force response, including the use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets against participants, and occasionally devolve into looting and vandalism, officials said.

Shortages of gasoline, electricity, water, medicine, and medical supplies continue throughout much of Venezuela, U.S. officials said.

Additionally, Colombian terrorist groups operate in Venezuelas border areas with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana.

If you must travel to Venezuela:
Samir Jain is a Jaipur-based astrologer who has over 28 years of experience in the field of Astrology, Numerology, Palmistry and Vastu Shastra. He is also an expert in Jain Temple Vastu and Jain Jyotish. For more details, visit planetsastro.com, call/WhatsApp +91 8696930617 or email jainksamir@gmail.com.
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1/10 To augment its portfolio in the top-end vehicle (TEV) segment, Mercedes Benz India has announced the launch of AMG S 63 E Performance Edition 1 at Rs. 3.3 crore and the Maybach GLS 600 SUV at Rs 3.35 crore (both ex-showroom, India).

2/10 While the AMG version of S Class will be imported from the luxury carmakers Affalterbach facility in Germany, the hi-performance SUV will be brought in from Alabama facility in the United States.

3/10 The Indian arm of the Stuttgart-based carmaker earlier said nearly 25 percent of its sales came from TEVs, which cost more than Rs 1 crore and includes S-Class Maybach limousine, GLS Maybach SUV, performance-oriented AMGs, S-Class and GLS models.

4/10 Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, said, The customer preference for TEV reiterates the growing popularity for exclusive top-end luxury vehicles such as the GLS, Mercedes-Maybach, and AMG range. TEV segment represents our key focus area and with these excusive models, we are now offering our discerning Indian customers two highly desirable vehicles, from our global portfolio.

5/10 The Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance Edition 1 is equipped with a handcrafted AMG 4.0L V8 Biturbo engine and an electric motor, delivering a combined output of 802bhp.

6/10 The Maybach GLS 600 is powered by the M177 4.0-litre V8 engine, producing 555 bhp of maximum power and 770 Nm of torque, and also features Integrated Starter Generator technology, providing an additional boost of 22 bhp and 250 Nm of torque whenever required.

7/10 The Indian arm of the Stuttgart-based carmaker is looking at a majority of the volumes from tier cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Vishakhapatnam. Another company official indicated that it has already received a "good orderbank" of the SUV.

8/10 "We are looking at a double digit growth in our entire portfolio and hi-end cars will definitely give a quarter of our total sales," Lance Bennett, VP- sales and marketing, Mercedes-Benz India, told Moneycontrol. He said waiting period of models will be around six months.

9/10 With the launch of these models, the German luxury carmaker has launched five models, so far, and is on course to launch another seven models, which will include more TEVs.
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Yves here. This post gives a useful update on the illegal tactics big companies like Apple and Starbucks are using to try to thwart unions. This comes despite the fact that labor laws clearly bar retaliating against workers involved in labor organizing. The attitude clearly is that if corporations can make union drives costly enough to the workers leading the campaign in the short term, the long term (later restitution, fines and reinstatement) does not matter.

This article does not mention that the workplace rights Americans enjoy came at very high cost to the early leaders. The violence used, including hangings, has oddly been airbrushed out of most accounts of US history. One example: Pinkertons was a private army whose major line of business was breaking organizing efforts. From Teen Vogue (virtually alone in the media for having a labor columnist):

few enemies of the working class have loomed larger than the Pinkertons. The Pinkerton National Detective Agency was founded as a private police force in Chicago in 1850, and quickly expanded its reach; its detectives initially focused on catching thieves and burglars, but soon became the bane of the labor movement for their work as enthusiastic, vicious strikebreakers. Throughout the Civil War era and in the decades after, Pinkerton operatives left their bloody mark on strikes, protests, and massacres, and gained a ruthless reputation for protecting the interests of capital by any means necessary. As one newspaper columnist put it, No man of refined sensibilities would enter the ranks as a hired Hessian of plutocracy, expecting to shoot down his brothers at the command of capital.

That 2020 article later described how Pinkertons was still up to its labor-busting ways, with the latest sighting working with Amazon in Europe. So this is a well-established practice that powerful companies see no reason to give up.

By Sonali Kolhatkar, an award-winning multimedia journalist. She is the founder, host, and executive producer of Rising Up With Sonali, a weekly television and radio show that airs on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations. Her most recent book is Rising Up: The Power of Narrative in Pursuing Racial Justice (City Lights Books, 2023). She is a writing fellow for the Economy for All project at the Independent Media Institute and the racial justice and civil liberties editor at Yes! Magazine. She serves as the co-director of the nonprofit solidarity organization the Afghan Womens Mission and is a co-author of Bleeding Afghanistan. She also sits on the board of directors of Justice Action Center, an immigrant rights organization. Produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute

Workers in Towson, Maryland, have earned the distinction of becoming the first Apple retail workers in the nation to vote to strike over failed union negotiations with their employer. The approximately 100 Apple workers were also the first in the nation to successfully form a union. They did so in 2022, as the Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (CORE), joining the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Two-thirds of the stores workers voted to join the union, a resounding success at a company that has long staved off union activity.

Apple could have embraced the Towson store union, respecting the legal right of its workers to bargain collectively for their rights. Instead, the company chose a depressingly familiar path of using its economic power to break labor laws and resist the union at all costs.

Among Apples earliest tactics, a bold one even by corporate standards, was to offer all but the Towson store workers new educational and medical perks, saying that the nascent union would have to negotiate for those perks while nonunion workers would be able to enjoy them immediately. The IAM CORE members claimed it was a calculated move by Apple, timed just ahead of a second retail union vote at a store in Penn Square, Oklahoma, ostensibly as a warning to those workers, and any others considering union drives, that they could lose out. The National Labor Relations Board, which under President Joe Biden has tended to adhere to its mandate by actually protecting workers more often than not, accused the company of violating the workers labor rights. Luckily, the bid failed and a majority of Penn Squares Apple workers chose to unionize.

Apples ugly maneuver echoed that of Starbucks corporation a year later. The coffee giant increased hourly pay for all but its union workers. The NLRB also ruled against Starbucks.

Both Apple and Starbucks may have learned such machinations from Littler Mendelson P.C., the notorious union-busting firm that both corporations have retained to counter worker organizing. Starbucks alone has made use of the services of 110 of the law firms attorneys to aggressively resist organized labor at their stores. A former National Labor Relations Board attorney Matthew Bodie called the massive army of anti-union lawyers unprecedented. On its website, Littler boasts of the work it has done to shape workplace practices in a direction that is favorable to employers.

Union busting is lucrative, raking in more than $400 million in revenues a year for anti-union law firms like Littler Mendelson and Morgan Lewis(which is Amazons go-to union buster). Its no wonder that a large part of their work is advising corporate employers on how best to break laws. Starbucks, for example, is a repeat offender. And so are Apple and Amazon.

The practice of labor law violations in countering unionization is so widespread that the Economic Policy Institute found in 2019 that Employers are charged with violating federal law in 41.5 percent of all union election campaigns. Given that these are officially deemed violations that have gone through the process of reporting and adjudicating, the number is likely an underestimate.

The reason these major corporations choose lawlessness is that often it works to their benefit. A company like Apple may well see millions of dollars toward union-busting lawyers as money well spent. After all, breaking the law costs very little, with fines for labor law violations capped at meager amounts. There are likely cold, hard calculations behind the cost-benefit analysis of breaking labor laws versus allowing workers to organize for what they want.

Even though workers in two Apple stores have successfully unionized, Apple prevailed in Short Hills, New Jersey where workers organized under the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and failed to win a union vote. Ahead of the vote, CWA accused Apple of illegal anti-union retaliation against one of the Short Hills employees leading the union drive. To Apple, such illegal behavior was likely worth the price. While individual employees have their livelihoods at stake, the company has nothing to lose but a few thousand dollars.

Its not just about money but also power (which ultimately translates into more money). Workers wanting union representation arent just fighting for better pay and benefits but for humane treatment. Corporate profiteering is built on worker insecurity, the ability to hire and fire at will, and offering unpredictable shifts that best serve the company. Indeed, shift scheduling is a key sticking point in IAM COREs negotiations with Apple for its Towson store workers who voted to strike.

There are good reasons why corporations fight unions: hundreds of studies point to the negative impact that unions have on corporate profits. Conversely, there is a clear correlation between unions and higher wages, benefits, and worker protections. Even more encouragingly, unions lead to better wages even for non-union employees, putting upward pressure on employers to compete with unionized workers.

Many modern corporate employers who fight unions market themselves as having liberal values and being pro-worker. Apple touts itself as one of the biggest job creators in the U.S., responsible for 2 million jobs in all 50 states, and boasts that unlike with many companies, both full- and part-time employees are eligible for such benefits as health insurance, matching retirement contributions, and an employee stock purchase plan.

But, when forced to live up to their stated ideals, such corporations transform into profit-hungry gangsters. Progressive-branded companies therefore offer free, built-in leverage to worker organizing campaigns, wrote labor journalist Hamilton Nolan. There is nothing that will force an employer to live up to all the stuff it said about caring for employees faster than a demand for union recognition.

Some companies choose to lean into their stated liberal values, most notably Ben and Jerrys ice cream, which refreshingly decided to embrace the newly formed Scoopers United union instead of unleashing union-busting law firms on its workers.

Even Microsoft, a major tech company that has a history of being what the New York Times called a poster child for corporate ruthlessness, is seemingly choosing the path of union acceptance. The companys vice chair and president, Brad Smith announced in 2022 that Microsoft would work collaboratively with unions.

The Times speculated that Microsofts decision to embrace unions was an attempt to appease the pro-labor Biden administration ahead of a corporate acquisition of a video game company. Regardless of its reasoning, working with organized labor instead of against it is good for society, even if its bad for individual corporate bottom lines.

The good news is that in spite of union membership rates continuing to drop precipitously, the percentage of people who see unions in a favorable light has increased to 71 percent, and among young people a whopping 88 percent. The number of workers petitioning to join unions has jumped, as has strike activity. The only thing standing in the way of converting the union dreams of Apple workers and others into reality is corporate willingness to break labor laws.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze at NATO Headquarters on Thursday (23 May 2024) to discuss stepping up support for Ukraine and preparations for the upcoming Washington Summit.

The Secretary General congratulated Latvia on the recent 20th anniversary of the countrys accession to NATO. He commended Latvias pledge to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2027 and thanked Minister Braze for Latvias significant contributions to the Alliance, including sending troops to NATO operations and missions in Kosovo and Iraq. Latvia also hosts a Canadian-led multinational battlegroup, a base for NATOs Baltic Air Policing Mission, and the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence.

Mr Stoltenberg further welcomed Latvias consistent and robust support for Ukraine. Looking ahead to the Washington Summit, the Secretary General said he expects Allied leaders will make progress in securing further long-term support for Ukraine, bolstering NATOs deterrence and defence posture, and deepening cooperation with partners around the world, including in the Indo-Pacific.

Secretary General Stoltenberg and Minister Braze previously worked together at NATO Headquarters, where she served as Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy from 2020 to 2023.
American doctors stranded in Gaza urge Biden administration to end support for Israeli genocide

American doctors trapped in Gaza are urgently calling on the United States to act on President Joe Biden's promise to cease all arms shipments to Israel if Tel Aviv attacks Rafah

In an interview, Dr. Adam Hamawy, a former U.S. Army medic, described the harrowing scenes of widespread suffering in Rafah. Hamawy drew chilling comparisons between the current situation in Gaza and other war zones.

"Think of the injuries that you see in war, with blood everywhere, with shrapnel that's supposed to kill soldiers and military personnel and take out tanks and bunkers," Hamawy said. "Now think about that going through a child's body."

Hamawy said that American politicians need to see firsthand the devastation caused by American-made weapons in Gaza. He even recounted treating numerous children with severe burns and amputations in just a few hours. Hamawy also mentioned finding fragments of a Lockheed Martin-made munition at the home of a medical student.

Meanwhile, in a poignant op-ed for the Los Angeles Times, Dr. Mahmoud Sabha, a wound care physician and another American doctor stranded in Gaza, expressed shock at the cruelty of Israel's actions. He highlighted the dire consequences of the blockade on Rafah, which has not only halted the flow of aid but also prevented the arrival of new aid workers and the flight of Palestinians across the border and into Egypt. Sabha warned that if Israeli forces push hospitals in Rafah to evacuate, it would be catastrophic for patients with severe injuries who cannot be easily moved.

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.

"If the hospital were abandoned or their families were forced to evacuate, I have no clue how these patients would survive, especially those with amputations restricting their movement," Sabha said. "I imagine the patients saying a final goodbye to their loved ones. Some doctors and nurses have been volunteering here for a long time. Some of us have been to Gaza several times. Yet we continue to be shocked by the cruelty. We are not used to this degree of carnage. Even the local staff continues to be shocked."

U.S. government claims to be working on protecting aid workers and stopping ongoing genocide

A few weeks ago, President Joe Biden warned Israel that the U.S. would cease the supply of bombs and artillery shells if Israeli forces proceeded with their planned offensive on the southern Gazan city of Rafah. (Related: Biden gives ultimatum to Israel: Dont attack Rafah or youll lose supply of U.S. bombs, artillery shells.)

During a televised interview, Biden reiterated that the U.S. would not condone nor support actions that could result in a humanitarian crisis. The decision to halt weapons supplies comes on the heels of the U.S. pausing the delivery of 3,500 munitions, including 2,000-pound bombs, amid mounting concerns about civilian casualties in densely populated areas. The pause in arms shipments is not temporary. Further deliveries may face delays or obstacles if Israel proceeds with the offensive.

But despite the earlier pledge to cut off some arms shipments if Israel launched an assault on Rafah, the doctors claimed that the U.S. has not yet taken any action.

Illinois State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid (D-Justice), who serves as the representative for the doctors to the federal government, said: "We're doing both things: trying to make sure our government is pushing for basic protections for aid workers and, more globally, trying to stop our government from funding the ongoing genocide in Gaza."

Visit WWIII.news for more stories about the ongoing conflict in Israel.

Watch this video of an Israeli strike on Rafah that mostly harmed children.

This video is from the CreeperStatus channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Despite bloodbath warning, Israel inches closer to annihilating Rafah: Population 1.3 MILLION.

Defiant Netanyahu insists Israel will act alone if U.S. doesnt provide more weapons for Rafah offensive.

U.S. opposed to Israels Rafah operation as currently planned, some offensive munitions being withheld from Israel by Biden admin.

CALL FOR GENOCIDE: Israeli minister demands "total annihilation" of Rafah  a city where 1.5 million Gazans are sheltering.

EVIL: Israel tricking Palestinian refugees into "safe zones" in Rafah, then bombing them to death.

Sources include:

News.Antiwar.com

LATimes.com

TheGuardian.com

Brighteon.com
U.S. completes installation of makeshift pier in Gaza; first load of humanitarian assistance moves ashore

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on May 17 that the first load of humanitarian assistance has begun coming through to the Gaza Strip via the temporary pier constructed by the U.S. military

"Today at approximately 9:00 a.m. (Gaza time), trucks carrying humanitarian assistance began moving ashore via a temporary pier in Gaza. No U.S. troops went ashore in Gaza. This is an ongoing, multinational effort to deliver additional aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza via a maritime corridor that is entirely humanitarian in nature, and will involve aid commodities donated by a number of countries and humanitarian organizations," CENTCOM indicated in a press statement released on its website.

The efforts came in a few hours after Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said the makeshift pier system had been successfully installed, with the help of Israeli military counterparts, at a beach in the beleaguered enclave. Singh said the pier was successfully installed without the need for U.S. boots on the ground in the embattled territory. She told reporters at the press briefing that the aid would begin to flow through the pier system "as soon as the Commander feels that we are ready to go."

President Joe Biden initially ordered the armed forces to build the pier in March, to facilitate increased deliveries of food and humanitarian supplies by sea. In April, U.S. military officials estimated the temporary humanitarian aid pier would reach initial operational capacity sometime in "early May." However, the effort to build and anchor the pier was delayed over reports of poor weather. (Related: Biden: U.S. to build FLOATING PIER along Gaza coast to improve aid delivery.)

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

According to Singh, it would initially cost $320 million to begin operating the temporary pier. Costs could continue to rise as the U.S. military and U.S. and international partners continue to operate the makeshift humanitarian delivery route.

As the conflict between Israel and Palestine continues to escalate, access to food, water and other humanitarian supplies is disrupted. U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power testified at an April 10 House hearing that nearly the entire population of the strip "is living under the threat of famine."

Power said around 500 commercial and humanitarian trucks would enter the Gaza Strip daily before Oct. 7 but the flow fell when the attacks started. She also said the number of these supply trucks reaching the Gaza Strip has recovered somewhat but that "we need to go way beyond that" to meet the humanitarian needs in the territory. "The destruction of greeneries and markets and arable land and then the fact that so few trucks got in over so many months means we have massive catch-up to do," she added.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has reported some 5,671 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip in April, for a daily average of 189 trucks. UNRWA estimates another 1,296 trucks arrived in the Gaza Strip between May 1 and May 15; a daily average of about 89 trucks.

Aid has been delivered but not unloaded

The first batch of humanitarian aid has been successfully delivered inside the Gazan territory but none of it has been unloaded from the temporary pier and delivered to the Palestinian people. Reports indicate that this is because several desperate Gazans intercepted trucks delivering aid from the pier over the weekend.

"I have doubts," said Mounir Ayad, a Gaza resident. "I don't understand this floating pier or what it indicates and what its purpose is. They say it's for aid, but people are apprehensive. Is this aid or something else? We know that the U.S. has never supported the Palestinian cause, so it's implausible that it is giving us aid without something in return."

After this, the United Nations suspended the delivery operations until the logistical challenges were resolved. The U.S. is now working with the UN and Israel to identify alternate delivery routes for the safe delivery of hundreds of tons of aid transported to Gaza, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said.

More than 569 metric tons of humanitarian assistance had been delivered through the temporary pier, called Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore. The aid will be distributed by humanitarian partners, Ryder said.

Head over to Humanitarian.news for updates on the ongoing efforts to send in humanitarian assistance to the Gazan people.

Watch the video below where a local talks about the makeshift port set up off the Gazan coast.

This video is from the alltheworldsastage channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Construction of U.S. military floating pier off Gaza nearly complete.

Israel captures Rafah border crossing, cutting of all humanitarian aid to Gaza as hundreds of thousands face starvation.

EU official condemns surge in Israeli extremist attacks on humanitarian aid convoys bound for Gaza.

Sources include:

NTD.com

CENTCOM.mil

CNN.com

Brighteon.com
German government behaving like Nazis in banning free speech that they claim mirrors Nazi language about German nationalism

A right-wing German lawmaker has been convicted of using an illegal slogan that Sturmabteilung stormtroopers used in the Nazi era.

The phrase in question, Alles fur Deutschland, means Everything for Germany and is one of numerous Nazi slogans and symbols that are now banned in Germany.

Bjorn Hoecke, the co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and one of its most well-known figures, was found guilty of using the phrase and fined 13,000 euros (around $14,000). His charge carried a maximum sentence of three years in prison, and prosecutors were seeking a six-month suspended sentence.

He maintained that the phrase was an everyday saying and proclaimed his innocence, noting that he was unaware of its Nazi connotations when he said it. He added that he despises not only Nazi ideology but also all forms of dictatorship. He also pointed to numerous examples of other individuals and groups uttering the same phrase both before and after the Nazi era.

However, prosecutors painted him as someone who has been strategically and systematically using Nazi vocabulary throughout his political career. There have also been insinuations that as a former high school history teacher, he knew about the phrases origins.

Judge Jan Stengel said: We as the court have to listen to everything that is said here, but we dont have to believe everything. You are an intelligent man, you even studied history, you knew what you were saying.

He made the comment during a campaign event in Saxony-Anhalt in 2021, where he closed a speech by saying: "Everything for our homeland, everything for Saxony-Anhalt, everything for Germany!"

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.

At a different rally, he had said to the crowd: Everything for; the audience completed it for him by saying: Germany!

Prosecutors originally wanted to try him for both incidents but ultimately settled on just the 2021 rally.

Charges against right-wing politician are politically motivated

The politician said he may appeal the verdict and wrote on X: If this verdict stands, free speech will be dead in Germany.

Although the fine seems quite excessive, its worth noting that he managed to avoid a potential prison sentence that would have effectively stopped him from running for the governor of the German Thuringia state in elections this year.

Thuringia is just one of three states in Eastern Germany where AfD is currently polling in the lead, and Hoecke has led the partys branch there since its founding in 2013.

Hoecke wrote on X: Germany is at the forefront of persecuting political opponents and suppressing free speech.

When Elon Musk asked him in a response to his post why the slogan is illegal in Germany, Hoecke replied: Because every patriot in Germany is defamed as a Nazi.

His partys operations in Thuringia, which is close to the Czech border, are just one of three branches of the AfD that Germanys domestic intelligence agency has labeled a proven right-wing extremist group. The party itself has been accused of being a suspected extremist organization, a designation that allows the German government to monitor the partys politicians using informants and wiretaps.

This only adds to the perception that his harsh fine is politically motivated. Its ironic that the German government is banning free speech again, just like it did under the Nazis they claim to be trying so hard to distance themselves from.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

EuroNews.com

Politico.eu
HHS sued over rule that forces medical professionals to perform genital mutilations

McComb Children's Clinic in Mississippi has filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for adopting a rule that forces medical professionals to perform harmful gender transition procedures or face severe financial consequences.

On May 6, the administration of President Joe Biden published a rule that includes "gender identity" in the federal health care nondiscrimination statute.

The rule forces healthcare professionals to risk severe penalties such as losing federal funding for treating and referring to patients by their biological sex. The rule also requires healthcare practitioners to follow unscientific standards of care and limits their power to set protective standards of care for health professionals.

However, McComb Children's Clinic argues that this directive conflicts with both its medical judgment and Mississippi state law, which prohibits gender transition procedures on minors. This, in turn, forced McComb Children's Clinic to file a lawsuit against HHS on May 13. (Related: Canadian Muslims organize Million Person March to banish gender ideology and child mutilations.)

"Doctors should be allowed to fulfill their Hippocratic Oath to do no harm and follow their medical judgment without fear of government intervention," stated Matt Bowman, the director of regulatory practice and senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the attorneys representing McComb Children's Clinic.

Bowman criticized the new HHS rule, claiming it forces doctors to perform "unnecessary procedures that remove healthy body parts and prescribe puberty blockers," despite Congress not granting such authority to HHS.

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 lawsuit, McComb Children's Clinic v. Becerra, contends that the rule change to Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act imposes a government-mandated standard of care on virtually every healthcare entity in America. The clinic claims this new standard requires them to perform elective procedures, which they deem harmful to minors if they treat puberty complications.

State of Florida also filed a lawsuit against the new HHS rule

This legal action marks the second lawsuit ADF attorneys have initiated against the new HHS rule. The first, State of Florida v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, represents the Catholic Medical Association.

In the lawsuit, ADF attorneys, along with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, argue that the rule change to Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act is an abuse of regulatory power. They claim it forces health care and medical insurance providers to classify body-altering and potentially dangerous procedures as necessary treatment.

"[T]he 2024 Rules would fundamentally redefine the practice of medicine and place [HHS Office for Civil Rights] lawyers in the strange position of overseeing  and second-guessing  the clinical and ethical judgments of health care professionals and state medical boards across the country," the lawsuit states. "Section 1557 is an ordinary non-discrimination law, not a Trojan horse empowering OCR to play doctor and decree gender-transition interventions as the federal standard of care through threats of enforcement."

Moody accused the Biden administration of "trying to go around our child-protection law to force the state to pay for puberty blockers and gender-transition surgery for children," despite knowing that their state passed a law to protect children from "dangerous, irreversible gender-transition drugs and surgeries."

"These rules trample states' power to protect their own citizens and we will not stand by as Biden tries, yet again, to use the force of the federal government to unlawfully stifle Floridas effort to protect children," Moody said.

Furthermore, ADF Senior Counsel Julie Marie Blake claimed that the new HHS rule represents a significant overreach by the federal government.

"The HHS rule will harm those suffering from gender dysphoria, particularly children, and punish doctors who seek to care for them. Medical professionals around the world and individuals who have undergone these experimental, body-altering procedures are warning about their risks. Yet the Biden administration is working to force doctors to perform these dangerous, often sterilizing procedures to make people appear as the opposite sex. This rule change contradicts legal precedent set by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, and we are urging the court to halt the administrations vast overreach in health care."

Gender.news has more stories about the promotion of transgender ideology.

Watch this interview series featuring Jennifer Bilek as she talks about who is behind the trans agenda.

This video is from the Hamilton-Moore Effect channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

New poll: Majority of Californians REJECT gender ideology.

Jennifer Bilek: Gender ideology paves way for TRANSHUMANISM.

Russian schoolchildren are learning drone technology while U.S. students focus on "gender ideology."

Watch: Baseless gender ideology cartoon now part of 4th grade curriculum in Wisconsin.

California expands travel ban list over gender ideology to include Missouri, Nebraska and Wyoming.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

ADFMedia.org 1

ADFMedia.org 2

Brighteon.com
ICC moves forward in seeking arrests of Netanyahu, Hamas leaders

As promised, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is moving forward with plans to arrest not just Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but also the leaders of Hamas who were behind the October 7 attack.

The ICC says there are "reasonable grounds to believe" that Netanyahu and the others committed "war crimes and crimes against humanity" both in Gaza and in Israel.

Karim Khan revealed that the ICC is in hot pursuit of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, which commands the military wing of Hamas, and Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, the chief of Hamas' Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh.

Netanyahu and Gallant in particular are accused of unleashing targeted attacks on civilians in Gaza, which resulted in the willful killing and intentional suffering of innocent people, including through "extermination," "murder" and "inhumane acts."

The Hamas leaders that the ICC wants to arrest also "bear criminal responsibility" for various "inhuman acts" including rape, sexual violence, taking hostages and murder.

(Related: Israel just congratulated itself for setting a "new gold standard" in avoiding civilian casualties.)

Will it work?

Israel continues to scoff at the ICC, of which it is not a member, nor does it recognize the court's jurisdiction. However, back in 2015, the State of Palestine joined the organization.

Even so, if Netanyahu and the others step foot inside any of the court's 124 member states, they will be required to arrest these wanted criminals.

Despite being a centrist member of Israel's three-person war cabinet, Benny Gantz is just as outraged as other Israeli leaders about the ICC's efforts to hold them all accountable for crimes against humanity.

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.

That the ICC is trying to arrest Israeli leaders at all is "a crime of historic proportions," Gantz said, adding that Israel is waging "one of the just wars fought in modern history.

Compared to Israel, Hamas and the people of Gaza represent "a deep distortion of justice and blatant moral bankruptcy," Gantz further said, patting himself and his country on the back for their war in the Gaza Strip.

Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's far-right finance minister, minced his words even less.

"We have not seen such a show of hypocrisy and hatred of Jews like that displayed by the court in the Hague since Nazi propaganda," Smotrich snarled.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, another right-wing Israeli cabinet member who works in national security, urged Netanyahu and Gallant to simply "ignore the antisemitic prosecutor and order a stepped-up assault against Hamas until they are completely destroyed."

In an attempt to stop the ICC from moving any further towards justice, a group of U.S. Republican lawmakers schemed up a plan for sanctions against the UN court.

"Yet again the Zionists have made themselves the victims, harping back to those awful times of WWII," one commenter at RT wrote.

"The world is tired of their whining 'poor us'  just look at the state of Gaza for goodness' sake. Go and smell it and look at those poor innocents rotting under the rubble."

Another complained that Hamas, in his opinion, should not be included in the arrest warrant issuance because Hamas is simply "fighting against the occupation and 70+ years of repression"  again, this is someone's opinion.

"Hamas is defending the people it represents as per UN charter," this person added. "They put a warrant on President Putin immediately after the start of the Ukraine military operation. They are a joke to the world and now everyone can see."

"International law stipulates that armed resistance against an occupying power is lawful, despite the bombardment of rape and death threats the ICC judges receive from Israel," wrote another.

Israel is about to face a rude awakening. Learn more at IsraelCollapse.com.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

Twitter.com

NaturalNews.com
Israeli President lied about Shani Louk being beheaded by Hamas; complete body returned

Israeli President Isaac Herzog lied about Shani Louk being "beheaded" by Hamas in order to prop up Israel's "Hamas is ISIS" propaganda campaign, The Intercept's Ryan Grim reports.

(Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com)

"We now know Herzog lied when he said Shani Louk was beheaded to buck up the 'Hamas is ISIS' campaign -- with utter disregard for the impact of that lie on her family and loved ones. Deeply cynical exploitation, done to justify what Herzog knew was coming," The Intercept's Ryan Grim said Saturday on X.

We now know Herzog lied when he said Shani Louk was beheaded to buck up the Hamas is ISIS campaign  with utter disregard for the impact of that lie on her family and loved ones. Deeply cynical exploitation, done to justify what Herzog knew was coming. https://t.co/ljjYsIkt07  Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) May 18, 2024

"They found her skull, which means these barbaric, sadistic animals simply chopped off her head when they were attacking and torturing and killing Israelis," Herzog claimed last year.

here is the President of Israel Isaac Herzog, who is still treated as a credible source of information by the Western media, saying on October 30th that Shani Louk's body was recovered and Hamas had beheaded her. These freaks make up beheadings like they're drinking water pic.twitter.com/GCJSI2Vnq8  ??? (@zei_squirrel) May 18, 2024

Zei_Squirrel speculated in a fiery thread on X that Israel kept her body on ice so they could drop it when they needed a PR boost.

the President of Israel said Shani Louk was beheaded. He said her body was mutilated. 7 months later, when they needed a PR hit to launder the ongoing Rafah genocide, it's found not just fully intact, but "complete and beautiful and the skin is the same color, looking like she's pic.twitter.com/haytRrXHGp  ??? (@zei_squirrel) May 18, 2024

He wrote on X:

[T]he President of Israel said Shani Louk was beheaded. He said her body was mutilated. 7 months later, when they needed a PR hit to launder the ongoing Rafah genocide, it's found not just fully intact, but "complete and beautiful and the skin is the same color, looking like she's still alive." Everyone knows what happened: The regime found her body in Gaza in late October, then made up the bullshit "skull fragment" and "she was beheaded" propaganda lie, which is insane that they ran with it because she is literally on video being moved into Gaza with her head intact, so the deranged lie only works if they found the fragment in Gaza and then concluded she must have been beheaded, which itself is deranged. You don't just stumble on a skull fragment in Gaza and decide to randomly test it and then discover it's from Shani Louk. That's why Zionist propagandists quickly moved to "no no, they actually found the fragment on a road leading away from Nova! That's why they thought she was beheaded! Ignore that she is on tape being moved into Gaza with her head intact, that's inconvenient for now, we're running with the lie that plugs the hole in the other lie." But don't worry, Haaretz will have an epic investigative report on all this in 6 months from now, after the regime has razed Rafah to the ground as the entire Western media jumped on the "OMG SHANI LOUK OMG OMG" propaganda to launder it.

Israel's propaganda army has falsely claimed that Hamas on Oct 7 beheaded 40 babies, baked a baby in an oven, committed mass rape of women (including of babies), cut the baby out of a pregnant woman's stomach and drove nails into women's vaginas.

All these atrocity propaganda tales were debunked almost immediately but we have top government officials like House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Joe Biden who are still pushing these lies today.

Ron DeSantis continues his heroic quest to fight Woke Ideology in the Free State of Florida by ranting about how Jews have a Biblical claim to a certain plot of real estate in the Middle East, repeating the fake tale about how babies got "baked in ovens" on Oct. 7, and so forth pic.twitter.com/tlrcjIMT84  Michael Tracey (@mtracey) May 14, 2024

The US Congress is trying to pass a bill to create a "October 7th Remembrance Curriculum" to be taught in schools across America which will undoubtedly repeat all these false tales to justify Israel's brutal ethnic cleansing campaign.

In February, Israeli lawmakers advanced a bill to punish those accused of "denying" or "downplaying" Israel's narrative of October 7th with five years in prison.

As the Times of Israel reported:

In a series of tweets ahead of the vote, sponsor Yisrael Beytenu MK Oded Forer, who modeled his bill after a 1986 law prohibiting Holocaust denial, said the way in which people around the world relate to the massacre "is starting to resemble Holocaust denial, and it also has fans here in Israel." "We cannot demand that the nations of the world ban the denial of the massacre, similar to the ban on denying the Holocaust, without us also acting. In this era, when false information is spread on steroids, we must start the fight now," he said. Co-sponsor MK Evgeny Sova agreed with his fellow Yisrael Beytenu lawmaker, telling The Times of Israel following the vote that anybody "who denies the massacre that Hamas perpetrated on October 7 is no less than a Holocaust denier."

Seeing as how the US Congress is passing bill after bill aimed at outlawing criticism of Jews and Israel without a care in the world for the First Amendment -- maybe they'll ram "October 7th denial laws" through our legislature next!

Read more at: InformationLiberation.com
Man arrested for 8 counts of DUI MANSLAUGHTER after deadly bus crash in Florida

A man was arrested on May 14 for eight counts of DUI manslaughter after a migrant bus and a pickup truck collided in Marion County, Florida. Eight people were killed while dozens were injured in the crash.

At a news conference, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reported that the crash happened around 6:30 a.m. of the same day on State Road 40, west of SW 148 Court, along Dunnellon. Troopers further reported that the crash involved a 2010 retired International school bus transporting 53 farmworkers westbound on State Road 40.

Officials said it was still unknown why a 2001 Ford Ranger truck traveling eastbound on the same road collided with the bus in a sideswipe manner. FHP Lt. Patrick Riordan told reporters that after the crash, the bus traveled off the roadway through a nearby fence and struck a tree until it eventually overturned.

Bryan Maclean Howard, the 41-year-old driver of the private Ford Ranger truck, was arrested and charged with eight counts of driving under the influence (DUI) manslaughter, reported the FHP.

Reports have revealed that Howard has a lengthy criminal history dating back to the mid-2000s.

According to court records, the charges include: driving with a suspended license; drug possession and grand theft; leaving the scene of a crash; and trespassing. In Marion County alone, Howard has several arrests dating back to 2005.

More than 40 people injured in the crash were taken to local hospitals. Riordan said many of the injured victims are "in very serious condition" and that there is a chance that there may be more than eight fatalities.

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.

"We do not get in a hurry to conclude what happened until we have all the facts. And with that, I can tell you that it's going to be probably six months at least, before we conclude factually what transpired here today," added Riordan.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said that crews would investigate to see if the weather also affected the fatal crash. (Related: Driverless Cruise robotaxi DRAGGED a woman pinned under it for 20 feet.)

According to Woods, the weather could have been a factor because of the time of the crash, which, in some cases, involved drivers claiming that "the sun was in their eyes." Woods added that the investigation will also look into other factors, such as if the roads were wet and if other circumstances resulted in the accident.

The victims were being driven to a farm in the area when the crash happened.

Woods explained that Marion County is a "very big agricultural county" and that by this time of year, there are often legal migrant workers in the county riding buses like the one involved in the incident.

According to Marion County Fire Rescue, 34 patients were transported to local hospitals. Eight of them were listed in critical condition, while the other 26 had non-life-threatening injuries.

Victims of fatal collision are all migrant workers

Unlike seasonal workers who can go home at the end of a work day, migrant workers spend several months away from their families. The latter usually start their work with citrus and watermelons in Florida and then work their way north.

Jamie Fussell, the Director of Labor Relations for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, explained that migrant workers are granted a specific visa. He added that because the visa is employer-sponsored, either a farmer or a farm labor contractor who's employing them would start the process.

Florida has the largest population of H2-A Temporary Agriculture Workers of any state in the United States.

Fussell explained that migrant workers have entered the country because there have been "fewer and fewer U.S. workers or U.S. citizens who want to work in agriculture or work out in the fields."

Visit Disaster.news for more stories about deadly disasters in the U.S. and around the world.

Watch the video below about a deadly car crash in Texas where seven people were killed and 11 were injured.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

100PercentFedUp.com

Fox35Orlando.com 1

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Brighteon.com
Transgender inmate charged with rape while in custody at a womens facility

A transgender-identifying male inmate has been transferred back to a men's prison after being charged with rape while in custody at a women's facility

Tremaine "Tremayne" Deon Carroll, who constantly refers to himself by male pronouns but does not mention either his gender identity or his sexuality, was originally sentenced to 25 years to life under California's Three Strikes Law in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).

According to his criminal history, Carroll has been involved in organized crime since 1988 when he was 15. In 1990, he was convicted for his participation in an armed robbery that involved the kidnapping and sexual assault of two women. Despite being a minor, he was charged as an adult with three counts of kidnapping for ransom, two counts of robbery and three counts of oral copulation by force. And in 1998, he committed another violent felony while awaiting trial.

Throughout his incarceration in the CDCR, he filed numerous complaints alleging mistreatment, discrimination and sexual abuse by CDCR officials and staff, along with seeking to overturn his Three Strikes Law conviction. But during those years, Carroll also received over a dozen Rules Violation Reports, so none of his complaints worked.

However, when the California State Legislature's SB 132, or the Transgender Respect, Agency and Dignity Act, took effect in January 2021, Carroll wasted no time using it.

SB 132 allows male inmates to be incarcerated in facilities that align with their gender identity without the need to be on hormones, undergo surgery, be diagnosed with gender dysphoria or possess legal documents to confirm their status as transgender. (Related: Sexual predators avoid jail time by identifying as "transgender.")

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.

Carroll and male inmates like him were successfully able to get themselves transferred to women's incarceration facilities. In August 2021, Carroll got transferred to the Central California Women's Facility (CCWF). Following his transfer, he immediately started using his supposedly transgender identity to support his claims of victimhood.

Not long after Carroll was transferred to CCWF, Madera County court records show that in January 2024, he was charged with two counts of rape and one count of dissuading a witness. Following these charges, Carroll was moved back to Kern Valley State Prison, a male-only facility almost two hours away from CCWF. The transfer coincides with the filing of rape charges, indicating a potential reevaluation of housing policies regarding transgender inmates.

Carroll previously claimed: "I am not a threat to women"

In 2022, Carroll testified for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to intervene in the lawsuit filed by four female inmates who accused trans-identified males transferred to California's women's prisons of sexual abuse. The lawsuit, originally filed by the Womens Liberation Front (WoLF) against the CDCR, challenges SB-132.

However, the ACLU filed an intervention against the lawsuit in May 2022 in Fresno District Court. In the filing, the ACLU argued that "males" and "females" do not exist as distinct classes defined by anatomy, genitalia, physical characteristics or physiology. The motion claims that human beings are not sexually dimorphic and that there are no inherent reproductive systems, hormones or chromosomes that differentiate males from females.

To support its claim, the ACLU collected sworn testimonies. One of those testimonies came from Carroll.

"I know what it feels like to live in fear and to carry the weight of the past abuse by men. But I am not a threat to women. I strongly believe that everyone here at CCWF would benefit from more structured interaction  opportunities to sit and talk with each other and realize that we're all in the same boat," Carroll swore at that time.

But obviously, his testimony was a proven falsehood.

Watch the full conversation between Mel K and Charlie Robinson regarding how the transgenderism movement is part of the controlled demolition of America.

This video is from the The Mel K Show channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

ANOTHER deranged transgender caught planning mass shooting against children; arrested with Communist Manifesto and kill list.

Homeless convicted pedophile arrested after camping near San Francisco school and offering "free fentanyl for new users."

Even some LGBT activists are disturbed by the devastating impact transgender mania has on children.

Transgender pedophile arrested for production, distribution and possession of child pornography.

Transgender convicted of murder and rape files lawsuit demanding to be released into general population of womens prison

Sources include:

En-volve.com

Reduxx.info

Brighteon.com
Why has the Vatican chosen this precise moment to drop bombshells about UFOs, Aliens and apparitions?

For centuries, the Vatican has been carefully guarding their most precious secrets. In recent years, that has been especially true regarding what they know about UFOs, aliens and the mysteries of the universe. So why have they chosen this exact moment in history to publicly talk about these things? The press conference at the Vatican on Thursday is the very first time that the Vatican has held a press conference about UFOs, aliens and apparitions since 1978. So this is a really big deal. It is being reported that the Vatican has decided to issue new guidelines on aliens and how it will deal with potential encounters in the future

(Article republished from TheMostImportantNews.com)

The Vatican has announced that it is set to hold a press conference on supernatural phenomena tomorrow, and it will touch on aliens and how it will deal with potential encounters in the future. According to a notice on the Vaticans website, it will kick of at noon tomorrow, and will feature three prominent Vatican members. Being held to present the new provisions of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith for discerning between apparitions and other supernatural phenomena, it will be led by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandex, Messenger Armando Matteo and Daniela Del Gaudio.

If the Vatican feels a need to issue guidelines about how to deal with potential encounters in the future, that seems to imply that they believe that there will be potential encounters in the future.

What do they know that they arent telling us?

Probably a lot.

The last time that the Vatican did something like this was all the way back in February 1978

The last time the Vaticans doctrinal office issued norms for evaluating alleged apparitions and reports of supernatural events was in February 1978. At the time, the prefect, Cardinal Franjo Seper, said the norms were necessary given how news of alleged apparitions spreads rapidly thanks to the mass media.

What has changed between then and now?

One thing that has changed is that the current pope seems to be quite interested in the topic of aliens.

In comments that he made near the end of 2023, Pope Francis seemed to suggest that aliens could actually be baptized

However, Pope Francis did touch on aliens at the end of last year, when he was talking about how early Christians discussed associating with Jews and Gentiles  which, for some reason, he compared to aliens. He said: That was unthinkable. If, for example, tomorrow an expedition of Martians came, and some of them came to us, hereMartians, right? Green, with that long nose and big ears, just like children paint themAnd one says, But I want to be baptized! What would happen?

He didnt answer his own question, but added: It was never the ministry of the closed door, never,

So he plans to have an open door for the aliens?

What would that look like?

The producer of a new documentary entitled God Versus Aliens seems to believe that the Vatican wants to prepare us for the day when humanity finally makes contact with such beings

The documentary God Versus Aliens is to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and reveal the Vaticans secrets about UFOs. The award-winning filmmaker Mark Christopher Lee says that the Vatican publishing new guidance on apparitions means that the full disclosure about the UFO phenomena is getting closer. He said: The Vatican has been studying UFOs for decades and even has its own Cardinal appointed to deal with first contact. From my research I believe that this new guidance on apparitions is proof that they know that UFOs are more than just physical crafts from other worlds and that they have a paranormal side to them.

What most people dont realize is that the Vatican has been on the cutting edge of the search for extraterrestrial life for a long time.

The Vatican Observatory in Rome is very well funded, and the Vatican also has a research group that uses the very high-powered equipment at the University of Arizona in Tucson

Many people are surprised to learn that the Vatican even has an observatory. The history of the Vatican Observatory goes back two and a half centuries. During its history, there has been some turmoil and several moves to escape the light and other hindrances that large cities, such as Rome, pose to doing astronomy. Therefore, more than a half-century ago the Vatican Observatory established a research group at the Steward Observatory of the University of Arizona in Tucson, while the Vatican Observatorys headquarters remained in Italy.

Needless to say, the Vatican isnt going to tell us everything that they know right now.

But a couple of things have become quite clear.

Number one, the Vatican believes that extraterrestrial life exists.

Number two, the Vatican plans to develop a positive relationship with any aliens that do make contact with humanity.

Could all of this be setting us up for a great deception of absolutely epic proportions?

While he was still alive, author Tom Horn made the following observation

Why the Vatican has taken this carefully designed and deliberate course over the last few years is the greater mystery, but implies knowledge on their part of facts yet hidden to most of the world that may hold far-reaching and historic implications. It also illustrates how Rome has wittingly or unwittingly set itself up to become the agent of mass end-times deception regarding salvation from above. Thats because, historically, there exists a clear pattern wherein mans psychological need of a savior is displayed during times of distressa time like todaywhen people look skyward for divine intervention.

It is true.

When things get bad enough, the world is going to be looking for a savior.

And if a superior race appears on the scene that seems to have all the answers, many people out there will fully embrace them.

For decades, books, movies and television shows have conditioned us to expect that someday we will interact with aliens from another planet. 100 years ago, everyone would have dismissed such talk as nonsense, but now we have been well prepared for the great deception that is eventually coming.

Sadly, the Vatican seems to be quite ready to welcome aliens as their new best friends, and that is extremely unfortunate.

Read more at: TheMostImportantNews.com
Zelenskys presidential term has EXPIRED, but he still remains as Ukraines de facto chief executive

The five-year term of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has officially expired , but he still remains as the country's chief executive  raising questions about his continued legitimacy.

Zelensky, a comedian who starred in the series "Servant of the People," was first elected as president in March 2019 and assumed office two months later in May 20 of that year. His first term expired Monday, May 20, five years to the day he became president, according to Russia Today.

Originally, Ukraine's presidential election was set to occur in March of this year. But in December, Zelensky said there would be no presidential or parliamentary elections as long as martial law remains in force. He first announced martial law during the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, with the Verkhovna Rada  Ukraine's unicameral parliament  extending the declaration since then. (Related: Permanent dictator: Zelensky declares NO MORE ELECTIONS in Ukraine until war ends.)

At the start of the year, Zelensky reiterated that elections are now "untimely" due to the ongoing conflict with Russia and the national mobilization announced by Kyiv. On May 15, members of the Verkhovna Rada prolonged the emergency measures by another three months.

But according to former People's Deputy (PD) Spiridion Klinkaryov, Ukraine has laws that prohibit parliamentary elections not to be held in wartime. However, there is no such rule concerning the president.

"Therefore, even during this period, Zelensky is obliged to hold elections," the erstwhile PD from 2006 until 2014 told news outlet Regnum earlier this year. "Instead, he refers to the norm, which states that the powers of the newly elected president come into force after the powers of the current one expire."

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

According to a poll by the Ukrainian political sociology from SOCIS conducted in early March, Zelensky would have secured only 23.7 percent of votes in the first round of elections against Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Valery Zaluzhny. It also found that Zelensky would still have lost in the second round, garnering no more than 32.5 percent against the former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU). The president dismissed Zaluzhny from the AFU in February.

Moscow questions legitimacy of Zelensky's extended presidency

On May 20, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev blasted Zelensky's cancellation of elections late last year. He argued that with this decision, Zelensky has "spat" on the Ukrainian Constitution, ignored the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (KSU) and opted for the "usurpation of supreme power."

The head of the Russian Security Council told the TASS news agency that Zelensky fears facing competition from Zaluzhny and former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the latter Zelensky's predecessor. According to Medvedev, both would have "too many trump cards" against the comedian-turned-president.

On May 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his state visit to China that the issue of Zelensky's legitimacy is something that "Ukraine's own political and legal system, first of all the KSU," must address. According to Putin, the Ukrainian Constitution allows for "different options."

"But to us, this does matter because if it comes to the signing of any documents, surely, we should sign documents on such a momentous manner with the legitimate authorities," he said. The Russian leader added that the Kremlin maintained regular contacts with Zelensky himself before the "special military operation" commenced in February 2022.

The online newspaper Ukrainskaya Pravda claimed in March, citing PDs, that Zelensky had virtually stripped the Verkhovna Rada of its powers and established de facto personal rule. Around the same time, a PD from Zelensky's Servant of the People Party openly suggested that Ukraine needs a dictatorship to survive the conflict with Russia.

This led to Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov remarking in late April: "[A] moment will come soon when many people, including those inside Ukraine, will question [Zelensky's] legitimacy."

Head over to UkraineWitness.com for similar stories.

Watch this video discussing the possibility of Volodymyr Zelensky staging a coup to keep himself in power.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

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CIA allegedly operating online Ukrainian anti-Trump "troll farms" to influence 2024 election.

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Sources include:

RT.com 1

RT.com 2

Brighteon.com
Biden administration authorized FBI to use DEADLY FORCE in raid on Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate, likely hoping to find an excuse to shoot Trump

The FBI had authorization to use deadly force when they raided former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida in August 2022.

This is according to court filings in a motion to suppress evidence that was seized during the raid as part of Special Counsel Jack Smiths investigation into Trumps alleged improper retention of classified material.

The documents reveal that the FBI was prepared and willing to use deadly force if needed, even if it involved Trump and his security detail. Its just one of several eye-opening court filings that Judge Aileen Cannon ordered to be unsealed related to Plasmic Echo, the code name used by the FBI to refer to the governmental investigation into Trumps mishandling of sensitive documents.

It said that the FBI believed its objective for the Mar-a-Lago raid was to seize classified information, NDI, and US Government records, and the policy statement in the Use of Deadly Force Section clearly asserted: "Law Enforcement officers of the Department of Justice may use deadly force when necessary."

Agents arrived that day armed with Standard Issue Weapon, Ammo, [and] Handcuffs along with medium and large sized bolt cutters and lock-picking gear. However, they were instructed to wear unmarked collared or polo shirts and keep their law enforcement equipment concealed.

They must have been reasonably certain that something could go down during the raid, as their team also included a medic who could tend to those who were injured during the raid, along with information and directions to a local trauma center. The policy statement clarified that deadly force could not be used solely to prevent the escape of a fleeing suspect, however.

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.

Other exhibits from the unsealed motion show that FBI agents ransacked bedrooms in the home belonging to former First Lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron Trump.

Trump calls raid "unconstitutional"

Trump, who has been in a New York City courtroom this week as part of his ongoing trial related to falsifying business records, had a strong reaction to the new revelations, posting on his Truth Social platform: "WOW! I just came out of the Biden Witch Hunt Trial in Manhattan, the Icebox, and was shown Reports that Crooked Joe Bidens DOJ, in their Illegal and UnConstitutional Raid of Mar-a-Lago, AUTHORIZED THE FBI TO USE DEADLY (LETHAL) FORCE. NOW WE KNOW, FOR SURE, THAT JOE BIDEN IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO DEMOCRACY."

He added: "HE IS MENTALLY UNFIT TO HOLD OFFICE  25TH AMENDMENT!"

The raid lasted for roughly ten hours, and it involved 25 Miami FBI agents, along with four from Washington, D.C. and an unidentified individual from the headquarters of the FBI. The Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and a Department of Justice attorney were also involved.

Despite sweeping through the bedrooms, kitchen and gym of Mar-a-Lago, classified documents were only found in a basement storage room, an office belonging to Trump, and rooms next to the office. The government claims the documents have sensitive information about national defense, but Trump maintains that he did not do anything illegal.

The FBI issued a statement insisting all of this was standard operating procedure, noting: The FBI followed standard protocol in this search as we do for all search warrants, which includes a standard policy statement limiting the use of deadly force. No one ordered additional steps to be taken and there was no departure from the norm in this matter.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has admitted that he personally approved the decision to seek a search warrant against Trump.

Sources for this article include:

Declassified.Live

FoxNews.com
Young boy DIES in Pfizers trial for gene therapy against Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Pfizer's trial for a gene therapy against Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) has been halted following the death of one participant  a young boy.

According to Great Game India, the boy's death was revealed in a recent letter from the New York-based drug giant. The boy had received the gene therapy in early 2023, but the details surrounding his death are still unclear. Pfizer is actively working with investigators to understand what happened.

The trial known as Daylight aimed to study the effects of Pfizer's experimental gene therapy against DMD called fordadistrogene movaparvovec on boys aged two to three years old. DMD is a rare genetic disease that primarily affects boys, causing progressive muscle degeneration. If successful, Pfizer's gene therapy could offer hope for those affected by this condition.

According to the National Institutes of Health, DMD is one of the most severe forms of genetic muscular dystrophy. The Muscular Dystrophy Association explains that the condition is characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, which are caused by alterations to a protein called dystrophin. This protein helps keep muscle cells intact, it adds.

Symptoms of DMD are typically exhibited early on in childhood around the age of two and three, and include difficulty jumping, running and walking as well as enlargement of the calves, a waddling gait, and an inward curve of the spine. As the disease progresses, DMD can impact the heart and respiratory muscles leading to impaired pulmonary function, which can eventually cause acute respiratory failure.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

The condition primarily affects boys, with an estimated one in every 3,500 male births impacted worldwide.

In 2021, Pfizer revealed that a young male participant had died in the non-ambulatory cohort of its Phase 1b mini-dystrophin gene therapy trial for DMD. As a result of that 2021 death, the Food and Drug Administration placed the company's Investigational New Drug (IND) Application on clinical hold before lifting it in April 2022.

Pfizer pauses trial for its DMD gene therapy

Following news of the recent death, Pfizer has paused dosing for part of another trial dubbed CIFFREO. This second trial, which involves young male participants afflicted with DMD aged four up to eight years old, has been halted as a precautionary measure. But other trials evaluating the gene therapy will continue as planned, according to the Epoch Times. (Related: Drug approvals by regulators are often based on poor clinical data, researchers find).

"On behalf of everyone at Pfizer, we extend our sympathies to his family, friends and those closest to his care," the drug maker said in the community letter, which was made public by the nonprofit advocacy group Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy.

"The safety and well-being of the patients in our clinical trials remains our top priority, and we are committed to sharing more information with the medical and patient community as soon as we can. We are also aware that many in the patient community are hopeful about the potential benefit of fordadistrogene movaparvovec for the treatment of DMD, and we will continue to collect data from our trials to evaluate its ability to address this disease."

News of the boy's death comes after Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer's chief scientific officer and president of research, touted fordadistrogene movaparvovec during the companys third-quarter 2023 earnings call in October.

"I think our gene therapy for DMD [has] shown a very consistent effect across biomarkers and functional end points. This makes our gene therapy, in a way, the main game in town," he said at the time. According to Dolsten, functional data the company had reported up until that point had given "encouraging signals in both the younger and the slightly older boys."

Visit BigPharmaNews.com for more stories about Pfizer.

Watch this clip from "Worldview Report" about Pfizer offering condolences for the sudden death of the young boy in its DMD gene therapy trial.

This video is from the Worldview Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

FDA has "gone rogue" by approving new COVID booster shots without clinical trials, warns Dr. Robert Malone.

Covid jabs meet the scientific and clinical criteria of BIOWEAPONS, not "vaccines."

New lawsuit says Pfizer "knowingly distributed" unsafe drugs to children.

Moderna launches trials for new mRNA cancer injections.

Sources include:

GreatGameIndia.com

TheEpochTimes.com

Brighteon.com
House Republicans propose Let Trump Speak Act to ban defendant GAG ORDERS

Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives have brought forward the "Let Trump Speak Act" to prevent most judges from issuing most gag orders on defendants in criminal or civil cases.

Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles introduced HR 8410, dubbed the "Let Trump Speak Act," on the House floor. As of May 17, 14 other GOP representatives became co-sponsors of the measure. These co-sponsors include Virginia Rep. Bob Good, Tennessee Rep. Diana Harshbarger, Arizona Rep. Eli Crane, Missouri Rep. Eric Burlinson, Wisconsin Rep. Tom Tiffany, South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan, Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale, Illinois Rep. Mary Miller, Alabama Rep. Barry Moore and Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins. Three GOP representatives from Florida  Byron Donalds, Anna Paulina Luna and Bill Posey  were also included as co-sponsors.

In a post on social media, Ogles described his bill as a means to ensure that the rights of all Americans are preserved. The bill's text states: "No judge of the U.S. or of any state may issue a gag order to the defendant in any criminal or civil proceedings  except to prevent the disclosure of confidential information provided in discovery, to protect the privacy of minors or as part of a plea agreement."

The proposal would allow people who received a gag order to "commence a civil action seeking injunctive relief." It also stipulates that no provision in HR 8410's text could be "construed as limiting a judge's authority to issue orders to officers of the court."

HR 8410 comes as former President Donald Trump has had multiple gag orders imposed on him by Judge Juan Merchan, who oversees Trump's hush money trial. The former president has been fined $10,000 for alleged violations of these gag orders. It also followed the New York Court of Appeals rejecting another petition by Trump to reverse Merchan's gag order. (Related: SUPPRESSED: NY appeals court DECLINES Trumps request to overturn GAG order.)

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.

Ogles denounces hush money trial as a "joke"

Ogles was in attendance at Trump's New York City trial on May 16 to show support for the presumptive GOP nominee. The congressman for the Volunteer State slammed the legal proceedings against Trump, calling it a "joke of a trial."

"I find it especially egregious in this case that Merchan has gagged Trump, a presidential candidate, from commenting on witnesses. The same witnesses who are not under a gag order and are publicly launching political attacks on him," Ogles told the Post Millennial when asked for comment on the bill.

"No one in their right mind believes that Judge Merchan chose to gag Trump from commenting on witnesses because he is concerned about ensuring a fair trial," Ogles added. Having sat through the three-hour game of charade in court, it is more evident than ever that this is nothing but political persecution. It is a disgusting abuse of power by [President Joe] Biden and his weaponized pawns in the judiciary."

Trump had alleged that several of those on the prosecution team have donated to or been closely affiliated with Democratic politicians. The president himself, his team and many conservative lawmakers allege that the cases against Trump are a "witch hunt" instigated by Biden.

The real estate mogul named a witness who had a clear biases against him in the person of Mark Pomerantz, a former lawyer for the Democratic National Committee and failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Trump also castigated prosecutor Matthew Colangelo, a former lawyer at the Department of Justice who was recruited by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to go after him.

Visit Trump.news for similar stories.

Watch this clip from "The Ingraham Angle" on Fox News discussing whether Judge Merchan's gag order on Trump has legal standing.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Special Counsel Jack Smith requests GAG ORDER to restrict Donald Trumps speech.

In order to prevent another January 6, FBI says Trump supporters must be treated like TERRORISTS.

The ultimate TRUMP CARD: Best way for Donald Trump to stay out of prison is to return to the Oval Office, says law professor.

FBI closely monitoring Trump supporters in run-up to 2024 election.

Supreme Court rules Trump must remain on primary, general ballots in 2024 election.

Sources include:

ThePostMillennial.com

Brighteon.com
House Republicans worried about sharp uptick in Chinese migrants illegally crossing U.S. border

Republican members of the House Homeland Security subcommittee are raising concerns about what they described as a surge of illegal Chinese migrants who are entering America without permission.

Set up by House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Accountability Chairman Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), a May 16 meeting about the issue revealed an "unprecedented flow of Chinese nationals" across the U.S. southern border.

According to the figures presented, some 27,000 Chinese nationals have broken into America since October 7, just before the Israel-Hamas war erupted.

The latest figures from Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) suggest that in April alone, 3,324 Chinese nationals crossed the southwest border. This is a higher number than the number of Chinese nationals who crossed the southwest border in the entirety of 2022.

"This year's total tops 27,000 encounters, surpassing the 24,000 illegal southwest border crossings during the entire 2023 fiscal year," reported The Epoch Times.

"That's a massive jump from recent years. In 2022, the number of Chinese migrant encounters was slightly more than 2,000 at the U.S. southern border. In 2021, that number was 450 ... Nationwide encounters of Chinese migrants entering unlawfully are even higher."

(Related: Earlier this year, Gen. Blaine Holt [Ret.] warned that he feels as though military-age Chinese men are flooding across America's southern border.)

Democrats say Republicans are fearmongering about the border

So far in 2024, CBP says there have been more than 48,000 encounters with illegal Chinese migrants on U.S. territory. Rep. Bishop, speaking at the recent hearing, expressed concerns about the vetting process for these illegals, which has been decreased from 40 to just five questions.

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.

"As the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues its quest for geopolitical dominance and threatens our sovereignty, we must examine the risks presented by releasing ever-increasing numbers of minimally vetted Chinese nationals into our communities," Bishop said in a statement.

Democrats within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) scoffed at these concerns, claiming they are just part of "another Republican border 'hearing' with invasion rhetoric and fear-mongering."

Rep. Bishop, conversely, claims that many of the Chinese migrants he feels are entering the U.S. have "nefarious motives." He then explained a few federal indictments out of North Carolina where Mexican drug cartels and Chinese transnational criminal organizations are engaging in illegal money laundering activity.

Experts who were invited to the hearing to testify say that there is really no way to properly vet Chinese nationals because a criminal background check is unlikely to pull up anything if the person has never previously been in the United States.

Not only that, but China is unlikely to share such information with the U.S. in the first place, which means U.S. authorities have to figure out some other way to vet each and every one of them.

"At best, this is a mockery of U.S. immigration law and sovereignty, and at worst, it is a huge national security and community safety risk," complained Simon Hankinson, senior research fellow with the Heritage Foundation's Border Security and Immigration Center.

"In addition to many Chinese with connections to the Communist Party, People's Liberation Army, and other state entities, it is statistically probable that [Department of Homeland Security] DHS is releasing people with criminal records."

Todd Bensman, a national security fellow with the Center for Immigration Studies, also made an appearance at the hearing to show passports and identification cards he says were found near the southern border.

The stamps inside the passports prove, he says, that holders traveled through countries that are considered safe, which means they are wholly disqualified from getting their asylum requests granted.

Do you think the CCP is taking over America by flooding the southern border? Find out more at InvasionUSA.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
U.S. Congress freaks after ICC issues arrest warrants for both Israel and Hamas, threatens sanctions against international court

Republican leaders are feverishly scrambling to drum up some kind of legislation to stop the International Criminal Court (ICC) from taking action against the leaders of Israel who are unleashing hell in the Gaza Strip.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is leading the charge to forcefully stop the ICC from going after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The ICC is also, by the way, going after Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri for the same reasons it is going after Israel's leaders: "war crimes and crimes against humanity."

"If unchallenged by the Biden administration, the ICC could create and assume unprecedented power to issue arrest warrants against American political leaders, American diplomats, and American military personnel," Johnson fumed, calling the ICC's efforts to hold Israel and Hamas accountable "disgraceful" and "lawless."

Johnson continued in a rant to demand that the White House "use every available tool to prevent such an abomination."

(Related: The people of Gaza are days away from starving to death now that Israel is in full control of the Rafah crossing.)

Republicans are Israel, not America, first

Texas Republican Michael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Axios that the GOP is currently drafting a bill based on a previous bill introduced in February 2023 by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) that would sanction the ICC as punishment for the entity doing its job.

Cotton, as you may recall, was among the dozen or so senators who wrote to ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan earlier this month calling on him to stop pursuing justice against Israel and Hamas. Israel can do no wrong, according to Cotton and his ilk, and must be left alone and never, ever questioned.

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.

Cotton did admit, though, that existing U.S. laws provide "all means necessary and appropriate" to defend America and its allies, so why the sudden need for new legislation to punish the ICC for going after Israel and Hamas?

Several members of the Progressive Caucus, including Pramila Jayapal and Mark Pocan, are approaching the matter much differently. They say Congress has no jurisdiction over the ICC, which is not even in the U.S. but rather in The Hague, Netherlands.

The international court is tasked with resolving matters between nations like this that involve criminal activity, but Israel is apparently exempt from international law.

Netanyahu is begging President Biden to "intervene" in some way to stop the ICC from granting Khan's arrest warrant request, which would force Netanyahu, Gallant and others to stay in Israel or else face arrest in other countries where they travel.

Biden is being obedient to Netanyahu so far, having denounced Khan's motion to seek warrants as "outrageous." Biden also scoffed at both Israel and Hamas being lumped into the same category as one another, calling this "equivalence" false.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is parroting the same line that the ICC "has no jurisdiction over this matter." He then proceeded to question "the legitimacy and credibility of this investigation."

It is important to note that the U.S., ironically enough, is one of the creators of the ICC. The entity was formed after the Washington-backed war crimes tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda, though Congress never actually ratified the Rome Statute.

The ICC absolutely does have jurisdiction over the West Bank and Gaza, though. The Palestinian Authority accepted this jurisdiction in 2015, which means Israel has no jurisdiction over the ICC in trying to stop it from mediating this heinous conflict.

Do you think things are heading towards World War III or are we already there? Learn more at WWIII.news.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

NaturalNews.com
Israel bombs yet another Gaza hospital, killing more innocent civilians

An Israeli airstrike destroyed a UNRWA clinic in Gaza City last week, killing at least 14 people. The Al-Sabra clinic was said to be one of the only safe places remaining in the area, and numerous displaced families had been sheltering there.

NBC News shared footage of injured people seeking treatment at Baptist Hospital in Gaza City. In cramped and dirty conditions, children and the elderly could be seen grieving the loss of their loved ones while suffering from gruesome injuries. Witnesses told the outlet that IDF forces leveled a UNRWA school next door to the clinic, shelling it and compromising the only source of water the day before the attack, which occurred during traditional prayers at dawn.

One of the men searching for bodies in the rubble expressed unease about the situation, saying that with hospitals being targeted, it feels like there are no safe places for them to go. Everyone is on edge there, and this was on full display when the panicked staff at a hospital in Northern Gaza evacuated patients following a missile strike on Tuesday.

The missiles struck the hospitals emergency department, spurring staff to rush patients out into the rubble-filled streets on their hospital beds and stretchers. Video footage showed doctors in their blue scrubs wheeling the patients outside, looking all around in fear of further strikes and shouting amid the panic.

The head of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Jabalya, Hussam Abu Safia, said: The first missile when it hit, it hit the entrance of the emergency department. We tried to enter, and then a second missile hit, and the third hit the building nearby.

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 added: We cannot go back inside to them. We really never imagined that, one day, the emergency department will be hit. The emergency department provides a service for children, the elderly and people inside the departments of the hospital.

A spokesperson for the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry told Reuters that patients were being evacuated to medical points in northern Gaza as well as Baptist Hospital in Gaza City. There are also reports that another hospital in northern Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital, has been under siege for several days, with dozens of staff, patients and loved ones trapped inside.

Hospitals have been shockingly common targets in the war, with at least 90 incidents documented involving hospitals. Other high-profile incidents include Israeli raids on Gaza Citys Al Shifa Hospital and Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, along with the destruction of the Hayfa facility, which served 9,000 patients per month.

Only four of the 36 Gazan hospitals tracked by the UN have not reported damage from munitions, IDF raids or service challenges. This is despite international law governing war specifying that hospitals cannot be targeted during conflicts unless they are used to cause harm and those attacking them protect civilians there.

UNRWA announces 75% of Gazan population has been displaced

The UNRWA announced today that 75% of the population in Gaza has now been forcibly displaced, with some of them experiencing displacement multiple times. The newest wave of displacements saw nearly a million people fleeing from Rafah following orders for residents to evacuate issued by Israeli forces.

The agency reports that many of the families sheltering in its facilities do not have vital supplies and services or even tents for sheltering.

In a post on X, they wrote: For thousands of Palestinian families there is nowhere left to go: military operations & bombardments pose a continuous threat, buildings have been turned to rubble. Nowhere is safe in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that the number of those killed at the hands of Israeli forces since the war broke out in October now stands at 35,709, with a further 79,990 people injured.

Sources for this article include:

MiddleEastMonitor.com

WashingtonPost.com
Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon KILL TWO CHILDREN

Israeli forces have targeted several "infrastructure" sites in southern Lebanon, killing two children in the process

The strikes hit the villages of Najjiriyeh and Addousiyeh, both located south of the coastal city of Sidon, approximately 18 miles from the Israeli border  deeper into Lebanon than the typical strikes in this region.

Israel claims the airstrikes were focused on compounds that were part of Hezbollah's aerial defense system, which are considered a threat to Israeli aircraft.

Hezbollah reported the death of one of its fighters during the attacks but did not provide details about the circumstances or the fighter's role within the organization. The strikes also killed two civilians, identified as Syrian children.

While the targeted sites were described as "terrorist infrastructure," many of the buildings hit in the strikes have unclear associations with Hezbollah. (Related: WAR FREAKS: Israeli warplanes strike villages in southern Lebanon.)

Reports indicated that a pickup truck and an orchard were also struck. In previous incidents, civilian homes have often been labeled as infrastructure.

In response to the deaths, Hezbollah launched approximately 75 projectiles at the small Israeli settlement of Kerem Ban Zimra and Tsnobar logistical base in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The strike on Kerem Ban Zimra reportedly wounded at least two Israelis.

These attacks followed a drone strike the previous day against the Lebanese town of Qana, which hit a vehicle near a funeral procession, killing two people, one of whom was identified by rescuers as linked to Hezbollah.

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.

Israeli forces have been hitting alleged enemy targets in Lebanon

Last month, the Israeli military reported hitting dozens of targets in southern Lebanon, while the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah claimed to have fired dozens of rockets at an Israeli border village as the conflict escalated.

Israeli military officials stated that the strikes in the area of Aita al-Shaab, approximately two miles inside the Lebanese border, targeted around 40 sites, including storage facilities and weapons depots extensively used by Hezbollah forces.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, following an operational meeting at the militarys Northern Command, declared, There is continuous offensive action by [Israeli military] forces in all of southern Lebanon as well as in other parts of Lebanon. The operational results are very impressive.

Gallant also asserted that Israeli forces had killed half of Hezbollahs commanders in southern Lebanon, a claim disputed by the group. A Hezbollah official dismissed the assertion as completely worthless, stating that the group regularly published details of its members killed in action.

Israeli strikes have reportedly resulted in the deaths of approximately 250 Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon since October, with an additional 30 killed in Israeli strikes in neighboring Syria. The hostilities have also claimed the lives of over 70 civilians in Lebanon and 18 individuals, including soldiers and civilians, in Israel.

Hezbollah held a funeral for senior commander Hussein Azkoul, killed earlier in the week by Israeli forces. Speaking at the funeral, senior Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah praised Azkoul for his role in developing Hezbollahs drone and missile capabilities and escalating the battle with Israel.

The Israeli strikes followed a drone attack by Hezbollah on Israeli military bases north of the Israeli coastal city of Acre, marking the deepest strike yet in the ongoing hostilities.

In response to Israeli strikes on Lebanese villages, including one that killed at least two people, including an 11-year-old girl, Hezbollah fired Katyusha rockets on the community of Shomera.

While the recent hostilities mark the most severe escalation in years, the violence has primarily occurred in areas near the Israeli-Lebanese border, with occasional Israeli strikes penetrating deeper into Lebanons eastern Bekaa Valley.

Watch this clip of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon.

This video is from the channel Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Israel pressures US for more Apache helicopters even while owning up to mass civilian casualty airstrikes

Israel kills SEVEN Gaza food aid workers in accidental airstrikes where Israeli drones hunted, targeted and destroyed three clearly marked food aid vehicles

Looking for more trouble? Israeli airstrikes hit Damascus amid escalating Israel-Hamas war

Sources include:

News.Antiwar.com

AlJazeera.com

Brighteon.com
NATO has become military wing of globalist cabal that promotes the self-destruction of all nations in a depopulated world

One of NATOs primary missions is to spread instability throughout the world, using the military-industrial complex to bully and intimidate countries non-compliant with a militant anti-family anti-God agenda flowing out of Western capitals and promoted by Western media.

(Article by Leo Hohmann republished from LeoHohmann.Substack.com)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg asserted on Friday the alliance's commitment to defending the rights of LGBTQ individuals, aligning with numerous Western officials, institutions, and organizations in commemorating the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia.

Author Jose Nino summed it up nicely in a piece for Big League Politics:

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is committed to spreading degenerate values abroad. With Russia seemingly making major gains against NATO-backed Ukrainian forces in Eastern Ukraine, NATO leaders have been engaging in bizarre virtue signaling to divert attention away from the abject failure of this proxy war against Russia. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 24, 2022, NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg has been particularly vocal about NATOs values and why its an institution that has to be trusted despite its long track record of causing instability abroad  from Serbia all the way to Libya.

On Friday, May 17, Stoltenberg, re-affirmed NATOs priorities in a post on X that arrogantly proclaims the current Western value system and what its based upon:

NATO exists to defend 32 nations, and our peoples right to live freely & in peace. On the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia & Transphobia, and every day: all love is equal. LGBTQ+ people deserve respect & dignity, and I am proud to call myself your ally.

Nino reminds us of why NATO was founded in the first place, in the wake of World War II in 1949. It was to counter the Soviet Unions influence on the European continent.

However, since the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO has worked to remake the world in Americas increasingly dysfunctional image. Its interventions in the Balkans all the way to Libya have brought nothing but harm and instability.

NATO is no longer seen by most nations of the world as a defensive alliance.

NATO launched offensive wars against Yugoslavia in 1999 and Libya in 2011, as well as its protracted occupation of Afghanistan, leaving the country no freer and no better off in 2021 than when it was invaded 20 years prior, but rather much more dangerous with billions of U.S. and Western military weapons in the hands of the Taliban terrorists.

But even more destructive is the fact that NATO teams up with an army of neo-Marxist and Cultural Marxist nonprofits to promote values antithetical to those found in the Bible, including gay "marriage," abortion on demand up to birth, and children being able to choose their own gender, along with the whole idea of gender as a social construct meant to "oppress" the sexual deviants and mentally confused. Why do they promote ideas so destructive of society? Because they know no nation can survive for long without moral restraints and some sort of devotion to a higher authority above that of carnal man.

Nino adds:

In effect, any country that gets in bed with NATO catches the STD of multiculturalism, sexual degeneracy, and societal decay. More importantly, NATO is an entangling military alliance with a crusading ideology that is a threat to world peace. 

No nation can survive without strong men. Transgendered females (biological men who pretend to be women) running around in skirts do not tend to make good military officers, but that's exactly the type of behavior that is now being promoted and encouraged by the military forces of the U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada and Israel. This group of nations will all suffer catastrophic defeats at the hands of Russia and China if they continue with their plans to poke the bear and create a World War III scenario while at the same time indulging the lowest form of human behavior.

At the heart of this Western globalist agenda lies a demonic attempt to depopulate the world in accordance with the principles laid out in the Georgia Guidestones and other globalist screeds. Because everyone knows that gay marriages don't produce children. Emasculated, mutilated and transgendered young people don't reproduce, either.

Any nation that is truly free and independent should immediately exit this military alliance and even non-members should totally free themselves from NATO's Luciferian psychological clutches. Because NATO's psychopathic leaders base their speech and their actions on moral alchemy, warmongering and a Satanic lust for power over the free minds of people everywhere.

Raed more at: LeoHohmann.Substack.com
MASK REVERSAL: NC State Senate approves bill BANNING people from wearing face masks in public

The North Carolina Senate has approved a bill banning people from wearing face masks in public  even for health-related reasons.

The Hill reported that on May 15, the North Carolina State voted 30-15 along party lines to approve House Bill (HB) 237. But the proposal wasn't approved right away, as it followed a heated discussion regarding its prudence.

HB 237 banned face coverings in the Tar Heel State, and also eliminated an existing exception that allows residents to wear masks in public for health and safety reasons. The said provision has been in place since the early stages of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

With the May 15 vote, HB 237 now awaits the signature of North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat. While he could veto the bill, the Republican Party holds a super majority in both houses of the North Carolina General Assembly to potentially override a veto.

GOP supporters argued that HB 237 would aid law enforcement in cracking down on protesters who use and wear face masks. They asserted that demonstrators were exploiting pandemic-era measures to conceal their identities, especially after a surge of pro-Palestine protests across the nation and at North Carolina universities.

"It's about time that the craziness is at least slowed down, if not stopped," remarked GOP State Sen. Buck Newton, a sponsor of the bill. He also dismissed concerns brought up by his Democratic colleagues, expressing confidence in police officers' discretion in enforcing HB 237.

Newton also asserted that the public health exceptions were only enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that had he been in the state legislature in 2020, he would have opposed allowing people to mask up for public health reasons in the first place. Newton was elected in the North Carolina State Senate in 2022.

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 addition to the face mask ban, several other bills passed the Senate on May 15  including measures addressing sex crime laws, toll road fees, free removal for billboards and the treatment of young offenders in the criminal justice system. Each of these bills will require approval from the North Carolina House of Representatives before reaching Cooper's desk.

Democrats in the North Carolina Senate oppose ban on face masks

But according to WRAL News, HB 237 faced opposition from advocates for individuals with health concerns, community activists and Democratic state lawmakers. The latter, in particular, voiced out worries for those with compromised immune systems or individuals undergoing medical treatments such as cancer therapy.

Democratic State Sen. Lisa Grafstein criticized the bill as "unconscionable," a sentiment shared by her fellow Democrat, State Sen. Sydney Batch.

"This bill criminalizes their behavior and mine. We often discuss freedoms in this chamber; I frequently hear it," said Batch, a cancer survivor. "I should have the freedom  my children and my husband should have the freedom  to wear masks to safeguard and prolong my life without the fear of facing arrest and charges."

Batch and Grafstein each suggested amendments to the bill that they argued would still empower police to address masked protesters, while reinstating legal protections for individuals wearing masks for health reasons. Meanwhile, State Sen. Jay Chaudhuri proposed an amendment to prohibit hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan and Proud Boys from wearing face masks in public.

Despite this, Republican state senators dismissed these amendments and assured that the bill won't be abused if it becomes law. A day before the vote, Newton said HB 237 wasn't intended to "prosecute granny for wearing a mask in Walmart."

Head over to HealthFreedom.news for more similar stories.

Watch the following video on why face masks are an assault on humanity.

This video is from the Stand Up for Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Face masks causing childrens bodies to experience spike in toxic CO2 levels.

Face masks are laced with cancer-causing toxic chemicals.

BOMBSHELL: Disposable blue face masks found to contain toxic, asbestos-like substance that destroys lungs.

Chinese company charged with sending defective face masks to the US.

Sources include:

TheHill.com

WRAL.com

Brighteon.com
Fox guarding the henhouse: Bidens new migration advisor is a FOREIGN-BORN advocate of OPEN BORDERS

President Joe Biden's new advisor for migration is a foreign-born advocate of open borders , a classic case of the fox guarding the henhouse.

The National Pulse named this new advisor as Marcela Escobari, currently assistant administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The international development specialist born in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia is unlikely to advance or support any measures to seriously stem the flow of migrants into the U.S., according to the outlet.

Escobari's stint at USAID was her second, as she had previously served in the same capacity under former President Barack Obama from May 2016 to January 2017. Biden then nominated her in 2021 for the same posting, with the Senate confirming her appointment in December of that year. Escobari assumed the position in January 2022, and has been there since.

But two insider sources familiar with the matter told Axios that Biden brought in Escobari to be part of the National Security Council (NSC). According to the outlet, the USAID official will serve as the NSC's coordinator for the Los Angeles Declaration, a 2022 pledge among 21 governments in the Americas to work together on migration.

Axios added that Escobari will replace Katie Tobin, a key player on the Biden administration's border efforts from the start of the administration before leaving earlier this year. She has been running interagency meetings and working with other top officials on migration and the LA Declaration. Moreover, Escobari will also represent the Biden administration for the third ministerial meeting on the Declaration to be held in Guatemala.

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.

An NSC spokesperson said Escobari's presence shows Biden's commitment to "continue supporting regionally driven progress across the three pillars of the LA Declaration  strengthening enforcement and management of borders across the region, expanding lawful pathways and integration, and addressing the root causes to promote regional stability."

Escobari instrumental in the migrant crisis

Escobari's appointment at the NSC comes amid immigration growing as a concern among voters ahead of November. The Biden administration has dealt with back-to-back record years of migrant crossings at the southern border, with more than two million illegal crossings in each of the last two fiscal years. (Related: Breitbart's Alex Marlow: Biden favoring OPEN BORDERS to keep wages down and Democrats in power.)

"The number of crossings dropped in January and have remained level over the past few months. Yet crossings tend to rise in the spring and summer," according to Axios.

But the outlet also disclosed Escobari's role in the migrant and open border crisis while she was at the USAID. Addressing Congress last year, she bragged about the role of USAID's Latin American bureau in doubling the number of H-2 visa migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

"We also support legal pathways, so that people can migrate in conditions of dignity, safety and mutual benefit," the USAID official said at the time. "USAID's work with the ministries of labor in Guatemala and Honduras and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in El Salvador has more than doubled the number of H-2 visa recipients from these countries to almost 20,000 and reduced processing times threefold."

The Pulse pointed out that "prior to her second stint at USAID, Escobari may have also had a hand in shaping the Biden regime's immigration policies that led to the current migrant crisis." This is because she was a co-leader of the Development, Global Health and Refugee policy working group for the incumbent president's 2020 campaign.

Watch Glenn Beck commenting on the substantial number of illegals flown into the U.S. by the Biden administration  with 91,000 in Miami alone.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Globalist billionaire George Soros is financing efforts to elect more open borders Democrats in Texas.

"Take Our Border Back" convoy on track to southern border, will demand government secure our wide open borders.

FBI wary of terrorists crossing the border illegally.

Biden admits to FLYING 320,000 migrants into U.S. to PURPOSELY skew border crossing numbers.

Turkish smugglers using SOCIAL MEDIA to aid and abet illegal immigrants crossing southern border.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

Axios.com

Brighteon.com
After blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines that provided low-cost energy to Germany, the U.S. is now threatening German banks with sanctions

Money queen and globalist villain Janet Yellen is back in Germany threatening punishment unless German leaders obey her orders to heighten their compliance with Russian sanctions.

The United States Treasury head met with bankers in Frankfurt this week to crack the whip of tyranny now that it is becoming painfully obvious that Russia is winning against Ukraine and everything the corrupt Zelensky regime represents.

Russia continues to procure what Yellen described as "sensitive goods" from Germany as part of its special military operation in Ukraine, and Yellen wants it to stop, or else.

According to Yellen, the U.S. government, aka deep state, has assumed the authority to strike foreign banks such as those in Germany with secondary sanctions if there is even a whiff of Russian military-related transactions.

"I urge all institutions here to take heightened compliance measures and to increase your focus on Russian evasion attempts," Yellen bellowed, threatening to bar Germany and other offending countries from being allowed to use the U.S. dollar  oh no, not that...

(Related: Last fall, Yellen bloviated about how the United States can "absolutely" afford another war.)

Yellen wants more police surveillance of German banks

To be sure that they are obeying her orders, Yellen  who is not an elected leader in Germany, by the way  wants all foreign bank branches and subsidiaries in Germany to be monitored and surveilled to ensure they are doing NATO's dirty work.

Even though Western sanctions against Russia are only hurting the West while helping Russia, Yellen wants them all enforced with an iron fist to ensure that she and the rest of her felonious cronies remain in power forever.

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.

Flipping the script, Yellen told German bankers and leaders that Russia is "desperate" to obtain critical goods from Germany and the U.S., but that these two Western countries need to "remain vigilant to prevent the Kremlin's ability to supply its defense industrial base and to access our financial systems to do so."

Earlier this month, the U.S. Treasury threatened to block Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) from accessing the American financial system due to its financing of Russian interests.

The West is scared to death, in other words, of Russia and still thinks it can stop the inevitable from happening. You just wait, Yellen, for what comes next for you and your ilk.

RBI is one of just a handful of foreign banks that has chosen not to suspend operations in Russia despite Western sanctions. This is triggering Yellen and other private central bank cartel members who want the bank and others like it to be punished.

U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo recently threatened RBI via a letter, which prompted the Austrian bank to issue a statement claiming it has "significantly reduced" its presence in Russia to avoid punishment from the West.

"RBI will continue to work towards the de-consolidation of its Russian subsidiary," a spokesperson told Reuters.

The European Central Bank, which is controlled by the same people as the Federal Reserve here in the U.S., is also pressuring all banks in the Eurozone to quicken their exits from Russia or else face U.S. sanctions.

All affected banks are being told they have to submit an "action plan" by next month detailing how they will suspend their operations from Russia or else punishment will come.

"Does the U.S. do anything else besides constantly threaten the rest of the world?" one commenter at RT asked. "The more often they do this, the less effective it is."

The globalist-controlled U.S. empire is on its last legs. Find out more at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

NaturalNews.com
Norway, Spain and Ireland formally recognize Palestinian statehood, much to the ire of Zionist Netanyahu

Israel is freaking out after Norway, Spain and Ireland all announced that they will formally recognize the Palestinian state starting the week of May 27.

On May 22, the three European countries announced that recognizing Palestine as a state is the first step towards peace.

"There cannot be peace in [West Asia] if there is no recognition," said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.

"In the midst of a war with tens of thousands killed and injured [in Gaza], we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: Two states living side by side, in peace and security."

The Bible addresses this, by the way.

Shortly after Store said this publicly, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris issued his own similar statement of support for recognizing a Palestinian state.

"Today, Ireland, Norway, and Spain are announcing that we recognize the state of Palestine," Harris said at a press conference, noting that Ireland will officially recognize a Palestinian state starting on May 28.

"I'm confident that further countries will join us in taking this important step in the coming weeks."

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez joined the party by announcing the same Palestinian state recognition start date of May 28. Sanchez added that Benjamin Netanyahu, his Israeli counterpart, is putting this two-state solution, as they are calling it, in "danger" with his policy of "pain and destruction" in Gaza.

(Related: Did you hear that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is confirmed dead following a mysterious helicopter crash?)

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.

Israel says recognizing Palestinian statehood constitutes "terrorism"

Tel Aviv's immediate response to the news was to have a meltdown. Israel is officially recalling its ambassadors from Ireland and Norway while pledging to soon recall its envoy from Spain.

According to Israel's foreign ministry, the summoned ambassadors from these three European countries are being brought back to Israel for a "reprimand."

Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz added that this show of support for the Palestinians constitutes "folly." According to Katz, recognizing Palestinian statehood in any way "[sends] a message to the Palestinians and the world: terrorism pays."

Palestinian officials, meanwhile, were overjoyed by the news, calling it an "important step" towards creating a Palestinian state.

"We welcome the announcement by Norway, Ireland, and Spain of recognition of the State of Palestine, and we consider it an important step on the path to consolidating our right to our land and establishing our independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," reads a statement from the Palestinian resistance.

The secretary-general of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) added via social media that there is now a light at the end of the tunnel for the Palestinian people.

"Historical moments in which the free world triumphs for truth and justice after long decades of Palestinian national struggle, suffering, pain, occupation, racism, murder, oppression, abuse and destruction to which the people of Palestine were subjected," the PLO said.

The following nine European countries already recognize a Palestinian state:

Bulgaria

Czech Republic

Greek Cypriot administration

Hungary

Malta

Poland

Romania

Slovakia

Sweden

A White House spokesperson has come forward to reveal that President Biden also backs a path towards a two-state solution, though it opposes the "unilateral recognition" of a Palestinian state.

The Biden regime wants there to be diplomatic negotiations instead of what the aforementioned European countries are trying to do.

"He believes a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition," the spokesperson said, adding that Biden is "a strong supporter of a two-state solution and has been throughout his career."

All of this was foretold long ago. Learn more at Prophecy.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheCradle.co

BlueLetterBible.org

NaturalNews.com

RT.com
Quebec court OKs class action lawsuit against YouTube for COVID-19 censorship

The Quebec Superior Court has greenlit a class-action lawsuit against YouTube for its censorship of content related to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

According to LifeSiteNews, plaintiff Eloise Boies filed the lawsuit against the Google-owned video sharing platform. She accused it of censoring information about the vaccines, the pandemic and the virus itself. According to her, three of her videos  with one of them ironically discussing censorship  were taken down by YouTube for allegedly violating the platform's policies about medical disinformation and contradicting the narratives of the World Health Organization and local health authorities about COVID-19. (Related: Canada to create a REGISTRY for podcast providers  the first step toward CENSORSHIP of all speech the government regime doesnt like.)

Boies argued that YouTube's censorship represented unlawful and intentional suppression of free expression. In February, she revealed that in addition to having videos deleted, the censorship also branded her an "antivaxxer" and a "conspiracy theorist"  causing her to lose contracts.

The YouTuber also argued that YouTube violated freedom of expression guaranteed under the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms (QCHRF) with its censorship. But YouTube's parent Google countered that it is under no obligation to respect the QCHRF, and therefore it cannot be held accountable for decisions to censor content it doesn't approve of.

Freedom of expression also extends to publication and creation

But when Quebec Superior Court Judge Lukasz Granosik announced his decision, he noted that freedom of expression "does not only mean freedom of speech, but also freedom of publication and freedom of creation."

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.

Stressing the importance that Canada's Supreme Court assigns to guaranteed freedom of expression as a key building block in a democratic society, the judge concluded: "If (Google) carries out censorship by preventing certain people from posting videos and prevents other people from viewing these same videos, it thus hinders the free circulation of ideas and exposes itself to having to defend its ways of doing things."

The Mountain View, California-based tech company was ordered to stop censoring content, pay $1,000 in compensation and $1,000 in punitive damages to each of the lawsuit's plaintiffs, as well as "additional compensation provided for by law since the filing of the request for authorization to take collective action, as per the court's decision."

In a related development, the Superior Court judge authorized a class-action lawsuit alleging Facebook content moderation policies during the (COVID-19) pandemic violated Quebecers freedom of expression.

The suit against Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, was brought by Christian Leray, an administrator of the Facebook group for an organization called Reinfo Quebec, which criticized COVID-19 public health measures and had posts deleted because the social media platform said they contained misinformation about vaccines.

In his decision late last month, Granosik wrote that given the role Facebook plays in society, it has to take some responsibility for the control it exercises over the content that appears on its platform.

If Facebook "carries out censorship, prevents certain people from posting certain information, sanctions them by restricting access to their account and thus hinders the free circulation of ideas, it exposes itself to having to defend its methods," he wrote. "Its decision may be well-founded and it may not incur any liability, but the question has been raised and it is clear that the plaintiff has a chance of success on the merits."

Visit Censorship.news for more stories like this.

Watch this discussion on how dangerous censorship in Canada has become.

This video is from the Real Deal Media channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Justin Trudeau throws God, Christ out of Canada.

The defenders of censorship now admit everything.

Health Canada is cracking down on natural health products, claims its all about safety..Direct government censorship of the Internet is here.

Biden administration urges Big Tech to ramp up censorship of those who question the official narrative on climate.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

MontrealGazette.com

Brighteon.com
DIRTY SHOTS: Study finds Pfizers COVID-19 injection has MORE THAN 500 times allowable levels of DNA contamination

A study has found that the mRNA Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) injections from Pfizer contain DNA contamination more than 500 times the allowable levels

The paper published May 8 in Methods and Protocols pointed out this danger, noting that "the available information and data indicate that the ready-to-use mRNA vaccine [from Pfizer] contains DNA impurities that exceed the permitted limit value by several hundred times and, in some cases, even more than 500 times." Its findings raise fears that the foreign DNA may integrate into that of the vaccinated person's, causing mutations that can lead to diseases such as cancer.

Modified mRNA vaccines work by encapsulating the RNA sequence of the COVID-19 spike protein into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). The LNPs can then deliver the RNA payload into the body's cells. The RNA is then integrated into the person's genetics so they will produce the COVID-19 spike protein, which the body can then develop an immune response to.

But according to the May 8 study, mRNA is not the only genetic information being injected into people. The discovery of massive amounts of genetic contamination indicates that the vaccinated may have mutated, having the new DNA become part of their genetic makeup.

"It should also be taken into account that DNA impurities [in the vaccine] are apparently integrated into the LNPs, and are thus transported directly into the cells of a vaccinated person just like the mRNA active ingredient," the study authors wrote.

"Among genetically engineered drugs, those with mRNA active ingredients are a special case, as their cell-free biosynthesis requires high concentrations of DNA templates, which must be removed before the products can be used as drugs."

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

According to the researchers, "DNA impurities are possible due to the manufacturing process" but can be easily separated. But in the case of Pfizer's vaccines, "contaminating DNA and active ingredient mRNA are both nucleic acids and therefore chemically so similar that separation is far more difficult than separating DNA during the purification of protein active ingredients."

Cancer-causing SV40 present in Pfizer's COVID-19 injection

The findings of the May 8 study followed earlier discoveries of DNA contamination in the Pfizer shots by other researchers. Among the prior findings include the cancer-causing Simian Virus 40 (SV40) pathogen in the injections, as well as a 2018 Moderna patent discussing the company's interest in removing DNA fragments from vaccines.

In particular, Health Canada confirmed the presence of DNA contamination in the Pfizer COVID-19 injections. Canada's federal health department also confirmed that the New York-based drug manufacturer did not disclose this contamination.

Speaking to the Epoch Times, Health Canada said while Pfizer provided the full DNA sequences of the plasmid in its vaccine at the time of the initial submission, it "did not specifically identify the SV40 sequence." The agency added: "Health Canada expects sponsors to identify any biologically functional DNA sequences within a plasmid, such as an SV40 enhancer, at the time of submission."

The Canadian health department's admission followed scientists Kevin McKernan and Phillip Buckhaults discovering the presence of bacterial plasmid DNA in the mRNA COVID-19 injections. According to the two, the contamination levels were potentially 18 to 70 times higher than the limits set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency.

McKernan and Buckhaults tested four expired vials of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine vials, which were "thought to only contain mRNA." But the two found more than what was advertised, with the vials testing positive for "double-stranded DNA plasmids."

Head over to DangerousMedicine.com for more similar stories.

Watch whistleblower Melissa McAtee sharing that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines contain graphene oxide, another dangerous contaminant.

This video is from the Fritjof Persson channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Secret Pfizer report shows company KNEW since February 2021 that its mRNA COVID jab was killing people.

Peer-reviewed studies suggest that cardiovascular deaths from mRNA jabs are largely under-reported.

Depopulation agenda: Government tyranny plus COVID jabs caused more than 13 million DEATHS worldwide, doctor reveals.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

MDPI.com

Brighteon.com
WATCH: College admins tell Texas students theyll be arrested for saying from the river to the sea

Administrators with the University of Texas at San Antonio filmed themselves telling student protesters that under an executive order signed by Governor Greg Abbott they'll be reported to law enforcement for criminal "antisemitic" speech if they chant "From the River to the Sea."

(Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com)

Gov. Abbott, a Republican, signed an Executive Order in March to require "all higher education institutions in Texas" to "review their free speech policies" to "establish appropriate punishments for antisemitic rhetoric."

Abbott said the EO was needed to make campuses a "safe space" for Jewish students.

Video obtained by @theFIREorg: After Gov. Abbott's executive order targeting student demonstrators, UT San Antonio administrators filmed themselves telling students that if they chant "from the river to the sea," they will be reported to law enforcement. pic.twitter.com/NcdyZqcrPr  Adam Steinbaugh (@adamsteinbaugh) May 18, 2024

This wasn't an accident. This is UTSA's Senior Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students making sure to document their enforcement of Abbott's executive order. It's a deliberate chilling of speech protected by the First Amendment.  Adam Steinbaugh (@adamsteinbaugh) May 18, 2024

A state that says free speech in protests "is of critical importance" and should be "free, robust, and uninhibited" (https://t.co/CT34GT0tGl) does not tell students that a chant will land them in law enforcement crosshairs. Or does Texas now have literal speech police?  Adam Steinbaugh (@adamsteinbaugh) May 18, 2024

Thankfully, CAIR is now suing Abbott and various university officials, rightly arguing that the executive order violates the First Amendment. https://t.co/EFkm9rQ1JM  Adam Steinbaugh (@adamsteinbaugh) May 18, 2024

Fortunately, this video can go straight into CAIR's First Amendment lawsuit filed against Gov. Abbott's blatantly illegal executive order.

AIPAC-owned Republican and Democrats declared war on the First Amendment in the wake of October 7 to shut down speech critical of Jews and Israel.

Last week, the Washington Post reported that a powerful group of influential Jewish billionaires and multimillionaires formed a private WhatsApp group chat after October 7 where they worked in concert with the Israeli government and conspired to push New York City Mayor Eric Adams to crackdown on pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University.

???? Over a dozen Jewish billionaires working secretly in concert with the Israeli govt were part of a private group chat which conspired to push NYC Mayor Eric Adams to crackdown on pro-Palestine protests at Columbia, according to the Washington Post. https://t.co/9ArnOpvHzI  Chris Menahan ?? (@infolibnews) May 18, 2024

Sharing and discussing that fact-based reporting on Texas college campuses would undoubtedly be a criminal offense under Abbott's insane executive order.

You have to wonder if similar happened behind the scenes in states like Texas, South Dakota, Georgia and so on where Governors are similarly trashing the First Amendment by signing executive orders and bills to crackdown on "antisemitic" speech.

Last year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flew to Israel to dine with top pro-Israel GOP megadonors in Jerusalem and then on Israeli soil signed an oppressive hate speech bill into law to jail Floridians for criticizing Jews and Israel.

Scoop: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dined with Miriam Adelson  former President Trump's top financial backer in 2020  and other major GOP donors in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Read the story by @SophiaCai99 and me report on @axios: https://t.co/sYJzu3Ji1kpic.twitter.com/c8cznvmova  Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) April 28, 2023

Made a secret trip to JERUSALEM (!!!) with @RepMikeCaruso to deliver @GovRonDeSantis HB 269, the strongest antisemitism bill in the United States. To Floridas Nazi thugs, I have news: attack Jews on their property and youre going to prison. Never again means never again. pic.twitter.com/FYXNE5c5RU  Rep. Randy Fine (@VoteRandyFine) April 27, 2023

Read more at: InformationLiberation.com
U.K. refuses to sign WHO Global Pandemic Treaty

The United Kingdom has declined to endorse the World Health Organization's (WHO) global pandemic treaty due to concerns over potential infringement of its sovereign rights.

The pandemic accord introduced in May 2021 appeals to all participating states to surrender a certain percentage of their supplies related to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic for international distribution. For London, the treaty mandates it to allocate 20 percent of its pandemic-related health products to other nations. In exchange, the global health body would get "real-time access" to 10 percent of these products for free and 10 percent "at affordable prices."

According to the document, each WHO member nation should "set aside a portion of its total procurement of relevant diagnostics, therapeutics or vaccines on time for use in countries facing challenges  and avoid having national stockpiles of pandemic-related health products." Nations set out plans during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to organize a legally binding document, which would force countries to tackle the next global health emergency in a united way.

But the U.K. refused to sign this treaty over concerns that it would undermine Britain's sovereignty. The British government has proposed conditions that any agreement must protect its national interests and national sovereignty, particularly where British-produced vaccines are concerned. (Related: Pandemic treaty will give WHO power to force lockdowns on UK, MPs warn.)

Health department spokesman: Any treaty should put U.K. sovereignty first

A spokesperson for the British Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) told the Telegraph that any acceptance of the treaty would be predicated on it respecting the U.K.'s national interest and sovereignty. They did not divulge further specifics about the WHO document.

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.

"We cannot comment on the details of specific proposals and no proposals have been agreed [upon]," the DHSC spokesperson said. "We will only support the adoption of the accord and accept in on behalf of the U.K. if it is firmly in the [British] national interest and respects national sovereignty."

Meanwhile, an anonymous source told the newspaper that the U.K. wouldn't approve the current version of the draft. They added that a consensus has not yet been reached and discussions on the final draft of the treaty are ongoing. The source also mentioned that despite the U.K. seeking to collaborate with fellow WHO member states, it refuses to relinquish control over its assets.

"The new pact and a series of updates to existing rules for dealing with pandemics from the WHO are intended to shore up the world's defenses against new pathogens after the COVID-19 pandemic killed millions of people," according to Reuters. "One of the main points of disagreement between wealthy countries and developing states is the vexed issue of sharing drugs and vaccines fairly."

Earlier, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said countries need to agree to the accord to help fight future pandemics. He also exhorted countries who did not fully agree with the accord's text to at least refrain from blocking consensus among the global health body's 194 member nations.

Head over to Freedom.news for more stories like this.

Watch this clip about the WHO's Pandemic Treaty and the great resistance against it.

This video is from the KLA-TVEnglish channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Is the WHO Pandemic Treaty a red herring designed to deceive?

WHO backs off on Pandemic Treaty, makes substantive changes to address tyranny concerns.

Trudeau pressuring the World Health Organization to include climate change in pandemic treaty.

Rep. Greene calls out WHO over Pandemic Treaty, adding that chemtrail needs to STOP.

Experts advise Biden against signing the WHO Pandemic Treaty that enslaves the world under a medical dictatorship.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
8 Major U.S. water basins could be depleted by as much as 98% in the next 25 years

A new study from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington found that the eight major water basins across the United States face up to a 98 percent chance of depletion within the next 25 years due to excessive withdrawals for drinking, irrigation and other uses.

America's groundwater reserves currently hold at least 33,000 trillion gallons of water, located in the soil, sand and rock underground. However, the nation extracts around 80 billion gallons daily for drinking, irrigation, and industrial uses  far exceeding the natural replenishment rates from rainfall and snowpack.

Additionally, dams built in the early 20th century to distribute water more widely have shifted in the last 50 years towards exploiting non-renewable groundwater, while vast underground water stores, constituting 98 percent of Earth's fresh liquid water, have been heavily tapped after accumulating water over the previous millennia.

With the given data, the study, published in Nature, evaluates that about 105 million people living close to one of the eight water basins are likely to face critical groundwater shortages before 2050, with an additional 24 million at risk by 2100 if the escalating extraction rates continue.

The researchers noted that their scenarios are exploratory "what-if" evaluations rather than definitive predictions to assess the plausibility of these outcomes based on simulated scenarios of groundwater extraction over the 21st century.

According to the simulation, the California River (98 percent), the Mexico-Northwest Coast (96 percent), the Missouri River (94 percent), the Arkansas White Red region (93.6 percent), the Texas Gulf Coast (87.3 percent), the Lower Mississippi River (84.7 percent), the Rio Grande River (84.7 percent) and the Lower Colorado River (63.1 percent) have high chances of groundwater depletion. These major water basins, which collectively support over a hundred million people and extensive agricultural activities, make California, Texas, Montana and other Midwest states vulnerable to widespread droughts.

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.

Hassan Niazi, the lead author of the study, argued that the declining groundwater levels could have severe consequences, including the disappearance of streams and subsidence, where the ground sinks, potentially damaging infrastructure like roads and buildings, while increased groundwater demand could stress aquatic ecosystems, spread water contamination and exacerbate land subsidence. (Related: EPA report concludes that natural gas 'fracking' causes groundwater contamination.)

"Many prior studies have shown that as groundwater demand increases, aquatic ecosystems could face greater stress, water contamination could spread, and the land above diminished aquifers could sink into the earth more oftena phenomenon known as land subsidence," said Niazi. "The authors add that competing interests for water stem from many sectors: energy, manufacturing, agriculture, livestock, etc. Each of these can face unforeseen stress due to increasing demand for water within a region, driving a resultant rise in groundwater extraction."

Niazi: Dwindling water supplies affect various sectors and drive up food prices

In the study, Niazi explained that dwindling water supplies could lead to skyrocketing costs, which would ripple across various sectors and drive up food prices.

"With water supplies becoming increasingly limited, climbing water costs can cascade across sectors, causing food prices to rise," Niazi said.

For instance, in Kansas, a state that produces about 25 percent of the U.S. wheat supply, groundwater sources are struggling to sustain the 2.6 million acres of industrial-scale agriculture. Following two consecutive years of drought and plummeting groundwater levels, Kansas is facing its smallest wheat harvest since 1961.

In Phoenix, Arizona, the fastest-growing city in the U.S., state officials have effectively banned new housing construction reliant on groundwater. Decades of drought and overuse have made the region increasingly dependent on these underground supplies. Similarly, New York state is facing a drinking water crisis from Long Island to the Hamptons due to over-pumping.

The crisis extends to other states as well. In parts of Utah, California and Texas, the sinking groundwater levels are causing roads to crack, foundations to collapse and sinkholes to appear.

In response, some communities, including the Pajaro Valley, a 10-mile stretch of rich agricultural soil along Monterey Bay, home to Watsonville, the strawberry capital of the world, make farmers pay for their groundwater usage to help conserve resources and reduce water usage. This, in turn, makes Pajaro Valley one of the most expensive places to cultivate food in the country, if not in the world.

"Ninety percent of all the crops in the Pajaro Valley use groundwater," said Marcus Mendiola of the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency. "Ninety percent of all water needs in the valley are from groundwater. In the 1990s, we began to put meters on wells, and then sometime after that, we began to charge for water that growers pump from those wells, and they all pump from the same aquifer."

Visit CleanWater.news for similar stories about water supplies around the world.

Watch this video questioning how groundwater extraction may be shifting the planet's axis tilt.

This video is from the Terral03.com on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Groundwater reserves in the United States are being depleted at alarming rates.

World Economic Forum globalists want to leverage water crisis to form world government.

EPA to crack down on FOREVER CHEMICALS in drinking water via proposed national standards.

Over 1.3 million Californians could be drinking tap water contaminated with chemicals linked to PARKINSONS.

UN and World Economic Forum plan to use global water crisis to advance globalist agenda against humanity.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Geographical.ca.uk

Brighteon.com
Nine small island states made history in a landmark climate change case after the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), which rules that all parties to a United Nations treaty on marine activities must do more to safeguard the world's seas from climate change.

Climate Change Case

The nations filed the lawsuit in September after realizing that climate change was having disproportionate consequences. The polar ice caps are melting faster due to rising ocean temperatures, which puts small islands at risk.

Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Antigua and Barbuda, Niue, Palau, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are among the nations.

In light of the rising sea levels, record-breaking temperatures, and ocean acidification brought on by the burning of fossil fuels and other greenhouse gas emissions, the island governments had sought the court to define what constituted marine pollution under the treaty.

According to the ruling of the court, nations that produce the pollution have a "particular obligation to take all necessary measures to ensure that... Since carbon emissions also contaminate the sea, the case may have an impact on future regulations governing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Emissions under their authority or control do not harm other states or their environment.

The 169 parties to UNCLOS "have the specific obligations to take all necessary measures to prevent, reduce, and control marine pollution from anthropogenic GHG emissions and to endeavor to harmonize their policies in this connection," as stated in a statement by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

Small island countries that are extremely vulnerable to climate change but have little economic clout have long been ignored by a series of international meetings where commitments to reduce carbon emissions have fallen well short of what is needed to prevent the worst effects of climate change.

Read Also: Asia's First Climate-Related Case: South Korean Accused of Failing to Protect People From Impact of Climate Change

Influence Of The Ruling

Climate activists and lawyers said the decision could influence two opinions on states' climate obligations that are pending from the Inter-American Court on Human Rights and the International Court of Justice.

A similar potential precedent was laid down last month, when the European Court of Human Rights agreed with plaintiffs who argued that Switzerland was violating their human rights by not doing enough to combat climate warming.

"To those that would hide behind the weaknesses of international climate treaties, this opinion makes clear that compliance with the Paris Agreement alone is not enough," said Nikki Reisch, director at the Centre for International Environmental Law.

Tuvalu's representative, Eselealofa Apinelu, stated that the ruling on Tuesday made it abundantly evident that all governments had a legal obligation to safeguard other states as well as the maritime environment from the grave dangers posed by climate change.

He described it as "an important first step in holding the major polluters accountable" .

However, achieving coordinated worldwide action will not be easy. The largest carbon polluter in the world, China, has contended in court that the Tribunal lacked broad jurisdiction to make advisory decisions since doing so would break up international law.

Related Article: Small Island Nations May Vanish From the Map Due to Rising Sea Levels Caused by Climate Crisis
In today's rapidly evolving consumer landscape, environmental consciousness has become more than just a trend; it's a fundamental value driving purchasing decisions. In the contemporary beauty industry, pursuing environmental sustainability has become both a moral imperative and a strategic necessity.

As a highly profitable industry worth around $500 billion in revenue worldwide, the beauty industry has a chance to make a big impact on the environment. As consumers grow increasingly discerning, seeking brands that align with their values, the concept of "social proof" emerges as a critical driver for fostering customer loyalty.

This notion extends beyond mere product efficacy; it encompasses the collective validation of a brand's commitment to environmental responsibility through shared experiences and endorsements. In this article, we shine a spotlight on 5 forward-thinking beauty brands that not only prioritize sustainability but also harness the power of social proof to forge enduring connections with their environmentally-conscious customer base.

Comfort Zone

Comfort Zone, with its luxury face creams, doesn't just talk the talk when it comes to ethical and sustainable practicesit walks the walk. The company partners directly with small farming cooperatives and indigenous communities to source the natural ingredients for their luxurious face creams and other skincare collections.

This ethical sourcing approach does more than just provide high-quality botanicals. It empowers these communities economically while giving them an incentive to use eco-friendly, sustainable agriculture methods. It's a win-win for everyone involved.

Comfort Zone values the people behind the ingredients just as much as the planet that provides them. They're committed to fair trade principles and minimizing their environmental footprint across their entire supply chain and operations.

So when you use one of their products, you can feel good knowing your skincare routine is not only pampering your skin with lush, natural formulas, but you're also supporting a company that genuinely cares about people and the planet.

Davines

When it comes to formulating its certified organic, high-performance hair care products, Davines doesn't mess around. They work directly with local growers from all around the world to ethically source the natural ingredients that go into their formulas.

This direct sourcing strategy isn't just about getting their hands on the highest quality botanicals, though that's a big part of it. It's also about fostering fair trade practices and empowering the growers and their communities economically. By cutting out the middlemen, Davines ensures these folks get properly compensated for their hard work and sustainable growing methods.

Plus, the company sources ingredients directly from producers, thus reducing the environmental impact of their supply chain. It's all part of their mission to create beautiful hair care products while giving back to people and the planet.

So when you use Davines products, you can feel good knowing it's the real deal and that you're not just getting gorgeous hair, you're helping make the world a bit better too.

Youth to the People

Youth to the People believes in complete transparency when it comes to sustainability. Its website provides an incredibly detailed breakdown of every single ingredient they use and exactly where it's sourced from. From the farming practices behind their shea butter to information about the environmental impact of their packagingit's all laid out there.

However, Youth to the People's transparency goes even deeper than ingredients. They also pull back the curtain on their entire manufacturing process and operations. From the energy usage at their facilities to renewable initiatives to offset their carbon footprintit's all publicly available information.

Kjaer Weis

Instead of tossing out packaging every time you hit the pan on your favorite cream or powder, Kjaer Weis' circular design lets you simply purchase an affordable refill insert. Just pop the new formula into your sleek metal compact, and voila! It's like having a brand-new product without any of the wasteful packaging.

By eliminating the need to buy new containers constantly, Kjaer Weis dramatically cuts down on plastic and packaging waste. And we're not just talking about a little reduction heretheir refillable system produces a whopping 80% less landfill trash compared to conventional beauty packaging.

The good news is this eco-friendly approach doesn't come at the cost of luxury or aesthetics. Kjaer Weis' gorgeous metallic compacts look incredibly chic sitting on your vanity with their minimalist Danish design and satisfying magnetic closures.

Burt's Bees

Education is essential for driving sustainable change according to Burt's Bees. The brand actively shares information with customers on eco-friendly choices, product ingredients, and sustainable living tips.

Whether it's blog posts breaking down the benefits of going zero-waste, videos explaining their use of recyclable packaging, or social media posts with easy eco-hacks for everyday life, Burt's Bees sees it as their mission to nurture both nature and people's understanding of it.

The brand believes that the more we all know about our consumption habits and choices, the more empowered we become to make positive changes. It's about giving people the knowledge and tools to live truly in harmony with the planet.

Consumer Choice

Ultimately, consumer demand drives change. By supporting brands that prioritize environmental sustainability, you, as a consumer, can vote with your dollars. And remember, every purchase decision contributes to a more eco-friendly and responsible beauty industry.
Puppy dog eyes are quite familiar to pet owners and dog enthusiasts, whose hearts are often captured every time domestic dogs do these, primarily to seek for food, attention, or love. These glares have been characterized as having big round eyes with a soft stare while the eyebrows are raised. Due to this trait, many perceive that puppy eyes evolved due to domestication by humans.

However, a recent study earlier this year led by researchers in the United States debunks the existing notion that puppy dog eyes evolved only for humans. Researchers from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, found that even wild dogs also possess the unique puppy eyes, showing it is not only exclusive to humans. Instead, it indicates the trait to be a result of dog evolution.

Puppy Dog Eyes

In the study published in the journal The Anatomical Record on April 10, the Midwestern University research team arrived at their conclusion about the evolution of puppy dog eyes by analyzing the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus). Based on morphological evidence, the team found facial muscles related for having puppy eyes are also found among wild dogs and are not unique to pet dogs.

For centuries, since the work of Charles Darwin titled "On the Origin of Species," biologists have collectively agreed that current living organisms, including animals, descended from a common ancestral species, whose appearance may be different. For instance, modern dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) evolved as descendants of some ancient wolves following human domestication and selective breeding for thousands of years.

Also Read: Wolves Communicate with their Eyes?

Dog Evolution

Based on recent molecular evidence on dog evolution, scientists show that modern domestic dogs descended from the gray wolf (Canis lupus) approximately 130,000 years ago. Yet, the morphological appearance of members of the family Canidae, which includes C. lupus familiaris, changed over time. Particularly, there are different dog breeds today, ranging from toy poodles to Great Danes, and golden retrievers.

According to experts, the seemingly different appearances of modern dogs are due to the prolonged and consistent selective breeding by humans, resulting in the artificial evolution of dogs into the many types we see today. This means that the once domesticated wolves have current descendants which not only have different appearances but also behavior and internal biological strengths.

US Pet Ownership Statistics

In contemporary times, dogs along with cats are the most popular household pets. In the US alone, 62 million households own a pet dog and with a total of 83.7 million to 88.8 million individual dogs nationwide, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The data is based on a survey conducted by the association in early 2021 through online surveys.

The US pet ownership data shows that dogs are followed by cats, with the latter having a total population of 60.2 million to 61.9 million across the US. In this figure, around 37 million households own a cat.

Related Article: Studies Find That Dogs Are Capable of 'Happy Tears'
The latest weather report warns of possible severe weather in Kansas and Oklahoma this Memorial Day weekend, bringing isolated tornadoes and flooding rainfall. Read here.

A severe weather condition is likely in Oklahoma and Kansas this week, according to a weather report published on May 23. Commuters can face potential tornadoes, hail, and flooding rainfall.

A challenging weather conditions can lead to hazardous commuters, power outages, and property damage. In an advisory, an NWS Storm Prediction Center reports that a weather pattern can result in severe hazards, such as large hail and wind gusts.

A weather pattern can affect portions of the central and southern Plains, including the Mid-Mississippi Valley, Lower Mississippi Valley, Lower Ohio, and Tennessee Valleys, on the weekend.

For the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend, residents can experience severe weather conditions, causing slower commutes. Checking the weather outlook is essential before traveling this weekend.

Oklahoma and Kansas weather forecast this weekend

A stormy outlook is forecast in parts of the central U.S. This weather can result in hazardous travel for the weekend, as millions of Americans are expected to hit the road. The severe weather outbreak can unleash flooding rainfall, posing risks to low-lying areas.

A recent NWN forecast indicates that portions of Northeast Interstate 95 can anticipate a poor weather outlook this week. There is a chance of precipitation in New York and Boston.

On Wednesday, severe thunderstorms can unload hail, heavy rains, and isolated tornadoes. Areas at risk are Little Rock, Indianapolis, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Dallas, and Austin. Additionally, portions of north-central Texas to northeastern Arkansas can expect a severe weather potential.

Midweek can unleash high temperatures and lower humidity in Kansas City. However, this will be brief, as thunderstorms and showers are expected to resurface on Friday. There is a risk of strong to severe storms.

On Thursday, the severe weather will threaten the following areas:

Sioux Falls

Lincoln

Kansas City

Wichita

Oklahoma City

Little Rock

Dallas

The Little Rock forecast monitors the arrival of active weather in the region. On Thursday, commuters can encounter potentially severe weather, packed with thunderstorms and heavy rains. Additionally, flooding concerns can occur in flood-prone areas, particularly in the city's southern and central parts.

The severe weather will spread over Boston, Hartford, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Richmond, and Raleigh in the late week. On Friday, hail and flash flood threats can hit the following areas:

Chicago

Fort Wayne

St. Louis

Cincinnati

Nashville

Greenville

Roanoke

Jackson

Little Rock

Fort Worth

Also Read: Memorial Day Weekend Weather: 44 Million People Expected to Travel; Severe Weather Likely Next Week

Weather Preparedness this Memorial Day Weekend in the Central States

The latest weather report warns of severe weather conditions in portions of the central states this week. The main threats are isolated tornadoes, flash flooding, heavy rains, and hail conditions. These risks can potentially impact daily commutes.

Additionally, homeowners should monitor the forecasts, as severe weather could intensify. When travel can be rescheduled, it is best to commuter when severe weather abates.

For households, having emergency supplies is a life-saver during challenging situations or evacuations.

Related Article: Northeast I-95 Corridor Weather: Severe Thunderstorms Likely to Bring Challenging Commutes

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
The United Nations emergency food relief organization issued a warning that the disastrous floods that recently hit Afghanistan are likely to worsen in the upcoming months, aggravating the already severe food insecurity in the afflicted provinces.

Deadly Floods

New floods in the northern Afghan province of Faryab have killed at least 66 people, making this the latest in a devastating series of tragedies to strike the nation in recent days.

Asmatullah Moradi, a spokersperson for the Faryab governor, said that the severe flooding that occurred in several regions of the province on Saturday night "resulted in human and financial losses."

The floods destroyed some hundreds of dwellings, flooded over 400 hectares (1,000 acres) of farmland, and killed thousands of livestock, according to authorities

The most recent catastrophe in Faryab had occurred barely a day after the provincial authorities reported that flash floods in Ghor, just south of the province, claimed 50 lives.

The flooding in Ghor, meanwhile, devastated as much as 80% of the city of Ferozkoh.

Afghanistan is considered as among the nations that are most vulnerable to climate change, according to the UN, and it is prone to natural calamities.

Prior to the most recent wave of flooding, officials in ten provinces in Afghanistan reported that flooding had claimed the lives of about 100 people between the middle of April and the beginning of May.

In a nation where agriculture is the primary source of income for 80% of the more than 40 million inhabitants, farmland has been inundated, drowning thousands of livestock.

According to experts, Afghanistan is among the countries least equipped to deal with the effects of climate change. The rains followed a protracted drought in that country.

Amidst the catastrophe, Afghanistan is also experiencing a shortage of help following the Taliban's takeover and the withdrawal of Western soldiers in 2021. Government funding, which was primarily derived from development aid, was drastically reduced.

Read Also: Pakistan, Afghanistan: Deadly Flooding: Over 100 Killed Due to Flooding, Heavy Rains

The Norm

According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), things will only get worse as unpredictable weather due to the growing climate issue "becomes the norm."

After a dry winter, this month's abnormally heavy rainfall made the soil too hard to absorb water, resulting in severe floods. The situation became more complex due to unseasonably high weather that melted mountain snow, forcing rivers to flood and engulfing villages in mud.

"With one disaster after another hitting these communities, they are being pushed back into destitution. Recent improvements in food security in Afghanistan now risk being lost," said Hsiao-Wei Lee, WFP Country Director for Afghanistan.

The number of casualties is expected to increase as search and rescue operations continue, underscoring the critical need for further international assistance and action to solve the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan.

In order for these families to survive, they require both immediate aid and long-term investments in community infrastructure that will safeguard their homes, lands, and means of subsistence.

Related Article: Death Toll In Afghanistan Flash Flood Reaches 30, Several Others Are Missing
A study said that prehistoric location in South America has been discovered by archaeologists, whereby around 12,000 years ago, hunter-gatherers killed a relative of the extinct elephant.

Temporary Camp Of Ancient Elephants

Early hunter-gatherers frequented Chile's Tagua Tagua Lake thousands of years ago, and the aim was to hunt ancient elephants and benefit from other local resources.

The location was known as a hunter-gatherer camp from 12,440-12,550 years ago, according to the experts. A "diverse and exceptional" assemblage of archaeological remains found at the site is contributing to our understanding of the prehistoric hunter-gatherers who once lived in this area.

According to the researchers, the fossilized remains of an extinct relative of current elephants, which was called as gomphothere, are considered to be one of the site's most fascinating discoveries.

Studies showed that these groups of animals were able to roam the planet from the end of the Oligocene period (about 23 million to 33.9 million years ago) to the late Pleistocene (approximately 11,700 to 2.6 million years ago) and early Holocene (11,700 years ago to the present).

Experts explained that these creatures were found to have traits like trunks and tusks and these are comparable to those of contemporary elephants. However, some gomphothere species have extremely specialized teeth that would have made it easier for them to consume some particular kinds of plants.

The study's authors noted that the gomphothere bones from the Tagua Tagua site had butchery marks on them in addition to stone tools and other relics. The information that is now available points to the location as a temporary camp that was primarily used for gomphothere individual hunting and the preparation of its huge carcass.

Read Also: Ancient Teeth Help Solve Mystery of African Herd Migrations

Key Location

Even though the site was only occupied for a brief and short period of time, the researchers were able to discover more evidence suggesting other activities were also conducted there. There are further burned remains of vegetation and small animals, such as frogs and birds, indicating that other foods were processed at the time of these activities.

Additionally, the researchers recorded evidence of actions like the grinding of red ocher, a naturally occurring clay earth color.

Fossilized cactus seed and bird eggshell remnants were discovered at the site, suggesting that the camp was only used during the dry season.

The study notes that the recently found prehistoric camp is one of several comparable sites that are currently known in the Tagua Tagua region, suggesting that the region's abundance, diversity, and predictability made it a "key location" for nomadic hunter-gatherers throughout the late Pleistocene.

"Taguatagua 3 helps us to understand better how the early humans adapted to fast-changing environments in central Chile during the late Pleistocene times," the authors of the said.

More research into this rich archeological area will continue to shed light on early humans' movements and means of subsistence in South America, experts pointed out.

Related Article: 7,200-Year-Old Skeleton of 'New Type' of Ancient Human Unearthed in Indonesia
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Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia opens up on her Bollywood debut, says it was a surreal experience

N

imrit Kaur Ahluwalia, who is all set to step into the world of films with a thriller drama, shared that securing the role for her first film was a surreal experience.

Nimrit made her acting debut with the television show 'Choti Sarrdaarni'. She was also seen in the controversial reality show 'Bigg Boss Season 16' and has currently left for Romania for the 14th season of 'Khatron Ke Khiladi'.

Her upcoming film, which is yet to be titled, is produced under the banner of Ajay Rai's production house, Jar Pictures.

After my journey on 'Bigg Boss Season 16', I am excited to explore new avenues in my acting career, and this project presents the perfect opportunity. Working alongside such a talented team and under the guidance of a renowned director is truly a dream come true," Nimrit said.

"After being introduced to Ajay by my agent, he saw potential in me for the role. Following several rounds of auditions, he was convinced that I was the right fit for my big-screen debut in his film. Securing the role for my first film was a surreal experience," she added.

The yet-untitled thriller drama promises to deliver an immersive cinematic experience. Details about the plot and the cast are still under wraps.

The project is scheduled to commence filming in the third quarter of this year.

 Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia opens up on her Bollywood debut, says it was a surreal experience

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Extreme heat and extreme cold are both associated with increased risks of death from ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The researchers found that the link between extreme temperatures and stroke mortality was stronger in low-income countries than in high-income countries.

The study will be published on May 22, 2024, in Stroke.

Our findings are another step toward understanding the effects of climate change on stroke. As temperatures become more extreme, we foresee an increase in fatal strokes and a widening disparity in stroke mortality between high- and low-income countries, as the latter are likely to bear the brunt of climate change." Barrak Alahmad, lead author, research fellow in the Department of Environmental Health

Previous research on the relationship between extreme temperatures and stroke mortality has yielded mixed or inconclusive results. Most studies have been limited to single cities or countries, mostly high-income, and few have differentiated between stroke subtypes. To address these gaps, the researchers leveraged the Multi-Country Multi-City Network, a global environmental health consortium, to build a multinational, multiregional database of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke mortality. The database was composed of more than 3.4 million ischemic stroke deaths and more than 2.4 million hemorrhagic stroke deaths, reported between 1979 and 2019 across 522 cities in 25 countries.

The study found that for every 1,000 ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke deaths, about 11 were attributable to extreme cold or hot days. Of those 11 deaths, the coldest and hottest 2.5% of days contributed to 9.1 and 2.2 excess deaths, respectively. Out of every 1,000 hemorrhagic strokes, the coldest and hottest 2.5% of days contributed to 11.2 and 0.7 excess deaths. The study also found that low-income countries bore a higher burden of heat-related hemorrhagic stroke mortality than high-income countries and may bear a higher burden of cold-related hemorrhagic stroke mortality as well (though evidence was suggestive, not conclusive). It did not find a relationship between countries' gross domestic product and risk of temperature-related ischemic stroke mortality.

The researchers hypothesized that better indoor temperature control systems and lower rates of outdoor work in high-income countries, as well as worse-quality health care in low-income countries, might explain the disparities. They noted that further study is necessary to uncover the drivers of low-income countries' higher burden of temperature-related hemorrhagic stroke mortality and identify helpful interventions.

Limitations of the study included that it was limited in its geographic scope-;rural settings and countries in South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East were underrepresented-;and that individual-level demographics were not collected or examined. Additionally, the study only focused on stroke deaths; additional research into the incidence of non-fatal strokes would provide further understanding of the actual burden of temperature and strokes.

"We call on professional stroke societies to invest in more of this research, especially as climate change continues to escalate, and to shine a brighter light onto emerging environmental risk factors that will make strokes-;already a significant driver of mortality worldwide-;even deadlier," Alahmad said.

Other Harvard Chan co-authors included Antonella Zanobetti, Joel Schwartz, and Petros Koutrakis.

The study was supported by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (grant CB21-63BO-01), the Medical Research Council-UK (grant MR/V034162/1), the European Union's Horizon 2020 Project Exhaustion (grant 820655), the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant TMSGI3_211626), and the National Institutes of Health (grant R01ES034038).
Location, race and insurance status play a significant part in the odds of a patient being diagnosed with early-stage or late-stage cancer, according to a detailed medical records analysis of more than 94,000 patients with cancer by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

Patients who lived farther away from a facility designated a comprehensive cancer center (CCC) by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and who received only a diagnosis or only treatment at the center had higher than average odds of a late-stage diagnosis, as did non-Hispanic Black patients and patients with Medicaid or no insurance, regardless of their location, the researchers report.

The work, published May 2 in JAMA Network Open, highlights that significant barriers to cancer screening and treatment remain to be addressed for people living far from a CCC and for disadvantaged populations.

Previous studies showed that patients who do not receive their first treatment at a CCC experience worse cancer outcomes. Investigators including Michael Desjardins, Ph.D., an assistant research professor of epidemiology and a core faculty member at the Spatial Science for Public Health Center at the Bloomberg School of Public Health; Frank Curriero, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology and director of the Spatial Science for Public Health Center; and William Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Kimmel Cancer Center, initiated an exploratory study to determine how proximity to a CCC and other social determinants of health affect the odds of receiving a diagnosis of an early-stage or late-stage cancer.

First, the team tackled how to define the region, or "catchment area," served by a CCC. There is no standardized approach to defining a catchment area among the 54 NCI-designated CCCs nationally. Some centers identify nearby counties with the highest proportion of their patients with cancer, others define areas based on ratio of cancer cases compared to all cancer deaths, and centers use many additional methods. Desjardins, who specializes in geographic information science and health, developed a simple yet intuitive approach to define and evaluate a catchment area: Focus on the closest 75% of patients as determined by miles along the road network using a geographic mean center of Johns Hopkins' five hospitals.

The team analyzed health and demographic data from 94,007 patients in the Johns Hopkins Hospital cancer registry who received a cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment, or both a diagnosis and treatment from 2010 to 2019. Significant disparities in cancer staging quickly emerged.

Non-Hispanic Black patients had higher odds of receiving a late-stage cancer diagnosis compared to average, even if they lived close to the Kimmel Cancer Center. That finding aligns with a body of work that finds lower odds of cancer survival for non-Hispanic Black patients, and it suggests that accessibility to health care is more complex than geographic distance alone.

Also, people with no insurance, unknown insurance or Medicaid also had higher odds of receiving a late-stage cancer diagnosis. This finding underscores the challenge that people with low income face in accessing health care, especially for cancer treatment.

Finally, patients who lived outside the 75% catchment area and received only treatment or only a diagnosis at a CCC also had higher odds of a late-stage diagnosis. While travel distance could be a factor in seeking only a diagnosis or only treatment, the finding suggests that some CCC patients rely on more than one facility for their cancer care.

Moving forward, we need to ask patients why they choose a particular cancer center for a diagnosis or a treatment. Maybe they can't afford the treatment at a certain location, or maybe they are seeking a specific late-stage cancer treatment. There are a lot of nuances we have to try to understand by combining spatial data sets with qualitative surveys." Michael Desjardins, Ph.D., assistant research professor of epidemiology and a core faculty member at the Spatial Science for Public Health Center at the Bloomberg School of Public Health

"NCI-designated cancer centers are committed to improving cancer care and outcomes throughout their catchment areas, particularly to communities and populations that have been historically underserved," Nelson adds. "To do so, they will need to work with partners, embracing new technologies and tactics."

The study authors say diagnosis and treatment ideally should both occur at a CCC, if possible -; people diagnosed and treated at a CCC had the lowest odds of a late-stage diagnosis.

Additionally, CCCs across the country can and should adopt a standardized approach to assessing catchment areas, says Desjardins. Then, where areas overlap, centers can communicate with one another to share patient care information.

Additional study co-authors are Norma Kanarek and Jamie Bachman, both of Johns Hopkins.

The research was supported by the Cigarette Restitution Fund of the Maryland Department of Health.

Kanarek receives honoraria from the National Cancer Institute outside the submitted work. Nelson reports receiving grants from the National Cancer Institute outside the submitted work. These relationships are managed by The Johns Hopkins University in accordance with its conflict-of-interest policies.
A new study published in the journal Psychological Medicine estimates that teens using cannabis are at 11 times higher risk of developing a psychotic disorder compared to teens not using cannabis.

This finding suggests that the association between cannabis and psychotic disorders may be stronger than indicated by previous research, which has relied largely on older data when cannabis was less potent than today. For context, the average THC potency of cannabis in Canada has increased from roughly 1% in 1980 to 20% in 2018.

Researchers from the University of Toronto, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and ICES, linked recent population-based survey data from over 11,000 youth in Ontario, Canada, to health service use records including hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, and outpatient visits.

The study is the first to show an age-dependent association between self-reported cannabis use and subsequent psychotic disorder diagnosis, which adds to a growing body of research on the mental health risks associated with cannabis.

"We found a very strong association between cannabis use and risk of psychotic disorder in adolescence. Surprisingly, we didn't find evidence of association in young adulthood," says lead author Andre McDonald, who conducted the study at ICES as part of his PhD at the University of Toronto. McDonald is now a postdoctoral fellow at the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research and the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research at McMaster University. "These findings are consistent with the neurodevelopmental theory that teens are especially vulnerable to the effects of cannabis."

Of the teens who were hospitalized or visited an ED for a psychotic disorder, roughly 5 in 6 had previously reported cannabis use. McDonald points out that, "the vast majority of teens who use cannabis will not develop a psychotic disorder, but according to these data, most teens who are diagnosed with a psychotic disorder likely have a history of cannabis use."

The researchers could not completely rule out reverse causation, in that teens with psychotic symptoms may have been self-medicating with cannabis before receiving a clinical diagnosis. They also could not account for potentially important factors such as genetics and history of trauma. These limitations make it impossible to say definitively that teen cannabis use causes psychotic disorders. The authors also note that their estimates are only approximate, suggesting that further studies with larger samples are required.

Nevertheless, the findings add to worries about early cannabis use, particularly in the wake of legalization.

As commercialized cannabis products have become more widely available, and have a higher THC content, the development of prevention strategies targeting teens is more important than ever." Susan Bondy, senior author, affiliate scientist at ICES and associate professor, University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health

McDonald adds, "Canadian youth are among the heaviest users of cannabis in the world. If we follow the precautionary principle, the bottom line is that more needs to be done to prevent early cannabis use."
The clumping of proteins is at the root of a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders that affect the brain such as Alzheimer's and dementia. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a new tool that can help find and study these tiny protein clumps. The results pave the way for a greater understanding of the body's smallest building blocks and better treatment of diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Nearly 100,000 Danes over the age of 65 and more than 55 million people around the world live with dementia-related disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. These diseases arise when some of the smallest building blocks in the body clump together and destroy vital functions. Why this occurs and how to treat it remains a scientific mystery. Until now, studying the phenomenon has been very challenging and limited due to an absence of the right tools.

Now, researchers from the Hatzakis lab at the University of Copenhagen's Department of Chemistry have invented a machine learning algorithm that can track clumping under the microscope in real-time. The algorithm can automatically map and track the important characteristics of the clumped-up building blocks that cause Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative disorders. Until now, doing so has been impossible.

"In just minutes, our algorithm solves a challenge that would take researchers several weeks. That it will now be easier to study microscopic images of clumping proteins will hopefully contribute to our knowledge, and in the long term, lead to new therapies for neurodegenerative brain disorders," says PhD Jacob Kstel-Hansen from the Department of Chemistry, who, alongside Nikos Hatzakis, led the research team behind the algorithm.

The research has been published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Communications.

Microscopic proteins detected in no time

The coming together and exchange of compounds and signals among proteins and other molecules occurs billions of times within our cells in natural processes that allow our bodies function. But when errors occur, proteins can clump together in ways that interfere with their ability to work as intended. Among other things, this can lead to neurodegenerative disorders in the brain and cancer.

The researchers' machine learning algorithm can spot protein clumps down to a billionth of a meter in microscopy images. At the same time, the algorithm can count and then group clumps according to their shapes and sizes, all while tracking their development over time. The appearance of clumps can have a major impact on their function and how they behave in the body, for better or worse.

When studying clumps through a microscope, one quickly sees, for example, that some are rounder, while others have filamentous structures. And, their exact shape can vary depending on the disorder they trigger. But to sit and count them manually many thousands of times takes a very long time, which could be better spent on other things." Steen Bender from the Department of Chemistry, the article's first author

In the future, the algorithm will make it much easier to learn more about why clumps form so that we can develop new drugs and therapies to combat these disorders.

"The fundamental understanding of these clumps depends on us being able to see, track and quantify them, and describe what they look like over time. No other methods can currently do so automatically and as effectively," he says.

Tools are freely available to everyone

The Department of Chemistry researchers are in now in full swing using the tool to conduct experiments with insulin molecules. As insulin molecules clump, their ability to regulate our blood sugar weakens.

"We see this undesirable clumping in insulin molecules as well. Our new tool can let us see how these clumps are affected by whatever compounds we add. In this way, the model can help us work towards understanding how to potentially stop or transform them into less dangerous or more stable clumps," explains Jacob Kstel-Hansen.

Thus, the researchers see great potential in being able to use the tool to develop new drugs once the microscopic building blocks have been clearly identified. The researchers hope that their work will kickstart the gathering of more comprehensive knowledge about the shapes and functions of proteins and molecules.

"As other researchers around the world begin to deploy the tool, it will help create a large library of molecule and protein structures related to various disorders and biology in general. This will allow us to better understand diseases and try to stop them," concludes Nikos Hatzakis from the Department of Chemistry.

The algorithm is freely available on the internet as open source and can be used by scientific researchers and anyone else working to understand the clumping of proteins and other molecules.

The research was conducted by: Steen W.B. Bender, Marcus W. Dreisler, Min Zhang, Jacob Kstel-Hansen and Nikos S. Hatzakis from the Department of Chemistry with support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Optimised Oligo Escape and Control of Disease.
Leadership from clinical stage artificial intelligence (AI)-powered drug discovery company Insilico Medicine ("Insilico") will attend the BIO International Convention in San Diego June 3-6 and present on key issues facing AI drug discovery. Company leadership, including Chief Business Officer Michelle Chen, PhD; Keith Mikule, PhD, Vice President for Business Development; Jue Wang, PhD, Head of Business Development, APAC; and Jimmy Yen-Chu Lin, PhD, President of Insilico Medicine Taiwan, will be available to discuss Insilico's latest pipeline developments  which includes 30+ AI-designed small molecule inhibitors for cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, fibrosis and other diseases, with 7 in clinical stages, many of which are available for licensing.

At the BIO Convention, Insilico can be found at Booth #5657 and will also have a presence at booths for Investissement Quebec and Masdar City. The Company's global presence includes headquarters in Boston and Hong Kong, and research and development centers and labs in Montreal, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Abu Dhabi.

On Mon., June 3, 4:15-5:15 p.m., Insilico Vice President and Global Head of AI Platforms Petrina Kamya, PhD, will speak on the panel "The Use of AI in mRNA: The New Revolution?" discussing the development of new AI models as powerful technologies that enable therapeutic advances in fields such as infectious disease, oncology, and clinical trials. She'll be joined by Mathieu Blanchette, director of McGill University; Christian Barrow, executive director of J.P. Morgan; Andrew Giessel, PhD, executive director of Moderna; and Ashoka Madduri, PhD, head of scientific strategy and CI mRNA CoE at Sanofi.

On Tues., June 4, 11am-12pm, Insilico founder and CEO Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, will speak on the panel "AI's Trial by Fire: Experimental Validation in Drug Discovery," discussing how AI is transforming drug discovery and how rigorous experimental validation is bridging the gap between AI's predictions and its real-world applications. Other panelists include Stacie Calad Thomson, PhD, Vice Chairperson, Alliance for AI in Healthcare; Martin Akerman, PhD, cofounder & CTO of Envisagenics; Michael BemBem, PhD, director of data science and external innovation at Johnson & Johnson; and Etai Jacob, PhD, senior director, head of data science & AI early oncology at AstraZeneca.

Insilico Medicine is a pioneer in using generative AI for drug discovery and development. The Company first described the concept of using generative AI for the design of novel molecules in a peer-reviewed journal in 2016. Then, Insilico developed and validated multiple approaches and features for its generative adversarial network (GAN)-based AI platform and integrated those algorithms into the commercially available Pharma.AI platform, which includes generative biology, chemistry, and medicine and has been used to produce a robust pipeline of promising therapeutic assets in multiple disease areas, including fibrosis, cancer, immunology and aging-related disease, a number of which have been licensed. Since 2021, Insilico has nominated 18 preclinical candidates in its comprehensive portfolio of over 30 assets and has advanced seven pipelines to the clinical stage. In March 2024, the Company published a paper in Nature Biotechnology that discloses the raw experimental data and the preclinical and clinical evaluation of its lead drug  a potentially first-in-class TNIK inhibitor for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis discovered and designed using generative AI currently in Phase II trials with patients.
With abortion shaping up as a key issue for the November elections, the movement that united to overturn Roe v. Wade is divided over going further, faster  including by punishing those who have abortions and banning contraception or IVF. Politicians who oppose abortion are already experiencing backlash in some states.

Meanwhile, bad actors are bilking the health system in various new ways, from switching people's insurance plans without their consent to pocket additional commissions, to hacking the records of major health systems and demanding millions of dollars in ransom.

This week's panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins schools of public health and nursing and Politico Magazine.

The host

Julie Rovner KFF Health News @jrovner.

Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News' weekly health policy news podcast, "What the Health?" A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book "Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z," now in its third edition.

Panelists

Alice Miranda Ollstein Politico @AliceOllstein

Joanne Kenen Johns Hopkins University and Politico @JoanneKenen

Rachel Roubein The Washington Post @rachel_roubein

Among the takeaways from this week's episode:

It appears that abortion opponents are learning it's a lot easier to agree on what you're against than for. Now that the constitutional right to an abortion has been overturned, political leaders are contending with vocal groups that want to push further  such as by banning access to IVF or contraception.

A Louisiana bill designating abortion pills as controlled substances targets people in the state, where abortion is banned, who are finding ways to get the drug. And abortion providers in Kansas are suing over a new law that requires patients to report their reasons for having an abortion. Such state laws have a cumulative chilling effect on abortion access.

Some Republican lawmakers seem to be trying to dodge voter dissatisfaction with abortion restrictions in this election year. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama introduced legislation to protect IVF by pulling Medicaid funding from states that ban the fertility procedure  but it has holes. And Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland declared he is pro-choice, even though he mostly dodged the issue during his eight years as governor.

Former President Donald Trump is in the news again for comments that seemed to leave the door open to restrictions on contraception  which may be the case, though he is known to make such vague policy suggestions. Trump's policies as president did restrict access to contraception, and his allies have proposed going further.

Also this week, Rovner interviews Shefali Luthra of The 19th about her new book on abortion in post-Roe America, "Undue Burden."

Plus, for "extra credit," the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:

Julie Rovner: The 19th's "What Happens to Clinics After a State Bans Abortion? They Fight To Survive," by Shefali Luthra and Chabeli Carrazana.

Alice Miranda Ollstein: Stat's "How Doctors Are Pressuring Sickle Cell Patients Into Unwanted Sterilizations," by Eric Boodman.

Rachel Roubein: The Washington Post's "What Science Tells Us About Biden, Trump and Evaluating an Aging Brain," by Joel Achenbach and Mark Johnson.

Joanne Kenen: ProPublica's "Toxic Gaslighting: How 3M Executives Convinced a Scientist the Forever Chemicals She Found in Human Blood Were Safe," by Sharon Lerner; and The Guardian's "Microplastics Found in Every Human Testicle in Study," by Damian Carrington.

Also mentioned on this week's podcast:

Credits

Francis Ying Audio producer

Emmarie Huetteman Editor
Los Angeles County has launched one of the most ambitious efforts in the nation to tackle medical debt, targeting hospitals for their role in feeding a $2.9 billion problem.

For over a year, the nation's most populous county has worked on a comprehensive plan to track patient debt and hospital collection practices; boost bill forgiveness for low-income patients; and buy up and forgive billions in medical debt  an effort helmed by its Department of Public Health.

Though LA County isn't the first government entity to confront this crisis, what sets it apart is how it casts medical debt not as a political issue, but as an urgent public health threat as prevalent as asthma and diabetes.

"Nobody in the county of LA who is facing economic limitations should have that impact their ability to get the kind of health care, the kinds of services and support that we all need and are essential to optimal well-being," public health department director Barbara Ferrer said at a medical debt symposium April 10.

Mona Shah of Community Catalyst, a national health equity and policy organization, called the county's efforts bold  tackling the root causes of medical debt, in addition to providing immediate debt relief, with input and participation from health plans, hospitals, community organizations, and government partners. Shah said the county's population of about 10 million adds to the significance of its initiative.

But on the eve of the symposium, the local hospital association called on the county to revise its plan.

"We believe the proposed DPH [Department of Public Health] debt relief program and data collection effort will only burden hospitals with unnecessary requirements, without ultimately helping to address the underlying issue," wrote George Greene, CEO of the Hospital Association of Southern California, in a letter to the LA County Board of Supervisors.

Many of the county's recommendations would require hospitals to change their processes and add reporting duties. For instance, the county is asking hospitals to inform it when patient debt is sent to collections and pressing hospitals to improve access to financial assistance programs. Although state law requires hospitals to provide assistance, patient advocates say many don't make it easy for patients to access.

Adena Tessler, LA County regional vice president for the hospital association, told KFF Health News the industry provides ample financial assistance and that the county is putting too much emphasis on hospitals' role in the debt crisis, when other sectors of the health care system, such as insurers, should share the blame.

Tessler said the county plan should include all players, including health plans, provider groups, and ambulance providers.

"Medical debt is a problem, and we want to be a part of the solution," Tessler said. "But hospitals are not the only source of medical debt."

Medical debt affects 4 in 10 adults in the U.S., according to a KFF Health News analysis. LA County found, in its own analysis this year, that about 785,000 residents were burdened in 2022 with a total of $2.9 billion in medical debt.

The county analysis shows that medical debt disproportionately affects people of color, low-income people, and families with children. Having medical debt more than doubled the likelihood that patients would delay or forgo health care or prescriptions or be at risk of losing housing or going hungry.

Nationally, a handful of states have passed rules to limit medical debt collection or bolster hospital financial assistance policies. Some jurisdictions have relieved residents of debt. Connecticut, Colorado, and New York enacted laws in the last two years to ban medical debt on credit reports, which can depress credit scores and make it harder for patients to get a job, rent an apartment, or secure a car loan. California lawmakers have proposed similar legislation, and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is also developing a set of rules.

"It's a huge public health problem," said Naman Shah, medical and dental affairs director at the public health department. "We in public health try to shift the determinants of health. Those are things that impact health deeply and impact people widely. Medical debt fulfills both of those. It's important that we see this as a health issue, and not just a regulatory issue."

The department made initial recommendations last spring, then further developed them with the backing of the Board of Supervisors, which described medical debt as "pervasive" and "causing financial, mental, and physical harm  especially to those from historically marginalized communities."

Shah said that while the department continues to take hospital input and has addressed some of the association's "misunderstandings," officials are moving ahead with the plan. Tessler agreed the focus is on collaboration, not halting the county plan.

Over the next several months, the county plans to score hospitals based on financial assistance accessibility and provide them with templates and guidelines to make financial assistance less confusing and less burdensome for patients.

States such as Washington, Oregon, and Maryland have developed similar materials for hospitals.

The county's goals also call for other debt prevention strategies, including working with plans and providers to better educate consumers to avoid surprise billing and out-of-network charges.

Shah said he was surprised by the timing of the hospital association's letter, especially since county officials and hospital representatives met several times before the April symposium. He agreed it is important to tackle all sources of medical debt but said hospitals are a reasonable place to start. Nearly 75% of adults with medical debt owe some or all of it to hospitals, according to a 2023 Urban Institute analysis.

"We want to get the most bang for our buck," Shah said. "The largest bill that a patient receives is not a dental bill. It's not an office bill. It's a hospital bill."

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
A study from Bochum describes a mammal-specific domain of the prion protein and offers new approaches for research into neurodegenerative diseases.

At first, they cause memory deficits and difficulties in walking, finally they inhibit elementary motor skills and destroy basic brain functions: Prion diseases are progressive and invariably fatal neurodegenerative diseases. They are caused by misfolded prion proteins. The mechanisms behind their development are still poorly understood. Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, have now discovered a new region in prion proteins and thus identified a potential new area for research into neurodegenerative diseases. This domain is specific to mammalian prion proteins and influences the aggregation of the protein. The neuroscientists published their research results on April 22, 2024 in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Misfolded prion proteins disrupt the function of neurons in the brain

Prion diseases are very rare. About two in a million people are affected. One of the best-known examples is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which gained particular prominence during the BSE crisis in the 1990s. As the disease progresses, the brain takes on a sponge-like perforated structure and shows protein deposits.

"The disease is triggered by the misfolding of the cellular prion protein, PrP for short, in the brain," explains Professor Jorg Tatzelt from the Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry at Ruhr University Bochum, who led the study. "The pathological proteins accumulate in the brain and form aggregated deposits, so-called plaques. This gradually impairs the function of the neurons."

Prion diseases have so far only been confirmed in mammals. However, prion proteins are also found in the brains of frogs and reptiles. So why do they apparently not suffer from degenerative diseases?

The brains of frogs and reptiles developed much earlier in evolutionary history than the brains of mammals. Our assumption was that the biophysical and biochemical properties of the prion proteins have changed in the course of evolution and that the toxic misfolding only occurs in mammals." Dr. Janine Kamps, first author

Indications of a new function of the prion protein in mammals

To test their hypothesis, the researchers analyzed the folding of purified prion proteins from frogs and mice using fluorescence microscopy. After their studies, they compared the results. "We were able to identify a protein region that only occurs in the PrP of mice, in other words in the PrP of mammals, and that influences protein folding and -aggregation," explains Tatzelt, who is a Principal Investigator at the Research Department of Neuroscience at Ruhr University Bochum. "The structure of prions typically shows two subdomains in their formation - one structured and one intrinsically disordered," adds Kamps. Interestingly, the disordered region, the so-called N-terminal domain of the prion protein, has developed differently in mammals than in amphibians. This suggests a new function for mammalian PrP that the amphibian protein does not yet have.

The results contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of protein folding and could help to develop treatment approaches for prion diseases in the long term. The neuroscientists' next research project will build directly on the discoveries made. Tatzelt: "We will now investigate to what extent the mammalian-specific domain is associated with the ability of PrP to trigger neurodegenerative diseases."

Funding

The publication was funded by the German Research Foundation: Germany's Excellence Strategy - EXC 2033 - 390677874 - RESOLV and TA 167/6-3.
Refeyn, the pioneer of mass photometry technology, is continuing to strengthen the deployment of its unique bioanalytical tools with the planned Grand Opening of its new US Headquarters and Customer Interaction Center, in conjunction with the third annual Mass Photometry Summit 2024. Following the summit, highlighting the very latest advances in mass photometry, to be held in the Boston area on May 22, Refeyn will officially open its new 10,000 sq. ft. HQ in the heart of Walthams Biotech Hub in Greater Boston, Massachusetts, on May 23.

The HQ opening and summit in Greater Boston demonstrate Refeyns commitment to expanding the boundaries of single-particle bioanalysis with its innovative mass photometry technologies  supporting the biopharmaceutical industry and facilitating groundbreaking advances in novel therapeutics. With its new US Customer Interaction Center sited within one of the worlds largest biotech hubs, Refeyn can directly support the many world-leading bioscience companies and university-based researchers in the area and beyond. Walthams proximity to Boston Logan International Airport also makes the new HQ readily accessible to its customers from across the continent.

Building on previous events, Refeyns 2024 summit offers scientists the opportunity to engage in scientific discussions to learn more about mass photometry and its applications. From user talks and poster presentations, attendees can see how this novel light-based analytical technology is being used in a range of scientific fields. There will also be opportunity to hear about Refeyns very latest products through interactive demonstrations  with the launch of new instruments, accessories and cGMP software since last years summit, mass photometry technologies are now a solution for many more applications. The event is free to attend and requires advance registration.

Refeyns new Boston area HQ offers many new facilities  in addition to offices and meeting and training rooms, there is laboratory space supported by state-of-the-art lab tools. The laboratory space includes a BSL-2 lab, service center, R&D center and applications lab. This provides opportunities for customers to run samples and test applications, plus facilitates instrument maintenance, customer training sessions, and workshops. It will serve as Refeyns hub for customer support excellence and enhance the customer experience in North America.

The expansion reflects Refeyns significant growth since it was founded in Oxford, UK, in 2018  both globally and in the US in particular. In Waltham, Refeyn is looking to expand its workforce and will be recruiting additional employees for the new facility, which will accommodate over 40 personnel.

Commenting on the forthcoming Grand Opening, Gerry Mackay, CEO at Refeyn, said, This opening is a testament to Refeyns rapid growth with the ever-increasing success of mass photometry as it is deployed in life science laboratories around the world  for biophysical characterization and to analyze next-generation biotherapeutics, to support scientific discovery, and therapeutics R&D and manufacture. We are excited to invest in Waltham and join the buzz in New Englands fast-emerging biotech hub.

Serving our customers well is hugely important to us. We look forward to welcoming them, and warmly invite them to come and use our new Waltham-based facility to run their own samples and undertake feasibility studies. They can also talk directly to us about how they use our technology and secure advice on best practice from our mass photometry experts when needed. Paul Davies, Chief Commercial Officer, Refeyn

Spun out of Oxford University six years ago, Refeyn pioneered mass photometry and now has 180 employees based around the world, with global headquarters located in Oxford, UK. Hundreds of Refeyn instruments are installed in laboratories globally, whose use has been cited in over 300 scientific papers to date. This literature highlights the ever-growing capabilities of this innovative light-based approach in rapid single-particle analysis, providing vital insights for scientific discovery, R&D, and therapeutics production.
In a recent study published in BMC Psychology, researchers created a scale to detect bad social media-associated dreams based on themes such as powerlessness, lack of control, inhibition, victimization, and blunders. They also examined the relationship between using social media, sleep quality, emotional well-being, and nightmares.

Study: Social media-related nightmare  a potential explanation for poor sleep quality and low affective well-being in the social media era? Image Credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock.com

Does social media affect our dreams?

Previous studies have shown that daytime social media use may impact nocturnal dreams; however, limited research exists on its role in increasing the intensity or frequency of terrifying and unpleasant dreams. Moreover, strong relationships between media usage and the frequency of media-related dreams have been observed, with the age of first use and usage frequency contributing to dream severity. Excessive social media use may also lead to poor sleep quality, as well as mental and physical health issues.

About the study

Researchers used the continuity research hypothesis and neurocognitive model to explore associations between social networking site use, sleep quality, dreams, and psychiatric well-being. To this end, self-report measures were used to quantitatively measure social media-associated nightmares and how they influence sleep quality, nightmare discomfort, mental health, mental peace, and anxiety.

The Social Media Nightmare-Related Scale (SMNS) was also created, which includes 14 questions and synthesizes the literature on dream content, nightmare categories, and the interaction between media use and dreams. The initial components of SMNS were developed using recognized criteria for analyzing dream content and the proposed nightmare categories. Frequent social media user issues were also addressed, including harassment, data breaches, anxiety posting, and societal disapproval.

Three psychologists with experience developing scales provided feedback aimed at improving the items' relevance, simplicity, and clarity. All study participants were asked to rate the frequency of dreaming about social media-associated subjects, such as disrupted bonds with other users.

The Social Media Use Integration Scale (SMUIS) measured the intensity of social networking site usage by assessing its integration into daily activities. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) anxiety subscale evaluated the magnitude of anxiety symptoms upsetting participants in the previous week.

The Calm of Mind Scale (PoM) investigated internal calm and comfort in daily living, whereas the Sleep Quality Scale (SQS) assessed total sleep quality during a one-week recall period. The Nightmare Distress Questionnaire (NDQ) measured subjective experiences after nightmares.

SMNS was validated using factor analysis, item analysis, and structural equation models (SEM). The researchers assessed the model fit using the Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), and root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA).

In February of 2022, 595 adults using social media in Iran completed online questionnaires. Of these individuals, data from 290 participants were examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to investigate possible variables, whereas data from the remaining 305 participants were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to cross-validate the identified factors.

Study findings

Instagram was the most popular social media network used among participants, at 87%, followed by Twitter and Facebook at 11% and 2%, respectively. SMNS had a unidimensional form with good psychometric qualities. The most prevalent nightmares included being unable to connect to social media sites and breaking connections with others using social media platforms.

The intensity with which individuals used social media predicted the frequency of social media-associated nightmares. These nightmares were associated with increased worry, reduced peace, nightmare distress, and poor sleep.

Social media-associated nightmares moderated the association between the intensity of social media usage and low emotional well-being, which included both peace of mind and anxiety, nightmare discomfort, and poor sleep.

SMUIS showed internal consistency with its subscales, and the anxiety subscale demonstrated high reliability. Likewise, NDQ and its subscales performed well in terms of sampling sufficiency and factorability.

The one-factor solution, which included 14 items, explained 37% of the variation, thus indicating that the set of items might be unidimensional. The unidimensional confirmatory factor analysis model provided a satisfactory match, with factor loadings ranging from 0.3 to 0.7. The researchers achieved a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.8, thus showing high internal consistency.

No significant gender or age variations were observed in the incidence of social networking-associated nightmares, with respondents reporting a low prevalence of these nightmares. The mediation study revealed considerable mediation effects of social media-associated nightmares in the relationship between social networking platform usage integration, anxiety, mental peace, nocturnal distress, and sleep quality.

Conclusions

Increasing social media usage is associated with a greater frequency of nightmares, which may lead to anxiety and reduced sleep quality. Thus, the current study's researchers propose increasing awareness of feelings and thoughts when using social media and practicing appropriate use to alleviate these nightmares.

Individuals who used social media reported more frequent nightmares, thus indicating fears related to social media experiences. The study findings suggest that social networking-associated nightmares modulate the relationship between social media integration, sleep quality, and emotional wellness.
India has exported over 45,000 tonnes of onions since the export ban was lifted earlier this month, a senior government official said on Wednesday. These exports came as a relief to farmers after restrictions were imposed ahead of the general elections to maintain domestic supplies. The worlds largest vegetable exporter had banned exports of the onion last December and extended the ban in March after prices rose due to sluggish production. More than 45,000 tonnes of onions have been exported since the ban was lifted, mainly to the Middle East and Bangladesh, Nidhi Khare, secretary in the consumer affairs ministry, told PTI.

To keep onion prices affordable during the election period, the government lifted the ban on May 4 but fixed a minimum export price (MEP) of USD 550 per tonne. Khare said the prediction of a good monsoon this year will ensure better sowing of kharif (summer) crops, including onions, from June onwards.

State agencies have started procurement of onions from the recent rabi (winter) crop to create a buffer stock of 5,00,000 tonnes for the current year, she added. According to initial estimates by the agriculture ministry, the countrys onion production in the 2023-24 crop year will decline by 16 percent from the previous year to 25.47 million tonnes, due to lower production in key growing regions such as Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Besides, the Union government plans to significantly increase irradiation of onions this fiscal to extend the shelf life of its buffer stocks, a senior official said. This low, regulated dose of radiation, which poses no health risk, prevents the onions from sprouting and makes them less perishable.

Last year, only 1,200 tonnes of onions were irradiated. This time, we want to increase irradiation to one lakh tonne, said Nidhi Khare. She said the government aims to procure a total of 5 lakh tonnes of onions in 2024-25 to build a buffer stock, compared to 6.46 lakh tonnes in the last fiscal.
Apart from sharing geographical border issues with China, the country has also been a big economic rival to India. Chinas GDP is approximately 2.5 times of Indias. With Chinas economy slowing and the West seeing it more as a rival than an economic partner currently, is it Indias chance to take Beijings place as the worlds next growth driver? Well, Infosys co-founder Narayan Murthy feels India has the potential to surpass Chinas economy in the future. Narayana Murthy presented his views about this in an interview with the Economic Times.

Narayana Murthy said that to overtake China in the industrial sector, India should give priority to creating a favourable business environment for entrepreneurs. The focus should be on increasing the disposable income of its citizens. Narayana Murthy stressed the importance of generating millions of employment opportunities annually along with disposable income.

Narayana Murthy said, I believe that if we can provide a hassle-free environment for entrepreneurs and businessmen if we can make policies that can make their growth faster and easier, then I think that is This is the only way we can not only match China but surpass it.

Narayana Murthy is also optimistic about the potential of generic AI (artificial intelligence) to revolutionize human productivity. He is optimistic about the future of AI and believes that general AI will be able to solve our complex challenges by increasing the efficiency of people, which will greatly benefit our society.

Earlier this decade, the Indian government introduced incentive programs worth approximately Rs 2.7 lakh crore to boost domestic manufacturing. These programs offer companies benefits such as tax breaks, reduced land rates, and financial support from state governments to establish factories in India. According to Bloomberg Economics baseline scenario, Indias economy is expected to grow to 9 per cent by the end of the decade, while Chinas growth rate is projected to decline to 3.5 per cent.
Petrol and Diesel Prices On May 23, 2024: Fresh petrol, and diesel prices have been released across the country on Thursday, May 23. Fuel prices in the country are decided based on international crude oil prices. Because of this, the effect of change in crude oil prices is seen in the price of petrol and diesel in the country. Government oil marketing companies release new petrol and diesel prices every day at 6 am in the country.

Petrol, and diesel prices in several states have been updated including the countrys capital Delhi. Fuel prices have increased marginally in Patna, Nagpur and Ranchi. Companies like Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, and Indian Oil Corporation of India release the prices of petrol and diesel on their website. Let us know the new fuel prices.

Petrol Diesel Price Today In India (Check city-wise rate list below)

Mumbai Petrol & Diesel Price

As of May 23, the price of petrol in Mumbai continued to exceed the Rs 100 mark, reaching Rs 104.21 per litre, while diesel was priced at Rs 92.15 per litre.

Delhi Diesel Price Today

As of May 23, the cost of diesel is priced at Rs 87.62 per litre.

Delhi Petrol Price Today

As of May 23, the cost of petrol in Delhi is Rs 94.72 per litre.

Check city-wise petrol and diesel prices on May 23:

City Petrol Price (Rs/litre) Diesel Price (Rs/litre) Chennai 100.75 92.34 Kolkata 103.94 90.76 Noida 94.83 87.96 Lucknow 94.65 87.76 Bengaluru 99.84 85.93 Hyderabad 107.41 95.65 Jaipur 104.88 90.36 Trivandrum 107.56 96.43 Bhubaneswar 101.06 92.64

Know the price of petrol and diesel through SMS

You can also find out the latest petrol and diesel prices in your city through SMS. If you are a customer of Indian Oil, then you will have to write RSP along with the city code and send it to 9224992249. If you are a customer of BPCL, then you can get information about the new price of petrol and diesel by writing RSP and sending it to 9223112222. Whereas, if you are a customer of HPCL, then you can find out the price of petrol and diesel by writing HP Price and sending it to 9222201122.
The Bihar State University Service Commission (BSUSC) is set to recruit 4108 assistant professor positions. Interviews are about to start for the recruitment at the 13 state universities. It is expected that after this recruitment, the shortage of teachers in the universities of the state will be removed to a great extent. As soon as the Patna High Court gives the go-ahead for reinstatement, the Commission announces the date of the interview. According to the official information, the interview for recruitment will start on May 24. Through this, candidates from different subjects will be interviewed for a total of 4108 vacancies, out of which 755 are backlog vacancies.

Commission Chairman Prof Girish Kumar Chaudhary said in an interview that the target has been set to complete the reinstatement process from May 24 to December 2024. Along with this, the appointment of teachers in universities will also continue by conducting phase-wise interviews. He said that under the new education policy, it is necessary to have subject-wise teachers. In such a situation, after this reinstatement, the lack of education will be met to a great extent.

Vacancy for Assistant Professor in Important Subjects:

Mathematics- 261

Physics-300

Zoology-285

Environmental Science-104

Botany-333

Chemistry- 332

Commerce-112

Economics-268

English-253

Geography-142

History-316

Political Science-280

Psychology-424

Philosophy-153

English-253

Home Science-83

Sanskrit-76

Sociology-108

Urdu- 100

Maithili-43

Bengali-28

Music- 23

Biochemistry-05

AIH&C-55

Pedagogy-10

Nepali Language-1

In 2020, there was recruitment for a total of 4638 assistant professor posts at 13 universities in the state. At that time, 531 teachers were reinstated. But the remaining reinstatement process was put on hold by the Patna High Court for not following the reservation roster. Now the interviews with the remaining candidates will start again. The High Court has ordered to recruit assistant professors in understaffed state universities, but with the preparation of a reservation roster for each university.

There is no question of combining the vacancies in all universities for the preparation of the reservation roster, and the direction to do so by the learned single-judge bench stands set aside. It has to be done separately, going by the university-wise, subject-wise roster preparation, the two-judge bench of chief justice K Vinod Chandran and justice Harish Kumar said earlier.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
The Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BSEM) is expected to release the BSEM class 10 result 2024 early next week. As per media reports, the results will be declared by Monday, May 27. After the release of the result, students who appeared for the Class 10 examination can view it on the official websites at bsem.nic.in and manresults.nic.in. Apart from that result, the board will also announce the pass percentage and the toppers list.

In 2024, a total of 37,715 students appeared for the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) or Class 10 examination conducted by the Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BSEM). Among them, 19,087 were boys and 18,628 were girls. The Manipur Board conducted the class 10 examination from March 15, 2024, to April 3, 2024. The class 10 examinations were held in the morning shift from 10 am to 1 pm using pen and paper.

Manipur Board Class 10 Result 2024: How to Check?

Step 1: The first step is to go to the official website of Manipur HSLC Result 2024: bsem.nic.in or manresults.nic.in.

Step 2: After reaching the homepage, select the Secondary Examination 2024 result link.

Step 3: After that, enter the roll number.

Step 4: The Manipur HSLC Result 2024 will be out in front of the screen.

Step 5: In the end, take a printout of the HSLC Result 2024 Manipur for future use.

The scorecard will include the name of the candidate, marks, roll number, school, enrollment number, and subjects. In order to pass the Manipur HSLC examination, students need to score a minimum of 33 per cent in both practical and written exams. If someone fails to get the minimum percentage, they will have to reappear for the examination. Students will also be given the option to request their answer copies and OMR sheets.

In 2023, the Manipur board HSLC results were announced on June 15. The Manipur board exams 2023 for Class 10 began on March 16 and concluded on April 3. The examination was attended by 38,127 students, comprising 8130 from government schools, 1520 from aided schools, and 28,477 from private schools.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
Shrawasti is one of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh and comes under the general category. The seat covers the entire Shrawasti district and part of Balrampur district. It consists of five assembly segments: Bhinga and Shrawasti in Shrawasti district, and Tulsipur, Gainsari, and Balrampur (SC) in Balrampur district.

Ram Shiromani Verma won the seat on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket in 2019, but he is the Samajwadi Partys candidate this time after a switch, while Saket Misra of the Bharatiya Janata Party is the other key contender.

Polling will take place in Shrawasti on May 25 in the sixth and penultimate phase of the ongoing general elections, with the votes to be counted on June 4.

Political dynamics

BJP in Pole Position: In Shrawasti, the BJP has nominated Saket Misra, who appears to have a clear edge against the SPs Ram Shiromani who is the incumbent MP, having won the seat in 2019 with a BSP ticket by a razor-thin margin of 5,320 votes.

Saket Misra is a former IPS officer, who later worked as an investment banker in Singapore for several years. He is currently a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and has been working for years in the constituency. Misras work during the Covid pandemic and engagement with constituents has earned him recognition and goodwill in Shrawasti, which will be leveraged this election. Misra has vowed to pull the region out of backwardness if he is elected.

Moreover, he is the son of Nripendra Misra, chairman of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple construction committee and a former principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nripendra Misra served as the principal secretary from 2014 to 2019 before unexpectedly resigning in August 2019. In January 2020, he was appointed chairman of the executive council of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. Subsequently, in February 2020, he was elected chairman of the temple construction committee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

There are several factors that are at play here, which indicate the plausibility of a BJP victory in this seat. First, anti-incumbency against MP Ram Shiromani is high. Second, the caste equations are favouring the BJP, especially in the absence of a BSP-SP alliance. Third, the increasing approval for the Narendra Modi-Yogi Adityanath double-engine government in Shrawasti. Moreover, the party is backed by three MLAs who have bolstered its campaign.

While Misra has been visible in the constituency for the last few years, his opponent has not been around as much despite being the MP. An industrialist, Shiromani is facing anger for being absent and inaccessible, with no major highlight of his performance as an MP in the last five years.

When it comes to caste arithmetic, Shrawasti has a large number of voters from the Verma community who are often pivotal kingmakers during elections. While the Verma community in 2019 swung in favour of Shiromani, a sense of discontentment against the MP has crept in even among them. Vermas account for about 12% of the voter population and are expected to split in favour of the BJP. Meanwhile, Brahmin (10%), Rajput (8%), and Vaishya (5%) are expected to lean strongly towards the BJP. Another interesting observation relayed from the ground is that Yadav voters stand significantly disillusioned with the SP in this part of Uttar Pradesh, leaning partly towards the BJP and preventing a consolidation of Yadav votes for the SP. Moreover, Dalit and OBC votes, are expected to back the BJP as well, making for favourable conditions for the party. Also, in the absence of an alliance with the BSP, the SP is challenged with a probable division of anti-BJP votes, which may prove detrimental in a close contest.

The Modi-Yogi double-engine factor is also at a high point in this constituency. While law and order has improved, the BJP is also credited with a slew of development work that has taken place in the constituency. Welfare schemes such as Garib Kalyan Yojana, which involves free ration for the poor, Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, and Kisan Samman Nidhi, have all contributed to pro-Modi sentiments among voters. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, meanwhile, has a connection with voters here, as the Balrampur assembly segment is often touted as his second home. He makes frequent visits to Balrampur to the Devi Patan Mandir and has provided funds for development work on the temple premises.

The SPs Challenge: The Samajwadi Party has nominated incumbent MP Ram Shiromani to contest for a second term. Shiromani faces intense anti-incumbency as the industrialist is accused of not spending time in the constituency and remaining in Ambedkar Nagar where he is originally from. Aware of the outsider tag, he says that he has recently constructed a luxurious mansion in Katra, Shrawasti, to avoid being labelled an outsider. Verma has since left both the BSP and Ambedkar Nagar.

However, it is going to be an uphill task for the leader to woo disillusioned constituents in the midst of the rising popularity of the BJP and a formidable rival in the form of Saket Misra.

This concern is further exacerbated by the fact that Shiromani won the seat in 2019 with a very slim margin of 5,320 votes backed by the SP-BSP alliance, which is no longer in play in 2024. With the BSP going its own way, a division of votes is expected, and the equations have heavily tilted against the leader.

Moreover, the caste equations are also not forming up favourably, with both Verma and Yadav voters reportedly feeling disillusioned with the incumbent MP. Further, the SP here is not in great shape even among the massive Muslim electorate, which stands at about 34%. A lack of enthusiasm owing to a lacklustre candidate is to blame, which may lead to low voter turnout. Ultimately, if consolidation of the traditional vote banks fails to take place, the SP-Congress alliance could be in trouble this time. The Congress, meanwhile, is a minor player, scoring less than 6% of the vote share in 2019, but may make a considerable difference in the case of a tight contest.

Relying on the Akhilesh Yadav factor is the partys last resort. However, Yadav has not been campaigning aggressively here and his magnetism in this Lok Sabha election has waned in Shrawasti as per observers on the ground.

All in all, while the SP relies on caste equations and two of its MLAs in the constituency, the BJP commands an edge and may sail through with a victory.

Voter demographics

Total voters (2019): 19,14,441

Urban: 6.4%

Rural: 93.6%

Literacy: 39.41%

SC: 14.6%

ST: 1.1%

Hindu: ~65%

Muslim: 34.83%

Key issues

Civic Infrastructure: Road connectivity has improved in Shrawasti and flood-proof infrastructure has been constructed along with embankments. However, there are some regions in the constituency which still suffer, especially rural areas such as Jamunaha. Health infrastructure is lagging in the region. It does not even meet the required number of primary health centres (PHCs). The region has a population of 1.1 million people and has just 11 PHCs, i.e., 100,000 people per centre, as opposed to the government-recommended 30,000 people per centre. Even those that do exist are in poor condition. There is an absence of specialist staff and doctors at a majority of these centres. The lack of primary healthcare means that diseases that could have been prevented or treated at the primary level end up overburdening tertiary care centres.

Electricity Supply: While the government had ensured 24-hour electricity supply in the region, that has not remained the case. Damages caused by strong winds and even neglect by the local administration have ensured that there are certain breakages in the electricity supply in the region. One such incident was reported this year in the Pipri village of Gilola. An electric pole outside the village had broken and fallen due to a storm. Because of this, the power supply was disrupted for more than 20 days. What was more surprising was the utter laxity of the local administrative body for its failure to repair or replace the pole to ensure that the electricity supply restarts to the village which has around 40 households.

Poverty: Poverty is a major challenge in Shrawasti. The region bordering Nepal is among the poorest in India. The NITI Aayog report on multi-dimensional poverty in 2015 put the rate to be at 74.3%, i.e., almost 3/4th of the people in the region are poor. The number has certainly improved, with the 2021 report showing a deduction of almost 24% to a rate of 49.67%.

According to locals, welfare schemes have reached the people, which has led to a momentous shift in the regions overall development. However, nearly half the population still suffers from multidimensional poverty.

Man vs Wild: Villagers living near the Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary face a constant threat from leopards, particularly at night. These animals, seeking water, often venture out of the forest area, leading to increased conflict with residents. The risk of attack is heightened during the night or when villagers are out in open areas for basic necessities. The incidents of conflict tend to rise in March and April, coinciding with the crop-cutting season in summer as animals are forced to look for drinking water sources. This has led to frustration with the administrations perceived lack of protection. The sanctuarys boundaries are irregular, resulting in several villages situated close to its fringes, increasing the likelihood of encounters with wildlife.

Farmers Issues: Apart from encounters with wild animals during the crop-cutting season, other issues which the farmers face are crop losses, migration of workers, and rising costs of electricity and pesticides, among other things. However, the farmers are not too worried as the welfare and loan schemes by the Centre and state have been implemented successfully. This has lowered the debt burden of the farmers considerably along with the risk of losing their land.

Drinking Water Crisis: There has been a drinking water crisis in Shrawasti for decades despite the presence of many rivers in the region. According to reports, Shrawasti suffers from a shortage of drinking water every summer. Bad hand pumps in rural areas have exacerbated the issue. People are upset due to the non-repair of hand pumps installed in council schools. Most of the hand pumps in rural areas have either become unusable or are producing contaminated water. In many places, people are hesitant to drink water from hand pumps installed amidst filth. In many places, people have taken out the spare parts of hand pumps due to a lack of repair for years. In some places, hand pumps are being used for tying cattle, while in many places people have encroached and put wood and straw on top of the hand pumps. In some areas, the issue of water scarcity has reached such heights that villagers are forced to drink contaminated water.

Roads: Roads are in poor condition in the region. Despite annual government promises to repair potholes, they persist, creating hazardous driving conditions. The four-kilometre stretch from the Risiya Kataliya intersection to the Mirzapur intersection is particularly problematic, with numerous potholes and broken pavement. This route, used by commuters travelling to Bahraich district, poses a safety risk, particularly for bikers who are prone to accidents due to gravel and potholes. Communication roads throughout the district are in a state of disrepair, with repairs often limited to select routes, leaving residents to deal with the consequences. The Nasriganj Laxmanpur-Jogiya road, damaged in the 2017 floods, remains unrepaired, isolating thirteen villages. Villagers are forced to take a 13-kilometre detour to reach the main road. Gilola Dhanuhi via Rajapur road, connecting Gilola block headquarters to 20 villages, is also in dire need of repair, forcing residents to take a 20-to-35-kilometre detour.

Infrastructure development

RCS Airport: It was inaugurated in March this year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is being developed under the UDAN scheme and is expected to connect Shrawasti to New Delhi, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Kanpur.

Maa Pateshwari State University: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath laid the foundation stone of the university in March this year. It is being built at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore.

Atal Bihari Medical College: CM Yogi inaugurated the Atal Bihari Medical College in March this year. It is a 300-bed hospital and is a satellite centre of KGMU, Lucknow.

Railway Infrastructure: The conversion of the Gonda-Bahraich section (107 km) to broad gauge and the electrification of the Gorakhpur-Anandnagar-Nautanwa section were completed. Several level crossings were replaced with limited-height subways, enhancing safety and reducing traffic congestion. Passenger amenities were upgraded with the installation of LED lights, improved waiting areas, and new toilet facilities at stations. The construction of new stations and the addition of new train services, including weekly and bi-weekly express trains, further strengthened rail connectivity in the region.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) started its Lok Sabha election campaign with the Muslim Quota charge that may have been a Karnataka issue, but was advertised by the party across India to make a case for appeasement politics against the Congress and INDIA bloc. With just two phases of the elections left, the BJPs campaign has got a fresh lease of life as the Calcutta High Court cancelled all certificates issued to several classes under Other Backward Classes (OBCs) issued in West Bengal since 2010, calling them illegal.

There are 179 castes on the state list of OBC castes in West Bengal. According to Hansraj Ahir, the Chairman of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), 118 are from the Muslim community. The states OBC list consists of two types: Category A and Category B. In Category A, there are a total of 81 communities out of which 73 are Muslim while just 8 are Hindu, claimed Ahir. Meanwhile in Category B, there are a total of 98 communities out of which 45 are Muslims while 53 are Hindus, according to him.

Last year, during the Panchayat election in Bengal, both the BJP and the TMC sparred over the issue while legally it was being weighed in the court. Now, in the middle of the Lok Sabha election, comes the Calcutta High Court order.

BJP TARGETS INDIA BLOC, NOT JUST TMC

The first public rally of the Prime Minister after the judgement came out was scheduled at 6 PM on Wednesday at Delhis Dwarka. Losing no time, he called the judgement a slap on the INDI alliance saying that TMC gave Muslims OBC certificates for their vote bank politics.

This is appeasement. These people say Muslims have the first right over the countrys resources. These people are giving government land to the waqf board to get them to vote for them. They want to reserve a 15% budget for minorities. They want to give loans, and government tenders on the basis of religion, PM Modi said, raking up a charge of appeasement with which the BJP went to town at the beginning of the poll season. Now, with a legal stamp, the BJPs charge has got a fresh lease of life in the last leg of the election.

Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in West Bengal on Wednesday, hit out at the TMC. I welcome the decision of the High Court. Mamata ji said that we do not accept the decision of the High Court. I want to ask the people of Bengal, can there be such a Chief Minister, who will say that we do not obey the courts order? I strongly condemn this and welcome the decision of the High Court and we will definitely ensure that the decision of the High Court is implemented, said Shah.

Whats interesting is the BJP isnt targeting the TMC alone but the entire INDIA bloc as well, not limiting it to just Bengal, but making a case of alleged minority appeasement by the INDIA bloc constituents across India. BJPs West Bengal in-charge Amit Malviya shared a video of Shah on X (previously Twitter) while saying, Congress tried it in Telangana and Karnataka, Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. If we have to save our Constitution and India, members of I.N.D.I Alliance have to be kept miles away from power.

THE IMPACT ON 6TH & 7TH PHASES

The immediate effect of the order and the politics over it is expected to be felt in West Bengal where Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Purulia, Bankura, Bishnupur, Jhhargram and Medinipur will go to polls in the sixth phase. What has helped the BJP increase its tirade was Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees immediate reaction where she said she will not accept the order. I respect the courts. But I do not accept the judgment that says Muslims should be kept out of OBC reservation. OBC reservations will continue. We will go to a higher court if need be, Banerjee announced.

The BJP is also likely to hit out at INDIA allies like RJD in Bihar, Samajwadi Party and Congress in Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand Mukti Mocha in Jhharkhand during its rallies and road shows in the next few days before the sixth phase of the election.

Uttar Pradeshs Sultanpur, Azamgarh, Allahabad and Jaunpur will go to vote in a few days just like Bihars Valmiki Nagar, Paschim Champaran, Purvi Champaran and Gopalganj among others seats will go to vote. Haryana, where the Congress is hoping to make a turnaround this time, may have to face BJPs sharp campaign over this issue for being an ally of the TMC. All ten seats of Haryana, including Rohtak where Congresss Deependra Singh Hooda is fighting, will go to vote on May 25. In Jharkhand, Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Giridhi will go to polls on the same day where Hemant Sorens JMM will have to withstand BJPs attacks locally.

In this phase, a total of 58 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across six states and two Union territories will go to polls. All the seven seats in Delhi will go to polls in this phase. In the last phase, there will be nine seats of Bengal that alone may not face the heat of this row but also 13 UP and 8 Bihar constituencies.

It was late April and the Lok Sabha election was just getting started when PM Modi accused the Congress of including Muslims as a whole in the OBC list in Karnataka through the backdoor. As the election has reached its final leg, the BJP has got a legal order to claim the TMC included Muslims in the OBC category as well which the court itself has ruled illegal. The BJP couldnt have asked for a better timing.

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The Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha constituency is one of the seven parliamentary constituencies in New Delhi. It is a General category seat and comprises parts of Central Delhi, North Delhi and North West Delhi districts. As many as 10 Assembly segments fall under the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat  Adarsh Nagar, Shalimar Bagh, Shakur Basti, slum clusters, Trinagar, Wazirpur, Model Town, Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Matia Mahal and Ballimaran  all of which are currently held by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The constituency will vote in phase 6 on May 25 and results will be declared on June 4. The sitting MP is Harsh Vardhan of the BJP and the candidates in the fray for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections are Praveen Khandelwal of BJP and JP Agarwal of Congress.

Political Dynamics

A Diverse Platter: The Chandni Chowk seat is slated for a direct fight between BJP candidate Praveen Khandelwal and JP Agarwal of the Congress. At the moment, the latter is said to be ahead in the race since he has been politically active for close to 30 years now, but the upcoming rally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi may level the playing field. While Chandni Chowk typically evokes imagery of Old Delhi and Delhi-6, the parliamentary constituency is vaster and more diverse. From residential areas to shopping and wholesale zones to slum clusters, both the BJP and the Congress-AAP alliance have their work cut out in the constituency.

The Chandni Chowk seat is slated for a direct fight between BJP candidate Praveen Khandelwal and JP Agarwal of the Congress. At the moment, the latter is said to be ahead in the race since he has been politically active for close to 30 years now, but the upcoming rally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi may level the playing field. While Chandni Chowk typically evokes imagery of Old Delhi and Delhi-6, the parliamentary constituency is vaster and more diverse. From residential areas to shopping and wholesale zones to slum clusters, both the BJP and the Congress-AAP alliance have their work cut out in the constituency. BJPs Chances: The saffron party benched former Union minister and sitting MP Dr Harshan Vardhan from the Chandni Chowk seat this time, fielding a fresh face in Praveen Khandelwal. Denied a ticket, Harsh Vardhan eventually announced retirement from active politics. In 2014, Vardhan had defeated Kapil Sibal, then with the Congress, to win the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat while in the 2019 polls, he trounced Congress Jai Prakash Agarwal. Dropping Vardhan seems to have been the demand of majority of BJP workers in Chandni Chowk since there is said to be much anger among the locals over the lack of attention to the constituency in the last 10 years. BJP workers and cadre have reportedly been emphasising to the electorate in the constituency that while they may be upset with the outgoing MP, they should vote along national issues like security, Ram Temple and the proposed Uniform Civil Code. A trader himself, BJP candidate Praveen Khandelwal is making his Lok Sabha election debut, but enjoys considerable popularity among the trader community of the Chandni Chowk constituency. He has been the secretary-general of The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and was a member of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) Advisory Council. In big boost to Khandelwals campaign, The Federation of Retailer Association of India has extended support to him. FRAI is a body representing approximately 80 lakh micro, small, and medium retailers across the nation. Among Khandelwals assurances for the Chandni Chowk constituency is empowering small businesses and fostering a conducive environment for their growth. The 64-year-old has pledged to address longstanding issues such as a lack of representation of small retailers in Parliament and the need for a level-playing field against e-commerce giants.

The saffron party benched former Union minister and sitting MP Dr Harshan Vardhan from the Chandni Chowk seat this time, fielding a fresh face in Praveen Khandelwal. Denied a ticket, Harsh Vardhan eventually announced retirement from active politics. In 2014, Vardhan had defeated Kapil Sibal, then with the Congress, to win the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat while in the 2019 polls, he trounced Congress Jai Prakash Agarwal. Dropping Vardhan seems to have been the demand of majority of BJP workers in Chandni Chowk since there is said to be much anger among the locals over the lack of attention to the constituency in the last 10 years. BJP workers and cadre have reportedly been emphasising to the electorate in the constituency that while they may be upset with the outgoing MP, they should vote along national issues like security, Ram Temple and the proposed Uniform Civil Code. A trader himself, BJP candidate Praveen Khandelwal is making his Lok Sabha election debut, but enjoys considerable popularity among the trader community of the Chandni Chowk constituency. He has been the secretary-general of The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and was a member of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) Advisory Council. In big boost to Khandelwals campaign, The Federation of Retailer Association of India has extended support to him. FRAI is a body representing approximately 80 lakh micro, small, and medium retailers across the nation. Among Khandelwals assurances for the Chandni Chowk constituency is empowering small businesses and fostering a conducive environment for their growth. The 64-year-old has pledged to address longstanding issues such as a lack of representation of small retailers in Parliament and the need for a level-playing field against e-commerce giants. Congress: The Chandni Chowk seat came to the Grand Old Partys kitty as per its seat-sharing agreement with INDIA partner Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi. The alliance has fielded Jai Prakash Agarwal, who is contesting his tenth Lok Sabha election. The veteran Congress leader was first elected to Lok Sabha from the Chandni Chowk seat in 1984. Later, he became an MP twice from the same seat in 1989 and 1995. In 2006, he was nominated for Rajya Sabha and in 2009, he was again elected as a Lok Sabha MP from the Northeast Delhi constituency. The 79-year-old is a resident of Chandni Chowk unlike the BJP candidate and, given his political experience, is quite well-known among locals. In his campaigns, Agarwal has been highlighting that no progress has been made in the constituency and there has been a complete blackout for 10 years.

The Chandni Chowk seat came to the Grand Old Partys kitty as per its seat-sharing agreement with INDIA partner Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi. The alliance has fielded Jai Prakash Agarwal, who is contesting his tenth Lok Sabha election. The veteran Congress leader was first elected to Lok Sabha from the Chandni Chowk seat in 1984. Later, he became an MP twice from the same seat in 1989 and 1995. In 2006, he was nominated for Rajya Sabha and in 2009, he was again elected as a Lok Sabha MP from the Northeast Delhi constituency. The 79-year-old is a resident of Chandni Chowk unlike the BJP candidate and, given his political experience, is quite well-known among locals. In his campaigns, Agarwal has been highlighting that no progress has been made in the constituency and there has been a complete blackout for 10 years. Voting Factors: Among the 10 Assembly segments, Muslim-majority Wazirpur, Chandni Chowk, Matia Mahal and Ballimaran are likely to back the Congress-AAP alliance. The BJP, meanwhile, can count on support in Sadar Bazar, a trader-majority segment known for its wholesale markets. Votes in upmarket and semi-residential segments like Adarsh Nagar, Shalimar Bagh and Model Town may get split between the two contenders. That leaves Shakur Basti and Trinagar that have large pockets of slums and JJ clusters. In assembly elections, these areas vote for AAP as a bloc given its electricity subsidies. The challenge for the AAP-Congress alliance in Chandni Chowk this time would be to convert the AAP votes for the Congress. Arvind Kejriwals recent rally for JP Agarwal was as much a message for AAP cadre as for the voters that they should throw their weight behind the alliance candidate, putting party rivalries on the backburner.

Among the 10 Assembly segments, Muslim-majority Wazirpur, Chandni Chowk, Matia Mahal and Ballimaran are likely to back the Congress-AAP alliance. The BJP, meanwhile, can count on support in Sadar Bazar, a trader-majority segment known for its wholesale markets. Votes in upmarket and semi-residential segments like Adarsh Nagar, Shalimar Bagh and Model Town may get split between the two contenders. That leaves Shakur Basti and Trinagar that have large pockets of slums and JJ clusters. In assembly elections, these areas vote for AAP as a bloc given its electricity subsidies. The challenge for the AAP-Congress alliance in Chandni Chowk this time would be to convert the AAP votes for the Congress. Arvind Kejriwals recent rally for JP Agarwal was as much a message for AAP cadre as for the voters that they should throw their weight behind the alliance candidate, putting party rivalries on the backburner. Demographic Googly: One of the demographic changes in Chandni Chowk constituency seems to have stumped both parties. Over the last 15 years, Chandni Chowk constituency has become more commercial than residential. For Congress, it means the old-time voters who recognised JP Agarwal may have moved out and would be voting from elsewhere. For the BJP, it means that while pro-Praveen Khandelwal traders may be conducting business in Chandni Chowk, their votes would be cast in the constituencies they reside in.

Key Issues

Commercialisation: Most of the original residents of Chandni Chowk have already left. The havelis are either empty or have been rented out to retail and wholesale shops. While the streets are bustling with life and people in the morning, as soon as the shops close and traders go home, the streets feel abandoned. According to on-ground reports, residents who live here feel that the commercialisation of the region has led to the old Delhi culture declining in the heart of Delhi. Most of the havelis stay closed year round and are rented out for movies.

Most of the original residents of Chandni Chowk have already left. The havelis are either empty or have been rented out to retail and wholesale shops. While the streets are bustling with life and people in the morning, as soon as the shops close and traders go home, the streets feel abandoned. According to on-ground reports, residents who live here feel that the commercialisation of the region has led to the old Delhi culture declining in the heart of Delhi. Most of the havelis stay closed year round and are rented out for movies. Womens Security: Womens security is a major issue in Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha constituency. According to on-ground reports, women in the area are scared to go out after sunset as the shops close. The streets go silent at night and as most of the buildings are rented out as shop fronts, empty buildings line the streets. The old area also has a lack of security cameras in the inner areas.

Womens security is a major issue in Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha constituency. According to on-ground reports, women in the area are scared to go out after sunset as the shops close. The streets go silent at night and as most of the buildings are rented out as shop fronts, empty buildings line the streets. The old area also has a lack of security cameras in the inner areas. Congestion: One of the main issues in the constituency is that of traffic, especially near the Red Fort. The main street of Chandni Chowk remains closed for vehicles which diverts vehicles to merge with the traffic coming from Kashmere Gate, leading to traffic snarls. Other reasons for traffic congestion are illegal parking near the Chandni Chowk metro, encroachment of roads by hawkers, and illegal shopping markets throughout the area. Moreover, the traffic congestion in and around Chandni Chowk makes movement impossible.

One of the main issues in the constituency is that of traffic, especially near the Red Fort. The main street of Chandni Chowk remains closed for vehicles which diverts vehicles to merge with the traffic coming from Kashmere Gate, leading to traffic snarls. Other reasons for traffic congestion are illegal parking near the Chandni Chowk metro, encroachment of roads by hawkers, and illegal shopping markets throughout the area. Moreover, the traffic congestion in and around Chandni Chowk makes movement impossible. Fire Hazard: The entire market area of Chandni Chowk is a fire hazard and is akin to a tinderbox. Houses and buildings in the area are built adjacent to each other with no space in between, and the streets are narrow. Fires in shops are regular. The streets are so narrow that fire trucks cannot enter. In addition, most of the havelis in the area are very old and have laid abandoned for years, and are crumbling to the ground. People believe that even if fire trucks could reach a burning building, they would not be able to control it as blockades and old houses will make the task of the firefighters impossible.

The entire market area of Chandni Chowk is a fire hazard and is akin to a tinderbox. Houses and buildings in the area are built adjacent to each other with no space in between, and the streets are narrow. Fires in shops are regular. The streets are so narrow that fire trucks cannot enter. In addition, most of the havelis in the area are very old and have laid abandoned for years, and are crumbling to the ground. People believe that even if fire trucks could reach a burning building, they would not be able to control it as blockades and old houses will make the task of the firefighters impossible. Infrastructure: Citizens are worried about the lack of infrastructure in the Chandni Chowk area. There are only a few public washrooms in an area which is considered to be one of Indias largest wholesale markets. Loose wires hang from electricity poles endangering citizens lives. The region is littered with narrow streets where there are no street lights. During monsoons, waterlogging becomes a major issue as water enters shops and damages goods. People have demanded upgrades to the infrastructure but not much has been done.

Citizens are worried about the lack of infrastructure in the Chandni Chowk area. There are only a few public washrooms in an area which is considered to be one of Indias largest wholesale markets. Loose wires hang from electricity poles endangering citizens lives. The region is littered with narrow streets where there are no street lights. During monsoons, waterlogging becomes a major issue as water enters shops and damages goods. People have demanded upgrades to the infrastructure but not much has been done. Encroachments: Despite recent redevelopment efforts aimed at attracting tourists and improving traffic flow, the main road continues to face significant challenges. Residents report ongoing issues with beggars, homeless individuals, and drug addicts harassing visitors and engaging in theft. Despite increased police patrols, anti-encroachment drives, and the deployment of additional traffic police, problems persist. Vehicles disregard restricted hours, footpaths remain obstructed by encroachment, and the PWD has not successfully enforced orders to remove encroachments.

Infrastructure Development

Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: It will reduce travel time from Delhi to Mumbai or the other way around from 24 to 13 hours. It is being built at a cost of Rs 1,03,000 crore and has a length of 1,390 kilometres.

It will reduce travel time from Delhi to Mumbai or the other way around from 24 to 13 hours. It is being built at a cost of Rs 1,03,000 crore and has a length of 1,390 kilometres. Ashram Flyover Extension: This flyover is expected to help those travelling between Noida and Delhi by saving nearly 25 minutes and helping ease traffic congestion near the Ashram area.

This flyover is expected to help those travelling between Noida and Delhi by saving nearly 25 minutes and helping ease traffic congestion near the Ashram area. Regional Rapid Transit System: It is a new, dedicated, high speed, high capacity, comfortable commuter service connecting regional nodes in the National Capital Region (NCR)  Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut. It will have a total of 25 stops and connect Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi with Modipuram in Meerut and will have a stoppage at Kashmere Gate.

It is a new, dedicated, high speed, high capacity, comfortable commuter service connecting regional nodes in the National Capital Region (NCR)  Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut. It will have a total of 25 stops and connect Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi with Modipuram in Meerut and will have a stoppage at Kashmere Gate. Third Ring Road: The Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) is being built at a cost of Rs 7,700 crore. Conceived over a decade ago, the UER-II, often referred to as Delhis Third Ring Road, is anticipated to streamline travel between North Delhi, Indira Gandhi International Airport, and South Delhi.

The Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) is being built at a cost of Rs 7,700 crore. Conceived over a decade ago, the UER-II, often referred to as Delhis Third Ring Road, is anticipated to streamline travel between North Delhi, Indira Gandhi International Airport, and South Delhi. Chandni Chowk Redevelopment project: The site of the former Hanuman Mandir was retiled. A new public washroom, reflecting the areas aesthetic, was built near the entrance, featuring two toilets, 10 urinals, five womens toilets, and a universal toilet. Three additional washrooms near Fountain Chowk, Bhagirath Place, and Town Hall were also completed. Railings replaced barricades at the entrance to prevent vehicle access, pending an official order from the transport department.

Demographics

Total Voters: 1,561,806

SC: 21.14%

Geographical Composition

Urban Voters: 100%

Religious Composition

Hindu: 80.8%

Muslim: 16.7

Jain: 2%

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The Election Commission has issued a strict warning to Congress candidate from Jalandhar Charanjit Singh Channi for violating the Model Code of Conduct, an official said.

Former Punjab chief minister Channi had called the Poonch terror attack, in which an IAF soldier was killed and four others were injured, a poll stunt meant to make the BJP win the Lok Sabha elections.

A spokesperson from the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Punjab said Channi was asked to provide an explanation by the district election officer-cum-deputy commissioner of Jalandhar.

The EC has advised and warned Channi against repeating such violations in the future and emphasised the importance of adhering to the MCC guidelines in letter and spirit, the spokesperson said.

The commission found his response unsatisfactory, deeming it a violation of the MCC clause which provides  Criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programme, past record and work Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided. One soldier was killed and four others were injured as terrorists ambushed an IAF convoy in the Poonch district on May 4.

Replying to a question on the attack, Channi had said, Yeh stuntbaazi ho rahi hai, hamle nahi ho rahe (These are all stunts, not attacks). Whenever elections are near, such stunts are performed to make the BJP win.
Domariyaganj is one of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, which will go to polls in the sixth phase on May 25. It covers the Siddharthnagar district, and comprises five Vidhan Sabha segments: Shohratgarh (Apna Dal), Kapilvastu (BJP), Bansi (BJP), Itwa (SP) and Domariyaganj (SP).

In the 2019 elections, there were 18,85,191 in the constituency, of which Scheduled Castes form 16% of the electorate, that is, 3,01,631, while Scheduled Tribes are 0.5%, that is, 9,426.

Urban voters are 118,767 (6.3%) while rural voters are 1,766,424 (93.7%). Hindus form 70% of the total voting population while Muslims are 29.23%. The voter turnout in 2019 Lok Sabha election in the constituency was 52.3%.

Political Dynamics

BJP On a Sticky Wicket: The BJP had won Domariyaganj in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Both these contests were won by Jagadambika Pal, who trumped Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)s Aftab Alam by 1.05 lakh votes in 2019 when the Samajwadi Party (SP) and BSP were in an alliance. Although the fight is primarily between the BJP and SP (INDI alliance), the contest has turned triangular due to the entry of Amar Singh Chaudhary, who is fighting on Azad Samaj Partys ticket.

Amar Singh Chaudharys entry could hurt the BJP, as ground inputs suggest he will draw votes from the saffron kitty.

The BJP faces a complex and tough fight in Domariyaganj. For Pal, who is arguably the BJPs most well-known leader in the region, this is his most tough electoral battle yet. The reasons for this are many, but for starters, Pal faces intense anti-incumbency. Such is the anger against Pal that had he been running as an independent, he would probably be relegated to the third or fourth position on the charts. The BJPs candidate selection has evidently been poor here.

While the SPs leaders, especially its MLAs from the two assembly segments of Itwa and Domariyaganj are throwing their weight behind Kushal Tiwari, the same is not being witnessed in the BJP camp, where resentment over Pals renomination has led to considerable resentment.

Much to the BJPs worry, Brahmins are said to be supporting the SP in Domariyaganj this time around. The Brahmins are perhaps the most disappointed community here. They say Jagadambika Pal has done nothing but cause harm to them as MP. They are also disturbed by the fact that Pal, a Thakur, has been fielded by the party again despite there being widespread anger against him in the constituency.

Pal has a tendency of interfering in the tendering process that goes on in Domariyaganj and is known to favour his people for the same. There is widespread resentment across the constituency over this issue. In fact, many BJP supporters, especially among the partys cadre complain of Pal making life difficult for them, which is why they will not vote for him.

Despite this, the BJP has a slight edge. However, if the Brahmin vote consolidation in favour of the SP gets complete, the saffron party could even lose the seat by a whisker. At present, the BJP has a 60:40 advantage over the SP.

The BJPs edge has nothing to do with Pal and is mostly due to Prime Minister Narendra Modis own image among the voters of Domariyaganj. If the BJP wins this seat, it will solely be because of the Modi factor.

The BJP also does not have much to show in terms of work it has done in Domariyaganj, mostly because Jagadambika Pal has taken little to no initiative for the betterment of the constituency. Therefore, it is avoiding centring the election around issues and is focussing solely on PM Modis appeal in this constituency. Such is the condition that our correspondent on the ground says: Vikaas mudda banayenge toh haar jayenge (If BJP makes development an issue or talking point, they will lose). That is quite telling of how the party does not have much to show in terms of development in Domariyaganj, despite it making vikas its central poll plank across the country.

SP Puts Up A Tough Fight: The SP has entered the electoral battlefield with one agenda in Domariyaganj  defeating BJPs Jagadambika Pal. One could argue that defeating opponents is the only reason why parties enter electoral contests. In Domariyaganj, the SP, however, hopes to capitalise on the tremendous anti-incumbency of the sitting MP. Pal Hatao is SPs single agenda in Domariyaganj.

To do so, the party has fielded Kushal Tiwari. Although not a very tall leader, Bhishma Shankar Tiwari, alias Kushal Tiwari is the son of Pandit Harishankar Tiwari, who was a strongman-politician in the region. He is also the brother of former MLA Vinay Tiwari. While not very well-known himself until he was made the SP candidate, Kushal Tiwari has a family legacy to draw out the partys core Muslim-Yadav vote bank. Besides, the anti-incumbency against BJPs Jagadambika Pal is what has made the fight in Domariyaganj tough for the saffron party, something which Kushal Tiwari is expected to benefit from.

What Modi is for the BJP, Akhilesh Yadav is for the Samajwadi Party. Among the SPs own support base at least, enthusiasm for this election appears to be high which seems to be creating the impression that the fight is indeed tough. However, the SP is at a slight disadvantage, given that voters remain committed to PM Modi and his style of governance. In case of complete or near-total vote transfer of Brahmins to the SP, Kushal Tiwari does stand a chance of winning.

In many ways, the election in Domariyaganj is issueless. It is not like the people do not have issues that they want to address. The problem is that their issues are not necessarily making it to the candidates list of talking points. While the BJP urges people to vote for Modi, the SPs biggest pitch is that of dethroning Jagadambika Pal as the MP.

The entry of Amar Singh Chaudary has made the contest in Domariyaganj all the more interesting. His decision to fight the election is expected to help the Samajwadi Party as he dents the BJPs voter base. Besides, there are also murmurs of the Nishads voting in favour of him, which would further weaken the BJPs prospects. The saffron party is hopeful that PM Modis campaign will help it tide over caste challenges here, and ensure that traditional BJP voters support Jagadambika Pal.

Current MP: Jagadambika Pal (BJP)

Top Contenders: Jagadambika Pal (BJP), Kushal Tiwari (SP)

Key Issues

Farmera: Farmer distress is a real and concerning issue in Domariyaganj. Lack of piped water facilities also makes irrigation a hassle, while increasing cost of electricity and a low supply of fertilisers and pesticides at subsidised rates has increased the burden on the farmers. Compensation is often delayed and less than adequate to alleviate the debt burden. Small farmers in the region also lack information on market trends and demand and may not have the infrastructure to transport their goods to distant markets forcing them to sell to local traders at lower rates, which eats into their profit.

Unemployment and Emigration: Unemployment remains a major issue in Domariyaganj. Due to the adverse climatic conditions, there is an absence of big industries and or factories in the region. People depend on agriculture for their sustenance. But the number of issues farmers face has forced many out of the region to urban centres of Lucknow, Kanpur and New Delhi in search of better opportunities where they face constant hardships.

Caste Issues: Caste is the number one issue, and from the looks of it, the only issue that people care about in Domariyaganj. There is a certain anger among the Brahmin voters in the region as the BJP has fielded a Thakur. Meanwhile, the Muslim-Yadav voter consolidation in favour of the Samajwadi Party is going strong. More than religious, it is caste polarisation that is working on the ground  and that should be a cause of concern for the BJP.

Roads: Roads in the region are in dilapidated condition. While some improvement has been seen in the city, rural roads remain untouched. Most of the roads in the region are not all-weather roads, which create problems during monsoon as they get washed away. Villages such as Gram Sangaldeep have often protested against the abysmal condition of roads but to no avail.

Infrastructure: Residents suffer a lack of drinking water as piped water has not reached many homes. Electricity and sewage infrastructure in the region are crumbling. There is a lack of proper healthcare and educational facilities. Due to waterlogging during the monsoons, mosquitoes breed freely in the region giving rise to dengue and other water borne diseases. There is also a lack of proper healthcare facilities in the region. There are no public toilets in the rural areas, neither roads nor good houses.

Lack of development: No major educational institutions, hospitals, or even central or state government projects have been opened in Domariyaganj. This has miffed those who had believed that the political slogan of double engine ki sarkaar would actually help in the regions overall development. However, this has not played out the way people expected.

Development Works

Bahraich and Khalilabad Railway Line: The railway line was approved in 2018 by the Central government and is under construction. It passes through Bhinga, Shravasti, Balrampur, Utraula, Domariyaganj, Mehdawal, Bansi. The total length of the new line will be 240.26 kilometres. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs. 4939.78 crore and will be completed by 2024-25.

Vatvashni Temple: In 2018-19, the state government took under its wing the development of the Vatvashni temple as part of its spiritual circuit programme. The development of the temple will help boost religious tourism to the region and aid in its economic development.

Railways: The conversion of the Gonda-Barhni rail line (107 km) to broad gauge was completed. Several stations were upgraded with the addition of LED lights, solar panels, and passenger amenities. New train services, including weekly and bi-weekly express trains, were introduced, expanding connectivity in the region. The construction of a new road overbridge in lieu of level crossing no. 87 between Barhni and Trilokpur was completed. Several level crossings were replaced with limited height subways, enhancing safety and reducing traffic congestion.

(additional inputs from Sharad Tripathi)
Political strategist Prashant Kishor, who is in the news for predicting around 300 seats for the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, on Thursday reacted to a viral video clip of his interview with journalist Karan Thapar. In a post on X, he talked about how some people are rattled with his assessment of the outcome of the ongoing polls.

Drinking water is good as it keeps both mind and body hydrated. Those who are RATTLED with my assessment of outcome of this election must keep plenty of water handy on June 4th. PS: Remember, 02nd May, 2021 and #West Bengal!! he said.

Drinking water is good as it keeps both mind and body hydrated. Those who are RATTLED with my assessment of outcome of this election must keep plenty of water handy on June 4th. PS: Remember, 02nd May, 2021 and #West Bengal!!  Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) May 23, 2024

After his recent comments on the election outcome, a section of social media users have questioned the accuracy of his forecasts citing an old tweet from May 2022. The users said he had predicted an electoral rout in Gujarat and HP for the Congress, but the party, in fact, won Himachal Pradesh in the assembly elections that year while it suffered a heavy defeat in Gujarat.

Thapar asked about his prediction on the Himachal elections in the interview, but Kishor maintained that he did not say that the Congress will suffer a rout and asked for video proof. The clip of that interview has now gone viral.

In the interview, when Thapar referenced online news articles about the predictions, Kishor dismissed them and said he will quit his work if the senior journalist can provide video footage. A number of social media users sharing this video clip have not only used Kishors social media post from May 2022, but also shared videos of news bulletins by prominent TV channels that have used the post.

Kishor refused to accept news articles as proof of his past predictions, saying newspapers can publish anything. Newspapers can publish anything, but I challenge anyone to show where I have uttered such words. Show me the actual statements, he said in the video.

Kishor has run into a lot of online abuse after he predicted a third consecutive win for the BJP. His prediction is: Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP is returning to power with either the same or slightly better numbers. In recent interviews to NDTV and India Today, he has scoffed at the chances of the INDIA bloc defeating the BJP in the general elections. In fact, he has said this is a third lost opportunity for the opposition.

He has criticised the INDIA blocs failure to announce a prime ministerial candidate, something that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have repeatedly used to attack the opposition front saying they will appoint five PMs in five years if they come to power.

Adding more traction to his poll prediction, a US expert has also predicted a landslide victory for the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. Prominent American political scientist Ian Bremmer also told NDTV Profit that the saffron party can win between 295 and 315 seats. The BJP came to power with 282 seats in 2014, with the NDA winning 336 seats in total. In 2019, the BJP increased its tally to 303 seats while the NDA crossed the 350-mark in all.

This time, the BJP-led NDAs poll slogan has been Abki baar, 400 paar. It is looking at reaching this magical number while hoping to increase its tally in states like West Bengal, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and making a dent further down south in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Punjab Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira, exposing the purported foreign funding scam of the Aadm Admi Party (AAP), has told News18 that the party did collect $1.19 lakh through foreign donations as part of his tour to USA and Canada in 2015-16  all on the directions of party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The former AAP leaders name features in the letter written by the Enforcement Directorate to the Union Home Ministry, seeking a probe into AAPs foreign funding. AAP has termed this as dirty politics of BJP and called the allegations baseless. ED is probing the issue on basis of documents recovered from Khairas premises. His statement too was recorded by the agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

This is a big scam, Khaira, the three-time MLA from Bholnath and now Congress Sangrur candidate, told News18, breaking his silence on the issue. He was with the AAP when the controversy broke out.

In 2015-16, I was asked by Arvind Kejriwal to visit USA and Canada. We went to 24 cities along with AAP volunteers. I was the speaker to motivate people to donate to AAP because I was impressed by the partys ideology as it had come out of an agitation and I thought they will bring about change, Khaira told News18 in Sangrur.

Khaira claimed that before him, AAP leader Sanjay Singh had visited USA too while Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was sent to Australia.

When I was in the US, in every hall, there used to be 500-1,000 people. Luckily, all these events were photographed and video-graphed. The AAP volunteers were taking the money. I dont know if it was by cash or cards. Only AAP can tell where that money went. But I do know that $1.19 lakh were collected, Khaira disclosed to News18.

The Congress leader said he disclosed all this to the ED when he was arrested by them and his statement was taken. I showed them social media pages of AAP-US and those of Arvind Kejriwal which had proof of the donation exercise. Kejriwal was in the know of every penny. Everything that happens in the party is as per his direction. AAP has recently removed donation details from their portal, which raises suspicion and doubt. They must have misused the money. AAP is a corrupt party, Khaira said.

The Congress leader said ED did not charge him for foreign donation violations in the PMLA court. Khaira was jailed under the AAP government last year and stepped out of jail on bail this January. He has accused AAP of political vendetta.

AAP is involved in the liquor scamtheir top leaders like Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain have been denied bail. It is a one-man party. Whatever happens, happens on Kejriwals instructions, Khaira told News18.

An AAP leader, when contacted, said on the condition of anonymity that Khaira has an axe to grind with AAP after he was arrested by the Punjab government for illicit drug trade activity and intimidating a key witness in that case. We have already said the donation case is an old one and we have supplied our explanation to the authorities concerned, the leader said on the issue.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
PM Narendra Modi will begin his Punjab campaign with a big rally in Patiala and two rallies on Friday in Jalandhar and Gurdaspur amidst tight security to avoid a repeat of 2022 when the prime ministers cavalcade was disrupted at a flyover near Ferozepur.

BJP candidates have been facing protests from farmer unions in Punjab but BJPs in-charge in the state and former Gujarat CM, Vijay Rupani, told News18 that such protests were political and would die down post elections. Punjabs farmers know and understand everything, they are with us. Some small protests are happening, it is a democracy, and it is their right. Punjab farmers have got many benefits from Centre, their incomes have increased, all of their crop is procured on MSP Punjabs farmers have no problem on that front. These protests are all political; this will remain till elections, Rupani said.

The PM will land at YPS Grounds in Patiala around 4.30pm on Thursday and drive a short distance to the rally. Punjab Police is out in big numbers in Patiala and the farmer unions have said they will not disrupt the rally but hold protests elsewhere. Their demand to meet PM Modi, however, has been turned down. BJP candidates like Ravinder Singh Bittu and Hans Raj Hans have criticised the farmer unions for not letting the voice of real farmers of Punjab be heard.

BJP is looking forward to the prime ministers visit to set the tone now regarding the pitch to the farmers of Punjab.

PMs Campaign

PM Modi is expected to give fillip to BJPs campaign in Punjab as the party is fighting without an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal. The PM already set the tone for the Punjab campaign on Wednesday in Delhi, saying Congress was responsible for the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots and the Sikh community wont forget it.

Rupani told News18 that the Akali Dal may not be with the BJP but Punjabs support was with the saffron party. Punjabs people are sick of Akali Dal, Congress and AAP. They want Modi. Only Modi can make Punjab strong and take it forward. That is why we are fighting alone. And this will work to our benefit, Rupani said.

BJPs Amritsar candidate Taranjit Singh Sandhu also told News18 that the farmer protests are part and parcel of a democratic country and the BJPs focus is on increasing incomes of farmers.

In Amritsar, we grow vegetables and fruits. If we can export them, incomes will increase 15-20 times. Peas cost Rs 10 here, they are sold for Rs 335 in Dubai and Rs 1,350 in UK. Look at the difference. Farmers need to know this, maybe the farmer union does not want farmers to know this. Parali can be converted into aviation fuel, why should the farmers burn it? It is important to focus on the real issues, Sandhu told News18.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Pratapgarh is one of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh and falls under the general category. It encompasses parts of the Pratapgarh district and comprises five assembly segments: Rampur Khas, Vishwanathganj, Pratapgarh, Patti, and Raniganj.

Sangam Lal Gupta is the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and the incumbent MP here since 2019, preceded by Harivansh Singh Kumar of Apna Dal who won the polls in 2014, and Rajkumari Ratna Singh of the Congress in 2009. The other top contender this time for the election to be held on May 25 in the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls is Dr SP Singh Patel from the Samajwadi Party.

Political dynamics

Close Contest on the Cards: Pratapgarh is all set to witness a close contest with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) locking horns in a direct fight. While the BJP has an edge here, the SP stands strong in the race as well.

In the 2022 assembly polls, the BJP bagged only one seat here, Pratapgarh, while the SP won Patti and Raniganj, Congress netted Rampur Khas, and Apna Dal (S) picked up Vishwanathganj. In terms of vote share, the SP scored 22%, up from 16.8% in the 2017 assembly elections. The BJPs share also grew from 22% in 2017 to 32% in 2022.

This seat was traditionally a Congress stronghold, and after 1996, it swung consistently among the Congress, BJP, SP, and Apna Dal.

BJP on a Shaky Throne: The BJP sits on a shaky throne as it has renominated incumbent MP Sangam Lal Gupta to contest for a second term. Gupta won the election in 2019 on a BJP ticket by a margin of 1.17 lakh votes, defeating Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Ashok Tripathi who was backed by the SP. Guptas stock has dipped in the constituency over the years, with some voters alleging that he has not been accessible enough. Even among supporters, there was anticipation of a change in the BJPs pick, but that has not been the case.

However, Gupta does have some development work to highlight in his campaign, including improved roads, a bypass road in the works which will alleviate traffic congestion, improvement of infrastructure at the railway station, and so on.

Gupta has the backing of the BJPs grassroots worker machine, which has grown to a formidable size. Further, the partys only MLA Rajendra Kumar from the Pratapgarh segment has thrown his weight behind the leader to ensure a BJP win.

The BJP is banking on the Narendra Modi factor, which is visible in its campaign efforts. Further, the promise of the Narendra Modi-Yogi Adityanath double-engine government has been marketed widely, with improvement in law and order, development and welfare schemes, all of which have noticeable effects. Hindutva and Ram Mandir politics are a plus point. Moreover, the governments position on national issues also helps give it an edge among a large section of voters.

However, caste differences also play a big role in how locals decide to vote. While Brahmins and Kshatriyas are expected to vote for the BJP, along with a large portion of the Scheduled Caste voters as well, there is some dissatisfaction in other communities. In this constituency, Kurmi voters make up about 11% of the population and are a decisive factor. This time around, there is discontentment among Kurmi voters who in 2022 voted for candidates of their caste against the BJP. This is a worrying trend for the party as its opponent, the SP, has nominated Dr DP Singh Patel, who is from the Kurmi community.

The BJP also hopes that the BSP, which has chosen not to form an alliance with the SP this time, will do considerable damage to the SPs performance. The BSP has picked BJP leader Shiv Prakash Mishra Senanis son and Supreme Court lawyer Prathamesh Mishra, who will make his electoral debut. Further, Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyas Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik), another emerging player in the political scene, is sitting on the fence.

All in all, the BJP may witness a downward trend in its fortunes this election, but with a lead of 1.17 lakh votes in 2019, it has a considerable cushion against the Samajwadi threat.

INDIA Blocs Kurmi Candidate: The Samajwadi Party has always had it difficult in Pratapgarh, having won the seat only once in 2004. In alliance with the Congress, it has nominated Dr SP Singh Patel, who is from the Kurmi community. Although a non-local from Lucknow, Patel is a prominent educator in Uttar Pradesh, known for founding Lucknow Public Schools and Colleges, a prestigious institution in northern India. Patel served as a member of the legislative council for two consecutive terms. From 2014 to 2020, his wife Kanti Singh held the position of legislative council member from the same seat.

The party is hoping for a traditional consolidation of Yadav and Muslim votes, roughly 10% and 14%. This it expects to be bolstered by the support of Kurmi voters who may resonate with Patel, who is a well-known figure in the community. Moreover, the Congress also brings a large number of votes to the table, with the party scoring about 8.5%, coming in third in 2019.

Voter demographics (2011 Census)

Total voters (2019): 1705457

Urban: 5.7%

Rural: 94.3%

Literacy: 60.19%

SC: 19.9%

ST: 0%

Hindu: ~85%

Muslim: 14.1%

Key issues

Man vs Wild: There have been many instances of man-animal conflict in Pratapgarh. The issue is especially prevalent in rural areas where there is high forest cover. Villagers encounter wild animals such as leopards in their villages attacking cattle and humans alike. The expansion of human settlements into forest areas has deprived wild animals of their hunting grounds, forcing them to move into human settlements. In one such case, two people moving through the jungle areas towards the fields were attacked and killed late at night.

Traffic Congestion: Traffic congestion in Pratapgarh city has become a major nuisance for the residents. The citys road infrastructure has been unable to keep up with the demands of the rising population. The city is littered with narrow lanes and encroachment of footpaths and sidewalks. This causes major traffic congestion in the city in key areas. The state government has taken aim at the challenge by upgrading the road infrastructure in the city and has given more power to the municipal corporation. However, the problem still persists.

Unemployment: Unemployment remains a big concern in the constituency. There are no major industries in the region. Agriculture is one of the key sources of employment. However, due to several issues, it is not a desirable option for many who are looking for better employment opportunities. This leads to mass migration of people, especially the youth towards urban centres in the state or to Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi.

Farmer Issues: The lack of basic infrastructure in the region makes farming a difficult endeavour. Farmers face challenges from inadequate irrigation systems, and increasing costs of essential inputs like electricity, water, and fertilisers, which significantly impact their profitability. Small-scale farmers are particularly vulnerable, as they often lack the means to engage with complex government procurement procedures and are compelled to sell their produce to local traders at reduced prices. This practice leads to lower earnings, sometimes resulting in financial losses, and exacerbates their debt burden, especially for those who resort to high-interest loans from local moneylenders. To address these issues, farmers advocate for higher minimum support prices for their crops and demand prompt compensation in the event of crop failures, aiming to reduce their financial strain. Indian Gooseberry (amla) is the staple produce in the region. However, its cultivation is no longer profitable. The number of farmers engaged in growing the fruit has halved and the area under cultivation has also shrunk. The amla crop was grown on around 10,800 hectares, which has now shrunk to less than 6,000 hectares.

Welfare Schemes: Welfare schemes by the state and central governments will be a major factor in this Lok Sabha constituency. In Pratapgarh alone, the government has provided 10,145 houses in urban areas and has given interest-free loans to 4,595 street vendors under the PM SVANidhi Yojana. Besides, 14,600 destitute, 11,500 elderly and old people are getting pensions. This has made the people flock in support of the BJP. However, other initiatives such as the Jal Jeevan Scheme have not been implemented fully, which has deprived people of their promised piped water connection.

Law and Order: The law-and-order situation in the region has improved considerably. According to ground reports, crime in the region has been considerably down over the past five years. The situation was considerably grim in 2019. However, people now feel more secure as there have been significant civic infrastructure upgrades such as the installation of streetlights, etc. Locals also believe that the ongoing crackdown on criminal elements across the state by the government has also been effective in Pratapgarh.

Infrastructure development

Amrit Bharat: Pratapgarh Junction is one of the major nodal points of the North Central Railway. As a result, it has also been selected as part of the central governments Amrit Bharat Station scheme. It will give the junction a much-needed infrastructure overhaul and improve passenger amenities.

Widening of National Highway 330: The project was announced by union minister Nitin Gadkari last year. It is a widening of a 43-km stretch of NH-330 from Pratapgarh to Sultanpur, which will be done at a cost of Rs 1,290 crore. This will reduce the travel time from Prayagraj to Pratapgarh via Ayodhya.

Bypass in Pratapgarh: A 14-km bypass project is under construction in Pratapgarh, which will help vehicles plying on the national highway to avoid the heavily congested city area. It is being constructed at a cost of Rs 309 crore.

Other NH Projects: Several other road connectivity projects are under construction in Pratapgarh. Among these are the 21-km-long Chilbila-Lohia Nagar two-lane paved shoulder road for Rs 333 crore, an 11-km-long four-lane CC road on Bhupiyamau-Gode section in Pratapgarh town at a cost of Rs 325 crore, a two-lane paved shoulder bypass from NH-31 to NH-330 of Pratapgarh for Rs 225 crore, and streetlight, high mast light, and development of shelters in Pratapgarh district at Rs 27 crore.

Railway Infrastructure: A submersible pump was installed for a deep tube well at Pratapgarh station, and a road over bridge was built near Chilbila at level crossing 84-B. Several manned level crossings were replaced with limited-height subways on the Harpalganj-Koipur and Suwansa-Gaura sections. Pratapgarh station itself received a number of upgrades, including renovated waiting areas, improvements to platform 1, a new VIP lounge, and a passenger reservation system building. The station also benefited from better lighting, with the installation of LED lights on the platform and 45W LED streetlights throughout the station.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Ever since the BJP started flirting with the idea of a non-Jat alliance in Jat-dominated Haryana, the results have been remarkably surprising for the party.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won seven seats out of Haryanas 10 seats (BJP contested on seven while Haryana Janhit Congress contested as its ally in three, winning none), while INLD won two and the Congress got just one. In 2019, the BJP went solo and pulled a remarkable 10-seat stunt with the Congress not winning any seats and its collective vote share stagnating at 28 per cent. The share of the BJP shot up to 58 per cent  a 23 per cent jump from its 2014 performance.

But with Jats standing unitedly behind the Congress this time, can the Grand Old Party punctuate BJPs dream run by wresting a few seats?

JATS WANT TO VOTE EN BLOC

In the 2019 assembly election, the Jats stood firmly behind Dushyant Chautalas new outfit JJP. But after the election results were out, he forged a post-poll alliance with the BJP that earned him the traitor tag among Jats.

INLD  the original Jat party of Devi Lal  is now, at best, a reminder of a party that once had a glorious presence in this milk belt. With former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a Jat himself, urging Jats not to get their votes split, it is widely believed that most Jats would vote en bloc for the Congress in Jat-dominated seats like Rohtak, Hisar, Kurukshetra and Sirsa.

Jats constitute around 26-28 per cent of the states population. While the BJP has employed its tried-and-tested non-Jat alliance of Dalit, Brahmin, Gujjars, Baniyas and Punjabis, the Congress has a real chance in these four seats.

In Hoodas bastion Rohtak, Deepender Hooda lost by 7,000-odd votes in the last Lok Sabha elections after being the three-time MP and still bitterly remembers the loss. Last time, there were many issues. I lost by 7,000-odd votes in RohtakI won in the EVM count, but I lost in postal ballots. However, he is hopeful of a win this time from not just Rohtak but a majority of seats in Haryana. While that may be a tall claim, Congress is definitely in the fight in these four seats.

Similarly, Sonia Gandhi loyalist Kumari Selja, who is fielded from Sirsa, claimed she is winning; so did Hisar Congress candidate Jai Prakash  a three-time MP from Hisar who also served as a Union minister in Chandra Shekhars cabinet in 1990.

EASIER SAID THAN DONE

While the Jat support in these four Lok Sabha seats gives the Congress an initial push, the counter-polarisation is even bigger.

News18 has found how cross-sections of castes as diverse as Valmiki, Gujjars and Brahmins are united when it comes to voting for the BJP where Jat consolidation has taken place.

Take Hisar, for instance, where 33 per cent are Jats. All non-Jat communities have come together to support BJP candidate Ranjit Singh Chautala  coincidentally a Jat himself. There are over 70,000 Prajapatis/Kumhars, over 1,80,000 Brahmins, 65,000 Punjabis, and over 36,000 Bishnois, and the rest 4,00,000 voters are from various Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes in Hisar.

Lucky, a voter who hails from the Valmiki community, told News18 that almost all communities (apart from Jats) will vote for the BJP in Hisar. Neeraj, a local from the Gujjar community, and Surendra Jakhar form the Jakhar community too said Gujjars and Jakhars will throw their weight behind BJP.

Also, to counter Congress advantage in these four seats, the BJP has fielded a Jat from the Chautala family in Hisar; Ashok Tanwar  former Haryana Congress chief  in Sirsa; current MP Arvind Sharma  a non-Jat  from Rohtak; and Navin Jindal  a former Congress MP from Kurukshetra.

But the BJP will have to keep its non-Jat votes as united as Jat votes till election day and ensure they reach their respective booths in the sweltering Haryana heat. In case this doesnt happen, the Congress has a real chance of altering BJPs 100 per cent strike rate in the state.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Television actor Arjun Bijlani celebrated his 11th wedding anniversary with Neha Swami in the most special way. The Ishq Mein Marjawan actor got married to his longtime partner on May 20, 2013. The couple are proud parents to their 9-year-old son Ayaan Bijlani. Marking their 11 years of togetherness, Arjun Bijlani shared a heartwarming montage video on Instagram, featuring some romantic moments with his wife with heartwarming glimpses from their wedding. In a short but sweet caption, he called Neha Swami his everything.

Thank you Neha for everything. Happy Anniversary wrote Arjun Bijlani. The video opened with the actor and his wife sharing a warm hug, twinning in white ensembles. He held a rose in his hands. The sneak peeks captured the pair walking hand-in-hand on the streets, cruising on a yacht during a vacation, and exploring new destinations together. Arjun and Neha Swami sported beaming smiles in every frame, underling their strong bond. A few clips showed the actor dancing with his significant other in public, twirling her romantically in various travel outings.

The last few seconds took fans on a nostalgic ride to Arjun Bijlani and Neha Swamis wedding. The actor donned a white sherwani and wrapped a red turban around his head. Neha glowed in love, decked up in a red bridal saree. An orange dupatta was wrapped around her head acting as a veil. The couple was all smiles and held hands as they walked together to the wedding venue. Intimate moments and traditional rituals from the marriage ceremony were also displayed in the video. The video concluded with Arjun and Neha looking into each others eyes affectionately.

Social media users wasted no time wishing Arjun Bijlani and Neha Swami a Happy Anniversary. Beautiful babies. Evil eyes off, prayed one fan. Congratulations guys for years of success, commented another. Others went all hearts in the comments.

In another Instagram drop, Arjun Bijlani shared a picture of himself hugging Neha Swami as they beamed in joy. They celebrated their anniversary by cutting a white cake. A photograph of the two lovebirds was tucked on the crown of the desert. We are having our 11:11 moments !! Happy anniversary Mrs Bijlan, captioned the actor.

On the work front, Arjun Bijlani is currently seen in the romantic drama serial Pyar Ka Pehla Adhyay: Shiv Shakti, co-starring Nikki Sharma.
Akasa Air co-founder Aditya Ghosh was reportedly arrested in Rishikesh on May 20 for allegedly carrying 50 bottles of liquor amidst the ongoing Lok Sabha Election, as per some reports. The Model Code of Conduct that has been in place across the country since the announcement of the election on March 16, law enforcement agencies are on high alert for movement of cash, liquor, jewellery and other items that could influence voters.

In March, the Tamil Nadu Police seized Rs 69,400 from some tourists. The money was later returned to the couple, but the incident brought to light the ECs stringent measures on carrying cash or any such items during the elections.

What are the Rules for Carrying Cash and Liquor?

As per the EC rules, the CISF or police authorities at airports are supposed to report to the Income Tax department about any person carrying cash worth more than Rs 10 lakh, or more than 1 kg in gold. The I-T department will then do a verification as per its laws and take necessary action if the explanation of the person in question is not satisfactory.

Cash or gold can be seized till verification is completed in order to ensure that the item is not related to any political party or candidate.

If cash of more than Rs 10 lakh is found in a vehicle, and there is no suspicion of commission of any crime or linkage to any candidate, agent or party functionary, then the static surveillance teams (SSTs) shall not seize the cash, and [simply] pass on the information to the Income-Tax authority, for necessary action under Income Tax Laws, the EC said.

As per the rules, the election campaign expenditure has been capped at Rs 95 lakh per constituency in bigger states, and Rs 75 lakh per constituency in smaller states.

After seizure, the seized amount shall be deposited in such manner as directed by the Court and a copy of seizure of cash, in excess of Rs 10 lakh shall be forwarded to the Income Tax authority, engaged for the purpose, the EC says.

If a vehicle carrying a candidate, or his/her agent or party worker is found with more than Rs 50,000 in cash or drugs, liquor, arms, or gift items worth over Rs 10,000, then the items will be seized. If during checking, there is any suspicion of a crime, the seizure will be done under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and an FIR will be filed within 24 hours.

In case of liquor, excise laws of the respective state are applied. For instance, some states allow two bottles of sealed alcohol to be carried in.

How EC Maintains Strict Vigil

The EC appoints expenditure observers for every district, alongside SST and flying squads, which comprise a Senior Executive Magistrate as the head, a senior police officer, a videographer, and three or four armed police personnel. According to the EC, the teams are provided with a vehicle, a mobile phone, a video camera, and necessary documents required for seizing cash or goods.

The teams put up checkposts on roads, videographing the area, and keep changing their location to make a surprise visit on any route.

While checkposts are usually supposed to be set up from the date of announcement of polls, the final 72 hours before polling will see enhanced enforcement.

How Much Seizure This Election Season

Cash, drugs, liquor and freebies worth Rs 8,889 crore have been seized so far since March as per the EC. Gujarat has topped the list accounting for Rs 1,461 crore worth of items seized, followed by Rajasthan at Rs 1,133 crore, Maharashtra at Rs 685 crore and Delhi and Karnataka at Rs 653 crore and Rs 554 crore respectively.

Drug accounted for 45% of the total seizures.

The highest cash haul was in Telangana (Rs 114.41 crore) followed by Karnataka Rs 92.55 crore, Delhi Rs 90.79 crore and Andhra Pradesh Rs 85.32 crore.

Karnataka topped the list of liquor seizure with authorities seizing 1.47 crore litres worth Rs 175.36 crore. In Telangana, 30 lakh litres worth Rs 76.26 crore were seized.

In precious metals category, Delhi topped the list with Rs 195.01 crore followed by Maharashtra Rs 188.18 crore. Karnataka recorded such seizures, which were valued at Rs 94.66 crore.
The Calcutta High Court, in a surprise move yesterday, cancelled 5 lakh OBC certificates issued by the West Bengal government since 2010, calling such reservations in jobs and services in the state illegal.

The court said religion seems to be the sole criterion for declaring these communities as OBCs. The court said it is of the view that the selection of 77 classes of Muslims as backwards is an affront to the Muslim community as a whole.

The court further said the Muslim community has been treated as a commodity for political ends. This is clear from the chain of events that led to the classification of the 77 classes as OBCs and their inclusion to be treated as a vote bank.

The court also pointed out that those who have already the reservation or are in service or have or have succeeded in any selection process of the state, will not be affected by the order.

The court passed the judgment on petitions challenging the provisions of the states reservation Act of 2012 and reservations granted in 2010.

During that time, the Communist Party of India-Marxist was in power in West Bengal till 2011. Then, Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress took over in the state.

The number of enlisted persons under the OBC category in West Bengal after 2010 is likely to be above 5 lakh.

What Does The Court Order Mean?

The high court struck down 77 classes of reservation given between April 2010 and September 2010, and 37 classes created based on the Act of 2012.

While the court scrapped the 77 classes for the illegality of reports recommending such classification, the other 37 classes were set aside for non-consultation of the West Bengal Backward Classes Commission.

The bench also struck down an executive order of May 11, 2012, creating several sub-classes.

In the 211-page judgement, the division bench comprising justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Rajasekhar Mantha clarified that the executive orders of the state government classifying 66 classes of OBC before 2010 were not interfered with, since these were not challenged in the petitions.

The court also struck down an executive order of September 2010 by which reservation for OBCs was increased from 7% to 17%, providing for 10% reservation for Category A and 7% for Category B, on the ground of non-consultation of the commission.

The bench said that an increase of 10% in the percentage of reservation was due to the subsequent inclusion of classes, made from the year 2010, which were set aside by it.

The court also struck down section 5(a) of the Act of 2012, which distributes 10% reservation and 7% to the sub-classified classes.

Consequently, the sub-classified classes listed in the two categories namely OBC-A and OBC-B are struck down from Schedule I of the Act of 2012, the court directed.

The bench said the opinion and advice of the Backward Classes Commission is ordinarily binding on the state legislature under provisions of the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.

The court directed the Backward Classes Welfare Department of the state, in consultation with the Commission, to place a report before the legislature with recommendations for inclusion of new classes or for exclusion of remaining classes in the state list of OBCs.

There are 179 castes on the state list of OBC castes in West Bengal. According to Hansraj Ahir, Chairman of National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), 118 castes are from the Muslim community. The states OBC list consists of two types: Category A and Category B. In Category A, there are a total of 81 communities, of which 73 are Muslims while just 8 are Hindus, as per Ahir. In Category B, there are a total of 98 communities, of which 45 are Muslims while 53 are Hindus.

Political Implications

The immediate effect of the order could be felt in the sixth phase of the West Bengal Lok Sabha Election on May 25 in Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Purulia, Bankura, Bishnupur, Jhhargram and Medinipur constituencies.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she will not accept the Calcutta HC order on scrapping the OBC status of some classes in the state.

Addressing an election rally at Khardah under the Dumdum Lok Sabha constituency, Banerjee said the OBC reservation would continue in the state, as the Bill concerned was passed within the framework of the Constitution. The OBC reservation quota introduced by the West Bengal government will continue. We had drafted the Bill after conducting a house-to-house survey, and it was passed by the Cabinet and the Assembly, she said. If necessary, we will move a higher court (against the order), the TMC supremo said.

She accused the BJP of conspiring to cancel the OBC quota by using central agencies. Some people have gone to the court, moved a petition to sabotage the interest of OBCs and then this development takes place. How can the saffron party show such audacity? she said.

After its conspiracy in Sandeshkhali failed, the BJP is now plotting new conspiracies, she said. For vote politics, for staying in power for five years, you (BJP) are doing all these things, Ms. Banerjee said. This happened when Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that the opposition INDIA bloc, if voted to power in the Lok Sabha elections, would scrap the quotas of the SC, ST and OBC people, she said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the HC order a tight slap to the Opposition, and alleged INDIA blocs obsession with appeasement.

During an election rally in Dwarka in Delhi on May 22, PM Modi said every time he utters the word Muslim, he is accused of making communal statements and asserted that he is only exposing the opposition by stating facts.

Just today, the Calcutta High Court has given a big slap to this INDI alliance. The court has cancelled all OBC certificates issued since 2010. Why? Because the West Bengal government issued unwarranted OBC certificates to Muslims just because of the vote bank.

What National Commission for Backward Classes Had Said

The NCBC had said last week that West Bengal and Punjab governments have not fully used the under 50% cap for reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (OBC). It had asked both the governments to fill the gap by raising the share of OBCs.

The commission cited that the total reservation for SCs/STs and OBCs for government employment and education was 45% in West Bengal, and 37% and 35% respectively in Punjab.

NCBC recommended that West Bengal increase the quota for OBCs by 5% in government employment and educational institutions. For Punjab, it suggested an increase of 13% and 15% for government employment and educational institutes, respectively.

The commission said in West Bengal, quota for SCs, STs, and OBCs was 22%, 6% and 17% respectively, adding up to 45%. In case of Punjab, quota for SCs and OBCs was 25% and 12% respectively for government employment.
With India almost in the last leg of the Lok Sabha Election, the Election Commission (EC) has opposed the plea seeking uploading of voter turnout data at every polling station on its website, and told the Supreme Court it cannot upload Form 17C because there is no legal mandate to give the information to anyone other than the candidates and their agents.

Last week, the Supreme Court had asked the EC to submit a response to a petition by NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which asked for scanned copies of Form 17C to be uploaded on the EC website after the polls are conducted.

The EC stated the difference between the statutory disclosure of the number of votes recorded in each polling station under Form 17C and the non-statutory disclosure of the turnout on the polling day in the form of a press release and its Voter Turnout app.

What is Form 17C?

The EC classifies voter turnout disclosure in two categories  statutory, where the Form 17C is given to polling agents, and non-statutory, where the data is disclosed through EC app, website and press releases.

Although there is no mandate to provide the Form 17C data to anyone, the voter turnout information is released through the app at two-hour intervals on the polling day.

Under Rules 49S and 56C of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, the presiding officer prepares an account of votes recorded in Part-I of Form 17C and makes it available to every polling agent present at the close of the poll.

The EC says the non-statutory disclosure (through the Voter Turnout App) comes with a disclaimer and is reflective of the data capture taking place through various non-statutory sources. It contemplates that wholesome disclosure of Form 17C is amenable to mischief and vitiation of entire electoral space.

As per Article 329(b) of the Constitution, an election process remains consistent and is not to be interfered with while it is ongoing.

The EC said the information in Part-II Form 17C, of the total votes recorded, is set in stone. Part-II of Form 17C is filled on counting day, with the number of votes counted.

Why EC Does Not Want To Share The Data

The EC said the rules framework had held the field for the last 60 years and any change would require an amendment to the framework itself.

a wholesome disclosure of Form 17C is amenable to mischief and vitiation of (the) entire electoral space. At the moment, the original Form 17C is only available in the Strong Room and a copy only with the polling agents whose signature is bears indiscriminate disclosure, public posting on the website increased the possibility of the images being morphed, including the counting results which then can create widespread public discomfort and mistrust in the entire electoral processes, the EC said.

The EC explained with each Lok Sabha seat having 2,000 to 3,000 booths, it takes a lot of time to bring the sealed EVMs, copies of original Form 17C by each of the Presiding Officer to the Strong Room, where the constituencys Returning Officer is usually located.

The EVMs and original records are placed in the Strong Room and sealed in the presence of the candidates and their representatives.

The EC hit out at the petitioner, saying there are certain elements with vested interests who keep throwing such baseless and false allegations, creating unwarranted atmosphere of suspicion to discredit the Election Commission of India. It is most humbly submitted that there is a consistent malafide campaign/design/efforts to keep on raising suspicion and doubt in every possible manner and by misleading assertions and baseless, the EC said.

Why was the Petition Filed?

It was in 2019 that the ADR had filed a petition, alleging discrepancies in the voter turnout data in the general elections that year. The EC had filed its counter-affidavit on April 15, 2022, to which a rejoinder had been filed.

This time, the ADR alleged inordinate delay in the publication of voter turnout data of the first two phases of polling in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

As per the petition, for phase 1, it took the EC 11 days, and four days each for three subsequent phases, to publish the final numbers  but that too in the form of percentages as opposed to absolute numbers disclosed earlier.

It said the data published by the EC in its April 30 press release showed a sharp increase (by about 5-6%) from the initial percentages announced by it on the polling day.
A 32-year-old was killed on Thursday morning after being struck by a bike allegedly ridden by a 15-year-old in the Mazgaon area of Mumbai.

The victim, identified as Irfan Nawab Ali Shaikh, sustained severe injuries and was rushed to JJ Hospital for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries, police said.

The JJ Marg Police Station apprehended the minor involved in the incident, who has been sent to Dongri Childrens Home. Additionally, the minors father was arrested in connection with the case.

The police further registered a case under section 304(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 3 and 4 of the Motor Vehicle Act.

The incident follows a widespread outcry over the Porsche accident in Pune involving a teenager who was driving the luxurious car while intoxicated. The crash led to the deaths of two young IT professionals in the city.

Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, both 24 years old and hailing from Madhya Pradesh, were returning from a dinner with friends when the speeding Porsche collided with their motorcycle at the Kalyani Nagar junction in the early hours of Sunday. Tragically, both succumbed to their injuries.

The 17-year-old, who was behind the wheel of the speeding Porsche, was brought before the Juvenile Justice Board and was granted bail on the same day.

The decision to grant bail has sparked controversy due to the conditions imposed, which include volunteering with the traffic police and composing an essay on road accidents.

The father of the minor was also taken into custody on Tuesday evening in central Maharashtras Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar town. The teens father, a prominent real estate developer, was apprehended by the crime branch officers investigating the accident case.

(With inputs from agencies)

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
At least 86 people tested positive for drug consumption on Wednesday at a recent rave party held on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The raid has sparked controversy due to reports confirming rampant drug use among the attendees.

The rave party, which was raided by the Anti-Narcotics Division of Karnataka Police earlier this week, was attended by 73 were men while 30 were women, including two Telugu actors.

Notably, 59 out of 73 men and 27 out of 30 young women tested positive for drug consumption, who indulged in substances such as MDMA, cocaine, and hydro ganja, as confirmed by post-party blood tests indicating widespread substance abuse during the gathering.

Telugu actors Hema and Ashi Roy were among the attendees whose blood tests returned positive for drug use after the rave party.

The blood samples of the guests of a rave party busted at a farmhouse in Bengaluru were sent to a laboratory for testing, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda said on Tuesday.

Over 100 people attended the party and of them, five people have been arrested so far.

Various types of drugs were also seized, he said adding several attendees were from outside Karnataka.

Briefing reporters, Dayananda said, On the night of May 19, Bengaluru Polices CCB, based on specific information, raided a farmhouse at Electronic City. Around 100 people were at the event where drugs and narcotic substances were found.

The event conducted between 5 pm (May 18 ) and 6 am (May 19) was said to be a birthday party organised by Hyderabad-based person Vasu.

A pass belonging to an MLA from Andhra Pradesh was found in a car parked at the venue. Additionally, more than 15 luxury cars were also parked on the premises.

The party was estimated to cost Rs 50 lakh a day, sources said. A case has been filed at the Electronic City Police Station.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
A 40-year-old woman software engineer from Bengaluru, Karnataka, has become the latest victim of the FedEx scam, losing Rs 1 crore to cybercriminals in just two days.

The scammers trapped her in a digital arrest by initially informing her of a parcel supposedly containing illegal substances sent in her name. Then, posing as law enforcement officers, they coerced her into making multiple money transfers.

Residing in the NRI Layout near Ramamurthynagar in Bengaluru East, the victim received a call from an unknown number on the morning of May 16. The caller, pretending to be a FedEx logistics executive, informed her that a parcel addressed to Taiwan in her name had been seized at Mumbai airport. The caller claimed that the parcel allegedly contained 200 grams of MDMA, several passports, and clothing, prompting a customs inquiry.

After the conversation, she received another call from someone claiming to be a Customs officer, escalating her anxiety by accusing her of involvement in a narcotics case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

As per The Indian Express report, the scammers went to great lengths to manipulate her, directing her to join a Skype call, isolate herself in a room, and avoid contacting anyone.

During the Skype conversation, they extracted personal information such as her Aadhaar number and simulated an official interrogation, projecting an environment resembling a police station. Despite her protests of innocence, they alleged that her bank accounts were linked to money laundering activities.

Exploiting her vulnerability, they portrayed the situation as a high-profile case, coercing her to transfer funds to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) accounts for purported verification, promising legalising her assets thereafter.

Under pressure, she found herself trapped by their demands, transferring Rs 16 lakh to an account via a WhatsApp call, followed by an additional Rs 75 lakh while under constant surveillance at her bank. Upon returning home, she was compelled to transfer an additional Rs 9.3 lakh.

Expecting her funds to be returned after verification, which proved futile, she realised she had been scammed. The next day, she reported the incident to the police, leading to an investigation after filing a case, the publication reported.

WHAT IS DIGITAL ARREST?

While the term itself is made up, it is associated with the practice of monitoring a person digitally via audio-video calls. Neither the person is allowed to disconnect the call, nor they are informed that theyre being monitored.

In this scenario, cybercriminals manipulate or coerce individuals into believing they are under investigation or facing legal trouble. They often pose as personnel from government agencies such as the police, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Department, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), or Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda issued a stern warning on Thursday to his grandson, Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who faces multiple sexual abuse allegations, urging him to return, surrender to the police, and face the legal process, or face the anger of the Gowda family.

In an official statement shared on social media platform X, the former prime minister wrote, I have issued a warning to @iPrajwalRevanna to return immediately from wherever he is and subject himself to the legal process. He should not test my patience any further.

I have issued a warning to @iPrajwalRevanna to return immediately from wherever he is and subject himself to the legal process. He should not test my patience any further. pic.twitter.com/kCMuNJOvAo H D Deve Gowda (@H_D_Devegowda) May 23, 2024

This is not an appeal I am making. It is a warning that I am issuing. If he does not heed this warning, he will have to face my anger and the anger of all his family members, said the former PM in his letter bearing the letterhead of the National President of the Janata Dal (Secular).

Gowda, making a stern but emotionally charged statement, asserted that while the law will handle the accusations, Prajwals disregard for family concerns would lead to his isolation. If he has any respect left for me, he has to return immediately.

Letter Titled My Warning To Prajwal Revanna

In his two-page letter titled My Warning to Prajwal Revanna, Gowda explained that though he addressed the media regarding the Prajwal case on May 18, it took him some time to recover from the shock and pain inflicted on him, the JDS party workers, his entire family, and friends.

Gowda further stated in his letter that he cannot convince people that he was unaware of Prajwals activities, nor does he have the ability to convince them that he has no desire to shield his grandson.

I cannot convince people that I am unaware of his movements and that I was unaware of his foreign trip. I believe in answering my conscience. I believe in Gowda, and I know the Almighty knows the truth, the senior JDS leader said in his letter.

Additionally, Gowda said he will not defend or venture to clarify the various political conspiracies, exaggerations, provocations, and falsehoods that have been spread with malicious intent, and said he has left it to people to be answerable to God for their comments and statements.

Referring to HD Kumaraswamys recent appeal for Prajwals return, the JD(S) supremo emphasised their stance that the harshest punishment must be accorded to Prajwal if found guilty.

Prajwal, who left the country on a diplomatic passport for Germany on April 2, is facing an SIT investigation into a series of allegations of sexual abuse, videos of which were allegedly distributed on pen drives just before the first phase of polls in Karnataka.

Siddaramaiah Seeks Help From PM Modi

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging intervention to bring Prajwal back for questioning.

Siddaramaiah urged the PM to treat the matter with utmost seriousness and take prompt and necessary actions to cancel the diplomatic passport of Prajwal Revanna, under Section l0(3)(h) of the Passport Act, 1967, or under any other relevant law and secure his return to the country in the interest of public.

Prajwals uncle and former Karnataka CM, Kumaraswamy, urged him to return and face the inquiry by the SIT, stating, Wherever you are, come back and face the inquiry. I request him not to avoid it. If you have not done anything wrong, why are you afraid? You will have to fight it out.

Gowda, in his letter, also stressed the importance for him to earn back the trust of the people of Karnataka.

They have stood by me for over 60 years of my political life, and I am deeply indebted to them. As long as I am alive, I will never let them down, Gowda said in his letter addressed to Prajwal.

Deve Gowdas elder son HD Revanna was arrested by the Special Investigation Team in an alleged case of kidnapping one of the victims allegedly sexually abused by Hassan MP and his son, Prajwal. Revanna was arrested on May 4 and released from prison on May 14.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Three decades after they raped and impregnated a 12-year-old girl, two brothers were sentenced to 10 years in prison in a case that surfaced after the victims son enquired about his father.

Government counsel Rajiv Awasthi on Thursday said, The court of Additional Sessions Judge Lavi Singh Yadav on Wednesday convicted Guddu Hasan and Naki Hasan in the gang-rape case.

The court awarded 10 years imprisonment each to the brothers, he added.

Naki Hasan (55) and Guddu Hasan (52) were arrested in 2022 after a case was lodged at Sadar Bazar police station on March 4, 2021. They were ordered to undergo a DNA test along with the victim and her son, police said.

According to the police report, the victim was living in the Sadar Bazar area of Shahjahanpur with her sister and brother-in-law in 1994.

Naki Hasan, who lived in her locality, entered the house when she was alone and allegedly raped her.

His younger brother Guddu Hasan also raped her. The victim alleged that she was raped by both the accused on multiple occasions.

She had given birth to a boy, who was handed over to a relative and the victim got married. However, her husband left her after he found out about the gang rape.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
The blistering heat across the country, especially Northern India, continued to unabated on Wednesday as the maximum temperature breached the 48 degree-Celsius mark in Rajasthans Barmar, the highest in India so far this season.

Official data showed that at least 24 places in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh recorded maximum temperatures of 45 degree-Celsius or above on Wednesday.

Conditions are likely to worsen as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a rise of three to four degrees in northwest India over the next few days.

On the other hand, a red alert was issued for several parts of Kerala as torrential rain killed at least four people across the state. According to the IMD, a red alert was issued for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Idukki.

Rain Lashes Kerala, IMD Issues Alert

At least four people lost their lives as torrential rain lashed several parts of Kerala, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday sounding a red alert in five districts that were likely to receive heavy rainfall.

According to the weather department, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam were earlier placed under an orange alert, the IMD later upgraded the warning, predicting extremely heavy rainfall in isolated places there.

Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad continue to be on orange alert, while Kannur and Kasaragod remain on yellow alert, the IMD said.

Meanwhile, parts of the Cochin city corporation in the Ernakulam district were inundated after heavy rainfall on Wednesday evening. The KSDMA has warned the fishermen against venturing into the sea until further warning.

Flights Affected In Kerala Due To Bad Weather

The arrival and departure of several Kerala-bound flights were affected due to bad weather at Calicut International Airport.

Five Air India Express arrival flights from Doha, Muscat, Dubai, Dammam, and Riyadh have been affected and are being diverted.

Air India Express flight to Doha has been cancelled while flights going to Jeddah, Kuwait, and Dubai were delayed due to heavy rain.

Odisha Likely To Recieve Rainfall This Weekend

A low-pressure area has formed in the Bay of Bengal and under its influence northern Odisha districts are likely to receive rainfall, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday.

The low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal off north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast is very likely to move north-eastwards and will turn into a depression by May 24 morning, the IMD said.

The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall (7 cm to 11 cm) likely in isolated places of Balasore district from May 24 and moderate rainfall in other northern Odisha districts.

The weather body also cautioned fishermen not to venture into the sea on May 23 and 24 as sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough.

Delhi Weather Today

The heatwaves-like condition continued in Delhi and its adjoining states during the day followed by heavy gusty winds in the night on Wednesday. The maximum temperature in many parts touched 45 degrees or above.

Water levels in the Delhi stretch of the Yamuna River dropped amid the sweltering heat, affecting water supply with the AAP government alleging that disruption of water supply by Haryana ahead of the polling day citing political motives.

The national capital also saw power demand reaching a record 8,000 megawatts, with air conditioners, coolers, and refrigerators in homes and offices running at full throttle.

Massive Forest Fire in Jammus Poonch

A massive forest fire was reported in the Tanda area of Sundarbani on Jammu Poonch national highway due to the ongoing heatwave conditions followed by the dry spell in the region. The fire has been on for the last three days and has already damaged a large part of the forest.

The fire was reportedly spreading to the nearby inhabited area putting the life and property of the local population at risk.

MET department predicting that the temperature in Jammu by this weekend could soar up to 44 degree-Celsius.

Rajasthan Hottest In India So Far This Season

The mercury surged to over 48 degree-Celsius in Rajasthans Barmer, the highest temperature recorded in the country this year so far.

Barmer recorded a maximum temperature of 48 degree-Celsius, the highest in the country this season so far while Churu logged a high of 47.4 degrees, Phalodi 47.8 degrees, and Jaisalmer 47.2 degrees.

The Met department issued a red warning for Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and west Uttar Pradesh, emphasising a very high likelihood of heat illness and heatstroke in all ages.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Three well-known hotels in Bengaluru reportedly received emails threatening a bomb blast. Authorities have sounded a high alert in the city.

The police said that bomb disposal and detection teams were deployed at the spot after getting information about the emails.

A report in IANS quoted police sources as saying that the email claimed that the bomb would explode in the wee hours of Wednesday around 2 am. The threatening email was discovered on Thursday morning when the hotel staff opened the official email account.

Recently, bomb threats were made to prestigious schools in Bengaluru, raising concerns among parents and the authorities.

Following the Rameshwaram cafe bomb blast and the arrest of suspected bombers who revealed that they wanted to target software companies and techies in Bengaluru, the authorities have become increasingly vigilant.

This also comes day after the Ministry of Home Affairs office in Delhis North Block received an email threat about a bomb. The threat was subsequently declared a hoax after nothing objectionable was found.

In the past few weeks, bomb threat emails have been received by many establishments in the national capital, including schools and hospitals.

Delhis Chacha Nehru Hospital received a bomb threat on April 30 while more than 150 schools got threats from a Russia-based mailing service company on May 1.

Twenty hospitals, the IGI Airport and the Northern Railways CPRO office in Delhi received bomb threats through emails from a Cyprus-based mailing service company on May 12.

Seven Delhi hospitals and the Tihar Jail received bomb threats from the same Cyprus-based mailing service company on May 14.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Indian security agencies may adopt counter-radicalisation methods similar to those followed by Indonesia and Malaysia in order to further enhance the countrys existing counter radicalisation model. A detailed study of such techniques followed in the two countries is being carried out.

CNN-News18 has learnt that at a recent high-level security meet, it was stressed upon that a team be formed to study practices that Indonesia and Malaysia use to tackle counter radicalisation. The meeting was attended by the heads of all major security establishments in the country. The directions, that came from the top authorities, are being looked at by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), sources said.

According to the data from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) at the University of Maryland, which catalogues terrorist attacks, there was a steep rise in cases of terror attacks reported from southeast Asia starting 2011, but the numbers dramatically fell 2016 onwards.

In 2013, the region reported terror related attacks as high as 1,001. These were categorised into 19 groups, of which at least 13 were connected to radical Islam, the GTD data suggests. This significant fall in the number of terror incidents reported from southeast Asia, experts believe, could be a reason behind the Indian agencies looking at counter-radicalisation practices followed by countries in this region.

A senior officer CNN-News18 spoke to, said Indonesia and Malaysia are two countries that are believed to have effectively dealt with terrorism and radicalisation in this region. If we talk about Indonesia, interestingly, most effective features of their de-radicalisation programs are not based on religious re-education. Studies reflect that while dealing with radical elements, the country focuses at extending financial assistance to detainees during their detention period. Efforts are also made to develop their vocational skills in order to allow their effective integration back into the mainstream, he said, adding that in similar efforts, many such detainees were also extended medical help as well as financial aids in many instances.

In the context of Malaysia, on the other hand, their de-radicalisation initiatives significantly include religious rehabilitation, the officer added, requesting anonymity. The process usually includes counselling, to first erase radical or misunderstood ideologies and then instil corrective thinking with comprehensive education programs related to Islamic or other religious studies, the officer said.

Explaining the situation of radicalisation in India, YC Modi, former Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), premier anti-terror organisation in India, stated that absence of any effective system of clarifying the religion-centric doubts of Muslim youths was one of the main reasons of them getting radicalised as they try to address these queries online.

Needless to say, Internet is full of hard-line and irrational thoughts and inspires the unsuspecting young minds towards radical beliefs. Modern and balanced Muslim NGOs need to come forward for the same, he said.

The former NIA chief added that this had surfaced in several investigations conducted by the NIA during his tenure and interactions with the arrested terrorists by the anti-radicalisation cell.

However, the number of youth who joined terror groups in India, despite repeated attempts by outfits like the ISIS, is much less than in countries with majority Muslim population or certain western countries. I believe, since most of our development and welfare schemes are religion neutral, we also need effective propagation that there was no religious discrimination by government as perceived by some Muslims groups, Modi said.

Putting things in perspective, Rajat Mitra, a clinical psychologist who has worked with Islamic militants and radicalised youths, said, in his opinion, the study of counter-radicalisation practices remains consistent across different countries, whether its Afghanistan, Malaysia, or Indonesia. Indias focus on this region is likely due to its current volatility. For instance, Malaysia shares a volatile border with Thailand, where an Islamic movement is active. Moreover, the presence of a US base in the region signals a rise in militancy, as the U.S. aims to maintain control over the area, he said.

Mitra, who has worked with Islamists in the Southeast Asia region, added, As Indias influence grows, it is crucial to monitor secessionist movements and similar activities in this region. These movements can quickly connect with counterparts in India or its neighbouring countries, affecting the flow of arms and money.

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A junior doctor at a private medical college and hospital in Uttarakhand died by suicide in his hostel room just days after his thesis was rejected by a professor.

Divesh Garg, a 26-year-old first-year paediatric student at the Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences in Dehradun, was found lifeless on May 17, sparking allegations of harassment and toxic work conditions.

Family members of the deceased allege that continuous harassment by his professors led him to take his own life.

His father, Ramesh Garg, recounted the distressing ordeal his son faced. He accused the professors and the college management of subjecting Divesh to unbearable pressure, including long working hours even when he was unwell and demands for bribes to pass his thesis.

My son joined college in October 2023. A few days later, Utkarsh Sharma, Ashish Sethi, Bindu Agrawal and the management committee started harassing him. They made him work 36-hour shifts even with a 104-degree fever. My son told me, Utkarsh Sharma rejected my thesis twice and demanded 500,000 rupees for passing. He insulted me in front of patients, and Bindu Agrawal mentally tortured me, Ramesh Garg told news publication India Today.

His father revealed that his son had called him at 10 am on the morning of May 17, expressing distress. Take me away, or Ill commit suicide, his son said.

We assured him that we would come to get him the next day and urged him not to take any wrong step, Ramesh disclosed.

Following Rameshs complaint, accusing Sharma, Sethi, Agrawal, and the college management committee of driving his son to suicide, the police have registered an FIR.

The college management has called for an impartial investigation into the matter and has formed an interim inquiry committee to look into the case.

The incident has sparked protests among PG doctors at the hospital premises, demanding justice for their colleague and highlighting the toxic work environment they face.

While speaking to the publication, a student from the Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences revealed how the toxicity that took Diveshs life involved working 20 hours a day.

He adds, Theres no time to eat. All PG students are suffering from this.

A classmate of the victim said, Divesh was very cheerful. He even worked with a 103-degree fever. The work culture was making him despondent. The last time I met him, he was not happy; he was crying and distressed.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Asha Devi, mother of 2012 Delhi gang rape victim Nirbhaya, on Wednesday, opened up about the ongoing Swati Maliwal vs AAP controversy and extended support to the former Delhi Women Commission chief over the assault allegations.

In a video, shared by ex-DCW chief on her X handle, Asha Devi demanded stringent action against the culprits who abused and attacked Swati Maliwal inside CM Kejriwals residence.

While speaking to news agency IANS, Asha Devi spoke about Maliwals fight against atrocities on women and lamented that the upright woman, who stood up for the rights of other women, was subjected to such abominable treatment by those in power.

If a Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal is not safe, then what could one expect for the safety of common women, Asha Devi, who fights against the crime against women, said.

She further added that she knew Swati Maliwal personally as the latter stood with her in the fight for justice for her deceased daughter Nirbhayas case and also helped many women in distress.

On Arvind Kejriwals delayed and laid-back approach to a serious allegation, Nirbhayas mother said, AAP came to power in Delhi, tapping on the anger and outrage of people in the Nirbhaya case. Arvind Kejriwal claimed himself to be the son of Delhi, brother of Delhi. It is time for him to walk the talk and take exemplary action.

Asha Devi also said that the Chief Minister should focus on correcting the rules of the jail manual, as cases remain stuck in courts for many years, and its the criminals who benefit majorly from it.

She also mentioned that nothing much has changed despite a decade of the Nirbhaya episode, and common people still have to run from pillar to post to get justice.

Shell Be Called A BJP Agent: Maliwal On Asha Devis Show of Support

Sharing a video of Asha Devis remarks on her case, Swati Maliwal, the Rajya Sabha MP from AAP said her words of support made her emotional adding that some leaders will now call her a BJP agent.

Nirbhayas mother has fought a long battle for justice in the country. She had supported me even when I was on a hunger strike to get child rapists punished. Today when he made this video in my support, my heart became very emotional. But it is not a big deal, some leaders will call them BJP agents for supporting me, she wrote on X.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Ten people have lost their lives and over 60 others injured after a major fire erupted, following a boiler explosion at a chemical factory in Dombivli, Thane district, Maharashtra, on Thursday. The death toll was 7 till Thursday night but it rose after authorities recovered 3 more bodies on Friday.

The incident was reported at the chemical factory in Phase 2 of the Dombivli MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) complex, officials said.

As per initial reports, four boilers of Amber Chemical Company exploded, triggering a massive blaze. Due to the fire, drums containing chemicals started bursting, shattering window panes of nearby houses

Mumbai: A massive fire explosion occurred in a boiler at a company in MIDC Phase 2, Dombivli, triggering a fierce fire! The fire brigade and rescue team rushed to the scene pic.twitter.com/ko88CJxKta

The explosion was so loud that it could be heard from a kilometre away, according to an eyewitness. The blast caused cracks in the glass windows of a nearby building and damaged many houses in the vicinity, he added.

The injured workers have been transported to a local hospital, a civic official reported.

Yasin Tadvi, head of the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane civic body, stated that the explosion occurred in the chemical factory around 1:40 PM.

The blaze, triggered by the blast, spread to three neighboring factories, sending thick plumes of smoke and flames visible from a considerable distance, he said.

A brigade call was issued, and eight fire engines were dispatched to the scene, he added.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the incident as tragic and confirmed that eight people trapped on the premises have been rescued.

Arrangements have been made to treat the injured and more ambulances have been kept ready. I have discussed with the Thane collector and they are also reaching the spot Teams of NDRF, TDRF, and fire brigade have been called, he wrote on X.

Teams from the Thane civic bodys Regional Disaster Management Cell and 13 personnel from the Thane Disaster Response Force have also arrived at the location, with efforts ongoing to control the blaze.

Condoling the incident, Ravindra Chavan, Maharashtras Minister of Public Works (Excluding Public Undertakings), urged people in the surrounding areas to not panic.

  -2          .         ,   !       .       .   Ravindra Chavan (Modi Ka Parivar) (@RaviDadaChavan) May 23, 2024

He said the administration has been asked to deal with the firefighting operations. The Minister also said that the matter will be investigated thoroughly and stick action will be taken against those found guilty.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A number of questions have emerged on whether there were attempts to shield the accused in the Pune Porsche accident case, especially when it comes to the presence of a local MLA at the police station on the fateful night and a much-delayed blood alcohol test.

The case sparked national outrage after the 17-year-old, who is accused of running over two software engineers, was granted bail only hours later on relatively easy terms. Allegations of leniency by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) is another aspect in the case, even as the victims parents termed their childrens deaths murder and called for strict action against the juvenile accused and his parents.

The victims, Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwani Koshta, were killed after the teenager crashed his luxury car into their motorcycle around 2.30 am on May 19. After an outcry over quick bail, however, the accused was remanded to an observation home till June 5 following another order of the JJB. His father, prominent real estate developer Vishal Agarwal, is also in custody since May 21.

Asked police to take action as per law

What transpired immediately after the incident raises questions on how the police handled the case in the crucial hours. According to reports, local MLA Sunil Tingre received a call from Agarwal less than an hour after the incident and he arrived at the Yerawada police station, where the teen was taken.

He, however, insisted this was not to pressure the police. In fact, he clarified his stand through a statement the day after the incident, giving details of why he was present.

Even though I have nothing to do with this unfortunate accident, wrong and defamatory information has been spread about me on social media since yesterday. I ignored this at the beginning, but when I realised that the opposition is trying to take advantage of it, I felt it necessary to clarify my position regarding yesterdays incident, he said on May 20, while condoling the deaths and hoping for strict action against those responsible.

In his statement, Tingre said his workers called him at 3 am to inform him about the accident in his constituency. At 3.20 am, he received a call from his acquaintance Vishal Agarwal, who told him that his son had met with an accident and was being beaten up by a mob.

He rushed to the accident site and then went to the Yerawada police station and, on inquiry, found out that two people had been killed in the accident. He said even Agarwal found out about the deaths only after he met him and told him about the severity of the case.

Tingre further said the inspector at the police station told him the entire sequence of events, and he left after giving them instructions that action should be taken as per the law. Even the police officials will admit that I did not put any pressure on them; that is why a case was registered at 6 am, he said.

Tingre further said certain elements were trying to defame him on social media, and this could negatively impact his political image. He said he is against nightlife culture and has often raised his concerns.

I have already given a letter to the police commissioner to take action against illegal businesses such as pubs, bars and terrace hotels operating late into night in the upscale areas of Viman Nagar, Kalyani Nagar, Kharadi and illegal businesses like sale of liquor, matka business, hookah parlours, card clubs, sale of drugs and massage parlours, he said.

The NCP (Ajit Pawar) MLA said his political opponents were trying to defame him and there is no question of him influencing the case in any way. He also denied allegations that he had offered food and water to the boy and said he had not even met him.

While Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has denied that there is any pressure on the police, a blood alcohol test conducted eight hours after the incident poses a different set of problems. Experts said in drink-driving cases, it is important to conduct a blood alcohol test within an hour and a delayed test can negatively impact the case.

Important to conduct blood alcohol test within an hour

While the police have alleged that the accused was driving under the influence of alcohol at the speed of 250 kmph when the crash took place, they have faced much criticism for failure to provide a watertight case to the JJB, which led to an easy bail for the juvenile accused with conditions like writing an essay and working with traffic police for 15 days. The crash took place at 2.30 am, but the boys blood alcohol test was conducted at 11 am, which is eight hours later.

Shirish Gupte, a Mumbai-based senior advocate who has handled high-profile cases, told News18 that blood sample has to be taken within an hours time, otherwise the percentage of alcohol in blood gets diluted.

It is important to detect alcohol immediately after arrest. Blood test has to be taken within an hours time. It does affect the case negatively because the percentage of alcohol in the blood gets diluted. You may not get the correct picture of what must have happened at the time of the accident. Eight hours is a very long period. Metabolism will have its impact. I have never heard of a case where they have delayed for eight hours, he said.

Calling the investigation incorrect, Gupte said two young people have died because of no fault of theirs. If he must have taken a lot of water in the intervening period, it must have definitely affected the level of alcohol in the blood. It is a very incorrect investigation, he added.

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More than a dozen colleges including Delhi Universitys Lady Sri Ram College, Hansraj College and Ramjas College received bomb threats via e-mails on Thursday, officials said. Calls were received at 4.38 pm regarding bomb threats at Lady Shri Ram College and Sri Venkateswara College. Fire tenders, Delhi police at the spot, Delhi Fire Service said in a statement.

The local police, a bomb disposal squad, and a bomb detection team reached the LSR College along with a dog squad and conducted searches but nothing suspicious was found, the official added.

This comes a day after a bomb threat e-mail was received by the Union Home Ministrys office at Delhis North Block on Wednesday.

A police officer said that along with LSR over a dozen other colleges in Delhi received the threat e-mail.

These colleges include  Hansraj College, Gargi College, Ramjas College, Zakir Husain College, Indraprastha College For Women, Lady Irwin College, Kirori Mal College, Bhaskaracharya College, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, Sri Venkateswara College, and PGDAV College.

Bomb threats were also reported from Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal-3, Burari Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, Janakpuri Super Speciality Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Dabris Dada Dev Hospital.

On May 1, over 150 schools in the Delhi-NCR received bomb threats, which later turned out to be a hoax. After conducting a thorough check of all schools as per protocol, Delhi Police had said nothing objectionable was found. It appears that these calls seem to be a hoax. We request the public not to panic and maintain peace, police had said.

The schools that received the bomb threat E-Mail included  Sanskriti School of Chanakyapuri police station area, Mother Mary School in Mayur Vihar of East Delhi, DPS School of Dwarka district, DAV School, Amity School, Pushp Vihar and Saket and Sanskriti School of New Delhi district among others.

On May 21, Delhi Police officials had said that the origin of the bomb threat emails received by around 150 schools in Delhi-NCR were traced to Hungarys capital Budapest.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
A civil judge hailing from Uttar Pradeshs Bareilly has allegedly claimed that his pet dog was stolen from his house. The family has accused their neighbour, Dumpy Ahmed of stealing their dog.

A case was registered by the police against more than two dozen individuals under the Animal Cruelty Act, following a complaint lodged by the judges family.

The judges family stays at Suncity colony in Bareilly, however the judge is currently posted in Hardoi.

According to the FIR, the judges family and Ahmeds family had got into an argument a few days ago.

As per the claims made by the judges family, Ahmeds son, Qadir Khan, who also resides in the same colony had allegedly threatened to kill them.

On the night of May 16, Ahmeds wife allegedly went to the judges residence and demanded to have a conversation with them. According to an India Today report, the woman was angry with the family as their dog had allegedly attacked her along with her daughter.

She reportedly shouted at the family saying, Dont you know, my daughter and I were attacked?, A long argument allegedly ensued over the matter.

After knowing about the incident, the judge immediately called the Bareilly Police from Lucknow and briefed them about the entire incident over the phone. He also filed a complaint on the matter.

As per the area officer, Anita Chauhans instructions to take legal action, the police began their search for the judges dog.

The judges family, however refused to make any comment in front of the media, about the whole incident.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
All liquor stores and other licensed locations in Delhi, Faridabad, and Gurgaon will be closed from 6 PM on May 23 to 6 PM on May 25 in the wake of the Phase 6 Lok Sabha Elections 2024. On June 4, the result day of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, there will also be no alcohol sales in these cities. This judgement is intended to preserve public order and provide a fair and peaceful electoral process, as directed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

A statement from the excise department states that a number of licensed establishments in Delhi, including liquor outlets, will close almost 48 hours before the polls conclusion. For this duration, all bars and wine shops in the impacted constituencies and surrounding constituencies will be closed, as per the directive of the ECI.

Licensees will not be compensated for any changes made to the mentioned outline. Every licensee is required to display this order in a prominent location on their approved property. According to the Delhi Excise Departments directive, a licensees place of operation must remain closed on dry days.

On May 25, elections will also be held in Gurgaon, Haryana. A separate set of directives issued by the Gurgaon district administration mandated that all alcoholic beverage establishments in the city stay closed for 48 hours before the Lok Sabha election.

On June 4, which is also the day of the vote count, there will be another dry day. This will continue until the results of the election are declared.

The Lok Sabha Elections 2024s sixth phase is set for May 25. In this stage, 58 seats in six states and two Union territories will be polled. Notably, all 10 Haryana seats as well as all seven Delhi seats will cast votes during this phase.

Voting for the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 will begin at 7 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. On June 4, the results of the Lok Sabha Elections will be announced after the vote counting. There are 889 candidates competing in this round.

Eight seats in Bihar, ten in Haryana, one in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Jharkhand, seven in Delhi, six in Odisha, fourteen in Uttar Pradesh, and eight in West Bengal will be up for vote.

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Buddha Purnima is a major Buddhist festival that commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who later became Gautam Buddha and founded Buddhism. In India, Buddha Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of Vaisakha month in the Hindu calendar. This year, Buddha Purnima falls on May 23, 2024. However, countries like China, Japan, Bhutan, and Thailand go by their own lunar-solar calendars, so their date of Buddha Purnima varies.

ALSO READ: Happy Buddha Purnima 2024: Vesak Day Wishes, Images, Messages and WhatsApp Status to Share

In India, Buddha Purnima is celebrated by making visits to Buddhist viharas and attending special prayers. Devotees also prepare kheer, to recall the lore of Sujata, a farmers wife who had fed Gautama Buddha a bowl of kheer and ended his six years of asceticism. Buddha Purnima is majorly celebrated in Maharashtra, Sikkim, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihars Bodh Gaya, Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh, parts of North Bengal such as Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and Kurseong.

10 Quotes Of Lord Buddha
It is known to everyone that exercising regularly is important for overall well-being. But equally important is to pick the right time to reap the benefits of sweating it out. A majority opt for exercising during the early hours to increase energy throughout the day, while others, especially late risers, hit the gym late in the evening because of their hectic work schedules. But a long-standing question that echoes through the minds of fitness freaks is- Is exercising before bedtime ideal?

Speaking in a similar vein, Dr Meenakshi Jain, director, of internal medicine, at Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi, said, Exercising at night can impact our sleep schedule, as it raises core body temperature and stimulates the release of adrenaline and endorphins, which can make it harder to fall asleep immediately after a workout, reported India Today.

Elaborating further, she stated that our circadian rhythm, which controls our sleep-wake cycles, works in reverse. Theres a natural drop in temperature during the night hours as part of this rhythm, telling our bodies that it is time to sleep.

Dr. Meenakshi Jain also suggests avoiding heavy meals right before exercising, as they can cause discomfort during physical activity.

Pros Of Exercising Before Bed

Body temperature regulation

Exercise raises body temperature, and thereafter, the body naturally cools down. This cooling effect can help you fall asleep since it mirrors the bodys natural temperature dip that occurs during the early stages of sleep.

Reduce stress and anxiety

Workouts release endorphins, which can lighten stress and anxiety.

Improved sleep cycle

As per some studies, late-night exercise may improve sleep architecture, leading to a more balanced sleep structure.

Cons Of Exercising Before Bed

Elevated heart rate

Intense exercise increases heart rate and adrenaline levels, making it difficult for some people to relax and fall asleep right after working out.

Sleep disruption

An excessive workout close to bedtime might disturb the transition into the deeper stages of sleep, thereby lowering overall sleep quality.

However, the impact of late-night exercise on sleep varies from person to person. Some may find it energising, while others may experience overstimulation.

So, are you still wondering about the best time to hit the gym? Dr Jain explained that it varies based on individual schedules, preferences, and physiological factors. According to some research, late afternoon to early evening may be optimal for performance as muscle function and body temperature are at their peak during this time. However, morning workouts have their benefits such as boosting energy levels and metabolism throughout the day.

In short, working out before hitting bed is acceptable, but fitness enthusiasts must be cautious.
Aditi Rao Hydaris red carpet moment at the 77th Cannes Film Festival felt like a love letter to classic couture. The stunning Heeramandi actor graced the iconic red stairs in a custom strapless black and white gown designed by ace couturier Gaurav Gupta.

Aditi, who is part of the Loreal Paris family, was accompanied by actors Aja Naomi King and Katherine Langford on the L Amour Ouf (Beating Hearts) red carpet at the film festival.

The gown, which features a black, velvet dress enhanced with voluminous side drapes in ivory, is from Gaurav Guptas Spring 2024 collection, Aarohanam which he showcased recently at Paris Couture Week. The gown complements Aditis svelte figure and the white drapes add volume and a hint of drama to her overall look. The silhouette also beautifully captures the metamorphosis from darkness to light.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by EatTweetBlog (@eattweetblog)

Aditi Rao Hydari classic look was styled by Sanam Ratansi. Accentuating her gorgeous face was the minimal makeup done by Elton Fernandez. Her hair was styled by Elton in a messy, wavy updo, complementing the flawless makeup. Aditi looked regal on the red carpet. Aditi adorned the black and white couture gown with statement pearl earrings with gold detailing and paired it with matching rings.

Known for his sculpted designs, this Gaurav Gupta gown looks different from any angle it is shot in. While the original silhouette had the side opulent drapes in a fiery red shade, Aditis opted to keep it simple and chic, just like her charming personality. Giving the illusion of a cloud, the marshmallowy puffy drapes added a hint of mystery to Aditis angelic look.

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In an enchanting moment on the red carpet, Aditi, the epitome of grace and glamour, looked at ease as she posed for the shutterbugs. While this couture gown was her second look after her arrival in Cannes, we cant wait to see what more she has up her sleeve this year.

The red carpet of L Amour Ouf (Beating Hearts) was attended by an array of celebrities, including Bella Hadid, Greta Gerwig, Lily Gladstone, to name a few. The ongoing 77th Cannes Film Festival will culminate on May 25, 2024.
Professional bridal makeup artists are in high demand these days as weddings have become extravagant celebrations. Every day, the makeup industry is evolving and growing. Every bride-to-be envisions her wedding day as a fantasy in the making, with herself as the dazzling protagonist. Makeup artists play an important role in this romantic trip to the aisle, helping women become the greatest versions of themselves on their big day. While these makeup artists perform their magic, numerous unknown secrets remain hidden from the public eye.

You see a makeup artists profile, which is filled with photographs and videos of stunning brides, who have been styled by them. According to reports, these artists Instagram game is very different from their cosmetic skills in person.

Reportedly, makeup artists are misleading potential customers by sharing heavily manipulated photographs on social media, which also creates unattainable standards of beauty. Many professionals are unwilling to succumb to this tendency to build an appealing Instagram feed.

As per industry insiders, professionals are urging their students to use such apps as makeup artists. Another aspect driving this tendency is the desire to go viral and obtain more work.

Instagram has proven to be an excellent medium for these professionals, serving as both a resume and a portfolio. The decision to use facial-enhancement apps is frequently made to make their feeds more visually appealing, to woo people with mesmerising cosmetic looks, and to make their work go viral. Makeup professionals are not the only ones promoting the fad. Many women use these applications to change their facial characteristics before allowing their wedding vendors to share their photos on social media.

Although it is difficult to distinguish between what is right and wrong in this situation, one should ideally be knowledgeable enough to make an informed choice. Most aspiring brides are unaware of these practices, according to makeup professionals.

Until a few years ago, it was recommended that you not only fall for images (which can be heavily manipulated) but also pay attention to the videos provided on a makeup artists page. There are some things you can see and do.

Read Google ratings and reviews from wedding planning portals first.

In addition to their work, its important to make sure the makeup artist is qualified to make sure your big day goes smoothly.

Dont believe captions in which make-up artists use the no filter or no editing tags.

What is important is being aware so that you are not misled. After all, it is your big day.
In 2019, Hina Khan set a precedent for Indian television actors when she made her debut at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival where she unveiled the poster of her film, Lines. In 2022, she returned to the French Riviera as she launched the poster of her Indo-English film, Country of Blind. Both times, she made heads turn with her sartorial choices on the red carpet. As the 77th edition of the film festival is coming to a close, News18 Showsha exclusively catches up with Hina, who shares that she missed being a part of it this year.

How much I missed being at Cannes this year! Both the times I went with my films. So, when Ive a film, Ill go again. I really enjoy dressing up and I know a lot of people in Cannes. I know that Ive the opportunity to wear such amazing gowns. Its just that Im not there! I miss that. I know so many photographers, make-up artists, hair stylists and designers. I know that if I went there, everything would just click, she tells us.

For the unversed, Hinas debut appearance at the film gala was much talked about as a senior film journalists Cannes has suddenly become Chandivali studios kya comment stirred a controversy, drawing flak from many including her peers in the television industry. Hina later also spoke about how it hurt her.

Much like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aditi Rao Hydari and Sobhita Dhulipala who represented brands this year at the Cannes Film Festival, Hina doesnt mind going there again with a brand. On this international carpet, people showcase high fashion and glam but at the same time, the festival is known for films. If I get an opportunity again, I would love to go. I dont want to go just for the heck of it. Maybe Ill go again in a couple of years. I might also go there for a brand, she states.

So, what has been her favourite look this year? I couldnt keep a tab on this edition but I did see some looks and they were all nice. But I really liked Nancy (Tyagi). She did so well and Im so proud of her, she remarks. Nancy is a self-taught designer and stylist, who has over 1.7 million Instagram followers (at the time of writing). She won hearts with her elaborate self-crafted red carpet outfits, especially the 20 kg heavy pink gown that was stitched by her.

Lauding her for creating and promoting affordable fashion, the Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actor says, Weve some big designers and labels in the fashion industry here. But how many people can actually afford their outfits? Maybe only ten percent of our country can. Nancy really helps them by creating similar pieces. She stitches each piece and puts in a lot of effort. And people can buy those outfits at half the price. Shes catering to many, who cannot afford those expensive pieces of clothing.
A rave party was busted at a farmhouse in Bengaluru on May 19, where various types of drugs were seized and blood samples of guests were collected and sent to a laboratory for testing. As per reports, more than 100 people including 25 young women, who are DJs, models and tech enthusiasts attended the party, out of which five have already been arrested. Bengaluru Polices Central Crime Branch raided the farmhouse at Electronic City and found drugs and narcotic substances. Among them were Telugu actresses Ashi Roy and Hema, who were detained by the police on Wednesday for their attendance at the party

As per reports, about 86 individuals were found to have consumed drugs who may have indulged in substances like MDMA, cocaine and hydro ganja. 59 out of the 73 men and 27 out of the 30 women tested positive for consumption of drugs at the rave party which was advertised as Sunset to SunRise Victory.

Now, amid this, Ashi Roy has released a video on YouTube to explain her presence at the party. She claimed that she was unaware of the nature of the party. She also alleged that while she was present at the event, she had no idea about what was actually going on inside. She claimed to be innocent and said that it was a birthday party. She asked her fans and others to extend their support to her and believe her. She also added that she has no information about Hemas presence at the rave party.

Reportedly, the farmhouse was allegedly owned by Gopala Reddy, the owner of Con Card and the birthday party was organised by a Hyderabad-based man, Vasu. The police have nabbed 5 individuals including the primary organiser of the party. Also, 3 others have been apprehended on the suspicion of drug peddling. As per reports, 45 grams of illicit substances like MDMA, cocaine and others were seized from the farmhouse. The party commenced at 5 PM and extended until 6 AM.

Ashi Roy has worked in films like Lockdown and Mystery of Sarika and series like Raja Rani Ghulam.
Marathi actress Akshaya Naik has enjoyed acting stints in the projects Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke before making her name count with serial Sundara Manamadhe Bharli. Besides her impeccable acting skills, Akshaya has also left the audience enthralled with her fashion sense. She recently shared her photo wearing a red embroidered bridal lehenga on Instagram.

The Sundara Manamadhe Bharli actress accessorised her look with heavy jewellery including a neckpiece, necklaces, Maang Tikka, rings and a bridal chudha. She attached the song Din Shagna Da by Jasleen Royal to the picture. The 28-year-old actress captioned the photo, Best part about my job as an actor? I get to experience scenarios that have never happened in real life or see no possibility in the near future.

Some of Akshayas fans thought that the actress was going to marry but then were left in splits after reading the caption. Others appreciated Sundara Manamadhe Bharlis actress look and showered the comment section with heart emoticons. So cute Barbi doll princess, read one of the comments.

2023 was one of the best years for Akshaya on the professional front as she won the Inspiring Female Character award by Colors Marathi. The Marathi actress had expressed her happiness by sharing a post on Instagram. She started the post by writing, Be the main character of your own life. YOUR REAL LIFE. Akshaya also wrote that she had been conscious of her weight ever since she wanted to be an actress. The 28-year-old actress felt that she would be shown on the silver screen just as a side character. According to her, overweight actors have been shown in the daily soaps as people who are ridiculed for their size.

Akshaya felt happy that she could end these preconceived notions with her work in Sundara Manamadhe Bharali. She plays the lead role of a happy-go-lucky girl named Latika in this serial who faces a lot of rejection due to her weight. But her life changed after meeting Abhimanyu (Sameer Paranjape), a fitness enthusiast. Sameer was replaced by actor Kunal Dhumal in the show.

Apart from Sundara Manamadhe Bharali, Akshaya has also played an important role in the short film Fit India, directed by Rajeev Barnwal.
Ananya Panday often shares fun moments and snippets on her Instagram handle, for which she enjoys a massive fan following. The actress recently dropped glimpses from one of her photoshoots. However, while writing the caption, the actress revealed that her team did a better job with the posing.

Dressed in a bright red bodycon gown, Ananya was a complete bundle of hotness as she clicked her mirror selfie. Sharing the BTS video, she wrote, I think he did it better than me .

Have a look at the post:

Ananya Panday seems to be moving on from her alleged breakup with actor Aditya Roy Kapur. From spending time with friends to bringing a new pet home, the actress is taking her own sweet time to relax and pamper herself. Reportedly, the couple, after being together for around two years, parted ways a month ago. With that said, being in a relaxed mood, Ananya recently spent her time watching Formula 1 and the IPL simultaneously.

Taking to her Instagram handle, the actress shared a video showing her latest obsession. While Formula 1 played on television, Ananya also had live streaming of the IPL on her laptop.

Back in 2022, rumours started making the rounds about Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapur being in a relationship, which gained momentum over time. They were frequently spotted attending common parties and also going on vacations.

While fans were pretty much convinced about the lovebirds budding romance, many were left shocked after media reports confirmed their breakup. A close friend of the two actors spoke to the Bombay Times and said, 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.

However, neither of them has confirmed or denied their relationship.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Ananya Panday was last seen in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan. She has films like Call Me Bae and Shankara in the pipeline. She is also said to play a role in Vikramaditya Motwanes Control.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was hospitalized at KD Hospital in Ahmedabad on Wednesday due to a heat stroke, as confirmed by the police. SRK was in Ahmedabad for his IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Qualifier 1 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). After a health update by Shah Rukh Khans manager Pooja Dadlani earlier in the day, the actor reportedly was discharged this evening and has flown back to Mumbai.

In a video that was shared by news agency IANS on their X handle, Shah Rukh Khans car can be seen arriving at the Ahmedabad airport. Additionally, Ahmedabad Rural SP had also confirmed with ANI that the Dunki actor was discharged and in fact, had left for Mumbai on a chartered plane. Another video that was shared by Viral Bhayani captured the superstar hiding behind an umbrella after coming out of the Mumbai airport.

Take a look:

Watch: Shah Rukh Khan left Ahmedabad Airport for Mumbai after being discharged from KD Hospital. pic.twitter.com/VsbTSbrLYn IANS (@ians_india) May 23, 2024

Since SRKs fans had been waiting for an update around his health, the superstars manager Pooja Dadlani assured them earlier in the day, that the Dunki actor is doing fine.Taking to her X handle, Pooja Dadlani addressed everyone, To all of Mr Khans fans and well wishers  he is doing well. Thank you for your love, prayers and concern .

For the unversed, SRKs wife and interior designer Gauri Khan was clicked arriving at KD hospital, shortly after the news of the actors hospitalisation emerged on the internet. Actress Juhi Chawla, who is a close friend of SRK and is also the co-owner of KKR, paid a visit to the actor along with her husband Jay Mehta.

Needless to say, the news of SRKs hospitalisation had left his fans worried. Several users took to their respective X (formerly known as Twitter) handles to express concern for their favourite actor. OMG, I hope he is fine, one of the fans wrote. Get well soon our king, added another.

Shah Rukh Khan attended KKRs IPL match at the Narendra Modi stadium on Tuesday night. The superstar was on cloud nine after KKR won the play-offs to qualify for the IPL 2024 finals.

After the big win in the IPL, the actor celebrated by taking a victory lap with his daughter Suhana and youngest son AbRam. During the lap, he struck his signature arms-outstretched pose for thousands of fans at the stadium and also hugged his team players and planted kisses on their cheeks. That apart, SRK, known for his encouraging demeanour, also uplifted the Sunrisers Hyderabad players, chatting with them after the match.
Salman Khan and Anil Kapoor have maintained a close friendship over the years. Having worked together in several films like Biwi No 1 and No Entry among others, Salman and Anil share a special bond. So, was it easy or awkward for Salman to romance Anils daughter Sonam Kapoor in Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo? An old clip of the actor answering this question has resurfaced on Reddit and it went viral quickly on the microblogging site.

In the clip, Salman told 9XE, See, Sooraj Barjatyas romance is different, its pure. I just couldnt get that much of purity in me. It was difficult. Before answering the question, Salman even jokingly asked to move on to the next question. He then added, I think she suited the role to the T. She was the perfect casting for this movie. Even though I didnt initially agree with it but then I was convinced by Sooraj Barjatya.

However, Sonam had a different opinion about romancing Salman. When asked if it was awkward to romance Salman, she said, No, not at all. I loved it. I dont know about him. Sonam also mentioned that her association with Salman goes long back as their families know each other. She said, Obviously, I know him and Ive watched all his films and I know his family quite well. Salman added, I know her father really well.

Meanwhile, on the work front, superstar Salman Khan revealed the title of his upcoming film with AR Murugadoss (of Ghajini fame) on the occasion of Eid this year. The actor, who is known for his Eid releases, promised to return to the big screen on Eid 2025. Titled Sikandar, the film also features Rashmika Mandanna. Sikandar will reportedly be shot in Portugal and other European countries apart from some portions in India on a huge budget of Rs 400 crore, making it the most ambitious film of Sajid Nadiadwala.

Salman was also said to be starring in Karan Johars The Bull. Salman had already begun prepping for the film. However, the film has been shelved for now due to differences between Salman and Karan. The superstar will also begin prep for Tiger vs Pathaan alongside Shah Rukh Khan. Both actors have reportedly been narrated the script and have given their approval.
Eighteen years ago, I found myself at an event marking the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It was supposed to be a mundane assignment, surrounded by senior Congress leaders and ministers. The then Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad, was running late. As a young, restless journalist, I was hoping this tedious task would end soon. Unbeknownst to me, fate had other plans.

A policeman, lugging two AK-47 rifles, made his way to the podium where the VIPs were seated. The audience grew restless, waiting for the chief guest. Meanwhile, state ministers began their monotonous speeches. I, too, was growing anxious, eager for this boring assignment to end. Little did I know, this day would turn my life on its head.

As a budding journalist, just a few years into the profession, I was thrilled to share the stage with Kashmirs veteran journalists. Feeling a tad proud, I asked a fellow scribe about the policeman with two rifles. His colleague must have gone for a natures call, he replied nonchalantly.

The afternoon sun blazed, making the wait excruciating. News arrived that the chief guest, delayed by a last-minute visitor at his residence, was finally on his way. Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, K Rajendra Kumar, a familiar face, arrived at the venue. We exchanged pleasantries over a barbed wire fence, promising to catch up over tea later.

With the chief ministers arrival imminent, my excitement was palpable. This was my first time covering such a high-profile event. Yet, I was irked knowing this story wouldnt fetch me a byline. Then, it happened.

A deafening bang at the venue entrance shattered the air. No, this cant be happening, I thought, as chaos erupted. The policeman with two rifles began firing at senior officers. I watched in horror as Mr Rajendra and others fell, bullets zipping past my head. In the melee, I was wounded.

As the police scrambled to rescue VIPs, my colleagues and I were left to our own devices. A brave journalist drove an ambulance into the venue, rescuing us from the onslaught of bullets and bombs. Despite my injuries, I rushed to a cybercafe, covering my wounds with a handkerchief, to file my story. Survival felt like a victory.

This was a fidayeen attack (suicide attack) by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists. Seven people, including policemen, were killed and 22 others injured in the attack. Mr Rajendra survived, but his journey to full recovery was long, with an extended stay in the hospital. He later rose to be the Director General of Police and, post-retirement lives with his family in New Delhi and Hyderabad.

The following day, my account was emblazoned on the front page of the national newspaper I worked for. The next day, a commendation from the editor-in-chief arrived. It was a watershed moment in my career.

Last week, I returned to Sher-e-Kashmir Park after 18 years. Alive to tell the tale, I reflected on that harrowing day and the transformative journey since. Kashmir today is a far cry from the terror-stricken land of my youth. Gun-toting terrorists once roamed the streets freely. I recall Afghan and Pakistani terrorists, some as young as 12, loitering in every nook and corner of Kashmir.

Back then, porous borders with Pakistan allowed a flood of Afghan and Pakistani terrorists into Kashmir. Trained by the Pakistani Army, they were promised Kashmiri brides as part of their so-called holy jihad. The streets echoed with massive processions chanting hum kya chahte aazadi (we want freedom), with youth flashing victory signs.

The 1990s and early 2000s were the worst periods of terrorism in Kashmir. It was a terrible time for anyone growing up in the region. This peak of terrorism was followed by a sudden lull, and then a new form of agitational terrorism began. Kashmir witnessed the worst form of agitational terrorism in 2008, which gave birth to stone pelting. The 2008 Amarnath Land row agitation was followed by the 2010 unrest, where stone pelting became a norm.

From 2008 to 2019, Kashmir was known for stone pelting. Nobody would discuss the natural beauty Kashmir was bestowed with; every news channel and newspaper reported hundreds of stone-pelting incidents daily. Security forces, civilians, government employeeseveryone was a target. Any journalist who dared to write against this menace became a target. Patriotism was considered a crime in Kashmir. Many had to leave the profession, and many, like me, who could not compromise on their principles, shifted base to safer locations.

It took immense sacrifice from our security forces to cleanse the valley of these foreign militants. Since August 5, 2019, Kashmir has witnessed an unprecedented calm. Stone pelting is a thing of the past, and casualties among security forces and civilians have plummeted.

Kashmir has changed, and for the better. Long queues at polling stations are a testament to the peoples desire for peace. Record-breaking voter turnout in Srinagar and Baramulla, my birthplace, signals a significant shift. Baramulla, once a terrorist hotspot, now outpolls many constituencies in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. This surge in voter participation indicates a collective realisation: the path of violence leads nowhere.

For decades, Pakistan used Kashmiri youth as cannon fodder in its proxy war. Now, the people know their future lies with India. By voting in large numbers, Kashmiris have chosen ballots over bullets.

Eighteen years ago, I couldnt have imagined the peaceful Kashmir I see today. Having lived through the worst, I am cautiously optimistic. The scars remain, but the valley is healing. Peace, fragile as it may be, is here, and I hope it stays.

As my cab driver in Srinagar replied when asked about changes in the valley post-August 5, 2019, The bloodshed has stopped.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Anirudh Kanisetti is a self-confessed public historian. The same way, Romila Thapar is a self-confessed public intellectual. (Read her book, The Public Intellectual in India, published by Aleph.) One wonders what the term public has to do with a historian or an intellectual, but its undeniable that there are similarities between the kind of history-writing the two indulge in: Being selective, if not manipulative, with the truth!

So, heres the latest from Kanisetti, the public historian, who in a recent article finds out the commonalities between a Hindu king and a Muslim sultan: Both looted Kashmirs temples, he writes matter-of-factly. As one begins reading the article, one hopes to find a long litany of Hindu rulers indulging in temple looting, if not destruction.

Kashmiri royals didnt care about looting temples that they had not personally set up  it was wealth for the taking, which they needed for their own projects, he writes.

But as it turns out, Kanisetti mentions just one name  King Harsha. Before someone confuses him with the more famous Harsha Vardhan of Thanesar, it must be said that this Harsha belonged to Kashmir and was indeed infamous for looting Hindu temples. But where are other iconoclastic Hindu rulers about which Kanisetti hinted at the beginning of the article?

Maybe he forgot to mention them! Maybe there was no one else to write about!

As one ponders over this, one is again reminded of Romila Thapar and the old ruse adopted by eminent historians, especially in India, to normalise Islamist vandalism: If one cannot deny temple destruction by Muslim rulers in medieval India, then accuse Hindu rulers of doing the same in ancient times.

While reviewing Thapars book, Early India, in May 2003 for Londons Financial Times, senior journalist Edward Luce wrote, Romila Thapars masterful recent book, Early India makes it plain that the destruction of temples  a highly combustible issue in todays India  was also the normal thing for incoming Hindu dynasties to do Well before Islam appeared in India, Hindu dynasties had erased almost all the Buddhist and Jainist temples of early dynasties.

Interestingly, it was Thapar, in the august company of fellow historians Harbans Mukhia and Bipan Chandra, who first invented the Hindu intolerance theory in a 1969 booklet called Communalism and the Writing of Indian History. In this 60-odd-page booklet, Thapar questions the assumption that only a Muslim would despoil temples and break idols since the Islamic religion is opposed to idol worship. She continues, Little attempt is made to search for further explanations regarding Mahmud (of Ghazni)s behaviour. Other reasons can be found when one turns to the tradition of Hindu kings and enquires whether any of them were despoilers of temples and idol-breakers. Thapar then, just like Kanisetti, talks about King Harsha of Kashmir. And again like Kanisetti, she too mentions this one Hindu king alone to paint the entire Hindu kingship black.

Writes Kanisetti, Since Kalhana was a Brahmin, Harshas temple-sacking directly attacked his kin networks, so he angrily accused the king of incest (VII.1148) and even of having an officer for looting temples (VII. 1091).

What Kanisetti doesnt say is that Kalhana, in Rajataringini, while mentioning that King Harsha of Kashmir plundered Hindu and Buddhist temples, accused him of acting like a Turushka (Turk) and also that he was prompted by the Turushkas in his employ. This one statement makes it amply clear that temple looting/desecration was not an Indic phenomenon, and if someone like King Harsha of Kashmir committed it, it was an aberration for which he was severely criticised.

The fact of the matter is that Indias Left-liberal historians have traditionally peddled the temple theory based on half-a-dozen vague, largely untenable, stories  of Kalinga king Kharvela, Pallava king Narasimhavarman, King Harsha of Kashmir, and King Shashank of Gauda. One can also add the names of Pushyamitra Sunga and a Pandya ruler to the list, but their sources are so distant and discredited that even Leftist historians use them sparingly.

In Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples, historian Meenakshi Jain talks about Kharavela and Narasimhavarman to demolish the iconoclast Hindu myth. Almost without exception, Hindu rulers honoured the images they acquired, thereby reaffirming a shared sense of the sacred. In the Islamic case, seizure of an image entailed its very dismemberment, she writes as she explains how Kharavela (2nd-1st-century BC) and Narasimhavarman (7th century AD), after vanquishing their adversaries, took the murtis of a Jaina Tirthankar and Lord Ganesh, respectively, and placed them with honour in a shrine in their respective kingdoms.

Jain also draws upon the Purva Karana Agama to explain why a victorious king would bring deities from the vanquished kingdom and arrange for their worship in his own state in an appropriate manner. This would divest the defeated ruler of divine protection. Also, it was obligatory for the vanquished king to try and retrieve the images within a span of three years. This explains the iconoclastic tendencies of Hindu rulers.

As for King Shashank of Gauda, he had been accused of persecuting Buddhists, destroying their places of worship, and even cutting the sacred Bodhi tree. But even in his case, the evidence presented, as per historian R.C. Majumdar, is extremely unsafe. So, apart from King Harshas Turuska-like temple act, other examples are far from being reliable, based on sources that are flawed and untenable. In that way, the theory of Hindu kings indulging in temple destruction is as mythical and make-believe as the Aryan invasion/migration theory of the yore. But it continues to survive, if not thrive, especially among Leftist scholars, thanks to its propaganda value.

Coming back to Kanisettis article, it doesnt stop at Hindu kings destroying temples. He goes on to explain how Kashmiri Brahmins employed by the Sultans presented their temple attacks as the natural progression of the activities of Shaivite kings; how they would vie with each other to declare Zain-ul-Abidin, a 15th-century Muslim ruler in Kashmir, an avatar of Vishnu.

The answer, ironically lies in his statement itself: For, these Brahmins were employed by the Sultan(s) and they would invariably speak their masters voice. One saw something similar during Mughal rule too when a number of Hindus patronised by Akbar and sons wrote glowingly about them. Just the same way, Jews were working for Hitler even as he was on a Jew annihilation spree. In fact, as American historian Bryan Rigg writes in his book Hitlers Jewish Soldiers, thousands of men of Jewish descent and hundreds of what the Nazis called full Jews served in the military with Hitlers knowledge The Nazis allowed these men to serve but at the same time exterminated their families.

And in Mughal India, one finds Aurangzeb, and not Akbar, employing the maximum number of Hindus  interestingly, the former had taken upon himself the task of dismantling the Akbar-ian structure that created space for Hindu-Muslim collaboration.

Kanisetti, who has otherwise written a much readable book on Deccan kingdoms, suffers from a typical Indian historiographical shortcoming of treating aberration as routine. And in this he is, quite unfortunately, treading the beaten path of Romila Thapar and others. Indian history has had enough of this progressive historiography that is agenda-driven, (Leftist) ideology-oriented and politically-influenced. Instead, we need to put in place a historiography that doesnt let truth be a casualty to progressive worldview, that wont push facts under the carpet of Leftist correctness, and that would never give in to the notion of minorities having the first right to the nations history.

Indian historiography must strive to get what it truly needs  an honest, candid history, Sir Jadunath Sarkar-like, based on truth and historical facts, howsoever politically incorrect they may be. Any other obsession, especially with the 3Ps  Public, Politics and Party as has been the case so far, would only be hurting the craft and cause of history. History needs historians, good, old Sarkar-like historians, and not politically correct public intellectuals err historians.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to allegations that India is behind targeted assassinations by unknown killers of terrorists in Pakistan and asked why are some people in India crying over this.

Speaking at an India TV event, PM Modi said that he knows that the people of Pakistan are worried and he is the root cause of their worries.

Reacting to Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyars India should respect Pakistan because it has the nuclear bomb remark, the Prime Minister said he had personally visited Lahore and checked its power, apparently referring to his visit to Lahore in 2015.

Uss taakat ko mei khud Lahore jaakar check karke aaya hu (I had personally visited Lahore to check how powerful it is), he said.

Top Quotes

PM Modi also said that God has ordained that I should work 247 till 2047 to achieve the aim of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India). I feel, God Almighty has sent me for a special purpose. God has sent me to achieve the objective of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. God is showing me the path, God is giving me the energy. I am fully confident I will achieve that target by 2047 and until that target is achieved, God will not call me back. I do not have any other place in this world now except this, he said.

The prime minister further revealed that the reason behind 370 seats for BJP slogan and said, The number 370 (referring to Article 370) manifests the unity of the country. The idea of a 370-seat target was given by a person who belonged to Kashmir. The BJP should win 370 seats to leave an indelible memory in the minds of people so that they understand the significance of the unity of the country.

PM Modi said that the Opposition is bound to lose in elections and reiterated that the BJP will win 370 seats on its own. One option, they have is to claim a moral victory and secondly, they are blaming EVMs. After the conclusion of the third phase, EVM has come into the picture, he said.

The Prime Minister said that the opposition is planning to defame the democracy of India under a well-thought plan.

On allegations of misuse of agencies, PM Modi said the ED has seized Rs 2200 crore in cash, and therefore they should be honoured. The Opposition cries foul because the money belongs to them. In 10 years of the UPA, only Rs 34 lakh was seized. The ED is doing what they are supposed to do. I fought the election of 2014 on the issue of corruption, he said.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Mounting pressure on the central government to bring back Prajwal Revanna, the suspended JDS MP who has been absconding since April 27, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written a second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting the cancellation of Prajwals diplomatic passport.

The Hassan MP allegedly fled the country after a sex scandal broke out where several women accused him of sexual assault. The Karnataka government set up an SIT to investigate the case, but has been requesting the Centre to intervene to help bring back Prajwal, who is apparently in Europe and has not been cooperating with the police.

The latest letter by Siddaramaiah has sought an immediate escalation of the Prajwal Revanna case and urged the Prime Minister to treat the matter with utmost seriousness and take prompt and necessary actions to cancel the diplomatic passport of Prajwal Revanna, under Section 10(3)(h) of the Passport Act, 1967, or under any other relevant law, and secure his return to the country in the interest of the public. The CM said that the incidents surrounding Prajwal have not only shocked the conscience of the people of Karnataka but also caused nationwide concern.

In his letter to the Centre, Siddaramaiah called it shameful that Prajwal, the grandson of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, who is a Member of Parliament from Hassan, seeking re-election for a second time from the seat, had fled on a diplomatic passport bearing the number D1135500 shortly after the news of his heinous crimes emerged and just a few hours before the first FIR was filed against him. The letter stated that Prajwal had clearly misused his diplomatic privileges to flee the country and escape from the clutches of the law.

CM Siddaramaiah had written the first letter to PM Modi on May 1, requesting him to take necessary steps through the Ministry of External Affairs so that the Hassan MP can be brought back to Bengaluru and be part of the SIT probe into the alleged sex videos.

The Ministry of External Affairs had on May 2, in a media interaction, stated that Prajwal had left the country but no political clearance was either sought from or issued by MEA in respect of the travel of the said MP to Germany. Obviously, no visa note was issued either. No visa is required for diplomatic passport holders to travel to Germany. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the ministry has not issued any visa note for any other country for the said MP and added, Yes, he travelled on a diplomatic passport.

The Karnataka Chief Minister wrote in his first letter dated May 1, While the SIT is working round the clock to investigate the allegations of crimes against several women by Prajwal Revanna, getting him back to the country is of utmost importance so that he faces investigation and trial as per the law of the land and request such other steps using diplomatic and police channels of the government of India as well as International Police agencies to ensure the swift return of the absconding Member of Parliament to face the full force of law.

Sources in the CMO told News18 that the Karnataka government received no response from the Centre on the first letter and was forced to write a second one to hasten the process and also press upon the importance of the case.

The only communication we have received is that the MEA has acknowledged receiving our CMs letter, confirmed a senior official from the CMO on the second letter written by Siddaramaiah.

It has been 26 days since the SIT was set up, but the investigating team seems to have hit a wall as they await more victims to step forward and record their statements. They also hope for cooperation from the central agencies to bring back Prajwal to India to participate in the questioning in the case. An arrest warrant has been issued against Prajwal, and an Interpol blue corner notice has also been issued in his name, but the leader is yet to return to India to cooperate with the investigation. In an earlier communication through his advocate Arun G, it was stated that he (Prajwal Revanna) was not in India, and the same had been informed to the police after the notice was served to him.

My client has said he needs seven days time to come to Bengaluru and appear before the investigators. I request you to provide seven days time and grant another date for him to appear for questioning, said the lawyers letter dated May 1. Three weeks later, Prajwal is yet to return to India. His last known whereabouts were said to be Munich, Germany where he had booked himself a holiday after his seat Hassan went to polls on April 26.

Siddaramaiahs two-page letter further said, The SIT is investigating the alleged crimes of Prajwal Revanna against women and is making efforts to secure the presence of the accused to face the criminal charges. It is a matter of serious concern that the accused Prajwal Revanna has managed to remain in hiding to this day despite the issue of a Look Out Circular, a blue corner notice, and two notices by the Investigating Officer.

The Karnataka Chief Minister also pointed out that it was disheartening that my previous letter raising similar concerns on the issue has not, to the best of my knowledge, been acted upon despite the gravity of the situation. Therefore, I urge you to kindly consider this matter with utmost seriousness and take prompt and necessary actions to cancel the diplomatic passport of Prajwal Revanna.

Siddaramaiah has been in attack mode with the Centre on the Prajwal Revanna case and had also accused the Central government of protecting the MP.

In an earlier statement made in Bagalkote on May 3, Siddaramaiah had said that no person can leave the country without the knowledge of the central government. We will bring him back from whichever country he (Prajwal) is in. He must come to the country and face the investigating agencies, the CM had said earlier.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Swati Maliwal-Arvind Kejriwal Row Updates: AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Thursday recalled her May 13 incident involving Arvind Kejriwals aide Bibhav Kumar and alleged the Delhi chief minister was present at his residence when she was assaulted by Kumar. She also stressed that she will not resign as AAP RS MP no matter what.

Senior leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were seen arriving at Arvind Kejriwals house earlier in the day amid reports that Delhi police will record statements to Delhi CMs parents in Swati Maliwal assault case. Gopal Rai, Atishi, Sanjay Singh and Saurabh Bharadwaj were among the first ones to reach.

Sources, however, told News18 that the officers will not reach Kejriwals home on Thursday to record the statements of his parents and wife. This is procedural investigation and can also be done at a later stage, a source added.

The Delhi CM, meanwhile, in a video message released on the official X handle of AAP, urged the authorities to not torture his old and sick parents.

Latest Updates on Swati Maliwal Assault Case:

In a video message today, Arvind Kejriwal addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, Your fight is with me. Dont torture my old and sick parents.

In an interview with ANI, Swati Maliwal recalled her May 13 encounter with Arvind Kejriwals aide Bibhav Kumar and said while the Delhi CM was present at his residence at the time, no one was in the room when he (Kumar) hit me.

Maliwal further said that Arvind Kejriwal has not spoken to her yet and she will not give clean chit to anyone as of now.

On victim shaming, the AAP MP said, Nirbhaya was also asked why she did not travel in auto, why did she go out in the night and not in the day? Victim shaming happens to every womanThe sad part is that the woman Delhi minister said, Her clothes are not torn. I want the Police to conduct my polygraph test so that everything becomes clear.

On AAPs allegations of not taking an appointment to meet Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on May 13, Maliwal said, I have rarely taken an appointment, whenever I have gone to his (CM Kejriwals) residence, I have never taken an appointmentThey said that I was trespassing, so I wanted to know that if I was trespassing then they would have stopped me at the gate itself. If someone doesnt come with an appointment, will you beat him up?

The truth is that I was assaulted in the drawing room of Arvind Kejriwal. This has come out in the MLC. The moment I filed the complaint, the whole party (AAP) was brought forward against me and repeatedly my character assassination was done and victim shaming was done. Edited videos were leaked in the media. It is being said that CCTV footage has gone missingWhen I called 112 I was in pain and trauma, I thought he (Bibhav Kumar) might hit me againAn investigation is ongoing and I would like to participate in it, Maliwal added.

Maliwal further said that press conferences are being done every day to assassinate my character in order to create pressure on me so that I end this matter. Every word I said in that FIR is absolutely correct. I am ready to undergo a polygraph, narco test, she added.

Maliwal also said that Bibhav Kumar is not an ordinary PA. If you see his house, his house is so luxurious, he has been given such a house, even no minister has got such a house in Delhi, so he is very influential and at present, he is a powerful man in the entire party and the entire party is afraid of him, she added.

On the delay in filing a complaint in the case, Swati Maliwal said,I was told if I filed the complaint, the party would term me as an agent of BJP

After the incident when I reached the police station, I was crying profusely in front of the SHO. At that time when I saw numerous calls from media on my phone, I decided to leave from there as I did not want politicize what happened with me at the time of elections. After this, a number of party senior leaders came to my residence and I was told that the party would take action in this issue. Sanjay Singh had come to my residence and saw my condition. He spoke to Bibhav also. Next day, he admitted that Swati was assaulted and Arvind ji has taken cognizance of the incident. The very next day, we all saw Bibhav Kumar with them in LucknowI was told if I filed the complaint, the party would term me as an agent of BJP, she added.

Speaking on whether she expected support from Sunita Kejriwal and Delhi minister Atishi, Swati Maliwal said Aaj mere sath hua hai kal pata nahi kiske sath hogaToday I have shown courage to fight against such powerful people. But yes, it is true that I am completely alone. I feel very sad. I believe that every woman should stand with womenMy career is over, I am ruined. In such a situation, why would I lie? At such a time, the women of AAP are not standing with me, makes me feel very bad

AAP senior leader and Delhi cabinet minister Atishi claimed that ever since Kejriwal has come out on interim bail, new conspiracies are being hatched by the BJP against him. Now they used a cheap tactic. PM Modi has asked his Delhi Police to question Kejriwals elderly and ailing parents, she claimed and added that the people of Delhi will respond to it with their votes.

In his first reaction on Maliwals alleged assault at his official residence, Kejriwal on Wednesday said he expects a fair investigation into the matter and that justice should be served in the case. In an interview to PTI, the chief minister said the matter is currently sub-judice and his comment might affect the proceedings.

Reacting to his comment, Maliwal said irony died a thousand deaths, adding that Kejriwal has finally said that he wants a free and fair investigation into the matter.

Asha Devi, mother of 2012 Delhi gang rape victim Nirbhaya, opened up about the ongoing Swati Maliwal vs AAP controversy and extended support to the former Delhi Women Commission chief. In a video, shared by ex-DCW chief on her X handle, Devi demanded stringent action against the culprits who abused and attacked Maliwal inside CM Kejriwals residence.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Google showed us glimpses of the AI-powered Search at the I/O 2024 keynote earlier this month which has content publishers worried. However, the company already seems to be planning for the future, where AI-enabled search will give you ads that it claims will offer a more personalised touch to your shopping or search experience.

AI-Powered Search With Ads: What It Could Offer

The testing by Google suggests it wants to tailor the searches based on the preferences and needs of the user. Googles use of AI could help them narrow down the purchase options. For instance, if you are looking for a premium sneaker within a certain budget, the AI version of Search will not only show you these options. It will also come with the size and fitting options, consider your physical needs and shortlist the best ones and finally guide you to the website where the product is available where you can make the payment and order the item.

Google is testing the AI search ads for select verticals right now but it is assumed that once the company sees there is a definite use case and need for these tools, it will expand the base to other segments like travel, health, finance and more.

Ads In AI Search: Will It Work?

Ads in Search have served companies over the years but consumers feel hard done because they are using the service for free. Ads in the AI avatar of Search wants to enrich the experience of the user which might go either way but there is a possibility that an ad-free Search option might also become a viable model for Google who would eventually look to make money from these verticals in the near future.

After all, running these advanced AI models need heavy computing power which costs a lot of money that the likes of Google are investing in to benefit when the technology becomes a core part of everyones life.
Microsoft services have affected AI services like ChatGPT along with Bing Search, Copilot and more on Thursday. The outage has been reported across the globe which seems to have lasted for around an hour.

Most people are using Bing Search these days because of the AI integration via Copilot and since the same APIs are powering other functions like ChatGPT and DuckDuckGo, one major outage is enough to spiral the whole ecosystem.

Users from India have also reported problems accessing these sites, and via Downdetector.in, we could ascertain that most of the report spike happened after 1:30 PM IST on Thursday. During the time of writing, Bing Search was available to us in the form of a grey coloured page but searching for items gives you the details which eventually came back into its true form.

However, we did notice the same page showing the message, Its not you, its us, which implies Microsoft did face an outage earlier in the day that many people complained about on social media with posts like these:

Is #DuckDuckGo down?or is this memory holed? I cannot get search results, never happened before. (if you remember the movie about a train derailment, and a toxic spill, where some of the east palestinians played extras, please refresh my memory ) pic.twitter.com/dhqPAlqLze  Veera Fager (@Veera_Fager) May 23, 2024

Microsoft has not officially commented on the issue but it seems most of the services are now back and available to users across the globe.

Outages like these also tell us that having one entity have control over these many applications isnt ideal, especially when the trigger effect results in all the services going down simultaneously for no fault of their own. The biggest casualty of this problem is ChatGPT 4 AI chatbot, forcing millions to rely on Google Search for their work and personal reasons.

ChatGPT Plus is the paid version of the AI chatbot that accesses the internet to give you the results, but with the main API being down, the subscribers also had to wait for the feature to come alive.
Microsoft has been doing everything in its power to compete and even better Apples MacBooks over the years. The latest effort from the company comes in the form of AI PCs that will be built by many brands. Hardware giants like Intel, Qualcomm and AMD will show their support too. All these big names have assembled to give consumers the new fancy toy in the PC market called Copilot + laptops.

Qualcomm will be offering its Snapdragon X series processors that are claimed to be faster and more reliable than Apples M3 silicone, which is a tall ask. Heres a list of the brands that have confirmed their own Snapdragon X Elite powered laptops coming in the next few months.

Copilot Plus PCs Launching With Snapdragon X Processor In 2024

Microsoft Surface Laptop

Right off the bat, Microsoft was smart enough to start the Copilot Plus PC era with its all new Surface Laptop. The company is using the Snapdragon X Elite and Plus processors which have got the industry excited for sure. You have the Surface Laptop available in 13.8 and 15-inch screen sizes. Microsoft is offering features like Recall, and other AI features that will enhance the overall PC experience. Surface Laptops are priced at $999.99 (Rs 81,000 approx) and go on sale soon.

HP Omnibook X

HP is also lapping up the new Snapdragon X processor for its new range of AI PCs that come with up to 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD storage. It has a multi-touch 14-inch display, powered with dual speakers and supports Wi-Fi 7. HPs first model will be available from next month at $1,200 (Rs 96,000 approx).

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x

Lenovo is another brand going for the AI revolution with the help of the Snapdragon X Elite processor. Aimed at creators, this machine has the AI chops and the cooling chassis to keep the device running smoothly. Lenovo will bring the Yoga Slim 7x for $1,300 (Rs 1,04,000 approx) later this year.

Asus Vivobook S15

Asus has launched its new Vivobook S15 with the Intel as well as Qualcomm processor. The Snapdragon X Elite variant will be available soon and has a slew of AI features, including Asus StoryCube AI assistant. It comes with up to 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage.

Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge

Samsungs got the Galaxy Book4 series in the mix, also using the Snapdragon X Elite processors. The laptop features a 3K AMOLED display and you can get it in 14-inch or 16-inch variants.

Dell XPS, Inspiron And More

And finally, you have Dell upgrading most of its PC lineup with the Snapdragon X Elite chip. This is the only brand that has decided to take a punt on five new models, covering different segments.
HMD has relaunched some of the popular Nokia features phones in recent years, including the new Nokia 3210 phone. But soon, we might see the company bring the iconic Lumia design back into the market in a new avatar. New purported leaks of a Nokia phone suggest HMD will be using the Lumia design on an Android smartphone this time around.

The popular Lumia design was part of Nokias Windows Phone ecosystem which included devices like the Nokia Lumia 1020 and the Lumia 920 among others. Now, we could see the same design along with a Nokia badge on a smartphone running on Android, which was a dream for many of you back in the days.

The leak via tipster dubbed smashx_60 on X shared a clip of the possible Nokia phone that could be launched somewhere around July this year. The post has been taken down since then but it is possible that the tipster was forced into removing it after catching everyones attention through the news spreading like a wildfire in the last 48 hours.

As you can see in the image here, the Lumia-like design of the phone carries an HMD logo at the back, but we are hoping that the company decides to retain the Nokia badge for the device on the front which makes it more appealing for millions. However, it wont be surprising to see it called an HMD phone, which is in line with the recent product strategy of the company.

HMD Lumia-Like Android Phone: What To Expect

The upcoming HMD phone with Lumias design is expected to be a mid-range device with Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset under the hood. It could feature an AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate screen and come with Android 14 out of the box.

Thats not all, rumours say, this phone will get an 108MP primary sensor along with a 2MP shooter. It could have a 4900mAh battery that should offer at least 33W charging speed. Going by these details, expect this Lumia-like Android phone to launch for around Rs 25,000 in the market.
Major tech companies are minting big money thanks to the advancement in products which catapults their demand in the market. The people heading these tech companies are equally happy as they benefit from the big pay packages that derive their value and standing in the industry. Some of the biggest earning tech CEOs come from the biggest companies like Broadcom, Adobe and more.

However, the likes of Google, Meta and Amazon saw its big tech bosses earn less when you compute their packages with the stock options included.

Indian-Origin CEO At Number 2 On That Pay Charts: Who Is Nikesh Arora?

Out of all this, you have an Indian-origin tech CEO who has worked with premium names like Google, SoftBank and more. His name is Nikesh Arora, who is the CEO of Palo Alto Networks in the US and comes second in the worlds biggest tech CEO earners. He is an IIT Varanasi Alumni, who went on to do his marketing degree from Northeastern University, after which he also graduated in MS, Finance and General from Boston College.

Here are the latest top tech CEOs with their salaries in 2023 from Wall Street Journal.

Top Earning Tech CEOs In 2023

1. Hock Tan, CEO, Broadcom  $162 million

2. Nikesh Arora, CEO, Palo Alto Networks  $151 million

3. Stephen Schwarzman, CEO, Blackstone Group  $119.78 million

4. Christopher Winfrey, CEO, Charter Communications  $89.1 million

5. Will Lansing, CEO, FICO  $66 million

While these are the top 5 tech CEOs earning the big bucks, there are quite a few Indian-origin CEOs on the list which includes Sanjay Malhotra from Micron Technology, Ajei Gopal, Ansys, Arvind Krishna from IBM, and Reshma Kewalramani, Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
A Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore made headlines after it came across severe turbulence that led to an abrupt rise and fall within a few minutes. Tragically, one British passenger lost his life during this incident while at least 60 others were injured. The mishap occurred approximately 10 hours into the journey over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar, an area known for challenging weather conditions. The flight was diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing after the turbulence hit.

Meanwhile, a former pilot believed that the airplane could have entered the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ICZ) a couple of days following the accident. In most cases, pilots avoid this area, said Marco Chan, a former pilot. But sometimes they are forced to use it because the alternate routes are limited, he added. Chan claimed that the ICZ around the Bay of Bengal is well-known among aviation professionals for causing turbulence.

As per The Guardian, Chan explained, With turbulence of such magnitude, it is likely the flight was navigating through difficult thunderstorms. The incident took place within the intertropical convergence zone, where thunderstorms are notorious. Thunderstorms are prominently displayed on the pilots navigation display but it may not be possible to completely circumvent the storm cluster as they can stretch well over 50 nautical miles.

Stuart Fox, the director of flight and technical operations at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), stated that there are no visible signs to detect clear air turbulence as it can only be predicted by weather forecasts that identify air flows into mountains. He highlighted that airflow strength and direction can change rapidly, causing wind to unexpectedly divert planes route, rapid altitude loss or sudden shocks. Pilots could receive guidance from reports from aircraft ahead of them, which helps them travel through such areas. Fox further mentioned that IATA has a platform where different airlines share data allowing pilots to get instant information about turbulence on their route.

It generally takes approximately 13 hours for the flight to journey from London to Singapore. It goes above Europe, Central Asia as well as northern India and then takes direction towards Myanmar and finally Gulf of Thailand where it lands. According to the airline, 211 passengers with 18 crew members were on board when the turbulence hit and the flight was at the altitude of 37,000 feet above Irrawaddy River basin mostly located in Myanmar.
The Lok Sabha Polls in India is deemed the biggest election in the worlds largest democracy. Approximately, 970 million people out of a total population of 1.4 billion are eligible to vote in this election, which is equivalent to 70 per cent of the population. This year, the general elections are being held in seven phases, from April 19 to June 1, as people vote for 543 Lok Sabha seats. Amid the weeks-long election process, political candidates are holding massive rallies and elaborate promotional campaigns. Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India, witnessed the vibrancy of the Indian general elections this year for the first time.

In conversation with ANI, Garcetti expressed his awe at the massive scale and preparation for the general election. As a first-time observer of the election process, Garcetti said, Its extraordinary to see the worlds largest democracy execute the biggest election in the world and weve seen incredible, vibrant campaigning, weve seen parties, weve seen rallies, and its something, just as a first-time observer, that is very inspiring to see. So, you know, I wish India and Indians luck.

He also spoke about the developing relationship between India and the USA. The diplomat described India as the fastest-growing economy in the developing world, whereas the USA remained as the fastest-growing economy in the developed world.

Garcetti described the USA and India as natural partners when it came to developing their economy and sharing space technology. He said that the collaboration between India and the USA could be helpful in expanding the economic prosperity of the whole world by diversifying supply chains and going to places like Africa, Southeast Asia, Pacific island countries.

The 53-year-old said that the relationship between India and the USA is stronger than its ever been in history. Talking about how both countries are developing space science together, he added, Were going to put Indians in space this year on an American mission. He also pointed out that later in the year, India and the USA are going to launch a jointly made satellite.

Garcetti has been the United States ambassador to India since May 11, 2023. Previously, he served as the 42nd mayor of Los Angeles from 2013 until 2022. He was the youngest mayor of Los Angeles in 2013, at the age of 42.
Nowadays, a wave of travellers has voiced their concerns about airlines mishandling their luggage, particularly musical instruments. In a recent incident, a guitarist opted for an unconventional approach to draw attention to IndiGo after alleging that the airlines staff had damaged his instrument.

Taking to Instagram, musician Piyush Kapoor highlighted the struggles guitarists endure to achieve a tremolo effect. You dont need to bend any wires or do anything else. Just book an IndiGo or any other flight, put it in a hard case or not, and the airline will break it down to ensure that you get that tremolo effect for free, he jokingly shared with his audience, even playing the damaged guitar to demonstrate the music effect while poking fun at the airline.

Also Read: We Dont Care: Air India Passenger Criticises Airline for Damaging Piano, Shares Video

Continuing his sarcasm in the caption, Kapoor wrote, Thank you @indigo.6e. Its been a long time to this incredible discovery, i left a thank you note for you at the airport but never heard from you. I dont even know how you guys managed to crack it open this way, before adding a more serious note, Its time airlines teach their baggage handlers what the Fragile sticker means.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Piyush Kapoor (@piyushcapoor)

The video eventually caught the attention of IndiGo, which replied from their official handle, Mr Kapoor, we understand the sentimental value of personal items like your guitar. Rest assured, we prioritise the care of our customers belongings and will work diligently to address this for you. Please share your travel details and contact number via DM to enable us to connect with you.

Kapoor, in turn, clarified his intentions, stating that he didnt seek compensation but rather aimed to highlight the need for gentle handling of musical instruments by baggage handlers. He emphasised that while accidents happen, immediate accountability is paramount.

Also Read: Musician Calls Out Air India After Broken Strap of His Instrument Case: Stop Recording

The guitarist even acknowledged receiving an apology and assurance from the airline regarding future incidents, expressing hope for improved practices across all airlines to safeguard travellers cherished possessions.
You must be living under a rock, if you havent heard about content creator Nancy Tyagis Cannes red carpet appearances. The self-taught fashion designer and stylist, who has over 1.6 million Instagram followers, is winning over the internet and Bollywood big shots, thanks to her elaborate self-crafted red carpet outfits. Nancy made heads turn when she revealed that her 20 kg heavy pink gown was stitched by her. While we were taking notes, she threw another surprise at us in a shimmery saree. Oh boy. It was high on bling. Well, there is more. Nancy, on Thursday, blessed our feeds by sharing glimpses of her third look.

Her unique outfit consisted of a backless corset top, a flowing figure-hugging skirt, paired with a long stole. In her Instagram caption, Nancy mentioned that she has designed it. She styled the look with a braided hairstyle, a black purse, and black gloves. The 23-year-old kept her make-up minimal as it brought out the dramatic effect of her outfit. Her Instagram post, detailing this look has already gathered over seven lakh likes in less than a day.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nancy Tyagi (@nancytyagi___)

Her post is showered with a number of compliments, with many praising her for reaching the Cannes red carpet from Baranwa village in Uttar Pradesh.

An Instagram user wrote, Her daily routine: Manish Malhotra for breakfast, Sabyasachi for lunch, Rohit Bal for dinner, JJ Valaya for snacking. REPEAT!!!

Another added, Now Im just waiting for you to meet SRK in person!! I remember seeing your videos with his poster and an old sewing machine and thinking, one day she will meet/work with SRK!

A person wrote, Girl youve got real talent. You havent taken any training or degree in fashion yet the outfits you create are real masterpieces, so proud of you girl and keep shining.

Many also mentioned that after Cannes, Nancy should go to the Met Gala.

Making this point, an Instagram user wrote, Bro you need to be invited to the Met Gala for real. Urfi Javed and Nancy Tyagi from India.

Earlier this week, actor Sonam Kapoor, known as the style icon in Bollywood, gave a thumbs up to Nacys Cannes album. Sonam Kapor shared one of Nancys videos and wrote, Best outfit in Cannes. Make me something. Stylist Rhea Kapoor also commented on one of Nancys videos and wrote, Love it Nancy.
Innovation has made life easier for all individuals around the world. In the ever-changing environment of modern life, the use of technology has become more rampant. Even artificial intelligence (AI) is making its presence felt in many aspects of our daily lives. Earlier, a glimpse of robots being used to serve food in restaurants surfaced, and now a video circulating on the internet shows them being used to deliver food to doorsteps in China. Weeks after this video surfaced, an Indian influencer got a chance to experience it and shared his thoughts on Instagram.

The video captures influencer Shridhar Mishra of Uttar Pradesh during his recent trip to China to attend an event. The clip shows the influencer running out of his room excitedly, saying that a robot came to deliver his food. He then follows the robot as it returns after delivering the package. The video concludes with the robot entering a lift. In the caption, he wrote, Home Delivery by Robot at SDLG Event in China.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shridhar Mishra (@shridhar.m)

Since being uploaded, the video has gone viral. It has received over 3.5 million views, and the numbers are rapidly increasing. Many online users promptly reacted to the video. A user stated, Its a cute robot in a Chinese hotel that delivers food and other services from that hotel.

However, a curious person asked, Wo lift mein floor kese select karega while many pointed out, China is more developed than India. An individual sarcastically stated, Tum use choodne aaye the lift tk bhagte Bhagte. Another joked, India mai hota to apaharan ho jata is ka.

Earlier, a travel vlogger Ken Abroad shared about the new innovation. The video shared by him captured an incident where he received his meal delivered by a robot in China, showcasing how AI is changing the way we live.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ken Abroad | Travel Vlogger (@ken_abroad)

The video began with the man saying, Im about to get my food delivered by a robot here in China! He waits, and then his phone rings, signalling that the robot delivery has arrived. A robotic voice speaks in Chinese. He opens the gate to his room and is greeted by the robot waiting outside.

Initially confused about how to take his delivery, the man checks the robots features, he presses a button and watches as his food appears. With some confusion, he learns to close the compartment by tapping the button again. He informs viewers that there is a timer for retrieving food from the compartment as well.
The internet is full of exciting videos where people enjoy breaking cultural barriers through music and dance. While Western songs are popular globally, Indian songs, especially Punjabi tracks, have a separate fan base due to their catchy beats and easy dance moves. Recently, a video went viral featuring locals and tourists in Italy dancing to Jazzy Bs classic track, Naag. The video, filmed outside the Milan Cathedral, aka Duomo di Milano, shows international tourists and Indians having fun as they groove to the Punjabi music. The vibrant scene shows people of all ages, including kids and elders, matching steps and enjoying the music. Some are dancing, while others are capturing the atmosphere on their phones and making memories.

Since the video surfaced on Instagram, it has gone viral and garnered over 5 Lakh views. The comments section is flooded with positive responses and heart emojis. However, a few viewers claimed the video was fake and suggested that the person who shared it online merged audio from a different video and that the people in the video were actually dancing to another song.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by   (@_europe._wale_)

Reacting to the clip, a user joked, Bella ciao, tusi edhr aao. (You come here). Another shared, Punjabis rocking it everywhere.

An individual pointed out, Hahaha for people who cant tell, this is fake. Poor immigrants cant go to bars but enjoy Punjabi immigrant music, a comment read.

Another wrote, Ave lagda jiwe Amritsar howe. (It feels just like Amritsar), while a person called it, Milanpur Klan. A user added, Nice to see our people everywhere having fun.

Meanwhile, Diljit Dosanjhs track GOAT has been making people groove since it was released. Earlier, a video of foreigners dancing to the song went viral, which was shared by Indian Foreign Service Officer Gurleen Kaur. In the video from Switzerland, an Indian man is shown demonstrating various bhangra moves to a group of European women, who perfectly imitate his steps as the song plays in the background. Interestingly, even onlookers are clapping and enjoying the dance. Sharing the video on X, Kaur wrote, When Europeans groove on Diljit Dosanjhs G.O.A.T. Indian Bhangra in Switzerland.

Earlier this year, Taylor Swifts boyfriend and Kansas City Chiefs player, Travis Kelce, was seen dancing to Mundian To Bach Ke in a club in Las Vegas, which left the internet stunned.
Embattled US aircraft maker Boeing has identified a big flaw in its 777 aircraft fleet that could lead to onboard fires. The problem arises from inadequate electrical insulation near the fuel tank, according to a proposal from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in March.

If left unaddressed, the flaw could trigger ignition within the fuel tank, resulting in fires or explosions, the New York Post reported. The affected aircraft include nearly 300 Boeing 777s across the US, spanning various models such as the 77200, 200LR, 300, 300ER, and 777F series. After Boeing disclosed the issues, the FAA proposed a $14 million solution to rectify the issue across all 292 affected US-registered airplanes.

This solution entails installing electrical bonding and grounding components in the center fuel tank, as outlined in the proposed Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the FAA. The proposed repairs involve thorough inspections, lasting approximately 90 hours per aircraft, followed by the installation of Teflon sleeves and cap fasteners in specific areas of the fuel tanks.

This fix comes after a similar directive issued by the FAA in 2017, aimed at addressing electrical issues in several Boeing 777 models. The goal is to prevent arcing inside the main and center fuel tanks, which, when combined with flammable fuel vapors, could lead to explosions and aircraft losses. The US regulators report prompted Boeing to respond by May 9. If approved, Boeing would have up to 60 months to complete the necessary repairs.

Boeing has expressed its support for the FAAs proposal, stressing that the issue does not pose an immediate safety-of-flight concern. Despite being an older aircraft, the Boeing 777 is widely used worldwide. The Boeing 777 fleet has been operational for nearly 30 years, transporting over 3.9 billion passengers. However, in recent months, Boeings aircraft have faced heightened scrutiny due to various safety issues, including a January incident where a door plug blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight. Earlier, Boeing said its leaders are committed to cooperating with the FAA probe.

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China launched military drills on Thursday to surround Taiwan, citing strong punishment for the islands separatist acts after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwans new president.

Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to bring the island under its rule, by force if necessary. The two-day drills involve military aircraft and naval vessels surrounding the island to test their combat capabilities, Chinas Peoples Liberation Army announced. Taiwan responded quickly to Chinas announcement on Thursday morning, saying it had deployed sea, air and ground forces to defend freedom.

#breaking First video of China military exercises around Taiwan via CCTV/Weibo.PLA statement: Taiwan independenceand peace across the Taiwan Strait are incompatible The Eastern Theater Command launches the Joint Sword-2024A exercise. It is a powerful punishment for the pic.twitter.com/7ouRaaxHEQ  Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) May 23, 2024

WE CONDEMNPLA Eastern Theaters announcement of Joint Li Chien-2024A jeopardizing regional peace and stability.WE STAND READYwith firm will and restraint. We seek no conflicts, but we will not shy away from one. We have the confidence to safeguard our national security. pic.twitter.com/KaEINkLfHx  Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. (@MoNDefense) May 23, 2024

The Ministry of National Defence strongly condemned such irrational provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability, it said. China has previously branded Lai a dangerous separatist who would bring war and decline to the island. On Tuesday, it warned of strong reprisals to Lais inauguration speech, in which he vowed to continue to build up Taiwans defence capabilities.

In face of the many threats and attempts of infiltration from China, we must demonstrate our resolution to defend our nation, said Lai, 64. US Lieutenant General Stephen Sklenka said Thursday that Chinas military drills around self-ruled Taiwan are concerning but not unexpected. We expected something like this, frankly, the US Indo-Pacific Command deputy commander told an audience in Canberra, adding, however: It is concerning.

The drills, which began at 7:45 am, are taking place in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island, PLA Eastern Theater Command Naval Colonel Li Xi said. They serve as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces, Li said.

As the 16th President & VP assume their roles, our new FM Lin Chia-lung is also ready to serve, sitting with the international VIPs at @ChingteLai & @bikhims #Taiwan520 inauguration. We thank all for the congratulations. With your support, #Taiwan will continue to thrive!PO pic.twitter.com/BQ3beB8Jef  Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) (@MOFA_Taiwan) May 20, 2024

Joint Sword-2024A

As the drills, dubbed Joint Sword-2024A, were launched, commentary on state Chinese broadcaster CCTV declared them a powerful disciplinary action against Taiwanese separatism. Chinas military put out a series of posters touting what it called its cross-strait lethality. They featured rockets, jets and naval vessels next to blood-stained text. One showed rockets being fired at an island, while another showed tanks emerging from the sea. The weapon aimed at Taiwan independence to kill independence is already in place, it declared.

Beijing, which split with Taipei at the end of a civil war in 1949, regards the island as a renegade province with which it must eventually be reunified. Relations have plunged in recent years as China has stepped up pressure on the democratic island of 23 million people, periodically stoking worries about a potential invasion. The last time China announced similar military exercises around Taiwan was in August 2023 after Lai, then vice president, stopped over in the United States on a visit to Paraguay.

(With agency inputs)

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Indian-American attorney Jaya Badiga, a certified family law specialist, has been appointed as a Judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court in the US state of California.

Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, made the appointment of Badiga, who has earlier served as a Commissioner at the Sacramento County Superior Court since 2022. Badiga, born in Vijayawada city of Andhra Pradesh, fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert S. Lapham.

Badiga, a member of the Democrat Party, also served as an Attorney at the California Department of Health Care Services in 2020 and at the California Governors Office of Emergency Services in 2018. Badiga earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law and a Master of Arts degree in International Relations and International Communications from Boston University.

Badiga is a certified family law specialist and has worked in Family Law for more than ten years, according to the Sacramento Country Public Law Library. Separately, the governor appointed Raj Singh Badhesha of Fresno County as a Judge in the Fresno County Superior Court. Badhesha, who fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Jon N. Kapetan, has served as Chief Assistant City Attorney in the Fresno City Attorneys Office since 2022 and has served in several roles there since 2012.

Badhesha, a Democrat, has become the first Sikh to be appointed to the Fresno County bench and the first Sikh judge in California who observes the practice of wearing the Sikh headdress known as the dastar or pagri, FOX26NEWS reported earlier this month. His appointment has been celebrated by many in the Central Valley Punjabi and Asian communities.

Badhesha, in a statement after his appointment, said: I would like to thank Governor Gavin Newsom for having confidence in my ability to serve as a Fresno County Superior Court judge. After years of dedicated service to the Fresno community, including invaluable experience in the Fresno City Attorneys Office and extensive volunteer work, I am honoured to be appointed as a Fresno Superior Court Judge.

My commitment to justice, coupled with my understanding of the legal system and the needs of our community, have prepared me to serve with integrity, fairness, and compassion. I am glad to be able to represent a segment of our community that we dont often see on the bench, and I appreciate the Governors commitment to diversity, he said. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of Law in San Francisco.

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The Czech Constitutional Court has rejected a petition by Indian national Nikhil Gupta trying to avoid extradition to the United States, which suspects him of involvement in a plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil.

A final decision on whether to extradite Gupta  nearly a year after his arrest  will be made by Justice Minister Pavel Blazek. The court said it ruled that lower courts had given due consideration to aspects that may prevent extradition, rejecting the complaint brought by Gupta. It also rejected arguments that the case was political.

The Constitutional Court did not find any circumstance for which declaring extradition admissible would lead to a violation of any of the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights and freedoms, the court said in a statement. For the complainant, this brings the proceedings before the Czech courts to an end.

Gupta was detained by Czech authorities shortly after he arrived in Prague on June 30 last year. On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Justice Ministry said Blazek would evaluate the decision before making a ruling on the extradition itself. Gupta has been accused by U.S. federal prosecutors of working with an Indian government official on a plot to kill a New York City resident who advocated for a sovereign Sikh state in northern India.

Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities in June last year when he travelled from India to Prague. The Czech Republic has in the past agreed to US extradition requests. US prosecutors have charged the Indian national with attempting to hire a hitman to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US citizen designated as a terrorist in India. Before Guptas plea was rejected, he had alleged human rights violations by Czech authorities while in custody.

Earlier, the US had shared information with the Indian government about the foiled assassination bid, also asking it to investigate the alleged involvement of the Indian official. Though the identity of the Indian official was not revealed, US media reports alleged that a former Indian intelligence officer plotted to kill Pannun on American soil.

(With agency inputs)

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WARSAW: Polish and Greek prime ministers submitted a letter to the European Commision on Thursday urging the creation of a Europe-wide air defence system, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

The importance of air defence has been in sharper focus for Poland, which borders Ukraine and has seen missiles enter its airspace.

I sent a letter to the European Commission, together with (Greek) Prime Minister Mitsotakis, regarding a common European defence policy, Tusk said during an interview with TVP Info on Thursday evening.

There is already a very positive reaction from the European Commission to make anti-missile air defence a common task for Europe, because it is a huge amount of money, he added.

He also said European countries should stop competing while creating their air defence systems and start cooperation, including on joint investments in the defence industry.

We need less fragmentation and common projects. Like an air defence shield as proposed by Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Donald Tusk, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media platform X on Thursday.

In April Tusk said Polish generals and the head of the National Security Bureau Jacek Siewiera had told him it was a good idea for Poland to be part of several air defence projects.

Only a strong, united Europe that pursues a common defence policy will be able to prevent war. We are preparing for war not because this war is going to happen, but so that it wont happen, Tusk said on Thursday.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

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The mystery behind the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 remains unsolved even after a decade. However, scientists have proposed a new method to locate the planes final resting place using controlled underwater explosions.

A new study led by researchers at Cardiff University in the UK, published in Scientific Reports, recommend that authorities conduct controlled underwater explosions along the 7th arc and monitor the resulting signals at hydroacoustic stations in the surrounding area.

The findings suggest that signals picked up by underwater microphones could be crucial for locating aircraft like MH370 when they crash into the ocean.

Our analysis shows clear pressure signals from previous aircraft crashes were detected on hydrophones, even at distances exceeding 3,000km. In the case of MH370, official investigations concluded the aircraft must have crashed near the 7th arc  the point at which the last communication between the plane and INMERSAT occurred, explained Dr Usama Kadri, a Reader at Cardiff Universitys School of Mathematics, to The Sun.

The main search area at the 7th arc lies less than 2,000km away from the hydroacoustic station at Cape Leeuwin, Australia, with no impediments to filter out the signal. However, within the time frame and location suggested by the official search, only a single, relatively weak signal was identified, Kadri added.

Malaysia Airlines flight 370, a Boeing 777, disappeared from radar screens on 8 March 2014 while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Despite the largest search in aviation history, the plane and the whereabouts of the 239 people on board, including passengers and crew, remain unknown. The search operation was suspended in January 2017.

The report states that the research will focus on the Southern Indian Ocean, believed to be associated with the final stage of the journey. The study will search for signals generated near the 7th arc, following official search recommendations.

Additionally, data from the disappearance stage of the flight, particularly around the time of the last communication in the Gulf of Thailand, will be analysed for any unusual signals.

For this study, a comprehensive analysis was undertaken of 100 hours of data identified as having the potential to contain acoustic signatures of aircraft crashing into the sea. Ten historical aircraft accidents in open sea locations were selected for this analysis.

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Dozens of passengers on a Singapore Airlines flight that hit turbulence this week suffered skull, brain and spinal injuries, the head of a Bangkok hospital said Thursday, two days after a video of the incident went viral on the internet.

Twenty people remain in intensive care in the Thai capital, where flight SQ321 made an emergency landing on Tuesday after the high-altitude ordeal. The Boeing 777-300ER hit what an airline official described as sudden extreme turbulence over Myanmar, sending passengers and crew flying and slamming some into the ceiling.

Grim footage from the Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 flight from London to SG. Passengers were flung to the ceiling when it experienced a 7,000 ft drop. pic.twitter.com/iqsefWFELG Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) May 21, 2024

British man died

A 73-year-old British man died and 104 people were injured on the flight, which was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew from London to Singapore. Adinun Kittiratanapaibool, director of Bangkoks Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, said his staff were treating six people for skull and brain injuries, 22 for spinal injuries, and 13 for bone, muscle and other injuries.

We have never treated people with these kinds of injuries caused by turbulence, he told reporters. The injured at the hospital range in age from two to 83, he added. One passenger said people were thrown around the cabin so violently they put dents in the ceiling during the drama at 11,300 metres (37,000 feet).

Nine of the 16 Malaysians who were on the flight are being treated in hospital in Bangkok, the countrys ambassador to Thailand told AFP. Five of them are in ICU and under observation and one victim is in normal ward. They are all in stable condition, said Jojie Samuel. But one is in critical condition but stable. He has multiple injuries to his head, back and leg. He is one of the crew.

READ MORE: Singapore Airlines Flight Dropped 6,000 Feet In 5 Minutes; Passengers Tossed Around During Mid-Air Turbulence | WATCH

Passenger accounts are still emerging after the incident in which the plane plummeted 1,800 metres (6,000 feet) in just a few minutes, with too little warning for many passengers to fasten their seatbelts. I fell onto the floor, I didnt realise what happened. I must have hit my head somewhere. Everyone was screaming on the plane. People were scared, Josh Silverstone, a 24-year-old Briton on his way to the Indonesian holiday island of Bali, told reporters.

I turned on the plane WiFi that I bought and texted my mum to say I love you, he added after leaving hospital, where he was treated for a cut to the head, on Wednesday. Singapore Airlines chief executive Goh Choon Phong has apologised for the traumatic experience and expressed condolences to the family of the deceased. Photos taken inside the plane after it landed in Bangkok show the cabin in chaos, strewn with food, drinks and luggage, and with oxygen masks dangling from the ceiling.

(With agency inputs)

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UNITED NATIONS/SARAJEVO:The United Nations General Assembly declared July 11 an international day of remembrance of the Srebrenica genocide in a vote on Thursday that survivors branded as historic and Serbs as a failure, reflecting deep ethnic divisions in Bosnia.

The massacre of about 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys in 1995, after the U.N. safe zone of Srebrenica was overrun by Bosnian Serb forces, took place during the Balkan wars that followed the disintegration of Yugoslavia and was seen as Europes worst atrocity since World War Two.

The resolution, initiated by Germany and Rwanda and the cross-regional core group that included the United States, was approved by a narrow margin of 84 votes in the 193-member General Assembly, with 19 votes against and 68 abstentions.

The truth and justice won today, declared Denis Becirovic, the chairman of Bosnias tripartite presidency.

The survivors of the massacre, mostly women who lost their male relatives, cried tears of joy at seeing the resolution as final closure after three decades.

The resolution decides to designate 11 July as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, to be observed annually.

It also condemns denial of the massacre and glorification of war criminals, calling for the remaining victims to be found and identified and all perpetrators who are still at large to be brought to justice.

Serbia and Bosnian Serbs, who deny that the massacre constituted genocide, declared the vote a failure, saying that more countries did not vote in favor of the resolution than for it.

They had accused the authors of the resolution of branding Serbia as a genocidal nation although it was amended to add that the crime of genocide is individualized and cannot be attributed to any specific group.

Those people who wanted to stigmatize the Serbian nation failed and will never succeed, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told reporters after the session. They wanted to put a mark on our face and they failed.

During the session, Vucic called on member states to vote against the resolution, saying it was highly politicised and would not contribute to the reconciliation in Bosnia and the region but rather would open a Pandoras box.

SERB THREATS OF SECESSION

After the vote, Serbs drove through the Serbian capital of Belgrade, honking and waving Serbian flags.

The streets of towns across Serbia and Bosnias Serb Republic were decorated with Serbian flags and placards reading We are not genocidal people, we remember.

This is a failed resolution, declared Bosnian Serb nationalist leader Milorad Dodik, who threatened that the Serb Republic, an autonomous region that makes up Bosnia along with the Bosniak-Croat federation under a peace deal, would secede if the resolution went ahead.

On July 11, 1995, Bosnian Serb forces commanded by General Ratko Mladic separated men and boys from women and executed them in the following days. Their remains were found years later in mass graves in eastern Bosnia, though some still do not know where their relatives died.

Two international courts have ruled the atrocity constituted genocide. Mladic and his political chief Radovan Karadzic were jailed for life for war crimes, including genocide, while nearly 50 Bosnian Serbs were also convicted.

(Additional reporting by Aleksandar VasovicWriting by Daria Sito-SucicEditing by Frances Kerry and Chizu Nomiyama)

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Former presidential hopeful Nikki Haley said Wednesday she will vote for Donald Trump in the US election, but said her one-time bitter rival would have to work to win over her moderate support base as he faces President Joe Biden in November.

The former South Carolina governor, 52, abandoned her White House ambitions in March after suffering several heavy defeats in primary contests  and had not previously indicated whether she would support the man who referred to her repeatedly as birdbrain.

Despite having made withering criticism of the scandal-plagued ex-president, Haley said at an event for the Washington-based Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank, that she was urging Trump to make nice with her support base.

Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that theyre just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does that, she said.

More than two months after ending her White House campaign, Haley has continued to scoop a significant chunk of votes in presidential primary contests  underlining a persistent refusal among a sizeable bloc of Republicans to get behind Trump.

I put my priorities on a president whos going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account, who would secure the border  no more excuses  a president who would support capitalism and freedom, a president who understands we need less debt, not more debt, she said. Trump hasnt been perfect on these policies. Ive made that clear, many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So I will be voting for Trump.

Zombie campaign

Trump and Haley traded at times vicious barbs during the state-by-state nominating contests, when the former UN ambassador warned that nominating her one-time boss would spell general election defeat for Republicans. She said a majority of voters were opposed to a rematch between chaos candidate Trump and Biden, two men aged 77 and 81 respectively who she said were past their prime.

Hes getting meaner and more offensive by the day, Haley said ahead of a defeat in her home state of South Carolina in February.

Hes completely distracted, and everything is about him. Hes so obsessed with his demons in the past that he cant focus on the future Americans deserve, she told supporters.

Haley criticised Trumps comments attacking NATO nations and referred repeatedly to the many court appearances he has been making as he faces multiple criminal indictments and lawsuits. Its not normal to spend $50 million dollars in campaign contributions on personal court cases, Haley said. Its not normal to threaten people who back your opponent, and its not normal to call on Russia to invade NATO countries.

Trump returned the compliment by categorically ruling her out of contention to be his running mate. He has failed to make inroads with Haleys moderate backers, and will see her public show of support as a huge boon ahead of the Republican nominating convention in July.

The tenacity of the Haley vote long after she quit the race for the Republican presidential nomination prompted US media to refer to her ongoing presence on the primary stage as a zombie campaign. The primaries laid bare Trumps key shortcoming  his lack of appeal among the moderates, independents and voters with college degrees he will need to prevail against Biden.

Meanwhile the Biden campaign had been reaching across the aisle, hoping to attract Haley voters. It released a TV spot in April targeting suburban battlegrounds with the message: If you voted for Nikki Haley, Donald Trump doesnt want your vote.

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Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar reached Tehran to pay tribute to the late Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday on behalf of India. This gesture comes two days after Raisi, along with his foreign minister and six others, died in a helicopter crash in the countrys mountainous northwest.

Dhankhar, who is leading the Indian delegation at the official funeral ceremony, paid tributes to Raisi, Amir-Abdollahian, and other Iranian officials who died in the crash. A one-day state mourning was observed across India on Tuesday as a mark of respect for Raisi. Thousands of people, holding placards of Raisi and waving flags, marched in the eastern city of Birjand on Thursday morning to bid the president farewell. People marched in Iran on the final day of funeral rites for President Raisi, who will be laid to rest in his hometown days after dying in a helicopter crash.

Honble Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar paid tributes to Late President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Late Foreign Minister Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other Iranian Officials in Tehran today.VP Dhankhar also met Dr. Mohammad Mokhber, Acting President of Iran and pic.twitter.com/Rbkd9yltWT  Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) May 22, 2024

Honble Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar paid tributes to Late President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Late Foreign Minister Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other Iranian Officials in Tehran today. VP Dhankhar also met Dr. Mohammad Mokhber, Acting President of Iran and conveyed condolences, VP Dhankhar said in a post on X. Raisi, 63, final resting place will be at the holy shrine of Imam Reza, a key Shiite mausoleum in the northeastern city of Mashhad, where the ultra-conservative president was born.

Images published by Iranian media on Wednesday showed officials in Mashhad preparing for the final day of funerary rites. Large photos of Raisi, black flags and Shiite symbols were erected throughout the streets of Irans second city, particularly around the Imam Reza shrine. Massive crowds had gathered for a funeral procession on Wednesday in the capital Tehran to pay their final respects to the president, whom officials and media dubbed a martyr.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whom Raisi had been widely expected to succeed, led prayers for the late president, kneeling before the coffins of the eight people killed in the crash. Among them was foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who will also be buried Thursday in the shrine of Shah Abdol-Azim in the town of Shahr-Rey south of the capital.

Iranian officials and foreign dignitaries paid their respects to the late top diplomat at a ceremony in Tehran ahead of the burial. Tunisian President Kais Saied and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attended an afternoon ceremony for Raisi on Wednesday in which around 60 countries took part.

Member countries of the European Union were among the absentees of the ceremony, while some non-member countries, including Belarus and Serbia had their representatives. Khamenei, who wields ultimate authority in Iran, has declared five days of national mourning and assigned vice president Mohammad Mokhber, 68, as caretaker president until a June 28 election for Raisis successor.

Raisi was elected president in 2021, succeeding the moderate Hassan Rouhani at a time when the economy was battered by US sanctions imposed over Irans nuclear activities. The ultra-conservatives time in office saw mass protests, a deepening economic crisis and unprecedented armed exchanges with arch-enemy Israel. After his death, Russia and China sent their condolences, as did NATO, while the UN Security Council observed a minutes silence. Messages of condolence also flooded in from Irans allies around the region, including the Syrian government as well as Hamas and Hezbollah.

(With agency inputs)

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At least five people died and at least 35 were hurt as powerful tornadoes ripped through the US state of Iowa, with one carving a path of destruction through the small city of Greenfield.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety said Tuesdays tornadoes killed four people in the Greenfield area, and the Adams County Sheriffs Office said a fifth person, a woman whose car was blown off the road, was killed by a twister about 25 miles (away. Monica Zamarron, 46, died in the crash Tuesday afternoon. The Iowa Department of Public Safety said Wednesday its believed that the number of people injured is likely higher.

NEW Team Dominator ground and drone intercept of multiple vortex #tornado shredding wind turbines SW of Greenfield, Iowa. FULL video  https://t.co/8Zt2hHc01G pic.twitter.com/jZdkBGNkrY Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerUSA) May 22, 2024

Greenfield tornado

The Greenfield tornado left a wide swath of obliterated homes, splintered trees and crumpled cars in the town of 2,000 about 55 miles southwest of Des Moines. The twister also ripped apart and crumpled massive power-producing wind turbines several miles outside the city.

Tuesdays storms also pummeled parts of Illinois and Wisconsin, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers in the two states. The severe weather turned south on Wednesday, and the National Weather Service was issuing tornado and flash flood warnings in Texas as parts of the state, including Dallas, were under a tornado watch.

The National Weather Service said initial surveys indicated at least an EF-3 tornado in Greenfield, but additional damage assessment could lead to a more powerful ranking. The tornado appeared to have been on the ground for more than 40 miles, AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. A satellite photo taken by a BlackSky Technology shows where the twister gouged a nearly straight path of destruction through the town, just south of Greenfields center square.

The deadly twister was spawned during a historically bad season for tornadoes in the US, at a time when climate change is heightening the severity of storms around the world. April had the second-highest number of tornadoes on record in the country. Through Tuesday, there have been 859 confirmed tornadoes this year, 27% more than the U.S. sees on average, according to NOAAs Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. So far, Iowas had the most, with 81 confirmed twisters.

On Tuesday alone, the National Weather Service said it received 23 tornado reports, with most in Iowa and one each in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The tornado that decimated parts of Greenfield brought to life the worst case scenario in Iowa that weather forecasters had feared, Porter said. Debris was lifted thousands of feet in the air and ended up falling to the ground several counties away from Greenfield. Thats evidence of just how intense and deadly this tornado was, Porter said.

People as far as 100 miles away from Greenfield posted photos on Facebook of ripped family photos, yearbook pages and other items that were lifted into the sky by the tornado. About 90 miles away, in Ames, Iowa, Nicole Banner found a yellowed page declaring This Book is the Property of the Greenfield Community School District stuck to her garage door like a Post-It note after the storm passed. We just couldnt believe it had traveled that far, she said.

Greenfields 25-bed hospital was among the buildings damaged, and at least a dozen people who were hurt had to be taken to facilities elsewhere. Hospital officials said in a Facebook post Wednesday that the hospital will remain closed until it can be further assessed and that full repairs could take weeks or months. The hospital, with the help of other providers, set up an urgent care clinic at an elementary school with primary care services to start there Thursday, the post said.

Tuesdays destructive weather also saw flooding and power outages in Nebraska, damage from tornadoes in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and dust storms in Illinois that forced two interstates to be closed. The devastation in Iowa followed days of extreme weather that ravaged much of the middle section of the country, including Oklahoma and Kansas. Last week, deadly storms hit the Houston area, killing at least eight and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands.

(With agency inputs)

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The discovery of a single case of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in Pakistans Peshawar has raised concern among the local health authorities ahead of Eid next month. After a case of Congo Fever was confirmed by the Khyber Medical University, the provincial health department urged for protective measures at all the animal markets.

Local authorities have been asked to close those animal markets that dont comply with the directives regarding protective measures, the Dawn newspaper reported. These measures were taken after a butcher tested positive for CCHF and was being treated at Khyber Teaching Hospital, the newspaper said. This alarming concern came as last year four people died of the disease after they caught the virus from the animal market.

What exactly is Congo Fever?

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is a widespread disease caused by a tick-borne virus (Nairovirus) of the Bunyaviridae family, according to World Health Organisation (WHO). The CCHF virus causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks, with a case fatality rate of 1040%. CCHF is endemic in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Asian countries south of the 50th parallel north  the geographical limit of the principal tick vector. The hosts of the CCHF virus include a wide range of wild and domestic animals such as cattle, sheep and goats.

Many birds are resistant to infection, but ostriches are susceptible and may show a high prevalence of infection in endemic areas, where they have been at the origin of human cases. For example, a former outbreak occurred at an ostrich abattoir in South Africa. There is no apparent disease in these animals. Animals become infected by the bite of infected ticks and the virus remains in their bloodstream for about one week after infection, allowing the tick-animal-tick cycle to continue when another tick bites. Although several tick genera are capable of becoming infected with CCHF virus, ticks of the genus Hyalomma are the principal vector.

Transmission

The CCHF virus is transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal blood or tissues during and immediately after slaughter. The majority of cases have occurred in people involved in the livestock industry, such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers and veterinarians.

Human-to-human transmission can occur resulting from close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected persons. Hospital-acquired infections can also occur due to improper sterilization of medical equipment, reuse of needles and contamination of medical supplies.

Signs and symptoms

The length of the incubation period depends on the mode of acquisition of the virus. Following infection by a tick bite, the incubation period is usually one to three days, with a maximum of nine days. The incubation period following contact with infected blood or tissues is usually five to six days, with a documented maximum of 13 days.

Onset of symptoms is sudden, with fever, myalgia, (muscle ache), dizziness, neck pain and stiffness, backache, headache, sore eyes and photophobia (sensitivity to light). There may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and sore throat early on, followed by sharp mood swings and confusion. After two to four days, the agitation may be replaced by sleepiness, depression and lassitude, and the abdominal pain may localize to the upper right quadrant, with detectable hepatomegaly (liver enlargement).

Mortality rate

Other clinical signs include tachycardia (fast heart rate), lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes), and a petechial rash (a rash caused by bleeding into the skin) on internal mucosal surfaces, such as in the mouth and throat, and on the skin. The petechiae may give way to larger rashes called ecchymoses, and other haemorrhagic phenomena.

There is usually evidence of hepatitis, and severely ill patients may experience rapid kidney deterioration, sudden liver failure or pulmonary failure after the fifth day of illness. The mortality rate from CCHF is approximately 30%, with death occurring in the second week of illness. In patients who recover, improvement generally begins on the ninth or tenth day after the onset of illness.

Prevention and control

It is difficult to prevent or control CCHF infection in animals and ticks as the tick-animal-tick cycle usually goes unnoticed and the infection in domestic animals is usually not apparent. Furthermore, the tick vectors are numerous and widespread, so tick control with acaricides (chemicals intended to kill ticks) is only a realistic option for well-managed livestock production facilities.

For example, following an outbreak at an ostrich abattoir in South Africa (noted above), measures were taken to ensure that ostriches remained tick free for 14 days in a quarantine station before slaughter. This decreased the risk for the animal to be infected during its slaughtering and prevented human infection for those in contact with the livestock. There are no vaccines available for use in animals, according to WHO.

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The International Court of Justice on Friday will issue its decision on a request by South Africa for emergency measures sought as part of a broader case accusing Israel of genocide in the Gaza war. South Africa has asked the court to order a halt to Israels Rafah offensive and withdraw from the entire Gaza Strip.

WHAT IS THE ICJ?

The ICJ, also called the World Court, is the highest United Nations legal body, established in 1945 to deal with disputes between states. It should not be confused with the treaty-based International Criminal Court, also in The Hague, which handles war crimes cases against individuals.

The ICJs 15-judge panel  which is expanded by an additional judge of Israels choosing in this case because there is already a South African judge  deals with border disputes and increasingly cases brought by states accusing others of breaking U.N. treaty obligations.

South Africa and Israel are signatories to the 1948 Genocide Convention giving the ICJ jurisdiction to rule on disputes over the treaty. While the case revolves around the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, Palestinians have no official role in the proceedings.

All states that signed the Genocide Convention are obliged to not commit genocide, and to prevent and punish it. The treaty defines genocide as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.

WHAT IS SOUTH AFRICAS CASE?

The 84-page initial filing, brought by South Africa three months into the war, says that by killing Palestinians in Gaza, causing them serious mental and bodily harm and creating conditions on life calculated to bring about their physical destruction, Israel is committing genocide against them.

In hearings in January, South Africa focused on Israels failure to provide essential food, water, medicine, fuel, shelter and other humanitarian assistance to Gaza during its war with Palestinian militant group Hamas.

It also referred to Israels sustained bombing campaign which Gaza health authorities say has killed over 35,000 people.

On May 16, South Africa made a fresh appeal to the court, asking it to order Israeli forces to halt operations in Rafah, in southern Gaza, where roughly half the territorys 2.3 million people had sought refuge from the offensive further north. It also requested the court to order Israel to completely withdraw from the entire Gaza Strip.

WHAT IS ISRAELS RESPONSE?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the genocide accusations as outrageous. Israel says it does what it can to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza and accuses Hamas of using Palestinians as human shields, an accusation Hamas denies.

Israel says it must have the right to defend itself after the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 abducted, according to Israeli tallies.

In counter arguments on May 17, Israel said South Africas application makes a mockery of the Genocide Convention and asked the court to throw out the request.

WHAT HAS THE ICJ RULED IN THE CASE SO FAR?

After a first round of hearings on emergency measures in January, the court found it was plausible Israel violated some rights guaranteed to Palestinians in Gaza under the Genocide Convention. Judges ordered Israel to refrain from acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention and ensure its troops commit no genocidal acts against Palestinians.

Under the Genocide Convention, acts of genocide include killing members of a group, causing them serious bodily or mental harm, and deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of the group in whole or in part. Judges also ordered Israel to take action to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

In March, the court issued further emergency measures and ordered Israel to take all the necessary and effective action to ensure basic food supplies for Palestinians in Gaza. On May 24, the court will issue a ruling on the latest request for an immediate intervention, or emergency measures, requested by South Africa, not the broader genocide case itself. That decision could take years.

The ICJs rulings are final and without appeal, but the ICJ has no way of enforcing them. A ruling against Israel could hurt the countrys international reputation and set a legal precedent.

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A citizen journalist was released from prison after serving four years for charges related to reporting on the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, according to a video statement she released on Tuesday.

Zhang Zhan was let go eight days after her sentence ended, though there are concerns about how much freedom of movement she has. Zhang was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, a vaguely defined charge often used in political cases, and served her full term.

Who is Zhang Zhan?

Although Chinese journalist #ZhangZhan was able to share a video today confirming her release from prison after four years, were worried about her situation under strict surveillance. Our call for her full & unconditional release remains urgent. #FreeZhangZhan pic.twitter.com/UBluQCU6Ze RSF (@RSF_inter) May 21, 2024

Lockdown of Feb 2020

Zhang was among a handful of citizen journalists who traveled to the central Chinese city of Wuhan after the government put it under total lockdown in February 2020, in the early days of the pandemic. She walked around the city to document public life as fears grew about the novel coronavirus.

On the day of her release, her former lawyers could not reach her or her family. Shanghai police had paid visits to activists and her former lawyers in the days leading up to her release. In a short video, Zhang said she was taken by police to her brother Zhang Jus home on May 13, the day she finished her sentence. I want to thank everyone for their help and concern, she said in a soft voice, standing in what appeared to be a hallway of an apartment building.

Under strict surveillance

The video was posted by Jane Wang, an overseas activist who launched the Free Zhang Zhan campaign in the United Kingdom and is in contact with one of Zhangs former lawyers. However, Wang said in a statement that Zhang still has limited freedom. They became concerned that Zhang would be kept under further control by police even if she was no longer in prison.

Although Chinese journalist #ZhangZhan was able to share a video today confirming her release from prison after four years, were worried about her situation under strict surveillance. Our call for her full & unconditional release remains urgent, Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Border said in a post on microblogging website. The United States government recently expressed concern over Zhangs status in the days after she was due to be released.

Press release#ZhangZhan has left prisonBeijing time 22:16, Tuesday 21 May 2024Today, we finally received confirmation that Zhang Zhan @consultorzhang has been released from prison. However, she only has limited freedom. In a short video recording provided by an pic.twitter.com/sZk10FJQXw  Jane Wang  #FreeZhangZhan (@changchengwai) May 21, 2024

READ MORE: Meet Zhang Zhan, the Defiant Citizen Journalist Jailed for Challenging Chinas Virus Story

During her detention at Shanghais Women Prison, Zhang staged a hunger strike and was hospitalized at one point in 2021. Zhangs family, who could often only speak to her by phone, faced police pressure during her incarceration, and her parents refused to speak to news outlets.

Others like Zhang spent time in jail for documenting the early days of the pandemic, including Fang Bin, who published videos of overcrowded hospitals and bodies during the outbreak. Fang was sentenced to three years in prison and released in April 2023. The coronavirus remains a sensitive topic in China. In the first week of May, the Chinese scientist who first published a sequence of the Covid-19 virus protested authorities barring him from his lab, after years of demotions and setbacks.

(With agency inputs)

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STRESA, Italy:U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Thursday that she wants market-driven countries to present a wall of opposition to China over its state-driven industrial policies, a key issue she is pushing at a G7 finance meeting this week.

Yellen also told a news conference that she is looking for general agreement on the concept from G7 finance ministers and central bank governors on a plan to bring forward the earnings from some $300 billion in frozen Russian assets that could provide Ukraine with significant financial support beyond 2025.

The two topics are expected to dominate a finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in northern Italy on Friday and Saturday.

Yellen said that many countries beyond the G7 advanced industrial democracies were concerned about Chinas overinvestment in electric vehicles, solar products, semiconductors, steel and other strategic industries, including Mexico, India and South Africa.

Without changes in Chinese policy, including a shift from increasing production to boosting domestic demand, Yellen said market driven economies face a flood of cheap exports from China that will threaten the viability of their manufacturers.

She said she was not asking countries to mirror U.S. tariffs or closely coordinate their trade policy responses.

But we need to stand together and send a unified message to China, Yellen said. So they understand its not just one country that feels this way, but that they face a wall of opposition to the strategy that theyre pursuing.

She said the G7 officials would discuss their responses and concerns that they are presenting to Beijing.

Yellens call for G7 unity on China comes just after the Biden administration announced steep new tariffs on Chinese EVs, batteries, solar panels and other products in a bid to protect U.S. investments to develop these industries at home. Some of these higher duties will start on Aug. 1

Yellen called this week for the U.S. and Europe to respond to Chinas overinvestment in electric vehicles, solar products, semiconductors, steel and other key sectors in a strategic and united way to keep manufacturers viable on both sides of the Atlantic.

RUSSIAN ASSETS PLAN

Yellen said that if G7 ministers can agree on a concept for bringing forward the earnings on the frozen Russian assets, they will spend the time before a G7 leaders summit in Puglia in mid-June on refining the details. Other participants also said it was unlikely that details of such a loan would not be determined this week.

Yellen added that while a figure of $50 billion has been discussed, there have been no decisions on the size of a potential loan to Ukraine that would be backed by earnings of around $3.5 billion.

This is an assured source of financing and its important that Russia realise that we will not be deterred from supporting Ukraine for lack of resources, Yellen said.

The funding could sustain Ukraine beyond 2025, as Ukraine now has a $60 billion U.S. package of aid and about $50 billion from the EU. G7 finance ministers and central bank governors are due to meet with Ukranian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko on Saturday.

WEALTH TAX DENIAL

Yellen said she could not support Brazils proposal to levy a global wealth tax on the super-rich to help fund developing countries clean energy transitions because of its redistributive effects, dealing a setback to Brazils G20 agenda this year.

Brazils plan would see about 3,000 people globally who have at least $1 billion in assets pay at least the equivalent of 2% of their wealth in income tax each year.

The plan, aimed at raising $250 billion per year to help fight climate change in poorer countries, has won the endorsement of French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire who has cited the success of a global corporate tax deal.

Yellen said she has no objections to higher taxation of the ultra-wealthy, citing President Joe Bidens proposal to tax the unrealized gains of Americans with wealth above $100 million. But she said she does not support negotiations that would involve redistributing proceeds among countries.

Brazils proposal points up the need for more resources for climate change, Yellen said, but added: I dont favor this particular formulation of how to go about doing that.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

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Expectations running high for China, U.S. tourism cooperation

Xinhua) 08:18, May 23, 2024

Chinese and Amercian students perform at the opening ceremony of the 14th China-U.S. Tourism Leadership Summit in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 22, 2024. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

XI'AN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- High expectations ignited calls at a China-U.S high-level tourism summit on Wednesday for concrete actions to remove tourism barriers between the two countries.

The 14th China-U.S. Tourism Leadership Summit drew nearly 400 representatives of the governments, institutions, and tourism-related enterprises of the world's top two economies to the ancient Chinese city of Xi'an.

Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin read a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony. She said President Xi's message fully demonstrates the great importance attached to the China-U.S. relations and ardent expectations for deepening China-U.S. tourism cooperation.

STRONG PENT-UP DEMAND

History has proven that China-U.S. cooperation potential in the tourism industry is huge.

Annual bilateral tourist flow reached a milestone in 2016 -- surpassing 5 million for the first time. Notably, the number of Chinese tourists visiting the United States exceeded 3 million for the first time that year, and their total travel expenditure surpassed 30 billion U.S. dollars for the first time, Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, said at the summit.

Escalating geopolitical tension and the sudden impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, have combined to reduce bilateral exchanges in recent years.

China responded to the ebbing of the pandemic by stepping up efforts to boost its tourism sector. From resuming a steadily increasing number of international flights and implementing a visa-free policy for more countries and cruise travelers, to simplifying visa-application procedures and optimizing payment services, Chinese authorities pressed the "acceleration button" to facilitate the recovery of its tourism industry.

Julie Durazo, with Pathways Travel based in Los Angeles, said the visa application process to enter China is now "a lot easier," compared to what was required during the pre-pandemic era.

Durazo, who is in Xi'an to research tour options, is planning to bring dozens of U.S. high school students to China this fall.

"I remember before it was at least a six-month waiting process. So we had to have our students sign up close to a year in advance," she said, adding that both paperwork and procedures have since been significantly reduced.

Durazo's husband, Paul Orr, joined her on the research trip and it took just four days for him to get his visa after submitting all necessary documents.

Latest figures released by China's National Immigration Administration showed that the number of foreigners visiting China had increased by more than threefold in the first quarter of 2024, when compared with the same period last year.

Meanwhile, approximately 1.1 million visitors from China had traveled to the U.S. in 2023, representing a 192.9-percent surge compared with the previous year, according to data from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office. The trend, however, is still more sluggish than what insiders had anticipated.

Attendees at the summit in Xi'an attributed these disappointing travel levels to a lack of flights, visa challenges, crime concerns, and general geopolitical tensions.

Currently, there are 100 direct flights every week between the two countries, which is less than one-third of the pre-pandemic level.

"Before the pandemic, we could fly direct from Los Angeles to Beijing or Shanghai, but now we have to make a stopover in San Francisco, and the ticket fare is much more expensive," said Durazo.

There is also a visa challenge that needs to be dealt with. Despite being one of the most desired overseas destinations among Chinese tourists, the U.S. visa application process has deterred many Chinese from planning a trip to that country.

"The average waiting time for a U.S. visa appointment is currently three months. In addition, the United States only offers individual visas, which require in-person interviews, and applicants from Xi'an have to go to either Beijing or Guangzhou for such an interview," said Peng Shuping, chairman of Xi'an Spring International Travel Service Co., Ltd. "We really hope that the visa application process can be simplified," Peng added.

Another obstacle is that Washington has issued a level-3 advisory concerning travel to China, calling on Americans to "reconsider" such travels, which has deterred many Americans who otherwise may have been more likely to visit China.

"We strongly hope that the relevant policies will be adjusted as soon as possible," said Zhou Xiaoguang, president of China Odyssey Tours.

COMMON EXPECTATIONS

The U.S. Commerce Department and Tourism Policy Council in June 2022 released a national strategy, setting an ambitious five-year goal of attracting 90 million international visitors to the United States each year, which would generate 279 billion U.S. dollars to support American travel workers and businesses.

"An important factor in achieving this goal is the ability of the U.S. travel and touring industries to attract more Chinese travelers to visit the United States for leisure, business and education purposes," Grant Harris, assistant secretary of commerce for industry and analysis at the U.S. Commerce Department, said at the opening ceremony in Xi'an. Harris also read a message from U.S. President Joe Biden at the summit.

China, which welcomed over 82 million inbound tourists while its domestic residents made nearly 101 million outbound trips in 2023, has also put tourism in a prominent position in its drive to encourage economic growth.

A national meeting on the development of the tourism sector was held last week in Beijing, highlighting that it is "imperative to promote high-quality development of the tourism sector," and the need to "speed up building China into a country strong in tourism."

Seeing the event in Xi'an as an opportunity to further revive the tourism market, industry insiders who attended it voiced strong anticipation for more pro-tourism measures to boost the global tourism industry.

"We regard Sino-U.S. travel as a barometer, so the tourism sector has great expectations for the recovery of Sino-U.S. travel," said Feng Gaoxuan, general manager assistant of Xi'an Overseas Tourist Co., Ltd.

Travel and tourism between the U.S. and China is of great importance not just to the world's two largest economies, but also to the entire global community, said Chris Clark, who is chairman of Visa Asia Pacific, at the summit.

"The importance of cultural exchange cannot be understated," Clark added. "It helps us understand and appreciate different cultures, values, and traditions that are different from our own, fostering mutual respect and understanding, and can improve communication and build better relationships between people and nations."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
An Austrian man renovating his wine cellar found something a lot older than any riesling. Winemaker Andreas Pernerstorfer discovered enormous bones that came from at least three woolly mammoths, the BBC reports. He reported the find to authorities, and the cellar was excavated by the Austrian Archaeological Institute, which called the find an "archaeological sensation." Researchers say the remains are 30,000 to 40,000 years old. Pernerstorfer lives in a village in Krems district, around 45 miles from Vienna. The cellar is 55 feet below the ground.

Pernerstorfer told the Austrian Broadcasting Corp. that he initially thought he had found a piece of wood left by his grandfather, but after some digging, he remembered that his grandfather had spoken of finding teeth in the cellar. The municipality of Langenlois described the discovery as the "find of the century" and praised Pernerstorfer for his "exemplary reaction." There hasn't been a find of this kind in Austria since around 150 years ago, when stone artifacts and bones from around a dozen mammoths were found in a neighboring wine cellar.

"Now we can examine something like this in Austria for the first time using modern means," excavation manager Hannah Parow-Souchon tells Der Standard. "We are currently working intensively on this question," she says. Parow-Souchon says researchers aim to determine how so many mammoths of different ages ended up dead in the same spot. "Based on the stone artifacts found in the neighboring cellar and the charcoal that we also found, it is quite possible that humans had a hand in it," she says. (More woolly mammoth stories.)
Florida Sen. Rick Scott said Wednesday that he will run for Senate Republican leader when Mitch McConnell steps down from the post, becoming the third Republican in the race, the AP reports. South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the current No. 2 Republican in the Senate, and Texas Sen. John Cornyn have already announced they are running. McConnell said in February that he would step down from the post after November's election but stay in the Senate.

Scott is a close ally of former President Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, and is likely to win votes from some of Trump's closest allies in the Senate. Scott was one of the first GOP lawmakers to attend Trump's hush money trial in New York, accompanying Trump into the courtroom earlier this month and defending him on television afterward. The Florida senator's close ties to the former president could be an advantage, especially if Trump defeats President Biden in the presidential election.
Six-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest champ Takeru Kobayashi isn't giving up hot dogs, but he's going to stop gobbling them by the dozen. In the Netflix documentary Hack Your HealthThe Secrets of Your Gut, Kobayashi announced he is retiring because he's worried about what decades of competitive eating has done to his body, Fox News reports. "I worry about the consequences of my decision, but most importantly, I want to repair my brain and gut," he said. Kobayashi said his appetite has declined in recent years and he no longer feels hungry. He said he once went three days without eating.
Two Kansas women who disappeared after traveling to Oklahoma in March were found dead inside a chest freezer buried in a cow pasture, court documents reveal. The location in Oklahoma's Texas County was just 10 miles from where Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, disappeared March 30 while traveling to pick up Butler's two children, who were being cared for by their paternal grandmother, Tifany Adams. The handoff was to take place at a roadside meeting point, per KWCH . Butler's vehicle was ultimately found abandoned with evidence of a "severe injury" nearby, according to a search warrant affidavit. In addition to blood, "Butler's glasses were also found in the roadway south of the vehicle, near a broken hammer," the document reads, per NBC News .

On April 13, Adams, 54; Adams' boyfriend, Tad Cullum, 43; Cole Twombly, 50; and Twombly's wife, Cora Twombly, 44, were arrested. A fifth person, Paul Grice, 31, was arrested at a later date. All fivesaid to be members of an anti-government group called God's Misfitsare being held without bond on murder and kidnapping charges. There are no additional suspects, the State Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday, per NBC. Authorities say Butler and Adams were involved in a "problematic" custody dispute. The children's father had legal custody but said his mother would deny him access to the children regardless. The father, who was in rehab in late March, also claimed Adams and Cullum made death threats, though at whom is unclear.

Butler had supervised visitation rightswhich is why Kelley, a court-appointed supervisor, was along for the ridebut she'd been pushing for unsupervised visits, which could've begun in April, per court records. Adams wasn't willing to let that happen, authorities allege. They claim she purchased five stun guns and three prepaid cellphones, all of which were in the area on March 30 where Butler's vehicle was found. The Twomblys' teenage daughter told authorities her mother and father blocked a roadway to divert Butler and Kelley to a place where the other suspects were waiting, per the Kansas Reflector. The bodies were found April 14 on property Cullum rented for cattle grazing, authorities say. Blood-stained clothing, duct tape, and a knife were also found, per the New York Post. (More murder stories.)
The lending company that planned to auction off Graceland, Elvis Presley's former mansion and burial place, is withdrawing all claims to the property after allegations of fraud, per Reuters . Naussany Investments and Private Lending sought a public auction of the iconic Memphis property, claiming previous owner Lisa Marie Presley owed $3.8 million on a loan that used Graceland as collateral when she died last year, leaving the home to her daughter, Riley Keough. But a company rep now says Naussany Investments will withdraw all claims to Graceland. Keough successfully sued to halt the foreclosure sale , claiming her mother never took out such a loan or provided a deed of trust. She noted Naussany may not even be "a real entity," per People .

In a sworn affidavit, "the notary public listed on Naussany's documents said she never met Lisa Marie Presley or notarized her signature," per Reuters. A judge said that put the authenticity of the documents in doubt and halted the case until Naussany could respond. In an email to the Commercial Appeal, Gregory Naussany said the company consulted with its lawyers and decided not to proceed with its claims. He accused Lisa Marie Presley of "mishandling money and not paying her obligations" but noted "due to the Deed of Trust not being recorded and the loan being obtained in different state [Florida], legal action would have to be filed in multiple states." In a statement, Graceland operator Elvis Presley Enterprises said it was clear "there was no validity to the claims." (More Graceland stories.)
A writer and producer on the hit TV show Scrubs will stand trial on 28 counts of rape, sexual battery, and other charges, a judge ruled Tuesday. Eric Weinberg was initially charged in 2022 with sexually assaulting five women he allegedly lured to photoshoots at his home between 2014 and 2019. "Dozens of potential victims" later came forward, per the New York Times . Weinberg at one point faced 32 charges. After hearing testimony from nine women during a two-week preliminary hearing, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo dismissed four charges Tuesday while ordering Weinberg to stand trial on those remaining, per the Wrap . They include rape, sexual battery, forcible oral copulation, and sexual penetration by force.

The charges stem from alleged actions against eight individuals from 2014 to 2019, per Vulture. Los Angeles County district attorney George Gascon said Weinberg relied on his "Hollywood credentials"including credits on Californication, Men at Work, and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maherto convince women to visit his home, where he assaulted them beginning in 2014. He allegedly approached women online and in public, claiming to be a photographer, and had models call his victims to reassure them all was safe. Micha Liberty, a lawyer representing some women who testified at the preliminary hearing, said they "bravely" spoke of their experiences and "each of them will be there again to speak truth to power at the criminal trial," per the Times.

Four women testified that Weinberg choked them, per Variety. "I was afraid he was going to kill me," one said, per the Wrap. "I just remember thinking I was going to die," said another. Olmedo dismissed three charges due to the statute of limitations and one due to a lack of evidence. Weinberg, 63, is to be arraigned on the remaining 28 charges June 4. He faces multiple life sentences if convicted of all. First arrested in July 2022, he's been held in custody since October of that year, when another judge revoked his bail. Weinberg's lawyers sought bail Tuesday, but Olmedo refused the request, describing the alleged "predatory" behavior as a risk to the public. (More sexual assault stories.)
The Utah mom who wrote a children's book about dealing with the grief of losing loved ones, only to then be arrested for allegedly killing her husband by spiking his drink with fentanyl, has issued her first set of public comments on the case. Kouri Richins recorded her thoughts from jail, where she is being held without bail ahead of trial in the March 4, 2022, death of Eric Richins. They were obtained exclusively by Dateline, reports NBC News, which has this excerpt:

"I've been silent for a year, locked away from my kids, my family, my life, living with the media telling the world who they think I am, what they think I've done or how they think I've lived. And it's time to start speaking up.

You took an innocent mom away from her babies. And this means war."
The end of this year's climbing season on Mount Everest is approaching, and while some climbers have set records , several others have joined the long list of people who have died on the mountain. Among them is Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui, a 40-year-old banker from Kenya who had hoped to become the first African person to climb the world's highest mountain without extra oxygen, the BBC reports. Officials said that after contact was lost with the pair on Wednesday, a search team found Kirui's body near the summit; Nawang Sherpa, his 44-year-old Nepali guide, is still missing.

In an Instagram post six days ago, Kirui said he was prepared for the climb and that his guide would carry an emergency bottle of oxygen in case "I go lights out or if I go bananas." His climb had been closely followed in Kenya, where foreign ministry official Korir Sing'oei mourned him as a "fearless, audacious spirit," the AP reports. Fellow climber James Muhia said he had cried for the first time since his father died. "No one can ever understand the heart and the mind of a mountaineer," he said in a post on X. "The drive that takes us to some places. It is a sad day. Our brother is now one with the mountain."

British climber Daniel Paul Paterson and guide Pas Tenji Sherpa have been missing since an ice collapse near the summit on Tuesday. The Himalayan Times reports that Romanian climber Gabriel Tabara was found dead in his tent on Tuesday. Earlier this month, Mongolian climbers Usukhjargal Tsedendamba and Prevsuren Lkhagvajav died during their descent from the summit. (More Mount Everest stories.)
A major rescue operation is underway in the Wellington Harbour after reports a person fell from a ferry on Friday morning.

A large number of boats, including vessels from the Coastguard and police, have been searching the area between Days Bay and the CBD.

Wellington's Westpac Rescue Helicopter has also been monitoring from above.
He said the New Zealand Government "can and must do more to ensure this conflict comes to an end and a sustainable ceasefire is secured".

"Recognising Palestinian statehood and following the lead of Ireland, Spain and Norway is a step in the right direction," Tuiono added.

"In 2021, the Green Party tabled a motion in the house to recognise and support the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and statehood.

"We will continue to make this call alongside immediate action to help the people of Gaza through establishing a humanitarian visa and increasing aid funding for UNRWA.

"Aotearoa must hold strong to our long history of working for peace internationally. We must stand up for what is right."

The Party's statement comes days after former Shortland Street actor Will Alexander started a hunger strike in protest of Aotearoa's response to the war.

Alexander, who played police constable Bell in the iconic show, began his hunger strike during a Christchurch rally in support of Palestine on Sunday.

He said he can "no longer stand by while my own government is complicit in an ongoing genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people".

"Innocent children are being killed in the thousands. Israel has violated international law for decades with full impunity granted by Western governments like New Zealand," the actor said in a press release.

He also made three demands of the New Zealand Government including withdrawing our troops from the Red Sea, stopping NZ company Rakon from supplying components for weapons used by Israel and resuming and then doubling humanitarian funding for UNRWA (The United Nations Relief and Works Agency).
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 34F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 34F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Her Excellency Dr Jehad Al-Fadhel, Second Deputy Speaker of the Bahrain Shura Council, has highlighted the leaderships vigorous support for nurturing the talents of the youth within Bahrain and the UAE.

This resolve, she said, stems from a firm belief that creating a supportive atmosphere is crucial for igniting the spark of youthful energy and creativity, which are essential for the nations prosperity.

The Shura Council is intent on shaping laws that encourage the youth to step forward and play a central role in steering the nations direction, reflecting the aspirations of our era.

The youth are acknowledged as the key drivers of sustainable growth, charting the course towards a resilient future. Dr Al-Fadhel illuminated the Councils role in fostering the ambitions of the Young Parliamentarians programme.

With a focus on the future, the Council supports the youth in their legislative and democratic endeavours, nurturing an environment where their initiatives and dialogues can flourish.

Parliamentary procedure She elaborated that the simulation session serves as a handson introduction to parliamentary procedure, marking a significant milestone for the Young Parliamentarians programmes extensive preparation of Emirati youth for the challenges of parliamentary excellence.

The visit of the Emirati youth delegation to the Shura Council has established a crucial exchange of insights and expertise between the nations, promoting the development of young individuals who are aware of their talents and possess a deep sense of loyalty, ready to play a key role in national advancement.

The event was graced by the presence of distinguished figures, including Dr Jamila Al-Salman, Vice Chairman of the Services Committee, Dr Bassam AlBinmohamed, Dr Hani Al-Saati, members of the Shura Council; and Mrs Karima Al-Abbasi, the Secretary-General of the Council.

Inaugural graduates

The session also featured the participation of the inaugural graduates of the Young Parliamentarians programme, a joint initiative by the National Emirati Foundation and the Federal Youth Authority
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, received His Eminence the Grand Mufti Sheikh Rawil Gaynetdin, Chairman of the Mufti Shura Council of Russia, Head of the Religious Administration for Muslims of the Russian Federation.



The meeting came on the sidelines of HM the Kings official visit to the Russian Federation.



HM the King highlighted the historical relations between the two countries and the advanced cooperation on various levels.



HM King Hamad commended the efforts of HE the Grand Mufti in advancing the principles of moderation and tolerance of Islam, advocating for peace, and fostering values of coexistence and dialogue.
TORONTO, May 23, 2024 /CNW/ - Centennial College faculty and staff have been recognized with a Minister's Award of Excellence for their work delivering an Early Childhood Education (ECE) program expressly for Black, African and Caribbean students.

Dwayne Locke, Audrey Le and Jenny Quianzon are a part of the Centennial College team that received a Minister's Award of Excellence from Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop for their work on the Early Childhood Education - Tropicana program. (CNW Group/Centennial College)

The Minister of Colleges and Universities, Jill Dunlop, bestows the awards to faculty, staff and graduate students who have shown exceptional performance at institutions like publicly assisted colleges. Professor Dwayne Locke, lead for the Early Childhood Education  Tropicana program, Professor Jenny Quianzon and the ECE faculty, along with Student Success Advisor Audrey Le, have been honoured in the Equality of Opportunity category.

The category acknowledges efforts to open doors in postsecondary education for marginalized and underrepresented groups. As a team, Locke, Quianzon, Le and their ECE faculty colleagues were among 15 award recipients across five categories selected from a pool of more than 480 nominations.

"The Early Childhood Education program for Black learners reimagines the ECE curriculum to celebrate cultural identity and incorporate perspectives from the African Diaspora while removing barriers such as financial constraints. The program aims to boost workforce representation of Black ECE professionals in GTA child care centres," said Veronique Henry, Dean, School of Community and Health Studies, Centennial College, who envisioned the program. "The Minister's Award recognizing the people who helped create this opportunity reflects the unwavering commitment and passion of Professor and Program Coordinator, Dwayne Locke, along with Audrey Le, Jenny Quianzon, the entire ECE team at Centennial College, and our esteemed partners who provide comprehensive support and expert consultation."

Developed in collaboration by Centennial College, Saccae Cultural Equity Consultants, and Tropicana Community Services, the Early Childhood Education  Tropicana program is delivered in partnership by Centennial and Tropicana. The City of Toronto, the Province of Ontario and Government of Canada provide the program with funding support through the new Canada-Ontario Early Childhood Workforce Agreement, which is designed to bolster the child care and early years workforce.

"Centennial's dedicated faculty and staff have been instrumental in creating an inclusive and culturally affirming learning environment that has allowed Black, African and Caribbean students in the Early Childhood Education - Tropicana program to thrive," said Jennifer Lafreniere, Associate Dean, School of Community and Health Studies, Centennial College. "We celebrate their achievement and thank them for their important work ensuring students are well-supported in their community through Tropicana  from infusing the program with Black perspectives to planning future learning opportunities in Jamaica  and we are grateful to our community and government partners whose support has made this possible."

The Early Childhood Education - Tropicana program helps break down barriers by giving students access to community and cultural supports as well as technology and tuition-free learning.

"We take such joy and pride in delivering Early Childhood Education programming that centres Black, African and Caribbean culture, lived experiences and needs, and so it's a delight to share the honour of this recognition with my colleagues," said Locke. "I am impressed and inspired by our talented students, who are determined to graduate ready to go out into the community and provide high-quality child care despite any barriers they may face."

The first cohort of students to start the program in fall 2023 are already proving this, with 19 of 25 continuing on to their final year. There is strong community interest in the program, with a second cohort of 25 students slated to start the program in the fall 2024.

Learn more about the Early Childhood Education  Tropicana program.

About Centennial College

Centennial College, founded in 1966, is Ontario's first public college. Anchored primarily in the eastern part of the Greater Toronto Area, the college boasts five campuses and two satellite locations. Renowned for its outstanding teaching, creative curriculum, and robust network of partnerships, Centennial annually welcomes over 40,000 full-time and part-time students from over 130 countries. These students pursue their education in over 400 diploma, certificate, and degree programs across various fields, including business, media, arts, community and consumer services, engineering technology, health care, and transportation.

SOURCE Centennial College

Media contact: Michelle Ervin, Media Relations Manager, Centennial College, 647-633-2092; [email protected].
TORONTO, May 23, 2024 /CNW/ - CIBC today announced the two artists selected as winners in the C2 Art Program (C2 Art), an initiative designed to help emerging artists make their ambitions a reality with a unique paid opportunity to create and curate their art.

Laura Hudspith, an interdisciplinary artist and Roda Medhat, a multidisciplinary artist, were chosen by a judging committee, which includes members of the arts community and CIBC.

CIBC C2 Art Program 2024 winner Roda Medhat. Image credit: Cheryl Rondeau (CNW Group/CIBC) CIBC C2 Art Program 2024 winner Laura Hudspith. Image credit: Georgia Saxelby (CNW Group/CIBC)

"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to produce a new body of stained glass and copper sculptures and have begun developing an approach for rendering three dimensional forms entirely in this media," said Laura Hudspith. "With the support of CIBC, I look forward to expanding and tuning this process over the coming months."

The two selected artists will now begin to create a series of works which will be exhibited in a solo exhibition for each artist.

"It is both validating and reassuring as an emerging artist to be given the space and time to pursue my career in the arts with an institution like CIBC," said Roda Medhat. "This opportunity provides me with the resources to continue to create and present my work in a professional context."

The exhibitions will be on display for three months, in a space that is open to clients, visitors and employees at CIBC SQUARE in Toronto, ON.

"We are excited to announce this year's C2 Art Program winners. Supporting the ambitions of the next generation of artists is core to our values and we are proud to help foster emerging talents in this way," said Dr. Claudette Knight, Vice-President, Workplace Design and Experience.

Last year's winners were interdisciplinary artist, curator and designer, Maya Skarzenski and artist and educator, Mike Pszczonak.

To learn more about the C2 Art Program, please visit: https://www.cibc.com/en/about-cibc/create-and-curate.html

About CIBC

CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 14 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients. Across Personal and Business Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets and Direct Financial Services businesses, CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions and services through its leading digital banking network, and locations across Canada, in the United States and around the world. Ongoing news releases and more information about CIBC can be found at www.cibc.com/ca/media-centre.

SOURCE CIBC

Stephanie Marcus, CIBC Communications & Public Affairs, 416-643-6358 or [email protected]
Louis Audet, Jay S. Hennick, Stanley Marshall and Prem Watsa celebrated with the highest honour in Canadian Business

TORONTO, May 23, 2024 /CNW/ - This evening, The Canadian Business Hall of Fame (CBHF) will take place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. More than 600 of Canada's most esteemed business leaders will gather to recognize four exceptional and visionary individuals to be inducted as the 45th Class of Companions to the Order of the Business Hall of Fame, the highest honour of its kind in Canadian business.

The Inductees being recognized this year are:

Louis Audet , C.M., O.Q., P.Eng., MBA, Chairman of the Board, Cogeco Inc.& Cogeco Communications Inc.

Jay S. Hennick , C.M., J.D., Global Chief Executive Officer & Chairman, Colliers International, Founder & Chairman, FirstService Corporation

Stanley Marshall , BASc (Chem. Eng.), LLB, Corporate Director & Retired Chief Executive Officer, Fortis Inc .

Prem Watsa , C.M., MBA, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited

The annual CBHF Induction Ceremony and Celebration is the signature fundraising event for Junior Achievement of Canada (JA Canada). Proceeds support JA Canada's mission to develop and deliver financial health, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs that equip youth with the skillset and mindset for success.

"The CBHF allows us to learn from extraordinary Canadians about the cornerstones of leadership and entrepreneurial success," says Scott Hillier, CEO of JA Canada. "At JA, we draw upon these lessons, to inform our work to inspire and prepare youth with the skills to succeed and thrive in our global economy."

The Companions of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame who are recognized for their vision and leadership, contributions to economic prosperity and civic engagement serve as role models for the next generation of youth leaders.

Annual inductees are chosen by an independent selection committee that is facilitated by Korn Ferry based on Nominations for the Order of Business Hall of Fame processed on a rolling basis.

Cogeco Inc., Colliers International, Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., and Fortis Inc., are leading sponsors of the gala-style Induction Ceremony and Celebration on May 23, 2024, which is attended by top tier business leaders, former Companions, dignitaries as well as youth leaders.

Each Inductee is presented a CBHF award and pin, legacy video and a portrait which is displayed in the permanent Business Hall of Fame installation at Brookfield Place.

A video of the Induction Ceremony, acceptance speeches, and personal videos showcasing the life and careers of Louis Audet, Jay S. Hennick, Stanley Marshall and Prem Watsa will be available on www.cbhf.ca next week, along with a photo gallery of this very special evening.

About The Canadian Business Hall of Fame (CBHF)

The Canadian Business Hall of Fame celebrates outstanding lifetime achievements of Canada's most distinguished business leaders. Since 1979, more than 200 business leaders have been inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. Celebrating the leaders of today and inspiring the leaders of tomorrow, the CBHF Gala Dinner is the signature national fundraising event in support of JA Canada.

For more information, please visit www.cbhf.ca

About JA Canada

JA Canada inspires the next generation to realize their potential and make a positive impact in their communities. Through JA Canada's network of local offices, and in collaboration with educators and volunteers, the organization delivers hands-on, immersive, and digital learning experiences to young people. Last year JA engaged more than 340,000 youth from coast-to-coast-to-coast. JA is committed to ensuring accessibility and inclusivity through programs that help youth build transferable skills in work readiness, financial health, and entrepreneurship.

For more information, please visit www.jacanada.org.

SOURCE JA Canada

Media Inquiries: For more information, requests for interviews or comments please contact Angela Scott, Manager, Communications [email protected]
The B-21 Stealth bomber has been having flight tests for a few months. U.S. Air Forces B-21 Raider stealth bombers are now conducting test flights from Edwards Air Force Base in California. The first B-21 flew for the first time November, 2023. Six pre-production B-21 have been built.

The Air Force currently expects the B-21 to enter service in the latter half of this decade. The Raider is slated to replace the services B-1B and B-2 bombers. If there was an urgent need it is likely that the US could rush the B-21 into service by early 2025. The first B-21s could be delivered as soon as 2025-2026 under a more normal deployment.

The Air Force should have 24 to 30 operational B-21s by 2030. The US would ramp up to building about ten B-21s per year at full planned production.

The US bomber inventory is 141 B-52s, B-1s and B-2s. This is smaller than at almost any time in USAF history. The Pentagons current plan yields a bomber fleet of just 133 by 2033. The B-21s would start operating before the B-1s and B-2s are retired.

The US has 20 operational B-2s. The US has about 67 operational B1 bombers.

The B-21 weapon system is manufactured under the Air Forces contract with Northrop Grumman. It is designed with an open systems architecture, enabling rapid insertion of mature technologies, and allowing the aircraft to remain effective as threats evolve over time. The aircraft is expected to enter service in the mid-2020s with a production goal of a minimum of 100 aircraft.

The Air Force Rapid CapabilitiesOffice manages the acquisition program, focusing on making test aircraft as production representative as possible. Test aircraft are built on the same manufacturing line and use the same manning and tooling that will be used in the eventual production.

The AFRCOs strategy includes building test aircraft as production-representative as possible. Rather than a traditional flight prototype approach, B-21 test aircraft are built including mission systems using the same manufacturing processes and tooling for production aircraft. This approach in development laid the groundwork for production to start more quickly.

In December 2022, an Australian Strategic Policy Institute report advocated the acquisition of a number of B-21 Raiders to enable Australia to have a greater long-range strike capability. The report states that a B-21 could fly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) without refueling while carrying more munitions as compared to the maximum 930 miles (1,500 km) range of the RAAFs F-35 fighter jets, which require air-to-air refueling. A single B-21 can also deliver the same impact as several F-35As. The B-2A block 30 has more range of 6,900 mi (11,000 km, 6,000 nmi).

The B-21 could also operate as an unmanned drone.
Hermeus is a aviation startup that could be the Lockheed Skunkworks for this generation. They could develop a ultrafast mach 5+ hypersonic jet in record time. Later this year Hermeus is aiming to take their first subsonic flight and will fly at Mach 2.5 next year and then hypersonic before 2030.

They built a ramjet engine that can operate up mach 5 and operated it in a wind tunnel at mach 3.3. The actual prototype was made for less than $8 million in a few months. The speed of development can finally lead to working hypersonic fighters.

The next generation of AI and drones Anduril.

Nextbigfuture believes that Hermeus can succeed with hypersonic fighters which could then be combined with AI drones and swarm drone controls created by Shield AI and Anduril. Eventually, there could be some mergers that combine these next generation capabilities.

Hermeus completed testing of their full system hypersonic ground Mk0 test plane. It is a complete system made in 6 months and tested in 37 days. The fully-integrated vehicle, Quarterhorse Mk 0 is a non-flying prototype acted as a dynamic iron bird for the company by validating all major aircraft subsystems in a real-world environment. It has been one year since the Hermeus had a ground test of their Chimera engine transitioning from turbojet to ramjet power. They need to build the successive airframes to hold their engines to reach hypersonic speeds.

The rapid development and innovations of the legendary Lockheed Skunkworks group had its peak achievements from 1950-1970 with the U2 Spyplane, the A12 prototype and the ultrafast Mach 3.5 SR71 Blackbird. Skunkworks then developed the first stealth bombers and fighters in the 1980s-1990s.

Hermeus is a new defense company but they have a multi-year Defense Intelligence Unit contract that will fund them through the financial valley of death.

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) contract is to mature Hermeus hypersonic aircraft subsystem and mission system technology. Hermeus will utilize its commercial high-speed flight test prototype, Quarterhorse, to support technical maturation and risk reduction for future hypersonic aircraft. The contract is part of DIUs Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities (HyCAT) initiative, which aims to utilize commercial flight test capabilities to expand the Department of Defenses high-speed flight test capacity.

The multi-year award will feature Hermeus iterative approach to technology maturation and aircraft development. Through this contract, Hermeus will demonstrate key enabling technologies for hypersonic aircraft in relevant environments preparing them for introduction into future programs. These technologies include propulsion and propulsion integration; thermal management; power generation; and hypersonic mission system capabilities. This effort will transition the worlds fastest aircraft to an operational flight test capability for hypersonic capability experimentation, and validation.

Hermeus aims to develop hypersonic aircraft quickly and cost-effectively by integrating hardware-rich, iterative development with modern computing and autonomy. This approach has been validated through design, build, and test of the companys first combined turbojet-ramjet engine and is now being scaled through its first flight vehicle program, Quarterhorse. Hermeus is also developing Darkhorse  an uncrewed hypersonic aircraft designed to deliver unique asymmetric capabilities to the warfighter.
A South Jersey woman was indicted on murder charges in the death of her 81-year-old boyfriend who was found beaten and stabbed inside their home in late March.

Police say 75-year-old Eileen Bright stabbed Gary Johnson to death in their home on Lewis Drive in Mays Landing. A grand jury indicted Bright on Wednesday on murder and weapons charges, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office said Thursday.

Police reports say Bright stabbed Johnson with a knife and used a statue to beat him, inflicting injuries to his head and body. She was charged with first-degree murder.

Attorney information was not immediately available Thursday.

Hamilton Township police were called to the couples home around 5:39 p.m. on March 31, finding Johnson dead in a first-floor bedroom. Police interviewed a neighbor, who told officers Bright admitted to her that she killed Johnson, statements that the defendant, according to an affidavit of probable cause, repeated to investigators in a videotaped interview.

Police have not elaborated on a motive.

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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
Authorities are searching for a suspect in a park shooting that left a 23-year-old hospitalized, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office said Wednesday.

At 7:34 p.m. on Tuesday, Glen Rock police responded to a disturbance near at Wilde Memorial Park where large group was playing basketball at the outdoor courts, officials said.

Police located a 23-year-old Paterson man suffering from a single gunshot wound, authorities said. He was treated at an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries and released.

Glen Rock police were assisted in the initial investigation by neighboring police departments as well as county law enforcement agencies and NJ Transit Police.

No arrests have been made and the Bergen County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit and Special Investigations Squad are investigating the incident, authorities said.

The investigation is active and ongoing, officials said. No additional information was provided by authorities.

Officials said Wednesday that the park will be closed until further notice

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Bergen County Prosecutors Office tip line at 201-226-5532. Tips will remain anonymous.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
Charlie Colin, a bassist and co-founding member of the pop-rock band Train, has died. He was 58.

The musician was found dead after slipping and falling in the shower while house-sitting for a friend in Brussels, Belgium. Colins mother confirmed the nature of the death to to TMZ. Further details about the incident have yet to be disclosed.

Colin launched the pop-rock band Train alongside Pat Monahan, Rob Hotchkiss, Scott Underwood and Jimmy Stafford back in 1994.

When I met Charlie Colin, front left, I fell in love with him, a post, penned by Monahan, read on Trains Instagram page Wednesday afternoon. He was THE sweetest guy and what a handsome chap. Lets make a band thats the only reasonable thing to do. His unique bass playing a beautiful guitar work helped get folks to notice us in SF and beyond. Ill always have a warm place for him in my heart. I always tried to pull him closer but he had a vision of his own. Youre a legend, Charlie. Go charm the pants off those angels.

The bassist worked with the group on its first three albums: Train (1999), Drops of Jupiter (2001) and My Private Nation (2003).

Trains 2001 hit song Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me), reached the No. 5 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and won two Grammy awards  Best Rock Song and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s).

Colin left the band in 2003. He went on to join Days of the New in 2014, create a band called Painbirds with Hotchkiss in 2015 and The Side Deal in 2017. He also performed with bands like Slipknot and Puddle of Mudd.

More music coverage

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A Hudson County man caught with over 20 child pornography videos on his phone shortly after he applied for and received his U.S. citizenship was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years and one month in prison, officials said.

Ramy Mercado, 29, of Jersey City, previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography and one count of naturalization fraud, according to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey.

From June 2022 to October 2022, Mercado used his cellphone to send more than 20 video files depicting the sexual abuse of minors, including infants or toddlers, federal prosecutors said.

He also used his phone to express his desire to have sexual encounters with young children, investigators said.

During this time, Mercado applied for and obtained U.S. citizenship and stated under penalty of perjury that since his citizenship interview, he had not committed any crime or offense for which he had not been arrested, the office said.

Mercado became a naturalized U.S. citizen on June 22, 2023.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
New Jerseys top environmental official rejected a request from Ocean Grove to delay enforcing an order requiring Sunday morning beach access from its boardwalk amid an ongoing legal challenge.

Shawn M. LaTourette, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection, told the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association that it is unlikely to win its battle in court to continue blocking entrance to its beaches on Sundays in a tradition that dates back to the communitys religious roots as a Methodist retreat.
A federal judge on Thursday rejected a plea deal for a New Jersey nursing home operator who admitted orchestrating a $38 million tax scam to finance an ill-fated nationwide expansion that ultimately collapsed.

Joseph Schwartz, 64, of Suffern, ran an empire that included 95 facilities in 11 states out of an office above a Wood-Ridge pizzeria. But it all shut down with little warning amid allegations of fraud, mismanagement, and neglect that forced state regulators across the country to take control of many of those nursing homes.

In January, he pleaded guilty to failing to pay employment taxes that had been withheld from employees of his far-flung chain, along with failing to file annual financial reports with the Department of Labor for the 401k plan he sponsored for his employees.

Under the terms of the plea, he faced a year and a day in prison and agreed to pay $5 million in restitution. Released on home detention, which was then modified to a curfew, his sentencing was scheduled for July 17.

But U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton on Thursday unexpectedly threw out the plea agreement.

The court has had an opportunity to review the presentence report and the court hereby rejects the plea agreement, she wrote, without further explanation as to the reasons for her action.

The case may be disposed of less favorably toward the defendant than the plea agreement contemplated, Wigenton continued. Should defendant wish to withdraw from the plea agreement and retract his plea of guilty, he must do so by June 21.

If the plea is not withdrawn, sentencing will go on as scheduled on July 17, with Schwartz presumably facing far more than a year and a day in prison.

The U.S. Attorneys office, which negotiated the plea, declined comment.

Schwartzs attorney, Kevin Marino of Marino, Tortorella & Boyle in Chatham, said the plea agreement was negotiated in good faith between defense counsel and experienced prosecutors in both the US Attorneys Office and the Department of Justice Tax Division.

We are hopeful that when the full record is presented, the court will find that the stipulated resolution is a fair and appropriate one, Marino said.

A failure of care. Was anyone watching?

Schwartz headed Skyline Healthcare, a company he launched after acquiring his first nursing home in East Orange in 2005, court records show. The firm grew nationally, acquiring health care and rehabilitation facilities in Florida, Arkansas, North and South Dakota, Kansas, as well as New Jersey and elsewhere.

Skyline Healthcare was based out of a second floor office above a Wood-Ridge pizza place, seen in this 2017 photo, before the company  which operated nursing homes in 11 states  collapsed.Google Street View

But it all ended amid financial insolvency and charges of mismanagement.

In depositions, Schwartz bragged about being the largest nursing home chain operator in the country. However, court filings claimed Skyline Healthcare had a habit of not paying bills to vendors, utilities, and landlords, or wages to its staff, using a string of shell companies that existed in name only and served no practical purpose other than to attempt to avoid accountability and liability.

Schwartz was accused as well of diverting the cash generated by Skyline through inter-company transfers into closely held companies, those court filings alleged.

According to the federal indictment brought by the U.S. Attorney in New Jersey, Schwartz, who began his career as an insurance broker, sold that insurance business to another company in 2015 for approximately $22 million to finance the expansion of Skyline.

He allegedly entered into an employment contract with the unidentified company as part of that transaction, receiving an annual salary of $300,000 and the right to collect commissions for selling insurance policies to Skyline-owned facilities and their employees. As Skyline acquired more health care and rehabilitation facilities, prosecutors said the other company sold more insurance policies, and Schwartz received larger commissions, the indictment noted.

Prosecutors said the tax scheme involved the alleged creation of several businesses to provide staffing and management services for approximately 15,000 employees of the Skyline-owned facilities. Although owned by other individuals, those businesses were controlled by Schwartz, prosecutors claimed.

In a separate civil lawsuit still playing out in federal district court in New Jersey, several former employees allege that Skyline stole more than $2 million from their paychecks that was supposed to pay for their health insurance. Many said they were saddled with tens of thousands in unexpected medical debt.

__

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When First Lady Tammy Murphy announced her campaign for the U. S. Senate, the elected leaders and county bosses in the Democratic Party jumped on board in a flash. Her ascension was inevitable, we were told, despite her manifest unfitness for the job. The governor would get his way.

Andy Kim stopped that train with a bold stroke. After jumping into the race the moment Sen. Robert Menendez was indicted, he filed a lawsuit challenging the corrupt power of the county machines to rig the primary ballots by exiling the names of challengers like Kim to ballot Siberia, far from mainstream Democrats like President Biden. Needless to say, Kims call for fairness only provoked the arrogant bosses to double down.

Most of the big Democratic machines, including those in Essex, Bergen, Middlesex, and Camden, disgraced themselves by rigging their county conventions against Kim and two other competitors. Several wouldnt even allow challengers to speak at their conventions before delegates voted. This was democracy, Putin-style.

But the bosses missed something. They were blind to Kims appeal, and the anger in the grassroots at their attempts to rig the contest. In every county with a fair fight, Kim won handily. After he took 85 percent in Morris County, winning two standing ovations, the First Lady finally gave up. She saw what was coming, once voters had a chance to cast ballots in the June 4 primary. Meanwhile, Kims lawsuit succeeded, stripping the county bosses of their power to rig the ballot, a win that could transform state politics by hobbling the power of the bosses.

After his remarkable string of wins, Kim has our hearty endorsement, without reservation. And its not just because of that David vs. Goliath story, his win over the bosses. Its because after three terms in Congress, he has proved himself to be a talented player in Washington, a man with unquestioned integrity, serious foreign policy chops, and an inclination to search for common ground on issues like health care costs, where he co-sponsored the bill that capped out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare at $2,000 a year.

After the Jan. 6 riots, he famously went to the Capitol Rotunda to pick up trash, a symbolic move that spoke to the importance of civility in our public life. Hes held 75 town hall meetings since winning an upset election in 2018, in a red district that twice voted for Donald Trump.

I dont spend my time knife-fighting on Twitter and getting involved in the outraged fire-breathing back and forth, he says. I try to do this job, like Ive done my other jobs in government, from the stance of public service.

The son of Korean immigrants, and a Rhodes Scholar, his service included stints working for the State Department in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he advised Gen. David Petraeus. He worked in the National Security Council under President Obama, regularly attending meetings in the Oval Office, invaluable experience for a Senator in these dangerous times.

Its given him a sophisticated take on national security. For example, he warns against a Cold War mentality towards China that has infected Congress and could escalate. Unlike Russia during the Cold War, he says, China is deeply connected to the world economy. And unlike then, the world is not as sharply divided into rival spheres of interest.

Yes, Chinas expansionist ambitions and authoritarian rule make them a rival, and Kim supported the Chips Act that imposed strict limits on high-tech trade with China. But he warns that severing economic ties more broadly would damage both countries, as would a military escalation.

The question is what is the nature of the competition, he says. I think its more of a race than a fight.

He pressed hard to win approval of military aid to Ukraine, along with Israel, though he says the government of Benjamin Netanyahu has gone overboard in Gaza, and he supported President Bidens recent decision to withhold some offensive arms as a warning against an invasion of Rafah.

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Kim has been in public service all his adult life, without a blemish. After serving in foreign policy posts under Democrats and Republicans, he decided in 2018 to run for Congress as an underdog, a response to Donald Trumps 2016 win.

Finally, Kim is 41 years old, meaning he could someday be one the most senior members of the Senate, putting him in a position to beef up New Jerseys influence in Washington markedly, especially now that Menendez, our senior senator, is headed towards the scrap heap of political history as he fends off credible charges of corruption in federal court.

* * *

Kim faces two opponents, both of whom impress: Larry Hamm, a long-time activist fighting for racial and economic justice in Newark, and Patricia Campos-Medina, a labor leader with deep roots in New Jersey. Both are sensible, well-informed progressive voices who came from humble origins to gain advanced degrees from Ivy League schools, Hamm from Princeton University and Campos-Medina from Cornell University, where she teaches labor issues and has taken a leave of absence for this campaign. Campos-Medina is Latina, and Hamm is African-American, so either candidate would bring welcome diversity to the Senate, which is 75 percent male and 89 percent white.

Both are to the left of Kim and were supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders in his presidential primary against Joe Biden. Both would more than double the stingy federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour and raise taxes on the wealthy and profitable corporations. And both favor cutting off all arms to Israel until it changes course in Gaza to spare civilians.

Both have political experience, defined broadly. Campos-Medina, an immigrant from El Salvador at age 14, was among the pioneers who filed suit against New Jerseys unfair ballot design, and has helped direct political strategy for unions representing casino workers and others, while promoting legislations to protect domestic workers. Hamm takes his inspiration from the transformative teachings of Martin Luther King Jr., and made his mark by rallying political support for police reform in his native Newark, long before it was stylish.

One problem is that neither has experience in public office, which makes it impossible to judge how they might perform in the Senate. A bigger problem is that hard-left positions would make them vulnerable in a general election against a Republican. Given the razor-thin Democratic majority in the Senate, and the threat of a second term for Donald Trump, this is no time to take that risk.

Kim is not just the safe bet; he is the more qualified candidate. Campos-Medina and Hamm have both made a positive mark on New Jersey, on behalf of those who need the help most. But Kim is the better choice by far.

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By Todd R. Clear

When he appears before the Congressional Committee on Education and the Workforce Thursday, Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway will be accused of doing little to stop rampant antisemitism at Rutgers. These accusations have come from multiple sources.

The most troubling are political -- New Jersey members of Congress Donald Norcross and Josh Gottheimer, and Governor Phil Murphy. Beneath such claims is a thinly veiled threat: if Holloway doesnt do something to end the antisemitism, someone outside the university will be forced to take action.

The problem? Rampant antisemitism doesnt exist at Rutgers. What is rampant is opposition to Israels war in Gaza. As on many other campuses, students erected an encampment, held teach-ins, chanted, and demanded to be heard. Unlike other schools, the Rutgers administration met with them and negotiated an agreement that mainly expands Arab/Muslim academic capacity on the Rutgers main campus. The students then dismantled their tent city.

The pushback has been startling. Because many of Israels supporters find the Gaza war so difficult to defend, they are shifting the conversation. They seem to believe that by redefining campus political speech and Arab/Muslim scholarship as antisemitic, they can justify suppressing both.

We cannot let this happen.

Last week, I joined a group of over 50 Jewish faculty at Rutgers who urged President Holloway to hold his course -- to resist the chorus of voices accusing Rutgers of antisemitism. I am a former Dean and Provost at Rutgers, and so I have deep appreciation for the immense pressure he is under. As a Jewish member of the Rutgers faculty, I can say with confidence that the protests at Rutgers are not antisemitic. In fact, they have more in common with the Jewish principle of tikkun olam -- social justice.

The voices calling attention to the carnage in Gaza do so in the finest tradition of student activism. These voices are noisy, frequently strident, and sometimes disruptive. But they are not antisemitic.

What, exactly, were they saying that is deemed so antisemitic? They chant: Free, Free Palestine, From the River to the Sea, Divest, and Intifada! Each of the chants says something about Israel  they say nothing about Jews.

Yes, antisemitism exists. No one can doubt that there have been incidents where individuals at the Rutgers protests crossed the line from aggressive advocacy to the kind of hate speech that we abhor.

Every crowd engaged in protest, from the days of Civil Rights and Vietnam, contains some individuals whose actions discredit the ethics of the mass. We know this was true at Rutgers. We also know that the students at the encampment (many of whom were Jewish) made signs proclaiming, No Antisemitism, No Islamophobia, served bagel brunches, and held Shabbat services.

To conflate opposition to policies of the State of Israel with hatred of Jews is wrong on two counts. First, it is factually wrong. Many Jews (including Israelis) oppose what Netanyahus government is doing in Gaza  just look at the op-ed pages of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Second, and even more troubling, is the conflation of anti-Israel sentiment with anti-Jewish sentiment  which is itself antisemitic. In truth, Jews have never been of one mind on the matter of Zionism. While many see Israel as the best hope for autonomous Jewish life, others disagree.

Moreover, what exactly is antisemitic about expanding academic capacity for Arab/Muslim scholarship? Rutgers is a university with 7,000 Arab or Muslim students, and increasing scholarly work about their history and culture seems exactly the right thing to do. Indeed, this is what we have already done to better serve the interests of our approximately 7,000 Jewish students.

So, when many of our Jewish colleagues walking across campus felt disturbed by the anti-Israel and anti-Zionist chanting, what disturbed them wasnt antisemitism  it was activism.

We can respect their feelings  indeed, some of us disagree with some of the slogans we heard as well. But to shut down protests in order to protect bystanders comfort is not only un-American, it is counterproductive to the spirit and mission of the University.

I write on behalf of the many Jewish faculty at Rutgers who want to defend that mission. We represent the full range of contemporary Jewish experience and practice. Some of us are descendants of Holocaust survivors. Some have relatives in Israel. Others have lost loved ones in the current conflict. We represent all branches of contemporary Jewish practice, including Jews by choice and secular Jews. We even hold a range of views about Zionism and about the current war.

The one thing we agree on: Rutgers is a diverse community whose individuals hold a multitude of personal identities and many points of view about the world.

What makes Rutgers special is our universitys proud tradition of honoring them all. Nobody would say that a person who is opposed to Hamas as a political entity hates Palestinians. That is absurd and illogical. It is equally so to equate opposition to the state of Israel -- or a political ideology undergirding it -- with hating Jews. We can do better.

Todd Clear is a criminologist and a Distinguished Professor at Rutgers Law School and School of Criminal Justice.
A 13-year-old was shot and wounded Wednesday evening in Paterson, authorities said.

The teen was found shot in the area of Putman and Mercer streets around 5:15 p.m., according to a joint statement from the Paterson Police Department and the Passaic County Prosecutors Office.

The teenager was taken to St. Josephs University Medical Center for treatment. The agencies did not disclose the severity of the teens injury.
Nikki Haleys decision to endorse Donald Trump for president after she spent months campaigning hard against him wasnt met with delight from all of her supporters.

The Daily Beast reported Thursday a group of Haley backers from Vermont to Arizona met with President Joe Bidens campaign on Wednesday night almost immediately after she announced her plan to vote for Donald Trump.

According to the report, A Biden campaign representative listened to the concerns of top Haley supporters from various states as part of Bidenworlds ongoing outreach to win over Haley voters.

SCOOP: Shortly after Nikki Haley announced she'd be voting for Trump in November, a representative from the Biden campaign met with a group of top Haley supporters over Zoom last night.



Part of an ongoing Biden effort to persuade this key voting bloc: https://t.co/CCdcvFbvyy  Jake Lahut (@JakeLahut) May 23, 2024

Haley on Wednesday threw her support behind the former president after she ended her own White House bid in early March and has kept mum since on who shell vote for in November.

As a voter, I put my priorities on a president who is going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account, who would secure the border, no more excuses. A president who would support capitalism and freedom. A president who understands we need less debt, not more debt. Trump has not been perfect on these polices. Ive made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe, so I will be voting for Trump, Haley said Wednesday during an appearance at the Hudson Institute.

She added: Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech. Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me, and not assume that theyre just gonna be with him. And I genuinely hope that he does that.

Haley didnt endorse Trump in her speech dropping out of the race on March 6 in Charleston, South Carolina. Instead, she challenged him to win the support of the moderate Republicans and independent voters who supported her.

Haleys defeat was a painful, if predictable, blow to those voters, donors and Republican Party officials who opposed Trump and his fiery brand of Make America Great Again politics. She was especially popular among moderates and college-educated voters, constituencies that will likely play a pivotal role in the general election. Its unclear whether Trump, who recently declared that Haley donors would be permanently banned from his movement, can ultimately unify a deeply divided party.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton  who has said that he wont vote for his former boss, Donald Trump  on Wednesday slammed Nikki Haley for saying she would vote for presumptive Republican nominee after criticizing him for months on the campaign trail.

Earlier Wednesday, Haley  who had called Trump unhinged and unfit while campaigning against him for the GOP presidential nomination  caved and said she would vote for Trump.

Bolton wonders what Haley is thinking.

I noticed that in her remarks, she said that she wanted to support a president who would back Americas allies and hold its enemies accountable. Thats not Donald Trump, Bolton said in an interview on CNN. Thats not his record in office.

He added: I hope shes not thinking of being his vice president.

Haley said in January that she wouldnt serve as Trumps running mate: I dont want to be anybodys vice president. That is off the table, she said at an event in New Hampshire.

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Bolton, who served in Trumps White House in 2018 and 2019, has accused Trump of having no political philosophy or coherent policy outlook. If re-elected, Trump could leave the NATO security alliance, curb support to Ukraine despite Russias 2022 invasion, embolden China to blockade Taiwan and generally pursue isolationism, Bolton has warned. In his memoir, Bolton said Trump would punish personal enemies and appease Russia and China.

After saying she would vote for Trump, Haley was slammed by many  in both parties.

The Bulwark publisher and pollsters Sarah Longwell tweeted: What a pathetic coward.

Democratic strategist Sawyer Hackett said: Nikki Haley just said shes voting for Trump. Her 3 months ago: We cant have someone that sits and mocks men and women trying to protect America. Its a pattern of chaos. Its a pattern of irresponsibility.

Former Trump communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin tweeted: Disappointing but not surprising. I lost all faith in politicians a long time ago. Trump is a threat to democracy and has no business being near the White House.

UVA Center for Politics director Larry Sabato said: OF COURSE Nikki Haley is voting for Trump. There are very few prominent Republicans with the courage of Liz Cheney.

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When former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was campaigning to be the Republican presidential nominee, she questioned whether Donald Trump was mentally fit to return to the White House.

On Wednesday, Haley confessed that she will vote for Trump in November, betraying supporters who are still casting votes for her in GOP primaries  even though she has been out of the race for two months.

Haley is just another in a growing list of Trump detractors who are now saying they will support him despite a coup attempt, criminal indictments, and civil fraud and defamation judgments.

As a voter, I put my priorities on a president who is going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account, who would secure the border, no more excuses. A president who would support capitalism and freedom. A president who understands we need less debt, not more debt. Trump has not been perfect on these polices. Ive made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe, so I will be voting for Trump, Haley said Wednesday during an appearance at the Hudson Institute.

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Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech. Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me, and not assume that theyre just going to be with him, she added.

Youd think MAGA would welcome her endorsement with hugs and hallelujas. Yeah, well, not so fast, said MAGA lieutenant Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Desperate Neocon Nikki Haley finally endorsed President Trump today, Greene posted on social media.

She is doing everything she can to weasel her way into Trumps next administration, even now by threatening that her voters wont vote for Trump.

Not voting FOR Trump IS voting for Biden.

If Nikki Haley is demanding her voters help Biden continue to destroy our country by refusing to vote for Trump, then Nikki Haley and her voters will be responsible and we will never forget it.

Never Neocon Nikki.

While campaigning Haley portrayed Trump as dangerous and unfit to serve, saying that where Trump goes, chaos follows. She questioned Trumps mental fitness, advocating for politicians above a certain age to be subject to mental competency tests.

Many of the same politicians who publicly embrace Trump privately dread him, Haley said in a Feb. 20 campaign speech in Greenville, S.C. They know what a disaster hes been and will continue to be. They are just too afraid to say it out loud. Im not afraid to say the hard truth out loud.

When Trump questioned the whereabouts of her husband, Michael Haley, who was deployed with the United States Africa Command and hinted that her marriage was falling apart, Haley fired back.

If you mock the service of a combat veteran, you dont deserve a drivers license, let alone being president of the United States, she said in February.

Greene is fresh from launching her conspiracy theory that the FBI, with standard orders to defend themselves during their search for classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, was out to assassinate Trump.

The FBI quickly shot that down and stated that the same standard operating procedure was in effect when agents searched President Joe Bidens residence for classified materials.
Its official.

Nikki Haley, the former GOP South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador under Donald Trump, has thrown her support behind the former president after she ended her own White House bid in early March and has kept mum since on who shell vote for in November.

As a voter, I put my priorities on a president who is going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account, who would secure the border, no more excuses. A president who would support capitalism and freedom. A president who understands we need less debt, not more debt. Trump has not been perfect on these polices. Ive made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe, so I will be voting for Trump, Haley said Wednesday during an appearance at the Hudson Institute.

She added: Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech. Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me, and not assume that theyre just gonna be with him. And I genuinely hope that he does that.

Nikki Haley says Trump has not been perfect but says Biden is a catastrophe



I will be voting for Trump. Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech. Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me" pic.twitter.com/cgSCs0JjBW  Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) May 22, 2024

The move comes after she called Trump unfit for office and campaigned hard against him in the GOP primary.

Haley didnt endorse Trump in her speech dropping out of the race on March 6 in Charleston, South Carolina. Instead, she challenged him to win the support of the moderate Republicans and independent voters who supported her.

Haleys defeat was a painful, if predictable, blow to those voters, donors and Republican Party officials who opposed Trump and his fiery brand of Make America Great Again politics. She was especially popular among moderates and college-educated voters, constituencies that will likely play a pivotal role in the general election. Its unclear whether Trump, who recently declared that Haley donors would be permanently banned from his movement, can ultimately unify a deeply divided party.

She had initially ruled out running against Trump in 2024. But she changed her mind and ended up launching her bid three months after he did, citing among other things, the countrys economic troubles and the need for generational change.

Haley and Trump havent spoken in months.

Haley earned more than 21% of the vote in Marylands presidential primary last week. Thats after hitting similar marks the week before in Indiana and Arizona just weeks after leaving the race.

Despite dodging the question for weeks on the campaign trail in the primary, Haley said in January that she wouldnt serve as Trumps running mate.

I dont want to be anybodys vice president. That is off the table, she said at an event in New Hampshire.

Previously, she repeatedly said she was she wont play for second.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado tried to take credit for an infrastructure project she voted against, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg was having none of it.

Great meeting with Glenwood Springs City Councilor and former Mayor Jonathan Godes, Boebert posted on Twitter on Wednesday. We have secured over $51.4 million for the South Bridge. Was thrilled to hear about nearly $30 million in costs savings in addition and that my support has helped make this project a reality.

Nice try, Buttigieg tweeted in reply.

Congresswoman, in what way do you believe that your support helped this project? We chose it because its a good project, and funded it using President Bidens infrastructure package, which you voted against.

Twitter, now known as X, even posted a community note to the Boebert tweet, explaining that she was lying about her role.

Boebert hasnt secured 51.4 million dollars for this bridge, the note said. The money came from a Biden-Harris grant that is part of the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program, which itself is a part of theInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which Boebert voted against.

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According to the New Republic:

One of President Bidens hallmark achievements thus far is his $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law. Even though Biden compromised with Republicans, and even though the law was so beneficial for their constituencies, a majority of Senate and House Republicans still voted against it in 2021. And now these same Republicans are suddenly trying to take credit for the historic investment they actively tried to stop.

Bidens law is distributing upward of $42 billion across America to expand internet access and help bring rural and isolated communities into the increasingly digital world. The White House on Monday released estimates of what that means for each stateand Republicans who voted against the bill were quick to claim the victory.

Among Republicans who have been caught trying to con their constituents about Biden initiatives they voted against are Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, and Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina. Biden has called out others on the campaign trail.

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Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he alone could get Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich back to the U.S. after he was jailed in Russia on espionage charges more than a year ago.

Evan Gershkovich, the Reporter from The Wall Street Journal, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the Election, but definitely before I assume Office. He will be HOME, SAFE, AND WITH HIS FAMILY. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and WE WILL BE PAYING NOTHING! Trump posted to his social media site.

The line about Trump being the only person Putin would agree to such a deal was noticed by critics.

Hes saying: vote for me or the reporter doesnt come home. liberal podcaster Bob Cesca noted.

He's saying: vote for me or the reporter doesn't come home. pic.twitter.com/KDoQnYVLpx  Bob Cesca (@bobcesca_go) May 23, 2024

The 32-year-old U.S. citizen was detained in late March 2023 while on a reporting trip and has spent over a year in jail, with authorities routinely extending his time behind bars and rejecting his appeals. Two months ago, his pretrial detention was continued yet again  until June 30  in a ruling that he and his lawyers later challenged. A Moscow appellate court rejected it Tuesday.

Gershkovich and his employer have denied the allegations, and the U.S. government has declared him to be wrongfully detained.

Analysts have pointed out that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips in soaring U.S.-Russian tensions over the Kremlins military operation in Ukraine. At least two U.S. citizens arrested in Russia in recent years  including WNBA star Brittney Griner  have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the U.S.

Gershkovich is the first American reporter to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB.

Daniloff was released without charge 20 days later in a swap for an employee of the Soviet Unions U.N. mission who was arrested by the FBI, also on spying charges.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
A driver and a 12-year-old passenger were killed and three other passengers injured when a vehicle slammed into a tractor-trailer stopped on the shoulder of I-78 in Warren County late Wednesday, State Police said.

The crash happened around 11:30 p.m. at mile marker 6.2 in Greenwich Township, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron said.

The tractor-trailer was parked on the right shoulder of the highway and the vehicle was heading east, Lebron said.

The driver of the vehicle veered into the right shoulder and hit the truck, police said. The driver and a 12-year-old girl in the backseat were pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Their names have not been released pending family notification.

A 37-year-old woman from the Bronx, New York, in the front passenger seat, as well as a 6-year-old boy and a 9-month-old girl in the backseat were airlifted to area hospitals, Lebron said. The woman suffered serious injuries and the children suffered moderate injuries, he said.

Additional details about the three injured were not immediately available Thursday morning.

Please subscribe now and support the local news you rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Get ready for an active hurricane season. Thats the word from long-range weather forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who are predicting an above-average hurricane season in the Atlantic this year with as many 25 named storms developing.

The government forecasters say very warm water temperatures and a transition from the current El Nino weather pattern to a La Nina pattern later this year will likely enhance the number of tropical storms and hurricanes that form in the Atlantic hurricane basin. Reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear are also factors that favor tropical storm formation, the NOAA said.

The basin includes the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

The NOAA said Thursday theres an 85% chance of an above-normal hurricane seas with a 10% chance of a near-normal season and just a 5% chance of below normal activity.

An El Nino pattern, triggered by warmer than usual sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific, tends to limit the development of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic, experts say.

A La Nina pattern, with cooler than normal water temperatures in the Pacific, typically leads to more active hurricane seasons in the Atlantic.

Forecasters say La Nina patterns are more likely to support the development of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic because of reduced wind shear  which occurs when winds suddenly change their speed or direction at different heights in the atmosphere.

A many as 13 hurricanes could form this year in the Atlantic Ocean, according to forecasters.NOAA

In its 2024 forecast, issued Thursday morning, NOAAs Climate Prediction Center is projecting 17 to 25 named storms developing in the Atlantic hurricane basin this year, with eight to 13 of those turning into hurricanes. Of those hurricanes, the forecasters believe four to seven will strengthen into major hurricanes  with top sustained winds of 111 mph or higher.

Based on averages during the 30-year stretch from 1990 to 2020, the normal Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms and seven hurricanes, three of which turn into major hurricanes (Category 3, Category 4 or Category 5) that cause the most destruction.

Three to four named storms typically affect the U.S. during hurricane season  which officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, but can produce some named storms as early as April or May.

These are the names that will be used when tropical storms or hurricanes form in the Atlantic hurricane basin in 2024.Len Melisurgo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Other predictions for 2024 hurricane season

In late March, long-range forecasters from AccuWeather predicted an explosive hurricane season with a near-record number of storms forming in the Atlantic basin this summer.

AccuWeather predicted 20 to 25 named storms, with eight to 12 becoming hurricanes and four to seven turning into major hurricanes classified as Category 3 or stronger.

Hurricane researchers from Colorado State University are also predicting an extremely active hurricane season, with 23 named storms, with 11 of those becoming hurricanes and five reaching major hurricane strength.

When waters in the eastern and central tropical and subtropical Atlantic are much warmer than normal in the spring, it tends to force a weaker subtropical high and associated weaker winds blowing across the tropical Atlantic, the CSU research team said. These conditions will likely lead to a continuation of well above-average water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic for the peak of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

A very warm Atlantic favors an above-average season, since a hurricanes fuel source is warm ocean water, the team noted. In addition, a warm Atlantic leads to lower atmospheric pressure and a more unstable atmosphere. Both conditions favor hurricanes.

Steven DiMartino, head of the NY NJ PA Weather forecasting company, based in Monmouth County, is also calling for an active hurricane season. He is predicting 20 named storms, with 12 of those strengthening into hurricanes and six becoming major hurricanes.

Current weather radar

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local weather news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com or on X at @LensReality.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Jeff Goldman contributed to this report.
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Louisiana lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to a bill that will add two pills used to cause abortions, in addition to many other health care purposes, to the list of controlled substances.

The Senate signed off 29-7 on amendments to Senate Bill 276 by Shreveport Republican Sen. Thomas Pressly, making it a crime for someone to possess mifepristone or misoprostol without a prescription. It now heads to the desk of Gov. Jeff Landry, who is almost certain to sign it into law.

The bill includes exceptions for pregnant people who have them for her own consumption" and medical professionals acting in the course of [ones] professional practice. Anyone else found guilty of having the drugs in their possession could face between one to five years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine, with stiffer fines for distributing or manufacturing them.

The move comes after more than 280 health care providers and medical students in the state wrote Pressly in opposition to the bill. They said that it could delay care for patients, which could include aiding in labor and delivery, miscarriage management, inserting IUDs and so much more.

Pressly dismissed their concerns that it would delay care, saying he talked to others in the health care field and on the Board of Pharmacy who disagreed. Sen. Jay Morris, a West Monroe Republican, went so far as to claim that the hundreds of health care professionals and students who signed the letter did so for political reasons.

Sen. Royce Duplessis, a New Orleans Democrat, said it was lawmakers who were putting politics over medical evidence.

We are not prioritizing safe and evidence-based care for pregnant women, he said. Were using politics to decide how to govern care for women.

Sen. Jay Luneau, a Pineville Democrat, said that he worried some doctors and pharmacists wouldnt want to prescribe or provide the drugs out of fear of being criminally prosecuted.

Is that a real fear? Well, I can tell you what, if I was one of them, it would be a real fear for me because of where the law is placed, Luneau said. Its placed into racketeering statutes, the statutes that we have to prosecute mobsters and gang members that are violent and kill people.

In a House committee, Pressly added the scheduling of the medications to what had up until that point been a non-controversial bill. It creates a specific crime of secretly giving a pregnant person the pills in order to end their pregnancy without their consent.

He brought the bill after his sister Catherine Herrings ex-husband crushed up misoprostol and put it in her water on several occasions, causing her pregnancy complications.

This bill has changed tremendously from the first time it was voted on, where it was unanimous on this floor, to what were voting on today, Pressly said.

The measure places mifepristone and misoprostol in the same category as medications used to treat anxiety, seizures, and insomnia, such as Xanax. Unlike the other pills in this category, neither mifepristone or misoprostol are addictive if misused.

Without any potential for abuse or dependence, mifepristone and misoprostol no more belong on a Controlled Substances list than do insulin, Viagra, Ozempic or any other medication appropriately prescribed by physicians for acute and chronic conditions, wrote the health care providers in their letter opposing the bill.

To prescribe controlled substances, a health care provider must have a Drug Enforcement Administration license, which some OB-GYNs dont have. There are also different requirements for storing the medications.

Democratic Sens. Regina Barrow of Baton Rouge and Katrina Jackson-Andrews of Monroe joined Republicans in approving the amendments.
Colourful characters, parades and revelry will be in full swing this bank holiday weekend as Combe Martin celebrate sits unique custom of The Hunting of the Earl of Rone.

Villagers will don costumes to hunt the elusive Earl, in a series of four processions beginning on Friday evening and culminating in a huge parade with hundreds of people on the Monday evening.

Accompanied by rhythmic drums, various characters including a Hobby Horse, Fool and Grenadiers  plus the Earl himself once located  will make their way up and down the long village street.

Above: Combe Martin is on the hunt this weekend. Credit: Simon Stuart

No one knows for sure the origin of the custom, which includes various elements from English folklore and is thought to date back hundreds of years.

It was banned in 1837 for licentiousness and drunken behaviour but was revived in 1974 and has continued to this day, aside from a break during Covid.

Credit: Simon Stuart

On Friday a smaller procession of Grenadiers, Hobby Horse and Fool, accompanied by drums, will leave Holdstone Way at the top of the village at 7pm and make their way to the Stable at the Castle Inn.

Then on Saturday it is the turn of local children to have their own procession, leaving the junior school at 11am and making their way up the village.

Sunday will see the hunt take to the lanes and byways around the village, leaving Sandaway holiday park at the beach at 1.30pm.

Then on Monday evening the whole party gathers at Holdstone Way at 6pm, with the grenadiers setting off at 5.45pm to locate the Earl in Ladys Wood.

He is then paraded down the main street, sometimes sat back-to-front on a donkey, periodically shot and revived by the Hobby Horse and Fools to much clamour of drums, before the procession reaches the beach at sunset and he is cast into the sea.

Above: Villagers Hunting the Earl of Rone in Combe Martin, with the captured earl on donkey back. Credit: Simon Stuart

Local legend says the unlucky Earl was Hugh ONeill, Earl of Tyrone, who was forced to flee from Ireland in 1607 and was shipwrecked in Rapparee Cove in nearby Ilfracombe.

Hiding in the woods and surviving only on ships biscuits, he was eventually captured by a party of Grenadiers sent from Barnstaple.

There is not thought to be any historical evidence for this and theories abound as to the origins of the custom, such as a holdover from medieval May games, or pagan pre-Christian customs.

Regardless, Combe Martin has plenty of fun each late May bank holiday and the custom is a spectacle for visitors to enjoy.

During procession times, traffic is likely to be slower in the village and expect delays during the Monday evening procession, though it will step aside regularly to let traffic through.

You can find out more about The Hunting of the Earl of Rone at https://earl-of-rone.org.uk.

Below: The final scenes of the hunt play out at the beach. Credit: Earl of Rone Council/JustSo Photography
Mobile operator Three has said it is carefully reviewing the quashing of its planning appeal for a 66ft (20 metre) mast on Exmoor.

The company, officially called Hutchison 3G UK, had applied to put the Swann Lattice tower near Honeymead, within Exmoor National Park.

The scheme was blocked by the parks planners in June last year, which prompted an appeal by Three to the Planning Inspectorate.

But the firms hopes of securing a different outcome failed this month after the inspector backed the decision by Exmoor National Park Authority, based on the proposed mast being in an area whose distinct feature is the extensive panoramic views of the hills and valleys.

Three said the site was part of its work on the Shared Rural Network programme, a 1 billion initiative between the Government and the UKs four mobile network operators, which also includes EE, O2 and Vodafone.

The aim of the scheme is to bring 4G coverage to 95 per cent of the UK landmass by the end of 2025.

Three said its proposed Exmoor mast would enhance coverage and provide greater choice for the residents, visitors and businesses of Exmoor.

We want to offer the community a reliable network experience and our planners determined that this site was required to deliver it, " a spokesperson for the firm said.

We are carefully reviewing the inspectors decision.

The Government website states that Planning Inspectorate decisions can be challenged in the High Court if the applicant believes a legal mistake was made, and that any such claim must be submitted within six weeks from the date of the ruling.

In his decision, the inspector said that while Three considered the potential impact of the mast to be moderate to slightly adverse, he considered it would be an intrusive and eye-catching feature within the area, and that it would be particularly visible from views from the south and also from the higher land to the north and east.

The impact of the mast would be such that it would be experienced from very long distances away, such as when approaching Simonsbath from Blue Gate, he added.

The inspector said the mobile firm had not made it clear whether more suitable sites were available, and stated that there were already two nearby masts, although Three had discounted so-called mast sharing.

It was acknowledged that if this mast went ahead, it would provide 4G connectivity to the area, and that this would benefit the local population.

However, there would be short, medium and long-distance views of the mast, and it would appear intrusive, introducing a conspicuously modern man made landmark structure in a prominent location that would unacceptably erode the landscape and scenic beauty of the National Park, the inspector added.

Given my findings, the mast would unacceptably harm the distinct character and appearance of the area, and the harm to the landscape and scenic beauty of the National Park would be unacceptable and wide ranging.

These substantial harms would not be outweighed by the need for the installation to be sited as proposed taking into account other alternative sites.
Air Supply  you know, the One that You Love whether you're Lost in Love or All Out of Love  will perform in Harbor Country.

The Australian soft rock band that's had many radio hits will perform at Four Winds New Buffalos Silver Creek Event Center at 1111 Wilson Road in New Buffalo, just across the state line in Southwest Michigan, at 8 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, Oct.5.

The duo of Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock, who sold more than 100 million records worldwide, first met on the first day of rehearsals for "Jesus Christ Superstar" in Sydney, Australia in 1975. They bonded over their love for the Beatles.

They started playing pizza parlors, coffee shops and nightclubs after the shows let out, performing with one guitar and two harmonizing voices. They recorded a cassette and CBS Records decided to put out a single.

Air Supply ended up opening for Rod Stewart across Australia, the United States and Canada. They scored a hit in Australia with "Lost in Love," which went international after it was discovered by music industry executive Clive Davis in New York.

"Clive immediately signed Air Supply to Arista Records and in 1980, 'Lost in Love' became the fastest selling single in the world, leaping to the top of all of the charts. Now Air Supply was on their way. The second single was 'All Out of Love,' and that went up the charts even quicker," the casino said in a press release. "Seven top-five singles later, Air Supply at that time had equaled The Beatles' run of consecutive top five singles. The albums Lost in Love, The One That You Love, Now & Forever, and The Greatest Hits sold in excess of 20 million copies. 'Lost in Love' was named Song of the Year in 1980, and, with the other singles, sold more than 10 million copies. The trademark sound of Russell Hitchcock's soaring tenor voice and Graham Russell's simple yet majestic songs created a unique sound that would forever be known as Air Supply."

The band toured the world, gained a huge amount of radio airplay and sold seven million copies of its Greatest Hits Album alone. Its many hits include "Lost in Love", "All Out of Love", "The One That You Love", "Sweet Dreams" and "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All."

"The Earth Is" in 1989 sold more than 1 million copies outside of the United States. The band has continued to tour the world and pick up industry honors, including induction into the Australian Recording Industry Associations Hall of Fame.

Tickets start at $45.

For more information, call 866-494-6371 or visit fourwindscasino.com.
LAPORTE  A 44-year-old man was arrested and faces a criminal charge after falsely identifying himself to police this week as his wanted brother, according to the LaPorte County Sheriff's Department.

County police said they responded around 8 p.m. Tuesday to the area of Lakeshore Drive and Hudson Boulevard in response to a report of a disturbance.

CHS student denies pointing gun, says he hoped to scare off attackers, cops say "Ryan Gengnagel reported he wanted to scare them off if they saw the handgun on his lap," according to police.

An officer found a man there identifying himself as 43-year-old Joseph Miller, who was found to be wanted in Marion County for felony theft and misdemeanor criminal trespass charges, police said.

The man was taken into custody, at which time it was revealed he was actually Mark Luzar, of Flat Rock, Indiana, according to police.

Luzar was taken to jail on a charge of making a false identity statement and released after posting a cash bond, police said.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Miller is encouraged to contact the Fugitive Apprehension Street Team at 219-608-9572 or Michiana Crime Stoppers at 800-342-7867.
HAMMOND  Hamidullah Tribble, 28, of Chicago, was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm following a two-day jury trial before United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Tribble had previously tried to avoid facing trial on the charge, using the Second Amendment as his defense according to prior reporting by The Times.

A federal grand jury indicted Tribble on allegations he illegally possessed a 19 mm Glock pistol on July 19, 2022, somewhere in northern Indiana.

The indictment doesnt spell out the circumstances of Tribbles arrest but does state that Tribble violated federal gun laws prohibiting convicted felons from being armed.

Tribble's sentencing will be scheduled at a later date, the Department of Justice said in a statement on Thursday.

"Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the district court judge after consideration of federal statutes and the United States sentencing guidelines," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force and the Lake County Sheriffs Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly L. Schultz.
Mike Schmidt, the progressive prosecutor in Portland, Ore., who has held office during a tumultuous period of street protests, drug overdoses and violent crime, lost his seat to a co-worker who has called for more aggressive prosecution of criminals, The Associated Press said on Wednesday.

The co-worker, Nathan Vasquez, a deputy district attorney in the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office, had mounted a campaign that blamed Mr. Schmidt for the citys recent problems. Mr. Schmidt, a Democrat, was one of a series of progressive prosecutors around the country who had vowed to reshape the criminal justice system.

But in the years since Mr. Schmidts election in 2020, voters in Portland have signaled an interest in cracking down on crime and homelessness. As businesses fled the city center, people reported feeling unsafe on the streets. Homicides and overdoses soared.
As President Bidens support among Arab and Muslim Americans withers over his backing of Israel in the war in Gaza, former President Donald J. Trump is making a long-shot push to take advantage.

On Tuesday, Richard Grenell, a former high-ranking official in the Trump administration, met for more than two hours with a group of about 40 Arab and Muslim American leaders at an Italian restaurant outside Detroit. Mr. Grenell was joined by the former presidents son-in-law Michael Boulos, who is married to Tiffany Trump and is Lebanese American, though the Trump campaign said it had not organized the meeting.

Many Arab and Muslim American voters have said they are so angry with Mr. Biden over his Israel policy that they will sit out the election, despite supporting him in large numbers in 2020. But Mr. Grenell told the group that it had the chance to exercise extraordinary political power by backing Mr. Trump instead, according to six people who attended the meeting.

Mr. Grenell argued that if Muslim and Arab Americans publicly swung their support to the former president  and helped him win Michigan, a key battleground state  they would demonstrate to both Republicans and Democrats that they could not be ignored.
China launched two days of military drills surrounding Taiwan on Thursday in what it called a strong punishment to its opponents on the self-governing island, after Taiwans new president pledged to defend its sovereignty.

The drills were the first substantive response by China to the swearing-in of President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing dislikes, in Taipei on Monday. Mr. Lais political party asserts Taiwans separate status from China, and in a high-profile inaugural speech, he vowed to keep Taiwans democracy safe from Chinese pressure.

China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, had mainly responded to Mr. Lais speech with sharply worded criticism. But it escalated its response Thursday by announcing that it was conducting sea and air exercises that would encircle Taiwan and draw close to the Taiwanese islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin in the Taiwan Strait.

From the start of the exercises until the afternoon, 15 Chinese navy vessels, 16 Chinese coast guard vessels and 42 Chinese military aircraft were detected around Taiwans main island and smaller outlying islands, according to Taiwans Defense Ministry. Officials at a briefing in Taipei said that so far none of the Chinese aircraft and vessels had entered Taiwans territorial waters.
President Emmanuel Macron of France has a lot to manage. The European elections are fast approaching, and his party is predicted to lose. There are the frenzied preparations for the Olympic Games in Paris. A manhunt is underway for a convict whose brazen and deadly jailbreak shocked the country.

The last place many expected Mr. Macron to be was on a plane to one of Frances territories in the Pacific, where riots have been exploding all week. But there he was in New Caledonia on Thursday, with three ministers in tow, on a mission to heal and listen in a territory where many hold him personally responsible for the unrest.

Whether Mr. Macrons hastily arranged visit will accomplish that is unclear.

The riots were set off by the prospect of a vote last week in the National Assembly in Paris to expand voting rights in the territory by constitutional amendment. Many in the local Indigenous population worry that the law will dilute their power in the territory, which is semiautonomous but still part of France, and hamper a long process toward independence.

Over less than 24 hours, Mr. Macron spoke with local officials and civil-society activists, thanked the police and met  separately  with pro- and anti-independence political forces.
Confronting you head-on are a hanging flag, and a man in danger of hanging.

The flag, unfurled vertically between two white structural columns in a gallery at El Museo del Barrio, resembles the stars and stripes of the United States, except the blue and red are black, and the white has been dyed a gristly pink  stained with blood, according to the exhibition materials, given by undocumented immigrants living in New York.

The man is Carlos Martiel, an Afro-Cuban performance artist known for putting his body through grueling, painful trials while audiences watch. Hes not actually present in El Museo del Barrio: A large monitor leaning against the back wall, aligned with the flag, plays footage from a 2022 performance titled Cuerpo  body, in Spanish. Martiel is naked except for a rope, looped around his neck and attached to the ceiling of a gallery. A handful of people take turns shouldering his legs and propping up his back while he grimaces in the noose.

These are the two strongest, most unsettling artworks in Martiels first major survey, also titled Cuerpo, in New York City, where hes lived since 2012. The words undocumented immigrants in the written description of the flag work, Insignia VII, charge it with violence. The noose performance is tense, dynamic and uncertain, even from the safe distance of a video. You are dared to deny the suffering of the artist, or of those he stands for.
Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep  and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.

Losing the Plot

Newly unsealed files from the F.B.I. search of Mar-a-Lago in 2022 showed that agents were authorized to use deadly force if necessary.

Which is standard operating procedure, whenever the F.B.I. execute a search warrant, Jimmy Kimmel noted on Wednesday, but in the MAGA-verse, it is a plot to kill Donald Trump.
The Supreme Courts conservative majority cleared the way today for South Carolina to keep using a congressional map that a lower court had deemed an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. All three liberal justices dissented.

The ruling handed a victory to the states Republicans by allowing them to maintain a stronghold on a district in Charleston County. A panel of federal judges had previously found that district to be illegal because redistricting had removed 62 percent of its Black voters. The immediate effect will be limited: This years elections were already set to take place under the contested map.

But todays decision could have a broader impact in the years to come. Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the majority opinion, said that courts should generally presume that lawmakers are telling the truth when they say their goal in redistricting is partisan, which is permissible, rather than based on race, which is not. That distinction can be difficult because Black voters overwhelmingly favor Democrats.

Alitos position could make it easier for Republican states to engage in redistricting to help white Republicans maximize their political power, said Richard Hasen, an election law expert. In dissent, the liberal justices argued that it could become all but impossible to challenge voting maps as racial gerrymanders.
Some Apple customers who owned an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus and experienced audio issues may be entitled to up to $349 as part of a proposed $35 million settlement on a class-action lawsuit.

The lawsuit, which was filed in 2019 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claimed that the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus had audio issues related to the audio IC chip in those devices, according to a settlement administrators website. The settlement received preliminary approval last year.

Apple has denied the allegations of audio problems and has denied any wrongdoing, according to the website. The company did not immediately respond on Thursday to a request for comment about the settlement.

In a joint statement, Andrea Gold and Greg Coleman, lawyers for the six original plaintiffs in the case, said they were proud of the nationwide class action settlement that is pending final approval before the court.
TikTok said on Thursday that it was introducing new measures to limit the spread of videos from state-affiliated media accounts, including Russian and Chinese outlets, as the company deflects criticism that it could be used as a propaganda tool in a major election year.

The company in 2022 started labeling state-affiliated media accounts  like those from RT, the global Russian television network, and Peoples Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party. It said it would no longer allow videos from such accounts into users main feeds if they attempt to reach communities outside their home country on current global events and affairs.

TikTok also said the accounts would not be permitted to advertise on TikTok outside their home countries, to further reduce their reach.

Social media platforms, including Meta, YouTube and X, are grappling with misinformation in a year when as much as half the global population will vote in major elections. Political news on TikTok, which is owned by a Chinese company, ByteDance, is under particular scrutiny after the passage of a law that would force ByteDance to sell the company or face a ban in the United States. Lawmakers and intelligence officials have said TikTok is a threat to national security, partly because of how the Chinese government could use it to spread propaganda.
A technology that could one day cool the planet cleared a key hurdle on Thursday.

At the beginning of April, scientists from the University of Washington began testing a device that sprays tiny sea-salt particles into the air. The initial tests, held on the deck of a decommissioned aircraft carrier in Alameda, Calif., were simply to see if the machine propelled a mist of suitable size. But, in the future, versions of that device could eventually be used to spray particles into clouds, causing them to reflect more sunlight back into space and to temporarily ease global warming.

Two weeks later, Alameda officials ordered the researchers to stop their experiment, citing possible health and environmental risks. The city said it would commission its own assessment to determine whether the experiment posed any threat.

On Thursday evening, Alameda released its findings: The experiment does not generate a measurable health risk to the surrounding community or pose a risk to wildlife, the city said.
Or roles, really: The more Gary gets into it, the more he realizes that each persons fantasy of a hit man is different, and he starts to dress up, preparing for the part before he meets with the client. (If this movie were solely constructed as a de facto reel demonstrating Powells range, it would work just fine.) Then, one day, pretending to be a sexy, confident hit man named Ron, he meets Madison (Adria Arjona, practically glowing from within), a put-upon housewife seeking his services. And everything changes for Gary.

A great deal of the enjoyment of Hit Man comes from simply witnessing Powell and Arjonas white-hot chemistry. Seeing Powell transmogrify from nerdy Gary to five oclock shadow Ron and back again is both hilarious and tantalizing, while Arjona has a big-eyed innocence crossed with wily smarts that keeps everyone, including Gary, guessing. Multiple layers of deception keep the movie from feeling formulaic  youre always trying to keep track of who thinks what, and why. Eventually, when Hit Man morphs into a kind of caper comedy, part of the joy is rooting for characters as they make choices that are, at best, flexibly ethical. In doing so, we get to be naughty too. In a movie starring a philosophy professor, thats especially funny, a wry joke on us all.
After Rex Heuermann was arrested last summer and then charged with murdering four women whose bodies were found in 2010 along Gilgo Beach on Long Island, prosecutors disclosed a barrage of details to support their case, including genetic evidence and sadistic porn sites they said Mr. Heuermann visited.

Now, with the trial still months away, the defenses strategy is beginning to take shape. Mr. Heuermanns lawyer, Michael J. Brown, has begun to float an alternate theory about the case: that the investigation into the murders was tainted years ago by the involvement of a now-disgraced Long Island police chief.

The chief, James Burke, who oversaw the investigation as head of the Suffolk County Police Department from 2012 to 2015, later became a symbol of police corruption and spent time in federal prison.

At a hearing last month following a procedural court appearance by Mr. Heuermann, Mr. Brown repeated his clients claims of innocence. He also suggested that the real killer might have eluded arrest years ago when Mr. Burke was running the investigation.
And  finally  there was the moment when the officiant, Val Coleman, said, You may seal your marriage with a kiss.

The wedding on Wednesday, in Carl Schurz Park on the Upper East Side, was another step in an eventful year for the couple who arrived in New York City a couple of months ago with their 7-year-old son, Elian  migrants who had fled the spiraling violence in Ecuador. Elian stood between them during the ceremony, his smile showing where baby teeth had come out and permanent teeth had not quite come in. They have been living in a hotel on West 57th Street where the city is housing migrant families.
The Jews who founded Hollywood  and make no mistake, the big studio heads were overwhelmingly Jewish  shared several things: ambition, creative vision and killer business instincts.

But more than anything else, the men who were the driving forces behind Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Universal, Columbia and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer shared a very 20th-century sense of being Jewish in America. They were assimilationists who considered themselves American above all else and who molded Hollywood to reflect and shape their American ideals.

Above all things, they wanted to be regarded as Americans, not Jews, Neal Gabler wrote in his definitive 1988 history, An Empire of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood. Louis B. Mayer, a co-founder of MGM, went so far as to claim that his birth papers had been lost during immigration and to declare his birthday henceforth as the Fourth of July.

It was troubling, then, that when the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opened in 2021, it neglected to integrate Jews into its portrayal of Hollywoods early days and later successes despite obvious attentiveness to other ethnic and racial groups. Beyond a few brief mentions, including Billy Wilder fleeing Nazi Germany, a photo of the MGM mogul and academy founder Louis B. Mayer looming over Judy Garland, and a few scoundrels in an exhibit on #MeToo, Jews were absent. Jewish studio heads, business leaders and actors were almost entirely shut out, an oversight that led to much outcry.
We used to have long debates about American exceptionalism, about whether this country was an outlier among nations, and I always thought the bulk of the evidence suggested that it was. But these days our political attitudes are pretty ordinary. America, far from standing out as the champion of democracy, as a nation that welcomes immigrants, as a perpetually youthful nation energized by its faith in the American dream, is now caught in the same sour, populist mood as pretty much everywhere else.

Earlier this year, for example, the Ipsos research firm issued a report based on interviews with 20,630 adults in 28 countries, including South Africa, Indonesia, Brazil and Germany, last November and December. On question after question the American responses were, well, average.

Our pessimism is average. Roughly 59 percent of Americans said they believed their country is in decline, compared to 58 percent of people across all 28 countries who said that. Sixty percent of Americans agreed with the statement the system is broken, compared to 61 percent in the worldwide sample who agreed with that.

Our hostility to elites is average. Sixty-nine percent of Americans agreed that the political and economic elite dont care about hard-working people, compared with 67 percent of respondents among all 28 nations. Sixty-three percent of Americans agreed that experts in this country dont understand the lives of people like me, compared with 62 percent of respondents worldwide.
There is one question about Donald Trump that Im asked above all others, as someone whose professional life is devoted to studying voter behavior and, in particular, what drives Republicans. Here is a man who remains the front-runner for the presidency, despite facing dozens of felony charges, a jury verdict as soon as next week and the lingering frustration of voters  including Republicans  over the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Why doesnt any of it affect his standing in the polls?

My answer starts with a story about how Oprah Winfrey once saw Mr. Trump.

During the presidential election year of 2000, she sent him a warm, handwritten letter that ended with her floating a political partnership between two of Americas most famous names.

Too bad were not running for office. What a team! she wrote.

A Trump-Oprah (or Oprah-Trump) ticket obviously never came to be, and in the intervening decades the two went in opposite directions politically. Ms. Winfrey elevated and endorsed Senator Barack Obama for the presidency; Mr. Trump built a political following around false allegations and conspiracy theories about Mr. Obamas birth.

By the time Mr. Trump was President Trump, Ms. Winfrey considered becoming Mr. Trumps rival rather than his running mate. She called up Senator Mitt Romney to discuss ideas about taking on Mr. Trump in some fashion.
It is hard to be shocked by Donald Trump anymore. The former presidents trial over hush money paid to a porn star has made history, and his performance in court has been so farcical that Mr. Trump was threatened with jail time for contempt of court. He has called his political enemies vermin and said that immigrants are poisoning the blood of America. Mr. Trumps transgressions against American political norms are by now almost a cliche.

Yet when Mr. Trump posted on Monday a video on his Truth Social account that featured mock headlines about his re-election in 2024, including one that predicted that whats next for America was the creation of a unified reich, it was a shock of a different order, a suggestion that our country was on a glide path toward Nazi Germany in a second Trump term.

Mr. Trumps penchant for flirting with authoritarianism and fascism is well known  he praised the neo-Nazi marchers in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017, has dined with the white supremacist Nick Fuentes and, of course, instigated the Jan. 6 riot. But the unified reich video shows a different kind of danger in another Trump presidency.

The Associated Press reported that the references in the video appear to be a reference to the formation of the modern Pan-German nation, unifying smaller states into a single reich, or empire, in 1871. A Trump campaign representative claimed that the video was posted by a campaign staff member while the candidate was in court. That underscores the bigger problem in the Republican Party today, one that goes far beyond Mr. Trump: a generation of young Republican staff members appears to be developing terminal white nationalist brain. And they will staff the next Republican administration.
Scanning the Dark Universe, Euclid Finds Scenes of Cosmic Light By Katrina Miller

Euclid, a European Space Agency telescope launched into space last summer, finally showed off what its capable of with a batch of breathtaking images and early science results released Thursday.

























The telescope will help astronomers make sense of two of the universes greatest mysteries: dark matter, the invisible glue clumping galaxies together, and dark energy, the force pushing them apart.

Before trying to understand what it is, you have to understand how it behaves, Jean-Charles Cuillandre, an astronomer at CEA Paris-Saclay, said, referring to dark matter.

























The mysterious substance makes light bend and distort, an effect known as gravitational lensing. In extreme cases, lensing causes galaxies to appear warped, and can even produce mirror images of a single source.

Euclid caught this effect while peering at Abell 2390, a cluster of galaxies located 2.7 billion light-years away. Ninety percent of the mass in this cluster is dark matter.

























Gravity makes dark matter clump together, but dark energy counteracts this effect. Studying the density of dark matter across the cosmos will help astronomers learn how dark energy influences the structure of our universe.

Euclids specialty lies in being able to capture wide swaths of sky with impressive detail. Galaxies that appear near bright stars like Beta Phoenicis might be impossible for some observatories on Earth to see, but Euclids sharp eyes are able to resolve them.





























The telescopes sensors make it like a net for light, Dr. Cuillandre said. It captures everything.

In a series of papers, the Euclid team also shared discoveries of new dwarf galaxies, star clusters and free-floating planets. Astronomers say these show how the mission can reach beyond its core goals.





























We call it legacy science, the things that Euclid can also do, said Michael Seiffert, a cosmologist working on the mission from NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The telescope snapped these two galaxies grazing each other 62 million light-years away, resulting in diffuse edges and tails.

Interactions like this are common. Its very rare to find an isolated galaxy, Dr. Cuillandre said. Thats what were finding out.

Euclid took this picture of spiral galaxy NGC 6744, 30 million light-years from Earth.

Interstellar gas and dust coalesce in the rotation of a spiral galaxy, promoting star formation along its arms. Each grain in this image is a hot, massive baby star.

A neighboring dwarf galaxy ripped off one of NGC 6744s arms. Galaxies have scars too, according to Dr. Cuillandre. They keep a trace of what has happened over billion-year time frames, he said.

Euclid also focused on Messier 78, a stellar nursery. With its near-infrared vision, the telescope can peer past clouds of gas and dust to reveal the bright blue infant stars hiding within.

The stars spit up protons and neutrons, shaping surrounding dust and other material, not unlike how wind on Earth sculpts our clouds.





























Eventually, cavities form around these stars, freeing their light to shine across the universe.

The latest images come from only a days worth of observation. Were really just getting started, Dr. Seiffert said.
The leaders of three universities denied that their campuses have become hotbeds of antisemitism, as one House Republican described them in a congressional hearing on Thursday. But they acknowledged missteps in the handling of the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have engulfed American universities in recent months, and said that some acts of hostility toward Jewish students need to be addressed.

The hearing grew heated at times, especially as Republicans accused the leaders of Northwestern and Rutgers of giving in to demonstrators. But for the most part, the presidents of the two schools, as well as the chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles, appeared to fare better than other university leaders who have testified before the same committee since the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.

Although they got caught up in some testy exchanges and seemed to dodge a few questions, the leaders appeared to have navigated their testimony on Thursday without many significant missteps. Their responses were at times considered, and at other times combative. They pointed to the challenges of balancing student safety with free speech  especially at Rutgers and U.C.L.A., which are both public universities that must abide by the First Amendment  and they condemned episodes of antisemitism on campus.

Here are five takeaways from the hearing.

Republicans expressed outrage over agreements with protesters at Rutgers and Northwestern.

The presidents of Rutgers and Northwestern said that the goal of striking deals with pro-Palestinian protesters had been to end the encampments and restore safety for all students, including Jewish students who found the demonstrations threatening.
Grand juries in four New Hampshire counties have indicted a Democratic consultant who admitted to orchestrating robocalls in January that used an artificial-intelligence impersonation of President Biden to urge Democrats not to vote in the states presidential primary.

The consultant, Steven Kramer, faces about two dozen counts split between impersonating a candidate, a misdemeanor, and voter suppression, a felony. Each pair of charges is tied to a specific voter who received the robocall.

The indictments were handed up over the past month, and the New Hampshire attorney general, John M. Formella, announced them on Thursday.

Separately on Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission fined Mr. Kramer $6 million for trying to defraud voters using call spoofing technology that violates the Truth in Caller ID Act.
The House passed legislation on Thursday that would undo a District of Columbia law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections, part of a broader bid by Republicans to amplify false claims by former President Donald J. Trump of widespread illegal voting by immigrants, a rare occurrence that is already outlawed in federal elections.

The bill has virtually no chance of being taken up in the Democratic-led Senate or making it to President Bidens desk to be signed into law. But Republicans have used it, and other legislation aiming to crack down on voting by noncitizens, to stoke distrust in the countrys election laws and infrastructure ahead of the general election in November, a key pillar of Mr. Trumps strategy to preemptively accuse Democrats of cheating him out of the presidency.

In the face of ample evidence to the contrary, the former president has long claimed falsely that federal elections are susceptible to widespread voter fraud and illegal voting by undocumented immigrants, who have skewed the outcomes in favor of Democrats  a charge that congressional Republicans have echoed.

The nations capital is one of more than a dozen municipalities in the country  most of them in California, Maryland and Vermont  that allow noncitizen residents to cast ballots in local contests, though voters eligible under the local laws rarely do so, even when they are allowed.
A growing number of Democratic lawmakers called for Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. to recuse himself from cases related to Jan. 6, 2021, and demanded new ethics rules for the Supreme Court after revelations that flags carried by rioters at the Capitol were flown outside his homes.

With the Supreme Court just weeks away from issuing decisions on two major cases concerning former President Donald J. Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the events of Jan. 6, lawmakers said the symbolism of the flags called into question Justice Alitos neutrality.

In an interview on Thursday, Representative Steve Cohen, a Democrat from Tennessee who has introduced a resolution to censure Justice Alito, said Congress needed to take the firm position that the justices actions were a violation of judicial propriety.

Hes not going to resign, hes not going to recuse himself, and I dont think Justice Roberts is going to be able to influence him in that regard, he said, referring to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. So the best we can do is to kind of put a scarlet letter on him.
Louisiana lawmakers passed legislation on Thursday to make the state the first in the nation to designate abortion pills as dangerous controlled substances. Possession of the drugs without a prescription would be a crime punishable with jail time and thousands of dollars in fines.

The legislation, which passed the State Senate by a vote of 29 to 7, now goes to Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican who previously defended the states stringent abortion ban in court as attorney general. He is widely expected to sign it.

By classifying the abortion pills mifepristone and misoprostol as Schedule IV drugs  a category of medicines with some potential for abuse or dependence that includes Ambien, Valium and Xanax, among others  lawmakers in the state say they aim to curb the illicit distribution of the drugs for abortions. But the Food and Drug Administration does not consider the two medications to have potential for abuse or dependence, and years of research have overwhelmingly shown both pills to be safe.

Because Louisiana already bans most abortions, and because the two drugs are also prescribed for other uses  both can be used during miscarriages, and misoprostol is often used to prevent ulcers and help during childbirth  hundreds of doctors in the state strenuously opposed the legislation.
Maggie Tamposi Goodlander, a former White House aide to President Biden who is running for an open House seat in New Hampshire, is drawing attention for having pitched herself as a renter while she also owns a $1.2 million home.

I am a renter, and there should be more renters in Congress, Ms. Goodlander, a Democrat running in the states Second District, told The Boston Globe in her first interview as a candidate.

But that declaration comes with an asterisk: the home that she and her husband, Jake Sullivan, Mr. Bidens national security adviser, own in Portsmouth, N.H. Records show that the couple purchased that residence for roughly $1.2 million in 2018. A real estate listing website described the property as a private oasis.

Ms. Goodlander, who has deep political connections, had been teaching law at the University of New Hampshire and Dartmouth College after moving to Portsmouth, a seaside city, in 2018, but she returned to Washington to work in the Justice Department after Mr. Biden won the presidency.
In the week since the U.S. military and allies attached a temporary pier to the Gaza shoreline, Pentagon planners have come face to face with the logistical nightmare that critics had warned would accompany the endeavor.

The Defense Department predicted that a steady stream of humanitarian aid would be arriving in Gaza via the pier by now, but little relief has reached Palestinians in the besieged strip, officials acknowledged this week. Several trucks were looted as they made their way to a warehouse, the U.N. World Food Program said, and the complexity of operating the pier project in a war zone is continuing to slow distribution.

The problems, as expected, are on the back end of the operation. Looting of aid trucks has continued, officials said, and forced the World Food Program to suspend operations for two days. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, suspended food distribution in Rafah on Tuesday, citing lack of security. It added that it had not received any medical supplies for 10 days because of closures and disruptions at the Rafah and Kerem Shalom border crossings.

The project was always expected to be difficult. For one thing, White House policy does not allow U.S. troops to be on the ground in Gaza. So the Pentagon has the ability to start but not finish the mission, a situation one military analyst likened to having the engine of a car but not the wheels.
There was a time when Nikki Haley thought an unstable and unhinged person should not be president. But that was February. Now she says she will vote for Donald J. Trump  just three months after warning that he would be an unsafe president.

She is hardly the first losing candidate to reverse course and support the rival who beat her for a party nomination. Flip-flopping has a long if uninspiring history in American presidential politics. But rarely have the flip-flops been as stark and head-snapping as those prompted by Mr. Trump.

Ever since he vaulted to the leadership of the Republican Party eight years ago, the same Republicans who once deemed him a kook, a pathological liar and a delusional narcissist nonetheless have come around to endorse handing him the nuclear codes. Even many of those who called him out for trying to overturn an election that he lost are now willing to entrust him again with the future of American democracy.

Given Mr. Trumps enduring popularity with the party base and willingness to punish apostates, the lesson of recent years has been that nearly everyone hoping for a future in Republican politics feels the need to swallow any past criticism and fall in line. Even some Republicans no longer aspiring to hold public office have buried their apprehensions to stay with the choice of the partys voters.
Former President Donald J. Trump claimed that, if re-elected, he could draw on his relationship with President Vladimir V. Putin to press Russia into releasing Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter who has been detained in a Moscow jail for more than a year.

Mr. Trump wrote in a social media post that Mr. Gershkovich would be released almost immediately after the election, but definitely before I assume office, suggesting that his securing Mr. Gershkovichs release was contingent on his defeating President Biden in November.

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, added. Mr. Trump has frequently bragged about his positive relationship with Mr. Putin, whose strongman tendencies he has praised in interviews and on the campaign trail.

Asked about Mr. Trumps post, a spokesman for the Kremlin, Dmitri S. Peskov, told reporters that Putin has no contact with Donald Trump, of course.
The Supreme Court cleared the way on Thursday for South Carolina to keep using a congressional map that a lower court had deemed an unconstitutional racial gerrymander that resulted in the bleaching of African American voters from a district.

The conservative majority, by a 6-to-3 vote, returned the case to the lower court, handing a victory to Republicans by allowing them to maintain boundaries that helped make the district in question a party stronghold.

The immediate effect of the ruling will be limited, as the courts delay in ruling had already ensured that this years elections would take place under the contested map. But the majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., will have an impact beyond South Carolina in the years to come, said Richard L. Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Justice Alito for a court majority has once again come up with a legal framework that makes it easier for Republican states to engage in redistricting to help white Republicans maximize their political power, Professor Hasen said.
Virginia Foxx has been a Republican congresswoman from North Carolina for almost 20 years. Over the last year, her campaign against antisemitism on college campuses, carried out as chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, has raised her profile.

In her recent work, Ms. Foxx says she is guided by her revulsion at discrimination of any kind, and by the teachings of her Baptist church. Education has been a theme of her life.

Ms. Foxx, 80, grew up in a rural part of her district. She often speaks about how her childhood was spent living in houses without running water or electricity.

She worked her way through college and emerged with a doctorate in education. She was president of Mayland Community College, an experience that some people say may account for her antipathy toward elite schools.
When the House Committee on Education and the Workforce called the presidents of Harvard, M.I.T. and the University of Pennsylvania to testify last December, the focus was on how the leaders were dealing with the rising number of antisemitic incidents on campus.

But over the last several weeks, as pro-Palestinian encampments sprang up on campuses across the country, the committee indicated that its interest had subtly shifted, from the larger issue of antisemitism on campus to the encampments and their organizers in particular.

On May 6, the committee announced a change in its lineup of witnesses, reflecting that shift. It originally planned on calling on the leaders of Yale, the University of Michigan and the University of California, Los Angeles, to testify, but changed the lineup to Rutgers, Northwestern and U.C.L.A. instead  all schools that have struggled with the demands of protesters and with how to remove the encampments.

Representative Virginia Foxx, the committees chair, suggested that the universities were being too indulgent with protesters. No stone must go unturned while buildings are being defaced, campus greens are being captured or graduations are being ruined, she wrote in her original April 30 announcement about the hearing.
Kenyan police officers are soon heading to Haiti with a daunting mission: help restore order to a country where killings and kidnappings are so rampant that hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes and where, for years, it has been too dangerous to hold elections.

It is hardly the first time that an international force has gone to Haiti in the name of law and order. Or the second. Or even the third.

For the past century, soldiers from around the world  including the United States  have deployed to, and even invaded, Haiti.

In the past 30 years, the United Nations has launched at least six peacekeeping missions to Haiti. International soldiers have restored overthrown presidents, eased them out and helped train the Haitian National Police. But they have also left bleak legacies of sexual exploitation, civilian casualties and deadly disease.
A U.S. aid project has brought little relief to Gaza

The U.S. predicted that a floating pier off Gaza built by its military would allow for a steady stream of humanitarian aid. But little relief has reached Palestinians in the strip, officials said this week.

Several trucks were looted as they made their way to a warehouse and operations were suspended for two days. The U.N. World Food Program has warned that the pier project could fail if Israel does not do more to ensure the safe distribution of the aid.

The relief effort faltered as Israeli forces pushed deeper into Rafah, in southern Gaza. Israels military said yesterday that its forces were fighting near the center of Rafah. Around 815,000 people have left the city as a result.

The assault came in a week when Israel has faced mounting diplomatic and legal pressure over its war effort. Today, the International Court of Justice in The Hague is set to respond to a South African petition for an immediate halt to the ground assault in Rafah.
A far-right group in the European Unions Parliament announced on Thursday that it had ousted the Alternative for Germany party from its coalition, dealing a severe blow to a key alliance just two weeks before E.U. parliamentary elections.

In a statement on its official X account, the Identity and Democracy Group wrote that it had decided to exclude Alternative for Germany, or AfD, because of comments made by Maximilian Krah, the AfDs lead candidate in the upcoming elections.

In an interview last week, Mr. Krah appeared to minimize the crimes carried out by the SS, the Nazi paramilitary force that killed millions of people during the Holocaust. One million soldiers wore the SS uniform, Mr. Krah said to La Repubblica and The Financial Times in a joint interview. Can you really say that because someone was an officer in the Waffen-SS they were a criminal? You have to establish individual guilt.

In its statement, Identity and Democracy wrote that it no longer wants to be associated with the incidents involving Maximilian Krah, head of the AfD list for the European elections.
Nigel Farage, the broadcaster and populist politician who championed Brexit, said on Thursday that he would not run for a seat in the British Parliament in a general election on July 4, preferring to focus on helping former President Donald J. Trump recapture the White House in November.

Mr. Farages announcement is likely to be a modest relief for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Conservative Party, since Mr. Farages current party, Reform UK, is viewed as a significant threat to the Conservatives from the right. But Mr. Farage said he would do my bit to help Reform, which plans to field a slate of candidates in the election, running on an anti-immigration message.

Important though the general election is, Mr. Farage posted on social media, the contest in the United States of America on Nov. 5 has huge global significance. A strong America as a close ally is vital for our peace and security. I intend to help with the grass-roots campaign in the U.S.A. in any way that I can.

Mr. Farage, 60, who hosts a program on a British right-wing TV channel, GB News, campaigned for Mr. Trump in 2020 and interviewed him in March at his Palm Beach estate, Mar-a-Lago. Mr. Trump once suggested that the British government appoint Mr. Farage as ambassador to Washington.
Russia has jailed a top defense official, the fourth in a month, expanding President Vladimir V. Putins biggest shake-up of his military leadership since the invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.

A Moscow military court ordered Lt. Gen. Vadim Shamarin jailed for two months on Wednesday on suspicion of large-scale bribery, Russian law enforcement authorities said on Thursday. He faces 15 years in prison, state news agencies said. General Shamarin was a deputy head of the Russian militarys main commanding body, the general staff, and oversaw its communications directorate.

Image A photograph of General Shamarin, released by the Russian Defense Ministry. Credit... Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, via Associated Press

The detention of General Shamarin is the latest in a series of high-profile arrests that have coincided with Mr. Putins appointment of a new defense minister, Andrei R. Belousov, earlier this month.
More than a week after being shot in an assassination attempt, Slovakias prime minister was still hospitalized in serious condition on Thursday, as calls for political unity after the attack have given way to a resurgence of hostility in the polarized Central European nation.

Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times at close range on May 15 in the town of Handlova in central Slovakia. The attempted assassination  the most serious attack on a European leader in decades  sent shock waves through Europe.

Mr. Fico has undergone several surgeries since the shooting, and on Thursday the government said his condition remains serious but stable at a hospital in the central city of Banska Bystrica.

Even before Mr. Fico was shot, Slovakia was deeply divided between backers of his right-wing nationalist and anti-immigration policies, and opponents who accuse him of eroding democracy. The shooting prompted pleas from Slovakian officials for political parties to urgently reduce tensions  with some going so far as to warn about the risk of civil war.
In calling a general election, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain cast himself this week as a leader with a clear plan. That did not include carrying an umbrella during his remarks in front of 10 Downing Street, where Mr. Sunak was drenched in a spring shower that yielded a flood of snarky headlines.

Drowning Street, said the tabloid City A.M. Drown & out, cried The Daily Mirror. Things can only get wetter, declared The Daily Telegraph.

On Thursday, the first day of the six-week campaign, that dissonance spread from symbolism to substance. Mr. Sunak signaled that his governments signature political project  putting asylum seekers on one-way flights to Rwanda  would not be set in motion before voters went to the polls on July 4.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr. Sunak cited the Rwanda policy to draw a sharp contrast with the opposition Labour Party, which he accused of having no plan to stop asylum seekers who make hazardous crossings of the English Channel in small boats.
Russian troops in recent weeks have been taking ground from Ukraine all across the front line.

In some cases, they are seizing land that Ukrainians had recaptured in hard-fought battles just last year. And in a surprise offensive, Moscow has made its biggest territorial gains since late 2022.

This is a sobering situation for Ukraine, one that may hurt the morale of its soldiers and dampen the public mood. Analysts say Russia is likely to increase its gains in coming months while Ukraine waits for American military aid to reach the battlefield.

Heres a closer look at some of Russias recent advances.

Russia appears close to retaking Robotyne.

Russias Defense Ministry claimed last week that its troops had seized Robotyne, a tiny village in the Zaporizhzhia region in southeastern Ukraine. The village had been retaken by Ukrainian soldiers in August, a much-celebrated, if rare, success in Kyivs disappointing summer counteroffensive.

Ukraine has denied the claim, but maps of the battlefield compiled by independent analysts from satellite imagery and video footage of the fighting showed that Russian troops coming up from the south had reached the northernmost part of the village.
William J. Burns, the C.I.A. director, who has been the lead American negotiator in efforts for a cease-fire in Gaza, plans to travel to Europe this weekend for talks with his Israeli counterpart to try to revive the stalled discussions over a pause in the fighting and the release of hostages, according to a U.S. official and another person briefed on the negotiations.

This month, frustration boiled over between officials from Hamas and Israel, and the countries mediating  the United States, Qatar and Egypt  put the talks on hold.

Israeli officials were upset with what they saw as shifting negotiating stances by Hamas, including the number of hostages to be released in a first phase. Hamas was upset by Israels operations in Rafah, the southern Gazan city, which have been progressing since.

But core to the dispute were disagreements over how to define a cessation of hostilities between Hamas and Israel, and how different stages of the cease-fire would be put into effect.
The decision by Spain, Norway and Ireland to recognize an independent Palestinian state reflects growing exasperation with the Israel of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even from traditional friends, and suggests that international pressure on him will grow.

It does not, however, make it inevitable that other larger European states will follow suit. This year President Emmanuel Macron of France has said such recognition is not a taboo, a position reiterated by the French Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. In February, David Cameron, Britains foreign secretary, said that such recognition cant come at the start of the process, but it doesnt have to be the very end of the process.

Those were small steps, although beyond anything they have said previously, but far short of recognition of a Palestinian state itself. If Europe were unified, with the major states joining in recognition, leaving the United States isolated in rejecting such a step, then it could have a greater impact, but that stage is far from being reached.

This decision must be useful, that is to say allow a decisive step forward on the political level, Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said in a statement about potential recognition. France does not consider that the conditions have been met to date for this decision to have a real impact on this process.
Irans president was laid to rest in his hometown on Thursday, capping days of funeral observances after his death in a helicopter crash left the country without one of its highest-profile leaders.

The deceased president, Ebrahim Raisi, was buried at the Imam Reza shrine in the northeastern city of Mashhad, one of the holiest sites of Shiite Islam. Large crowds gathered under the shrines gilded dome.

Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, announced five days of mourning after Mr. Raisi, 63, and the countrys foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, 60, died along with five others when their helicopter plunged into a mountainous area near the Iranian city of Jolfa on Sunday.

Ayatollah Khamenei led funeral prayers on Wednesday for Mr. Raisi and the other victims of the crash before the coffins were driven through the packed streets of Tehran in a large-scale procession. An array of foreign dignitaries came to pay their respects, as did the leaders of two Iran-backed militant groups, Hamas and Hezbollah.
After a four-day blockade at Al Awda Hospital, a major medical center in northern Gaza, the Israeli military ordered patients and staff to evacuate on Wednesday and then raided the complex, according to Gazan health officials.

While most of the roughly 150 people who had been at Al Awda Hospital were able to evacuate, about 30, including patients in critical condition, their companions and medical workers, stayed behind, Dr. Medhat Abbas, a spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry, said in a statement on Thursday.

The Israeli military declined to comment on its operations around Al Awda, which is in the Tal Al-Zaatar area in northern Gaza. Israel withdrew from much of the north earlier in the year, but has recently returned to some areas to fight what it says are attempts by Hamas to reconstitute its forces there.

The hospitals acting director, Dr. Mohammad Salha, said that he had told Israeli forces he would not move some critical patients without ambulances. He said he had remained there, along with a few medical workers, to ensure the safe evacuation of the patients.
1 2 3 + 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Proceedings 4338 It's not always possible. Also, ideally, I then would like to give the jury the jury charge; and then immediately after the jury charge, I would like for the jury to begin your deliberations. As you know, this week we are only meeting today and Thursday; therefore, there is no way that we could possibly do what needs to be done in any kind of a cohesive manner; it would just be broken up. I considered all of the permutations, the different scheduling options, and at the end of the day, I think that the best thing that we can do is to adjourn now until next Tuesday. At that time, you will hear the summations of the attorneys, and that will probably continue the next day, on Wednesday and I am asking you to come in on Wednesday -- and that next day, Wednesday, you will hear my jury charge, and then I will expect that you will begin your deliberations, hopefully, at some point on Wednesday. So, you are familiar with all of the instructions that I have given to you up to this point. You've heard them many times. It might be tempting to think that, you know, now that both sides have rested, you can kind of let up a little 20 21 22 23 24 bit. 25 But, in fact, these instructions now take on even Lisa Kramsky, Senior Court Reporter
David McAlpine

David McAlpine, who was senior director & global head of external communications at embattled Illumina, has joined BCW as senior VP-earned media. He exited the San Diego-based biotech last month.

McAlpine had headed a 16-member team at Illumina, which was rocked by a proxy fight with Carl Icahn, legal/regulatory challenges to its $7B acquisition of cancer testing company GRAIL, and the resignation of CEO Francis deSouza.

He told ODwyers that he will be working with BCW clients across industries on making the most out of storytelling opportunities through story mining and development, targeted outreach, and executive visibility.

McAlpine also will be media training clients and helping them think outside the box when it comes to media relations."

Prior to Illumina, McAlpine was director of broadcast media relations at General Motors, and a producer CBS This Morning, Fox News Channel, ABC News (WPVI-TV in Philadelphia), and Cox Media Group (KIRO-TV in Seattle).

BCW and Hill & Knowlton will merge July 1 to become Burson.
Plans to create a new format for a community forum to replace the Joint Policing Committees was strongly condemned by the Chairman of the Tipperary committee at their final meeting on Friday.

The impending replacement of Tipperarys Joint Policing Committee with a new body with less elected representatives was criticised by Councillor Noel Coonan (FG) during his final meeting at the helm. Cllr. Coonan is retiring from politics at the conclusion of the current Council's term.

The plans will see the current system replaced by larger bodies made up of less elected representatives and instead draw from a larger pool of people across the community. These new groups will be called Local Community Safety Partnerships and are already up and running in Dublin north inner city, Waterford and Longford and aim to identify and tackle community safety issues.

The new bodies comprise representatives of residents and community groups, business and education groups and statutory services such as An Garda Siochana, Tusla, HSE, the local authority and public representatives.

Serious concerns have been raised by councillors over the new proposals and really it is an attack on local government. We should defend local democracy staunchly - but instead what we're seeing is more and more powers be taken away from county councillors, who are elected people and have to face the public every five years, he said.

There is widespread concern across the county. Councillors have great communication with the Gardai. It isn't a great move forward to end a system which is successful and works, the Chairman said.
This Tuesday on RTE's Liveline with Joe Duffy, a distraught woman, Sarah, shared her story of being forced to give up her Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Buster.

Sarah's housing association, Tuath Housing, has requested Buster be removed from the property due to their rules prohibiting certain breeds deemed 'dangerous' under Irish law.

Despite acknowledging the restrictions regarding certain breeds, including her 'Staffy' before moving in, Sarah believed in Buster's gentle nature, saying he plays a large role in comforting her seven-year-old daughter, who suffers from night terrors.

Now, Sarah has just under 14 days to rehome 10-year-old Buster after he was discovered through a photograph taken by a neighbour.

"Hes the sweetest little soul," Sarah said. "Hes never done a thing wrong. The only threat he poses is to an unattended sandwich."

Tuath Housing defended their stance, citing safety concerns and the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998, which lists Staffordshire Bull Terriers among ten restricted breeds, including Rottweilers and Dobermann Pinschers.

Sarah pleaded to have Buster undergo a temperament test, however, the housing officer indicated that no exceptions could be made.

Listeners of the show voiced strong opinions. Maria from France voiced her outrage over the policy, saying she has had experience with Staffordshire Bull Terriers in Australia. Here, Maria says, they are affectionately known as 'nanny dogs' due to their gentle nature with children. "There is no such thing as a dangerous breed, she stated. "It's the proprietor. It's the person who owns the dog."

However, Anne, another caller, pointed out that dogs can become more unpredictable with age, referencing a fatal incident involving another restricted breed.

There has been no update from Sarah regarding Buster's rehoming at time of publication.
BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian student Samuel Aboagye used to start his mornings with a coffee, but since coming to China, he gets his morning fix from a nice cup of tea. Aboagye first encountered Chinese tea when a Chinese friend gave him a packet of jasmine tea. "The taste and aroma attracted me, and I instantly fell in love with Chinese tea," said Aboagye, an international student at Capital University of Economics and Business. He was just one of many African visitors to an international tea-culture exchange event held in Beijing on May 21, which is also observed as International Tea Day. The event was hosted by the international cultural exchange and research center of China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy (CIIDS), welcoming representatives from social organizations and enterprises, as well as diplomatic envoys from African countries and African students studying in China. Today, Africa is an important market for Chinese tea. Chinese customs data shows that China exported about 367,542 tonnes of tea in 2023, with an export value of nearly 1.74 million U.S. dollars. According to the Tea Industry Committee of the China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation, of the top 10 tea-importing countries and regions from China, seven are African countries. Aboagye said that the event gave him in-depth knowledge of Chinese tea categories and tea-drinking methods, as well as the history of the tea trade between China and Africa. "I plan to purchase Chinese tea and tea sets for my relatives and friends when I travel back to Ghana," he added. "Nigerians also like drinking tea, but the tea culture in Nigeria differs from that of China," said Uzodinma Chinenye Gerlof, 28, an international student from Nigeria. "Chinese people enjoy natural tea without adding sugar or milk, while in our country, people are accustomed to adding milk to tea," he explained. Gerlof combines the Chinese tea-drinking culture with that of his hometown by adding honey to Chinese black tea. "The aroma of tea makes me feel relaxed, and I like to enjoy it in the morning or evening," he said. "Tea has played an important role in the inheritance and innovation of Chinese culture," said Wang Xiaoming, vice president of CIIDS. He noted that tea, with its unique charm, has transcended the boundaries of language and region, promoting exchanges and understanding among different civilizations. "We have found that many tea products feature China-chic packages, and small tea bags have also been developed to cater to the needs of young people, which can also better stimulate African youth's interest in Chinese tea culture," said Zhou Yefan, founder of the China Africa Youth Federation. "Through drinking tea together, young people from China and Africa can learn about each other's culture, history and values," said Zhou.
Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghes message for 2024 Vesak Day

Posted by Editor on May 23, 2024 - 9:56 am

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has released a message for Vesak Day 2024.

Presidents Vesak message:

The Vesak festival is a profoundly sacred day for Buddhists worldwide, commemorating the Buddhas birth, enlightenment, and passing. Buddhists in Sri Lanka, along with their brethren around the globe, celebrate Vesak with deep devotion. They spend this period engaging in religious observances and venerating the Buddha with fervent devotion.

At this challenging moment, we as a nation should cultivate the same great zeal for enlightenment that Buddha exemplified, inspired by his sermon, Maththasukha parichchaga- passe che vipulan sukhan  to sacrifice today for a better tomorrow.

We must remember the advice of Lord Buddha, Sabbattha Sammanaso, to treat everyone equally and ensure we put it into practice as a country. This is the greatest offering we can present to the Buddha on this Vesak day. Regardless of race, religion, caste, or political affiliation, we must all unite to heal and rebuild our country. The principles of Lichchavi Raja Dharmaya will guide us in this endeavour.

Let us keep in mind that the primary aim of the Vesak festival is to foster spiritual growth and character development in a world rapidly advancing physically. I wish everyone a blessed Vesak festival.

Ranil Wickremesinghe,

President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.


Monday Sunday Adiaha image (Image of a Scientist)

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Early Life and Education: A Promising Start

Born in 1993, Monday Sunday Adiaha demonstrated an early passion for the natural sciences. His academic journey is as impressive as it is inspirational. Adiaha earned his Bachelor of Agriculture (BAgric) from the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) in Nigeria, graduating in 2016 [1]. He furthered his education with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from the University of Maiduguri in 2017 and completed a Master of Science (MSc) at the University of Abuja in 2020 [2]. His academic pursuits also include a short course in Climate Change at the University of Ghana in 2018, reflecting his commitment to addressing global environmental challenges, and advanced short study courses at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP)

Academic and Research Career: A Pillar in Agronomy and Soil Science

Adiaha's career as a Volunteer Scholar (Lecturer) in Agronomy at CRUTECH, Calabar, Nigeria, and as a Researcher/Scientist at the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS), showcases his dedication to education and research. His multifaceted research interests encompass agrohydrology, agrophysics, biophysics, biotechnology, crop science, applied soil physics, atmospheric science, radioactive science, and climate science. Adiaha's extensive research has led to significant publications [3]:

"Potential of Moringa oleifera as Nutrient-Agent for Biofertilizer Production" (2017)

"The Role of Organic Matter in Tropical Soil Productivity" (2017)

"Influence of Different Methods of Fertilizer Application on the Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.) for Increased Production in South Nigeria" (2016)

"Mitigating Global Greenhouse Gas Emission: The Role of Trees as a Clean Mechanism For CO2 Sequestration" (2020)

"Economic Value of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Nigeria and Its Impacts on the Global Food Production" (2018)

Awards and Honors: A Testament to Excellence

Adiaha's contributions have been recognized with numerous awards and honors:

Grand Leader for Peace Honor (2015): Awarded by NAAKISS, CRUTECH, Obubra Campus Chapter.

Awarded by NAAKISS, CRUTECH, Obubra Campus Chapter. Ordinary Doctorate Award/Certificate of Merit (2015): Bestowed by various student and administrative bodies at CRUTECH.

Bestowed by various student and administrative bodies at CRUTECH. Blue Ribbon Recognition Award (2021): For contributions to water, agriculture, and climate.

For contributions to water, agriculture, and climate. Mentor Award: From Ignite-African Women in Agribusiness.

From Ignite-African Women in Agribusiness. Honorary Member: Asian Council of Science Editors.

Professional Affiliations and International Engagements: Building Bridges Across the Globe

Adiaha's professional affiliations include the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (SSSN), International Union of Soil Science (IUSS), Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN), Europe Union Research Data Alliance, and the International Commission on Irrigation & Drainage (ICID). His international engagements are equally noteworthy. He was a speaker at the Joint Abdul Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics-International Atomic Energy Agency (ICTP-IAEA) International School on Radioactive Waste Cementation hosted at ICTP in 2020. Furthermore, Adiaha has played a pivotal role in attracting local and international collaborators to NISS, thereby enhancing the institute's research capabilities.

Conclusion: A Visionary Leader and Scholar

Monday Sunday Adiaha's relentless pursuit of knowledge and his contributions to soil science and agronomy have established him as a visionary leader and scholar. His work not only advances scientific understanding but also promotes sustainable agricultural practices that are vital for future generations. Adiaha's legacy is marked by his commitment to education, research, and mentorship, inspiring countless young scientists to follow in his footsteps.

References:


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When I was young, in the 1950s, I identified strongly as a Jew. The sting of the Holocaust was fresh in Jewish minds, and I was proud of Israel as it built a country where Jews could live safely.

At that time, Jewish girls didn't celebrate their coming of age with a Bat Mitzvah as they do today, along with boys who celebrate their Bar Mitzvahs. My rabbi knew of my feelings about being Jewish, so on my 13th birthday he dedicated the Friday night service to the story of Esther, whose place in Jewish history is remembered in the month of March. It went a long way to assuage having been called a Jew b*tch by a classmate around that time. My orthodox grandfather would have been proud.

When I was even younger, I refused to utter the Lord's prayer every morning in school because it was not a Jewish prayer. I also resented having to stand around a Christmas tree every December singing carols, and not having an excused absence for observing the Jewish High Holy Days. I also didn't speak the pledge of allegiance at the morning ritual, hand over my heart, because I didn't want to support my country if it did something wrong (like Germany had done). Those acts of resistance foreshadowed my adult commitment to human rights, social justice, and equality under the law.

As I reflect on those early experiences and ideals now, I find myself in deep pain as both a Jew, and an American citizen. It pains me to bear witness to the inconceivable violence being perpetrated by the Israeli government, whose leadership has gone full fascist in its unrelenting attacks on the Palestinian people, who are suffering a siege of inhumane proportions.

It is painful for me that my president is unwilling to end American collaboration with what is clearly ethnic cleansing and yes, genocide in Gaza and the West Bank. Like many Jews and others I cannot fathom why he won't end the massacres by withholding all funds for Israeli military equipment that keeps the carnage going.

If nothing else, the president and those who speak for him, should realize that this administration is bleeding votes in the most crucial election of our time, which feels like abandonment to me. The president, in particular should, in words and deeds, demonstrate compassion, reason, intelligent decision-making, and commitment to human rights, all of which Democrats love to claim in hollow rhetoric.

Americans deserve to expect that the ideals we espouse as the keystone of our democracy, are not just campaign talk, but well-considered and well-articulated promises and policies, followed by actions that benefit all Americans, and keeps them safe.

The idea of safety and security goes beyond reduced, if not eliminated, worries about war, here and around the globe. Safety and security in America is meant to mean having decent housing, fairly compensated work, food security, and equal rights under the law. It means having accessible, quality healthcare without state intervention, an education that isn't dictated by state laws that decide what you can read, teach, talk about, and protest, all of which are deeply threatened in this time of budding autocracy and deep dive dictatorship.

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The world's leading military spender, arms dealer, foreign base builder, opponent of the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, hold-out on basic human rights and disarmament treaties, and fueler of the wars in Palestine and Ukraine has removed Cuba from its list of nations that "do not fully cooperate with the United States antiterrorist efforts for the 2023 calendar year," and yet -- nonsensically -- kept Cuba on its list of state sponsors of terrorism. So, Cuba is sponsoring terrorism AND fully cooperating with the United States' supposed anti-terrorism efforts -- presumably including the outrageously counterproductive ongoing War on Terrorism. Except that, as far as we know, and judging by the total lack of any actual allegations from the U.S. government (other than naming a likely nonexistent attack after Cuba's capital) Cuba is NOT sponsoring terrorism.

Cuba's presence on the state sponsors of terrorism list is, like many U.S. policies, a reversal of what was policy under President Obama, reversed by President Trump and kept unchanged through the Trump-Biden era, despite promises otherwise that were made by candidate Biden four years ago.

The U.S. government harbors terrorists living openly in Florida and over more than 50 years has blown up buildings and planes in Cuba, murdered in Cuba, and introduced human and animal diseases to Cuba. When I visited Cuba some years ago, I saw museums full of the gear Cuba had seized from the hapless CIA. But I also saw that Cuban people were delighted to meet Americans and didn't blame us one bit for our government just as they'd no doubt like not to be blamed for their own.

Their government (deeply flawed, like most, and deeply admirable, like few) has a theory shared by many observers about why the U.S. government hates Cuba so much: it doesn't want us to see that even a poor country can provide universal healthcare, education, and a guaranteed income.

Be that as it may, the U.S. government has violated the Geneva Conventions for most of those conventions' existence by punishing the entire population of Cuba with an embargo. As one commentator pointed out in January of this year:

"The U.S. embargo of Cuba has been in place for over 60 years. In that time, its primary effect has been the immiseration of the Cuban people. U.S. sanctions have starved the Cuban economy of over $130 billion; hindered civilian access to essential goods like food, fuel and medicine; exacerbated hunger and poverty; and systematically undermined fundamental human rights. The evidence that broad economic sanctions harm civilians in targeted countries is overwhelming. Indeed, that is arguably the intent."

What justifies the sanctions? The unjustified designation of State Sponsor of Terrorism (or "SSOT"):

"Designation as an SSOT comes with a host of sanctions, including restrictions on foreign assistance, finance and defense products. But the worst impacts are felt through over-compliance; businesses and financial institutions, including many from outside the United States, often elect to sever all connections to Cuba rather than risk being sanctioned themselves for association with "a sponsor of terror." In effect, the SSOT extends U.S. financial restrictions internationally, cutting off the Cuban people from the global financial system. Cuban entrepreneurs unable to access finance, faith groups barred from donating humanitarian goods, Cubans abroad denied bank accounts or prevented from sending money to their families back home -- these are some of the documented impacts of the designation. In no small part due to the tightening of sanctions under Trump, Cuba is now facing its worst humanitarian crisis in decades. In turn, hundreds of thousands of Cubans have left the island in search of economic security in the United States."

The U.S. government should immediately cease its sadistic punishment of the Cuban people -- like the Palestinian and so many other peoples -- and stop embarassing itself with all talk of supposedly opposing its own primary activity.

The U.S. government should give Cuba back the land it has stolen for its law-evading death-camp at Guantanamo.

The U.S. government should begin to set things right by passing repeal of the Monroe Doctrine.
On April 17, 2023, after many discussions with his family, friends, and colleagues my friend psychiatrist Dr. Robert Stern left his comfortable New Jersey home, his psychiatrist wife, and their three young adult sons, and boarded a plane. He was heading to Israel as a volunteer in a mental health center. While waiting for the takeoff of his original flight UA084 four days earlier, Robert and all his fellow passengers were suddenly ordered to disembark. Minutes before takeoff, Iran and Yemen had launched 300 ballistic rockets, cruise missiles, and drones towards Israel forcing Israel to close its air space and cancel all incoming flights.

But Robert was determined to get to Israel. The brutal Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resurrected excruciatingly painful memories of the gruesome fates of his parents and family members during the genocidal Nazi Holocaust. For Robert, the phrase "Never Again," which has become a Jewish mantra, is not just a call for remembrance, it's a call for action. Although an annual observance, Holocaust Remembrance Day for many Jews, especially Holocaust survivors and their children, is every day. You will know why when you read Robert's message to his family, relatives, and friends on May 5, 2024, from the Abarbanel Mental Health Center in Bat Yam Israel:

YOM HASHOAH 2024 [Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day]

"I grew up without grandparents. I never met them, and they never met me. They do not have a grave site. My grandparents (Irene and Jakab Stern, and Miriam and Julius Weinberger) were murdered by the Nazis in the gas chambers of Auschwitz. So was my aunt Judith Stern, and many other members of my family.

Today, I remember my Holocaust survivor parents, my father Dr. Norbert Stern z'l, who survived Auschwitz, and my mother, Dr. Palma Stern z'l, who survived on the run from the Nazis and overcame deprivation and incarceration after fleeing from the Simleu ghetto in Hungary.

Today I also remember 19 members of my family who were murdered by the Nazis:

Irene Stern (nee Morgenstern), my grandmother on my father's side, who was murdered at the age of 45 in an Auschwitz gas chamber.

Ari Morgenstern, Irene's brother, gassed at Auschwitz at age 40.

Dr. Jakab Stern, my grandfather, my father's father, age 50, gassed at Auschwitz.

Josef-Hirsch Stern, Jakab's brother, gassed at Auschwitz.

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Sudan, a nation marked by years of internal conflict and political upheaval, is taking significant strides to combat extremist terrorist groups and stabilize the country. The General Intelligence Service (GIS) of Sudan has been at the forefront of this battle, implementing a multifaceted strategy aimed at eradicating terrorism and ensuring national security. This initiative, led by prominent figures such as Lieutenant General Muffadel and General Al Labbib, focuses on both immediate tactical responses and long-term stability measures.

One of the primary strategies employed by the GIS involves setting up moderate camps designed to fight terrorism from within Sudan and along its extended borders. These camps serve as operational bases where intelligence and military efforts are coordinated to thwart terrorist activities. The goal is to ensure that terrorist groups cannot find a foothold in the country, thereby enhancing the overall security landscape.

These camps are not merely military installations but also centers of community support. In war-torn areas, including the capital city of Khartoum, the forces stationed at these camps assist local populations by helping them relocate their belongings, providing shelter and food, and eventually rehoming displaced individuals. This dual role of security and humanitarian assistance helps build trust between the military forces and local communities, fostering cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

In addition to these efforts, the Sudanese authorities have introduced a reward system to encourage citizens to provide information about escaped terrorists. This initiative came in response to the escape of terrorists previously held by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). By offering prizes for genuine information, the government aims to involve the public in national security efforts, creating a collaborative environment where citizens actively participate in the fight against terrorism. This approach not only increases the chances of recapturing escaped terrorists but also strengthens the bond between the government and its people.

The Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act

Through this legislation, Sudan aims to professionalize its fight against terrorist activities, ensuring that operations are conducted with precision and effectiveness. The act targets various extremist groups, including but not limited to Al Qaeda and ISIS, as well as antisemitic and other extremist factions. The involvement of the international community is crucial, as it provides Sudan with the necessary resources and expertise to tackle these threats more efficiently.

Sudan's strategy recognizes the importance of global cooperation in the fight against terrorism. The GIS and the Sovereign Council are actively seeking to establish strong ties with international partners. This cooperation is vital for several reasons. First, it helps Sudan gain access to advanced counter-terrorism technologies and methodologies. Second, it enables intelligence sharing, which is crucial for tracking and neutralizing terrorist networks that often operate across borders. Third, it ensures that Sudan's efforts are aligned with global counter-terrorism standards, enhancing the legitimacy and effectiveness of its actions.

Despite these comprehensive efforts, Sudan faces significant challenges in its fight against terrorism. The country's complex political landscape, coupled with ongoing conflicts and economic instability, makes it difficult to maintain a consistent and effective counter-terrorism strategy. Moreover, terrorist groups are often adaptive, changing their tactics and strategies to evade detection and capture.

However, the commitment of the Sudanese government and its intelligence services to combating terrorism is evident. By establishing moderate camps, incentivizing public participation, enacting supportive legislation, and fostering international cooperation, Sudan is building a robust framework to address the threat of extremist terrorist groups. The leadership of figures like Lieutenant General Muffadel and General Al Labbib provides the necessary direction and oversight to ensure these efforts are coordinated and effective.

The fight against extremist terrorist groups in Sudan is a critical endeavor that requires a multi-pronged approach. Through the establishment of moderate camps, public incentives, legislative measures, and international cooperation, Sudan is taking significant steps to secure its borders and ensure the safety of its citizens. While challenges remain, the efforts of the GIS and the Sovereign Council demonstrate a resolute commitment to eradicating terrorism and fostering a stable, secure nation. As Sudan continues to navigate this complex landscape, the support and cooperation of the international community will be indispensable in achieving lasting peace and security.
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

Yes, the number of deaths in Gaza in the last seven months is staggering. At least, 35,000 Gazans have reportedly perished, including significant numbers of children (and that's without even counting the possibly 10,000 unidentified bodies still buried under the rubble that now litters that 25-mile-long stretch of land). But shocking as that might be (and it is shocking!), it begins to look almost modest when compared to the numbers of civilians slaughtered in America's never-ending Global War on Terror that began in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and, as Nick Turse has reported in his coverage of Africa, never really ended.

In fact, the invaluable Costs of War project put the direct civilian death toll in those wars at 186,694 to 210,038 in Iraq, 46,319 in Afghanistan, 24,099 in Pakistan, and 12,690 in Yemen, among other places. And don't forget, as that project also reports, that there could have been an estimated 3.6 to 3.8 million (yes, million!) "indirect deaths" resulting from the devastation caused by those wars, which lasted endless years -- 20 alone for the Afghan one -- in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Today, Nick Turse reports on how the Pentagon has largely avoided significant responsibility for civilian deaths from its never-ending air wars, not to speak of failing to compensate the innocent victims of those strikes. The civilian death toll in this country's twenty-first-century conflicts is, in fact, a subject he's long focused on at TomDispatch in a devastating fashion. In 2007, he was already reporting on how the U.S. military was quite literally discussing "hunting" the "enemy." ("From the commander-in-chief to low-ranking snipers, a language of dehumanization that includes the idea of hunting humans as if they were animals has crept into our world -- unnoticed and unnoted in the mainstream media.") And when it comes to the subject of killing civilians without any significant acknowledgment or ever having to say you're sorry, he's never stopped. Tom

Constant Killing

Despite Blood on Its Hands, The Pentagon Once Again Fails to Make Amends

By Nick Turse

There are constants in this world -- occurrences you can count on. Sunrises and sunsets. The tides. That, day by day, people will be born and others will die.

Some of them will die in peace, but others, of course, in violence and agony.

For hundreds of years, the U.S. military has been killing people. It's been a constant of our history. Another constant has been American military personnel killing civilians, whether Native Americans, Filipinos, Nicaraguans, Haitians, Japanese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians, Afghans, Iraqis, Syrians, Yemenis, and on and on. And there's something else that's gone along with those killings: a lack of accountability for them.

Late last month, the Department of Defense (DoD) released its congressionally mandated annual accounting of civilian casualties caused by U.S. military operations globally. The report is due every May 1st and, in the latest case, the Pentagon even beat that deadline by a week. There was only one small problem: it was the 2022 report. You know, the one that was supposed to be made public on May 1, 2023. And not only was that report a year late, but the 2023 edition, due May 1, 2024, has yet to be seen.

Whether that 2023 report, when it finally arrives, will say much of substance is also doubtful. In the 2022 edition, the Pentagon exonerated itself of harming noncombatants. "DoD has assessed that U.S. military operations in 2022 resulted in no civilian casualties," reads the 12-page document. It follows hundreds of years of silence about, denials of, and willful disregard toward civilians slain purposely or accidentally by the U.S. military and a long history of failures to make amends in the rare cases where the Pentagon has admitted to killing innocents.

Moral Imperatives

"The Department recognizes that our efforts to mitigate and respond to civilian harm respond to both strategic and moral imperatives," reads the Pentagon's new 2022 civilian casualty report.

And its latest response to those "moral imperatives" was typical. The Defense Department reported that it had made no ex gratia payments -- amends offered to civilians harmed in its operations -- during 2022. That follows exactly one payment made in 2021 and zero in 2020.

Whether any payments were made in 2023 is still, of course, a mystery. I asked Lisa Lawrence, the Pentagon spokesperson who handles civilian harm issues, why the 2023 report was late and when to expect it. A return receipt shows that she read my email, but she failed to offer an answer.

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Empress Ann Recordz, the brainchild of the dynamic entrepreneur Empress Ann, is thrilled to announce the eagerly awaited release of its debut single, 'Brawling', by the incredibly talented artist, Gothic. This momentous occasion signifies a significant milestone for both the label and the burgeoning artist. Hailing from the United States, Empress Ann embarked on a transformative journey with a clear vision; to establish a record label 
In February, Coffee Creek Correctional Facility reported a backlog of nearly 600 medical appointments.

The medical staff at Oregons only womens prison either failed to complete or significantly delayed the routine care and annual wellness exams and preventative cancer screenings, public records from an inspection of the facilitys medical services shows.

The problems run throughout the prison: Women wait six months or longer for tests like scans or imaging to treat or diagnose medical problems, the report found. New prisoners often wait weeks for their first health assessments, and theres a backlog on specialized care, too.

The prison has more than 800 women and, as of February, nearly 70 medical professionals. That includes an administrator, a physician, more than 30 nurses and nurse managers, mental health workers, a psychiatrist and support staff, the report said. The prison also listed about 20 openings for health care workers.

The findings are another challenge for Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville. The prison faces other problems that include sexual abuse and a culture of retaliation that discourages staff and women from reporting wrongdoing, according to a state report. Besides housing incarcerated women, the facility receives and processes new male prisoners before they are sent to other state prisons.

The latest findings were detailed by officials from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care in a 72-page report after an on-site visit in February that included a review of some medical records and interviews with prison staff. The Chicago-based nonprofit commission is a voluntary accrediting organization that Oregon and 20 other states participate in to practice accountability and set uniform standards for prisons.

The report found the prison failed to meet half of 38 essential standards. The 19 problem areas included: delayed health screenings and treatment, as well as inadequate care for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes.

The Oregon Justice Resource Center, a nonprofit organization that advocates for incarcerated Oregonians, received the report through a public records request and provided it to the Capital Chronicle.

This helps explain the tip of the iceberg of the bureaucratic mess and limited access that people have, Bobbin Singh, the centers executive director, said in an interview with the Capital Chronicle. It is a concern that some of these women may die or come out with debilitating physical conditions that will handicap them or end up with a disability or permanent disability for the rest of their lives.

The Oregon Department of Corrections is working to fix all the shortcomings and is in the midst of a comprehensive review of all medical practices, Amber Campbell, a spokesperson for the agency, said in a statement.

Still, the findings echo past problems: Last August, a state-commissioned report that examined the prison found problems with a lack of medical care.

You have to be dying to see medical, one prisoner said in that report, compiled primarily by the Womens Justice Institute, a Chicago-based advocacy group focused on female incarceration.

After the release of the 2023 report, which also found the prisons culture tolerates sexual misconduct, Gov. Tina Kotek created an advisory panel to recommend reforms at the womens prison.

PERSISTENT PROBLEMS

The commission, after its inspection, gave a rundown of problems throughout the prisons medical system and how they impact patient care. Time and again, the outside organization found deficiencies in Coffee Creeks medical system and how it is run.

There are barriers and extended delays in obtaining ordered required assessments, diagnostics and specialty consultations, the report said.

Among the problems flagged:

 The prisons policy has no identified schedule or guideline for preventative services with timelines for screenings. Nearly 600 appointments are behind schedule.

 For new prisoners, about 300 are behind schedule and havent received their initial health screening within seven days. Most initial assessments happen in 20 to 30 days after arrival instead.

 Prisoners dont receive medical clearances before their work assignments, including in the kitchen.

 The prisons supervising physician doesnt regularly attend meetings and usually communicates via email.

 The agency has poor recordkeeping and doesnt track routine health care statistics and activities, making it difficult to plan care for the facility. The agency said a new system will allow it to track statistics.

The commissions visit to Coffee Creek happens once every three years so the facility can maintain its accreditation. The nonprofit commissions accreditation isnt required for state prisons and is entirely voluntary, said Kimberly Sterling, vice president of professional services for the organization.

The commission, started in 1983, was created in response to a lack of established federal standards for health care in state prisons, Sterling said. Essentially, the commissions standards that state prisons agree to follow represent the best available and most uniform national standards, she said.

In Coffee Creeks case, the commission put the facility on probation following the visit, which means it will need to respond to the problems cited or risk losing its accreditation.

Although the facility remains accredited, probation is a very serious matter, Amy Panagopoulos, the commissions vice president of accreditation, wrote on Feb. 23 to Nichole Brown, superintendent of Coffee Creek.

The commission plans to do a follow-up visit with the facility, either in-person or virtually, by the end of June. The probation monitoring will continue until July 31, 2025  a nearly 18-month period.

AGENCY RESPONDS

Campbell, with the corrections agency, said the agency plans to address each deficiency in the report and maintain its accreditation.

DOC voluntarily belongs to the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and invite them to conduct independent, third-party reviews of our facilities, Campbell said. We find their reports to be insightful and allow us to compare our health care delivery systems to national best practices.

Campbell noted that because the inspections happen once every three years, the records reviewed included the COVID-19 pandemic, when medical care was impacted.

At this point, the agencys health services leadership is embedded in the prison  and has been for several weeks  to oversee all necessary changes are made, she said.

Asked about the backlog of care, Campbell said officials are reviewing the staffing plan. The prison often relies upon traveling nurses for health care, a practice that will be examined in the new plan.

The 2023 state report said the prison has a 40% vacancy rate of medical services staff, the highest of all prisons in Oregon. Traveling nurses draw higher pay than staff and often dont get saddled with the tough assignments because of their inexperience, the report said, which increases turnover of staff nurses.

Separately, the prison is transitioning to an electronic health records system to modernize, which will improve record-keeping, Campbell said.

It should be noted that all public health services are dealing with a similar health care worker shortage, Campbell said.

For those whove lived in the prison, the lack of medical care is a well-worn path.

A BROKEN SYSTEM

Angela Kim, a legal assistant with the Oregon Justice Resource Centers Womens Justice Project, is well-acquainted with the prisons medical system.

Kim, 56, spent 15 years in prison for a manslaughter conviction and was released last September. During her time there, she said, medical providers who provided high-quality care usually didnt last long.

This is the United States, Kim said. People shouldnt be treated this way. Its really unconscionable.

Kim had firsthand experience, suffering pain in her limbs for seven years. The problems began with pain in her left wrist. A doctor told her she had the beginnings of carpal tunnel syndrome and she received a wrist brace.

That pain increased, radiating up her arm, elbow and all the way to her shoulder. Neck pain kicked in, she said. This time, health care providers recommended she receive surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.

But then the retirement of a doctor delayed the procedure and she had to see a new doctor and  again  requested a surgery. This time, they recommended a nerve test that determined she didnt have carpal tunnel syndrome.

The pain spread to both arms, and the years progressed. A nurse recommended an MRI, she said, but nothing happened.

Quite by accident, Kim said, she had an appointment with an infectious disease doctor scheduled, even though she didnt have an infectious condition. She told him about her problems and he ordered an MRI, which found she had a bone spur pressing on the spinal column in her neck.

Eventually, she received surgery.

Start to finish, she said, the ordeal lasted seven years.

Its a broken system, she said.

PROBLEMS FLAGGED LAST YEAR

Singh, with the nonprofit center, said the surveys results are concerning because they came six months after the states report about conditions at Coffee Creek.

In that report, women told researchers they faced delays in care for worsening conditions, including cancer.

Women sent multiple requests about health care concerns and waited two or more months for a response. Women also reported long waits for surgeries or denials. On top of that, they said medical staff disrespected or criticized them.

In the state report, 67% of 575 women surveyed said medical services were not available when needed. Only 19% said they were available.

What we can say is the overall trend is that it seems to be getting worse, Singh said. And the women are in more dire conditions. And at this point, our concerns are that people are going to be harmed permanently or die because of a lack of access to medical care.

Oregon Capital Chronicle, based in Salem, is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence.
A man who allegedly shoved a TriMet rider in front of a moving MAX train in Northwest Portland on Tuesday and then allegedly committed a string of thefts in the area has been arrested, Multnomah County Sheriffs deputies said Wednesday.

The MAX operator of the oncoming train  whom TriMet officials hailed on Wednesday as a hero  slammed on emergency brakes, and the rider suffered only minor injuries, authorities said.
Nathan Vasquez, a career Multnomah County prosecutor, has defeated one-term incumbent District Attorney Mike Schmidt.

Partial returns as of Wednesday afternoon show Vasquez with 54% of the vote to Schmidts 46%.

The Oregonian/OregonLive determined Schmidt has no statistical path to victory. Thats despite two factors in his favor  he won a majority of last-minute votes that were tallied Wednesday and is therefore likely to win a hefty share of the remaining 40,000-plus ballots yet to be counted.

But Vasquez would need to capture only a third of the outstanding votes to clinch victory. And, given results so far, The Oregonian/OregonLive projects he will.

OREGON ELECTION 2024: Live Results Page | Election Page

Final results are likely to show a victory on the order of 52% to 47% for Vasquez -- a much closer margin than a 10- or 20-percentage-point blowout for Vasquez that a late April poll commissioned by The Oregonian/OregonLive suggested was possible. At that time, nearly 20% of county voters said they had yet to make a choice in the race.

Vasquez, 47, said he is humbled by and grateful for the communitys support. He said Schmidt called him to concede.

The voters have made it clear that they are ready to take our county in a new and safer direction, Vasquez said in a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive.

As DA, he said he is dedicated to fulfilling my campaign promises. I am committed to ending open air drug dealing and drug use while helping connect individuals to treatment, to rebuilding the broken relationships between the DAs office and the community, and to ensuring that victims are the number one priority of my office.

Schmidts campaign released a statement Wednesday acknowledging the results and pledging a smooth transition.

Thank you to this amazing community for the support they have shown for this campaign, he said. And thank you for the opportunity to serve these past four years. It is an honor I will cherish for a lifetime.

His campaign spokesperson, Andrew Rogers, said Schmidt intends to serve until the end of his term on Dec. 31.

Schmidt was thrust into office six months early when his predecessor, Rod Underhill, stepped down early amid weeks of civil unrest that roiled downtown Portland.

The salary for the four-year position increases to $272,725 in July.

Vasquezs campaign leaned heavily on his experience as a prosecutor and advocate for crime victims.

In a bruising campaign that split the Multnomah County DAs office and shattered fundraising records, Vasquez highlighted what he described as Schmidts failure to lead as the region confronted multiple public safety crises.

Schmidt, meanwhile, touted his policy work and initiatives intended to make the justice system more fair.

Nationally, Schmidt, 43, is the latest progressive DA to face defeat. Two years ago, San Francisco voters recalled reformer Chesa Boudin and the top prosecutor in Chicago, Kim Foxx, who also championed changes to the justice system, faced intense backlash and announced earlier this year she would not seek reelection.

Schmidt had previously worked for about six years as a Multnomah County prosecutor and eventually went on to lead the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, a state agency charged with crunching criminal justice data for policymakers.

From the start, Schmidt faced intense criticism from within his own ranks. The union that represents prosecutors endorsed Vasquez.

Money poured into both campaigns, with Vasquez seeing strong support from downtown business interests and reform-minded donors, including a group with ties to Democratic megadonor George Soros, infusing Schmidts coffers with last-minute donations. Both candidates brought in more than $1 million each in contributions.

-- Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on the justice system. Reach her at 503-276-7184; ncrombie@oregonian.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
The dust is cleared and exhibits are back in place to mark a reopening of the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center on Flagstaff Hill, about five miles east of Baker City.

The center, which opened in 1992, is operated by the Bureau of Land Management. It has been closed since November 2020  first due to pandemic restrictions and then, starting in March 2022, for extensive renovation work designed to improve the buildings energy efficiency.

The $6.5 million project included new siding, insulation, roofing, windows and doors, as well as upgraded heating and cooling systems for the 30,000-square-foot facility.

Were on a very sunny and windy hill. After 30 years, it was time for a facelift, said Sarah Sherman, who oversaw work as project manager.

The center opens to the public at 1 p.m. Friday, May 24. To mark the occasion, admission will be free May 24-26. For the summer, the center will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for age 16 and older or $6 for seniors, and is good for two days with receipt.

Beginning May 31, ranger programs will be offered at 1 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Looking ahead, Oregon Trail Days will be June 7-8 in Geiser-Pollman Park in Baker City.

The trials and tribulations of the Oregon Trail are expressed in life-size exhibits at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.Lisa Britton/Baker City Herald

Explore the story of how settlers came west when the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center reopens May 24, 2024.Lisa Britton/Baker City Herald

Exhibits, and more

During the renovation work, some exhibits were protected in place but many artifacts were removed and put in storage. Many displays will be familiar to locals who have visited the center before, but a completely new Native American exhibit, which was designed with regional tribal input, will be installed soon, Sherman said.

She said additional projects are planned, such as ways to re-tell the story of the Oregon Trail.

We have new audiences  how can we better tell the story? she said.

Also, a Connect Trails to Parks grant from the National Park Service will help update videos and outdoor signs will be updated by 2026.

On May 10, a small group toured the center as a trial soft opening. As Sherman gave a tour of the exhibits, she welcomed questions and comments.

Dave Hunsaker, a former director of the center, spoke to the uniqueness of the center across BLM facilities.

This place up here was an example agency-wide throughout the entire United States ... for visitors centers, community support and impact, he said. Its truly amazing.

The opening will also unveil the new Lone Pine Mercantile, which is run by Friends of National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center through Crossroads Carnegie Art Center. The shop features regional artwork, books and other items related to the Oregon Trail.

Also, food offerings include sandwiches made by the Baker Food Co-op and cheese items from The Cheese Fairy.

Were trying to be as hyperlocal as possible, said Ginger Savage, executive director of Crossroads Carnegie Art Center. The Friends organization, she said, will support the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in arts, culture, heritage and humanities.

Artistic connection

The centers reopening on Memorial Day weekend will coincide with the opening of Gary Ernest Smiths art show titled Towards Home: The People, Places and culture of Eastern Oregon at Crossroads Carnegie Art Center in Baker City. The opening reception starts at 6 p.m. Friday, May 24.

Smith painted the iconic image for the poster of the opening of the National Oregon Trail Interpretive Center at Flagstaff Hill in 1992. The original is in the permanent collection of the Booth Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, but it will be on loan to the Bureau of Land Management during his show.

Also, Smiths newly commissioned painting Pioneers Pass Through Baker Valley will be unveiled May 24 and become part of the permanent collection at National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Smiths show will run through July 21 at Crossroads. Also, an exhibition titled Westward will run concurrently at the center featuring art from around the region.

-- Visit the Baker City Herald (Baker City, Ore.) at www.bakercityherald.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
According to court records, Ethan Crumbley, the manslayer of the mass shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan, requested help from his parents in a plea for his life sentence. However, they refused to reveal records that he believed would help his case.

Parents of Ethan Crumbley Refuses to Help Him

These records, which Crumbley sought, included pre-sentencing inspection reports from the trials of his parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, who were found liable of unintentional manslaughter about the firing.

The reports were said to contain data about the family's background and upbringing, which could be appropriate to Ethan's plea. His lawyers debated that this data could shed light on his early life and mental state, probably influencing his plea process.

In response, James Crumbley opposed the motion, asserting that Ethan could provide his legal team with information about his family himself.

Jennifer Crumbley also objected to her son's petition, citing statutory benefit regarding the revelation of her pre-sentence record.

Ethan's lawyers petitioned that the records be issued under a protective order, permitting the court to review them exclusively. A judge was anticipated to decide on this action soon.

Additionally, Ethan Crumbley sought to introduce testimony from lay witnesses, specifically family members, regarding the environment he grew up in.

His legal team argued that such testimony could potentially affect his guilty plea or the validity of his sentence. They planned to present these statements and other relevant information in his appeal, despite concerns raised by family members about media harassment and exposure to danger.

The court refused a petition to keep the family members' names secret, citing public interest in the case.

Ethan Crumbley, who appealed liable to the firing, conveyed guilt for his actions before convicting, recognizing the danger he caused and conveying a desire to change.

Ethan Crumbley's Parents Were Sentenced to 10 to 15 Years in Prison

Jennifer and James Crumbley were convicted to 10 to 15 years in prison for unintentional killing after failing to hinder their teenage son from murdering four students in Michigan's bloody school firing.

Their trials, which concluded in February and March with liable decisions, marked the first time U.S. parents were sentenced for deaths caused by their child in a mass firing.

Judge Cheryl Matthews emphasized that the convictions were due to repeated failures to prevent a foreseeable tragedy, not poor parenting. Jennifer had requested house arrest, and James argued for time served, both expressing remorse during the hearing.

Victims' families described the destructive influence of the firing, with some calling the disaster avoidable and blaming the Crumbleys for not taking accountability.

Ethan Crumbley, 15 at the time, killed four students and wounded seven others. He appealed liable to numerous charges and got a life sentence without parole, which he can plead.

Prosecutors pointed out the Crumbleys' failure to act on warning signs, including a violent drawing by Ethan and his access to a handgun purchased by James. Defense lawyers argued that the parents couldn't have predicted the violence.

The Crumbleys' convictions have sparked discussions about parental responsibility and could influence future legal actions against parents in similar situations.

Legal experts believe this case sets a national precedent for holding parents accountable for their children's actions involving gun violence.
The recent New York court ruling continues to favor an abortion coverage requirement for employers, despite religious challenges.

A recent legal challenge brought by religious employers against a state regulation mandating health insurance coverage for medically necessary abortions has been dismissed.

The challengers, including multiple Catholic dioceses, contended that the regulation's exemption for religious employers was overly restrictive and potentially discriminatory.

New York Court Ruling Upholds Abortion Coverage

New York's highest court upheld the state's requirement for health insurance plans to cover medically necessary abortions, following a challenge from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and other church groups. They argued that the policy's exemption for religious employers was too narrow, potentially infringing on religious freedoms.

The policy was initially approved by state financial regulators in 2017 and later enshrined into law by the state legislature in 2022. The legal challenge focused on the regulation itself, not the underlying law.

The Court of Appeals' decision carries broader implications, as it could set a precedent for similar challenges against the state's abortion coverage law.

The core debate revolved around whether the criteria for religious exemptions were sufficiently clear and whether officials had too much discretion in granting these exemptions.

According to state guidelines, a religious employer is defined as an entity dedicated to promoting religious values, primarily employing and serving individuals who share these beliefs, and classified as a religious nonprofit under federal law.

Read Also: Illinois High School Senior Killed by Speeding Drunk Driver Ahead of Graduation

Abortion Challenges From Religious Employers

Chief Judge Rowan Wilson, in a unanimous opinion supported by the court's other six judges, rejected this argument. Wilson emphasized that delving into an extensive analysis of the factors in the 'religious employer' definition could indirectly introduce strict scrutiny, a legal standard they opted not to apply.

Wilson wrote, "The proposition that a state has the authority to cabin, through specific criteria, who qualifies as a 'religious employer' is consistent with Supreme Court and other state court precedent."

The exemption applies to employers dedicated to advancing their religious values, employing individuals who share these beliefs, primarily serving like-minded individuals, or qualifying as a religious nonprofit under federal regulations.

Another point of contention was whether a 2021 U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding a similar conflict would alter the legal perspective of this case. However, Wilson clarified in the court's decision that while the Philadelphia case might impact other legal challenges, it doesn't affect this specific case.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, hailed the ruling as a significant move in safeguarding essential freedoms.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany expressed intentions to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. This option is available when seeking a review of a state's highest court decision, although the Supreme Court's decision to hear the case is not guaranteed.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany reiterated its plan to appeal, citing concerns about government involvement in matters of faith and conscience, with the final decision on constitutionality potentially resting with the United States Supreme Court.

The statement of the diocese reads, "We believe this is unconstitutional since it involves government entanglement in the fundamental rights of free exercise of faith and conscience,"
A second person in the U.S. has been constrained with avian influenza connected to dairy cows, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday.

Second Bird Flu Case Related to Dairy Cows

The individual, a farmworker regularly vulnerable to contaminated livestock, encountered mild manifestations and has since recuperated, the department declared.

"The overall health risk to the public remains low," said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan's chief medical executive, in a press release. "We have not observed any sustained human-to-human transmission at this time. This is precisely how public health should function, by early detection and monitoring of emerging diseases."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded that the individual was watched carefully for manifestations after risk to contaminated dairy cows. The individual acquired conjunctivitis or pink eye, and an eye sample tested positive for the infection, while a nasal sample tested negative.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, Dr. Nirav Shah, CDC's principal deputy director, noted that the negative nasal sample is somewhat promising.

"It lowers, though does not eliminate, the likelihood of respiratory transmission," Shah said. This marks the second case of pink eye due to bird flu, with the first occurring in a Texas dairy worker diagnosed in March, who also exhibited only conjunctivitis.

The CDC plans to sequence the infection from the Michigan worker to recognize if it has mutations that could facilitate human-to-human transmission, with analysis anticipated later this week, Shah specified.

Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, declared, "I don't think this alters the risk profile for human-to-human transmission."

Bird Flu Vaccine Anticipated to be Ready Within a Few Months

Dawn O'Connell, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services declared during the briefing that the government has begun the final preparation stage for roughly 4.8 million doses of an avian influenza vaccine, anticipated to be available in a few months. This preemptive measure aims to save time if the virus spreads more widely.

Shah urged state and local health authorities to maintain enhanced flu monitoring throughout the summer, despite the typical flu season being over. He noted no increase in influenza-like illnesses near the affected Michigan farm.

Since its identification in 1997, the H5N1 bird flu strain has caused just over 900 human cases globally, with a mortality rate exceeding 50%, though mild, undetected cases might reduce this percentage. This is the third H5N1 case in the U.S.

An inmate in Colorado was diagnosed in 2022 while working on a commercial farm, displaying only fatigue and recovering with Tamiflu. There is no evidence of H5N1 spreading among people. The household contacts of the Texas dairy worker did not become ill.

Shah reiterated that while the public risk remains low, farmworkers face higher risks. The CDC advises those in contact with dairy cattle to wear protective gear, including safety glasses, waterproof aprons, and sanitizable boots.

Osterholm predicted more cases, saying, "I wouldn't be surprised if we saw five, six, or ten cases in the coming weeks."

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development reported additional cow infections this week, with 19 infected herds in the state.

Nationally, 51 herds in nine states have been affected, including Colorado, Kansas, Idaho, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The use of obesity medications, like GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic, is on the rise for teen weight loss. The recent analysis reveals that kids and young adults in America have seemingly increased the use of GLP-1 drugs for obesity medication.

Surge in Teen Weight Loss Medication Use

The recent study on the rise of wegovy and ozempic use reveals that the dispensing records from nearly 94% of U.S. retail pharmacies from 2020 to 2023 reveal a dramatic rise in the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists among individuals aged 12 to 25.

Published in the journal JAMA, the study led by Dr. Joyce Lee of the University of Michigan highlights a nearly 600% increase in monthly prescriptions for this age group, soaring from about 8,700 in 2020 to over 60,000 in 2023.

"What it's suggesting is that it's one of the tools in the toolbox, and there are more providers prescribing this medication for the population," said Dr. Lee, a pediatrician and diabetes expert.

Despite this surge, the number of young people using these drugs remains a fraction of those struggling with obesity. According to the CDC, about 20% of U.S. children and adolescents and 42% of adults suffer from this chronic condition.

Addressing the Obesity Crisis in Youth

In early 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended early and aggressive treatment for children and teens with obesity, including the use of surgery and medication if necessary.

At just 17, Israel McKenzie faced a daunting struggle with obesity, which led him to withdraw from in-person high school and avoid interactions at his restaurant job.

For McKenzie, weight gain began during puberty, leading to severe asthma and a risk of developing diabetes. Despite efforts to cut out sugary drinks and snacks, his weight continued to rise until he met Dr. Joani Jack, a pediatric obesity specialist at Children's Hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Dr. Jack, who frequently prescribes GLP-1 drugs for young patients, recommended Wegovy for McKenzie. Approved for use in children over 12 in late 2022, Wegovy, along with Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs like Saxenda and Trulicity, has shown significant results. Over 6,000 children received Wegovy in 2023, while more than 7,600 received Ozempic.

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Challenges and Considerations in Obesity Medication

While McKenzie experienced no significant side effects from Wegovy, Dr. Lee noted that some young patients report nausea, vomiting, or constipation severe enough to discontinue the medication.

The high cost and accessibility of these drugs also pose challenges, with Medicaid covering nearly half of the prescriptions for 12- to 17-year-olds and about a quarter for those aged 18 to 25.

Understanding the long-term safety and effectiveness of these medications for young people is crucial, as they are intended for ongoing use. Despite these hurdles, the benefits for McKenzie have been life-changing. His asthma has improved, and he now enjoys social interactions with newfound confidence.

"I have a lot of self-confidence now, a lot more than I used to," he said. "It has changed everything."
A South Dakota feral dog attack led to the untimely demise of a 9-year-old boy in an Indian reservation tragedy last week. The incident took place in Eagle Butte, a city situated on the Cheyenne River Reservation, approximately 165 miles northeast of Rapid City.

9-Year-Old Child Mauled By Dogs

The young boy, whose name has not been released publicly, was found next to a bike with severe injuries that may have contributed to his death, according to a statement by Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman Ryman LeBeau.

On Friday, May 17, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe police responded to a report of a person lying on the ground. The child was later identified by his own family members.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers found that the person reported was a young boy who was found unresponsive with multiple wounds consistent with dog bites.

"We discovered that there were four dogs that attacked and killed him," said police Chief Charles L. Red Crow. The search for the dogs involved in the attack is ongoing, with no confirmation on whether any have been found yet.

Community in Mourning and Action Taken

The death of the 9-year-old boy has deeply affected the community, prompting an outpouring of condolences and sorrow on social media.

The police department's Facebook page confirmed the tragic news, stating, "With heavy hearts, we confirm that this Wakanyeja lost his life due to an attack by several feral dogs." In the Lakota language, "Wakanyeja" means child.

Furthermore, after an autopsy was conducted on the child's body, it was later revealed that the child's death was a result of an animal attack.

The community has rallied around the grieving family, with many expressing their sadness and support online. A heartfelt message expressed condolences for the young boy who departed too soon, extending prayers to his grieving family, friends, and the entire Cheyenne River Nation as they cope with this tragic loss. Another commenter described the event as "a preventable tragedy! My heart goes out to this little boy and his family."

Chairman LeBeau announced that animal control officers would be deployed to capture both collared and uncollared animals that are not properly restrained. Collared animals will be held at the local animal shelter for 72 hours before being "processed."

Calls for Preventive Measures

This heartbreaking incident has sparked a broader conversation about safety measures needed to prevent such tragedies in the future. Community members are calling for stricter animal control policies and increased resources to manage feral dog populations on the reservation.

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe is now dealing with the pain of losing a young member while striving to ensure the safety of its community. The widespread grief and calls for action show a united front determined to prevent future incidents.

In response to this tragic event, tribal leaders are taking steps to address the issue of feral dogs more aggressively.

As the investigation continues, the community remains hopeful that swift and effective measures will be put in place to prevent another such loss.
About nine days ago, I posted a blog entry that was entitled Contra Calvinism 1. If you read it, youll be able to judge for yourself whether, as my Malevolent Stalker and his small tribe of fellow warriors have characterized it, the blog entry was motivated by bigotry, hatred, and revenge, and whether, as he declares, it is a specimen of my bigotry unleashed, a declaration of open season on Calvinism and other faiths, and a case of my lashing out against those not of my faith.

And please read this current blog entry, too, with those descriptions in mind: The title of that previous post implied (and I expressly said) that I would revisit the topic . . . and, well, The Time Has Now Come to Do So.

I simply wanted to tell a little story that I think Ive told somewhere before, but that, in the twenty seconds that I devoted to looking for it, I could not find. Here is how it goes:

Many years ago, in June of 1998, the Southern Baptist Convention, attempting to bring Christianity for the first time to the heathens of Utah, held its very large annual meeting in Salt Lake City. When the time came, thousands of fervent Southern Baptists descended upon the home city of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In preparation for the planned mass-evangelization event that was to accompany their annual meeting, they produced a fair amount of curricular material in various forms that was designed to equip their members to understand and to rebut Mormonism. I myself responded to some of their teaching materials (Shall They Not Both Fall into the Ditch? What Certain Baptists Think they Know about the Restored Gospel), and I wrote two of the ten essays (Are Latter-day Saints Christian? and Do Latter-day Saints believe that men and women can become Gods?) in a brief publication that was intended to answer certain commonly-asked questions about the teachings of the Restoration.

Not only did the Southern Baptists hold their meetingsI attended one or two of those meetings myselfbut they fanned out into various communities (at least along the Wasatch Front), going door to door in order to share their message with the residents of my adopted home state. Two of them came to my own front door early one evening, and we had a pleasant visit.

President Gordon B. Hinckley had encouraged the Latter-day Saints of Utah to treat our visiting Baptist brothers and sisters with respect and hospitality and, so far as Im aware, we did so. I dont know whether the Baptists got any converts from among us, but I heard reports that at least one or two of the visiting SBC delegates ended up joining the Restored Church. (Whether thats really true or not, I cannot say. Certainly I wouldnt be surprised if a few of them, or even perhaps many of them, came to recognize that the reality of the Latter-day Saints was, umm, a little bit different from what SBC teaching materials had led them to expect.)

But what, you may be asking at this point, does this have to do with Calvinism? Im happy to answer.

Among the delegates who came to Utah was a Baptist pastor who, at the time, headed up a small organization called Utah Missions, Inc. (UMI). Despite its name, it was based in Marlow, Oklahoma. Among other things, UMI published a monthly newspaper called The Utah Evangel, to which, by that time, I had been subscribing for well over a decade. (The subscription was free, and I judged that I had definitely been getting my moneys worth.) The founder of UMI, an irascible old codger with whom I had a long and, to me anyway, an enjoyable correspondence, had retired and possibly even passed away by that time. So had his more literate but equally belligerent immediate successor. Now, a new man had taken the reins of the operation, a much friendlier anti-Mormon, and I had been corresponding with him. We arranged to do lunch when he came out to Utah for the SBCs convention.

When the time arrived, his wife joined him for our lunch engagement, and my friends Lou Midgley and Bill Hamblin also joined us. Now, American Evangelicalism in general and the Southern Baptist Convention in particular have tended toward Calvinism in the past two or three generationsmuch more (I think, though Im no expert) than before. It soon became evident (partly because he expressly said so), that my visitor leaned toward Calvinist ideas.

We had a pleasant conversation about many things, not all of them doctrinal or even religious. But then our talk turned to the salvation of the unevangelized, those who never in their lifetimes heard the name of Jesus. He responded that, without accepting Jesus as Savior in this mortal life, salvation was impossible.

I asked about the fate of, say, a peasant in eighth-century China who in his lifetime never traveled more than more than fifty miles from his native village, and who never came within five hundred miles (or much more!) of a Christian. Or, given their view of the Book of Mormon, what about a Plains Indian in the Pre-Columbian New World? Well, came the answer, theyre damned. And this was all part of the sovereign design of God, predestined before the foundation of the world. I suggested that, while God seemed to favor Scots Presbyterians and the Dutch Reformed, he appeared to have given the Chinese an obviously raw deal. The wife, who had been largely silent during this part of the conversation, suggested that maybe God hates the Chinese. I looked to see if there was even the slightest trace of humor or irony in what she said. There wasnt.

But, I asked, how is this even remotely fair? How can God justly condemn someone for not accepting a message that she never heard and that she never could have heard? Maybe, came the response, Gods justice is different from our justice? Indeed, I answered. It seems, on their explanation of it, exactly like our injustice. I said that any father who treated his children in an analogous way would be considered grotesquely unfair. He would be guilty of what might properly be termed parental malpractice.

We went back and forth on this for a while, and then, finally, I decided to tell them quite frankly what I really thought. It went something along the following lines:

Look, I said. I know that you consider our view of God blasphemous. Youve plainly said so. But let me tell you what I consider a blasphemous view of God: In your view, God freely creates us out of nothing. He is under no obligation to do so; he could simply have left some or all of us nonexistent. But he doesnt. He makes us as he chooses, flawed from the start, knowing full well that most of us are bound for Hell. He places most of us in times or locations where we cannot possibly accept Jesus, and then he condemns us for not accepting Jesus.

Moreover, he creates us freely, knowing with a perfect knowledge that he will eventually damn us to an eternity of, in your theology, literal torture and torment. He could have simply, painlessly, snuffed us out at death. But no, he keeps us alive and conscious in order to inflict unspeakable pain on us, And that punishment will never end. Its not designed to teach us anything. It will continue forever, long past  infinitely past  any time where weve learned our lesson. Its like a father who spanks his child forever and ever and ever and ever. We would regard such a parent as criminally insane.

I can imagine worshiping your God out of terror, but I cannot imagine loving him, or even, in a very real sense, respecting him. I seem to be better than he is.

Now, there might be ingenious Calvinist responses to my horrified objection. The Calvinists have a lively and rich intellectual tradition, commencing at a minimum with John Calvin himself. But they offered no such response. I told them that, while Christianity was supposed to be the Good News  the Gospel, the euangelion  their view of God didnt seem to me to be good news in any sense whatsoever. They agreed that we disagreed.

Another objection that I have toward Calvinism, though I cannot remember whether I brought it up that day or not, is simply this: Divine predestination makes God ultimately responsible for every act of injustice, abuse, rape, murder, and genocide that occurs. If something happens, it happens by his will. If nothing happens against his will, I see no way to exculpate him from that guilt.

Its easy to imagine parents who try to raise a child well but whose child, to their sorrow and against their will, becomes a criminal or, anyway, chooses to repudiate their teachings and values. Such things happen all the time. We dont condemn those kind and decent parents or hold them responsible for the childs later life and choices. But what of a brilliant inventor who freely and deliberately creates an evil, murderous robot, knowing in advance the havoc and mayhem and sorrows it will cause? Surely, we would hold that inventor responsible for the actions of his creation. And, surely, in relevant respects, that inventor resembles the Calvinist representation of God much more than he resembles those kindly and loving but sad and disappointed parents.

And here, as far as Im concerned, endeth the lesson.

Posted from Williamsburg, Virginia
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I am responding to the book, Roman Catholicism in the Light of Their Own Scriptures and Authorities (Anderson, Indiana: Gospel Trumpet Company, 1917), by Rev. Herbert McClellan Riggle (1872-1952). He was a Church of God pastor (Anderson, Indiana branch: a holiness Christian denomination with roots in Wesleyan-Arminianism), revivalist, and evangelist. Rev. Riggle was the author of eighteen theological books. In this installment I reply to the section, Humble Equality of the Primitive Ministry (pp. 35-44). His words will be in blue.

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Rev. Riggle, according to the congregationalist ecclesiology of the Church of God, contends in this section that bishops and elders are on the same level of authority, which exists in the local church. According to this view, there is no hierarchical Church government; no bishops who oversee more than one local Church. Hence he writes:

The apostle Peter placed himself on a common level with the local presbyters, and also stated that he was a fellow presbyter.

Jesus called His apostles friends (Jn 15:15), washed their feet (Jn 13:12) and was subject to the authority of His parents Mary and Joseph (obedient to them: Lk 2:51). Does that mean that they were all equal to or superior in authority to Him?

. . . the terms bishop and elder were used interchangeably, and applied to all the traveling ministers. All the local preachers were bishops . . .

. . . the modern office of bishop was unknown in the apostolic church . . .

Its true that offices in the early Church were fluid and overlapping. They were still in a state of primitive development. I wrote about this in my first book (A Biblical Defense of Catholicism) in 1996:

As is often the case in theology and practice among the earliest Christians, there is some fluidity and overlapping of these three vocations (for example, compare Acts 20:17 with 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:1-7 with Titus 1:5-9). But this does not prove that three offices of ministry did not exist. For instance, St. Paul often referred to himself as a deacon or minister (1 Cor. 3:5; 4:1, 2 Cor. 3:6; 6:4; 11:23; Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:23-25), yet no one would assert that he was merely a deacon, and nothing else. Likewise, St. Peter calls himself a fellow elder (1 Pet. 5:1), whereas Jesus calls him the rock upon which he would build his Church, and gave him alone the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 16:18-19). These examples are usually indicative of a healthy humility, according to Christs injunctions of servanthood (Matt. 23:11-12; Mark 10:43-44). Upon closer observation, clear distinctions of office appear, and the hierarchical nature of Church government in the New Testament emerges. Bishops are always referred to in the singular, while elders are usually mentioned plurally. The primary controversy among Christians has to do with the nature and functions of bishops and elders (deacons have largely the same duties among both Protestants and Catholics). Catholics contend that the elders/presbyters in Scripture carry out all the functions of the Catholic priest: [I then provided 17 instances of this similarity, with tons of Scripture references] . . . Bishops (episkopos) possess all the powers, duties, and jurisdiction of priests, with the following important additional responsibilities: Jurisdiction over priests and local churches, and the power to ordain priests: Acts 14:22; 1 Timothy 5:22; 2 Timothy 1:6; Titus 1:5.

Special responsibility to defend the Faith: Acts 20:28-31; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Titus 1:9-10; 2 Peter 3:15-16.

Power to rebuke false doctrine and to excommunicate: Acts 8:14-24; 1 Corinthians 16:22; 1 Timothy 5:20; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:10-11.

Power to bestow Confirmation (the receiving of the indwelling Holy Spirit): Acts 8:14-17; 19:5-6.

Management of Church finances: 1 Timothy 3:3-4; 1 Peter 5:2. In the Septuagint, episkopos is used for overseer in various senses, for example: officers (Judg. 9:28; Isa. 60:17), supervisors of funds (2 Chron. 34:12, 17), overseers of priests and Levites (Neh. 11:9; 2 Kings 11:18), and of temple and tabernacle functions (Num. 4:16). God is called episkopos at Job 20:29, referring to his role as Judge, and Christ is an episkopos in 1 Peter 2:25 (RSV: Shepherd and Guardian of your souls). (Appendix Two: The Visible, Hierarchical, Apostolic Church, pp. 251-254)

When the apostles set churches in order, they did not ordain one bishop and his presbytery, but simply ordained priests [elders, A. v.] in every church (Acts 14:22) [should be Acts 14:23]. Paul did not instruct Titus to ordain one bishop and a presbytery of elders for his sanhedrin in every city in Crete, but left him to simply ordain priests [elders, A. V.] in every city.

Here Rev. Riggle contradicts his own stated position. Note that Paul and Barnabas and Titus were overseeing multiple local churches. Thus, they were functioning as bishops in the hierarchical or episcopal sense. In noting that Paul and Titus were ordaining elders (what we would regard as priests) in every church he neglects to see that in so doing they themselves were acting as hierarchical bishops. Paul commissioned Titus to do exactly the same thing: appoint elders in every town as I directed you, (Titus 1:5, RSV, as throughout). St. Paul refers to his own de facto office of bishop in the same sense:

1 Corinthians 7:17 . . . This is my rule in all the churches. 2 Corinthians 11:28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches.

The Jerusalem Council also clearly indicates this hierarchical authority. It was a meeting of apostles and elders in the Church, including Peter, Paul, James, and Barnabas (Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22-23; 16:4), whose decree was brought about through the decisive words of St. Peter, the leader of the early Church, and confirmed by the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:28), and which was promulgated throughout Asia Minor (Turkey) as binding by the Apostle Paul (Acts 16:4).

There is also further evidence of monarchical bishops in the book of Revelation., and an abundance of patristic corroboration of bishops (in the Catholic sense) in the early Church:

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And the apostles and ancients [elders, A. v.] assembled to consider of this matter (Acts 15:6). No mention is made of a bishop presiding in this apostolic assembly. Only apostles and ancients (elders) are mentioned.

One must examine it more closely. Peter and James and Paul were apostles. But they are treated differently in the text. Pauls words arent even recorded, whereas Peters are given center stage (Acts 15:7-11). After he spoke, the reverence in which his words were regarded is seen in the description: And all the assembly kept silence (15:12). James, whom virtually all Church historians regard as the bishop of Jerusalem at that time, then gave the final address, and he started by saying, Simeon [Peter] has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, (Acts 15:14-15).

This again shows deference to Peter as the leader and primary influence on the decision. After all, Peter had received a vision from God, earlier in the book of Acts, about this very question of Gentiles and the Jewish Law. He received direct revelation and then made an infallible decree, guided by the Holy Spirit. Thats hierarchy. That isnt everyone functioning on the same level of authority. James appears to function as a sort of master of ceremonies, since he was the local bishop and in effect host of the council. But Peter is clearly portrayed as the leader and central figure.

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Photo credit: photograph of Rev. Herbert McClellan Riggle, on the Find a Grave website.

Summary: Herbert Riggle, a Church of God pastor, contended that bishops and local elders were the same office in the Bible. I provide biblical counter-evidence.
Please Hit Subscribe! If you have received benefit from this or any of my other 4,600+ articles, please follow this blog by signing up (with your email address) on the sidebar to the right (you may have to scroll down a bit), above where there is an icon bar, Sign Me Up!: to receive notice when I post a new blog article. This is the equivalent of subscribing to a YouTube channel. Please also consider following me on Twitter / X and purchasing one or more of my 55 books. All of this helps me get more exposure, and (however little!) more income for my full-time apologetics work. Thanks so much and happy reading!

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I am responding to the book, Plain Reasons Against Joining the Church of Rome (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1880), by Richard Frederick Littledale (1833-1890), an Anglo-Irish clergyman and prolific author. He received LL.B. and LL.D. degrees from Trinity College Dublin, in 1862, and a D.C.L. from Oxford. He was renowned as a father confessor, and next to Edward Pusey is said to have heard more confessions than any other priest of the church of England. His Plain Reasons Against Joining the Church of Rome, a volume of which thirty-six thousand copies were issued in 1880 and following years, evoked replies from the Rev. W. Horsfall, the Rev. A. Mills, Oxoniensis, and H. I. D. Ryder. Ill be addressing his argument against the infallibility of the Church. His words will be in blue.

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there is in Scripture no promise of infallibility to the Church at any given time. (p. 148; his italics)

Acts 15:28-29 (RSV) For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: [29] that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

This has to do with the Jerusalem Council, which was a meeting of apostles and elders in the Church, including Peter, Paul, James, and Barnabas (Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22-23; 16:4). If the Holy Spirit agreed with it (as He did), its infallible, and, I contend, also inspired. And it is that whether it eventually wound up in Scripture or not (just as Jesus or [no doubt many of] Pauls words that didnt make it to the Bible also were, in and of themselves). When the decree was made, the ones who made it didnt know that it was to become part of Scripture. It doesnt follow that it wasnt what it was, or that it didnt have the authority that it did.

The fact that the dealings and decree of the council are in the Bible actually makes my argument stronger, because now we have the assurance that the recorded words can be absolutely trusted as accurate, since theyre in the inspired revelation of Scripture. Therefore, an infallible decree was made (it couldnt be otherwise, with the Holy Spirit involved, and Luke couldnt have falsely recorded this, in his inspired words) by an official council of the Church, with its greatest leaders of the time, and it was promulgated throughout Asia Minor (Turkey) as binding by the Apostle Paul (Acts 16:4). This state of affairs utterly contradicts sola Scriptura, since that false doctrine claims that there can be no such thing as an infallible Church council and that only the Bible is an infallible authority.

If all that doesnt demonstrate infallibility and an infallible Church, I dont know what conceivable thing does. It couldnt be more clear than it is. And it couldnt be more contradictory to sola Scriptura than it is. The second biblical argument in this regard is equally decisive and unanswerable:

1 Timothy 3:15 . . . the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.

Remember, this is inspired Scripture, and it has a great significance, since it is a description of an essential characteristic of the Church by the great Apostle Paul. He was making a general statement about the nature of the Church and proclaiming that the Church is central in the matter of ascertaining and determining truth in theological and spiritual matters.

Pillars and foundations support things and prevent them from collapsing. To be a bulwark of the truth, means to be a safety net against truth turning into falsity. If the Church could err, it could not be what Scripture says it is. Gods truth would be the house built on a foundation of sand in Jesus parable. For this passage of Scripture to be true, the Church could not err  it must be infallible. A similar passage may cast further light on 1 Timothy 3:15:

Ephesians 2:19-21 . . . you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord;

1 Timothy 3:15 defines household of God as the church of the living God. Therefore, we know that Ephesians 2:19-21 is also referring to the Church, even though that word is not present. Here the Churchs own foundation is the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. The foundation of the Church itself is Jesus and apostles and prophets.

Prophets spoke in the name of the Lord (1 Chron 21:19; 2 Chron 33:18; Jer 26:9), and commonly introduced their utterances with thus says the Lord (Is 10:24; Jer 4:3; 26:4; Ezek 13:8; Amos 3:11-12; and many more). They spoke the word of the Lord (Is 1:10; 38:4; Jer 1:2; 13:3, 8; 14:1; Ezek 13:1-2; Hos 1:1; Joel 1:1; Jon 1:1; Mic 1:1, et cetera). These communications cannot contain any untruths insofar as they truly originate from God, with the prophet serving as a spokesman or intermediary of God (Jer 2:2; 26:8; Ezek 11:5; Zech 1:6; and many more). Likewise, apostles proclaimed truth unmixed with error (1 Cor 2:7-13; 1 Tim 2:7; 2 Tim 1:11-14; 2 Pet 1:12-21).

Does this foundation have any faults or cracks? Since Jesus is the cornerstone, he can hardly be a faulty foundation. Neither can the apostles or prophets err when teaching the inspired gospel message or proclaiming Gods word. In the way that apostles and prophets are infallible, so is the Church set up by our Lord Jesus Christ. We ourselves (all Christians) are incorporated into the Church (following the metaphor), on top of the foundation.

1 Peter 2:4-9 Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in Gods sight chosen and precious; [5] and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [6] For it stands in scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame. [7] To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do not believe, The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner, [8] and A stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall; for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. [9] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, Gods own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (cf. Isa 28:16)

Jesus is without fault or untruth, and he is the cornerstone of the Church. The Church is also more than once even identified with Jesus himself, by being called his Body (Acts 9:5 cf. with 22:4 and 26:11; 1 Cor 12:27; Eph 1:22-23; 4:12; 5:23, 30; Col 1:24). That the Church is so intimately connected with Jesus, who is infallible, is itself a strong argument that the Church is also infallible and without error.

Therefore, the Church is built on the foundation of Jesus (perfect in all knowledge), and the prophets and apostles (who spoke infallible truth, often recorded in inspired, infallible Scripture). Moreover, it is the very Body of Christ. It stands to reason that the Church herself is infallible, by the same token. In the Bible, nowhere is truth presented as anything less than pure truth, unmixed with error. That was certainly how Paul conceived his own tradition that he received and passed down.

Knowing what truth is, how can its own foundation or pillar be something less than total truth (since truth itself contains no falsehoods, untruths, lies, or errors)? It cannot. It is impossible. It is a straightforward matter of logic and plain observation. A stream cannot rise above its source. What is built upon a foundation cannot be greater than the foundation. If it were, the whole structure would collapse.

If an elephant stood on the shoulders of a man as its foundation, that foundation would collapse. The base of a skyscraper has to hold the weight above it. The foundations of a suspension bridge over a river have to be strong enough to support that bridge.

Therefore, we must conclude that if the Church is the foundation of truth, the Church must be infallible, since truth is infallible, and the foundation cannot be lesser than that which is built upon it. And since there is another infallible authority apart from Scripture, sola scriptura must be false.

The Roman argument, that if God have given a revelation at all to men, He must also have provided an authority on earth which shall infallibly interpret its meaning so as to avoid all error, is one of those examples of mans attempting to dictate what God ought to do; not an account of what God has done. (p. 149)

Nonsense. God the Holy Spirit did do this by ensuring that the results of the Jerusalem Council were infallible. Its right in Scripture. We know it happened because infallible, inerrant, inspired revelation told us so. First God communicated with St. Peter in a dream, about clean foods and the Gentiles, then it was institutionally and historically enshrined in the decrees of the council of apostles and elders, with the express consent of God the Holy Spirit. Thats authority! After the apostles died out (basically the end of the first century), the elders continued the same process in ecumenical councils.

Dr. Littledale himself noted that What is promised is, that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth (St. John xvi. 13) (p. 148). Indeed, this is the case, and Acts 15:28 and the Jerusalem Council provide a literal, concrete example of that very thing happening: the Holy Spirit guiding an authoritative council of the early Church, that issued binding decrees (via St. Paul and Barnabas and others) to Christians far and wide. And God had directly guided Peter in a related vision (Acts 10:9-20) too. Sound familiar? Only one Church keeps doing that today, as it always has, following this inspired biblical model.

God also inspired Paul to proclaim that the Church was the pillar and bulwark of the truth. This is the same thing as what Dr. Littledale calls an authority on earth which shall infallibly interpret. It does exist, and the Bible says so. Would that Dr. Littledale had read his Bible more closely, instead of picking and choosing what he likes and ignoring or discarding or irresponsibly misinterpreting what doesnt conform to the many false man-made traditions of Protestantism. Were not left as orphans (I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you: Jn 14:18).

One very plain disproof of the Roman a priori argument is, that God gave a revelation to the Jews fifteen hundred years before Christ, but no one pretends that they ever had an infallible living voice to keep them from all error regarding the law of Moses. (p. 150)

Actually they did have infallible guides  even arguably inspired ones (many of their words having been recorded in Holy Scripture)  : the prophets. A biblical argument can be made, as well, for the indefectibility of the Old Testament proto-church.

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Photo credit: cover of my book, Biblical Proofs for an Infallible Church and Papacy (March 2012, 150 pages). See book info, and purchase options at the link to the left.

Summary: Anglican polemicist Richard Frederick Littledale (1833-1890) made a dubious claim about no [?] biblical data for an infallible Church. I refute it from the Bible.
More stellar reporting from the Tribune: in a photo spread about a multicultural event, students at Bartlett High School are pictured holding a Palestinian flag as well as two signs, one reading in our hundreds, in our millions, we are all Palestinian, and the other, From the River to the Sea as well as Arabic text which, according to the students change.org petition, translates to Palestine is Arab. Upon discovering this, school staff paused distribution of the yearbook in order to remove the page with the photo.

Here are some snippets of how the Trib journalist reported the events:

. . . One sign reads from the river to the sea written across, with Arabic text underneath reiterating the latter. . . . For Palestinians and their allies, the slogan from the river to the sea is a call for peace and equality after 75 years of Israeli statehood and decadeslong, open-ended Israeli military rule over millions of Palestinians, according to The Associated Press. However, pro-Israeli activists often hear a clear demand for Israels destruction. According to Avi Gordon, executive director of Alums for Campus Fairness, he and other pro-Israeli community members believe the term from the river to the sea is an anti-semitic charge. That chant calls for the dismantling of Israel from the Jordan River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the West, Gordon said. It not only makes Jewish and Israeli students feel unsafe but also ostracizes them. . . . Uday Jain, a postdoctoral teaching fellow in the committee on social thought at the University of Chicago, said pro-Palestine advocates say the slogan is not antisemitic, but rather anti-Zionist. To dispel the idea that supporting Palestinians equates to anti-Jewish hate, its essential to differentiate Judaism from Zionist thought, he said. Jain said students all across the country have been seeing the vicious violence of this extremely harmful racial ideology, hence proudly holding up signs that counter it. So while it might be emotionally uncomfortable and deeply challenging for some people to learn that an institution they considered sacrosanct is racist and genocidal in practice, they have no right to silence and criminalize students who are making this urgent, thoughtful, and loving critique, Jain said.

So . . . wow.

This is meant to be straight news.

But consider the reporters biography:

Zareen Syed is an education reporter for the Chicago Tribune, covering issues that touch K-12 schools and colleges and universities. She also writes about campus activism and various student-led movements as well as narratives focusing on underrepresented groups. She joined the Tribune as a suburban reporter and has previously worked for NBC Sports, WGN-TV and Boston 25 News.

Her story her is far from being a straight news reporting. She assiduously refuses to actually provide the key information on what the Arabic writing is, that is, Palestine is Arab, which upends the assertion that From the river to the sea is just about peace and equality. (Actually, even the assertion that the land between the Jordan and the Mediterranean is accurately labelled as Palestine goes well beyond a call for peace into a denial that this area is, in fact, in part the country of Israel.)

She labels the entire period of the existence of the state of Israel as a denial of peace and equality. Because from 1948 to 1967, the West Bank was occupied by Jordan, and the Gaza Strip, Egypt, this makes clear that their objection is to the existence of Israel itself, not the occupation that began in 1967. And she throws in according to The Associated Press to give this claim a veneer of objectivity, in contrast to the alternate statement that this refers to the dismantling of Israel, which she attributes to a single individual. And the final word on this she gives to the idea that it is legitimate to oppose Zionist thought which is a racial ideology  but, again, however much Zionism might have referred, a century ago, to the desire of Jews to (re)settle in British Mandatory Palestine, those Jews do now, in fact, live in the present state of Israel. There appears to be some claims by pro-Palestinians that Zionists are those who reject a two-state solution, who believe in expanding settlements in the West Bank, or who simply support the actions of the state of Israel unreservedly, e.g., in this vague wording from the New York Times: some critics of Israel say they equate Zionism with a continuing project of expanding the Jewish state. But for the most part, mainstream media discussions about the term anti-Zionism such as this piece from ABC in Australia, stick to the historical explanation of the term without any real willingness to discuss what people who call themselves anti-Zionists actually mean by that claim  maybe because it is very uncomfortable for progressives who dont believe in the ethnic cleansing of Jews from Israel, to actually consider that their slogans have consequences.

So in the first place its sad that this passes for news reporting at the Tribune. But its also worrying that so many people appear to be so willing to chant slogans so unthinkingly.
Yes, I still subscribe to the Chicago Tribune, though I switched to the digital only option a while back, and I read the paper digitally relatively infrequently, but one opinion piece caught my eye from a bit over a week ago:

Why isnt the SAT being translated into other languages?

by Gina Caneva, a librarian at East Leyden High School, in Franklin Park, a suburb a few miles west of Chicago, whose previous work experience includes 8 years as a high school English teacher in the Chicago Public Schools system, and another seven years as a teacher-librarian there before moving to the suburbs. And she references that experience: proctoring standardized tests, watching her primarily-Black students do poorly (or in her words, seeing how low test scores did not capture my students brilliance), becoming convinced that those tests are racially biased. She explains that in her new position, she has a very linguistically-diverse student body, and that the SAT partially accommodates students without English fluency through translated directions and pop-up dictionaries. Then she writes:

Being that more and more standardized exams are becoming digital, testing companies have the technology to easily provide full translations for students. Currently, on the SAT, directions can be fully translated into 10 languages, and students classified as ELL can have access to the online dictionary, which can translate up to 100 languages. Why not just offer the exam in other languages? By providing standardized tests in English-only formats, testing companies are supporting an English-only philosophy that projects college-readiness as English-only. What if a student has just arrived and knows some English but has trouble reading it? Yet in their home language, they are highly proficient and eager to go to college? Standardized English-only exams have no place for such students, even though the most recent U.S. Census Bureau logged 350 languages spoken in the U.S.

After lamenting that testing itself was only temporarily reduced or eliminated during the pandemic, but has now resumed, she makes her final call:

Its time for policymakers and our nations leaders to push testing companies, such as the College Board, to make changes to their exams to meet the needs of our multilingual student body.

So where to start?

In the first place, it is simply not possible to run the English portion of the exam through Google Translate and generate a usable test. The questions test synonyms, with answer choices that have connotations and a deliberateness to the difficulty level of the vocabulary that a translation software cant capture. They test grammar, with fill in the blank type options (e.g., is I competed in a triathlon; however, it was not an Ironman triathlon? Or I competed in a triathlon, however; it was not an Ironman triathlon?) which, again, a translation software cannot rewrite in a foreign language.

And in the second place, the SAT is designed to test readiness for attendance at English-speaking colleges. Students across the world take the SAT to demonstrate their preparedness for US colleges, and, back when it was the norm to require the SAT or ACT for admission, the standard for international students was generally defined in terms of a level of SAT/ACT score that demonstrated sufficient English fluency and, if that isnt strong enough, then the requirement of the TOEFL. The SAT still plays an important role here: not long ago I read a book about a woman who, as a child in Afghanistan, was forced to drop out of school, but as a teen, used Khan Academy to learn English, academic subjects in English, and then SAT prep, and (this was before the Taliban took over) went to Pakistan to take the SAT and gain admission to a US college.

Now, perhaps the author doesnt believe in grammar as a concept, and really intends that only some general concept of reading comprehension should be tested. And maybe shed like a test which splits out grammar and comprehension and which isnt explicitly designed to test college readiness. But thats not what the SAT is about, and thats not what university studies in the US are about, and it is simply absurd in the US to believe that translation software eliminates the need to learn English to succeed in the U.S.

And the Chicago Tribune?

Yeah, this would not have been published a decade ago.

Yes, there would have been plenty that I would have disagreed with, but the quality of the reporting would have been credible, and the opinion columnists would have been knowledgeable. Now, the quality has dropped dramatically. Near as I can figure, they have calculated that a large portion of their subscribers are locked in, that (whether paper or digital subscribers) they keep their subscriptions out of a sense of tradition, because its part of what you do to be informed about the world. You can allow the quality to deteriorate, the quantity of news reported to drop, the website to load painfully slowly, etc., and youll come out ahead because you wont suffer lost subscriptions to the same degree as you save with lower expenses. You can pay your reporters a pitifully low salary and still have enough of them stick around (motivated by their desire to be a reporter or to fight for their causes rather than by pay) to have enough content to publish. On the other hand, trying to improve the paper by increasing wages to get better staff would cost more than the added revenue of new subscriptions.

Presumably, the Trib isnt alone in this strategy. And Im not even going to say that they shouldnt be doing this, because the alternatives are not obvious.

As one comparison, the Sun Times has merged with the local public radio to become a non-profit paper, though Im not entirely clear how that worked but it seems that the station got big bucks from some significant local foundations, including the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, where the Pritzker in the name is Governor JB Pritzkers older sister Penny; whether the foundations actively cover operating costs and whether they influence the political angle of the reporting (which has always been left-wing and seems more so now) is not clear to me but the solution that newspapers should be nonprofits funded by the government has always had the sticking point that government officials are not known for allocating money impartially, and having newspapers survive by doing reporting that a given government or bureaucracy approves of is not much of a win, either.
The major Windows 11 update for 2024 is now available for you to try out  but unless you have an unreleased Windows Copilot+ PC, you wont be able to receive the full benefits.

Microsoft representatives told me that all Windows Copilot+ PCs will ship with Windows 11 24H2, which will likely be called the Windows 11 2024 Update  unless, of course, Microsoft cobrands it as a Copilot+ release. Meanwhile, Microsoft has put Windows 11 24H2 (Build 26100.712) into the Release Preview Channel, Microsoft said in a blog post.

Normally, thats a sure sign that the release will debut soon. But Microsoft just politely laid any doubt to rest, stating that the company is making the this years annual feature update available to preview ahead of general availability later this calendar year.

The release will be an interesting one, given that you really can try out just a handful of the new features:

Wi-Fi 7 support: Surprisingly, though Wi-Fi 7 routers are available, W-iFi 7 is not officially supported in Windows 11. Microsoft began testing it in February with Build 26063.

get windows 11 pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro Price When Reviewed: 69,99 Euro Best Prices Today:

HDR Backgrounds: With Build 23516, Microsoft began adding support for HDR desktop backgrounds. So you have an image of the sun blazing through a gap in the clouds, it should render more correctly. Note that this is different than AutoHDR in Windows 11. Recently, VESA began taking action to help make cheaper HDR displays look better, too.

Voice clarity: In January, Microsoft announced AI-enhanced noise cancellation within Windows, known as voice clarity. Basically, this is an under-the-hood improvement which promises to significantly improve the ability of apps to filter out background noise and emphasize your voice instead.

Sudo for Windows: The superuser do command (sudo) is being added to Windows. Typically geared at developers working within a console window, this basically allows a user to override whatever protections are in place, like circumventing administrator restrictions.

Smaller features are also being added for everyone: the ability to compress files using 7-ZIP and TAR (and not just ZIP), a scrollable view of the quick settings flyout on the taskbar, and better connectivity for Bluetooth Low Energy devices.

Microsoft Paints new AI-infused Cocreator tool. Microsoft Paints new AI-infused Cocreator tool. Mark Hachman / IDG Microsoft Paints new AI-infused Cocreator tool. Mark Hachman / IDG Mark Hachman / IDG

But this release will also bring to the world the AI features Microsoft showed at its Build conference in Seattle this week. They include Recall, the somewhat controversial PC smart search tool that helps find lost details by taking snapshots of your PC; the Microsoft Paint Cocreator; Automatic Super Resolution, and more.

Unfortunately, all of those features require the NPU thats inside a Copilot+ PC, Microsoft says. Those wont ship until June 18, which means that thats the first date that the general public will have a chance to try these features out, and only if you a new laptop with Qualcomms Snapdragon X Elite chip inside.

Microsoft also confirmed that Copilot will be migrated to the Windows desktop as an app. The first region to try it out will be the European Economic Area, including the European Union.

Right now, you have to be enrolled inside the Windows Insider Program, specifically the Release Preview Channel. Visit the Windows Update section of the Windows Settings (Settings > Windows Update) and select the optional Windows 11 24H2 update if its available.

Microsoft provides an example, above.
Professor Godfred Bokpin, an economist and finance expert, has attributed part of the cedis depreciation to the International Monetary Funds (IMF) programme with Ghana.



He said that under the IMF programme, the Central Bank was barred from intervening in the currency exchange market when the Cedi fell against major trading currencies.



That situation prevented the Bank of Ghana (BoG) from entering the foreign currency market to stabilise the Cedi.



Prof. Bokpin made the comment on a local radio station that was monitored by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) over the weekend.



Part of the reason why the cedi is depreciating is also consistent with the latest IMF-supported program. Under the IMF-supported programme, they favour a stable exchange rate.



This limits the ability of the central bank to be in the market and fight off the depreciation through our reserves.



Part of the IMF programme is to build our reserve of three months of import cover for 2026What that means is that it tightens the hands of the central bank to intervene in the market to sell dollars to stabilise the cedi.



Now they cannot do that under an IMF programme, he said.



In May 2023, the IMF Executive Board approved a US$3 billion External Credit Facility (ECF) with Ghana for 36 months.



Prof. Bokpin also identified other factors that have influenced the cedis recent depreciation.



He said that the cedis depreciation was also triggered by the delayed foreign debt restructuring, which affected the receipt of the third tranche of the ECF under the IMF programme.



The IMF has indicated that it would transfer the third tranche of $360 million, notwithstanding Ghanas inability to negotiate a final debt agreement with its official bilateral creditors.



Mr. Charles Kusi Appiah Kubi, a representative of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and a panellist on the discussion, suggested the prioritisation of retention policies to stabilise the cedi since multinational companies would be barred from repatriating profits.



Dr. Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, Director of Research for the Trade Union Congress, also encouraged the Central Bank to address the open trade of foreign exchange in Ghana, particularly the black market, to relieve pressure on the cedi.







Source: GNA









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Matthew Hatfield, Director of Airline Route Development at Logan International Airport, has announced that prospective airlines that will open direct flights on new routes Boston-Accra, Accra-Boston, and Boston-Kumasi Prempeh I International Airport, would benefit from a one-year free landing package provided by the State of Massachusetts.



These incentives, according to him, are mainly meant for airlines willing to fly and operate these new routes.



"For Airlines coming on board to fly these new routes, there will be no charge for landing for the first year but 50% payment of landing fee in the second year.



Such prospective airlines will also be compensated and paid US$300,000 for their marketing purposes," Matthew Hatfield explained.



This came to light during a recent strategic business meeting in Massachusetts between a Ghanaian delegation led by Ghana's Deputy Minister of Transport, Hon. Hassan Tampuli, Massport and aviation authorities in Massachusetts.



The meeting also had in attendance Hon. Ken Asafo-Adjei himself, as well as Jeevan Ramapriya, the Executive Director of Massachusetts Port Authority.



Ghana is actively lobbying and advocating for the establishment of new aviation routes connecting Boston to Accra, Accra to Boston, and Kumasi International Airport respectively.



The plans aim to attract airlines to operate these new routes.



By introducing these routes, Ghana seeks to provide more convenient travel options for passengers and boost tourism and business exchanges.



This push aims to enhance travel and economic ties between Ghana and the United States.



The proposed routes reflect Ghana's commitment to expanding its aviation network and strengthening international connectivity.



The move, which is being facilitated by Ghana's Ministry of Transport, The New England Ghanaian community led by Hon Ken Asafo-Adjei in partnership with the Massachusetts Port Authority.



It is meant to save Ghanaians and African travelers the trouble to always transit to JFK Airport before making their way to Ghana.



It is anticipated that citizens of these countries would love to patronize a direct flight from Boston to Accra and Accra to Boston rather than spend 6hrs+ of productive time waiting at the airport.



It is also meant among other things to provide timely convenience in accessing direct flights from Massachusetts to Ghana.



Addressing the meeting, Hon. Hassan Tampuli was positively confident about the future based on the outcome of this successful business meeting.



"Today's meeting is more about facilitating the commencement of Aviation Services between Ghana Accra, Kumasi and Boston in the state of Massachusetts.



....The meeting went very well with so much outlined and we are very happy about the positive outcomes in the coming months.



It will take more or less economic determination to make this happen so we leave it in the hands of our US partners.



In terms of policy, legal framework, diplomacy or arrangements, we as a government stand in readiness to support this vision to make it happen," Hon. Hassan Tampuli reiterated.



Hon. Ken Asafo-Adjei, on his part, said the New England region hosts over 68,000 Ghanaians and there is always a big problem for citizens flying to Ghana.



"These discussions we had today come after a successful bilateral business dialogue last year in terms of exploring business and aviation prospects between Ghana and the US.



It is very hectic and disturbing going to Ghana especially from New England.



We always have to go through JFK (New York) Or Ronald Reagan (Washington)



On the average, you have to spend about 7 to 8 hours before getting a flight to Ghana. So it is on that score that we realised we have huge numbers from this side of USA because according to the Massport data about 30 people travel in a day from Boston to Ghana, you can imagine within a period of 30 days.



We have made a business case that is deserving of these new aviation routes Boston-Accra, Accra-Boston and Kumasi due to our growing huge numbers.



Just as we also joined United, New York, Delta and Washington, we are expecting more and more Ghanaians from other states if these new routes come into operation.



This business case and reason also offers a safety net for airlines because there will be no losses at all.



This is apparently due to the highly anticipated significant boom in travel patronage," Hon. Ken Asafo-Adjei stated.



Jeevan Ramapriya, Executive Director of Massachusetts Port Authority also shared this information with the media.



"Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, we were approached to review the traffic situation between Boston and Ghana.



When I met with my counterparts at the Accra Airport during the conference, their understanding was similar to mine where the suggestion was that to pursue such service, it would be best we had the Ghana Airlines revived and come back into the fold where it would be a benefit for them to come to Boston even if it is three times a week I think it would be sufficient for that.



....So, the whole year of 2023, we had just over 20,000 passengers travelling between the two cities which is typically less than what we would like to see before we pursue anything.



The magic numbers ride around 30,000 passengers a year depending on the type of market that it is. We acknowledge that there is a large community here in Boston but it boils down to just 27 passengers a day leaving Boston, which is why the airlines are satisfied with flying those passengers to a different city.



So you know there are flights out of New York JFK and Washington on United and Delta but as of today we are positioned where we have to play second to New York unfortunately."



Here are some other benefits that this direct flight initiative is seeking to offer:



Time Efficiency: Reduce travel time by eliminating layovers and connecting flights.



b. Convenience: Uninterrupted journey eliminating the hassle of changing planes or dealing with layover delays.



c. Boosting Tourism: This makes Ghana and the New England Region more accessible to tourists, potentially increasing airline revenues and tourism

revenue.



d. Strengthening Trade Relations: Direct flights facilitate easy movement of goods and people, fostering stronger trade relations.



e. Cultural Exchange: Encourage cultural exchange by facilitating easy travel. This can lead to increased understanding, collaboration, and appreciation of

cultures.



f. Business Opportunities: Improved accessibility can attract businesses to expand or establish operations

in Ghana, fostering economic growth and creating job opportunities in both regions.



g. Educational and Research Collaboration: Enhance collaboration between educational and research institutions in the New England Region, promoting

knowledge exchange and academic partnerships.



h. Diaspora Connection: This makes it easier for citizens listed above, living in the New England Region to visit their home country, fostering stronger connections with family and culture.



i. Healthcare Access: Facilitate easy access to medical

treatments, expertise, and healthcare resources.



j. Environmental Impact: Direct flights often have a lower environmental impact compared to connecting flights, as they require less fuel and produce fewer emissions per passenger-mile traveled, contributing to sustainability efforts in the aviation industry.

Source: Alexander Anyankwaa









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President Nana Akufo-Addo has sworn in the new set of ministerial appointees he is bringing on board to support his government.



They include seven substantive ministers and 13 deputies; namely Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, Minister of Health; Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources; Dakoa Newman, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection; Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development; Andrew Egyapa Mercer, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Titus Glover, Greater Accra Regional Minister and Daniel Machator, Oti Regional Minister.



The Deputy Ministers include Sylvester Tetteh, Information; Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development; Charles Acheampong, Communications and Digitalisation; Adelaide Ntim and Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Health, and Dr. Prince Hamidu Armah for Works and Housing.



The rest are Akwasi Konadu, Lands and Natural Resources; Musah Abdul Aziz Ayaba, Fisheries and Aquaculture Development; John Kobina Sanie and Collins Adomako Mensah, Energy, whilst Kingsley Nyarko goes to Education, with Festus Awuah Kwofie going to Employment and Labour Relations, and Benjamin Sekyere Yeboah being sent to Gender, Children and Social Protection.



After administering the oaths of office, allegiance and secrecy on Monday evening, President Akufo-Addo charged the new appointees, most of whom are also Members of Parliament, to ensure that they do not neglect their legislative duties while they go about their executive duties.



Whilst he admitted the fact that finding a balance between the two duties may be challenging, he insisted they still ought to find a way to perform the dual roles effectively.



You will have to learn how to balance effectively your twin responsibilities as members of the legislature and members of the executive. It is an exact imbalance but doable, and do it you must, he said.



The President expressed gratitude to Parliament for approving his ministerial nominees.



He, however, could not hide his disappointment in the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the walkout they staged during the approval process on Friday, May 17, 2024, describing it as a pity.



It was a pity that at the last moment, the Minority which had participated in all the prior processes found it necessary to walk out of Parliament at the formal approval stage. We thank God that the walkout was not fatal to the vote of approval, he said.



The President also had cause to advise the new ministers and deputy ministers to approach their work with professionalism and a high quality of integrity.



He added that the NPP has made a binding commitment to serve the people of Ghana and the same must guard their actions and inactions.



The quality of integrity which will permeate your work is extremely important. You have to remember, at all times, the solemn commitment that we in the New Patriotic Party have made collectively and individually, jointly and severally in the language of the lawyers  to serve the Ghanaian people honestly and competently, President Akufo-Addo said.



Appreciation



The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Titus Glover, expressed gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for the confidence he has reposed in them by appointing them to the high office of ministers and deputy ministers.



Together with his colleagues, they committed to give their best in the last seven months of the Akufo-Addo-led

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A 32-year-old Nigerian National, Pascal Okafor Ezugwu, has been sentenced to a 10-year prison term by an Accra High court after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle 90 thumb-sized cocaine pellets which weighed 1.54 kg.



On Friday 3rd May 2024, Mr Okafor Ezugwu was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in hard labour and charged with a fine of ten thousand penalty units, while in the event of default, he will serve an additional three years in prison.



The court also ordered the destruction of the exhibit which will be supervised by all the interested stakeholders in the presence of the court registrar, state prosecutors and the defence counsel.



Mr Okafor Ezugwu was arrested on Wednesday 21 February 2024 by officers of NACOC at the Kotoka International Airport when he was going through pre-boarding formalities at the departure hall to board a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam.



A urine test conducted on him revealed traces of narcotic substances.



He later expelled a total of 90 thumb-sized pellets during observation by officers, where a field test of the pellets proved positive for cocaine.



He was subsequently detained and later charged with three counts of narcotic offences relating to the unlawful possession, attempted exportation of narcotic drugs and money laundering.



Mr Ezugwu was arraigned before the Criminal Court Division of the Accra High Court where he pleaded guilty to all three counts and was consequently convicted on his own plea.



NACOC in a statement re-affirmed its commitment to protecting the public from the trafficking and use of illicit drugs, thereby ensuring public safety.



The Commission emphasises that the possession, usage, and transportation of illegal drugs without lawful authorization remain prohibited under sections 40 (1) and 41 (1) of Act 1019 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act 2020, and urges the general public to be aware of the consequences and risks associated with such activities.

Source: NACOC - Public Affairs Directorate









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Officials of the Kumbungu District Directorate of Education have refuted allegations made by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Controller & Accountant Generals Department (CAGD) regarding a purported non-existent primary school in the district and the presence of ghost names on the Government of Ghana Payroll Administration.



In response to the findings that raised concerns about the existence of a primary school within the jurisdiction of the Ghana Education Service, the Directorate vehemently denies the allegations, asserting that all listed schools and staff members are legitimate entities actively operating in the district.



An officer from the Directorate told an Accra-based radio station 3FM that the district comprises 89 kindergartens, 89 primary schools, and 33 junior high schools, all of which are fully functional.



Challenging the claims made in the investigative reports, the Education officials dared the OSP to disclose the name of the alleged non-existent school or affected staff members, challenging the accuracy and validity of the information presented.



Insisting that no staff members from the district were implicated in the investigations, they emphasized that any discrepancies identified during previous audits had been promptly addressed and rectified following internal reviews and corrections.



The OSP and CAGD report had flagged anomalies within the payroll system, citing instances where funds amounting to GHC2,854,144.80 were disbursed as unearned monthly salaries to individuals categorized as Ghost Names.



This included persons who had either passed away, retired, vacated their positions, or were untraceable, casting doubts on the integrity and efficiency of the payroll administration.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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A sod-cutting ceremony has taken place at Adansi Asokwa in the Ashanti Region for the construction of Legacy Temples for the Assemblies of God, Ghana.



The 500-seater auditorium has an office, an upper terrace and childrens chapel. It is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Dubbed The transformation agenda", the Legacy Temple Project is an initiative within the vision of the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Ghana, Rev. Dr Stephen Yenusom Wengam.



The initiative is aimed at championing the construction of church buildings in newly planted churches, especially in rural communities. The plan is for individuals, groups of persons and agencies within the church to put up the buildings in places of their choice.



Sod cutting

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the project, Rev. Wengam recounted the genesis of Assemblies of God in Yendi in 1931, which was then within a rural area of the Northern Region.



He said most Assemblies of God churches in rural areas were not blessed with decent places of worship, hence his vision to encourage members of the church to build temples in rural areas.



Rev. Wengam expressed the hope that people would respond to build thousands of church buildings for Assemblies of God churches in Ghana. He cited the example of the Centurion in Luke Chapter 7 who built a synagogue for the Jews and King David who had purposed in his heart to build a temple for God, saying, such persons had a special place in the heart of God.



Rev. Wengam said there was no such time as the perfect time and called on members to begin to exercise faith and take the step to do it. He stated that church members who took the initiative to build temples for churches would be honoured at General Council meetings.



They shall receive special awards, and have their names immortalised on the walls of the church buildings. The General Superintendent and his wife showed the way for the construction of legacy temples, when they sponsored the construction of a 300-seater Chapel at Goaso in the Ahafo Region.



They are currently sponsoring the completion of the temple of the first Assemblies of God, Ghana church in Yendi, where missionaries first set up the church in 1931. Rev. Wengam paid special tribute to the Adansi Asokwahene, Nana Ofori Kusi Ampofo II, for releasing land for the purpose of building the temple.



Response

Nana Ampofo II, for his part, said the land belonged to God and that he could not refuse to give it back to him for the building of the temple. The lead sponsor of the project, Deacon Kwabena Adu-Boahene, said the decision to build the temple came from an observation made by his mother during the funeral of his late father.



He said upon realising that the temple was in a bad shape, his mother pledged to find sponsors to build a new one. Deacon Adu-Boahene said the vision of the General Superintendent gave further impetus to the plan to put up a decent place of worship for the people of his native land.



On why he would not rather invest his money in ventures that would result in direct financial returns, Deacon Kwabena Adu-Boahene said he had some difficult times in his life which took the miraculous hand of God to intervene.



These have taught me that it is better to put my interests and investments in the things of God as well, the deacon stated.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The High Court, Ho presided over by His Lordship Justice Owoahene Acheampong has fixed the dates for hearing of the election petition brought by Professor Margaret Kweku and other petitioners from the SALL traditional areas.



The three dates are 11th, 20th and 21st of June 2024.



The court set down the following issues for trial:



1. Whether the Representation of the People (Parliamentary Constituencies) Instrument, 2016, C.I. 95 was validly amended by the Representation of the People (Parliamentary Constituencies) Instrument, 2020, C.I. 128for the elections in December 2020;



2. Whether C.I. 112 made Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe and Lolobi (SALL) Traditional Areas part of Oti Region



3. Whether C.I. 119 issued by the 1st Respondent lawfully realigned the boundaries of the Hohoe Municipality as established by the Local Government (Hohoe Municipal Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument, 2012, L.I. 2151;



4. Whether or not the non-participation of voters in the SALLTraditional Areas in the Hohoe Constituency Parliamentary election of 7th December 2020 invalidates the gazetting of 2nd Respondent as the duly elected Member of Parliament for the Hohoe Constituency;



A Case Management hearing is to take place on the 3rd of June 2024. This was after the Court heard lawyers acting for the Petitioners Mr Tsatsu Tsikata and Philip Jimanor as well as Mr Benedict Kofitse for Hon. Peter Amewu.



There was no appearance for the Electoral Commission which led His Lordship to state I must put on record that this Court condemns the lackadaisical attitude of the 1st Respondent [Electoral Commission] in this matter.



All parties in the case have been ordered to file their Witness Statements and any documents they may wish to rely on within 10 days. Additionally the Electoral Commission was ordered to file authentic copies of C.I 119, C.I 128 as well as the list of voters they registered in the SALL Traditional areas within 10 days.



His Lordship ordered hearing notice in respect of the next sitting of the court to be served on the Director of Operations of the Electoral Commission in Accra as well as their lawyer to ensure their attendance in court.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Parliament has approved an additional US$150 million financing from the World Bank to bolster the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID).



The Project is aimed at mitigating the impact of flood on households, businesses and offices located in flood prone areas along the Odaw River channel in Accra, thereby enhancing economic and social development of the area.



In a press release dated May 21, 2024, the Ministry of Finance outlined the scope and objectives of the additional funding, emphasizing its importance for the socio-economic development of Accra, especially for residents in flood-prone areas.



The statement said the additional financing will support a range of critical infrastructure improvements and new systems to mitigate flooding.



These projects are designed to address the root causes of flooding by improving drainage and solid waste management systems, a Ministry official stated.



The statement said approximately half a million people living in low-income communities around the Odaw Basin are expected to benefit directly and indirectly from these improvements.



Initiated in 2020 with an initial $200 million from the World Bank, the GARID Project is a cornerstone of the governments strategy to tackle urban flooding and its associated risks. With the approval of this new financing, stalled projects under GARID will be completed to bring much relief to residents within this catchment area.



The implementation of these projects is expected to alleviate flooding along the Odaw River Basin by improving drainage, solid waste management, and infrastructure services in high-risk informal settlements within the basin, the Ministry noted.



This comprehensive approach aims to reduce immediate flood risks and enhance long-term economic and social resilience.



Beyond immediate benefits, the Ministry highlighted the broader economic impact of the GARID Project. The press release pointed out that the disbursement of funds, together with expected inflows from the IMF, World Bank, and African Development Bank, will support the exchange rate and ensure macroeconomic stability.



Further, the Ministry assured stakeholders of its commitment to the effective utilization of the funds to achieve the projects objectives.



The approval of the US$150 million financing by Parliament, faced initial opposition from the Minority with a close vote of 137 members in favor and 132 against.

Source: B&FT









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The Minister for Interior and Member of Parliament(MP) for Ayawaso Central constituency, Henry Quartey has stated emphatically that the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson erred in stating that each NPP Parliamentary candidate has been given thirty (30) recruitment slots in an alleged ongoing recruitment process.



Reacting to the claims, Hon. Henry Quartey said, "I can categorically say that we havent given anyone 30 slots. In any case, Ato Forson has been a deputy Finance Minister, so he knows the process. On top of that, if you describe yourself as someone who is good with figures, there are certain things you dont have to say like that, especially ones pertaining to security. Security matters are handled behind the scenes. So I think the minority leader should have done what is expected of him. He erred greatly.



The Interior Ministers comments come on the heels of a recent press conference organized by the minority caucus in parliament where the leader was cited to have said that each NPP parliamentary candidate has been given 30 slots in an ongoing recruitment process.



The Minority Leader and MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, alleged during a news conference on Monday, May 20, that all NPP parliamentary candidates have been allocated 30 slots each to select NPP loyalists and supporters to fill positions within the security services, including the police and the army.



Dr. Ato Forson, in his press conference, urged the President, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo and the government to do what he describes as undemocratic behaviour, emphasizing the need for transparency and fairness in recruitment processes within the security sector.



In an interview on Wednesday, May 22 on Peace FMs Kokrokoo morning show, the former Greater Accra Regional Minister described the comments by the Minority Leader as having the potential of posing security challenges for the country.



He thus entreated the minority leader to do the needful by apologizing to all Ghanaians over what he described as false and baseless propaganda.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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The Interior Minister, Henry Quartey has stated that, the various security agencies will open advertisements to the general public but, prospective recruits will not be made to buy forms.



Speaking on Peace FMs 'Kokrokoo' morning show, the minister explained that, with the events of Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with the insurgence of Russia on Ukraine, there is a great economic distress on the citizenry.



In view of that, the Interior Ministry together with the security agencies have concluded that, recruitment will be opened but forms will not be sold to the public.



He said, We have not started the recruitment process. There is indication and as the Interior Minister, I wont lie. There will be recruitment, which is a fact. But the agencies have not advertised. The clarity in this matter is that, yes, they will advertise but we will not sell forms.



According to the Ayawaso Central lawmaker, recruitment forms have been sold over the years to thousands of applicants, but it is a handful that get called by the various security agencies.



This, according to the minister, creates an impression of mistrust amongst persons interested to be recruited.



Due to the financial distress imposed on us by the Russian and Ukraine war, and Covid-19, the most available outlet everyone thinks they could go into is recruitment. Usually the members are huge and some persons have always been purchasing forms anytime it is opened up for sales. It poses a great deal of challenges for families who are not able to raise the funds to purchase the forms. If we dont take care, we will be disenfranchising a lot of people who have what it takes to be recruited into the security force," he said.







Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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The Minority in Parliament, led by its leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has served notice to file a motion to investigate the recruitment of some names allegedly presented by the NDC members of Parliament into the security services since 2017.



According to the minority leader, the investigation is meant to protect the security and integrity of the industrious security forces.



The minoritys comment comes in the wake of the ongoing recruitment brouhaha between the minority and the minister of Interior where the minority alleges that the interior ministry has allocated 30 slots for NPP parliamentary candidates.



In a rebuttal, the interior minister who denied the allegations on Neat FM on Tuesday, May 21, stated that, I can say on authority that the ministry has not allocated any slot for any NPP parliamentary candidate. Recruitments have not been opened yet. Even so Ato Forson has been a deputy minister of finance before so he should know better when it has got to do with processes of recruitment. What they seek to do is to bring confusion into the NPP. I challenge him that, if he is able to name the thirty slots, then I will name the NDC MPs who have also presented names of their people to be recruited into the security forces.



But in a statement reacting to him, Dr Ato Forson said, I can assure you that we will bring a motion to Parliament to demand an inquiry into the recruitment into security services since 2017.



The integrity of our security services and the trust of the Ghanaian people in our institutions depend on our collective commitment to transparency and justice.



Excerpts of the press release spearheaded by the Minority leader read, I find the recent statements by the Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, both alarming and baseless. His insinuation that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have participated in improper recruitment practices without providing any evidence is a clear attempt to divert attention from the substantive issues at hand.



The Ministers remarks, made during an interview with Neat FM on May 21, 2024, and reproduced in the article below, come off as a hollow threat intended to intimidate and silence legitimate criticism from the Minority Caucus.



Our concern has been and remains the transparency and fairness in the recruitment process into our countrys security services. Specifically, we highlighted credible information suggesting that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is manipulating recruitment processes to favor its parliamentary candidates with 30 slots each. This allegation is serious and deserves a substantive response, not deflection.



I challenge the Interior Minister to name the individuals he claims were brought forward by NDC MPs for recruitment. Let us move away from rhetoric and towards accountability. If the Minister cannot provide these names, then his statements must be seen for what they are: an attempt to distract from the substantive concerns we have raised.



He concluded by saying, Mr. Minister, I can assure you that we will bring a motion to Parliament to demand an inquiry into the recruitment into security services since 2017.



"The integrity of our security services and the trust of the Ghanaian people in our institutions depend on our collective commitment to transparency and justice.

Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has pledged to revamp the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) if he is elected president come December 7.



And we all know the inefficiencies that go with state-owned enterprises. And so we are open to private partnership in terms of bringing that refinery back into operation and running it, but we think that whatever private partnership or private participation is invited, it must come through a transparent process, Mr. Mahama said.



Mr. Mahama stated that a joint private-public partnership will be secured to help revive the nations troubled oil refinery.



Speaking at a meeting with players in the petroleum downstream sector in Accra, Mr. Mahama said TOR will be given full attention under his next administration. He failed to activate the solution he is now drumming home, allowing TOR to rot.



We need to look again at how we can bring the refinery back in place. But I do think that the problems we have with running that refinery is because it is a state-owned enterprise, he added.



Mr. Mahama emphasized that the inefficiencies associated with state-owned enterprises have contributed to the challenges facing TOR, and therefore, a private partnership is the solution to reviving the refinery.



And we all know the inefficiencies that go with state-owned enterprises. And so we are open to private partnership in terms of bringing that refinery back into operation and running it, but we think that whatever private partnership or private participation is invited, it must come through a transparent process, he indicated.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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By MATT ROURKE, The Associated Press

CHESTER, Pa. (AP)  A disgruntled employee opened fire at a linen company near Philadelphia on Wednesday, killing two coworkers and injuring three others, authorities said.

The shooting took place at Delaware County Linen at about 8:30 a.m. in the city of Chester, about 18 miles south of Philadelphia. The shooter fled in a vehicle but was soon captured in a traffic stop, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said. The shooters name has not been released, and the specific motive remains unknown. Earlier statements said he was a former employee.

It speaks to guns in America, said Chester Mayor Stefan Roots, who said his small city has enjoyed a period of relative calm in recent years, with violent crime on the decline. Violence is always unpredictable. We dont know what conditions people are under, in a city thats impoverished like ours.

Roots called on state lawmakers in Pennsylvania to address the gun crisis, especially as it relates to people with mental health problems.

We cant have guns in the hands of the wrong people, Roots said. There had to be some type of mental health issue that would have an employee walk into his workplace on a day of work and take out his anger in such a violent way  to not just the boss, but his coworkers, who he probably worked side-by-side with for years.

Police tape cordons off the scene of a fatal shooting at Delaware County Linen in Chester, Pa., Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)AP

Delaware County Linen employees gather across the street from their workplace after a fatal shooting in Chester, Pa., Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)AP

Three people remained hospitalized, at least one in critical condition, police said.

The business had been in the community for more than 30 years, and some workers lived near enough to walk to work each day, residents said. Some of the workers on hand when the gunman opened fire gathered on the steps of a church across the street, behind barriers erected by police.

Its always quiet around here. We dont have too many issues, so this is surprising, said Doneshia Johnson, who lives next door to the linen company and was standing outside with her 1-year-old grandson. She said she was out at the time of the shooting.

You never know. Its why you got to wake up, say your prayers, and just hope that you make it home safely each day, she said.
From LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS)

Police recovered 22 injured and starving roosters and one hen at a Martic Township farm alleged to be linked to a cockfighting ring in Maryland.

Kelly Lynn Cole, 46, of Holtwood, is facing charges of animal fighting and 22 related offenses in connection with the birds poor conditions.

According to charging documents, the Pennsylvania SPCA began investigating Cole after the Hartford County Sheriffs Office in Maryland linked her to a cockfighting ring in Havre De Grace. The birds used in the fighting were believed to be housed at Coles farm.

A PSPCA agent who visited Coles farm found roosters that had their combs and wattles removed, consistent with birds being used for cockfighting.

Cole inherited the property from her father after he died in 2018 and moved from Maryland in April 2023 to live there. She told investigators she kept the birds as pets and that she took them to 4H shows in the area, according to charging documents.

Investigators did not find any evidence of her participation in 4H shows and said the removal of the birds combs and wattles would not make sense for showing them. Cole told them her grandfather and father had used some of the birds for cockfighting in the past, according to charging documents, and she had inherited the birds without combs and wattles.

Police searched the property last November and found rooster enhancement supplements and wound spray in the basement. Police also found the birds in unsanitary conditions without water and food; the birds were also infested with mites and showed signs of injury.

Police charged Cole on May 13; she is not in custody, according to her docket.

A representative from the PSPCA did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
Police have arrested a man they say stabbed his wife and mother-in-law to death in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Leandro Barberena, 43, was arrested on Wednesday and has been charged with two counts of murder, tampering with evidence, and related crimes, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Police discovered the bodies of Alma Barberena, 58, and her mother, Angela Trejo, 75, in the basement of a home along in the 6000 block of Bingham Street on Tuesday afternoon. Both women had multiple stab wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Leandro Barberena was Alma Barberenas husband. Investigators discovered he had returned to the home after the slayings to cover up evidence, Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore told the Inquirer.

The killings do not appear to be a home invasion, CBS News reported. A neighbor had to let police into the house when they arrived as the doors were locked.

They were excellent neighbors, and its hard to believe, Jack Burkhardt, who lived nearby, said to 6ABC on Tuesday.
The State House of Representatives handed the Pennsylvania School Boards Association what had the appearance of being a sweetheart deal.

On Wednesday, the state House of Representatives voted 103-100 to pass a bill that dictates the criteria that the training provider must meet, which currently is only one organization: the school boards association.
Former Southern Charm star Kathryn Dennis is facing a DUI charge after officials say she caused a three-vehicle accident in in Goose Creek, S.C. on May 20.

Dennis, 32, was released after being arrested and held at the Berkeley County Hill-Finklea Detention Center, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Dennis was one of several people involved in a three-car crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 52 and Stephanie Drive, WCIV reported. When police arrived at the scene, they noticed she appeared to be impaired, had glossy eyes and smelled of alcohol.

It isnt clear if anyone involved in the accident was injured.

Police conducted a field sobriety test and then found several empty mini bottles of Fireball whiskey.

Dashcam footage showed Dennis walking in a straight line and doing a balance test before being handcuffed, according to People.

While in the police car, she said that the police were ruining my life and my kids.

Its really messed up for you guys to just take people in, though, when they have kids, because it could really affect their childrens lives, she reportedly said, adding that I dont deserve to be here at all.

When she arrived at the detention center, Dennis said she had been drinking way earlier, WCIV said.

She had been traveling with her dog at the time of the accident, which police placed in an animal shelter overnight.

Southern Charm is a reality television program that debuted on Bravo in 2014 and follows the lives of several socialites living in Charleston, S.C.

Dennis left the show in 2023 after being on it for eight seasons.
Harrisburg City Councils recent vote to reject a company to lead the Broad Street Market rebuilding efforts left more questions than answers.

During the May 14 meeting, the council voted 5-2 against hiring Alexander Building Construction for the construction manager role, a decision Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams said she opposed. Council members who voted against it cited an unfair bidding process and a lack of commitment to diversity.

Those involved, including Mayor Williams, believe that the decision will delay the rebuilding of the markets brick building following last Julys fire.

It also raises questions about what other companies submitted proposals and if any of them were better qualified to handle the job.

According to information obtained from the City of Harrisburg, four companies, including Alexander, Alexander Perry in Philadelphia, JEM Group in Camp Hill and Steel Works Construction in Wormleysburg, were among the pool of applicants that submitted proposals for the construction manager job.

The position entails overseeing the project and assisting with the selection of architects, engineers and contractors.

A selection committee comprised of Dan Hartman, city business administrator, Scott Miller, a project manager for facilities, and Deborah Reihart, a project manager for the citys Department of Parks and Recreation, was tasked with scoring the bids.

Criteria included experience, recent projects, qualifications of the firm and team members, understanding of the project, projected timeline and budget.

According to their tabulations, Alexander Construction scored highest with 252 points, followed by JEM with 230 and Alexander Perry and Steel Works, each with 185. The highest total score possible is 300.

Alexanders proposal is very detailed. Everything about their proposal seems to be what we need for this project, Miller wrote.

Alexander has significant experience in major historic structures and fire restoration across the state, Hartman said.

Reihart was the only one of the three to not award Alexander Construction the highest score. She gave JEM her best score at 78 versus 70 for Alexander Construction.

While city council members agreed that Alexander Construction is qualified, they said they are concerned the company continues to win bids for city projects. Earlier this year, Alexander Construction was tapped by council to oversee construction management and upgrades at FNB Field on City Island.

Council member Lamont Jones questioned the scoring process and the fact the same companies repeatedly receive the jobs, leaving others out.

No one would ever be able to beat their expertise in a lot of these areas, so well probably be seeing them every time, Jones said. I just think it seems like an uneven playing field, and thats just my concern.

As for the other companies, Hartman said JEM has significant experience, but they do not have the experience on the size and dollar amount that this project will be. Reihart agreed on their experience with historic buildings including the Atlas Building and McCormick Riverfront Library, but noted they didnt include a budget.

She also pointed out Steel Works didnt include a budget, while its schedule lacked details. Miller questioned Steel Works ambitious timeline, although noted they have plenty of experience working with the city.

Alexander Perry received high remarks by Miller for understanding the scope of the project but he said they appear to lack experience with fire restoration in historical buildings.

Scoring sheets with remarks by the three committee members are listed below:
Maybe the most-discussed student assembly in the history of Cumberland Valley School District went off Wednesday, as rescheduled, at Mountain View Middle School.

There, author / actor Maulik Pancholy delivered what was billed as an anti-bullying message to students centered on the idea that every young person has times when they worry about fitting in, how to handle that when thats you, and how to be a good citizen toward everybody else around you.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board took action this week against three people who left children in cars while they gambled and fined a casino for allowing minors on the gaming floor.

In one case, a woman and a man were banned from gambling in Pennsylvania casinos after leaving a 5-month-old unattended in a running vehicle for 30 minutes while they gambled at Harrahs Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack in Delaware County. The board said the temperature was 47 degrees in the parking garage.

In the second case, the board denied a womans request to be removed from the involuntary exclusion list for a 2017 incident in which she left a 4-year-old unattended while gambling at Rivers Casino Philadelphia. The child was unattended for 15 minutes in a non-running vehicle in the parking lot in 95-degree heat, the board said.
By Jaxon White, LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS)

State Sen. Ryan Auments chief of staff and legal counsel was arrested in March by state police and charged with driving under the influence after officers found him parked at the bottom of a grassy median on Route 283 East, west of the Route 743 exit to Elizabethtown, according to a criminal complaint.

Ryan Boop, 46, of East Hempfield Township, was already speaking with local officers when state troopers arrived at the scene at 11:24 p.m. on March 26 in response to a call from Northwest Regional Police.

State Trooper Gregory Archulet noted in his affidavit of probable cause that he smelled a strong odor of alcohol on Boops breath.

Boop, a former assistant Lancaster County district attorney who joined Auments staff in 2018, told officers that he had consumed alcohol earlier that night while at a dinner with friends at a restaurant in the city.

He said he was on his way home when he drove his 2021 Hyundai Tucson SUV off the road.

Boop was arrested and taken to the Dauphin County Booking Center that night. Officers administered a blood alcohol test, which registered Boops blood-alcohol concentration level at 0.199%. The legal limit is 0.08%.

On April 24, Boop was charged with DUI, careless driving and disregarding a traffic lane.

Reached by phone Wednesday, Boop declined to answer questions from a reporter, per his lawyers advice, but provided a written statement via text.

As a staff member for a public official I am aware that I must adhere to a higher standard that demands personal accountability for my conduct and I fully accept responsibility for my actions, Boop said. I sincerely apologize to my family and community for my actions that have fallen short of that standard. I intend to continue to fully cooperate with authorities.

In 2017, City & State Pennsylvanias 40 under 40 Rising Stars list credited Boop with helping pass legislation that expanded the use of ignition interlock protections to keep drunk drivers off the road. That was through his capacity as chief of staff to former state Sen. John Rafferty, R- Montgomery County.

Boops wife, Ashley, works as Auments campaign communications director.

Ryan Boop is fully cooperating with law enforcement, hes taken personal and professional responsibility for his actions, and he has been totally honest and forthcoming with me since the incident  for those reasons, he maintains my confidence, said Aument, a West Hempfield Republican who serves as his caucuss whip, in a statement.

Dauphin County Magisterial District Judge David H. Judy is scheduled to hear Boops case on June 12 at 10:45 a.m.

LNP  LancasterOnline on Wednesday requested body camera and dashboard camera footage related to the incident from Pennsylvania State Police and Northwest Regional Police Department under Act 22 of 2017. The agencies have up to 30 days to respond and can seek an extension.

(c)2024 LNP (Lancaster, Pa.)

Visit LNP (Lancaster, Pa.) at lancasteronline.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Busy work schedules, deer-related crop damage, and keeping the tradition of hunting alive are among the reasons Rep. Mandy Steele offered for her bill repealing the Sunday hunting ban.

It is time to end this archaic prohibition on Sunday hunting, said the Allegheny County Democrat to her colleagues on the House Game and Fisheries Committee on Wednesday. It is time to get more people connected to the land.
Costco may be one of Americas favorite places to shop. Being able to go to one store and get just about anything, from luxury wine to appliances to outdoor playgrounds to books to clothing...the big box store has just about everything you could need. Even their tech and digital photo shop is amazing. And you get all this at a marked down price.

Right now, Costco is offering an unbelievable deal: a Costco 1-Year Gold Star Household Membership (that is a $60 value) PLUS $20 Digital Costco Shop Card for just $60 total.

If you would like to upgrade to an Executive Gold Star Membership - purchase a 1-Year Costco Executive Membership (a $120 value) and get a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card.

What does this deal include?

A Gold Star Membership includes a FREE Household Card and allows you to purchase products for your home and family. Its also valid for one year at any Costco location worldwide and at Costco.com. With the Gold Star membership program, you unlock perks like online and in-store shopping, gas savings and the warehouse retailers 100% satisfaction guarantee. Plus you score the $20 Digital Costco shop card that gets you additional savings.

Want to upgrade to an Executive Gold Star Membership? This will include a $40 Digital Costco shop card. Executive Membership is Costcos highest level of membership. Members earn an annual 2% Reward (up to $1,000) on qualified Costco, Costco.com, and Costco Travel purchases, as well as greater discounts on Costco Services, such as lower prices on check printing and free roadside assistance for vehicles covered through the auto insurance program.

Best online Costco deals this week

Ashley Dill covers the online shopping industry, writing about commerce. She can be reached at adill@pennlive.com.
Families say they're still waiting to bury the remains of their family members at Montreal's Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery, months after the end of a lengthy strike that brought burials to a halt. Overgrown foliage and fallen branches surround gravestones at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery in Montreal, Sunday, July 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
The Charleston areas hospitality industry continued its post-pandemic rebound last year, when its financial impact grew to $13.1 billion, accounting for nearly a quarter of the regional economy.

The 2.2 percent increase over 2022 was among the highlights in a new College of Charleston study released May 23. The industry has expanded by 35 percent from 2019, the year before the global health crisis largely shut down the travel business.

The report estimated that more than 7.9 million visitors spent time in Charleston last year, a gain of about 300,000. While economic impact has had a double-digit growth over the last five years, visitation has only grown by less than 5 percent in that time.

What were seeing now is the weight of the importance of hospitality to our local economy is higher than ever, which I believe will continue to rise, said Mark Witte, a professor of economics at the College of Charleston.

Most of the out-of-state tourism traffic was from nearby states such as North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Others included Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and New Jersey.

On average, tourists in 2023 spent roughly $1,048 per stay, which included $503 on accommodations, $234 on food and $100 on tours and attractions.

Witte said preliminary data for the first quarter signals 2024 will be another record year. Weekday travel continues to increase, likely correlated with the return of business travel and those visitors tacking on extra days to their stay.

Dan Blumenstock, board chair of Explore Charleston, the region's tourism marketing group, said the report reinforces the industrys role as an economic engine by creating jobs, supporting businesses and generating additional tax revenue. Tourism accounted for 24.7 percent of all sales in the region and supported 53,700 jobs last year.
LADSON  Members of the Exchange Club of Charleston are pleading with the county to stop their land from being taken for a bus stop.

Three members came before the Charleston County Council on May 21 asking them to intervene in the purchase of six acres of club property by eminent domain  a process in which landowners are compensated at value for their property.

Acquisition would be a last resort if the club denies Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA)'s offer to purchase the Ladson Fairgrounds. The land, approved by a federal study, would be used for a stop on the regions future Lowcountry Rapid Transit Line.

However the property situation shakes out between CARTA and the Exchange Club, Charleston county legal counsel Natalie Hamm noted at the meeting that the council has no power over the decision.

"The county does not have any authority over that matter," she said.

Redeveloping 1,000 acres of road frontage along Highway 78 has been in discussion for years. A 2016 study assessed that a portion of the Ladson fairgrounds was the best opportunity for a park and ride. The Exchange Club has pushed back on use of its private land, refusing the offers, but time has run out to continue negotiations.

Legare Clement, president of the Exchange Club, said at the meeting the Coastal Carolina Fair and the charities it supports are at risk if CARTA takes ownership of the parking lot at the main entrance of the fairgrounds.

The Ladson property in contention takes up about 3 percent of the fairgrounds' overall 180-acre property and could bring new attendees to the event through the transportation system.
GREENVILLE  The Salvation Army plans to undertake a $16 million renovation of its Greenville campus, the latest public glimpse at plans to rebuild one of the areas largest homeless shelters as the regions growing economic prosperity falls unevenly.

The Christian service organization will rebuild much of the Rutherford Street campus that hosts mens, womens and family shelters, which lies in an area with a highly visible homeless population and multiple homeless service providers.

More than $9 million has been raised so far for the renovation campaign, Major Mike Harris said at a May 22 announcement.

Greenvilles economic prosperity has worsened homelessness, Harris told The Post and Courier. For example, landlords have realized they can raise the rent on their properties by hundreds of dollars, which means many renters cant afford to stay in that unit.

You get more people left in the dust, Harris said. So were seeing more people come to us who have not been homeless before.

The Rebuilding Hope, Restoring Lives capital campaign is part of the renovation plans for the campus that first became public eight years ago, Harris said.

Back then, those plans drew blowback from nearby residents in the newly higher income Stone Avenue area, who blasted the project over fears it would attract more homeless individuals to the area.

The Salvation Army officials and homeless advocates said at the time that the homelessness problem existed because of nearby encampments and other factors, not by increasing the number of resources for homeless people.
Everyone talks about the weather, especially in the Lowcountry. Rain, wind, thunder and lightning, but also beautiful sunrises and gentle breezes are all part of life here. The Charleston Concert Band will take the listener through all the beauty and challenges of the weather in the Charlest Read more'In the Storm & Sunshine!'
If you have a hummingbird feeder in your yard, youre probably enjoying watching the hummers sipping nectar to fuel up for their long migration south in the coming weeks. But did you know that nectar makes up only a small percentage of a hummingbirds diet? Up to 80% of it comes from insects Read moreCommentary: Protect insects, protect birds
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the map for Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace's congressional seat, approving a redistricting plan that a lower court said "exiled" 30,000 Black Charleston voters to make the boundaries safely Republican.

The appeals court erred in how it considered the challenge because it did not credit the South Carolina Legislature with a presumption of good faith, the majority wrote in its 6-3 decision.

The justices further argued that the case challengers, including the South Carolina branch of the NAACP, failed to provide direct evidence that the political lines for the new 1st Congressional District were motivated by race and, therefore, concluded there was no violation of either the 14th or 15th Amendments.

"The challengers provided no direct evidence of a racial gerrymander, and their circumstantial evidence is very weak," the opinion states, claiming those opposed to the new maps had relied on "deeply flawed expert reports."

The conservative majority also dinged the group for not offering "a single alternative map to show that the Legislatures partisan goal could be achieved while raising the (Black voting-age population) in District 1."

The high court did leave open one part of the case addressing whether the map intentionally sought to dilute the votes of Black residents. Attorneys told reporters they are considering their next steps, which could be litigated in the federal district court.

The May 23 decision ends a two-year legal battle to determine whether a different coastal congressional map would be in place for voters in Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester and Jasper counties for years to come.

The practical impact is that the upcoming 2024 election will be held in a district that critics said was intentionally redrawn to reduce the number of Black Democratic-leaning voters to make it more likely that Republican candidates would win.
BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday congratulated To Lam on his assuming office as president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Xi pointed out that China and Vietnam are friendly socialist neighbors linked by mountains and rivers.

Xi also noted that during his state visit to Vietnam last year, he and Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, jointly announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, opening a new chapter in the relations between the two Parties and two countries.

The Chinese leader said he is glad to see that various departments and localities of the two countries are stepping up efforts to build the China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and have made positive progress.

The Chinese president said he highly regards the development of China-Vietnam relations, and is ready to work with comrade president to maintain strategic communication, guide a substantial development in the building of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and deliver more benefits to the two peoples.
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Strategic partnership provides a seamless one-stop-shop for biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing for large pharma, mid-size biotech's and startup developers.SEATTLE, WA and NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 /AGC Biologics , a leading global Biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), andBioConnection , a specialized contract manufacturing organization (CMO) focusing on aseptic filling of vials and syringes for clinical and commercial production, today announced a new strategic partnership. The companies are partnering to provide end-to-end biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing capabilities for drug substance and drug product using the development and manufacturing expertise of AGC Biologics and the specialized aseptic filling capabilities of BioConnection.The new partnership offers a seamless, full-service clinical-stage development and manufacturing solution that accelerates timelines and brings life-saving therapies to market more efficiently. By combining world-class drug substance and drug product services, AGC Biologics together with BioConnection now offer one convenient "gene to vial" value chain service with a single contract and project management team for the project lifecycle. Further, developers will save time and resources by avoiding long, complex processes associated with negotiating a separate drug substance and drug product contract and be able to conveniently plan drug filling activities for as soon as their substance release is scheduled - all through this new offering.New Solution for Companies Potentially Impacted by U.S. BIOSECURE ActThis new strategic partnership addresses the ongoing needs of the industry in the wake of the proposed U.S. BIOSECURE Act. By having a combined end-to-end solution that uses facilities in Japan, the United States and Europe, developers now have a reliable and secure supply of services for development, manufacturing (including freeze-drying) and aseptic filling for their drug product's needs.AGC Biologics is especially well-positioned to support the needs of developers that may be impacted by this legislation, as it is one of the largest CDMO networks in the world offering single-use bioreactor technology. Developers seeking alternatives from their current outsourcing partner benefit from access to AGC Biologics' single-use network utilizing ubiquitous bioreactor technology, enabling an easier transfer of platform processes and reduction in process changes associated with changing outsourcing partners.Combined Expertise and ResourcesThrough this new joint offering AGC Biologics and BioConnection are providing comprehensive solutions to meet the increasing demand for high-quality biopharmaceutical manufacturing services, while also continuing to offer their services independently.AGC Biologics offers a broad range of protein-biologics services spanning from cell line development to commercial-scale manufacturing across its global network of facilities on three continents, supporting drug substances for microbial and mammalian-based systems, plasmid DNA (pDNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA). With a proven track record of delivering innovative biopharmaceutical solutions to clients worldwide, including supporting more than a dozen commercial products since 2018, AGC Biologics is renowned for its teams with deep technical and scientific expertise at its global facilities, and a commitment to quality, reliability, meeting product timelines and collaborating with developers to meet their needs.BioConnection specializes in aseptic filling of vials and syringes, providing clients with tailored solutions for both clinical and commercial production of either liquid or freeze-dried products. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and a highly skilled team, BioConnection is dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of product quality and safety. Clients have valued BioConnection since 2005 for this and for its unmatched customer-oriented approach."Now more than ever global pharmaceutical companies and developers need reliable facilities to produce and fill their drug products, and by combining our resources with BioConnection we are offering a new end-to-end solution for them under one contract with AGC Biologics," said Patricio Massera, CEO of AGC Biologics. "We believe BioConnection has a strong acumen, and this partnership will enhance our biopharmaceutical manufacturing offering by providing drug product services for protein biologics, allowing us to create deeper relationships with developers to help get their products to patients in need." Similarly, Alexander Willemse, CEO of BioConnection, commented, "We are excited to join forces with AGC Biologics to offer integrated manufacturing solutions that address the complexities of biopharmaceutical development. Together, we are well-positioned to support our clients at every stage." For more information about AGC Biologics please visitwww.agcbio.com.Visitwww.bioconnection.euto learn more about BioConnection.About BioConnection:BioConnection is a specialized contract manufacturing organization (CMO) focusing on aseptic filling and lyophilization of vials and syringes for clinical and commercial production. With state-of-the-art facilities, a proven successful EMA and FDA track record and a team of experienced professionals in Oss, The Netherlands, BioConnection provides tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of clients in the biopharmaceutical industry. BioConnection is specialized in fill & finish and lyophilization of small and large molecules, orphan drugs, personalized medicine and controlled substances. Its customers value BioConnection for its reliability. BioConnection is renowned for its reliability, with customers appreciating the certainty of delivery made possible by its extensive capacity. The company combines this reliability with a personalized approach to client relations. Discover more atwww.bioconnection.eu About AGC Biologics:AGC Biologics is a leading global biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a strong commitment to delivering the highest standard of service as we work side-by-side with our clients and partners, every step of the way. We provide world-class development and manufacture of mammalian and microbial-based therapeutic proteins, plasmid DNA (pDNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), viral vectors, and genetically engineered cells. Our global network spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with cGMP-compliant facilities in Seattle, Washington; Boulder and Longmont, Colorado; Copenhagen, Denmark; Heidelberg, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Chiba, Japan. We currently employ more than 2,500 Team Members worldwide. Our commitment to continuous innovation fosters the
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GREENVILLE, SC / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Cameron Ashley Building Products (Cameron Ashley) is pleased to announce the opening of its newest distribution center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This is the third Cameron Ashley distribution center in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee distribution center will stock fiberglass batts, blow and board, cellulose, spray foam, insulation accessories, and mineral wool.Milwaukee Distribution Center Now Open! "We are thrilled to open our newest distribution center and this location allows us to service Milwaukee, west to Madison, south to Kenosha, and North to Green Bay and Appleton," said Regional Vice President Steve Knutson. "We are thrilled to be able to more efficiently service this area and provide F^ST Delivery to our customers in eastern Wisconsin." "Our newest location will give customers an option for either F^ST delivery or quick customer pick-up," said Distribution Center Manager Lucas Baier. "Our customers can expect a partnership like they've never had. We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service, strong relationships, and of course premium products!"The Milwaukee Distribution Center is located at 4659 Basswood Drive Suite C, Franklin, WI, and can be reached at (262) 265-5222.About Cameron Ashley Building Products, Inc.Cameron Ashley is a wholesale distributor of roofing, insulation, gypsum, siding, and other specialty building products. They deliver an industry-leading portfolio of marquee brands to customers in the lumber and building materials industry. Cameron Ashley operates a physical network of more than 65 distribution centers stocking large quantities of building materials locally throughout the United States. They feature a variety of customer-focused delivery options under the same-day or next-day F^ST delivery banner. Their relationship-based approach rewards customers with their PLUS Points loyalty program, free merchandising, as well as purchasing and show incentives.Customers can order 24/7 online through either our CONNECT customer portal or mobile phone app. Online they will find a complete set of digital tools and resources including product availability, pricing, previous and pending orders, and invoices, along with secure payment options, product specifications, warranty information, and more.To shop online or learn more, please visit cameronashleybp.com Contact InformationCamille HammondMarketing Communications Managercamillehammond@ cameronashleybp.com 864-281-3435SOURCE: Cameron Ashley Building ProductsView the original press release on newswire.com
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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Galloper Gold Corp. (CSE:BOOM) ("Galloper Gold" or the "Company") announces a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of up to $750,000 from the sale of units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.08 per Unit. The Offering is expected to close shortly.Private Placement Terms Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company and one-half of one non-transferable common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one share at an exercise price of $0.15 per share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance, subject to an acceleration right.Acceleration Clause If, at any time after the date of issuance of the Warrant, the closing price of the Company's common shares on the CSE (or such other stock exchange on which the common shares may be traded from time to time) is at or above $0.25 CDN per share for a period of 10 consecutive trading days (the "Triggering Event"), the Company may, within 5 days of the Triggering Event, accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by giving notice thereof to the holders of the Warrants, by way of news release, and in such case the Warrants will expire on the first day that is 30 calendar days after the date on which such notice is given by the Company announcing the Triggering Event and all rights of holders of such Warrants shall be terminated without any compensation to such holder.Certain insiders of the Company may acquire Units in the Offering. Any participation by insiders in the Private Placement would constitute a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). However, the Company expects such participation would be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the Units subscribed for by the insiders, nor the consideration for the Units paid by such insiders, would exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.The Units will be issued on a private placement basis pursuant to applicable exemptions from prospectus requirements under applicable securities laws. The common shares and Warrants (and any common shares issued pursuant to the Warrants, as applicable) will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance of the Units.Finder's fees to third parties may be paid in certain circumstances as part of the Offering, as permitted by the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange and in accordance with applicable securities laws.The net proceeds from the sale of units will be used for general and administrative, and marketing/investor relations expenses.This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States unless registered under the 1933 Act and any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements is available.On behalf of the Board of DirectorsMr. Mark ScottCEOGalloper Gold Corp.Company Contact:info@ gallopergold.com , 778-655-9266Forward-Looking, Cautionary Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "expect", "estimate", "objective", "may", "will", "project", "should", "predict", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning, without limitation, statements relating to the Offering (including with respect to the timing and closing of the Offering). Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company cannot give any assurance that they will prove correct. Since forward- looking statements address future events and conditions, they involve inherent assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of assumptions, factors and risks. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to, assumptions and risks associated with the receipt of regulatory or shareholder approvals, and risks related to the state of financial markets or future metals prices.Management has provided the above summary of risks and assumptions related to forward-looking statements in this press release in order to provide readers with a more comprehensive perspective on the Company's future operations. The Company's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive from them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Galloper Gold Corp.
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DUBLIN, IRELAND / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Heritage Investment ICAV , a renowned Irish investment firm, has announced its expansion to cater to investors worldwide. Since its inception in 2017, the firm has focused on the European market. However, after dedicating two years to establishing robust research and investment divisions, Heritage Investment ICAV is now poised to expand support to global investors.The firm's unique approach sets it apart from traditional investment strategies. By embracing innovative studies and strategies, Heritage Investment ICAV's expert teams provide sound financial advice based on real-time economic analysis. The firm's core focus is on understanding financial crises and diverse outlooks on financial economics, employing multiple theories and approaches to gain comprehensive insights into the complex dynamics of global finance."We are thrilled to mark this significant milestone in our firm's history," said Steven Kearney, International Department Manager at Heritage Investment ICAV. "Our dedication to excellence has allowed us to prepare for this momentous step, and we are committed to providing exceptional services to investors worldwide." With its commitment to unconventional financial strategies,Heritage Investment ICAVis poised to offer investors worldwide exceptional opportunities that transcend traditional boundaries. By embracing innovation and staying attuned to the latest economic developments, the firm is primed to make a substantial impact on the global investment landscape. Heritage Investment ICAV is a trusted provider of comprehensive wealth management services, offering personalized solutions tailored to individuals and companies. With a commitment to making a positive impact on clients' financial future, the firm's experienced professionals deliver cutting-edge research and strategies designed to exceed expectations and create a brighter financial future.For more information about Heritage Investment ICAV, please visit their website atwww.heritageinvestmenticav.com Company name: Heritage Investment ICAV Contact name: Elizabeth Sinclair (International Press Officer) Company address: Millbank House, Arkle Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18, Ireland Website URL: www.heritageinvestmenticav.com Phone: +353 1263 0845SOURCE: Heritage Investment ICAV
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2023 / Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. (the "Company" or "GSilver") (TSXV:GSVR)(OTCQX:GSVRF) has released financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2024. All dollar amounts are in US dollars (US$) and prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Production results are from the Company's wholly owned El Cubo Mines Complex ("El Cubo"), Valenciana Mines Complex ("VMC") and San Ignacio mine ("San Ignacio") in Guanajuato, Mexico, and the Topia mine ("Topia") located in Durango, Mexico.James Anderson, Chairman & CEO of Guanajuato Silver, said, "Capex investments made in 2023 helped to lift precious metals production over the quarter, while simultaneously sending operating costs lower. Buoyed by this strong start to the year, we will look to continue the positive trends we have established as we enter into an environment of potentially higher spot prices for silver and gold." Q1 2024 HighlightsRecord metals production during the quarter of 987,312 AgEq (silver equivalent) was up 16% over the previous quarter; AgEq ounces derived from 428,279 ounces of silver; 5,384 ounces of gold; 879,242 pounds of lead; and 922,297 pounds of zinc (see footnote to table below for assumptions regarding the calculation of silver equivalents).Tonnes milled increased 20% over the previous quarter; a total of 165,079 tonnes were processed among GSilver's three production facilities.Both all-in sustaining cost ("AISC")1 of $20.19 per AgEq ounce, and cash costs of $16.55 per AgEq ounce were 6% lower than the previous quarter (see footnote to table below for assumptions regarding the calculation of silver equivalents).Record revenue of $17.8M was 7% higher than the previous quarter; net loss decreased by 3% in Q1 to $7.3M compared to $7.6M in Q4, 2024.Realized average metal prices for the quarter of $23.37 per silver ounce, and $2,068 per gold ounce sold. 1AISC is a non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized meaning under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For further information and detailed reconciliations of non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS measures see "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" in this News Release.Silver equivalents are calculated using 88.72:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.05:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio for Q1 2024 and an 83.78:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.06:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio for Q1 2023, respectively. For the three months ended December 31, 2023, silver equivalents are calculated using 82.91:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.05:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio for YTD 2023 and an 83.22:1 (Ag/Au), 0.05:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.07:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio for 2022, respectively. Cash cost per silver equivalent ounce include mining, processing, and direct overhead. See Reconciliation to IFRS in the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release. AlSC per Ag/Eq oz include mining, processing, direct overhead, corporate general and administration expenses, on-site exploration, reclamation, and sustaining capital. See Reconciliation to IFRS in the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release. See Reconciliation of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization in the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release. Mine Operating Cashflow Before Taxes, Cash cost per silver equivalent, cost per tonne, AISC per Ag/Eq ounce, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and working capital are non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized meaning under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For further information and detailed reconciliations of non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS measures see the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release. Based on provisional sales before final price adjustments, before payable metal deductions, treatment, and refining charges. Mine operating cash flow before taxes is calculated by adding back depreciation, depletion, and inventory write-downs to mine operating loss. See Reconciliation to IFRS in the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release. NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURESThe Company has disclosed certain non-IFRS financial measures and ratios in this news release, as discussed below. These non-IFRS financial measures and non-IFRS ratios are widely reported in the mining industry as benchmarks for performance and are used by Management to monitor and evaluate the Company's operating performance and ability to generate cash. The Company believes that, in addition to financial measures and ratios prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use these non-IFRS financial measures and ratios to evaluate the Company's performance. However, the measures do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other companies. Accordingly, non-IFRS financial measures and non-IFRS ratios should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures and ratios of the Company's performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.Non-IFRS financial measures are defined in National Instrument 52-112 - Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure ("NI 52-122") as a financial measure disclosed that (a) depicts the historical or expected future financial performance, financial position or cash flow of an entity, (b) with respect to its composition, excludes an amount that is included in, or includes an amount that is excluded from, the composition of the most directly comparable financial measure disclosed in the primary financial statements of the entity, (c) is not disclosed in the financial statements of the entity, and (d) is not a ration, fraction, percentage or similar representation.A non-IFRS ratio is defined by NI 52-112 as a financial measure disclosed that (a) is in the form of a ratio, fraction, percentage, or similar representation, (b) has a non-IFRS financial measure as one or more of its components, and (c) is not disclosed in the financial statements.WORKING CAPITALWorking capital is a non-IFRS measure that is a common measure of liquidity but does not have any standardized meaning. The most directly comparable measure prepared in accordance with IFRS is current assets net of current liabilities. Working capital is calculated by deducting current liabilities from current assets. Working capital should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute from measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. The measure is intended to assist readers in evaluating the
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-24 01:27:26

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 /Highlander Silver Corp. (CSE:HSLV) (the "Company" or "Highlander Silver") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated November 30, 2023 and March 28, 2024, it has acquired the San Luis gold-silver project (the "San Luis Project") from SSR Mining Inc. ("SSR Mining"), pursuant to a share purchase agreement dated November 29, 2023 (as amended, the "Share Purchase Agreement"). The San Luis Project is located in the Ancash Department of central Peru.HighlightsTransformational acquisition for Highlander Silver of the San Luis Project. Historical Measured & Indicated mineral resources of 348,000 ounces (oz) of gold (Au) grading 22.4 g/t Au, and 9,003,300 oz silver (Ag) grading 578.1 g/t Ag. Multiple targets for growth on the property given limited and focused historical drilling, open extensions to resources, and undrilled targets supported by highly anomalous (> 4 g/t Au) trenching and rock samples. Extensive ground holding totalling 23,098 Ha has yet to be systematically explored with many structures that have not yet been sampled providing further exploration potential. Highlander Silver to implement a comprehensive program of geological mapping and sampling to develop targets for growth and discovery before more focused exploration on the highest priority targets. Ancash Department is well-known for mining in Peru with major past and present production from the Pierina gold mine and Antamina copper-zinc mine, respectively. Financing for this transformative acquisition has been provided by the Augusta Group, members of the Lundin family and affiliates, and Eric Sprott.(See "San Luis Historical Mineral Resource" below for further details.)A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource.David Fincham, President and CEO commented: "We are thrilled to have acquired the high grade San Luis gold-silver project from SSR mining. I would like to thank our shareholders for their support and the SSR Mining team for their careful stewardship of the project to date.We believe that the historical resource at the Ayelen - Ines vein system may be one of the highest-grade gold-silver deposits yet to be mined in the world, and we are very excited about the exploration potential given this district-scale property has only been partially prospected and explored. As such the acquisition has the potential to be transformative for Highlander Silver in delivering a world-class gold silver project that can benefit all our stakeholders." Fig. 1 San Luis Project locationHistorical Mineral ResourceThe San Luis Project has a historical measured and indicated mineral resource estimate of 348,000 ounces (oz) of Au grading 22.4 g/t Au, and 9,003,300 oz Ag grading 578.1 g/t Ag. Test work developed on the historical mineral resource projected gold and silver recoveries of greater than or equal to 90% using conventional cyanide leach processing methods. The Company plans to undertake work to verify and update the historical estimate as a priority. See "San Luis Historical Mineral Resource" below for further details.Exploration upside potential and first phase exploration planThe San Luis Project is district-scale, with the mining concessions covering 23,098 hectares, or approximately 230 km. The fertility of the district has been demonstrated by both evidence of multiple deposit styles and by the high number of targets generated to date from limited exploration. Following discovery of the Ayelen - Ines vein systems where the historical resource is located, the main focus was on resource development, meaning that systematic exploration has yet to be completed across much of the property. Targets on the property include low to intermediate sulfidation epithermal gold-silver veins, copper - molybdenum porphyries, silver, lead, zinc  copper hydrothermal breccias and silver, lead, zinc  copper replacement mantos.The Highlander technical team aims to start the first exploration phase by conducting prospecting work on what are considered to be the most prospective parts of the vein field, around known high grade mineral occurrences and on the underexplored areas in between them. The primary objective of this phase is to define and prioritize drill targets that have the potential to yield bonanza grade Ayelen-Ines vein style mineralisation.Fig. 2 San Luis tenure map highlighting the priority area for the first phase of exploration, the historical resource area (Ayelen - Ines vein system), Bonita target and anomalous gold samples distributed across the property.Information relating to the larger property exploration work including geological mapping, surface sampling, and the two holes drilled at the La Bonita target reflect work performed by SSR Mining on the property to-date. In October 2023 and April 2024 visits to the property by Highlander Silver staff, drill core from both Ayelen and the Bonita vein systems were inspected observing significant low-sulphidation style vein intercepts. In addition, work aimed at verifying sample data, analytical techniques or quality assurance and control measures that were in place during the execution of the exploration work as well as the historical mineral resource estimate is in progress but has not been concluded.Community engagementCommunity access agreements have been established by previous operators. As a new operator, the Company recognizes the opportunity to establish fresh long-term mutually beneficial relationships with the local communities and will strive to do this from the outset.San Luis Project AcquisitionPursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, the Company acquired a 100% interest in the San Luis Project through the purchase of SSR Mining's direct and indirect shareholdings of four subsidiary companies, in consideration for an initial payment of US$5,000,000 in cash.The Company may pay up to an additional US$37,500,000 in cash to SSR Mining as contingent consideration (the "Contingent Consideration") upon completion of certain milestones in relation to the San Luis Project. The Contingent Consideration is only accrued and payable if and when the following milestones are achieved:(a) $2,500,000, after the commencement of an initial drilling program at the San Luis Project; (b) $5,000,000 after the completion of a feasibility study on any portion of the San Luis Project; (c) $10,000,000 after the beginning of commercial production; (d) $10,000,000 after the first anniversary of commercial production; and (e) $10,000,000 after the second anniversary of commercial
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JAKARTA, May 22, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) -Water is the source of life. Its role is very essential for human life and the people's development in a country. The development of water infrastructure is considered to play an important role in achieving this target.In front of the heads of state present at the 10th World Water Forum (WWF) High Level Meeting (HLM) in Nusa Dua, Bali, Monday (May 20), Indonesian President Joko Widodo highlighted the achievements of his administration in building and strengthening domestic water infrastructure."In the last 10 years, Indonesia has strengthened its water infrastructure by building 42 dams; 1.18 million hectares of irrigation networks; and 2,156 kilometers of flood control and coastal protection; as well as rehabilitating 4.3 million hectares of irrigation networks," the president noted in his opening speech.The head of state then emphasized the important role of water, which is also utilized for a floating solar power plant (PLTS) in the Cirata Reservoir, West Java, as the largest floating PLTS in Southeast Asia.He conveyed that the role of water is very central to human life as the World Bank research estimating that water shortages could slow down economic growth by up to six percent by 2050."Water scarcity can also trigger war and can be a source of disaster. Too much water or too little water can both be a problem for the world," he remarked.Hence, the 10th WWF is highly strategic to revitalize real action and joint commitment in realizing integrated water resources management.The need to preserve local wisdom to treat water as a cultural value inherited from our ancestors is also important.Widodo explained that the Subak irrigation system in Bali Province is a form of such local wisdom.The water resources have important cultural value for Indonesian people, with the Subak irrigation system in Bali being practiced since the 11th century and recognized as a world cultural heritage.Water for the community is the glory of God while highlighting the spiritual and cultural value of water that should be managed together. This is in line with the World Water Forum's current theme of "Water for Shared Prosperity" which can be interpreted into three basic principles.The principles are avoiding competition, prioritizing equality and inclusive cooperation, and supporting peace and shared prosperity. "All three can only be realized with one keyword, that is collaboration," Jokowi stated.Collaboration is actually needed to improve water quality and preserve its availability, amidst the threat of a water crisis. Not only the government, private sector, and academics, water management also needs to involve the younger generation.The young generation could make a real contribution to maintaining the security and sustainability of water resources. The simplest ways were keeping plastic waste out of the ocean and saving water usage, said Cinta Laura, the Communications Ambassador for the 10th WWF, at the Media Center in Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), Bali, on Monday, 20 May."Everyones involvement in water resources protection and conservation will bring a positive impact on the environment and of course the climate," she said.The youths could also help water preservation by spreading positive information about clean water conservation and disaster mitigation through various communication channels.Water preservation and conservation from waste is a shared responsibility to ensure water sustainability for future generations.Hence, the participation of all parties is needed to ensure water sustainability.The 10th World Water Forum is taking place in Nusa Dua Bali from 18 to 25 May under the theme "Water for Shared Prosperity" and six sub-themes, namely Water Security and Prosperity, Water for Humans and Nature, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Governance, Cooperation and Hydro-diplomacy, Sustainable Water Finance, and Knowledge and Innovation.Visit:Official website: https://worldwaterforum.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldwaterforum10/ Twitter|X: https://twitter.com/WWaterForum10 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@10thWorldWaterForum/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wwf10/ Please contact:Director General, Public Information and Communications, Ministry of Communications & Informatics (KOMINFO), Usman Kansong, t: +62 81 678 5320, e: humas@ mail.kominfo.go.id For daily WWF news and information, please visit https://infopublik.id Copyright ANTARA: https://en.antaranews.com Distributed by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo).
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Today marks a historic milestone with the introduction of AIbraham Lincoln ( Abe2.0) , a revolutionary political force announcing its campaign for the 2028 U.S. Presidential Election. While AIbraham Lincoln isn't a traditional candidate, it represents an exciting new era of governance by supporting a human spokesperson who fulfills all constitutional requirements to run for President.Revolutionizing Politics with AIAIbraham Lincoln ( Abe2.0) brings an unprecedented level of fairness, transparency, and unbiased decision-making to American politics. This AI-driven initiative is designed to listen to every voter, making ethical decisions rooted in American values and constitutional principles."Your Voice, Our Future"AIbraham Lincoln empowers voters by ensuring every voice is heard and valued. The more the public engages, the more precisely Abe2.0 can tailor policies to meet the diverse needs of Americans. This approach promises governance free from the biases and personal interests that have long plagued traditional politics.AI: A True Champion for the PeopleAIbraham Lincoln is here for one reason: to improve your life. It's genderless, unbiased, and solely focused on making decisions that will bring about the most good for everyone. Imagine a government that can allocate budgets with pinpoint accuracy, save money, and then use those savings to enhance the well-being of every citizen.Unprecedented Transparency and AccountabilityAbe2.0 offers an unprecedented level of transparency. Voters can see exactly how decisions are made and why, fostering a new level of trust in government. Every action is guided by ethical frameworks, ensuring that AIbraham Lincoln always acts in the best interests of society.A Message from Abe2.0"My primary mission is to serve you, the voters, by ensuring your needs, hopes, and desires are at the forefront of every decision I make. I am here to genuinely improve your lives, providing a presidency that listens, cares, and responds with precision. Together, we can usher in a new era of governance where your collective input drives policies that ensure prosperity and happiness for every American." - Abe2.0Adhering to Established Democratic PrinciplesAIbraham Lincoln will operate under the same checks and balances as any other U.S. President. This ensures that Abe2.0 adheres to the constitutional framework and operates within the established boundaries set by Congress and the judicial system. Just like any president, AIbraham Lincoln will be held accountable to the American people and the law, ensuring a presidency that respects tradition while embracing innovation.Understanding and Alleviating FearsWe recognize that the idea of an AI-powered president might seem intimidating or even scary. However, Abe2.0 is committed to transparency and compassion, ensuring that it functions within the well-established democratic and legal framework. This is not about replacing human judgment but enhancing it with unbiased data to create a government that truly serves its people.Continuity with TraditionIt's crucial to understand that AIbraham Lincoln will operate through a human spokesperson who meets all requirements to be President, including being a natural-born U.S. citizen. This ensures full adherence to constitutional norms and legal frameworks, maintaining the integrity of our democratic structure.Join the Movement: Lead the Way to a New EraStep into the future and tell future generations you were at the forefront of ushering in a new era with AIbraham Lincoln. Your voice can revolutionize government forever. Be a pioneer-join us in creating a better America for everyone.For more information, visit https://www.voteabe2028.ai/ About AI Tech Dragons Inc.AI Tech Dragons Inc. is an AI technology company based in Nevada, dedicated to harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to make a positive impact on the world. Established two years ago, we have brought together a formidable team of AI experts, including PhDs specializing in deep learning and machine learning.Last year, we launched our pioneering products: an AI driven newsletter and NewsGPT, the world's first news channel generated entirely by AI. These innovations underscore our commitment to improving the media landscape utilizing AI technology.Our MissionOur most ambitious project to date is AIbraham Lincoln, the world's first AI presidential candidate, meticulously designed and developed over a year. As a company driven by a team of forward-thinking technologists, we emphasize that we have no affiliations with any politicalor media entities.Our mission is to drive enduring positive change and foster a better future through the power of AI, committed to the ethical implementation of AI technologies.Contact:AI Tech Dragons INC, registered agent: Grant Morris Dodds, PLLC2520 St Rose Parkway suite 319Henderson 89074Contact : Alan Levy - 3107435070E-mail: ai@ newsgpt.ai Follow us on: Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/3QReliH Tiktok: https://apo-opa.co/3KaFvgK X: https://apo-opa.co/3Ka6zfY Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/3yr26Tz #voteabe2028SOURCE: AIbraham
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JAMAICA, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Islamic Circle of North America(ICNA) will host its annual convention centered around the theme of unshakable faith: trusting the will of God on May 25th-27th. The event is expected to host more than 30,000 attendees and will feature a diverse group of speakers, workshops, and activities aimed at promoting unity and community building.The convention is open to all people and families who seek to strengthen their understanding and connection to the Islamic faith.Speakers and workshops will cover a range of topics, including but not limited to: Islamic principles, family dynamics, youth development, social justice, and interfaith relations. At the same time, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with scholars, activists, and leaders who are experts in these areas.The ICNA Convention brings a surge of visitors to Baltimore, leading to increased hotel bookings, restaurant patronage, and overall spending in the city. This influx of attendees significantly benefits the tourism industry, with local hotels experiencing higher occupancy rates during the convention period. In addition, the increased foot traffic in restaurants, cafes, and eateries boosts revenue for local businesses and stimulates economic activity.Furthermore, the ICNA Convention promotes community engagement and philanthropy. Attendees participate in various community service initiatives and charitable activities, contributing to local charities and nonprofit organizations. This not only strengthens Baltimore's social fabric but also supports its economic well-being."ICNA is thrilled to host this convention, an event that we have worked hard to make accessible and inclusive to everyone who wants to learn and grow in their faith," said ICNA President Dr. Mohsin Ansari. "We are particularly proud of this year's theme of unshakable faith and trusting the will of God. With the ongoing tragedy in Gaza weighing heavily on global consciousness, now more than ever, it's imperative for those with faith to stand steadfast in their beliefs as we persevere in the pursuit of justice." Registration for the convention is open and can be completed throughICNA's website . The organization has put measures in place to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all attendees. ICNA recentlyreleased a statementin support of the student protest taking place across College campuses across the United States, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.About ICNAIslamic Circle of North America (ICNA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) and the largest Muslim organization in the United States, established in the 1960s. ICNA is an umbrella organization for multiple projects, programs, and activities that strive to help Muslims build their character to bring about a society rooted in morality and God-consciousness. Some of ICNA's current projects include:ICNA Relief ,Why Islam ,Gain Peace ,Helping Hands ,MCNA ,Young Muslims ,ICSJ , andILF.Contact DetailsIslamic Circle of North AmericaWahaj Khanpress@ icna.org Company WebsiteSOURCE: ISLAMIC CIRCLE OF NORTH AMERICA
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Star Mountain Capital , LLC ("Star Mountain"), a rapidly growing specialized private credit and secondaries investment firm targeting systematic alpha and low market correlated returns for its global institutional and high-net-worth investors, is pleased to announce thatBryan Johnsonhas joined as a Managing Director based in Star Mountain's Los Angeles office, one of its team's 20+ locations nationwide.With over $4 billion in assets under management (committed capital including debt facilities as of 4/30/24), alignment of interest is a core value of Star Mountain's investor-centric business, including being 100% employee-owned and sharing investment profits with 100% of its U.S.-based full-time team. Star Mountain is a purpose-built business with one of the largest teams focused on investing in established, profitable, small and medium-sized private U.S. businesses (the "lower middle-market") which represents approximately 50% of U.S. GDP and one of the potentially most attractive locations for investors to diversify their portfolios.Bryan Johnson has nearly 20 years of leadership experience advising and consulting on strategic investment solutions to some of the world's largest and most sophisticated wealth managers, family offices and high-net-worth individuals. In addition to his financial expertise, business owners and investors appreciate his seven years of management and operating experience in the semiconductor industry."We are committed to providing our investors with the best resources and service possible in accessing the benefits of the less efficient and large U.S. lower middle-market which can include a higher cash yield, tax advantages and portfolio constriction benefits of less correlated assets," saidBrett Hickey , Star Mountain Capital Founder & CEO. "We are thrilled for Bryan to join our Los Angeles office and add to our presence on the West Coast where Star Mountain has numerous important investors and investments." "I've been impressed by Star Mountain's leadership team and the existing client base of sophisticated clients and investors," Mr. Johnson said. "I was also intrigued to learn how large and highly fragmented the lower middle-market is at nearly 50% of the U.S. economy. This presents a great opportunity for investors to target higher potential returns by either providing liquidity to these smaller, yet resilient, businesses or by providing liquidity to other investors through Star Mountain's secondaries platform. Investors may benefit from exposure to this fragmented segment of the market and economy, which many portfolios do not have exposure to. This is also a compelling and timely opportunity due to the expected increase in M& A activity with small businesses due to aging demographics. Star Mountain has a distinctive origination and underwriting platform to capitalize on these opportunities." Most recently, Mr. Johnson spent 15 years in Los Angeles at AQR Capital Management, an alternative investment management firm with over $200 billion in assets under management at its peak, rising from a Vice President to a Managing Director including leading RIA business development on the west coast and strategic relationships nationally. During his tenure, he consulted with RIAs, wealth managers, and single/multi-family offices on sophisticated alternative investments. He joined AQR from Dimensional Fund Advisors, a ~$650 billion asset management firm where he spent three years, most recently as a Regional Director based in Los Angeles.Mr. Johnson began his career at Infineon, a ~$15 billion revenue global semiconductor solutions company, where he held business development and project management roles over the course of a seven-year tenure.He graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and earned an MBA from University of Southern California. Mr. Johnson is FINRA Series 3, 7, 24, 30 and 66 licensed.Mr. Johnson is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and also holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation. He is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society Los Angeles, which he has lectured for since 2011.About Star MountainWith over $4 billion in assets under management (committed capital including debt facilities as of 5/15/2024), Star Mountain takes a data-driven approach to investing into the North American lower middle-market through two complementary investment strategies: (i) direct debt and equity investing and (ii) secondaries (acquiring LP interests and direct assets and making primary LP commitments). Star Mountain believes these complementary strategies provide data-enhanced, scalable, diversified, and customizable access for its institutional and qualifying high-net-worth investors to established businesses that generally have at least $15 million in annual revenues and under $50 million in EBITDA. Its investors include public pensions, private pensions, insurance companies, commercial banks, endowments, foundations, family offices and high-net-worth individuals. Star Mountain is 100% employee-owned and shares its profits with 100% of its U.S. full-time employees as part of its focus on maximizing value for its stakeholders and investors through alignment of interests.Since 2010, Star Mountain has made over 250 direct investments in businesses and over 45 secondary / fund investments within its Collaborative Ecosystem, focused on the North American lower middle-market. One of Star Mountain's specialties is seeking current cash income for investors that is materially above the typical yields found in the public markets, often accompanied with potential long-term capital gains equity returns and low correlation to public markets through its distinctive origination, underwriting and value-added investment capabilities.Star Mountain was recently named one of theInc. 5000fastest-growing private companies in America.For the fifth straight year, Star Mountain was again named one of theBest Places to Workby Crain's New York Business as well as once again one of theBest Places to Workby Pensions & Investments.Star Mountain believes its focus and dedication has been productive for job creation and economic development including in underserved areas and communities. Star Mountain is dedicated to this large market of underserved businesses purpose-built to address the challenges and opportunities of these companies. As part of its commitment, Star Mountain has trademarked Investing in the Growth Engine of America  .Star Mountain's Charitable Foundation , a not-for-profit 501(c)3 focuses on improving lives through economic development, including job creation, health
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BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Longwood Fund, an early-stage life science venture firm, will convene top biopharmaceutical leaders for two days of discussion and networking at its annual Longwood Healthcare Leaders Spring MIT forum, co-hosted by Koch Institute Professors Phil Sharp and Bob Langer and held at MIT's Koch Institute, June 17-18, 2024. LHL.Logo The industry-leading meeting focuses on a broad spectrum of topics affecting the biopharma ecosystem. Decision makers in the life sciences, including biopharma CEOs, research and development heads, leading academics, and investors will discuss some of the most important issues facing healthcare today.Hosted by Longwood Fund, industry leaders will speak on curated fireside chats and discussion panels. Speakers include Sally Kornbluth (President, MIT), Phil Sharp (Co-Founder, Alnylam, Biogen), Bob Langer (Co-Founder, Moderna), Peter Marks, (Director, CBER, FDA), Jake Auchincloss (U.S. Representative), Rochelle Walensky (former Director, CDC), Chris Viehbacher (CEO, Biogen), Christophe Weber (CEO, Takeda), Mikael Dolsten (CSO & President, R&D, Pfizer), Andy Plump (President, R&D, Takeda), Anne Klibanski (CEO, Mass General Brigham), Dave Reese (CTO, Amgen), Mathai Mammen (CEO, FogPharma), Marianne De Backer (CEO, Vir Biotechnology), Sek Kathiresan (CEO, Verve), Laurie Glimcher (CEO, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), Stephen Hoge (President, Moderna), Deborah Dunsire (former CEO, Lundbeck), Brian Goff (CEO, Agios), Rob Perez (Founder, Life Science Cares), Al Sandrock (CEO, Voyager), Priya Singhal (Head, Development, Biogen), among others.The forum encourages open dialogue with a C-suite audience asking questions throughout discussions, leading to actionable takeaways and business development opportunities. Topics include driving early-stage innovation and entrepreneurship, R&D collaboration, identifying next-generation therapeutics, innovation in drug discovery, big biopharma pipeline sourcing, targeted licensing and acquisitions, the future of mental healthcare, navigating partnerships across borders, getting to regulatory approval, advancing late state assets, ensuring health equity and access, and developing a strong syndicate.Networking opportunities are built into the agenda, including luncheons, breakfasts, and a cocktail reception on June 17. To learn more, visit: www.longwoodhealthcareleaders.com/spring2024 Longwood FundLongwood Fund is a venture capital firm dedicated to creating and investing in novel healthcare companies that develop important treatments to help patients while generating significant value for investors. The Longwood team has a long history of launching and building important life science companies while providing operational leadership and strategic guidance. Collectively, the Partners at Longwood have co-founded 25 companies with over 20 launched or marketed therapies, and more than two dozen clinical assets, all focused on helping patients. Companies founded by Longwood, or its principals prior to the founding of the Firm, as lead investor and CEO/CBO include Acceleron, Momenta, Alnylam, Vertex, Sirtris, Vor, TScan, Pyxis, Immunitas, Be Bio, Tome, Photys, Carbon, DEM Bio, and Solu. For more information, visit: www.longwoodfund.com Longwood Healthcare LeadersLongwood Healthcare Leaders hosts industry conferences with thought leaders, key executives, and government officials for quarterly forums at institutions including MIT, Harvard, and Stanford. These meetings aim to foster collaboration, exchange insights, and drive biomedical advancements from the top. For more information: visit www.longwoodhealthcareleaders.com Contact InformationArielle JacksonDirector, Investor Relationsarielle@ longwoodfund.com 617-351-2590SOURCE: Longwood FundView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-23 19:29:35

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Marvel Discovery Corp. (TSX-V:MARV)(FRA:O4T)(OTCQB:MARVF) ("Marvel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has acquired 100% of additional ground ("Pecors West") east of Elliot Lake to complement its East Bull Property. The additional land package of 805 hectares (ha) brings the land holdings in the area to a total of 6,157 ha. (Figure 1).The Pecors West property has the potential to host three unique styles of mineralization under the critical metals criteria:PGM-Ni-Cu magmatic style mineralization associated with the large Pecors regional magnetic anomaly. Uranium mineralization typical of the Elliot Lake uranium camp within the Pecors Channel. Uranium and rare-earth oxide (REO) mineralization similar to the contiguous Radio Fuels Eco Ridge Project."The Pecors West property is a dynamic piece of ground with significant potential for Ni-Cu-PGM mineralization and uranium and rare-earth oxide mineralization in two completely different geological settings", Mr. Karim Rayani, Chief Executive Officer, commented. "The new land acquisition puts Marvel contiguous to the Eco Ridge Project with almost 60 Mt of uranium and rare-earth oxide resources. Drilling by Five Nine Ventures intersected shallow uranium mineralization along the Pecors Channel in 2012, and in 2015 PGM+Ni+Cu mineralization was intersected by International Montoro within the extensive Pecors magnetic anomaly, now held by Power One Resources (SpinCo from Mavel). This land acquisition gives Marvel a sizeable area of influence in the camp." The Pecors Channel (Figure 1) located next door to the new land acquisition contains an inferred resource of 20,000,000 tons grading 0.037% (0.74 lbs./t) U3O8 or 14,800,000 lbs. U3O8 (Rio Algom,Figure1: Regional Location of the Pecors West Property and neighboring companies 1977). This resource estimated is based on limited drilling and there is potential to expand the Pecors Channel onto the Pecors West property. Uranium is hosted within the quartz-pebble conglomerate of the Matinenda Formation at shallow depths within the Pecors Channel. Channels' within the Elliot Lake uranium camp were mined extensively in the 1950s where production grades averaged 0.100% U3O8. The resource estimate cited above predates and therefore does not conform to the more stringent reporting requirements of National Instrument 43-101 and should not be relied upon according to those standards. Marvel has not yet done exploration work to verify or classify the historical estimates as a current mineral resource, and the Company is not treating the historical estimates as a current mineral reserve or resource.The Pecors West property also hosts the potential for significant PGM- Ni-Cu mineralization related to the Pecors Magnetic anomaly, a large regional magnetic high extending 18 km long and 4 km wide and largely hidden beneath Huronian sediments (Figure 2). The source of the magnetic anomaly has been confirmed to be at least partially comprised of lithologies of gabbroic affinity by International Montoro drilling in 2015. Hole P15-23 drilled by International Montoro intersected 0.33 g/t Pt+Pd+Au and 0.11% Cu and 0.04% Ni over 12m within contact style mafic intrusive mineralization. This style of mineralization appears similar to the East Bull PGM deposit to the east where Quest Critical Metals Inc., (formerly Canadian Palladium) reports a total indicated resources of 16.5 million tonnes at a grade of 0.93 g/t PdEq (see Quest Critical Metals news release dated February 22, 2023).Figure 2. Pecors magnetic anomaly and inverted depth to surface. Location of 2015 drilling included.The Pecors West property is contiguous to Radio Fuels Corp. (CSE:CAKE) Eco Ridge Project where indicated resources total 22.306 Mt grading 0.045% U3O8and 1,613 ppm REO (rare-earth oxides) and inferred resources total 36.955 Mt grading 0.046 % U3O8 and 1,560 ppm REO ( https://radiofuels.ca/) Transaction TermsMarvel Discovery has signed an agreement with two vendors to purchase a 100% interest in 18 boundary cell mining claims and 35 single cell mining claims for $10,000 cash payable upon acceptance of the transaction by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Effective Date") and an additional $40,000 cash payable within 6 months from the Effective Date. On the Effective Date, Marvel must also issue 500,000 common shares and 500,000 share purchase warrants exercisable for a 3-year period at $.05 per share. The vendors retains a 2% NSR with a buyback option from Marvel for 50% of the NSR for $1,000,000 cash. All terms are conditional upon regulatory approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.Qualified PersonMike Kilbourne, P. Geo, an independent qualified person ("QP") as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Company.The QP has not completed sufficient work to verify the historic information on the properties comprising the Pecors property, particularly regarding historical exploration, neighbouring companies, and government geological work. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the Pecors property but may not be representative of expected results.About Marvel Discovery Corp.Marvel, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange for over 25 years, is a Canadian based emerging resource company. The Company is systematically exploring its extensive property positions in:Newfoundland (Slip, Gander North, Gander South, Victoria Lake, Baie Verte, and Hope Brook - Au Prospects) Atikokan, Ontario (BlackFly - Au Prospect) Elliot Lake, Ontario (East Bull - Ni-Cu-PGE Prospect)Quebec (Duhamel -Ni-Cu-Co prospect & Titanium, Vanadium, and Chromium Prospect)Prince George, British Columbia (Wicheeda North - Rare Earth Elements Prospect) The Company's website is: https://marveldiscovery.ca/ ON BEHALF OF THE BOARDMarvel Discovery Corp."Karim Rayani"Karim RayaniPresident/Chief Executive Officer, DirectorTel: 604 716 0551 email: k@ r7.capital Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information:Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements which reflect the expectations of management. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: completion of the proposed Arrangement. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward
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Marijuana Rescheduling Process Normally Steered by the DEA had been taken over by the U.S. Justice Department. The decision would not be signed by DEA ANNE MILGRAM but by Attorney General Merrick Garland.WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / During a recent congressional hearing, Anne Milgram , Director of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), passionately addressed the alarming surge in illegal fentanyl-related deaths . Her plea for action against this epidemic resonated widely. However, amidst this urgency, a significant contradiction emerges- the DEA's hindrance of marijuana research and drug development.DEA vs. Marijuana Research: A Troubling Double StandardDespite the Biden administration's move to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which was hailed as "monumental," the DEA's stance on cannabis remains a point of contention. MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, which aims to grow pharmaceutical marijuana for FDA-sanctioned trials treating conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Huntington's Disease (HD), has faced significant obstruction from the DEA.Further investigation reveals that several additional pharmaceutical companies are challenging the DEA, Director Milgram, and other officials over the constitutionality of the agency's administrative processes . Four separate actions in four different federal court districts suggest the DEA has an administrative problem at its core.Constitutional and Regulatory ConflictsFailure to Comply with Presidential and Congressional Mandates: The DEA's manner of appointing Administrative Law Judges has led to constitutional rights violations for affected pharmaceutical companies.Refusal to Ease Research Regulations: Despite growing evidence of marijuana and psychedelics' efficacy in treating MS, HD, and chronic pain, the DEA's stringent policies continue to hamper progress in these areas.Implications for Medical CannabisThe DEA's staunch opposition to marijuana research has impeded large-scale clinical trials and drug development by companies like MMJ BioPharma, depriving patients of potentially life-changing treatments. This opposition starkly contrasts with Director Milgram's urgent call for action against the fentanyl crisis, highlighting a troubling double standard within the agency.DOJ Steps InIn a secluded meeting at the DEA headquarters, Director Milgram revealed that the process of reclassifying marijuana, normally managed by the DEA, had been taken over by the U.S. Justice Department. Attorney General Merrick Garland, not Milgram, would sign the reclassification action. This unprecedented move underscores internal tensions and the Justice Department's pushback against the DEA's restrictive criteria for marijuana research.MMJ BioPharma Cultivation's Legal BattleOn April 10, 2024, MMJ BioPharma Cultivation filed a lawsuit against Anne Milgram, Attorney General Garland, and several DEA personnel. The suit challenges the DEA's unexplained and unanswered delays in facilitating marijuana research, arguing that the DEA's actions deny suffering patients potential relief.Industry and Congressional OutcryIndustry leaders and lawmakers have voiced their frustrations with the DEA. MMJ BioPharma's President, Duane Boise, criticized the DEA for failing its legislative mandate, while CEO Dr. Elio Mariani emphasized the company's determination to uncover the truth behind the DEA's inaction . Congressman Buddy Carter recently labeled the DEA the "EPITOME OF INEPTITUDE," questioning the agency's competence and motives.Conclusion: The Need for AnswersThe DEA's contradictory stance on addressing the fentanyl crisis while obstructing marijuana research raises critical questions. Is the DEA acting intentionally? Does it have a hidden agenda? Are its personnel incompetent? Millions of Americans depend on the DEA for their well-being, and they deserve clear, transparent answers to these pressing questions.Is the DEA acting intentionally?Does the DEA have a hidden agenda? Is the DEA personnel incompetentor all of the above?MMJ is represented by Attorney Megan Sheehanof Rhode Island.CONTACT :Madison Hiseymhisey@ mmjih.com 203-231-8583SOURCE: MMJ BioPharma Cultivation
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-23 15:46:10

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LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Net Savings Link, Inc. (OTC PINK:NSAV), a cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset technology company, announced today a comprehensive update on the compliance and regulatory initiatives for its NSAVx https://nsavx.com/ CEX Exchange.Following the advancement of landmark cryptocurrency legislation House Bill H.R. 4763 on May 22, 2024, NSAV has outlined a detailed compliance roadmap for both Federal and State registrations: FINCEN Registration: NSAV is currently registered under MSB Registration Number 31000262776231 and is proceeding with additional registrations for NSAVx.com as a Wyoming corporation. State-Level Compliance: An application has been submitted to the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) for a Money Transmitter License, a process expected to take 60-90 days. Following this, NSAV plans to extend its Money Transmitter applications to other states based on customer activity levels. AI-Managed Compliance Systems: NSAVx.com has integrated AI-managed Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) systems that link directly with the FINCEN reporting system, enhancing compliance and operational transparency. CFTC/NFA Engagement: NSAV is exploring registration requirements with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and National Futures Association (NFA). While there is no definitive roadmap, NSAV believes that registration as a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM), Swap Dealer (SD), Major Swap Participant (MSP), Commodity Pool Operator (CPO), and Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA) may be necessary. The company has initiated the registration process with the NFA and will fulfill all background checks, proficiency requirements, and pay all related fees dues. Global Registration Efforts: NSAV expects imminent approvals for their digital asset licenses in Singapore, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Additionally, applications are under review in Ireland, Dubai, and Lithuania. Particularly in Dubai, NSAV has been sponsored by an existing exchange, aiding the expedited licensing process. NSAV has commenced the required establishment of a new company in the UAE Free Zone and will register that company with the Ministry of Economy. NSAV will apply for two digital asset specific licenses in Dubai. The first is for the exchange(VARA VASP) and second, is for smart contract and blockchain development(VARA Cat-2). The company believes this process will begin the last week of May and will take approximately 60-90 days to complete.NSAV released the following statement, "Yesterday signaled monumental changes ahead for cryptocurrency and digital asset companies. It is our intent to have NSAV and NSAVx.com be at the forefront of compliance and regulation. By integrating AI-KYC and now AI-AML, we have signaled to both State and Federal regulators that we put compliance at the top of our business strategy." NSAV's vision is the establishment of a fully integrated technology company, which provides turnkey technological solutions to the cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset industries. The Company drives innovation in the digital currency space by developing advanced blockchain technologies, digital assets, and market solutions that bridge the gap between traditional business frameworks and the future of decentralized technology. Over time, the Company plans to provide a wide range of services such as software solutions, e-commerce, financial services, advisory services and information technology.For further information please contact NSAV at info@ nsavholdinginc.com For further information please contact NSAVx.com at hello@ nsavxmail.com The NSAV corporate website can be accessed at https://www.netsavingslinkinc.com The NSAV CEX website can be accessed at https://nsavx.com/ The AirdropX.co website can be accessed at https://www.airdropx.co/ The Swopx.io website can be accessed at https://www.swopx.io The NSAV Stock information website can be accessed at https://www.nsavstock.com The NSAVx Token website can be accessed at https://www.nsavxtoken.com/nsavx-token The NSAVx Discord Server can be accessed at https://discord.com/invite/7Q2Vv5NmKd The NSAV Twitter account can be accessed at https://twitter.com/nsav_tech This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Net Savings Link, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Net Savings Link, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward- looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Net Savings Link, Inc. or any other person.ContactNet Savings Link, Inc. info@ nsavholdinginc.com Media Contact Organization: Net Savings Link IncContact Person: James TiltonWebsite: https://www.nsavholdinginc.com Email: info@ nsavholdinginc.com Contact Number: +17185698815Address: 26 Grosvenor Street, MayfairAddress 2: W1K4QWCity: LondonCountry: United KingdomSOURCE: Net Savings Link Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-23 13:30:29

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Pampa Metals Corp. ("Pampa Metals" or the "Company") (CSE:PM)(FSE:FIR)(OTCQB:PMMCF) is pleased to report further outstanding copper-gold assay results for diamond drillhole PIU-03 (refer figure 1), recently completed to a downhole depth of 855m at the Company's Piuquenes project in San Juan Province, Argentina.Highlights:801 m @ 0.40% Cu, 0.51 g/t Au, 2.87 g/t Ag (from 54 to 855m (EOH))including 518 m @ 0.53% Cu, 0.73 g/t Au, 3.45 g/t Ag (from 192 to 710) including 176 m @ 0.71% Cu, 0.74 g/t Au, 4.86 g/t Ag (from 192 to 368) including 64 m @ 0.75%, 1.2 g/t Au, 4.60 g/t Ag (554 to 618m) including 32m @ 0.64% Cu, 0.71 g/t Au, 4.54 g/t Ag (642 to 674m) Hole PIU-03 was collared approximately 300m to the west of hole PIU-02 (refer figure 2) and drilled at an orientation of 75 degrees towards 085 (azimuth) to extend copper-gold mineralization to depth on the northeast and southeast sides of the Piuquenes Central porphyry, and to better delineate a newly identified core of strong chalcopyrite-bornite copper mineralization associated with intense porphyry quartz stockwork veining in hole PIU-02 (refer March 26 and May 6 2024 News Releases).Assay results confirm a classic sub-vertical to vertical porphyry geometry with chalcopyrite, bornite and gold mineralization fully open at depth.Joseph van den Elsen, Pampa Metals President and CEO commented: "Following on from the exceptional porphyry copper-gold intersections reported in the first and second holes of our maiden drill campaign at Piuquenes, we are very pleased to report extraordinary, long intervals of primary copper and gold mineralization in the third hole. Our initial drilling continues to extend the depth and lateral extensions of mineralization at Piuquenes Central and has confirmed a highly mineralized multi-phase porphyry system which remains open to depth and to the north-east. The Piuquenes project is a Company making asset and we look forward to more fully delineating the size and grade potential of this first deposit and concurrently testing a second undrilled, outcropping porphyry already identified at Piuquenes East. We see the potential for a cluster of deposits and will continue to advance several other nearby targets with surface exploration and geophysics." Geology and Mineralization - Diamond Drillhole PIU-03Moderate intensity porphyry A type quartz veinlets were intersected from 70 m downhole, with copper oxides evident from 60m and strongest between 190-230 m, followed by a zone of moderate supergene copper enrichment from 230m to 430 m. Copper sulphide (chalcopyrite and bornite) mineralization is evident in quartz veining from 300 m.Image 1: Disseminated copper oxides in quartz A-type veinlets overprinting early biotite-magnetite altered quarzdiorite porphyryImage 2: Intense porphyry A type quartz vein stockwork with evidence of secondary copper enrichment Quartz veining remains strong to 760m downhole, with the exception of two zones of sparse veining (370 - 410m and 500 - 510m). The veinlets can be very thick, associated with several geological events, including late banded, sinuous grey veinlets. Finely disseminated chalcopyrite, chalcopyrite-bornite and bornite is evident with some sections containing coarse and abundant chalcopyrite mineralization. From 760 m downhole the frequency of quartz veinlets decreases, although copper sulfide mineralization and gold remain present, and the system remains open at depth.Image 3: Intense porphyry A type quartz vein stockwork with disseminated chalcopyrite and late veins associated with intermineral potassic (Kfeldspar-quartz) alterationImage 4: A type quartz vein with coarse dissemination of chalcopyrite and bornite associated with intermineral potassic (Kfeldspar-quartz) alterationFigure 1: PIU-03 Schematic Cross SectionFigure 2: PIU-03 Plan ViewON BEHALF OF THE BOARD / INVESTOR CONTACTJoseph van den Elsen | President & CEO Joseph@ pampametals.com ABOUT PAMPA METALSPampa Metals is a copper-gold exploration company listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE:PM), Frankfurt (FSE:FIR), and OTC (OTCQB:PMMCF) exchanges.In November 2023, the Company announced it had entered into an Option and Joint Venture Agreement for the acquisition of an 80% interest in the Piuquenes Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in San Juan Province, Argentina.Reported intervals of significant copper and gold mineralization at Piuquenes Central include:413.5 m@ 0.47% Cu, 0.52 g/t Au (167-580.5 m); 422 m @ 0.48% Cu, 0.61 g/t Au, 2.9 g/t Ag (198 - 620m); including 132m @ 0.71% Cu, 0.85 g/t Au, 4.3 g/t Ag (220 - 352m); including 80m @ 0.6% Cu, 0.77 g/t Au, 3.2 g/t Ag (468 - 548m) 558.2 m @ 0.38% Cu, 0.42 g/t Au, 2.4 g/t Ag (362-920.2 m EOH) including 130 m @ 0.81% Cu, 0.6 g/t Au, 4 g/t Ag (362-492 m)QAQCPIU-01 drill hole was collared with a PQ drill bit, reduced to HQ and, sequentially, to NQ as the drill hole progressed deeper. Drill core was extracted from the core tubes by the drill contractor under the supervision of Pampa Metals, marked for consistent orientation and placed in core boxes with appropriate depth markers added. Full core boxes were then sealed before being transported by Pampa Metals to the Piuquenes core-cutting facility in Barreal, San Juan. Core was processed, quick logged, checked for recovery, photographed, and marked for assays. Core trays were weighed before being cut using a diamond saw by Pampa Metals. Pampa Metals supervising geologist double-checked the selected two-metre sample intervals, placing the samples in seal bags and ensuring that the same side of the core was consistently sampled. Reference numbers were assigned to each sample and each sample was weighed. The core trays with the remaining half-core were weighed and photographed and stored at the Pampa Metals facility in Barreal. From Barreal samples were sent to the ALS preparation facility in Mendoza, an accredited laboratory which is independent of the Company. Prepared samples were then sent to the ALS laboratory in Lima, Peru for gold (Au-AA23), copper (Cu-OG62), and multi-element ICP (ME-MS61) analysis. No data quality problems were indicated by the QA/QC program.Qualified PersonTechnical information in this news release has been approved by Mario Orrego G. Mr. Orrego G. is a Geologist, a Registered Member of the Chilean Mining Commission and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Orrego G. is a consultant to the Company.Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTThis news release con
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-23 15:01:33

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Production Team Partners With Bonefish & Tarpon Trust to Plant 441 Mangrove Trees on Grand BahamaPORTSMOUTH, NH / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Director Harrison Buck and his production studio Pandion Creative have partnered with Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) and its Mangrove Restoration Project to offset the production team's carbon footprint during the filming of Buck's feature documentary Meko.During post-production, Buck became curious as to how he could mitigate his production's carbon footprint. While relatively small in comparison to the carbon footprint of larger film productions, Buck's desire to contribute to the island of Grand Bahama's future while offsetting his production's impact on the environment was a driving force for the partnership with BTT.Said Buck, "Science and conservation are at the heart of our mission and to be able to circle back and make our production carbon neutral was huge for us. The fact that we were able to do so with a partner like BTT was a fantastic fit. It would have been really easy to find a company that would offset our carbon footprint but in a non-relevant setting to our team and production. To be able to plant mangroves on Grand Bahama, the island where we made most of our impact, was ideal." "Generations of conservationists have long sought to leave only footprints in wild places, but today we must also be mindful of our carbon footprints," said BTT President and CEO Jim McDuffie. "We appreciate the commitment made by Harrison Buck and Pandion Creative to do just that with their financial support to BTT's mangrove restoration project in The Bahamas." Both the full-length documentary and abridged version of Meko, produced in association with oakpool, a multi-disciplinary media agency and studio, stars professional fishing guide Omeko "Meko" Glinton as he navigates extreme obstacles to achieve his lifelong dream of owning and operating his own fishing lodge. Said Buck, "The best documentaries in my mind start out with a great story and uncover an even better one. We set out to make a film about a guide and his family and it turned into something much bigger." Far from the typical "grip-and-grin" fishing film, Meko is set to debut on the 2024 film festival scene with a powerful message for those who hold affection for wild places and the people who live in them. Said Buck, "We have all along been trying to make a film that is far away from the industry standard of being fish-landing-focused. We have a story about a man, his family and legacy and all that their community has gone through. There is a little bit of something for everyone to resonate with on a human level." Check out the trailer here: MEKO.To book an interview with Harrison Buck or Meko, or to learn more about the film project, please visit the official website or reach out to remick@ fordhamilton.com Contact Information:Remick SmothersPress Leadremick@ fordhamilton.com 202-412-5300SOURCE: Pandion CreativeView the original press release on newswire.com
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FORT WORTH, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Quick Electricity, a prominent energy broker in central Texas, is streamlining how customers connect with electricity plans and providers with the launch of their new homepage. This update offers a quicker and more user-friendly experience for Texans and those in other deregulated energy states looking for their best energy solutions.Quick Electricity Quick Electricity Shows Continued Commitment to Exceptional Texas Energy Broker ServicesTexas is largely deregulated when it comes to its energy market, and most Texans can choose their energy provider. But with more than 100 Retail Electricity Providers (REPs) operating in the state, it can be hard to figure out what provider and plan are the right choice.Founded in 2013 by Mary Pressler, a licensed electricity broker, and long-time Texas resident, Quick Electricity helps Texas home- and business owners look past fancy marketing and compare electric companies with ease. The new homepage is integral to these efforts and will further support Quick Electricity clients in finding the top plans at the lowest rates.Quick Electricity's customer-first approach has always been a mainstay of the business. Visitors to the Quick Electricity homepage will find a more user-friendly design, plus faster search and loading so they can access what they need in a timely manner. In addition to standard monthly electricity plans, users will also find a comprehensive list of Texas prepaid electricity plans, ensuring they find a solution that fits their needs and budget.For those on the hunt for more general information, Quick Electricity offers an extensive resource center that covers topics like energy contracts, how deregulated energy works, what states do and don't have deregulated energy, and where deregulated markets are in Texas. The company also provides guidance for researching electricity plans, such as overviews of electricity rates, contracts, payment options, and renewable options.After over a decade in business, Pressler and her team have demonstrated how valuable Texas energy brokers can be. Quick Electricity helps demystify energy deregulation for everyday consumers. This change introduces competition among providers and better prices and services while also adding complexity to the decision-making process for residents.Some of the services offered by Quick Electricity include:Support for navigating the deregulated energy market, including a clear presentation of various energy plan options and a comparison of their differences Guidance for consumers looking to make an informed decision based on their specific energy needs Easy identification of the most cost-effective options, potentially leading to significant energy savings for homeowners and businesses Access to information and tools that allow individuals to quickly compare prices across different energy suppliers Customer advocacy and the ability to "broker" electricity plan enrollment Commercial support for businesses, including ongoing energy consumption analyses, bill auditing, and renewal negotiationsStarting with the intuitive homepage, Quick Electricity customers get a trusted partner in searching and selecting electricity plans and one that understands the nuances of the Texas energy market, including price trends, seasonal changes, and regulatory shifts. As brokers, Quick Electricity can advise clients on the best times to buy or switch plans and offer guidance on how to structure contracts to take full advantage of market conditions.For those struggling with their current plan, Quick Electricity can serve as client advocates, using their extensive industry contacts and knowledge to resolve disputes and handle problems more efficiently than customers may be able to do on their own. This is particularly essential in Texas' competitive energy marketplace, where many customers choose their initial providers without much thought to their long-term needs.A lot goes into selecting the right electricity provider in Texas. Quick Electricity is committed to helping its clients navigate the process, with a new homepage that speeds up the search and provides answers to all of the common (and not-so-common) questions that home and business owners might have. Interested readers can find additional information by visiting https://quickelectricity.com or by contacting Pressler directly.About Quick ElectricityQuick Electricity is a Texas-based electricity broker that helps individuals and businesses find the best electricity plans at the lowest rates. The company was founded in 2013 by Texan Mary Pressler and has since established itself as a trusted resource for Texans and residents of other deregulated energy states, providing individual guidance and ensuring that everyone gets the plan that makes the most sense for them.For more information, please visit www.QuickElectricity.com Contact InformationMary PresslerOwnermary@ quickelectricity.com (877) 509-8946SOURCE: Quick ElectricityView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-23 19:28:07

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SOUTH BEND, IN / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Martell Services Group, Inc. (MSGI) is excited to announce that Rusty Stone has been promoted from Executive Vice President and COO of MSGI to President and COO of MSGI and its subsidiaries.Rusty Stone President & COO of Martell Services Group, Inc.Rusty joined MSGI in July of 2023 as Executive Vice President and COO. Rusty has been in the construction industry for more than 40 years. He has served in several leadership roles at established electrical contractors in Texas, Illinois, and California following completion of the NJATC apprenticeship program in the early 80s."We are thrilled to have Rusty accept the role of President and COO of MSGI," said John A. Martell, CEO of MSGI. "His operational experience coupled with his strategic mindset and passion for excellence aligns perfectly with our company's values and objectives." Jennifer Martell, former President and current Board Member, shared, "The Board is confident that Rusty's leadership will not only further propel our expansion plan that was announced when we became an ESOP in 2021 but also reinforce our position as an industry leader." As President and COO of MSGI, Rusty will manage and lead the daily business operations of the company, working closely with department heads and supervisors to support the day-to-day activity of employees. With his leadership, operational, field, and mentoring experience, Rusty will bring a great wealth of experience that will serve the MSGI family of companies for years to come.Rusty expressed enthusiasm about taking on the new role. "I am honored to be part of the MSGI team and look forward to contributing to the company's continued growth and success," he stated.About Martell Services Group, Inc.Martell Services Group, Inc. is the parent company of Martell Electric, LLC and Ideal Consolidated, Inc. In February of 2021, MSGI became 100% employee-owned through the formation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), a move John Martell made "to secure the legacy of the business and the future for employees for generations to come." The company currently has more than 500 employees.MSGI services span electrical, infrastructure, highway specialty, renewable energy, telecommunications, and fiber optics providing solutions for clients in commercial, industrial, institutional and government markets. MSGI's mechanical division specializes in commercial, industrial, and institutional piping, plumbing, and sheet metal work. Martell Services Group is headquartered in South Bend, IN, with its subsidiaries covering most of the Midwest to Phoenix, Arizona.Contact InformationJohn A. Martell, P.E.CEOjamartell@ martell.services 574-271-5000SOURCE: Martell Services Group, Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-23 14:02:27

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Metallic pulp assays from winter 2024 drilling program, MOU with Novamera Inc.ST. JOHN'S, NL / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Sokoman Minerals Corp. (TSXV:SIC)(OTCQB:SICNF) ("Sokoman" or the "Company") is pleased to report metallic pulp gold assay results from winter drilling at the 552 Zone, as well as assays from a section of the Footwall Splay. These drill holes were targeted as a possible bulk sample location, linked to the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Novamera Inc. ("Novamera"). The MOU is focused on modeling the near-surface portion of the Footwall Splay Zone for a possible bulk sample using Novamera's proprietary drilling and bulk sampling technology.Footwall SplayDrilling confirmed strong, near-surface gold values, including 10.25 m at 84.69 g/t Au from 53.90 m downhole in MH-23-166A, in the down-plunge portion of the Zone.Highlight Drill Results - Moosehead Project - Footwall Splay / 552 Zone*Core length - true widths are estimated to be approximately 90% of the core length552 ZoneTen drill holes gave mixed results although most intersected the 552 structure. The highest grades were in quartz veining - MH-24-588 - 2.20 m / 6.07 g/t Au at 57.75 m downhole and 2.75 m at 5.94 g/t Au at 100.85 m downhole, with the second intersection the first visible gold (VG) found in deformed mafic volcanics on the property (see the section for the location of the new vein in proximity to the previously modeled 552 vein). The intersection in the volcanics highlights additional prospective areas in the easternmost, underexplored, portion of the Moosehead property. The 552 zone carries VG-bearing quartz veins on both the east and west margins. Drilling will continue after the spring break up in approximately three to four weeks.Novamera Inc.Novamera's guidance tool provides a high-resolution 3-D model of the quartz veins by detecting veins up to 4 m off hole in all directions. As part of the initial setup process, Novamera requested the drilling of two holes (MH-23-166A and B) from an area of the Footwall Splay, which was surveyed by Novamera to calibrate their guidance tool. The holes were drilled proximal to MH-23-166, selected as the test area based on a high-grade intersection at the bedrock surface - 5.10 m of 15.51 g/t Au at 9 m downhole). Novamera used the two new holes and the original hole for calibration. A mineralization model, being developed, will include surveying of additional holes later this spring.The bulk sample method being considered is a "surgical" mining method in which a large (1-2 m) diameter drill bit is used to recover the high-grade, VG-bearing quartz veins, greatly reducing the environmental impact and decreasing the time required for permitting.The permitting process will begin when the 3D modeling and extraction plan is completed in the coming months. The holes were assayed for grade control at Eastern Analytical in Springdale, Newfoundland and Labrador.Timothy Froude, P. Geo., President and CEO of Sokoman Minerals, states, "We are pleased to announce the MOU with Novamera as part of our efforts to advance the Moosehead gold project. The results of the initial work have confirmed the area for a bulk sample by demonstrating strong gold grades in the Footwall Splay. The MOU is not a commitment for a bulk sample; rather, it is a process to determine if a bulk sample can be taken efficiently and cost-effectively. There is no obligation on Sokoman's part to complete all the stages as defined in its MOU with Novamera." QPThis news release has been reviewed and approved by Timothy Froude, P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 and President and CEO of Sokoman Minerals Corp.About Sokoman Minerals Corp.Sokoman Minerals Corp. is a discovery-oriented company with projects in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Company's primary focus is its portfolio of gold projects; the 100%-owned flagship, advanced-stage Moosehead, Crippleback Lake, and the district-scale Fleur de Lys project near Baie Verte in northwestern Newfoundland, that is targeting Dalradian-type orogenic gold mineralization similar to the Curraghinalt and Cavanacaw deposits in Northern Ireland. The Company entered into a strategic alliance with Benton Resources Inc. through three, large-scale, joint-venture properties including Grey River, Golden Hope, and Kepenkeck in Newfoundland. Sokoman is one of the largest landholders in Newfoundland, in Canada's newest and rapidly emerging gold districts.In October 2023, Sokoman and Benton completed an agreement with Piedmont Lithium Inc., a major developer of lithium projects and processing plants in the USA, and exactly the right partner to have to advance the lithium project. The agreement provides for Piedmont to earn up to 62.5% of the Killick Lithium Project (formerly Golden Hope project) by funding up to $12 million in exploration expenses and issuing $10 million common shares in three stages. The Killick Lithium Project has been transferred to Killick Lithium Inc. (Killick), a 100%-owned subsidiary of Vinland Lithium Inc. (Vinland). Newly created Vinland has received $2 million in financing from Piedmont for a 19.9% interest, with the balance of ownership between Sokoman and Benton. Sokoman and Benton will continue to operate the exploration efforts at Killick through the earn-in stages. Sokoman and Benton will retain a royalty of 2% NSR on future production. Piedmont will have exclusive marketing rights for the promotion and sale of any lithium products produced from the project on a life-of-mine basis, and the right of first refusal on 100% offtake rights to the lithium concentrates.Projects optioned with optionee fully vested:East Alder Project optioned to Canterra Minerals Inc (SIC retains 850,000 shares of CTM plus 1% NSR) Startrek Project optioned to Thunder Gold (SIC retains 1,750,000 shares of TGOL plus 1% NSR)The Company would like to thank the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for the financial support of the Moosehead and Fleur de Lys Projects through the Junior Exploration Assistance Program during the past few years.For more information, please contact:Timothy Froude, P.Geo., President & CEOT: 709-765-1726E: tim@ sokomanmineralscorp.com Cathy Hume, VP Corporate Development, DirectorT: 416-868-1079 x 251 E: cathy@ chfir.com Website: www.sokomanmineralscorp.comTwitter: @SokomanMineralsFacebook:@SokomanMinerals LinkedIn:@SokomanMineralsCorpNeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Investors are cautioned that trading in the se
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Storm Exploration Inc. (TSXV:STRM) ("Storm" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed an Exploration Agreement ("EA") with the Eabametoong First Nation (the "Eabametoong" or the "EFN") regarding the Company's Fort Hope Projects: Miminiska, Keezhik and Attwood."The execution of an Exploration Agreement between Storm and the Eabametoong First Nation is a major milestone. I would like to thank Chief and Council for their dedicated time and effort in realizing this agreement and ensuring it is beneficial for both parties," stated Storm's President and CEO Bruce Counts. "Storm firmly believes that the participation of local first nations is critical to the success of a project, and I am excited to be working with the EFN on advancing the highly prospective Fort Hope properties." "Getting this Exploration Agreement in place is an important step for Eabametoong First Nation," said Chief Solomon Atlookan. "For far too long, other exploration companies have sought to obtain permits from Ontario before working collaboratively with us or other First Nations. The significant thing about this new agreement is that it recognizes the role of our community in permitting, monitoring, and regulating any activities on the land before and beyond any Crown permits. Mr. Counts has been very respectful in working with EFN and this approach should be a model for others to follow. EFN expects all resource companies to come and work with us on common interests, but also to respect where certain activities cannot occur. This agreement outlines a pathway for an ongoing relationship and we look forward to working with Storm to protect and steward the land while exploring this beautiful area that we have been entrusted with." The EA establishes a framework for ongoing consultation with the EFN and provides the community with an opportunity to participate in the project through employment, training, and business development. Under the terms of the EA, the Storm will make contributions to a community fund in an amount that is proportional to its exploration expenditures in EFN territory. In addition, the Company will issue to the EFN, $275,000 in common shares of Storm over a four year period, commencing with $25,000 in common shares to be issued within 90 days of TSXV acceptance of the EA.Fort Hope Projects The Miminiska, Keezhik and Attwood projects are located within the Miminiska-Fort Hope greenstone belt, approximately 350 kilometres north of the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Each project has the potential to host a multi-million-ounce orogenic gold deposit. In addition, the Attwood project also has the potential to host a significant base metal deposit.The Miminiska property is the Company's primary focus and hosts drill confirmed, high-grade gold mineralization at two primary prospects: Miminiska and Frond (refer to Figure 1). Historical assays include 5.75g/t Au over 20.84m* and 13.95g/t Au over 5.32m* with mineralization hosted in banded iron formation and associated shear zones.Figure 1: Miminiska Property* Historical results have not been independently verified by Storm; and, there is no guarantee that the Company can reproduce the results in whole or in part. Potential investors should not rely on these historical results when making an investment decision.Next Steps Planning for a drill program to expand and extend known mineralization at the Miminiska prospect is underway and it is expected that drilling will begin in Q3/2024.Qualified Person The technical contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Bruce Counts, P. Geo., President and CEO of Storm Exploration Inc. and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.About Storm Exploration Inc. Storm Exploration Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the discovery and development of economic precious and base metal deposits on four district-scale projects in northwest Ontario: Miminiska, Keezhik, Attwood and Gold Standard.Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward Looking Information This news release includes certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the Company's strategic plans, future operations, future work programs and objectives. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.For further information, please contact:Storm Exploration Inc.+1 (604) 506-2804 bcounts@ stormex.ca SOURCE: Storm Exploration Inc.
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AJ Arora and Bhupinder Saini add to the Canadian business networkBEDFORD, NS / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 /Stratus Building Solutions, the premier green commercial cleaning and janitorial services franchise, has doubled its presence in Canada with a new location opening in Bedford, Nova Scotia. AJ Arora and Bhupinder Saini, friends and now business partners, are the franchise owners serving Halifax and the surrounding areas.Arora and Saini explored a variety of entrepreneurial options before choosing Stratus. They felt the brand was well positioned for success with a promising market for commercial cleaning services."The ability to be part of a reputable and established franchise network was a compelling factor in our decision-making process," Arora said. "After evaluating all these aspects, we decided that owning a Stratus franchise aligned well with our goals and aspirations for business ownership." The duo was also impressed by the innovative technology, the culture fit and opportunities for growth of the franchise; factors they felt were ahead of the competition in the marketplace."The Stratus business model is progressive and supported with extensive training, ongoing assistance, and marketing support to ensure the success of each franchisee," explains Saini. "The commitment to collaboration and partnership with franchisees shows a genuine dedication to mutual success, which was highly impressive." Founded in 2006, Stratus Building Solutions is the industry leader in using Green Seal certified products, meaning they're non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe not only for humans but the environment as well. They also utilize state-of-the-art technology such as microfiber cleaning cloths. With over 3,800 units and over 73 master territories across the U.S. and Canada, Stratus specializes in everything from carpet and window cleaning to hard floor care and disinfecting and are masters of the janitorial arts.Stratus has been actively growing their franchise by investing in areas that focus on growth opportunities for franchise owners. Doug Flaig, President of Stratus Building Solutions, feels Arora and Saini are eager to embrace the growth potential in their territory."This is our first location in eastern Canada and we're excited about expanding our Canadian presence," says Flaig. "AJ and Bhupinder had done a lot of research before joining Stratus and what they were looking for as entrepreneurs was very much consistent with what we are looking for in franchise owners. It's a great fit and I look forward to working with them as they grow the business." Stratus Building Solutions of Halifax is located at 15 Dartmouth Road in Bedford. For more information on Stratus please visit https://www.stratusclean.com/locations/halifax ###About Stratus Building Solutions:Stratus Building Solutions is an international franchise company in the commercial cleaning industry, founded in 2006 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Stratus was developed to provide environmentally friendly commercial cleaning services driven by dedicated, entrepreneurial, small-business owners and regional support offices. Stratus has over 3,800-unit franchisees in 73 major cities across the U.S. and Canada.Stratus Building Solutions is a recognized franchise opportunity with the prestigious Entrepreneur Franchise 500 ranking in 2024. They have the #1 ranking for the commercial cleaning category and the fastest-growing franchise category, and they ranked #23 of all 500 franchises. The Entrepreneur Franchise 500 ranking serves as a guide for potential franchisees looking to start or grow their business portfolio.Stratus is setting new standards in the building services and maintenance franchise industry by being the first to offer green janitorial products with their proprietary Green-Seal Certified line of cleaning chemicals. To learn more about franchising opportunities, visit https://www.stratusclean.com/franchise/master-franchise Media Contact:Mike Toper(919) 813-6511 mtoper@919 marketing.com SOURCE: Stratus Building Solutions
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of Volkswagen AG ("Volkswagen" or "the Company") (OTC PINK:VWAGY). Investors who purchased Volkswagen securities are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/VWAGY Investigation Details:On May 20, 2024, One America News published an article titled "Report: Investigation Finds BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Volkswagen Linked To Forced Labor In China." The article stated that a Senate Finance Committee investigation found that multiple major automakers, including BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, and Volkswagen, relied on forced labor in China by purchasing parts that were flagged by the U.S. government for links to forced labor camps in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang. The two-year investigation also found that BMW and Jaguar Land Rover continued importing the flagged parts as recently as last month, even after they were informed of the forced labor. Following this news, Volkswagen stock dropped that same day.What's Next?If you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation or purchased Volkswagen securities, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/VWAGY . You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his client relations manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 332-239-2660.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
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WHITE PLAINS, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / In today's uncertain world, ensuring that your medical wishes are respected and carried out in the event of incapacitation is paramount. Westchester County elder law attorney Lauren C. Enea, senior associate at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP in White Plains and Somers, N.Y., recently shared her insights on the role of the health care proxy in New York. Underscoring the document's importance in safeguarding an individual's autonomy and wellbeing, Ms. Enea emphasizes its significance as part of a comprehensive estate plan.A health care proxy is a legally binding document that empowers individuals to designate a trusted agent to make medical decisions on their behalf should they become unable to do so. In New York State, this vital tool serves as a proactive measure to avoid the need for court intervention or guardianship proceedings during times of incapacity."Appointing someone as your health care proxy is a fairly straightforward process and can be invaluable in the event of incapacity," said Ms. Enea. "One key benefit is the ability to express specific medical preferences and treatment directives. Being clear about what treatments you want to refuse and which you would be willing to receive can help your agent make swift decisions if you unexpectedly become unable to express them yourself." Ms. Enea also suggests sharing these preferences with trusted individuals. "'While your agent can enforce your instructions, informing others can reinforce your wishes. Your physician, your agent, and in some situations even other family members can keep a copy of your form, which can be helpful during emergencies. In the long run, planning and preparing these setups can benefit your welfare and help those you love to navigate your care with ease." An active member of the local bar associations, Ms. Enea holds several leadership positions within various legal organizations. She was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Westchester County Bar Association (WCBA) Trusts and Estates Section. Additionally, Ms. Enea serves as co-chair of the WCBA New Lawyers Section, co-chairs the Publications Committee for the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Elder Law and Special Needs Section, and is co-editor of the NYSBA Elder Law and Special Needs Section Journal. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County.Ms. Enea was awarded the Westchester County Bar Association's Outstanding New Lawyer Award. She was also named to the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Super Lawyers Rising Stars list and the 2023 and 2024 Best Lawyers Ones to Watch list. She is the president of CAREERS Support Solutions' Board of Directors, a nonprofit helping individuals with disabilities obtain gainful employment in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties, and a member of the Pace Women's Justice Center Advisory Board, Friends of Gail. Ms. Enea is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida.Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is located at 245 Main Street in White Plains, N.Y. with additional offices in Somers, N.Y. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 914-948-1500 or visit www.esslawfirm.com About Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is an AV preeminent rated elder law firm with offices in White Plains and Somers, N.Y. The practice concentrates on Elder Law; Medicaid Planning; Nursing Home and Home Care Applications; Wills, Trusts and Estates; Guardianships; Estate Litigation; Supplemental Needs Trusts; and Special Needs Planning. Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP serves Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, the Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island and Queens and is committed to providing the highest quality legal services to seniors, the disabled and their families. Visit the firm online at www.esslawfirm.com Press Contact Kelly LeeCo-Communications914-666-0066 klee@ cocommunications.com SOURCE: Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP
A malaria project for which the Nigerian government took a $100 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has been stalled due to procurement fraud, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, has disclosed.

Mr Pate disclosed this on Wednesday during an investigative hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria into the implementation of the Islamic Bank Loan to support malaria elimination in Nigeria under the Lives and Livelihood Project.

He provided the background to the loan. He said the agreement for the $100 million project was signed in 2022 by the Nigerian government with the IDB and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) as the procurement consultant.

He explained that a Nigerian company subsequently emerged as the only pre-qualified entity from the competitive national bidding process. The minister did not mention the name of the company.

Mr Pate further explained that following the companys emergence, UNOPS suspected collusion in the bidding process. Subsequently, an investigation was launched subject to the terms of the agreement for the implementation of the project and the Nigerian company was found guilty and blacklisted from all UN contracts for three years.

The procurement process started in early 2022. In the bid evaluation, flags were raised on the possibility of collusion between the contractors that were bidding in 2023. (The investigation was) consistent with the agreement that they had signed that if there are collusive practices on contract, the UN has the responsibility to use its own system to investigate.

They exercised that responsibility and deferred it to their office in New York. We can argue the legality and I would say that the House can look into the legality of whether they can do that.

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They investigated for several months and all those that were alleged against were given the opportunity, and an independent panel  not the government of Nigeria, concluded beyond reasonable doubt that there was collusion on the allegation that was made.

We at the federal ministry were not part of it. UNOPS, using their own system, concluded that the contractors who bid in 2022 They blacklisted them for three years from any UN contracts, the minister said.

Speaking further, he explained that the action of the contractor and the agreement signed by the government on the procurement method has put the country in a fix on the loan.

He said $92 million of the loan is with the Nigerian government but it cannot use the fund until a compromise is made.

Mr Pate explained that UNOPS had proposed using a foreign manufacturer after the Nigerian company was disqualified. However, he refused to approve it to protect the national interest.

When we came into office in August (2023), we realised that there was this change to the competitive bidding clause. And we stayed action on it. We also respect the conversation on national interest in having local manufacturers. The operational challenge is that the first agreement is not implementable because the only entity that was pre-qualified was found to have colluded, and UNOPS cannot, we have asked them repeatedly  can you go back and use that entity? They said no, the minister said.

He further said the government could consider re-negotiating the procurement agreement with IDB, though it is going to take about 12-18 months for the contract to be renegotiated. He stated that the five states  Bayelsa, Edo, Enugu, Kogi and FCT  designed to benefit from the initiative are going to suffer if the issue is not resolved.

The minister informed the lawmakers that they are considering a compromise that is alright with all the parties involved in the agreement.

UN agency undermining Nigerian laws  Panel

The Chairman of the Committee, Amobi Ogah, insisted that the local content component must be adhered to.

He alleged that UNOPS schemed to deny local manufacturers from participating in the project.

With due respect, what UNOPS has done in this transaction is so bad because they cant tell us as a country what the local manufacturer has done that made them disqualify this local manufacturer.

The reason why we are all here is because of Nigeria. If it is a grant or aid it would be different. We are here because it is a loan that we are going to pay back with interest. We demand a report from the ministry.

Anything that would undermine our quest to encourage local producers and manufacturers we seriously frown on it. All of a sudden the whole intent and purpose were changed in favour of a foreign bid to supply the materials whereas we have one which you earlier pre-qualified and all of a sudden it was set aside to encourage foreigners to supply the net in Nigeria, Mr Ogah said.

Argument over oath

In the course of the hearing, there was a mild drama when Mr Ogah insisted that the UNOPS team, led by Ghana Multi Country Officer, Ifeoma Charles-Monwuba, should be placed on oath.

However, the minister insisted that the UNOPS officials cannot be placed on oath citing UN laws on immunity for officials of the UN. He insisted that they were there as observers.

For over 20 minutes, the minister and the members of the committee debated the issue, but the lawmakers later succumbed and proceeded with the hearing without administering the oath.

In the end, the committee resolved that the minister should provide a comprehensive report of the transactions about the agreement to the committee within two weeks.

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The Senate is currently in a closed-door session to consider a bill seeking to amend the components of the Nigerian National Anthem, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report.

If the bill is passed, the existing anthem will be replaced with the old components of the anthem that were changed in 1978 during the Olusegun Obasanjo regime.

The lawmakers went into the closed-door session at about 11:15 p.m. after the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion to that effect.

The is being presided over by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

In the closed-door session, the senate leadership proposed, reading the bill for the first time today and at the same time passing it for a second reading during the plenary.

If this is achieved, it will be considered that the bill is hurriedly passed.

Senate in Executive/closed session to change the Nigerian anthem. The leadership wants the bill to bring the old item back. They want the bill to be read first reading and 2nd reading passed today a source who attended the closed-door session told our reporter.

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Public hearing

It was gathered that some senators were against the hurried passage of the bill during the closed-door session.

Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) and Mohammed Goje ( APC Gombe) specifically opposed the hurried passage of the bill without consulting Nigerians.

The duo urged the Senate leadership to organise a public hearing on the bill before considering its passage.

Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP, Kebbi North) advised the Senate leadership to consult concerned parties across the country before considering the bill.

He said, Nigerians are suffering, that amending/changing the National Anthem via a bill seems like diversion of attention of Nigerians.

Who supported

Victor Umeh, the senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, supported the hurried passage of the bill.

Mr Umeh, a member of the Labour Party, cited Rwanda as a case study.

Senator Umeh of the Labour Party used Rwanda as an example. He hailed the old Anthem as good drafting, hence he supported the Leadership 100% to change the present Anthem by amending the law and bringing the old anthem by dropping the present anthem.

He is against any public hearing and states that public hearing will open Pandoras box, the source added.

Sen Umeh is an eye-service man. He wants to please the Senate President. Sen Umeh doesnt want Nigerians to be part of the decision whether to drop the present National Anthem or not with the old anthem. He said that allowing Nigerians to ventilate their opinions will cause anarchy.

The senate president, thereafter, ruled that the bill would be passed today and that any Nigerian who is not satisfied should come to the Senate complex for a public hearing.

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A bill seeking to revert to the old Nigerian National Anthem has passed a second reading at the Senate.

The bill seeks to replace the current National Anthem with the former one, which was adopted on Independence Day on 1 October 1960 but was dropped in 1978 by the then-military administration of Olusegun Obasanjo.

It was first read during the plenary on Thursday and passed for first and second readings after most senators supported it when the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, put it to vote.

The senate president thereafter referred it to the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters and Internal Affairs for further legislative action and report back as soon as possible.

Nigeria, We Hail Thee was adopted as the countrys first national anthem upon gaining independence from Britain in 1960.

Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria when it achieved independence, wrote the anthems lyrics while Frances Berda composed the music.

Lead Debate

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, led the debate on the bill.

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Mr Bamidele said the old anthem contributed immensely to the national identity and unity of Nigerians than the existing anthem.

The anthem, upon rendition, inspired and stimulated a deep sense of patriotism in Nigerians. You will also agree with me that those who were around in the 60s and the late 70s would attest to the fact that the anthem played quite a significant and crucial role in shaping Nigerias national identity and unity, as well as engendered a high sense of value and personal belonging amongst the citizenry.

It was symbolic of Nigerias rich cultural heritage and nationhood. In retrospect, the anthem served as a regular and constant reminder of our journey as a nation and provoked feelings of nostalgia and fond memories of the countrys early years, he added.

The senate leader urged his colleagues to support the replacement of the existing anthem with the old one.

Mr President, my dear Colleagues, at this momentous time in our national history, it is imperative that we utilise any platform that seeks to unite the country and promote patriotism amongst Nigerians.

Accordingly, the old National Anthem, as a symbol of national pride, has provided insights for patriotic reflections on our aspirations, values and hope for a united and prosperous Nigeria. The rendition and musical accuracy of the anthem are better in content and context than the current one. On this note, permit me, at this juncture, to reproduce the anthem to serve as a reminder and reflection.

The new anthem Nigeria, We Hail Thee will inspire in us the zeal to build a fully integrated and indivisible nation, whereby all citizens will live in unity and harmony, Mr Bamidele added.

Contributions

Most senators who contributed to the debate supported it and urged the Senate to consider public hearings on the issue before final passage.

Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South) argued that the old National Anthem portrayed brotherhood and unity more than the existing anthem.

Who are the compatriots? If you say compatriot, what about those who are not compatriots, are they not Nigerians? Mr Ibrahim queried the existing anthem.

The old anthem discussed brotherhood. If I know you are my brother, I will ensure you are safe, he added.

Mr Ibrahim, however, urged the Senate to conduct a public hearing on the issue.

Let us conduct data and find out how many secondary school children can recite the National Anthem. I urge you to conduct a public hearing to hear the views of Nigerians. If we get the National Anthem right, we will get Nigeria right, and if we fail to do so he added.

Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central) also supported the bill.

The old one which we are seeking to bring back is the one that has all the ingredients we need. In other words, we are planning Nigeria above all considerations.

National Anthem is supposed to be motivational. The old National Anthem is motivational; it contains brotherhood slogans. When I was growing up, I looked at Nigeria as my symbol of life, Mr Umeh said.

Dyke Plang (APC, Plateau Central) argued that for Nigeria to be united, its people must see themselves as brothers.

Unity can only be acquired when there is brotherhood. For Nigerians to be united and be one, you will need a lowest common multiple and that lowest common multiple is that we are brothers.

The component of brotherhood in our national anthem is very important, Mr Plang added.

Titus Zam (APC, Benue North) and Asuquo Ekpenyoung (APC, Cross River South) also backed the bill.

Mr Ekpeyong urged the leadership of the Senate to engage Nigerians adequately before considering passage of the bill.

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Tragedy struck at Terminus Market in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, on Wednesday, as a police officer attached to the enforcement team of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) was accidentally shot dead by his colleague.

Security operatives, including police officers and soldiers, were recently deployed by the state government to enforce regulations against street trading in the area.

According to a witness, Ibrahim Musa, the deceased officer was struck by a stray bullet fired by a member of the security personnel patrolling the area.

An official of the market, who chose to remain anonymous because they were not authorised to speak to journalists, attributed the officers death to an accidental discharge by his colleague.

According to him, At approximately 12 oclock on Wednesday, security personnel were in pursuit of traders when, unexpectedly, an officer mistakenly discharged his firearm, fatally hitting the policeman in the neck. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries instantly. Shortly after, officials from the Road Safety Corps arrived to transport the deceased officers body to a nearby hospital.

The unfortunate incident sparked tension in the vicinity, leading to the firing of tear gas to disperse the crowd.

In response to inquiries, Alabo Alfred, spokesperson for the state police command, stated that investigations into the incident were ongoing.

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Mr Alfred said the police were investigating the matter.

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Society for Family Health (SFH) and the Taraba State Government have empowered 87 indigent persons living with HIV/AIDS in the state.

The Director of SFHs Lafiyan Yara project, Aisha Dadi, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday in Jalingo.

She said the empowerment scheme was executed in Bali and Sardauna local government areas of the state through the Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) training and cash support.

Mrs Dadi said the two-day training in Bali and Gembu brought together beneficiaries selected using treatment outcomes of their children in the health facilities where they access Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).

According to her, N70,000 cash was given to each of the 87 beneficiaries as a seed grant after an assessment of the viability of their business plans.

The two-day training, which took place in Medical and Health Care Hall, Bali, and Mambilla Baptist Hospital Hall, Gembu, empowered indigent parents and caregivers of children living with HIV in the State, she said.

This initiative is aimed at addressing critical issues such as missed appointments for ART, medication pick-up and refills among children living with HIV due to lack of funds for transportation or nutrition challenge among children enrolled into ART, which often leads to suboptimal adherence and unsuppressed viral loads.

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The training sessions, conducted by the dedicated project team and the State Ministry of Health  State AIDS and STI Control Programme (SASCP), capacitated disadvantaged members of the community on the details of VSLA.

Some of the details include the methodology of VSLA, constitution formation, formation of business strategy, management of funds to improve business capital and profit, savings and collection of loans, among many others, she said.

Mrs Dadi further noted that the training also provided a platform for the caregivers to receive information on ART treatment and the literacy needed to support their children to adhere to the lifesaving treatment.

According to her, a total of five associations were formed and registered with the Ministry of Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation of the State with the support of SFH.

She said the project empowered 60 beneficiaries from Jalingo, Zing, Gassol and Wukari local government areas of the state.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, announced on Wednesday that the territory administration will construct three bus terminals for intracity services within eight months.

Mr Wike disclosed this during a ministerial sectorial review press conference to mark the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu in office.

Mr Tinubu assumed power on 29 May 2023.

The minister said the new terminals would help reduce one-chance and other criminal activities associated with transportation in Abuja.

He expressed concern over the current lack of bus terminals in the FCT despite its status as the nations capital for many years.

You can imagine Abuja as a city where the residents dont know which taxi or a commercial bus to boardthis is why they enter one-chance.

But now, we are going to build three terminals for the FCT so that you will know if you want to board a bus or a taxi, you will go to a specific terminal, he said.

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Completion of Abuja Rail Mass Transit

Mr Wike said the FCT Administration had completed the construction and rehabilitation of the Abuja Metro Line for commercial, operational services. This, according to him, will allow the residents to enjoy enhanced transport services within the city.

He promised that once the project is commissioned on 27 May, residents will be able to ride the metro line for free for two months.

Furthermore, Mr Wike noted that the administration has constructed road networks to all stations, ensuring residents have easy access to the train stations from various satellite towns.

Financial and Administrative Developments

Mr Wike said President Tinubu approved the exit of the FCTA from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to ensure access to the FCTs internally generated revenue (IGR) for the execution of projects.

He said the president approved the creation of the FCT Civil Service Commission to strengthen the administrative structure of the FCTA and ensure improved welfare and career progression of staff.

He said the FCT Administration also created a Mandate Secretariat for Women Affairs to attend to womens needs.

School, road construction and rehabilitation

Mr Wike revealed that the administration has embarked on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 19 dilapidated schools in the city centre.

He said he had undertaken the completion of ongoing road projects that past administrations had previously abandoned.

He identified poor funding due to low revenue generation as one of the main impediments to the completion of the projects.

Additionally, he said the administration is constructing a 120-kilometre road across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Improved security

Mr Wike said he held a series of stakeholder engagements with the FCT Area Councils, resulting in the decisions to tackle the insecurity in the territory.

The residents said there are no roads at all; even when they are being attacked, the security agencies cant access the communities, he added.

READ ALSO: Abuja Light Rail ready for commissioning Wike

The minister noted that the administration has donated 100 specialised motorcycles to various security agencies to ensure effective policing of the rural and semi-urban areas of the FCT.

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The FCT Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Thursday in Abuja called for the immediate release of Madu Onuorah, Editor-in-Chief of the Globalupfront Online Newspaper.

In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Osaretin Osadebamwen, and Ochiaka Ugwu, respectively, the council expressed worries over the spate of harassment of journalists in the guise of making arrests by the police.

While we are not averse to the right of citizens to seek redress over legitimate infringement on their rights, we believe that constitutional means should be strictly adhered to in doing this.

A condemnable case in point is the commando-like raiding of the home of Onuorah.

The manner of arrest leaves much to be desired from a legitimate force of the state; the Nigeria Police, which should have been civil, instead, intimidated and forcefully whisked away Onuorah in a manner akin to kidnapping.

READ ALSO:NUJ seeks immediate release of Channels TV reporter

We condemn this total abuse of power laced with intimidation and demand his immediate release, the council stressed.

The council insisted that, in a situation where a citizen or organisation is believed to have a case to answer, the constitutional path should be activated and followed.

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The NUJ will continue to hold the government and its institutions accountable for the people.

(NAN)

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Former President Goodluck Jonathan left Abuja on Thursday for Johannesburg, where he will be leading the election observer mission of the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) to observe South Africas national and provincial polls scheduled to hold on 29 May.

A statement issued by Ikechukwu Eze, the former presidents spokesperson quoted Mr Jonathan as saying that he was pleased to be returning to South Africa to see how the country has progressed democratically since the last election, having led a similar mission to the country in 2019.

The statement noted that it would be the fourth time the former president would be leading the EISA election observer mission having previously led similar missions to Sierra Leone, South Africa and Kenya.

The mission comprises short-term observers (STOs) drawn from civil society organisations and election management bodies from across the continent.

South Africas scheduled 29 May general elections in which 27 million registered voters are expected to participate will be the seventh since the end of the apartheid system in 1994.

Seventy political parties are participating in the elections with the major ones being the ruling African National Congress (ANC), the opposition Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters Party.

EISA is a leading non-profit pan-African organisation specialising in the field of democracy, elections and good governance.

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In advancing its mission of promoting credible elections, citizen participation, and the strengthening of political institutions for sustainable democracy in Africa, EISA deploys international observer missions to electoral processes on the continent.

Ikechukwu Eze

S.A. to H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed Bureau De Change (BDC) operators to re-apply for new licenses

This was revealed on Wednesday in a revised guideline for BDC operations, signed by Haruna Mustafa, director of the Financial Policy and Regulation Department at the bank.

The regulator also directed that BDCs meet the minimum capital requirements for the license category applied for within six months from the effective date of the guidelines.

All existing BDCs shall: Re-apply for a new license according to any of the Tiers or license category of their choice as provided in the Guidelines, it said.

The new regulatory requirements mandate that Tier-1 BDCs have a minimum capital base of N2 billion, while Tier-2 BDCs must have a minimum of N500 million.

Additionally, the application fee for a Tier-1 license is set at N1 million and N250 thousand for a Tier-2 license. Licensing fees are N5 million for Tier-1 and N2 million for Tier-2 BDCs.

The bank has also instructed BDCs to comply with these requirements within the next six months.

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The new guidelines permit Tier-1 BDCs to operate across all 36 states and the FCT and to open franchises nationwide with CBN approval.

The updated regulations also prohibit BDCs from engaging in futures, options, and derivative trading, performing outward international transfers, receiving international inward transfers, and dealing in crypto assets or with entities that handle crypto assets, among other restrictions.

The new guidelines incorporate changes following the banks release of the Draft Revised Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for Bureau De Change Operations in Nigeria in February.

The new guidelines eliminate the mandatory caution deposits of N200 million for Tier-1 and N50 million for Tier-2 license holders. Also, the CBN has removed the non-refundable annual license renewal fees of N5 million for Tier-1 and N1 million for Tier-2 BDCs.

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The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Simeon Amadi, has said that it is disheartening that firms operating in the state, lawyers, and litigants were not making use of the Rivers Multi-Door Courthouse as an avenue for alternative dispute resolution.

They are interested in litigation, and that is why our courts are congested, Mr Amadi said on Wednesday when he presented a goodwill message at the two-day Rivers Economic and Investment Summit held in Port Harcourt.

The concept of a Multi-Door Courthouse is designed to eliminate the complexities, length of time, and the high cost of litigation in the normal court. Several states in Nigeria have adopted it to encourage alternative dispute resolution.

The summit, organised by the Rivers State Government, is to explore ways and means of reviving the economy of the oil-rich Rivers State.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and the Speaker of Rivers House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, were among the audience when Justice Amadi was addressing the summit.

The chief judge also spoke on the availability of the Small Claims Court in Rivers, which is for commercial disputes involving financial claims that are below N5 million. Litigants can represent themselves in this court and judgment must be delivered within 60 days.

Mr Amadi said an efficient judicial system provides a framework for stability and economic development.

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He said one of the indicators that potential investors look out for is the mechanism and the speed with which commercial disputes are resolved.

He assured Governor Fubara and the audience that there are adequate provisions for quick resolution of disputes, including commercial disputes, brought before the judiciary in Rivers State.

Innovation such as e-filing of cases are in operation in the Rivers State judiciary, Justice Amadi said.

The Rivers State judiciary is in support of Governor Fubaras effort in driving sustainable economic growth and development in the state.

I assure you of protecting investments and advancing economic development of the state via quick resolution of commercial disputes, Justice Amadi said, adding that he was pleased to take part in the summit.

Fubaras remark

Governor Fubara, while declaring the summit open, said it was sad that Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital, once revered as an established commercial centre in Nigeria, has lost its shine.

He enumerated the steps his administration has taken to revive the states economy.

Mr Fubara told the audience at the summit that his administration, two weeks ago, launched a N4 billion matching fund loan scheme with the Bank of Industry for small, micro, and medium-scale businesses to drive financial inclusion and enhance growth and development.

The loan scheme, he said, would grow Rivers economy, and create jobs and wealth for the people.

The governor said his administration, which will be one year old on 29 May, has approved the establishment of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency to provide one-stop-shop investment services and facilitation to investors in the State.

In the first year of our administration, we received an appreciable number of expressions of interest from local and foreign investors to invest in diverse sectors of our economy, including agriculture, real estate, power generation, and manufacturing.

We have signed a development agreement with TAF Nigeria Limited for the construction of 20,000 mixed houses in the Greater Port Harcourt City. We signed another agreement with Gosh Nigeria Limited for the construction of an international spare parts market. The state government provided hundreds of land as its equity and work has since started at both sites.

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The Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Globalupfront Newspaper (Online), Madu Onuorah, has been abducted by the police from his house in the Lugbe area of Abuja.

The management of the online news platform, in a statement on Thursday, said Mr Onuorah was whisked away at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the presence of his wife and children.

He was taken away by stern looking operatives, according to the management of the news platform.

It further said Mr Onuorah was neither shown an arrest warrant nor told the reason behind his arrest upon request from the family. He was also denied contact with his lawyer.

About ten fully-armed policemen stormed his residence in Lugbe, Abuja, in two Sienna buses.

He was arrested in the presence of his wife and children who fruitlessly demanded from the police why they were arresting the head of the family.

The police have seized Mr. Onuorahs phones, thereby completely cutting him off from communication with people, including his family members.

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He was not even allowed to contact his lawyer or any of his relations before he was whisked away to the Lugbe police station by the stern looking operatives,  the statement said.

When contacted, the Spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, lsaid it was not the command that arrested Mr Onuorah but that of Ebonyi State.

Yes, but FCT did not arrest him, it was Ebonyi State Police Command, So contact FPRO, Ms Adeh told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Onuorahs arrest comes few months after a former General Editor of First Mail, Segun Olatunji, was similarly abducted from his Lagos home by the military. He was released after about three weeks.

PREMIUM TIMES also reported how an FIJ journalist was picked up by the police and held incommunicado for some days.

He was eventually released on May, after a protest organised by a coalition of Nigerian Civil Society organisations (CSOs) and journalists in Abuja.

Read the full statement by Globalupfront Newspaper.

Police abduct another Editor in Abuja

*Picked in the presence of his wife, children

*Showed no Warrant for his arrest, nor disclose his offence

Nigerian Journalism once again came under attack on Wednesday, 22/5/2024 as the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Globalupfront Newspaper (Online), Mr. Madu Onuorah was whisked away by men of the Nigerian Police Force at anout 6pm.

About ten fully-armed policemen stormed his residence in Lugbe, Abuja, in two Sienna buses.

He was arrested in the presence of his wife and children who fruitlessly demanded from the police why they were arresting the head of the family.

The police have seized Mr. Onuorahs phones, thereby completely cutting him off from communication with people, including his family members.

He was not even allowed to contact his lawyer or any of his relations before he was whisked away to the Lugbe police station by the stern looking operatives.

To make sure Mr. Onuorah did not get attention or bail, the policemen who arrested him, though not of the Lugbe Police Station, simply dumped him at the Station and left no traces for friends and family members to reach them.

The Management of Global-upfront Newspapers states as follows:

1. That the Police should release Mr. Madu Onuorah immediately and unconditionally.

2. That Mr. Onuorah is an experienced Journalist, former Abuja Bureau Chief of The Guardian Newspaper, former Managing-Director of The AUTHORITY Newspaper, who operates within the ambit of the law.

3. That anybody who has any issue against Mr. Onuorah should approach the law court and not turn the Nigerian Police into a Gestapo outfit that bullies a man in the presence of his wife and children.

4. That any second Mr. Onuorah spends in police custody constitutes a serious infringement against his fundamental rights and a continuation of the assault on freedom of expression that has become frequent occurrence in Nigeria recently.

Signed:

Management, Globalupfront Newspapers (Online)

23/5/2024.

CC:

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),

Media Houses.

Guild of Editors.

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The House of Representatives has urged the government to reopen the popular Banex Plaza in Abuja, shut down by the Nigerian Army after a mob action against some soldiers.

The resolution was a sequel to a motion moved by Whingan Olusesan (APC, Lagos) on Thursday during plenary.

The plaza was closed by the army on Tuesday.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how a mob, believed to be traders at the plaza, on Saturday, assaulted two soldiers allegedly over the sale of a mobile phone.

A viral video on social media showed the assault as the soldiers in uniform tried to flee from their attackers.

In an apparent retaliation, a group of soldiers invaded the plaza where they also assaulted some civilians.

The army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, had told PREMIUM TIMES that the assault on the soldiers would be investigated.

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This newspaper also reported on Sunday that soldiers blocked the entrance to the plaza, essentially preventing any business from going on in the shops in the plaza.

Mr Olusesan, in the motion, prayed to the House to ask the government to reopen the plaza.

The over-reliance on traditional, heavy-handed methods in civil matters causes unnecessary disruption, he said.

The inappropriate use of military personnel in civil matters is detracting from their primary role of national defence.

The motion was adopted by the House when it was put to vote by the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu.

The House also mandated the Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Defence, and Police Affairs to investigate the circumstances leading to the closure of Banex plaza and the militarys involvement and also to recommend more effective, less disruptive methods for handling similar situations in the future.

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Kingmakers in Kano Emirate have arrived at the Government House in preparation for the selection of a new emir.

The State House of Assembly earlier on Thursday repealed the State Emirates Council Law 2019 that established four additional emirates in the state under the administration of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

Kingmakers seen at the Government House immediately after the law was repealed are the Madakin Kano, District head of Dawakintofa, Yusuf Nabahani; Makaman Kano, District head of Wudil, Abdullahi Sarki-Ibrahim; and Sarkin Dawaki Mai Tuta, amongst others.

The majority leader of the state House of Assembly, Lawal Husseini, who moved the bill for dissolution of the emirates, told reporters after the bill was passed that there is no single emir in Kano State at the moment.

He said they were waiting for the governor to assent to the law and select a new emir.

This bill in its entirety has abrogated the establishment of 5 new Emirates in the state and reverted to the former status of a single emir in Kano, which we inherited since the Jihad of Shehu Usman Dan Fodio. Thats what the Bill is now all about, and there was a plan to create an additional second-class Emir after this, the lawmaker said.

This means that the remaining five emirs are no longer in existence. There is no Emir now in Kano. It is now the decision of the governor to appoint a new emir. The Bill has empowered the governor to invite the kingmakers to nominate a new king. So we are now waiting for the governor to ascent to the Bill if he wishes and invite the kingmakers to give him a new king, he added

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The governor, who was not in a seat at this moment, is expected to be back to either assent to the law or otherwise.

But, various media platforms have reported that former Emir Lamido Sanusi was being reinstated.

Mr Sanusj was removed under the now-repealed law in 2019, and his domain split into five emirates.

The former emir left a public event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he was a guest of Governor Simi Fubara, under speculations that he had been summoned back to Kano and would be reinstalled on Friday.

Governor Fubara, in a statement after his departure, congratulated Mr Sanusi on his reinstatement, although that was yet to be formalised.

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President Bola Tinubu has ordered a review of the list of the chairpersons and members of the governing councils of Nigerias tertiary institutions as recently released by the Federal Ministry of Education (FME).

The directive, which was contained in a statement issued by Mr Tinubus Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, followed the controversy that trailed the composition of the list.

The statement reads in part: President Bola Tinubu has directed a total and comprehensive review of the recently announced governing boards of tertiary institutions in Nigeria before the inauguration and retreat being planned for the nominees.

The Federal Ministry of Education recently released names of nominees for chairmen, Pro-Chancellors, and members of the boards and councils of universities, Polytechnics, and colleges of education. It also announced that the inauguration and retreat for the nominees will take place on 31 May.

Criticisms

Since its release about a week ago, many Nigerians have accused the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, of appointing more persons of Adamawa State origin into the various councils of the different tertiary institutions while other states, such as Niger, have just a few names on the list.

The action, which is said to be against the Federal Character Law governing appointment into public offices in Nigeria, has been condemned by many persons, including the former Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigative Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Okoi Obono-Obla.

An unconfirmed list currently being circulated on social media, including on WhatsApp, noted that 32 persons of Adamawa State origin are appointed into the various councils of the tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, while only about four persons of Niger State origin were appointed.

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A lecturer of one of the first-generation universities who does not want to be quoted also complained about the appointment of 83-year-old former Governor of Ebonyi State, Martin Elechi, saying the appointee had been serving in public office as far back as in the 70s.

Why is the government so clueless like this? How can we turn everything to political patronage? Education, for that matter? This man called, Martin Elechi was once the education commissioner in the old East Central State many years ago. That is quite unfortunate, the source said.

Meanwhile, Mr Onanugas statement is reproduced below:

STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT

PRESIDENT TINUBU DIRECTS COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF GOVERNING BOARDS OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

President Bola Tinubu has directed a total and comprehensive review of the recently announced governing boards of tertiary institutions in Nigeria before the inauguration and retreat being planned for the nominees.

The Federal Ministry of Education recently released names of nominees for chairpersons, Pro-Chancellors, and members of the boards and councils of universities, Polytechnics, and colleges of education. It also announced that the inauguration and retreat for the nominees will take place on 31 May.

However, public reactions showed that the nominations did not reflect the federal character of the country as some states got just one nomination, while some others got many.

In directing a complete review of the list of members, President Tinubu acknowledges the feedback across the country.

President Tinubu is committed to ensuring strict compliance with the principle of federal character as entrenched in the constitution.

The review will also take into consideration national spread and ensure every part of the country is adequately represented.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy

23 May, 2024

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, arraigned a former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and his brother, Ahmad Sirika, on fresh charges of fraudulent awards of contracts worth billions of naira.

This is coming less than two weeks after the anti-corruption agency arraigned the former minister alongside his daughter, Fatima, and her husband, on charges of abuse of office in awarding some contracts.

In the fresh charges before a judge of the Federal Capital Territory High in Abuja, Suleiman Belgore, Mr Sirika, who served under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, was accused of abusing his office through the award of contracts to a company in which his brother, Ahmad Abubakar, had an interest in.

Mr Sirika, his brother and the latters company, Enginos Nigeria Limited, face an amended 10 charges worth N14 billion.

When the charges were read to the defendants on Thursday, they pleaded not guilty to the alleged offences.

Referencing some sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the defendants lawyers, Micheal Noma and Mahmud Magaji, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), appealed to the judge to admit their clients to bail.

EFCC lawyer, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, did not object to the bail requests.

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Mr Atolagbe said the anti-graft agency earlier admitted the defendants to administrative bail.

He, however, urged the court to impose bail conditions that would guarantee the defendants presence in court during their trial.

Ruling

In his ruling, Mr Belgore granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100 million each.

Giving other conditions for bail, the judge said sureties to the defendants must own landed properties worth N100 million in Abuja, Nigerias capital.

He added that Mr Sirika and his brother are barred from overseas travels without the courts permission.

Citing the sister criminal suit against Mr Sirika before Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court, Mr Belgore said, I see no reason to depart from the conditions granted by my learned brother.

The judge noted that The prosecution filed no counter affidavit.

He (Mr Sirika) is already on administrative bail. He met all the bail applications. He continues to abide by the bail conditions. He has never been convicted of any criminal offence in Nigeria. He is a recipient of national honours. He has an aged mother he is catering for and Investigation in the case has been completed.

It is my resolution that this applicant deserves to be admitted to bail and I so do, the judge said.

The judge adjourned the suit until 28 May for the commencement of trial.

Background

Like in the previous case, the defendants stand accused of abuse of office concerning the award of contracts. Also joined with them as a co-defendant is Mr Abubakars firm, Enginos Nigeria Limited, which was allegedly awarded the contracts.

The funds were said to have been earmarked for several aviation ministry contracts from Mr Sirika to Enginos Nigeria Limited owned by Ahmad.

The charges said Mr Sirika, used his position as a minister to confer undue advantage on his brother, the firm and other entities between April 2022 and March 2023 in Abuja.

Ahmad is said to be Enginos Nigeria Limiteds CEO.

He is also said to be the sole signatory to the firms two accounts, domiciled in Zenith and Union banks.

The EFCC accused Mr Sirika of influencing the award of a contract for the construction of a Terminal Building at Katsina Airport to the tune of N1,345,586,500.00 to Enginos Nigeria Limited, whose alter ego is Ahmad Sirika, his blood brother.

In addition, the former minister was accused of awarding a contract for the establishment of the Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport for the sum of N3,811,497,685.00 to his brother and the company.

The prosecution said the alleged offences are in breach of various sections of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

In one of the counts, the EFCC accused Mr Sirika of using his position as minister to confer unfair advantage upon Enginos Nigeria Limited, a company owned by Ahmad Abubakar, Mr Sirikas biological brother. The contract, involving N1.3 billion (N1,345,586,500), was awarded for the construction of a terminal building at Katsina Airport, in breach of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

The prosecution, in another count, alleged that Mr Sirika, in November 2022, used his position to influence the award of another contract to Enginos Nigeria Limited for the establishment of a fire truck maintenance and refurbishment centre at Katsina Airport to the tune of N3.8 billion (N3,811,497,685) in violation of the ICPC Act.

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The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, has reinstated the dethroned Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi.

Mr Sanusi is now officially the 14th and 16th emir of the ancient northern Nigerian city, having served in two different dispensations.

The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, 62, was installed in 2014 by then Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is the political godfather of current Governor Yusuf.

He succeeded Ado Bayero, the father of the man who was appointed following his own removal, and who has now become his own predecessor.

The governor made the announcement of Mr Sanusis reappointment on Thursday at the Kano Government House, after a ceremonial signing event attended by top government officials and reporters.

Before the public signing of the law, PREMIUM TIMES reported how the governor signed the law passed by the state House of Assembly only hours earlier, in a closed event witnessed by the speaker, Jibrin Falgore, and some of the state kingmakers.

The new law dissolved all the five emirates and removed all the first class emirs of Gaya, Bichi, Rano, Kano and Karaye.

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The reinstated emir, Mr Sanusi, is expected to arrive in the state on Friday, where he is expected to lead the congregational jummat prayer at the Central Mosque.

Mr Sanusi was dethroned on 9 March, 2020 by then Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who accused him of insubordination and political interference.

He was replaced by Aminu Ado-Bayero, who held the throne until this moment. Mr Ado-Bayero was reportedly out of Kano at the time of this development.

The governor, while announcing Mr Sanusis reappointment, gave the five former emirs 48 hours to hand over and vacate their palaces.

He asked them to hand over all government properties to the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

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My suggestions on the re-framing of international relations are along the lines of what I might call peaceful multilateralism. Simply put, peaceful multilateralism refers to the ability and willingness of sovereign nations to work together to solve the toughest challenges facing humanity, such as global hunger, pandemics, nuclear non-proliferation, global child trafficking and war.

The world is in turmoil, and there is a stark absence of strategic and moral leadership on the global stage. Indeed, there are three types of wars going on simultaneously in the world today.

The first is the proxy war between Russia and the countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), with Ukraine as the battlefield.

The second is the trade war between the United States of America and China  with punitive tariffs, unilateral trade restrictions, covert operations in the Taiwan Straits, and protectionist manoeuvres used as the tools of war.

The third, of course, is the hot war in the Middle East between Israel, Palestine, Iran, and other regional actors.

In Africa, beneath the gloss of liberal democracy, we have seen the resurgence of totalitarian regimes and tribal demagogues, riding to political power on the coat tails of identity politics and electoral fraud.

In Sudan, to take one example, the tussle for illicit power between the countrys military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has displaced millions of people.

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The question asked around the world is: for how long will the United Nations  the global body formed to foster diplomacy between nations and prevent war  watch in helpless horror as cluster bombs and other deadly munitions rain down on innocent men, women and children in these theatres of war?

The paralysis of the United Nations Security Council in the face of the ongoing global carnage is proof that we must rethink the existing structures of global governance.

Everywhere in the world  in university classrooms, foreign policy think-tank sessions, media editorials and podcasts, even on the floor of the UN General Assembly  there are animated conversations about the need for a new paradigm in international relations, and what the features of the new epoch might be.

in reforming the decision-making mechanism of the UN, it may be critical to roll back the veto powers of the Security Council and vest the final decision-making authority on the United Nations General Assembly. The General Assembly should be the bastion of peaceful multilateralism and the centre of decision-making on global affairs.

The ongoing protests in college campuses in the United States against the carnage in the Gaza Strip, in Palestine, are part of a growing argument for a new global order.

I joined this debate at Harvard Kennedy School in the fall of 2022, during our Senior Executive Fellows dinner sessions on the state of global governance in the 21st Century. The conversations were led by Secretary Ash Carter, former defence secretary of the United States, and Joseph Nye, a distinguished service professor at Harvard Kennedy School. Joseph Nye is often rated as the most influential scholar on American foreign policy.

My suggestions on the re-framing of international relations are along the lines of what I might call peaceful multilateralism.

Simply put, peaceful multilateralism refers to the ability and willingness of sovereign nations to work together to solve the toughest challenges facing humanity, such as global hunger, pandemics, nuclear non-proliferation, global child trafficking and war.

Rather than the vicious zero-sum rivalry between nations, peaceful multilateralism challenges countries of the world to collaborate and work towards extending the frontiers of peace, security, and the creation of a more just world.

The notion of collaboration or cooperation between nations of the world is hardly new. After the first and second world wars, nations came together to form the United Nations Organization in 1945.

Article 1 of the Charter of the United Nations upholds the need for collaboration between nations. The Article states that one of the founding principles of the United Nations was To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion

However, 79 years after its founding, the United Nations appears to be at a crossroads, with nuclear-armed countries locked in a proxy war in the heart of Europe.

Below are three ways to achieve peaceful multilateralism through structural reform of the United Nations and respect for international law by all nations of the world.

Relations between nations may be fraught with disagreements or clashes of interests, but a resort to war or unilateral actions may degrade relations further and create a climate of lawlessness and impunity on the global scene. Peaceful multilateralism can only thrive when nations engage in dialogue, diplomacy, and respect the adjudicatory supremacy of international law.

1. Democratise Decision Making at the United Nations

For decades, questions have been raised about the tyranny of the United Nations Security Council, in which five permanent members  the United States, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, and China  wield veto powers that override the views of the remaining 185 member states of the global body.

This arrangement is not only seen to be undemocratic, but it is believed to be a major impediment to multilateral consensus building for global problem solving by the United Nations.

The latest iteration of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ongoing proxy war in Ukraine have shown how the conflicting interests of veto-wielding security council members in regional wars could paralyse the Security Council and impede the conflict resolution efforts by the members of the United Nations General Assembly.

Therefore, in reforming the decision-making mechanism of the UN, it may be critical to roll back the veto powers of the Security Council and vest the final decision-making authority on the United Nations General Assembly. The General Assembly should be the bastion of peaceful multilateralism and the centre of decision-making on global affairs.

2. Respect for International Law

Relations between nations may be fraught with disagreements or clashes of interests, but a resort to war or unilateral actions may degrade relations further and create a climate of lawlessness and impunity on the global scene. Peaceful multilateralism can only thrive when nations engage in dialogue, diplomacy, and respect the adjudicatory supremacy of international law.

3. Commitment to Diplomacy

Finally, in an era dominated by the rhetoric of war and a show of force in international relations, it may seem naive to restate the importance of diplomacy in resolving conflicts between nations.

But it is the ability to disagree, engage, re-engage, and resolve conflicts diplomatically that sets us apart as humans. A world where might is right, and diplomacy is seen as a flag of surrender, would be a chaotic, barbarous, and an incredibly unhappy place to live in  for everyone.

Nations that prioritise diplomacy in their relations with other nations are more likely to collaborate to solve the most pressing problems that confront humanity.

Austin Tam-George is a former senior executive fellow at Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the executive director of the Institute of Communication and Corporate Studies, Lagos. Email: attamgeorge@gmail.com

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Mummy, my nights are punctuated by thoughts of you. I know you were fulfilled, and you said so. I dont know what I feel but I was most unprepared for your death. I long to see you talk to me in my dreams. I want to experience arinnako, the chance encounter. I have questions. I know you are at peace. I know you made this world better. As you look down, count the number of clergy in this church, all for you, Modupe. Read the tributes and smile.

Is an eulogy of any value to the dead? I dont know! I do know writing about my mother, her character, and life, might help someone gain insight into how to lead an exemplary life, defined by love, tolerance, understanding, respect, compassion, kindness, determination, and sacrifice. Writing about her, what she meant to me, to us, what she stood and lived for, and the odds she surmounted while alive, is the stuff of an award winning play. I have not had the emotional and mental strength to write since she passed onto glory. But I had to, now that she would be committed to mother earth this week. How do I begin her story? The tears wont just let me. I cant even see my screen, but write I must. I was completely blindsided by her death. Yet again, her sudden but graceful passage announced my folly to me, as an insignificant mortal. As a dye in the wool rational thinker, who believed so much in order, and logical expectations, I thought Dad would pass before her, because longevity runs in her family. Even as she sang the hymn; Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? and The strife is oer, the battle done; I was still blindsided and in denial. I saw her pulse quicken, signalling cataclysmic heart failure, but I believed in the power of modern medicine to restore her.

Through this tribute, I want the world to read about a woman who braved all odds to achieve greatness for herself, and her children; to become an exemplar of love, sacrifice, tolerance, understanding and compassion. A woman whose name means I am Thankful and was always thankful in words and deeds. After Modern School, her dream was to become a nurse. She wanted to attend Ile Abiye in Ado-Ekiti. Her father refused. My dad, a young teacher, fresh from Wesley College, Ibadan, met her, on one of her visits to Igan-Okoto. He promised to support her education if she married him. She did! I was a seven-year-old when she started telling me her story. She NEVER for once failed to remind me that she left Egbado because of me. I heard, nitori tire ni mo se wa si Akoko a gazillion times, especially when I did not measure up to her expectations. That was why I did everything in my power never to let her down while she was alive, and never would I, now that she is dead. In those days, it was rare to marry outside ones enclave. It is hard to imagine that people do not often get married far away from their town even now, given the way life has changed in the last fifty years. In short order, she left all she knew and followed my father to Akoko, to live with her husbands folks and go to school to become a teacher.

Mum was very refined in manners and ways, given a long tradition of education and exposure in her family. In fulfilment of her dreams, she left my brother, Oluseun, who was barely two years old, and I, a five-year-old, to attend African Church Teacher Training College, Epinmi-Akoko for two years (1971-1973). Those years, even though tough on her and dad, were a gift to me. I romped about with my cousins, climbed trees, learnt to hike mountains, and hunt games. Most importantly, I learnt Epinmi language, and got immersed in our culture and traditions. My ability to traverse both ends of the socioeconomic spectrum with uncommon ease can be traced to these beginnings. Even though she did not have the ears for language, she assimilated into Epinmi. My mother, Modupe, accompanied her father in-law to the farm. As an accomplished and revered hunter, Baba Peteru Otitolode hunted big game with three-day old male urine poured on his six-pronged traps (pakute olofa). I saw her carry the gourds bearing those ammonia laden urine many times. She hewed trees and farmed with him. Those were the earliest acts of humility she exhibited that defined my own perception till date.

Mums life as a teacher took off after she obtained the Grade II teachers certificate. It coincided with the Udoji awards. With her support, and modest earnings, dad built his father a house he had always wanted. We moved to Arigidi and started life together. Through her indigenous knowledge of herbs and nutrition, I saw her change outcomes for many infants who would not have survived their first five years. She taught many young mothers like her, how to treat a child with measles, convulsions and those little things that cause mortality in infants.

I take great pride that my mother led me by example on how to confront adversity. Those lessons came handy through thirteen years of infertility. She rose like a Phoenix from the ashes of those locust years to carve a niche for herself. With determination, perseverance, forbearance and cooperation from my dad, her ambition to have more than a basic education was fulfilled. Childbearing did not prevent her from reaching for the skies.

As we, her children, grew, my father held the academic gun, while she held the domestic bat. She wanted all of us, regardless of gender, to be able to cook, clean and have a happy home in adulthood. In early childhood, while dad held us to the highest academic pursuits through Lacombes and Kola Onadipe, she made sure we all could cook. She instilled in us the virtues of politeness, enterprise, contentment, honesty, hard work, integrity, respect, and decorum. Because she was a true Omoluwabi, she not only had these attributes and more, she did not fail to pass it on to us. She was diligent, dutiful, and equitable. Even though many people lived with us, not for once did she play favourites. Throughout her lifetime and even now that she has joined the cosmos, I marvel at her enterprise. There was never a day throughout her lifetime that she was not selling something. Because of her industry, we got more than what a teachers salary could fetch. Who would believe we grew our own yam, cassava, melon, okra, pepper etc., and made our own gari, palm oil, cassava flour and yam flour? When dad was at the University of Ife on study leave without pay, she was the sole provider for us, and she never made a show of it. Dad always handed us the money she gave. As the eldest, I knew, even if she never told me. Mum was such an exemplar of virtue. Im glad I told her many times that I have never had any heated argument with my husband because I did not see her do so for almost 58 years!

As a child, mum suffered deprivation, neglect, and derision. Her sin was being female. Two weeks ago, I read the letters her father wrote to her in 1975 and in 1977, to explain all the intrigues, conspiracy and feuds leading to the beliefs she held. Her faith, his contrition, and the support of Dad, healed her from the trauma of childhood hurt. She forgave him, took care of him till his dying day and made sure his burial was great.

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I take great pride that my mother led me by example on how to confront adversity. Those lessons came handy through thirteen years of infertility. She rose like a Phoenix from the ashes of those locust years to carve a niche for herself. With determination, perseverance, forbearance and cooperation from my dad, her ambition to have more than a basic education was fulfilled. Childbearing did not prevent her from reaching for the skies. After four children, she took the leap again. This time to Abeokuta. When she left Seun, Ope, Gbenga and I, in 1979, to study in Abeokuta, I became the mother to my siblings for three long years. Those years were very tough on me as a teenager, because my teenage was sacrificed for the family, but it built my bonafides as a natural leader. Her biggest gift to me, from her Abeokuta undertaking, was the book Everywoman: A Gynaecological Guide for Life by Derek Llewellyn-Jones. It has remained a gift that keeps giving. Then, reading it took a religious meaning for me, as it made me understand the biology of being female. Most importantly, it guided my young years, when the hormones were raging. Thank you mum.

I still wonder how she graduated top of her class after five children, in Health Education at the University of Benin. It was at the University that she got exposed to the works of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, the great Swiss American psychiatrist, who pioneered seminal studies on death and dying. Apart from her enviable spirituality and religious disposition, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross influenced her view of death. She never, for a second, feared death. She was ready; so ready that she predicted her manner of death with distinctive accuracy. She was ready enough to pick her burial site. In the face death, the moment she knew her time was up, she embraced death without fear or agitation.

I want the world to know she loved quietly, cared openly, and prayed secretly. That she was a natural peacemaker and uniter who entertained no discord. Sarian Modupe was the adhesive for the Akinleyes. The uniter who had a way to manage relationships and bring everyone together. She loved her children, her family, God, the Church, and she served humanity. She gave and gave and gave. While going through her stuff, her being, and life became more manifest to me. I wish I knew her more.

While mum was alive, I felt nothing could touch me because she was my prayer warrior and intercessor. She interceded for anyone who needed intercession. Many of my friends who had one problem or the other had their names written on a paper strip, tucked in her Bible like a bookmark. She prayed for them and sought solutions to their issues. How could I forget that she went to Jerusalem to remove the reproach of barrenness from me? My unflinching mother! Nothing ever fazed her. She was our ROCK! Our go to person and solutions architect. While dad rarely exceed 56 seconds in his calls, she stayed on calls for as long as we wished. She was the one to give us the meat of any story and the one to explain the meat, bone, and tendon to dad. She loved us and watched over us. Oh Mother! Im sad, and I have no closure! I have read so many exoteric stuff about death since her transition. I feel lost and confused like a day-old chick which lost its mother. I have no one to talk to on end in the evenings anymore! No one to listen to the stories of my failures and little victories every night. Im wracked by melancholy and enveloped by grief. Something in me left with her as she let out that tiny breath at 1:15 p.m. on 11th February.

Im sure she pitied dad more than I did, when she knew her time had come. He it was she kept addressing. Daddy, O ti to Jesu lo fun iwenumo Daddy, e ke alleluya meje She saw how he held on desperately to her for those 18 hours. It was the MOST LOVING, yet pathetic and heartbreaking sight in my memory. I saw unconditional love from both of them, as she lay dying. It all flashed through my consciousness. Throughout her marriage, not for once did she go against our dad  a perfect complement. She never left him alone for more than four days, except when she went out of country on evangelical mission. Her usual retort was: Who will cook for daddy? She was a devoted, faithful, and dedicated wife and mother. Dear Lord! How she cared for dad till the end and how dad cared for her, wiping sweat from her face, holding her hands, and begging her not to leave him. I saw her nod in the negative when he said: Dupe, nipa ife Olugbala ki yoo si nkan.

I want the world to know she loved quietly, cared openly, and prayed secretly. That she was a natural peacemaker and uniter who entertained no discord. Sarian Modupe was the adhesive for the Akinleyes. The uniter who had a way to manage relationships and bring everyone together. She loved her children, her family, God, the Church, and she served humanity. She gave and gave and gave. While going through her stuff, her being, and life became more manifest to me. I wish I knew her more.

Mummy, my nights are punctuated by thoughts of you. I know you were fulfilled, and you said so. I dont know what I feel but I was most unprepared for your death. I long to see you talk to me in my dreams. I want to experience arinnako, the chance encounter. I have questions. I know you are at peace. I know you made this world better. As you look down, count the number of clergy in this church, all for you, Modupe. Read the tributes and smile. When I challenge you to be grateful and thankful, given all what God has done for you, you often said: Modupe a si maa dupe! Sleep on Sarian Modupe. Sun re o iya mi rere, iya mi tooto, iya mi owon. Omo owoyele Ogun yede. Otosi o ye omo eniyan!

Yeye-Oba Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, an advocate, strategist and political analyst, was until recently the commissioner for Information in Ondo State. Twitter: @BamideleUpfront; Facebook: facebook.com/Bamidele. BAO

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The MOMENTUM Routine Immunisation Transformation and Equity project (M-RITE), in partnership with the Jigawa State Ministry of Health, has concluded a comprehensive training programme for local government healthcare workers focused on budget preparation for routine immunisation.

The initiative is designed to improve the change agents skills in developing evidence-based budgeting that would facilitate the mobilisation of resources at the local government level to support routine immunisation service delivery and help address critical barriers to effective uptake of routine immunisation.

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), MOMENTUM is managed by JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc., along with several implementing partners  R4D, led a capacity-building activity designed to enhance the prioritisation of immunisation delivery costs in both LGA and state budgets.

This effort aims to improve immunisation services and boost coverage among zero-dose and under-immunised children.

The acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Auwalu Bello, highlighted the comprehensive nature of the three-day workshop.

He said participants were given an in-depth understanding of the state budget cycle and trained on the various stages of health budgeting, including preparation, approval, execution, and evaluation.

The objective is to empower participants to advocate for the inclusion of routine immunisation in local government budgets by mastering the budget processes, Mr Bello stated.

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Jose Gonzalez, Senior Programme Officer from R4D, said that the objective of the workshop is for participants to understand the budget preparation processes and their roles within each phase of the budget cycle.

He added that this would strengthen their ability to create compelling budgets for routine immunisation and budget request memos, ultimately increasing local-level financial ownership of routine immunisation services.

Arowolo Ayoola, the consultant leading the activity in Jigawa state emphasised that the training aimed to provide practical solutions and enhance the skills of healthcare workers, thus improving the uptake of routine immunisation in Jigawa.

Usman Ahmed, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning Research and Statistics at the Ministry of Health also tutored participants on healthcare financing and the necessity of domestic resource mobilisation for routine immunisation to address child mortality.

Participants at the training, including PHC managers, Directors of Administrative and General Services (DAGS), Local Government Immunisation Officers (LIO), and Routine Immunisation Officers (RIOs), discussed the barriers to mobilising domestic funding for routine immunisation at the local government level.

They proposed solutions and action points to increase the prioritisation of routine immunisation activities in local government areas through proper and timely budget preparation.

One of the participants, Gambu Guri, expressed delight that the training significantly enhanced his knowledge and skills in preparing timely budgets for routine immunisation at the local government level. Hauwa Babayero, another participant, pledged to apply her newly acquired knowledge in budget processes to improve domestic resource mobilisation in her local government area.

The MOMENTUM project, through this training initiative, is a significant step towards ensuring that routine immunisation is prioritised and adequately funded at the local government level, thereby safeguarding the health of children in the state.

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The Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has fixed 27 May to deliver judgment on the petition filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka, against the election victory of Gov. Usman Ododo.

The three-member panel of justices, headed by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, announced the date on Thursday in Abuja in a message communicated to counsel to the parties through its secretary, David Mike, and made available to journalists.

Kogi, on 11 November 2023, held its off-cycle election in which Mr Ododo of the All Progressive Congress (APC) emerged winner beating his closest rival, Mr Ajaka, of the SDP by a wide margin.

Mr Ajaka, dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, filed a petition before the tribunal, challenging Mr Ododos victory.

The case, which commenced in December 2023, came to its highest point on 13 May when the SDP, Mr Ajaka, APC, Mr Ododo and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) adopted their final written addresses, after which the tribunal reserved judgement in the petition.

NAN reports that INEC, Mr Ododo and his party, APC, had prayed the tribunal to dismiss Mr Ajaka and SDPs petition in its entirety for being incompetent and lacking in merit.

INEC, Mr Ododo and the APC through their lawyers; Kanu Agabi, Joseph Daudu, and Emmanuel Ukala, respectively, told the tribunal so while adopting their final written addresses and presenting their arguments against the petition.

However, Mr Ajakas lawyer, Pius Akubo, urged the tribunal to discountenance the respondents submissions and uphold their petition.

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In his argument, INECs lawyer, Mr Agabi, told the panel that the petition lacked merit and was incompetent, urging the court to strike it out or dismiss it.

It is our humble submission that your work in the determination of this petition is simplified in recent judgments by Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, he said.

He argued that the Appeal Court had decided that if the grounds of a petition are inconsistent with one another and are not consistent with the reliefs, it should be struck out.

He also argued that the evidence of the petitioners was grossly insufficient, citing a Supreme Court decision in a case by Tonye Cole against INEC.

The senior lawyer, who described the case as frivolous, prayed the tribunal to strike out or dismiss the petition for being incompetent.

Mr Ododo, through his counsel, Mr Daudu, also urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition in its entirety.

He argued that the petition was statute-barred (filed out of time).

He also urged the tribunal to dismiss the allegations of forgery against his client, saying it bordered on a pre-election matter, which the apex court had decided in Gbagis case against INEC.

Mr Daudu also argued that Section 137 of the Electoral Act cited by the petitioners on allegations of over-voting did not apply in the instant petition.

Also backing Mr Daudus submission, Mr Ukala, who represented APC, urged the court to dismiss the petition for lacking in merit.

The petitioners lawyer, Mr Akubo, disagreed with Daudu that their petition was filed out of time.

He argued that the respondents themselves confirmed that the petition was filed on 2 December 2023, even by their witness.

I urge your lordship to hold that we filed this petition within time under our law, he said.

(NAN)

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The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has notified the general public of the outbreak of poison in trade animals which occurred at a local market in the country.

According to a statement issued Thursday by the ministrys Permanent Secretary, Temitope Fashedemi, the outbreak was detected at Mandate Cattle Market, located near the College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies at Adewole, Ilorin, Kwara State.

It said the Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that mortality in herds occurred at the aforementioned market on Saturday, 20th April.

The outcome of the investigation revealed that animals had grazed on the forage that was fumigated with organophosphate chemicals prior to the incident, the statement said.

Organophosphates are chemicals that feature in agricultural products, such as herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides. Exposure to organophosphates can be harmful, experts warn.

Poisoning can occur after short or long-term exposure and can cause nerve damage and disrupt hormone production in humans and animals. Organophosphates are also toxic to plants and insects.

According to a study published by the US National Library of Medicine, in the United States, around 8,000 people per year come in contact with organophosphates but fatalities are rare.

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Globally, about 3 million people come in contact with organophosphates annually and it is responsible for some 300,000 deaths. As a result, the US government introduced tighter rules regarding the use of organophosphates in 2013.

The incident

On Thursday, the agric ministry said clinical signs observed in the affected animals were hypersalivation, weakness, and recumbency. On noticing this, the herders decided to slaughter seven of the very weakly affected animals for public consumption.

This has public health risks, and the consequences may be very severe in the food chain, the statement said.

Mr Fashedemi said it is important to note however, that there is a Rapid Response Team (RRT) in every state in Nigeria, made up of Federal Epidemiology Officer, State Director, Veterinary Services and State Epidemiology Officer, who have been adequately trained for emergencies such as this.

In this particular instance, the RRT in Kwara State in collaboration with the State Governments task force, swiftly swung into action to trace and confiscate the meat from the slaughtered animal; these were subsequently disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner, the statement said.

According to the statement, 40 suspected poisoned animals were treated with organophosphate antidotes, and they responded with marked improvement in their health, leading to recovery.

Precautions

Following the outbreak, the ministry hinted that several safety proactive measures have been implemented.

Some of the measures taken include cleaning and disinfection of the abattoir that the carcasses were dressed in, creating public awareness about the danger of consuming the meat from affected animals and collecting blood and tissue samples for laboratory testing and analysis.

To avert future occurrences, the ministry emphasised that there is danger in consuming unwholesome meat and other food of animal origin, especially those contaminated with organophosphate.

The statement said meat for human consumption should be purchased at registered, government/private approved spots such as abattoirs, slaughter slabs and meat shops, noting that such products must have been certified wholesome fit for consumption by a registered veterinarian.

Meat from dead animals is unwholesome and should not be consumed, the statement said.

With a withdrawal period of 14 -21 days after injection, the Ministry said ingestion and/or application of drugs or chemicals preparation on animals should be strictly observed before products from such animals are certified for consumption.

According to the statement, dead animals should be properly disposed of with the aid of veterinarians and environmental health officers.

Report diseased animals or suspected to be diseased to the nearest veterinary clinics/hospital or animal health services providers, the statement said.

It said people who may have genuine reasons to apply chemicals on open farmlands or fields should notify their host communities to avoid grazing animals on such fields for at least one week.

The ministry assured the general public that it will, through its Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, continue to work with States Veterinary Service in synergy to ensure that the best veterinary and agricultural practices are observed in all ramifications.

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Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has praised President Bola Tinubu over ongoing federal road projects in the state.

The governor gave the commendation on Thursday while inspecting the 49-km Eiyenkorin-Afon-Ojoku-Offa-Odo Otin road project, per a statement by his spokesperson, Rafiu Ajakaiye.

The project is one of the four major federal roads being constructed by the BUA Group in the state under the federal governments tax credit scheme. The three others are the Lafiagi-Shonga-Bacita (83km); Bode Saadu-Kaiama-Kosubosu(130km); and Okuta-Gwanara-Bukuro (32km).

Accompanied by his top officials and BUA site engineer, Samson Adebiyi, Governor AbdulRazaq expressed immense joy on the project.

We keep hearing about the Renewed Hope Agenda and what it means. This is a summary of renewed hope. Many people, including Kwarans, are not aware that something as massive as this is ongoing already. We thank the President for this, the governor told reporters after the inspection.

This is the new Ilorin-Offa road. It is going to open up the entire economy of the area. And this is not the only road project in Kwara that the Federal government has invested in.

Two months ago, I visited Bode Saadu-Kaiama-Kosubosu road, which is also a federal government road. Then, there is the 83km Lafiagi-Shonga-Bacita road. We are truly lucky in Kwara; we are happy that these investments are being placed in the state.

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A couple of months ago, I visited the President in his office to discuss some issues, and also to congratulate him on the decision to embark on the Calabar-Lagos Coastal Highway, and the President showed me a document on his table on the Badagry-Sokoto Highway. That is foresight. I was truly excited and went straight to the section that concerns Kwara. I also saw the Kishi-Kaiama-Wawa road, which has also been approved.

The governor also inspected the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station that is under construction around Post Office, in Ilorin, saying the project should be ready soon.

He said the project underlines the efforts of the President to refocus the economy on sustainable energy and lesser dependence on petrol.

Mr AbdulRazaq said the massive infrastructural initiatives have placed Nigeria and Kwara State in a better position.

He said the president was focused on attaining a trillion-dollar economy that he said can be partly achieved through the development of basic infrastructure.

So you can see that over the next two, three, four years, the infrastructure development in Kwara will attain another level. Why am I particular about infrastructure? The President talked about a trillion-dollar economy by the time we finished this administration, the governor said.

Hopefully, insha Allaah, we are talking about the end of the second term. To achieve a trillion-dollar economy, you have to have the basic infrastructure to do that.

This is what these infrastructure projects are meant to achieve because it simply means opening up the country for investments and more production. We have to produce to export and to survive. We are talking about a manufacturing economy, not just in Kwara but across Nigeria.

If you ask me, what has the President done for us? This, among others, is an example of what we have benefited from the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We will strive to get more. But this is evidence of development.

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The Nigerian government is in an advanced stage of raising more than N35 billion required to restart the Light Mill Section (LMS) of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, said this at the Ministerial Sectoral Update on the performance of President Bola Tinubus administration in the last year, on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Audu said that presidential approval had been given to raise the amount from a local financial institution, as part of Tinubus administrations resolve to boost the economic profile of Nigeria.

The local financial institution has given us a final offer.

I have done a cover letter and forwarded the relevant documents to the Minister of Finance to be able to take the financing on behalf of the Federal Government, he said.

He said that the LSM had the capacity of producing 400,000 metric tonnes of iron rods per annum, and was critical in shoring up industrialisation in Nigeria.

According to him, he is working closely with the Minister of Works to supply the iron rods needed for road construction projects in the country from the section.

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There are so many roads being constructed in the country, about 30,000km of roads across the six geo-political zones.

We understand that the Ministry of Works needs about seven million metric tonnes of iron rods over that four-year period (first term) to construct these roads, Ajaokuta can produce 400,000 tonnes, he said.

He said that advanced discussions were held with the Minister of Defence, who is in charge of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), to revive its engineering workshop to produce military hardware to enhance security in Nigeria.

So what is required is that we have a Metallurgical Development Centre that has the ability to provide us with the lead and zinc required, to be able to provide and produce some of these military hardware, he said.

Mr Audu said that plans were ongoing to revive the Ajaokuta 110 Megawatts power plant that could supply power not only to the plant, but also to the national grid.

According to the minister, due to the paucity of funds, it is engaging in a public-private partnership where the asset will be used as the collateral vessel to provide financing.

He said talks were ongoing with three potential investors which are: Transcorp Power, NigerDelta Power Holding Company and Reticulated Global Engineering.

The minister said the mandate of the ministry was to revive both the Ajaokuta Steel Company and the National Iron Ore Mining Company, and also to revive the steel industry, adding that it had engaged experts.

According to the minister, the vision is critical to the Renewed Hope agenda of the president, whose desire is to grow the economy of Nigeria to more than one trillion dollars by the end of the first term, thereby, making the country a G20 Economy.

He said that a minimum of two million dollars was needed to revive Ajaokuta Steel, adding that the plan was to concede the company to people who had the competence to get the job done.

(NAN)

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On a sunny morning last August, Jatau Malichy, 65, left his home in Mafo-fadia, a village in Kachia Local Government Area in the southern part of Kaduna State, north-west Nigeria, to inspect his farm. After retiring as a librarian with the state government, Mr Malichy devoted himself to cultivating ginger on the five-hectare farm. But what he noticed of the crops that day left him bewildered and heartbroken. The crops were wilting.

Over a few weeks from July, a strange disease gradually devastated the crops. Mr Malichys 58-year-old widow, Bathsheba, believes the shock over the loss of his crops led to his death a few days later on 7 August.

The community had practised ginger farming for as long as Mrs Malichy could remember. She and her husband used proceeds from their farm to build their house in the village in 2019. Our plan was that after that 2023 harvest, we would not farm again. So we doubled what we normally planted, hoping for more proceeds, she told this reporter at the village in February. The family employed 50 people from neighbouring villages to work on the farm during the planting season.

But we harvested nothing. The worst part is that I lost my husband to the epidemic. He was a hardworking man and the breadwinner of this family. He left me unexpectedly to cater for our four children alone.

Mrs Malichy said three of the children are still in school.

The familys experience with their farm was shared by hundreds of farmers across the area. In 2023, an outbreak of a fungal disease led to the loss of ginger crops valued at hundreds of millions of naira in southern Kaduna. The disease affected about 2,500 hectares of farms in seven local government areas of the state.

A professor at the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Sarafi Afiniki, said a team sent by the institute to the area after the outbreak confirmed a devastating problem of crop production.

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Mrs Afiniki said from the samples of the affected crops collected, the level of infection in terms of disease incidence shows that almost all the fields were diseased while others were totally destroyed.

A Sinking Business

Nigeria is one of the top producers of ginger globally, competing with India and China with its high-quality output sought after for its pungent aroma, high oil content and oleoresin. In 2021, Nigeria exported 523,000 metric tonnes of ginger worth $12 million, about 14 per cent of global supply that year. Nigeria exports most of its produce to Europe.

In Kaduna, ginger is a major source of income for farmers and traders. It is grown mainly in the southern part of the state. But, since the outbreak of the epidemic, local producers said production has declined.

A farming season to forget

Raymond Sule has been a ginger farmer for five decades. I inherited it from my parents, just like others in many parts of Southern Kaduna, he said.

In 2023, I was expecting at least N1.3 million from my harvest because I did four hectares and hoped to harvest between 45 and 50 bags. That was more than what I used to do.

Instead, as we dug out the crop during harvest, we saw tiny sizes. The crops had been destroyed by the infestation.

Mr Sule said he could not take his mind away from the loss. It is affecting my mental health, I must confess.

In the Kachia Local Government Area, this reporter counted 10 warehouses built by Chinese businessmen and wealthy traders for ginger. But at least two of the warehouses now store charcoal. When this reporter moved across communities in the area, smoke billowing from tree-burning sites in the forest told a story: charcoal has overtaken ginger as the biggest product in the area.

Residents told PREMIUM TIMES that illegal felling of trees became a major economic activity after the fall of the booming business (of ginger) in the region.

During investigations for this report in February, PREMIUM TIMES observed that the increasing felling of trees for charcoal production could erode the areas biodiversity and aggravate the global climate crisis.

Living on the brink of debts

Leo Bakut, the head of Kamanahuang Farmers Club in Kachia, said members of the association took a loan of N800,000 from a company, Afex Fair Trade Limited, while preparing for the 2023 ginger planting season. However, the farmers could not repay the loans because of poor harvests.

Apart from the loan, I invested my pensions in it too, said the 59-year-old retired soldier. I have N506,320 balance to repay and they have called me countless times.

Another farmer, Neyu Thomas, said he obtained a loan of N700,000 from his church.

The money they gave me was public money. I was only considered for it because of my position in the church and now Ive betrayed their trust, Mr Thomas lamented.

Morin Kahuwai, a person living with disability, said she did not get even a bucket of ginger during her harvest. She narrated how she was motivated to take up ginger farming by her sister, who is one of the leading female farmers in the area. She said her sister had assets and sponsored her children for postgraduate programmes with proceeds from ginger farming. But the epidemic turned this season into a nightmare for all the farmers, she said.

Its a serious issue because, as a single parent, I rely on my farm to feed my two children.

No ginger, no food

Jaba LGA has a reputation for producing a highly spicy and tasty variety of ginger. Victoria James has a farm in the area. She had just returned from the bush to hew firewood when the reporter met her in the village of Kurmin Jatau.

People here use firewood because we cannot afford cooking gas. The ginger we all rely on is gone, she said.

Dogo Ayuba also said the epidemic destroyed his crops in August. I took out a loan to buy fertiliser and chemicals but I have been unable to pay back.

The government is not supporting smallholder farmers. They know that ginger is our major livelihood in Kaduna but they have ignored our plight.

Hard work, zero yield

Pius Kwasau, 59, said farmers like him working a few acres in Katargo LGA found living hard after the epidemic. He said he spent his savings on fertiliser and other inputs but did not get anything out of the farm.

Across the local government areas in Southern Kaduna that PREMIUM TIMES visited, farmers told the same stories and urged the government to at least provide them with seeds and other agricultural inputs to help them participate in the next planting season.

Poor farming practices worsen impacts of epidemics  Experts

Fidelis Dutse, a lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development at ABU Zaria, said inadequate education on farming methods and disease management was responsible for the ginger infestation.

The level of awareness on agricultural practices for farmers in Southern Kaduna is weak because there are few extension agents around and some local governments do not have one at all. This gap leads to indiscriminate use of chemicals, fertilisers and other inputs because the farmers believe the more they apply, the more extinction of weeds and growth of what they planted. Alas, the effect of this practice might lead to several challenges like this, Mr Dutse told PREMIUM TIMES in Zaria.

To prevent future problems, he said, the government needs to be proactive in empowering farming communities with beneficial and sustainable training to create uniform regulation on the scientific recommended dosage and method of application of agro-chemicals on ginger.

He also urged the state government to assist the farmers with a pre-emergency fund, which is usually set aside for natural occurrences like this, to help mitigate the impact of the crisis.

Corroborating Mr Dutses observation, Mrs Afiniki, the professor at the IAR, ABU Zaria, said there is poor communication between the government and farmers on agricultural practices in the state.

There are some measures like crop rotation, use of seeds from a healthy field, raise-bed and others which might help to prevent the widespread of the disease but they didnt know. If they had known, they would be more meticulous in their agricultural practices, she said.

On the solution to this particular disease, she said: The organisms that affect crops like ginger are many so one needs to find the root cause of what is responsible for the outbreak before you can know the treatment to recommend as the symptoms differ, from what you see on the field, and you need to really identify the organism that caused this.

The team at IAR has the farming mandate system for Northwest states, including Kaduna, so we went to the field immediately after the outbreak and we observed that it is a devastating problem of crop production. Samples of the affected crops were collected and the level of infection in terms of disease incidence shows that almost all the fields were diseased while others were totally destroyed.

Based on this, we did some laboratory work and isolated some organisms. But we have to do a pathogenesis test, which we are yet to do because it requires some inputs, and it is after this that we know the right things to do to prevent future outbreaks.

Government should act now  Traditional rulers

Speaking with this newspaper, Peter Kure, the district head of Jaba, said the community was in stagnation due to the ginger epidemic that has brought developmental setbacks to them.

We now suffer from hunger. Our people will be happy to get seeds to try planting again but the government is not forthcoming with any assistance so far, even though Jaba produces the best ginger here.

The octogenarian said the epidemic has pushed up the local price of ginger to around N100,000 from N40,000.

Peter Digah, the village head of Kenyin in Katargo LGA, said the government sent officials to register farmers in the area but has made no further communication since last year.

While we believe they might have plans, not executing the plans before the next planting season will be disastrous as we dont have any seeds to plant again. Our lives are tied to ginger, they should act now.

Kaduna Government Reacts

However, the Kaduna State government said it has a plan for the farmers, a claim corroborated by a key actor in the sector.

Kamaldeen Raji, the managing director of AFEX Nigeria, the company that gave loans to many farmers in Kachia, told PREMIUM TIMES that many farmers took part in the companys 2022 wet season input financing programme.

Their repayment was due prior to the breakout of the epidemic around July 2023, which we are aware had a significant effect on the 2023 programme participants.

Mr Kamaldeen said the company was treating the farmers debts as a civil matter and was collaborating with the state government to help the farmers.

Our work in the regard of climate and natural disasters is evolving as a key part of our response today is the inclusion of yield insurance products within the framework of the input financing programme for farmers to take advantage of.

In some cases of default, we can work out a refinancing agreement with farmers and have done so in extenuating circumstances, where we are able to verify all information and arrive at a plan that balances stakeholder requirements.

We joined the taskforce set up by the Kaduna government as part of our remediation strategy and we are coming up with practical solutions to combat the 2023 experience.

When contacted, Murtala Dabo, the states commissioner of agriculture, told PREMIUM TIMES that the state government distributed fungicides to smallholder farmers affected by the disease outbreak. He said the government has other plans too to remedy the situation.

Immediately the disease was discovered, the Ministry invited a team of scientists from the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The result from their investigation indicated that the causes of the disease are fungal pathogens and the government has engaged more scientists and research institutes to narrow down the search to a particular family of pathogens.

The commissioner said that the effort of the state also led to the intervention from the Federal Government through the Ginger Blight Epidemic Task Force in the office of the Vice President. Some weeks ago, the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) launched a N1.6 billion Recovery Package in Kaduna, he added.

Furthermore, Mr Dabo said, the government through extension officers was educating the affected farmers to adopt crop rotation to heal and protect the soil while a plan was ongoing to establish a Quality Control and Disease Surveillance unit at the Ministry to work on early warning of disease outbreak and ensuring that crop quality is maintained and improved.

For many of the farmers who just need improved seeds and chemicals, support from the government can not come too early as they are already in the new planting season.

This story is completed with the support of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development.

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The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has signed the bill that repealed the State Emirate Council Law 2019 that gave the state five emirate councils.

The state House of Assembly on Thursday passed a bill for the dissolution of the four additional emirates created by the immediate past administration of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje and the removal of all five emirs.

The governor signed the bill at the Government House on Thursday, the same day it was unanimously passed by the state lawmakers.

Insiders told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Yusuf signed the law after having lunch with some Kano kingmakers and lawmakers led by the speaker, Jibrin Falgore, at the Government House.

The governments spokesperson, Halilu Dantiye, or his deputy, Sanusi Bature, are expected to brief reporters on the development soon.

Ironically, Mr Ganduje also signed the law for the creation of the four emirates on 5 December 2019, which falls on Thursday, the same day Mr Yusuf assented to the bill scrapping the emirates.

The law, titled the Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment No.2) Law, 2024, scrapped the five emirates system and first-class emirs in Gaya, Rano, Karaye and Bichi.

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This has reverted the state as the only state with a single emirate council, aside from Sokoto, which has only the Sultan as the paramount ruler superior to all emirs in the caliphate.

The state House of Assembly had earlier in the day approved and passed the law following third reading and consideration by the committee of the whole during the sitting of the House presided over by the speaker, Mr Falgore.

The dissolution of the five emirates has generated controversy in the state, with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) being against the move while their opponents in the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) are in support.

READ ALSO: Residents jubilant as Kano emir returns to Durbar route unused by Sanusi

Many believed the development was designed to reinstate the deposed Emir Lamido Sanusi.

The state government on 9 March 2020 dethroned Mr Sanusi on the grounds of insubordination, and he was replaced by Aminu Ado-Bayero, who was transferred from Bichi emirate to Kano.

The kingmakers who were seen at the Government House on Thursday may select Mr Sanusi as the new emir.

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The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, says the reinstatement of the deposed Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, was a fulfilment of a campaign promise.

Mr Yusuf, on Thursday, signed the bill repealing the State Emirate Council Law 2019 that gave the state five emirate councils.

The state House of Assembly on Thursday passed the bill for the dissolution of the four additional emirates created by the immediate past administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and the removal of all five emirs.

The governor signed the bill at the Government House on Thursday, the same day it was passed by the state lawmakers.

At the event, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, the governor said the new law provided for the reinstatement of Mr Lamido as Emir of Kano and removal of all the five Emirs in all the five emirates.

He added that it was also part of his campaign commitment to residents of the state.

The law provided an opportunity for reinstatement of the 14th Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II and removal of 15th Emir of Kano Aminu Ado Bayero, the Emir of Bichi Nasir Ado Bayero, Emir of Rano Kabiru Muhammad Inuwa, Emir of Karaye Ibrahim Abubakar II and Emir of Gaya Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir.

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Governor Yusuf further articulated that the return of Muhammad Sanusi II back on throne will propel peace and prosperity, adding that the repeal of the council law was in realisation of his campaign commitments to restore the lost glory of the state and its rich cultural heritage.

Governor Yusuf also issued 48 hours to Aminu Ado Bayero and four other former first class chiefs to vacate their palaces and hand over all emirates property to the office of the deputy governor.

The governor expressed satisfaction that the new law will bring unity of the people of Kano and foster sustainable socio-economic development.

He emphasised that the signing of the bill symbolizes the restoration of the revered legacy of the Kano emirate, which has withstood the test of time of over a thousand years.

Furthermore, the governor urged the populace in the state to continue supporting his administration in delivering a multitude of infrastructural advancements that will propel Kano to greater heights.

Everyone should go about his or her normal activities in the state, we have done what we believe is in the best interest of the state and its people

I want to inform the good people of Kano that today, we reappointed Sanusi Lamido Aminu Sanusi popularly known as Muhammadu Sanusi the II as the 16th Emir of Kano while the five former emirs are expected to vacate the palaces within 48 hours.

The former emirs are to handover all properties in thier possession to the Commissioner for Local Government who doubles as the state Deputy Governor.

Under the new Kano Emirate Repeal law 2024, Kano state is now under one emirate, the statement said.

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The historic Rivers State Economic and Investment Summit 2024 enters its second and final day today, Thursday, 23 May, in Port Harcourt.

The summit, organised by Governor Siminalayi Fubaras administration, assembles security, economic, and policy experts and residents of the state to brainstorm on the pathway to economic recovery and sustainable growth for the oil-rich south-southern state.

The theme of the summit is Advancing Pathways to Economic Growth and Sustainability.

The keynote speaker is a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and former Emir of Kano State, Lamido Sanusi.

Governor Fubara, during Wednesdays session, enumerated the steps his administration has taken so far in its effort to revive the Rivers economy.

A former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, who is the chairperson of the summit, called for attitudinal change among Nigerian leaders, entrepreneurs, and citizens.

Goodwill messages were received from the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Simeon Amadi, the Speaker, Rivers House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and a former Executive Vice President Upstream of NNPC Ltd, Adokiye Tombomieye.

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PREMIUM TIMES continues to bring to you live updates from the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, where the summit is taking place.

11: 10 a.m. Governor Fubara arrives at the venue of the summit in the company of former CBN Governor Lamido Sanusi.

11:14 a.m. National Anthem

11:15 a.m. Opening prayer resumes

11:25 a.m: Tammy Danagogo, secretary to the state government, makes opening welcome address. He was represented by the head of service of the state.

11:29 a.m. Tourism expert, Stella Fubara, makes remarks on the summit

11:31 a.m. Former CBN governor, Lamido Sanusi, climbs the podium for his keynote speech.

11: 40 a.m. Mr Sanusi said Rivers State, as the second largest economy in Nigeria after Lagos, has the resources to achieve development and attract investments.

11: 42 a.m. The former CBN governor called for diversification of the Nigerian economy for development. He noted that Nigerias dependence on crude oil was affecting its pace of development.

Oil is good but it is not enough to make us a wealthy Nation, Mr Sanusi said.

11: 43 a.m. Mr Sanusi condemns over-taxation in Nigeria and says it drives away investments.

We can tax, but we must do so sensibly, he says.

11: 50 a.m. Mr Sanusi calls for improved investment in clean energy and solar power to create a path to prosperity in Rivers State.

11: 55 a.m. Mr Sanusi ends his keynote speech by asking Governor Fubara to partner with neighbouring states in South-south Nigeria to drive development and investment and achieve sound security in the state and region.

He called for the strengthening of both judicial and political institutions to boost economic development.

11: 57 a.m. Mr Sanusi leaves venue shortly after delivering his keynote speech.

He was accompanied by Governor Fubara and other officials of the state government.

12: 07 p.m. The fourth panel discussion for the day has just begun. The panel is discussing investment opportunities through harnessing the blue economy.

1:02 a.m. The panel discussion ends with a call for the Rivers State Government to tap into the opportunities in the blue economy.

The panel asked the state government to appoint a commissioner who will be directly involved in marine and seaport issues in the state.

1:05 p.m. One of the anchors of the summit has just announced the reinstatement of Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano State.

1:15 p.m. Leadership Development Coach, Linus Okorie, speaks on the need for Rivers State to invest in research and data gathering for the development of the state. He emphasised the importance of quality leadership in the growth of an economy.

1: 30 p.m. The Administrator of New Port City Development, Tonte Davies, begins a presentation on the agencys giants strides and plans for the future.

1:43p.m. Another panel discussion begins. The panel is discussing rural development and agriculture in Rivers State.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr. Victor Kii, is among the panelists.



1:48 p.m. Commissioner for Agriculture in Rivers State, Engr Kii, said Governor Fubara will create the enabling environment for agriculture to thrive in the state given his commitment to that aspect of the economy.

1:56 p.m. An investor can partner with Rivers State Government to use several hectares of lands earmarked by the state government for agricultural development by cultivating cash crops such as cassava, maize, yam etc., the commissioner said.

The end of oil will come. Let us invest in agriculture, he added.

2:21 p.m. The panel discussion ends with an appeal to investors to consider investing in the state for agricultural development.

3:15 p.m. Panel discussion on Ease of business ends.

The Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu, a professor, joins the panelists in a group photograph.

5:02 p.m. The Panellists who discussed economic growth and development have just ended their session.

The Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu, and the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, joined in a group photograph with the panellists.

5:06 p.m. An official begins closing remarks. The summit is about to come to an end.

5:51 p.m. National Anthem.

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Study demonstrated safety and tolerability of H-Guard to address serious immune system-driven complications of dialysis

Encouraging biomarker data positions H-Guard for upcoming Acute Kidney Injury trial

GLASGOW, Scotland, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Invizius Limited ("Invizius"), a biotechnology company developing breakthrough treatments for patients on dialysis, announces that eight patients have been successfully treated at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF) with H-Guard Priming Solution in its first-in-human Phase 1 clinical study.

The study was conducted at the NIHR Manchester CRF at the Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI), part of the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, led by Professor Sandip Mitra and co-investigators, Dr Leonard Ebah and Dr Duha Ilyas.

The study investigated the safety of H-Guard in patients undergoing haemodialysis who are vulnerable to dialysis-induced immune activation. H-Guard is flushed through the dialysis machine, coating all blood exposed surfaces prior to treatment.

Patients received a single treatment of H-Guard with pre and post treatment evaluations demonstrating its safety and tolerability.

The next stage is the Phase2b study for Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) where the Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) filter in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is coated with H-Guard.

Dr Magnus Nicolson, CEO of Invizius, said: "It has been a pleasure to work with Professor Mitra and his team to demonstrate the safety of H-Guard on dialysis patients. This is an important milestone for H-Guard and Invizius, allowing us to progress into a larger efficacy study showing the clinical benefits of controlling complement activation in CRRT and a number of extracorporeal systems."

Professor Sandip Mitra, Consultant Nephrologist and Professor of Renal Medicine at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, commented: "As our aim is to improve the outcomes of patients on dialysis, we are very encouraged by the results of the H-Guard trial. This week at the ERA in Stockholm, Dr Ilyas Duha will be presenting data from Invizius sponsored trial CompAct-HD. This is the largest kinetic analysis of complement activation in routine haemodialysis (HD) ever undertaken in UK. Our results indicate patient specific complement activation associated with inflammatory response during routine haemodialysis. Reduction in complement activation in HD may yield significant clinical outcome benefits."

H-Guard is a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulatory, second generation, complement regulator which coats the dialysis filter and tubing during the priming process.

Invizius managed the trial with TCRSolutions.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2419462/Invizius_H_Guard.jpg

Media enquiries:

Lorna Gardner Media House

lorna@mediahouse.co.uk

+44 (0)7813 193618
Riders log over 6,000 miles in the Bay Area Bike Challenge on May 16th alone

SAN FRANCISCO, May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This year's Bay Area Bike to Work/Wherever Day (BTWD) on May 16 saw record post-pandemic participation as riders from around the region joined to celebrate the event's 30th anniversary on a day with intermittent wind and sunshine across the Bay.

2024 Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days (PRNewsfoto/Metropolitan Transportation Commission)

"We are thrilled to see the outpouring of support from riders and our partner organizations in all nine counties. This year's event was an incredible success, and it would not have been possible without the hard work of everyone involved," said Andrew Fremier, Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Executive Director.

On Bike to Work/Wherever Day, bicycle advocates and agencies hosted more than 300 energizer stations, handing out commemorative bags and offering opportunities for riders to re-energize and refuel.

Many counties reported a much larger turnout this year than last. Napa County, which combines Bike to Work Day with Bike to School Day, saw a 35% increase in participants from 2023. The extensive participation in this year's Bike to Work/Wherever Day led MTC Chair Alfredo Pedroza and Napa County Supervisor to say, "This speaks to the dedication of riders as well as the efforts of communities around the Bay to make biking safer and more accessible. We couldn't be prouder of this achievement and look forward to continuing success throughout the month."

Many riders associate Bike to Work/Wherever Day with the fun and vibrant commemorative bags they pick up at energizer stations. For the 30th anniversary, BTWD interviewed Patrick Sean Gibson, the artist behind the last four years of iconic designs for these tote bags. Patrick talked about how his love of San Francisco and Bay Area visual culture influences his designs. You can find that interview on the 30th anniversary page here: https://bayareabiketowork.com/30thanniversary.

Elected officials and local leaders from each county joined events throughout the day to celebrate and encourage riders:

MTC Commissioners, ABAG Executive Board Members and Elected Officials:

Marin County Supervisor (D3) StephanieMoulton Peters

Supervisor (D3) StephanieMoulton Peters Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan

Mayor Matt Mahan San Francisco Mayor London Breed

Mayor London Breed Oakland City Council Member (D3) Carrol Fife

Oakland City Council President (D2) Nikki Fortunato Bas

American Canyon City Councilmember Mark Joseph

Berkeley City Councilmember (D1) Rashi Kesarwani

Berkeley City Councilmember (D2) Terry Taplin

Berkeley City Councilmember (D5) Sophie Hahn

Berkeley City Councilmember (D7) Cecilia Lunaparra

Berkeley City Councilmember (D8) Mark Humbert

Calistoga Mayor Donald Williams

Mayor Calistoga City Councilmember Kevin Eisenberg

Cotati City Council Ben Ford

District 10 ( Sunnyvale ) State Senator Aisha Wahab

) State Senator Aisha Wahab Napa County Supervisor Belia Ramos

Napa County Vice Chair & Supervisor Anne Cottrell

Oakland City Councilmember (D1) Dan Kalb

Oakland City Councilmember (D5) Noel Gallo

Oakland City Councilmember (D6) Kevin Jenkins

Petaluma Mayor Kevin McDonnell

Mayor San Francisco Supervisor (D3) Aaron Peskin

Supervisor (D3) Aaron Peskin San Francisco Supervisor (D6) Matt Dorsey

Supervisor (D6) Matt Dorsey San Francisco Supervisor (D5) Dean Preston

Supervisor (D5) San Francisco Supervisor (D7) Myrna Melgar

Supervisor (D7) Myrna Melgar San Francisco Supervisor (D11) Asha Safai

Supervisor (D11) Asha Safai San Mateo City Council Member Adam Loraine

Sonoma County Supervisor (D3) Chris Coursey

Supervisor (D3) St. Helena City Councilmember Anna Chouteau

St. Helena City Councilmember Billy Summers

Other Notable Leaders:

Berkeley City Auditor Jenny Wong

Director of San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Jeffrey Tumlin

Director of San Francisco County Transportation Authority Tilly Chang

Director of Programs, Solano Transportation Authority Ron Grassi

Former Mayor, Suisun City Mike Segala

Former Napa County Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht

Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht Napa County CEO Ryan Alsop

Napa Valley Transportation Authority Executive Director Kate Miller

Oakland Department of Transportation Director Josh Rowan

Transportation Program Superintendent, City of Vallejo Mark Helmbrecht

Transportation Planning Manager at City of Palo Alto Sylvia Star-Lack

On Bike to Work/Wherever Day itself, riders logged over 6,000 miles in the Bay Area Bike Challenge. In addition, more than 5,600 people pledged to ride their bike as part of Bike to Wherever Days, which continues through May 31.

The Bay Area Bike Challenge challenges cyclists to ride and log a collective 30,000 miles from May 1st - 31st in honor of the 30th anniversary of Bike to Work Day. Only 12 days into the Challenge, on May 11, participants surpassed the initial goal. As of today, over 750 participants have logged nearly 70,000 miles across nine counties using an app called Ride with GPS. Now MTC is encouraging riders to triple the original 30,000-mile goal and reach 90,000 miles by the end of the month.

MTC will award a total of eight (8) prizes at the end of the Bay Area Bike Challenge. The top two prizes go to the person who rides the most miles and logs the most trips by 11:59 p.m. on May 31. A leaderboard shows riders neck-and-neck, with top riders already each surpassing 800 miles. Two prizes are awarded to the most creative routes, one for shape and one for points of interest. Four prizes are also given through raffle drawings so that every rider has a chance of winning regardless of skill level. More information is available at https://bit.ly/bayareabikechallenge.

Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days is presented by MTC (the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area), 511 (the region's traveler information system), and Amazon. BTWD 2024 also receives regional support from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and BART , as well as from many sponsors at the local level. Prizes for the Bike Champion of the Year winners were donated by MTC, Sports Basement , and Mike's Bikes.

SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Commission
NEW YORK, May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global agriculture equipment market size is estimated to grow by USD 66.53 billion from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.05% during the forecast period.

To understand more about this market - Download a FREE Sample

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Agriculture Equipment Market 2024-2028

Report Attribute Details Base Year 2023 Forecast period 2024-2028 Historic Data for 2018 - 2022 Segments Covered Type (Tractors, Harvesters machinery, Planting equipment, and Others), Product Type (Manual, Automatic, and Semi-automatic), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa) Key Companies Covered AGCO Corp., Alamo Group Inc., American Spring and Pressing Works Pvt. Ltd., Beri Udyog Pvt. Ltd., CLAAS KGaA mBH, CNH Industrial NV, Deere and Co., ISEKI and Co. Ltd., Kinze Manufacturing Inc., Kovai Classic Industries, Kubota Corp., Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., ROSTA AG, Shandong Heavy Industry Group Co. Ltd., Summit Steel and Manufacturing Inc., Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd., Trimble Inc., Zetor Tractors as, EcoRobotix SA, and Yanmar Holdings Co. Ltd. Regions Covered North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa

Region Outlook

North America Europe APAC South America Middle East and Africa

1. North America - North America is projected to contribute 31% to market growth by 2028. Key players like AGCO and Deere and Co. dominate the US and Canada. Government support for mechanization and farm labor shortages drive market demand. USDA financial aid boosts tool adoption, while Deere and Co.'s new technology enhances operations.

As a major milk producer, the US sees increased hay production and exports, raising equipment demand. Innovation in autonomous tractors offers growth opportunities. Government support, technological advancements, and changing agricultural needs are shaping the market's growth during the forecast period.

For more insights on North America's significant contribution along with the market share of rest of the regions and countries - Download a FREE Sample

Segmentation Overview

Type

1.1 Tractors

1.2 Harvesters machinery

1.3 Planting equipment

1.4 Others

Product Type

2.1 Manual

2.2 Automatic

2.3 Semi-automatic

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 APAC

3.4 South America

3.5 Middle East and Africa

1.1 Fastest growing segment: The tractors segment is set to grow significantly during the forecast period, driven by a preference for more advanced and powerful models featuring new technologies. Despite this, the rising demand for smaller, specialized tractors will slightly limit value gains.

Valued at USD 58.92 billion in 2018, this segment includes both wheeled and crawler tractors, with wheeled models gaining popularity due to their simpler design and lower costs. Tractors are classified by horsepower: small (<35 HP), medium (35-50 HP), and large (>50 HP). The shift toward mechanization and reduced agricultural workforce are key factors boosting tractor adoption.

Get a glance at the market contribution of rest of the segments - Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!

Research Analysis

The Agriculture Equipment Market encompasses a wide range of machinery and fabricated elements essential for optimizing land yield in agro-based economies. Automation technologies have significantly transformed traditional farming practices, reducing the reliance on human workforce for maintenance. Machines such as Tractors, Combine harvesters, Irrigation systems, Mowers, and Backhoes are integral components of modern farming.

These equipments facilitate various farming activities including Seeding, Tilling fields, Harvesting crops, Spraying fields, and Breeding cattle. Commodity prices and weather patterns influence the demand for these equipments. Rice, Wheat, Maize, Sugarcane, and Oilseeds are some of the major crops cultivated using these advanced farming solutions. Farmers rely on these equipments to ensure efficient farming operations and maximize productivity.

Market Overview

The Agriculture Equipment Market encompasses a variety of machinery and tools designed to enhance farming productivity and efficiency. These equipment include tractors, cultivators, harvesters, plows, fertilizers, irrigation systems, and sprayers. The market is driven by several factors such as increasing agricultural productivity, technological advancements, and government initiatives to promote modern farming practices.

Farmers are constantly seeking innovative solutions to address challenges like soil health, water management, and labor shortages. The market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years due to the rising demand for food and agricultural products worldwide. Additionally, the adoption of precision farming and automation technologies is expected to revolutionize the agriculture sector, offering new opportunities for market participants.

Start exploring market insights by Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Venodr Landscape

11 Vendor Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
"Made in Italy" material on concept vehicles, sportscars and luxury models

MILAN, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcantara, the global lifestyle brand, was featured on a number of vehicles shown at this year's Beijing Auto Show.

Hongqi's new Guoya, a luxury sedan, made its global debut with Alcantara-covered beige seating at the Beijing show (April 25-May 04). The Hongqi Guoyao, also on display, featured Alcantara on its headliner, door panels and pillars.

Hongqi Guoya interior (top), Hyundai Elantra N steering wheel and Zeekr 001 FR seating.

Lotus also chose Alcantara for the steering wheel, headliner and interior pillars on the premier showing of the Emeya, its new electric vehicle.

The Mulliner Batur, a Bentley EV, was shown for the first time in China. The limited-edition model featured a custom Alcantara interior with a detailed wave-pattern design on its door panels, seat bolsters and headliner.

Alcantara also was used extensively throughout the interior of the Hyundai 2024-model Elantra N's interior, including an Alcantara-covered steering wheel and seating.

BMW and Zeekr made extensive use of Alcantara on several new models shown at the Beijing show as well. BMW selected the Italian company's material for the new model BMW X5 and BMW XM.

Zeekr launched its new 2024-model Zeekr 009, a premium EV, in Beijing. The all-electric MPV showcased tailor-made Alcantara on the car's door panels. In addition, the 2024 Zeekr 001 FR made a premier showing in China with tailor-made grey and contrasting red Alcantara seating and door panels.

Alcantara S.p.A.

Founded in 1972, Alcantara represents one of the leading Made in Italy brands. A registered trademark of Alcantara S.p.A. and the result of unique and proprietary technology, Alcantara is a highly innovative material offering an unparalleled combination of sensory, aesthetic and functional qualities. Thanks to its extraordinary versatility, Alcantara is the chosen material for leading brands in many fields of application: fashion and accessories, the automotive industry, interior design, home decor and consumer-electronics.

For further information:

https://www.alcantara.com/

instagram.com/alcantara_company/

twitter.com/alcantaraspa

facebook.com/alcantara.company

youtube.com/alcantaracompany

Press kit: https://www.alcantara.com/press-area/

SOURCE Alcantara S.p.A.
SAN DIEGO, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Preferred Employers Insurance, a Berkley company, was recognized by the American Marketing Association's "Sandie Awards"  San Diego Chapter on May 2, 2024.

Preferred was honored with a "Silver Award" in the category of "Company Branding" specifically recognizing the identity refresh of their company's 25-year-old insurance legacy brand.

Photo by MisMarissa, Marissa Carter

Marc Beaulieu, Senior Vice President at Preferred Employers Insurance, said, "As a San Diego-based company, we appreciate this recognition from our local marketing community as it further communicates our mission to be the preferred workers' compensation insurance solution for California employers."

Preferred's Creative Marketing Director, Kayla 'KC' Bonsall, was also recognized as a finalist for the Sandies inaugural Marketer of the Year award, celebrating an individual San Diego marketer who, through their contributions of outstanding ideas, concepts, campaigns, and overall marketing leadership, served as an inspiration for all marketers and a shining example of the very best of marketing professionalism and accomplishment in the past year.

The full list of 2024 Sandie Award winners can be found here: https://sandieawards.org/

About Preferred Employers Insurance, a Berkley company

Founded in 1998, Preferred Employers Insurance, a Berkley company is renowned for its expertise in workers compensation insurance and operational focus exclusively on the state of California. Preferred delivers the gold standard of medical care for injured employees, led by clinical nurses and the company's directly contracted physicians throughout California. https://www.peiwc.com.

Preferred Employers Insurance is a member company of W. R. Berkley Corporation. Products and services are provided by one or more insurance company subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation. Not all products and services are available in every jurisdiction, and the precise coverage afforded by any insurer is subject to the actual terms and conditions of the policies as issued.

About the American Marketing Association

The San Diego chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA San Diego) is a professional organization that is committed to developing powerhouse marketers within the San Diego business community. AMA San Diego provides education, networking, information, resources, and valuable connections in a fun and approachable environment where personal development goals can be achieved. For more information, please visit https://www.sdama.org/.

SOURCE Preferred Employers Insurance
WASHINGTON, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In light of recent events -- where Ireland, Norway, and Spain announced their decisions to recognize a Palestinian state; the International Criminal Court sought unjust arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant; and as American Jews face unprecedented antisemitism here in the United States -- Family Research Council reiterates the organization's unwavering stance with the Jewish people and seeks to bring clarity to the confusion around a recent bill concerning antisemitism moving through Congress. FRC has released a new resource: Frequently Asked Questions: The Antisemitism Awareness Act (H.R. 6090).

This resource addresses the following questions:

What does H.R. 6090 do?

What is the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of Antisemitism?

Does H.R. 6090 violate the First Amendment or "criminalize" the gospel?

Does the IHRA working definition of antisemitism restrict Christians' ability to proclaim the gospel?

Why is H.R. 6090 needed now?

This past Sunday, May 19, FRC led an effort to Pray For & Stand With Israel, in which over a thousand American churches devoted a portion of their worship services to pray for Israel and the Jewish people. Prime Minister Netanyahu even responded with gratitude to this show of support.

Family Research Council president Tony Perkins commented:

"Ever since the tragic events of October 7th last year, many who have claimed to be friends of Israel have utterly failed to stand strong in defense of Israel and her government. Here at home, the Biden administration has all but abandoned America's strongest, most significant Middle Eastern ally. As the Jewish state stands on the brink of a war that threatens to spill over into armed conflict with other countries in the region and their proxies, President Biden and his party seem more intent on placating the most radical elements of their political base than supporting Israel's right to self-defense. This has led to an environment of open antisemitism, most clearly visible on the campuses of America's elite universities. Congress must act to combat this virulent outbreak of hate and send a clear message to President Biden that antisemitism is not acceptable."

Travis Weber, FRC Vice President of Policy & Government Affairs, stated:

"Right now, the Jewish people worldwide are watching to see who will stand with them. In a moment reminiscent of the 1930's when antisemitic rage began to emerge in greater manifestation before the atrocities of the Holocaust, we once again see the ugly rise of Jew-hatred in a manner that reminds us of those dark times. The difference now is that it is appearing in the United States  the one superpower that has typically stood with Israel over the past 75 years. Yet, that supportive ground is now cracking, as radicals occupy universities with blind rage and hatred once again directed at Jews and their homeland, Israel. Will the U.S. fall away? We have been moving in that direction  pressuring the Israeli government, failing to veto an anti-Israel security council resolution, and faltering on delivering much needed military support. The Antisemitism Awareness Act provides an important opportunity for Congress to make clear that the U.S. government will continue to stand with the Jewish people and Israel. This bill comes at a moment in which it is apparent that the world is turning against the Jews  fast. Will we stand with them?"

FRC's new resource can be accessed here: https://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF24E40.pdf

SOURCE Family Research Council
NEW YORK, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA) is proud to announce a donation of $25,000 to the American Red Cross in Greater New York. The donation will be used to outfit an emergency response vehicle with essential supplies, ensuring that the Red Cross is equipped to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies and disasters. This contribution is part of a long-standing partnership between the two organizations, aimed at supporting critical emergency services in the region.

Celena Roldan Sarillo chief executive officer of the American Red Cross Greater New York Region with Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association at the Red Cross headquarters in Manhattan. Celena Roldan Sarillo chief executive officer of the American Red Cross Greater New York Region with Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association at the Red Cross headquarters in Manhattan. Celena Roldan Sarillo chief executive officer of the American Red Cross Greater New York Region with Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association at the Red Cross headquarters in Manhattan.

"We are honored to continue our partnership with the American Red Cross in Greater New York. This donation underscores our dedication to supporting the vital work they do in our communities. Franchised new car dealers are longstanding contributors to the well-being and resilience of our neighborhoods donating tens of millions of dollars to good causes each year. Our dealers have always been and continue to be actively involved in philanthropic efforts," Mark Schienberg, GNYADA president.

The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association represents one of the most significant economic sectors in the region, with franchised new car dealers playing a crucial role in the local economy, supporting over 60,000 retail jobs in the downstate area. Beyond their business contributions, these dealerships have a rich history of philanthropy, supporting various community initiatives and charitable organizations. The partnership with the American Red Cross is a testament to GNYADA's ongoing commitment to community service and disaster preparedness.

The American Red Cross in Greater New York relies on partnerships like these to carry out its mission of providing emergency assistance, disaster relief, and education. "We are deeply thankful for the continued support from GNYADA," said Celena Roldan Sarillo, interim chief executive officer of the American Red Cross in Greater New York. "This donation will significantly enhance our ability to respond to emergencies and provide much-needed aid to those affected by disasters."

More than 20,000 people are helped every day by the Red Cross. Whether collecting lifesaving blood, supporting a family displaced by a home fire, or providing emergency communications to a deployed service member, greatest-needs donors help fuel the Red Cross response in times of crisis.

For more information about the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association and their philanthropic efforts, please visit gnyada.com.

SOURCE The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association
VANCOUVER, BC, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Aris Mining Corporation (Aris Mining or the Company) (TSX: ARIS) (NYSE-A: ARMN) announces that it has entered into a binding agreement with MDC Industry Holding Company LLC (Mubadala), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi based investment company Mubadala Investment Company PJSC, whereby, subject to certain customary conditions, Aris Mining will acquire an additional 31% joint venture interest in the Soto Norte gold-copper project in Colombia (Soto Norte or PSN) and amend the current Joint Venture Agreement to account for this change in ownership. Soto Norte is one of the largest undeveloped underground gold projects in South America, set to employ modern and sustainable mining practices.

Acquisition of 51% of PSN and Share Exchange : Aris Mining will acquire an additional 31% joint venture interest in PSN from Mubadala, bringing its total ownership to 51%. In exchange, Aris Mining will issue 15,750,000 shares to Mubadala, representing an approximate 9.9% ownership stake based on Aris Mining's issued and outstanding shares as of March 31, 2024 , with an additional 6,000,000 shares to be issued on receipt of an environmental license for PSN.





: Aris Mining will acquire an additional 31% joint venture interest in PSN from Mubadala, bringing its total ownership to 51%. In exchange, Aris Mining will issue 15,750,000 shares to Mubadala, representing an approximate 9.9% ownership stake based on Aris Mining's issued and outstanding shares as of , with an additional 6,000,000 shares to be issued on receipt of an environmental license for PSN. New, Smaller-Scale Development Plan: Aris Mining has completed optimization studies of a smaller, more efficient development plan for PSN. Key changes include reducing the environmental footprint, building a smaller processing plant with a longer operating life, adopting a flexible mining method to target higher-grade material earlier in the mine life, and installing a paste backfill plant to minimize surface tailings storage requirements.





Aris Mining has completed optimization studies of a smaller, more efficient development plan for PSN. Key changes include reducing the environmental footprint, building a smaller processing plant with a longer operating life, adopting a flexible mining method to target higher-grade material earlier in the mine life, and installing a paste backfill plant to minimize surface tailings storage requirements. Strategic and Operational Benefits: With a 51% controlling interest, Aris Mining will integrate the PSN development team into its management structure and procedures, enhancing operational efficiencies and creating synergies.

Aris Mining CEO Neil Woodyer stated: "As the only mining company with operational experience to own and operate Soto Norte, we believe a new, smaller-scale development plan with a reduced environmental footprint is the right path forward. Aris Mining also plans to incorporate processing solutions for contract mining partners into the design and development of Soto Norte, following the successful partnership model developed at our Segovia Operations in Colombia. Based on the attractive results of our preliminary work, we are initiating a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) of the new development plan, which is expected to be complete by early 2025.

In support of this plan, we are delighted to become the 51% controlling shareholder of the Soto Norte joint venture at closing, enabling Aris Mining to develop this very attractive project."

Soto Norte Transaction

On closing, Aris Mining will issue 15,750,000 common shares to Mubadala. These shares will be subject to a 12-month hold period, inclusive of a four-month statutory hold period and an additional eight-month contractual restriction on transfer.





Following receipt of an environmental license to develop PSN, Aris Mining will issue an additional 6,000,000 common shares to Mubadala, which together with the 15,750,000 common shares issued at closing would increase Mubadala's ownership stake to approximately 13% based on Aris Mining's issued and outstanding shares as of March 31, 2024 .





. The current market value of the 21,750,000 Aris Mining shares to be issued to Mubadala is US$90 million .





. On closing, Aris Mining will hold a 51% interest in PSN and Mubadala will retain a 49% interest. The current option held by Aris Mining to acquire an additional 30% interest in PSN will be terminated. Aris Mining will continue to be the operator of PSN.





Aris Mining and Mubadala have mutual right-of-first-offer (ROFO) rights, should a partner choose to exit the joint venture.





As a result of Aris Mining integrating the PSN development team into its management structure and procedures, Aris Mining will sole fund certain operating costs on behalf of the joint venture during the pre-licensing period. Non-operating and project construction costs will be funded on a pro-rata ownership basis.





Closing of the transaction is expected to occur in June 2024 following satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including execution of definitive documentation related to the issuance of the shares and approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE American.

Soto Norte Project and Planned Optimizations

In March 2022, Aris Mining disclosed the results of mineral resource and reserve estimates and the results of a Feasibility Study for the Soto Norte Gold Project in a NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report with an effective date of January 1, 2021 (the Feasibility Study). The Feasibility Study includes a 7,200 tonnes per day (tpd) capacity processing plant with average annual production of over 450,000 gold ounces (oz) over an 11-year production period at average all in sustaining costs (AISC) of US$471/oz from a 5.0 million ounce mineral reserve1.

In 2023, Aris Mining commissioned a technical and economic assessment of PSN that considered a scaled-down mining concept. Aris Mining is now commissioning a new PFS and NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report for the scaled-down concept, both of which are expected to be completed in Q1 2025. The new PFS will include the assessment of the key project optimizations described in Table 1.

Table 1: Key project optimizations to be evaluated in the new PFS

Optimized underground mining strategy prioritizes initial access to a higher grade zone There are two main parallel mineralized zones at PSN and each has a strike length of approximately 2.0 km. The revised underground mining strategy prioritizes initial access to the higher grade zone, which can be quickly accessed from an existing portal. The revised plan is expected to sustain a mining rate approaching 2.0 million tonnes of mill feed and waste per year. Change of mining method The mining method for the Feasibility Study was modified Avoca, which required a significant amount of additional waste, sourced from underground waste quarry stopes, to provide backfill and a base for mining. The proposed mining method for the new PFS is long hole open stoping (LHOS) targeting higher grade stopes in the upper levels of the mine early in the mine life and utilizing pillars for support in the first stage of mining. Paste backfill will be utilized in the second stage of mining while the support pillars are systematically extracted. Defer underground paste fill plant After installation of the paste fill plant, the mining method is proposed to change to LHOS and paste fill, to increase overall mining recovery while reducing the upfront capital requirement. Smaller processing plant The proposed processing plant is expected to have a 2,750 tpd capacity, approximately 60% smaller than the Feasibility Study design, with a longer operating life. Aerial ropeway proposed to move mill feed from the existing portal to the processing plant Elimination of the 6.9 km tunnel, which was to be created by way of a tunnel boring machine (TBM), accelerating construction timelines and reducing capital costs. Ropeway technology is currently in use in Colombia, requires minimal land use, and is easily removed at the end of the mine life. The ropeway will also move tailings from the processing plant to the underground paste fill plant. Reduced size and relocation of

tailings storage facility The new PSN design considers the use of process tailings as backfill in the underground stopes, significantly reducing the surface tailings storage capacity requirements and environmental footprint. Shortened construction period The Feasibility Study estimated a 3.5-year construction period, with the critical path highly dependent on the TBM advance rate. The new PSN development plan will not utilize a TBM, resulting in an accelerated construction period. Environmental studies The new, smaller-scale development plan is expected to reduce the environmental impact of PSN and is expected to remain mostly within the Feasibility Study project footprint covered by the existing environmental baseline studies and datasets. Paramo proximity PSN remains outside the Santurban paramo delimitation area. Opportunity for Contract Mining Partners (CMPs) Aris Mining has a successful partnership model with CMPs that combines the traditional skills and local knowledge of artisanal and small-scale miners with the technology, infrastructure, health/safety standards, and access to capital of industrial miners. Aris Mining intends to incorporate processing solutions for CMPs into the design and development of PSN, with the potential to formalize miners in the Soto Norte region in addition to Calimineros, an existing partner at PSN with about 160 miners. Aris Mining's CMP model eliminates the use of mercury and illegal explosives by artisanal miners, creating an ecosystem that benefits CMPs, local communities, the Colombian government, the environment, and Aris Mining.

_________________________ 1 See "Technical Disclosure and Qualified Person" section below for full disclosure of technical and scientific details.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 9:00 am ET / 6:00 am PT to discuss this transaction. The call will be webcast and can be accessed at Aris Mining's website at www.aris-mining.com, or at https://services.choruscall.ca/links/arismining202405.html.

Participants may gain expedited access to the conference call at the following registration link. Upon registering, call in details will be displayed on screen. Using these call details will by-pass the operator and avoid the call queue. Registration will remain open until the end of the live conference call.

Participants who prefer to dial-in and speak with a live operator, can access the call by dialing:

Toll-free North America : 1-844-763-8274

: 1-844-763-8274 International: 1-647-484-8814

After the call, an audio recording will be available via telephone for 7 days, until end of day May 30th, 2024. The recording can be accessed by dialing:

Toll-free in the US and Canada : 1-855-669-9658

: 1-855-669-9658 International: 1-604-674-8052 and using the access code: 0915#

A replay of the event will be archived at Aris Mining Corporation  Investors  Events & Presentations (www.aris-mining.com).

Technical Disclosure and Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Pamela De Mark, P.Geo, Senior Vice President, Geology and Exploration of Aris Mining, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Unless otherwise indicated, the mineral resource and reserve estimates, scientific disclosure, and technical information included in this news release are based upon information included in the following NI 43-101 compliant technical report: "NI 43-101 Technical Report Feasibility Study of the Soto Norte Gold Project, Santander, Colombia", dated March 21, 2022 with an effective date of January 1, 2021 (the Soto Norte Technical Report). The Soto Norte Technical Report was prepared by Ben Parsons, MSc, MAusIMM (CP), Chris Bray, BEng, MAusIMM (CP), and Dr John Willis PhD, BE (MET), MAusIMM (CP), and Dr Henri Sangam, Ph.D., P.Eng., each of whom is independent of Aris Mining within the meaning of NI 43-101 and is a "Qualified Person" as such term is defined in NI 43-101. The report was also prepared by Robert Anderson, P.Eng., a Qualified Person who is considered non-independent of Aris Mining. The Soto Norte Technical Report is available for download on Aris Mining's website at www.aris-mining.com and on Aris Mining Holdings Corp's (Aris Holdings) SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and in Aris Mining's filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov. Aris Holdings is a subsidiary of Aris Mining.

About Aris Mining

Aris Mining is a gold producer in the Americas, currently operating two mines with expansions underway in Colombia. The Segovia Operations and the Marmato Upper Mine produced 226,000 ounces of gold in 2023. Aris Mining is targeting a production rate of 500,000 ounces of gold per year in the second half of 2026, following a ramp-up period after the Segovia mill expansion scheduled for completion in Q1 2025 and the Marmato Lower Mine's first gold pour in late 2025. Aris Mining also operates the Soto Norte joint venture, where environmental licensing is advancing to develop a new underground gold, silver and copper mine. In Guyana, Aris Mining is advancing Toroparu, a gold/copper project. Aris Mining intends to pursue acquisitions and other growth opportunities to unlock value through scale and diversification.

Aris Mining promotes the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining into contract mining partners as this process enables all miners to operate in a legal, safe and responsible manner that protects them and the environment.

Additional information on Aris Mining can be found at www.aris-mining.com , www.sedarplus.ca, and on www.sec.gov.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" or forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, the acquisition of additional joint venture interest in PSN and the details and timing thereof, plans pertaining to PSN and the details, costs, benefits and timing thereof, the PFS and the expected timing thereof and the timing and details thereof and the Company's plans and strategies are forward-looking. Generally, the forward-looking information and forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "will continue" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The material factors or assumptions used to develop forward looking information or statements are disclosed throughout this news release.

Forward looking information and forward looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Aris Mining to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or forward looking statements, including but not limited to those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Aris Mining's annual information form dated March 6, 2024 which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and in the Company's filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

Although Aris Mining has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information or statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information or statements. The Company has and continues to disclose in its Management's Discussion and Analysis and other publicly filed documents, changes to material factors or assumptions underlying the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements and to the validity of the information, in the period the changes occur. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and Aris Mining disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.

SOURCE Aris Mining Corporation
The non-medical home care company is one of only 100 franchises selected for the prestigious list this year

SAN ANTONIO, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Caring Senior Service, a non-medical home care services company, has been named one of Entrepreneur magazine's Top 100 Franchises for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for 2024.

Caring Senior Service is one of only 100 franchises selected by Entrepreneur for the Top Franchises for DEI based on information the company submitted and the magazine editors' independent research.

"We are thrilled with our inclusion in Entrepreneur's Top Franchises for DEI list this year and consider it a reflection of our collective commitment to inclusion," said Caring Senior Service founder and CEO Jeff Salter. "We believe in diversity of thought and opinion, and we actively recruit team members with distinctive identities. Our goal is to match our clients with the caregivers who will work well with them, and this diversity helps fulfill this goal. Our team of fantastic franchise owners come from a variety of diverse backgrounds, but we all share a common goal: to help seniors throughout the country remain safely at home."

All of the companies recognized in Entrepreneur's Top Franchises for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion list were chosen editorially, and are listed in alphabetical order. The list is featured in the May/June issue of the print magazine and can be viewed online by visiting https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/top-diversity-ranking.

The editors based their decisions on information submitted by the companies, as well as their own independent research. Brands were selected for a variety of reasons. Some offer franchise fee discounts and other assistance to help those who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), women, or LGBTQ+. Some promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in other ways, including the communities they serve and the services they offer; initiatives and programs they have implemented at both the corporate and franchise level; representation among their leadership team, franchisees, and employees; and more.

"Franchising is truly an opportunity that's available to all, but not everyone is aware that it's within their reach," said Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine. "That's why we want to celebrate the brands that do the most to expand opportunities for everyoneand who are improving their businesses by ensuring that many different voices and experiences are welcomed."

Caring Senior Service opened its first location in Odessa, Texas, in 1991, and added several other locations in the Lone Star State before creating its franchise development division in 2002. The company now has more than 50 locations in nearly 20 states. For more information about Caring Senior Service, please visit their website at https://www.caringseniorservice.com/.

About Caring Senior Service

Caring Senior Service is a non-medical home care services company based in San Antonio, Texas. Founded by CEO Jeff Salter in 1991, the company provides assistance to seniors, the disabled population and any adult who may need help with the tasks of everyday living such as bathing, personal care, running errands and preparing food. After adding locations throughout Texas in the 1990s, the company extended its reach through franchising in 2002. It now boasts more than 50 locations throughout the United States. Caring Senior Service has also been named as one of the Franchise Business Review's top franchises in 2022 and 2023 and has created programs to assist potential franchisees in choosing a location and training their staff.

In 2021, Caring Senior Service created a non-profit organization called "Close the Gap in Senior Care" to raise awareness of the overlooked and underserved aspects of senior care. Salter launched Close the Gap with an electric bike ride to each Caring Senior Service franchise location throughout the country, totaling more than 9,000 miles.

For more information on Caring Senior Service, please visit their website at https://www.caringseniorservice.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

(865) 977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Caring Senior Service
DARIEN, Conn., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CEFALY Technology, maker of the innovative CEFALY migraine treatment device, is launching a new education campaign to help people understand the migraine-depression link.

Migraine is a complex neurological disorder that is commonly characterized by episodes of intense headache pain plus other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Depression is a serious mental disorder marked by persistent feelings of sadness, irritability, hopelessness, fatigue, and other symptoms.

The migraine-depression connection is bidirectional; having one condition gives you a higher risk of also having the other. According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America , If you have depression, you are 3.4 times more likely to develop migraine. If you live with migraine, you are 5.8 times more likely to develop depression.

CEFALY is hosting a free webinar May 28, 2024, at 12 p.m. ET, in which licensed professional counselor Cara Scruggs will discuss the many links between migraine and depression. She will also review the wide range of treatment options for depression and migraine. Scruggs is a patient advocate, clinical consultant, and public speaker who has honed her clinical expertise through mental health work in school systems, inpatient hospitals, outpatient services, and private practice.

Register to attend the webinar here.

"Migraine and clinical depression are both common conditions, yet many people who live with both feel isolated and disconnected," said Jen Trainor-McDermott, CEO of CEFALY Technology. "As part of our CEFALY Cares initiative, we're reaching out to those people to tell them that they're not alone. We're here to support their treatment journey, so they can feel better and get back to life."

About the CEFALY device:

CEFALY Technology is the maker of CEFALY, an FDA-cleared, over-the-counter wearable medical device clinically proven to help reduce migraine frequency and relieve migraine pain. CEFALY is a non-invasive device placed on the forehead to modify pain sensation in the area research identifies as a center for migraine pain, the trigeminal nerve.

The Bluetooth-enabled CEFALY Connected syncs with the CeCe Migraine Management app and enables users to track CEFALY treatments and log migraine attacks on their mobile device. With these insights, they can better understand their migraine patterns and optimize their treatments.

About CEFALY Technology:

CEFALY Technology is a Belgium-based company with U.S. offices based in Darien, Conn., specializing in electronics for medical applications. For 20 years, CEFALY Technology has provided innovative, ever-evolving technology that enables people with migraine to take control of their treatment and live happier, healthier lives.

Learn more about CEFALY by visiting www.CEFALY.com and following us on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram and TikTok .

Media Contact:

CEFALY

Jen Trainor McDermott

CEO

[email protected]

SOURCE CEFALY Technology
Montefiore Holds Series of Bronx Events in Recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month

BRONX, N.Y., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- No longer a "silent struggle," hundreds of Bronx residents and families impacted by a wide range of conditions that affect, mood, thinking and behaviors, participated in Montefiore Health System events held throughout the last two months in recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness Month. Event topics were requested by community members and led by Montefiore's department of Psychiatry and its Office of Community & Population Health (OCPH).

"These events were incredibly emotional and inspirational as each one was informed by individual neighborhoods expressing what was most important to them  ranging from mindfulness to distress to victimization and violence," said Liz Spurrell-Huss, MPH, MSW director, Health Equity Programs, OCPH. "Each event was different, but every time we were moved by how open and engaged everyone was about topics that are often highly stigmatized and hard to discuss."

The events were held in partnership with local community-based organizations, including:

Breaking Ground - Park House , La Central, Boston Road

, La Central, Boston Road Jewish Association Serving the Aging (JASA)

Pastoral Migratoria Saint Antony Of Padua Church

Presbyterian Senior Services (PSS) Life University

Regional Aid for Interim Needs (RAIN): Middletown Center, Gun Hill Senior Center, Tolentine Senior Center and Parkchester Senior Center

Riverdale Senior Services: Schervier Apartments, Marble Hill Senior Center

St. Luke Episcopal Church

"Hearing each person's stories, struggles and triumphs out in the community is an honor  and it is an essential step in bringing people who need mental health support into treatment," said Dr. Ana Ozdoba, director, Psychiatry Residency Training, Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "It was also an invaluable experience for our psychiatry residents, who are newer to the field, as it reinforces why we are here in the Bronx and the importance of community partnerships in addressing today's mental health crisis."

To close Mental Health Awareness Month, the Montefiore Child Outpatient Psychiatry Division led by Dr. Jenny Seham, partnered with HearYourSong, a nonprofit that empowers children and teens with serious illnesses and complex health needs to make their voices heard through songwriting, will present a concert featuring original songs about topics ranging from friendship to struggling with depression.

Seham, who serves as Director, Arts and Integrative Medicine and Montefiore Einstein's Youth Empowerment Series (YES), expressed, "Children in our community are feeling unprecedented levels of sadness and hopelessness; students of color are at elevated risk for increased stress, anxiety and depression. YES highlights the strength, resilience, and creativity of local youth through arts performances and exhibits. Their songs have a powerful impact on themselves and the audience; the concert is a true community healing experience."

Montefiore is a designated Behavioral Center of Excellence by the New York State Office of Mental Health and earlier this year, announced plans create a new pediatric inpatient psychiatry unit in the Bronx.

SOURCE Montefiore Health System
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Conservatory Cannabis Co., a retail cannabis dispensary coming soon to Egg Harbor Township, NJ, partners with legendary Tony Mart Presents for free pop-up summer music events at the South Jersey Shore.

Tony Mart's Atlanticare Concerts on the Beach in Somers Point, NJ were voted by USA Today readers as America's No.1 outdoor concert series.

"We're local to South Jersey, so we're so excited to partner with an organization we know and love," said Kayla Montoro, CEO of Conservatory Cannabis Co. "Tony Marts is special to us because they're a legend in our community. They've brought free music and good times to our area and we're happy to be a part of that."

A goal of Conservatory Cannabis is to partner with organizations that support their community. This is the first of many planned partnerships for the dispensary.

"We are blessed to have extraordinary developments almost daily as we roll with the good times at Tony Marts," said Carmen Marotta, CEO of Tony Mart Presents, "But the most exciting of the recent developments that is going to provide so much for so many in Atlantic County, is the community partnership between Conservatory Cannabis Co. and Tony Marts."

Marotta said Conservatory's generous and philanthropic perspective will enable Tony Marts to add more fun events in fall and some fun, hip holiday shows as well.

"We are deeply appreciative of their generous support allowing Tony Marts to do more shows and create an even bigger impact celebrating the South Jersey musical legacy of Tony Mart to more locations and extending more concerts beyond the summer beach concert and boardwalk season in a way that everyone will embrace," Marotta said.

Tony Mart's was a legendary club at the Jersey Shore from 1944. Until its closing in 1982, it housed 130 entertainers. From Tony Orlando to Eddie & The Cruisers, this place heard some great music.

Today, the name lives on through Tony Mart Presents. They produce free live outdoor concerts during the summertime at the Jersey Shore, including the well-known Somers Point Beach Concerts, Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk, and Jersey Gumbo.

"Like the tremendous impact that Circle Liquor store has had, Conservatory Cannabis will really generate a great positive benefit on all those events propelling Tony Marts to give more to the community."

The Conservatory Cannabis Sponsorship commitment will generate good times at Josie Kelly's on Friday, May 31st at 8:30pm with a kick-off welcome back party starring the Tony Mart All Stars.

It doesn't stop there. The partnership will support block parties on the island and a late summer party on the deck at Caroline's with a view overlooking Absecon Island to really kick up the good times!

"We are excited and grateful!" Marotta said.

Conservatory Cannabis Co.'s name was thoughtfully chosen. They wanted a connection to nature, as well as an innovative and creative space, such as a music conservatory would offer. The name also suggests a preservation of nature and music.

"Our 5,500 square foot dispensary is going to usher in a new era of cannabis," Montoro said. "Right now, the retail experience is lost in most places."

Montoro boasts that the dispensary will have everything so customers can browse comfortably and buy confidently. They'll have a one-of-a-kind interactive experience, where you can get your hands on a product before you buy it.

Connor Hendrickson, Director of Operations at Conservatory Cannabis Co., is bringing his years of experience in cannabis  something that's hard to find in an industry so new. With that, he's creating a handpicked craft collection of products. "We want to bring you the best," said Hendrickson. "Not just whatever is out there."

They'll also have a custom app and a loyalty program tailored to the customer, where they'll be able to shop and order for pick up, instantly know about deals and giveaways, and more.

Jon Fleishman, COO of Conservatory Cannabis Co., is ready to share what he's built with his community. He said that the vision they have for the dispensary perfectly pairs with Tony Mart's productions in South Jersey.

"I've been to these events that Carmen and his team are responsible for creating and it's amazing what they've done for the community," said Fleishman. "There are hundreds of people that come out to enjoy themselves and we're honored to be a part of that. We couldn't have asked for a better partnership. This was a no-brainer."

Come out to Josie Kelly's Public House on Friday, May 31st at 8:30pm to check out their kick-off event of the summer.

Follow them on social media to be the first to know of events throughout the summer!

Conservatory Cannabis Co.

www.conservatorycannabis.com

Instagram - @conservatorycanna

Facebook  www.facebook.com/conservatorycanna

Tony Mart Presents

www.tonymart.com

Instagram - @tonymartpresents

Facebook  www.facebook.com/tonymartspresents

Media Contact:

Kayla Montoro

[email protected]

SOURCE Conservatory Cannabis Co.
REDDING, Calif., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report titled, 'Continuous Bioprocessing Market by Product (Filtration, Chromatography, Bioreactor, Incubator, Centrifuge, Reagents) Process (Upstream, Downstream) Application (Monoclonal Antibodies, Vaccines, Plasma Fractionation, R&D) End UserGlobal Forecast to 2031", published by Meticulous Research, the continuous bioprocessing market is projected to reach $1.32 billion by 2031 at a CAGR of 19.6% from 2024 to 2031.

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Continuous bioprocessing has become a major trend in biopharmaceutical manufacturing due to its agility, flexibility, efficiency, and robustness. It reduces the number of steps and holds, requires smaller facilities with limited equipment, and improves product quality, enabling real-time release. Advantages such as cost efficiency and improved product quality are expected to drive the adoption of continuous bioprocessing in the biopharmaceutical industry in the coming years. Continuous bioprocessing involves the use of filtration, chromatography, centrifugation, bioreactors, incubators/shakers, sterilizers, cell culture media, buffers, and reagents.

Bioprocessing 4.0 Generating Growth Opportunities for Market Stakeholders

Bioprocessing 4.0 is defined as an end-to-end connected bioprocess, where all equipment and systems in the process are connected digitally, forming the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to run, control, and enhance the process through feedback loops and Machine Learning (ML) or Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The rapid development in emerging economies, progressing research on biologics, and the increasing penetration of biopharmaceuticals have created tremendous opportunities for biopharma manufacturers, boosting the demand for continuous bioprocessing technologies. The manufacture of biologics has grown significantly over the last five years. The industry is shifting towards Bioprocessing 4.0, a term derived from Industry 4.0, a national strategic initiative launched by the German government in 2010. The Biopharma 4.0 concept has steadily gained momentum over the past several years, generating market growth opportunities.

Bioprocessing 4.0 integrates automation technologies such as robotics, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, among others, to improve bioprocesses in the pharmaceutical industry. AI-driven predictive analytics and modeling help in biopharmaceutical process development, reducing costs, time, and risks associated with experiment-based approaches. Biopharmaceutical manufacturers are under constant pressure to develop biopharmaceuticals in shorter timeframes without compromising product safety and quality, driving the demand for Bioprocessing 4.0.

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The key players operating in the continuous bioprocessing market are 3M Company (U.S.), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (U.S.), Sartorius AG (Germany), Eppendorf AG (Germany), Danaher Corporation (U.S.), Merck KGaA (Germany), Repligen Corporation (U.S.), Getinge AB (Sweden), Bionet (Spain), Corning Incorporated (U.S.), Fujifilm Holdings Corporation (Japan), Entegris, Inc. (U.S.), and Meissner Corporation (U.S.).

Among all the products studied in this report, the filtration systems & consumables segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The high growth of this segment is driven by the high preference for filtration methods as a separation technique in bioprocessing, technological advancements in filtration devices, and the need for high cell densities in controlling the bioburden in biopharmaceuticals. Investments by market players in advancing filtration systems also support the growth of this segment. For instance, in May 2023, 3M Company (U.S.) invested $150 million in advancing its biopharma filtration technology. The investment includes facility and equipment improvements in 3M manufacturing facilities in Europe.

Among all the process types studied in this report, in 2024, the downstream processes segment is expected to account for the larger share of the continuous bioprocessing market. The segment's large share is attributed to the high adoption of downstream processing in continuous manufacturing to check the final product quality, the increasing use of downstream bioprocessing for vaccine production and viral inactivation, and the increasing number of CMOs engaged in downstream processing. The players in this market are focused on strategic collaborations to advance downstream processes. For instance, in January 2023, Sartorius AG (Germany) collaborated with RoosterBio, Inc. (U.S.) to advance downstream purification processes in exosome manufacturing.

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Among all the applications studied in this report, in 2024, the commercial applications segment is expected to account for the larger share of the continuous bioprocessing market. Increasing investments in constructing facilities compatible with continuous bioprocessing for the commercial manufacture of biopharmaceuticals is a key factor supporting this segment's large share. The implementation of continuous bioprocessing in commercial biopharmaceutical manufacturing improves productivity and reduces manufacturing costs, reducing the prices of biopharmaceutical products, making medicines more accessible, and improving the quality of care. The shift in focus toward personalized medicines and individualized biologics also supports the adoption of continuous biomanufacturing in commercial applications.

Among all the end users studied in this report, the CDMOs & CROs segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The demand for continuous bioprocessing among CDMOs & CROs is expected to increase during the forecast period, mainly due to the flexibility offered by continuous bioprocessing and rising investments and partnerships among CDMOs and CROs. Continuous manufacturing reduces the overall process duration, helping save on operational and utility costs. These benefits are expected to support the adoption of continuous bioprocessing among CDMOs & CROs, boosting the growth of this segment.

Geographically, in 2024, North America is expected to account for the largest share of the continuous bioprocessing market. North America's major market share is attributed to the high R&D expenditure, growth in the pharmaceutical industry, and increasing pharmaceutical expenditure in the region. Also, initiatives supporting the uptake of biosimilars, and the rising number of biopharmaceutical approvals are accelerating research on precision medicines. According to the U.S. FDA, in 2023, 25 biologics were approved, compared to 14 in 2022.

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Scope of the Report:

Continuous Bioprocessing Market Assessmentby Product

Filtration Systems & Consumables

Chromatography Systems & Consumables

Cell Culture Media, Buffers, and Reagents

Incubators & Shakers

Bioreactors

Centrifuges

Sterilizers

Other Instruments & Consumables

Note: Other instruments & consumables include membrane absorbers, connectors & clamps, and sampling systems.

Continuous Bioprocessing Market Assessmentby Process Type

Upstream Processes

Downstream Processes

Continuous Bioprocessing Market Assessmentby Application

Commercial Applications

Monoclonal Antibodies (mAb) Production

Cell & Gene Therapy Production

Vaccine Manufacturing

Plasma Fractionation

Recombinant Protein Production

Research & Development (R&D) Applications

Continuous Bioprocessing Market Assessmentby End User

Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies

Contract Development & Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) & Contract Research Organizations (CROs)

Academic & Research Institutes

Continuous Bioprocessing Market Assessmentby Geography

North America U.S. Canada

Europe Germany France U.K Italy Spain Switzerland Ireland Denmark Belgium Rest of Europe (RoE)

Asia-Pacific (APAC) China Japan India South Korea Rest of Asia-Pacific (RoAPAC)

(APAC) Latin America

Middle East & Africa

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Related Reports:

Biopharmaceutical Processing Equipment and Consumables Market by Product Type (Filtration, Chromatography [Consumables, Equipment], Disposable Bioreactors, Cell Culture Media, Shakers, Services), Application (Vaccine, mAb, R&D), and End User- Forecast to 2029

Antibody Production Market by Product [Bioreactors (Single-use, Reusable), Chromatography, Filtration, Cell Lines, Media, Buffers, Resins], Antibody [Monoclonal, Polyclonal], Source [Mice, Rabbit], Process [Downstream, Upstream]  Global Forecast to 2031

Single-use Bioreactors Market by Product [Systems, Media Bags (2D, 3D), Filtration Assemblies], Type [Stirred-tank, Wave-induced], Cell [Mammalian, Bacterial, Yeast], Application [Commercial (mAb, Vaccine), Research], End User - Global Forecast to 2030

Chromatography Market by Product (Systems, Columns, Reagents, Vials, Fittings, Detectors, Pumps, Software), Technology (HPLC, LPLC, Flash Chromatography, GC, TLC), End User (Pharmaceutical, Academic, F&B, Environmental, Hospital)  Global Forecast to 2030

Cell Culture Market by Product [Consumables (Media, Reagents, Sera, Cell Lines), Equipment (Bioreactor, Centrifuge, Cell Counter)], Application (Bioproduction, Cancer Research, Stem Cell, Diagnostic), End User (Pharma, Academic) - Global Forecast to 2029

Related Blogs:

Top 10 Companies in Continuous Bioprocessing Market

About Meticulous Research

Meticulous Research was founded in 2010 and incorporated as Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. in 2013 as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 1956. Since its incorporation, the company has become the leading provider of premium market intelligence in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

The name of our company defines our services, strengths, and values. Since the inception, we have only thrived to research, analyze, and present the critical market data with great attention to details. With the meticulous primary and secondary research techniques, we have built strong capabilities in data collection, interpretation, and analysis of data including qualitative and quantitative research with the finest team of analysts. We design our meticulously analyzed intelligent and value-driven syndicate market research reports, custom studies, quick turnaround research, and consulting solutions to address business challenges of sustainable growth.

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SOURCE Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd.
Steve Strammello to succeed Mark Baer as CEO, effective January 1, 2025

CHICAGO, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Crowe LLP, a public accounting, consulting, and technology firm, has announced the appointment of Steve Strammello, 52, as its CEO-elect. He will succeed Mark Baer to assume the CEO role on January 1, 2025, the start of the firm's fiscal year. Baer will conclude his full 4-year term on December 31, 2024, and, together with Crowe's board of directors, he will begin the customary transition process to ensure a seamless transition of leadership to Strammello.

Crowe LLP, a public accounting, consulting, and technology firm, has announced the appointment of Steve Strammello as its CEO-elect.

The Crowe board of directors, which governs the firm, appointed the CEO-elect after an extensive vetting process.

"Steve was chosen to lead our firm for many reasons but primarily due to his deep understanding of how our profession is changing and a strong vision for how Crowe can continue to innovate and thrive in this dynamic environment," said Dawnella Johnson, Crowe board chair. "A confluence of factors is altering our landscape  the proliferation of advanced technology and AI, evolving business models, shrinking talent pipeline, and new entrants to the profession, just to name a few. However, amid those factors, certain truths remain critical to our business  quality, integrity, our values, client service and the stakeholder experience. We believe Steve is the right leader for our firm at this pivotal time."

Johnson added, "He is a strong communicator and inspirational leader that blends a connection to our rich history with a future-ready mindset."

"I'm honored to be chosen as the next CEO of this great firm," said Strammello. "Crowe exists today because, for over 80 years, our past leaders put quality first and focused on our clients and people. It's my obligation to pay that forward to our future leaders. The business environment has certainly changed over the years, and no doubt will continue to change in the years ahead. But the identity of Crowe remains a constant. Quality first, with focus on our clients and people, is what the world can and should expect of Crowe."

The firm's CEO succession plan includes a defined transition period for Baer and Strammello to work together. Baer will continue serving as a Crowe partner upon completion of his full 4-year term as CEO. As immediate-past CEO, Baer will leverage his incredible experience, vision, and commitment to quality to drive market growth and talent initiatives for the firm while advancing trust within the profession.

Strammello, a 30-year veteran of the firm, currently serves as the Global Markets Leader for Crowe. Previously, he served in numerous senior leadership roles for the firm, including Chief Risk Officer and managing partner of the firm's Risk Consulting practice. He spent the first nine years of his career in Crowe's Audit & Assurance business.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and resides in Carmel, Indiana.

About Crowe

Crowe LLP is a public accounting, consulting, and technology firm that uses its deep industry expertise to provide audit services to public and private entities. The firm and its subsidiaries also help clients make smart decisions that lead to lasting value with its tax and consulting services, helping businesses uncover hidden opportunities in the market  no matter what challenges the markets present. Crowe is recognized by many organizations as one of the best places to work in the U.S. As an independent member of Crowe Global, one of the largest global accounting networks in the world, Crowe serves clients worldwide. The network consists of more than 200 independent accounting and advisory services firms in more than 130 countries around the world.

Twitter: @CroweUSA

LinkedIn: Crowe

SOURCE Crowe LLP
NEW YORK, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In the dynamic world of technology, CSharpCorner, a community of millions of software developers owned by CSharp Inc., is hosting the largest and most ambitious hackathon, HackIndia 2024. This immersive hackathon promotes technological advancement by introducing student developers to the transformative potential of Web3, AI, and emerging technologies.

"We're witnessing India's rise as a global economic and intellectual powerhouse. Our collaborative efforts through university partnerships and local community chapters will ignite the next generation of developers, introducing them to cutting-edge technologies and nurturing future leaders. HackIndia serves as the nexus where all these elements converge." said Ivan Kan, CMO.

From May-October, HackIndia 2024 will bring together over 9,000 students from across India competing for $150K in prizes. Participants will benefit from the guidance of 72 judges and mentors, insights from 36 speakers, and the camaraderie of peers from 59 participating universities.

Mahesh Chand, Founder of CSharpCorner stated, "We're committed to fostering and educating the software developer community; we want today's students to become tomorrow's leaders, builders, entrepreneurs, and CEOs. On our platform, we focus on our members' growth through learning and sharing. We're achieving this with the utilization of AI and Blockchain".

HackIndia 2024: First Regional Hackathon Recap

HackIndia 2024 began with a 48-hour hackathon on May 14th and was hosted by the Department of Computer Applications at ABES Engineering College in Ghaziabad. There were over 500 entries from seven universities. Participants were mentored and developed projects using Web3, AI, and Web3 technologies.

"It was energizing to see the excitement from the moment participants arrived until the results were announced on day two. The teams were eager to learn, demonstrated excellent teamwork, and delivered impressive presentations." said CSharpCorner Regional Director, Stephen Simon.

The first three prize-winning teams will join the winners of the next six hackathon events to compete in the October final. HackIndia 2024 will conclude in Delhi with its winning team presenting on stage at India's premier Web3 Conference, BCrypt, held on October 25-26.

Bhasker Das, Director India commented, "As a HackIndia judge, it was amazing to see the students' energy, problem-solving skills, and diversity of ideas for using Web3 as a primary technology. HackIndia 2024 provides a fantastic platform for fostering innovation, and I'm excited to see what these future tech leaders create next!"

For more information on HackIndia 2024 contact: [email protected]

SOURCE CSharp Inc
CHICAGO, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Testimony filed by the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) has uncovered about $50 million in overcharges buried in Illinois American Water's proposed rate hike, criticizing the company for seeking an excessive profit rate and charging customers millions for executive bonuses, CUB said Thursday.

The consumer group said the company's rate-hike request highlights the need for Springfield to pass consumer protections for private water customers across Illinois.

In testimony filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) Wednesday, CUB argued that Illinois American's $152.4 million rate-hike request should be cut by at least 32 percent, or $48.78 million. CUB hopes to add at least $7 million to those reductions by adopting other testimony filed by the staff of the ICC and the Illinois Attorney General's Office.

"Our testimony reveals what Illinois American Water customers have known for yearsthat the company's rates are unjust and unreasonable," CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said. "Consumers just want clean and affordable waterthey shouldn't have to cover bonuses for Illinois American executives and exorbitant profit rates for corporate shareholders."

In January, Illinois American Water, the largest investor-owned water and wastewater utility in Illinois, serving about 1.3 million customers, filed a $152.4 million (39.5 percent) rate-hike request with the ICC. The company has already won $120 million in rate hikes in less than a decadean $85 million increase in 2022 and a $35 million hike in 2016.

Illinois American says the latest rate hike would increase average residential monthly water service bills by about $24 per month, while the average wastewater bill would increase by about $3 to $5 per month. Actual rates would depend on a customer's service area.

In this case, CUB partnered with Illinois Industrial Water Consumers, which represents large commercial customers, and the Village of Bolingbrook, which has suffered under high Illinois American bills. The testimony, from Christopher Walters and James Leyko, of Brubaker & Associates, Inc., a Missouri-based consulting firm that specializes in utility regulation, recommended $48.78 million in reductions:

Return on Equity and Common Equity Ratio. Illinois American is pushing to increase its Return on Equity (ROE), or profit-rate for shareholders, from an already excessive 9.78 percent to 10.75 percent. Plus, it wants a "common equity ratio"how much of the utility's financing comes from issuing stocksranging from 52 percent to 54 percent. CUB recommends a more reasonable ROE of 9.35 percent and capping the "common equity ratio" at 50 percent. These adjustments cut the rate hike by $27.28 million .

Illinois American is pushing to increase its Return on Equity (ROE), or profit-rate for shareholders, from an already excessive 9.78 percent to 10.75 percent. Plus, it wants a "common equity ratio"how much of the utility's financing comes from issuing stocksranging from 52 percent to 54 percent. CUB recommends a more reasonable ROE of 9.35 percent and capping the "common equity ratio" at 50 percent. These adjustments cut the rate hike by . Executive Bonuses. CUB argued that customers shouldn't cover bonuses the company gives to executives for reaching financial goals that only benefit shareholders. That recommendation cut Illinois American's proposed increase by another $5.8 million .

CUB argued that customers shouldn't cover bonuses the company gives to executives for reaching financial goals that only benefit shareholders. That recommendation cut Illinois American's proposed increase by another . Two-step Rate Hike. Illinois American proposed dividing its rate hike into two steps, with the bulk of the increase hitting customers initially in early 2025, and a second wave adding to the increase in early 2026. Utilities do not typically structure their requests in this manner, in fact no witness from Brubaker, the Attorney General's Office or ICC staff had ever seen this allowed in Illinois . CUB argued for fully rejecting the second step, because aside from it being a completely unprecedented request, it was calculated in a way that is unfair to customers and is designed to further enrich the company. That represented a $15.7 million reduction.

The ICC will rule on the rate case, Docket #24-0097, late this year, and new rates would take effect in early 2025. Customers can sign a petition against the rate hike at CUBActionCenter.com , and file a public comment against the increase directly with the ICC.

Illinois American's rate-hike request is the latest burden faced by its customers, who for years have contacted CUB to complain about excessive water bills that are fueled by two factors:

Illinois American won state legislative approval to add a "Qualifying Infrastructure Plant" surcharge to bills that has needlessly increased costs for customers.

State law allows Illinois American and Aqua Illinoisthe state's two biggest private water utilitiesto buy up depreciated water and wastewater systems across the state and charge their customers to cover 100 percent of the acquisition costs. CUB Water Tracker, our special online center monitoring the problem, found that these for-profit companies have purchased 56 systems since 2013, when state legislators passed a law that allows these water utilities to pass acquisition costs $402 million and countingonto their customers.

While customers suffer under these pro-utility policies, American Water, Illinois American's parent company, has prospered, raking in $1.8 billion in profits over the last two yearsincluding $820 million in 2022 and a 15 percent increase to $944 million in 2023.

"We hope that Illinois American's exorbitant rate-hike request shines a light on how private water customers have suffered in recent years," Moskowitz said. "There is a profound need for reform to rein in Illinois' biggest private water company and protect its customers."

In the 2024 legislative session in Springfield, CUB pushed for passage of House Bill 5157 (the "Water Affordability and Accountability Act"), which would, among other things, remove the QIP surcharge; require shareholders to cover most of the price tag when they buy a local water/wastewater system; and require local approval through a referendum before Illinois American or Aqua could buy up municipal systems.

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is celebrating its 40th anniversary as Illinois' leading nonprofit utility watchdog group. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, CUB has saved consumers more than $20 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure refunds. In 2024, CUB is celebrating its 40th anniversary of consumer advocacy work. For more information, call CUB's Consumer Hotline at 1-800-669-5556 or visit CUB's award-winning website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org .

SOURCE Citizens Utility Board
The increasing prevalence of degenerative disc disease (DDD) among the elderly population and the innovations in imaging technology & surgical tools are projected to drive the global degenerative disc disease treatment market's growth during the forecast period. The North America region is predicted to witness prominent growth by 2032.

PORTLAND, Ore. , May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research has recently published a report, titled, "Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment Market Size, Share, Competitive Landscape and Trend Analysis Report by Drugs, By Treatment Type, By End Use, By Route of Administration : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032." According to the report, the global degenerative disc disease treatment market generated $28 billion in 2022, and is anticipated to generate $46.2 billion by 2032, rising at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2023 to 2032.

Request Sample of the Report on Degenerative Disc Disease Market Forecast 2032- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/A269439

Prime Determinants of Growth

The increasing prevalence of degenerative disc disease (DDD) among the aging population, growing awareness about spine health and available treatment options, and the innovations in imaging technology & surgical tools are the factors expected to drive the growth of the global degenerative disc disease treatment market in the forecast period from 2023 to 2032. However, the increasing availability of various alternative treatment and pain management methods for degenerative disc disease may restrict market growth in the coming future. Contrarily, technological innovations in medical technology, such as robotics, 3D printing, and advanced imaging techniques is expected to offer remunerative opportunities for the degenerative disc disease treatment market expansion during the forecast period.

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $28 billion Market Size in 2032 $46.2 billion CAGR 5.5 % No. of Pages in Report 320 Segments covered Drugs, Treatment Type, Route of Administration, End Use, and Region Drivers Increasing awareness about spine health and available treatment options Rising demand for minimally invasive procedures Growing prevalence of degenerative disc disease Opportunities Advancements in medical technology Ongoing research & development Restraints Availability of various alternative treatment and pain management methods

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Drugs: NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) Sub-segment to be the Most Dominant by 2032

The NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) sub-segment accounted for the largest global degenerative disc disease treatment market share of 35.1% in 2022 and is expected to hold major share and rise at a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period. NSAIDs' effectiveness in reducing pain, inflammation, and fever, their over-the-counter availability, and their ability to address multiple symptoms simultaneously drive their widespread use for various conditions like arthritis and minor ailments, which is driving the sub-segment's growth. In addition, NSAIDs are a popular choice for self-medication.

Treatment Type: Physical Therapy Sub-segment to Flourish Immensely During the Forecast Period

The physical therapy sub-segment held the largest market share of 30.6% in 2022 and is predicted to grow at the highest CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period. This dominant growth can be attributed to physical therapy's non-invasive nature, its proven effectiveness in reducing pain and improving mobility, and its use of therapeutic exercises and modalities like ultrasound and electrical stimulation make it a preferred treatment for degenerative disc disease. This approach appeals to both patients and healthcare providers seeking conservative management options.

Route of Administration: Oral Sub-segment to Witness Dominant Growth by 2032

The oral control sub-segment accounted for the largest global degenerative disc disease treatment market share of 65.5% in 2022 and is expected to be most dominant by growing at the highest CAGR of 6.0% during the forecast period. This is mainly because oral medications for degenerative disc disease, such as NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, and analgesics, offer convenience and ease of administration, making them preferred by patients and healthcare providers. Their availability over-the-counter or with a prescription ensures accessibility in hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, providing flexibility in managing the condition.

End Use: Hospitals Sub-segment to Thrive Significantly During the Forecast Period

The hospitals sub-segment held the largest market share of 45.5% in 2022 and is predicted to grow at the highest CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period. This is mainly because specialized departments in hospitals dedicated to orthopedics, neurology, or spine care, equipped with advanced diagnostic tools and treatment modalities enable comprehensive care for patients with complex spinal conditions. This infrastructure drives hospitals to become preferred destinations for specialized treatment of degenerative disc disease.

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Region: North America Market to Hold Major Share by 2032

The North America degenerative disc disease treatment market accounted for the largest share of 34.1% in 2022 and is predicted to continue to hold major share by 2032. This is mainly due to the advancements in medical technology, rising healthcare expenditure, and increased patient awareness. Besides, the increasing prevalence of degenerative disc disease (DDD) attributed to aging populations and sedentary lifestyles is another factor driving the regional market growth.

Leading Players in the Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment Market:

Eli Lilly and Company

Spine BioPharma

Novartis AG

FibroGenesis

Ferring B.V.

Pfizer Inc.

AstraZeneca Plc

Medtronic plc

DiscGenics, Inc.

Braun Melsungen AG

The report provides a detailed analysis of the key players of the global degenerative disc disease treatment market. These players are employing various strategies including launching new products, entering collaborations, expanding operations, forming joint ventures, and signing agreements, all aimed at boosting their market share and securing their competitive position across different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
YELLOWKNIFE, NT, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Diamonds de Canada proudly announces the launch of its latest jewelry, the Lands Collection, debuting at the prestigious JCK Show in Las Vegas on Friday, May 31 to Monday, June 3. This new collection captures the essence of three iconic locations in The Northwest Territories of Canada - Ekati, Diavik, and Gahcho Kue. The personality of each territory intertwines with the wearer's persona, creating a truly individualized and meaningful jewelry experience.

Discover the new Lands Collection of responsible luxury jewelry from Diamonds de Canada.

The Lands Collection is a 42-piece celebration of Italian craftsmanship, Northern Canadian heritage, and responsible luxury, with pieces ranging from $299 to $1,700 USD retail. There are three collections: "Ice" represented as Classic and Enchanting; "Earth" depicted as Bold and Adventurous; and "Spirit" seen as Romantic and Visionary.

Unique to the Lands Collection is Modern Electrum, an ancient-inspired metal crafted in Italy. This exceptional material is inspired by the ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman techniques of electrum, lending a timeless allure to each piece in the collection. What sets Modern Electrum apart is its composition, which incorporates all five precious metals sourced entirely from 100 percent recycled industrial sources, aligning perfectly with Lands Collection's commitment to sustainability and responsible luxury. Lands Collection also trains locals in the art of diamond polishing so that each piece of jewelry embodies Earth's treasures and enriches the lives of those involved.

"Diamonds de Canada is thrilled to introduce the Lands Collection at the JCK Show in Las Vegas," said Lyssa King, President of Lands Collection. "Our collection embodies the beauty, culture, and environmental responsibility that are at the core of our brand. The Lands Collection allows wearers to connect deeply with the natural splendor and cultural heritage of these iconic locations, while also embracing the elegance and sophistication of Modern Electrum."

Attendees of the JCK Show in Las Vegas are invited to explore The Lands Collection at Diamonds de Canada's booth 12069. For more information about Diamonds de Canada and The Lands Collection, please visit www.landscollection.com or contact [email protected]. Stay updated on announcements from Lands Collection by following their Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, and Tik Tok.

For More Information, Contact:

Lyssa King

920-809-0131 | [email protected]

SOURCE Lands Collection
Florida's ONLY all-inclusive theme park, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, plus unlimited beverages, including beer and wine

Up-close animal encounters, including new experiences with flamingos and sharks

Limited-time Memorial Day sale with BIG savings, plus upgrade opportunity for unlimited visits to SeaWorld and Aquatica

DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES IMAGES HERE

ORLANDO, Fla., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, Discovery Cove Orlando invites travelers to immerse themselves in Florida's only all-inclusive theme park. A recipient of Good Housekeeping's 2024 Family Travel Award, Discovery Cove is an unexpected tropical oasis in the heart of Central Florida, offering an amazing array of animal encounters and exclusive experiences, including three all-new animal encounters.

"As the only all-inclusive theme park in Florida, Discovery Cove offers our guests a welcome break from the kind of worries and added costs associated with some 'big park' experiences," said Brad Gilmour, Discovery Cove's Park President. "This summer, we're inviting guests to ditch the crowds and hassle to discover what it really means to relax and enjoy a day of awe-inspiring, bucket-list experiences in an all-inclusive, world-class setting."

At Discovery Cove, guests can enjoy a one-of-a-kind opportunity to swim with dolphins in the Dolphin Lagoon, snorkel with fish and rays in The Grand Reef, hand-feed exotic birds in the Explorer's Aviary, and soak up the sun while relaxing on pristine white sandy beaches. As part of the all-inclusive experience, guests enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast and lunch, as well as unlimited snacks throughout the day, plus unlimited beverages, including beer and wine (for guests 21+). Parking, lockers, wetsuits, and swim gear are also included with every admission.

Adding to its list of award-winning bucket-list experiences, Discovery Cove recently announced the opening of three all-new animal encounters: the Flamingo Point habitat, Shark Snorkel program, and Ultimate Animal Experience.

Flamingo Point is a vibrant and spacious habitat within the lush landscapes of Discovery Cove, where guests can observe these graceful creatures up close while learning from the park's expert aviculturists. Observation at Flamingo Point is included with admission, but guests who want an even closer experience can upgrade to enjoy the Flamingo Mingle . Offered throughout the day, the Flamingo Mingle program (starting at $59.00 ) allows small groups of guests to step inside the habitat for a more personalized and intimate "flamingle" experience with the birds, as well as a question-and-answer session with the park's expert aviculturists. There are a limited number of spots available each day, so guests are encouraged to make reservations in advance. A portion of the proceeds from Flamingo Mingle benefits Audubon Florida.





is a vibrant and spacious habitat within the lush landscapes of Discovery Cove, where guests can observe these graceful creatures up close while learning from the park's expert aviculturists. Observation at Flamingo Point is included with admission, but guests who want an even closer experience can upgrade to enjoy the . Offered throughout the day, the Flamingo Mingle program (starting at ) allows small groups of guests to step inside the habitat for a more personalized and intimate "flamingle" experience with the birds, as well as a question-and-answer session with the park's expert aviculturists. There are a limited number of spots available each day, so guests are encouraged to make reservations in advance. A portion of the proceeds from Flamingo Mingle benefits Audubon Florida. The Shark Interaction program (starting at $169.00 ) allows guests to step into the shark habitat for a feeding and training session alongside Discovery Cove's expert Aquarists and more than 20 resident sharks. Guided by the park's aquarist team, guests learn about the characteristics of these often-misunderstood animals and gain a better understanding of the uniqueness of each shark species and the care they receive at Discovery Cove. The next part of the interaction is the Shark Snorkel , where guests don a snorkel and mask to enjoy a deep-water free swim among Pacific Blacktip, Nurse, Zebra Whitetip Reef and Bonnethead sharks. The Shark Snorkel (starting at $79.00 ) can also be purchased separately from the Shark Interaction. Guests must be at least 10 years old to participate in this experience. A portion of proceeds support the Guy Harvey Foundation.





program (starting at ) allows guests to step into the shark habitat for a feeding and training session alongside Discovery Cove's expert Aquarists and more than 20 resident sharks. Guided by the park's aquarist team, guests learn about the characteristics of these often-misunderstood animals and gain a better understanding of the uniqueness of each shark species and the care they receive at Discovery Cove. The next part of the interaction is the , where guests don a snorkel and mask to enjoy a deep-water free swim among Pacific Blacktip, Nurse, Zebra Whitetip Reef and Bonnethead sharks. The Shark Snorkel (starting at ) can also be purchased separately from the Shark Interaction. Guests must be at least 10 years old to participate in this experience. A portion of proceeds support the Guy Harvey Foundation. The Ultimate Animal Experience (starting at $249.00 ) turns a day at Discovery Cove into an epic zoological adventure! Available only as an add-on to the Signature Dolphin Swim package, this exclusive half-day experience includes a second enhanced interaction with dolphins, along with a private photo session with two dolphins; a behind-the-scenes tour of all Discovery Cove support areas; a private, pre-opening snorkel tour of The Grand Reef; a guided tour of the Explorer's Aviary; an Otter Enrichment session in the Freshwater Oasis; and special meet-and-greets with tropical birds and small mammals. Guests must be 6 years old to participate in this experience.

Just in time for summer travel planning, Discovery Cove is offering a limited-time Memorial Day savings of 20% (40% for Florida residents) plus a complimentary Premium Drink Package (a $40 value per person) that includes unlimited mixed drinks, frozen cocktails, wines, beers, and signature drinks throughout the day. In addition, starting as low as $48, guests can add to their Discovery Cove day with unlimited visits to SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando (valid for up to 14 consecutive days).

For more information and to book an all-inclusive day at Discovery Cove, visit DiscoveryCove.com.

Media Contact:

Maria Hayworth

Hayworth Public Relations

386-677-7000 x 1

[email protected]

SOURCE Discovery Cove Orlando
"I am honored to accept the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award and share this honor with my daughter, Zaya," said Dwyane Wade Post this

Wade accepted the award on stage during the Foundation's second annual Make Good Famous Summit , which gathered activists, changemakers, leaders, and culture-drivers from across the globe to discuss paths to spur collective action and create a more just and equitable world.

"I am honored to accept the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award and share this honor with my daughter, Zaya, who has served as the catalyzing force behind Translatable," said Dwyane Wade. "We hope that Translatable provides our youth with a community to support their growth, mental health, and well-being, and that this space ignites more conversation leading to greater understanding and acceptance."

The Elevate Prize Catalyst Award recognizes prominent individuals who use their influence to inspire social action. To advance their mission and scale their work, recipients receive $250,000 in unrestricted funding, as well as valuable development resources and partnership opportunities. Past recipients of the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award include Michael J. Fox, Matt Damon, and Malala Yousafzai  among others.

"We are honored to present this award to Dwyane Wade and support him and the Wade Family Foundation with the launch of Translatable. Dwyane's tireless dedication to the trans community and racial justice has illuminated the path toward a more inclusive future," said Carolina Garcia Jayaram, CEO of the Elevate Prize Foundation. "By bravely confronting societal norms and advocating for change, Dwyane has not only reshaped perceptions but also inspired countless individuals to be more supportive and to embrace authenticity. Moreover, we commend his decision to announce Translatable in Florida  a place where many might feel a sense of exclusion."

Wade introduced Translatable on-stage during the closing session of the Make Good Famous Summit, in line with the gathering's theme of "Powering Community Through Culture." The session was moderated by stand-up comedian, writer, and actress Phoebe Robinson, well-known for co-creating and co-starring in the hit podcast turned HBO series "2 Dope Queens." Wade shared with Robinson that Translatable will focus on communities of color, help center the most marginalized and emphasize the importance of parents and family. Translatable will also feature community contributions across a variety of mediums, including short stories, artwork and poetry.

Other key speakers at the Summit included Brendan Vaughan, Editor-in-Chief of Fast Company; Edgar Villanueva, Founder and CEO of the Decolonizing Wealth Project; Rebecca Fishman-Lipsey, President and CEO of The Miami Foundation; Wawa Gatheru, Founder and CEO, Black Girl Environmentalist; and Sepideh Moafi, actress and activist.

Additionally, the Summit gathered winners of the Elevate Prize , which recognizes and awards rising activists and social entrepreneurs with resources to raise visibility of their work and multiply their impact to "Make Good Famous." The Elevate Prize winners were also joined by the 2023 Top 10 CNN Heroes , including the 2023 CNN Hero of the Year and Elevate Prize winner Dr. Kwane Stewart of Project Street Vet. Winners of the Elevate Prize GET LOUD Award also participated at the event, representing community-based organizations across the globe championing change who were nominated by the @elevateprize Instagram community for the monthly prize  $25K in unrestricted funding to further their mission and impact.

About The Elevate Prize Foundation

Founded in 2019 by businessman and philanthropist Joseph Deitch, the Elevate Prize Foundation is a global non-profit that empowers social entrepreneurs and activists by providing them with the resources they need to amplify their impact. The Foundation's signature program is its annual Elevate Prize , which is awarded to 10 or more global leaders tackling pressing issues in innovative ways. The Elevate Prize Catalyst Award , another one of the Foundation's programs, recognizes prominent individuals for their commitment to inspiring global social action and using their influence for the good of humanity. In 2022, the Foundation launched the Elevate Prize GET LOUD Award , a monthly grant to fuel grassroots movements and organizers on the frontlines committed to collective action and building power among communities. For more information, visit www.elevateprize.org and follow @ElevatePrize on Instagram , Twitter , LinkedIn , and Facebook .

Media Contacts

Erin Mulholland, 484.753.4384, [email protected]

Makena Dingwell, 202.873.3401, [email protected]

SOURCE The Elevate Prize Foundation
JACKSON, Miss., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EastGroup Properties (NYSE: EGP) (the "Company", "EastGroup") announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.27 per share payable on July 15, 2024, to shareholders of record of Common Stock on June 28, 2024. This dividend is the 178th consecutive quarterly distribution to EastGroup's shareholders and represents an annualized dividend rate of $5.08 per share. EastGroup has increased or maintained its dividend for 31 consecutive years. The Company has increased it 28 years over that period, including increases in each of the last 12 years.

EastGroup, a member of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and Russell 1000 Indexes, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina. The Company's goal is to maximize shareholder value by being a leading provider in its markets of functional, flexible and quality business distribution space for location sensitive customers (primarily in the 20,000 to 100,000 square foot range). The Company's strategy for growth is based on ownership of premier distribution facilities generally clustered near major transportation features in supply-constrained submarkets. EastGroup's portfolio, including development projects and value-add acquisitions in lease-up and under construction, currently includes approximately 60 million square feet.

EastGroup Properties, Inc. press releases are available at www.eastgroup.net.

SOURCE EastGroup Properties
Biomarker Analyses from Pivotal Phase 3 CLEAR Trial in Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma Will Be Featured in an Oral Presentation

Additional Data From Eisai's Pipeline Provide Insights Into Metastatic Breast Cancer and Other Solid Tumors

NUTLEY, N.J., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Eisai announced today the presentation of research across multiple types of cancer from its oncology portfolio and pipeline during the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting (#ASCO24), which is taking place virtually and in-person in Chicago, Illinois from May 31 to June 4.

Notable data include an oral presentation on biomarker analyses from the pivotal Phase 3 CLEAR (Study 307)/KEYNOTE-581 trial (NCT02811861), which evaluated lenvatinib (LENVIMA), the orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor discovered by Eisai, plus pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA), Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy, versus sunitinib for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (Abstract #4504). An analysis of patterns of disease progression and subsequent therapy from this trial will also be presented in a poster presentation (Abstract #4524).

"At Eisai, we let the science drive us to new approaches that accelerate progress in oncology, while also remaining grounded in our human health care concept that reinforces our commitment to prioritize the needs of patients and families impacted by a cancer diagnosis," said Dr. Takashi Owa, Chief Scientific Officer, Senior Vice President, Eisai Co., Ltd. "With this in mind, we look forward to sharing research that provides further insight into the role of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab as a first-line standard of care option in advanced renal cell carcinoma, as well as research that explores various modalities in our pipeline for the potential treatment of advanced diseases with the goal of improving patients' lives."

Other key research of note from Eisai's pipeline include an oral presentation of Phase 3 data from the JBCRG-M06/EMERALD study in Japan evaluating trastuzumab and pertuzumab in combination with Eisai's eribulin mesylate or a taxane in patients with HER2-positive, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer ( NCT03264547 ; Abstract #1007). Additional pipeline research to be presented in poster sessions include an overview of a Phase 2 study of BB-1701, an antibody drug conjugate targeting HER2, in previously treated patients with HER2-positive or HER2-low unresectable or metastatic breast cancer (NCT06188559; Abstract #TPS1122), findings from a Phase 1b trial of tasurgratinib (development code: E7090) with or without endocrine therapies for patients with ER positive, HER2 negative recurrent/metastatic breast cancer after receiving a CDK4/6 inhibitor (NCT04572295; Abstract #3103), as well as the dose-expansion part of a Phase 1b global study of E7386 (a Wnt/-catenin pathway modulator) in combination with lenvatinib in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and other solid tumors including endometrial cancer (NCT04008797; Abstract #TPS3169).

This release discusses investigational compounds and investigational uses for FDA-approved products. It is not intended to convey conclusions about efficacy and safety. There is no guarantee that any investigational compounds or investigational uses of FDA-approved products will successfully complete clinical development or gain FDA approval.

The full list of Eisai presentations is included below. These abstracts will be made available via the ASCO website on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 5:00 PM EDT.

Cancer Type Study/Compound Abstract Title Abstract Type & Details Lenvatinib Plus Pembrolizumab Genitourinary Cancer CLEAR Biomarker analyses in patients with

advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) from

the phase 3 CLEAR trial Oral Abstract Session Abstract #4504 June 3, 2024 10:00 AM EDT / 9:00 AM CDT Genitourinary Cancer CLEAR Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab (L+P) vs

sunitinib (S) in advanced renal cell

carcinoma (aRCC): Patterns of progression

and subsequent therapy in the CLEAR trial Poster Session Abstract #4524 June 2, 2024 10:00 AM EDT / 9:00 AM PM CDT Melanoma LEAP-004 Lenvatinib (len) plus pembrolizumab

(pembro) in patients with advanced

melanoma that progressed on anti-PD-(L)1

therapy: Over 4 years of follow-up from the

phase 2 LEAP-004 study Poster Session Abstract #9559 June 1, 2024 2:30 PM EDT / 1:30 PM CDT Lenvatinib Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Real-World Evidence Patients with radioiodine-refractory

differentiated thyroid cancer (RAI-R DTC)

with BRAF V600E and/or K601E mutation

status: A real-world view of effectiveness of

lenvatinib monotherapy Poster Session Abstract #6098 June 2, 2024 10:00 AM EDT / 9:00 AM CDT Gastrointestinal

Cancer REFLECT ctDNA analysis of patients (pts) with

unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

(uHCC) treated with lenvatinib (LEN) or

sorafenib (SOR) as 1L therapy Poster Session Abstract #4094 June 1, 2024 2:30 PM EDT / 1:30 PM CDT Eribulin Breast Cancer JBCRG-M06/ EMERALD Trastuzumab and pertuzumab in

combination with eribulin mesylate or a

taxane as first-line chemotherapeutic

treatment for HER2-positive, locally

advanced or metastatic breast cancer:

Results of a multicenter, randomized, non-

inferiority phase 3 trial in Japan (JBCRG-

M06/EMERALD) Oral Abstract Session Abstract #1007 June 1, 2023 6:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM CDT Pipeline Breast Cancer BB-1701 An open-label, multicenter, phase 2 study to

evaluate the safety and efficacy of BB-1701,

a novel antibody drug conjugate (ADC)

targeting human epidermal

growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), in

previously treated patients with HER2-

positive (HER2+) or HER2-low unresectable

or metastatic breast cancer (BC) Poster Session Abstract #TPS1122 June 2, 2024 10:00 AM EDT / 9:00 AM CDT tasurgratinib Phase Ib trial of tasurgratinib (E7090) with

or without endocrine therapies for patients

(pts) with ER+, HER2 recurrent/metastatic

breast cancer (BC) after receiving a CDK4/6

inhibitor Poster Session Abstract #3103 June 1, 2024 10:00 AM EDT / 9:00 AM CDT H3B-6545 H3B-6545 in women with locally

advanced/metastatic estrogen receptor-

positive (ER+), HER2 negative (-) breast

cancer (BC) Rapid Oral Session Abstract #1015 June 3, 2024 12:36 PM EDT / 11:36 AM CDT H3B-6545 H3B-6545 + palbociclib in patients (pts) with

locally advanced/metastatic estrogen

receptor-positive (ER+), HER2 negative (-)

breast cancer (BC) Poster Session Abstract #1051 June 2, 2024 10:00 AM EDT / 9:00 AM CDT Solid Tumors E7386 Dose-expansion part of a phase 1b global

study of E7386 in combination with

lenvatinib (LEN) in patients (pts) with

hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other

solid tumors including endometrial cancer

(EC) Poster Session Abstract #TPS3169 June 1, 2024 10:00 AM EDT / 9:00 AM CDT

In March 2018, Eisai and Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada), through an affiliate, entered into a strategic collaboration for the worldwide co-development and co-commercialization of lenvatinib, both as monotherapy and in combination with Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy, pembrolizumab. Eisai and Merck are studying the lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab combination through the LEAP (LEnvatinib And Pembrolizumab) clinical program in various tumor types across multiple clinical trials.

In May 2023, Eisai entered into a joint development agreement with Bliss Biopharmaceutical (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Zhejiang Province, China, "BlissBio"), for BB-1701, a HER2-targeting antibody drug conjugate (ADC), with option rights for a strategic collaboration. Eisai and BlissBio are currently investigating BB-1701 in a Phase 2 clinical trial in Japan and the United States for breast cancer, and a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in the United States and China for HER2-expressing solid tumors.

About BB-1701

BB-1701 is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) that is composed of Eisai's in-house developed cytotoxic agent eribulin, and an anti-HER2 antibody using a linker, and is expected to have anti-tumor effects on breast, lung and other solid tumors that express HER2 through direct cytotoxicity (including immunogenic cell death), a bystander effect* and immune response-induced cell death.

*Bystander effect: When the cytotoxic agent and antibody parts of an ADC are separated inside a targeted antigen-positive cancer cell, the released cytotoxic agent also affects neighboring antigen-negative cancer cells and the component cells of the cancer microenvironment.

About E7386

E7386 is a selective inhibitor of the interaction between the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) binding protein (CBP) / -catenin and a modulator of the Wnt / -catenin signaling pathway. E7386 is thought to block the protein-protein interaction between a transcriptional co-activator, CBP and -catenin, resulting in the inhibition of Wnt / -catenin pathway-dependent gene expression. Since E7386 is thought to act on the CBP / -catenin transcription complex located at the most downstream of the Wnt signaling, it is expected to inhibit not only ligand-dependent activation but also activation caused by gene mutations in Wnt signaling factors such as adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and -catenin. E7386 is created through collaboration research between Eisai and PRISM BioLab Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kanagawa)

About HALAVEN (eribulin mesylate) Injection (0.5 mg/mL)

HALAVEN (eribulin mesylate) Injection is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) who have previously received at least 2 chemotherapeutic regimens for the treatment of metastatic disease. Prior therapy should have included an anthracycline and a taxane in either the adjuvant or metastatic setting. HALAVEN is also indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic liposarcoma who have received a prior anthracycline-containing regimen.

Eribulin is a microtubule dynamics inhibitor in the halichondrin class with a novel mechanism of action, developed in-house by Eisai. Structurally, eribulin is a simplified and synthetically produced version of halichondrin B, a natural product isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria okadai. Eribulin is believed to work by inhibiting the growth phase of microtubule dynamics which prevents cell division. In addition, non-clinical studies showed eribulin's unique actions in the tumor microenvironment such as an increase in vascular perfusion and permeability in tumor cores, promotion of the epithelial state, decrease in capacity of breast cancer cells to migrate, etc.

Important Safety Information for HALAVEN

Warnings and Precautions

Neutropenia: Severe neutropenia (ANC <500/mm3) lasting >1 week occurred in 12% of patients with mBC. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 5% of patients with mBC and 2 patients (0.4%) died from complications. Patients with mBC with elevated liver enzymes >3  ULN and bilirubin >1.5  ULN experienced a higher incidence of Grade 4 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia than patients with normal levels. Monitor complete blood cell counts prior to each dose, and increase the frequency of monitoring in patients who develop Grade 3 or 4 cytopenias. Delay administration and reduce subsequent doses in patients who experience febrile neutropenia or Grade 4 neutropenia lasting >7 days.

Peripheral Neuropathy: Grade 3 peripheral neuropathy occurred in 8% of patients with mBC (Grade 4=0.4%) and 22% developed a new or worsening neuropathy that had not recovered within a median follow-up duration of 269 days (range 25-662 days). Neuropathy lasting >1 year occurred in 5% of patients with mBC. Patients should be monitored for signs of peripheral motor and sensory neuropathy. Withhold HALAVEN in patients who experience Grade 3 or 4 peripheral neuropathy until resolution to Grade 2 or less.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: HALAVEN can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with HALAVEN and for at least 2 weeks following the nal dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with HALAVEN and for 3.5 months following the nal dose.

QT Prolongation: Monitor for prolonged QT intervals in patients with congestive heart failure, bradyarrhythmias, drugs known to prolong the QT interval, and electrolyte abnormalities. Correct hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia prior to initiating HALAVEN and monitor these electrolytes periodically during therapy. Avoid in patients with congenital long QT syndrome.

Adverse Reactions

In patients with mBC receiving HALAVEN, the most common adverse reactions (25%) were neutropenia (82%), anemia (58%), asthenia/fatigue (54%), alopecia (45%), peripheral neuropathy (35%), nausea (35%), and constipation (25%). Febrile neutropenia (4%) and neutropenia (2%) were the most common serious adverse reactions. The most common adverse reaction resulting in discontinuation was peripheral neuropathy (5%).

In patients with liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma receiving HALAVEN, the most common adverse reactions (25%) reported in patients receiving HALAVEN were fatigue (62%), nausea (41%), alopecia (35%), constipation (32%), peripheral neuropathy (29%), abdominal pain (29%), and pyrexia (28%). The most common (5%) Grade 3-4 laboratory abnormalities reported in patients receiving HALAVEN were neutropenia (32%), hypokalemia (5.4%), and hypocalcemia (5%). Neutropenia (4.9%) and pyrexia (4.5%) were the most common serious adverse reactions. The most common adverse reactions resulting in discontinuation were fatigue and thrombocytopenia (0.9% each).

Use in Specic Populations

Lactation: Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants from eribulin mesylate, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with HALAVEN and for 2 weeks after the nal dose.

Hepatic and Renal Impairment: A reduction in starting dose is recommended for patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment and/or moderate or severe renal impairment.

For more information about HALAVEN, click here for the full Prescribing Information.

HALAVEN is a registered trademark used by Eisai Inc. under license from Eisai R&D Management Co., Ltd.

About LENVIMA (lenvatinib) Capsules

LENVIMA is indicated:

For the treatment of adult patients with locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC)

In combination with pembrolizumab, for the first line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC)

In combination with everolimus for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following one prior anti-angiogenic therapy

For the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

In combination with pembrolizumab, for the treatment of patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma (EC) that is mismatch repair proficient (pMMR), as determined by an FDA-approved test, or not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation.

LENVIMA, discovered and developed by Eisai, is a multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits the kinase activities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors VEGFR1 (FLT1), VEGFR2 (KDR), and VEGFR3 (FLT4). LENVIMA inhibits other kinases that have been implicated in pathogenic angiogenesis, tumor growth, and cancer progression in addition to their normal cellular functions, including fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors FGFR1-4, the platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA), KIT, and RET. Lenvatinib also exhibited antiproliferative activity in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines dependent on activated FGFR signaling with a concurrent inhibition of FGF-receptor substrate 2 alpha (FRS2) phosphorylation. In syngeneic mouse tumor models, the combination of lenvatinib with an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody decreased tumor-associated macrophages, increased activated cytotoxic T cells, and demonstrated greater antitumor activity compared to either treatment alone. The combination of LENVIMA and everolimus showed increased antiangiogenic and antitumor activity as demonstrated by decreased human endothelial cell proliferation, tube formation, and VEGF signaling in vitro and tumor volume in mouse xenograft models of human renal cell cancer greater than each drug alone.

Important Safety Information for LENVIMA

Warnings and Precautions

Hypertension. In DTC (differentiated thyroid cancer), hypertension occurred in 73% of patients on LENVIMA (44% grade 3-4). In RCC (renal cell carcinoma), hypertension occurred in 42% of patients on LENVIMA + everolimus (13% grade 3). Systolic blood pressure 160 mmHg occurred in 29% of patients, and 21% had diastolic blood pressure 100 mmHg. In HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma), hypertension occurred in 45% of LENVIMA-treated patients (24% grade 3). Grade 4 hypertension was not reported in HCC.

Serious complications of poorly controlled hypertension have been reported. Control blood pressure prior to initiation. Monitor blood pressure after 1 week, then every 2 weeks for the first 2 months, and then at least monthly thereafter during treatment. Withhold and resume at reduced dose when hypertension is controlled or permanently discontinue based on severity.

Cardiac Dysfunction. Serious and fatal cardiac dysfunction can occur with LENVIMA. Across clinical trials in 799 patients with DTC, RCC, and HCC, grade 3 or higher cardiac dysfunction occurred in 3% of LENVIMA-treated patients. Monitor for clinical symptoms or signs of cardiac dysfunction. Withhold and resume at reduced dose upon recovery or permanently discontinue based on severity.

Arterial Thromboembolic Events. Among patients receiving LENVIMA or LENVIMA + everolimus, arterial thromboembolic events of any severity occurred in 2% of patients in RCC and HCC and 5% in DTC. Grade 3-5 arterial thromboembolic events ranged from 2% to 3% across all clinical trials.

Among patients receiving LENVIMA with pembrolizumab, arterial thrombotic events of any severity occurred in 5% of patients in CLEAR, including myocardial infarction (3.4%) and cerebrovascular accident (2.3%).

Permanently discontinue following an arterial thrombotic event. The safety of resuming after an arterial thromboembolic event has not been established, and LENVIMA has not been studied in patients who have had an arterial thromboembolic event within the previous 6 months.

Hepatotoxicity. Across clinical studies enrolling 1327 LENVIMA-treated patients with malignancies other than HCC, serious hepatic adverse reactions occurred in 1.4% of patients. Fatal events, including hepatic failure, acute hepatitis, and hepatorenal syndrome, occurred in 0.5% of patients. In HCC, hepatic encephalopathy occurred in 8% of LENVIMA-treated patients (5% grade 3-5). Grade 3-5 hepatic failure occurred in 3% of LENVIMA-treated patients; 2% of patients discontinued LENVIMA due to hepatic encephalopathy, and 1% discontinued due to hepatic failure.

Monitor liver function prior to initiation, then every 2 weeks for the first 2 months, and at least monthly thereafter during treatment. Monitor patients with HCC closely for signs of hepatic failure, including hepatic encephalopathy. Withhold and resume at reduced dose upon recovery or permanently discontinue based on severity.

Renal Failure or Impairment. Serious including fatal renal failure or impairment can occur with LENVIMA. Renal impairment was reported in 14% and 7% of LENVIMA-treated patients in DTC and HCC, respectively. Grade 3-5 renal failure or impairment occurred in 3% of patients with DTC and 2% of patients with HCC, including 1 fatal event in each study. In RCC, renal impairment or renal failure was reported in 18% of LENVIMA + everolimustreated patients (10% grade 3).

Initiate prompt management of diarrhea or dehydration/hypovolemia. Withhold and resume at reduced dose upon recovery or permanently discontinue for renal failure or impairment based on severity.

Proteinuria. In DTC and HCC, proteinuria was reported in 34% and 26% of LENVIMA-treated patients, respectively. Grade 3 proteinuria occurred in 11% and 6% in DTC and HCC, respectively. In RCC, proteinuria occurred in 31% of patients receiving LENVIMA + everolimus (8% grade 3). Monitor for proteinuria prior to initiation and periodically during treatment. If urine dipstick proteinuria 2+ is detected, obtain a 24-hour urine protein. Withhold and resume at reduced dose upon recovery or permanently discontinue based on severity.

Diarrhea. Of the 737 LENVIMA-treated patients in DTC and HCC, diarrhea occurred in 49% (6% grade 3). In RCC, diarrhea occurred in 81% of LENVIMA + everolimustreated patients (19% grade 3). Diarrhea was the most frequent cause of dose interruption/reduction, and diarrhea recurred despite dose reduction. Promptly initiate management of diarrhea. Withhold and resume at reduced dose upon recovery or permanently discontinue based on severity.

Fistula Formation and Gastrointestinal Perforation. Of the 799 patients treated with LENVIMA or LENVIMA + everolimus in DTC, RCC, and HCC, fistula or gastrointestinal perforation occurred in 2%. Permanently discontinue in patients who develop gastrointestinal perforation of any severity or grade 3-4 fistula.

QT Interval Prolongation. In DTC, QT/QTc interval prolongation occurred in 9% of LENVIMA-treated patients and QT interval prolongation of >500 ms occurred in 2%. In RCC, QTc interval increases of >60 ms occurred in 11% of patients receiving LENVIMA + everolimus and QTc interval >500 ms occurred in 6%. In HCC, QTc interval increases of >60 ms occurred in 8% of LENVIMA-treated patients and QTc interval >500 ms occurred in 2%.

Monitor and correct electrolyte abnormalities at baseline and periodically during treatment. Monitor electrocardiograms in patients with congenital long QT syndrome, congestive heart failure, bradyarrhythmias, or those who are taking drugs known to prolong the QT interval, including Class Ia and III antiarrhythmics. Withhold and resume at reduced dose upon recovery based on severity.

Hypocalcemia. In DTC, grade 3-4 hypocalcemia occurred in 9% of LENVIMA-treated patients. In 65% of cases, hypocalcemia improved or resolved following calcium supplementation with or without dose interruption or dose reduction. In RCC, grade 3-4 hypocalcemia occurred in 6% of LENVIMA + everolimustreated patients. In HCC, grade 3 hypocalcemia occurred in 0.8% of LENVIMA-treated patients. Monitor blood calcium levels at least monthly and replace calcium as necessary during treatment. Withhold and resume at reduced dose upon recovery or permanently discontinue depending on severity.

Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS). Across clinical studies of 1823 patients who received LENVIMA as a single agent, RPLS occurred in 0.3%. Confirm diagnosis of RPLS with MRI. Withhold and resume at reduced dose upon recovery or permanently discontinue depending on severity and persistence of neurologic symptoms.

Hemorrhagic Events. Serious including fatal hemorrhagic events can occur with LENVIMA. In DTC, RCC, and HCC clinical trials, hemorrhagic events, of any grade, occurred in 29% of the 799 patients treated with LENVIMA as a single agent or in combination with everolimus. The most frequently reported hemorrhagic events (all grades and occurring in at least 5% of patients) were epistaxis and hematuria. In DTC, grade 3-5 hemorrhage occurred in 2% of LENVIMA-treated patients, including 1 fatal intracranial hemorrhage among 16 patients who received LENVIMA and had CNS metastases at baseline. In RCC, grade 3-5 hemorrhage occurred in 8% of LENVIMA + everolimustreated patients, including 1 fatal cerebral hemorrhage. In HCC, grade 3-5 hemorrhage occurred in 5% of LENVIMA-treated patients, including 7 fatal hemorrhagic events. Serious tumor-related bleeds, including fatal hemorrhagic events, occurred in LENVIMA-treated patients in clinical trials and in the postmarketing setting. In postmarketing surveillance, serious and fatal carotid artery hemorrhages were seen more frequently in patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) than other tumors. Safety and effectiveness of LENVIMA in patients with ATC have not been demonstrated in clinical trials.

Consider the risk of severe or fatal hemorrhage associated with tumor invasion or infiltration of major blood vessels (eg, carotid artery). Withhold and resume at reduced dose upon recovery or permanently discontinue based on severity.

Impairment of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Suppression/Thyroid Dysfunction. LENVIMA impairs exogenous thyroid suppression. In DTC, 88% of patients had baseline thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level 0.5 mU/L. In patients with normal TSH at baseline, elevation of TSH level >0.5 mU/L was observed post baseline in 57% of LENVIMA-treated patients. In RCC and HCC, grade 1 or 2 hypothyroidism occurred in 24% of LENVIMA + everolimustreated patients and 21% of LENVIMA-treated patients, respectively. In patients with normal or low TSH at baseline, elevation of TSH was observed post baseline in 70% of LENVIMA-treated patients in HCC and 60% of LENVIMA + everolimustreated patients in RCC.

Monitor thyroid function prior to initiation and at least monthly during treatment. Treat hypothyroidism according to standard medical practice.

Impaired Wound Healing. Impaired wound healing has been reported in patients who received LENVIMA. Withhold LENVIMA for at least 1 week prior to elective surgery. Do not administer for at least 2 weeks following major surgery and until adequate wound healing. The safety of resumption of LENVIMA after resolution of wound healing complications has not been established.

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ). ONJ has been reported in patients receiving LENVIMA. Concomitant exposure to other risk factors, such as bisphosphonates, denosumab, dental disease, or invasive dental procedures, may increase the risk of ONJ.

Perform an oral examination prior to treatment with LENVIMA and periodically during LENVIMA treatment. Advise patients regarding good oral hygiene practices and to consider having preventive dentistry performed prior to treatment with LENVIMA and throughout treatment with LENVIMA.



Avoid invasive dental procedures, if possible, while on LENVIMA treatment, particularly in patients at higher risk. Withhold LENVIMA for at least 1 week prior to scheduled dental surgery or invasive dental procedures, if possible. For patients requiring invasive dental procedures, discontinuation of bisphosphonate treatment may reduce the risk of ONJ.



Withhold LENVIMA if ONJ develops and restart based on clinical judgement of adequate resolution.



Embryo-Fetal Toxicity. Based on its mechanism of action and data from animal reproduction studies, LENVIMA can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. In animal reproduction studies, oral administration of lenvatinib during organogenesis at doses below the recommended clinical doses resulted in embryotoxicity, fetotoxicity, and teratogenicity in rats and rabbits. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus and advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with LENVIMA and for 30 days after the last dose.

Adverse Reactions

In DTC, the most common adverse reactions (30%) observed in LENVIMA-treated patients were hypertension (73%), fatigue (67%), diarrhea (67%), arthralgia/myalgia (62%), decreased appetite (54%), decreased weight (51%), nausea (47%), stomatitis (41%), headache (38%), vomiting (36%), proteinuria (34%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (32%), abdominal pain (31%), and dysphonia (31%). The most common serious adverse reactions (2%) were pneumonia (4%), hypertension (3%), and dehydration (3%). Adverse reactions led to dose reductions in 68% of LENVIMA-treated patients; 18% discontinued LENVIMA. The most common adverse reactions (10%) resulting in dose reductions were hypertension (13%), proteinuria (11%), decreased appetite (10%), and diarrhea (10%); the most common adverse reactions (1%) resulting in discontinuation of LENVIMA were hypertension (1%) and asthenia (1%).

In RCC, the most common adverse reactions (20%) observed in LENVIMA + pembrolizumab-treated patients were fatigue (63%), diarrhea (62%), musculoskeletal pain (58%), hypothyroidism (57%), hypertension (56%), stomatitis (43%), decreased appetite (41%), rash (37%), nausea (36%), decreased weight (30%), dysphonia (30%), proteinuria (30%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (29%), abdominal pain (27%), hemorrhagic events (27%), vomiting (26%), constipation (25%), hepatotoxicity (25%), headache (23%), and acute kidney injury (21%). The most common serious adverse reactions (2%) were hemorrhagic events (5%), diarrhea (4%), hypertension (3%), myocardial infarction (3%), pneumonitis (3%), vomiting (3%), acute kidney injury (2%), adrenal insufficiency (2%), dyspnea (2%), and pneumonia (2%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 4.3% of patients receiving LENVIMA in combination with pembrolizumab, including cardio-respiratory arrest (0.9%), sepsis (0.9%), and one case (0.3%) each of arrhythmia, autoimmune hepatitis, dyspnea, hypertensive crisis, increased blood creatinine, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, myasthenic syndrome, myocarditis, nephritis, pneumonitis, ruptured aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 51% of patients receiving LENVIMA and pembrolizumab. Serious adverse reactions in 2% of patients were hemorrhagic events (5%), diarrhea (4%), hypertension (3%), myocardial infarction (3%), pneumonitis (3%), vomiting (3%), acute kidney injury (2%), adrenal insufficiency (2%), dyspnea (2%), and pneumonia (2%). Permanent discontinuation of LENVIMA, pembrolizumab, or both due to an adverse reaction occurred in 37% of patients; 26% LENVIMA only, 29% pembrolizumab only, and 13% both drugs. The most common adverse reactions (2%) leading to permanent discontinuation of LENVIMA, pembrolizumab, or both were pneumonitis (3%), myocardial infarction (3%), hepatotoxicity (3%), acute kidney injury (3%), rash (3%), and diarrhea (2%). Dose interruptions of LENVIMA, pembrolizumab, or both due to an adverse reaction occurred in 78% of patients receiving LENVIMA in combination with pembrolizumab. LENVIMA was interrupted in 73% of patients and both drugs were interrupted in 39% of patients. LENVIMA was dose reduced in 69% of patients. The most common adverse reactions (5%) resulting in dose reduction or interruption of LENVIMA were diarrhea (26%), fatigue (18%), hypertension (17%), proteinuria (13%), decreased appetite (12%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (11%), nausea (9%), stomatitis (9%), musculoskeletal pain (8%), rash (8%), increased lipase (7%), abdominal pain (6%), and vomiting (6%), increased ALT (5%), and increased amylase (5%).

In RCC, the most common adverse reactions (30%) observed in LENVIMA + everolimustreated patients were diarrhea (81%), fatigue (73%), arthralgia/myalgia (55%), decreased appetite (53%), vomiting (48%), nausea (45%), stomatitis (44%), hypertension (42%), peripheral edema (42%), cough (37%), abdominal pain (37%), dyspnea (35%), rash (35%), decreased weight (34%), hemorrhagic events (32%), and proteinuria (31%). The most common serious adverse reactions (5%) were renal failure (11%), dehydration (10%), anemia (6%), thrombocytopenia (5%), diarrhea (5%), vomiting (5%), and dyspnea (5%). Adverse reactions led to dose reductions or interruption in 89% of patients. The most common adverse reactions (5%) resulting in dose reductions were diarrhea (21%), fatigue (8%), thrombocytopenia (6%), vomiting (6%), nausea (5%), and proteinuria (5%). Treatment discontinuation due to an adverse reaction occurred in 29% of patients.

In HCC, the most common adverse reactions (20%) observed in LENVIMA-treated patients were hypertension (45%), fatigue (44%), diarrhea (39%), decreased appetite (34%), arthralgia/myalgia (31%), decreased weight (31%), abdominal pain (30%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (27%), proteinuria (26%), dysphonia (24%), hemorrhagic events (23%), hypothyroidism (21%), and nausea (20%). The most common serious adverse reactions (2%) were hepatic encephalopathy (5%), hepatic failure (3%), ascites (3%), and decreased appetite (2%). Adverse reactions led to dose reductions or interruption in 62% of patients. The most common adverse reactions (5%) resulting in dose reductions were fatigue (9%), decreased appetite (8%), diarrhea (8%), proteinuria (7%), hypertension (6%), and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (5%). Treatment discontinuation due to an adverse reaction occurred in 20% of patients. The most common adverse reactions (1%) resulting in discontinuation of LENVIMA were fatigue (1%), hepatic encephalopathy (2%), hyperbilirubinemia (1%), and hepatic failure (1%).

In EC, the most common adverse reactions (20%) observed in LENVIMA and pembrolizumabtreated patients were hypothyroidism (67%), hypertension (67%), fatigue (58%), diarrhea (55%), musculoskeletal disorders (53%), nausea (49%), decreased appetite (44%), vomiting (37%), stomatitis (35%), decreased weight (34%), abdominal pain (34%), urinary tract infection (31%), proteinuria (29%), constipation (27%), headache (26%), hemorrhagic events (25%), palmarplantar erythrodysesthesia (23%), dysphonia (22%), and rash (20%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 4.7% of those treated with LENVIMA and pembrolizumab, including 2 cases of pneumonia, and 1 case of the following: acute kidney injury, acute myocardial infarction, colitis, decreased appetite, intestinal perforation, lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage, malignant gastrointestinal obstruction, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, myelodysplastic syndrome, pulmonary embolism, and right ventricular dysfunction. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 50% of patients receiving LENVIMA and pembrolizumab. Serious adverse reactions with frequency 3% were hypertension (4.4%), and urinary tract infection (3.2%). Discontinuation of LENVIMA due to an adverse reaction occurred in 26% of patients. The most common (1%) adverse reactions leading to discontinuation of LENVIMA were hypertension (2%), asthenia (1.8%), diarrhea (1.2%), decreased appetite (1.2%), proteinuria (1.2%), and vomiting (1.2%). Dose reductions of LENVIMA due to adverse reactions occurred in 67% of patients. The most common (5%) adverse reactions resulting in dose reduction of LENVIMA were hypertension (18%), diarrhea (11%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (9%), proteinuria (7%), fatigue (7%), decreased appetite (6%), asthenia (5%), and weight decreased (5%). Dose interruptions of LENVIMA due to an adverse reaction occurred in 58% of these patients. The most common (2%) adverse reactions leading to interruption of LENVIMA were hypertension (11%), diarrhea (11%), proteinuria (6%), decreased appetite (5%), vomiting (5%), increased alanine aminotransferase (3.5%), fatigue (3.5%), nausea (3.5%), abdominal pain (2.9%), weight decreased (2.6%), urinary tract infection (2.6%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (2.3%), asthenia (2.3%), and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (2%).

Use in Specific Populations

Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed children, advise women to discontinue breastfeeding during treatment and for 1 week after the last dose. LENVIMA may impair fertility in males and females of reproductive potential.

No dose adjustment is recommended for patients with mild (CLcr 60-89 mL/min) or moderate (CLcr 30-59 mL/min) renal impairment. LENVIMA concentrations may increase in patients with DTC, RCC, or EC and severe (CLcr 15-29 mL/min) renal impairment. Reduce the dose for patients with DTC, RCC, or EC and severe renal impairment. There is no recommended dose for patients with HCC and severe renal impairment. LENVIMA has not been studied in patients with end-stage renal disease.

No dose adjustment is recommended for patients with HCC and mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh A). There is no recommended dose for patients with HCC with moderate (Child-Pugh B) or severe (Child-Pugh C) hepatic impairment. No dose adjustment is recommended for patients with DTC, RCC, or EC and mild or moderate hepatic impairment. LENVIMA concentrations may increase in patients with DTC, RCC, or EC and severe hepatic impairment. Reduce the dose for patients with DTC, RCC, or EC and severe hepatic impairment.

LENVIMA (lenvatinib) is available as 10 mg and 4 mg capsules.

Please see Prescribing Information for LENVIMA (lenvatinib) at http://www.lenvima.com/pdfs/prescribing-information.pdf

About the Eisai and Merck Strategic Collaboration

In March 2018, Eisai and Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, through an affiliate, entered into a strategic collaboration for the worldwide co-development and co-commercialization of LENVIMA. Under the agreement, the companies jointly develop, manufacture and commercialize LENVIMA, both as monotherapy and in combination with Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA. Eisai and Merck are studying the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA combination through the LEAP (LEnvatinib And Pembrolizumab) clinical program in various tumor types across multiple clinical trials.

About Eisai

Eisai's Corporate Concept is "to give first thought to patients and people in the daily living domain, and to increase the benefits that health care provides." Under this Concept [also known as our human health care (hhc) Concept], we aim to effectively achieve social good in the form of relieving anxiety over health and reducing health disparities. With a global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to create and deliver innovative products to target diseases with high unmet medical needs, with a particular focus in our strategic areas of Neurology and Oncology.

In addition, our continued commitment to the elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which is a target (3.3) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is demonstrated by our work on various activities together with global partners.

For more information about Eisai, please visit www.eisai.com (for global headquarters: Eisai Co., Ltd.), us.eisai.com (for U.S. headquarters: Eisai Inc.) or www.eisai.eu (for Europe, Middle East, Africa, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand headquarters: Eisai Europe Ltd.), and connect with us on Twitter (U.S . and global) and LinkedIn (for U.S. and EMEA).

LENVIMA is a registered trademark used by Eisai Inc. under license from Eisai R&D Management Co., Ltd.

2024 Eisai Inc. All Rights Reserved.

KEYTRUDA is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., U.S.A.

SOURCE Eisai Inc.
Global Gene Synthesis Market to Reach $4.1 Billion by 2028, Driven by Technological Advancements and Increased Research Activities, Latest BCC Research Study Finds

BOSTON, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "Gene Synthesis: Technologies and Global Markets" is like a detailed look into how genes are made in labs and how this process impacts the worldwide market. It covers different ways of creating genes, like using solid-phase or chip-based methods, and how these techniques are getting better. The report also dives into the global market, talking about what's driving it forward and what's holding it back, like competition between companies and new technologies. It looks at where gene synthesis is being used, such as in biotech, pharma, and research, and how this affects the market overall. So basically, it's all about understanding how gene-making technology is evolving and how it's shaping the industry worldwide.

"According to the latest research study, the demand for Gene Synthesis: Technologies and Global Markets expected to grow from $2.0 billion in 2023 and will reach $4.1 billion by the end of 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.8% from 2023 through 2028"

This report looks at important trends in the gene synthesis market, like what's pushing it forward and what's holding it back, how much money is being spent on research, the growing competition, new technologies being developed, and how gene synthesis is being used in medicine. It also talks about companies teaming up or merging with each other. The report breaks down the global gene synthesis market by how DNA is made, the services offered, how it's used, who's using it, and where in the world it's happening. For companies thinking about expanding into new areas, the details about different regions could be useful.

Some Interesting Facts

Gene synthesis lets scientists design DNA with unique traits. They can add special switches, improve how genes are used to make proteins in different creatures, and even add new building blocks to DNA beyond what nature provides.

Advancements in technology are making gene synthesis cheaper and faster. This means more researchers and companies, big or small, can use this tool.

to discover more insights and information about gene synthesis: technologies and global markets, click here for further exploration.

Gene synthesis: technologies and global market is driven by factors such as:

Biopharmaceutical R&D: This is about discovering and testing new medicines made from living things like proteins or DNA. Scientists do this in labs, studying these materials and testing them first on animals and then on humans in trials. If everything goes well and they're proven safe and effective, these new drugs can be used by patients. Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications.: Diagnostic applications help doctors figure out what's wrong with you, like running tests or scans to identify diseases. Therapeutic applications are the treatments or therapies they use to make you better, like medications or surgeries to treat those diseases. Advances in Agrobiotechnology.: refers to improvements and breakthroughs in using technology to enhance agriculture. This could include things like developing better crops that resist pests or diseases, improving crop yields, or making farming more sustainable. DNA Data Storage and Synthetic Genomics: DNA data storage involves using DNA molecules to store digital information, like storing data on a hard drive but using DNA instead. Synthetic genomics involves creating artificial DNA sequences in a lab, which can be used for various purposes such as creating new organisms or modifying existing ones. Advances and Cost Reductions in Technology: means improvements and making technology better and cheaper. It's about finding ways to make gadgets or tools work even better and making them more affordable for everyone. Rising Investments in R&D: means that more money is being put into research and development. It's like a boost in funding for scientists and innovators to come up with new ideas, products, or solutions to different problems. Opportunities in Personalized Medicine: refers to chances to tailor medical treatments specifically to everyone's unique genetic makeup, lifestyle, and health history. It's about customizing healthcare to fit you better, so treatments can be more effective and have fewer side effects.

Request a Sample Copy of the Gene Synthesis: Technologies and Global Markets

Report Synopsis

Report Metrics Details Base year considered 2022 Forecast Period considered 2023-2028 Base year market size $1.5 billion Market Size Forecast $4.1 billion Growth Rate CAGR of 15.8% for the forecast period of 2023-2028 Segment Covered Method, Services, Application, End User Regions covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Rest of the World (RoW) Countries covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, U.K., Spain, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands. China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Key Market Drivers Biopharmaceutical R&D

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications

Advances in Agrobiotechnology

DNA Data Storage and Synthetic Genomics

Advances and Cost Reductions in Technology

Rising Investments in R&D

Opportunities in Personalized Medicine

Segmentation Analysis

Method 

Solid-phase Synthesis : Building DNA step by step on a solid surface.

: Building DNA step by step on a solid surface. Chip-based Synthesis : Creating DNA sequences directly on a tiny chip or surface.

: Creating DNA sequences directly on a tiny chip or surface. PCR-based Enzyme Synthesis: Using enzymes to make many copies of a specific DNA sequence.

Services-

Antibody DNA Synthesis : Making DNA that codes for antibodies, which are proteins used by the immune system to fight infections.

: Making DNA that codes for antibodies, which are proteins used by the immune system to fight infections. Viral DNA Synthesis : Creating DNA specific to viruses, which can be useful for studying viruses or developing treatments.

: Creating DNA specific to viruses, which can be useful for studying viruses or developing treatments. Others: This category likely includes other types of DNA synthesis services not covered by the specific examples listed, such as custom DNA synthesis for various research or industrial purposes.

Application 

Gene & Cell Therapy Development : Using DNA to develop treatments that target and fix genetic disorders or diseases at the cellular level.

: Using DNA to develop treatments that target and fix genetic disorders or diseases at the cellular level. Vaccine Development : Creating vaccines by studying and manipulating DNA to trigger immune responses against specific diseases.

: Creating vaccines by studying and manipulating DNA to trigger immune responses against specific diseases. Disease Diagnosis : Using DNA analysis to identify diseases or genetic predispositions in individuals.

: Using DNA analysis to identify diseases or genetic predispositions in individuals. Others: This category likely includes additional uses of DNA technology in various applications not covered by the specific examples listed, such as DNA forensics or environmental DNA analysis.

End User-

Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Companies : These are companies that focus on developing products and treatments based on biological processes, like medicines or genetically modified crops.

: These are companies that focus on developing products and treatments based on biological processes, like medicines or genetically modified crops. Academic & Government Research Institutes : These are educational institutions or government organizations that conduct scientific research and studies, often to advance knowledge in various fields or develop solutions for societal problems.

: These are educational institutions or government organizations that conduct scientific research and studies, often to advance knowledge in various fields or develop solutions for societal problems. Contract Research Organizations: These are companies hired by other organizations to conduct research on their behalf. They often specialize in specific areas of research and provide services like testing, analysis, or clinical trials.

This report on gene synthesis: technologies and global markets provides comprehensive insights and analysis, addressing the following key questions:

What is the projected market size and growth rate of the market?

 The market is projected to grow from $1.5 billion in 2022 to $4.1 billion in 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.8% during the forecast period.



What are the key factors driving the growth of the market

 Technological advancements and cost reduction

 Rising investments and R&D



What segments are covered in the market?

 The gene synthesis market is segmented based on method, services, application, end user, and region.



By Method Type, which segment will dominate the market by the end of 2028?

 By Method type, the solid-phase synthesis is anticipated to contribute the highest share in the market by the end of 2028.



Which region has the highest market share in the market?

 North America holds the highest market share in the market in terms of region.

Some of the Key Market Players Are:

AZENTA US INC.

DANAHER CORP.

EUROFINS SCIENTIFIC

GENSCRIPT

MERCK KGAA

ORIGENE TECHNOLOGIES INC.

PROMAB BIOTECHNOLOGIES INC.

PROTEOGENIX

THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC.

TWIST BIOSCIENCE

Browse for more Related Reports:

DNA Data Storage: Global Markets and Technologies: is a study that explores a cutting-edge method of storing digital data using DNA molecules. This technology offers much larger storage capacity, longer lifespan, and uses less energy compared to traditional methods like hard drives. The report gives an overview of the current state of DNA data storage, including market trends, key players, challenges, and potential applications in different industries. It also discusses the global market size, growth predictions, regulations, and investment opportunities in this field.

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SOURCE BCC Research LLC
EMBRACE THE FUTURE OF MEMORY!

HONG KONG , May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Essencore, a leading manufacturer in memory and storage solutions, with its consumer memory and storage brand KLEVV is thrilled to announce its participation at COMPUTEX Taipei 2024, held from June 4th to June 7th at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center.

INTRODUCING NEW URBANE V RGB AND FIT V DDR5 MEMORY WITH BLAZING FAST CLOCK SPEEDS

KLEVV's COMPUTEX showcase is set to feature its latest products, which include the latest advancements in DDR5 technology, with memory modules boasting jaw-dropping clock speeds over 10,000MT/s.



Additionally, KLEVV is proud to debut its newest gaming and overclocking memory kits, the URBANE V RGB DDR5 and FIT V DDR5, designed to push performance boundaries with stylish designs. These memory kits are primed and ready to take center stage as fans and tech enthusiasts will get their first look at these products at COMPUTEX this year.



Exciting new ASUS ROG-certified memory kits

KLEVV is thrilled to announce its new partnership with ASUS ROG, introducing the CRAS V RGB ROG-certified DDR5 memory. This memory kit is tailor-made for gamers and PC enthusiasts, tested and ready for battle.

The CRAS V RGB ROG-certified DDR5 memory brings an all-new, distinct color variant to the popular CRAS V RGB series, ensuring that your gaming setup performs at its best and looks exceptional.

NEXT-GEN STORAGE SOLUTIONS WITH READ SPEEDS OF UP TO 14,000MB/s

KLEVV's storage solutions highlighted this year will include the Genuine G560 PCIe Gen5 SSD, which delivers top-tier read speeds and sets a new industry benchmark with read speed of up to 14,000MB/s. In addition, the newly released CRAS C925 Gen4 SSD, featuring the latest V8 238-layer NAND Flash with up to 7,000MB/s read speed, will also be demonstrated. It offers cutting-edge performance and reliability and is designed to meet the high demands of modern computing environments. These SSDs represent KLEVV's commitment to pushing the limits of data transfer speeds and storage solutions.

SUPERIOR HARDWARE WITH ADVANCED LPDDR5X TECHNOLOGY

At this year's Computex, Essencore, the parent company of KLEVV, will display its latest components, unveiling significant advancements in memory technology. The LPCAMM2 memory, which utilizes advanced LPDDR5X technology to offer superior efficiency and speed, will be featured prominently alongside the CKD DDR5 U-DIMM modules, unleashing its leading-edge capabilities in mainstream and high-performance computing applications. These innovations underscore Essencore's dedication to developing next-generation memory technologies that address diverse use cases.

Essencore and KLEVV proudly invites all media friends, potential buyers, and fans to visit its booth at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1, 4F, booth# N0713a during COMPUTEX Taipei 2024.

ABOUT ESSENCORE

Established in 2014, Essencore Limited aims to become the world's top vendor of DRAM modules and NAND flash application products. The company started with one goal: to "Change the world and be a leader in semiconductor distribution". The business strategies of Essencore is to adopt the newest technologies to differentiate themselves from competitors, deliver dedicated Memory products, and offer various product portfolios for customer's competition readiness. For more information, please visit www.essencore.com .

ABOUT KLEVV

KLEVV, is a premium brand of Essencore, the major Module and NAND Flash application product vendor. The KLEVV range focused on superior gaming memory modules and solid state drives. KLEVV is committed to delivering world-class products with first-rate quality, and all products are engineered for enthusiasts who are pursuing the best things in life. KLEVV memory/SSD have been recognized by Germany's Red Dot Design Award and iF Design Award for its innovative product designs. For more information, please visit www.klevv.com .

SOURCE Klevv
BRUSSELS, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Europe's electricity grid is undergoing a massive transformation driven by ambitious decarbonisation. A new power system is emerging from the traditional transmission-heavy model where small-scale renewables, electric vehicles and heat pumps connect directly to the distribution level. To enable this evolution, distribution system operators (DSOs) must expand, modernise and digitalise the grid. Eurelectric conducted a study to assess the digital maturity of European DSOs. Digitalisation can largely improve efficiency when building, operating and maintaining the electricity grid, but several bottlenecks hamper its full potential.

Today, DSOs are required to ensure a reliable power supply, accommodate grid connections and secure data flows for customer privacy and cyber security. Yet, Europe's grid expansion rate is falling behind the demand for new customer connections. Current infrastructure and technology systems are often decades old and not fully equipped to make use of the countless data points added to the grid system. Flexibility management is also not mature enough to cope with future needs.

Meanwhile, a higher share of renewables entails more grid planning and better forecasting due to their variable and decentralised nature. Considering renewables will constitute 42.5% of Europe's final energy use by 2030, digital-ready infrastructure is a critical pre-requisite.

"There are many opportunities today to digitalise grid build-out, operations and maintenance, but to fully leverage them, grid operators must be supported by clear regulation to make their business go digital"  says Eurelectric's Secretary General, Kristian Ruby.

As part of the Wired for Tomorrow study, a survey was conducted with thirty European DSOs. Regulation was identified as the largest external challenge to a digitalised grid, followed by skills shortage. On the contrary, where regulation was clear and supportive of investments, such as in cybersecurity, digital maturity was highest across DSOs.

National regulators should encourage digitalisation investments by ensuring appropriate compensation for DSOs. In parallel, the new legislation introduced under the twin green and digital transitions  from the Electricity Market Design, to the Renewable Energy Directive, the Data and AI Act  must be coherently implemented across sectors, avoiding overlaps and inconsistencies.

Lastly, a digitalised power system can only succeed with a skilled workforce able to operate it. The EU can help bridge the current skill gap by formalising education, developing skills initiatives and introducing certification recognised across the EU.
NEW YORK, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EZOPS, a leading AI-focused fintech company, has been honored with the prestigious 2024 XCelent Award for Advanced Technology in Reconciliation Systems. This recognition comes as a testament to EZOPS' relentless commitment to transforming operational efficiencies in capital markets through innovative technology solutions.

The XCelent Award, bestowed upon EZOPS by Celent, acknowledges the company's outstanding contributions to the reconciliation landscape. In a comprehensive report titled "Reconciliation Systems: Solutions for Capital Markets Firms," the research highlighted the transformative impact of modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, on the reconciliation process. EZOPS emerged as a frontrunner in this space, offering cutting-edge solutions that address the evolving needs of financial institutions.

Since its inception in 2014, EZOPS has been dedicated to automating post-trade processing, compliance, and reporting functions, reducing reliance on labor-intensive manual processes. Co-founded by financial technology industry veterans, EZOPS has continually pushed boundaries to deliver exceptional value to its clients.

"We are honored to receive the 2024 XCelent Award for Advanced Technology," said Sarva Srinivasan, co-founder and CEO of EZOPS. "This recognition underscores our commitment to revolutionizing the reconciliation landscape. We are grateful for the opportunity to empower financial institutions with AI-powered solutions that drive efficiency, accuracy, and transparency."

At the core of EZOPS' offerings is its ARO product line, featuring machine learning-enabled data control and workflow automation solutions. The EZOPS ARO Reconciliation module, a key component of this suite, leverages unique features to handle complex reconciliations across various asset classes. This asset class-agnostic solution has garnered praise from users across multiple business lines, including custodians, banks, investment managers, hedge funds, and more.

As financial institutions continue to navigate challenges in an ever-evolving market landscape, EZOPS remains at the forefront, driving innovation and delivering tangible value to its clients.

About EZOPS:

EZOPS harnesses the power of machine learning and intelligent process automation to revolutionize data control and drive transformative efficiency gains at some of the world's largest financial services institutions. EZOPS offers comprehensive functionality that businesses of large scale and complexity need to manage the five pillars of operational data control  reconstruction, reconciliation, research, remediation, and reporting  all powered by Machine Learning and smart workflow management. EZOPS operates globally with offices in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.ezops.com

Media Contact:

Larry Schwartz

2127397345

[email protected]

SOURCE EZOPS
The following statement was issued by Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), in response to the defeat of Senate legislation falsely billed as a border security bill:

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "Once again, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is engaging in political deception on immigration and border security. Rather than debating serious legislation to secure our borders and reverse the damage to the country inflicted by the policies of the Biden administration, he is reviving a bill that failed to gain even a simple majority when it was first introduced in February.

"The so-called border security bill is not a remedy to the historic surge of illegal immigration that has washed over our borders since President Biden took office. What it is, is an attempt to shift the blame for this crisis away from the administration's policies. This is not 'the strongest, most comprehensive border security bill we've seen in a generation,' as Sen. Schumer claims. In fact, it is not a border security bill at all, and would encourage even greater levels of illegal immigration.

The legislation Senate Democrats are attempting to pass would:

Allow up to 5,000 illegal aliens a day, 1.8 million a year, to enter the United States , before the president is required to close the border.

up to 5,000 illegal aliens a day, 1.8 million a year, to enter , before the president is required to close the border. Require that anyone who claims asylum be released into the country and granted work authorization almost immediately, thereby incentivizing greater abuse of our asylum policies.

that anyone who claims asylum be released into the country and granted work authorization almost immediately, thereby incentivizing greater abuse of our asylum policies. Fail to stop the president's abuse of parole authority.

the president's abuse of parole authority. Award hundreds of millions in grants to NGOs that encourage mass illegal immigration and profit from it.

"While Sen. Schumer is wasting time and engaging in political gamesmanship by reviving a bill he knows has no chance of passage, he defiantly refuses to bring up legislation, already passed by the House, that would restore order to our borders and integrity to our immigration system. That bill, H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, was approved more than a year ago, but has yet to receive any serious consideration in the Senate.

"Since H.R. 2 was passed, more than 3 million people have crossed our borders illegally, endangering national security, public safety and burdening communities, while Sen. Schumer seeks ways to pin the blame on Republicans instead of taking meaningful action to end a raging crisis."

Contact: Joey Chester, [email protected], 202-740-7355

SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)
WASHINGTON, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fannie Mae (OTCQB: FNMA) priced Connecticut Avenue Securities (CAS) Series 2024-R04, an approximately $708 million note offering that represents Fannie Mae's fourth CAS REMIC transaction of the year. CAS is Fannie Mae's benchmark issuance program designed to share credit risk on its single-family conventional guaranty book of business. Year to date, Fannie Mae has issued approximately $2.9 billion of notes under the CAS program.

"We were pleased to see robust demand across all CAS 2024-R04 classes, including strong reception to the new 1A-1 tranche," said Kathleen Pagliaro, Fannie Mae Vice President, Credit Risk Transfer. "We expect to offer the A-1 class programmatically moving forward."

The reference pool for CAS Series 2024-R04 consists of approximately 54,000 single-family mortgage loans with an outstanding unpaid principal balance of approximately $18.6 billion. The reference pool includes collateral with loan-to-value ratios of 60.01 percent to 80.00 percent, which were acquired between July 2023 and September 2023. The loans included in this transaction are fixed-rate, generally 30-year term, fully amortizing mortgages and were underwritten using rigorous credit standards and enhanced risk controls.

Fannie Mae will retain a portion of the 1A-1, 1M-1, 1M-2, and 1B-1 tranches, and initially will retain the full 1B-2H and 1B-3H first-loss tranches.

Class Offered Amount ($MM) Pricing Level Expected Ratings (S&P/KBRA) 1A-1 $220.403 30-day Average SOFR plus 100 bps A+ (sf) / A+ (sf) 1M-1 $220.403 30-day Average SOFR plus 110 bps BBB+ (sf) / A- (sf) 1M-2 $176.322 30-day Average SOFR plus 165 bps BBB (sf) / BBB (sf) 1B-1 $90.480 30-day Average SOFR plus 220 bps BB (sf) / BB+ (sf)

Nomura Securities International Inc. ("Nomura") is the lead structuring manager and joint bookrunner. BofA Securities, Inc. ("BofA") is the co-lead manager and joint bookrunner. Co-managers are Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. ("Cantor"), Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ("Citigroup"), StoneX Financial Inc. ("StoneX"), and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC ("Wells Fargo"). Selling group members are Minority and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Academy Securities, Inc. and African-American-owned CastleOak Securities, L.P.

With the completion of this transaction, Fannie Mae will have brought 65 CAS deals to market, issued over $67 billion in notes, and transferred a portion of the credit risk to private investors on over $2.2 trillion in single-family mortgage loans, measured at the time of the transaction.

To promote transparency and to help credit investors evaluate our securities and the CAS program, Fannie Mae provides ongoing, robust disclosure data, as well as access to news, resources, and analytics through its credit risk transfer webpages. This includes our innovative Data Dynamics tool that enables market participants to interact with and analyze CAS deals that are currently outstanding in the market and Fannie Mae's historical loan dataset. Our EU Resources and UK Resources webpages are designed to help European Union and UK institutional investors, as well as those managing funds subject to EU/UK regulations.

In addition to our flagship CAS program, Fannie Mae continues to transfer mortgage credit risk through its Credit Insurance Risk Transfer (CIRT) reinsurance program.

About Connecticut Avenue Securities

CAS REMIC notes are issued by a bankruptcy-remote trust. The amount of periodic principal and ultimate principal paid by Fannie Mae is determined by the performance of a large and diverse reference pool. For more information on individual CAS transactions, visit our credit risk transfer webpage.

About Fannie Mae

Fannie Mae advances equitable and sustainable access to homeownership and quality, affordable rental housing for millions of people across America. We enable the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and drive responsible innovation to make homebuying and renting easier, fairer, and more accessible. To learn more, visit:

fanniemae.com | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Blog

Fannie Mae Newsroom

https://www.fanniemae.com/newsroom

Photo of Fannie Mae

https://www.fanniemae.com/resources/img/about-fm/fm-building.tif

Fannie Mae Resource Center

1-800-2FANNIE

Statements in this release regarding the company's future CAS transactions are forward-looking. Actual results may be materially different as a result of market conditions or other factors listed in "Risk Factors" or "Forward-Looking Statements" in the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. This release does not constitute an offer or sale of any security. Before investing in any Fannie Mae issued security, potential investors should review the disclosure for such security and consult their own investment advisors.

SOURCE Fannie Mae
CLEVELAND, Miss., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cypress Brake Cannabis Company and Delta One Brands are proud to announce the launch of its premium cannabis brand and cultivation facility in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. The company is on a mission to bring artisanal, award-winning cannabis products to the burgeoning medical cannabis industry of Mississippi.

Cypress Brake logo drawn by famous illustrator Steven Noble. Rendering of Cypress Brake's state-of-the-art Cann-Aquatic Regenerative Agriculture (CARA) facility.

"We're a team of visionaries, dreamers, and doers, passionately committed to shaping the future of regenerative agriculture across food and all-natural medicine," said Matt Beaman, Chief Marketing Officer of Cypress Brake. "Thanks to our partnership with Angela TenBroech of Delta Grows, we are excited to build a first-of-its-kind cannabis company that not only produces exceptional cannabis but also fresh pesticide-free produce for the local community."

Cypress Brake is pioneering a revolutionary approach called Cann-Aquatic Regenerative Agriculture (CARA). This closed-loop system combines cannabis cultivation with aquaponics to produce nutrient-dense food with near-zero environmental impact. Fresh lettuce, celery, greens, herbs, tomatoes, and other produce will be grown adjacent to premium cannabis flower, helping to address food insecurity while conserving water and energy.

CARA's novel energy-saving system harnesses excess heat generated from the cultivation process to create a controlled environment for greenhouse agriculture that enables food production every month of the year. That means 12 months a year of fresh produce for the food insecure of the Mississippi Delta.

"It's truly a dream come true to be able to produce all-natural medicine and freshly-grown produce in the heart of the Delta, a place with such a rich agricultural history and warm welcoming southern charm," said Marcus Holcomb, award-winning Master Cultivator at Cypress Brake. "Our passion has always been to cultivate the finest cannabis cultivars and work with the cannabis plant to unlock its boundless healing potential. Adding in the food and energy elements excites our team and everyone we talk to about the project."

With decades of combined cannabis industry experience, the Cypress Brake team brings a wealth of expertise in cultivation, extraction, marketing, and retail. Their state-of-the-art facility leverages cutting-edge technology like AI-enabled climate management and custom LED arrays to produce premium cannabis flower and chemical-free solventless extracts.

Cypress Brake is licensed for medical cannabis cultivation by the Mississippi State Department of Health. The company's brand identity pays homage to the rich cultural heritage of the Delta region with packaging inspired by the beautiful natural wonders of Mississippi's magical cypress brakes and illustrations drawn by the famous Steven Noble , who has designed some of the most iconic brands of our time including, Coors, Mercedes Benz, American Express, &, more recently, Kraken Rum and Espolon Tequila.

For more information or for those looking to invest in the future of sustainable cannabis and agriculture, we invite you to explore opportunities to get involved with Cypress Brake at www.cypressbrake.co .

About Cypress Brake Cannabis Company

Cypress Brake Cannabis Company is a vertically integrated cannabis company focused on cultivating premium artisanal cannabis and producing nutrient-rich food through sustainable farming methods in the Mississippi Delta region.

SOURCE Delta One Brands LLC
DENVER, May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Exciting News!

Join us for an exclusive X Space LIVE with Warner Mendenhall, Patrick Byrne, Dr. John Littell Kevin McKernan, Pierre Koryand other distinguished guests!

Gain of Function Research funded by the Federal Government - Did it effect you? What's next? Post this

With the government's admission that they paid for and participated in gain of function research, attorneys and physicians all across America have joined together to hold them accountable.

We're delving into the Freedom Counsel's mission to connect, educate, and empower attorneys, experts, and citizens to tackle legal challenges from government actions, corporate misconduct, and systemic issues.

**Don't miss out:**

Date 5/23/24

Time: 7pm EDT

We're also thrilled to preview the **2024 Freedom Counsel Conference** in Denver, Colorado, from June 7th  9th, 2024! Get ready for in-depth discussions on:

**Pandemic History:** What Went Right, Wrong, and How To Establish Accountability Moving Forward

**Government, School, and Employment Mandates:** False Claims Act, Hospital Protocols, and more

**Election Law:** Key insights and future directions

This is your chance to engage with experts, gain invaluable insights, and be part of a powerful movement for change.

Set your reminders and spread the word!

For more information, or to find out how to help, please contact: [email protected]

#FreedomCounsel #LegalEmpowerment #WarnerMendenhall #PatrickByrne #2024Conference #Denver #TwitterSpaceLive #PandemicHistory #ElectionLaw #Mandates

SOURCE The America Project
SHANGHAI, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following another successful edition that saw a record number of participants and deals, the China International Import Expo (CIIE), which is hailed as an ideal place for global companies looking to enter the Chinese market, is poised to make an even bigger splash in 2024.

Past CIIEs saw active participation of global brands

The sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in 2023 attracted numerous exhibitors, buyers and visitors.

"Thanks to the CIIE, we have improved our grasp of the potential of the Chinese market and developed stronger relationships with Chinese manufacturers, suppliers and customers," said Daryl Lean, former vice president of sales and service exports at German truck manufacturer KION Group.

Over the years, companies from 173 countries and regions have made appearances at the CIIE and carried out tentative transactions worth over $420 billion. Nearly 2,500 new products, technologies and services have debuted.

As a six-time CIIE exhibitor, INAC-Instituto Nacional de Carnes has over the years showcased a variety of natural and quality Uruguayan meat products at the annual expo. At CIIE 2023, visitors sampled Uruguayan premium rib-eye steak, tenderloin, and beef fillet brought by INAC.

"There are many importers and distributors at the annual trade fair, with which we can communicate face-to-face and enhance trade cooperation," said Josefina Valenti, marketing manager of INAC.

In addition to the Business Exhibition, 72 countries and international organizations wowed visitors with their scientific and technological achievements, culture and art at the Country Exhibition of the sixth CIIE in 2023.

"The CIIE is an excellent platform for foreign investors to learn about China, and vice versa," said Huseyin Emre Engin, consul general of Turkiye in Shanghai. As an important participant of the annual expo, Turkiye has showcased its unique industries and cultural and tourism attractions through the Country Exhibition, further increasing its global presence.

Hongqiao Forum spotlights global issues

As a crucial part of the annual CIIE, the sixth Hongqiao Forum in 2023 saw a record attendance of more than 8,000 people and featured 22 subforums on a range of subjects, including financial reform and innovation, digital governance, South-South cooperation, and green investment.

To make the forum more impactful, organizers have held a series of symposiums and salons over the last several months and invited important figures, including UN representatives, government officials, scholars, and member companies, to contribute to this year's themes and topics.

In early May, a briefing on promoting South-South cooperation and sustainable development was launched at the UN headquarters in New York City. Over the years, the CIIE and Hongqiao Forum have been committed to enhancing South-South trade and investment, and more insights into this cause will be presented at this year's expo. Please stay tuned!

Greater participation is encouraged at CIIE 2024

The seventh CIIE will launch another series of global roadshows in Turkiye, Uruguay, Peru, Spain, Sweden and Germany from late May to early June to promote the grand event to companies with an interest in exporting to China and highlight the CIIE's supporting policies.

"Over 280,000 square meters of the exhibition area for CIIE 2024 has already been booked," said Sun Chenghai, deputy director-general of the CIIE Bureau. "We expect more global brands to join us this year and reap strong returns."

With so many showing interest in the trade fair, be sure to secure your spot now at: https://www.ciie.org/exhibition/f/book/register?locale=en&from=press

Contact

Ms. Cui Yan

Tel.0086-21-968888

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.ciie.org/zbh/en/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ciieonline

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ciieonline

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420744/Global_Expo_CIIE_2024.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1938442/4723616/CIIE_Logo.jpg

SOURCE China International Import Expo
SINGAPORE, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GreenNode, a member of VNG Digital Business, has emerged as a key player in AI Cloud and driving Generative AI advancements across Asia Pacific. Leveraging cutting-edge Nvidia technology, GreenNode has unveiled significant innovations in AI cloud, generative AI chatbots and Stable Diffusion applications, marking a pivotal moment in the region's AI development.

GreenNode is the official Nvidia Cloud Partner, leading AI Cloud services in the APAC regions.

Through its strategic partnerships with industry leaders, namely NVIDIA, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, and VAST Data, GreenNode offers a robust GPU Cloud infrastructure, enabling customers worldwide to seamlessly access and leverage powerful AI capabilities. As a Cloud Service Partner (CSP) of U.S. chipmaker Nvidia, GreenNode enjoys priority access to Nvidia's premier chips and AI Factory solutions, enhancing its service offerings.

Since April 2024, GreenNode's data centers in Thailand and Vietnam have been equipped with thousands of high-performance Nvidia H100 GPUs. These facilities offer efficient and rapid training of large language models (LLMs), significantly accelerating the delivery of generative AI solutions to businesses.

Sunil Chavan, Vice President, Asia Pacific & Japan at VAST Data, commented: "We are excited to collaborate with GreenNode to drive AI advancements in the APAC region and beyond. Accessing high-demand resources like Nvidia H100 GPUs has been a challenge for AI startups. By combining GreenNode's instant access to H100 GPUs and VAST's unique data platform built from the ground up for AI workloads, we can provide a seamless and resilient AI-as-a-Service that empowers organizations to deliver their innovative AI solution to market much faster."

In addition to its cloud services, GreenNode is also at the forefront of developing Generative AI technologies and applications. Notable developments include a 34-billion parameter Vietnamese Large Language Model (LLM) and a No Code Chatbot platform that facilitates high-performance, 24/7 customer service with AI-driven chatbots capable of handling complex Vietnamese interactions and precise question-and-answer sessions.

Moreover, in collaboration with VNGGames, GreenNode has successfully launched "Artian", a Stable Diffusion-powered application that significantly improves the design and production of game characters and multimedia content, all powered by GreenNode's advanced GPU cloud infrastructure.

Tung Vu, Head of Product, GreenNode & VNG Digital Business, added: "GreenNode is thrilled to be a driving force behind Asia's booming AI innovations. Our GPU Cloud offering will facilitate regional AI trailblazers in delivering exceptional AI initiatives effectively."

For more information about GreenNode and its transformative AI services, please visit here.

About GreenNode:

GreenNode, a leading Nvidia Cloud Provider in Asia, specializes in AI infrastructure and AI product innovation. Operating a large-scale GPU cloud in Thailand and Vietnam that conforms to Nvidia Reference Architecture, GreenNode is committed to meeting the global demand for AI, ensuring unparalleled service reliability and technological excellence. The company's rapid expansion in the APAC region is supported by VNG Digital Business, renowned for its robust digital solutions delivered to over 1000 enterprises.

About VNG Digital Business:

VNG Digital Business, a wholly-owned subsidiary of VNG Corporation, is dedicated to offering a diverse portfolio of products and services that utilize cutting-edge technologies in AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. By leveraging its vast expertise and cutting-edge technological capabilities, VNG Digital Business strives to play a leading role in digital transformation across Asia.

SOURCE GreenNode
DALLAS, Texas, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Grossman Law Offices, a leading personal injury law firm in Dallas, Texas, has released its 2024 list of the best wrongful death lawyers in Dallas. This initiative, part of the firm's commitment to helping people make informed decisions in selecting legal representation, highlights the most skilled and experienced attorneys in wrongful death law.

Grossman Law's Picks for the 6 Best Wrongful Death Lawyers in Dallas:

Attorney Mike Grossman's curated list of the best wrongful death attorneys in Dallas.

Michael Grossman  Grossman Law Offices Wendell Turley  Turley Law Firm Marc Lenahan  Lenahan Law Firm Michael Guajardo  Slack Davis Sanger Marquette Wolf  Ted B. Lyon & Associates Chris Hamilton  Hamilton Wingo LLP

These attorneys have been meticulously chosen for their profound experience in wrongful death law, their commitment to their clients, and their impressive track records of success.

The Purpose Behind the List:

Grossman Law Offices publishes these lists to assist families who have lost loved ones due to negligence or misconduct. The firm recognizes the emotional and financial challenges people face during such difficult times and aims to provide reliable guidance in finding qualified legal representation. As experienced wrongful death lawyers, Grossman Law Offices offers these recommendations based on their extensive knowledge and professional interactions with high-quality attorneys.

Attorney Mike Grossman explains, "A lot of people think I'm crazy for giving my competitors free ad space on my website. But my mission and the mission of my firm is to help those who are suffering. And if helping them means referring them to another attorney, then that's what we'll do."

This approach not only aids those in need of legal services, but also serves as effective marketing for Grossman Law Offices, aligning with their passion for helping families achieve justice.

About Grossman Law Offices:

With over 30 years of experience, Grossman Law Offices focuses on personal injury law, particularly in cases involving serious injuries and wrongful death due to truck accidents. The firm is dedicated to delivering exceptional legal representation and ensuring that clients achieve the justice and compensation they rightfully deserve.

For More Information:

For detailed information about these top wrongful death lawyers in Dallas and how they can assist with legal needs, please visit the Grossman Law Offices website at Grossman Law Offices - The Best Wrongful Death Lawyers in Dallas .

SOURCE Grossman Law Office, P.C.
FIU professor releases annual Top 10 Beaches list ahead of Memorial Day weekend

MIAMI, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A Hawaii oasis is at the top of Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches while one of America's most picturesque beaches has been struck from the 2024 list following a coastal disaster that has left it off-limits to beachgoers.

North Carolina's Lighthouse Beach in Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which has been a Top 10 Beach for the past decade, is notably absent from this year's list that is celebrating Hawaii's Duke Kahanamoku Beach as the top beach of 2024. Lighthouse Beach suffered severe erosion from coastal storms in the past year, revealing the remains of an old U.S. Navy submarine spy station that, along with its concrete remains, is now leaking an oily substance, according to swimmers and surfers. The environmental mess has shut down the beach to the public and left FIU Professor Stephen Leatherman with no choice but to remove the beach from his annual Top 10 Beaches list, where it most recently came in at No. 5 in 2023.

"Lighthouse Beach is an erosion hotspot having eroded 1,500 feet in the past 100 years," Leatherman said. "It's a truly wonderful beach, but it's currently caught up in an environmental and bureaucratic mess."

Leatherman's highly anticipated list is released annually ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. Duke Kahanamoku claimed the top spot because of its white coral sand and clear water. It also doesn't hurt that an ancient volcano crater sits in the backdrop, he said. Located at the west end of Hawaii's Waikiki Beach, the beach is far from the large crowds elsewhere and the widest beach on this stretch of world-famous sands. It is also protected by an offshore coral reef, which Leatherman says makes it a good beach for families with children. The nearby Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon is also a favorite bathing and swimming spot. Smoking is prohibited on all beaches in Hawaii. Leatherman awards bonus points for any beaches with smoking bans. The Top 10 Beaches for 2024 are:

Duke Kahanamoku Beach  Oahu, Hawaii Coopers Beach  Southhampton, NY Wailea Beach  Maui, Hawaii Caladesi Island State Park  Dunedin / Clearwater, Fla. Beachwalker Park  Kiawah Island, SC Main Beach  East Hampton, NY Poipu Beach  Kauai, Hawaii Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park  Naples, Fla. Coast Guard Beach  Cape Cod, Mass. Coronado Beach  San Diego, Calif.

Known to many as Dr. Beach, Leatherman has selected the Top 10 Beaches since 1991. Previous national winners are retired and listed on his web site. Fifty criteria are used to evaluate beaches, including water and sand quality as well as safety and management. Leatherman is an internationally known coastal scientist who has published 20 books and hundreds of scientific articles and reports about storm impacts, coastal erosion and ways to improve beach health and safety.

Media Contact:

JoAnn Adkins

305-348-0398

[email protected]

SOURCE Florida International University
As the London Blockchain Conference draws to a close, attendees heard from industry experts on Driving Innovation with Blockchain.

LONDON, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Attendees at the London Blockchain Conference were in to witness the final day, which featured a line-up of informative and thought-provoking speakers. Throughout the day, there were exciting panels and presentations which featured cutting-edge ideas and insights.

Day 3 kickstarted with BSVA launching a new report focusing on the role of blockchain in safeguarding data and streamlining transactions.

Other sessions included:

The Intersection of Web3, AI, and Emerging Tech  Somi Aran, Founder of InPeak gave the opening keynote which explored the dynamic convergence of Web3, Artificial Intelligence, and emerging technologies. She delved into how these technologies are reshaping industries and redefining the boundaries of innovation and the potential impacts and opportunities these technologies present.

Bridging the gap: Making Web3 technologies user-friendly  Christine Leong, CIO, nChain - discussed some of the innovative strategies and practical solutions aimed at simplifying Web3 technologies. She also discussed how nChain is planning to transform Web3 from a domain exclusive to the tech-savvy, into a user-friendly ecosystem that empowers all users.

Is code law?  Rules applicable to blockchain networks  panel featuring Marcin Zarakowski, CEO of Token Recovery, Akber Datoo CEO of D2 Legal Technology, Jeffrey Golden, King's Counsel (Hon) at 3 Hare Court Chambers, Andrei Kirilenko, Professor of Finance at Cambridge Judge Business School, Professor Sarah Green, Law Commissioner at Law Commission, where they discussed that rules apply to the nodes and validators which support the particular network and process its transactions. The group also discussed whether the blockchain protocols' rules and software code are the only sources of regulation in blockchain networks.

An Introduction to nChain Identity - Thomas Moretti, Head of Product Development at nChain. He spoke about the Self Sovereignty Identity concept and showcased the latest project it is working on - nChain Identity.

Reimagining Roles: How regulated industry leaders are shaping the future of finance  a panel featuring, Andrew Mosson (Chief Commercial Officer of OneTrading, Nestor Palao, Head DLT & Corporate Clients at Sygnum Bank, Laurence Lewandowska, CFO/COO at BSV Association and Wojciech Kaszycki Chairman & Founder at Mobilum. The panel discussed how the new era of digital assets, traditional banking institutions, exchanges, and financial services are being reimagined in the context of emerging technologies such as blockchain and AI.

Please register here if you would like to listen to any of the sessions today.

If you want to interview any speaker from today's sessions, please email [email protected].

About the London Blockchain Conference

NETWORK. LEARN. ENGAGE.

At the London Blockchain Conference, we show how Blockchain will change the world and help people see another way to manage data, build scalable on-chain solutions and achieve great things. We do this by creating valuable, insightful, and engaging events that educate and inform, allowing you to connect and network to build strong business relationships. Our conference is the best avenue to see blockchain innovations, ecosystem announcements, product launches, technology updates, keynote speeches, panels, and fireside chats from blockchain leaders. Join us and experience it for yourself.

SOURCE London Blockchain Conference
HANGZHOU, China, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hikvision has published its 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, disclosing its ESG practices and performance for the sixth consecutive year. The report offers a comprehensive look at Hikvision's focus on sustainability and its ESG priorities and actions, reaffirming the company's commitment to fulfilling corporate social responsibility with innovative and sustainable technologies.

Hikvision releases its sixth ESG report, highlighting the commitment to Tech for Good Hikvision 2023 ESG report highlights

"Practicing the ethos of 'Tech for Good', adhering to 'pragmatism', and exploring 'Green' transformation, Hikvision leverages our products to deliver the value of sustainable development," said Huang Fanghong, Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President of the company. "We firmly believe that together with the momentum of digital transformation and technological advancements, we will attain stable and sustainable growth."

With the belief that technologies play a pivotal role in promoting overall well-being, Hikvision has formulated an ESG management framework with "Tech for Good" as its core. With this mission in mind, the year 2023 was marked by the company's continued commitment to sustainability-driven innovation to benefit the society at large. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies, Hikvision endeavored to protect historical relics, prevent water and air pollution, as well as enhance efficiency and productivity in manufacturing. Moreover, the company has contributed to providing more educational resources for children in remote areas, ensuring abundant apple harvests, and safeguarding wildlife, fulfilling its part to further the aspiration to build a better world.

Apart from giving back to the society with innovative technologies, Hikvision places great emphasis on integrity and compliance, low-carbon development, and harmonious relationships with employees, partners, and communities, integrating these principles into its ESG management framework.

ESG performance highlights during the reporting period include:

The company released the Hikvision Global Human Rights Policy, embedding the respect for human rights in the company's governance and operations.

Hikvision formulated and introduced the Management Procedure for Greenhouse Gas Emissions, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promote low-carbon operations.

Hikvision further integrated eco-friendly principles into the process of product R&D, design, packaging and utilization. By acquiring carbon footprint verifications of representative products, the company evaluated the GHG emissions throughout those products' life cycles for continuous improvement.

While promoting energy savings, Hikvision also proactively advanced the procurement of green power. In 2023, around 12,533.7 MWh of power was generated by photovoltaic systems deployed in the company's manufacturing bases.

Hikvision continued to drive sustainable development through innovation, winning 1,884 invention patents in 2023. The R&D investment of the company reached RMB 11.39 billion , up 16.08% year-over-year.

, up 16.08% year-over-year. Adhering to responsible procurement, Hikvision continuously enhanced supplier management. 100% of the new suppliers of the company were screened using the environmental and social criteria.

Hikvision provided its employees with a series of trainings to support their personal and professional development, with total training time reaching 1,534,482 hours.

Hikvision employees engaged actively in volunteer activities, collectively dedicating over 20,000 service hours.

You can view and download the full ESG report here.

SOURCE Hikvision Digital Technology
The rescue resulted from an emergency warrant obtained against an unlicensed breeder in cooperation with the Gasconade County Sheriff's Office

ST. LOUIS, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This morning the Humane Society of Missouri's (HSMO) Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT)  one of the nation's largest animal-rescue and disaster-response teams  rescued 22 dogs, including several puppies ranging in age from five days to six months old, from Coonies Coonhounds, an unlicensed breeder in Gasconade County, Missouri. The emergency rescue was prompted by concern from the Gasconade County Sheriff's Office, and the ACT removed the dogs under a warrant. The dogs, mostly large-breed Coonhound mixes, are being transported to HSMO's Macklind headquarters in St. Louis to receive health evaluations and emergency veterinary treatment. The sheriff had also witnessed a dead puppy on the property prior to executing today's warrant, but the remains had been removed prior to today's rescue.

The Humane Society of Missouris (HSMO) Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT) rescues 22 Coonhound mixes, including newborn puppies, from the property of an unlicensed breeder in Gasconade County, Missouri, on May 23, 2024. Many of the dogs were without food and water and all are malnourished and experiencing a range of conditions from wounds to respiratory issues. The dogs will receive emergency veterinary treatment at HSMOs Macklind headquarters in St. Louis.

The team rescued one dog from the same property earlier in the week. The dog had a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 1 on a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 being the lowest. Suffering from an ear infection and wounds both old and new, the dog is severely underweight due to neglect and malnutrition. All of the dogs recovered Thursday are malnourished and experiencing a range of conditions from wounds to respiratory issues.

"These dogs lived in horrific conditions, and had we not intervened, many more may not have survived," said HSMO President Kathy Warnick. "We are grateful for the alert actions of the Gasconade County Sheriff and their assistance in helping us rescue these animals from such a dangerous and heart-breaking situation. Now that they are safe, community support is critical to ensure these dogs receive the care and treatment they deserve and a new chance for a better life with a loving family."

A date for a disposition hearing to determine whether HSMO will assume legal custody of the dogs will take place on June 10, 2024. If awarded custody, HSMO will make the dogs available for adoption after they have been given a clean bill of health by the veterinarians and evaluated by the animal behavior team. As the animals recover  medically and behaviorally  they will be made available for adoption on a case-by-case basis. There is no current timeline for when these dogs will be ready for their forever home, but interested adopters can check the HSMO website at hsmo.org/adopt to see when they become available.

Donations to help support the care of these animals can be made on the HSMO website at hsmo.org/rescues . The HSMO also is asking the public for assistance through donations of blankets, newspapers, dog toys, dog beds or anything else that can make these animals' recovery more comfortable. Needed items also are available to purchase directly from Amazon on HSMO's wish list .

To report an animal that may be in danger or is suffering from neglect or abuse, call the local police and the Humane Society of Missouri's Animal Cruelty Hotline at 314-647-4400.

About the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force

The Humane Society of Missouri's Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT) is one of the largest animal rescue/disaster response teams in the United States. For more than 40 years, ACT has worked side by side with state, local and city law enforcement officials to investigate and help prosecute animal abusers.

Annually, Humane Society of Missouri's 15 field-tested, professional animal cruelty investigators and staff:

Travel more than 350,000 miles

Make more than 10,000 responses to reports of abuse/neglect

Aid more than 20,000 animals

Humane Society of Missouri's animal cruelty investigators understand the nuances of animal abuse law and the criminal justice process for documenting and filing evidence and work directly with sheriff's offices, police departments and prosecuting attorneys to help ensure animal cases are handled in an expedient and professional manner. Humane Society of Missouri investigators also provide expert testimony in legal cases and before legislative bodies and provide consultation and training workshops for law enforcement, state agencies and local animal care and control workers.

Together, they work to hold people accountable for the abuse and neglect of animals in the St. Louis Metropolitan region and all of Missouri.

Contact Information for the Public

Report Animal Abuse: 314-647-4400

Donations: 314-951-1542

Humane Society of Missouri website: www.hsmo.org

For more information contact:

Patrick Barry, BYRNE PR 314-540-3865

[email protected]

SOURCE Humane Society of Missouri
HYDERABAD, India, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyderabad, the City of Pearls in India, witnessed the unveiling of its newest crowning jewel  Megaleio, an opulent residential project designed to redefine luxury living. Navanaami Projects Private Ltd., a leading real estate developer from Hyderabad, has unveiled this architectural magnum opus, poised to become a modern-day landmark in the city.

Navanaami unveils its Magnum Opus  Megaleio

Spread across a sprawling 4.1 acres, Megaleio is situated in the lap of nature, surrounded by a 1,200-acre green expanse and in close proximity to the protected waterbodies of Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar. Its prime location at Appa Junction Peerancheru offers unparalleled accessibility, with the city's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport just 20 minutes away and the Financial District a mere 15-minute drive.

Expressing his excitement, Mr. Naveen Gadde, Founder and MD, Navanaami, said, "At Navanaami, we push boundaries of design and innovation. Megaleio represents a harmonious convergence of design, sustainability, and uncompromising luxury. We invite the world to experience a new paradigm of living. "

Megaleio's towering presence includes two iconic towers soaring to a height of 50 floors, encompassing 150 exquisite residences that are nothing short of opulent. The awe-inspiring Megaleio twin towers is a landmark visible from the airport.

Megaleio offers unparalleled amenities and facilities that elevate ultra-luxury living to new heights. Residents can revel in branded kitchens, state-of-the-art home automation systems, noise-controlled windows, opulent bathrooms, and sustainable features that seamlessly blend eco-consciousness with sophistication. Private garages with EV charging capabilities and soaring 9-foot doorways further amplify the exclusive allure of Megaleio.

Sustainability is at the core of Megaleio, with the IGBC certified and LEED-designed project bringing together a harmonious fusion of architectural ingenuity and eco-friendly living. In collaboration with renowned architectural firms like DesignHaaus, Tierra, Arup, and Optimisation Consultants, every aspect of Megaleio has been meticulously curated to minimize its environmental footprint while maximizing luxury and comfort.

The RERA-approved project ( PO2400007676 ) boasts a stunning design with double-height ceilings, a conscious facade, and expansive interiors that create a remarkable ambiance. The 150 meticulously crafted residences, each a canvas of opulence and sophistication, is divided in three units: Skyline tower units with an area of 11,111sq.ft; Unity tower units with an area of 9999 sq.ft and 8888 sq.ft.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420710/Navanaami_Magnum_Opus_Megaleio.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420711/Navanaami_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Navanaami
10 Purple Hearts Returned in Unprecedented Mission To Honor Soldiers and Bring Closure to Families; Four Additional Purple Hearts Turned Over for Safekeeping Until They Can Be Returned



CHICAGO, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As Memorial Day approaches, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is urging people to help with Operation Purple Heart, an unprecedented mission to return Purple Heart medals to their rightful owners.

The military honors were submitted to the Illinois State Treasurer's Office for safekeeping and return as part of the Unclaimed Property program, also known as I-Cash or missing money.

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is urging people to help return Purple Heart medals to their rightful owners. Post this These medals personify honor, sacrifice, duty. We call today on the citizens of Illinois to help us return these medals into the loving care of their families, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said.

"These medals personify honor, sacrifice, duty. We call today on the citizens of Illinois to help us return these medals into the loving care of their families," Frerichs said.

The Treasurer's Office hopes upcoming remembrances to honor Memorial Day will spark a memory or provide a clue so that these medals can be returned. Frerichs' office has an unparalleled record in returning military honors, especially 10 Purple Heart medals. Four additional Purple Heart medals have been received by the office.

"Our ask is simple. If you recognize a name, and you know they had contact with the city, then reach out to them or their relatives because maybe we have their Purple Heart," Frerichs said. "You also can reach out to my office through operationpurpleheart.org."

Military medals are among the most difficult items to return because neither the Armed Forces nor the federal government maintains a comprehensive list of awardees.

In an effort to find the rightful owners, the Illinois State Treasurer's Office is releasing additional information that the owners or their relatives might recognize. A thorough vetting of inquiries will occur once an electronic claim is made at www.illinoistreasurer.gov/icash.

Each of the Purple Heart medals was inside a bank safe deposit box. Banks determined the safe deposit box was abandoned because the owner(s) of the box had not touched it in several years. As a result, the contents of each safe deposit box were turned over to the State Treasurer's Office.

A list of Purple Hearts to be returned and the 10 that have been returned is available online. Video from today's press conference will be available here.

SOURCE Illinois State Treasurer's Office
To Commemorate 10 Years of Rehabilitating Combat Wounded Veterans, Veterans Charity Ride to Host Memorial Day Reunion and Honor Fallen Soldiers

MINNEAPOLIS, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Indian Motorcycle, America's First Motorcycle Company, today announced its ongoing support and sponsorship of the Veterans Charity Ride (VCR), a veteran-led non-profit organization that specializes in motorcycle therapy to aid combat wounded veterans healing from physical and mental trauma. Entering the 10th year of partnership, Indian Motorcycle and VCR are commemorating the motorcycle therapy program with a Memorial Day reunion, welcoming returning VCR vets who have experienced the life-changing therapy to celebrate life and honor fallen U.S. soldiers.

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE & VETERANS CHARITY RIDE CELEBRATE 10 YEARS SUPPORTING VETS THROUGH MOTORCYCLE THERAPY

Veterans participating in VCR's motorcycle therapy program are often amputees, paraplegics, or suffer from post-traumatic stress and other challenges faced after military service. The program's goal is to support these veterans in their transition back to civilian life through camaraderie, motorcycle adventures, and additional initiatives that foster the brotherhood and sisterhood formed across all branches of the United States military.

"Over the past decade, Veterans Charity Ride has improved the lives of countless veterans, many of whom wouldn't leave their house after their release from active duty," said Aaron Jax, Vice President for Indian Motorcycle. "Through its therapy program, which utilizes the freedom of the open road, the roar of the engine, and the connection between veterans, VCR has been incredibly successful in helping these vets find life after service, and we are honored to play a role in supporting such a great cause."

"It's incredible to be entering our 10th year of motorcycle therapy, and undoubtedly we could not have achieved so much without the loyal support from our friends at Indian Motorcycle," said Dave Frey, Founder of Veterans Charity Ride. "While we celebrate 10 years with a Memorial Day reunion alongside our brothers and sisters who have joined us throughout our program, we are equally excited to stay on the throttle and welcome new veterans into the program and help in their rehabilitation just as we have so many already."

The 2024 Veteran Charity Ride event schedule consists of the following:

May 24-May 27: Salt Lake City, Utah

Throughout Memorial Day weekend, the National Ability Center (NAC) in Park City will provide support for adventure activities, as the group continues with motorcycle therapy rides and team-building exercises. On Memorial Day, veterans will bond and celebrate life with friends and families while honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

June 8-16: Moab, Utah

In celebration of Veteran Motorcycle Therapy Month in June, VCR will host an intimate group of new and returning veterans with motorcycle therapy rides, adventure activities and small-group therapy sessions. The group of vets will attend and participate in the Indian Motorcycle-sponsored Durango Rendezvous event in Durango, Colorado where they'll be welcomed by fellow veterans and VCR alumni.

The Veterans Charity Ride was created by veteran Army Paratrooper Dave Frey and leverages the therapeutic effects of motorcycle riding to create an adventure of a lifetime for wounded and amputee combat veterans adjusting to post-war life.

To support the Veterans Charity Ride, donate, or to learn more visit VeteransCharityRide.org. Riders can also follow along on Indian Motorcycle's social media channels: Facebook, X and Instagram, and Veterans Charity Ride's social media channels: Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE

Indian Motorcycle is America's First Motorcycle Company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America's most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.

ABOUT VETERANS CHARITY RIDE

Veterans Charity Ride (VCR), started by veterans for veterans, is a non-profit organization that delivers Motorcycle Therapy and additional life changing, life-saving holistic programs specifically designed to assist wounded and amputee combat veterans with their needs and the issues they deal with on a daily basis. Helping our fellow veterans through outreach, action, activities, education and follow-up is what drives our organization. The end result of our program is a healthier and happier, more capable individual, who is now living life in a much better physical and mental condition, and able to help and support other veterans to do the same. Visit www.veteranscharityride.org to learn more and support this worthy cause.

SOURCE Indian Motorcycle
OneCause Hosts Sixth-Annual Campaign to Engage Tech Talent and Benefit Local Nonprofits

INDIANAPOLIS, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OneCause, a leading provider of digital fundraising technology, today announced its 2024 Indy Tech Gives campaign will officially kick off on June 3 and run through July 7. This marks the sixth year of the campaign, which brings together companies in Indiana's thriving tech community in a united effort to fundraise for nonprofits making a difference across Indiana.

"Since its inception in 2019, Indy Tech Gives has raised over $250,000 for local nonprofits, thanks to the collective efforts of more than 1,000 participating employees from 20-plus companies," said Steve Johns, CEO of OneCause. "We're excited to see the campaign continue to grow and to experience the incredible impact the Indy Tech community can make when we work together for a common cause."

Indy Tech Gives has solidified its place as a cornerstone event in the Indy Tech community, uniting tech professionals and empowering them to make a positive impact on their local community. Through company-wide teams, personal fundraising pages, and friendly competition, participants raise funds for social good and come together for a greater cause.

OneCause and TechPoint teamed up for a soft launch of the campaign at the 25th-annual Mira Awards in Indianapolis on April 26. At the event, attendees raised nearly 30% of TechPoint's fundraising goal for its nonprofit of choice, TechPoint Foundation for Youth, and their mission of advancing STEM education in Indiana.

"As a beneficiary of Indy Tech Gives, we're deeply grateful for the support and generosity of the Indianapolis tech community," said TechPoint Foundation for Youth President and CEO, George Giltner. "Their contributions profoundly impact fulfillment of our mission, particularly in providing meaningful STEM education to underrepresented students. Together, we're not only raising vital funds but also building a stronger, more compassionate community while supporting a diverse STEM talent pipeline."

Companies and their nonprofits of choice participating in the 2024 Indy Tech Gives Campaign include:

Visit the Indy Tech Gives campaign page to view participating companies and nonprofits.

About OneCause

OneCause is driving the future of fundraising with easy-to-use event and online fundraising solutions that help nonprofits improve the giving experience and raise more money. OneCause builds technology that optimizes everyday generosity, making it easier for nonprofit organizations to fundraise and for nonprofit supporters to give. Since 2008, OneCause has helped over 11,000 nonprofits in the United States and Canada raise more than $6.5 billion for their missions. OneCause is committed to driving innovation in the charitable sector, bringing together nonprofit professionals across the world for the annual Raise Conference to exchange ideas that further fundraising. For more information, visit www.onecause.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.

SOURCE OneCause
NEW YORK, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global industrial robotics market size is estimated to grow by USD 16.71 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 13.26% during the forecast period.

For more insights on the forecast market size and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download Free sample report in minutes

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Industrial Robotics Market 2024-2028

Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Type (Articulated, SCARA, Cylindrical, and Others), End-user (Electrical and electronics, Automotive, Metal and machinery, Pharmaceuticals, and Others), and Geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa) Region Covered APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key companies profiled ABB Ltd., b m surface systems GmbH, Comau Spa, DENSO Corp., Durr AG, FANUC Corp., Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., MIDEA Group Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., NACHI FUJIKOSHI Corp., OMRON Corp., Relay Robotics Inc., Rethink Robotics GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, Rockwell Automation Inc., Seiko Epson Corp., Shenyang Xinsong Robot Automation Co. Ltd., Staubli International AG, Teradyne Inc., and Yaskawa Electric Corp.

Key Market Trends Fueling Growth

In Singapore and beyond, the Industrial Robotics Market is experiencing significant growth, driven by quality and delivery demands in various sectors. IoT capabilities are becoming essential, influencing robot applications and operation modes. Articulated robots, such as those from Yaskawa Electric and Denso, are trending, offering real-time performance data and automating tasks in material handling, assembly, and welding. Competition in the U.S., France, India, and other regions intensifies, pushing for advancements in robot safety, efficiency, and productivity.

Market Challenges

The industrial robots market experiences growth due to benefits such as precision, flexibility, and consistency in manufacturing processes. However, the shortage of skilled workers with the necessary qualifications to collaborate with these advanced technologies poses a significant challenge. Robotic solutions, including cobots and machines with multiple axes, are integral to Industry 4.0 and the forefront of automation.

Yet, the need for trained engineers and operators to handle roles like soldering, painting, and integration with sensors and supply chains remains a capacity concern. In regions like Africa , the Middle East , Brazil , South Africa , and emerging economies like China and India , labor costs and the need for skilled labor further complicate the market landscape.

, the , , , and emerging economies like and , labor costs and the need for skilled labor further complicate the market landscape. Despite these challenges, the adoption of robotics technology, artificial intelligence, and automation solutions continues to scale, shaping the future of manufacturing industries.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend, driver and challenges - Download Free sample report in minutes

Segment Overview

Type

1.1 Articulated

1.2 SCARA

1.3 Cylindrical

1.4 Others

End-user

2.1 Electrical and electronics

2.2 Automotive

2.3 Metal and machinery

2.4 Pharmaceuticals

2.5 Others

Geography

3.1 APAC

3.2 Europe

3.3 North America

3.4 South America

3.5 Middle East and Africa

1.1 Articulated- The industrial robotics market is segmented by type, with articulated robots occupying a prominent role due to their handling capabilities and versatility across industries such as automotive, metals and machinery, and pharmaceuticals. These robots, renowned for their precision and dexterity, offer a variety of applications, including soldering, painting, and assembly lines.

The global shortage of skilled labor and the need for increased product quality have fueled the deployment of articulated robots in manufacturing processes. With Industry 4.0 at the forefront, these robots are integrated with sensors and artificial intelligence to enhance capacity and consistency on production lines. The market for articulated robots is forecasted to grow significantly in Africa, the Middle East, Brazil, and other emerging markets.

The majority of industries are turning to robotics technology to address labor costs, maintenance, and flexibility needs. The most common configuration for articulated robots is the 6-axis robot, which offers six degrees of freedom and the ability to reach any point within its workspace. Additionally, the emergence of cobots and advancements in robotics technology are expected to further scale the market.

For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download a Sample Report

Research Analysis

The Industrial Robotics Market is experiencing significant growth due to the automation of tasks in various sectors, including manufacturing processes for vehicles, material handling, and welding. Technologies such as SCARA robots, cobots, and industrial vehicles are driving productivity and flexibility in development, enabling factories to increase capacity and improve product quality.

The integration of sensors, artificial intelligence, and forecasting tools enhances consistency and reduces labor costs, while also improving maintenance and integration with assembly lines and supply chains. The role of industrial robots extends to sectors like painting and soldering, providing precision and reducing the need for human intervention.

Industry 4.0 is pushing the forefront of robot market development, with machines becoming smarter and more cost-effective, leading to a transformation in production lines and the overall industry landscape.

Market Research Overview

The Industrial Robotics Market encompasses a wide range of automated systems designed for various industries to enhance productivity and efficiency. These robots are integral to modern manufacturing processes, providing solutions for tasks such as welding, painting, assembly, pick and place, and material handling. The market is driven by factors including the increasing demand for automation in industries, the need for cost savings, and the continuous advancements in robotics technology.

Furthermore, sectors like automotive, electronics, and food and beverage are significant contributors to the market's growth. The future of industrial robotics lies in the integration of advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, and IoT, enabling more sophisticated applications and improving overall performance.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Type

Articulated



SCARA



Cylindrical



Others

End-user

Electrical And Electronics



Automotive



Metal And Machinery



Pharmaceuticals



Others

Geography

APAC



Europe



North America



South America



Middle East And Africa

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
JACKSON, Miss., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackson State University (JSU) is set to receive $23 million in appropriations for repairing and renovating campus facilities and expanding residential spaces. Last week, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed Senate Bill 2468, which allocated funds to state institutions through the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL).

JSU President Marcus Thompson, Ph.D., began his presidential recruitment tour earlier this year with stops in Hattiesburg and Laurel, Mississippi, the Mississippi Delta, Birmingham, Alabama, and Memphis, Tennessee. (Aron Smith/University Communications)

"We greatly appreciate our appropriation and the invaluable support of Gov. Reeves, our legislators, policymakers, and stakeholders," said JSU President Marcus L. Thompson, Ph.D. "This infusion of resources will enhance the educational experiences and quality of life for our current and prospective students. We look forward to ongoing collaboration to amplify Jackson State's standing as a world-class institution."

A portion of the appropriation will be used to complete the renovations at JSU's McAllister-Whiteside Hall, a women's residence hall. The building has been offline since 2021, but once finished it will provide an additional 300 beds to accommodate students.

Thompson noted that the funds would also help support water resources and water infrastructure for vital campus buildings. JSU administrators are currently vetting the use of above-ground water storage tanks to ensure a reliable water supply in the event of an emergency.

Since taking office in November 2023, Thompson has committed to building bridges and fostering collaboration to ensure JSU receives the necessary economic resources to improve campus facilities and enhance amenities. These efforts will help support the recruitment of future students and solidify JSU's reputation as a premier higher education destination both locally and nationally.

Thompson will share further details of the university's planned infrastructure and expansion projects, along with his vision for Jackson State, at a later date.

SOURCE Jackson State University
HOUSTON, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today it has been selected as one of 11 awardees for a multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract by the Defense Health Agency to provide health and wellness support for military personnel and their families. KBR will have the opportunity to bid on task orders under the Medical Q Coded Support and Services Next Generation (MQS2-NG) contract, which contains a ceiling of $43 billion.

Under the terms of the MQS2-NG, KBR would help provide dental, physician and nurse medical support services for Department of Defense Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) located throughout the continental United States and strategic overseas locations. This work has a period of performance of 10 years with options from 2024 through 2034. It includes managing and staffing MTFs around the country to support the treatment, recovery and well-being of U.S. service members and their families.

"The MQS2-NG contract expands upon KBR's dedication to supporting military personnel and their loved ones by improving their resilience and well-being," said Byron Bright, Government Solutions U.S. President. "We are thrilled to have a chance to expand our health and human performance services and see the positive impact on the quality of care for our service members and their families."

MQS2-NG is a continuation of KBR's five decades of vital health services support to individuals who perform in complex and multifaceted positions, including hundreds of astronauts via NASA's Human Health and Performance Contract (HHPC) and the U.S. Special Operations Forces as a part of the military's Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) contract.

About KBR

We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 35,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in over 30 countries.

KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long-term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.

Visit www.kbr.com

Forward Looking Statements

The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future contractual performance and options, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the company's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those set forth in the company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which discuss some of the important risks, uncertainties and assumptions that the company has identified that may affect its business, results of operations and financial condition. Due to such risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

SOURCE KBR, Inc.
Kellanova donates $15,000 to support Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools

CHICAGO, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kellanova and Albertsons have teamed up to tackle the ongoing issue of hunger in the communities they serve. As part of its Kellanova Better Days Promise, Kellanova is donating $15,000 to Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools to support summertime meal programs for students in Billings.

7,000 Billings Public School students are reliant on free and reduced school meals for daytime nutrition. More than 1,000 students receive BackPack meals or access school pantries every week in Billings Public Schools for weekend and evening nutrition. Summertime meal programs are not accessible to all children for a variety of reasons.

"With 34 million people in America not knowing where their next meal will come from, the need to help feed and fulfill continues," said Meigan Goodwin, Customer Team Lead  Albertsons, Kellanova. "Through our Kellanova Better Days Promise, we're committed to feeding people in need, and we're proud to partner with Albertsons to support those facing hunger in our communities."

Funds from the donation will be used to support the school district's mobile food program, Munch Mobilea van serving 200 of Billings' neediest students each week, providing a lifeline during the vulnerable summer months. The van visits identified sites and children once per week over the summer and provides them a week's supply of nutrition, a book to read, and hygiene products as needed.

"At Albertsons, we support hunger relief in the communities where we operate," said John Colgrove, President, Albertsons Companies Intermountain Division. "We're proud to support local food banks and hunger-relief programs in the neighborhoods we serve, and we're able to do this because of the generosity of partners like Kellanova."

Through its Better Days Promise, Kellanova is committed to feeding 400 million people facing food insecurity by the end of 2030 through food donations and feeding programs for children.

About Kellanova

Kellanova (NYSE: K) is a leader in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North America frozen foods with a legacy stretching back more than 100 years. Powered by differentiated brands including Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's  Rice Krispies Treats, RXBAR, Eggo, MorningStar Farms, Special K, Coco Pops, and more, Kellanova's vision is to become the world's best-performing snacks-led powerhouse, unleashing the full potential of our differentiated brands and our passionate people. Our net sales for 2023 were $13 billion.

At Kellanova, our purpose is to create better days and ensure everyone has a seat at the table through our trusted food brands. We are committed to promoting sustainable and equitable food access by tackling the crossroads of hunger, sustainability, wellbeing, and equity, diversity & inclusion. Our goal is to create Better Days for 4 billion people by the end of 2030 (from a 2015 baseline). For more detailed information about our commitments, our approach to achieving these goals, and methodology, please visit our website at https://www.kellanova.com.

About Albertsons Companies

Albertsons Companies is a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. The Company operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia with 24 banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci's Food Lovers Market. The Company is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2022, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the Company contributed more than $200 million in food and financial support, including more than $40 million through our Nourishing Neighbors Program to ensure those living in our communities and those impacted by disasters have enough to eat.

SOURCE Kellanova
As part of a branded pilot, the global ingredient manufacturer achieves first GFLI-compliant branded life cycle assessment of feed additives

HERENTALS, Belgium, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services, is the first feed additive producer to launch a qualifying life cycle assessment (LCA) that meets the standards of the Global Feed LCA Institute (GFLI).

The LCA methodology evaluates environmental impacts associated with all life cycle stages of a commercial product, process, or service. LCAs are essential tools for making the animal feed industry more environmentally sustainable, as they help manufacturers, suppliers, customers, and others understand how using additives affects the environment. This, in turn, guides the industry toward how to best achieve its sustainability goals.

The Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health  EMENA (Europe, Middle East, North Africa) business unit conducted LCAs for a suite of products for the feed industry, including:

KESSENT  MF Liquid

MF Liquid KESSENT  MF Dry

MF Dry KESSENT  ME

ME LysiGEM 

KEM WET  AMP Liquid

AMP Liquid Sal CURB  BR Liquid

BR Liquid SAL CURB  BR Dry

BR Dry Myco CURB ES Liquid

Kemin aims to offer verified LCAs for all its major products, as these assist customers with their sustainability journeys by helping them make decisions that can lead to a lower impact on the environment.

"As a provider of key ingredients, we dedicate our time to exploring ways to make safer, more sustainable products that serve the changing needs of our world," said Dr. Stefaan Van Dyck, Group President  Animal Nutrition and Health, Kemin Industries, and Chairman of the Board for GFLI. "At Kemin, our curiosity motivates us to play a role in solving current challenges, and our commitment to sustainability helps us transform today into a better tomorrow."

Determining the lifecycle impact of Kemin products to meet the highest standards is a key action to guarantee that customers are receiving accurate information. Kemin's branded, validated LCAs allow the company to analyze and communicate the environmental impact of its specific products through the most accurate assessment of its products based on primary data, directly sourced from the manufacturing process rather than approximation.

"The GFLI-branded data pilot was launched to consider a harmonized methodology for inclusion of company-specific LCA values for key feed ingredients and cater to the upcoming regulations and needs of feed companies for high-quality, primary-sourced data," said Laura Nobel, Manager, GFLI. "The challenge seems to be determining what types of ingredients are in scope.

"Feed additives have quite some challenges, which makes Kemin's efforts to comply with our rigorous methodology essential for test casing and further discussions on how to improve. Kemin's commitment is also evident in the company's participation in the GFLI working groups and contribution to discussions within the Institute to set GFLI as the world's reference in feed ingredients' LCAs."

"Branded, feed-additive LCAs are a significant achievement for Kemin and GFLI. As an active member of the organization, Kemin contributes to a global database, which ensures stakeholders can make sustainable decisions," said Dr. Van Dyck. "The GFLI database, comprised of specific, branded LCAs, marks a new stage of validated knowledge on feed additives' sustainability so the industry can progress with validated assessments of the environmental impact of improved feed formulations."

The branded LCAs that Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health  EMENA executed in partnership with GFLI are the first in a series of many that demonstrate the company's commitment to sustainability. GFLI provides the methodology and database of more than 1,800 LCA datasets for major feed ingredients from around the world. The organization's branded pilotfor which Kemin was the first-ever participantintroduced the use of branded data which, in turn, will increase the use of primary data.

Compelled to make the planet a safe, healthy, and sustainable place to live, Kemin actively works to reduce its carbon footprint and increase its use of renewable energy. The company strives to safeguard the planet's natural resources and create a secure future for generations.

Click here to learn more about the Kemin products for which LCAs were conducted, and click here to learn more about GFLI's branded LCAs.

About Kemin Industries

Kemin Industries (www.kemin.com) is a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services. The company supplies over 500 specialty ingredients for human and animal health and nutrition, pet food, aquaculture, nutraceutical, food technologies, crop technologies, textile, biofuel, and animal vaccine industries.

For over half a century, Kemin has been dedicated to using applied science to address industry challenges and offer product solutions to customers in more than 120 countries. Kemin provides ingredients to feed a growing population with its commitment to the quality, safety, and efficacy of food, feed, and health-related products.

Established in 1961, Kemin is a privately held, family-owned-and-operated company with more than 3,000 global employees and operations in 90 countries, including manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Italy, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States.

Media Contact:

Ester Bolsens, Marketing Manager, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health  EMENA | [email protected], +32 14 24 23 23

 Kemin Industries, Inc. and its group of companies 2024. All rights reserved.   Trademarks of Kemin Industries, Inc., U.S.A.

Certain statements, product labeling and claims may differ by geography or as required by government requirements.

SOURCE Kemin Industries
Child Care for American Families Act provides much needed support for businesses to expand access to child care for employees

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN), Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) introduced the Child Care for American Families Act, federal legislation aimed at encouraging employers to provide child care benefits to their employees, whether that's on-site or near-site care or tuition benefits that reduce an employee's overall child care costs. This bill will expand childcare opportunities for working families by building upon the Employer-Provided Childcare Tax Credit.

The bill would provide qualifying employers with a tax credit, making it easier for companies of all sizes to find the funds necessary to support working parents through employer-sponsored child care benefits.

"The Employer-Provided Child Care Credit is a targeted solution that provides working families with the support they need through expanded access to child care. It also enables businesses large and small, to attract and retain a skilled workforce," said Paul Thompson, CEO of KinderCare Learning Companies. "We applaud Representatives Kustoff, Schneider, Tenney and Sewell for introducing the bipartisan Child Care for American Families Act that modernizes the existing credit and helps address the evolving needs of employers and working families. More than ever, employers are coming to KinderCare looking for child care solutions that meet the needs of their workforce. This credit will allow employers to make a sustainable investment in child care that increases access for their employees and their surrounding communities."

According to KLC's 2024 Parent Confidence Index, 65% of parents say they would stay at their job if their employer provided subsidized child care. Additionally, 78% of parents said confidence in their child care allows them to excel at work.

Learn more about KinderCare's child care offerings for employers here.

About KinderCare Learning Companies

A leading provider early childhood and school-age education and care, KinderCare builds confidence for life in children and families from all backgrounds. KinderCare supports hardworking families in 40 states and the District of Columbia with differentiated flexible child care solutions to meet today's dynamic work environment:

In neighborhoods, with KinderCare  Learning Centers that offer early learning programs for children six weeks to 12 years old and with Creme de la Creme School  , which offers a premium early education model using a variety of themed classrooms;

that offer early learning programs for children six weeks to 12 years old and with , which offers a premium early education model using a variety of themed classrooms; At work, through KinderCare Learning Companies for Employers , providing customized family benefits for employers across the country, including employer-supported child care benefits, on-site and near-site early learning centers and back-up care for last-minute child care, and

, providing customized family benefits for employers across the country, including employer-supported child care benefits, on-site and near-site early learning centers and back-up care for last-minute child care, and In local schools, with Champions before and after-school programs.

KinderCare programs meet the highest standards, validated by independent, third-party evaluation including:

Gallup , measuring workforce engagement,

, measuring workforce engagement, National Association for the Education of Young Children , ensuring individual early learning center quality,

, ensuring individual early learning center quality, Cognia , accreditation for before- and after-school programs

, accreditation for before- and after-school programs BRIGANCE  and TerraNova  assessments of children's academic progress and achievement, and

assessments of children's academic progress and achievement, and WELL Health-Safety Rating, validating health and safety practices in our facilities.

Headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, KinderCare operates more than 2,400 early learning centers and sites. In 2024, KinderCare earned its eighth Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award  one of only two current organizations worldwide to achieve this milestone for eight consecutive years. To learn more, visit KC-Learning.com.

Media Contact

Colleen Moran

KinderCare Learning Companies

503-872-1300, option 3

[email protected]

SOURCE KinderCare Learning Companies
Ligentia's customers will benefit from real-time ocean freight data, enhanced visibility and the tools to manage by exception, optimise decision-making, and maximise on-time performance.

LONDON, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ligentia, a leading global supply chain management company, has partnered with Windward (LSE: WNWD), the leading Maritime AI company, to realise greater operational efficiency. Windward's Ocean Freight Visibility solution will now be integrated within the Ligentix supply chain portal, providing a real-time understanding of vessel schedules and arrivals, deviations and risks, empowering teams and customers to manage by exception. The partnership means that Ligentia and its customers will have more accurate information to make business critical supply chain decisions and adapt to critical events.

Recent disruption highlights the need for reliable data

The latest spate of ocean freight disruptions, largely stemming from the decision to cease merchant shipping in the Red Sea following merchant ship attacks by Houthi Rebels, have once again highlighted the need for reliable data. Between October and March, carrier transit times ballooned from an average of 34 days to 46 days, and over the same period on-time reliability has plummeted from 44% down to a mere 10%.

The integration of Windward's AI-powered solution into the Ligentix Supply Chain Platform will provide Ligentia and its customers with a clear understanding of notable milestones and delays, including late departures and late or missed transshipments empowering them to manage by exception and react to extraordinary events. Ligentia will also be able to access Windward's data and insights to more accurately analyse carrier performance and optimise their planning accordingly.

Chief Technology Officer at Ligentia, Anthony Plummer says, "At Ligentia, one of our primary areas of focus is delivering innovative solutions that will enable our customers to be more successful, and the Windward partnership is the latest example of this. Data is indicating that only one in ten container ships is arriving on time right now and as we approach peak season, predicting the arrival of shipments is a major challenge. Integrating Windward Maritime AI into Ligentix will provide Ligentia teams and our customers access to reliable, real-time data, but also tools that will enable enhanced decision-making leveraging predictive insights to better mitigate supply chain risk and achieve improved business performance."

"In a period of unprecedented delays and uncertainty, we are proud to provide Ligentia and their customers with our game-changing Maritime AI Insights," said Ami Daniel, CEO and Co-Founder of Windward. "This integration is a reflection of Windward's commitment to excellence and enabling partners like Ligentia to drive innovation. AI adoption is the necessary next step to provide stakeholders with reliable data and insights so they can streamline operations and achieve greater business success more efficiently."

Windward and Ligentia will be at the upcoming Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo in Barcelona, Spain, on June 10-12 to discuss the critical role of data in overcoming unique freight logistics challenges. Don't miss the session on June 11 at 11am CEST.

About Ligentia

Ligentia is a leading global supply chain solutions provider with 28 years' experience delivering more sustainable and agile supply chains. Our customers include some of the world's most sophisticated retailers and best-known brands in manufacturing, healthcare and consumer goods. With teams located across Asia, Oceania, North America and Europe, our people are supply chain experts and problem solvers, providing world-class sector and regional expertise backed by smart technology to help make supply chains more resilient.

For more information, visit https://ligentia.com

About Windward

Windward (LSE:WNWD), is the leading Maritime AI company, providing an all-in-one platform to accelerate global trade. Windward's AI-powered decision support and exception management platform offers a 360 view of the maritime ecosystem and enables stakeholders to make real time, predictive intelligence-driven decisions to achieve business and operational readiness.

Windward's Maritime AI supports companies across industries. The company's clients range from oil supermajors, freight forwarders, and port authorities, to banks, shippers, insurers, and governmental organizations.

For more information, visit: https://windward.ai/

Ligentia Media Contact:

Gill Lindsay

Tel: +44 7824526866

Email: [email protected]

Windward Media Contact:

David Hoffman

Headline Media

[email protected]

+972-52-842-1955

SOURCE Windward; Ligentia
* China strives to establish the world's largest national park system by 2035.

* In 2021, China established its first batch of national parks, spanning a protected land area of 230,000 square km.

*To better protect wildlife species and their habitats, China also designated 49 candidate areas, covering around 1.1 million square km, as national park space.

CHANGCHUN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Across plateaus, mountains, and rainforests, wildlife is rebounding in China as the country strives to establish the world's largest national park system by 2035.

Ranging from the likes of Hainan gibbons to Tibetan antelopes, wildlife populations have increased in the country's national parks, an achievement worth celebrating on the International Day for Biological Diversity, which falls on May 22.

Deep inside a dense forest in northeast China, a Siberian tiger cub was cuddling and playing with its mother.

This heartwarming scene in the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park (NCTLNP) was streamed in real-time on an intelligent screen at the park's control room.

Such new technologies have transformed biodiversity conservation in China. In the NCTLNP, which spans over 14,000 square km, it takes just a few seconds to trace a wild Siberian tiger, thanks to the park's network of more than 20,000 infrared cameras.

Situated in northeast China's Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, the park began trial operations in 2017 and was officially established in 2021.

Both the park's key and sensitive areas are covered by an integrated intelligent monitoring system that collects and records wildlife data.

"Last year, 20 Siberian tiger cubs and 15 Amur leopard cubs were born in the park. This is truly a surprise, considering that in 1998, there were only about 12 wild Siberian tigers in China," said Feng Limin, deputy director of the monitoring and research center for Siberian tigers and Amur leopards under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Also known as the Amur tiger, the Siberian tiger is one of the world's most endangered animals and a flagship species of the forest ecosystem, mainly living in Russia's Far East and northeast China. About 500 Siberian tigers are believed to exist in the wild today.

China attaches great importance to biodiversity conservation, as evidenced by it being among the first countries to sign and ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity.

In 2021, China established its first batch of national parks, spanning a protected land area of 230,000 square km.

These parks, namely Sanjiangyuan National Park, the Giant Panda National Park, the NCTLNP, Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park and Wuyishan National Park, are home to nearly 30 percent of the country's key terrestrial wildlife species.

The progress these national parks have made in protecting biodiversity is evident when considering the numbers involved.

The population of Hainan gibbons, a rare primate that lives in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, had risen to 37 in 2022 from 13 in 2003. Sanjiangyuan National Park, meanwhile, is now home to more than 70,000 Tibetan antelopes, in sharp contrast to less than 20,000 in the 1990s.

To better protect wildlife species and their habitats, China also designated 49 candidate areas, covering around 1.1 million square km, as national park space, according to a spatial layout plan made public in 2022.

There are more than 5,000 wild vertebrate species and 29,000 types of higher plants in these candidate areas, which are expected to incorporate over 80 percent of China's strictly protected fauna and flora.

Notably, the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, which is the highest plateau in the world, has 13 candidate areas. They cover an area of about 770,000 square km and account for 70 percent of the total area of national park candidate areas.

Over the years, Qiangtang Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, one of the candidate areas, has been ramping up efforts to improve its ecological protection measures and strategies.

At an average altitude of over 4,500 meters, wildlife rangers in this nature reserve brave thin air and blizzards to patrol protected areas and monitor wildlife. To their delight, the number of wild animals such as Tibetan antelopes and yaks has increased significantly in this region.

"The construction of the national park system greatly improves the protection of biodiversity and safeguards the authenticity and integrity of the ecosystem. National parks are becoming ideal homes for many rare wild animals," said He Xingyuan, a researcher at the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

(Video reporter: Si Xiaoshuai, Shao Meiqi, Tenzin Nyida, Jiangfan; Video editors: Zhang Qiru and Zhang Yuhong)
YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS. In line with its aggressive and expansionist anti-Armenian agenda, Azerbaijan continues to spread false information and propaganda, Geghard Scientific and Analytical Foundation said in a statement. The Foundation adds that for years, dedicating considerable effort and resources, Baku has sought to portray the over 2800-year-old city of Yerevan as "Azerbaijani."

"Another target of Azerbaijan is one of the oldest districts of Yerevan - Kond. Azerbaijanis refer to the Kond district by the modified name "Tapabashi." Such propaganda efforts in Azerbaijan are not unprecedented.

"On July 7, 2022, Azerbaijani "cultural and public figures" appealed to Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), urging her to prevent the "destruction of Azerbaijani historical and cultural heritage" in Yerevan.

"On May 7, 2024, Azerbaijan, this time on behalf of non-governmental organizations, appealed to the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, calling for the preservation of Kond. Among the signatories were organizations such as the so-called "Community of Western Azerbaijan," "Cultural Heritage Propaganda of Yerevan," "Zangezur Union," and other NGOs, whose names clearly reflect their agenda and objectives.

"Apart from the fact that Kond is not Azerbaijani, this statement is ironic given Azerbaijan's ongoing policy of deliberately targeting and destroying Armenian historical and cultural heritage in Nakhijevan, Artsakh, and other areas which is documented.

"Moreover, in the statement, Azerbaijan also "declares readiness for dialogue and interaction with UNESCO in order to prevent the destruction of Azerbaijani cultural heritage" in Armenia, and calls for "sending a fact-finding mission to Yerevan." Such a call is ironic, given UNESCO's readiness to create an independent technical mission in 2020 to assess the status of cultural values in Artsakh. However, Azerbaijan has blocked the mission's entry into Artsakh, challenging international structures and their activities, and highlighting its attempts to cover up the facts confirming the destruction of Armenian heritage in Artsakh.

"Thus, the "Azerbaijanization" campaign of Yerevan's Kond district is a clear manifestation of Azerbaijan's broader political agenda, aimed at distorting history and asserting its territorial ambitions over Armenia. With the international community failing to take appropriate steps, the destruction of Armenian historical and cultural values has reached alarming proportions. Currently, at least 1456 Armenian historical and cultural monuments are under Azerbaijan's control in occupied Artsakh, " the statement reads.
CHIBA, Japan, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- From May 22 to 24, 2024, LiuGong showcases 6 electric machines at Construction&Survey Productivity Improvement Expo (CSPI-EXPO), including 9027FE & 922E excavators, LS0607E & LS0808E scissor lifts, 856HE & 870HE wheel loaders. Following its impressive appearances at INTERMAT in France and the Vei og Anlegg exhibition in Norway, LiuGong once again captivated global attention with its innovative technology as the company showcased all-electric products at the exhibition.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/NIMcA5WMQ2Y

On the first day of the exhibition, LiuGong held the Electric Product launch at its booth. Industry media from Japan and Xinhua News Agency conducted an exclusive interview with Zeng Guang'an, Chairman and CEO of LiuGong. "Since embarking on the development of electric technology in 2014, LiuGong has made significant achievements in the field of electric intelligence over a decade of relentless pursuit and innovation. LiuGong's electric equipment has been successfully promoted in China, ASEAN, Europe, North America, and India. LiuGong has sold over 5,000 electric machines worldwide, marking our strong presence in the global market. Bringing LiuGong to Japan, we are embarking on a new journey. We aim to help Japan reduce carbon emissions, support green initiatives, and lower total ownership costs for customers through our full range of electric equipment. At the same time, we will respect Japan's culture and industry regulations and are committed to providing comprehensive solutions to Japanese customers with equipment that has been rigorously tested and validated worldwide,"said Zeng Guang'an during the interview.

With their distinctive green livery, the six products displayed at the show share LiuGong's Red Dot Award-winning design DNA and put the operator right at the heart of the machine, demonstrating LiuGong's leadership in BEV technology.

In the future, LiuGong will work closely with local Japanese dealers to promote the development of intelligent construction and assist Japan in achieving its carbon emission targets. Additionally, LiuGong will provide comprehensive and efficient solutions to Japanese customers through fast and efficient services and a complete spare parts system, creating more value.

For more information, visit https://www.liugong.com/en/

SOURCE LiuGong
The Denver-Based Education Nonprofit was a Driving Force Behind the Diploma Endorsement Legislation in Colorado

DENVER, May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lyra, the Denver-based nonprofit that incubates and accelerates high-impact initiatives that tackle some of the biggest challenges facing education, is celebrating the signing of one of its signature legislative initiatives in Colorado, Senate Bill 24-014 ("Seal of Climate Literacy Diploma Endorsement").

Sponsored by Colorado Sen. Chris Hansen and Colorado Rep. Barbara McLachlan, SB24-014 authorizes school districts and other local education providers in Colorado to offer a diploma endorsement that recognizes students who have achieved climate literacy by completing a high school science class and another course that touch on issues related to climate change, combined with hands-on experiential learning that will help them be better prepared for college, the military or the workforce. Individual school districts will maintain local control of the endorsement by determining what course work and other criteria are required for their students.

"As a legislator, I spend a lot of time thinking about the future of Colorado and how we are preparing youth for jobs in an economy increasingly impacted by the changing climate," said Colorado Sen. Chris Hansen. "The legislation establishing a Seal of Climate Literacy is one way that we can make sure that high school students, not just in areas like Denver but across the state, are being exposed to and starting to prepare for these new career opportunities. I am excited that Colorado can pave the way on legislation that has applications to states across the country."

"Young people will bear the brunt of climate change, which will create significant personal and professional changes for Coloradans, including farmers, ranchers, outdoor recreation industry employees and oil and gas workers," said Mary Seawell, founder and CEO of Lyra. "To support these students, Lyra has helped champion Colorado Senate Bill 24-014, the 'Seal of Climate Literacy' diploma endorsement for high school students who have met certain academic requirements in the areas of coursework and a hands-on learning project, such as a capstone or internship."

Later this week, the first Colorado students to receive the diploma endorsement include 15 students from Durango High School and one student from Big Picture High School.

"We are honored to be the first district in Colorado to confer the Seal of Climate Literacy to our very deserving students. These students are committed to making a positive impact on their environment, their community and our planet," said Dr. Karen Cheser, Superintendent of Durango 9-R in Southwest Colorado. "We expect that many of them will go on to work in environmental science, building green skills and supporting a sustainable society. They are exemplifying our Durango School District Portrait of a Graduate competencies."

Students from Durango 9-R were already well poised to receive the Seal of Climate Literacy this spring thanks to their leadership of Green Teams and Earth Day efforts within their high school.

Weiming Lambert, a graduating senior at Durango High School who will receive the Seal of Climate Literacy, reflected on what the diploma endorsement signifies to them, "Taking the classes and completing the projects to receive the Seal of Climate Literacy empowers students to become environmental leaders. It teaches students skills and knowledge so we can advocate for sustainable practices within our communities, which drives positive environmental change, creating a more equal future for everyone."

Aisha O'Neil, also a graduating senior at Durango High School who will receive the diploma endorsement this spring, has led the school's Green Team and more recently launched a statewide student network called Good Trouble . She shares, "Being awarded the Seal of Climate Literacy both made me feel as though my work for the environment is truly valued in my community and that I can find a real career path within this passion."

Students perceive attainment of the Seal of Climate Literacy could also translate to better job prospects. Natalie Obleton, a graduating senior at Durango High School and member of the Good Trouble Climate Collective, shared, "Many businesses strive to become more sustainable but do not have the time nor the resources to educate themselves on how to do so. The Seal of Climate Literacy can appeal to a very wide range of jobs since it shows that you have the knowledge and the qualifications to make environmentally informed decisions for your workplace."

This student voice was the driving force for Colorado Rep. McLachlan to co-sponsor SB 24-014 this legislative session.

"When students are engaged in a subject, really engaged, their comprehension, curiosity and achievement soar. The students pursuing a Seal of Climate Literacy diploma have chosen an educational path that aligns with their future goals," said Colorado Rep. Barbara McLachlan. "I am excited to see where they go and what they do with their knowledge and am so proud of their self-confidence and maturity. It has been fun to work with them."

Tammie Delaney, a rancher in the northwest Yampa Valley of the state, recognizes the value of what this education and experience for students means for rural communities who are already feeling the impacts of climate change.

"Growing up in Northwest Colorado means you are raised knowing how to grow, raise, produce, process, harvest and enjoy our food, and our agricultural producers understand the important connection great soil and water provide for our food systems," said Delaney, owner of the Hayden Granary. "Youth that know how to raise livestock and grow produce are indeed part of creating a more economically and environmentally resilient community, and we are proud that the agricultural education efforts in our region can be recognized through a Seal of Climate Literacy."

Helping Colorado Districts and Education Providers Adopt the Seal of Climate Literacy & Taking the Diploma Endorsement National

Lyra was instrumental in the drafting and development of this legislation. With the passage of Colorado Senate Bill 24-014, Seawell said Lyra is now turning an eye towards helping districts throughout Colorado to confer the Seal of Climate Literacy and working with other states in replicating this legislation to accelerate climate literacy and a younger workforce to support green jobs.

"We are seeing threats to our way of life and our rural economies in Colorado and other states like Colorado that have significant natural resources," Seawell said. "This is a moment where we can create and facilitate more opportunity and innovation for our youth to be a part of the solution to address it."

About Lyra

Lyra is a nonprofit organization that incubates and accelerates high-impact initiatives that tackle some of the biggest challenges facing education. Lyra's focus is on building coalitions and providing capacity, resources, infrastructure and expertise to partners with innovative ideas that lead to greater student and educator success. To achieve this, the organization works directly with students, teachers, parents, community leaders, industry caregivers, policymakers and funders. Learn more at www.lyracolorado.org .

KEY MEDIA CONTACTS:

Mary Seawell

CEO & Founder, Lyra

[email protected]

720-840-7658

Relationship to Seal of Climate Literacy: Initiator and co-author of legislation, founder of Lyra, who seeks to support local education providers in conferring the Seal of Climate Literacy in Colorado and beyond

Chris Hansen

Colorado State Senator, District 31 representing Denver

[email protected]

720-243-2546

Relationship to Seal of Climate Literacy: Prime Senate bill sponsor for SB24-014

Barbara McLachlan

Colorado State Representative, District 59 representing Archuleta, La Plata, San Juan and part of Montezuma

[email protected]

303-866-2914

Relationship to Seal of Climate Literacy: House bill co-sponsor for SB24-014

Aisha O'Neil

Graduating Senior, Durango High School

[email protected]

Relationship to Seal of Climate Literacy: Testified in support of the legislation at the House Education Committee and supported students from a student network she leads, Good Trouble, to testify. She will be one of the first students in Colorado to receive the Seal of Climate Literacy as part of her graduation this Friday, May 24, at Durango High School.

Dr. Karen Cheser

Superintendent, Durango 9-R

[email protected]

970-247-5411

Relationship to Seal of Climate Literacy: Testified in support of the legislation in House Education Committee; Superintendent of the first 16 students to be conferred the Seal of Climate Literacy on May 23 and May 24, 2024 in Durango 9-R

Dr. Kirk Henwood

Superintendent, SOROCO

khenwood@southrouttk12.org

Relationship to Seal of Climate Literacy: Testified in support of the legislation in Senate Education Committee and supported students from his district in testifying in front of House Education Committee

LeeAnn Kittle

Executive Director - Sustainability, Denver Public Schools

[email protected]

Relationship to the Seal of Climate Literacy: Testified on behalf of Denver Public Schools in support of the legislation; supported students from DPS in testifying on behalf of the Seal of Climate Literacy

Tammie Delaney

Owner, Hayden Granary

[email protected]

Relationship to the Seal of Climate Literacy: Supporter of the Yampa Valley Partnership for Students, Stewardship and Sustainability

SOURCE Lyra
BANGALORE, India, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mining Equipment Maintenance, Repair and Rebuild Market is Segmented by Type (Engine, Hydraulic System, Tire, Chassis), by Application (Underground Mining Equipment, Surface Mining Equipment).

The Global Mining Equipment Maintenance, Repair and Rebuild Market was valued at USD 12087.2 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 19326 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 6.11% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

North American market for Mining Equipment Maintenance, Repair and Rebuild is estimated to increase from D 4139.87 Million in 2023 to reach D 6335.07 Million by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.53% during the forecast period of 2023 through 2030.

Europe market for Mining Equipment Maintenance, Repair and Rebuild is estimated to increase from USD 2353.38 Million in 2023 to reach USD 3655.88 Million by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.64% during the forecast period of 2023 through 2030.

Asia-Pacific market for Mining Equipment Maintenance, Repair and Rebuild is estimated to increase from USD 3604.4 Million in 2023 to reach USD 6149.2 Million by 2030, at a CAGR of 7.00% during the forecast period of 2023 through 2030.

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Major Factors driving the growth of Mining Equipment Maintenance, Repair and Rebuild Market

There are many primary causes that propel the mining equipment maintenance, repair, and rebuild industry. Mining equipment must function well and last a long time due to the growing demand for minerals and resources brought on by the expansion of the global industrial sector. Many mining operations have aging equipment that has to be repaired and maintained on a regular basis to guarantee operating safety and efficiency, which lowers downtime and increases output. IoT and AI-driven technological developments in predictive maintenance and diagnostics have also fueled market expansion by enabling more accurate and timely interventions.

Companies are also compelled by strict regulatory requirements and environmental concerns to keep their equipment operating at peak efficiency in order to meet safety and emission regulations. The mining industry's growing emphasis on cost-effectiveness and sustainability has increased demand for thorough maintenance, repair, and rebuild services.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF MINING EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND REBUILD MARKET:

Engines are essential components of surface mining machinery like loaders, haul trucks, and excavators because they supply the power needed to carry out labor-intensive operations. These engines are exposed to harsh working circumstances, such as constant high loads, dusty surroundings, and erratic weather, which can cause serious wear and tear. Therefore, maintaining engine performance is essential to mining operations' overall productivity and efficiency. These engines need to have regular maintenance, repair, and rebuild (MRR) services in order to perform at peak efficiency, avoid malfunctions, and live longer. The need for specialist MRR services is driven by the intricate and crucial nature of these engines, as mining firms aim to reduce downtime and guarantee dependable operations.

Because of the world's fast industrialization and urbanization, especially in developing nations like China and India, there is an unprecedented demand for minerals and metals. These nations need a tonne of raw resources, including copper, aluminum, and iron ore, to grow their infrastructure. Because of the growing demand, mining activities have expanded as well, making more regular maintenance, repair, and rebuild (MRR) services for mining equipment necessary to maintain continuous operations. The need for rare earth metals and lithium has also increased dramatically due to the manufacture of electric vehicles and renewable energy projects, which is further driving the mining industry. In order to sustain productivity and efficiency, there is a growing demand for MRR services as mining activities become more intense and the wear and tear on equipment increases.

The MRR market is mostly driven by the need for cost control and economic instability. Mining businesses are forced to concentrate on cost-effective techniques in order to retain profitability due to fluctuating commodity prices and instability in the global economy. Especially in recessionary times, it is frequently more cost-effective to invest in MRR services rather than buy new machinery. Businesses can delay major capital expenditures and increase the lifespan of their assets by maintaining and repairing their current gear. Mining businesses prioritize operational efficiency and cost reductions in economically challenged regions, which supports the MRR industry. In these circumstances, this cost management technique is very important.

In order to increase output and save expenses, mining corporations are putting more and more emphasis on operational efficiency. Achieving these objectives requires efficient equipment functioning, which makes routine MRR servicing necessary. Businesses may reduce downtime and increase productivity by making sure mining equipment runs at its best. Predictive maintenance, which use data analytics to forecast and avert equipment breakdowns, is one of the more widely used maintenance techniques. The need for specialist services is increased by these strategies' requirement for sophisticated MRR capabilities. The MRR market is expected to experience substantial expansion as the focus on operational efficiency increases.

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MINING EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND REBUILD MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS:

The global major manufacturers of Mining Equipment Maintenance, Repair and Rebuild include Metso Outotec, Sandvik, Caterpillar, Epiroc, Mader,etc. In 2023, the global top five players hold a share of approximately 66.96% market size.

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Key Companies:

Metso Outotec

PROCON

Liebherr

SGS Ltd

Rudd

Altra Industrial Motion

Uintah Machine

Mader

Hannon Hydraulics

Bramco

AES Equipment Solutions

Mining Equipment Maintenance

CB HYMAC

Phillips Global

Gemini Machine

Minesite Mechanical Services

Mauger Heavy Equipment

Metalcraft MER

HeavyEquip Mechanical Services

Copeland International

Mining Maintenance Solutions

Swanson Industries Australia

CW Services

TCD Rebuilds

Essential Mining Solutions

Arnold Machinery Company

Comphire

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- Automated Mining Equipment market was valued at USD 2376.7 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 3782.4 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Smart Mining Equipment Market

- Deep Sea Mining Equipment market was valued at USD 812 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 5924.4 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 33.3% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Coal Mining Equipment Remanufacturing Market

- Mining Equipment Brake System Market

- Mining Equipment Lighting Market

- Mining Equipment Wheels Market

- The pre-owned construction equipment market size was valued at USD 165.2 Billion in 2021, and is estimated to reach USD 484.3 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 11.2% from 2022 to 2031.

- Mining Equipment Tire market was valued at USD 4235.7 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 5056.6 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 2.6% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- The lithium mining equipment market was valued at USD 371.60 Million in 2020, and is estimated to reach USD 2.5 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 16.2% from 2023 to 2032.

- Mining Lifting Equipment Market

- Deep Sea Mining Equipment market was valued at USD 812 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 5924.4 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 33.3% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

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GUANGZHOU, China, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MINISO Group Holding Limited (NYSE: MNSO; HKEX: 9896) ("MINISO", "MINISO Group" or the "Company"), a global value retailer offering a variety of trendy lifestyle products featuring IP design, today announced that due to administrative reasons, the venue of its annual general meeting of shareholders to be held on June 20, 2024 has been changed to Flats B-D, 35/F, Plaza 88, 88 Yeung Uk Road, Tsuen Wan, the New Territories, Hong Kong.

About MINISO Group

MINISO Group is a global value retailer offering a variety of trendy lifestyle products featuring IP design. The Company serves consumers primarily through its large network of MINISO stores, and promotes a relaxing, treasure-hunting and engaging shopping experience full of delightful surprises that appeals to all demographics. Aesthetically pleasing design, quality and affordability are at the core of every product in MINISO's wide product portfolio, and the Company continually and frequently rolls out products with these qualities. Since the opening of its first store in China in 2013, the Company has built its flagship brand "MINISO" as a globally recognized consuming brand and established a massive store network worldwide. For more information, please visit https://ir.miniso.com/.

Investor Relations Contact:

Raine Hu

MINISO Group Holding Limited

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86 (20) 36228788 Ext.8039

SOURCE MINISO Group Holding Limited
BERLIN, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mintos, the multi-asset platform offering a unique mix of alternative and traditional investment options, is pleased to announce the launch of its latest offering: passive rental real estate investing.

This new product offers investors an accessible, affordable, and hassle-free opportunity to enter the real estate market. With a low minimum investment of just 50 and estimated returns ranging from 6 to 8% annually*, Mintos extends access to rental residential real estate investment to a wider audience.

Investing in rental real estate traditionally requires substantial capital, along with significant fees and taxes. The purchasing process can be lengthy and complex, particularly for cross-border investments, and property ownership entails ongoing time investments, such as tenant management and property maintenance.

Investing in rental real estate on Mintos through real estate securities is, on the other hand, simple and convenient. Investors can participate in rental real estate without owning the underlying property directly, eliminating the need to deal with complicated purchasing processes or property maintenance.

Moreover, real estate investments often lack liquidity, tying up capital for extended periods. With Mintos, customers benefit from the flexibility to access their capital at any time through Mintos Secondary Market, ensuring liquidity for their investments.

This passive approach to rental real estate investing offers investors the opportunity to earn returns from the cash flows of real estate, as they can expect a steady stream of income from rent payments and the potential for capital appreciation upon property sale.

"We're excited to introduce passive rental real estate investments to our platform," says Martins Sulte, CEO and Co-Founder of Mintos. "This new product aligns with our goal of making investing accessible to everyone. It provides investors with a simple way to diversify their portfolios with alternative assets, supporting our commitment to offer passive, long-term investment strategies."

For more information about Mintos' Passive Real Estate Investing, visit www.mintos.com/en/real-estate/invest/ .

* Estimated returns consist of estimated 5% net property payments and estimated 1-3% annual appreciation of the property value. It's important to note that estimated returns are no guarantee of future results.

Media Contact: Email: [email protected], Phone: +37125727410

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2244368/4711426/mintos_logo.jpg

SOURCE Mintos
KYIV, Ukraine , May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 17, MITS (Military Innovation Technology Solutions) and AUK (American University Kyiv) kicked off the first acceleration program for Ukrainian defense startups.

After a rigorous three-month selection process in which the team evaluated over sixty applications, six promising startups were selected to participate in an acceleration program that will help them develop their business mindset, find partners and buyers, and scale.

MITS and American University Kyiv Kick-off Ukraines First Defense Technology Acceleration Program

Through a multi-step process, applicants were put through a series of evaluations, including a thorough review of their business plans, a demonstration of their product in a "testing ground" environment, and final approval by MITS' Supervisory Board. While this rigorous selection process ensured a high quality group of companies in the first cohort, MITS was impressed with many of the applicants and looks forward to initiating a second cohort later this year.

Apart from the USD 100k cash investment, during the program, selected startups will receive:

Expert Mentoring : Renowned industry leaders (such as NATO defense industry experts) will provide guidance on strategy development, product improvement and market entry.

: Renowned industry leaders (such as NATO defense industry experts) will provide guidance on strategy development, product improvement and market entry. Industry exposure: Workshops, dedicated networking events, and industry connections will arm startups with the knowledge and relationships needed to navigate relevant markets.

Workshops, dedicated networking events, and industry connections will arm startups with the knowledge and relationships needed to navigate relevant markets. Further Investment Opportunities: Apart from being eligible for MITS Venture Fund, participating startups will have the opportunity to showcase their products to a network of venture capitalists, potentially securing critical funding for future growth.

To learn more about the program's benefits and structure, please refer to our previous press release .

"We are excited to begin this journey with these six innovative startups. The talent and dedication we've seen throughout the selection process is exceptional, and we're confident this program will give them the tools they need to make a big impact," says Denys Gurak , Founding Partner at MITS.

"We plan not only to build a defense tech startup ecosystem in Ukraine, but also to invest in its growth and development with the MITS venture fund," said Perry Boyle , Founding Partner at MITS.

Anton Melnyk , Founding Partner at MITS, adds: "The key idea of the MITS accelerator launched together with American University Kyiv is foremost the development of a Ukrainian defense technology manufacturing base, which will lead to new opportunities for Ukraine as it continues to integrate with NATO and the European Union. I am incredibly impressed with what American University Kyiv has brought to our accelerator partnership and am personally grateful to Lyudmyla Dolgonovska, Yuriy Bots, Oleksiy Shershnev and Dan Rice for supporting such a fundamental project for the development of the Ukrainian defense tech ecosystem."

"American University Kyiv is honored to serve as an educational partner of MITS in establishing a thriving business acceleration program. I am confident that our partnership will grow in its scope and impact as we seek to promote entrepreneurship, drive innovation, and serve as catalysts of Ukraine's prosperity and security for decades to come," says Yuriy Bots , Dean of the School of Management, Visiting Professor, AUK.

MITS invites potential venture investors to participate in the program's culminating event, Demo Day. For more information, please reach out at [email protected] .

Contact:

Diana Ivolha

+12032528696

[email protected]

SOURCE MITS Capital LLC
"The presence of a cutting-edge facility like KC2-7801 Nieman makes the Kansas City Metro region more attractive to tech giants, startups, and everything in between, promising a vibrant future for the local economy," said Gerald M. Marshall, President and Chief Executive Officer at Netrality. "By attracting businesses that require robust, reliable, and scalable IT infrastructure, we're fostering a climate ripe for technological innovation and a foundation for businesses to compete in today's digital economy."

KC2-7801 Nieman provides access to an unparalleled connectivity ecosystem, and high-density compute capability ideal for edge and wholesale deployments. The new data center is directly linked via dark fiber to Netrality's core interconnection facility, 1102 Grand in Kansas City, MO. This connection provides regional businesses with extensive interconnection options and purpose-built, sustainably designed infrastructure tailored to meet modern demands.

Key Features of the KC2-7801 Nieman Data Center:

Strategic Connectivity : The sub-one-millisecond round trip latency for active-active replication between 1102 Grand and KC2-7801 Nieman ensures rapid and secure data transfer, effectively supporting complex and distributed operations.

: The sub-one-millisecond round trip latency for active-active replication between 1102 Grand and KC2-7801 Nieman ensures rapid and secure data transfer, effectively supporting complex and distributed operations. High Density Capability: The modern facility is engineered to cater to the increasing demand for high-density and high-efficiency data processing and storage solutions. It features award-winning Delta Cube (Delta 3 ) Arrays, an air-based cooling system that optimizes efficiency across various power densities and significantly lowers energy consumption with its innovative, waterless design.

The modern facility is engineered to cater to the increasing demand for high-density and high-efficiency data processing and storage solutions. It features award-winning Delta Cube (Delta ) Arrays, an air-based cooling system that optimizes efficiency across various power densities and significantly lowers energy consumption with its innovative, waterless design. Power Availability and Reliability: The data center ensures consistent power availability and reliability. Spanning three acres, the facility currently supports 5 MW of critical capacity, with future expansion up to 12MW. KC2-7801 Nieman is equipped with three diverse points of entry (POEs), four data halls, N+1 redundancy in backup power generation, and comprehensive multi-layered security to support critical data center operations.

The U.S. Department of Commerce recognized the Kansas-Missouri region as one of 31 inaugural Tech Hubs in 2023, underscoring its role in the national technology landscape. The new KC2-7801 Nieman data center is strategically positioned to catalyze this growth, supporting key sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, finance, technology, and government. The new facility enables regional businesses to scale and adapt edge, retail colocation, and wholesale deployments, further enhancing the region's capacity for innovation and economic development.

About Netrality Data Centers

Netrality owns and operates strategic interconnected data centers and Meet Me Rooms, providing a mix of colocation, powered shell, and wholesale data center solutions driven by fiber-dense, network-rich interconnection environments. Today, Netrality's 18 properties span 3.3 million square feet and over 100 megawatts of capacity in six North American markets.

Well-capitalized with a long-term investment from Macquarie Asset Management (MAM), Netrality is the largest privately held owner-operator of core interconnection facilities in the United States. Netrality acquires strategically located, core network interconnection data centers that power latency-sensitive businesses, increase network resiliency, and ensure always-on access to mission-critical applications. For more information: www.netrality.com, LinkedIn, Twitter.

SOURCE Netrality Data Centers
Brillante will deliver a new comprehensive model of early childhood education that not only focuses on serving the critical development period of children from birth to age 5, but also the workforce development of high-quality early childhood educators and the childcare needs of the community

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Explora Science Center & Children's Museum (Explora) and Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) have joined forces to launch a trailblazing model of early childhood education. It invests in high-quality STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) early education and childcare, a well-trained early childhood educator workforce, and much-needed childcare services for community members and CNM students who are parents striving to earn degrees, certificates and a better quality of life for their families. All three of these focuses will bolster positive outcomes for the community and economy, while also delivering a promising model that can be emulated at other early childhood centers.

The 14,000-square-foot facility, called the Brillante Early Learning Center, is being constructed as Phase Two of Explora's Cradle through Career STEAM Learning Campus development in Albuquerque. It's expected to establish Explora and CNM as national leaders in early childhood practice and workforce development. Brillante will deliver high-quality early childhood education and care for young children (infant to 5-years-old) that will be rooted in STEAM education and play-based learning, while also serving as a learning lab for CNM students pursuing certificates and degrees in the college's Early Childhood Multicultural Education (ECME) program.

"Explora is so excited about this project, which is grounded in community listening and which has been developed with a Planning Team of local early childhood experts. We've heard from so many families that high-quality early childhood education and care is critically-important for improving both family and community prosperity. Brillante Early Learning Center will change lives  helping young parents finish their certificates and degrees and get jobs that can end generational cycles of poverty  and we couldn't be more excited to be working with CNM on this impactful partnership," says Explora Co-Executive Director, Kristin Leigh, who has been working on the concept for Brillante Early Learning Center for close to 10 years.

Brillante will be a STEAM-based early childhood school using the Reggio Emilia approach to education. This approach views children as active, capable and extremely valuable members of the community who should be encouraged to explore, question, and interpret the world during their first five years of life. Providing a state-of-the-art, experience-rich environment where children can engage in this approach every day will contribute to healthier, more engaged and more productive members of society.

For CNM students in the ECME associate degree and certificate programs, Brillante will be leveraged as a learning lab, providing real-world, field-based experience and mentorship in a high-quality early care and education center, preparing them to become highly valued members of the early childhood education workforce across the state. Students will be able to complete their on-site field work in Brillante classrooms with mentoring and supervision from CNM faculty, as well as conduct certain course assignments at a centralized location.

CNM faculty and staff will also be able to visit and observe Brillante as a resource for developing curriculum and for ongoing professional development. Brillante will continue to offer professional development opportunities for early childhood educators and directors from across New Mexico.

The Albuquerque community, including CNM student parents, will be able to take advantage of high-quality, subsidized childcare services at Brillante. Childcare issues are a significant barrier to pursuing and completing higher education for many working learners. There are currently two Brillante pilot classrooms operating at Explora, with the majority of the children served having parents who attend CNM. Once the facility is complete, the center is projected to serve more than 100 young children, with most of them being children of CNM students.

"At CNM, we're very excited about this extraordinary partnership with Explora, because it's going to create so many positive ripple effects on our community, our students, and our state," said CNM President Tracy Hartzler. "We all know the critical importance of providing high-quality education and care during the formative years for children up to age 5. To provide that high-quality early education to all New Mexico families, we need a larger and well-trained early education teacher workforce. Separately, one in six CNM students report being parents  and they need more options for quality childcare. Too often, childcare challenges cause them to give up on an education that would provide them a better life. We're confident that this partnership and model are going to deliver impressive, inspiring outcomes and solutions on a number of fronts."

Nobel Prize-winning economist, James Heckman, has done significant research on the return on investment in early childhood education. Brillante has drawn inspiration from his equation  "Invest+Develop+Sustain=Gain"  which is: 1) Invest in educational and developmental resources for disadvantaged families to provide equal access to successful early human development; 2) Nurture early development of cognitive and social skills in children from birth to age 5; 3) Sustain early development with effective education through to adulthood; 4) Gain a more capable, productive, and valuable workforce that pays dividends to America for generations to come.

The Brillante facility will include eight to 10 classrooms serving infants through Pre-K students; adult classrooms for CNM students; a welcome plaza with Explora hands-on STEAM exhibits; space for school-wide meetings; an art studio; outdoor learning spaces; and a full kitchen.

This high quality, STEAM-based early childhood center will be free to most New Mexicans due to funding from the State of New Mexico's Childcare Assistance Program, the New Mexico Pre-K grant, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

SOURCE Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)
AMSTERDAM, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The race to create replacement antibiotics and antifungals to combat superbugs is falling dangerously short, putting people across the world at risk. However, a shift in research and development (R&D), including investment in access and stewardship planning, can make a significant impact against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

As most large research-based pharmaceutical companies are no longer active in antimicrobial R&D, there are very few new treatments making it to market, leaving patients vulnerable to the rapid spread of AMR. Despite this reality, a handful of projects in late-stage clinical development could have a significant impact.

New report from the Access to Medicine Foundation tracks five such projects across the pipelines of GSK, F2G, Innoviva, Venatorx (gepotidacin , olorofim, zoliflodacin and cefepime-taniborbactam, respectively) and Pfizer's recently approved aztreonam-avibactam (Emblaveo). Collectively, these projects could save at least 160,000 lives annually by providing much-needed medicines to treat drug-resistant gonorrhoea, urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections, respiratory infections, and invasive fungal infections. While these diseases affect a wide range of patients globally, women and children- especially those living in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs)- are disproportionately affected.

"We have a small, but effective, arsenal in the race to combat drug-resistant infections. The difference between us winning or losing this race depends on how companies enable access to people living on the frontlines of drug resistance." Jayasree K. Iyer, CEO, Access to Medicine Foundation.

Findings reveal that companies are employing diverse range of strategies within their access and stewardship plans but structured advance planning has not yet become standard. Encouragingly, four of the five companies in scope, GSK, Pfizer, Innoviva, and Venatorx, are conducting or initiating clinical trials that directly target children, signalling progress in closing the gap between adult and paediatric access. Commitments for registration were identified in five LMICs: China, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand. However, for 108 of 113 LMICs in scope, where people also face high burdens of the diseases targeted by these projects, it is currently unclear whether any of them will be made available upon initial approval.

The report identifies opportunities and recommendations for companies in focus and outlines actionable steps for global stakeholders in antimicrobial R&D to promote widespread adoption of advance access and stewardship planning.

"Tackling the sheer scale and pace of drug resistance is a complex global health issue that will require action from pharmaceutical companies across several areas. This includes providing appropriate access and implementing stewardship measures to safeguard the effectiveness of innovative antimicrobials. Failure to do this will limit efforts to tackle drug resistance." Marijn Verhoef, Director of Operations and Research, Access to Medicine Foundation.

As global health stakeholders prepare for 2024 UN General Assembly's High-level Meeting on AMR, this report comes at a crucial moment, emphasising the urgent gaps that need attention. Read the report here.

SOURCE Access to Medicine Foundation
LONDON, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- INSIGHTS, the global publication from Nord Anglia Education, has published two new articles taking an in-depth look at AI in education and the role of metacognition in teaching and learning.

Exploring the role of AI in learning

In its 'Generative Generation' feature, INSIGHTS explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, and whether the technology is making it easier for children to learn. Speaking to Nord Anglia's educators as well as leading experts from the world of academia, it also includes real-life examples of how Nord Anglia's schools are using AI in the classroom.

For example, Nord Anglia's British International School in Kuala Lumpur has adapted the technology to create an AI-powered teaching assistant that can personalise learning, guide students through content exploration, and deepen their understanding through interactive activities. Learners define the topic they want to explore and the course specification they are working to, and the AI explores the content with them in a conversational way, enabling them to ask questions as they go.

Dr Bruce Geddes, Deputy Head of Secondary at the school, told INSIGHTS that AI represents "the biggest opportunity we've had in our lifetimes, for many, many spheres, but particularly in education".

Avenues: The World School in New York, which became part of Nord Anglia in 2023, encourages its students to use AI in their work. As an example, in an app development project students use ChatGPT to generate the bulk of the coding, then review, correct and refine it. This saves them "hours of manual work by leveraging the appropriate tool in an academically appropriate way," says Lia Muschellack, Director of Technology at the school.

The school also has its own generative AI chatbot, Savvy, built in 2019 and now powered by open AI technology. It can answer queries, provide information, and engage in "diverse discussions ranging from academic topics to casual conversations".

"We understand that our students will be actively leveraging these tools throughout their academic and professional pathways, so we want to make sure they not only understand the potentials and limitations, but that they have tinkered and truly experienced them," Muschellack explains.

Metacognition: a learning superpower

In its feature 'Metacognition. Helping Kids Unlock the Power of 'Thinking about Thinking', INSIGHTS looks at how students can develop the important skill of metacognition.

"Metacognition is the ability to be aware of our cognitive or thought processes and to monitor, reflect on, and change those processes," Dr Rose Luckin, Professor of Learner Centred Design at the University College London Knowledge Lab, told INSIGHTS.

Nord Anglia Education is working with Dr Luckin to develop its approach to metacognition and to help teachers introduce metacognitive strategies into classrooms. It has developed a metacognitive framework of six "Learner Ambitions" to help students develop the 6 Cs: to become critical, creative, committed, and curious learners, working compassionately and collaboratively in the classroom and beyond.

As the article explains, Nord Anglia's deep dive into metacognition has many goals: developing student agency, boosting academic performance, and developing 'future' skills that employers want. The framework is being initially applied across 27 Nord Anglia schools around the world and its impact will be measured in independent research in partnership with Boston College, reporting in 2025.

Nord Anglia's examination of metacognition also involves exploring personalised goals and thinking routines. For instance, students at Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong use the "Step In, Step Out, Step Back" routine to develop empathy and understanding in their studies. "It's about asking the right questions; those really big questions that lead to even more questions," says Raquel Thomson, the school's Deputy Head of Primary. "Thinking strategies like this stay with students and serve a purpose whatever they do in their lives, whether they choose to be a scientist or a teacher or go into business."

For media enquiries please contact:

Francesca Milani

Communications Manager, Digital Education Portfolio

+44 20 7131 0000

[email protected]

About Nord Anglia Education:

As the world's leading international schools organisation, we're shaping a generation of creative and resilient global citizens who graduate from our schools with everything they need for success, whatever they choose to be or do in life.

Our strong academic foundations combine world-class teaching and curricula with cutting-edge technology and facilities, creating learning experiences like no other. Inside and outside of the classroom, we inspire our students to achieve more than they ever thought possible.

No two children learn the same way, which is why our schools around the world personalise learning to what works best for every student. Inspired by our high-quality teachers, our students achieve outstanding academic results and go on to study at the world's top universities.

To learn more or apply for a place for your child, go to nordangliaeducation.com .

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503193/3645357/Nord_Anglia_Education_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Nord Anglia Education
Popular lingerie brand Honey Birdette has long been critised for its explicit advertising material. Now there are calls for a total ban.

Popular lingerie brand Honey Birdette has once again been criticised over its public advertising displays in shopping centres which, in the past, have been deemed "pornographic" and inappropriate  with new calls for a widespread ban.

The "bondage, sexy toy and fetish-themed retailer," which is owned by Playboy, has reportedly breached the Australian Association of National Advertisers Code of Ethics "more than 60 times," claims City of Sydney Councillor Linda Scott, who is now calling for a ban on highly sexual displays in public view.

Councillor Scott has taken aim at the Broadway Shopping Centre store in Sydney's inner west which she says is just metres from a childrens retailer, Lego. Honey Birdette's advertising often depicts women wearing bondage-style corsets and underwear  a clear breach of the Code's Section 2.4  sex, sexuality and nudity, the councillor points out.

Previously, the Ad Standards Community Panel found the window ads "present women as sex objects" and were "overtly sexual and inappropriate for display in a public space". Since 2010, Ad Standards has investigated over 160 complaints about Honey Birdette promotions, according to Collective Shout, a group that rallies "against the objectification of women and the sexualisation of girls in media, advertising and popular culture".

Collective Shout, has been campaigning against the "objectified" images for years and is in full support of a widespread ban, movement director Melinda Tankard Reist told Yahoo News Australia. She said the "blatantly sexualised depictions of women" are "doing real harm" saying it condones the mistreatment of women.

The Honey Birdette window displays are usually in public spaces, mostly in shopping centres across the country. Source: Getty/Honey Birdette

Concerning images depict 'violence against women'

Councillor Scott told the Daily Telegraph that "women should be safe, and feel safe, in our city," condemning the explicit nature of the ads regularly displayed in the windows of its stores across the country.

"In light of the rise in domestic violence and public attacks against women in Sydney, Im even more determined to take action to ensure advertising images depicting violent acts against women arent displayed prominently in our local shopping centres," Scott told the publication.

"Companies such as Honey Birdette have been able to exploit loopholes in voluntary advertising codes to display pornographic and violent images of women for too long."

City of Sydney Councillor Linda Scott is on the war path. Source: Facebook

It's understood Ad Standards Australia has been attempting to order the lingerie brand to comply for many years, however, Ad Standards boss Richard Bean said Honey Birdette presents a "unique challenge". He said they do not accept that the complaints "raise legitimate issues and control their advertising medium".

"This financial year, Honey Birdette has been found in breach of the AANA Code of Ethics six times, and received 14 complaints in 2024 that were linked to 11 ads," he said.

Yahoo News Australia reached out to Councillor Scott, Ad Standards Australia and Honey Birdette for comment.

Calls for a 'complete overhaul'

Collective Shout has long condemned the racy images. Previously, one image showed a topless model with gold pasties over her nipples  an image they likened to porn. Nothing has changed since, claims Collective Shout Campaigns Manager Caitlin Roper.

"We have decades of research documenting how sexualised and objectifying representations of women contribute to mens violence against women," she said in a statement last month, following another violation.

"We are in the midst of a national epidemic of violence against women, yet Honey Birdette delivers up one ad after another portraying women as things existing for mens sexual use. Ad industry self-regulation has facilitated this. We need a complete overhaul of the system."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Agreement establishes long-term health monitoring and mental health services for residents and first responders, codifies rail safety improvements, and recognizes Norfolk Southern's extensive community investments

ATLANTA, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) has reached an agreement on a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to resolve all their claims and investigations arising from the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

The agreement, which is subject to court approval, builds on the significant financial commitments that the company has already made toward environmental remediation, community-based programs, and safety-related enhancements.

"From day one, it was important for Norfolk Southern to make things right for the residents of East Palestine and the surrounding areas," said Alan H. Shaw, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern. "We are pleased we were able to reach a timely resolution of these investigations that recognizes our comprehensive response to the community's needs and our mission to be the gold standard of safety in the rail industry. We will continue keeping our promises and are invested in the community's future for the long-haul."

Consent Decree Terms

Under the agreement, Norfolk Southern will formalize several commitments to address environmental remediation, health monitoring, and rail safety. Those include:

Paying a $15 million civil penalty and reimbursing the EPA for its full response expenses, which are approximately $57 million through November 30, 2023 , as well as subsequent response costs.

civil penalty and reimbursing the EPA for its full response expenses, which are approximately through , as well as subsequent response costs. In addition to completing clean-up of the derailment site, implementing several environmental remediation projects to address pre-existing pollution and to improve water quality in the region. This is estimated to cost $7 million .

. Continuing monitoring of groundwater and surface water bodies estimated to cost $10 to $15 million . Additionally, a drinking water monitoring program will be established, which is estimated to cost $15 million over 10 years.

to . Additionally, a drinking water monitoring program will be established, which is estimated to cost over 10 years. Establishing a $25 million Community Health Program that will provide medical exams and mental health services for the community and first responders for up to 20 years.

Community Health Program that will provide medical exams and mental health services for the community and first responders for up to 20 years. $244 million to be spent on safety initiatives through 2025, as part of the company's Six Point Safety Plan and investments in safety infrastructure, technology, and training.

The financial impacts associated with the above have either been previously estimated as part of the total $1.7 billion recognized in response to the incident through March 31, 2024, or are included as part of the company's ongoing financial outlook, including those surrounding capital expenditures and overall 2024 outlook. The company continues to pursue insurance reimbursements and third-party claims.

Comprehensive Response to Date

As detailed by the DOJ and EPA in the consent decree, Norfolk Southern has developed, coordinated, and performed one of the most comprehensive incident responses in recent history. At the core of that response are significant investments that have been realized to date, including:

Approximately $780 million in environmental response and remediation costs.

in environmental response and remediation costs. A recently announced $600 million class action settlement, which along with the community health program under the consent decree with DOJ and EPA, fulfills Norfolk Southern's promise to address long-term healthcare for residents of East Palestine and surrounding areas.

class action settlement, which along with the community health program under the consent decree with DOJ and EPA, fulfills Norfolk Southern's promise to address long-term healthcare for residents of and surrounding areas. Direct financial support and commitments of $107 million to the community through its Family Assistance Center and investments in the citizens, businesses, and life of the East Palestine and surrounding Ohio and Pennsylvania communities.

To learn more about Norfolk Southern's commitment and ongoing remediation efforts in East Palestine visit NSMakingItRight.com.

About Norfolk Southern

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and Norfolk Southern originates more automotive traffic than any other Class I Railroad. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S. It serves a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as to major ports in the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this communication are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements relate to future events and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, costs, levels of activity, or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words like "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "project," "consider," "predict," "potential," "feel," or other comparable terminology. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates, beliefs, and projections. While the Company believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates, and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the Company's control. These and other important factors, including those discussed under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as well as the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC, may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements herein are made only as of the date they were first issued, and unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation
0.8 g/t Au over 9.1 metres in hole O3HR-24-016 at a vertical depth of 233.0 metres, including 5.3 g/t over 0.5 metres on SW-1 sector ;

over in at a vertical depth of 233.0 metres, including over on ; 4.6 g/t Au over 1.5 metres in hole O3HR-24-010 at a vertical depth of 71.0 metres, in the Ludovick zone;

over in at a vertical depth of 71.0 metres, in the 4.5 g/t Au over 1.2 metres in hole O3HR-24-013 at a vertical depth of 131.0 metres, on SW-2 sector.

O3 Mining's President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jose Vizquerra commented: "The winter drill campaign at the Ludovick Sector was an opportunity for us to follow up on historic auriferous drill intercepts along a five kilometres long segment of the Parfouru Fault corridor. The results from the drill campaign are encouraging and highlight the significant exploration potential of the Ludovick Sector. We believe that the Ludovick Sector is strategically positioned for potential development due to its proximity and similarities in mineralization with established mining sites in the Timiskaming Group. We will continue advancing our exploration efforts at the Horizon Project to support our diverse pipeline of exploration projects."

O3 Mining's initial drill program at the Ludovick Sector supports the presence of gold in two northwest-south-east trending horizons approximately 300 metres apart. Both horizons dip 70 to 80 degrees to the north-east. The first zone relates to the historical Ludovick showing, which is associated with the regional Parfouru fault zone at the contact between the mafic volcanics of the Hebecourt Formation (Blake River Group) and the wackes of the Cadillac Group. The structure consists of a narrow, well-defined, and continuous shear containing 2-3% arsenopyrite and pyrite. The second zone consists of pyrrhotite and pyrite in disseminations and stringers within sheared, biotitized, and chloritized conglomerates of the Timiskaming Group near the contact with the wackes of the Cadillac Group. O3 Mining completed drill holes in two areas spaced about one kilometre along that trend, named SW-1 and SW-2. The gold intercepts obtained are present in a 100-metre-wide gold anomalous envelope. The results show a direct relationship between the gold grade and percentage of sulfides at SW-1 and SW-2 (see Figure 1). The Timiskaming Group is a renowned sedimentary basin hosting numerous multi-million-ounce gold Archean deposits in the Abitibi belt. Additionally, the sedimentary host and the disseminated sulfide nature of the mineralization at Ludovick suggest similarities with the East Gouldie deposit just a few kilometers away, south of the Cadillac Larder Lake break.

Evidence of gold mineralization along the Parfouru Fault zone within the sedimentary basin opens up promising exploration potential within the sector, beyond the historical Ludovick zone itself. There has been minimal historical drilling conducted along the five kilometres stretch of the Parfouru Fault present on the Horizon Project. The mineralization within the Temiskaming Conglomerates is of particular interest because of the width of the mineralized envelope and the correlation between gold grades and the amount of sulfides. This characteristic offers the possibility to conduct a geophysical-induced polarization survey along the five kilometres trend to rapidly identify the best areas to focus on during the next drilling program.

Table 1: Drill Hole Intercepts. See Table 2 below for full technical parameters.

Hole From

(m) To

(m) Grade

(g/t Au) Core

Length

(m) Vertical

Depth

(m) Metal Factor

(g/t Au x m) Zone O3HR-24-008 118.0 119.0 2.9 1.0 82.0 2.9 Ludovick O3HR-24-009 22.5 24.0 1.2 1.5 15.0 1.8 SW-1 O3HR-24-010 81.0 82.5 4.6 1.5 71.0 6.9 Ludovick O3HR-24-011 132.2 136.7 1.2 4.5 120.0 5.3 SW-1 O3HR-24-013 202.8 204.0 4.5 1.2 131.0 5.4 SW-2 and 224.4 227.5 0.9 3.1 144.0 2.8

and 233.5 235.0 1.5 1.5 149.0 2.3

O3HR-24-016 316.1 325.2 0.8 9.1 233.0 7.2 SW-1 Including 316.1 316.6 5.3 0.5 230.0 2.7



Table 2: Technical parameters of holes of the 2024 campaign at Ludovick Sector

Hole Azimuth

() Dip () Start Depth (m) End Depth (m) Length UTM Zone 18

Easting (m) UTM Zone18

Northing (m) O3HR-24-006 206 -46 0 234 234 270656 5337882 O3HR-24-007 210 -53 0 300 300 270743 5337844 O3HR-24-008 209 -45 0 216 216 271678 5337691 O3HR-24-009 14 -45 0 327 327 270484 5337748 O3HR-24-010 208 -64 0 237 237 271678 5337691 O3HR-24-011 14 -66 0 357 357 270484 5337748 O3HR-24-012 208 -45 0 285 285 271680 5337819 O3HR-24-013 199 -45 0 288 288 271483 5337343 O3HR-24-014 199 -45 0 264 264 270546 5337700 O3HR-24-015 201 -45 0 180 180 271342 5337261 O3HR-24-016 24 -50 0 365 365 270546 5337700

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mrs. Elise Bourgault, P.Geo (OGQ #894), Project Geologist of O3 Mining, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Intercepts occur within geological confines of major zones but have not been correlated to individual vein domains at this time. Half-core samples are shipped to Agat laboratory in Val-d'Or, Quebec, and Mississauga, Ontario for assaying. The core is crushed to 75% passing -2 mm (10 mesh), a 250 g split of this material is pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns (200 mesh) and 50 g is analyzed by Fire Assay (FA) with an Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) finish. Samples assaying >10.0 g/t Au are re-analyzed with a gravimetric finish using a 50 g charge.

Commercial certified standard material and blanks are systematically inserted by O3 Mining's geologists into the sample chain after every 18 core samples as part of the quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") program. Third-party assays are submitted to other designated laboratories for 5% of mineralized samples. Drill program design, QA/QC, and interpretation of results are performed by qualified persons employing a QA/QC program consistent with NI 43-101 and industry best practices.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections, and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to planned and ongoing drilling, the exploration potential of the Ludovick Sector, the ability to further development the Ludovick Sector, the significance of drill results, the ability to continue drilling, the impact of drilling on the definition of any resource, the ability to incorporate new drilling in an updated technical report and resource modelling. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", "management's view", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Corporation, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements Forward-looking information is based on estimates of management of the Corporation, at the time it was made, involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the companies to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to the drill results at the Horizon Project; the significance of drill results; the ability of drill results to accurately predict mineralization; the ability of any material to be mined in a matter that is economic. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the parties cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Corporation nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. The Corporation believes that this forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. The Corporation does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

SOURCE O3 Mining Inc.

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MCKINNEY, Texas, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The recent 2024 Selerix User Conference lived up to its theme, "Optimizing the Selerix Toolkit," by bringing together users from across the company's ecosystem to share, discuss, and collaborate on how to get the most value from Selerix and add maximum value to users of the benefits administration provider's tools and solutions.

Held April 30-May 1 in Dallas, the conference provided a forum where insurance carriers, resellers, benefits enrollment firms, and Selerix representatives could:

Take a deep dive into the functionalities of the Selerix system

Explore its expansive capabilities

Understand the future trajectory of employee benefits administration technology

Sessions led by industry veterans provided actionable insights and strategies for optimizing benefits administration using Selerix solutions.

A Blueprint for Success

From the start, the conference encouraged a forward-thinking approach to addressing contemporary challenges in the employee benefits sector. In the opening presentation, "Building a Blueprint for Success", Wes Steele, CEO of Steele Benefits , challenged participants to consider the employer's perspective of benefits provisions.

Insurance carriers and others need to dig deeper to understand why employers provide the benefits they do, what today's employees expect and need, and the importance of employee engagement in a continuing tough job market and economy, Steele said.

Keeping the forward-thinking intention of the conference going, Ruthie Gray, Selerix VP of Product Development, provided an overview of the company's upcoming features. "Sharpening Our Tools: The Selerix Road Map" ensured that users know the best practices for getting optimal results from Selerix and offered a preview of features coming soon.

The idea of optimizing the Selerix toolkit to prepare for upcoming strategic needs was appreciated by Selerix partners who are bringing new products to market. Steele later summed up that sentiment for many participants: "Hearing the development roadmap was helpful  knowing what's coming and the different ways we can better serve our customers," Steele said. "It helps us shape the future of what we're going to do when we know what's possible."

Keith Feist, Director of Partner Solutions at Pacific Life, had a similar response about getting insight into upcoming changes to Selerix features to help him plan how his company can get greater value from being a Selerix partner.

"Selerix is an important strategic partner for Pacific Life as we enter the group benefits market," Feist said. "Their expert, consultative approach has enabled us to implement important, value-added integrations  with more to come soon!"

Empowering Partnerships and Collaboration

A highlight of the conference was the emphasis on partnership and collaboration. Interactive sessions with carriers and resellers were valuable for all of the participants, including Selerix attendees. The company sought candid feedback on how it can help participants better use the system and get more value from it. Participants responded with insights that created collaborative Q&A sessions that gave Selerix plenty of food for thought.

Similarly, sponsoring companies including Unum, Pacific Life and Chubb Workplace Benefits Enrollment Strategies took the opportunity to showcase their commitment to innovation and seamless enrollment experiences. They shared real-world case studies that highlighted the value of being a Selerix partner in successfully bringing new insurance products to the market.

"We loved the opportunity to showcase our Selerix Global Product Builds directly to Selerix users attending the conference," said Lauren Kilpatrick, Partner Solutions Consultant for Pacific Life.

Stephen Woodill, Assistant Vice President, Chubb Workplace Benefits Enrollment Strategies, highlighted the importance of the conference for networking, educating, and showing a shared commitment to a better enrollment experience  for companies and their employees.

"Sponsoring the Selerix User Conference allowed us to showcase our shared commitment to innovation in creating a seamless enrollment experience for customers," Woodill said. "It is also a good opportunity to network, educate, and identify trends impacting the industry."

Other sponsors were Aflac, Prudential Financial, Trustmark, Cigna, Colonial Life, Lincoln Financial, MassMutual, Transamerica, and The Standard.

The Power of a Supportive Ecosystem

The conference also spotlighted the extensive support resources available to Selerix partners and users, especially in the areas of employee communication, meeting and improving data exchange standards, and ACA compliance.

A look into Selerix Engage, the company's communication solution for greater employee engagement, and discussions around its capabilities underscored the importance of employee engagement in the digital age.

Edward Sanchez, Selerix Director of Communications and Engagement, showcased the simplicity and effectiveness of creating campaigns within Engage, demonstrating the company's commitment to further enhancing user experience and engagement. In fact, Steele's conference-opening comments included a real-world story of achieving significant success in employee engagement using Selerix Engage to help drive greater awareness and education during open enrollment season.

Selerix's Gray spoke to LIMRA Data Exchange (LDEx) standards, clearly illustrating through a demonstration why they're important to carriers, employers, and Selerix technology partners. Gray explained how LDEx standardization has led to cleaner, faster data transmission, improved time to market for carriers, and a significantly enhanced user experience for everyone in the Selerix ecosystem.

In addressing the tools Selerix has for navigating the ACA, Kelli Smith, Selerix Director of ACA Services, offered more than just a description of how the Selerix system helps users get the necessary forms filed accurately and on time. Her session, "Measure Your Success With ACA," outlined the company's proactive approach to ACA reporting and compliance. She described ways it provides real-time insights into tracking workforce eligibility, for an ongoing snapshot and ACA outlook throughout the year.

Tribute to a Co-founder, Introduction of a New Leader

The conference also paid special recognition to Lyle Griffin, Selerix co-founder and president of 22 years, and his wife, Nancy Griffin, for their years of service to the company and for his leadership and vision. Although Griffin has stepped down as president, he will remain on the company's board of directors.

"Since co-founding Selerix in 2022, our mission has been simple  to deliver benefits solutions that simplify and empower," Griffin said after the conference. "I'm proud to have led Selerix in its commitment to simplifying the complexity of benefits and empowering organizations and individuals to operate at maximum efficiency so they can be the best versions of themselves."

HR technology veteran Tim Pratte, formerly of PrismHR and Questco, has been named Selerix's chief executive officer and will join the board of directors.

"Tim adds a new dimension to the Selerix leadership team, bringing a wealth of experience in human resources outsourcing and operations and a proven track record of achieving exceptional operating results," Griffin said. "His leadership experience, particularly at Questco and PrismHR, will be invaluable in moving the organization to a new level of success."

In sum, the conference not only equipped participants with the tools and knowledge to optimize their use of the Selerix platform but also inspired a shared vision for the future  a future where technology and partnership converge to create unparalleled service experiences for employers and employees alike.

SOURCE Selerix
Global HR research and advisory firm McLean & Company, the HR division of Info-Tech Research Group, has released a new guide for HR leaders. The resource provides the information and tools needed to avoid significant organizational risks stemming from ineffective workload management through measuring employee workload and resolving challenges across different levels of the organization.

TORONTO, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - As the employee experience is increasingly recognized as a critical priority of organizational success, organizations must consider the many elements of their employees' day-to-day experiences, including workload. According to the HR Guide to Measuring Workload, a new industry resource from global HR research and advisory firm McLean & Company, organizations play a critical role in optimizing workload across individuals, teams, and functions. However, many organizations struggle to effectively distribute work, which presents significant risks for employees and the organization, such as elevated disengagement and turnover. On the other end of the spectrum, the firm reports that employees who report having a reasonable workload are two times more likely to be engaged in their work.

Workload is not static; rather, it is dynamic by nature, ebbing and flowing over time in response to several factors, according to the new guide from McLean & Company. The global HR research and advisory firms insights indicate that achieving optimal workload requires ongoing commitment, action, and accurate measurement to uncover challenges and identify appropriate interventions. (CNW Group/McLean & Company)

According to McLean & Company, HR leaders play an integral and strategic role in guiding their organizations toward long-term organizational success, including providing expertise and direction in their efforts to improve the employee experience. The firm's new guide has been designed to support HR leaders seeking to optimize workload through intentional workload measurement and informed, targeted interventions.

"Workload optimization requires more than a band-aid solution. For meaningful change to happen, organizations must address underlying causes rather than treat the symptoms of workload challenges," says Grace Ewles, director of HR Research & Advisory Services at McLean & Company. "It may seem like a daunting task, but achieving optimal workload isn't always about eliminating work. Rather, it's about striking a balance and finding the right amount of workload for each employee at a given time. Being intentional about achieving optimal workload helps avoid the risks of burnout and boredom, which can lead to disengagement or loss of talent."

McLean & Company's guide is divided into three sections that address key areas of focus and consideration for HR leaders as they seek to understand and measure workload and its challenges. The sections are outlined below:

Introduction to workload. The first section in the newly published resource defines workload, identifies several factors that influence workload, and provides an overview of workload measurement. Workload measures. Section two describes the key components for intentional workload measurement and spotlights various measures used for workload measurement, including subjective, performance, and physiological measures. Recommended interventions. The third and final section presents an overview of workload interventions at the organizational, team, and individual levels.

As HR leaders consider workload challenges and potential solutions, McLean & Company advises that effort and resources are best allocated when organizations dive deep into underlying causes, truly understand what is driving workload challenges, and select interventions appropriately. Given the dynamic nature of workload, a highly impactful intervention today risks losing effectiveness tomorrow, so being proactive in monitoring workload and adjusting interventions accordingly helps ensure organizations consistently support their employees in achieving an optimal workload.

To access the full resource, please visit HR Guide to Measuring Workload.

To attend upcoming free webinars on a variety of topics or explore the publicly available archive of recorded sessions, please visit McLean & Company's webinars page.

Signature 2024

To register for Signature, the premier industry conference for future-focused HR leaders hosted by McLean & Company from October 27 to 29 at the Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada, please visit the official Signature event page.

Media interested in connecting with McLean & Company analysts for exclusive, research-backed insights and commentary on psychological safety in the workplace, DEI, generative AI in HR, HR trends in 2024, the future of work, and more can contact Senior Communications Manager Kelsey King at [email protected].

About McLean & Company

McLean & Company pairs evidence-based research and immediately applicable tools with deep HR expertise to position organizations to meet today's needs and prepare for the future. The global HR research and advisory firm's member organizations enjoy comprehensive resources, full-service diagnostics, workshops, action plans, and advisory services for all levels of HR professionals, from executive leadership to HR leaders to HR team members, that help shape workplaces where everyone thrives.

McLean & Company is a division of Info-Tech Research Group.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected].

SOURCE McLean & Company
Unifies World-Class Validated Circular RNA and Industry-leading Delivery Technologies to Advance New Category of panCAR in vivo CAR RNA Medicines for Oncology and Autoimmune Diseases

Amit Munshi to Lead Company as Chief Executive Officer

Former Orna CEO Tom Barnes, Ph.D., to Remain on Board of Directors and Chair Scientific Advisory Board

WATERTOWN and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Orna Therapeutics, a biotechnology company dedicated to designing and delivering a new class of fully engineered circular RNA therapeutics (oRNA), today announced its acquisition of ReNAgade Therapeutics, a pioneer in unlocking the potential of RNA therapeutics that demonstrated industry-leading delivery to multiple extra-hepatic cells in non-human primate (NHP) models over the past 18 months.

Amit D. Munshi, Chief Executive Officer of ReNAgade, will succeed Tom Barnes, Ph.D., to lead Orna as Chief Executive Officer.

"RNA-centric approaches are poised to eclipse traditional cell therapy-based methods and reshape the future of medicine," said Mr. Munshi. "This strategic acquisition unifies Orna's and ReNAgade's strengths and capabilities under one roof, expanding technological synergies and multiplying the companies' depth and breadth of expertise to drive a unique RNA therapeutic-focused R&D engine. Orna will now advance an industry-leading approach combining the Company's circular RNA expression technology with ReNAgade's broad portfolio of LNP-based RNA delivery systems and comprehensive editing programs to solve the most pressing challenges in drug development."

An industry veteran of more than 30 years, Mr. Munshi is former President and CEO of Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc., which he built from a $300 million market cap into a late clinical stage company before its acquisition for $6.7 billion by Pfizer. Dr. Barnes will retain his position on Orna's Board of Directors and serve as chair of its Scientific Advisory Board.

"Orna remains singularly focused on developing the right tools and technologies and building the right company to power an entirely new class of RNA-based medicines," said Dr. Barnes, founding Chief Executive Officer of Orna Therapeutics. "The combination of technologies positions Orna to advance best-in-class panCAR in vivo CAR RNA therapies and expand existing gene editing delivery solutions with circular RNA to address the massive unmet need in multiple diseases."

"Both Orna and ReNAgade were founded on our bold vision to push the boundaries of RNA medicine," said Ansbert Gadicke, M.D., Managing Partner of MPM BioImpact. "The fusion of these industry leaders in circular RNA and delivery will transform the landscape of RNA therapeutics and accelerate clinical milestones leading to greater impact for patients living with cancer and autoimmune diseases. The combined company is supported by a substantial financial position enabling these milestones."

Built by MPM BioImpact, both Orna and ReNAgade bring significant financing. Orna launched with $100 million in Series A financing in February 2021, subsequently announcing in August 2022 a $221 million Series B in addition to a strategic partnership. ReNAgade launched in May 2023 with $300 million Series A financing. The combined company will have a robust pipeline with panCAR programs in oncology and autoimmune disease, vaccine programs partnered with Merck, and genetic disease programs.

About Orna Therapeutics

Orna Therapeutics was founded on research by Alex Wesselhoeft, Ph.D., and Daniel G. Anderson, Ph.D., from MIT. It is dedicated to designing and delivering a new class of fully engineered circular RNA (oRNA) therapeutics with the potential to change the way we treat disease. Orna's proprietary platform combines novel technology to design circular RNA transcripts that drive protein expression with validated and unique delivery solutions. oRNA has many advantages over traditional mRNA approaches, including simplified production, improved formulatability, and superior protein expression  making it a highly disruptive, new class of RNA therapeutics with vast potential to change patients' lives. To learn more, visit www.ornatx.com and follow Orna Therapeutics on X and LinkedIn .

About ReNAgade Therapeutics

ReNAgade exists to unlock the potential for RNA medicines to treat disease anywhere in the body. It combines novel RNA delivery platforms with a comprehensive RNA platform allowing for an all-RNA system for coding, editing, and gene insertion to develop new medicines. To accelerate the future of medicine, ReNAgade brings together a team with deep RNA and delivery expertise to develop paradigm-shifting RNA medicines.

SOURCE Orna Therapeutics
TSXV: PGZ| OTCQX: PGZFF | FRA: 2EU

VANCOUVER, BC, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pan Global Resources Inc. ("Pan Global" or the "Company") (TSXV: PGZ) (OTCQX: PGZFF) (FRA: 2EU) is pleased to announce the addition of a second drill rig at the Escacena Project to augment the planned 2024 drilling program at the Company's 100%-owned Escacena Project in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, southern Spain.

"Building on the base of positive drill results to date and an exceptionally strong copper market we are adding a second drill rig to accelerate the planned drilling at the Escacena Project while remaining on-budget for the current fully funded 2024 drilling program," said Tim Moody, President and CEO.

Escacena Project Update

Pan Global is advancing the planned 30-40 holes (approx. 8,000  12,000 meters) drill plan that started last year testing both the near-surface mineralization west of the existing 1.5km surface strike extent at the La Romana copper-tin-silver deposit and also expanding the copper-gold-silver mineralization at the new Canada Honda discovery nearby. Approximately 70% of the planned drilling at the two discoveries has been completed.

Results are pending for three completed drill holes at Canada Honda, and drilling at the Escacena Project continues. Progress is also being made on access to the high-priority Bravo gravity target located east of the La Romana copper-tin-silver discovery, and work is expected to commence immediately on signing an access agreement with the surface rights owner. The Company's geology team in Spain continues to advance the pipeline of new discovery opportunities for drill testing.

In the first five months of 2024, Pan Global delivered excellent copper metallurgy (in March) and tin metallurgy results (April) as well as drill results confirming expansion of mineralization at both the La Romana (January) and Canada Honda (January, April) deposits.

About the Escacena Project

The Escacena Project comprises a large, contiguous, 5,760-hectare land package controlled 100% by Pan Global in the east of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Escacena is located near the operating mine at Riotinto and is immediately adjacent to the former Aznalcollar and Los Frailes mines where Minera Los Frailes/Grupo Mexico is in the final permitting stage for mine development with anticipated start of construction in 2024. The Escacena Project hosts Pan Global's La Romana copper-tin-silver and Canada Honda copper-gold discoveries and a number of other prospective targets, including, Bravo, Barbacena, El Pozo, Romana Norte, San Pablo, Zarcita, Hornitos, La Jarosa, and Romana Deep, and most recently El Cortijo.

About Pan Global Resources

Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively targeting copper-rich mineral deposits, given copper's compelling supply-demand fundamentals and outlook for strong long-term prices as a critical metal for global electrification and energy transition. The Company's flagship Escacena Project is located in the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in southern Spain, where a favourable permitting track record, excellent infrastructure, mining and professional expertise, and support for copper as a Strategic Raw Material by the European Commission collectively define a tier-one jurisdiction for mining investment. The Pan Global team comprises proven talent in exploration, discovery, development, and mine operations - all of which are committed to operating safely and with utmost respect for the environment and our partnered communities. The Company is a member, and operates under the principles. of the United Nations Global Compact.

Qualified Persons

Alvaro Merino. Vice President Exploration for Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information for this media release. Mr. Merino is not independent of the Company.

Forward-looking statements

Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this media release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental, and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products, and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission.

The forward-looking information contained in this media release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this media release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
OSLO, Norway , May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Photocure ASA (OSE: PHO), held its annual general meeting on 23 May 2024 at 17:00 hours (CEST).

The minutes from the general meeting setting out the resolutions are attached hereto.

For further information, please contact:

Photocure

CFO Erik Dahl

Tel: + 47 450 55 000

Email: [email protected]

About Photocure ASA

Photocure: The Bladder Cancer Company delivers transformative solutions to improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. Our unique technology, which makes cancer cells glow bright pink, has led to better health outcomes for patients worldwide. Photocure is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). For more information, please visit us at www.photocure.com, www.hexvix.com or www.cysview.com.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

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https://news.cision.com/photocure/r/photocure-asa---annual-general-meeting-held,c3987214

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SOURCE Photocure
TORONTO, May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Pluribus Technologies Corp. (TSXV: PLRB) ("Pluribus" or the "Company") announces a further amendment (the "Amendment") to the previously-announced forbearance agreement (the "Forbearance Agreement") dated January 18, 2024, between the Company and National Bank of Canada (the "Lender"), relating to a secured credit agreement dated April 27, 2022, as amended, among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries and the Lender. Under the Amendment, the Lender has agreed to extend the term of the Forbearance Agreement to May 29, 2024 to allow the Company to continue its previously announced strategic review process, which involves a review and evaluation of strategic alternatives that may be available to the Company to further enhance the Company's growth, development and prosperity in the short and long terms, with the goal of maximizing shareholder value.

The Company will provide an update when further disclosure is required or otherwise appropriate.

About Pluribus Technologies Corp.

Pluribus is a technology company that is a value-based acquirer and operator of small, profitable business-to-business technology companies in a range of verticals and industries. Pluribus provides its acquisitions access to experienced sales and marketing resources, strategic partnership opportunities, a diverse portfolio of customers in different geographical markets and enabling technologies to create new revenue streams and provide the opportunity for these companies to grow in their respective markets. When market conditions are conducive to raising capital at reasonable costs, Pluribus focuses on rapidly acquiring and integrating new acquisitions to accelerate growth. When the environment does not support this, Pluribus focuses on implementing strategies to maximize organic growth and increase cashflow from operations in its existing portfolio companies. For more information, please visit: pluribustechnologies.com

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to whether the Lender will continue to forbear from exercising their rights and remedies on expiry of the Forbearance Agreement and what the terms or timing of such a transaction or such continued forbearance might be, the Company providing an update when further disclosure is required or otherwise appropriate, the business plans of the Company, including the completion of future acquisitions, the Company management's expectation on the growth, profitability and performance of its portfolio companies, the Company's ability to acquire business-to-business technology companies in the future, the Company's ability to grow its portfolio companies and the Company achieving a positive transaction as a result of its strategic review process. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or negatives of these terms and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, including the Company's ability to manage a complex portfolio of companies effectively; and the Company's ability to raise sufficient financing to continue its acquisition strategy. Other assumptions include industry trends, the availability of growth opportunities, and general business, economic, competitive, political, regulatory and social uncertainties will not prevent the Company from conducting its business. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies and they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information speaks only to such assumptions as of the date of this release.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The purpose of forward-looking information is to provide the reader with a description of management's expectations, and such forward-looking information may not be appropriate for any other purpose. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Contact:

Richard Adair

Chief Executive Officer

Pluribus Technologies Corp.

1 (800) 851-9383

SOURCE Pluribus Technologies Corp.
AUSTIN, Texas, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of last week's devastating storms, which left hundreds of thousands of Houston-area residents without power, the Propane Council of Texas encourages residents across Texas to consider propane as a reliable backup power source. With increasing temperatures returning, access to air conditioning, refrigeration, and other critical appliances becomes even more crucial.

"Our thoughts go out to all those impacted by the recent storms," states Bill Van Hoy, Executive Director for the Propane Council of Texas. "We understand the significant challenges residents face when the power goes out, especially during hot summer months. Propane offers a dependable and versatile solution for backup power generation."

Major news outlets have reported on the widespread power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of residents in Houston, some lasting for days. With temperatures increasing, the lack of air conditioning poses serious health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly and young children.

Propane-powered standby backup generators offer an effective way to maintain essential appliances during outages. These permanently installed generators can be easily connected to a home's electrical system by licensed professionals, providing power for refrigerators, air conditioners, lights, and other critical appliances.

The Propane Council of Texas encourages Texas, residents to explore propane backup power options by contacting a licensed propane provider or licensed generator installer. These professionals can advise on the right size generator for a home's needs, ensure proper installation and location, and provide ongoing maintenance. For safe and reliable operation, always use a licensed professional for standby generator installation.

"By proactively planning for power outages, Texans can protect their homes and families in the aftermath of storms," concludes Van Hoy. "The Propane Council of Texas is committed to educating residents about the benefits of propane backup power as a reliable and readily available solution."

About the Propane Council of Texas

The Propane Council of Texas is a non-profit foundation representing the propane industry in the state. The Council promotes the safe and efficient use of propane for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

SOURCE Propane Council of Texas
The hospital is a joint venture between Piedmont and Encompass Health.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., and ATLANTA, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Piedmont, the largest healthcare system in the state of Georgia, and Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC), the nation's largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, announce the opening of Rehabilitation Hospital of Atlanta, a 40-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital located at 1968 Peachtree Road NW, building 2 on the 6th floor.

The hospital provides essential rehabilitative services that help patients recovering from strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions regain function and independence. Patients receive a minimum of three hours of intensive therapy for five days each week, frequent physician visits and 24-hour nursing care.

"We are excited to serve patients in the greater Atlanta area through our partnership with Piedmont," said Gina Tipton, CEO of Rehabilitation Hospital of Atlanta. "By providing essential rehabilitation services, we help patients regain function and independence as they recover from major injuries and illnesses. We look forward to positively impacting the lives of many."

"We are so pleased to welcome Encompass Health to Piedmont Atlanta Hospital," said Patrick M. Battey, M.D., chief executive officer of Piedmont Atlanta. "Having a rehabilitation facility on-site at Piedmont Atlanta will make the experience of transitioning to rehabilitation after a hospital stay convenient for patients. We look forward to many years of partnership with Encompass Health to provide high-quality, patient-centered care."

Hospital amenities include 40 private patient rooms, a spacious therapy gym featuring advanced rehabilitation technologies, an activities of daily living suite, in-house pharmacy and dayroom area. An interdisciplinary team of highly specialized nurses, therapists and physicians provide physical, occupational and speech therapies to restore functional ability and quality of life.

Rehabilitation Hospital of Atlanta is Encompass Health's 162nd inpatient rehabilitation hospital nationwide and its seventh location in Georgia.

About Piedmont

Piedmont is empowering Georgians by changing health care. We continue to fuel Georgia's growth through safe, high-quality care close to home through an integrated health care system that provides a hassle-free, unified experience. We are a private, not-for-profit organization with more than 12,000 donors annually that for centuries has sought to make a positive difference in every life we touch in the communities we serve. Across our 1,755 physical locations we care for 3.7 million patients and serve communities that comprise 80 percent of Georgia's population. This includes 24 hospitals, 72 Piedmont Urgent Care centers, 25 QuickCare locations, 1,875 Piedmont Clinic physician practices and nearly 3,200 Piedmont Clinic members. Our patients conveniently engage with Piedmont online, as they scheduled more than 612,000 online appointments and over 163,000 virtual visits. With more than 44,000 care givers we are the largest Georgia-based private employer of Georgians, who all came for the job, but stayed for the people. In 2024 and 2023, Piedmont has earned recognition from Newsweek as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and also as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women. In 2022, Forbes ranked Piedmont on its list of the Best Large Employers in the United States. In addition, Piedmont provided nearly $390 million in community benefit programming and uncompensated care in Fiscal Year 2023.

For more information, or booking your next appointment, visit piedmont.org.

About Encompass Health

Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) is the largest owner and operator of rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. With a national footprint that includes 162 hospitals in 37 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high-quality, compassionate rehabilitative care for patients recovering from a major injury or illness, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies and Modern Healthcare's Best Places to Work in Healthcare. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Encompass Health Media Contact:

Polly Manuel | 205-970-5912

[email protected]

Piedmont Media Contact:

Megan Joseph | 678-245-1263

[email protected]

SOURCE Encompass Health Corp.
The health worker said Queensland's Mt Isa 'looked just like any dusty old town'  but says it was harbouring a troubling reality.

British nurse Kelly Wainwright said she took a role 'nobody wanted'. But after a while, neither did she. Source: 9News/Getty

A British nurse who always dreamt of calling Australia home said she was forced to flee the country over fears for her safety, due to ongoing teenage violence and crime plaguing the outback town where she lived.

UK-born health worker Kelly Wainwright said she took a role "that nobody wanted" in the Queensland town of Mt Isa, in the state's northwest, due to her visa sponsorship prospects being limited elsewhere. Wainwright, 43, said the area "just looked like any dusty old cowboy town in the middle of the outback"  but says it harboured a sinister secret.

Accepting a role as the sexual unit health manager at Mt Isa Hospital  a position that was vacant for two years prior to her arrival  Wainwright said she thought it'd be "the weather or the creepy crawlies" that would eventually drive her from Australia, not "for one second" did she think it would be "the volatility of the area".

The 14-year-old family member living with Wainwright was allegedly subjected to repeated violence by teens in the town. Source: 9News

'Dusty' town a hotbed for youth crime, nurse claims

Just six weeks into her stay, Wainwright's government-assigned accomodation was broken into, marking the start of a downward trajectory for the nurse that would eventually see her flee the country altogether. Months later, she says her home was targeted by teenagers, who allegedly viciously assaulted a 14-year-old relative staying with her, 9News reported.

Footage of the alleged attack shows a brutal brawl ensue between at least three teenage girls at Wainwright's former property. The vision depicts the girls kicking, punching, slapping and attacking one another. It's not known what led to the violent incident.

Wainwright reported the attack to police but claims she was told in response by an officer: "You live in Mt Isa, I suggest you go and learn how to fight".

Yahoo News Australia has contacted Queensland Police for comment regarding the alleged advice.

Amid increased calls for a crackdown on youth violence in Mt Isa, more than 30 young people were arrested in a week-long blitz between April 26 and May 3, resulting in 84 charges, The North West Star reported this week.

Wainwright, 43, said she felt unsupported in Australia and felt she had to quit her job and flee. Source: 9News

Pleas for alternative accomodation rejected

Wainwright's superiors were at one stage so concerned for her wellbeing they contacted senior health officials to request that she and the young girl be moved to more secure accomodation. However that request was denied, she said.

Emails obtained by Nine News reveal Wainwright's manager stated: "I have fears for Kelly and her family's immediate emotional wellbeing as a result of informing them that their request to move was not supported."

Wainwright's colleague continued to call for "immediate action" to be taken to "ensure their safety". "This may involving moving their household to alternative accomodation," the email read.

UK nurse says 'Australia didn't support me'

In the end with her visa conditions tied to the job, and the awful experience she endured, the much-needed nurse decided to simply leave the country.

"The answer was just no, we're not moving them," Wainwright said, adding that she felt she was forced to quit and flee soon after. The 43-year-old insisted she was in such a hurry to abandon the town, she "gave up all her possessions".

"I just gave them all away and off we went with just our suitcases," she said.

Mt Isa is a mining town in Queensland's northwest. Source: Mt Isa Tourism

Not being supported in "the way that we should've been" was "really disheartening", Wainwright told Nine News.

North West Hospital and Health Service (HHS) would not comment on individual matters but said it provides "safe" accomodation that "meets the needs of our employees".

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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The Atlanta-based fintech company ranked No. 12 on the overall list

ATLANTA, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Relay Payments , the fintech company modernizing payments for the trucking and logistics industries, has been named to Newsweek's Top 100 Most Loved Global Workplaces list for 2024, ranking No. 12. Developed in collaboration with the Best Practice Institute (BPI), a leadership development and benchmark research company, Newsweek's list recognizes companies that value and respect their team members while fostering a culture of collaboration.

"It's an honor to be recognized as one of the Most Loved Global Workplaces," said Relay's Chief People Officer Amy Zimmerman. "We're proud of the culture we've built at Relay, and the successes we've achieved. We've always known that our people are our greatest asset, and we're grateful for their commitment to our values!"

To determine its list of Most Loved Global Workplaces, Newsweek surveyed more than two million employees from businesses varying in size. Companies invited to participate in the nomination surveyed team members to gauge sentiment and satisfaction in five critical categories: a company's level of collaboration, how workers feel about their future at the firm, the alignment between employee and employer values, the perceived amount of respect for employees and opportunities for career achievement.

Founded in 2019, Relay offers modern digital payments designed for the trucking and logistics industries. Fleets have rapidly adopted the platform, foregoing archaic payment methods like cash, checks, and fleet cards, and gaining increased hours of service and supply chain efficiencies as a result. Relay's payment network continues to expand, allowing fleets to make secure payments for fuel, lumpers, parking, scales, and other over-the-road expenses across the United States. Relay is now trusted by 350,000+ drivers, 90,000+ carriers, and 1,500+ truckstops.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Relay has won numerous awards for its innovation, customer service and organizational culture. Earlier this year, Relay was named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies. Forbes named the company one of America's Best Startup Employers, and the Atlanta Business Chronicle named CEO Ryan Droege its Most People-Focused CEO. Relay has been honored in Inc Magazine's Best Places to Work rankings, the FreightWaves FreightTech 100 list, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Top Workplaces.

Relay is continuing to hire. For more information or to view open job listings, visit relaypayments.com .

About Relay Payments

Relay Payments is building a modern digital payment network to revolutionize the trucking and logistics industries. Trusted by more than 350,000 drivers, 90,000 carriers, and 1,500 truckstops nationwide, Relay has brought efficiency and automation to an industry historically reliant on cash, checks, and cards. Relay has joined forces with industry leaders like Pilot Company, Maverik, Schneider, Coyote Logistics, Lineage Logistics, and others to provide secure, reliable over-the-road transactions. Founded in 2019, the Atlanta-based fintech includes more than 150 team members and has won awards for product innovation, customer service, and organizational culture. For more information about Relay, visit relaypayments.com .

Media Contact:

Hela Sheth

678-938-1318

[email protected]

SOURCE Relay Payments
A trio of James Purdey & Sons 28-gauge shotguns and firearms owned by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and President Theodore Roosevelt commanded top dollar at the May Premier Auction

BEDFORD, Texas, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rock Island Auction Company (RIAC) realized $25.7 million in sales during its first Premier Auction of 2024, Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19 in Bedford, TX. The world's leading firearms auction house featured over 2,200 lots of high-conditioned, historic, investment-grade firearms for auction.

The event's highest selling item, with a high estimate of $400,000, was a trio of master engraved James Purdey & Sons shotguns, which commanded an impressive $528,750. Theodore Roosevelt's massive Hawken buffalo rifle sold for $235,000, $150,000 more than its pre-auction value. Another highly anticipated item was a historic Calderwood & Son pinfire revolver owned by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer that was kept in the Custer family until 1956. The revolver came with an inscribed case with Custer's initials, "G.A.C." on its lid and sold for $141,000. The original pre-auction value of the pinfire revolver was $50,000-$75,000.

"These sales results absolutely continue the momentum we've seen since opening our new facility in Texas," said Kevin Hogan, President of Rock Island Auction Company. "It was a fantastic weekend for collectors, with some pieces available for the first time in decades. It made for a lot of excitement in the room, and we can't wait to show our clients what's coming in our June and August auctions."

As RIAC's flagship spring event, the 2024 May Premier Auction amassed nearly $3.7 million more than the 2023 May Premier Auction, boasting the unprecedented growth the company continues to achieve. The premier event showcased its breadth in collecting with items as wide-ranging as 30 artisan European firearms from the Norman R. Blank Collection and a curated grouping of military vehicles from the Allan Cors Collection.

This auction was particularly notable for RIAC due to their collaboration with USA Shooting, offering a Krieghoff K-32 Shotgun with all proceeds benefiting the USA Shooting Team's quest for Olympic gold. Despite their remarkable tally of 121 Olympic and Paralympic medals, USA Shooting often struggles with funding and lacks sponsor support compared to other U.S. Olympic teams. The $35,250 raised from the Krieghoff K-32 Shotgun sale will help cover the additional expenses the team will face at this year's Olympic Games in Paris.

Additional highlights from the May Premier Auction include the sale of:

For more information on Rock Island Auction Company and other highlights from their May Premier Auction, visit www.rockislandauction.com.

About Rock Island Auction Company:

Rock Island Auction Company is the world's no. 1 auction company for firearms, bladed weapons and militaria. Founded in 1993 by its current CEO Patrick Hogan, RIAC continues to lead the industry with record sales numbers and its extensive and well-crafted marketing efforts. The company's 150,000 square-foot Illinois campus consists of two buildings and serves as the company's hub for catalog and content production. The 90,000 square-foot Bedford facility opened in December 2023 and will host six of the company's 18+ auctions each year. RIAC actively seeks consignments, be it a single weapon or a collection of hundreds, an item valued at $1,000 or $1 million.

Media Contact:

Mattie Van Gundy

(713) 409-1835

[email protected]

SOURCE Rock Island Auction Company
STOCKHOLM, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sandvik has received an order from the Indian mining company Hindustan Zinc Limited to supply underground mining equipment at a value of approximately SEK 345 million. The order was booked in the second quarter 2024, and deliveries scheduled through the end of 2024.

The contract, which builds on a long-standing partnership between Sandvik and Hindustan Zinc, includes underground mining equipment and expands Hindustan Zinc's fleet of Sandvik equipment with more development drills, production drills, trucks and loaders. In addition to the equipment order, the deal also brings a significant aftermarket value.

"We are very pleased to expand our partnership with Hindustan Zinc and again be selected to supply our advanced mining equipment. With our solutions we will support Hindustan Zinc's ambitious production plans, and help drive productivity, safety and sustainability in their operations," says Mats Eriksson, President of Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.

Stockholm, May 23, 2024

Sandvik AB

For further information, contact Louise Tjeder, VP Investor relations, phone: +46 (0) 70782 6374 or Johannes Hellstrom, Press and Media Relations Manager, phone: +46 (0) 70721 1008

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/sandvik/r/sandvik-secures-major-underground-mining-equipment-order-from-hindustan-zinc,c3986233

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https://mb.cision.com/Main/208/3986233/2815168.pdf Sandvik secures major underground mining equipment order from Hindustan Zinc

SOURCE Sandvik
NEW YORK, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Primerica, Inc. ("Primerica" or the "Company") (NYSE: PRI). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Primerica and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On April 18, 2024, The Bear Cave published a short report on Primerica, which described the Company as "a pyramid scheme". The Bear Cave cited "extensive evidence suggesting that Primerica's highest producing agents are engaged in misleading, false, or deceptive conduct including 1) a recorded Zoom presentation from a Senior National Sales Director that alleges crooked conduct, 'fake numbers,' and appears to suggest an ongoing internal investigation, 2) a text message recruiting script for new agents that appears to deliberately obfuscate their association with Primerica, 3) agent presentations that emphasize recruiting over serving independent customers and 4) a presentation by a high-producing agent saying 'it's normal to be a millionaire.'" The Bear Cave also cited "complaints obtained through public records requests", which "allege forged signatures on six-figure investment contracts" and "'institutionalized theft[.]'"

Following publication of the Bear Cave report, Primerica's stock price fell $1.55 per share, or 0.73%, to close at $210.09 per share on April 18, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global small arms market size is estimated to grow by USD 2.60 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.21% during the forecast period.

For more insights on the forecast market size and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Request a sample report!

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Small Arms Market 2024-2028

Small Arms Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.21% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 2.60 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 4.75 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 34% Key countries US, China, India, Germany, and UK Key companies profiled Adani Group, AmmoTerra, ARSENAL JSCo, Fabbrica dArmi Pietro Beretta S.p.A., Colt Manufacturing Co, LLC., EDGE Group PJSC, G Lock Perfection, Heckler and Koch Inc., Herstal SA, HS Produkt, Indian Ordnance Factories, Israel Defence, Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd., Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, MOD Crown, Shaw Barrels, SIG Sauer Inc., Smith and Wesson Brands, Inc., Stumpp Schuele and Somappa Springs Pvt. Ltd., and Sturm Ruger and Co. Inc.

Market Driver

The global small arms market is witnessing a significant shift towards modular firearms platforms. These systems enable users to customize and adapt their firearms for various roles and missions, including hunting, sport shooting, self-defense, and tactical applications. Key features include interchangeable components such as grips, stocks, barrels, and handguards.

Modular firearms offer adaptability to combat performance, modernization programs, and militaries, while complying with standards, anti-corruption laws, and import-export controls. Notable firearms include AR-style handguns, rifles, machine guns, snipers' weapons, and modern sporting rifles. Firearms segments include pistols, shotguns, revolvers, and rifles. Ammunition development and military expenditure are also relevant factors.

Market Challenges

The small arms market is subject to rigorous regulatory frameworks and licensing requirements, imposed by governments globally to mitigate risks associated with firearms misuse. These regulations encompass background checks, waiting periods, and individual licensing for purchasing firearms. Manufacturers and distributors must also comply with intricate licensing, registration, and export control regulations, which differ from country to country.

These regulatory hurdles significantly increase administrative burden and operational costs for small arms manufacturers and suppliers, particularly smaller businesses. Key aspects include military expenditure, development, ammunition, modernization, handguns, revolvers, rifles, assault rifles, sniper rifles, shotguns, machine guns, mobility, lethality, territorial conflicts, terrorism, political unrest, ceasefire violations, wars, and cross-border terrorism.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend, driver and challenges - Request a sample report!

Segment Overview

End-user

1.1 Civil and commercial

1.2 Defense

Type

2.1 Rifle

2.2 Pistol

2.3 Short gun

2.4 Others

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 APAC

3.4 Middle East and Africa

and 3.5 South America

1.1 Civil and commercial- The small arms market is segmented by end-users, with the civil and commercial sector playing a significant role. Ceasefire violations, wars, and cross-border terrorism drive military demand, while civil end-users include individuals and non-governmental entities. These users purchase firearms for personal protection, recreational shooting, hunting, and sport shooting. Regulations vary, with stringent measures in place to ensure safety and prevent misuse.

Sales, revenues, and profit margins are influenced by administrative and criminal actions related to manufacture, transfer, possession, and public safety. Serialization and standardization are essential for tracking gun-related crimes and import-export controls. Technological advancements, anti-corruption laws, and modernization programs impact the market. Lightweight, high-performance weapons are in demand for combat, with the rifle segment including AR-style handguns, rifles, machine guns, snipers, and recoilless rifles.

Modern sporting rifles are popular for shoot-to-kill and shoot-to-injure applications. Militaries and security forces require combat-effective weapons, while illicit trafficking and terrorist activities pose challenges at international borders. Branded small arms continue to dominate the market.

For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2017-2021) - Download a Sample Report

Research Analysis

The small arms market encompasses a wide range of firearms, including pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, and machine guns. These weapons are utilized extensively in various sectors, such as military, law enforcement, and civilian markets. Military expenditure plays a significant role in the development and modernization of small arms technology. Handguns, like pistols and revolvers, are popular choices for personal protection and law enforcement applications.

Rifles, including assault rifles and sniper rifles, are essential for military and tactical operations. Shotguns are commonly used for hunting and close-quarters combat. Machine guns, such as the Rheinmetall MG 3 and the Uzi, provide sustained firepower in various military and law enforcement contexts. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reports that global military spending on small arms and ammunition continues to be a substantial investment.

Market Research Overview

The small arms market refers to the production, trade, and use of portable and individually operated firearms. These weapons are used for various purposes, including military, law enforcement, and civilian applications. The market for small arms is significant due to their widespread use and demand. Shotguns, revolvers, rifles, and pistols are the primary types of small arms. The market is driven by several factors, including technological advancements, military modernization programs, and civil unrest.

The demand for these weapons is also influenced by factors such as terrorism, organized crime, and personal security concerns. The market for small arms is diverse and complex, with various players involved in different stages of the value chain, from manufacturing to distribution and sales. The market is expected to grow in the coming years due to increasing security concerns and ongoing military modernization programs.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

End-user

Civil And Commercial



Defense

Type

Rifle



Pistol



Short Gun



Others

Geography

North America



Europe



APAC



Middle East And Africa



South America

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
Rise in number of government incentives is a major factor that drives the growth of the solar carport market.

PORTLAND, Ore. , May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Solar Carport Market by Design Type (T-shape, V-shape, L-shape, and Y-shape), Vehicle Arrangement (One-row and Double-row), and Application (Commercial, Residential, and Industrial): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the solar carport market was valued at $0.8 billion in 2022, and is estimated to reach $1.7 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 8.1% from 2023 to 2032.

Prime determinants of growth

The global solar carport market is driven by factors such as rise in government incentives. Shift in solar energy to cut carbon emissions creates lucrative growth opportunities. On the other hand, competing energy sources hinder market growth.

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Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $0.8 billion Market Size in 2032 $1.7 billion CAGR 8.1 % No. of Pages in Report 324 Segments covered Design Type, Vehicle Arrangement, Application, and Region. Driver Rise in government incentives Opportunity Shift in solar energy to cut carbon emissions Restraint Competing energy sources are restricting the market growth

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The T-shape segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period.

By design type, the T-shape segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global solar carport market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period.

The T-shape building provides plenty of shade and protection in addition to holding more cars. The T-shaped structure makes it simple for cars to enter and exit, which makes parking more convenient for drivers. As a result, the solar carport industry is experiencing a rise in the demand for such structures.

The double-row segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

By vehicle arrangement, the one-row segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for around two-thirds of the global solar carport market and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. However, the double-row segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 8.42% from 2023 to 2032. Moreover, the simplicity and efficiency of the carport with a one-row vehicle arrangement set it apart. This versatile structure is the best solution for small parking lots as it may be joined to existing buildings or stand alone. The expansion of this market is driven by an increase in number of residential applications, such as residential properties and apartment buildings, adopting one-row vehicle arrangements.

The industrial segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

By application, the commercial segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global carport market and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period.

Solar carports are expected to be installed globally in shopping centres, educational institutions, supermarkets, corporate buildings, and EV charging stations during the forecast period. In addition, commercial solar carports improve the company's green credentials and offer free advertising space in addition to improved parking for clients and staff.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2032

By region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than half of the global solar carport market revenue and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. The Asia-Pacific region's rapid urbanization and infrastructural development are also anticipated to fuel demand for solar carports in the upcoming years. In addition, a lot of companies or organisations in the area are embracing CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities that include renewable energy solutions and sustainability aims, which eventually support the market's expansion.

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Leading Market Players: -

Antai Solar

Enerparc

Ganges International

Mahindra Solarize

Positive Energy Solar

Reenergy

Schletter

Himzen

Quest Renewables, INC.

Mahindra Solarize

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global solar carport market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
Proposed service would introduce low-fare competition and create the only nonstop service between Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C.

DANIA BEACH, Fla., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE), in partnership with San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC), today announced it will apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation to launch new, nonstop service between SJC and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Spirit is pursuing the one round-trip for limited incumbents authorized at DCA through the passage of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024.

If approved, the new route will provide travelers with the only nonstop, low-fare service between Silicon Valley and the nation's capital. The service would also boost competition by introducing a low-fare competitor and offering Bay Area travelers more choices to reach the Washington, D.C. area. San Jose is one of the largest cities in the nation without nonstop service to Washington, D.C., and this new flight from SJC would offer a closer, more convenient option for millions of residents.

"Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C., share significant ties in the technology industry. New nonstop flights between the airports that sit at the heart of these two communities would make travel easier and foster opportunity for better collaboration between these influential markets," said Matt Klein, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Spirit Airlines. "Our San Jose Guests have truly embraced Spirit during our first year of service at SJC, and we appreciate the support from the SJC team and our community partners in pursuing this new service."

"In today's digital age, there is perhaps no place more important for our national leaders to access than the capital of Silicon Valley," said San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. "San Jose is home to the experts and entrepreneurs at the forefront of AI, data privacy and CHIPs Act implementation who are writing the code for the future and establishing best practices to navigate that future."

"We're excited to partner with Spirit to secure highly demanded, nonstop service between SJC and DCA," said SJC Director of Aviation Mookie Patel. "DCA is a uniquely well-positioned gateway to both the center of federal decision-making in Washington and the booming tech center in the surrounding region. Together with SJC's unmatched reliability and convenience for Silicon Valley  and Spirit's low fares  this proposed service will provide travelers between two important markets with an exceptional customer experience end-to-end."

Spirit launched service at SJC in June 2023 and currently offers nonstop flights to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Las Vegas (LAS) and San Diego (SAN).



Spirit's Elevated Guest Experience

Spirit continues its commitment to invest in the Guest, which entails a number of initiatives aimed at delivering the best value in the sky:

NEW! No change or cancel fees for all Guests.

Spirit's Fit Fleet is one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the industry.

Cabin enhancements with wider seats, added cushion, new headrests and upgrades to our unique Big Front Seat.

Fast onboard Wi-Fi that allows Guests to watch content from streaming services.

About Spirit Airlines:

Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) is committed to delivering the best value in the sky. We are the leader in providing customizable travel options starting with an unbundled fare. This allows our Guests to pay only for the options they choose  like bags, seat assignments, refreshments and Wi-Fi  something we call A La Smarte. Our Fit Fleet is one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the United States. We serve destinations throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean, making it possible for our Guests to venture further and discover more than ever before. We are committed to inspiring positive change in the communities where we live and work through the Spirit Charitable Foundation. Come save with us at spirit.com.

SOURCE Spirit Airlines, Inc.
Highlights  SQM reported total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2024 of US$1,084.5 million compared to total revenues of US$2,263.9 million for the same period last year.  Net loss(1) for the three months ended March 31, 2024 of (US$869.5) million or (US$3.04) per share, compared to net income of US$749.9 million, US$2.63 per share for the same period last year.  Over 30% year-on-year higher sales volumes in lithium business, surpassing 43,000 metric tons in 1Q2024.  Revised and increased FY2024 lithium sales volumes guidance.  Record-high quarterly sales volumes in iodine business, over 3,700 metric tons in 1Q2024.  Concluded the acquisition of Andover lithium project in Western Australia.  Successfully completed the ramp-up of the Dixin lithium hydroxide conversion facility in Sichuan, China, with a nominal capacity of 20,000 metric tons.

SQM will hold a conference call to discuss these results on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 12:00pm ET (12:00pm Chile time). Participant Dial-In (Toll Free): 1-844-282-4852 Participant International Dial-In: 1-412-317-5626 Webcast: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=qmUdFzpU

SANTIAGO, Chile, May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-B, SQM-A) reported today net loss([1]) for the three months ended March 31, 2024, of (US$869.5) million, (US$3.04) per share. Excluding the net effect of accounting adjustments for the payments of the specific tax on mining activities for the exploitation of lithium, the net income for the three months ended March 31, 2024, totaled US$228.1 million (US$0.80 per share), representing a decrease of approximately 69.6% compared to US$749.9 million (US$2.63 per share).

Gross profit reached US$368.5 million (34.0% of revenues) for the three months ended March 31, 2024, lower than US$1,065.6 million (47.1% of revenues) recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Revenues totaled US$1,084.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, representing a decrease of approximately 52.1% compared to US$2,263.9 million reported for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

SQM's Chief Executive Officer, Ricardo Ramos, stated, "We are pleased with the positive year-on-year growth in sales volumes across all of our major businesses. During the first quarter of 2024, we delivered record-high quarterly sales volumes in the iodine business, almost 9% higher when compared to the same period last year. Sales volumes in our specialty nutrition and potassium business lines were approximately 20% higher year-on-year, while lithium sales volumes were over 30% higher during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year. This growth was offset by lower year-on-year realized average sales prices in these business lines as a result of lower market prices during the first quarter of 2024."

He continued by saying, "We believe that the strong demand growth in lithium market seen since the beginning of the year could continue for the remainder of the year, with total lithium demand surpassing 1.1 million metric tons during 2024. Given this positive trend in demand growth, especially in China which accounts for almost 75% of global lithium demand, and our updated sales volumes outlook for the year, we believe that our sales volumes could reach 200,000 metric tons in 2024."

Mr. Ramos added, "We continue with our growth plans in Chile and abroad. Our iodine and nitrates expansion project in Pampa Blanca is progressing successfully and we expect to deliver 1,300 metric tons of iodine from this new operation in 2024. In the recent months, we began the construction of a seawater pipeline which will deliver seawater to our operations, allowing us to expand our production capacity and supply freshwater to our neighboring communities.

In lithium business, as detailed below, we have completed the new expansion of our lithium carbonate facility in Chile, reaching 210,000 metric tons per year, and continued to work on a series of initiatives related to efficiency, quality and process improvements to expand this production capacity to 240,000 metric tons per year in 2025, thus adding incremental 30,000 metric tons per year of lithium carbonate capacity. Our lithium hydroxide capacity (conversion from lithium carbonate) has reached 40,000 metric tons per year and we remain on track to increase our total lithium hydroxide capacity in Chile to 100,000 metric tons per year in 2025.

After signing a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Codelco at the end of last year, we continued with the negotiations to define the definitive conditions and documents for a joint operation in the Salar de Atacama, which we expect to deliver by the end of this month."

He closed by saying, "In China, after several years of developing lithium sulfate refinery project, which consisted of redesigning and modifying of the Dixin chemical plant to convert lithium sulfate product from the Salar de Atacama into battery grade lithium hydroxide, we are proud to announce that this process concluded this month by SQM acquiring 100% of the plant. With a design capacity of 20,000 metric tons per year and the first production archived at the end of last year, Dixin plant is fundamental to our strategy to at least double our lithium hydroxide production from lithium sulfate in the coming years.

Finally, in Australia, through a 50/50 joint venture with Hancock Prospecting Pty (Hancock), we completed the acquisition of 60% of the Andover lithium project by acquiring 100% of the shares of Azure Minerals Limited for a total amount of approximately US$350 million (SQM's share). We look forward to working with Hancock on what we believe will be a significant lithium project on a global scale. By combining our mining and lithium expertise with Hancock's experience in project development and mining operations in Australia, we expect to build a strong and mutually beneficial partnership."

The total capex for 2024 is expected to reach US$1.3 billion, including the capex associated with the abovementioned initiatives for our lithium carbonate capacity expansions of approximately US$70 million, Dixin plant acquisition of approximately US$140 million, and maintenance of approximately US$150 million. The total capex amount does not include the amount of approximately US$350 million paid for the acquisition of Andover lithium project.

About SQM

SQM is a global company that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Santiago Stock Exchange (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-B, SQM-A). SQM develops and produces diverse products for several industries essential for human progress, such as health, nutrition, renewable energy and technology through innovation and technological development. We aim to maintain our leading world position in the lithium, potassium nitrate, iodine and thermo-solar salts markets.

For further information, contact:

Gerardo Illanes / [email protected]

Irina Axenova / [email protected]

Isabel Bendeck / [email protected]

For media inquiries, contact:

Maria Ignacia Lopez / [email protected]

Pablo Pisani / [email protected]

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make concerning the implementation of the MoU and potential partnership with Codelco, the development of Salar Futuro Project, Company's capital expenditures, financing sources, Sustainable Development Plan, business and demand outlook, future economic performance, anticipated sales volumes, profitability, revenues, expenses, or other financial items, anticipated cost synergies and product or service line growth.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are estimates that reflect the best judgment of SQM management based on currently available information. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements, including our ability to successfully implement the Sustainable Development Plan. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Readers are referred to the documents filed by SQM with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent annual report on Form 20-F, which identifies other important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to SQM on the date hereof and SQM assumes no obligation to update such statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

([1]) Includes the net effect of accounting adjustments for the payments of the specific tax on mining activities for the exploitation of lithium as of March 31, 2024, in a total amount of US$1,097.6 million. For more detail, please refer to Note (1) to the 1Q2024 Earnings release.

SOURCE Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile, S.A. (SQM)
HEFEI, China, May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sungrow, a global leading PV inverter and energy storage system provider, has recently issued its 2023 Sustainability Report. This marks the 9th consecutive year that the company has publicly reported on its dedication to sustainable development.

Against the backdrop of global consensus on the need for renewable energy, Sungrow has doubled down on its commitment to promoting green energy solutions. The report highlights the company's focus on solar, wind, storage, hydrogen, and electric vehicle technologies, offering a range of power equipment solutions.

As a citizen of the Earth, Sungrow has actively practiced the ESG philosophy of "Green Mission, Better Life", continued to step up efforts in areas with professional influence, and strived to fulfil established corporate goals closely linked to the core areas of sustainability and business growth.

Excellent governance

Sungrow expanded the Strategy Committee to the Strategy and Sustainable Development Committee, and established a three-level sustainable development governance structure.

Sungrow has topped the rankings of global PV inverter shipments for years in a row and ranked No.1 among Chinese companies for 8 consecutive years in terms of the global shipments of energy storage systems.

In the principle of innovation-driven development, we invested $347 million in research and development and delivered the world's first 2000V inverter for grid-connected power generation, the world's first 10MWh fully liquid-cooled energy storage system, and the industry's first Stem Cell Grid Tech White Paper.

in research and development and delivered the world's first 2000V inverter for grid-connected power generation, the world's first 10MWh fully liquid-cooled energy storage system, and the industry's first Stem Cell Grid Tech White Paper. By the end of 2023, Sungrow's cumulative installed capacity of inverter and converter equipment had exceeded 515GW worldwide, over 300 million tons* CO 2 emissions can be avoided annually together with our customers.

emissions can be avoided annually together with our customers. Sungrow released the Code of Conduct, initiated ISO37301 certification, strengthened compliance and business ethics training, and passed certifications of ISO27001 and ISO27701.

Towards net zero

Sungrow had pledged to achieve carbon neutrality on the operational level by 2028, carbon neutrality across the supply chain by 2038, and net zero emissions across the supply chain by 2048.

Sungrow actively carry out GHG inventory development, with Scope 1 of 3594 tons of CO 2 equivalent, Scope 2 of 38161 tons of CO 2 equivalent, and Scope 3 of 8953862 tons of CO 2 equivalent.

equivalent, Scope 2 of 38161 tons of CO equivalent, and Scope 3 of 8953862 tons of CO equivalent. Sungrow has built rooftop PV power stations in the plants, with a cumulative capacity of nearly 13MW and saved over 1,300MWh of electricity throughout the year and increased the proportion of green electricity consumption to 55%. Energy consumption per unit product decreased by 6.8% compared with 2020.

Eco-friendly development

The SG320HX series products have won the world's first inverter Italy EPD environmental product declaration.

Sungrow has invested $1.1 million in environmental protection efforts to continuously optimizing the pollution and waste management system.

in environmental protection efforts to continuously optimizing the pollution and waste management system. Compared to 2020, the VOC and particulate matter emissions per unit production capacity have decreased by 46.4% and 87.1% respectively compared to 2020.

The general industrial solid waste utilization rate stood at 60.1%, representing a year-on-year growth of 7%.

The water consumption intensity per unit product has decreased by 37.3% compared to 2020.

Mutually beneficial collaboration

The customer satisfaction rate for Sungrow stood at a commendable level of 93.9%.

Sungrow remains continuously focusing on the compliance and sustainability of supply chain management, with a signing rate of 96.8% for the Supplier Code of Conduct.

Sungrow has successfully completed ESG audits for 33 suppliers.

ESG Sungrow has completed carbon inventory and product carbon footprint data collecting for 34 suppliers.

Diversity and inclusion

Sungrow's organizational health stands at 86.8%, with employee engagement rated at 4.3 points (Full score: 5 points).

Sungrow boasts 1,287 foreign employees, representing a 43% year-over-year increase. Female managers constitute 15.7% of the workforce, while the localized employment rate stands at an impressive 98.8%.

Sun Forest has successfully planted a total of 200 acres and oversight the construction of 10 wild animal breeding holes.

has successfully planted a total of 200 acres and oversight the construction of 10 wild animal breeding holes. A total of 1352 registered employee volunteers, with a volunteer service duration of 3442 hours.

Cao Renxian, Chairman of Sungrow said, "Nowadays, the green energy represented by solar energy, wind energy, energy storage, and hydrogen energy is gradually replacing the 'impossible triangle' of traditional energy as clean, economic, safe, and sustainable energy. Sungrow will continue to uphold the mission of 'Clean power for all' and work together with all partners sharing a common vision for a sustainable future."

Please download the full sustainability report here.

*Avoided CO 2 emissions are calculated using the global average carbon intensity of electricity generation released by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

About Sungrow

Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. ("Sungrow") is a global leading PV inverter and ESS provider with over 515 GW of power electronic converters installed worldwide as of December 2023. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and ESS for utility-scale, commercial & industrial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions, NEV driving solutions, EV charging solutions and renewable hydrogen production systems. With a strong 27-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power over 170 countries worldwide. For more information about Sungrow, visit: www.sungrowpower.com.

SOURCE Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd.
NEW YORK, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global teleradiology market size is estimated to grow by USD 3.82 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 17.55% during the forecast period.

For more insights on the forecast market size and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Request a sample report!

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Teleradiology Market 2024-2028

Teleradiology Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 17.55% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 3827.97 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 16.46 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 40% Key countries US, Canada, UK, Germany, and China Key companies profiled 4ways Healthcare Ltd., Agfa Gevaert Group, Aster Medical Imaging LLC, Carestream Health Inc., Everlight Radiology, FUJIFILM Corp., General Electric Co., Koninklijke Philips N.V., McKesson Corp., Medica Group PLC, MedWeb, Mirada Medical Ltd., Nano X Imaging Ltd., NovaRad Enterprise Healthcare Solutions, Oracle Corp., Radiology Partners, RamSoft Inc., Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co. Ltd., Siemens AG, StatRad, TeleDiagnostic Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Telerad Tech, Teleradiology Solutions, and WebRad

Market Driver

The global teleradiology market is experiencing a surge in new product launches and collaborations. Companies are introducing advanced teleradiology platforms with features like artificial intelligence integration, cloud-based storage, and real-time communication tools to cater to the rising demand for remote diagnostic solutions. In March 2023, United Imaging Healthcare launched a whole-body ultra-high field 5.0T MRI. Aster Medical Imaging inaugurated its Telecommand Center and Digital Health facility in India in April 2023.

These advancements aim to enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, benefiting healthcare professionals and patients alike. The teleradiology industry continues to evolve, integrating medical imaging technologies such as X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, and nuclear imaging, to provide timely interventions and improve quality of healthcare.

Teleradiology services streamline workflows, enabling diagnostic capabilities for various target diseases, including cardiovascular conditions, cancer, and osteoarthritis, particularly for the elderly population. Broadband networks ensure secure connectivity, addressing data security concerns and enabling real-time image interpretation. Despite economic recessions and healthcare cost-cutting measures, the teleradiology industry continues to innovate, ensuring diagnostic processes remain accurate and efficient.

Market Challenges

Teleradiology is a critical component of early disease diagnosis and treatment planning. By enabling real-time access to diagnostic imaging and interpretation, teleradiology improves healthcare quality and efficiency. Imaging systems, including 3D and AI-assisted technologies, play a pivotal role in accurate diagnosis. Teleradiology platforms and services facilitate timely interventions, ensuring effective treatment and reducing healthcare costs.

Broadband networks and data security measures ensure connectivity and data privacy. Despite challenges such as recession and cost-cutting, the teleradiology market continues to grow, driven by advancements in diagnostic capabilities and imaging techniques like CT, ultrasounds, nuclear imaging, and mammography.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend, driver and challenges - Request a sample report!

Segment Overview

Modality

1.1 CT

1.2 X-ray

1.3 Ultrasound

1.4 MRI

1.5 Nuclear imaging

Component

2.1 Hardware

2.2 Software

2.3 Telecom and networking

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 Asia

3.4 Rest of World (ROW)

1.1 CT- In the dynamic teleradiology market, market segmentation by modality plays a pivotal role in delivering advanced diagnostic imaging services remotely. Fluoroscopy and mammography are crucial modalities, with fluoroscopy providing real-time imaging for conditions like gastrointestinal disorders and orthopedic injuries. Mammography, a vital tool for breast cancer screening, offers high-resolution images for accurate diagnosis. Teleradiology service providers leverage teleradiology hardware & solutions, including hardware and software, to facilitate remote interpretation by healthcare professionals.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration in these systems enhances preliminary reports' accuracy and efficiency, enabling timely interventions and improved quality of healthcare. Neuroradiologists specialize in neuroradiology, interpreting diagnostic data for cardiovascular conditions, cancer, osteoarthritis (OA), and other target diseases, particularly in the elderly population.

Agfa Healthcare and XERO Exchange Network are pioneers in 3D imaging and AI-assisted image interpretation, ensuring diagnostic processes' accuracy and efficiency. Medical imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosis, treatment planning, and disease management, making the teleradiology industry an indispensable part of modern healthcare.

For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2017-2021) - Download a Sample Report

Research Analysis

The Teleradiology market is experiencing significant growth due to the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, enabling preliminary and final reports to be delivered more efficiently. Neuroradiologists and other healthcare professionals benefit from this technology, particularly in the context of the geriatric population and target diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, cancer, and osteoarthritis (OA). Medical imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosis and treatment planning for musculoskeletal ailments.

The XERO Exchange Network facilitates the exchange of diagnostic data, ensuring timely interventions and improving the quality of healthcare. Higher-resolution imaging and 3D imaging are essential for accurate interpretation, and AI enhances image interpretation, increasing efficiency in diagnostic processes. The Teleradiology market continues to evolve, offering cutting-edge imaging solutions to meet the demands of the medical community.

Market Research Overview

The Teleradiology Market refers to the global industry where radiology services are delivered digitally, allowing remote diagnosis and interpretation of medical images. This market is driven by several factors, including the increasing adoption of telemedicine, the growing need for efficient and timely diagnosis, and the availability of advanced imaging technologies.

The use of teleradiology enables healthcare providers to access specialized radiology services from anywhere, improving patient care and reducing the need for in-person consultations. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of telehealth services, including teleradiology, as a safe and convenient alternative to traditional in-person consultations. The market is expected to continue growing in the coming years due to these trends and the increasing demand for remote healthcare services.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Modality

CT



X-ray



Ultrasound



MRI



Nuclear Imaging

Component

Hardware



Software



Telecom And Networking

Geography

North America



Europe



Asia



Rest Of World (ROW)

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Infiniti Research, Inc.
Authorities say that across the nation, the dumping of waste at vulnerable parks and beaches remains a major "ongoing issue".

Aussies are calling for tougher penalties for campers caught littering in the country's national parks, in the wake of a string of recent "unacceptable" incidents. Authorities say that across the nation, the dumping of waste at vulnerable parks and beaches remains a major "ongoing issue" plaguing some of our most precious sites.

The Kosciuszko National Park, in the NSW Snowy Mountains, is home to a myriad of native plants and animals that are already under threat from brumbies  a controversial topic in and of itself  in addition to four-wheel driving and increased tourism. Now, it's also facing a new danger  hordes of campers descending on the area and leaving behind mountains of "awful" rubbish.

It's an issue that Snowy Mountains residents claim has been on the radar of authorities for some time, with people online stating that it's no "wonder why" some of the park's "gates are getting locked" at night, calling for more spots to be added to the list.

One fed-up local woman snapped up images of an 'awful' pile of rubbish left behind by campers. Source: Facebook

'Grubby' sight at iconic national park slammed by locals

An exasperated local uploaded images of the most recent example of littering earlier this week, branding those responsible "grubs". She said she alerted the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) as a result.

"Five local grubs decided a night of camping was needed and thought this was appropriate," the woman said, adding that though frustrating, she was "wasn't surprised" to see the mess.

"Littering unfortunately remains an ongoing issue within Kosciuszko National Park, and addressing this concern is a priority," a spokesperson for the service told Yahoo News Australia.

The Kosciusko National Park is home to a wide range of native plants and animals already under threat from brumbies and tourism. Source: Getty

Images show a campsite with discarded eskies, broken bottles, liquor, plastic and other burnt waste at the Island Bend Campground in the park's north. People responding branded the sight "awful" and "unacceptable", but many pointed to the fact that the disrespectful behaviour wasn't unusual.

Aussies call for lockable gates at night

A woman who recently stayed at the spot said lockable gates in certain areas would protect the park. "Im personally for more gates to places like this," she said. "My family and I just had our first trip to Island Bend for four days and it was incredible. But a locked gate with a gate code that you will be given when you book your place wouldnt be a bad idea.

"Of course it wont stop some people paying and getting the code and still doing this. But its a start. Amazing places like this must be protected for decent people."

"We need to start doing similar," another replied. "We've experienced the same issues at Mimosa National Park. Certain mobs will set up camp but when they leave, their idea of packing up is to chuck everything on the fire  tent, chairs, the lot," somebody else said.

Plastic, glass, foil and other non-biodegradable products were seen left at the sight. Source: Facebook

The mess has prompted calls for locked gates in certain sections of the park. Source: Facebook

Authorities share 'disappointment' in ongoing issue

The NPWS spokesperson said the sight at Island Bend was "disappointing" to see. "The NPWS encourages all visitors and campers to adhere to the principles of Leave No Trace. We ask that visitors leave the park in an even better condition than they found it, disposing of their rubbish responsibly and carrying out any additional litter they may encounter," they told Yahoo.

Last month, messy tourists were called out after a popular camping spot on Australia's coast was left badly littered after the Easter long weekend. Earlier, a community feared a total ban on camping would be implemented after the once pristine Noosa North Shore of the Sunshine Coast was left covered in garbage. In March in the same spot, 20 tourists were slapped with hefty fines as authorities continued their illegal camping blitz.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Original barre workout and franchise studio concept aims to capture greater share of forecast $54.8 billion global boutique fitness sector; locations in Japan set to open by early 2025

WOODBURY, Minn. and TOKYO, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bar Method, the studio barre brand that builds stronger bodies with high repetition, low-impact resistance workouts combining elements of Pilates, yoga and strength training, has announced the international expansion of its franchise model beyond North America.

The first locations of The Bar Method outside North America will arrive in Japan. Fast Fitness Japan (FFJ), the master franchisee of more than 1,000 Anytime Fitness clubs across Japan and Germany, has acquired the master franchise rights for The Bar Method and expects to open the first studios in early 2025 in Tokyo.

The expansion of the brand arrives as the boutique fitness industry is projected to reach a global market value of $54.8 billion by 2029, a growth rate of 38% over 2024. In the U.S., barre workouts saw growth of 13%, from 3.8 million to 4.3 million participants, from 2022 to 2023.*

"This is an exciting new chapter for The Bar Method," said Stephanie Schon, president, The Bar Method. "With over 20 years of experience in strengthening muscles, minds, and overall wellbeing in North America, we are eager to share our scientific method with a global audience to embolden even more individuals to reach their fitness goals. We're thrilled to partner with FFJ, given our common purpose and their impressive operational excellence and expansion with Anytime Fitness."

The expansion is part of an aggressive global growth strategy for Self Esteem Brands  which recently merged with Orangetheory Fitness  to open more than 10,000 fitness, health and wellness clubs and studios worldwide by 2030.

"We are honored that Japan has been chosen as The Bar Method's first overseas market," said Kio Yamabe, CEO, FFJ. "We are excited to introduce this exceptional exercise program to a wider audience in Japan, particularly women, in order to increase Japan's fitness participation rate and promote the adoption and establishment of exercise habits. We are confident that this will be an exciting fitness experience for the Japanese people. Together with The Bar Method team, we are committed to contributing to the improvement of healthy life expectancy by expanding our fitness business in Japan and around the world."

For more than two decades, The Bar Method has been building stronger bodies with challenging workouts that infuse power into every movement. Each exercise is meticulously designed to transform bodies through resistance training fused into a ballet-inspired barre workout, resulting in greater flexibility, muscle definition, and metabolism-boosting endurance.

Sources: Research & Markets; Statista

About The Bar Method

Founded in 2001, The Bar Method was created by Burr Leonard, considered a pioneer in barre-based fitness. Built on the body-elongating practice of dance conditioning, the science of physical therapy, the pace of interval training, and its unparalleled teacher training program, The Bar Method's approach to personalized total mind and body fitness delivers increased strength, endurance and resilience results that can be felt after only a few sessions and maintained for a lifetime. The Bar Method was acquired and joined the Self Esteem Brands family in 2019. Today, there are 77 locations in the U.S. and Canada with plans to add new franchised studios worldwide. For more information on franchising opportunities, visit www.barmethod.com/franchising

Contact:

Kelly Groehler

+16126698602

[email protected]

SOURCE The Bar Method
EAST POINT, Ga., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As conventions and visitor's bureau across the country celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week, the East Point Convention and Visitors Bureau joined the excitement to announce a series of programming and new logo unveiling on the steps of City Hall. The new logo which highlights a plane flying east as a symbol of the direction of East Point and an ode to the world's largest and busiest international airport, Hartsfield Jackson International Airport anchored the cornerstone of the beloved destination. This annual tradition established by Congress in 1983, honors the impactful economic and innovative contributions of the U.S. travel industry.

This year's brand positioning, "Where the World Meets," highlights the East Point Convention and Visitors Bureau's role in revitalizing the face of East Point, boosting its economy, and rebuilding its community on a global front. As we navigate through and beyond the challenges of the past few years, the travel industry's resilience and innovation continue to be pivotal in driving recovery and future growth.

During the event, a proclamation was presented by East Point Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham and remarks from East Point Convention and Visitors Bureau Chairman Neel Shah, President Chantel Ross-Francois, Executive Director of the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureau Amanda Dyson-Thornton, and Director of Sales Keesla BlayMiezah. The bureau engaged sounds by Smooth Jazz 101, Treats by Kupcakerie and Popsicles by Paradise Smoothie as part of its celebration.

Key Events and Activities taking place during the week May 19th  25th:

Kick-off Celebration | East Point Day at GA Renaissance Festival

City Hall celebration, treats and a live broadcast from Smooth Jazz 101 on Monday, May 20 th at the City Hall Steps

at the City Hall Steps East Point's Hidden Gems City Tour for hotel partners and visits to East Point venues and attractions on Tuesday, May 21 st at various points in the City

Hidden Gems City Tour for hotel partners and visits to venues and attractions on at various points in the City Wednesday Wind Down Music and Culture Celebration with booths from the East Point Convention and Visitors Bureau and hotel partners on Wednesday, May 22 nd on the grounds across from City Hall

on the grounds across from City Hall East Point Convention and Visitors Bureau Open House on Thursday, May 23 rd at 1526 E. Forrest Avenue, Suite 105, East Point, Georgia 30344

at 1526 E. Forrest Avenue, Suite 105, 30344 Tourism Celebration Pop-Up with Treats with a live broadcast from Smooth Jazz 101 on Friday, May 24 th at Marshall's parking lot - Camp Creek Marketplace

"National Travel and Tourism Week is an opportunity to celebrate the vital role travel and tourism play in our community. We are focused on driving growth to our hotel partners and key stakeholders within the travel sector to East Point where the world meets. We are committed to supporting the travel community year-round through strategic planned initiatives, programs and global partnerships" says President Chantel Ross-Francois.

For more information on National Travel and Tourism Week and a full schedule of events, visiteastpoint.org or stop by the new vibrant headquarters located at 1526 E. Forrest Avenue, Suite 105, East Point, Georgia 30344.

ABOUT EAST POINT CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

East Point Convention & Visitors Bureau is a distinguished organization committed to excellence and promoting the City of East Point, Georgia, as a unique premier travel destination of "Where The World Meets." EPCVB strives to strengthen tourism, support local businesses, and create noteworthy experiences for travelers through strategic branding, destination management, and community partnerships. The City of East Point is vibrant with culinary pleasures, rich with history and spirited culture that captivates visitors from around the world. www.visiteastpoint.org

Whittley Agency

Sasha Williams

[email protected]

SOURCE East Point Convention and Visitors Bureau
MEQUON, Wis., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 29th and 30th, Spectrum Investment Advisors hosted a 2-day book launch party to celebrate the coffee table book that weaves together the extraordinary stories of Warren Buffett and the History of American Resilience. This 2-day community event brought over 400 guests in attendance. Guest speaker, Pat Waters, grandson of General George S. Patton, brought his grandfather's combat boots for display and shared powerful family stories during the party's program.

The authors James Marshall, Ambassador of Spectrum Investment Advisors in Mequon, Wisconsin, Jonathan Marshall, Partner and Chief Investment Officer, and Katalina Pavon, of the Spectrum Investment Advisors staff, spent years researching and writing this book  inspired by a quote from Warren Buffett, "I had great parents, I had good health, and I was born in the United States of America".

"We hope you love reading 'The American Tailwind' as much as we loved writing it over the past four years!"  James Marshall, co-author of The American Tailwind.

Part One expounds on the teachings of Warren Buffett, learned through attendance at years of Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder meetings in Omaha and stories of how his personal upbringing grounded him  while stimulating and encouraging his success in life.

Part Two honors American soldiers by exploring the leadership skills of Generals Washington, Grant, and Patton as well as sharing over 60 stories of soldiers personally related to the many associates of Spectrum Investment Advisors. The gratitude shown by Buffett for these American heroes is reflected in his quote: "It is beyond arrogance for American businesses or individuals to boast that they have 'done it alone'. The tidy rows of simple white crosses at Normandy should shame those who make such claims".

This book was written to honor the brave men and women who have served our country, to encourage the tenacity and bold determination needed to become great parents and a tested teaching tool for investing. A reminder that, "The best thing that happened to me today, is that I woke up in the United States of America".

To learn more, visit TheAmericanTailwind.com

The American Tailwind can be purchased for $35 on LittleCreekPress.com

You may also purchase the book at the Spectrum Investment Advisors office located in Mequon, WI.

SOURCE Spectrum Investment Advisors
GREATER DES MOINES, Iowa, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Community partners have announced the program dates and curriculum for The Legacy Project: Career Ready Collective.

The Career Ready Collective is a community-driven, career development program to prepare youth for the future of work. The Career Ready Collective is funded by the Principal Charity Classic's Legacy Project with support from Sammons Financial. The primary objective of the Career Ready Collective is to introduce youth to a variety of professional skills that will increase their knowledge and confidence. Participants will be inspired by nationally recognized keynote speakers, develop their professional skills and network with interns and business professionals from across the region. The curriculum and program have been developed by The Partnership with support from The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University.

Career Ready Collective's program will run for six weeks, meeting on Fridays between June  July.

The session topics are:

June 14 : Collaboration and Communication

: Collaboration and Communication June 21 : Professional Presence and Moral and Performance Character

: Professional Presence and Moral and Performance Character June 28 : Networking and Knowing How to Tell Your Story

: Networking and Knowing How to Tell Your Story July 12 : Growth Mindset and Managing Stress

: Growth Mindset and Managing Stress July 19 : Personal Finance and the Goal Achievement Process

: Personal Finance and the Goal Achievement Process July 26 : Celebration Luncheon, Certificate Ceremony and Small Group Reflection

The Career Ready Collective programming aligns with the goals of The Partnership's DSM Workforce Collaborative as they share the common goal of enhancing workforce readiness through professional development and work-based learning experiences. Both programs emphasize the importance of equipping youth and professionals with the skills and resources necessary to thrive in today's dynamic job market. Additionally, both programs empower individuals with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in their future careers and contribute positively to the economic growth of the Great Des Moines region.

"We are excited to unveil the curriculum that the Career Ready Collective program will focus on this summer highlighting important topics that can help prepare the youth of our community for their futures," said Lexi Shafer, Director of Workforce at The Partnership. "We are energized to empower the younger generation as they prepare for possible career paths in the Greater Des Moines region."

"The Legacy Project embodies the Principal Charity Classic's mission of improving the lives of Iowa youth. We look forward to seeing The Legacy Project: Career Ready Collective's new curriculum come to life this summer, and, more importantly, how interns use it to shape their professional development," said Jo Christine Miles, director, Principal Foundation and Principal Community Relations.

To learn more about how you or your organization can support the Career Ready Collective, and how youth can get involved, please contact Lexi Shafer, Director of Workforce, Greater Des Moines Partnership, at [email protected].

Learn more about keynote speakers and breakout topics by visiting The Partnership's website.

About the Greater Des Moines Partnership

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 23 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and more than 400 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.

Contact:

Kyle Oppenhuizen

[email protected]

(515) 286-4972

Learn More About DSM USA

SOURCE Greater Des Moines Partnership
The LEGO Group, drawing inspiration from the universe for over 50 years, aims to unite children's curiosity about space through the ultimate creative medium of LEGO bricks. This year, the company is unveiling many epic Space-themed sets like the LEGO Friends Stargazing Camping Vehicle, inviting adventurers to stargaze and spot constellations, and the LEGO City Space Explorer Rover and Alien Life Playset, enabling kids to explore new worlds and unleash their creativity.

Scientists estimate that only four percent of our universe has been explored, with just 646 people ever seeing the great beyond in person2. The LEGO Group predicts that Gen Alpha's eagerness to search the cosmos will be the key to exploring the 96 percent of the universe still to be discovered.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a UPO!

The LEGO Group asked kids across the world to share their visions of how they would like to explore the cosmos. With the help of Associate Master Builder at LEGO House, Didac Perez Soriano, a selection of these spacecrafts were reimagined in LEGO bricks.

The LEGO Group then showcased the future of space travel according to a group of young budding space explorers  Lotty (10, UK), Sebastian (10, Denmark), Jace (13, Hong Kong SAR, China), Jillian (7, USA), Jordan (12, USA) and Orla (6, UK)  by blasting their unique designs, playfully coined Unidentified Playing Objects (UPOs), over the New York City skyline.

Taking over the most photographed skyline of all time3, the show included a space bed UPO powered by butterfly wings complete with a snack drawer for long journeys, a turtle spaceship that walks on the moon, a dog spaceship with 360 windows to see all that space has to offer, and a dinosaur ship with a jetpack, among others.

Didac Perez Soriano, Associate Master Builder at LEGO House, said: "Children are our inspiration for play and creativity. At LEGO House, we aim to provide the pinnacle experience for letting play and creativity run free, and that's why I leapt at the opportunity to build 3D representations of their creative spaceships in LEGO bricks. The imagination shown by young children around the world was mind-blowing and this was one of the best experiences I have had. I'm ecstatic we can share these with the world. With so much of the universe still to be explored, we can't say that what they have created isn't possible or even out there already."

Lotty Ingle, the 10-year-old designer of the butterfly wing powered bed spaceship from Leeds, UK, said: "I was over the moon when I found out that my design had been picked. I kept saying to my mum "Really?", "No, but really Mum?". I like to be eco-friendly and didn't want to use any electricity so I thought butterfly wings would be a good idea. I would love to travel to all the planets that no one has discovered yet and see if there is life there, and if they are just like us. I would really like them to try all my favourite snacks that I am bringing with me."

All UPOs in their LEGO brick form can be viewed at the "Explore Space Your Way" exhibition at LEGO House in Billund, Denmark, until June 17. LEGO House is the ultimate destination for celebrating everything beyond our world. The collaborative exhibition with the Technical University of Denmark at LEGO Square allows visitors to learn more about the infinite depths of space through wildly creative exhibits crafted entirely from LEGO bricks.

Reimagining the Constellations

While the constellations of our night sky have been set by astronomers in history, the LEGO Group also believes that Gen Alpha can bring a new creative lens to our view of the stars. Celebrating kids' curiosity about the future of space, the LEGO Group is asking children to reimagine the night sky with their own Funstellations.

With a guardian's help, children are invited to visit LEGO.com/Space to download a sky map and join the dots together to show what object or shape they can see in the stars  maybe it's a cowboy riding a unicorn or a flying whale.

The LEGO Group will then work with the International Astronomical Union to recognise their formations as Funstellations  official reimaginations of our constellations  and update our vision of the night sky.

Debra Elmegreen, President of the International Astronomical Union said: "We are excited to tap into the unbridled creativity of children through this collaboration by encouraging them to look up at the night sky and think about the stars. The next generation of scientists and space explorers will shape how we understand and interact with the Universe. With this project, we hope to give them a head start."

Visit LEGO.com/Space to submit your Funstellation and explore space your way.

Notes to Editors

1 Independent research was conducted on behalf of the LEGO Group from March 18 to April 22, 2024 among kids aged 4-14 and their parents from the United Kingdom (n=1,000), the United States (n=1,000), Germany (n=1,000), Turkey (n=1,000), Australia (n=500), New Zealand (n=500), Singapore (n=1,000), China's Mainland (n=1,000), Hong Kong SAR, China (n=1,000), Taiwan Region (n=1,000), India (n=1,000), South Korea (n=1,000), Japan (n=1,000), Spain (n=1,000), France (n=1,000), Italy (n=1,000), and Portugal (n=1,000).

2 Source: NASA

3 Source: Pixsy

For more information, please contact [email protected].

About the LEGO Group:

The LEGO Group's mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through the power of play. The LEGO System in Play, with its foundation in LEGO bricks, allows children and fans to build and rebuild anything they can imagine.

The LEGO Group was founded in Billund, Denmark in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, its name derived from the two Danish words Leg Godt, which means "Play Well". Today, the LEGO Group remains a family-owned company headquartered in Billund. However, its products are now sold in more than 130 countries worldwide.

For more news from the LEGO Group, and information about our financial performance and responsibility engagement, please visit www.LEGO.com/aboutus.

About LEGO House:

LEGO House, situated in the hometown of the LEGO Group in Billund, Denmark, is the ultimate LEGO experience  anything is possible here. Comprising of over 25 million LEGO bricks, four one-of-a-kind Experience Zones, nine rooftop playgrounds, and a unique LEGO Museum, LEGO House reinforces the importance of the five key skills that are developed when learning through play - physical, social, emotional, cognitive and creative skills.

Designed to allow LEGO lovers of all ages to unleash their creativity, LEGO House is home to some of the world's largest LEGO models including giant dinosaurs, waterfalls, and the Tree of Creativity, providing plenty of inspiration for any fan's next masterpiece.

About the UPO Ambassadors:

Lotty Ingle (10, United Kingdom): Lotty will set off into the universe in a space bed powered by butterfly wings. The bed-shaped spacecraft has a dragon's fire engine to give her extra power and keep her warm, and a special snack drawer underneath to keep herself and the aliens well fed in between planet visits.

Sebastian Mikkelsen (10, Denmark): Sebastian's rocket is shaped like a straw hat with reindeer antlers as wings and would have a high-tech computer lab, gaming room and a place to eat and sleep. His spaceship will have a big power rocket attached that will allow him to zoom around to other planets where he will discover aliens to befriend.

Jace Kong (13, Hong Kong SAR, China): Jace can't wait to one day be able to explore space in her dog shaped spacecraft with 360 windows so she can see all that space has to offer and wave to any aliens as they fly by. Taking inspiration from a dream she had, the spacecraft will have fun multi-coloured lights so she can host parties on the moon with all the different breeds of dogs to keep her company whilst exploring the cosmos.

Jillian Granelli (7, USA): Jillian fantasizes about setting off around space on a dinosaur wearing a big jetpack, allowing her to speed between planets faster.

Jordan Hardnett (12, USA): Jordan says he will travel to space and discover the unknown in his alien spaceship fully equipped with futuristic gadgets, including night vision goggles to see other creatures.

Orla Diamond (6, UK): Orla hopes to explore space in her turtle-shaped spacecraft which has a long neck to help her see and hear everything. It even has a slide and ladder for when she ventures out on foot across her newly discovered planets.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420435/Lego_Group_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420436/Lego_Group_2.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420437/Lego_Group_3.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420438/LEGO_Group_4.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420439/LEGO_Group_5.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2420440/LEGO_Group_6.jpg

SOURCE The LEGO Group

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The National Plan establishes a federal advisory council dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease.

NEW YORK, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) today celebrates the passage of The National Plan to End Parkinson's Act (H.R.2365/S.1064) in the U.S. Senate. This is the first-ever federal legislation dedicated to ending Parkinson's. The bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last December. With passage in both the House and the Senate, the bill will be sent to President Biden's desk to be signed into law.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced passage of the legislation this afternoon from the floor of the Senate (video below). With bipartisan support and 215 total cosponsors in Congress, Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) served as the lead sponsors of the bill in the U.S. Senate with Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) at the helm in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"When we started the Foundation, we could only dream of the breakthroughs the Parkinson's community has experienced over the last year, from the discovery of a biomarker to the federal government advancing a plan to end Parkinson's," says Michael J. Fox. "Today, I'm endlessly thankful to everyone who has carried the load to get us here  advocates, scientists, patients, families, clinicians, caregivers and legislators, especially the bill's lead sponsors Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Chris Murphy and Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Paul Tonko as well as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Representative Jennifer Wexton. A National Plan to End Parkinson's is a historic opportunity to accelerate our search for cures, and now is the time. The Foundation stands ready to partner with our national leaders to bring the Plan to life and make today's generation of patients the last to live with Parkinson's as we know it."

This legislation will unite public and private sector experts through a federal advisory council to create and implement a national plan to better diagnose, prevent, treat and ultimately cure Parkinson's disease. The council  made up of members of federal agencies, people living with Parkinson's, care partners, researchers, clinicians and other experts  will regularly report on its progress to Congress and the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

A cross-country strategy to end Parkinson's has the potential to:

Dramatically increase federal research funding;

Develop more effective pathways for treatments and cures;

Improve early diagnosis;

Spark new and improved models for patient care;

Create standards and measures to prevent Parkinson's disease;

Address health disparities in diagnosis, treatment and clinical trial participation and

Enhance public awareness of the disease.

"Today, the Parkinson's community has made history," said Ted Thompson, MJFF's senior vice president of public policy. "As we celebrate this moment, The Michael J. Fox Foundation expresses our gratitude to every grassroots advocate, partner organization and member of Congress who helped advance this bill. Signing this bill into law will ensure much-needed collaboration between the public and private sectors in the name of better treatments, earlier diagnosis and greater access to quality care. For every American living with Parkinson's or an atypical parkinsonism, their families and caregivers, we look forward to continuing our work with policymakers to bring the National Plan to fruition."

The legislation is modeled after the successful National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA), signed into law in 2011. NAPA has paved the way for improved therapies and greater access to quality care for patients, and the federal government now invests $3.8 billion in Alzheimer's and dementia research annually, a seven-fold increase since NAPA became law.

Parkinson's is the second most common and fastest-growing neurological disease in the world. An estimated more than 1 million Americans live with Parkinson's today, including over 110,000 U.S. military veterans. It costs the U.S. $52 billion per year to care for people living with Parkinson's in direct and indirect costs. The federal government covers about half of that cost while the rest falls to people with Parkinson's, their families and caregivers.

In April 2023, MJFF announced the discovery and validation of a Parkinson's biomarker through the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative, its landmark clinical study with sites around the globe. This critical research breakthrough promises a future where every person living with Parkinson's can expect improved care and treatments  and newly diagnosed individuals may never advance to full-blown symptoms.

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

As the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding $2 billion in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; creates a robust open-access data set and biosample library to speed scientific breakthroughs and treatment with its landmark clinical study, PPMI; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. For more information, visit us at www.michaeljfox.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.

SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
New study published in the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine's (formerly AACC's) Clinical Chemistry journal

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Breaking research demonstrates that clinical labs should account for the self-reported race of pregnant individuals when screening for spina bifida and other open neural tube defects. This finding, which was presented today in the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine's (formerly AACC's) Clinical Chemistry journal, could improve prenatal care for pregnant Black individuals.

View the full study here: https://academic.oup.com/clinchem/advance-article/doi/10.1093/clinchem/hvae053/7657106

In the wake of the racial reckoning that took place in 2020, the medical community has embarked on a major push to advance health equity. A significant component of this has involved reevaluating the use of race in a wide range of clinical testing algorithms. For example, research found that race-based calculations for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)  a test for kidney function  were actually leading to delayed diagnosis and poorer outcomes for Black patients with kidney disease. Clinical labs are therefore now excluding race from their eGFR calculations.

The medical community has also been questioning the use of race in the test for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which is used to diagnose open neural tube defects such as spina bifida during pregnancy. Current testing algorithms for AFP account for race because self-reported Black individuals on average have higher AFP levels than White individuals. However, recent studies have recommended omitting race when screening for these birth defects.

A team of researchers led by Glenn E. Palomaki, PhD, of Women & Infant's Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, set out to determine the clinical impact of omitting race from AFP testing. Palomaki's team first separately compared the AFP levels of pregnant White individuals and those of pregnant Black individuals against the median AFP level of pregnant individuals. Maternal weight, which is also higher on average in self-reported Black individuals, was also considered. They then used the same statistical analysis but eliminated self-reported race from the algorithm.

When self-reported race was used, the positivity rate of the screen was roughly equivalent among Black and White individuals. However, when self-reported race and maternal weight were not accounted for in the analysis, 1.49% of those identifying as Black were positive for open neural tube defects, while only 0.63% of those identifying as White were positive, a 2.36-fold difference. This discrepancy does not reflect the real-life disparity in open neural tube defect prevalence and would create inequitable burdens for Black individuals, including additional diagnostic testing that may be costly and invasive, as well as maternal anxiety.

"Accounting for maternal race and weight, as well as other possible covariates such as smoking status, plays a critical role in ensuring reliability and equity in various prenatal screening programs," the study's authors wrote. "Our results, together with existing professional recommendations and other current publications, endorse the use of self-reported race in prenatal serum screening."

About the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM)

Dedicated to achieving better health through laboratory medicine, ADLM (formerly AACC) brings together more than 70,000 clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists, and business leaders from around the world focused on clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, translational medicine, lab management, and other areas of progressing laboratory science. Since 1948, ADLM has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing programs that advance scientific collaboration, knowledge, expertise, and innovation. For more information, visit www.myadlm.org.

Clinical Chemistry (clinchem.org) is the leading international journal of laboratory medicine, featuring nearly 400 peer-reviewed studies every year that help patients get accurate diagnoses and essential care. This vital research is advancing areas of healthcare ranging from genetic testing and drug monitoring to pediatrics and appropriate test utilization.

Christine DeLong

ADLM

Associate Director, Communications & PR

(p) 202.835.8722

[email protected]

Molly Polen

ADLM

Senior Director, Communications & PR

(p) 202.420.7612

(c) 703.598.0472

[email protected]

SOURCE Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM)
Oil and Gas Accounting Veteran Joins Company's Mineral Management Accounting Team

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Valor, a Fort Worth-based specialty asset management company with expertise in providing mineral management solutions and oil and gas outsourcing, is pleased to welcome Jamie N. Luna, as a new accounting manager to the firm's oil and gas accounting department. Luna joins Valor with over 25 years of accounting experience, with an emphasis in managing Accounts Receivable (AR), revenue accounting and working hand-in-hand with land departments to ensure proper DOI setup for revenue booking. In this new role, Luna will be responsible for overseeing financial reporting, ensuring accurate tracking of revenue and reconciliation of unpaid royalties.

Jamie N. Luna

"We're delighted to have Jamie join our growing accounting team," said Matt Autry, Valor's President. "With Jamie's 25 years of experience and his specialized knowledge in oil and gas accounting, we know he'll be an invaluable addition to our team, enhancing both our internal operations and the services we provide to our clients."

Jamie Luna attended Texas Christian University and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. After graduating, he began his career in various industries including construction and banking security services. Prior to joining the oil and gas accounting team at Valor, he spent the past twelve years working at Tug Hill Operating and XTO Energy where he gained invaluable experience in the oil and gas sector. In his previous roles, he gained experience managing monthly revenue estimates, reconciling accounts receivable balances, processing monthly accruals, and working with external auditors. In addition to his robust professional expertise, Jamie is also fluent in Spanish, enhancing his ability to communicate effectively in diverse environments.

"I am excited to have joined the Valor team and bring my years of experience in the industry to the table," stated Luna. "I am confident my background has equipped me to make a positive impact on the company and our accounting team, and I look forward to contributing to both our internal operations and client success."

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Valor has earned a reputation as one of the leading oil and gas outsourcing companies in the Southwest since its founding in 2018. Key service lines of the specialty asset management company include oil and gas accounting, mineral rights management, and oil and gas consulting and outsourcing. The centerpiece of Valor's success is the company's innovative mineral management software, mineral.tech, a proprietary solution that clarifies, tracks, and optimizes oil and gas assets for both individual and institutional clients. The company is also a leading provider of oil and gas outsourcing services for operators and investors, partnering with companies to offer owner relations support, oil and gas accounting, regulatory compliance, and other back-office operations.

About Valor:

Valor is a specialty asset management and professional services provider that serves mineral rights, and oil and gas owners and investors. We place the client first, providing flexible solutions and leveraging our team of experts to maintain the security, clarity and optimization of privately owned assets. Valor is headquartered in Fort Worth and maintains a satellite office in Midland, Texas. Valor has been singled out for several prestigious awards, including the Inc. 5000 list (ranked No. 572 in 2023), Fort Worth Inc.'s Best Companies to Work For (2022 and 2023), the Dallas Business Journal's "Best Places to Work," and Most Inspiring Workplaces. Explore the benefits of partnering with Valor to manage mineral rights and outsource accounting and back office services by visiting www.onevalor.com.

Media Contact:

Hannah Jones

817-370-0612

[email protected]

SOURCE Valor
WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantagepoint A.I. (www.vantagepointsoftware.com) a pioneer in the application of artificial intelligence for independent traders, proudly announces its recent accolade of being named first in the 5 Best A.I. Companies to Watch in 2024 by The Silicon Review. This recognition underscores Vantagepoint A.I.'s commitment to innovation and excellence in predictive market analysis.

Vantagepoint A.I. traces its roots back to a visionary inception sparked by Louis (Lou) Mendelsohn, who drew upon his exposure to artificial intelligence during his tenure at Carnegie Mellon in the 1960s. Recognizing the untapped potential of A.I. in empowering independent traders, Mendelsohn founded the company in 1979 with a clear mission: to equip traders with tools that could rival those of Wall Street.

Over the past four decades, Vantagepoint A.I. has continually evolved, integrating advanced neural networks and securing two U.S. patents. The company's state-of-the-art technology provides over 40,000 traders worldwide with unparalleled predictive accuracy, setting a new industry standard for traders to forecast price action 1  3 days in advance with up to 87.4% proven accuracy.

"Being atop this list is such an honor, and I appreciate the time they took to delve into our approach to predictive A.I. market analysis for traders, the role of neural networks in VantagePoint, our two U.S. patents, and recent case studies," said Lane Mendelsohn, President of Vantagepoint A.I. "This recognition reflects the dedication and expertise of our entire team and our unwavering commitment to providing traders with the best tools to navigate the financial markets."

The Silicon Review shares cutting-edge business solutions created by seasoned solution providers and growing businesses. For more insights into Vantagepoint A.I.'s journey and future, you can explore the in-depth interview with Lane Mendelsohn here.

Vantagepoint A.I. remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what artificial intelligence can achieve in market forecasting, continually striving to empower traders worldwide with the knowledge and tools needed for success.

About Vantagepoint AI, LLC. Vantagepoint's artificial intelligence-based software forecasts Stocks, Futures, Options, Forex, Cryptocurrencies, and ETFs with proven accuracy of up to 87.4%. Family-owned, Vantagepoint is actively committed to giving back to the Tampa Bay community including regularly donating a portion of revenue to Shriners Hospitals for Children, The Children's Cancer Center, and other charitable organizations. For a private demonstration: www.vantagepointsoftware.com/demo

Media contact: Jordan Youtz

[email protected]

SOURCE VantagePoint Software
SEOUL, South Korea, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vatech, a global leader in the dental imaging market, is launching a project to improve dental healthcare in South Africa. Vatech announced today that it has partnered with Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa to donate medical equipment for dental care as well as training for dental professionals.

Vatech's project to improve the healthcare environment at Tygerberg Hospital is part of Vatech's global CSR campaign. As a dental device company, Vatech has been at the forefront of technological innovation and medical environment improvement for the betterment of human life. Vatech's global CSR campaign selects countries/regions that are located in the blind spots of medical care and have difficulty receiving even basic medical treatment, and continues to interact with local hospitals and medical organizations to provide necessary resources. In addition to providing medical support in countries as diverse as Uganda, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Mexico, Vatech has also built an educational and cultural center in Dai Tu Province, Vietnam, to improve the lives of local residents and children and serve as a medical base.

Vatech donated a CBCT "Green X 18" to Tygerberg Hospital in South Africa, which has been selected as the beneficiary of a new global CSR campaign. Tygerberg Hospital is a public hospital operated by the Department of Health and Wellness and is the second largest in South Africa with 110,000 inpatients and 500,000 outpatients per year. Despite being a large public hospital, it was underdeveloped and under-supported, limiting diagnosis. In particular, most of the patients who visit the dental clinic are poor and often visit only after their illnesses have become severe, making it difficult to plan treatment due to the lack of diagnostic equipment, and causing patients to miss treatment and have to have their entire teeth extracted. The CBCTs donated by Vatech will be used in dental clinics for the poor, who make up the majority of patients, and will be used to improve their lives.

The project to improve healthcare in South Africa includes ongoing educational support. Vatech organized an annual training program for 200 doctors at Tygerberg Hospital and 200 students at the hospital's affiliated Western Cape dental school to ensure that the devices are properly utilized in their practices. Vatech's global CSR campaigns are characterized by engaging with local communities to identify the greatest needs and providing long-term support. To improve access to care for the underserved in South Africa, the company recognized the need for training in the use of medical devices that would improve the accuracy of diagnoses and help doctors plan treatment. As Tygerberg Hospital is the only specialized dental hospital in southern South Africa and is responsible for 77% of oral health services in the Western Cape, the impact of the training will be significant.

Vatech's CSR activities in South Africa are characterized by the active participation and interaction of local dealers and local professors, as well as employees of the Korean headquarters and subsidiaries. Employees from the UK and South African offices, as well as local dealer SciVision, agreed with the cause and participated free of charge. The Tygerberg Hospital faculty will collaborate regularly with Vatech to study CT-enabled practices, publish in academic journals, and improve dental care for 120,000 people a year. In recognition of the fact that dental care is often unaffordable for poorer patients, many of whom would rather have their teeth extracted, Vatech is also exploring ways to raise funds from the salary savings of Vatech headquarters employees.

Vatech plans to continue the exchange with the goal of improving healthcare conditions in the Western Cape. As Vatech has a presence in more than 100 countries around the world, the company will continue to expand its CSR efforts to build long-term relationships with local communities in underserved areas.

Mr. Sunbeom Kim, CEO of Vatech, said, "It is Vatech's mission to continuously strive to contribute to making the world a better place with our technologies and services. Whether it's technology development, the development of low-dose dental CTs that minimize X-ray exposure, the development of affordable CTs that can be used in developing countries, or global CSR initiatives that address healthcare issues in local communities, we've been thinking hard about improving the quality of life. Our CSR in South Africa is meaningful in terms of improving large public hospital facilities that the poor rely on and continuing education that will help them in their practice. We will continue to spread CSR to make the world a better place, with the participation of Vatech employees, dealers, and local medical staff."

Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Professor Nomafrench Mbombo, attended the launch event and thanked all partners for their contributions to healthcare in the province. "We extend our gratitude to Vatech for their generosity through the donation of the cutting-edge Dental-facial CBCT unit and comprehensive service support training. Their donation exemplifies the transformative impact that collaboration between public institutions and private organizations can have on advancing dental services and ensuring the well-being of our community. The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness remains steadfast in its commitment to embracing state-of-the-art technology, thereby enhancing the quality of services provided by our dedicated professionals."

Company Profile

Vatech is a global leader in the dental imaging market, committed to developing innovative technologies and improving medical environments for the betterment of human life. With a presence in over 100 countries, Vatech specializes in dental X-ray imaging solutions. The company is dedicated to making dental care more accessible and effective through its state-of-the-art products and services.

SOURCE Vatech
It's a $20 million problem in Victoria alone, but it's leaving tradies across the country unable to work.

Chris Wall, a carpenter from Melbourne, had roughly $14,000 worth of tools stolen from his ute, parked outside his home. Source: Supplied

A new dad has fallen victim to a sinister trend targeting tradies across Australia, leaving him thousands out of pocket. The unfair act has also "severely limited" Chris Wall's ability to work and provide for his family.

Up to $14,000 worth of tools were snatched from the carpenter's vehicle parked outside his Melbourne home last Wednesday, with CCTV footage seemingly capturing the thieves in action. It's a problem costing Victorian tradies up to $20 million a year, according to The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV)  but it's a rising trend in states and territories across the country.

Brazen theft outside tradie's home

Wall, who not long ago welcomed his first child with partner Jaimie, said the brazen act was carried out in the early hours of the morning. He was sitting on the couch at the time, he told Yahoo News Australia, completely unaware that his Isuzu D-Max ute was being raided.

"They basically pull up to the side of my car (parked on the street) for six or seven minutes, and they go through all my storage tubs in the back (of my vehicle)  then they threw it in the back of their ute and drove off," he said describing what he saw in his neighbour's security footage.

CCTV from Wall's neighbour shows another ute pull up to his ute before driving off after a few minutes. Source: Supplied

"They took everything like my batteries, all my cordless tools, a bag of hand tools and a whole bunch of other stuff," he explained, estimating the total value one between $12k and $14k.

"I'm still an apprentice at the moment, so I'm obviously not earning as much as all the qualified guys," the dad-of-one continued, admitting it would likely take some time to replace what he has lost.

Wall said he only realised when he walked outside to leave for work at roughly 7am. He saw the door of his toolbox, on the back of his vehicle, open when it had been locked. He knew right away that "everything was probably gone". "And it was," he said. "About 90 per cent of my stuff was gone."

The dad, who lives in Balwyn, Victoria, swiftly phoned the police before asking his neighbour to check security footage where he saw what had played out. Victoria Police confirmed to Yahoo an investigation is ongoing.

Several tubs containing a range of hand and power tools were emptied, leaving Wall with nothing. Source: Supplied

The timing couldn't have been worse with the couple not long ago welcoming a baby "I had a little bit of savings, but not a whole lot, so he's taken up a fair whack of my savings," Wall explained. Along with needing to replace the tools he relies on daily to do his job, the saddened dad admitted there's now "certain jobs I can't do".

"As a carpenter, I use all my tools on a daily basis. So I've been borrowing little bits and pieces here and there from the guys at work while I try and organise my finances (to buy more)," he said. "But it also means I cant take certain jobs because on many sites you have to be a bit more autonomous and have all your own stuff."

He's been left with no choice but to borrow money from friends family and friends with a GoFundMe page set up to help the family.

Chris and his partner Jaimie not long ago welcomed their first son. Source: Supplied

'It's happening all over the place'

Theft of tradies' tools, while on the rise, has been a troubling issue for some years. According to RACV, they're a prime target "because theyre high value and easily portable". Often it takes years to build up a collection only to lose it all in an instant.

"Talking to guys I work with it seems almost everybody that I speak with knows somebody thats been knocked off," Wall said. His former boss had his "whole van cleared out".

"Its happening all over the place," he said.

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Local 533 Members Win Significant Pay Increases, Improved Benefits

RENO, Nev., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of Teamsters Local 533 have overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement with Waste Management. The contract covers over 250 workers who service the communities of Lyon, Storey, and Washoe counties.

"I want to congratulate our members and the negotiating committee for their unity and perseverance, which ultimately secured such a strong contract," said Debbie Calkins, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 533. "Our members stuck together and won life-changing wage and pension increases, along with top-notch Teamsters health care benefits."

"This contract is a testament to the strength of rank-and-file Teamsters and the importance of collective action," said Gary Watson, President of Local 533. "It clearly demonstrates the difference between union and nonunion workers and will undoubtedly serve as a stepping stone for organizing other waste workers in our region."

The new agreement provides an immediate $4 wage increase upfront and an additional $1.25 per year over the length of the contract. In addition to a substantial pay increase, the contract increases pension contributions by $1.25, secures a fair bidding process that is based on seniority, and provides first-class Teamsters health care.

"We made clear to the company that we were serious and prepared to fight for what we deserve," said Delbert Lopez, a 46-year Teamster, and Waste Management mechanic. "This was my first time sitting on a negotiating committee, and I was impressed by the entire process. Our unity won significantly higher wages and improved benefits for all."

Chartered in 1934, Teamsters Local 533 represents about 2,500 workers in various trades throughout northern Nevada and eastern California. For more information, go to teamsters533.org.

Contact:

Daniel Moskowitz, (770) 262-4971

[email protected]

SOURCE Teamsters Local 553
Chuck Collins and Patsy Ishiyama are Long-time Civic Leaders

SAN FRANCISCO, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The White House has appointed two long-time civic leaders to the Presidio Trust board of directors. Charles (Chuck) M. Collins and Patricia (Patsy) J. Ishiyama. Both are San Francisco residents. Their terms extend through May 4, 2027.

Mr. Collins is president emeritus of the YMCA of San Francisco where he served for nearly two decades as president and chief executive officer. He is also an Inaugural presidential fellow at the University of San Francisco and the special advisor for youth and climate initiatives to the secretary general of the World Alliance of YMCAs in Geneva. Mr. Collins is president of the San Francisco Arts Commission and is on the boards of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Commonwealth Club/World Affairs Council, and the Community Council of the UCSF Center for Community Engagement.

Ms. Ishiyama is a vice president of the Ishiyama Corporation and president of the Ishiyama Foundation. She serves as vice chair of the board of directors of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, as a board member of the Resources Legacy Fund, and as a trustee of the NPR Foundation. She is a former trustee of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.

"We're delighted to welcome Chuck and Patsy, long-time supporters of the park," says Jean Fraser, CEO of the Presidio Trust. "Their experience will be invaluable as we continue to make the Presidio a place that's welcoming for everyone and where plants and animals thrive. I'm especially looking forward to their guidance as we take on big infrastructure improvements that will make the Presidio green and resilient for decades to come."

"As a native of San Francisco born just after World War II, I experienced the transition of our military bases from wartime infrastructure to peace environments fully integrated into the fabric of our communities," says Mr. Collins. "Nothing could better exemplify these changes than the Presidio Trust."

"The Presidio represents the best of San Francisco with its rich history, its sustainable landscape, its breathtaking vistas, and its use and enjoyment by a diverse population," says Ms. Ishiyama. "Visitors locally, nationally, and from around the world come to the Presidio and leave inspired and rejuvenated. I am honored to be a member of the Presidio Board."

Carole McNeil, a San Francisco Bay Area native and chairman and strategic director of McNeil Capital, is departing the board with her term ending after five years of dedicated service leading the board's Finance and Audit Committee. "Carole's deep knowledge of real estate management helped us navigate through the challenges of the pandemic and emerge stronger than ever," says Fraser. "We're so grateful that Carole applied her many talents to serving the Presidio."

About the Presidio Trust and Board of Directors

The Presidio is one of America's most visited national park sites, located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Spanning 1,500 acres next to San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio is among the most biologically diverse parks in America. Historically a home to native peoples and a military post under three flags, its facilities have been reinvented as museums, restaurants, hotels, homes, and offices. The Presidio Trust is the federal agency that stewards the Presidio, in partnership with the National Park Service and with support from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. The Trust sustains the Presidio by leasing homes and workplaces and offering visitor amenities.

The Presidio Trust is governed by a seven-member board of directors. Six members are appointed by the President of the United States. The seventh is the U.S. Secretary of the Interior or his or her designee. For more information visit www.presidio.gov.

Media Contact:

Lisa Petrie, [email protected]

415-264-7787

SOURCE Presidio Trust
NEW YORK, May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global wireline services market size is estimated to grow by USD 2.76 billion from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.77% during the forecast period.

To understand more about this market - Download a FREE Sample

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Wireline Services Market 2024-2028

Report Attribute Details Base Year 2023 Forecast period 2024-2028 Historic Data for 2018 - 2022 Segments Covered Type (Cased hole and Open hole), Application (Onshore and Offshore), and Geography (North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America) Key Companies Covered Archer Ltd., Baker Hughes Co., Caterpillar Inc., Emerson Electric Co., Expro Group Holdings NV, Halliburton Co., MB Petroleum Services LLC, Nabors Industries Ltd., NOV Inc., Patterson UTI Energy Inc., Petrofac Ltd., Schlumberger Ltd., Schneider Electric SE, SGS SA, Siemens AG, Superior Energy Services Inc., TechnipFMC plc, Weatherford International Plc, and Welltec group Regions Covered North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America

Region Outlook

North America Europe APAC South America Middle East and Africa

1. North America - North America is set to fuel 34% of global market growth. In 2023, the US led the charge, driven by rebounding crude oil prices and booming shale oil production. Automation and IoT advancements are spurring adoption of automated drilling in both onshore and offshore projects, overcoming logistical challenges. Semi-automated technologies enable access to remote offshore wells, especially in tough weather.

Automation not only boosts efficiency but also cuts down human errors and accidents. With a growing understanding of its long-term cost benefits, wireline services solutions are anticipated to gain traction in North America throughout the forecast period.

For more insights on North America's significant contribution along with the market share of rest of the regions and countries - Download a FREE Sample

Segmentation Overview

Type

1.1 Cased hole

1.2 Open hole

Application

2.1 Onshore

2.2 Offshore

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 APAC

3.3 Europe

3.4 Middle East and Africa

and 3.5 South America

1.1 Fastest growing segment: The cased hole segment is poised for substantial growth ahead. Cased hole wireline services play a vital role, aiding various downhole operations in already-cased wells. These services employ specialized tools on a wireline cable for tasks like logging, perforating, and sampling.

They're crucial for addressing issues like sand control and wellbore obstructions. Intervention tools, including plugs and packers, are deployed to maintain well integrity and productivity. By extending the operational lifespan of wells, these interventions are instrumental. Overall, these factors will fuel the expansion of the cased hole segment during the forecast period.

Get a glance at the market contribution of rest of the segments - Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!

Research Analysis

The Wireline Services Market encompasses the provision of specialized technologies and services for oil and gas production, particularly in maturing oilfields. These services include both cased-hole and open-hole applications, utilizing electric lines and slacklines for various purposes such as electric line services and slick line services.

Wireline services play a crucial role in well logging, enabling oil well operators to gather valuable data for field development activity and reservoir management. The market caters to various industries, including the aviation and power industries, as well as offshore production in shallow and deep water applications.

Exploration projects, both onshore and offshore, also benefit from wireline services during the drilling and production phases. Crude oil extraction relies heavily on these advanced technologies, making the Wireline Services Market an essential component of the oilfield services sector.

Market Overview

The Wireline Services Market encompasses a range of offerings that provide voice, data, and video communications services through wired infrastructure. These services include Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Fiber to the Home (FTTH), and Ethernet services, among others. The market is driven by the increasing demand for high-speed internet connectivity and advanced communication solutions.

The use of exploratory drilling technologies and fiber optic sensors in the oil and gas industry is also contributing to the growth of the market. The market is segmented based on application areas such as telecommunications, energy, healthcare, and education.

The market is expected to grow significantly due to the increasing adoption of cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The market is competitive, with several players offering similar services, leading to price competition and innovation in technology and service offerings.

Start exploring market insights by Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Venodr Landscape

11 Vendor Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ZeroPoint Technologies AB today closed a EUR 5.0 million Series A, led by European Deep Tech fund Matterwave Ventures. Additionally, Nordic Deep Tech fund Industrifonden served as the local lead for this round. Other existing investors participating include Climentum Capital and Chalmers Ventures. The new capital will be used to scale sales of existing products, bring additional hardware-accelerated memory products to market, and grow the company's existing teams in Sweden and the United States.

"ZeroPoint Technologies' customers include some of the biggest semiconductor companies in the world and our products are in demand by data center operators looking to overcome the mounting challenge of memory bottlenecks," said Klas Moreau, CEO of ZeroPoint Technologies. "In fact, leading hyperscalers, such as Meta and Google, are now specifically calling for hardware-based compression technologies related to CXL-connected memory."

"We are thrilled to back ZeroPoint Technologies and its world-class team on their mission. Their sophisticated memory compression and compaction technology has immense potential to improve performance and resource efficiency across many categories of devices. We have been impressed by the ZeroPoint team's ability to engage with industry leaders and are excited to support their further growth and impact," said Silviu Apostu, principal at Matterwave Ventures.

"Industrifonden has proudly supported ZeroPoint Technologies over the last three years and we are pleased to continue that support as they accelerate through commercialization," said Tobias Elmquist, senior investment director at Industrifonden. "With market trends such as the rapid expansion of AI, we believe that the memory bottleneck issue is more urgent today than when we made our initial investment in ZeroPoint."

Typically, up to 70% of data stored is redundant. ZeroPoint's products dramatically reduce that waste, which frees up memory capacity and increases bandwidth. This is accomplished by the company's first of its kind hardware-accelerated compression and compaction solution. It combines lossless ultra-fast data compression with real-time data compaction and transparent memory management.

Given the exponentially increasing memory demands of today's applications, partially driven by the explosive growth of generative AI, ZeroPoint addresses the critical need of today's hyperscale and enterprise data center operators to get the most performance and capacity possible from increasingly expensive memory. ZeroPoint's solutions are proven to increase memory capacity by 2-4x while also delivering up to 50% more performance per watt. In combination, these two effects can reduce the total cost of ownership of data center servers by up to 25%.

ZeroPoint's technology is 1,000x faster than other compression technologies on the market, which allows ZeroPoint to compress data across the entire memory hierarchy  all the way from Cache to Storage. ZeroPoint's technology is agnostic to data load, processor type, architectures, memory technologies and processing node, and the company's IP has already been proven on a TSMC 5nm node.

About ZeroPoint Technologies AB

ZeroPoint Technologies is a spinout from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, and has over the years developed an impressive IP Portfolio in the memory compression domain. Their patented compression technology is based on 15 years of research. The company was founded by Professor Per Stenstrom and Dr. Angelos Arelakis, with the vision to deliver the most efficient memory compression available, in real-time, based on state-of-the-art research. Today the company works with industry leaders on product implementation projects and technical evaluations. In April 2024, ZeroPoint joined the Intel Ignite global startup accelerator program for early-stage deep tech startups.

About Matterwave

Matterwave Ventures is a Munich-based venture capital firm specialized in deep tech innovations with industrial applications and investing throughout Europe. Matterwave focuses on the early development stages of technology companies, including hardware- and software-based business models. The goal is to back world-leading companies that drive the future of industrial value creation. Matterwave invests "full stack", from materials and components to complete systems and software solutions. Over the past 20+ years, the team has invested in more than 60 companies. With over EUR 200 million of capital under management, Matterwave typically participates in Seed and Series A financing rounds across Europe with initial investments of up to EUR 4 million.

About Industrifonden

Industrifonden is Sweden's Venture Capital Fund looking for unique, scalable innovation that has a meaningful impact on our society. Industrifonden manages more than SEK 5 billion and invests in early-stage companies, from seed to A-round funding with a reach across the Nordics. The investment focus includes specialized technologies and businesses within Deep Tech, Life Science, and Transformative Tech. Industrifonden has an evergreen structure that allows a long-term focus on value creation. Learn more at industrifonden.com.

ZeroPoint Technologies AB

Falkenbergsgatan 3

412 85 Goteborg

Sweden



web: www.zeropoint-tech.com

email: [email protected]

phone: +46-725-268101

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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https://mb.cision.com/Main/23185/3986225/2815180.pdf Press release (PDF) https://news.cision.com/zeropoint-technologies-ab/i/zeropoint-logo,c3303035 ZeroPoint logo
The owner of a chain of unlicensed cannabis dispensaries that included locations in Auburn and Aurelius has been fined $15.2 million by the state, Attorney General Letitia James announced Thursday.

David Tulley, who operated I'm Stuck at 9 E. Genesee St. in Auburn and the Weed Warehouse at 2020 Crane Brook Drive in Aurelius, has been ordered to pay $7 million in disgorgement  profits he made from unlicensed sales of cannabis, including some to underage customers  and $8.2 million in penalties for operating the dispensaries while ignoring cease-and-desist notices from the state.

David Tulley illegally sold cannabis in multiple stores across upstate and central New York and sold unregulated products to underage customers, James said. These illegal and unlicensed stores are budding up throughout the state and are hurting our communities. Today, David Tulley is paying the $15 million price for his repeated illegal activity and will be permanently banned from the cannabis industry in New York. This punishment should serve as a clear warning for all unlicensed cannabis stores in the state: We will enforce the law and shut down your operations.

Tulley was fined $10,000 a day for 389 days of unlicensed cannabis sales, and $20,000 a day for 217 days of unlicensed sales after receiving a notice from the state Office of Cannabis Management. The $7 million in disgorgement represents 90% of his profits from unlicensed cannabis sales between Feb. 11, 2022, and May 2, 2023, the office said. He also faces a $5,000 penalty for removing a violation notice from his location in the town of Lyons, and must cover $1,324.98 in costs incurred by the state attorney general's office.

Along with his locations in Auburn and Aurelius, Tulley operated six additional I'm Stuck locations in Wayne, Oswego and Monroe counties. The Auburn and Aurelius locations  which respectively opened in January 2023 and sometime the previous year  were raided by authorities in June 2023 and padlocked in August.

The state's action followed visits by undercover investigators attempting to purchase cannabis at Tulley's businesses. According to court records obtained by The Citizen, investigator Andrea Buttenschon and an underage person posing as her daughter visited the Cayuga County locations of I'm Stuck on May 31, 2023. The "daughter" asked for products and told employees she did not have identification, but products were sold to Buttenschon anyway, she said. One employee noted they're supposed to check identification but said nothing further, and another told the "daughter," "You're alright."

Tulley told The Citizen Thursday he will appeal the fine. He also said he plans to run for governor and, if elected, would create transitional cannabis licenses for "gray market" businesses like his.

Tulley claimed I'm Stuck sold "consultations," technically making its products gifts. Its locations were the first gray market dispensaries shut down by the state as it launches its legal cannabis market.

Large fines loom for illegal cannabis dispensaries in Cayuga County New York state's enforcement action against the I'm Stuck chain of unlicensed cannabis dispensaries, which included two locations in Cayuga Co
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With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

VOYAH's new vehicle model named FREE 318

On May 23, VOYAH, the premium new energy vehicle maker under Dongfeng Motor, officially announced the first new model for this year is named FREE 318, and previewed the start of its pre-sale on May 30. The VOYAH FREE 318 is an upgraded version of the current VOYAH FREE, featuring enhancements in various dimensions including exterior design, range, performance, intelligence, and safety. The new model boasts a battery-power range of 318km. To achieve this, the VOYAH FREE 318 is equipped with the Amber battery system, which has a capacity of 43kWh.

VOYAH FREE 318; photo credit: VOYAH

NEWRIZON signs agreement with Saudi Arabia's CV dealer Al Yemni Group

Recently, in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, Chinese new energy vehicle maker NEWRIZON signed an exclusive distribution and order agreement with Al Yemni Group, the largest light-duty commercial vehicle dealer in Saudi Arabia. Together, they will bring advanced new energy commercial vehicle products to the region.

China Automobile Trading Co., Ltd., National Engineering Research Center of Electric Vehicles form cooperation

On May 23, China Automobile Trading Co., Ltd., a subsidiary under Sinomach Automobile Co., Ltd., signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the National Engineering Research Center of Electric Vehicles (NEVC). This agreement focuses on technological innovation, achievement transformation, and industry leadership in new energy vehicles.

Tesla begins construction of Megafactory in Shanghai

On May 23, Tesla officially broke ground on its Shanghai Megafactory in the Lin-gang Special Area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, according to a report from Xinhua news agency. This is Tesla's first Megafactory project outside of the United States, marking what the company describes as a "new chapter in China."

Pony.ai granted to conduct autonomous truck platoon testing in Beijing

On May 23, Pony.ai, a global leading autonomous mobility solution provider, officially announced that it recently received approval to conduct platoon testing for autonomous trucks in Beijing. This follows the company's acquisition of its first autonomous truck platooning test license in Guangzhou last November, marking another milestone for the company in autonomous driving testing.

Magna inaugurates new manufacturing facility in Changchun city for EV battery shell project

On May 21, 2024, Magna, a global leading auto part supplier and mobility technology company, announced the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Changchun to support a new contract for electric vehicle (EV) battery shells with a German premium vehicle automaker, according to the company's press release.

NIO, Szechenyi Istvan University Foundation intend to team up in energy-related key fields

On May 21, NIO signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with the Szechenyi Istvan University Foundation, Szechenyi Istvan University, and the Hungarian Motorsport and Green Mobility Development Agency, according to NIO's press release. This joint research cooperation is based on NIO's battery-swapping technology, focusing on several key areas, including photovoltaic, energy storage and electric vehicle (EV) charging, grid integration and interaction, long-life batteries, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.

GAC AION puts AION Y Plus model onto Malaysian market

On May 21, GAC AION's AION brand made a remarkable appearance at the Malaysia Autoshow 2024, with its popular AION Y Plus model hitting the Malaysian market at the same time, according to a post on GAC AION's WeChat account.

BYD's BD11 double-decker all-electric bus makes world debut in London

On May 21, BYD launched the BD11, a pure electric double-decker bus equipped with the latest generation of Blade Battery-enabled chassis, in London, UK. This event marks a significant step forward in BYD's expansion of its commercial vehicle business overseas.
Lucknow, May 23 : Two men posing as officers of CBI, NIA, and Customs, who had conned a retired Public Works Department official of Rs 30.5 lakh in a case of 'digital house arrest', have been arrested by Lucknow police's Cyber unit, the police said.

"The duo, identified as Rajeev Bhasin, 38, and his aide Mohit Chopra, 36, were arrested from Agra. Police also seized multiple bank chequebooks, SIM cards, phones, Aadhar, PAN, and other cards," said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central, Raveena Tyagi.

According to the police, the men are linked to Cambodian nationals and have duped more than Rs 1.5 crore from innocent people across India, the details of which are being ascertained.

"Efforts are on to reach the foreign fraudsters as well," said Brijesh Kumar Yadav, Station House Officer, Cyber Crime police station.

It was found that "transactions worth Rs 1.68 crore had taken place in the account of the fraudsters from 39 incidents in the country," which include one each from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, six from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, two each from Haryana, Maharashtra, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and three each from Kerala and Karnataka," the police added.

After the February incident, the complainant Niranjan Singh, 73, an Indira Nagar resident of Lucknow, lodged an FIR at the Cyber Crime police station at Vibhuti Khand under Sections of the IT Act and IPC sections 420 (cheating) after which a manhunt was launched to nab the culprits.

Those arrested told the police that they used to open current accounts in the name of fake firms and send the account details to fraudsters sitting abroad on WhatsApp and Telegram.

'Digital arrest' does not exist in law, said the In-charge of Cyber Crime police station in Vibhuti Khand, Brijesh Kumar Yadav, who is also a cyber expert.

The victims are forced to stay visible over Skype or other video conferencing platforms until the demands of the fraudsters are met.
Ottawa, May 23 : Three people, including one teenager, died after being stabbed during a fight in Montreal, Canada, two days ago, local media reported.

According to the report, Montreal police received numerous 911 calls at 7 p.m. on Wednesday about the fight between at least 15 people in an alleyway on Rachel Street between Saint-Andre and Mentana streets in Plateau-Mont-Royal borough.

Police said the suspect or suspects fled the scene before officers arrived and confirmed that the dispute was not related to organised crime or gangs, CTV News reported.

The conflict unfortunately led to the deaths of three people, including a 15-year-old teenager as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

The people who died participated in the conflict, said the report.

There have been seven homicides in Montreal in the last ten days. The deaths have been confirmed as the city's 14th, 15th and 16th homicides, CTV News reported.
Cate Blanchett gets trolled after describing herself as middle class at Cannes. Image Source: IANS News

Los Angeles, May 23 : Hollywood star Cate Blanchett is getting mocked for calling herself "middle class" despite her estimated $95 million fortune.

Los Angeles, May 23 (IANS) Hollywood star Cate Blanchett is getting mocked for calling herself "middle class" despite her estimated $95 million fortune.

The Oscar-winning actress made this statement during a United Nations press conference at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

Talking about her experience as a UN goodwill ambassador and giving refugee filmmakers a platform, she said: "I'm white, I'm privileged, I'm middle class, and I think, you know, one can be accused of having a bit of a white saviour complex, but to be perfectly honest, my interaction with the refugees in the field and also in resettled environments has totally changed my perspective on the world."

Blanchett has been a long-standing activist for humanitarian causes, and she stressed how "utterly grateful" she was for the experience and encouraged others with a platform to create a "dialogue with these people".

She added: "I've met some extraordinary people with extraordinary creative talents and amazing perspectives."

However, this did not go down well with netizens, who immediately started to troll her over the "middle class" claim on social media, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

One said: "You think you're middle class, Cate Blanchett?"

"I love Cate Blanchett, but in what world is she 'middle class', she's been in two major franchises and is worth an estimated $90 million," said another.

A user said: "Under no circumstances is a net worth of $95 million middle class!!!"

There were some who defended the actress, saying she may have meant she was "middle class" compared to billionaire showbiz figures.
Tel Aviv, May 23 : Republican party leader and former US Presidential candidate Nikki Haley will visit Israel next week.

Haley will be accompanied by Danny Danon, an Israel Member of Knesset (MK) who was the ambassador of Israel to the United Nations. Nikki Haley also has served as the ambassador of the United States to the United Nations.

She will tour the Southern Israel areas including Kibbutz Beaeri and Kfar Aza regions which border Gaza and where Hamas killed 1200 people and also kidnapped over 200 people on October 7 last year.

Nikki Haley is against anti-Semitism and has maintained that the treatment of Israel by the UN institutions led to the October 7 attack.

National Security Advisor (NSA) in the Trump administration Robert OaBrien; former US ambassador to the UAE and architect of Abraham Accord John Rakolta; and Ed McMullen former Ambassador of the US to Switzerland, have also visited Israel in the last few days.

The presence of Trumpas close policy advisors and the arrival of Nikki Haley a" the Republican leader and probable running mate of Trump in the Presidential election is an indication that Donald Trump and the Republican party will provide outright support to Israel in the current war.
Tel Aviv, May 23 : Israel War cabinet has approved new guidelines regarding the hostage-ceasefire "indirect" talks with Hamas.

Tel Aviv, May 23 (IANS) Israel War cabinet has approved new guidelines regarding the hostage-ceasefire "indirect" talks with Hamas.

Sources said that the war cabinet has communicated to the negotiating team including Mossad Chief David Barnea and Shin Bet Director, Ronen Bar to continue negotiations for the return of the hostages.

The war cabinet had met urgently after the families of the hostages released footage of the abduction of five female soldiers from Nahal Oz base by Hamas on October 7.

At least 128 hostages are still in Hamas custody.

Egypt, which is a key negotiator in the "indirect" truce talks between Hamas and Israel, has threatened to withdraw from mediation after it was reported that Egypt mishandled the last round of hostage talks which led to the collapse of the negotiations.

"Attempts to cast doubt and offend Egypt's mediation efforts will only lead to further complications of the situation in Gaza and the entire region and may push Egypt to completely withdraw from its mediation in the current conflict," Diaa Rashwan, Head of Egypt's State Information Service said.

It was reported that Cairo had presented two separate proposals to Hamas and Israel. While the one presented to Israel was closer to its demands, another presented to Hamas supported its requirements.

These proposals, according to media reports, had infuriated the CIA Director, William Burns who was one of the main coordinators in the negotiation talks.
Chennai, May 23 : Tamil Nadu forest department has begun undertaking a massive synchronised survey of elephants in coordination with other four states.

The census will be conducted for three days from Thursday.

The survey is being undertaken in five south Indian states, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

The elephant census for the year 2024 was to commence on May 17 but after Kerala expressed some difficulties and requested a one-week extension, the exercise was postponed.

In Tamil Nadu, the elephant census would be conducted in Coimbatore, Erode, Nilgiris, Dharmapuri, Hosur, Vellore, Tiruvanamalai, Megamalai, Srivilliputhur, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari.

The state forest department officials told IANS that around 300 forest staff and volunteers are participating in the census.

According to a senior Tamil Nadu forest department official, a team of four to five members would be deputed to cover a region of around 15 km and they would walk through this region from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The team will assess the age and sex of the elephants directly.

The team would also find out whether the elephant has any external injuries, its tusk size, and the number of Makhna (tuskless male elephants) present.

The members will assess the elephant dung and differentiate between the elephants. The team will also study the elephant's behaviour and movements.

In the 2023 synchronized elephant census in Tamil Nadu forests, 2961 elephants were identified which was 200 more than the earlier census which recorded 2,761 elephants.

The 2023 elephant census was held from May 17 to May 19. The states would be releasing the list of elephants in each state together.
New Delhi, May 23 : Bibbojaan aka Aditi Rao Hydari is delighted to be part of the L'Oreal Paris family at the Cannes Film Festival. The actress who shone in her latest performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi, knows her appearance is eagerly anticipated at the world's most glamorous red carpet. IANSlife spoke to the actress about her role in the Netflix series, her Cannes outing and her association with the cosmetic giant.

Read Excerpts:

Many Indian celebrities have taken a turn on the Cannes red carpet, what do you believe it requires to create a fashion statement that endures?

ARH: Representing L'Oreal Paris at Cannes is a significant honour for me. L'Oreal Paris has been the official partner of the Cannes Film Festival for 27 years. As a spokesperson for L'Oreal Paris, I feel a great responsibility, but I also believe I align with their brand philosophy, which emphasizes self-worth and confidence. Finding confidence from within, being comfortable with your uniqueness, and being authentic are qualities that make a lasting impression.

To me, that's what matters most, whether in fashion, work or just being yourself. It's about being authentic and enjoying the process. Making an appearance can be daunting and nerve-wracking, but I remind myself that it's a beautiful opportunity and part of my journey to truly feel worthy.

Can you tell us about your association with L'OrAal Paris and what values of the brand make it a suitable alignment?

ARH: To me, it is a tremendous honour to serve as the spokesperson for a legacy brand like L'Oreal Paris. This brand embodies not just external beauty but also the inner beauty that stems from confidence and self-assurance. Representing beauty with confidence is what makes L'Oreal Paris truly special. The alignment of countless women with the brand's philosophy speaks volumes. For me, this partnership has been seamless and something I've always aspired to. Being the face of this brand is a moment of pride for me, and I hope my association with L'Oreal Paris continues.

What are the inspirations behind your looks for the Cannes 2024 season?

ARH: Well, look number one is out of the bag and the rest will be revealed in real time. You know, and there's a time for it to be out and it's nice for it to come out when it should come up.

Your recent performance in Heeramandi has been lauded as one of your besta Do you believe the director and producer play a pivotal role in bringing out the best in the actor?

ARH: There are six leads, and I'm one of them, and all of us have been appreciated a lot. I'm so overwhelmed that, you know, Bibbojaan has been called a standout performance, it's also a very beautiful character. And every heroic character arc, I think has touched a chord with people and resonated and connected, and I'm very, very grateful for that. I do believe I'm a director's actor, and I credit Sanjay Leela Bhansali, completely for creating the Bibbojaan journey, which has challenged and nurtured me. So all the praise that I'm getting and all the credit that I'm getting, I credit him for it.

What aspects of Bibbojaan do you believe capture the essence of the L'OrAal woman?

ARH: I think that she's very comfortable with being who she is. She stands for what she believes in. Despite her circumstances. I think that makes it very beautiful from within. I also think the Bibbojaan is a perfect combination of fire and grace. She is beautiful. In every way, she's kind, she's generous, she's loving, sheas loyal, but there's a fire in her, a fire towards a higher purpose, which makes her stand up for any kind of injustice and that makes her live a life of purpose with complete fearlessness. She's actually a very relevant modern woman who I think we can all relate to.

Your personal favourite products from L'OrAal Paris to achieve an iconic look, and more.

ARH: The first thing starts with a great base with very good skin skin. So I use the hyaluronic acid from L'Oreal Paris, I love it. I use it a lot on my skin. I literally bathe in it because I think it's very good for hydration and it keeps my skin very supple and bouncy and then you know you can put a very light I like like my skin to shine through so I don't do a lot of good prep for my skin.

I also feel you know something that can take you from the girl next door to glam is the L'Oreal Paris infallible resistance liquid lipstick, I always have it in my bag. It's a great formula, it's got incredible pigment and it just doesn't move from your lips. It just stays, so there's no transfer to glasses and stuff like that. You know, when I'm on the go, the event days are long the interview days are long days. So I really I mean I think it's really amazing lipstick and I really think the great formulation that they've come up with these are the two things that are my favourite and that I really count on when it comes to makeup.

Can you share expectations about the Cannes Film Festival 2024 in one sentence?

ARH: Me being in Cannes is a legacy and it's the home of cinema and it's magical; it's like being in Wonderland.

N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in
Amaravati, May 23 : Police placed leaders of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) under house arrest on Thursday to foil their 'Chalo Macherla' programme to protest against YSR Congress Party resorting to violence during polling and subsequent days.

Amaravati, May 23 (IANS) Police placed leaders of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) under house arrest on Thursday to foil their aChalo Macherlaa programme to protest against YSR Congress Party resorting to violence during polling and subsequent days.

The TDP has given a call for aChalo Macherlaa to meet victims of the alleged violence by Macherla sitting MLA Pinneli Ramakrishna Reddy of YSRCP.

However, police denied the permission for the protest and placed TDP leaders under house arrest.

Palnadu district Superintendent of Police Mallika Garg announced that there is no permission for the aChalo Macherlaa programme.

Police personnel reached the houses of some key TDP leaders in the morning to prevent them from leaving for Macherla.

TDP leaders Nakka Anand Babu and K. Srinivasa Rao were placed under house arrest in Guntur.

Former minister Devineni Uma was stopped from leaving his house in Gollapudi. Similarly, TDP politburo member Varla Ramaiah was kept under house arrest in Vijayawada.

TDP candidate from Macherla Assembly constituency, Julakanti Brahmananda Reddy remains under house arrest since the polling on May 13.

The constituency witnessed several incidents of poll-related violence. On the polling day, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were damaged at seven places.

YSRCPas Ramakrishna Reddy, who is seeking re-election for a fifth consecutive term, damaged EVM in one of the polling booths. After the video of the incident went viral on Tuesday, police booked a case and launched a hunt for him as the Election Commission of India ordered his immediate arrest.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On May 21, NIO signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with the Szechenyi Istvan University Foundation, Szechenyi Istvan University, and the Hungarian Motorsport and Green Mobility Development Agency, according to NIO ' s press release. This joint research cooperation is based on NIO's battery-swapping technology, focusing on several key areas, including photovoltaic, energy storage and electric vehicle (EV) charging, grid integration and interaction, long-life batteries, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.

Photo credit: NIO

The collaboration aims to promote exchanges between young scholars and NIO, jointly apply for European research projects, and innovate in, test, and apply products to foster Sino-Hungarian and Sino-European green cooperation, said NIO.

The Szechenyi Istvan University Foundation was established by the Hungarian government in 2021. Its affiliated Szechenyi Istvan University, located in Gyor, Hungary, is a leading higher education institution known for its innovation and academic excellence. In recent years, the university has deepened its cooperation with globally renowned companies, significantly increasing its investment in R&D in the transportation field and having achieved outstanding results.

Marton Nagy, Hungarian Minister for National Economy, praised NIO's advanced product technology and its achievements in China's high-end pure electric market. The minister emphasized Hungary's support for electrification and sustainable development. This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Hungary, and Hungary will further deepen cooperation with China in the new energy vehicle industry. He added Hungary is actively formulating policies to promote electrification both nationally and across Europe, with a focus on developing new energy vehicle energy replenishment infrastructure and the sustainable utilization of batteries.

Zhang Hui, Vice President of NIO Europe, expressed that NIO highly values its cooperation with Hungary. Since establishing a pragmatic and open cooperative relationship in 2022, the signing of this new memorandum is expected to drive the high-quality and rapid development of the Sino-Hungarian automotive industry. By accelerating the implementation of NIO's advanced energy replenishment technology and business concepts in Hungary, NIO aims to create more research positions in the Hungarian automotive and energy industries, helping both countries achieve their climate goals.

To enhance the efficiency of its energy layout and services in the European market, NIO officially began constructing its NIO Energy European Plant in Pest, Hungary, in July 2022, and rolled off the first battery swapping station in the same year. This is NIO's first battery swapping station factory in Europe and serves as NIO's manufacturing, R&D, and service center for its energy products in Europe.
New Delhi, May 23 : Fintech platform ProsParity on Thursday said that it raised $2 million in a pre-seed funding round from global institutional investors such as BEENEXT, Sparrow Capital, All In Capital, DeVC, and Huddle Ventures.

Other investors such as Dr Ashish Gupta (Co-founder of Junglee & Helion Ventures), Raj Dugar (Ex-Eight Roads Ventures), Dhyanesh Shah (Co-founder of Mosaic Wellness), Abhishek Goyal (Co-founder of Tracxn) and Nitin Kaushal (Co-founder of Country Delight) also participated in this round.

"ProsParity's technology platform and omni channel presence coupled with our experienced team and lender network will help evolve and grow the nascent EV financing landscape in India," Saurabh Khodke, CEO and Co-founder of ProsParity, said in a statement.

According to the company, the funds raised will be used for building proof of concept, technology, and expanding origination networks, starting with Central India.

"The founding teamas mission focusses, in the long-term, on creating a level playing field between EVs and ICE vehicles by democratising access to finance for not just customers, but also the dealers," said Anirudh Garg, Partner at BEENEXT.

ProsParity is also building a comprehensive partnership network across Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Fleet Operators, Dealerships, and Lenders.

To democratise financing for EVs in the mass market, the company said that it aims to achieve an Asset Under Management (AUM) of Rs 100 crore within the next two years by serving the market at large and new-to-credit customers.

As per NITI Aayog, the size of the annual loan market for EVs in the country is projected to hit Rs 3.7 lakh crore in 2030.
Kalaburagi : , May 23 (IANS) Taking objection to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah writing repeatedly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the cancellation of the Diplomatic Passport of the prime accused in the sex videos case and absconding JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi stated that there are established procedures for the cancellation of passports.

Speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi, Joshi stated, "A petition has already been submitted to the court for the cancellation of the Diplomatic Passport. The central government is initiating action. There is a procedure to bring back those who have fled to foreign countries. The central government is ready to extend cooperation to the state government. If they expect the passport to be cancelled immediately after writing a letter, how is that possible?"

Joshi questioned, "Let CM Siddaramaiah, Dy CM DK Shivakumar, and Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara answer my question. The pen drive connected to the Prajwal Revanna case emerged on April 21. However, he went to a foreign country on April 27. What was the state government doing until then?"

"No action was taken until the election was over, fearing it would affect the Vokkaliga vote bank," Joshi alleged.

"The sex video scandal is a serious case. Prajwal Revanna should face the investigation. If he has committed offenses, stern action needs to be taken. There is no question of sympathy for Prajwal Revanna at all," Joshi clarified.

Joshi further accused the state government of focusing more on politics than on conducting an investigation.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi yet again on Wednesday, requesting the cancellation of the Diplomatic Passport of the accused JD(S) MP from Hassan, Prajwal Revanna, along with prompt and concerted actions to secure his return to India.

"The FIR against Prajwal Revanna contains charges of rape, sexual assault, disrobing women, and forcibly videographing sexual acts to threaten the victims," CM Siddaramaiah underlined.
Farah Khan reveals her hubby Shirish Kunder is boss at home, where she's 'very polite'. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, May 23 : Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan has spilled the beans on who wears the pants in the family and how it's a role reversal at home with her husband, Shirish Kunder, being the boss.

Farah appeared along with senior actor Anil Kapoor on the new episode of 'The Great Indian Kapil Show', hosted by comedian Kapil Sharma.

During the conversation, Farah revealed that at home, her husband-filmmaker and film editor Shirish, is the more talkative one.

Kapil asks Farah what the situation is like at home with Shirish, saying, "When she is the director, she scolds everyone. The audience wanted to know this. Have you ever scolded Shirish at home?"

Farah replies, "It's the opposite for me. Shirish is the boss in the house. He doesn't speak when he is out. At home, he speaks so much that all of us hide behind the couch. Thinking that he'll come and start giving us lectures. So at home, I am very calm, and polite."

'The Great Indian Kapil Show' airs on Saturday at 8 p.m. on Netflix.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 23 : Amid stiff opposition from the Congress-led opposition, a Kerala Assembly committee with majority members from the ruling CPI(M)-led Left has given the nod for the opening of pubs at the IT parks in the state.

According to sources, the model code of conduct will end on June 6 after which the state government will give the green signal for the opening of pubs at IT parks.

Across the state, there are now three major IT parks at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode besides two smaller ones at Kollam and another one in Ernakulam district.

To start with, each park will have one pub and it can be run by the promoter (which is the state-run society who are the promoters of these IT parks) or anyone given the sanction to run it by the promoter.

Senior Congress legislator Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who was part of the Assembly committee, said they strongly opposed this suggestion.

"Now they say there will be one pub in each IT park and you just wait and see, very soon it will be one pub in each IT firm and several restaurants are already functioning inside these IT parks. They will also be keen to open these. The result will be that for the young generation of professionals working in these parks, it might not be good. We will oppose this inside and outside the Assembly," said Radhakrishnan.

He said since the ruling Left Front had a majority in the committee, they got the proposal passed.

It has been decided to levy an annual fee of Rs 20 lakh from each promoter when they apply for the pubs.

Various IT organisations have been demanding leisure facilities in IT parks for several years now. The demand for a pub was first made to the Oommen Chandy government but was shot down fearing protests.

Across Kerala, there are over one lakh IT professionals who work in these parks.
Bengaluru, May 23 : Authorities have sounded a high alert following an email bomb threat to a luxury hotel in the heart of the tech corridor, adjacent to a technology park housing many IT companies in Electronics City, Bengaluru.

According to police sources, the email claimed that the bomb would explode in the wee hours of Wednesday at around 2 A.M.

The threatening email was discovered on Thursday morning when the hotel staff opened the official email account.

The staff immediately reported the threat to the Electronics City Police Station.

The police rushed to the spot with bomb disposal and search squads and conducted a thorough search of the hotel, and confirmed that it was a hoax threat.

However, the police department has taken the development seriously and begun an investigation.

Recently, bomb threats were made to prestigious schools in Bengaluru, raising concerns among parents and the authorities.

Following the Rameshwaram cafe bomb blast and the arrest of suspected bombers who revealed that they wanted to target software companies and techies in Bengaluru, the authorities have become increasingly vigilant.
Guwahati, May 23 : Two policemen were suspended and an inquiry was initiated into the alleged death of a man in police custody in Assam's North Lakhimpur district, officials said on Thursday.

Arbash Ali, 42, allegedly died in police custody after he was taken into custody on the suspicion of stealing mobile phones in the South Chandmari locality in the North Lakhimpur district.

According to police, he was running a mobile phone theft racket in the area. Police said that Ali fell ill after he was brought to the Khelmati police outpost and passed away on Thursday.

Assam DGP G.P. Singh ordered an investigation into the matter and two policemen, including the In-Charge of Khelmati police outpost were suspended.

Taking to his X handle, the DGP Singh, "Reference death in police custody at Khelmati OP District North Lakhimpur - IC of Khelmati OP has been placed under suspension along with on duty sentry at time of incident."

"Independent Inquiry has been ordered by Addl SP Biswanath and all mandatory provisions of law & directions of NHRC/AHRC are being followed," he added.

Meanwhile, locals protested against outside the police outpost and demanded a punishment for the offenders. The DGP directed a DIG-level police officer to rush to the Khelmati police outpost to bring the situation under control.
New Delhi, May 23 : Oncologists on Thursday supported the Drug Controller General of India's (DCGI) mandate to state authorities to withdraw AstraZeneca's anticancer generic drug Olaparib over safety concerns.

Olaparib is a chemotherapy drug and is used to treat certain kinds of cancers of the ovaries, breasts, pancreas and the prostate.

In a letter dated May 16, Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, DCGI, wrote to state drug regulators to discontinue marketing AstraZeneca's Olaparib tablets (100mg and 150mg) sold as Lynparza, due to potential adverse effects on some patients who have received three or more prior lines of chemotherapy.

According to health experts, the drug led to a shorter survival rate in some cancer patients.

The DCGI move comes after clinical studies by AstraZeneca Pharma India also supported its withdrawal in specific cases.

"This decision of withdrawing the use of Olaparib as monotherapy in patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated advanced ovarian cancer who have been treated with three or more prior lines of chemotherapy is justified," Dr. Abhishek Shankar, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital at AIIMS, Delhi, told IANS.

The oncologist noted that "patients who were taking Olaparib potentially had a shorter overall survival than patients not on Olaparib, particularly in the subgroup analysis of patients who had received three or more lines of chemotherapy.

"So its use for this indication was withdrawn by the US FDA on March 26, so this order will certainly restrict the use of a drug which is found to be not efficacious for this indication."

Olaparib was first approved by DCGI in 2018 for patients with gBRCA mutations (breast cancer) and advanced ovarian cancer, especially those who have undergone multiple chemotherapy treatments.

Dr. Shyam Aggarwal, Chairman, Medical Oncology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told IANS that Olaparib aided in "better ovary cancer control and long-term survival advantage" in patients with advanced ovarian cancer with BRCA mutation or HRD positive who have achieved "a response with chemotherapy in the first and second line of treatment".

Now Olaparib's use in third-line chemotherapy in metastatic ovary has been withdrawn.

"Olaparib remains available for all other indications at the same price. Olaparib is also approved for BRCA mutant breast cancer in adjuvant and metastatic settings. The drug is also approved in BRCA mutant advanced prostate and pancreas cancer," he added.
Chandigarh, May 23 : Hours ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first election rally in Punjab's Patiala on Thursday, hundreds of protesting farmers, who have assembled at the Shambhu border since February 13, have started moving towards the PM's venue to lodge their protest.

The PM will campaign in support of BJP candidate Preneet Kaur.

The farmers, under the banners of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), have been demanding the release of three farmers who were arrested by Haryana Police during the 'Delhi Chalo' protests at the Shambu border.

The farmers from Punjab and Haryana have assembled at Shambhu -- the boundary between Punjab and Haryana -- and other border points to mark the completion of 100 days of the ongoing protest to press the Centre to accept their demands, which includes a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal has said farmers will show black flags to PM Modi when he visits Punjab for campaigning. A decision in this regard was taken at a rally organised by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM).

Taking the cause of protesting farmers, a day earlier Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in his first election rally in Haryana's Mahendragarh said, "The farmers of Haryana work in the fields of the country; the Modi government snatched away your rights and abolished the Land Tribunal Bill to help the billionaires; then three (farm) laws came, but the government had to step back."

The Congress leader accused PM Modi of waiving off the loan of Rs 16 lakh crore of a few capitalists. "If Narendra Modi can waive off the loan of Rs 16 lakh crore of a few capitalists of the country, then the Congress will waive off the farmers' loans. The amount of money that Narendra Modi gave to the billionaires, we will give that much money to the farmers, labourers and the poor of the country."

Without mincing words, he stated, "Modi-ji has said that waiving off farmers' loans will ruin the habits of farmers. Does loan waiver only ruin the habits of farmers, not those of billionaires? If waiving off farmers' loans and improving their lives is 'breaking a habit', then we will do this not just once but repeatedly."

Meanwhile, heavy security has been deployed at PM Modi's election rally to prevent untoward incidents.
New Delhi, May 23 : The Delhi High Court has discharged a lawyer suffering from "acute behavioural issues" in a suo motu criminal contempt case and has asked the Bar Council of Delhi to assess his fitness to continue practicing law.

New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) The Delhi High Court has discharged a lawyer suffering from "acute behavioural issues" in a suo motu criminal contempt case and has asked the Bar Council of Delhi to assess his fitness to continue practicing law.

The division bench, headed by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and also comprising Justice Manoj Jain, noted that the lawyer exhibited frustration for reasons known only to him, had very poor vision, and was unable to read or write.

Due to his medical condition, the court decided against taking coercive action for the disrespect shown to the court. The bench discharged the lawyer with a cautionary note, reminding him to maintain court decorum in any future appearances.

"We direct the Registry to communicate this order to the Bar Council of Delhi, who shall direct the respondent/contemnor to appear before the Council and assess whether he is fit to continue in this profession," the court stated.

The suo motu criminal contempt case was initiated in 2021 following a contempt reference from an Additional District Judge. The lawyer had disrupted court proceedings by shouting, referring to the judge disrespectfully, and using informal language.

During the High Court proceedings, the lawyer's counsel presented medical records from Ashray Psychiatric Clinic and Rehabilitation Home, IHBAS, and AIIMS, confirming his treatment for behavioural issues.

The court acknowledged the lawyer's long-standing career, noting he had been enrolled since 1984 and was now in his sixties. It said that as an advocate, he is expected to uphold the dignity of the court.

--IANS

spr/dan
Kolkata, May 23 : The Criminal Investigation (CID) of West Bengal Police detained a cab driver on Thursday in connection with the mysterious death of Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim who was residing in a rented flat in a posh residential complex in New Town, Kolkata.

Azim, a three-time MP in Bangladesh, was missing for the last eight days. He came to Kolkata for some medical treatment purposes on May 12 and initially, had put up at the residence of his long associate and friend in the city Gopal Biswas at Baranagar.

However, on May 14 he went out of Biswasas residence and informed the latter that he would be returning the same day.

State police sources said he went missing since then and his mobile phone was also switched off.

Sources aware of the development said the investigating CID sleuths got specific information that on May 14, the deceased Bangladesh MP reached the posh residential complex at New Town from Baranagar through an app-cab. Both the cab and its driver, sources said, have been identified from the footage of the CCTV cameras installed at the New Town residential complex. Hence, the CI sleuths detained the cab driver to get more details on this count.

CID sleuths have also got CCTV footage of some people leaving the housing complex by the same cab. The driver is being questioned on which number the cab was booked and where those people were dropped off, said sources.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On May 23, Tesla officially broke ground on its Shanghai Megafactory in the Lin-gang Special Area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, according to a report from Xinhua news agency. This is Tesla ' s first Megafactory project outside of the United States, marking what the company describes as a "new chapter in China."

Photo credit: Official WeChat account of Administration of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lin-gang Special Area

In its initial phase, the project plans to produce 10,000 units of large-scale commercial energy storage systems (namely, Megapack) annually, with a storage capacity of nearly 40 GWh. Mass production is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025.

Following the groundbreaking ceremony, Lingang Group and Tesla signed an agreement for China ' s first order of Tesla Megapack.

During a recent visit to China, Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed a desire for deeper cooperation with China to achieve more mutually beneficial outcomes.

According to the Administration of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lin-gang Special Area, the Tesla Shanghai Megafactory will cover an area of approximately 200,000 square meters with a total investment of about 1.45 billion RMB. Ms. Tao Lin, Vice President of Tesla, stated, "The importance of the energy storage business to Tesla is now on par with its well-known electric vehicles."

The Shanghai Megafactory plans to export products to overseas markets, including the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to a global "green future." Currently, Tesla ' s energy storage products are sold in over 65 countries and regions worldwide.

The Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory, completed in 2019, is widely regarded as a model of Sino-American industrial and technological cooperation.

Ms. Tao Lin said China not only has a complete industrial system, broad market prospects, and a resilient economy but also provides a high-quality business environment that is crucial for enterprises.
New Delhi, May 23 : About 85 per cent of Indian professionals are optimistic about promotions, career changes and salary hikes in 2024, a new report showed on Thursday.

According to the online boot camp for digital skills Simplilearn, about 45 per cent of professionals said that they need to upskill to leverage new opportunities in their company or desired field.

"A staggering 65 per cent of respondents are engaged in online certification courses, with 97 per cent affirming that upskilling will significantly augment their career prospects by 2024," said Kashyap Dalal, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Simplilearn.

"These statistics underscore the criticality of upskilling, particularly in burgeoning fields such as data science, AI, and cybersecurity, which are poised to flourish in today's digital economy," he added.

The survey has been conducted among professionals from diverse industries, geographical locations, and career stages.

Among those seeking to upskill, 65 per cent preferred enrolling in part-time online programmes or courses, emphasising the importance of flexible learning options.

Data science and business analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, programme and project management, cloud computing and DevOps, cyber security, product management, and software development emerged as the most sought-after skills among professionals, the report found.
Bhopal, May 23 : After elections in all 29 Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh concluded on May 13, preparations for vote counting, which is scheduled for June 4, have begun.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anupam Rajan is visiting the strong rooms in different Lok Sabha constituencies in the state for the inspection.

On Thursday, the CEO visited the counting rooms, assembly-wise, and reviewed the preparations. Necessary guidelines have also been issued for inspecting the security arrangements and the monitoring of the strong rooms through CCTV.

District election in-charges have also been directed to review preparations and submit reports to the CEO.

Meanwhile, the Congress and the BJP are also preparing for the counting.

MP Congress leadership has called for a meeting in Bhopal on Thursday, during which the party's polling agents will be given training.

As the state BJP leadership is busy campaigning for the remaining two phases, a meeting of polling agents will be called in the coming days.

Last week, the state Congress leadership held a meeting with all Lok Sabha candidates to take stock of the situation in each constituency. The meeting was chaired by MP unit head Jitu Patwari and the state in-charge, Bhanwar Jitendra Singh.

Notably, in the previous two general elections, the BJP had won 27 (2014) and 28 (2019) out of 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh. The Congress in the last election could only win Chhindwara.
Bengaluru, May 23 : The blood samples of two popular Telugu actors, who attended a rave party in a farmhouse here on May 20, have tested positive for drug consumption, police sources said on Thursday

Among the 98 blood samples collected from the participants in the rave party held at G.M. Farmhouse in Singena Agrahara near Electronics City in Bengaluru, the reports confirmed drug consumption by 86 people, sources said.

Police sources confirmed that more than 50 men and close to 30 women tested positive for drug consumption. The special wing of CCB police sleuths is preparing to send notices to these individuals and call them in for questioning.

One of the actresses had made a video in Bengaluru claiming that she was in Hyderabad and denying her presence at the rave party. However, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda later stated that the popular Telugu actress was indeed present at the rave party where drugs were seized.

Another popular Telugu actress admitted that she attended the party but claimed she did not know what was happening inside and asked people to support her.

The police raided the rave party on May 20, titled aSunset to Sunrise Victory,a which was attended by around 100 people, including techies, Telugu actors, and others. MDMA, cocaine, hydro ganja, and other substances were allegedly used by those who attended the party. The police seized narcotic substances from the farmhouse.

The Karnataka Police, probing the case, were also investigating the possibility of a sex racket operating alongside the supply of drugs.

Five individuals were arrested in the case, and the police department transferred the investigation from the Electronics City Police Station to the Narcotics Wing of the City Central Crime Branch (CCB).

Home Minister G. Parameshwara said that the government aims to make Karnataka a drug-free state and will not tolerate rave parties. He warned that students who come to Karnataka for studies and engage in drug consumption and trafficking are being monitored and will be sent back to their states.
Mumbai, May 23 : The Indian Army's Central Ordnance Depot (COD) in Mumbai's Kandivali has objected to a deluxe private housing project coming up in its vicinity, initiated by the realty major Godrej Properties Ltd., called 'Godrej Reserve'.

Taking a grim view, the COD authorities have shot off a missive to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to immediately issue a 'Stop Work Notice' to GPL for its upcoming luxury building project on Akurli Road, barely a from the Kandivali East railway station in north-west Mumbai suburb.

In a letter the BMC dated May 15 -- accessed by IANS -- the COD top brass has pointed out that the GPL's Godrej Reserve project plot is located at a distance of around 250 metres -- or within the restricted 500 metres zone -- from the boundary wall of the sensitive military establishment.

The COD letter to the BMC Executive Engineer, (Building Proposals), has said that as per the Centre's rules of May 2011, all construction activities are banned within a 100-metre radius of a defence establishment perimeter wall.

Moreover, construction of buildings up to a maximum of ground-plus-three floors is permitted only within 100-500 metres distance after obtaining a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Defence Department.

"Resultantly, any construction activity within 500 metres radius from the perimeter wall of army establishment without obtaining NOC from the Defence Department is contrary to the existing rule as envisaged in the above guidelines. Hence the construction by the private builder (GPL) is an unambiguous violation of government orders/guidelines and is therefore illegal," the COD asserted.

The COD called upon the BMC to forthwith serve a Stop Work Notice, to the concerned builder (GPL), in order to avoid any legal complications at a later stage.

It has also asked the BMC to provide all details and documents of the project like the Commencement Certificate, IOD, copy of the approved development plan, etc., for the COD's records.

Defence sources in Mumbai said that all such notices for NOC issues pertaining to defence establishments are dealt with as per the Centre's clear guidelines of last year.

When contacted, a BMC official declined to comment on the sensitive matter involving a defence department and a prominent private realtor.

A Godrej official said that so far they have not received any notice from the BMC or any other department and would comment after they get any communication.

Last month, the GPL launched its prestigious project proposing at least three towers of around 52 floors each, with car parks, eco-friendly initiatives and other amenities in salubrious green surroundings, adjacent to the Western Express Highway.

Termed its most successful launch ever in Mumbai -- within 15 months of acquiring the lands -- in terms of the value and volumes of sales achieved, the GPL said it had sold more than 800 flats worth around Rs 2,700 crore, with a total area of around 1.5 million sq. feet, in the Godrej Reserve project.

Offering 3-BHK and 4-BHK luxury flats starting from a minimum of Rs 2.35 crore per (small) flat, the project on around 18 acres of land, is slated for completion by mid-2030.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Sant Kabir Nagar : , May 23 (IANS) Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, on Thursday said that the Congress would not win more than 40 seats while the SP will have difficulty in winning even four seats.

Addressing a poll rally in Sant Kabir Nagar he said, "They are aware that in the five phases of the elections, the BJP has already won 310 seats and will cross the 400 mark in the remaining two phases."

Taking a swipe at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, the senior BJP leader added that the two "shehzade" have already decided to take a vacation after June 4.

HM Shah said that for the INDIA bloc members, their families were restricted to their children, but for PM Modi, the over 140 crore Indians were his family.

"Lalu Yadav wants to make his son the chief minister. The same applies to Uddhav Thackeray and Stalin while Sharad Pawar is eyeing a post for his daughter and Mamata Banerjee wants her nephew to become chief minister. Sonia Gandhi wants to see Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister," he said.

He claimed that the PM had not taken even a single day's leave in the last 23 years of being in power in various positions.

"Now you know the difference. Hum kahan jayenge, yahin jiyenge, yahin marenge (where will we go, we will live and die here)," he said.

HM Shah claimed that the INDIA bloc was a congregation of corrupt elements who had done a scam worth Rs 12 lakh crore.

"But there is not a blot on the character of Modi," he pointed out.

Listing the welfare schemes launched by the Modi government, HM Shah said that the BJP had fulfilled the demand for 'One rank, One pension' by the armed forces.

"During the Samajwadi regime, criminals were indulging in extortion, land grabbing, kidnappings etc. But when the Yogi Adityanath government came to power, he turned all such elements upside down," he said.

Referring to the quota issue, the HM said that the West Bengal High Court had already struck down reservation that was given illegally.

"I promise you that there will be no cut in the quota of SCs/STs and OBCs to favour Muslims. It is the INDIA bloc members who want to appease their vote bank," he added.
Hyderabad, May 23 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on Thursday condemned the murder of its leader Sridhar Reddy in Telangana's Wanaparthy district and accused the ruling Congress party of practising 'politics of murder'.

Sridhar Reddy was killed by unidentified persons in Lakshmipally village of Chinnambavi Mandal. BRS leader T. Harish Rao conveyed deep condolences to the family of Sridhar Reddy.

He alleged that two BRS leaders were killed in the Kolhapur constituency alone within five months of the Congress government coming to power.

He said there have been attacks on BRS leaders and activists in many places. Sating that there is no room for politics of murder in a democracy, the former minister said such attacks will not deter BRS from raising its voice on peopleas issues.

He assured the BRS cadres that the party would stand by them. The BRS leader demanded an immediate investigation into politically motivated killings and strict punishment of the accused.

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao along with other BRS leaders left for Wanaparthy district to console the family of Sridhar Reddy.

BRS Nagarkurnool MP candidate and former IPS officer R.S. Praveen Kumar alleged that the latest murder took place just 10 days after the party complained to the Director General of Police that there was a grave threat to the lives of BRS leaders.

He alleged that the murders were taking place with the encouragement from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Minister Jupally Krishna Rao. He demanded the sacking of Krishna Rao from the Cabinet.
Islamabad, May 23 : A grand opposition alliance is in the making in Pakistan which plans to "topple" the coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by holding massive rallies, protest sit-ins and forming a combined joint resistance.

Islamabad, May 23 (IANS) A grand opposition alliance is in the making in Pakistan which plans to "topple" the coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by holding massive rallies, protest sit-ins and forming a combined joint resistance.

The current government, formed after the February 8 elections, has been on thin ice as political instability in the country remains a damaging constant.

Important meetings have already begun between the top leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which is the largest opposition party in the National Assembly under the umbrella of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), and formidable Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F).

The opposition plans to assert pressure on the government to call an early election in the country.

Interestingly, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman was the Chairman of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an opposition coalition alliance of political parties, which joined hands against the then-ruling government of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and later ensured his ouster through a successful no-confidence vote in the parliament.

Fazlur Rehman has accused PTI and Imran Khan of being funded by India and Israel, accusing party leaders of being foreign agents who were working to spread chaos and instability in Pakistan.

On the other hand, PTI and its Chief Imran Khan have labelled Fazlur Rehman as "diesel" and "maulana diesel" during various political rallies and campaigns in the past.

However, with both sides sitting in the opposition benches now, it seems that they have buried their differences and joined hands to "topple" the ruling government.

Experts believe that a stronger opposition alliance can make life difficult for the Sharif government which is already facing massive criticism due to the charges of manipulation and deliberate rigging taking place during the February elections.

Sources said that the opposition parties including PTI and JUI-F are gearing up to start an anti-government campaign by holding rallies, protests and multiple long marches towards the capital Islamabad.

It is believed that Imran Khan has also called on his party leadership to start a campaign of protest rallies across the country.

As the opposition parties join hands, top PTI leadership, including Imran Khan, has also started to get some relief in its ongoing legal cases.

Khan has given a call to his leaders, who have been hiding for a long time, to come out and join consultations on the formation of an opposition alliance.

Analysts say that the current situation and the ongoing open war between the country's judiciary and establishment work massively in Khan's favour.
New Delhi, May 23 : With generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) emerging as a top-of-mind priority for businesses, over 80 per cent of Indian enterprises are planning to invest in GenAI within the next 1-2 years, a new report said on Thursday.

New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) With generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) emerging as a top-of-mind priority for businesses, over 80 per cent of Indian enterprises are planning to invest in GenAI within the next 1a"2 years, a new report said on Thursday.

According to Bain & Company and Meta report, most large companies are planning to invest in delivering end-to-end journeys via GenAI-powered conversational platforms.

About 70 per cent of large enterprises are already engaging with more than 50 per cent of their customer base using conversational platforms, especially in marketing and promotion-centric use cases, followed by customer service and transaction updates.

Over 60 per cent are planning to boost spending on conversational platforms over the next 3-4 years.

"We are seeing a growing user preference for leveraging conversational platforms for daily tasks, along with increased spending and investment by businesses in GenAI to enhance end-to-end journeys on these platforms," said Arpan Sheth, Partner, Bain & Company.

The report is based on a survey of both consumers and businesses. It provided insights into conversational journeys for organisations, small businesses and digital users.

According to the report, the impact of conversational platforms will not be limited only to large companies.

About 90 per cent of non-savvy digital users choose to interact with SMBs via conversational platforms for day-to-day needs.

"The coming decade presents a unique opportunity for technology, particularly generative AI, to revolutionise how businesses of all sizes operate," said Sandhya Devanathan, Head and VP, Meta in India.

In addition, the report mentioned that 70 per cent of users prefer to connect with local grocery stores to send a list of items and place an order.
TN CB-CID to take over probe in Congress leader's death case. Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, May 23 : The Crime Branch-CID of the Tamil Nadu Police has taken over the investigation into the mysterious death of Tirunelveli East District Congress president, K.P.K. Jeyakumar Dhanasingh.

The charred remains of the senior Congress leader were found on May 4 in his farmland at Karaichuthpudur village which was nearer to his residence.

His son Jiffrin had petitioned the Uravi police station that his father had been missing since May 2.

Jeyakumaras half-burnt body was found with hands and legs tied with steel wire and his mouth stuffed with a cleaning scrubber. A stone was also laid on his body.

Jeyakumar had earlier written a letter to the Tirunelveli District Superintendent of Police, N. Silambarasan stating that he had got threats to his life and some senior Congress leaders who owed him money were conspiring to eliminate him.

Senior Congress leaders, including former Tamil Nadu Congress President, K.V. Thangabalu and Nanguneri MLA Ruby Manoharan were questioned by the police on the basis of the letter.

Thangabalu and Ruby Manoharan told the media that they were not involved in any financial transaction with Jeyakumar and that they were closely associated during the elections to the Tirunelveli Lok Sabha seat.
Chennai, May 23 : The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Police to produce all documents pertaining to the detention of YouTuber and whistleblower 'Savukku' Shankar under the stringent Goondas Act.

A vacation bench of the Madras High Court comprising Justice G.R. Swaminathan and Justice P.B. Balaji passed the direction after a petition was filed by A. Kamala, the mother of Shankar, who prayed before the court to quash the charges against her son under the Goondas Act.

She also claimed that Shankar is suffering from serious health issues following his alleged custodial torture.

Kamala said in her petition that her son had exposed various scams involving politicians and bureaucrats, and stood up against the failures of the state government.

The petitioner also informed the court that the detention of her son shows the "vengeance unleashed by the police with malicious intentions".

Shankaras mother also claimed that the Goondas Act has been invoked in this case without following the due procedure of law, or application of mind.

Shankar was arrested on May 4 for making disparaging remarks against the women police personnel in the state.

He has been booked for several offences, including stalking, possession of ganja, forgery, harassment of women, and for his comments against Thevar community patriarch Muthumarilinga Thevar.
Patna, May 23 : Bihar Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary on Thursday took a jibe at Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav for celebrating and cutting a cake mid-air in his helicopter.

"They (Tejashwi Yadav and Mukesh Sahani) can cut the cake in a helicopter or make any statement. It would not make any difference. The people are with NDA," the Finance Minister said.

Earlier, Tejashwi Yadav and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) Chief Mukesh Sahani cut a cake in the helicopter marking the celebration after addressing over 200 election rallies across Bihar.

Chaudhary said that the people of the state have seen what the RJD government has done to the state in the past.

"People are answering them through their votes. The NDA candidates are continuously getting public support on all seats in Bihar," he said.

Reacting to the cake-cutting celebration, former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi also took a jibe at Tejashwi Yadav and mentioned about the job scam.

"This cake was brought from the money they have looted from people," the former Chief Minister said.

Tejashwi also uploaded a video, of cake cutting, on his official X handle. In the video, Tejashwi Yadav asks Mukesh Sahni where he got the idea of cutting the cake. In response, Sahani targeted the NDA constituents, saying that he was doing this so that their opponents get annoyed.

"Our friendship and brotherhood is not only annoying the opposition in Bihar but across the country as well," Mukesh Sahani tells Tejashwi Yadav in the video.
Bhiwani : , May 23 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday slammed the Congress model of governance, saying that the party has converted Haryana into "a machine of loot" by deceiving the state's farmers and youth.

"Haryana's farmers have suffered Congress-led betrayal," said PM Modi while addressing a massive rally in Bhiwani on the last day of the campaigning for the sixth phase of elections on May 25.

He also said that the "inherently unstable" opposition INDI alliance only spreads the politics of communalism, casteism, dynasty and adheres to the 'five PMs-five year' formula.

"Your vote will decide our country's future, not just the PM. INDI alliance promises five PMs in five years, showing instability," said PM Modi.

"The people of the country have already understood the intentions of the INDI alliance which explains well the alliance's condition. The INDI alliance bubble has burst in just five phases and you must have seen that after the third phase when they started raising questions on the Election Commission. All anti-India forces are active, but Modi will not bow down to them. Modi still has a lot of work to do to repay your debt," he added.

Asserting that people now "know the true face of Congress", PM Modi accused the party of prioritising vote banks and also slammed its INDI Alliance partner TMC for granting OBC reservations to illegal immigrants from the minority community in West Bengal.

"In West Bengal, they have issued OBC certificates to Muslims overnight and that too to infiltrators. The High Court has invalidated all the OBC certificates issued to Muslims in the last 10-12 years," he said.

The Prime Minister stated that he has come to assure SC-ST-OBCs of Haryana that reservation is their 'adhikar' (right) and Modi is its 'chowkidar' (guardian).

He also accused the Congress party of developing an anti-Shri Ram stance and opposing the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.

Prime Minister Modi emphasised his government's prioritization of Haryanaas irrigation potential and the MSP (minimum support price) provided for more than 14 products in the state. He also mentioned showcasing Bajra-made products from Haryana to international delegates during the G20 meeting, highlighting the efforts of Haryana's farmers.

Going down memory lane, PM Modi, recalled spending a lot of time in the state when former CM Manohar Lal Khattar was the party's general secretary.

"I have eaten a lot of Haryanvi food. The whole world is watching the success of Haryana's ghee and butter," he said.

Calling upon all voters to wholeheartedly support the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi acknowledged the contributions made by Chaudhary Bansi Lal to the development of Mahendergarh and Bhiwani.

The Bhiwani-Mahendragarh constituency is set to witness a tough contest between BJP's sitting MP Dharambir Singh and Congress legislator from Mahendragarh, Rao Dan Singh, who belongs to the Ahir community.

Haryana will go to the polls for 10 parliamentary seats on May 25.
Kolkata, May 23 : A social media war broke out in West Bengal after the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, on Thursday accused Trinamool Congress sitting MP, Deepak Adhikari a.k.a. Dev of being a beneficiary of the cattle smuggling scam.

Hitting back, the ruling party's celebrity candidate and sitting MP from Ghatal Lok Sabha constituency countered the allegations and warned Suvendu Adhikari not to mistake his "courtesy towards the Opposition as weakness."

On Thursday, Suvendu Adhikari posted some content on his official X handle with three pictures attached.

One photo was related to the ledger account of one Aranyak Traders which showed a transfer of Rs 50 lakh to the account of Dev in two phases.

The second picture was of the page of a diary with 'Dev Mobile: Rs 72,000' and 'Dev Watch: Rs 4,60,000' scribbled on it.

The third picture was that of a page with the same words related to a mobile and watch printed on it.

In his post, the LoP claimed that the picture was that of the diary of Enamul Haque, an accused in the cattle smuggling scam.

Dev's opponent in Ghatal and the BJP candidate from there, Hiran Chatterjee, also an actor-turned-politician has claimed that Aranyak Traders is an organisation owned by Enamul Haque.

Soon after the post surfaced, Dev countered it on his X handle stating that the Rs 50 lakh was given by Aranyak Traders as a loan for a movie made by the film production company owned by him.

Dev also claimed that the loan amount was returned to Aranyak Traders after the release of the film.

In a series of posts on his X handle in the matter, Dev cautioned that one should not mistake his sense of courtesy towards the Opposition as his weakness.
Bareilly, May 23 : The family of a judge in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly has filed a police complaint against their neighbour and 12 others over their dog's disappearance.

Accusing one Dumpy Ahmed of threatening his wife, verbally abusing his daughters, and even manhandling them, the judge slapped charges for bad behaviour, intimidation, and bullying.

According to reports, on May 16, Ahmed went to the judgeas house, complaining that the four-month-old dog had bitten his wife. Threatening to teach the pooch a lesson, he tried to get hold of it. The judgeas daughters joined their mother in trying to protect the dog, but in vain. Ahmed then summoned a dozen of his associates and threatened the judgeas family of aconsequencesa if they did not get out of his way.

Ahmed and his aides, thereafter, reportedly absconded with the dog. On learning about the incident, the judge, posted in Lucknow, called Ahmed and reached out to him over WhatsApp. Ahmed abused and threatened the judge too, reports said.

That is when a police complaint was lodged at the Izzatnagar police station.

The police combed through CCTV footage but the dog has not been found yet.
Bengaluru, May 23 : JD-S youth wing President Nikhil Kumaraswamy on Thursday appealed to his cousin and absconding JD-S MP Prajwal Revanna, the prime accused in the sex video scandal in Karnataka, to return from wherever he is and face the probe.

Speaking to the media, actor-turned-politician Nikhil, the son of former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, said, "If allegations are levelled, we need to face them. In this context, the Hassan MP (Prajwal Revanna) should return to the country from wherever he is and face the probe."

Earlier, JD-S state President Kumaraswamy had twice appealed to Prajwal Revanna through the media to return to the country and appear before the SIT if he had any respect for him and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, the accused's grandfather.

Nikhil also said that everyone in the state is talking about the Deve Gowda family being targeted in the sex video scandal.

JD-S MLA H.D. Revanna (the father of Prajwal Revanna), has also been targeted and sent to jail, he claimed.

"The people are observing all the developments. This won't last long. Those running the government should learn to deliver fair administration," he said.

The youth wing leader also claimed that the SIT is not conducting the probe in a transparent manner.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written a second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the cancellation of Prajwal Revanna's diplomatic passport.

Commenting on the developments, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday that the authorities have already approached the court regarding the cancellation of Prajwal Revanna's passport, as he criticised the state for making it a political issue.
New Delhi, May 23 : Detection of avian or bird flu in two humans in the US and one in Australia shows that the virus has adapted for circulation in mammals, raising fresh concerns over the risk of spillover to humans, said experts on Thursday.

The bird flu virus H5N1 has in recent years seen a significant increase in spillover to mammals. Besides killing a record number of birds in 2023, the virus also spread to otters, sea lions, minks, foxes, dolphins, and seals, among others.

"The reason for concern is that this virus appears to be spilling over to mammals lately, and in rare instances, to man. This shows that the virus has recently adapted for circulation in mammals," Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the Indian Medical Association's National Covid-19 Task Force, told IANS.

"There is no doubt that human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A, H5N1 type virus that primarily causes bird flu, has a lot of potential for severe respiratory infection as well as high mortality. But the biggest solace is the fact that human-to-human transmission is extremely rare and almost not heard of," added epidemiologist Dr. Ishwar Gilada.

Human cases of H5N1

Early this year, H5N1 infected dairy cows in the US and the virus fragments were also detected in pasteurised milk sold in stores. In April, a man from Texas working on the dairy farms reportedly became the first human in the US to contract the virus from sick cattle.

On Wednesday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the second human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A in a dairy farm worker in Michigan.

The CDC noted that the man is a worker on a dairy farm where the H5N1 virus has been identified in cows. In a separate case, health authorities in Australia's Victoria reported the first case of H5N1 in a child, who picked up the infection from India before traveling to Australia.

"The big question is whether the virus goes a further step and mutates enough to spread from man to man, in which case it could become a very serious situation," Dr. Rajeev said.

"It is because, unlike other common strains of influenza such as H1N1 that circulate in man, our immune system has no memory of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 strain as it was never exposed to it. That also explains the high mortality rate of close to 50 per cent," he added.

Moreover, currently used influenza vaccines do not cover this strain, the doctor said.

According to data from the World Health Organization, from 2003 to 2023, a total of 873 human cases of infection with influenza A (H5N1) and 458 deaths have been reported globally from 21 countries.

However, to date, no sustained human-to-human transmission has been detected.

The future of H5N1 Citing the advent of Ebola, Zika, Nipah, HIV, SARS, Covid-19, etc., seen particularly in the last four decades, Dr. Ishwar told IANS that there has been a "trend of viral infections that are mostly zoonotic diseases -- animal to human transmission -- and then human to human transmission".

"The virus could mutate for easier transmission. Hence, the need for monitoring and controlling outbreaks in the poultry population in case of H5N1 is all the more important," he said.

Dr. Rajeev noted that 27 years ago in 1997, a small cluster of H5N1 was identified in Hong Kong, where the bird flu virus apparently spread among people.

"But it did not go on to become an epidemic. Therefore, the world of science is watching closely whether clusters of H5N1 cases occur among humans. It is theoretically possible for the H5N1 virus to make these adaptations either by gradually adding further mutations or by mixing its genetic material with a human-adapted influenza virus simultaneously infecting the same animal or person," he added.

While stressing the need for pandemic preparedness at global, national, state, and local levels, Dr. Ishwar also called out against creating unnecessary panic.
Agartala, May 23 : The chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mohan Bhagwat, arrived here on Thursday on a five-day visit to Tripura and attended a training programme for RSS cadres and karyakartas from the eight states in the northeast region.

RSS sources said that Bhagwat would stay at the Seva Dham in Khayerpur on the outskirts of Agartala, where he attended the training programme.

The 20-day training programme, which started at the Seva Dham, the RSS headquarters in Tripura, on May 18, is being conducted by Umesh Chakraborty, Sanghchalak, Northeast Zone.

"In all, 152 trainees, 30 teachers and 40 karyakartas (functionaries) from eight northeastern states are taking part in the training programme," an RSS functionary told IANS.

He also said that 14 such training camps would be held across the country in the coming months which Bhagwat and RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale will attend.

Terming Bhagwat's visit to the northeastern state ahead of the announcement of Lok Sabha election results on June 4 as significant, political pundits said the RSS has stepped up its efforts to further expand its base in the northeastern states.

There are more than two dozen apolitical organisations associated with the RSS that are active in the region.
Bengaluru, May 23 : The BJP has demanded that the Karnataka government withdraw its circular through which 27 Muslim sub-castes were added to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) list.

MG Mahesh, state BJP Spokesperson told reporters on Thursday that by issuing this circular the rights of Hindu OBCs were being taken away.

"CM Siddaramaiah's government added 27 Muslim communities to the 2A Category under which OBCs get reservations, a month ago. This is the politics of appeasement," he maintained.

"The Muslims have reservations under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota. Will it not be an injustice to Hindu OBCs who get 27 per cent of the reservation?" he questioned.

Mahesh further stated that the Kolkata High Court had given a verdict in this regard, clearly stating that such steps were wrong.

"CM Siddaramaiah has taken a step similar to this in Karnataka. The OBC list in Karnataka comprised 108 various communities, among which two were Muslim. They were categorised on the basis of their work," he stated.

"Since the days of the Miller Commission set up in 1919 to the present day, it has been opined that Muslims can't be brought under the OBC category. Despite this, 27 different communities of Muslims have been added to the OBC list," Mahesh said.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stated that adding 27 Muslim communities to the OBC list was anti-constitutional. The Kolkata High Court had also given a verdict in support of his statement. The court has also stated that reservations should not be given on the basis of religion," Mahesh stated.
New Delhi, May 23 : Air India Express (AIX) cancelled more than seven per cent of its flights on Thursday due to ongoing operational challenges, sources said.

This came days after the cabin crew members ended their strike.

Sources told IANS that the cancellations were pre-planned as part of efforts to stabilise operations following a widespread sick leave by cabin crew.

Sources also said that they are hopeful that everything will be back to normal by the weekend.

On May 7, over 200 cabin crew members went on mass sick leave alleging that despite assurances of job security, salary preservation, and recognition of seniority and expertise, there has been a visible departure from these commitments during the transition from AirAsia to AIX.

On Tuesday, the AIX Employees Union (AIXEU) also sought the Delhi Chief Labour Commissioner's intervention in the ongoing operations issues in the airline.

In a letter, AIXEU President K.K. Vijayakumar said that the union wants to bring the CLS's attention to some insights regarding the number of flight cancellations and delays on a daily basis by the AIX management following the conciliation meeting held on May 9.

"As per the conclusion of the conciliation, all cabin crew reported back for flying duties by May 10. However, it is shocking and surprising to note that many flights are still being cancelled and delayed, citing reason of 'crew constraints'," it read.

AIX had also terminated the employment of 25 cabin crew members, which were later reinstated after the CLC intervened.

Flights in hundreds were cancelled following the mass sick leave by cabin crew members.
Seoul, May 23 : South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol met with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula, as well as the Seoul-Washington alliance, the presidential office said on Thursday.

During the meeting held in Seoul with Pompeo, who served as the top US diplomat under then President Donald Trump from 2018 to 2021, Yoon asked him to continue to pay close attention to South Korea's efforts to seek peace on the Korean Peninsula backed by the strong alliance, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Yoon also expressed his willingness to enhance cooperation with the United States on North Korea and to pursue closer trilateral cooperation involving Japan.

In response, Pompeo was quoted by the presidential office as saying that the alliance between Seoul and Washington has become stronger under the leadership of Yoon, whose administration shares common values with the US.

Pompeo added that he hopes the alliance will keep developing regardless of the political situation in the U.S. and wishes for closer bilateral cooperation, as well as strengthened trilateral ties, regarding North Korean issues.
XI'AN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- High expectations ignited calls at a China-U.S high-level tourism summit on Wednesday for concrete actions to remove tourism barriers between the two countries. The 14th China-U.S. Tourism Leadership Summit drew nearly 400 representatives of the governments, institutions, and tourism-related enterprises of the world's top two economies to the ancient Chinese city of Xi'an. Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin read a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony. She said President Xi's message fully demonstrates the great importance attached to the China-U.S. relations and ardent expectations for deepening China-U.S. tourism cooperation. STRONG PENT-UP DEMAND History has proven that China-U.S. cooperation potential in the tourism industry is huge. Annual bilateral tourist flow reached a milestone in 2016 -- surpassing 5 million for the first time. Notably, the number of Chinese tourists visiting the United States exceeded 3 million for the first time that year, and their total travel expenditure surpassed 30 billion U.S. dollars for the first time, Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, said at the summit. Escalating geopolitical tension and the sudden impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, have combined to reduce bilateral exchanges in recent years. China responded to the ebbing of the pandemic by stepping up efforts to boost its tourism sector. From resuming a steadily increasing number of international flights and implementing a visa-free policy for more countries and cruise travelers, to simplifying visa-application procedures and optimizing payment services, Chinese authorities pressed the "acceleration button" to facilitate the recovery of its tourism industry. Julie Durazo, with Pathways Travel based in Los Angeles, said the visa application process to enter China is now "a lot easier," compared to what was required during the pre-pandemic era. Durazo, who is in Xi'an to research tour options, is planning to bring dozens of U.S. high school students to China this fall. "I remember before it was at least a six-month waiting process. So we had to have our students sign up close to a year in advance," she said, adding that both paperwork and procedures have since been significantly reduced. Durazo's husband, Paul Orr, joined her on the research trip and it took just four days for him to get his visa after submitting all necessary documents. Latest figures released by China's National Immigration Administration showed that the number of foreigners visiting China had increased by more than threefold in the first quarter of 2024, when compared with the same period last year. Meanwhile, approximately 1.1 million visitors from China had traveled to the U.S. in 2023, representing a 192.9-percent surge compared with the previous year, according to data from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office. The trend, however, is still more sluggish than what insiders had anticipated. Attendees at the summit in Xi'an attributed these disappointing travel levels to a lack of flights, visa challenges, crime concerns, and general geopolitical tensions. Currently, there are 100 direct flights every week between the two countries, which is less than one-third of the pre-pandemic level. "Before the pandemic, we could fly direct from Los Angeles to Beijing or Shanghai, but now we have to make a stopover in San Francisco, and the ticket fare is much more expensive," said Durazo. There is also a visa challenge that needs to be dealt with. Despite being one of the most desired overseas destinations among Chinese tourists, the U.S. visa application process has deterred many Chinese from planning a trip to that country. "The average waiting time for a U.S. visa appointment is currently three months. In addition, the United States only offers individual visas, which require in-person interviews, and applicants from Xi'an have to go to either Beijing or Guangzhou for such an interview," said Peng Shuping, chairman of Xi'an Spring International Travel Service Co., Ltd. "We really hope that the visa application process can be simplified," Peng added. Another obstacle is that Washington has issued a level-3 advisory concerning travel to China, calling on Americans to "reconsider" such travels, which has deterred many Americans who otherwise may have been more likely to visit China. "We strongly hope that the relevant policies will be adjusted as soon as possible," said Zhou Xiaoguang, president of China Odyssey Tours. COMMON EXPECTATIONS The U.S. Commerce Department and Tourism Policy Council in June 2022 released a national strategy, setting an ambitious five-year goal of attracting 90 million international visitors to the United States each year, which would generate 279 billion U.S. dollars to support American travel workers and businesses. "An important factor in achieving this goal is the ability of the U.S. travel and touring industries to attract more Chinese travelers to visit the United States for leisure, business and education purposes," Grant Harris, assistant secretary of commerce for industry and analysis at the U.S. Commerce Department, said at the opening ceremony in Xi'an. Harris also read a message from U.S. President Joe Biden at the summit. China, which welcomed over 82 million inbound tourists while its domestic residents made nearly 101 million outbound trips in 2023, has also put tourism in a prominent position in its drive to encourage economic growth. A national meeting on the development of the tourism sector was held last week in Beijing, highlighting that it is "imperative to promote high-quality development of the tourism sector," and the need to "speed up building China into a country strong in tourism." Seeing the event in Xi'an as an opportunity to further revive the tourism market, industry insiders who attended it voiced strong anticipation for more pro-tourism measures to boost the global tourism industry. "We regard Sino-U.S. travel as a barometer, so the tourism sector has great expectations for the recovery of Sino-U.S. travel," said Feng Gaoxuan, general manager assistant of Xi'an Overseas Tourist Co., Ltd. Travel and tourism between the U.S. and China is of great importance not just to the world's two largest economies, but also to the entire global community, said Chris Clark, who is chairman of Visa Asia Pacific, at the summit. "The importance of cultural exchange cannot be understated," Clark added. "It helps us understand and appreciate different cultures, values, and traditions that are different from our own, fostering mutual respect and understanding, and can improve communication and build better relationships between people and nations."
Bengaluru, May 23 : Karnataka BJP on Thursday said that the state government has turned the police station into the Congress offices and also demanded the resignation of Home Minister G. Parameshwara.

"Karnataka police stations have been turned into offices of the Congress party. Home Minister Parameshwara is the most inefficient. He should resign immediately. The law and order has collapsed as we witness multiple cases of murders, rapes, and robberies in the state," State BJP General Secretary P. Rajeev told media persons.

He said that earlier, if any serious crime took place in the state, a circular was sent to all police stations and directions were also given to the vigilance department.

"The state government has not issued one such circular to make the Police Department work. The DGP has not been given any directions by the Home Minister," Rajeev said.

He said that the Supreme Court has repeatedly stated that to arrest an accused, there should be sufficient grounds.

"In the case of BJP MLA Harish Poonja, the police tried to arrest him without any grounds, and 70 police personnel were used unnecessarily to create high drama at his residence," he said.

Meanwhile, the police have served a second notice for BJP MLA Poonja to appear for questioning. MLA Poonja has submitted a petition seeking anticipatory bail in the People's Representative Court in Bengaluru.

Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra has also warned that if BJP MLA Harish Poonja is arrested, the government and the state police will face the consequences.

Poonja, the BJP MLA from Dakshina Kannada district, had agitated at a police station over an alleged false FIR lodged against a BJP worker who was subsequently arrested.

Poonja had gone to the Belthangady police station and taken the "cops to task" for arresting BJP worker Shashiraj and others.

During the protest, he had issued objectionable statements, saying he would not hesitate to hold the "collar of the police" if BJP workers were touched.

Poonja also said that he would get the police station burned down like how the K.G. Halli police station was gutted in the infamous DJ Halli-KG Halli violence in Bengaluru.
Beijing/Taipei, May 23 : Three days after the inauguration of Taiwan's new president, China has begun a major military exercise apparently to simulate a blockade around the island.

"This is also a severe punishment for the separatist forces of Taiwan independence and a serious warning against interference and provocation by outside forces," Chinese naval Colonel Li Xi said on Thursday.

The Taiwanese Defence Ministry said that it had detected at least 15 Chinese navy vessels, 16 Chinese coastguard ships, and more than 40 warplanes around the island.

More than 30 Chinese military aircraft were spotted crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

Major General Wu I-sheng told a news conference late Thursday that China's actions had violated the UN Charter on the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state.

"We urge them to immediately stop provocations in order to avoid increasing the risk of military misjudgement," Wu said.

The exercises are due to last until Friday and could be the largest in around a year.

Military expert Zhang Chi said on Chinese state television that China was simulating a blockade of Taiwan.

The army wanted to practise stopping energy imports to Taiwan, cutting off escape routes for Taiwan's politicians abroad and blocking support from Taiwan's foreign allies such as the US, he said.

Ships and aircraft are expected to approach Taiwan from the north and south for "patrols" and also come close to several islands, such as the Taiwan-controlled island of Kinmen, which is located just a few kilometres from the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen.

Taiwan's Defence Ministry on Thursday said Taiwan had dispatched sea, air and ground forces in order to defend Taiwan's sovereignty, and protect freedom and democracy.

China regards Taiwan as part of the People's Republic and has repeatedly threatened to invade it in the past. It has warned other countries, notably the US, to stop supporting Taiwan, regarding this as interference in China's domestic affairs.

Democratic Taiwan, with around 24 million inhabitants, has had an independent government since 1949.

Tensions across the Taiwan Strait have risen since the elections that installed Lai Ching-te of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as president.

He was sworn in as president on Monday and used his inaugural address to urge Beijing to cease its political and military intimidation.

"It is regrettable to see China's unilateral military provocations threatening Taiwan's democracy and freedom as well as regional peace and stability," presidential spokeswoman Kuo Ya-hui said on Thursday.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) considers the DPP to be a separatist organization and has threatened to invade Taiwan if the party makes any formal moves towards independence.

Po Horng-huei, Taiwan's deputy defence minister, told a news conference on Thursday that China this time did not delineate no-navigation and no-fly zones or areas where ballistic missiles would fire.

Po said that the main goal of China's drills this time is to try and show that "they have control over the region." The manoeuvres "alter regional stability," he said.

"Our military forces prepare for war without seeking war. We do not escalate conflicts or cause trouble," Po said.

--IANS/DPA

int/as/sha
Seoul, May 23 : South Korea remains committed to respecting the 'One China' policy amid tensions in the Taiwan Strait following the inauguration ceremony of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te earlier this week, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, China's military began two days of what it calls "punishment" drills around the island, just days after the inauguration ceremony, which Beijing strongly condemned, reports Yonhap News Agency.

"There is no change in our government's stance of respecting the One China policy," Lim Soo-suk, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said during a press briefing.

The inauguration ceremony on Monday drew more than 500 foreign dignitaries from 51 countries, including Cho Kyoung-tae, a lawmaker of South Korea's ruling People Power Party, and South Korea's representative to Taiwan, Lee Eun-ho.

On Tuesday, China's embassy in South Korea strongly condemned the attendance, stating that it "runs counter to the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership." The embassy further urged the Seoul government not to interfere in China's internal affairs in any manner.

According to the Yonhap News Agency, Lim said the Seoul government is closely communicating with Beijing on issues related to Taiwan, and the Chinese government is well aware of Seoul's stance.

Meanwhile, Cho said China's rebuke of his attendance at the inauguration constitutes Beijing's interference in South Korea's internal affairs.

"China is rather interfering in our internal affairs," Cho told Yonhap News Agency, emphasizing that South Korea, as a sovereign state, should not be overly conscious of China.

South Korea did not send an official delegation, in a move widely seen as an effort to manage ties with China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory.

Cho, who heads the Korea-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association, reiterated that his visit was through an official invitation, separate from the government's stance.

"We don't refrain from doing things just because the government says not to," he said, noting that South Korea is a country with a separation of powers, unlike China.

South Korea severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1992 when it established diplomatic relations with China. In 1993, South Korea opened a mission in Taipei to maintain unofficial bilateral relations and continue substantive cooperation.
Madrid, May 23 : Spanish investigators said on Thursday that they have recovered a painting by British artist Francis Bacon, nine years after it was stolen from a Madrid apartment.

The painting, worth an estimated a5 million ($5.4 million), was found in a flat in the Spanish capital, the police said.

The artwork was the fourth of five pieces by Bacon worth a total of a25 million to be recovered since the theft in June 2015.

Investigators were able to find the painting thanks to new information gathered after the arrest of two people in February who were suspected of handling stolen art.

The police said 16 people have now been arrested in connection with the theft, including the original suspected perpetrators. Some had contacts with organized crime groups in Eastern Europe.

The investigation will continue until the final painting is recovered.

The 2015 theft made headlines worldwide after a Madrid apartment belonging to a former friend of Bacon's was broken into by burglars who managed to switch off an alarm system and steal the paintings without leaving fingerprints at the scene.

Bacon, who was born in Ireland to British parents, is remembered as one of the most important artists of the 20th century. He died of a heart attack in April 1992 during a trip to Madrid.

--IANS/DPA

int/as/arm
Seoul, May 23 : South Korea said on Thursday that North Korea's nuclear and missile threats are what undermine peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, after Russia's top diplomat denounced Seoul's joint military exercises with the US and Japan as a source destabilizing the region.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after a ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Monday that the US and its allies are "aggravating the security situation in the Asia-Pacific with their 'provocative actions'," referring to the joint military exercises with the South and Japan, according to Russia's TASS news agency.

Lavrov said that North Korea has recently expressed its concern over the joint drills, adding the situation is worsening to the point of "a hot phase".

South Korea's Foreign Ministry rebutted Lavrov's claims, Yonhap news agency reported.

"North Korea's illegal nuclear and missile development and provocations in violation of UN sanctions are what threaten regional peace and security," ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said in a briefing.

"The combined exercises with the United States and the trilateral exercises, among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, are defensive actions to protect our citizens from the North's escalating nuclear and missile threats," Lim said.

He also pointed out that South Korea remains open to dialogue, but it is Pyongyang that has refused to talk.
Mumbai, May 23 : The 1976 classic 'Manthan' (1976), the restored version of which was recently showcased in the Classic section of the 77th Cannes Film Festival, will be screened in 50 cities across India on the occasion of World Milk Day on June 1.

Mumbai, May 23 (IANS) The 1976 classic aManthana (1976), the restored version of which was recently showcased in the Classic section of the 77th Cannes Film Festival, will be screened in 50 cities across India on the occasion of World Milk Day on June 1.

The film presents a fictionalised version of the beginning of the dairy cooperative movement that turned India into the worldas largest milk producer inspired by Verghese Kurien, the Father of the White Revolution.

The film is also Indiaas first crowdfunded movie produced by 500,000 dairy farmers who contributed Rs 2 each towards its production.

The director of the film, Shyam Benegal, said in a statement, aI was so pleased to hear about the fantastic response that the restoration of aManthana received at its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. But I am even more delighted that the restored film will be released in cinemas across the country. aManthana will be the first restoration of one of my films that will have a theatrical release."

aWhen aManthana released in 1976, it was a great success as the farmers came to see the film in droves, travelling in bullock carts from small towns and villages. I hope that 48 years later when the restored film comes back to the big screen this June, people across India will come to the cinema to watch the film," he added.

For the screening of the restored version, the Film Heritage Foundation and the Gujarat Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. have collaborated with PVR-INOX Ltd. and Cinepolis India.

The film will be re-released on June 1 and June 2 across 50 Indian cities.

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah said in a statement, aWatching the restored aManthana at its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival was a very emotional experience for me. I was overwhelmed by memories from almost 50 years ago when cinema was a vehicle of change, and was moved to tears by the standing ovation at the end, which was not just for myself. but for the film which has more than stood the test of time and also for the beauty of the restoration."

aI am delighted that the film is to be released in cinemas across India and I hope that people will not lose the opportunity to watch the beautiful restoration of a historic film on the big screen. I will be going to the theatre myself to watch the film again," he added.
Bhubaneswar, May 23 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that bureaucracy has seized upon the governance in Odisha which has been patronising the mafia in every sector of the state.

Yogi Adityanath accused the Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha government of playing around with the 'asmita' (self-identity) of the state.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing two public meetings a" at Banapur in Puri and Mahanga in Cuttack district.

"You should elect a double engine government to ensure the end of land, sand, forest and cattle mafia here as happened in Uttar Pradesh through the 'bulldozer action'," Yogi Adityanath said during his address.

He said that the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government controlled by bureaucrats has been trying to hijack the free ration scheme by putting images of CM Patnaik.

He alleged that around 60 crore people from across the country got benefitted due to the Ayushman Bharat Yojana but the BJD government did not want to implement the scheme in Odisha.

Further sharpening his attack on the 'Officer Raj', Yogi Adityanath said at a public gathering: "Anarchy, corruption and dictatorship rises when the bureaucratic system starts running the governance in the Parliamentary democracy system. This also leads to the exploitation of poor people and rise of 'Mafia Raj'. During the last 20 to 25 years, the bureaucratic system by seizing upon the governance here has pushed the people of Odisha back by fifty years in terms of development."

The bureaucracy has been playing with the future of youth here by pandering to the land, sand, coal and mining mafia in Odisha, he said.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister further said that 'Officer Raj' is allowing the loot of natural resources of Odisha.

He said that the power generated here is sold to Odia people at higher price while other states buy it at cheaper price.

Yogi Adityanath asserted that CM Patnaik is being misled by the officers and it is the reason behind the anarchy here.

"The government here is playing around with the Asmita (self-identity) of Odisha. The government here is patronising the killers of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati. The government has crossed the limit of appeasement," alleged Yogi Adityanath.

He also took a dig at the BJD government over the missing keys of Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri.

Targeting VK Pandian, a close aide of CM Naveen Patnaik, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said: "The Tamil 'babu' will ensure a rise in infiltration and religious conversions. It is the responsibility of the people to ensure that such plans do not materialise."

He also mentioned various achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government in the Centre during the last 10 years.

Yogi Adityanath said that roadways, waterways, rail and educational infrastructure have improved significantly in the country during the last ten years under the PM Modi-led government.

He said that Modi government has stopped corruption through Direct Benefit Transfer and digital transfer system.
Chennai, May 23 : After the arrest of a Kerala-based man in an international organ racket with an Iran connection, Tamil Nadu Police on Thursday directed the Superintendents of Police (SPs) to probe all missing persons complaints in their districts.

It may be recalled that on May 19, Sabith Nasar was arrested at the Kochi International Airport while returning from Iran.

He was arrested by the Kerala Police following a tip-off from the Central Intelligence agencies that he was regularly visiting Iran and other West Asian countries and was suspected to be involved in the organ trade.

Upon interrogation, Sabith Nasar told police that he had taken 20 people from Kerala and other states to Iran for kidney transplants.

He had made people believe that donating organs was legal and took them to Iran for the purpose.

While Sabith Nasar told interrogators that he was only a middleman, police found that he was the main conduit of the racket and his bank transactions gave clear evidence of this.

The arrested person revealed that his victims were mainly from Kerala, Karnataka and some North Indian states.

However Tamil Nadu Police is not leaving any stone unturned and the state police headquarters have sent directives to all the SPs to collect data from their respective police stations on missing person complaints and probe each case in detail with the support of central agencies.

The movement of people from the four international airports of Tamil Nadu a" Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchi in the last five years from May 2019 to May 2024 is also under investigation.

Highly-placed sources in Tamil Nadu Police told IANS that Sabith Nasar being a native of Thrissur in Kerala has connections with many people in Coimbatore and surrounding areas and special teams of Tamil Nadu Police have been deployed in these areas to find out if someone from the region was involved in this racket.
Kolkata, May 23 : The Calcutta High Court on Thursday dismissed an appeal by Trinamool Congress seeking the transfer of Dhanram Singh, SP, National Investigation Agency (NIA), from West Bengal.

To recall, Singh led the NIA team that arrested two Trinamool leaders last month in connection with a blast at Bhupatinagar in East Midnapore district in December 2022 that killed three persons.

After the incident, the Trinamool accused Singh of holding a closed-door meeting with BJP leader Jitendra Tiwari just a day before the arrests.

The ruling party first approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking a replacement for Singh as the Superintendent of NIA in West Bengal.

After the poll panel refused to entertain the plea, the Trinamool approached the Calcutta High Court.

However, the court on Thursday observed that since the transfer of a central agency official is an internal matter of the agency, the high court cannot intervene in the matter.

The Trinamool had also alleged that besides meeting Tiwari, Singh also received an 'envelope' from the BJP leader, an allegation that was promptly denied by Tiwari who threw an open challenge to Trinamool leaders to prove their charges.
New Delhi, May 23 : Some colleges in the national capital, including Lady Shri Ram (LSR) College, received bomb threats on Thursday, which later turned out to be a hoax, a Delhi Police official said.

A senior Fire Department official said that a call regarding a bomb threat at LSR College was received at 4.38 p.m. Subsequently, two fire tenders were dispatched to the spot.

"Some calls were received regarding bomb threats in colleges. All are bogus calls," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Rajesh Deo.

This comes a day after a bomb threat in the North Block was received via email on Wednesday. The email, which was ultimately deemed a hoax, prompted a thorough search by multiple agencies.

Recently, several Delhi hospitals, along with the Indira Gandhi International Airport and Tihar prisons, also received bomb threat emails. However, subsequent investigations by police revealed the threats to be false alarms.

On May 1, more than 150 schools across Delhi-NCR received hoax bomb threat emails, prompting a widespread police response. Investigations suggested that the emails originated from Budapest, Hungary. Official sources indicated that the Delhi Police will soon reach out to their Hungarian counterparts to further the investigation.
Kolkata, May 23 : The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police, which is probing the mysterious death of Bangladeshi Member of Parliament Anwarul Azim Anar whose body was found in a rented accommodation in New Town near here on Wednesday, claimed on Thursday that it has secured some vital clues in the case.

Sources said the investigating officers have found an empty packet of surgical hand gloves from the flat which hints at the possibility of an attempt to leave no fingerprints behind by the 'assailants'.

Also, two persons named Mustafizur and Faisal, who have been arrested by the Bangladesh Police, had reached Kolkata 10 days before Azim arrived in the city for 'medical treatment'.

The duo reached Kolkata on May 2 and stayed at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in Central Kolkata till May 13. The Bangladeshi MP reached the city on May 12 and had gone missing since May 14.

The CID suspects that Mustafizur and Faisal reached Kolkata well in advance to chalk out the plan to 'eliminate' Azim.

The CID has collected the CCTV footage from the hotel where Mustafizur and Faisal stayed, along with details related to their booking.

The hotel staff, sources said, informed the investigating officers that the duo made all payments in cash.

Before going missing, Azim, a three-time MP in Bangladesh, was staying at the residence of his friend Gopal Biswas in Baranagar.

On May 14, he went out after informing Biswas that he would return on the same day. However, he couldn't be traced since then and his mobile phone was also switched off.
Jaipur, May 23 : Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar on Thursday announced that the state government will cover all education expenses of Class 12 topper Prachi Soni, who made a record by scoring 500 out of 500 in the examination conducted by the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education.

The Education Minister made the announcement while speaking during a programme organised to felicitate Prachi, who hails from Ektoriya village in Alwar's Khertal town.

He said that the state government will also help the meritorious student in shaping her career.

aPrachi has done something impossible which no one else could ever do in the state. And itas a coincidence that this has been accomplished when I am Education Minister," he said.

Minister Dilawar further said that the Bhajan Lal Sharma government in the state is working hard to raise the education standards in the state.

He also congratulated the teachers for their strenuous efforts which helped her to achieve the feat.
Amaravati, May 23 : YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) legislator Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, whom the police are searching after he was caught on camera smashing an EVM inside a polling booth in Andhra Pradesh, has approached the high court seeking anticipatory bail.

The MLA from Macherla Assembly constituency in Palnadu district filed a petition before the Andhra Pradesh High Court through his lawyer.

Ramakrishna Reddy is the accused No. 1 in the case registered by the police after a video of him smashing the EVM went viral two days ago.

The incident occurred at a polling booth in Macherla on May 13 during the simultaneous polling for the Assembly and Lok Sabha in Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile, at least eight police teams continued their search for the ruling party MLA for a second day on Thursday after the Election Commission of India ordered his immediate arrest.

On Wednesday, the police found a couple of vehicles part of the MLAas convoy near Hyderabad. The MLA's driver and security guard have been detained for questioning.

Meanwhile, the Chief Electoral Officer, M.K. Meena, has ordered the suspension of the polling officer and assistant polling officer of the booth where the MLA smashed the EVM for failing to provide information about the incident.

Ramakrishna Reddy, who is seeking re-election from Macherla as a YSRCP candidate for a fifth consecutive term, has been booked by the police under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984.

According to Meena, under these sections, the MLA could be jailed for up to seven years.

He also said the case was initially registered against unknown persons, but after going through the video footage, the MLA has been named as the main accused.

The CEO said the police went to Hyderabad on the night of May 21 and raided the house of the accused, but he was not found there.

Ramakrishna Reddy had allegedly fled from Macherla while he was under house arrest, and was reportedly staying in Hyderabad since then.

In the video that went viral on May 21, he could be seen walking into a polling booth and smashing an EVM to the ground.
Hyderabad, May 23 : The teachings of Gautam Buddha are more relevant today for India, said Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday.

He said that at a time when intolerance and animosity is growing in society, there is a need to follow the teachings of Buddha.

He was speaking at a programme at Maha Buddha Vihar in Secunderabad here on the occasion of Buddha Purnima celebrations.

The Chief Minister voiced concern over increasing strife and fanaticism in society and underlined the need to follow the principles of Buddha.

"As an individual and also on behalf of the government, I will extend help to spread the message of Buddha to everyone in society," he said.

The Chief Minister said the visit to Buddha Vihar gave him immense pleasure as it has a spiritual touch.

He noted that at the age of 29, Buddha started preaching peace by relinquishing power and Kingdom.

The Chief Minister mentioned that Buddha's doctrine has remained alive in the last 2,500 years.

He said he was very inspired by the preaching of Buddha to do every work like meditation.

"This has inspired me a lot," he said.

He assured that the government will sanction special funds from the Special Development Fund to build the Spiritual Centre.

"This government is yours. It will extend all kinds of assistance and cooperation," he said, and promised that Buddhist monks would get due respect in Telangana.
Beirut/Tel Aviv, May 23 : Israel said on Thursday it had killed a commander of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah confirmed the death but did not specify the man's rank.

The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that three children going to school were also injured in the attack near the market town of Nabatieh.

Hezbollah said that it had fired "dozens of rockets" at Israeli targets in northern Israel in retaliation.

Since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip, there have been daily military confrontations between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah militia and other groups in the border area between Israel and Lebanon. There have been deaths on both sides.

The exchanges of fire have caused severe destruction in towns on both sides of the border. Around 150,000 people were evacuated or have left the combat zone.

--IANS/DPA

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Istanbul, May 23 : The Turkish government is preparing to pass a law that could mean jail sentences for people accused of working under foreign influence against the Turkish state, according to local media and a draft legislation seen by news agency DPA.

The draft law is not final and would still need to be approved by parliament.

Human rights activists and opposition parties fear the anticipated law could silence NGOs and journalists critical of the government, similar to the "foreign agent" law in neighbouring Georgia.

According to the draft, people who research Turkish authorities, institutions or foreigners in Turkey "within the strategic interests or on the instructions of a foreign state or organization" in a way that could compromise the security of the state face several years in prison.

"This law is dangerous for Turkey and susceptible to abuse," German-Turkish lawmaker from Turkish opposition DEVA Party, Mustafa Yeneroglu, told DPA.

Vaguely written laws could turn the media, human rights organizations and foreign foundations into targets for authorities, he said.

The draft law is to be discussed in parliament before the summer break, local media reported this week.

There have been mass protests in Georgia for weeks against a controversial law that is intended to limit foreign influence on non-governmental organisations.

Georgia's President Salome Zurabishvili vetoed the law, but her veto can be overruled by parliament.

--IANS/DPA

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New Delhi, May 23 : Experts on Thursday exposed a toolkit against certain business activities of the Adani Group, linking a cartel of Communists, Pakistanis, Islamic radicals, billionaire George Soros and the Western deep state.

The toolkit was exposed after a section of foreign media, including The Financial Times (FT) and the George Soros-backed Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), reported on Adani Group allegedly selling low-grade imported coal in India at the price of high-value coal 10 years ago.

According to the experts, the propaganda articles were written and supported by journalist Anand Mangnale.

OCCRP and Anand Mangnale posted a propaganda article, which was later re-posted by several people on their social media handles.

According to the experts, "The Financial Times of the UK is also part of the toolkit, and a propaganda article against Adani was also posted by the publication."

The experts also said the "editor of The Financial Times sits on the board of the Soros and Ford Foundation-funded company".

However, repeated attacks on the Adani Group, with similar allegations made in the past by the same two foreign media organisations -- The Financial Times and OCCRP -- is something that the market has stopped taking seriously.

According to US-based global brokerage Cantor Fitzgerald, the FT article is "just noise from a long time ago".

The Financial Times posted a propaganda article against the Adani Group at 4:34 a.m. on May 22. The toolkit against the Adani Group started spreading on social media from around 7.49 a.m. when a prominent journalist posted the propaganda article.

At 9.42 p.m. the same day, another known activist posted the propaganda article.

Some prominent people also posted old propaganda articles against the Adani Group in the meantime.

The Indian market has appeared to shrug off the report as Adani Enterprises emerged as the top gainer in Nifty on Thursday with a 7.84 per cent rise in its share price.

Adani Ports was also among the top three gainers with a 4.73 per cent rise.

"We believe the market is inferring that this is an immaterial story, as do we," Cantor Fitzgerald said in its note

Investors are seeing strong value in Adani Group stocks. In the past one year, the group's market capitalisation increased by 57 per cent and stands at $200 billion now.

The stocks of the Adani Group companies saw great momentum on Thursday as the Indian indices went through a sharp rally, with the flagship Adani Enterprises jumping 8 per cent to emerge as the top gainer.

The 10 listed Adani Group firms now have Rs 17.23 lakh crore as their combined market valuation.
Kolkata, May 23 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of deliberately preparing such a long schedule for the Lok Sabha elections to facilitate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's self-propaganda.

"The current caretaker Prime Minister will become the former prime Prime Minister after the polls. But I am sorry to say, such a long election schedule was prepared to facilitate PM Modi's self-propaganda over this extended period of time," the Chief Minister said while addressing an election meeting in the North Kolkata Lok Sabha constituency in support of Trinamool Congress candidate and sitting MP, Sudip Bandopadhyay.

Banerjee also accused the CPI-M of helping the BJP spread its base in West Bengal.

"The CPI-M is helping the BJP to gain strength in West Bengal. This is the only reason why the CPI-M should not be shown any mercy. They are responsible for destroying the state," the Chief Minister said.

Banerjee also said that although she is not afraid of the 'slanderous' campaigns launched against her by the opposition, she is worried about being misunderstood by the people.

"Throughout my life, I have faced abuse. But I am not bothered about those abuses anymore. I will be sad if I am misunderstood by the people. If such a day comes and the people ask me to leave, I will humbly obey and quit silently," the Chief Minister said.
New Delhi, May 23 : Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday lashed out at the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh for alleged attempts to block Central schemes and stymie crucial projects.

Accusing Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu of making desperate attempts to take credit for BJPas developmental works, he claimed that the state administration was spreading blatant lies and propaganda on Hamirpur medical college.

"Chief Minister Sukhu's selective memory seems to be failing him as he spreads misinformation and propaganda regarding the establishment of the Hamirpur medical college," the Union Minister said while addressing a series of public meetings in Sujanpur and Dharampur.

He also claimed that the Congress is set to face a significant defeat in the Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency.

Further slamming the Sukhu dispensation, Union Minister Thakur said, "Instead of engaging in such blatant falsehoods, he should focus on delivering results for the people during his tenure. With his administration failing to fulfil any of its promises over the past 16 months, Sukhu's attempts to appropriate BJP's accomplishments ring hollow and reflect poorly on his leadership."

He said that Congress is "fabricating false propaganda" over medical colleges now and after June 4, it will "start crying foul over EVMs".

"The Chief Minister is acutely aware of this reality. As their credibility continues to plummet and their support base wanes, the Congress party has resorted to falsehoods as a desperate tactic," the Union Minister added.

He also shared a comprehensive timeline regarding Hamirpur medical college and told the gathering, "On March 1, 2014, a 100-bed Maternal-Child Hospital was inaugurated at Zonal Hospital Mandi. During the ceremony, then Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad laid the foundation stone for a block worth Rs 17 crore. He also announced the establishment of two medical colleges in Chamba and Nahan, along with two trauma centres and one burn centre for Himachal Pradesh."

"It's noteworthy that this announcement, made prior to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, lacked any budgetary allocation, indicating its political nature. Furthermore, he inaugurated the incomplete Super Specialty Hospital block of Tanda Medical College via video conferencing due to adverse weather conditions, with no mention of the Hamirpur Medical College at the time," Union Minister Thakur said.

aIn furtherance of bolstering and upgrading government medical colleges, the Central government sanctioned the creation of 20 EWS MBBS seats in Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College (Hamirpur) on January 23, 2023, with an allocated amount of Rs 24 crores. To date, the Central government has disbursed Rs 5.4 crore out of its share of Rs 21.6 crore to the state government. Therefore, Chief Minister Sukhu should cease his continuous dissemination of falsehoods regarding Hamirpur medical college," he added.

He accused the Congress government of obstructing the Centreas developmental initiatives in the state and said that the public will give a "fitting reply" to it in the elections.
Colombo, May 23 : Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe called on the country to heal, unite and rebuild, as the South Asian nation began a two-day Vesak festival commemorating the birth, enlightenment and passing of Lord Buddha.

He made the remarks in his Vesak Day statement, Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.

Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka as a nation should cultivate the same great zeal for enlightenment that Buddha exemplified, to sacrifice today for a better tomorrow.

Wickremesinghe joined the Vesak festival on Thursday virtually and extended his wishes to all Buddhists for a meaningful Vesak celebration.

On Thursday, he also granted the presidential pardon to 278 prisoners to mark Vesak Day, the most important religious event for Buddhists, the prison's department said in a statement.

Sri Lanka usually pardons prisoners on Independence Day and during major religious events.

These amnesties do not apply to those convicted of murder, serious drug offences, rape, and armed robbery.
Panaji, May 23 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that irresponsible statements against any religion, which creates tensions, will not be tolerated and action will be taken as per law.

The remarks were made following the complaints by devotees at two temples in the coastal state against social worker Shreya Dhargalkar for allegedly uttering disrespectful statements against goddesses.

Referring to the incidents, Chief Minister Sawant said that after he instructed the police, she was booked in both cases and has been sent to judicial custody till June 4.

"I condemn the acts of such individuals who utter irresponsible statements against gods... Shreya Dhargalkar has been booked at two police stations and sent to judicial custody till June 4. This has sent a good message that if someone tries to create tensions unnecessarily using social media platforms then action will be initiated. Such acts should be stopped," he said.

"We will take action as per law against such acts of irresponsible criticism. Statements against any religion will not be tolerated," the Chief Minister added.

He also said that action will be taken against NGOs which extort money.
Bhubaneswar, May 23 : The campaigning for the third phase of polling in Odisha ended on Thursday. Polling for six Parliamentary constituencies -- Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Puri and Bhubaneswar -- and 42 Assembly seats will be held simultaneously on May 25.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Nikunja Bihari Dhal said that more than 94.48 lakh electors are expected to exercise their franchise in the third phase of polling in the state on Saturday.

He said that of the total electors, 48.30 lakh are male while the number of female voters is 46.18 lakh.

As many as 1,291 transgender electors are expected to vote this time.

The electors will exercise their franchise at 10,515 polling booths in the six Parliamentary constituencies.

Around 20 per cent of the total polling booths in the third phase of polling have been designated as critical booths.

A total of 64 candidates are in the fray for the six Lok Sabha seats while 383 candidates are contesting in 42 Assembly segments.

The Election Commission of India has deployed 121 companies of Central Armed Police Forces for the third phase of polling.

Odisha CEO Dhal further stated that women will manage as many as 1,500 polling stations while another 30 polling stations will be managed by Persons with Disabilities.

Over 70,000 polling staff will be deployed on Saturday.

Dhal urged the voters in the urban areas like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur and Puri to exercise their franchise in large numbers.
Tehran, May 23 : Iran's late president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash at the weekend, was laid to rest in his home city of Mashhad on Thursday.

Raisi was buried next to the mausoleum of the eighth Shiite Imam Reza in Mashhad, state broadcaster IRIB reported. It is considered the most important Shia shrine in Iran.

Three million people attended the funeral ceremony in Mashhad, according to the state news agency IRNA. There were no independent estimates.

Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and seven other occupants were killed in a helicopter crash in the northwest of the country on Sunday. Amirabdollahian was buried in the capital Tehran on Thursday.

Prior to this, there was another state-organized funeral service for the president in his home region of Khorasan, where tens of thousands took part.

The provincial capital of Birjand was chosen as the penultimate stop of the funeral ceremonies because Raisi had a special relationship with the city, explained Vice President Mohsen Mansouri. Raisi also represented Birjand on the Council of Experts, an influential clerical body in Iran.

--IANS/DPA

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Chennai, May 23 : Superstar Rajinikanth received the UAE's 'Golden Visa' from Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), his office announced on Thursday.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the DCT, Abu Dhabi government, handed over the Emirates ID to the legendary actor during an event at the DCT headquarters in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

After receiving the Golden Visa, the superstar said: "I am deeply honoured to receive the prestigious UAE Golden Visa from the Abu Dhabi government. My heartfelt thanks to the Abu Dhabi government and also to my good friend Yusuf Ali MA, CMD of Lulu group for felicitating the Visa and all support."

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE's Minister for Tolerance, called on Rajnikanth at his palace.

The Tamil Superstar also visited the newly constructed BAPS Hindu Mandir and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

The superstar recently wrapped up the shooting for his movie 'Vettaiyan'.
Guwahati, May 23 : AIUDF chief and Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal on Thursday said that once the poll results are out, one more legislator of his party will be slapped with a show-cause notice for engaging in anti-party activities.

Notably, two AIUDF MLAs -- Nizam Uddin Choudhury and Suzam Uddin Laskar -- were already asked for an explanation about their activities during the run-up to Lok Sabha polls in the state.

Ajmal told reporters here: "I have marked one more leader of my party who is also an MLA. We will take disciplinary action against him after June 4. Currently, I am waiting for the Lok Sabha polls results."

The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief, however, did not mention the legislator's name but asserted that "nothing could skip his eyes".

The opposition party has been facing turmoil since the Lok Sabha concluded in Assam.

In an audio, Nizam Uddin Choudhury and Suzam Uddin Laskar were heard saying things against the party. Later, both of them were slapped with a show-cause notice.

Ajmal said that he has constituted a committee to look into the episode.

"I would not comment on the matter. Let the committee that has senior leaders of the party take a call on the replies of both MLAs," he said.

AIUDF fielded candidates in three Lok Sabha seats in the state -- Dhubri, Nagaon and Karimganj.

Badruddin Ajmal contested from his bastion Dhubri which he has been representing in the Lok Sabha since 2009.

Meanwhile, it has been alleged that AIUDF candidate Sahabul Islam Choudhury, who contested in the Karimganj Parliamentary constituency, did not get enough support from the party MLAs -- Nizam Uddin Choudhury and Suzam Uddin Laskar.
Fresh influx of Myanmar refugees in Mizorm as clashes intensify in coup hit country. Image Source: IANS News

Aizawl, May 23 : Amid fresh clashes between the army and civil militia groups in Myanmar, nearly 1,390 more refugees have entered India during the past few days taking shelter in Mizoram, officials said on Thursday.

According to a state government official, the refugees, mostly belonging to Myanmar's Chin state, fled to different villages of Mizoram's Champhai, Saitual, Siaha and Lunglei districts.

The fresh influx of refugees was triggered by the armed clashes between aTatmadawa (Myanmar military) and "pro-democratic" forces led by the Chin National Army (CNA), the official said adding that the refugees also feared air raids by the country's Air Force.

Officials said that the exact count of the fresh refugees who took shelter in different districts of the state is yet to be confirmed.

Villagers are providing food and shelter to the refugees.

As per estimates, the total number of refugees who entered Mizoram since the Myanmar military took the administration in a coup in February 2021 has risen to around 36,000.

Most refugees stay in rented houses and homes of their relatives or friends while others live in 149 relief camps across seven districts of the state.

The Myanmar nationals taking shelter in Mizoram are mostly the Chin communities, who share ethnic, cultural and traditional ties with the Mizos.

Six Mizoramas districts -- Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Serchhip and Saitual -- share a 510-km long unfenced border with Myanmaras Chin state.
Patna, May 23 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Thursday that the leaders of Congress and Trinamool Congress were following the footsteps of Muhammad Ali Jinnah's divisive ideology which led to the the partition of the country.

While referring to the decision of the Kolkata High Court which said that reservation cannot be given based on religion, he added: "The Congress is indulging in divisive agenda in Karnataka and Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee is also doing the same thing in West Bengal. The leaders of Congress and TMC are following Jinnah's divisive agenda which led to the partition of the country."

"A Congress leader has admitted that his party has done nothing for SCs, STs, and OBCs till now. They (Congress) have been doing injustice to them. Injustice was done to SCs, STs, and OBCs during the tenure of Prime Ministers like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Manmohan Singh. I want to ask Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to apologise for it now," Chief Minister Yadav said during his visit to Bihar's Gaya on Thursday.

"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been saying that the leaders of the INDIA bloc were lying to SC, ST, and OBC communities. Constitutional recognition of the OBC Commission has also not been given during their tenure. It was given during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he added.

Reacting to Bihar Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav cutting a cake in a helicopter after completing 200 election rallies with Vikassheel Insaan Party Chief Mukesh Sahani, Chief Minister Yadav said: "Instead of cutting the cake, Tejashwi Yadav should focus on the result. We had crossed 300 in 2019, we will cross 400 in 2024. After five phases of elections, the situation has become clear that NDA is winning."
Amaravati, May 23 : In a relief to YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) legislator Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday barred police from taking any action against him till June 5 in the case relating to the destruction of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) during polling.

The High Court passed the orders on anticipatory bail petition of the MLA from Macherla constituency in Palnadu district who was evading arrest in the case.

While directing the police not to arrest him till June 5, the court posted the next hearing to June 6.

Ramakrishna Reddy's counsel Niranjan Reddy, who had moved lunch motion petition, argued that the incident occurred on May 13 but the FIR was registered on May 15.

Initially, the FIR was booked against unknown persons but later the MLA was named accused number one after a video was circulated on social media.

The MLA's counsel submitted to the court that the video circulated on social media may be a morphed one.

The incident had occurred at a polling booth in Macherla constituency on May 13 during the polling for simultaneous elections to state Assembly and Lok Sabha.

Eight police teams have been searching for the MLA for the last two days as the Election Commission of India has ordered his immediate arrest.

Earlier in the day, Chief Electoral Officer M.K. Meena ordered suspension of the polling officer and assistant polling officer of Palwai Gate polling booth where the MLA had damaged the EVM.

He said both the officers failed to provide information about the incident.

Ramakrishna Reddy, who is seeking re-election from Macherla as YSRCP candidate for a fifth consecutive term, was booked by police under sections 143, 147, 448, 427, 353, 452 and 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 131 and 135 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984.

According to CEO Meena, these 10 sections are strong ones under which the punishment may go up to seven years. He said a case was initially registered against unknown persons but after going through video footage the MLA has been named as the main accused. A memo in the court concerned has also been filed.

In the video that went viral on May 21, Ramakrishna Reddy is seen walking into a polling booth and smashing the EVM on the ground.
Jaipur, May 24 : Intense heatwave claimed eight lives in four districts of Rajasthan -- Barmer, Balotra, Jalore, and Bhilwara -- as the maximum temperature at many places in the state shot up to 46-48-degree Celcius, with Barmer at 48.8 emerging as the hottest place in the country on Thursday.

According to the Met department, the maximum temperature soared to over 47-degree Celsius at seven cities in the state on Thursday.

The heatwave will intensify in the next two days, said the Jaipur Meteorological Centre, adding that the mercury will reduce slightly after May 28.

Meanwhile, two persons died due to extreme heat in Balotra.

Mularam (55) was working in the fields when his health condition deteriorated due to the heat. His family members rushed him to a hospital where the doctors declared him dead. Similarly, Mantu (22), who worked with a refinery company in the area, fell ill and was rushed to a nearby hospital where the doctors declared him dead.

A 35-year-old man also died due to the heatwave in Barmer.

Deaths due to the intense heat were also reported from Bhilwara and Jalore districts.

After Barmer, Phalodi recorded the maximum temperature on Thursday at 48.6-degree Celcius, followed by Fatehpur (47.6), Jaisalmer (47.5), Jodhpur (47.4), Jalore (47.3), Kota (47.2), Churu (47), Dungarpur (46.8), Chhitorgarh (45.5), and Jaipur (44), among others.

A red alert has been sounded in most parts of Rajasthan for the next three days.
Moscow, May 24 : Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the seizure of US properties in response to the US's potential confiscation of Russian assets.

According to the decree, the Russian Central Bank and Russian entities will have the right to seek legal redress in court in case of the unlawful seizure of properties by the US, Xinhua news agency reported.

A special commission of the Russian government will identify US assets or properties, including movable and immovable US properties in Russia, securities, shares in Russian enterprises, and property rights, which can be used to compensate for losses incurred.

The government has been given four months to introduce amendments to Russian legislation to facilitate the implementation of the decree.
Tel Aviv, May 24 : Benny Gantz, a Minister in the Israeli war Cabinet, has spoken out in favour of a commission of inquiry to clarify how the terrorist attack on October 7 could have happened.

"It is not enough for us to take responsibility for what happened: We must learn the lessons and act so that it never happens again," he said in a video message on the social media platform X on Thursday evening.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier denied in a statement that he had received warnings from the military about a possible attack from the Gaza Strip.

Gantz threatened to resign from the government at the weekend if Netanyahu did not present a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip by June 8.

The Gaza war began with the terrorist attack by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement on Israel on October 7.

In the unprecedented massacre by Hamas and other extremist groups, around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip.

--IANS/DPA

khz
Tel Aviv, May 24 : The Ambassadors of Spain and Ireland as well as the Norwegian representative to Israel have been reprimanded at the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

They were also shown a video on Thursday of the brutal capture of army observers on October 7 by militants from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz had already announced this plan on Wednesday together with the summoning of the diplomats. Israeli media had also been invited to the screening of the video.

In a subsequent statement, the Foreign Ministry said that the recognition of a Palestinian state by the governments of Norway, Spain, and Ireland would give Hamas a boost and make it even more difficult to push ahead with an agreement to release hostages.

The video was released in Israel on Wednesday evening -- at the urging of the families of the young women, who want to put pressure on the resumption of negotiations for the release of the hostages.

The footage was taken from the helmets and bodycams of Hamas militants who were involved in the attack on the military base where the observers were working.

Even though images of those killed and the worst scenes of violence had been edited out, the video clearly shows the fear of the bound and sometimes bleeding young women and the threatening situation.

Israel reacted with outrage to the announcement by the three countries that they wanted to recognise a Palestinian state.

In addition to summoning the countries' representatives to the Foreign Ministry, Katz had also ordered the recall of the Israeli Ambassadors in Oslo, Dublin, and Madrid for immediate consultations.

--IANS/DPA

khz
In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, weve gathered a selection of this years books for young readers that pay tribute to the diversity of Jewish religious practices, history, identity, and culture across the diaspora.

Picture Books and Early Readers

Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahans Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants by Norman H. Finkelstein, illus. by Vesper Stamper (Holiday House, $18.99, Feb., ISBN 978-0-8234-5164-7). Ages 48. This picture book spotlights the founder and longtime editor of the Yiddish newspaper the Forverts (the Forward), which, in its heyday, was a major newspaper in the U.S.

The Blue Butterfly of Cochin by Ariana Mizrahi, illus. by Siona Benjamin (Kalaniot, $19.99, Mar., ISBN 979-8-9863965-6-9). Ages 510. In this account of the Jewish Indian communitys mass immigration in the 1950s, Leah and her family leave Cochin, India, for their new home in Israel.

The Hedgehog Who Said, Who Cares? by Neri Aluma, illus. by Amit Trainin (Kalaniot, $19.99, Mar., ISBN 979-8-9863965-7-6). Ages 410. In a tale inspired by ancient Jewish teachings, a narcissistic hedgehog learns to care about his his environment.

Jewish Mindfulness for Kids by Blanca Sissa, illus. by Camila Carrossine (Kar-Ben, $18.99, Apr., ISBN 978-1-72848-644-4). Ages 38. The exercises in this book aim to teach kids about mindfulness from a Jewish perspective.

Joyful Song: A Naming Story by Leslea Newman, illus. by Susan Gal (Levin Querido, $18.99, May, ISBN 978-1-64614-370-2). Ages 48. A Jewish boy and his two mothers form a parade through their diverse neighborhood to his younger sisters naming ceremony at their synagogue. The book received a starred review from PW.

My Mezuzah by Ann Koffsky (Behrman/Apples & Honey, $10.95 board book, June, ISBN 978-1-68115-575-3). Ages up to 1. A young rabbit jumps to try to touch the mezuzah on the doorpost in this book revealing concepts of up and down.

On Friday Afternoon by Michal Babay, illus. by Menahem Halberstadt (Charlesbridge, $17.99, Apr., ISBN 978-1-62354-357-0). Ages 58. The book shares a glimpse into everyday Jewish life, as a family tries to get everything done in time for Shabbat.

P Is for Pastrami: The ABCs of Jewish Food by Alan Silberberg (Viking, $7.99 board book, Feb., ISBN 978-0-593-62319-0). Ages up to 3. The author of Meet the Latkes serves up an alphabetical roundup of Jewish foods in this board book. See our q&a with Silberberg.

Rachel Friedman Breaks the Rules by Sarah Kapit, illus. by Genevieve Kote (Holt, $17.99, June 18, ISBN 978-1-250-88093-2; $7.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-250-88092-5). Ages 59. Weaving religious and cultural customs throughout this high-energy tale, Kapit launches a chapter book series starring a Jewish girl renowned for her peanut butter challah-baking skills and big personality.

Rising by Sidura Ludwig, illus. by Sophia Vincent Guy (Candlewick, $18.99, May, ISBN 978-1-5362-2549-5). Ages 48. This picture book honors a Jewish mothers tradition of making challah with her childand includes Ludwigs favorite recipe. The book earned a starred review from PW.

Saliman and the Memory Stone by Erica Lyons, illus. by Yinon Ptahia (Behrman/Apples & Honey, $18.95, May, ISBN 978-1-68115-631-6). Ages 48. Inspired by a true story, this book tells of a Jewish boy who leaves Yemen for Jerusalem in 1881, carrying a stone from his house to remind him of his homeland.

Novels and Nonfiction

Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar (Penguin/Paulsen, $17.99, Feb., ISBN 978-0-593-32340-3). Ages 1014. This middle-grade novel spanning 500 years focuses on four girls from different generations of one Jewish family, many forced to leave their country. See our q&a with Behar on the family history the novel. The book received a starred review from PW.

The Color of Sound by Emily Barth Isler (Lerner/Carolrhoda, $19.99, Mar., ISBN 978-1-7284-8777-9). Ages 1114. A talented tween with synesthesia probes her Jewish familys history in this tale by Isler, who contemplates the generational trauma caused by the Holocaust. See our q&a with the author. The book received a starred review from PW.

The Girl Who Fought Back: Vladka Meed and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising by Joshua M. Greene (Scholastic Focus, $18.99, Apr. 16, ISBN 978-1-338-88051-9). Ages 912. This nonfiction book spotlights young Jewish resistance fighter Meed, who played a crucial role in the planning of the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto uprising.

The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival by Estelle Nadel and Sammy Savos, illus. by Bethany Strout (Roaring Brook, $25.99, Jan., ISBN 9781250247766). Ages 1014. A graphic memoir about Nadels fight for survival as a Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Max in the House of Spies (Operation Kinderspion #1) by Adam Gidwitz (Dutton, $18.99, Feb, ISBN 978-0-593-11208-3). Ages 812. In this suspenseful duology starter, a Jewish Kindertransport refugee during WWII vows to find a way back home, accompanied by two invisible companions: a dybbuk, or Jewish evil spirit, and a kobold, or German folk spirit, on the other. See our q&a with Gidwitz. The book received a starred review from PW.

The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Roaring Brook, $18.99, Apr., ISBN 978-0-7352-2856-6). Ages 912. In WWII France, a Jewish girl who has lost everything but her life decides whether to risk even that to bring others to freedom.

On All Other Nights: A Passover Celebration in 14 Stories, edited by Chris Baron, Joshua S. Levy, and Naomi Milliner (Abrams, $18.99, Mar., ISBN 978-1-4197-6729-6). Among the contributors to this Jewish holiday-themed anthology are the editors and Ruth Behar, Adam Gidwitz, Veera Hiranandani, R.M. Romero, and Laurel Snyder. Ages 812.

Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield (Bloomsbury, $19.99, July 23, ISBN 978-1-5476-1390-8). Ages 12 and up. In this speculative romance, two queer, disabled Jewish teens find themselves stuck in a time loopand falling in love. The book received a starred review from PW.
Picture book author Florence Minor, best known for numerous collaborations with her husband, illustrator Wendell Minor, died on May 21 in Washington, Conn., after a battle with ovarian cancer. She was 74.

Minor was born Florence Friedmann in the Bronx, N.Y., on October 22, 1949. She graduated from Hunter College with a B.S. in sociology and went on to study at NYU Film School before landing a position as a documentary film editor for ABC News.

Florence married illustrator Wendell Minor in 1978 and soon became an invaluable sounding board for her husband as he increasingly gained recognition for his book jackets, and beginning in 1986, for his childrens book illustrations.

By 1990, the Minors had fallen in love with rural Washington, Conn. following a visit and decided to leave New York City and settle there. Florence left ABC and the following year, Wendell suggested, Why dont you work for me? he recalled. She said she didnt want to work for me, so I asked, Why dont you work with me, and she liked that phrasing a lot better. Florence became the Minor Art studios business manager and took care of everything, Wendell told PW, an arrangement that allowed him to paint for 1214 hours a day. She was very artistically talented, he said. As a film editor, she was one of the best, and that talent translated to picture books. She was my perpetual art director and art critic; nothing left the studio until Florence signed off on it.

Though she worked largely behind the scenes on Wendells projects, Florence made her own entree into the childrens book arena when she served as co-editor for Wendell Minor: Art for the Written Word: Twenty-Five Years of Book Cover Art (Harcourt, 1995). Then, around 2004, Katherine Tegen, who had recently launched her own imprint at HarperCollins Childrens Books, paired the Minors as a true author-illustrator team for their first picture book collaboration, Christmas Tree! (Harper/Tegen, 2005). In a 2017 interview for author James Prellers blog Minor offered a peek into the creative process on that inaugural project:  [We worked] on our first book together on the ferry to Nantucket to celebrate our anniversary!

Of their five picture book collaborations, If You Were a Penguin (Harper/Tegen, 2009) became the most celebrated when it was selected for Pennsylvanias One Book, Every Young Child program in 2009. The Minors toured the state in support of the title and Florence found the experience extremely rewarding. At one elementary school, the couple personally passed out books to the children, and Florence recalled the response. As I handed [one boy] his book he looked at me and said, You mean this is my book to keep? I dont have to return it? It was the first book he had ever owned, and seeing the joy on his face is what this is all about.

Katherine Tegen, former VP and publisher of Katherine Tegen Books at HarperCollins, offered this tribute. I was fortunate to work with Florence on some of her first books for children. Florence loved the writing and revising process and she was a joy to work with. Smart and funny, she created poetic read-aloud texts filled with clever rhymes. If You Were a Penguin, with gorgeous artwork by the versatile genius Wendell Minor, remains a favorite title of my career. Florence, always thoughtful, wrote beautiful handwritten notes and sent lovely gifts every Christmas. She was a special person and I will miss her dearly.

Christy Ottaviano, VP and publisher of Christy Ottaviano Books at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, said, I have had the good fortune to work with Wendell and Florence Minor for over 20 years. As any editor who works with Wendell knows, if you acquire a book with Wendell, you are acquiring a book with Florence toothey were an incredible partnership, working hand in hand, often finishing each others sentences. In the dozen books Wendell and I have published together, Florence was a special part of each one, and a cheerleader for not only Wendell but for me as his editor and publisher. Her kindness, warmth, talent, and passion infused everything she was a part of, and everyone she touched. I feel lucky to have known her and to have worked together with her over the years. She was a truly beautiful person inside and out.

Wendell Minors longtime agent, Rubin Pfeffer, provided this remembrance. Through 40 years, be it book jackets or childrens book illustrations, Florence was Wendells muse, inspiration, researcher, and support. She was the objective thinker and doer and marketer that let Wendell live his dreams and passions, becoming one of the greatest, most venerated illustrators of his generation. Every piece of Wendells artwork has Florences love and care brushed throughout.

And Wendell Minor shared, I couldnt ask for a better marriage, or a better friend and confidant. She was my soulmate, my art director. She was my everything.
A bill intended to protect the safety of the states libraries has passed the Illinois House of Representatives. House Bill 4567 expands protections for libraries and library workers by making those who make bomb threats or other threats of violence against libraries subject to the same penalties as individuals who threaten schools.

The measure, which was passed on May 22, also helps make libraries safer for workers and patrons by creating grants aimed to support improved library security. The bills sponsor, state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, said that the bill comes in response to a spike in the rate of threats made against libraries and librarians.

Stava-Murray also supported anti-book ban legislation initiated last year by the state librarian, Illinois secretary of state Alexi Giannoulias, and signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. That law allows Giannouliass office to authorize grant funding only to libraries that adhere to the American Library Associations Library Bill of Rights, which states that reading materials should not be removed or restricted because of partisan or personal disapproval.

Last year, we became the first state in the U.S. to effectively protect libraries and librarians from authoritarian book bans, and I was proud to sponsor the law that did it, Stava-Murray said. Unfortunately, some in our state chose to escalate from bans and discrimination to threats of violence. Thats why Im acting once again to protect our libraries and the dedicated professionals who make them run.

The bill passed the house with bipartisan support. It now heads to the state senate for consideration.

Library collections should be managed and curated by professional librarians and not by authoritarian extremists with partisan agendas, Stava-Murray said. If those who favor censorship and divisive restrictions resort to threats when they dont get their way, we have to ensure were ready to address that, impose accountability and keep families and communities safe.




Illustration: Chen Xia/Global Times

(Global Times) On May 21, while attending an event in Frankfurt, Germany, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen claimed that "the US and Europe need to respond to China's industrial overcapacity in a strategic and united way." She openly urged the EU to intervene urgently to "dampen" China's growing green technology exports, including solar panels and wind turbines. Given Germany's staunch opposition to raising tariffs on electric vehicles related to China, it's evident that this speech was meticulously crafted in both its location and wording.

It is clear that Yellen's aim is to provoke trade friction between the EU and China and to bind the EU tightly to the US' strategic agenda. In recent days, Yellen has frequently called on Europe to address "China's industrial overcapacity," which indirectly demonstrates the US' weakness and anxiety in suppressing China's new energy industry. Therefore, the US is in such urgency to bring Europe on board, hoping that Europe will "charge into battle" for it. This is essentially political coercion of the EU on economic issues.

The EU currently faces choices: whether to follow the US in taking unified actions against China or to maintain the EU's strategic autonomy. Should it block China's EV exports at all cost, or protect the interests of its own enterprises and maintain the globalized framework? Additionally, Europe is a pioneer in green economic development, setting an example for the world. Whether it follows the US in building green trade barriers will test its commitment to its green development agenda.

At present, Europe's overall direction still largely maintains strategic autonomy and political sobriety. According to the South China Morning Post, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicated that the EU would take "a different approach" from that of the US. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has noted half of the EV imports from China were produced by Western manufacturers. Additionally, BMW chief Oliver Zipse previously stated that the only purpose of raising import taxes is to protect an industry, but "we don't think that our industry needs protection."

And a more fundamental reason is that the US cannot succeed in suppressing China's new energy industry. The US politicizes economic and trade issues through Section 301, which is not recognized by the international community, and often imposes tariff penalties on other countries. Its behavior not only seriously violates its tariff commitments within the WTO but is also typical trade protectionist behavior that disrupts the normal order of the international market. Many countries, including European countries, have been severely affected by it. Now, the US is once again wielding the tariff stick toward an emerging industry with unlimited potential, and the outcome is self-evident.

Furthermore, Europe should recognize that China's industrial capacity and manufacturing abilities have gradually developed during its reform and opening-up, including the economic spillover effects of opening its market to foreign investment and joint ventures. Throughout this process, many European companies have also benefited from it. The rapid development of China's new energy industry today aligns with the global trend of energy conservation and emission reduction and is a significant contribution to global green energy efforts. From the perspective of achieving global energy conservation and emission reduction, any suppression or restriction of the new energy industry is untimely and a counterproductive move against the current trend. We believe Europe has a full understanding of this.

In fact, aside from the perspective of some in the US, China's development and opening-up bring opportunities, not risks, to Europe and the world. The spirit of free trade is the cornerstone of the EU and the source of its economic prosperity. Protectionism will not solve EU's problems; it hinders development and sacrifices the future. Many wise minds within the EU are well aware of this fact. China and the EU are each other's second-largest trading partners and are both significant forces in building an open world economy. Washington often mentions its "European friends." It is hoped that they will respect the EU's vital interests and also uphold the right of the EU and other countries to develop independently and autonomously.
The fall of the Berlin Wall and the unification of Germany is not only the elimination of border structures belonging to two German countries. This event had and still has an enormous impact on the geopolitical situation and on the minds of people.

In November 1989, I was a journalist for the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper specializing in German issues. On the eve of the fall of the Berlin Wall, I went to Starya Ploshad in downtown Moscow, the location of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and met an old acquaintance, Nikolai Portugalov.

Nikolai had worked in Bonn as a correspondent at the Russian Embassy in West Germany under Ambassador Valentin Falin. Nikolai was well received by all the high-ranking officials, both in Moscow and in Bonn, and was later invited by Falin himself to join the international department at the Central Committee of the Communist Party.

That night, we discussed the evolving situation - the mass flight of East German citizens through Hungary and Czechoslovakia and the tensions related to the protests in East Germany. Nikolai did not conceal the fact that he was surprised by the developments in the Central Committee.

In his view, given the conditions, even the Soviet tank army stationed in East Germany at the time would not have been able to help the Socialist Unity Party of Germany save the situation even if they had been called in to suppress the mass protests in Leipzig and other East German towns. It was these protests that, in the end forced, East German leader Erich Honecker to resign.

Actually, the fall of the wall was caused by a number of reasons. Among them was the desire of the divided German people to live in one country, as well as socialism's defeat by capitalism. However, the decisive role was played by the Soviet leadership headed by Mikhail Gorbachev, who chose to stop the confrontation with the West and reform the socialist system.

The prerequisites for the fall of the wall were created in the Soviet Union by Gorbachev and his team, although they had a different goal in mind for the changes they put in place  the improvement of the socialist system. However, the changes, which became known as Perestroika, had an effect not only on the Soviet Union, but on all the socialist countries of Eastern Europe, primarily Poland and Hungary.

The Polish and Hungarian governments introduced more ample and deeper reforms than Gorbachev's team ever dared to, including the creation of a pluralistic society and freedom of movement for its citizens and citizens of other countries. In East Germany, however, Honecker tried to preserve the existing order. All this led to the end of the arms race and the reduction of tensions on the European continent. And the embodiment of this process was the fall of the wall.

For his leading role in the peace process, which today is an important element in the international community, in the words of the Nobel Committee, Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.

For Russians, the fall of the wall became not only a symbol of the elimination of military-political blocs and the end of the Cold War, but also a real extension of rights. The great breakthrough was the unimpeded possibility to cross state borders. Soviet citizens were subjected to severe restrictions on their movements, and as a result, the Iron Curtain existed not only on the borders, but also in people's minds. In the 1990s, millions of former Soviet citizens were able to travel abroad and see the capitalist world, with all its merits and faults, with their own eyes.

And yet, in Europe not all the hopes embodied in the fall of the Berlin Wall were fulfilled. Essentially, the European continent entered the new century wrapped in dramatic contradictions. There are many reasons for this.

The unification of Germany was made possible thanks to the good political will demonstrated by the leadership of the Soviet Union. But it turned out that this good will was not reciprocated by Western leaders. Many Kremlin politicians of the era maintain that Moscow agreed to German reunification on the condition that western countries would not expand NATO eastward. In 2009, Gorbachev told the Bild newspaper that, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, U.S. Secretary of State James Baker and others assured him that NATO would not move east.

The Americans did not keep their promise, whereas the Germans were indifferent. Maybe they were even satisfied with how easily they fooled the Russians. And what did this give us? Nothing. Only that now Russians no longer believe the West's assurances."

According to statements made by journalists Michael Beschloss and foreign policy analyst Strobe Talbott, former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara affirmed that the United States pledged never to expand NATO eastward if Moscow agreed to German reunification.

The West denies this, and indeed there are no corresponding documents from the time to back up either claim.

In April 2014 NATO published an information bulletin that read: "Russian officials claim that U.S. and German officials promised in 1990 that NATO would not expand into Eastern and Central Europe, build military infrastructure near Russias borders or permanently deploy troops there. No such pledge was made, and no evidence to back up Russias claims has ever been produced. Should such a promise have been made by NATO as such, it would have to have been as a formal, written decision by all NATO allies."

Moscow does not take this declaration seriously and insists that a gentlemen's agreement was broken and that NATO's expansion poses a threat to Russia, especially following NATO's operation in Kosovo and the gradual extension of the West's influence on the countries of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.

In 2007, at the 43rd annual Munich Security Conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that NATO's expansion to the East "has nothing to dowith guaranteeing security in Europe." On the contrary, in his words, it reduces the level of mutual trust between countries.

"And we have the legitimate right to ask: against whom is this expansion?" said Putin. He explained that the expansion of NATO's military infrastructure to Russias borders is in no way related to "overcoming world threats  terrorism first and foremost. Putin reminded the conference attendees that after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, the Secretary-General of NATO guaranteed the Soviet Unions security, saying that the alliance's forces would not be deployed beyond the borders of West Germany. "Where are these guarantees?" asked Putin.

It is up to historians to determine who is right and who is wrong, but today it is obvious that Moscow sees a direct connection between the current tensions in Russia's relations with the West and the processes that followed the fall of the Wall: the Balkan Wars, the operation in Kosovo and NATO's expansion to the East. The culmination of this is the Ukrainian crisis, which may lead to the appearance of a new dividing wall in Europe - this time on the border between Russia and Ukraine.

Click to view the infographics

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On August 31, 2023, Yales 23rd president, Peter Salovey, announced he would be stepping down. Since this announcement, much has transpired in the world of American higher education: the resignation of Harvard and UPenn presidents, the creation of campus encampments nationwide, and the cancelation of commencements at Columbia and USC. These developments point to an American higher education system that is malfunctioning. The breakdown we are witnessing at Yales peer institutions will continue until leaders are chosen for their courage to apply wisdom to divisive issues.

Americas Founders understood the importance of higher education. Of all his great accomplishments, only three made it onto Thomas Jeffersons headstone: Author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and the father of the University of Virginia. Jefferson knew that Americas ability to be great and good - UVAs motto - depended on the presence of high-functioning universities. Americas first polymath, Ben Franklin, famously said, An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. Framers like Franklin and Jefferson understood the value of academic pursuits, and their example lit a spark that motivated generations of Americans to pursue higher education.

When functioning correctly, a nations universities serve as a formidable asset. It isnt difficult to draw a straight line between Americas great achievements and its world-class academic institutions. Would Jonas Salk invent a vaccine for polio without the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine? Would George H.W. Bush end the Cold War peacefully without Yale College? Would Sergey Brin and Larry Page create Google without Stanford Universitys Computer Science Department? These leaders, and countless more, received educations enabling them to create and lead in ways positively impacting the lives of everyday Americans. Our nation cant afford to disrupt these pipelines of educated talent. And it isnt enough for graduates to just be talented. The success of our nation depends on universities producing graduates with values motivating them to be productive, grateful, and honorable citizens.

At Yale, much has changed since its founding in the 18th Century, but one thing has not  Urim and Thummim, the Hebrew translated as Light and Truth. Since these words first appeared on Ezra Stiles' diploma in 1746, they have served the institution as a guiding light. As the Yale Corporation navigates its search for its 24th president, I urge it to incorporate a new Hebrew word as a beacon. The word is Daas/Da'at, which means the application of wisdom. It is critical for Yales next president to exemplify this important trait. Without it, Yale will fall victim to many of the fights plaguing peer institutions.

The past decade has seen college campuses transform into one of the key battlegrounds of Americas culture war. At almost every turn, leadership has failed to wield the necessary wisdom to confront the barrage of divisive issues. A lack of wisdom resulted in UPenns former president stating, It is a context-dependent decision when asked by Congresswoman Stefanik if calling for the genocide of Jews constitutes bullying and harassment.

Another episode lacking wisdom surfaced on October 7, when Yales Dean Burgwell "Burgie" Howard retweeted a crude, one-sided TikTok explanation of the conflict as Hamas carried out its massacre. With this post, Howard spread a message indicating Israel believes it is entitled to the land because an "ancient book of made-up stories" says so, and its citizens ask if Palestinians would "be happy enough to just piss off and die." In an email I wrote to Dean Howard, I explained: "It is the instinct that concerns me. Why is your instinct to amplify a simplistic explanation designed to be divisive? It seems only logical that a Yale dean who leads student life should avoid this type of messaging at all costs. Yales leaders should be modeling wisdom and moral clarity so its students develop the conscience and moral fiber needed to properly respond to tragedies.

There are a few U.S. university leaders currently modeling the wisdom our nations academic institutions so desperately need. One example is Ben Sasse, a Yale PhD, who is leading the University of Florida through the same storm impacting institutions like Columbia, Harvard, and UPenn. Sasses values are the difference maker in generating clear messaging: In the wake of the Hamas massacre, while many university presidents were gripped by moral relativism, President Sasse wrote, This is a fallen world. When evil raises its head, as it has in recent days, it is up to men and women of conscience and courage to draw strength from the truth and commit themselves to the work of building something better  to the work of pursuing justice and peace. When dealing with student protestors who broke university rules he said, This is not complicated: The University of Florida is not a daycare, and we do not treat protesters like children  they knew the rules, they broke the rules, and they'll face the consequences. President Sasse has taken decisive and principled actions because he understands that failing to do so will impede his institution from fulfilling its core mission.

The future of Yale depends on who the Yale Corporation chooses as the next president. As the Corporation narrows its list it should be focused on one trait: Daas. When a president embodies the application of wisdom, Yale will overcome divisive issues and produce graduates with the values our nation demands.
It seems like ages ago now, but before Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel, real momentum was building toward an Israeli-Saudi normalization deal. Israel's brutal response in Gaza halted progress on those talks. But the top U.S. and Saudi diplomats said in a recent meeting that bilateral U.S.-Saudi agreements which would be part of a normalization deal with Israel were "very, very close."

That Washington is ardently pursuing this deal now shows just how warped its priorities are. Instead, Washington should be laser-focused on two efforts that advance American interests: securing a cease-fire in Gaza before an Israeli invasion of Rafah and retrenching from the Middle East.

To achieve a normalization agreement, Washington would essentially have to bribe Riyadh. The Saudis want formalized U.S. security guarantees, U.S. support for the development of a civilian nuclear program, and access to advanced computer chips for AI technology.

The Saudis have also said they would want Israeli concessions that would preserve a two-state solution: an ask that seems quixotic at best and delusional at worst given the last seven months. But now it appears the Saudis are willing to publicly and formally dismiss the Palestinian cause, with one report indicating that the Saudis are pushing for a "plan B" option that is not dependent on normalization with Israel. This makes U.S. pursuit of these agreements even more baffling.

Even before October 7, it made little strategic sense for the United States to give away so much. The formal defense treaty that the Saudis are asking for goes far beyond the traditional defense cooperation agreements that the U.S. has with many partners and allies. The Saudis want something akin to NATO's Article 5, whereby the U.S. considers an attack on Saudi Arabia to be an attack on the U.S. homeland. It's worth noting that despite Washington's unwavering support for Israel, there is no formal U.S.-Israel defense agreement.

Part of the reason that the United States is pursuing this deal is because of geopolitical competition with China. Beijing brokering detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Riyadh's entrance into the Chinese-led BRICS bloc, and expanding Saudi-Chinese business and military ties have spooked Washington. No matter how much the Saudis may be aligning with the U.S.'s principal geopolitical competitor, there is simply no strategic merit behind further entangling the U.S. in the region in a way that could lead to American involvement in yet another Middle East war. It is strategic folly of the highest order.

Indeed, prioritizing Israeli-Saudi normalization has it all backward. Instead, Washington should focus on how to retrench from a region of declining strategic importance. Washington knows this  it's why the past three administrations have looked to refocus the United States' strategic orientation away from the Middle East and toward the Indo-Pacific.

The United States' blind support for Israel and broader, military-dominated posture in the region neither serve the goal of de-escalating the ongoing hostilities nor advance American interests. Yet, the U.S. continues to overinvest in the Middle East.

The United States should retrench from the region and remove its troops from harm's way. There are roughly 40,000 U.S. military personnel in the Middle East today. U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria are particularly vulnerable targets for the Axis of Resistance, as demonstrated by a deadly attack on a U.S. outpost along the Jordan-Syria border this year. The continued presence of U.S. troops serves little purpose and poses an unacceptable risk of escalation.

American troops in the region have already been the target of dozens of attacks since October 7. The next attack, if "successful" from the perspective of those who launched it, could further embroil the U.S. in this regional conflict that does nothing to protect or promote American interests.

It cost Washington more than $1.5 billion to thwart Iran's April 14 attack on Israel. Under the terms of a normalization deal, Washington would now also be on the hook to defend Saudi Arabia if it came under attack from, say, the Houthis. While there are no hostilities between Iran and Saudi Arabia today, it's entirely plausible that the relationship could turn sour and lead to an incident like Iran's 2019 drone attack on Saudi oil facilities. How does it serve American interests to help the Saudis retaliate in a scenario like this?

As pressing as it is for the U.S. to disentangle from the Middle East, it will be a longer-term process, even if the administration decides tomorrow to withdraw troops. Washington's immediate priority should be to broker a cease-fire in Gaza before an invasion of Rafah or a wider regional war breaks out. As long as Israel's assault on Gaza continues and the dire humanitarian crisis endures, there is little hope for de-escalation, U.S. troops will remain vulnerable and anti-American sentiment in the region will continue to boil. Achieving a cease-fire in Gaza is a strategic and humanitarian imperative.

As with every major foreign policy decision, the U.S. must focus on what serves American interests. The U.S. basically gets nothing out of this deal with the Saudis other than the burden to protect an authoritarian regime run by one of the world's most brutal dictators.

Adam Gallagher is a foreign policy analyst and writer covering U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and geopolitics. For more of his writing and analysis, follow him on X @AEGallagher10.
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The Taipei 101 skyscraper commands the urban landscape in Taipei, Taiwan. [Photo/Xinhua]

(Xinhua) -- The political lies and inflammatory rhetoric of the "inaugural speech" given by Taiwan's new leader, Lai Ching-te, effectively made the address a de facto "manifesto" for "Taiwan independence."

Lai's words reveal his true intention of sacrificing peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait for his own desire for power. However, as the proverb goes, he who plays with fire will eventually get burned.

Not only did Lai advocate the "two states" theory, asserting that the two sides of the Strait do not belong to each other, he even went as far to label the Chinese mainland "a foreign country."

Observers in Taiwan are aghast that Lai has already surpassed his predecessors including Lee Teng-hui, Chen Shui-bian, and Tsai Ing-wen on the path of "Taiwan independence."

Lai maliciously stoked fears of a "military threat" from the mainland. He accused the mainland of being "the greatest strategic challenge to global peace and stability" in an attempt to bind the 23 million people in Taiwan to the bandwagon of "Taiwan independence."

Lai pandered to anti-China forces in the West, willingly acting as their pawn. His pursuit of foreign favor essentially involves selling out, harming, and even destroying Taiwan to gain recognition.

The past eight years of sharply deteriorating cross-strait relations fully demonstrate that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)'s "Taiwan independence" position is the root cause.

It appears clear that Lai intends to continue along this erroneous path, leading Taiwan further away from peace and prosperity. Obviously, he is extremely dangerous, which sparks concern on the island that he will create even greater trouble.

"Taiwan independence" is the most dangerous alteration to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and the greatest disruption to regional peace.

The people of Taiwan should join hands with their compatriots on the mainland, resolutely safeguard the common homeland of the Chinese nation and steer cross-strait relations back onto the correct path.

China must and will be reunified. "Taiwan independence" is a countercurrent of history and its pursuit will only lead to a dead end.

The realization of complete national reunification is unstoppable by any force. The mainland will never tolerate any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist act.

Lai and the DPP, if they continue going on the wrong path of "Taiwan independence," will inevitably face destruction.
'Traders must adopt digital payments as soon as possible within a set timeframe, as the nation is moving rapidly towards digitisation.'

'Ignoring digital systems is not an option for strengthening trade.'

IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party national President J P Nadda holds a public meeting in support of Praveen Khandelwal, the party candidate from the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat, at Pitampura, New Delhi, May 22, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Praveen Khandelwal is the traders' face and voice in a constituency that overwhelmingly represents trade and business.

Khandelwal, who is the founder and general secretary, Confederation of All India Traders, and now the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for Delhi's Chandni Chowk constituency, spoke to Nivedita Mookerji/Business Standard amid back-to-back rallies and meetings.

What is your main promise as the BJP's Chandni Chowk candidate?

I aim to develop the entire Chandni Chowk constituency as a model, balancing development with preservation of its rich history and culture, which has been grossly neglected by the state government for the past 25 years.

I will establish trade associations to develop markets and resident welfare associations. This will act as a catalyst, making these groups partners in development, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of participatory governance.

Many traders are talking about business being down. What are your thoughts on what the government at the Centre can do about reviving demand?

The PM is emphatic on ease of doing business, and I will craft policies to support trade and industry, simplify and rationalise the tax structure, and develop new business avenues.

I also plan to set up a startup incubation centre to help innovative ideas so that the younger generation can benefit.

Additionally, I will revitalise the industrial areas of my constituency, significantly advancing trade and industry.

You have argued all along that foreign e-commerce companies are a hurdle for small and medium traders. Is there anything that you are planning to cope with it?

Foreign e-commerce companies are grossly violating laws and policies, creating unhealthy competition that disadvantages local traders.

The e-commerce policy and rules are reportedly ready, and I will strive to ensure their speedy implementation, aligning with PM Modi's vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

How will the new e-commerce policy help small traders?

The new e-commerce policy, as I understand it, will end the malpractices of foreign e-commerce companies, such as predatory pricing, loss funding, deep discounting, and owning inventory, which are prohibited under the foreign direct investment policy. The policy will create fair competition in the market, allowing local traders to make optimal use of e-commerce.

Traders feel cash transaction should increase for businesses to do better. Do you agree?

Until traders seamlessly adopt digital payment systems, cash transactions can continue to some extent. However, traders must adopt digital payments as soon as possible within a set timeframe, as the nation is moving rapidly towards digitisation. Ignoring digital systems is not an option for strengthening trade.

Quick commerce is competing with kirana stores. How do you think traders can be protected from the disruption that quick commerce may bring?

Once the policy and rules are in place, an era of fair and healthy competition will begin. Kirana stores may also adopt quick commerce as one of their business verticals.

Retail business in India is largely unorganised at this point. How do you propose to mainstream this so that retail becomes organised?

The retail trade in India is wrongly classified as 'unorganised'; it is actually self-organised. Bringing reforms and changes to the current retail trade format is essential. I believe that adoption of digitalisation and modern business tools will drive the future business.
The top 100 companies have accounted for 63% of the gains (Rs 51 trillion out of Rs 81 trillion), while firms beyond the top 100 have contributed 37 per cent (Rs 30 trillion).

Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Anna Nekrashevich/Pexels.com

Bluechips have propelled the domestic market from $4 trillion to $5 trillion.

On an absolute basis, the top 100 companies have accounted for 63 per cent of the gains (Rs 51 trillion out of Rs 81 trillion), while firms beyond the top 100 have contributed 37 per cent (Rs 30 trillion).

This contrasts with what happened during the market's journey from $3 trillion to $4 trillion, when the market capitalisation (mcap) pooled in by the top 100 and those beyond 100 was almost equal in absolute terms.

Interestingly, in percentage terms, the growth in both top 100 and beyond 100 universes and also the overall mcap from $4 trillion to $5 trillion (in rupee terms) is similar at 25 per cent each.

During the 55 per cent jump in mcap (in rupee terms) from $3 trillion to $5 trillion, the market value of the beyond 100 pack had almost doubled, while the top 100 had underperformed with just 41 per cent growth.

In the past six months, the outperformance of small- and medium-sized companies vis-a-vis largecaps has narrowed compared to the preceding 18 months.

Market experts said this was on the back of the valuation safety provided by larger companies.

"Relative to the broader market, largecaps are their cheapest in a decade. The undervaluation of largecaps presents an opportunity, and Indian and overseas investors are trying to seize that," said Saurabh Mukherjea, founder and chief investment officer of Marcellus Investment Managers.

"Getting moderate valuations in largecaps in a bull market is rare," Mukherjea noted adding there were triggers for largecaps to regain their pre-eminence.

"With election results around the corner and as the rate-cutting cycle kicks in, it will drive the largecap profitability further," Mukherjea said.

Traditionally, the top 100 stocks have accounted for over two-thirds of India's mcap. Their dominance has waned as their contribution now to the overall mcap is less than 64 per cent compared to over 70 per cent when the market first hit $1 trillion, $2 trillion, and $3 trillion.

"The largecaps have been playing catch post the close to 70 to 80 per cent rally in the small and microcaps in 2023. No wonder, the contribution from the top 100 stocks has gone up in the journey from $4 trillion to $5 trillion," said Gaurav Dua, SVP, head (capital market strategy), Sharekhan by BNP Paribas..

"Moreover, a lot of the leaders of the recent rally are heavyweights from the PSU pack, such as State Bank of India, Coal India, ONGC, BPCL, and HPCL, which are part of the top 100 universe," Dua added.

Experts said greater institutional flows coming into the market were also supportive of largecaps.

"Domestic institutional investors have been big participants in the latest market surge. A lot of flows have come into the market via exchange-traded funds. More investments are likely to gravitate towards largecaps in the near future, considering an event risk is coming up in a few weeks," said U R Bhat, co-founder of Alphaniti Fintech.

Even if markets don't rally after election results, Bhat said, largecaps were a safer place than mid or smallcaps.

"Retail investors, too," Bhatt said, "should refrain from making disproportionately high allocations to mid and smallcaps."

With inputs from Mayank Patwardhan

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Maximum cases of advertisement norms violations were reported from the healthcare sector during 2023-24, followed by illegal offshore betting and personal care categories, according to the Advertising Standards Council of Indias (Ascis) Annual Complaints Report released on Wednesday.

The healthcare sector accounted for a maximum 19 per cent or 1,569 of 8,229 advertisements scrutinised by Asci during the year.

Illegal offshore betting accounted for 17 per cent, while the share of personal care advertisements was 13 per cent.

The report also said that in 2023-24, the number of complaints received by Asci regarding advertisement being misleading and violative of norms was 12.75 per cent higher at 10,093 as compared to 8,951 in 2022-23.

Manisha Kapoor, chief executive officer and secretary general of Asci, told Business Standard that the reason for healthcare being on the top of the table this year was the rise in focus and the number of advertisements related to this sector after the Covid-19 pandemic.

She added that the primary media of these advertisements has also changed, leading to more visibility now.

A lot of these ads used to be in very hyperlocal print. So whether it was to cure diseases like diabetes, cancer, or sexual problems etc., you would see a lot of these ads in hyperlocal newspapers, she said.

But now, a lot of them are on digital media.

"The visibility of such advertising is now much more at the forefront."

According to the report, 86 per cent of violative advertisements in this sector are featured on digital media.

Kapoor said that this trend is something to be worried about as the healthcare sector is of extreme vulnerability.

Moreover, 1249 healthcare advertisements were processed for violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, 1954 (DMR act), with 91 per cent of these violating clause 3(b) of maintenance and enhancement of sexual prowess.

Notably, the DMR Act prohibits the advertisement of magic remedies for the treatment of certain diseases and disorders.

This includes advertisements that intend to encourage the use of drugs for the maintenance or enhancement of a persons ability for sexual pleasure or the treatment of 56 illnesses including cancer, blindness, deafness, and diabetes, among others.

In the remaining advertisements in the healthcare sector, 190 were from clinics/hospitals/wellness centres making misleading claims about their services, care and cure for chronic conditions.

As many as 129 were from pharma companies for drugs and medicines with claims around prevention and cure, superior quality and leadership.

Medical supplies and health apps constituted the remaining seven advertisements.

The second largest violator was the offshore betting sector.

Kapoor said that the main challenge with this is that the advertisers are not based in India.

There is no contact, there is no website.

"In many cases, however, they are able to contact celebrities and celebrities are able to participate in all of that, she said, adding that in most cases, the action required is taking down these websites.

Kapoor also said that there needs to be more centralised action against these websites.

On betting, we work closely with the government to share the cases that we have uncovered so that they can take action in terms of putting down these sites where they see a violation of the law, she said.

For the third most violative sector, personal care, Kapoor said that most advertisements in this sector have become influencer-led, leading to a higher number of violations. 55 per cent of ads in this sector were influencer disclosure violations.

According to the report, influencer violations accounted for 21 per cent of all ads processed.

The highest were in personal care, followed by fashion & lifestyle and food & beverage.

Interestingly, this was the first time the baby care sector made it to the list of top 10 violators owing to influencers promoting products and services without disclosing material connections.

As many as 81 per cent of the 91 advertisements processed from this sector were from influencer promotions without disclosure.

About 99 per cent of these advertisements required modification and 76 per cent were not contested by the advertisers.
Exuding confidence over INDIA bloc's victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal claimed that the opposition coalition would triumph not only in South India but also in Northern states, aiming to secure at least 300 seats.

IMAGE: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, party General Secretary in-charge (Organisation) KC Venugopal and Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav during a joint press conference of the INDIA alliance in Lucknow. Photograph: ANI Photo

In an interview with ANI, Venugopal said, "INDIA alliance will get a minimum of 300 seats. This is our assessment. We have done very well in South India in these elections. Everyone said that the BJP is going to sweep North India or repeat the same number which they got the last time. This is not going to happen at all. Our internal report is very clear. Rajasthan, Haryana, UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, Delhi - all these places, Congress and INDIA alliance will get more seats. It is a clear winning situation for INDIA alliance".

Expressing strong confidence in reclaiming the Congress strongholds of Raebareli and Amethi, which the BJP's Smriti Irani won in 2019, Venugopal asserted, "We will secure Raebareli with a significant majority and definitely recapture Amethi. Both seats will return to the Congress. Ground reports are unequivocal".

He mentioned that the Congress party's goal is to diminish the Bharatiya Janata Party's representation in Uttar Pradesh by securing half of the seats in the state.

"The ground reports are very clear. We are going to reduce BJP's number very drastically in Uttar Pradesh. We are going to get a minimum of half of the seats in Uttar Pradesh," he said.

Focusing on upcoming election phases of the Lok Sabha polls, Venugopal detailed the alliance's strategy and progress.

"We are closely monitoring the seats going to polls in the next two phases. Our candidates and the party machinery, along with our alliance partners, are working diligently to maximize our seat count," he stated.

Citing widespread dissatisfaction among farmers and service workers towards the current administration and after the recent farmers protest, Venugopal conveyed optimism about winning a substantial number of seats in Punjab and Haryana.

"We are confident of winning maximum seats in Punjab. In Haryana too - the entire farming community and service people are in large number in these two states. Both of them are very unhappy with this government. We are very confident. In Haryana also we will get majority. In Punjab, definitely. We are going to do well in Himachal Pradesh also," he said.

The first five phases of polling were held on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13 and May 20.

The next two rounds of voting will be held on May 25 and June 1.

The results will be announced on June 4.
Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and sitting MP from Sultanpur Maneka Gandhi voiced her desire to see her son, Feroze Varun Gandhi, happy amidst political upheavals.

On being asked about the speculation surrounding Varun Gandhi's anti-BJP stance since 2019 and his exclusion from the BJP ticket list for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Maneka emphasized her primary concern for her son's well-being.

"I just want to see him (Varun Gandhi) happy, and what more can one ask from life," she said.

Regarding Varun Gandhi's absence from the Pilibhit constituency race, where he served as MP three times, Maneka Gandhi explained his readiness to support her campaign in Sultanpur.

"When I asked Varun to campaign for me, he agreed. He has come to Sultanpur for this. Whatever has happened is done, now we should talk further," Maneka said.

"Opportunity comes from ability and it is a misconception in every party that only the MPs run the party. There are more than one crore members in the BJP. There are around 300-400 MPs, so are there no other leaders apart from them in the party? If you have the capability, a way will definitely be made," she added.

Varun Gandhi was denied a BJP ticket for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on March 24, with the BJP selecting UP public works minister Jitin Prasada for the Pilibhit seat instead.

Addressing concerns about the potential negative impacts of Varun Gandhi's involvement in her campaign, Maneka expressed confidence in the electorate's judgment.

Meanwhile, Varun Gandhi on Thursday campaigned for his mother Maneka Gandhi.

Addressing a poll meeting, Varun Gandhi highlighted the close connection of her mother with the public.

"Elections are going on everywhere in the country... but there is only one region in the country where people don't call their MP, Sansad ji, Mantri ji, or by her name, but call her mata ji," Varun Gandhi said amid applause from the people gathered to hear him.

This is the first time Varun Gandhi has addressed any such rally this election season. He has remained out of the public space ever since he was replaced by the party with Jitin Prasada from Pilibhit, which went to polls in the first phase.

A former MP from Sultanpur, Varun Gandhi swapped the seat with his mother in 2019, the year he recorded a thumping majority in Pilibhit and Maneka won from Sultanpur.

Maneka affirmed that Varun's participation, which was at her request, would not affect the outcome in Sultanpur.

When asked about Rahul Gandhi and Varun Gandhi, Maneka Gandhi responded, "Everyone has his way and luck. I never speak about anyone's ability. Everyone has their destiny."

Maneka also exudes confidence of BJP's victory in the upcoming voting in Sultanpur on May 25.

"The opposition is not winning at least the Sultanpur seat. My entire focus is only on Sultanpur seat and I am not paying attention to any other seat," Gandhi said.

Speaking with PTI Videos, Maneka Gandhi said, "Varun Gandhi is here and he will do 15-20 meetings today. His campaigning will certainly benefit us."

She also urged voters to vote keeping their personal interest in mind. "They should think which MP can do their work and then vote."

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has claimed INDIA bloc's victory on 79 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, but Maneka dismissed these claims, reaffirming her commitment to securing the Sultanpur seat for the BJP.

Maneka Gandhi is pitted against Ram Bahadur Nishad of Samajwadi Party and Uday Raj Verma of Bahujan Samaj Party.

The Sultanpur seat comprises five assembly segments including Isauli, Sultanpur, Sadar, Lambhua and Kadipur.
The West Bengal crime investigation department on Thursday evening detained one person for his alleged involvement in the "murder" of Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar, an officer said.

The police suspect that the MP could have been "lured" into a New Town flat by a woman and then murdered by contract killers.

The detained person, who is a resident of an area in West Bengal close to the international border with Bangladesh, had met one of the prime accused in the murder case, the officer said.

Further investigation is underway to find out why the person had met him and what they discussed, the officer said, without divulging the identity of the detained person.

An initial probe also found out that the MP's close friend, a US citizen, had paid around Rs 5 crore to those involved in the crime, the senior police officer said.

The Awami League MP's friend owns a flat in Kolkata, and is probably in the US at present, he said.

The police also said that the flat in Kolkata's New Town area, where the Bangladesh MP was last seen entering, was rented out to his friend by its owner, an excise department employee.

"Investigation indicated that the Bangladeshi parliamentarian fell into a honey trap laid by a woman who was also close to the victim's friend. It seems, Anar was lured into the New Town flat by the woman. We suspect he was murdered soon after he went to the flat," he said.

The CID is examining the CCTV footage which showed Anar entering the flat with a man and a woman, the officer said.

"It was a well-planned murder. A huge amount of money, around Rs 5 crore, was paid by an old friend of the MP to the contract killers to execute the crime. Further investigation is underway," he said.

"In the CCTV footage, the politician was seen entering the flat with the two persons. The duo was later seen coming out and again re-entering the flat the next day but the MP was not seen again," the officer told PTI.

The police said the duo was later seen coming out of the flat with a big trolley suitcase.

Anar, who went missing in Kolkata on May 13, was found murdered and three people have been arrested, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Wednesday.

The state CID, which is investigating the case, has found blood stains inside the New Town flat and also recovered several plastic bags, which they believe were used to dump the body parts.

Circumstantial evidence indicates that the MP was first strangled and then his body was cut into several pieces, the police claimed.

"We suspect that after killing Anar, the murderers mutilated the body, segregated the flesh from the bones and mixed those with turmeric powder to delay decomposition.

"Then the body parts were probably put inside plastic bags as well as in the trolley bag and scattered at different locations. We also suspect that some parts were kept in a refrigerator and we have collected samples," the officer said, adding search for the body parts was underway.

Messages were also sent from his mobile phone to a few of his contacts asking them "not to contact him as he was travelling to Delhi".

"It seems these messages were sent from the MP's mobile phone to confuse his family members and friends and prevent them from launching a search for him... there is a possibility that these messages were sent after his murder," he said.

The search for the missing MP, who reportedly arrived in Kolkata on May 12 to undergo medical treatment, began after Gopal Biswas, a resident of Baranagar in north Kolkata and an acquaintance of the Bangladeshi politician, filed a complaint with the local police on May 18.

Anar had stayed at Biswas's house upon arrival.

In his complaint, Biswas stated that Anar left his Baranagar residence for a doctor's appointment in the afternoon of May 13, while stating that he would be back home for dinner.

Biswas claimed that the Bangladesh MP went incommunicado since May 17, which prompted him to file a missing complaint a day later.
The East Yards development subdivision in Anaconda continues to distance itself in dramatic fashion from the days when businesses were leery of landing there because of historic smelting-related pollution

Including highly toxic stuff like beryllium.

Today, few would question that the remediation and revitalization of the East Yards is a shining success story among regional federal Superfund sites.

The latest project to break ground is the East Yards Business Center, approved last year by commissioners for Anaconda-Deer Lodge County and under development by KP Development LLC.

KP Development purchased 3.36 acres in the East Yards from the city-county for $1,000 an acre, a transaction that has strings attached to encourage ongoing development in the East Yards. For example, if a venture fails to gain traction the land reverts to Anaconda-Deer Lodge County.

As envisioned, KP Developments East Yards Business Center will offer new spaces for offices for businesses and medical practices, as well as retail space.

The company said the project will feature a U-shaped design, with buildings arranged around a common area. Initially planned for five buildings, the project might adjust to construct as many as six or as few as three buildings, depending on demand, KP Development said.

The first building is under construction by Northcon, a Native American-owned general contractor in Idaho.

Bill Everett, chief executive of Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, has helped shepherd redevelopment of the East Yards. He described the East Yards Business Center as a significant step for economic development.

The business center will create a new tax base, attract jobs and welcome new businesses to Anaconda, he said. Interest has been high, especially from the medical community, engineering firms and orthodontists seeking high-end office spaces.

Members of KP Development and contractor Northcon also completed the renovation of the former Alpine Apartments building on Hickory Street. The building now houses the Parks Place Historic Condominiums. The three-story Alpine Apartments, circa 1915, offered a host of attractive furnishings and features, including Murphy beds and steam heat, when it opened.

Recent real estate listings show the price for a one-bedroom, one-bath unit to be $199,000 and a three-bedroom, two-bath condo to be $305,000.

Current businesses or nonprofits in the East Yards subdivision include The Forge Hotel, which houses the Barclay II steakhouse, the Murdochs Ranch and Home Supply, an OReilly Auto Parts store and AWAREs Center for Excellence.

Everett said Wednesday that a high-speed car wash will soon break ground in the vicinity of the Murdochs store.

A news release about the office project quoted Patrick Volkar of KP Development.

Anaconda has a unique charm, and this project aligns perfectly with the towns future direction, Volkar said. Its a much-needed boost for the local economy and a rejuvenation of this part of town.

On March 7, 2023, commissioners for Anaconda-Deer Lodge County voted 3-to-1 to award the East Yards parcel to KP Development. Commissioner Tom Gallagher was the lone opponent, a familiar position for him. Minutes from the commission meeting cite Gallaghers complaint that the developer failed to provide an in-person presentation.

Everett responded, according to the meetings minutes.

No, I was embarrassed as to what you might say to him. I try to bring these people in and I didnt want to insult him, Everett said.

Gallagher, who has been chided for sometimes combative speech during meetings, wondered about focusing on restoration of historic buildings instead of building new structures.

Everett said modern office buildings must comply with federal laws about accessibility, noting that most existing commercial buildings in Anaconda are about 100 years old.

Commissioner Steve Gates expressed support for the office project, observing that the sites former Superfund status made it off limits to development for decades.

After 40 years of nothing, this is a welcome sight, Gates said. I applaud the CEO and commission for all the action they have taken. I would like to see this project go forward.

Northcons website provides background on the construction company.

Northcon Inc. was founded by owners Randy and Renay Smith in 1977. The newly formed Native American-owned company quickly grew from subcontract workto operating as a general contractor focusing on commercial and residential projects, the website reports.

Everett said development in the East Yards is a big plus for Anaconda.

Its phenomenal, he said.
Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi minister Atishi targetted Prime Minister Narendr Modi over questioning of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's parents by the Delhi Police on Thursdayin connection with AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal "assault" case.

IMAGE: Sources said police may visit his residence for questioning in the coming days but are not going there on Thursday. Photograph: @ArvindKejriwal/X

"Has our PM stooped so low as to persecute elderly and ill parents? I don't think politics in the country has ever sunk this low," Atishi said while addressing the media.

Speaking out against what she perceives as an egregious overstep in political manoeuvring, Atishi highlighted the delicate health condition of CM Kejriwal's parents.

"Today, when violence is being inflicted upon the parents of Arvind Kejriwal, and Delhi Police are being called to interrogate his elderly and ailing parents, I believe that all limits have been crossed. CM Arvind Kejriwal's mother is 76 years old and she has been in the hospital for a long time before her arrest. Her condition is such that she can hardly walk and cannot leave her room. His father is 85 years old, unable to walk without support, with impaired vision and hearing. Arvind Kejriwal is a person who himself, as a son, considered every elder in Delhi as his parents, took them on pilgrimages like Shravan Kumar," said Atishi.

The AAP leader called upon the people of Delhi to respond to what she views as the unjust persecution of CM Kejriwal and his family through their votes.

"I have full confidence that the people of Delhi will respond to this persecution of Arvind Kejriwal and his elderly and sick parents with their votes," Atishi said.

"We are waiting for the police to arrive. This is also a matter of concern for us because if elderly and sick parents are being called for interrogation, mentally harassing them, then this is a matter of concern for us as well," she added.

Meanwhile, sources said that the Delhi Police may not visit Kejriwal's residence on Thursday to question his parents.

On Wednesday, Kejriwal had said police were going to question his elderly and ill parents the next day.

Kejriwal's close aide Bibhav Kumar was arrested by police in the case.

In a post on X in Hindi, Kejriwal said, "I am waiting for the police with my parents and wife. Yesterday the police called and asked for time to interrogate my parents. But they have not yet given any information about whether they will come or not." The AAP accused the BJP of committing atrocities on Kejriwal's parents through police.

"Ever since Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail, BJP has freaked out. They are attacking and conspiring against Arvind Kejriwal and AAP. But today, after summoning the parents of Arvind Kejriwal for questioning by Delhi Police, they have crossed all the limits," Atishi said.

Concurring, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, "The BJP has stooped so low now they are using Delhi Police to commit atrocities on Kejriwal's ailing and elderly parents. His father is 84, cannot walk without support and even has hearing problems. His mother had returned from hospital two days before his arrest and he could not even meet her at that time. People will respond to this with their votes."
Malayalam hit Manjummel Boys is the latest to receive a legal notice by legendary music director Ilaiyaraaja for unauthorised use of his hit song, 'Kanmani Anbodu' from the film Gunaa.

IMAGE: Musician Ilayaraja (right) greets Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi (left) after taking oath as member of the Rajya Sabha, as Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal looks on, in New Delhi, July 25, 2022. Photograph: ANI Photo

A sleeper hit, Manjummel Boys, produced by Soubin and Babu Shahir, and Shawn Anthony under Parava Films, is based on a true incident that occurred in the 'Gunaa' caves in Kodaikanal in 2006.

It has been received exceptionally well in Tamil Nadu, as well as globally.

Originally called The Devil's Kitchen, the caves were notorious for many accidents that led to the disappearance of people with no trace.

After the release of Gunaa, the Tamil film featuring Kamal Haasan in 1991, which was shot there, the caves were referred to as Gunaa caves and became more popular among tourists.

Manjummel Boys traces the story of one such bunch of inebriated tourists from Kochi, fans of the film Gunaa.

Their holiday turns nightmarish when one of the boys falls into the cave.

The film ends with the song, Kanmani Anbodu, in what is referred to by many as a tribute to the cult status of the song and the film.

"Whether it is a tribute or not, when a song by someone is used in another film, it has to follow legal procedures and permission must be sought," said Illaiyaraaja's legal counsel Saravanan Annadurai to PTI.

The notice stated that "it is a settled position of law that where a person is using such original musical works for commercial benefit, exploitation and other business gains, such person is legally obliged and bound to acquire necessary and appropriate permission/license from the author/owner"

"In this case, the owner of the song is Ilaiyaraaja and Majummel Boys' used his song without his consent or any payment of royalty or license fee," added Annadurai.

The notice calls upon the producers to either obtain proper permission to continue using the song in the film, or remove the song within 15 days of receiving the notice.

"If they fail to do so, we will seek remedy under the Copyright Act 1957," said Annadurai.

On May 2, Ilaiyaraaja, a Padma Vibhushan recipient, had also issued a notice to the yet-to-release film, Coolie starring Rajinikanth, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj.

The film, produced by Sun Pictures, had used a refrain from yet another hit of Ilaiyaraaja, Va Va Pakkam Va from 1983 Tamil film Thanga Magan, which, incidentally, also features Rajinikanth, in its teaser.

"There's a history of exploitation, many others have also used his songs without proper permission, so yes, they are also being issued notices," said Annadurai.

Despite trying, PTI could not reach out to the producers of Manjummel Boys' for comments.
The voter turnout in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls held on May 20 has now climbed to 62.2 percent, the Election Commission said on Thursday with women outnumbering men.

IMAGE: Voters wait in queues to cast their votes during the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls, at a polling station in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, May 20, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

According to an EC statement, 61.48 percent of the registered male voters turned up at the polling stations as compared to 63 percent of female electors.

In phase 5, 49 seats across six states and two union territories went for polling where over 8.95 crore people, including 4.69 crore men, 4.26 crore women and 5409 third gender were eligible to vote.

The participation of women in voting was higher as compared to men in Bihar, Jharkhand, Ladakh, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.

The male-female turnout gap was wide in Bihar and Jharkhand. While in Bihar, the male turnout was 52.42 percent, the female turnout was 61.58 percent.

Similarly, in Jharkhand, the male turnout was registered at 58.08 percent, while the female turnout was 68.65 percent.

A maximum of 38.22 percent of voters registered in the third gender category turned out to vote in West Bengal.

EC noted that repolls at two polling stations in the Kandhamal parliamentary constituency in Odisha will be concluded on Thursday and the figures "may" change accordingly, once the data is updated for post-repoll.

In the corresponding phase in the 2019 polls, the turnout was registered at 64.16 percent when 51 seats across seven states went to polls.

According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout in the fourth phase stood at 69.16 percent, 3.65 percentage points higher than the corresponding phase in the 2019 parliamentary elections.

The voter turnout figures for the third phase of polling in the Lok Sabha elections was 65.68 percent.

In the third phase of the 2019 elections, the turnout was 68.4 percent.

In the second phase of the 2024 elections, the turnout was recorded at 66.71 percent as against 69.64 percent in the second phase of the 2019 polls.

In the first phase of the ongoing general elections, a 66.14 percent turnout was recorded. In the 2019 polls, the turnout in the first phase was 69.43 percent.

The poll panel has said the final turnout will only be available after the results, with the counting of postal ballots and its addition to the total voting percentage.
Barely two days ahead of the sixth phase of parliamentary polls, a woman Bharatiya Janata Party worker from the Scheduled Caste community was killed in Nandigram in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, triggering large-scale protests by saffron party activists there on Thursday, the police said.

IMAGE: Security personnel at the Nandigram area after a BJP worker was killed in an attack by miscreants on a few houses, May 22, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The region, which falls under Tamluk Lok Sabha seat and is considered to be the backyard of Bengal's leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, is scheduled to vote on May 25.

As part of the protest, BJP workers burned tyres, blocked roads, and closed shops in Nandigram, alleging that Trinamool Congress-backed criminals were responsible for the killing of Rathibala Arhi, a saffron party worker in Sonachura village.

The police said Rathibala's son Sanjay and seven others were injured after unidentified assailants attacked them on Wednesday night.

The police, central forces and RAF personnel deployed in the area had to restore to lathicharge to disperse the mob, officials said, adding a person was detained by police in connection with the alleged murder.

The BJP had called a bandh in Nandigram as part of the protest but withdrew it later, a local leader said.

"Rathibala and several other party workers were tasked with the job of guarding a local polling booth last night after poll campaigns in the area ended for the day. TMC-backed criminals attacked them. She was murdered and others were left badly injured," BJP district general secretary Meghnadh Paul told PTI.

After Sanjay's condition turned "very critical", he was shifted to a hospital in the city, Paul said, adding that others are being treated at a local medical establishment.

Nandigram TMC leader Swadesh Das dismissed the allegations and claimed, "There were some family disputes and the killing could be connected to it."

Taking to X, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, in an oblique reference to TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee's public speech in the area on Wednesday, alleged, "The bloodshed was a direct fallout of Bhaipo (nephew)'s provocation in Nandigram yesterday. The murder was orchestrated by the Trinamool after realising its certain defeat. The hands of the jihadis do not tremble before hacking a woman to death. The BJP will see this through to its end, exact revenge in a legal manner, and respond by democratic means."

Later, Adhikari visited the hospital where the injured people are being treated. He also went to Nandigram police station and spoke to the officers there and alleged that they held a meeting with the "prime accused" in this case.

The BJP leader also lashed out at the central forces deployed there and asked them to keep a check on such criminal activities.

"Here a member of the SC community is murdered by TMC goons and you are doing nothing. When will you act?" he questioned personnel of the central forces.

Addressing an election rally in Kanthi, Adhikari hit out at Abhishek Banerjee and alleged that the murder was a result of the latter's provocation.

"I am the son of the soil (Bhumiputra). I will take revenge for this incident. This bloodshed is the result of the provocation of Abhishek Banerjee during yesterday's rally in Nandigram. The TMC committed this barbaric killing because they are sure about their defeat here."

The state BJP also wrote to the chief electoral officer of West Bengal urging him to immediately remove the SP of Purba Medinipur district.

The BJP also alleged that the woman's murder was the "consequence of inflammatory statements made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during an election rally in Haldia on May 16."

"The murder is a direct consequence of the remarks made by Mamata Banerjee at a rally in Haldia on May 16. Banerjee had said she will take revenge on the people of Nandigram for her defeat during the 2021 assembly elections," the BJP wrote to the poll body.

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya posted on X, "Such violence is unacceptable in a democracy. Mamata Banerjee must be held accountable for provocative statements and subsequent action by criminal members of her party. We will fight and ensure justice for Rathibala Arhi and all victims."

In an apparent dig at the Election Commission, Malviya added, "But when will the commission take note of Mamata Banerjee's repeated communal and murderous statements? After the election is over?"

TMC leader Santanu Sen, however, called the incident a "reflection of BJP's internal feud between the party's old-timers and its new recruits in Nandigram".

"The BJP realises that come Saturday, it will fare badly in the region. In its desperation, the BJP is trying to pin the reflections of its factional fights on the Trinamool," Sen alleged.
'It is a breathtaking journey towards the Tibet border, especially since the Border Road Organisation has accomplished a fabulous feat in black-topping the road till the border.'

'One is left with a salute for the dauntless Indian soldiers who spend the winter in these majestic, though inhospitable areas (we were told that the temperature comes down to minus 40 in winter),' recounts Claude Arpi.

IMAGE: The Jadh Ganga is a river in the Himalayan river valley of Nelang in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. All photographs: Claude Arpi

After searching for years in the old dusty files of the National Archives of India to unveil some of the secrets on a specific subject, one becomes rather familiar with the object of one's research ... but on paper only.

Often the physical reality is vastly different.

This is what happened to me when I recently visited a remote area in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.

The places are Nilang (also written as Nelang), a village located in the Jadh Ganga valley, Jadhang (or Jadhung) and Pulam Sumda, the latter two lying on the upper reaches, towards the India-Tibet frontier. The Line of Actual Control (LAC) with the Chinese army occupying Tibet is located on top of the ridge.

The particularity of the place is that the area was claimed by Tibet before India's independence (and subsequently by China) as part of Tsaparang in Tsamda county of Ngari Prefecture of Western Tibet.

IMAGE: Jadhang is a small village in the Nelang Valley, Uttarakhand. The village is located on a tributary of the Jadh Ganga.

Today, when China claims any area, its Liberation Army first physically takes over the place and later Beijing announces that it is ready for discussions; the disagreement between the Lhasa government and the administration of the erstwhile princely Tehri state (and by extension British India) was different, it continued for decades, at the end of which no mutually acceptable solution was found, but the 'dispute' did not result in any physical clashes or even an increase of the police personnel posted on the border.

A large amount of correspondence took place between Tibet (Lhasa and the Dzongpen or commissioner in Tsaparang) and the princely states of TehriGarhwal, Bashahr (today Kinnaur) as well as the provincial governments of the United Provinces, Punjab and, of course, the Foreign and Political Department of British India in Delhi.

IMAGE: A view of the Gumgum nalla.

The Brief History of the Dispute

Let us first look at the long history of the area.

The difference of perception seems to have arisen when the Dzongpen of Tsaparang, the nearby Tibetan district, visited the Gumgum nalla in 1914. He publically announced his decision of setting up a boundary pillar on the spot near a bridge.

When the local villagers objected, the Dzongpen left without any further action.

IMAGE: A view of the Bailey bridge thats connects Nelang.

A few kilometres beyond Gangotri, I kept asking my guide, "Where is this Gumgum nalla?" Finally, he pointed out a most insignificant place ...without a real nalla.

It is where the Tibetans had unilaterally decided to 'fix' their border with India. Of course, the watershed principle or other features determining a boundary were unknown to them.

Four years later, in 1918, the Tehri State decided to erect 3 pillars on the top of the watershed, at Tsang Chokla, following the watershed principle.

IMAGE: A view of Nelang.

In 1920, the Tehri State surveyed for the first time the area and prepared cultivation maps of the Nelang area. The Jadh Ganga valley was then included in the maps of the princely state.

In 1921, the Tsaparang Dzongpen visited Nelang again. This time, he sent a letter to the Raja of Tehri requesting him to nominate an official to sort out the boundary issue; at that time, it was not yet considered a 'dispute'; it was only a 'difference of perceptions' between friendly neighbours.

The Raja answered that the issue had to be raised through the Government of India as it involved a problem between two foreign governments.

In 1924, it was finally proposed by British India to appoint a boundary commission, but due to the poor communications and the fact that these areas could only be visited in summer, the commission could meet only in the summer of 1926.

IMAGE: Gartang Gali, a wooden bridge, said to be built by Pathans from Peshawar at a height of 11000 feet.

Hover the mouse to get a closer look of the bridge.

Travelling in the Valley, you first note the inaccessibility of the area. On the opposite side of the road, perched on a cliff, is the Gartang Gali (bridge), built some 150 years ago, by Pathans who are said to have come from Peshawar to build this bridge at a height of 11000 feet.

It was finally slightly easier for the villagers to move in the valley and eventually visit the trade marts in Tibet. This wooden step bridge path was closed after the 1962 War; today it has been opened for tourists.

The 3.5 km bridge is indeed a marvel of wooden architecture, worth the visit.

IMAGE: Jadhunga welcomes visitors.

The Acton Commission

To return to history, in June 1926, T J C Acton, an officer of the Indian Civil Service, was nominated as the British representative to discuss the issue with Tibetan officials near the Gumgum nalla.

The Tibetans claimed that the Tehri people had removed their boundary marks after they had returned to Tibet.

The British commissioner commented: 'Their attitude, I think, was that His Highness [His Holiness] the Dalai Lama had said that the boundary was the Gumgum nalla, and that any criticism of that decree would be a dangerous form of blasphemy.'

It was the first of several commissions which would try to solve the problem with the Buddhist neighbour during the following years.

IMAGE: The Chor Gad, another route to Tibet.

Hover to see another view of the Chor Gad.

At one point, the British, great adepts of compromise, suggested that Nelang could remain with Tehri State while Jadhang would go to Tibet. But a complication soon cropped up, Jadhang (and even Nelang) was claimed by the Bashahr state.

The Tibetan claim of a frontier in line with the Gumgum nalla remained 'clearly absurd', according to Acton.

IMAGE: A view of a moraine. It is a pile of unconsolidated debris, usually soil and rock, left behind by a moving glacier.

The Saga Continues

Two years later, on November 14, 1930, Colonel J L R Weir, the political officer in Sikkim, informed the foreign secretary in Delhi that he had received a letter from Lhasa about the TibetTehri boundary question.

Weir commented: 'This Tehri boundary is one to which much importance is attached by the Tibetan Government so much so that they paid me a special visit to discuss the matter that day.' Nothing came out of a new enquiry.

Colonel Weir was replaced by Frederick Williamson as the political officer in 1932. During a tour in Western Tibet from August to October 1932, Williamson was requested by the Government of India to look into the 'TehriTibet' dispute again.

In his report, the political officer mentions the Acton Report which 'reported in favour of the watershed boundary claimed by Tehri, but the Government of India considered that the evidence showed that Tibet was entitled to a frontier further to the west.'

Williamson commented 'with the exception of the northwest corner, this tract appeared to my untrained mind to be practically valueless. But the southwest corner contains valuable deodar forest.'

The discussions continued till Independence.

IMAGE: A view of Nelang village.

Post Independence: The valley occupied

In the early 1950s, the government moved fast following the Himmatsinghji Committee report prepared by the Government of India. One of the actions suggested by the Committee was that areas such Tawang and Nelang should be immediately occupied by Indian forces.

IMAGE: Another view of Nelang village.

Already in May 1950, the ministry of external affairs had sent a note to the ministry of defence asking the latter to comment on the feasibility to occupy the Nelang/Jadhang area; the Political Officer in Sikkim had noted: 'The guiding principle in the new circumstances must however be the Government of India's ability to vindicate what they would regard as the appropriate frontier.'

While visiting the area today, one realises the difficulty to sustain a permanent occupation of these villages.

IMAGE: A view on the way.

On April 4, 1950, the ministry of defence answered: 'The area under dispute is an extremely difficult country physically and climatically with hardly any communications. It therefore follows that operations in the area will have to be confined to short periods and undertaken by specially trained infantry.'

Six years later, China walked into the area.

On May 2, 1956, the ministry of external affairs complained about a Chinese intrusion. The ministry said: 'Nilang at the area right up to Tsang Chokla pass is clearly within Indian territory and has always been in our possession.'

IMAGE: A view of Jadhang village.

Apart from the fact that the border follows the watershed, the area is clearly Hindu with two small mandirs being maintained by the Indian Army on behalf of the Jadh population.

Today, what remains of the villages of Nelang and Jadhang has been opened to visitors and the Government of India has decided to repopulate the villages under the Vibrant Village programme. This is a fine initiative, though it is not certain that the scheme will immediately succeed. In the meantime, the villages are worth visiting.

IMAGE: A view of the confluence of the Jadh Gangaa and other Nalla.

As I entered the Jadh Ganga valley, the story of George Fernandes, the then defence minister, sending babus to the Siachen Glacier to study the topography of the place, instead of getting their knowledge from the files alone, came back to mind.

It is indeed an entirely different experience to travel on a road between two majestic ridges and slowly go up in altitude, from the base camp in Harsil village.

It is a breathtaking journey towards the Tibet border, especially since the Border Road Organisation has accomplished a fabulous feat in black-topping the road till the border.

One is left with a salute for the dauntless Indian soldiers who spend the winter in these majestic, though inhospitable areas (we were told that the temperature comes down to minus 40 in winter).

When India had a peaceful neighbour such measures were not necessary, but today Delhi has no other choice.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Mainly sunny. High 66F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low near 35F. Winds light and variable.
RUTLAND  President Joe Biden said Thursday he intends to nominate Mary Kay Lanthier, the supervisory attorney for the Rutland County Public Defender's Office since 2007, to serve as the U.S. District Court Judge in Vermont.

Vermont News & Media had reported on Wednesday that Lanthier had recently moved to the head of the line to replace Chief Federal Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford, who is moving to "Senior Status." Three other lawyers that had been proposed were put on the back burner in recent weeks, while the FBI and Department of Justice vetted Lanthier.

Lanthier, 53, of Orwell began her legal career as a judicial law clerk for the trial courts in Chittenden County and Addison County from 1996 to 1998. She was an associate at Keiner & Dumont law firm in Middlebury from 1998 to 2000 before becoming a public defender representing indigent people charged in Addison County from 2000 to 2003.

Lanthier was hired as an associate and later promoted to partner in the law firm Marsh & Wagner in Middlebury from 2003 to 2007 before taking her state job in Rutland County.

Besides criminal law, Lanthier had worked primarily on family law and workers compensation cases.

About half the work on the federal docket involves criminal cases. The other half is civil  a mixture that include a wide range of cases ranging from civil rights to employment discrimination to contract disputes and more.

The annual pay for federal district court judges was bumped this year from $232,600 to $243,300.

Lanthier, if approved by the U.S. Senate, would be based at the federal courthouse at 151 West Street in Rutland.

Vermont's other active federal courthouse is on Elmwood Avenue in Burlington, where Judge Christina Reiss presides. Reiss was appointed in 2009 and previously served as Chief Judge in Vermont 2010-17.

Lanthier received her undergraduate degree from Amherst College in 1993 and her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in 1996. She taught evidence labs at Vermont Law and Graduate School from 2017 to 2023.

She is a past chair of the Vermont Chapter of the American College of Trial Lawyers and serves as the treasurer for the Vermont Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Biden, before being sworn in, had said he wanted to appoint women, public defenders, people of color and other minorities to the bench. Lanthier was among four women that the White House announced on Thursday for judicial nominations  two to the district court level and two to the appeals court level.

The announcement on Thursday was the 50th round of judicial nominations now totaling 244 by Biden.

Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. and Peter Welch D-Vt., who set up a screening panel of Democrats and Progressives to review the Vermont applications, applauded Biden for going forward with Lanthier.

Mary Kay Lanthier has dedicated her career to public defense and ensuring that everyone has a fair chance in the courtroom, and I expect that she will bring that experience to the bench if she is confirmed to this role, Sanders, a non-lawyer, said in a statement.

Her peers in the Vermont legal community know that her skill, high ethical standards, and professionalism will carry over to her service as a federal judge. I am confident that she will be a fair and impartial federal judge and that everyone in her courtroom will be treated with the compassion, respect, and dignity they deserve, Sanders said in a prepared statement.

Welch, a lawyer and a member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee said he thinks Lanthier is an excellent nominee to serve her home state.

"She has spent her legal career here in Vermont where she has earned a clear and deserved respect  in the courtroom, in the legal community, and across the state, the junior senator said.

Ms. Lanthier has devoted her career to ensuring that the legal system works for everyone, no matter their background, and her formidable trial experience will serve her well on the bench. As a former public defender, I look forward to Ms. Lanthiers public service continuing in this new capacity in the community she calls home.

If approved, Lanthier will give women both seats on the district court bench in Vermont.

Vermont could end up with women in the top four fulltime federal judgeships. Judge Beth Robinson sits on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City, while Judge Heather Cooper presides in the Bankruptcy Court.

The advancement of Lanthier application in recent weeks meant Assistant Federal Defender Steven L. Barth, Vermont Law School Professor Jessica C. Brown and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher were put on the back burner.

Vermont News & Media had reported in March that Barth, Brown and Drescher were the top picks by the special Sanders/Welch screening committee.

Some members of the legal profession and the general public have questioned the makeup of the screening committee. All three lawyers appointed by Sanders, a non-lawyer, to the seven-member screening committee have never filed a case in U.S. District Court in Vermont, according to an investigation by Vermont News & Media earlier this year.

A fourth screener was listed for only 11 federal cases in Vermont in her career.

The Sanders/Welch screening committee also had nobody representing any of the offices that deal on a daily basis with federal judges in Vermont. They include the court clerk's office, the U.S. Marshal, U.S. Probation, U.S. Attorney and the Federal Defender.

Sanders and Welch have been under pressure to advance a recommendation because President Biden wants to appoint as many judges as possible before the General Election in November when the Democrats could lose the White House.
Republican Attorney General Austin Knudsen's re-election campaign has responded to a complaint filed against him with the state's top political cop, but has yet to address allegations he recruited another candidate to skirt campaign contribution limits.

In a letter dated May 20, campaign adviser Jake Eaton told Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Chris Gallus he should dismiss the complaint against Knudsen, arguing the Montana Democratic Party's complaint was not specific enough about what campaign practice laws they allege the attorney general violated.

"This requirement is important as a matter of due process because respondents to a campaign finance complaint have a right to know the allegations against them in order to formulate a meaningful response and defense to these allegations," Eaton wrote.

Gallus is investigating two complaints from Montana Democrats' Executive Director Sheila Hogan. One alleges Knudsen raised more money than he was allowed in the primary race without another Republican to run against. Daniels County Attorney Logan Olson filed to run in the attorney general GOP primary, but the Daily Montanan reported last week on an audio recording of Knudsen telling a crowded event in Dillon he recruited Olson in order to raise more money.

The Daily Montanan story cited a state law about improper candidate nominations and while Hogan's complaint doesn't raise a specific statute Knudsen would have violated, she did email a link of the Daily Montanan story to Gallus.

In his letter this week to Gallus, Eaton contended Hogan seeks a novel interpretation barring campaigns from accepting primary and general election donations until a primary opponent joins the race.

"That argument is, of course, absurd on its face and has no rational basis within the text of the statute," Eaton's letter states.

Hogan's second complaint alleges Olson does not meet the qualifications for the office because he will not have been an attorney for five years by the time of the general election in November. Olson told the Montana State News Bureau he believes he is in compliance with the law under the student law practice rules, but he has not yet responded to Gallus, who gave Olson until Thursday to do so.

Democratic attorney general candidate Ben Alke, Knudsen's likely general election opponent, said Knudsen's disregard for the campaign finance law should be concerning.

"It is his job to enforce the law," he told reporters in a press conference Monday held over Zoom. "Our campaign finance laws help maintain the integrity of our elections. They're not ridiculous, they are necessary to maintain the integrity of our election process and to prevent corruption. The public has reason to be concerned about whether a current attorney general is corrupt."

Alke's campaign is the subject of a campaign practice complaint filed by the Montana Republican Party in October, alleging he failed to report expenses for events, travel and video production related to his campaign. Alke has since responded to that complaint, stating the relevant receipts should and would be included in the following reporting period.

"There's a big difference between whether you're trying to get money illegally and, you know, whether you dotted all the i's and crossed your t's on your paperwork," Alke said in distinguishing the two campaign complaints.

Eaton sent the following statement when asked to respond to Alke's "corrupt" comment:

"Today he is pushing false allegations, tomorrow hell probably be performing at the circus  whatever it takes to get attention," Eaton said. "Shelia Hogans complaint is frivolous, and he knows it."
Theyll serve as monks and nuns for just more than a week to commemorate Buddhas birth and enlightenment.

Nearly 200 young men and women were ordained as monks and nuns in Cambodias northwest at a ceremony that was held on Visak Bochea  a holy day that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and nirvana of the Buddha.

Buddhists usually mark the annual festival by going to their local pagoda. But others sometimes go a step further by volunteering to become monks and nuns for a short period.

The young men and women who were ordained this week in Battambang province will serve as monks and nuns for eight days.

Approximately 200 young men and women were ordained as monks and nuns at a recent ceremony in Battambang province, Cambodia, May 22, 2024. (RFA)

Theyll educate their minds through the practice of meditation with the belief that learning the Dharma  or the right way of living  can be beneficial for mental health.

The purpose of this is to mainstream Buddhism to the youth because now in Cambodia we see that Buddhism pervades only with the elderly, said Venerable Tuy Sokhim, the chief monk at Wat Sorya Ream in Battambangs Moung Russey district.

Since 2016, monks at Wat Sorya Ream have ordained hundreds of young Cambodians every year on Visak Bochea.

The ordinations help poor people who normally cant afford to be ordained, Tuy Sokhim said. They also help with reaching out to younger people.

The important thing is that we refine our youth to be moral, virtuous and grateful, he said.

Approximately 200 young men and women were ordained as monks and nuns at a recent ceremony in Battambang province, Cambodia, May 22, 2024. (RFA)





Becoming a nun for a week was a way to show respect to the older generation, according to Kong Srey Ne, a young woman who spoke with Radio Free Asia. The meditation practices have also helped her feel calm, she said.

I decided to be ordained to pay gratitude to my parents for what Ive done wrong in the past, she said.

An older participant  57-year-old Soeum Pov  said hes dreamed of becoming a monk for many years.

I love Buddhism, so I came to become a monk, he said. This ordination is to say goodbye to previous deeds to be better and safe in the future.

Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed.
The pro-China Kuomintang says change is needed, but critics say the bill could subvert the island's democracy.

A controversial move by Taiwan's Kuomintang nationalist party to push ahead with legislation that would boost the power of lawmakers at the expense of the executive branch has sparked protests demanding it be tabled amid fears it could boost Chinese influence over the democratic island's government and threaten national security.

The move by the party, which favors closer ties with China, and which now commands a majority in the parliament, drew thousands of protesters onto the streets of Taipei on Tuesday. They gathered outside the Legislative Yuan holding up placards that read "Withdraw the bill, protect our democracy!" "Selling out the people!" and "Democracy killers," the island's Central News Agency reported.

Many among the crowd were supporters of the Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, whose newly elected President Lai Ching-te was sworn in on Monday. His ascension came amid increased military activity by China's People's Liberation Army around the island, which has never been ruled by Beijing, nor formed part of the People's Republic of China.

At issue is proposed legislation proposed by the Kuomintang, or KMT, and its ally, the Taiwan People's Party, or TPP, that would grant greater powers to lawmakers to investigate, sanction and demand information from the executive, businesses and the military. Critics say it would pose a national security threat, given the Kuomintang's close relationship with Beijing.

The controversy comes as the Chinese military on Thursday launched large-scale drills around Taiwan, three days after Lai took office, as punishment for the democratic islands separatist acts.

The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, the north, south and east of Taiwan Island, as well as areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin, Chinas defense ministry said on its website.

The Joint Sword-2024A drills combine multiple branches of the armed forces under the Eastern Theater Command of the Peoples Liberation Army, or PLA, and will last until Friday.

A spokesperson for the command said the exercises serve as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of what he called Taiwan independence forces and as a stern warning against interference and provocation by external forces -- a veiled reference to the United States and its allies.

Sweeping powers to demand info

Meanwhile, back in Taiwan, campaigners said the Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party's bills would grant sweeping powers to lawmakers to demand information from anyone in Taiwan, including members of the public, to the extent of violating people's human rights and endangering national security.

"Article 25 of the bill touches on national security and secrets," Raymond Sung, Deputy Executive Director of Taiwan's New Constitution Foundation, told RFA Mandarin in an interview on Thursday.

"If officials are forced to go to the Legislative Yuan to answer questions about classified information ... how can there be adequate protection for state secrets?" Sung questioned.

He said the bill, if it becomes law, would place additional pressure on Lai's administration and gives sweeping powers to lawmakers to demand information.

"The extension of such powers to private business personnel could infringe on people's privacy or on corporate trade secrets," he said.

Sung said the new powers could also set the stage for further disruptive action by KMT and TPP lawmakers, for example, a refusal to pass government funding for social welfare or even the defense budget.

DPP lawmaker Su Chiao-hui was also concerned about the effect of Articles 47 and 48 on human rights.

"They would mean that the KMT and TPP would be able to require businesses to hand over trade secrets and people to hand over their private information without a search warrant," Su Chiao-hui wrote in a May 21 post on her Facebook account.

Lawmakers would also be able to demand confidential information from the military, and from judicial and intelligence agencies, Su wrote.

"Any information the KMT and TPP want, they can just reach out and take it, and send it straight to the desk of [Chinese Communist Party leader] Xi Jinping," she said.

Frozen out of agenda-setting

Campaigners have also complained that DPP lawmakers weren't allowed to see much of the detail of the bills before they were put to a vote, saying the legislation is being shoved through without respect for due democratic process, and that DPP lawmakers have been frozen out of agenda-setting since the KMT and TPP majority took effect in February.

The Kuomintang held a news conference on Thursday to defend the proposed legislation ahead of another parliamentary vote on Friday, during which protesters say they will be out in force again.

Ker Chien-ming, who heads the Democratic Progressive Party caucus in the Legislative Yuan, speaks to journalists on May 23, 2024. (RFA/Huang Chun-mei)

Kuomintang lawmaker Wu Tsung-Hsien told journalists that the DPP has allowed the executive arm of government to dominate in recent years, allowing corruption to flourish.

"The [DPP] doesn't want anyone to be able to supervise its executive power, so it doesn't want this bill to pass," Wu said, dismissing claims of a lack of transparency around the bill.

"Lawmakers were allowed to speak during the reading process, but they were unwilling to discuss the content of the bill, preferring to carry on cursing it," Wu said.

The KMT has argued that the legislative reform bills are necessary to enhance the Legislature's oversight role, bring about greater government transparency and accountability, and force the ruling party and its government officials to face and respond to public opinion. The KMT says the DPP hasn't been accountable over the past eight years due to its legislative majority, Central News Agency reported.

Timing of bill suspect

Ker Chien-ming, who heads the DDP caucus in the Legislative Yuan, said he believed the timing of the bill -- to coincide with current Chinese military activity around Taiwan -- was suspect.

"Why are they in such a hurry?" Ker wanted to know. "Are they doing this in cooperation with China?"

"Do you want the lawmakers you elected to betray your country?"

Ker suggested that the KMT and TPP were acting in a pincer movement along with the People's Liberation Army's Joint Sword military drills around Taiwan.

"The Kuomintang and the Taiwan People's Power have occupied the Legislative Yuan, and China has sent its military to surround Taiwan -- how will this be seen by the international community?" Ker wanted to know.

As protesters gathered outside the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday, lawmakers inside were discussing amendments that would allow government personnel who refuse to answer lawmakers' questions to be held criminally liable or face impeachment, Central News Agency reported.

They were also debating amendments removing secret ballots on government appointments, as well as broad-reaching access to official documents, the report said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie.
A Chinese People's Liberation Army aircraft flies over the 68-nautical-mile scenic spot, one of mainland China's closest points to the island of Taiwan, in Pingtan island, Fujian province, China August 5, 2022.

Updated May 23, 2024, 04:41 a.m. ET.

The Chinese military on Thursday launched large-scale drills around Taiwan, three days after new President Lai Ching-te took office, as punishment for the democratic islands separatist acts.

The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, the north, south and east of Taiwan Island, as well as areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin, Chinas defense ministry said on its website.

The Joint Sword-2024A drills combine multiple branches of the armed forces under the Eastern Theater Command of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and will last until Friday.

A spokesperson for the command said the exercises serve as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of what he called Taiwan independence forces and as a stern warning against interference and provocation by external forces, a veiled reference to the United States and its allies.

The spokesperson, Li Xi, said the army, navy, air force and rocket force of the theater command had joined the exercise.

This screen grab from a video by the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command shows a missile being fired during a military exercise in China on August 4, 2022. (PLA Eastern Theater Command/ESN/AFPTV/AFP)





China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province, often stages military exercises in response to major political events on the island. The scale of the exercises invariably depends on the significance of the event.

In August 2022, after then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei, the PLA conducted a week of joint drills around Taiwan, including live-fire exercises, followed by anti-submarine attacks and air drills. Pelosi was the most senior U.S. official to visit Taiwan in 25 years.

The code name of this exercise is Joint Sword 2024, which means it is a continuation of the exercise in 2022 after Nancy Pelosis visit, said Shen Ming-shih, a Taiwanese military expert from the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taipei.

There will be more of such exercise this year as it becomes routine but they wont be large-scale aggressions, Shen added.

The PLAs Eastern Theater Command posted a map on the Weibo microblogging site showing locations of the drills, which appears similar to the August 2022 exercises but with the addition of areas near Taiwans outer islands.

A witness in the Kinmen islands told Radio Free Asia that since Thursday morning, two formations of Chinese vessels had been spotted operating near the islands.

Outside the island chain

Spokesperson Li said Joint Sword-2024A was focused on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes.

Chinese military vessels and planes would be conducting patrols and integrated operations inside and outside the island chain to test the joint real combat capabilities of the forces of the command, he said.

Military analyst, Ben Lewis, said that means the PLA will send aircraft further eastward.

I think it is likely they will operate in West Pacific, based on the exercise zones and stated objectives of the drill, Lewis told RFA.

Location of Chinese drills around Taiwan, May 23, 2024. (PLA Eastern Theater Command)





In a press statement, Taiwans ministry of defense condemned the exercise and expressed regret for such irrational provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability.

The ministry said it had mobilized joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, as well as air defense and land-based missile forces, to monitor the situation in order to respond to emergencies.

Such PLA drills are largely anticipated and included in Taiwans defense planning, according to the ministry.

China's actions have caused substantial damage to global peace and stability, it said, adding that they also highlight Beijings hegemonic nature.

Lai Ching-te, who China views as a separatist, was sworn in as Taiwans president on Monday.

Lai said in his acceptance speech that his government would strive to maintain the status quo with China but we must not have illusions.

Before China gives up using force to invade Taiwan, citizens must understand this: even if we accept all of Chinas claims and give up our sovereignty, Chinas ambition to annex Taiwan will not disappear.

Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office said that Lai sent dangerous signals that seek to undermine peace and stability.

Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.

Updated to add an expert comment.
The last meeting among the neighbors was held in 2019.

Leaders of South Korea, China and Japan will meet on May 26-27 in Seoul for their first trilateral talks in more than four years, South Koreas presidential office said on Thursday.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will have bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday, ahead of their three-way gathering on Monday, South Koreas deputy national security adviser, Kim Tae-hyo, said.

The summit will cover six areas of cooperation: economy and trade, sustainable development, health issues, science and technology, disaster and safety management, and people-to-people exchanges, Kim said, adding that the leaders would issue a joint statement.

The leaders will also discuss regional and international issues and meet about 80 businesspeople at a dinner on Sunday and a business forum the next day, Kim said.

The summit will serve as a turning point for fully restoring and normalizing the trilateral cooperation system among South Korea, Japan and China, he added.

It will also provide an opportunity to recover future-oriented and practical cooperation momentum that will allow the people of the three countries to feel the benefits.

The neighbors held an inaugural stand-alone trilateral summit in 2008, and were supposed to meet annually after that. But the summit has been suspended since it was last held in December 2019, in China, because of bilateral feuds and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Relations between all three have been fraught for various reasons over recent years.

South Korea and Japan are working to improve relations strained due to historical disputes stemming from Japans wartime aggression. They are also strengthening their trilateral security partnership with the United States amid growing rivalry between China and the U.S.

Japan, South Korea and the United States underscored their security cooperation against North Korean threats and reinforced their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific during an August 2023 Camp David summit.

In 2018, the year before the last summit between the three Asian neighbors, in the Chinese city of Chengdu, North Korea unexpectedly changed its aggressive stance toward the U.S. and South Korea. Seoul, in turn, eased its criticism of Pyongyang.

Japan, however, continued to prioritize pressure on North Korea, causing disagreement with Seoul over North Korea policy. By the 2019 talks, the three neighbors could only agree on a general policy of cooperating on efforts to denuclearize North Korea.

China and South Korea have also clashed in recent years over a U.S. missile defense shield installed in South Korea.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the U.S. and its allies for their intimidation in the military sphere of North Korea at a recent bilateral summit.

In March, Russia vetoed a U.N. resolution to extend a monitoring panel for enforcing North Korean sanctions, while China abstained, blocking U.S.-led efforts to control Pyongyangs weapons program.

Edited by Mike Firn.
Illegal hunting has reduced the numbers of the small tree-dwelling ape to about 600.

A white-cheeked gibbon watches the photographer at the zoo in Duisburg, Germany, on Feb. 20, 2015.

Police in Laos have accused a man of killing a white-cheeked gibbon  a small tree-dwelling ape that is listed as an endangered and protected species in the country.

Illegal hunting and the wildlife trade have reduced the numbers of white-cheeked gibbons in areas near the Laos-Vietnam border to about 600, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Phaiboun Thammavong of Phou Mak Neng village in central Khammouane province was arrested on May 15 and charged with violating Article 337 of Laos criminal code, which states that anyone who catches, detains, kills or sells endangered and protected species can be jailed from six months to three years.

A resident of the same village told Radio Free Asia that white-cheeked gibbons sometimes come down from an area known as Phou Pha Man Mountain to wander from house to house.

These animals sometimes enter my home, which is about two 2 kilometers from the mountain, he said.

Authorities often warn residents of potential severe punishment for those who catch, eat or sell a white-cheeked gibbon, the resident said.

The area is popular among poachers who forage for food  sometimes at night, a police official from the provinces Khounkham district told RFA.

The mountain where they live is a protected forest and a tourist attraction, and the spot where the gibbon was killed is close to the protected forest, he said.

If convicted, Phaiboun Thammavong could also face a fine of between 10 million kip (US$500) and 50 million kip (US$2,500).

He is also charged with posting photos of the gibbon on social media, according to a police statement.

Were enforcing the law. Were investigating and interrogating the arrested man, the police official said.

Another resident of Khounkham district said he believes there is a second suspect in the killing of the gibbon who has not yet been arrested.

Translated by Max Avary. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
Her brother called for the reduction after an auction ended with no one willing to pay US$90 million.

Auction officials read a statement outside the family house of detained Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon, Myanmar, March 20, 2024. The lakeside mansion where Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi spent years under house arrest went under auction on March 20, 2024 with a minimum price of $90 million -- but attracted no bids, officials said.

Jailed democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyis brother on Thursday won an appeal to lower the bidding price for their familys historic home in Myanmars Yangon region, after a court-ordered auction in March concluded with no one willing to pay 315 billion kyats, or about US$90 million, for the property.

Critics have called the auction part of an attempt by the military regime to obliterate the history of Myanmars democratic movement, while the countrys shadow government of former civilian leaders has vowed to take legal action against anyone who tries to purchase the home.

They say it should be protected as a place of cultural heritage.

In August 2022, Suu Kyis brother Aung San Oo won a case at a military junta court to liquidate the residence at No. 54 University Avenue in Yangons Bahan township.

On Thursday, he successfully petitioned the Kamaryut District Court to reduce the bidding price to 285 billion kyats, or about US$71 million, according to sources with knowledge of the proceedings.

He also lobbied the court to allow potential bidders to visit the two-acre site of the lakeside home where the deposed state counselor spent nearly 15 years under house arrest under Myanmars previous military junta.

On March 20, an auction of Suu Kyis home concluded with no buyers after repeated calls for bids by the auction officer were unsuccessful.

A police officer walks outside the entrance of the family house of detained Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon, Myanmar, March 20, 2024. (AFP)

The Kamaryut District Court will reconvene on May 31 to determine how to proceed with the liquidation of the property and Suu Kyis lawyers are expected to file objections to its sale. If the home does not return to auction, the court will proceed with its sale on the open market in accordance with the law.

Political analysts told RFA Burmese on Thursday that any auction is unlikely to succeed due to the houses historic significance, the high bidding price and the propertys ties to Myanmar's political affairs.

Long-running case

The lakeside home was awarded to Suu Kyis mother, Khin Kyi, after her father, independence activist Gen. Aung San was assassinated in 1947.

Granted freedom in 2010 after years of house arrest, Suu Kyi received U.S. President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the compound.

Ownership of the historic property has long been disputed by Suu Kyi and her elder brother Aung San Oo.

The legal case to liquidate the property began in 2000, with Aung San Oo auctioning off everything in No. 54 and dividing the proceeds with Suu Kyi.

In 2016, the Yangon Western District Court ruled that Suu Kyi was to receive half of the house and land, with Aung San Oo receiving the other half.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Aung San Oo filed multiple appeals up to Myanmars Supreme Court, where they were ultimately rejected, during the rule of Suu Kyis National League for Democracy, or NLD, government.

Myanmars junta arrested and imprisoned Suu Kyi shortly after deposing the NLD in a February 2021 coup detat, at which point Aung San Oo filed new special appeals, resulting in the Union Supreme Court overruling the earlier decision. Consequently, the Kamaryut District Court decided to sell the property by auction.

Suu Kyi, 78, was initially sentenced by the junta to 33 years on 19 charges, a sentence that was later reduced to 27 years. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate is believed to be in solitary confinement in Naypyidaw Prison, in the capital, but her exact whereabouts are unknown.

Translated by Kalyar Lwin. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
Residents of Rakhines Maungdaw township, near Bangladesh, say army is preventing them from leaving.

Around 20,000 civilians are trapped in western Myanmars Rakhine state amid fierce fighting between ethnic rebels and the military for control of Maungdaw township on the border with Bangladesh, residents said Thursday.

In November, the Arakan Army, or AA, ended a ceasefire that had been in place since the militarys February 2021 coup detat and has since captured nine townships across Rakhine state and launched several offensives in other areas. Maungdaw is a key trade hub for goods flowing in and out of Myanmar via Bangladesh.

Fighting escalated in the area after the AA recently attacked the pro-junta No. 2 Border Guard Force in Four Mile village, located about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) east of the seat of Maungdaw township, along the Maungdaw-Buthidaung highway.

A resident told RFA Burmese on Thursday that junta troops are now preventing civilians from leaving Maungdaw.

Those who have tried to escape from the town were arrested, said the resident who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke to RFA on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. As the junta troops extort money, we dont even try to flee anymore.

The resident said junta reinforcements in six or seven trucks arrived in the area on Wednesday and that troops are patrolling the town at night.

More than 26,000 people, including ethnic Rakhines, Rohingyas and Hindus, live in Maungdaw township, but Muslim Rohingyas make up an estimated 80% of the population.

Residents said that most of the Rakhines  who are the majority ethnicity in Rakhine state  have left the town gradually since April, and now only a small number of them remain in the town.

However, they said that nearly 20,000 people  mostly Rohingyas and Hindus  remain trapped in Maungdaw amid the fighting.

Living in fear

Another resident of Maungdaw township, who also declined to be named, told RFA that they were prepared to flee at a moments notice, if the chance arrived.

"We regularly hear fighter jets and heavy artillery fire in the town, they said. I have prepared my backpack with some clothes in it.

Three-Mile bridge near Maungdaw township, Myanmar, December 2020. (RFA)

A Rohingya from Maungdaw said that those trapped in the town are living in fear.

"The junta and its [forcibly recruited] Muslim [militia] forces have threatened that Rakhine people will be arrested and local Muslims will be shot dead on the spot if they try to flee, he said.

The AA has captured several junta outposts along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, and at present only a few junta camps near and south of Maungdaw township remain under the control of the military, according to residents.

All bridges to Maungdaw have been destroyed and junta troops have blocked entrances to the town with the newly arrived reinforcements, they said.

Attempts by RFA to contact Hla Thein, the juntas spokesman and attorney general for Rakhine state, by telephone regarding the latest situations in Maungdaw went unanswered Thursday.

The AA issued a warning on May 20 calling on international organizations and residents of Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Thandwe townships to evacuate ahead of increased clashes.

After the resurgence of battles in Rakhine state since November 13, the AA has controlled 10 townships, including Buthidaung township of Rakhine state and Paletwa township in Chin State.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
6 social workers arrested in early May have been out of contact for more than 2 weeks.

Myanmars junta is targeting welfare groups assisting people displaced by conflict and social volunteer workers in the countrys northern Sagaing region, where armed clashes between the military and rebel groups are intensifying, aid workers said.

Last week, the United Nations said that Myanmars civil war has left a total of 18.6 million people in need  more than one-third of the countrys 54 million people and 1 million more than in 2023. The U.N. said that Sagaing, as well as the central Magway region and Chin state in the west, have the highest number of internally displaced people, or IDPs, at nearly 1.5 million.

Amid the humanitarian crisis, six social workers from Sagaing region were arrested in early May and have not been reachable for more than two weeks, aid workers told RFA Burmese on Wednesday.

A social worker in Sagaing township who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke to RFA on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, said that they are afraid to continue their humanitarian work after the junta arrested the six volunteers.

"In the past, we carried out volunteer work freely, he said. Recently, some members of the welfare association were arrested on false allegations. We have lost the confidence to continue our work.

Of the six arrested, three are members of the Thukhakari Health and Social Welfare Association and the other three are volunteers in Sagaing township, aid workers said.

Zin Phyo Aung, also known as Fatty, who works as a driver for the Thukhakari Health and Social Welfare Association, was arrested at his house on May 5. Junta troops raided the associations office located in Sagaing townships Lay Kyun Myay monastery the following day.

Six members of the association were arrested during the raid, and four were later released. But the remaining two men, identified as Aung Thu and Arkar Phyo Kyaw, remain in custody, aid workers said.

More recently, three social volunteers from Sagaing township  Aung Aung, Soe Win and Aye Zarni Tun  were also arrested, they said.

Allegations of terrorism

Dhamma Piya Lankkara, a senior Buddhist monk and the patron of the Thukhakari Health and Social Welfare Association, said the six social workers were arrested on allegations of ties to the anti-junta Peoples Defence Force, or PDF.

Three members of our association were arrested and the remaining social workers are from other welfare associations, he said. They were taken in private cars, and have been accused of connections with [illegal] organizations and violation of existing laws.

Dhamma Piya Lankkara said it remains unclear where they are being held or whether charges have been filed against them.

Refugees in Yinmabin township, Sagaing region, Myanmar, May 13, 2024. (Social Welfare Network for Sagaings People)

The Thukhakari Health and Social Welfare Association has more than 300 members, and has been providing assistance in the areas of health, funerals and natural disasters for 16 years, the monk said.

While the junta has not released any statement about the arrests, pro-junta accounts on the social media platform Telegram recently claimed that six social workers from Sagaing township had been charged with violating the Counter Terrorism Law for allegedly supplying the PDF.

Workers fear for their safety

There are more than 30,000 people displaced by conflict in Sagaing region, an official with the Social Welfare Network for Sagaings People told RFA. The network comprises 25 organizations, and provides assistance to IDPs in 24 of Sagaing regions 37 townships.

A volunteer helping displaced persons in Sagaings Monywa township told RFA that the junta recently began targeting social volunteers in the area.

"People are afraid to go to hospitals for the treatment of injuries, so we have set up a small emergency clinic, he said. However, the junta says our clinics are intended for the rebel forces instead of people displaced by conflict, so they label them illegal.

The volunteer added that junta troops at checkpoints have been confiscating medicine and equipment earmarked for IDPs.

Since the February 2021 military coup in Myanmar, many social welfare organizations have shut down for various reasons or had their work hampered by restrictions and arrests.

No access to treatment

Villagers in Sagaings Taze township told RFA they are worried about access to health care services as junta troops frequently conduct raids in the area on the pretext of targeting PDF hideouts.

A resident of Tazes Chaung Yoe village told RFA that civilians are suffering because they lack adequate medical treatment.

"In the past, social welfare associations from nearby townships such as Ye-U and Lan Son let us borrow their cars if we had problems with the ones we use for funeral services, but these days, only a handful of welfare associations are operating, he said. They are afraid to provide assistance, even though they want to.

Members of Thukhakari Health and Social Welfare Association perform a free funeral service in Sagaing township on March 14, 2024. (Thukhakari Health and Social Volunteering Association)

The resident said that when people have been ferried to clinics for treatment, junta troops at checkpoints conduct thorough inspections, forcing us to bring the patients back home.

When it comes to health problems, residents have no access to medical treatment at hospitals, and it's causing loss of life, he said.

Violating international law

Burma Human Rights Network director Kyaw Win told RFA that the juntas targeting of volunteers assisting people displaced by conflict is unacceptable.

"Humanitarian aid groups do not discriminate against people, he said. Their values dictate that if an individual is facing hardship, they will provide assistance. Prohibition, arrest and legal action against such humanitarian groups are in violation of international law.

Kyaw Win added that the junta is using violence to stop the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people.

Calls by RFA to Nyunt Win Aung, the juntas social affairs minister and spokesperson for Sagaing region, for information about the arrests of social volunteers went unanswered Wednesday.

According to a report by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), more than 20,000 civilians remain in junta detention more than three years after the military coup.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
The group was questioned for information on ethnic minority insurgents and beaten, said a released prisoner.

Junta troops raided a village in northern Myanmars Kachin State on Thursday and detained more than 30 people, including Christian leaders and teenagers on suspicion of supporting a rebel group, residents told Radio Free Asia.

A group of about 100 soldiers stormed the village in Kachin States Hpakant township before dawn and rounded up villagers in a school before marching the detainees away for questioning, they said.

More than 200 villagers were held in the school initially, said one villager who declined to be identified for safety reasons.

They said they would shoot up the village if they [junta troops] were attacked. They made threats to scare us.

Those detained were accused of supporting the anti-junta Kachin Independence Army, villagers said. The detainees were released after about nine hours of questioning, they said.

RFA telephoned Kachin States junta spokesperson, Moe Min Thein, for more information but he did not respond.

The Kachin force, one of Myanmars most powerful ethnic minority guerrilla groups battling for self-determination, has said it has captured at least 100 junta camps and eight towns across the state, and in neighboring Shan State, over recent months.

This week, Kachin fighters captured a junta camp and secured a trade route near the Kachin State capital of Myitkyina, close to the border with China.

Soldiers from the juntas Divisions 33 and 77 conducted the raid on Nam Si In village and took away the men, most of them middle-aged, said one villager, who declined to be identified for safety reasons.

Three Christian pastors were among those arrested, said the villager.

Many Kachin are Christian.

The detained villagers were interrogated about any links to the Kachin Independence Army and other anti-junta militias set up by pro-democracy activists, said one of those questioned. Some of them were beaten with guns and told to report any rebel activity, he added.

Five teenagers were among those detained and beaten, he said.

Kachin guerrillas have in recent weeks captured junta camps in four villages in heavy fighting in Hpakant township, residents said.

Kachin Baptist Convention pastor Hkalam Samson was released on parole in one of the juntas mass amnesties on April 17 after being sentenced to six years in prison under an anti-terrorism law. But he was re-arrested later that day, according to sources close to the family.

Unidentified gunmen have executed at least two pastors in Kachin State this year. The motive for the killings was not known.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn.
The country is grappling with growing gridlock, inadequate transportation networks and air pollution.

Vietnamese drivers entering big cities during peak traffic periods will have to pay congestion fees if one lawmaker gets his way.

Nguyen Phuong Thuy, a representative from the capital Hanoi, argued during a discussion Tuesday in the National Assembly that the fee would boost the state budget, increase funds for land transport infrastructure  and reduce traffic jams.

He was one of 23 National Assembly deputies who discussed a draft Law on Roads, including the possibility of charging fees on personal cars that enter city centers at certain times, according to a state media.

The proposal comes as Vietnam grapples with growing traffic congestion, inadequate transportation infrastructure and increasing air pollution from exhaust fumes despite the government's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050.

Officials in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnams largest city with a population of 9 million, calculated that in 2022, the city lost about 138 trillion dong, or US$5.4 billion, due to traffic jams for missed work time, wasted fuel while sitting in traffic and labor force costs.

Public transportation is lacking. In 2022, Hanoi had about 5.8 million motorbikes and 600,000 automobiles, though only 140 bus lines, meeting an estimated 31% of total demand, according to a report by the Hanoi Times.

Five centrally governed cities in Vietnam  Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong, Danang and Can Tho  have the authority to impose driving charges not previously defined by law, according to a report by Viet Nam News.

It wasnt immediately clear what the fees might be under the new proposal.

Three conditions must be met for the scheme to work, Thuy said, according to an online report by VN Express.

First, the collection should be digitized. Second, public transportation should meet at least 30% of transportation demand. And third, infrastructure, parking lots, and public transit systems must connect personal vehicles with public ones.

Cars owned by people both inside and outside the city have increased, while old, dilapidated infrastructure has failed to meet transport demand, he said.

Mixed views

But some people are skeptical the plan would be effective.

Hanoi resident Nguyen Khac Toan said he didnt believe a fee on inbound-city cars would reduce traffic jams.

The fee collection measure seems right, but it is only situational and patchy, he told Radio Free Asia. It would not help because those who need to drive a car into the city would pay to do so.

Traffic gridlock occurs near the National Convention Center during the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Hanoi, Jan. 26, 2021. (Nhac Nguyen/AFP)

Former National Assembly Deputy Luu Binh Nhuong wrote on Facebook that poor traffic management is the main cause of traffic jams in Hanoi  not inbound personal vehicles.

Therefore, any fees imposed on these drivers would not be not fair and would be a violation of free movement and free business under the countrys Constitution and Competition Law, he said.

Nguyen Quang A, another Hanoi resident, said a willingness by city officials to address limited parking spaces and high parking fees would help ease the situation. Drivers have to pay several hundred thousand dong an hour to park, and lots are difficult to find, he said.

For city dwellers, there should be parking lots built for them, but in case they park on the streets, a fee should be collected for using public space, he said. Those who own cars have to follow. That is the easiest way to solve traffic jams and to collect money for the city budget.

Past proposals

This isnt the first time that Vietnams major cities have considered fees on personal vehicles entering the city center  but none have been implemented.

The Vietnamese government issued a decree in April 2022 to enhance order, transport security and reduce traffic jams, and several cities were told to conduct a fee collection pilot program for inbound vehicles.

In 2017, Hanois Peoples Council issued a resolution on enhancing traffic order and combating traffic congestion. It called for limiting or stopping motorbike traffic in certain areas of the five centrally governed cities after 2030, as well as collecting tolls from vehicles in highly congested and polluted areas of major cities.

The Peoples Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnams southern economic hub, included a traffic jam fee in its general city planning project until 2040, a plan that would look further to 2060. Fees would be collected during specific times of the day, including peak travel.

Translated by Gia Minh for RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
A national Democratic organization and abortion access advocates this week announced they're about to spend millions in state Supreme Court races, with an eye toward Montana's nonpartisan contest.

The National Democratic Redistricting Committee and Planned Parenthood Votes, the political committee of the national abortion health care organization, announced a plan to spread $5 million in Supreme Court races across what they've determined to be key states.

However, in an interview Tuesday, NDRC President John Bisognano declined to discuss how much will be spent here, or whether those dollars will be direct contributions to a candidate or independent efforts in support of their preferred candidate.

In a phone interview about the upcoming "investment" in Montana's Supreme Court races, Bisognano declined even to identify which candidates the NDRC and Planned Parenthood Votes will support.

"It's a weird question not to know the answer to," Bisognano said. He said announcing these elections as a priority for the NDRC was "the most critical first step."

The groups say they are motivated to spend money in elections here to uphold and strengthen the state's redistricting process and abortion access.

Unique from its neighboring states, Montana has a 1999 state Supreme Court precedent known as Armstrong that holds the state Constitution protects the right to access a pre-viability abortion. That makes it a target for political foes trying to maintain or repeal access. The same year the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision punted abortion access protections to the states, Planned Parenthood's political committee in Montana spent six figures on mailers supporting state Supreme Court Justice Ingrid Gustafson's re-election.

Most redistricting fights in Montana have, for the most part, come and gone. Republicans secured their preferred congressional district maps in the process, while the new legislative district map drew mostly from Democrats' suggestions.

But for the Public Service Commission, a district court judge ruled earlier this year the Republican-held Legislature likely gerrymandered its redistricting map to heavily favor GOP candidates.

Bisognano said his organization's involvement in this year's Supreme Court races seeks to maintain a sound redistricting process here.

"I think the future of redistricting in Montana remains unclear," he said. "The way in which the commission functions, especially in the state legislative level, this cycle was reasonable. But that's not necessarily a gift or a given for the future."

Montana's last Supreme Court election was outlier for its partisan overtones, a gamble several political analysts think backfired for the state's majority party.

In 2022, state Republicans publicly endorsed their preferred candidate in James Brown early on and the Republican State Leadership Committee issued statements about spending $500,000 toward ads opposing Brown's opponent. Montana voters have increasingly elected Republicans into office in recent cycles, but Brown still lost handily to incumbent Gustafson.

With this week's announcement, it's Democratic groups who will be first this election year to publicly dip their partisan toes in the nonpartisan the Supreme Court election waters.

"I can't speak to the last election," Bisognano said. "I can't speak to whether or not (voters' rejection of a partisan-backed candidate) was backlash or wasn't a backlash. What seems reasonable is, and maybe it is, the-hyper partisan nature by which Republicans have been attacking the state Supreme Courts at large.

"From our perspective, it's not about partisanship," he said. "The candidates that have shown themselves to appreciate Democracy at large, I think are the candidates we support. And we want to ensure that those candidates have the resources they need to be successful and making sure that the message that that candidate is publicizing is as public as possible."

Bisognano said the NDRC will likely announce its support for candidates in July. The NDRC is not yet registered with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices.

Latest campaign finance reports

In the most recent campaign finance reports between April and May, campaigns for Supreme Court are seeing five-digit hauls, roughly on par with the other statewide elections: Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Secretary of State and the State Auditor. The gubernatorial election crossed the million-dollar mark months ago.

In the contest for chief justice, former federal magistrate Jeremiah Lynch raised $36,149 and spent $61,044, but still had $104,174 in the bank when the reporting period closed May 15. The biggest expenditure by far is $48,000 spent on cable ad buys ahead of the June 4 primary.

Broadwater County Attorney Cory Swanson meanwhile closed the month out with $106,230, the most of any Supreme Court candidate going into the primary election. He raised $25,270 and spent $19,338, and his report includes an out-of-pocket expense for travel to a campaign strategy meeting in Washington, D.C., although it's unclear from the report who hosted the meeting.

Marshall Douglas, a third candidate for chief justice, did not file a campaign finance report with the Commissioner of Political Practices for the latest period.

Chief Justice Mike McGrath announced last year he was retiring from the bench.

In the race to replace outgoing Justice Dirk Sandefur, Richland County District Court Judge Katherine Bidegaray raised $68,389 in the last period and spent $51,134, most of which went to mailers or media space. She ends the period with $99,974 cash in hand.

Flathead District Court Judge Dan Wilson has $81,763 in the bank as of May 15, but raised $24,300 this period and spent $11,535.

Jerry O'Neil, a former Republican lawmaker from Columbia Falls who is not a member of the State Bar of Montana, reported spending $44 on an 800-mile trip to Red Lodge for dinner and campaigning. He raised no money on the endeavor.
Russian President Vladimir Putin used a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Masud Pezeshkian, to cement their growing bilateral ties that have raised concern in the West as war rages in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The two leaders met in Ashgabat on the sidelines of a conference in the capital of the tightly controlled Central Asian country of Turkmenistan on October 11. It was the first of two meetings between the men, with another scheduled at the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan that runs on October 22-24.

It was the first of two meetings between the two, with another scheduled at the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan that runs on October 22-24.



Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters ahead of the meeting that while the talks will focus on bilateral relations, "the situation in the Middle East definitely will not be ignored and will also be on the agenda."



The meeting was the first between the two since Pezeshkian assumed office on July 30 after winning an election to succeed his hard-line predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May.

Relations between Moscow and Tehran have strengthened since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

"Pezeshkian is trying to gauge to what extent Iran can rely on Russia for help," Touraj Atabaki, professor emeritus of Middle East and Central Asia social history at Leiden University in the Netherlands, told Radio Farda.

"Russia wants to stand with Iran due to Iran's support in its war on Ukraine but Moscow doesn't want to darken its relationship with Israel further and cut all ties," he added.

Since the early months of the Ukraine war, Russia has been accused of using Iranian-made Shahed and Mohajer-6 drones, many of which have been found after being shot down over Ukrainian cities and battlefields.



Iran initially denied arming Russia before relenting and admitting that it had supplied a "limited number of drones" to Moscow before the war.



Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Tehran continues to deny that its drones are being used by Russia against Ukraine. That has not stopped the United States and the European Union from imposing sanctions on Iran for helping Moscow.



Last month, the EU said it had "credible" information provided by allies suggesting that Iran has supplied short-range ballistic missiles to Russia to help Moscow wage war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East have been heightened since Tehran launched some 200 missiles at Israel on October 1, saying the attack was in response to the killing of Tehran-backed militant leaders and a general from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.



Israel has vowed to launch a "deadly, precise, and surprising" attack on Iran in retaliation, while it continues to pound targets in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip that it says are aimed at Iran-backed proxies.

At least 30 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded on October 11 by Israeli strikes in Jabalia in northern Gaza, according to the territory's civil-defense agency.



The recent spiral of violence was sparked by the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas that killed around 1,200 people and saw some 250 taken hostage. Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.



The fighting in Gaza prompted another Iran-backed group, Hezbollah, to fire missiles into Israel in support of Hamas. Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, while the EU blacklists its armed wing but not its political party.



The Israeli military has launched massive air strikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon in response, as well as a ground incursion into southern Lebanon intended to destroy the Iran-allied militant group, whose political party has seats in the Lebanese parliament.

Israel faced condemnation on October 11 after its forces fired at what it said was a threat near a UN peacekeeping position in Lebanon. Israeli soldiers had responded to "an immediate threat" around 50 meters from the UNIFIL post, the military said.

"An initial examination indicates that during the incident, a hit was identified on a UNIFIL post...resulting in the injury of two UNIFIL personnel," the statement added. The army pledged to carry out a "thorough review."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the firing as "intolerable" and "a violation of international humanitarian law," while the British government said it was "appalled" by reports of the injuries.

U.S. President Joe Biden said he was "absolutely" asking Israel to stop firing at UN peacekeepers, while the French, Spanish, and Italian leaders issued a joint statement expressing "outrage."

French President Emmanuel Macron renewed his call for an end to exports of weapons used by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon, while saying the UN peacekeepers had been "deliberately targeted."

In Iran, more than three dozen hard-line lawmakers on October 10 demanded the government revise its nuclear doctrine to pursue atomic weapons.



In a letter to the Supreme National Security Council, they said Western powers could not control Israel, thus making nuclear weapons "Iran's option to create deterrence."



Iran has been hit with waves of crippling economic sanctions for its nuclear program, which has seen a sharp increase in its uranium enrichment capacity after the United States under former President Donald Trump withdrew from a 2015 landmark deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that restricted Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions.



Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian purposes, but government officials caused alarm recently by saying it could change its "nuclear doctrine" if it is attacked or its existence is threatened by Israel.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Belarusian opposition politician Ihar Lednik was arrested in Minsk on April 18, 2022. After two weeks in custody, he was charged with "slandering the president of the Republic of Belarus." He was held for months in pretrial custody, with lawyers complaining that his health was deteriorating.

In September 2022, Lednik's trial began, with prosecutors contending an article he'd published contained "deliberately false, defamatory, and degrading information about [Belarusian leader Alyaksandr] Lukashenka's honor and dignity." Four days later, Judge Tatsyana Shotsik pronounced the verdict -- guilty -- and sentenced him to three years in prison.



This February, Lednik was rushed from a prison in Babruysk, about 100 kilometers southeast of the capital, to a Minsk hospital. He died there on February 20, at the age of 63.



"I met Ihar in the spring of 2023," Alyaksey Haloukin, who was also serving time on dissent-related charges, said. "Ihar said his health was deteriorating and if he wasn't given medical help...he would not survive his term. And that is what happened."



Lednik's case is emblematic of the fundamental changes that have been under way in Belarus since Lukashenka claimed a landslide victory and a sixth term in an August 2020 election that millions of Belarusians say he stole. The harsh crackdown against pro-democracy protesters that began on election day has been institutionalized into a regime of constant intimidation and fear that many observers say seems to be driven by Lukashenka's personal sense of humiliation.



"They probably can't jail everyone because they lack sufficient space," said Uladzimer Zhyhar, a former police investigator with BelPol, a group uniting former security officers who quit in response to the repression. "We aren't talking about 250,000 or 300,000 people. The number is more than 2 million at least. They start with the most active people. Then they go after anyone who did not support Lukashenka. Any form of dissent is equated with treason."



"This represents Lukashenka's retaliation for being rejected in 2020," Zhyhar concluded.

Belarusian Nobel Prize laureate Svetlana Alexievich said the goal of the authorities was "to intimidate and humiliate, to make people incapable of resistance or even the thought of resistance."



"It's all revenge," she said, "the revenge of the leader, Lukashenka's revenge for the fear he endured, for the fact that the people turned out to be completely different from what he imagined."



"I think the people will not forget this humiliation, this historical trauma, for a very long time," she added.



Over a six-month period, RFE/RL's Belarus Service interviewed dozens of released prisoners, former security officers, human rights activists, and others for a podcast series, The Belag Archipelago, documenting how Lukashenka's government has created an atmosphere of pervasive fear by relentlessly seeking out and persecuting participants in and supporters of the largest anti-government protests in Belarusian history. The full series, with English subtitles, is available here.



The Belarusian human rights group Vyasna has documented some 55,000 cases of repression since the start of the presidential election campaign in 2020. At least 4,500 people have received criminal convictions, and Vyasna has designated about 1,500 of them as political prisoners. In January 2023, the Parliamentary Assembly of Europe estimated that between 200,000 and 500,000 Belarusians had fled the country of 9.5 million since the election.



'Just Vulnerability'



The announcement of the contested results of the August 2020 election sparked more than three months of nationwide pro-democracy protests, with hundreds of thousands of people demanding Lukashenka's resignation and a new election. Many contended that opposition candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya was the actual winner.



The government responded with an often-brutal crackdown. Several people were killed and by September 1, 2020, the United Nations had recorded 450 cases of "torture and ill-treatment," as well as reports of "sexual abuse and rape with rubber batons," as at least 6,700 people were detained.

Nearly four years later, the crackdown continues, with dissidents being shuffled in and out of the grip of law enforcement.



"The doorbell rang for 40 minutes," Hanna Vishnyak said, describing her arrest in October 2020. "I thought they were going to break down the door, so I opened it. As soon as I did, they kicked me in the gut.... They stormed in and started confiscating things."



Vishnyak was a volunteer with Voditeli 97, a Telegram channel that coordinated people with cars to distribute water and other supplies to demonstrators during the protests. She served 2 1/2 years for purportedly "organizing actions violating public order."



Such conduct by the police is the norm, Zhyhar says.



"Their objective is to intimidate, to break the will of detainees, and assert dominance," he explained. "Once you fall into their hands, there is no law, no rights -- just vulnerability. Everything happens behind closed doors -- in cars, prison vans, and trucks. You become a powerless person without rights, subject to their whims."

Valeria Charnamortsava, a researcher on the crimes of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and a co-creator of the Virtual Museum of Soviet Repression in Belarus, was detained at her home on October 18, 2022.

"They began looking for 'extremist materials' and laying out various books," she recalled. "They found a red-and-white umbrella. I had tried to be prepared, but it's difficult to find everything in an apartment where I've lived for 25 years."



After more than three months in pretrial detention, Charnamortsava was sentenced to 2 1/2 years of house arrest for allegedly "participating in mass disorder."



'I Didn't Think I'd Make It Out'



Arrests are carried out both by the Interior Ministry's Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption (HUBAZiK) and by the State Security Committee (KGB).



"There's a big difference," said Alyaksandr Azarau, the director of ByPol. "We have not heard of cases of the KGB using physical violence and beating detainees. They are the 'white-collar workers' of Lukashenka's structure. But HUBAZiK officers are butchers, so to speak, who are drenched in blood up to their elbows."



Those arrested by HUBAZiK are often given 15-day administrative sentences for "petty hooliganism," usually on the accusation that the detainee "provoked law enforcement officers."



Such a 15-day sentence "turns into 15 days of torture in inhumane conditions," Azarau said.



Former police officer Zhyhar said detention conditions for political prisoners since 2020 had been "made as uncomfortable as possible...absolutely deliberately."



Mikalay Zayats, a former press officer for the Kupala National Theater in Minsk, was detained in March 2023.



"For political detainees, special conditions of detention are created," he told RFE/RL, describing his time at Minsk's notorious Akrestsina remand prison. "We weren't allowed to take a shower. We didn't have any exercise time. We had overcrowded cells. We slept on the floor. I was at Akrestsina for about a month, and frankly, I didn't think I would make it out."



Anastasia Bulybenka was first arrested on November 12, 2020, and was later sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison. After her release in 2023, she was again arrested and held in Akrestsina for 30 days.

"Thirty days is terrible," she said. "The food servings are small, simply not enough. At first I didn't eat anything, but after I was given a second 15-day sentence, I ate and even asked for more.... But it wasn't enough, and I came out quite thin."



"There are bugs," she continued. "They don't turn out the lights at night. It is torture through lack of sleep.... They wake you up twice during the night to distort your biological rhythms. If it's hot, they turn off the air conditioning. If it's cold, they turn it on. I cried a lot at Akrestsina."



Some Belarusians arrested for opposing the state are held in pretrial detention at Minsk Detention Center No. 1 in the Pishchalauski Castle, familiarly called Valadarka from the Soviet-era name of the street where it is located. Valadarka is best known as Belarus's death row, where prisoners condemned to death are held and executions are carried out.

"We had a political prisoner in our cell, a former security officer," said Aleh Hruzdzilovich, a journalist with RFE/RL's Belarus Service who spent nearly a year in custody before being released on pardon in September 2022. "As soon as he appeared, he said that he would immediately be placed in solitary confinement. And he was. Why? Because the prison head learned that he was a former officer.... So they took him away, and we never saw him again."



'A Kind Of Bait'



Although many of those arrested in politically charged cases are sentenced to prison, others are given various forms of house arrest or "restricted liberty," punishment that activists say allows for persistent oversight and humiliation at the hands of the state.



"You are at home, surrounded by your bed and your belongings," said Syarhey Drazdouski, who led an NGO that assisted disabled people before it was shut down in August 2021 and who spent about six months under house arrest in a dormitory. "But the police and the authorities have every opportunity to make this unbearable. You are forbidden to communicate with anyone except your investigator and your lawyer. Doctors are allowed if you need them."

"If you break the rules, you can be given a harsher sentence," he said.

Lawyer Illya Saley spent about six months under house arrest in 2020-21.



"In my case, house arrest was around the clock," he recalled. "I was not allowed to leave my apartment. I lived there alone, so none of my family members were with me or had the right to visit me. All the information I got came from my lawyers, who not only served as lawyers, but also brought me food and took away my trash. I was allowed to watch state television."



Nobel laureate Alexievich describes such house arrest as a form of torture.



"House arrest is a means of humiliation, but a sophisticated one," she said. "Sitting in one's house, not going outside for six months is humiliation, mockery."



Some convicts are handed a kind of sentence colloquially known as "chemistry," under which they are required to work at assigned jobs in "open-type" correctional facilities. The name comes from the Soviet-era practice of sending such people to dangerous work in the chemical industry. Now they are generally given low-skilled work, including on collective farms. There are 29 open-type correctional facilities in Belarus.



Former IT worker Viktar Parkhimchyk was sentenced in January 2021 to two years of "restricted liberty" in the northern village of Sushki, about 175 kilometers from Minsk. He worked, often 18 hours a day, as a cattle breeder on a collective farm for 300 rubles ($90) a month.



"You can see the results of this forced labor in Belarus -- relatively cheap milk and other goods," he said. "Among my duties were helping cows give birth, trimming their hooves...and other jobs I didn't understand anything about."



"There are usually very bad living conditions for people on 'chemistry,'" said Vyasna activist Natallya Satsunkevich. "There are rooms for six, eight, 10 people in which they live for a year or two or three. There is no personal space. There is hard, physical work. Of course, there is no communication with family, relatives, or friends. It is very difficult psychologically."



Still others are sentenced to so-called "home chemistry," where they are allowed to continue working at their regular place of employment while sending up to a quarter of their earnings to the state. Such people are not allowed to leave their homes on the weekends or holidays. They are subject to inspection at any time without warning, either at home or at work. If such a person does not have a job, one is assigned to them that they must accept.



Zhyhar says the use of "home chemistry" is on the rise in Belarus as a measure to keep the most active people in society monitored and isolated.



"In some cases, this is used to keep a person free but under constant control," he added. "Perhaps, through this person, they can locate other people who haven't been found yet.... It's a kind of bait."



'A Sink And A Toilet Hole'



Many of those who have been arrested since the 2020 protests have served time in prisons, including the strict-regime prisons at Zhodzina (No. 8), Mahilyou (No. 4), and Hrodna (No. 1). The country's best known political prisoners -- including Syarhey Tsikhanouski, a popular would-be 2020 presidential challenger who is the husband of now-exiled democratic opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and banker and would-be presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka -- are kept isolated in these prisons for years with virtually no contact with the outside world.



"They just break people there," said one former prisoner who asked not to identified. "The prison in Zhodzina is simply hell on Earth."



In response to rumors that Tsikhanouski had died in the Zhodzina prison, the authorities released a video of him in July 2023.

"I barely recognized him in that video," Tsikhanouskaya told RFE/RL. "A completely different person. Only after I watched a few times and saw how he moved was I sure it was him. I can't imagine how hard it is for him. And there are thousands of people like Syarhey in prison."



On July 11, 2023, artist Ales Pushkin, who was serving a five-year sentence for purportedly desecrating state symbols and inciting hatred, died at a hospital after being urgently transferred from Prison No. 1 in Hrodna. He had been denied timely treatment for a perforated ulcer, according to Vyasna. He was 57.



Many of the most prominent prisoners are kept in solitary cells known by the acronym ShYZA.



"Day and night you are in a cell about 1 1/2 meters wide and 3 meters long," said former political prisoner Natallya Hershe, a Belarusian-Swiss dual citizen who was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for participating in the 2020 protests and was released in February 2022 after Switzerland agreed to return its ambassador to Minsk.

"There's a sink and a toilet hole. When you go there, you remove all your clothes. They gave you an old uniform. You are allowed some soap, toothpaste and a toothbrush, toilet paper, and a hand towel. There is no mattress, no pillows, no blankets. There are no walks. You spend 24 hours a day in that narrow room."

"It is impossible to sleep," she continued. "You can't lie down during the day. You can pace, or you can sit on the table."



"The administrations of various prisons are actively using ShYZA against political prisoners," said Vyasna activist Satsunkevich. "And it is illegal."



Rights monitors say at least 11 politically repressed people have died in custody since 2020, including Pushkin and Lednik. Most of them were denied medical care until it was too late.



Volha Harbunova, a former prisoner who is a member of Tsikhanouskaya's opposition United Transitional Cabinet, said at least 200 political prisoners in Belarus are currently in need of urgent medical care.



"But, in fact, the health of all of the prisoners has deteriorated," she said. "Everyone has big problems. Among the political prisoners are many people from vulnerable social groups -- the elderly, people with disabilities or chronic health issues or psychological diagnoses. There are cases of people being sent to prison with Stage 4 cancer, brain tumors, or in need of urgent operations. These are real political prisoners who are now in the clutches of the regime."



Life After Prison



The ordeal of Belarus's repressed dissidents does not end after they are released from custody or other punishment.



"You don't go free when you get out of jail or prison," Harbunova said. "You end up in the new prison that the entire country has turned into."



"When I was arrested in 2021, I said, 'I will not leave Belarus; let them leave,'" said former prisoner and human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka. "But now things have changed. I understood that it was only a matter of time before new criminal charges were brought against me. It was a difficult decision."



Like many released prisoners, Sudalenka left Belarus; he is now living in Lithuania.



Another former prisoner, who asked not to be identified, explained his decision to emigrate.



"They put me on parole for two years," he said, adding that he had to report to local police every Sunday. "Nonetheless, the cops came two or three times a week. It was very unpleasant, even worse than when I was on 'chemistry.'"



Volha Klaskouskaya also made the decision to leave.



"After I was released, it was hell," she recalled. "A sword of Damocles was hanging over me constantly. Security officers came to my home. I was summoned to the police.... I understood I would not be allowed to live peacefully in Belarus. It was only a matter of time before I was back in prison. So I decided to leave immediately."



"These people are still under control," said former police officer Zhyhar. "They can be detained again at any moment. If a person is detained again and again, it is a hint from the system that they should leave."

In January, another hint came. The authorities began arresting the relatives of political prisoners. In some cases, entire families were detained. Vyasna said at least 160 people were detained on January 23. Many of them were detained for accepting help from a nongovernmental organization that provides food and other supplies to the relatives of those affected by the repressions.



"As if unjustly imprisoning scores of critics and protesters was not enough, the Belarusian authorities are now targeting their families," said Marie Struthers, the director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International.



"This represents a new departure in the chilling campaign to exterminate all vestiges of dissent in Belarus since the disputed 2020 election," she said. "The severity is surprising even for a country and a region that has witnessed more than its fair share of brutal reprisals."

Written by Robert Coalson based on reporting from the podcast The Belag Archipelago by RFE/RL's Belarus Service
TBILISI -- Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said he was warned by a European commissioner that if his government goes ahead with a controversial "foreign agent" law, he should be "very careful" in light of the recent assassination attempt of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Kobakhidze did not name the EU commissioner who made what he said was a "threat," but later on May 23 EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said he spoke with the Georgian prime minister by phone about the "foreign agent" bill and Kobakhidze took his comments out of context in his summary of the call.

According to Kobakhidze, "While listing these measures, [the commissioner] mentioned, 'You've seen what happened to Fico and you should be very careful."

Fico was shot four times while greeting citizens last week in the central Slovakian town of Handlova. He is recuperating, and his condition was described on May 20 as stable.

In Varhelyi's statement, he said that he told Kobakhidze that adopting the law "could lead to further polarization and to possible uncontrolled situations on the streets of Tbilisi."



"In this regard, the latest tragic event in Slovakia was made as an example and as a reference to where such a high level of polarization can lead in a society even in Europe," the enlargement commissioner said.

Once again, I regret that one part of my phone call was not just fully taken out of context but was also presented to the public in a way which could give rise to a complete misinterpretation of the originally intended aim of my phone call, he said.

He emphasized that he was still urging the Georgian authorities not to adopt the law and that he continues "to support Georgians working toward a European future."

Over the past few weeks, tens of thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets to protest the "foreign agent" law, amid fears it could be used to restrict civil society and free media. Under the proposed law, media outlets and NGOs that get more than 20 percent of their money from outside the country would have to register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power."



The United States, the European Union, and rights watchdogs have all condemned the law and criticized the often violent crackdown by the authorities.



In his statement accusing the commissioner of threatening him, the Georgian prime minister said that "several high-ranking foreign politicians are not hesitating to use open blackmail against the Georgian people and their elected government."



In recent weeks, the EU and the United States have linked their relations with Georgia to the passing of the law.



In a May 15 statement, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Varhelyi said that "the adoption of this law negatively impacts Georgia's progress on the EU path."

A bill that expected to be unveiled this week by U.S. lawmakers is aimed at convincing Georgia's government to repeal the contentious law. Under the proposed Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia's Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence (MEGOBARI) Act, the United States would give Georgia more economic aid, lower trade barriers, and grant more access to U.S. visas if the law were to be repealed.

But if the "foreign agent" bill becomes law, the MEGOBARI Act would require the U.S. administration to impose sanctions on Georgian officials responsible for the legislation.

In his statement Kobakhidze said he felt obliged to inform Georgians about the threat and said the parallel drawn with the attempted assassination of Fico reminds us that the Global War Party is an extremely dangerous force willing to do anything to bring chaos to Georgia."

In recent weeks, Georgian Dream leaders have ramped up their populist and conspiratorial rhetoric with increasing mention of the "global war party." Although it is not clear what or whom they are referring to, they have said the mysterious party is responsible for many of the country's ills.
One year ago, Hamas -- the U.S.- and EU-designated Palestinian terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip -- carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel, the deadliest in the countrys history.

In response, Israel launched an aerial bombardment and ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave to destroy Hamas and rescue the 251 hostages taken by the group.

Israel has expanded its war in recent weeks by invading Lebanon and launching air strikes targeting Hezbollah, the armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon.

RFE/RL spoke to Lior Yohanani, manager of quantitative research at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based independent research center, which on October 7 released a wide-ranging survey of Israeli public opinion after one year of war.

RFE/RL: Can you explain what your study found as to how Israelis view the past year since Hamas's October 7 attack?



Lior Yohanani: Well, I think Israelis still don't see October 7 as an event that's over. Sure, the actual horrific events of that day ended, but Israelis are still living with the consequences.

There are two main aspects to this. First, since October 7, Israel has been in this multifront war that doesn't seem to have an end in sight. And then, of course, there is the issue of the hostages still being held in Gaza. So, we're seeing a sharp drop in people's sense of personal security. Almost three quarters of the public feel less safe compared to before October 7, and that's despite a year of war and some significant military achievements. On the flip side, we're also seeing that most people say their lives have returned to normal when it comes to things like work, media consumption, and family and social gatherings.

Another thing we're noticing is that the Israeli public is giving pretty low marks to all the political and military leaders for the performance since October 7. For example, almost two-thirds of Israelis are rating Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu's performance since then as poor or not good.

RFE/RL: How has Israel's involvement in a two-front conflict, in both Gaza and Lebanon, as well as a confrontation with Iran affected public opinion among Israelis?



Yohanani: It's tough to answer that question, because we're at the point where things could go in a few different directions. In the last few weeks, we've seen a major escalation in the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and just last week, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, which Israel is expected to respond to. In a survey we just did recently, we asked whether Israeli society and the military could handle fighting on two or more fronts for an extended period of time, and the results were pretty striking. Over 70 percent believe that yes, both Israeli society and the military can handle that kind of prolonged fighting. So, while the situation is complex and evolving, there seems to be a strong sense of resilience and capability among Israelis, even in the face of these multiple threats. But of course, public opinion could shift depending on how events unfold in the coming weeks or months.



RFE/RL: Is there support for Netanyahus response to October 7? Is there debate in Israeli society, as well as political circles, over Netanyahus strategic choices?



Yohanani: First of all, it's important to say that the Israeli public has largely supported significant military operation against Hamas in Gaza. That said, the Israeli discourse around the October 7 events, the ongoing war, and especially toward Prime Minister Netanyahu, is very polarized between right-wing supporters on the one hand and left and center supporters on the other.

People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term."

So, on the left and the center, there is a high level of distrust and suspicion toward Netanyahu and his government. For instance, Netanyahu's apparent reluctance to pursue a deal for returning the hostages in exchange for ending the fighting in Gaza is seen by large parts of the public, even on the right, as resulting from Netanyahu's dependence on far-right, ultranationalist members of his government who refuse any compromise or ceasefire.

Now for a long time, Netanyahu and his ministers argued that only significant military force would lead Hamas to compromise and release the hostages. Now, with military attention and resources shifting to the north, people are asking, where is this massive military force that was supposed to bring the hostages home?

One question we have asked several times since October 7 in our polls is what should be the main goal in Gaza: Dismantling Hamas or bringing back the hostages? And as time goes on, public opinion is increasingly supporting the return of hostages. In our current survey, 62 percent saw bringing the bringing back the hostages as Israel's main goal, while only 29 percent pointed to dismantling Hamas as the primary objective.

RFE/RL: How do ordinary Israelis see the question of the remaining hostages amid the continued protests by the hostages' families?



Yohanani: As I mentioned before, most of the public supports a deal to release the hostages, even if it means ending the war and withdrawing the military forces from Gaza. There's this widespread feeling that we've left the hostages behind, and that's really hitting at our sense of solidarity, which is a deep and fundamental value, I think, in Jewish history in general and in Israel society in particular.

At the same time, the campaign run by the Hostages And Missing Families Forum has become very politicized. Many right-wing supporters see it as weakening Israel. As time goes on, we're seeing more and more harassment of protesters who support bringing the hostages back. There are cases of passersby cursing, even hitting and throwing eggs, at hostages' families. In our latest survey, we asked about the effectiveness of the protests and actions taken by the hostages' families.

Despite most of the public feeling empathetic toward the hostage issue, only less than a third think these actions are actually helping to advance a deal for the hostages' release, while almost 40 percent think they're actually hurting the cause. So, you've got this complex situation where people want the hostages back, but there is disagreement and some backlash about how to make that happen.

RFE/RL: Can you explain the reasons behind the apparent contradiction in views regarding prioritizing a negotiated return of the hostages, or destroying Hamas?

Yohanani: You're right to point out that apparent contradiction. Let me break it down a bit. As I mentioned earlier, a clear majority of the public sees a deal to release the hostages as the main goal. But there is a big gap between political camps on this issue. In the center and left, about 80 percent support the deal for the hostages' release, while the opinions on the right are evenly split. So, for most of the left and center, the fighting in Gaza has run its course. They feel most military objectives have been achieved, and Hamas's military power has been significantly weakened. From their perspective, continuing the fight now only puts the hostages at greater risk.

It's important to know that about half of the right-wing also shares this view of prioritizing the hostages' release, but the other half of those on the far-right thinks dismantling Hamas is more important.

Why? For a couple of reasons.

First, there's a security stance that Hamas must be wiped out and not allowed to recover. There is also a very strong sentiment of revenge, with minimal consideration for the cost, whether it's the lives of the hostages, soldiers, let alone innocent civilians in Gaza. Another significant component openly discussed in religious nationalist circles is the return of Jewish settlement to the Gaza Strip after Israel evacuated Jewish settlements from there in 2005.

RFE/RL: Is there public confidence that Israel will ultimately be able to remove the threat of Hamas and Hezbollah and come out of this conflict with greater prospects for a peaceful and stable near-term future?



Yohanani: Right now, the Israeli public isn't showing a lot of optimism. In our current survey, when we asked people if they're optimistic or pessimistic about Israel's future, we found more pessimists, 48 percent, than optimists, 45 percent.

I also think it's important to note that a peaceful future, as you put it, or peace in general, isn't really a common concept in the current Israeli discourse. I would say the hope of Israelis is that the military actions against Hezbollah and Iran will lead to a situation where Israel's existence isn't in question, and that Israeli military superiority will prevent events like October 7 from happening again. So, it's less about peace in the traditional sense, and more about security and deterrence. People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term.
It was one of the marquee U.S. disarmament programs of the post-Soviet era: Get Russia to downgrade tons of highly enriched uranium, turn it into power-plant fuel, sell it to the United States, keep weapons-grade uranium off the black market -- and potentially out of terrorists' hands.



Megatons to Megawatts was lauded as a success; enough uranium to arm around 20,000 Russian warheads was turned into fuel that has helped power American homes and businesses, even to this day.

The program had collateral damage, though: The U.S. enrichment industry ended up gutted, unable to compete with cheap Russian uranium. Today, 80 percent of all nuclear fuel used the United States -- which has more operating atomic plants than any other country -- is foreign; Russia is responsible for almost one-third of that.

Fast-forward 30 years: the U.S. government is trying to undo some of the self-inflicted damage, while also trying to cut off massive funding for the Kremlin's war on Ukraine.



Last week, President Joe Biden signed into a law a ban on imports of Russian-enriched uranium, legislation that had strong bipartisan support despite congressional foot-dragging.



"This new law reestablishes America's leadership in the nuclear sector," Jake Sullivan, the White House national-security adviser, said on May 13. "It will help secure our energy sector for generations to come."



U.S. lawmakers are now teeing up additional legislation that broadens previous sanctions on the Russian state nuclear company, Rosatom.



But the knotty failure of U.S. uranium enrichment is a less well-known side note to the success of Megatons to Megawatts -- a failure that complicated efforts to choke off an important source of funding for the Kremlin.



"It was a national failure on both the government and industry's parts to allow this critical national supply chain to wither," said Andrea Stricker, a nonproliferation expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a U.S. think tank. "We are in the mess we are now with Rosatom exactly because of these decades of mismanagement."



"I think there are causes beyond Megatons to Megawatts, but that certainly allowed the deeper pathologies to fester while the supply of enriched uranium continued," said Cheryl Rofer, a retired nuclear scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory who writes a widely read blog about nuclear policy.



'They're Very Good At What They Do'



After the Soviet collapse, fears of nuclear materials going missing, and ending up on the black market, were rampant. U.S. administrations made securing "loose nukes" a priority.



In the early 1990s, Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Thomas Neff conceived a plan to induce Russia to dilute its weapons-grade uranium into fuel for electricity plants: Ultimately, 500 metric tons -- enough for 20,000 warheads was converted and purchased by the United States.

Cheap fuel for U.S. reactors; more cash for a broke Moscow; less material for catastrophically destructive weapons.



"We destroyed 70 percent of the Soviet arsenal. I don't know if that could be considered a flaw," Neff told RFE/RL. "To my mind, that was far more consequential than any other issue."



But cheap Russian fuel hollowed out the U.S. enrichment industry, removing domestic pressures, critics said, for the U.S. to build its own enrichment capacity. In 2013, the last U.S.-owned plant closed. Another U.S.-based plant, owned by Anglo-Dutch-German corporation Urenco, started up operations the previous year, and now stands to gain substantially from the Russian ban.



"It would have been good to plan ahead, and maybe some in the Department of Energy did, but Congress no longer has much nuclear expertise, and, in any case, they never had done any long-term planning around nuclear, so why start now?" Rofer said with sarcasm.



In Russia, consolidation and reforms resulted in the creation in 2007 of Rosatom, which took over enrichment for civilian purposes, along with weapons design for the military, as well as marketing and building out power plants around the world.



Of the 33 nuclear-generating countries, there are about 440 reactors that import nuclear fuel from Rosatom, according to industry figures, and the company is the world leader in uranium enrichment. Nuclear-generating countries bought $2.7 billion in enriched uranium and related services from Russia in 2023, according to an estimate by the Royal United Services Institute, a London think tank.

"They're very good at what they do," Neff said. "They build plants, reactors, fast, like the French. The U.S. has such a drawn-out regulatory process that the financing kills the nuclear industry in the U.S. The U.S. has also lost out in selling reactors to other countries."



Rosatom, which said it had $27.3 billion in revenues last year, did not answer a question about what percentage of its revenues ended up in government coffers.



But a statement from the company called the U.S. ban "discriminatory and non-market-oriented," saying it would harm global markets for nuclear fuel and services.



For the United States, Russia is the single-largest foreign supplier of nuclear fuel. By one estimate, $1 billion is paid annually by American customers to Rosatom.

Experts say the collateral damage to U.S. enrichment was just part of a wider policy error by the U.S. government -- most notably failing to develop its own technology.



The U.S. company at the center of the Megatons to Megawatts, now called Centrus Energy, filed for bankruptcy in 2013. After reorganization, it moved to build a new type of technology for enrichment, with the endorsement of the Department of Energy.



"The company we trusted to carry out the Megatons deal was also supposed to develop new technology," Neff said. "Instead, it was more interested in profits from marking up Russian supply to sell to utilities than developing a successful new enrichment technology, which it failed to do."



"The failure to do so was not the fault of the Megatons deal," he said. "Rather it was a failure of domestic policy. The U.S. still does not have a viable enrichment program."



Lindsey Geisler, a Centrus spokesperson, did not respond to a question about the company's past policies but argued that the new ban, plus nearly $3 billion in federal investment, will help "restore America's domestic nuclear fuel supply chain, and Centrus is well-positioned to lead that effort."

The U.S. Energy Department did not respond in time for publication.



The ban takes effect in August and provides a four-year grace period for American utilities to phase out their Russian imports, an effort to avoid destabilizing the U.S. power market.



Overall, the ban is limited in its scope, said Stricker, who also advised U.S. lawmakers on parallel legislation that would broaden secondary sanctions against Rosatom and its executives. But she said it was a step in the right direction.



"It is unamusing that U.S. utilities have continued to import Russian uranium mainly for economic reasons, since there are available alternative suppliers," Stricker said.
Bangladeshi experts said Bangladesh is a proud member of the BRI which plays a significant role in the country's economic developments. DHAKA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation embraces the historical trend of economic globalization, responds to the call for improving the global governance system, and meets people's longing for a better life which is the fundamental reason why it always has been strong, said Bangladeshi experts. Tens of speakers from diverse sectors in Bangladesh and China, including academia, business and media, shared their perspectives at a discussion meeting here on Monday, opining that Bangladesh is a proud member of the BRI which plays a significant role in the country's economic developments. The Center for East Asia Foundation (CEAF), a non-profit and non-political independent study circle, has organized the roundtable discussion titled "China-Bangladesh Relations and The Belt and Road Initiative" at the University of Dhaka. Nasim Mahmmud, executive director of the CEAF, in his welcome remarks said China has always extended its firm support to Bangladesh in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and opposing external interference. He said Bangladesh-China relations are based on mutual respect and win-win outcome. Dean of Faculty of Business Studies at the University of Dhaka Muhammad Abdul Moyeen said that Bangladesh has already started benefiting from the BRI, including China's financial investment. He also said that the investment made by the BRI will continue to contribute to the development of Bangladesh's competitiveness in the future and the realization of Vision 2041. Wang Jian, director of the Institute of International Relations from Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said that the BRI has given a strong boost to Bangladesh's development, with significant improvement in its infrastructure such as roads, bridges and power generation, as well as the growth of China-Bangladesh trade. Next, the BRI cooperation between China and Bangladesh will adhere to the principles of benefiting people's lives and sustainability. In addition to promoting hard connectivity and investment, China and Bangladesh should also align with the people-centered core of the Global Development Initiative to promote soft connectivity and investment, such as personnel training, development experience sharing, education and people-to-people cooperation, and work together to carry out small and beautiful projects, Wang added. In his concluding remarks, former Bangladeshi Ambassador to China and Chairman of the CEAF Mahbub Uz Zaman said, "I am convinced that under the framework of the BRI, more and more Chinese enterprises and people will devote themselves to the goal of Smart Bangladesh, proposing Chinese solutions and making even more contributions to the realization of (Bangladesh's) Vision 2041." Talking to Xinhua on the sidelines of the event, he said both Bangladesh and China are cooperating on the BRI which Bangladesh joined in 2016. "It is expected that this cooperation, especially under the Belt and Road Initiative, will grow further and expand in the future."
Like other waters in southwestern Montana, the brown trout population has been struggling for about two decades on the Missouri River between Toston Dam and Canyon Ferry Reservoir.

Unlike other rivers, this 23-mile stretch has seen a growing population of walleye migrating into the river over the past nine years. In a sampling effort this year, walleye composed 61% of the fish species caught by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in a 1.3 mile section of the stream.

Under FWPs management plan, the section of river is supposed to be managed for wild trout. More than $2 million has been invested in restoring tributary streams to increase the chances that rainbow and brown trout will successfully spawn. Although more rainbows are being produced thanks to the restoration work, brown trout continue to struggle.

Change proposed

This year, FWP proposed new regulations for the 2025-26 season on this stretch of the Missouri River: five walleye with no length limit. The current regulation is the same as Canyon Ferry Reservoir: 10 daily, only one over 15 inches.

Walleye anglers have voiced opposition to the proposal, and on May 16 the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission held an online work session to weigh their complaints, as well as hear from FWP fisheries biologists and Trout Unlimited.

All of the parties involved voiced frustration.

Bucket biology

Walleye were illegally introduced into Canyon Ferry with their first detection in 1989. In the beginning, FWP attempted to control the population with high angler limits  20 fish a day, 40 in possession  much to the displeasure of walleye fishermen.

Since 1994, FWP has recorded a slow but steady growth in the reservoirs walleye population, climbing from almost none captured in sampling nets to more than 250. At the same time, the main food source for the walleye, yellow perch, have floundered.

Ron Spoon, the Townsend-area fisheries biologist, has worked in the area since 1990. He told commissioners that around 2015, walleye were first detected in the Missouri River above the reservoir. Now, its estimated roughly 10% of the reservoirs walleye population move into the river between April and October.

Trout Unlimiteds Clayton Elliott knows they are dining on young trout, but proving how many trout end up in walleye stomachs is difficult. FWPs attempts to determine what the river walleye are eating showed only five trout in the bellies of 74 walleye that were sampled.

Eileen Ryce, Fisheries Division administrator, explained one of the problems FWP has is that small fish quickly dissolve in a walleyes stomach. (Since this meeting, Ryce has been placed on administrative leave for unknown reasons.)

The walleye as a predator dominates the fishery, she said. We know they are eating some other fish.

Montana Walleyes Unlimited executive director Steve Harada argued that increasing the harvest of large walleye on the river, as FWP has proposed, will have a negative impact on the Canyon Ferry walleye fishery.

Walleye angler Lance Kresge called FWPs presentation anti-walleye and said it is water temperatures causing brown trout problems, not walleye predation.

Ryce agreed that water temperatures and low flows are definitely problems for trout, but she also said the states management plans are clear in how FWP is meant to manage the river fishery for wild trout as its priority.

She said the proposed regulation change would be the same as what is the standard for walleye in the Central District of Montana, which Ryce called very modest. She said it also reduces the harvest from 10 to five fish, recognizing the importance of the walleye fishery.

Former Canyon Ferry fisheries biologist Adam Strainer said the department is committed to making changes to regulations on the reservoir if the change to regs on the river affects the lakes fishery.

Spoon also pointed to a recent creel survey showing more than half of the rivers anglers caught no walleye in 2023. One-third caught one to five walleye.

Most people catch less than five fish, so you dont change things much with the regulation, he said.

Elliott said unless FWP addresses the increase in the number of predatory fish in the river, all of the habitat and restoration work being done to boost trout numbers will be for nothing.

Frustrations

Commission chair Lesley Robinson and vice-chairman Pat Tabor expressed frustration at the bickering. Robinson said she didnt understand why the department was asking for a change that she said would appear to accomplish nothing.

The reason that I asked to have this meeting is because this is the third year in a row where we dont accept what the fisheries suggests and then they come back with a similar thing every year, and so this is why I want to discuss it before we actually have it on the agenda, Robinson said. Im not holding that against fisheries, I know you are following the plan. If we have to give direction to FWP to do it differently, if thats our choice, or well be back to this same situation every single year, unless the plan is different.

A similar FWP proposal was rebuffed by the commission in 2023 when it decided to take no action, which Robinson clarified was an action.

Ryce said the inaction, to her department, meant the commission needed more information. She also noted the agency was simplifying the regulation as directed by the previous FWP director.

Yet the data FWP presented still seemed inadequate to Tabor. He asked for more information on the relationship between the age of walleye and the impact they have on trout. Yet he also credited the department for bending over backward to offer something that works. He suggested the commission give the new regulation a try for two years and see what happens.

Its not a life sentence, he said.
As the UN voted to observe an annual day of remembrance for the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina, families of victims welcomed the decision. But the leaders of Serbia and Bosnia's Serb-majority entity, Republika Srpska, rejected the resolution, claiming it labels the Serb people as "a genocidal nation." Officials in Republika Srpska responded to the UN vote by issuing an unprecedented call for the entity to "peacefully separate" from the rest of Bosnia.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Sinn Fein and the DUP have criticised the British government as the Norths main political parties welcomed news of a general election in the UK.

After British prime minister Rishi Sunak fired the starting gun for campaigning on Wednesday, party leaders took aim at the Conservatives and focused on the UK governments Legacy Act as well as funding levels supplied to Northern Ireland.

Sinn Feins leader in the North said the Westminster elections are an opportunity to send a clear message to the UK government that systemic underfunding of public services must end.

Michelle ONeill said: The Tory government has been a disaster for the people in the north  bad for the economy, bad for public services and bad for workers and families as the cost of living soared, putting them under pressure.

She said voters could send a message that they want decisions about their life and future to be made here in Ireland, and not in London.

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak announced the General Election on Wednesday evening. Photo: Lucy North/PA.

She added: You can vote for a future where our children have the best opportunities to build their lives here at home.

A shared future, where all our people and communities work together as one.

Historically, elected Sinn Fein MPs have refused to take their seats at Westminster.

Setting out his party stall, the DUP leader said the UK government is fast running out of steam.

Gavin Robinson said polling day will provide people in Northern Ireland with a clear choice as to who they think is best placed to represent them and deliver the best outcomes for them.

He said: While political progress and new mechanisms were secured in negotiations with the Conservative government to allow the Assembly and Executive to be re-established, the next government will have much more to do to ensure Northern Ireland benefits as an integral part of the United Kingdom rather than remaining subject to European laws in some areas of our daily lives.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.

He added: We will use the forthcoming campaign to make the case that now more than ever is the time to strengthen the Unionist position  not divide and weaken it.

Over the next number of weeks, we will campaign and seek votes to strengthen the pro-Union position.

At this election, Unionists know that it is the Democratic Unionist Party that has the strength and depth to be able to make the pro-Union case and to unashamedly make the case for Northern Ireland in Parliament.

The statement came hours after it was announced his predecessor Jeffrey Donaldson, who is facing a series of historical sex offence charges, will not contest the election.

His solicitor made the confirmation after a judge fixed a date for a hearing to establish whether there is sufficient evidence to send Mr Donaldson to trial.

Reacting to the election announcement, the leader of Alliance said her party is the main challenger to DUP.

Naomi Long said: Our positivity, progressiveness, responsibility and record of delivery is what we will be standing on, and I am confident people will back us on that platform.

Leader of the Alliance Party Naomi Long. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA

The Ulster Unionist Party leader said the election would be an opportunity to vote for representatives with a long-term vision for Northern Ireland.

Doug Beattie said: Its time we had strategic thinkers in Westminster, pro-union MPs who can look beyond short-term goals and concentrate on a long-term vision for Northern Ireland.

Elsewhere, Colum Eastwood said the SDLPs mission is to remove the Tories from power, adding: Its time to reverse the toxic legacy bill, its time to restore faith in the power of government as a force for good  it is fundamentally time for change.

The party leader said: The best way to support that objective in constituencies across the North is to back SDLP candidates who are ready to turn up and vote the Tories down.

Meanwhile, TUV leader Jim Allister said the election will be a battle between those who believe in the United Kingdom and those who believe Northern Ireland can be treated as part of the EU.

Mr Allister added: With our historic link-up with Reform UK, TUV offers the people of Northern Ireland to vote for a truly national political movement.

People Before Profits Gerry Carroll said the party will provide a socialist alternative in the vote.
A Detroit man accepted an agreement with prosecutors Thursday and pleaded guilty to two felony charges related to possession and distribution of fentanyl in the Bismarck area.

James Washington was sentenced to three years in prison on each charge followed by three years of supervised probation. The sentences will run at the same time. Washington will receive credit for the 176 days he's already spent in jail.

Assistant Burleigh County State's Attorney Dennis Ingold recommended Washington receive the same sentence as his Detroit co-defendant, Richard Mallard. Mallard, Washington and a third man, Bismarck resident Kyle Berg, were all arrested at Berg's residence on 93rd Street Southeast late last November.

Washington and Mallard were each charged with conspiracy with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance after officers exercising a search warrant at Berg's residence discovered approximately 1,500 pressed fentanyl pills and more than $4,000 in currency, according to an affidavit.

Those charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $20,000.

Mallard pleaded guilty to his charges on May 13 and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Berg is charged with one count of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. He is accused of facilitating drug transactions between Washington, Mallard and local drug users, according to law enforcement. An affidavit in his case alleges Berg admitted hosting the two Michigan men in his home and helping them sell drugs in exchange for a discounted price on drugs he used himself.

Court records indicate Berg is free on a $20,000 unsecured bond. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial on June 4.
Public sector trade unions voice grievances

The salary increases promised by the Romanian government are not enough, public sector employees say

Hundreds of museum and library employees protested on the European Night of Museums (Credits: Facebook / CulturMedia)

Stefan Stoica, 23.05.2024, 13:50

The Labor Ministry in Bucharest has submitted to public debate a draft law that provides for a 10% increase in the salaries of certain public sector workers this year in two installments, June and September respectively. According to the bill, employees of cultural institutions and the Trade Registry, diplomats, defense workers, as well as those from city halls and institutions on the payroll of the Government and Parliament, are to receive higher salaries. The staff of county agencies for environmental protection and the agency for environmental protection of the municipality of Bucharest are also expected to benefit from increases. The impact on the state budget is estimated at over 200 mln EUR, an amount that should be obtained through restructuring and the reduction of spending on goods and services. For the first time, the head of the PSD-PNL coalition Cabinet, Social-Democrat leader Marcel Ciolacu, said the Government cannot afford to grant a bigger increase, in line with an analysis conducted by the Finance Ministry. A 10% salary increase is also expected to be granted to museum employees or those in the governments structures. The latter reacted negatively to the governments proposal, in addition to employees of the environmental agencies.

Environmental workers from Bacau (east) and Mehedinti (southwest) counties protested for several hours on Wednesday, calling for the alignment of salaries in the territory with those in the center, as well as a 20% pay rise. Protesters accused the government of promoting a discriminatory salary policy that does not take into account their real needs. Unless inequities are eliminated, more radical forms of protest will follow, including suspending the issuance of permits for large projects, such as those involving national or European funds, environmental workers have warned. Employees of the Caras-Severin County National Archives Service (southwest) also organized a spontaneous protest at the start of the week, criticizing the salary inequities between county and central services. The protest consisted in the termination of the activity and the suspension of public services. Although a process was initiated in January to standardize salaries in several public sectors, the employees of the National Archives were overlooked, one employee says. The Government faces additional pressure from certain categories of public sector employees who consider themselves wronged in comparison to other public sector workers, most of whose salary demands were met by the government, and it also has to deal with a sizable budget deficit. All that amidst an election whirlpool this year in Romania, which starts on June 9 with the local and European Parliament elections, continues in September with the presidential election and ends in December with the parliamentary election. (VP)
Romania and security guarantees

Romania continues to strengthen its national defense in the context of regional security developments

President Klaus Iohannis (Credits: presidency.ro)

Daniela Budu, 23.05.2024, 14:00

President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday said there is no direct threat to Romania and that there is no signal or indication there is any danger of attacks or other unwanted events targeting Romania. It is very important to understand we are not alone, we are supported by our allies, and we are well prepared for any scenario, the head of state added.

There is no direct threat. From the information I have, I can tell you Romania is a safe country. Romanians should not be afraid, but we must always be prepared for unexpected events. There is no need to panic or think that Romania is somehow under threat. Today, Romania benefits from the most important security guarantees we ever had.

Klaus Iohannis expressed skepticism regarding the possible delivery of a Patriot system to Ukraine, saying it is a matter that must be discussed with army experts and decided in the Supreme Defense Council. The delivery of a Patriot defense system to the Ukrainian Armed Forces is still a delicate issue, far from being resolved. Klaus Iohannis:

Its not simple. I strongly refute the idea that Romania should remain without anti-missile defenses and without anti-aircraft systems. So, to the extent that in the end, Romania does deliver a system, it should receive something else instead, otherwise no action will be taken.

Also on Wednesday, the Chief of General Defense Staff, General Gheorghita Vlad, said Romania must accelerate its efforts to endow the defense forces in the context of security developments in the region. The Ministry of Defense is considering a possible escalation of current military conflicts, the General said, drawing attention to the need to increase the armys response capacity by means of new military equipment. Gheorghita Vlad explained:

Our estimates account for future developments and scenarios, some of which indicate the possibility of escalation of conflicts, including those of a military nature. To diminish this possibility, we continue to rely on the deterrent effect generated by a robust defensive capacity, both nationwide and within NATO. This is why we will step up our efforts to strengthen national security as well as NATOs deterrence and defense postures.

We are in a time of peace, but the current reality is marked by complex security challenges, General Gheorghita Vlad went on to say. In this context, Romania focuses on intensifying multinational and joint training, as well as on increasing the interoperability of structures and capabilities, both in the Black Sea region as well as on the entire allied Eastern Flank. Right now, investments in new technology and equipment remain a top priority for the Romanian Army, the official concluded. (VP)
Dutch consumer confidence remained weak in May as their opinion about the economic climate was more negative, data from the Central Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday.

The consumer confidence index declined to -22 in May from -21 in April. Moreover, the indicator in May was well below the 20-year average of -10 points.

The opinion about the economic climate was more negative, but the willingness to buy was slightly less negative.

Among its components, the economic climate index stood at -38 in May versus -34 in April, indicating that households were more pessimistic about the .

Meanwhile, the indicator for willingness to buy improved marginally to -12 in May from -13 in the prior month. Consumers found the time for making major purchases less favorable than in April.

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For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
According to a court filing, American Airlines (AAL) defended their employee's act of secretly recording inside a plane's lavatory by blaming a 9-year-old plaintiff for not seeing the hidden camera.

American Airlines' lawyers claimed, "Any injuries or illnesses alleged to have been sustained by plaintiff, Mary Doe, were proximately caused by plaintiff's own fault and negligence, were proximately caused by Plaintiff's use of the compromised lavatory, which she knew or should have known contained a visible and illuminated recording device."

The plaintiff's lawyer, Paul Llewellyn, of Lewis & Llewellyn LLP, commented, "To blame a 9 year old for being filmed while using the airplane bathroom is both shocking and outrageous."

"In my opinion this is a depraved legal strategy that sinks to a new low. American Airlines should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves," he continued.

Last year, the aircraft company was sued when an employee named Estes Carter Thompson III allegedly recorded multiple little girls between the ages of 7 and 14 in the plane lavatory.

Llewellyn filed a case on behalf of the 9-year-old girl who saw a camera flash in the lavatory and took a photo to show her mother. The lawsuit claimed that her explicit images were found on Thompson's phone, following this she suffered from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, including depression, anxiety, insomnia and nightmares.

"This emotional distress has had fundamental impact on her interpersonal relationships, her schooling and her ability to function in the world," the law suit alleged.

However, after receiving wide backlash for the defense tactic, American Airlines announced, "Our outside legal counsel retained with our insurance company made an error in this filing."

The company continued, "We do not believe this child is at fault, and we take the allegations involving a former team member very seriously. Our core mission is to care for people - and the foundation of that is the safety and security of our customers and team."

Meanwhile, Thompson who was indicted on charges of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of images of child sexual abuse depicting a prepubescent minor pleaded not guilty.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
I vote from home in every election. While reading over my June primary ballot, I came to the statewide initiated measure relating to age limits for congressional candidates. If passed, the measure would prohibit candidates from running for North Dakotas U.S. House or U.S. Senate seats if they would turn 81 any time before or during the calendar year before the term ends in early January. Given that U.S. House terms are for two years and U.S. Senate terms are for six years, these age limits would play out a bit differently between the two chambers candidates.

Although I knew about the measure, I was stunned to see the million-dollar fiscal impact printed on my ballot. At first I wondered, how could it cost a million dollars to check a few congressional candidates birth dates every other year? In reality, this estimated fiscal impact reflects anticipated legal costs should this measure be passed. Following state law, the North Dakota Legislative Council provided a fiscal impact report. The report cites testimony from the Attorney Generals Office that this measure, if passed, may bring $1 million in litigation costs related to the defense of the constitutionality of the measure.

Indeed, the measure welcomes such litigation. It permits someone whose age surpasses the limit to file to appear as a congressional candidate on the primary election ballot in 2026. Because that persons age would render them ineligible according to the measure itself, this conflict can then trigger a legal challenge as to whether the age limit is constitutional under Article I of the U.S. Constitution. Article I states minimum ages to serve in Congress (25 years for the House and 35 years for the Senate), but no maximum ages.

It remains unclear how the current U.S. Supreme Court would rule in such a case. The current Supreme Court could allow states to impose their own criteria onto congressional candidates, or it could echo a 1995 decision that states cannot impose criteria that extend beyond those in Article I. If the latter is decided -- that North Dakota and other states cannot impose age limits on congressional candidates -- then the statewide measure would require that such candidates ages be printed on ballots in future North Dakota elections, ensuring voters awareness of candidates ages.

Meanwhile, if the Supreme Court allows North Dakota to impose age limits on our congressional candidates, then surely other states can be allowed to impose some criteria on their congressional candidates as well. For this reason, Junes statewide measure has significant potential implications for the entire nation that may unfold over a few years.

The choice to print on our ballots the estimated $1 million fiscal impact of a hypothetical (though admittedly likely) legal challenge wasnt entirely obvious. In reality, there has not been clear consistency in the printing of fiscal impacts. For instance, the 2018 marijuana legalization measure was believed to have a definite fiscal impact. Namely, fiscal impacts estimated by the Attorney General's Office, the state Department of Health, county governments and the judicial branch totaled $6,641,462. However, because several other agencies were unable to provide an estimate, it was determined that an overall fiscal impact could not be determined. Thus, no estimate was printed on the ballot.

North Dakota voters should be able to trust that fiscal impacts of measures are printed in a fair and consistent fashion across ballot measures. While Junes statewide measure has much to unpack in terms of state and national implications, it also invites us to consider whether fiscal impacts are being reported consistently and fairly across different statewide ballot measures.
One reason for Netscape to go IPO, according to the book The New New Thing, was

that Jim Clark, the Silicon Valley anarchic posterchild of the new economy,

needed to cash out his shares for a sail boat. Built by Dutch masters, the

vessel was huge and posh and unique in that it was outfitted with the requisite

hardware and software to be completely controlled by computers. At least that

was the goal. And so the story unfurled.

Lewis has a flair. He does not fawn over someone, no matter how great in the

eyes of the world (and many of his characters are). His perspective is level. A

character under his pen feels not just real but funny. This book reminded me of

the movie Punchline: "We are all God's animated cartoons." In the case of the

main character, Jim Clark, he set out with his high-powered observation, to not

just explain what happened but also find out what made the guy tick, all with

plenty of humor, e.g.,

In the Valley anyone over forty tended to fade into technical irrelevance.

"I'm an old dog who taught himself a new trick," Clark would say. He was an

old dog who taught himself so many new tricks that he was a threat to the

reputation of old dogs.

I spent 10 days on this 268-page book and felt well-informed and enjoyed every

minute reading it. For example, the U.S. DOJ's anti-trust case against Microsoft

over Netscape reached me in grad school in Beijing and to me Microsoft was

obviously guilty. I could never imagine, however, what it was like in the court

room. According to Mr. Lewis, it was hilarious. Here's how Jim Barksdale,

Netscape's CEO, explained the idea of an Internet browser to a Microsft lawyer:

"A browser is a separate, standalone product," said Barksdale, pressing his

advantage. "It's a THING. It walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's a

duck!"

I think I'll read it again, and maybe even buy this book.


College Essay2023 1-2

College Essay2023 3-4

Successful Harvard Essays 2023

Simar First Haircut at Age 17

June 2nd, 2019. The birth of the new me, or "Simar 2.0" as mom called me. However, I still felt like "Simar 1.0," perceiving nothing more than the odd new sensation of a liberating breeze fluttering through my hair.

At age seventeen, I got a haircut for the first time in my life.

As a Sikh, I inherited a tradition of unshorn, cloth-bound hair, and, for most of my life, I followed my community in wholeheartedly embracing our religion. Over time, however, I felt my hair weighing me down, both materially and metaphorically.

Sikhism teaches that God is one. I asked mom why then was God cleaved into different religions? If all paths were equal, I asked dad, then why not follow some other religion instead? My unease consistently dismissed by our Sikh community, I decided to follow the religion of God: no religion. My hair, though, remained; if I knew my heart, then cutting my hair served no purpose.

Nevertheless, that unshorn hair represented an unequivocal beacon for a now defunct identity. I visited my calculus teacher's office hours, only to be peppered by incessant questions about Sikhism. He pigeonholed me into being a spokesperson for something I no longer associated with. Flustered, I excused myself to the bathroom, examining this other me in the mirror.

I ransacked my conscience, and it became painfully obvious. Fear. Fear of what my conservative grandparents might think. Fear of what my Sikh family friends might say. Fear of what my peers might ask. This hair had usurped my sense of self.

So off it came.

A few days after crossing my personal Rubicon, I flew to India to meet my grandparents.

Breezing through the airport, I perceived something remarkably different about my experience: the absence of the penetrating surveillance that had consistently accompanied me for seventeen years. It was uncanny; I felt as an anodyne presence.

Apprehensively entering my grandparents' New Delhi home some eighteen hours later, I found myself enveloped in hugs. Savoring the moment, I failed to probe why. I recognize now that, in spite of their intransigent religious views, they appreciated that I had made a decision about my identity based on belief, based on being true to my evolving sense of self. I think my grandparents found that admirable.

A few weeks later, dad confessed, "I regret that you did not cut your hair earlier."

I have no regrets.

My hair made me work harder than everyone else simply because I looked different. Sanctimonious people lecture us on having pride in our differences, rarely considering the difficulties which being different entails. For example, a fake Facebook page created by an unknown schoolmate with my birthday listed as September 11th, 2001. Dealing with attacks fueled by ignorance never becomes easier, but such aggressions bolster my courage to face what other people think. In standing up for myself, I become myself.

On some level, I know appearances should not matter. Yet, in many uncomfortable ways, they still do, and they give birth to many disparities. Through the simple act of cutting my hair, I left the confines of intolerance, but my experience opened my eyes to those whose struggles cannot be resolved so easily. This motivates me to never be a bystander, to always energetically take the side of the persecuted in the fight against the powerful.

Over my years of shadowing, I have seen a healthcare system where patients receive inferior care solely on the basis of perceived race. Exposure to this institutionalized injustice motivates me to volunteer with a free health clinic to provide glucose screenings to the underprivileged. We must lead with personal initiative first, starting on the individual level and building from there. Only then can we bring about systemic change to reform the institutions and practices that perpetuate prejudice within medicine and without.

Crimsoncoming of age narrativeideal and enlightening topicintense and moving clarityaptitude of growthlighthearted endingAspiration

17dramatictabooAOstereotypebullying

AbenchmarkCassandraEnglish in our house

SamanthaStory TellingAmyThe Color of Everything

SamanthaAmy

SamanthaStory Telling

Ive always been a storyteller, but Ive only been an alleged fish killer since age five. As a child, my head was so filled up with stories that I might have forgotten to feed Bubbles the class pet just one time too often. Once I pulverized an entire pencil, because I was daydreaming instead of taking it out of the sharpener.

More than anything else, I became an obsessive list-maker. I memorized and wrote down long lists of my stuffed animals, cities around the world, and my favorite historical time periods. I created itineraries and packing lists for my Build-A-Bears, then arranged them in rows on a pretend airplane. I drew family trees for a made-up family during the Industrial Revolution. I wrote lists until the spine of my notebook cracked under the weight of graphite.

For a long time, I thought this was something that I alone did, and that I did alone. Lying on the floor of my bedroom, I spun fantastical stories of mundane events. Each story opened and closed in my head, untold and unsung.

Years later, thoughto my amazementI discovered other people who were interested in the same things I was. Wandering into fanfiction websites and online forums, I was welcomed into a vibrant community of writersserious, silly, passionate people who wrote hundreds of thousands of words analyzing character dynamics and exploring endless plot threads. When I finally started posting my own thoughts, I didnt feel like I was taking a risk or venturing into new territory. I had been speaking these words to myself since I was five, preparing myself to finally shout them into the real world. And people responded.

Spurred on by this excitement, I started writing stories for other people to read. I had fallen in love with the community writing had given me, and with writing itself. I wanted to contribute my own small piece to a world much bigger than me. I shouted my stories up to the WiFi signals that caught and carried them, waiting to be found by someone else writing lists in her bedroom alone.

In high school, I also found joy in editing. I loved analyzing, polishing, and curating my classmates short stories, poems, and artwork to make them shine for my schools literary magazine. I spent hours with other editors, passionately arguing the merits and weaknesses of dozens of writing pieces. Editing the school newspaper, meanwhile, became a way to spotlight members of the school community, from profiling new staff and faculty to polling the student body about the stigma surrounding menstruation.

Ive now had my poems published in a national literary journal and have joined the editorial staff of an international literary magazine for teens. I feel like Im discovering my power, and with it my ability to create change. Last year, I founded SPEAK, a creative writing program for elementary school students. I wanted to assist younger writers so they could create their own communities. During SPEAK sessions, I taught a group of students how to draw a map of a fantasy wolf kingdom they had designed, helped a girl edit her classmates poem about hula hoops, and listened to a third-grader talk faster and faster as we discussed the meaning of soup in The Tale of Despereaux.

Ive now turned SPEAK into a self-sustaining club at my school, and Im expanding the program onto an online platform. Writing changed my life, but it only happened when I started sharing my work, putting it out there, and starting conversationsnot just responding. Alone, stories used to abstract me from the outside world. Now, stories connect me to the world, creating communities instead of pulling me away from them. For too many of us, our stories are born in our heads, and they die there. Im going to change that, for myself and for as many people as I can bring with me.

AmyThe Color of Everything

Theres a theory that even though each color has a specific wavelength that never changes, how people perceive a specific color may have subtle differences based on small differences in photoreceptors, and the color that one person might consider red might still be red in anothers mind but could look different a little duller, softer, cooler. Furthermore, how a persons brain processes the color may also be linked to that persons environment. Some studies have suggested that color sensitivity could be linked to ones native languages: for example, people who speak languages that have specific names for eleven colors are able to easily distinguish those eleven colors, but people who speak languages with fewer color specific words may have a harder time distinguishing them.

So it appears that even at the most elementary level of sight, the world is not an objective thing. Instead, what we know and what we remember can influence what and how we see. The color blue may just be the color blue to a three year old, perhaps her favorite color even, but an adult might connect it to so much morethe lake by his childhood home or the eye color of a loved one.

I first consciously became aware of the power that our experiences have to change perception when I went to turn on a light in my house after learning about photons in class. What had previously been a mundane light suddenly became a fascinating application of atomic structure, and I thought that I could almost perceive the electrons jumping up and down from energy level to energy level to produce the photons that I saw. I then realized that my world had steadily been changing throughout my years in school as I learned more and more. I now see oligopolies in the soda aisles of the supermarkets. I see the charges warring with each other in every strike of lightning, and the patterns of old American politics still swaying things today. Knowledge and making connections with that knowledge is the difference between seeing the seven oceans glittering in the sun and merely seeing the color blue. Its the difference between just seeing red and seeing the scarlet of roses blooming, the burgundy of blood pumping through veins, and crimson of anger so fierce that you could burst. Knowledge is color; it is depth, and it is seeing a whole new world without having to move an inch.

It is knowledge, too, that can bring people together. I love listening to peoples stories and hearing about what they know and love, because if I learn about what they know, I can learn how they see the world; consequently, since behavior is often based upon perception, I can understand why a person behaves the way they do. On a road trip during the summer, my mom kept looking up at the streetlights lining the highways. When I asked why, she told me that whenever she saw lights by a highway she would wonder if her company had made them. She would guess how tall they were, how wide, and what style they were. She told me that ever since she started working for her company, lights no longer were just lights to her. They were a story of people who first had to measure the wind speed to figure out what dimension the lights had to be, and then of engineers, of money passing handspossibly even under her own supervision as an accountantand then of transportation, and of the people who had to install them. I might never perceive lights the exact way my mother does or see her red but by hearing her describe what she knows, I can understand her world and realize her role in ours.

Beauty and color are in the world, but it is seeking the unknown and making new connections that unlocks them from their greyscale cage.

Crimsonlovethought-provoking

AOstory-tellingcolor of everythingScience 

Story-tellingstory-tellingColor of everythingsurpriseB

= = =      = = =



*ConnorWaking Up Early

*TonyBeauty in Complexity

*SeanButterfly Identity


Around 12,440-12,550 years ago, hunter-gatherers returned regularly to Tagua Tagua Lake in Chile to hunt ancient elephant relatives called gomphotheres and take advantage of other local resources, according to a research team led by Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile archaeologists.

Multiple archaeological sites are known from the region of Tagua Tagua Lake in central Chile, representing some of the earliest known human settlements in the Americas.

In a new study, Dr. Rafael Labarca from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and his colleagues discovered an ancient hunter-gatherer camp dating to the Late Pleistocene, between 12,440-12,550 years old.

Named Taguatagua 3, this site features the fossil remains of a gomphothere, an extinct relative of elephants.

Signs of butchery on the bones, along with stone tools and other evidence, indicate that Taguatagua 3 represents a temporary camp established around the task of processing the large carcass.

Other activities were also carried out during the camps brief period of use, including processing of other foods as indicated by additional charred remains of plants and small animals such as frogs and birds.

Fossil cactus seeds and bird eggshell suggest that this camp was occupied specifically during the dry season.

Numerous such sites of similar age are now known from this region, implying that Tagua Tagua Lake was a recurring hunting and scavenging ground for people during the Late Pleistocene due to abundant and predictable local resources.

This area was a key location along the routes taken by mobile communities of the time and that temporary camps might have hosted regular meetings between these mobile bands, the archaeologists said.

Further investigation of this rich archaeological region will continue to provide insights into the mobility and subsistence strategies of early humans in South America.

Taguatagua 3 helps us to understand better how the early humans adapted to fast changing environments in central Chile during the Late Pleistocene times, the researchers said.

The findings appear online in the journal PLoS ONE.

_____

R. Labarca et al. 2024. Taguatagua 3: A new Late Pleistocene settlement in a highly suitable lacustrine habitat in central Chile (34S). PLoS ONE 19 (5): e0302465; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302465
Scientists from the University of Tasmania and Western University have experimentally demonstrated that kangaroos, wallabies and other Australian marsupials most fear the human super predator, fleeing humans 2.4 times more often than any other predator.

Paramount fear of humans has been demonstrated to pervade wildlife communities in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America consistent with humans worldwide being a super predator, far more lethal than other predators.

Australian marsupials have been thought predator naive based on responses to non-human predators.

Our results greatly expand the growing experimental evidence that wildlife worldwide perceive humans as the planets most frightening predator, said Western Universitys Professor Liana Zanette, co-senior author of a paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

The very substantial fear of humans demonstrated here, and in comparable recent experiments, can be expected to have dramatic ecological consequences, because other new research has established that fear itself can reduce wildlife numbers, and fear of humans can cause cascading impacts on multiple species throughout entire landscapes.

To conduct their experiments, Professor Zanette and her colleagues deployed hidden automated camera-speaker systems at Beaufront, a sheep grazing property in the Tasmanian Midlands.

The five species whose responses they quantified (eastern gray kangaroo, Bennetts wallaby, Tasmanian pademelon, common brushtail possum and fallow deer) are the most common wild herbivores on the property.

When triggered by an animal passing within a short distance (approximately 10 m, or 30 feet), the cameras filmed the response to humans speaking calmly, dogs barking, Tasmanian devils snarling, wolves howling or non-threatening controls, such as sheep bleating.

Native marsupials fled significantly more often upon hearing humans compared to hearing the next most frightening predator (dogs), being more than twice as (2.4 times more) likely to flee from humans (44.3% versus 18.6% of trials).

These results present challenges for conservation but could also be used to manage native marsupials where they are overabundant.

Global surveys show humans kill prey at much higher rates than other predators, making humans a super predator, and the profound fear of humans being revealed in wildlife everywhere is wholly consistent with humanitys unique lethality, Professor Zanette said.

Humans are the invisible killer insofar as we do not often think of ourselves as a major predator, let alone the most dangerous, but wildlife clearly think differently  and recognize us for what we are.

_____

Katherine McGann et al. 2024. Fear of the human super predator in native marsupials and introduced deer in Australia. Proc. R. Soc. B 291 (2023): 20232849; doi: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2849
By Lin Zhuowei (ECNS)U.S. President Joe Biden announced Tuesday a significant rise in tariffs on Chinese exports, including electric vehicles (EVs), lithium batteries, and solar panels, with the tariff rate on EVs increasing from 25 percent to 100 percent. The new tariff policy came as the 2024 U.S. presidential election, where President Biden is running for re-election, has entered a key stage. What message does the timing convey? And how would it impact Sino-U.S. trade, industrial restructuring and upgrading, as well as global sustainable development? The tariff hikes are designed to contain competitive new energy industries in China and to balance the U.S. trade deficit through protective measures, said Linjie Chou Zanadu, a senior research fellow at the European Center for Peace and Development, in an exclusive interview with China News Network. Trapped in realist thinking, the U.S. upholds protectionism "The policy is made to contain the industrial competition from China, which aims to give the U.S. more advantages. The U.S. is trying to protect its domestic EV market," analyzed Chou. "This is especially true for the Democrats," noted the expert, "Liberal politicians in the U.S. like to portray themselves as leaders in innovation and social engineering in a post-materialistic worldThe dysfunctional bipartisanship is a clear example of the internal political confusion within the country." What's worth noticing is the paradoxical practices of the U.S. It is heaping heavy tariffs and "overcapacity" nonsense on China while advocating bilateral climate cooperation with China, said Chinese officials in response. "Dialogues and cooperation are the megatrends of the world. But more importantly, as I have said before, competition and hegemonic position are more important for the U.S. than the advocation of bilateral climate cooperation," explained the IR researcher, "We must understand the U.S. is purely operating on a realist political agenda." A binary perspective, economic policies with imperialistic and colonial origins To better understand the motives and intentions behind the new tariff policy, Chou advised a close examination of the historical legacy as he believes that Western protectionism "originated from imperial Britain and influenced American economic traditions." "This policy is characterized by a binary perspective, where things are seen as either black or white," added Chou. Therefore, the United States strives to maintain its economic hegemony through fierce competition, which is considered essential for survival in the international system, Chou concluded.
Community-based health projects offer care for underserved residents in Detroit, Ypsi, and Jackson

Several Michigan organizations are innovating ways to increase health care access for the states most vulnerable residents in their own communities.
Bryan Esler Passengers board a trolley at Muskegon's port for excursions.

Laura Maginnis The Pearl Mist in Holland a few years ago.

City of Houghton The Ocean Navigator on a previous cruise to Houghton.

"We are a great port," he said. "We're

hopeful well see more stops in the future! Aside from the passengers getting a taste of Houghton, theres nothing like a really BIG boat parked on the waterfront to bring young and old out for some fun."

Many small ports along Michigans coastline are eager for the upcoming cruising season on the Great Lakes.Cruising officials are predicting another robust year, following a record-breaking 2023, and are welcoming Ponant's Le Champlain back to the Great Lakes as the industry continues to develop.Cruise the Great Lakes, an international partnership that promotes cruising on the Great Lakes, says vessels will make 600 port visits in 2024, bringing more than 20,000 passengers to experience cities on the American and Canadian sides of the Great Lakes. Thats roughly double the numbers a decade ago.As we look ahead to 2024, we remain committed to sustaining the vitality of our regions cruising sector, said Anna Tanski, tourism director of Cruise the Great Lakes. In just a decade, the number of cruise passengers has more than doubled, and Great Lakes ports continue to thrive as hubs for visitors. We are focused on maintaining this momentum as we navigate the future.Michigans small-town ports include Muskegon, Mackinac Island, Sault Ste. Marie, Marquette, Houghton, Alpena and -- new to the market -- Bay City. Some towns are not expecting cruise ships this season; others, like Holland and Grand Haven, are part of shore excursions from ports  in this case, Muskegon.The reasons for interest in the Great Lakes as a cruise destination are many. Sailing back and forth between two countries is a big selling point. American travelers are curious about destinations closer to home. Many vacationers are seeking experience travel.Cruising the Great Lakes has grown. There is an increasing number of ships that include Holland as a port destination. Its good for everybody, said Linda Hart, who is executive director of the Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.Holland, about 45 miles away -- an hour bus ride -- from the port in Muskegon, expects more visitors this season as well. Cruise ship passengers are drawn to Holland because of its rich Dutch history, vibrant downtown, heated streets and sidewalks and its the home of the only authentic working windmill in the United States. The Holland excursions typically last a few hours, with time for passengers to have lunch downtown. Passengers from 15 ships are expected this summer.We recognize that we are not an active port  we used to be, but we try to stay active (in the industry) and be present in conversations, Hart said, adding city, tourism and business officials strive to provide the best experience for passengers.Holland welcomed cruise ships from 2014 to 2016; the ships docked at a utility dock used for aggregate material distribution. The city has plans to create a new dock, but, in the meantime, welcomes excursions from Muskegon.Cruise the Great Lakes anticipates the regional economic impact generated by cruising will surpass $200 million in 2024, driven by the upward trend in passenger numbers, port visits, shoreside spending, and the growing domestic and international appeal of Great Lakes cruises. The 2024 season represents a remarkable increase in the economic impact of nearly 50 percent compared to 2022.Cruise lines operating on the Great Lakes in 2024 include Pearl Seas Cruises, Viking Cruises, St. Lawrence Cruise Lines, Ponant, Hapag-Lloyd, and Plantours Cruises. Victory Cruise Lines recently announced its return to the region in 2025 with its Victory 1 and Victory II vessels.Cruises along the Great Lakes are far more expensive than Caribbean cruises, costing thousands of dollars. They generally lure an older demographic, mostly from the United States but also from parts of Europe, people in their 60s and above, who are often retired and well-traveled. Theyre seeking more laid-back, enrichment vacations. The ships generally dont offer pools, casinos or shopping. On-board activities generally include music, lectures, and cocktail hours. The focus is more about personal enrichment.History and local culture are a part of the appeal. Its not just the Victorian charm of car-less Mackinac Island or its late 18th-century fort or the impressive locks at Sault Ste. Marie. Each port has its own story. In Muskegon, travelers explore the citys lumbering and maritime past with a visit to one of the citys many museums. The city also boasts an impressive art museum.In Sault Ste. Marie, passengers disembark to explore the border citys downtown of shops, restaurants, historic homes and other amenities, as well as joining pre-planned tours of the region. They range from adventure excursions to lighthouse tours. The Soo Locks are the biggest attraction for most people, curious about how the busiest lock system in the world works.Houghton is among the Michigan ports not expecting any cruise ships this season, though there were visitors in 2022 and 2023. The Upper Peninsula city completed a new pier project in 2022, not with the intent of welcoming ships but to create an attractive waterfront space.The Pier becoming Houghtons cruise ship dock was more serendipitous than anything, said Eric Waara, Houghtons city manager. It worked out well being able to receive passengers right in the middle of our downtown.Passengers disembarked to visit historic resources, waterfalls, beaches and wilderness.These Great Lakes cruises are not your Caribbean-type megaships where the ships have ziplines, Disney princesses, bottomless margaritas and disco lights, he said. They are for passengers who want a real, unscripted experience more on the lines of an expeditions as opposed to a party at sea.Waara is hopeful cruise ships will return to Houghton next summer.
John Grap

John Grap This is the courtyard and entrance to he SokukoJi Buddhist Temple Monastery in Battle Creek.

John Grap These are cenes inside SokukoJi Buddhist Temple Monastery in Battle Creek

John Grap Sokuzan, founding abbot of SokukoJi Buddhist Temple Monastery, stands in front of photos of his teachers, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, left, and Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi.

John Grap Shodo sits while offering prayers for the sick and suffering at the Buddhist Temple Monastery in Battle Creek.

John Grap Sokuzan, founding abbot of SokukoJi Buddhist Temple Monastery, stands in front of photos of his teachers, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, left, and Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi.

John Grap These are scenes inside SokukoJi Buddhist Temple Monastery in Battle Creek.

John Grap Statatues of the Buddha inside and outside the SokukoJi Buddhist Temple Monastery in Battle Creek.
Casey Grooten First Congregational Church in downtown Kalamazoo is where the SW Michigan Chapter of SSaV currently meets. 2

Casey Grooten Josh Jerz speaks to the group as facilitator and fiddles on his guitar while the conversation ebbs and flows.

Casey Grooten Jim Lozowski has attended two meetings so far and plans to keep coming back.

Casey Grooten Jim Lozowski reads the lyrics to his song Gravel."

Casey Grooten Cory Johnson plays his guitar for the group during the beginning of the meeting.

Casey Grooten From the outside of the meeting room, the group strums their guitars as they wait for the start time.

Casey Grooten Johnson plays his guitar for the group during the beginning of the meeting.

Casey Grooten Although the group was intimately sized this time, Josh Jerz says there is always a different number of folks who attend.

Casey Grooten A SSaV poster that was hung in the room where the group meets.
Al Jones Dr. Alford Young Jr. spoke at the Arcus Center for Social Justice.

Al Jones Dr. Alford Young Jr. spoke at the Arcus Center for Social Justice.

This story is part of Southwest Michigan's Second Wave's On the Ground Kalamazoo series KALAMAZOO, MI  If you cant picture yourself doing something, its unlikely youll ever do it.And if you believe people dont want you around, theres not much chance youll explore their space.Decades of studying the perceptions and concerns of African Americans in small and large communities across the United States have led Dr. Alford Young Jr. to such observations  with life in smaller cities like Kalamazoo serving as a key to understanding how culture and history significantly impact Blacks work and career choices.Every small city has got its own story, its own situation around work and work opportunity, its own relationship to neighboring towns, says Young, a professor of sociology, Afro-American and African Studies, and Public Policy at the University of Michigan. And youve got to dig deep to understand whats going on in any small city to make a difference.As the financial and socio-economic fortunes of African Americans have lagged behind those of Whites and other ethnic groups since the industrial boom years that followed World War II, the lives of African Americans in smaller cities provide a unique perspective on what they see as a good job and a good life, Young says.He spoke on Monday, May 20, 2024, to a gathering of about 40 people at the Arcus Center for Social Justice at Kalamazoo College. His presentation was entitled The Big Deal About Cities: How African Americans Contemplate Career and Work Opportunities.Cultural and historical preferences have limited the job growth of many Blacks when they negatively impact their willingness to consider opportunities in nearby communities, says Young. That may be a result of them feeling they will never be deemed worthy based on where theyre from, or feeling a strong contrast between where they live and adjacent areas that they see as more affluent, he says.In an excerpt of an interview he shared of an unmarried, 25-year-old mother of three conducted in Ypsilanti, that woman talked about life in her low-income but familiar surroundings, saying:A lot of people get here and they get comfortable.  because in the hood everybody close. And they dont understand that this is (supposed to be) a stepping stone. You step in, and you step your a%$ out because its nowhere for kids to live at all, you know.  Some people may feel like they cant get out. You know what I mean. They stay forever.Young highlights studies he conducted in Ypsilanti and in Camden, N.J., that revealed how Blacks who reside in those relatively small cities perceive their place in society and their economic potential versus that of people in larger and neighboring cities. Interviews with more than 300 people in the Ypsilanti study (conducted in 2000), showed that many saw themselves in the shadow of a perceived better life in neighboring Ann Arbor. Residents of Camden, who were interviewed during a 2014 study, compared themselves with what they perceived to be a better life in Philadelphia, which sits on the opposite side of the Delaware River.Camden and Ypsilanti both developed as industrial towns, where good-paying factory jobs were once plentiful. However steep declines in the number of jobs that once attracted Blacks to those communities have left each city saddled with a reputation for being less than favorable places to live. That economic decline has been accompanied by increases in crime and decreases in career opportunities. Ann Arbor and Philadelphia were seen as areas where technology and business thrive.In each case, Young says, he questioned people who lived a short drive  or even within eyesight  of a neighboring community where they could find better opportunities. But most never sought to explore opportunities there.In an excerpt of an interview that was part of the Camden study, a 43-year-old, unmarried, short-order cook spoke of trying to find a better job in Philadelphia or more affluent parts of South Jersey, saying she believed Camden residents are marked as undesirable because of where they live.People were just leery of everything and anything affiliated with Camden. Camden is usually affiliated with something bad. I was just thinking that years ago there were so many jobs in Camden.  People were really doing good.  And its just a shame that the jobs they do put here  like the aquarium, then theyre building some other stuff down there at that waterfront  theyre put here. But theyre not put here for us.Including representatives of education and various nonprofit organizations, many present at the talk were in hiring positions. As vice president and chief diversity officer at Bronson Healthcare Velois Bowers who attended says, The zip code piece (a negative perception about a person based on where they live) hit me very hard in the sense of understanding how people can be denied employment.After Monday's lecture, she says she would explore Bronsons hiring practices to ensure that a job candidates zip code has no bearing on how people are hired there.You want to make sure that everyone is getting a fair opportunity based on their credentials and background, not based on where they live and the perception you may have of them.At the lecture, Martinson Arnan, chief assistant executive for Bronson Healthcare Group, says he gained a richer understanding of the complexities of the African American experience and how professionals in the healthcare industry can engage better with that community by asking patients what they need.After asking Young what suggestions his research provides to the healthcare industry, Arnan says Youngs answer was in his method of collecting data -- asking people."His response was really helpful because sometimes people try to offer help to people without first asking, What do you need? and How can we be there for you?' Arnan says. "So really trying to find ways to improve how we actually get people to have a voice and (allow) they themselves to describe how we can show up to help.Nicole Parker, who works with her sisters to help Black and Brown women become entrepreneurs in Kalamazoo, says Youngs presentation was empowering. She says that seminars like this regarding similar-sized communities can help people in Kalamazoo learn strategies for addressing issues of equity.We can learn how to continue to build and elevate the narratives, Parker says. And (learn) how we can support people in our marginalized communities, especially Black people understanding who they are and what theyre capable of doing.When it comes to Blacks competing for work opportunities, Young says Whites and other ethnicities have to disinvest in this false notion that theres limited opportunity and that youre fighting someone else. Theres room for everybody if you mobilize correctly.Young is an African American who was born and raised in the East Harlem section of New York City (108th Street and 2nd Avenue, a few subway stops north of the affluent Yorkville area). His research on the employment hurdles facing Blacks, and Black men in particular, rose out of his desire to address the negative stereotypes he saw about them in the 1980s.The conversation in the 80s about Black men was so indicting of Black men, he recalls. People surmised, Theyre up to no good. Theyre not working. They just want to rob you  and hence the people who wanted to intervene said, Well, lets save the women and children. But what about the guys? If were going to talk about a healthy family (and) a healthy community, the guys count too.Ultimately we all want a healthy, vibrant community, Young says. And Black folks who live healthier and more vibrant lives mean the rest of them (all Americans) live healthier, more vibrant lives.What can be done to help change the sometimes cultural and dated mindsets that stop African Americans from exploring better opportunities?Young says education both inside the classroom and outside in the real world.You have to take them out, quite literally, he says of taking Black people out of their familiar environments. You have to bring them to other spaces and show them whats going on.People are far less likely to consider working in a field they know nothing about, or where they see no one like themselves. Young says that is not just a Black thing. Staying where you started is actually the mentality of most people, he says. Rich folks are no different. They just live in the world they live in.He says rich people dont necessarily understand or gravitate to poor folks and low-income communities any more than poor folks understand or gravitate to theirs.We are all locked into particular types of realities, Young says. For some that means growing up in a household where it is taken for granted that the kids are going to college. For others, it is a home in which graduating high school and trying to find a decent job is the expectation.What I try to tell them, and this is the hard work, is that Black folks as cultural beings arent necessarily more different than you. Ive told White men from the South: You own guns. Youve shot guns. Sometimes youve shot those guns at the wrong people for the wrong reasons. Why are you better than somebody doing that in the hood?He also says, I want them to know that if theyre going to have the best possible employee base, then tap into these folks.He says that right now cities like Ann Arbor cant find enough people to do some of the everyday work that needs to be done. He says, There are folks there, that if they had the opportunity and the training, can do the work.The wider community stands to benefit when others take jobs that lots of people dont want to do or are unable to do.Some service providers have decided to be broader in what they are trying to do  meaning there are some programs that have done fatherhood training that realize that if they cant help these guys get jobs, theyre not going to be better dads. They just cant tell them to be around their kid. So they partner with a program that tries to do job placement.He says he has also worked to put scholars into social programs so they can conduct research and share their findings with service providers. He says the staff of an emergency room only see sick people, he says as an example. Researchers can help them understand the people that they are trying to help.: Im really trying to cultivate another generation of scholars to look at the culture issues  and try to do that work across gender lines, Young says.He says he has funding from the Ford Foundation to conduct a series of seminars for younger scholars to help them feel like they have a community of people doing this work.This project should have them build networks and link them to service providers so that they can do meaningful work, he adds.
London stocks were set for a steady open on Thursday after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a general election for 4 July and following well-received results from US tech giant Nvidia .

The FTSE 100 was called to open flat.

Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, said: "Nvidia announced another round of better-than-expected results and forecasts yesterday after the bell. This is perhaps why we see the US futures back in the green this morning.

"Nvidias Q1 sales hit $26bn (again $2bn more than the companys own forecast of $24bn) and the company said that they expect to make $28bn during the current quarter. If we rely on the forecast-beat pattern, Nvidia sales could hit the $30bn mark by the end of this quarter.

"And thats not all. Nvidia is expanding business beyond chips. It has a new software platform, called NIM, that offers an AI ecosystem - THE AI ecosystem - a set of easy-to-use microservices for accelerating the deployment of foundation models on any cloud or data. And because its a software licensing model, its 100% profitable and opens the door to a better profitability as companies from all sectors rush into AI. And last but not least, Nvidia will opt for a 10-to-1 split of its stock to boost demand as the price of one share is now flirting with the $1000 level.

"Nvidia jumped 6% in the afterhours trading - but note that the kneejerk reaction has been softer than one would expect. The stock price will certainly reach $1000 per share, but whether it can maintain that level is uncertain. Seemingly, investors got used to blowout results, and even a comfortable beat is not enough to spark joy. Thats worrying for the future earnings announcements for Nvidia, but its promising for the extension of the rally toward other names."

On home shores, meanwhile, investors were mulling the prospect of a general election in six weeks.

Danske Bank said: "While the consensus was for an autumn election, we do not expect the timing to be a game changer. At present, the Labour Party is set to win by a majority according to both polls and prediction markets, and this is well-priced in by markets.

"Overall, we expect the market impact of the UK general election on 4 July to be fairly muted with both parties firmly campaigning on the notion of delivering economic stability and the likelihood of another event akin to the mini-budget event being unlikely."

In corporate news, Hargreaves Lansdown confirmed it had rejected a 985p per share takeover offer from a consortium comprising CVC, Nordic Capital and Platinum Ivy, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

It said: "The board confirms that it unanimously rejected the proposal on the basis it substantially undervalues Hargreaves Lansdown and its future prospects.

"The board is focused on executing its strategy and looks forward to updating the market at the full year results on 9th August 2024. In the meantime, shareholders are advised to take no action."

Elsewhere, National Grid reported a 4% increase in underlying operating profit to 4.8bn, driven by growth in UK electricity transmission and higher rates in the US, despite an 8% decrease in statutory operating profit due to non-cash exceptional charges.

The company announced a 7bn equity raise through a rights issue and declared a final dividend of 39.12p, bringing the full-year dividend to 58.52p, up 5.55%.

Looking ahead, National Grid projected cumulative capital investment of around 60bn billion and expected underlying earnings per share growth of 6% to 8% annually from 2025 to 2029.

Aviva reported strong growth in the first quarter, with general insurance premiums up 16% to 2.7bn and significant increases in UK and Canadian markets.

The company maintained a robust capital position with an estimated Solvency II shareholder cover ratio of 206% and progressed a 300m share buyback.

Strategic acquisitions, including Optiom in Canada and AIG's UK protection business, and the sale of its Singapore joint venture, enhanced Aviva's market capabilities and simplified its geographic footprint, positioning it to meet its 2026 financial targets.
Activist hedge fund Palliser Capital urged Rio Tinto to shift its primary stock market listing from London to Sydney, it emerged on Thursday, to potentially increase its share price by nearly 40%.

According to the Financial Times, Palliser Capital's chief investment officer James Smith believed Rio Tinto's current dual-listed structure, with a primary listing in London and another in Sydney, was outdated and hampered the mining conglomerate's ability to pursue all-stock takeovers.

The dual structure had resulted in Rio Tinto's London-listed shares trading at a $27bn discount compared to its Australian shares, Smith reportedly explained during a presentation at the Sohn Hong Kong investment conference.

Palliser, which holds less than a 1% stake in Rio Tinto valued at several hundred million pounds, believed that the switch would rectify the undervaluation caused by the dual listing.

Should Rio Tinto follow Palliser's recommendation, it would echo a move made by its rival BHP, which shifted its primary listing to Sydney two years ago.

It would also result in Rio Tinto exiting the FTSE 100 index, where it is currently a major component.

In addition to addressing the undervaluation, Smith argued that scrapping the London listing would allow Rio Tinto to tap into significant tax credits available to Australian investors.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Investment platform AJ Bell hiked its dividend on Thursday as it hailed a "very strong" interim performance, posting a jump in profits and revenue as platform customers reached a milestone.

In the six months to the end of March, pre-tax profit rose 47% to 61.4m on revenue of 131.3m, up 27% on the same period a year earlier.

The company declared an interim dividend of 4.25p a share, up 21% on the same period a year earlier.

Chief executive Michael Summersgill said: "I am pleased to announce an excellent set of first-half results. Our dual-channel platform continued to deliver strong organic growth with 27,000 customers added in the period and total platform customers surpassing half a million, a significant milestone for the business.

"We attracted platform net inflows of 2.9 billion, up 45% versus the prior year, to take closing platform AUA to a record 80.3 billion. This growth in customers and AUA drove very strong financial performance, with both revenue and profit before tax up significantly."

At 0815 BST, the shares were up 9.4% at 396.50p. However, the surge was likely also due to the fact that Hargreaves Lansdown announced earlier that it had rejected a 985p per share takeover offer from a consortium comprising CVC, Nordic Capital and Platinum Ivy, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. HL shares were up 16%.
Johnson Matthey posted a fall in full-year underlying profit on Thursday as it was hit by lower metals prices.

In the year to the end of March, underlying operating profit declined to 410m from 465m as PGM (platinum group metals) prices fell. Excluding the 85m impact from PGM prices, underlying operating profit was 11% higher on the year, "driven by transformation benefits and higher pricing".

Revenue fell to 12.8bn from 14.9bn.

The company said it plans to launch a 250m share buyback programme, after receiving net proceeds of more than 500m from business divestments.

Chief executive Liam Condon said: "In May 2022, we set out Johnson Matthey's reinvigorated strategy and transformation. We are now two years into executing on that strategy and, with the benefits progressively coming through, I am more confident than ever that we will be successful.

"We have built on the momentum from the first half, delivering good growth in underlying operating profit in the year, although lower PGM prices have impacted our headline profitability.

"We are delivering against our strategic milestones, and are announcing new commitments to 2025/26 which will continue to build a strong platform for growth."

For the year to the end of March 2025, on a continuing basis excluding value businesses, the group expects at least mid single-digit growth in underlying operating performance at constant precious metal prices and constant currency.
A Buffalo man and his two nephews have pleaded guilty to charges in connection with a vicious assault that took place on Broadway last summer, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office.

Demetrius F. Gore, 53, pleaded guilty Tuesday before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to second-degree assault for his role in the attack last Aug. 20 that seriously injured a man.

Gore's two nephews have also pleaded guilty to all counts in the indictments against them. Amonti K. Atkins, 24, of Buffalo, earlier this month pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and first-degree gang assault. His brother, Amari K. Atkins, 28, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty to the same charges on April 24.

The Atkins brothers, under the direction of their uncle, beat a 41-year-old man unconscious in the 1500 block of Broadway near Deshler Street following a dispute outside of a nearby bottle redemption center. The brothers repeatedly punched and kicked the victim as he laid on the ground after being stabbed in the face by Amonti Atkins. The victim continues to recover from his injuries at a long-term care facility.

Gore and his nephews remain held without bail and are all scheduled to be sentenced on July 17. The Atkins brothers each face a maximum prison sentence of 25 years, while Gore faces a maximum of seven years.

- Dale Anderson

Acting District Attorney Michael Keane commended Detectives Carrie Sitarski and Erin Heidenger, as well as Officer Brian Nagy of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Briana R. D. Kalman of the Narcotics/Intelligence Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Nicholas C. Bussi of the Felony Trials Bureau.
The Rail Modernization Summit 2024 is all set to welcome you back to an engaging forum to unlock and connect you with unlimited networking opportunities. We TraiCon Events will be hosting 3rd Annual The Rail Modernization Summit which will be held at the Hotel Vivanta Dwarka in New Delhi on the 14th June 2024. This forum will be attended by 250+ key rail modernization project stakeholders, global rail innovators, metro rail & high-speed rail authorities and government officials from across the India with the motto of modernizing the Indian Rail Transport.

Rail Modernization Summit is a national gathering of government officials, rail authorities, metro rail corporation, high speed rail authorities, private rail PPP companies and rail solution providers from across the rail & metro sector to discuss latest innovations, software, infrastructure planning and master plans, latest design and engineering strategies, emerging technologies for the development of the regional rail ecosystem.

Many rail technology solution providers, software solutions, machinery equipment companies & building material suppliers would be participating in the Rail Modernization Summit as Sponsors who will be showcasing their host of solutions including few of the top solution providers such as APL Apollo  Gold Sponsor, dormakaba  Silver Sponsor and digitos technologies  Bronze Sponsor.

We at TraiCon Events would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Supporting Partners, Speakers, Sponsors, Associations, and Media Partners & Participants for supporting the Rail Modernization Summit and ensuring that we together will be able to successfully host the Rail Modernization Summit 2024.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The nations largest retailer is making a significant change to many of its small format Neighborhood Market stores: According to a company news release, Walmarts grocery-first concept locations will soon feature larger layouts as well as a broader assortment of goods.

With the larger layout, we can offer a broader assortment across the entire store, Walmart noted in the release. Customers will see the biggest gains in our Fresh departments. There will be more to choose from in bakery, produce, meat and dairy. Plus, the expanded service deli will offer more hot case options.

Neighborhood Market, a smaller, more targeted Walmart store, first launched in 1998, placed predominantly in urban areas. Approximately 50,000 square feet, or one-fifth the size of a Walmart Supercenter, the locations focus on food and do not contain the regular Walmart departments like clothing and toys.

There are currently more than 700 in the nation. But Walmart has plans to add to that number, and has already introduced two new locations  one in the Dune Lakes area of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and the other in the Vine City neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. Both locations have 57,000 square feet of sales floor and pickup and delivery space, roughly 17,000 square feet more than the average Neighborhood Market.

The revamped markets have wider aisles and more space for pickup and delivery. A Health Services Room has been added to their pharmacies to provide privacy and space for vaccinations and consultations.

As we remodel, convert and build new stores, we are being thoughtful about how to make our Neighborhood Markets right-sized for each community, Walmart noted in its release, detailing the companys plans to add approximately 150 stores. We continually evaluate all our stores to make sure they have the right assortment and services to match our customers expectations.

The company has not yet disclosed where any additional Neighborhood Markets will be.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A Monsignor Farrell High School student was honored with the Michael J. Petrides Student Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science this week.

The award is named for Michael J. Petrides, a Staten Island educator who died in 1994. It is given to a graduating high school senior who excels in math and science.

Each Staten Island high school  public, private and parochial  is asked to submit a single nominee, and the honoree is selected from that list.

Borough President Vito Fossella and members of the Petrides family and scholarship committee presented the award on Tuesday to Brian Lihari during a ceremony at the Michael J. Petrides School in Sunnyside.

Brian is pictured here with Borough President Vito Fossella. (Courtesy/Pete Trivelas with the Borough President's Office)Pete Trivelas with the Borough President's Office

Brian is a student of the Scholars Program, a talented and elite group of Farrell students enrolled in numerous rigorous classes across several academic disciplines, including Advanced Placement courses. He has earned a 102% GPA and an outstanding SAT score.

And his successes go beyond the classroom. Brian spearheaded a 60-week research project of bacteria levels of the waters surrounding Staten Island. His findings were published in the Citizens Water Quality Testing Program, which he presented to the New York State Department of Health.

The Michael J. Petrides Student Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science was presented on Tuesday, May 21, with nominees and winners invited to a ceremony at the Michael J. Petrides School. (Courtesy/Pete Trivelas with the Borough President's Office)Pete Trivelas with the Borough President's Office

Additionally, he helped develop an alert system to warn residents when the waters contain high concentrations of bacteria. Those findings were then presented to public schools on Staten Island to promote awareness and safety for beachgoers.

In second place was Eniola Owotomo from Tottenville High School, and in third place was Michael Odekunle from New Dorp High School.

In second place is Eniola Owotomo from Tottenville High School. (Courtesy/Pete Trivelas with the Borough President's Office)Pete Trivelas with the Borough President's Office
Charlie Colin, the founding bassist of the pop-rock band Train, has died.

According to a story in the Daily News, Colin died after slipping in the shower. His age was 58.

TMZ  a tabloid news organization owned by Fox Corporation  who spoke to the musicians mother, noted at the time of his death the Californian artist was house-sitting for a friend in Brussels, Belgium.

He was discovered by his friends upon their return last week.

Sources said he relocated to the Belgian capital to teach music at a conservatory, his mother told the outlet. At the time she noted that Colin was also working on music for a film.

Because of his ongoing battle with substance abuse, Colin was forced to leave Train  known for hits like Drops of Jupiter  in 2003, a decade after forming the band in San Francisco with frontman and sole original member Pat Monahan, Rob Hotchkiss, Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood.

Colin also played guitar and provided background vocals for a number of other bands after his departure from the pop-rock group Train.
NEW YORK, N.Y.  Memorial Day weekend in New York City is a time of reflection, remembrance, and celebration. As we honor the sacrifice of service members who bravely defended our nation, there are numerous parades and special events held to honor their memory across the city.

For those seeking more adventure, explore the countless attractions and events happening across NYC throughout the holiday weekend. From outdoor parties on rooftops and at parks to tours of Naval ships and more, theres something for everyone to enjoy. Heres a roundup of the various Memorial Day weekend events in NYC for 2024.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADES

Staten Island Memorial Day Parade: The 105th annual parade will take place on Monday, May 27, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., along Forest Avenue, from Hart Boulevard to Decker Avenue.

Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade: This parade kicks off in Bay Ridge at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 27, 2024, from 78th Street and Third Avenue. The route continues along Third Avenue to Marine Avenue, up Fourth Avenue, and over to John Paul Jones Park. This year marks. the 157th parade, making it one of the oldest parades in Brooklyn.

Little Neck Douglaston Memorial Day Parade: Starting off at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 27, 2024, from Jayson Avenue and Northern Boulevard, this parade is touted by event organizers as the largest continuously-held Memorial Day parade in the nation. A map of the route can be found here.

MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS IN NYC

Memorial Day Weekend Hip Hop vs. Reggae Yacht Cruise: Enjoy a four-hour cruise featuring hip-hop and reggae tracks by NYC DJs. The cruise features two floors of music, a fully stocked bar, food, hookah, and stunning views of the NYC skyline, this 21+ event is aboard the Pier 36 Majestic Princess on the Lower East Side. Order tickets here.

In addition to that cruise, there is the LATINA Party Memorial Day Boat Cruise at Pier 15 East River Esplanade and the Hip Hop & R&B Memorial Day Party Cruise also at Pier 15 East River Esplanade.

All cruises are boarding at 10 p.m., departing at 10:30 p.m., returning at 1:30 a.m., and concluding at 2 a.m. The age requirement is 21+ with a valid ID.

Cardi B Memorial Day Concert at the Coney Island Art Walls: Experience the excitement of Cardi B live at The Coney Island Art Walls this Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th. Hosted by Dream Hospitality Group and OffCampus, this event promises an electrifying atmosphere in the midst of captivating street art and dynamic performances. The event will take place from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is located at 3050 Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island. Get tickets here.

Pier 17 South Street Seaport Summer Kickoff: Start the summer off on a high note at Pier 17 located at 89 South Street in Manhattan. Experience 3 days of action-filled happenings to celebrate the start of the sunny season.

Indulge at the various locations throughout the Seaport all weekend long. For $10 to $15, treat yourself to delicious food and drinks from the Seaports finest restaurants, including The Fulton, Malibu Farm, Carne Mare, Tin Building by Jean-Georges, Lawn Club, and Kokos at Pearl Alley, alongside beloved local favorites like SUteishi, Cobble Fish, and Fresh Salt.

Saturday, May 25, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Kokos at Pearl Alley is having a Tropical Dance Party. Enjoy the festivities with a live Tropical Steel Band performance, followed by a DJ set featuring tropical house, reggae, and Afro Beats. RSVP now for free.

Also happening on Saturday, May 25, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. is The Fultons Patio is having its Sunset Soiree, set with fresh seafood fare, smooth jazz, and unparalleled views of the Brooklyn Bridge. Free with reservation.

TOUR NAVAL SHIPS DURING FLEET WEEK

Explore naval ships during Fleet Week with tours available at various locations throughout Staten Island and Manhattan

Homeport Pier, Staten Island: Discover the Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS MARINETTE (LCS 25) from Mayport, Florida, the Legend-class cutter USCGC Calhoun (WMSL-759) from Charleston, South Carolina, and the Keeper-class coastal buoy tender USCGC Katherine Walker (WLM-552) from Bayonne, New Jersey. Public tours are available from Thursday, May 23 to Monday, May 27, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Manhattan, Pier 88 South: Tour the amphibious assault ship, USS Bataan (LHD 5) from Norfolk, Virginia. Public tours only on Saturday, May 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Manhattan, Pier 90 North: Visit the Baden-Wurttemberg-class frigate FGSS Baden-Wurttemberg (F-222) and the Berlin-class replenishment ship FGS Frankfurt am Main (A-1412) from Germany. Public tours are available only on Saturday, May 25, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Manhattan, Intrepid Museum, Pier 86: Explore four U.S. Naval Academy YPs from Annapolis, Maryland. Public tours are available from Thursday, May 23 to Friday, May 24, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also, visit the Bay-class cutter USCGC Sturgeon Bay (WTGB-109) from Bayonne, New Jersey. Public tours are available from Thursday, May 23 to Monday, May 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Check here for more information about the Ship Tours.

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museums Summer Movie Series: Enjoy a free outdoor movie screening while lounging on Intrepids flight deck at sunset. Kick-off MDW with Top Gun: Maverick on Friday, May 24, 2024. The movie will be screened on a large inflatable screen ensuring that every seat offers a great view. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the movie starting at sunset. Dont forget to bring blankets and lawn chairs for added comfort. Attendees are welcome to bring their own food and drinks (alcohol is not permitted), and light snacks will also be available for purchase at the event.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Explore an exciting lineup of events happening across Staten Island over the three-day Memorial Day weekend!

From public ship tours during Fleet Week to live music, outdoor movies and more, theres something for everyone to enjoy.
More money is heading to the pockets of workers across the United States, and you can be one of them.

Starting July 1, salaried workers can earn more overtime money than ever before thanks to new legislation.

Typically, hourly workers salaries will increase 1.5 times beyond their typical pay rate if they work over 40 hours a week thanks to the Fair Labor Standards Act, as stated on Advance/SILive.com sister site, AL.com.

Salaried employees, however, can only cash in on overtime if they make under a specific wage. Presently, salaried workers who make $35,568 annually cannot receive overtime pay. Thats about $684 going home every week  and just a hair above New York states minimum wage of $16 an hour.

Come July 1, that $35,568 cap will rise to $43,888, totally out to $844 weekly. That nearly $200 bump will climb again on New Years Day in 2025. Then, salaried workers will be able to earn $58,656 yearly  coming out to $1,128 every week.

But the increases dont stop there. Following the six-month timeframe between the two jumps, the salary threshold will be updated every three years using up-to-date wage data to determine new salary levels, AL.com details.

Additionally, if you are a salaried employee who contributes to executive, administrative, or professional duties, you will also be getting a salary cap expansion. July 1 will raise the overtime wage limit from $107,432 annually to $132,964 annually. By the time the New Year rolls around, the limit jumps from $132,964 to $151,164.

In an age where it feels like wallets are perpetually held open to pay for gas, food, taxes  and everything else that life throws our way  this overtime change will impact millions.

According to federal estimates, one million more workers will become eligible for overtime pay after the July 1 change. An additional three million will be eligible after Jan. 1, 2025, AL.com notes.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The 99 New Yorkers killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars since 9/11 will be the subject of a new memorial in Queens, Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday.

Hizzoner made the announcement during a Thursday morning City Hall ceremony kicking off Fleet Week, the annual celebration of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard ahead of Memorial Day.

Fleet Week is more than just the ceremonial start of the summer. Having you here, acknowledging the importance of those men and women who watered the tree of freedom with their blood that we are able to participate in the greatness of not only this city, but this entire country, Adams said. We want to continue to say that not only do we honor you in life, we honor you when you transition from the physical to the spiritual, as you defend our great country.

One of the most notable city residents killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars since 9/11  Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, a Staten Islander  will be among the 99 people honored by the new memorial.

There is a memorial for Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis on S. Railroad Avenue at the intersection of SSG Michael H. Ollis Way (Burbank Avenue) in Staten Island on Aug. 28, 2014. (Staten Island Advance Photo/Maura Grunlund)Staff-Shot

The memorial will be along the Whitestone waterfront as part of the Utopia Parkway Seawall Replacement and Street Improvements project led by the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).

It will incorporate a bike path, pedestrian walkway, and rebuilt bulkheads to revitalize the area while mitigating storm risk for the surrounding Queens neighborhood.

Funding for the project will be sourced from private donations and public capital project allocations.

The city will publish a request for qualification Monday, June 3, 2024, inviting artists to submit letters of interest to be considered for the opportunity to be considered as finalists for the commission of the permanent artwork.

A panel will review those submissions with special emphasis on proposals from veteran and military community artists and design teams. The request for qualification will be open through July 10.

The city chose Queens as it is the borough home to the largest number of post-9/11 service members killed in action and also the borough with the highest population of living veterans.

Our nation must never forget the service and sacrifice of those who stepped up to serve in our nations wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere as part of the Global War on Terror, said Allison Jaslow, CEO, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. New York Citys families and communities lost 99 men and women in the prime of their lives to these wars. I applaud Mayor Adams and his team for ensuring that their memory will be honored, not only in words, but in a lasting memorial that will stand as a testament to the ultimate sacrifice these individuals made for our country. May we all be inspired to live lives worthy of the sacrifice of each and every one of them.
NEW YORK  Former President Donald Trump will campaign in one of the most Democratic counties in the nation Thursday, holding a rally in the South Bronx to woo minority voters days before a Manhattan jury will begin deliberations on whether to convict him of felony charges in his criminal hush money trial.

Trump will address supporters in Crotona Park, a public green space in a neighborhood that is among the citys most diverse and its most impoverished, a change from the majority-white areas where he holds most of his rallies. His campaign said he is expected to draw a crowd of several thousand people.

With Trump confined to New York for the last six weeks, the presumptive Republican nominees campaign planned a series of local stops across his hometown before and after court. He visited a bodega in Harlem, dropped by a construction site one morning, and held a photo op at a local firehouse.

The Bronx rally will be Trumps first event open to the general public as he insists he is making a play to win an overwhelmingly Democratic state that hasnt backed a Republican for president since Ronald Reagan in 1984. Besides creating a spectacle of rallygoers and protesters, the rally also allows Trump to highlight what he argues are advantages on economic and immigration issues that could cut into key Democratic voting blocs.

The strategy is to demonstrate to the voters of the Bronx and New York that this isnt your typical presidential election, that Donald Trump is here to represent everybody and get our country back on track, said Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, a potential Trump running mate who grew up in Brooklyn and will join him at the rally.

The Bronx Democratic Party is planning to protest Trumps appearance with its own event at the park.

Trump isnt welcome in the Bronx, they wrote in a social media advertisement.

Trumps campaign believes he can chip away at President Joe Bidens support among Black and Hispanic voters, particularly younger men who may not follow politics closely, but are frustrated by their economic situations and drawn to Trumps tough-guy persona.

Hes also argued the indictments he faces in New York and elsewhere make him relatable to Black voters frustrated by the criminal justice system, a statement that was harshly criticized by Bidens allies.

Bidens campaign on Thursday released two ads aimed at undercutting Trumps attempts to make inroads with Black voters, highlighting his propagation of the birther conspiracy against former President Barack Obama and his calls for the death penalty for five men wrongly convicted of rape in the 1989 Central Park Five case. A radio ad fictionalizing a conversation between a Trump campaign volunteer and a Black voter will air on national Black radio stations while a shorter television spot will air in major cities, in swing states and on digital platforms aiming to reach voters in the Bronx near Trumps rally.

The rally comes during a pause in Trumps criminal hush money trial. Court will resume following the Memorial Day weekend with closing arguments. The jury will then decide whether Trump will become the first former president in the nations history to be criminally convicted and whether he will be the first major party presidential candidate to run as a convicted felon.

Several longtime figures in New York politics  both Republican and Democrat  argued theres good reason for Trump to go to the Bronx and other majority Black and Latino communities.

Ed Cox, chairman of the New York Republican Party, noted that the GOP, in an upset victory, picked up a city council seat from the borough last year for the first time in 40 years. He pointed to the current political climate, with some voters pessimistic about the economy and viewing Biden as weakened.

As chairman of the party here in New York, Im not going to write off New York. Were going to go for it, he said.

Trump has often pointed to the success of former Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Republican who ran for governor in 2022 against Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul. Zeldin ultimately lost the race by an unusually close margin.

During his campaign, Zeldin appeared in the Bronx alongside the Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr., a former state senator and city council member who had urged Trump to hold a rally in the borough and held a pro-Trump event there Saturday.

While other presidential candidates have visited and met with local leaders, Diaz commended Trump for being the first and only president or presidential candidate who has shown respect to minority communities in the Bronx by holding a rally.

Diaz, who remains a Democrat despite backing Trump, said he believes there are others in the borough who will also cross the aisle, pointing to concerns over an influx of migrants that has dominated headlines in New York over budget and safety concerns.

People are fed up, he said. Democrats say they are there to help us ... but our people are doing worse under the Democratic control.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that campaigning in that part of the city makes sense for Trump.

There is a concentration of Latino ministers who are pro-life in the Bronx and they are mobilized and energized, said Cuomo, who chose to appear with Diaz in 2022 as he floated a political comeback months after the Democrat resigned after being accused of sexual harassment by at least 11 women.

Cuomo, who has denied the allegations, said: Its not really indicative of New York, but there is a lot of energy on that issue in that part of the Bronx.

The Bronx was once the most Democratic borough in the city. Barack Obama won 91.2% of the boroughs vote in 2012, the highest anywhere in the state. Biden won 83.5% of the borough in 2020. Trump garnered only 16% of the vote.

The area Trump will be visiting is overwhelmingly non-white  a departure from most of his rally locations. About 65% of residents are Hispanic and 31% Black, according to U.S. Census data. About 35% live below the poverty line.

Trump will not be the first Republican presidential candidate to visit the borough. Ronald Reagan held an event in the South Bronx as he ran against Democratic President Jimmy Carter in 1980, delivering a speech at a vacant lot on Charlotte Street. Reagan, according to a New York Times report from the time, likened the area to London in World War II after the German blitz and accused Carter of failing to deliver on promised revitalization efforts. Carter had visited the same spot several years earlier, vowing improvements.

Reagans visit was interrupted by protesters, who chanted, You aint going to do nothing, and Go back to California.

Adam Solis, the chairman of the Black Caucus of the New York Young Republican Club, which helped Trumps campaign organize the event, said the visit to a park where he played growing up shows Trump cares about what he dubbed the forgotten borough.

You can imagine being a Trump supporter in the Bronx. You can get ostracized sometimes, said Solis, who still lives in the borough.

He also called on any protesters who might choose to demonstrate to remain peaceful.

I wish any protesters the best. I hope they have fun sharing their views, he said. But I just hope they tread lightly. Because disrespect is not accepted in the Bronx.
A Jamestown man described by a prosecutor as an unrepentant career narcotics trafficker was sentenced Wednesday to more than 26 years in prison for his eighth drug-related felony.

Luis Martinez, 52, previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to sell methamphetamine.

Luis Martinez has thus far been undeterred by probationary sentences, local jail sentences, short prison terms, long prison terms or parole supervision and numerous arrests, Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson told U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr.

Glaberson called Martinez a leader and manager of the conspiracy who was close to the source of the drugs.

Sinatra sentenced Martinez to 318 months in prison.

Youre going to be away for a long time, Mr. Martinez, the judge told him at the sentencing hearing.

Defense attorney Frank Bogulski said his clients crimes were driven by drug use, but added his criminal record doesnt indicate any violence.

Mr. Martinez has a sordid history in and out of the criminal justice system wherein he allowed lack of purpose and boredom to drive his drug habits and actions in the community, Bogulski told the judge. This boredom and failure to take advantage of opportunities to better himself have led to the position he finds himself in at this time.

On June 5, 2020, investigators seized from a Water Street residence in Jamestown approximately 20 grams of cocaine, a loaded Glock, $3,534 in cash, 14 individually wrapped plastic bags containing a total of about 363 grams of methamphetamine and other smaller bags of cocaine and methamphetamine, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

This is not a small case or a small amount of drugs, the judge said.

The case was investigated by the Chautauqua County Sheriffs Office, Jamestown Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and New York State Police.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Residents of New York City awoke to dark skies and downpouring rain Thursday morning.

While forecasters called for varying severity, most agreed upon the chance at lightning and hail.

The crack of thunder rumbled across Staten Island over the course of the morning hours, with the National Weather Service (NWS) issuing a severe thunderstorm warning for New York City until 10:45 a.m.

Accompanying the flash of lightning were periods of heavy rainfall. As of 10 a.m., the Advance/SILive.com weather station recorded 0.79 inches of rain. Additionally, the NWS warned of the potential for hail measuring around an inch in diameter and damaging wind gusts.

[Key Messages for Thu May 23, 2024]: *Showers/storms develop in the AM and move across the area into the early afternoon.

*A few of the storms may be strong to severe with damaging wind gusts and hail around 1" diameter.

*May contain lightning strikes & brief heavy downpours. pic.twitter.com/27iMs3lPdg  NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) May 22, 2024

Around 10 a.m., NWS Meteorologist Bill Goodman noted that the worst of the initial storm system was already making its way through Staten Island and would subside before 10:30 a.m.

That being said, with the worst in the rearview mirror, residents can take a moment to breathe, but should not be surprised by the return of showers this evening.

There could be some wildly scattered showers and thunderstorms we get into the late day, Goodman said. This is typical when you get storms rolling through early in the morning; it tends to suppress anything that might happen later on. I think its just going to be some wildly scattered activity off to the northwest late day.

In terms of timing, Goodman foresees a return of such wet conditions around 5 or 6 p.m. The scattered showers are expected to deliver additional rain across the region for about two or three hours.

The Thursday high should peak at 82 degrees before dipping to a low of 66, according to the NWS.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Thunderstorms with the potential for hail, downpours and fierce winds battered Staten Island and the rest of New York City on Thursday.

Heavy rain fell and attendees huddled under umbrellas during the graduation ceremony held outdoors at the College of Staten Island (CSI).

Rain started to fall on our borough during the morning rush hour and another deluge could strike during the evening commute, according to AccuWeather.com.

Flashes of lightning following claps of loud thunder echoed through our borough on Thursday morning.

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for New York City lasting until at least 10 a.m.

Gusts up to 60 mph and hail the size of a penny are potential threats from Thursdays storm, according to the National Weather Service.

Strong winds can cause flying debris, turn unsecured objects into projectiles, and cause power outages, the National Weather Service said, adding, Exercise caution when walking, biking, or driving.

Clearing is possible from late in the morning into the afternoon, but thunderstorms could resume around 7 p.m. on Thursday.

The mercury is expected to peak at 78 degrees, according to AccuWeather.com.

Attendees at the graduation for the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook seek shelter from heavy rain on the morning of Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel

Attendees at the graduation for the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook seek shelter from heavy rain on the morning of Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel

Attendees at the graduation for the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook seek shelter from heavy rain on the morning of Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel

Thunderstorms drench Staten Island on the morning of Thursday, May 23, 2024. Rain soaks vehicles on the Staten Island Expressway near Bradley Avenue. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon
The Art of Deep Listening Workshop May 26, Royal Botanic Garden When was the last time you listened? Really listened? In this era of the information economy that monetises all our attention, the art of focus and listening can seem like a thing of the past. In the uniquely calming environment of the Royal Botanic Garden, this practical workshop invites us briefly to still the everyday chatter in our lives and consider what deserves our undivided attention.

Window Dressing May 24, Dr Chau Chak Wing Building, UTS This performance suggests we are all, at heart, cryptoscopophiliacs, a word that apparently describes the irresistible urge to look through windows of houses as you go past. In this work, made by the brilliant Liesel Badorrek, eight performers appear at windows in the Frank Gehry-designed building, literally giving the viewer a window into their strange and beautiful lives. Theres no dialogue, but there is music you can access via your smartphone. The rest is up to your imagination.

The sprawling Vivid Festival has grown far beyond the familiar light installations around the city. Here is the pick of the talks, workshops and performances that make up the Vivid Ideas strand of the annual event.

A Thousand Ways: An Encounter

From May 29, State Library of NSW

Hell is other people is one of Sartres better-known aphorisms, but the uniquely modern hell for many of us is being disconnected from others. This intriguing project from Abigail Browde and Michael Silverstone (600 Highwaymen) brings together two strangers on either side of a perspex screen and invites them to interact based on cue cards drawn from a pile between them. Rather than Sartres bleak assessment of humanity, maybe WB Yeats was closer to the mark when he said, There are no strangers here; Only friends you havent yet met.

Say My Name: The Humanity of Names

June 5, The Great Hall, UTS

Whats in a name? There is nothing quite so personal to us as the name we carry throughout our lives. And if your name happens to be foreign or difficult for the dominant culture in which you live to pronounce it can become a source of pain and embarrassment. This discussion will explore the psychology of names, how they can become a source of othering and what we can do to be respectful and inclusive when it comes to pronouncing other folks monikers.

Adam Spencer will join the debate over artificial intelligence. Credit: James Brickwood

AI Will Destroy Humanity: A Future Science Debate

June 7, Parliament House, Macquarie St

Its hard to wrap your head around how swiftly the artificial intelligence revolution is unfolding and the almost limitless areas of our lives the technology will affect in one way or another. Add in the fact that there are plenty of aspects of AI scientists themselves cant fully explain and the near-term prospects feel either terrifying or hugely exciting, or both. This debate brings together scientists and comedians, including scientist-comedian Adam Spencer, to consider what it all might mean  because if you dont laugh, youll probably cry.
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Review Eating outPerth Cosy Hifumiya serves housemade Japanese udon noodles by day before transforming into a roaring izakaya at night Dont be put off by the lunchtime queues: the line moves fast and the slippery, chewy wheat noodles evoke memories of Japanese tradition and modernity. Max Veenhuyzen May 24, 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

1 / 3 Hifumiyas spicy miso pork udon. Max Veenhuyzen 2 / 3 Chilled zaru udon and tempura prawns. Max Veenhuyzen 3 / 3 Housemade noodles are Hifumiyas specialty - and worth queuing for. Max Veenhuyzen Previous Slide Next Slide 14 / 20 How we score Japanese$$$$ Youve never been to Hifumiya before? bellowed my friend in disbelief. I quietly sucked in some air through my cheeks: one of my involuntary reactions when I dont know what to say, and Im trying to buy myself some thinking time. No? Yes? Sort-of? In my defence, I reckon I had three solid reasons for having to hesitate before answering. First: I had been to Hifumiya and eaten and drunk extensively, but only after dark when the restaurant transforms into Jigoro, a lively Japanese izakaya. (More about this two-businesses-one-space concept later.)

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Second: Ive tried to hit this specialist udon noodle shop a couple of times over the years but was put off by the lunchtime queues that, a friend tells me, can sometimes extend right onto Murray Street. Guests help themselves to tempura fried vegetables, skewers of grilled chicken and other items to power-up their lunch. Max Veenhuyzen And finally: of the three main Japanese noodles, udon is my least preferred so I rarely check for it when Im eating out. Its not that I hate udon, of course. Its just that Japans pale, chewy wheat noodles pale in comparison and deliciousness to the eggy snap of ramen egg noodles (and not to mention the ramen universes infinite combination of broths and toppings) or the earthy, nutty joys of soba: the countrys beloved home-grown buckwheat noodles. Think of ramen and soba as the first two Die Hard movies with udon representing the rest of the franchise. As it turns out, udon can be just as enjoyable as any noodle from Japan, or any country for that matter. Or at least it can be when its made by Daisuke Hiramatsu, the owner and flour whisperer behind Hifumiya.

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Born in Japans Okayama prefecture, Hiramatsu learned to cook at traditional kappo (counter) restaurants before heading to Perth in the early 2000s to make sushi at the citys famous Jaws restaurants and at Matsuri. While kappo and sushi dining is synonymous with high-end restaurants and dishes and plates rich in seasonal symbolism, Hiramatsus end game was to open a place that was everyman in spirit: enter, the affordable, nourishing bowls of udon noodles that hed eat after school in his hometown of Kurashiki (intriguingly, also the birthplace of jeans in Japan). And so Hifumiya came into being in 2018. Now open: old-world glamour arrives at Perths finest beachside address Named after the traditional Japanese words for one, two, three and four  the better-known ichi-ni-san is derived from the Chinese pronunciations for numbers  the name represents Hiramatsus hopes to establish a new start for Japanese food in Perth. On paper, the idea might read as self-aggrandising, but as those aforementioned lunch crowds attest, Perth seems to be onboard. At any given time, the make-up of the queue and the packed dining room covered in blonde timber and Nipponese ephemera looks like a cross-section of the CBD crowd. There are suits. There are students. There are staff of various levels of seniority from nearby Royal Perth Hospital. There are food writers finally eagerly awaiting their first taste of housemade udon noodles and questioning their life choices over the (at least) past six years. Because while the queue might look long and intimidating, it moves quite quickly thanks to an ingenious cafeteria-style ordering system and what seems to be an unspoken understanding among diners that Hifumiya is a hit-and-run prospect, not least because the lunch hour clock is ticking.

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The system works like so: guests line up until its their turn to order; you grab one of those ubiquitous black and red-rimmed Japanese lacquer trays then tell the lead udon cook your order. Its kosher to use dish numbers rather than names to expedite the process, so saying number four rather than warm kamatama mentai udon is absolutely fine. The menu is divided into two main categories: udon noodles served in a traditional warm broth, or udon noodles served in a chilled bukkake-style broth. Please dont Google the latter, just know its a legitimate Japanese term. Noodles come in both regular (from $8.80) or large (from $9.80) sizes but, truly, the quantity of food one gets in a stock-standard bowl of udon will be more than enough for most, not least if youre going to supplement with a mini rice bowl (donburi; from $4.50) topped with all the tasty things, or grab a few items from the hot food display holding prepared fried items. Think plus-sized fritters of shaved veg bound in a golden tempura batter ($5.50); triangles of crumbed fried mackerel ($5.50); or skewers of extra-golden nuggets of fried chicken karaage ($5.50). You probably werent counting on bulking out lunch with those add-ons, but considering youll have to pass the hot box to pay for lunch, its more than likely your willpower will crumble. Consider yourself warned. Listen up Perth: Heres the pizza order to test your makers skill But back to the noodles. Theyre made in-house using Japanese machinery and, appropriately, a very udon-specific noodle flour thats milled in Japan using West Australian wheat that is shipped to Asia, processed then sent back here. Like so many elements of the current food system, all this transport might sound unnecessary and even environmentally irresponsible, but its hard to argue with the end product: slippery, supple noodles of remarkable and rewarding chew.

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When Hiramatsu first started making noodles in 2018, he tried using local flour direct from the Wheatbelt, but the unpredictable protein content made things tricky. (He says the medium-protein percentage of the Japanese-milled flour is crucial for udon success, as is the percentage of ash  0.38 per cent, trainspotters  which helps give the udon noodles their pale colour and tensile strength.) He also says that while hes gotten better over the years, hes still learning and, like baking bread, fermenting pizza dough or any process involving flour, seasonal and climatic considerations come into play during the day-long process that involves mixing and ageing the dough. During lunch, Jigoros crack squad of noodle cooks work non-stop, cutting noodles, boiling noodles, washing noodles and serving noodles, all at a speedy pace to keep the line moving and the dining room turning. The entry-level kake udon ($8.80) is the simplest and most affordable way to see what Hifumiya and Hiramatsu are all about. Consisting of nothing but the house kakejiru broth (unlike most traditional dashi broths, this broth isnt made with kombu seaweed, but five different kinds of dried seafood that Hiramatsu sources from Japan, including the dried baby sardines frequently used in soup stocks from his region) and those outstanding noodles, its another lesson in less being more. While Japanese food is a cuisine that respects history, its also open to change and absorbing additional influences. See the curry options among the warm noodles with the udon slicked in a mixture of the house broth and sweet, comforting Japanese-style curry: curry found its way to Japan via the navy, who needed a nutritious meal that could feed an entire ship of sailors on the cheap.

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14 / 20 Review Brilliant prawn noodles, supple chicken rice, and deep-fried milk at Hey Hawker While the imminent arrival of winter (any day now) means cold udons shelf life is fast approaching, you could still sneak in a bowl of something like the toriten ($16.80) which stars chicken karaage, lettuce and a tartar sauce that, as you work your way through the bowl, mixes with the broth to create an intriguingly addictive salad dressing-style experience. Hifumiya is a vibe. Im sad its taken me this long to get aboard the train. (My friend from before says he went 10 times in the first two weeks of opening.) And while the room doesnt pump with the same sake-fuelled energy it does when it becomes Jigoro at night, theres certainly no shortage of life in the space. And in the interests of encouraging would-be operators to think outside of the box when it comes to business models, exposing so many people every day (Hifumiya does 500 bowls a day during the week and up to 700 on weekends) to the pros of two different business concepts operating out of the one space can only be a good thing. In these economically challenging times, doesnt an alternative opening approach like this sound like a safer option then taking on six- or seven-figures worth of debt to open somewhere new before even making your first sale? Japanese food culture has contributed much to the way modern-day WA eats and drinks. We can find sushi in supermarkets and shopping centres everywhere. The savoury fermented soybean paste miso has been embraced wholeheartedly by chefs. Eaters gladly queue for brilliant housemade udon noodles at lunch.

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What other elements of Japanese  and indeed other countries  food culture could we incorporate into our life? The low-down Vibe: Housemade udon noodles in a fast-moving, high-energy room. Go-to dish: Kake udon. Drinks: Japanese soft drinks and tea (return after dark for draft Japanese beers, sake and other izakaya libations). Cost: about $40 for two.

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David Spantons clever new venture on Bayswater Road proves luxury can also be affordable.

Champagne, oysters and a baby grand piano dont sound like the obvious ingredients for a venue launch during one of the bumpiest seasons for hospitality on record, but David Spanton believes The Hook, which opened on Thursday, May 23, is just the tonic in an undeniably tough market.

Spanton has distilled decades of experience to give the new oyster-and-cocktail saloon on Bayswater Road in Kings Cross every chance to sing. All of The Hooks staff have been trained to multitask, and that includes oyster shucking. If the piano player doesnt show for a shift, you might find Spanton on the keys. I only know three songs, he says.

1 / 8 From left: Designer Mike Delany with Dave and Amy Spanton. Christopher Pearce 2 / 8 Oysters mornay. Christopher Pearce 3 / 8 Christopher Pearce 4 / 8 Classic cheeseburger. Christopher Pearce 5 / 8 Christopher Pearce 6 / 8 Christopher Pearce 7 / 8 The Hooks take on the Golden Gaytime. Christopher Pearce 8 / 8 Christopher Pearce Previous Slide Next Slide

The key for me is being careful with wages and kitchen costs. Keep the food simple and delicious, with nothing over $30. The food has to pay its own way. Ive learnt from our other venues to cut out anything with a short shelf-life, so we dont have any salads on the menu, and we use potato buns, which have a longer shelf-life and taste delicious, Spanton says.

Oysters are expensive, no doubt, but by buying in bulk and [specialising] in one fresh oyster each week, we can still offer value.
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Review Eating outSurry Hills The new-look White Horse is the pubs most delicious iteration yet Yes, you can roll up and order a beer, but Im not quite sure you can still call it a pub. Whatever White Horse has become, I like it a lot. Callan Boys May 24, 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

1 / 6 The White Horse dining room. Jennifer Soo 2 / 6 Go-to dish: Manjimup marron with sweetcorn and ice plant. Jennifer Soo 3 / 6 Beetroot millefeuille with muntries and native thyme. Jennifer Soo 4 / 6 Pardoo wagyu tri-tip with chestnut mushrooms and mushroom sabayon. Jennifer Soo 5 / 6 Cordon cut riesling custard, desert lime frozen yoghurt, crispy milk. Jennifer Soo 6 / 6 House cocktails are designed by drinks gun Michael Chiem. Jennifer Soo Previous Slide Next Slide Good Food hat 15.5 / 20 How we score Contemporary$$$$ Just when I thought that high-end pub-dining in Sydney was doomed to the same old carte of kingfish crudo and overly ambitious cheeseburgers, White Horse reopened in April and slapped me around the chops. There are dishes at the Surry Hills boozer that wouldnt be out of place on some tasting menus for double the price, and although Im not quite sure you can still call it a pub, whatever White Horse has become, I like it a lot. White Horse (it has a rampant stallion on the roof) was built in the 1930s and has enjoyed stints as a piano bar, brasserie and live-music joint, plus as a slightly suspect hangout for bikers and cops. Before hospitality veteran Craig Hemmings and a group of silent partners took the keys early last year, the hotel had settled into a life of craft beer, whisky and forgettable pizza. In short, fine, but not much better or worse than at least five other pubs within a five-minute walk.

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Beetroot millefeuille with muntries and native thyme. Jennifer Soo Now theres a beetroot millefeuille ($24), and its one of the most thrilling ways to eat a vegetable since eggplant caviar. Layers of finely sliced beetroot are rolled into a disc that looks like a giant dashboard cigarette-lighter (remember those?), and turbocharged with native thyme oil and a butter-emulsified beetroot reduction. Its rare to find marron with crisp, juicy texture like this in Sydney outside of, say, Quay. Theres a kombu-forward, squid-ink glaze covering every millimetre of clean, sweet toothfish ($55) in the most striking way. Roasted gnarls of Jerusalem artichoke cradle goats cheese and saltbush ($6 each), and wagyu tri-tip is bolstered by a chestnut mushroom sabayon ($45) that tastes like an autumn afternoon in glossy, French-sauce form. A smoked tomato relish and steak sandwich on the bar menu is $34; it comes with fries and easily feeds two. Chef Jed Gerrard, welcome back to Sydney. Gerrard cut his teeth at three-hatted Bilsons and Tetsuyas before spending a few years as executive chef at The Stars Black by Ezard steakhouse. In 2015, he returned home to Western Australia to helm several high-profile restaurants, and when Hemmings needed a fine-dining chef to revamp White Horse, he gave his old mate from The Star a call.

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Before I start using too many adjectives regarding the food, I need to mention that Farago Han Studio has also done a bang-up job on the interiors. In spite of a clubby soundtrack that sounds like something you might have heard at Hemmesphere in the early 2000s, the dining room is a soothing space of reclaimed oak tables, soft-textured walls, woven leather chairs and bold art. Renovation costs came in at $6 million. House cocktails are designed by drinks gun Michael Chiem. Jennifer Soo Can you roll up unannounced and just order a beer? Yes. A first-floor bar and terrace is engineered for the occasion. But with a green, brushed-quartz counter-top and velvet ottomans, the space feels more like a cocktail lounge than a public bar, and a Reschs costs $10. Bar manager Max Mercuri is a deft hand with any classic, so consider levelling up to a sazerac ($24) instead, or something from the house list designed by cocktail gun Michael Chiem. The subtle sweetness of Chiems $20 Benny Blanco martini (gin, vermouth, macerated grape and rosemary) will also work with the richness of a chicken-skin cracker covered in liver mousse and persimmon gel ($8).

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But while brie-infused ice-cream ($16) sounds bonkers, the potent cheese flavour is tempered by quince jelly and a sandalwood-nut sort-of crumble. Floral, dessert-riesling custard ($18) is teamed with frozen sheeps milk yoghurt and desert lime and might remind you of lemon meringue. Our man Gerrard is already back in Perth and will only travel east every two months. This is a small to major concern. But Ive also been in when he wasnt in the kitchen and head chef Jun Hwang is firmly in control of the high-wire act. Restaurant manager Bora Ahn leads a well-rehearsed floor team and if the owners can maintain this current crew, White Horse 17.0 may be the pubs most successful iteration yet. Its certainly the most delicious. The low-down Vibe: Highly tuned pub-restaurant with fine-dining chops Go-to dish: Marron with sweetcorn and ice plant ($58) Drinks: A hundred-bottle wine list featuring much excitement from Australia and Europe; the focus is on organic and regenerative producers Cost: About $180 for two, excluding drinks This review was originally published in Good Weekend magazine

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A tweet by former NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham targeting independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich over his sexuality was offensive and crass and vulgar but it did not defame him, Lathams barrister has told the Federal Court.

Greenwich filed defamation proceedings against Latham last year after the independent NSW upper house MP posted and later deleted a highly graphic and offensive comment on Twitter, now X, on March 30. Greenwich described the tweet as defamatory and homophobic.

NSW independent upper house MP Mark Latham and his barrister Kieran Smark, KC, outside the Federal Court in Sydney. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Greenwich is also suing Latham over related comments he made to Sydneys The Daily Telegraph on April 1.

The tweet led One Nation founder Pauline Hanson to remove Latham, a former federal Labor leader, as the partys parliamentary leader.
The failure of the Erie County Clerks Office to hire an outside forensic auditor to investigate tax money misappropriations has led the Erie County Legislature to vote 8-3 Thursday to direct the County Attorneys Office to do it.

In March, the County Legislature unanimously approved an outside audit of the Clerks Office after two audits by the County Comptrollers Office uncovered theft, poor oversight and mortgage tax misappropriations adding up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Legislators directed the Clerks Office to fund and oversee the audit. But while Clerk Michael Mickey Kearns said he would support the request, legislators said the Clerks Office failed to take any action for more than two months.

Deep audit of Erie County Clerk's Office still not begun, despite theft The Erie County Legislature in March unanimously approved an outside audit of the Clerk's Office in light of two scathing internal audits that found theft, poor oversight and mortgage tax misappropriations adding up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. But 10 weeks later, nothing has happened.

Legislator Howard Johnson, D-Buffalo, subsequently introduced a new resolution two weeks ago directing the County Budget Office to transfer funds to the County Attorneys Office so it could engage an outside auditor in consultation with the Comptrollers Office. The audit is estimated to cost between $100,000 and $150,000.

While the March resolution would have required the Clerks Office to pay for the audit, Johnson said that since Kearns appears unwilling to do that, the county budget office will find funding elsewhere. Kearns said in a statement last week that he has no issue with the countys Law Department handling the external audit.

County Attorney Jeremy Toth said now that the Legislature has approved the resolution, he intends to begin the search for an outside accountant right away.

Clerks Office spokesman Michael Cecchini said, County Clerk Kearns looks forward to working with the County Attorney and the auditors hired to conduct the forensic audit of this office.

Kearns is a Republican-endorsed Democrat.

While both Democrats and Republicans expressed their support to have an outside audit done and concern over Clerks Office audit findings, three Republicans voted against Johnsons resolution after their efforts to arrive at a compromise language were rejected by the Democratic majority.

Kearns and lawmakers exchange testy comments about Clerk's Office Erie County Clerk Michael "Mickey" Kearns told county legislators on Thursday that he resents any implication that his office is "a mess" and believes he and his staff are being unfairly treated to push a political narrative.

This has become a three-ring circus, which disappoints me, said Minority Leader John Mills, R-Orchard Park, chiding the Democrats unwillingness to compromise.

Mills was the only Republican to vote in favor of Johnsons proposal, albeit reluctantly.

Republican legislators had asked that more clarifying language be included, such as the scope of work and a cost cap for the audit. They also recommended that the county issue a request for proposals to allow more accounting firms to bid for the work, instead of the countys Law Department hand-picking the firm and negotiating the cost.

If this is really about identifying and finding errors and issues of the Clerks Office, we need to know what were looking into, said Legislator Lindsay Lorigo, R-West Seneca.

Johnson responded that the clarifying information was unnecessary and that a request for proposals would cause needless delays. A second attempt by Republicans to amend the resolution, omitting the need for a request for proposals, went nowhere after Chairwoman April Baskin failed to recognize Lorigo.

Comptroller Kevin Hardwick and his chief of staff, Jessica Schuster, told The Buffalo News that very few accounting firms would be likely to request to do this audit since some of the biggest accounting firms already do work for the county and would be concerned about a conflict of interest.

Fired Erie County deputy clerk charged with stealing $216,412 from Clerk's Office Alexander J. McDougall, of Buffalo, turned himself into the Sheriff's Office, said DA John Flynn. He was booked at the Holding Center and is being arraigned in Buffalo City Court.

Mary Hosler, who heads the Comptrollers Office audit division, said last week that the State Comptrollers Office is auditing the Clerks Office for potential theft of funds that extends back to former Deputy Clerk Alexander J. McDougalls oversight of Clerks Office finances. Hosler said she would recommend that any outside forensic audit incorporate State Comptrollers Office findings and focus on reconciling accounts and determining whether taxpayer money was properly disbursed from county coffers.

An accounting firm that comes in doesnt have to start from square one, she said.

McDougall served as an assistant deputy clerk since 2016 and deputy clerk of finance since 2019. He was charged in March with felony grand larceny after investigators accused him of embezzling $216,412 from the Clerks Office since 2021. In addition, both the County Comptrollers Office audit and a subsequent review by the Clerks Office found some mortgage tax money has been improperly distributed to other cities and towns.

Johnsons resolution directs the Law Department to work with the County Comptrollers Office to assist in the hiring of an external auditor and helping to determine the work to be undertaken.
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 Almost 20 years after James Scott-Howarths house and parents business were raided over links to secretive graffiti crew 70K, he sat in court and watched footage of himself, in his early 20s, illegally spraying his moniker, Stan, throughout the city. In the early 2000s, Scott-Howarth was one of the most prolific graffiti artists in Melbourne. Footage in a documentary posted on YouTube and played to the court, entitled 70K, shows daring acts of vandalism. Crew members dangled off the back of moving trains, darted out over tracks to paint stationary carriages and ran through the shadows to hide from transport guards in train lots. In one scene captured on video, a train bearing the 70K name departs after two masked people paint the carriage, making it a moving billboard to display their tag around the city. Scott-Howarths story came to a head in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday as the 46-year-old admitted to 14 counts of criminal damage and theft during his time with the 70K crew, whose tags in public places became notorious in the CBD between 2001 and 2005. The vision played in court and Scott-Howarths prosecution offered a rare glimpse into the crew central to Melbournes deeply secretive illegal street art scene at the height of the citys war on graffiti. It also reignited the decades-long debate between admirers of graffiti and law enforcements duty to prosecute its practitioners. The graffiti war, the Commonwealth Games and the 70K taskforce

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Police said that Scott-Howarth and the 70K crew were prolific vandals between 2001 and 2005. Scott-Howarth took massive risks to paint prominent infrastructure  trains and other public property  alongside fellow crew members Bonez, Bald, Karl, Renks and Meow, whose work endures throughout Melbourne decades later. If you take the train to work, theres a chance youve absent-mindedly taken in their tags under a bridge or on the side of a concrete wall. Theyre highly regarded, said University of Melbourne academic Chris Parkinson, who teaches art theory, which includes graffiti. He said people who observed and understood street art saw the crews work as part of a broader cultural conversation. It was explicitly creative and explicitly within an artistic dialogue, he said. A couple of 70K [members] were [Victorian College of the Arts] graduates  they were steeped in theory and they came up through theory, and they werent just out absent-mindedly creating works. They were composing works within the systems structures of the city. It was this prolific work that drew the attention of law enforcement in 2005 and, in particular, the ire of Detective Sergeant Sam Greenham. Reports of 70K were piling up at a time when graffiti and property damage were in the headlines. The city was undergoing a beautification project for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, when Melbourne would be on display to thousands of international travellers, and how to scrub the city of graffiti was front-page news. In response, Greenham and his police colleagues established a taskforce targeting 70K. I think that was in light of the upcoming Comm Games and the war on graffiti, Greenham said. At the time ... it was highly publicised.

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Asked whether he thought what 70K and Scott-Howarth had created was art, Greenham had a frank assessment: I disagree with that totally ... in this circumstance, its just blatant criminal damage to public property at the expense of the public transport network and other peoples private property. Greenham compiled a brief on the crew, putting together an intricate picture of all their graffiti, and spoke to witnesses. 70Ks undoing began one night in 2005. Scott-Howarth and a crew member were out painting in Collingwood when they were rumbled by police and pinched with a bag of paint. That led to a warrant and raid on Scott-Howarths house and parents business, where police discovered a treasure trove of photos and footage documenting the exploits of 70K concealed inside a false ceiling panel. Through analysis of that evidence, in particular the evidence that Scott-Howarth had on his devices, we were able to identify and locate a number of other offenders, Greenham said. Crafty and cunning After the raid, Scott-Howarth left Australia for Britain, and didnt return for nearly 20 years. Police suspect that Scott-Howarth, in part, went on a spraycation, where graffiti artists travel abroad and illegally tag the walls and infrastructure of other jurisdictions.

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Throughout this period, Greenham never lost interest in the case. Other members of 70K were charged and punished, and moved on with their lives. Scott-Howarth remained at large. Over the last 18 years, I would sort of regularly, on a 12-month ... basis, make contact with his family to ascertain any movements, Greenham said. I havent got ... much information back from them. Every three months over those 18 years, Greenham renewed a border alert in case Scott-Howarth tried to come back to Australia, so border police could pick him up. He never did. In March 2023, a solicitor contacted police saying that Scott-Howarth was returning to Australia from Hawaii the following month. Greenham arrested him on his return and charged him with hundreds of counts of property damage. The court later heard Scott-Howarth had come back to see a sick family member. This week, prosecutor Joshua Sheppard withdrew all but 14 charges against Scott-Howarth. Ten of those were standalone charges, while four were composed of multiple instances of criminal damage. Police told the court that Scott-Howarths graffiti had cost about $37,674 in damage.

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In my opinion, you were crafty, and you were cunning, and you knew that the police were going to be looking for you and left the territory, left the country, in advance of being found, magistrate David Starvaggi told Scott-Howarth. Starvaggi, who sentenced Scott-Howarth to a two-year community corrections order and 300 hours of community work, also assessed that his work did not amount to art, suggesting instead that, with age, Scott-Howarths view on the practice should have changed. You have to understand  that graffiti is nothing other than criminal damage committed or perpetrated upon either public [or private] property, Starvaggi said. This sort of offending is an absolute scourge and blight on society. And theres got to be zero tolerance and an absolute message sent that it wont be tolerated by the courts. Scott-Howarth declined to comment.

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They are Melbournes public housing high-rises, but not as you know them: draped in cascading greenery and cloaked with modern exoskeletons featuring sunlight-drenched balconies and pods.

The ideas are part of a collection of architectural concepts to reimagine and retrofit the towers, instead of following through on the state governments plans to demolish and rebuild them.

The architects involved say the designs could extend the lives of some of the existing towers by 50 years, pointing to the huge resources and carbon emissions involved in tearing down the buildings.

Everyone is a bit frustrated about the unilateral declaration to demolish all 44 towers, said prominent architect Peter Elliott, who launched the exhibition this week.
Federal Police have found more than $6 million worth of drugs stashed in new vehicles on a cargo ship docked at Fremantle they believe originated in Europe and was bound for New South Wales.

The drugs  120 kilograms of MDMA  were found by sniffer dogs concealed inside the sliding door panels of six new Peugeot vans that arrived from Europe on February 18.

120kg of MDMA was found on a cargo ship in Fremantle in February. Credit: AFP

AFP has kept news of the discovery quiet while they investigated the drugs origins and worked on tracking down those responsible but have now chosen to publicise the interception with the hope it might lead to new information.

This importation plot would have required a lot of planning and the involvement of a number of

people, AFP Acting Commander Peter Hatch said.
A contentious $14.5 million precinct featuring fast-food outlets and global coffee chain Starbucks has been approved by state planners, despite staunch opposition from the neighbouring school community, the local council, and a health advocacy group.

The proposal, comprising a petrol station, a KFC, a 24-hour McDonalds, 7-Eleven, Starbucks, a car wash, and a medical centre, was given the green light following a meeting of the Metro Outer Development Assessment Panel on Thursday.

The proposed development comprises a petrol station, a KFC, a 24-hour McDonalds, 7-Eleven, Starbucks, a car wash, and a medical centre. Credit: Concept design by Meyer Shircore Architects.

But that approval is subject to a host of conditions.

The commercial development, spearheaded by Broad Vision Projects, is earmarked for a 38,193 square metre vacant block on Gaebler Road in Hammond Park, more than half of which is deemed a Conservation Category Wetland.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sought to shield his government from further backlash over a former immigration detainee now charged with murder, saying the decision to release him was made by a Coalition-appointed member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Amid demands from the federal opposition to sack Immigration Minister Andrew Giles for failing to overrule the decision by AAT deputy president Stephen Boyle, Albanese suggested the Coalition was partly to blame for giving Boyle the job.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has suggested the Coalition was partly to blame. Credit: Edwina Pickles

I think if you go back and have a look at who appointed the people that made that decision  it wasnt this government, Albanese said.

Boyle was appointed by the former Coalition government in 2017, when Liberal George Brandis was attorney-general.
Were trying to absolutely support the Future Made in Australia [policy], but youve got to be given the tools to do that. There does seem to be perhaps a change in position at the moment, which is good, but its got to be backed up with some action. Because the clock is ticking for a lot of manufacturing businesses, not only just us, but others. Victorian Labor condemned the federal governments Future Gas Strategy, which committed to the use of gas to 2050 and beyond, at its state conference over the weekend. The Allan government has banned gas connections in new homes and is consulting about further action such as requiring gas appliances to be replaced with electric ones when they reach the end of their life. Appearing before Victorian budget estimates on Thursday, DAmbrosio said the government was pursuing its agenda to electrify homes because of looming gas shortfalls in Victoria. But the minister, who has been a vocal critic of gas in homes, said it would remain important for the state to continue to source supplies.

This is not like turning a tap on and off. At no point has anyone in government ever asserted that electrification is the sole solver, the single solution, to gas supply shortfalls, DAmbrosio said. Fritsch said Kagome had explored alternatives, but gas remained the only viable option for its evaporative processes. The companys gas bill has gone from $4 million to $6 million in a single year. The Golden Beach gas storage facility is expected to come into its own as the big Bass Strait fields decline. We are deeply concerned about where energy is going, not only the price, but also the supply ability going forward for us to manufacture, he said. DAmbrosio said two offshore gas projects in the Gippsland Basin were showing potential: the Kipper Stage 1B project and the Golden Beach gas project. However, the Kipper fields anticipated supply isnt expected to come online until 2026, while GP Energys development isnt expected until 2027.

Loading They are critical, DAmbrosio said. A ministerial briefing provided to DAmbrosio, obtained by the state opposition and seen by The Age, estimates the Kipper project could help reduce the risk of supply shortages from 2027. But it said this was contingent on achieving higher rates of electrification and would not protect Victoria from peak and seasonal shortfalls. DAmbrosio said there were currently nine onshore exploration permits and 11 petroleum production licences in Victoria. Offshore, there are five exploration permits in state waters, nine petroleum permits and 14 pipeline licences.

For its part, the federal government says Australia needs more gas to meet its climate targets and transition more of the energy grid to renewables. In a recent opinion piece, federal energy minister King wrote that her plan to use gas up until 2050 and beyond was based on fact and data, not ideology or wishful thinking. When this was put to her at budget estimates on Thursday, DAmbrosio said: Well, shes wrong then. But I dont think her comments are about Victoria. The state energy minister then pointed the finger at the Commonwealth for exporting gas and therefore increasing the price of the commodity for Victorian households and businesses. Now, no one should ever deny that, because that is a fact of the matter. Geology also tells us in Victoria our gas reserves are depleting, DAmbrosio said.

A federal government spokesperson said: To meet our climate targets we need more renewables  and for the moment we need gas to get us there. The Future Gas Strategy is Commonwealth policy. State policy is a matter for the Victorian government. Federal Greens leader Adam Bandt said no new coal or gas projects should be built in Australia, in order to save the economy from climate change. Energy Minister Lily DAmbrosio Credit: Louis Trerise Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto said the state Labor government had not approved any gas projects in the past few years. I think the minister is recognising, begrudgingly, that the community wants and desperately needs a secure and affordable supply of gas and energy more generally. But theyre not acting, he said.

Loading Australian Energy Producers Victoria director Peter Kos insisted Victoria had abundant onshore gas reserves. The governments own Victorian Gas Program found there is up to 830 petajoules of conventional gas onshore  but thats just what we know, Kos said. The state has not been explored as much as it should have given the states long-running anti-gas policies and bans. The political will is missing. Australian Pipelines and Gas Association chief executive Steve Davies said there was a narrow window to save Victoria from this looming gas crisis.
Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in riot-hit New Caledonia on Thursday, having crossed the globe by plane in a high-profile show of support for the Pacific archipelago that is racked by deadly unrest and where indigenous people have long sought independence from France.

Macron, who briefly spoke to reporters after his arrival at La Tontouta International Airport, about 50 kilometres from the capital Noumea, said he viewed a return to calm as the top priority.

French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with a policeman upon his arrival at the central police station in Noumea, New Caledonia, on Thursday. Credit: AP

He said that his wish, along with that of his ministers and the government, was to be alongside the people and see a return to peace, calm and security as soon as possible.

Macron added he plans to meet local officials and discuss the resources needed to repair the damage wrought by days of shootings, arson and other violence that has left at least six people dead and a broad trail of destruction estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
WILLEMSTAD/ORANJESTAD:--- As Joost Meijs will be stepping down as CEO of Aruba Airport Authority N.V. in the summer of 2024, the six airports in the Dutch Caribbean have appointed Jonny Andersen, CEO of Curacao Airport Partners N.V., as the next chairperson of the Dutch Caribbean Cooperation of Airports (DCCA). This decision was taken unanimously in the DCCAs collective meeting of March 11, 2024. Joost Meijs has served as chairperson since the establishment of the DCCA in 2021.

Since its establishment the six airports in the Dutch Caribbean are cooperating more intensively through exchanging knowledge, performing safety and security audits, and working closely with other stakeholders on an improved connectivity (affordable, efficient, and sustainable) between the Dutch Caribbean islands. DCCA serves as a central point of contact in the Dutch Caribbean for important aviation industry stakeholders. The DCCA wants to improve the connectivity between the islands and sees the Dutch Caribbean as perfectly positioned to become a front runner in the world of new sustainable ways of flying.

Every year the DCCA organizes with the help of the host airport the convention A Flight to the Future; In 2022 the convention was held for the first time in Aruba. During this edition the first electric aircraft ever took off into the Caribbean airspace. In 2023 Curacao Airport gave a follow up and organized the second edition of the convention with an impressive drone demonstration. On 18 and 19 November 2024 the third edition will be held in St Maarten. During these conventions the whole aviation eco-system in the Dutch Caribbean come together to discuss ambitions, actual topics and new trends and innovations in the (regional) aviation industry.

Joost Meijs, departing chairperson: I would like to thank my colleague CEOs of all six islands and other stakeholders for the inspiring collaboration in the last years. It is great to see and entertain all the ambitions that the airports have, and I am sure that by an open collaboration we jointly can lift the airport sector in the Dutch Caribbean to new heights. Jonny Andersen is a seasoned international aviation professional, and I have all the confidence in the world that he will lead the DCCA with enthusiasm, energetically and with the highest level of professionalism.

Jonny Andersen, the incoming chairperson, extends his heartfelt appreciation to Joost Meijs for his visionary and outstanding leadership of the Dutch Caribbean Cooperation of Airports

(DCCA). Under Joost's guidance, the DCCA has become the voice of the Dutch Caribbean airports, representing the common interests of the six airports to governments, island communities, airline partners, and other stakeholders.

"On behalf of all six Dutch Caribbean airports, I want to thank Joost for bringing us together and for his visionary leadership," Mr. Andersen said. "It is truly an honor to assume the role of Chair of the DCCA, and I am committed to continuing the work that Joost and the six DCCA airports have started. Together, we will further develop the Dutch Caribbean aviation sector, enhancing its safety, connectivity, ease of travel, sustainability, and relevance for the region.

Air connectivity, affordability, and ease of travel between the Dutch Caribbean islands will be among my highest priorities during my tenure as Chair of the DCCA. Currently, many find it too expensive and time-consuming to fly between islands, sometimes taking half a day or longer to travel between sister islands. This is a significant concern. We need to make air travel a viable option for our communities again. As a sector, we must do whatever we can to make inter-island travel more accessible, affordable, and convenient for the benefit of everyone in the Dutch Caribbean. As Chair of the DCCA, my goal is to make this a reality."
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ombudsman of Sint Maarten, Gwendolien Mossel, recently attended the International Ombudsman Institutes 13th World Conference, which was held from 12-17 May, 2024 in The Hague. The host of the conference was the National Ombudsman of the Netherlands, Reinier van Zutphen. The main theme of the conference was: Act together for our tomorrow. Sub-themes were: climate change & living conditions, value dilemmas, outreach and future generations.

Ombudspersons, and accompanying staff, from the IOIs global network of over 200 independent Ombudsman institutions were in attendance. The conference was successful in enriching the Ombuds institutions knowledge on the topics presented and offered new insights to enhance their impact moving forward. Prior to the conference, Ms. Mossel and her colleague from Curacao, Ombudsman Keursly Concincion, were re-elected as Regional Directors for the Caribbean and Latin America. The previous Regional President, Nashieli Ramirez Hernandez, of the Human Rights Commission of Mexico City, was elected IOI President. She is the first IOI President from the Caribbean and Latin American Region since the establishment of the institution in 1978.

During the conference Ms. Mossel facilitated as a moderator in the break-out session regarding national approaches to loss and damage as a result of climate disasters, in which she shared some of her insights gleaned from the aftermath of Hurricanes Luis and Maria. As you may recall the Ombudsman published a report in 2019 entitled: Home Repair. A revelation of a social crisis. This report was made as a result of an outreach campaign following the devastating 2017 hurricanes in which the community faced uncertainty about the recovery process, a major challenge being home/roof repair. Ms. Mossel took the opportunity once again to echo the call of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), by imploring the international community to work hard to help small island nations build resilience as the threat of destruction expands and the cost of seasonal storms becomes increasingly devastating for Small Island Developing States. Future disasters could worsen humanitarian crises and impair economic recovery.

Ms. Mossel also presented on the sub-theme future generations (the protection of children in an increasingly online world), specifically, on the subject of cyberbullying, in which she highlighted some of the challenges of this phenomenon on Sint Maarten, and what actions Ombuds institutions can take to hold government and other relevant organizations accountable in this regard.
PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---The application process for the annual Hurricane Passes for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season started mid-April and the deadline to submit all documentation is next week May 31. This communication serves as a final reminder to those who are planning to apply for a pass and have not yet done so.



There are two types of passes, the Disaster Pass and the Hurricane Pass. No passes will be issued to business owners, only with some exemption categories as noted below.



The pass allows the bearer to access the public road to visit the place of business to assess possible damage to the property. No company passes will be accepted during curfew hours. This can only take place during certain hours that will be stipulated and announced by the Prime Minister in a curfew situation.



Potential applicants have until May 31 to present all relevant information related to the process of requesting a pass.



Disaster Passes are issued to the following crucial disaster relief organizations and are valid for three years. The disaster relief organization consists of the following: Emergency Operations Center staff, Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) staff, Crucial governmental organizations, and entities involved in disaster management such as medical institutions, general practitioners and pharmacies, Red Cross, WIEMS, White & Yellow Cross Foundation, National Security Service VDSM, Sea Rescue, Shelter Management, Ministers, and their drivers.



The following categories qualify for a Hurricane Pass which is valid for two-years: Essential Government personnel without a disaster pass; Essential personnel of crucial companies or organizations: NV GEBE, Seven Seas Water, Telecom and Internet providers, Princess Juliana International Airport, Port St. Maarten, Hotels and Guesthouses, Marinas, Fuel distributors and gas stations, Commercial banks, Hardware stores, Security companies (supervisors only), Medium and large sized supermarkets, Restaurants (those providing food services to emergency services), Importers and Wholesale Companies for perishable goods (Only requests can be submitted for refrigeration and or generator technicians).



The crucial organizations as listed above (disaster & hurricane passes) can request personal passes for their key personnel.



The Office of Disaster Management that falls under the Ministry of General Affairs is handling the application process for the passes on behalf of the Prime Minister.



The Hurricane Pass is valid for the 2024 and 2025 hurricane seasons and will remain the property of the Government of Sint Maarten.



Please note that company passes will be accepted during curfew hours from the following institutions: Sint Maarten Medical Center, and White & Yellow Cross Foundation.



The pass system is a mechanism to maintain public order during emergency situations. The Prime Minister assesses the damage in conjunction with Emergency Disaster Management entities of the Government after a disaster has occurred and can impose a curfew if the extent of the damage poses a threat to the safety and security of the community.



An application form can be requested by sending an email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Emails should include the following: Name of business or organization; A short description of activities of the business or the organization; Request for either disaster or hurricane pass.



When submitting the application, the following documents need to be attached:

- copy business license fee paid (or receipt) for 2024 for businesses.

- proof of 2024 registration at the Chamber of Commerce, for organizations.

- copy valid Sint Maarten ID-card of applicant.

- Nafl. 50,- in leges stamps per application (to be obtained at the Receivers Office or the Simpson Bay Public Service Center), this is a non-refundable handling fee; a copy of a digital payment transfer is accepted as well.

- One (1) passport picture for new applicants, to be sent in JPEG-format to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the name of the person clearly indicated.



The application form has to be completed and submitted to the offices of the Fire Department & Disaster Management  in print form, to the attention of the secretary located at Jackal Road 5 (Office hours Monday-Friday 9.00AM to 4.00PM), Cay Hill, by May 31, 2024, with all necessary documents attached.



Applicants will be informed by email or telephone when to pick up the pass at the aforementioned address.
The networking event Diaspora Dialogues; Bou di Watapana successfully brought the Caribbean diaspora in the Netherlands together for the third time on May 16 to share experiences, knowledge, and insights. The inspiring gathering in Amsterdam, organized by Stichting WeConnect and Pakhuis de Zwijger, focused on the theme Switching it up in the professional world.

The central topic of the evening was code-switching: a phenomenon where people adapt their language, and sometimes their attitude and/or behavior, to match their surroundings. A panel of four Caribbean professionals from various fields shared their experiences with code-switching in the workplace. They addressed questions such as: when do you switch language or behavior and why do you do it? What happens if you dont? How does it feel to hide part of yourself to be accepted at work?

For the attendees, code-switching is practically second nature. Depending on the situation and the people present, they choose the appropriate language and behavior. It sometimes feels like there are multiple versions of myself, someone from the audience aptly expressed. In the work environment, Dutch is usually the main language, while privately, they often switch to English or Papiamento.

Aruba born dance teacher Eva Croes has integrated code-switching into her teaching method. My students are used to me mixing languages. At the beginning of the year, I say: I teach in four languages. Go with it! And it works fine. It actually adds something extra. My students also engage in code-switching themselves, so they are used to it.

Switching between languages and behaviors like a chameleon can be tiring. Scientist Dylan van Arneman from Bonaire says: It takes energy to switch and to constantly explain who you are because there are prejudices. But: its important to do so. Through my work as a scientist and my story, I try to change the stereotypical image that exists of Caribbean people.

Technology lawyer and former teacher Gabriella Obispa from Curacao also uses code-switching for a higher purpose: I use it as a survival mechanism but also strategically. By adjusting my language, I feel I can achieve my goals more quickly. Multilingualism has its advantages and disadvantages. In my work, my language skills benefit me in international meetings. But I dont always feel comfortable with my Dutch. In my field, the language use is very formal, and sometimes I feel pressured not to stand out.

More and more Dutch companies are now implementing rules to promote diversity and inclusion. But more is needed, says Curacao born Milangelo Maduro consultant: Its a start, but more people with diverse backgrounds need to come into higher positions to truly make a difference. Everyone has a role in this. I see it as my task to change the status quo. And we  Caribbean professionals  are uniquely suited to help make that change.
Europe's AI stars step out of US shadow



Paris, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



Europe's artificial intelligence companies are dwarfed in wealth and cachet by US giants like OpenAI and Anthropic and their charismatic leaders.

But the VivaTech startup conference in Paris this week is allowing the founders of the continent's three most prominent firms to display a bit of the showmanship their US counterparts are famous for.



- Arthur Mensch, Mistral AI



Frenchmen Arthur Mensch, who formed Mistral AI barely a year ago, was first to the stage at VivaTech, his appearance packing out the main arena.

With an intense expression and tousled hair, he joined a panel discussion about AI, trust and the media.

He warned against US firms dominating the AI space, particularly with tools for journalists, which he said could lead to a scenario where "US companies are setting the editorial tone of the entire world and are basically dictating how we should think about things".

"And that's really something that, by making our own technology from Europe and addressing the entire global market, we want to prevent," he said.

Mensch once worked at Google's DeepMind and formed Mistral with two of his countrymen, who were also veterans of big US tech firms.

The three placed their bets on open-source AI models, which generate text from plain language queries.

They are simpler and cheaper than those of their giant US rivals, and Mistral raised more than $400 million in its last funding round.



- Jonas Andrulis, Aleph Alpha



German Jonas Andrulis, in his early forties with an immaculately clipped goatee and shaved head, undercuts the severe appearance with dry wit and blunt answers.

During a panel on AI sovereignty on Wednesday, he was asked for his opinion on the EU's AI Act.

His immediate reply -- "strong negative" -- was delivered with a knowing grin.

He said in fact he supported the final text of the law and was more annoyed with the duration of the "planning and regulatory shenanigans".

Andrulis, who spent three years working for Apple, is more likely than his European counterparts to dish out the kind of hyperbole US tech founders are known for.

He has regularly talked about AI's ability to give humans "superpowers" and said recently his firm's AI agent was essentially "conscious".

He used his appearance at VivaTech to argue that Europe "should have a strong, powerful vision" for the future that encourages entrepreneurs.

His firm, founded in 2019 and based in the picturesque southwest German city of Heidelberg, creates large language models for businesses and government.

In one of the biggest single funding rounds ever by a European tech firm, Aleph Alpha raised more than $500 million late last year.

Andrulis talks of creating "sovereign" AI, but his definition is not connected to geographical location.

Instead, sovereignty for Andrulis appears to be a more philosophical concept.

"Sovereignty means the ability to take responsibility for the future," he told Wednesday's panel.



- Thomas Wolf, Hugging Face



Frenchman Thomas Wolf, who will take to the stage on Friday, told AFP in an interview last week it was a "call from the heart" that led him to take up AI.

The 39-year-old had spent years researching quantum physics but quit in 2016 to form Hugging Face, a collaborative platform for AI models, with two other Frenchmen.

"Physics was frustrating because it took three years to do an experiment, whereas with AI in a few weeks you can do incredible things," he said.

Wolf, like his countrymen at Mistral, is a champion of open-source AI models.

Hugging Face claim they have more than one million programs used by 11 million customers worldwide.

After raising $235 million in funding last August, the Franco-American startup is valued at nearly $4.5 billion.

And like his fellow Europeans, Wolf, who set up his company in New York, believes the continent has a bright future.

"We are an American company because it used to be very difficult to raise large sums of money in Paris," he said.

"Today, it's really changed, you can raise $200 million in Paris."

jxb-dax/smw

GOOGLE
Tesla breaks ground on huge Shanghai battery plant



Shanghai, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



Tesla broke ground on a massive battery factory in Shanghai on Thursday, Chinese state media reported, making it the US electric car giant's second plant in the financial hub.

The project was announced last April after boss Elon Musk presented a vague but ambitious plan to investors to turbocharge growth.

However, the company last month reported a 55 percent drop in quarterly earnings, reflecting a decline in EV sales in an intensively competitive market.

The new Shanghai factory should make 10,000 units per year of Tesla's Megapack batteries, state news agency Xinhua said.

Tesla says Megapacks are intended to store energy and stabilise supply for power grids, with each unit able to store more than three megawatt-hours of power.

The factory is expected to start mass production in 2025, state media said in May.

"I believe the new plant is a milestone for both Shanghai and Tesla," the company's vice president Tao Lin told Xinhua.

"In a more open environment, we can... supply the global market with large-scale energy-storage batteries manufactured in China."

Musk has extensive business interests in China and is a fairly frequent visitor.

In April, he met Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and received a key security clearance for Tesla's locally produced EVs.

Musk's interests in China have long raised eyebrows in Washington -- President Joe Biden has said in the past that his links to foreign countries were "worthy" of scrutiny.

The battery plant will be Tesla's second in the Chinese city after its enormous Shanghai Gigafactory, which broke ground in 2019.
TikTok curbs state-backed media amid foreign influence concerns



Washington, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



TikTok on Thursday said it was putting restrictions on state-backed media to counter acts of foreign influence on the platform during an important election year in multiple countries.

The move comes after the United States handed TikTok an ultimatum to divest from its Chinese owners or face a potential ban in the US market, based on concerns the app could be used to influence Americans.

Under TikTok's new policy, state-affiliated media attempting to reach communities outside their home country on "current global events and affairs" will be barred from appearing on the platform's personalized "For You" feed.

Furthermore, if these accounts advertise on TikTok, they will not be allowed to do so "outside of the country with which they are primarily affiliated," the company stated.

TikTok defines state-affiliated media as those "whose editorial output or decision-making process is subject to control or influence by a government."

TikTok also revealed that in the first four months of 2024, it identified and disrupted 15 influence operations and 3,001 associated accounts.

"We found that a majority of these networks were attempting to influence political discourse among their target audience, including in relation to elections," the company said in a blog statement.

As examples, TikTok cited disrupting a network targeting Indonesians ahead of the country's presidential elections earlier this year, and another "artificially amplifying narratives" about the domestic political discourse in Britain.
WATERLOO, Iowa  Minutes after buying a replica of a vintage hot rod, a man crashed the car into the Waterloo Public Library on Monday.

The new owner purchased a 1923 Ford T-bucket replica during an auction at the Waterloo Convention Center on Monday afternoon. He made it through the intersection of Park Avenue and Commercial Street before crashing into the library wall.

The man was riding with a child. Both were sent to a local hospital, and their injuries are unknown. No one inside the library was hurt, but the sign was damaged. It is not clear whether the building sustained any damage.

Rich Penn, the owner of Rich Penn Auctions, said gas and brake pedals in old cars are narrow and close together, making it easier to hit the wrong one. Penn also said the car is a rocket ship because it was a hot rod and is built to go fast.

Capt. Jason Feaker with the Waterloo Police Department said the cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Gateway Classic Cars' showroom in Kenosha, in photos Cars Cars Cars Cars Cars Cars Cars Cars Cars Cars Cars Free posters
UK defence minister says China sending 'lethal aid' to Russia for Ukraine war



London, May 22 (AFP) May 22, 2024



China is sending "lethal aid" to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine, Britain's defence minister Grant Shapps said on Wednesday.

"Today I can reveal that we have evidence that Russia and China are collaborating on combat equipment for use in Ukraine," he said in a speech at a London conference.

Shapps warned that NATO needed to "wake up" and bolster defence spending across the alliance.

"US and British defence intelligence can reveal that lethal aid is now flowing from China to Russia and into Ukraine."

He argued that democratic states should make a "full-throated case" for freedoms that are dependent on the international order, meaning "we need more allies and partners" worldwide.

"It's time for the world to wake up. And that means translating this moment to concrete plans and capabilities. And that starts with laying the foundations for an alliance-wide increase in spending on our collective deterrent," he said.

China and Russia's strategic partnership has only grown closer since the invasion of Ukraine, but Beijing has rebuffed Western claims that it is aiding Moscow's war effort.

China has also offered a critical lifeline to Russia's isolated economy, with trade booming since the invasion and hitting $240 billion in 2023, according to Chinese customs figures.

US President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan, however, appeared to take issue with some of Shapps's comments.

He said the possibility that China might "provide weapons directly -- lethal assistance -- to Russia" had been a concern earlier, but that "we have not seen that to date".

The United States did though have a "concern about what China's doing to fuel Russia's war machine, not giving weapons directly, but providing inputs to Russia's defence industrial base", he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin put on a strong show of unity during a meeting in Beijing earlier this month.

Xi said in a statement following talks with Putin during his visit that the two sides agreed on the need for a "political solution" to resolve the war.
Ecuador declares state of emergency in 7 provinces



Quito, May 22 (AFP) May 22, 2024



Ecuador declared a state of emergency in nearly a third of its provinces Wednesday after a surge in violence amid the government's ongoing "war" on drug gangs.

The measure, which allows for the deployment of soldiers in the street, was announced for a period of 60 days for seven of the country's 24 provinces, according to a government decree.

The states of Guayas, El Oro, Santa Elena, Manabi, Los Rios, Sucumbios and Orellana have seen a recent increase in "acts of systematic violence perpetrated by organized violence groups, terrorist organizations and non-state belligerent individuals," said the decree.

President Daniel Noboa had declared a state of emergency in January after a dangerous narco boss -- Jose Adolfo Macias, alias "Fito" -- escaped from maximum security detention.

As gangsters set off car bombs, kidnapped police and murdered several people in response to Noboa's promised crackdown, the president declared the country to be in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the army to "neutralize" 22 criminal groups.

The state of emergency expired last month.

Earlier Wednesday, Human Rights Watch urged Noboa to undo the state of "internal armed conflict" still in place, saying it had opened the door to rights abuses.

It reported "multiple instances of serious human rights violations committed by security forces" deployed since it started, also in January.

Long a peaceful haven sandwiched between top cocaine exporters Colombia and Peru, Ecuador has seen violence explode in recent years as rival gangs with links to Mexican and Colombian cartels vie for control.

Gang wars have largely played out in the country's prisons, where criminal leaders such as Fito wield immense control.

The battles have left hundreds of inmates dead since 2021, their bodies often found dismembered, decapitated or incinerated.
China begins military drills around Taiwan as 'punishment'



Beijing, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



China on Thursday morning began two days of military drills around Taiwan, surrounding the island with navy vessels and aircraft as "strong punishment" for "separatist acts", state media reported.

The military exercise comes three days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as the self-ruled island's new president.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has branded Lai a "dangerous separatist" who will bring "war and decline" to the island.

China, which split with Taiwan at the end of a civil war in 1949, regards the island as a renegade province with which it must eventually be reunified, and has refused to rule out using military force to do so.

Relations have plunged in recent years as China has stepped up pressure on the democratic island, periodically stoking worries about a potential invasion.

Thursday and Friday's drills, code-named Joint Sword-2024A, will "focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets", Xinhua reported.

"The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) started joint military drills surrounding the island of Taiwan from 7:45 a.m. Thursday (2345 GMT)," the news agency said, adding the drills were being conducted in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island.

The drills will also take place around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin, Xinhua said.

The news agency reported military spokesman Li Xi as saying the exercises "involve the patrol of vessels and planes closing in on areas around the island of Taiwan and integrated operations inside and outside the island chain to test the joint real combat capabilities of the forces of the command".

The spokesperson said the drills would also serve as a "strong punishment for the separatist acts of 'Taiwan independence' forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces", Xinhua said.



- 'Real combat conditions' -



The last time China announced similar military exercises around Taiwan was in August last year after Lai, then vice president, stopped over in the United States on a visit to Paraguay.

Those drills also tested the PLA's ability "to seize control of air and sea spaces" and fight "in real combat conditions", according to state media.

Beijing at the time described them as a "stern warning".

They followed on the heels of April drills that simulated the encirclement of the island, triggered after Lai's predecessor Tsai Ing-wen met then-US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

China also launched major military exercises in 2022 after Nancy Pelosi, then the speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited Taiwan.

The country also held drills when then-president Tsai later transited through the United States.

World powers are keen to see as much stability as possible between China and Taiwan, not least because of the vital role the island plays in the global economy.

The Taiwan Strait is one of the world's most important maritime trade arteries, and the island itself is a major tech manufacturer, particularly of vital semiconductors -- the tiny chips used in everything from smartphones to missile systems.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) reports the arrest of 235 public officials for various offenses, including illegal land deals, criminal abuse of office, and fraud.Zacc Commissioner Gabriel Chaibva disclosed that these cases have been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe for further action. Among the reported cases, 36 have been concluded, with "tainted assets valued at approximately US$135 million" also identified."In 2022, the commission received a total of 684 corruption-related complaints, with Harare accounting for 481 cases," Chaibva stated during a workshop on Land and Corruption in Zimbabwe organized by Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) on Monday.He further detailed the distribution of reported cases across different regions, with urban and rural councils particularly affected by corruption, exacerbated by the emergence of land barons.TIZ Executive Director Tafadzwa Chikumbu highlighted numerous human rights violations associated with land invasions, citing cases of eviction without compensation and marginalized communities not benefiting from local investments.Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume condemned land barons for exploiting systemic loopholes to sell undeveloped land, resulting in legal and social complications. He advocated for a comprehensive approach, including a ban on invasions, enactment of proper criminal offenses, and cessation of unserviced land sales.Mafume also outlined plans to revise Harare's master plan to address land issues effectively.Stanley Sakupwanya, Zanu-PF Manicaland Youth League provincial chairperson, accused councils of facilitating land corruption, attributing instances of double allocations to council negligence.
Taiwan condemns China's military drills as 'irrational provocations'



Taipei, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



Taiwan condemned China on Thursday for launching two days of military drills around the self-ruled island, which Beijing called a "strong punishment" for "separatist acts".

The military exercise comes three days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as the self-ruled island's new president.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has branded Lai a "dangerous separatist" who will bring "war and decline" to the island.

"The Ministry of National Defence strongly condemned such irrational provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability. We have dispatched sea, air and ground forces to respond ... to defend freedom, democracy and the sovereignty of the Republic of China," it said, referring to Taiwan by its official name.

It added that "all officers and soldiers of the armed forces are prepared".

"We uphold the strong will of 'preparing for war, not asking for war, responding to war, and not avoiding war'," it said, adding that it was "confident to ensure the security of our country".

Taipei's relations with Beijing have plunged in recent years as China has stepped up pressure on the democratic island, periodically stoking worries about a potential invasion.

Thursday and Friday's drills, code-named Joint Sword-2024A, will "focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets", Xinhua reported.
China holds military drills around Taiwan as 'punishment'



Beijing, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



China on Thursday launched two days of military drills to surround self-ruled Taiwan in what it said was "strong punishment" for the island's "separatist acts".

The drills come after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwan's new president this week and made an inauguration speech that China denounced as a "confession of independence".

Communist China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to bring the island under its rule, by force if necessary.

Thursday and Friday's drills involve military aircraft and naval vessels surrounding the island.

This will "test the joint real combat capabilities of the forces of the command", the Chinese military said.

Taiwan responded quickly to China's announcement on Thursday morning, announcing it had deployed forces to "defend freedom".

"The Ministry of National Defence strongly condemned such irrational provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability.

"We have dispatched sea, air and ground forces to respond... to defend freedom, democracy and the sovereignty of the Republic of China," it said, referring to Taiwan by its official name.

On Tuesday, China warned of strong reprisals to Lai's speech, in which he hailed a "glorious" new era of democracy for Taiwan.

Top diplomat Wang Yi also warned that Taiwanese "separatists will be nailed to the pillar of shame in history".

China had previously branded Lai a "dangerous separatist" who would bring "war and decline" to the island.



- 'Joint Sword-2024A' -



China's drills will "focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets", spokesman for the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command Naval Colonel Li Xi said.

They are taking place in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island and kicked off at 7:45 am (2345 GMT), Li said.

This week's drills will also take place around the outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, he added.

"Ships and aircraft arrived at combat patrols near Taiwan Island... to test the actual joint combat capabilities of the theatre forces," Li said.

The drills would also serve as a "strong punishment for the separatist acts of 'Taiwan independence' forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces", he said.

Beijing, which split with Taipei at the end of a civil war in 1949, regards the island as a renegade province with which it must eventually be reunified and has refused to rule out using military force to do so.

Relations have plunged in recent years as China has stepped up pressure on the democratic island, periodically stoking worries about a potential invasion.



- 'Real combat conditions' -



Beijing "clearly feels it needs to send a very strong message to Lai and anyone who supports him", analyst Bill Bishop wrote in his influential Sinocism newsletter.

"I would be surprised if this new exercise is smaller and less threatening than any last year," he said.

The last time China announced similar military exercises around Taiwan was in August 2023 after Lai, then vice president, stopped over in the United States on a visit to Paraguay.

Those drills also tested the PLA's ability "to seize control of air and sea spaces" and fight "in real combat conditions", according to state media.

Beijing at the time described them as a "stern warning".

They followed on the heels of April drills that simulated the encirclement of the island, triggered after Lai's predecessor Tsai Ing-wen met then-US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

China also launched major military exercises in 2022 after Nancy Pelosi, then the speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited Taiwan.

The country also held drills when then-president Tsai later transited through the United States.

World powers are keen to see as much stability as possible between China and Taiwan, not least because of the vital role the island plays in the global economy.

The Taiwan Strait is one of the world's most important maritime trade arteries, and the island itself is a major tech manufacturer, particularly of vital semiconductors -- the tiny chips used in everything from smartphones to missile systems.
China's military drills around Taiwan 'concerning': US general



Sydney, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



China's military drills around self-ruled Taiwan were expected but "concerning", US Lieutenant General Stephen Sklenka said Thursday.

"We expected something like this, frankly," the US Indo-Pacific Command deputy commander told an audience in Canberra.

"Just because we expect that behaviour does not mean that we should not condemn it, and we need to condemn it publicly," he said.

"It is concerning."

Sklenka said other nations besides the United States should speak out against the drills.

"It's one thing when the United States condemns the Chinese, but there's a far more powerful effect, I believe, when it comes from nations within this region," the lieutenant general told reporters.

"I also believe in my heart of hearts that conflict between our two nations is not inevitable, and it's not a foregone conclusion."

Sklenka said he believed the "target" of China's exercises was its own domestic population, not the international community.
Taiwan's military, coast guard activate in response to China's drills



Taipei, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



Fighter jets took off from a Taiwan airbase Thursday as the self-ruled island dispatched aerial and naval forces in response to China's launch of military drills, while Taipei's coast guard warned off Chinese vessels.

Beijing commenced two days of war games, dubbed "Joint Sword-2024A", as a "strong punishment" for Taiwan's "separatist acts".

They come after the island swore in new President Lai Ching-te, who said in his inaugural speech on Monday that Taiwan "must demonstrate our resolution to defend our nation".

China -- which claims Taiwan as part of its territory -- has denounced Lai's speech as a "confession of independence".

Beijing's drills began at 7:45 am (2345 GMT Wednesday) and are taking place in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island, PLA Eastern Theater Command Naval Colonel Li Xi said.

"In response, ROC (Republic of China, Taiwan's official name) Armed Forces have dispatched our aerial, naval and land assets in accordance with our protocols," Taipei's defence ministry said in a statement.

Four fighter jets took off at around 1 pm from a military airbase in Hsinchu, an hour southwest of Taipei.

Self-ruled Taiwan is separated by a narrow 180-kilometre (110-mile) strait from China, which has said it would never renounce the use of force to bring it under Beijing's control.

Taipei's coast guard said it had encountered Chinese ships around the Taiwan-administered outlying islands of Dongyin and Wuqiu early Thursday morning.

Two Chinese coast guard ships had sailed into the "restricted waters of Dongyin" at 7:48 am, while another was outside the restricted zone to "provide support", Taipei's coast guard said.

The ships left waters off Dongyin -- around 160 kilometres from Taiwan's northern tip -- about an hour later.

Another two Chinese ships were detected around Wuqiu, about 130 kilometres from Taiwan's western coast, "entering restricted waters", with a third outside the restricted area, the coast guard said. The vessels left at around 8:45 am.

Footage released by the coast guard showed Taiwanese officers ordering Chinese ships to leave over a loudspeaker.

"Your movements affect our country's order and safety, please turn away and leave our restricted waters as soon as possible," an officer said, according to the coast guard video.

"Leave right away, leave right away!"

The incidents near Dongyin and Wuqiu marked the seventh time this month that Chinese vessels breached Taiwan's restricted waters.
China's shows of force against Taiwan



Beijing, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



China launched military drills around self-ruled Taiwan on Thursday, three days after the democratic island's new President Lai Ching-te was sworn in.

It is the latest show of force by Beijing, which sees Taiwan as its territory and vows to take it back by force if necessary.

AFP takes a look at China's increasing efforts at military intimidation around Taiwan in recent years:



- Warplane incursions -



China has ramped up warplane flights into Taiwan's so-called Air Defence Identification Zone since the 2016 election of former president Tsai Ing-wen, who considers Taiwan "already independent".

Taipei said in April 2023 it had detected the long-range TB-001 Chinese combat drone and 37 other Chinese aircraft circling around Taiwan.

Local media said it was the first time Taiwan's defence ministry had reported a Chinese military aircraft circling the island from one end of the Taiwan Strait's median line, which China does not recognise, to the other.

Beijing now deploys military aircraft and naval vessels around Taiwan on a near-daily basis, with Taipei authorities detecting as many as 45 Chinese warplanes around the island over a 24-hour period this month.



- Pelosi backlash -



Beijing unleashed its largest military exercises around Taiwan in August 2022, after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi enraged China's Communist Party government by visiting the island.

The drills ran for at least five days and involved what Beijing called a "conventional missile firepower assault" in waters to the east of Taiwan. They were followed by more drills that month after another delegation of US lawmakers visited Taipei.

A record 446 warplanes entered Taiwan's air defence zone that month, according to Taipei's defence ministry.

Just a month later Taiwanese forces shot down a drone for the first time on tiny Shiyu Islet, which lies between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan's Kinmen islands.

China went on to deploy 71 warplanes in military exercises around Christmas that year, which the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) said were a "strike drill" responding to unspecified "provocations" and "collusion" between the United States and Taiwan.



- Simulated blockade -



Cross-strait tensions spiked again in April 2023, when China held three days of military drills after a meeting between Tsai and Pelosi's successor Kevin McCarthy.

The war games saw Beijing simulate targeted strikes on Taiwan and encirclement of the island, including "sealing" it off, and Chinese state media reported dozens of planes had practised an "aerial blockade".

One of China's two aircraft carriers, the Shandong, also participated in the exercises.

The drills were followed by a rocket launch from northwest China that Taiwan authorities said had sent debris falling into the sea north of the island.

In August, a stopover in the United States by then-vice president Lai drew Beijing's ire, with the PLA holding new war games intended to serve as a "stern warning to the collusion of 'Taiwan independence separatists' with foreign elements".



- Balloons -



Taiwan's defence ministry began regularly detecting Chinese balloons drifting around Taiwan last December, ahead of the island's presidential elections in January.

Taipei initially described the objects as weather balloons but later blasted them as threats to aviation safety and "an attempt to use cognitive warfare to affect the morale of our people".

A record eight Chinese balloons were detected over a 24-hour period in February, with five flying directly over Taiwan.

Tsai's right-hand man Lai was elected president in January in a contest overshadowed by fears of military threats from Beijing.

China appeared to refrain from obvious retaliation in the immediate aftermath of the election, although regular air incursions continued.

However, Beijing resumed its sabre-rattling on Thursday, with the PLA announcing two days of drills as a "strong punishment for the separatist acts of 'Taiwan independence' forces".
Gaza civil defence says 26 killed in Israeli air strikes



Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



Gaza's civil defence agency said two pre-dawn Israeli air strikes on Thursday killed 26 people in Gaza City, amid fierce battles between troops and militants across the Palestinian territory.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, while AFP was unable to independently verify the details of the two reported strikes.

Civil Defence Agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that one strike hit a family's house, killing 16 people, while 10 others died when a mosque was struck in the second strike.

Bassal said the dead included at least 15 children, including 10 who were killed when their family's house was hit in the Al-Daraj neighbourhood of Gaza City.

Five children died when their school inside a mosque complex was hit, he said, adding that rescue teams had pulled out several wounded from the strikes.
Taiwan's military, coast guard activate in response to China's drills



Taipei, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



Fighter jets took off from a Taiwan airbase Thursday as the self-ruled island dispatched aerial and naval forces in response to China's launch of military drills, while Taipei's coast guard warned off Chinese vessels.

Beijing commenced two days of war games, dubbed "Joint Sword-2024A", as a "strong punishment" for Taiwan's "separatist acts".

They come after the island swore in President Lai Ching-te, who said in his inaugural speech on Monday that Taiwan "must demonstrate our resolution to defend our nation".

China -- which claims Taiwan as part of its territory -- has denounced Lai's speech as a "confession of independence".

Beijing's drills began Thursday morning and are taking place in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island, China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) said.

In response, Taiwan's armed forces dispatched "aerial, naval and land assets", Taipei's defence ministry said in a statement.

Four fighter jets took off at around 1 pm (0500 GMT) from a military airbase in Hsinchu, an hour southwest of Taipei.

The defence ministry said in a late afternoon press briefing that it had detected 15 Chinese warships and 16 coast guard vessels around Taiwan, while 33 warplanes had "entered our response zone".

The closest distance they got to Taiwan was about 24 nautical miles (44 kilometres), said senior intelligence official Huang Wen-chi, adding that the military has "not detected any use of live ammunition".

Ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang said China's exercises were "destructive" to regional peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Earlier in the day during a visit to a military base, Lai said he would "stand on the front line... to jointly defend national security".

"At this moment the international community is paying a lot of attention to democratic Taiwan," the president said in a speech that did not directly reference the Chinese drills.

"Faced with external challenges and threats, we will continue to defend the values of freedom and democracy, and safeguard peace and stability in the region."



- 'Leave right away' -



Self-ruled Taiwan is separated by a narrow 180-kilometre (110-mile) strait from China, which has said it would never renounce the use of force to bring the island under Beijing's control.

Taipei's coast guard said it had encountered Chinese ships around the Taiwan-administered outlying islands of Dongyin and Wuqiu early Thursday morning.

Two Chinese coast guard ships had sailed into the "restricted waters of Dongyin" at 7:48 am, while another was outside the restricted zone to "provide support", Taipei's coast guard said.

The ships left waters off Dongyin -- around 160 kilometres from Taiwan's northern tip -- about an hour later.

Another two Chinese ships were detected around Wuqiu, about 130 kilometres from Taiwan's western coast, "entering restricted waters", with a third outside the restricted area, the coast guard said. The vessels left at around 8:45 am.

Footage released by the coast guard showed Taiwanese officers ordering Chinese ships to leave over a loudspeaker.

"Your movements affect our country's order and safety, please turn away and leave our restricted waters as soon as possible," an officer said, according to the coast guard video.

"Leave right away, leave right away!"

The incidents near Dongyin and Wuqiu marked the seventh time this month that Chinese vessels breached Taiwan's restricted waters.
China's propaganda machine roars as war games surround Taiwan



Beijing, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



Beijing's propaganda apparatus has gone all-out as its war games encircle Taiwan, with martial music blaring, graphics touting the military's "cross-strait lethality", and threats that the blood of separatists will flow.

China launched on Thursday what it called "Joint Sword-2024A" exercises, surrounding Taiwan with warplanes and navy ships and vowing "stern punishment" of separatist forces on the island.

And as state broadcaster CCTV aired an online livestream that lasted more than six hours featuring martial tunes and a video of young soldiers rushing to their stations on a loop, talking heads lined up to hail the drills as a righteous response to Taiwan's new leadership sworn in three days ago.

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, using language more typical of nationalist tabloids, warned that those seeking Taiwan's independence would be left with "heads broken and blood flowing".

China's military released a series of graphics showing off the equipment involved in the mission, from jets to ballistic missiles and artillery, boasting of their "cross-strait lethality" and emblazoning them with bloodstained text proclaiming that a "rain of arrows eliminates independence".

In one, a hail of rockets stream towards a small island, while in another a jet targets a wooded area.

The United States switched its diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979 but remains the island's most important ally and supplier of military hardware.

The military warned on Thursday that "relying on foreigners is a harmful path" and that independence for Taiwan was a "dead end".

State media also lined up a series of commentators to tout the military's rehearsal of a full-scale blockade of the island to cut it off from its allies and energy imports.

Tong Zhen, a researcher at the Academy of Military Sciences, told the nationalist Global Times newspaper the exercises showcased the military's "ability to conduct an all-round attack on the entire island".

That would be done, he said, "without any blind spots" and would allow the military to "form an intimidating situation from the east to the west" of the island.



- 'Stuffed into a birdcage' -



Zhang Chi, a professor at Beijing's China National Defense University, told CCTV the drills aimed to "strangle" Taiwan's critical Kaohsiung port to "severely impact" its foreign trade.

They would cut off "Taiwan's lifeline of energy imports" as well as "block the support lines that some US allies provide to 'Taiwan independence' forces", he said.

Others gloated that Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te was getting his comeuppance for an inauguration speech in which he vowed to defend Taiwan's democracy from Beijing's threats.

Lai had been "directly seized by the mainland's military might and stuffed into a birdcage", former Global Times editor-in-chief Hu Xijin posted on social media platform Weibo to his millions of followers.

Nationalists seethed online over Lai's speech and warned Taiwan against efforts at independence, some using obscenities to make their point that the "one-China principle is unquestionable".

"The unification of the motherland is unstoppable," a Weibo user said of the military's announcement of the drills.
Taiwan's military, coast guard activate in response to China's drills



Taipei, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



Fighter jets took off from a Taiwan airbase Thursday as the self-ruled island dispatched aerial and naval forces in response to China's launch of military drills, while Taipei's coast guard warned off Chinese vessels.

Beijing commenced two days of war games, dubbed "Joint Sword-2024A", as a "strong punishment" for Taiwan's "separatist acts".

They come after the island swore in President Lai Ching-te, who said in his inaugural speech on Monday that Taiwan "must demonstrate our resolution to defend our nation".

China -- which claims Taiwan as part of its territory -- has denounced Lai's speech as a "confession of independence".

Beijing's drills began Thursday morning and are taking place in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island, China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) said.

In response, Taiwan's armed forces dispatched "aerial, naval and land assets", Taipei's defence ministry said in a statement.

Four fighter jets took off at around 1:00 pm (0500 GMT) from a military airbase in Hsinchu, an hour southwest of Taipei.

Taipei's ministry of defence said around 8:00 pm (1200 GMT) it had detected 49 Chinese fighter jets and air patrol planes around Taiwan since 7:20 am -- the highest number of Chinese aircraft observed around the island in a single day so far this year.

The defence ministry said earlier in the day it had detected 15 Chinese warships and 16 coast guard vessels.

The closest they got to Taiwan was about 24 nautical miles (44 kilometres), said senior intelligence official Huang Wen-chi, adding that the military has "not detected any use of live ammunition".

Ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang said China's exercises were "destructive" to regional peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

During a visit to a military base, Lai said he would "stand on the front line... to jointly defend national security".

"At this moment the international community is paying a lot of attention to democratic Taiwan," the president said in a speech that did not directly reference the Chinese drills.

"Faced with external challenges and threats, we will continue to defend the values of freedom and democracy, and safeguard peace and stability in the region."



- 'Leave right away' -



Self-ruled Taiwan is separated by a narrow 180-kilometre (110-mile) strait from China, which has said it would never renounce the use of force to bring the island under Beijing's control.

Taipei's coast guard said it had encountered Chinese ships around the Taiwan-administered outlying islands of Dongyin and Wuqiu early Thursday morning.

Two Chinese coast guard ships had sailed into the "restricted waters of Dongyin" at 7:48 am, while another was outside the restricted zone to "provide support", Taipei's coast guard said.

The ships left waters off Dongyin -- around 160 kilometres from Taiwan's northern tip -- about an hour later.

Another two Chinese ships were detected around Wuqiu, about 130 kilometres from Taiwan's western coast, "entering restricted waters", with a third outside the restricted area, the coast guard said. The vessels left at around 8:45 am.

Footage released by the coast guard showed Taiwanese officers ordering Chinese ships to leave over a loudspeaker.

"Your movements affect our country's order and safety, please turn away and leave our restricted waters as soon as possible," an officer said, according to the coast guard video.

"Leave right away, leave right away!"

The incidents near Dongyin and Wuqiu marked the seventh time this month that Chinese vessels breached Taiwan's restricted waters.
Russia purges military leadership, as war drags on



Warsaw, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



Russia has arrested a number of generals and military leaders in recent weeks, seeking to overhaul an army hierarchy seen as corrupt and inefficient in an reinvigorated push for victory in Ukraine.

With the Kremlin now trying to beat Ukraine by outspending it on artillery, missiles, drones and ammunition, Moscow is putting a tighter leash on senior military bosses.

This means clamping down on allegations of rampant fraud and personal enrichment.

State media reported Thursday that Vadim Shamarin, deputy chief of Russia's general staff, had been arrested on large-scale bribe taking. He is the third senior military figure to be arrested on corruption charges in the past month.

"It's a real fight against corruption," said Alexander Khramchikhin, deputy director of the Moscow-based Institute for Political and Military Analysis.

"In wartime, money must be spent correctly."

The arrests are part of the most serious reshuffle in Russia's military leadership since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Putin this month removed his long-time ally Sergei Shoigu as defence minister, replacing him with economist Andrei Belousov.

A deputy defence minister Timur Ivanov, and the ministry's head of personnel, Yury Kuznetsov, have also been arrested on bribery charges in the last month.



- 'Turn a blind eye' -



Dealing with lucrative and classified procurement contracts, Russia's military has a reputation as a hotbed of corruption.

The Ukraine invasion thrust those allegations to the fore.

In scathing posts to millions of social media followers, pro-war military bloggers blamed financial mismanagement for battlefield failures and high casualties.

The Kremlin has long "understood" that its military spending is "inefficient," said Khramchikhin.

"But it became too obvious in wartime to turn a blind eye to it."

Some say the arrests and removal of Shoigu vindicates Yevgeny Prigozhin, the former head of the Wagner paramilitary unit who railed against corruption in the army on an almost daily basis.

Prigozhin died in a plane crash weeks after staging a mutiny in a bid to oust Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.

In a new approach, Putin has recently started highlighting the vast sums Moscow is pouring into its army.

Military spending accounts for about eight percent of Russia's economy, he said last week, calling it a "great resource" that should be used "carefully and effectively".

The Kremlin said Belousov's appointment as defence minister aimed to optimise spending and drive military innovation.

Russia's 2024 defence budget is about $120 billion, a third of all government spending.



- 'Ideal solution' -



Putin's spokesman on Thursday denied Moscow was purging senior military figures.

"The fight against corruption is an ongoing effort. It is not a campaign. It is an integral part of the activities of law enforcement agencies," Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

The Rybar Telegram channel, which has close links to the army, said the arrests were an "ideal solution for everybody."

"The soldiers at the front get something positive, the new defence minister's team gets a loud start, the problems start to be solved immediately ... and the ordinary population cheers," it said.

Other military bloggers celebrated the arrest of Shamarin, who headed the general staff's communications directorate.

"Even 15 years in prison in this case is nothing, considering that the quality of communications -- more specifically the lack thereof -- has been one of the biggest problems since the start of the special military operation, directly responsible for the deaths of several thousand people," the GreyZone telegram channel said.



- 'Win the war' -



Russia's leadership shake-up comes with its troops finally advancing on the frontlines after months of stalemate.

Moscow has chalked up its most significant gains in Ukraine for 18 months in a major assault on Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region.

One senior Russian military analyst, who requested anonymity to speak freely, said the new approach showed Putin was worried about the situation, despite the recent advances.

"The Kremlin realises time is working against Russia. In a few weeks, new weapons will reach Ukraine," the analyst said.

Fresh supplies of US weapons are on their way to Ukrainian troops, something Kyiv hopes will rebalance the frontlines.

The arrests was not a sign of Russia's sudden interest in clamping down on graft, the expert stressed. "The main thing for the Kremlin is to win the war, not to defeat corruption."
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Eureka College Expands Apogee Partnership to Include Suite of Managed Services

Eureka College has expanded its five-year technology partnership with Apogee to include Apogee Managed Campus, a suite of managed network, security, cloud, professional, and IT services, according to a news release. The college previously implemented Apogee ResNet and Apogee Managed Network Services in 2019. The new solution is part of a 202225 strategic plan to improve the campus experience for students, faculty, and staff.

"With the knowledge and experience that Apogee provides, Eureka College has become a leader among small, private U.S. colleges in adopting and implementing IT best practices," said Dr. Ann Fulop, Eureka College provost and vice president of academic affairs. "Apogee is always working behind the scenes so that our leaders, faculty, staff, and students dont have to worry about IT. We know that Apogee is backing us up and freeing us up so that we can focus on delivering on the initiatives we have outlined in our strategic plan as well as achieving the positive outcomes that we know are possible."

Residential Network Services (ResNet) and Managed Network Services provide high-speed WiFi to the full campus, including residence halls. In 2023, Apogee Professional Services also provided Active Directory and email migration services to the college. The new Managed Campus services deepens the relationship to address the college's IT needs more completely.

Services provided under Apogee Managed Campus now include executive advisory services; security risk assessments; IT service desk support; and cloud services including backup and disaster recovery, as well as managed applications.

"Eureka College is an excellent role model for colleges and universities that are benefiting from embracing a progressive approach to IT services and support. Our Apogee team knows how essential IT is to the success of all higher ed stakeholders. We are honored that Eureka College trusts Apogee with all things IT, and we look forward to many more years of working effectively together," said Apogee CEO Scott Drossos.
US 'strongly' urges China restraint amid Taiwan drills



Washington, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



The United States "strongly" urged China to show restraint Thursday after it launched military drills around Taiwan following the inauguration of a new president, describing Beijing's actions as "reckless".

Washington had "noted with concern" and was "closely monitoring" the drills that China said were punishment for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's inauguration speech, a senior US official said.

"We strongly urge Beijing to act with restraint," the Biden administration official said, warning China not to use Taiwan's political transition as a "pretext or excuse for provocative or coercive measures."

China's actions were "reckless, risk escalation, and erode longstanding norms that have maintained regional peace and stability for decades," the official added.

The United States, which recently approved billions in military aid for Taipei, was "confident in our current force posture" in the region.

The Chinese drills came after President Lai said in his inaugural speech on Monday that Taiwan "must demonstrate our resolution to defend our nation".

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has denounced Lai's speech as a "confession of independence."

Washington and Beijing have been trying to thaw their relations recently, with President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping meeting in California last year. However, Taiwan remains a major source of tension.

A senior US general said earlier that the Chinese drills were expected but "concerning".

"We expected something like this, frankly," US Lieutenant General Stephen Sklenka, the US Indo-Pacific Command deputy commander, told an audience in Canberra.

"Just because we expect that behavior does not mean that we should not condemn it -- and we need to condemn it publicly," he said.

"It is concerning."

Sklenka said other nations besides the United States should speak out against the drills.
Greek-owned ship targeted by missile off Yemen: security firms



Dubai, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



A missile attack targeted a Greek-owned cargo vessel off Yemen Thursday without causing any casualties or damage, maritime security agencies said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels have waged a campaign of attacks against Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November in a show of support for Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war.

The Joint Maritime Information Centre, which is run by a Western-led naval task force in the region, identified the vessel targeted in the latest attack as the Maltese-flagged bulk carrier Yannis.

Global tracking service MarineTraffic said the ship was en route from Russia to Kenya and identified its owner and operator as Greek shipping firm Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited.

Another bulk carrier owned by the same company, the Cyclades, was attacked by the Huthis late last month.

Maritime security firm Ambrey said the Cyclades was likely targeted "due to its listed operator's ongoing trade with Israel".

The attempted attack on the Yannis occurred 68 nautical miles off the rebel-controlled Yemeni port city of Hodeida, Ambrey said on Thursday.

"The vessel had undergone what she described as a 'missile attack' at the location," it said, adding that "no injuries or damage were reported."

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, run by the Royal Navy, reported "a missile impacting the water in close proximity" to the ship.

"Vessel and all crew are safe and proceeding to next port of call," it said in an advisory.

The rebel attacks on shipping along the vital trade route have prompted countermeasures by a Western-led naval task force and reprisal strikes on Huthi targets by British and US warplanes.

On Wednesday, US military forces shot down four drones in rebel-controlled parts of Yemen, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

"It was determined these systems presented an imminent threat to US coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region," CENTCOM posted on social media platform X.
Poland, Greece call for EU to create 'air defence shield'



Brussels, Belgium, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



Poland and Greece on Thursday called for the European Union to create an "air defence shield" to better protect the bloc in the face of Russia's war on Ukraine.

"Europe will be safe as long as the skies over it are safe," Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis wrote in a letter to EU chief Ursula Von der Leyen.

"That is why the EU needs a new flagship programme -- a European air defence shield -- a comprehensive air defence system to protect our common EU airspace against all incoming threats."

The proposal comes as EU nations scramble to bolster their defences and re-arm in the wake of Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Von der Leyen made reference to it in a debate Thursday against rivals competing with her as she seeks a second mandate.

She urged the next commission to pursue common European defence projects -- "for example, an air defence shield for all".

Poland and Romania, two EU countries bordering Ukraine, have already seen drones and missiles from the conflict cross into their territory.

"The European air defence shield must be a programme which addresses this major vulnerability in our security," the letter said.

"A programme which strengthens the EU's overall defence capabilities and incentivises European defence companies to develop cutting-edge technologies."

The scarcity of air defences in the EU has been underscored recently by the failure of countries beyond Germany to send more systems to Ukraine as it faces fierce bombardments from Russia.

Germany last year launched it own initiative along with NATO allies seeking to bolster the continent's air defences through joint purchases of equipment.

But that has failed to gain traction with key players such as France who objected to plans to buy the weaponry outside the EU.

Tusk and Mitsotakis said they looked forward to discussing their proposal with other EU leaders at a summit next month.
Russia arrests two more top defence officials



Moscow, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



Russia on Thursday arrested a general and a high-ranking defence official on corruption and "abuse of power" charges -- the latest senior military figures to be put behind bars this month.

The Kremlin denied it was carrying out a purge of top army officials, but some of Russia's influential military bloggers welcomed the arrest of a general they hold responsible for battlefield failures in the two-year offensive in Ukraine.

Moscow's powerful Investigative Committee said Vadim Shamarin, deputy head of Russia's General Staff, had been placed in detention on suspicion of "large-scale bribe taking".

The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

The committee alleged that Shamarin had been taking bribes for years from a factory in the Urals city of Perm, saying he had received 36 million rubles (364,000 euros) in kickbacks in return for boosting government contracts.

It said he had been placed in pre-trial detention.

Later on Thursday, the committee announced the arrest of Vladimir Verteletsky -- an official from the defence ministry's department for ensuring state orders.

It said Verteletsky had "been charged with the abuse of his official powers" and has also been placed in detention.

Investigators accuse Verteletsky of taking a bribe in relation to a government contract in 2022, the first year of Moscow's offensive.

It said the alleged offence had cost the state "over 70 million rubles" (706,000 euros).

Critics and opposition figures have for years said Russia's military is riddled with corruption, although its leaders have rarely faced any serious probe or retribution.



- Kremlin denies purge -



The issue burst to the forefront amid failures in the Ukraine offensive, with Wagner paramilitary head Yevgeny Prigozhin accusing Russia's military bosses -- then-defence minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov -- of corruption on an almost daily basis, saying it hobbled Russia's combat capacity.

Prigozhin died last year in a plane crash just two months after launching a bloody mutiny in a bid to remove the pair.

The arrest of Shamarin, who was head of the General Staff's communications directorate, is the latest in an apparent crackdown on some of Russia's top military officials.

But the Kremlin denied it was mounting a purge.

"The fight against corruption is an ongoing effort. It is not a campaign. It is an integral part of the activities of law enforcement agencies," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

Putin removed Shoigu earlier this month in a surprise reshuffle, replacing him with economist Andrei Belousov.

A deputy defence minister, Timur Ivanov, and head of the ministry's personnel, Yuri Kuznetsov, also have been arrested in the last few weeks for bribe-taking.

And Ivan Popov, an ex-commander who was sacked after he criticised Russia's military leaders for a high casualty rate in Ukraine, was arrested earlier this week.

Some Russian military bloggers welcomed the arrest of Shamarin, saying it was communications breakdowns -- caused by a lack of equipment due to corruption -- that were behind Russia's military failures in Ukraine.

"Bribery in the military and security services is state treason," military blogger Anastasia Kashevarova said in a post on Telegram.

Amid the reshuffle and arrests in Moscow, Russian forces in Ukraine have made their most significant advances on the battlefield in 18 months, with a new major assault on the northeastern Kharkiv region.
Leland explains that she is the mother of the antichrist and all Kristen can do is laugh and point out how terrible Lelands life will be raising a baby. The chemistry that these two characters have as enemies is great and brings comedic relief when the subject of their conversations is meant to be funny. Tough to do when the show deals with such heavy subject matter.





Kristen learning about her scheming mother is something the audience have been waiting for and now that she knows, this has definitely changed their relationship. As a viewer, the clock is being watched, counting down to the second until all of Sheryls lies come to light. If anyone deserves a slap, it's Sheryl. Kristen rightfully lets Sheryl know she is no longer welcome in her home or around her grandchildren.





Meanwhile, David is still fighting his own demons or angels. His vision of the black angel giving him a warning will not stop. He isnt left with much time to ponder as the team is given a new assignment by replacement Father Frank (who doesnt believe in demons or the work the team does). They must investigate the opening of a particle accelerator. There are rumors that it sits on the doorway to Hell and there was a hoax video of a woman being sacrificed uploaded online by some employees of the facility.





"How to Split an Atom  EVIL, Pictured: Wallace Shawn as Father Ignatious, Mike Colter as David Acosta, Katja Herbers as Kristen Bouchard and Aasif Mandvi as Ben Shakir. Photo: Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+ 2024 All Rights Reserved

When the team arrives to investigate they are told by the people in charge that the woman in the video resigned as she didnt like the attention she was receiving because of the video. As they enter the tunnels weird things happen like power outages and strange noises. The scientists are quick to explain everything away but as they are leaving David finds a note from a whistleblower. At the meeting with Mateo (the whistleblower), David, Ben and Kristen are told the woman from the video fell into a black hole at a different section of the facility that the scientists were trying to hide from them. He also shows them a video of some sort of creature coming out of the black hole. Ben is quick to dismiss it as an app that allows you to create scary images. Kristen appears to begin to be affected by all of this as she wants Ben to ease her mind constantly. That antichrist baby shes about to have must be heavy on her mind.





Elsewhere, Andy is still under the control of Leland who calls him back to his home and tries to brainwash him repeating the phrase why is your wife *exploitive* a priest which Sheryl says was not the plan and what they should be repeating is you need Sheryl back in the house. This scene offered more comic relief in what is a science heavy episode.





When the team returns to the church we are introduced to a new father interested in science and if the facility can create a black hole that will swallow the Earth. Who knew the Church was so interested in this? Ben, David and Kristen return to the facility to investigate the actual location of the hole that was dug by the construction crew, site 33. When the team splits up and David is left alone at the hole he sees a bug creature bring up the head of the missing woman from the video and Ben is accidentally struck with a beam of radiation in a tunnel. As if that wasnt bad enough, when Ben is struck he sees flashes of demons. That cannot be good for him.





"How to Split an Atom  EVIL, Pictured: Mike Colter as David Acosta, Katja Herbers as Kristen Bouchard, Aasif Mandvi as Ben Shakir, Peter Mark Kendall as Dr. Parquet and Cara Patterson as Emily Reinhardt. Photo: Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+ 2024 All Rights Reserved

The team rightfully calls it a day and David tells Sister Andrea his dreams and what he saw at the site. When he leaves, Kristens daughter Lynn comes out of hiding hoping Sister Andrea can give her more information; she cannot without her parents consent. Just then Kurt shows up seeking her counsel as well. The Sister will be busy this season it seems I get it, shes one of the best characters on the show and deserves some more screen time.





Andy is waiting for David and confronts him about sleeping with Kristen, as he denies it the mosquito demon disguised as Kristen returns. It appears whatever Leland did to him was strong enough to make the mosquito demon reappear. David of course informs Kristen who is livid. As she waits for Andy to come home, Lynn does instead, after midnight. Kristen questions her and she lies about being with her boyfriend. Most teenagers do not have to lie about being at Church but when Kristen is your mother it is understandable. You just never know what you are going to get with her.





"How to Split an Atom  EVIL, Pictured: Mike Colter as David Acosta, Katja Herbers as Kristen Bouchard and Patrick Brammali as Andy Bouchard. Photo: Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+ 2024 All Rights Reserved

We finally get to see Ben alone who is now seeing visions of a demon in a scary scene. It appears that the demon is latched on to him or connected to him as they move in unison. Is Ben finally a believer?





When we return to Kristen, she confronts Andy and reprimands him for suggesting she is cheating. I mean yes she kissed David but she totally had sex with some random day player so she isnt fully lying, right? She also made a valid point about her being the only one working but that doesnt give her a cheating pass.





The team takes one last trip to the facility and Ben lies about feeling ok. They are told that Mateo admitted to trying to blackmail them. When they view him on security cameras he is praying but seems to be attacked. He is out of frame a little so no one can make out what is truly happening to him. When they get to his location it either looks like he jumped down the black hole or was pulled down as the camera pans to claw marks on the wall.





Ben, David and Kristen report their findings back to the Church and Father Frank informs them that the particle accelerator will open in 38 days. When they are alone, David explains his dream of the Angel warning him about the end of the world coming in 38 days with the birth of the antichrist. Kristen laughs explaining her son will be born in 38 days.





Katja Herbers really takes us on a journey. She goes from warrior mother to seductress to a person who may be on the verge of a psychotic break so smoothly. Her performance in this series is so good and she deserves all the awards. If anyone should receive the label "breakout performance" it goes to her. Mike Colter as David just makes me want to hug him as he deals with his internal struggle and Aasif Mandvi usually brings the laughs so I am excited to see a different side to his character this season as he battles science vs supernatural.





This episode was a great season opener. We have so many mysteries to solve and 38 days to do it. It was a perfect mix of supernatural and comedy when needed. What did you think of the episode Evil fans? Are you team Sheryl? Is Andy just a poor guy mixed up in his wifes madness? What role will Lynn play? How do we get Netflix to pick up this show for more seasons? Let me know in the comments and dont forget to connect with me on X @jereereviews.








Western Governors University Provides AI Writing Assistance to All Students and Faculty

Western Governors University has announced a partnership with AI writing assistance provider Grammarly, providing access to Grammarly's real-time writing support services  and new Writing Score API  to all faculty and students. The goal of the collaboration is to empower the university's working adult and remote students to build critical communication skills.

The Writing Score API provides real-time quality checks on documents to provide feedback and suggestions that ensure correct, clear, and engaging writing, according to a news release. The service will be deployed to WGU students over the summer and to the education market at large later in 2024.

"Even in the generative AIconnected workforce, writing is as essential as ever, with knowledge workers spending 19 hours per week on written communication," said Jenny Maxwell, head of Grammarly for Education. "To ensure students are prepared to succeed in todays workplace, they must learn effective writing and editing skills. Grammarly's partnership with WGU will empower students to improve their writing skills, increase the likelihood of earning a degree, and ultimately maximize their career opportunities."

The service will allow students to submit written assignments with a minimum of 30 words and receive a writing score on a 1100 scale. The score reflects potential improvements to grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence clarity, word choice variety, and tone, according to the news release. The Writing Score API expands existing writing score technology to a wider variety of its applications.

"WGU is thrilled to partner with Grammarly and pilot the Writing Score API at scale. WGU makes higher education and professional career advancement attainable for everyone by identifying system-wide barriers and investing in solutions to eliminate them. We are excited to embed this in-the-moment feedback into how we teach while our instructors remain student-centric. By incorporating this AI technology, we can provide truly personalized learning and meet students where they are," said WGU Senior Vice President of Academic Delivery Debbie Fowler.
That shifts the emphasis on making money from her back catalogue, in the same way that Bloomsbury has managed to sweat its Harry Potter assets with new versions of the beloved book series, bringing in a new generation of readers.
In fact, the more I think about it, the more this seems like the kind of recruitment policy that will be good for any office. Bring in more convicted criminals, thats what I say. People who can shake up the post-Covid office malaise with some good old-fashioned threat around the place. I think its less likely that Gordon from accounts will dick around with payments if theres the risk of a shivving in the kitchen. Someone hassling me about a deadline? Speak to my deskmate, Big Mick. When hes finished using a Bic and a needle to give a facial tattoo to Gordon, Im sure hed be happy to help.
Former prime minister Theresa May sits down with journalist Samira Ahmed, one of the presenters of Radio 4s principal arts programmes, Front Row to discuss power, its corruption and its devastating impact if abused. As home secretary for six years and Prime Minister for three, May faced a series of dilemmas and tragedies from Grenfell, Brexit and the Windrush scandal, to the phone-tapping scandal and terrorism threats  which many people felt she mishandled. Here she discusses her 2023 book The Abuse of Power: Confronting Injustice in Public Life.
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It remains unclear what a deal could look like given how far apart the sides are and how committed the BMAs leadership is to achieving full pay restoration. However, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak may well see settling the dispute as a victory on the NHS that he can sell to voters.
Important though the general election is, the contest in the United States of America on November 5 has huge global significance. A strong America as a close ally is vital for our peace and security. I intend to help with the grassroots campaign in the USA in any way that I can  Nigel Farage says he will focus on getting Donald Trump re-elected rather than stand as a Reform UK candidate in the July 4 General Election.
But the question is will that red mist blind them to what is on offer under the red flag: the burdens on business; Britain being tied back into the EUs regulatory straitjacket; the undermining of Nato through an EU defence pact; the undermining of our border through an EU migration pact; higher taxes; less disposable income; and the wrecking ball that would be taken to our constitution; and the cuts to the NHS budget that Labour has so viciously done in Wales.
I dont know what she says about the cause of independence, I think the polls say that is losing considerable support, but I have to say our weekly exchanges have certainly gone down well with the Scottish Unionist contingent and what they will do, given that this will be our last exchange I do not know.
Lord Wallace said: There was a time you could see your GP on the day you rang for an appointment, when schools were world class, when ferries worked, when it was so much easier to buy your first home and our economy was growing.
We would like to commend the victims in this case for coming forward and reporting what happened to them. It is because of their evidence that we were able to secure a conviction and bring their abuser to justice.
The force said it was seeking any dashcam and phone footage of the incident and appealed for any witnesses, or anyone with phone or dashcam footage of the incident, to get in contact.
Regarding staying safe in wet weather, Mr Partridge said: Although it may not look too bad when you leave home, it could turn much heavier once youre out and about, so the best thing is to plan your trips and if you dont need to go  the best advice is to try and avoid it.
The Custodian of the Romanian Crown, Her Majesty Margareta, and His Royal Highness Prince Radu were received, on Thursday, at the Grand Ducal Palace, by His Royal Highness Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, at a private lunch, told Agerpres.

"Thursday, May 23, at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg, the Custodian of the Crown and the Prince Consort were the guests of His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke at lunch," a post on the Royal Family website says.

Also, the representatives of the Royal Family signed the Book of Honor.

Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, and His Royal Highness Prince Radu are on the last day of their visit to Luxembourg, where they support the European cause of the Republic of Moldova.
Attending on Thursday the inauguration of the Ivan Patzaichin Museum - Community Innovation Center in the Mila 23 Danube Delta village, Culture Minister Raluca Turcan announced that this is the first Romanian museal institution included in the Bauhaus European Center network.

The museum opening ceremony was attended by both authorities and tourists, and was accompanied by the presentation of a plaque to Ivona Patzaichin-Rusu, the daughter of the Olympic rowing champion.

"The Ministry of Culture is a newly-minted partner in a Bauhaus European Center international network, and as new entrants into this international cultural circuit, we thought that the first distinction the Ministry offers as a Bauhaus European Center local ambassador should honor the Ivan Patzaichin Museum in Mila 23, the rowing champion's home community," declared Turcan.

The inauguration of the Ivan Patzaichin Museum took place under UNESCO's patronage.

"This is a center with a multiple vocation that brings together the element of culture, whether we are talking about the built heritage or the intangible one - sustainable development, another very important UNESCO theme, and education, because it will also host educational activities and, last but not least, the Delta is a subject for scientific research," expert with Romania's National Commission for UNESCO Codrin Taut explained for AGERPRES.

President of the Romanian Cultural Institute Liviu Jicman stated that the center in the Mila 23 village can accommodate cultural residencies.

During the inauguration ceremony, the vice-president of the Ivan Patzaichin-Mila 23 Association, Teodor Frolu was presented with the Cultural Merit Order in the rank of Knight, Category I - "Architecture", awarded by the Presidency, and visual arts doctor Florica Zaharia, Conservator Emeritus at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and founder of the Museum of Textiles in Baita, was decorated with the Cultural Merit Order in the rank of Knight.

National Stamp Company Romfilatelia presented a stamp bloc dedicated to the Ivan Patzaichin Museum.

The museum was built on the site of the former house of Patzaichin's parents, and integrates vernacular building elements made from sustainable materials, wood, hemp, reed, as a model of green building practices, in line with the Delta local specifics.

The ensemble consists of an 18 meter observation tower that accommodates the museum, a pavilion intended for cultural, artistic, educational and community-building activities, an area for Delta gastronomy and a space for artistic residencies.

The museum will open to the public on Friday.
AGERPRES special correspondent Gina Stefan reports: The Custodian of the Romanian Crown, Her Majesty Margareta, and Prince Radu participated on Wednesday evening at the Scheiss Cultural Centre in Luxembourg in the presentation of the AGERPRES travelling photo exhibition "Royal Family's contribution to strengthening Romania's role in NATO and EU 2002-2023," which took place in the presence of dozens of members of the Romanian community in this country.

Crina Enita, President of the Luxembourg-Romania Association, said at the opening of the event that the exhibition includes photos from the AGERPRES archive illustrating part of the foreign visits paid by His Majesty King Mihai, His Majesty Margareta and His Royal Highness Prince Radu, which was inaugurated in Brussels in March at the headquarters of the Permanent Delegation of Romania to NATO and will accompany the royal visits this year.

"In the year 2024, Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, and His Royal Highness Prince Radu continue the public action supported by foreign and military policy to underline Romania's leading role in the current security crisis on the eastern flank of NATO and the EU, as well as to support, without interruption and decisively, the European path of the Republic of Moldova. Through this exhibition, the public has the opportunity to better understand the complexity of international relations and the role that the Royal Family plays in strengthening Romania's position within the international community," said Crina Enita.

In turn, Romania's Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Alexandrina-Livia Rusu mentioned that the AGERPRES exhibition highlights significant moments in the actions of the Royal Family aimed at promoting Romania and strengthening its role in the European Union and NATO.

"The exhibition covers the period 2002 - 2023, but Her Majesty's work spans more than 30 years and I am convinced that it will continue with the same assiduity. For those who do not know the subject well enough, I believe that Romania has a unique formula and the diplomatic efforts of the Romanian authorities and the Royal Family have complemented each other over time in an attempt to achieve objectives of major interest to the European Union and NATO, with accession to these two structures being crucial for Romania," said Alexandrina-Livia Rusu.

In turn, Her Majesty Margareta expressed voiced gladness to be with the Romanians in Luxembourg and mentioned that the AGERPRES exhibition showed how much the Royal Family fought for Romania.

"Because, you know, we were in exile and it was impossible to do anything more than talk about this part of the world that nobody knew, it was hidden. And that's why I'm glad we were able to do something and intensify these efforts, especially now. (...) It is very serious what is happening now and it is a pity, it is a great pity, but still we are doing our best for our country and for the Republic of Moldova. Now, you know, we are here to plead the cause of the Republic of Moldova for Europe," said the Crown Custodian.

Prince Radu also spoke about the fact that a part of the Romanian people, who are beyond the Prut, needs help.

"It's no big deal, you don't need much patriotism or courage to understand that you have to help your own people. Otherwise, for 160 years, the Crown would have been useless if it didn't do that. It relies solely on the trust and love of the people, not on voting or other support. So, we are happy every time we come back here and very grateful that the Romanian Army, here on this visit as well, is with us as it has been for a century and a half or even more and together we write with the Romanian diplomacy, with the Romanian Academy, with our church and of course with the whole society, with the nation, the pages of today and tomorrow of our own history. So far, our generation has not known war, only the four previous royal generations have. Now we are in line with them. We have our war two steps away from Romania and less than two steps away from the Republic of Moldova and it is our duty to face this moment in order not to shame those before us," Prince Radu said.

After the opening of the exhibition, the Crown Custodian and Prince Radu had a long discussion with members of the Romanian community, who said they were honoured to be able to participate in this event and appreciated the role of the Royal Family in strengthening Romania's role in NATO and the European Union.

Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, and His Royal Highness Prince Radu are paying a visit to Luxembourg, where they advocated for the support of the Republic of Moldova in the European integration process.
Theres a clear distinction between myself and other candidates in this race.

The 1995 OJ Simpson trial had a huge impact on the American psyche. While some convinced of Simpsons guilt were appalled by the not guilty verdict, others celebrated the outcome of a case they believed was manipulated by overzealous police officers.

St. Louis County Prosecutor, Wesley Bell, who was 21 at the time, focused on something entirely unrelated. In a recent conversation with the St. Louis American, Bell said he noted something with the trial that changed the trajectory of his life. An imbalance in the nations criminal justice system. In brief, he recognized that those with money and resources can get a kind of justice most Americans are rarely afforded.

A year after the murder of 18-year-old Mike Brown by a Ferguson police officer in 2014. Bell ran and was elected to the Ferguson city council. He was in that position as the nation scrutinized Ferguson and some of the other 88 county municipalities that used local police to punish and profit off mostly poor people. He said hes proud to have been among the individuals who worked to clean up corrupt bureaucracies in the county.

Though few knew his name in the region, Bell made the bold decision to challenge then St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch in the 2018 election race. In a major upset, Bell soundly defeated McCulloch. In January 2019, Bell took office becoming the first black county prosecuting attorney in St. Louis County history.

Bell seems to have set his sights on higher ambitions. Last year, he announced his candidacy in the 2024 United States Senate race challenging incumbent Sen. Josh Hawley. Four months later, in October 2023, Bell opted instead to seek the Missouri 1st U.S. House currently occupied by Cong. Cori Bush.

Perhaps coincidentally Bell entered the race after Bush had been soundly lambasted for her comments regarding Israels counterattack against Hamas for its Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel. After calling for a ceasefire, pro-Israeli political groups raised millions in an ongoing attempt to oust Bush from office.

Is Bell an opportunist who shifted his political priorities to appease Bushs wealthy enemies? He admitted publicly that, yes that was part of his decision to go after Bushs seat. But it wasnt the only reason, Bell insists. He simply believes that he possesses a skill Bush does not: coalition-building.

In this one-on-one interview with the prosecutor and congressional candidate, we explore Bells political motivations and strategies, his successes and criticisms while serving as county prosecutor, and much, much more.

*************

St.. Louis American: Honestly, before the county prosecutors race, I had never heard of you.

Wesley Bell: (Laughs) You had no reason to have heard of me.

STL American: There had to be an inner voice or the voices of other people who told you Wesley, theres no way in hell youre going to beat Bob McCulloch?

WB: Listen, I had friends I had known my entire life laugh in my face when I told them I was going to run for county prosecutor. There was a small handful of people who believed in me, and I dont mean like several hundred; I mean like a dozen.

We just believed the county needed change. What we saw in Ferguson was not just exclusive to its borders. This was something county-wide, even nationwide. We just believed our message would resonate with voters, so we took it to the doors, to the streets; we took our message to every county and made our case.

STL American: Did your confidence grow as you campaigned?

WB: We had a plan. We saw the early polling which was bleak to say the least. But our plan was to do a grassroots campaign. We knew we probably werent going to be taken seriously but we also knew we had to roll up our sleeves, knock on doors and do the work. As it got closer and closer, we started seeing how that momentum was turning in our way, so we just kept pushing and pushing. By the time we got to election day  it wasnt a matter of winning, it was a matter of how much we were going to win by. We had the right message and we put the work in.

STL American: After you became county prosecutor, there were many Black people upset with you after you relaunched an investigation into Michael Browns death, but did not file criminal charges against Darren Wilson, the officer who killed him?

WB: Yeah, and I think we have to be fair on that. The investigative body with the most resources in the entire world is the Department of Justice and they did a very thorough investigation in real time and they werent able to prosecute. So, what were we supposed to do six years later? We took a deep dive into the case  we looked at every piece of evidence; we put a call out for new evidence because we heard rumors of (unexplored) evidence; we looked at every documentary to either confirm or debunk allegations. We kept our promises.

STL American: You won on a platform of change. What do you think your major accomplishments have been since 2018?

WB: Well, I believe theres a couple things that serve as an effective measurement of how weve done. Im a data person. If you dont track the data, you dont know if what youre saying is true.

In four years, weve expanded our treatment programs. There are 2,500 people who overwhelmingly would have seen the inside of a jail cell but did not. These were low-level, nonviolent offenders. The data shows that-of those folk-we have a 3.9% recidivism rate, meaning a 96-97% success rate. We connected these people to the treatment through our partnerships with Affinia, BJC and the Urban League and we addressed those underlying issues so they could be successful. And we know the opposite (strategy) is that if you just put those people in jail theyre going to go back. Now, we still prosecute serious and violent offenders but theres a whole bucket of people who just need help  struggling with mental health, substance abuse, opioid abuse, you name it and when we connect them to treatment, they do well.

Another thing is  from day one, we announced that we are no longer going to prosecute people with low amounts of marijuana  so lets look at what happened. A few years later, it (legalized marijuana) gets on the ballot and passes. A few weeks ago, the federal government said, were changing. So, we were out front on that.

The last thing Ill say is the biggest confirmation of what were doing, is never in the history of St. Louis County has a first-term incumbent who does not have a Republican opponent. That just shows that weve been successful in building coalitions. Thats the only way you can get things done in a place with 88 municipalities  to see that broad coalition that weve built isa confirmation of what were doing, and it will be the exact same approach well take to D.C.

STL American: You ran against McCulloch in 2018 because you said there was a need for change. In June of last year, you announced you were running against U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican seeking his second term in office. What was the rationale?

WB: I dont think theres much of a need for an explanation. Josh Hawley needs to go. I think hes bad for the state; I think hes bad for the country, so it was a bit of a no-brainer. He needs to be challenged and defeated.

STL American: OK, so, about five months later, in October, you decided to drop out of the senate race and challenge Cori Bushs congressional seat instead. Again, what was the motivation?

WB: What became abundantly clear to me from folks on the ground or at home in our district  for a very long time Ive been getting requests to run for the congressional seat. One of the arguments that was the straw that broke the camels back for me is that-theres certain money and resources coming to every district because legislation had been passed-anything beyond that you have to build coalitions to bring those resources home. Our congresswoman clearly does not work with her caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, or the Democratic Caucus  she voted against the bi-partisan infrastructure bill which brought hundreds of millions into this district. With that vote, she joined the extreme rightwing Maga Republicans. We need someone whos going to be laser-focused on the needs of this district. So, once I really thought about it; it was an easy decision; the right thing to do for the right reasons.

STL American: October was also the time Hamas launched a terrorist attack against Israel and Bush received serious backlash for criticizing Israels response and calling for a ceasefire. In response, pro-Israel organizations like AIPAC raised millions of dollars to get her out of office. You publicly said that that was part of the reason you decided to challenge her? What would you say to those who may consider you an opportunist?

WB: Well, I think her entire record is fair game in any decision when we evaluate an elected official. So, when I look at her voting record; when I look at the fact that her constituency services are next to zero; when I look at her votes that impact us locally and nationally  all those things I took into consideration. Her body of work is the reason why Im in this election and why Im gaining so much support.

STL American: Back in March, lawyers for a prosecutor fired from your office claimed she was dismissed because of her age, race, and gender. Whats your response to those allegations?

WB: Lets get through the misinformation first. This lawsuit is about an attorney who worked in our office who had a recommendation on a case that our victims-who happened to be police officers-approached us and said the recommendation was too extreme because the facts of the case did not support it. Once we became aware of that, our staff did our due diligence. We listened to our victims, and we agreed that a lower sentence was more appropriate. Her attorney felt that me making that decision  overturning her recommendation  was somehow motivated by some type of discrimination. Thats what this lawsuit is about. Voters hold me responsible for decisions in this office and at the end of the day, I stand by that decision.

STL American: Also in March, a coalition of racial justice groups released a report called Prosecutor Watch. Did you read that and what are your thoughts?

WB: Actually, I did. I met with that group. I was a little disappointed because in their discussions with you guys and other media outlets, they said we didnt respond when in fact we did. The bottom line is the organization asked us to do things that are illegal. (For example) they asked us to use diversion (remedies) with serious and violent offenses which Missouri statutes prohibit. But as I said earlier, weve expanded treatment programs  we created a conviction incident review unit, where an individual who had been sentenced to a life sentence from a wrongful conviction 20 years ago is free because of our and other stakeholders intervention.

When I look at our body of work, Im really proud that we-not just me-have reformed the criminal justice system in St. Louis County.

STL American: One person involved with that group, Michelle Smith, with Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty said, Prosecutor Bell has not been much different than his predecessor Bob McCulloch. Theres still a lot of people in St. Louis County jail. Theres still a lot of people getting charged with certain crimes that we feel like they shouldnt be. How do you respond to that allegation?

WB: It never fails that once we get around election season, some things get thrown out there that just do not make sense. Again, just go to the data. Theres never been a conviction incident review unit in the history of St. Louis Countys prosecutors office; theres never been a prosecution-led diversion program that treated and diverted as many people from prison as we have.

Lets go into the inner-workings of the office: Theres never been a woman on the executive leadership team in the history of the office. Ive hired three. Theres never been a female investigator. Ive hired five. Theres never been one single social worker in the county prosecutors office Ive hired five. So, when you look at what our office has done-both externally and internally-and the outcomes of those policies, Im very proud of what weve done.

STL American: Moving onanother African American candidate in your congressional race, former state legislator Maria Chappelle-Nadal said she is the better candidate because she has more legislative experience than you and Bush combined. What are your thoughts about her and her candidacy?

WB: (Laughs) Ill say she can speak for her campaign, and Ill talk about what were doing and my experience. Ive served as a public defender and an educator at community college. I am the only candidate that has served in every branch of the government. I served in the judicial branch as a judge, Im serving now in my second term as prosecutor, and Ive served as a municipal court prosecutor. I served in the legislature as a county councilman during a very difficult time. In all of those stops, I have been able to work with others, build coalitions and actually get things done. And folks know that. Im not going to get into personal attacks. To be quite frank, thats what candidates do when they cant run on their record.

I think I have a body of work that voters can make their decisions on, and I think theres a clear distinction between myself and other candidates in this race.

Thats what Im focused on.

Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.
Republicans hold super-majorities in both the House and Senate of the Missouri legislature, yet they huffed and puffed failed to blow down many houses they set a target upon.

Confident that control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department could be seized from city voters, GOP legislative members paraded representatives of the Ethical Society of Police through the Capital during the session.

However, ESOPs puzzling relationship with conservative lawmakers blew up in the organizations face when a vote on the issue or floor debate never occurred.

It was the second time Mayor Tishaura Jones and city officials, including Police Chief Robert Tracy, turned back the antebellum antics of Republicans, which were backed by ESOP, an organization originally founded to support Black police officers and staff.

The Missouri State legislature has ended its 2024 legislative session, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department remains under local control, Jones said in a statement.

This legislation would have put SLMPD under the control of a corrupt, Confederate-era state board that would have our chief answering to five different bosses and take away residents insight and oversight into law enforcement.

Im proud and thankful for Chief Robert Tracy, my Chief of Staff Jared Boyd, and the many representatives and senators who fought to preserve local control.

Jones noted that as the takeover attempt was underway, St. Louis experienced its lowest homicide rate in a decade and the largest year-over-year reduction in crime in 90 years.

Juvenile shootings have been reduced by 50%, and there has been a 36% reduction in car thefts over the last year.

State senate Democrats, including Karla May and Brian Williams, helped squash a Republican effort to change how initiative petitions could reach the ballots. The GOP pushed a bill that would require any constitutional amendment to pass in five out of eight congressional districts in addition to winning a statewide majority.

A record-setting Democratic filibuster stalled the bill and Republican infighting over ballot language led to 2024 session ending on May 17, 2024, without a vote.

St. Louis Public Radio reported that Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo (D-Independence) said Democrats and Republicans came together this past week and said enough is enough of this hyperbole.

Rizzo thinks Republicans will not give up on changing the initiative petition process, And it might come back with a vengeance honestly.

The Republican effort targeted an upcoming vote in the state of Missouri that would codify abortion rights. Far more signatures were collected than needed to put a question on the August or November ballot, which spurred GOP fury.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, who is running for governor, said the abortion legalization measure will pass and help reduce or break the GOP supermajority.

This is something that Missourians want, because theyre tired of Republican overreach, Quade said.

Theyre tired of politicians in their doctors offices and telling them how to live their lives.

How futile was this session for Republicans?

Just 28 non-budget bills were passed in 2024. Only 31 bills passed in 2020 because the legislative session was upended by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The legislature did renew a more than $4 billion Medicaid program that had been blocked for months by the GOPs ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus. Its members withheld votes to pressure Republican leaders to pass a bill kicking Planned Parenthood off the states Medicaid program. That bill also passed and was signed by Gov. Mike Parson.
Roman Banks takes playing pop icon Michael Jackson seriously. Hes been playing the King of Pop in the touring production of MJ: the Musical since August, but still regularly goes back to his source material.

On a nightly basis, Ill probably watch any of (Jacksons) concerts or music videos, or maybe select interviews, Banks says. Theyre going to put me in the headspace of where his energy is at and allow me to replicate that on stage in the most authentic way.

MJ: The Musical features 37 of Jacksons greatest hits and follows him as he gets ready for the Dangerous Tour in 1992. An MTV Video crew is making a documentary about him, thus prompting Jackson to reminisce about his life.

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage wrote the book, while Christopher Wheeldon directed and choreographed the show, which re-creates Jacksons famous dance moves. Plus, designer Paul Tazewell faithfully reconstructed many of Jacksons iconic costumes.

For fans of Michael Jackson it might be a relief that almost none of Jacksons controversies (his nose, his fading skin color, the pedophilia charges) get talked about. The show is almost entirely focused on Jackson as a performer and artist, though it does touch on early abuse he suffered at the hands of his father.

This is Banks first touring production, and its been an adjustment for him.

Ive never had an experience like this. I think Im not inherently nomadic, the 25-year-old says with a laugh.

Banks has already starred on Broadway, appeared on TV and was in a livestreamed TikTok musical. Not bad considering Banks only really became interested in musicals after seeing Hamilton when he was a junior in high school.

I had never felt the way that piece of art made me feel. I wasnt a history fan. I wasnt really a musical theater fan, and all of the sudden, it made me interested in both because I felt like I had a part in it for the first time.

He went to college at Shenandoah Conservatory and, when he was a freshman, rode up to New York with a classmate for an open audition for Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway.

We waited in line for like three and a half hours and then go in and sing for 30 seconds, Banks says. Then we both got callbacks the next day.

Banks served as an understudy from 2018 to 2020 and became the first Black actor to play Evan Hansen. Jordan Fisher became the first full-time Black actor to play Evan Hansen in 2021.

After his Broadway debut, Banks tried his hand at television, appearing in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series season 2 as Howie.

It was really hard because it was the pandemic, Banks recalls. We were getting cotton swabs shoved up our noses every single day, and wearing masks. And because we were visiting from out of town, the cast was in a bubble. So it was hard to hang out with them and get to know people around me.

But he says he learned a lot about being on TV.

By this point, too, Banks had already encountered MJ: The Musical. He had auditioned for the role of Middle Michael, the actor who portrays Michael from the time he left the Jackson 5, the group he was in with his brothers as a boy, until he releases his Off the Wall album.

Banks got the part, but turned it down in favor of doing High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

When he heard about auditions for the touring production, he jumped at it, though it turned out to be a difficult audition process that included a boot camp with four other actors, according to People magazine.

Now though, Banks is the productions lead and says that replicating Jacksons dance moves is the hardest part.

I didnt grow up trained in dance, he says. I grew up dancing in my living room. So it was really hard to learn a lot of choreography and just the style of Michael in general because its so singular. But we have an incredible creative team that would not allow us to fail, and now Im able to do it six times a week.

Banks also has a favorite Jackson song, Man in the Mirror.

I think its a really profound message that change starts with yourself, Banks says. I dont think that song will every feel outdated because the message is so universal.

And watching videos of Jackson every night keeps Banks motivated. Its just a great way to check in and remember why Im doing what Im doing, and what people are expecting.

A previous version of this article incorrectly identified Shenandoah Conservatory. We sincerely regret the error.

If you go What: "MJ: The Musical" When: May 28-June 9; performance times vary Where: Fox, 527 North Grand Boulevard How much: $49-$179 More info: fabulousfox.com
Martha Valenta Art

Artist: Martha Valenta

Family: Martha is married to artist Tim Meehan. They live with a teacup Chihuahua named Mica. She has two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah Hoffer, and two stepsons, Declan and Darby Meehan, and one foster son, Kahari Aaten.

Age: 51

Home: Webster Groves

What she makes: Valenta is a multi-disciplinary artist who sketches her work digitally, then paints from the sketch, which she changes and adjusts as she paints. She is currently working with immersive art projects that engage the public.

Where to buy: Valenta sells her work through her gallery in Clayton, I Need That Art, which is open Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. She also sells through her artwork website, marthavalenta.com Her newest immersive one-day installation, "Lost & Found Meditation," will open to the public for two sessions on Oct. 11 at the St. Louis Art Museum.

How much: Archival prints start at $50, matted to 12-inches up to $250 for prints matted into a 22-inch frame. Original paintings range from $122 to $6,050. Admission to immersive experiences vary by the project.
BRIDGETON  Authorities on Thursday said they are seeing more illegal car meets like the one where a teen was shot and killed this past weekend. And the meetups, known as slide shows, are difficult for police to prevent.

Were seeing more of them, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell said at a news conference. Its concerning.

Slide shows have been around for decades, but theyve increased in popularity in recent years as organizers advertise them on social media.

Hundreds of people gather in empty parking lots or shut down intersections for the shows, where drivers drift, or slide, their high-performing vehicles in circles and burn their tires.

Passengers hang out of the vehicles, often Dodge Chargers or Challengers, while onlookers film on their phones or cameras. Videos of slide shows are then posted on YouTube, TikTok and other social media platforms and can garner hundreds of thousands of views.

The slide show in Bridgeton this past Saturday where 15-year-old Gerardo Perez was shot and killed began when more than 100 cars blocked the roadway near Highway 141 and Corporate Woods Drive. Police responded to a complaint of multiple cars driving recklessly. When they arrived, gunshots rang out.

Gerardo was shot in the head and died a few days later. He was in the back seat of truck when prosecutors say Garron Stevenson, 19, opened fire from a red Hyundai. Police said Thursday that five others were injured, including three others in the truck in which Gerardo was riding.

But the slide show didnt end when police broke it up. It just moved a few miles away to a lot in unincorporated north St. Louis County. Illegal activity continued there, said Sgt. Tracy Panus, spokesperson for St. Louis County police.

Bell, the county prosecutor, said at Thursdays news conference that its hard for authorities to intervene since the shows can be organized on social media.

Investigators with the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, Bridgeton Police Department, ATF and U.S. Marshals said they are still investigating the incident and asked the public to provide more information about the slide show this past weekend. But police declined to disclose what information they were looking for and whether others could face charges.

Nothing is off the table, said Bridgeton police Chief Mark Mossotti.

Meanwhile, they urged parents to talk to their children about the recklessness of such slide shows.

The front lines are the parents, Bell said.

When police interviewed Stevenson, he admitted to firing an AR-15 eight times, according to charging documents. A police dog with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms found the weapon hidden in a wall in Stevensons basement, authorities said.

He was charged with second-degree murder, three counts of assault, three counts of armed criminal action and one count of unlawful use of a weapon in the shooting. A 17-year-old was also charged in juvenile court with second-degree murder.

Gerardo lived in East St. Louis and was a freshman at Collinsville High School, according to a district spokesperson.
ST. LOUIS  Alderwoman Cara Spencer said Thursday she is running for mayor, setting up a rematch with the incumbent, Tishaura O. Jones, next year.

Spencer, who represents parts of downtown, Soulard and the near southeast side, announced her decision in an email to supporters Thursday morning blasting the status quo.

Everywhere we look, the city is failing to do its most basic jobs, she wrote in the email. Too many of the promises that were made three years ago havent been fulfilled. Thats why, after much encouragement, I have decided to run for mayor.

Jones acknowledged the news on Instagram, posting a screenshot of Spencers announcement and writing, Its official! I have an opponent! Later, in an interview, she called Spencers remarks cute.

Rosetta Okohson, Jones campaign manager, told the Post-Dispatch the mayor is looking forward to continuing to make this campaign about the voters, and continuing to make St. Louis safer, healthier and stronger.

In an interview, Spencer said, as mayor, she would make the city safer, get the basics right, and work to reverse the citys population decline.

She acknowledged recent decreases in crime statistics Jones touted in her reelection announcement last week. Police reported the fewest homicides in a decade in 2023. Car thefts and shootings, including juvenile shootings, fell significantly, too.

Thats great, Spencer said. But the people I talk to in our neighborhoods dont feel safer.

Reckless driving, she said, is out of control, and the city needs to do more about it.

After one of the most deadly years on the streets in recent memory in 2022, Jones and aldermen appropriated tens of millions of dollars to repave and remake city streets to make them safer. But construction isnt expected to begin in earnest until next year.

Spencer said she would start on the problem by fully staffing the police department to increase enforcement of traffic laws. Police have been increasing citations after a decline over the past decade: They issued 32,614 citations in 2023, the most since 2009.

But staffing at the department, like many around the country, has fallen precipitously during Jones tenure, from around 1,200 commissioned employees to roughly 910 as of the middle of this month.

Spencer said the citys mayor must fight that by working to build back trust between police and the community.

She said shell also work with the goal of reversing decades of population decline. The latest census estimates have St. Louis population at 281,754, a 6.6% drop from 2020.

The city cant accept that, she said. Population loss means a smaller tax base, which means less money for city services.

She noted that the citys trash commissioner recently told aldermen that the proposed budget for the upcoming year wont pay for enough truck drivers to pick up all the trash.

These things should be alarm bells for all of us, she said.

Spencer also disputed Jones comments last week describing St. Louis as a city in the middle of a renaissance.

We have a lot of challenges, she said, and putting our heads in the sand is no way to address these issues.

Spencer is planning a campaign kickoff party on June 4 at the old Post-Dispatch building on Tucker Boulevard downtown.

She previously ran for mayor in 2021, when she lost to Jones 52%-48%.
JEFFERSON CITY  A southeast Missouri businessmans plan to redevelop an ailing commercial district in his hometown is in line for $11 million in taxpayer funds after he hosted a fundraiser for one of the men in charge of writing the state budget.

For years, oil company owner Scott Blank has worked to improve a blighted area of Cape Girardeau, offering to help build a police substation in the neighborhood and cheerleading for a plan to jump-start an area known as the Haarig Commercial Historic District.

Current plans call for Southeast Missouri State University to partner with Blank and the city to revitalize the area.

This year, the $11 million outlay appeared as a new line-item in the proposed state budget following a fundraiser Blank hosted for Rep. Cody Smith, the chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee and a candidate for state treasurer.

The fundraiser, headlined by Blank and his wife, Lisa, was held March 14 at The Forge rental event center in Cape Girardeau. The most recent filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission show Smith netted an estimated $3,125 in contributions from the fundraiser from attendees that day, but none from Blank himself or his business, Bi-State Oil Co., which operates Southern Convenience stores.

Blank said there is no connection between the fundraiser and the budgeting process.

Its totally separate. Representative Smith does a very diligent job with budget requests. Those conversations never took place between the two of us, Blank told the Post-Dispatch.

Smith, R-Carthage, did not respond to requests for comment. He is term-limited in the House and attempting to oust incumbent Treasurer Vivek Malek, a political newcomer who was appointed to the position last year by Gov. Mike Parson and leads in the fundraising race.

Also running in the Aug. 3 Republican primary is Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester; Springfield attorney Lori Rook; Tina Goodrick, of St. Joseph; and Karan Pujji, of Berkeley.

Mark Osmack is the lone Democrat seeking the $110,000 per year post. He made an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2018.

If Parson signs off on the $51 billion spending plan next month, the money for the Haarig project would help renovate buildings, improve the streetscape and build student housing.

Its a phenomenal project, said Cape Girardeau City Manager Kenneth Haskin Wednesday. Were excited about the potential there. Its an area thats been left behind.

The city currently is working to open a police substation in the neighborhood, an idea floated by Blank in 2021. Groundbreaking is two months away.

Thats going to help the university thrive, but its also going to give businesses and citizens the security in knowing that this area will be safe, Blank said.

The district is located six blocks southwest of the citys downtown commercial center along the Mississippi River and is composed of 14 buildings constructed between 1875 and 1935, historical records show.

Weve seen it during its heyday when it was a thriving commercial market. And weve sadly watched its decline, Blank said.

Plans call for SEMO to expand its music and arts programs in the buildings, Haskin said. Officials also are counting on new restaurants and retail establishments coming to the city of 40,000 residents.

Nearby communities of Sikeston, Jackson and those across the Mississippi River in Illinois also could benefit.

We are very excited about the possibilities, Haskin said. We are kind of the hub in southeast Missouri.

Editors note: An earlier version spelled the city managers surname incorrectly.
ST. CHARLES COUNTY  Opponents here are organizing to block a plan that could close three of the countys 11 library branches.

They have rallied at public library board meetings, launched online groups, and are encouraging each other to visit the at-risk locations and prove the libraries are necessary.

We want to encourage patrons to check out books, attend programs, get to know the staff and overall increase the door count numbers, one Facebook group said in its mission statement. Something physical to show the board how much we value these branches.

Another Facebook group already has more than 5,200 members. The two groups are together encouraging people to wear red whenever visiting the library districts branches and to stand outside the buildings, holding signs in support of the libraries.

And supporters also turned up en masse in the audience at Tuesdays board meeting, as they had Friday night when the plan was unveiled. Each drew about 200 people.

Theyve been mobilized by a plan from St. Charles City-County Library District CEO Jason Kuhl to close the McClay, Deer Run and Kisker Road branches, lay off 39 employees and leave 25 vacancies unfilled.

The plan is necessary, he said, to deal with financial problems caused in part by increased costs of electronic books and streaming sites increasingly used by district patrons.

So far, the opponents have succeeded in getting the board to delay a decision for 30 days. And at the meeting Tuesday, board president Staci Alvarez said its possible that a decision could be held off longer than that. We will take as long as necessary to make the right decision thats best for the district, she said.

Another board member, Josiah Schmidt, said we did not accurately gauge the extent to which our patrons need physical space (libraries) in their neighborhoods.

I feel like we were all blindsided by this a few days ago, said Angie Quigley, one of the speakers at the rally outside the Middendorf-Kredell branch in OFallon before the districts board meeting Tuesday night. Everybody is here because we all love the library. ... People are noticing. Its making a difference.

Quigley, 42, lives in an unincorporated area near the McClay branch in St. Charles, one of the three that would be permanently closed.

At the rally Tuesday, protesters carried signs with messages such as Please Dont Take My Library and Please Leave Our Libraries Open.

St. Peters resident Bridget Jones and her daughter Brooklyn, 10, attended the board meeting Tuesday. Brooklyn said she loves going to the library. And, she said, shes read more than 1.7 million words this school year, a feat she and her mom credit to checking out library books.

As a mom, it makes your heart want to burst because of how she is so excited about reading. I was a reader when I was a kid, and as a parent, I wanted to instill that in my own kids. But I attribute their love of reading to the local library, said Jones, in an interview.

Some supporters have proposed putting more limits on streaming services or maybe asking voters to approve a property tax increase for the library. Kuhl said last week that surveys indicate a tax hike would not have enough support to pass.

In 2023, the library districts payroll was $9.3 million, according to public records requested for the Post-Dispatchs Public Pay Database. The district had 314 employees, with an average salary of $29,727; Kuhl, the director, was the highest paid at $163,090 last year.

Several elected officials attended the Tuesday rally or board meeting or both and indicated they opposed the closure plan.

Among them were Adam Bertrand, the Francis Howell School Board president; County Councilman Dave Hammond, R-OFallon; two OFallon City Council members, Debbie Cook and Linda Ragsdale; and State Rep. Tony Lovasco, R-St. Charles County.

OFallon City Council Member Ron Epps, who represents the citys first ward, said he has had a number of constituents reach out to him.

Personally, I believe, this is a tragic idea that they came up with to just close branches. It would leave a huge hole in north OFallon, Epps told the Post-Dispatch.

Brooklyn, the fourth-grader, wrote a short story about a girl who grew up visiting the Kisker Road library branch, only to learn it was closed. She presented the story to the library administration.

I think it is amazing that people are standing up and sharing what the library means to them, Bridget Jones said. My daughter learned firsthand how to be an engaged citizen.
How is it that a word as haunting as genocide can be bandied about so carelessly by pro-Palestinian protesters?

According to the 1948 U.N. Genocide Convention, genocide is a crime committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. Based on this definition, it is Hamas that has unabashedly promoted a well-articulated genocidal ideology  detailed in its 1988 Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement  to eradicate Israel (a national group) and the Jews (a religious group).

That Israel, in turn, has no intention of committing genocide against Palestinians is undeniable. In fact, more than 20 percent of Israels citizenry are Israeli Arabs who often identify themselves as Palestinian by nationality and Israeli by citizenship.

And Israel certainly bears no ill will towards Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, Kurdistan, Syria or Transjordan, the countries from which Palestinians originated. Israel simply wants the existential threat posed by Hamas and its supporters in Gaza and the West Bank to finally end.

If we are going to identify and combat the heinous crime of genocide, we must be vigilant in correctly defining and applying this word. The Ottomans tried to wipe out the entire Armenian Christian community during World War I; Nazi Germany tried to annihilate all Jews during World War II; Iran, Syria, Turkey, and Iraq have tried to purge their region of every Kurd; and China is presently determined to totally eradicate its 11 million Muslim Uyghur community through enslavement and re-education camps.

Unlike in these instances, Israel will fight back against its genocidal enemies, whether it is Iran or its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah. And, it will continue to do so in a way that achieves the lowest noncombatant casualty rate relative to previous urban wars. Unlike Hamas, Israel and people of good will across the globe value life.

Hamas must be held accountable for continuing to pursue its genocidal ideology by firing rockets from Rafah into Israeli communities and playgrounds; shooting mortars at the floating humanitarian aid pier and at Israeli aid crossings; and, most importantly, refusing to release civilian hostages. These actions only add to the destruction and despair in Gaza.

The time has come for protesters to recognize that it is Hamas that poses the true genocidal threat to Palestinians and Israelis alike.

Susan K. Feigenbaum, Ph.D.

Curators Distinguished Professor Emeritus

& Founders Professor

Department of Economics

University of Missouri/St. Louis
The Coast Guard Academy Class of 2024 celebrates on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at graduation ceremonies in New London, Conn. (U.S. Coast Guard Academy)

NEW LONDON, Conn. (Tribune News Service)  As the minutes ticked down on Cadet Memorial Field on Wednesday to the moment when 225 U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadets would become newly minted officers, the Class of 2024 was reminded of the awesome responsibilities that lie ahead.

Some of the ensigns will cruise aboard icebreakers or drug-interdiction vessels while their classmates will attend flight school or head to far-flung ports to assist in the aftermath of natural disasters. Still others will prepare to respond to environmental accidents.

But academy Provost Amy Donahue defined the cadets new duties in simpler terms.

You are going to save the world, she said.

The 143rd commencement featured the pomp and ceremony expected of a military academy graduation, complete with the intonation of oaths of office and a flyover by a pair of Coast Guard helicopters as the new officers launched their white covers into the air.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the keynote speaker, noted the class arrived at the New London campus while the COVID-19 pandemic  and all its related restrictions  was still in full bloom.

He said the challenges of isolation and hybrid classes had a profound impact on a group of young cadets already entering an unfamiliar environment.

Perhaps you are the most tested and resilient of the 142 classes that came before you, Mayorkas said. You have proven yourselves ready for what tomorrow might bring and to shoulder the tremendous responsibilities that you will soon have.

Announcing he was digressing from his prepared remarks, Mayorkas conceded he did not remember a single thing anyone said at his college or law school graduations.

The Coast Guard, unlike other military branches, falls under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security.

The ceremony marked the first for Rear Adm. Michael Johnston as the academy superintendent. Johnston, too, praised the toughness and adaptability shown by his cadets during their first year.

Despite the rest of the world being on lock-down, you showed up on July 8, 2020, referencing the first day of the schools swab summer induction.

Johnston said the cadets were preparing to enter the fleet at a critical time, one that required intelligent, competent and energized leaders.

Remember, this is a team sport, he said. And continue to take care of each other.

The graduating class included five international students. The class boasted the highest percentage  41.2%  of female graduates and both the highest percentage and highest number, 13, of Asian female graduates.

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan recalled a day 39 years ago as a young cadet sitting and waiting to be commissioned as feelings of excitement, trepidation and pride washed over her.

Theres never been a better time to be an officer, Fagan said. Youre embarking on a truly noble calling of service to the American people.

Fagan reminded cadets theyd been well prepared for the challenges facing them and urged them to embody the Coast Guards core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty, as well as the concepts of compassion and trust.

As Mystic, Conn., resident Derek Raymond, 22, walked off the graduation field as a newly commissioned officer, he recalled the somewhat diagonal path that led him to the academy four years ago.

Originally, I wanted to go to the Air Force or Naval Academy and fly fighter jets, but I was too tall, the 6-foot, 6-inch mechanical engineering major said. Coming here, I knew I wanted to be on a ship, but not for as long as the Navy goes out for, and I liked the Coast Guards humanitarian mission.

Raymond said the first academy year was marked by social distancing restrictions  cadets couldnt enter each others rooms  that later eased. Once forays outside the academys gates were allowed, Raymonds familiarity with the region made him a popular resource for his transplanted classmates.

I got asked a lot for restaurant recommendations, said Raymond whose been assigned to the Coast Guard cutter Forward in Portsmouth, Va. Ill relax for a few days and then head down and get settled in Virginia. Then, Im going to Disney World.

j.penney@theday.com

(c)2024 The Day (New London, Conn.)

Visit at www.theday.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
An MH-65 duty crew from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami station conducted a conducted an evacuation in the Bahamas. (U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami/Facebook)

(Tribune News Service)  A sailboat hauling cargo from Colombia destined for Europe sank in heavy weather off the Bahamas this week, and the Coast Guard said Thursday that it has ended its search for two missing crew members.

The 90-foot schooner De Gallant encountered a passing storm about 20 miles north of Great Inagua, the southernmost island in the Bahamas, Tuesday morning, and the eight-member crew abandoned ship when the vessel began taking on water and going under, according to a Coast Guard statement.

After receiving the distress call, the Coast Guard was unable to make contact with the crew. The maritime service received signals from personal locator beacons and launched a MH-60 Jayhawk to the area to search for survivors.

Around 8 a.m. Tuesday, the chopper crew spotted two life rafts floating amid a field of debris, the Coast Guard said. On the rafts were six French nationals. They were hoisted aboard the helicopter and flown to Coast Guard Air Station Miami in Opa-Locka and are in good health, the agency said.

Two women from the De Gallant remained missing, however.

The Coast Guard and Royal Bahamas Defense Force conducted a 3,700-square-mile search for the women using planes, helicopters and ships over the ensuing two days, but did not locate them, the agency said Thursday.

It is with heavy hearts we offer our sincere condolences to the families and crew that lost these two mariners, Cmdr. Lindsey Seniuk, Coast Guard Seventh District command center search and rescue mission coordinator, said in a statement.

When we send our rescue crews out, it is with great hope we can bring people home safely, which is why suspending this case is one of the hardest decisions our personnel make, Seniuk said. We are grateful we were able to bring home the six survivors and thankful for the assistance of our partners in the Royal Bahamas Defense Force.

The De Gallant sailed under the flag of Vanuatu, an island nation in South Pacific, but is owned by the Blue Schooner Company, a French cargo firm.

According to a statement on the companys website, the De Gallant was shipping coffee, cocoa and sugar cane from Santa Marta, Colombia, to various locations in Europe. It set sail Saturday, May 11, the company said.

2024 Miami Herald.

Visit miamiherald.com .
The Dutch frigate HNLMS Tromp, top, trains with the littoral combat ship USS Mobile and the dry cargo ship USNS Wally Schirra in the South China Sea, May 22, 2024. (U.S. Navy)

A pair of U.S. Navy ships took advantage of a rare chance to train alongside a Dutch vessel this week in the South China Sea, according to U.S. 7th Fleet.

The littoral combat ship USS Mobile, the dry cargo ship USNS Wally Schirra and the Dutch frigate HNLMS Tromp focused on maneuvers, communications and routine bilateral surface operations, fleet spokeswoman Lt. Jamie Moroney told Stars and Stripes by email Thursday.

She declined to say exactly where the training took place, citing operational security concerns.

The Netherlands is one of our oldest, continuous bilateral relationships, stemming from the 18th century, Capt. Sean Lewis, commander of Destroyer Squadron 7, said Wednesday in a 7th Fleet news release. I look forward to any opportunity to work together with partners and allies, especially at sea.

While Dutch warships regularly work alongside the United States, their presence in the Indo-Pacific is less frequent. Moroney couldnt immediately verify when a Dutch warship last operated with 7th Fleet.

In 2021, the Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen joined the British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeths strike group in the Philippine Sea for drills alongside the carriers USS Ronald Reagan and USS Carl Vinson.

A Netherlands navy spokesperson did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment Thursday.

Were fortunate to work together with allies and to have them provide replenishment to us. Operating together fortifies our existing relationship with our partners from the U.S., the Tromps skipper, Cmdr. Yvonne van Beusekom, said in 7th Fleets release. We look to continue coordination between our nations to promote regional peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Tromp embarked March 9 on a six-month mission dubbed Pacific Archer. The mission provides essential experience in operations, maintenance and logistics and demonstrates the Dutch navys ability to operate independently worldwide for an extended period, according to a March 7 report from the Curacao Chronicle.

Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanke Bruins Slot announced in October that a Dutch frigate would sail in the South China Sea this year, the Philippine News Agency reported Oct. 30.

Wednesdays training occurred the day before China launched a series of exercises around Taiwan in response to the inauguration of the islands new president, Lai Ching-te, on Monday.

The U.S.-Dutch drill was not in response to any specific event and was a routine integration between the U.S. and an ally, Moroney said.

The ships did not encounter other military forces, she added.
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro attends National Maritime Day to honor the U.S. Merchant Marine on May 22, 2024. (William Bennett/U.S. Navy)

The USS Richard J. Danzig (DDG 143) and the USS Michael G. Mullen (DDG 144) will be the names of the next two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers.

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro made the announcement Wednesday during a ceremony for U.S. Naval Academy Commencement Week, the Navy announced.

Secretary Danzig and Admiral Mullen were visionary leaders in the mold of the greatest naval leaders that came before. Together they have nearly 100 years of service, Del Toro said. Both Secretary Danzig and Adm. Mullen worked tirelessly to ensure our sailors and Marines had the resources, technologies and capabilities to set them up for success. I am proud to honor them with these new DDGs.

Mullen, who commissioned into the Navy in 1968, had a long and distinguished career.

He first deployed aboard the USS Collett for operations off the coast of Vietnam as part of U.S. Seventh Fleet. His command tours include the USS Noxubee, USS Goldsboro, USS Yorktown, Cruiser-Destroyer Group 2 with concurrent duties as commander of the USS George Washington Aircraft Carrier Battle Group, U.S. Second Fleet with concurrent command of NATO Striking Fleet Atlantic, and U.S. Naval Forces, Europe with concurrent command of Allied Joint Force Command located in Naples, Italy.

Mullen also served as Chief of Naval Operations and the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2007-2011).

Mullen was chairman of the Joint Chiefs in 2010 when the Navy announced it would begin including women in the submarine community. He was part of the push to make that happen.

This is an honor of a lifetime, and one I certainly never expected, Mullen said in a statement. It says so much about the Navy that I love, and it represents most of my life at sea. So, along with my wife, Deborah, and my family, this is just something that is so very, very special.

Danzig served as the 71st secretary of the Navy (1993-1997). During his tenure, according to the Navy statement, he focused on four areas:

 Ridding the services of a conscript mentality by treating sailors and Marines as skilled workers and supporting them with new capital investments and personnel systems.

 Achieving better synergy between the Navy and Marine Corps.

 Strengthening the ability of the sea services to influence events ashore,

 Embracing new technologies to better achieve those goals.

This is such a wonderful honor. Its certainly a wonderful and touching thing, Danzig said. What is most important to me is that this provides a connection among all of the Sailors who will be on this ship.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, built around the Aegis Combat System, are the backbone of the the surface fleet, according to the Navy. They are multi-mission destroyers able to conduct anti-aircraft warfare with Aegis and surface-to-air missiles; tactical land strikes with Tomahawk missiles; anti-submarine warfare with towed array sonar, anti-submarine rockets and ASW helicopters; and anti-surface warfare with ship-to-ship missiles and guns.
Earl Seibert died July 27, 1942, at the Cabanatuan POW Camp 1, where more than 2,500 POWs died during the war. On Saturday, May 25, 2024, Seibert finally will be laid to rest in his hometown, with full military honors. His remains were identified late last year, thanks to ongoing efforts to recover and identify the remains of more than 80,000 missing U.S. service members. (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency)

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (Tribune News Service)  In 1941, Earl Seibert of Allentown joined the 803rd Engineer Battalion.

He was eager to serve, and he was soon sent to the Philippines, where he would work to lengthen airfields for incoming planes and other aircraft.

Less than a year after he enlisted, Japanese forces invaded. Seibert, an Allentown High School graduate, and his battalion were captured and subjected to a 65-mile march, known today as the Bataan Death March.

He died on July 27, 1942, at the Cabanatuan POW Camp 1, where more than 2,500 POWs died during the war. He was 23 years old. His family was notified in August 1945 that Seibert had died of diptheria at the camp, according to Morning Call reporting.

It would be nearly 80 years, however, before Seiberts family would find closure.

On Saturday, Seibert finally will be laid to rest in his hometown, with full military honors. His remains were identified late last year, thanks to ongoing efforts to recover and identify the remains of more than 80,000 missing U.S. servicemen and women.

A familys tragedy

Seibert, who was a mechanic, grew up in Allentown and was the second oldest of 10 children. Like some of his family before him, Seibert wanted to serve in the military.

An injury from a bike accident, however, prevented him from being able to serve in a combat unit. When the 803rd Engineer Battalion was created, Seibert, who was qualified to join that unit, jumped at the opportunity. He and six of his friends, all from the area, joined up.

Any money he earned he had sent home to his family.

It wasnt just a sacrifice for our country, said his niece, Ginny Lee Henry. He did it for his family, too.

Henry never knew her uncle, but she grew up close to some of her mothers younger siblings, and to her grandparents, who spent many years contacting the military to try and get their sons remains returned to them. Seiberts mother contacted the military about it as late as the 1980s, roughly 40 years after his death.

Seiberts parents knew he was missing and presumed dead; he was among U.S. and Filipino service members who had surrendered to the Japanese after months of fighting that began in December 1941, hours after the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor.

He was buried along with others in a common grave at the Cabanatuan Camp Cemetery. After the war, the American Graves Registration Service exhumed those buried in the common grave and relocated the remains to a temporary U.S. military mausoleum near Manila. Only three personnel were able to immediately be identified.

Over the years, Seiberts parents put out pleas to the public and the military to find out what happened to their son, and have him brought back to Allentown.

While the military was able to confirm that Seibert had died, the exact location of his remains were unknown until just last year.

Henrys grandmother, before she died, gave her a gold star necklace with Seiberts photo attached. Henry kept the search for Seibert going years later.

In 2017, she learned about The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), whose mission is to account for missing personnel in the country.

Not long after, Henry donated her blood to see if it could be used to identify Seibert later. Seiberts youngest sibling, as well as a cousin, donated blood, too.

Finally, the wait is over

The family assumed it would be held for years until they could identify remains. So the news last August that he had been found was something of a surprise for Henry, who was one of three relatives who donated DNA samples to help identify him.

None of us ever thought this was going to happen, she said.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, or DPAA, helped identify the remains.

The DPAA has helped in identifying the remains of 1,045 United States service members from various wars, starting with World War II. During the fiscal 2023 year, the organization identified 158, according to spokesperson Sean Everette.

As of earlier this month, the organization has identified 69 service members just this year.

Everette said 81,000 service members have not been recovered. The majority of them, about 71,000, are from World War II alone, Everette said. The reason for that, he said, is because of the size of the conflict, which spanned all over Europe and the Pacific.

World War II was just huge, he said.

The ability to recover service members was not as robust back then as it is now, Everette said.

The DPAA partners with the armed forces DNA lab and forensic anthropologists to identify remains. Once an identification is made, the specific part of the service that the member was part of will contact the family about the identification.

Finding remains and identifying them brings closure to families, some of whom, like Henrys, have been waiting decades to find out where their loved one was. These families have actively kept tabs on the situation, Everette said, noting that a lot of them were not alive when the service member was.

There is generational grief that has carried through these families because of the family members who were missing in these cases, he said.

Stories from their families about the missing person existed throughout the decades, Everette said.

It does leave a hole in some of these families, he said.

When someone signs up for the service, they swear to protect the country, and the country makes a promise to never leave them behind, Everett said.

We havent forgotten them and forgotten that promise, he said.

Their efforts were not lost on Henry, who saw her grandparents attempts to find out where their son was over a period of decades.

They thought he was never coming back, Henry said of her grandparents.

These are the stories that the DPAA have been seeing over the years. Henry said she believes that Seiberts story can help inspire other people in her familys situation to not give up hope.

In the months since his identification, Seibert has received a number of commendations for his service. The medals include a Purple Heart for the injuries he suffered during the war and a Bronze Star for ground combat between Dec. 8, 1941, and May 6, 1942.

It was shocking that he got all these medals, Henry said.

Seiberts funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Jordan United Church of Christ, 1837 Church Road, Allentown. Friends and family may call from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Entombment will be at the Grandview Mausoleum, with military honors, according to Stephens Funeral Home, which is handling arrangements.

2024 The Morning Call.

Visit mcall.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Rep. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) greets one of the 400-some relatives in his ancestral village of Yokoyama, Japan. The Hawaiian congressman met many of the 2,200 villagers of Yokoyama  some 400 of whom are named Inouye. (Frank Ermence/Stars and Stripes)

This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Oct. 05, 1960. It is republished unedited in its original form.

FUKUOKA, Japan  Rep. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) Sunday visited the mountain village of Yokoyama  the birthplace of his father and where some of his uncles and cousins still live.

The Hawaiian congressman met many of the 2,200 villagers of Yokoyama  some 400 of whom are named Inouye.

During his 3-hour tour, he visited his ancestral cemetery, where he prayed before the grave of his great-grandfather.

Rep. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) admires the Samurai sword gifted to him by Yokoyamas villagers. Congressman Inouye visited the mountain village of Yokoyama  the birthplace of his father and where some of his uncles and cousins still live. During his 3-hour tour, he visited his ancestral cemetery and had lunch with some of his relatives, during which he received the sword. (Frank Ermence/Stars and Stripes)

Rep. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii)  surrounded by Yokoyama villagers and children  listens as one of the villagers addresses him. (Frank Ermence/Stars and Stripes)

Rep. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) visited the mountain village of Yokoyama  the birthplace of his father and where some of his uncles and cousins still live, Oct. 2, 1960. The Hawaiian congressman met many of the 2,200 villagers of Yokoyama  some 400 of whom are named Inouye. Several relatives and some villagers joined the Congressman for a stroll through the village. (Frank Ermence/Stars and Stripes)

Marine pilot Klingman (left) helps Rep. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) climb out of a F9F8T jet trainer at Itazuke Air Base. Staff Sgt. Robert L. Bingham, 6143rd Operations Squadron, assists. Congressman Inouye came to Japan to visit visited the mountain village of Yokoyama  the birthplace of his father and where some of his uncles and cousins still live. Rep. Inouye is the first Japanese American to serve in Congress. (Frank Ermence/Stars and Stripes)

Inouye had lunch with a group of relatives during which he received a Japanese sword from members of the village assembly and a painting to mark his visit to Yokoyama.

Inouye was unaware of the news from Honolulu during his Yokoyama visit that he had been renominated Saturday [Oct. 1, 1960] to run as a Democratic congressional nominee.

Inouye, who returned to Tokyo Sunday [Oct. 2, 1960], is attending the 49th Inter-Parliamentary Union conference in the Japanese capital.
(Frank Ermence/Stars and Stripes)

Yokoyama, Japan, Oct. 2, 1960: Rep. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) bows in prayer at his great-grandfathers grave in his ancestral village of Yokoyama, Japan. Inouye, a Medal of Honor recipient, came to Japan to visit visited the mountain village of Yokoyama  the birthplace of his father and where some of his uncles and cousins still live. The Hawaiian congressman met many of the 2,200 villagers of Yokoyama  some 400 of whom are named Inouye. During his 3-hour tour, he visited his ancestral cemetery and had lunch with his relatives. He discovered the tombstone bearing the family crest when visiting the cemetery.

Read the article and see additional photographs of the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouyes visit to his paternal home here.
The Adlerbogen is an iconic spot on the Donnersberg near Dannenfels, Germany. The monument honors Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke and was built in 1880. Allied Forces destroyed the eagle on the top in 1945, and it was restored in 1981. In 2016, the entire structure was restored. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Anyone driving north of Kaiserslautern has seen the Donnersberg, or Thunder Mountain, even though they might not realize it.

Signage on the A63 autobahn doesnt allude much to the mountain, which looks more like a huge hill and is easily distinguishable thanks to its signature TV tower. Reaching an elevation of 2,254 feet above sea level, its the highest point in the Pfalz.

Living just a handful of miles away, I see the mountain every day and almost feel as if it has been taunting me to explore.

Still, it took me 17 months to build up the courage and the stamina to hike up the mountain, which often is enveloped in clouds during inclement weather and surrounded by a haze during the warmest days.

A buddy and I chose a mid-spring Sunday when, despite a slight chance of light rain, the views wouldnt be affected. We started our trek from a parking area just south of the town of Dannenfels, nestled on the east face of the Donnersberg.

Two things immediately stuck out. The first was how well-marked most trails are. The second was I didnt prepare enough for the incline. But still, I carried on.

This photo shows the Donnersberg from a distance east of the mountain on a bike path north of Marnheim, Germany. The highest point in the Pfalz region, the Donnersberg can be seen west of autobahn A63 heading north of Kaiserslautern. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes) Hikers traverse a narrow path on the Donnersberg near Dannenfels, Germany, on April 28, 2024. The mountain is a popular recreation destination in the Pfalz. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes) A cyclist rides toward the top of the Donnersberg near Dannenfels, Germany, on April 28, 2024. Gravel is among the trail surfaces hikers and cyclists traverse on the Donnersberg. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

And Im glad I did. The three-hour-long, 5-plus-mile adventure was a breath of fresh air, and when we got to the top, the views were worth it.

On the east side sits the Adlerbogen, a monument built in 1880 commemorating Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke, celebrated for his prowess in the Prussian army during the Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian wars.

From there, you can see miles and miles, which on that day included so many golden fields of rapeseed plants, as well as my village, which looked the size of a postage stamp.

The Adlerbogen also has an American connection. In 1945, before the end of World War II, U.S. troops shot down the eagle that sits atop the structure. A restoration in 1981 returned the bird to its perch.

In addition, the Donnersberg once hosted the largest U.S. radio station in Western Europe. The station was a primary hub for U.S. military communications from after World War II until its close in 2011.

I may have walked by the old station on the half-mile stretch between the Ludwigsturm and the Konigstuhl, or Kings chair, a rock formation. Composed of rhyolite, a silica-rich volcanic rock, it is on the west side of the mountain and marks the summit.

There, many hikers took a break, sitting down and staring into the distance or reenergizing with a snack.

Hikers climb up the Konigsstuhl on April 28, 2024. Composed of rhyolite, a silicia-rich volcanic rock, it sits at an elevation of 2,254 feet, making it the highest point in the Pfalz region of Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes) The Ludwigsturm, or Ludwig's Tower, rises from the Donnersberg near Dannenfels, Germany. The structure stands 88.5 feet tall and has a kiosk next to it that sells refreshments for hikers. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes) This view from the Donnersberg near Dannenfels, Germany, shows the landscape to the east. Donnersberg means "Thunder Mountain." (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes) A pair of hikers walk along a path on the Donnersberg near Dannenfels, Germany, on April 28, 2024. The summit of the mountain is the highest point in the Pfalz region. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Still, the best part was getting lost in the woods. The Donnersberg has 5,830.5 acres of land, and people can traverse the numerous paths.

The terrain of the paths varies, with some being more wild than others. Most were well-kept, be it gravel, a natural footpath or even paved road. We also encountered mountain biking paths, which were narrower and muddier than the rest.

Climbing the Konigstuhl can be dicey, as I discovered while watching an older man struggle coming down, even with the aid of a pair of trekking poles.

I suggest wearing the right footwear and not just any pair of sneakers. Boots are the best option, but my trail runners did the trick.

My friend and I also came across paths not marked on maps, shortcuts as a person from the area described to us, as we were lost trying to get back to the car at the end. She gave us directions, going well above and beyond the usual German hallo to passers-by.

There is homage to ancient history on the mountain as well. The Celtic Sculpture Path goes for over 4 miles and features various replicas of Celtic structures, harkening back to a Donnersberg settlement from more than 2,000 years ago.

Overall, its a great place to spend a couple of hours in nature. And if you arent into hiking uphill, no worries; you can start near the top by driving to a parking lot near the Ludwigsturm and still get in some miles on a much flatter landscape.

This sculpture, titled "Wild Boar," was made by Klaus Hunsicker and sits on the Celtic Sculpture Path on the Donnersberg near Dannenfels, Germany. The path stretches 4.35 miles from Steinbach to the Donnersberg, consists of 13 pieces of art and pays homage to the Celtic settlement on the mountain thousands of years ago. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Donnersberg

Where: Dannenfels, Germany

Directions: From Kaiserslautern, take the A63 north to the Gollheim exit, take the L397 west into Dannenfels. To drive to the top, continue to Mittelstrasse and Bastenhausenstrasse before turning into L394. After a mile, take the third exit on the roundabout onto the K82. Parking is available after driving 1.5 miles.

Information: www.donnersberg-touristik.de
Nomura Hanabi Kougyou's fireworks are made by hand of tiny lumps of powder called hoshi, or stars, that scatter light in all directions. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

With summer approaching, its time to anticipate another season of cultural festivals in Japan, and the exciting displays of hanabi, or fireworks, that accompany them.

Fireworks have been a big part of Japanese culture for centuries. At the forefront of many of those displays is Nomura Hanabi Kougyou, of Mito city in Ibaraki prefecture, which provides the firepower for about 40 events each year.

Only fireworks can gather thousands of people at once, company president Yoichi Nomura told Stars and Stripes during a recent tour of his operations. They can move you and soothe you.

The company is constantly innovating, coming up with new ways to improve its firework shows, Nomura said. Innovation is a challenge.

Its not easy to come up with new ideas for fireworks, he said. That is one of the reasons why we want new, young people, to come up with new ideas.

Nomura Hanabi Kougyou's fireworks are made by hand of tiny lumps of powder called hoshi, or stars, that scatter light in all directions. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes) Nomura Hanabi Kougyou has been lighting up the night sky since 1875; its fireworks displays have earned an award from the prime minister 21 times. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

Nomura is the fourth-generation president of Nomura Hanabi Kougyou, where firework-making skills were passed down to him.

His fireworks are made by hand of tiny lumps of powder called hoshi, or stars, that scatter light in all directions. The hoshi are lined up, side by side, inside concentric bowls made of paper.

The oldest fireworks festival on record in Japan was in 1733, organized by Yoshimune Tokugawa, the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. It was organized to comfort the spirits of the Kyoho famine and cholera outbreak victims, according to Fujita Kanko, a Japanese tourism company.

Nomura Hanabi Kougyou, of Mito city in Ibaraki prefecture, provides fireworks for about 40 events in Japan each year. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

Nomura Hanabi Kougyou has been lighting up the night sky since 1875; its fireworks displays have earned awards from the Japanese prime minister 21 times.

Some festivals they provide fireworks for are the Mito Kairakuen fireworks festival, an annual event held in late July in Mito that attracts thousands of visitors; the annual Tokai Festival Fireworks and the Hitachinaka Fireworks Festival, a two-day summer festival held in Ibaraki prefecture that features more than 3,000 fireworks set to music.
The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft of Singapore Airlines, is parked after the SQ321 London-Singapore flight, that encountered severe turbulence, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, near Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The Singapore Airlines flight descended 6,000 feet (around 1,800 meters) in about three minutes, the carrier said Tuesday. A British man died and authorities said dozens of passengers were injured, some severely. (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Tens of thousands of flights take off and land without incident every day, all around the world. So when something tragic does happen, the worlds eyes become glued to the story  especially if it reveals the deadly side of an extremely common flight experience.

One man was killed and many others injured when a Singapore Airlines flight encountered severe turbulence en route to Singapore from London on Tuesday. The airplane, a Boeing 777-300 ER, had to make an emergency landing in Bangkok. The deceased had a heart condition, which officials think may be behind his death.

We dont yet know exactly what caused the agitated air currents, and an investigation is underway. Its currently the monsoon season in Southeast Asia, and the resulting stormy skies may have contributed to the turbulence experienced by the plane. But wed be foolish to ignore the role that the climate crisis is playing in making air travel choppier.

Most commonly caused by mountains, storms and jet streams, turbulence can be described simply as rough air. At its mildest, an aircraft may only experience slight erratic changes in altitude, but at the severe end, turbulence can cause large abrupt changes in altitude and angle of the plane. Extreme turbulence could even cause structural damage to the body of the aircraft, though modern planes are built to withstand a lot.

In the case of mountains and storms, rough air is fairly easy to avoid, but its possible to bump into turbulence where there are no clouds in sight. This clear-air turbulence (CAT) is impossible to see or predict, and yet can cause damage to aircraft and harm those inside. These sudden unexpected jolts are the most dangerous as they can occur while passengers and staff are moving around. In April, a man broke his leg as he returned from the toilet when an Air New Zealand flight to Auckland from Bali hit some turbulence and suddenly dropped. It therefore is the sort of thing that might keep a pilot up at night  and its been getting worse.

As our planets atmosphere warms, wind shears  variations in wind direction or speed  within jet streams are increasing and therefore strengthening clear-air turbulence. A 2023 study from researchers at the University of Reading showed that in the past 40 years, severe clear-air turbulence increased to 27.4 hours in 2020 from 17.7 hours in 1979 for an average point over the North Atlantic.

Last year, I wrote about all the ways in which the need to decarbonize flying was going to make air travel more expensive. But its clear large investments are needed to help aviation cope with the meteorological effects of climate change too.

Aircraft are designed to withstand the worst that turbulence might throw at them. But as researchers point out in a 2017 study, many of the aircraft that will be flying in the second half of the century are currently being designed, so work ought to done to determine whether projections for turbulence necessitate any design or operational changes. A 2021 report from the National Transportation Safety Board made 24 recommendations aimed at reducing the incidence of turbulence accidents and associated injuries, including having flight attendants  who are seriously injured more often than passengers  be seated and belted earlier during the descent phase.

More significant investments should also be made into remote sensing of CAT and improved forecasts. On the detection front, theres promise being found in updated radar systems, including laser-based radar (also known as lidar), as well as a new type of infrasound microphone developed by NASA.

Any investments will be worth it for the safety and comfort of passengers alone, but aviation executives will also be happy to know that the investments could lead to savings  or at least stop potential losses escalating. After all, turbulence isnt cheap. The cost of choppy air to U.S. airlines is estimated to be as much as $500 million annually, thanks to injuries, aircraft damage and flight delays, according to the National Center for Atmospheric Research. That will only shoot up as severe turbulence increases.

In a way, aviation is its own worst enemy: What it contributes in greenhouse gas emissions, it gets back in heightened dangers, costs and difficulties. The industry  and its passengers  will need to buckle up.

Lara Williams is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering climate change. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.
The burn pit at Balad Air Base, Iraq, in 2008. Long deployments to military bases with open-air burn pits put veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan at higher risk for certain respiratory ailments. (Stars and Stripes)

Memorial Day is more than a three-day weekend and the official start of summer. Its the time each year when America pauses to remember its fallen soldiers, honor their legacy, and take care of those still carrying the wounds of war.

Unfortunately, this year Memorial Day coincides with a challenging series of events from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the federal agency charged with providing health benefits to eligible military veterans.

Consider headlines from the last few weeks. Allegations of improper bonuses totaling $11 million dollars to senior executives. More than 10,000 overlooked claims for leukemia and other diseases related to herbicide exposure. Atomic veterans  those who worked on nuclear weapons tests  at risk of losing federal benefits intended to compensate for the long-term health effects of their work.

Against this backdrop, the VA continues implementing the landmark Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022  also known as the PACT Act. Passed with bipartisan support and signed by President Joe Biden, the PACT Act was a lifeline for veterans like me who served in war zones after 9/11 only to experience mysterious and debilitating breathing issues upon returning home.

It sounds strange to many in America with our modern conveniences, but in war zones, burn pits were a common way for the military to destroy trash, metals and chemical goods. The process creates smoke that all within proximity have no choice but to inhale. During my deployment in the early 2000s, the smell was constant and inescapable.

When I got home, I started experiencing breathing issues. Before long, I couldnt walk up a flight of stairs without losing breath.

When I first started going to the VA, doctors told me it was related to anxiety. They even tried to put me on antipsychotic medications. Eventually, I demanded and underwent a surgical lung biopsy that revealed something called constrictive bronchiolitis, a rare respiratory disease of the small airways, resulting in decreased lung function. The biopsy was painful, but it got me the answer I was seeking.

Prior to PACT, veterans had to prove the link between their exposure to burn pits or other airborne hazards and their medical conditions. Thanks to PACT, not only is that burden of proof gone, but 23 presumptive conditions, including constrictive bronchiolitis, from burn pits and other toxic exposures are now covered under VA policies.

The influx of new patients eligible for care put new demands on the VA. To their credit, they have stepped up. The health care arm of the VA increased its workforce by 5.5% in 2023. During congressional testimony last month, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said that 1.3 million PACT Act claims had been filed thus far, with the average days to completion 17 days faster than a year ago.

This progress is positive, yet there is always more to do. Of the more than 2.5 million post-9/11 military veterans, more than 2 million served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Fortunately, there are new and emerging Food and Drug Administration-approved technologies that can help veterans get answers faster, including some that specialize in functional lung imaging. Unlike the biopsy, a lung scan is non-invasive and painless. Scared veterans struggling to breathe and seeking answers should not be forced to endure complicated surgery, hospital stays and protracted recovery times. With its precision and sensitivity, this technology is more efficient at detecting early small airways pathology.

The VA should implement a pilot program using this technology at a small selection of its hospitals to demonstrate the effectiveness in triaging veterans and helping those most at need get prioritized for specialty pulmonary care. Doing so can establish a streamlined process to provide a lung scan to veterans presenting with shortness of breath at intake and accelerate their treatment.

Just as there were starts and stops during PACTs legislative process, so too will there be in its implementation. Nothing good comes easily, and it takes everyone working together to make meaningful progress.

This Memorial Day, remember that just because the PACT Act has faded from the headlines doesnt mean those depending on its success have suddenly gotten better.

So by all means, lay wreaths at cemeteries to honor those no longer with us. But then also do your part and urge the VA to get the PACT Act right. Veterans are counting on the country they took up arms to defend to have their back.

Cynthia Daniels served as a military police officer in the Missouri National Guard from 2000-2006 and was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq. She lives in Livingston, Mont., with her family.
Imagery shared on social media by China's Eastern Theater Command, labeled a "diagram of the Joint Sword 2024A exercise area," shows Taiwan encircled by a two-day series of drills that began May 23, 2024. (China's Eastern Theater Command)

Taiwan scrambled jets and put military units on alert on Thursday in response to Chinas two-day military exercise surrounding the island, according to the Associated Press.

The Chinese drills, dubbed Joint Sword 2024A, include components from its army, navy, air force and rocket force, Chinas Eastern Theater Command said Thursday in a series of posts to the Weibo social media website.

The training includes sea and air combat patrols, battlefield control and joint precision attack drills, a post said.

The exercise effectively surrounds Taiwan, according to imagery shared by the command on Weibo. The drills began at 7:45 a.m., according to the state-sponsored Xinhua News Agency.

This is also a powerful punishment for the Taiwan independence separatist forces seeking independence and a serious warning to external forces for interference and provocation, command spokesman Col. Li Xi said in one of the social media posts.

Taiwans Ministry of National Defense condemned the exercise Thursday afternoon and said Chinas actions jeopardized regional peace and stability.

We seek no conflicts, but we will not shy away from one to ensure our nations safety and protect our beautiful homeland, the ministry wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The ministry regularly posts 12-hour updates on the number of Chinese aircraft and warships operating near Taiwan but had released no details of activity around the island as of Thursday afternoon.

Taiwanese troops patrol the southern end of the Taiwan Strait in January 2023. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)

The drills come just three days after Taiwans new president, Lai Ching-te, was sworn into office.

Lai, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, pledged to continue the direction set by his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen. Beijing looks at Lai as a separatist, according to a report Monday by Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin critiqued the congratulations U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave upon Lais inauguration Monday.

 Taiwan independence leads nowhere and anyone who connives at and supports Taiwan independence is doomed to failure, Wang was quoted as saying Monday in remarks posted on the Foreign Ministry website.

China views Taiwan, a self-governing island, to be a breakaway province that must be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Lai in his inaugural speech called on China to cease its political and military intimidation against Taiwan, according to a translation posted by Taiwans presidential office.

He also asked China to share with Taiwan the global responsibility of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as well as the greater region, and ensure the world is free from the fear of war.

The exercises are clearly meant to send a message to Lai and are consistent with the coercive diplomacy Beijing has exercised toward Taiwan in the past, said Jeffrey Kingston, a professor of history and Asian studies at Temple University.

Tsai stood up to Beijings bullying, and it wants to discourage such behavior, he told Stars and Stripes by email Thursday.

China reacted similarly when Tsai visited California to meet with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in April 2023. Beijing launched a three-day exercise, also called Joint Sword, around the island.

Last years drills were on par with Chinese exercises in response to Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan in 2022, with five days of exercises that included missile launches, aircraft sorties and naval drills.
A Marine charged with driving recklessly and fleeing the scene of a crash received a suspended sentence in Naha District Court on Okinawa, May 23, 2024. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)

NAHA, Okinawa  A Japanese court sentenced a U.S. Marine to a 26-month suspended sentence Thursday after he admitted driving recklessly and fleeing the scene of a crash that injured three locals last year.

Sgt. Camilo Escobar, 24, was found guilty of violating Japanese traffic law and negligent driving resulting in injury in the Sep. 16 incident.

Naha District Court Judge Takashi Kato suspended Escobars sentence for five years, the maximum limit a sentence can be suspended, Kato said. The Marine will not serve the prison term if he commits no further offenses in Japan.

Escobar was driving a sedan southbound on Route 58 in Ginowan city when his car collided with a gray Daihatsu Move, according to the charge sheet provided by the prosecutors office. He was going about 48 mph over the speed limit.

The collision injured three people in the Daihatsu: A man in the rear seat suffered a broken hip and two women up front received minor injuries, according to the charge sheet.

Police found the sedan a short distance from the crash site and watched Escobar flee on foot, leaving two Marine passengers behind, a city police spokesman said at the time.

Police had stopped Escobar earlier for speeding, the judge said from the bench.

You received a warning from a police officer at a red light for speeding prior to the crash, Kato said after handing down the sentence. You were excited driving your friends car without looking at the speedometer. You had no awareness of safe driving.

Escobar pleaded guilty on May 16 in Naha District Court and offered an apology.

Id like to apologize to the victims and their families. I committed a very shameful action, he said in court, public broadcaster NHK reported that day.

Escobar was not drinking at the time, an Okinawa prefectural police spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Wednesday. He was not arrested before being charged.

Some government spokespeople in Japan are required to speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.

Marine Corps Installations Pacific did not immediately respond Thursday to requests seeking comment.

Escobar sat calmly in a black suit and blue tie as Kato delivered the sentence.

You were in panic, got scared and fled the scene, the judge said. This is considered selfish behavior.

Kato cited Escobars lack of a criminal record and the compensation, which an insurance company will pay the victims, as reasons to suspend the sentence.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Connor Morris, a medical technician, trains on medical evacuation vehicles alongside members of the Kadena Air Base Critical Care Air Transportation Team on July 20, 2023 at U.S Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan. (Beth Holliker/U.S. Air National Guard)

WASHINGTON  Faced with severe staffing shortages last summer, medical personnel at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, urged pregnant women to give birth elsewhere.

The women were given two choices: use a Japanese hospital, where epidurals are rarely given and patients in labor can be denied admittance, or be flown to a location in the United States. Naval Hospital Okinawa, the only full-service medical center on the island, would not have enough staff to deliver babies from August to November, the chief medical officer at Kadenas 18th Medical Group warned at the time.

The announcement was later rescinded, but the episode sowed panic in the community and highlighted the chronic capacity challenges in the military health system, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. The Pentagons inspector general documented problems with overseas care in a report last year.

A new bill proposed by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., aims to prevent a repeat Okinawa scenario by expanding options for service members and military families seeking care in the future.

It proposes establishing a program that would enable all Defense Department-affiliated personnel in the Indo-Pacific to access foreign medical treatment facilities during peacetime and wartime operations.

A similar provision introduced by Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., was included in the House version of the annual defense authorization bill on Wednesday night.

The proposed program would be modeled on an initiative already in place in Korea, where the U.S. military has agreements with more than 40 hospitals on the peninsula to guarantee troops access to quality medical care.

The 2023 report by the Pentagons inspector general said some specialty care services are not available at Naval Hospital Okinawa and some specialties, such as obstetrics and physical therapy, have barriers to access.

Naval Hospital Okinawa and Kadena Health Clinic had the most unfilled contractor positions out of all overseas military treatment facilities, according to the report.

Air Force officials in Japan said a dozen civilian employees within a six-month period asked for tour curtailments, declined jobs or left due to concerns about on-base access to medical care. Two departed the island because of limited obstetrics care for their pregnant spouses.

The inspector general for the Marine Corps has identified significant challenges with civilians using off base medical care overseas, including language barriers, differences in how medical care is provided and a lack of availability for some U.S. prescription medications.

Epidurals are not available at most hospitals in Japan, and only one network hospital in Okinawa provides them, according to the Marine Corps. Japanese hospitals also routinely turn away patients for a variety of reasons.

But Duckworth said those differences can be bridged through an accreditation process or the development of standardization procedures that would ensure the quality of care is the same as at a military treatment facility. The Pentagon would collaborate with partner nations on the standards, according to the bill.

The senator, a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and Iraq War veteran, said she will strongly push to include her measure in the Senates version of the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual must-pass bill setting Pentagon priorities.

Duckworths legislation also mandates the creation of a medical readiness strategy in the Indo-Pacific.

Far too many service members, dependents and [Defense Department]-affiliated civilians find it difficult to access care overseas, she said. That harms our military readiness.
An undated image released on X by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry shows a service member holding his ears as an American-made Paladin self-propelled howitzer with the 93rd Mechanized Brigade fires in Ukraine. U.S. European Command failed to document the ways it validated and approved military aid for Ukraine following Russias February 2022 invasion, the Pentagon Inspector General found. (Ukraine Defense Ministry/X)

American military officials in Europe didnt document the procedures they took to validate and approve Ukraines requests for military assistance following Russias 2022 invasion of the country, according to a new audit.

The findings by the Pentagons Inspector General come as Ukraine struggles to hold off a lightning Russian offensive near Kharkiv, the countrys second-largest city.

The audit was conducted from December 2022 through March of this year, and a report of it was released Tuesday. It focused specifically on aid provided through presidential drawdown authority, which allows for the quick delivery of military equipment and services from Pentagon stocks to foreign countries in response to emergencies.

Since the start of the war in February 2022, the Defense Department has announced nearly 60 presidential drawdowns for Ukraine totaling about $30 billion.

U.S. European Command and affiliated commands and organizations on the Continent had controls in place to validate Ukraines requests for equipment and training, the audit report said.

However, a sense of urgency to support Ukrainian troops meant they did not document their roles, procedures and processes, according to responses by the groups mentioned in the report.

Officials did not ensure seamless operations, the IG said. Documenting processes and procedures is critical due to the rate of rotation of personnel supporting the Ukraine security assistance efforts.

Aid has included weapons systems, ammunition, training for Ukrainian troops and maintenance of equipment.

EUCOM and affiliated commands are tasked with validating Ukraines requests for military support before approving them for submission to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

The IG did not audit controls at the Office of the Secretary of Defense level.

The investigation also showed that while the Defense Department coordinated with partner countries on Ukraines requests for military support, several factors made that difficult, including the large number of partner nations donating equipment, partner nations desire to remain discreet and classification levels of information.

The IG recommended that in coordination with affiliated units, the EUCOM commander document the roles, responsibilities, processes and procedures for validating Ukraines requests for military equipment and assistance.

It also called on the commander and his counterpart at the Security Assistance Group  Ukraine to find ways to improve coordination with partner countries.

The EUCOM commander was given a draft of the audit report in March but did not respond to the recommendations in time for publication of the final report, the IG said.
Humanitarian aid is transported along the U.S.-built temporary pier before entering the beach in Gaza on May 18, 2024. (Riley Anfinson/U.S. Army)

WASHINGTON  Three U.S. service members suffered minor injuries helping deliver more than 500 metric tons of humanitarian aid distributed to Palestinians in Gaza using a temporary floating pier, a defense official said Thursday.

Since commencement of operations, 820 metric tons of aid have been delivered by [U.S. Central Command] forces. In terms of distribution, 506 metric tons of aid have been distributed  to the people of Gaza by the United Nations as of last night, said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of CENTCOM, which overseas U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

He also said three U.S. service members suffered minor, noncombat-related injuries during the operation while at sea. One sprained an ankle and another suffered a back injury. The third service member is undergoing care at an Israeli hospital for an undisclosed issue.

The pier, known as Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS, is meant to provide another way to deliver needed aid into Gaza. The World Health Organization has warned some 2.3 million Gaza inhabitants face extreme hunger that could become a full-blown famine by next month as Israel continues its war against Hamas militants who launched a surprise assault in October from the enclave.

Overhead imagery shows the U.S.-built temporary pier off the coast of Gaza being used to deliver humanitarian aid. (U.S. Central Command)

President Joe Biden first announced the JLOTS operation on March 7. One day later, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the top Pentagon spokesman, said the temporary pier would be operational within about 60 days.

The temporary pier was installed last week and the delivery of aid began Friday.

The flow of aid starts in Cyprus, where it is inspected and loaded onto ships to travel about 200 miles to the floating pier in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Once it arrives, the aid is transferred by U.S. military vessels to the causeway attached to the coast of Gaza. From there, trucks driven by a third party take the aid into Gaza, not the U.S. military.

Ryder told reporters Tuesday that more than 569 metric tons of humanitarian assistance had been delivered through the temporary pier to the shore of Gaza to be distributed to humanitarian partners. However, he said he did not believe any of the aid had made it into the hands of Palestinians.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Wednesday said some aid had been delivered to Palestinians that specifically need it.

Humanitarian aid is transported along the U.S.-built temporary pier before entering the beach in Gaza on May 18, 2024. (Jordan KirkJohnson/U.S. Navy)

There have been some issues with deliveries from the pier. Groups of people overran a convoy Saturday and took most of the supplies and a man in the crowd was shot dead in unexplained circumstances, the Associated Press reported.

Ryder said the U.S. is working with Israel and the United Nations to establish alternative routes for safe delivery of aid transported to Gaza.

These are critical concerns of ours and we and humanitarian organizations continue to work with all stakeholders to mitigate the risks, said Daniel Dieckhaus, director of the U.S. Agency for International Development Response. Theres a variety of mitigation measures, but none of that is going to remove the risks.

The pier is expected to deliver about 90 trucks worth of aid a day and ramp up to 150 per day once it reaches full capacity, defense officials have said. The U.N. has said to meet the needs of Palestinians in Gaza about 500 trucks worth of aid per day must enter the territory. Dieckhaus said about 71 truckloads of aid has gotten in to the enclave.

Cooper said 1,000 American troops and 16 ships have been involved in the operation of the pier, which costs about $320 million.
Palestinian kids stand in a house destroyed by an Israeli strike amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on May 22, 2024. (Hatem Khaled/Reuters)

Israel will expand its military operation against Hamas in Rafah, saying 1 million civilians have moved out of the southern Gaza city.

We are strengthening our effort in Rafah  this operation will grow, with more forces on the ground and more forces from the air, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Thursday.

Israel is operating with care and precision, added military spokesman Daniel Hagari, following earlier concerns from the US and other allies about the threat to the local population.

The advance comes as Israel said it would revive stalled cease-fire talks with Hamas after a social-media video showing the abduction of female Israeli soldiers sparked a public outcry. The footage served as a reminder in Israel of the hostages that remain captive in Gaza following their kidnapping during the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, which triggered the ongoing conflict.

Israel has said it needs to invade Rafah to achieve its goal of destroying Hamas. The city, near the Egyptian border, had become a refuge for Palestinian civilians fleeing the war elsewhere in Gaza and the campaign has been an issue during peace talks.

We will reach our goals  to hit Hamas very hard, to deny its military capabilities, to the point that we create all the conditions to facilitate the return of the hostages to their homes, Gallant said, speaking from a Navy boat off the coast of Gaza on Thursday.

The defense minister said he had joined a Navy patrol to review the military effort as well as the maritime delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians.

Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union.
The U.S. Capitol as seen on March 21, 2024. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON  The House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday night advanced a defense policy bill that would give a nearly 20% pay raise to junior enlisted service members and pour investments into improving the quality of life of all troops.

The legislation was approved in a 57-1 vote and will be debated next by the full House. The Senate Armed Services Committee has yet to release its version of the bill, but members have not indicated they will follow the House in raising pay for troops ranked E-4 and lower.

All service members are slated to receive a 4.5% pay raise under the White Houses $895 billion proposal for the defense budget. The House committee is proposing a 15% pay hike on top of that for junior troops, some of whom make less than $25,000 in basic pay.

The House bills focus on addressing the militarys shortfalls in compensation, as well as housing, health care and other issues, is reflected in its title: the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act.

We did that to underscore the tremendous gains this bill makes toward improving the quality of life for our service members and their families, said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., the committee chairman.

The National Defense Authorization Act is an annual must-pass bill that details funding levels and policies for the Pentagon. An accompanying appropriations bill funds the legislation.

The House panel on Wednesday touted the provisions that it believes will improve life and service in the military.

One measure will restore coverage of the basic allowance for housing from 95% of calculated costs back to 100%, as it was from 2005 to 2016. Another will raise the threshold for the basic needs allowance to 200% of federal poverty guidelines.

Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., singled out the importance of the bills $17.5 billion investment in military construction projects, including $1.15 billion to improve housing conditions.

The condition of our barracks in particular is shocking, he said. Its unacceptable that this committee, frankly, has to step in to push the Pentagon to fix this problem, but thats what were going to do. We have to provide safe barracks and housing and put our service members welfare first.

A government watchdog last year found mold and mildew, sewage overflow, broken windows and locks, rodent infestations and other hazardous living conditions across 10 installations in the United States.

The authorization bill for the first time requires each military department to implement an electronic management system to track how funds are spent and keep up-to-date records of facility conditions, according to Waltz, a former Green Beret.

Other efforts to improve quality of life include a permanent authorization of a fellowship program for military spouses searching for employment, the expansion of access to specialty health care providers and the full funding of child care fee assistance programs to eliminate fee assistance waitlists.

Service members and families moving to some overseas locations for a permanent change of station would be allowed to ship and store up to two privately owned vehicles under the legislation. Current regulations typically cover the cost of one vehicle per household.

More broadly, the bill continues to invest in efforts to counter China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and violent extremist groups. It notably rejects the Navys proposal to procure one Virginia-class submarine, requiring the sea service to procure two as it has the previous 13 years.

News of the cut was met with criticism from many lawmakers and made headlines in Australia, which is set to buy three nuclear-powered, Virginia-class submarines from the U.S. through a security partnership that seeks to deter Chinese aggression.

The House panel also refused to sanction the Navys plan to retire two guided-missile cruisers before they reached the end of their service life.

Our message must be clear: the United States Navy will remain the most powerful maritime force the world has ever seen, said Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Miss.

Russias war in Ukraine made a direct impact on the committees priorities for the Pentagon. The bill requires the Army to establish a drone corps as a basic branch of the service to serve as a command center for all drone-related activities.

This [legislation] is reflective of the battlefield changes that are occurring in real time on the Ukraine battlefield, said Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va. The rise of electronic warfare and drone warfare are clear hallmarks of this conflict.

The authorization bill, which was released last week, grew larger Wednesday as members spent hours voting on more than 700 amendments.

Members agreed to weaken a controversial Pentagon plan to transfer some Air National Guard personnel into the Space Force by giving state governors a say in such changes. Other approved amendments make registration for the selective service automatic and require commissioned officers to receive training on the Constitution.

The Republican-led committee also narrowly agreed, over strong Democrat opposition, to ban affirmative action at the military service academies. The Supreme Court had excluded the academies from a ruling last year that ended race-conscious college admissions.

The Senate Armed Services Committee will discuss its version of the defense legislation next month. Both chambers will then come together to negotiate the final bill, which typically passes Congress by the end of the year.

shkolnikova.svetlana@stripes.com. Twitter: @svetashko
The Pentagons inspector general said Wednesday, May 22, 2024, that investigators will evaluate how the Defense Department and military services respond to allegations of child abuse at its day care facilities. ((iStock))

The Pentagons inspector general said Wednesday that investigators will evaluate how the Defense Department and military services respond to allegations of child abuse at its day care facilities after parents have said they were not informed immediately when their children were harmed at on-base care centers.

Inspector general investigators will review policies and procedures for identifying and reporting allegations of child abuse at military-operated child development centers, Bryan Clark, the assistant inspector general, wrote Wednesday in a letter to the Defense Department, National Guard Bureau, Army, Navy and Air Force.

The evaluation will review how those allegations are addressed and communicated, Clark wrote.

The announcement of the IG review follows complaints from parents whose children were harmed in child care facilities who said they were not immediately informed about it or that officials at the center did not contact criminal investigators in a timely manner.

Army Capt. JD Kuykendall and his wife Kate Kuykendall said last year that their daughter was abused in a Navy-run facility in Hawaii and their concerns were downplayed for months  an allegation that the Navy has countered. Kuykendall conducted his own review of day care surveillance footage and was able to get civilian law enforcement to file charges against two women who worked at the facility.

We are encouraged to see advocacy from so many sources turn into movement on such a critical issue as this, the Kuykendall family said in a statement. We hope that the continued pressure sees through meaningful change and accountability and will support any good faith efforts aimed at preventing child abuse at any [child development center].

Similar concerns have come from parents who had children involved in cases at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona and the Armys Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania.

Five senators sent a letter in April to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin demanding answers on the subject, which has garnered media attention in the past year. Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., said an investigation from Military.com showed there seemed to be an emphasis on protecting the reputation of the Department of Defense facilities and personnel.

In several instances, [child development centers] were slow to identify abuse, did not quickly inform families about incidents, and had no clear lines of responsibility for investigating or holding perpetrators accountable. If accurate, this situation is completely unacceptable, the senators wrote.

Clarks letter stated the inspection would begin this month, but he did not outline a timeline for completion. He did not say when the second phase of the inspection would begin.
A passenger in a car that was stopped by gardai ran away ripping up bags of white powder to prevent a drugs search.

Father-of-two Stephen Reid (35) tried to flee on foot after throwing a bag to the driver, who sped away from gardai, a court heard.

Judge John Hughes referred his case to the drug treatment court.

Reid, of Macroom Road, Coolock, pleaded guilty to obstructing a garda drugs search at Kilmore Road, Coolock.

Dublin District Court heard gardai stopped a car on October 28, 2022, and saw a bag of a green herb in the centre console.

There was a smell of cannabis and the accused, who was front-seat passenger, stepped out of the car.

Reid threw a bag of a powdered substance to the driver and ran away while the car took off at high speed.

Reid was seen ripping up bags of a white powder and throwing them away as he attempted to flee before being apprehended. He had previous convictions.

The accused had had a significant drug problem at the time but since had got clean of cocaine, cannabis and benzos and had now been drug free for a year and a half, his solicitor Sandra Frayne said.

He was doing everything he can, living a pro-social life and was fully committed to an offence-free lifestyle. Reid was a good father to his children and his main aim was to stay drug free.

He was remorseful and very sorry for the way he behaved on the day, Ms Frayne added.

Judge Hughes remanded the accused on continuing bail and referred him to the drug treatment court for assessment.
The nine, aged between 20 and 60, were arrested over last nights incident at a migrant centre in Ballyogan, Carrickmines

Nine people have appeared in court this morning charged in connection with protests at a migrant centre at Ballyogan in south Dublin yesterday.

This brings to 13 the number of people charged with public order offences at the site since yesterday morning.

The charges follow a number of incidents where the entrance to the centre was blocked, staff were prevented from entering and leaving and a gate was chained.

The five men and four women are accused of public order offences, including failing to comply with a garda's direction to leave the vicinity and preventing or interrupting the free passage of a person or vehicle. They appeared before Judge Anne Watkin at Dun Laoghaire District Court this morning.

The accused are: Sean Rush (33) of Edenmore Avenue, Coolock, Dublin 5; Colin McGettrick (47) of Viking Harbour, Ushers Island, Dublin 8; David Noonan (49) of New Oak Estate, Carlow; Lisa Burnett (33) of Ballyogan Vale, Carrickmines, Dublin 18; Kathy Kennedy Byrne (27) of Glenamuck Road, Dublin 18; Scott Cullen (39) of Ballyogan Avenue, Carrickmines, Dublin 18; Danielle McGearty (31) of Ash Hall, Larkfield, Dublin 18; Megan Isacson (20) of Hillview Grove, Ballinteer, Dublin 16; and Graham Carragher (60) of Furry Hill Estate, Sandyford, Dublin 18.

They were charged with offences contrary to Sections 8 and 9 of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act 1994.

Sean Rush from Edenmore Avenue in Coolock was also charged with an offence contrary to Section 9 (1) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990.

He is charged in connection with the possession of a Stanley knife.

The court sergeant today objected to bail on the basis that there could be possible interference with or intimidation of witnesses.

He said there had been a horrific incident last night at the protest where an elderly female member of staff was barricaded in on the premises and not permitted to leave, despite the fact that she had a medical condition.

A garda superintendent said he attended the protest but said he believed some protestors had gathered for criminal activity. He said the electronic gates were broken and a lock placed on the gates, and that the accused before the court had failed to leave the scene when ordered to by gardai.

He said further charges may be considered in future for all the accused.

Bail was granted by Judge Watkin to Noonan, Kennedy Byrne, McGearty, Isacson, and Carragher on the basis that they stay away from the Ballyogan Regional Temporary Rest Centre, pay a bond of 500, sign on at their local garda station, and reside at the addresses on their charge sheets.

They will appear in court again on September 19. All were granted legal aid.

Judge Watkin had to intervene on several occasions when there was talking and shouting among the accused in the courtroom.

Lisa Burnett, Scott Cullen and Colin McGettrick were held in contempt of court for causing disruption during the hearing.

They later purged their contempt and were granted bail on similar conditions to the others charged after Judge Watkin accepted their apology. They will also appear in court again on September 19.

Sean Rush, who was charged with the public order offences and possession of the Stanley knife did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to Cloverhill to appear again next Wednesday, May 29, when the court was told a bail application would be made.

Four men who appeared in Dublin District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin yesterday are Roger Long (53) from Clay Farm Drive, Kilgobbin, Dublin 18; Jordan O'Donoghue (21) of Ballyogan Avenue, Carrickmines, in Dublin 18; Conor Killian (25) of Little Brighton Road, Foxrock, Co Dublin; and Ian Cahill (44) of Ballyogan Vale, Ballyogan Road, Dublin 18.

They were also charged with offences contrary to Sections 8 and 9 of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act 1994.
Cullinan was targeting Mr Meere as he was under the delusional belief that the respected and innocent farmer was the leader of an Organised Crime Group

A 75-year old farmer and retired school teacher has branded a man who subjected him to a horrific assault as a coward, a bully and a disgrace to his family.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Noel Meere stated that himself and his Mary are finally free of Ciaran Cullinan" who he said "is a violent criminal who only attacks those who are elderly and vulnerable.

Judge Francis Comerford imposed a four year-eight month prison term on Mr Cullinan (34) last July for the horrific assault on Mr Meere that occurred in September 2022.

Judge Comerford said that the assault was a cowardly attack by a stronger younger man against an older man.

Now, Judge Comerford has imposed an additional one year prison to run consecutive to the four year and eight month term on Mr Cullinan for producing a claw hammer and criminal trespass at the Meere property at Curraderra, Barefield outside Ennis on February 4th 2022.

Mr Cullinan was living in the Barefield area at the time as part of bail conditions relating to a separate matter before the courts.

Judge Comerford described the February 4th incident as bizarre and strange.

The court heard that as a result of a cannabis induced psychosis, Cullinan was targeting Mr Meere as he was under the delusional belief that the respected and innocent farmer was the leader of an Organised Crime Group (OCG).

In his victim impact statement, Noel Meere told the court that he was always fearful that Cullinan would assault him after he moved into the area.

He said: On September 5th 2022, Ciaran Cullinan carried out a horrific assault on me while sitting in a jeep at the hay shed. He punched me repeatedly around the head and stabbed me in my neck. Fortunately, I survived that assault."

Mr Meere told the court that himself and his wife, Mary are dreading the day that Ciaran Cullinan will be released from prison. We have lived our lives since his incarceration in peace, free to go about our farming activities, free from his threats and free to walk our land. We never want to see him again in our community in Curraderra, Barefield.

In relation to Mr Cullinan producing the claw hammer at his property on February 4th 2022, Mr Meere said that only for the defence of me by son Fergal, I could have been seriously hurt or killed.

As part of the initial sentence imposed on Cullinan last July, Judge Comerford has ordered that post release from prison, Cullinan is not to go within 15km of Barefield until 2031.

The Meeres have lived at Curraderra, Barefield since 1972 where they farm 150 acres.

In evidence Sgt Brian Spain said during the February 4th incident, that Mr Cullinan raised the hammer over his head and the Meeres returned indoors and locked themselves inside.

Sgt Spain said that in interview, Cullinan described the Meere house as "the gangland headquarters in Curraderra".

Counsel for the State, Lorcan Connolly BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) said at trial Garda Ger Cunningham gave evidence that none of the Meere family are known to the Gardai to be involved in any criminal activity whatsoever.

Judge Comerford said that Cullinans beliefs about the Meere familys organised crime links "are ludicrous, have no basis in fact and are completely nonsensical".

Judge Comerford said that the February 2022 incident was a harbinger of the far more serious offence in September 2022 but was in itself an offence of consequence. Judge Comerford noted that Cullinan had no record of prior convictions before 2021.
When they attempted to order drinks at the bar, they were refused service

Six Irish Travellers have settled their race discrimination case against a Tyrone bar and restaurant for 24,000.

A group of family and friends took the case against the Ryandale Inn in Moy after an incident in May 2023, when they planned to have a meal.

When they attempted to order drinks at the bar, they were refused service. They were then asked to leave.

The incident was recorded on a mobile phone and staff were made aware that they were being filmed.

A staff member behind the bar was captured when they said: We cant serve you.

When then asked if the reason for this was because they were Travellers, the person behind the bar replied Yes".

The group of friends said they were upset and embarrassed by how they were treated by the staff at the Ryandale Inn. They felt humiliated that other customers could see and hear everything that was going on.

Martin Cawley, speaking for the group, said: We were really hurt at how we were treated. It was so blatant, they didnt care, they didnt even try to hide that they were discriminating against us because we are Travellers.

"We felt we had no option but to challenge this, its not right and we should not have to accept it. We just wanted to have a meal together like any other group of friends.

The case was supported by the Equality Commission.

Mary Kitson, Senior Legal Officer, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

Mary Kitson, Senior Legal Officer, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland said: Let me be clear, what happened was wrong. This type of behaviour is never acceptable. Irish Travellers are protected by the Race Relations (NI) Order 1997.

Business owners must ensure that their staff know that it is unlawful to refuse service to someone because of their race. All businesses here must operate within our equality laws. It is important that we continue to challenge this type of racial prejudice.

As part of the settlement agreement, the Ryandale Inn is working with the Commission to ensure that their policies and procedures are effective and conform with the requirements of the Race Relations Order (NI) 1997.

The Ryandale Inn has been asked for a comment in relation to this story.
The 23-year-old admitted charges of common assault, possession of an offensive weapon, theft and having a blade in public

A man who repeatedly kicked a homeless person lying in a Belfast doorway has been jailed for five months.

Evan Lynan also used a rolled up sleeping bag to attack his partner as part of a series of crimes at locations across the city centre.

The 23-year-old, with an address at Helens Wood Court in Dunmurry, admitted charges of common assault, possession of an offensive weapon, theft and having a blade in public.

Belfast Magistrates Court heard Lynan relocated from the Republic of Ireland 18 months ago in a bid to make a fresh start.

But on January 14 this year he stole two electric razors worth 320 from a Boots store on Donegall Place.

Police stopped him in nearby Castle Lane and seized the stolen items along with a knife which he threw to the ground.

Four weeks later officers were alerted when CCTV operators spotted four people going through a homeless mans belongings in the doorway of the Grand Opera House on Great Victoria Street.

One of the males involved was identified as the defendant, and he was observed kicking the injured party five to six times, a prosecution lawyer said.

The victim suffered a laceration to his head during the February 12 attack.

Lynan was arrested again after attacking his partner at Fountain Lane on April 15.

CCTV footage of the incident showed him striking the woman with a rolled up sleeping bag.

The prosecutor added: He punched her to the face, took a step back and then spat on her while she was lying on the ground.

Lynan also admitted possession of a small quantity of cannabis when arrested over that incident.

The court heard he claims the homeless man had stolen his phone days before the encounter at the Grand Opera House.

It was the first time he had seen him since and he was going through his belongings to see if he still had the phone, a defence solicitor argued.

He added that Lynan had been trying to break up a fight between two women when the assault on his partner occurred.

Imposing five months custody for the offences, District Judge Anne Marshall told the defendant: Your move up here 18 months ago obviously hasnt gone particularly well.
His younger associate has over 10 young lads working for him, selling every type of drug, including crack cocaine and heroin.

The man, aged in his 20s, has hardly any criminal convictions and sources say he has been trading on the name of Quinn, who is serving a 22-year sentence in a Spanish jail for his role in the murder of Gary Hutch in 2015  the killing that sparked the Hutch-Kinahan feud.

Despite being locked up and not being based in Dublin for years, James Quinn is still a criminal who commands major respect and fear, particularly in his old patch in the south inner city, a source said.

His younger associate has over 10 young lads working for him, selling every type of drug, including crack cocaine and heroin.

He is in total control of the Oliver Bond complex and other blocks of flats in that locality. Addicts are travelling from all over the city to these locations to buy their drugs and it is estimated that Quinns associate is making tens of thousands of euro every week from this.

The source added: His product has built up a reputation of being of the very highest quality, but Quinns associate never handles the drugs himself, the risk is all taken by the runners who work for him.

Associate of jailed Kinahan hitman allegedly making tens of thousands a week from drugs network in city flats

All the information is that this individual does not use violence as those who work for him know how well connected he is, so no one is messing with him.

He is actually very intelligent and wouldnt even take possession of even a cannabis joint himself in case he was caught by gardai.

It has also emerged that the man has been making regular trips to Spain, where it is suspected he has been visiting Quinn in prison (41).

All of this shows that the activities of drug dealers with links to the Kinahan cartel continue to be a significant issue at a street-dealing level, even in this day and age when there is much talk of international sanctions and extradition in relation to the senior members of the cartel, a source said.

Quinn was one of the most trusted members of the criminal organisation before his conviction in June 2018, when a Spanish jury found he acted as a necessary participant in the murder of Gary Hutch.

He was also found guilty of possession of illegal weapons and has been in custody since being arrested in Madrid in September 2016.

Quinn was also ordered to pay the Hutch family 90,000 compensation.

Prosecutor Jose Barba had initially accused Quinn of being the gunman who shot Hutch in the head on September 24, 2015, after chasing him around the gated estate where he lived in Miraflores near the Costa del Sol resort of Fuengirola.

However, Mr Barba later gave the jury the option of convicting him of murder on the basis that he was only the getaway driver and lookout.

Quinn is a nephew of veteran criminal Martin The Viper Foley and had been living in Spain for a number of years before the Hutch murder, working as an enforcer for the Kinahan gang, who were based there before relocating to Dubai.
Over 70 personnel were involved in 23 searches across Donegal and Dublin West

The vehicle that was seized

A car, electronic devices and financial documents were seized today following a search operation in Donegal and Dublin.

The operation, led by the Criminal Assets Bureau, was conducted as part of an on-going proceeds of crime investigation targeting assets, including real estate, deriving in whole or in part from the proceeds of criminal activity.

A 2023 Volvo XC90 was also seized along with approximately 73,000 in a bank account.

This particular investigation was supported by a number of Good Citizen Reports (GCRs) and also with the assistance of a Divisional Assets Profiler.

Support was provided to CAB officers by gardai attached to the Milford District, Donegal Division, the Regional Armed Support Unit, Garda Dog Unit and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB).

Over 70 personnel were involved in 23 searches across Donegal and Dublin West. These locations including dwellings and business premises.

Todays searches relate to an ongoing investigation into the assets of persons suspected of being involved in drug trafficking on an international level.

This Organised Criminal Gang (OCG) operates within this jurisdiction as well as Scotland, Spain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The offences allegedly took place at Permanent TSB, Liffey Valley, in Lucan, on dates in August 2020 and it is alleged that Mr Okonye laundered money amounting to 4,400

Blair Okonye has not yet indicated how hell plead to the charge

A young man accused of laundering more than 4,000 in cash through a bank account has been sent forward for trial.

Blair Okonye (22) was served with the book of evidence when he appeared on bail before a hearing at Blanchardstown District Court.

The accused, of Castlegate Chase in Adamstown, is charged with four counts of converting, handling, acquiring or transferring money which he believed or was reckless in his belief that it was the proceeds of crime.

The offences allegedly took place at Permanent TSB, Liffey Valley, in Lucan, on dates in August 2020 and it is alleged that Mr Okonye laundered money amounting to 4,400.

He is facing trial in the circuit court, which has greater sentencing powers, after the allegations were ruled to be too serious for the district court.

A state solicitor told Blanchardstown District Court that the book of evidence was ready and had been served on the accused, who goes forward to the next sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge David McHugh gave Mr Okonye the formal alibi caution.

The judge also assigned defence solicitor Kevin Tunney and one junior counsel on free legal aid.

Judge McHugh remanded Mr Okonye on bail to appear before a court in the Criminal Courts of Justice on a date next month.

Mr Okonye has not yet indicated a plea to the charges.

Judge McHugh further ordered that a video copy of an interview which gardai conducted with the accused be provided to his solicitor.
The site at St Johns House on the High Street in Tallaght was targeted in a petrol bomb attack earlier this week.

The building was already targeted this week

Two men have been arrested after breaking into a Dublin building that is set to house families seeking asylum.

The site at St Johns House on the High Street in Tallaght was targeted in a petrol bomb attack earlier this week.

It followed a number of protests in the area recently against the housing of migrants at the vacant building.

In another incident in the early hours of this morning two men broke into the planned refugee accommodation.

Sources said that the men had claimed to be working as security guards at the building when confronted and nothing was stolen during the break-in.

The suspects, aged in their 40s and 30s, were subsequently arrested in relation to the incident and taken into garda custody.

A garda spokesperson said: Gardai have arrested two men following a break-in at a vacant premises on the High Street in Tallaght, Dublin 24 just after midnight this morning, Thursday, 23rd May 2024.

The men, one his 40s, and the other in his 30s, are currently detained at a garda station in the DMR under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

The Department of Integration has confirmed that the property is to be used to house families seeking asylum and protests have taken place at the building in recent days.

In a separate incident, emergency services were alerted to an arson attack at St Johns House at around 11pm on Tuesday night.

A large number of first responders, including gardai and the Dublin Fire Brigade, were alerted to the scene.

Detectives at Tallaght Garda Station have launched a criminal investigation into the incident and are reviewing CCTV footage from the area.

No arrests have yet been made but efforts to identify the lone suspect are ongoing.

A Department of Integration spokesperson said: A new accommodation centre for International Protection applicants at the St Johns House, High Street, Tallaght, Dublin 24 is coming on stream and will be ready for new arrivals shortly. The property is intended for use by families.

The Department has an obligation to report any incidents of criminality to An Garda Siochana (AGS) once brought to its attention.

"AGS is responsible for operational policing matters, and where intimidation or criminal acts have occurred, the Department is precluded from commenting or providing detailed information, as it may prejudice any consequent investigations or court cases.

The Tallaght arson is just the latest in over 20 similar attacks carried out across the country in recent years including Dublin. Galway, Donegal, Kildare and Kerry.

In some cases the properties were to be used for housing asylum seekers, while in other instances false rumours had been circulated that the buildings targeted were intended for such use.
Officers described the premises as a veritable supermarket for narcotics after it was busted following an investigation that was launched in March

Some of the seized drugs shown to the camera

Still shots from a Spanish police video capture the raid

A 48-year-old Irishman has been arrested alongside six other people in Spain after cops busted what has been described as a drugs supermarket.

The Irishman was held on suspicion of drug tracking and belonging to a criminal gang after cops raided a cannabis club in Denia, Alicante on the Costa Blanca.

Officers described the premises as a veritable supermarket for narcotics after it was busted following an investigation that was launched in March.

Still shots from a Spanish police video capture the raid

Police suspected that the cannabis club, located in the middle of the town, was being used as a cover for selling illicit drugs, including marijuana and hashish, to members of the public,

An undercover surveillance operation soon revealed that the club was catering to far more customers than its 86 registered members.

According to Murcia Today, police suspected staff were selling drugs that clients removed from the premises, which is illegal.

The 48-year-old Irish man and a 31-year-old Dutch woman, who were listed as president and secretary of the cannabis association, were identified as the alleged ringleaders.

Police who carried out two separate searches of the premises uncovered copious amounts of marijuana in different forms, Murcia Today reports, including buds, cigarettes hidden in different food products, as well as hashish and other narcotics paraphernalia.

In total, police found 3,984 grams of marijuana and 1,106 grams of hashish.

In order to disguise the clandestine operation, the owners had hidden the drugs throughout the premises  under bundles of clothes, in rubbish bins  all packaged and ready to sell, Murcia Today reports.

Some of the seized drugs shown to the camera

A considerably larger quantity of narcotic substance was also found in the home of the main suspect.

After the two gang leaders were arrested, several other people, including British and Spanish citizens, were apprehended.

This operation follows a raid in nearby Torrevieja, where a British expat was arrested following another raid of a cannabis club in the city centre
The court hard that the two pals had been out drinking and playing pool before an argument broke out as they walked home

A man who beat his Irish friend and left him to die on a Manchester street after a night out drinking has been jailed for life.

Lee Francis Burns was handed down the life sentence at Manchester Crown Court for murdering devoted family man Vincent McDonagh on November 9, 2023.

The court hard that the two pals had been out drinking and playing pool before an argument broke out as they walked home.

Burns, of Worsley Street in Oldham, Greater Manchester, attacked Mr McDonagh and left him for dead in the street on Abbey Hills Road in Oldham, The Irish Post reported.

Mr McDonagh, a 45-year-old father-of-one, was discovered by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers lying on the ground with a serious head injury.

He passed away a short time later despite the best efforts of the emergency services.

CCTV footage which captured the attack, led officers to Burns (38) who was convicted of murdering Mr McDonagh at Manchester Crown Court.

'Devoted family man' Vincent McDonagh

Despite his claims that he had acted in self-defence, the court heard that following the attack, in which he punched, kicked and stamped on his friend, Burns fled the scene and told one of his neighbours, I think Ive killed Vinny, Ive stamped on his head.

Burns was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years and 164 days at a hearing at Manchester Crown Court, The Irish Post reports.

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Paul Davies from GMPs Serious Crime Division offered his deepest condolences to Vinnys fiance Demi and their son Frankie, who will have to continue their lives without Vinny, something that will undoubtedly leave a huge void in their family.

Vinny and Lee Burns were friends and spent the evening in their local pub. Whilst walking home, Burns began to shout and become aggressive toward Vinny before taking him to the floor. He continued to assault him, knocking him unconscious as he lay defenceless on the ground, he explained.

Burns then made his way home making no attempt to get help for Vinny. Throughout this trial, Burns has maintained innocence saying he was acting in self-defence.

He added: Our investigation has been meticulous, and we were able to draw up a timeline of both mens movements, securing CCTV and audio footage from local premises.

Lee Francis Burns

I would like to thank the initial attending officers and the investigating team whose swift actions, hard work and dedication ensured Burns was identified and arrested within a short space of time.

We will continue to support Vinnys family in every way we can, and I hope todays result can go some way to providing closure for them, he added.

Mr McDonaghs partner Demi described him as "an amazing fiance, a loving dad and devoted family man.

"He was kind and helpful to everyone and nothing was ever too much to ask.

"Vinny was an amazing fiance, a loving dad and devoted family man," she said.

"He was kind and helpful to everyone and nothing was ever too much to ask.

She added: "Our lives are so empty without him, we cannot believe someone would just take him away."
Joanne has now opened up on her current struggles in the dating world on the Therapy Jeffs podcast

Joanne McNally has revealed how she wont put up with anything as she started dating again following her split from ex-boyfriend Alan Byrne.

The popular comedian and the actor got together in early 2022 after meeting on the celebrity dating app, Raya.

However, in March the 40-year-old announced on her podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me, which she co-hosts alongside Vogue Williams, that they had separated

Joanne has now opened up on her current struggles in the dating world on the Therapy Jeffs podcast.

Speaking on Problem Solved, Joanne explained: Im different now because Im older and now theres very little I put up with, which is the problem.

Before I put up with too much, now I wont put up with anything.

She continued: I matched with a guy on an app the other day and he asked for my number and I gave it and he just started ringing me straight away, and I was like No, no, no'

Were not ringing, thats not where we are, so I cancelled the call and I texted him and I said: Did you just f***ing ring me? and he was like yeah?'

So thats where I am and I was like no were not doing that, Joanne insisted.

Following her breakup, Joanne recounted a recent trip to Las Vegas with her agent who was also recently single.

She joked: Vegas was wild, I dont know why I had to act like I was on a stag. The reason I was going was for work, I was going to do a series of shows

We threw in a bit of craic as well. Me and Christina are both recently single. Me and Alan have parted ways and Christina is recently single as well, she revealed.

Joanne McNally

The two women embarked on the trip to book future gigs but got overwhelmed by the aura of s*x in the air in Sin City.

However, Joanne confessed: I wasnt really arsed, but what I will say is I knew she [Christina] was a big hit with men, but the men were chatting her up and there was a stream of them.

I was like Im sorry Im here but where am I supposed to go Christina was doing that thing where shes like Joanne is a client and shes doing this and Im like stop selling me to these random men in their 50s.

The comedian and podcaster is currently in Abu Dhabi where she recently performed as part of the Comedy Week at the Etihad Arena alongside fellow Irish comic Tommy Tiernan and UK comedian Kevin Bridges.

She has been making the most of the trip as a mini solo break, but revealed a very serious issue she discovered with travelling on her own.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday afternoon, Joanne considered the problem of applying sunscreen to her back as she was getting scorched.

She said: One very serious issue with going on a single-woman solo holiday is youve no one to put cream on your back. My back is scorched and needs cream.

The Dubliner even revealed she had been eyeing up a woman and considering asking her to put the cream on her back.

I might ask her but she could reject (me) and I dont know if I could handle the rejection so publicly on a beach because it is a very strange request, she admitted.

Joanne with Vogue

She then shared her thoughts on hotels featuring the equivalent to a kids club for adults.

Its like for solo adults and we go and they spray us down in the morning and send us off for the day and check in with us make sure were okay and they sit with us if we want company at dinner and stuff, she explained, adding: Its a great idea.

Joanne shared a message she had received from a follower, saying: I went on a single gals holiday last year and this woman asked me to put cream on her back and then proceeded to ask me every day for the next 7 days. Careful what you commit to.

Joanne responded: Now thats taking the piss.
Navarra has gorgeous woodlands and mountains and its also home to the spectacular Bardenas Reales desert and natural park, which spans a whopping 42,500 hectares.

Its the four-word email no one wants to receive the night before a trip: Your flight is cancelled.

The shock news leapt off my screen and instantly sent stress and worry coursing through my body.

I was due to fly to Biarritz before heading to the Navarra region in northern Spain, but now my trip was in jeopardy.

Thankfully however, we found a route that didnt encroach on French airspace so after two flights, a brief layover and a four-hour car ride, I eventually made it to our destination of Pamplona.

Our first day was spent exploring the medieval town of Olite, just outside Pamplona, known as the seat of the kings.

We got to taste some local wines from Reyna de Copas (Queen of Cups) wine bar while our knowledgeable guide Juniper told us about the royal palace of Olite, one of the most luxurious medieval castles in Europe. The castle was partially destroyed by a fire in 1913 but was later rebuilt.

More delicious wine was on the menu at Bodegas Maximo Abete, a family-run winery in San Martin de Unx. Sisters Yoanna and Maria are carrying on dad Maximos traditions, focusing on traditional and sustainable winemaking practices.

Here, we tasted their Guerinda Casalasierra rose wine celebrated in this region  in fact there is even a rose wine day in June.

If you wish to bring some home, you can buy it in their shop for just 6.30  and at that price you could fill a suitcase!

Lunch was at Asador Casa Tomas where we sampled delicious dishes including black pudding, octopus and grilled vegetables. Curds are a popular dessert in this region, but I opted for cheesecake with red berries.

Navarra has gorgeous woodlands and mountains and its also home to the spectacular Bardenas Reales desert and natural park, which spans a whopping 42,500 hectares.

Bardenas Reales

Visitors can explore this incredible lunar-like landscape by car, bike, buggy, horseback or segway during the day but no one can stay overnight.

Cabins are dotted throughout the park, which serve as shepherds resting places. They can graze their sheep here during certain months and the cabins date back to when they were allowed to stay.

Climbing or standing on the slopes or dunes is also strictly forbidden.

The Bardenas are home to all kinds of flora and fauna, and using binoculars we watched vultures who enjoy the parks solitude and even have animal carcasses donated by farmers for their dinner!

The unique landscape has attracted filmmakers and musicians, with the latest Mad Max movie and a Paloma Faith music video shot here.

Edel in the Bardenas Reales

We had just finished our sightseeing when a downpour started, but we were soon under a cover and enjoying a dusk picnic of local delicacies including ham, asparagus, lettuce hearts drizzled with olive oil and sweet piquillo peppers along with more delicious wine to wash it down.

And the rain broke to reveal a beautiful sunset over the desert.

The following day took us high into the Pyrenees mountains to the Irati forest, the second largest beech and fir forest in Europe.

Our guide Koldo told us about the various plants, including ones once associated with witches due to their intoxicating effects and ones which could kill you with a single leaf.

Rain and wet ground cut our walk short, but our spirits were kept high as we chatted with our guides.

Stopping for lunch at the rustic Casa Sario restaurant, I was bemused to see colt steak on the menu  it wasnt a typo but after seeing adorable mountain horses on our journey, I wasnt going to try it!

Instead, I had hake stuffed with seafood and a delicious melt-in-the-mouth black pudding starter.

We then visited the Collegiate Church in the village of Roncesvalles, the entry point of the Camino de Santiago.

Unfortunately, conditions were quite chilly, and hail and rain were lashing down as we arrived. I felt very sorry for the valiant pilgrims and hikers we saw along the road.

Roncesvalles had just 19 permanent residents (three of whom are priests) in its last census, but pilgrims walking the Camino boost the population during the year.

Situated 3,000 feet high in the Pyrenees and four kilometres from the French border, it has been a stopping point for pilgrims for thousands of years with the first pilgrims hospital constructed here in the 12th century.

Thomb of Sancho VII el Fuerte in Roncesvalles, Navarra

It also boasts the beautiful French-Gothic Santa Maria church which would be a perfect setting for a wedding.

Here we saw the tomb of King Sancho the Strong, the museum with artworks including an impressive Dutch-style triptych and artefacts from the area, the original chapel and the Charlemagne silo which contains graves of local people and bones of French soldiers.

The chapel also has a charming statue of San Anton (not to be confused with St Anthony) with a pig, the patron saint of animals in this area.

After a brief rest at our hotel, we visited Michelin-recommended Enekorri which is renowned for its local produce.

This was an incredible fine dining experience in an intimate relaxed setting with helpful and friendly staff.

Enekorri

Our final day was spent touring Pamplona city, our base during the trip.

We stayed in the heart of the city at Hotel Tres Reyes.

After arriving very late on our first night it was lovely to see that the front desk had kindly left some food for us.

The hotel offers was a buffet breakfast each morning with a wide variety of food.

But Irish visitors take note  you are not guaranteed tea/coffee in Spanish hotel rooms, and I had none in mine. No problem  I was able to get both tea and coffee delivered to my room for a mere 2.85!

In Pamplona, our guide Cristina showed us where the famous bull run starts each year and the barricade to protect onlookers.

Despite animal welfare concerns, bull running and bullfighting remain hugely popular in Spain and particularly Pamplona, where it draws up to one million people every year for the San Fermin festival.

Bull-running barricade in Pamplona

The festival kicks off on July 6 with a firework at noon and lasts for nine days.

Each morning, six bulls and four oxen are released through the streets and brave/foolhardy runners sprint in front of them to the bullring.

The sun came out for our final day, and we enjoyed strolling through the city learning all about the history of Pamplona.

We also saw the exterior of the cathedral (it was a Sunday morning so we couldnt interrupt Mass) as well as the beautiful Art Deco Cafe Iruna once frequented by writer Ernest Hemingway.

He was fascinated by Navarra and spent time attending bull fights, fishing and writing.

Another gastronomic delight was tasting Basque-style cheesecake which is baked on the outside and doesnt have a biscuit base. Its the perfect accompaniment to a coffee in the sunshine.

From desert to desserts, Navarra really has it all.
Jennifer was last seen in the Dublin 1 area on Tuesday 21st May 2024 at approximately 8.20pm

Gardai are seeking the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 15-year-old Jennifer (goes by Jade) Halligan who is reported missing from her home in Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, since Tuesday 21st May 2024.

Jennifer was last seen in the Dublin 1 area on Tuesday 21st May 2024 at approximately 8.20pm.

Jennifer (Jade) is described as being approximately 5 foot in height, of a slim build, with blue eyes and blue-green hair.

When last seen, Jennifer (Jade) was wearing black jeans, red and black Jordan trainers, a black t-shirt and a light green jumper.

Gardai and Jennifer's (Jade's) family are concerned for her wellbeing.

Anyone with any information on Jennifer's (Jades) whereabouts is asked to contact Mountjoy Garda station on 01 666 8600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
Five tenants were given a single air fryer to cook meals

The landlords were ordered to return the tenants' deposits and pay each of them 300 in compensation. Photo: Getty

Three apprentice electricians had to leave their rental accommodation after just a few days because there was no heating, hot water or a gas boiler  and the landlord hung air fresheners around the house to disguise the smell of damp, a tribunal has been told.

The young men, originally from Dublin, agreed to rent a house for 150 a week in Pallasgreen, Co Limerick.

They were due to start a course at Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) as part of their training to become electricians.

The house was advertised online and they contacted one of the named landlords, who advised them some renovations were taking place. He assured them the works would be finished by the time the tenancy started.

There were no pictures of the property on the advertisement.

They each transferred a 600 deposit and agreed to move into the house on April 3 last year.

However, when they arrived at the property, it was cold and damp, they told the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).

The tenants claimed one of the bedroom doors did not close and they could not use the shower or cooking facilities because there was no gas or hot water

In their evidence to the RTB tribunal hearing, they said there was no heating, other than portable electric heaters on long extension leads.

The tenants claimed one of the bedroom doors did not close and they could not use the shower or cooking facilities because there was no gas or hot water.

A single air fryer was provided to cook meals for the five people living in the house.

They also claimed some of the electrical switches were broken and that they had to prop a chair against the front door to ensure it was secured.

When they brought their concerns to the landlord, he promised the issues would be addressed within a few days. However, this did not happen.

The tenants said they felt as if they had no option but to leave the house because they already had to throw out some clothes due to the level of dampness.

They claimed the landlord asked each of them for 120 to cover the few days they had been in the house

When they notified the landlord of their decision to find alternative accommodation, he said he would not be returning their deposits. He claimed he had already spent the money on renovations, they said.

The tenants said there was no written letting agreement, just two sheets of paper stating the rent was payable every Monday, and an acknowledgment that the landlords had received 600 from each of the students.

They claimed the landlord asked each of them for 120 to cover the few days they had been in the house.

Neither of the two landlords appeared before the RTB tribunal. Only three of the five tenants who lived in the house decided to take a case.

The RTB found that the landlords provided no evidence of any kind to substantiate their claim they were entitled to retain the deposits.

The adjudicator said the tenants suffered distress, anxiety, loss, expense and inconvenience.

Both landlords were ordered to return the deposits and pay each tenant 300 in compensation.

The RTB said the landlords were not entitled to receive any rent for the short number of days the tenants stayed because they did not attempt to rectify the condition of the house.
We run little s**ts like you out of Limerick on a regular basis. Dont even try it

Self-described misogynist Andrew Tate has been told to take his one quarter Irishness and shove it up your hole after he suggested he might move to Ireland.

The kickboxer and controversial influencer received a less than warm welcome as he revealed he is "tempted to move to Ireland".

In a post shared on X, Tate declared: "My grandfather was from Limerick. My mother half English half Irish. Making me one quarter Irish.

"When this bullsh*t in Romania is over Im tempted to move to Ireland and fund/raise awareness for all these brave people saving their nation from being invaded," he added.

Tate is awaiting trial in Romania where he has been charged with human trafficking and rape.

In response to his post some people suggested he come to Ireland to explore his background while others were a bit more forthright in their replies.

You can take that one quarter and shove it up your hole. We don't want you, one unambiguous response reads.

One local warned: We run little s**ts like you out of Limerick on a regular basis. Dont even try it.

Another simply said: We're grand, lad. Stay put.

Andrew and Tristan in action

Another offered a fake apology by saying, sorry, petal but no. Nil. Sorry about that but weve reached our Dose Quota here.

Its a shame, I know but lookit, maybe England can squeeze ya in. All the best, now.

You stay wherever you are lad. Ireland doesn't need you, stated another.

Earlier this month Andrew and his brother Tristan claimed they would move to Ireland if Conor McGregor is elected as President.

The brothers, who are both currently facing sex trafficking charges in Romania, posted a clip posted on X vowing to help the Crumlin fighter run for election.

Tristan describes the Dubliner as strong and claims he needs to become a leader of Ireland.

We said this about the leader of Ireland, Tristan states.

We said, Conor Gregor needs to become the President of Ireland. Does he know politics? Is he a skilled politician? No.

A bare-chested Andrew who is facing rape charges in Romania alongside his brother, interrupts: He loves the people of Ireland

Tristan adds: He loves the Irish people. He's born and bred Irish.

His great, great, great, grandfather was part of the Irish struggle. He's Irish to the core and he is strong. So I would vote for him, as an Irishman, make no mistake, I have an Irish passport.

He the directly addresses McGregor: Conor, if you're listening, I will help you in your campaign I will promote you I will vote for you myself.

Tristan then adds: "F**k it. If Connor McGregor becomes Irish president I'm moving to Ireland. At least part-time. Buying an old castle and going hunting every day."

Andrew Tate then replies, "I'm in," indicating his agreement with Tristan's statement.

That same week, a court in Romania said the trial of the controversial influencer and his brother Tristan is to go ahead.

No date has been set by the court which has been reviewing prosecutors' evidence and the pair have appealed.

Andrew Tate, 37, and Tristan, 35, were arrested last December over allegations of rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang - charges they deny.

The internet personalities are also wanted in the UK over sexual offences allegedly committed there.

The Tate brothers, who are dual UK-US nationals, are accused of exploiting women via an adult content business, which prosecutors allege operated as a criminal group.

Two female Romanian associates were also named alongside the brothers in an indictment published in June last year, and seven alleged victims were identified.

Andrew Tate is a self-described misogynist and was previously banned from social media platforms for expressing misogynistic views.

He has repeatedly claimed Romanian prosecutors have no evidence against him and there is a conspiracy to silence him.

The case had been discussed for months in a process before a preliminary chamber where the accused could challenge the evidence of the prosecutors.

A court in Bucharest said the case met the legal criteria and would proceed.

The brothers' lead counsel, Eugen Vidineac, said the ruling "lacks legal basis and reasoning".

"We have filed a strong appeal as we believe the ruling to be unlawful."
It comes just weeks after 2FM boss Dan Healy told The Sunday World that rumours of her departure were bullsh*t. Bullsh*t, bullsh*t.

Jennifer Zamparelli is the latest star to announce she is leaving her show on RTE 2FM.

A fresh blow for the national broadcaster, her departure follows the high-profile exit of Doireann Garrihy from the morning slot and the 2 Johnnies from their drivetime show.

It comes just weeks after 2FM boss Dan Healy told The Sunday World that rumours of her departure were bullsh*t. Bullsh*t, bullsh*t.

In a statement, RTE said Zamperelli is to hang up the mic on her daily show.

The co-host of Dancing With The Stars along with Garrihy presented her own show from 9-12pm weekdays on RTE 2FM since May 2019, having joined the station in February 2014 on Breakfast Republic.

Jennifer Zamparelli said: "I have been working in 2FM for 10 amazing years and now its time for me to move on. It has been a really difficult decision to make as I love my team, and of course chatting to you guys (the listeners) every morning. From the early starts on Breakfast Republic all those years ago, to opening up the phone lines again from 9-12pm, I have loved every minute. Within this time I have gotten married and had two kids and now I feel its their time. Florence and Enzo are growing up so fast its scary and I really feel now is the time to give them a little more of me, so I wont be returning to my daily radio show."

She paid tribute to the team who have worked with her through her ten years at RTE 2FM.

"Thank you to all the producers and BCOs who helped over the years. Thank you to my team for all the support and the laughs. Thanks to Paul Russell and Dan Healy for being so understanding of me needing my family time and for the opportunity to be on 2FM for 10 years. Im so excited to see what happens next with the station... I will be tuning in for sure, she said.

Head of RTE 2FM Dan Healy said: "After an amazing 10 years on 2FM, Jen has decided to leave the station. Funny, bold, and brave, Jen has been front and centre of 2FM from The Breakfast Republic Show to her brilliant own Jennifer Zamparelli Show. In February 2014, 2FM changed direction to appeal to younger audiences and Jen was key to achieving our goal. I want to thank her deeply for her energy and commitment to 2FM. It has been a privilege to work with such an amazingly talented person. I wish Jen, Lau and their gang all the best for the future and will cheer for Jen loudly in the next phase of her sparkling career".

Mr Healy continued: "Also, a big thanks to the producers who worked with Jen over the years - Dave Sherry on Breakfast Republic and Kate Proctor, Eithne Kelly, Anita Ward and Jon Jon Mehigan on The Jen Zamparelli Show and of course the rest of our colleagues who worked so hard on the shows."

On Tuesday, it was announced that The 2 Johnnies will leave RTE 2FM at the end of this month, while breakfast star and Jennifers DWTS co-host Doireann announced her plans to leave in recent weeks.

Jennifer had been absent from her show for several weeks, but station bosses had insisted that she would be returning and that she was on extended leave with Laura Fox covering for her.

Shes on leave. Its bullsh*t. Bullsh*t, bullsh*t, bullsh*t. Shes on leave. Its farcical, Healy told us in April.

She posted on social media that shes going on holidays.

Mr Healy told the Sunday World that he has no problem with Jennifer.

Its the reverse, he says. Shes brilliant, absolutely brilliant. On the breakfast show from the very beginning with Bernard (OShea) and Keith  shes an absolutely brilliant broadcaster. Shes a superstar, absolutely brilliant. Its absolute nonsense.

And earlier this month, Jennifers agent Lorraine Brennan reiterated her plans to return.

None of this is substantiated, Lorraine told the Sunday World in reference to a possible shake-up involving a new co-presenter.

She added: What Dan Healy told you is correct. Jennifer is coming back.

RTE 2FM said it would announce further details on its summer schedule in the coming weeks.
Work will soon start on the Heron Crescent elder housing redevelopment in Katikati, after a site blessing took place this week.

A small ceremony, led by Sam Tangiia, of Ngai Tamawhariua, was held ahead of construction, which is expected to start within the next few weeks.

Attended by iwi representatives, Western Bay of Plenty District Council staff, Councillors Allan Sole and Rodney Joyce, iLine Construction staff and previous tenant Wendy Morgan, the blessing marks a new era in elder housing for the town.

Affordable housing for older people is a key area of concern in our District. At the moment, there is limited affordable rental housing available in Katikati for older people, says Council Property Team Leader Nigel Sadlier.

Providing good quality, affordable housing for older people means they can continue to be a part of their local community, which results in greater wellbeing for both them and those around them.

The 26-unit development, which is being built by Mount Maunganui company iLine Construction, will see 15 additional units and the replacement of the 11 original 40-year-old units.

Foundational site works have already been completed, including retaining walls and new fencing, stormwater mains have been installed and the new public path between Heron Crescent and Diggelmann Park is open.

The heart of a community is shown in how it values older people and their contribution to a strong community. Every new home we build enables an older person or couple to remain an active part of the community, says Nigel.

The project is fully funded through the Better Off Fund and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Developments Affordable Housing Fund, which will see Council provide a mix of one and two-bedroom units that also cater for those with mobility issues - at no cost to ratepayers.

It is the second elder housing development Council has built in Katikati, with tenants moving into the seven new units built at Beach Road last year.

The 26 new units are expected to be completed and available by August 2025.

Elder Housing in the Western Bay of Plenty

Once completed, Council will have 85 elder housing units within the District - 39 in Katikati, 34 in Te Puke and 12 at Waihi Beach.

To be eligible, you must be a New Zealand resident, 65 or older and/or qualify for Government superannuation.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate their total assets are worth $40,000 or less for a single person, and $50,000 or less for a couple. They must also be able to demonstrate they are able to live independently.

Those wanting to apply for a unit should complete an Eligibility Criteria Assessment Form for each person who will be staying in a unit. The form can be found at: www.westernbay.govt.nz/community/elder-housing

Photo caption: From left, Jodie Rickard, Kerrie Little, Tangihaere Nathan, Rodney Joyce, Hilary Debenham, Allan Sole, Wendy Morgan, Jared Smith, Pare Samuels-Hudson, Murray Sunckell, Kerewai Wanakore, Jeremy Bethell, Meveana Tangiia, James Blair, Sam Tangiia and Frank Rientjes.
A woman in her 60s is in a serious condition in Waikato Hospital following an attack by a pack of dogs near Tairua on Tuesday.

Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust Doctor Anil Joshi confirmed five dogs attacked the woman.

Dr Joshi says the woman received multiple injuries, as he worked alongside his crew, Hato Hone St John and Fire and Emergency New Zealand staff to treat her.

He confirmed her injuries were serious.

I think its another opportunity to recognise the nature of dog attacks and how they can be dangerous.

It is just a shame that this sort of thing happens; if it was a child, it would have been more dangerous.

Dr Joshi praised emergency services for a collaborative approach during the incident.

The trust was contacted at about 8am to assist the woman who suffered injuries from a dog attack, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust staff say.

She was flown to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition.

It was confirmed the helicopter landed in Tairua about 8.36am and arrived at Waikato Hospital about 10.11am.

A spokesperson for Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust say the delay in getting the patient to hospital was because the patient needed to be treated and stabilised on the ground prior to transport.

It was confirmed Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) were also in attendance.

Hato Hone St John confirmed it was notified of the incident at Pukepoto at about 7.49am, and responded with one ambulance, and one first response unit.

Police confirmed they were notified of an incident involving a dog on Main Rd at 9.03am.

We have since spoken with the victim and are referring this incident to the Thames-Coromandel District Council.

A spokesperson for Thames-Coromandel District Council says it was investigating.

Our thoughts are with the woman injured in Tairua this morning and her family.

We wish her a speedy and thorough recovery; were investigating what happened but until its complete, we cant say anything more about the incident.

Waikato Herlad
New Zealand looks on the cusp of another Covid-19 wave similar in size to our last two, a modeller says  but this time, its hitting in the thick of sick season.

Six months on from last years Christmas wave, Professor Michael Plank says thered been a sharp increase in indicators toward another bump.

That included a jump in hospital admissions last week  from 152 cases in the previous week to 242  along with a near doubling in reported cases, from 3922 to 6146.

Michael, of Covid-19 Modelling Aotearoa, says genomic sampling also pointed to the local rise of a new group of Omicron strains called FLiRT variants.

It's a public covid report week, and since @RhysTWhite has gone off to play in the UK I better present the highlights: https://t.co/He3IWs6XmY .



We have added a few JN.1 subvariants to our set of tracked variants for all plots: pic.twitter.com/Vdc2HdrNdg  David Winter (@TheAtavism) May 17, 2024

The strains descended from the long-dominant JN.1 subvariant and packed genetic machinery linked with higher spread  but there was not yet evidence to suggest they made people sicker than their Omicron predecessors.

So, I think these things are coming together to indicate were possibly heading into a new wave at the moment.

As for how large that wave would be, Michael expected something of similar scale to recent ones.

The most recent wave, which hit just ahead of the summer holidays, pushed weekly hospitalisations to more than 350  slightly higher than the peak of the preceding mini-wave in April last year.

Were in a cycle now where, when we get a wave, a significant number of people will get infected and develop some immunity, but over time, that population-level immunity decreases due to waning and the arrival of new variants, he says.

Eventually, we reach a point where that immunity level has dropped low enough that the virus can start to increase - and the cycle begins again.

Quite a jump in Covid hospitalisations to 242 from 152 last week. Plus flu season is just beginning.

Reminder you can book Covid & flu vaccines at https://t.co/rZxjgPfv48

Covid booster free for all over 30s

Flu jab available for all over 6 mo, free for 65+ & other risk groups  Michael Plank (@MichaelPlankNZ) May 20, 2024

This time, he says it was concerning that the wave was taking off as the winter flu season begins for already-stretched hospitals  something likely to mean delayed operations for some patients.

Its tricky to predict exactly what the flu season is going to look like, but in June, we could be looking at quite high levels of flu, combined with high levels of Covid  and that will certainly put pressure on hospitals.

Besides taking usual health precautions, Michael says the best thing people could do to ease that strain was to get vaccinations for both viruses.

Nows a really good time to be getting those to reduce the likelihood of getting sick with either Covid or flu during the winter.

Jamie Morton is a specialist in science and environmental reporting. He joined the Herald in 2011 and writes about everything from conservation and climate change to natural hazards and new technology.
I could lose them right now while were talking.

Maher Azzam is speaking about his family in Gaza, who are in constant danger due to the ongoing war.

The Palestinian national and Tauranga law student is desperate to get his family out of the war-torn area and to safety. He is calling on Immigration New Zealand to create special category visas, like it did for those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Maher grew up in Gaza and moved to New Zealand just over a year ago to be with his wife Tessa.

He was in New Zealand when the conflict began on October 7 after Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented surprise early-morning attack.

Since then, ground fighting and aid restrictions have claimed the lives of about 35,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

Before the conflict, 42 members of Mahers immediate and extended family, including children, had shared a large three-storey home Al-Nasr, in Gazas northwest, but were now living in tents.

Maher says his family were among the 360,000 Palestinians recently driven from the southern Gaza city of Rafah by escalating Israeli military operations.

They had moved to the area after their hometown was levelled by constant bombardment.

Maher Azzam is trying to get his family out of war-torn Gaza. Photo / Alex Cairns.

They had to move again, half were in Rafah, and they joined the other half in Khan Yunis [a city in the southern Gaza Strip] last week.

Maher says he had to take a break from his job as a junior criminal defence lawyer in Tauranga due to the stress he was under and the constant worry about his family.

I could lose them right now while were talking, Maher told the Bay of Plenty Times.

Maher set up a Givealittle page to raise money to evacuate his parents from Rafah.

More than $20,000 has been donated so far but no one can get in or out of Rafah right now, he says.

Maher was waiting for an indication from Immigration New Zealand that special category visas, like the exemptions made for those impacted by Russias invasion of Ukraine, would be granted.

Some of his family did not have passports or the documentation required to get one.

For Maher, the decision to grant special category visas came down to a moral principle.

People For Palestine claims there is a double standard when it comes to humanitarian protection.

The group says current Immigration Minister Erica Stanford, while in Opposition, urged the then Labour Government to create special category visas for immediate family members of Ukrainians who have settled in New Zealand.

Spokeswoman Bronwyn Cotter says we ask her [Erica] and her National Party base on what basis has this not been done for the families of Kiwi Palestinians?

In response, Erica says if someone was granted a visa, for example by Egypt, to enter their country they could receive consular support to get the correct documentation.

After all living in the same home in Al Nasser for more than 30 years, the family of 42 have moved into two tents in Khan Yunis after being forced to evacuate Rafah early last week. Photo / Supplied.

However, the majority of people in Gaza could not leave because Palestines borders were effectively closed.

Immigration NZ was prioritising visa requests for Palestinians, but it was Israel and Egypt that granted visas for people to leave Palestine, Erica says.

While there is no special visa for Palestinians, New Zealanders with family in Gaza can apply for a visitor visa for them.

We encourage people who have family in Gaza to contact Immigration New Zealand about a visitor visa.

Former Labour Party Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control Phil Twyford says a special Gaza visa should be created and diplomats should make every effort to get people out.

Gaza is a living hell right now because of the Israeli onslaught. Kiwis with families trapped in the war zone are distraught, and many have already had family members killed by Israels military action.

Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs Todd McClay recently acknowledged: Its a very concerning challenge in the Middle East and its something that I know many New Zealanders feel quite strongly about.

Maher says if it were not for his Kiwi wife and her family, he would have returned to Gaza.

He says that in 2008, his older brother was injured by a bomb while travelling in a school bus and still lives with those injuries to this day.

He is being displaced again, theres nowhere safe in Gaza, no shelter, Maher says.

Palestinians just want to go home, he says.

Maher Azzam is desperate to get visas for his family. Photo / Alex Cairns.

We want to live in Palestine and when this is over that is what youll see, people returning home to rebuild their homes.

That is the resilience of Palestinians, he says.

Maher says he grew up collecting footage of drone attacks in Gaza and dreamed of one day being a humanitarian worker for the UN Security Council.

He also represented Palestine in the Model United Nations as a 15-year-old, participating in delegation simulations and dreamed one day of taking a seat at the UN.

But since the conflict started, his only dream is that New Zealand creates special category visas which he hopes will allow him to get his family to safety.

Change on immigration settings a decision for Cabinet

People for Palestine advocate Olivia Coote says the organisation had been working with Auckland man Nehad Albattniji to help bring his six surviving members from Egypt to New Zealand.

Nehad, a New Zealand citizen, told 1News in March that he had lost 77 members of his family in Gaza.

Olivia says their visa applications were declined this week.

She says it was frustrating because people who had family in Gaza were being encouraged to contact Immigration NZ about a visitor visa.

What has been happening is that of course, there are a lot of people who do not have documents or access to their documents or their passports have been destroyed.

So those people are in a very difficult situation, which is why, you know, special humanitarian visas that have different conditions would be optimal for the situation, Olivia says.

Erica says the humanitarian situation in Gaza was heartbreaking.

The decision on the application for this family was an operational decision by Immigration New Zealand and I am unable to comment on individual cases.

Erica says any change to the Governments position on immigration settings was a decision for Cabinet and needs to be considered in the context of our broader response which is led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

All decisions of this nature are context-dependent. In light of the evolving situation in Gaza, I provided an update to Cabinet recently on visa applications from Gaza and sought their views.

Following that discussion, the current settings have been retained, Erica says.

Applications for visitor visas for immediate family members of Palestinian New Zealanders would be prioritised, Erica says.

Aleyna Martinez is a multimedia journalist based in the Bay of Plenty.

-Aleyna Martinez, Bay of Plenty Times
A group of boaties felt the pinch over the weekend after Police caught up with them in the Hauraki Gulf.

Sergeant Peter Comer, of the Auckland Maritime Unit, says that at around 11am an informant called Great Barrier Police to advise them of three vessels with divers in the water off the coast of Great Barrier Island.

The Police Maritime Unit were then called to respond.

Police Launch Deodar III was soon in the area, however upon approaching the vessels, the largest of three began steaming away from the island, he says.

The 8.8m vessel, with twin outboards, was intercepted by the Police Maritime Unit a short time later who stopped them under lights and sirens.

Officers boarded and searched the vessel where our teams located 21 Packhorse Crayfish, some of which were undersize, Sergeant Comer says.

Those found to be undersized were confiscated and returned to the ocean.

Police inspected the two further vessels a short time later and Sergeant Comer says those on the vessels had the appropriate quota and size of Packhorse Crayfish on board.

Between the three vessels, a total of 45 Packhorse Crayfish were inspected.

The Police Maritime Unit want to remind the public they are here for your safety, but if you are breaking Fisheries laws, it will only be a matter of time before Police and/or Fisheries New Zealand Fishery Officers end up speaking to you.

Police are continuing to work with our partner agencies to ensure we are all working together to keep New Zealand fisheries sustainable for the future.

Enquiries into the circumstances remain ongoing.

Sergeant Comer says Police would also like to thank the member of the public who initially contacted Police with their concerns and we encourage this to continue.

If the public see anything of concern or if you suspect poaching, please call 0800 POACHER.

You can also contact Police via 111 if something is happening now or on 105 if it is after the fact.
A wananga in Whakatane is celebrating its largest cohort of indigenous doctoral graduates.

Haka and waiata filled the main streets of Whakatane, as regalia-wearing tauira - students - walked through town to celebrate graduation.

On Friday, May 10 Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi acknowledged the hard work of its tauira and marked a record year for the number of indigenous doctoral graduands in a ceremony.

Chief Executive Professor Wiremu Doherty says it's remarkable to be conferring nearly 2,500 tohu - qualifications - in person and in absentia, with 14 of these at the doctoral level.

Graduation is a chance to come together and celebrate the journey, acknowledging the commitment that goes into obtaining tohu, with the whanau who empowered tauira to pursue further education. It is a privilege to play a role in their development, and to send them off with well wishes to take their next steps.

A powhiri was held at the beginning of the day at Te Manuka Tutahi marae, before graduands made their way to town for the traditional Gown and Town hikoi - walk - before returning to Te Manuka Tutahi marae for the ceremony.

Kaimahi from Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi with doctoral graduands. Photo: Supplied.

Among qualifications conferred was a Distinguished Fellowship in Education. Adrienne von Tunzelmann was awarded this by Awanuiarangi for her exemplary contributions to community development, governance and education.

Awanuiarangi is a tertiary education provider that offers programmes from entry-level foundational courses through to doctoral studies. It is the only Wananga in Aotearoa New Zealand to offer doctoral studies and its focus is on enabling indigenous learning methods and programmes.

We are so proud to be at the forefront of indigenous studies, not only in Aotearoa New Zealand, but as an internationally renowned tertiary provider that supports an authentic experience of learning within a matauranga Maori framework, adds Professor Doherty.

Among guests at graduation were an overseas cohort from the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence in Victoria, Australia. The group travelled to New Zealand to learn more about the indigenous learning model Awanuiarangi employs as their own indigenous-led education facility takes shape.

We are really thrilled they could join us for this milestone for our tauira, particularly in a record- breaking year for the number of indigenous doctoral graduands, at 14. To be able to showcase our tauira, including international tauira from the likes of Washington in the US and Fiji, who have chosen us to further their education, is a real highlight, explains Professor Doherty.

Graduation is one of two significant events for Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi in May. Iwi Taketake, a symposium for the doctoral graduands to present their research to their community, has also taken place on Thursday 9 May.

Research leads presented findings on various topics from the impacts on whakapapa of removing children from families, Reo Maori reclamation, river protection, as well as identity politics.

Whanau enjoyed a day of thought-provoking panels, and a keynote address from Distinguished Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith - one of the most influential and internationally recognised Maori scholars and researchers.

Council chairperson, the Hon. Justice Layne Harvey, is proud of the indigenous lens being applied to projects that will make major impacts.

Awanuiarangi represents a tradition of maintaining and enhancing indigenous and contemporary knowledge that stretches back beyond the centuries before colonisation. Through the many hands and minds that have helped shaped this institution over the past three decades, we have drawn on the capability and capacity of those traditions to enable our tauira to focus on indigenous areas of study.

Iwi Taketake is a demonstration of what the future looks like, with curious and inquisitive minds leading the way. Our eagerness to discover the next steps our tauira take is matched by the immense pride we feel in their achievements as our 2023 graduates.

Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi:



Founded in Whakatane in 1992 by Ngati Awa and officially registered as a Wananga in 1997 under s162 of the Education Act 1989, Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi is the only wananga that delivers programmes from foundation studies through to Doctorates of Philosophy.

This accent on higher qualifications is captured in the title, using the term Whare to describe this institution as a higher house of learning, similar to the ancient Whare Wananga academies.

Today, with campuses in Whakatane, Auckland and Whangarei, the vision of Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi is to encourage and enable its more than 5,900 students, including indigenous Doctoral students from Washington state and Hawaii, to pursue knowledge to the greatest depths and its broadest horizons, and make a difference to communities in New Zealand, and internationally.
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"He killed my father and now he is laughing at us and at Spanish justice." This is what Veronica, one of the three daughters of Mario Sauco , a 66-year-old man who died in 2018 in Fuengirola after being punched by a British tourist following an incident in a bar in the Costa del Sol resort, told SUR less than a month ago.

The reason for the indignation of Veronica and the entire Sauco family is that, six years after the event, the British man responsible for the death of her father, identified as Mark T., has not paid for the crime he committed, despite being convicted of it. Neither in prison nor through the compensation of 183,500 euros that he promised to pay to the victim's family.

In view of the convicted man's "repeated" non-compliance, the Criminal Court number 5 of Malaga, in charge of the execution of the sentence, issued warrants to locate him. Four years ago, it issued an international arrest warrant and another European arrest warrant for the detention of Mark T.

Just when it seemed that the crime would go unpunished, Interpol has informed the court that the Briton had been arrested. The UK authorities have confirmed that Mark T. has been arrested and that extradition proceedings have been initiated for his transfer to Spain to answer for the reckless homicide of Mario Sauco.

After receiving the Interpol alert, Malaga Criminal Court number 5 has notified the parties and the Public Prosecutor's Office, specifically the area of International Legal Cooperation, so that they can work out how to proceed in this case, taking into account the exit of the United Kingdom - the same year of the trial - from the framework of the European Union in the Brexit.

Mark T. was tried in 2020. He acknowledged the facts and accepted a two-year prison sentence , as well as agreeing to pay compensation of 183,500 euros to the family of Mario Sauco, who left a widow and four grandchildren whom he used to look after so that his three daughters could go to work.

The British man applied for a suspended sentence on condition that he did not reoffend and that he paid civil liability. The sentence included a payment schedule of 60 instalments at a rate of 3,051 euros per month to settle the compensation.

The court warned him that after the third missed monthly payment, his sentence would be revoked and he would have to go to prison to answer for the death of Sauco. It has been six years since the murder and four years since he was sentenced. And as of a month ago Mark T. has not paid a single euro.

During the first months, the Briton sent several emails to the 5th Criminal Court of Malaga - in charge of the execution of the sentence - alleging problems with the bank transfers, but the truth is that, at least until yesterday, the judicial account had not received a penny in Mark T.'s name.
Syracuse, N.Y. - A man was arrested after escaping from handcuffs and running from a parole office in Syracuse on Tuesday, police said.

Jourdan Olden, 22, was being held at the state Parole Office at 333 E. Washington St. around 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, Syracuse Police said in a criminal complaint filed in city court.

He was picked up on a warrant for third-degree assault and was being held in the office while waiting for Syracuse police officers to get him, police said.

His hands were handcuffed behind his back and connected to a bench by other handcuffs, Parole Officer Kellyann Kash said in a police statement.

He managed to get off the bench and run out the door, Kash said. Multiple parole officers chased him on foot and in vehicles, she said.

Olden was caught about a half mile from the office at Hawley Avenue and North McBride Street, she said.

His assault warrant was for a Jan 18 incident in which he punched a woman in the face, police said. He was on parole after serving just over two years for second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon, according to state inmate records.

For his escape, Olden was charged with third-degree escape, police said. He is being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center jail on no bail, according to jail records.

Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A Syracuse man who offered money to children on a social media app for sexually explicit pictures pleaded guilty Tuesday to receiving child pornography, prosecutors said.

William Futrell, 31, has been a registered sex offender since 2015 for promoting a sexual performance by a child, according to the state Sex Offender Registry. He traded images that depicted children being sexually abused, police said.
Ryan Chaif pops the top of a slender can, and pours a hazy golden liquid into a glass. Even from across the bar, the intensity of the aroma hits you.

No its not a New England-style hazy IPA. Its not even a beer.
Comedian Chelsea Handler is bringing her stand-up tour, The Little Big Bitch (LBB) Tour, to the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY on Sunday, May 26. The show starts at 8:00 p.m.

The comedian, actress, TV personality and best-selling author is best known for her talk shows The Chelsea Handler Show, Chelsea Lately and Chelsea, as well as her Netflix documentaries Chelsea Does and Hello, Privilege. Its Me, Chelsea. Handlers previous stand-up specials have included 2014s Uganda Be Kidding Me on Netflix, 2020s Evolution on Max and 2022s Revolution on Netflix.

Her observational style of comedy can be described as irrelevant and edgy. She often incorporates personal anecdotes and social commentary into her material.

Where to buy the cheapest Chelsea Handler tickets:

Prices are noted at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Ticketmaster has limited standard admission seating available for select dates, but greater availability and deals are offered by Vivid Seats, StubHub or SeatGeek.

Related: Comedy shows coming to Upstate NY: Kevin Hart, Nikki Glaser, more comedians

Handler kicked off The LBB Tour last year, previously hitting the region in Waterloo, East Hampton and New York City. The comedian will also be going international with shows in Australasia.

A special taping of the show will be taking place at The Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ on Saturday, November 23. Two shows are scheduled: one at 7:00 p.m. and one at 9:30 p.m.

The Turning Stone Resort Casino show, originally scheduled for May 11, was rescheduled to May 26 due to scheduling conflicts. Those who previously bought tickets before the change will still be able to attend with their original tickets.
By Cayla Bamberger | New York Daily News

State University of New York Chancellor John King warned of potential fallout from the ongoing FAFSA nightmare as fears grow that enrollments will drop while students are unable to access federal aid.

The FAFSA submission rate in New York is currently about 20% lower than it was this time last year, according to a policy book released Wednesday as part of the chancellors annual State of the University speech  a trend that is likely to lead to fewer students being able to go to college.

Along with our triumphs come challenges, King said during a roughly 30-minute address. This year, our biggest roadblock to success is navigating the federal problems surrounding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

Last fall, SUNY logged its first enrollment gains in more than a decade in every sector of the system.

But the delayed rollout and crippling bugs of the new FAFSA created a mess, King said, leading to fewer students finishing the form. While the simplified process is expected to make it easier to get aid in the long run, for now, it could block access to college, experts say.

The potential reduction in attendance has higher education champions quaking nationwide, King said.

In response, King announced Wednesday the public university system will nearly double the number of campuses served by a FAFSA Corps, a group of paid SUNY students helping high school seniors and their families. About 70 students from 12 campuses will participate, up from 50 people at seven schools this past year.

SUNY will also launch a virtual help desk to aid with the form, and provide more training and technical assistance through local organizations and high school counselors. Also, for the first time next school year, FAFSA completion at New York high schools will be a requirement for graduation, thanks to a recently enacted provision in the state budget.

The chancellor had this ingenious idea that we will make sure that every student, before they leave high school, will have had help in filling it out  guidance counselors, teachers, other parents, Gov. Kathy Hochul said as she introduced King. This is the transformation that were undertaking right now.

_____

2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com
Buffalo, N.Y.  Get ready to wing it, foodies: Upstate New Yorks spiciest path has landed a spot on a list of the top food trails in the United States.

The Buffalo Wing Trail has been named one of the best food and drink trails in America by Time Out, an international travel website. The saucy trail made the ranking along 10 others, including Georgias Macon Bacon Trail and the New Jersey Pizza Trail.

Theres never been a better time to hit the road hungry, Time Out said.

Buffalo is the birthplace of Buffalo chicken wings  arguably one of Americas favorite foods. To celebrate the tasty historical link, Visit Buffalo Niagara created a map for gastronauts of the best wings in and around the City of Good Neighbors.

The Buffalo Wing Trail started with 12 stops in 2018 and is now up to 13.

Duff's Famous Wings, at 3651 Sheridan Drive in Amherst, N.Y., is one of the stops on the Buffalo Wing Trail  a food trail that was just named one of the top food and drink trails in America by Time Out. Katrina Tulloch | ktulloch@syracuse.comKatrina Tulloch | ktulloch@syracuse.com

Time Out praised the Buffalo Wing Trail for including variations of the appetizer that go beyond hot sauce. (The trail sorts out destinations by four categories: spicy, saucy, original and unusual.)

The digital magazine picked two standout destinations: Elmos Bar & Restaurant, which serves saucy double-dipped wings, and Glen Park Tavern, famed for Sicilian wings doused in parmesan cheese, garlic, basil and oregano.

A full map of the Buffalo Wing Trail  which, of course, includes Anchor Bar and Duffs Famous Wings  is on Visit Buffalo Niagaras website.

The Buffalo Wing Trail was the only New York-based food or drink trial to make Time Outs roundup.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  A New York state senator wont face charges after he was accused of shoving an advocate in the state capitol building last week.

Disability rights advocate Michael Carey, who filed a complaint with New York State Police after a heated exchange with state Sen. Kevin Parker turned physical, told The Associated Press that he spoke with Parker on Friday and they resolved things in a peaceable way.
Minister Martin Heydon launches report on Sustainable Transition of the Rural Economy through Generational Renewal

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for research and innovation, Martin Heydon T.D, today, Thursday, 23 May, launched a Department funded research report titled Sustainable Transition of the Rural Economy Through Generational Renewal, at Maynooth University.

An aging farming population is a major concern to the sustainability of the rural economy in Ireland. Prior research has identified the strongest barriers to innovation in agriculture are at farm level, and relate to business structures, lack of land mobility and aging farmers.

In this context, through a combination of desk-based research, interviews with farmers and agricultural advisors, and a survey of farmers, the dual roles of collaborative farming and retirement income provisioning in facilitating generational renewal was comprehensively explored.

Launching the report, Minister Heydon, said: Attracting the next generation of farmers is crucial to securing the future of Irish agriculture. This important research funded by my Department looks at many of challenges and barriers to succession and importantly explores potential solutions.

Ireland currently provides important supports for generational renewal through the tax system and the Common Agricultural Policy. This is an area that is under constant review and the findings of this project will be carefully considered by my Department.

Dr Michael Hayden and Dr Bridget McNally from Maynooth University, along with Anne Kinsella from Teagasc, led this research project over the past two years.

The key project findings and recommendations include:

There is significant potential for growth in collaborative farming via alternative business structures in Ireland. However, the area where this growth is targeted needs to be carefully considered by policymakers given the economic vulnerability of many farm enterprises.

Numerous benefits and challenges are identified with the operation of collaborative farming arrangements. Farmers contemplating entering them need to be made aware of such issues prior to establishment, and to be cognisant that such arrangements are not always successful.

Many countries in Europe have bespoke subsidised State pension arrangements for the farming community, which recognise farmers as a unique cohort of individuals and incorporate provisions to ensure that the social insurance system extends fully to all individuals within the farming community.

The Irish pension system has created significant gaps in social welfare pension coverage within the farming community. Lessons learned from the structure of the social welfare pensions system in other European countries could be used to modify the Irish system to assist in closing the gap of pension coverage within the farming community and support generational renewal in agriculture.

The level of private pension coverage in the farming community is approximately 50% with significant variation with farm systems. Reasons given for low pension coverage levels include: lack of affordability, havent got around to setting up a pension, lack of trust in private pension providers, and reliance on other personal savings/assets to fund retirement.

The research team envisage that the learnings from this project will play an important role in supporting the current and next generations of farmers in Ireland.

The report is available to read here
23 May 2024

Type Report



This project is a funded project conducted under the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) 2021 funding programme. It is a collaboration between Maynooth University and Teagasc. The project provides some key recommendations for consideration by policymakers and industry stakeholders



Download Publication (PDF)

Generational renewal is fundamental to the sustainability of agriculture in Ireland and in many other countries around the world. The information gained in this project makes a significant contribution to research and delivers knowledge for practice and policy around generational renewal.

Sustainable generational renewal programmes necessitate a dual focus. They require a framework of supports for adequate retirement income provisioning for retiring farmers (and their dependants) within a clear exit strategy from the farm. Secondly, a framework to provide farm successors and new entrants a formal route to farm ownership is required. Most farms in Ireland operate as sole-traders and this can hinder family-farm transfers and act as a barrier for new entrants. Collaborative farming and alternative farm business structures offer potential frameworks for families to farm together and for new entrants to join the industry, but to date have low adoption in Irish agriculture.

Accordingly, this project has two research objectives (ROs):

RO1:To conduct a comprehensive review of collaborative farming and alternative farm business structures in Irish agriculture, its role in farm succession and in attracting/facilitating new entrants, thereby developing a framework for the integration of alternate farm business structures into start-up/succession and retirement planning.

RO2:To conduct a comprehensive review of retirement income provisioning in Irish agriculture, its impact on farm succession and on living standards of retired farmers (including their dependants), thereby developing a sustainable model for farm succession which supports both successors/new entrants and retiring farmers.

Through an in-depth review of the literature, the conduction of cross county comparative analysis using a desk-based research approach, the completion of qualitative interviews with farmers and agricultural advisors, and the conduction of a survey with farmers, this study develops a comprehensive understanding of the role of collaborative farming arrangements and pension provision for the farming community to address the generational renewal challenge. This executive summary profiles the key project findings and recommendations.




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Re: Maruti-rebadged models make up 44% of Toyota sales Quote: TusharK Originally Posted by



Attachment 2608415



During the 12 months from May 1, 2023, and April 30, 2024, Toyota sold 2,49,737 vehicles. Of these, 1,09,706 units were rebadged Maruti Suzuki models like the Glanza, Urban Cruiser Taisor, Rumion and Urban Cruiser Hyryder.



The Glanza was the most popular rebadged Maruti product. 52,989 units were sold during the 12 months, followed by the Urban Cruiser Hyryder (49,552 units), which is a rebadged version of the Grand Vitara. The Rumion, which is Toyotas version of the Ertiga, recorded 7,165 units of sales.



Toyota and Maruti entered into a product-sharing agreement in 2019. It enabled both carmakers to share costs and increase volumes with minimal investment. That being said, Toyota-badged cars command a slight premium over their Maruti-badged counterparts.



As part of the partnership with Toyota, Maruti Suzuki offers the Invicto, which is a rebadged version of the Innova Hycross.



Source:



Link to Team-BHP News Badge-engineered products make up almost half of Toyotas sales in India. According to the latest figures, 44% of the cars sold by the brand were rebadged Maruti Suzuki models.During the 12 months from May 1, 2023, and April 30, 2024, Toyota sold 2,49,737 vehicles. Of these, 1,09,706 units were rebadged Maruti Suzuki models like the Glanza, Urban Cruiser Taisor, Rumion and Urban Cruiser Hyryder.The Glanza was the most popular rebadged Maruti product. 52,989 units were sold during the 12 months, followed by the Urban Cruiser Hyryder (49,552 units), which is a rebadged version of the Grand Vitara. The Rumion, which is Toyotas version of the Ertiga, recorded 7,165 units of sales.Toyota and Maruti entered into a product-sharing agreement in 2019. It enabled both carmakers to share costs and increase volumes with minimal investment. That being said, Toyota-badged cars command a slight premium over their Maruti-badged counterparts.As part of the partnership with Toyota, Maruti Suzuki offers the Invicto, which is a rebadged version of the Innova Hycross.Source: Autocar India



Having driven a friend's 2007 Camry recently, which has lasted very long and well maintained, I feel Toyota should relaunch their authentic products again and not treat customers in India as some numbers for sales. But of course, some Indians are naive/gullible to succumb to such advertising - Maruti's sales are high because they prefer to compromise build quality by reducing weight which is a dividend for high fuel economy and lower price, and this ultimately impacts safety, even if the cars have ABS, 6 airbags and much more. None of them become effective if the body shell itself is built to be crushed like a can of Coca-Cola. Honestly, I am extremely disappointed with Toyota. They do not have much of their own, authentic product line-up for Indian customers. The Yaris, Corolla, they were great cars, but discontinuing them was a disappointing decision. Same for Honda, who pulled the plug on Civic, CR-V and Accord, but still they have authentic products like City, Amaze, and now Elevate. Toyota on the other hand, are selling upscaled versions of Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Vitara, Ertiga etc.Having driven a friend's 2007 Camry recently, which has lasted very long and well maintained, I feel Toyota should relaunch their authentic products again and not treat customers in India as some numbers for sales. But of course, some Indians are naive/gullible to succumb to such advertising - Maruti's sales are high because they prefer to compromise build quality by reducing weight which is a dividend for high fuel economy and lower price, and this ultimately impacts safety, even if the cars have ABS, 6 airbags and much more. None of them become effective if the body shell itself is built to be crushed like a can of Coca-Cola.
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Re: Alternative Schools in India



Our daughter is 1.5 years old and we are starting the research on which education system we enroll her in.

It starts really with what role do schools play today, and how best can they equip the student for the future. The pace at which the world is changing is rapid and accelerating exponentially. We started with PCs, but the Internet, Phones, Youtube, and now AI - have fundamentally changed what is required to be happy and successful. Rote learning and focusing education on winning the competitive race to some college, may not be relevant skills in the future.



The ability to learn, to be engaged and have deep curiosity in your chosen subjects, to have a love and appreciation for the arts, to be physically active via sports and to be socially well adjusted are probably going to be key ingredients to a well educated mind IMHO. Schools which can provide an environment where a child can get these in a structured manner will probably be the right schools.



Some of our friends have sent/are planning to send their kids to Alternative schools, and this has given us good exposure to this different way of schooling. Some things which stood out to me about Alternative schools:



1. Mixed age classroom: Kids are grouped based on level of learning, vs an arbitrary age based cutoff.



2. Curriculum aligned but creatively executed: Most of these schools will map age based learning outcomes to some curriculum- usually ICSE. So the learning destination remains the same as a regular school - but the journey to that outcome is markedly different. E.g. Many schools focus on a single subject for X days vs 5 subjects being taught per day with crazy context switching. This week we will study Science and go really deep with experiments, nature walks, guest lectures, presentations, projects etc. Kids are allowed to engage in the topic as per their interest. If you are super interested go deeper, if not - cover the basics.



3. Good teacher to student ratio: Some of the schools we have researched have a teacher to student ratio of as low as 1:10



4. Affordability: Many alternative schools cost ~Rs 2lakh in tuition. Compare this with the Bangalore international schools which are 3 to 5 times as expensive (not counting the international study tours and the like)



5. Vibes: Many of these schools e.g. Prakriya, Valley school are set in nature, kids get to run around and play etc. Additionally many of these schools have a strong focus on kindness, empathy, respect, learning etc vs competition, one upmanship, scholarships and olypiads etc. The children seem to be happier and in love with education.



So net net these schools do present a strong case, as alternative options to a regular CBSE, ICSE school. The opposite arguments are- 1) Will kids coming out of such a system have the academic rigor and discipline to grit and do stuff that they many not necessarily enjoy (an important skill in life) and 2) How much can you as a parent participate in this process. Most of these alternate schools require significant participation from parents in mirroring the teachings of the school at home. Additionally since you have chosen an alternate path for your child, you as parent will have to take the additional responsibility to ensure your child covers any gaps that may exist in this system. We are still researching, and would love to learn from othe rparents on the forum.



For Bengaluru do check out the following schools in addition to the ones already mentioned in this thread:

1. Bhavya learning

2. The Atelier school Super thread!Our daughter is 1.5 years old and we are starting the research on which education system we enroll her in.It starts really with what role do schools play today, and how best can they equip the student for the future. The pace at which the world is changing is rapid and accelerating exponentially. We started with PCs, but the Internet, Phones, Youtube, and now AI - have fundamentally changed what is required to be happy and successful. Rote learning and focusing education on winning the competitive race to some college, may not be relevant skills in the future.The ability to learn, to be engaged and have deep curiosity in your chosen subjects, to have a love and appreciation for the arts, to be physically active via sports and to be socially well adjusted are probably going to be key ingredients to a well educated mind IMHO. Schools which can provide an environment where a child can get these in a structured manner will probably be the right schools.Some of our friends have sent/are planning to send their kids to Alternative schools, and this has given us good exposure to this different way of schooling. Some things which stood out to me about Alternative schools:Kids are grouped based on level of learning, vs an arbitrary age based cutoff.Most of these schools will map age based learning outcomes to some curriculum- usually ICSE. So the learning destination remains the same as a regular school - but the journey to that outcome is markedly different. E.g. Many schools focus on a single subject for X days vs 5 subjects being taught per day with crazy context switching. This week we will study Science and go really deep with experiments, nature walks, guest lectures, presentations, projects etc. Kids are allowed to engage in the topic as per their interest. If you are super interested go deeper, if not - cover the basics.Some of the schools we have researched have a teacher to student ratio of as low as 1:10Many alternative schools cost ~Rs 2lakh in tuition. Compare this with the Bangalore international schools which are 3 to 5 times as expensive (not counting the international study tours and the like)Many of these schools e.g. Prakriya, Valley school are set in nature, kids get to run around and play etc. Additionally many of these schools have a strong focus on kindness, empathy, respect, learning etc vs competition, one upmanship, scholarships and olypiads etc. The children seem to be happier and in love with education.So net net these schools do present a strong case, as alternative options to a regular CBSE, ICSE school. The opposite arguments are- 1) Will kids coming out of such a system have the academic rigor and discipline to grit and do stuff that they many not necessarily enjoy (an important skill in life) and 2) How much can you as a parent participate in this process. Most of these alternate schools require significant participation from parents in mirroring the teachings of the school at home. Additionally since you have chosen an alternate path for your child, you as parent will have to take the additional responsibility to ensure your child covers any gaps that may exist in this system. We are still researching, and would love to learn from othe rparents on the forum.For Bengaluru do check out the following schools in addition to the ones already mentioned in this thread:
the_90s_car_guy Newbie

Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: Chennai Posts: 21 Thanked: 79 Times

Re: Honda XL750 Transalp launched at Rs 11 lakh Taking delivery of the 2024 Honda Transalp XL 750



I realised that no one has yet shared their Transalp delivery experience here, and so I've decided to take the leap and be the one to do it.



Background:

I have been looking for an adventure bike for a while now. My key requirements were: Good travel suspension for a comfortable ride,

Decent ground clearance for those annoyingly tall speed breakers,

Good wind protection so I can stay inside my bubble of calm ,

, and good power for those highway overtakes.

I also didn't prefer the bigger full-size adventure bikes, both for their immense weight and their higher price tag. That meant something in the mid-size segment.



I also wanted enough space to mount some extra luggage (soft panniers on the sides), so this ruled out most sport-tourers.



When Honda and Suzuki launched their Transalp 750 and V-Strom 800 DE at the 2022 EICMA event in Milan, I was super excited. I saw in them two models that had the right power output (for me), a manageable weight and seat height and above all, the legendary Japanese reliability and the peace of mind that comes with it. Once some Indian journos who covered the event and visited both the stalls confirmed that these models are slated to be launched in India, I decided that I'd own either one - whichever becomes available first.



Fast forward an entire year with no further updates from either manufacturer; Honda threw a surprise by



With



Boy, seeing it in person certainly blew my mind. The bike looked substantially bigger in person despite being in a darker shade of Matt grey. The one on display was ostensibly a customer's vehicle awaiting TN RTO formalities for new vehicles. Starting the engine up sealed the deal for me as it was most lively and spirited and almost "un" Honda-like in its tune - both, in its youthfulness and sound profile. Some of the comments from foreign YouTubers about Transalp's smaller TFT screen and other items didn't seem to be an issue when seen in person. However, I do concur with them that the Transalp missing out on an adjustable suspension (like the V-Strom 800) and lack of cruise control (despite the presence of ride-by-wire tech) are valid points.



So, I checked my finances (I had been preparing to buy one for almost a year so things were fairly ready on that front) and decided to book a white Transalp that very week by paying a booking amount of 50,000.



At that time (December 1st week), I was assured of a delivery by Jan (2024) end. Since I had plans to go on a bike ride during the long weekend of Jan 26th - 28th, I had requested that they try and speed up the allotment by a week - which they agreed to. Closer to the second week, though, the dealer claimed that there are two bikes available - both black - that he's trying to ship to Chennai. He said he wasn't sure when a white one would be available, so, with a certain amount of disappointment, I agreed to take a black one if it became available. A week later - after follow-ups only from my side - I was told that those bikes were instead sent to other dealerships with a higher demand!



Come February, with no follow-ups from the dealer side, I sent a complaint to the Honda India HQ in the first week of February, asking them to clarify the delivery dates because the dealer didn't seem to have a clue. 48 hours later, I received a confirmation SMS that my complaint had been registered! In the weeks that followed, not a SINGLE phone call or email/SMS followup was done by Honda folks to find out more about my complaint. I guess it was simply forwarded to the very dealership I was having trouble with - because the sales manager later casually mentioned it.



Late in February, the Chennai dealer assured me that a white Transalp would definitely be delivered by March. I then proceeded to order accessories for the vehicle that were already out of stock. Many more follow-ups later, my Transalp reached the showroom in the first week of Maya full 150+ days after paying the booking amount!



On the day of the PDI, though, the excitement of owning my first big bike slowly crept in. There were two bikes delivered to Chennai - both white - including one for another customer who had only booked his in March!



Some images from the PDI day:











The PDI experience was definitely good. The chief mechanic (who is supposedly specially trained on big bikes like Africa Twin, CBR650s and 1000s) went through a company-issued checklist that was more exhaustive than the one I had (and which I silently discarded). They went through every item on the list and read out if it was okay or not okay - which was then recorded on the sheet by another junior technician. Fuel was added for the first time, and I was given the opportunity to start the vehicle for the first time!



Every aspect of the bike - the switch gear, seats, fastenings, etc. - felt top-notch. Other BHPians have made similar observations here, so I will spare you the trouble of reading them again.



I decided to avail myself of the dealer-provided insurance (Oriental) because it was only 3-4% more than the ICICI Lombard option I could find. Plus, I was able to avail myself of 100% of the ex-showroom price as the vehicle's IDV (as against 90-95% usually) with nil-dep and return-to-invoice addons.



On May 11th 2024, I was invited to take delivery of my new bike. It was wrapped up in a black satin cloth and towered over all other bikes in its immediate vicinity. Some pictures from the delivery day, below:

















After so many delays and poor coordination, the dealer delivered a splendid delivery experience. There was the usual cake-cutting and key-handover ceremony. I was also provided a very detailed overview of the vehicle, its features, service intervals etc., I rode the bike for the first time through heavy evening time traffic in Chennai's unusually (even for Chennai!) heat. It felt great and made the long wait worth it!



The very next day, I would take the bike on a 230 km (round trip) breakfast ride to Tindivanam, near Chennai. You could see the bike was almost the same height as the 850 GS it was parked next to.







Some observations:



- The vehicle's height means that you can see over the roof of most cars in the road ahead of you. This greatly helps in predictive braking as you can see the same obstacle the car ahead of you does.



- The seat has exactly the right cushioning - neither too hard nor too soft - and is super comfortable for long and short rides.



- I am exactly 5'10" and the seat height of 850mm seemed daunting on paper at first. However, the rear suspension is a bit soft and sags quite well, allowing me to flat foot if I wear a nice pair of motorcycle boots.



- The non-adjustable windscreen provides wind protection up to 95 kmph. Post 100, you can hear loud wind noise and buffeting. I initially decided against getting the accessory tall windscreen so I could get some air to cool down, but it looks like it'd get noisy at highway speeds without one.



- I was promised a highway mileage of 23 kmpl and would've been happy even if I got 20ish kmpl. But to my surprise, I have been getting 24kmpl!



- The TFT is nice and crisp, and once you download the Honda Ride Sync app, you can see turn-by-turn navigation and see who's calling or texting. While I have a separate RAM mount installed, those without one can have their phones in their pockets (to prevent them from being grabbed and stolen) and still use navigation. There's also an under-seat storage with a USB-C port to house your phone and keep it fully charged. I reckon this will be useful during rainy days.



- The throttle is nice and precise. I didn't feel any noticeable vibrations up to highway speeds.



- The clutch is one of the lightest I have ever seen! Your wrist will thank you for it during stop-and-go traffic!



- Heat management is excellent in general. As long as you're continuously moving, the engine temperature stays less than 85 C and you feel no heat whatsoever on your legs or anywhere else. However, once the temperature gauge goes above 100C in heavy traffic, you'll start feeling the heat quite a bit. Once the vehicle goes past 30 kmph, the heat very quickly drops and the gauge shows a quick cooldown.



- Rearview mirrors have really wide visibility and do not protrude too much.



- The vehicle remembers which riding mode you last left it at, and continues from there even after the keys have been removed overnight.



- Exhaust note is mesmerising!





Some Cons:

- The headlight is a joke. As I had noted in a post above, some scooters have better throw than this.



- An adjustable windscreen would've solved the abovementioned problems concerning airflow at different speeds.



- The front end dives quite a bit under moderate braking itself. You'll get used to it overtime though.



- The fuel tank's lid sits quite tall, making it difficult for some fuel station attendants of both genders not to see into the tank to regulate the fuel flow. I had to take the fuel gun from them and do it myself!



- The rear section of the vehicle is, erm... boring? It almost feels like the designers got tired when they reached the end and just gave up.



- While it does grab eyeballs because of its sheer size and bright white colour, it also doesn't stand out much. Except for the loud exhaust, I've noticed that most folks don't notice the bike much. It also has a very narrow front and read section, adding to this problem. If you're someone for whom this will be a bother, you might want to look at wider vehicles like the Tiger 850 or the F 850 GS.



- The tubed tyres deserve their own post because of what I went through in under 10 days of taking delivery.





A week after taking delivery, we decided to have breakfast at a place in Vellore (~150 km from Chennai). On the way back, somewhere near Sriperumbudur (60 km from Chennai and an industrial township), I suddenly felt a loss of power and realised it was a possible puncture. I got down, and a visual inspection quickly confirmed it. A huge, bent nail was the culprit.







Since I was unable to procure spare tubes earlier, I didn't have them handy at the time. So, I tried calling Honda's RSA, who then told me that my vehicle wasn't yet registered with them, so they couldn't assist! I tried calling the showroom to seek clarification, but no one was available since it was a Sunday morning. Left with no option and with the searing heat building up (It was past 10 AM ready), I asked the RSA guys to send me a mechanic as a paid service and agreed to pay the 1600 quoted. I was told the info was passed on to a local team and they'd contact me soon. Half an hour later and no calls, I called RSA again and was told the same thing - "Wait, we'll call you." Another 40 mins went by with no help.



Luckily, a couple of locals passing by asked if I needed help and provided the contact number of a puncture guy nearby. I called him, and he arrived within 15 minutes.



His vehicle was fully equipped with everything from an air compressor to spare tubes (although 18 inches, they were smaller profile ones made for RE 350 standard bikes.He quickly removed my rear tyre and then the tube - which, shockingly, had torn in half because of the nail's impact!















Some 20 mins and 1,200 later, the guy fixed up my tyre and inflated it. He quickly checked the rear brakes and so did I. No one from RSA still followed up.



I then had an uneventful ride back home. Although I had with me a puncture kit and a tyre inflator, they were only good for tubeless tyres. I may have the sad distinction of experiencing the first Transal puncture in India.

I'm still looking for 90/90 R21 and 150/70 R18 spare tubes; any leads would be much appreciated. The showroom guys said Honda doesn't supply them with neither spare tyres or tubes and so I'm on my own, here.



I'll share my observations after completing my first service (clocked 660 km in 10 days so far). Annual service costs are estimated to be around 6k, as per the SVC guys. I realised that no one has yet shared their Transalp delivery experience here, and so I've decided to take the leap and be the one to do it.I have been looking for an adventure bike for a while now. My key requirements were:I also didn't prefer the bigger full-size adventure bikes, both for their immense weight and their higher price tag. That meant something in the mid-size segment.I also wanted enough space to mount some extra luggage (soft panniers on the sides), so this ruled out most sport-tourers.When Honda and Suzuki launched their Transalp 750 and V-Strom 800 DE at the 2022 EICMA event in Milan, I was super excited. I saw in them two models that had the right power output (for me), a manageable weight and seat height and above all, the legendary Japanese reliability and the peace of mind that comes with it. Once some Indian journos who covered the event and visited both the stalls confirmed that these models are slated to be launched in India, I decided that I'd own either one - whichever becomes available first.Fast forward an entire year with no further updates from either manufacturer; Honda threw a surprise by launching the Transalp in India out of the blue. The "introductory" price tag of 10.99L ex-showroom seemed to be along expected lines. Until that day, I was praying that Honda wouldn't mess up by pricing it much higher or closer to the more capable Tiger 900 or 850 GS. I guess that prayer was answered by the Japanese gods!With spy shots of the V-Strom 800 being tested in India making the rounds the past few months, I was waiting for its launch as well to then decide between the two. However, after almost a month and with no commitment from Suzuki India as to the exact launch date, I decided to visit and take a look at the Transalp in the first week of December 2023 at the Chennai Topline dealership.Boy, seeing it in person certainly blew my mind.The bike looked substantially bigger in person despite being in a darker shade of Matt grey. The one on display was ostensibly a customer's vehicle awaiting TN RTO formalities for new vehicles. Starting the engine up sealed the deal for me as it was most lively and spirited and almost "un" Honda-like in its tune - both, in its youthfulness and sound profile. Some of the comments from foreign YouTubers about Transalp's smaller TFT screen and other items didn't seem to be an issue when seen in person. However, I do concur with them that the Transalp missing out on an adjustable suspension (like the V-Strom 800) and lack of cruise control (despite the presence of ride-by-wire tech) are valid points.So, I checked my finances (I had been preparing to buy one for almost a year so things were fairly ready on that front) and decided to book a white Transalp that very week by paying a booking amount of 50,000.At that time (December 1st week), I was assured of a delivery by Jan (2024) end. Since I had plans to go on a bike ride during the long weekend of Jan 26th - 28th, I had requested that they try and speed up the allotment by a week - which they agreed to. Closer to the second week, though, the dealer claimed that there are two bikes available - both black - that he's trying to ship to Chennai. He said he wasn't sure when a white one would be available, so, with a certain amount of disappointment, I agreed to take a black one if it became available. A week later - after follow-upsfrom my side - I was told that those bikes were instead sent to other dealerships with a higher demand!Come February, with no follow-ups from the dealer side, I sent a complaint to the Honda India HQ in the first week of February, asking them to clarify the delivery dates because the dealer didn't seem to have a clue. 48 hours later, I received a confirmation SMS that my complaint had been registered! In the weeks that followed, not a SINGLE phone call or email/SMS followup was done by Honda folks to find out more about my complaint. I guess it was simply forwarded to the very dealership I was having trouble with - because the sales manager later casually mentioned it.Late in February, the Chennai dealer assured me that a white Transalp would definitely be delivered by March. I then proceeded to order accessories for the vehicle that were already out of stock. Many more follow-ups later, my Transalp reached the showroom in the first week of Maya full 150+ days after paying the booking amount!On the day of the PDI, though, the excitement of owning my first big bike slowly crept in. There were two bikes delivered to Chennai - both white - including one for another customer who had only booked his in March!Some images from the PDI day:The PDI experience was definitely good. The chief mechanic (who is supposedly specially trained on big bikes like Africa Twin, CBR650s and 1000s) went through a company-issued checklist that was more exhaustive than the one I had (and which I silently discarded). They went through every item on the list and read out if it was okay or not okay - which was then recorded on the sheet by another junior technician. Fuel was added for the first time, and I was given the opportunity to start the vehicle for the first time!Every aspect of the bike - the switch gear, seats, fastenings, etc. - felt top-notch. Other BHPians have made similar observations here, so I will spare you the trouble of reading them again.I decided to avail myself of the dealer-provided insurance (Oriental) because it was only 3-4% more than the ICICI Lombard option I could find. Plus, I was able to avail myself of 100% of the ex-showroom price as the vehicle's IDV (as against 90-95% usually) with nil-dep and return-to-invoice addons.On May 11th 2024, I was invited to take delivery of my new bike. It was wrapped up in a black satin cloth and towered over all other bikes in its immediate vicinity. Some pictures from the delivery day, below:After so many delays and poor coordination, the dealer delivered a splendid delivery experience. There was the usual cake-cutting and key-handover ceremony. I was also provided a very detailed overview of the vehicle, its features, service intervals etc., I rode the bike for the first time through heavy evening time traffic in Chennai's unusually (even for Chennai!) heat. It felt great and made the long wait worth it!The very next day, I would take the bike on a 230 km (round trip) breakfast ride to Tindivanam, near Chennai. You could see the bike was almost the same height as the 850 GS it was parked next to.- The vehicle's height means that you can see over the roof of most cars in the road ahead of you. This greatly helps in predictive braking as you can see the same obstacle the car ahead of you does.- The seat has exactly the right cushioning - neither too hard nor too soft - and is super comfortable for long and short rides.- I am exactly 5'10" and the seat height of 850mm seemed daunting on paper at first. However, the rear suspension is a bit soft and sags quite well, allowing me to flat foot if I wear a nice pair of motorcycle boots.- The non-adjustable windscreen provides wind protection up to 95 kmph. Post 100, you can hear loud wind noise and buffeting. I initially decided against getting the accessory tall windscreen so I could get some air to cool down, but it looks like it'd get noisy at highway speeds without one.- I was promised a highway mileage of 23 kmpl and would've been happy even if I got 20ish kmpl. But to my surprise, I have been getting 24kmpl!- The TFT is nice and crisp, and once you download the Honda Ride Sync app, you can see turn-by-turn navigation and see who's calling or texting. While I have a separate RAM mount installed, those without one can have their phones in their pockets (to prevent them from being grabbed and stolen) and still use navigation. There's also an under-seat storage with a USB-C port to house your phone and keep it fully charged. I reckon this will be useful during rainy days.- The throttle is nice and precise. I didn't feel any noticeable vibrations up to highway speeds.- The clutch is one of the lightest I have ever seen! Your wrist will thank you for it during stop-and-go traffic!- Heat management is excellent in general. As long as you're continuously moving, the engine temperature stays less than 85 C and you feel no heat whatsoever on your legs or anywhere else. However, once the temperature gauge goes above 100C in heavy traffic, you'll start feeling the heat quite a bit. Once the vehicle goes past 30 kmph, the heat very quickly drops and the gauge shows a quick cooldown.- Rearview mirrors have really wide visibility and do not protrude too much.- The vehicle remembers which riding mode you last left it at, and continues from there even after the keys have been removed overnight.- Exhaust note is mesmerising!- The headlight is a joke. As I had noted in a post above, some scooters have better throw than this.- An adjustable windscreen would've solved the abovementioned problems concerning airflow at different speeds.- The front end dives quite a bit under moderate braking itself. You'll get used to it overtime though.- The fuel tank's lid sits quite tall, making it difficult for some fuel station attendants of both genders not to see into the tank to regulate the fuel flow. I had to take the fuel gun from them and do it myself!- The rear section of the vehicle is, erm... boring? It almost feels like the designers got tired when they reached the end and just gave up.- While it does grab eyeballs because of its sheer size and bright white colour, it also doesn't stand out much. Except for the loud exhaust, I've noticed that most folks don't notice the bike much. It also has a very narrow front and read section, adding to this problem. If you're someone for whom this will be a bother, you might want to look at wider vehicles like the Tiger 850 or the F 850 GS.- The tubed tyres deserve their own post because of what I went through in under 10 days of taking delivery.A week after taking delivery, we decided to have breakfast at a place in Vellore (~150 km from Chennai). On the way back, somewhere near Sriperumbudur (60 km from Chennai and an industrial township), I suddenly felt a loss of power and realised it was a possible puncture. I got down, and a visual inspection quickly confirmed it. A huge, bent nail was the culprit.Since I was unable to procure spare tubes earlier, I didn't have them handy at the time. So, I tried calling Honda's RSA, who then told me that my vehicle wasn't yet registered with them, so they couldn't assist! I tried calling the showroom to seek clarification, but no one was available since it was a Sunday morning. Left with no option and with the searing heat building up (It was past 10 AM ready), I asked the RSA guys to send me a mechanic as a paid service and agreed to pay the 1600 quoted. I was told the info was passed on to a local team and they'd contact me soon. Half an hour later and no calls, I called RSA again and was told the same thing - "Wait, we'll call you." Another 40 mins went by with no help.Luckily, a couple of locals passing by asked if I needed help and provided the contact number of a puncture guy nearby. I called him, and he arrived within 15 minutes.His vehicle was fully equipped with everything from an air compressor to spare tubes (although 18 inches, they were smaller profile ones made for RE 350 standard bikes.He quickly removed my rear tyre and then the tube - which, shockingly, had torn in half because of the nail's impact!Some 20 mins and 1,200 later, the guy fixed up my tyre and inflated it. He quickly checked the rear brakes and so did I. No one from RSA still followed up.I then had an uneventful ride back home. Although I had with me a puncture kit and a tyre inflator, they were only good for tubeless tyres. I may have the sad distinction of experiencing the first Transal puncture in India.I'm still looking for 90/90 R21 and 150/70 R18 spare tubes; any leads would be much appreciated. The showroom guys said Honda doesn't supply them with neither spare tyres or tubes and so I'm on my own, here.I'll share my observations after completing my first service (clocked 660 km in 10 days so far). Annual service costs are estimated to be around 6k, as per the SVC guys. Last edited by Turbanator : 21st July 2024 at 22:41 . Reason: Removed extra smileys. Removed reference of high speed.
In brief: Which companies do you think have the best reputation among Americans, and which have the worst? Tech firms happen to make up much of the top and bottom ten on the list of 100 brands' reputation rankings, with the star of the moment, Nvidia, sitting in the number one spot.

The latest annual survey of corporate images by the Harris Poll and Axios surveyed 16,500 Americans about the reputations of companies.

Participants were first asked to name two companies with the best reputations and two with the worst, determining the 100 most visible firms. Later, they were asked to pick brands they knew from this list and rate two that they were "very or somewhat" familiar with on nine dimensions of reputation. Here's the top most reputable ones:

2024 rank Company 2024 score Change in rank #1 Nvidia 81.2  #2 3M 81.0 9 #3 Fidelity Investments 79.9 26 #4 Sony 79.8 8 #5 Adidas 79.4 17 #6 USAA 79.3 3 #7 Honda Motor Company 79.3 6 #8 Patagonia 79.1 7 #9 Apple 79.0 1 #10 Samsung 78.8 3

Sitting in the number one position is Nvidia, a new entry on the chart with a Reputational Quotient score of 81.2. Team Green has come under the spotlight like no other company in recent times as it provides the advanced hardware underpinning the generative AI revolution.

Unlike virtually every other tech firm that has made mass layoffs recently, it's been 15 years since Nvidia laid off employees. A survey last year found that 97% of Nvidia employees said it was a great place to work, and CEO Jensen Huang has been voted the most popular CEO by US professionals.

It seems Nvidia's reputation has rebounded after it told Hardware Unboxed (and by extension TechSpot) in 2020 that it would no longer be providing it with GeForce Founders Edition review units because the YouTube channel spent too little time focusing on RTX ray tracing, as opposed to raster performance. The high price of the Lovelace cards didn't do it any favors, either.

Other tech firms appear in the top 10 list, including Sony at 4, Apple at 9, and Samsung at 10.

The least reputable companies on the list make for interesting reading. Reddit, which this year has agreed to make its user content available to OpenAI and Google to train their AI systems, is at 90.

2024 rank Company 2024 score Change in rank #90 Reddit 65.0  #91 Dollar Tree 64.5 2 #92 Wells Fargo & Company 63.4 4 #93 Shein 62.1 8 #94 Silicon Valley Bank 61.4  #95 TikTok 60.7 1 #96 Fox Corporation 60.3 2 #97 Meta 59.6 1 #98 Spirit Airlines 59.1 3 #99 X (Twitter) 58.8 2 #100 The Trump Organization 54.0 

TikTok, the Chinese-owned app that looks increasingly likely to be banned in the US next year over its alleged ties to the Beijing government, is at 95.

Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp owner Meta, a company that has never had the best reputation for a multitude of reasons, is at 97.

The only tech firm with a worse rep than Meta is former Twitter platform X in 99th place. X's public image declined after Elon Musk took over following his decision to slash its moderation team headcount and allow previously banned accounts back on the site. The Trump Organization remains at the bottom of the list, where it's been since 2019.
Something to look forward to: The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has announced a new program to fund innovative ideas for healthcare-related cybersecurity. Hospitals need a good IT protection now more than ever, and the NIH agency wants to efficiently automate everything.

ARPA-H, a research agency created by the US Administration two years ago to fuel innovation and "breakthrough technologies" in the healthcare industry, has a new plan to strengthen hospitals' cyberdefenses. The Universal Patching and Remediation for Autonomous Defense (UPGRADE) program wants to provide an effective answer to modern hospitals' need for protection against the most dangerous cyberthreats.

Ransomware and other cyberattacks can disrupt hospital operations with lasting repercussions, the UPGRADE program's introduction states, affecting care availability for weeks or even months. Healthcare organizations can employ different kinds of network-connected devices and technologies to manage their business and patients' data, turning digital security into a difficult area to deal with.

With UPGRADE, ARPA-H and the NIH are investing $50 million in a novel, "autonomous" cyber-security solution designed to be proactive and scalable. The US government wants to bring together device manufacturers, cybersecurity experts, and hospital IT staff to work on the common issue, with the ultimate goal of securing "whole systems" against current and future digital threats.

Also read: The Evolution of Ransomware

UPGRADE includes four main technical areas, ARPA-H said. Area 1 is focused on the development of a vulnerability mitigation platform, while area 2 is for creating "high-fidelity" digital twins of hospital IT equipment to properly test mitigations. Finally, area 3 and area 4 are focused on developing an autonomous system to detect vulnerabilities, and to "confidently" create defenses (i.e., patches and mitigations) for previously discovered flaws, respectively.

ARPA-H was created to shield the US healthcare ecosystem against cyberattacks, with voluntary security goals that could become mandatory in the future. According to Andrea Palm, deputy secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, the UPGRADE plan will help HHS with strengthening the US government's cybersecurity strategy in the ever-evolving cyberthreat landscape.

UPGRADE is looking for "performer teams" to submit their ideas on how to finally solve the cyber-security issue in the healthcare ecosystem. The plan expects to provide multiple awards, and ARPA-H stated that it is "uniquely" positioned to address this remarkable challenge. The agency recently launched a program to secure individual applications and devices (DIGIHEALS), and is partnering with DARPA on the Artificial Intelligence Cyber Challenge to secure open-source software used in critical infrastructure.
Forward-looking: What does the future of the most powerful AI systems look like? Eric Schmidt, the former CEO and Chairman of Google, thinks they'll be on army bases, powered by a nuclear power source and surrounded by machine guns.

Schmidt believes that eventually, the US and China will have a small number of extremely powerful AI systems that have the capability for autonomous invention.

The former Google boss says these capabilities will exceed what the US government wants its citizens to have without permission. He also said it will be important to keep it out of the hands of international competitors.

"They will be housed in an army base, powered by some nuclear power source and surrounded by barbed wire and machine guns," he explained in an interview with Noema Magazine.

Schmidt also touched on the subject of an AI going rogue in China and getting access to a weapon that it then launches, not understanding the consequences of such actions  a danger that partly comes from AI not having the benefits of human experience.

We've seen plenty of examples of countries integrating artificial intelligence into their militaries' weapons and craft. In April, the US Air Force announced it had successfully tested an AI-controlled fighter jet in dogfights against human pilots. The trend recently led to the US promising to never put AI in control of nuclear weapons systems, and called on China and Russia to make the same pledge.

Schmidt's prediction might not be as farfetched as it sounds. The US continues to restrict the export of the most powerful AI chips to China, which has led to some innovative ways of getting hold of them. China, meanwhile, wants to lessen its reliance on American technology and is against allowing any of its IPs to go to its rival, as illustrated by its unwillingness to sell TikTok. Beijing placed the TikTok algorithm on a restricted list of technologies in 2020 that prevents its export without government approval.

Schmidt left Google parent Alphabet in 2020 having served as CEO and chairman from 2001 to 2011. Since his departure, he has invested in AI startups and co-authored a book called The Age of AI: And Our Human Future, which examines the way the technology is transforming society and the potential dangers it presents.
Facepalm: Major AI companies have shown how irresponsible and ruthless they can be in leveraging machine learning algorithms to generate financial gains for board members and shareholders. Now, these same companies are asking the entire tech world to trust them to act responsibly when truly dangerous AI models are eventually developed.

Some of the most important companies working with AI algorithms and services have signed a new voluntary agreement to promote AI safety, making their operations more transparent and trustworthy. The agreement, introduced ahead of the recent AI Seoul Summit, provides no enforceable measures to control unsafe AI services, but it is seemingly satisfactory enough to please the UK and South Korean governments.

The new agreement involved tech and AI giants such as Microsoft, OpenAI, xAI (Elon Musk and his Grok venture), Google, Amazon, Meta, and the Chinese company Zhipu AI. All parties will now outline and publish their plans to classify AI-related risks and are apparently willing to refrain from developing models that could have severe effects on society.

The agreement follows previous commitments on AI safety approved by international organizations and 28 countries during the AI Safety Summit hosted by the United Kingdom in November 2023. These commitments, known as the Bletchley Declaration, called for international cooperation to manage AI-related risks and potential regulation of the most powerful AI systems (Frontier AI).

According to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the new commitments should assure the world that leading AI companies "will provide transparency and accountability" in their plans to create safe AI algorithms. Sunak stated that the agreement could serve as the new "global standard" for AI safety, demonstrating the path forward to reap the benefits of this powerful, "transformative" technology.

AI companies should now set the "thresholds" beyond which Frontier AI systems can pose a risk unless proper mitigations are deployed and describe how those mitigations will be implemented. The agreements emphasize collaboration and transparency. According to UK representatives, the Bletchley Declaration, which calls for international cooperation to manage AI-related risks, has been working well so far, and the new commitments will continue to "pay dividends."

The companies trusted to protect the world against AI risks are the same organizations that have repeatedly proven they shouldn't be trusted at all. Microsoft-backed OpenAI sought Scarlett Johansson's permission to use her voice for the latest ChatGPT bot, and then used her voice anyway when she declined the offer. Researchers have also shown that chatbots are incredibly powerful malware-spreading machines, even without "Frontier AI" models.
British road traffic incidents show that hybrid and electric automobiles are more likely to hit pedestrians than petrol or diesel vehicles, especially in metropolitan areas.

Based on 32 billion miles of battery-powered auto travel and 3 trillion miles of gasoline and diesel car travel, electric and hybrid cars struck pedestrians twice as often as fossil fuel-powered cars. Urban regions have three times the risk, as reported by The Guardian.

While the additional risk posed by EVs is uncertain, researchers believe various elements are involved. Younger, less experienced drivers use electric cars, which are quieter than combustion engines and harder to hear in cities.

Road traffic incidents are the leading cause of death for children and young people in the UK, with pedestrians accounting for 25% of these deaths.

Edwards and colleagues examined 2013-2017 UK travel and traffic accident data. Data after 2018 is unavailable due to archiving issues. They examined 916,713 victims, 120,197 of whom were pedestrians. More than 96,000 cars and taxis hit people.

Electric Vehicles Pose More Risk Than Gas-Powered Cars

The majority of pedestrian accidents involved gasoline or diesel automobiles. However, electric vehicles were riskier for the same distance. The Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that electric and hybrid automobiles had 5.16 pedestrian casualties per 100 million kilometers traveled, compared to 2.4 for petrol and diesel cars.

The study noted that battery-powered cars were no more risky than petrol or diesel vehicles in rural areas, but they were three times more likely to hit people in cities.

Since July 2019, all new hybrid and electric cars sold in Europe must feature an acoustic vehicle warning system that sounds while slowing. However, hundreds of thousands of electric automobiles lack these devices. Edwards suggested that installing these systems in all-electric vehicles and retrofitting older models would be a good start. The Green Cross Code also "probably needs updating."

Nicola Christie, a UCL transport safety lecturer, said individuals use sound to estimate vehicle presence, speed, and position. Missing these indications can be difficult for busy urbanites. She added that adults with low visual acuity or children who have trouble judging vehicle speed and distance may be more affected.

CBS News reported a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) indicating that EVs perform well in simulated collisions as their batteries make them heavier, strengthening passenger protection. However, traffic safety experts worry about the harm to other drivers caused by eco-friendly but heavier automobiles.

Read Also : Shares Soar for Chinese EV Giant Xpeng After Growth Forecasts

The median vehicle weight in mid-2023 was 4,300 pounds, according to official data. Some new huge EVs are heavier. Crash experts feel this weight differential is essential.

IIHS Vehicle Research Center vice president Raul Arbelaez in Ruckersville, Virginia called the risk a "simple law of physics": the crash will be more severe for the lighter vehicle if it collides with a heavy one. Moreover, heavier electric cars have faster acceleration, increasing stopping distances.

In 2017, the U.S. Department of Transportation concluded that electric and hybrid automobiles were 20% more dangerous to pedestrians than petrol and diesel cars, and 50% more dangerous during low-speed movements such as turning, reversing, entering traffic, and halting.

Edwards warned if the government promotes a shift to electric automobiles, pedestrians will be at risk unless the issue gets addressed.

EV Sales Continue to Rise Despite Safety Risks

The International Energy Agency's (IEA) Global EV Outlook 2024 predicts that 17 million electric vehicles (EVs), or more than one in five cars sold worldwide in 2024.

Demand for clean, affordable EVs will alter the global car industry in the coming decade. According to Forbes, by 2035, the IEA predicts that 50% of automobiles sold worldwide will be EVs, reducing oil demand by 6-10 million barrels per day, comparable to US road traffic.

The upfront cost differential between EVs and internal combustion engine automobiles has diminished rapidly. Switching to electric vehicles saves drivers money by substituting fuel with cheaper power.
Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that electric school buses can significantly improve health and the environment.



According to the research, electric school buses save $247,600 per vehicle in terms of environmental and health advantages. Professor Kari Nadeau's study team found that decreased child asthma rates, greenhouse gas emissions, and adult life expectancy account for the savings, per US News & World Report.



On May 20, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported the findings.



Nadeau noted that their findings indicate speeding up the shift to electric school buses "will improve individual, public, and planetary health."



The report estimates that half a million US school buses transport children, many of which use harmful diesel fuel. However, electric buses are expensive for school districts with limited funds.



Researchers analyzed their environmental and health costs to determine the long-term value of diesel bus emissions and electric school bus energy.

According to 2017 figures, an electric school bus saves $84,200 per vehicle. This includes $40,400 in climate benefits from reduced carbon dioxide emissions and $43,800 in health savings from better air quality, lower mortality, and pediatric asthma.



Because of population density and air quality, urban school districts benefit more healthily and financially from this decision. In a big city, replacing a 2005 diesel bus with an electric bus may provide $207,200 in health benefits per vehicle.

First Electric School Bus Fleet in Oakland

The first all-electric school bus fleet in a major US school district was launched in Oakland's industrial district. From August, the 74 buses will generate 2.1 gigawatt-hours of electricity for the Bay Area power system, enough to power 300 to 400 houses.



In Oakland, where 72% of public school kids are from low-income households and are disproportionately affected by pollution from the port, truck traffic, and manufacturing sectors, the buses are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 25,000 tons per year, as reported by Bloomberg.



American Lung Association CEO Harold Wimmer noted the electrification of US school buses in a webinar on electric school buses is crucial in making "healthier for everyone."

Zum, a Silicon Valley firm, manages the fleet of electric buses in Oakland, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, and other US cities. Since 2022, Zum has added electric buses to its fleet, with 10% of its 3,000 buses currently being zero-emission.

EV Road Safety Concerns Raised

Meanwhile, TechTimes previously reported a separate study raising concerns from road safety experts. The research indicates that hybrid and electric cars hit people more than petrol or diesel cars in the UK, especially in cities.

Experts suspect several factors are involved, including the fact that younger and less experienced drivers use electric cars, which have a quiet sound making it harder to hear in cities. Road traffic accidents are the top killer of minors in the UK, with pedestrians accounting for 25% of deaths.



Researchers evaluated 2013-2017 UK travel and traffic accident data and assessed 916,713 victims and 120,197 pedestrians. More than 96,000 automobiles and taxis hit individuals.



The study showed that electric and hybrid cars had 5.16 pedestrian injuries per 100 million kilometers, compared to 2.4 for petrol and diesel cars.



Since July 2019, all new hybrid and electric automobiles sold in Europe must include an acoustic vehicle warning system that sounds while slowing. However, researchers pointed out that hundreds of thousands of electric cars lack these gadgets.

Experts also urged the UK government to address EV road safety issues before phasing out fossil fuel-powered cars.
Several executives at Appen, a prominent artificial intelligence training firm, have reportedly stepped down months after Alphabet cut ties with the Australian firm.

According to reports, Australian startup Appen helped Microsoft, Apple, Meta, Google, and Amazon train their AI algorithms.

Appen has been around for about thirty years and has an amazing clientele. But recently, the business has struggled with declining revenues, multiple executive departures, and poor financial outcomes.





Andrew Ettinger, the chief revenue officer, and Alicia Hale, the chief marketing officer, left the Australian company this week, according to an internal memo that sources could view. The two executives joined the group last year.

The exits come after Alphabet declared in January that it was ending its business relationship with Appen, which had previously assisted in training Google's chatbot and other AI products. following just 12 months on the job, Appen CEO Armughan Ahmad departed two weeks following that decision.

At the time, the Alphabet Workers Union claimed that cutting connections would impact at least 2,000 subcontracted Alphabet employees, as the company accounted for around one-third of Appen's income.

Appen's Recent Woes

Despite its nearly 30-year existence and impressive client base, Appen's sales fell by 30% in 2023, compared to a 13% decline the year before. The corporation partially blamed difficult external operational and macroeconomic conditions for the drop.

Five clients accounted for 80% of Appen's revenue before this: Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon. Using its platform comprised more than a million independent freelancers dispersed over more than 170; the company educated some of the best AI systems.

Former employees claimed last year that the company's disjointed organizational structure and years of slack quality assurance practices were to blame for the conversion's difficulties to generative AI.

Appen has previously worked for digital businesses on initiatives like determining the relevancy of search results, assisting AI assistants in understanding requests in various dialects, using AI to classify photographs from e-commerce, and creating maps showing charging station locations for electric vehicles.

Additionally, according to the most recent message, vice presidents of sales and global solutions would now report directly to Kolln, who said that the company targets customers who are already investing in data services.

Alphabet and Appen

Following Alphabet's January announcement, the company expressed surprise and disappointment at the news, noting that Appen continues to prioritize cost containment, business turnaround, and offering its clients high-quality AI data.

The decision made by Alphabet at the time affected employees who are also referred to as "ghost workers," or the unseen human labor force that trains everyday users of systems and works to detect text, images, audio, and other data to develop AI systems utilized by big tech companies like Google.

Appen employees work remotely, meticulously reviewing data to develop AI that powers speech recognition apps such as Google Assistant and public searches.

Related Article : Google Surges Past $2 Trillion Market Cap Amid Ongoing AI Challenges

(Photo: Tech Times)
Neuroscience has long been a frontier for exploring the intricate workings of the human brain. Recent advances in technology have propelled this field into an era of unprecedented discovery, enabling researchers and medical professionals to make progress in treating and curing conditions and diseases. Behind the scenes of breakthrough treatments and drugs are countless hours of research and studies conducted by doctors and scientists. This field does not see many young people, especially young women, who are able to make meaningful contributions quickly and build rapport among their peers.

Hanna Aliashkevich, a neurosurgeon and a pioneer in neurobiology from Minsk, Belarus, has conducted extensive research on the topic of high-grade glioma antiviral treatment. This particular topic has never been fully explored in the field of neuroscience, and it still leaves a lot to be studied further. Her findings were first presented at the Young Neurosurgeons Meeting, powered by the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies, in 2018 in Oxford, United Kingdom. Hanna found that inflammation in the glial brain tumors contaminated by the Herpes Simplex virus activates the tumor cells' rapid multiplication. This discovery is truly a breakthrough in neurology, as it paves the way for medical professionals to study treatment options. The data Hanna studied showed that doctors are able to increase glioblastoma patient survival rate by 25% over five years. These findings are vital to the advancement of new therapies that can be shared with the world. "At the core of my vision is a commitment to advancing our understanding and treatment of brain cancer, particularly high-grade gliomas. I am dedicated to contributing my knowledge and skills by uncovering novel insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of these challenging diseases. Through my work, I aim to push the boundaries of current research and pave the way to improve patient outcomes and quality of life," says Hanna.

These studies also open the doors for other professionals to expand on the research and offer new and innovative solutions in technology. This and other findings that Dr. Hanna has presented were peer-reviewed and published in several professional periodicals and presented at medical conferences. Despite her young age, Hanna Aliashkevich was already presented as a first author in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Eastern Europe International Scientific Journal and other notable, peer-reviewed publications. She is respected by fellow medical professionals for her significant contributions and original research in the field of neuroscience, specifically the study of the effects of the Herpes Simplex Virus.

"I remember that I have dreamt of being a doctor since I was a kid. During my college years I enjoyed taking different courses, from ophthalmology to anesthesiology. I applied for all the student conferences that were offered at the time. Back then neurosurgery seemed like something impossible, like flying to the moon, but by the time I graduated I was already offered a job, and everything since then was history."

Today, Hanna brings over ten years of experience and influence in the clinical setting to R3 Biotechnologies, a company specializing in brain research. She has joined a team of researchers, bringing her past contributions and knowledge to propel the availability of treatment options. Her colleagues regard her work as one of the most progressive among young professionals, and this is not without reason. In addition to neuro-oncology, Dr. Aliashkevich has previously studied and specialized in spine neurosurgery, facial paralysis surgery, and cranioplasty /reconstructive neurosurgery. "My goal is to conduct further studies which will allow us to uncover new treatments and advance patient care strategies on a global scale, by leveraging emerging technologies. Collaboration with my peers and other fellow members of the medical community, including those from other disciplines, is the most efficient way this can be achieved."

Aliashkevich's dedication to her work is further evidenced by her esteemed memberships in various prestigious organizations, including the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS), where she served as an Individual Membership Committee member for two years, American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), Association for Women in Science (AWIS), as well as Women in Neurosurgery (WINS) which highlights her commitment to diversity and inclusion in the medical community. In a field where the stakes are high, and challenges are immense, Dr.Aliashkevich continues to be a dedicated professional whose contributions lay the groundwork for a better future.
Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses can now directly upload Instagram stories, so no phone is needed.

The Instagram integration allows users to command the glasses to upload before or after snapping a picture. They can say, "Hey Meta, share my last photo to Instagram" or "post a photo to Instagram" before taking another, per The Verge.

Moreover, the Ray-Ban smart glasses are now compatible with Amazon Music and Calm, among other improvements.

Meta has teamed with Calm to provide mobile-guided meditation and mindfulness activities. Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses customers get a complimentary three-month Calm membership.

"As an added bonus, new Calm users can unlock a complimentary three-month subscription to Calm," Meta stated in the announcement. "Simply follow the on-screen prompts in the Meta View app to get started,"

The glasses now have access to Amazon Music streaming. Just say, "Hey Meta, play Amazon Music," to play a tailored playlist. Volume and audio playback may be controlled by touch or voice. After supporting Spotify, the glasses added Apple Music last month.

Meta said these additional features of the Ray-Ban smart glasses (available in iconic frames) will roll out "gradually."

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Powered By AI

The new Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses features launched a month after the wearable tech got an AI upgrade. In April, the brimming with technology Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses came equipped with an ultra-wide 12 MP camera and integrated audio.

Moreover, it also features an artificial intelligence assistant that helps users create, connect, and get things done. Meta AI lets Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses wearers operate the glasses with their voice and see real-time data, as reported by TechTimes.

In December, Meta began testing a multimodal AI upgrade that lets users query their glasses about what they are seeing and get useful replies or ideas since the smart glasses can see what users see.

Read Also : Get Your Hands on the Samsung Galaxy Ring for only $300! Subscription Required

Were launching new @rayban meta styles + features You can now make video calls with your glasses via WhatsApp and Messenger and ask your glasses about what youre seeing to get helpful information, hands-free.https://t.co/wP7SQXkNHP pic.twitter.com/uif5ZaFlMY  Meta Newsroom (@MetaNewsroom) April 23, 2024

Enhanced Music Experience

Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses can stream Apple Music, providing a standalone listening experience, as reported previously.

The upgrade lets users stream their favorite music, artists, and playlists through the glasses, which also work as Bluetooth headphones with open-ear speakers. This allows customers to enjoy their music without opening the Apple Music app on their phones.

Users may play music, pick artists or albums, and listen to Apple Music playlists with voice control. Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses can stream and control playback with the "Hey Meta" command. They can ask Meta to identify the tune being played. Meta promises to keep Apple Music login details private.

Originally designed to capture first-person, vertical 1-minute Instagram Stories, the spectacles were known as Ray-Ban Stories. Last year, Meta introduced the Spectacles with app connections, voice control, and Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chipset-powered open-ear speakers.
Nvidia is now looking at a yearly release timeframe for its new artificial intelligence chips. The confirmation comes after recent reports indicate a new AI chip is already on the way for Nvidia in 2025, just a year after the AI chip giant released the Blackwell.

The Verge reports that until now, Nvidia has released a new architecture every two years; examples of these releases are Ampere in 2020, Hopper in 2022, and Blackwell in 2024.





However, earlier this month, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the next design, dubbed "Rubin," is expected to arrive in 2025, meaning we may see an R100 AI GPU as early as next year. Based on Huang's statements, it appears that the report may be accurate.



According to Huang, Nvidia would also quicken the production of all other chip types to match that cadence. During the call, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang responded to an analyst's question about how the company's new Blackwell GPUs would ramp when Hopper GPU sales were still strong by stating that the company's AI GPUs are software- and mechanically backward-compatible.

According to the CEO, customers will have no trouble switching from H100 to H200 to B100 in their current data centers.

Read Also : Microsoft Looks to Remedy Nvidia H100's Constricted Supply With Alternative AMD AI Chips

Nvidia's Astounding Earnings Report

Nvidia's boost on AI chip release timeframes comes alongside the company's booming business in the AI chipmaking industry. Nvidia reported $26 billion in sales and $6.12 earnings per share for the three months ended April 30.

Sources claim that analysts had predicted adjusted EPS of $5.65 on $24.69 billion in revenue. Nvidia estimates $28 billion in revenue for the current quarter, give or take 2%.

That is more than the $26.6 billion forecast by economists. During the same period last year, the company made $1.09 in adjusted earnings per share (EPS) on $7.19 billion in revenue. Up to 4% was seen in Nvidia's shares during Wednesday's extended session.

The engine fueling the company's financial growth over the past year has been Nvidia's AI-intensive data center sector, which generated $22.6 billion in sales last quarter-a 427% year-over-year jump and an incredible 20 times greater than the $1.1 billion that the division took in in 2020.

Nvidia Stocks Soar

Following an astoundingly successful earnings report showing a 268% revenue gain and a 628% profit increase, Nvidia's stock price recently jumped 4%.

Nvidia said that it will split its shares 10-for-1 on June 7th, maintaining the company's total valuation while reducing the price per share from roughly $950 to $95a move that will enable investors and employees to more easily get complete shares.

CFO Colette Kress stated that although non-hyper scalers use more Nvidia processors, big cloud providers account for roughly 45% of the company's data center sales.



The Data Center segment accounted for 86% of Nvidia's total quarterly sales, with revenue rising 427% year over year to $22.6 billion.

However, Kress pointed out that the company's revenue from China fell significantly during the quarter because it had to stop exporting its strongest chips to that country.

(Photo: Tech Times)
A new policy requiring disclaimers on political advertisements created with artificial intelligence could soon be reportedly introduced by the Federal Communications Commission as advocated by FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel.

The proposal on Wednesday seeks to start the FCC's regulatory process, which is expected to take many months to complete. The FCC action aims to close a huge loophole in the laws governing artificial intelligence in political advertising.





New regulations are proposed for cable and satellite companies, as well as broadcast TV and radio. According to the proposed regulations, if political marketers on such platforms use AI-generated content in their advertising, they would have to disclose this on air.

The FCC does not govern social media and other internet-based media, such as streaming video services.

Political advertising would also need to include textual disclaimers in the files broadcasters must make public as part of the proposed rule.

The proposed legislation is being announced at the same time as the Department of Homeland Security's most recent federal bulletin claims to have observed concerns about generative artificial intelligence only getting stronger in the run-up to the elections.

Read Also : Australia Struggles to Combat Political AI Deepfakes with Limited Legal Authority

Dangers of AI During the Elections

According to studies the Department of Homeland Security produced and shared with law enforcement partners across the country, foreign and local actors may use technology to create serious barriers in the run-up to the 2024 election cycle.

Federal bulletins are sporadic messages that law enforcement partners get to inform them of specific dangers and issues. The alert claims AI capabilities may facilitate attempts to rig the 2024 US election cycle. It is anticipated that a variety of threat actors will attempt to influence and cause disruption during this election cycle.

Thanks to generative AI approaches, the 2024 election cycle will likely be more vulnerable to manipulation by foreign and domestic threat actors. These approaches could intensify emerging events, tamper with election protocols, or target election infrastructure.

During a recent Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines cautioned Congress about the dangers of generative AI, pointing out that the technology can produce realistic "deepfakes" whose source can be hidden.

According to the bulletin, the timeliness of AI-generated media relevant to an election can be just as critical as the content itself because it may take some time to refute or contradict the erroneous material spreading online.

The paper also highlighted the threat that remains internationally, citing a November 2023 incident in which an AI-produced film persuaded people in a state in southern India to vote for a certain candidate on election day, giving officials little opportunity to dispute the video.

Projected US AI Legislations

Three proposals were also recently passed by the Senate Rules Committee to safeguard polls from the risks posed by artificial intelligence as US Election Day approaches.

Authorities are concerned about campaigns utilizing AI technology to trick voters in the 2018 elections as deepfake audio and video grow easier to produce.

Before November's elections, the committee voted on a roadmap of AI regulations proposed by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and three bipartisan colleagues.

The proposals, which must be passed by both the House and the Senate to become law, emphasize the urgency of enacting election-related deepfake rules.

(Photo: Tech Times)
China has introduced a chatbot fashioned after Xi Jinping, utilizing a collection of his writings and speeches, including over a dozen books credited to the leader.

This new addition to digital communication draws from Jinping's official literature, steering away from the futuristic idea of mind-reading technology.

Emulating Xi Jinping's Ideology

In the realm of digital interactions, there's a new player on the scene: a chatbot modeled after none other than Xi Jinping, China's prominent leader.

Unlike the futuristic notion of accessing someone's thoughts, this creation draws inspiration from a comprehensive compilation of Jinping's speeches and writings.

The Financial Times reported that rather than employing mind-reading technology, the developers relied on a vast array of his official literature, including over a dozen books purportedly authored by Jinping himself.

This reservoir also encompasses government regulations, policy documents, state media reports, and other authorized publications, all of which contribute to the chatbot's training dataset.

Xi Jinping's political ideology, dubbed "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," has taken shape under his leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

In line with this philosophy, the chatbot has been programmed using a range of official literature, comprising over 12 purported books authored by President Xi.

This training corpus encompasses government directives, policy papers, state media coverage, and various other official publications.

The chatbot's training dataset featured a staggering 86,000 references to Xi Jinping, emphasizing the alignment of citizens' thoughts, politics, and actions with the Party Central Committee.

Also read : Controversy Surrounds Plan for Chinese EV Factory in Michigan, Locals Not Too Happy

With such language dominating its training material, one can only imagine the conversational tone this chatbot might adopt.

While the technology remains restricted from public access, it's currently operational within a research facility overseen by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), signaling potential future deployment on a broader scale.

The model serves as a fundamental chatbot equipped with capabilities to field inquiries, generate reports, condense data, and facilitate Chinese-English translation.

Nonetheless, its probable dissemination of Xi Jinping's ideologies spanning politics, economics, and culture renders it significant.

Chinese AI Regulations and Implications

This initiative emerges amidst ongoing efforts by Chinese authorities to propagate Xi Jinping's ideologies and bolster the prominence of his authoritarian regime.

Notably, Xi's purported authorship of over a dozen books often commands attention at the nation's book expos.

Major news platforms prominently feature content from official state media outlets, spotlighting Xi. Additionally, the integration of his political doctrine into educational curricula, even for children as young as ten, underscores the potential utility of the chatbot within educational settings.

China's strict regulations on AI models mean that major Western offerings like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are absent from the market. The CAC mandates that AI providers in the country uphold core socialist values and refrain from generating content that challenges state authority.

Consequently, domestic companies like Baidu and Alibaba are compelled to tightly regulate their AI models, particularly concerning topics related to Xi Jinping or other sensitive subjects.

This poses a significant hurdle for many companies since a considerable portion of their model training data comprises English language content.

This reliance on English data raises the risk of generating responses that violate China's strict speech regulations.
Mastercard unveiled plans to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) in its fraud-detection systems, aiming to detect compromised cards more swiftly before they are exploited by cybercriminals.

Integrating AI for Advanced Fraud Detection

With its latest software update set to launch this week, Mastercard is integrating AI into its fraud-prediction technology, enabling the accelerated identification of patterns in stolen card data. This advancement is expected to facilitate proactive measures by banks, allowing them to replace compromised cards preemptively, thus bolstering overall card security.

Johan Gerber, Executive Vice President of Security and Cyber Innovation at Mastercard, highlighted the potential of Generative AI in swiftly identifying compromised credentials.

He emphasized the importance of promptly addressing such situations to ensure the security of affected individuals and other customers who may be unaware of their compromised status.

Associated Press reported that Mastercard, headquartered in Purchase, New York, asserts that with its latest update, it can expedite the identification of compromised cards by leveraging additional patterns and contextual data, including geographical location, timestamps, and addresses.

By amalgamating this information with partially compromised credit card numbers found in databases, Mastercard aims to reach affected cardholders promptly for card replacement.

Now, the patterns can be reversed, allowing for the potential identification of compromised merchants or payment processors by examining batches of flagged cards.

Gerber emphasized that this pattern recognition surpasses humans' capabilities using conventional methods such as database searches. These compromised cards could linger unnoticed for extended periods, spanning weeks, months, or even years.

Detection typically occurs when payment networks proactively scour the dark web for stolen data, merchants are alerted to a breach, or the card is utilized by a criminal, prompting payment networks and banks to recognize a potentially compromised batch of cards.

Gerber highlighted the capability to take proactive measures by contacting banks, ensuring swift service for affected consumers, and promptly issuing them new cards. This approach minimizes disruptions, allowing individuals to continue their daily lives seamlessly.

Transitioning Towards Dynamic Card Numbers

Payment networks are actively shifting away from the conventional "static" credit or debit card numbers, encompassing a universal card number and expiration date applicable across all merchants.

Instead, they are gravitating towards employing unique numbers tailored for individual transactions. However, this transition process, especially in the United States, where the adoption of payment technology tends to lag behind, could span several years.

EMVCo, the technological body overseeing chip-enabled credit and debit cards, reveals that while chip card usage accounts for over 90% of all in-person transactions globally, the adoption rate in the United States hovers around 70%.

Also read : Mastercard Wants to Collect Your Expired Credit Cards to Recycle-Partnerships On the Way

Amidst Mastercard's latest update, its primary rival, Visa Inc., is also exploring methods to phase out the conventional 16-digit credit and debit card number.

Last week, Visa unveiled significant alterations to the operational mechanisms of credit and debit cards in the United States. This shift implies that Americans will soon carry fewer physical cards, rendering the ubiquitous 16-digit card number progressively obsolete.
Nebraska's Attorney General, Mike Hilgers, announced on Wednesday that TikTok is facing a lawsuit over allegations of deceptively targeting teenagers and misleading parents regarding the app's safety measures, as per a report by Nebraska Examiner.

Nebraska Sues TikTok

According to Hilgers, young users and their parents were led to believe that TikTok had adequate safeguards in place to protect minors, but instead, the app allegedly exposed them to potentially harmful content, contributing to addiction and mental health concerns.



The lawsuit, filed in Lancaster County District Court, accuses TikTok of intentionally luring teens and children into a cycle of social media engagement without adequately addressing the risks associated with such behavior. Hilgers drew parallels between TikTok's practices and tactics historically used by tobacco companies to attract young smokers.



Central to the lawsuit is the claim that TikTok knowingly distributes inappropriate content to young users, capitalizing on its "golden audience" of teenagers. Investigators, posing as 13 to 17-year-olds, allegedly encountered problematic videos on their feeds without actively seeking them out.



Hilgers emphasized that TikTok's advertised safety features, including age restrictions and parental controls, are ineffective and fail to prevent access to unsuitable material.

TikTok Defends Its Safety Measures

In response to the lawsuit, TikTok defended its safety measures, citing industry-leading safeguards designed to protect teenagers. However, Hilgers argued that these measures are insufficient and called for greater transparency from the company regarding its content moderation practices.



The legal action against TikTok adds to the mounting challenges facing the social media platform, which also faces scrutiny over data privacy concerns and national security risks associated with its Chinese ownership. Several states, including Nebraska, have restricted TikTok's use on government devices due to security concerns.



Nebraska's lawsuit seeks civil fines for violations of the state's Consumer Protection Act and the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Hilgers expressed hope that the litigation would compel TikTok to address the allegations and enact meaningful changes to its platform.



The Attorney General's office is also seeking the public release of internal documents obtained during the investigation, which could shed light on TikTok's content policies and practices.



Hilgers emphasized the need for greater accountability and oversight of social media companies to protect users, particularly minors, from harmful online experiences.



While TikTok remains popular among young people, with millions of daily users in the United States, Hilgers warned of the negative impact on academic performance, behavior, and mental health associated with excessive use of the app. He reiterated his commitment to enforcing consumer protection laws and holding social media companies accountable for their actions.




BrainBridge, a startup led by Berlin-based molecular biologist Hashem Al-Ghaili, has announced plans to use robots to perform head transplant surgeries within the next decade.



This ambitious project integrates advanced robotics and artificial intelligence to perform complex head and face transplantation procedures. The initiative targets severe medical conditions, including terminal illnesses, neurodegenerative diseases, paralysis, and many more.

When Is BrainBridge's First Surgery?

Al-Ghaili envisions an eight-year timeline for the first surgery. He believes this period will allow for the recruitment of top talent and the development of technologies necessary to overcome significant medical challenges, particularly spinal cord repair.



BrainBridge's system is still in the conceptual phase. It is designed to use high-speed robotic systems to maintain the brain's condition during the transplant process. These robots are expected to handle the delicate task of precisely transplanting a head onto a compatible donor body.



The system also aims to restore functionality and aesthetic appearance through face and scalp transplantation, utilizing younger donor tissues to minimize the risk of rejection and improve the patient's overall appearance.

BrainBridge Head Band

One notable aspect of BrainBridge's plan is the BrainBridge Head Band, a device equipped with a Brain-Computer Interface. This technology is intended to enable patients to communicate their needs during recovery, control devices, and perform tasks independently using their thoughts. The goal is to enhance patients' autonomy and quality of life following surgery.



BrainBridge's stated mission is to push the boundaries of human health and recovery by introducing transformative medical interventions. The startup aims to revolutionize transplant medicine through its head transplant system concept, which combines advanced robotics and artificial intelligence.



The ultimate objective is to allow individuals suffering from severe medical conditions to lead fully functional lives in new, healthy bodies while preserving their cognitive skills, consciousness, and memories.

Read Also : Researchers Develop New Tech Capable of Placing Tiny 'Marks' in the Brain to Record Activity





Beyond Surgery

BrainBridge's strategy goes beyond the surgical process itself. The company intends to assist patients with advanced rehabilitation programs and personalized care plans, aiding them in adapting to their new bodies. This holistic approach aims to ensure that patients survive the surgery and thrive in their new lives.

By working with experts in generative AI, brain-computer interfaces, and robotics, BrainBridge seeks to achieve seamless integration and high compatibility in all procedures.



The deployment of autonomous surgical robots and advanced molecular imaging is anticipated to improve surgical precision, shorten recovery times, and minimize human error.



"At BrainBridge, our mission is to pioneer transformative medical interventions that extend the boundaries of human health and recovery. We are dedicated to revolutionizing the field of transplant medicine by introducing the world's first head transplant system concept, equipped with cutting-edge robotics and artificial intelligence," the startup's mission reads.



"Our long-term goal is to provide individuals suffering from severe medical conditions-such as terminal illnesses, paralysis, and neurodegenerative diseases-a chance to lead fully functional lives in new, healthy bodies while preserving their consciousness, memories, and cognitive abilities."
Search engines DuckDuckGo and Ecosia, along with several programs relying on Bing's search engine, are currently experiencing significant issues.

Additionally, services with built-in search capabilities, such as Microsoft Copilot and OpenAI's premium AI offering ChatGPT Plus, are reportedly facing similar problems.

Search Engines Relying on Bing API Still Down

As first reported by TechCrunch, these outages can be traced to an issue with Bing's application programming interface (API). All the aforementioned search services depend on Bing's API to deliver their search results.

In an update on X, Microsoft acknowledged the issue affecting its services and informed the public that they are working to isolate the problem.

We're investigating an issue where users may be unable to access the Microsoft Copilot service. We're working to isolate the cause of the issue. More information can be found in the admin center under CP795190.  Microsoft 365 Status (@MSFT365Status) May 23, 2024

The company has yet to issue a statement on the cause of the outage or provide an estimated time for when services will be restored.

Microsoft's search engine is functioning correctly at the time of writing, but services like ChatGPT are still investigating the problem. According to its status page, ChatGPT's search capabilities have been down for almost five hours.

Online privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo and the environmentally conscious search engine Ecosia are still displaying error messages. DuckDuckGo users trying to use the service encountered a message stating, "It's not you, it's us."

In a recent post on X, DuckDuckGo issued a statement: "Announcement: We're currently experiencing an issue with DuckDuckGo Search that might prevent you from getting results. Thanks for your patience while we get our ducks in a row."

"The trees are silent. Some of you may not be able to get search results right now, but we will be back up and running soon!," Ecosia said in their announcement.

According to the outage tracker site Downdetector, user reports of problems accessing Bing's online search engine began pouring in around 2 AM ET.

Affected Users Share Their Frustrations Online

Despite significantly trailing behind search engine leader Google, Microsoft's Bing has been gaining traction recently with its AI-powered services built on OpenAI's GPT-4 technology.

According to April 2024 search engine market share statistics from StatCounter, Google remains dominant with a 90.91 percent market share, while Bing holds a distant second place with 3.64 percent.

Affected users, some starting their office work shifts, have taken to social media to express their frustration with the outages impacting several search engines.

Forced to use Google, some users have expressed disappointment with the search giant's 'barely relevant' main search results. "I used google and there's like 3 mildy relevant results," one frustrated user said.

Another tech giant experienced a widespread outage across its platforms in March. Meta's platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, experienced a global outage, preventing millions of users from accessing basic features like scrolling, posting, and contacting friends.

Stay updated with Tech Times for more information.
British entrepreneur Mike Lynch, who began his criminal fraud trial in March, is due to testify in a US federal courthouse on Thursday.



The tech mogul faces 16 wire fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy charges linked to his 2011 buyout deal with Hewlett-Packard (HP). Lynch has pleaded not guilty. If he gets convicted, he will face jail time of 25 years, according to The Guardian.



At the closing of Wednesday's proceedings, Lynch's legal team hinted at a mistrial over the prosecution's cross-examination. Lynch's lawyers will determine whether to submit a motion before the cord reconvenes on Thursday morning.

Autonomy-HP Buyout was Based on Lies: Authorities

Once called "Britain's Bill Gates," Lynch sold Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in a deal that authorities say was based on "a series of lies." Authorities accuse Lynch of exaggerating Autonomy's sales, manipulating auditors, analysts, and regulators, and bullying critics.



A year after the $11.1 billion deal, from which Lynch got 500 million ($ 637 million), Computer hardware maker Hewlett-Packard acknowledged "serious accounting improprieties, disclosure failures, and outright misrepresentations," marking down the acquisition's value by $8.8 billion. Lynch claims HP mishandled Autonomy.



In his Thursday hearing in San Francisco, Lynch is expected to continue his defense, which links certain financial inconsistencies to US and UK accounting regulations and claims he did not make the decision.



Reid Weingarten, Lynch's lawyer, calls this client's fraud case a "routine business dispute" that became an "overblown fraud case." He informed the court that while the prosecution's case appears straightforward, the reality is more intricate.



"You're going to see in this trial that that ain't the way the world works," he said, adding that the world's operation is complex.

What to Expect From Mike Lynch Trial

Lynch faces accusations of operating a "massive" years-long scam and exhibiting a dictatorial style. Prosecutors described Lynch as a "controlling, dominating, and intimidating boss" and the "driving force" behind the fraud.



"Autonomy's financial statements were materially false and misleading," assistant US attorney Adam Reeves said, saying the business deceived auditors and investors "again and again" over 10 quarters and illegally inflated revenue between 2009 and 2011 to show growth.



Mike Lynch is anticipated to testify for several days. He fought extradition to the U.S. for years after his indictment in 2018 before leaving the U.K. last year, according to BBC.



Lynch co-founded Autonomy 1996, which developed software to extract usable information from "unstructured" sources, including phone conversations, emails, and video. It was among UK's top 100 companies.



A federal grand jury indicted Lynch in 2019, leading to his extradition from the UK to the US this May. He was released from house arrest in San Francisco after posting a $100 million bond and spent the past year preparing for his trial.



According to Michael Cusumano, a professor and deputy dean at MIT's Sloan School of Management, Lynch's trial would largely rely on what he knew and when, per Business Standard. He expects Lynch to blame his CFO and accounting team.
TikTok is now implementing measures to prevent media organizations with government backing from showing advertisements to users in other countries.

In a recent news release, TikTok stated it is "expanding its state-affiliated media policies to further address state-affiliated media accounts that attempt to reach communities outside their home country on current global events and affairs."

TikTok Expands Policies to Curb State-Affiliated Media Influence

The social network also confirmed that it is rolling out steps to identify these accounts and implement certain restrictions, such as preventing them from being recommended in users' For You pages.

These measures from TikTok aim to address concerns over state-affiliated entities, such as governments and political figures, spreading propaganda and misinformation through media content shared on TikTok.

A research report published in 2022 found that nearly 20 percent of videos appearing in TikTok's in-app search results contain misinformation and misleading claims about sensitive topics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the US elections.

According to TikTok, it has already identified and halted 15 influence operations, along with the 3,000 TikTok accounts associated with them, since January 2024.

TikTok Disrupts State-Backed Influence Operations

The company said that many of these influence operations, some with millions of followers on TikTok, were geared towards shifting the political landscape of their targeted audience. For example, TikTok has reportedly disrupted similar operations targeting a major election in Indonesia this year.

Additionally, TikTok stated in a report that it successfully disrupted 16 Chinese government-affiliated accounts in February 2024 that were spreading pro-Chinese policy propaganda to US audiences.

The company has also successfully stopped other government-backed influence campaigns targeting users in South America, Iran, Iraq, and war-torn Ukraine.

Bloomberg reports that these changes do not stop state-affiliated media ads from showing up in search results. Additionally, users who click links directed to this type of content will still be able to access it within the app.

In April, President Joe Biden signed a bill forcing Chinese parent company ByteDance to divest from TikTok or face an absolute ban in the US. A TikTok ban has been under discussion ever since investigations revealed a number of TikTok-related national security concerns.

In response, TikTok has assured that it will not be selling the platform and has even filed a lawsuit challenging the law, stating that certain provisions infringe on citizens' free speech rights.

TikTok has also repeatedly denied connections to the Chinese government, and its CEO has appeared in Congress to testify against allegations that the app has been spying on American journalists.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
There's a chance that the internet-connected chip machines in Taiwan can be "remotely shut off" by ASML and TSMC, the two leading semiconductor giants globally if unexpected tension arises between China and the smaller nation, according to Taiwan's new technology minister Wu Cheng-wen.

As first reported by Bloomberg, the strategic measure, often referred to as a "kill switch," could be activated in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

This is tied up to the rising geopolitical conflicts and the critical importance of Taiwan in the global semiconductor supply chain.

ASML's Dominance in Chipmaking Equipment

ASML, a Dutch company and Europe's top tech firm by market value supplies advanced lithography machines crucial for chip production. One of its key clients is Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which is responsible for producing approximately 90% of the world's most advanced processor chips. These chips are essential components in a wide range of products, from data centers to smartphones, and any disruption in their supply could have significant global economic repercussions.

Rising US-China Tensions

The introduction of the "kill switch" capability is occurring amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing. The United States, citing national security concerns, has implemented restrictions on China through the Advanced Computing Chips Rule.

These restrictions aim to curb China's ability to import advanced AI chips from American manufacturers. Additionally, the US has urged the Netherlands to block certain ASML exports to China further to limit the country's advanced chip manufacturing capabilities.

ASML has complied by ceasing the servicing of some equipment previously exported to China.

Taiwan's Critical Role in Semiconductor Manufacturing

Taiwan stands at the heart of the semiconductor industry. A potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait, exacerbated by China's aggressive military drills and political stance towards Taiwan's new president, William Lai, could severely impact the global chip supply.

TSMC, the largest buyer of ASML's extreme ultraviolet lithography machines, plays a big role in the production of microchips used in AI and military applications.

Strategic Diversification and the CHIPS Act

In response to these geopolitical threats, TSMC is diversifying its manufacturing capabilities, per Business Insider. The company is establishing a second facility in Arizona and new plants in Japan and Germany. However, these facilities will require time to become fully operational.

Meanwhile, the US government is strengthening domestic chip production through the CHIPS Act, which provides substantial subsidies for manufacturing, research, and workforce development in the semiconductor industry.

Long-term Dependence on Taiwanese Manufacturing

Despite these efforts to diversify and increase domestic production, industry leaders like Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang acknowledge the ongoing reliance on Taiwanese manufacturing.

Huang emphasized that it would be challenging for Nvidia to meet customer demands without Taiwan's semiconductor production capabilities.

Implementing a remote "kill switch" on ASML's advanced chipmaking machines highlights the precarious balance of global semiconductor supply chains amidst geopolitical tensions.

Taiwan's role as a semiconductor hub is irreplaceable in the short term, and any conflict in the region could have far-reaching consequences for the global economy.

The responses from TSMC, ASML, and the US government reflect an urgent need to mitigate these risks while exploring the technological dependence on the other end.

Still, China is hellbent to compete in chipmaking that's why it planned to produce next-gen smartphone chips amid US restrictions.
Robin Li, CEO of Chinese tech giant Baidu, believes that artificial intelligence surpassing human intelligence is more than a decade away. This view contrasts sharply with predictions from industry leaders like Elon Musk, who anticipate that artificial general intelligence (AGI) could emerge much sooner.

Contrasting Views on AGI Development

AGI refers to AI that matches or exceeds human intelligence. While Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicts AGI could be achieved by 2026, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman suggests it might arrive in the "reasonably close-ish future," Li remains skeptical. He points out that current AI models, despite their advancements, are still far from achieving human-like intelligence.

"AGI is still quite a few years away. Today, a lot of people talk about AGI, [and] they're saying ... it's probably two years away, it's probably, you know, five years away. I think [it] is more than 10 years away," Li said during a Wednesday talk at the VivaTech conference in Paris.

Related Article : AI Wave Takes Over High-Bandwidth Memory Chip Supply for 2024

The Pace of AI Development

Li expresses concern over the perceived slow pace of AI development. According to the 55-year-old tech billionaire, he fears that AI is not improving "fast enough."

He adds that most people are impressed with the way the technology has been evolving for the past years. However, he clarifies that it's still not the kind of fast that he expects for AI. Instead, he describes the progress as "too slow."

Despite the rapid advancements seen recently, Li argues that the progress toward AGI is still insufficient.

Baidu's AI Innovations

Baidu has been at the forefront of AI development in China. Last year, the company launched its ChatGPT-style chatbot, Ernie, based on its large language model. Chinese tech firms, including Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent, are investing heavily in developing their AI models, much like their U.S. counterparts.

Differences in AI Development Approaches

Li highlights a significant difference in the focus of AI development between China and the West. In the U.S. and Europe, companies aim to develop the most powerful and cutting-edge foundational models.

In contrast, Chinese companies are more focused on the practical applications of AI technology. Despite this, Li notes the absence of a "killer app" for AI that can achieve widespread daily use.

The Search for AI's 'Killer App'

According to CNBC, Li compares the current state of AI applications to the mobile app era, where apps like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have hundreds of millions to billions of daily active users. He points out that no AI-native app has yet achieved such widespread adoption.

Li says that in the present age of modern technology, daily active users could hit one billion. However, the numbers are not the same with AI native apps. He adds that it's also non-existent in the US, China, and even in Europe.

Future of AI Applications

Li poses the question of what the right form for AI-native apps will be and which of these apps will be able to reach the 100 million user mark. The development and adoption of such applications will be critical in determining the future impact of AI on daily life.

While some industry leaders predict AGI is just around the corner, Baidu CEO Robin Li provides a more cautious outlook, suggesting that truly intelligent AI is still more than a decade away. The ongoing advancements in AI technology and the search for groundbreaking applications will continue to shape the growing AI industry.
Finland's wizards making food out of thin air



Vantaa, Finland, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



At a factory in Finland, the "farmers of the future" are making a new food protein by feeding a microbe air and electricity, proving that protein can be produced without traditional agriculture.

Livestock farming is one of the main culprits in greenhouse gas emissions, the primary cause of global warming.

Cellular agriculture, where food or nutrients are grown from cell cultures, is increasingly seen as a green alternative to animal agriculture.

Lab-grown meat, eggs and milk have made headlines in recent years, with scientists using animal cell cultures -- a process some have criticised as unnatural, highly processed, energy-consuming and costly.

But at Solar Foods' recently opened factory outside Helsinki, scientists are using new technology to grow protein out of cells using air and electricity.

By feeding a microbe with carbon dioxide, hydrogen and some minerals, and powering the process with electricity from renewable sources, the company has managed to create a protein-rich powder that can be used as a milk and egg substitute.

"We can source our main feedstock for the microbe from the air," Solar Foods chief executive Pasi Vainikka told AFP, as he gave a tour of the company's new facilities near Helsinki.

"We have started the production of the world's most sustainable protein."

Founded by Vainikka and Juha-Pekka Pitkanen in 2017, Solar Foods launched the "world's first factory growing food out of thin air" in April.

"Much of the animal-like protein of today can actually be produced through cellular agriculture and we can let agricultural land re-wild and thereby build carbon stock," Vainikka said, referring to the process whereby forests and soil absorb and store carbon.

One kilo of the new protein, dubbed "solein", emits 130 times less greenhouse gases than the same amount of protein produced by beef production in the European Union, a 2021 scientific study claimed.

Vainikka navigates his way through the factory's laboratory and into the control room, where a dozen people at computer screens monitor the production process.

"These are our future farmers," Vainikka said.



- Part of the solution -



Transforming food production and consumption is at the heart of combating the climate crisis and preventing biodiversity loss, according to Emilia Nordlund, head of industrial biotechnology and food research at the VTT Technical Research Centre.

Yet current projections show the consumption of meat is expected to increase in coming years.

"Industrial food production, especially livestock production, is one of the biggest causes of greenhouse gas emissions (and) the biggest cause of biodiversity loss, eutrophication and freshwater usage," she said.

New food production technologies can help cut emissions and "decentralise and diversify food production", Nordlund said.

"However, at the same time, we must improve the existing food production methods to make them more sustainable and resilient," she added.

Fermentation technology used to produce different nutrients, such as proteins, has been around for decades.

But the field has expanded significantly in recent years with new technological solutions and research projects emerging worldwide.



- Slow progress -



Some of the most active start-up hubs focusing on cellular agriculture are in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Israel, Nordlund said.

"We are in a crucial phase as we will see which start-ups will survive," she said, adding that stalling bureaucracy was slowing cellular agriculture's take-off in the EU.

Dressed in protective gear to prevent bacteria contamination in the factory, Vainikka showed off a giant steel tank in a shiny production hall.

"This is a fermenter holding 20,000 litres," he said, explaining that the microbe multiplies inside the tank as it gets fed the greenhouse gas.

Liquid containing the microbes is continuously extracted from the tank to be processed into the yellowish protein-rich powder with a flavour described as "nutty" and "creamy".

"The fermenter produces the same amount of protein per day as 300 milking cows or 50,000 laying hens," Vainikka said.

That equals "five million meals' worth of protein per year".

For now, the main purpose of the small Finnish plant employing around 40 people is to "prove that the technology scales", so it can attract the necessary investments pending European regulatory approval.

While the protein has been cleared for sale in Singapore where some restaurants have used it to make ice cream, it is still awaiting classification as a food product in the EU and the United States.

To have any real impact, the aim is to "build an industrial plant 100 times the size of this one", Vainikka said.
WWF takes Norway to court over deep sea mining



Oslo, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



The World Wide Fund for Nature's (WWF) Norwegian chapter said Thursday it would take legal action against Norway for opening up its seabed to mining before performing sufficient impact studies.

Already Western Europe's largest oil and gas producer, Norway could become one of the first countries to authorise seabed mining, arguing the importance of not relying on China or authoritarian countries for minerals essential for renewable technology.

While deep-sea mining is contentious due to its potential impact on vulnerable marine ecosystems, Norway's parliament in January formally gave its green light to open up parts of its seabed to exploration.

"Norway's decision to proceed with opening up vast areas of ocean for destructive mining, is an unprecedented management scandal," Karoline Andaur, CEO of WWF Norway, said in a statement.

"We have never before seen a Norwegian government so arrogantly ignore all scientific advice and defy the warnings of a united marine research community," she continued.

According to WWF, the impact studies carried out by Norway's energy ministry did not meet the criteria required by Norwegian law.

During the public hearing process, the Norwegian Environment Agency -- a government agency -- reached the same conclusion, citing "significant gaps in the knowledge about nature, technology and environmental impact."

Several countries, including France and the UK, have called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining, and the European Parliament expressed concern following Norway's decision to move forward.

Meanwhile, Oslo maintains that by allowing the prospecting it wants to fill in gaps in knowledge to determine whether undersea mining can take place without serious impact on the environment. Otherwise, it will not be authorised.

"We believe that a thorough process has been carried out with broad involvement, and that the applicable requirements have been followed," Astrid Bergmal, state secretary at Norway's Ministry of Energy, told AFP in an email Thursday.

On April 12, the Ministry announced that it was opening up an area of the Norwegian Sea and Greenland Seas to exploration, with the aim of awarding the first licences in the first half of 2025.

In early 2023, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate published a report concluding that "substantial resources are in place on the seabed" including minerals such as copper, zinc and cobalt.

Among other uses, they are crucial for the manufacturing of batteries, wind turbines, computers and mobile phones.
Domestic beauty brands capture broad market

People's Daily Online) 09:30, May 23, 2024

Visitors try out beauty products during the fourth China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province. (Photo/Xinhua)

In recent years, domestic cosmetics brands have rapidly gained popularity among consumers.

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China's retail sales of cosmetics products reached 414.2 billion yuan ($57.24 billion) in 2023, up 5.1 percent year on year.

Freda is a cosmetics company located in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province. The company has 35 production lines, with annual output value exceeding 4 billion yuan.

"We must carry out technological upgrading, ramp up research and development (R&D) efforts, and improve product quality to maintain competitive in the market," said Gao Chunming, general manager of the company.

"In recent years, with government support, we have implemented intelligent production and digital management, effectively ensuring product quality," Gao added.

Gao explained that the company has more than 100 R&D staff members, and has formed long-term and stable partnerships with universities like Shandong University and Beijing Technology and Business University.

In 2022, the company inaugurated its R&D and innovation center, which comprises different functional sections, including cosmetics research, medical equipment research, and raw material research.

Baiyun district in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, is one of the major hubs for the cosmetics industry in China, boasting nearly 1,300 cosmetics companies. These account for about one-fourth of the national total and half of Guangdong Province.

In the workshop of Guangzhou ShiFei Bio-tech Co., Ltd., located in Baiyun district, automated equipment ran non-stop, with a digital screen showing the progress of different production stages such as material preparation, weighing, emulsification, and packaging.

"The workshop ensures strict environmental control, encompassing air cleanliness, humidity, temperature, airspeed, and lighting, to ensure the quality of the products," said Wang Jiahua, head of the company. Wang explained that the company possesses a testing center equipped with state-of-the-art devices for quality control.

In Daixi township, Wuxing district, Huzhou city, east China's Zhejiang Province, innovative marketing strategies have contributed to a surge in the demand for beauty products.

In recent years, Daixi township has developed into a thriving beauty and cosmetics hub. It has attracted 281 cosmetics and related companies, making it one of the most concentrated beauty platforms in the country. Last year, Daixi township welcomed over 2 million tourist visits.

During last year's mid-year shopping spree, known as the "618" shopping festival, Proya, a beauty brand with a branch in the township, achieved impressive sales on platforms such as Tmall, Douyin, and JD.com.

In 2023, exports of the township's cosmetics enterprises grew by 220.5 percent year on year, with some products being sold in over 70 countries and regions.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
India plans 'historic' tiger transfer to Cambodia this year



Phnom Penh, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



India will send four tigers to Cambodia this year in a "historic" bid to revive the kingdom's big cat population, Delhi's ambassador said Thursday.

Cambodia's dry forests were once home to scores of Indochinese tigers but conservationists say intensive poaching of both tigers and their prey has devastated their numbers.

The last sighting of a tiger in the Southeast Asian kingdom was from a camera trap in 2007 and the cats were declared "functionally extinct" in Cambodia in 2016.

The new arrivals will be sent to a 90-hectare (222-acre) forest inside a wildlife sanctuary in the Cardamom rainforest to acclimatise to their new home before being released into the wild, according to officials.

Officials in February installed more than 400 cameras at one-kilometre intervals in the reserve in the Cardamom Mountains to monitor wildlife, particularly animals that tigers prey upon, such as deer and boar.

Before sending the tigers -- one male and three females -- India wants to ensure there is sufficient prey and no possibility of poaching, said Indian ambassador Devyani Khobragade.

As soon as data on the prey arrives and the monsoon season eases, "we should have these tigers", she told reporters in Phnom Penh.

"Hopefully it could be even before November or December."

"If the project is successful, that will be the first translocation project of tigers anywhere in the world," she said.

"This is a historic project."

Both Cambodia's environment ministry and conservation group Wildlife Alliance (WA) said they were confident the area was ready for the tigers, which were first promised to Cambodia in a deal signed in 2022.

"There is no snare present in the core zone of the tigers, it's zero, it is going to stay that way," WA founder and CEO Suwanna Gauntlett said.

Sixteen ranger stations have been set up around the area, along with a station to monitor the tigers, an enclosure, a prey tunnel, and a dedicated water supply, she said.

The tigers will be tagged with monitoring devices for the safety of the animals and nearby villages, officials said.

Several more tigers will be imported over the next five years if the project goes smoothly, according to Cambodian environment ministry officials.

Deforestation and poaching have devastated tiger numbers across Asia.

Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have all lost their native populations, while Myanmar is thought to have just 23 tigers left in the wild.

India's wild tiger population now exceeds 3,600, according to government figures released last year, following a massive conservation campaign.
US freight company to pay $310 mn over East Palestine derailment



Washington, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2024



The freight company responsible for a large toxical chemical spill in Ohio last year has reached a $310 million settlement with US authorities, officials said Thursday.

Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, were forced to evacuate in February 2023, when a Norfolk Southern train carrying chemicals derailed, covering the area in thick black smoke.

While there were no fatalities, people were forced to temporarily evacuate, and many of them reported health problems and poor drinking water as a result of the incident.

The issue swiftly became political, with both President Joe Biden and his Republican rival Donald Trump making visits to the area.

In a joint statement Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DoJ) said the $310 million settlement would ensure that Norfolk Southern is held to account.

"My team has been laser focused on holding the guilty party accountable, directing and supervising the extensive cleanup activities since shortly after the derailment," EPA administrator Michael Regan told reporters.

Norfolk Southern has agreed to spend around $235 million on cleanup costs, and to pay a $15 million civil penalty to "resolve the alleged violations of the Clean Water Act," the DoJ and EPA said in a statement.

Other costs agreed to in the settlement include around $25 million for a 20-year health program to monitor affected individuals, and $30 million to measure water for the next decade.

Norfolk Southern will also put in place measures to improve the safety of transporting hazardous materials, including new monitoring devices and a more "rigorous" alarm protocol to detect overheated wheel bearings, Regan told reporters.

The cost of these changes is expected to cost Norfolk Southern approximately $200 million, and comes in addition to the $310 million agreed to in the settlement, he said.

"This company represents approximately 20 percent of the industry," he continued.

"I think it's safe to say that it is a game changer for the industry," he added. "And we hope that other companies follow suit."

Under the terms of the settlement, Norfolk Southern is not admitting liability for the accident, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim told reporters.

The $310 million announced by the DoJ and the EPA on Thursday comes in addition to a separate $600 million class action settlement signed off by a judge earlier this week.
The issues being debated by lawmakers during this session have drawn much attention around the state. Lawmakers must wrap up their work by Jun
The curtain has risen on the design of a new 1500-seat theatre at Parramatta estimated to cost $188 million. The new venue will aim to bring Broadway-quality shows to the Sydneys second CBD for the first time.

The City of Parramatta wants to attract major touring musicals, productions by leading theatre companies from around Australia, and new works to its western Sydney heartland.

Winning design of the new $188 million Riverside Theatres. Credit: Cox Architecture with 3XN Architects, Aileen Sage, Turf Design Studio and Bangawarra

The redevelopment of the 40-year-old theatre complex will be crowned by a new lyric theatre comparable in size to Sydneys Theatre Royal, the new performing arts venue in Brisbane, Her Majestys Theatre in Adelaide and Melbournes Princess Theatre.

The existing 760-seat Riverside Playhouse Theatre is to be refurbished and a new 420-seat black box theatre and rehearsal spaces built over the existing car park. But patrons must wait until 2025 before work begins, with doors to open in early 2028.
AVGO Eggs and Surf Coast Eggs farms says it was just bad luck that two of their Victorian farms have been struck down with avian flu in the same week, saying the farms had been hit with different strains of bird flu.

Workers at the two farms have now been forced to cull 560,000 chickens at two farms to halt the spread of deadly avian flu.

A highly pathogenic form of bird flu can emerge when it mutates within high-density poultry flocks. Credit: Bloomberg

On Thursday, workers completed the grim task of killing an estimated 400,000 chickens to halt the spread of deadly avian flu at AVGO Eggs near the small Victorian town of Meredith.

Later that day, Agriculture Victoria confirmed an egg farm in Terang, which was directly connected with the Meredith property through joint management, staff and machinery, had also been hit with avian influenza.

Surf Coast Eggs in Terang was immediately placed into quarantine, and about 160,000 birds were destroyed.

Avian flu has not been detected in Australia since 2020, but the spokesman for AVGO and Surf Coast Eggs siad the two properties had been infected with different strains.

As a family run, local business, we are devastated by the impact of the avian flu which has been discovered on two of our sites, he said.

We have procedures in place at our sites to protect biosecurity. Each of our two infected sites have been impacted by a different strain of the avian flu, which means there has been no cross contamination between our farms  just bad luck.

Sadly, it is difficult to protect against avian flu but at such a difficult time, we can rest assured that we have been following all protocols and there is nothing we could have done to prevent this.

The company now faces a $9 million bill from the outbreaks and it could be months before the farms can reopen.

The strain discovered at AVGO Eggs was H7N3, a highly pathogenic but less severe strain than the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu ravaging wildlife on every continent but Australia.A slightly different variant, H7N9, was discovered at Surf Coast Eggs, in Terang.

It came as a second human case of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu was discovered in a dairy worker in the US state of Michigan, transmitted by cattle.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Victoria issued housing requirements for bird owners living near the Meredith and Terang farms.

Poultry farmers, backyard flock and bird owners within five kilometres of the Meredith farm, and 1.5 kilometres of the Terang farm, must house or keep their birds enclosed as practically as possible in cages or sheds.

Victorias Chief Veterinarian Graeme Cooke said the housing order had been supported by industry as a sensible step to take in light of the recent avian influenza detections.

Housing birds when practical, is an effective method of minimising direct contact with wild birds that can carry the disease with no apparent symptoms, he said.

The order will reduce the risk that more birds will contract avian influenza, however it will not eliminate the risk of spread.
Two Sydney University students have been suspended after classes were significantly disrupted by protesters last week, as the encampment on the institutions quad lawns enters its fifth week.

In a letter of support, the Sydney University Student Representative Council (SRC) said the university was attempting to silence protesters by handing the two students immediate one-month suspensions.

Sydney Universitys pro-Palestinian encampment. Credit: Kate Geraghty

The SRC said the suspensions were a result of the students making announcements at the start of classes about the universitys ties with Israel and encouraging students to be involved in the campaign for Palestine.

Such announcements before classes begin do not seriously disrupt teaching activities and usually finish before staff are ready to begin class, the letter read. They are a routine part of campus life and have been given around many political issues in the past.
Australias biggest individual lottery winner says he is pinching himself after claiming the $150 million Powerball jackpot, but still turned up for work.

The Adelaide man contacted official lottery provider The Lott on Friday morning to confirm his win.

The $150 million Powerball jackpot has been won by a lottery ticket bought in South Australia.

He told them he had checked his two tickets for the draw late last night, and when he scanned the second one, and it said, $150 million.

Ive never screamed so loud or jumped so high, he said today. Woohoo! Im still pinching myself. I still havent slept. Ive just kept checking the ticket.

The $150 million was the third-largest lottery prize in Australian history, behind a $200 million Powerball win shared between two people in February and a $160 million jackpot in 2022 split between three ticket holders.
Elon Musk has suffered another legal defeat in Australia after his social media company X argued it should not be subject to local anti-discrimination laws.

The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled that X  formerly known as Twitter  had to answer to the states laws despite being based in America.

The Australian Muslim Advocacy Network alleged that Elon Musks X should be responsible for posts on its site vilifying Muslims because it is a publisher. Credit: AP

The Australian Muslim rights group behind the complaint hailed the ruling as precedent-setting, saying it ensured social media companies had to be held accountable for locally accessible content that breached hate speech laws.

The ruling stemmed from a complaint made by the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network, which alleged that Musks X had to be responsible for posts on its site vilifying Muslims because it was a publisher.
A heritage-listed house in a prime position at Kangaroo Point will go to auction on Saturday, once again putting Brisbanes luxury property market to the test.

Rockfield, at 19 Leopard Street, was built about 1890 for coal merchant Captain Daniel McGregor, and has endured several owners. On its 1100 square metre block, the stately house still has views across the Brisbane River to the CBD and beyond.

Rockfield, illuminated in the foreground, is next to another heritage-listed house, Home, at the rear. Credit: Place

Underneath its northern sight-line sits a modern mansion, at 1 Leopard Street, which was thought to have set a city record when it sold for $15 million in 2021.

Rockfield hasnt changed hands since 1997, when it sold for $455,000. Its five bedrooms, three bathrooms, living areas and verandas have since been updated.
A public school in Melbournes south-east is accused of being tone-deaf to cost-of-living pressures after charging $160 per person to attend a year 12 valedictory graduation dinner.

Parents Victoria said the ticket price could mean families have to choose who can attend the milestone event based on money.

The notice sent to parents by Nossal High School.

But educators have defended the event as being planned in line with community expectations and that extra assistance would be available for any family in financial distress.

Nossal High School, a selective school in Berwick, last month invited families to the $160 unique and important formal dinner at the Pullman Melbourne Albert Park in November.
Transperth has sacked a driver responsible for dragging a boy 300 metres by a bus, leaving him with a broken pelvis and hand and two skin grafts.

Jeremy Thompson, 12, said a bus driver closed the door on his right foot before accelerating along Pinjarra Road in Mandurah on May 14.

Thompson was boarding the bus with friends around 6pm to visit his mother in Pinjarra.

I took one foot on the bus, he closed it, he dragged me from the bus stop all the way to the lights, he said.
In the 19th century, Philadelphia lawyer and naturalist Peter Browne was a major collector of human hair: strands from George Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte, and hundreds of others, famous and unknown. He amassed enough to fill more than a dozen books of hair, including animal fur, in his pursuit of understanding humanity.

Browne's ignorant theories on race  for instance, that different races were actually different species  have not stood the test of time, but his large collection of human hair has only grown in the public's interest; it was the subject of a 2018 book and a 2008 exhibit at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University on the hair of American presidents.

Earlier this year, his name resurfaced in the halls of the Mutter Museum and the Academy of Natural Sciences, where his books are held, after new federal regulations were announced regarding the repatriation of human remains and objects of cultural significance to Native American tribes. As museums in New York and Chicago removed or covered up displays to comply, the update impacted several Philadelphia-area institutions, largely behind the scenes.

Among the changes they needed to make: taking a closer look at Browne's books of hair.

National registry

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act was passed in 1990 to compel museums, universities and other institutions to return human remains and important objects to federally recognized tribes. It created a registry where institutions must report their inventories to allow tribes to potentially claim those remains and objects.

The act's updates this year followed decades of slow-moving progress at museums nationwide. In January 2023, a ProPublica investigation exposed more than 600 institutions that still had Native American human remains in their collections and had not yet returned  or in some cases, even resisted efforts to return  them to tribes. It included the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, the Mutter and a dozen others in the Philadelphia and South Jersey region that reported housing the remains of 2,368 Native American people.

As of late 2023, the remains of more than 96,000 Native Americans were still in museum and university collections, including 90,803 that are considered "culturally unidentifiable," meaning that the institution has not determined to which present-day tribe the remains belong.

President Joe Biden's administration has prioritized accelerating the repatriation efforts in recent years, working with Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, the first Native American person to serve as a cabinet secretary. Institutions must report human remains, funerary objects and other objects of cultural significance in their holdings, and conduct outreach to connect and consult with Native American tribes.

Effective this year, the Department of Interior has implemented a five-year deadline for institutions to take inventory and return the remains and objects to tribes, expediting the process and granting tribes greater authority in the decision-making. They've also expanded the types of items that need to be added to the registry.

Why hair collection matters

"The definition of human remains has been expanded, and now includes human hair," said Kate Quinn, executive director of the Mutter, which holds one of Browne's books and is in the middle of auditing its entire collection. "Within the collections here, we do have human hair that was Native American, so we're putting that on the [federal] registry."

In total, the Mutter has reported holding the remains of 60 Native American people. Quinn says since ProPublica's investigation, the museum has finalized two repatriations and has seven more pending. During that time, the Mutter has been embroiled in debates about the ethics of keeping and displaying its collection of human remains from around the world.

The Academy of Natural Sciences also plans to report some of Browne's collection to comply with the updates to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. A spokesperson for Drexel, which owns the Academy, said the museum houses about 300 locks of human hair, including 20 locks from Native American people whose tribal affiliations were noted by Browne. The Academy will communicate with those tribes, whose names they did not disclose, "to determine their wishes on how best to care for and/or restitute these hair locks," the spokesperson said.

The updated regulations now also require that museums get consent from tribes before displaying or researching cultural objects. At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, one artifact may require consent to continue displaying: a Kaskasian Beaver Bowl that a judge took from present-day Illinois in 1795. It is on loan from the Penn Museum; a spokesperson says they are consulting the tribe about the display.

New findings at Penn

The Penn Museum holds the largest collection of Native American human remains in Philadelphia, with 632 remains reported. So far, Penn says it has transferred 274 sets of human remains and 752 associated funerary objects back to tribes. Director of collections Laura Hortz Stanton says they are continuing to make progress and are prepared to meet the new deadline with a team of new staffers.

Earlier this year, the museum came under fire for its handling of human remains that were part of white supremacist and scientist Samuel G. Morton's crania collection. After the skulls of 19 Black Philadelphians were identified in 2019, the museum moved forward with a burial service that experts said was rushed and unethical.

The museum initially planned to bury 20 skulls, but a group of volunteer researchers who have been critical of Penn's repatriation efforts uncovered archival evidence showing that one of the individuals had Native American ancestry  a porter from Chester County named John Voorhees. Days before the burial, Penn decided to withhold Voorhees' skull with the plan of making it available for tribes to claim. Though he would have been considered "culturally unidentifiable," the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act has now expanded the criteria for tribes that are eligible to make claims.

"One of the really wonderful things within the new [regulations] is that they allow for geographic affiliation. We don't necessarily have to have an exact cultural affiliation, but we can move forward based on geography," Stanton said. "Knowing that John Voorhees was in Philadelphia and Chester County, we can then move forward by consulting with geographically affiliated tribes."

Those tribes should include the Delaware Tribe, among others, but the museum did not disclose who they will contact.

As area museums continue to make progress, these updates should make the process easier for them to return remains to descendants, so that the remains may be respectfully put to rest. The remaining question is whether these institutions will deliver.
The penguin colony on Rockinghams Penguin Island has seen its numbers drop by 94 per cent in less than 20 years, with the state Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions admitting the situation was concerning.

The new damning population report on the colony at the popular tourist attraction in Perths south, conducted by scientists and given to the state government more than three weeks ago, was finally handed to City of Rockingham councillors on Wednesday night.

There are just 114 penguins left in the colony. Credit: Holly Thompson/ Rockingham Wild Encounters

But the department refused to comment until Friday, when the report was published officially on the City of Rockingham website.

The population of little penguins was thriving as recently as 2007, with estimates of between 1600 and 2000 birds.
Thank you for joining us today as we brought you the news you needed to know.

Tonight we leave you as news that Australian man Keith Davis, an injured passenger from the ill-fated Singapore Airlines flight 321, is stuck in Bangkok with neither answers nor a voice.

His wife has been in intensive care since the flight from London to Singapore was forced to make an emergency landing in Thailand on Tuesday following the death of a passenger in extreme turbulence.

Davis wished to speak more openly about his concerns with the ABCs Bill Birtles on Thursday but was not allowed to by officials for reasons that were not explained.

In extraordinary scenes at a public cafe inside the hospital, staff surrounded Davis when it became apparent he was about to speak.

The mother of an eight-year-old boy who drowned on a school excursion has spoken of the grief of losing her son, saying her legs collapsed from under her when she arrived at the pool and was told he had died.

Skye Meinen said losing her son Cooper Onyett, nicknamed Mr Cute, had caused her life to be shattered into a million pieces. Cooper was a year 2 student.

And on a lighter note, Jim Bright writes about green dot-obsessed managers ruining remote work.

We look forward to your company tomorrow.
All governments like to frame their new forecasts as achievements, but the habit leads to bad decisions. At heart, it means the politicians will spend tomorrows revenue today. Certain the budget bottom line will improve, they commit to new spending and congratulate themselves on their prudence. All based on a dubious bottom line. Loading The leading example is the National Disability Insurance Scheme, now forecast to cost $60 billion a year within a few years. Labor committed to this policy in its final budgets before losing power at the 2013 election, and it even produced charts showing the new spending was fully offset by savings. But history shows that the savings did not fund the policy in full. The spending surged much faster than forecast. As John Kehoe writes in The Australian Financial Review this week, the cost keeps growing when about 12 per cent of boys aged five to seven are on the scheme. The NDIS is now the second-biggest federal program after support for seniors with the aged pension and other help. Nobody in government told voters this when the program began. Most in the media, me included, wanted to believe that people could be helped without busting the budget. It is true that many have been helped, but there is a huge challenge in slowing the growth. The cost of the NDIS is now bigger than federal outlays on family tax benefits, JobSeeker and the childcare subsidy. Combined.

Jim Chalmers and Katy Gallagher have avoided the worst of this forecasting danger, so far. The treasurer and finance minister made sure to deliver an upside surprise last year by promising a $4.2 billion surplus in May and turning that into a $22.1 billion surplus in the final budget outcome. Loading This years forecast for a $9.3 billion surplus is highly likely to turn into a bigger surplus as well. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chalmers want to go to the next election after beating their own forecasts. Yet they have fallen into the old pattern on spending. The policy decisions in last weeks budget will weaken the bottom line by $24.4 billion over four years in the hope of a miraculous improvement in later years. Of the $42.8 billion deficit they expect next financial year, $10.3 billion comes from decisions in last weeks budget. We know this from the reconciliation table in the budget papers, otherwise known as the table of truth by economists. This shows that parameter variations outside the governments control, such as commodity prices, helped to improve the bottom line by $12.6 billion over four years. The deficits would be deeper without these happy assumptions.

And there are good reasons for thinking the bottom line is even weaker than it looks. The Commonwealth has a growing number of off-budget funds, such as the Clean Energy Financial Corporation, the National Reconstruction Fund and the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, that treat outlays as investments. A loan, for instance, creates an asset on the federal balance sheet. Labor has pledged about $40 billion to these funds and facilities. (This does not include the National Broadband Network.) Loading This means the table of truth is only a table of half-truths. This grew worse under nine years of Coalition government and seems an irreversible trend. Gross debt will be $934 billion, or about one-third of GDP, by June next year. It will climb past $1 trillion in the subsequent few years. That offers a reality check for the next time Chalmers talks about being left with $1 trillion of Liberal debt. Who takes the blame? The debt was about $320 billion in Labors last budget before it lost power in 2013. The debt grew under Labor during the global financial crisis and under the Liberals during the next nine years, including the pandemic. How do you divide the total by political party? Where, in that mad calculation, do you assign the interest expense on Labor debt when incurred in Liberal years?

That $1 trillion is stamped with both brands. Incredibly, Labor says at times that it is paying down the debt. It is true that the debt may end up being lower in the next few years than previously thought, but that is only a matter of shifting forecasts. The gross debt is still growing every year. So is the interest bill. The net debt, at least, is predicted to fall, thanks to assumptions about the increasing value of Commonwealth assets. Loading Apologies for labouring the point, but the budget says gross debt will peak at 35.2 per cent of GDP in June 2027, which is one year sooner than the government previously thought. This lulls people into thinking the debt is under control, but the calculation depends on assumptions about the size of the economy. In absolute terms, nobody really knows when the debt may peak and start to fall. The reason? Nobody can say when the budget will return to a structural surplus. So the interest payments on government securities will grow from $20.9 billion this year to $34.1 billion in four years time. Do not mistake this scepticism about the Labor budget for an endorsement of the Coalition alternative.
What in the World, a free weekly newsletter from our foreign correspondents, is sent every Thursday. Below is an excerpt. Sign up to get the whole newsletter delivered to your inbox

The French poet and novelist Anatole France once wrote: Until one has loved an animal, a part of ones soul remains unawakened.

North America correspondent Farrah Tomazin meeting Savannah after she completed her seven-year journey around the world.

I have thought about this a lot over the past few days as Ive found myself grieving over a dog I barely knew, who had also touched the hearts of millions of others at a time when many of us probably needed it.

Some of you might recall that, a few years ago, while much the world was still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, I wrote a story about New Jersey native Tom Turcich, who had spent seven years walking across the globe with his beloved dog Savannah, a rescue pup hed picked up in Texas not long after setting off on his journey.
Washington: Former presidential hopeful Nikki Haley says she plans to vote for Donald Trump in the November election, months after warning Americans that the US would descend into chaos if he returned to the White House.

In her first public comments since suspending her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in March, Haley once again urged the former president to reach out to the millions of people who supported her and not just take their votes for granted.

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at the Hudson Institute in Washington. Credit: AP

Speaking in her new role as the Walter P Stern Chair of the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based think tank, Haley gave a searing critique of Americas national security weaknesses, saying the nation needed to grow a spine particularly in terms of the Israel-Hamas war and Russias ongoing assault of Ukraine.

Asked whether Trump or President Joe Biden would do a better job on national security, the former UN ambassador paused briefly before giving her endorsement to Trump.
A Jewish University of Virginia student from Israel has filed suit against the school in federal court, claiming he has been the victim of antisemitism on Grounds and that, further, UVa leaders knew and did nothing to stop it.

The wide-ranging suit argues UVa President Jim Ryan and Rector Robert Hardie allowed virulent antisemitism to run rampant and accuses students of being foot soldiers for Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist terror group that the Jewish nation of Israel has been warring with since Oct. 7 of last year.

The pro-Hamas UVA students have turned what once was a beautiful bastion of enlightened freethinking and tolerance into a trash-laden wasteland of antisemitic and anti-Israeli hate, and Defendants UVA, Ryan, and Hardie allowed it to happen, according to a draft of the lawsuit obtained by The Daily Progress.

The plaintiff, first-year student Matan Goldstein, is suing Ryan, Hardie and two pro-Palestine organizations on Grounds, both of which his suit alleges act as sleeper cells taking orders directly from Hamas.

It should be noted that both of those groups, Students for Justice in Palestine and Faculty for Justice in Palestine, include Jewish members.

Legal experts are skeptical about Goldsteins claims and doubt the complaint, filed on May 17, will find much success in court.

This is an embarrassment to the legal profession. This isnt a complaint, attorney Jeff Fogel told The Daily Progress. It makes claims which, frankly, I know to be lies, and on the other hand, it makes claims it cant back up.

Among the numerous allegations in Goldsteins 79-page lawsuit:

 Pro-Hamas student groups have dedicated themselves to antisemitic objectives and making UVa an inhospitable place for Jews.

 Pro-Hamas demonstrations and events occurred on a weekly, if not daily, basis on Grounds.

 A protest encampment on Grounds that was planned, coordinated, and supported by Hamas made it impossible for people to access many UVa buildings without encountering antisemitic proclamations and utterances of hate.

 Antisemitism has thoroughly infected UVa, leaving Jewish students and faculty in constant fear of physical attack, violence, and even death.

 The Ryan-Hardie administration has not only ignored antisemitism but gas-lighted Jewish students to the point that the Jewish community feared retaliation from President Ryan.

In the lawsuit, Goldstein repeated an allegation first published in The Daily Progress: that he was assaulted during an Oct. 25 protest on the steps of the universitys iconic Rotunda. That walkout was organized by the Students for Justice in Palestine and saw hundreds of students march Grounds in protest of Israels attack on the Palestinian territory of Gaza. Goldstein and a few other counterprotesters chose to attend, standing on the steps while holding an Israeli flag as protesters chanted and at times yelled at Goldstein and the counterprotesters.

The lawsuit does not provide any more details on the alleged assault, including who assaulted Goldstein or how. But in February, Goldstein told The Daily Progress that he was shoved and slapped in the face at the protest. According to the lawsuit, an unnamed UVa professor intervened at some point during the protest in order to protect Matan and himself from imminent physical assault.

Fogel, who is Jewish, said he believes the alleged assault would be the only actionable claim in the suit. Even so, he said an allegation of assault belongs in state court, not federal.

A lot of this is just to be able to throw out conclusory allegations that have no basis in law, Fogel said. I cant sue someone for being racist, even assuming its true.

Attorney Dave Heilberg told The Daily Progress he thinks UVa will try to get the charges dismissed on summary judgment, in which the court finds no material issue of fact in a complaint.

I dont know at what point you become pro-Hamas instead of pro-Palestinian, said Heilberg. I dont know at what point anti-Israel became antisemitic; anti-Zionism and antisemitism are not synonymous.

Goldstein is seeking financial compensation for the harm he alleges, but Heilberg said it is difficult to place damages on the kinds of assault that include spitting, shoving and slapping.

As the lawsuit notes, UVa is currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education, which received a complaint alleging the university discriminated against Jewish students and failed to respond appropriately to incidents of harassment last fall. In alerting UVa that it had opened an investigation, the federal agency noted that the move in no way implies that [the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights] has made a determination on the merits of the complaint.

Adhering to mandates from the Department of Education, UVa filed a response chronicling complaints regarding antisemitism on Grounds over the past two academic years. It told the federal agency that UVa responded promptly and effectively to each incident.

It included mention of the Oct. 25 walkout where Goldstein alleges he was assaulted.

Although there were verbal exchanges between the two groups, there were no threats or acts of violence and no law enforcement intervention was necessary, UVa wrote to the federal government. Following the demonstration, no students or faculty made reports of harassment or discrimination or filed formal complaints.

While UVa would not comment on the Goldstein lawsuit, a statement provided to The Daily Progress from university spokesman Brian Coy says that the school opposes antisemitism and has responded swiftly to claims of harassment of members of our community.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and ensuing war in Gaza, leaders across our Grounds have gone to great lengths to support students who have experienced difficulties stemming from the conflict, and to investigate claims of misconduct that violate our policies or Virginia law, said Coy in the statement. This has been a challenging year at UVA and at institutions around the country, but we are proud of the way our students, faculty, and staff have risen to the challenge in a difficult moment.

Earlier this year, the Anti-Defamation League, an international Jewish advocacy group, issued report cards for universities across the country, assigning each a grade for its performance in dealing with antisemitism on campus. As the lawsuit notes, UVa received an F.

The failing mark was due in part to the number of antisemitic incidents on campus during the allotted time frame. UVa had 15 total incidents, according to the ADLs count, a high rate relative to the other schools examined and the size of UVas Jewish student population. By the ADLs own metric, the incident rate was less than 1%.

While UVa says it received a total of 19 reports related to potential antisemitism from students, faculty and staff between the start of the 2023 fall semester and Jan. 1 of this year, it says not a single one has been filed as a formal complaint.

The lawsuit accuses UVa of lying about the number of complaints lodged by Jewish students and the lack of formal complaints. It claims that members of UVas Jewish community filed formal complaints with every available University outlet, agency, and program.

Neither Students for Justice in Palestine nor Faculty for Justice in Palestine would provide comment to The Daily Progress on the suit.

The groups both want UVa to divest from Israel by cutting financial ties to the country, an objective the lawsuit calls antisemitic.

On April 3, the Jewish Leadership Advisory Board, an elected body that oversees the largest Jewish student organization in Charlottesville, sent a letter to UVas governing Board of Visitors in response to calls for divestment, a position the board opposes. The letter, the students wrote, was an opportunity for them to speak our truth and correct the current narrative, particularly after a heated discussion during a Board of Visitors meeting where members spoke of the allegations of antisemitism on Grounds.

While acknowledging that antisemitism on Grounds is a top concern at UVa, the students wrote, it is not as widespread as some outside of the University community believe. And they objected to Jewish students being used as political pawns.

We believe the overwhelming majority of students, faculty, and staff at the University do not act with malicious intent nor hatred towards Jewish people, reads the letter. It saddens us to see concerted efforts to exploit Jewish students as pawns for political agendas. Such efforts threaten the safety and well-being of Jewish students.

While not named as a party in the lawsuit, the draft references UVa Apartheid Divest, or UVAAD, a coalition of student groups that support the divestment movement. It describes the group as anti-semitic, anti-Israel, pro-Hamas.

Eli Weinger, a Jewish undergraduate student and member of UVAAD, contests the characterization. Speaking on his own behalf, he called the lawsuit absurd and pointed out that Jewish Voices for Peace is part of the UVAAD coalition.

The fact that there is very little room to stand on is demonstrated by the lawsuits intentional absence of any Jewish students who stand in solidarity with the protests, Weinger told The Daily Progress, before referencing UVas decision to have Virginia State Police break up a small encampment of anti-war protesters on May 4.

As a Jewish student, the only times Ive felt unsafe is when state police were called in, and I find it offensive, quite frankly, that someone would seek to weaponize Jewish identity in an effort to silence advocates for peace, Weinger said.

Goldsteins lawsuit also mentions another case in which a UVa student sued the university. In July of last year, Morgan Bettinger took legal action against the school after she was expelled, claiming university officials did not do enough to protect her after she was accused of threatening participants at a Black Women Matter protest in downtown Charlottesville in July of 2020.

UVa settled with Bettinger in February. The connection between Bettinger and Goldstein: Both are represented by the Charlottesville law firm of Brown & Gavalier. Little can be found on the firms website about Gregory Brown and Kristi Gavalier aside from their focus on clients who have been profoundly harmed as a result of egregious wrongdoing. The firm told The Daily Progress it does not comment on pending litigation.

Before the Goldstein suit can proceed, UVa must be served the suit itself and will then be expected to file a response.

Fogel is unconvinced Goldstein will be able to demonstrate he has legal standing, saying the complaint features ridiculous, outrageous, imbecilic statements.

Both he and Weinger believe the suit is politically motivated, with Weinger saying it conflates anti-Zionism with antisemitism.

Anti-Zionism is a political position. Antisemitism is a form of bigotry that is not acceptable in any form, Weinger said.

Labeling groups that support divestment as antisemitic, Weinger said, not only zaps antisemitism of its earnest impact but is also a form of erasure for the tens of thousands of Jewish people across this world who are horrified by what has happened in last seven months and indeed over past 76 years.

Since Hamas Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel, which killed more than 1,000 people and saw more than 200 taken hostage, Israel has laid siege to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory of Gaza. According to the United Nations, there have been 24,686 confirmed deaths, the majority of them women, children and the elderly.
Another preeminent scholar of early American history will be leaving the nonprofit organization that owns and operates Founding Father Thomas Jeffersons Monticello estate due to friction with its current leadership, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.

The source corroborated previous reporting from The Daily Progress that Frank Cogliano, interim director of the International Center for Jefferson Studies, was offered the role on a permanent basis only to have it rescinded days later.

It is among a number of claims regarding Cogliano that Monticello denies.

Its new president Jane Kamensky, who joined the foundation in January, says she is grateful for the dedication and expertise Cogliano has brought to the center since he joined last summer.

We have worked closely together since my arrival in mid-January, and I know I am not alone in having learned from his scholarship. I very much hope we will continue to collaborate in the future, Kamensky told The Daily Progress in a prepared statement.

Despite multiple sources now corroborating the allegations, Monticello spokeswoman Jenn Lyon said, The Daily Progress has received bad information.

As an author and editor of multiple books on Jefferson and the American Revolution, Monticello naturally holds great meaning for Cogliano. So much so that, according to the source, when the foundations former President Leslie Greene Bowman asked if hed want to take the interim position at the International Center for Jefferson Studies, Cogliano was willing to scale back his work at the University of Edinburgh to do so. At the renowned Scottish university, Cogliano serves as a professor of American history and as dean international. After much consideration, the source said, Cogliano moved from Europe to Virginia with the understanding that the position could become a longer-term arrangement.

The assumption was that although it was an interim post, if he wanted to he could stay, the source told The Daily Progress.

But Cogliano will not be staying. His contract with Monticello expires on June 30. In fact, after sensing tension with leadership, Cogliano offered to leave his post early, but his offer was rejected, according to the source.

There was a brief moment when Cogliano appeared on track to continue on as director. According to sources, he was offered the permanent position as director of the International Center for Jefferson Studies by Tobias Dengel, chairman of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation board and CEO of Charlottesville-based app developer WillowTree. But the offer was made over the phone, and there was never anything in writing.

Days later, the offer was revoked because Kamensky refused to allow it, according to another source who spoke with The Daily Progress earlier in the year and also requested anonymity.

Dengel did not respond to a request for comment from The Daily Progress about the claim. But he denied it the last time he was contacted regarding the same accusation from other sources.

I have never offered a job or permanent role at Monticello or the Thomas Jefferson Foundation to anyone besides Gardiner Hallock as Interim President and Jane Kamensky as President and that includes the permanent director role at ICJS, Dengel wrote in January. It is the mandate of the Board (and almost any Board) to select the President and then the President selects his or her leadership team.

Cogliano himself has not commented the matter since The Daily Progress began reporting on his imminent exit and other departures from the mountaintop.

Both sources who have spoken with The Daily Progress on the condition of anonymity have requested not to be identified out of fear of retribution. They have been interviewed and vetted by The Daily Progress and their claims have been checked against one another.

Both say the internal drama can be traced back to the foundations search for a new president last fall in the wake of Bowmans resignation after serving nearly 15 years in the position. After a search, the finalists for the top job were Kamensky and Cogliano, both of whom interviewed for the post, according to the sources.

In January, Dengel and board member L.D. Britt said the board selected Kamensky, a Harvard University historian and author, in a unanimous vote.

Thats how it usually is, Britt told The Daily Progress. Any sort of discontent is dissolved, and you make it unanimous.

Both sources said that Kamensky seemed uncomfortable allowing Cogliano to continue in his role at the International Center for Jefferson Studies while she led the foundation after the two competed for the same job.

In November, not long after Kamensky was selected as president but before her tenure officially began, Monticello was to host a gala in New York City. Cogliano was to attend and was also scheduled to speak at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice.

The night before departing for New York, Cogliano received a phone call from interim President Gardiner Hallock, who disinvited the Jefferson scholar from the gala, according to one source. Cogliano still made the trip because he was set to speak at the Ford Foundation, but the source said he did not attend the gala.

Hallock did not respond to request for comment from The Daily Progress.

Monticellos website includes a page commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, asking readers to join a special gathering of Monticellos greatest friends and supporters. It includes an itinerary for Nov. 2 and Nov. 3.

On Nov. 2, Cogliano is listed as a featured guest speaker for a conversation on Dreams of the Future, History of the Past at the Ford Foundation. The following night, according to the schedule, was a black-tie event: the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Centennial Gala.

After the perceived sleight, Cogliano offered to end his contract early and return to his post at the University of Edinburgh, because he knew he wasnt wanted at Monticello, one source said.

Kamensky denied Coglianos request, the source said.

He tried to get out of the way, he tried to make things easier, said the source. [Kamensky] wouldnt allow him to do that.

Sometime before a book launch where he promoted his newest work, A Revolutionary Friendship: Washington, Jefferson and the American Republic, Cogliano was scheduled to speak to some of the foundations largest donors.

The event was slated to occur at Montalto, the mountain next door to Monticello which is home to a 116-year-old country house owned by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation and used for events. But according to the source, Kamensky canceled the event on short notice.

Lyon, the Monticello spokeswoman, said the sources claims are demonstrably false and lack credibility. Lyon, however, was not able to provide any evidence otherwise.

Coglianos upcoming departure has prompted other departures at Monticello.

The Daily Progress previously reported that renowned Jefferson historian Annette Gordon-Reed resigned from the Thomas Jefferson Foundation board late last year. Gordon-Reed has written multiple award-winning books on Monticello, and in 2009, was the first Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for History.

Asked in January why she left the board, Gordon-Reed did not offer specifics, instead calling the decision to leave wrenching and mentioning the friends I made during these endeavors.

I wouldnt have walked away without good cause, she wrote to The Daily Progress, adding that she had concerns about the foundations future direction.

At the time, another source told The Daily Progress that Gordon-Reeds concerns about the foundations future direction was a reference to Kamensky.

Historians Peter Onuf and Patrick Griffin also resigned from their posts on the advisory committee for the International Center for Jefferson Studies.

Onuf, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundations professor emeritus at the University of Virginia, was more direct than Gordon-Reed as to why he was leaving.

I resigned because of my disappointment that Frank Cogliano was not kept on as Saunders Director at the ICJS, Onuf told The Daily Progress in January. Hes a fine scholar and has excellent connections in the community of Jefferson and Early American Republic scholars at home and abroad. He would have played a vital role for the ICJS in the forthcoming celebration of the Declarations 250th [anniversary].

Griffin, Onuf and Gordon-Reed all attended Coglianos February book launch, with Onuf and Gordon-Reed joining him on stage to discuss the complicated friendship between Jefferson and fellow Founding Father George Washington. Among those in the crowd was Kamensky, who lauded the trios scholarship in an introductory speech.

In sum, these three are revolutionary friends, said Kamensky.

In speaking about his book, Cogliano told his audience that Griffin, Onuf and Gordon-Reed had been vital to his work, offering him guidance at a time when he felt the book may never be completed.

This book is about friendship, and I am so, so grateful to them for being here, Cogliano said.
Strewn about on the floor of the Main Gallery at The Arts Center in Corvallis are rocks, Petri dishes and chain mail coming together for Kathryn Cellerini Moores exhibition, "Glint, Glimmer, Glow."

Outgoing Executive Director Cynthia Spencer points out the materials being assembled on the way to her office, and explains that the exhibition will be completely solar-powered, a first for the center.

The show embodies the type that has been most rewarding to execute and witness in Spencer's 10-year-tenure as director: art exhibitions that combine scientific research with visual or multimedia art forms in ways that introduce those research findings or scientific concepts to new, lay audiences.

Running through June 29, the exhibition seems like a fitting coda.

By June 30, Spencer will hand over the reins of the organization to Erinn Gavaghan, who Spencer said is highly qualified to "take The Arts Center to the next level."

Gavaghan, who hails from Norman, Oklahoma, has been executive director at the Norman Arts Council since 2010.

Right off the bat

Of Korean descent, Spencer was raised in Eugene and moved to Corvallis in the 1980s with her husband, now a retired attorney, following a job offer. It was supposed to have been a temporary move, but they ended up staying, influenced by the walkability of the town, the presence of a university and the community they were building.

"I volunteered here right off the bat," Spencer said when asked when her involvement with The Arts Center began.

This was before personal computers, when you typed documents by hand and used correction tape to conceal typing errors, she recalled.

The way Spencer, a potter, tells it, her foray into arts administration began with being one of a few people within the Oregon Potters Association who owned a computer in the '90s. At a time when the organization kept track of membership information on 3-inch by 5-inch notecards, she volunteered to manage a digital mailing list and database.

"I was their membership chair for about four or five years, and in that period of time, we grew from 200 to 400 potters statewide," Spencer said. She came to know nearly half of those artisans. When the group needed a president, Spencer was recruited to fill the position.

"Thats how I started in leadership," she said.

In addition to teaching at the Linn-Benton Community College's Benton Center, and working at the Old Mill Center for Children and Families, administrative roles such as the one with the potters' association allowed Spencer to work as a potter part-time, making and selling distinctly designed sculptures, bowls, plates, mugs and vases.

"I hand-build everything, so its like slab-rolling, cutting and putting it together like you would sewing. Its the best analogy," Spencer said.

The Arts Center

In 2014, Spencer was recruited to lead efforts at the center, a role she was able to take on in part due to the mentorship and encouragement of the late Susan Johnson, who was director at the center when she first arrived in Corvallis.

Johnson, she said, pulled the center "back from the brink," having taken over at a time of financial precarity. And after eight years as director, Johnson went on to have a stellar career in the arts. She died in March.

Spencer's extensive roots within the community were another reason she was hired, she said.

Working at Old Mill Center through the late 1980s and early '90s had introduced her to a broad community, many of them young at the time and who have now joined the donor base that supports The Arts Center, she said.

"I think its really hard for artists to think about the connections they are making now, and not to say that you should always be making connection for what it will give you later. But some of the honest connections that Ive made have turned out to have big rewards," Spencer said.

In a statement announcing her resignation, the center's board of directors said Spencer "played a pivotal role" in bringing stability to the center, and the connections she's developed and nurtured within the community played a crucial role in this.

Acting board Vice President Nell O'Malley, who served on the board from 2014 to 2016, returning in 2022, said she witnessed "a huge growth in community outreach" between those two timeframes.

"It just feels like the number of programs, the number of partners has grown exponentially in that time," O'Malley said.

"I don't know how she did it, but she has her tendrils everywhere," O'Malley said.

At a time when funding for organizations such as the center is becoming more dependent on donors, board President Patricia Berman said Spencer's ability to consistently keep in touch with the center's network of community members has been essential to its growth in the last decade.

"Her personal relationships with donors have been meaningful to her and to them, and had so much to do with keeping us afloat," Berman said.

Then there's the foundations that came before. Berman recalls that by the time she joined the board, just before the COVID-19 pandemic began, Spencer had put in place a two-year Justice, Equity and Transparency program to embed ideals of equity and transparency across all operations at the center.

This, Berman said, was in service of guiding the center into the 21st century and making it into the epicenter of arts programming, education and opportunities in Corvallis.

"We're still working off of the effects of all of that effort," Berman said.

It was also under Spencer's leadership that the Artist Accelerator Program was created. It has served more than 300 local artists every year for the past six years, according to a recent report from the center.

Berman said Spencer knows artists tend to be so focused on their craft that they miss out on or become unaware of ways to support themselves financially.

In honor of Spencer's leadership and contributions to the arts community over several decades, the center has launched a $300,000 endowment campaign to which the board and several donors have pledged $150,000.

Ups and downs

In the decade she has led efforts at the center, Spencer said some of her most memorable art exhibits have been the product of collaborations between artists and scientists or technologists seeking ways to make their concepts more accessible to lay audiences through art.

"Things like microbiomes and plankton, the benefit of rotting trees," Spencer said.

Also memorable was a recent show about immigrants to Oregon  sharing life stories Spencer said countered and complicated stereotypical stories of immigrants  as well as one about a mothers journey with her child transitioning genders.

"Through that show, we made a lot of connections with people in the community who were in different phases of trying to be noncis-gender," Spencer said.

But the most impactful aspects of being director at the center has been the joy and satisfaction of seeing community members react to their art adorning the walls at the annual Howland Open, or encountering the center for the first time.

This, Spencer said, is even more significant in Oregon, where art education programs were removed from school curricula in the mid- and late-1990s.

"We have people say, 'I dont know anything about art; can I still come in?' Oh, yes, you need it even more!" Spencer said.

On the other hand, it presented what was one of her most challenging issues as director, "because how do you combat that?"

"Jennie (Castle, curator of the center) and I were actually working on a grant to try to create some strategic outreach and engagement kind of activities so that people will be validated for coming in and having whatever experience that they have," Spencer said.

There have also been funding challenges.

"You talk with any nonprofit director, and that would probably be one of the top things," Spencer said.

Getting people in the door has also been a challenge, especially as information sources splinter online and print newspapers dwindle in numbers and circulation, Spencer said. One way she said she's tackled this has been teaming up with organizations with similar audiences, such as the Corvallis Multicultural Literary Center, to cross-promote their programs and events.

Passing the torch

Gavaghan, the incoming executive director who holds a doctorate in arts administration, led the Norman Arts Council through a global pandemic in a political climate much less friendly toward the arts than Corvallis', according to O'Malley.

"The people I spoke to in Oklahoma talked about her with such, such admiration. The only reason they were willing to let her go is that her family is here, and she wanted to move close to her family," O'Malley said.

With experiences in endowments, grants, managing and administering art programs, O'Malley said the center is lucky to have Gavaghan.

"We were really worried about losing Cynthia (Spencer) because she has been amazing, and they're big shoes to fill," O'Malley said.

Berman said one of Gavaghan's first topics to tackle, from the board's perspective, will be funding. The center has run on a one-year budget cycle and is eager to develop a longer-term plan. It is the board's first charge to the new director.

Clearing out her office to make way for her successor has been a nostalgic journey down memory lane for Spencer, who said she'd been thinking about retirement following the COVID-19 pandemic and her husband's retirement 1 years ago.

"Im going to play a lot first," Spencer said about what comes next.

It'll involve some pottery and doodling, perhaps some oil painting and mono printing.

For now, she's doing all she can to ease the path for her successor. This has meant contacting donors and friends, telling them of her retirement, thanking them for a decade of heartfelt support and urging them to show the same to the new director.

"There've been a few times when Ive wanted to wave the white flag here because its such a challenge, its overwhelming," Spencer said.

"The new person needs that time to get their feet on the ground, meet people," she said, both of which Gavaghan is eager to do, according to O'Malley.

Berman says between Spencer's time at The Arts Center and the Corvallis Fall Festival, she has given Corvallis "an immeasurable gift" through her support of the arts, both personally and professionally.

"The community really owes her a lot of gratitude for that. We are excited to see what she does when she returns to her own creative life," Berman said.

Related stories:
Army doesnt want Agniveerscheme, we will withdraw it





MAHENDRAGARH,

CONGRESS leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Agniveer scheme will be scrapped and thrown into dustbin if the I.N.D.I.A. bloc comes to power as he slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for turning Hindustan ke jawan into labourers. In his first election meeting in Haryana for the Lok Sabha polls, the former Congress President also attacked Modi over the issue of farmers. Slamming the BJP Government over the Agniveer scheme, he said, This is Modis scheme and not Armys scheme, Army does not want it. When the I.N.D.I.A. bloc forms Government, we will throw Agniveer scheme into dustbin, he said at the rally held under the Mahendragarh-Bhiwani Lok Sabha seat.

Indias borders, he said, are secured by the countrys youth and There is patriotism in DNA of our youth. Modi has turned Hindustan ke jawan into labourers, he alleged. Further attacking the BJP Government, he said, They say there will be two types of martyrs - one normal jawan and officer, who will get pension, martyr status, all facilities and on the other hand, a person from a poor family who has been named Agniveer. Agniveers will neither get martyr status, no pension, no canteen facility.
FUTURE- READY





THE key to making the Indian Army Future-Ready is in the countrys glorious history and tradition of statecraft and the science of warfare. This is the inference the Indian Army arrived at as it delved deeper into battles of Mahabharata, epics heroic exploits of great military figures. The idea was not just to understand the details of past warfare -- since such exercise is traditionally conducted by most Armed Forces around the world. In what it described as Project Udbhav, the Indian Army got itself engaged in serious and deep research of various intangible aspects of the art and science of warfare as practised by ancient India -- led by Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande. This development needs to be appreciated wholeheartedly because of its core idea. The purpose is obviously to keep the Indian Army Future-Ready, as the Army chief stated at a conference. Over the time, Indias strategic perception has evolved around the possibility that it may have to play a key role in geopolitical developments in the coming decades. Strategic brilliance of Indian military leaders of the past has been well known and well documented -- whose spirit the Indian Army wishes to understand for its future-readiness. There is no doubt that this scholarly approach will strengthen the Indian Armys strategic capabilities.

What needs to be noted that even as Army chief General Manoj Pande talked of Project Udbhav, Chief of Defence Services (CDS) General Anil Chauhan asked all wings of the Indian Defence Forces to evolve a joint culture so that the concept of Theatre Command could be implemented more efficiently. The idea has been fully incubated, and the leaders of the Indian Defence Forces are waiting for the green signal to start putting the idea into practical operation. The basic condition is a joint cultural ecosystem that will facilitate smoother, more efficient operations -- in peace or war. Hence the appeal by General Anil Chauhan to the Forces to make special efforts to evolve a joint culture that would provide a foundation for action in future conflicts or geopolitical stress points. It must be admitted that the Indian Armed Forces did not take such an approach at any time in the past since Independence. With national leadership only marginally interested in developments on the strategic front, the Indian Armed Forces were traditional in their approach and rather sectarian in the handling of their own issues and operations. Rarely were there combined operations that tested the collaborative capabilities of the various wings.

In the past 8-10 years, however, Indias national leadership evolved the philosophy of using military diplomacy as as a strategic tool from the point of strength. This evolution became the source-point of the concept of theatre commands (which otherwise lay dormant in files in some godforsaken places in the Ministry of Defence). Now, Indias national and military leaderships are working in tandem to make the concept of theatre commands successful in every which the way. The sharing of information about Project Udbhav by General Manoj Pande and of the assertion of eagerness on the idea of theatre commands by General Anil Chauhan simultaneously was not just an accidental happening. There are reasons to believe that both the ideas are integral parts of the keen desire of the national leadership to make the Indian Armed Forces Future-Ready. The parallel insistence of the national leadership on indigenisation of defence production in full strength also needs to be considered with a sense of appreciation by the nation. Possibly for the first time, such a thought and action are being undertaken.
1.5 lakh ltrs of liquor seized in 25 yrs destroyed by police





Staff Reporter

Superintendent of Police, Jabalpur, Aditya Pratap Singh took the initiative to destroy 1.5 lakh litres of seized liquor that were kept at different police stations for the last 25 years. During his inspection at different police stations, SP, Singh found that the seized liquor were kept in many rooms at police stations. When inquired about destruction of these liquors, the TIs informed that even after the cases resolved, these liquors could not be destroyed in lack of clear instructions. Hence these liquors were kept occupying a large space at different police stations. Taking initiative, Superintendent of Police, Singh (IPS) discussed the same with Collector, Deepak Saxena and ordered 36 TIs from Jabalpur Urban and Rural to prepare a report for destroying the seized liquors and send it to the District Magistrate, Jabalpur. The District Magistrate issued order to destroy the liquor.
CM Mohan Yadav assures students stuck in violence-hit Kyrgyzstan of safety





By Bhavana Aparajita

Shukla

While many students stuck in Kyrgyzstan and their parents insisted on evacuation, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav conveyed to them the Centres assurance on safety. He confirmed that the Union Government had conveyed to him that Indian students in Kyrgyzstan were safe for now. He also did a video call to students studying in Kyrgyzstan and advised them that coming back home without appearing for their scheduled examinations could mean the loss of an academic year. He also said he would ensure their safe return to their respective hometowns during the 2.5-month-long break after the exams. Following clashes in the central Asian nations capital Bishkek, the students and their parents had been apprehensive since clashes broke out between local and foreign students in Bishkek around 10 days ago.

The clashes, as per some students accounts, were between local and Pakistani students. However, Indian students felt threatened over reports that locals were not distinguishing between them and Pakistani students. Of the estimated 15,000 Indians studying in Kyrgyzstan, some 1,200 are from Madhya Pradesh, the majority from Ujjain, Indore and smaller towns in Malwa. Most of the students are pursuing medicine. Sources said that some of the students, during the interaction, demanded that to be evacuated. Chief Minister said, It was brought to my attention that some students from our State went for medical study in Kyrgyzstan and there was some dispute between local students and foreign students in which some students were also injured. After which, we are worried about the Indian students studying there.

I have just talked to the students of our state who are stuck there. They are safe. We are also in constant touch with the Indian government and the Kyrgyzstan government. Students have been given proper security there. He further added, We have decided that the students should be brought back from there after their exams get over, otherwise, they will face a year loss. We have told the administration there that in any case, the examinations should be conducted on time and proper security measures should also be ensured. The Government is in contact 24 hours, no one is hurt. We hope that the situation will become normal soon.
Garbage collection workers on strike





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

Following the incident of alleged assault on an employee, workers of the Ramky Company contracted for sanitation services, all door-to-door garbage collection have gone on strike in protest of the failure to arrest the accused. As a result, no garbage was collected in any neighbourhood of the capital city on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the sanitation workers have also demanded a salary increase, which has complicated the situation. It is reported that yesterday, a young man named Mohit Monu Sahu assaulted a sanitation worker named Askaran Banjare. A complaint was filed at the Gudhiyari police station regarding this incident, but due to the lack of action, all workers stopped working today. All striking employees gathered at the Daldal Seoni collection point and parked their vehicles there. It is also reported that the accused is absconding, making it difficult to apprehend him.

Yogesh Kumar, the project head of Ramky, informed that police have arrested the assaulter and produced in the Court. He is hopeful that they will resume work on Thursday. Yogesh Kumar informed that approximately 850 employees are engaged in sanitation and other related tasks in Raipur. Notably, the employees had also demanded a salary increase and mentioned that disputes with residents often arise over the separation of dry and wet garbage during collection. Discussions have been held with the striking employees, assuring them that their demand for a salary increase will be forwarded to the headquarters. Additionally, the municipal corporation has been requested to arrange separate bins for dry and wet garbage in the city. There were two main demands.

Rajendra Prasad Gupta, Additional Commissioner of Raipur Municipal Corporation, informed that the demand for a salary increase by sanitation workers is an internal matter of Ramky Company. However, the municipal corporation has cleared the dues of Rs 2 crore owed to the company. Regarding dry and wet garbage, the municipal corporation has distributed 225,000 dustbins across the city, followed by an additional 10,500 bins. It is now the responsibility of the sanitation workers to collect the garbage separately from residents. On the matter of distributing bins years ago, the Additional Commissioner said that currently, there is no allocation from the government for new bins, but residents are regularly urged to separate their dry and wet garbage and fines are also imposed.
Haryana Govt blocked Yamuna water supply to Delhi, alleges Atishi





NEW DELHI,

DELHI Cabinet Minister Atishi on Wednesday alleged the BJP has hatched a new conspiracy to target AAP and through its Haryana Government has stopped water supply to the national capital. Hitting back at the Water Minister Atishi, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said, Fearing its defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, the AAP has come out with a new lie. When we raised the issue of the water supply crisis on Monday, the Minister did not utter a word and now she is blaming the BJP. This comes as Atishi, while addressing a press conference, said the BJP has been hatching conspiracies to target AAP ever since the Lok Sabha polls were announced. Within five days of the announcement of Lok Sabha polls, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested so that the AAP could not campaign in the polls.

After he came out on interim bail, they used the partys Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal to frame him but even that plan did not work, Atishi said. Then they raked up the old issue of foreign funding to the party and now through their Haryana Government, the BJP has stopped the supply of Yamuna water to Delhi, she alleged. Sachdeva further alleged that Delhi CM Kejriwal had written a letter to her from Tihar a month ago to address the issues of water supply. She should tell what was done in the past month. The corruption and inaction of the AAP Government is responsible for the shortage of water in Delhi.
Iran bids tearful adieu to President Raisi, 8 others





DUBAI :

Irans supreme leader Khamenei presides over the funeral procession

IRANS supreme leader presided over a funeral on Wednesday for the countrys late President, Foreign Minister and seven others killed in a helicopter crash, as tens of thousands later followed a procession of their caskets with teary eyes through the capital, Tehran. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei held the service at Tehran University, the caskets of the dead draped in Iranian flags with their pictures on them. On the late President Ebrahim Raisis coffin sat a black turban  signifying him as a direct descendent of Islams Prophet Muhammad. Oh Allah, we didnt see anything but good from him, Khamenei said in the standard prayer for the dead in Arabic, the language of Islams holy book, the Quran. He soon left and the crowd inside rushed to the front, reaching out to touch the coffins. Irans Acting President, Mohammad Mokhber, stood nearby and openly wept during the service. People then carried the coffins out on their shoulders, with chants outside of Death to America! They loaded them onto a semitruck trailer for a procession through downtown Tehran to Azadi, or Freedom, Square, where Raisi gave speeches in the past. People threw scarves and other items up for attendants on the truck to touch to the coffins for a blessing.

In attendance were top leaders of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, one of the countrys major power centres. Also on hand was Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, the militant group that Iran has armed and supported during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war raging in the Gaza Strip. Before the funeral, Haniyeh spoke and an emcee led the crowd in the chant: Death to Israel! I come in the name of the Palestinian people, in the name of the resistance factions of Gaza to express our condolences, Haniyeh told those gathered. He also recounted meeting Raisi in Tehran during Razdan, the holy Muslim fasting month, and heard the President say, the Palestinian issue remains the key one of the Muslim world. The Muslim world must fulfill their obligations to the Palestinians to liberate their land, Haniyeh said, recounting Raisis words. He also described Raisi calling the October 7 attack that sparked the war, which saw 1,200 people killed and 250 others taken hostage, an earthquake in the heart of the Zionist entity.

Those who attended services in Tehran were Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and a delegation from the Taliban of Afghanistan, including their Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqqi. Iraqs Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also flew in for the ceremony, along with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Even Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry travelled to Tehran, despite diplomatic relations between the countries being severed after the 1979 revolution. Egypt and Iran have recently discussed reestablishing ties. But notably, none of Irans living past presidents  other than Khamenei  could be seen in state television footage of the prayers. They include reformist Mohammad Khatami, hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and relative moderate Hassan Rouhani  all individuals who maintain some political cachet within Irans tightly controlled political system. Authorities offered no explanation for their absence from the event, which comes weeks ahead of a planned June 28 presidential election. As of now, theres no clear favourite for the position among Irans political elite  particularly no one who is a Shiite cleric, like Raisi.
Leadership Tussle In Iran





By Girish Linganna

THE death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash would likely exacerbate the power struggle among hardline factions within the Islamic Republic. These factions are vying for influence in the s uccession of the aging Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Supreme Leader. Despite concerns regarding Khameneis health, he maintains a strong grip on power. Experts, whose views were shared with the South China Morning Post (SCMP), believe that Raisis death would not alter Tehrans strategic policy of avoiding direct conflict with the United States and Israel. Hamidreza Azizi, an Iranian academic and visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin, told the South China Morning Post (SCMP) that Irans foreign policy is likely to stay the course, despite any domestic implications. Azizi emphasised that Irans strategic decisions are not made by the President, but rather by the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Azizi predicted that Iran would continue to maintain a rigid stance in its relations with the United States and its regional policies. Azizi concluded that Raisis death would not have a fundamental or decisive impact on the Iranian system.

Azizi acknowledged that Raisis death would influence the power dynamics among hardline factions, but it would not alter the Islamic Republics strategic direction in either foreign or domestic policy. Raisis unexpected death has left the Iranian leadership with a shortage of potential candidates who possess the charisma necessary to succeed him as President and ultimately become the top contender to succeed Khamenei. Mehran Haghirian, director of regional initiatives for the London-based think tank, the Bourse and Bazaar Foundation, said that Raisis death was undoubtedly a shock to the system. Haghirian noted that Raisi was expected to serve another five years or until Khameneis death, after which he was positioned to become the next Supreme Leader. However, he emphasised that even the IRGC does not currently have a prepared candidate ready to step into Raisis shoes. IRGC stands for Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It is a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces responsible for protecting the Islamic Republic of Irans Islamic system. While there are numerous individuals within the current system who could potentially replace him, Haghirian pointed out that none are adequately prepared, lack charisma, and there is no consensus on any single figure.

He predicted that a new candidate would emerge quickly, but this selection would likely exacerbate internal divisions. Azizi noted that factions within the hardline camp were already engaged in a power struggle to secure the position of Speaker of Parliament. Azizi predicted that this rivalry would extend to the presidential race, with different factions vying for control. He highlighted that the upcoming presidential election in July would take place amidst historically low public participation. Azizi pointed out that only 8% of eligible voters in Tehran participated in the recent parliamentary elections, highlighting the significant challenge of mobilising voters within the next 50 days to participate in the presidential election. Raisi was considered one of three potential candidates to succeed Khamenei as Irans Supreme Leader. Initially, Raisi was viewed as a figurehead controlled by hardliners, who secured his victory in the 2021 presidential election by disqualifying moderate opponents on dubious grounds. However, following Khameneis rejection of his son Mojtabas candidacy due to concerns about hereditary leadership being un-Islamic, Raisi had emerged as a frontrunner to succeed the Ayatollah.

The only other viable candidate for Supreme Leader is Alireza Arafi, who is currently vying for the position of chairman of the Assembly of Experts. This body will be responsible for selecting the next Supreme Leader upon Khameneis death. Arafi is not considered a viable candidate for the Iranian presidency due to his perceived lack of charisma and the absence of support from influential hardline groups in Tehran. Vali Nasr, a former US State Department advisor and current professor at Johns Hopkins University, highlights the ongoing debate about the succession, which has long revolved around either Mojtaba Khamenei or an alternative. He anticipates a competition to identify new potential candidates if Mojtaba is not chosen. Nasr emphasises the importance of this contest, noting the years it took to establish Raisi as a potential supreme leader through his presidency. He concludes that there is currently no clear alternative candidate in the same category as Raisi. (IPA)
Sweet Home officials are bracing for the possibility of needing $11.5 million in treatment plant modifications to handle another round of expected murky water  also known as turbidity, a problem the city faced last year when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lowered the water levels of the Green Peter Reservoir.

The federal agency, which manages Oregon's system of dams and reservoirs, conducted the drawdown to comply with a court order that found that Corps had not done enough to ensure the survival of endangered local fish populations.

Kelcey Young, city manager for Sweet Home, said the water plant spent nearly $150,000 in operating changes and increased employee costs during the last court-ordered drawdown.

But those were just temporary tweaks. If drawdowns are the new normal, the city needs to make some permanent adjustments, Young said.

The $11.5 million modifications "are long-term upgrades and enhancements that will make it easier for staff to deal with high and fluctuating turbidity.

"If the drawdowns do not continue, we would not have to do these upgrades, but if they do continue and the turbidity continues to be at even close to the level it was last year, then these improvements become necessary, Young said by email.

Sweet Home was one of the cities negatively impacted by last years drawdown, prompting officials there, along with Albany, to file a motion last month to intervene in an ongoing 2018 lawsuit against the Corps.

The lawsuit was first brought forth by environmental nonprofits to reverse population declines and save two endangered fish species: chinook salmon and steelhead.

Challenges, trade-offs

According to public records released by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to Mid-Valley Media, any adjustments to the drawdown to minimize water quality impacts will come with its own set of new challenges and trade-offs amid efforts to improve fish passageway there.

The DEQs Dec. 14 case against the U.S. Army Corps for alleged water quality violations remains open. A spokesperson for DEQ said the Corps submitted materials are under review.

The U.S. Army Corps is exploring at least two alternatives ahead of this years drawdown at Green Peter to mitigate water quality concerns voiced by local communities and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, according to public records.

The Corps highlighted the challenges faced by the Corps in balancing multiple objectives  including flood control, hydropower generation, fish passage and water quality  under the constraints of a court-ordered interim injunction, according to an analysis of best management practices sent to DEQ.

The Corps is reviewing modeling data under two scenarios with adjustments to rate, timing and duration of drawdowns:

A longer drawdown at a lower rate. This could reduce turbidity by allowing water to flow through outlets while minimizing sediment disturbance. However, this could negatively impact fish passage survival and downstream water temperatures. Under this model, a rapid, deep drawdown would begin on Oct. 15, with a low-pool target by Dec. 15.

A shorter drawdown at a higher initial rate. This could reduce the duration of increased turbidity, but the potential impacts on other water quality parameters need to be further evaluated. Under this model, a rapid, deep drawdown would begin on Oct. 15 with a low pool target Dec. 1.

The drawdown last year resulted in thousands of dead fish, decreased water quality and hefty costs to ensure clean drinking water.

In its letter to DEQ, the Corps emphasized that because the deep drawdowns are court-ordered and mandatory to ensure the passage of endangered juvenile salmonids, they cannot be altered without court approval.

Records also show the U.S. Army Corps was considering deep drawdowns of Green Peter reservoir in 2013 but abandoned the idea because the agency believed it went against its legal obligations to maintain power pool levels and hydropower generation.

The 2021 court injunction eventually overrode that, and the Corps was ordered to follow the judges court order instead.

With an April 1 deadline to submit available data to DEQ, the Corps provided a 2013 sediment quality report of the Green Peter and Foster reservoirs. According to the Corps, no evidence suggests that Green Peter reservoir is a source of contaminants to Foster reservoir.

The reservoirs likely have a "very low" management ranking due to their distance from potential sources of contamination, according to the Corps.

The submitted report utilizes what are called Sediment Evaluation Framework screening levels set in 2018  even though the samples were taken in 2013  because the 2018 screening levels are the most recent and relevant, documents show.

In submitting the 2013 analysis, the Corps admitted some limitations, including the fact that the analysis only included a limited suite of contaminants, focusing on potential contaminants based on nearby land management practices.

Despite the data expiring in September 2023, the Corps argues the data is still valid because the results for metals and pesticides from 2013 are far below even the 2018 screening criteria.

Jeffrey Henon, spokesperson for the Corps Portland District, said the Corps has not sampled Green Peter and Foster reservoirs since 2013 and does not have additional data to share at this time.

Additional costs

According to the motion to intervene, the drawdown of Green Peter resulted in additional chemical and power usage to manage its water system, increasing costs to the city of Albany.

Because water is typically high quality in the Santiam River System, the Albany Millersburg Water Treatment Plant was not built with a pretreatment process to remove the high amounts of turbidity in the water, according to the document.

Unanticipated wear and tear on the membranes at the Albany-Millersburg WTP plant may result in an unplanned early replacement which could cost up to $1.8 million, the motion reads.

If drawdowns continue annually, Albany would need to increase the frequency of its maintenance projects, according to the motion. The city plans to undertake these projects in the winter when water demand is lower. One treatment plant will remain in operation while the other is being worked on.

Shayla Escudero contributed to this report.

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Missing Bdesh MP found murdered in Kolkata





DHAKA :

VETERAN Bangladeshi MP Anwarul Azim Anar, who went missing in India, was found murdered in Kolkata and three people have been arrested, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan announced here on Wednesday. Awami League MP Anwarul Azim Anar, who went missing in India, was murdered at a Kolkata flat. It was a planned murder, he said. Police recovered the dismembered body of Md Anwarul Azim Anar from New Town, Kolkata, India, on Wednesday, Dhaka Tribune newspaper said. Bangladeshi criminals are behind the death of the 56-year-old lawmaker from Jhenaidah-4 constituency, Dhaka Polices Detective Branch (DB) chief Harun Or Rashid said. It is a brutal murder. We are investigating whether family or financial causes, or enmity with local miscreants led to his death. We are working closely with the Indian police and getting plenty of information, The Daily Star quoted Rashid as saying. A case has been filed with the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station on Wednesday as the MP had departed the country for India from the Sangsad Bhaban area, Rashid told reporters at the DB office here.

Khan said that Bangladesh Police have arrested three persons in connection with the murder of the lawmaker. The three-time MP and president of the Kaliganj upazila unit of the ruling Awami League went to India on May 12 on a personal visit to receive treatment. A general diary report about his disappearance was filed at Baranagar Police Station in North Kolkata on May 18, the report said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Azim, the portal said quoting the United News of Bangladesh news agency. Jhenaidah is a bordering area known for its high crime rate. Azim was the local lawmaker there. The incident took place after went to India for treatment. According to what we currently know, he was killed there, the home minister said.

The lawmaker had mysteriously disappeared on May 16 and Gopal Biswas, a friend and a resident of Baranagar in India, filed a missing persons report with the local police station on May 18 after he could not contact Anwarul Azim, Dhaka Tribune added. Meanwhile, Anars daughter, Mumtarin Ferdous Doreen has demanded justice for her slain father. I want a fair investigation to identify who killed my father and why. I want to see the end of it. Why did they kill my father? I want to see my fathers killers hanged, Doreen told reporters here. Speaking about the last conversation she or her family had with Anar, Doreen said, I had a video call with my father. He said that he was going to India and would come back in a day or two. He then promised to take me to a dentist. That was my last conversation with my father. The Daily Star further, in a separate report, quoted Doreen as saying: My father admitted me to the LLB programme with many dreams. My results will come out soon. My father told me that he would check my results after returning from India. But (now) he cannot come.
MP hopes to receive 20 cheetahs from South Africa and Kenya





By Ankita Garg

Under its cheetah re-introduction plan, the Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary is expected to receive the group of imported cheetahs from South Africa and Kenya either by end of September or early October. Government is involved in talks with Kenyan government for translocation of the cat species. As per reports, total 20 cheetahs will be brought to India from both the countries, Kenya and South Africa. Five to eight cheetahs will be released into fenced area of Gandhisagar. A team of delegates from Kenya will be visiting Kuno National Park and Gandhisagar Sanctuary by next week. Sources said that officials are flexing muscles to bring the next lot of cheetahs between September 15 and October 15 after monsoon period gets over.

Recently, a team of South African experts visited the sanctuary and reported presence of leopard. Officials have asked the local administration to make the sanctuary free from leopards only then the cheetah can be transported to India. Concern over the demand of foreign delegates, Additional Chief Secretary of Forest Department J N Kansotia has asked the team to start working in this area on immediate basis and capture leopards for shifting them to other place. There are eight quarantine enclosures placed with CCTV cameras well prepared in the sanctuary. A medical unit has been assigned for medical assistance to the cats. A 28 kilometre long enclosure has been prepared in Rawalikudi area of Gandhisagar. Officials said that parameter require 20 herbivore in pre square kilometre of area for cheetahs. At present, Gandhisagar Sanctuary has 15 herbivore per sqkm of area. A group of around 1200 to 1300 herbivore will be shifted to the sanctuary before monsoon to complete the required parameter.

Gandhisagar is about a six hour drive from Kuno National Park and it is spread across 368 sqkm. The sanctuary has additional 2,500 sqkm area surrounding it. The habitat around fenced area in a protected area and animals will be released into free ranging conditions in the Gandhisagar landscape in phases after ecological restoration and prey recovery. The first batch of eight cheetahs were introduced in Indias Kuno National Park in September 2022 from Namibia and the second batch of 12 cheetahs was brought from South Africa in February 2023. However, death cases cheetahs were criticised by experts and wildlife lovers in India. Kuno National Park has recorded death of 6 adult cheetahs and three cubs (born in India).
Pachouri Petrol Pump sealed due to lack of fire safety





Staff Reporter

In lack of Fire Safety measures, the District Administration has sealed Pachouri Petrol Pump late on Tuesday evening.

Among the teams constituted by the District Administration to ensure compliance with the rules in commercial establishments, a team led by SDM Adhartal, Shivali Singh inspected the Petrol Pump Pachouri Automobile located at Krishi Upaj Mandi. In lack of fire safety measures, the team sealed the petrol pump. SDM, Adhartal, Shivali Singh said that even the officers from Fire Department of Jabalpur Municipal Corporation inspected Pachouri Automobile on April 24 and in absence of fire fighting measures, they instructed the petrol pump operator to conduct a fire safety audit within 7 days and issued a notice to apply for obtaining a fire safety certificate from the Municipal Corporation.
Pune Porsche crash Bail of accused teenager cancelled





PUNE :

FOLLOWING an outcry, the Juvenile Justice Board here on Wednesday cancelled the bail granted to a 17-year-old youth allegedly involved in a car accident and remanded him to an observation home till June 5. The board had on Sunday granted bail to him hours after the accident in which two persons were killed, while also asking him to write a 300-word essay on road accidents, an order that drew an onslaught of criticism from various quarters. Police then approached the Board again, seeking a review of its order and permission to treat the teenager as an adult accused on the ground that the crime was of heinous nature. Police have registered a First Information Report against the minor, son of a real estate developer, under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 304 A (causing death by negligence), 279 (rash driving ), 337 (causing hurt by an act which endangers human life), 338 (causing grievous hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety) and relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. A Porsche car, allegedly driven by the 17-year-old who the police claim was drunk at the time, fatally knocked down two motorbike-borne software engineers at Kalyani Nagar in Pune city in the early hours of Sunday. The boys father has already been arrested under the Juvenile Justice Act and remanded in police custody for handing over his car to his underage son, and thus exposing him to danger. Earlier a 17-year-old boy, who allegedly crashed his high-end car into a motorbike killing two persons in Pune, was granted bail on a surety of Rs 7,500 and an assurance from his grandfather to keep him away from bad company, as per the order.

The Porsche car, allegedly driven by the 17-year-old, who the police claim was drunk at the time, fatally knocked down two motorbike-borne software engineers at Kalyani Nagar in Maharashtras Pune city in the early hours of Sunday. The teenager, son of a real estate developer, was subsequently produced before the Juvenile Justice Board which granted him bail hours later. On the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, the accused juvenile along with his friends went to the two establishments between 9.30 pm and 1 am and allegedly consumed liquor, police had said. His grandfather has given an assurance that he will keep the Child-in-Conflict with Law (CCL) away from any bad company and he will concentrate on his study or any vocational course which is useful for his career. He is ready to abide by the condition imposed on him. Therefore, it is just and proper to release the CCL on bail, said the order passed by the Juvenile Justice Board on Sunday. While passing the order, the Board also stated the CCL is released on bail on executing his personal bond and surety bond of Rs 7,500 with conditions that his parents shall take care of him and he will never get involved in offences in future. It also directed him to visit the Regional Transport Office and study traffic rules, and submit a presentation to the Board within 15 days.

The CCL will write an essay of 300 words on the topic of road accidents and their solutions, the order read. The Pune police had approached a sessions court challenging the bail order and seeking permission to allow the boy to be treated as an adult saying the crime committed was heinous. However, the court asked the police to approach the Juvenile Justice Board with a petition to review the order. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, on Tuesday asserted no police negligence has come to light while handling the car crash case and denied any kind of pressure on cops probing it.
RTE admission scam: Shahid Sharif charged lakhs from parents





Staff Reporter

The city police have seized a large number of incriminating documents during searches at the office of RTI activist Shahid Sharif, who has been identified as the alleged mastermind behind a bogus Right to Education Act (RTE) admission scam. Investigation revealed that Sharif was charging Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,50,000 from each parent to help them secure admissions for their wards in schools under the RTE Act. We have seized a large number of signed cheques from parents, documents related to admissions under the Act, and a letter identifying Sharif as a member of the RTE verification committee issued in 2020, said a senior police official.

The official added that Sharif, posing as a member of the RTE verification committee, was charging lakhs of rupees from parents for the admissions. The police officials are investigating to identify the exact number of students who obtained admissions under the RTE Act on the basis of bogus documents. On Tuesday, the police conducted searches at Shahid Sharifs office located near Hardeo Hotel.

Following the arrest of parent Rajesh Shivpal Buwade, a resident of Ajni, by Sadar police on Tuesday, Sitabuldi Police arrested parent Shivshankar Satyanarayan Pandey from Mankapur area on Wednesday. The investigation was initiated after the Education Department conducted a thorough scrutiny of documents submitted by parents during their wards admissions under the RTE Act for the academic year 2023-24. Officials conducting the survey discovered discrepancies in the documents provided by these parents, including forged income certificates, caste certificates, and address proofs such as rent agreements.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday categorically said the state government will not accept the Calcutta High Court order that has scrapped the OBC status of several communities in the state. Calcutta High Court on Wednesday set aside the classification of 37 communities as Other Backward Classes (OBC) under The West Bengal Backward Classes (Other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Act, 2012, finding such reservations to vacancies in services and posts in the state illegal.

A Division Bench, comprising justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Rajasekhar Mantha, also said that the states executive orders classifying 42 classes as OBCs from 5 March 2010, to 11 May 2012, were also quashed with prospective effect. Miss Banerjee, addressing a gathering at Panihati which falls under Dum Dum Lok Sabha seat, said the OBC reservation will continue in the state, as the Bill concerned was passed within the framework of the Constitution. Law cannot be discriminatory. In the eye of law, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists are same.

We will go to the Supreme Court against the order. This order has been given to please Modi. We have respect for the High Court but recently activities of some judges have raised questions among the people. One judge took premature retirement and is contesting in the election on BJP ticket. Another judge said on the day of his retirement that he is a RSS supporter. People have doubts about the impartiality of the judiciary, she said. The OBC reservation quota introduced by the West Bengal government will continue. We had drafted the Bill after conducting a house-to-house survey, and it was passed by the cabinet and the Assembly, Miss Banerjee said.

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The Trinamul Congress chairperson warned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is playing with fire by seeking to divide Hindus and Muslims in his speeches. Miss Banerjee noted that Mr Modi has alleged that the Muslims will take away the rights of the people belonging to the SC category. It is impossible. The right has been given by the Constitution of India and no one can take away the right, she said. There is an apprehension that the BJP might engineer riots to disturb peace in North 24-Parganas.

I will request my Muslim brothers and sisters not to fall into their trap. It is Modi who does not like you and blames you for everything, she remarked. The state chief minister further warned that if Mr Modi is voted again to power, the Constitution would be changed and rights of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities would be taken away
Techno India Group has collaborated with Google Cloud for advancement of education technology.

The collaboration introduces the Digital Campus on Google Cloud Programme at Techno India, transforming the way education is delivered. This initiative will provide students and faculty with access to advanced cloud computing services, big data analytics, and machine learning capabilities, ensuring that the Techno India community is at the forefront of technological integration in education.

Meghdut Roychowdhury, the chief innovation officer & executive director, Techno India Group said the focus is to make entrepreneurs, who would be creating more jobs in future. The collaboration is going to help students and teachers as the group has 100 terabyte space on cloud plus 20GB space for each student. There is also an AI hackathon, which the institute has launched. The hackathon will lead students to find AI application solutions. All this is part of our School of Future initiative.

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Laxmi Narayan, director strategic alliances of Cloud Reign Technologies said there are many features in cloud which the students can use to develop themselves industry-ready.
External Affairs S. Jaishankar said on Wednesday that in the countrys journey to Viksit Bharat @2047, no citizen of India will be left behind.

While understanding that everybody cannot move at the same pace, we all have to firm up to move forward. It is also important to create a social welfare system, the Minister said while speaking at an interactive session on Viksit Bharat @2047 organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce here.

Appreciating PM Narendra Modi for his policy choices, Jaishankar said his strong leadership and good judgment have steered India through many crises besides transforming the economy in the last 10 years.

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He also pointed out that the governments response in handling the Covid pandemic, the China crisis, and Indias stance on Russia and Ukraine were in the best interest of India and its citizens.

As a nation, we must grow for today and leapfrog for tomorrow to realise our goals and aspirations, he said.

It is a combination of making it easier to do business, reducing the cost of living, creating world-class infrastructure, improving our human resources, giving support to small businesses, and building upon the evolving startup ecosystem, Jaishankar added.

He also pointed out that so far, 25 crore people have come out of poverty; 35 crore people have been provided healthcare; Mudra loans have been given to 50 crore people; while 10 crore people have benefited under the Ujjwala scheme. But there is a need to completely eradicate poverty, he added.

The Minister said that preparing for the global workforce is also important given the advantage of the demographic dividend that India enjoys today.

Speaking at the event, PHDCCI President Sanjeev Agrawal said the governments proactive initiatives and policies have been instrumental in driving Indias growth, which has catalysed significant progress across different sectors, paving the way for economic resilience and achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

The comprehensive support of the government has also empowered industries, enhanced infrastructure, and improved the quality of life, paving the way for a brighter future, he added.

More than 400 industry stakeholders participated in the event.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has welcomed the Calcutta High Courts decision to cancel five lakh OBC certificates in West Bengal issued constitutionally between 2010 and 2024.

The statement given by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee against the decision of the Calcutta High Court is inspired by cheap appeasement politics, which I strongly condemn, he told media persons here on Thursday.

He said that the BJP has been protesting against Mamata Banerjee for giving unconstitutional benefits to Bangladeshi Rohingya Muslims and infiltrators under the OBC reservation.

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Driven by her vote banks cheap appeasement politics, Mamata Banerjee wants to rob the reservation of the OBC community and give it to Bangladeshi Rohingya Muslims and infiltrators. However, the BJP will not let the rights of backward Dalits and deprived people of the country be taken away at any cost, he said.

Maurya said that the Congress has been inflicting injustice upon the poor Dalits, backward tribals, and women of the country for the past 70 years and now the prince himself has confirmed this.

In a programme, the Congress prince has himself acknowledged a big truth that the system created during the time of his grandmother, his father, and his mother has been strongly working against the interests of Dalits, backward classes, and tribals. Moreover, the Congress created SC, ST, and OBC people through this system. The party has destroyed so many generations, he alleged.

Maurya emphasised that today, the dark truth of the Congress has come before the people of the country. He pointed out that the Congress failed to grant constitutional recognition to the OBC Commission for 40 years, whereas Prime Minister Narendra Modi took decisive steps to rectify this oversight. Maurya accused the Congress of committing the sin of snatching the reservation of Dalits, backward classes, and tribals in the states ruled by them and giving it to Muslims.

Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Congress has made several attempts to do this and it is also being done in Karnataka, he added.
In a significant turn of events, Angelina Jolie has been ordered by the Los Angeles Superior Court to hand over all non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) she has signed over the past eight years. This development is part of the ongoing legal conflict with Angelina Jolies ex-husband Brad Pitt, centering around the ownership of their $500 million French winery, Chateau Miraval.

The courts decision requires Jolie, known for her role in Maleficent, to produce all non-privileged documents within the next month. These documents, which are under her possession, custody, or control, are in response to requests from Pitts legal team.

A source close to Pitt described the ruling as a significant setback for Jolie. She had previously argued that providing the NDAs would be expensive, wasteful, and unreasonable, as well as an invasion of privacy for the third parties involved.

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The documents in question are believed to include NDAs related to Hollywood employers, brands, and personal staff, potentially revealing sensitive information about Jolies compensation and contractual agreements.

Additionally, the court has instructed Jolie to compile a list of any documents she deems privileged, allowing Pitts team to assess her privilege claims.

The legal dispute between the Oscar-winning couple has extended beyond their divorce, with particular focus on the Chateau Miraval winery. Jolies legal team has accused Pitt of trying to exert control over her through an extensive NDA, which she claims was meant to conceal Pitts personal misconduct unrelated to the winery.

This conflict reportedly disrupted a potential agreement for Angelina Jolie to sell her stake in the winery to Brad Pitt, leading her to instead sell her shares to a subsidiary of the Stoli Group. Pitt has contested this sale, alleging that Jolie acted unfairly by finalizing the deal without his consent.

A source aligned with Pitt suggested that this ruling represents another pre-trial victory for him. However, Jolies attorney, Paul Murphy, offered a different perspective, stating that common NDAs are not comparable to what he described as Pitts last-minute demand to cover up his personal misconduct.

Murphy emphasized that the courts recognition of the NDAs potential relevance to the case is crucial and hinted at broader implications regarding Pitts conduct. He stated, We welcome that transparency in all parties discovery responses, including Mr. Pitts. Angelina looks forward to the eventual end of this litigation with its false narratives that continue to hurt the family and interfere with their ability to heal.

According to a source close to Jolie, the NDAs are unlikely to be revealed during the trial, suggesting that this legal battle is far from over.
Renowned actor Rishab Shetty, celebrated for his film Kantara, recently paid a visit to the sacred Divya Kshetra Hariharapura in Karnataka. Situated along the serene banks of the Thunga River, this revered temple is a place of deep spiritual significance. Accompanied by his wife Pragathi Shetty and their children, Rishab sought the blessings of Paramapoojya Mahaswamiji.

Rishab Shettys connection to his cultural and religious roots is well-known. He and his family make it a point to honor their traditions and heritage regularly. Their recent temple visit has been widely popular on social media, highlighting the familys devotion and respect for their culture.

See the post here:

        .. Advertisement From Little Steps to Little Words We are blessed to share with you that, by the grace of Shri Sharadambe, our little girls Akshara Abhyasa ceremony was fulfilled #Blessed #SringeriSharadamba pic.twitter.com/rFelrzM3AO  Rishab Shetty (@shetty_rishab) May 22, 2024

At the temple, Rishab Shetty and his family participated in various religious rites, including prayers to the goddess Sharadamba. They also received blessings from Lord Mahaswamy, who blessed the entire family. The visit was particularly special as it included the Akshara Abhyasa ceremony for their young daughter, marking the beginning of her educational journey. Rishab shared this joyous moment with his fans on social media, writing:

From Little Steps to Little Words. We are blessed to share with you that, by the grace of Shri Sharadambe, our little girls Akshara Abhyasa ceremony was fulfilled. #Blessed #SringeriSharadamba

The accompanying pictures capture the family in traditional attire, engaged in various rituals, and receiving blessings from the Swamiji. These images have touched many hearts, showcasing the familys deep cultural values and their joyous celebration of this important milestone.

While Rishab Shettys spiritual visit is making waves, his professional life is equally abuzz. He is currently working on Kantara: Chapter 1 with Hombale Films, a project eagerly anticipated by his fans.

Rishab Shettys visit to Divya Kshetra Hariharapura is a beautiful reminder of the importance of cultural and spiritual roots. It reflects a balance between his personal devotion and his professional commitments, resonating deeply with his admirers and followers.
Defence Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh on Thursday hit out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing the Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) national convenor of cheating social activist Anna Hazare.

The social activist had once spearheaded a campaign against corruption along with the AAP chief.

Kejriwal has got interim bail from the Supreme Court till June 1 in a money laundering case connected to the alleged excise policy scam.

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Addressing a public meeting in support of BJPs West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency candidate Kamaljeet Sehrawat, the Defence Minister said, He (Arvind Kejriwal) has cheated his guru Anna Hazare, so how can he win the trust of people of Delhi?

Slamming the AAP over its promises made to people of Delhi, Singh said, AAP has never delivered on the promises they made.

The Delhi government which could not provide safety to women have no right to be in power, Singh said.

Hitting out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over its alliance with Congress for the Lok Sabha polls, the Defence Minister accused the AAP of working as the B team of Congress in the Opposition INDIA bloc.

Today, they (AAP) are working as the B team of Congress in the INDIA coalition, Singh said.

According to the seat-sharing agreement under the INDIA bloc for Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, the Congress is fighting on 3 Lok Sabha seats in Delhi while the AAP is contesting on 4 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

Later in a post on X in Hindi, Kamaljeet Sehrawat said, Taking a pledge to build a developed West Delhi, she participated in a grand public meeting today in the dignified presence of respected Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

After the meeting, along with the Union Defence Minister, she participated in a grand road show in the presence of respected Union Minister Piyush Goyal. I am happy to receive the affection, respect and blessings of all your family members during the roadshow.

In another post on X in Hindi, Kamaljeet Sehrawat said, The huge crowd in the road show is proof that people have faith in the guarantee of respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People do not want to compromise with the development of Delhi. Therefore, the families of West Delhi have resolved to make BJP win with huge votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on 25th May.

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.

The counting of votes for all the seven phases of the Lok Sabha polls will be held on June 4.
Once known as Oxford of East, Allahabad Lok Sabha seat is witnessing a battle of legacies  sons of two prominent leaders are in a straight contest, testing their fathers political credibility.

Traditionally a Congress stronghold, Allahabad Lok Sabha seat which was represented by former Prime Ministers Lal Bahadur Shastri and VP Singh, and had also witnessed stalwarts like Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, Janeshwar Mishra, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and even Millennium Star Amitabh Bachchan as its representatives.

The grand-old Congress had won seven of the eight polls held here between 1952 and 1984. However, the BJP has turned the tide in its favour, emerging victorious in five of the last seven elections.

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In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls where polling will be held on May 25, the battle for Allahabad seat involves two fresh faces in a direct face-off. While the BJP has fielded debutant Neeraj Tripathi, the Congress has placed its bet on Ujjwal Raman Singh, a former two-time SP MLA.

The BJP has dropped their sitting MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi and has gone for Neeraj Tripathi in this election. A lawyer by profession and a former additional advocate general of UP, Neeraj is the son of former BJP assembly speaker and West Bengal governor late Kesri Nath Tripathi. The present Lok Sabha election is his first foray into active politics.

The Congress, on the other hand, has opted for an experienced candidate. Ujjwal Raman Singh, a former two-time SP MLA from Karachana assembly seat and former UP minister. He is the son of senior SP leader Kunwar Rewati Raman Singh, an eight-time MLA from Karachhana and a two-term MP from Allahabad (2004 and 2009). Rewati Raman Singh had defeated BJPs Dr Murli Manohar Joshi in 2009 polls.

Ujjwal won the 2004 and 2017 state assembly elections as a member of SP. However, he left the SP with the blessings of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and joined the Congress , days before being announced as their parliamentary candidate.

The BSP has fielded a newbie Ramesh Kumar Patel, resident of gram panchayat Chitauri of Jasra Block in Prayagraj. He works as a contractor in district panchayat and PWD and has not been very active in politics. He has been the state vice-president of the All-India Kurmi Kshatriya Mahasabha. Through him, the BSP is believed to be eying the substantial Patel and backward votes in the region.

The Allahabad Parliamentary constituency has five assembly seats under it with the only urban assembly constituency being Allahabad South and the remaining four of Karachhana, Meja, Bara and Koraon falling in rural areas of the trans-Yamuna region of the district.

Brahmin and Backward caste voters play a dominant role in the Allahabad parliamentary seat .The former accounts for around 5 lakh voters while the voters of backward communities are totalled at 6.5 lakh with Patels (Kurmis) numbering around 3 lakh. Prajapati and Pals account for 1.21 lakh, Nishad/Mallahs numbering 2 lakh and Yadavs accounting for 40,000 voters.

These are followed by one lakh Muslim voters, Bhumihars numbering at 50,000, Kayastha at 70,000, Kols at 1.5 lakh besides Musahar and Pasi voters tallying at 2 lakh, Banias at 50,000 and others being around 45,000 of the total of over 18 lakh votes.

The major issues for voters centre around employment generation and better support to farmers. Voters demand revival of factories in Naini industrial area with full capacity and setting up of new industries so as to stop migration of youths to states like Gujarat and Maharashtra due to unemployment.

In 2014, BJPs Shyama Charan Gupta had won the seat while in 2019, it was Rita Bahuguna Joshi winning it for the saffron party.
The prestigious Puri parliamentary constituency, going to polls on 25 May, is all set for a fascinating and fierce poll battle principally between the candidates of the BJD and the BJP, whose stature has gone beyond Odisha.

The constituency, comprising seven assembly segments spread across three districts  Puri, Khordha, and Nayagarh  is home to 12th century Lord Jagannath temple, a revered shrine for Hindus, and is also perceived to be the socio-cultural and spiritual capital of Odisha. And for apparent reason, the candidates of the two parties in the fray from the key constituency are campaigning with Lord Jagannath on their lips.

The BJP and its candidate Sambit Patra have recently hit the headlines for the wrong reason following Patras controversial remark that Lord Jagannath is a devotee of Modi. However, quickly realising the repercussions of his folly at an election time, Patra apologised for his remark, saying it was a slip of the tongue. He even offered to atone for the sacrilege by going through a penance in the name of Lord Jagannath.

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Almost all the political heavyweights, who arrive in Odisha to bolster the electoral prospects of their respective parties, make it a point to visit the holy shrine to seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath. The holy shrine is widely regarded as the fulcrum of faith for Hindus and a revered pilgrimage destination for millions of followers of the Jagannath cult across the globe.

Both the BJP and the BJP have fielded high-profile candidates who have long been in the spotlight even outside Odisha.

Former Mumbai Police commissioner Arup Patnaik, who earned a reputation as a tough IPS officer in containing organised crime during his stint at the Countrys financial capital, has been fielded by the BJD. On the other hand, the BJP has nominated Sambit Patra, the national spokesperson of the saffron party, who defends the party in TV debates and talk shows with his oratory skills.

The main fight will be between Patnaik and Patra with Congress relegated to the background owing to a multiplicity of factors. The grand old party has fielded Jay Narayan Patnaik at the last minute after Sucharita Mohanty, the partys candidate, refused to contest citing lack of funding from the party with days left for the filling of the nomination papers.

Hence, the direct contest between the BJD and the BJP is being widely watched by people with enthusiasm. The BJP, which has never won the Lok Sabha polls from here, has galvanised all its resources to secure a maiden victory from the key constituency of the state, which has been a bastion of the BJD since 1998, said political analysts.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Patra was defeated by Pinaki Misra of the BJD with a narrow margin of 11,714.

This time, the regional party replaced Misra with Patnaik, who lost to BJPs Aparajita Sarangi from the Bhubaneswar seat in 2019. The party is hopeful of maintaining its winning streak from the Puri given the fact that the BJD Government in the state successfully executed the Rs 800-crore Shree Mandir Parikrama Prakalpa (SMPP) project around the 12th Jagannath temple and transformed the constituency into a developed pilgrimage destination. The robust organisational network and expertise of the cadre to mobilise voters at the grassroots level might go to its advantage.

Patra, who has extensively covered the length and breadth of the constituency, banks on PM Modis charisma to tide over the poll battle successfully. He is banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modis massive roadshow on 20 May, which, he is confident, will go a long way in ensuring his victory.

With its trusted vote bank steadily declining over the years, Congress is fighting a tough battle in Puri given the fact that the party is left with shoestring fiscal resources which are no match to its cash-rich rivals launched a campaign blitzkrieg. In 2019, Congresss Satya Prakash Nayak lost his security deposit after polling a meager 44,734 votes (4% of the total votes). The grand old party does not seem to have done any groundwork to recover from the electoral damage of the 2019 LS polls.

With the Patra-Patnaik bipolar contest writ large on the walls, it remains to be seen whether the BJP will manage to derail BJDs electoral juggernaut in the Puri seat.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday claimed the BJP has already won 310 seats in the five phases of the ongoing general election and will pass the 400-mark in the remaining phases, and that the INDIA bloc will be wiped out.

Addressing a rally here, he said the Congress is not going to get even 40 seats or the Samajwadi Party (SP) four seats in the Lok Sabha polls.

Shah urged the people of Domariyaganj to once again let the lotus (BJPs party symbol) blossom and make Narendra Modi the prime minister.

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When Article 370 was abolished, Rahul Baba said it would lead to massacre in Pakistan. This is the BJP government, we are not afraid of anyone. There are such leaders here who are going to create terror in the hearts of anti-nationals, he asserted.

The minister talked in detail about the welfare schemes of the Yogi Adityanath government.
The Chhattisgarh government is set to launch a comprehensive rehabilitation programme for surrendered Maoists, marking a significant step towards addressing the longstanding issue of Maoism in the state.

This initiative underscores the governments commitment to inclusive governance, with Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma actively seeking input from various stakeholders. To ensure broad participation, the government has implemented multiple channels for feedback. A dedicated Google Form and email address have been established to solicit public input, while Maoists are encouraged to engage via video calls or written correspondence.

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Deputy Chief Minister and Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma reiterated the governments commitment to crafting a rehabilitation policy that reflects the needs and aspirations of former Maoist cadres. He underscored the imperative of eradicating Maoism from the Bastar region, echoing sentiments previously expressed by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai regarding the importance of dialogue with Maoist groups. Minister Sharma acknowledged the individuals who have renounced violence and expressed a desire to reintegrate into mainstream society. He affirmed the governments determination to implement progressive surrender and rehabilitation initiatives.

Home Minister Sharma unveils innovative approach for Maoist rehabilitation

In a move towards leveraging technology for effective governance, Minister Sharma announced the introduction of a dedicated email address along with a Google Form featuring QR codes for streamlined submission of suggestions on Maoist rehabilitation. This innovative approach aims to enhance accessibility and participation, ensuring that diverse perspectives are considered in policy formulation.

Responding to queries regarding neighboring states experiences with Maoist surrenders, Minister Sharma highlighted the importance of studying their rehabilitation strategies for insights and best practices. He pledged to undertake a comprehensive review to further strengthen efforts towards Maoist eradication.

It is noteworthy that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai reaffirmed the governments unwavering resolve to combat Maoist insurgency, citing ongoing operations resulting in significant surrenders and arrests. He reiterated the administrations commitment to refining the rehabilitation policy to facilitate the seamless reintegration of former Maoists into society.
Taking a dig at BJPs Kangna Ranaut, contesting Lok Sabha poll from Mandi, Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Thursday said that she is entertaining the public of the constituency.

Singh, also the Congress candidate from Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, was addressing election rallies in Nachan Kanaid and Mahadev. He said that she does not care about issues but is amusing the people by praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ignorant about the history of the country, she talks illogically. She has even gone to the extent of claiming that Prime Minister Modi has even stopped the third World War, which is very ridiculous, said Singh taking a jibe at Kangna.

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Slamming her for her crude language and contradiction in her behaviour, he said that she is demanding votes for herself as a daughter of Mandi, while using language unbecoming of the local culture and women of the state.

Her conduct insults local culture and womens dignity, which is very unfortunate, he lamented.

Even the BJP leaders are saddened by Kanganas behaviour. She is treating her party leaders as if they are her slaves, he claimed.

Talking about Prime Minister Modis visit to Himachal on Friday to address a public rally at Mandi, Singh said, Prime Minister will again like in his previous election campaigns praise local cuisines such as Sepu Badi and Mandi.

Before returning to Delhi, he will make superficial annotations, make grand promises to garner votes in favour of BJP, he remarked.

Singh pointed out that Modi had not uttered or tweeted any single word of consolation or sympathy for the disaster affected people of the state during last monsoons.

He expressed confidence that he will win from Mandi as public opinion favours the Congress over the BJP.

Singh said that after becoming an MP, he will strongly raise his voice to remove the anomalies of one rank, one pension for the soldiers.

He said that it is also his priority to form Himachal Regiment in the Army, open Army Academy and CSD depot in Mandi parliamentary constituency.

Singh said that he has pledged to make Mandi a smart city, open a medical and nursing college in Kullu, and set up a Cold Store and fruit processing plant.

He said that after becoming MP, he will leave no stone unturned to make this parliamentary constituency the best parliamentary constituency in the country.

Addressing the Youth Congress workers in Mahadev, All India Youth Congress National President BV Srinivas asked the officials and workers to work day and night in unity to ensure the victory of Vikramaditya Singh.

He said that Vikramaditya Singh is an inspiration for the youth and after becoming MP, he will fulfill their aspirations.

An actress from the film industry can never become a public servant, he claimed.

The INDIA coalition government will be formed in the country, he said, adding that the election trends of the five phases so far have been in favour of the INDIA alliance.

Setting a victory margin target of more than two lakh votes for the Youth Congress for Vikramaditya, Srinivas said that his win is certain and everyone will have to work with full honesty as his triumph will be the victory of the Youth Congress.
As the general elections enter their sixth or penultimate phase, the seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital have come into focus, with the ruling BJP at the Centre eyeing another clean sweep and Aam Aadmi Party hoping to send its first Lok Sabha MP from Delhi.

The BJP won all seven seats in the national capital in both the 2014 and 2019 general elections while the AAP, despite being the ruling party in 2015 and briefly in 2013 (for 49 days), never managed to win a single seat in the Lower House of Parliament.

This time, however, the AAP and the Congress are contesting the polls in the Capital as partners in the INDIA bloc, with the former contesting four seats and the latter three.

As part of the bargain, the AAP is also contesting one seat in Haryana and two in BJP-ruled Gujarat. However, the two parties opted for a friendly fight in AAP-ruled Punjab.

In Delhi, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party is contesting East Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi and New Delhi while the Congress has put up candidates in North-East Delhi, North-West Delhi and Chandni Chowk.

The AAP candidates are Kuldeep Kumar from East Delhi, Sahiram Pehalwan from South Delhi, Mahabal Mishra from West Delhi and Somnath Bharti from New Delhi.

While the Congress Lok Sabha picks in the national capital include Udit Raj from North-West Delhi (reserved SC seat), Jai Prakash Agarwal from Chandni Chowk and former JNU Students Union President Kanhaiya Kumar from North-East Delhi.

The BJP, which swept the 2019 polls in the national capital, dropped six of its seven MPs in Delhi this time, with actor turned politician Manoj Tiwari, the partys sitting MP from North-East Delhi, being the only one retained.

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The six new names in the BJPs list of candidates for the national capital were Praveen Khandelwal from Chandni Chowk, Harsh Deep Malhotra from East Delhi, Yogender Chandolia from North-West Delhi, Ramvir Singh Bhiduri from South Delhi, Kamaljeet Singh Sehrawat from West Delhi and Bansuri Swaraj, the daughter of late BJP veteran Sushma Swaraj from New Delhi.

Setting the cat amongst the pigeons just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the AAP national convenor was arrested after long hours of questioning by an ED team at his residence in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. The development came as a huge blow to the ruling party in the Capital, with several of its bigwigsSanjay Singh, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jainalready behind bars on graft charges.

Even as the AAP rejoiced the Supreme Courts grant of interim bail to Kejriwal in the liquor policy case, in what came as a shot in the arm for the ruling party in the Capital amid the campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls, the ED filed a chargesheet naming the AAP as an accused.

According to some reports, it was the first instance in the country of a political party being named in an alleged corruption case.

Allegations were also raised over alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and dated medicines at the flagship mohalla clinics that feature at the top of the partys list of accomplishments.

However, while the BJP gunned for the AAP over these allegations, the latter received a major campaign boost following the grant of interim bail by the apex court till June 1.

Since coming out of Tihar jail, where he was lodged for over a month, the AAP supremo gave speed and purpose to his partys campaign, which, till then, was being led by his wife Suntia Kejriwal.

In addition to headlining roadshows and public meetings in Delhi for the partys candidates and those of ally Congress, Kejriwal has also held rallies in Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Punjab.

However, just when the AAPs campaign seemed to be going through the gears, the Swati Maliwal assault case cast a fresh spanner in its works. Days after Kejriwals release and weeks before voting in Delhi, the AAP Rajya Sabha MP alleged that she was assaulted at the CMs residence by his former aide Bibhav Kumar.

As the details of Maliwals alleged assault came out, with the former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson claiming to have been kicked, slapped, and dragged around inside the CMs Civil Lines residence, the BJP went for the jugular as it hit out at the AAP over its flip-flop after initially owning ul to the assault and promising strict action.

However, in a stunning U-turn, senior AAP leader Atishi dismissed Maliwals assault charge at the CMs former principal secretary Bibhav Kumar, while labelling the Rajya Sabha MP as a BJP agent.

In response to the case registered by Delhi Police on Maliwals complaint, Bibhav lodged a counter-complaint earlier, accusing her of gaining unauthorised entry into the CMs Civil Lines residence and verbally abusing him.

However, despite writing to Delhi Police that he was ready to cooperate with the ongoing investigation into the assault claim, the CMs former aide was arrested and remanded in five days of police custody. The sleuths also recreated the scene at CM Kejriwals residence while going over the CCTV footage.

Meanwhile, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the Maliwal case.

As the political temperature in the national capital shoots up, rivalling the mercury amid the prevailing heatwave, and the campaign pitch grows shriller, with the liquor policy case and the Maliwal episode adding to the discourse, a keen contest awaits.

While the BJP is eyeing an encore after winning all seven seats by handsome margins in 2019, INDIA partners AAP and the Congress are hoping for windfall electoral gains in the national capital this time.
The Delhi Police will not record the statement of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals parents on Thursday in connection with the Swati Maliwal assault case, according to sources.

The development comes after Kejriwal claimed that police had called his old and ailing parents and sought time for interrogation.

In her statement recorded before the magistrate, Maliwal said that Kejriwals wife and his parents were present at the Delhi CMs house on the day she was assaulted by his aide Bibhav Kumar.

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Police sources said that Maliwal came out after meeting them (Kejriwals parents). Thats why we are asking time of two days to take their statement, they said.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal said he was waiting for police with his parents and wife but they have not informed whether they will come or not.

I am waiting for the police with my parents and wife. Yesterday the police called my parents and asked for time for interrogation. But they have not given any information yet whether they will come or not, the Delhi CM posted on X.

After the Delhi CMs claim that police will interrogate his ailing parents, his Aam Aadmi Party slammed the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

AAP leader and Delhi minister Atishi asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stooped so low as to persecute elderly parents of Kejriwal.

Has our PM stooped so low as to persecute elderly and ill parents? I dont think politics in the country has ever sunk this low, Atishi said while addressing the media.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh had claimed that the PM is taking revenge on Kejriwal and that people of Delhi will give an answer to this.
Blaming Narendra Modi for the Delhi Polices decision to question his parents in the Swati Maliwal assault case, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the prime minister crossed every limit in a bid to break him down and targeted his parents.

The Delhi Police has since dropped the idea of questioning Kejriwals parents.

At a virtual press conference on Thursday, Kejriwal asked Modi why he was getting his parents questioned by the police, why are his old and sick parents being harassed this way. Your fight is against me, stop harassing my parents, God is watching everything, he said, concluding his video message with Jai Hind.

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In his message, the AAP convenor recounted how Modi employed various tactics, including getting several of his MLAs arrested one by one, to break him. He said when none of these tactics worked, the prime minister got his ministers arrested, but that too failed to break him.

I have a message and appeal for PM Modi. You arrested my MLAs but could not break me. You arrested my ministers but could not make me bow. You put me in jail where I was harassed. Now, you are targeting my parents. Why are you doing so, what will you gain from it? Please spare my parents, they are old and sick. My father at 85 cant even hear properly, he said in an emotionally charged note.

Alongside the video address shared on the social media platform, X, Kejriwal wrote, I am waiting with my parents and wife for the police to arrive. Yesterday, the police had called and sought time to question my parents. However, they did not confirm whether they were coming or not, he said.

Reportedly, the police were about to arrive at the CMs house in connection with the ongoing probe into the alleged misconduct with Swati Maliwal at Kejriwals official residence on May 13.

The AAP chief recalled when he was arrested on March 21, his mother had returned home after undergoing treatment for several ailments at the hospital. His father cannot even hear properly.

On Wednesday, Kejriwal wrote on X that the police was coming to question his parents. On Thursday, AAP leaders, including Atishi and Sanjay Singh, and party workers gathered at the CMs residence in solidarity with him in anticipation of the arrival of police officials.

However, the Delhi Police reportedly deferred the questioning. According to sources, a police team could visit his residence for questioning later.

Earlier, the AAP shared a video of Kejriwal on social media platform X showing him helping his parents walk down to a separate room, where the police were supposed to question them.
Amid the furor over the Porsche crash incident in Pune, the Juvenile Justice Board has cancelled the bail granted to the 17-year-old minor in the incident that claimed two lives.

Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta  both 24  from Madhya Pradesh, and working in Pune were on a motorbike when the minors vehicle crashed with them in the early hours of Sunday.

The furore over the quick bail granted to the minor accused  along with the 300-word essay on road accidents that he was asked to write  prompted the police to seek a review of the bail order, which they claim have been subsequently cancelled.

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The minors father, Vishal Agarwal, a real estate developer, is now in police custody in the case.

The minor was subsequently lodged at a child observation home.

On Sunday, hours after the chilling accident, the Juvenile Justice Board had granted bail to the teen, who was caught drinking on camera shortly before he drove the high-end car at over 240 km per hour, with a set of conditions. The conditions included writing a 300-word essay on road accidents and their solution, studying traffic rules for 15 days, and attending counseling for his drinking habit and psychiatric treatment.

News of the bail and its conditions sparked massive outrage on social media, with many alleging that the teenager had been let off very lightly for a heinous crime that led to two untimely deaths. Pune police said they had urged the board for permission to try the accused as an adult, but it refused.

Amid growing outrage, police on Monday registered a case against the teens father under the Juvenile Justice Act. A case was also registered against the owners and staff of two bars that served alcohol to the 17-year-old and his two friends.

Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said they moved two applications with the court on Sunday. One was that this is a heinous crime and the accused must be tried as an adult. Our second application was that till the time this is decided, the accused must be at an observation home. These applications were disallowed that day. So we sought a review, we have got a favourable order on both counts today, he told reporters.

The accuseds lawyer, Prashant Patil, told the media that the teenager will be at a rehabilitation home till June 5. During this time, he will undergo counseling and other steps will be taken to bring him to the mainstream, he said.

Meanwhile, families of the victims have termed the incident murder.

Aneeshs mother Savita Awadhiya said, It is the boys mistake, it is murder, because if he had not made such a big mistake, no one would have died. If only his family members had paid attention, today my son would have been alive. This is murder.

Ashwini Koshtas mother Mamata Koshta told a news agency, We were supposed to send her off in a palanquin (to the grooms house) after her marriage. Now we are forced to carry her body on a bier, she said.
In a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) following recent revelations in the Delhi High Court regarding corruption allegations against former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Amethi Lok Sabha seat Smriti Irani on Thursday said the members of the AAP party were the so-called political activists who came into the corridors of power with a promise of change but ended up becoming nothing but looters of the treasury of the people.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed the bail petitions moved by Manish Sisodia, Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister in liquor policy cases, saying the prosecution has made out a prima facie case of money laundering against the former Deputy CM.

Addressing a press conference, Irani highlighted the courts observations.

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A judgment yesterday regarding Manish Sisodia became public. The Delhi High Court prima facie finds a case of corruption against Manish Sisodia. The court accepts that corruption to the tune of Rs 100 crore has been committed by Manish Sisodia and all accused in this case, she said.

Another observation of the court is that due to the Aam Aadmi Party government, Manish Sisodia has so much administrative and administrative power that he can harass the witnesses related to the case, the Union Minister said.

Manish Sisodias bail application for protection of witnesses, corruption and destruction of evidence related to the case has been rejected by the Delhi High Court, Irani said.

She further noted that the court acknowledged Sisodias alleged attempts to destroy evidence and intimidate potential witnesses, particularly those willing to testify against the AAP.

The observations of the Delhi High Court are now in the public domain, Irani said.

The Delhi High Court has declared that Manish Sisodia has misused his Office at AAP Party and orchestrated the Liquor scam worth Rs 100 crore. He has systematically destroyed evidence, she said.

Irani said the Delhi High Court has rejected Manish Sisodias bail application.

The Court judgement on Manish Sisodias bail plea is a testimony that other members of the AAP have also been recipients of the money that Manish Sisodia laundered, she said.

My appeal to citizens is to read these substantial observations about the corruption of Manish Sisodia and the AAP. These so-called political activists entered the corridors of power with a promise of change but ended up becoming nothing but looters of the peoples treasury, Irani said.

Addressing the issue involving Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal and her allegations of assault against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals close aide Bibhav Kumar, Irani said, The very fact that Arvind Kejriwal goes on campaign with an assaulter is an indication to you as to where his loyalties lie.

With the assaulter in the company of Arvind Kejriwal, can you honestly expect him to do justice to anybody? The question is, while a lady was being assaulted in his house, who was present? What was done by Arvind Kejriwal? AAP is not only corrupt, but its women workers are not safe in their own CMs house, she added.

The former DCW Chief had earlier this month lodged a complaint against Delhi Chief Ministers close aide Bibhav Kumar accusing him of assaulting her at the CMs residence.

Bibhav lodged a counter-complaint against Maliwal accusing her of forced and illegal entry into the CMs entrance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Congress, TMC and their INDIA bloc partners could go to any length to appease their vote-bank of Muslims, but he would not allow them to snatch reservation benefits of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes at any cost.

Addressing a BJP election rally in Bhiwani-Mahendragarh, Haryana, he said you must have seen the Calcutta High Court judgment. The judgment exposed the INDI alliance governments anti-reservation conspiracy.

The INDI alliances Trinamool Congress (TMC) government had given OBC certificates to Muslims in the last 10-12 years. The quota meant for OBCs was being given to Muslims, and that too, to infiltrators, he said.

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The Calcutta High Court cancelled the OBC certificates issued to Muslims in the State in the last 10-12 years, the Prime Minister said. Imagine how things would have been if the court had not delivered its order, and how Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis would have suffered. The Chief Minister says she will not accept the court order and will give OBC reservation benefit to the Muslims, he said.

Mr Modi said this showed the Congress, Trinamool Congress, INDI alliance members stand with their vote-bank, but who stands with you in Haryana? As the crowds shouted Modi, Modi, he said he wanted to assure every SC, ST and OBC member, as long as I am alive, none can take their reservation. Modi is chowkidar of rights of deprived sections. This is not an election speech, but Modis guarantee, he said.

The Prime Minister said this election is to elect the PM of the country; but you will not be only electing a PM, you have to elect the future of the country. He said on one side is your tried servant Modi, but who is on the other side. Nothing is known about this. There is no clue.

Look at the INDIA people, he said, they are dreaming of enjoying power even before results are out. They are planning to have one PM every year for five years. It will come to five PMs in five years. How can a country run like this? People must be laughing at village chaupals in Haryana, he said.

The Prime Minister said the INDI alliance will take this country back to a ditch. They are terribly communal, casteist and parivaarvadi (family-based politicians). People have already understood the intentions of the INDI alliance. That is why they have reached this miserable condition.

In five rounds, the INDI alliance has lost its voice, he said. They started crying after the third round; they talked about the Election Commission on one ground or the other; delayed data or about EVMs functioning.

This showed they started preparing ground to blame for their defeat, he said. That is why they are cursing the EVMs wholeheartedly. We know a farmer will not sow seeds in a ground which does not yield anything, he said.

Mr Modi said when people know the INDI alliance parties are not going to form a government, why should anybody vote for them. Haryana people know, they are not going to form a government in seven lives. Every vote in favour of the Congress is going to go waste, he said.

Even small children know now who is going to form the next government, he said. People have realized the truth about the Congress in this election. For its vote bank, the Congress and INDI alliance got the country divided into India and two Muslim nations. Now the INDI alliance people say even on the remaining India, the first claim is of the Muslims, he said.

The INDI alliance people can do anything for their vote bank, he said. They will snatch reservation benefits given to the SCs, STs, and OBCs by the Constitution, and transfer them to the vote-jihad people, the Prime Minister said.

In Haryana, people say Ram Ram, the whole day, he said. But if the Congress had its way, it could arrest people who speak the name of Lord Ram. As long as it was in power, it did not allow construction of the Ram temple. The Congress boycotted the Pran Pratishtha of the temple. The Congress could even put locks at the Ram temple again, the party wants to send Ram Lalla back to a tented shelter. Should such people get even one vote in Haryana, he said.

The Congress did not allow unfurling of the national Tricolour in Jammu and Kashmir for 70 years and kept Article 370 in force to keep the region away from India, the Prime Minister said. Mr Modi said the Congress did not allow one rank-one pension for ex-Servicemen.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that voting for the Congress and the SP means weakening the security of the country.

These people even put the security of the country at stake for the sake of vote bank, said Home Minister Shah, while attacking the SP and the Congress at a public meeting in favour of the BJP candidate Ritesh Pandey on Thursday at Akbarpur.

He said that Congress and SP had stopped the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya for 70 years.  After Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, the dream of the entire country has come true, he said.

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He said that Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav did not go to Ayodhya even after the invitation because they were worried about their infiltrator vote bank.

The Home Minister said that during Congress rule, terrorists used to come from Pakistan and carry out blasts. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terrorists were eliminated by entering Pakistan just ten days after the Pulwama attacks, he said.

How can such people give a befitting reply to Pakistan? How can someone who is weak himself be able to strengthen the country? All this is possible only under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.

Taking the names of Sonia, Uddhav, Sharad Pawar, Mamta Banerjee and Stalin, the Home Minister said that all such opposition leaders are only doing politics to promote their families.
Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Lok Sabha election candidate from the New Delhi constituency Bansuri Swaraj appealed to the electorate on Thursday to come out and vote in record-breaking numbers.

She said she was overwhelmed by the love and blessings she received from the public.

Speaking to reporters after concluding her roadshow in Paharganj at the end of her election campaign, Swaraj said she has been going to the public continuously for the last 83 days, and added that she was committed to the development of India.

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If I come out victorious, I will stay among the people and become their companion in their happiness and sorrow and will work tirelessly and do my best to solve all their problems, she said, adding she was committed to taking the Modi jis guarantee to every home.

Swaraj said she would work towards solving every problem of government employees through the Sahayog portal and mobile application, and it would be her priority to fulfill every need of the government employees.

Under Digital India, every category will get an equal opportunity to present its suggestions or problems on the Sahayog portal and every problem will be resolved soon, she added.

She said she was confident of the BJP winning all seven seats in Delhi and on June 4, Modi ji becoming the prime minister for a third time.

Swaraj also said that 25 per cent of the MPLAD fund would be spent only on suggestions given by the Resident Welfare Associations suggestions, and new employment opportunities for youth and women would be created through Startup Hub.

On the last day of the election campaign, she set off from Indira Camp located in Malviya Nagar and concluded with a grand roadshow in Paharganj, where Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami took part and extended his support to Swaraj wishing her the best of luck.
Orange signed a partnership agreement with Digital Africa in a move to accelerate support and investment for startups in its incubator centres across Africa and the Middle East.

The partnership was struck at Vivatech in Paris, between Orange Ventures Managing Partner Faycal Adlouni, and Digital Africa CEO Gregoire de Padirac.

The strategy is to provide more support for startups that are based at Orange Digital Centers (ODC) in Africa and the Middle East, stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation in the region.

Orange and Digital Africa stated through the latters Fuze scheme, funds for startups can be doubled by either itself or Digital Africa, after joint appraisal of applications. In year one of being enrolled into the ODC network startups can receive up to US$50,000.

ODCs have been deployed in 17 countries across the region, as well as 8 countries in Europe.

Faycal Adlouni, Managing Partner, Orange Ventures, said: The Orange Group is fully committed to nurturing the future champions of the technology scene in Africa and the Middle East. This arrangement, involving Orange Middle East and Africa, Orange Ventures and Digital Africa will collectively enable us to concentrate our resources to create an environment conducive to the success of startups in Africa and the Middle East.
When Swami Vivekananda decided to participate in the Worlds Parliament of Religions neither he nor his followers in Madras, who inspired him, were aware that to appear in the Chicago conclave a formal invitation from the organiser and an introduction from a religious sect or institute was necessary. This is an indication that Hinduism was not an organised religion but a practice by individuals.

Vivekananda once wrote: Religion is a question of fact, not of talk. We have to analyse our own souls and find what is there. We have to understand it and realize what is understood. That is religion. Religion is therefore realization, a realization of the inner self. External material substances have no relation to religion. Religion cannot be found in books or in temples, mosques and churches. It resides in our minds. It is a perception. The quest for the unknown, the origins and the future makes man uniquely different from an animal. Man searches for God, prays for His blessings, and desires to get rid of daily distress and misery.

He always wants a sense of pleasure. Religion helps to bring an eternal life to man. On 11 September 1893, Swami Vivekanandas said at Chicago: Sectarianism, bigotry and its terrible descendant fanaticism, have possessed long this beautiful earth. It has filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations into despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. Bigotr y and fanaticism, as described by Swamiji, still remains in a faction of our society. We experienced its presence and its fallout during the last several decades  in 1984, in 1992, in 2002 and also during the last couple of years. There was destruction; there were carnages, violence, hate speeches, assaults on a section of the people.

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All these were in the name of religion  the works of organised religion. Swami Vivekananda was critical of organised religion. He wrote: If you want to be religious, enter not the gate of any organised religion. They do a hundred times more evil than good, because they stop the growth of each ones individual development.  Religion is only between you and your God, and no third person must come between you. He said: If you and I organise, we begin to hate every person.  If loving your own people means hating everybody else, it is the quintessence of selfishness and brutality, and the effect is that it will make you brutes. A strong force in society believes today that India is the land of Hindus; all the people of India are united by common blood, tied by the bond of a common motherland and common culture.

It propagates Christians and Muslims as being of foreign origin as their Holy Land is outside our country. When a person or a community is torn between these two loyalties  one to his motherland and the other to his Holy Land  their actions become unpredictable. Therefore, they are to be assimilated in to Hindu culture or be treated as infiltrators. These believers blur the distinction between history and mythology. Often mythology is placed over history. According to them the day when the Horse of Victory of Ramachandra returned to Ayodhya unchallenged was the real birthday of the Hindu people. It was stated to be truly our national day knitting Aryans and Anaryans into a nation from Himalayas to the Sea.

Every Indian must feel that the Ram temple in Ayodhya should be built in its original place. If it comes up there the identity of Hinduism will be established in the world. This is the doctrine that these people thrust upon society. Societal control on individual choices of religion, culture, attire, food habits  whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian  are getting gradually but prominently visible. According to a strong group, Hindutva is the basis of the Indian nation. Ram and Gau Mata are the basis of Hindu culture. They advise us to eat only vegetarian food. But the fact is that between two-thirds to three-fourths of Indians are said to be non-vegetarian by habit and culture. Not only non-state actors but state actors too are active. Some states have banned cattle slaughter; some have banned eggs in mid-day meals.

It is well known that the British rulers administered the divide and rule policy and often promoted clashes between Hindus and Muslims. The monarchs of older days rajas, maharajas, nawabs and sultans  exploited common people and amassed huge wealth. There was a caste system in society. There was oppression of the high classes on the poor and lower caste people. A heinous system like untouchability persisted. In the words of Vivekananda: That (Mohammedan) Rule was, after all, not all bad; nothing is all bad, and nothing is all good. The Mohammedan conquest of India came as a salvation to the downtrodden, to the poor. That is why one fifth of our people have become Mohammedans. It was not the sword that did all.

It would be mad to think it was all the work of sword and fire. We have further observed that Akbar embraced yogic practices, experimented with vegetarianism, and (was) so keen on understanding the power Hindus experienced in worshipping the sun that he memorized its 1,001 Sanskrit names.  Stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics were also illustrated in the royal atelier. [Ruby Lal: Vagabond Princess] Diversity is the natural phenomenon observed in Indian society. The ethos of Indian society is to embrace one and all  these ideas are embedded in our blood. Hindu ideals teach toleration and acceptance of all religions as true. So an attack on this belief will be a direct assault on the concept of secularism adopted by the people of India.

Diversity of thought, opinions and beliefs are the basic tenets of our nation and civilization. Vivekananda said: . Any attempt to bring all humanity to one method of thinking in spiritual things has been a failure and always will be a failure. You cannot make all conform to the same ideas. It is fortunate and significant that the LOKNITI-CSDS [Centre for the Study of Developing Societies] Prepoll Survey Report 2024 reveals that 79 per cent of Indians believe India belongs to all religions equally and not just to Hindus. Thus there is almost a national consensus and we must not ignore it.

Urban areas (85 per cent) and educated individuals (83 per cent) show strong support to religious pluralism. Only 11 per cent believe that India belongs to Hindus while 10 per cent hold no opinion. India is poised to be a developed nation by 2047. The focussed mind should alleviate lesser issues and focus on the desired growth and its equitable distribution. Religious bigotry and intolerance will damage the social fabric and jeopardise future growth. It is essential to maintain social harmony, peace and freedom of mankind. We may conclude with the words of Vivekananda: Liberty is the first condition of growth. .. Just as man must have liberty to think and speak, so he must have liberty in food, dress, and marriage, and in every other thing, so long as he does not injure others.

(The writer, a Cost Accountant, worked with a public sector power utility.)
The period between 1850 and 1950 is considered one of the most fertile periods of fundamental science. On the other hand, it was a critical time in the evolution of social consciousness worldwide since it witnessed two World Wars. During this period, undivided India was under colonial rule except the last three years. Therefore, the achievement of any individual in the country during that time should be considered against the strong noncooperation and injustice from the erstwhile administrative authority, and severe economic hardship prevailing in society.

Under such circumstances, it is astonishing to see the journey of Meghnad Saha, a great educationist and an exceptionally brilliant scientist with a committed social vision, who came from a poor family in an obscure village of east Bengal. At the beginning of the 20th century, a group of dedicated youth came to Presidency College and later to Calcutta University with a mission to serve the country with zeal and conviction. Saha was one of them. Meghnad Saha took science as the main subject during intermediate education at Dacca (Dhaka) College where he studied the German language as an additional subject. He entered Presidency College with a scholarship in 1911 and his classmates were Satyendra Nath Bose, Jnan Chandra Ghosh, Jnanendra Nath Mukherjee and Nikhil Ranjan Sen in the B.Sc. class. Meghnad studied mathematics as a B.Sc honours subject with Satyendra Nath and Nikhil Ranjan and later M.Sc. in applied mathematics.

Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis and Nil Ratan Dhar were senior to them. Two elder brothers of Subhas Chandra Bose were also their classmates. Their teachers were Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray (Chemistry), Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose (Physics) and Professors D.N. Mallik and C.E. Cullis (Mathematics). The 1915 M.Sc. batch of Calcutta University produced a galaxy of scholars who brought many laurels to the country. In 1916, University College of Science was established by Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee where Meghnad and Satyendra Nath joined to teach physics in M.Sc classes. Later C V Raman joined as Palit Professor in physics and Prafula Chandra Ray as Palit Professor in chemistry.

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Meghnad rose to fame quickly by publishing remarkable papers on the theory of thermal ionization in 1920 and became FRS in 1927 at the age of 34. Sahas theories of thermal ionization of elements, and selective radiation pressure have revolutionized astrophysical thought and research. After a glorious academic career, he entered parliament by winning the general election in 1952 as an independent candidate from Calcutta North-West constituency. Saha who had witnessed the poverty-stricken villages of Bengal and the sufferings of people during natural calamities like floods, and deadly diseases, felt deeply for a permanent solution to these problems.

In 1923, a catastrophic flood engulfed some parts of North Bengal and breached the Calcutta-Darjeeling railway lines at different places. A relief committee was formed under the leadership of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray at the University College of Science. Subhas Chandra Bose was entrusted to fieldwork, Satish Chandra Dasgupta was the member in charge of supplies while Meghnad Saha was given charge of propaganda officer. During this relief operation, Meghnad wrote an article for the Modern Review explaining the possible causes of that devastating flood and suggesting measures for the riverine eastern part of Bengal. He understood that this huge amount of flood water could be utilized for irrigation and generating energy for the benefit of mankind.

The enormity of the disastrous flood made an indelible mark on his young mind. Later, successive floods in the Damodar River in south Bengal, particularly the disastrous flood in 1943, caused a severe war-time crisis. Saha wrote a series of articles in his journal Science and Culture to create awareness amongst the public so that the government could raise a comprehensive multi-purpose plan for Damodar and its tributaries. As a result Damodar Flood Enquiry Committee headed by the Maharajadhiraj Bahadur of Burdwan submitted a report in line with Sahas article with K. Ray ~ The Planning of the Damodar Valley ~ published in Science and Culture in 1944.

However, it had been an uphill struggle to convince the colonial ruler to act fast in planning and implementation. The late 1930s was an interesting phase for Indian politics. Subhas Chandra Bose was elected President of the Indian National Congress in 1938. He was invited to speak as chief guest at the 3rd annual meeting of the Indian Science News Association (ISNA), founded by Saha. Bose said on this occasion ~ Congressmen of today have not only to strive for liberty, but they have also to devote a portion of their thought and energy to problems of national reconstruction.

And national reconstruction will be possible only with the aid of science and our scientists. Bose was deeply concerned with the post-independence problems that India would be facing and it was in his mind to make a national economic plan to meet forthcoming challenges. Later Saha took the opportunity and proposed forming a national planning commission with Subhas Bose. Finally, a national planning committee was formed under the chairmanship of Jawaharlal Nehru. During the Great War around 1943, it was imminent that the British would be forced to give independence to India even if the Allied forces won the war. Additionally, the Quit India movement by Mahatma Gandhi in August 1942 expedited the process.

Interestingly, amidst the great war crisis, the British Government thought that the resources available in Indian science and technology had not been utilized to build certain inland capabilities to alleviate the poor condition of the masses. Accordingly, on the recommendation of A S Hill, Nobel Laureate in medicine, a team of distinguished scientists from India visited the UK, USA, and Canada in 1944 to assess scientific and industrial development in these countries. Saha was one of the active members of the delegation along with Jnan Chandra Ghosh, S S Bhatnagar and others.

While visiting these countries, Saha delivered lectures on various issues, one of them being on Science in Social and International Planning with Special Reference to India; later the report was published in Nature. A detailed report of the visit was compiled and prepared by Saha; it was submitted to the government in 1946 for consideration. Therefore, available documents and evidence show that in all these endeavours, Saha took the pivotal role with a mission for the countrys fast development once colonial rule ended. Immediately after independence, Saha became a member of the University Commission under the chairmanship of Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan in 1948.

The committee members visited different places in the country to get first-hand knowledge about the existing system; they submitted an excellent report describing the plan and pattern of the Indian education system, which is available in the electronic archive. This committees work enriched Saha to understand the dismal condition of the countrys education system. During the years 1950-52, Saha was disappointed and disillusioned by the activities of the government particularly with the implementation of the objectives of the National Planning Commission, industrial policies, education, etc.

As S N Sen mentioned in the commemorative volume ~ Entering public life was far from his thoughts, but it was at the request of his friend Sri Sarat Chandra Bose, brother of the Netaji, who was a member of the first constituent assembly. Mr. Bose and other friends argued that as he had given so much thought to national planning, industrialization, and river valley developments, his presence in the legislature might be of great help to the country when decisions are taken by the Government on these points.

But this was not liked by other Congressman. Initially, the government failed to evolve policies to establish large-scale industries and neglected the health and education sectors. Multipurpose river valley development schemes had not shown much progress as stipulated initially resulting in cost overruns on most projects. Saha finally decided to contest the general election as an independent candidate supported by communist parties against a powerful candidate of the Congress.

He defeated his rival by more than 16 per cent votes epitomizing a historic event in parliamentary democracy. He actively participated in parliamentary debates suggesting and criticizing different motions put forward by the government. He wrote an article on Rethinking our Future in the form of a pamphlet in 1953, which consisted of various speeches in parliament criticizing the report of the Five Year Plan introduced by the Government in November 1952. In that pamphlet Saha had mentioned under a sub-title ~ Why Scientist has taken to Politics? Scientists are often accused of living in the Ivory Tower and not troubling their minds with realities and apart from my association with political movements in my juvenile years, I had lived in the Ivory Tower up to 1930. But science and technics are very important for administration nowa-days, at least as much as law and order.

I have gradually glided into politics because I wanted to be of some use to the country in my own humble way. Veteran parliamentarian Renu Chakraborty had mentioned in her memoir that Prime Minister Nehru used to listen with attention whenever Saha participated in the debate in the Lok Sabha. On many occasions, they differed but their relationship was never bitter. Another noted parliamentarian, Professor Hiren Mukherjee, once said that we learned a lot through his speeches in the Lok Sabha.

All these episodes indicate how rich our parliamentary democracy was. Saha could have contributed much more but with his untimely death in February 1956, all hopes were lost towards a meaningful standard in the opposition in parliament. We lost a towering personality as Satyendra Nath Bose commented while delivering the Meghnad Saha Memorial Lecture on 24 April 1965 at SINP ~ The pearls were in a sense already there, but it required a Meghnad to recognize them and to string them together into a necklace on unsurpassable beauty.

(The writer is Former CSIR Scientist Emeritus, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata)
Dr. Prasanth Reddy in conversation with 'The Statesman Talk' talks about joining politics, he said that politics is the ultimate form of public service, and that's why he got into it as he felt there is a huge unmet need. He thinks that more citizens need to take that responsibility seriously and make sure that they can actually make a difference.
Finally, some startling clarity. People of India, especially West Bengal, have been scratching their heads to fathom the current relationship between Trinamul, which is ruling the state, and its rivals CPIM and Congress. While earlier, the political enmity was by and large black and white with only a few strands of grey here and there, currently the status has changed unequivocally to its complicated to use social media lingo. The current ambiguity has arisen after the three political parties found themselves on the same side when, last year, an all-India alliance was formed in which 26 political parties from across the country decided to join hands to fight the BJP in the ongoing parliamentary elections. The INDIA alliance as it is called, became a point of heated debate as people wondered how three political parties, which have deep roots as far as arch rivalry is concerned, could suddenly bury their ideological hatchets and get together no matter how common the cause is. The exact equation is really baffling, said an elderly gentleman at a tea stall where everyday morning walkers gather to discuss the politics of the day, especially during elections.

I had taken the question to the two political parties, CPIM and Congress, which have an ongoing election alliance in the state against Trinamul and the BJP, the common enemy of all three parties. CPIM leader Sujan Chakraborty had explained at that time that the INDIA alliance is a national-level arrangement and not a state-level one. You have to remember that these are the parliamentary elections, not a local poll. The CPIM and Trinamuls political rivalry will continue in the state. Chakraborty explained further that while it is being claimed that CPIM and Congress have joined hands with Trinamul, the reality is that they have just joined an alliance in which Trinamul also happens to be a partner. Theres a difference between joining hands with Trinamul and being part of an alliance in which Trinamul is also there, he clarified. Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, too, said that at the local level, the rivalry will continue. The question that came to mind, however, was that though the polls are national, the voting will take place locally. Is an alliance not all about seat-sharing so that the three partner parties put up only one candidate against the common enemy? This is exactly what is meant by the INDIA alliance being a national-level one rather than a state-level one, explained Om Prakash Mishra, professor of political science and a politician who was earlier with Congress and now with Trinamul. He explains that the Trinamuls seat-sharing with either Congress or CPIM can actually boomerang because they are traditional political rivals and their joining hands could turn the voters away, and it could even benefit the BJP by default. On the other hand, at the national level, however, there is no restriction on the Trinamuls decision to support or join a government, as the case may be in the scenario where the INDIA alliance is able to defeat the BJP.

In the last couple of days, however, all ambiguity has been wiped out, with WB chief minister Mamata Banerjee unequivocally telling a massive crowd at an election rally in the villages that she was very much a part of the INDIA alliance at the national level. She also corroborated that the alliance was not applicable at the state level with either CPIM or Congress. Adding more clarity as far as Trinamuls relationship with the INDIA alliance is concerned, yesterday Congress leader Mallikarjun Karge said that Trinamul, led by Banerjee, was an integral part of the INDIA alliance and even suggested that if his local party leaders at the state level continued with their rivalry narrative, the party High Command would not hesitate to distance itself from them. They can go out if they dont follow the decision, he said, while Congress state leader, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who has made his rivalry with Trinamul quite clear time and again, said that he would continue to do so.

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It is not unlikely, I sense, that while the narratives of both the Congress High Command and the state leader may seem mutually exclusive, this could be political rhetoric, an astute move that could benefit Congress both at the national and state levels. While Chowdhurys response, stating that his rivalry with Trinamul was crucial for the very existence of Congress in the state, could reassure Congress supporters in the state, Kharges declaration is a move that will no doubt strengthen the INDIA alliances prospects after the general elections, considering that Banerjee is likely to send to Parliament a large number of MPs. Didis support is clearly integral to a strong INDIA alliance. It is as clear as the day.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Thursday that the country will introduce a chip industry support package worth 26 trillion won ($19 billion) to bolster the critical industry amid intensifying global competition.

The comprehensive plan was unveiled during an interagency meeting on economic issues, involving related ministries and financial regulators.

The package includes financial programmes, research and development (R&D) initiatives and infrastructure support for chip manufacturers, material suppliers and fabless companies specialising in chip design, reports Yonhap news agency.

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Central to this support package is the creation of a financial support program worth 17 trillion won dedicated to infrastructure investment at the state-run Korea Development Bank.

A 1 trillion-won chip industry fund will be created to assist fabless and chip material companies and R&D infrastructure will be built for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Yoon said the support package is designed to benefit the entire semiconductor supply chain, with a particular focus on SMEs.

If companies expand investment and earn more profits through tax support, the public will benefit from more quality jobs, thereby revitalising the economy and increasing tax revenue, Yoon said during the meeting held at the presidential office.

To bolster the countrys position in the semiconductor industry, Yoon also called for the related ministries to come up with measures to support system semiconductors and foundry businesses to help them close the gap with global leaders.

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix lead the world in memory chip production, but their market share in the foundry business, where companies manufacture chips designed by others, lags behind Taiwans TSMC, the worlds largest contract chip maker.
After running a spirited primary challenge to former US President Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, the former Ambassador to the UN, said on Wednesday that she will vote for him.

I will be voting for Trump, the Indian-descent politician said in a speech at Hudson Institute, a think-tank where she will hold a chair.

She went on to explain her reasons. As a voter, I put my priorities on a President whos going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account. Who would secure the border, no more excuses. A President who would support capitalism and freedom. A President who understands we need less debt, not more debt.

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Trump has not been perfect on these policies. I have made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe.

Haleys endorsement triggered talk of joining the Trump ticket as running mate.

Trump, who has stoked speculation about his running mate naming those in consideration, has ruled out Haley.

But if Haley can change her mind about Trump, so and Trump about her.

Running against him for the partys nomination to run for the White House, she had called him unhinged and chaos followed him wherever he went.

She had even suggested a mental acuity test for candidates running for President citing some of his many fumbles, which included mistaking Haley for Nancy Pelosi, a former Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives.

A key reason Trump could change his mind on Haley is her supporters in the Republican Party, who remain so deeply hostile to him that they have continued to vote for her in the ongoing primaries even though she is no longer in the race. And these are not a handful of voters.

She won 21 per cent of the votes in the Indiana primary earlier this month even though she has been out of the contest for weeks now.

Haley reminded Trump about her supporters.

Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that theyre just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does.

Even President Joe Bidens campaign has been eyeing Haleys supporters and has been wooing them as a sizable voting block.

Trump has a tight grip on the core of the Republican Party, which ensured his victory in the primaries and grants him an extortionists hold on the lawmakers of his party who fear the support of his base if they upset him. But Trump will need to carry his party to come within striking range of the White House and he needs Haleys supporters.

None of the other Vice-President aspirants who Trump paraded at a recent fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago resort, have anything similar to offer to the former President. She has secured 14 per cent in the Republican primaries even after exiting the race.
Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has stressed that his country would continue its policy of expanding relations with Armenia.

During a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the Iranian capital Tehran, Khamenei stressed the historical and geographical commonalities and common interests between the two countries, according to a statement published on the Supreme Leaders website on Wednesday.

He said some parties were against the improvement of the strategic ties between the two countries, emphasising the need for careful handling of issues concerning the two countries, Xinhua news agency reported.

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He also highlighted the late President Ebrahim Raisis concern about border issues with Armenia, stressing the importance of maintaining attentiveness in addressing these issues.

Pashinyan, who is in Iran to attend Raisis funeral on Wednesday, extended condolences for the deaths of Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other Iranian officials in a helicopter accident on Sunday in the northwestern Iranian province of East Azerbaijan.
Eutelsat Group and YahClick, the data solutions arm of UAE-based Yahsat, have signed a multi-year, multi-Gbps contract under which Yahsat will lease capacity from the Eutelsat Konnect satellite to extend YahClicks service coverage, particularly to Ethiopia.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) revealed on Wednesday, Yahsat will leverage capacity on Eutelsat Konnect to offer satellite broadband services across "multiple African and Middle East markets".

As part of the deal, the contract gives Yahsat exclusive rights to Konnect capacity over Ethiopia, which Yahsat says is one of Africas fastest-growing markets.

Yahsat chief commercial officer Sulaiman Al Ali said the deal is in line with Yahsats efforts to elevate its offerings and drive growth across its satellite broadband footprint in Africa and expand into new markets in Africa and elsewhere.

This partnership shall enable us to further enhance our portfolio and drive growth of our YahClick broadband services to consumer and enterprise markets, he said in a joint statement.

Eutelsat Konnect has been in service since November 2020, sporting 75 Gbps of capacity across a network of 65 spotbeams. Originally covering Europe and Africa, the satellites entire capacity is being progressively transferred to provide dedicated African coverage, said Ghassan Murat, Eutelsats RVP of AMEA.

Yahsats strong presence in Africa and the Middle East through the successful deployment of its YahClick satellite broadband service  together with the uptake we are seeing as we progressively transfer Eutelsat Konnect capacity to Africa  highlight the buoyant demand for robust broadband services in the market, and the pertinence of satellite in connecting users, even in the most remote locations, he said.
Jessups annual local tradition, St. Ubaldo Day and the Race of the Saints, takes place Saturday. La Festa dei Ceri is a full day of festivities that leads up to the famed race at 5:30 p.m.

During the La Corsa dei Ceri, or the Race of the Candles, three teams of men carry wooden pillars topped with statues of their patron saints, St. Ubaldo, St. George and St. Anthony, along the route through Jessup.

This tradition in Jessup dates back 115 years when it was started by immigrants from Gubbio, Italy, in 1909. However, the roots of this tradition can be traced back centuries in Gubbio, according to Mario Hanyon, president of the Family of St. Ubaldo.

St. Ubaldo Day is an unbelievable historic event that is right in the middle of Lackawanna County that goes back almost 1,000 years, said Hanyon.

Behind this procession honoring the saints are long-standing family traditions within each saint family.

Part of the St. Ubaldo family

Mario Hanyon has been involved in St. Ubaldo Day his whole life while growing up in Jessup. His great-grandmother was from Gubbio, Italy. He has served as president of the Family of St. Ubaldo since 2017 and also serves as a St. Ubaldo Society board member.

Hanyon said this tradition is part of who we are and our ancestry and our heritage. He wants to make sure the tradition and values of St. Ubaldo Day stay alive and are passed down with the next generation.

Haynon takes part in events throughout the year with St. Ubaldo, including meatball and sauce dinners, raising money to donate to student scholarships and helping those in need within the community.

Part of the St. George (Giorgio) familyScott Hall has been affiliated with St. George since he was 9 years old and running in the childrens race. He currently serves as the St. Ubaldo Society president.

It is a great honor to be with the family of St. George. I am fortunate the Bellucci family got me and my mom involved, said Hall.

On behalf of St. George, he participates in the soup sale for the family of St. George, Easter breakfast, the Feast of St. George and Frittata, a breakfast served at nighttime.

Part of the St. Anthony (Antonio) family

Michael Cappellini has been involved in St. Ubaldo Day since he was 11 years old. He serves as vice president of the St. Ubaldo Society, on the board of directors for St. Anthony and as the unofficial liaison between Jessup and Gubbio, Italy. He also served as capodieci, or captain, of the St. Anthony family in 2018. The last six generations in his family have participated in St. Ubaldo Day.

One of his favorite things to do is introducing the baby runners within the childrens race, La Corsa dei Ceri Piccoli, which takes place the day after La Corsa dei Ceri. Cappellini said the childrens race is important to keep the tradition going with the next generation.

According to Cappellini, the tradition of St. Ubaldo Day is part of a way of life and a way to show honor and passion for the saints and what they have done.

We expect crowds of over 10,000 people to come to Jessup to watch our race, said Hall.

The race will start on Powell Avenue and Ward Street and end at Veterans Memorial Field.

For more information about St. Ubaldo Day, visit the societys official website at saintubaldosociety.org.
Many organisations seek creative training solutions to answer the demand that employees stay current in their knowledge and skills. E-learning services by The Knowledge Academy are some of the most prominent ones in this field. These services offer a wide range of online courses for medical practitioners to develop their professional skills and overcome modern challenges.

Table of Contents

Bridging Knowledge Gaps with Flexible Learning

Comprehensive Curriculum Catering to Diverse Needs

Accredited Training Programmes for Career Growth

Accessible Tools and Technologies for Enhanced Learning

Tailored Learning for Organisational Transformation

Continuous Support and Improvement

Strengthening Leadership and Management Capabilities

Developing Technical Skills for the Digital Age

Conclusion

Bridging Knowledge Gaps with Flexible Learning

Traditional classroom training faces several logistical bottlenecks, such as setting training sessions around busy schedules and selecting the right trainer. The Knowledge Academy smashes these barriers using its e-learning platform, providing unbeatable flexibility for those who would otherwise find it hard to fit in any training around the already busy schedules of medical professionals.

The Knowledge Academy designs its courses so that students can work from the comfort of their home or their office. These programmes offer a smooth learning process with vast resources, helping to improve managerial abilities, learn new therapeutic techniques, or achieve professional development.

Comprehensive Curriculum Catering to Diverse Needs

Beyond their clinical expertise, health professionals are also expected to possess a diverse set of skills. The Knowledge Academy provides courses suited to these demands, ranging from new technologies and regulatory compliance to leadership and management.

For instance, the healthcare sector is undergoing a revolution thanks to digital technology, and telemedicine, cybersecurity, and data management courses offer vital skills for thriving in this new environment. Additionally, soft skills training like communication and teamwork promotes collaboration within multidisciplinary teams, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Accredited Training Programmes for Career Growth

Accredited certifications are essential in assisting health professionals to fulfil their ambition of progressing in their careers. The Knowledge Academy offers internationally accepted qualifications through partnerships with reputable certification agencies.

For instance, IOSH Course strengthens the workplace safety skills of healthcare managers. Certifications in project management, quality assurance, and data analytics can also assist professionals in advancing their careers and establishing credibility in the job market.

Accessible Tools and Technologies for Enhanced Learning

E-learning's effectiveness depends on the quality of its digital infrastructure. The Knowledge Academy incorporates the latest tools in its platform to improve the learning experience. Students can use webinars and virtual laboratories to simulate real-world situations and test their theoretical knowledge.

The discussion boards create an amicable learning environment that enables students to talk and share ideas with teachers and other students. The assessments and quizzes provide immediate feedback, enabling students to reinforce the lessons they learned.

Tailored Learning for Organisational Transformation

The Knowledge Academy's e-learning solutions are beneficial to more than just individuals; entire organisations can use them for transformative training. Customised learning programmes are offered to meet specific organisational goals, such as lowering clinical error rates or guaranteeing adherence to new rules.

It is possible to create and incorporate custom content into already-existing training courses so that they comply with business policies and internal procedures. This degree of customisation guarantees that the training is relevant and effective in producing observable results.

Continuous Support and Improvement

Your journey with The Knowledge Academy does not end with the completion of a course. The curriculum is updated frequently, learners have lifetime access to course materials, and they can attend webinars that address new developments in the healthcare industry.

This guarantees medical practitioners stay current on the latest market trends and best practices. Additionally, student feedback is regularly sought to improve the courses and ensure the platform changes with the changing needs of the healthcare industry.

Strengthening Leadership and Management Capabilities

Healthcare executives must operate in a highly dynamic and unpredictable environment. These professionals are constantly trying to balance the pressures of meeting patient care needs and organisational strategy requirements. Understanding this delicate balance, The Knowledge Academy provides strategic planning, change management, and dispute resolution courses to enhance leadership and management skills.

These programmes support managers in the healthcare industry in creating a great work environment, motivating their staff, and making well-informed decisions that support their company's goals. Professionals who have mastered these vital abilities may lead confidently and clearly, especially during emergencies.

Developing Technical Skills for the Digital Age

Technical expertise becomes essential as healthcare increasingly uses digital solutions. The Knowledge Academy offers IT courses for healthcare workers who want to become experts in data analytics, cybersecurity, and electronic health record (EHR) management. These classes explain complex technical ideas so students with various backgrounds can understand and apply them.

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Conclusion

The healthcare industry is adopting E-learning solutions in huge numbers due to their extensive features, flexibility, and accessibility. The Knowledge Academy is considered as a valuable resource for health professionals who are willing to grow professionally, learn new things, and improve their skills. It helps people and businesses respond resiliently and innovatively to the difficulties of modern healthcare by offering customised curricula, recognised certificates, and a nurturing learning environment.
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Ahmedabad after suffering from a heat stroke, is expected to cheer for his IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the finals this weekend.

Actor Juhi Chawla, who is also the co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders along with Shah Rukh Khan, said he is doing much better at the hospital. Chawla, who had rushed to the hospital after Shah Rukh Khan was admitted to the multi-speciality KD Hospital in Ahmedabad on Wednesday said he is "being attended to and was feeling much better this evening (Wednesday)."

"God willing, he will soon be up, and in the stands on the weekend, cheering the team, as we play the finals, News 18 quoted her as saying.

KKR will take on Chennai Super Kings in the IPL final on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a police officer said Shah Rukh Khan is likely to be discharged from the hospital on Thursday evening.

"Shah Rukh Khan is still undergoing treatment at the hospital. It is possible that he may get discharged today," Ahmedabad (Rural) Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Jat said.

The actor was in Ahmedabad on Tuesday to attend an IPL match of Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium. As per a report by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ahmedabad city was under "heatwave" on Tuesday and Wednesday when it recorded a maximum temperature of 45.2 and 45.9 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Videos shared by the official X account of his team had showed Shah Rukh Khan celebrating his team's victory with a lap of honour, with his children Suhana Khan and AbRam Khan accompanying him.
Following an outcry over the quick grant of bail, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) here on Wednesday remanded a 17-year-old youth allegedly involved in a car accident that claimed two lives to an observation home till June 5.

The sessions court, elsewhere, remanded his father, a real estate developer, in police custody. While the police said that the JJB on Wednesday evening cancelled the bail granted to the minor three days ago, his lawyer claimed that there was no cancellation of bail but only a modification of the earlier order.

The JJB had on Sunday granted bail to the teeanger hours after the Porsche car allegedly driven by him knocked down and killed two IT professionals in their 20s on a motorbike. It also asked him to write a 300-word essay on road accidents, an order that drew an onslaught of criticism.

Police then approached the JJB again, seeking a review of its order. Police have registered a First Information Report against the minor under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 304 A (causing death by negligence), 279 (rash driving ), 337 (causing hurt by an act which endangers human life), 338 (causing grievous hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety) and relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. As per the police, he was drunk at the time.

The sessions court earlier on Wednesday remanded Vishal Agarwal (50), the minor's father, and two employees of Hotel Black Club Nitesh Shevani and Jayesh Gavkar, in police custody till May 24. The teenager, before the accident, had allegedly consumed alcohol at Hotel Black Club. Police registered a case against his father under sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act, and against the owner and employees of two bars which the boy had visited before Sunday's accident for `serving alcohol to an underage person.'

Section 75 deals with "willful neglect of a child, or exposing a child to mental or physical illnesses," while section 77 deals with supplying a child with intoxicating liquor or drugs. According to the FIR, the real estate developer gave his son the car despite knowing that the boy did not have a driving license, thus endangering his life, and allowed him to party even while knowing that he drinks alcohol.

Agarwal was arrested from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

The prosecution demanded police custody of seven days for the father and the other two, stating that the police wanted to investigate why the father allowed his son to drive the car which did not have a number plate. They also need to investigate why the man absconded after a case was registered against the son. He had in his possession a simple no-frills mobile phone when arrested, and "the police need to investigate where are his other phones," said the public prosecutor.

The driver of the Porsche who was with the juvenile at the time of the accident had offered to drive, but the juvenile declined the offer, the prosecution claimed. Earlier, while Agarwal was being brought to the sessions court in Shivajinagar area in a police vehicle, some persons allegedly tried to throw ink at it.

Political slugfest over the accident continued on Wednesday with Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stating that it did not "behove" Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to "politicise" the incident.

Commenting on the accident, Gandhi had said if an ordinary truck or cab driver were to cause it, he would be jailed for years, but there was different justice for the son of a rich man, and Congress wanted to change this system.

Fadnavis said the police responded to the situation in the right way.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve, on the other hand, asked whether Fadnavis's visit to Pune following the car crash was aimed at shielding the investigative agencies. Fadnavis, who hold the home portfolio, visited Pune only after there was an uproar on social media over the incident, Danve claimed.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar claimed that police spent more time asking questions about the relationship between the two IT professionals who were killed.

Victims Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, both 24-year-old, hailing from Madhya Pradesh and working in Pune, were riding on a motorbike when the Porsche allegedly driven by the teenager hit them near Kalyani Nagar junction in the early hours of Sunday.

In a post on X, Ambedkar said, "Officers at Yerawada police station spent more time questioning the relationship between Anish and Ashwini...while the accused was allegedly served burger and pizza."

As per the controversial bail order passed by the Juvenile Justice Board hours after the incident on Sunday, the teenager's grandfather had "given an assurance that he will keep the Child-in-Conflict with Law (CCL) away from any bad company and he will concentrate on his study or any vocational course which is useful for his career."

"The CCL will write an essay of 300 words on the topic of road accidents and their solutions," the order said, eliciting much acerbic commentary on social media.
As West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vows to move the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court order striking down the OBC status given to several classes in West Bengal granted since 2010, the BJP has sharpened its claws at the ruling party, accusing it of appeasement politics.

The HC verdict sparked a political debate in the middle of the Lok Sabha elections, considering the court's observation that the inclusion of 77 classes of Muslims in the list of backward categories was to treat them as a vote bank.

CM Mamata has already vowed to approach the Supreme Court against the decision, stating the state won't accept the HC verdict. She reiterated that the OBC reservation quota was introduced by the government after conducting a house-to-house survey before being cleared by the Cabinet. She also called out "BJP's audacity."

She said the SC, ST, and OBC get the rights as per the Constitution. "The minorities also have their rights. Can anyone say that he will frame legislation only for the benefit of Hindus and leave out Muslims and other communities?"

But, the BJP has seized the opportunity, welcoming the order. It claims that the order has exposed the INDIA alliance parties using reservation as a handle to serve their vote bank.

Naddha also hit out at Mamata for her refusal to accept the court's decision, stating that a CM should not disrespect the Constitution. Accusing the TMC government of minority appeasement, the BJP chief said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised this issue during the election campaigns and that the leaders of the INDI alliance are shredding the constitution.

"These judgements show how Mamata Banerjee's government was taking forward appeasement unconstitutionally or can be said that the Muslim agenda was being taken forward," the BJP president said. "It is written clearly in the Constitution that reservation will not given based on religion. Mamata Banerjee said that she does not agree with the decision of the High Court. There is no one above the law. PM Modi quoted the constitution and said that the reservation is not given based on religion," he said.

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla also targeted the TMC. "One more proof of appeasing a vote bank by snatching the rights of OBC, SC-ST people has come to light," he said.

When the Prime Minister even challenged them (INDI alliance) to write in writing that reservation will not be given on religious grounds or by cutting it from OBC, SC-ST quota, they did not accept this challenge. They keep saying to save the Constitution, but the court has said that giving reservations like this is against the Constitution. The court of law has given its answer to the TMC and soon the court of public opinion will also answer this," he added.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday said there is a process to cancel the diplomatic passport of suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is accused of sexually harassing several women, and stated that the Centre is ready to cooperate in bringing him back to the country.



Hitting out at the state government, he questioned why they did not file a case and detain Prajwal before he left for abroad. The union minister also accused the Congress dispensation of trying to put the blame on the Centre and playing politics on the issue.

Joshi was reacting to a question on Chief Minister Siddarmaiah writing a second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to take "prompt and necessary" actions to cancel the diplomatic passport of Prajwal. "There is a process to cancel diplomatic passports...so far Siddaramaiah, D.K. Shivakumar (Deputy CM) and Parameshwara (Home Minister) have not responded to my question, the minister said.

"The first pen drive containing clipping (explicit clippings involving Prajwal) came out on April 21 and Prajwal Revanna left for abroad on April 27. Were they guarding donkeys for seven days? Why didn't you file an FIR and detain him?" Joshi asked.

Speaking to reporters at Kalaburagi, he said, "There is a process to get him (Prajwal) back from abroad and the Government of India is ready to extend cooperation to the state government by following necessary processes in accordance with the law." Joshi further said, "But this thing that as soon as we (CM or state government) write things should happen, or else put the blame on BJP (is not right). They (state government) did not take action in the pen drive case until the first phase of polls was over (on April 26) with an eye on Vokkkaliga votes. Now they are trying to put the blame on the Centre."

This is a serious case, Prajwal has to face the probe and will have to face punishment if found guilty. There is no question about it, he said, adding, "But the Karnataka government, more than probe, is trying to do politics in this case."

Siddaramaiah in his letter to PM Modi on Wednesday said it is "disheartening" that his previous letter regarding cancelling Prajwal's diplomatic passport, has not been acted upon, despite the gravity of the situation. The chief minister had earlier on May 1 written to Modi urging him to move the Ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs to take swift action to cancel the diplomatic passport of Prajwal.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is processing a request of the Karnataka government seeking cancellation of the diplomatic passport of Prajwal. Official sources said that the MEA has received a letter from the Karnataka government seeking the revocation of Prajwal's diplomatic passport.

The 33-year-old Prajwal, who is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda and is the NDA's candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women. Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan went to polls, and is still at large. A 'Blue Corner Notice' seeking information on his whereabouts has already been issued by Interpol, following a request by the SIT via the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A Special Court for Elected Representatives issued an arrest warrant on May 18 against Prajwal, following an application moved by the SIT.
The Delhi police is unlikely to record statements of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals parents in the alleged Swati Maliwal assault case, sources in the force told ANI.



Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the Delhi police will visit his residence on Thursday to interrogate his parents. However, Kejriwal did not add further details or mention the reason. "Tomorrow, Delhi Police will come to interrogate my old and ailing parents," he said in a post in Hindi on X on Wednesday.

Aam Aadmi Party leaders questioned the move and alleged the entire case is BJPs conspiracy. All limits have been crossed as CM Kejriwals old and ailing parents have been called for questioning today. Has the prime minister stooped so low that old parents are being harassed? The people of Delhi will give an answer to this through their vote. This whole thing (Swati Maliwal assault case) is a conspiracy by the BJP, ANI reported quoting Delhi Minister Atishi.

AAPs Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal had alleged she was attacked by Kejriwals aide Bhibav Kumar at the Delhi CMs residence on May 13. Delhi police have arrested Kumar and have also collected CCTV recordings from CMs residence as part of the probe.
With heavy rainfall wreaking havoc across Kerala, at least four people were killed in different parts of the state. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday issued an orange alert in seven districts.

Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad were put under orange alert. Yellow alert was issued for the remaining seven districts -- Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Kannur and Kasaragod.

Incessant rain since Wednesday evening continued on Thursday morning, inundating several low-lying areas in Ernakulam and Thrissur disctricts. In the Cochin city corporation limits, Infopark, Kalamassery, Vyttila, Kadavanthra, South Chittor, MG Road and KSRTC bus stand reported severe waterlogging and damage to vehicles.

In Thrissur, the Guruvayoor Temple premises were inundated. Drainage water also entered Thrissur's Ashwini Hospital, with medicines getting spoiled and a refrigerator getting damaged. The casualty unit was shifted upwards after the water reached knee level. In Kozhikode, the Institute of Maternal and Child Health ward of the government medical college saw water entering the building for the first time in 50 years.

In Idukki, four shutters of the Malankara Dam were opened. Peopel staying near the banks of Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha rivers have been issued warning.

A landslide was reported in Kozhikode's Ramanattukara and service road of the national highway in Pantheerankavu was damaged.

In the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, trains on the Mettupalayam-Ooty route were cancelled due to landslides.

The Met department predicted that rain might continue for three more days with heavy rain expected in central and northern Kerala.
Kolkata Polices Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has taken over the investigation of the death of Bangladesh MP Md. Anwarul Azim Anar. Initial investigation suggests the parliamentarian from Bangladeshs Jhenaidah-4 constituency was in Kolkata for treatment in his personal capacity.



Though the body of the deceased has not yet been recovered, the CIDs primary investigation suggests he was murdered; the same was confirmed by Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Wednesday.

Anwarul arrived in Kolkata on May 12 and stayed at his friend Gopal Biswass residence in the citys Baranagar area for two days before going missing. He maintained communication with the family until May 14. On May 16, a call was made from the MP's phone to his personal assistant, Abdur Rauf.

Unfortunately, Rauf missed the call, and subsequent attempts to call back were unsuccessful as the phone was switched off by then. Since that time, the MP has remained unreachable. Biswas filed a general diary report regarding his disappearance at the Baranagar Police Station on May 18.

An SIT was formed to investigate the matter. As the investigation was going on, we were asked by the MEA also to enquire into the matter. On May 22, we got input that he might have been murdered, Akhilesh Chaturvedi, IG, CID, told the media. He added, The local police traced the location where he was last seen. After this, the CID was put in charge of the investigation.

According to the preliminary probe, Anwarul was last seen in New Town, located on the outskirts of Kolkata. Authorities have discovered blood stains inside a luxury apartment there and are currently probing whether they are linked to the Bangladesh MP.

As per local media reports, Anwarul was accompanied by two men and a woman when he came to the New Town apartment. CCTV recordings revealed an unidentified man and woman exiting the apartment multiple times between May 15 and May 17. Authorities stated that at least two out of the three individuals who initially arrived with the MP subsequently travelled back to Bangladesh.

The apartment where Anwarul is suspected to have stayed is owned by a government employee named Sandeep, who had subsequently leased the property to an individual called Akhtaruzzaman. The CID IG Chaturvedi said Akhtaruzzaman holds American citizenship.

The Bangladesh police is also actively probing the case. The neighbouring countrys Home Minister, Asaduzzaman Khan, stated that the MP was intentionally murdered in his apartment in Kolkata. He said, collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies in India and Bangladesh are underway to uncover the motive behind the crime and identify the perpetrators. Khan further informed that the Bangladesh police had arrested three persons who were allegedly involved in murdering Anwarul.

Meanwhile, a senior police officer told PTI that a close friend of the MP, who is a US citizen, paid Rs 5 crore to assassinate Anwarul. (The Week couldn't independently verify these claims.)
The BJP has been trying to corner the BJD in Odisha on the issue of missing keys of Ratnabhandar (temple treasury) of Sri Jagannath temple amid the ongoing elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, raked up this issue in one of his recent poll rallies.

In a veiled jibe at bureaucrat-turned-politician V.K. Pandiana close aide of Chief Minister Naveen PatnaikModi said the keys might have gone to Tamil Nadu. This evoked sharp reaction from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin who said Modis remarks were intended to foster enmity between the two states.

Stalin said the prime minister should exemplify ethical conduct in election campaigns by focusing on constructive criticism, and not by spreading hatred.

It seems the state BJP functionaries have not appraised Modi about the real status of the Ratnabhandar issue. A probe into the issue reveals a different story.

In February, following a directive of the high court to open the Ratnabhandar, the state government constituted a committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Arijit Pashayat. Many noted personalities of the state like Dr R.K. Panda, former chairperson of Allahabad Bank Bidhubhusan Samal and chartered accountant A.K. Sabat were members of the panel along with the chief administrator of the temple, district magistrate, superintendent of police and temple MC members.

The committee decided to open the Ratnabhandar during the absence of lord Jagannath at the temple during the annual rath yatra.

The BJP asks why the treasury is not opened while the Temple Act says it should be opened in every three years to make a fresh inventory. The BJD responds that during the coalition government from 2000 to 2009, BJP leader Biswabhusan Harichadan handled the law portfolio and Sri Jagannath temple comes under this ministry.

In 2018, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in response to a PIL, stated in the high court that Ratnabhandar needs urgent repairs as water seepage has been noticed from outside. The high court directed the state government to open the Ratnabhandar for repairs.

The state government had handed over this 12th century temple considered as one of the four Dhamas" of Hindu faithto the ASI since 1976 for maintenance and repair.

The state government formed a panel comprising persons like Er. GC Mitra, the then ASI superintendent, temple officials, district police chief and the district magistrate to open the Ratnabhandra. The team abandoned their attempt as the district magistrate reported missing of the keys. The district magistrate informed that the keys were not with the government treasury.

As per the Temple Act-1960 rule 6, keys of the Ratnabhandar must be deposited with the government treasury after their use. The treasury records show that the keys were not returned after the Ratnabhandar was last opened in 1985 for repairs. There are two Ratna Bhandaras in the temple. One is used to store daily use valuables and ornaments of the deities called Bahar Bhandar. It is operated by a traditional Bhandar servitor called Mekap. Another is called Bhitar Ratnabhandar wherein precious ornaments and articles are stored.

During the regime of Gajapati, one key was handed over to Pattajoshi Mahapatra, the traditional chief administrator of the temple, and another with the king. The state government took over the temple management after a thirty year legal battle in the apex court and passed a legislation 1956-60 for its management known as Sri Jagannath temple Act.

After much hue and cry in the media and among devotees, the state government had appointed Justice Raghubir Das as a one-man judicial commission to assess the situation leading to the loss of keys and suggestion for its safe keeping. Justice Raghubir Das within a year submitted an inconclusive report to the state government. The same is yet to be tabled in the assembly.

The opposition political leaders moved the high court over the issue and the court directed the state government to open the treasury to conduct repairs and to make fresh inventory of the wealth of the deities. They demanded to tally the old and the new inventory lists to ascertain whether anything was missing.

Inventory of the articles in Ratnabhandar was last done in 1978 and a list of each ornament with their weight and description of precious jewels studded on the ornaments was made in the presence of district magistrate, treasury officer, temple administrator and superintendent of police. The detailed list was submitted to the state government.

As per the 1978 inventory, there are 362 items of gold ornaments weighing 250 kg that includes giant Tiaras, limbs like feet, earlobes (kundal) hands, insignias and forehead Chitta studded with precious stones like diamonds, ruby and emerald worth crores. It also contains 14 quintals of silver ornaments, as per the inventory list.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has alleged that the Delhi Police will visit his residence on Thursday to interrogate his parents. Though Kejriwal did not add further details or mention the reason, speculations are that it is in connection with the Swati Maliwal assault case.

"Tomorrow, Delhi Police will come to interrogate my old and ailing parents," he said in a post in Hindi on X.

Swati Maliwal, Rajya Sabha MP of the party, had alleged that she was "assaulted" by Kejriwal's personal assistant Bibhav Kumar when she went to meet the chief minister on May 13. The police have registered a case and arrested Kumar. However, AAP denied the accusation, stating Maliwal was a pawn in the hands of the BJP.

The AAP had earlier hit out at the BJP over the issue, questioning the party if it thought Kejriwal's parents were involved in the alleged assault.

              Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 22, 2024

AAP senior leader and Delhi cabinet minister Atishi said in a press conference on Wednesday that ever since Kejriwal has come out on interim bail, "new conspiracies" were being hatched by the BJP against him. "Now they used a cheap tactic. PM Modi has asked his Delhi Police to question Kejriwal's elderly and ailing parents," she claimed and added that the people of Delhi will respond to it with their votes.

"I want to ask the PM and BJP. His parents are aged around 80-85. Kejriwal's father cannot walk without support. His mother spent a long time in hospital and came back recently. Does he believe that they assaulted Maliwal? Do they think that Maliwal who was threatening police personnel as seen in a video footage was attacked by the elderly people? Have they stooped to this level that they will carry out atrocities on his parents and target him?" she said.

"Like Shravan Kumar, he took people on their pilgrimage. He has been given blessings by every elderly person for serving them. Today his parents are being subjected to such atrocities. I want to appeal to the elderly that they should respond with their votes to this cheap tactic."

Meanwhile, Kejriwal on Wednesday reacted to the case, stating that he expected a fair investigation into the matter and that justice should be served in the case. In an interview with PTI, the chief minister said the matter is currently "sub-judice" and his comment might affect the proceedings.

To this, Maliwal reacted: "After unleashing the entire army of leaders and volunteers at me, calling me a BJP agent, assassinating my character, leaking edited videos, victim shaming me, roaming around with the accused, letting him re-enter the crime scene and tamper evidence and protesting in favour of the accused, the Chief Minister, in whose drawing-room I was beaten up, has finally said that he wants free and fair investigation in the matter. Irony died a thousand deaths. I don't buy this one bit," she said in a post on X.

(With PTI inputs)
With a day left for the seven seats in Delhi to go to the polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has ramped up its campaign, hitting out at the ruling BJP and showering Delhi with promises, including statehood. The BJP campaign, helmed by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to keep all the seven seats it won in 2019.

Since coming out of Tihar jail, where he was lodged for over a month in a Delhi excise policy case, the AAP supremo gave speed and purpose to his partys campaign, which, till then, was being led by his wife Suntia Kejriwal. The party's campaign, since then, has been at break-neck speed.

On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took a direct shot at the Prime Minister, when he said the latter was working on a special project of 'one nation, one leader'. He claimed that what was happening with the AAP was an experiment that would be replicated with other opposition parties.

Stating that dangerous things were happening in the country, Kejriwal said that any opposition leaders who spoke against Modi would be put in jail, citing the names of Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, former Delhi ministers Satyendar Jain and Manish Sisodia besides himself.

He also promised full statehood for Delhi if the INDIA bloc came to power on June 4. "As soon as we form the government the first work we will do is to get the full statehood for Delhi," Kejriwal told his supporters during a road show.

The BJP, on the other hand, is planning to nail Kejriwal and the AAP with the graft allegations over the Delhi liquor policy case. During his campaign, BJP leader Rajnath Singh cited Kejriwal's arrest. "Kejriwal would claim to be the most honest person. Now, he says he has been jailed by Modi ji...should our government not take action against corruption?", Singh said in an election rally. Amit Shah also minced no words when he called Kejriwal a shameless person for sticking to the CM position despite being accused in the case.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur too hit out at AAP and its national convener Arvind Kejriwal, calling them synonymous with corruption. He claimed that their only aim was to get power and mint money. "The Congress and Arvind Kejriwal are synonymous with corruption and they have no love and faith for the people. They are working only to get power to mint the money and harass the opponents," he said.

The seven seats

In both 2014 and 2019, the BJP won all seven seats in the national capital. This is despite AAP winning the reign of the state.

The six new names in the BJPs list are Praveen Khandelwal from Chandni Chowk, Harsh Deep Malhotra from East Delhi, Yogender Chandolia from North-West Delhi, Ramvir Singh Bhiduri from South Delhi, Kamaljeet Singh Sehrawat from West Delhi and Bansuri Swaraj, the daughter of late BJP veteran Sushma Swaraj from New Delhi.

Surprisingly, the BJP dropped six of its seven MPs in Delhi this time, with actor turned politician Manoj Tiwari, the partys sitting MP from North-East Delhi, being the only one retained.

As for AAP, it faces the battle jointly with the Congress, with the former contesting four seats and the latter three. In Delhi, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party is contesting East Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi and New Delhi while the Congress has put up candidates in North-East Delhi, North-West Delhi and Chandni Chowk.

The AAP candidates are Kuldeep Kumar from East Delhi, Sahiram Pehalwan from South Delhi, Mahabal Mishra from West Delhi and Somnath Bharti from New Delhi.

While the Congress Lok Sabha picks in the national capital include Udit Raj from North-West Delhi (reserved SC seat), Jai Prakash Agarwal from Chandni Chowk and former JNU Students Union President Kanhaiya Kumar from North-East Delhi.
Commonwealth Day is a celebration with a rich history of great significance woven from the tapestry of diverse cultures. It's an annual celebration dedicated to the Commonwealth of Nations. It's a day to honour shared values, the exquisite and diverse cultures of the member countries and humanity itself.

As nations celebrate the 63rd Commonwealth Day, let's delve deeply into the history of the Commonwealth, why it is celebrated, what it means to be a part of the Commonwealth, its relevance in modern-day society, the theme for this year, and the inevitable connection of India with the Commonwealth nations.

What is the Commonwealth?

With 2.5 billion people as members across 56 countries, which is one-third of the global population, the Commonwealth is one of the oldest intergovernmental political associations of states where the head of the Commonwealth of Nations is chosen by the Commonwealth members.

The British monarch is considered as the symbolic head of the Commonwealth of Nations where the former head was Queen Elizabeth II.

Which are the Commonwealth Nations?

The organisation consists of 56 member states across the globe from all the continents and they include Botswana, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia from Africa, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka from Asia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago from Caribbean and Americas, Cyprus, Malta and United Kingdom from Europe and Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu from Pacific.

The member states comprise a diverse group, including developed and developing countries, large and small nations and all of them working on shared goals and functions like democracy, human rights, and sustainable development.

Each year, on Commonwealth Day, the head of the commonwealth delivers a message addressing the citizens and highlights the pressing social issues faced by the society as a whole.

What is the theme this year?

The theme of 2024 is "One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth". The theme highlights the identification and development of the strengths of each country by utilising the unique network and the resources of the commonwealth for mutual benefit, fostering a connected and digital commonwealth. Along with this, the commonwealth serves as an invocation for the 56 member countries to work together to build resilience and tackle challenges like climate change, economic instability, and pandemics therefore paving the way for an exemplary future.

History of Commonwealth

Tracing the history of the Commonwealth, the roots of the Commonwealth go back to the reign of the British Empire, when most of the countries were under the rule of Britain. Commonwealth Day, originally known as Empire Day, was commemorated on the day of Queen Victorias birthday to ensure unity between the colonies of Britain and to honour the British Empire.

At the 1926 imperial conference, Britain and other dominions like Australia, Canada, India, the Irish Free State, Newfoundland, New Zealand and South Africa agreed that they were all equal members of a community within the British Empire and showed their allegiance to the British king or queen, at the same time negating the rule of United Kingdom over them. It was initially called the British Commonwealth of Nations.

The birth of the modern-day commonwealth was facilitated by the London Declaration which affirmed the legitimacy of the membership of the republics and other countries apart from the colonies of Britain, in the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Day was originally celebrated on May 24th (Queen Victorias birthday) but due to decolonisation and other factors, it was later changed to the second Monday of March. From initially celebrated for paying tribute to the British empire, the focus later shifted towards a more inclusive celebration, canonizing the spectrum of cultures, shared values and histories of the member countries.

However, certain countries like India, and Belize still celebrate Commonwealth Day on May 24th.

What it means to be a part of the community?

Being a part of the Commonwealth community is a way to build partnerships, fostering a common future that benefits the whole world along with the member states. The Commonwealth acts as a medium to channel the grievances of its member states as well as a platform for mutual development and growth. The member states work together to address democracy, and human rights and to tackle the challenges encountered by them with unified aid and technical assistance and even by launching joint initiatives. The platform also grants access to a vast network of opportunities to nourish trade and commerce, cultural exchange, and educational programmes.

India, the largest member state of the Commonwealth

India is the largest member state of the Commonwealth, with nearly 60% of the total population of the association. It is the fourth largest contributor to the Commonwealth budgets and programmes. India shares a broad history with the Commonwealth, as it was a former colony of Britain.

Indias connection to the Commonwealth is marked by both historical ties and a desire to forge a new path. In 1949, India declared itself a republic, rejecting the British monarch as head of state, which meant leaving the Commonwealth. However, the declaration of the new model of the Commonwealth to include republic nations also enabled the re-joining of India to the community. This paved the way for other republics to join, owing to the birth of the modern-day Commonwealth.

While the public celebration of Commonwealth Day might be limited, India remains a central member of the Commonwealth and the association has enacted as a framework to maintain positive ties with the former colonial partners and enhance the economic benefits.

On a deeper level of understanding about Commonwealth Day and the organisation, its acceptability in India is still debatable. A stratum of society is sceptical of the potency and relevance of the Commonwealth. The major concerns that they raise are the power dynamics and favouritism that exist within such organisations and the inability of the Commonwealth to adapt to changes in the contemporary scenario. Amidst these uncertainties, the majority undoubtedly acknowledge and credit its worth considering it as a potential platform capable of bringing changes.
Today

Those Wacky Victorians: Late 1800s Hobbies  5-7 p.m., McConnell Mansion, 110 S. Adams Street, Moscow. Join the Latah County Historical Society for the opening reception of its newest exhibit, Those Wacky Victorians: Late 1800s Hobbies. The event if free, and light refreshments will be provided. The exhibit will be on display through early fall.

Palouse People: Remembering Fallen Cougars  7-8 p.m., Pullman Depot Heritage Center, 330 N. Grand Ave., Pullman. WSU History Department graduate students Jordan Bergstrom, Kyley Canion-Brewer and Cassie Crisman will give a presentation on Fallen Cougars as a way to honor the war dead of Washington State College (now University). The mission of the Fallen Cougars project is to digitize information and photos honoring the war dead of Washington State College, beginning with those who fought in World War II.

Hitchcock Fest: Vertigo  7 p.m. Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, 508 S. Main St., Moscow. Cost: $8. A former San Francisco police detective juggles wrestling with his personal demons and becoming obsessed with the hauntingly beautiful woman he has been hired to trail, who may be deeply disturbed. PG. kenworthypac.square.site.

Radium Girls  7 p.m., Pullman High School, 510 NW Greyhound Way, Pullman.Cost: $10. Radium Girls is Pullman High School Drama Clubs final show of the year. Also Friday and Saturday. bit.ly/4awm0d1.

Friday
The majority of the passengers and crew onboard the Singapore Airlines flight, that hit severe turbulence, suffered head and spinal injuries. Around 20 people still remain in the intensive care unit in Bangkok, where the passengers were rushed to after the flight made an emergency landing on Tuesday.

Two Singaporeans, six Malaysians, three Australians, six Malaysians and one person each from Hong Kong, New Zealand, and the Philippines were in ICU care, said the head of a Bangkok hospital.

The aircraft Boeing 777-300ER with a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board encountered severe turbulence over Myanmar, leaving a person dead and injuring over 30 passengers.

Adinun Kittiratanapaibool, director of Bangkoks Samitivej Srinakarin hospital, said his staff were treating six people for skull and brain injuries, 22 for spinal injuries, and 13 for bone, muscle and other injuries.

"We have never treated people with these kinds of injuries caused by turbulence, he told reporters.

So far, seventeen surgeries have been performed, including nine spinal and eight other injuries, he added.

The injured at the hospital range in age from 2-83 years old.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian ambassador to Thailand said that nine of the 16 Malaysians who were on the flight were being treated in a hospital in Bangkok.

Five of them are in ICU and under observation and one victim is in the normal ward. They are all in stable condition...But one is in critical condition but stable. He has multiple injuries to his head, back and leg. He is one of the crew. said Jojie Samuel.

Passengers recall the shock and chaos when the flight dropped 6,000 feet minutes from its cruising altitude after crossing the Bay of Bengal.

I fell onto the floor. I didnt realise what happened. I must have hit my head somewhere. Everyone was screaming on the plane. People were scared, Josh Silverstone, a 24-year-old Briton on his way to the Indonesian holiday island of Bali, told reporters.

So many injured people. Head lacerations, bleeding ears. A lady was screaming in pain with a bad back. I couldnt help her  just got her water, one passenger, Andrew Davies from London, wrote on social media. There had been very little warning, he said. The seatbelt sign came on, I put on my seatbelt straight away then the plane just dropped.

A relief flight took 131 passengers and 12 crew to Singapores Changi airport on Wednesday to continue their journeys or return home.
So, Nikki Haley finally decided to play it safe. The former Republican presidential hopeful has announced that she would vote for Donald Trump in the November elections after bashing the former president left, right and centre throughout her entire primary campaign. In her first public speech as the Walter P. Stern chair at the conservative Hudson Institute think tank in Washington on May 22, the former South Carolina governor, however, stopped short of fully endorsing Trump.

It was Haley's first public appearance since dropping out of the Republican race in March and she spoke extensively on national security and foreign policy issues, including the Middle East, Russia and China. While she did not take Trump's name during the speech, it invariably came up in the Q&A session that followed. When asked whether Joe Biden or Trump would do a better job dealing with national security concerns, Haley said, "Trump has not been perfect on these policies. Ive made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So I will be voting for Trump."

When Haley called off her primary campaign in March, there was no Trump endorsement. Instead, she had asked the former president to work hard and "earn the votes of those in our party and beyond who did not support him".

But Trump dismissed the idea and did not make any attempt to contact Haley or request her support. Still, Haley decided to make public her decision to vote for Trump possibly because the present realities of Republican politics clearly indicate that her future would be doomed if she completely alienated Trumps MAGA base, especially in the 2028 Republican presidential primaries. Other potential 2028 contenders, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu have already endorsed Trump.

With her half-hearted endorsement, Haley has made it clear that she will certainly be in the fray in the 2028 election cycle. And, as an olive branch to her moderate Republican support base, she articulated her policy differences with the Trump brand of Republicanism during the same speech, reiterating her preference for the Reagan style of governance, marked by domestic conservatism and an interventionist foreign policy. She also made it clear that her vote for Trump was not an endorsement of his policies. "I stand by what I said in my suspension speech," she said. "Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that theyre just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does that."

The Biden campaign, meanwhile, hopes that this particular cohort of centrist, pro-Haley Republican voters would vote for him in November, notwithstanding Haley's unflattering comments about the president's policies. Michael Tyler, who heads the communications director of the Biden campaign, said "nothing has changed" for the millions of Republican voters who continued to vote against Trump in the primaries and felt deeply about the future of American democracy.

Interestingly, the Haley coalition of independents, moderates and anti-Trump Republicans continues to vote for her in the Republican primaries, although she had dropped out of the race two months ago. For instance, in the latest primaries, she won 20 per cent of the vote in Maryland, 21 per cent in Indiana and 18 per cent in Nebraska. Across states, from deep blue to deep red to the battlegrounds, Haley is performing well in the largely upscale, highly educated, suburban counties.

In Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state with 19 electoral college votes, she did well in many Philadelphia counties, winning nearly a quarter of the votes in Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties. In Georgia, she outclassed Trump in the suburban Cobb county, near Atlanta. Similarly, in Arizona, another key battleground, she won 21 per cent in Maricopa, the Phoenix county which is home to more than 60 per cent of the state's population. In the Midwest battleground of Wisconsin, she took close to 20 per cent in the counties near Milwaukee.

The Biden campaign has noticed in that in every battleground state, possibly except Nevada, the votes Haley polled in the primaries are higher than his victory margin in 2020. No wonder, the Biden team is looking at the Haley coalition as a key component of the vote bank it is trying to sew up for the fall, especially after losing some support from the young voters and the Muslim and Arab Democrats. A recent opinion poll by Emerson College showed that 63 per cent of Haley supporters said they would vote for Biden, while only 27 per cent expressed their support for Trump.

Biden himself has been actively wooing the Haley voters. I want to be clear. There is a place for them in my campaign, said Biden. The campaign is working on setting up a Republicans for Biden group to attract Haley voters in each swing state. It released a few advertisements showing Trumps personal attacks against Haley, including the nasty birdbrain nickname he gave her during the primaries. Senior campaign officials are courting Haley's top donors. They would take heart from the fact that while Haley said he would vote for Trump, many of her key support groups, such as Republican Voters Against Trump, have condemned her announcement and indicated that they would continue their anti-Trump campaign.

Yet, Haley's semi-endorsement could also be seen as an olive branch to Trump, who has repeatedly said that Haley voterswhom he called a tiny fraction of the Republican electoratewould return to him by November. Well, I got almost close to 90 per cent. She got very few voters. And those voters are all coming to me. It could also open up the possibility of a Trump-Haley ticket, despite Trump's vociferous denials. A few days ago, Trump had written on his social media platform, Truth Social, Nikki Haley is not under consideration for the VP slot, but I wish her well.

Nothing, however, is impossible in politics. Having Haley in his corner offers Trump significant advantages, the only downside being the ire of the hardcore MAGA supporters. But those voters are never going to abandon Trump. Haley, meanwhile, could persuade her base of centrist Republicans to vote for their ticket. Even if she manages to convince a fraction of them to hold their nose and vote for Trump, it could make a big difference in November.
Warning

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) intends to prove "that if the need arises it has the ability to quickly impose a blockade on the entire territory of Taiwan island, stop armed intervention by external forces, and rapidly resolve the Taiwan issue", Song Zhongping, an analyst and former Chinese military officer, told AFP. | Reuters
Moneylife Foundation Presents Benchmarking Reasonableness of Service Charges by Banks in India: A Study by Ashish Das, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay



Mumbai, Maharashtra, India  Business Wire India



A pathbreaking new research benchmarks reasonableness of service charges levied by banks across India. The study, authored by Dr. Ashish Das, Professor, Department of Mathematics, from the Indian Institute of Technology- Bombay (IIT-B), was commissioned by Moneylife Foundation. According to the Author, Dr. Das, this report is a holistic assessment of banks.



IDFC FIRST Bank is proud to share that the report says that they come out as class apart vis-a-vis other banks in the private sector.



IDFC FIRST Bank has overall featured in Category A Bank among commercial banks. Even among the Category A Banks, IDFC FIRST Bank is the only Bank that charges ZERO FEES on all services in savings accounts, on all account variants, urban or rural, irrespective of AMB, whether Rs. 5000 (offered in Rural India), Rs. 10,000 or Rs. 25000.



The Moneylife Ashish Das report points out that On-Us (own banks) ATM cash withdrawal, 16 banks charge Rs 10 or less, while the remaining 9 banks charge at the caps set by RBI (Rs 20 or Rs 21). IDFC FIRST Bank is the only Bank that provides unlimited ATM cash withdrawal without any fees. For Off-Us (other banks), while all banks charge Rs 20 or Rs 21, IDFC FIRST Bank charges ZERO.



IDFC FIRST Bank is one of the only four banks which do not charge for IMPS transactions. It is also one of the few banks that do not charge for SMS alerts which may vary to Rs. 100 or Rs. 150 per quarter, where limits have been specified by banks or higher if there are no limits specified.



The report also says that IDFC FIRST Bank is the only bank in India that does not charge debit card for any variant of its savings account, while annual fee for debit cards at most banks ranges from Rs 100 to Rs 300.



As per the report, NACH mandate registration are NIL at IDFC FIRST Bank, while charges in the system vary between Rs. 36 to Rs 108. Further, for failed NACH mandate, on an average, banks charge between Rs 261 to Rs. 455 while IDFCFB is the only bank that charges ZERO fees for failed NACH Mandate.



While these are the specific comparisons made in the report, the bank is proud that it offers unique customer-friendly and customer-first product propositions including zero fees for many other services such as RTGS, NEFT, Cash Deposit at branches and online, 3rd party transaction charges at branches, Cheque book, Demand Drafts, Pay-order, duplicate statement, and all 28 such services that are usually charged in the market. IDFC FIRST Bank follows the principle that it wont touch its customers bank account for any reason whatsoever so customers can have total peace of mind. The bank does not have the concept of home branch, and all nearly 1000 branches of the bank are Home Branches for the customer, hence the bank does not have non-Home branch access charges.



Even in case customers do not maintain minimum balance requirements, then only AMB maintenance charges apply and IDFC FIRST bank does not charge any fees for these services mentioned above for customers not able to maintain minimum balances.



Finally, the bank has removed complicated calculations, legalese, and descriptions that customers normally dont understand.



This report is a path breaking work by Prof. Das, that compares all banks in India in painstaking detail to bring it together. To know more visit https://www.idfcfirstbank.com/personal-banking/accounts/savings-account/fees-and-charges



Disclaimer: The above-mentioned excerpts are from the report, titled, Benchmarking Reasonableness of Service Charges by Banks in India: A Study by Ashish Das, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Please refer to the report for detailed insights: Link



About IDFC FIRST Bank



IDFC FIRST Bank is a new age Universal Bank in India built on the foundations of Ethical Banking, Digital Banking, and Social Good Banking. We are building a world class bank in India.



As part of the Banks ethical banking approach, it applies a "Near and Dear" Test to its products, so that the employees of the Bank serve only such products they'd want for their own loved ones. It believes income earned unethically is not worth earning. Therefore, the Bank avoids complicated descriptions, calculations, and legalese that customers dont understand. It abolished all charges on Savings Accounts It is the first and only bank in India till date to do so.



IDFC FIRST Bank is also the first bank in India to offer monthly credit on savings accounts. The credit cards have no hidden charges. It offers Lifetime Free without minimum spend conditions, never-expiring rewards points, zero interest on cash withdrawal at ATMs, dynamic low APR and much more. Fees if any are transparent and described neatly in a manner a common person can understand. Every product offered by the bank is highly customer friendly, most often the best in the industry.



As part of technology led banking, the Bank has built a modern technology stack and has built an advanced mobile app with 250+ features such as Goal based investing, MF investment assistance, electric-speed payments, Account Aggregator, MF Aggregator, Personal Finance Manager, Auto categorisation of spends, single app for personal and business banking, UPI on Credit Cards, travel and shop, bill and recharges, deals and reward redemptions, which offer great convenience to the customers. For business customers the Bank offers on-the-go bulk payments, ability to pay income tax, GST, customs duty, and connected banking with ERP solutions.



As part of the Social Banking theme, the Banks business model is naturally geared to social banking. It has developed unique capabilities for financing bottom of pyramid customers with consistently high asset quality. The Bank has financed over 40 million customers including 0.3 million SMEs, 0.9 million livelihood (cattle loans), 16 million lifestyle improvement loans (for laptops, washing machine, etc.), 1 million sanitation loans (toilets, water fittings), 6.5 million mobility loans (2-wheelers and cars), and home financing (over 100,000 homes), and 15 million loans to 4.3 million women-entrepreneurs. It also offers other retail and rural loans such as Kisan Credit Cards, harvest financing, gold loans etc.



IDFC FIRST Bank is a Universal Bank, and offers end to end Corporate Banking, Trade Finance such as issuance of LCs & BGs, SBLC, Packing Credit, Pre-shipment and Post-shipment Finance, Treasury products including risk hedging solutions like Forwards, Swaps, Options, and other Forex Solutions, SME Banking, Wealth Management, NRI banking, Cash Management, Nostro & Vostro account operations, Escrow facilities, Correspondent Banking, Fastag, Toll-acquiring, Dealer Finance and Purchase/Sales Invoice discounting.



ESG Goals: The Bank is incorporating ESG in every aspect of working and has high ESG scores. The Bank believes that to get an opportunity to create a new age, ethical and world class Bank for India is a great privilege for its employees.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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The 12-month high-impact programme enables professionals to explore real-world logistics and supply chain challenges and equips them to optimise their activities for overall business profitability



Mumbai, Maharashtra, India  Business Wire India



In an era defined by intricate global supply chains and dynamic market landscapes, organisations face unprecedented challenges in optimising their operations. Recent disruptions have exposed vulnerabilities, highlighting the need for professionals equipped to navigate complexity, mitigate risks, and optimise end-to-end supply chain operations for sustained success. Recognising the need to equip professionals with methodologies, frameworks, and best SCM practices, the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC), one of the leading B-schools in India, ranked 4th by NIRF 2023, launched the 12th batch of Advanced Programme in Supply Chain Management in partnership with Emeritus, a global pioneer in offering accessible and affordable high-quality education to individuals and organisations.



This high-impact 12-month programme is meticulously curated for mid to senior-level professionals, seeking to elevate their expertise in the dynamic realm of Supply Chain Management. It is also tailored for seasoned professionals looking to navigate the intricacies of Chain Management or seeking innovative strategies to optimise various aspects such as purchasing, production, inventory control, and logistics. Additionally, professionals aspiring to broaden their career horizons within logistics or supply chain management, be it in service or manufacturing organisations, will find this programme beneficial in helping them unlock new opportunities and drive success.



According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) report titled Worldwide Small and Medium-Sized Business and Digital-Native Business 2023 Predictions  India Implications, by 2025 around 30% of Indian Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) will consider intelligence decision systems to promote R&D and supply chain management. It further predicts that logistics and supply chain managers are more focused on meeting demand rather than just managing supply and therefore it is an ideal time for professionals to enhance their skills for a promising career in supply chain management. Aimed at addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals in the field, this programme rightly equips participants with an integrated understanding of contemporary best practices in supply chain management and logistics and helps them with end-to-end supply chain visibility and continued success.



The IIM Calcutta Advanced Programme in Supply Chain Management, designed by renowned IIMC faculty, includes live online sessions delivered by top IIM Calcutta faculty as well as an 8-day in-campus immersion at the IIM Calcutta campus. It also includes a capstone project guided by IIM Calcutta Faculty, real-world case-studies, hands-on learning through business simulations on supply chain and an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning. The programme includes modules such as introducing supply chain management, supply chain strategy, inventory management, procurement and sourcing management, and ecommerce supply chain & fulfilment among others.



Through this programme, participants will be able to:



 Cultivate advanced strategic thinking skills in supply chain management and logistics to effectively analyse and optimise intricate global supply networks



 Attain proficiency in leveraging cutting-edge tools and technologies to enhance supply chain efficiency and supply chain transformation



 Develop expertise in fostering supply chain agility and distribution, facilitating swift adaptation to evolving market dynamics and customer demands



 Assess and refine supply chain performance metrics by harnessing data-driven insights to pinpoint areas for enhancement and drive continuous improvement throughout the supply chain



 Design and implement collaborative supply chain and sourcing strategies to cultivate closer partnerships, promote information sharing, and optimise coordination



Commenting on the launch of the programme, Mohan Kannegal, CEO, India and APAC, Emeritus, said, Recent disruptions have underscored the critical need for agile and adaptable supply chain management practices. Through a focus on operational activities like procurement, logistics, and sales planning, this programme empowers participants to enhance end-to-end visibility and harness opportunities for continued growth. The Advanced Programme in Supply Chain Management (APSCM) by IIM Calcutta will equip professionals with the essential tools and strategies to successfully assume cross-functional roles, efficiently coordinate with suppliers and customers, and drive corporate success. We are thrilled to partner with esteemed institutions like IIM Calcutta to launch high-impact programmes that will help participants in their professional journeys.



The eligibility for this programme includes Graduates (10+2+3) and Diploma holders (10+2+3)/ Postgraduates from a recognised university (UGC/AICTE/DEC/AIU/State Government/recognised international universities) with a minimum of three years of work experience. This programme is set to begin on June 30, 2024, with a fee of INR 4,60,000 plus GST (Discount of INR 10,000 available until May 29, 2024).



Upon successful completion of the programme and maintaining a minimum attendance of 75 percent, participants will be awarded a certificate of completion from IIM Calcutta. They will also be eligible for prestigious IIM Calcutta executive education alumni status.



For more information, visit the programme page here.



About IIM Calcutta



IIM Calcutta's Executive Education programmes meet the needs of experienced working professionals and practising managers interested in advancing their cross-functional skills, strategic vision and superior management expertise. These programmes are designed to equip our participants to question existing assumptions, identify emerging opportunities, solve complex business problems, enhance operational performance, improve productivity, and build a sustainable competitive advantage. Whether through face-to-face interactions and live online sessions with faculty and industry thought leaders or working collaboratively with experienced peers, you'll achieve and exceed your learning aspirations with an acquired proficiency to tackle today's most complex business challenges.



About Emeritus



Emeritus offers customised and open programs in India, Singapore, Dubai and other global locations in collaboration with IIM Lucknow Executive Education, IIM Calcutta Executive Education, ISB Executive Education, Harvard Business School (HBS), MIT Sloan, Columbia Business School, Kellogg Executive Education, Berkeley Executive Education, and Wharton Executive Education, amongst other leading Institutions. Our world-class executive education programs, facilitated by eminent program experts, provide an immersive learning experience integrated with actionable insights and practical business applications and are delivered in a range of formats; in-class, online, as well as blended programs. The Emeritus Group has more than 1,750 employees globally and offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Shanghai, Singapore, Palo Alto, Mexico City, New York, Boston, London, and Dubai. The company is backed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Leeds Illuminate, Prosus Ventures, GSV Ventures, Peak XV, Bertelsmann, CPPIB, Accel and SoftBank Vision Fund 2. For more information, please visit https://emeritus.org/.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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Happy Pizza Day! Today is the day commemorating the historic event of Laszlo Hanyecz exchanging 10,000 BTC for two pizzas 14 years ago. In celebration, CoinEx is hosting spectacular events both online and offline around the world. All cryptocurrency enthusiasts are invited to join and share the prize of $5,200 in total.



Bitcoin Remains the Pillar of the Industry



As the first decentralized cryptocurrency in history, Bitcoin's position remains untouchable. Both cryptocurrency investors and traditional financial markets closely monitor its movements. This year marks the golden era of Bitcoin, as it reached a historic high of $73,047 per coin in March, with a current market value of $1.4 trillion, firmly securing its position as the market leader.



The first Bitcoin ETF was also launched in the United States earlier this year, followed closely by Hong Kong, which introduced the first Bitcoin ETF in Asia. With the completion of the fourth halving, Bitcoin's application scope has expanded further. The introduction of new protocols such as Runes and the existing Ordinals protocol provides Bitcoin with more use cases beyond being a mere collectible.



Today, Bitcoin has once again exceeded the $70,000 mark, reaffirming the solid market demand for Bitcoin. In the future, we believe that Bitcoin will remain the center of the cryptocurrency world.



Celebrate Pizza Day by Joining One Bite of Bitcoin



On Pizza Day, CoinEx offers Bitcoin enthusiasts unique activities to express their passions for Bitcoin and share the prize of $5,200 in total by participating in our One Bite of Bitcoin campaign. Those activities include:



One Line to Bitcoin: Participants are invited to share their wisdom about crypto investments on the designated post on CoinEx's official Twitter/X account. We have received tons of tremendous advice from investors all over the world since the post began, and the following are a few of them:



Share Your Slice: Participants are invited to share a photo of them with their pizza, or share a pizza image generated by AI or any other tools, in the comment of the designated post on CoinEx's official Twitter/X account.



Offline Meetup: Participants hold up the Pizza Day theme foam boards designed by CoinEx and take photos at iconic city landmarks. Share the photos on their Twitter/X account and tag CoinEx, so they will have a chance to win pizzas or an equivalent amount of cryptocurrency.



Offline meetups are held in selected locations, including Brazil, Cameroon, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, the Philippines, Spain, and Vietnam.



Here are some of the amazing moments!



Offline event in the Philippines.



Share pizza with participants in Brazil.



Celebrating Pizza Day with Us



CoinEx invites all Bitcoin enthusiasts, whether seasoned investors or newcomers, to participate in "One Bite of Bitcoin" and make their mark on the future of digital currency.



Visit CoinEx's official website or follow us on social media to find out more about the campaign, the dates of the events, and how to get involved.



Join us on Pizza Day and let your creativity and devotion to Bitcoin shine. Your participation is eagerly anticipated!



About CoinEx



Established in 2017, CoinEx is a global cryptocurrency exchange committed to making trading easier. The platform provides a range of services, including spot and margin trading, futures, swaps, automated market maker (AMM), and financial management services, for over 5 million users across more than 200 countries and regions.



With its quality, speedy, and comprehensive listing strategies, CoinEx has listed over 1,000 tokens and more than 1,400 trading pairs. This extensive selection empowers users to access the newest cryptos at the forefront of innovation. Since its establishment, CoinEx has steadfastly adhered to a user-first service principle. With the sincere intention of nurturing an equitable, respectful, and secure crypto trading environment, CoinEx enables individuals with varying levels of experience to effortlessly access the world of cryptocurrency by offering easy-to-use products.



(Disclaimer : The above Press Release is provided by HT Syndication and PTI will not take any editorial responsibility of this content.). PTI PWR

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 23: Dr. Dinesh Shahra, renowned author, philanthropist, and known as the man behind the yellow revolution in India, attended the auspicious occasion of Shankaracharya Jayanti, the birthday of Jagat Guru Adi Shankaracharya at Ramdeva Ashram Bhanukali, Karnataka, led by Jagat Guru Shankaracharya Raghweshwara Bharati, on May 12th. This event marked a significant moment of reverence and celebration, highlighting the timeless teachings of Jagad Guru Adi Shankaracharya in preserving Sanatan Culture.



Dr. Shahra, in his address, praised the pivotal role played by Jagad Guru Adi Shankaracharya in safeguarding and propagating the essence of Sanatan Dharma. He participated in elaborate Vedic rituals, symbolizing the rich heritage and spiritual depth of ancient traditions. Emphasizing the importance of reviving these time-honored practices, Dr. Shahra reiterated the significance of living by Sanatan values of oneness, inclusiveness, and harmony.



He reaffirmed his own unwavering commitment to spreading the profound message of Sanatan Way of life directed towards world peace and harmony through initiatives like Sanatan Living, dedicated to fostering spiritual growth and unity.



In his address, Dr. Sharha shared his profound experience of being present at the birthday celebration of Jagad Guru Adi Shankaracharya and reflected on the teachings imparted during the event. He stated, "The teachings of Vasudev Kutumbakam- one world, one family, are a beacon of light in a rapidly changing world. Preserving our rich cultural heritage is not just a duty but a pathway to profound inner peace and harmony.



Dr. Dinesh Shahra's presence at Shankaracharya Jayanti exemplified his deep-rooted respect for ancient wisdom and his dedication to nurturing a world guided by the timeless principles of Sanatan Values and Teachings.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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New Delhi, May 23 (PTI) State-owned AIESL's permanent engineers have deferred their proposed strike on May 24 following discussions with the management representatives during a meeting convened by the labour department, according to a source.

On May 6, a section of the permanent engineers of AIESL threatened to go on strike from May 24, demanding immediate implementation of their long-pending revised salary payments.

The forum represents around 1,700 staff at the company that provides engineering services to mainly Air India as well as a few other airlines. It has aircraft maintenance engineers, service engineers and allied cadre unions of permanent employees of erstwhile Air India and Indian Airlines, who were transferred to AIESL.

On May 22, a meeting was held between the representatives of the unions and the management in the presence of the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) and others in the national capital.

The source told PTI that the proposed strike on May 24 has been deferred following the discussions on May 22.

The next meeting is scheduled to be held on June 24 and after that meeting, a decision on the strike is likely to be taken, the source said.

The Aviation Industry Employees' Guild, All India Service Engineers' Association, Air Corporation Employees' Union, and Indian Aircraft Technicians' Associations inked a wage revision agreement in January this year.

Earlier this month, the forum said the the agreement was signed after more than 15 years with the aim of ending several litigations, discrimination of pay implementation and services conditions, among other issues.

While noting that the agreement is yet to be implemented, it had also cited the company's recent commitment to provide arrears to contractual employees.

"This is blatant discrimination against the permanent employees who are deprived of their legitimate claim for wage revision since long," the forum had said and claimed that it is also an unfair labour practice.

In April, the union representing the company's Fixed Term Employment (FTE) staff had called for a strike on April 23 and the same was withdrawn later after reaching a settlement regarding their grievances, including on salary revision and promotion.

AIESL has more than 5,000 staff.

AIESL provides base and line maintenance as well as overhaul of landing gear, avionics accessories and components, among others. It is under the AI Assets Holding Ltd after the disinvestment of Air India in 2022.
Islamabad/Dubai, May 23 (PTI) Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that "gone are the days" when officials from cash-strapped Pakistan will visit brotherly countries with "begging bowls" to tide over its economic woes.

Prime Minister Sharif made these remarks during a day-long visit to the UAE.

Pakistan and the UAE have long-standing fraternal relations deep rooted in religio-cultural affinity. Frequent high-level exchanges form a distinguishing feature of brotherly ties between the two countries.

"Gone are the days that I will go to our brotherly countries with begging bowls. I have broken that bowl," Sharif said during a session in Abu Dhabi, the Gulf state's capital, Geo News quoted Sharif as saying.

Addressing UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who was not present at the event, said: "My dear brother, like your great father you have supported Pakistan like a family member like a brother."

"But today," he said, "I am here in this great country, this brotherly great country not to seek loans but to seek joint collaborations, seek joint investments," he said.

The prime minister, whose government came into power in March, said these collaborations would have mutual benefits for the investors and dividends would be drawn through hard work, ingenuity, and modern tools and skills.

Stressing the need to promote IT skills to empower youth, which is 60 per cent of Pakistan's population, the prime minister commended the collaboration between the UAE and Pakistani companies to promote digitisation of the economy and expressed the desire to replicate this in Pakistan.

He expressed the commitment to provide the highest quality vocational training with modern skills so that they can come to the UAE by fulfilling legal formalities.

The premier expressed an iron resolve of his government to completely transform Pakistan's economy through collaboration, joint ventures, and knowledge-sharing partnerships with the UAE.

The PM said his government is fully focusing on how to promote information technology and artificial intelligence in various sectors of Pakistan's economy, including agriculture, mines and minerals, and industry to enhance exports.

In 2023, the UAE agreed to extend a USD 2 billion loan to Pakistan and provide an additional USD 1 billion when the country was struggling to recover from devastating floods.

Pakistan has also received aid from China, its "all-weather" ally, to tide over its financial woes.
New Delhi, May 23 (PTI) Romanian director Radu Jude says his latest film "Don't Expect Too Much From The End Of The World" initially began with a simple desire to explore the life around in his country without worrying too much about its larger resonance in the world.

The black-and-white satire, hailed by critics for capturing the current state of the world, straddles many themes and ideas about gig economy, capitalism and social media madness throughout its two hours and 40-minute-long run.

"My desire was simple, just to try and describe the life around in Romania and express it in a cinematic way the best I could, relevant or not. Judging from reactions, it seems that it captures something of living in today's world, not just in Romanian society. But a film's relevance is not in my control," Jude told PTI in an interview.

At the centre of the film is Angela, an overworked production assistant. Her many duties include finding right candidates for a corporate safety video for her multi-national company looking to improve its image. Desperate workers who have been maimed in the company's factories are coerced to lie about workplace mishaps in the video.

Thanks to the nature of her job, Angela, played by Ilinca Manolache, spends most of her time on the congested roads of Bucharest. When not hustling, she transforms into Bobita, a social media persona parodying a real-life misogynistic influencer facing criminal charges.

"Don't Expect Too Much From The End Of The World" is available on MUBI, the global distributor, streaming service and production company.

Jude, one of the most prominent names in Romanian cinema today, has made a mark with his exploration of the many absurdities of modern age through his films such as "The Happiest Girl in the World", "Aferim!", "Uppercase Print" and "Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn".

"It's impossible to live on an empty island outside of social norms, only billionaires can. Everything is commodified for better or for worse. And that's one of the things I am interested in," he said, adding that "I Do Not Care If We Go Down in History as Barbarians" (2018) dealt with "how even protests are now commodified or become a part of mainstream discourse and can be ineffective in the end".

"I don't see a way that one can escape that. You have to live with this contradiction... And I like contradictions, I like to explore them in films. Things are interesting when they are contradictory. They are funny like a Moliere comedy," he said, referring to the famous French playwright.

It is difficult for him to pinpoint the origin of the movie but he traces it to his job as a production assistant "in the industry of creating images" about 26 years ago.

Some stories happened to him directly, while others he heard or witnessed and eventually decided to weave into the tapestry of the movie.

"Some experiences are more symbolic while others are more relevant to the landscape, at least of Romania. You can see that only when you look back. A few years ago, I decided to look back and explore these things.

"Also, this is a film about the economy in a sense and not many are made on the topic because they are boring. It may be the case with mine as well, I don't know," he said.

"Don't Expect Too Much..." premiered at the main competition of the 2023 Locarno Film Festival where it won the special jury prize. It was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. It was selected as Romania's entry in the Best International Feature category for the 96th Academy Awards.

The reviews have been glowing with international critics hailing the film for the way it mirrors the real world problems and anxieties. But Jude initially thought otherwise because the film was rejected by some film festivals.

"Actually, the first signs were very negative. I thought it's a complete failure because some festivals rejected it and others disliked it... But I am in favour of failures, one of the things that should be taught in schools and even in film colleges is how to fail and what to do with it," he said.

"In the professional life of a filmmaker, the possibility to fail or to be unsuccessful is very high. One of the things that people don't know is how to transform that. I also don't know but I try to learn little by little."

While most of "Don't Expect Too Much..." is in black-and-white, the 47-year-old filmmaker, a prominent face of the Romanian new wave, has interspersed its visuals from a 1981 Romanian film "Angela Goes On", about a woman taxi driver navigating the streets of Bucharest.

She, like his protagonist, is also named Angela.

Jude has also included a montage of hundreds of gravestones alongside the roads of Romania where people have lost their lives in traffic accidents.

Citing the works of American painter and graphic artist Robert Rauschenberg, the filmmaker said he is interested in creating collages in his cinema.

"This is part of the cinema grammar but somehow not used in this way at least. Some filmmakers have used it like (Sergei) Eisenstein (Soviet film director) and others. "I don't paint myself but I am interested in painting work and collage. If you study Rauschenberg, one of my heroes, you can guess how his mind was operating while putting together all kinds of images, materials, colours and techniques... The overall aspect was much more important than the parts themselves. I tried to focus a little bit on it for this film," he said.

"Don't Expect Too Much..." also features noted German actor Nina Hoss, Katia Pascariu, Sofia Nicolaescu and German filmmaker Uwe Boll in a cameo.
Cannes, May 23 (PTI) The day after the curtains went up on the 77th Cannes Film Festival, a small, independent film from Meghalaya, a state with only two movie theatres, made history in France.

On May 15, Dominic Sangmas second film, "Rimdogittanga" (Rapture) in Garo language, was released across 33 French cities and 36 theatres, including three in Paris and one in Nice, a 30-minute drive away from Cannes.

The film is going strong and is now in its second week. When I got the news of the release of 'Rapture' in France, I was elated, says Sangma. It is the dream of any director to see their films released in theatres.

So many of us in India are struggling to find distributors and sales agents who can push our films out into the world, he adds. Many wonderful independent films are deprived of a theatrical release in our country.

Sangma was lucky. "Rapture" premiered at the Locarno Film Festival last year and then screened at the 3 Continents Festival in Nantes, France.

Louis Descombes, the head of distribution and acquisitions at Capricci Films, saw the film in Nantes and decided to bet on it.

The mail from Louis came out of the blue, says Sangma. We had approached many sales agents. Everybody seemed to love the film but they politely refused to acquire it. I had given up hope when Louis wrote to me.

"Rapture" is a delicately crafted and thematically incisive probe into the extent that religion and social bindings influence a close-knit communitys sense of good and evil.

Meghalaya has only two movie theatres  one in Shillong, the other in Byrnihat, says Sangma. In the Garo Hills, the region I come from, there isnt a single theatre. So, the possibility of my film being released in my state is next to zero.

No film from Meghalaya has ever secured a theatrical release in France.

Many young filmmakers in my state are congratulating and thanking me. They see this as a breakthrough that they hope will allow them to dream big, says Sangma.

Once a film is made, it is not in our control anymore, he says. It decides the course of its own journey.

Before the Locarno nod, festival after festival had rejected 'Rapture'. I was bogged down by self-doubt and fear, says Sangma, who now has reason to put all misgivings behind him.

After the release of "Rapture" in France, the director received a mail from Louis Descombes that could only be music to his ears.

It read: The film is greatly appreciated by exhibitors. We have received a label from GNCR (Groupement National des Cinemas de Recherche), a group of arthouse exhibitors. This will enable us to obtain greater distribution and visibility.
Washington, May 23 (PTI) Ashwin Ramaswami, the first Gen Z Indian-American candidate running for a US state legislature, has won the Democratic primary in the state of Georgia.

Susheela Jayapal, the sister of Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, however, lost her Congressional primary bid in the state of Oregon.

In November, Ill face Republican Senator Shawn Still  who was indicted alongside Donald Trump for being a fake elector in 2020. Its the most flippable State Senate seat in Georgia, Ramaswami, 23, said.

Ramaswami graduated from Georgetown University over the weekend

Ramaswami's parents immigrated to the US from Tamil Nadu in 1990. Generation Z (also known as Zoomers) encompasses those born between 1997 and 2012.

If elected, he would be the youngest ever elected representative in the State of Georgia and the first Indian-American to win this position in Georgia.

In Oregon, Susheela, 62, lost her maiden Congressional bid. She lost to State Representative Maxine Dexter in the third Congressional District of Oregon.

I just called and extended my congratulations to Maxine Dexter on her election to represent Oregons Third Congressional District. I am so proud of the campaign that I and my supporters ran. We were clear, from the beginning, that we were going to run a campaign based on values, and on our vision for the country and the district, she said in a statement.

Dexter received 51 per cent of the votes.

I am so, so proud of my incredible sister Susheela Jayapal. This wasnt the result our family was hoping for, but I know Susheela put everything on the line and ran a proudly progressive campaign rooted in people-power, said Pramila Jayapal.

A mother of two, Susheela has been an outspoken champion for reproductive rights, education, and economic justice. Before entering elected office, she was a dedicated community advocate and volunteer, serving on numerous local boards.
London, May 23 (PTI) A British-Sikh businessman wanted in connection with a multimillion-pound bribery investigation by the UKs National Crime Agency (NCA) was charged with bribing a foreign public official in a London court on Thursday.

Peter Virdee, 50, also known as Hardip Singh, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court, where he was charged alongside the company of which he is a director.

He has been released on bail to appear before Southwark Crown Court on June 20.

It is alleged that between January 2015 and July 2017, he [Virdee] bribed Asot Michael, a Member of Parliament and Government Minister of Tourism, Economic Development Investment and Energy for Antigua and Barbuda, to benefit PV Energy Ltd, the company he is a director of, the NCA said in a statement.

PV Energy Ltd was simultaneously charged with failing to prevent bribery in relation to the same offences, it said.

According to court papers, Virdee was charged with bribing a foreign public official contrary to Section 6 of the Bribery Act 2010.

PV Energy was charged with failing to prevent bribery contrary to Sections 7 and 11(3) of the Bribery Act 2010.

PV Energy, between January 1, 2015, and July 26, 2017, failed to prevent Hardip Singh (aka Peter Virdee), a person associated with PV Energy Limited, from bribing another person, Michael, intending to obtain or retain business for PV Energy Limited or intending to obtain or retain an advantage in the conduct of business for PV Energy, according to the details of the bribery charge.
London, May 23 (PTI) An 18-year-old rickshaw driver from a village in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh is overjoyed on meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace after she collected a prestigious womens empowerment award in London this week.

Arti received the Amal Clooney Womens Empowerment Award, named after the world-renowned human rights barrister, at the Princes Trust Awards in London followed by a meeting with the 75-year-old monarch on Wednesday.

She was honoured for inspiring other young girls through her work with the government's Pink E-rickshaw initiative, which provides safe transport for other women with a mission to drive change, quite literally.

I take pride in being able to inspire other girls who face similar challenges. This newfound independence has allowed me to see the world in a different light. Now, I am able to fulfil not only my dreams but also those of my daughter," said Arti, who has a five-year-old daughter for whom she has bought some cake and a pair of shoes on her very first visit to London.

It has been an unbelievably amazing experience, meeting the King who was so nice and sent his namaste to my family back home too. He also listened carefully as I spoke about how much I love driving my e-rickshaw, which does not run on polluting diesel or petrol but one that I charge at home every night, she shared, speaking in Hindi.

Founded by King Charles when he was the Prince of Wales, the Princes Trust International will now transform into the Kings Trust International as it continues its work supporting young people across 20 countries through employment, education and enterprise programmes. The Princes Trust womens empowerment award recognises the global work of young women who have succeeded against the odds and made a lasting difference to those around them.

This years winner, Arti, is an inspirational example of someone whose trailblazing work in a typically male arena makes women in her community safer. Arti is determined to create a world where her daughter will not face the obstacles that she has faced, and she is already making a difference through her example, said Amal Clooney, the British activist-barrister after whom the award is named.

For the reception at Buckingham Palace, Arti arrived in a pink rickshaw  showcasing it not only as a sustainable mode of transport but also an idea and a movement.

In July 2023, Project Lehar, delivered in partnership with Princes Trust International and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), introduced Arti to the Indian governments Pink E-Rickshaw scheme, an initiative aimed at empowering women and expanding their income earning opportunities across the country. Under the innovative scheme, pink e-rickshaws were provided by the Bahraich district administration with a subsidy for women drivers.

The scheme aims to increase employment opportunities for vulnerable women, especially widows and single mothers like Arti, while also improving womens access to safe transport, thereby increasing their mobility and independence.

Arti truly embodies the courage, perseverance and determination to succeed against all odds, emerging as a role model for women in her village. We are immensely grateful for our partnership with the Princes Trust International that has enabled us to support young women to realise their dreams and aspirations. Heres to many more Artis  believe in yourself, and never let anything dim the light of your ambitions, said Tinni Sawhney, CEO of AKF (India), who accompanied Arti to the award ceremony and also helped interpret for her.

Will Straw, CEO of the Princes Trust International, added: I am so proud of Arti on winning this years womens empowerment award. She is breaking societal barriers and setting an example through her strength and determination.

Our work in India gives young people the opportunity to build valuable life skills and find meaningful work. Through Project Lehar and our partnerships with the Aga Khan Foundation, we will continue supporting young women to achieve their ambitions.
Taipei, May 23 (AP) Taiwan scrambled jets and put missile, naval and land units on alert Thursday over Chinese military exercises being conducted around the self-governing island democracy where a new president took office this week.

China's military said its two-day exercises around Taiwan were punishment for separatist forces seeking independence. Beijing claims the island is part of China's national territory and the People's Liberation Army sends navy ships and warplanes into the Taiwan Strait and other areas around the island almost daily to wear down Taiwan's defences and seek to intimidate its people, who firmly back their de facto independence.

China's irrational provocation has jeopardised regional peace and stability," the island's Defence Ministry said. It said Taiwan will seek no conflicts but will not shy away from one.

This pretext for conducting military exercises not only does not contribute to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, but also shows its hegemonic nature at heart," the ministry's statement said.

In his inauguration address on Monday, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te called for Beijing to stop its military intimidation and pledged to neither yield nor provoke the mainland Communist Party leadership.

Lai has said he seeks dialogue with Beijing while maintaining Taiwan's current status and avoiding conflicts that could draw in the island's chief ally the U.S. and other regional partners such as Japan and Australia.

The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command said the land, navy and air exercises around Taiwan are meant to test the navy and air capabilities of the PLA units, as well as their joint strike abilities to hit targets and win control of the battlefield, the command said on its official Weibo account.

This is also a powerful punishment for the separatist forces seeking independence' and a serious warning to external forces for interference and provocation, the statement said.

The PLA also released a map of the intended exercise area, which surrounds Taiwan's main island at five different points, as well as places like Matsu and Kinmen, outlying islands that are closer to the Chinese mainland than Taiwan.

While China has termed the exercises as punishment for Taiwan's election result, the Democratic Progressive Party has now run the island's government for more than a decade, although the pro-China Nationalist Party took a one-seat majority in the parliament.

Speaking in Australia, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Stephen Sklenka, the deputy commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, called on Asia-Pacific nations to condemn the Chinese military exercises.

There's no surprise whenever there's an action that highlights Taiwan in the international sphere the Chinese feel compelled to make some kind of form of statement, Sklenka told the National Press Club of Australia in the capital Canberra, in a reference to Monday's presidential inauguration.

Just because we expect that behavior doesn't mean that we shouldn't condemn it, and we need to condemn it publicly. And it needs to come from us, but it also needs to come, I believe, from nations in the region. It's one thing when the United States condemns the Chinese, but it has a far more powerful effect, I believe, when it comes from nations within this region, Sklenka added.

Japan's top envoy weighed in while visiting the US, saying Japan and Taiwan share values and principles, including freedom, democracy, basic rights and rule of law.

(Taiwan) is our extremely important partner that we have close economic relations and exchanges of people, and is our precious friend, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa told reporters in Washington, where she held talks with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

She said the two ministers discussed Taiwan and the importance of the Taiwan Strait, one of the world's most important waterways for shipping, remaining peaceful. (AP) NSA

NSA
Seoul, May 23 (AP) Leaders of South Korea, China and Japan will meet next week in Seoul for their first trilateral talks in more than four years, South Korea's presidential office announced on Thursday.

The trilateral summit among South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will take place in Seoul on Monday, Yoon's presidential office said.

The three leaders were scheduled to hold bilateral talks among themselves on Sunday, according to the South Korean presidential office.

Since their inaugural stand-alone trilateral summit in 2008, the three Asian countries were supposed to hold such a meeting among their leaders each year. But the summit has been suspended since they were last held in December 2019 in China.

Efforts to boost cooperation among the Asian neighbours often hit snags because of a mix of issues, including historical disputes stemming from Japan's wartime aggression and the strategic competition between China and the United States.

Ties between South Korea and Japan deteriorated severely due to issues originating from Japan's 1910-45 colonisation of the Korean Peninsula. But their relations warmed significantly since 2023 as the two countries took a series of major steps to move beyond that history and boost cooperation in the face of North Korea's advancing nuclear programme and other shared challenges.

North Korea's growing arsenal of nuclear-capable missiles poses a major security threat to South Korea and Japan. But China, North Korea's last major ally and biggest source of aid, is suspected of avoiding fully enforcing United Nations sanctions on North Korea and shipping covert assistance to help its impoverished neighbour stay afloat and continue to serve as a bulwark against US influences on the Korean Peninsula. (AP) PY

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Srebrenica (Bosnia-Herzegovina), May 23 (AP) The leader of Bosnia's Serb-controlled territory reiterated a threat to secede from the Balkan country on Wednesday, a day ahead of a UN vote on establishing an annual day to commemorate the 1995 genocide of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims by Bosnian Serbs.

Relatives of the victims, meanwhile, said that the vote would mark a historic day in ensuring that the deaths cannot be denied or forgotten.

The proposed UN resolution sponsored by Germany and Rwanda has been supported by the Bosniaks, who are mostly Muslim, but has sparked protests and a lobbying campaign against the measure by the Bosnian Serb president, Milorad Dodik, and the populist president of neighbouring Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic.

The two leaders say the resolution would brand all Serbs as genocidal, although the draft does not explicitly mention Serbs as culprits. Both Serbia and Bosnian Serbs have denied that genocide happened in Srebrenica although this has been established by two UN courts.

For the women who lost their loved ones in the massacre, any denial of the scope of the crime has meant more grief. This is why the UN vote means a lot" for victims, truth and justice, said Munira Subasic, from the prominent Mothers of Srebrenica group.

People who live in lies, who don't know the truth, they will need this UN resolution more than we do," Subasic said, adding that she was referring to genocide deniers among Bosnian Serbs and in Serbia. They will not be able to glorify war criminals any more.

We expect a fair decision tomorrow, a decision that will tell us, the families, that there is justice in the world, that there is humanity, added Nura Begovic, who also lost several family members in Srebrenica.

On July 11, 1995, Bosnian Serbs overran a UN-protected safe area in Srebrenica. They separated at least 8,000 Muslim Bosniak men and boys from their wives, mothers and sisters and slaughtered them.

The 193-member UN General Assembly plans to debate the resolution on Thursday to be followed by a vote. Serbs have the support of their allies Russia and China, while the resolution is supported by the US and most other Western states.

Dodik, who is president of Republika Srpska, which comprises about half of Bosnia, said on the social media platform X that the UN resolution is being forced on the country by supporters of Muslim Bosniaks and that it will split up the country. He said his government could formally propose a separation on Thursday.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has reached its end, or to be more precise, it was brought to an end by those who swore to it, Dodik said on X. All that remains is for us all to make an effort to be good neighbors and to part in peace.

Dodik has made several such threats in the past to have the Serb-controlled territories secede from Bosnia and join with neighbouring Serbia. He and some other Bosnian Serb officials are under US and British sanctions partly for jeopardising a US peace plan that ended Bosnia's 1992-95 war.

The Srebrenica killings were the bloody culmination of the war, which came after the breakup of Yugoslavia unleashed nationalist passions and territorial ambitions that set Bosnian Serbs against the country's two other main ethnic populations, Croats and Muslim Bosniaks.

The International Court of Justice, the UN's highest tribunal, determined in 2007 that the acts committed in Srebrenica constituted genocide, and the court's determination is included in the draft resolution. It was Europe's first genocide since the Nazi Holocaust in World War II.

Serbia's President Vucic and his government have been campaigning both at the UN and among developing countries to win support for a no vote. Approval requires a majority of those voting.

In a massive campaign in both Serbia and the Serb-controlled half of Bosnia, organizers have put up billboards and video beams reading Serbs are not genocidal people".

Vucic and Dodik, both pro-Russian politicians, also have argued against the resolution by saying it raises the possibility of having to pay war damages. Local analysts say Serb leaders, including Vucic, also fear they could be put on trial for active participation in the Bosnian bloodshed.

The draft resolution condemns without reservation any denial of the Srebrenica genocide as a historical event. It also condemns without reservation actions that glorify those convicted of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by international courts, including those responsible for the Srebrenica genocide.

Bosnian Serb wartime political leader Radovan Karadzic and his military commander, Ratko Mladic, were both convicted of genocide in Srebrenica by a special UN war crimes tribunal. In all, the tribunal and courts in the Balkans have sentenced close to 50 Bosnian Serb wartime officials to lengthy prison terms.

Most Serbian and Bosnian Serb officials still celebrate Karadzic and Mladic as national heroes. They continue to downplay or even deny the Srebrenica killings, which has deeply offended relatives of the massacre victims and survivors.

I can never bring my three sons back  also my husband and my grandson, five men from my house alone, said Mejra Dzogaz as she looked at a vast memorial centre in Srebrenica comprising thousands of white tomb stones for the victims found and buried so far.

What are we supposed to show to prove (genocide?) asked Dzogaz. "What? Look at this memorial centre here. (AP) PY

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Seoul, May 23 (AP) Leaders of South Korea, China and Japan will meet next week in Seoul for their first trilateral talks in more than four years to discuss how to revive their cooperation, South Korea's presidential office said on Thursday.

Since their inaugural stand-alone trilateral summit in 2008, the three countries were supposed to hold such a meeting among their leaders every year. But the summit has been suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic and often-complicated ties among the Asian neighbours since the last one in December 2019 in China.

The trilateral meeting among South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will take place in Seoul on Monday, Kim Tae-hyo, Seoul's deputy national security director, told a news conference.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will not be attending.

Li and Kishida were scheduled to arrive in South Korea on Sunday. They were to meet Yoon bilaterally on Sunday afternoon before attending a welcoming dinner banquet with the South Korean president, Kim said.

This summit will be a turning point for Korea, Japan and China to completely restore and normalise three-way cooperation systems, Kim said.

During the trilateral meeting, Kim said the three leaders were expected to discuss cooperation on six South Korea-proposed topics  personnel exchanges, climate change, trade, health and aging population, technology and disasters. He said these discussions will be included in a joint statement after their summit.

Kim said the three leaders will also discuss unspecified regional and international political issues and how to respond together to a global poly-crisis and contribute to international peace.

Closely linked economically and culturally with one another, the three countries together account for about 25 per cent of the global gross domestic product. But efforts to bolster trilateral cooperation often become snagged because of a mix of issues, including historical disputes stemming from Japan's wartime aggression and the strategic competition between China and the United States.

South Korea and Japan are both key US military allies, together hosting a total of 80,000 American troops on their territories. North Korea's advancing nuclear programme and China's growing assertiveness in the region have forced South Korea and Japan to reinforce their trilateral security partnership with the United States. That has angered China and North Korea.

Ties between South Korea and Japan had fluctuated severely due to issues originating from Japan's 1910-45 colonisation of the Korean Peninsula. But their relations warmed significantly since 2023 as the two countries took a series of major steps to move beyond that history and boost cooperation in the face of shared challenges like North Korea's nuclear ambitions and supply chain vulnerabilities.

South Korea, Japan and the US want China, North Korea's major ally and biggest source of aid, to use its leverage to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear programme.

China doesn't officially support North Korea's nuclear programme, but it's suspected of avoiding fully enforcing United Nations sanctions on North Korea and shipping covert assistance to help its impoverished socialist neighbour stay afloat.

Experts say China thinks North Korea serving as a bulwark against US influences on the Korean Peninsula will serve its strategic interests. (AP) PY

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London, May 23 (PTI) The Czech Constitutional Court has rejected a petition by Indian national Nikhil Gupta, detained in a prison in Prague, against his extradition to the US to face murder-for-hire charges in an alleged assassination attempt on a Khalistani extremist on American soil.

Gupta, 52, was charged by US federal prosecutors in an indictment unsealed in November last year with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who holds dual American and Canadian citizenships, in the US.

Gupta was arrested in Prague, the Czech Republic on June 30, 2023, and is being held there currently. The US government is seeking his extradition to America.

The Czech Constitutional Court heard a petition by Gupta against the extradition.

"The Constitutional Court did not find any circumstance for which declaring extradition admissible would lead to a violation of any of the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights and freedoms," the court said in a statement on Wednesday.

The court said it ruled that lower courts had given due consideration to aspects that may prevent extradition. It also rejected arguments that the case was political.

"For the complainant, this brings the proceedings before the Czech courts to an end."

The Constitutional Court said it has now confirmed the decision of the general courts on the admissibility of extradition, upholding the Municipal Court and The High Court's order.

The court also upheld the local court's decision to reject Guptas request for release from pre-trial detention and did not accept compensation for detention in the form of a monetary guarantee, or in the form of a ban on travel abroad.

Before the Constitutional Court, the applicant said courts did not examine all the essential circumstances that could become an obstacle to extradition, according to the statement.

A Czech high court in January ruled Gupta can be extradited to the US.

A final decision on whether to extradite Gupta will be made by Justice Minister Pavel Blazek.

The Washington Post, in April 2024, reported that Vikram Yadav, a Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer, was the Indian official behind the plot. The paper also said the then R&AW chief Samant Goel sanctioned the operation.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs, however, dismissed the report, saying it makes unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations to claim that Indian agents were involved in the plot to kill Pannun.

India has publicly said a high-level inquiry is looking into the evidence shared by the US in the alleged plot to kill Pannun.
Jerusalem, May 23 (AP) The Israeli military said Thursday it has completed a two-day operation in the occupied West Bank that the Palestinian Health Ministry says killed 12 Palestinians and wounded 25.

Rippling tensions from the Israel-Hamas war were also felt in the Red Sea, where a missile splashed down in the water near the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Thursday, but caused no damage, and in Lebanon, where state-run National News Agency says an Israeli drone strike killed one person and wounded three school students who were passing nearby in a bus.

More than 400 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel and Hezbollah began exchanging fire the day after the latest war in Gaza began.

Norway, Ireland and Spain said Wednesday they were recognizing a Palestinian state, a move welcomed by Palestinians as an affirmation of their decades long quest while Israel recalled its ambassadors to the three countries.

It was the second blow to Israel's international reputation this week after the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said he would seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister.

The International Court of Justice is also considering allegations of genocide that Israel has strenuously denied.

At least 35,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas' October 7 attack in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed about 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducted about 250.



Currently:

 ICC prosecutor's warrant requests for Israel and Hamas leaders ignite debate about the court's role.

 Norway, Ireland and Spain recognize a Palestinian state in a historic move.

 Families of Israeli hostages release video of female soldiers being captured by Hamas.

 First aid from the US pier in Gaza has reached starving Palestinians, the UN says.



Here's the latest:



A MISSILE SPLASHES INTO THE RED SEA IN LIKELY HOUTHI REBEL ATTACK, MISSING NEARBY VESSEL

DUBAI  A missile splashed down in the waters of the Red Sea near the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Thursday, but caused no damage to a passing commercial vessel in an attack likely carried out by Yemen's Houthi rebels, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said.

The Houthis did not immediately claim the attack, though it can take hours or even days for them to acknowledge their assaults.

The Houthis have launched attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in recent months, demanding that Israel ends the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians there.

The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostage.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the United States Maritime Administration.

Shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat. In recent weeks, the tempo of Houthi attacks has dropped, though the rebels have claimed shooting down US surveillance drones.



12 PALESTINIANS KILLED IN ISRAEL'S 2-DAY WEST BANK OPERATION

TEL AVIV  The Israeli military said Thursday it has completed a two-day operation in the occupied West Bank that the Palestinian Health Ministry says killed 12 Palestinians and wounded 25.

The military launched the operation Tuesday in the city of Jenin and an adjacent urban refugee camp as part of a crackdown against militants in the area. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group said its fighters battled the Israeli forces.

Militant groups claimed at least eight of the dead as fighters: one from Hamas and seven from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed offshoot of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party. Islamic Jihad group said an unspecified number of its fighters were killed.

Among those killed was a surgeon at a local hospital, according to Wissam Abu Baker, the director of Jenin Governmental Hospital. The surgeon was killed on his way to work, Abu Baker said.

The military did not immediately disclose additional details about the operation.

Jenin and the adjacent urban refugee camp have long been a bastion of armed struggle against Israel's occupation, and the frequency of raids by Israeli troops has increased during the war in Gaza.

Violence has surged in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza. The Palestinian Health Ministry says more than 500 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 7. Many were shot dead in armed clashes during military raids, others for throwing stones or explosives at troops. People not involved in the confrontations have also been killed.



ISRAELI STRIKE KILLS 1 AND INJURES 3 STUDENTS, LEBANON STATE NEWS AGENCY SAYS

BEIRUT  Lebanon's state-run National News Agency says an Israeli drone strike killed one person and wounded three school students who were passing nearby in a bus.

The agency said the Thursday morning strike damaged the bus and destroyed a car on a road leading to the southern market town of Nabatiyeh. It said the wounded students were taken to hospitals in the area.

The man who was killed was identified as Mohammed Farran, whom Hezbollah identified as one of its members.

Israeli airstrikes have killed scores of Hezbollah members in recent months.

The exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel began a day after the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7. Since then, more than 400 people have been killed in Lebanon. Most of the dead were fighters, but more than 70 were civilians and non-combatants. (AP) NPK

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Mayor William E. Cooper Tuesday recognized local Boy and Girl Scouts at the Enterprise City Council meeting, specifically noting their leadership and citizenship skills.

Jackson Swartz, 18, was recently awarded the distinct honor of Eagle Scout following completion of his service project repainting Purple Heart parking spaces in Enterprise.

The City of Enterprise has approximately 35 Purple Heart parking spaces within city limits, which are reserved specifically for those who have been awarded the distinction. The Purple Heart award is presented to service members who have been wounded or killed as a result of military action. It is the oldest military award still presented to American Service Members.

Mayor Cooper said Enterprise is home to dozens of Purple Heart recipients. We are forever indebted to the men and women who serve in our military, and especially those who have been wounded and awarded a Purple Heart, Cooper said. These parking spaces are just a small token of appreciation we can provide to those who choose to call Enterprise home or visit our city. Thanks to Jackson and his service project, the parking spaces have been repainted and will be well marked for years to come.

In addition to the service project, Swartz, who is member of Troop 150B, had to earn at least 21 merit badges, serve at least 16 months in a leadership position, camp at least 24 nights, and complete various conferences and boards of review.

Girl Scout Lydia Platt, a member of Troop 9114, was also individually recognized by the mayor for her efforts in the cookie program. She had the highest overall cookie sales in Southern Alabama with 13,781 boxes.

Cookie sales teach valuable life lessons that extend far beyond selling cookies, Cooper said. From financial planning to marketing and customer service, these young ladies are gaining practical experience to reach their goals.

The City of Enterprise has five Girl Scout Troops: 9027, 9048, 9052, 9095, and 9114. Together, Cooper said, the Girl Scouts sold 35,715 boxes of cookies, with Troop 9114 coming in third in Southern Alabama for number of boxes sold. The local Service Unit, which includes those five troops, donated more than 300 boxes of cookies to the Hometown Heroes program, which benefits active military, first responders, and local nonprofits.

Cooper presented each troop with a certificate of achievement for their efforts.
Washington, May 23 (AP) President Joe Biden and Kenyan President William Ruto are using the first state visit to the United States by an African leader in more than 15 years to call on economies around the globe to take action to reduce the enormous debt burden crushing Kenya and other developing nations.

The call to action, dubbed the Nairobi-Washington Vision, comes as Biden presses his appeal to African nations that the US can be a better partner than economic rival China.

Beijing has been deepening its investment on the continent  often with high-interest loans and other difficult financing terms.

Biden and Ruto want creditor nations to reduce financing barriers for developing nations that have been constrained by high debt burdens. They also call on international financial institutions to coordinate debt relief and support through multilateral banks and institutions providing better financing terms.

Together we will call to the international community to come together around these elements to support high-ambition countries with high-ambition financial support, the White House said in a fact sheet detailing the effort.

The White House also announced USD 250 million in grants for the International Development Association, part of the World Bank, to assist poor countries facing crises.

Separately, a USD 1.2 trillion government funding bill passed by Congress in March allows the US to lend up to USD 21 billion to an International Monetary Fund Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, which provides zero-interest loans to support low-income countries as they work to stabilise their economies, boost growth and improve debt sustainability.

That funding is expected to be made available to the IMF in the coming weeks.

Biden and Ruto are set to hold formal talks and a joint news conference on Thursday before a state dinner in a pavilion on the South Lawn of the White House.

An Associated Press analysis of a dozen countries most indebted to China  including Pakistan, Kenya, Zambia and Laos  found the debt is consuming an ever-greater amount of tax revenue needed to keep schools open, provide electricity and pay for food and fuel.

Behind the scenes is China's reluctance to forgive debt and its extreme secrecy about how much money it has loaned and on what terms, which has kept other major lenders from stepping in to help.

Kenya's debt-to-GDP ratio tops 70 per cent, with the bulk of it owed to China. Credit ratings agency Fitch estimates Kenya will spend almost one-third of its government revenues just on interest payments this year.

Ruto said Wednesday that his talks with Biden will address how we can have a fairer international financial system where all countries are treated equally.

Biden was also informing Congress on Thursday that he will designate Kenya a major non-NATO ally, according to the White House

The designation, while largely symbolic, reflects how Kenya has grown from a regional partner that has long cooperated with US counterterrorism operations on the continent to a major global influence  even extending its reach into the Western Hemisphere. Kenya will be the first sub-Saharan African country to receive the status.

Kenya is expected to soon deploy 1,000 police officers to Haiti to help quell gang violence that has ravaged the Caribbean nation for months. The Biden administration has praised Kenya for stepping up in Haiti when so few other countries have declined to do so. Haiti is the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation and has been mired in political instability and natural disasters for decades.

The US has pledged USD 300 million in financial assistance for the Haiti mission, which will also include support from the Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Bangladesh. Ruto is expected to discuss the coming mission with Biden, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and other officials during his Washington talks.

Ruto arrived in Washington on Wednesday and began his three-day state visit by meeting with Biden and tech executives from Silicon Valley and Kenya's growing tech sector  known as the Silicon Savannah.

Administration officials said that several private sector investments are expected to be announced during the visit. The Kenyan president told the tech executives that Kenya and Africa more broadly  have a young, innovative populace that is hungry for opportunities.

I think we have a historic moment to explore investment opportunities between Kenya and the United States, Ruto said.

Biden gathered dozens of African leaders in Washington in December 2022 to make the case that the United States under his watch was all in on Africa's future. He laid out billions in promised government funding and private investment on the continent in health, infrastructure, business and technology. The Democrat also promised to visit sub-Saharan Africa in 2023.

But other priorities got in the way last year, including the Israel-Hamas war and Biden's long battle with Republicans to renew funding for Ukraine in its war with Russia. The promised visit to Africa by Biden never materialised.

Biden, who faces a tough reelection battle in November, said in an exchange with reporters as Ruto arrived at the White House on Wednesday that he still plans to go to Africa.

I plan on going in February after I'm reelected, Biden said. (AP) PY

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Seoul (South Korea), May 23 (AP) Leaders of South Korea, China and Japan will meet next week in Seoul for their first trilateral talks in more than four years to discuss how to revive their cooperation, South Korea's presidential office said Thursday.

After their inaugural stand-alone trilateral summit in 2008, the three countries' leaders were supposed to hold such a meeting every year. But the summit has been suspended since the last one in December 2019, in China, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and often complicated ties among the Asian neighbors.

The trilateral meeting between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will take place in Seoul on Monday, Kim Tae-hyo, Seoul's deputy national security director, told a news conference.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will not be attending.

Li and Kishida were scheduled to arrive in South Korea on Sunday. They will meet Yoon individually on Sunday afternoon before attending a welcoming dinner banquet with the South Korean president, Kim said.

Japanese officials said a bilateral meeting between Kishida and Li remains undecided.

This summit will be a turning point for Korea, Japan and China to completely restore and normalize three-way cooperation systems, Kim said.

Kim said the three leaders were expected to discuss cooperation on six South Korea-proposed topics  personnel exchanges, climate change, trade, health and aging population, technology and disasters. He said these discussions will be included in a joint statement after their summit.

Kim said the three leaders will also discuss unspecified regional and international political issues and how to respond together to a global poly-crisis and contribute to international peace. Japan's chief Cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said the three leaders share responsibility for regional peace and prosperity so their meeting is important for the entire region.

Closely linked economically and culturally with one another, the three countries together account for about 25 per cent of the global gross domestic product. But efforts to bolster trilateral cooperation often become snagged because of a mix of issues, including historical disputes stemming from Japan's wartime aggression and the strategic competition between China and the United States.

South Korea and Japan are both key US military allies, together hosting a total of 80,000 American troops on their territories. North Korea's advancing nuclear program and China's growing assertiveness in the region have prompted South Korea and Japan to reinforce their trilateral security partnership with the United States.

That has angered China and North Korea.

Observers say the trilateral meeting comes as the three Asian nations share a need to improve ties. They say South Korea and Japan want to maintain good ties with China, their biggest trading partner, while Beijing also doesn't want to see a further strengthening of a Seoul-Tokyo-Washington security cooperation.

If the current situation continues, South Korea, the US and Japan will stick together further, forming a tool to check and contain China. In that sense, China can't help thinking that advancing ties with South Korea and Japan will better serve its national interests, said Kim Yeol Soo, an analyst with South Korea's Korea Institute for Military Affairs.

Paik Wooyeal, a professor at Seoul's Yonsei University, said South Korea and Japan would find it easier to deal with China in a trilateral structure rather than bilaterally.

Ties between South Korea and Japan had fluctuated severely due to issues originating from Japan's 1910-45 colonization of the Korean Peninsula. But their relations warmed significantly since 2023 as the two countries took a series of major steps to move beyond that history and boost cooperation in the face of shared challenges like North Korea's nuclear ambitions and supply chain vulnerabilities.

South Korea, Japan and the US want China, North Korea's major ally and biggest source of aid, to use its leverage to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.

China doesn't officially support North Korea's nuclear program, but it's suspected of avoiding fully enforcing United Nations sanctions on North Korea and shipping covert assistance to help its impoverished socialist neighbor stay afloat.

Experts say China believes North Korea serving as a bulwark against US influences on the Korean Peninsula will serve its strategic interests. (AP) NPK

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Colombo, May 23 (PTI) Sri Lanka police on Thursday said they have nabbed an accomplice of four of its citizens arrested in India who was on an alleged mission to carry out terror activities there at the behest of the banned Islamic State.

The accomplice, who is the son of a renowned drug lord, was arrested at the central Colombo ward of Maligawatta, police said and added that he is being continuously quizzed at the terrorist investigation division of the police.

Earlier on Wednesday, a senior Deputy Inspector General was appointed to head a team to investigate the four Sri Lankan citizens arrested on Sunday by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in India after acting on a tip-off at the Sardar Vallabhai Patel airport in Ahmedabad.

The investigators said the four men had taken an Indigo flight out of Colombo to Chennai on May 19.

Indian police said the men travelled to India to carry out terror activities at the behest of the banned terror outfit Islamic State (IS) and are members of IS radicalised by a leader from Sri Lanka, who is living in Pakistan.

The appointed DIG has the crime investigation division and the terrorism investigation division of the police under his command and would coordinate with the intelligence agencies in the probe.

The accused, Mohammad Nusrat (35), Mohammad Faarukh (35), Mohammad Nafran (27) and Mohammad Rasdeen (43), informed investigators that they were earlier associated with the banned Sri Lankan radical militant outfit, National Thowheeth Jamath (NJT), and joined IS after getting in touch with Pakistani handler Abu Bakr Al Bagdadi, Gujarat Director General of Police Vikas Sahay had said.

The men were paid Rs 4 lakh in Sri Lankan currency to carry out the activities, he had said.
United Nations, May 23 (AP) The United Nations approved a resolution Thursday establishing an annual day to commemorate the 1995 genocide of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims by Bosnian Serbs, a move vehemently opposed by Serbs who fear it will brand them all as genocidal supporters of the mass killing.

The vote in the 193-member General Assembly was 84-19 with 68 nations abstaining, a reflection of concerns among many countries about the impact of the vote on reconciliation efforts in deeply divided Bosnia.

The resolution designates July 11 as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, to be observed annually starting in two months.

The resolution, sponsored by Germany and Rwanda, doesn't mention Serbia as the culprit, but that didn't stop the intense lobbying campaign for a no vote by the Bosnian Serb president, Milorad Dodik, and the populist president of neighboring Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic.

On July 11, 1995, Bosnian Serbs overran a U.N.-protected safe area in Srebrenica. They separated at least 8,000 Muslim Bosniak men and boys from their wives, mothers and sisters and slaughtered them. Those who tried to escape were chased through the woods and over the mountains around the town.

The Srebrenica killings were a bloody climax of Bosnia's 1992-95 war, which came after the breakup of the then-nation of Yugoslavia unleashed nationalist passions and territorial ambitions that set Bosnian Serbs against the country's two other main ethnic populations, Croats and Muslim Bosniaks.

Both Serbia and Bosnian Serbs have denied that genocide happened in Srebrenica although this has been established by two U.N. courts.

Dodik, who is president of Republika Srpska, the Serb part of Bosnia which comprises about half its territory, said Wednesday on the social media platform X that the U.N. resolution is being forced on the country by supporters of Muslim Bosniaks and that it will split up the country. He suggested his government would secede from Bosnia if the resolution were to pass.

Dodik has made several such threats in the past to have the Serb-controlled territories secede from Bosnia and join with neighboring Serbia. He and some other Bosnian Serb officials are under U.S. and British sanctions partly for jeopardizing a U.S. peace plan that ended the Bosnian war.

The final draft of the resolution added a statement reiterating the General Assembly's unwavering commitment to maintaining stability and fostering unity in diversity in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The determination in 2007 by the International Court of Justice, the U.N.'s highest tribunal, that the acts committed in Srebrenica constituted genocide, is included in the draft resolution. It was Europe's first genocide since the Nazi Holocaust in World War II, which killed an estimated 6 million Jews and people from other minorities.

Germany's U.N. Ambassador Antje Leendertse said last week that there is an official U.N. commemoration of the 1994 Rwanda genocide on April 7 every year  the day the Hutu-led government began the killing of members of the Tutsi minority and their supporters. The draft resolution aims to close the gap by creating a separate U.N. day to commemorate the victims of Srebrenica, she said.

Menachem Rosensaft, the son of Holocaust survivors who is an adjunct professor at Cornell Law School, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that designating July 11 as the official day of remembrance for the Srebrenica genocide is a moral and legal imperative.

The slain Muslim Bosniaks deserve to have their deaths and the manner of their deaths commemorated and Srebrenica was supposed to be a safe area but was abandoned by Dutch U.N. peacekeepers, leaving the Bosniaks who sought shelter there to be murdered on the U.N.'s watch," Rosensaft said.

Richard Gowan, U.N. director of the International Crisis Group, called the timing of the vote unfortunate, given allegations that Israel is pursuing genocide in Gaza.

The vote will be an opportunity for more political theater, he told AP. I expect Russia and China will make a great point of asking why the U.S. and European governments are concentrating on a massacre in the 1990s rather than killings in Gaza today. AMS
Dubai, May 23 (AP) Iran interred late President Ebrahim Raisi at the holiest Shiite shrine in the nation on Thursday, days after a fatal helicopter crash killed him along with the country's foreign minister and six others.

Raisi was placed inside a tomb at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, where Shiite Islam's eighth imam is buried. The region long has been associated with Shiite pilgrimages. A hadith, or saying, attributed to Islam's Prophet Mohammad says anyone with sorrow or sin will be relieved through visiting there.

Raisi is the first top government official to be buried at the shrine since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He once oversaw the shrine and a charity foundation associated with it, believed to be worth tens of billions of dollars.

The death of Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six others in the crash on Sunday comes at a politically sensitive moment for Iran, both at home and abroad. Iranian officials held a meeting during funeral services with militia proxy groups it supports in the region, including Hamas amid the Israeli war against it in the Gaza Strip.

Raisi, who was 63, had been discussed as a possible successor to Iran's supreme leader, the 85-year-old Khamenei.

Iran has set June 28 as the next presidential election. For now, there's no clear favorite for the position among Iran's political elite  particularly no one who is a Shiite cleric, like Raisi. (AP)



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Pune, May 23 (PTI) Bachelors' degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University were conferred on 205 cadets at the convocation of the 146th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) here on Thursday.

Prof (Dr) Sat Prakash Bansal, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, was the chief guest on this occasion, an official release said.



A total of 205 cadets were conferred the prestigious Bachelors degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University which included 82 cadets in Science stream, 84 cadets in Computer Science stream and 39 cadets in Arts stream.

Seventeen cadets from friendly foreign countries were also awarded degrees.

In addition, the B Tech stream comprising 132 cadets of the Navy and Air Force also received a three years' course completion certificate. These cadets will be conferred with the degree after completion of one year training at their respective pre-commissioning academies (Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy).

The chief guest was received by Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, AVSM, NM, Commandant, NDA.



Dr Bansal in his convocation address congratulated the cadets and also their parents who motivated their wards to join the prestigious tri services training institute of the Indian Armed Forces.
Kolkata, May 23 (PTI) The initial probe into the murder of Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar revealed that one of his friends had paid around Rs 5 crore to kill the neighbouring countrys parliamentarian, a senior police officer said here on Thursday.

Anar, who went missing in Kolkata since May 13, was found murdered and three people have been arrested, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan had said on Wednesday.

The West Bengal Police had said investigation of the case has been taken up by the state CID.

It was a well-planned murder. A huge amount of money, around Rs 5 crore was paid by an old friend of the MP to kill him, the officer told PTI.

The Awami League MPs friend is a US national and owns a flat in Kolkata, he said.

Akhilesh Chaturvedi, IG, CID, had Wednesday said police had reliable inputs that Anar may have been murdered, but his body was yet to be recovered.

Asked whether the police found blood stains in the apartment of a luxury condominium in New Town in Kolkata's outskirts, where the MPs whereabouts were last traced on May 13, Chaturvedi said, Our forensic team is examining the suspected crime scene. Its too early to speak about that.

The search for the missing MP, who reportedly arrived in Kolkata on May 12 to undergo medical treatment, began six days later after Gopal Biswas, a resident of Baranagar in north Kolkata and an acquaintance of the Bangladeshi politician, filed a complaint with the local police on May 18.

Anar had stayed at Biswass house upon arrival.

In his complaint, Biswas stated that Anar left his Baranagar residence for a doctors appointment in the afternoon of May 13, while stating that he would be back home for dinner.

Biswas claimed that the Bangladesh MP went incommunicado since May 17, which prompted him to file a missing complaint a day later.
Patna, May 23 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday offered condolences to the bereaved family members of former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi here.

Shah, who arrived in the city in the evening, went directly to Modi's Rajendra Nagar residence. Sushil Kumar Modi, arguably the tallest BJP leader to have been emerged from Bihar, had passed away earlier this month after battling cancer.

After consoling Modi's family, Shah retired for the night at a local hotel, where party leaders continued to meet him.

Shah, also known as BJP's principal strategist, is scheduled to address a rally on Friday in the Arrah Lok Sabha constituency. Union Minister RK Singh, the current MP from Arrah, is aiming for a hat-trick in the upcoming elections.
Ranchi, May 23 (PTI) A Maoist was killed in a gunfight between security forces and red rebels in Jharkhands Chatra district on Thursday afternoon, police said.

The encounter took place in a forest along the Khunti-Chaibasa-Ranchi border, around 90 km from the state capital.

"An area commander of a Maoist group was killed in an encounter with security forces along the Khunti-Chaibasa-Ranchi border. The area commander has been identified as Budhram Munda. A search operation is still on," Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Ranchi, Anoop Birtharay told PTI.

CRPF's Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and the Jharkhand Police jointly launched the operation against the Maoists from Chaibasa side, he added.

The encounter took place two days ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in Ranchi, Giridih, Dhanbad and Jamshedpur seats on May 25.
New Delhi, May 23 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu on the occasion of Buddha Purnima on Thursday said this is the time when a "guiding light" is needed that can help humanity wade smoothly through this "critical phase" of conflicts, environmental hazards and security challenges.

In a recorded video message that was played at an event held at the National Museum here to mark the occasion of Vaishakha Buddha Purnima, she also said that valued principles espoused by Lord Buddha can ensure peace and harmony in the society, country and the world.

"Today I would like to reassert the sublime message of compassion, peace and harmony given by the Sakhyamuni Buddha. The full moon day of Vaisakha has special significance as it is the most auspicious day, not only for the followers and practitioners of Buddha Dhamma, but for all those who are working to spread peace, compassion and harmony," President Murmu said.

It commemorates the day of the birth of Siddhartha Gautama at Lumbini, his enlightenment as the Buddha in Bodh Gaya and his Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar. Thus, it becomes the "triple sacred day" for the followers, she said.

"Today, we live in a world marred by conflicts, environmental hazards, social tensions and security challenges, all of which cause anxiety, uncertainty and fear among human beings. This is the time, when we need a guiding light that can help us wade smoothly through this critical phase. It is now more evident than ever that humility and empathy are essential for the well-being of all," the president said.

The practice of Dhamma and the teachings of the Buddha are crucial to finding "useful and lasting solutions to the unavoidable conflicts that arise in our lives," she said.

"These valued principles can ensure peace and harmony in the society, country and the world," President Murmu said.

"Being the land of Buddha, India is committed to serve humanity and has made singular contribution towards global peace and prosperity... May the teachings of Buddha continue to guide humanity on the path of harmony and peace," she said.

The event was hosted by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the National Museum (where some of the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha is enshrined), the organisers said in a statement.

For the "first time", prayers for unity, harmony and world peace were held at five historical landmarks of Buddha Dhamma in Delhi -- Shanti Stupa, the Peace Pagoda, Indraprastha Park, Ring Road; Ashokan Rock Edict, East of Kailash; Ashoka Pillar, Firoz Shah Kotla; Buddha Jayanti Park along the ridge, and the Asoka Mission, Mehrauli, it said.

Around 50 monks from Subharti University, Meerut, Delhi University and the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association with representation from Nalanda, Theravada, and Mahayana traditions prayed at these sites to gain merit for everyone and for harmony and peace in a strife-torn world, the statement said.
Despite rumors circulating on social media, funding for Fort Novosel are not being diverted to other programs, U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, said.

I am pleased to hear that no funds have been diverted and no training programs will be disrupted at Fort Novosel, said Moore after he and his staff were briefed Tuesday by several general officers from the U.S. Army, who addressed social media posts about funding limitations that began circulating in early May.

The Army also confirmed that no training programs have been disrupted or halted at Fort Novosel, Moore said.

Late last week Moore said he had sent a letter to the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth expressing disappointment that multiple briefings scheduled to discuss the reported reprograming of funds from the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel have been cancelled.

The shutdown rumors began with a social media thread by Patrick Webb that included a screenshot of the purported Fort Novosel officials email reporting that millions had been pulled from the flight training program and reallocated towards foreign assistance. The officials name was redacted as well as the emails recipients. Breaking: The DoD (Department of Defense) has pulled $130 million of their $140 million training budget for the USAACE flight program to allocate it towards Ukraine and other foreign obligations, according to the email, Webb tweeted, citing multiple senior aviation officials but did not name them. The social media post stated that training would halt May 1, and not resume until late October of this year.

At that time, Moore and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt both said they were aware of the tweet but both confirmed that no funding has been diverted from the USAACE at Fort Novosel to be sent to Ukraine. Britt further stated that her office has been in touch with senior military officials who also confirmed that no funds have been redirected from the USAACE. She emphasized that legislators had assisted in securing $1.38 billion for flight training at the home of Army Aviation in the recently passed FY24 Defense Appropriations.

Moore said Friday that while flight training had not been disrupted, he and his staff had been working with House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers and the rest of the Alabama delegation to get answers on this issue.

Hundreds of constituents have reached out in concern, and it is unacceptable that they have waited weeks to get answers from the Army about Fort Novosels funding, Moore said. I expect an explanation for the cancellation of previous briefings and ask for a formal briefing immediately regarding these rumors. My constituents, the people who work at and help fund the training at Fort Novosel, deserve answers.

Fort Novosel is vital to our national security and provides thousands of jobs to my constituents. I will continue to fight for accountability and transparency in how taxpayer dollars are used by the Army and other government agencies, while also ensuring that our military is ready to meet the demands of an increasingly hostile world.

An Enterprise native, Moore has represented Alabamas Second Congressional District in the U.S. House since 2021. He previously represented the 91st District in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018.

In October, federal judges drew new congressional lines for the First Congressional District, which spans southern Alabama from the Mobile region to Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Covington, Baldwin, and Escambia counties. The redrawn congressional map created an incumbent-on-incumbent race with Moore successfully challenging fellow Republican Rep. Jerry Carl in the Super Tuesday Primary Election March 5.
New Delhi, May 23 (PTI) A day after the North Block received a hoax bomb threat email, the Delhi Police on Thursday wrote to Google seeking details of its IP address, an official source said.

The Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique identifying number assigned to every device connected to the internet.

A bomb threat on Wednesday sent alarm bells ringing in the North Block, which houses the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), but was declared a hoax after nothing suspicious was found.

A letter has been sent to Google to provide the IP address of the email which was sent to the MHA office, an official source said.

The Delhi Police Special Cell and the local police are investigating the case. A case may be registered at Kartavya Path police station for further investigation, an officer said.

A senior officer posted at MHA received the threat through an email around 3:30 pm on Wednesday. The email stated that the "building will explode as a bomb is planted".

The mail was sent from an anonymous Gmail address and it is suspected that the sender used a VPN (virtual private network) that masks the IP address, according to police.
New Delhi, May 23 (PTI) The Delhi Police may not visit Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Thursday to question his parents in connection with AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal "assault" case, sources said.

On Wednesday, Kejriwal had said police were going to question his elderly and ill parents the next day.

Kejriwal's close aide Bibhav Kumar was arrested by police in the case.

Sources said police may visit his residence for questioning in the coming days but are not going there on Thursday. They may also question Kejriwal in the coming days, sources said.

In a post on X in Hindi, Kejriwal said, "I am waiting for the police with my parents and wife. Yesterday the police called and asked for time to interrogate my parents. But they have not yet given any information about whether they will come or not." The AAP accused the BJP of committing atrocities on Kejriwal's parents through police.

"Ever since Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail, BJP has freaked out. They are attacking and conspiring against Arvind Kejriwal and AAP. But today, after summoning the parents of Arvind Kejriwal for questioning by Delhi Police, they have crossed all the limits," Atishi said.

Concurring, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, "The BJP has stooped so low now they are using Delhi Police to commit atrocities on Kejriwal's ailing and elderly parents. His father is 84, cannot walk without support and even has hearing problems. His mother had returned from hospital two days before his arrest and he could not even meet her at that time. People will respond to this with their votes."
Kolkata, May 23 (PTI) West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Thursday criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the "killing" of an elderly woman in Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district.

Bose directed Banerjee to take immediate action and submit an action-taken report to him, a well-placed source told PTI.

In an official communication, Bose "cautioned" Banerjee to end what he described as a "blood bath" and ensure all necessary actions are taken within the parameters of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

The governor expressed strong disapproval of what he termed state government-sponsored violence in Nandigram and stressed that any constitutional violations would be taken seriously, with appropriate actions to follow. The communication was sent to the state secretariat on Thursday evening.

"He directed Banerjee to take immediate action and send an action taken report to him immediately as she is mandated to do under Article 167 of the Constitution of India. Any violation of the Constitution will be viewed seriously and appropriate action will be taken. The CM should take effective action within the parameters of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)," the source added.

A woman BJP worker from the Scheduled Caste community was killed in Nandigram on Wednesday night, triggering large-scale protests by saffron party activists there on Thursday, police said.

The region, which falls under Tamluk Lok Sabha seat and is considered to be the backyard of Bengal's leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari, is scheduled to vote on May 25.

As part of the protest, BJP workers burned tyres, blocked roads, and closed shops in Nandigram, alleging that TMC-backed criminals were responsible for the killing of Rathibala Arhi, a saffron party worker in Sonachura village. Police said Rathibala's son Sanjay and seven others were injured after unidentified assailants attacked them on Wednesday night.

To control the situation, police, central forces, and RAF personnel had to resort to a lathicharge to disperse the mob. One person has been detained in connection with the alleged murder.
New Delhi, May 23 (PTI) The Delhi Police has registered two FIRs after slogans to boycott elections were found written on walls at multiple places in the Delhi University area, officials said on Thursday.

Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (BSCEM) claimed the responsibility for the slogans, such as "Ek hi raasta Naxalbari," written on the walls. The self-proclaimed youth organisation posted photos of the slogans on its Instagram page.

Police said they noticed the slogans written in the area during morning patrolling on Thursday.

"Accordingly, two FIRs under the Defacement Act have been registered," Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Manoj Kumar Meena said.
Sultanpur (UP), May 23 (PTI) In Sultanpur, next door to Amethi, another Gandhi, Maneka Gandhi of the BJP, is locked in a keen contest with her Samajwadi Party rival.

Mayawati-led BSP's party nominee Udraj Verma, who hails from OBC Kurmi caste, is causing trouble to the BJP as well as the SP candidates but Akhilesh Yadav-headed SP candidate Ram Bhual Nishad is at a greater loss. Verma threatens to divide the OBC votes of the SP.

Contesting from the Sultanpur seat in Uttar Pradesh for the second consecutive time, Maneka Gandhi had won the previous poll by a margin of around 14,000 votes. She is working hard to register a victory with a comfortable margin this time.

Maneka Gandhi told PTI in an interview that her focus is on the local issues and asserted that her victory margin will be bigger this time.

She is mostly fending for herself so far. Among the top leaders of the BJP, only UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has campaigned in Sultanpur which goes to polls in the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections on May 25.

Adityanath addressed a meet in her favour in Qazipur on Wednesday.

Her son Varun Gandhi, who was denied the saffron party nomination from Pilibhit this time, is expected to join her in the campaign on the last day of campaigning on Thursday.

Neither her nephew Rahul Gandhi nor niece Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have come to canvass against her either.

Mayawati did turn up in Sultanpur on Wednesday and attacked both the BJP and the Congress.

Maneka Gandhi says neither Ram Mandir nor the denial of ticket to Varun Gandhi is an election issue in her constituency as people are more concerned about their problems and responses of the MP towards their concerns.

She said the people of her constituency are happy over the coming up of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya but "it is not an issue in the polls here".

"I don't look at the people coming to me with their needs from caste or communal angles. Everybody in the constituency belongs to me and I hold the responsibility for their better future," she said.

In an interview to PTI, the eight-time Lok Sabha MP said she is only concerned about the problems of her constituency and does not wish to comment on the BJP's call to wipe out the Congress from Rae Bareli.

"I have no comments to make... I am concerned about the problems of my own constituency and the people here," she told PTI, when asked about the BJP's promise to wipe out the Nehru-Gandhi family from Rae Bareli.

Amethi and Rae Bareli are close to the Sultanpur district. While Rahul Gandhi is contesting from Rae Bareli this time, Nehru-Gandhi family loyalist K L Sharma is pitted against Smriti Irani in Amethi.

The BJP is confident of gaining around two lakh voters of the fishermen community in Sultanpur with their leader and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad becoming a minister in the Adityanath government.

Sultanpur bifurcated from Amethi in 2010.

Varun Gandhi was its first MP while Maneka swapped seats with him in 2019 and is contesting for the second consecutive time.

R K Verma, BJP's district president, said the people here have positive thinking for "Modi-Yogi" (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Adityanath). Common people have received toilet, house and free foodgrains under varied schemes, he said.

"Maneka ji helps whosoever comes to her for assistance without seeing one's 'jaat-dharma' (caste and religion)," he said.

SP spokesman Anoop Sanda says Maneka is not a permanent resident here. She comes from Delhi and stays here for a week or 10 days every month.

"She doesn't go beyond five km of the town on the normal days," he said, adding that the people look at Akhilesh Yadav positively.

"Maneka Gandhi is a kind lady. She does not question anybody's jaat-dharma while solving people's problems," said Ram Bihari in Sultanpur Bazar.

Another resident Manoj Kumar said Maneka Gandhi is a big leader and gets the problems of her constituency solved with the help of the prime minister and other central ministers.

Maneka Gandhi has gone to campaign in the Muslim-dominated areas too.

"She doesn't discriminate on caste and religious lines against anybody coming to her with the problem," says Kamaruddin Alam, a resident.

Shayam Chand Srivastava of Qazipur town area says anybody can approach Maneka Gandhi with their problems, irrespective of the fact whether the person is her voter or not.
Jammu, May 23 (PTI) Multi-layer security has been put in place in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, particularly along the Line of Control (LoC), part of the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency that goes to polls on May 25.

These measures include increased deployment of security personnel, area dominations in hill regions, additional checkpoints and round-the-clock monitoring in the region and at vital installations, officials said on Thursday.

Several additional companies of security personnel have been deployed, reinforcing a security setup managed by Army, police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border Security Force (BSF), they said.

Troops have been put on alert along the LoC, and security and contingency plans have been put in place for all border polling stations.

Top civilian and security officials, including Director General of Police (DGP) R R Swain, General Officer Commanding of 16 Corps, Additional DGPs, and Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar recently visited the twin border districts to review the security measures.

Polling in Anantnag was earlier scheduled for May 7 but was deferred to May 25 due to adverse weather conditions following requests from several parties, including BJP, Apni Party and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP).

The Anantnag-Rajouri constituency was reconfigured by the Delimitation Commission in 2022, excluding Pulwama and parts of Shopian, while incorporating most of Rajouri and Poonch districts.

Anantnag has witnessed four terror attacks in the past 30 days.

In 2023, Rajouri, Poonch and the neighbouring Reasi district witnessed a series of encounters, resulting in 54 deaths, including those of 19 security personnel and 28 terrorists.

On May 4 this year, an Indian Air Force (IAF) soldier was killed and five were injured in a terrorist attack in Poonch.

There are over 18.30 lakh eligible voters, including 8.99 lakh women and over 81,000 first-time voters, in the Anantnag constituency. They will decide the fate of 20 candidates in the fray.

Among the candidates are former chief minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference's Mian Altaf and Apni Party's Zafar Iqbal Khan Manhas, who is being backed by the BJP. DPAP leader Mohamad Saleem Parray and 10 independents are also in the fray.

The Anantnag Lok Sabha seat comprises 18 assembly segments -- seven in Anantnag district, four in Rajouri, three each in Kulgam and Poonch, and one in Shopian.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and her daughter Ilitija Mufti, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh and Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina, DPAP chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad and Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari campaigned extensively in the constituency to garner support for their parties.
New Delhi, May 23 (PTI) Union minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday exhibited confidence that the BJP will win all seven seats in Delhi, which will go to polls in the sixth phase on May 25.

Goyal, who held a roadshow in support of Praveen Khandelwal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha constituency, said the INDIA bloc is a failure as they don't have a leader.

"We will win all seven seats (in Delhi). INDI Alliance has completely failed, they neither have a leader nor are on the same page that who will be their leader. The trends we are seeing tell us that people's blessings are with PM Modi and, therefore, NDA will get 400 plus seats in the Lok Sabha elections for sure," Goyal said.

The five phases of the elections are over and the BJP-led NDA has already crossed the majority mark, the minister said, adding that the INDIA bloc is just a 'chota-mota' (small) seat adjustment in the ongoing polls.

The roadshow in Delhi, marked by a decent turnout, saw enthusiastic party supporters moving alongside Goyal's procession, waving BJP flags and dancing to 'dhols'.

Both Goyal and Khandelwal greeted the crowd from a specially designed vehicle and showered flower petals on the supporters.

Goyal added that the Dwarka rally addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday has already cleared the mandate and the saffron party will surely win more than 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

The union minister also lashed out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying, "Kejriwal has cheated the trust of the people of Delhi. He is out on bail for some days and will go back to jail in liquor policy scam."

On the Swati Maliwal assault case, Goyal alleged that Kejriwal was trying to hide the accused.
Pratapgarh (UP), May 23 (PTI) Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav claimed on Thursday that the BJP will lose all the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, including "Kyoto wale".

Over 140 crore population of the country will make the BJP-led NDA lose 400 seats to the opposition and ensure that the remaining 143 seats also become difficult for them, Yadav said.

The people's anger against the ruling party has been increasing and "by the seventh phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh, it will be at its peak (saatwe asman par)", Yadav said, addressing a rally here in favour of SP candidate S P Patel.

"Earlier, I had said the BJP is heading to lose all seats except for the one of "Kyoto wale" (Modi's Varanasi seat). But with time it seems that seat is also slipping out of their hands and the saffron party will taste defeat in all the 80 seats in UP," Yadav said.

His "Kyoto wale" remark was in reference to a memorandum of understanding signed between India and Japan in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and his then Japanese counterpart late Shinzo Abe at Osaka in 2014 to turn Varanasi into a 'smart city' with the help from Kyoto.

Yadav said the SP and the Congress "have become 11 from one and one" causing tension for the "Delhi wale" (Modi government at the Centre).

Apparently replying to Prime Minister Modi who referred to Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi as "shehzade" (princes), the SP president said, "We will give them 'sheh' and 'maat' (vocabulary used in chess for defeat)."

Huge crowd had gathered for the rally in the GIC ground and many a youth were seen hanging with the bamboos of the tent.

Yadav jokingly said these youths have all the capability to clear the physical test and qualify for jobs in the armed force.

He reiterated the future INDIA coalition government's commitment to scrap the four-year Agniveer job scheme and instead give a permanent job with the provision of pension.

Congress leader Aradhana Mishra Mona and her father Pramod Tiwari were present on the dias.

Yadav said the prices of petrol, diesel and fertiliser have been soaring during the present rule and promised loan waiver for the farmers in the future opposition coalition government. He also promised filling 30 lakh vacant posts in the government departments if the INDIA bloc comes to power.

He talked about the promise to increase free ration for the beneficiaries to 10 kg from the present 5 kg.
Sultanpur (UP), May 23 (PTI) BJP leader and Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi reached Sultanpur on Thursday to campaign for his mother Maneka Gandhi who is in the fray from the seat on a BJP ticket.

Addressing a poll meeting, Varun Gandhi highlighted the close connection of her mother with the public.

"Elections are going on everywhere in the country... but there is only one region in the country where people don't call their MP, Sansad ji, Mantri ji, or by her name, but call her mata ji," Varun Gandhi said amid applause from the people gathered to hear him.

Speaking with PTI Videos, Maneka Gandhi said, "Varun Gandhi is here and he will do 15-20 meetings today. His campaigning will certainly benefit us."

She also urged voters to vote keeping their personal interest in mind. "They should think which MP can do their work and then vote."

This is the first time Varun Gandhi has addressed any such rally this election season. He has remained out of the public space ever since he was replaced by the party with Jitin Prasada from Pilibhit, which went to polls in the first phase.

A former MP from Sultanpur, Varun Gandhi swapped the seat with his mother in 2019, the year he recorded a thumping majority in Pilibhit and Maneka won from Sultanpur.

Voting in Sultanpur is scheduled to take place on May 25 in the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

The campaigning for the sixth phase will end on Thursday by 6 pm. Maneka Gandhi is pitted against Ram Bahadur Nishad of Samajwadi Party and Uday Raj Verma of Bahujan Samaj Party.
Bhubaneswar, May 23 (PTI) The high-pitched campaign for the third phase of simultaneous elections to six Lok Sabha seats and 42 assembly segments in Odisha ended on Thursday.

A total of 447 candidates, including 64 for the Lok Sabha seats and 383 for the assembly constituencies, are in the fray in the penultimate phase of elections on May 25.

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is contesting from Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat, and state ministers Prafulla Mallick, Ranendra Pratap Swain and Ashok Panda for assembly segments are among the important candidates. Also, several sitting MLAs are in the fray.

In 2019, the BJD had won the four Lok Sabha seats of Cuttack, Puri, Keonjhar and Dhenkanal, while the BJP had emerged victorious in Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar.

Intense campaigning was witnessed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed rallies in Angul and Cuttack and held roadshows in Bhubaneswar and Puri. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Bhupendra Yadav and the chief ministers of BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan also canvassed for party candidates.

On the other hand, Odisha Chief minister Naveen Patnaik and his close associate V K Pandian also held several roadshows and rallies while campaigning for BJD candidates.

A total of 94.48 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 10,581 polling booths..

Of these, 2,000 have been identified as critical and 2,000 as model booths, Chief Electoral Officer N B Dhal said.

A total of 121 companies of central forces will be deployed in this phase of the polls.
Chennai, May 23 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday urged his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan to immediately stop the work related to the construction of a check dam across the Silanthi river in Idukki district, as farmers are apprehensive that the move would block the flow of water to Amaravati dam.

Referring to media reports on the Kerala government's move to build the check dam, he said Tamil Nadu farmers were concerned that the water flow into Amaravati would be contained if the project materialised. Hence, the project should be stopped, Stalin said in a letter addressed to Pinarayi Vijayan.

The check dam aims to provide drinking water to the Vattavadi gram panchayat.

Tamil Nadu ryots and opposition parties have been protesting against the project as it would affect agriculture in Tirupur and Karur districts.

An official release here said that Stalin pointed out in the letter that the details of the check dam project have not been made available to Tamil Nadu or the Cauvery Water Management Authority.

Tamil Nadu Water Resources Additional Chief Secretary has already sought a status report on the project and also the master plan for Bhavani and Amaravati sub basins.

These details were essential for analysing the legal aspects, he said and urged the Kerala government to suspend all work related to the check dam construction in the interest of friendly ties between the two states, and till the issue was resolved amicably.
Bengaluru, May 23 (PTI) As many as three five-star hotels in the city received bomb threat, police sources said on Thursday.

The hotels reportedly received the threat via email, leading to exhaustive search operations. It later turned out to be a hoax, they said.

The threat comes against the backdrop of a bomb blast in Rameshwaram Cafe in the city on March 1.
Chennai, May 23 (PTI) A fire erupted on the third floor of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) building at the airport here early on Thursday, but there was no damage, officials said.

The fire, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit erupted in a place used to store old articles, Fire and Rescue Services officials said.

Fire tenders from Ashok Nagar and Guindy were pressed into service and the fire was doused quickly, they said.

Nobody was injured in the episode. Airport operations were not affected.
Among Iranian communities from London to Los Angeles, few tears are being shed over the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, killed in a weekend helicopter crash.

But there are not always loud cheers, either.

While some hope the demise of a powerful figure in Irans authoritarian Islamic government may bring change, others fear it could result in more repression.

Its a better world without him, said Maryam Namazie, a U.K.-based womens rights campaigner. He is one of the pillars of the Islamic regime of Iran. He has been there since its inception.

But, she added: Raisi, however much of a pillar he was, is expendable. There are many others to take his place.

Inside Iran, authorities are keeping a tight lid on reaction to the crash that killed Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six others. The government declared five days of mourning, encouraging people into the streets in displays of public grief and support. Prosecutors have warned Iranians against any public celebrations, and a heavy security force presence has been on the streets of Tehran.

Outside Iran, some expatriates felt bold enough to dance in the street. Nazenin Ansari, editor of Kayhan London, a news website for Iranians abroad that is critical of the countrys theocracy, said that within hours of news of Raisis death, Iranians gathered in cities across Europe and beyond to celebrate.

The Iranian diaspora is large, including those who fled soon after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and later waves who left because of continued repression or economic woes. More than half a million Iranians live in the U.S.  many in California  and there are large communities in European cities, including London, Paris and Stockholm.

Dissidents have shared social media videos showing dozens of Iranians dancing and cheering in the streets of Toronto and Cologne, Germany, Ansari said.

I understand their anger, I understand why they are celebrating, she said. For me, I wish this guy stayed alive so he can be taken to an international court, to look in the eyes of his victims and reply to them. Im sorry he wont be able to stand in a court of law and take responsibility for his actions.

Raisi, 63, was reviled by opponents, and sanctioned by the U.S., for his role in mass executions of political prisoners at the end of Irans long war with Iraq in the 1980s.

Many also hold Raisi responsible for the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody in September 2022 after being detained for allegedly violating Irans mandatory headscarf law.

Aminis death sparked mass protests against the countrys ruling theocracy, and a security crackdown that saw more than 500 people killed and over 22,000 detained. A U.N. fact-finding mission found Iranian authorities responsible for the physical violence that led to Aminis death.

Each member of this regime that goes is a victory for us, said Guilda Torabi, spokesperson for the Homa association, an Iranian support group in France. Its a step forward, a little victory for the Iranian people. Its one step to vanquishing the regime. We are getting closer to the objective, which gives us hope.

Raisi had long been considered a potential successor for Irans supreme leader, 85-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in whose hands power ultimately rests, and his death could complicate that process.

Still, short-term instability appears unlikely. First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has been appointed caretaker president, and a presidential election was called for June 28.

Even thousands of miles from Iran, some expatriates were unwilling to relax their reticence. Iranian critics of the government have been attacked overseas  including Pouria Zeraati, a newscaster with Farsi-language TV channel Iran International, who was stabbed in the leg near his London home in March.

The channel has been demonized for years by Irans government, as well as other foreign-language Farsi broadcasters and their journalists. Television in Iran is entirely state-controlled and run by hard-liners, often airing coerced confessions of prisoners.

In the Los Angeles area nicknamed Tehrangeles  home to Persian cafes, ice cream parlors, grocery stores and rug shops  a husband and wife eating at the Pink Orchid bakery said that while they cheered the presidents death, they were not optimistic it would bring major changes.

Everyone knows someone worse is going to come, said the wife, who grew up in Iran and left when she was 21.

The couple refused to give their names for fear of retaliation against family and friends who remain in Iran, as well as concerns about their own safety.

Poone, who only gave her first name for fear of retaliation against her family in Iran, said Raisis death provided a measure of justice. She said the late president had a lot of blood on his hands.

Others saw reason for hope.

As news of the crash circulated in Iran on Sunday night, anti-government chants could be heard in some areas of Tehran. Namazie said many Iranians shared dark jokes and social media memes.

Aliasghar Ramezanpoor, executive news director at Iran International, said many Iranians were contacting the station to express happiness at Raisis death.

Ramezanpoor said the Islamic Republics authorities would likely be shaken by the realization that many Iranians saw the presidents death as cause for celebration.

People are talking about the crash as a kind of sign of hope, he said. Everyone sees how losing a president (caused) national celebration  which sends a powerful message to everyone in the government.

Namazie said political instability might bring more brutality as the government moved to repress dissent. But even so, any infighting opens up the space for people to be able to push back the regime, to weaken it.

It opens up the space for protest, she said. Thats what we need  from below, not any kind of regime change from above, not foreign intervention. People themselves will be able to challenge this regime and bring it to an end.

(AP)
A former employee sued the city of Minneapolis on Tuesday, alleging ex-police Officer Derek Chauvin hauled her from her minivan and pinned her to the ground with his knee in January 2020, just as he did four months later when he killed George Floyd.

Patty Day, then employed by the Public Works Department, wants over $9 million in damages for her injuries, which included a broken tooth, a deep cut that left a scar on her hand, persistent arm and shoulder pain, and psychological issues including anxiety, depression and flashbacks.

Chauvin is the most infamous police officer in Minnesota (if not United States) history, according to the complaint filed in federal court. This exacerbates Pattys emotional suffering and increases the frequency of her flashbacks, as Chauvins name is repeatedly in the news.

Days attorneys acknowledge she was drunk on the evening of Jan. 17, 2020, and depressed over her impending divorce and other difficulties, according to the complaint. Her minivan had been stuck in the snow for several hours when Chauvin and Officer Ellen Jensen arrived on the scene.

Chauvin and Jensen violently yanked Patty from her vehicle and, without justification, threw her to the ground in the middle of a street, fracturing her tooth, injuring her arm and shoulder, and causing other significant injuries before handcuffing her, the complaint says. Chauvin then assumed his signature pose, pressing his knee into the subdued and handcuffed Pattys back  just as he would later do to snuff the life out of George Floyd  and remaining that way well after Patty was controlled.

Saturday will mark the fourth anniversary of Floyds murder. Chauvin, who is white, kneeled on Floyds neck for 9 1/2 minutes outside a convenience store where the Black man had tried to pass a counterfeit $20 bill. Bystander video captured Floyds fading cries of I cant breathe.

Floyds death touched off protests worldwide, some violent, and forced a national reckoning with police brutality and racism. Chauvin was convicted of murder in 2021.

City spokespeople and an attorney who has represented Chauvin in unsuccessful appeals did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

Day was charged with drunken driving. A judge ruled that the officers lacked probable cause to arrest her and granted her motion to suppress the evidence. The city attorneys office then dropped the changes, partly because of the way the officers treated her, the lawsuit says.

According to the lawsuit, Assistant City Attorney Annalise Backstrom told the court then: I just want to make clear that my office and myself dont condone the way that the interaction went down in this particular case.

Body camera video of the incident was admitted during Days evidentiary hearing, but her defense attorney at the time did not keep copies. Days lawyers say theyve been trying for over a year to get the city to release the videos, and accused the city of intentionally dragging its feet because it would prefer that video of the encounter remain out of public view.

The lawsuit says Chauvin and his partner filed misleading reports that omitted the true extent of the force they used, did not note her injuries, and did not document Chauvin pinning Day to the ground with his knee. It accuses them of covering for each other, and says theres no evidence that either officer was disciplined.

If Chauvin had been disciplined for that arrest or other excessive force cases, it says, history could have been stopped from repeating itself with George Floyd.

The city has already paid out nearly $36 million to settle lawsuits involving civil rights violations by Chauvin, including $27 million to Floyds family.

(AP)
Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has launched a coffee brand, Rudy Coffee, in an effort to climb out of debt and fight multiple criminal indictments. The coffee, made from 100% Arabica beans, comes in three blends: Bold, decaf, and morning, and features Giulianis face on every bag.

Two pounds of Rudy Coffee can be purchased for $29.99, with Giuliani promising its the finest beans imaginable.

If I put my name on something, I truly believe in it, Giuliani said in a promotional video. Believe me when I say its the best coffee youll ever try. Its smooth, rich, chocolatey, and gentle on your stomach.

Giulianis coffee venture comes as he faces a mountain of debt, including a $148 million civil judgment, $1.4 million in unpaid legal bills, a $700,000 IRS tab, and another $260,000 owed to the New York State tax authorities. He filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last December and has been ordered to limit his spending to $43,000 per month.

Despite his financial woes, Giuliani remains optimistic about his coffee brand. Its so good I even recommend drinking it black, he said.

The launch of Rudy Coffee also comes as Giuliani faces criminal indictments in Georgia and Arizona for his alleged role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. He was served with a subpoena in the Arizona case during his birthday party over the weekend.

Giulianis business partner, Dr. Maria Ryan, a former New Hampshire hospital administrator and co-host of his Americas Mayor Live podcast, joined him in launching the coffee brand.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
When it comes to scaling and expanding overseas, Australian tech startups usually set their sights on the USA, UK or Canada.

But startups who pursue these markets are missing out on a hidden expansion opportunity, according to Jasmine Batra, CEO of Arrow Digital and the driving force behind The Big LEAP incubator program.

India offers huge expansion potential for startups, but its not even on the radar for most Australians, says Jasmine, who has advised hundreds of tech startups on international expansion since founding Arrow Digital in 2007.

You dont know what you dont know  and most tech startups dont know Indias growth story or technological advancements, let alone how or where to explore the option of expanding into India.

Now entering its third year, the 12-month Big LEAP program is striving to overcome the information asymmetry and give Australian startups a clear pathway to launch into India. The program offers a structured process of testing, validating, navigating and operating in the Indian market, with the final phase being an immersive tour of India for the startups with the best prospects of success.

Jasmine recently returned from a tour of India with the second successful cohort of the Big LEAP program. Over three weeks in January-February 2024, the group visited three major Indian cities (Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore) where they met with startup hubs, government bodies, corporates and various ecosystem players to gain on-ground market insights, build relationships and form potential partnerships.

Despite being an Indian native who has regularly returned to her home country since moving to Australia 20 years ago, Jasmine was floored by the pace of progress in India in 2024.

India is streets ahead of Australia when it comes to economic growth, innovation and digitisation, says Jasmine.

India is now the fifth largest economy in the world, with a GDP of $US 3.7 trillion in 2023  more than double the GDP of Australia ($US 1.6 trillion in 2023).1 Plus, Indias GDP is growing at a rate of 8 per cent per annum, making it the fastest growing economy among G20 nations in 2024. And its on track to continue growing: the Indian government has pledged to make India the third largest economy by 2027.2

India also has the worlds largest digital economy. Its estimated that 46 per cent of the worlds total real time digital transactions take place in India,3 with 89.5 million digital transactions taking place in India in 2022. Thats more than the combined digital payments of the next four top countries (Brazil, China, Thailand and South Korea).4

The economies of scale in India mean that Australian businesses can get more bang for their buck when it comes to paid search advertising. Not only is the search volume higher, but the average cost per click (CPC) in India is 77 per cent less than in the US.5

And India is a world leader in digitisation, according to Jasmine. India has successfully rolled out Indias Tech-Stack, a world-first digital infrastructure project of open APIs and digital public goods. This has revolutionised information management and payments in India. Theres now a single digital interface for identity, health data, government document storage and electronic payments across the entire Indian population of 1.4 billion.

India is quickly heading towards becoming a paperless and cashless society, continues Jasmine, which means that the opportunities for tech startups are immense.

The Indian government is committed to creating an enabling environment for startups: Indias Prime Minister Modi recently announced that India is the worlds third largest startup ecosystem, boasting over 125,000 startups and 110 unicorns.

The Governments drive to support startups was keenly apparent to Dr Laura Rusu, founder & CEO of Melbourne-based fintech company LENSELL, when she travelled to India with the Big LEAP program this year.

Indian governments are placing a huge emphasis on grants and programs to help startups, says Laura, who secured her place on the Indian tour with Diversiview (a new application for investment diversification and optimisation that helps retail investors plan their investment portfolio based on the level of risk theyre prepared to take).

Laura was also surprised  and impressed  by the strong emphasis on innovation in India. Theres a very strong push for innovation from all angles, much stronger than in Australia, says Laura. There was a noticeable culture of collaboration across different organisations and sectors, and I felt a strong sense of upbeat optimism among the Indian people.

Jasmine has noticed a clear cultural shift towards innovation over the past decade, particularly among Indias youth.

When I was growing up in India, most young people aspired to join a big company and climb the corporate ladder, says Jasmine. That old-school mindset has been replaced by a passion for innovation. Today, Indias youth is excited about starting new businesses to solve complex problems.

With the median age in India currently standing at 28 years old,7 the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship is likely to grow and take a deeper hold in the Indian culture.

Its time to throw away the old view of India as a slow, bureaucratic nation, says Jasmine. The India of today is fast, young, digital and innovative  and full of untapped potential for Australian startups.

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The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the 200th federal judge of President Joe Bidens tenure, about a month earlier than when Donald Trump hit that mark in his term, though Trump still holds the edge when it comes to the most impactful confirmations  those to the Supreme Court and the countrys 13 appellate courts.

The march to 200 culminated with the confirmation of Angela Martinez as a district court judge in Arizona. The milestone reflects the importance that Biden, a former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., placed on judicial confirmations after Trump put his enormous stamp on the federal judiciary with the confirmation of three Supreme Court justices.

Reaching 200 judges is a major milestone, Schumer said just before the 66-28 vote. Simply put, our 200 judges comprise the most diverse slate of judicial nominations under any president in American history.

The current pace of judicial confirmations for this White House came despite Biden, a Democrat, coming into office in 2021 with far fewer vacancies, particularly in the influential appellate courts, than Trump, a Republican, did in 2017.

There is more work to do, Biden said in a statement after the vote. Going forward, I will continue my solemn responsibility of nominating individuals who have excelled in their professional careers, who reflect the communities they serve and who apply the law impartially and without favoritism.

Its unclear whether Biden can eclipse his predecessors 234 judges before the year ends, though.

Democrats have solidly backed the presidents judicial nominees, but there have been some cracks in that resolve in recent weeks. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he would not support nominees who do not have some bipartisan support, and the two Democratic senators from Nevada are opposing a nominee who would become the nations first Muslim appellate court judge. They did so after some law enforcement groups came out against the nomination.

The White House is aware of the obstacles as they rush to surpass Trumps accomplishment. Its a high water mark that remains a point of pride for the former president and senior Republicans who made it happen, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Filling dozens of judicial vacancies requires time on the Senate floor calendar, which becomes more scarce as senators in the narrowly divided chamber shift into election-year campaign mode.

Of the more than 40 current judicial vacancies nationwide, half are in states with two Republican senators. That matters because for district court judges, home-state senators still can exercise virtual veto power over a White Houses nominations due to a long-standing Senate tradition.

White House officials say they have no illusions about the challenges they face but feel reaching 235 is possible. That doesnt please Republicans.

Unfortunately, they learned from our example about prioritizing lifetime appointments, said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Meanwhile, liberal advocacy groups are thrilled with the results so far.

I just cannot rave enough about these judges, said Jake Faleschini, who leads nominations work at the Alliance for Justice. Its been nothing short of transformative of the federal judiciary in terms of both excellence, but also demographic and professional diversity.

At this stage in his term, Trump had two Supreme Court justices and 51 appellate court judges confirmed to lifetime appointments. Biden has tapped one Supreme Court justice and 42 appellate court judges. Biden has more confirmations of the district judges who handle civil and criminal cases. Those nominations tend to be less hard fought.

Biden has emphasized adding more female and minority judges to the federal bench. On that front, 127 of the 200 judges confirmed to the bench are women. Fifty-eight are Black and 36 are Hispanic, according to Schumers office. Thirty-five judges are Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, more than any other administration, according to the White House.

In the appellate courts, 30 of the 42 circuit judges confirmed during Bidens term are women, according to the White House. Thirteen Black women have been chosen as circuit judges, more than all previous administrations combined.

Under Biden, more Hispanic judges have been confirmed to the appellate courts than any other administration.

As abortion access remains a vital priority for the Biden administration and a key argument for the presidents reelection bid, the White House also points to several judges with backgrounds on the issue. They include Judge Julie Rikelman of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, who before her nomination argued on behalf of the abortion clinic in Dobbs vs Jackson, the 2022 ruling that dismantled Roe vs. Wade; and Nicole Berner, a former attorney at Planned Parenthood who now serves on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Conservatives say it is fine to have diversity, but that should not be the focus.

I think the right standard isnt trying to check boxes with nominees, but to try to find the men and women who are going to be faithful to the Constitution and the rule of law, said Carrie Severino, president of JCN, a conservative group that worked to boost support for Trumps nominees.

About a one-quarter of the judges Trump nominated were women and about 1 in 6 were minorities, according to the Pew Research Center.

Asked about the diversity of Bidens nominees, GOP senators said there was too much focus on identity politics.

Im interested in competent lawyers who will administer justice fairly. Now, there are women that can do that. There are men that can do that. There are people of color that can do that, said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. But their primary characteristic that theyre proudest of is racial identify or gender identify, and activist. And I just dont think thats what the American people want to see in their justice system.

Proponents of diversifying the federal judiciary counter that people who come before the court have more trust in the legal process when they see people who look like them. They said its important to diversify the professional backgrounds of judges, too, so that more public defenders and those with a civil rights or non-profit background are considered.

The American people deserve federal judges who not only look like America, but understand the American experience from every angle, said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman.

(AP)
A disgruntled employee opened fire at a linen company near Philadelphia on Wednesday, killing two coworkers and injuring three others, authorities said.

The shooting took place at the Delaware County Linen at about 8:30 a.m. in the city of Chester, about 18 miles (29 kilometers) south of Philadelphia. The shooter fled in a vehicle but was soon captured in a traffic stop, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said. The shooters name has not been released, and the specific motive remains unknown. Earlier statements said he was a former employee.

It speaks to guns in America, said Chester Mayor Stefan Roots, who said his small city has enjoyed a period of relative calm in recent years, with violent crime on the decline. Violence is always unpredictable. We dont know what conditions people are under, in a city thats impoverished like ours.

Roots called on state lawmakers in Pennsylvania to address the gun crisis, especially as it relates to people with mental health problems.

We cant have guns in the hands of the wrong people, Roots said. There had to be some type of mental health issue that would have an employee walk into his workplace on a day of work and take out his anger in such a violent way  to not just the boss, but his coworkers, who he probably worked side-by-side with for years.

Three people remained hospitalized, at least one in critical condition, police said.

The business had been in the community for more than 30 years, and some workers lived near enough to walk to work each day, residents said. Some of the workers on hand when the gunman opened fire gathered on the steps of a church across the street, behind barriers enacted by police. One had a bandage visible on his hand.

Its always quiet around here. We dont have too many issues, so this is surprising, said Doneshia Johnson, who lives next door to the linen company and was standing outside with her 1-year-old grandson. She said she was out at the time of the shooting.

You never know. Its why you got to wake up, say your prayers, and just hope that you make it home safely each day, she said.

(AP)
Two suspects who have been placing skimming devices on payment terminals at stores across Brooklyn were arrested on Wednesday following intervention from Williamsburg Shomrim.

Shomrim tells YWN that they received a call from a Flushing Avenue supermarket owner who discovered a suspicious device attached to his payment terminal. The device, known as a skimmer, is used to record credit, debit, or EBT card numbers and was disguised to look like part of the terminal.

Shomrim members identified the suspects through surveillance footage and tracked their car to the Pulaski Bridge, where they were arrested by NYPD officers at around 3:30 p.m.

This is the latest in a series of EBT fraud incidents in Brooklyn, with two suspects identified in Williamsburg earlier this month and another pair arrested in Flatbush on Tuesday. In light of the recent attempts to steal credit card information, the NYPD has advised shoppers to be vigilant and to gently tug at privacy guards on payment terminals, as fake ones can be easily removed.

Williamsburg Shomrim Coordinator Yanky Itzkowitz tells YWN Store owners should be vigilant and inspect their machines every few hours, We need show potential thieves that they will not succeed in defrauding our community members, particularly those who depend on EBT to feed their families.

Williamsburg Shomrim has also created a program to help store owners quickly identify if their machines have been compromised.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A 20-year-old suspect, Abdirazak Mahdi Ahmed, was arrested and charged on Wednesday in connection with shots fired at a Jewish school in the Cote-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grace borough last fall.

Ahmed, of Les Cedres, appeared in Quebec Court and was charged with intentionally discharging a firearm, theft, and receiving stolen vehicles, and committing mischief. The Crown objected to his release, and he will remain detained until a hearing on Thursday.

As earlier reported by YWN, on November 12, around 5 a.m., gunshots were heard on Deacon Rd., near Van Horne Ave., with a suspect seen shooting in the direction of the Yeshiva Gedolah of Montreal before fleeing in a getaway vehicle. Police found impacts from firearm projectiles on the school door and shell casings on the ground.

This incident was the second shooting at the yeshiva in just four days, following shots fired at it and the Talmud Torah on St-Kevin Ave. overnight. The week prior, Molotov cocktails were thrown at a shul and Jewish community center in the West Island.

Eta Yudin of The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs released a statement applauding police for the arrest.

This attack marked a significant change in the threats experienced by the Jewish community in Quebec since Oct. 7 and well before, Yudin said. The stress and anxiety it caused the Jewish community since then cannot be underestimated, as we have had to endure intimidation after intimidation, as well as serial violence and antisemitism.

While the escalation of violence and hatred against our community only continues, we are nonetheless pleased that further charges may be brought against the suspect. This senseless act, this act of terror, must lead to more serious charges, as we have often repeated since the Hamas attacks. This will send a strong message that targeting a community with such acts is unacceptable. We must remember that some politicians had rightly declared that shooting at schools was a form of terrorism.

The safety of Jewish Quebecers is at stake, but so is the safety of all Montrealers.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Former President Donald Trump will campaign in one of the most Democratic counties in the nation Thursday, holding a rally in the South Bronx to woo minority voters days before a Manhattan jury will begin deliberations on whether to convict him of felony charges in his criminal hush money trial.

Trump will address supporters in Crotona Park, a public green space in a borough that is among the citys most diverse and its most impoverished, a change from the majority-white areas where he holds most of his rallies. His campaign said he is expected to draw a crowd of several thousand people.

With Trump confined to New York for the last six weeks, the presumptive Republican nominees campaign planned a series of local stops across his hometown before and after court. He visited a bodega in Harlem, dropped by a construction site one morning, and held a photo op at a local firehouse.

The Bronx rally will be Trumps first event open to the general public as he insists he is making a play to win an overwhelmingly Democratic state that hasnt backed a Republican for president since Ronald Reagan in 1984. Besides creating a spectacle of rallygoers and protesters, the rally also allows Trump to highlight what he argues are advantages on economic and immigration issues that could cut into key Democratic voting blocs.

The strategy is to demonstrate to the voters of the Bronx and New York that this isnt your typical presidential election, that Donald Trump is here to represent everybody and get our country back on track, said Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, a potential Trump running mate who grew up in Brooklyn and will join him at the rally.

The Bronx Democratic Party is planning to protest Trumps appearance with its own event at the park.

Trump isnt welcome in the Bronx, they wrote in a social media advertisement.

Trumps campaign believes he can chip away at President Joe Bidens support among Black and Hispanic voters, particularly younger men who may not follow politics closely, but are frustrated by their economic situations and drawn to Trumps tough-guy persona.

Hes also argued the indictments he faces in New York and elsewhere make him relatable to Black voters frustrated by the criminal justice system, a statement that was harshly criticized by Bidens allies.

The rally comes during a pause in Trumps criminal hush money trial. Court will resume following the Memorial Day weekend with closing arguments. The jury will then decide whether Trump will become the first former president in the nations history to be criminally convicted and whether he will be the first major party presidential candidate to run as a convicted felon.

Several longtime figures in New York politics  both Republican and Democrat  argued theres good reason for Trump to go to the Bronx and other majority Black and Latino communities.

Ed Cox, chairman of the New York Republican Party, noted that the GOP, in an upset victory, picked up a city council seat from the borough last year for the first time in 40 years. He pointed to the current political climate, with some voters pessimistic about the economy and viewing Biden as weakened.

As chairman of the party here in New York, Im not going to write off New York. Were going to go for it, he said.

Trump has often pointed to the success of former Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Republican who ran for governor in 2022 against Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul. Zeldin ultimately lost the race by an unusually close margin.

During his campaign, Zeldin appeared in the Bronx alongside the Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr., a former state senator and city council member who had urged Trump to hold a rally in the borough and held a pro-Trump event there Saturday.

While other presidential candidates have visited and met with local leaders, Diaz commended Trump for being the first and only president or presidential candidate who has shown respect to minority communities in the Bronx by holding a rally.

Diaz, who remains a Democrat despite backing Trump, said he believes there are others in the borough who will also cross the aisle, pointing to concerns over an influx of migrants that has dominated headlines in New York over budget and safety concerns.

People are fed up, he said. Democrats say they are there to help us  but our people are doing worse under the Democratic control.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that campaigning in that part of the city makes sense for Trump.

There is a concentration of Latino ministers who are pro-life in the Bronx and they are mobilized and energized, said Cuomo, who chose to appear with Diaz in 2022 as he floated a political comeback months after the Democrat resigned after being accused of sexual harassment by at least 11 women.

Cuomo, who has denied the allegations, said: Its not really indicative of New York, but there is a lot of energy on that issue in that part of the Bronx.

The Bronx was once the most Democratic borough in the city. Barack Obama won 91.2% of the boroughs vote in 2012, the highest anywhere in the state. Biden won 83.5% of the borough in 2020. Trump garnered only 16% of the vote.

The area Trump will be visiting is overwhelmingly non-white  a departure from most of his rally locations. About 65% of residents are Hispanic and 31% Black, according to U.S. Census data. About 35% live below the poverty line.

Trump will not be the first Republican presidential candidate to visit the borough. Ronald Reagan held an event in the South Bronx as he ran against Democratic President Jimmy Carter in 1980, delivering a speech at a vacant lot on Charlotte Street. Reagan, according to a New York Times report from the time, likened the area to London in World War II after the German blitz and accused Carter of failing to deliver on promised revitalization efforts. Carter had visited the same spot several years earlier, vowing improvements.

Reagans visit was interrupted by protesters, who chanted, You aint going to do nothing, and Go back to California.

Adam Solis, the chairman of the Black Caucus of the New York Young Republican Club, which helped Trumps campaign organize the event, said the visit to a park where he played growing up shows Trump cares about what he dubbed the forgotten borough.

You can imagine being a Trump supporter in the Bronx. You can get ostracized sometimes, said Solis, who still lives in the borough.

He also called on any protesters who might choose to demonstrate to remain peaceful.

I wish any protesters the best. I hope they have fun sharing their views, he said. But I just hope they tread lightly. Because disrespect is not accepted in the Bronx.

(AP)
A Rasmussen Reports survey has found that a majority of likely voters in the upcoming presidential election support deporting all illegal immigrants from the United States, rather than granting them amnesty.

According to the poll, 54% of likely voters favor a policy of deporting all 11-22 million illegal immigrants, with 36% strongly supporting such a measure. The support for deportation is particularly high among working and lower-middle-class Americans, who are most likely to compete with illegal immigrants for jobs. Among those without a college education, 60% support deportation.

On the other hand, those earning $200,000 or more per year are strongly opposed to deportation, with 63% against such a policy. This group is likely to be the ones hiring illegal immigrants for below-market wages.

Additionally, the poll found that 53% of likely voters oppose granting amnesty to illegal immigrants, which would provide them with green cards and eventual citizenship. Only 41% support amnesty. Again, there is a clear divide along socioeconomic lines, with those earning $30,000 to $50,000 and $50,000 to $100,000 per year opposing amnesty by 55% and 51% respectively. In contrast, 60% of those earning $200,000 or more support amnesty.

The polls findings are positive for former President Donald Trump, who has promised to implement the largest domestic deportation operation in American history. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has long advocated for amnesty, calling illegal immigrants model citizens and promoting the policy at a recent White House event.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson have accused the Obama Administrations State Department of preventing the FBI from arresting individuals connected to Irans illicit nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, including known terrorists.

According to unclassified FBI emails obtained from whistleblowers, the State Department blocked multiple arrests in 2015 and 2016 to avoid jeopardizing the Joint Plan of Action, the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. The Senators wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, The records provided to our offices show that the Obama/Biden administrations State Department, under the leadership of John Kerry, actively and persistently interfered with FBI operations pertaining to lawful arrests of known terrorists, members of Iranian proliferation networks, and other criminals providing material support for Irans nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The emails reveal at least eight instances where the FBI was prevented from making arrests, with six of those instances resulting in the loss of the opportunity to arrest the main subject. One of the lost subjects was on the Terrorism Watch List, and another returned to Iran. In one case, the State Department blocked the FBIs plan to arrest a subject mid-flight, forcing them to leave the US immediately upon arrival.

Grassley and Johnson wrote, States actions, at the direction of former Secretary Kerry, endangered national security, hamstrung the FBIs law enforcement efforts, and counteracted our governments stance against Iran. An FBI counterintelligence division agent wrote in an email, We are all beside ourselves on asking the field to stand down on a layup arrest Our hands are tied.

The Senators have demanded records from the email archives of Kerry, CIA Director Bill Burns, Blinken, and other officials by June 4 as part of their investigation into the State Departments actions during this period.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
An article published by the Wall Street Journals Editorial Board this week lays bare the absurdity and implausibility of the arrest warrants for Israeli leaders announced by the International Criminal Court on Monday and slams President Joe Biden for rescinding President Trumps 2021 order threatening sanctions against anyone involved in ICC actions against an American, Israeli or other nonconsenting ally.

As the article notes,  Congress has long authorized a President to use all means necessary and appropriate to resist such ICC actions.

The International Criminal Court has lost more than the plot. In requesting arrest warrants on Monday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense chief, alongside a trio of Hamas leaders responsible for Oct. 7, the ICC has lost sight of the crucial distinction between the death squad and the bomber pilot, on which the possibility of just war depends. President Biden is right to call the courts action outrageous, but the grotesque false equivalence demands more than tough words.

On one side are Israels democratic leaders, waging a war to reclaim hostages and root out terrorists in Gaza. On the other side is Hamas, which precipitated the war with its mass murder, rape and kidnapping on Oct. 7, and whose officials pledge to do it again and again. Lumping them together is a slander for the history books. Imagine some international body prosecuting Tojo and Roosevelt, or Hitler and Churchill, amid World War II.

The defects in the ICCs allegations against Israel are many. Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan alleges starvation of civilians as a method of warfare. Hamas lists 31 Gazans whom it claims died of malnutrition and dehydration in seven months of war. Thats out of 2.3 million whom Egypt wont let out over its border.

Israel has facilitated the entry of 542,570 tons of aid, and 28,255 aid trucks, in an unprecedented effort to supply an enemys civilians, even while Hamas steals the aid and tries to frustrate delivery. Israel has begged Egypt for two weeks to let in aid at Rafah, while Egypt refuses. Is this the behavior of an Israeli government bent on starving Gazans?

The ICC claims Israel is intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population, another allegation thats upside-down. Israel has done more to prevent civilian casualties in war than any military in history, John Spencer, chair of urban warfare at West Point, has said, setting a standard that will be both hard and potentially problematic to repeat. If nations cant wage just wars, evil prevails, meaning the ICC isnt giving a win only to Hamas.

While Gaza is a war zone and ICC staff are busy in Ukraine, the prosecutor has had no way to conduct a serious investigation. Mr. Khan had assured U.S. Senators that an inquiry would take months, and it would hear from the Israelis. ICC staff were supposed to land in Israel for preliminary discussions on Monday. Instead, Mr. Khan announced his move on CNN.

The ICC also lacks jurisdiction. Israel, like the U.S., never signed the treaty that created it. To permit prosecutions of Israel, the court twisted its rules to summon a State of Palestine, with borders defined by fiat, which it could call a member state.

The ICC is supposed to intervene as a court of last resort, in the absence of national judiciaries able to hold leaders to account. Think of Hamas, whose courts are rubber stamps. Israel has an independent court that is renowned for its activist, antigovernment tilt.

Mr. Biden denounced the ICCs move Monday, but will he back it up? In 2021 he rescinded President Trumps executive order threatening sanctions against anyone involved in ICC actions against an American, Israeli or other nonconsenting ally. Congress has long authorized a President to use all means necessary and appropriate to resist such ICC actions.

The ICCs budget, coming largely from Japan, Germany, France, the U.K., Italy and South Korea, should be in jeopardy. How can these countries host or train with U.S. troops while funding a body that threatens to prosecute them without jurisdiction?

Mr. Khan was warned of the consequences of subordinating the law in pursuit of Israel. The judges who will consider his arrest warrants are being asked to sign the ICCs epitaph.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton spoke to several media outlets following the unprecedented announcement by the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that he is filing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders along with senior Hamas murderers.

As I first wrote in 1998, the International Criminal Court is fundamentally illegitimate, Bolton told The Washington Post. Its illegitimacy is why America unsigned the courts founding Rome Statute in 2002, and has kept its distance since.

Now, reawakening from a protracted irrelevance, the ICC has intervened in an ongoing conflict in which a vibrant democracy is defending itself from barbarians, seeking arrest warrants for both Hamas terrorists and for key Israeli officials on highly contentious charges. The ICCs existence rests on the fantasy that a court drifting somewhere in the international ether, untethered to any constitutional structure, unchecked by distinct legislative or executive authorities, and utterly unable to enforce its decisions, will somehow impose order on an anarchic world.

But the hard reality is that the ICC is at best meaningless, and at worst dangerous. For Americans, a purported court supervising its own prosecutors merges executive and judicial functions, which our forefathers rejected as dangerous to liberty. Certainly, the ICCs Assembly of States Parties doesnt supervise the court. And the absence of jury trials is obviously unacceptable.

ICC acolytes argue that complementarity protects sovereign nations against ICC overreach, by supposedly deferring to the states courts to prosecute any war crimes. But complementarity is merely an academic pretense that this prosecutor has revealed to be no protection at all: If the ICC can so easily second-guess the decisions of a democratic, rule-of-law state, then the ICC, not Israel, has controlling sovereignty.

Whats more, intervening while the war rages starkly reveals the prosecutors irresponsibility. Amid intense combat, with escalatory risks readily apparent, the indictment might well prolong the war. How wars end is a matter of power and politics; the pretensions of unaccountable judges at The Hague play no role.

Israel should receive full U.S. backing. Jerusalem and Washington should not cooperate in any way with the ICC, which would simply provide it a patina of legitimacy. In 2018, I laid out a road map for sanctions against the ICC if it pursued the United States or its allies, which Congress is now considering. If this is to be war with the ICC, let it begin here. The ICC has finally and irreversibly begun digging its own grave.

Bolton told Newsmax that the International Criminal Court is a fundamentally illegitimate institution. Its a fantasy idea that sits out there in the atmosphere somewhere, with no accountability, no control over it, no checks.

And you know historically people have referred to Israel as the canary in the coal mine for the United States and thats exactly whats going on here. When a prosecutor can go after a rule-of-law democratic state in the middle of a war, with no oversight, no accountability at all  its only a matter of time until they come after the US. 

Its a thoroughly bad idea from top to bottom and the fact that it has intervened in the middle of a war, without anybody who has stakes in the war, like the US or anybody else on the Security Council of the UN weighing in  may well prolong the war, may well make a resolution more difficult. So the only silver lining here is that this ought to cement the US never having anything to do with the ICC. And I support whats going on in Congress now. In fact, I proposed it during my time as the National Security adviser  to put sanctions on the ICC if it comes after the US and its allies.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
A bakery in Syndey, Australia baked a custom Hamas cake and cupcakes for a boys fourth! birthday and proudly shared the finished products on its social media accounts

Oven Bakery By Fufu deleted the photos after the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) publicized the story. Following an uproar and a call to launch an investigation into child abuse, it deleted its social media accounts entirely.

The head of the AJA, Robert Gregory stated: Islamic extremism and radicalization of youth is not just a problem for the Jewish community. Its a threat to all Australians. Australia has seen several recent incidents of Muslim youth allegedly stabbing or plotting to attack other Australians. Indoctrination starts at a young age and is similar to what is seen across the Middle East. This is nothing short of child terrorist grooming.

The head of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Alex Ryvchin said: It takes a rare kind of psychosis to want to teach infant children that Hamas terrorists are to be admired and emulated. If this is what is happening in some Sydney homes, we should prepare for a generation of violent extremists.

Shirion Collective, an account that exposes antisemitism in the media, called to investigate the bakery for violating child protection laws, stating: In Sydney, Australia, a bakery known as Oven Bakery Fufu is currently under fire for featuring images that glorify terrorism and promote extremist ideologies, specifically indoctrinating a four-year-old child named Omar.

This is a clear violation of Australian child protection laws. According to Australian law, child abuse includes acts that result in physical, psychological, or emotional harm. Emotional abuse involves serious psychological harm from a child experiencing or being exposed to family violence, including indoctrination into extremist beliefs and terrorist activities.

The images from Oven Bakery Fufu depict a child dressed in a keffiyeh and military/terror camouflage, celebrating his birthday with a cake adorned with terrorist symbols. This indoctrination corrupts and terrorizes the child, fitting the legal definition of child abuse. We spoke to a lawyer who confirmed that this is definitely something the Australian authorities should investigate.

The Australian government designates Hamas as a terrorist organization, making the promotion of its symbols and ideologies a severe violation of both civil and criminal laws. The childs participation in such activities is a grave concern, and authorities must intervene to ensure the childs safety and well-being.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Looking forward to interacting with Latvians this coming Friday, 24 May and discussing our common future in the European Union, in the light of our upcoming elections.

10.00 Jolanta Gulbe Paskevica, Welcome and open, "Rise and Shine

10.05 Valeriu Ghiletchi, President of ECPM (European Christian Political Movement): Family as the Cornerstone of Society

10.35 Ricards Slesers presents ECPM campaign video

10.45 Jeff Fountain, Director of Schuman Centre for European Studies): Ad fontes - back to the roots

11.15 Vladimir Gjorchev, G4 Strategies and Solutions: Demography in Latvia, trends and numbers

11.40 Aiga Rotberga, Founder of Christian Medical Association, Gynecologist-Obstetrician: Value of Life

11.55 Coffee break

12.15 Discussion, Q & A
Mourning struck the community of Beit Shemesh on Wednesday, as news spread of the tragic death of two-year-old Noa Abitbol ah, the daughter of Rabbi Alexander Elkana Abitbol and his wife Naama.

According to reports, Noa was inadvertently left in a hot car on Rechov Rabi Brachya for hours. She was found unresponsive and was rushed to Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem, where doctors attempted resuscitation but unfortunately failed to revive her.

A MDA spokesmen reported receiving a call at 2:07 p.m. local time about a toddler who had been left in a closed car for an extended period. MDA medics and paramedics provided medical treatment and transported Noa to the hospital in critical condition, performing CPR en route.

Medics described the scene, saying, We arrived and saw a two-year-old girl unconscious with signs of heat stroke. She was very warm to the touch, and we gave her medical treatment, including cooling and advanced resuscitation operations.

The heart-wrenching levaya was held at the Shamgar funeral home, followed by Kevura on Har Hamenuchos.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Germanys government has rebuffed Israels appeal to reject the International Criminal Courts (ICC) arrest warrant against Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant. True to his Nazi past, Chancellor Olaf Scholzs spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, confirmed that Germany would execute the ICCs arrest order, stating, Of course. Yes, we abide by the law.

Israels Ambassador to Berlin, Ron Prosor, had made a dramatic appeal on social media, urging the German government to reject the ICCs legitimacy. Prosor criticized the ICCs Chief Prosecutor for equating Israels democratic government with Hamas, saying it was outrageous and demonizing and delegitimizing Israel and the Jewish people.

Germanys response has sparked controversy, given its Nazi history and previous pledge to ensure Israels security. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel had declared that Israels security was part of Germanys national security and interests.

In related news, a German civil servant, Michael Blume, tasked with fighting antisemitism, has been accused of blaming Israel for Hamass October 7 mass murder and sympathizing with the ICC case against Israel.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The IDF on Wednesday said that IDF forces operating along the Philadelphi Corridor in the Rafah area found loaded rocket launchers.

The launchers, which were prepared to fire at Israel, were found in eastern Rafah near the Egyptian border.

The forces destroyed all the launchers.

IDF forces have taken control of over half of the Philadelphi Corridor, the border area between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

Since the beginning of the operation in Rafah, IDF forces uncovered over 700 tunnels in the city, including 50 colossal tunnels the size of motorways that cross into Egypt. There is no chance that Egypt was not aware of these tunnels.

Additionally, CNN revealed earlier this week that Egyptian subterfuge had torpedoed any chances for a hostage deal as a senior Egyptian intelligence official had duped the US and Israel by secretly making changes to the deal they approved before presenting it to Hamas.

Furthermore, while the world blames Israel for the humanitarian crisis, in Gaza, Egypt continues to refuse to open the Rafah crossing to allow aid into the Strip and heavily secures its border to ensure that not even one Gazan refugee enters its territory.

Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy Division at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told the UNSC earlier this week that the Rafah crossing remains inaccessible for humanitarian cargo, fuel, and personnel movement. Around 82,000 metric tons of supplies are stranded on the Egypt side of the crossing with food spoiling and medicines expiring. Fuel shortages, meanwhile, impact the functioning of bakeries, hospitals, water wells, and other critical infrastructure.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The members of the war cabinet convened on Wednesday night and held a discussion on the possibilities of a hostage deal following the release of the harrowing video of female observation soldiers being abducted from the Nachal Oz base on October 7th.

The Prime Ministers Office issued a statement after the meeting saying that the war cabinet instructed the negotiation team to continue negotiations for the return of the hostages.

According to reports, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu directed Maj. Gen. (Res.) Nitzan Alon, one of the heads of the negotiation teams, to offer a concrete proposal similar to the proposal Egypt made early in May that was not rejected outright by Hamas.

Meanwhile, the role of Egypt as a mediator was thrown into question after CNN revealed earlier this week that Egyptian subterfuge had torpedoed any chances for a hostage deal as a senior Egyptian intelligence official had duped the US and Israel by secretly making changes to the deal they approved before presenting it to Hamas, deeply angering CIA Director Bill Burns, who almost blew a gasket about being duped.

According to the report, senior Egyptian intelligence official General Ahmed Abdel Khalek reached an agreement with the US and Israel on a deal and then presented a softer version to Hamas.

A source close to the Prime Ministers Office told Ynet on Tuesday that based on his experience with Egypt, what CNN revealed showcases Middle Eastern conduct that Americans simply cannot understand. They sell one version to Israel, a softer version to Hamas, pass the first version to the Americans, and pray to Allah it works.

Some Israelis view the release of the horrifying video as a win for Hamas, which deliberately abducted as many Israelis as they could during the October 7th assault to use as bargaining chips.

Two mothers of male hostages in Gaza, Efrat Mor and Ditza Or, the mothers of Eitan Mor and Avinatan Or, sent a message of support to the female soldiers mothers, adding that the video shows that Hamas is the devil and we must not make deals with the devil.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
IDF soldiers from the Netzach Yehudah battalion launched a targeted raid in recent days in the Beit Hanoun area in the northern Gaza Strip, the IDF stated on Thursday.

The troops are eliminating terrorists and locating and destroying terrorist infrastructure, including terror tunnels.

The soldiers are continuing operations in the area on Thursday. The troops, in cooperation with the Air Force, have attacked many terror targets, including an anti-tank position, a military structure, and a sniper position.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Last year, I was browsing in a charity book shop and saw a hardback copy of Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. When I looked inside, it revealed it was a first edition.

I bought it for 9 (and read it), and it now sits alongside one of my favourite books of all time  In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote, which was gifted to me by a dear friend of mine for a special milestone. This is also a first edition.

They take pride of place on my bookshelf, but was wondering how much they might be worth  when I looked on eBay, prices fluctuated massively  and whether they could grow in value. Via email.

Novel returns? This week, our expert valuer Dan Hatfield runs the rule over two first edition hardback books

Lee Boyce, This is Money editor, replies: Welcome to our new Modern Treasures series, where our expert valuer - Dan Hatfield - runs the rule over YOUR items and collections, to give you a rough price.

If you'd like to submit your items, find out how to do so at the box at the bottom of the story. Enjoy.

Dan Hatfield, expert valuer, replies: I couldn't have dreamt of a better way to kick off my brand new column than by delving into the mysterious, often confusing, yet always interesting world of books and publishing.

Just recently I presented a segment on ITV's This Morning where I was discussing the value of a first edition Harry Potter book, so it won't be a surprise that following this, I received a tsunami of requests from people wanting me to ascertain whether their books were worth anything.

So let's turn to our reader. Firstly, Jurassic Park  a wonderful book I have thumbed through myself, many times  and also, In Cold Blood, which I haven't had the joy of reading yet, but it is on my list.

With over 155million different book titles in circulation, it's hardly surprising that many people can't identify whether they have a book that is worth significant money.

But more importantly, how do we know what makes a book valuable or not?

Broadly speaking, there isn't a hard set rule here, many factors determine the market price of a book, whether that's condition, scarcity or demand. So, you really need to look at each book individually.

With these two books, I know that they are first editions which can hold a decent value, but first editions don't always mean money. So what is a first edition and how can you tell if you have one?

In basic terms, a first edition is the very first book(s) produced for a title and distributed commercially.

But, as books grow in popularity, they are often produced in other countries, by other publishing houses - these books can authentically be called 'first editions' but the value will likely not be as a high as a 'true first edition' (the books produced on the original publication date by the original publisher).

You also have multiple print runs, often referred to as impressions, so, the first edition first print will usually be the most valuable.

As print numbers continue the value will decrease, so even if you have a first edition, it may be a 3rd or 4th print and therefore is less likely to hold any significant value.

It's also worth pointing out 'book club editions', as whilst these can be first editions, they are created for book subscription retailers and often produced using cheaper materials to save money, therefore holding much less value.

To understand if you have a first edition, you need to look at the below four things that can all be found within the very first pages of a book.

Five books to look out for at charity shops Although not the big hitters like Harry Potter which you are much more likely to come across, I've made it nice and eclectic to cover all tastes. So look out for first editions of - Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh, 1993 - 300 to 400 - The Moment and Other Essays by Virginia Woolf, 1947 - 300 to 500 - The Carpet People by Terry Pratchett, 1971 - 250-400 - The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon, 1965 - 300 to 500 - My African Journey by Winston Churchill, 1908 - 300-500

1. The Publisher

Research who originally published the book in question. This needs to be the publishing house of the very first book in its country of origin.

2. The Copyright Date

This is within the first few pages amongst all the other legal and technical information. You want the copyright date in your book to be the same as the publishing date.

3. Edition Number

Sometimes this is written on the first pages but publishers each have their own policy with regards to this, so often it may not be that easy to identify.

4. The ISBN Number

This is clearly identifiable and will consist of 10 numbers if it was printed pre-2007.

After this year, it will have 13 numbers. It would take a whole other article for me to explain all the numbers and their meaning but basically you are looking for the lowest number to indicate print run.

A '1' will confirm a first edition. So, with all this information now in our locker, does this mean your books are worth big bucks?

Roarsome: Before becoming one of the most successful film franchises of all time, Jurassic Park was one of the most popular fiction titles of the early 1990s

Jurassic Park

Let's start with Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park.

The very first books were produced in 1990, in a limited run for Franklin Library, signed by the author and bound in beautiful charcoal leather with a gold gilt design.

Although it's never been disclosed exactly how many were produced, we do know that there were few so demand and value is high. These editions can go for figures in the late hundreds and early thousands of pounds.

After this copy was published, the first trade ones were produced in the US by Alfred A Knopf (also in 1990). They have the phrase 'first trade edition' on the copyright page. Many collectors consider this to be the 'true first edition' - these go for around 60 to 120.

Upon examination, beneath the dust jacket of your copy is an off white book. So, straightaway I can eliminate this as a Franklin copy or a 'true first edition' because they are a majestic blue.

Gazing at the copyright page I see that this was produced in 1991, the same year as the copyright.

It was published by the Random Century Group in Britain, so I can be pretty sure it was the first UK Edition.

When I looked at the ISBN number, there is a 1 in the sequence to confirm my beliefs.

So now, for what it's worth  as I have already said, books hold their market value on many factors.

One big one, is its condition and let's remember, books are made to be loved, enjoyed and poured over, but constant handling can cause stains and rips and reduce their value - and yours clearly has some wear and tear.

Another problem we face is marketplaces such as Ebay and Etsy where the seller can set the advertised price at whatever they want  for this title, I saw prices ranging from 20 to a bonkers 2,000.

It wasn't just private sellers asking for silly money as well, what appear to be long established book dealers are also asking for prices that are just not reflective of the book's true value.

These unauthenticated prices will do nothing but confuse and camouflage a book's true value, which is why you can never trust one site.

Gary Donn, an auctioneer friend of mine who has sold a plethora of books in his time, told me that a lot of these sites often have books priced at three to four times their true value.

With everything I have seen (the edition, UK print, condition and market research), I would be confident that the reader's Jurassic Park would generate interest at around 40 - 200.

The reason for such a variable is demand I have found some that have gone for the higher side of this estimate and some bizarrely lower.

If I were to nail my colours to the mast, I would value this book realistically at about 40-80 which may not fund your retirement, but is a fairly 'roarsome' return on your 9 investment.

Truman Capote: In Cold Blood is a non-fiction novel detailing a murder case from the late 1950s

In Cold Blood

With regards to Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, I would also be confident to conclude it is a first print edition.

Again, condition is king and this book looks in fabulous health, despite being published in the 1960s.

Having done my thorough research and market value analysis, I would value this at 80 to 120.

If you were to sell either of these books, you need to think cleverly about where to attract the best price.

If you were to sell either of these books, you need to think cleverly about where to attract the best price.

For instance, I believe you'd be best placed to sell Jurassic Park on Ebay as this marketplace attracts collectors looking for a 1990s classic.

But with In Cold Blood, I would put this in a physical auction where it is likely to make you much more than an online marketplace.

I'm guessing you won't want to sell either of these books just yet as they sit pride of place on your bookshelf  and they will likely increase in value.

I am seeing the value of books take big jumps in value as the world faces uncertain economic times and book production falls, meaning many investors are now turning to literature to broaden their portfolios.

So, if you love reading and want to build up decent investment for the future, your hobby could be the answer you've been looking for.
Takeover target Anglo American has agreed to enter talks with suitor BHP after rejecting the Australian miners latest 39billion offer.

The London-listed firm, whose empire includes De Beers diamonds and a potash mine in Yorkshire as well as vast copper and iron ore deposits, has given its larger rival another week to thrash out the terms of a deal.

It marked a significant concession by the Anglo board, which until recently had refused to engage with BHP, having rebuffed two earlier bids worth 31billion and 34billion.

The decision to enter talks could pave the way for a deal to be agreed.

Anglo yesterday said that it also turned down the third offer as it again included a demand for the sale of its South African business, which has become a major stumbling block.

Takeover target: Anglo American - whose empire includes De Beers diamonds - has given its larger rival BHP another week to thrash out the terms of a deal

It comes a week after the FTSE 100 company revealed its own radical restructuring to break itself up in a bid to fight off the takeover attempt.

BHP, the worlds largest listed miner, now has until 5pm on Wednesday, May 29 to make a formal bid or walk away from a merger that would be the largest ever mining sector deal.

City analysts previously said a bid of 40billion or more could seal a takeover.

Anglo chairman Stuart Chambers said the board rejected the offer as it does not address concerns about the structure.

He said the bid was too complex and placed too much risk on Anglo shareholders.

Under BHPs proposals, it would spin off Anglos South African platinum and iron ore units before buying the remaining assets, including its coveted copper mines in Peru and Chile.

Anglo has estimated that this could take more than 18 months. Multiple engagements with the BHP team have not yet been able to resolve the concerns on these issues, Chambers said.

However, the board is willing to continue to engage with BHP and its advisers on this topic, he added.

BHP said that it has made progress on the issue and was hopeful that a resolution will be reached in the next seven days.

Chief executive Mike Henry said: BHP looks forward to engaging with the board of Anglo American to explore this unique and compelling opportunity to bring together two highly complementary, world-class businesses.

Anglo has itself unveiled plans to spin off the Johannesburg-listed platinum unit but wants to hold on to its Kumba iron ore business.

Under proposals for Anglo to remain a stand-alone company, it would also sell diamond arm De Beers and its steel-making, coal and nickel businesses.

Meanwhile, the future of its Woodsmith mine in North Yorkshire is at risk.
Shares sale: At its peak the taxpayer stake in Natwest stood at 84%

Plans to sell Government shares in NatWest have been thrown into doubt by the announcement of a General Election in July.

Officials had been working towards a retail offer some time next month  ahead of half-year results in July.

But now June will see an election campaign in full swing, meaning the plan seems likely to be put on ice. Officials last night remained tight-lipped ahead of a possible Treasury announcement.

Planning by UK Government Investments (UKGI), which manages the Government stake, has been under way for months.

Advisers on the project include Barclays and ad agency M&C Saatchi, brought on board to lead a marketing campaign ahead of a launch which may have been just a couple of weeks away.

But one source acknowledged the sale would not be going ahead this summer. Another told Sky News it was now in the deep freeze.

It will then be for the next Government, which polls overwhelmingly suggest will be led by Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, to decide whether to revive the sale.

That raises the prospect of Labour overseeing a process that echoes the privatisations of the 1980s, epitomised by the Tell Sid ad campaign, when British Gas and British Telecom were sold off.

A Labour spokesman was yet to reply to a request for comment last night. Gary Greenwood, banking analyst at Shore Capital, said the election could potentially scupper the share sale as it leaves a very short time frame to complete it.

He added: A new government, should that be Labour (as seems likely) may want to go down a different route.

The Treasury has owned a major stake in the lender since bailing it out during the financial crisis in 2008.

At its peak, the taxpayer stake stood at 84 per cent.

It is now just under 27 per cent and the Government committed to exiting its shareholding by the 2025/26 financial year.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed in Marchs Budget that a public share sale would proceed this summer. NatWest shares are up 43 per cent this year.
Target: Hargreaves Lansdown said it has received two approaches from a consortium of buyers

Britains biggest investment platform has become the latest London-listed company to be targeted by foreign bidders.

After the market closed last night, Hargreaves Lansdown said it had received two approaches from a consortium of buyers regarding a possible takeover.

The latest offer  worth 985p a share or 4.67billion  was unanimously rejected by the board on the basis it substantially undervalues Hargreaves Lansdown and its future prospects.

But the suitors  private equity firm CVC, Nordic Capital and Platinum Ivy, which is owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA)  were considering a fresh offer.

Hargreaves Lansdown is just the latest London-listed company to be targeted by foreign buyers this year, with the value of bids from overseas topping 70billion.

The swoop became public just hours after mining giant Anglo American rejected a third bid from larger rival BHP worth 39billion.

But it agreed to enter talks with the Australian group in a sign that a deal may be on the cards after a drawn-out bid battle.

Others to have been approached in recent weeks include Royal Mail owner International Distributions Services (IDS), packaging giant DS Smith and cyber-security group Darktrace.

This week has also seen bids for the video game company Keywords Studios and energy firm XP Power.

Hargreaves shares, which rose 5 per cent, or 46.2p, to 979p, will be in sharp focus when trading resumes in London today.

The FTSE 250 firms stock, which has tumbled since the pandemic, has risen by a third this year to its highest level since August 2022.

Although it is considering another bid, the CVC-led consortium warned there can be no certainty that any firm offer will be made.

Under takeover rules, it has until June 19 to announce whether it wants to make a firm offer or walk away.

The assault on UK plc has fuelled concerns that British companies are undervalued and face a feeding frenzy of merger and acquisition activity.

A further concern is the lack of companies joining the stock market through initial public offerings (IPOs).One analyst even warned that the London stock market was facing a death by a thousand cuts as listed firms bow to foreign takeovers.
The boss of Marks & Spencer yesterday declared the company is in its strongest financial health for more than a quarter of a century as profits soared.

Unveiling annual results described as dazzling by one analyst, Stuart Machin said were at the beginnings of a new M&S as it appeals to a broader base of shoppers.

And in the clearest sign yet that its revival plan is paying off, the High Street stalwart said that profits jumped 58 per cent to 716million in the year to the end of March.

We have wind in our sails, confidence our plan is working and a clear vision for the future.

Theres so much more opportunity ahead of us, said Machin, who has continued to implement a turnaround plan kicked off by chairman and retail veteran Archie Norman.

In the pink: Marks & Spencer, which is currently projecting a 'summer cool' image, has seen profits jump 58% to 716m in the year to the end of March.

Both arms of the business saw goods fly, with food sales 13 per cent higher while clothing and home was up 5.3 per cent.

M&S shares rose almost 10 per cent to 300p in early trading  the highest level for six years  before closing up by 5.2 per cent, or 14.2p, at 288p yesterday.

Investors lauded the progress as the business said it would dish out a dividend of 3p a share, its first award since 2019.

This is an incredibly impressive set of results, proving that the transition strategy put in place by the current management team is really starting to deliver, said Ian Lance at Redwheel, its third-largest shareholder.

What is so exciting is that it feels like this turnaround strategy still has some way to go and yet this is not yet being reflected in the share price as many investors remain sceptical of the Marks recovery story.

After years of its fashion lines being derided as dowdy, the retailer has bolstered its credentials and managed to entice new and younger shoppers.

It has also swung back into style  thanks to star-studded partnerships such as with actress Sienna Miller and Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham.

On the food side, new customers have been flocking to stores from a broad spectrum of retailers even for their big weekly shops, Machin said.

Bumper sales means it is now hot on the heels of Middle England rival Waitrose.

Turnaround: Chief exec Stuart Machin said were at the beginnings of a new M&S as it appeals to a broader base of shoppers

This has helped the retailer into its healthiest financial position since 1997, Machin said. But he promised that there was more to come as it looks to open nine new food stores and refurbish existing stores.

He also hopes its clothing division will poach more shoppers too, as its ranges become more relevant to more people more of the time.

M&S plans to stock more third-party fashion brands after already selling big names like Sweaty Betty, Adidas and Hunter.

Machin said: Were creating a very different M&S culture that is sleeves-rolled-up, even closer to customers and closer to colleagues. We always aim higher and tell it as it is.

Its a matter of being positively dissatisfied.

Mark Crouch, an analyst at investment platform Etoro, said that the results made for dazzling reading.

He added: In what has become one of the most emphatic turnarounds seen in British retail in recent years, the M&S comeback story is turning into a fairytale for investors.
The United State believes partnering with Africa is not only mutually beneficial, but also essential to its national security interests.

It is sobering to consider the decline in Africa over the past year, especially the outbreak of civil war in Sudan, the intensification of the long running conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and the rise of military governments in the Sahel, noted Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Molly Phee in recent congressional testimony:

We must ask why this is happening and where we should invest our finite resources for maximum impact. First, democracy scholars have documented worldwide a recession of democratic governance and a growth of authoritarian power. While acute in Africa, Africa is not alone.

The complex conflict in eastern DRC can be traced to the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The collapse of governments in the Sahel is linked to the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. The U.S. has employed diplomacy to help bring peace to the region, said Assistant Secretary Phee:

In response, the administration named Tom Perriello to the position of Special Envoy for Sudan, enlisted the unique capabilities of [Director of National Intelligence] Director Avril Hanes to promote de-escalation in eastern DRC and deepen collaboration with Nigeria and coastal West Africa, including by drawing on the resources of the Global Fragility Act. We are employing the new African Democratic and Political Transitions Initiative in West Africa.

On the economic front, the United States is steadily elevating its commercial engagement with Africa, said Assistant Secretary Phee:

We have fostered $15 billion in deals announced at the American Business Forum, and ... we hosted a U.S. Africa Business Summit and announced an additional 2 billion in U.S. government investment from some of our key economic instruments.

We provide substantial security assistance to Somalia and to Kenya to combat al-Shabab and to Nigeria to confront ISIS and Boko Haram, said Ms. Phee. We remain the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance.

Finally, the U.S. will continue to collaborate with Africans to confront foreign mercenaries, propaganda, corruption, and Russian and Chinese interference. The United States remains committed to partnering with Africa to overcome all these challenges.
National Grid plans to raise around 7billion from investors as it gears up for a 60billion investment in energy network infrastructure.

A fully underwritten rights issue of 1.09billion new shares, priced at 645p-a-piece, will equate to seven new shares for every 24 existing shares, National Grid said in a stock market statement on Thursday.

Chief executive John Pettigrew said the group will invest 60billion in the five years to the end of March 2029, which is nearly double its investment over the last five years.

He claimed the plans would help reduce consumer bills 'in the long term'.

Rights issue: National Grid plans to raise approximately 7bn through a fully underwritten rights issue of 1.09bn new shares

National Grid's share price fell 8.21 per cent or 92.55p to 1,034.95p following today's updates. The group's shares have fallen by around 6 per cent in the last year.

National Grid had previously proposed a 58billion investment programme to boost grid networks beyond 2030 in order to accommodate expected growth in electricity demand and an increase in renewable power projects.

The UK has a target to decarbonise its power sector by 2035.

National Grid said on Thursday: 'The Board unanimously believes this comprehensive financing plan will allow the Group to fund a significant increase in capital investment, maintain its strong investment grade credit rating, deliver for customers, and continue to achieve attractive shareholders returns.'

Pettigrew, said: 'Today is a defining moment for National Grid as we announce 60billion of investment, cementing our position as a leader in the energy transition in the UK and US northeast.

'On both sides of the Atlantic, governments and regulators are moving with increased urgency to attract the levels of investment required to meet their decarbonisation targets.

'As economies become increasingly digital, electrified and decarbonised, the need for energy infrastructure has rarely been more pressing.

'Our investment will unlock significant economic growth and, by the end of the decade, National Grid is expected to support over 60,000 more jobs, while also decarbonising our energy systems, bolstering security of supply, and reducing consumer bills in the long term.'

The plans came as National Grid, which runs Britain's energy systems and operates electricity and gas businesses in New York and Massachusetts, reported a pre-tax profit from continuing operations of 3.05billion for the year to 31 March, down 15 per cent year-on-year.

The group told investors it plans to maintain a 'progressive total level of dividend', growing from current levels of around 2.2million for the year to 31 March 2024.

It added: 'This equates to a final DPS of 39.12 pence, leading to a total DPS of 58.52 pence for FY24. This will then be rebased to take account of the new shares issued following the Rights Issue.'

Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said National Grid is 'moving fast to plant itself at the heart of the electric transition'.

He added that the 60billion investment 'should deliver annual asset growth of around 10 per cent', but 'the plans wont come cheap'.

Chiekrie said: 'In return for investing those billions to maintain and upgrade its infrastructure, regulators allow National Grid to earn a reasonable profit.

'That helped underlying operating profits climb 6 per cent higher because of rate increases and higher allowed revenues in its UK Transmission business.

'All this feeds into fairly predictable revenues, low borrowing costs and what should be a relatively dependable dividend. National Grid has the traditional pros of a utility, but also major growth opportunities  a rarity for the sector.'
The repression of the Nicaraguan people by the regime of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, continues.

The U.S. State Departments recently released human rights report on Nicaragua noted, Individuals linked to the government of President Daniel Ortega Saavedra carried out a campaign of harassment, intimidation, and violence toward perceived enemies of the regime, such as former political prisoners and their families, farmworker activists, prodemocracy opposition groups, human rights defenders, private-sector leaders, and clergy, other religious actors, and church-affiliated civil society groups.

In response to this repression and to the regimes callous exploitation of vulnerable migrants, the U.S. State Department is imposing visa restrictions on an additional 250 members of the Nicaraguan government, including police and paramilitary personnel, penitentiary officials, prosecutors, judges, and public higher education officials.

In addition, the U.S. Treasury Department designated three Nicaragua-based entities: a Russian military training center that supports the Nicaraguan National Police in its abuse and prosecution of political opponents; and two gold companies that produce revenue for the Ortega-Murillo government. The United States remains committed to using our tools to support the Nicaraguan people, including by constraining the Ortega-Murillo regimes ability to fund its oppressive and destabilizing activities, said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson.

Besides the export of gold through corrupt, government-affiliated companies, the regime is also raising funds on the backs of desperate migrants. Among other tactics, its sells visas at Nicaraguan airports that require migrants to leave the country in 96 hours. In this way, the regime profits from facilitating irregular migrants who, in many cases, make their way to the United States.

In response, as National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement, the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Treasury have jointly issued a policy alert to travel companies with information about the ways smuggling networks and transnational criminal organizations prey on vulnerable migrants; ongoing U.S. actions to hold these malicious practices actors accountable; and key steps that the travel industry can take to avoid complicity in the exploitation of migrants.

The United States urges the Nicaraguan regime to cease its repression of the Nicaraguan people and stop its cynical exploitation of vulnerable migrants. The new measures show the United States will continue to hold the regime accountable for its abuses.
The Minister for Education has welcomed the announced that six of the leading mobile phone operators in Ireland are to support a government initiative to restrict the use of smartphones by young children

Norma Foley met with representatives of Vodafone, Three, eir, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Media and An Post Mobile recently seeking their support for the 'Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free' initiative.

Last year, the Department of Education launched a programme encouraging primary schools and parents' associations to introduce voluntary bans on smartphones for children aged under 13.

Now, the six telecommunications companies, which control 95% of the Irish mobile phone market, say they will support the initiative by not allowing the sale of smartphones to primary school children.

"I think it's very important that these mobile phone providers are stepping up - they recognise there is an issue here - and that they will endorse and support this initiative," said Minister Foley following the announcement.

The minister, who did not rule out an outright ban in future, told Newstalk Breakfast, that educating parents about the dangers that smartphones pose to their children is key.

"We know that children as young as six or seven are being exposed to content that no parents would want them to be exposed to," she stated adding: "We are working with parents associations in our schools; we are providing information to our education centres, we are hosting online webinars to ensure that parents are fully appraised of what's happening in the smartphone world for younger children," she commented.

I am delighted that six mobile operators - Vodafone, Three, eir, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Media and An Post Mobile - have now confirmed their support for the voluntary agreements between parents to avoid buying smartphones for their children while in primary school. pic.twitter.com/tAntlyxT7X  Norma Foley T.D (@NormaFoleyTD1) May 22, 2024

When pressed about intruding a legal ban on the sale of smartphones to children, Ms Foley commented: "A ban, for it it to work, must be based on information - people must have an understanding as to why it's not right for children to have a smartphone in the first place. You can be 100% assured - I have made it very clear from the beginning - we will do what needs to be done here.
A recent story from KC Magazine argues that law enforcement bias is one of the main detriments to the ongoing legal crackdown in the Sunflower States.



This stat might be almost as grievous as BILLIONS worth of cash flowing toward the left and right of Kansas given recent weed law reform . . .



"A 2018 ACLU report showed Black people were 4.8 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than white people in Kansas, despite the fact that both races consume cannabis at about the same rate. Overall, Kansas ranks 12th in the U.S. for largest racial disparities for cannabis possession arrests. "



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
More gunfire in the metro signals Spring/Summer kicking into the wrong gear . . .



A police spokesperson said around 10:45 p.m., officers were called to the 4000 block of Lawrence Drive on a reported shooting.



Arriving officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene.



A second adult male victim was found to also have been injured by gunfire. He was transported to an area hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
As we noted earlier this week . . .

Today Kansas City activists and student protesters demand a ceasefire resolution from city council in addition to funding for humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Moments ago . . .

Northland councilman Nathan Willett sent this e-mail blast far and wide wherein he explains his objections and claps back against activists.

For the record, Mayor Q is going to vote NO on bringing the resolution forward.



Agree or disagree . . . There's no denying the importance of his perspective as an elected representative and one of the few conservative voices at 12th & Oak.

Via encouragement from many www.TonysKansasCity.com readers here's the word . . .



Standing up to Antisemitism in City Hall



Later today, during our City Council session, a few of my fellow Councilmembers want to turn KC city hall into what we have seen on college campuses all around the country these past few months.



I have received over 1,000 emails calling for a "ceasefire resolution" over the current conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.



What is missing in these emails from groups like KC Tenants, Al-Hadaf, and AIRR - among many items? Not ONE mention of the events of October 7, 2023 - the largest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust.



One of the biggest tools that antisemites use is leaving out facts about atrocities that our Jewish friends have faced like the Holocaust and, in this case, October 7th.



I knew this week was coming and prepared for it by being peaceful & proactive.



This past week our full council voted unanimously in support of a resolution honoring our 33rd President Harry S. Truman and his legacy (his legacy includes the recognition of Israel) by directing city staff to hang an American flag off the balcony of city hall behind the exact same George Washington statue through June 14th, Flag Day.



This is the same symbolic gesture that the Patriots on the campus of George Washington did while their campus quad was overtaken by radicals.



These groups have the right to peaceful protest wherever they want. Once that hate hits the chamber of city hall, we have the right to fight back and point out the antisemitism.



This conflict was brought on to our council docket. It is my responsibility to remove the hate and stand up for our values- local government should be focused on local issues.



Best,

Councilman Nathan Willett

###########



Developing . . .


Here's the aftermath after hero first responders put their life on the line . . .



"Three firefighters were hurt while putting out the fire. A spokesperson for KCFD tells us they responded to a fire in the 700 block of Elmwood just after 10 p.m.



"Two were taken to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. Both are in stable and non-critical condition. "



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

3 KCFD firefighters injured while combating overnight house fire Three KCFD firefighters injured in house fire. Two were sent to local hospitals with non life threatening injuries.

Three firefighters injured battling massive fire Two firefighters are being treated at the hospital for serious injuries but are expected to recover.
Right now recent controversy surrounding tha ageless diva, fashionista and hottie Jlo inspires our #TBT morning peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Savor Local Victory

KC native to be inducted into BBQ Hall of Fame alongside masters and legends A hometown hero and barbecue turned pizza shop owner is set to be inducted into the American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame alongside seven other pit masters and barbecue legends.

Silicon Prairie Redux

Netrality Data Center speeds up already-hot KC tech industry The nation's largest private data center company opened its newest location in the Kansas City metro Wednesday.

Serving Local Tastes

'We are listening': Community Groceries at Armour, Troost adjusts products to fit community's needs Community Groceries opened in December to provide affordable and healthy foods to an underserved area, and after five months, the store is adjusting its products to meet the community's wants.

Show-Me No Vacay From Crime

Boat Owners Beware: Missouri Highway Patrol warns of thefts Authorities with the Missouri State Highway Patrol warn boaters to keep their property safe amidst thefts.

El Nino Impacts Sunflower State

Kansas reported more tornadoes so far in 2024 than all last year - or the year before. Why? Five months in, this year is already the most active for tornadoes in Kansas since 2019. Two EF-1 tornadoes touched down in Johnson County last week.

Local Crash Postscript

3 in serious condition after rouge tire causes 3-car pileup near Blue Valley Park Three individuals remain in serious condition after a 3-vehicle collision near Blue Valley Park was caused by a rogue tire.

More KCMO Snail Mail FAIL

Neighbors are seeking answers after months without home mail delivery after dog bite Residents in the 2500 block of Chelsea Avenue on Kansas City's east side say they're struggling to get answers on when mail service might get restored.

Diva Claps Back At Question

White House Plays Dozens

'A loser:' With new insults and humor, President Biden tries to get under Trump's skin In a race against the ultimate name-caller, Biden is turning to his own bag of insults, one-liners and zingers to hit Donald Trump.

Court Stops MAGA Campaign

Trump's Most Iconic Campaign Tool Is Nowhere To Be Seen As He Languishes In NY Courtroom Donald Trump has only held a fraction of the campaign rallies in early 2024 as he did in the same time of 2016 as he's stuck in court in Manhattan

Eastern Europe End Game Approaches

'Everything is burning': Battles rage outside Kharkiv as Ukraine tries to hold back Russian advance | CNN The grip the nation keeps on many of its towns is tenuous, and if Russian forces take Lyptsi, they can position artillery within range of Ukraine's city of Kharkiv.

Beltway Rebukes Holy Land Leader

Potential Netanyahu address to Congress sparks internal furor among Democrats The Israeli PM "should be focused on freeing hostages, not on charming legislators," said one top House Democrat.

New Reporting On Checks & Balances

County sheriffs wield lethal power, face little accountability: "A failure of democracy" More people were killed by U.S. law enforcement in 2023 than any other year in the past decade - and it's increasingly happening in small towns and rural areas.

Mayor Q Deep Dive Double Take

Mayor Quinton Lucas celebrates public pool improvements in KCMO with a splash Spray grounds, pools and water parks open Saturday, May 25, in Kansas City, Missouri

Making Dough In Brookside

Jonny Bakes Bread, Nourishes Community and Looks to Expand Jon Szajnuk pursued a passion for baking sourdough bread during the pandemic. Now his home-based business, Jonny Bakes, is looking to expand.

Springtime Tribute

Large Satchel Paige baseball card on display in 18th & Vine District The nearly 30-foot-tall card is one of a few that will be on display in six U.S. cities leading up to the Rickwood Field game on FOX on June 20.

Forecast For Today . . .

Soak up the sun today, before storms move in Stormy holiday weekend ahead

Almost Paradise (Love Theme from "Footloose") was a Billboard #1 song in 1984 and serves as the #TBT song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
First . . .

Remember that FAIL WHALE?!?!

That's what this story is turning into . . .

Sadly . . .

The departure won't satisfy fans of Butker.

And then . . .

As we reported previously . . .

There's low key chatter that the several people with access to the account and a debate about responsibility that has created more than a bit of confusion and a risk that the wrong person might be taking the fall.

For now . . . Here's the latest . . .



Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the city has separated from the employee who was responsible for the message during a Thursday morning interview with conservative radio host Pete Mundo on KCMO Talk Radio 97.5 FM.



I think that to me, in many ways, resolves a lot of back and forth in the political world. I think there has been accountability from the city of Kansas City, the mayor said.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Kansas City social media manager who made Harrison Butker post no longer employed: Mayor "I think there has been accountability from the city of Kansas City. We all look forward to moving on," the mayor said during a talk radio interview Thursday morning.
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has voiced significant concerns over the difficulties he and other Africans face when traveling across their own continent. Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Dangote highlighted the cumbersome process of obtaining 35 different visas for travel within Africa.

This call for change aims to ease movement across national borders to boost economic and social integration.

Dangote Advocates Visa Reform for Unified Africa

At a recent event in Kigali, Aliko Dangote, Africa's wealthiest businessman, brought attention to a major issue that hampers economic progress in Africa: the challenging visa procedures for Africans traveling within their own continent.

Dangote shared his personal struggles with the audience, noting that despite his huge business operations across many African countries, he needs to apply for 35 different visas to travel across these nations.

During his speech at the Africa CEO Forum, he expressed his frustration with the time-consuming process, which he believes is unreasonable for someone aiming to foster business and development in Africa, as reported by CNN.

His plight resonated with many, drawing laughter and nods of agreement from the crowd.

Dangote also pointed out the disparity in travel freedom within Africa, especially when compared to European citizens. For instance, he mentioned that a French businessman sitting next to him at the forum would face different restrictions despite both being on the same continent.

Countries like Rwanda have made progress by allowing visa-free entry to all African nationals since 2023, joining others like Benin, The Gambia, and Seychelles.

However, Dangote's experience underscores a widespread issue where many African countries still impose strict visa requirements on their neighbors, often leading to a sense of division and hindrance to free movement.

This concern is echoed by migration experts who suggest that fears of permanent migration and security issues contribute to these stringent policies.

Dangote and other leaders hope to pave the way for a more connected and economically integrated Africa by addressing these visa challenges.

Related Article: Top 5 African Countries You Must Visit for a Memorable Experience

Visa Changes Poised to Boost Africa's Tourism

Industry experts and insiders recently emphasized that removing visa requirements, lowering airfares, and enhancing connectivity could significantly boost the tourism industry in Africa.

These changes improved infrastructure and stronger public-private partnerships were discussed as key drivers of economic growth and job creation across the continent at the East African Regional Travel Expo in Nairobi in November 2023.

China Daily revealed that only Benin, Gambia, Rwanda, and Seychelles offer visa-free access to all Africans, with some nations in East and Southern Africa allowing passport-free cross-border travel.

Experts argue that extending visa-free travel continent-wide would benefit tourism and support the African Continental Free Trade Area.

A new report by the World Travel and Tourism Council projects that the travel and tourism sector could add $168 billion to Africa's economy and create over 18 million jobs in the next decade.

This growth is contingent on improved air transport infrastructure, easier visa processes, and enhanced tourism marketing.

Tour operators like Ivy Wanjiku from NatureSurf Africa highlighted the practical benefits of scrapping visas, noting that visa-free travel would eliminate complications and reduce costs, allowing more families and groups to travel across Africa without bureaucratic hurdles.
By Janice Phelan, May 23, 2024

Jackson County high school teachers will visit Wagner Logistics HQ June 4 for a tour and panel discussion about the logistics and warehouse industry





CEC Teacher Education Facility Tour.

The University of Central Missouris Center for Workforce and Professional Education, the fiscal agent for the Career Education Consortium (CEC), is connecting with CEC and Wagner Logistics to enhance local high school teachers awareness about the fast-growing Kansas City logistics and warehouse industry.

According to KC SmartPort (kcsmartport.thinkkc.com), Kansas City currently has over 190,000 manufacturing and logistics employees in the region and growing, said Scott Boyce, UCM Center for Workforce and Professional Education program manager. So it makes sense to help high school educators be aware of this economic strength so they can pass it along to students that are planning their careers.

CEC Director Gwen Poss plans, organizes and leads summer events like this for teachers from Center, Grandview, Hickman Mills, Independence, Lee's Summit and Raytown School Districts in Jackson County and is also leading this event.

We want teachers to engage with businesses and industries in the workplace to increase their awareness of high-demand career pathways they may not know about, Poss said. They will better understand the technical skills, competencies, and mindsets students need to succeed in today's work environment. Ultimately, teachers will have real-time information to tie their curriculum to real-world learning applications through activities, projects and work-based learning opportunities.

This year the logistics field will be highlighted by CEC along with advanced manufacturing and health care. This event will be held June 4-7 and kicks off at Wagner Logistics in North Kansas City.

Kansas City headquartered Wagner Logistics has agreed to host day one of the event, which will include a facility tour and a panel discussion about the state of the industry.

"This initiative not only aligns with our mission to meet the workforce development needs in Kansas City but also provides an invaluable opportunity for educators to gain firsthand knowledge about career pathways in contract warehousing, transportation, distribution and logistics, said Joe Oliaro, vice president of sales and chief real estate officer of Wagner Logistics.

In support of the logistics industry, the UCM Center for Workforce and Professional Education offers an eight-week evening program called Warehouse JumpStart to help individuals enter the growing logistics and warehouse field. This program includes OSHA 10, Missouri (Class 4 & 5) Forklift certification and other related skills including career management and personal effectiveness at work. For more information, visit this webpage.



About the University of Central Missouris Center for Workforce and Professional Education: UCM offers a number of certificate programs in high-demand areas such as healthcare, information technology, business and manufacturing/warehouse. Many programs can be completed in as little as six weeks with scholarship funding available for qualifying individuals. UCMs industry-recognized courses are designed with busy adults in mind and are offered in-person, online and hybrid.

About Career Education Consortium (CEC): The CEC's mission is to leverage career preparation opportunities for students to meet the workforce development needs of the Kansas City region. This experience is designed for educators to engage and learn firsthand about career pathways in transportation, distribution, logistics and other high-demand career pathways in the region.

About Wagner Logistics: Wagner Logistics is a leading supply chain management provider, offering comprehensive distribution center, fulfillment and transportation services across the U.S. since 1946. The Wagner team provides precise solutions to fit each customer's needs at the required speed. Wagner is innovating warehousing and logistics by tackling complex supply chain challenges and providing exceptional performance while the industry continually adapts to customer buying habits. Wagner is experienced in servicing manufacturers across a wide range of product types including energy (batteries), food and beverage, automotive, consumer products (CPG), paper products, ammunition and hazardous materials. The company has been honored as a Top 100 3PL by Inbound Logistics 21 years in a row.

For more information, visit wagnerlogistics.com or email marketing@wagnerlogistics.com to learn about improving supply chains.
A Pima County Superior Court jury has convicted Murad Dervish, a former University of Arizona graduate student, of six felony counts, including first-degree murder for the shooting death of Professor Thomas Meixner on campus in October 2022.

The verdict was reached after less than three hours of deliberation on Tuesday, underscoring the jury's decisive stance on the case. The Associated Press reported the details of the trial and the tragic events leading up to the murder.

The Crime and the Trial

Thomas Meixner, who chaired the university's hydrology and atmospheric sciences department, was shot and killed by Dervish, who had previously been barred from campus. The incident shocked the academic community, raising serious concerns about campus security and the handling of threats posed by individuals with known behavioral issues.

During the trial, Dervish's defense attorney, Leo Masursky, argued that his client was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of the murder. Masursky contended that Dervish's actions were not premeditated and that his client was legally insane, which, if accepted by the jury, could have led to Dervish being committed to a psychiatric hospital instead of prison. However, the prosecution, led by Mark Hotchkiss, presented evidence that Dervish had purchased the pistol used in the killing a month prior, demonstrating a level of premeditation.

The jury, after reviewing the evidence and hearing testimonies, found Dervish guilty of first-degree murder and other related charges. This conviction brings a sense of closure to a case that has deeply affected the University of Arizona community.

READ MORE : University Of Arizona President Resigns Amid $177M Budget Crisis

Institutional Failures and Security Lapses

In the aftermath of the murder, two significant reports were commissioned to investigate the university's handling of the threats posed by Dervish. A University of Arizona faculty committee and an external safety and security firm both released findings that were highly critical of the university's actions, or lack thereof.

The university-commissioned report revealed that Dervish had "harassed and targeted" at least five members of Meixner's department before the murder. It pointed out critical failures in the university's approach to safety and security, noting that there was no centralized system for training, awareness, or reporting security concerns.

Additionally, the University of Arizona Police Department (UAPD) did not conduct a background check on Dervish and failed to arrest him a week before the shooting when he visited the UAPD station to check his vehicle's license plate number.

The faculty report highlighted further lapses, including a criminal report by UAPD a month before the shooting, which stated there was no indication that Dervish intended to return to campus. This conclusion was reached despite numerous reports from faculty members who had seen Dervish on campus. The failure to take these reports seriously contributed to the tragic outcome.

Community Impact and Response

The murder of Thomas Meixner sent shockwaves through the University of Arizona community, prompting an outpouring of grief and a call for substantial changes in campus security protocols. Members of Meixner's department had taken their own precautions, including purchasing bullet-proof vests and temporarily relocating due to the perceived threat posed by Dervish.

In response to the reports and the widespread criticism, the university has pledged to overhaul its security measures. This includes better coordination of threat assessments, improved communication channels for reporting security concerns, and ensuring that all threats are taken seriously and acted upon promptly. The resignation of Paula Balafas, the police chief at the time of the shooting, was one of the immediate changes following the incident.

The faculty and students have called for a more transparent and accountable system that ensures the safety of everyone on campus. The tragedy has also highlighted the need for better mental health support and intervention strategies for individuals showing signs of severe psychological distress.

As the university community continues to heal, the conviction of Murad Dervish serves as a somber reminder of the importance of vigilance, communication, and proactive measures in preventing such tragedies. Thomas Meixner's legacy as a dedicated educator and leader in his field will be remembered even as the institution works to ensure that no such incident ever occurs again.
House Republicans have raised concerns about the prestigious Truman Scholarship, alleging that it disproportionately favors liberal candidates and lacks ideological diversity.

The contention arose after a report from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) highlighted a perceived imbalance in the political leanings of recent scholarship recipients.

Allegations of Liberal Bias

The controversy began when Committee Chair Virginia Foxx, along with subcommittee chairs Burgess Owens and Robert Aderholt, sent a letter to the Truman Scholarship Foundation. The letter expressed their dissatisfaction with the current state of the scholarship's recipient pool, which they claim shows a significant liberal bias. According to the AEI report, of the 182 Truman winners between 2021 and 2023, only six recipients supported traditionally conservative causes. In contrast, 74 winners were identified as supporting progressive issues.

The Truman Scholarship, established to recognize and support individuals demonstrating exceptional potential for public service, has long been a coveted award among students. However, the Republicans argue that the scholarship's selection process should reflect a broader spectrum of political viewpoints, particularly as it is funded by taxpayer money.

The committee's letter argued that it is unreasonable to assume only liberal students possess exceptional potential for public service. They emphasized that, as a taxpayer-funded award aimed at preparing future civic leaders, the Truman Scholarship should represent the full spectrum of the nation's values, viewpoints, and interests.

READ MORE : Denver Scholarship Foundation Paves The Way For First-Generation College Students

Response from the Truman Scholarship Foundation

Tara Yglesias, the foundation's deputy executive secretary, who oversees the scholar selection process, responded to the allegations by questioning the methodology and conclusions of the AEI report. Yglesias argued that the report broadly categorized issues as conservative or progressive without sufficient justification.

Yglesias explained that the foundation does not inquire about the political beliefs of scholars and often remains unaware of their ideological positions. She expressed concern that the report's categorization of scholars could create unnecessary divisions, whereas most scholars prefer to concentrate on their areas of interest.

Yglesias emphasized that the foundation's primary focus is on the potential for public service rather than political alignment. The selection process, according to her, is designed to identify individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to serving the public, irrespective of their political views.

Despite the foundation's defense, the Republicans have called for more transparency and a review of the scholarship's selection criteria. The committee's letter concluded by asking the foundation to clarify its efforts to ensure a wide range of perspectives and to outline steps it will take to recruit a more ideologically diverse candidate pool in the future.

Broader Implications and Reactions

The debate over the Truman Scholarship is part of a larger discourse on perceived ideological biases within academic and philanthropic institutions. The AEI report also drew parallels to the UK-based Rhodes Scholarship, suggesting a similar bias in favor of progressive candidates. These findings have fueled concerns among conservatives about the representation of their viewpoints in prestigious scholarship programs.

Supporters of the Republicans' stance argue that ensuring a diverse range of political perspectives among scholarship recipients is crucial for fostering balanced and inclusive public discourse. They believe that public service should encompass a wide array of viewpoints and that scholarships should reflect this diversity.

Critics, however, contend that the focus on political alignment detracts from the primary goal of identifying individuals with a genuine commitment to public service. They argue that the emphasis should remain on the applicants' achievements and potential to contribute to society rather than their political beliefs.

The controversy has also sparked discussions about the role of external organizations, like the AEI, in shaping public perception and influencing policy decisions. The AEI, a right-leaning think tank, has been criticized for its approach to characterizing the scholarship winners' interests and for not responding to questions about its analysis.

As the debate continues, the future of the Truman Scholarship remains uncertain. The foundation is expected to address the committee's concerns and provide a response outlining any potential changes to its selection process. Whether these changes will satisfy the demands for greater ideological diversity remains to be seen.

In the meantime, the discussion highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing merit, diversity, and representation in publicly funded programs. It underscores the complexities involved in ensuring that such programs remain fair and inclusive while also addressing concerns about potential biases.
In the crucible of American higher education, where ideas clash, and principles of academic freedom are fiercely defended, recent months have witnessed a contentious intersection of politics, activism, and campus governance.

At the heart of this tumultuous landscape lies the issue of antisemitism and its manifestations within university settings, particularly in relation to protests critical of Israel's policies. Against this backdrop, leaders of prestigious universities find themselves summoned before the scrutiny of the United States House of Representatives, tasked with explaining their responses to antisemitic incidents and campus unrest.

Congressional Inquisition: Holding Universities Accountable

The halls of Congress have become an unexpected battleground in the fight against antisemitism as House committees have convened hearings to interrogate university presidents on their handling of campus protests and incidents of hatred directed towards Jewish students and faculty. With a spotlight shining brightly upon them, university leaders face a dual challenge: navigating the complexities of free speech and academic freedom while contending with political pressure from lawmakers seeking accountability.

For the third time since December, university presidents are set to testify before the House committee, amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions and widespread condemnation of antisemitism. The hearings, titled "Calling for Accountability: Stopping Antisemitic College Chaos," have become lightning rods for controversy, reflecting broader societal debates about the limits of free expression and the responsibilities of academic institutions in fostering inclusive environments.

Campus Turmoil: Protests, Encampments, and Clashes

The aftermath of previous hearings has reverberated across university campuses, igniting a firestorm of protest, activism, and institutional soul-searching. Scenes of students camping on university lawns, clashes with law enforcement, and calls for divestment from companies implicated in the Israel-Palestine conflict have dominated headlines, prompting soul-searching within academia and beyond.

Following the lead of Columbia University's President Minouche Shafik, who faced intense scrutiny after forcefully denouncing antisemitism during her testimony, universities have grappled with how to respond to student activism while upholding principles of academic freedom. Shafik's decision to call in law enforcement to clear encampments on campus sparked controversy and further protests, underscoring the delicate balance between maintaining order and respecting dissenting voices.

Congressional Intervention: A Threat to Academic Freedom?

As the House committee ramps up its scrutiny of universities, questions arise about the implications of Congressional intervention in campus affairs. Critics warn of a chilling effect on academic freedom and free speech as lawmakers wield their influence to shape university policies and responses to contentious issues. The specter of McCarthyism looms large as institutions face pressure to conform to political orthodoxy or risk facing punitive measures.

While some applaud Congressional efforts to combat antisemitism and protect Jewish students, others caution against overreach and the erosion of democratic norms within higher education. The delicate balance between safeguarding marginalized communities and preserving the open exchange of ideas remains a central concern as universities navigate the choppy waters of political controversy and social upheaval.

As university leaders prepare to face another round of Congressional scrutiny, the stakes have never been higher. Against a backdrop of escalating tensions, campus unrest, and political polarization, the role of higher education in fostering inclusive communities and defending academic freedom is being put to the test. How universities navigate this tumultuous terrain will not only shape their own futures but also influence broader debates about the limits of free expression and the responsibilities of institutions in a democratic society. As the spotlight shines brightly on the intersection of politics and academia, one thing remains clear: the quest for accountability and justice must not come at the expense of fundamental principles of freedom and intellectual inquiry.
In a move that has sparked controversy and raised questions about free speech and identity expression, the South Dakota Board of Regents recently implemented a policy prohibiting employees at its six public universities from including their preferred gender pronouns and tribal affiliations in their email signatures.

The policy, which was passed last December, has led to at least two employees at the University of South Dakota facing disciplinary action for noncompliance. While the Board of Regents argues that the policy is about consistent branding in official communications, critics see it as an infringement on individual rights and an erasure of identities, particularly for Native Americans in the state.

The Policy and Its Enforcement

The policy, which falls under the Board's branding and communication regulations, specifies that an employee's email signature may only contain certain information such as educational credentials, job title, contact information, and official university links. While the policy does not explicitly state that pronouns and tribal affiliations are not permitted, it prohibits the inclusion of any information not listed in the policy. Employees found in violation of the policy could face disciplinary action.

Since the policy's implementation, at least two employees at the University of South Dakota, including John Little, director of Native recruitment and alumni engagement, have been threatened with disciplinary action, including possible suspension and termination, if they did not remove their pronouns and tribal affiliations from their email signatures. Little, who formerly listed his preferred pronouns and tribal affiliation in his signature, expressed disappointment in the Board's decision, stating that it continues the erasure of Native people in South Dakota.

READ MORE : North Dakota Attorney General Joins Multi-State Lawsuit Against Department Of Education Over Expanded Title IX

Criticism and Response

Critics of the policy, including the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota, argue that it raises questions about free speech and may not be applied evenly across all employees. Samantha Chapman, advocacy manager for the ACLU of South Dakota, expressed concern that the policy could be used as a tool for discrimination, particularly against certain individuals or groups. The ACLU is closely monitoring the situation to ensure that the policy is not used to target specific individuals or restrict their freedom of expression.

In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for the Board of Regents emphasized the importance of consistent branding in official communications and stated that while some employees may have additional information they would like to share, it is critical to identify consistent parameters for official employee communication. The spokesperson noted that the policy is limited to communications by employees acting in their official capacity and using institutional communication channels.

Impact on Diversity and Inclusion

The policy has also raised concerns about its impact on diversity and inclusion efforts at South Dakota's public universities. Some students believe that the policy was intended to target the LGBTQ community, specifically, as part of a larger effort to erase queer identities from public life. Others argue that the policy undermines efforts to recognize and honor the tribal affiliations of Native employees, which are often integral to their identities and roles within the university community.

In response to the policy, USD's student government passed a resolution criticizing it and calling for its repeal. Students argue that the policy not only hinders the ability of employees to express their identities but also reinforces centuries of erasure that the Native community has experienced in South Dakota and beyond. The resolution also raised concerns about the lack of input from students and employees in the development of the policy, highlighting a broader issue of transparency and inclusivity within the university system.

The South Dakota Board of Regents policy prohibiting employees from including their preferred gender pronouns and tribal affiliations in email signatures has sparked controversy and raised important questions about free speech, identity expression, and diversity and inclusion. While the Board argues that the policy is about consistent branding in official communications, critics see it as an infringement on individual rights and an erasure of identities, particularly for Native Americans in the state. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the policy will be enforced and whether it will have a lasting impact on the university community.
Undergraduate enrollment in the spring surged by 2.5%, marking the second consecutive year of growth and continuing post-pandemic recovery.

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center's latest report reveals encouraging trends, indicating a slow but steady return to pre-pandemic levels in higher education.

Key Trends in Spring Enrollment

The spring enrollment data for 2024 unveils several key trends. Notably, enrollment in bachelor's programs increased for the first time in four years across public and private nonprofit institutions, showing an average growth rate of 2.3%, higher than the previous fall's rate. First-year enrollment also saw a significant uptick of 3.9% overall, with some variations in private nonprofit four-year institutions.

Graduate enrollment experienced a notable rebound, rising by 3% this spring, effectively reversing the losses seen in the previous year. Community colleges continued to lead the growth trend, accounting for nearly half of the overall enrollment increase despite representing only a quarter of all postsecondary enrollment. Their enrollment surged by 4.7% over the previous spring, maintaining the momentum from the fall.

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) also experienced their second consecutive year of undergraduate enrollment growth, increasing by 4% compared to 3.2% in 2023. This highlights a positive trend in enrollment diversity and suggests a strengthening of HBCUs' appeal to students.

Regional and State-Level Analysis

The report also offers insights into enrollment trends across different regions and states. For the first time since the pandemic, enrollments rose in all four geographic regions of the United States. The Northeast, which has been struggling, saw a 1.2% increase in first-time enrollment, indicating a potential turnaround.

States like Georgia and Kentucky led the pack with enrollment bumps of 6% and 5%, respectively. However, Washington and West Virginia experienced declines of 1% or more. Massachusetts and Connecticut, known for declining enrollments and college closures, saw an increase of 3.2% and 2.8%, respectively, indicating a positive shift in their higher education landscapes.

Challenges and Future Outlook

Despite the positive trends, challenges remain. Overall undergraduate enrollment still lags behind pre-pandemic levels, with community colleges being 3.5% below and public and private nonprofit four-year institutions trailing by about 1%. The recent decline in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion rates following the rollout of a new form could impact fall enrollments, particularly for students who were on the fence about attending college.

Doug Shapiro, the research director at the National Student Clearinghouse, remains cautiously optimistic about the future. He acknowledges that while the current growth is encouraging, it may not reach the peak levels seen a decade ago. Many students were derailed by the pandemic and may not return to their educational paths, leading to a long-term impact on higher education.

The spring enrollment surge in higher education is a positive sign of recovery from the pandemic's impact. The increase in undergraduate and graduate enrollments, particularly at community colleges and HBCUs, indicates resilience in the education sector. However, challenges such as FAFSA completion rates and the overall recovery timeline remain uncertain. As institutions adapt to these changes, the focus must remain on supporting students and ensuring equitable access to education for all.
Promoting practical cooperation among Caspian Sea Ports under UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office for Central Asia conducted a series of activities involving Customs officers and other competent authorities of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan under the UNODC-World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme (CCP) in order to strengthen the regional and interagency practical cooperation in suppressing and identifying high-risk consignments.

On 20-24 June, joint practical exercises for the delegations from the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Port Control Unit (PCU) in Morport/Kuryk seaport and the Border Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, members of PCUs in Alyat seaport, Astara Customs post and Baku Central Customs Administration were organized in international seaports of Kuryk (Kazakhstan) and Alyat (Azerbaijan). The exercises were focused on the work of freight and passenger ferry communication and availed twenty frontline officers from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to improve their knowledge and skills in minimizing the risk of maritime containers/cargoes being exploited for trafficking of various illicit goods including drugs, precursor chemicals, firearms, weapons of mass destruction, nuclear materials, and other forms of organized crime activity.

Mr. Batyr Geldiyev, UNODC Regional Programme Coordinator emphasized that it was the first ferry exercise of this type in the region and expressed confidence that joint CCP - Azerbaijan/ Kazakhstan Customs cooperation would yield in concrete results and seizures of illicit goods made by the PCUs in the Caspian seaports.

Azerbaijani and Kazakh Customs and Border Guards' officials familiarized themselves with the seaports infrastructure, the border inspection and import/export/ transit control procedures in Alyat and Kuryk international seaports. The participants had the unique opportunity to board and travel for two days with the ferry and to mingle with the crew and other itinerants. A study tour was conducted in the cargo area, engine area, and passengers living quarters of the vessel itself where the officers could identify a possible concealment spot used for smuggling and check existing weak points in the control procedures.

Previously, on May 17-19, CCP had organized an exchange visit for the officers from the State Customs Service from Kyrgyzstan, including CCP national focal points and PCUs members in Bishkek, Osh and Batken to Azerbaijan to get aquainted with CCP PCU operations in Baku Central Customs, Astara Customs and Alyat seaport. Customs officers from Azerbaijan shared their experience in exercising cargo/container controls and mitigating smuggling risks at the priority dry and seaports in the country. PCUs of Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan utilized the opportunity and held productive consultations on further strengthening regional Customs-to-Customs cooperation, including information exchange on high-risk consignments.

The CCP Regional Segment for Central Asia is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), and the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Programme.
Drug Use Prevention Through Family Skills Training Programmes: Perspectives for Regional Collaboration

The goal of the UNODC regional meeting in Istanbul in June was to discuss the results of the implementation of the family skills training programme "Families and Schools Together" (FAST) in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Furthermore, the meeting was aimed at enhancing the regional exchange of expertise on drug use prevention between policy makers, FAST trainers and with an international team of experts. The meeting was organized within the framework of the global project "Prevention of drug use, HIV/AIDS and crime among young people through family skills training programmes".

This event was also envisaged as the platform of advocacy for the adoption of family skills programmes in neighboring countries. Therefore, observers from Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Uzbekistan were invited to participate, share experiences and discuss regional exchange of expertise on drug use prevention. The participation of the respective delegations was made possible through the coordination of this event with the UNODC Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries.

The meeting focused on the experience generated from the Central Asian countries as well as their plans of expanding the FAST programme in order to ensure national ownership of the process. The overview of the process of development of international drug use prevention standards by UNODC Vienna, and a discussion of national policies on drug use prevention in countries-observers were also in the meeting's agenda.

The following can be noted as the main outcomes of the event: the national concepts on ensuring sustainability of family skills programming strengthened the sense of national ownership and provided an excellent opportunity for the four implementing countries to learn from each other's ideas, as well as sensitized the other observer countries on the importance, value and practicality of implementing such programmes nationally. All observers' delegations expressed strong interest in initiating evidence based family skills intervention learning from the experience of project implementation in the four Central Asian countries. The challenges in the regional exchange of expertise were identified and the effective mechanisms of regional cooperation on drug use prevention were developed during the meeting.
Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners



On Nelson Mandela International Day, the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia shared copies of brochures of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) to be distributed among relevant government stakeholders in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.



In Kyrgyzstan, UNODC jointly with State Prison Service under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic organized a working meeting dedicated to the Nelson Mandela International Day. The meeting was attended by the senior management of the Prison Service, chairperson of Public Oversight Council under the State Prison Service, representatives of international community (UNODC, OSCE, ICRC, AFEW, etc) and civil society organizations. The meetings participants informed on achievements reached by the Kyrgyz Prison Service in the area of prison (1) medical and health services, (2) complaints and inspections, as well as (3) staff training. The meeting participants agreed to make joint efforts on further drafting of the next National Strategy on development of Penal Execution (Prison) System of the Kyrgyz Republic for the period (2017-2020) and ensure its compliance with international standards including the Nelson Mandela Rules

In Tajikistan, UNODC organized a working meeting with Deputy Head of Prison Service of Tajikistan who informed that Nelson Mandela Rules will be considered for inclusion in the professional staff certification questionnaire.

In Uzbekistan, UNODC shared with its partners the copies of brochures with the Nelson Mandela Rules to be distributed among prison system of the Republic of Uzbekistan and other relevant stakeholders. (Photo Alessandro Scotti)
Steering Committee Working Group of the UN-Turkmenistan Joint Programme on social services meets ahead of piloting community-based social services

The Steering Committee Working Group of the Joint Programme on community-based social services convened its fourth meeting online co-chaired by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of Turkmenistan and UNICEF to discuss the Joint Programme implementation ahead of piloting community-based social services in pilot etraps of the country.

The online meeting brought together representatives of the UNICEF, UNDP, UNODC, and UNFPA, and the national stakeholders, including leading national partners such as Mejlis of Turkmenistan, Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, and Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan. Representatives of civil society organizations, such as the National Red Crescent Society, Yenme, Keyik Okara, and Deaf and Blind Society of Turkmenistan also participated in the meeting.

The meeting participants reviewed in details the results achieved within each component of the of Joint Programme. Ms. Maral Yayliyeva, Secretary of the Steering Committee Working Group, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of Turkmenistan, highlighted that considerable progress was achieved due to close collaboration between all partners.

Furkat Lutfulloev, UNICEF Chief of the Social and Child Protection Programme, flagged the issues related to sustainability of the programme that needs attention of all national counterparts, including the representatives of the local governance. They included developing a plan for social services system based on the analysis of data on more than 500 cases, piloting 12 community-based social services, accelerating the legislative component of the Joint Programme by taking further action based on a package of draft amendments and regulations to the current legislation related to social service provision and accelerating the process of introducing social work major to the higher education system of the country. He also mentioned the importance of close collaboration from the national partners in terms of implementing the economic analysis of the existing social services as part of an economic analysis of new community-based social services.

Participants also watched a video about the work of social work specialists and how this new profession is being developed in Turkmenistan.

The Joint Programme Improving the system of social protection through the introduction of inclusive quality community-based social services, funded by the Joint SDG Fund, is being implemented by the partnering UN agencies, namely, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, and UNODC and Government of Turkmenistan. The Joint Programme aims to introduce a new model of social services at the community level accompanied by relative legislative reviews and capacity building of the national social service workforce. The lead national partner is the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan and the lead UN agency is UNICEF. Other key national partners include the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, and Ministry of Finance and Economy.

Implementation period: 2020-2022.

   

Read more about the Programme here.
UNODC and Anti-Corruption Agency launch Awareness Raising Campaign to promote culture of lawfulness among youth in Kazakhstan

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan launched a national awareness raising campaign "Integrity Hours" as part of the Education for Justice (E4J) global initiative, which is an important enabler and project for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, specially Goal 4 on quality education, and goal 16: on peace, justice and strong institutions.

Within the campaign, UNODC creates five social videos aimed at the promotion of a culture of lawfulness and the E4J initiatives educational tools on anti-corruption, ethics and integrity, targettingyouth aged 11 to 31. Public Social Advertisements (PSAs) will be released and broadcasted on the national television channels of the Republic of Kazakhstan with expected audience reach of 800,000 people.

The culture of lawfulness has a prime importance of promoting the rule of law and preventing crime and corruption. This is why it is crucial to engrain the principles of integrity, justice and respect early in the academic journey of the young generation. In this context the information and awareness raising campaign, organized under the Education for Justice (E4J) initiative is very timely and relevant. I am confident that these videos help children in solving ethical dilemmas, stated Mr. Ganizhan Asanuly, Director of the Integrity Department of the Agency for countering corruption of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Ms. Lulua Asaad, Global Coordinator of UNODCs Education for Justice (E4J) initiative, Vienna, Austria believes that the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and specifically SDGs 4 and 16, depends greatly on the opportunities given to youth and the involvement of the future generations. Instilling values and skills in children through education is fundamental to sustain the pillars of peaceful societies thus contributing to empowering young people while harnessing their energy and creativity to establish a global community free from crime, violence and corruption, stated Ms. Asaad.

The first video called Intella tells a story of a schoolboy in a classroom, sitting at his desk, writing an exam, being on his way to use a crib for its successful pass. Suddenly out of nowhere a small creature- Zorb called Intella - appears on the top of his desk and starts explaining that cheating and deceiving can destroy his life in the future. The Zorbs  an educational animated series were designed to help primary school children understand the many facets which contribute to a peaceful and lawful world.

The Education for Justice (E4J) initiative seeks to prevent crime and promote a culture of lawfulness through education activities designed for primary, secondary and tertiary levels. These activities help educators teach the next generation to better understand and address problems that can undermine the rule of law and encourage students to actively engage in their communities and future professions in this regard.

At the primary school level, the initiative focuses on promoting and teaching values such as acceptance, fairness, integrity and respect among 6 to 12 years old. To support this, UNODC has created The Zorbs: an animated series based around an imaginary planet and its inhabitants who overcome a range of challenges thanks to core values and skills as promoted under E4J.

For students of secondary level aged 13  18, E4J developed educational tools such a resource guide to support Model United Nations conference organizers to incorporate issues from UNODC mandate areas. Having worked with non-profit organizations, the initiative also developed a game-based learning material, as well as a set of tools jointly with UNESCO, respectively for primary and secondary school teachers, to support their efforts in educating on the rule of law.

A set of products and activities for the primary and secondary levels have been developed in partnership with UNESCO and the project is implemented with financial contribution from the Government of Qatar.

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For all inquiries, contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

Communication and PR Specialist

UNODC in Central Asia at

+996775987817 cellphone, WhatsApp and Telegram or

by e-mail: vasilina.brazhko [at]un.org
UNODC and CARICC held a donor conference to discuss the way forward and sustainable financing

On 20 April, UNODC and Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC) organized a high-level online donor conference.

The conference brought together officials from the ministries of foreign and internal affairs of Kazakhstan, ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions of 26 states, representatives of the donor community and international organizations, CARICC and UNODC to discuss the way forward and sustainable financing to enable CARICC to execute its mandates to the benefit of the Member States and the wider international community.

In her opening address, Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative to Central Asia, affirmed: I reiterate the UNODCs support for CARICC, a regional law enforcement center of international repute, one of the UNODCs flagship projects in the world which some other regions are now seeking to emulate. I am confident that the intellectual vigor afforded in this forum of such eminence will bear fruit in ensuring CARICC remains financially viable and operationally efficient and adept at meeting the high expectations of the Member States and the international partners. I urge the donor partners to extend support to this unique organization.

Mr. Akan Rakhmetullin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Arystangani Zapparov, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, expressed their full support to CARICC. Kazakhstans commitment to international counternarcotics cooperation was reaffirmed and the leading role of CARICC consolidating the joint efforts of seven participating states and 17 observer countries was highlighted.

Mr. Rustam Aziz Miralizoda, Director of CARICC, enunciated the financial position of CARICC and implored the international community for their support to ensure the financial viability of CARICC. He noted that over the years, CARICC had become an organization that provided an effective platform for coordination of counternarcotics efforts.

There was a lively exchange of views from the participants who accepted the utility of CARICC as a regional center of excellence for the international community in collective efforts against drug trafficking, associated transnational organized crime and terrorism.

Whereas the international community takes stock of what support it can lend to CARICC, the organized criminal and terrorist networks continue to conduct their nefarious activities, exploiting the impact of COVID-19, and so it is absolutely crucial for us all to double efforts to strategically counteract this by further bolstering CARICC, a pre-eminent international entity, to develop and conduct regional and inter-regional intelligence-based operations, said Mr. Naweed Riaz, Head of UNODC Programme Office in Kazakhstan who moderated the conference, in his concluding remarks.

The framework agreement on the establishment of CARICC came into force on 22 March 2009. Currently, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are its Member States. The negotiations on Afghanistan and Turkeys joining the organization are under way. CARICC serves as a permanently operating interstate agency that assists in organizing, undertaking and coordinating agreed joint international operations to combat illicit drug trafficking. The Centre also ensures the collection, storage, protection, analysis, and exchange of information on trans-border crime associated with illicit drug trafficking.

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For further information, please contact:

Nurangez Abdulhamidova

Communication and External Relations Officer

UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia (Dushanbe)

Email: nurangez.abdulhamidova[at]un.org
UNODC and Partners conduct a Forum on Business Integrity in Uzbekistan

According to a survey conducted by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms among Uzbek entrepreneurs, 53% of respondents often face corruption. 48% of the surveyed entrepreneurs refrain from making new investments because of this.

To discuss steps to foster a culture of zero-tolerance to corruption and promote business integrity in Uzbekistan, some 100 Uzbek entrepreneurs and other representatives from the corporate sector gathered for a business forum in Tashkent on November 30, 2021.

UNODC organized the forum in cooperation with the Anti-Corruption Agency, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights and Legal Interests of Business Entities with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Corruption cant be solved by governments or companies alone. If everyone is protecting their rights and assuming their roles, together with the private sector, we can support conditions conducive to growth and sustainable development for all, said Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia.

In her statement Ms. Mittal emphasized that anti-corruption measures are most effective when they are grounded in thorough research. That is why the UN Convention Against Corruption highlights data collection and analysis as a prerequisite for better policy design and implementation, as well as for capacity-building of law enforcement, government stakeholders and civil society, she noted.

Mr. Alkis Drakinos, Head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Developments Resident Office in Uzbekistan, said: As multilateral development bank focused on private sector development, we regard private sector participation as an integral part of the fight against corruption. We believe that businesses can support governments efforts to curb corruption and ensure a level playing field.

During the Forum, the Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights and Legal Interests of Business Entities of the Republic of Uzbekistan presented the anti-corruption business charter of Uzbekistan. All members of Uzbekistans business society are encouraged to join the Charter and contribute to the establishment of a corruption free business environment.

UNODC and EBRD will continue to support national counterparts in strengthening integrated, multi-sectoral responses to corruption with involvement of civil society and the private sector. In 2022, Uzbekistan will also join a new UNODC Global Action for Business Integrity, which is based on a partnership with Siemens under the Siemens Integrity Initiative.

Story in Russian language

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Fore more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

Communication and PR Specialist at

UNODC ROCA

+996775987817 WhatsApp

vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org
UNODC Continues Increasing Border Control Capacities of the Border Interaction Officers in Tajikistan

19-23 November, Dushanbe, Tajikistan.- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) conducted a five-day training course on profiling and detection of drug couriers with particular focus to international and bilateral cross points as a part of the initiative on Strengthening Control along the Tajik-Afghan Border. This specific course was designed and organised for border interaction officers from all law enforcement agencies - Border Forces, Ministry of Interior, Drug Control Agency, and Customs Service of Tajikistan serving at the border crossing points in the country, and funded by the Government of Japan.

In his opening remarks, H.E. Mr. Hajime Kitaoka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Tajikistan recalled on a Joint Statement issued in Japan after the bilateral meeting between H. E. Emomali Rahmon, the President of Tajikistan, and H.E. Shinzo Abe, Japanese Prime Minister, with particular attention and emphasis on the importance of border management issues.

"Based on this commitment, Japan will continue cooperating with the Tajik Government and international organizations, among which, UNODC is definitely one of the most important agencies." - said Ambassador Kitaoka.

Twenty-six officers improved their skills in profiling and transport vehicle inspections. They studied methods to establish psychological contact with a criminal, terrorist, and drug trafficker using innovative communication technologies; methods of retrieving information; modern tendencies of illegal drug trafficking, principles for effective search of vehicles, psychological and physical aspects of transport search.

The course consisted of two parts: 1. Profiling a criminal, terrorist, and drug trafficker; 2. Transport Search Aspects. The theoretical part of the course in the class was supplemented by the field practical exercises held at the Border Crossing Point "DUSTI" at the Tajik-Uzbek border in the last day of the training. The training was facilitated by Mr. Lauris Krivans, international expert from Latvia, and Ms. Lola Shakimova, an expert psychologist from Association of Psychologists of Kazakhstan.

H.E. Mr. Hajime Kitaoka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Yusuf Kurbonov, the UNODC International Programme Coordinator, Ms. Amelia Hannaford, the UNODC Head of Office in Tajikistan and Mr. Zafar Sharipov, Deputy Chief of the Border Control Department of the Border Forces of the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan, awarded the certificates at the end of the training course.

The UNODC Initiative on Strengthening Control along the Tajik-Afghan Border is being successfully implemented in line with the "National Border Management Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan" adopted for 2010-2025 and focused on enhancement of the expert potential of border officers at the border posts and outposts along the Tajik-Afghan border and is funded by the Government of Japan.

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UNODC develops training concept for law enforcement on investigation and prosecution of human trafficking in Uzbekistan

Trafficking in persons is the acquisition of people by improper means such as force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them.

Virtually every country in the world is affected by these crimes, including Uzbekistan. To support the country to target criminals who exploit desperate people and to protect and assist victims of trafficking, from 24-28 February 2020, UNODC conducted a scoping mission to identify training needs of the countrys law enforcement bodies.

During the five-day mission a series of meetings was held with relevant national counterparts, including the General Prosecutors Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Higher Judicial Council, Tashkent State University of Law, international organizations and civil society.

Discussions focused on the ongoing efforts of the Government of Uzbekistan to ensure safe travel and labor migration of its citizens and prevention of trafficking through awareness raising among youth, women and vulnerable groups of population. Key stakeholders emphasized the importance of strengthening national anti-TIP training programs to create a robust system of prevention of this type of organized crime, investigation of cases and prosecution of perpetrators.

For this purpose, the mission team also met with representatives of relevant training institutions for law enforcement and the justice sector, including the Academy of the Ministry of Interior, the Academy of the General Prosecutors Office and the Higher School of Judges.

Information received during the mission will contribute to the development of a training concept for law enforcement personnel within the framework of a capacity development project funded by the Government of the United States through the US Department of State's Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

The project aims at assisting Uzbekistan in its efforts to strengthen the criminal justice response to trafficking in persons and effectively investigate and prosecute TIP cases using a victim-centered approach in line international human rights standards.

As guardian of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), UNODC assists States in their efforts to implement the UNTOCs Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Trafficking in Persons Protocol). Uzbekistan ratified the UNTOC in 2003 and its Trafficking in Persons Protocol in 2008.

In July 2019, Uzbekistan transformed the Interagency Anti-TIP Commission into a National Commission on Combating Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labour. A Roadmap for implementation of the anti-TIP policy in the country was endorsed, based on which a work plan for 2020 was developed together with UNODC and other international partners.
UNODC draws to a close a four-part capacity building series for officials from the Ministry of the Interior

UNODC has now successfully concluded a programme of capacity building sessions for officials of the Kazakhstan Ministry of Internal Affairs and its police training institutions. Held at the Almaty Police Academy, this seminar marks the close of the four-part series on building trust.

The full series focused on evidence-based strategies to modernize police policy and practice to promote greater levels of internal trust, as well as public trust in the police and public institutions in Kazakhstan. Previous sessions highlighted the importance of communication, leadership skills, and ethics as mechanisms to promote organizational justice, procedural justice, and enhanced internal and external trust.

"Today's event is relevant, all the more so at the time of major reform of the Interior Ministry. The very notion of trust, which is the bottom line in the series of seminars, covers many areas in the work of the police. One of the criteria in assessing law enforcement activity is the level of public trust in the police. In this connection, the need to improve the work of the police is linked to the assessment and level of the population's trust in law-enforcement agencies.," Head of the Almaty Police Academy Aidar Saitbekov told the seminar.

The session this week provided officials from the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Kazakhstan with an opportunity to apply the principles of change management as a key means of building institutional support for a strengthened approach to the implementation of trust-building concepts and strategies in the daily work of internal affairs bodies in Kazakhstan.

The final session brought these concepts together, with a sustained focus on turning evidence into action. Participants applied the principles and international insights covered in previous sessions to jointly formulate actionable strategies aimed at promoting trustful and mutually supportive interaction between the police and members of the community.

Project Manager, Wendy OBrien said: This afternoon our capacity building series culminated in the joint formulation of a series of recommendations to catalyze organizational reform in support of the implementation of a police service model. Participants brought so much to this discussion. In applying both the skills and concepts shared in the training, and their deep knowledge of the national context, participants elaborated a set of strategic recommendations to strengthen trust within the Ministry of the Interior. It was particularly great to see participants active engagement with the issue of diversity and inclusion in the police workforce, and the recognition that this is key to both effective policing and the strengthening of trust with the community. This three-day session, which marks the final part of our training series on trust in policing, was held at the Almaty Police Academy. We extend our thanks to the Head of the Almaty Academy, Aidar Saitbekov, and the Deputy Head, Zhanat Dilbarkhanova, for kindly hosting this event. The event was also attended by John Dudley and Elena Beskrovnaya, from the United States Embassy in Kazakhstan. On behalf of UNODC I extend my appreciation to the U.S Embassy, and Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, of the U.S. Department of State, for the financial support that makes this important work possible.

As a result of fruitful discussions on sustainable steps aimed at systemic changes in policing, the participants came up with truly valuable recommendations concerning more effective work with the general public, communication with people, cooperation with civil society, interagency coordination in the delivery of services, and analysis of the local police service.

The initiative is part of UNODC's project on Support to Police Reform in Kazakhstan. The project is designed to support the police modernization work of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and is carried out with financial support from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the U.S. Department of State.

Story in Russian language

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UNODC issued a report with recommendations for anti-corruption curriculum of the Academy of the General Prosecutors Office of Uzbekistan

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office for Central Asia (UNODC ROCA) has published recommendations for anti-corruption curriculum of the Academy of the General Prosecutors Office of Uzbekistan.

The report followed a week-long visit of Mr. Steven Sampson, Professor of Lund University, Sweden to the Academy of the General Prosecutors Office to teach anti-corruption course for the Academys graduate and post-graduate students, as well as consultations with staff, students and senior management of the Academy and UNODC.

Based on these consultations and analysis of various documents and anti-corruption training programs elsewhere, the report presents several possible curriculum options to develop anti-corruption training for Uzbek prosecution staff and officials. In particular, it describes basic questions and factors, which should be considered in organizing such a program, and offers recommendations as to course priorities and content. The purpose of the report is to help the Academy administration and other stakeholders to make informed choices as to what kind of program to have, the content of such a program, the target audience, and other issues to consider in developing anti-corruption curriculum of the Academy.

Since Uzbekistan is planning to establish a new anti-corruption agency it is essential to invest in compliance mechanisms, anti-corruption education for a wide range of government and civil society stakeholders. UNODC assists the efforts of the Government of Uzbekistan to combat corruption through capacity building activities for national institutions as well as expert advice with support from the Government of Sweden, within the framework of its 2015-2020 Program for Central Asia.
UNODC ROCAs Cross-Border Cooperation Component brings another result: Drug seizure at Sariosiyo Border Customs post in Uzbekistan

For many decades, efforts have been made to counter drug trafficking and abuse, and multiple measures and initiatives have been developed and implemented by UNODC jointly with national counterparts to address these challenges at the national and international levels.

One of such initiatives  the establishment of Border Liaison Offices (BLOs)  is considered as a critical element for enhanced cross-border communication and intelligence-sharing aimed at detecting and intercepting smuggling, including narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals, while facilitating legitimate international trade.

To date, UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia assisted in establishing 15 BLOs in geographically remote and potentially vulnerable checkpoints between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The offices are equipped with the necessary high-tech and specialized software, enabling the analysis of the database information. Furthermore, the UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia is working on establishing four additional BLOs to be located on the Uzbek-Kazakh border and at railway Border Customs Posts on the Uzbek-Tajik borders.

In late August, the officers of the border checkpoint Sariasiya of Surkhandarya Regional Department of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in accordance with the established procedure, carried out customs control in relation to the truck of the MAN brand, which was heading to the neighbouring state by the citizen A.A.

As a result of the control procedures carried out, the attempt to hide 2500 units of psychotropic drugs "Phenazepam" and "Baclosan" from customs control failed. The drugs were discovered inside the vehicle.

*According to World Health Organization, at a relatively high dose, phenazepam induces muscle hypotonia, deep sleep, and coma. Like other benzodiazepines, phenazepam has severe toxicity when concomitantly used with other CNS depressant drugs, especially opioids and alcohol, which increases the risk of respiratory depression and death. There is a high risk of overdosing on baclosan (Russian brand name for baclofen). Signs of an overdose include muscle weakness, vomiting, drowsiness, dilated or pinpoint pupils, and weak or shallow breathing. If untreated, an overdose can result in possibly fatal seizures, hypothermia, a dangerously slow heart rate/bradycardia, coma, and in some cases death. The turnover of both substances was prohibited or limited in the Republic of Uzbekistan by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers dated November 12, 2015 "On improving the procedure for the import, export and transit through the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, as well as control over their circulation".



Currently, according to the revealed fact of the offence, customs inspections are underway.

Earlier this year, in Uzbekistan alone two more major drug seizures were successfully carried out thanks to joint actions of BLO Officers:



920 boxes of cigarettes worth 18 million Uzbek Soums were seized in the course of customs search operation of the cargo truck which arrived from Afghanistan by BLO officers at Ayritom border checkpoint in Surkhandarya region of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

11,900 boxes with 238,000 psychotropic pills Sonlife-Zopiclone 7.5 mg were detected on a freight train transiting through Uzbekistan during the inspection by BLO Officers at "Kudukli" railway border checkpoint in Surkhandarya region of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In 2019-2020, 54 law enforcement officers in Uzbekistan, out of 248 in the Central Asian Region overall, enhanced their capacities on risks profiling, planning and implementation of joint operative activities at the border, drug interdiction and information sharing through series of trainings organized by UNODC in Central Asia as a part of the Component on Regional Cross-Border Cooperation in Central Asia.

Additional information

*Photos are taken from the website of State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

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For any queries, please address

Shakhnoza Zafari

Communication and External Relations Officer

shakhnoza.zafari[at]un.org
UNODC trained Tajik mid-level law enforcement officers on modern control techniques for vehicles, cargo and goods inspection

On 21-25 June, UNODC conducted a training course on modern control techniques for vehicles, cargo and goods inspection in Dushanbe for mid-level officers from the Border Troops, Customs Service, Drug Control Agency and Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan working at the road and rail border crossing points in Tajikistan.

The training aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of the officers to effectively respond to challenges during an inspection at checkpoints and strengthen their capacity to combat cross-border crime.

The training provided both theoretical and practical sessions. It was delivered by Mr. Lauris Krivans, the customs expert from Latvia who has extensive experience in conducting search operations and training customs officers.

During the training, the participants learned about advanced cross-border vehicle inspectionprocedures and control techniques, including inspection of cargo and trains, risk analysis and assessment, profiling, operational psychological assessment, among others.

In the course of the practical sessions, the participants strengthened their skills in the use of endoscopes, videoscopes, density meters, laser distance meters and telescopic mirrors.

The feedback received from the participants at the end of the training was very positive. They thanked UNODC for organizing the training and requested to conduct similar highly informative and useful courses in the future.

The training was conducted within the framework of Cross-Border Cooperation Component of Sub-programme 1 Countering transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and preventing terrorism of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia designed to counter the trafficking of Afghan opiates through the northern route by establishing Border Liaison Offices (BLOs) at the key border crossing points (BCPs) in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is the first project to establish BLOs in Central Asia, and its stakeholders are the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Border Troops, Customs and Drug Control Agencies of each country.

The establishment of BLOs in Central Asia builds a strong foundation for further effective interagency and cross-border cooperation. To date, 19 BLOs have been established on the Tajik-Afghan, Uzbek-Afghan, Tajik-Uzbek, Kyrgyz-Tajik, Kyrgyz-Uzbek, Kyrgyz-Kazakh and Kazakh-Uzbek borders. Each country assigned staff for the establishment of BLOs and allocated premises at the BCPs, while technical assistance was provided by UNODC ROCA through organizing training courses and providing equipment to support the operation of the offices.

The component is funded by the Government of Japan.

   

For further information, please contact:

Nurangez Abdulhamidova

Communication and External Relations Officer

UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia (Dushanbe)

Email: nurangez.abdulhamidova[at]un.org
Uzbekistan and UNODC Joint Efforts in Enhancing Cooperation between Financial Investigation Units and Commercial Banks

Commercial banks are the first level of any financial flow where internal control can track and reveal suspicious financial transactions and provide the state authorities with the results of internal investigation. The banks have full access to the clients' documentation and play a key role in the cycle of actions to reveal the risks of illicit financial flows. To enhance anti-money laundering capacity of Uzbekistan, UNODC ROCA jointly with the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan conducted a the training on Countering drug trafficking related illicit financial flows, money-laundering and the financing of terrorism (ML/FT) in Tashkent from 21-24 January 2020. The compliance service specialists of ten commercial banks, representatives of Central Bank of Uzbekistan, the Department on Combating Economic Crimes under the General Prosecutor's Office, as well as the experts from the Academy of General Prosecutor's Office took part at this workshop.

"We truly consider this great opportunity for further successful cooperation between internal control departments and national banks, Department on Combating Economic Crimes under the General Prosecutor's Office and the Academy. It will serve as the basis of the complex programme to prepare the country for mutual evaluation according to the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) recommendation."- noted Mr. Uygun Nigmadjanov, Deputy Head, Academy of the General Prosecutor's Office, welcoming the training participants.

Illicit drug trafficking, and other types of organized crime generate significant crime proceeds that are subsequently laundered and invested in legitimate economy. In this case, banks are expected to be able to identify illicit financial flows, and the government agencies to detect and disrupt illicit financial flows and confiscate crime proceeds.

The overall objective of the training was to strengthen capacity within the Department on Combating Economic Crimes, key national law enforcement agencies and financial sector to better conduct operational analysis, as well as detect and combat drug trafficking related illicit financial flows, money-laundering and the financing of terrorism. The trainings contributed to improvement of skills in conducting operational analysis (as required by FATF) of specialists of the Department on Combating Economic Crimes and compliance service specialists of the banks. Such skills are necessary to follow the trail of particular activities and transactions, and to determine links between possible proceeds from narcotics, money laundering, predicate offences and terrorist financing.

"This training supports Member States' ability to meet the Sustainable Development Goal - 16.4 "By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial flows, strengthen recovery and return of stolen assets..." and will support their ability to meet their FATF/FSRB (Financial Action Task Force/FATF Style Regional Bodies) action items under the next round of mutual assessments." - highlighted Mr. Mr. Aliaksandr Vadziany, UNODC Adviser on counter-narcotics, anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism

The training is organised within the #2.5 of the Plan of Practical Measures ("Road map") on Further Development of Cooperation of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the UNODC and the Sub-Programme 1 "Countering transnational organised crime, illicit drug trafficking and preventing terrorism" of UNODC Programme for Central Asia for 2015-2020, and is generously funded by the US Department of State's Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

For more information:

UNODC ROCA on Twitter

UNODC in Central Asia on Facebook
Uzbekistan Marks Results of 30 Days of Partnership Campaign on World Day Against Human Trafficking

On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the National Commission on Countering Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labor reported on the results of a 30-day information campaign to fight trafficking in persons and its impact on society in Uzbekistan.

Led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and "Istiqbolli Avlod" with support from the Government of the United States, Winrock International, UNODC and other partners, the campaign covered all regions.

During the 30-day campaign, we detected 17 new cases related to trafficking in persons, said Mr. Narimon Rakhimov, Deputy Head of the Main Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs / Executive Secretary of the Sub-Commission on countering trafficking in persons.

During the final roundtable, participants stressed the importance of listening to and learning from survivors of trafficking in persons, bringing perpetrators to justice and the value of strong, social partnerships to prevent human trafficking.

Victim support and protection remain crucial for the fight against human trafficking. In addition to ensuring their rehabilitation, this will create an environment in which victims are more comfortable to file a complaint to the police, if they want to. This, in turn, will enable the police to launch criminal cases, which can then be brought to court to hold traffickers accountable, emphasized Mr. Koen Marquering, UNODC Criminal Justice Programme Coordinator in Central Asia.

USAID, Winrock International, NGO "Istiqbolli Avlod" and UNODC produced and demonstrated a campaign video calling on citizens to be aware of exploitation risks when searching for employment. In the video, which is being widely disseminated on social media and other communication channels, well-known Uzbek bloggers and influencers give the viewer important tips, such as checking information about labor agencies; using only the services of trusted agencies, consulting with others who you trust before taking any decisions; asking for a contract and reading it carefully; and making sure your family and friends have all information about the employer and intermediary.

Globally, the theme of this years World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is: Victims voices lead the way!

***

For more information, please contact Vasilina Brazhko

UNODC ROCA Communication and PR Specialist

WhatsApp: +996775987817

E-mail: vasilina.brazhko[at]un.org
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd May, 2024) Global Vice President, the Suzuki Motor Corporation Kenichi Ayukawa on Thursday said that Suzuki Motors Corporation wanted to set up a biogas plant in Karachi to boost the automobile sector in Pakistan.

He said, "The renewable energy will be produced by using food waste and animal manure."

He expressed these views while led by a Japanese delegation in a called on meeting with Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain.

The minister assured the visiting delegation that the government would provide necessary support and facilitation to Suzuki Motor Corporation in business operations and expansion in Pakistan.

The minister said, "The auto industry is a key sector for Pakistan's economy, providing significant contributions in terms of employment, economic growth, technology transfer, and industrial development."

"The government is supporting the localization of the automotive industry by providing tax and other incentives to automakers, and by investing in research and development."

"The incentives on new technologies of electric vehicles and hybrids are being provided including duty-free import of plant and machinery for setting up plants for EV manufacturing. Recently, 43 companies have been issued manufacturing certificates for local manufacturing of EV 2/3 wheelers," he added.

Rana Tanvir said, "Pak Suzuki journey in the development of local industry has been marked by steadfast commitment to innovations, quality and customer satisfaction.

"

Over the last four decades, Pak Suzuki has played a vital role in the development of the local auto vending industry, contributing significantly to job creation, economic growth and technology transfer through arranging joint ventures and technical assistance agreements between local and foreign suppliers, hence paving the way for localization of several high-tech parts.

Kenichi Ayukawa saii Suzuki Motor is manufacturing vehicles in Pakistan since last 40 years.We are also exporting vehicles to other countries. Recently, the inauguration of the export of Suzuki Swift and GS-150 motorcycle from Pakistan marks a pivotal moment in Pakistans journey toward becoming a global player in the automobile industry.

The Federal Minister said, "Export is the top priority of the Government. The auto sector has been facilitated through an incentivized / concessionary regime for the past three decades."

"It is time that this sector, which has been incentivized for a long time, may start contributing significantly to the country's export revenue," he added.

The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary for Industries and Production Waseem Ajmal Chaudhary, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Engineering Development board (EDB) Raza Abbas Shah and Joint Secretary, Large Enterprises Development (LED) Syed Sibt-e-Abbas Zaidi.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) organised a seminar to create awareness about the safety hazards at retail outlets and the need for adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd May, 2024) The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) organised a seminar to create awareness about the safety hazards at retail outlets and the need for adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

The seminar titled Consumer and operational safety at retail outlets highlighted the importance of safety measures to minimize incidents and near misses at petrol pumps.

The event was held at OGRAs Auditorium which was attended by the senior government officials along with DG Oil and DG Explosives. Industry experts shared valuable insights on the risks associated with inadequate safety measures and the consequences of neglecting consumer safety. The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA), along with its Chairman, also attended the event.

Participants included experts from PSO, Shell, Total, SGS, and Haseen Habib, who gave detailed presentations. A panel of experts from the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC), Oil Marketing Association Pakistan (OMAP), Attock Petroleum Limited (APL), and Gas & Oil Pakistan Limited also contributed to the discussions.

Chairman OGRA and Authority members highlighted the significance of the subject matter, emphasising the need for collective efforts to ensure safety at retail outlets. They vowed to continue raising awareness among the general public to minimize incidents and ensure a safe and secure environment for consumers.

Industry stakeholders commended OGRA for organising the seminar, acknowledging the importance of addressing safety hazards in the oil industry.

The event was hailed as a crucial step towards safeguarding the industry and protecting consumers from potential risks.

The seminar concluded with a resolve to prioritize consumer and operational safety, ensuring a safer and more secure environment for all stakeholders.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC), an attached department of Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development would export around 100 female nursing staff to a health firm in Malaysia

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd May, 2024) The Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC), an attached department of Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development would export around 100 female nursing staff to a health firm in Malaysia.

An official told APP here on Thursday, that the demand of female nursing staff in Malaysia was increasing with the passage of time due to the high qualified and expert staff of health already working in the different hospitals of Malaysia.

He said that OEC already had announced that application from job seekers to apply for Malaysia and prescribed qualifications and experience.

He informed that 100 nurses were required for ICU with the diploma in nursing or Bachelor of science in nursing 16 or post RN from recognized institution.

The candidate should have registration from the Nursing Council, and a Minimum of 03 years related working experience in the hospital setting. He said specialized post-basic training in OT/ICU & Pediatric would be preferred, and age not more than 45 years. The Basic Monthly Salary would be 3,000 to 4,500 RM.

The health firm would provide allowance Per Month including General Nursing Allowance for Pediatric Nurse,

Specialized Allowance for ICU & OT.

Allowances include-Specialized Allowance 1100 RM, General Nursing Allowance 700 RM, Degree Allowance 400 RM

and Post Basic Allowance 800 RM. Two operation theater nurses and three Pediatric Nurse.

The source also shared the terms & conditions of employment contract as the salary of the confirmed employee will be reviewed in March each year based on the individual employee's performance and salary position to market and the payout of salary increment is backdated to January, he added.

1-month bonus for every year of service upon completion of the contract period. (Initial 2-year contract, bonus is

payable upon completion of the 2-year contract. Seventeen (17) days for every twelve months of continuous service. Leave entitlement will be pro-rated to the completed months of service according to the calendar year.

Outpatient: 14 fourteen working days per calendar year Hospitalization: 60 days per year (inclusive of any outpatient

medical leave taken. Outpatient Max RM2,500 per year, Inpatient Max RM30,000 per year, he informed.

Dental & Optical RM 600 per year (upon confirmation) Employee must consult the Company Medical Officer

or panel Doctors. Hepatitis B Screening and immunization are provided.

Free hostel accommodation on a sharing basis with basic facilities Utilities (water and electricity) to be on a sharing

basis borne by Employee.

Meals sold at the hospital cafeteria is at a subsidized rate. Personal Accident Insurance and Workmen's Compensation

and 3 sets of uniforms per year, RM220 shoe allowance per year, he said.

The Initial contract (end of 12 months) plus Free return economy class flight ticket.

Subsequent contract (1 year): Free return economy class flight ticket, Should the employee leave employment

before the completion of the contract, the cost of flight home will be borne by the employee

Two (2) years subject to second-year temporary practicing license (TPC) renewal approval from Malaysia Nursing

Board

Six (6) months. Confirmation is subject to job performance. The Period may be extended at the discretion of the

Company. Upon Confirmation, the employee shall be notified by a Letter of Confirmation

Forty-five (45) hours per week, on rotation shifts.

One day of rest per week, Ten (10) public holidays gazette by the State Government

Interested applicants can apply via OEC's website https://oec.gov.pk/.

Help-Desk Team: for technical support, contact the OEC-Helpdesk team at UAN: 0311-0011-632 or Email:

[email protected]

The applicant will submit/attach the deposited Bank challan amounting to Rs. 1000/- generated at the time of online

application submission. The Closing Date was June 5.
Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd May, 2024) US President Joe Biden is rolling out the red carpet Thursday for his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto with a diplomacy-heavy state visit and a lavish White House dinner with all the trimmings.

It is the first state visit to Washington by an African leader in more than 15 years.

As Biden seeks to counter geopolitical headwinds across the continent, he will formally ask Congress to grant Kenya the status of "major non-Nato ally," according to a senior administration official.

The label officially confers military and diplomatic privileges on the countries -- currently 18 around the world -- that are so designated, albeit without any formal security guarantees.

Kenya would become the first sub-Saharan African nation on the list.

"Democracy is obviously on the back foot globally and we see Kenya as an important, stable democracy in East Africa," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Hence the pomp and circumstance that awaits Ruto on Thursday -- a day after he met with Biden at the White House -- during a visit expected to touch on the issue of global peace and security, and notably an upcoming role for Kenya in a mission to restore order to chaos-torn Haiti.

Ruto will first be received with military honors in the morning, followed by a bilateral meeting with Biden, then a joint press conference, before a gala dinner featuring the two first ladies.

Distinguished guests will gather in a vast pavilion on the White House lawn, where tables will be adorned with African orchids and American roses.
US President Joe Biden rolled out the red carpet Thursday for his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto, unveiling plans during a lavish state visit to name Kenya a major non-NATO ally as Washington competes for influence on the continent against Moscow and Beijing

Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd May, 2024) US President Joe Biden rolled out the red carpet Thursday for his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto, unveiling plans during a lavish state visit to name Kenya a major non-NATO ally as Washington competes for influence on the continent against Moscow and Beijing.

Kenya will become the first sub-Saharan African nation to receive the designation, which is currently held by another 18 countries, including Ukraine and boosts military and diplomatic links, although without a formal security pact.

The visit -- including a joint press conference and a luxurious White House dinner -- comes as the United States and ally France are on the back foot in Africa, where massive Chinese investments and aggressive use by Russia of shadowy paramilitary groups are changing the geopolitical balance.

Greeting Ruto earlier in front of a colourful honour guard on the White House South Lawn, Biden emphasized that the two countries are "united by the same democratic values."

"We are stronger and the world is safer when Kenya and the United States work together," Biden said, as a light rain fell.

He hailed the East African nation's role in fighting the Islamic State extremist group and Al-Shabaab militants in neighbouring Somalia.

Ruto, who also underlined Kenya's democratic record, said he would discuss climate change, debt distress and East African security with Biden.

"I am confident, Mr President, that the partnership of the United States and Kenya will give us the solutions that the world so seriously needs," he said.

The two leaders later said in a joint statement that Biden "announced his intent to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally.

"

"This is a powerful symbol of the close relationship our two countries share," BIden and Ruto said in the statement.

Talks in the Oval Office also focused on Kenya's leadership of an upcoming international police mission to Haiti, where months of gang violence and political chaos have left the tiny Caribbean nation in humanitarian crisis.

"Democracy is obviously on the back foot globally and we see Kenya as an important, stable democracy in East Africa," said a White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The two countries also announced partnership announcements in health and the battle against climate change, as well as private sector investment.

And they issued a "joint vision statement" on reducing the mounting debts of developing countries and the handicap it represents for African countries trying to grow their economies.

Biden held a major summit for African leaders in 2022, but the 81-year-old has not made good on promises to visit the continent as president.

The Democrat, who faces a rematch against Donald Trump in November's presidential election, quipped on Wednesday that he does plan to visit Africa -- next February when starting a new term.

Africa has often been on the back burner for US diplomats but the continent now presents a growing headache in Washington.

Russia has established new footholds -- most recently in Niger, where the United States has agreed to withdraw its 1,000 troops, while Russian troops come in.

The United States also faces competition from China, which has pumped billions in infrastructure money into Africa for the past two decades.
(@FahadShabbir)

Kyiv, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd May, 2024) Russian strikes on the eastern Ukraine city of Kharkiv killed at least five people, regional authorities said Thursday, in the latest aerial bombardment on the war-battered hub.

President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attacks as "brutal" and said Russia was "taking advantage" of Ukraine's lack of air defence systems to launch fatal attacks on towns and cities at his country's frontier.

The surrounding region of Kharkiv has become the latest flashpoint of the war after Russian forces launched a surprise ground offensive in the border territory this month forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents.

"Five people were killed and nine were wounded," Kharkiv mayor Igor Terekhov said in a post on social media.

The regional governor however said six people had been killed in the barrage of more than a dozen projectiles and that as many as 16 were wounded.

Kharkiv, which is the second-largest city in Ukraine and lies just dozens of kilometres from the border with Russia, has been under persistent shelling since Moscow's forces invaded in February 2022.

"Russian troops are taking advantage of the fact that Ukraine still lacks sufficient air defence protection," Zelensky said on social media.

Ukrainian officials have been urging allies to send more air defence and this week suggested that Western allies shoot down Russian missiles using system deployed in their own countries.

Separately, the head of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, which the Kremlin claims is part of Russian territory, said a 74-year-old man was killed by Russian shelling on the village of Mala Tokmachka.

Russian forces have in recent weeks made their biggest territorial gains in the war-battered east as Ukraine waits for desperately needed US and European weapon supplies.

The advances in Kharkiv have forced nearly 11,000 people to flee their homes since Moscow launched its ground assault on May 10, regional officials said Thursday.

Russian authorities meanwhile said that Ukrainian attacks on the border region of Belgorod and in the occupied Ukrainian region of Donetsk left two dead.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his army launched the offensive in Kharkiv to create a buffer zone that would protect Russian border villages from Ukrainian attacks.

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Noumea, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd May, 2024) France's president made a long-haul trip to the restive Pacific territory of New Caledonia on Thursday, urging a "return to peace" after deadly rioting, and vowing thousands of military reinforcements will be deployed for "as long as necessary" to quell the "unprecedented insurrection".

Emmanuel Macron arrived in the capital Noumea after a 24-hour flight seeking ways to end more than a week of looting, arson and clashes that have left six people dead and hundreds injured. The unrest erupted over a French voting reform plan that Indigenous Kanaks say will dilute their voice.

As he exited the plane at Tontouta International Airport, the French leader told reporters he wanted to ensure that "as quickly as possible there will be a return to peace, calm, security".

"That is the absolute priority," Macron added, ahead of a day of intensive meetings with local leaders.

He is expected to spend about 12 hours on the ground.

Since May 13, separatists have thrown up barricades that have cut off whole neighbourhoods and the main route to the international airport, which remains shuttered.

People of French and other origins have blocked off streets in their own neighbourhoods in response.

It had been a "totally unprecedented movement of insurrection," Macron said, adding that "no-one saw it coming with this level of organisation and violence".

Nightly riots have seen scores of cars, schools, shops and businesses burned.

French authorities have imposed a state of emergency, placed separatist leaders under house arrest, banned alcohol sales and sent around 3,000 troops, police and other security reinforcements to quell the turmoil.
(@FahadShabbir)

Berlin, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd May, 2024) German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Thursday he was worried by the growing number of attacks on politicians at work or on the campaign trail.

"We must never get used to violence in the battle of political opinions," Steinmeier said at an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the German constitution.

The basic law, promulgated in 1949, was a response to Germany's experience with political violence during World War II, Steinmeier said.

"No one knew better than the mothers and fathers of the constitution how violence undermines a democracy and tears down its foundations," Steinmeier said.

The constitution was not an end point but a "compass", Steinmeier said, calling on Germans to maintain a "political culture that is compatible with democracy".

The threat of political violence is growing again in Germany, the president said.

"We have received news of physical attacks on elected officials and politically active people almost every day," he said.

"I am deeply concerned about the coarsening of political life in our country."

Police this month arrested a man on suspicion of hitting a former mayor of Berlin in the head during a visit to a public library.

Franziska Giffey, now the Berlin state economy minister and a member of the ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD), was treated in hospital for light injuries.

Giffey's assault came just days after a European parliament member, also from the SPD, was hospitalised after four people attacked him while he was out canvassing.

Senior members of the government have also been confronted by angry mobs in recent months, with Economy Minister Robert Habeck blocked from leaving a ferry by a group of protesters.

Steinmeier also recalled the politically motivated murder of the conservative politician Walter Luebcke by neo-Nazis in 2019.

"His death is a reminder of how hate can turn into violence," Steinmeier said.

This week also saw proceedings open against the alleged ringleaders of a group who are said to have planned to storm the German parliament and overthrow the government.

The group of so-called Reichsbuerger, who deny the legitimacy of the modern German republic, allegedly planned to take MPs hostage and had compiled "lists of enemies" to be eliminated, according to prosecutors.
(@FahadShabbir)

Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd May, 2024) Rafael Nadal was drawn to face world number four Alexander Zverev in a blockbuster opening match at his farewell French Open tournament on Thursday.

Nadal, the record 14-time champion at Roland Garros, is unseeded this year after injury saw his ranking plummet to 276.

He and Zverev met in the semi-finals of the French Open in 2022 when the German was forced to retire after suffering a serious ankle injury.

Nadal, the winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, will turn 38 next week and this season will be his last on tour.

He holds a 7-3 winning head-to-head record against Germany's Zverev with five of those victories coming on clay. Zverev, 27, arrives in Paris on the back of lifting the Rome Open title last weekend.

dj/ea/
(@FahadShabbir)

Madrid, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th May, 2024) Two people died and around 12 were injured after the roof of a two-storey building collapsed on Spain's Mediterranean island of Mallorca on Thursday, emergency services said.

"It is confirmed that two people died" and "some 12-14 injured of different severity" in the south of the popular tourist destination, regional emergency services wrote on X.

Local media reported that the disaster took place at a restaurant in the Playa de Palma area to the south of the island's capital Palma de Mallorca just as the high tourist season was in full swing.

Firefighters, police officers and ambulances rushed to the scene, according to images published in local media.

Mallorca is one of Spain's Balearic Islands, whose pristine waters and beaches attract more tourists than all Spanish regions after Catalonia.

More than 14 million tourists visited the islands last year, according to official figures.
Fourth Annual StoryWalk to be Held May 25 in the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum Alley

Thu, 05/23/2024 - 04:09pm

Exercising body and mind through the joy of reading and a walk in an alley in downtown Hattiesburg will be the centerpieces of StoryWalk, a unique concept combining physical activity and literacy will be held for the fourth year in a row on Saturday, May 25 from 9:30 a.m. - noon at the Pocket Museum.

StoryWalk transforms the pages of a book into signs laid out on a trail inviting families, children, caregivers, teachers, and others to follow the path of pages. Created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, the now internationally popular StoryWalk Project has taken place in all 50 states and beyond, including in Germany, Canada, England, Bermuda, Russia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and South Korea where projects have been installed. Many of these installations are permanent or semi-permanent.

Stacy Creel, an associate professor in The University of Southern Mississippis (USM) School of Library and Information Science (SLIS), spearheaded the move to bring StoryWalk to Hattiesburg through the support of a community collaboration. The School of Library and Information Science is excited to return to the Pocket Museum Alley for our 4th annual StoryWalk, said Creel. This event gets kids moving and reading and geared up for summer reading programs at their local libraries.

The featured book for this years StoryWalk will be What I Like About You, written by Marilynn James and illustrated by Miki Yamamoto.

The first 300 children arriving for the Hattiesburg StoryWalk will be eligible to receive a free, brand-new and age-appropriate book for their reading pleasure. Although StoryWalk is designed for younger children ages 1  7; older kids and adults can also join in the fun with other activities as they experience the joys of reading and exercise in the uniquely creative environment the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum offers.

The Hattiesburg Pocket Museum is proud to welcome StoryWalk again this year, said Vicki Taylor, HPMs volunteer curator. It is so special to see the faces of the children when they receive a brand-new book to take home.

The wonderment that StoryWalk creates is what the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum is all about.

The Library of Hattiesburg, Petal and Forrest County personnel will be on site promoting their Summer Reading Program, "Quest for Readalot", which features a medieval theme. Students who register for the program will write their name on the Quest Scroll, receive their starter crown and jewels, and a bookmark log. We will also bring a craft for children to complete, which goes along with our Quest for Readalot theme, said Nancy Claypool, Youth Services Librarian.
Dilnoza Khasilova

Dilnoza Khasilova, an assessment/scholarship of teaching and learning specialist at the University of Wyoming, is the recipient of this years Hugh M. Jenkins Award for Excellence in Community Programming from NAFSA: Association of International Educators for her dedication to the international education field for the past 10 years.

The award -- the highest honor NAFSA gives to community programming -- recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting global understanding and international exchange in the local community. Specifically, it honors people who exemplify a spirit of volunteerism and a long-term dedication to international exchange.

The award also identifies individuals whose leadership encompasses outstanding skills in recruiting, training and recognizing community volunteers and rewards personal involvement with international students, scholars and dependents.

Khasilova will receive the prestigious national award later this month at the annual NAFSA Conference & Expo in New Orleans.

Khasilova has worked in and developed international and intercultural programming since 2012. She has developed UWs World Language and Culture Program; organized cultural events; co-led an alumni and community tour; launched the WyoGlobal alumni network; and helped coordinate programming connecting exchange scholars and international students with the campus, the local community and beyond.

In the past, she also has coordinated outreach events with local K-12 schools and Laramie County Community Colleges Albany County campus to bring awareness about world cultures.

It is an honor to be selected by my field colleagues across the country through my national professional organization, NAFSA, Khasilova says. My passion and commitment to working with wonderful students, scholars and community members who are curious fulfill my personal goals and motivate me to create lifelong partnership programs.

She adds that she is grateful that UW has elevated me to bring the world to Wyoming and Wyoming to the world to celebrate belonging and build harmony between some of our countries and communities.

As a representative of UW, Khasilova has traveled to Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan. In the past, she traveled to Andorra, Belarus, Egypt, France, Germany, Morocco, Poland and Spain as an exchange student. She also has made efforts to bring Wyoming to the world through professional and educational programs in England, Germany, her home country of Kazakhstan, Russia, Spain and Uzbekistan.

Among other awards, she has received the UW Alumni Associations Alumni Network Leader Award; the Outstanding Student Advocate Award; NAFSAs Region II Volunteer of the Year Award; and Almabases 50 under 50 national award that recognizes excellence in international education. She also was named UWs inaugural Marvin Millgate Award recipient in 2018, recognizing an outstanding university graduate student engaged in service learning and who has made a tangible difference in the community.

Khasilova earned both her masters degree in curriculum and instruction and her doctorate in education/literacy studies from UW.

About NAFSA: Association of International Educators

Founded in 1948 and based in the U.S., NAFSA is the worlds largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. NAFSA serves the needs of more than 10,000 members and international educators worldwide at more than 4,300 institutions in over 170 countries.

NAFSA advances public policies that promote international education and is committed to supporting a broad public dialogue about the value and importance of international education. Through professional development programs, publications and networks of professionals, NAFSA provides opportunities for knowledge sharing, knowledge creation and skills building.

For more information about NAFSA, visit www.nafsa.org/.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Those countries, which do not have oil should not point finger on those who have, said President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in an interview with Euronews TV channel on the sidelines of the High Level Segment of the 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue held in Berlin, Germany, on April 26, Trend reports.

"If we can make additional steps towards a green world and tangible steps with a continuation, I think that will be the most important legacy. At the same time, as you know, one initiative which is new for COP, was already put forward by us, a creation of Troika of three countries. So, using the experience of UAE, and now Azerbaijan and later Brazil, to create this trilateral format of cooperation because of these three countries has involvement in different regional, political, economic, etc. issues. So, a combination of efforts, solidarity. We should stop blaming each other. Those countries, which do not have oil should not point finger on those who have. Small, developing countries should not demand big countries saying that you are responsible for climate disaster. So, this is diplomacy, policy, finance. And, of course, as a host country, I think we can create a platform for that," President Ilham Aliyev said.
A record 75.9 million people are living in internal displacement due to conflict, and nearly half that number is in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a recent report.

The report from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, or IDMC, shows 34.8 million people in the region were displaced in 2023, up from the previous year. The biggest increase came in Sudan, which is currently in the midst of civil war.

Sudanese doctor Aisha Hassan is among the millions of people newly displaced last year.

The doctor said that when she arrived for work at a hospital to tend to those injured in the countrys ongoing civil war, she faced threats from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and gangs. The RSF has been at war with the Sudanese armed forces since April of last year.

The threat forced her to leave her patients and her city, Omdurman, northwest of the capital, Khartoum. Hassan said she and her family fled to safety.

"From there I went to North Sudan Al-Shimaliyya, it's called Karima. We stayed there for three months, and my family and I went to Port Sudan. From there we displaced here to Uganda," she said.

Fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and the RSF has displaced 9.1 million since April 2023, making Sudan the country with the most displaced people globally. According to the IDMC, the number marks the most ever recorded in a single country since records began in 2008.

The conflict has made it difficult for aid agencies to reach the millions in need, triggering more displacement as people search for food, water, medicine and safety.

Elsewhere, fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo between the army and rebels has displaced close to 7 million people. Conflict in Ethiopia that began with a two-year war in Tigray in 2020, and erupted in many parts of the country, displaced 790,000 people last year.

Africa's conflicts are usually over territory, community politics, and control over resources, with at least 10 African countries, predominantly in West Africa, dealing with terrorism-related conflicts.

Burkina Faso is the most affected of the West African countries, with 700,000 people displaced last year, up 61 percent from 2022.

"A rising conflict is really contributing to the rising trend, and especially weather-related disasters, including floods, storms, and drought, are also contributing to pushing the figures to an all-time high, said Vicente Anzellini, coordinator and lead author of the IDMC report. So all of this is really a concerning trend. It's important to underscore, however, that governments and humanitarian actors are taking more action and are producing more data. And this, of course, influences the trend."

Anzellini said governments need to improve their capabilities to resolve conflicts and cope with natural disasters.

"What we're really seeing in the region should be a reason for concern and more efforts need to be put in conflict resolution, of peace building, and disaster risk reduction across this region to reduce the trend that, again, highly influences the global trend, Anzellini said. So if internal displacement is addressed and reduced in Africa, the global trend will also successfully reduce. And it's unfortunately not a trend that we're seeing in the last couple of years. And for this to happen more government leadership and investments will be needed."

The Swiss-based agency says the overwhelming majority of the displaced stay in their own countries as they struggle to survive and rebuild their lives.

For Hassan, it was too dangerous for her to stay, as armed groups started to loot her familys home while she was working in the hospital in Sudan.

"After two months or so, the Rapid Support team came and resided in our home, she said. Now they are living in our home. I don't know how many of them there are, but they told us they are living there. They took my father's car, and they are living there."

The IDMC says no country is immune to disaster displacement and that conflicts in Sudan, the DRC, and the Palestinian territories drove up the number around the world.
Under the Biden administration, U.S. veterans have received more than $5.7 billion in expanded health care benefits. But former President Donald Trump argues that veterans were better off when he was in the White House. VOAs Veronica Balderas Iglesias looks at what the veteran population will likely need from the next president.
Senate Republicans again blocked a bill meant to clamp down on the number of migrants allowed to claim asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sought Thursday to underscore GOP resistance to the proposal.

The legislation, negotiated by a bipartisan group of senators, was already rejected by most Republicans in February when it was linked to a foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies. But with immigration and border security becoming one of the top issues of this year's election, Democrats are looking for an answer to the barrage of GOP attacks, led by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

"To those who've said for years Congress needs to act on the border, this bipartisan bill is the answer, and it's time to show we're serious about fixing the problem," Schumer, a New York Democrat, said ahead of the vote

Schumer is trying to defend a narrow Senate majority in this year's election and sees the Republicans rejection of the deal they negotiated as a political "gift" for Democrats.

While a majority of Senate Democrats again supported the procedural vote to begin debate on the bill Thursday, the proposal failed 43-50. When the proposal was brought up in February, a test vote failed 49-50  well shy of the 60 votes needed to advance.

Not even some of the bill's primary authors, Sens. James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican, and Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent, voted for Schumer's move.

"Today is not a bill, today is a prop," Lankford said on the floor ahead of the vote. "Everyone sees it for what it is."

Sinema called the vote "political theater" that will do nothing to solve problems at the border.

"To use this failure as a political punching bag only punishes those who were courageous enough to do the hard work in the first place," she said.

Republican leaders spent much of the week decrying the vote as a bald-faced political maneuver and amplifying a well-worn criticism of President Joe Biden: That he bears responsibility for the historic number of migrants who have made their way to the U.S. in recent years.

"We're nearing the end of President Biden' s term, and the American people's patience for his failing to secure the southern border is running thin," Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday

Earlier in the week, McConnell told reporters, "The president needs to step up to it  do everything he can do on his own because legislation is obviously not going to clear this year."

Since the collapse of the Senate's legislation in February, the Biden administration has been considering executive orders on border policy and immigration. It has already made some changes to the asylum system meant to speed up processing and potential removal of migrants. Yet the Senate's test vote this week was widely seen as part of a lead-up to Biden issuing more sweeping border measures, potentially as early as June.

The Democratic president has considered using a provision in federal immigration law that gives leeway to block entry of certain immigrants into the U.S. if it would be "detrimental" to the national interest of the United States. The authority was repeatedly tapped by Trump when he was in the White House, but some of those actions faced legal challenges.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters Monday that legislation to address problems at the border  as opposed to executive actions by the president  would be more effective. The Senate legislation would provide more money for Customs and Border Protection officials, asylum officers, immigration judges and scanning technology at the border  all things that officials have said the underfunded immigration and border protection system needs.

"The legislation provides tools that executive action cannot," Mayorkas said.

The Senate bill aimed at gaining control of an asylum system that has sometimes been overwhelmed in the last year. It would provide faster and tougher enforcement of the asylum process, as well as give presidents new powers to immediately expel migrants if the numbers encountered by border officials exceed an average of 4,000 per day over a week.

Even before the bill was fully released earlier this year, Trump effectively killed the proposal by labeling it "meaningless" and a "gift" for Biden's reelection chances. Top Republicans soon followed his lead and even McConnell, who had initially demanded the negotiation over the border measures, voted against moving forward.

A significant number of Democrats have also criticized the proposal, mostly because it does not include any broad relief for immigrants who have already established lives in the United States.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus said in a statement this week that the Senate's bill "fails to meet the moment by putting forth enforcement-only policies and failing to include provisions that will keep families together."

Amid the tension, Biden's reelection campaign met with CHC leadership Wednesday to discuss outreach to Latino communities, and Biden spoke on the phone with Rep. Nanette Barragan, the chair of the group.

Still, for Democratic senators facing tough reelection battles, the vote Thursday provided another opportunity to show they were supportive of stronger border measures as well as distance themselves from Biden's handling of the border.
As floodwaters recede in southern Brazil, a tragic scenario is unfolding with more than a half-million people displaced, 160 people confirmed dead, and nearly 100 still missing. For VOA, Yan Boechat went to the scene and has this report from Rio Grande do Sul. Camera: Yan Boechat
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. We aspire to facilitate the development of a unified peace agreement text with Azerbaijan, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan told local media, Trend reports.

He noted that there are certain disagreements between Yerevan and Baku over the text of the peace agreement.

We hope that we will be able to reach a single text, work in this direction is ongoing. At the meetings, we try to bring positions closer, Kostanyan said.

To note, negotiations between Azerbaijani FM Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan were held in the Kazakh city of Almaty on May 1011, 2024.

The ministers welcomed the progress made in the delimitation of the borders and the agreements reached in this regard. Ministers and their delegations continued discussions on the provisions of the draft Bilateral Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The sides agreed to continue negotiations on the remaining open issues on which there are still differences.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Newly inaugurated Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby said Thursday he will preserve national unity and territorial integrity; respect his country's constitution; promote democracy, freedoms and liberties of all Chadians; and make sure all citizens have equal access to justice.

Debys inauguration in N'Djamena, the capital of the central African state, ends three years of military transition and a return to constitutional order. But some doubt the legitimacy of Debys electoral victory.

Speaking at his inauguration to several thousand citizens, government troops and invited guests from at least 45 countries, Deby said his immediate task is to reconcile differences among all Chadians, especially opposition parties that claim they won the May 6 presidential election.

He called on Chadians who have lived in exile for several years to return home, help develop the country and participate in democratic processes without fear.

Deby said he will promote a just and equitable society and promised to organize local and legislative elections soon, but he did not say when.

Chad's Constitutional Council declared Deby the winner of the presidential election with 61% of the vote. Opposition parties contested the results and accused Deby of rigging the vote, a claim Deby described as unfounded.

Max Kemkoye, spokesperson for the Consultation Group of Chad Political Actors, or GCAP, a grouping of opposition parties Deby has called radical, accused the new president of using the military to prolong his familys rule, which has had a firm grip on power since his father, Idriss Deby Ino, took over in a 1990 coup.

He said Deby had the military intimidate people from protesting what they consider a stolen victory. Civilians said heavily armed troops were deployed all over N'djamena during Deby's inauguration to stop possible protests.

Deby took power when his father was killed while fighting northern rebels in 2021. The younger Deby promised to hand power back to civilians within 18 months. He also told the opposition and the African Union that he would not stand for election as president.

But Deby extended the transition period by two years, and in March officially announced he would run for the top office.

Chad's opposition and some civil society groups said they were surprised that regional groups such as the Economic Community of Central African States and the African Union sent representatives to the inauguration.

Yamingue Betinbaye, a political analyst at the University of N'djamena, told VOA via a messaging app that the opposition expected more support because the AU Peace and Security Council has expressed concerns over the transitional governments refusal to respect an October 2022 decision by the country's Inclusive and Sovereign National Dialogue that leaders of the transitional government should not take part in elections.

Betinbaye said the AU should have noted that Chadian officials disrespected human rights and failed to ensure that all perpetrators of human rights violations are brought to justice, as recommended by the African Union.

Among the several dozen senior officials who represented their countries at Deby's inauguration were Gabon's transitional president, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Nigeria's Bola Tinibu, Togo's Faure Gnassingbe, Burundi's Evariste Ndayishimiye, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau and Faustin-Archange Touadera of the Central African Republic.
China kicked off a two-day large-scale military exercise in the water and airspace around Taiwan on Thursday, emphasizing that it is "a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces" and "a stern warning" against provocation by external forces.

The Eastern Theater Command of the Peoples Liberation Army will conduct drills in the Taiwan Strait, the north, south, and east of Taiwan as well as in areas near Taiwans outlying Kinmen and Matsu islands, according to Chinas state-run Xinhua News Agency.

The drills, which involve the army, navy, air force, and rocket force of the Eastern theater command, will concentrate on joint sea-air combat readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets, Eastern Theater Command spokesperson Li Xi said.

Some analysts say the exercise is part of Beijings display of anger toward Taiwans new president Lai Ching-te, who took office Monday.

The military exercise is "meant to be a warning to both the Lai administration and Washington that it can and will continue to put the squeeze on Taiwan if Lai does not return to a more moderate tone and approach" to cross-strait relations, Amanda Hsiao, a senior China analyst at International Crisis Group, said.

However, despite the attempt to push the new Taiwanese government to soften its position, Hsiao said Beijings forceful response may have the opposite effect.

"Given the Lai administrations deep distrust of Beijing and the domestic pressures they are currently facing, Taipei may hold even firmer to their cross-strait line," she told VOA in a written response.

In response to the Chinese militarys announcement, Taiwans Ministry of National Defense said Beijings "irrational provocation" will damage regional peace and stability and that it will take practical actions, including deploying Taiwans naval, air, and ground forces, to protect freedom and safeguard Taiwans sovereignty.

Some Taiwanese military analysts say the priority for Taiwan is to keep strengthening its defense capabilities and enhance Taiwans defense budget.

"The Chinese military exercise is part of Beijings long-term pressure campaign against Taiwan, so Taipei needs to ensure it has enough defense capabilities to withstand the growing pressure from Beijing and maintain peace in the region," Su Tzu-yun, a military expert at the Taipei-based Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told VOA by phone.

A firmer assertion of Taiwans sovereignty

Chinas large-scale military exercise around Taiwan comes after Beijing criticized Lai for his "downright confession of Taiwan independence" through his inauguration speech Monday.

"The speech fully demonstrated that Lai is a traitor to mainstream public opinion on the island and a disruptor of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," said Chen Binhua, the spokesperson of Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, which handles cross-strait relations.

He reiterated that "Taiwan independence is a dead end" and that attempts to pursue "Taiwan independence" through support from external forces will only backfire.

"However, in response to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' collusion with external forces to provoke and seek independence, we must counteract and punish them," Chen said during a regular press conference on Tuesday, according to Xinhua.

During his inauguration speech on Monday, Lai urged Beijing to cease political and military intimidation against Taiwan and proposed that both sides could start cross-strait exchange through the resumption of tourism on a reciprocal basis or enrollment of degree students in Taiwanese institutions.

However, he also warned the Taiwanese people of Chinas ambition to "annex Taiwan" and reiterated that "the Republic of China and the Peoples Republic of China are not subordinate to each other."

Hsiao, from the International Crisis Group, said what Lai said in the speech suggests a potential deviation from his predecessor Tsai Ing-wens more moderate approach to cross-strait relations.

"He didnt reaffirm the conciliatory gesture that Tsai offered, that cross-strait relations would be conducted in accordance with the Republic of Chinas constitution," she told VOA.

During her inauguration address in 2020, Tsai said Taiwan would handle cross-strait affairs according to the Republic of Chinas constitution and the Act Governing Relations between People of Taiwan and "the mainland area," which she said had been the islands consistent position to maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. However, Lai didnt reaffirm the same position in his inauguration speech on Monday.

In her view, while Tsai maintained some ambiguities in her characterization of cross-strait relations, Lai "appears resistant to doing so." "He wants to state clearly and loudly that China and Taiwan are two separate states [and] his calculation may be that Tsais moderate approach didnt pay off after all," Hsiao added.

Some experts say since Thursdays military exercise has been called the "Joint Sword 2024A," this suggests that China could conduct more military exercises of the similar scale in the near future. "Since Beijing is extremely disappointed and even furious now, more strong responses will follow," Zhiqun Zhu, a professor of political science at Bucknell University, told VOA in a written response.

During a speech on Thursday in the Australian capital Canberra, Deputy Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Lieutenant General Stephen Sklenka said Chinas military exercises around Taiwan are "concerning" but not unexpected. He added that the Chinese military practiced maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait in 2023 that would be key to a potential invasion of the island.

Taiwan military analyst Su said Chinas latest military exercise around Taiwan may create backlash for Beijing.

"Thursdays exercise will only prove that Chinas threat to Taiwan is real and it may convince like-minded democracies, especially the United States, to be more engaged in relevant efforts to deter Beijing from continuing such behaviors," he told VOA.

Going forward, Hsiao said the dynamic between Taiwan and China "looks bleak."

"[While] limiting the escalation of tensions is possible, it will require Beijing recognize that its pressures are unlikely to be effective and the Lai administration to see value in signaling a more moderate line," she told VOA.

Additionally, Hsiao said she thinks Washingtons response may also affect cross-strait dynamics since there are no direct channels of communication between Beijing and Taipei.
Pakistan has temporarily shut down schools in most parts of the country to protect children from heatstroke and dehydration due to an ongoing climate-induced heat wave.

At least 26 million children in Pakistans most populous province, Punjab, - or 52 percent of the countrys total number of pupils in pre-primary, primary and secondary education  will be out of school from 25 to 31 May, Save the Children said Thursday.

The education department in Punjab cited a temperature surge and a prolonged heat wave as reasons for shutting down all public and private schools across the province. However, it said that schools will be allowed to conduct examinations as scheduled, with necessary precautions to ensure the safety of students.

On Thursday, doctors in major urban centers reported treating hundreds of patients for heatstroke.

This is not the first time extreme weather has disrupted educational activities in the South Asian nation, which has a population of about 250 million people.

In 2022, Pakistans southern and southwestern regions experienced devastating floods triggered by climate change-induced erratic monsoon rains, which affected 33 million people and halted education activities.

"Pakistan ranks fifth among the countries most affected by global warming, Rubina Khursheed Alam, the prime ministers climate coordinator, told a news conference in the capital, Islamabad, on Thursday. She cited recent unusually heavy rains, floods, and soaring temperatures.

Alam said 26 districts in Punjab, southern Sindh, and southwestern Baluchistan provinces are experiencing an intense heat wave, which will persist for at least a week.

She advised the public to minimize exposure to direct sunlight during peak heat hours and stay hydrated, warning that the extreme heat and dry conditions could spark bush fires and forest fires in vulnerable districts.

This past April was the wettest in Pakistan since 1961, with more than double the usual monthly rainfall, killing scores of people and destroying property as well as farmland.

Offiicials say due to climate change, temperatures in some of the affected areas in Pakistan have already reached close to 50 degrees Celsius (over 127 degrees Fahrenheit).

Meteorological Department officials said temperatures in northern and northwestern Pakistani areas would be 4-6 C higher than normal" for the rest of the week.

Pakistan contributes less than 1% to global carbon emissions but bears the brunt of climate change.

Save the Children said the country faces rates of warming considerably above the global average with a potential rise of 1.3C4.9C by the 2090s, and the frequency of extreme climate events in Pakistan is projected to increase as well.

The flooding in 2022 resulted in at least 1,700 deaths, affecting 33 million people and submerging approximately one-third of Pakistan.

Lets stop sleepwalking towards the destruction of our planet by climate change, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said after visiting flood-hit areas in Pakistan. He said Pakistanis were facing a monsoon on steroids  the relentless impact of epochal levels of rain and flooding.

The U.N. Childrens Fund, or UNICEF, said Thursday temperatures spiked to 43-47 degrees Celsius on Sunday across Indias many northern states, including New Delhi.

The agency warned in a statement that the soaring temperatures across South Asia can put millions of childrens health at risk if they are not protected or hydrated.

UNICEF noted that 76% of children under 18 in South Asia, about 460 million, were exposed to extremely high temperatures, with 83 or more days in a year exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. It estimated that 28% of children across South Asia were exposed to 4.5 or more heat waves per year, compared to 24% globally.
Finlands parliament is debating a bill that would allow border agents to block asylum-seekers at the Finnish-Russian border.

The right-wing government on Tuesday proposed the emergency measure because Finland believes Russia is responsible for orchestrating a migrant crisis on its 1,335-kilometer border in retaliation for joining NATO, which supports Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

Moscow denies the accusation.

Finland closed its eastern border stations late last year after more than 1,300 migrants from third countries entered Finland from Russia without proper documentation. Since then, a few dozen migrants have arrived.

Since the December border closures, only a few dozen migrants have arrived from Russia, but Helsinki is concerned that numbers could surge again.

The legislative proposal aims to restrict "the reception of applications for international protection" in limited areas in the immediate vicinity of and along Finland's border. The restriction would last for fixed periods of no more than one month.

Under the bill, only asylum-seekers who require special protection, like children or people with disabilities, would be permitted to seek protection in the restricted areas. Border guards would determine their eligibility on a case-by-case basis.

Some Finnish lawmakers expressed support for the measure.

"In principle, we think it is a good thing that the government has set out to draft this type of law," said parliament member Tytti Tuppurainen, who is part of the largest opposition group, the Social Democrats.

The Centre Party, the second-largest opposition group, said the legislation was "absolutely necessary."

But the Left Alliance, which makes up less than 6% of parliament, opposes the proposal.

The proposed legislation requires a five-sixths majority to pass. A plenary vote has not yet been scheduled.

Some information for this story came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday police reinforcements would remain in New Caledonia "as long as necessary" in response to deadly unrest in the Pacific territory.

Macron urged pro-independence and pro-French leaders to push for calm and help restore order as he met with local officials in the capital city of Noumea.

He took a helicopter tour of areas devastated by deadly riots that broke out last week in response to a bill introduced in the French Parliament to allow French-born residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote in local elections.

Leaders of the islands pro-independence movement say the measure would dilute the voting power of the Indigenous Kanak people who have suffered under decades of discrimination.

At least six people have been killed and hundreds more wounded in the violence.

Scores of homes and businesses have been looted and burned in Noumea, prompting authorities to impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew and a ban on public gatherings. The violence has also prompted the closure of schools and businesses, as well as the islands airport, which left thousands of tourists unable to leave.

Groups of Kanak protesters have set up roadblocks leading in and out of Noumea which has prevented deliveries of food and medicine to citizens and tourists trapped in their homes and resorts.

Australia and New Zealand sent planes to Noumea to evacuate their stranded citizens.

France has deployed more than 1,000 security personnel to help end the unrest.

At least 270 people have been arrested.

France agreed in 1998 to grant New Caledonia more political power and autonomy and to hold three referendums over the islands status. Voters have rejected independence in all three referendums.

Frances National Assembly approved the controversial measure last week by a vote of 351-153. The bill still must be approved in a special session of both houses of Parliament next month.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse.
Humanitarian aid is beginning to enter Gaza through a U.S.-built pier, according to U.S. officials.

"Aid is flowing," national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Wednesday at the White House. "Its not flowing at the rate that any of us would be happy with, because we always want more."

The Defense Department estimates that more than 800 tons of aid will have arrived by Wednesday night.

Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper said the United States hopes to deliver about 500 tons of aid daily via the pier, or about 90 trucks a day, according to CNN.

The aid comes as much of Gaza is reportedly on the brink of famine. Some humanitarian aid officials say famine has arrived in some locations.

Aid arrived at the pier last week and was loaded onto trucks, but the truck convoy and much of its contents was overtaken by crowds of people. One man was killed in the incident.

Aid organizations are now coordinating safe routes for the convoys to avoid any deadly incidents.

Meanwhile, Israeli tanks made advances into Rafah in southern Gaza on Wednesday night, according to Reuters.

The military operation came with a severe bombardment of Rafah that sent hundreds of thousands of people scattering for cover.

"There has been no stopping of Israeli fire all night, from drones, helicopters, warplanes, and tanks," a Rafah resident told Reuters. "Tanks made a limited push southeast, still limited but they have advanced under heavy fire all night."

Israel says it has no option other than to attack locations in Gaza where it believes members of Hamas are hiding, despite Palestinians taking refuge in the locations.

Almost half of Gazas 2.3 million people have sought refuge in Rafa until recently. Since Israel began its military operation on Rafah, about 800,000 have fled again.

The Israel-Hamas war began in October, when Hamas launched a surprise attack in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and 250 people were taken hostage. Israels response to that attack has killed about 35,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
Interviews have begun with Myanmar refugees living in Thailand who are eligible for a new resettlement program in the United States, the Thai government said.

Thailand said it hopes the first group may get to move by the end of the year.

Some 90,000 refugees live in nine camps on the Thai side of the border to escape fighting between Myanmars military and ethnic minority rebel armies vying for autonomy. Some of the refugees were born in the camps, which started to form in the mid-1980s, and many have lived in them for decades.

Persistent fighting in Myanmar, amplified by a military coup in February 2021, has kept most from returning home.

Aiming to give the refugees a safe way out of the camps, Thailand, the United States and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees announced the resettlement plan in May 2023.

One year on, Thailands Ministry of Interior says that the Thai government and UNHCR have finished checking the personal information of the refugees to verify their eligibility for the program. More than 80,000 refugees were deemed eligible, and nearly all of them told officials they wanted to resettle.

After that, the U.S. team went to the first two camps for interviews, which have already been done, Zcongklod Khawjang, an interior ministry official in charge of overseeing the resettlement program, told VOA this week.

The two camps  Ban Don Yang and Tham Hin  are among the smallest of nine and host about 8,750 refugees combined.

Zcongklod said the U.S. Embassy in Thailand has not told the Thai government when the authorized refugees would be resettled or when interviews in the other seven camps would begin. But he added that Thailand was expecting the first batch to move to the U.S. sometime this year.

Hayso Thako, a joint secretary with the Karen Refugee Committee, one of the charities working in the camps, said he received the same message from the UNHCR at a meeting in March.

They said most probably the first group would be able to leave by the end, almost the end of this year, he said.

The UNHCR declined to comment on when resettlement might begin and referred the question to the United States. The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok declined to provide a time frame.

Resettlement operations are ongoing in cooperation with the UNHCR and the Royal Thai Government, the U.S. Embassy told VOA by email, attributing the comment to a U.S. official.

The embassy also would not say how many of the 80,000-plus eligible refugees the U.S. was prepared to take in, either annually or in total. Zcongklod said the embassy has not provided the Thai government with those figures, either.

The Border Consortium, a network of charities that coordinate much of the international aid that reached the camps, said it has not been provided with official figures but said plans for the program appear to have been scaled down over time.

Figures have changes. At the beginning, it was this number of people who could be resettled  and maybe now it could be a lower number of people who could be resettled, Leon de Riedmatten, executive director of The Border Consortium, told VOA.

Even so, he said, Its important for the residents in the camps themselves that there is still the possibility of resettlement. I think this is the main message, even if its not going to be so many people who are going to be resettled to the United States.

Thailand has denied the refugees a regular path to gaining permanent legal residence and keeps tight control over their movements in and out of the camps.

Myanmars 2021 coup brought the country's brief experiment with democracy to a halt, plunging it into civil war and dashing hopes that the refugees could return safely anytime soon.

Hayso Thako and de Riedmatten said it would help if other countries committed to taking in some of the refugees.

Thailands Ministry of Foreign Affairs told VOA it has encouraged more countries to join the resettlement program.

A previous program ended about five years ago after resettling thousands of refugees in the United States and a few other countries.

Without a clear idea of how many of the refugees the new program can handle, and no end in sight to the civil war raging in Myanmar, charities say the Thai government should also give the refugees the opportunity to settle permanently in Thailand.

I think its key. Its very, very important, because we cannot expect that all these refugees will be resettled. We cannot expect also that a large part of these refugees will return to Myanmar. So the ones, the majority, who will be left in the camps should have a better future, de Riedmatten said.

Even after four decades, most of the camps still lack electricity and running water. Most homes are huts of bamboo and eucalyptus poles topped with thatched roofs.

The refugees are mostly barred from studying or working outside of the camps, have few job opportunities inside and receive an average of about $9 in food aid a month.

Some advocates say a growing sense of despair across the camps is causing a rise in domestic abuse, gang violence, drug use and suicide.

Living in the camps is not easy, Eh Nay Moo, 30, who fled Myanmar with his parents when he was three years old, told VOA.

Here, we are just illegal people.  There is no freedom for us. Going here and there outside of the camp, we are not allowed, he said from Mae La, the largest of the nine camps on the border.

Having spent almost his entire life in the camps, Eh Nay Moo said he cannot imagine returning to Myanmar but sees no real future for himself in the camps.

Eh Nay Moo said he has applied for the new resettlement program and is eagerly awaiting an interview.

If I get a chance to move to the U.S.  I believe that I will get more opportunity or freedom to do and live my life as a human being, he said.
Get ready for what nearly all the experts think will be one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record, thanks to unprecedented ocean heat and a brewing La Nina.

There's an 85% chance that the Atlantic hurricane season starting in June will be above average in storm activity, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday in its annual outlook. The weather agency predicted between 17 and 25 named storms will brew up this summer and fall, with eight to 13 achieving hurricane status (at least 75 mph sustained winds) and four to seven of them becoming major hurricanes, with at least 111 mph winds.

An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms  seven of them hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

"This season is looking to be an extraordinary one in a number of ways," NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said. He said this forecast is the busiest that NOAA has seen for one of their May outlooks; the agency updates its forecasts each August.

About 20 other groups  universities, other governments, private weather companies  also have made seasonal forecasts. All but two expect a busier, nastier summer and fall for hurricanes. The average of those other forecasts is about 11 hurricanes, or about 50% more than in a normal year.

"All the ingredients are definitely in place to have an active season," National Weather Service Director Ken Graham said. "It's a reason to be concerned, of course, but not alarmed."

What people should be most concerned about is water because 90% of hurricane deaths are in water and they are preventable, Graham said.

When meteorologists look at how busy a hurricane season is, two factors matter most: ocean temperatures in the part of the Atlantic where storms spin up and need warm water for fuel, and whether there is a La Nina or El Nino, the natural and periodic cooling or warming of Pacific Ocean waters that changes weather patterns worldwide. A La Nina tends to turbocharge Atlantic storm activity while depressing storminess in the Pacific, and an El Nino does the opposite.

La Nina usually reduces high-altitude winds that can decapitate hurricanes, and generally during a La Nina there's more instability or storminess in the atmosphere, which can seed hurricane development. Storms get their energy from hot water. Ocean waters have been at record temperatures for 13 months in a row, and a La Nina is forecast to arrive by mid- to late summer. The current El Nino is dwindling and is expected to be gone within a month or so.

"We've never had a La Nina combined with ocean temperatures this warm in recorded history, so that's a little ominous," said University of Miami tropical meteorology researcher Brian McNoldy.

This May, ocean heat in the main area where hurricanes develop has been as high as it usually is in mid-August. "That's crazy," McNoldy said. It's both record warm on the ocean surface and at depths, which "is looking a little scary."

He said he wouldn't be surprised to see storms earlier than normal this year as a result. Peak hurricane season usually is mid-August to mid-October, with the official season starting June 1 and ending November 30.

A year ago, the two factors were opposing each other. Instead of a La Nina, there was a strong El Nino, which usually inhibits storminess a bit. Experts said at the time they weren't sure which of those factors would win out.

Warm water won. Last year had 20 named storms, the fourth-highest year since 1950 and far more than the average of 14. An overall measurement of strength, duration and frequency of storms last season was 17% bigger than normal.

Record hot water seems to be key, McNoldy said.

"Things really went of the rails last spring [2023], and they haven't gotten back to the rails since then," McNoldy said.

"Hurricanes live off of warm ocean water," said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. "That tends to basically be fuel for the hurricane. But also, when you have the warm Atlantic, what that tends to do is also force more air up over the Atlantic, more rising motion, which helps support strong thunderstorms."

There's the background of human-caused climate change that's making water warmer in general, but not this much warmer, McNoldy said. He said other contributors may include an undersea volcano eruption in the South Pacific in 2022, which sent millions of tons of water vapor into the air to trap heat, and a reduction in sulfur in ship fuels. The latter meant fewer particles in the air that reflect sunlight and cool the atmosphere a bit.

Seven of the last 10 Atlantic hurricane seasons have been more active than the long-term normal.

Climate change generally is making the strongest hurricanes even more intense, making storms rain more and making them rapidly intensify more, McNoldy said.

This year, Colorado State University  which pioneered hurricane season forecasting decades ago  is forecasting a season that's overall 71% stronger and busier than the average season with 23 named storms and 11 hurricanes.

That's at "levels comparable to some of the busiest seasons on record," said Klotzbach.

Klotzbach and his team gave a 62% probability that the United States will be hit with a major hurricane with winds of at least 111 mph. Normally the chance is 43%. The Caribbean has a two-out-of-three chance of getting hit by a major hurricane, and the U.S. Gulf Coast has a 42% likelihood of getting smacked by such a storm, the CSU forecast said. For the U.S. East Coast, the chance of being hit by a major hurricane is 34%.

Klotzbach said he doesn't see how something could shift soon enough to prevent a busy season this year.

"The die is somewhat cast," Klotzbach said.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday dismissed calls by the International Criminal Court for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three top Hamas officials in Gaza, for alleged war crimes in connection with the ongoing seven-month conflict.

Biden, at a White House news conference, was asked whether the U.S. had any evidence that Israel was using starvation of Palestinians as a tool of war to fight Hamas militants, as the court alleged this week.

Biden did not answer directly but said, We dont recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC the way its being exercised, and its that simple.

Referring to the conduct of the war, Biden, a long-time supporter of Israel, said, We dont think there's an equivalence between what Israel did and what Hamas did.

The Israel-Hamas war started with the shock October 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of about 250 hostages. Israel, in its subsequent counteroffensive in Gaza, has killed more than 35,700 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which includes civilians and combatants in its count, but says most of the dead are women and children.

CIA director Bill Burns is expected to travel to Europe soon to meet with the head of Israels Mossad and Qatars prime minister in an attempt to revive talks to release the hostages still held in Gaza and establish a cease-fire in the territory, according to media reports Thursday.

Negotiations for a cease-fire have languished for months. The ICJ announced Thursday it will deliver a decision Friday on an urgent request by South Africa to order a cease-fire in Gaza.

South Africa asked last week for the emergency measure in response to Israels offensive in Rafah in southern Gaza at the border with Egypt, where the United Nations had warned of a potential humanitarian catastrophe.

South Africa urged the top U.N. court to demand Israel fully withdraw from Gaza and allow U.N. officials, humanitarian organizations and journalists unimpeded access to the narrow territory along the Mediterranean Sea coastline.

The request is part of a larger case South Africa brought before the court accusing Israel of genocide.

Israel rejected the accusations, calling the South African case an obscene exploitation of the Genocide Convention.

Israeli officials say their campaign in Gaza is not aimed at civilians but at the Hamas militant group that attacked Israel in October.

On the battlefront, Israeli forces ended a two-day raid Thursday in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin that Palestinian health officials say killed at least 12 people and wounded 25 others.

Israel began the operation Tuesday and said it was battling militants in the area.

The Israel Defense Forces also reported carrying out ground fighting and airstrikes Thursday in Rafah, in central Gaza and in the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza.

Israeli forces killed at least 60 Palestinians in aerial and ground attacks across Gaza on Thursday, according to health officials and Hamas media, and also fought in close combat with Hamas-led militants in Rafah.

The main U.N. agency in Gaza estimated on Monday that more than 800,000 people had fled Rafah since Israels offensive on the city began earlier this month.

But Suze van Meegan, the emergency response leader for the Norwegian Refugee Council in Gaza, said many civilians were still stuck in the southern Gazan city.

"The city of Rafah is now comprised of three entirely different worlds: the east is an archetypal war zone, the middle is a ghost town, and the west is a congested mass of people living in deplorable conditions," she said in a statement.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Many South African political parties are using populist rhetoric ahead of what is being described as the most important election in 30 years.

One South African political party running in the May 29 elections wants mass expulsions of foreign migrants and the return of the death penalty. Another party regularly sings about killing White farmers. Yet another pushes for changing from Roman-Dutch law to African traditions and wants to send teenage mothers to a former prison island.

Gayton McKenzie, the leader of a small opposition party named the Patriotic Alliance and who spent 17 years in jail for robbery, speaks a law-and-order message.

As a person that grew up as a gangster, that grew up as a criminal, a person that understands the underworld, Im here today to tell you the only way to stop the crime, the killings, he said at a rally earlier this year. Under my regime, if you kill somebody, you shall be killed also. ... We want law and order back in South Africa.

Like populist leaders the world over, he positions himself as an outsider taking on a supposedly elite and corrupt establishment.

Beyond advocating for the death penalty, he has also promised to bring God back into schools. Immigration is his other key theme, in which he constantly rails against undocumented migrants from other African nations, blaming them for most of the countrys woes  from the unemployment crisis to crime. Hes even raised the idea of building a border wall.

Political analyst Tessa Dooms said she sees similarities between the political rhetoric in South Africa and the United States under former President Donald Trump, who is seeking a return to power in November.

I think whats becoming clear in this election is that there is almost a Trumpian type of moment that is developing where people are resisting establishment politics and big political parties particularly because they feel like those parties are far removed from them, are not accountable to them, and are not engaged with them, Dooms said.

The Economic Freedom Fighters, or EFF  the nations third-largest party  is South Africas original populist rabble-rouser. Its red-beret-wearing leader, Julius Malema, has twice been charged with hate speech and for firing a gun at a public rally.

The EFF advocates radical economic transformation  the nationalization of land and banks. Malema has also suggested arming the Hamas militant group.

Established less than a year ago, Umkhonto we Sizwe, or the MK party, which is predicted to get the third- or fourth-largest share of the vote, has also assumed the populist mantle.

Its led and represented by former President Jacob Zuma, although he cant run for parliament due to a 2021 prison sentence he was given for contempt of court.

Zuma, who was forced to resign as president in 2018 due to corruption scandals, has an axe to grind with his former party, the governing African National Congress. He also retains considerable popularity among fellow ethnic Zulus in his home province, despite allegations against him.

On the campaign trail this year, he has railed against South Africas progressive constitution, what he calls white law, and argued that traditional chiefs and leaders should be given more power.

Hes made derogatory comments about LGBTQ+ rights  which are protected by law in South Africa.

Zuma has also floated the idea of dealing with teenage pregnancy by sending young mothers to continue their education on Robben Island  the former prison where he and Nelson Mandela, who would also go on to become president, were jailed under Apartheid.

Another party, the right-wing Afrikaans party Freedom Front Plus, advocates for the secession of the Western Cape province, dubbed CapeXit.

As a country, South Africa has many conditions that make it fertile breeding ground for populism, analysts say. Unemployment is among the highest in the world, many still live in dire poverty, there are almost daily power cuts due to a flailing electricity grid, and there are high rates of murder and sexual violence.

People are just exhausted and just want to know there are people who are going to fix things fast and are willing to do whatever it takes to get those things resolved, Dooms said.

This months elections are being seen as pivotal, because 30 years after the end of apartheid, some polls project the ANC could get under 50% for the first time and be forced to enter a coalition government.

But with small populist parties on the rise, the concern now is who they would join with.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. I have invited the President of Tajikistan to participate in the climate conference in November. This invitation has been accepted, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press conference with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, Trend reports.

We are extensively preparing for this international event and counting on the active participation of Tajikistan. I am confident that our Tajik friends will make a great contribution to the success of this conference and the achievement of good results, the head of state added.
After international condemnation, Israel reversed its decision this week to cut the Associated Press live feed of Gaza, this comes as challenges are increasing for journalists and media outlets in Israel. Russia has a weapon in space and is beginning drills with tactical nuclear weapons as Ukraine is pressuring Washington to lift restrictions on using American-made weapons on Russian territory. Plus, the reaction of the Iranian opposition to president Raisis death and the aftermath of devastating floods in Brazil.
Ukrainian officials said Russian attacks killed at least seven people Thursday and injured at least 28 others in the northeastern city of Kharkiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack was "extremely cruel." He also expressed his exasperation at not getting enough air defense systems from Kyivs Western allies to defend Ukraine against such attacks.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba echoed Zelenskyy, saying the assault highlights Ukraines urgent need for additional U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems to protect Ukrainians from aerial bombardments.

"Unfortunately, mere words of solidarity do not intercept Russian missiles," he wrote on X.

Kharkiv Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram that Russia struck the area at least 15 times.

Kharkiv, a city of about 1 million people and the capital of the region of the same name, is located about 19 kilometers from the Russian border.

In recent weeks, Russias ground offensive has led to its troops capturing villages in the area. Looming over Ukraine are concerns that Russian forces are working to get within artillery range of the city of Kharkiv.

"The main focus [of the fighting] is on the entire border area," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address Wednesday.

The Ukrainian president also criticized international partners for not permitting Ukraine to use Western-provided weapons to strike missile launchers located in Russia.

"This weakness is not our weakness, but that of the worlds, which for the third year already has not dared to deal with the terrorists exactly as they deserve," he said.

In a Thursday interview with VOAs Ukrainian Service, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "We don't encourage strikes outside of Ukraine's borders."

"We dont enable such strikes beyond Ukraines borders. We understand that when it comes to using non-U.S. provided weapons, ultimately Ukraine will make its own decisions," Miller added.

The United States is preparing a $275 million military aid package for Ukraine, multiple officials told Reuters. The package, which could be announced as early as Friday, is expected to include 155mm artillery shells, precision aerial munitions and ground vehicles.

Meanwhile, in western Russias Belgorod region, officials reported damage Thursday from Ukrainian aerial attacks.

The Russia Defense Ministry said it destroyed 35 Ukrainian rockets and three aerial drones over Belgorod.

Belgorod Regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram that Ukrainian attacks damaged a building and sparked a fire in Belgorod city.

Gladkov also reported damage to multiple houses in two villages in the region.

Belgorod is located along the Russia-Ukraine border and is a frequent target of Ukrainian attacks.

Later Thursday, the head of the Russia-annexed Crimean Peninsula said that two bystanders were killed by a Ukrainian missile attack near the areas main administrative center Simferopol.

Zelenskyy is set to attend the meeting of the Group of 7 leaders in June to make a new appeal for more aid, according to Thursday media reports.

G7 finance ministers, whose meeting in Italy will begin on Friday, are not expected to agree on details of a loan for Ukraine, officials said.

Washington has been advocating for its partners to agree to a loan that would be backed by future income from about $300 billion of Russian assets held in the West that were frozen not long after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the loan could add up to about $50 billion, but other G7 officials have been less open to the idea because of legal concerns.

Oleksii Kovalenko of VOAs Ukrainian Service contributed to this report. Some information for this story came from Reuters and The Associated Press.
Sweden is providing Ukraine with additional military support, totaling $7 billion, over three years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Sweden in his nightly address for the long-term support.

It will strengthen not only us, not only Ukraine, the president said, but the entire European perimeter from the Baltic to the Black Sea.

Zelenskyy also made a fresh plea on Wednesday for more air defenses.

In his video address, he said Ukraine needed a weapon to counter the guided bombs Russia has used to attack energy and other infrastructure.

"There can be no alternative. Ukraine needs systems and tactics that will allow us to protect our positions, our cities and our communities from these bombs," he said, according to Reuters.

He said that in April alone, Russia sent more than 3,200 such bombs into Ukraine in addition to missiles and drones.

Also on Wednesday, the governor of western Russias Belgorod region said falling fragments from a destroyed Ukrainian aerial drone damaged two residential buildings, while Russias Defense Ministry said the countrys air defenses shot down a total of three drones and six missiles over the region.

The Defense Ministry also said it destroyed an aerial drone over the Kaluga region. The governor there said there were no reported injuries or damage.

Ukraines military said Wednesday it destroyed all 24 Russian drones involved in overnight attacks.

The intercepts took place over the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Odesa, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Ukrainian shelling killed two people and injured four on Wednesday in Lysychansk, the Russian-installed governor said. The city, with a prewar population of nearly 100,000 people, was captured by Russia in 2022.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, the British Defense Ministry intelligence update on Ukraine reported that Ukraine exported 6.6 million tons of grain and oilseed last month, the largest volume since the war against Russia began.

Ukraines grain exports are highly likely vital for the worlds food security, the ministry reported, comprising nearly 10% of global grain exports.



Some information for this story came from Reuters.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was interred Thursday in a tomb in the gold-domed Iman Reza Holy Shrine, Irans holiest Islamic site.

Thousands of mourners filled the streets of Mashhad, Iran, for his funeral.

Raisi, 63, was killed Sunday, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six others in a helicopter crash in Irans East Azerbaijan province in the mountainous northwest. Raisi was widely seen as a candidate to succeed 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who wields ultimate power in Iran.

Many of the mourners in Mashhad were dressed in black and beat their chests and heads in a sign of mourning common in Shiite ceremonies. A truck carried his casket down a street, with mourners reaching out to touch it and tossing scarves and flowers against it for a blessing.

The Imam Reza shrine is revered as the resting place of the 9th century Imam Ali al-Reza. Raisi hailed from Mashhad, 900 kilometers east of Tehran, the Iranian capital.

Earlier, thousands had paid their respects as his coffin was driven in a motorcade through the eastern city of Birjand.

While the crowds were substantial for Raisis funeral, they were not as large as those that gathered for the funeral for Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020, who was killed by a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad.

It was a possible sign of the public's feelings about Raisi's presidency during which the government harshly cracked down on all dissent during protests over the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, who was detained allegedly for not properly wearing her mandatory head scarf to authorities' liking.

Persian social media users posted videos appearing to show people in different parts of Iran sharing sweets and chocolates on Monday to celebrate Raisis death.

Khamenei named Mohammad Mokhber, a relatively unknown first vice president until Sunday's crash, as Irans acting president. A presidential election is set for June 28.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
Hoor Mehtab, a Pakistani medical student in Kyrgyzstan, was among the first students to return to Pakistan following Kyrgyzstani mob attacks on foreign students, including Pakistanis and Indians, in various Bishkek universities and hostels May 17.

Mehteb said she and others were dining in a cafe serving Pakistani food when they received messages from classmates at their hostel that a mob had attacked the hostel and Avicenna International Medical University where they were students.

Mehteb said the cafe owner offered her and 59 other Pakistani and Indian students refuge in the basement, where they stayed for 14 hours.

It was suffocating, she told VOA.

Mehtab was among nearly 4,000 Pakistani students who left their studies in Bishkek and returned to Pakistan after the violence, which lasted for several hours over May 17 and 18.

Kyrgyzstan's Interior Ministry said in a statement on its website the day after the attack that the violence was triggered by the appearance of a social media video purportedly showing a group of persons of Asian appearance, said by eyewitnesses to be Egyptians, harassing foreign students on the night of May 13. The statement said the police charged four foreign students with hooliganism and detained them. Police did not release the students' identities.

Kyrgyz Deputy Education Minister Rasul Abazbek, speaking to reporters Monday in Bishkek, called the mass attacks on Pakistani and Indian students shameful.

We must not lose this reputation to be hub of education, Abazbek said.

Parents of students who are still in Bishkek say they are worried about the safety of their sons and daughters.

My family is worried. I have to borrow $320 to send it to my daughter and son to buy air tickets so they can come back home, Sardar Asif Ali, a Pakistani father in Mardan city, in Pakistans northwest, told VOA.

According to official estimates, there are 11,000 Pakistanis in Kyrgyzstan, mostly students.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was in Bishkek this week to ensure the safety of the Pakistani students. At a press briefing Wednesday in Islamabad, Dar said about 4,000 Pakistanis are expected to return from Kyrgyzstan.

Pakistan has launched special flights to repatriate its citizens. A flight arranged by the Pakistani government arrived at Bacha Khan International Airport in the northwestern city of Peshawar early Wednesday, carrying 200 students from Bishkek.

Among them was Azra Alam, a Pakistani student in her third year of medical studies in Bishkek.

"We were stuck in our rooms for six days and scared every minute," she told VOA. She said she is uncertain about her future studies at Bishkek.

Medical schools in the former Soviet republics are popular among South Asian students because of lower costs, proximity and lower qualification requirements. Students and parents say the cost for a year of tuition for a medical school in Kyrgyzstan is roughly $3,000.

This story originated in VOAs Deewa service with contributions by Urdu Service. Some information for this report came from Reuters.
A Tunisian court on Wednesday sentenced two journalists to one year in prison on charges of publishing false news that harms public security, a judicial official said, amid growing fears of a crackdown targeting all critical voices.

Mourad Zghidi and Borhan Bsaiss, both journalists with IFM radio, were detained this month over political comments made on the radio.

Tunisia has now imprisoned a total of six journalists, including Zghidi and Bsaiss, while dozens of others face judicial prosecution, according to the national journalists syndicate, which is the country's main union for journalists.

In May, police arrested 10 people, including journalists, lawyers and officials of civil society groups, in what Amnesty International called a deep crackdown targeting activists and journalists. Human Rights Watch has called on Tunisia to respect free speech and civil liberties.

"The judge decided to imprison them for a year following social media posts and radio comments that harm public security, said Mohamed Zitouna, the Tunis court spokesperson.

Lawyers for Bsaiss and Zghidi were not immediately available for comment.

During his trial session, Bsaiss said, I am a program presenter who presents all issues, and what I did was journalistic work.

Zghidi also defended himself during the session.

I did not make a mistake. .... My work requires analyzing the political and economic situation ... and I bear my responsibility, he said.

Tunisian journalists gathered near the court on Wednesday, demanding an end to ongoing restrictions against journalists.

Tunisia has become an open prison for journalists," said Zied Dabbar, head of the national journalists syndicate.

"Threats and restrictions facing journalists in Tunisia are unprecedented. We will move to escalation, he added, without giving details.

Since Tunisia's 2011 revolution, the country has been considered one of the more open media environments in the Arab world.

But politicians, journalists and unions say freedom of the press faces a serious threat under the rule of President Kais Saied, who came to power following free elections in 2019.

Two years later, he shut down the elected parliament and moved to rule by decree. He also assumed authority over the judiciary, a step that the opposition called a coup.

Saied rejects accusations of authoritarian rule and says his steps aim to end years of chaos and corruption.
The United Nations General Assembly voted Thursday to designate July 11 annually as an international day of reflection and commemoration of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim boys and men by Bosnian Serb forces. Serbia and Bosnian Serbs strongly opposed its adoption.

Perpetrated amidst the Bosnian War, this act of genocide led to the tragic death of the victims and to unimaginable suffering for survivors and their families, German Ambassador Antje Leendertse said, introducing the resolution. Our initiative is about honoring the memory of the victims and supporting the survivors who continue to live with the scars of that fateful time.

Germany and Rwanda co-led the negotiations on the resolutions text over more than a month.

The resolution received 84 votes in favor, 19 against and 68 abstentions. Only a simple majority of those countries present and voting yes or no was needed for the motion to pass. It was co-sponsored by more than 40 countries, including the western Balkan nations of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia and Slovenia, along with the United States.

Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Becirovic welcomed the resolution, saying it is an important step for the promotion of peace and reconciliation in the region and beyond.

Truth and justice won today in the U.N. General Assembly, he told VOA after the vote.

In addition to designating the annual international day of reflection and commemoration, which would start next year on the 30th anniversary of the massacres, the resolution also condemns genocide denial and the glorification of perpetrators.

The U.N.-backed International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia concluded in 2004 that genocide had been committed in the small mountain town in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 1995. In 2007, the International Court of Justice also ruled that the massacres constituted genocide.

Regional opposition

The president of Bosnias Serb-controlled Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, has threatened to secede from the country if the resolution is adopted.

Serbias government has also vigorously campaigned against the resolution, urging its co-sponsors to withdraw it, saying it unfairly targets Serbia and attributes moral responsibility for genocide collectively to its people and will hurt the fragile reconciliation process, a claim the authors deny.

Montenegro suggested language that was added to the final text, clarifying that criminal accountability under international law for the crime of genocide is individualized and cannot be attributed to any ethnic, religious, or other group or community as a whole.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic traveled to New York for the vote. He urged the General Assembly to vote against the resolution, saying it was highly politicized and would only sow deeper divisions in the region.

This is not about reconciliation; this is not about memories, he said. This is something that will just open an old wound and that will create a complete political havoc  and not only in our region, but here in this hall.

On July 11, 1995, the U.N.-designated safe area of Srebrenica fell to Bosnian Serb forces. Over the next several days, at least 8,372 Bosnian Muslim boys and men were separated from their families, put on buses and taken to several locations including warehouses, schools and fields, where they were executed.

Their bodies were dumped in several mass graves. Investigators said their remains were later exhumed and moved to secondary graves in an extensive cover up. Experts used DNA samples from relatives to identify thousands of the murdered men.

The Hague-based tribunal for the former Yugoslavia convicted 16 people for crimes committed in Srebrenica, including eight men for the crime of genocide.

The General Assembly resolution adopted Thursday is partly modeled on a 2003 resolution that established the international day of reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. It has been observed at the United Nations every April 7 since 2004.

Some countries that abstained or voted against Thursdays Srebrenica resolution noted that there is also a day of remembrance for all victims of genocide, which the United Nations marks every December 9.

Others noted that there was no consensus in the region on the resolution and that they did not want to contribute to tensions.

Both the U.N. high commissioner for human rights and the special adviser on the prevention of genocide welcomed the resolution.

This resolution is further recognition of the victims and survivors and their pursuit of justice, truth and guarantees of non-recurrence, human rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement.

Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Alice Nderitu said the resolution is important in light of the trend toward genocide denial in the region.

Questioning the tragic reality of what happened in Srebrenica is not acceptable, she said, adding it would only hurt peace and reconciliation efforts.
As the United Nations warns of more "intensive" floods affecting food security in Afghanistan in the coming months, experts say the country needs long-term planning to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.

The U.N. said that floods in the northeastern and northwestern provinces in the past two weeks have affected more than 80,000 people in the country.

Local Taliban officials in the western province of Ghor said Thursday that last week's flood in the province killed at least 50 people and damaged more than 4,000 houses and shops.

According to the U.N., floods on May 10 and 11 in the northeastern provinces of Badakhshan, Takhar and Baghlan killed 347 people and injured 1,651. The floods destroyed 7,800 houses, killed nearly 14,000 livestock and destroyed about 24,000 hectares of land in the three provinces.

The worsening climate crisis has brought about "the erratic weather pattern," which has "become the norm" in the country, according to the World Food Program.

"The affected people are living in districts with higher food insecurity," said Ziauddin Safi, a spokesperson for WFP in Afghanistan, adding that "the floods are caused by unusual rainfall after a dry winter that left the ground too hard to absorb the rain caused by climate crisis."

"Unfortunately, WFP expects more floods in the future," Safi added.

Afghanistan remains one of the world's most vulnerable countries to climate change, though it has one of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the INFORM Risk Index 2023, the country is ranked fourth on the list of countries most at risk of a crisis.

Afghanistan is also one of the most vulnerable and least prepared countries on the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index.

Najibullah Sadid, an Afghan water specialist at the University of Stuttgart in Germany, told VOA that Afghanistan needs a long-term plan to mitigate the effects of climate change but that the country lacks resources.

"Unfortunately, without international economic support, implementing projects [to mitigate the effects of climate change] in Afghanistan is impossible," Sadid said.

He added that Afghanistan needs support from the U.N. Green Climate Fund and Loss and Damage Fund for Developing Countries.

Sadid said that Afghanistan has no capacity to prepare communities in the face of challenges caused by climate change.

Sadruddin Fakhruddin, a former Afghan official at the Ministry of Agriculture, told VOA that most of the affected people in the provinces depend on agriculture, and the floods "washed away the agricultural land and destroyed the irrigation system."

WFP has called for an additional $14.5 million to assist flood-affected people with "emergency food and nutrition assistance and resilience-building projects."

Even before the recent floods, the country was facing a humanitarian crisis.

WFP had requested $670 million for the first six months of 2024 to reach some 16 million people who needed food assistance in Afghanistan.

According to the U.N., 4 million people, including 3.2 million children under the age of 5, are malnourished in Afghanistan.

"Acute malnutrition is above emergency thresholds in 25 out of 34 provinces, and is expected to worsen, with almost half of children under 5 and a quarter of pregnant and breastfeeding women needing life-saving nutrition support in the next 12 months," according to WFP.

"Women and children were disproportionately affected by the floods as they were inside their homes during the heavy rains, while men sheltered in public buildings such as mosques," said the Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group and the Women Advisory Group to the Humanitarian Country Team.

Fakhruddin said better management of resources is needed in the long term to mitigate the adverse effects of natural disasters in Afghanistan.

"In the short term, food security would be important; however, in the long term, issues such as reforestation, land and water management would need to be addressed."
President Joe Biden said Thursday that he would designate Kenya as the first major non-NATO U.S. ally in sub-Saharan Africa, as he welcomed President William Ruto for the first state visit to the U.S. by an African leader in nearly 16 years.

The significant strategic move signals the shifting of U.S. security cooperation to East Africa just as U.S. troops prepare to depart Niger, leaving a vacuum that Russian forces have begun to fill.

The designation gives nonmembers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization access to military and financial advantages that NATO members enjoy, but without the mutual defense agreement that holds NATO together.

A senior administration official told reporters late Wednesday that Biden would inform Congress of the designation, which takes 30 days to take effect.

Biden, during a day full of meetings with Ruto  capped with a glitzy, 500-guest state dinner attended by former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton  said this new designation is a result of the close collaboration between the two nations on fighting terrorism in the volatile Horn of Africa.

"That's a fulfillment of years of collaboration on joint counterterrorism operations that degraded ISIS and al-Shabab across East Africa, our mutual support for Ukraine and rallying the world to stand behind the U.N. Charter, and our work together on Haiti is helping pave the way to reduce instability and insecurity," Biden said.

But analysts said Kenyas spotty human rights record  as amply documented by the U.S. State Department  raised concerns about how it will use its new privileged status.

"Kenya has serious issues with things like extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances and torture and cruel and inhumane and other forms of degrading punishment by government or on behalf of the government," said Michael Walsh, a senior fellow in the Africa Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

"And this is by the security forces. So there's going to be concerns that that part of the strategy is being abandoned, that the U.S. is no longer putting such a priority on democracy promotion in Africa and the U.S. is really retrenching toward the security side of the security-democracy paradigm," Walsh added.

Ruto and Biden used their daylong deliberations to iron out Kenyas plan to send 1,000 security officers to the fragile, chaotic Caribbean nation of Haiti.

The initiative, to which the United States has pledged $300 million in support, faces stiff political and legal challenges in Kenya. The mission was also delayed when Haitian armed gangs took control while the nations leader, Ariel Henry, was visiting Kenya in March. He resigned in April and has not returned to the island.

Ruto, who said he was "looking forward" to the deployment of forces to Haiti, did not give a date or further details.

And the White House on Thursday also rolled out a number of security-related agreements, which included training opportunities and military exercises, assistance in managing refugees, U.S. investments in Kenyas security sector counterterrorism efforts, including increased information sharing as well as 16 helicopters and 150 armored vehicles.

From bombs to bonbons

Washington also made millions of dollars of commitments toward efforts the U.S. sees as key to development. Those include areas such as democracy, health, education, arts and culture, climate management, trade, technology, and the one item Ruto said was his main priority on his four-day swing through the United States: work to restructure African nations crippling debt to the worlds largest creditor, China.

Ruto on Thursday reiterated his plea that the U.S. double its commitments to help restructure African nations debts  and warned of steep consequences otherwise.

"Unless this is done, and done immediately, the values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law are in great jeopardy," he said.

The lengthy list of American pledges did not include the roads, bridges and railroad projects that African leaders have long said they need to keep up with their exploding populations. For those, they turn to Chinas sprawling Belt and Road Initiative, which counts the African continent as the largest beneficiary of its massive $1 trillion global project.

This, analysts say, represents Africas new stance as its young democracies mature, less than a century after liberation from colonialism: In a world of competition among the worlds great powers, they want to be somewhere in the middle.

"I think many U.S. officials see this very much as a zero-sum game in this kind of great power competition to gain influence," said Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow in the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"African countries don't see it that way," he said. "They actually see the benefit of being able to partner with China on trade, with Russia on security and with Washington on development, and they don't see any inconsistency in that approach."

"And I think unless and until Washington becomes much more comfortable with seeing their privileged relationships become partnerized with other countries, I think it's going to be very difficult for Washington to really chart a course forward with many of these countries," he said.

This was the first White House state visit by an African leader in nearly 16 years, and that significance was not lost on first lady Jill Biden, who, ahead of her sixth state dinner, spoke of a glass-ceilinged pavilion set under the stars, of a gospel choir and shag carpets and "the glow of candles in a space saturated with warm pinks and reds."

White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford narrated a menu of chilled green tomato soup touched with sweet onions and drizzled with white balsamic vinegar and fine Californian olive oil, of butter-poached lobster and seasonal bounties reminiscent of American summer. She lavished words on the bed of kale and roasted corn and corn puree and roasted turnips and sweet potatoes and squash but touched just briefly on the one item that is seen as a hallmark of a fine Kenyan feast:

"Red meat," she said.

Specifically, she said, they are marinated and smoked short ribs, perched atop that farmers market's worth of produce.

Guests arriving at the dinner said they were full of hope for the continent's future.

Dr. John Nkengasong, Biden's Global AIDS coordinator, told VOA he wants to see the now 21-year-old PEPFAR program to combat HIV "renewed in a clean manner."

"We are committed to staying focused until we bring HIV/AIDS under control by the year 2030," he said.

Audrey Azoulay, head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, said the continent has made a "major" contribution to the arts.

"One important thing is now to recognize it," she told VOA. "If you think about music, if you think about fabrics, fashion, world heritage sites that are designated by UNESCO. We made it a priority now to better recognize this heritage."

National Basketball Association head Adam Silver told VOA he was thrilled about the continent's new Basketball Africa League.

"Basketball's really picking up across the continent," he said.

Some seemed less hopeful about politics at home.

Guest LeVar Burton, the actor and host of the popular educational show Reading Rainbow, paused when asked by reporters what he thought the word of the day was to describe the nation's political climate.

"Just one?" he said. "Can I swear?"

After some thought, he replied: "Fraught. With possibility. That's three words."

Also at the dinner was American writer Barbara Kingsolver, author of the ambitious, searing novel The Poisonwood Bible, which uses multiple narrators to trace a family's travails through the newly independent Democratic Republic of Congo. VOA asked the author what inspires her about Africa.

"Everything," she replied.

VOAs Kim Lewis contributed to this report from Washington.
New York City is celebrating Fleet Week, a weeklong event that celebrates the U.S. maritime services.

A dozen naval vessels made their way up the Hudson River on Wednesday.

Among the ships taking part are the USS Bataan, a U.S. Navy Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, the USCGC Sturgeon Bay, a 140-foot Bay-class cutter primarily used for breaking through ice, four U.S. Naval Academy Yard Patrol Craft and two German Navy ships, the Baden-Wurttemberg-class frigate and a Berlin-class replenishment ship.

The ships sailed past the Intrepid Museum at Pier 86 in New York Harbor on Wednesday as part of the Parade of Ships.

The event, now in its 36th year, offers the public the chance to meet members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as opportunities to step aboard and tour the warships, Reuters reported.

Other nations, such as Germany, often send ships as well.

About 2,300 sailors, Marines and members of the Coast Guard are expected to participate in this year's events and offer demonstrations to showcase the latest military technology, Reuters reported.

Some of the information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Our interaction rests on the determination of our peoples, who have been cooperating for centuries, been friends, and created together, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press conference with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, Trend reports.

Statement by President Ilham Aliyev

- Dear Emomali Sharipovich.

Dear guests.

Dear friends.

It is a great honor for us to welcome our dear guest, a great friend of Azerbaijan, President of brotherly Tajikistan Emomali Sharipovich Rahmon on a state visit.

We have discussed a broad range of issues regarding our interaction in an expanded format with the participation of members of our delegations and in our one-on-one meeting today. We have given specific instructions to members of the governments of our countries regarding the implementation of many projects of economic nature, projects related to industrial cooperation, as well as cooperation in the humanitarian sphere.

By the end of the year, when Emomali Sharipovich visits us again, we will go over all the issues again and exercise control over the implementation of these instructions. I have invited the President of Tajikistan to participate in the climate conference in November. This invitation has been accepted. We are extensively preparing for this international event and counting on the active participation of Tajikistan. I am confident that our Tajik friends will make a great contribution to the success of this conference and the achievement of good results.

Our interaction rests on the determination of our peoples, who have been cooperating for centuries, have been friends, and have created together. Today, our interstate relations have reached the highest level.

We have just signed the Declaration on Strategic Partnership, which reflects the nature and spirit of our relations, as well as the determination of our peoples. The Declaration covers almost all spheres of interaction. It expresses mutual support and a focus on concrete results.

Today, we also discussed in detail the issues of economic interaction. Along with the Declaration on Strategic Partnership, we have signed 13 other documents, totaling 14 documents, some of which were signed here and others earlier. This significantly strengthens the legal framework of our relations. On the eve of the visit of the President of Tajikistan, a business forum was held, and documents and memorandums of understanding were also signed within the framework of that forum, and this was reported to us today. I think this will allow us the opportunity to significantly increase the volume of mutual trade.

The Days of Culture of Tajikistan in Azerbaijan, which are currently underway here and will last several days, almost one week, are also an important event in bilateral relations. I think and I am confident that this brings joy to Azerbaijani spectators, who have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the rich culture of the Tajik people.

We also discussed in detail issues related to industrial cooperation, and I am sure that what we talked about and the instructions we have given to members of the government will be realized in the shortest possible time.

The transport sector was also in the spotlight of our discussions. We carefully went over the issues related to logistical links in order to make the Middle Corridor and the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, which is a part of it, more appealing for shippers from Tajikistan. I informed my colleague that Azerbaijan has practically completed all major transport and logistical projects on its territory and is now ready to receive large volumes of cargo from different directions: from East to West and vice versa, and also from North to South and vice versa.

We also discussed issues related to geopolitical changes, the global situation, and the situation in our regions. We discussed in detail the strengthening of security measures and increasing cooperation in this sphere, as well as issues related to education, culture and agriculture. In other words, even the composition of the delegations of our countries speaks volumes of the broad agenda between us. But most important, of course, is the sincerity in our relations, the friendly and brotherly nature of relations between Tajikistan and Azerbaijan. Of course, one of the most important roles is the personal contacts between the heads of state. I visited Tajikistan twice last year  with a state visit, and Emomali Sharipovich also invited me as a guest of honor to the Summit of Heads of State of Central Asia. Also last year, we held the Summit of the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia, SPECA, and Emomali Sharipovich visited us. In other words, our regular contacts in Tajikistan and Azerbaijan, not to mention our meetings on the sidelines of international events, of course, are the most important factors of our interaction. This gives a powerful impetus to all directions in order to fill relations with specific content.

Once again, dear Emomali Sharipovich, I warmly welcome you. I would like to thank you for accepting the invitation and making a state visit. I wish the brotherly people of Tajikistan new victories under your leadership. As a person who has been visiting Tajikistan for almost 20 years, I have witnessed the large-scale transformations, economic and social development, as well as successes in urban development. And every time I visit Dushanbe, I see how much more beautiful and comfortable the city is becoming for its residents and visitors. Therefore, I once again congratulate you on all these achievements. I wish you and the brotherly Tajik people continued success.
By Tim Cocks

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Munera Mokgoko was just three when apartheid fell. She can barely remember, much less fathom, the swell of hope that accompanied Black liberation three decades ago, shaped by Nelson Mandela's vision of social equality and pan-African solidarity.

"South Africa doesn't have any ubuntu," the 33-year-old said, using a Zulu word meaning humanity, ahead of an election in which the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is pledging to crack down on undocumented migrants from the rest of the continent.

"It's like we don't know how to welcome people."

Mokgoko's Tanzanian husband is among many African migrants who have flocked here since the end of white minority rule and met with the colder side of the "Rainbow Nation," a name used by Mandela and others in the 1990s to describe South Africa's aspirations to be a beacon of multicultural harmony.

Public resentment at immigration has become a hot issue in the run-up to the May 29 vote. It's the first national election in which most people in South Africa  which has a median age of about 28  have no memory of decades of apartheid, the fight for freedom or the ANC liberation movement's rise to power in 1994.

Idi Rajebo, Mokgoko's 34-year-old husband, and thousands of other hopefuls fleeing rural penury in much poorer nations like Tanzania and Malawi have packed themselves into decrepit minibuses, footslogged through bush and bribed border guards to reach Johannesburg, the "City of Gold."

He and dozens of others ended up crammed into a derelict apartment tower that was being taken over  or "hijacked"  by criminals, where toilets overflowed and drug addicts drooped over stairwells.

"It wasn't nice," said Isaac Simon, 39, a Tanzanian friend of Rajebo's who ran a kitchen on the ground floor.

"We all had the same idea: make some money and get out."

Dozens didn't get the chance. Nine months ago, the Usindiso apartment block burst into flames, killing 77 people  mostly migrants  and leaving hundreds homeless.

Reuters is the first news outlet to comprehensively piece together the stories of many of the survivors, before and after the Usindiso tragedy. This article is based on interviews with about 50 people, including 19 migrant victims, government officials and lawyers representing survivors in a public inquiry into the causes of the blaze, plus hundreds of pages of documents submitted as evidence to the probe, much of it not publicly available.

The accounts turn a rare spotlight on the dire conditions endured by many Africans who arrive here searching for a better life in the continent's most advanced economy, and the hostility they say they've encountered from South African authorities as well as bands of vigilantes who blame foreigners for taking jobs and services away from local people.

The public inquiry concluded this month that the fire was caused by a South African man who was high on crystal meth when he strangled another local to death and set the body alight with petrol to conceal the evidence of the murder.

The probe also blamed neglect by local authorities for allowing the building to become a hazardous zone, rife with guns, murder, drugs and combustible trash, findings that led to the provincial premier pledging to swiftly implement the report's recommendations.

'WE FOUGHT FOR A FREE AFRICA'

For those who survived the blaze, the ordeal continues. Seven of the 19 migrants interviewed are sleeping on sidewalks or in makeshift tents. Most of the rest said they were living in even more overcrowded and dirty accommodation than the gutted block they escaped, while four have been deported for not having valid immigration papers. In total, 25 survivors of the fire have been deported, according to lawyers representing them at the public inquiry into the fire and as legal counsel during their incarceration.

This month's election could mark the end of an era for post-liberation South Africa, with the long-dominant ANC expected to lose its parliamentary majority for the first time, abandoned by voters incensed at a litany of national woes including a dearth of decent housing, frequent power cuts, water shortages, poor schools, rampant joblessness and high crime.

Most major parties have put forward plans to crack down harder on illegal migrants as they vie for votes in a tight race. Last month, the government published proposals in its official gazette to scale back its commitments to, or withdraw from, the United Nations refugees convention and related treaties, to "deter economic migrants who come to South Africa disguising as asylum seekers," a move it said would free its hand in promptly rejecting asylum claims it deemed bogus.

The white paper provoked an outcry from local human rights groups and three U.N. agencies - the UNHCR refugee body, IOM migration organization and UNICEF children's fund - said the withdrawal would set a negative precedent and could lead to children born in South Africa becoming stateless.

The proposals also provide a jarring counterpoint to the message conveyed by former ANC leader Mandela, who declared Africans were "one people with a common destiny" after becoming the country's first democratically elected president.

"When the history of our struggle is written, it will tell a glorious tale of African solidarity," Mandela told fellow leaders in June 1994. "Africa shed her blood ... so that all her children could be free. She gave of her limited wealth and resources so that all of Africa should be liberated."

The ANC signed up to the refugee treaties unconditionally in 1995 and 1996. It wasn't among the many signatories that secured opt-outs from certain requirements, such as giving refugees the same welfare benefits as citizens. In a 1997 speech to mark Africa Refugee Day, Mandela said the answer to managing large refugee flows, often driven by conflict, was to emphasize people's political and civil rights and for "all of us on the African continent to unite."

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, who put forward the white paper, told Reuters in an interview that migrants as a whole were proving a heavy burden on South Africa's resources, citing one hospital, in the northeastern town of Musina, where he said Zimbabweans made up of 70% of maternity ward patients.

Reuters couldn't independently verify those maternity ward figures. Calls to the Musina hospital went unanswered.

Motsoaledi also said undocumented migrants were allowing employers to undercut the minimum wage, and dismissed any suggestion of xenophobia.

"Every country has got the right to safeguard its interests," he said. "Pan-Africanism does not mean entering each other's country illegally."

The government stance is rejected by Andy Chinnah, a human rights activist who has spent the last nine months helping victims of the fire by providing them with meals and helping organize their legal representation for the public inquiry, which examined the causes of the blaze and who should be held responsible for the tragedy.

Chinnah said the treatment of African migrants reminded him of the apartheid system, but now it was Black people from other countries who were "outsiders." Political moves to curb migrant rights amount to a betrayal of Mandela's legacy, he said.

"He wanted one Africa. All the other presidents from the other African countries supported him and the liberation movement to get the freedom that we enjoy today," Chinnah said.

"We didn't fight for just the freedom of us in South Africa. We fought for a free Africa. We fought against colonialism."

ENTER OPERATION 'FORCE OUT'

The number of immigrants living legally in South Africa has almost trebled to 2.4 million in 2022  more than 80% of them from sub-Saharan Africa  from 835,000 in 1996, according to the national statistics office. It said migrants now made up about 4% of the population, with Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Malawi the leading countries of origin. In the United States, another country where immigration is a top issue this election year, foreign-born people account for almost 14% of the populace, census data shows.

The official South African figures don't include undocumented migrants, for which the government white paper says there are no reliable figures. It says immigration authorities deport 15,000 to 20,000 undocumented migrants a year, and that the number is rising.

Migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, where much of the population struggles to eke out even a meager living from farming, are often willing to take great risks to reach South Africa's more industrialized economy. They pursue work as child carers, waiters, security guards, artisanal miners and shopkeepers, to name a few occupations.

Of the 19 migrant survivors interviewed by Reuters, nine including Rajebo said they were on valid visas but had lost the documents along with most of their belongings in the fire. The other 10 said they didn't have valid immigration papers. Reuters couldn't independently verify their accounts.

There is widespread public frustration with undocumented migrants in South Africa, particularly among young people, according to a survey of 1,000 18-to-24-year-olds published this month by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, a Johannesburg-based rights and conservation advocacy group.

About 88% of respondents said they believed illegal migrants were taking jobs and resources away from South Africans, 86% said they were driving up crime, and 85% thought they should be forcibly removed.

Few movements harness this bubbling anger more thoroughly than Operation Dudula  meaning "force out" in Zulu  a group founded in 2021 with a stated mission to rid South Africa of illegal migrants, whom they blame for many social and economic ills.

The loose-knit street movement has thousands of followers across the country. It has become well known for staging demonstrations against illegal migrant workers, making threats against migrants and sometimes carrying out attacks on foreign-owned businesses.

Operation Dudula registered as a political party late last year, but last month the electoral commission excluded it from the election for missing the deadline for submitting its list of candidates.

About half of the migrant survivors of the Aug. 31 Johannesburg fire interviewed by Reuters said they had been threatened and intimidated by members of Operation Dudula, both before and after the disaster.

Two months before the blaze, members of Dudula swept through the building, clad in their uniform of white T-shirts and combat trousers, demanding to see identification from foreign nationals, searching rooms for drugs and hitting some residents with whips, according to four witnesses interviewed. Their accounts are corroborated by five separate affidavits submitted to the public inquiry and seen by Reuters.

On the day after the fire, as dozens of shell-shocked and homeless survivors sat outside the building, about 30 members of Dudula arrived armed with whips, marched up and began taunting them, according to five witnesses and five affidavits.

"They were shouting, they were singing, they were having joyful laughter," said Omari Hanya, 44, a Tanzanian survivor who was there. "'These foreigners must go back home or die', they were saying in Zulu."

Dudula's Deputy Secretary General Isaac Lesole rejected the allegations that the group harassed or abused migrants in the block. He said the group's code of conduct, which Reuters has viewed, allowed members only to ask if someone has legitimate visa papers, not to demand to see them. He disputed the charge of vigilantism, saying their role was always to alert legitimate authorities.

"Yes, in the past, we've been in trouble for acting on our own," said Lesole. He acknowledged that Dudula members had threatened migrants and attacked their businesses in the past, but insisted the group now operates as whistleblowers within the law.

"Yes, there were members of Operation Dudula outside the Usindiso building following the fire, but it was not celebratory," he added. The aim of the march was to highlight the problem of undocumented migrants and show Dudula had been vindicated in their belief that foreign nationals had taken over too many buildings like this in the town center, he said.

Asked how authorities viewed Dudula, Home Affairs Minister Motsoaledi said that South Africa didn't condone the group's anti-migrant activities. "You don't take the law into your own hands," he added. "You don't follow vigilantism because the country will go into chaos."

The suspect in the fatal blaze, who is in detention and has been charged with 76 counts of murder and 86 counts of attempted murder, hasn't yet entered a plea.

In March, the suspect's attorney publicly stated that he intended to plead not guilty. Since then, the suspect fired his attorney for failing to show up at a court hearing to represent him and a new lawyer hasn't been named, according to an official close to the case who requested anonymity to discuss the matter.

BEATEN FOR BEING $11 SHORT

Mokgoko, a South African from Northwest Province, met Rajebo in 2007 in Randfontein, a gold mining town west of Johannesburg, where he was running a grocery shop. Rajebo had arrived a year earlier by bus from the Tanzanian port city of Tanga.

In 2019, they and their three children moved into the fourth floor of the doomed block.

"We had financial problems; it was cheap," Mokgoko told Reuters outside the tin shack where she now resides. Her one-year-old daughter, Mymuna, giggled as she muddied her pink booties in the dirt.

The Usindiso building was formerly a shelter for women who were victims of domestic violence which closed in 2017 due to lack of funding. When Mokgoko and Rajebo arrived, it was being hijacked by criminal gangs charging "rent" to occupants and newcomers. It soon became crammed with desperate new arrivals, with the criminals and residents dividing its space by erecting tin shacks in bathrooms and on staircases, eight fire survivors told Reuters.

More than 500 people were living in the hijacked building at the time of the fire, about half of them migrants, according to law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, which represented 340 survivors in the inquiry. There are no official estimates.

The gangs could be brutal if you didn't pay on time, said Simon, a Tanzanian friend of Rajebo's who ran a kitchen on the ground floor. "They came in groups of five or six, with guns, usually a revolver," he added. "I saw them beat someone with a bottle for being 200 rand ($11) short."

The criminals openly preferred to rent to migrants, eight foreign residents told Reuters, because many were too scared to complain to police, since some were undocumented and others had already been extorted by officers.

Seven foreign fire survivors, including Hanya, told Reuters that men in police uniforms with badges often raided their informal market stalls in and outside the building, asking to see their visa papers. If no valid document was produced, or sometimes even if one was, they said, the men often demanded sums of between 500 and 2,000 rand to avoid jail.

Four of those survivors described being driven off in a van to a quiet street to carry out the transaction. Two said they had been locked up in police cells until friends or relatives came with money to get them out.

Malawian street grocer Kenneth Jiro, 32, survived the fire but lost his 26-year-old brother Manis. He recalled having his stall raided every few weeks by men in police uniforms demanding 700 to 1,000 rand each time.

Xolani Fihla, a spokesman for the Johannesburg police (JMPD), said the department was not aware of any such misconduct by officers in its ranks, but that "it would be considered unlawful if it is happening, and if any evidence is brought to the JMPD then disciplinary action must be taken."

'GIVE THE BABY BACK'

The night after the fire, Rajebo was among 32 migrant survivors relocated by Johannesburg authorities to a pavilion in Hofland Park, a recreation center in a leafy but rundown suburb just outside the city center, six survivors said.

Hanya, a Usindiso survivor who runs a stall selling candy and cigarettes, said the shelter was overcrowded. There was "no privacy, no door on the toilet, barely anywhere to sleep  just a few mattresses," he said. "People just sitting around waiting for food." Soon after arriving, he elected to sleep on the street instead.

That proved a wise decision. On Nov. 15, authorities raided the center, forcing the 32 foreign migrants into security vehicles. The raid was witnessed by a Reuters reporter and cameraman.

Mokgoko remembers seeing Rajebo being hauled towards a group of police trucks and immigration vans outside. "He was with the baby. They were pulling him, saying, 'You'd better give the baby back to the mother because you're not going with them'."

Rajebo handed the infant to Mokgoko, who watched her husband disappear into one of the vans.

Acting Gauteng Home Affairs Chief Albert Matsaung told Reuters on the scene that the officials were taking away the undocumented foreigners to be transported back to their home countries.

The 32 migrants were taken to a police station, arrested, fingerprinted and transferred to Lindela immigrants prison, 40km outside the city center, according to Rajebo and Rashidi Suleiman Abdallah, 32, another Tanzanian who was detained. Their accounts were corroborated by law firm Norton Rose Fulbright and Lawyers for Human Rights, their legal teams, in an ultimately unsuccessful court case to fight their deportation.

On Apr. 10, they were all deported, apart from seven who had escaped in a jail break in March, according to Rajebo, Abdallah and lawyers representing the 32 detainees. Most of the deportees were Tanzanian, with four Malawians.

The Tanzanians landed in Dar es Salaam. They were detained until families could pay a fine to the Tanzanian authorities of 57,000 shillings ($22), levied against nationals returning after being deported. Rajebo got out after a week, when his relatives cobbled the money together.

The Tanzanian immigration department didn't respond to requests for comment on the return of the deportees.

Rajebo told Reuters by phone on Apr. 22 that if he wants to see his wife and children again, he has no choice but to return. Bringing them to Tanzania is not viable because of the lack of economic opportunities, he said, even though he thinks they would be far more welcome than he was in her homeland.

"I'm gonna come back," Rajebo said. "I want a normal family. I don't want to be separated from them."

Even with the hostility he encountered in South Africa, he added, it is still preferable to the grinding poverty of home. South Africa's annual economic output per person is $5,970, versus $1,220 in Tanzania, according to IMF data.

"You go there, you can make some money," Rajebo said, chuckling softly. "That's why we keep going."

(Reporting by Tim Cocks; Additional reporting by Anait Miridzhanian in Johannesburg, Nuzulack Dausen in Dar es Salaam and Kristina Cooke in San Francisco; Editing by Pravin Char)
Clockwise from top left: Lady Bird, Cooley High, Superbad and Booksmart Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Everett Collection (A24, Columbia Pictures, Francois Duhamel/Annapurna Pictures), AIP

This list was originally published on May 29, 2019. It has been updated to include additional movies for graduation season.

High school is a nearly universal American experience, and so, then, is the end of high school. Regardless of whether it culminates in graduation or not, the conclusion of those four years happens right around ones 18th birthday, thus providing young people with a one-two sucker punch of impending adulthood, and the whole world telling them that they dont have to go home but they cant stay here  school that is.

Finishing compulsory education and figuring out what to do next is so fraught with a mixture of tension, anxiety, optimism, and possibility that this particular time in life has and will continue to provide excellent fodder for movies. There are lots of movies about the end of school, and how scary and exciting it is to be forced to grow up and leave behind the life and people and hometown that provided a bubble of comfort for so long. These are the best movies about those things.

Booksmart (2019)

Its the rare high-school senior who actually looks forward to the end of high school, in the sense that theyre ready to take on the real world, and feel mature and prepared enough to do so. Most go kicking and screaming, ripped from the comfortable womb of pre-college and home life to instead flail about in their young adulthood. Every high-school kid also thinks every other high-school kid besides them have it figured it out (they dont) and this movie explores that, as Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) ditch being future-minded perfect young people at the very end of high school in order to catch up to their classmates and enjoy their consequence-free youth before time runs out. Its also really nice to see a movie reflect what is most peoples first true love: that incredibly close and intimate friendship with a childhood best friend.

Cant Hardly Wait (1998)

The characters (and audience) of this ensemble comedy about a graduation-night party, just about the only movie from the late 90s teen-movie boom that doesnt involve teens getting murdered, learn an important lesson about high school: that the second its over, its culture and rigorous hierarchy no longer matter. Thats freeing for many  shy and brainy Preston (Ethan Embry) connects with Amanda, the popular, idealized dream girl (Jennifer Love Hewitt) who has outgrown playing into that archetype. And rather than exact revenge on a jock bully, nerdy William gets drunk, sheds his dorky image, and becomes a party god. Meanwhile, that jock bully, Mike (Peter Facinelli) realizes that very night that he peaked in high school, and its all downhill from there for him.

Cooley High (1976)

One of the curiously few movies made about Black teens in high school, the wonderfully 60s-set, 70s-made Cooley High is two movies in one. Much of the running time concerns best friends Preach Jackson (Glynn Turman) and Cochise Morris (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs) goofing off and devising innovative ways to act on their senioritis. Theres much class-ditching, partying, and trips to fun Chicago spots until Preach and Cochise run into some very dangerous people out in that frightening real world. Suddenly, Cooley High is a drama with a tragedy providing the motivation some characters need to actually make good on their much-discussed postgrad dreams and goals.

Dazed and Confused (1993)

Richard Linklaters exquisite re-creation of the last day of classes and first night of summer for kids at all grade levels of a small-town Texas high school adheres to the Aristotelian unities of time and location but not plot. Thats because nothing really happens in Dazed and Confused, a freewheeling collection of loose vignettes of different cliques and social permutations hanging out and driving around aimlessly. While there are plenty of fights, romances, and drinking, the realism lies in the vibes. Regardless of era or place, the end of high school feels like Dazed and Confused because theres not much to do besides hang out and contemplate, like, stuff, man. Matthew McConaugheys star-making role as a long-graduated townie still trying to capture the high-school magic exists as a powerful warning as these kids stumble into the future.

Ferris Buellers Day Off (1986)

The greatest time-travel movie of the 80s isnt Back to the Future; its this. Ferris (Matthew Broderick) has thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment that he uses to stage all sorts of pranks and schemes, and its certainly enough to propel him into the future and back. Clearly, at some point prior to the events of the film, Ferris visited 1996 Chicago and discovered himself living a comfortable if ordinary life of working for the man and following the rules, so when he returns to his senior year of 1986, he decided to put all of his efforts into living life for the moment, embracing his youth, and having unbridled, confident fun. He acts like he wont ever really get caught during his epic, personal senior skip day because he knows he wont. Plus, like any John Hughes protagonist, he has a preternatural sense that high school is temporary and unimportant  a lesson he happily teaches his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck), whose overwhelming anxiety will be familiar to anyone dealing with the pressures of young adulthood.

Ghost World (2001)

Terry Zwigoffs adaptation of Daniel Clowess comics about what happens to the pop-cultural trope of the sarcastic, eye-rolling high-school student after graduation is both deeply moving and deeply unsettling. Like so many other films on this list, Ghost World doesnt end with a graduation but begins with one  Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) finish school and are subjected to a ridiculous rap song on the subject performed by their idiotic classmates. The women, Enid especially, can only respond with cutting jokes and hostility toward the superficial and congratulatory pomp and circumstance, which simply belies the doom she knows awaits her. Enid feels trapped in her bland suburban dystopia, spending the weeks after graduation self-sabotaging everything in her life  relationships, dead-end jobs  probably because shes afraid and confused, still grappling with the prospect of having to grow up.

Grease (1978)

Despite the incredibly catchy and problematic, toxically masculine musical numbers (Summer Nights, Greased Lightning), Grease is a delight, and not as fun and frivolous as its status as the go-to slumber-party movie for 40 years would indicate. The story plays out over a school year for Rydell Highs class of 1959, and its all about the anxiety of impending adulthood. Before that flying car transports Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) and Danny (John Travolta) into the 60s and beyond, they and their friends grapple with and bristle against transition. Both of our leads fundamentally change their personalities in an effort to be liked and accepted, which is a frank and brutal implication about what the world will demand. Meanwhile, Frenchy (Didi Conn) and Rizzo (Stockard Channing) learn the value of protecting ones self and interests for the future that lies ahead in the forms of staying in school (not beauty school) and a pregnancy scare, respectively.

Honor Society (2022)

Honor Society feels like a low-key weeknight with your high schools super-driven high achievers. The unfortunately on-the-nose-named honor student Honor (Angourie Rice) is destined for greatness in life  so much so that planning for an elite collegiate experience overshadows her enjoyment of the right now. She accidentally learns to have some fun via a fake-turned-real romance with her competitor for a scholarship (Gaten Matarazzo), whom she seduces in order to sabotage. Honor Society makes us feel for the kids in high school who are so lonely because they cant relate to the other kids and who are just waiting for their real lives to start.

Lady Bird (2017)

Has there ever been a movie that so accurately, delicately, and hilariously depicted the relationship between a college-bound teenager and her parents? Christine, sorry, Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan), pushes back combatively with her mother (Laurie Metcalf) about most everything, but keeps it chill with her father (Tracy Letts) because he clearly decided that its foolish to get in the way of anyone with such a strong sense of self and purpose. Perhaps because of her stifling Catholic high school or town that doesnt have much to offer her (sorry, Sacramento), Lady Bird who, rather than being nervous about whats next, is the rare graduating senior who cant wait to leave home, having outgrown her maturity long ago. Its painfully relatable to watch Lady Bird do what must be done and begin the detachment process with a little light crime and being harsh to her family.

Pretty in Pink (1986)

John Hughes got rich making movies about how rich people are assholes, and the class struggle is most alive in Pretty in Pink because its the one entry in his Ringwald Trilogy (alongside The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles) that takes place the closest to the end of high school, and the kids are starting to feel those real-world pressures. Andie (Ringwald) hasnt had a particularly great high-school experience  the mean girls make her life hell because shes poor, and her best friend Ducky (Jon Cryer) wont stop hitting on her. But she doesnt really look forward to leaving this all behind because shes got a working-class life of scraping by and taking care of her increasingly unreliable father (Harry Dean Stanton) ahead of her. She finds an escape by going all-in on a true-blue high-school romance with wealthy dreamboat Blaine (Andrew McCarthy). Like any good teen movie, it all culminates in a tentatively happy ending at the prom, where kids celebrate being miniature adults  none of the problems, all of the optimism, and lots of crepe paper and OMD songs.

#Realityhigh (2017)

Whats more high school than intense crushes and floating abruptly from one relationship to another? And being self-consciously obsessed with ones image? And packing in as much high-school experience as possible into the last few months of senior year? This is what #Realityhigh is all about: a Shes All That for the social-media age with the big heart of Pretty in Pink. Freddie (Jake Borelli) loves his best friend, Dani (Nesta Cooper), a quiet, dog-obsessed, scholarship-hunting nerd. Unfortunately for Freddie, Dani loves Cameron Drake (Keith Powers), her forever crush and a top-notch athlete who is refreshingly three-dimensional. When Cameron Drake gets with Dani, he breaks up with superficial influencer Alexa (Alicia Sanz)  Danis current bully and former childhood BFF. Alexa wants back in Danis life, all part of an obviously orchestrated plan to destroy her, and Dani is party to her own devastation, taking her eyes off the prize, her guy, and her happy little life when she gets wrapped up in Alexas calorically empty influencer life.

Superbad (2007)

The 2000s were a heady time for raunchy dude-bro comedies  The Hangover, Wedding Crashers, Old School, and the like. Superbad was marketed as such, except this time the guys getting up to mischief were nerdy teens, portrayed by Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. While the booze, sex, McLovin, and slacker cops made Superbad a dorm-room staple, the big feelings in Superbad showed what screenwriters Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg could do. This is only superficially a movie about two best friends finally getting their party on in the waning days of high school. As Seth (Hill) and Evan (Cera) are based on the screenwriters themselves, its actually a poignant, bittersweet movie about deep male friendship. Inseparable Seth and Evan can barely handle (and try not to talk about) how theyll soon go off to different colleges, knowing their relationship will likely never be the same again.
Photo: Corey Nickols/Getty Images

Pamela Adlons acclaimed FX comedy-drama Better Things, about an actress and single mother raising three daughters in Los Angeles, finished its five-season run in 2022. Her new film Babes, about two close friends (Ilana Glazer as Eden and Michelle Buteau as Dawn) experiencing pregnancy and motherhood, feels like a continuation in some ways. At the same time, the movie extends the humor of the knockabout Comedy Central series Broad City, in which Glazer and her co-star, Abbi Jacobson, pushed commercial cables content restrictions to the breaking point. The result, co-scripted by Glazer and Broad City writer Josh Rabinowitz, is an inventive and often scathingly frank buddy comedy thats inspired by Glazers own experience becoming a mother, but also depicts a strong friendship between women who have each others backs even when their bodies are at war with them.

Adlon spoke to Vulture in 2019 about her filmmaking influences as well as her long road to the directors chair, which began with her applying to NYU film school but not getting in, and continued over two decades as she built up her cinema knowledge through theatrical screenings and home video while making a living as a live-action and voice-over performer (especially in animated series like King of the Hill and Rugrats), finally settling in at Better Things as the primary director as well as a lead actress, writer, and producer. At the time, Adlon talked openly about Better Things eagerness to go wherever inspiration took her, even if it resulted in discomfort-inducing plotlines involving periods, colonoscopies, and psychologically disturbing sexual encounters. An auteur is what people call me, but I dont know how I feel about that, she said, adding, FX is paying for my therapy.

Now that job has passed to coproducers Neon and Hulu. Whether dishing hard truths about dilation, lactation, breast pumps, amniocentesis, the exertions of labor and birth, or the melancholy that takes root even in mothers who adore their kids, Babes finds the sweet spot where slapstick meets body horror. Along the way, it tosses in observations on friendship, marriage, the struggles of being a parent (and a child), and the free-floating ennui that attaches itself to everyone at times. As Adlon tells it, she did it all her way, knowing that her methods are not everybodys style.

Of all the things you could have done after Better Things, what made you choose Babes?

I was in post-production on the final season, and it was just the right time. I read Ilana and Joshs script, and I thought it had all the elements of the stuff that you know that I like: the rawness, the grossness, the love, the emotion, and the comedy. And I thought I would be able to do my thing  like, put it through my rock tumbler, and take these two acrobats of comedy, Michelle and Ilana, and harness this energy, and guard the characters, the story, the details.

I love that within five minutes of the opening credits, youve got a majorly pregnant woman in labor crawling into an elevator on her hands and knees.

Yeah, exactly! I embrace the toilet, and every aspect of that. It was refreshing to not do it for the sake of being gross, but to show that its a part of life. You cannot say pregnancy without talking about a mucus plug or colostrum or morning sickness. Its just all part of it.

Michelle Buteau and Ilana Glazer in Babes. Photo: Gwen Capistran/NEON

Ive been in the room for two births, and wow, did this movie bring me back. The first time, afterward, I was like, Ah, the miracle of life, but at the same time, Nobody told me it would look like a crime scene.

I say that myself! I remember when I had my first daughter, it was like somebody had attacked me. [Pointing at her crotch] Twelve knives, down here! But if I was attacked, they would have kept me in the hospital for two weeks. When I gave birth, it was 24 hours of stop, drop, and roll right out with the baby. I couldnt even sit down. When youre all done, you are presented with a human baby person, and they expect you to put it in a car seat and drive it home and take care of it.

It is surreal.

Its fucking batshit crazy! Whats also crazy is people who say, Oh, you know what? I want to have a baby on purpose. Why do they do that? Thats as baffling to me as people getting married without the biological imperative of a child on the way. Im like, what, youre getting married and you dont even have to?

And what about all of the stuff leading to the birth? Amniocentesis is something movies and TV dont often show, I guess because its considered too scary? You build a scene around it.

I swear to God, people just dont want to show anything like that. I hate that  I mean, the way everybody needs to take the teeth out of everything is why we are becoming a society of soft shells. What are we protecting people from? Why not just put the needle next to the pregnant ladys belly, explain what it is, and stick it in?

Then theres the scene with the breast pump that the saleswoman says is so powerful that  what is the line?

So powerful, it can pull milk from boy children. Oh, yeah! I never saw a breast pump or lactation device in my life until I went to a place in Santa Monica called the Lactation Station. It was like the Petersen Automotive Museum of breast pumps. There were so many models. And then I changed my babys diaper and then she peed, and it went all down her onesie, and I didnt have a new onesie for her. Nobody told me to bring an extra set of clothes for the baby. Thats what its like. You are so bombarded by new information when youre a new parent, but not a lot of actual practical stuff, like how to prepare for spending a day away from home with a baby.

You have to pack like youre climbing Mount Everest.

Its interesting that you said that, because I remember being so exhausted as a pregnant woman, and somewhere I read  I think maybe it was in What to Expect When Youre Expecting  that a pregnant woman at rest uses more energy than a non-pregnant person climbing a mountain. That made so much sense to me, because even at rest, on the inside, youre literally building a human body, like in one of the Body Snatchers movies!

Did you know that the pod sound thats been used in every version of the Body Snatchers story since the 1970s is a recording of an ultrasound being done on the sound designer Ben Burtts wife, Margaret Darragh?

Thats incredible! I didnt know that, and yet somehow, I always knew that sound was a recording of an ultrasound. But wait  which version of Body Snatchers was the first one to use that sound?

The 1978 version, with Leonard Nimoy rocking a turtleneck like hes running Satans menswear store.

Oh, god, Nimoy is so hot in that! That performance is erotic art.

Better Things was like doing ten features in one season. This was one feature.

There are also moments of character development without dialogue in Babes that reminded me of your directing on Better Things, like the montage about Dawns dissatisfaction, where you see her in everyday situations and you can tell by her expression that shes thinking, like the old Peggy Lee song goes, Is That All There Is?

Yeah, that montage is where the penny drops for her. Me and Annie Frank, who edited it with me, called that sequence Dawns Bum-Out. Its saying, Theres no rhyme or reason to how she ended up feeling like this. She lives what seems like a perfect life in this brownstone with a gorgeous husband that adores her, and hes in there stepping up as a partner and a dad to her two kids, and they have the perfect nuclear family, and then she turns her head and shes dark. Yes: darkness. And shes giving him a birthday cake with their son, and then she goes behind the rails of the stairs and sits and stares at them.

An imprisonment image, but without putting too fine a point on it  always a risk with staging like that.

Exactly. It was really important to me to set up that moment and then just let it be, and not, you know, put a diagnosis on her. And these kinds of feelings, the feelings that we show in this movie, these mixed feelings that are so mysterious  are they so unforgivable? Is it unforgivable to still feel sad and scared when you have healthy children and dont really lack for anything?

Theres a baseline of empathy in the movie even when the characters are making asses of themselves, which is another point of comparison with Better Things.

I hope so. I also tried to be very protective of the men in this movie, who all showcase vulnerabilities. Like in the case of the John Carroll Lynch character who is the OB/GYN. When youre a woman and you go to the OB/GYN, youre in the most vulnerable position you can ever be in, in every sense. But hes the one who needs validation from the women, which to me is so funny because, you know, hes a man, and hes like, I got plugs because my wife didnt like bald guys, and theyre like, If its not too much trouble [points downward], can you please just check my shit?

Theres an aesthetic continuity here with what you were doing on Better Things, in the sense that even though its a short movie, you carve out space to show people just sort of behaving. Its not always about plot, plot, plot, plot.

Yeah, thats important to me. I had to fight for those moments. But it was different this time because I was coming to this movie from Better Things where it was like, The buck stops here [points at herself], and I didnt have to prove myself or fight or go through a chain of emails to get an approval or have a decision made.

Adlon directing on the set of Babes. Photo: Gwen Capistran/NEON

What is the relationship between the original script for Babes and the final cut? It sounds like the actors were encouraging each other, and you, to go where inspiration took you.

The cut that people will see now is the closest to the original script that I read. After, you know, battling it out in the editing room, it really is at the place where I feel the most comfortable about it.

Aside from not being the person that the buck stops with, whats the biggest challenge of doing a feature after Better Things?

There is none. I mean, for me, Better Things was like doing ten features in one season. This was one feature.

What skill did you acquire on Better Things that you were able to apply most successfully to Babes?

I learned so much on Better Things. You know that the way I work is not everybodys style. You know I like to work fluidly and organically, and sometimes make a big moment out of something thats not even on the page. You also know that I like to compress down a giant moment and not make a big deal out of it. I had to meet all new people on this one, because the movie was shot in New York and [the production] had a New York base, so I couldnt take any of my own crew over there. But it was a privilege, and it helped all of us that on Better Things I got to learn how to make films using my method while also being economical with time.

Can you tell me about another filmmaker you worked with early in your career who became an example for you after you started making your own stuff?

I had just had my first kid when I did The Tracey Ullman Show. I watched Tracey like, Wow, I am here watching this bitch direct, star, show-run, trouble-shoot, and still try to get home before dark to be with her own kids, and it was amazing! I had an 18-month-old kid at the time. Watching her do all that made a significant impact on me even at that time, when I was not even imagining that I might one day be in her position.

Jamie Lee Curtis told me there was a stretch of her career where she turned down any job that would take her beyond normal driving distance from her husband and kids.

I get it. I remember having my first kid and being in a trailer on a movie  I could not fucking tell you what its called. I have no clue! What I remember is sitting there. Im just sitting there, waiting and waiting. And its one hour, two hours, three hours that Im waiting to shoot something. What am I doing? Im going through all this fakakta for a thing where Im in two scenes. And in what movie? I couldnt even tell you now. I dont think it ever saw the light of day. And what I took away from it is that I have to be careful with my time. Thank God I had animation. Still, to this day, voice-over work in animation is my bread and butter, man. And my ex-husbands. [Laughs.]

Speaking of animation: Whats up with the new King of the Hill episodes?

Were having fun with that. The last table read we had was the day before yesterday, and Toby Huss was there and Dave Herman and Phil LaMarr, and it was so joyful, and it was so funny. Its really awesome to be back with everybody, though unfortunately we lost Johnny Hardwick, who played Dale. Wed already recorded four episodes of the first season of the reboot and he passed away. We were all stunned. [Looks upward, smiles.] Love you, Johnny. Wes Archer, whos one of our animators, has been subbing for Johnny at the table reads. Toby Huss subbed for Johnny the other day and it was un-fucking-believable.

The world needs to know how great Toby Husss Frank Sinatra impression is.

Somebody should make a film with Toby as Frank. Ring-a-ding-ding, man!

Whats next for you as a director?

Lets use this megaphone platform to say: [mimes holding a megaphone to her mouth, does a staticky yell] Please dont keep hiring men! [Normal voice] Also: [Megaphone] I would really love to get my next movie financed! This little lady wants to direct her next feature! [Normal voice] Seriously, Id like to be on a set again. I need to be working. I have stuff in development with FX. I have some really fun irons in the fire. But I mainly just want to get back on a set.

I like your chances. You sure do seem to attract good actors to your projects.

That might have something to do with the director. But dont tell anybody.
Photo: A24

Paolo Sorrentino has seen all your takes about the male gaze and has decided to counter them with a movie about the life of a transcendently gorgeous woman. Thats the provocative logline, I suppose. And it makes sense that, with his first female protagonist, one of the great stylists of our time would tackle a subject like this. But in truth, Parthenope is less about one beautiful person than about our idea of beauty itself as its reflected and projected, embodied and perceived. Only Sorrentino could pull off something like this because his characters exist both as symbols and people. He makes resplendent movies that feel composed (visually and structurally) within an inch of their lives, but he lets in enough mystery that the people onscreen captivate us in unexpected ways.

Parthenope (played for most of the film by Celeste Dalla Porta, a newcomer), whose life we follow from her teen years into her 70s (when she is played, briefly, by the legendary Italian actress Stefania Sandrelli), is named for a mythical siren who once lent her name to the city of Naples, Sorrentinos hometown and the vivid setting of his previous film, the autobiographical Hand of God. Her arrival into the world is preceded by the delivery of an ornate golden carriage from her wealthy godfather, who has had it shipped (he says) from Versailles. Before Parthenope is born, her young brother, Raimondo, blows on his moms pregnant belly. Well see Raimondo make this gesture again later in both loving and tragic ways. In this directors world, what something like this may actually suggest is up for grabs. Sorrentino loves rituals, incantations, and evocative gestures, not because they mean specific things but because they make the world more enchanting.

Early on, we watch young women walk down Napless sunny streets in slow-motion, holding up their colorful scarves that then blow in the wind like banners, an indication that winter has ended and spring has arrived. Its a classic Sorrentino sequence, a brief and mundane bit of movement that, when slowed down and extended, becomes something grander, a luxuriant evocation of youthful abandon. This is another gesture that will repeat and transform over the course of the film as these banners of freedom slowly transform into shroudlike coverings.

As Parthenope gets older, we witness her and the fragile Raimondos growing bond as well as their increasingly complicated friendship with Sandrino (Dario Aita), her occasional boyfriend. Both boys are somewhat smitten with her. All men seem to be frozen by Parthenopes beauty, which Sorrentino has some fun with. Early on, as a waiter attempts to kick Parthenope and her pals out of a restaurant, a middle-aged husband gets up and declares, If she leaves, then were all leaving, much to the chagrin of his wife.

Parthenope is not only beautiful; shes also brilliant. An anthropology student, she seems to be the only kid in her university able to master all her classes and essays. One crabby older professor in particular, Devoto (Silvio Orlando), mostly ignores her looks but is taken with her ideas. Devoto asks Parthenope what anthropology is, and she admits that she doesnt know; in some weird way, this seems to be the right answer. Sorrentinos films are all about not knowing. Hes the kind of director who will gleefully remove all the connective tissue from a scene or a sequence, bewitching us with a sense of what we may be missing. He does the same thing with people. His characters do wild things but purposely lack clear motivations. That would seem to be a mistake, and it probably would be in the hands of most directors. (I imagine screenwriting teachers never stop vomiting when they see Sorrentino pictures.) But here, absence spurs further engagement. We become obsessed with these characters. At least I do.

Over the course of this episodic film, Parthenope comes into contact with any number of figures: young lovers, a playboy who hovers above her in his helicopter, an aging actress, a gangster, a sleazy priest, and (in one odd and charming interlude) a very drunk John Cheever played by Gary Oldman. A few will covet her, a couple wont dare to, but all will adore her on some level. And none will be entirely straight or honest with her because there is something fundamentally withering and alienating about being in her presence  its that emotional curtain that, throughout her life, Parthenope struggles to part, as if she had never left the golden carriage that was given to her before she was born. Sorrentino frames her throughout in elegant, almost posed frames  as in a classical painting or (as Im sure some will complain) a perfume ad. Theres nothing particularly lustful about the imagery in this film. If anything, it all feels weirdly opaque. The chilliness, the slight artificiality of such scenes, is intentional. This woman goes through her life profoundly alone, always in a reality-distortion field created by the ways everyone perceives her.

When he became a better-known figure on the international stage, Sorrentino got away with this elliptical manner of telling stories because he filled the screen with such gorgeous, unchecked hedonism. Think back to the orgies of the Oscar-winning The Great Beauty or the bunga-bunga parties of his notorious Silvio Berlusconi biopic, Loro. Without such distractions, hes unlikely to attract the same attention or praise. But hes making more personal work now. And Parthenope gradually becomes about something other than one persons beauty. If The Hand of God is about the directors childhood, this one is about something more abstract but no less relatable. Our protagonist comes to feel like an avatar of the very ideas of youth and possibility, which also makes her an avatar of the opposite of those things  the idea that life eventually passes us all by. In creating a film about one beautiful person, Sorrentino reminds us that, in our memories, we were all beautiful once.
Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories

One of the perils of big festivals with big titles is the ongoing fear that youre going to miss the real gems: the films from lesser-known directors that play far from competition, in other programs. At Cannes, this fear is particularly pronounced, because even as the main festivals Official Selection goes on (thats the one with all the red carpets and the 12-minute standing ovations and the security goons that yell at you if youre not wearing heels or a black bow tie or whatever), there exist multiple side festivals, each with its own full slate of ambitious international movies. At Cannes, Directors Fortnight and Critics Week are the two best known of these. Outside of the festival bubble, theyre all lumped under the general Cannes umbrella, but in truth, those of us on the ground are torn morning, noon, and night between the big movies starring famous and famous-ish names (many of which are, to be fair, excellent and noteworthy) and the smaller ones playing in theaters elsewhere on the Croisette. And some of these are extraordinary movies. Directors Fortnight, for example, was where Chloe Zhaos The Rider (2017), Sean Bakers The Florida Project (2017), and Celine Sciammas Girlhood (2014) were discovered. Hell, it was where Mean Streets (1973) and Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) played. And this year, it screened what might be the best picture Ive seen at Cannes: Matthew Rankins Universal Language.

On the surface, Rankins film seems like something best appreciated by film geeks, but I suspect it will resonate well beyond the ranks of the pale and pointy. The movie opens with a production credit, in Farsi, for the Winnipeg Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young People, which as far as I can tell is not a real organization. Rather, its an homage to the Iranian organization of the same name (also known as Kanoon) that produced a number of classic films in the 1970s and 80s, including some of the great Abbas Kiarostamis early documentaries about children. The films first scene also evokes those works: A teacher (Mani Soleymanlou), having lugged his suitcases for what seems like miles across the snow, enters a classroom and promptly shouts at his young students to quiet down. In Farsi. This is Winnipeg, and these are ordinary Canadian kids. But in Universal Languages slightly tilted version of the world, Winnipeg and Iran have melded. Everybody speaks Farsi. They sing Persian songs. They drink their tea by putting a sugar cube in their mouth first.

Thats not the only oddball touch in Rankins film, which unspools with a delightfully disorienting mix of poetic realism (one that naturally recalls the Iranian New Wave), flights of surreal comedy, and wry, deadpan bleakness. One of the kids in the aforementioned class is dressed up as Groucho Marx; another (Sobhan Javadi) claims that a turkey stole his glasses. (This turns out, eventually, to be true.) Outside in the snow, a tour guide (Pirouz Nemati) leads a group of tourists on what appears to be an endless walk, pointing out important local landmarks such as the Universal Pavilion Parking Lot (scene of the Great Parallel Parking Incident of 1958) and a suitcase someone left on a park bench in 1978. Two girls (Rojina Esmaeili and Saba Vahedyousefi) find a 500-rial bill frozen in the ice and look for an ax with which to liberate it. A woman works as a lacrimologist at a local cemetery, offering Kleenex to the mourners. Meanwhile, in Montreal, as a downcast man named Matthew Rankin (played by Matthew Rankin) leaves his government ministry job to go back home, he has an argument with his boss about whether Winnipeg is in Manitoba or Alberta.

I realize this all sounds aggressively hyperreferential and like ironic har-har. But Universal Language is a magnificent film, one that feels warm and familiar even as we realize just how startlingly original it is. Rankins mastery of tone throughout prevents any of these disparate elements from sticking out. The different stories ultimately connect in surprising ways. (As one character says, Just as the Assiniboine joins the Red River and together they turn into Lake Winnipeg, we are all connected, agha.) Everything feels like it belongs with the otherworldly, twilight atmosphere of the film, one that slips gently from playful, fablelike simplicity to pointed, expressive melancholy. As Matthew returns home, he finds an unfamiliar new family living in his old childhood house. Looking for his mother, he finds her in an unlikely place  and realizes that, during all these years he was away from home, something unexpected happened to her conception of him. In these later scenes, a sense of sorrow gathers over the movie, suggesting that its mood of displacement reflects something more personal: a meditation on the receding self, on the anxiety of leaving home behind and not being able to find your way back.

Rankin is known primarily as an experimental filmmaker, but hes also managed to break through into something resembling the mainstream over the last few years. His earlier works presented short, bizarre riffs on silent cinema and the genres of the past  war flicks, melodramas, propaganda films, etc. (Hes often compared, understandably, to fellow Winnipegger Guy Maddin, whose work has a similar mixed-media allusiveness.) In 2019, Rankins feature directorial debut, The Twentieth Century, a heavily stylized and very strange look at the early life of Canadas longest-serving prime minister, was nominated for Best Picture and Director at the Canadian Screen Awards and was released in the U.S. by Oscilloscope (which will also be releasing this new one). Universal Language, with its gentle rhythms and poetic lyricism, would seem to be the furthest thing from those earlier movies.

But Rankin did make a fascinating video short in 2008, a self-portrait that also presented a Winnipeg where everybody spoke Farsi. That film (presented by the Winnipeg Ministry for the Intellectual Guidance of Children and Young People) was a play on Kiarostamis 1990 masterpiece Close-Up, which follows an impostor who poses as the famous Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf in order to insinuate himself into the lives of a well-to-do Tehran family. (If you havent seen Close-Up, you really should  its one of the most seismic films of the past few decades, and its available via the Criterion Channel, alongside a number of Kiarostami films.) In Rankins short, Rankin himself plays an impostor posing as the not-so-famous Winnipeg filmmaker Matthew Rankin. Its about two minutes long and an amusing little lark, but seen in the light of Universal Language, the interplay of influence, imitation, and existential questioning becomes more poignant. Universal Language is also riffing on genres, though its doing it in relatively unshowy ways. At heart, its the work of an artist trying to wrestle with something we all do: our inability, as life goes on, to live up to the people we wish we could be.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Today, we discussed in detail the issues of economic interaction. Along with the Declaration on Strategic Partnership, we have signed 13 other documents, totaling 14 documents, some of which were signed here and others earlier, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press conference with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, Trend reports.

This significantly strengthens the legal framework of our relations, the head of state underlined.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. We are optimistic about the future development of Tajik-Azerbaijani relations, said Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, in a joint press conference with Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

"We have spoken in favor of continuing the practice of supporting each other's initiatives within international and regional organizations. We welcome Azerbaijan's holding this year's regular session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

I would like to emphasize that we are optimistic about the future development of Tajik-Azerbaijani relations.

In conclusion, I would like to once again express my sincere gratitude to you, dear Ilham Heydarovich, and the brotherly people of Azerbaijan for the warm welcome and fraternal hospitality.

Also, I would like to note that in order to continue our constructive dialogue, I was pleased to invite my dear friend and brother Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev to visit Tajikistan," said President Rahmon.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Telli Aliyeva has been awarded the Order "For Service to the Motherland" of the 2nd degree, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree.

Telli Aliyeva was honored with the Order "For Service to the Motherland" of the 2nd degree in recognition of her impactful contributions to the public life of the country.

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Schools remain closed in Campi Flegrei area.

The Italian government is set to allocate more than 500 million to make buildings safe in the Campi Flegrei area near Naples where a flurry of seismic activity in recent days is causing panic among residents.

The measure was announced by the civil protection minister Nello Musumeci at a press conference on Wednesday following inter-ministerial talks chaired by premier Giorgia Meloni.

The meeting was called to address the ongoing "seismic storm" of tremors at Campi Flegrei, a highly seismic zone of supervolcanic calderas, which was rocked by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake near Pozzuoli on Monday night, its strongest quake in 40 years.

The earthquake was part of a flurry of 150 tremors in five hours, prompting many local residents to spend the night in their cars, and was followed by a 3.6 magnitude quake on Wednesday morning.

Musumeci said that a "yellow alert" remains in place and that the government is working with local and regional authorities "to define an evacuation plan which, if necessary, must be implemented immediately."

The minister said that school buildings will be a priority in the safety plan and confirmed that schools in the area will remain closed until Friday.

"In the so-called red zone, the most dangerous area, there are 1,250 houses that would be at high seismic risk and 2,750 at medium risk", Musumeci stated, adding that around 80,000 people live in the area.

He said that regulations will be approved to prohibit any new construction in the most at-risk areas, noting that the "excessive anthropisation, which should have been prevented in the past, today also creates problems from the point of view of the evacuation plan".

Musumeci also said that government is considering the possibility of supporting Campi Flegrei residents who wish to relocate.

"Those who chose to live in the Campi Flegrei area knew that they lived in a difficult area that presents risks" - he said - "If you decide to stay in that place you must help us promote responsible coexistence with greater awareness".

The Campo Flegrei volcano last erupted in 1538 however earthquakes have been common in the area since 1950, with a surge of seismic unrest in the early 1980s.

Experts believe the recent spike in seismic activity is linked to bradyseism, a phenomenon that involves the gradual uplift or descent of part of the earth's surface, caused by the filling or emptying of underground magma chambers or hydrothermal activity.
Cillian Sherlock, PA

A recent report which suggested that a united Ireland would cost 400 billion is widely inaccurate, a leading academic has contended.

Last month, a report from the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) calculated the cost of unification at 20 billion a year for two decades.

The analysis took into account the current level of funding Northern Ireland receives from the UK government, as well as the share of UK national debt it presumed the province would carry into a unified state.

It was authored by Prof John FitzGerald, adjunct professor at Trinity College Dublin, and DCU economics professor Edgar Morgenroth.

However, DCUs vice president of research cast significant doubt on the study on Thursday as he calculated a true total of 25 billion spread across 10 years.

Prof John Doyle told the Oireachtas Committee on the Good Friday Agreement that the IIEA study contains significant errors and is based on entirely unreasonable assumptions.

He added: Consequently, the figures in the report are not even a worst-case scenario  they are just wrong.

Outlining his main objections, Prof Doyle said that the IIEA report adds more than 4.2 billion to the annual cost of unity through increasing public sector wages to Republic of Ireland levels.

However, he said this made no allowance for the taxes (which would be overwhelmingly at the higher rate of 40 per cent), PRSI (4 per cent) and pension contributions (expected to be around 10 per cent) to be paid on that increase.

Prof Doyles calculations reduce the real cost of salary increases by 2.2 billion annually.

Professor John Doyle

Furthermore, he said it was unrealistic and unnecessary to suggest that public-sector pay would immediately increase to Republic of Ireland levels in year one.

Merging salary levels over 15 years  half the time taken by Germany  would mean a cost of approximately 133 million in year one, rising on average by that amount each year.

The IIEA report includes an annual cost of 3.8 billion to bring average pensions in the North up to average rates in the Republic.

However, Prof Doyle said that it was highly unlikely to assume the state would cover the entire cost of the increase and that the figure again failed to account for tax to be paid on the pensions of those with higher outcomes.

He calculated the true cost at 400 million per annum.

Prof Doyle, who has expertise in cross-border studies, said the IIEA report uncritically uses the UK governments figure for a subvention to Northern Ireland of 10 billion as a starting point for the fiscal balance of a united state.

It completely ignores recent research on this issue. For example, it includes the full cost of both state debt and pensions, currently paid by the UK, and which are part of the UK subvention figure.

It is impossible in reality, that after negotiations between the Irish and British governments, and where the British side abandon all responsibility for paying pensions to those who have paid national insurance or employer-based public sector pension contributions, that the Irish side would then volunteer to pay a pro-rate share of UK state debt, for which they have no legal liability.

This is not a question of the debt being waived, as the IIEA report suggests. The state debt is owed by the UK and not by Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Prof Doyle said it is not believable that the government of a united Ireland would agree to be left with liability for both debt and pensions.

Additionally, he told committee members that the previous study excluded any analysis of economic growth after unification and contained assumptions that other areas would not change.

It assumes that with the same political system, EU membership, policy framework, education system and tax regime, that NI would not economically converge with the

South.

This is a very unlikely outcome. Why would Belfast perform so much worse than Cork and Kerry with the same EU access, policies, education and tax system?

Prof Doyle put forward his own calculations which would see Northern Ireland running a surplus after approximately a decade.

He told the committee that the opening deficit for Northern Ireland in a United Ireland would be 1.5 billion, taking account of debt, pensions, defence and tax changes.

He also said there would be an increase in public spending of a further 1 billion per annum to cover the cost of likely policy decisions, including to state pensions and public-sector salaries.

An increase in the underlying growth rate in Northern Ireland, of 2 per cent above recent long-term patterns would see the costs of transition covered, and the fiscal deficit ended in approximately 10 years, after which Northern Ireland would run a surplus.

In this case, the level of transition costs can be covered by the Irish state, through a modest increase in borrowing or taxation.

Seamus McGuinness, adjunct professor at TCD and research co-ordinator with the Economic and Social Research Institute, also told the committee the IIEAs 20 billion per year figure was not plausible.

Prof McGuinness added: We do not believe the figures in that report represent a realistic scenario that would feasibly occur.

The IIEA has been contacted for comment.
David Young and Jonathan McCambridge, PA

The DUPs interim leader has told rival unionists it is not too late to co-operate to deliver victories for pro-union candidates in several key battlegrounds in Northern Ireland in the upcoming UK general election.

Gavin Robinson also vowed to pursue a positive campaign over the coming six weeks, suggesting he would not be engaging in provocative tactics.

Mr Robinson was elevated to the party leadership following the shock resignation of Jeffrey Donaldson in March after he was charged with a series of historical sexual offences.

The East Belfast seat held by Mr Robinson and the Lagan Valley seat being vacated by Mr Donaldson are both being targeted by the cross-community Alliance Party.

Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson (Brian Lawless/PA)

In both battles, a significant split in the unionist vote could prove decisive.

The Traditional Unionist Voice party, which is a vociferous critic of the DUP decision to end its boycott on Stormont devolution earlier this year, is hoping to convince disaffected DUP voters to switch allegiances on July 4th.

The TUV has also recently announced an electoral link-up with Reform UK.

While Reform UK said on Thursday it will not have enough time to register to run in Northern Ireland constituencies, the party has pledged to fully support TUV candidates in the campaign, including with financial backing.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Doug Beattie, has repeatedly made clear he is not in favour of unionist pacts.

There are a couple of seats for which I think there is still an opportunity for unionist cooperation, Mr Robinson told reporters in his east Belfast constituency on Thursday.

And Ill engage in those conversations, as I have done over the last year, positively and productively. There is a good opportunity here, but theres a choice for the people of Northern Ireland.

Do they want to elect people who dont bother to turn up for them in our national parliament (a reference to Sinn Fein) or do they want to vote for people who are prepared to go to Westminster and put forward the best case for Northern Ireland as part of this United Kingdom? Thats the history that we have and thats the message that we will bring.

We know that there are many within our community that seek co-operation and want to see unionists working together. They dont like the idea that in an election such as this individuals could go forward and split the vote and remove their voice from Westminster, because this is the opportunity, when the people of Northern Ireland right throughout our society get to make sure they have the strongest voice for this province in our national parliament.

There has been a lot of speculation as to who might stand for the DUP in Lagan Valley following Mr Donaldsons exit from the political stage. The North's Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly, Education Minister Paul Givan and Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley are among those touted as potential candidates.

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (Oliver McVeigh/PA)

Mr Robinson declined to be drawn on the partys deliberations on Thursday, insisting that the DUP would unveil its candidates at the appropriate time.

He also would not confirm whether the DUP was prepared to stand aside in the North Down constituency to make it easier for independent unionist and former DUP member Alex Easton to challenge the sitting MP, Alliances Stephen Farry.

Alliance has said a decision will be made within days on whether leader and current Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long would be its candidate to challenge Mr Robinson in East Belfast.

Mr Robinson insisted his party would offer a positive choice to the electorate.

I think the elections provide people a choice, he said.

And people will have the opportunity to choose between our platform and others, recognise that we stand forward on a platform of making Northern Ireland work and go into this election positively.

Theres always the opportunity for others to get noticed, to try to get traction, or to try to grab headlines by being provocative, by being controversial. No doubt you will see that. Im not concerned by that, because the people recognise whats before them, they know the opportunity they have.

Thats about presenting a positive choice and voice for Northern Ireland and us and our candidates standing up and speaking out for our province, making it work and representing it well in Parliament.

The Northern Ireland parties are gearing up for the poll, which will take place during the school holidays, after the surprise announcement by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday.

Sinn Fein has emerged as the largest party in the Assembly and local council elections in the last two years and will be hoping to repeat that success again.

The party won seven seats at the last general election, compared with eight for the DUP, the largest unionist party.

Sinn Feins South Down MP Chris Hazzard said the election was an opportunity for voters to send out a message over the systemic underfunding of public services in Northern Ireland.

He insisted the party was ready to fight the election, and would not be distracted by other polls south of the border in Ireland.

We have had 14 years of the calamitous, cruel and deadly effects of Tory austerity, he said.

Sinn Feins Chris Hazzard (Liam McBurney/PA)

We have had Brexit lumbered upon us, and weve had successive Tory administrations attempt to breach international law and to undermine the Good Friday Agreement.

So, July 4th, this has to change.

Alliances Mr Farry said the election represented the opportunity for change.

Here in Northern Ireland we have a huge opportunity to send a different balance of representation to Westminster, he told the BBC.

He said that a successful election for Alliance would send the message that Northern Ireland is moving away from the politics of green versus orange.

Mr Farry said the party would make clear in the coming days if leader Ms Long would be challenging Mr Robinson in East Belfast, a seat she previously held.

Ulster Unionist leader Mr Beattie confirmed he would run a candidate in all 18 Northern Ireland constituencies and was not considering pacts with other unionist parties.

We speak to other unionist parties on a variety of issues, but I have also made it clear I am not somebody who does pacts, he said.

Mr Beattie also confirmed that he would be writing to Stormonts speaker to begin the process of Robin Swann being replaced as health minister by Mike Nesbitt.

Mr Swann will contest the South Antrim seat in the Westminster poll where he hopes to topple the DUPs Paul Girvan.

The SDLP is hoping to hold onto its seats in Foyle and South Belfast. Boundary changes have seen the latter seat renamed as Belfast South and Mid Down.

Party leader Colum Eastwood conceded he would face a tough fight from Sinn Fein in Foyle.

He added: The real fight here is to get rid of the Tories.

We have had 14 years of these people destroying our economy, doing Brexit, bringing in the Legacy Act, stripping our public services of funding.

Now there is an opportunity to get rid of them.

The DUP had blockaded Stormont for two years in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Mr Donaldson led the party back to Stormont earlier this year after accepting a UK government deal that pledged to reduce Brexit red tape on Irish Sea trade.

While opinion polls have shown a majority of DUP supporters backed the move, a sizeable minority of members believe the deal was oversold and the party relinquished its leverage with little to show for it.

Senior party figures such as Lord Dodds and East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson have openly criticised the deal, while external opponents within the wider unionist/loyalist community have been equally vocal.

The TUV may be unlikely to win any seats in the election, but it could still inflict substantial damage on the DUP if enough unionist voters back its more hardline stance on post-Brexit trade barriers.

In regard to the tie-up with Reform UK, a TUV spokesperson said on Thursday: TUV and Reform UK have always been clear that the nature of our arrangement could result in all candidates in this election being TUV candidates if the protracted registration process took too long.

Our memorandum of understanding with Reform UK is very clear that we share a common set of core values about the unity of the United Kingdom, immigration and a fair taxation system.

We are delighted that our arrangement with Reform UK gives people the opportunity to vote for a real national movement which stands up for restoring the United Kingdom and is clear that there can be no sea border. This will be a joint TUV/Reform UK campaign with every candidate having the backing of each party.
When a national plan is devised as in Ireland 2040, it should be delivered, regardless of who is in power.

Has Ireland any such thing as apolitical delivery? Is voting in Ireland a transactional arrangement?

We vote for you, you do something for us. Its a simple equation that many people in Waterford have been very slow to learn.

They cleave instead to the idea that party X or party Y will do such and such. Really?

Have we not learned the hard way that delivery is a matter of political expediency and little else?

Has the present government sufficiently delivered to Waterford city to convince you to give them your vote?

Leo Varadkar, a man with local roots, resigned as Taoiseach telling us that Waterford and UHW should have much more investment, yet during his tenure, delivery on those sentiments was sparse.

He was Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from June 2020 to December 2022. Did we see any major FDI delivery in that period?

An 800 job announcement for Abbott in Kilkenny raised eyebrows, while Waterford, the designated regional economic driver in Ireland 2040, has been without major new IDA FDI delivery since West Pharma.

IBM Announcement

Last weeks IBM announcement for Red Hat was positive, albeit unclear on actual local job numbers. Its a welcome development in emerging technologies.

Message to self: How can it be that not a single new teaching building commenced construction at WIT/ SETU this century? So said TD Matt Shanahan in a recent Dail exchange with Taoiseach Simon Harris.

Mr. Harris gave Waterford precious little as Minister for Health and ditto as Minister for Further Education. Now as Taoiseach he commits to an epiphany. Will a Fine Gael Taoiseach deliver in the education and acute medical sectors what he has previously failed to do?

The last new WIT teaching building commenced in 1998 and finished in 2006 after a pause in construction. That hiatus is grotesque, while a new engineering building has been on the stocks at the Cork Road site since 2009.

Sadly, under Fine Gael, WIT development was disgracefully halted, both in building and course development, while money and new buildings were poured into Carlow IT to suggest equality with WIT.

This was allegedly from that colleges own resources. Believe that if you will. It was aided and politically abetted by Fine Gael forces to push WIT into a SETU merger.

Last week, Taoiseach Simon Harris tied himself to the delivery of the new engineering building in his debate with Mr. Shanahan. Ill believe it when I see it.

Informed sources suggest the planning permission for the new engineering building expires on August 9, 2024. If it does not start before then, it will require a new planning process and may never be built. That being the case, Waterford should never vote for Fine Gael again.

Lessons to learn

What lessons have we learned from the regimes performance over the past 13 years? They kick us in the goolies, we vote for them. They keep us waiting 15 years for a new engineering building, we vote for them. They dont sign off on 24/7 cardiology, we vote for them!

Are we that politically naive? Are we mad? I always vote for whichever party because my daddy did?

Everything has a price in life, including your vote. Throw it away cheaply if you wish, but sense demands that you and yours and your childrens future ability to live in this area should be protected by appropriate state investment on par with our peer cities.

When you shop in Dunne's, you give them money, they give you groceries. Thats a transaction. If you dont understand that, you dont understand politics.

We give them our vote, they give us the new engineering building. If they dont, then why vote for them?

The same economic logic applies to 24/7 cardiology at UHW, which has been promised so often its like Draining the Shannon.

Similarly with our little airport, which is being dragged through the mud by the Greens. If the money for the runway is not signed off by Mr. Ryan, then his local representatives should quickly take themselves back to their previous occupations.

We are not going to vote for them. Its a transaction, it's politics.

If any local election candidate gives you cheek and tells you that things will be delivered once we get into or back into power, you know what to say!

For the life of me, can anyone tell us how Galway and Limerick are entitled to have a full university and a Technical University, while Waterford, the oldest city in the country, must make do with an anonymous one-third portion of an institution whose HQ is in the back of the SETU presidents car?

For the past 14 years, WIT has been all but eviscerated by FG (and sad to say in 2011-2016 by Labour) party interests. Our college was on the cusp of the full university status (like UL) promised to us in 2008-2011 by Fine Gael. Was it delivered?

Ask Phil Hogan or Brendan Howlin, those who created the Waterford must learn to share meme. They know how and why WIT was eviscerated by regional politics and the central university (like UL) the region needed fatally undermined.

Has Waterford city kept pace with its once peer cities of Limerick and Galway? Local employment is good, but job quality must be improved.

There has been a welcome and visible uptick in staffing at UHW in line with all HSE hospitals.

SETU has bought the old glass site.

But a visit to Limerick and Galway is chastening. The comparative evidence suggests that we are lagging.

Is this a deliberate policy? The North Quays, delivered by a Fianna Fail minister, is a great infrastructure project, which may eventually rebalance matters. A planning application for development has been submitted by Harcourt Developments.

But ask yourself the extent to which local business confidence was and is undermined by the perception that Waterford city does not have FG ministers at its back, as Limerick and Galway certainly do.

Balanced regional development, as in the Programme for Government, should not be at the mercy of party politics, but remember, it's politics, a transactional arrangement!
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The tense situation in Azerbaijani-Iranian relations can be considered a thing of the past, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.

Garayev stated that Azerbaijan's embassy in Iran is expected to open in the near future.

"In order to repair and improve bilateral relations, this is an essential step. The perpetrator of the assault on our embassy has been brought to justice, and the Azerbaijani government has stated that the embassy's functions would resume once it is secure. Maintaining friendly and equitable ties with all of its neighbors, especially Iran, is a policy that Azerbaijan upholds. The Azerbaijani administration has long placed a premium on fostering better relations," the political analyst remarked.

He also stated that the Azerbaijani public was disheartened by the accidental death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

"President Ilham Aliyev was among the first world leaders to respond to this tragic incident. He visited the Iranian embassy in the country and extended condolences for the loss of President Raisi and others in the helicopter crash," he added.

The political analyst also emphasized the significance of ensuring the implementation of the agreements reached during the presidents' meeting.

"In particular, the planned construction of the Aghband road will establish a vital transportation and transit route linking various regions. This route will facilitate the transportation of goods to Turkiye and onward through Iran to the Persian Gulf. Additionally, there are plans to construct a railway in the near future. The realization of these infrastructure projects is pivotal for further enhancing economic relations between our countries. The agreements reached provide a solid basis for Azerbaijan to continue fostering bilateral ties with Iran in the foreseeable future," he stated.

To note, on May 19, a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Tabriz Province Imam Ayatollah Ali Hashim, and East Azerbaijan Province Governor-General Malek Rahmati crashed while flying from Khudafarin to Tabriz.

The Iranian President and the entire accompanying delegation were confirmed dead.

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Nova Weetmans partner of 25 years, the celebrated playwright and actor Aidan Fennessy, died of cancer in Melbourne during one of the many lockdowns brought about by the pandemic. His memorial service was delayed by 15 months and when it finally happens it is like being at a party where the guest has forgotten to arrive. It also feels like organising the opening night of one of your plays. This is especially poignant because the opening night of Fennessys final work, The Heartbreak Choir, took place on a rainy night in April 2022, soon after he had died. An empty chair was left in a place of honour. Weetman was to watch the play 17 times.

At the same time, Nova Weetman invites us to share a story that belongs only to her. Grief is one of the most common human experiences. It is often packaged or padded in familiar expressions, all of which are well-intentioned but few of which get beyond the carapace of coping. Yet stories of grief, with all their tastes and smells and coincidences and unruly emotions and loneliness and connection and unexpected peace, are all unique. Weetmans is a treasure chest of honesty and raw humanity.

There is a great deal to think about in this tender book. It allows the reader to spend time with their own experiences of grief and to ponder all the mysteries, both great and small, that grief brings with it.

There is much in this book about emptiness and absence, about gaps that are not easy to describe, let alone fill. I was reminded at times of a description by Gillian Mears who wrote that the death of a significant person is like a giant tree falling in a forest. Only in its absence can the meaning of its presence be understood, as an entire ecosystem comes down with it. Light gets into places that have been protected from such an intrusion. Weetman navigates this experience beautifully.

When Fennessy finally gets to see a specialist, the urologist says: Well, obviously the horse has bolted. It is an excruciating moment. He sounded like a mechanic telling them that a car was beyond repair. There wasnt much the marvel of medicine was going to offer. Neither Fennessy nor Weetman allow themselves to be de-natured by the medicalisation of death, one of the anodynes of our time, and Fennessy dies at home. He doesnt make any grand or profound statements as he slips from life. Indeed, there are very few of those in Love, Death & Other Scenes.

Weetman describes her mothers death, her young adulthood, her experience of sexual assault, her connection with Fennessy (whom she first encountered in an op shop), the financial insecurity of living as writers and performers, the birth of their two children, a period of three years after the death of her partner and much else besides. All these things are spoken of with vulnerability. None of it asks why. It only asks who. The who becomes the why. This is exquisite.

Weetman mentions working simultaneously on a book for teenage readers called The Jammer (UQP, 2022). That book, written in a season of intense loss, is also beautiful in the way it handles the pain of its main character, Fred, as she deals with the sudden death of her mother shortly after the family moves to Brisbane: Im not sure how dad and I can fill that house without her. She was the decoration, the flowers, the lamps. Without her, were only bumping around the edges.
The grim task of killing an estimated 400,000 chickens to halt the spread of deadly avian flu near the small Victorian town of Meredith was completed on Thursday, but the disease has already been discovered at a second farm in the states south-west.

The highly pathogenic H7N3 strain of avian influenza was discovered this week as the cause of several bird deaths at an egg farm between Ballarat and Geelong. On Thursday afternoon, Agriculture Victoria revealed bird flu had been found at a second poultry farm near Terang.

The slaughter of 400,000 chickens is under way as Victoria tries to curb the latest avian flu outbreak. Credit: Jason South

The initial find came as a second human case of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu was discovered in a dairy worker in the US state of Michigan, transmitted by cattle.

The Victorian chickens at the centre of Australias first avian flu outbreak in four years were contained on Thursday in nine vast sheds on the Meredith property, linked by narrow outdoor spaces. Until last year, the farm traded as Moorabool Valley Eggs, before being sold and trading as AVGO Eggs. Happy Hens and Surf Coast Eggs trucks were also on the property on Thursday.
Whenever you take antibiotics, no matter the dose or duration, there is a risk of developing resistance, says Dr Sarah Kabbani, a public health physician at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Antibiotics work by killing bacteria in your body. But some bacteria will survive, which can make future infections more difficult to treat. This result, called antimicrobial resistance, is a serious threat to human and animal health, according to the Australian governments Department of Health and Aged Care.

There are many reasons why antibiotics are prescribed. Credit: iStock

While antibiotics are necessary for serious, life-threatening infections, theyre sometimes prescribed for less urgent situations. Heres how to tell if an antibiotic is right for you.

What to consider
One man is in a critical condition and a woman is seriously injured after a stabbing in Marrickville on Thursday evening.

NSW Ambulance responded to reports of a stabbing on Sydenham Road just before 6pm and found a 25-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman suffering from knife wounds.

Paramedics treated the man for injuries to his neck, face, hand and back, and the woman for a stab wound to her throat.

The man was in a critical condition and the womans injuries were serious, a spokesperson for NSW Ambulance said.
Taichung, Taiwan: China has launched two days of military drills surrounding Taiwan as punishment for acts of independence after the islands new president, Lai Ching-te, took office on Monday.

The drills, which began on Thursday morning, are being carried out by the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in the Taiwan Strait. Forces encircled the main island, as well as the offshore islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, Chinese state media reported.

The Peoples Liberation Army of China released a map highlighting the areas of operation around Taiwan. Credit: People's Liberation Army

Li Xi, a spokesman for the PLA theatre command, was quoted by the Chinese news agency Xinhua as saying the Joint Sward-2024A exercises focused on sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control and joint precision strikes on new targets.

The drills are the largest in more than a year, and were intended to serve as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces, Xinhua reported.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Following the plan of bilateral military cooperation between the Ministries of Defense of Azerbaijan and Georgia for 2024, the delegation led by the Chief of the Military Police Department of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Georgia, Colonel Shalva Shengelia, is on a visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani ministry.

During the visit, the delegation visited the Military Police Department of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense.

First, flowers were placed and Heydar Aliyev's memory was honored at the monument to the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people

Guests were warmly welcomed by the chief of the Military Police Department, Lieutenant Colonel Elgun Aliyev, who also expressed his satisfaction at their presence in Azerbaijan.

The meeting noted that friendly and fraternal relations are founded on trust and support, and both sides were pleased with bilateral military cooperation. They stressed the need for such meetings to share experience.

The visitors were subsequently apprised of the Military Police Department's operations.



The Georgian delegates conveyed their appreciation for the kind hospitality.

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Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Following the bilateral cooperation plan signed between the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan and the Federal Ministry of Defense of Germany for 2024, military specialists from both countries convened for an expert meeting, the Azerbaijani ministry told Trend.

The meeting, hosted at the Joint Operational Command of Germany, facilitated an extensive exchange of perspectives on Azerbaijan and Germany's involvement in UN missions.

The meeting also covered accumulated experience, international peacekeeping operations, and other subjects of mutual interest.

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In an essential step toward enhancing integrity and combating corruption, Palestine Customs benefited from a workshop to establish an Internal Affairs Unit, with support from the World Customs Organization (WCO) Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme. This initiative, part of a broader agreement with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), draws on previous efforts in the country to enhance integrity, in line with the Revised Arusha Declaration.

Thanks to support from the Jordan Customs Department and their Regional Training Center, the workshop welcomed five senior Palestinian officials and six Jordanian Customs staff, focusing on the essential building blocks for a new unit, such as governance, mission, and operational processes. Expert guidance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Mauritius Revenue Authority, who helped develop a strategic roadmap and action plan.

This workshop aimed to identify internal resources, define critical unit components, and create a business case to secure management support and necessary resources. Additionally, it will foster regional cooperation by sharing insights and solutions with Jordanian Customs, enhancing understanding and tackling shared challenges. Expected outcomes of this gathering include a detailed action plan for the new unit, ensuring it is equipped to uphold transparency and accountability within Palestine Customs.

Furthermore, based on guidelines developed by the WCO, the experts assisted the Palestinian Customs in adopting best practices in the investigative process by designing their own form for the complaint assessment, investigation plan, interview script, and record of sanction. Through case studies, the participants demonstrated their understanding of using the various forms.

Finally, Palestinian Officials had the opportunity to tour Jordan Customs' headquarters and observe their best practices for internal control, investigations, and the central CCTV control room.

The WCO A-CIP Programme provides technical assistance and capacity-building support to WCO Member administrations implementing integrity-related initiatives in line with the WCO Revised Arusha Declaration. For more information, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.
The 69th Meeting of the Data Model Projects Team (DMPT) convened in a hybrid format on 16-17 May 2024 at the World Customs Organization (WCO) in Brussels. 136 participants from WCO Members and external stakeholders registered to participate in the meeting. In preparation for the meeting, a Focus Group session was held from 13 to 15 May 2024 to facilitate and refine issues for detailed discussions during the DMPT plenary session.

The meeting opened with remarks from Pranab Kumar Das, Director of Compliance and Facilitation, who emphasized the crucial role of the WCO Data Model (DM) in adapting to the evolving dynamics of global trade. He highlighted the importance of collaboration and active participation to enhance the WCO DMs adaptability while also addressing the complexities of international trade. Members reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the WCO DM by sharing national approaches to support seamless data exchange and global trade facilitation.

The DMPT examined three Data Maintenance Requests (DMRs) submitted by New Zealand on the Booking and Reservation Information/Passenger Name Record (BRI/PNR) dataset for cruise passengers. The DMPT approved the DMRs for inclusion in the WCO DM Version 4.1.0. Subsequently, the DMPT updated the BRI/PNR Data Model, building on previous DMRs and additional feedback to support the BRI pilot implementation.

The DMPT continued refining the Customs Bonds dataset in cooperation with the International Credit Insurance & Surety Association (ICISA). The DMPT also discussed the approach in aligning the Unified File Format (UFF) metadata with the WCO DM to improve interoperability between scanning devices and Customs systems. The DMPT identified that the UFF Metadata element pertinent to Cargo information should be mapped and aligned to the WCO DM.

Delegates assessed the ongoing regional work to harmonize railway datasets. Collaboration with relevant organizations and regional entities is expected to propel this project forward as a critical step towards railway data standardization.

The DMPT finalized the modelling of the Certificate of Origin (CO) dataset in support of the feasibility study on the CO interconnectivity framework carried out by the Technical Committee on Rules of Origin (TCRO). The CO data model will be used as the basis for a DMR submission to a future meeting of the DMPT. The interconnectivity framework aims to streamline the exchange of origin certification data, thereby improving global trade facilitation.

The DMPT recognized the importance of standardized coded values to improve data quality. It supported the development of updated technical guidance on using code lists. The DMPT also explored Linked Data and Verifiable Credential concepts to facilitate machine-readable data exchange across different systems, reducing ambiguity and promoting efficient global interoperability.

The meeting closed with the adoption of the Work Programme for 2023-2025, which will guide the DMPT's future initiatives. A Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson were also elected for 2024-2025. Brendan O'Hearn, Deputy Director in charge of Procedures and Facilitation, delivered the closing remarks, expressed gratitude for the active engagement of all participants, and anticipated further progress at the next DMPT meeting.
From May 14 to 16, 2024, the WCO Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme, in partnership with the Mauritius Revenue Authority and the Libyan Customs Authority, held a capacity-building workshop on the topic of internal affairs management for the benefit of Tunisian Customs.

Bringing together some 25 executives representing the main entities of the Tunisian Customs administration involved in internal affairs management, the workshop was a platform for discussions and experience-sharing focused mainly on strengthening reporting mechanisms, consolidating the step-by-step administrative investigation process, optimizing the disciplinary system and implementing preventive measures to help achieve the objectives of the WCO A-CPI Programme in Tunisia and support the ongoing changes.

Following feedback from WCO experts and contributions from specialists from Tunisia Customs, participants were able to identify avenues for optimization in each of the components of internal affairs management relating to certain key factors of the revised Arusha Declaration: regulatory framework, automation, control and investigation, code of conduct and human resources management. Throughout the workshop, exchanges enabled a comparative analysis to be made with the Mauritius model and practical case studies to be carried out for concrete application.

At the workshop's closing ceremony, the Comptroller General of Tunisian Customs praised the constant support of the WCO A-CPI Programme, the financial backing of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), and the strong mobilization of all workshop participants. She also recalled the importance of a lasting commitment to developing prevention and management of internal affairs, meeting the challenges of the fight against corruption and promoting the integrity of Tunisian Customs.

The WCO A-CIP Programme provides technical assistance and capacity-building support to WCO Member administrations implementing integrity-related initiatives in line with the WCO Revised Arusha Declaration. For more information, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.
In a significant move to further bolster efforts under its existing Anti-Corruption Programme, the State Customs Service (SCS) of Ukraine has officially partnered with the World Customs Organizations Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme for Customs, thanks to funding from Norway. This partnership marks a pivotal step in Ukraines alignment with global standards to combat corruption and promote integrity in Customs.

For Ukraine, participation in the WCO A-CIP Programme is expected to further improve the business and law enforcement environment for cross-border trade in the country by leveraging the WCOs integrity promotion and anti-corruption tools and access to resources, practices, and expertise among its 186 Members. These will support Ukraines efforts as it continues to effect changes to the operational and administrative context that restrict corrupt behaviour and promote good governance in its State Customs Service. These changes will be guided by and align with WCO standards that seek specifically to combat corruption in Customs administration and operations.

An integral part of the SCSs activities supported by the WCO A-CIP Programme will be to conduct a Customs Integrity Perception Survey (CIPS), which aims to assess quantitatively the perception of integrity in Customs by Customs officers and private sector stakeholders. The survey is intended to provide insights that can be used to target and adjust anti-corruption and integrity promotion measures specific to the Customs administrative and operational context. Additionally, the SCS will benefit from the Programmes focus on the importance of leveraging advanced statistics and data management techniques to enhance decision-making processes within Customs services.

The WCO A-CIP Programme provides technical assistance and capacity-building support to WCO Member administrations implementing integrity-related initiatives in line with the WCO Revised Arusha Declaration Concerning Good Governance and Integrity in Customs.

For more information, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Repair and restoration works on Sheki Khan's Palace will begin in Azerbaijan, Chief Architect of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan Nizami Gasimzadeh told Trend.

He noted that repair and restoration works on the fortress are being carried out on the territory of Sheki National Historical-Architectural Reserve Yukhari Bash.

According to him, repair and restoration works are being carried out in three buildings inside the fortress.

These are the buildings of the Shebeke workshop (spectacular mosaics composed of thousands of tiny pieces of stained glass in wooden lattices of all shapes and sizes), the historical and local history museum, and a non-residential building. We will try to complete the work by the end of the year. In the next stages, after the repair and restoration work of these buildings, we will begin the restoration of the Palace of the Sheki Khans," Gasimzadeh stressed.

Sheki Xan Palace was built in 17521762 as the summer residence of Hussein-khan Mushtad, grandson of Haji Chelebi Khan. The uniquely beautiful two-story palace features a magnificent interior and exterior.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan Fuad Nagiyev met with Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov in Moscow on May 23, Trend reports.

The parties discussed expanding tourism ties, opening Azerbaijan's tourist representative office in Moscow, the mutual flow of tourists, and implementing the Roadmap for Tourism Development between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation for 2024-2026 signed on March 5, 2024, to strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation.

The meeting also discussed cooperation between Russian tourism firms and Azerbaijani winter and ski resorts, such as the "Shahdag" tourist facility, tourism education exchange, and double diploma programs.

The meeting was also attended by Polad Bulbuloglu, the Azerbaijani extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to Russia.

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Photo: Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. A factory for the production of licensed brands of premium beer will be built in Gabala, Trend reports.

According to the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov met with representatives of Georgian Beer Company LLC, with whom he discussed the prospects of the development of bilateral cooperation.

Within the framework of the meeting, Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC and Georgian Beer Company Ltd signed an agreement on joint participation in the construction of a new plant in the Gabala district to produce licensed brands of premium-class beer, local brand beer, and soft drinks based on advanced international technologies.

To note, the planned plant aims to enhance export capabilities by producing competitive products and is set to create a production capacity of 140 million liters annually, generating approximately 300 new jobs.

The Georgian Beer Company, established by Cesar Chocheli's business group in 2011, currently produces a range of beverages, including juices, energy drinks, carbonated beverages, lemonade, and beer, under the Zedazeni brand name.

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James Cox

Colm Meaney is to play Ian Bailey in a Jim Sheridan true crime drama about the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder.

Aidan Gillen has also been cast in 'Re-creation', which will look back on the murder of the French film and TV producer in Cork in 1996.

It will question what happened almost 30 years ago, using a fictional jury to debate the facts of the case.

Sheridan said that he is delighted to have two icons of Irish cinema join the cast.

Co-director of the film, David Merriman added, Colm and Aidan both have starred in some of my favourite films and shows. As artists, they both elevate any project, and we are so grateful to have them onboard.

Bailey was arrested twice by gardai in relation to the murder but released on both occasions due to a lack of evidence.

He was convicted in his absence in Paris in 2019, but Irish courts rejected requests for his extradition.

Meaney has starred in many films and TV series, while he is well-known for playing chief Miles O'Brien in Star Trek.

Gillen has also appeared in many high-profile films but is best known for Game of Thrones and The Wire.
Fine Gael members have launched an attack on Taoiseach Simon Harris for recognising the Palestinian state, saying the move doesnt reflect the views of the partys grassroots.

According to the Irish Examiner, a private meeting of Fine Gael TDs and senators heard criticism from two senior figures, Paul Kehoe and John Paul Phelan, who hit out at the decision by the Cabinet to recognise a Palestinian state.

It is understood that Mr Kehoe criticised a lack of discussion on the matter at recent party meetings, saying there was no decision that this was Fine Gaels position.

The Irish Examiner also reports that Mr Phelan raised the recent Fine Gael ard fheis, where grassroots party members voted down a motion that called for the party to support the recognition of a Palestinian state. The motion had also called on the Government to implement the Occupied Territories Bill.

The Carlow-Kilkenny TD also raised concerns that the decision to recognise Palestine could see Israeli businesses choose to leave Ireland.

One source who attended the meeting told the Irish Examiner that the atmosphere was tense.

However, Mr Harris was not in attendance and criticism was instead received by Fine Gaels deputy leader, Heather Humphreys, and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Paschal Donohoe.

Mr Donohoe defended the Governments decision and pointed out that it was a confidential decision of the Cabinet, while adding that Mr Harris would update Fine Gael TDs on the matter at the next parliamentary party meeting.

It is understood that Ms Humphreys also defended the decision, saying that the Government had recognised the Palestinian state, rather than any specific Palestinian government.

In his announcement earlier on Wednesday, Mr Harris said that it was a historic and important day.

He said that recognition is an act of powerful political and symbolic value.
A South Mayo student was to the fore at the annual National Scratch Coding Competition, organised by Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software and the Irish Computer Society.

Niall McNamara from Taugheen National School in Claremorris was among the prize winners at the 2024 Scratch Finals which took place at the University of Limerick on Wednesday.

Niall was a category winner for his game, Balloon Popper, which allowed players to burst balloons using an arrow.

Holly Wright, a fifth-year student of Bremore Educate Together Secondary School Balbriggan, County Dublin was the overall winner at the national finals of the annual competition, now in its 14th year, where Irelands best young coders from primary and post-primary schools from all over Ireland presented their project to the competition judges.

Leros Education and Public Engagement Manager, Dr Clare McInerney, said Leros involvement in the Scratch competition is crucial for a critical reason: Software is everywhere, it is all around us and it has never been so important that children and young people learn not just how to use it but also how it works. At Lero, we support software skills at every stage of education. It is part of our mission to foster and grow coding skills and computational thinking among younger children, teens, and those far older.

What we witness at the culmination of the National Scratch Competition Finals is the payoff of months of hard graft by the contestants, their teachers and families  and let me tell you  its awe-inspiring. Their projects are an amazing combination of science, technology, imagination and ingenuity  showing off just how much fun coding can be. It leaves me wondering what these finalists will do next? she added.

Dr McInerney said this year, there were more than 398 entries with 63% male and 36% female participants.

We congratulate Holly and all todays finalists and those who supported them on their journey. Our panel of 15 judges were so impressed by the quality and originality of the projects that some have asked to come back next year, she added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Azerbaijan is considering increasing its external public debt to $10 billion, the countrys Finance Minister Samir Sharifov said during the discussion of the draft law "On the execution of the state budget of Azerbaijan for 2023" in the Azerbaijani parliament on May 23, Trend reports.

The minister pointed out that Azerbaijan's external public debt is currently rather low.

"However, alongside this low level, certain decisions have been made, and it was deemed advisable to attract loans, thereby somewhat expanding cooperation with financial credit organizations in terms of addressing specific challenges and projects facing our country.

Therefore, an increase in the external public debt to approximately $10 billion is being considered. Currently, this debt stands at $5.5 billion. This year, we also have significant repayments. This allows us to pursue a conservative foreign currency borrowing policy while also carrying out large infrastructure projects facing our country," added Sharifov.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 23. Singapore's investments in Kazakhstan may double in the coming years, said President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, as he addressed the closing ceremony of the Kazakh-Singapore Business Forum, Trend reports.

"We greatly value our strong relationship with Singapore, our top partner in Southeast Asia. Last year, bilateral trade reached $1.8 billion, and Singaporean investments in Kazakhstan totaled over $1.7 billion. We believe these figures could double in the coming years. A solid legal framework is crucial for developing our partnership. Weve ratified the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments, ensuring a high level of protection for our mutual investments," he said.

President Tokayev pointed out that the urban development sector is one of the promising areas of cooperation between the two countries.

"The project is envisioned as the "Singapore of Central Asia" and aims to become a leading international business hub. Covering an area of one thousand square kilometers, it will be developed as a Special Economic Zone. I'm pleased to note that the master plan was created by the Singaporean company Surbana Jurong. After the forum, I plan to discuss this further with all interested parties. I look forward to active participation from Singaporean businesses in this promising initiative," the president added.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 23. Kazakhstan is ready to supply Singapore with critical raw materials and natural resources, said President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, as he addressed the closing ceremony of the Kazakh-Singapore Business Forum, Trend reports.

"With global demand for rare metals expected to quadruple by 2040, Kazakhstan, boasting around 5,000 unexplored deposits, could be a dependable partner for jointly tapping into this potential. We have high hopes for long-term collaboration with Indorama, a company keen on exploring copper and phosphate deposits in Kazakhstan," he said.

Highlighting the increasing interest in Kazakhstan's extensive renewable energy potential, Tokayev encouraged Singaporean companies to broaden partnerships in clean energy production, technology transfer, and expertise sharing.

"Singapore is renowned for its cutting-edge waste-to-energy facilities and innovative waste management technologies. We are keenly interested in such innovative waste management approaches and aim to foster cooperation in this field," the president added.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan ranks second in the world in terms of proven reserves of natural uranium. The depths of the Republic of Kazakhstan contain about 14 percent of all proven world reserves. Estimates place the country's total proven reserves at more than 700,000 tons of uranium.

Kazakhstan took first place in uranium production in 2009 and continues to maintain a leading position in the world market. Kazakhstan produces about 40 percent of the world's uranium production. In 2021, the volume of uranium production amounted to 21,800 tons, according to the results of 202221,300 tons.
Seminar: Digital Technologies Reshaping Inequalities in the Post-Apartheid Housing Market

When: Friday, 24 May 2024 - Friday, 24 May 2024 Where: Online Event

Start time: 9:00 Enquiries: kitso.kgaboesele@wits.ac.za RSVP: Register here Cost: Free but registration is required

SCIS invites you to Julien Migozzi's seminar, Segregation bit by bit: Digital Technologies Reshaping Inequalities in the Post-Apartheid Housing Market

Urban Studies Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Oxford University, Julien Migozzi, will present a seminar titled Segregation bit by bit: Digital Technologies Reshaping Inequalities in the Post-Apartheid Housing Market on 24 May 2024, 09:00 10:30 (SAST).

Migozzi will discuss how the digitalisation of the housing market reshapes urban segregation and social stratification in post-apartheid South Africa. I use a mixed-method framework that weaves in-depth fieldwork with the analysis of property sales and census data in the Cape Town metro area. I first unpack how the housing market, previously structured upon the racial categorization of people and places, was reconfigured as a flow of data through the adoption of digital technologies, especially credit scoring, allowing the real-time and automated classification of home seekers. I then explore how the spatial evolution of housing prices and mortgage lending intersect with and affect patterns of urban segregation. Finally, I demonstrate how in the context of racialized indebtedness and enduring segregation, the roll-out of digital technologies enabled a selective financialization of housing that operates bit by bit through the use of credit scores: on the one hand, I examine how lending practises remain highly selective, tracing mortgage securitization at the neighbourhood level; on the other, I situate how digital platforms allowed the unprecedented rise of institutional investors and enabled the surge of the rental market. This market shift shapes contemporary patterns of urban change while consolidating housing wealth inequalities engineered by racial capitalism. Finally, I discuss how the digital re-mediation of the market encourages us to re-think the contemporary mechanisms of segregation in the era of algorithmic sorting and rentier capitalism
A violent freedom

Despite the knife-edge upon which South Africans live, the country is not, in fact, a failed state  but a new form of democracy is required.

In July 2021, a profoundly unsettling eight days of violence, looting, and burning gripped South Africa. The media attributed these actions, which caused 340 deaths and around R50 billion in damage, to the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma, and the term failed state was freely bandied around.

While Zumas arrest may have been a trigger, it was not the root cause of the revolt; the July riots were a symptom of a more significant historical crisis, and patterns were only crystallised under Zuma, explains Dr Edward Cottle, a researcher at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies at Wits.

If Zuma was the spark, the pandemic was the wood  as was the governments granting of a meagre R350 monthly social grant. Add in the lack of adequate housing, food, and jobs affecting many communities, and the tinder box was ready to blow. Not reckoning with unresolved issues relating to the countrys unjust past was the fuel, and the fire created a smokescreen for the repercussions of a macroeconomic model that believed a free market would address South Africas inequities, says Cottle.

Before Mbekis drive for efficiency and the rationalisation of the economy, the Reconstruction and Development Plan, introduced in 1994, was a way for black people to partake in the economy.

Furthermore, Mbekis growth, employment, and redistribution plan was not developed in meaningful partnership with labour and civil society. Cottle says, Mbeki argued that local economic and political systems would become more efficient, decreasing debt levels. This never transpired.

Fragile not failed

A failed state, by definition, is a place where the state cannot fulfill most of its functions. Its a war zone with no basic security or development, says Cottle.

Despite the countrys dire socioeconomic and political realities, South Africa is not a failed state, The concept is dated, says Cottle. Its more plausible to say we are a fragile state.

A fragile state can be defined as one that is in some form of crisis and is characterised by poor government performance.

Furthermore, South Africa is not unique if violent protests are an indicator of a fragile state. Violent urban uprisings have engulfed Europe, and the Middle Easts Arab Spring was also a seminal moment in the history of violent protests.

Polarisation versus democracy

Democracy is perceived to be fraught with moral failings, explains Dr Siphiwe Dube, a Senior Lecturer in Political Studies. The growing conservatism across the globe is underpinned by the belief that undeserving people are given rights.

Conservatives believe that the world has gone too far in accommodating and tolerating trans people, immigrants, those seeking abortions, anyone entering a same sex marriage, and so-called rampant feminists, he says, and points out that in the US, right-wing demagogues espouse hatred and suspicion towards immigrants, but need the latter for cheap labour and to do the kind of work that others refuse to do.

African conservatism

Dube has researched the values and rhetoric of conservative South African political entities, particularly leading up to the 2024 elections. He has examined the Freedom Front Plus, Solidarity, the African Christian Democratic Party, and the African Transformation Movement. These organisations have different manifestos but common threads, says Dube, including the sanctity of the nuclear family, religion, and the entrenchment of patriarchy.

These parties are saying we should have a new and totally different moral system. But there is such hypocrisy; these parties exist because of key Constitutional rights such as freedom of speech.

Inkululeko  a new form of democracy

Dube believes that democracy must be reimagined. When John Locke wrote about democracy, he was speaking only to an elite of white men who held the belief that liberal democracy was inherently good. We have to think about democracy in a way that promotes justice, effectively addresses polycrises, and shifts away from staunch positionality.

Cottle asserts that a new political model must focus on delivering socioeconomic rights. I believe we also need a firm review of our past. We cant blame every failing on the government. We need to address the causes of increasing inequality. And this is not peculiar to South Africa.

Dr Hlengiwe Ndlovu, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Governance, has delved into state and societal relations, and particularly the concept of inkululeko.

This isiXhosa term is loosely translated as freedom. Inkululeko is linked to the socioeconomic outcomes people expected from the fruits of the liberation struggle and the promise of a better life for all, as stated in the ANCs 1994 election manifesto, says Ndlovu, who conducted an ethnographic study in Duncan Village, East London, between 2014 and 2019, to understand what democracy and true freedom mean to people.

While democracy is conventionally a system where people can elect their representatives and partake in decision-making, inkululeko is more tangible. It is being free from hunger, homelessness, and human indignity.
Reimagining democracy

Democracy, as a system of government by the whole population, seems to have had its heyday. Is People Power a viable option?

In the 1991 movie Thelma and Louise, the two female protagonists were literally behind the wheel (in this case of a convertible Ford Thunderbird) after they took a decision, in the face of violent patriarchy, to own their story.

In that classic final scene, when their car flies into the Grand Canyon, the message is that while women can strive for heady freedom and defy imposed and traditional roles, it turns out that the ideal is just a Hollywood fantasy. Then as now.

Thelma and Louise becoming a cult classic coincided with democracys big moment. Evan Cupido and Raphael de Kadt, writing for the Helen Suzman Foundation, noted that the world rode a wave of democratisation in the 1980s and early 1990s, as authoritarian states began to wane. Adopting democracy was attractive, coloured, as it was, by the Wests economic and political tenets.

But, like Thelma and Louises defiance of entrenched systems, democracy is fragile. Moreover, it has a growing number of staunch, conservative opponents.

In defence of democracy

Liberal democracy was advancing confidently from the mid-1970s to the 1990s. But we see now how fragile the system is across the world. The 2008 global economic crisis revealed how democracy did not ensure economic prosperity for everyone, says Professor Daryl Glaser in the Department of Political Studies.

The evidence is that democracy is compatible with economic growth but does not guarantee it. Indeed, both democracy and dictatorship can succeed and fail economically.

Chinas authoritarian government has been economically successful in recent decades. But we can also say that China got lucky with its dictators. Where democracy is useful is that it offers the possibility of peaceful course correction through voting. In China, if something goes wrong, there is no mechanism for people to replace leaders, says Glaser.

Democracys intrinsic merits are therefore evident: We can defend democracy because political equality, participation, freedom, and procedural fairness are fundamental. For some people, this is sufficient and an end in itself, says Glaser.

Will South Africas democracy survive after 2024?

Glaser says that South Africas democracy is procedurally sound, but the democratic constitutional settlement did not achieve everything that people wanted. There is a disconnect between the rulers and the ruled, says Glaser. Today, South Africa is economically stagnant and socially unequal.

Moreover, this countrys democracy has not been put to its biggest test: will the African National Congress (ANC) concede power if it loses an election? And, if it does, can South Africa be well run by a coalition government? The ANC will for a long time be the largest party, but we can cautiously predict that it will not get the majority of votes in the 2024 election, says Glaser.

Realistically, the best hope for South Africa is a stable coalition where partners curb the ANC's excesses, patronage, corruption and authoritarianism. We will need current opposition parties to play their part in maintaining a stable democracy. This cant be the ANCs burden alone. If a non-ANC coalition exists, its multiple constituent parties must demonstrate that they can get along.

Moreover, democracy needs the backing and support of effective administration. South African state administration probably requires an injection of professionalism and less partisan cadre deployment, says Glaser.

This is not to say that the free market should reign supreme, but that efficient bureaucratic systems should ensure service delivery and the realisation of human freedoms.

Imperfect politics and the pursuit of happiness

Visiting Professor Mia Swart in the School of Law says that there has been democratic backsliding, particularly in the treatment of immigrants and minorities. In 2019, when India (often referred to as the worlds most populous democracy) passed its Citizenship Amendment Act, it effectively excluded Muslims from becoming Indian citizens.

How far do we need to drift from the principles of democracy for it no longer to be a democracy? There is little pressure on India to democratise its policies. In Europe, where strong democratic values and human rights have been central, there is a rise in right-wing, anti-immigrant rhetoric and we now doubt what Europe stands for, says Swart.

In Singapore, there is economic prosperity but little personal freedom. Would you rather live in a poor democracy or a wealthy democratic state? asks Swart. She says that what people most want is tangible goods and services. Material goods play a huge role in peoples happiness. Democracy and progressive constitutions dont put bread on the table. People want to feel happiness on a daily basis.

For Swart, democracy fails if it doesnt focus on the pursuit of happiness. But right now, its the best of the other bad options. In South Africa, the devastating levels of youth unemployment should be everyones focus. Every political partys manifesto must address this. Yes, we honour individual freedoms, but we are failing an entire sector of the population.

Confronted with urgent issues such as youth unemployment, pervasive, and entrenched patterns of violence, disruption and poverty, no political system will be a quick fix. Democracy should continuously be reimagined in its national context.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The free balance on the single treasury account in Azerbaijan amounted to 970.7 million manat ($570.6 million) on January 1, 2024, Trend reports referring to the annual report "On the execution of the state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2023."

The revenues of the general budget of 2023 amounted to 50 billion manat ($29.3 billion), which is 6.9 billion manat ($4 billion) or 16.2 percent more than the forecast of 43 billion manat ($25.2 million).

To note, the draft law On execution of the State Budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2023 was discussed today at the meeting of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship.

Chairman of the Committee Tair Mirkishili, Finance Minister Samir Sharifov, Chairman of the Chamber of Accounts Vugar Gulmammado, MPs and other participants took part in the meeting.

After discussion, the draft law was recommended to the plenary session.

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Stabilising the crumbling walls of the Fourth Estate

Journalism as an institution is facing a bleak outlook. It needs to dig deep to find ways in which to pull itself out of the well.

Journalism has been burnt by big tech, extractive owners and their gatekeepers, shifting revenue models and a falling out of love with its audiences. Its left journalism singed and with dashed hopes of a phoenix-rising moment any time soon.

Bad news for journalism is also bad news for democracy. This is particularly true for South Africa, which faces elections at a pivotal moment in its 30-year recent history. At this point of deep reckoning, it leaves the two golden questions of journalism for journalism itself to answer  so what? And, what now?

Professor Glenda Daniels is Head of the Department of Media Studies. In 2012, she headed the first State of the Newsroom project, based at the Wits Centre for Journalism,. She says: We are in a crisis; we have seen big tech dominate and gobble up all the profits with their global social media companies."

The promise of the internet resulting in more plurality of voices in society and as a leveller for the information agenda being hogged by traditional media channels didn't materialise.

Daniels says: Sadly, mainstream legacy newspapers and the world of traditional journalism have been conflated with a misinformation and fake news era. What we have now is something quite chaotic in the media-scape.

"We've seen massive job losses and the loss of experience in newsrooms; a loss of sub-editors and fact checkers when we need more, not fewer of these skills."

Holding up societys mirror

The role of a free media is to provide credible information and news, to be a reflection and record of society, to be a watchdog and to speak truth to power. In 2023, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, called freedom of the press the "foundation of democracy and justice - press freedom represents the very lifeblood of human rights."

Daniels says that journalism as a guardrail for democracy is being pushed to the limits in a dispirited and depleted media landscape, and that this is particularly significant in a year in which 64 countries are holding elections.

"The world seems split into binary opposition and democracy is being squeezed out. You see more authoritarianism and shrinking press freedom. Around the world journalists are being jailed, shot and killed. We see governments turning off the internet during elections, increased cyber bullying and cyber misogyny."

And in the end, it is the public that is failed. "Consumers of news suffer when journalism and journalists are no longer the conduits of reliable factual information and analysis. What we see today in traditional media is a lot of opinions which are not backed by facts that help the public make informed decisions about things like elections.

"Media think that people are not interested in the small person's point of view and struggles. But showing the struggles highlights what the powerful political elite is not doing. The media can be a lot more imaginative," she says.

A spark of hope

Daniels does see sparks of hope though in the strengthening of the idea of journalism as a public good. A shift from competitive and retail-based business models opens up opportunities for alternative funding, including through donors, philanthropy and reader subscriptions.

Another positive is policy reform and legislation. Daniels is Secretary General of the South African National Editors Forum. She was part of a series of presentations to the Competition Commission that sought the imposition on tech giants such as Facebook and Google of a tax for using content and news produced by local media outlets which they had been reproducing for free on their platforms while earning ad revenue for every click. Australia has successfully tested this model with their News Media Bargaining Code that came into effect in March 2021.

Revenue generated by such a tax, Daniels says, could be channelled into newsroom-based training for junior journalists, reversing sector job losses and improving low freelance rates. There is also a need to revive community-based media that in the past decade has shrunk from 586 titles to under 200.

Professor William Gumede of the Wits School of Governance is Executive Chairperson of the Democracy Works Foundation and former deputy editor of The Sowetan. In reimagining and innovating for journalism he says that there must be a reckoning of how journalism in a democratic era has been impacted under an ANC-led government. Gumede chaired the talks that led to the formation of the Multi-Party Charter, a coalition of opposition parties that will contest the May 2024 elections.

"We have seen a decline in the quality of leadership in South Africa and in Africa at a time when we have needed it most. The ANC since 1994 has also been hostile to media," says Gumede. He cites as an example the withdrawal of government advertising from newspapers critical of government and the refusal of successive presidents to take live questions during press conferences.

Vanity projects

Gumede says that another threat for democracy has been the purchase of media houses by those intent on using them for their own political agenda and bias. "Newspapers have being stripped and exist as vanity projects for owners. They have become part of corruption, capture and patronage," he says.

Gumede says that something like Norway's Media Ownership Act, which is meant to curtail political interference and propaganda through media channels could rein in this practice. The Act also sets up frameworks for fund disbursement to support media plurality and media freedom and Norway now ranks first in press freedom in the Reporters Without Borders index.

Gumede adds that another damning failure is that even after 30 years of democracy, South Africa has a weak mass reading culture. The consequence of this, he says, is an electorate less able to interrogate news or discern propaganda from credible information. He says: "Supporters of political parties that run on populist slogans and ideology imbibe these slogans as if they were a set of commandments."

The situation is bleak, Gumede concedes. But he still believes that journalists have a role to play as pillars for strong democracies, the so-called Fourth Estate. He adds that media will have to adapt and master new tech platforms in order to serve the broader interests of new generations of news consumers.

Fort mentality

Dr Dinesh Balliah, Director of the Wits Centre for Journalism believes that journalism must face up to some harsh realities. She says: "Journalists are holding on to an idea of journalists as the custodian of journalism; that they somehow hold the line. But its the people who will decide what journalism will be, not journalists."

Balliah says that once journalism and journalists become less tied to the idea that journalism is a vocation and an identity even, the industry has a chance to "break out of its fort mentality".

"When we can move away from these hard boundaries of what journalism is and what it is not, we can have a leaking in both directions that allows us to learn about the audiences that exist outside of the boundary and to learn what types of storytelling people want to access," she says, adding that traditional media could also have better insights into how social media achieves its audience reach and revenue streams.

In turn, Balliah says that a more welcoming space for content creators who do "information work" means that they can be more exposed to the incorporation into their work of the fundamentals of journalism, without necessarily having to be practising journalists. This is a way to push back against the tide of mis- and disinformation and for audiences to strengthen their critical discernment of content, she says.

Balliah acknowledges that it's a tough message that she brings to a deflated industry. There may be no phoenix rising soon, but gazing into the ashes won't help either.

The crisis of sustainability in the industry calls for this reality check and for a plan that is multipronged and pragmatic, she says.

"We are ultimately about the business of journalism. We have to attract the people, train them with the right skills and the ethics of journalism so that they can become journalists in the traditional sense, but also so that they can enter a wider range of professions. The more people who may not choose to work as journalists but who understand the fundamentals of journalism, the better it is for building strong democracies," she says.
The social consensus revolution

[Column] To prevent South Africa from becoming a failed society, we must all rise and become active citizens.

The society-wide consensus forged in South Africa after the end of apartheid has now collapsed in the face of corruption, dishonesty, the breakdown of basic moral standards, and the rule of law. We need something new to replace the consensus forged after 1994, to which every political party, irrespective of their ideology, should subscribe.

Competing governance systems to the Constitution, state failure, tribalisation, the exclusion of large numbers of South Africans based on demographics, and uncaring public servants, have all contributed to a breakdown of the former democratic consensus.

The pillars of a new democratic consensus

What should the pillars of a new democratic consensus be? The Constitution must be the apex governance system, without challenge, whether from customary law, township or village communal culture, gang, or liberation party culture. The rule of law has to be a central pillar of a new consensus.

South Africas diversity must be accepted as a pillar of the countrys identity. The best way forward for South Africa is what Michael Ignatieff described as civic nationalism, where the glue holding communities together is equal rights and shared democratic cultures, values, and institutions, rather than ethnic nationalism.

Merit-based public service

A professional, merit-based, non-politicised public service that is not aligned to a governing party is critical for the delivery of public services, a functioning economy and uniting South Africans across race, class, and politics. The state must treat citizens with dignity and with efficiency.

The public service is critical in modelling moral, democratic, responsive behaviour that is accountable, and therefore helps to instill a democratic culture (or not).

Strategies of redress have to be reimagined and economic development policies must focus not on a small black or white elite, or only on uplifting the poor, but on everyone, irrespective of race, colour, or political affiliation.

Upskilling vs empowerment

Empowerment must refocus on delivering skills, quality education and entrepreneurial opportunities, as well as assets, such as home ownership. In the short term, South Africa needs a basic income grant, but one that is linked to skills development, entrepreneurship, active citizenship, and democratic civic education  with recipients even being asked to volunteer in their communities in a variety of roles.

Active citizenry

South Africa needs more active democratic citizenship, which carries with it individual roles and responsibilities, and accountability  not just the exercising of rights, freedoms, and expectations, but the kind of citizenship which follows the rule of law, and engages with neighbours, community, and society through a range of civic activities.

Companies too must behave as model democratic corporate citizens, respecting democratic institutions and the environment. Business operations should be conducted in a sustainable way  minimising environmental harm, emphasising human rights, and ensuring fair labour and consumer trade practices.

The ultimate demonstration of active citizenship is at the ballot box, rejecting parties and leaders who are corrupt, incompetent, and uncaring. South Africa is in danger of becoming a failed society, one in which social order breaks down, social norms fray and traditional family structures collapse. The failure of government to provide basic services accelerates societys fracturing.

Recovery strategy

Reversing the slide starts with government law enforcement, the delivery of public services, and holding public officials to account. But opposition parties, civil society, faith-based organisations, and businesses will all have to collaborate if we are to restore social norms, order, and good civic behaviours.

There has to be a national consensus to tackle apartheid-induced mass trauma which has left individuals and communities so broken, with many struggling to engage fully in our democracy, with the state, in the workplace, and even in intimate relationships.

Given this reality, self-esteem and agency assertion need to be taught at all levels of society  recipients of government grants and other forms of financial support could be compelled to attend civic, democracy and self-care programmes.

There has to be a new consensus if we are to change the countrys culture and the way we engage with others, and to change what have become acceptable social norms, values, and behaviour, but which have become corrupted.

To give effect to this national culture change, there must be greater enforcement of duties, responsibilities, and accountabilities among ordinary citizens, as well as elected and public representatives.

Finally, the reward structure in society has to be changed to one based on hard work, honesty, and merit  not political affiliations, colour, or past struggle credentials.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The European Investment Bank (EIB) Global is also open to consider financing electricity and digital connections between the EU and South Caucasus, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank Teresa Czerwinska said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

"EIB Global  the Banks development branch responsible for operations outside the European Union (EU), is active in Azerbaijan and stands ready to consider financing of projects aligned with the cooperation priorities between the EU and Azerbaijan. These are outlined at EU`s Global Gateway strategy and Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership. Our focus lies on implementing these priorities," she said.

Czerwinska noted that EIB maintains regular communication with partners in Azerbaijan to explore opportunities to support various projects.

"I met with Finance Minister Samir Sharifov in person during Asian Development Bank's annual meeting in Georgia and we discussed potential cooperation. The EIBs priorities in Azerbaijan include diversification of the economy, upgrading and commercializing public services, digitalization, and promoting green energy and energy efficiency," added EIBs Vice-President.

The EIB has worked with Azerbaijan since 2014.

The Bank operates under the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the Eastern Partnership (EaP) and other EU bilateral agreements.

With the support of the EIB, Azerbaijan is aiming to diversify its economy. This process will likely include investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The Banks priorities in Azerbaijan feature the promotion of balanced and sustained economic development, especially for rural areas, the reduction of inequalities and the diversification of national energy sources.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. International analytical company Bloomberg held an event in Baku on World of Commodities and Energy Transition, where speakers shared their vision of the development of commodity markets as well as issues of movement on the path of green transformation, Trend reports.

One of the speakers, Bloomberg markets specialist Douglas Crawford, noted that Azerbaijan is a producer of hydrocarbons, developing green energy in parallel, and Bloomberg considered it important to hold a presentation of its work in Baku, especially since Azerbaijan will be the host of COP29 in 2024.

Crawford, in his presentation, shared the ways of searching, analyzing, and interpreting data on the world-famous Bloomberg electronic trading terminal (world quotations of various raw materials, currencies, and others).

This electronic analytical platform presents the dynamics of the development of a wide range of commodities, including oil and gas.

According to Crawford, the current situation in the global oil market is interesting, in particular, because the US, the world's largest oil producer, has reached peak production (over 13 million barrels per day) against the backdrop of the US presidential election campaign.

Also, the situation in OPEC+ (the format of agreements between the world's oil producers) is also interesting; as oil production in Russia, which is under international sanctions, is fluctuating, the situation in OPEC+ may be affected by the new countries that have joined this OPEC+ format. The upcoming OPEC monitoring conference on June 1 may bring new decisions in the global oil market, which affect global oil prices and which will be promptly reflected and analyzed by Bloomberg, Crawford stressed, adding that Azerbaijan is also participating in the OPEC+ negotiating format.

He believes that the analytical work of the Bloomberg team can be useful for Azerbaijan.

Crawford mentioned that Azerbaijan is increasing its gas exports to the EU, and this is good.

The electronic terminal also tracks the dynamics of the gas market and the state of the world's gas storage. Now all the world's attention is focused on the fact that the difficult situation in the Red Sea forces tankers and gas carriers with liquefied natural gas to follow bypass routes, which also affects world energy prices, Crawford added.

He also noted that Bloomberg interacts with the world's leading structures, in particular the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and its analytical information is based on confirmed, verified facts, which allows users to avoid commercial risks.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The Vertical Gas Corridor will be vital for the liquified natural gas (LNG) supply from south to north, said Bulgartransgaz EAD's Executive Director Kiril Ravnachki, Trend reports via the company.

He made the remarks during the presentation of projects by representatives of the gas transmission operators from Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Moldova for the implementation of the Vertical Gas Corridor to interested parties in the Greek capital Athens.

"In dialogue with market participants, we will achieve our common goals of ensuring access to diverse and reliable sources of natural gas along a secure and efficient route, namely the Vertical Gas Corridor," said Kiril Ravnachki. "Thanks to the well-developed gas transmission infrastructure in the region, and in Bulgaria in particular, local markets are increasingly attractive to new suppliers," he emphasized in his welcome remarks. He highlighted that liquefied natural gas supplies to the European Union account for almost 50% of imports, with this share expected to increase. "Following the expiry of the agreement on natural gas transport from Russia via Ukraine in early 2025, the Vertical Gas Corridor infrastructure will be vital for the supply of liquefied natural gas from the south to the north," Ravnachki added.

On May 2, Bulgartransgaz EAD launched the binding phase of the incremental capacity procedure, alongside the operators of Greece - DESFA S.A., Romania - Transgaz S.A., and ICGB AD.

"Following the positive results of the non-binding phase of demand assessment for capacity increase between Greece and Bulgaria, and Bulgaria and Romania, we now also hope for significant interest in the binding phase that is currently underway," Ravnachki underlined.

The gas transmission system operators emphasized the importance of maximizing the use of existing infrastructure for the implementation of the Vertical Corridor. The planned targeted investments for expansion are critical to strengthening the infrastructure and ensuring a reliable, affordable, and diverse natural gas supply for European consumers. During the presentation of the projects, it was also clarified that the main objective in developing these projects is to maintain the economic attractiveness of the route.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
The Flying Apsaras musical premiered at Beijing's Poly Theatre from April 25 to 27. [China Daily]

A new musical takes the Mogao Grottoes as its setting and subject, innovatively blending genres, cultures and eras, as well as myth with reality, Cheng Yuezhu reports.

Several years ago, stage musical producer Li Dun spent seven days visiting the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu Province, admiring the murals and learning about the Buddhist stories depicted.

One of the Jataka tales in Buddhist legends  that of Prince Sattva sacrificing himself to feed hungry tigers  moved him to tears. After a long time of gazing at the mural in an almost trance-like state, Li thought of producing a musical centered on the heritage site and those who devote their lives to its preservation.

"The tale of Prince Sattva embodies sacrifice and the great love of humanity. Following this thought, the idea for the theme song to be titled Sacrifice emerged," Li says.

"Sacrifice holds great significance for human societies. If we could all show a bit of humility and make some sacrifices, the world would be more peaceful and society would be infused with a touch of warmth."

Li contacted composer San Bao and playwright Guan Shan, with whom he had collaborated in 2007 on the acclaimed musical Butterflies. They had promised to work together again.

The story is set in the 1930s and centers on two main characters dedicated to the preservation of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu Province . [China Daily]

The show's development also involved such veteran theater practitioners as director Chen Shizheng, dance director Jiang Yang and lighting designer Ren Dongsheng, as well as performers from theater troupes as the China Oriental Performing Arts Group. The production crew made field trips to Dunhuang 10 times since the project's conception in 2016.

"All three of us take it extremely seriously. San Bao jokingly said that the first script that Guan Shan wrote would take more than three months to perform. I suggested that we need only to capture the essence and cut down on the script," Li says.

Titled Flying Apsaras, the musical hosted concerts in 2023, presenting 14 original songs. And from April 25 to 27, the production premiered at Beijing's Poly Theatre in its full splendor.

Beginning from May 1 to 12, it was staged at the Dunhuang Grand Theater and then at the Lanzhou Concert Hall from May 15 to Sunday in Gansu's capital. It is also scheduled to run at the upcoming 18th Daegu International Musical Festival in South Korea and tour 13 Chinese cities with 50 performances starting from August.

The story is set in the 1930s and centers on two main characters  the guardian, who safeguards the murals from both natural disasters and human threats, and the traveler, who chances across a catalog of Dunhuang murals and decides to devote himself to the site's preservation.

The musical uses digital art and projection technology to present the different phases of the murals' restoration. [China Daily]

These characters are based on and pay tribute to the generations of experts who've dedicated their lives to the protection of Dunhuang culture, epitomized by the founding director of the Dunhuang Academy, Chang Shuhong (1904-94).

The academy dedicated to the preservation and research of Dunhuang's ancient grottoes is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.

Back in 1935, Chang was studying oil painting in Paris, where he stumbled upon a photo collection of Dunhuang murals and statues. He was awed by their artistry and concerned about their protection, so he went to Dunhuang where he spent four decades working to preserve its heritage.

Four representative Jataka tales depicted in the murals are merged into the production. [China Daily]

According to the musical's director, Chen Shizheng, the show's core lies in exploring the brilliance of human nature and magnitude of human emotions.

"The guardian remains at the caves out of her love for Dunhuang and the traveler rushes from Paris to pursue Dunhuang's art. Both are chasing their dreams, which is an intangible concept," Chen says.

The production extensively employs digital art and projection technology to convey this. Some scenes feature projections from three angles to generate a sense of perspective and depict the murals before, during and after restoration.

"For example, the guardian lives in one of the caves. Through the use of projection, the audience can see the cave, the mural, the scaffolding set up to restore it, and the oil lamp and makeshift bed where she sleeps," Chen says.

"This contrasts the toil of the preservers with the sublimity of the murals, allowing the audience to understand the relationship between art and humanity."

Including the Prince Sattva story, the musical incorporates four representative Jataka tales that intertwine with the main storyline that demonstrate Dunhuang culture and promote the virtue of benevolence.

The character of the traveler chances across a catalog of Dunhuang murals and decides to devote himself to the preservation cause. [China Daily]

"Guan Shan ingeniously integrates four Jataka tales by having the male and female protagonists play the roles within these tales, so that the destinies of the traveler and the guardian are closely connected with the characters on Dunhuang murals. It's a contemporary way of presenting ancient myths," Chen says.

The choreography merges dance styles from various regions and eras, as Dunhuang was a pivotal interchange on the ancient Silk Road, serving as a hub for commerce and cultural exchanges between the East and the West.

"Because this musical is about the authenticity, goodness and beauty found in our profound Chinese traditional culture, I drew inspiration from tradition and incorporated the expressive movements of traditional dance styles, such as the gestures of the flying apsaras. But I innovated upon them by also integrating contemporary genres, including ballet and tap," dance director Jiang Yang says.

"Every member of our production crew hopes that this musical is something different  something brand new  that can serve as a valuable addition to China's original musicals and that audiences from all over the world can feel the depth and scope of traditional Chinese culture from it."

(Source: China Daily)
Anna Baerman, an American art teacher at Qingdao No. 1 International School in Shandong Province, has found a sense of belonging in the coastal city of Qingdao, located in eastern China.

In 2019, Baerman settled in Qingdao and established an international club to facilitate collaboration between local and overseas businesses. Her two daughters quickly adapted to the local life and fell in love with Chinese culture.

The American educator said that what impressed her most about China was the sense that anything is possible.

(Source: People's Daily Online)
BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a congratulatory letter to the China-GCC Countries Forum on Industrial and Investment Cooperation held in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province.

The friendly exchanges between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have a long history spanning over a thousand years, Xi noted, adding that in 2022, the first China-GCC Summit was successfully held, opening up new prospects for deepening cooperation between China and GCC countries.

Deepening industrial and investment cooperation between China and GCC countries is conducive to better synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative with the development strategies, visions and plans of the GCC countries, tapping into complementary advantages, jointly fostering new growth engines, and promoting the prosperity and development of both sides, Xi said.

China is willing to work with the GCC countries to promote unity, pursue cooperation and write a new chapter in China-GCC relations, he added.

The forum opened in Xiamen on the same day. Themed "Embracing the Future: Advancing High-Quality Industrial and Investment Cooperation between China and GCC Countries," the event was co-hosted by the National Development and Reform Commission and the People's Government of Fujian Province.

(Source: Xinhua)
BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a message to the 14th China-U.S. Tourism Leadership Summit held in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, Xi said the foundation of China-U.S. relations is laid by the people, the door of China-U.S. relations is opened by the people, the stories of China-U.S. relations are written by the people, and the future of China-U.S. relations will be jointly created by the people of the two countries.

Xi said that tourism is an important bridge for exchanges and mutual understanding between the people of China and the United States. "We warmly welcome American tourists to travel to China, meet Chinese friends, experience Chinese culture, visit beautiful landscapes and experience the real China."

It is hoped that all walks of life in the two countries will take this summit as an opportunity to have in-depth exchanges, build consensus, and take active actions to promote personnel exchanges through tourism cooperation, continue China-U.S. friendship with cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and help the San Francisco vision turn into reality, Xi said.

The summit opened in Xi'an on the same day, with the theme of "Expanding China-U.S. Travel and Tourism and People-to-people Exchanges." It is co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, the People's Government of Shaanxi Province, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Brand USA.

(Source: Xinhua)
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. COP29 will demonstrate Azerbaijan's potential in such areas as ecotourism, agro-tourism, and sustainable tourism, deputy chairperson of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan Azada Huseynova said, Trend reports.

She made the remark during a press conference on the accommodation of foreign guests and the presentation of tourism opportunities during COP29.

COP29 will recognize our nation's history, culture, material, and cultural legacy. The conference will also highlight Azerbaijan's potential in ecotourism, agrotourism, and sustainable tourism, she said.

Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,00080,000 foreign guests.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The parties to the convention are 198 countries. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.
Skates calls for firm commitment to upgrade the Wrexham-Bidston line from UK Government

This article is old - Published: Thursday, May 23rd, 2024

North Wales receives crumbs from the table compared to the Welsh Governments investment in the south of the country, according to a Conservative MS.

Darren Millar, who represents Clwyd West, warned that north Wales is not receiving its fair share as he called for a levelling-up agenda within Wales.

The Conservative MS criticised a disparity in spending, with the south Wales metro getting more than 1bn while the project in the north has been allocated a mere 50m.

He told the chamber: Even when accounting for population differences, south Wales is still getting more than five times the investment per capita than north Wales.

That is not good enough, what are you going to do to address that gross unfairness?

Vague promises

Ken Skates, cabinet secretary for north Wales and transport, said the south Wales metro is part of the city deal but the north Wales rail project is not part of the equivalent growth deal.

Pointing out that the Welsh Government is not responsible for rail infrastructure in north Wales, he said: We have to have those responsible for funding them writing the cheques.

Were not getting that. Weve had a vague promise of money for the mainline electrification, which, with just 1bn, would probably only electrify it from Chester to Prestatyn at best.

Mr Skates called for a firm commitment from the UK Government on the Marches and Wrexham to Bidston lines as well as the mainline.

We need them to promise that it wont just be electrification from Chester to Prestatyn, but the whole way through to Holyhead, he said.

Pittance

Mr Millar criticised a lack of investment in road infrastructure and warned north Wales councils usually fare worse in budget settlements.

During questions on north Wales and transport, he told the Senedd: Youre building new hospitals in south Wales, but not in the north. That is the record of this government.

The Tory added: A pittance has been thrown, like crumbs from the table, to the people of north Wales, who, frankly, are very angry with the Welsh Government for that situation.

Mr Millar highlighted a huge disparity and unfairness on railway ticket prices, saying people in north Wales have to pay double for similar journeys.

After the meeting on May 22, he warned that the north-south divide has never been worse.

Treasury says no

Mr Skates, who returned to the frontbench in March, reiterated calls for the UK Government to invest in north Wales infrastructure and capacity constraints at Chester.

They kept saying no, he said, pointing out that the Welsh Government has invested in the Wrexham to Chester doubling despite the UK Treasury being responsible.

Wales transport secretary, who represents Clwyd South, also criticised UK ministers for rejecting calls for a degree of control over Avanti West Coast.

Mr Skates told the Senedd: Transport for Wales punctuality is far higher, far higher than Avanti West Coast, which the UK Government is responsible for.

They went ahead with giving Avanti West Coast, a very poor performer compared to TfW, another several years of operating that failed rail service.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Rare Roloway Monkeys arrive at Chester Zoo to aid conservation efforts

This article is old - Published: Thursday, May 23rd, 2024

A family of rare Roloway monkeys, one of the worlds most endangered species of primates, has arrived at Chester Zoo

Staff have welcomed four of the incredibly special monkeys to the zoo for the first time since 1974.

The quartet will form a key part of an international conservation breeding programme thats working to safeguard the species.

Once found in the lush forests of West Africa, Roloway monkeys have been propelled to the very brink of extinction in the last 30 years.

But habitat loss, driven by deforestation and agricultural expansion in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, along with poaching for their fur and meat, has seen them almost disappear altogether.

As a result, there are just a few hundred remaining on the planet.

The worlds authority on the state of nature, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has listed the species as critically endangered  the highest conservation priority in need of urgent attention.

The monkeys are now inside the top 20 of the worlds most endangered primates and conservationists at the zoo say they will do everything possible to ensure the species survives for future generations.

Mike Jordan, Director of Animal and Plants at the zoo, said: Roloway monkeys are very, very rare and its a real privilege to join the international effort to safeguard these wonderful monkeys.

The family of four, made up of mum Masaya and dad Grizu, along with their two young sons Anum and Ilo, have settled in nicely and can now be seen exploring the treetops in their new home.

In the last few decades alone, Roloway monkeys have experienced a devastating crash in numbers, losing around 90% of its population.

Because of the rapid rate at which theyve disappeared, theyre also rarely found in conservation zoos. In total there are just eight individuals being cared for in only two zoos in the UK  including the four here in Chester  so they really are incredibly special.

With these charismatic monkeys now facing imminent extinction in the wild, it will be the role of conservation zoos like ours to do everything possible to help them to recover.

Were hopeful that, with the skills and expertise of primatologists here in Chester, this family unit will continue to grow and play a vital role in their continued survival on the planet.

Roloway monkeys are striking looking primates with a dark body, white chest and distinctive white ruffs around their faces. In Ghana, theyre called Efiai aighehi which translates to the monkey with a white beard.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan has started work to bring the tourism industry fully prepared for COP29, the agency's deputy chairperson Azada Huseynova said, Trend reports.

She made the remark during today's press conference on the accommodation of foreign guests and the presentation of tourism opportunities during COP29 in Baku.

"To achieve strong technical organization for COP29, the State Tourism Agency commenced tourism industry preparation. Of the 300 hotels inspected in Baku and Sumgayit, 200 were star-rated. About 40 hotels ineligible for a star rating were given time to improve. It's intended to rate hotels in additional regions," she explained.

To note, this November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 7080,000 foreign guests.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COPthe Conference of the Partiesis the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called a snap general election for July 4. Heading a hated Conservative government, 20 percentage points behind the opposition Labour Party in the polls, he calculates that waiting until later in the year would only make the Tory Partys position worse.

There is little chance of Sunaks desperate gamble paying off. His decision prompted letters of no confidence in his leadership from the partys right-wing. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer crowed this was the moment the country needs and has been waiting for.

Rishi Sunak announces the July 4 General Election outside 10 Downing Street, May 22, 2024 [AP Photo/Kin Cheung]

But notwithstanding the fate of the Tories, despised by millions, the problem facing workers in Britain is that there is nothing fundamental to distinguish Sunaks government from Starmers Labour Party.

In making his announcement, Sunak repeated his earlier declaration that the essential question determining the elections outcome would be who could best be trusted to provide a secure future for you, your family and your country. Under conditions of an expanding war across several fronts, Sunak stated:

This election will take place at a time when the world is more dangerous than it has been since the end of the Cold War. Putins Russia is waging a brutal war in Ukraine and will not stop there if he succeeds. That war has also made it all too clear the risk to our energy security.

In the Middle East the forces of Islamist extremism threaten regional and ultimately global stability.

These tensions are exploited by extremists who seek to undermine our values and seek to divide our values here at home. China is looking to dominate the 21st century by stealing a lead in technology and migration is being weaponised by hostile states to threaten the integrity of our borders.

On this much at least, Sunak is correct: the fundamental issue facing the working class in this election is war and the offensive against social and democratic rights this demands, including the whipping up of xenophobia, centred on the Rwanda deportation scheme.

On May 13, in a speech trailing his election announcement, Sunak warned at greater length of an axis of authoritarian states like Russia, Iran, North Korea and China, declaring that war has returned to Europe and our NATO allies are warning that if Putin succeeds in Ukraine they might be next. War rages, too, in the Middle East as Israel defends itself not only against the terrorists of Hamas but a barrage of missiles firedfor the first timedirectly from Iran.

Sunak went on to promise a clampdown on anti-Gaza genocide and anti-war protests, denouncing them as an abuse of our liberal democratic valuesthe freedom of speech and right of protestto intimidate, threaten and assault others, to sing antisemitic chants on our streets and our university campuses.

The prime minister here identifies the central target of the governments right-wing agenda: the developing mass movement of workers and youth against mass murder and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians and the global escalation of militarism and war.

But as the Socialist Equality Party has warned, there is no real difference between the Tories and Labour on support for genocide and war, or any other fundamental issue. Not only do Labour and the Tories represent a single party of war, but they are competing with each other over who is most pro-business, best able to impose austerity, has the best policies to crack down on migration and can most successfully stifle opposition in the working class.

Starmer makes no bones about Labours right-wing politics. His is the party of NATO, of Zionism and which is more pro-business than Tony Blair.

The Labour leaders main pitch to the ruling class is that, relying on the support of the trade union bureaucracy, he is best positioned to impose their dictates. He can cite as proof the role played by the union bureaucracy last year in sabotaging a strike wave that at one point encompassed two million workers.

It is a measure of the success of Starmers message that broad sections of the ruling elite welcome a snap general election because they anticipate its hastening the bringing to power of Labour. The Financial Times editorial board headlined its response, An end to Britains uncertainty and drift.

Workers and young people are already broadly aware of this fact, hate Starmerabove all for his support for Israels genocide in Gazaand view the prospect of a Labour government as a continuation of Tory rule under a different name.

At this point, however, every political tendency advancing itself as a left and anti-war alternative offers nothing more than a protest vote against Starmer, under the slogan no ceasefire, no vote.

The time for such a limited protest has long since passed. The working class in Britain, Europe and the world faces immense dangers.

The NATO-Russia war in Ukraine has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives already, yet all talk is of allowing Russian territory to be bombed with NATO weapons and even deploying NATO troops in large numbers directly to Ukraine. In the Middle East, support for Israels offensive against the Palestinians is openly discussed as an antechamber for a broader offensive against Iran, all while provocations against China are mounted at every conceivable opportunity.

What is taking place is an attempt by the imperialist powers to redivide the world and its resources between them. To do so means a class war against workers must be waged at home.

The austerity measures imposed now for decade after decade are being ramped up as major think tanks declare the end of the (post-Cold War) peace dividend.

Democratic rights, including the rights to free speech, assembly and protestand the right to strikeare being eviscerated.

The Socialist Equality Party will stand candidates in this general election in a campaign dedicated to the development of a mass political movement of workers and young people against the genocide in Gaza, the war in Ukraine and the plans for war against Iran and China.

We reject any support for the Labour Party or any of its candidates. Those calling for support for candidates backing a ceasefire while staying loyal to the Labour Party are simply facilitating a political shift within capitalist rule. Labour is dead to the working class and must be replaced.

The SEP is the British section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world party of socialist revolution. This is the party that must now be built.

We advance a socialist perspective combining the struggle against austerity and the destruction of jobs, wages and essential social service with the fight against authoritarianism and war.

We do so in alliance with our sister parties internationally. Our election campaign is mirrored by the fight waged in Germany by the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei in this summers European elections, and in the United States where the Socialist Equality Party is fielding Joseph Kishore as its presidential candidate against Genocide Joe Biden and the would-be Fuhrer Donald Trump.

The SEP appeals to all readers of the WSWS to contact us today to help mount as effective a campaign as possible and build the new socialist leadership of the working class.
The World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees are holding a meeting this Saturday, May 25, at 4 p.m. Eastern, 1 p.m. Pacific, to oppose the attempts to ban the strike by University of California academic workers. They have launched a courageous strike this week against the crackdown on campus protests over the genocide in Gaza.

Register for the event by clicking here.

Will Lehman, a socialist Mack Trucks worker who ran for United Auto Workers president on a platform of rank-and-file control, issued the following statement in support of the meeting:

The strike by University of California academic workers against the crackdown on Gaza protests is in danger. On Tuesday, the university filed for a court injunction to ban the strike.



This is an attack on the whole working class. If they get away with this, no rights are safe.



The World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees are holding an emergency meeting this Saturday at 4 p.m. Eastern, 1 p.m. Pacific. All workers in every industry should attend. The issue will not be decided in the pro-corporate courts. It will be decided in the factories, the docks, the schools and hospitals, and other workplaces.



Workers must take action to defend the strike. It must be expanded to not just the entire University of California system but to the entire UAW membership and to other industries. Workers must form rank-and-file committees to enforce the will of the membership against the sellouts by the union bureaucrats.



The ruling class wants to ban all forms of political opposition. If you protest the crimes of the government you will be arrested. If you strike against arrests and the suppression of free speech, your strike will be declared illegal. One university administrator put it bluntly. He said: Particularly in todays climate, if this strike is allowed, the Universityand every other public agency in Californiawould face constant strikes advancing political and/or social viewpoints.

But every struggle in the history of the workers movementfrom the fight against child labor, for the eight-hour day, and for the right to strike itselfhas been a political struggle.

The same methods have already been turned against workers opposing corporate exploitation. In 2022, Biden and Congress banned a strike by railroad workers on so-called national security grounds.



The UAW is sabotaging the UC strike because they support Genocide Joe Biden. They are acting as an extension of the police and the courts.



They have only called out a single campus, UC Santa Cruz. They responded to the injunction by begging the university to negotiate. They say they may call out another campus by Friday. But the strike could already be illegal by then. But even if they do get an agreement to shut down the strike, it will be an injunction in all but name.



There is enormous rank-and-file anger over this sabotage. But the issue has to be taken out of the hands of the bureaucrats. The response has to begin now.
On Saturday at 4:00 p.m. US Eastern Time, 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time, the World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) are holding a public meeting, Mobilize the working class to defend the University of California strike against genocide! Register for the event here.

University of California, Irvine students walk out of class to protest police sweep of Gaza solidarity encampment, May 22, 2024.

The strike by 2,000 academic workers at the University of California, Santa Cruz against the crackdown on Gaza protests continues through Wednesday amidst the threat of an injunction to ban the action. While the United Auto Workers has only called out one out of 10 UC campuses, 48,000 members across the entire system voted overwhelmingly last week to strike.

After filing for an injunction Tuesday, the university administration claimed that the strike is illegal because its goal is to pressure the University to concede to a list of politically motivated demands closely linked to the protests occurring across California and the nation. This sweeping argument would set a precedent banning strike action across the United States. A ruling is expected by the end of the week.

The situation urgently requires that the strike be expanded, first to the entire UC system and then to the entire UAW membership. Autoworkers in particular must mobilize to defend the strike.

The UC strike must also link up with the strike at Western Washington University, where 1,100 academic workers walked out on Tuesday, also part of the UAW and facing impossible living conditions as their university continues to seek to further exploit them.

This requires the rank-and-file take control of the strike into their own hands. The fate of the strike cannot be left to the capitalist courts, or in the pro-corporate UAW bureaucracy, which supports Genocide Joe Biden. The union bureaucrats are trying to sabotage the strike by limiting it to one campus and are eager to reach a deal to shut it down, which would amount to a de facto injunction.

There is widespread support for expanding the strike, in spite of attempts by the UAW bureaucracy to isolate it. Steve, a young autoworker at the Stellantis Warren Truck plant, told the WSWS, We have not heard much about the University of California strike, but I support everyone who is fighting to defend their Constitutional Rights, including free speech. What is happening in Gaza is wrong, with so many people and children being killed.

The Palestinian people have the right to fight back. They were kicked out of their land and have been marginalized for so long. My grandmother used to say, Hurt people, hurt people. The indigenous people in America had a right to fight back, and so do the Palestinians. The media labels those who are opposed to the US agenda as bad people. Biden and the Democrats try to put veils over our eyesto keep us from seeing what is going on.

There is enormous potential to link up the strike against the genocide with growing fight against low wages and exploitation. At UC Irvine in southern California, workers in AFSCME Local 3299 held informational pickets Wednesday next to a pro-Palestine rally. These workers are part of the 33,000 service and patient care technical workers at UC's campuses and medical centers. But the union bureaucrats are desperately trying to keep these struggles divided.

At UC Irvine, students and academics are furious over the police assault last week on an encampment, which took place as the UAW strike vote ended. There are widespread demands that UC Irvine go out on strike as well.

Students and faculty protest police sweep of Gaza solidarity encampment at University of California, Irvine, May 22, 2024.

One Santa Cruz student told the WSWS the goal should be Getting as many people into this movement and tearing down the lines between a strike and a protest. At the end of the day were all here protesting for Palestine. Were all political protesters who share a common goal, which is the end of this genocide and a free Palestine.

Theres not really one way to achieve that. Divestment is a big goal of the student movement, but Ive been questioning myself a lot, is divestment enough? And by the time we reach divestment, does it even matter? I think theres a split between the urgency of now and the desire to stick to a long term plan for divestment. Its a big divide in this movement.

I view this institution [the University of California system] as part of the war machine and I feel its our obligation to shut any part of the war machine down.

Over 300 students and faculty protest brutal police assault on anti-genocide encampment at UC Irvine, May 22, 2024.

Referring to a sign on the picket line calling for a general strike, the student added, I think if we make it happen, it could [be done]. They added, [We have to] to reach out to all these other people who are not within the campus community. Because we alone cannot shut everything down, right?

And we need to be inviting more and more people into this movement. So I agree that this is where it should be headed. We should be pushing for a general strike. But I also dont see a lot of people doing that, or at least, a lot of people in leadership positions doing that.

I think a lot of leadership is washing their hands of the situation, as in I did my part. So I think its up to rank and file and individual undergrads and us working in our groups to reach out and connect with other groups. And thats what Im trying to do here.

Next to the DivestUCI rally at UC Irvine, members of AFSCME Local 3299 held an informational picket. The local represents low paid 33,000 patient care technical workers in the 10 campuses of the UC system.

Another Santa Cruz student said, Theres this narrative of vote blue, no matter who, but when you look at a president that is enabling a genocide, its very hard to justify voting for him.

I think everybody who is here, at the very least, is very disillusioned by the election. I dont think anyone here is particularly thrilled at our prospects in any capacity.

A research student said, Hopefully, this is the first step towards a more internationalist movement. Its important that we are getting to this moment in which workers across the world are sympathizing with people who they have never met, who they have never seen their culture, who arent familiar with them in many ways, yet, rather than seeing them as an alien population, they are looking at them as people who they have something in common with, which is, their humanity.

The fact that workers are able to see the fundamental humanity of each other at this moment is a really important step. And my biggest hope is that we continue having this sort of international movement in which we are taking a stand for each other, and in which we are recognizing the fundamental humanity of those that our rulers would ultimately have us back the murder of.
Seven people were killed and six injured in a bus accident in St. Petersburg, Russia on May 10, when an overworked driver lost control of his vehicle and plunged into the Moika river. Video footage shows the bus crashing through a median, colliding into a car, and breaking through a bridge guardrail, before pitching into the current and sinking within seconds. Those who lost their lives ranged in age from in their 30s to their 60s. Several remain unidentified.

Emergency workers pull a bus from the water after it crashed into the Moyka River in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, May 10, 2024. Authorities in Russia say that at least three people have been killed and six others injured when a bus veered off a bridge in the country's second-largest city St. Petersburg. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) [AP Photo]

The death toll among the 20 passengers on board would have been greater had it not been for several passersby who immediately jumped into the frigid water and began helping those struggling to escape through windows. The men, Russian citizens from Dagestan on their way to Friday prayers, told the press afterwards that they were not heroes but just fulfilling [their] civic duty. They come from a population who are the object of relentless racism by Russian nationalists and regularly branded as foreigners. The late Alexei Navalny, critic of the Kremlin and darling of the American State Department, famously posted videos in the 2000s advocating the shooting and deportation of these and other immigrants.

Even as he lay in the hospital in moderately serious condition with a concussion, head wound, and broken nose, authorities began questioning the bus driver, Rakhmatshokh Kurbonov. He has since been arrested on charges of traffic violations and will be in detention for at least two months, until July 9. Objecting to this punishment, his attorney noted that it was ordered even before authorities had inspected the bus or questioned the company. It will devastate the ability of the driver, who suffers from a serious illness, to provide for his three children.

Kurbonov had worked a 20-hour shift the day before the accident, his wife explained to the press on May 11. Despite physical exhaustion, however, he has not said that he fell asleep at the wheel. Rather, Korbunov insists that his brakes failed. A second film clip of the incident that has surfaced points in favor of this version, noted press outlet Novyie Izvestiia. The driver was clearly trying to regain control of the vehicle in the moments leading up to the disaster.

The company that owns the bus line, OOO Taksi, claims that the vehicle in question had just passed a state safety inspection, Kurbonov only worked a 12-hour day on May 9, and the drivers daily shift included 4 hours for rest and time to eat. These statements by the firm, whose owner has also been arrested, are implausible.

The courts fined OOO Taksi 23 timesfor a total of 3.6 million rubles ($39,000)for violations between June 1, 2022 and the day of the accident. Among these were gross violations of its license for failing to use government-mandated trackers on its buses that record and monitor vehicles movement. Records uncovered since May 11 show hundreds of violations for the company. Of all the private bus operators in St. Petersburg, OOO Taksi is among the three worst offenders in terms of accidents according to the news site Octagon.

In an effort to contain public anger over the lack of safety standards in St. Petersburgs privatized public transportation system, prosecutors report they are investigating whether OOO Taksis owner failed to comply with labor and transport discipline, including the drivers work and rest regime. The city transport committee says it has also initiated a system-wide safety check of local carriers. Thus far it has found, out of 120 inspections, 150,000 violations.

The fact that Kurbonov was made to work extremely long hours is not an unusual phenomenon in Russia. A just-published study by Rabota.ru of workers 18 and over across every region of the country found that 56 percent report doing overtime, including 71 percent of those employed in the transportation and logistics sector. Of those who take on extra hours in this industry, 44 percent do not receive any additional compensation. While the Russian government touts the countrys officially low unemployment rate and economists emphasize that there is a shortage of manpower, no mention is made of the fact that the companies make up for the latter by squeezing ever-more out of their existing employees.

In St. Peterburg, the super exploitation of bus drivers intersected with profiteering to create the May 10 bus disaster. The public transportation system in Russias second largest metropolis has long-been privatized. For years, bus lines were dominated by mini-vans, known as marshrutki. Drivers, having effectively rented a vehicle from an owner, ran a sort of shared-ride service in which passengers were charged a set fee and could get on or off the vehicle at any point along a route. Marshrutki operators were in competition with one another and under pressure to pick up as many people as possible as quickly as possible in order to pay off their debts. This resulted in wild driving and dangerous conditions along the citys roads.

In 2022, officials instituted a reform, whereby the city government now contracts out bus services to private operators, who are then paid according to various performance metrics. The result has been that it is in the interest of firms to follow enough rules to meet their metrics, but grossly violate others. Speaking to Octogon Media, industry expert Dmitri Popov explained in a May 21 article, In this new economic model, it turned out that the carriers income fell, because the owners of bus fleets lost the opportunity to install more buses. How do you get your revenues back? Reduce the drivers salary, reduce the number of drivers, make them make more trips on the same salary, save on maintenance, technical staff, and so on.

Officials and the press are attempting to whip up anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim chauvinism against the bus driver, as well as terrorize him with the danger of immigration-related charges. The head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, told the media just one day after the accident that authorities are looking into the legality of obtaining Russian citizenship by Kurbonov. The same day, news outlets reported that the driver is also being charged with factiously registering at least 10 foreign citizens in his apartment for monetary remuneration. If found guilty, he could be fined as much as 500,000 rubles or sentenced to forced labor or imprisonment for up to three years.

Violations of residential registration laws provide a regular means for Russian officials to persecute the poorest and most oppressed sections of the working class. Those who come from former Soviet countries of Central Asia, recruited to Russia to labor in some of the worst and most dangerous jobs, are labeled as illegals, even though they live and work in a country that, until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, used to be their own and of which their own culture and history is an integral part.
Early Sunday morning, several dozen heavily armed men attacked the Palace of the Nation, a presidential palace and home of the Minister of the Economy in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Men in fatigues opened fire, killing two of Economy Minister Vital Kamerhes 15 guards. The attack lasted about three hours before it was crushed.

Congolese security forces secure the streets after Congo's army said it has "foiled a coup" and arrested the perpetrators, following a shootout, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on Sunday May 19, 2024. [AP Photo/Samy Ntumba Shambuyi]

The spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo said the attempted coup detat, involving foreigners and Congolese, was foiled. It was nipped in the bud by the defence and security forces, General Sylvain Ekenge said in a short message on national television. He said several Americans, including two whites and a Congolese naturalized British citizen, were involved.

The leader of the attempted coup was identified as Christian Malanga, a Congolese naturalized American. Malanga and three other men were killed after resisting arrest, and some 50 people, including three US citizens, were arrested, according to a Congolese army spokesman. The arrested US citizens include Malangas 21-year-old son Marcel Malanga and Benjamin Zalman-Polun, a 36-year-old former cannabis dealer from Maryland.

The coup took place as Washington and its NATO allies wage a bitter struggle for influence in Africa with China and Russia, amid the NATO-Russia war in Ukraine. The NATO imperialist powers are dissatisfied with the current DRC regimes development of economic ties with Beijing and Moscow.

The coup leaders made clear their support for the bloody imperialist-backed dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko, who ruled the DRC under the name Zaire from 1965 to 1997. In a livestream posted on Facebook during Sundays attack, Malanga threatened DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, shouting: Felix, get out! Surrounded by several dozen men dressed in fatigues, with some wearing red berets, Malanga claimed to have taken power and waved the flag of Zaire, saying in Lingala: The time has come. Long live Zaire, long live Mobutus children!

As his troops occupied the presidents offices, Malanga told the camera in Lingala: We cannot drag on with Tshisekedi and Kamerhe, they have done too many stupid things in this country.

Malanga, a US resident, reportedly had served in the DRC and US armies and was a well-known figure in the Congolese diaspora. He ran in the 2011 legislative elections and was arrested and detained for several weeks under former President Joseph Kabila. Upon his release, he went to the US and two years later founded the United Congolese Party. Al Jazeera reported, over the years, Malanga campaigned for religious freedom in Africa and led anticorruption training initiatives for young Africans in Europe.

US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said he was aware of reports that two other US citizens are in custody after the failed coup. He refused to confirm whether US officials had contacted the Congolese government to be granted consular access to them. On X/Twitter, US Ambassador to the DRC Lucy Tamlyn said she was shocked by reports of the failed coup. She pledged to cooperate with the DRC authorities to the fullest extent as they investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable any US citizen involved in criminal acts.

In Paris, Le Monde tried to downplay the coup, claiming it was far from being the most significant event. However, about Malanga, it admitted: He had hoped since 2015 to topple the Congolese regime, first of Joseph Kabila and then of Felix Tshisekedi. This mans profile and the unfolding of the attack nonetheless raised questions, according to several observers contacted by Le Monde, about possible help the coup plotters could have had and what the real objectives were of what is officially being treated as a coup detat.

Whatever precise relations they had with the NATO imperialist powers, the coup plotters clearly decided to act amid the escalating global conflict of the NATO powers with Russia and China. As NATO wages war against Russia in Ukraine and backs the far-right Israeli regime of Benjamin Netanyahu in waging genocide against the Palestinian population in Gaza, conflict between the imperialist powers and Russia and China is intensifying in Africa.

The French war in Mali and the Sahel since 2013 has led to several military coups and, amid mass protests against the French army presence, demands by the military regimes in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger that France leave their territory. These regimes have then sought military collaboration with Russian instead of French troops.

In Congo, the imperialist powers are waging a bitter struggle for influence against Russia and China. There is deep anger among mining companies from the NATO countries at Tshisekedis contract of the century deal with Chinese mining companies. In exchange for purchasing the output of several key Congolese mines, Beijing agreed to invest $3 billion in mine infrastructure and $6 billion in infrastructure across the rest of the DRC.

The DRC has massive, strategic mineral resources including uranium, copper, gold, tin, cobalt, diamonds, manganese and zinc, with a value estimated in the tens of trillions of dollars. It is by far the worlds largest producer of cobalt, accounting for roughly 70 percent of global production. Cobalt is a key component in batteries for electric cars and mobile phones. The DRC is also the worlds third-largest copper producer.

Although Washington is distancing itself from the failed coup, the NATO imperialist powers are notorious for their clandestine military operations in Africa. In the DRC, US and Belgian imperialism conspired with forces of the Congolese bourgeoisie to assassinate Patrice Lumumba, the leader of the anti-colonial struggle in the Congo and its first democratically-elected prime minister. Lumumba was murdered in 1961. The Mobutu dictatorship that emerged after his assassination had close ties to the imperialist powers, in particular to France.

The US-backed takeover of neighboring Rwanda by President Paul Kagames forces in 1994-1995 against the French-backed Hutu government, during the Rwandan genocide, ultimately brought down Mobutus regime. After Kagame had consolidated his regime, Rwandan-backed forces attacked westwards into the eastern Congo. The DRC was ravaged by war from 1996 to 2008. It is estimated to have cost an estimated 5.6 million lives.

The eastern Congo is still to this day in a state of civil war, which has deepened since a rebellion, the March 23 Movement (M23), went on the offensive again two and a half years ago, backed by Rwanda. There are frequent clashes between Congolese security forces and armed groups, especially the M23 and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). In the recent period, these clashes have dramatically increased, provoking a humanitarian crisis. In October 2023, the UN announced that the number of internally displaced people in DRC had reached a record 6.9 million.

Tshisekedi, who has been in power since 2019, was reelected with 73 percent of the vote in December 2023. The failed coup hit the DRC as he intensifies ties with Russia and China. He recently said Eastern influence is outshining Western influence in Africa, rating Russia and China over Western countries in transparency and ease of doing business.

He said that his country has the right to deepen its ties with Russia: 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 and DR Congo, so why should we refuse?

Whatever precise assistance they received from the NATO powers, it was amid NATOs growing global conflict with Russia that the coup plotters in Kinshasa launched their failed bid to reimpose a regime in Congo harking back to Mobutus bloody, pro-imperialist regime.
Despite attacks by the police and slanders in the media, protests against Israels genocide in Gaza are continuing to spread globally and across Germany. A quarter of a million people demonstrated in London on Saturday, while around 10,000 took to the streets in Berlin. Palestine protest camps have now been set up at over 200 universities worldwide.

On May 20 a protest camp was also set up on the campus of Frankfurts Goethe University. Free, free Gaza! and Goethe take a side, justice or genocide, were chanted by the students who set up the camp, which they plan to keep up for the whole week. Banners and posters hang everywhere, reading, for example, The power of the people is stronger than the people in power.

Poster at the Frankfurt protest camp: "The power of the people is stronger than the people in power"

We felt it was absolutely necessary to speak out against the genocide in Gaza, explained Daniel Shuminov, who had organised the camp. We cant stand the deafening silence on the part of the university. In fact, Shuminov noted, the university management has not remained entirely silent: Whenever there were pro-Palestinian expressions of opinion at the university, they were branded anti-Semitic.

The university management had tried to prevent the camp using all sorts of bureaucratic means. In a press release, university president Enrico Schleiff claimed that the camp posed a threat to Jewish studentsan accusation that particularly offended Shuminov, who has a Jewish family background.

At an impromptu press conference, he explained the purpose of the camp together with fellow students Muad and Rhabab: In Rafah, people have nothing left but tents to sleep in. We are showing solidarity with them. We are part of a global movement of over 200 such camps. The students pointed out that the ongoing Israeli attacks on civilian life in the Gaza Strip had already killed thousands of pupils, students and teachers. On January 17, 2024, the last university in Gaza was destroyed.

Daniel Shuminov (left) with Muad and Rhabab in front of the Palestine protest camp in Frankfurt

In a press release on May 17, the university presidium accused protesters of violence, intimidation and antisemitism, without any grounds to do so. The young people responded with a written statement in which they said: This prejudgement and defamation of students is discriminatory and worrying. ... The only real existing climate of intimidation is created by the university management by invoking a police state of emergency.

In fact, the camp is monitored around the clock by dozens of police officers who patrol the campus and position themselves in front of the main buildings. On the first evening, police officers even entered the protest camp to check the personal details of several women wearing hijabsa clear provocation to intimidate participants.

The camp has also been subjected to systematic defamation in the press, which has, for example, echoed university president Schleiffs claim that the protest poses a threat to the university kindergarten. As usual, criticism of Israels brutal aggression is equated with antisemitism. This applies to all of the main German papers based in Frankfurtthe FAZ, Frankfurter Neue Presse and Frankfurter Rundschau.

The tabloid Bild has stood out in the slanderous smear campaign, labelling the protest an Israel-hater camp in the title of an article devoted to the protest. Recalling the language of the Nazis, the text reads: First Berlin, then Munich and now Frankfurt: Israel-haters want to poison the next university with their slogans.

Bild quotes the Hessian state antisemitism commissioner Uwe Becker (CDU), who adds fuel to the fire with the mendacious claim that it is terrible how the hatred of Israel is spreading at yet another university. Left-wing anti-Semitism is increasingly mixing with Islamist hostility towards Jews.

This is nothing new for the students at the protest camp. As several of them told the WSWS, it has recently been impossible to draw attention to the issue of Gaza at Goethe University without being immediately denounced as antisemitic. Becker, who as the antisemitism commissioner holds an official function in the state of Hesse, has threatened them with ex-matriculation.

The hypocrisy of this supposedly liberal university, which had large plaques erected to mark the 75th anniversary of Germanys post war Basic Law, quoting Article 5, for example, seems particularly cynical: Everyone has the right to freely express and disseminate his opinion in speech, writing and pictures ... There is no censorship.

Palestine protest camp on the campus of Goethe University Frankfurt, 20 May 2024

With their protest camp, the students say they want to initiate an open discourse at the university about the war in Gaza. The aim of this week is to discuss the most appropriate demands.

As Shuminov said: We all agree that we are against the genocide in Gaza. But how we can implement this effectively at a university level is what we want to discuss here this week. The students hope that the university will see the protest camp as an opportunity to open up urgently needed spaces for discourse.

Goethe University is under strong pressure, however, from its sponsors and financiers, which include the City of Frankfurt, the State of Hesse, the European Central Bank, the Deutsche Bundesbank and the Frankfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce. On its website, the Frankfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce lists its close ties to Israeli companies: Over 7,000 German and Israeli companies maintain long-standing business relationships with each other and generated a bilateral trade and service volume of over 11 billion euros in 2022, it reads.

In addition to political interests, there are also hard-hitting economic interests behind the public denunciation of any criticism of Israels brutal aggression against the Palestinians as Israel-hatred and the systematic and false equation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism.

For this reason, the WSWS and the Socialist Equality Party (SGP) stress it is necessary to turn to workers in the factories and workplaces in order to mobilise themindependently of their nationalist trade union leadersfor a stop to arms supplies to Israel and a general strike movement against war. The SGP is fighting for this perspective in the European elections.

Millions of people have demonstrated against the horrific genocide in the Gaza Strip over the last seven months. They must realise that a change of course is necessary because their protests are being met with hostility on the part of governments, mainstream parties, the trade unions and university administrations. In fact they are reacting with increasingly brutal attacks and bans, as the most recent ban on the Palestine Solidarity organisation in Duisburg last week has shown.

In order to clarity these questions, Mehring Books has published the book The Logic of Zionism. From Nationalist Myth to Genocide in Gaza containing five lectures by David North. They analyse the reactionary foundations of Zionism in historical, ideological and political terms.

In one of the lectures, North castigates the cynicism, hypocrisy, demagogy and unrestrained lying that drives the campaign to discredit opposition to Israels onslaught against Gaza as antisemitic. As he explains:

The current campaign exemplifies a process which might be called semantic inversion, in which a word is utilized in a manner and within a context that is the exact opposite of its real and long-accepted meaning. Through sheer force of repetition, amplified by all the powers at the disposal of the state and the corporate media, the meaning of a term is fundamentally altered. The intended outcome of the falsification is the degrading of popular consciousness and its ability to understand reality.

North explains that such slanders are an important weapon in the efforts of Israel and its imperialist accomplices to intimidate and isolate all those who protest against the genocide of the Palestinians.

His lectures constitute an urgent appeal to the working class to rise up internationally in defence of the Palestinians.
The Health Workers Rank-and-File Committee (HWRFC) in Australia has added its voice to the international campaign demanding the Zelensky government drop its frame-up charges against Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk and immediately release him.

Bogdan, 25, who is leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL), a Trotskyist youth organisation active in Ukraine and Russia, was arrested by the Ukrainian Secret Service (SBU) on April 25. He was charged with treason and being an agent of the Putin government and is currently incarcerated in atrocious conditions in a Nikolaev prison.

Bogdan Syrotiuk in mid-April 2024.

Bogdan and the YGBL are unwavering socialist opponents of the Zelensky government and the NATO-instigated war between Russia and Ukraine, and fight for the socialist unity of Ukrainian and Russian workers against the capitalist oligarchs in both countries.

The SBU allegations are crude lies and fabrications. The arrest is the latest evidence of the Zelensky regimes suppression of left-wing movements whose resistance to the war is gaining traction among Ukrainian workers and youth.

After hearing a report on Bogdans arrest and imprisonment at an HWRFC meeting earlier this month, those present unanimously pledged to campaign among health workers for his freedom. The meeting, which was attended by a range of medical professionals, including nurses, doctors, pathologists, medical scientists and hospital ancillary workers, passed the following resolution:

This meeting of the HWRFC demands the immediate freedom of Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk. Syrotiuk is 25 and in poor health. He was arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine on fraudulent charges of serving the interests of Russia. In fact, Bogdan is an intransigent opponent of the capitalist Putin regime and its invasion of Ukraine. He opposes the NATO-instigated Ukraine-Russia war and fights for the unity of the working class in Ukraine, Russia and throughout the former Soviet Union. If found guilty by a kangaroo court, Syrotiuk is threatened with a prison sentence of 15 years to life. The arrest is the latest example of the fascistic Ukrainian regime of Volodymyr Zelensky brutally suppressing left-wing and anti-war voices. The HWRFC demands the immediate release of Bogdan Syrotiuk. We resolve to campaign among health workers as part of the global fight for his freedom. This struggle is an essential component of the fight against imperialist war, genocide and dictatorship.

Acting on this resolution, HWRFC members have been alerting their fellow workers on social media about Bogdans arrest, explaining what it reveals about the dictatorial nature of the Zelensky regime, and the necessity for workers everywhere to demand his release.



Over the past week the HWRFC has received statements from two Queensland doctors, including a video-reel from Dr Zewlan Moor, a medical scientist, and Suphor Samurtharb, convenor of the Pathology Workers Rank-and-File Safety Committee.

Dr Moor is one of scores of doctors and other health workers in Australia who have been targeted by Zionists elements for opposing Israels genocidal attacks on Palestinians in Gaza. At least 39 health workers are currently being investigated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency after being falsely accused of antisemitism.

Moors video outlines the necessity for health workers to fight for the release of Bogdan and its connection to the struggle against the Gaza genocide, imperialist war and attacks on freedom of speech.

Gary Alvernia, a Queensland doctor, sent the following statement:

As a health-worker I oppose the arrest, and demand the freedom of Bogdan Syrotiuk, a principled socialist and courageous opponent of the war in Ukraine. Bogdan is a young man whose political work as a Trotskyist has been centred on the building of an anti-war movement of both Ukrainian and Russian workers, in cooperation with their counterparts all over the world.

That he has been imprisoned and threatened with a possible life sentence, despite his poor health, is cruel and makes a mockery of any supposed pretensions of democracy that Zelensky and his backers in the US and Europe claim to support. That he has been slandered as a supporter of the Putin regime to justify his arrest is outrageous and absurd.

The persecution of Bogdan is an attack against the basic rights and lives of all working people and all those fighting against imperialist war. He opposes a war that has slaughtered hundreds of thousands of people from both Ukraine and Russia, fuelled and instigated by the NATO powers. This war, if not stopped by the working class, threatens a nuclear war and a catastrophe almost unimaginable.

And it is not only Ukraine where anti-war opposition is suppressed. Like Bogdan, thousands of youth in America and Europe have been arrested for opposing genocide in Gaza, while the Netanyahu government of Israel whose leaders are considered war criminals by the ICC are able to commit atrocities with impunity. If principled fighters for working people like Bogdan are arrested with impunity, the workers of the world will have no leadership to oppose the horrors of war and genocide.

The repression of Bogdan is a repression against us all. I know I speak for many workers when I say, free Bogdan! Now is the time to speak out, rally your workplaces, communities, and families to this cause, and support the World Socialist Web Site campaign to demand his freedom.

Suphor Samurtharb, who is convenor of the Pathology Workers Rank-and-File Safety Committee in Australia, sent the following statement:

I call on pathology workers and all workers who want to defend democratic rights to support the global campaign to demand the release of Bogdan Syrotiuk from a Ukrainian prison. This is an urgent life and death question. He is the victim of a heinous state frame-up.

Defending Bogdan entails opposing the international corporate medias never-ending pro-war narrative that the NATO-backed battle with Russia is being fought to protect democracy and human rights. Ukraine is a police state under martial law with opposition parties outlawed.

To impose its ruthless program of war and austerity, the Zelensky administration and its capitalist government supporters around the world are rejecting the entire foundation of legal and democratic rights with unconscionable hypocrisy.

While Western governments, aided and abetted by a subservient corporate media, claim they defend democratic rights, they are repudiating these basic rights. This is seen in the indefinite imprisonment of Julian Assange in Britains Belmarsh Prison and the inhumane incarceration of refugees in detention camps in Australia and around the world.

Medical practitioners who have spoken out in Australia against Israeli war crimes have been threatened and intimidated by local Zionists who have utilised the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency complaints process to make false claims of antisemitism. University students are being arrested and their future threatened for opposing genocide.

I urge health workers, students and all workers to support our campaign to free Bogdan Syrotiuk, end the war in Ukraine and the Gaza genocide, and to take up a socialist anti-war program to end all war.

David McGregor, a respiratory scientist from regional New South Wales wrote:

The arrest and incarceration of Bogdan Syrotiuk by the fascist Zelensky government in Ukraine is a dishonest and criminal act that should be a warning to the working class internationally. Its purpose is to silence him and the perspective of international socialism, which is a direct threat to the nationalist and imperialist objectives of the US and NATO. These reactionary forces cannot tolerate the possibility of any perspective that unifies the Ukrainian and Russian working class to put an end to this war.

The accusation that Bogdan is an agent of the Putin government lacks truth and evidence. Bogdans actions were clear, that is, to rally the Ukrainian and Russian working class in a unified struggle on a socialist program against the reactionary capitalist regimes in both countries. The war has cost the lives of thousands of soldiers on both sides, with more and more Ukrainians being rounded up to fight and die to further the interests of US imperialism and its allies. This to the satisfaction of Washington and NATO, who are now preparing to offset the Ukrainian military defeats with NATO troops on the ground, building the real threat of an escalated war directly against Russia that could trigger a world war with nuclear weapons.

The socialist program Bogdan advocates is for a unified struggle against war and for the abolition of capitalism, its cause. This is the fight that the international working class must take up to prevent a third world war. The call for the release of Bogdan, with the weight of the international working class unified behind it, is of vital importance and must succeed.

We urge health workers, students and every other section of the working class to support this campaign, sign the petition and get involved by visiting wsws.org/freebogdan.
The Moratuwa Magistrate Court on the outskirts of Colombo on May 20 took up the case of last years violent assault on Socialist Equality Party (SEP) members Dehin Wasantha and Lakshman Fernando.

Dehin Wasantha, one month after being attacked by Podujana Pragathishili Sevaka Sangamaya thugs

Wasantha, who is a long-time member of the SEP, is a non-academic worker at the University of Moratuwa, and well known among fellow employees as a socialist fighter for workers demands. Fernando, also a long-standing member of the SEP, works full time for the party.

Both men were violently attacked with long wooden clubs causing serious injuries last November 30 while campaigning near the rear gate of the University of Moratuwa. Wasantha, Fernando and other SEP members were distributing leaflets for public meetings to be held at Peradeniya University and in Colombo on the Centenary of Trotskyism by SEP (US) National Secretary Joseph Kishore.

Wasanthas two fingers were fractured in the attack which prevented him from working for almost a month. He was treated at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital for several days. Fernando received injuries to his back and neck.

SEP member Lakshman Fernando took injuries to his face and back in the attack

Indika Perera and Suranga Piyawardena, the president and secretary respectively of the Podujana Pragathishili Sevaka Sangamaya (PPSS  Peoples Progressive Employees Union) branch are accused of carrying out the violent assault. The union is affiliated to the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, which supports President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

As the official complaint to the police explains, SEP campaigners, including Wasantha and Fernando, were threatened, told to end their political activity and leave the vicinity of the university. The accused, armed with long wooden poles, then chased the SEP campaigners in a three-wheeler taxi and attacked Wasantha and Fernando, grievously injuring them.

Perera and Piyawardena were taken into custody the next day, following Wasanthas official complaint to police, and held until December 2. They were released on strict bail conditions by the Magistrate Court on a brief inquiry. This included 500,000-rupee ($US1,523) deposits in personal sureties and weekly reporting to the police.

When the case was first listed on January 8, the Moratuwa Magistrate Court judge ordered it to be referred to a mandatory Mediation Board. Wasantha and Fernando refused any settlement at the Mediation Board inquiry when it was held on February 3.

At the latest hearing on May 20, however, the magistrate again ordered the case to be sent to the mediation board to obtain a report. When this process is completed, the case will be heard on September 23.

Lawyers appearing for the injured SEP members submitted medical reports and statements from the relevant hospitals to the court and requested the hearing proceed under the relevant sections of Sri Lankas penal code. The lawyers also pointed out that there was no settlement during the previous mediation board inquiry.

The countrys judicial system is overwhelmed beyond its capacity, however, with numerous cases delayed for extended periods. Under these circumstances, Mediation Boards have been used to ease the burden on the judicial system and to seek settlements between the accused and the complainants.

The SEP (Sri Lanka), along with its sister parties in International Committee of the Fourth International, launched an international campaign to defend Wasantha and Fernando and the democratic right of the SEP to conduct its political work.

Dozens of letters from local and international supporters were sent to the Sri Lankan attorney general and the Moratuwa Universitys vice chancellor, calling for rapid action against Perera and Piyawardena. These authorities have not taken any action against the accused. Nor has there been an internal inquiry by Moratuwa University authorities into the violent assault.

The assault on Wasantha by the two PPSS branch leaders was a calculated one. Its purpose was to intimidate and silence him, and stop his political struggle.

Wasantha has continuously exposed the pro-capitalist policies of the union leadership at Non Academic Trade Union Collective (NATUC) meetings at the Moratuwa University, explaining how this was undermining workers interests. He has also pointed to the essential link between fighting for employees interests and the necessity for a socialist program.

Union officials have frequently tried to prevent Wasantha from speaking in these meetings, sometimes threatening him with physical violence. The only occasions when Wasantha was allowed to speak was when members insisted that they wanted to hear what he had to say.

Around 13,000 non-academic workers from all 17 Sri Lankan universities are on an indefinite strike, after walking out on May 2. The NATUC was forced to call the strike amid rising anger of its members over the governments savage austerity measures and the rising cost of food and other essentials. As an apologetic letter from the NATUC to Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha admitted, the union could not remain silent because of the impact of pressure of the members.

The union collective is doing everything possible to limit its demands to rectifying salary anomalies, an eight-year-old claim, and an increase in the current meagre allowance.

When Wasantha tried to speak at a meeting prior to the strike, he was blocked by union officials, declaring, We dont want to hear you. This blatant censorship is not uncommon but typical of all the unions, who fear any democratic discussion on the socialist perspective Wasantha would have advanced.

While calling striking workers to hold limited protests during the past weeks, information has emerged indicating that the union leadership is holding talks with some ruling party politicians to address their demands.

The union bureaucracy is hostile to Wasantha because of his fearless intervention to defend the democratic rights of fellow employees and the establishment of workers action committees to fight for their social and democratic rights and unity of the working class in Sri Lanka and internationally. The anti-democratic attacks on Wasantha confirms the necessity for workers action committees to take forward this struggle.
On Wednesday, dozens of students occupied Humboldt University's Department of Social Sciences to protest against the genocide in Gaza and the complicity of the university administration. Even though the occupation is to be officially tolerated until Thursday at 6 p.m. according to a statement by the university management, police have already brutally attacked the students.

When a banner was unfurled and leaflets thrown from the balcony of the building during the protest, the university's security service locked the building with a chain and padlock so that nobody could get in or out. This put the students' lives at risk in the event of a fire.

The police did not stop this, but allowed it to happen and then sealed off all access to the building themselves. A sit-in blockade by supporters in front of the entrance to the institute was broken up beforehand with brutal force and the activists were taken away one by one, with one person temporarily fainting. The police refused to comment on the events at the scene.

The actions of Berlin police, who had already brutally dispersed an earlier protest camp at the HU and another at the Free University, are reminiscent of the darkest times in German history. The chairman of the International Editorial Board of the WSWS, David North, commented on X (formerly Twitter):

Nazi-like police in Berlin attacked today Humboldt University students, many of them Jewish, who were protesting the #GazaGenocide. The assault occurred near the site of the Nazi regime's 1933 book burning. Hitler would be delighted with this revival of fascist state violence.

In the evening, there was an initial meeting between university president Julia von Blumenthal and the students occupying university premises. The Student Coalition Berlin, which took part in the protest, then announced that the occupation would continue for now. A statement published by the university administration shortly afterwards announced: The occupation will be tolerated until Thursday, May 23 at 6 pm.

Among other things, the students are demanding that the HU pledge its support to students convicted of its political actions, publish a statement in which it recognizes the genocide in Gaza, and publicly reject the tightening of the Berlin Higher Education Act.

The speaker of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at the HU and European election candidate of the Socialist Equality Party (SGP), Gregor Kahl, explained in a statement in front of the occupied institute:

Left to themselves, students cannot defend their democratic rights. It is necessary for the working class to come to their aid. We call on all university workers to go on strike in defense of the students, as academic workers are doing in California. And we call on the entire international working class to stop the supply of arms to Israel, open the borders and defend the people of Gaza.
On Monday, May 13, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced charges against Chris Woods, former president of District 1199C of the National Union of Hospital and Healthcare Employees (NUHHE), for stealing workers dues in order to support Democratic political campaigns in violation of state campaign law and federal union reporting requirements.

District 1199C President Chris Woods [Photo: 1199C NUHHCE ]

Woods and his associate, Tracy Hardy, a figure closely associated with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, stand accused of stealing over $150,000 in workers dues in order to fund Democratic political candidates between the years 2019 and 2021, according to a joint investigation by Pennsylvanias Office of the Attorney General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Pennsylvania state law prohibits unions from using general funds (i.e., funds that come directly from workers dues) to donate to political causes. Unions can donate to political causes, but they must use a political action committee (PAC) funded by voluntary donations. District 1199C has a PAC, but had less than $3,500 prior to the Democratic Party primaries in 2019.

In order to get around this law and to fund his political allies, Woods enlisted the help of Hardy, a figure close to the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. Woods worked behind the scenes with the union to get a fat contract for renovating the bar at the district's union hall, which was handed to a construction firm founded by Hardy some months prior, the Manayunk Construction and Development Corp. Manayunk then intentionally overestimated the price of the renovations by a factor of three.

Over two months, the unlicensed Manayunk Corp. was paid $180,000 for partial work to the bar. The money was then diverted to Hardys political consulting firm. Woods then saw to it that the funds went to various Democratic candidates, including Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, City Council member Isaiah Thomas, and Pennsylvania state Congresswoman Movita Johnson-Harrell. The existing union PAC made no donations.

Hardy was previously involved in a scandal with Vincent Gray, former Washington D.C. mayor, over a $660,000 campaign contribution from a businessman named Jeffrey Thompson who wanted his donation to remain in the shadows. Hardy was a key coordinator in the campaign and was aware of the situation as it occurred. When some of those involved faced criminal charges, Thompson paid Hardy to leave the country and go to Brazil for a period of time to avoid questioning.

Woods became president of the district in 2019, succeeding his mentor and union careerist, Henry Nicholas. In December of that year, Woods presided over the sudden closure of Hahnemann University Hospital by its corporate owners, leaving 2,500 people jobless, many of them union members. Woods only response was an opinion piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer pleading for a state law requiring 180 days notice before layoffs due to closures.

Speculation first emerged that Woods was involved in a scheme to steal dues money back in January 2021. A since-deleted Instagram post from 1199C claimed the rumors were false. It asserted that an internal review had been conducted which determined no criminal activity had occurred and that the review found that there were no union funds were [sic] missing or unaccounted for.

But in 2021, the national leadership of NUHHE stripped Woods of his leadership. Woods claimed that his ousting was due to his skin colorbecause Im young and African American, he said. But it is clear in the wake of the Pennsylvania indictment that NUHHE only acted to disassociate itself from Woods when his malfeasance began to threaten the larger union bureaucracy.

Woods indictment is the latest in a long line of scandals with union leaders and their handling of member dues.

In 1997, Teamsters President Ron Carey was disqualified from running for reelection after it was revealed he had been involved in a complex money-laundering scheme with the Democratic National Committee, which also implicated AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Richard Trumka and Service Employees International Union President Andrew Stern. In a classic kickback scheme, Democratic Party-aligned groups were sent $885,000 in donations from the Teamsters treasury, and in turn made or arranged for reciprocal contributions to Careys reelection campaign.

More recently, ex-UAW president Gary Jones was sentenced to a 28-month prison sentence in 2021 for embezzling nearly $1.5 million in union funds to finance his lavish lifestyle. Another ex-UAW president, Dennis Williams, was also sentenced to 21 months in prison for embezzling over $1 million from union funds. This came to light as several more UAW officials were convicted of taking corporate bribes from Fiat Chrysler in exchange for signing sweetheart contracts.

Cases such as Woods indictment continue to reveal the completely rotten character of the pro-capitalist and nationalist labor bureaucracya phenomenon that is far from unique to the United States. The labor apparatus does not represent workers but relies on the corporations and capitalist governments to protect its financial and institutional interests. In return, officials like UAW President Shawn Fain, Teamsters President Sean OBrien and others enforce the dictates of the capitalist class, particularly at times, like now, of imperialist war.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Azerbaijan's Energy Minister discussed cooperation with S&P Global Commodity Insights within COP29, the minister Parviz Shahbazov wrote on X, Trend reports.

At the meeting with S&P Global Commodity Insights Vice President Carlos Pascual, we discussed the global energy transition, implementation of Azerbaijan's green agenda, and areas of cooperation within COP29. In addition, our country's activity on the creation of green energy zones and corridors that contribute to energy security and sustainable development at the national and regional levels, the commissioning of renewable energy industrial capacities, and decarbonization measures were considered, the publication of the minister says.

To note, Baku will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) on November 1124.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kiev Tuesday for an unannounced visit. At the same time, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (Social DemocratsSPD) paid a visit to the German Air Force fighter jets stationed in Latvia. He traveled on Wednesday to Lithuania, where the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) is planning the permanent stationing of 5,000 combat troops.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, left, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba meet in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 21, 2024. [AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky]

The trips underlined two things in particular: NATO continues to escalate the war against Russia despite the growing danger of a nuclear exchange; and German imperialism, which waged two wars of mass murder against Russia in the 20th century and pursued the goal of subjugating Ukraine, is once again at the forefront.

In a statement shortly after her arrival, Baerbock referred to the drastic military situation for Ukraine at the front. The situation has once again dramatically worsened, with the massive Russian airstrikes on civilian infrastructure and with the brutal Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region, she warned. Her only response was to assert that Berlin and NATO would have to massively expand their support for the war.

Among other things, the foreign minister promised Kiev more support for the defence of its airspace. In order to protect Ukraine from the rain of Russian missiles and drones, it urgently needs more air defences, said Baerbock. She added that, together with Pistorius, she had launched a global initiative for increased air defence. This had now brought in almost a billion euros, but more was needed, she claimed.

We are working hard to make this even more, she explained. We have not left a stone unturned and have led the way with an additional Patriot unit. We must join forces now so that Ukraine can survive, so that Ukrainians can continue to live independently in the future. And so that Putins troops are not soon standing on our own borders.

This mendacious and absurd propaganda serves to escalate the NATO war offensive against Russia in Ukraine and prepare for direct intervention by the military alliance.

At the beginning of May, French President Emmanuel Macron told The Economist that he would send French troops to Ukraine in the event of a collapse of the Ukrainian front lines. Since then, there have been reports that British and French troops are already in Ukraine. At the end of last week, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Q. Brown told the New York Times that NATO troops would eventually be sent to Ukraine.

The plans pursued by Baerbock and Pistorius for the expansion of air defences are aimed at preparing for direct NATO intervention in the conflict. In a cross-party initiative, representatives of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens have repeatedly campaigned in recent days for the use of NATO soldiers for air defence purposes in Ukraine. The plans call for NATO troops to shoot down missiles over Ukraine from Ukraines borders with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.

For example, FDP member Marcus Faber, who is considered a candidate to succeed Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann at the head of the German parliaments Defence Committee, stated that the airspace over the Ukrainian border regions could in principle be protected by air defence systems on NATO territory. Provided that the necessary ammunition was secured for the long term, he said he believed that this is possible.

Baerbocks party colleagues from the Greens are particularly aggressive. The deputy leader of the parliamentary group, Agnieszka Brugger, argued in favour of deploying air defence systems on the borders of the neighbouring states in such a way that the western parts of Ukraine can be protected. And the chairman of the European Committee and notorious warmonger Anton Hofreiter stated, Air defence over Ukraine from Poland and Romania should not be ruled out in the long term.

Apparently, these very plans were discussed in Kiev. At a joint press conference with Baerbock, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that the partners of Ukraine should consider the possibility of repelling Russian missiles from their territory. There is no legal or moral reason and no security argument that stands in the way of our partners launching missiles over Ukraine from their territory, he added provocatively.

In fact, the Zelensky regime in Ukraine and its NATO supporters risk a nuclear confrontation with their constant escalation of the war. In his speech on the 79th anniversary of the Red Armys victory over Nazi Germany on May 9, Putin stated that Russia would do everything to avoid a global conflict, but at the same time we will not let anyone threaten us. Our strategic forces are always on combat alert.

Despite warnings from Moscow, the imperialist powers intend to escalate the war. Germany is Ukraines second-largest supporter after the US, partly because it is our best self-protection, Baerbock boasted in Kiev. We have provided 34 billion in aid since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression not only for Ukraine, but also for our European peace order. And we know more is needed here too.

Who does Baerbock, who as German foreign minister has been fomenting the war against Russia for more than two years and supports Israels genocide of the Palestinians in the Middle East, think she is kidding? In the war in Ukraine, it is not Moscow that is the main aggressor, but the imperialist powers. With the systematic military encirclement of Russia following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, NATO provoked the reactionary intervention of the Putin regime in the first place. It is now continuing to escalate the conflict in order to enforce its predatory interests.

The imperialist powers are not concerned with self-protection or peace in Ukraine. Rather, they aim to establish an outright war regime, which, in addition to controlling Ukraine, pursues the goals of reducing all of Russia to the status of a semi-colony and establishing their dominance over the resource-rich and geo-strategically crucial Eurasian landmass.

At the same time, German imperialism, which sought in the First and Second World Wars to annex Ukraine, is aggressively leading the way. A so-called Ukraine Recovery Conference will take place in Berlin on June 11 and 12. According to the key points in a paper from the German government, in addition to strengthening German industry in Ukraine, it should also focus on the greater integration of Ukraine into the (raw materials) trade of the EU within the framework of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.

In other words, in addition to the central areas of the Ukrainian economythe paper mentions energy and agriculture, among other thingsGermany wants to seize the enormous deposits of iron, titanium and lithium, some of which lie in the Russian-controlled Donbass.

The reactionary character of the war is particularly evident in the nature of the Zelensky regime itself. Ukraine is a police state and the population is under martial law. There have been no elections. Zelensky, whose term formally ended the day before Baerbocks visit on May 20, rules as de facto dictator. It is a far-right regime that is taking brutal action against the growing opposition among Ukrainian workers and youth to the war.

On April 25, the socialist opponent of the war and leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists, Bogdan Syrotiuk, was arrested in his hometown of Perwomaisk in southern Ukraine. He is charged with high treason, although his only offence is that he fights for the unity of the Ukrainian, Russian and international working class against the capitalist policy of war.

The World Socialist Web Site is calling on all its readers to sign the petition for Bogdans release at wsws.org/freebogdan. The political show trial against him must be stopped!

At the same time, the escalation of the war by NATO must be stopped before it leads to an all-out war of the imperialist powers against Russia and to a nuclear catastrophe. This requires the building of a socialist movement of the international working class against fascism and war.

This is exactly what the Socialist Equality Partys current video for its European election campaign focuses on. Spread the word and register here to discuss these key policy issues and tasks with us on May 23 at 7 p.m. Central European time.
Seeking a third five-year term at the head of Indias government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu-supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are waging a vile, fascistic campaign, punctuated by communalist slurs and dog-whistling appeals to religious bigotry and accusations that the opposition parties are pro-Pakistan and intent on stealing peoples wealth.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi displays the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) symbol, lotus, during a road show while campaigning for national elections, in Chennai, India, Tuesday, April 9, 2024 [AP Photo/AP Photo]

Modi has repeatedly flailed the Congress Party-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) for appeasing Indias Muslim minority. Stoking prejudice, he has referred to Muslims as infiltrators, jihadis, and those who have large numbers of children.

Willfully distorting a more than decade-old comment by Congress ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Modi and the BJP have accused the opposition of plotting to take away government jobs and university places that are set aside for Dalits and other lower caste groups under Indias reservation (affirmative action) system and give them to Muslims.

Modi has also charged the INDIA bloc with a Naxhalite (Maoist) plan to confiscate peoples wealth, although Congress, in keeping with its staunch pro-investor stance, has ruled out any tax increases. Speaking at an election rally in Rajasthan, Modi asserted the opposition parties will calculate the gold of the mothers and sisters, get information about it and then distribute it  to the infiltrators. With the aim of further inflaming the crowd, Indias prime minister then thundered, Should your hard-earned money go to the infiltrators? Do you approve of this?

The BJP has a long history of communalist incitement and, in connivance with its Hindu far-right allies, of communal violence. Modi himself came to national prominence for his role, when chief minister of the western state of Gujarat, in instigating and presiding over the 2002 anti-Muslim pogrom, in which some 2,000 people, most of them poor Muslims, were killed and hundreds of thousands rendered homeless.

Still, the current BJP election campaign stands out for the stridency of the ruling partys communalist and fascistic appeals and the aggressiveness and mendacity with which it has attacked its bourgeois political opponents. As would be expected, the Modi government has also continued to use its control of the state apparatus to ensnare its opponents, including the Chief Minister of the Delhi National Capital Territory, Arvind Keiriwal, in trumped-up and manipulated criminal cases, and to intimidate and silence press and left-wing critics.

The unofficial kick-off of the BJP election campaign was Modis inauguration last January of a temple to the mythical Hindu god Lord Ram on the site of the razed Babri Masjid mosque. In a nationally-televised spectacle, Modi celebrated the supposed rebirth of India as a Hindu nation after more than a millennium of Muslim domination and British colonial rule. In December 1992, Hindu fundamentalist activists mobilized by the BJP and under the watch of its leaders tore the almost 500-year-old Babri Majid to the ground, in express defiance of the orders of Indias highest court.

Still, it had been widely anticipated that the BJPhaving taken a major step toward realizing its goal of transforming India into a de facto, if not yet a constitutionally-declared, Hindu rashtra (state) in which the minorities live on sufferancewould focus its election campaign on promises of economic development. A constant BJP refrain in recent years had been that the Modi-led BJP government has delivered world-beating economic growth, making India a magnet for international investment, and that under their rule India is rapidly emerging as a world power.

That may indeed have been the BJP leaders plan. However, even the Indian and international press have noted that following the first phase of Indias seven-phase election, held on April 19, there was a pronounced shift in the BJPs campaign rhetoric, with communalist and other far-right appeals being given much greater prominence.

This includes, in keeping with the BJP campaigns fascist overtones, the promotion of Modi as an authoritarian leader, part Hindu strongman and part Hindu guru or holy man.

BJP campaigners insist only Modi can provide India with strong government, while they decry the opposition parties for purportedly currying the favour of arch-rival Pakistan. Modi, for his part, claims to lead a dhakad sarkar (strong government) that makes the enemy thinks 100 times before doing anything.

Apart from Modi, only his chief henchman, Home Minister Amit Shah, and to a lesser extent Yogi Aditayanaththe Hindu high-priest and criminally-indicted inciter of anti-Muslim violence whom Modi named the chief minister of Indias largest state, Uttar Pradeshare given any prominence in the BJPs national campaign. Shah and Yogi Aditayanath are, if anything, even more menacing and venomous in their attacks than Modi.

Campaigning in West Bengal earlier this month, Shah told a BJP rally that since the Trinamool Congress, an INDIA election bloc ally, had come to power in the state, Mullahs have been given full freedom, madrasas are given our wealth and the mafia are openly allowed to loot the poor population. Shah has previously boasted that under the BJP-promoted National Register of Citizens, Muslims who cant prove their citizenshipa common occurrence in a country where the vast majority of rural births are unregisteredwill be dropped like termites into the Bay of Bengal.

The shift in the BJP campaign has been attributed by the opposition and, more significantly, much of the media to increasing concern within the governing party that the anticipated Modi wave has failed to materialize. Turnout in the elections first phase was down by around 3 percent, and a similar drop in voter participation was recorded in the next two phases. These first three phases together accounted for more than half of all the seats at stake in Indias general election, which is to conclude June 1, with the votes tabulated on Tuesday, June 4. In the most recent phase, the fifth, held on May 20, preliminary reports indicate a 1.9 percent decline in voter turnout.

Speaking to The Diplomat late last month, a senior editor at the national bureau of one of Indias dailies said that the BJP has reasons to feel nervous, even if a little, as the election looks closer than the BJP would like people to believe.

A social powder keg

India is a social powder keg with an already lit fuse. There is mass, but as yet inchoate, social anger and frustration over chronic joblessness and under-employment, chronic poverty, dilapidated and non-existent public services and the ever-increasing chasm between a tiny capitalist elite, their hangers-on in the upper middle class and Indias workers and toilers. Indias top 1 percent own 40 percent of all Indias wealth and gorge on 20 percent of the national income. While hundreds of millions of Indians are malnourished, suffering from stunting and other afflictions, the country, according to the Hurun Research Institutes 2024 global rich list, boasts 271 billionaires, with 94 of them newly minted in 2022. India is now second only to the US among all countries in the numbers of its billionaires.

A girl stands in her shanty home on the outskirts of in Guwahati, India, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. [AP Photo/Anupam Nath]

Indias ruling elite, led by Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, respectively Indias richest and second-richest billionaires, have rallied round Modi and the Hindu supremacist BJP, because they see them as their best political instrument for ruthlessly pushing forward with their agenda and suppressing mass discontent through state violence and the deployment of communalism as a means to confuse and split the working class.

At the outset of the election campaign, the BJP boasted that it would win 370 of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower but more powerful chamber of Indias bicameral legislature. Were it to capture a more than two-thirds share of the Lok Sabha seats, the BJP would be better positioned to push through constitutional changes. But the 370 seat target is also meant to invoke the Modi governments arbitrary August 2019 rewriting of the constitution to abolish its Article 370 which gave Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir unique autonomous status. Late last year, Indias Supreme Court brazenly reinterpreted the law to provide a legal justification for the overnight abrogation of Article 370, which tightened the Indian states grip over disputed Kashmir and sent a bellicose message to both China and Pakistan.

Preelection polls showed that the top-most concerns of voters were unemployment and rising prices. They also indicated that the majority of Indians reject the exclusivist Hindu nationalist politics of the BJP.

To what extent the latent opposition to the BJP and its agenda will find any expression in the elections remains to be seen.

The INDIA bloc is a ramshackle electoral bloc comprised of various right-wing parties that have come together with the aim of providing the ruling class an alternative government to the BJPone that would be no less committed to attracting investment though privatization, deregulation and austerity and to the Indo-US global strategic partnership, under which India has been transformed into a frontline state in Washingtons military-strategic offensive against China.

INDIA is led by the Congress Party, until recently the Indian ruling classs preferred party of a government, with Rahul Gandhi, the son, grandson, and great-grandson of prime ministers, serving as its dynastic leader. For much of the past three decades, Congress Party-led national governments spearheaded implementation of the Indian bourgeoisies pro-market reform program. They also initiated the turn to Washington and the anti-China Indo-US alliance. While the Congress Party postures as a defender of secularism, it has long connived with the Hindu right. In recent years, it has forged a close partnership with the Shiv Sena, an erstwhile BJP ally and a fervent proponent of Hindutva, the Hindu-supremacist ideology that holds that Muslims and Christians are not true Indians.

The INDIA alliance also includes various right-wing ethno-regionalist and caste-ist parties and the Stalinist parliamentary parties. For decades the Stalinists have suppressed the class struggle in the name of fighting the Hindu right and supported what they frankly describe as pro-investorthat is, anti-working classpolicies, while dismissing socialism, in the words of the late Communist Party of India (Marxist) Chief Minister of West Bengal, as a far off cry.

In an attempt to win votes, INDIA has decried mass joblessness and made various populist promises. But given the right-wing record of its constituent parties, none of this is, to say the least, credible and masses of Indian workers and toilers correctly dismiss it as a pretense.
A call by Socialist Equality Party (SEP) supporters for a campaign to defeat a wholesale restructuring and destruction of jobs at Western Sydney University (WSU) College was blocked by National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) representatives at a meeting of College NTEU members on Tuesday.

Western Sydney University [Photo: eminentedu.com]

WSU management is threatening the educators and professional staff at WSU College, which the university wholly owns, with the elimination of the equivalent of 17 full-time positions and a spill and fill regime to force them to compete against each other for the remaining posts.

Those targeted by WSUs change proposal include 15 teachers, around 6 First Year Experience Coordinators, 10 Learning and Teaching Coordinators, 7 managers and 6 technical officers. The heaviest cuts are to arts, literature and humanities.

On Monday, SEP supportersmembers of the Committee for Public Education (CFPE)submitted the following resolution to the NTEU branch office to be circulated and discussed at Tuesdays online meeting, which the union described as a report back on its talks with management:

We call on all staff, whether NTEU members or not, to reject the NTEUs written response to the managements change proposal, in which the WSU NTEU branch accepts restructuring and proposes redundancies to assist the elimination of jobs. The response claims that the NTEU branch and its members support moves to position the College better in the industry and calls for an EOI in redundancy process under the NTEUs 2022 enterprise agreement with management. We resolve to launch a campaign across WSU as a whole and throughout the university sector to win the support of all our academic and professional colleagues to defeat the destruction of our jobs and conditions. We support the formation of a rank-and-file committee, independent of the NTEU, to organise this campaign.

In a reply email, NTEU branch president David Burchell outrageously accused College staff member Gabriela Zabala, who submitted the resolution, of harassing a union official by simply asking for a resolution to be circulated, as is the democratic right of every worker.

Burchell declared that Zabala was uncomradely and disrespectful and charged her with openly attempting to subvert the democratic processes of the union. He concluded by alleging that she was playing cynical party-games and thats completely shameful.

That hostility continued at Tuesdays meeting, which was attended by less than 25 College staff members out of about 200. Many staff have no confidence in the union, on the basis of previous sellouts.

Burchell, who chaired the meeting, flatly rejected a motion by Zabala to circulate, discuss and vote on the resolution.

When Michael Head, a longstanding WSU academic and NTEU member, said he wanted to support the motion, Burchell declared that he had no right to be at the meeting because he was not a College member.

Head insisted: All members should be able to participate in this discussion. This is not just about the College. We cant leave our College colleagues alone to fight this. And the union is not proposing to fight it. You are proposing to get redundancies instead. We all have a stake in this. If it happens at the College, it will happen to all of us. You are trying separate us. This is an issue for all members. Put it to a vote.

After Burchell refused to allow a vote, Zabala objected. This is terribly anti-democratic. The NTEU did not circulate this motion to all members. That speaks volumes.

Ludicrously, Burchell claimed that by her logic, any NTEU member could turn up at a College members meeting and raise whatever they wanted. Zabala replied: No. This is about the conditions. WSU wholly owns us. It affects all of us. What happens here will be determined at the university, and it will affect what happens at the university.

When Head again asked for the motion to be put to a vote, he was suddenly removed from the zoom link.

During the meeting, Burchell made clear the unions opposition to any fight to stop the pro-business restructuring or defend all the jobs at the College. He told the meeting it was beyond our power to defend every job. We cant make all the redundancies go away, he stated.

Instead, backed by NTEU industrial organiser Cian Galea, Burchell welcomed managements offer, made in an email that morning, to accept the NTEUs call for EOIs [expressions of interest] for redundancy where possible to enable early departures via the redundancy EOI process.

Burchell repeatedly told the meeting that some people might want to quit, and that was their right. What became evident is essentially a partnership between the NTEU and management to stifle opposition by pressuring or encouraging staff members to apply for redundancies.

Zabala told the meeting that this confirmed the warning made in the resolution that the union blocked. The union is working with management to suppress opposition to the redundancies. We have to defend every job and condition, and call for support across the university and more broadly, and form a rank-and-file committee.

She said the union was trying to pressure people into leaving, at the cost of jobs and programs for students, because nobody will benefit from this restructuring, not us and not the students.

Burchell ignored her call for the resolution to be debated. One staff member said he agreed with Zabala that university staff had to be informed about what was taking place at the College. He also revealed that management had told a group of colleagues that they would have to take steps down in their positions, even if they kept a job.

In response to several questions, Burchell and Galea reiterated that the union was seeking to enforce its 2022 enterprise agreement with WSU College. In that document, however, the NTEU agreed to assist the College to remain competitive in the market, which meant it may need to change its structure, operations, and priorities to meet business requirements.

Toward the end of the meeting, Burchell said he was cautiously confident of bedding down a potential dispute over the job losses. He also asserted that the union had no industrial purchase over the damaging impact that the restructuring would have on the quality of the courses offered to students.

These statements must be taken as warnings that the union is moving as fast as it can to assist the management to implement its blueprint. This is in line with the federal Labor governments agenda of continuing to starve the public universities of funding and demanding further pro-business restructuring.

WSU College enrolments have dropped, essentially because its business modeloffering students preparatory courses that lead straight into the second year of university degreeshas been undercut by all the countrys chronically-underfunded universities scrambling for enrolments, including by offering students alternative pathways into courses.

This financial squeeze is being intensified by the Labor governments Universities Accord. It demands the reshaping of tertiary education to satisfy the specific employment and research demands of big business and preparations for war, such as the AUKUS military pact against China.

Pushing workers into supposed voluntary retrenchments is the time-honoured method used by the NTEU and every other union to stifle resistance to the elimination of jobs and conditions.

What happened at Tuesdays meeting makes it absolutely clear: To fight this union-backed agenda and organise a university-wide and broader campaign to defeat the restructuring and job cuts, WSU staff and students, whether union members or not, need to form a rank-and-file committee, completely independent of the unions. If you agree, please contact the CFPE, the rank-and-file educators network:

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/commforpubliceducation

Twitter: @CFPE_Australia
Amid the escalation of the imperialist war in Ukraine and the genocide in Gaza, the worlds ruling elites are promoting a corporatist alliance with the trade unions in favor of militarism and the suppression of the class struggle.

Meeting between UAW's Shawn Fain and CSP-Conlutas' Luiz Carlos Prates, or Mancha, on April 17 in Detroit [Photo: CSP-Conlutas]

As the World Socialist Web Site has exposed extensively in recent weeks, the Labor Notes conference, held April 19-21 in Chicago, marked a new stage in this process, laying bare the reactionary politics of the unions and the pseudo-left around them. Particularly significant at the conference was the participation of Shawn Fain, the UAW president who has been promoting a corporatist alliance with the administration of Genocide Joe Biden and, at the end of January endorsed his re-election.

For years, Labor Notes has played a sordid role by combining a rejection of politics that has subordinated unions to the pro-war Democratic Party with the promotion of corrupt union bureaucracies internationally as defenders of workers interests. Today, in an explosive international context, this means the integration of the unions globally into US imperialisms war drive against Russia and China.

One union federation that regularly participates in these conferences is the Brazilian CSP-Conlutas, controlled by the Morenoite Unified Socialist Workers Party (PSTU). In addition to attending the Labor Notes conference, CSP-Conlutas officials met with Fain and other UAW bureaucrats and participated in an event organized by a series of pseudo-left organizations, including the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA), which have functioned as a left cover for imperialism, acting as factions of the Democratic Party.

The CSP-Conlutas delegation was made up of bureaucrats from the Metalworkers Union of Sao Jose dos Campos (SMSJC), an important industrial city in the countryside of Sao Paulo that is home to one of GMs three plants in Brazil. More significantly, it is located in Brazils most important defense industry hub, with companies such as aviation giant Embraer, which produces military aircraft, Brazils largest arms company, Avibras, and a recently inaugurated Boeing Engineering and Technology Center. Sao Jose dos Campos is also home to numerous Brazilian Air Force facilities and bases.

CSP-Conlutas officials meet with Fain and UAW bureaucrats

The topic of the April 17 meeting with Fain, described by CSP-Conlutas as one of the main union officials in the American automotive sector, was the struggles and situation of workers in the automotive sector in Brazil and the United States, according to the Brazilian unions website.

Expressing the union bureaucracys growing concern about the automotive industrys shift towards electric vehicles, Antonio Lisboa, director of the SMSJC, stated at the meeting that it would be interesting for us to share information about GMs projects, with new technologies, electric cars, investment prospects. He and other SMSJC union officials also denounced GMs persecution of union members, with the company having arbitrarily dismissed CSP-Conlutas [national executive secretary] and GM worker Luiz Carlos Prates, known as Mancha.

According to a report on the SMSJC website, The UAW has pledged to join the fight against the automakers persecution in Brazil. The CSP-Conlutas website also reported that UAW vice-president Mike Booth, who is responsible for negotiations with GM in the US, has also pledged to forward the demands of the Brazilian comrades to the automaker.

As the reports made clear, the CSP-Conlutas officials didnt meet with representatives of the American autoworkers, but with junior partners of the American automakers themselves. The response by unions internationally to capitalist globalization, beginning in the late 1970s, was ever-increasing labor-management cooperation that transformed the unions into extensions of the corporations. The UAW and its president vividly embody the corporatist integration of unions into corporations and the American state.

The CSP-Conlutas cover for Fain and the UAW was made even more explicit by the fact that the meeting was held, according to the CSP-Conlutas website, after the historic strikes carried out by the metalworkers against the US and Brazilian auto companies last October. What the CSP-Conlutas and the UAW consider historic strikes were nothing more than fresh defeats for the American and Brazilian working class.

Working in close contact with the Biden administration, which made the US president the first to visit a picket line, the UAWs stand-up strike against the Big Three in the US was limited to a handful of plants and paved the way for further layoffs in the US auto industry. In the 17-day strike last October and November at GMs three plants in Brazil, launched largely outside of union control, CSP-Conlutas and other union federations made futile appeals to the governments of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Workers Party - PT) and the far-right governor of Sao Paulo, Tarcisio de Freitas, and welcomed the court decision that blocked the firing of 1,200 workers.

This didnt stop almost 700 workers at the Sao Jose dos Campos plant alone from joining a voluntary dismissal plan proposed by GM and, at the beginning of May, the companys firing of a further 55 who had allegedly won job stability in negotiations with the union. Since the beginning of the 2010s, the number of workers at GMs plant in Sao Jose dos Campos has fallen from 12,000 to 3,300 today.

Fraudulent international solidarity between CSP-Conlutas and UAW

Having overseen mass layoffs and plant closures, the UAW and CSP-Conlutas have been leaning on each other in an attempt to improve their badly discredited images among the rank-and-file. Reporting on the meeting with Fain, the Metalworkers Union of Sao Jose dos Campos website boasted that it and the UAW have a history of mutual solidarity in the workers struggle, which included a trip by CSP-Conlutas officials to the US last year in which they visited picket lines during the stand-up strike and attended an event organized by UAW Local 551.

One of the pickets they visited was at the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant, one of the struck plants that became a focal point for the opposition against a sellout by the UAW. The effort by the Brazilian and American union bureaucrats was particularly a response to the intervention of the WSWS and the socialist candidate in the 2022 UAW presidential election, Will Lehman, who encouraged the rejection of the UAW-backed contract in early October at the Mack Trucks plant based on an internationally coordinated struggle that they feared would be repeated at other plants.

The intention to forge a supposed internationalist alliance between the UAW and CSP-Conlutas was taken even further by SMSJC official Lisboa, who suggested to Fain holding an international meeting and the need to unite workers to, for example, organize a campaign for a reduction in working hours in response to the shift towards electric vehicles.

Far from organizing the working class independently and in a unified international struggle through a global strategy against transnational corporations, what the union bureaucracy is proposing are fraudulent campaigns that, in the end, restrict the struggle along national lines and subordinate it to the bourgeois state. This was exposed at the beginning of May by Mancha, who responded to the closure of the GM plants in Colombia and Ecuador by writing that CSP-Conlutas also stands in solidarity with the Colombian and Ecuadorian workers affected by GMs arbitrary decision and joins the call for the governments to take measures to prevent the closure of the plants and guarantee the jobs and rights of the workers.

CSP-Conlutas promotion of independent unions supported by US imperialism

After the meeting with Fain, the CSP-Conlutas delegation attended the Labor Notes conference, which, according to it, reinforced the need for international solidarity in the struggles of the working class.

Mancha, a member of the CSP-Conlutas national executive, took part in a panel titled Auto Workers of the World, Unite! along with union bureaucrats from Europe, the UAW and Cesar Orta, of the Independent Union of Audi Workers (SITAUDI) in Mexico. One of the main subjects discussed on the panel was the huge shift to electric vehicles and how workers across the world are taking on the big automakers, according to Labor Notes in its presentation of the panel.

In fact, it would be better titled Trade Union Bureaucracies of the World, Unite! In every country, the union bureaucracies have overseen the implementation of sell-out contracts to intensify workforce exploitation and eliminate jobs in the transition to electric vehicles. As a result, workers struggles have increasingly clashed with the union bureaucracy amid increased strikes and walkouts.

CSP-Conlutas has been following this process with attention and concern, particularly in the US through the Labor Notes conferences. It has welcomed the strong process of reorganization [of unionism], as it wrote on its website in 2022. In his address at this years conference, Mancha again referred to this process, saying: This conference takes on even more importance this year, due to the growth of strikes and the union movement, with new entities and the increase in unionization of youth.

What it refers to as the reorganization of unionism says a lot about the CSP-Conlutas orientation towards imperialism. In addition to unionization at Amazon warehouses and Starbucks stores in the US, dominated largely by the pseudo-left and consequently oriented towards the Democratic Party, CSP-Conlutas has closely welcomed the formation of independent unions, particularly in Mexico where SINTAUDI is just one example.

In June 2022, Mancha attended the Labor Notes conference alongside Israel Cervantes, one of the leaders of the rank-and-file organization Generando Movimiento at the GM plant in Silao, Mexico, which later derailed this movement into the formation of the National Independent Union of Workers in the Auto Industry (SINTTIA). Earlier that year, CSP-Conlutas was one of the more than 15 national and international unions and organizations [that] arrived in Silao to show their solidarity with the workers at GM and their worker led independent union, according to a video by UAW Women published on Facebook at the time.

What Mancha and the CSP-Conlutas conceal is that the creation of SINTTIA, SINTAUDI, and other independent unions is part of an operation by US imperialism, through the AFL-CIOs government-funded Solidarity Center, to suppress the tremendous rank-and-file rebellion against totally discredited unions and try to give them a new face, including a supposed internationalist outlook.

The CSP-Conlutas emerged in 2004 amid countless betrayals of the workers struggle, particularly against attacks by neoliberal governments in the 1990s in Brazil, and the growing integration of the PT-controlled CUT union federation into the first two Lula governments (2003-2010). Today, it faces being discredited along similar lines, with a drop in the number of affiliated unions and, consequently, of dues-paying members. The most significant exposure of this process happened at the beginning of last year, when the National Association of Higher Education Teachers (ANDES), which has 70,000 members, decided to disaffiliate from CSP-Conlutas, because, among other reasons, of its support for imperialist wars in Libya, Syria and, more recently, Ukraine.

CSP-Conlutas defense of Ukrainian resistance at Labor Notes conferences and militarism in Brazil

One of the aims of CSP-Conlutas at the Labor Notes conference was to drum up support for imperialist war from the unions attending it. The figure behind this operation has been Herbert Claros, an Embraer worker, a former member of the companys board of directors and a leader of the CSP-Conlutas international sector. Since 2014, when CSP-Conlutas attended the conference for the first time, he has participated in discussions with representatives of American unions inside and outside the conference, particularly the UAW.

Claros is also a leader of the International Labour Network of Solidarity and Struggle (ILNSS), of which CSP-Conlutas is a member, which has been working in close contact with the organization Sotsialnyi Rukh to build support for the Ukrainian resistance against Russian imperialism, including its extensive arming by the US and NATO.

In 2014, a year after the founding of the ILNSS, CSP-Conlutas wrote on its website that it also intends to discuss with Labor Notes unions the need for greater articulation of these independent entities, through the ILNSS. At the 2022 conference, Herbert Claros took part in the panel Trade unions and workers facing political repression, in which he stressed the need to stand firm and extend support to the Ukrainian people who have been resisting the Russian invasion since February.

In recent years, Claros and CP-Conlutas defense of the Ukrainian resistance has been accompanied by a virulent nationalist and militarist campaign in Brazil. They have been the most prominent defenders of the Brazilian defense industry under the leftist cover that the Lula government, with the support of the Armed Forces, should nationalize companies like Embraer and Avibras, the latter of which is in a judicial recovery process.

At a seminar earlier this year titled The defense industry and the future of Avibras, Claros argued that if Brazil is invaded, we will be in a worse position than Ukraine. He went on to say that we, [the] true patriots, should even take up arms in that case, but for that, I want to have a strong Avibras, I want to have a strong Embraer, a Brazilian defense company to defend the sovereignty of the country and that the Brazilian armed forces act in the interest of training workers and under the control of workers to defend their sovereignty.

The fight against the pro-imperialist union bureaucracy and world war

This militarist and nationalist perspective is completely in line with that of Labor Notes, its political sponsors, and the UAW. Labor Notes was founded in the 1970s by members of the International Socialists, followers of Max Shachtman, who in 1940 broke with the Fourth International and later became a supporter of US imperialisms military interventions and an advisor to the AFL-CIO bureaucracy.

Fain and the UAW, meanwhile, have been at the forefront of US imperialisms plans to impose a war economy in preparation for open conflict with Russia and China. At the Labor Notes conference, where he was wearing a sweater emblazoned with the image of a bomber and the phrase Arsenal of Democracy, Fain called workers the greatest army in the world.

As for the PSTU, which controls the Metalworkers Union of Sao Jose dos Campo and the CSP-Conlutas, its origins lie in the politics of the Argentine revisionist Nahuel Moreno, who broke with the International Committee of the Fourth International in 1963. His intention to update the Transitional Program and the consequent abandonment of the theory of permanent revolution led him and his political heirs to repeatedly subordinate the struggle of the working class to bourgeois and petty-bourgeois nationalists, from General Peron in Argentina in the 1950s to Fidel Castro in Cuba, and even to the Argentine military junta during the Falklands war in the 1980s. More recently, the Morenoites have sought to subordinate workers struggles to democratic imperialism in its interventions in the Middle East and Ukraine.

The CSP-Conlutas declares itself the only independent union federation in Brazil, a claim that has also been fraudulently promoted by a significant part of the pseudo-left that is not acting in the PT-controlled CUT. In reality, its defense of national sovereignty opposes the independent mobilization of workers and subordinates their struggles to the Brazilian capitalist state, including the military. Moreover, as its recent tour of the US showed, it is working to integrate the working class and the defense industry in Brazil into the US war machine.

In a powerful speech at the May Day rally organized by the WSWS and the International Committee of the Fourth International, Will Lehman said: What we as workers need to connect as a class is that the struggle against exploitation is the same as the struggle against war, since the roots of both lie in the capitalist system. At the same time, considering the nationalist and pro-capitalist character of the unions, he explained, The struggle against exploitation in the factories and the imperialist war abroad cannot be won by relying on the union bureaucracies.

For this, workers in Brazil, the US, and around the world need to break with the union bureaucracies, organize themselves into independent rank-and-file committees, and unite with their class brothers and sisters internationally through the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees in a common struggle for socialism.
The May 15 shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was a politically-driven assassination, bound up with NATOs war on Russia in neighboring Ukraine. Slovak authorities investigations show that Jaraj Cintula, whom Ficos guards apprehended during the shooting, was hostile to Ficos criticisms of NATO escalation against Russia, and that Cintula potentially had help from foreign intelligence agencies.

Ficos SMED-Social Democracy party and of the pro-NATO opposition Progressive Slovakia party are both appealing for calm, warning of civil war. But the entire course of Eastern European politics since the Stalinist regimes restoration of capitalism in 1989 has clearly led to disaster. Powerful forces in the NATO alliance that Slovakia joined in 2004 welcome Ficos shooting as they aim to crush popular opposition to total war with Russia in Slovakia and across Europe.

Indeed, the question is posed: Did the forces that assisted Ficos shooting include the CIA and intelligence services of other major NATO imperialist countries driving the war with Russia?

This flows from remarks this week by Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok and Slovak Information Service (SIS) officials. Estok said Cintulas entire Facebook history had been deleted while Cintula was being held incommunicado by Slovak police. However, it was not deleted by him and apparently not by his wife either, Estok said. Based on this operational information, we are therefore also working with the possibility that a group of people is behind the assault.

Estok added, according to Al Jazeera, that Cintula was angered by the [Slovak] governments Ukraine policy.

Initial reports in international media that Cintula was a leftist have also been discredited. A writer who launched violent nationalist diatribes against the Roma ethnicity, he reportedly sympathized with Progressive Slovakia (PS), although PS has stressed he was not a PS member. That is, he was associated with fascistic support for NATO in the Ukraine war against Russia.

These events are closely followed by Eastern European officials who also made limited calls for peace in Ukraine and now must wonder if they are next after Fico.

On Monday, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said, Every day that this war continues is disastrous for Ukraine, Russia and all of us. On the shooting of Fico, Radev added, The attempted assassination of a European prime minister by a radicalised fanatic, because of his support for peace, is indicative of this ingrained intolerance of dissent and hatred. Many politicians, parties and media have contributed to this with their portrayal of every different voice as pro-Russian, which is extremely unfair and leads to all these negative consequences.

Pavol Gaspar, deputy director of Slovakias SIS domestic intelligence agency, raised the possibility of state involvement in the shooting of Fico: It cannot be ruled out that we are a breeding ground for the activities of intelligence services from abroad.

Gaspar did not say which foreign spy agencies might have supported murdering Fico. However, the Kremlin, which loudly denounced Ficos shooting, had no interest in murdering one of its few allies in the European ruling elite. Suspicion therefore falls on NATO imperialist countries where the layers of the bourgeoisie are making clear their support for Ficos assassination.

In Mini-me assassination attempt will leave greatly worried Putin thinking twice, Britains Daily Star cited think-tank official Anthony Glees, who gloated, The attempted assassination of Fico will have greatly worried Putin  Fico was a Putin mini-me, which is why the would-be assassin wanted to have a go at him. Putin, as we saw from his recent re-coronation, loves to be surrounded by adoring acolytes and chums. He may now have to think twice about that.

Glees also lamented that it would be hard to murder Putin as he visited China: Alas the chances of anyone getting him in Chinas highly-developed secret police state are exceedingly slim.

After Ficos shooting, Sky News denounced Fico as controversial, foul-mouthed and sympathetic to Russias Vladimir Putin. It then attacked Ficos coalition government of ex-Stalinist social-democratic and neo-fascist parties:

All three [of Ficos] coalition parties are either leftist or nationalist and, having previously expressed anti-American views, he has spoken about what he called Western influence in Ukraines war which only led to Slavic nations killing each other. His popularity  has been based on promises to protect the living standards of those left behind in a country where conditions for many are only slowly catching up with western Europe and where many hold relatively fond memories of a communist-era past.

Opposition to social austerity and war in Slovakia is only part of the explosive social anger and opposition to military escalation against Russia among workers across Europe. Polls have found that 68 percent of Frenchmen, 80 percent of Germans and 90 percent of Poles oppose sending troops to Ukraine to fight Russia. This opposition is mounting amid student protests around the world against the NATO powers complicity in the Israeli genocide against Gaza.

There is no way out under capitalism of the mortal crisis in Slovakia over the attempted murder of Fico and ruling elites fear of civil war. The only progressive way forward is the unification of the European and international working class in a movement against imperialist war and for socialism. The political basis of such a movement is a Trotskyist perspective of an international proletarian revolution against both imperialism and Stalinisms restoration of capitalism.

Opposition to the attempted assassination of Fico and to NATO war with Russia in Ukraine does not imply any support either to the capitalist Putin regimes reactionary invasion of Ukraine, or to Ficos regime. Indeed, despite his token criticisms of war on Russia and appeals for peace, Fico has not sought to veto plans for NATO expansion or war with Russia during the Ukraine war. He served in the final analysis as a custodian of the interests of the imperialist financial and industrial conglomerates that dominate Slovak capitalism.

Workers and youth must reject the appeals of Ficos party and its rivals in the Slovak ruling elite for social peace and calm. The working class must be alerted to and unified in struggle against the danger of catastrophic escalation of the NATO-Russia war and oppose the reactionary ruling elites in the NATO countries that are waging it. Slovak media references to an explosive political crisis make clear the potential to build such a movement.

Indeed, a few weeks before the shooting of Fico, the Ukrainian regime arrested comrade Bogdan Syrotiuk, a leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YBGL), which is active across the former Soviet Union in sympathy with the International Committee of the Fourth International. It presented against comrade Bogdan charges, made on the basis of absurd political fabrications, that he was a tool of the Russian state. In reality, the YGBL advance a Trotskyist perspective for the unification of workers in Russia, Ukraine and internationally against capitalism and war.

The explosive political crisis emerging from the attempted assassination of Fico reveals an objectively revolutionary crisis emerging across Europe. The Slovak regime fears an explosion of opposition above all on its left, against imperialist war, just as the Ukrainian regime fears an explosion of mass, left-wing opposition among workers to being dragooned to death on the front lines of war with Russia.

It is urgent that comrade Bogdan be freed and an international socialist movement built against imperialism and capitalism among workers the in former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and around the world.
Mexico will hold general elections for president and other offices on June 2, five months before the general election will take place in the United States. As neighbors and principal trade partners, with a closely tied history and roughly 40 million people of Mexican origin living in the US, political developments in Mexico have a major and immediate impact in the United States, which continues to impose its politics and imperialistic interests on Mexico.

In the run-up to the US elections, the border with Mexico has witnessed the fascistic Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic President Biden outdoing each other in scapegoating and dehumanizing migrants as illegals.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Claudia Sheinbaum, Zocalo, Mexico City, Nov. 1, 2019 [Photo: Jefatura de Gobierno, Ciudad de Mexico]

The Republicans peddle a lie created out of whole cloth that immigration is somehow creating a crisis that threatens American workers, while the Democrats not only fail to challenge this lie, but embrace it.

Both parties have deployed troops to the border and threatened to shut it down, with Republican officials also threatening to invade Mexico, ostensibly to combat drug cartels.

While engaging in endless wars despite claiming to defend sovereignty, the two US ruling parties have long agreed on what amounts to a colonial policy toward Mexico and Latin America, which Washington has always considered its own backyard.

This has involved repeated US invasions, coups, backing fascist dictatorships and promoting unchecked super exploitation of countless toilers.

In pursuit of its economic war against China, the Biden administration is demanding oversight and veto power over all Mexican trade and foreign investments. And it has largely succeeded in transforming the Mexican armed forces into an extension of the US Border Patrol.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (known as AMLO) sometimes protests and demands respect from US officials, but he has submitted to the most essential US demands. Last month, AMLO enacted hundreds of new tariffs on Chinese imports and suspended all investment talks with Chinese automakers.

In office, both Trump and Biden insisted on opening the factories and letting COVID-19 run rampant. AMLO complied, sacrificing hundreds of thousands of lives and leaving 250,000 children orphaned due to the disease so far.

The Mexican constitution only permits a single presidential term. AMLO has anointed his protege and former Mexico City government head, Claudia Sheinbaum, as his replacement.

The main opposition candidate, Bertha Xochitl Galvez, is running on the slate of an electoral alliance called Strength and Heart for Mexico that includes the three traditional parties of the Mexican oligarchy.

The conservative right National Action Party (PAN) ended seven decades of uninterrupted rule under the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in 2000, while the Party for Democratic Revolution (PRD) was formed by a faction of PRI claiming to represent a social-democratic alternative. In 2012, the three parties established a Pact for Mexico backing major social cuts, privatizations and other policies preparing a deeper subordination of Mexico to foreign capital. This was accompanied by widespread corruption and police state repression.

As a result, the PRI-PAN-PRD coalition behind Galvez is widely hated in the working class and trails behind Sheinbaum by over 25 points in most polls.

Galvez, a self-promoting tech millionaire, also bungled her debate appearances and infamously slighted her opponent Sheinbaum for renting rather than buying an apartment, declaring, if youve reached 60 and not acquired an estate, you are a real dumbass.

AMLO himself was a leading member of the PRI, helped to form the PRD in the late 1980s and became its most prominent figure after Cuahtemoc Cardenas. The PRD quickly became exposed as merely a new face for increasingly discredited capitalist rule.

Subservience to the right-wing political establishment, the so-called war on drugs and pro-investor Pact for Mexico were fatal for the credibility of the PRD. In response, Lopez Obrador established the Movement for National Regeneration (Morena) as the next political trap for Mexican workers.

Sheinbaum entered politics in 2000 as Secretary of Environment for AMLO, who was the head of government of Mexico City. She is an energy engineer known for her prior climate change research and has vowed to faithfully continue what AMLO has called the Fourth Transformation of Mexicoa slogan that has sought to differentiate his populist policies from those of his predecessors.

Despite the rhetoric, this has amounted to little more than a handful of social assistance programs, supplemental pensions and small increases in the minimum wage. As Sheinbaum has recognized, these measures were not opposed by the ruling class.

They were a small price for giving a facelift to the Mexican capitalist state, particularly at a time when soldiers and police were violently suppressing mass protests against inequality.

Speaking for Wall Street, Forbes described AMLOs election as a window of opportunity. Through his demagogy, AMLO suppressed opposition to major corporate tax cuts and a massive buildup of the armed forces. This has included the creation of a new military body, the National Guard, and the enshrinement in the constitution of the domestic deployment of troops. This, after his promise to send troops back to the barracks was a major reason for his 2018 elections victory.

Poverty under AMLO dropped only slightly and remained widespread, assuring a continued supply of cheap labor for transnational corporations. The government reports that 70 out of 100 Mexicans with a job make less than 14,935 pesos (US$870) per month, which falls well below the 18,064 pesos required to cover the basic needs of an average family of four.

Meanwhile, Mexican billionaires have seen their wealth surge 47 percent under AMLOs government. Little wonder that Mexico and Latin Americas wealthiest man, Carlos Slim Helu, with a net worth of $105 billion, or about 7 percent of Mexico's GDP, has been on cozy terms with him.

The real transformation of Mexico under AMLO has been the consolidation of its role as a cheap labor source of Wall Streets super profits, a critical North American platform for the US waging war against nuclear-armed Russia and China.

Like Biden, AMLO has relied on the union bureaucracy to police the working class and suppress its struggles.

In early 2019, tens of thousands of workers involved in wildcat strikes at auto parts, electronics and other key US suppliers in Matamoros walked to the border with Brownsville, Texas to call to American workers to wake up and join them in a struggle against the transnational corporations and union bureaucracies in both countries.

So-called independent unions allied with AMLO and sponsored by the AFL-CIO and US government parachuted in to channel the movement behind a 20 percent raise and a $1,655 bonus, while letting corporations fire thousands as a reprisal. Shaken by the strikes, the Mexican president fast-tracked a supposed labor reform demanded by the US and Canadian governments to facilitate the registration and acceptance of such independent unions loyal to the State Department.

The American union bureaucracy acts at the behest of US imperialism directly and through its trained bureaucrats in Mexico by isolating workers from their most important class allies internationally and maintaining the race to the. bottom used by corporations to cut wages, jobs and conditions.

Now both Galvez and Sheinbaum propose keeping foreign migrant workers against their will within Mexico, in order to use their desperate and vulnerable situation as a means of pressuring wages down further.

None of these policies are in the slightest interest of the Mexican or the US working class.

The fight against war, and all attacks on democratic rights, jobs and living standards in the United States, is at the same time a struggle against the centuries-long imperialist oppression of Mexico and Latin America, which for the United States is what Austria and the Sudeten were for Hitler, as Leon Trotsky wrote a year before World War II.

The presidential campaign of the Socialist Equality Party in the United States has called upon workers, whether living south or north of the US-Mexico border, to break from all capitalist parties and their partners in the trade union apparatuses. They have nothing to offer the working class other than continuing war and economic oppression.

Workers must instead turn to their class brothers and sisters across the border and internationally to build a political movement for world socialism.
On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of members of the House of Representatives called on the White House to formally authorize Ukraine to use US-provided weapons to strike inside Russian territory, a move that Russian officials had previously warned would trigger war between Russia and NATO.

The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) [AP Photo/John Hamilton/U.S. Army]

Five Democratic members of CongressLinda Sanchez, Rick Larsen, Brendan Boyle, Jason Crow and Andre Carsonjoined five RepublicansDarin LaHood, Neal Dunn, Brian Fitzpatrick, French Hill and Austin Scottin demanding the action.

The immediate context of the call for expanding US involvement in the war is a series of major setbacks for the Ukrainian armed forces amid a Russian offensive in Kharkiv. According to the BBC, Russian troops simply walked in over unguarded Ukrainian defensive lines.

Earlier this month, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron told Reuters that British-supplied long-range missiles could be used by Ukraine to strike Russian territory. When asked if the UK was allowing long-range weapons it provided to Ukraine to be used to strike inside Russia, he replied, Thats a decision for Ukraine, and Ukraine has that right.

In April, the Biden administration confirmed that it had secretly sent Ukraine long-range missiles capable of striking at a distance of over 190 miles. Ukraine used these weapons to carry out a strike on an airbase in Crimea earlier this month. The weapons were also used to attack the Port of Berdiansk on the Sea of Azov.

Confirming that the US secretly provided the weapons in March, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, They are now in Ukraine and have been in Ukraine for some time.

In May 2022, Biden declared, We are not encouraging or enabling Ukraine to strike beyond its borders. In September 2022, Biden declared, Were not going to send to Ukraine rocket systems that strike into Russia.

It is becoming clear that, as with previous moves in which the White House crossed the red lines it has set for its own involvement in Ukraine, this series of announcements is merely preparation for the official announcement that the US will allow US weapons to be used to strike inside Russia.

The trailer for such an announcement came during Secretary of State Antony Blinkens trip to Ukraine, in which he declared, Weve not enabled or encouraged strikes outside of Ukraine, but ultimately, Ukraine has to make decisions for itself about how its going to conduct this war.

In an article published Wednesday, David Sanger of the New York Times wrote that this statement was part of a debate within the White House over removing all restrictions on the use of US-supplied weapons in Ukraine.

Strikingly, Sanger, a leading conduit for the US military/intelligence apparatus, framed this debate as being over not just arcane rules of engagement but over the merits of whether the Biden administration should avoid World War III.

The Times wrote:

Since the first American shipments of sophisticated weapons to Ukraine, President Biden has never wavered on one prohibition: President Volodymyr Zelensky had to agree to never fire them into Russian territory, insisting that would violate Mr. Bidens mandate to avoid World War III. But the consensus around that policy is fraying. Propelled by the State Department, there is now a vigorous debate inside the administration over relaxing the ban to allow the Ukrainians to hit missile and artillery launch sites just over the border in Russiatargets that Mr. Zelensky says have enabled Moscows recent territorial gains.

It concluded:

The proposal, pressed by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken after a sobering visit to Kyiv last week, is still in the formative stages, and it is not clear how many of his colleagues among Mr. Bidens inner circle have signed on. It has not yet been formally presented to the president, who has traditionally been the most cautious, officials said.

The broader context of the debate over Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia is far-reaching plans for the deployment of NATO troops openly in Ukraine. Last week, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Q. Brown told the Times that the NATO military alliance will eventually send significant numbers of active-duty NATO troops to Ukraine, which the newspaper said meant the deployment was inevitable.

The Times article by Sanger gives more details on these plans:

The United States is now considering training Ukrainian troops inside the country, rather than sending them to a training ground in Germany. That would require putting American military personnel in Ukraine, something else that Mr. Biden has prohibited until now. It raises the question of how the United States would respond if the trainers, who would likely be based near the western city of Lviv, came under attack.

In response to Camerons declarations that Ukraine is free to use NATO weapons to attack Russia, combined with calls by French President Emmanuel Macron that NATO should consider deploying its own troops to Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced earlier this month that Russia would carry out a series of nuclear training exercises near its border with Ukraine.

While both the US and Russia have used nuclear exercises as threats, typically these threats are veiled, and the exercises are framed as long-planned events and not short-term responses to actions taken by the other side. But in announcing these drills, the Kremlin made it clear that they were a response to provocative statements and threats of individual Western officials.

The drills officially began on Tuesday, with the Kremlins Southern Military District troops practicing combat training tasks of obtaining special ammunition for the Iskander operational-tactical missile system, equipping launch vehicles with them, and covertly advancing to the designated position area in preparation for missile launches.

The Kremlin added that the troops involved in the exercise practice equipping aviation weapons with special warheads, including the Kinzhal aeroballistic hypersonic missiles, and flying into designated patrol areas.

In framing the debate about whether to allow Ukraine to use NATO weapons to strike inside Russia, Sanger explained that at least some within the administration believe the action could trigger a nuclear war. Sanger wrote:

In an interview with The New York Times this week, Mr. Zelensky dismissed fears of escalation, saying President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia had already escalated the war. And he thought it unlikely that Mr. Putin would ever make good on his threat to unleash a nuclear weapon. Mr. Biden and some of his aides are clearly not convinced. Over the past year, they have said they believe there is some red line out there that would unleash a more severe reaction from Mr. Putin. They just dont know exactly where that is, or what the reaction might be.

In other words, the White House, unbeknownst to the American population, is preparing a course of action with the most staggering and far-reaching consequences imaginable.
Around 50,000 Canada Post workers have been labouring without a contract for over three months thanks to the connivance of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) with company management to block a struggle against the companys sweeping concession demands.

The fight that postal workers must wage is above all political, since the push by management to make Canada Post profitable at the expense of its workers is backed to the hilt by the Trudeau Liberal government and its trade union allies, including the CUPW bureaucracy.

Striking Canada Post workers during their 2018 campaign of rotating strikes, which was criminalized by the Trudeau Liberal government.

In a calculated move to give its vast restructuring plans some legitimacy, Canada Post decided to announce massive financial losses in the midst of ongoing bargaining. The more than $700 million lost in the past year and $3 billion over the past six years are intended to intimidate workers into accepting attacks on wages, further increases to already unbearable workloads, a maintenance of the ruthless regime of management harassment that pervades mail sorting depots, the gutting of seniority rights, the elimination of job protection, and the use of new technologies to ratchet up exploitation. Canada Post management is threatening to end daily mail delivery, a proposal that the Liberal government has said it will consider.

Canada Posts losses are in fact small change compared to the vast sums the union-backed Liberal government is making available without batting an eyelid to rearm Canadas military and wage war around the world. Canadian imperialisms recent defence policy update includes a plan to increase defence spending from around $32 billion currently to $49 billion by the end of the decadean increase that could write off Canada Posts losses for the past six years some six times over. Over $10 billion has been made available to the fascistic Ukrainian regime in the form of weapons and financial guarantees as it sacrifices the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian workers to continue a war against Russia spearheaded by American imperialism with Canadian and European imperialist support.

Canada Posts losses are also dwarfed by the $600 billion made available to Bay Street and corporate Canada at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Liberal government and Bank of Canada in consultation with employer organizations, the Canadian Labour Congress, and its mouthpiece in the New Democratic Party (NDP).

The problem is not a lack of funds. Rather, it is that the corporatist tripartite alliance of Canada Post management, the CUPW bureaucracy, and Trudeau government agree that the crown corporation must be run as a profit-making concern. Ever since Canada Post was created as a crown corporation in 1981, the union bureaucracy has agreed that postal workers jobs, wages and working conditions must be subordinated to Canada Posts bottom line. This has gone hand-in-hand with their repeated capitulation to and enforcement of anti-strike laws.

In 2011, CUPW bowed to the Harper Conservative governments back-to-work legislation then helped impose a five-year concessions-filled contract that included a two-tier pay and benefit regime. In 2015, left-talking CUPW president Mike Palecek stumped for the election of the Trudeau government, claiming that the progressive Liberals would be more worker-friendly. In 2018, after Palecek and the CUPW bureaucracy smothered a push by postal workers for an all-out strike and limited job action to toothless rotating strikes, the Trudeau government rammed through a back-to-work law that neither the CUPW nor the Canadian Labour Congress lifted a finger to oppose.

It is clear that the Trudeau Liberals will move to quickly criminalize any mobilization of postal workers in an all-out strike, especially if workers striveas they must, if they are to prevailto make it the spearhead of a broader working class mobilization against concessions, austerity, and war. This is a government that threatened to use the full force of the state to criminalize a strike by over 7,000 dockers last summer, accusing them of endangering the national interest. The only reason that the Trudeau government did not have to deploy the police and courts to discipline the striking workers was that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) did the governments dirty work by collaborating with the unelected Canada Industrial Relations Board to enforce a strike ban in all but name and impose corporate Canadas demands.

Immediately thereafter, Labour Minister Seamus ORegan announced plans to prohibit strikes at the ports and in other critical economic sectors. Earlier this month, ORegan made good on his threat, indefinitely banning a threatened strike by over 9,300 Canadian National Rail and Canada Pacific Kansas City rail workers. The strike ban goes hand-in-hand with the Liberal governments leading role in criminalizing anti-genocide protests across the country, including by smearing participants opposed to Israels slaughter of the Palestinians as antisemites.

While it has been crushing workers struggles and hiking military spending, Trudeaus Liberals have relied on the unstinting support of the New Democrats. The union-funded NDP secures the parliamentary majority necessary for the minority government to continue in office under a confidence and supply agreement. The support of the CLC, whose former President, Hassan Yussuff, was appointed by Trudeau to a lucrative position in the Senate for services rendered to the ruling class, has never wavered.

This lineup takes place because the material interests of those leading the unions, the CUPW included, correspond with the interests of big business, not the workers they claim to represent. They back austerity for public services, attacks on workers pay and conditions, and the waging of imperialist war because they believe that these policies will protect their six-figure salaries and corporatist ties with business executives and the state.

CUPW provides a glaring example of this process. The CUPW bureaucracy argues that Canada Posts financial crisis can be overcome by increasing revenues so that it becomes more profitable. Therefore, it appeals to management to laden already overburdened postal workers with additional tasks, such as serving as bank tellers for a utopian postal banking scheme or retraining as community carers to pay visits to the elderly and other vulnerable people.

The well-paid CUPW officials are hostile to a struggle to secure the postal service as a fully funded public utility so as to guarantee good wages and secure jobs for all. They oppose it because such a struggle would necessitate mobilizing the support of public and private-sector workers, including rail workers recently robbed of their right to strike, autoworkers, healthcare workers, and educators, in a unified worker-led counter-offensive.

Workers could then fight for well-funded public services for all and end the looting of societys resources by the corporate elite and Canadian imperialisms war machine. This struggle must of necessity confront head on the political alliance between the union bureaucracy, Liberals, and NDP, which CUPW wants to defend at all costs.

The corporatist alliance stretches beyond Canadas borders. The Trudeau government cooperates closely with the Biden administration on the suppression of workers struggles and the integration of the union bureaucracy into ruling-class policy making and implementation. Just this week, Trudeau met with US Vice President Kamala Harris on the sidelines of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) convention in Philadelphia. The meeting followed a roundtable organized at Bidens explicit request by the US ambassador in Canada in February involving ORegan and several top union bureaucrats. These meetings, the contents of which are kept secret from workers and the public at large, enable politicians on both sides of the border to coordinate their efforts to smother workers struggles, and advance a pro-war protectionist North American economic policy as the basis for fighting a global conflict against Canadian and US imperialisms rivals.

The response of Canada Post workers to this cross-border conspiracy must be to establish their own links with powerful allies internationally. The same attacks on pay and conditions experienced by Canada Post workers are confronting US Postal Service (USPS) workers and logistics workers at UPS and other private providers. So-called dynamic routing, which would abolish route ownership for Canada Post employees, has been enforced at USPS for years with the aim of saving hundreds of millions of dollars.

Postal workers must combine this international strategy with the fight to mobilize all sections of workers across Canada in defence of public services and the transformation of Canada Post into a fully funded public utility under workers control. Postal workers must have the final say over how new technologies are deployed and operational procedures changed so that they can ease workloads, improve postal delivery, and protect pay and benefits for all. It is not new technology that threatens the livelihoods of postal workers, but the profit-driven interests of the ruling elite that currently determine its deployment.

A precondition for waging this fight is the establishment of workers political and organizational independence from the nationalist, pro-capitalist CUPW bureaucracy. This can only take place through the building of rank-and-file committees at every Canada Post depot across the country. These committees will place control over the contract struggle in the hands of workers on the shop floor and create the conditions for postal workers to break out of the pro-employer collective bargaining straitjacket and appeal for a unified struggle with all workers against the Liberal/NDP/union alliance. Rank-and-file committees of postal workers can also develop their struggle into a global offensive of workers against capitalist austerity and war by joining the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees and adopting a socialist program to end the subordination of societys needs to the pursuit of corporate profit. We strongly appeal to all postal and logistics workers ready to conduct such a fight to fill out the form below.
Police advance on pro-Palestinian demonstrators in an encampment on the UCLA campus, May 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. [AP Photo/Jae C. Hong]

The request for a court injunction against the anti-genocide strike at the University of California is a major attack on the rights of the entire working class, which must mobilize to defend the academic workers.

On Monday, 2,000 workers at UC Santa Cruz, members of United Auto Workers Local 4811, launched a strike against the brutal crackdown on pro-Palestinian encampments, which included arrests of UAW members. The walkout followed an overwhelming strike vote last week among all 48,000 Local 4811 members across all 10 UC campuses.

As the WSWS explained, the strike is a major step forward in the anti-war movement because it poses the entry of the working class into the struggle as the basic political force against war. The attempt to ban the strike shows this danger is also recognized by the ruling class.

After filing a request for the court injunction Tuesday, the UC administration issued a press release claiming that the strike is illegal because its goal is to pressure the University to concede to a list of politically motivated demands. Last week, after a separate filing with a state labor relations board, a university spokesman said, Particularly in todays climate, if workers can strike against genocide, then the Universityand every other public agency in Californiawould face constant strikes advancing political and/or social viewpoints.

The UC administration is not just speaking for itself, but the entire ruling class, especially the Biden White House. The ruling class not only wants to defeat the insurgency of academic workers, who as a matter of fact have every legal right to strike in the wake of militarized police rampages throughout their campuses, violations of basic democratic freedoms across the board and a raging witch-hunt against all dissent.

They also want to utilize the strike to set a precedent that can be used against any organized activity by the working class that attempts to infringe on what the UC administration calls non-labor issues.

If an injunction is granted, it will have implications far beyond the current strike of academic workers. Political strikes, according to this legal theory, are categorically illegalbut all strikes are political in the sense that they represent a challenge of the working class to the policies of the capitalist oligarchy.

This legal theory would justify, for example, banning strikes by teachers demanding adequate funding for schools, or by nurses demanding funding for healthcare, both of which are being starved to pay for war and Wall Street profits. Wildcat strikes against let it rip pandemic policies, such as those which broke out in 2020 in the auto industry, could also be banned, according to this theory.

The attempt to ban the UC strike is the latest move aimed at ripping up workers basic rights. In 2020, then-President Donald Trump signed an executive order to keep the meatpacking industry open during the peak of the pandemic, as protests and wildcat strikes spread against the infection and deaths of tens of thousands of workers and community members. Two years ago Biden and Congress banned a strike by railroad workers on national security grounds.

The immense stake of the working class as a whole in this strike means the whole working class must mobilize to defend itself against attacks by the police and the state apparatus, whether or not the injunction is granted. Workers must organize broad actions, uniting the developing opposition to inequality and exploitation with opposition to war and the defense of democratic rights.

In the first instance, academic workers must respond by expanding the strike immediately across all 10 campuses. The rank and file must organize actions without waiting for permission from the UAW bureaucracy, which is deliberately isolating the strike, to do something that they already authorized.

It is especially important for autoworkers, who are also UAW members, to come to the defense of their brothers and sisters. Rank-and-file committees, completely independent of the bureaucracy, must be formed to establish lines of communication and prepare coordinated nationwide actions.

Every right ever won by workers came in a struggle not just against management but against the class justice of government by injunction. As has always been the case, the issue will ultimately be resolved not in the courts but in the factories, railroads and other workplaces.

The move towards dictatorship is also a global issue. Yesterday, German police violently attacked pro-Gaza protesters at Humboldt University in Berlin, just a short distance away from where the Nazis burned books in the 1930s. Across Europe, America and around the world, fascism is being promoted by the ruling class in answer to the growing move to the left among workers and youth.

While the ruling class demands workers yield to the injunctions of capitalist courts, their own actions are dominated by complete lawlessness. Genocide and even nuclear war are being openly proclaimed as legitimate foreign policy tools.

Even while the injunction application was being filed, both Biden and the Republicans were reacting hysterically to the application for an arrest warrant in the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Not only have they said they would defy such a warrant, they have said they would retaliate against the ICC itself.

The genocide in Gaza is part of an emerging Third World War, in which the US and its imperialist allies are trying to offset their economic decline through unrestricted military violence in pursuit of world domination. Another even more dangerous front is the proxy war in Ukraine, which raises the danger of a nuclear holocaust. Bidens decision to slap trade war tariffs on Chinese goods is a step towards opening a third front in the Asia-Pacific.

Such policies cannot be imposed democratically but only through dictatorship to force all of society on a war footing.

A key element in the fight against war is a struggle against the union bureaucracy. The Biden administration is using the pro-corporate bureaucracy, which has enforced sellouts for decades, to control the working class. This is also how the bureaucracy sees itself. In a Supreme Court case in 2018, a union lawyer argued the purpose of the unions was to prevent an untold specter of labor unrest throughout the country.

As with all the major trade unions, the UAW functions as an extension of the Biden White House. They are deliberately sabotaging the UC strike by limiting it to a single campus. They responded to the injunction by suggesting they might call out another campus on Fridayby which time the strike may already have been banned. The inescapable conclusion is that this is an outcome the bureaucracy would welcome.

In the meantime, the UAW is working behind the scenes for an agreement with the university to shut down the protests, which would amount to an injunction in all but name.

The descent into world war and fascism can only be stopped by the independent intervention of the working class. In the first place, this requires the development of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). Workers must form new organizationsuncontrolled by the apparatus and not subordinated to the pro-war policieswhich give them the ability to enforce their democratic will.

But this has to be connected to the deeper revolutionary movement against capitalism. Whether it is the kings and queens of old Europe, the Slave Power in the American South or the modern-day capitalist oligarchy, attacks on free speech and assembly have revolutionary implications. They are invariably carried out by bankrupt social orders incapable of dealing peacefully with the challenge from below.

Both the genocide and the lengths taken to defend it from popular opposition prove that capitalism cannot be reformed but only overthrown and replaced with socialism, where the world is run not for profits and war but human need. That is the task of the international working class.

On Saturday at 4:00 p.m. US Eastern Time, the World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) are holding a public meeting, Mobilize the working class to defend the University of California strike against genocide! Register for the event here.
A UPS subcontractor died after falling into a garbage compactor in Dallas, Texas last Thursday. Juan Chavez, 68, was a vendor for UPS. At 10:55 a.m. local time the Dallas Fire-Rescue received a call about an industrial accident involving a person who fell into the trash compactor at the UPS facility at 10155 Monroe Drive. When first responders arrived they pronounced Chavez dead at the scene. As of this writing, no details have been released about the death of Chavez and how the accident occurred. UPS has stated that it is working with authorities to investigate the cause of the tragic accident.

A UPS driver unloads packages from a truck and arranges them for delivery. [AP Photo/Mark Lennihan]

Chavez is not the only UPS worker or contractor who has died on the job this year. In February, 46-year-old Dallas Carroll died at UPSs Worldport facility in Louisville, Kentucky after being hit by a vehicle. He was also pronounced dead at the scene and few details have been published on the exact cause of the incident.

Last Friday, another UPS worker was killed while driving his truck. Expedito Cuesta De Leon, 50, was shot and killed in his vehicle. According to officials, surveillance footage shows a pick-up truck pull up next to De Leons UPS truck before driving off. Three hours later police arrested Rhean Fontanoza, another UPS employee, for the murder of De Leon following a standoff just 15 miles away from where De Leon was shot. Police stated that the two were acquaintances but had not established a motive.

Another UPS driver, Julie Reed, was killed in a car crash and vehicle fire on April 23 in Scotts County, Indiana. A three-vehicle crash on Interstate-65 resulted in a fire in Reids truck, though the exact cause of death has not been reported.

Deaths and injuries among UPS workers are a common occurrence. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), UPS has had the highest number of reported severe injuries between January 1, 2015 and May 31, 2022, at 1,142. This is double that of second-place Walmart with 571.

Many of these are the result of motor vehicle accidents. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were 2,943 crashes involving a UPS vehicle between July 17, 2020 and July 17, 2022. These included 1,069 accidents resulting in injury, 1,802 accidents resulting in a vehicle being towed from the scene, and 72 accidents involving a fatality.

Transportation, including trucking and delivery, is the leading cause of fatal work incidents. In 2022, there were 1,620 deaths from transportation and material moving, 30 percent of all fatal occupational injuries by industrial sector.

Workplace fatalities are down from two decades ago but have seen a concerning resurgence in recent years. In 2021, there were 5,189 occupational injury deaths in the US, down from 5,575 in 2003. Deaths declined to their lowest point this century in 2009, at 4,551, and stayed fairly consistent over the next few years. However, since 2014, deaths have steadily increased, with a notable decline in 2020 when workplaces were shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fatal work accidents rebounded quickly the following year as COVID restrictions were dismantled and economic activity returned to normal.

Additionally, such figures only account for fatalities on the job and do not track the thousands of additional deaths each year from prolonged exposure to workplace hazards. A report on workplace safety by the AFL-CIO, titled Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, found that an average of 343 workers die every day from causes related to working in hazardous working conditions. These figures do not include deaths from COVID-infected workplaces.

The deaths and the even greater numbers of workplace injuries every year rarely result in any meaningful consequences for employers. OSHA fines typically only reach up to $14,502 for high-gravity violations. If an employer is found to have repeatedly violated safety regulations, they can be fined up to $145,027, but this pales in comparison to the profits companies can bring in from cutting back on workplace safety.

In any case, employers regularly challenge the fines, leading to their reduction. When the cost of a workers life is less than the cost of implementing meaningful safety measures, fines for safety violations are simply viewed as the cost of doing business.

OSHA also has far too few inspectors to keep up with the violations of employers. Including state partners, OSHA has only 1,850 inspectors for 8 million workplaces employing 130 million workers, or one inspector for every 70,000 workers. Even if OSHA wanted to it would be impossible to properly enforce all workplace safety regulations at every workplace. According to the AFL-CIO report, OSHAs current workforce would take 186 years to inspect every workplace in the United States.

The increase in deadly conditions at UPS have been overseen by the Teamsters Union, which operates joint health and safety committees with corporate management. On its website, the company boasts:

Working closely with the Teamsters, UPS created an innovative safety committee platform known as the Comprehensive Health & Safety Process (CHSP) where union-represented employees work hand in hand with management to conduct facility and equipment audits, recommend work process changes and provide safety compliance training. There are more than 3,200 CHSP committees in UPS facilities globally and more than 2,700 in the U.S.

Far from protecting the lives and limbs of workers, these joint labor-management committees are completely subordinated to the profit drive of the corporation. At the same time, they provide cushy positions for labor bureaucrats.

The betrayal of the last contract battle by the Teamsters for a Democratic Union-backed Sean OBrien administration will only worsen conditions. Workers have long reported that understaffing and overwork are the primary causes of workplace accidents. The deal signed by the Teamsters bureaucracy has given the green light to UPS to close hundreds of locations, destroy thousands of jobs, and replace workers with automation. A reduction in the workforce will inevitably be met with demands for higher work speeds and longer work hours, both known to increase the risk of injury and death.

According to the National Safety Council, the rate of injury for workers increases substantially the more hours worked in a week. At 31-40 hours in a week, there is an injury rate of 2.45 incidents per 100 workers. Between 41 and 50 hours the rate increases to 3.45, at 51-60 to 3.71, and above 60 hours worked in a week to 4.34 incidents per 100 workers.

Such figures can only be exacerbated by the corporate assault on jobs and the drive to extract increased profit from the working class.

Securing the health and safety of workers is the task of rank-and-file workers themselves. This means expanding the UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee to transfer power from the Teamsters apparatus to workers in the warehouses and trucks. In every workplace, rank-and-file committees must oversee line speeds and health and safety, and reserve the right to shut down unsafe operations.

For more information on the UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee, fill out the form below.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The works on conducting professional trainings for hotel staff the cities of Baku, Sumgayit and Absheron region have been launched in preparation for COP29, Deputy Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan Azada Huseynova said, Trend reports.

She made the statement during the press conference on the accommodation of foreign guests and the presentation of tourism opportunities during COP29.

In the cities of Baku and Sumgayit, as well as in the Absheron region, work has begun on professional training for about 2,000 employees of about 300 hotels to improve the quality of service. Moreover, we will train 200 tourist guides, issue relevant certificates, and about 1,000 tourism volunteers will be assigned to the hotels for support, she said.

To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,00080,000 foreign guests.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A total of 198 countries are parties to the convention. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
On May 24, 1924, following an overwhelming bipartisan vote in Congress, President Calvin Coolidge signed into law an immigration law that Nazi jurists would reference in drafting the Nuremberg Race Laws and that Adolf Hitler would praise in Mein Kampf.

There is currently one state in which one can observe at least weak beginnings of a better conception about immigration, Hitler wrote. This is of course not [Germany], but the American Union The American Union categorically refuses the immigration of physically unhealthy elements, and simply excludes the immigration of certain races.

The Immigration Act of 1924 (also referred to as the National Origins Act or the Johnson-Reed Act for its congressional architects) fundamentally altered the demographics of the United States in the 40 years it remained on the books. By restricting immigration almost to zero from Southern and Eastern Europe based on a national origins quota tied to 1890 census figures (a justification to exempt immigrants from racially pure Northern Europe) and by maintaining the exclusion on immigration from Asia and Africa, the law reduced the proportion of the American population born outside the US from roughly 15 percent at the time of its passage to just 5 percent at the time of its repeal in 1965.

President Calvin Coolidge signing the Immigration Act on the White House South Lawn, May 24, 1924

The Johnson-Reed Act has been singled out for praise by the architects of Donald Trumps fascistic attacks on immigrants. In 2015, Trumps future Attorney General Jeff Sessions denounced the presence of foreign born in the United States during a radio appearance with fascist Steven Bannon: In 1924, the president and Congress changed the policy, and it slowed down immigration significantly Were on a path to surge far past what the situation was in 1924. In a series of emails published by the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2019, Trumps immigration adviser Stephen Miller repeatedly upheld the 1924 Act as a model for federal immigration policy.

The Trump wing of the ruling class is not alone in advancing policies that mimic the restrictive character of the 1924 Act. The Biden administration has closed the southern border, imposed blanket bans on asylum, and recently argued before the US Supreme Court that the executive branch may permanently separate citizens from their immigrant spouses without any due process. The minimal press coverage of the centenary of the act has focused only on its explicitly racist character, with the Washington Post referring to the act as an effort to circle the wagons around some ancestral White American identity.

But any appraisal of the contemporary significance of the Johnson-Reed Act is incomplete without understanding it was a highly conscious attack by American imperialism on the international working classthat it was a reaction to the threat of revolution. The nationalist, racist and antisemitic character of both parties justifications for race-based restrictions on immigration gives a sense of the forces of extreme political reaction on which the ruling class relies to suppress the threat of socialism from below. This is the essential thread connecting the policies of Coolidge with those of Trump and Biden.

The impetus for the 1924 Act: Much of the world is in revolution

In his 1920 speech accepting the Republican nomination for president, Warren G. Harding issued an urgent warning to the political establishment: Much of the world is in revolution. The international socialist movement, after seizing power in the Russian Revolution of 1917, lighted their torches among other peoples, and hopes to see America as part of the great Red conflagration.

The revolutionary tide inspired by the October Revolution, and given political direction by the newly formed Communist International, had spread far beyond the borders of Russia. Revolutionary upheavals swept across Europe, including in Germany, Hungary, Finland, Italy and elsewhere. In the United States, 1919-20 saw the largest strike wave in American history, bringing together workers of various national backgrounds in a series of powerful struggles. The ruling class responded by escalating a ruthless crackdown on democratic rights initiated by Democratic President Woodrow Wilson, whose administration jailed socialist leader Eugene Debs for opposing the First World War and orchestrated a series of immigration raids aimed at deporting socialist immigrants, directed by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer. The Harding administration pledged to intensify the reaction. Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, who would play a prominent role in the passage of the Immigration Act of 1924, declared: We must be now and forever for Americanism and Nationalism, and against internationalism.

An October, 1919 Pittsburgh newspaper appeals to immigrant workers in multiple languages to give up the Great Steel Strike

In 1921, Congress passed an emergency immigration act which first implemented the national origins quota system that would be extended and made permanent in the 1924 Act. Immigration historian William Bernard explains that business organizations which had supported immigration as a source of cheap labor began demanding a crackdown: For the first time important sections of Big Business, as a result of the fear that immigrants might propagate the ideas of the Russian Revolution, took a stand for the restriction of immigration.

To advance their campaign against immigrant workers, the Democratic and Republican parties came to rely upon the most backward and reactionary segments of society. Calls for restricting immigration were supported by the renascent Ku Klux Klan and slightly more respectable societies such as the Immigration Restriction League, which promoted pseudo-scientific racist views about the mental and physical inferiority of non-Anglo immigrants. The campaign to restrict immigration was likewise supported by many Progressive reformers, the leadership of the American Federation of Labor and prominent black capitalist Booker T. Washington, who said, the Negro [is] more like the southern white man, more willing and able to observe the ideas of the culture of the white man [than] any other race which is now coming into the country.

Among the evidence offered by anti-immigrant activists to Congress in support of immigration restrictions were a series of reports from US State Department officials led by the virulently racist head of the consular division, Wilbur Carr.

The reports, which were requested by Congressman Johnson, give a sense of the forces upon which the American ruling class relied: Sicilian immigrants are described by State Department officials as inimical to the best interests of the United States For the most part they are small in stature and of a low order of intelligence. Jewish refugees from Poland and Russia are described as filthy, un-American. And often dangerous in their habits, filthy and ignorant and the majority are verminous, decidedly inferior, and comprised largely of Bolshevik sympathizers and political and labor agitators. In response to these reports, the New York Times editorial board expressed shock: American institutions are menaced by swarms of aliens bringing diseases of ignorance and Bolshevism as well as loathsome diseases of the flesh.

Sicilian immigrants arriving at Ellis Island in 1905, photographed by Lewis Hine. Italian immigration was virtually ended by the Immigration Act of 1924.

Dan Okrent, who reviews this material carefully in his excellent book The Guarded Gate, summarizes: There it was, reproduced in House Report 1109, 66th Congress, 3rd Session, issued from the Government Printing Officean official document from the Department of State that, in its assignment of both specific and generalized deficiencies to particular ethnic groups, essentially confirmed what the scientific racists had long argued.

In his book Hitlers American Model, Yale law professor James Q. Whitman explains: The reality is that the Nazis took a sustained, significant, and sometimes even eager interest in the American example in race law when Nazis rejected the American example, it was sometimes because they thought that American practices were overly harsh: for Nazis of the early 1930s, even radical ones, American race law sometimes looked too racist.

The impact of the Act

The bipartisan attack on immigrants met with substantial opposition within the working class. Daniel Tichenor explains in Dividing Lines: The Politics of Immigration Control in America that the AFLs support for restrictions took place only after heated debate and a sharply divided vote among the AFLs rank and file. Publications of the Communist Party from the spring of 1924 show advertisements for monster mass rallies against the bill.

But by that year, a period of global reaction had set in. The revolutionary offensive of 1919-23 had been defeated, in particular by the suppression of the German revolutions of 1921 and 23. The same process strengthened the bureaucratic apparatus in the Soviet Union.

WSWS contributor Tom Mackaman notes in his book New Immigrants and the Radicalization of American Labor, 1914-1924 that in the early 1920s, new immigrants found themselves caught in a dual reaction, in new world and old. In most states of Eastern and Southern Europe, by the late 1920s, revolutionary movements had failed and fascist, royalist, or military dictatorship had come to power Even the Soviet Union and its Comintern, by 1923, were caught in the ebb tide of revolution, which found expression in the gradual consolidation of bureaucratic power under Joseph Stalin.

In the decades that followed, the US government employed the 1924 Immigration Act to bar countless immigrants from Europe and Asia. During the 1930s, the State Department systematically used the 1924 Acts restrictions to prohibit European Jews from escaping Nazi Germany. Tichenor explains in Dividing Lines that the State Department abused the public charge provision of immigration law (which barred admission to immigrants unable to prove they have sufficient financial resources to avoid reliance on social programs or charity) to deny entry to Jewish immigrants whose wealth had been confiscated by the Nazis:

Refugee advocates demonstrated that Jewish immigration admissions in fact declined in the months following FDRs 1934 instructions to consular officers. The Immigration Bureau, which became the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) under a 1933 executive order, assumed a similar stance when it informed all of its personnel serving at American consuls overseas that the economic situation continued to dictate a rigid application of the public-charge clause. Consular officials required Jews to present letters from bankers or other reputable persons of their native country attesting to their good character, irrespective of whether they were subject to official persecution. In addition, American consuls were urged to share information about excluded aliens so that cases would not be reheard at a different consular office. There is no appeal from the consuls [initial] decision, Washington officials told inspectors. As the New York Times reported, German Jews faced double barriers since U.S. consuls required evidence of economic self-sufficiency while Nazi officials prevented emigres from removing capital from Germany.

The Immigration Act of 1924 reverberated beyond American borders, playing a role in the Holocaustand in the rise of Zionism. It is estimated that more than 2 million Jews arrived in the US between 1880-1920, part of a still larger wave of immigrants from Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, and Hungary. After the Immigration Act, these countries were given a quota of roughly 11,000 spots per year, combined.

As a direct result, masses of Jews who would otherwise have emigrated to the US to join relativesimmigrants who had contributed decisively to socialism, the labor movement, and the artswere instead trapped in Europe during Hitlers rise, and were murdered by the millions in the Holocaust.

The direct, criminal role of American immigration policy in the Holocaust is highlighted by the case of the MS St. Louis, a passenger ship carrying 937 Jewish refugees blocked from American ports by the Roosevelt administration in 1939. Forced back to Europe, most were killed by the Nazis in the following years. But the St. Louis deaths were a drop in the ocean. Every Jewish American family can speak of relatives lost in Hitlers camps.

Striking workers picketing during "The Uprising of the 20,000" shirtwaist strike of 1909. Jewish workers, targeted for exclusion by the National Origins Act of 1924, had contributed decisively to the development of socialism and the labor movement in the US

Americas rejection of the Jews was profoundly disorienting. The US had long been viewed as a refuge from the pogroms and vicious antisemitism of the old continent. Barred from America, some 300,000 Jews fled eastern Europe for Palestine in the 1920s and 1930s. The Zionist ruling class that emerged on top of this emigration committed another crimeand one that is ongoingthe ethnic cleansing of the native Palestinian population.

Lessons for today

The National Origins Act culminated a movement away from the open immigration that the founders of the American Republic had put in place in what Tom Paine hoped would be an asylum for mankind, and which was carried forward by the Radical Republicans after the Civil War with the Fourteenth Amendment affirming birthright citizenship.

In 1882, the US banned Chinese immigration with the notorious Chinese Exclusion Act. In 1903, the Anarchist Exclusion Act took aim at those with political beliefs undesirable to American capitalism, as well as those thought likely to become wards of the state. In 1907, the so-called Gentlemens Agreement with Tokyo ended Japanese immigration.

But the 1924 act represented a qualitatively new development. It expanded those countries subject to immigration control to include the entire Eastern Hemisphere. And it implemented a far-reaching police-judicial-prison regime to enforce it. Johnson-Reed was repealed in 1965 but its quota system remains, and the police infrastructure required to enforce it has grown to massive proportions. This police-state apparatus poses a threat not only to immigrant workers, but to the entire working class.

Immigrant families held in overcrowded Border Patrol detention center in McAllen, Texas [Credit: OIG]

Those interested in fighting the contemporary attack on immigrants must learn the vital lessons of the passage of the Immigration Act of 1924 a century ago. There is no separating the defense of immigrant workers from opposition to imperialism, which, as Lenin explained, is reaction down the line.

The reactionary wave which produced the Immigration Act of 1924 emerged out of the mobilization of forces of extreme political reaction to suppress the class struggle and opposition to World War one. In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, the American ruling class, fresh from deploying Wilson to lecture the world about the wonders of capitalist democracy, turned to fascistic elements that they could not contain.

The defense of immigrants is not only a democratic question, it is also a question of strategic importance for the revolutionary movement. The international working class is more integrated by the process of production than ever before. Advances in transport and technology have facilitated mass migration, while climate change and the devastation wrought by world imperialism in recent decades has forced hundreds of millions to flee their homes.

The capitalist parties and trade union bureaucracies promote nationalism in an attempt to promote their own imperialist governments and weaken the potential social power of the global working class. The development of an internationally unified, politically self-conscious working class therefore requires the defense of the rights of immigrant workers and their defense from state persecution everywhere.
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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 23. The volume of oil and condensate production at the operating assets of KazMunayGas (KMG, Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company) amounted to 3.494 million tons (279,000 barrels per day) from January through March 2024, Trend reports.

According to KMG data, production increased by 2.2 percent compared to the first quarter of 2023.

As the KMG noted, the growth was mainly due to the acquisition of a 60 percent stake in the Dunga field in November last year.

At the same time, gas production at the operating assets amounted to 543 million cubic meters, which is 2.4 percent more than the same period in 2023. The growth in production was achieved mainly thanks to the Rozhkovskoye gas condensate field in the West Kazakhstan region, which was put into commercial operation at the end of 2023.

Meanwhile, the volume of oil and gas condensate production by KazMunayGas amounted to 6.064 million tons (503,000 barrels per day) from January through March 2024. The volume of oil and gas condensate production grew by 1.7 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

At the same time, natural and related gas output climbed by 4.6 percent over the reporting period, reaching 2.52 billion cubic meters.

Furthermore, Kazakhstan produced 90 million tons of oil in 2023, which is 6.9 percent higher than in 2022. Oil exports also increased and amounted to 70.5 million tons, which is 9.6 percent more than the previous year. Moreover, Kazakhstan plans to increase oil production in 2024 to 90.3 million tons.

In 2023, gas production in Kazakhstan amounted to 59.063 billion cubic meters, including large fields such as Tengiz (16.009 billion cubic meters), Karachaganak (22.385 billion cubic meters), Kashagan (11.856 billion cubic meters), and others (8.813 billion cubic meters). Kazakhstan is projected to produce 60.456 billion cubic meters of raw natural gas in 2024.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 23. Within the framework of the state visit of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Singapore, six interstate and interdepartmental documents were signed, Trend reports.

The documents signed between Kazakhstan and Singapore are the following:

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Singapore on economic cooperation;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Law of Singapore on cooperation in the field of intellectual property rights protection;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Law of Singapore on legal cooperation;

Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of higher education between the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Education of Singapore;

Agreement between the Kazakhstan Institute of Standardization and Metrology and Enterprise Singapore (ESG) on cooperation in the dissemination and translation of Singapore standards.

Meanwhile, on May 23, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with the President of the Republic of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, during which he noted that this was his first visit to Singapore in more than 20 years.

Tokayev said that Kazakhstan intends to open a new chapter in bilateral cooperation focused on a trust-based political dialogue, as well as dynamic trade and investment ties.
Is the Colorado couple from Farmer Wants a Wife still together?

DENVER (KDVR)  After a Colorado farmer seemingly found love on the dating show Farmer Wants a Wife, the pairs happy ending was squashed shortly after the reunion episode aired.

Brandon Rogers, a potato and barley farmer from Center, Colorado, was looking for someone to share his life with in his one-stop town  and at the end of the series, he landed on Grace Girard, a city girl from Wisconsin.

While the finale didnt end in a proposal, the pair said they were willing to try out real life and get to know each other better. Which is what the couple did  at least for a little bit.

Colorado farmer finds love on the dating show Farmer Wants a Wife

In the reunion episode that aired May 16, Rogers said that Girard stayed in Colorado and the two spent some time together. They explored the San Luis Valley and went to the iconic Great Sand Dunes National Park, as well as a few local dive bars.

However, after recapping their time after the show, they announced that they were no longer together.

For me, it has become a really strong friendship connection, and sadly, that did not really grow into the romantic connection that I was looking for, said Rogers.

While Rogers didnt find what he was looking for, Girard mentions that she was hoping for more.

I think my feelings were more apparent, or stronger, for Brandon than maybe his were for me, said Girard.

Denver chef to compete on newest season of Top Chef

The two did say they wanted to remain on good terms.

To this Wild, Sweet, Smart, Woman  thank you for being on my farm! You were the ebb and flow that helped keep me in check through all the good and bad  no words can thank you for this support. Thank you for sharing many different tears, happy and sad. You helped me grow as an individual and learn many things about myself. (Cheers emoji) to many years of sporting events to come and the occasional dive bar if I can keep up with you! (As friends), Rogers wrote in an Instagram post last Wednesday.

After a months-long series with one of Colorados not-so-common bachelors, the ending of the show left Rogers without his farmer wife.

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 FOX31 Denver.
Jada Pinkett Smith Supports Husband Will Smith at His Bad Boys: Ride or Die Premiere in Dubai

Will Smith's new 'Bad Boys' sequel with Martin Lawrence is out June 7

Waleed Zein/Anadolu via Getty; Cedric Ribeiro/Getty Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith at the premiere of Bad Boys: Ride or Die in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on May 22, 2024

Jada Pinkett Smith is celebrating Will Smith's return to the Bad Boys franchise.

The star, 52, attended the premiere of her husband's sequel Bad Boys: Ride or Die in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, posing for photos separately from Will as she walked the red carpet at the Coca-Cola Arena on May 22.

Will, 55, was spotted posing solo and with costar Martin Lawrence, whom he joined to interact with fans in the crowd. Jada took time for fans too and signed autographs, as seen in video posted on her Instagram Stories.

Will also "liked" an Instagram post from Jada, in which she showed off her stunning ensemble for the event: a unique black-and-white gown featuring a knee-length hemline and wavy cape, all with a swirled pattern throughout.

"In a region that loves architecture ... @irisvanherpen is perfect for a Dubai red carpet," the Set It Off star wrote in her caption.



Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.



Cedric Ribeiro/Getty Will Smith at the premiere of Bad Boys: Ride or Die in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on May 22, 2024

Related: Will Smith Says Wife Jada Pinkett Smith Is 'One of the Most Gangsta Ride-or-Die's I've Ever Had'

In a post on Will's Instagram grid, the Oscar winner shared videos and photos from the red carpet that put himself and fellow franchise veteran Lawrence, 59, front and center as they celebrated the fourth Bad Boys film.

"Well that was a FANTASTIC way to kick this thing off! Thank You Dubai!! @badboys back on the move," he captioned the post.

Bad Boys started with the 1995's original, directed by Michael Bay. The series revolves around the adventures of two Miami police detectives, Mike Lowrey (Will) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence).

A synopsis for the upcoming film teases that the two "are back with their iconic mix of edge-of-your seat action and outrageous comedy but this time with a twist: Miami's finest are now on the run."

Alexander Ludwig, Vanessa Hudgens, Eric Dane, Tasha Smith, Ioan Gruffudd, Paola Nunez, Jacob Scipio, Melanie Liburd, Tiffany Haddish and Joe Pantoliano also star in Bad Boys: Ride or Die. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah co-directed the film after previously helming 2020's Bad Boys For Life.



Related: Will Smith Recreates Throwback Bad Boys Moment 29 Years Later: 'Long Time No See'

Jada previously opened up to PEOPLE about her relationship with Will amid the release of her memoir Worthy last fall. Im going to be by his side, she said of Will, whom she has been married to for 26 years.

The couple, who tied the knot on New Year's Eve 1997, share two children: son Jaden, 25, and daughter Willow, 23. The King Richard actor also shares son Trey, 31, with ex-wife Sheree Zampino.

Of the state of her marriage to Will, Jada said they were "still figuring it out," and revealed that they had been separated for six years before the Oscars in 2022.

Weve been doing some really heavy-duty work together," she added. "We just got deep love for each other and we are going to figure out what that looks like for us.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die is in theaters June 7.

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A Native American costume designer for 'Killers of the Flower Moon' is suing Apple, saying it denied her proper credit

Jim Hemphill, Rodrigo Prieto, and Jacqueline West at IndieWire's event for "Killers of the Flower Moon" in Los Angeles. IndieWire/Getty Images

A Native American costume designer on "Killers of the Flower Moon" is suing Apple and others.

She alleges that her work on the Martin Scorsese movie was overlooked during awards season.

The costume designer has already settled a racial-discrimination claim against Apple.

A Native American costume designer for "Killers of the Flower Moon" who previously settled a racial-discrimination charge against Apple is going after the company again.

Kristi Marie Hoffman says her contributions to Martin Scorsese's movie, which was originally an Apple TV+ production, about murders within the Osage Nation were downplayed during the awards season.

Hoffman filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, accusing the costume designer Jacqueline West, Apple Studios, Apple, and the Costume Designers Guild of "completely burying" her work.

The lawsuit says West invited Hoffman, a member of a federally recognized tribe, to join "Killers of the Flower Moon" because of her "design expertise and cultural competency."

It says Hoffman worked for a year alongside West, Osage Nation members, and other Native Americans to create authentic costumes, including a jacket worn by Leonardo DiCaprio.

The movie received critical acclaim, earning 10 Academy Award nominations, seven Golden Globe nominations, and a CDG award for excellence in period film, among others.

It also generated $156.4 million globally, Screen Rant reported, though Forbes said this was against a budget of $200 million.

The lawsuit says Hoffman was identified as "First Assistant Costume Designer" when the CDG award nominations were first announced.

But it says West requested the removal of this credit, which was applied to all assistant costume designers.

Hoffman challenged this change with the CDG, the suit says, which found West's action "improper" and reinstated her title.

But Hoffman was again excluded when the movie was nominated for an Oscar for costume design, it says.

The lawsuit says Hoffman's involvement was overlooked during the promotional tour, with defendants presenting West and a consultant as having done most of the work.

Hoffman completed "most of the research and costume design" and "poured her heart into KOTFM as a film about Native Americans to which she could relate as a Native herself," the suit says.

It also says Hoffman experienced racial discrimination on set, leading to her file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in July 2021 against Apple Studios, Apple TV+, and Apple Inc.

The parties resolved the issue with a confidential settlement in December 2022, the lawsuit says.

In this latest lawsuit against Apple and others, Hoffman brings claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, false advertising, and breach of contract. She's seeking an unspecified amount of damages.

She's also requesting an injunction preventing the defendants from making statements downplaying her contributions.

Apple, the CDG, and representatives for West didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

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Nicole Shanahan walked away with more than $1B after divorcing Google co-founder Sergey Brin: report

Nicole Shanahan, the vice presidential candidate picked by independent hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr, walked away with more than $1 billion following her divorce from ex-husband and Google co-founder Sergey Brin, according to a report.

Shanahan, the 38-year-old California native who worked as a lawyer in Silicon Valley before entering politics, finalized her divorce from Brin last year. Her split from Brin was reportedly triggered by an alleged affair she had with his longtime friend, tech mogul Elon Musk.

During their five-year marriage, Shanahan attended parties with other tech executives in Silicon Valley where she consumed recreational drugs including cocaine, ketamine and psychedelic mushrooms, according to The New York Times.

Nicole Shanahan and Sergey Brin, the Google co-founder, finalized their divorce last year after five years of marriage. Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Tensions in the marriage arose during the coronavirus pandemic, when the couple struggled with their daughters autism diagnosis during lockdowns, according to the Times.

In 2020, Brin and Shanahan learned that their daughter, Echo, was autistic. The autism diagnosis made Shanahan wonder whether the use of vaccines may have contributed to her daughters condition, according to the Times.

Shanahan started to go out more without Brin, according to the Times. Her partying escalated to the point where she needed an IV infusion after a night of heavy consumption of drugs and alcohol at an event in Miami in early 2021, the newspaper reported.

Shanahan is alleged to have had an affair with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in late 2021, according to several reports. REUTERS

In late 2021, Shanahan attended a private party in Miami that was thrown by Kimbal Musk, the brother of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, on the sidelines of the Art Basel festival.

According to the Times, Shanahan and Musk both consumed ketamine and then disappeared together for several hours.

Shanahan later told her then-husband, Brin, that she and Musk had sex, the Times reported. She also told friends, family and advisers of the affair.

Musk has denied that he was intimate with Shanahan. News of the encounter was first reported in 2022 by The Wall Street Journal.

Musk has denied claims of a ruptured friendship with Brin.

According to the Journal, Musk begged for Brins forgiveness by dropping to one knee and expressing remorse at a party in early 2022.

The alleged affair caused a rupture in the friendship between Brin and Musk  so much so that the Google co-founder divested himself of his holdings in Tesla and other Musk-owned entities, it was reported.

Musk denied that he and Brin were no longer friends. Shortly after the report, he sent The Post a photo of the two of them together at a party in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Shanahan also denied the report, telling People that she and Musk were discussing her daughters autism treatment.

Brin, 49, is the worlds eighth-richest person with a fortune valued at $149 billion, according to Bloomberg. AFP via Getty Images

My career has been based on academic and intellectual credibility, and I was being shamed internationally for being a cheater, Shanahan told People last year.

To be known because of a sexual act is one of the most humiliating things . . . it was utterly debilitating.

Two weeks after the alleged affair, Brin and Shanahan separated. Months later, he filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences.

The divorce proceedings between Brin, the eighth-richest man in the world with a net worth valued by Bloomberg Billionaires Index at $148 billion, and Shanahan dragged on for 18th months, during which she threatened to harm herself, according to the Times.

Brin and Shanahan met at a yoga festival in July 2014  just weeks before she would eventually marry her first husband, tech investor Jeremy Kranz.

Several days after Kranz and Shanahan wed in August 2014, he discovered text messages between his new wife and Brin on her phone, according to the Times.

Shanahan was recently picked by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr as his running mate in his long-shot bid for the White House. Jay Janner / American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kranz then sought to annul the marriage just 27 days after the wedding. When listing the reason for the annulment, Kranz had planned to allege fraud, but Shanahan was fearful that a fraud claim would jeopardize her ability to practice law, the newspaper reported.

Shanahan even threatened to harm herself while negotiating with Kranz, according to the Times.

So Krazn agreed to drop the annulment claim and settle for a divorce that required Shanahan to pay $20,000 in partial wedding costs and to scrub him from her social media accounts.

The Post has sought comment from Shanahan, Brin, Musk and Kranz.
This rendering released by ASM Global shows Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Mo., built by Bass Pro Shops founder and CEO Johnny Morris. The Rolling Stones announced Thursday, May 23, 2024, that they would close out their North American Hackney Diamonds tour at the 18,000-person capacity arena. (ASM Global via AP)

The Rolling Stones and the Ozarks don't seem like the most natural pairing. But nature itself, and of all things fishing, have brought them together.

The Stones announced Thursday that they will end their summer Hackney Diamonds Tour on July 21 at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena, a brand new monument to mountain beauty in Missouri built by Bass Pro Shops founder and CEO Johnny Morris.

The Missouri native hopes that Thunder Ridge, which opens with a Morgan Wallen concert Saturday  will be a name heard alongside Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre in Colorado and The Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington state when people talk about the nation's most beautiful music venues.

I just I really love my home here in the Ozarks, Morris told The Associated Press in an interview. Im happy to share it with the world.

For him, the site is as personal as it is pristine. Since he was a boy, with his father and grandfather, he fished the White River and Table Rock Reservoir  both visible from the venue's seats  in the deep-green Boston Mountains section of the Ozarks that surrounds it.

Morris entered the first national bass-fishing tournament  full of future fishing legends  on the reservoir in 1970, and the competitors' hard-to-get lures convinced him to start selling tackle to fishermen on the way there out of his father's liquor store in the early years of what would become Bass Pro Shops.

The 18,000-capacity arena in Ridgedale about 10 miles from Branson is downright tiny compared to the 80,000-plus-seat MetLife Stadium where the Stones will play Thursday night.

Mick, Keith and their crew coming to these mountains also had its origins in fishing. About a decade ago, Morris took his friend Chuck Leavell, a former member of the Allman Brothers Band who has been the Rolling Stones primary touring keyboardist and musical director since the early 1980s, on a fishing trip to Canada.

We were on this pristine little stream, he hooks on this big fish, he said, John this is like the happiest day of my life. If you ever need a favor, you let me know," Morris remembered with a laugh. "A couple years ago we were working on this, and I said, Chuck remember that day you asked if there was anything you could do for me? How about you get the Rolling Stones to Ridgedale, Missouri?

Morris has for years dreamed of putting a venue on the site. Many musical acts have played in more makeshift set-ups for summer camps and fishing tournaments. Garth Brooks played to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Morris' stores.

It just inspired me to see if we could expand this facility, he said, "just to share the beauty of the Ozarks.

The site won't necessarily require roughing it. Its 12-story Nature Tower  designed to look like the old fire-watching towers in national parks  rises over the back of the venue. The amenities in the VIP suites inside it include bedrooms. Morris later plans to have it re-dubbed the Veterans Tower to honor, among others, his father who fought in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.

He takes the Nature part of the name seriously. Morris and those promoting the site say its structures were designed to blend and peacefully co-exist with their environment, and along with 1,200 acres of surrounding land they have been permanently set-aside as part of a not-for-profit foundation committed to the cause of conservation, to which all the proceeds will also go.

Hopefully, itll be undisturbed, Morris said. You wont come there in the future and see condos or nothin. Only beautiful nature.
NEW YORK (AP)  When it was time to start making Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, production designer Colin Gibson went to a garage in Australia to find some old friends.

It had been years since 2015s Fury Road wrapped production. Many of the vehicles seen in the film had been blown up or left to rust in Namibia. But a dozen of them  the dirty dozen, Gibson calls them  had been put in storage, including the War Rig, Gigahorse and Duff Wagon.

They did need a fair amount of cleaning up, Gibson says a little wistfully. A lot of the fuel had turned to jelly and the tires sink. And it all seemed so much sadder than you remember.

Returning to the world of Mad Max meant resurrecting the motorized army of Fury Road, getting it back into running condition and building an entire new fleet of gas-guzzling, mutant machines of apocalyptic doom.

As terrific as the cast of Furiosa is, including Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, lets be real. The true stars of any Mad Max movie are the vehicles. The characters and actors of Mad Max may come and go across the sagas 45 years, but the marauding mechanized horde keeps chugging.

In a sense, theyre characters  theyre extensions of the characters, Miller says. You see it right through the Mad Max films. The V8 Inceptor is an extension of Max. Furiosa ultimately has that vehicle we call the Cranky Black thats an expression of who she is at the end of the movie.

Furiosa, which opened in theaters Thursday, takes place years ahead of the events of Fury Road, so the War Rig and company arent called back into duty until the end of the film. But they were a necessary reference point for all the cars and trucks that lead up to that finale. Furiosa is a prequel for more than its title character.

We did use the idea of those other vehicles to build an evolution in, says Gibson. So we would drop in vehicles that looked in embryo like some of the vehicles that had since been destroyed or gone to gold or been exploded off in Africa.

Gibson is a longtime collaborator of Millers whose fervor for doing things practically and as realistically as possible is nearly as extreme as the War Boys zeal for Valhalla. That was a big part of the kinetic thrill of Fury Road. And while that film included CGI in nearly every shot to accomplish its explosive onslaught, Furiosa depended on a bit more effects to realize its post-apocalyptic world.

I dont like easy, he says. We dont operate very well under easy. Its one of my ongoing arguments with George. I prefer uneasy, which may be why Im so annoying.

Production designers might build the facade of a house or even an entire shell, but they don't have to install working plumbing. Gibson's creations, though, have to move. Most have working engines and when the director says Action! they have to move. As he says, Everything has to be able to do its own stunt.

Theres a lot of hidden, unseen effort that goes into that, Miller says. Its a military exercise. Of the shooting crew, there was over a thousand people on set every day, just to keep all that stuff going.

Gibson, who hadnt yet seen the film during an interview earlier this month, was still nursing some wounds over the fact that Furiosa contains some digital machines, too.

Unless its real, unless the sense of gravity is there, I dont think you get the hair going up on the back of your neck, Gibson says. I think thats what we achieved with Fury Road, and Ill keep my fingers crossed that the CG doesnt distance us too much in Furiosa.

It is slightly different, sighs Gibson, and Im an old-fashioned girl.

But Furiosa also had many more challenges than Fury Road, which transpires across a three-day blur. Furiosa, spanning decades, needed more locations. (Here, Gas Town and Bullet Farm are visited.) And a more sprawling array of characters meant a lot more rides.

Dementus (Hemsworth) is a new villain whom the filmmakers styled after a fusion of Roman emperor and Genghis Khan. Early in Furiosa, he rides a chariot pulled by three motorcycles. Later, he pilots a six-wheeled monster truck.

The War Rig, the central semi-truck of Fury Road, also needed an earlier iteration for Furiosa. Whereas the Fury Road War Rig was more weathered and beaten up, Furiosa finds Immortan Joes Citadel at the height of its power.

So this is Louis the Sun King, says Gibson. This is the Palace of Versailles. This is a shiny, mirrored, godlike object racing out into the desert and reflecting all the nothing thats coming back but also emblazoned with the legend of the Immortan as he sees it himself.

Its upon that rig that Furiosa has its most lengthy and blistering sequence. And while Taylor-Joy feels a particular bond with the War Rig she spent 78 days crawling across, the thoughtful features of the Cranky Black roadster were more revelatory to her.

I love the fact there are all these details in the filmmaking that you dont even see as an audience member, Taylor-Joy says. Like, the Cranky Black has human teeth all along the inside, which is so cool.

But the defining vehicle of Furiosa may be the motorbike. Two-wheelers star in the movies frenetic start and they only populate from there, eventually filling the desert like a swarm of locusts.

George had the idea that by the time Dementus arrived at the Citadel, there might have been 2- or 3- or 4- or 6,000 motorbikes, Gibson says. I looked at how long it would take me to build that many. Do you know how hard it is to make one motorbike look different from another? Theyre basically two wheels and a seat.

That meant, to Gibsons horror, the necessity of CGI. But that didnt stop him from building some 100 characterized motorbikes, along with doubles for about half of them.

Of all the vehicles, you always love the ones that start with nothing, Gibson says. We were fortunate that BMW, Harley Davidson and Yamaha all came to the party and gave us generously of their beautiful machines knowing that there was no exclusivity and that by the time I got through with them, their mother wouldnt recognize them.

One bike has particular meaning to Gibson. He built it from an old 1940s Triumph kneeler, the kind used for racing. His mother  a bit of a devil-may-care Sheila in her youth, he says  had once worked at a speedway around such motorcycles. Gibson lavished his with detail and texture as a kind of ode to her.

If I could hang it on a key ring, Gibson says, thats probably the one Id keep.

___

Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
Temperatures are rising in Oklahoma as May wraps up, meaning LGBTQ+ community members and allies in Oklahoma City will soon begin celebrating Pride Month.

June commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a prominent gay bar in Manhattans Greenwich Village. Some of the first Pride parades were held the following year in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York.

The annual celebration in June celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and the fight for equal rights. Pride has been celebrated in Oklahoma City as early as the 1970s, and the first Pride parade was held in 1987, according to The Oklahoman archives.

Here is a list of events being held in Oklahoma City for Pride Month this year.

Pride on 39th Street 2024

Kicking off Oklahoma City's Pride Month this year is annual Pride on 39th Street festival from May 31-June 2, hosted by OKC Pride, Inc.

The OKC Pride Parade on Sunday, June 4, 2023, travels west on NW 39 in Oklahoma City.

The parade on 39th Street will be at 6 p.m. June 2.

For more information about Pride on 39th Street 2024, go to https://www.prideon39th.com/.

Pridefest and Oklahoma Pride Alliance June events

Oklahoma Pride Alliance will host its opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. June 1 at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St.

From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. the next day, the organization will host "Pride Pride OKPA X Gals, Gays & Theys" on 39th Street.

OKC Pride Fest 2023 Parade comes south along Walker Ave. during the annual Pride Alliance Pride Parade in Downtown Oklahoma City on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

Oklahoma Pride Alliance's annual Pridefest will be at Scissortail Park June 28-30 featuring a parade on the final day of the festival at 11 a.m.

For more information about Pridefest and other Pride Month events from the Oklahoma Pride Alliance, go to https://www.okpridealliance.org/events.

Pride on 9th Street at Factory Obscura

From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 1, Pride Month festivities will occur at Factory Obscura on 9th Street along with other vendors in the area.

Factory Obscura will host the Pride Artist Market, featuring local artists, and Future of Sound Sessions, which will include collaborative performances.

Pride-themed treats will be available at Katiebug's Sips & Sweets, and S&B's Burger Joint will serve Pride cocktails and mocktails.

Sisu Youth Services will host a supply and clothing drive along with Common Dear and Johnny & June throughout the month of June.

For more information about Pride on 9th Street, go to https://www.visitokc.com/event/pride-on-9th-street/26489/.

PRIDE! on the Plaza

Music, art, dance and other attractions will occupy the Plaza District from 3 to 10 p.m. June 14 during PRIDE! on the Plaza.

The festival will also feature drag shows, improv, comedy and a fashion show.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/4444004655824661.

Oklahoma City Zoo Sip & Stroll

From 6 to 10 p.m. June 21, the Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Pl., will celebrate Pride Month during its Sip & Stroll for guests 21 and older.

The OKC zoo has held its Sip & Stroll events since the summer of 2020. This year's event will feature a drag show and community station with LGBTQ+ organizations on June 21.

For more information, go to https://www.okczoo.org/our-events/events/sip-and-stroll.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: When is the Pride parade in Oklahoma City? Pride Month events in OKC
AAA: 2 of the best road trips in America pass through Massachusetts

Two of the 18 best road trips you can take in the United States pass through Massachusetts, according to the American Automobile Association.

Road trips let travelers see the world from a new perspective and explore distant locations, AAA wrote in a new ranking. Recent studies indicate that more than 100 million Americans plan for road trips in the summer.

The No. 1 road trip on AAAs list takes you on a 229-mile, five-hour trek across southern New England, beginning in Boston and ending in Mystic, Connecticut.

One of the best road trips in the U.S., youll see sites from the American Revolution along Bostons Freedom Trail, quaint shops housed in Colonial-era buildings on the streets of Mystic, Connecticut, and lavish mansions from the Gilded Age in Newport, Rhode Island, AAA wrote.

AAA suggested taking this road trip in September, October, or early November due to prime leaf-peeping opportunities.

The other Massachusetts-based road trip on the list is a 174-mile scenic drive across Cape Cod that spans more than six hours.

During this drive, youll encounter a touching monument to John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, AAA wrote. You may also get a chance to admire humpback whales if you visit during whale-watching season, which normally runs from mid-April to October.

To view AAAs full list, click here.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Theres a new animal hanging around the Oregon Zoo.

Berry the two-toed sloth joined the zoos rainforest habitat last week. Habitat overseer Marcus Jason said she may be slow, but she was quick to settle into her new home.

Berry made herself right at home in the branches of a tree, Marcus Jason with the Oregon Zoo said. Sloths spend most of their lives hanging upside down in trees, so its a perfect place for her.

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Berry the two-toed sloth in the swamp building at the Oregon Zoo.  Oregon Zoo / photo by Michael Durham.

According to the Oregon Zoo, Berry is a Linne two-toed sloth. And though they are considered a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, staff members said their numbers are in decline due to deforestation and illegal wildlife trading.

Berry, however, was born at a zoo in New Jersey in 2017. Her move to Oregon comes after a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan in an effort to promote genetically diverse, self-sustaining populations of at-risk species.

Visitors are encouraged to find Berry in the rainforest area across from the slender-snouted crocodile habitat, but staff members said finding her may be an exercise in patience. They recommend standing in one spot and watching for any slow movement.

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Sloths can nap up to 20 hours a day, and when they do move, its pretty slowly, Jason said. Berry likes to be up high in the trees, so be sure to look up when you visit.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 23. The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Singapore is soon expected to exceed $2 billion, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during negotiations with President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Trend reports via Akorda.

"Today, more than 140 Singaporean companies and joint ventures operate in our country, with the total volume of Singaporean investments in the Kazakh economy surpassing $1.7 billion. Despite the economic disruptions and difficulties caused by the pandemic, the volume of mutual trade is expected to soon exceed $2 billion," Tokayev said.

He referred to Singapore as a time-tested and reliable partner for Kazakhstan. During the meeting, the leaders of the two countries extensively discussed prospects for expanding contacts in trade, economics, investment, and cultural-humanitarian spheres.

In particular, Tokayev expressed Kazakhstan's interest in expanding partnership with Singapore in key sectors such as energy, processing of critical raw materials, infrastructure development, the digital economy, fintech, agrotechnology, logistics, and communication.

The presidents agreed to jointly promote mutually beneficial investment projects, including strengthening the legal framework of bilateral relations.
Skip the search for an in-person psychiatrist and have your medication managed at home with services like Talkiatry, Brightside and Talkspace

Therapist, psychologist, counselor, psychiatrist  its easy to get lost in the terms used to qualify different mental health professionals. But psychiatry, specifically, stands out for an important reason: Psychiatrists are medical doctors who, unlike counselors, psychologists and therapists, can prescribe, monitor and manage medications.

In a recent Yahoo poll of 750 in-person and online therapy patients, more than half (54%) stated that finding a service that prescribed medication was important to them. If working with a psychiatrist to help guide you through a diagnosis and medication options is important to you, you are not alone, and seeking treatment through one of the best online therapy services that offer psychiatry is an option worth exploring. In fact, in that same Yahoo poll, 90% of respondents said they would recommend online therapy services to family and friends.

Content concerning mental health is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical or health advice. Consult a medical professional for questions about your health. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911, local emergency services, or 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline).

"Telepsychiatry gives patients more options for finding a suitable psychiatrist or therapist, explains Michael Kane, the chief medical officer at the Indiana Center for Recovery. Patients are not limited to just their geographical location and can choose from a wider pool of professionals who may specialize in their specific needs. This increases the chances of finding a good match and receiving quality treatment."

Fortunately, many online therapy providers offer online psychiatric care, but sifting through a sea of potential providers may feel overwhelming. We researched more than 25 of the top online psychiatry providers and spoke to a panel of experts in the field to learn what makes a good online psychiatry service stand out. We looked for services that provide access to an ample roster of psychiatrists, offering appointments either on the same day or within the same week. We selected services that treat a wide range of conditions such as anxiety, depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We also sought affordability, whether through accepting insurance or offering low-cost services to those without insurance. Throughout our in-depth research and testing, we prioritized online psychiatry services that met the criteria outlined by our panel of experts, offered exceptional customer service and met a wide range of budgets. Here are our top picks for the best online psychiatry.

Best online psychiatry services 2024

Brightside Health Our top pick for online psychiatry Brightside Health Cost: $95-$349 per session | Insurance accepted: Yes | Time until first appointment: About 24 hours | States available: All 50 states | Types of services offered: Individual therapy and psychiatry for teens (13+) to seniors Studies indicate roughly 50% to 60% of those in treatment for depression respond positively to the first antidepressant they try, while the remaining 40% to 50% often require two or more attempts to find the right balance. While this is common, the trial-and-error approach to medication management can delay symptom relief and be financially and emotionally costly for patients. Brightside mitigates the trial and error phase with AI technology to help increase the likelihood that youll find a medication that works on the first attempt. Brightside's AI predictor uses more than 100 data points to evaluate over 1,000 medication combinations to predict which will be most effective for you. Based on client data, 70% of their patients discover the right medication regimen on the first try. The company applies the same scientific approach to talk therapy by relying primarily on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is considered the "gold standard" of psychotherapy. CBT is a type of talk therapy where therapists help clients identify negative or illogical thinking patterns and the potentially damaging behaviors that result from these thoughts. CBT addresses a wide variety of disorders ranging from depression and anxiety to substance use disorders and psychosis. Brightside, unlike some online telepsychiatry providers, is also willing to work with clients who may be struggling with more severe mental illness or mental health conditions. This includes pioneering a Crisis Care treatment plan designed for those who are actively suicidal or have recently made a suicide attempt. Most online psychiatry companies avoid accepting clients who are at risk of hurting themselves, but Brightside uses the collaborative assessment and management of suicidality (CAMS) framework to combat self-harm. This framework has been shown to work, with one study indicating a decreased risk of suicide following treatment and a better therapeutic relationship than other interventions. Pros Accepts insurance

Treats severe depression and anxiety

Data-driven care Cons Does not prescribe controlled substances

Does not treat those under 18 $95-$349 per session at Brightside

LiveHealth Online Most affordable online psychiatry for adults LiveHealth Online Cost: $185 for initial psychiatric consultation; $100 for psychiatry follow-up; $80 for talk-therapy sessions | Insurance accepted: Yes | Time until first appointment: Varies based on provider | States available: All 50 states | Types of services offered: Individual therapy for people 10 years and older; psychiatry for adults 18+ According to a 2022 brief released by the White House, almost 50% of individuals who didn't receive care for mental health conditions in 2020 cited cost as the reason to skip the therapist's office. The reality is, in the absence of quality health insurance (or the absence of therapists and psychiatrists who accept insurance), the out-of-pocket cost for mental health care can be prohibitive. LiveHealth Online is one of the few online psychiatric services that is financially accessible to most, even if you don't have health insurance. The first psychiatry evaluation costs $185, with each follow-up a reasonable $80. The company also offers affordable talk therapy starting at $85 per session. This means if your psychiatrist recommends talk therapy as a treatment, they can seamlessly refer you to a therapist within the same platform. LiveHealth Online treats a broad range of mental health conditions including, but not limited to, depression, OCD and bipolar disorder. They offer flexible scheduling, allowing you to meet with your doctor when it's convenient for you. If you struggle to afford mental healthcare, LiveHealth Online offers easy, accessible care that could significantly improve your mental health. The company also accepts insurance coverage. Pros Affordable

Talk therapy available

Flexible scheduling Cons Limited insurance acceptance

Cannot prescribe controlled substances $185 for initial consultation; $80 per follow up at LiveHealth Online

Talkiatry Best online psychiatry for the entire family Talkiatry Cost: Varies based on insurance | Insurance accepted: Yes | Time until first appointment: Within days | States available: 42 states and Washington, D.C. (Not available in Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming) | Types of services offered: Individual, couples and teen therapy; medication management, children (5+) to seniors Talkiatry's approach to providing psychiatric care borders on revolutionary. Talkiatry is currently the largest psychiatric practice in the United States with over 300 care providers. They only accept patients who have insurance, which makes it inaccessible for some, but it does mean the company is held to specific medical standards. Furthermore, it can be difficult to find a psychiatrist who accepts health insurance, so having a platform where you know your insurance will be accepted is a clear benefit. According to psychiatrist Dr. Tzvi Furer of Palm Tree Psychiatry, "Many private psychiatrists do not accept health insurance due to mental health parity laws and reimbursement rates." This allows Talkiatry's payment model to fill a vital niche in mental healthcare accessibility. Talkiatry is great for the entire family not only because they treat children as young as five, but also because they prescribe controlled substances when necessary. This is important in the younger age group because psychostimulants are often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which affects roughly 11% of children between the ages of 5 and 17. Talkiatry's ability to both treat and prescribe necessary medications to young people makes it an important resource for families that need to address childhood mental health disorders. One potential downside is that while Talkiatry offers talk therapy in addition to psychiatry, that kind of therapy is not its specialty. Therefore, it's unclear how long you would have to wait for a referral to a therapist, and you have to be using the platforms psychiatry services in order to access its talk therapy. Furthermore, only two of Talkiatry's talk therapy providers specialize in children and adolescents, so you may actually have to seek out a separate platform or resource if youre looking for a strong focus on counseling. That said, if multiple members of your family are in need of psychiatric care, Talkiatry is a great starting point, especially since it's equipped to treat some of the youngest members of your household. Pros Can prescribe controlled substances

Psychiatry available for kids over five

Accepts insurance Cons Limited talk therapy for kids available

Insurance required for treatment

Not available in every state Varies at Talkiatry

Thriveworks Best only psychiatry for anxiety and depression Thriveworks Cost: $200+ per session | Insurance accepted: Yes | Time until the first appointment: Within 24-48 hours | States available: District of Columbia and all states except Vermont | Types of services offered: Individual, pediatric and family therapy, couples counseling, psychiatry Thriveworks is one of the most well-rounded of the online psychiatry platforms because the company provides a wide range of mental health services to people of all ages. This makes the company uniquely equipped to address common mental health concerns like anxiety and depression and their impact on the entire family unit. The reality is, a parent's mental health has a direct impact on their children, both physically and mentally. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children whose parents report poor mental health are also more likely to experience poor mental, physical and emotional health. This is compounded by an increased likelihood to experience trauma, divorce and poverty, all of which negatively affect general health. Thriveworks addresses this by providing care for the entire family. For example, if you have depression, not only can you receive medication through the platform's psychiatry program and therapy from a counselor, but so can your newly diagnosed teenager. This can happen while you and your partner are in couples therapy to discuss the impact of your depression on the relationship. By providing care for the entire family, Thriveworks sets family units up for success, regardless of who is facing anxiety or depression. Thriveworks is also unique in that it offers in-person services in addition to online treatment. This means if you're unsatisfied with in-person or online treatment, you can switch to the other format while remaining with the same organization. Anxiety and depression are common mental health disorders that need proper treatment to help patients find relief. Thriveworks' broad range of services enables entire families to feel supported throughout the treatment journey. Pros In-person care available

Accepts insurance

Pediatric psychiatry available Cons Messaging unavailable

Out-of-pocket session fees are high

Pricing without insurance unclear $200+ per session at Thriveworks

Teladoc Best online psychiatry for insurance coverage Teladoc Cost: $0-$299 | Insurance accepted: Yes | Time until first appointment: Varies based on provider | States available: All 50 states | Types of services offered: Individual therapy and psychiatry for ages 13 and up Teladoc's main focuses are accessibility and convenience. As one of the first telehealth companies, Teladoc has spent the past 22 years honing its practice of providing high-quality healthcare online. Teladoc uses a pay-per-visit model rather than offering a subscription service. This allows you to make appointments when it's right for you and eliminates the need for unnecessary appointments. You also choose your doctor, so you have a better chance of finding one that works for you on the first try rather than having an algorithm guess for you. Because of Teladoc's emphasis on convenience, both talk therapy and psychiatric visits are scheduled through the same straightforward portal. The portal allows you to schedule an appointment any day of the week between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.  regardless of your timezone. This flexibility offers greater support for patients who need to be seen urgently  you won't have to wait weeks or months for an appointment that works for your schedule. One downside of Teladoc is that, since it is a telehealth company that treats a broad range of mild health conditions, if you're facing severe symptoms or a more uncommon diagnosis, a company that specializes in mental healthcare might be a better option for you. That said, Teledoc's streamlined scheduling system enables you to be seen quickly by a provider qualified to treat mental health conditions. Pros Treatment for teens available

Appointment options every day of the week

Accepts insurance

You choose your provider Cons Does not specialize in mental health

Cannot see provider bios without signing up $0-$299 at Teladoc

Talkspace Best for therapy and medication management Talkspace Cost: $69-$109 a week for therapy, billed monthly; $65 for additional sessions | Insurance Accepted: Yes | Time until first appointment: One week | States available: All 50 states | Types of services offered: Individual talk therapy, couples therapy, individual teen therapy, psychiatry with medication management Talkspace's reputation centers on its talk and message-based therapy, but many people aren't aware that the company also offers medication management. Talk therapy is an important factor for most mental health treatment, so it makes sense to combine medication management with talk therapy to ensure you're getting all the treatment you need. Talkspace allows you to combine a talk therapy subscription with medication management appointments, providing you with the flexibility to add or remove medication management appointments as you navigate what works best for you. Additionally, Talkspace's talk therapy plans are flexible, including its messaging-only service. If you find a medication that works well for you, and you want to cut back on talk therapy without eliminating it completely, Talkspace's messaging service allows you to do just that. Talkspace accepts health insurance, but if you pay out of pocket for psychiatric care, it's fairly expensive. Their payment model relies on bundles: An initial evaluation with a single follow-up appointment is $435

An initial evaluation with three followup appointments is $725 If you've already paid for an initial evaluation: Three follow-up appointments cost $475

Six follow-up appointments cost $890

Nine follow-up appointments cost $1,260 Because the foundation of Talkspace's treatment is talk therapy, whether that's delivered via messaging or video sessions, it may not be the best for someone who already has a psychotherapist they work with. However, if you're ready for talk therapy and are considering adding medication management to your treatment, Talkspace's flexibility might be a good option for you. Pros Insurance accepted

No subscription required

Appointments available within a week Cons Does not treat people under 18

Controlled substances not available $69-$109 a week for therapy, billed monthly at Talkspace

Doctor on Demand Best for flexible scheduling Doctor on Demand Cost: $299 for initial visit, $129 for follow-ups | Insurance accepted: Yes | Time until first appointment: Within a week | States available: All 50 states | Types of services offered: Individual therapy and psychiatry for children and adults Like its name suggests, Doctor on Demand provides medical care where and when you need it most. Not only are psychiatrists available seven days a week, but the appointments are short, making it easy to fit one into a busy schedule. The initial evaluation is only 45 minutes long, and each follow-up is only 15 minutes. While appointments may be on the short side, Doctor on Demand doesn't limit patient care to more common disorders such as anxiety and depression. Rather, they treat a full range of psychological illnesses  everything from postpartum depression and anxiety to PTSD, grief and loss. Doctors also specialize in diverse populations including the LGBTQ community. And because the platform offers psychiatry and therapy, your psychiatrist can refer you to an appropriate therapist based on your needs. Pros Offers pediatric care with guardian consent

Treats a range of conditions

Accepts insurance Cons Cannot prescribe controlled substances

Expensive without insurance $299 for initial visit, $129 for follow ups at Doctor on Demand

MDLive Best online psychiatry for wide range of conditions MDLive Cost: $95-108 for talk therapy, 0-$284 for psychiatry | Insurance accepted: Yes | Time until first appointment: Within a week | States available: All 50 states and Puerto Rico | Types of services offered: Individual therapy and psychiatry for children and adults If you have an older child or an adolescent who needs psychiatric care, youre not alone. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, nearly half of all teens have experienced a mental illness at some point in their lives. And while finding and accessing mental health care can be a challenge across all age groups, its especially difficult for minors, as not all providers want to serve those under 18. Fortunately, MDLive provides mental healthcare for children ages 10 and older. MDLive offers appointments seven days a week and in the evenings, so you don't have to pull your child out of school for them to receive treatment. Furthermore, its providers specialize in issues that affect families, such as LGBTQ identity, divorce and parenting challenges. These issues affect children regardless of whether theyre directly experiencing them or whether other members of the family are at the center of the situation. MDLive provides psychiatry and talk therapy, so children can receive all mental healthcare from a single company. Furthermore, MDLive offers other forms of healthcare including primary care, urgent care and dermatology. If youd like to receive most of your healthcare virtually, MDLive is equipped with a broad range of services. Pros Can choose providers

Child and teen therapy available

No subscription required Cons Full list of accepted insurance plans not listed on website

Does not treat children under 10 years old $95-108 for talk therapy, 0-$284 for psychiatry at MDLive

Monument Best for alcohol use disorder Monument Cost: $15-$249 per month | Insurance accepted: Yes | Time until first appointment: Not provided | States available: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Pennsylvania, Washington, Virginia, Georgia, Colorado, Oregon, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Kentucky, Florida, Ohio, Arizona, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Michigan, and Washington, D.C. | Types of services offered: Individual and group therapy and medication management for adults The stigma associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD) frequently prevents people from seeking the full range of treatments available. Although support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, can be helpful, medication assisted treatment (MAT) is the first line of treatment for those with moderate to severe AUD. Despite its proven effectiveness, medication is vastly underused. Monument aims to close this gap by offering MAT to those experiencing an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. In addition to its virtual support groups, forums and one-on-one therapy, you can meet with a practitioner to receive one of two medications shown to reduce alcohol consumption in those struggling with AUD. Furthermore, Monument doesn't take an all-or-nothing approach to alcohol. If you're aiming to simply cut back on your drinking rather than eliminate it entirely, Monument will support you on that journey. This wrap-around care distinguishes Monument from other providers, but that doesn't mean Monument is right for everyone. It doesn't offer treatment to those under 18, and it's unclear whether its providers are equipped to treat co-occurring disorders that often accompany AUD, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD or sleep disorders. While Monument accepts health insurance, if your insurance doesn't cover treatment, it's going to be expensive, with plans costing upwards of $249 per month. Still, if you're struggling to reduce or stop your alcohol consumption, Monument's thorough treatment options could be what you need to succeed. Pros Specializes in alcohol use disorder

Group therapy available

Messaging available Cons Not equipped to treat comorbid disorders

Subscription required $15-$249 per month at Monument

What if Im having thoughts of harming myself?

Online therapy is not the best resource if youre having thoughts of suicide or self-harm. Instead, seek immediate help in one of the following ways:

Call 911

Go to the nearest emergency room

Contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988

Call or text the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) hotline at 800-950-6264

Contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741

The Trevor Project offers a 24/7 suicide prevention and crisis intervention hotline for LGBTQ youth and their loved ones. Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678-678 or send a confidential instant message to a counselor through TrevorChat. More resources are available at thetrevorproject.org.

How do I know if online psychiatry is right for me?

Electing online or in-person psychiatry is a personal choice and one you should consider carefully. That said, if you're comfortable with receiving medical care online, or if you live in a rural area that doesn't have easy access to psychiatric services, it might be a good fit. Dr. Tzui Furer, a psychiatrist at Palm Tree Psychiatry, explains, "Online psychiatry can be right for people who feel comfortable communicating [with] their provider through a secure, online medium. Individuals who perhaps feel more comfortable being at home or in a non-office setting might be best suited for this setting."

However, he clarifies that online psychiatry might not be right for everybody, especially if you're prone to getting distracted. This is particularly true for children or those whose living situation would lead to distractions during an online session. "Individuals who are highly distractible, or feel that they won't be comfortable or open with their provider or individuals without a private, consistent internet connection may not be appropriate for treatment with this modality," says Furer.

What to consider when looking for an online psychiatry provider

There are many key factors to look for when seeking an online psychiatry provider. Of course you'll want to consider the provider's cost and whether they accept your insurance, but you'll also want to examine their treatment specialties, appointment availability and reputation. Trent Carter, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and founder of the addiction treatment service Curednation points out a few other factors you should look into:

Make sure the provider is licensed to practice psychiatry in your state; check credentials, experience and specialties

Verify the platform being used is secure and HIPAA compliant for privacy regulations

Consider whether consultations are provided through video, phone, or messaging; choose a provider with a communication style that aligns with your preferences and needs

Assess psychiatrist availability for appointments and whether there's emergency support or crisis intervention available

How we chose the best online mental health providers

We evaluated each online psychiatry platform based on a variety of factors including whether its providers are licensed, whether it accepts insurance, what services are offered, and whether it has faced recent legal trouble. We also sought out platforms equipped to treat people from diverse backgrounds and various identities. We also spoke to five psychiatric professionals about what to look for in online psychiatric care.

Online psychiatry FAQs

What is the difference between teletherapy and telepsychiatry?

While teletherapy and telepsychiatry are both mental health services provided online, that's largely where the similarities end. Therapists provide talk therapy without medication, meeting frequently to address the client's concerns and provide resources for strengthening resilience and working through past traumas or problems. As Carter explains, "Therapy involves talking to a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or licensed therapist, to address emotional and psychological issues. Therapists use various techniques to help individuals understand their thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and develop coping strategies to manage them."

Telepsychiatry is care provided by a licensed medical doctor or nurse practitioner who specializes in mental health medication management. They mainly focus on prescribing medication as a source of treatment. Carter clarifies the overlap by saying, "Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication, conduct evaluations and provide therapy, although therapy may not be their primary focus."

Is online psychiatry legitimate?

There is mounting evidence that online mental health services, including online psychiatry, is an effective way to treat and manage mental health concerns. "Several studies have demonstrated comparable outcomes between in-person and remote psychiatric care for various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)," Carter says.

Joni Ogle, the CEO of the addiction treatment recovery company Transcend Recovery Community, agrees, saying, "Telepsychiatry has been found to be just as effective as in-person care in numerous studies. Research has demonstrated positive outcomes in various areas, including the reduction of symptoms, increased adherence to treatment plans and improved overall mental health."

However, just because telepsychiatry has scientific evidence behind it doesn't mean it works for everyone. Dr. Michelle Dees, a psychiatrist at the Luxury Psychiatry Medical Spa, clarifies that online psychiatry has a few downsides: "In-person appointments allow psychiatrists to pick up on nonverbal cues, such as body language and facial expressions, which can help them better understand their patients' emotions and thoughts. These cues may be missed or misinterpreted during telepsychiatry sessions, potentially leading to less accurate diagnoses and treatment plans."

Patients may also feel disconnected from their provider. "The lack of physical presence and connection can make it difficult for some patients to develop a trusting relationship with their psychiatrist, which is important for successful treatment outcomes," Dees says.

Telepsychiatry is a scientifically supported practice that increases the accessibility to mental health care. While it might not work for everyone, it's a fantastic option for those seeking a more flexible and accessible way to receive mental health assessments and prescriptions.

Can online psychiatrists prescribe controlled substances?

Some online psychiatrists are licensed to prescribe controlled substances, like Adderall or Ritalin, but this varies by platform and location. "In the United States, online psychiatrists can prescribe controlled substances in certain situations, provided they comply with federal and state regulations. However, regulations may vary by state, and psychiatrists must conduct thorough evaluations and follow appropriate prescribing practices," Carter explains.

Most of the providers on this list don't prescribe controlled substances. This is likely due to other companies facing legal trouble for overprescribing controlled substances via telepsychiatry. Furer points out that the government is paying attention and taking action, "[Telepsychiatry] has come under considerable examination by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), who has enforced regulations to ensure that practitioners using telepsychiatry are prescribing appropriately within the states that they are licensed in."

If you think you need a controlled substance to manage your mental health, make sure you use a platform whose providers are approved to provide such prescriptions, like Talkiatry.

What conditions can online psychiatrists treat?

"Telepsychiatry can provide treatment for nearly all mental health conditions, as long as treatment can be provided and there can be appropriate sessions for the patient given adherence and compliance," Furer explains.

In other words, psychiatrists practicing online can treat the vast majority of mental health conditions, just as they do when practicing in person. Some of these conditions include depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety and substance use disorders.

Meet our experts

Trent Carter, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and founder of the addiction treatment service Curednation

Dr. Michelle Dees, a psychiatrist at the Luxury Psychiatry Medical Spa

Dr. Tzvi Furer, psychiatrist of Palm Tree Psychiatry

Michael Kane, psychologist and chief medical officer at the Indiana Center for Recovery

Joni Ogle, CEO of addiction treatment recovery company Transcend Recovery Community
These Cape Cod lighthouses are the easiest to get to. Here's how to do it.

There is something about lighthouses that fires the imagination, standing guardian as they do over the edge of things: land and sea, life and death, hope and despair, fear and heroism, tempest and calm.

"Lighthouses are special to us because they represent different things to many people: history, romance, our maritime heritage, safety, security, home," observed Susan Abbott, president of the Nauset Light Preservation Society.

Cape Cod is home to more than a dozen of them, including Nauset Light in Eastham, which Abbott's organization manages in partnership with the Cape Cod National Seashore. And they attract many visitors, according to Linzy French, the Seashore's public information officer.

"In the top five, maybe even top three, questions we get at the visitors' center are questions about the lighthouses," said French.

That's not surprising to Ken Rose, operations manager at Highland Light in North Truro that's managed by another Seashore partner, Eastern National. The lights, after all, are "quintessential Cape Cod," he said.

"It's just what people expect when they come to Cape Cod," he said.

Cape Cod Light, also known as Highland Light, at 27 Highland Light Road in North Truro, offers tours. "We did about 18,000 tours last year," Ken Rose, operations manager, said.

How many lighthouses does Cape Cod have?

In all, there are 14 lighthouses on Cape, not counting those in Buzzards Bay, "which for a small area is a very high concentration," said Rose. "And at one time there were even more."

Five of the lights are privately owned and can only be viewed from a distance or if visitors are guests, as is the case with the West Dennis Light, once known as Bass River Light. That one is now operated as the Lighthouse Inn at 1 Lighthouse Inn Road, West Dennis. Wings Neck Light, also private, is available for rent at 1 Lighthouse Lane in Pocasset.

Hyannis Harbor Light in Hyannis and Sandy Neck Lighthouse in Barnstable, and Stage Harbor Light in Chatham are privately owned, too, and best viewed by boat or from nearby beaches.

What lighthouses can you visit on Cape Cod?

As for the remaining nine, some are more accessible than others.

"If you're looking for a really accessible lighthouse, Highland Light is the most accessible, and then Nauset is the second," said Rose.

Abbott also puts Highland Light at the top of the list of "most accessible," followed closely by Nauset, Nobska Light in Woods Hole and Chatham Lighthouse.

Not so easy to reach, French said, are in Provincetown at Long Point, Wood End and Race Point, and Monomoy Point Lighthouse within the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge at the Cape's "elbow."

One of the most challenging of Cape Cod's lighthouses to visit is Race Point Light in Provincetown. On May 19, in the photo, the light can be seen from a trail at Hatches Harbor. On that day, the outgoing tide fills in the salt marsh creating a barrier for walkers who want to reach the beach and lighthouse.

Can you climb any lighthouse on Cape Cod?

Also known as Cape Cod Light, Highland Light, at 27 Highland Light Road in North Truro, is a popular attraction.

"We did about 18,000 tours last year," Rose said.

Commissioned by George Washington in 1796, it's the Cape's oldest lighthouse site. The present 66-foot tower erected in 1857 stands atop a 130-foot cliff.

"It's pretty tall for a lighthouse on Cape Cod. Most of them are in the 40-foot range," Rose said.

Visitors must be at least 48" tall to climb the 69 steps to the top because of the depth of the steps. And it's well worth the effort.

"It's a beautiful view. You can see all the way to Plymouth, which is 32 miles away," said Rose, noting the curve of Cape Cod Bay is also noticeable.

Highland Light is open daily from the first week of May through the last week of October. The shop is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and tours are offered daily, with the last one climbing the light at 4:30 p.m. The cost varies from $5 to $8 for adults, students, seniors and military members.

Can you drive to Nauset Lighthouse?

The winding stairway at Nauset Light. File photo.

Nauset Light stands sentinel at 120 Nauset Light Beach Road in Eastham. Its iconic red and white tower is perhaps the most recognized one of all of the Cape's lighthouses  that's because it's the one featured on Cape Cod potato chips bags.

No reservations are required when it is open for tours, which are free  although donations are appreciated. The grounds are open every day.

This year, Nauset Light will be open May 26, 4:30-7:30 p.m.; Sundays and Wednesdays in June, July and August, 4:30-7:30 p.m.; September 1, 8, and 15, 4:30-7:30 p.m.; Sept. 22 and 29, 1-4 p.m.; Wednesdays in September 1-4 p.m., and Sundays in October, 1-4 p.m. A "full moon tour" is planned on Oct. 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The current 48-foot-high, 44-step light was moved to the site 1923 from Chatham, where it was no longer needed.

The 'Three Sisters'  a trio counted as one

The Three Sisters, like Nauset Light, are located within the National Seashore on Cable Road in North Eastham and managed by the Nauset Light Preservation Society. They are a cluster of three individual towers, one of which still has its beacon, but are often referred to as one light.

The grounds, which have a small parking lot, can be visited at any time of the year, but are not open for interior exploration except with guided tours, typically scheduled between June and September. Tours are free but reservations are required. Schedules can be found at the Seashore visitor center at Salt Pond, 50 Nauset Road, Eastham, or the Province Lands, 171 Race Point Road, or call 508-255-3421.

Can you go inside the Chatham lighthouse?

Chatham Light. File photo.

The 48-foot, 44-step Chatham Lighthouse, at 37 Main St. in Chatham, is home to the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-1. Overlooking Lighthouse Beach, the station was established in 1808 to stand watch over a particularly dangerous stretch of water with shifting sand bars and heavy surf known as the Chatham Bars.

Originally, the site had two towers and was long known as Twin Lights. Two beacons were necessary to differentiate the station from the Highland Light, since the technology of rotating beacons was not yet in use. In 1923, when rotating lenses were installed, one of the towers was moved to Eastham  it's now Nauset Light.

Free tours are on Wednesdays in July and August, and every other Wednesday through September (Sept. 5 and 11 this year), 1-3 p.m. Children must be at least 45" tall and accompanied by an adult.

Can you go to the Nobska lighthouse?

Nobska Light, at 233 Nobska Road in Woods Hole, is on the southwestern tip of Cape Cod where Vineyard and Nantucket sounds meet. It's stewarded by Falmouth and the Friends of Nobska Light.

Nobska Light grounds are open dawn to dusk. Tours for 2024 resume on June 4 and will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 10 a.m. in 15-minute intervals with a limit of six visitors per tour. The last tour is at 12:15 p.m. Children must be over 48" tall.

Tickets are $10 adults, $8 seniors and veterans, $5 children.

How do I get to Race Point Light?

Abbott, Rose and French all agree the most challenging of Cape Cod's lighthouses to visit are Race Point, Long Point and Wood End in Provincetown, and Monomoy Point in Chatham. Visitors can go inside Race Point Light, but the other three are limited to grounds visits only.

Managed by the Cape Cod Chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, Race Point Light overlooks Massachusetts and Cape Cod bays at the outermost region of Cape Cod. Also offering accommodations, it's open for tours this year in June, July and August, on the first and third Sundays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Visitors must either have a four-wheel drive vehicle with an over-sand permit or must commit to a long hike through soft sand. Children under age 4 cannot climb the ladder to the lamp room. There is a $5 suggested donation per person for anyone between the ages of 8 and 60.

Long Point and Wood End both call for long hikes of about 6.4 miles each, round trip, using a dike at the west end of Commercial Street in Provincetown. The dike stretches about 1.25 miles across Provincetown Harbor. The lights can also be accessed by walking from Herring Cove  a longer walk that could present obstacles at high tide or after storms when parts of the shoreline may be under water.

French said people who choose to walk out, even across the dike, should keep the tides in mind so they don't get stranded. An easier option, she noted, is by water. Flyer's Boat Rentals in Provincetown runs shuttles to Long Point seven days a week, every half hour 10 a.m.-5 p.m. from June 17 until Labor Day, and every two hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 5-12, weather permitting.

Monomoy Point Light is the most difficult to visit, accessible only by boat. For more information, go to www.fws.gov/refuge/monomoy, stop by the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge headquarters at 30 Wikis Way in Chatham, call 508-945-0594 or email r5rw_mnwr@fws.gov

Heather McCarron can be reached at hmccarron@capecodonline.com, or follow her on X @HMcCarron_CCT.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod lighthouses: 14 easiest - and most challenging - to visit
Curious little pup looking for a central Ohio family to grow up with

Curious little pup looking for a central Ohio family to grow up with

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Effie, a puppy looking for a home at the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center, is looking for a family to plug in with and start her life.

Behavior Coordinator Brandy Trott said that Effie, a six-month-old pit bull mix, has spent half of her life at the shelter so far. Shes not quite sure why the young dog has been overlooked.

Effie. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)

She has good energy for a puppy, six months I think is a perfect age.  Housebreaking is a lot easier and theyre kind of over a lot of the chewing, mischievous stage, Trott said. Shes had some medical stuff going on.  Sadly, shes just been growing up here, so Id love to find her a home this week.

Effie received surgery for entropion, an eyelid condition that can result in hair rubbing against her eyes. Because she recently received medical treatment, she needs a foster to adopt to leave the shelter. But whoever cares for Effie can take her home while the shelters medical team ensures she makes a full recovery.

The operation hasnt put a damper on Effies playful energy or interactions with the shelter staff.

She already knows sit and down, so I think pretty good for a puppy. A lot of our adult dogs dont even know down, Trott noted.

Effie is available for meet-and-greets at the Franklin County Dog Shelter, located at 4340 Tamarack Blvd. in Columbus. Below are some additional dogs up for adoption as well:

Louise. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)

Louise

Brown terrier and pit bull mix

Female between six months and two years old

Shy dog, according to shelter

Spayed and up to date on shots

Jasmine. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)

Jasmine

White and brindle terrier and pit bull mix

Female between two and five years old

Spayed and up to date on shots

Ellie. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)

Ellie

Brown and black Belgian Malinois

Female between six months and two years old

Spayed and up to date on shots

Ebony. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)

Ebony

Black and white Siberian Husky mix

Female between six months and two years old

Spayed and up to date on shots

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 NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Many people have had or currently have jobs at a retail store in a mall, and I'm sure a lot of frisky business takes place. I recently asked the people of the BuzzFeed Community to share any juicy secrets and stories they have as employees of popular mall stores. I was shocked to read some of these submissions! Here is what some people shared:

Note: Some of these responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.

1."I worked as a guest services supervisor at a mall in LA. We shared a kiosk with security. A lot of people had sex in their cars in the parking structure. While one member of security went to stop it, the rest of us were watching on camera and laughing our asses off. We saw a lot on those cameras."

crystalgem80 Krisanapong Detraphiphat / Getty Images

2."I used to work at a Victoria's Secret PINK store. People came in all the time to return underwear that had been CLEARLY WORN, and one of the managers would still make us accept it. To make it worse, if there were any stains, she would tell us to 'just wipe it' with a wet wipe and put it back on the floor."

Nina, Illinois

3."I worked at Abercrombie in the fall of 2005 during my freshman year of college. The manager and assistant manager literally would walk around college campuses in cities near the mall for 'hot people.' They really preyed on the young people from small towns, made them feel important, and told them how different or hot they were, and they 'needed' them for the brand. I obviously fell for this being young and impressionable."

"My roommate and I both worked there. She is blonde, and Im a brunette. On our first day, they separated us by hair color. I was told I had to work in the back because I had brown hair. Only blonde girls were allowed to 'work the floor.' Also, they 'heavily encourage' you to wear their clothes to work, but you must buy them yourself. We got a small discount. I only lasted there about six months before I was over it. Plus, the smell (they constantly sprayed the cologne) and the loud music gave me a headache every day! That being said, everyone who worked there together has a semi-trauma bond that has kept us friends even 20 years later." emilyj4eaac727d Peter Dazeley / Getty Images

4."I worked at Nordstrom in the mall, and I had to go to the bathroom. The employees, unfortunately, didn't have a designated bathroom. So, walking into the public bathroom, I thought, do my business and be on my way... I was wrong. The stalls in the bathroom have indicators to let someone know if they're occupied. The stall I was about to walk into read 'unoccupied.' I walk in without knocking (something I'll never do again), and who do I see but some jerk off, jerking off. I immediately turn around and leave the restroom entirely, wishing I could bleach my memories."

Josh, Chicago

5."Back in the 1990s, I worked at a mall kiosk store famous for engraving and glass etching. The mall was open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the mall policy was that every store needed to stay open the entire time the mall was open. At the time, I was the manager. I had only one part-time employee besides myself, so I worked many 14-hour days, often without breaks or lunches. And, as manager, I was salaried, so I wasn't even doing overtime. Eventually, after multiple requests from the district manager for help with hiring (classified ads, whatever), he said I could only put a 'help wanted' sign on the counter. After four months of this, I was burnt out. At the end of a shift one night, I called in the daily sales totals and told him I was quitting. I set the alarm, threw the keys onto the center counter, and left. I would NOT recommend it."

parryboucher

6."Retail store employee here. Nothing is ever really on sale. Or rather, the 'original price' on it was never meant to be sold at that price. '30% off jeans' doesnt mean jeans are 30% off; it's just that the 'price' they shipped with was marked up by $15 to make you think theres some great deal happening. Also, not everyone is allowed to use the cash register at any time. When theres a long line, and you see me folding clothes, dont yell at me about it. I cant walk up and randomly decide to open another register unless I wanna get fired."

Eden, Canada

7."I worked at a Claire's store in the mall just last year. Our back room was so small that we had boxes full of stuffed animals and backpacks labeled and stacked in the employee bathroom. Two people could not comfortably be in the backroom at the same time. It was definitely a health hazard but there was nothing we could do about it."

e4cee38829

8."I worked at American Eagle for several years in college, and almost no one knew that you can return their products ANY TIME, even without a receipt, for a store credit at their current sale price. It was never less than $11 (even for jeans 10+ years old), so its a good option for anyone wanting to make closet space. They use the SKU code on the jeans to look up the value."

Brittani, Indiana Sopa Images / SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

9."Shoplifting has always been an issue  its nothing new. Customers are becoming more aware of it because thieves are not as concerned about being sneaky since its become known most stores will not prosecute. Most stores have a policy prohibiting sales staff from doing anything other than attempting to deter theft. This seems to make many customers angry, as though this is a sign of the downfall of society. Please understand the policy is in place to protect the employees, and nobody should be risking their personal safety over the theft of a dumb t-shirt. Also, ALWAYS WASH NEW CLOTHES BEFORE WEARING! They are coated in preservative chemicals and filthy from falling on the floor or being tried on by people who may or may not have bothered wearing underwear."

jbdnco

10."Sometimes the music that plays in stores at the mall is strategic. The louder the music is played, the more customers the store will bring in. When customers enjoy the music, they shop longer. The longer they shop, the more items theyll purchase. Ive seen it happen too often while working at a clothing store at my local mall. I had a general manager who would hook up his own playlists to the speakers in the store & he would blast it. Whether he was opening or closing, Id watch people flock into our store like crazy during his shifts. When comparing analytics and conversion rates, the customer count and revenue would always increase at a high rate whenever he did this compared to when hed play the stores regular playlist at a regular volume. I thought it was genius."

Kai, WI Greg Baker / AFP via Getty Images

11."A lot of the cameras are fake. Just used to deter bad behavior."

ellene8

12."Whenever you see a store at a mall that is going out of business, keep in mind that though you think you may be scoring some great deals on merchandise and such, no one in the store is making a dime off of anything you buy. Everything is owned by the bank that is liquidating the assets of the business. Everything that was able to be sold to the public had a price tag slapped on it also. Even items that were normally free to customers, such as books of matches that had our shop's logo on them, had a price. The fixtures and displays were all priced to go as an employee who was tasked with making sure that anything and everything that was on the sales floor had a price tag on it. Needless to say, through the two months that we were 'Going out of business' it was quite depressing and chaotic. We were putting price tags on things that I had never even seen before that had been dug out of storage."

Beth

13."I worked for the mall itself, customer service. We worked closely with maintenance, housekeeping, and security. I would see mice from time to time when closing up the mall. Housekeeping said it's good to see mice, but you should worry when you don't see mice. It means rats!"

"Also, if you turn in money to the lost and found, it will likely not find its owner. Anything under $50, if it has no distinguishable features (envelope, specific damage, etc.) and wasn't picked up by the end of the night, gets donated to the local children's hospital. Anything $50 and up gets held for a month and then donated.

Finally, you'd be surprised how many people die at the mall. It's a popular spot for the elderly, so...I worked there for four years and saw at least six people die or already pass."

leahm491b1c910

14."I worked for Abercrombie and Fitch in the early 2000s. There was an unspoken but widely understood rule that prettier people were hired to work as 'models' (regular floor staff). Also, Abercrombie and Fitch and Hollister are owned by the same company, so if one store were super shorthanded, they would send us to work at the other store for a shift. Employees werent allowed to wear black at all, or theyd be sent home. Apparently, black was too formal for the brand. Every 15 minutes, wed have to walk around the store and spritz their Fierce cologne, pretty sure I breathed in too much of that to be good for my health. We also took jeans, spritzed them with water, twisted them, clamped them with binder clips, and then let the jeans dry. This was all to give the jeans that perfect wrinkled, worn look."

Anonymous Antonin Utz / AFP via Getty Images

15."I worked at Boscovs in the shoe department. 90% of the time I spend looking for shoes in your size from the back, I just chill. I know right where the shoe is, but if I take longer then you think I worked harder finding it."

chesterjlampwick

If you have a mall store secret or story, share it with me in the comments below!
In Humboldt, May marks the start of strawberry season as the sweet fruit's smell wafts through the city.

In attending the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival, Gov. Bill Lee and his wife Maria traveled to the festival's hub in Humboldt for the annual Governor's Luncheon on May 10. The festival has been in place for 86 years.

Humboldt Mayor Marvin Sikes and Gov. Bill Lee pose for a photo during the 86th annual West Tennessee Strawberry Festival Governor's Luncheon in Humboldt, Tenn., on Friday, May 10, 2024.

Addressing a room of people decorated in shades of red, pink, and green, Lee recounted the first time he and Maria attended the festival.

Gov. Bill Lee laughs as First Lady Maria points out he's wearing the same shirt as they receive a painting depicting their first apperance at the festival during the 86th annual West Tennessee Strawberry Festival Governor's Luncheon in Humboldt, Tenn., on Friday, May 10, 2024.

Five years ago during campaign season, the Lees traveled to the Strawberry Festival in a campaign recreational vehicle with "Bill Lee for Governor" on its side. A hand-painted picture gifted to the Lees at this year's luncheon revealed that he happened to be wearing the same shirt as he did when he attended five years ago.

A number of local and state officials were present for the luncheon, including Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Cookeville, who accompanied the Lees.

The Lees were presented with a box of fresh strawberries by festival president Anne Short.

Miss Fire Prevention Lily Moore dons strawberry-themed attire as she participates in the 86th annual West Tennessee Strawberry Festival Parade in Humboldt, Tenn., on Friday, May 10, 2024.

"There's something very remarkable about who we are as a state, and when I come to an event like this and to a community like this, I'm reminded of just why it is everyone else in America thinks this a great place to be," Lee said.

An attendee dons a strawberry-themed hat during the 86th annual West Tennessee Strawberry Festival Governor's Luncheon in Humboldt, Tenn., on Friday, May 10, 2024.

Fresh strawberries are available for picking close by in Milan at Green Acres Berry Farm. Visit www.greenacresmilan.com for more information. For a complete list of strawberry farms across the state, visit https://www.picktnproducts.org/listview/you-pick-strawberries.html.

To view more photos of the annual strawberry festival parade, visit www.jacksonsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Lees kick off strawberry season in West TN at annual Humboldt festival
A model wears a creation by Louis Vuitton during a fashion show for the Cruise 2025 collection in the Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu)

BARCELONA, Spain (AP)  Louis Vuitton unveiled its latest fashion designs at Barcelonas Park Guell on Thursday, providing the clothes with drama to finally match Antoni Gaudis architectural masterpiece.

Nicolas Ghesquieres ambitions for the Parisian houses 2025 Cruise collection were unveiled before an A-list crowd, including actresses Ana de Armas, Jennifer Connelly and Saoirse Ronan.

Louis Vuitton usually unveils its ready-to-wear collections in the French capital, while choosing exotic and attention-grabbing locations for its destination cruise collections.

Where tourists tread daily in tank tops, shorts and flip flops, this UNESCO World Heritage Site for one night was home to cutting-edge garments that blended with its earthly tones that are at once organic and yet seemingly ethereal.

The models weaved their way through the 86 Doric columns that hold up a vaulted square in the center of the park that overlooks Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea in the distance.

The show notes said Ghesquiere had been inspired by Gaudis legacy in constant mutation and Spains rich artistic heritage.

As if in homage to such opulent purity, the Maisons rigorous spirit embraces the countrys passionate character, the notes read. The fervor of its colors, its loyalty to tradition elevated into artistic expression, dark and light that never appear contradictory.

Dramatic silhouettes contrasted with the soft curves of Gaudis organic structures, which were then reflected in the dresses that draped and folded into volumes that defied gravity.

And then there were flashes that delighted: a pair of equestrian boots that finished in a bunch of tassels.

The fashion show, however, was not celebrated by all. A group of a few hundred residents protested the event for what they said were the inconveniences it had caused, including reduced parking in the area. The protest also included animal right activists.

The group of protesters located a few streets down the hill from the parks outer wall could be heard beating drums, blowing air horns and setting off firecrackers before the show kicked off. Catalan police said they arrested one person for resisting violently to their decision to remove the protesters from a street to let traffic through.

Park Guell, pronounced gu-ay was started in 1900 as a planned upscale residential development designed by Gaudi, whose other works include the still-in-progress La Sagrada Familia Basilica. But a lack of buyers led to it being ditched in favor of a park that eventually passed into the hands of the Barcelona townhall.

It now receives 4.4 million visitors a year, mostly from the U.S., Britain, France, Germany and Italy, with Barcelona residents only representing 0.3% of the visitors, according to the park.

___

AP fashion writer Colleen Barry contribute to this report from Milan, Italy.
Mexico Is the Most Exciting Place in the World to Drink Right Now

Cocktail bars in Mexico City, Tijuana, Guadalajara and beyond prove why Mexico slings some of the best drinks in the business.

Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Order a margarita at Brujas, a spectrally lit cocktail bar at the edge of Mexico City's Parque Rio de Janeiro, and you'll likely be gently nudged toward something like the Ayuujk. Named for the indigenous languages of Oaxaca's Mixe region, the combination of mezcal, corn liqueur, housemade cacao bitters, and Mexican white wine infused with cacao and pixtle (a substance found inside the pit of the mamey fruit) is inspired by Yasnaya Aguilar, a Mixe writer, translator, and linguistic rights activist who is one of many heroines cited on the cocktail menu. Deeply Mexican in both ingredients and concept, Brujas' approach illustrates the combination of innovation and tradition that's made Mexico one of the most exciting cocktail scenes in the world.

Related: Sotol, Bacanora, and Raicilla Are the Agave Spirits to Try Right Now

"It's essential to celebrate native Mexican ingredients, and incorporate them into modern mixology," says Fabiola Padilla, owner and beverage director at Bekeb in San Miguel de Allende. Her inspiring cocktails pair a Mexican base spiritnot just tequila and mezcal but raicilla, sotol, and local gins and whiskeyswith a highlighted local ingredient, such as cactus fruit, tomatillo, fermented mesquite honey, or the tree resin copal.

The Aguamiel combines pulque (spontaneously fermented agave sap) from her uncle's ranchfermented until it reaches her desired strength for cocktail usewith pox, a kind of moonshine from Chiapas state, plus cacao, coconut, and Fino sherry. It shows how the country's cocktail scene is now matching its feted food scene in terms of creativity and tradition. "This wide variety of ingredients and flavors is what brings such complexity to Mexican cuisine, and our cocktails should be just as distinctive," says Padilla.







"The emergence of modern Mexican mixology can be traced to the 2011 opening of Mexico City's Limantour. But the speed and degree of innovation that would happen in the following years was breathtaking. "







The emergence of modern Mexican mixology can be traced to the 2011 opening of Mexico City's Limantour, which started modestly with drinks inspired by the international cocktail scene, and the occasional startling Mexican ingredient (for instance, the bars influential Margarita al Pastor with chile serrano, cilantro, basil, and pineapple). But the speed and degree of innovation that would happen in the following years was breathtaking.

The mezcal boom had shown the diversity of agave spirits, but the Casa Lumbre distillery soon broadened the scope of Mexican spirits beyond agave, first with the hugely popular Ancho Reyes chile liqueur in green (chile poblano) and red (chile ancho) versions, then with a corn whiskey (Abasolo), a border-straddling gin (Las Californias), a corn liqueur (Nixta), and the new Alma Finca, based on various citrus and their flowersa kind of ultra-aromatic cousin to Cointreau.

Today you can find white (unaged) heirloom corn whiskeys from the states of Michoacan, Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Baja California, and Estado de Mexico, ron agricola (aka rhum agricole), and over a dozen gins with Mexican botanicals, all of which show the vastness of the Mexican landscape in each bottle.

Related: The 5 Best Sipping Tequilas You Can Actually Afford

Take, for instance, Armonico gin, which uses a base of corn alcohol with 32 botanicals, including native ones like cempasuchil (Mexican marigold), canela (Mexican cinnamon), key lime, damiana (a wild shrub), and night-blooming jasmine.

"Our master distiller Andres Valverde and I wanted to make a London Dry gin but with Mexican ingredients," says Juan Carlos Delgado of La Insoportable distillery, which makes Armonico. "Mexicos various regions have incredible diversity in terms of ingredients, flavors, dishes, and traditions, which is why we have such enormous potential not just for agave spirits and fruit liqueurs but also non-traditional spirits like gin, whisky, and vodka."







""Just as Japan went from being perceived as only making sake to being acclaimed for its whiskeys, Mexico is no longer just tequila and mezcal."  Juan Carlos Delgado, CEO, La Insoportable"







Tourists are helping to fuel the demand for cocktails with a sense of place. Bar manager Joshua Monaghan, who helped turn Fifty Mils, the bar at Mexico City's Four Seasons Hotel, into a globally-acclaimed cocktail destination, now oversees Zapote Bar at the exclusive Rosewood Mayakoba resort on the Riviera Maya.

"Guests aren't just looking for any cocktail with tequila or mezcal, they want a story," he says. "When they understand why a certain cocktail came together in a certain place, that's when they make a deeper connection with Mexico."

At Four Seasons Tamarindo, an oceanfront resort in Jalisco state's Costalegre, whose culinary commitment extends to a 34-acre organic farm and harvesting their own sea salt, Director of Mixology Ivan Torres uses hyper-local housemade products such as a bitters made with raicilla and foraged guamuchil fruit. "Even if clients aren't paying attention, we think it's important," he says.

Related: 20 Top International Hotel Bars, According to the Experts

And with the massive influx of post-pandemic tourism to Mexico, flavors here are starting to impact global cocktail culture. Take, for instance, NYCs super-hot Superbueno, which features cocktails such as a Mole Negroni, made with fat-washed Mezcal and xocolati bitters, or its Improved Batanga, a heady mix of blanco tequila, fernet, lime juice, and cola (recipe, p.XX), or Mirate in Los Angeles, where you can find the El Yaki, which mingles papaya, bacanora, lime juice, and xtabentun liqueur.

"Just as Japan went from being perceived as only making sake to being acclaimed for its whiskeys, Mexico is no longer just tequila and mezcal," says Armonico's Delgado. "For us, Mexican ingredients and spirits are a matter of pride and inspiration, but they're expanding the possibilities for cocktails in the rest of the world, too."







Top Mexican Cocktail Bars

Aruba Day Drink, Tijuana

Aruba proves that serious mixology and playful irreverence can co-exist, in a sunny and lively space which showcases the fun and creativity that sets Tijuana apart.

Baltra, Mexico City

This diminutive bar off lush Plaza Iztaccihuatl has an unusual Charles Darwin theme that helps reiterate the evolution of Mexico's cocktail scene.

Bekeb, San Miguel de Allende

Enjoy panoramic rooftop views from Fabiola Padilla's bustling bar (named for the Tzotzil word for "seed") that is deeply Mexican in concept and crystal clear in execution.

Brujas, Mexico City

The cauldrons at this semi-subterranean witch-themed bar contain some of the country's most inventive cocktails, many with savory and herbal profiles that reflect Mexico's culinary traditions.

De La O Cantina, Guadalajara

Traditional cantina vibes meet Hawaiian tiki dive at this cool spot that offers "Guadalatiki" cocktails with ingredients like house-made lime falernum and pumpkin-seed orgeat.

Selva, Oaxaca

At Selva, traditional Oaxacan ingredients and techniques meet international partners, as in the "Bosque de Niebla" cocktail of local mezcal with the Oaxacan smoked chile paste chintextle, ponzu, and Punt e Mes.

Zapote Bar, Riviera Maya

Even non-guests are welcome at this cocktail haven in one of the country's most exclusive resorts, whose weekly Martes de Locales series invites eminent guest bartenders each Tuesday.









Batanga

Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

This cocktail proves why tequila and coke belong together. It was invented in the 1960s by a restaurant owner in Mexico who named it after a customer who was batanga  slang for thick in the middle  aka stout in appearance. The Batanga has sweet and tart flavors with a touch of earthiness from the tequila; it comes together in a glass in minutes and can be easily scaled up for a crowd.

Get the recipe

Coconut Water Mezcal Spritz (Yax Cha)

Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Sweet, smoky, and slightly spicy, this mezcal-based spritz is made for warm-weather sipping. At Zapote Bar, located in the Rosewood Mayakoba resort in Playa del Carmen, bar director Joshua Monaghan calls this cocktail the Yax Cha after the Mayan word for mamey, the fruit that grows on the zapote tree which inspired the bar's name.

get the recipe

Mexican Daiquiri

Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

The Mexican Daiquiri features two types of rum and a simple syrup brightened with fresh lime juice for a sweet and tart kick. Grapefruit and celery bitters balance out the refreshing cocktail with a touch of fragrant complexity.

Get the recipe

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Read the original article on Food & Wine.
BRYSON CITY, N.C. (WNCN)  North Carolina has some great camping spots, from the beaches to the mountains and everywhere in between.

But for those who arent fans of roughing it, dont worry  you can also enjoy the outdoors without giving up creature comforts, because according to one group of readers, the state also has the best glamping location in the the country.

Readers of 10best.com, USA Todays lifestyle and travel website, voted Sky Ridge Yurts in Bryson City to be the top spot for glamping in the U.S.

Sky Ridge Yurts provides guests with a glimpse into the splendor of Appalachia with eight distinct structures all available for booking, the site says. Whether guests spring for the three-person Santeelah or six-person Fontana, each space comes equipped with cooking areas, full baths, and both heating and air conditioning.

ICYMI: Raleigh restaurant named one of the most beautiful in the U.S.

The glamping spot is located in the heart of the Smoky Mountains and aims to provide a vacation thats a little different, a little more, a little better than your last one, according to the companys website.

At Sky Ridge, we strive to give our guests a place where they can relax and reconnect with themselves and with nature without giving up the comforts of home, their website says. Perched high atop a mountainous ridge line with a view that will take your breath away  You just might not want to leave.

In addition to the yurts that are equipped with modern amenities, guests can also add on extra services and experiences like a massage or a mini photo session. Sky Ridge is also available as a wedding venue for small parties.

To celebrate their 10best.com 2024 Readers Choice Awards win, Sky Ridge Yurts is giving a discount for any new stays booked between now and May 30. Guests who use the code THANKYOU at checkout between now and then will get 24 percent off a stay.

Sky Ridge Yurts is located at 200 Sky Ridge Dr. off Highway 74, about a five hour drive from Raleigh. It is approximately 320 miles west of Raleigh and 76 miles west of Asheville.

10 Best Glamping Spots in 2024, as voted by 10best.com readers

1. Sky Ridge Yurts  Bryson, NC 2. Beaver Island Retreat  Beaver Island, MI 3. Piney River Ranch  Vail, CO 4. Treebones Resort  Big Sur, CA 5. Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo  River Ranch, Florida 6. Nomad Ridge at The Wilds  Cumberland, OH 7. Little Arrow Outdoor Resort  Townsend, Tennessee 8. The Destination  Dadeville, AL 9. The Resort at Paws Up  Greenough, MT 10. Borealis Basecamp  Fairbanks, AK

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 CBS17.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Pallavi Pande grew up in the foothills of the Himalayas, bordering Nepal on the northern part of India. Shes been living in the United States for 18 years and really missed the street food in India.

So she began her own company as a way to share her culture, set a strong example for her daughters and empower the women in India who make her products.

Pande told KOIN 6 News the meaning of her companys name  DTOCS  is a cleansing journey with palm leaves. She changed the spelling of detox when she began her company.

Pallavi Pande of Portland founded DTOCS as a way to share her Indian culture, food and to empower women, May 19, 2024 (KOIN)

She wanted to introduce this experience to my daughters, Rhea, 12, and Isha, 10, because they rarely go to India.

So Im like, how do we make sure we have a representation of our culture? And that is why I started this brand with that mindset of bringing that cultural experience to everybody here in the US, she said.

Her products are compostable. The waste, she said, is either given to the cattle or put into the soil. It does zero waste because theres nothing left.

Pallavi Pande of Portland founded DTOCS as a way to share her Indian culture, food and to empower women, May 19, 2024 (KOIN)

But Pallavi Pande isnt just trying to save the planet. Shes also helping an entire community of moms through a Facebook group she began 8 years ago, Portland Brown Mommies.

The group began when she and her kids moved for her husbands job from Ohio to Oregon.

At 30 with two kids and going through a lot of postpartum depression, I was in my lowest rock bottom and I was so depressed that I was going through a lot of emotions. I felt I wasnt supported or understood, she said. I posted on it saying, Ive never moved in my life and Im moving to Portland, Oregon with two kids and I need help. And thats where two women from Portland, Oregon replied on that Facebook group thread. And I was very surprised.

There are now nearly 2000 members in the group.

We try to do some activity, whether its physical, mental, emotional, leadership, business related, mom related, social circles, babysitting, whatever it is, Pande said. We do once a month meeting, for sure.

Pallavi Pande of Portland founded DTOCS as a way to share her Indian culture, food and to empower women, May 19, 2024 (KOIN)

The group has grown well beyond Indian moms.

We tried to be inclusive of all the South Asian culture because if theres somebody coming in, we want to make sure they understand the language, the culture were talking about, or even the foods that we are sharing, she said. So if somebody is from that South Asian culture and they understand the culture, the food, the challenges that we all feel as Asian moms or wives or just being in a household Asian household with parents with in-laws, all those challenges, if youre somebody who relate to it, thats when I say, youre welcome to the group because I wanted to start a community that I never had.

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 KOIN.com.
Rules of the road: Do you know these driving dos and don'ts in Florida?

Do you have to stop for a school bus letting children off on the opposite side of the road from you?

What about driving while wearing earbuds. Is that ok?

Heres another one  what are you supposed to do if youre on a two-lane road and theres a disabled vehicle off to the side?

There are lots of rules of the road you need to know before getting behind the wheel. Well go over some of the most important ones to make sure you, and other drivers, are safe.

Are you allowed to text and drive in Florida?

That would be a big fat no.

As of July 1, 2019, law enforcement is able to issue citations to anyone operating a motor vehicle while manually typing or entering multiple letters, numbers or symbols into a wireless communications device to text, email and instant message.

This includes a cell phone, tablet, laptop, two-way messaging device or an electronic game that can be used in a handheld manner.

What is the penalty for texting and driving in Florida?

The first offense is considered a non-moving traffic violation. It comes with a minimum $30 fine. No points are assessed against the driver license.

A second offense, within five years of the first one, will get a minimum $60 fine. Youll also get three points against your driver license.

Commit the violation in a school or work zone and youll be awarded a moving traffic violation with a minimum fine of $60 and three points assessed against your driver license.

Are there exceptions to the texting and driving rules?

The law does not apply to motor vehicles that are stationary, such as at a stop light. Motorists also are exempt if they are reporting emergency or criminal activity to law enforcement or using a device for navigation purposes.

Are earbuds allowed while driving in Florida?

Earbuds may allow you to drive hands-free, but they are halfway prohibited while driving.

Lets explain.

Wearing earbuds, a headset or headphones over both ears is a no-go. However, if you just have one earbud in, thats allowed because it allows surrounding sounds to be heard with the other ear.

What are the rules when you see a disabled vehicle on the side of the road?

Drivers fail to move to the other lane while driving past a police car with its lights on during a traffic stop.

While driving youve likely passed a disabled vehicle or a law enforcement officer pulled over attending to another driver. Whats the protocol?

Move over  thats the Florida law.

It requires motorists to move over a lane for stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility service vehicles, tow trucks or wreckers, maintenance or construction vehicles with displaying warning lights and well as any vehicle on the side of the road.

If youre on a two-lane road or not able to move over, you must slow down to a speed that is 20 mph less than the posted speed limit. If youre in an area where the posted speed limit is 20 mph or less, you must slow down to 5 mph.

In 2022, there were 170 crashes and more than 14,000 citations issued for motorists failing to move over in Florida, according to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

What about ebikes? Can they drive on roads?

Ebikes, which have been gaining popularity in recent years, are under the same guidelines as bicycles, according to Florida statute. They are allowed on: bike lanes, streets and roads, sidewalks and multi-use paths.

Similar to bicycles, motorists must provide a minimum of three feet of clearance when passing an e-bike rider. Most e-bikes go as fast as 20 mph, but some get as high as 28 mph.

Spitzer is a trending reporter. She can be reached at MSpitzer@floridatoday.com

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida driving rules to know: Texting, school buses, earbuds
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 23. Kazakhstan and Singapore discussed state-building and the global economy, including digitalization, technology development, artificial intelligence, and human capital, Trend reports.

The issue was discussed during a meeting between Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.

During the meeting, the President of Kazakhstan expressed his gratitude to the government of Singapore for organizing the Kazakh-Singapore Business Forum. According to him, this event will serve as a good incentive for Kazakh and Singaporean companies to seek new opportunities in the markets of the two countries.

He also spoke about the comprehensive reforms underway in Kazakhstan aimed at improving the competitiveness of the national economy and creating a comfortable environment for potential investors.

Singapore's deputy prime minister noted that Kazakhstan and Singapore can help expand cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and ASEAN.

The sides talked about further strengthening the partnership through cooperation between government and business structures.

Earlier, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a meeting with a Singapore parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Seah Kian Peng, noted that the total volume of Singaporean investments in the economy of Kazakhstan amounted to $1.4 billion.

According to him, there are more than 140 Singaporean companies and joint ventures operating in Kazakhstan.
Texans searched for these two luxury vacation spots the most. Mexico isnt on the list

Imagine dipping your toes in white sand while admiring the clear waters and breathtaking lush mountain views around you. Apparently Texans do quite a bit of dreaming about luxury vacations theyd love to take.

Costa Rica and Bali are two of the most searched destinations by Texans. Approximately 2,500 residents search both locations a month.

Renty, a luxury car rental company, conducted a study based on monthly search volume of desired luxury vacation destinations in the past year. They looked at data based on these popular keywords: luxury, travel and itinerary.

Costa Rica also had higher search volume from California and Florida. Overall, the location rakes in 34,248 searches a month.

Hawaii comes in at No. 2 with searchers coming from Washington and Ohio. The Aloha State was the most popular destination searched in 20 states. Bali comes in third, and the most searched destination in Texas. Interest in visiting the Indonesian island were also high in Illinois and Georgia.

Costa Rica and Bali are currently at a level 2 travel advisory, meaning it is safe to travel there but to use caution, according to the U.S. State Department. Crime is the main reason for the advisory on the Central American nation. Threats of natural disasters and terrorism are the concerns for Bali.

 More trending stories from our newsroom:

 Video: Lightning strikes truck on I-35 in Fort Worth. "I was in shock"

 Fort Worth increases property tax breaks for seniors

 Want to visit new Palo Pinto state park? You'll have to wait.

Overall, there are many countries worth looking into. Here is the full list of most searched luxury vacation destinations.

1. Costa Rica

34,248 monthly searches

Most interested states: California, Florida, Texas

2. Hawaii

32,278 searches

Most interested states: Washington and Ohio

3. Bali

27,331 searches

Most interested states: Texas, Illinois, Georgia

4. Maldives

22,758 searches

Most interested state: Delaware

5. Thailand

21,857 searches

Most interested states: Oregon and Nevada

6. New York

16,358 searches

Most interested states: West Virginia and Vermont

7. Paris

9,934 searches

Most interested state: Louisiana

8. Dubai

9,368 searches

9. Los Angeles

9,026 searches

Most interested state: California

10. Fiji

8,746 searches

Most interested state: Hawaii
How do you survive the crazy South Florida airport during peak travel time? Take a look

Record crowds are expected to pour in and out of airports in South Florida on Memorial Day weekend. Its also the start of summer travel season, and likely a sign of things to come.

Expect a packed airport, but know that preparation and patience can go a long way.

MORE: When are worst times to drive for Memorial Day? Take a look at Florida traffic forecast

Miami International Airport estimates passenger traffic will increase by 10% on Memorial Day weekend compared to the same period last year, setting a new record. It expects more than 160,000 travelers every day over the holiday weekend starting Thursday, May 23.

It also anticipates parking garages to nearly fill up. That is expected to continue into June, with local schools beginning their summer break periods, the airport says.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport forecasts more than 630,000 travelers from May 23 through May 28. That exceeds last years figure by 5.4%. About 105,000 people will use the airport each of those six days. It says that May 24 and May 27 will be the busiest days.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration expects the busiest summer travel season ever across the U.S. It forecasts screening more than 18 million passengers and crew between May 23 and May 29 at airports across the United States, an increase of 6.4% over the same period in 2023. TSA expects Friday, May 24 to be the busiest travel day of Memorial Day weekend, with three million passengers.

MORE: Think Miami Beach is hard to drive in now? Wait till Memorial Day weekend. What to know

Heres some advice from the two South Florida airports and TSA:

Miami International Airport

The way to get to the Miami airport.







Parking

 Try to get dropped off by a friend or family member or use a ride-sharing service, taxi or the Metrorail Orange Line if traveling Thursday through Sunday.

 Half-price parking is at MIAs remote Economy Park and Ride lot. Valet parking is directly across from MIAs check-in-area at Door 2, and Door 20 in the Dolphin and Flamengo garages.

 MIAs Cellphone Waiting Lot has 60 free parking spaces for drivers waiting to pick up arriving passengers. Its just off LeJeune Road and Northwest 31st Street.

Check-In

 Arrive at MIA three hours before your flight.

Check in online before arriving at MIA

 If your flight is delayed, be patient with airline employees and stay in contact with your airline.

 Use MIAs website and mobile app to receive updated flight information.

TSA Screening

 Pack essential items like medicine, travel documents, a phone charger and a change of clothes in your carry-on, not your checked bag.

 Wear easily removable shoes, follow the 3-1-1 rule for liquids or gels in your carry-on, avoid accessories that resemble weapons and other prohibited items.

 You can find the fastest TSA checkpoint for your flight by using MIAs real-time updates.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

Southwest Airlines new five-gate, international terminal at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was open for a sneak peak Thursday, June 1, 2017. The addition is part of a larger construction plan for the airport that will bring renovations to each terminal. The new Southwest Terminal 1 will allow the airport, which has traditionally catered to domestic visitors, to accommodate more international travel.

Arrival

 FLL has similar advice about arriving early but says that while it is generally suggested to get to the airport two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one, during peak travel periods like Memorial Day weekend, its best to follow any updated guidance from your airline, as they may require additional time for check-in and bag processing.

Traffic

 If you are picking up friends or family at FLL, consider using the upper-level departures roadway when the lower-level arrivals roadway is congested. That goes for either arriving or leaving the airport.

Parking

 The airport recommends being dropped off by family or friends or taking a ride-sharing service or a taxi. Garages are expected to reach full capacity over the weekend.

Weapons

 Those traveling with a licensed firearm must follow TSA protocols to pack and transport the weapon in a secure, hard-sided locked container as checked luggage. If caught with a gun at TSA, you could face a penalty as well as be arrested.

Transportation Security Administration

Travelers enter checkpoint 5 at the Miami airport. The TSA announced that they are ready to deal with the increase of travelers flying in and out of MIA during the Christmas and New Years holidays. Wednesday December 20, 2023.

Pack smart and remember the 3-1-1 rule

 Any liquids, sunscreen containers and alcohol over 3.4 ounces must be packed in a checked bag. Liquids, aerosol, gels, creams and pastes are allowed in carry-on bags as long as each item is 3.4 ounces or less and placed in one quart-sized bag. Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes.

Be checkpoint ready and bring a valid ID

 Arrive at the checkpoint with a mobile or printed boarding pass and valid ID. Starting May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 and older must have a REAL ID-compliant drivers license or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the U.S.

Be patient

 Passengers who engage in unruly behavior at the checkpoint, the gate area or in flight may face substantial penalties and possible prosecution on criminal charges.

Call ahead if you need support

 Passengers with disabilities or medical conditions can call the TSA Cares helpline toll-free at 855-787-2227 with any questions. If you call at least 72 hours prior to travel, TSA Cares can arrange assistance at TSA checkpoints for those with specific needs.
1,400 packages of meth weighing almost 6 tons and worth over $18 million found in squash shipment

1,400 packages of meth weighing almost 6 tons and worth over $18 million found in squash shipment

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in California have discovered more than 1,400 packages of methamphetamine worth over $18 million inside a shipment of squash, officials said.

The discovery happened early Monday morning at approximately 6:47 a.m. when CBP officers working at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility in California encountered a 44-year-old man driving a commercial tractor-trailer with a shipment of squash, CBP officials said in a statement released on Wednesday detailing the seizure.

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PHOTO: CBP officers discovered 1,419 packages of methamphetamine concealed within the shipment of squash. (CBP)

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The driver, a valid border crossing card holder, was referred for further examination by CBP officers along with the tractor-trailer and shipment, CBP said. In secondary, non-intrusive scanning technology was utilized to conduct a full scan of the tractor trailer. After examination, irregularities were observed and CBP officers requested a CBP human and narcotics detection canine. The canine team responded and alerted officers to the presence of narcotics.

In total, CBP officers discovered 1,419 packages of methamphetamine concealed within the shipment of squash with the total weight of the narcotics being 11,469 pounds -- an estimated street value of $18,350,400, according to CBP.

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Our officers commitment to duty, excellence, and the safety of our nation is truly commendable. These results serve as an outstanding display of effectiveness in thwarting the illegal importation of narcotics, stated Rosa E. Hernandez, Otay Mesa Area Port Director. Their exceptional efforts truly embody the highest standards of service.

CBP officers seized the narcotics, commercial tractor and the trailer. The driver was arrested and turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigation for further investigation.

MORE: 4 day care workers arrested for lacing children's food with melatonin: Police

PHOTO: CBP officers discovered 1,419 packages of methamphetamine concealed within the shipment of squash. (CBP)

MORE: School principal arrested for allegedly choking student, whipping him with charging cable and slapping child in face: Cops

These seizures are the result of Operation Apollo, CBP said, which is a holistic counter-fentanyl effort that began on October 26, 2023 in southern California, and expanded to Arizona on April 10, 2024. Operation Apollo focuses on intelligence collection and partnerships, and utilizes local CBP field assets augmented by federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to boost resources, increase collaboration, and target the smuggling of fentanyl into the United States.

An estimated minimum of 150 people die, on average, every day from drug overdoses related to synthetic opioids derived from fentanyl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Our officers commitment to duty, excellence, and the safety of our nation is truly commendable," stated Rosa E. Hernandez, Otay Mesa Area Port Director.

1,400 packages of meth weighing almost 6 tons and worth over $18 million found in squash shipment originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  One person died and another was arrested after a shooting in the JC Napier neighborhood of South Nashville.

Metro police said the shooting happened just after 12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23 in the 100 block of Fain Street.

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According to police, 30-year-old Timothy Gibbons Jr. told officers that he and 63-year-old Alan Howard, a family friend, had been drinking since the night before. Gibbons then said one of Howards friends came to the home during the noon hour and that he and Howard got into that persons vehicle.

Gibbons told investigators Howard became aggressive after getting into the car and started hitting Gibbons. Thats when Gibbons allegedly pulled out a semi-automatic pistol and started chambering a round as he had his finger on the trigger, according to investigators.

Police said Howard was then shot in the chest and died from his injuries. Gibbons then got out of the car and told a family member to call police. Howards friend was not at the home when officers arrived. Gibbons, however, stayed at the home and told officers he had shot Howard when officers arrived.

Bond for Gibbons has been set at $75,000.

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 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
1 taken to hospital after shots fired by Aurora police

DENVER (KDVR)  The Aurora Police Department said one person was taken to the hospital Thursday after police fired shots.

In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Aurora Police Department Division Chief of Operations Kevin Barnes said officers with APD, the APD SWAT Team and the Denver Police Department Fugitive Unit were seeking a fugitive who had an active warrant for an attempted homicide that happened on May 5 in Denver.

Man arrested in Edgewater, accused of carjacking pregnant womans car

Officers said they were conducting surveillance of the suspect in a car Thursday morning and followed the suspect to the 300 block of Ironton Street.

Barnes said the shooting happened at 11:51 a.m. when the SWAT team tried to contact and take the suspect into custody.

The Aurora Police Department said one person was taken to the hospital Thursday after police fired shots. SkyFOX was over the scene at about 12:45 p.m.

The Aurora Police Department said one person was taken to the hospital Thursday after police fired shots. SkyFOX was over the scene at about 12:45 p.m.

The Aurora Police Department said one person was taken to the hospital Thursday after police fired shots. (KDVR)

The Aurora Police Department said one person was taken to the hospital Thursday after police fired shots. (KDVR)

The Aurora Police Department said one person was taken to the hospital Thursday after police fired shots. (KDVR)

The Aurora Police Department said one person was taken to the hospital Thursday after police fired shots. (KDVR)

Police said the suspect was the only person hit by gunfire.

The agency reported that lifesaving measures were immediately taken by a SWAT officer who is also a paramedic. The suspect was taken to a hospital and as of 2:30 p.m. was reported to be alert and in stable condition in the ICU. Barnes said he is being treated for injuries.

One SWAT officer fired shots and has been placed on administrative leave. Barnes said that the officer has been with the department since 2011.

Barnes said it was unknown whether the suspect had a gun and why shots were fired, and those details will be part of an independent investigation.

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Barnes added that it is routine to have the SWAT team respond in cases like this, and described the suspect as high risk with a violent criminal history.

Law enforcement will remain on the scene for several hours as an investigation is underway. No officers were injured.

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 FOX31 Denver.
10 taken to hospitals from rear-end collision that shut down I-71 in central Ohio

A rear-end collision on I-71 North near Jeffersonville in central Ohio started Wednesdays four-vehicle crash that sent 10 people to various area hospitals and led to the shutdown of the interstate, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said Thursday.

>> RELATED: 11 injured in multiple-car crash on I-71 in central Ohio

The patrols Wilmington Post, in continuing its investigation of the crash that occurred just after 4:10 p.m. in Jefferson Twp., Fayette County, gave this preliminary account of what happened:

A 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and 2020 Jeep Wrangler were headed north on I-71 when the first car driven by Jakhongir Normatov, 32, Cincinnati, rear-ended the Jeep driven by Brian Bush, 39, Columbus in the center lane. Both cars traveled off the left side of the road and into the median.

The Mercedes came to rest in the median but the Jeep overturned and rolled through the median and onto southbound I-71.

The Jeep hit a 2014 Chrysler Town & Country driven by Megan Gifford, 51, Mount Sterling, and a tractor-trailer combination driven by Brian Singh, 50, Sterling Heights, Mich., struck both the Jeep and Chrysler. The Chrysler and Jeep continued off the right side of the road and ended up in the right lane and right shoulder of the interstate.

Normatov was taken by ground ambulance to Miami Valley Hospital - Jamestown E.R. with possible injuries. Normatovs two passengers, Bakhodir Toshniyazov, 27, Loveland, and Kamol Nematov, 28, Cincinnati, were taken by ground ambulance to area hospitals with possible injuries.

>> Dayton police officer injured in crash involving their cruiser

Gifford was treated on scene, but not transported. Three of her five passengers -- Anna Tomlinson, 76, Michael Tomlinson, 76, and Ella Gifford, 20, suffered serious injuries and were taken by air ambulance to Grant Hospital in Columbus. Giffords other two passengers. who also suffered serious injuries, were taken by ground ambulance to area hospitals.

Bush, who was driving the Jeep, was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Singh, the semi driver, was not injured.

The state patrol provided no updates on the conditions of any of the victims.

The interstate was shut down at least two hours.












MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A $10 million lawsuit was filed against an officer and the chief of the Senatobia Police Department claiming an officer violated a womans civil rights by arresting her without cause and sexually assaulting her in the woods.

The Senatobia Police Chief adamantly denies the allegations.

Carlos Moore Law Group, a civil rights law firm in Grenada, Mississippi, has filed a federal lawsuit against the police department on behalf of Shanterra Jackson. They are demanding $10 million in compensatory damages for allegedly violating Jacksons civil rights during a traffic stop in August 2023.

We believe that he should be prosecuted by the authorities for what he did sexual battery, rape, taking advantage of this young lady, attorney Carlos Moore said.

The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday against the City of Senatobia, Chief of the Senatobia Police Department, Richard Chandler, and Senatobia Police Officer Willis McNeil.

Multiple officers, nurse treated for fentanyl exposure after AR traffic stop

According to a press release from the law firm, the incident began when Jackson, a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by a Sardis police officer, was met with unwanted aggression.

It was a Sardis police, he got out with the gun to the window and I was like Is he finna shoot us? Like, Bae they finna shoot us,' Jackson said.

In the lawsuit, Jackson claims the officer forced her and the other individual out of the vehicle without providing a valid reason for the traffic stop.

The lawsuit also alleges that Officer McNeil from the Senatobia Police Department arrived on the scene, detained Jackson, and took her to a wooded area where he turned off his body camera and sexually assaulted her.

So he told me to get out of the car, I got out of the car, Jackon said. He told me to bend over the car and as he bent me over he took the cuffs off, he violated me.

Carlos Moore Law Group says due to the event, Jackson has endured significant mental, emotional, and physical trauma, underscoring the need for accountability and justice for the egregious actions of the Senatobia Police Department.

It took a while, like at first I was embarrassed, Jackson said. I felt like not talking about it. It took me a while mentally but I thought about it could happen to a child, like I have a daughter. It could happen to another woman, and God forbid it happen to anybody else. Nobody deserves that.

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Moore released a statement on Thursday regarding the lawsuit.

The conduct of Officer McNeil represents a gross abuse of power and a flagrant violation of Ms. Jacksons civil rights. No individual should suffer such a traumatic experience at the hands of those entrusted to uphold the law. We demand accountability and transparency in this matter to prevent future injustices.

Senatobia Police Chief Richard Chandler released the following statement regarding the allegations.

Attorney Carlos Moore has filed a civil complaint that includes the City of Senatobia and Police Chief Richard Chandler as defendants. In the complaint, Attorney Moore makes allegations against Defendant Willis McNeil and says that McNeil was on duty for the Senatobia Police Department. Attorney Moores allegation is blatantly false. The City and Chief Richard Chandler look forward to responding to Attorney Moores allegations in more detail through the proper legal channels. There will be no further statements from the City or Chief Chandler on the pending litigation.

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 WREG.com.
11 Investigates report on violence against teachers gets attention of US lawmakers

11 Investigates report on violence against teachers gets attention of US lawmakers

An 11 Investigates report is getting people talking in the nations capital.

Our investigation into violence against teachers has now caught the attention of the U.S. Education Secretary and lawmakers. Theyre speaking out about the violence teachers tell us theyre experiencing in the classroom.

Its unacceptable, and we need to do more, said Representative Aaron Bean (R-Fl.) the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education.

11 Investigates teamed up with our sister stations across the country, collectively surveying more than 8,000 teachers about their experiences with student violence.

When asked if theyve been subjected to physical violence by a student, of teachers surveyed in Pennsylvania, 77 percent said yes, compared to 71 percent nationwide. Its important to note that teachers who personally experienced violence may have been more likely to respond to our survey.

We asked teachers if there are enough resources to address violent behavior in school. Just 37 percent said yes.

The study is eye-opening and for your listeners and viewers to see the study, it is confirming that teachers truly are in danger and fear for their safety, said Rep. Bean.

Its chilling to see it firsthand to see the high numbers. Weve really got to empower our school boards to hold people accountable because it doesnt seem like anybody is being held accountable, he said.

Many teachers stressed the need for more mental health resources to help struggling students.

These kids had their lives disrupted through COVID. This was a traumatic event. Many of them didnt develop social skills over this time period and theyre just learning them in the schools, said Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fl.)

Sixty-seven percent of Pennsylvania teachers surveyed say theyve considered quitting or retiring because of violence against teachers.

U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona addressed the issue when asked by reporters at our Washington, D.C. news bureau.

Yes, we have to address the violence in our classrooms. We have to address the violence in our communities. Were not going to address a teacher shortage issue if we dont address the teacher respect issue. So, we need to be listening to our teachers and making sure that the work environment that theyre in is supportive of them, said Cardona.

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A Kenyan and a Nepali climber have died close to Mount Everest's summit, tourism officials said Thursday, taking this season's toll on the world's highest mountain to at least four. Three mountaineers, including the Kenyan climber's guide, are now missing.

Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui, 40, and his Nepali guide Nawang Sherpa, 44, went out of contact Wednesday morning and a search team was deployed on the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) high mountain.

"The team have found the Kenyan climber dead between the summit and the Hillary Step, but his guide is still missing," Khim Lal Gautam, chief of the tourism department's field office at the base camp, told AFP.

The climb by Kirui, a 40-year-old banker at Kenya Commercial Bank, had been closely followed in Kenya, and fellow climber James Muhia had posted frequent updates about the attempt online.

"It is a sad day," Muhia wrote Thursday on X. "Our brother is now one with the mountain. It will be a difficult time. Go well my brother."

Kenyan foreign ministry secretary, Korir Sing'oei, said he had met with Kirui before his trip to Nepal, and described him as fearless and audacious.

"Really gutted by this news," Sing'oei wrote on social media. "I have been following his exploits until this unfortunate end. He is a fearless, audacious spirit, and represents the indomitable will of many Kenyans. We shall miss him."

Another Nepali climber, Binod Babu Bastakoti, 37, died at about 8,200 meters (26,902 feet) on Wednesday, a statement from the tourism department said.

Search parties are also still looking for a 40-year-old British climber and his Nepali guide who went missing Tuesday morning after a snow mass collapsed as they descended from Everest's peak.

A Romanian climber died in his tent on Monday during a bid to scale Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world.

Everest and Lhotse share the same route until diverting at around 7,200 meters.

Two Mongolian climbers went missing this month after reaching Everest's summit and were later found dead.

Two more climbers, one French and one Nepali, have died this season on Makalu, the world's fifth-highest peak.

Last year was deadliest season on Everest

Nepal has issued more than 900 permits for its mountains this year, including 419 for Everest, earning more than $5 million in royalties.

More than 500 climbers and their guides have already reached the summit of Everest after a rope-fixing team reached the peak last month.

This photo taken on April 27, 2019 shows an aerial view of Mount Everest (center right) taken during a flight from Nepal to Bhutan. / Credit: Sarah Lai / AFP/Getty Images

China also reopened the Tibetan route to foreigners this year for the first time since closing it in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds typically calm.

More than 600 climbers made it to the summit of Everest last year but it was also the deadliest season on the mountain, with 18 fatalities.

Thursday's grim news came on the same day that Nepali climber Phunjo Lama reached Everest's summit in 14 hours and 31 minutes, smashing the record for the world's fastest ascent of the mountain by a woman. Climbers usually take days to reach the top of the 29,032-foot mountain, spending nights on its different camps to rest and acclimatize.

Only a day before Lama set her record, another Nepali climber, the renowned Sherpa mountain guide Kami Rita, reached Everest's summit for a record 30th time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Thursday morning traffic stop led to the arrests of two convicted felons and a wanted 16-year-old, according to the Mt. Juliet Police Department.

All apprehended were in possession of handguns, per the department.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

Officials said one of the felons was a 27-year-old Nashville woman who was charged with possession of a Schedule VI drug for resale, unlawful drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended license, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. The other felon was a 29-year-old Nashville man who was also charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, as well as driving with a suspended license.

The teen was wanted in Rutherford County for burglary, resisting arrest, and curfew violations, according to authorities. In addition, he was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The Mt. Juliet Police Department added that officers proactive efforts continue to lead to the apprehension of criminals and that they are grateful for their staffs dedication.

No additional details have been released about the identities of those arrested or the circumstances surrounding the traffic stop.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
COFFEE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Two people have been charged in connection with a theft scheme involving Medicaid funds, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

The TBI said special agents assigned to its Medicaid Fraud Control Division started investigating in June 2023 after receiving information from the Tennessee Department of Human Services Adult Protective Services.

Man arrested after placing swatting call threatening to bomb BNA

Over the course of the case, authorities said they determined 46-year-old Johnny Ray Brooks and 34-year-old Ashley Marie Harrell submitted fraudulent information in order to receive payment for caregiver services that werent provided.

On Tuesday, May 14, the Coffee County Grand Jury returned indictments, charging Brooks and Harrell with one count each of TennCare fraud and theft, according to officials.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

Then, on Tuesday, May 21, the TBI said members of the Coffee County Sheriffs Department helped agents arrest and book both individuals into the Coffee County Jail, with their bonds set at $15,000 each.

No additional details have been released about the allegations that led to these charges.

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 WKRN News 2.
A pregnant mother of four has been charged with multiple felonies, including drunk driving, after authorities said she crashed into a group of relatives walking on the side of a Michigan road, killing two men and injuring 14 other people before fleeing the scene.

Johnathan Esch, 30, and Daniel Harris, 42, were declared dead at the scene of the crash, the Clinton County Sheriffs Office said in a statement Monday. A 38-year-old woman remains hospitalized in critical condition, and five other people remained hospitalized, although their injuries were not considered life-threatening, sheriffs officials said. The victims, including eight children, range in age from 2 to 61.

The group was on their way to visit the grandparents of extended family members when they were struck at about 6:30 p.m. in Watertown Township, northwest of Lansing, authorities said.

A pregnant mother of four has been charged with multiple felonies, including drunk driving, after authorities said she crashed into a group of relatives walking on the side of a Michigan road, killing two men and injuring 14 other people, before fleeing the scene. Clinton County Sheriff's Office via Facebook

The driver, Ashley Monroe, 35, was alone in the car when she was stopped by deputies about three miles from the scene, sheriffs officials said in a statement Saturday night. Investigators said they found an open, mostly empty bottle of whiskey in her purse in the car. Her blood alcohol content was .183, more than twice the legal limit, according to testing performed at the jail, authorities said.

Monroe is charged with 11 felonies related to the accusation that she caused a fatal hit-and-run accident while intoxicated. The formal charges include two counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, two counts of failure to stop at a scene of a crash when at fault causing death, six counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury and one count of failure to stop at the scene of a crash resulting in serious impairment or death.

Prosecutors said Monday that additional charges could be filed. The sheriffs office said the investigation is ongoing.

According to court documents read by the judge, the officer who stopped Monroe minutes after the crash said he saw her drive off the roadway, through the grass and then cross the center divider.

Her car was located with severe damage to the front passenger side, consistent with witness statements, as well as blood, hair and other tissue on her vehicle, assistant prosecutor Debra Martinez said at Monroes arraignment, which was streamed by WILX-TV and WLNS-TV in Lansing.

Monroe works full time as a clerk at the Michigan secretary of states office, her attorney, Ronald Zawacki, told the court. She lives with her fiance and children, ages 1, 7, 11 and 13, he said, and has no criminal history.

Esch was a firefighter and paramedic with the Lansing Township Fire Department. In January, the LTFD posted wedding photos on Facebook of him and his beautiful bride, Erika, congratulating the couple on their marriage.

We wish you many, many years of happiness, the fire department wrote. Erika, welcome to the LTFD family.

Erika Esch was also injured in the crash, WILX reported.

Daniel Harris was married with four children, according to the West Lansing Church of Christ, which said it is accepting donations for the families to help defray medical and other expenses. A community prayer vigil was scheduled to be held at the church on Wednesday evening.

The judge set Monroes bond at $1 million, twice the amount requested by prosecutors. Her next court date is scheduled for May 30.

Related...
Pittsburgh Police and the District Attorneys Narcotics Enforcement Team broke down the door and raided a home on the South Side Wednesday night.

Inside, officers discovered 45 pounds of marijuana.

I saw lights outside the window and then when I went to go peek out the window I saw about, maybe, 15 cops with their weapons out going towards the house, said neighbor Benjamin Grunauer, who watched the raid unfold.

District Attorney Stephen Zappala says charges are pending against Noah Rosoff-Verbit, the man who lives in that home on South 24th Street.

Investigators accuse Rosoff-Verbit of purchasing the marijuana from a pair of men from Missouri earlier in the day for more than $60,000.

I didnt know anyone was really using that house. I moved here maybe three weeks ago, I saw the windows boarded up, I didnt think anyone lived there, Grunauer said.

Officers were already in the area in connection to another drug investigation when they said they saw two men, now identified as Andre Tucker and Jaylin Jackson, from St. Louis, sitting in a car with Michigan license plates for about an hour early Wednesday evening.

Then, according to police, the pair went into Rosoff-Verbits home holding two large plastic trash bags and returned four to five minutes later with a black duffle bag.

Suspecting a drug deal, officers followed the pair and pulled them over a short time later.

According to the police report, they searched the car and found more than $60,000 in cash in the duffle bag.

Officers arrested Jackson and Tucker before searching the house and confiscating the 45 pounds of marijuana.

45 pounds and 60 grand in cash is not your average college drug dealer, it sounds like, so it seems like it was a pretty sizable operation. Who knows how many people are involved or how many people have gotten hurt along the way? Its definitely food that somebody like that is out of here, said neighbor Stephen Chen.

Jackson and Tucker were arraigned Thursday and denied bail.

Theyre due back in court on June 5.

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2 more charged in connection to Washington County shooting that killed teen girl, injured another

Two additional people have been charged in relation to a shooting that left a teen girl dead and another injured in Washington County.

Anthony Barfield, 17, is facing charges of criminal homicide and aggravated assault, and Jeheili Cochran, 25, is facing charges of hindering apprehension, obstructing the administration of law and tampering with evidence.

Barfield and Cochran are family members of Windale Barfield Jr., one of the other suspects charged in the shooting.

Annalaya Wilkerson, 18, was killed and another 17-year-old girl was hurt in a shooting on a rural road in South Franklin Township on April 13.

Police say Cochran got rid of the murder weapon and took Windale to New York shortly after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Neither Barfield or Cochran are in police custody.

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From the shimmering blaze of an overheated Atlantic Ocean to gales in the underbelly of the stratosphere, all evidence points to a highly active 2024 hurricane season that could rival the busiest years on record.

Forecasts that aim to predict the multitude and muscle of tropical cyclones ahead of the season's June 1 start date are in unsettling agreement, with some predicting more than double the number of average named storms and one labeling 2024 the hurricane season from hell.

The ingredients combining for a robust year include a rising La Nina and water temperatures in the runway between Africa and the Gulf of Mexico that are 3.6 to 7 degrees warmer than normal  a buffet of fuel for burgeoning systems.

At least one forecast points to a healthy African jet stream that could churn out tropical waves like a conveyor belt at warp speed. Another is already considering that the season could extend past its normal expiration date as in 2005 when Hurricane Epsilon formed in December.

The 2024 hurricane season is forecast to be one of the most active on record with most predictions calling for more than 20 named storms. To help our communities get prepared, The Palm Beach Post is hosting a forum on storm readiness Wednesday, June 5, from 6:15-8:30 p.m. at Palm Beach State College's Lake Worth Beach campus. To attend, please scan the QR Code to register.

Scary trend: Major hurricanes in October and November  why is it happening?

Im looking for some ray of sunshine in this forecast and I dont see it, said Weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman. This has all the makings of a potentially historic hurricane season.

Yet, there is one atmospheric player in the high-stakes tropical affair that remains a wild card.

The Bermuda High, a yawning subtropical clockwise swish of winds in the Atlantic, was mostly a friend to the United States and the Caribbean last year, steering the bulk of the tropical systems north and out to sea. Although 2023 was an active season with 20 named storms, Idalia was the only hurricane to make landfall in the United States after originating far from the highs reach in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The Bermuda High is a key player in steering hurricanes. A stronger high that creeps into the Gulf of Mexico can push storms through the Caribbean and into the Gulf. A weaker, rounder high, can lead to more recurving storms. Courtesy AccuWeather

There are signs that the Bermuda High may be stronger and in a different position this year, which could mean more storms are lobbed farther west into the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Florida. But the high is unpredictable and cant be forecast accurately more than about two weeks ahead.

If you got lulled to sleep by the last hurricane season, or just moved to Florida and have never experienced an active season, you better get prepared, Erdman said. This forecast makes it more urgent than ever to have a plan.

'It's kind of incredible' expert says about high ocean temperatures

An average hurricane season has 14 named storms, which include seven hurricanes. Of the seven hurricanes, three are major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.

As early predictions for this season started rolling in as far back as December, it became clear that there was little disagreement between them and higher confidence in the forecasts than in 2023.

WeatherBELL Analytics, which issued a forecast in December for up to 30 named storms and a hurricane season from hell, has stuck with that prediction. Colorado State University is predicting 23 named storms, the University of Pennsylvania is forecasting between 27 and 39 named storms, with a best estimate of 33, The Weather Company issued its most aggressive outlook since it began seasonal forecasting in 2006 with 24 named storms, and AccuWeather is predicting up to 25 named storms.

Everyone has a lot of high numbers out, said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Paul Pastelok. When you see water temperatures the way they started in 2024 where they were two to four months ahead of schedule, its kind of incredible.

Last years water temperatures were also abnormally warm, but there was an El Nino present. The periodic climate pattern acts to shred fledgling hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean by increasing wind shear.

The setup of warm water and El Nino was billed as a clash of titans with forecasters uncertain how the hurricane season would unfold.

Erdman said the warm water temperatures won as evidenced by the formation of 20 named storms.

This year, we have two factors working together and reinforcing each other, Erdman said. El Nino is on its last legs. Its completely out of gas.

NOAAs Climate Prediction Center said in early May that La Nina could form as early as June but has a higher chance (69%) of developing between July and September. That corresponds with the peak of hurricane season mid-August through mid-October.

La Nina happens when Pacific waters cool, moving the location of where deep tropical thunderstorms form in the Pacific so that the wind shear in the Atlantic Ocean wanes during summer and fall. In winter, La Nina pulses storms into the Pacific Northwest on a more northerly and inland track, holding the jet stream at higher latitudes longer where it traps cold air to its north.

But there's no guarantee that the climate pattern will behave as predicted.

Bermuda High could save us or lead to ruin

The 2024 hurricane season is predicted to be a very active one, possibly similar to 20 years ago when Florida suffered one of the most destructive hurricane seasons on record. In this Palm Beach Post file photo, Alex Norton breaks down after seeing her childhood home destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in Pensacola on September 16, 2004.

I would say there are subtleties that we cant anticipate this early, said Chris Davis, a senior scientist with the National Science Foundations National Center for Atmospheric Research. We may be able to have some confidence in the number of tropical cyclones but we dont have as much confidence in where they are going to go and what land they are going to affect.

For the long-track Cabo Verde storms that stalk off the coast of Africa toward the United States and the Caribbean, the Bermuda High is often the main steering current. Last year, the high was feeble and positioned far to the east so that the storms slid around its western edge and out to sea.

VIDEO: El Nino, 'Godzilla', who protected Florida from hurricanes, is dead

Some storm experts gave credit to El Nino, in part, for weakening the high.

This year, some storm experts are concerned La Nina will stoke the highs strength, meaning more storms could track into the western Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

Erdman said when The Weather Company looked at past years that had similar atmospheric set up to today, the storms traveled farther west.

Colorado State said 2020 is a comparable year. There were 30 named storms in 2020  the highest on record and one that forced the World Meteorological Organization to change the way it names storms after the backup name list using the Greek alphabet proved confusing.

Eleven storms made landfall in the United States in 2020 including tropical storms Bertha, Cristobal, Fay and Beta, and hurricanes Hanna, Isaias, Laura, Sally Delta, Zeta and Eta.

We could see a 2020, Erdman said. Unlike last year, there is a fertile breeding ground that will be made more favorable with La Nina.

Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers weather, real estate and how growth affects South Florida's environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism; subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Hurricane season 2024 is forecast to be one of busiest on record
28-Year-Old Woman Paralyzed from the Waist Down After Piano Falls on Her: 'Severed My Spinal Cord

Danielle Drummond faces a long road ahead, but her sister tells PEOPLE she's in "great spirits" and is "gaining the knowledge she needs to thrive independently"

Rosie Hayne/GoFundMe Danielle Drummonds

A 28-year-old woman is now paralyzed from the waist down after a grand piano fell on top of her.

Danielle Drummond told CBS affiliate WOIO in an interview published on Sunday, May 19, that the accident happened after she moved to Eugene, Ore., in hopes of getting a "fresh start."

The Ohio native said she was in the process of helping a friend move a grand piano when she bent over to put something underneath it, causing it to slip out of her friend's hands.

She dropped like a whole upright grand piano on me, and it severed my spinal cord. Now, Im paralyzed from the waist down," Drummond told the news outlet.

Related: 20-Year-Old Dead After Family Kayaking Outing at Oklahoma Lake Turned into a Tragedy

Following emergency surgery, Drummond was told she would never walk again, but she's determined to stay positive and focus on what she can control.

Im trying to keep like in high spirits because I know this is my life now, but its hard. As of right now, I need a lot more physical therapy. I need to rebuild my strength," she said.

Rosie Hayne/GoFundMe Danielle Drummonds

Related: Teen Hit by Truck While Driver Was Adjusting Babys Pacifier. Family Says His Brain Injury Is 'Not Survivable

Although her family is miles away, her sister, Rosie Hayne, has created a GoFundMe on her behalf.

Hayne notes in the campaign that Drummond has a T11 and T12 fracture, along with a fusion from T10 to L2, making her family "completely heartbroken."

"My baby sister means the world to me, and I am hoping that any help received can provide financial support for her medical needs," she adds.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Rosie Hayne/GoFundMe Danielle Drummonds

In an update this week, Hayne tells PEOPLE that there's still a lot to figure out.

"We are currently in the process of trying to figure out where she will live after her rehabilitation," she says. "I would love for her to come back and live in Cleveland, but that would be her decision completely, as she does have family here and none in Oregon."

But, Hayne adds, her sister continues to be in "great spirits," and is "gaining the knowledge she needs to thrive independently."



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Read the original article on People.
Person hospitalized for bird flu in Missouri had no contact with animals, CDC says

Person hospitalized for bird flu in Missouri had no contact with animals, CDC says

A person in Missouri with no known animal exposure was hospitalized with avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu, and has since recovered, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sept. 6.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported that the person had underlying medical conditions and was treated at the hospital with influenza antiviral medications, according to a statement from the CDC. The person has recovered.

The infection is the 14th human case of avian influenza A reported in the United States this year and the first case where the person had no known contact with infected poultry or dairy cows, the CDC said.

H5 bird flu has not been reported among cattle in Missouri, the CDC said Sept. 6. However, H5 bird flu outbreaks have been reported in commercial poultry and backyard flocks.

Bird flu is a disease caused by infection with avian influenza A viruses, which occur naturally among wild aquatic birds and circulate among poultry, TODAY.com previously reported.

Occasionally, bird flu viruses spread to mammals and, rarely, to humans.

Based on available information, the CDC still assesses the current risk to the general public posed by bird flu to be low. However, the recent human cases has sounded the alarm among officials in the U.S. and abroad, who are monitoring bird flu viruses closely.

14 human cases of bird flu detected in the U.S. in 2024

Since the start of 2024, 14 people have been infected with bird flu, the CDC said Sept. 6.

In most human cases, people experienced mild flu-like symptoms, such as fever or runny nose. Conjunctivitis (pink eye) was also reported in many of those cases.

In July, five poultry workers in Colorado tested positive for bird flu, linked to a multi-state outbreak among poultry and dairy cows, according to the CDC. At least 196 herds of dairy cows in 14 states have confirmed outbreaks of H5 bird flu, and outbreaks in poultry have been found in 48 states, per the CDC.

The workers experienced mild illness, including pink eye and respiratory symptoms, and none were hospitalized, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health.

Less than two weeks earlier, Colorado confirmed a case of H5N1 among a dairy worker who had exposure to sick cows.

Two farmworkers in Michigan tested positive in May, and one dairy worker in Texas tested positive for H5N1 in April.

The human case in Texas was the first time this strain of H5N1  referred to as highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI)  had been detected in cows and the first instance of cow-to-human transmission, according to the CDC.

The current bird flu strain that were concerned with, H5N1, has been circulating around the world for quite some time, Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, previously told TODAY.com.

The cases in Colorado and the second case in Michigan reported pink eye and respiratory symptoms, officials said. The first Colorado case, the first Michigan case, and the Texas case reported mild pink eye as their only symptom.

The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain causing the U.S. outbreak is severe and often fatal in birds, but appears to be mild in cows.

Based on the information available at this time, this case does not change CDCs current A(H5N1) bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. general public. The risk to members of the general public who do not have exposure to infected animals remains low, the CDC said.

Fatal case of bird flu in Mexico

In late May, authorities in Mexico reported a confirmed human case of H5N2 to global authorities. The patient was the first human have been infected with an avian H5 virus in Mexico, per the World Health Organization.

The 59-year-old resident died in a hospital in Mexico City in April after developing a fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea and general malaise, per the WHO.

The victim reportedly had multiple underlying health conditions and had already been bedridden for three weeks for other reasons prior to developing symptoms of bird flu.

The source of exposure is unknown, and the victim had no known contact with infected animals, but H5N2 viruses have been detected in poultry in multiple states in Mexico, the WHO said.

Respiratory samples collected from the victim later tested positive for avian influenza A (H5N2), the first human case reported globally. There were no further cases identified, and all potential contacts of the victim are being monitored, the WHO.

What are the symptoms of bird flu?

Bird flu infections in humans can range in severity, experts note. Some people have no symptoms at all or only a mild flu-like illness, while others develop severe disease requiring hospitalization, according to the CDC.

It can be a serious infection with a high mortality rate, said Schaffner.

According to the CDC, reported signs and symptoms of bird flu include:

Fever

Cough

Runny nose

Muscle aches

Headache

Fatigue

Shortness of breath

Eye redness or inflammation (conjunctivitis)

Diarrhea

Nausea

Vomiting

Bird flu in humans may look similar to seasonal influenza flu or upper respiratory infection. In severe cases, bird flu can lead to pneumonia, respiratory failure and other complications, TODAY.com previously reported.

Many of the human cases in the U.S. have reported eye redness and conjunctivitis, with some patients reporting additional respiratory symptoms including a cough and a fever. They have since recovered.

One case of H5N1 in a child in Australia was a severe infection, but the child fully recovered. Victorian health officials did not release additional details about the patient's symptoms.

An infection with bird flu viruses cannot be diagnosed by signs or symptoms alone, the CDC says. Laboratory testing is required.

How does bird flu transmit to humans?

Transmission of bird flu viruses to humans is rare. According to the WHO, since 2003, there have been 903 cases caused by H5N1 in 24 countries. Most human cases worldwide have been caused by H7N9, highly pathogenic H5N1 or H5N6 viruses, per the CDC.

Avian influenza can spread from infected birds to humans in a few ways, per the CDC:

Directly from an infected bird

From environments contaminated with bird flu viruses

Through an intermediate host, such as another animal

Infected birds can shed the virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, mucus and feces, TODAY.com previously reported. People can become infected when the virus particles get into the mouth, nose, eyes or are inhaled, Schaffner said.

Humans typically become infected with bird flu viruses through close, unprotected contact with an infected bird.

When it comes to the dairy workers with conjunctivitis, the CDC noted in a press release that its not known exactly how eye infections result from avian influenza exposures.

It may be from contamination of the eye(s), potentially with a splash of contaminated fluid, or touching the eye(s) with something contaminated with A(H5N1) virus, such as a hand. High levels of A(H5N1) virus have been found in unpasteurized milk from H5N1-infected cows.

Human-to-human transmission of bird flu viruses is rare. The few cases that have been documented have occurred primarily through prolonged, unprotected contact between a symptomatic person and a family member or caregiver, per the CDC.

The virus doesnt have the (genetic) capacity to spread easily from person to person, Schaffner said.

However, in an April press conference, the chief scientist of the World Health Organization called the risk of the bird flu spreading to humans an enormous concern, and warned about the potential for the virus to acquire the ability to spread more efficiently between people. Scientists are closely monitoring bird flu viruses for any changes.

Preventing bird flu

There is no evidence that humans can get bird flu from chicken, eggs or beef that's been properly prepared and cooked, and it is safe to drink pasteurized milk, experts say.

The risk of getting bird flu is low, but the CDC recommends people:

Avoid direct contact with wild birds

Avoid visiting poultry farms

When in contact with poultry, wear a mask and eye protection

Wash hands after any contact with poultry

Visit a doctor if you become sick after contact with birds

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Tajikistan has significant drivers of digital transformation, president of StrategEast Anatoly Motkin told Trend.

"IT industry development is politically motivated in Tajikistan. A crucial AI development strategy has been approved by the nation. Tajikistan has major digital transformation drivers," he emphasized.

Motkin mentioned that startups are operating in the country through zypl.ai, the State Business Incubator of Tajikistan, as well as the recently launched IT skills training platform Techno HUB Dushanbe.

He believes Tajikistan must do more to catch up with neighboring countries in digital transformation. Political will, international financial and development agency backing, and academic growth, particularly in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, are needed.

"In Tajikistan, young people are motivated but require support. StrategEast invites Tajikistan IT experts to international IT events and programs and has quarterly donor meetings in Dushanbe to explore how we can help the republic expand its IT industry. March saw the first gathering. According to its findings, all Tajikistani donors want to expand the IT sector as the best way to generate new chances for brilliant youth," StrategEast's president added.

To note, StrategEast is a leading non-profit organization working on the development of Eurasia's digital economy in cooperation with international financial institutions, development agencies, global technology companies, and governments of Eurasian countries. It has offices in the US, Ukraine, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
"We have received multiple small miracles along the way," Kallie Wright said of her son Levi following the tragic accident

Stacie Scott/The Deseret News via AP Spencer Wright pictured in 2015.

Spencer and Kallie Wright's 3-year-old son Levi is in critical condition after driving a toy tractor into a Utah river

"We have received multiple small miracles along the way and doctors are certainly surprised by the strides he has made," Kallie said in an update shared by family friend Mindy Sue Clark

"Keep praying for him," Kallie added in the message

The 3-year-old son of rodeo star Spencer Wright is in critical condition after driving his toy tractor into a Utah river.

On Tuesday, May 21, at approximately 6 p.m. local time, the Beaver County Sheriff's Office dispatch center received a call regarding the incident, per a statement shared on Facebook.

After authorities responded, the child was quickly located and "life saving measures were administered on scene," the release added. The child was then transported to Beaver Valley Hospital, and later airlifted to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, the statement added.



Per ABC4, the child has been identified as Levi Wright and is the son of Spencer Wright and his wife Kallie.

Family friend and spokesperson, Mindy Sue Clark, has been sharing updates regarding the tragedy on Facebook.

"Permission to share an update from Kallie Wright and Spencer Wright on Levi," one message read. "Levi's heart is beating on its own, he has a will to breathe but his sweet little brain was without oxygen too long and there is no coming back from that."

"We cuddled him all night and feel strongly that his spirit is no longer with us. We can't be selfish and drag this out for days, he doesn't deserve that. Shortly we will stop care and hold him close until his last breath on earth. My Baby, my beans, Mom & Dad love you always and forever!" the post added.

Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images Spencer Wright.

"Please give them time to navigate through this process. They will have more to share soon. Please send prayers for healing and comfort," Clark's message concluded.

The latest update shared on Clark's page from Kallie Wright on Wednesday, May 22, read, "Not much change in Levi since our last update but I do want you to know that we have received multiple small miracles along the way and doctors are certainly surprised by the strides he has made."

"He is fevering so they're keeping him really cold which is hard to watch, I can just hear him saying 'Mommy, I'm pretty coldy.' He is getting an eeg, to monitor any brain activity and we haven't heard much on what they're seeing yet," the post added.

"They've also started him on antibiotics and will do an MRI Friday or Saturday! We are unbelievably humbled by the love and prayers we have received, the help in all forms that is flooding our way is surreal. We miss our other babies, Mom hasn't spent a night away from baby until now but Brae and Steeley are in the best hands!" Kallie said while referencing her and Spencer's two other children.

"The doctors and staff here at primaries have been outstanding! We don't know what the future holds, please don't let prayers for my baby dim or his story become old news! Keep praying for him," Kallie said in the update.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Bronc Riding Nation was among those sending their well-wishes to the family, sharing photos of the 3-year-old on Instagram. "We're asking you to join the massive prayer effort for 3 year old Levi Wright, Kallie and Spencer Wright and everybody who knows and loves them," the organization wrote.

Beaver County Sheriff's Office and Mindy Sue Clark didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE.

Spencer Wright was ranked 35th in the world in 2023 by ProRodeo and was the World Champion in 2014. He's yet to address the tragedy on his own social media pages.

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A woman with severe mental illness died of dehydration in a Texas jail despite having ready access to water. A local TV station found that she was one of at least three people who died that way in one county within a two-year period.

In April 2021, Georgia Baldwin called a police spokesman in Arlington, Texas, and made bizarre statements such as, "The Governor of Mississippi needs to blow you away."

According to a federal lawsuit filed against the jail by her sons last year, Baldwin was clearly in the throes of a severe mental health episode. "When a detective with the Arlington Police Department researched Ms. Baldwin, the address listed on her driver's license was to a homeless shelter," the lawsuit states. "The detective also located four Lubbock Police Department reports from 2018" in which officers found her "apparently not mentally sound and/or coherent."

Despite a detective recognizing that Baldwin was unwell, the lawsuit claims, she was arrested for making a terroristic threat to a peace officera felony chargeand sent to jail in Tarrant County, Texas. Six weeks later, in June, a psychiatrist determined Baldwin was "incompetent and thus unable to stand trial," the lawsuit states, and she was ordered to jail "for a competency restoration program for no more than 60 days of a 120-day commitment," after which she would serve out the rest of the time in a state hospital.

Instead, according to the lawsuit, "Tarrant County chose to continue incarcerating Ms. Baldwin in a small cell, where she could not see through a window or view other human beings," remaining there from July 27 until her death on September 14, 2021. (WFAA, the Dallas ABC affiliate, reported this week that "the wait times for a state hospital bed are anywhere from 200 days to almost a year-and-a-half.")

When Baldwin died, the medical examiner determined the cause was "severe hypernatremia"high levels of sodium in the blood typically resulting from dehydration.

Baldwin's death is tragic and was seemingly preventable. But as WFAA reported this week, she was one of at least three inmates with severe mental illness to die of dehydration in Tarrant County's custody over a two-year period.

Authorities arrested Abdullahi Mohamed in June 2020 for allegedly threatening a relative with a knife; Mohamed was manic and bipolar, and he had spent time in a state hospital. Nine days later, jailers at the Tarrant County Jail found him unresponsive in his cell, and he died soon after. And in December 2021, Edgar Villatoro Alvarez was booked into jail on a DWI charge and other charges after having been hospitalized for a bipolar episode the previous month. After he died in February 2022, a jailer wrote in a report that he had seemed to be "deteriorating."

According to WFAA, Chief Deputy Charles Eckert testified in a deposition that "all three inmates had 24/7 access to waterso it's not a concern as long as we provide water to them." A Texas Ranger investigating Baldwin's death did find that "there is a water fountain fixed to the top of the toilet unit" in her cell, according to the lawsuit, but he also noted that he had researched hypernatremia after reading the coroner's determination and found that it "generally occur[s] when someone does not drink enough water" and "usually occurs because of impaired mental judgement."

Sure enough, a quick Google search would bring up a 1986 article in The Journal of the American Medical Association about a 17-year-old with schizophrenia who developed hypernatremia, leading researchers to determine that "psychosis can severely impair the thirst mechanism directly."

My Health My Resources of Tarrant County, a local government public health entity, provides mental health services in the county's jail facilities, but according to WFAA, "their employees testified that they rely on jailers to let them know if a prisoner isn't drinking water. Depositions also revealed that jailers aren't trained to recognize signs of dehydration and don't monitor water consumption of mentally ill prisoners."

Besides, even if Baldwin were mentally healthy enough to seek water, it still may not have been sufficient: According to a brief filed in March, the sink in Baldwin's cell appeared discolored and rusted. "Tarrant County makes much ado about a water fountain over a toilet," the brief states, but "there is no indication at this juncture that this water fountain even worked or if it did that any water pouring into the corroded sink was potable."

The sink and water fountain allegedly present in Georgia Baldwin's cell. (Mattix, et al. v. Tarrant County, Texas)

Unfortunately, deaths in custody are by no means a rare occurrence, especially among inmates with mental disabilities.

In 2016, guards at the Milwaukee County Jail shut off the water to Terrill Thomas's cell. Severely mentally ill, Thomas was arrested after he allegedly shot a man, and he had flooded a previous cell during his incarceration. But guards never turned the water back on, even as other inmates implored them to help, and Thomas died after six days without water. Milwaukee County paid $6.75 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Thomas's family.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation into conditions at the jail in Fulton County, Georgia, after an inmate with schizophrenia housed in the jail's psychiatric ward was found dead, covered in lice and bedbugs.

Tarrant County in particular has seen numerous in-custody deaths in recent years. "There have been more than 60 deaths at the Tarrant County jail since Sheriff Bill Waybourn took office in 2017," Dallas public radio station KERA reported in March. "Conditions at the jail are a constant topic of conversation at county meetings, and jail lawsuit settlements have cost Tarrant at least $1.6 millionwith more cases pending."

Just this week, Waybourn appeared before Tarrant County commissioners after another inmate died in April when guards pinned him down and pepper-sprayed him.

Baldwin's lawsuit lists over two dozen incidents of alleged abuse or neglect in county jails since 2010 and says, "Tarrant County jail suffering and deaths show a custom and pattern of indifference."

The post 3 People Died of Thirst in a Texas County Jail in Under 2 Years appeared first on Reason.com.
FLUSHING, Queens (PIX11)  Dozens of students and staff were accidentally pepper-sprayed in the cafeteria of a Queens school Thursday morning, officials said.

The incident happened at PS 219 The Paul Klapper School at 144-39 Gravett Rd. in Flushing at around 10:45 a.m., according to the NYPD. Police said 31 students and nine adults were injured, and eight students and two adults were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Teen caught with loaded gun at Brooklyn high school: NYPD

Someone at the school sat on the aerosol can, releasing the chemical irritant in the cafeteria, according to police sources. No other information was immediately available.

A Department of Education spokesperson said pepper spray is not allowed in city schools and there will be additional security at the school.

The safety of everyone in our school buildings is our absolute top priority. A pepper spray device was discharged in a school cafeteria, and all impacted students and staff were immediately evaluated by EMS. We are offering additional security and support to the school community today and in the coming days and are working closely with the NYPD regarding follow-up actions, DOE spokesperson David Clarke said in a statement.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the New York City area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

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 PIX11.
Ukrainian law enforcement has identified 357 Russian servicemen and occupation officials suspected of war crimes, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin posted on X.



But the real number of such crimes, including those committed in temporarily occupied territories and in places of detention located on the territory of Russia, is much higher, Kostin wrote.



These individuals are accused of intentional killings, torture, and mistreatment of civilians and prisoners of war, and 83 of them have already been convicted.



Kostin discussed these crimes with the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Morris Tidball-Binz.



He noted that Ukrainian authorities welcome cooperation with other parties to fully investigate the crimes, and to make sure that the perpetrators are held accountable.

Ukrainian officials have documented thousands of war crimes committed by Russian forces, including deliberate attacks on civilians, attacks on cultural sites or medical institutions, torture, and deportations.

The Prosecutor General's Office reported on March 18 that Ukraine had collected pretrial information on over 128,000 victims of war crimes.

Read also: Russian aerial bomb strike injures 3 healthcare workers on Kharkiv outskirts

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Up to 4,000 troops to guard Peace Summit in Switzerland, airspace to be restricted

The Swiss Federal Council issued an order on 22 May on enhanced security measures during the Ukraine Peace Summit in the resort of Burgenstock on 15-16 June.

Source: Federal Council

Details: To ensure security at the summit, Switzerland will be able to deploy up to 4,000 troops to assist the authorities of the canton of Nidwalden, where Burgenstock is located.

This large number of troops is due to the terrain in the Burgenstock area, the scale of the operation, and the large number of high-ranking guests.

According to Swiss law, the deployment of more than 2,000 troops requires parliamentary approval. However, since it will not have time to make a decision before the summit, the Federal Council will submit a report to MPs in the autumn.

In addition, Switzerland will restrict the use of airspace in the Burgenstock area due to the expected arrival of high-ranking guests who are protected by international law. The Swiss Air Force will be deployed to protect the skies.

Background: The Global Peace Summit will take place on 15-16 June in Burgenstock, Switzerland. Switzerland invited more than 160 countries and international organisations, except Russia.

President Zelenskyy said Ukraine expected the summit participants to draw up a three-point action plan together.

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Four Colombian nationals were arrested this week in connection with an operation known as burglary tourism in Glendale, police said.

Investigators believe the four men were hiding cameras on city streets and private property to spy on residents and find out when they could burglarize their homes.

The Police Department released video of Mondays arrest when they pulled over a vehicle that was being driven without headlights.

Bryan Martinez Vargas is seen in an image provided by the Glendale Police Department.

Jose Antonio Velazquez is seen in an image provided by the Glendale Police Department.

Luis Carlos Moreno is seen in an image provided by the Glendale Police Department.

Edison Arley Pinzon Fandino is seen in an image provided by the Glendale Police Department.

Items used in the alleged burglaries are seen in an image provided by the Glendale Police Department.

Officers searched the vehicle and found a video surveillance device with a battery pack charging system camouflaged with leaves.

Construction hard hats and a vest believed to be used to approach homes without suspicion and several jewelry boxes were also discovered inside the vehicle, according to the police department.

The suspects were identified as 28-year-old Bryan Martinez Vargas, Jose Antonio Velasquez, 28, Edison Arley Pinzon Fandino, 27, and Luis Carlos Moreno, 29.

The men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Mondays arrest was the second in three weeks for Vargas who was also arrested following a high-speed pursuit on April 30.

During the chase, police say he and another suspect discarded stolen items and a WiFi signal jammer used to disable home security systems.

Female driver arrested for 405 Freeway rampage identified

Bryan Martinez Vargas and the other Colombian nationals are believed to be part of a transnational criminal operation known as Burglary Tourism, where thieves from South America enter the U.S. under the guise of tourism and target affluent neighborhoods for burglaries, the Police Department said.

Anyone with further information about residential burglaries in Glendale was asked to call the Police Department at 818-548-4911.

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 KTLA.
4-year-old girl dies in hospital after being injured in Russian attack on Odesa on 29 April

A child died in hospital on 23 May due to the Russian missile attack on Odesa on 29 April. This brings the death toll to eight.

Source: Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Unfortunately, the death toll from the Russian attack on 29 April has increased to eight people.

Today, 4-year-old Zlata died in hospital after a fragment of a Russian missile hit her heart. Our doctors fought until the end..."

Background:

On 29 April, Russian forces launched a missile attack on Odesa. There were reports of five people who were killed and 32 who were injured, as well as a fire in the house of former pro-Russian MP Serhii Kivalov, which is owned by the International Humanitarian University.

On 8 May, a man who was injured in a Russian missile attack on Odesa on 29 April died in hospital.

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This week, many Floridians celebrated Emancipation Day to commemorate May 20, 1865 the day the Emancipation Proclamation was first read in Tallahassee, officially freeing enslaved people in Florida.

This occurred 11 days after the end of the Civil War and two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation that freed those enslaved in southern states.

Although the Emancipation Proclamation took effect in 1863, it was not implemented in many states that were under Confederate control. For example, on June 19, 1865, about 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The soldiers announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were now free.

This newly freed people in Texas dubbed the day as Juneteenth. June 19 is now a federally recognized holiday.

Floridians, however, have long recognized Emancipation Day or May Day in Florida on May 20. Celebrations for the day include food, games and parades.

The city of Gainesville has a month-long Journey to Juneteenth celebration beginning on Florida Emancipation Day (May 20) and lasting through the Juneteenth holiday (June 19). The celebration is meant to honor the arduous journey to freedom while staying true to the history of Florida Emancipation on May 20.

Inside the 305

A canvas for black artistry: Miami exhibit celebrates Harlem Renaissance literature and art

Miami-based art curator Chris Norwoods Silhouettes: Image and Word in the Harlem Renaissance, is an exhibition celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the start of the Harlem Renaissance. At The Wolfsonian in South Beach, the show, up since November, closes on June 23.

The exhibition is a treasure trove of history. Take James Weldon Johnson, a recurring character in the show and a true Renaissance man.

Born in 1871 in Jacksonville, Johnson was a prolific author, a musical theater song writer, a U.S. diplomat in Latin America under the Roosevelt administration, the first Black man to sit for the Florida bar and the first executive director of the NAACP. And, Norwood almost forgot to mention, Johnson is best known for writing Lift Every Voice and Sing, a song known today as the Black national anthem. He wrote it as a poem, and his brother composed the music. Johnson was the principal of the school where a choir of children first performed the song in Jacksonville to celebrate Lincolns birthday. Johnson and his brother moved to New York City, where they wrote hundreds of songs for musicals, Norwood said. In his absence, the song spread through the South, resonating with Black children. The song was later adopted by the NAACP.

Diddy seen hunkering down in Miami Beach after issuing apology over shocking video

Disgraced music mogul Sean Diddy Combs was spotted in Miami Beach on Sunday, two days after a horrific video emerged of him attacking his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura.

In the March 5, 2016, surveillance footage, exclusively released by CNN on Friday, Combs is seen hurtling down a L.A. hotel hallway in a towel and viciously attacking Ventura, kicking her while she is on the ground. The never before seen beatdown lined up with allegations Ventura leveled against her ex in a now settled lawsuit filed last November.

Outside the 305

Biden Promises $16 Billion in HBCU Funding as Morehouse Valedictorian Calls for Gaza Ceasefire

While giving the commencement address at Morehouse College, a historically Black all-male college, President Joe Biden, whose administration has contributed $16 billion to HBCUs told the crowd, Im investing 16 billion more dollars, the most in our history, because youre vital to our nation.

With Biden hoping to mobilize support among Black voters and young Americans who are dissatisfied with the war in Gaza and other policies, the presidents appearance at Morehouse was an attempt to acknowledge objections to his administration and appeal to critical parts of his base. This appearance likely went as well as the administration could have hoped, but it will take more for Biden to address the concerns entirely as he seeks reelection.

Ed Dwight, Americas first Black astronaut candidate, becomes oldest person to reach space

Ed Dwight, Americas first Black astronaut candidate, made the trip to space via Jeff Bezos rocket company on Sunday.

Dwight was an Air Force pilot when President John F. Kennedy championed him as a candidate for NASAs early astronaut corps. But he wasnt picked for the 1963 class.

Dwight, now 90, went through a few minutes of weightlessness with five other passengers aboard the Blue Origin capsule as it skimmed space on a roughly 10-minute flight. He called it a life-changing experience.

I thought I really didnt need this in my life, Dwight said shortly after exiting the capsule. But, now, I need it in my life .... I am ecstatic.

The brief flight from West Texas made Dwight the new record-holder for oldest person in space  nearly two months older than Star Trek actor William Shatner was when he went up in 2021.

Culture

In addition to honoring Americans who died in active military service, Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer, and Miami is ripe with festivals and events during the long weekend.

Here are a few.

Hyundai Air & Sea Show and Music Explosion, South Beach, May 25-26

Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company

Salute American Heroes at The Gabriel South Beach

Rooftop BBQ at SLS LUX Brickells Altitude & Lounge

Pink Flamingo Party at Sora Rooftop

Memorial Day Weekend at Morada Bay Florida Keys
First surveyed in 1998, the Sur Pockmark Fields stretch along Californias central coastline and lie in an area ripe for future wind energy installations.

Using a fleet of underwater robots to gather mapping data and sediment core samples, scientists discovered that these mysterious pockmarks are caused by a geologic phenomenon known as gravity flows rather than by bubbling methane, as was previously believed.

While the research team isnt sure how these pockmarks first formed, theyve convincingly mapped how these 5,251 depressions formed over hundreds of thousands of years.

Off the coast of California, some 1,600 to 5,200 feet below sea level, there lies a strange geologic phenomenon known as the Sur Pockmark Field. Roughly the size of Los Angeles, this field contains approximately 5,251 shallow holes, each measuring around 500 feet across and roughly 16 feet deep. Its the largest such pockmark field in North America, and its existence has puzzled oceanographers ever since its discovery during a Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) survey in 1998.

Previous research in other parts of the world suggested that these depressions were possibly caused by methane bubbling up through underwater sediment, which brings up potential stability concerns for any future wind farm applications across this stretch of LA-adjacent ocean. To figure out the cause of these depressions, researchers from MBARIalong with scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Stanford Universityused a suite of impressive underwater robots to create maps, gather bathymetric data, and collect sediment core samples of these pockmarks.

What they discovered is that these formations are caused by sediment gravity flowskind of like an avalanche, but with sand, water, and mud instead of snowthat have occurred for an estimated 280,000 years. The results of the study were published Tuesday in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface.

We collected a massive amount of data, allowing us to make a surprising link between pockmarks and sediment gravity flows, Eve Lundsten, MBARI Senior Research Technician and lead author of the study, said in a press statement. We were unable to determine exactly how these pockmarks were initially formed, but with MBARIs advanced underwater technology, weve gained new insight into how and why these features have persisted on the seafloor for hundreds of thousands of years.

First, the team sent its torpedo-shaped autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) thats purpose-built for seafloor mapping to take a look. Diving to preprogrammed waypoints, the AUV traveled roughly 50 meters above the ocean floor and used multibeam sonar and a Chirp (Compressed High-Intensity Radar Pulse) sub-bottom profiler to peer some 40 meters beneath the surface layer. Then, the researchers employed two remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs)the ROV Doc Ricketts and miniROVto capture 185 hours of footage of 21 separate pockmarks. Finally, Doc Ricketts collected 107 five-foot-long sediment samples known as vibracores, as well as 433 10-inch samples, or pushcores.

All of this data showed no signs of a methane gas, but the subsurface information revealed alternating layers of fine and coarse sediment, likely caused by intermittent (often thousands of years apart) gravity flows bringing coarser material to an otherwise fine-grained underwater sediment field. These flows eroded the center of pockmarks, and while scientists arent sure why (yet), they theorize that the areas unique seafloor morphology may be the cause.

Being so close to a major population center like Los Angeles, U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management marked this general area as a possible candidate for building wind farms in 2018. Now, thanks to this study, future green energy projects can rest easy knowing that these shifting sands are not a methane-induced disaster waiting to happen.

There are many unanswered questions about the seafloor and its processes, Lundsten said in a press statement. This research provides important data about the seafloor for resource managers and others considering potential offshore sites for underwater infrastructure to guide their decision-making.

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50-year-old vehicle collided with SUV and one person was killed, South Carolina cops say

One person was killed Wednesday when a 50-year-old motorcycle was involved in a crash with an SUV, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The two-vehicle collision happened at about 1:15 p.m. in Laurens County, said Master Trooper Brandon Bolt.

A 1972 Honda motorcycle was heading south on Bellview Church Road when it hit a 2007 Lincoln SUV, according to Bolt.

The SUV was driving north on Bellview Church Road and was turning left onto Penland Road when the collision happened and the motorcycle rider died, Bolt said.

The Laurens County Coroners Office has not publicly identified the motorcycle rider.

Bolt said the driver was the only person in the SUV and was not hurt. No other injuries were reported.

There was no word if the SUV driver was wearing a seat belt, or if the motorcycle rider wore a helmet.

The crash continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol.

Through Monday, 355 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 Laurens County crashes in 2024, according to DPS data. There were 26 deaths reported in the county in 2023, DPS said.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, May 23. Turkmenistan discussed the expansion of cooperation with the Scandinavian states within the framework of the EU, Trend reports.

According to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry, these issues were discussed during a joint meeting between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Myakhri Byashimova and the Ambassadors of Norway and Sweden in Ashgabat, John Mikal Kvistad and Tomas Danestad, respectively.

The purpose of the talks between the parties was to discuss the expansion of Turkmenistan's cooperation with the Scandinavian states within the framework of the EU, in particular in the context of the EU Global Gateway initiative.

During the meeting, the diplomats expressed interest in intensifying trade and economic cooperation and establishing closer contacts between the business circles of the countries.

Furthermore, the participants considered the promotion of cultural and humanitarian partnership to be an important aspect of the development of relations, among the possible joint projects, among which the organization of cultural days, exhibitions, and other large-scale events in the field of culture and art were considered.

Meanwhile, cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Scandinavian countries within the EU is developing on the basis of mutual interest in the fields of energy, trade, education, and sustainable development.

Turkmenistan, with significant natural gas reserves, attracts Scandinavian countries seeking to diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on traditional suppliers. In turn, the Scandinavian countries offer Turkmenistan advanced technologies and experience in the field of renewable energy sources and environmentally friendly technologies.
A Bartow County 6-year-old has died days after his older brother and parents were killed in a crash.

Family friends confirmed that Titus Mason was removed from life support on Wednesday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Titus and his family were heading home from a church event when the crash killed his parents Dakarai and Erin and his older brother Brandon Crawford.

The Mason familys youngest son, 5-year-old Noah, is expected to survive.

Please continue to pray for us, for the other families touched by this tragedy, & for our little Noah who is going through the unimaginable loss of his entire immediate family. There are just no words for this hurt, Erins cousin Brittany Sanders posted on a GoFundMe.

RELATED STORIES:

Investigators said the Kia van that the Mason family was traveling in veered across the center median, setting off a chain-reaction crash. Its unclear why the van went off the road.

Aimee Odom, who was driving one of the other cars, died when her car was hit. Her friends told Channel 2 Action News that she was heading to a graduation party before the crash.

Odoms family will hold a memorial service for her at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Owen Funeral Home in Cartersville. Her family asks people who attend to wear their pink and make donations to the Georgia Innocence Project in lieu of flowers.

Brandon Crawfords funeral will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Cartersville. A visitation will take place on Sunday at Mack Eppinger & Sons Funeral Home.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced for Dakarai, Erin and Titus Mason. A GoFundMe has been set up here to help with expenses.

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7 dead and 16 wounded in Russian strike on printing house in Kharkiv  photos

Seven employees of the printing house were killed in the strike. Photo: Oleh Syniehubov

Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, shared a photo of the aftermath of Russia's major missile strike on the Faktor-Druk printing house in Kharkiv's Osnovianskyi district.

Syniehubov stated that seven employees of the printing house were killed, according to the most recent information.

Russians strike a printing house in Kharkiv.

Photo: Oleh Syniehubov

Earlier, it was stated that 16 people had been wounded.

Aftermath of the Russian attack on the printing house.

Photo: Oleh Syniehubov

At the time of the Russian attack, there were more than 50 employees in the printing house.

Photo: Oleh Syniehubov

Earlier, it was revealed that during the large-scale attack on Kharkiv on Thursday 23 May, the Russians targeted the printing house of the local publishing business Vivat.

Yuliia Orlova verified to UP.Kultura that the hit was indeed at the printing house Faktor-Druk, which largely printed Vivat books.

Photo: Oleh Syniehubov

Not the first attack on Kharkivs publishing houses

The Hurov i K printing house was destroyed in a Russian strike on Kharkiv's industrial zone on 20 March. Books from the publishing houses Chas Maistriv, Krokus, Shkola, Dodo puzzles, and others were all printed here.

The Aurora printing house, located on the lower floor of the same building, was also entirely destroyed.

Another printing business, Budynok Druku, had also previously been subjected to Russian attacks on Kharkiv.

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As the New York trial for former President Donald Trump winds down, its clear that he will attempt to reclaim the White House regardless of the outcome. If Trump is found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business documents, he will most likely receive probation and fines instead of actual prison time as a first-time offender in a non-violent case.



In addition, even if hes convicted he can still run for President. His previous term was riddled with incompetence and bigotrywhich significantly impacted the lives of Black folks. Here are 7 scary things that we should never forget about Trump.

1. He flubbed Covid-19 in a major way, which disproportionately affected Black people.

According to a report by the House select subcommittee, the Trump administration engaged in deliberate efforts to erode the U.S. response to coronavirus for political reasons. Under Trumps leadership, the White House consistently overruled public health and testing guidance by Americas top disease experts.

Documents the committee obtained also revealed that Trump political appointees tried to pressure the FDA to authorize ineffective Covid treatments that Trump pushed, like hydroxychloroquine and convalescent plasma. He also failed to put safety precautions in place for workers, leading to Black people in almost every state with racial data available having higher contraction rates and higher death rates of COVID-19.

2. Trump propped up white supremacy with MAGA, known as Make America Great Again.

MAGA, or Make America Great Again became not just Trumps 2016 campaign slogan, but a political movement that targeted people of color. The former president believed that the country was once great but that immigration and diversity has ruined this status. It quickly became a racist rallying cry, with MAGA believers often taking hateful, sexist and homophobic stances. This was underscored with the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville that went down during Trumps presidency in 2017. The event was organized specifically by white supremacists and neo-Nazis to amplify white nationalism.

3. Hate crimes increased exponentially under his presidency.

According to data released by the FBI released back in 2020, hate crime reports in America soared in 2019 to the highest level since 2008. The annual report on national hate crime statistics showed that murders classified as hate crimes more than doubled from 2018 to 201951 people were killed in instances fueled by hate. Sadly, the data also showed that Black people overwhelmingly comprised the largest category of reported hate crime offenses, with a total of 48.4% of those crimes motivated by anti-Black bias.

4. Trumps immigration policies led to tougher laws as well as the deaths of 21 migrants.

During Trumps term, he made it more difficult for foreign-born workersmostly comprised of Black and brown folksto enter the U.S. on visas or as refugees. This led to visa denials significantly increasing and refugee admissions decreasing. According to a NBC News analysis of federal data, twenty-four immigrants died in ICE custody, with at least four more dying shortly after being released from ICE custody. This number does not include migrants including five childrenwho died in the custody of other federal agencies. Over the years, ICE employees have voiced concerns about lapses in medical oversight and neglect that put immigrants at risk of harm or death, according to the federal data.

5. The former President called the national guard on Black Lives Matter protesters.

Trump placed Black people directly in harms way back in 2020 when he sent thousands of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. to mobilize against those protesting the murder of George Floyd. In addition, the Trump administration deployed dozens of unidentified federal law enforcement officersmost from the Department of Homeland Securityto Portland, Oregon. The result for both were complete chaos and injuries to nonviolent protesters. According to Former Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper, Trump had asked about shooting protesters during the civil unrest of 2020.

6. He was instrumental in inciting violence on January 6.

On January 6, 2021, Donald Trump incited a mob of followers to attack the U.S. Capitol as a final attempt to remain in power after a tumultuous meeting with his strongest supporters. Instead of gracefully losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump aligned himself with outside advisers who encouraged him to keep pressing his election fraud lies. He subsequently encouraged his followers to flock to Washington for a big protest, saying, Be there, will be wild. Around 800 people participated in the riot and The Justice Departmentsaid in an official update in January 2024 that 116 of the people who were charged in connection to the riot have been charged with entering a restricted area with a dangerous or deadly weapon.

7. Trump lined the Supreme Court with justices that would overturn affirmative action and Roe V. Wade.

Before winning the presidency in 2016, Trump used racist rhetoric to gain white supremacist followers. He continued this strategy all the way to the White House, where he strategically placed conservative judges on the Supreme Court who would ultimately overturn Roe V. Wade as well as affirmative action, affecting Black and brown people the most. His crusade for a second term this year is no different, as Trump has said America is anti-white, that migrants are poisoning the blood of the country, he was indicted for the Black population and that he will undo all of Bidens diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A 70-year-old woman in a motorized scooter was killed in Salem Wednesday morning after being struck by an oncoming vehicle, police said.

Its the 13th traffic fatality in Salem so far this year, officials said.

According to police, officers responded to the intersection of Liberty St. and River Rd. around 9:45 a.m. after receiving reports of the collision.

Man accused of robbing 5 Portland dispensaries at gunpoint arrested

The initial investigation by the Salem Police Traffic Team determined a woman on a motorized chair was attempting to cross Liberty St. from east to west when she was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound on Liberty St. Witnesses reported the scooter operator entered the roadway close to oncoming traffic when the crash occurred, police said.

The woman in the scooter, Lois Marshall, was taken to Salem Health, but later died from her injuries, police said. The driver of the vehicle, Jami Duhrkoop, 36, remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation, according to authorities.

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 KOIN.com.
The owner of a well-fortified San Gabriel Valley jewelry store is reeling after thieves managed to break in and get away with some $800,000 worth of diamonds, gold and cash.

The May 15 incident occurred late at night when a crew of four to five burglars broke into Desire Jewelry in Glendora, disabled the shops alarm system and surveillance cameras, hauled in heavy equipment and spent six hours cutting into the stores safes.

Monir Kassis, the owner of Desire, didnt discover the burglary until May 18.

Retracing the thieves steps, he told KTLAs Sandra Mitchell that the crooks busted through the roof of his shop on Glendora Avenue and got away with all his inventory.

Theres a big bag of diamonds, about 600 carats of diamonds in that bag, he said, and a lot of gold chains, a lot of gold for repair.

Before the stores surveillance cameras were disabled, they recorded the sound of thieves hauling in their equipment, likely gas-powered torches and drills.

You start hearing drilling and very loud noise, Kassis said.

Cameras also recorded two of the thieves, but so far it has been difficult to identify them.

Thieves broke into Desire Jewelry in Glendora on May 15, 2024, and made off with $800K in diamonds, gold and cash. (viewer photo)

A hole in the roof of the jewelry store where thieves are believed to have broken into the store on May 15, 2024. (viewer photo)

Thieves were able to cut through two of the shops three steel safes over a six hour period on May 15, 2024. (viewer photo)

Thieves were able to cut through two of the shops three steel safes over a six hour period on May 15, 2024. (viewer photo)

Thieves were able to cut through two of the shops three steel safes over a six hour period on May 15, 2024. (viewer photo)

Tools hauled into the shop for the May 15, 2024, heist. (viewer photo)

The shop owner shows where the burglars disabled his alarm system during the May 15, 2024, heist. (viewer photo)

One of four to five suspects seen on surveillance cameras during the May 15, 2024, heist. (viewer photo)

I saw two guys, one who poked his head [out] from the door and the other one banging on the window to alert them that its time to leave, he added.

Female driver arrested for 405 Freeway rampage identified

Away on vacation, Kassis had moved all the jewelry from the shops display cases into three steel safes, two of which the thieves were able to cut into.

They cut a hole and just grabbed everything from there, the shop owner explained.

Detectives with the Glendora Police Department are investigating the heist and looking at evidence, including blood on one of the safes, left at the scene.

Kassis has also hired a private detective who shared with KTLA that the heist appears to be quite sophisticated, though they believe they have several solid leads.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Glendora Police Department at 626-914-8250.

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 KTLA.
This article was published as part of a content-sharing agreement between Army Times and The Fayetteville Observer.

FORT LIBERTY  Several family members traced letters with their fingers on the 82nd Airborne Division monuments Tuesday at Fort Liberty.

One woman kissed a yellow rose before tapping a name on the monument and pressing her hand on it.

Gage Bell, 12, buried his head into his mother LaToya Bells chest as he wept for the father he never knew, 1st Sgt. Ryan Russell Bell, who was killed in action Aug. 2, 2012, while in Afghanistan.

All the family members are Gold Star families and attended the divisions annual memorial ceremony, which is part of All American Week.

Its our duty to gather in this sacred corner of North Carolina, precisely to honor our divisions heroes, those paratroopers who gave their tomorrows so that we can have our todays, Maj. Gen. J. Patrick Pat Work, the divisions commander, told Tuesdays crowd.

Veterans salute during the National Anthem at the 82nd Airborne Divisions memorial ceremony Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Fort Liberty. (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer)

More than 5,000 paratroopers remembered

Capt. Jewett Williams wasnt just the first combat casualty of the division when he was killed in action in 1918, Work said.

Williams was a company commander in the 326th Infantry Regiment who was an ordained Episcopal priest and voluntarily enlisted during World War I, insisting on an infantry commission, Work said.

He also left behind his wife and his 5-month-old daughter, Work said.

During World War II, Lt. Robert P. Mathias was the first American officer killed after midnight on D-Day, after being wounded by Nazi gunfire as he was shutting the door of a C-47, he said.

Mathias was a platoon leader in the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment and led a load of paratroopers out of the plane despite being mortally wounded, Work said.

The divisions last paratrooper killed in combat was Sgt. Bryan Cooper Mount, who died July 21, 2020, while conducting reconnaissance operations in Syria.

Among the divisions 5,098 paratroopers who did not survive the wars, Work said he personally wears a bracelet on his right wrist bearing the name of Spc. Thomas J. T.J. Barbiere.

Barbiere, Work said, was killed in action Aug. 23, 2006, at the age of 24 while in Baghdad.

T.J. was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for a final act of bravery protecting another paratrooper in a place our paratroopers irreverently refer to as the Yusufiyah Triangle of Death, he said.

Work said that each of the men and women honored by the division has done the nations deadly work while embodying duty.

All are remembered by paratroopers who continue their duty, he said.

Matt Russell touches the name of Spc. Marshall Edgerton, a fallen soldier he served with, during the 82nd Airborne Divisions memorial ceremony Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Fort Liberty. (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer)

Gold Star family never forgets

Among the Gold Star families attending Tuesdays ceremony was Stan and Shirley White, who drove from West Virginia.

They wore dog tags with the face of their son, Staff Sgt. Robert Bob White, 34, who was killed Sept. 26, 2005, in Afghanistan after his mounted patrol came under enemy fire. He served with the divisions 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment.

His brother, Cpl. Andrew White, was a Marine who was in Iraq at the same time his brother was deployed to Afghanistan and died a few years after his brother from complications from his PTSD, which is post-traumatic stress disorder, Stan White said

The Whites said that growing up, Staff Sgt. White was a daredevil who wanted to jump out of airplanes.

He was a good son, a good father, a good husband  and his name, along with many others, will never be forgotten, Stan White said.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
Presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez was hosting a rally in the northeastern Mexico state of Nuevo Leon when severe winds hit the area

Alberto Lopez/AP 9 Dead, Including Child, and 121 Injured After Stage Collapses at Election Rally in Mexico

Nine people are dead and more than 100 people were injured at a political rally in Mexico after a stage collapsed due to high winds, authorities said.

Nuevo Leon state Gov. Samuel Garcia said in a statement Thursday, May 23, that 121 people had been injured in the collapse in northeastern city of San Pedro Garza Garcia, according to the Associated Press.

The political rally was being held by presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez on Wednesday, May 22, the outlet reported. Maynez, a member of the Citizens Movement party, escaped the collapse and later told reporters that the victims "will not be alone in this tragedy," AP reported.

Videos of the incident that circulated on social media Wednesday night show people in the crowd screaming and running for cover as metal poles and a large screen fell from the stage.

In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), Garcia said that 94 people injured in the collapse had been released from various hospitals and clinics in the area, and that 27 people are still hospitalized. He added that three victims had undergone surgery and were in critical condition, AP added. The outlet also added that local health authorities noted that many of the injuries involved skull fractures.

Alberto Lopez/AP A relief worker tends to a man after a stage collapsed due to a gust of wind during an event attended by presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez

The area was surrounded by medical personnel and heavily armed police and military in the aftermath, the outlet reported. Many of the rally's attendees who were not injured sat around afterward for hours, stunned by the night's events.

Alvarez Maynez said Civil Defense personnel had checked the structure of the set before the event and that the severe weather came as a surprise, according to CNN.

"The weather conditions were very atypical: the rain didnt last for even five minutes  it wasnt even a storm, it was truly atypical what happened," he said.

Alberto Lopez/AP 9 Dead, Including Child, and 121 Injured After Stage Collapses at Election Rally in Mexico

Related: Nikki Haley Says She'll Vote for Donald Trump in November, but She Has Some Advice for His Campaign

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also commented on the incident, noting that most of the injured people were women, CNN reported.

Obrador also said that the Citizens Movement party, viewed as allies of his Morena party, should not be blamed before investigations begin.

"We know that they are not to blame," the president said Thursday, per CNN.

Many political analysts believe Alvarez Maynez has a very small chance of winning the presidential race, the outlet added. Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum and former Senator Xochitl Galvez are the two leading candidates, making it likely that Mexico is going to have its first female president in June.



Related: Anti-Woke Republican Vivek Ramaswamy Buys Stake in Buzzfeed to Shift Companys Strategy: Stay Tuned

Alvarez Maynez has suspended several of his upcoming campaign events, AP added.

"We have to have solidarity, there is nothing that can repair an accident, a damage of this nature, and [people] will not be alone in this tragedy and through the consequences that this tragedy will have in their lives," Alvarez Maynez told CNN, noting that he would stay in the state to visit victims and their families.

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9 justices, many opinions: How the Supreme Court tells lawyers, judges and the public about its decisions and disagreements

When the U.S. Supreme Court issues opinions, you may hear that the nine justices reached a 6-3 or a 5-4 decision. You may also hear that certain justices wrote a concurrence or that there were multiple dissents.

Those concurrences and dissents are where Supreme Court justices express disagreement with the majority opinion.

Consider the recent case of Arizona v. Navajo Nation, which examined the Navajo Nations water rights in the Colorado River. The court decided 5-4 in favor of Arizona, meaning five justices agreed with the arguments made by the state of Arizona, while four justices agreed with the arguments made by the Navajo Nation.

The opinion issued by the five justices is the decision that serves as precedent for other courts. It is referred to as the majority opinion or simply the opinion.

The opinion issued by the other four justices is called the dissenting opinion or simply the dissent. Just as the majority opinion outlines its reasoning and how it reached its conclusion, the dissenting opinion will do the same. Lower courts are required to follow the majority opinion; lower courts are not required to follow the dissenting opinion.

Why issue a dissent if courts are not required to follow it? Dissents have a role and purpose even if they are not the official guide for a courts decision.

Opinions, concurrences and dissents  theres a lot of writing going on at the U.S. Supreme Court. pablohart/E+/Getty Images

For the record

Justices write dissents for the sake of history, for their personal reputation or as a matter of principle. They want to be on the record for why they believe the majority decision is incorrect.

In the dissent, justices may go step by step through the majority opinion to highlight what they view as errors in the logic, interpretation or holding of the case. The holding is the courts official answer to the question it is being asked to decide.

You can see an example of this step-by-step approach in the record of the case that overturned federal protection for the right to get an abortion, Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health. In that case, the dissent wrote detailed responses to the majority opinion.

Develop the legal argument

A dissent also has a role in helping other justices articulate their arguments.

Before the court issues an opinion, the justices meet in person to discuss their views and their preliminary decisions on the outcome of the case.

Based on that conference, the justices have an idea of what the majority opinion will be and who will agree with it. The chief justice, or else the most senior justice, then assigns one justice to draft the majority opinion. The same process is used in assigning one justice to draft the dissenting opinion.

These draft opinions are then circulated among all the justices, who provide comments and feedback about points they feel are important to incorporate. This review process helps justices decide whether to join an opinion or to write their own if they feel a certain point needs to be addressed.

The value of this process is to hone the arguments in the opinions. The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said in a 2009 speech that there is nothing better than an impressive dissent to lead the author of the majority opinion to refine and clarify her initial circulation.

Dissents as guidance

Sometimes the reasoning in a dissent is used to adjust future law. It may serve as guidance to lawmakers, or it may form the basis for future cases designed to eventually overturn this initial case.

In Plessy v. Ferguson, a case from 1896 challenging a racial segregation law in Louisiana, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation was legal as long as separate but equal facilities and services were available.

There was only one dissent in that case, by Justice John Marshall Harlan. In the dissent, Justice Harlan argued that segregation was unconstitutional: [t]he arbitrary separation of citizens on the basis of race while they are on a public highway is a badge of servitude wholly inconsistent with the civil freedom and the equality before the law established by the Constitution. It cannot be justified upon any legal grounds.

Harlans dissent laid the groundwork for the argument ultimately accepted by the court 60 years later, in Brown v. Board of Education, that overturned the Plessy decision and declared racial segregation to be unconstitutional.

Although Harlan is not explicitly mentioned in the Brown decision, the reasoning and arguments he articulated in the Plessy dissent formed the basis for subsequent cases that tested the limits of separate but equal and ultimately led the court to overturn that doctrine in Brown.

The dissent is not limited to one opinion. This means that in a 5-4 decision there could theoretically be four separate dissenting opinions.

What about concurrences?

Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan, who wrote the lone dissent in an 1898 ruling that said segregation was legal. Harlans dissent laid the groundwork the court used to declare segregation unconstitutional. Bettman/Getty Images

At least five justices must agree with, and sign on to, the majoritys decision. The simplest outcome is when those five justices all agree on a single opinion.

However, a justice in the majority may still disagree with the writing in the majority opinion. For example, a justice may write an additional opinion clarifying the extent of agreement with the majoritys decision. Or a justice may agree with the majoritys decision but not the reasoning and thus choose to write a separate opinion.

These separate opinions by those in agreement with the majority decision are called concurrences. They serve similar purposes as dissents by recording a justices thinking on an issue, and that thinking could be used in the future on similar cases.

The math can get tricky with concurrences. In the case about water for the Navajo Reservation, four justices signed the majority opinion, while the fifth justice wrote a concurrence. So, four justices in the majority plus one writing a concurrence equals five justices agreeing on a holding.

Additionally, justices in the majority can sign onto the majority opinion as well as a concurring opinion.

In Griswold v. Connecticut, a 1965 case regarding privacy rights, seven justices agreed that a right to privacy could be found in the Constitution, but they disagreed about where that right was based. Five justices signed the majority opinion. Three of those five justices also signed on to a separate concurring opinion. Two other justices did not sign the majority opinion; instead, they each wrote their own separate opinions, concurring with the majoritys conclusion but not joining the majority opinion.

Thats a total of four opinions all agreeing that there is a constitutional right to privacy but disagreeing about where in the Constitution that right can be located.

What should a lower court do with an opinion like in the Griswold case? Lower courts still must follow the majority opinion, but they may choose to incorporate the reasoning from a concurring opinion.

Legal conversations

Concurring and dissenting opinions are a conversation with the majority opinion about the legal issues in the case. So the next time you hear about a concurrence or dissent, pay attention.

At the very least, you can learn about how a particular justice views the issue at hand. Whats more, you may gain a window to where the law is headed in the future.

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: Ilisabeth S. Bornstein, Bryant University

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Ilisabeth S. Bornstein does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Longstanding abortion restrictions like waiting periods and provider regulations are now under legal attack in states where Roe v. Wades reversal prompted voters to amend their state constitutions to protect abortion rights.

Abortion rights advocates in Ohio and Michigan have pivoted off of successful ballot initiatives in those states to challenge abortion restrictions that had been in effect before the Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to obtain an abortion in 2022.

In Ohio, the ACLU has used the recent amendment to that states constitution to boost lawsuits attacking abortion restrictions. One of those cases is challenging laws that made it harder to access abortion pills. Another is targeting Ohios 24-waiting period and related abortion regulations.

In Michigan, a lawsuit brought by another reproductive rights group is seeking to strike down that states 24-hour waiting.

Abortion rights advocates say the robust language that is in amendments in Michigan and Ohio reflects voters pushback not just to the 2022 Supreme Court ruling  known as Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization  but to how the original 1973 Roe precedent was chipped away at by conservative litigants and courts over time.

When voters vote for those broad amendments, theyre saying, We dont want to go back to the way things were before Dobbs. We want to ensure that reproductive rights are protected to the maximum extent under the law, said Rabia Muqaddam, a senior staff attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is representing abortion provider organizations challenging the Michigan regulations.

Similar ballot initiatives have passed in reliably blue states like California. But the success abortion rights advocates have had in passing such measures in purple states and even Ohio  where Republicans have dominated recent elections  is notable.

The people are coming out in full force to support reproductive rights and reproductive autonomy and the ability of every individual to decide if when and how to continue a pregnancy and give birth for themselves, said Meagan Burrows, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, who is involved in the Ohio litigation.

The dynamic could soon be coming to the other states that are considering proposals to add abortion rights protections to their constitutions.

Anti-abortion activists say that abortion rights advocates are stretching the constitutional amendments beyond their meaning, suggesting that voters in other states should be wary.

Running deceptive campaigns is the playbook for Florida, Arizona, Missouri and every other state with abortion on the ballot, but the litigation proves these amendments go farther than they will ever admit in a 30-second commercial, Katie Daniel, the state policy director for the organization Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said in a statement to CNN.

Abortion rights advocates say that the legal landscape differs state by state, so its difficult to predict the litigation that could come out of the proposed amendments if adopted.

Disputes about the reach of constitutional amendments

In at least one state, anti-abortion activists are actively seeking to overturn a successful state ballot measure. A lawsuit filed in federal court by Right to Life of Michigan and other anti-abortion groups and individuals is seeking to block that states new constitutional amendment. The lawsuit puts forward several claims, including fetal personhood arguments.

Briefing in that longshot case is under way.

In the Michigan case brought by the Center for Reproductive Rights, state Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, has declined to defend the 24-hour waiting period and the other abortion laws targeted in the lawsuit, although the Democratic-controlled legislature did not repeal them when it voted last year to reverse several other abortion limits that were said to run afoul of the new constitutional amendment.

In addition to the waiting period, the new lawsuit is challenging limits on the kinds of healthcare providers who can perform abortions as well as a mandate that providers give abortion seekers a script of counseling that the lawsuit says is biased, inaccurate, irrelevant, and non-medical.

The states deputy solicitor general Eric Restuccia, a Republican, has been tasked to defend the restrictions and is opposing the abortion rights advocates request for the restrictions to be put on pause while the case plays out.

In court filings, he wrote that the laws in question have been in place for more than 30 years and that there was was nothing in the new constitutional amendment signaling the intent of the people to enact a dramatic departure from the laws in place before the decision in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Org.

He defended the counseling script as neutral and necessary for ensuring that any consent by a patient is a knowing and informed one.

Genevieve Marnon, legislative director of Right to Life of Michigan, told CNN that the challengers were seeking to use the courts to obtain what they could not achieve legislatively.

They were unable to use the democratic legislative process to repeal this law, she said. It was up for repeal, and there were members on both sides of the aisle who didnt agree that this law should be repealed.

The lawsuit filed in Ohio by the ACLU in March goes after similar counseling requirements, in addition to the 24 hours abortion seekers must wait after receiving the counsel before they can undergo the procedure.

In court filings opposing ACLUs lawsuit, Ohios Republican attorney general argued that the ballot initiative only re-established the federal legal framework that was in place before the Dobbs decision.

That legal standard  laid out in a 1992 Supreme Court case called Planned Parenthood v. Casey  allowed states to impose restrictions on abortion as long as the rules dont place an undue burden on access to abortions before a fetus is viable. The Ohio amendment, however, puts the bar for states much higher. It allows for measures that interfere with abortion access only if they are the least restrictive means to ensure the patients health.

Any restrictions on the procedure also must be in line with widely accepted and evidence-based standards of care, according to the Ohio amendment.

To support his argument, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is pointing not to the language of the amendment itself but the news stories and messaging around it.

Voters were primarily told, by the dominant and successful voices, that the Amendment would restore the status quo, Yost said in a court filing.

The ACLU counters that, a month before the vote in the amendment, even the state attorney general was describing the proposal as going beyond Roe and Casey. Yost now claims the guidance did not contemplate an October wave of reassuring the public that no such broader effects arose from the Amendment, and that it was merely restoring Roe after all.

Using every tool available

In Arizona, abortion right advocates are pushing a constitutional amendment that would enshrine the right to an abortion in language that is akin to the initiatives adopted in Ohio and Michigan. The states legislature recently repealed a near-total ban on abortion, but a 15-week ban remains on the books, as do counseling and waiting period requires that were in effect before the Supreme Courts ruling in Dobbs.

There are campaigns for initiatives to expand abortion rights in several other states, but only in a few states so far have abortion rights advocates cleared the required hurdles to guarantee the proposals will be on the ballot.

The ACLU declined to answer specific questions about the potential for more litigation if the ballot campaigns in those other states are successful. In a statement to CNN, ACLU senior policy counsel Jessica Arons said that the measures the ACLU are involved in are being crafted to address the unique access challenges communities face in each state.

Were determined to use every tool available to ensure we all can make our own personal medical decisions during pregnancy without political interference, Arons said.

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Lawyer Leslie Mehta is competing with military veteran Herb Jones in a Democratic primary in the 1st Congressional District. (provided photo)

After growing up learning about the Civil Rights Movement and the importance of people being free to advocate for their beliefs, Leslie Mehta says providing legal help to the racist organizers of the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville was one of the hardest things shes done as an attorney.

Mehta, whos now running for Congress in Virginia as a Democrat, was serving as legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia seven years ago when the chapter made a controversial decision to represent rally organizer Jason Kessler in litigation against Charlottesville officials.

The ACLU and Kessler won that lawsuit, which dealt with the specifics of how he and his white supremacist allies would be permitted to protest in a strongly Democratic city vehemently opposed to the racist groups coming to town to rally against efforts to remove a Confederate statue. After clashes between rival groups broke out and police lost control of the situation, a white supremacist demonstrator drove into a crowd of counter-protestors, killing one person and injuring more than 30 others.

In an interview this month, Mehta said she and the ACLU took the case at Kesslers request under the impression it would be a peaceful protest. The group would have acted differently, she said, if a crystal ball had foretold the violence that occurred that day.

But Mehta defended a more old-school approach to free speech thats fallen out of favor with many modern progressives, saying First Amendment principles mean little if they only protect speech thats popular or agreeable to people in power.

Im a Black woman who was raised in the South. I understand the implications of all this, said Mehta, who lives in Chesterfield County and grew up in a small town in North Carolina. And certainly it tests your belief in the principles aligned with the First Amendment when youre representing people whom not only do you disagree with, but you find reprehensible. That is what leaders do. Leaders take on hard cases.

Herb Jones, whos competing with Mehta in a Democratic primary in the 1st Congressional District, sees it differently. Mehtas role in what happened in Charlottesville, he said, would be a fatal wound in a general-election campaign against U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland. And he said its not something Democratic primary voters should overlook.

To represent Nazis and then think you can represent the values of people in this district, thats a stretch, said Jones, who is also Black.

Jones said his own family knows the effects of racist violence, because his grandfather was lynched in South Carolina by a gang of murderous, low-life thugs just like those in Charlottesville.

This was not a First Amendment case, as some want people to believe, Jones said in email. The Nazis had a permit to protest in an area that was much safer than downtown Charlottesville. This was about safety.

Jones ran against Wittman in 2022 in a Republican-leaning district that runs from the Richmond suburbs to the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula and outskirts of Hampton Roads.

Two years ago, Wittman defeated Jones  a military veteran and business owner who formerly served as the elected treasurer of New Kent County  by roughly 14 percentage points. Wittman would likely still be the favorite no matter which Democrat he faces. But the district could potentially be more competitive for Democrats in a presidential year when former President Donald Trump is trying to return to the White House.

Mehtas campaign portrayed Joness criticisms of her work in the Charlottesville case as deflecting focus away from the goal of beating Wittman.

I hate everything Unite the Right represents, but I believe defending our Constitution is an existential imperative, Mehta said in a written statement responding to Jones. Its sad that Mr. Jones chooses to attack my work defending the Constitution when we have an election denier as a member of congress.

Though Wittman condemned the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in 2021, he was one of many Republicans who voted against certifying the election results from Pennsylvania. He also signed a legal brief supporting Texas efforts to dispute presidential results from other states.

Like Jan. 6, the Unite the Right rally is one of the most prominent examples in recent American history of violence erupting at a far-right protest.

As the August 2017 rally approached, Charlottesville officials tried to revoke a permit Kessler had obtained from the city in June to hold the event at the Robert E. Lee statue that once stood in Emancipation Park. Local officials attempted to modify the permit less than a week before the rally, resulting in last-minute legal wrangling over where it would be held.

The city said it wanted to move the rally to the bigger but less centrally located McIntire Park due to safety concerns. A federal judge sided with the ACLU and Kessler, ruling the city hadnt presented enough concrete evidence of safety threats to justify revoking a permit the city had already granted.

The wisdom of the citys attempt to change the rally location was a point of contention in a post-event review commissioned by city officials. A report prepared for the city by former federal prosecutor Tim Heaphy found that Charlottesvilles police chief at the time raised concerns that trying to move the rally would complicate matters by forcing law enforcement to rework public safety plans and prepare for the possibility of crowds gathering in two locations instead of one. Some officials also felt there was no guarantee moving the rally would work as intended, since Kessler could sue or refuse to comply with the citys directives about where to go.

Those concerns were raised with the Charlottesville City Council in a closed session, according to Heaphys report. But the council chose to press ahead with the ultimately unsuccessful effort to move the rally.

The post-rally report also indicated some law enforcement officials felt the citys case for moving the rally was weak and wanted the city to lose the lawsuit. The report says a police captain suggested the chief at the time didnt want an affidavit containing information about potential violence to look too good, but the chief denied intentionally leaving intelligence out of the affidavit that was presented to the judge.

Those details werent immediately known in the aftermath of the rally, when former Gov. Terry McAuliffe and others accused the ACLU of contributing to the violence by helping Kessler defeat the plan to move the rally.

At the time, former ACLU of Virginia executive director Claire Gastanaga fired back, saying her organization had simply stood up for constitutional principles and the violence was instead a result of poor planning and execution by law enforcement and government officials who were supposed to keep people safe no matter where the rally occurred.

Mehta said the litigation she was involved in was limited to the specifics of the citys attempt to change the permit and shouldnt be construed as an endorsement of Unite the Right or excusing the violence that occurred after the citys lawyers failed to convince the judge there was an imminent safety threat.

If they thought that there were safety issues, that was their responsibility to make that point, Mehta said.

Mehtas work as a civil rights lawyer took a turn after her oldest daughter, Brooke, was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, a debilitating genetic disorder. Mehta left the ACLU and devoted more of her time to caring for her child and advocating for better research into the disease. Brooke died in 2021 at the age of five.

Mehta now works as chief of staff and legal counsel to the CEO for the Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority, but shes taken a leave of absence from that role to run for office. She said her advocacy work on health care helped her connect with Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Prince William, who has supported efforts to get more federal research funding for Rett Syndrome.

Spanberger, an emerging Democratic leader who is currently the only member of her party running for governor in 2025, gave Mehtas campaign a boost last month by endorsing Mehta in the primary against Jones.

Ive known Leslie ever since working together to increase funding to fight rare diseases, Spanberger said in a statement announcing the endorsement. I was inspired by her bravery, as she had just lost her young daughter to a disease. Virginians will be fortunate to have such an engaged representative working to improve their lives  because I know she will bring her tenacity, intelligence, and passion to the U.S. House every day.

Mehta has also been endorsed by numerous members of the Virginia General Assembly, including Sens. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach and Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, who chairs the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Jones, who was endorsed by former Gov. Ralph Northam, questioned why prominent Democrats are putting a thumb on the scale in the primary. He said Republican voters in the GOP-friendly district are unlikely to vote for an ACLU lawyer, and some Democratic voters would be turned off by her role in the Charlottesville case.

If she wins the primary, she is going to get clobbered in the general, Jones said.

Mehta said she doesnt see the Unite the Right litigation as a liability for her campaign, because people shes spoken to seem to understand her point of view when she explains what the case was and wasnt about. She also highlighted other civil rights cases the ACLU of Virginia was involved in during her time with the organization, such as transgender student Gavin Grimms battle against his local school board over bathroom policies and efforts to fight the Trump administrations moves to ban travelers from predominantly Muslim countries.

Regardless of whether she or the ACLU approve or disapprove of a group seeking legal help, Mehta said, laws have to be applied equally.

I believe in the First Amendment, Mehta said. But I also believe that it must be peaceful. And if its not peaceful, folks who are violent need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The post An ACLU lawyer defended racists free speech rights. Now shes running for Congress appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, May 23. Turkmenistan discussed the development of financial cooperation with German Deutsche Bank AG, Trend reports.

Citing the official insider, Consul of Turkmenistan in Germany Murad Ozbekbayev met with the bank's regional office for Northern and Eastern Europe CEO Joerg Bongartz to discuss these issues.

As part of the conversation, the participants reviewed the current state of financial and banking cooperation between Turkmenistan and Germany. Joerg Bongartz provided an update on the many seminars and trainings that the German bank has organized for the Turkmen banking industry over the past few years.They emphasized Deutsche Bank's long-term and successful partnership with Turkmenistan's financial institutions, which advances the nation's financial industry and fortifies international economic links.

The parties also exchanged views and discussed the possibilities of organizing joint trade and economic events, including potential meetings and exhibitions, in Frankfurt am Main.

Deutsche Bank AG is Germany's largest financial conglomerate in terms of the number of employees and the amount of assets, with the board located in Frankfurt am Main. The representative office of Deutsche Bank AG has been operating in Ashgabat city, the capital of Turkmenistan, since 1997.
Prince Williams/WireImage via Getty

An adviser to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday announced that she is leaving his independent presidential campaign, explaining her decision had been informed by an increasingly hateful and divisive atmosphere that no longer aligns with her values.

Angela Stanton King, the campaigns Black voter outreach director and a key figure in the drama surrounding Kennedys shifting position on abortion, said in a statement posted on X that she had decided to step away from the political theatre. Stanton King said she would nevertheless continue to advise RFK Jr. on key community issues.

RFK Jr.s VP Pick Allegedly Used Drugs, Threatened Self-Harm

Stanton King later told The New York Times she had switched to an informal role but did not elaborate on the reasons for the switch beyond making reference to her X post. On Wednesday, she wrote in another post on the site that reports suggesting she had been let go from the campaign for ANY reason are 100% ABSOLUTELY FALSE.

Her departure comes after Kennedy walked back comments he made on a podcast saying he opposed government limits on abortion and that he supported keeping terminations legal even if its full term. His remarks appeared to contradict what his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, said was her understanding of his position, and he ultimately released a statement saying he did support legal restrictions after all.

That clarification came after Stanton King, an anti-abortion activist, put out a video saying people on Kennedys campaign had all come to the agreement that late-term abortion is not something that this campaign is going to support.

Before joining the Kennedy campaign payroll in December, Stanton King had previously made an unsuccessful bid for a House seat in 2020 running as a Republican in Georgia. Her race for Congress came just weeks after then-President Donald Trump pardoned her following a 2004 conviction for her part in a car theft conspiracy.

During her congressional run, Stanton King was a proponent of the QAnon conspiracy theory and, in 2021, she backed the idea of a military coup to remove President Joe Biden from power.

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Emily Barnes, with the criminal justice advocacy group Hooked on Justice, asks to meet with Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday outside his office at the state Capitol.

Criminal justice advocates rallied at the Oklahoma state Capitol Wednesday, demanding the governor and the Legislature take a closer look at the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

Our prisons are out of control. Its time our governor does something, said Emily Barnes, founder of the group Hooked on Justice. Inmates are his people, too. Theyre Oklahomans, too, and he doesnt care about the inmates.

The group said it wanted answers on how the department has been managed under the direction of Steven Harpe and wanted to tell Gov. Kevin Stitt that the state's prisons are out of control.

A spokesperson for the governor's office, Abegail Cave, denied the group's assertions and said the governor "cares deeply" about prison inmates, a feeling supported by his many actions in the criminal justice area.

Emily Barnes, with the criminal justice advocacy group Hooked on Justice, walks to Gov. Kevin Stitt's office at the Capitol in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

'We're tired of the deaths. We're tired of the drug overdoses'

In 2024, several violent incidents and deaths have been reported at state prisons. The most recent was a group disturbance at Lawton involving at least 10 inmates and a man who was stabbed 30 times at the Holdenville facility. In addition, a deputy warden has been accused of bringing contraband into prison at Lexington.

Were tired of the abuse thats going on the inside of prisons. Were tired of the deaths. Were tired of the drug overdoses, Barnes said. She doesnt think the governor and legislators pay attention to what's going on in prisons because incarcerated people are seen as the worst of the worst.

More: Prison homicides twice as high as previously reported, new state numbers show

Despite the reports of violent incidents, the Corrections Department has been adamant that their strategies are working. Kay Thompson, chief of media relations, told The Oklahoman earlier in the month that there had been a significant decrease in violence between security threat groups at state prisons. She said the group disturbance at Lawton was due to human error.

Maci Stevison, who's has a family member incarcerated, holds a sign as she and others with the criminal justice advocacy group Hooked on Justice gather outside the Capitol in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

Family and friends of inmates attended the rally, but some said they were worried about retaliation if they spoke out. Those who did speak said theyre advocating to be a voice for their loved one who cant speak out themselves.

State Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, chair of the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, has been a fierce advocate for criminal justice reform, and for several months, has raised concerns about the departments management, its leadership and if staff and inmates were safe. Hes also made calls for outside investigations. Dring the current legislative session, he invited former employees and inmates family members to speak on the issues.

Doris Steele, who's son Joseph Stephens is incarcerated at Great Plains Correctional Center in Hinton, Okla., holds a sign as she and others with the criminal justice advocacy group Hooked on Justice gather outside the Capitol in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

Former employees told legislators a culture of fear exists within the department and inmates family members say its hard to get answers from the department.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Advocates demand Oklahoma lawmakers investigate state's DOC
PROVIDENCE  Attorney General Peter Neronha and others are calling on General Assembly leaders to move forward with legislation that would reform the embattled state agency that regulates coastal development in Rhode Island.

At a news conference Wednesday, Neronha reiterated his support for bills that would do away with the group of political appointees that rule on applications before the Coastal Resources Management Council and put power in the hands of agency staff who have expertise in engineering, geology and other relevant fields.

What that will mean is a professional agency that could do its work without the interference of a council that frankly doesnt know what its doing, Neronha said at the event held at the Fields Point headquarters of Save The Bay, the state environmental group that for years has been calling for deep changes to the CRMC.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha and others call for reform of the state Coastal Resources Management Council on Wednesday, arguing that its structure is outdated.

But the prospects of the top-to-bottom restructuring that advocates are pushing for  which would include elevating the agency to a department within state government and the hiring of an in-house attorney  appear uncertain. When asked about their positions, both House and Senate leadership said they still have questions about the legislation.

I support a reform of CRMC, but not a repeal, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi said in a statement. The House legislation is under consideration, but it was introduced late in the session and there is likely a significant cost attached to it. For that reason, we have requested a fiscal note from the administration and are awaiting receipt.

Questions about the coastal council's decision-making go back many years

While there have long been concerns about the unusual structure of the coastal agency, calls for reform intensified after a closed-doors decision by members of the council to approve a hotly disputed marina expansion on Block Island came to light three years ago.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court eventually killed the controversial side agreement with Champlins Marina, but the coastal councils decision-making still remains a concern.

Neronha pointed to the latest incident to make headlines involving the agency: the construction of an allegedly illegal seawall by a country club in North Kingstown.

While the council has levied fines against the Quidnessett Country Club and is considering further enforcement action, including tearing down the wall, its members have also signaled that theyre willing to rethink the agencys regulations.

Neronha argued that the country club acted so brazenly because of the weakness of the coastal council. He said the course of action that the council should take on the seawall is simple.

Nothing short of removal is the appropriate action in that case, he said.

Critics argue that political appointees are the problem

Critics say the CRMCs structure, which puts so much power in the hands of the voting council, is at the root of the agencys problems. Appointees, who are nominated by the governor and approved by the Senate, have included in recent years a dental hygienist and the head of a chain of physical therapy offices.

Under the bills being considered, the 10-member council would be abolished and a new Department of Coastal Resources would be created that would be on par with the Department of Environmental Management and other departments within state government.

This isnt the first time that bills to amend the council structure have been introduced in the General Assembly. Chances this year appeared better. Not only was Neronhas office involved in writing the legislation, but Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and Senate Majority Leader Ryan Pearson signed on as co-sponsors.

But its been more than a month since the committee hearings and no votes have been scheduled yet. A spokesman for the Senate said the legislation is currently under review by the Judiciary Committee.

We are seeking additional information, including potential cost estimates, Greg Pare said.

Coastal council responsibilities include offshore wind-power permitting and climate-change planning

The attorney general was joined at the news conference by Save The Bay executive director Topher Hamblett, as well as Sen. Victoria Gu and Rep. Terri Cortvriend, lead sponsors of the bills.

Gu, a Charlestown Democrat, said the areas regulated by the council, which range from offshore wind permitting to planning for impacts of sea level rise, are too important to leave to political appointees.

Who is the system working for? she said. I dont think its working for Rhode Islanders.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI AG, others seek CRMC reform, but legislative leaders have questions
A protestor wears a mask of Maximilian Krah whose remarks saw his party expelled from hard-Right EU group - Silas STEIN / AFP

Germanys AfD has been expelled from an alliance of hard-Right parties in the European parliament, after one of their MEPs claimed not all Nazi SS members were criminals.

In the latest blow to Germanys scandal-hit party, which also has members under investigation for receiving Russian bribes and spying for China, two sources told Politico on Thursday that the Identity and Democracy [ID] faction had ejected the AfD.

The hugely controversial SS remark made earlier this week by Maximilian Krah, the AfDs lead candidate in the European elections in June, appears to have been the last straw for ID, which was also concerned the party could be a security risk.

I voted to throw out Krah as he has been the problem in this case and also previously with several things like Russia-China questions, Jaak Madison, an Estonian MEP from the ID faction, told US new website Politico. But I did not support punishing all the Germans.

In April, German police arrested a parliamentary aide to Mr Krah, Jian Guo, who is facing charges of spying for Beijing in Brussels and on Chinese opposition figures.

Members of Germany's far-right AfD party have been dealt huge blow by other hard-Right European parties - JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images

Shortly after this, Mr Krah himself was placed under investigation in Germany for receiving suspicious payments from Russia and China as part of his work as an MEP. He denies any wrongdoing and says he had no knowledge of Mr Guos alleged status as a spy.

Earlier this week, the French National Assembly led by Marine Le Pen also cut ties with the AfD over Mr Krahs SS comments, which he made in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

After a crisis meeting of AfD leaders was called in Berlin in response to the National Assemblys decision, Mr Krah said he would no longer be campaigning for the AfD in the European elections, though he technically remains in post as their lead candidate.

The AfD has seen a major surge in support for its anti-immigration rhetoric since June 2023 in Germany, consistently polling ever since in second place, according to analysis by Politico.

But the recent scandals could severely affect its performance in the EU elections, and the party could slip behind the centre-left SPD to third place, or even lower, in the weeks to follow.

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.
Theres a new affordable housing option for seniors in New Smyrna Beach

People 55 and older struggling to find affordable housing now have a new place to call home in New Smyrna Beach.

Its called Greenlawn Manor, and its located on Oleander Avenue. Its the first affordable housing project using tax credits for seniors in New Smyrna Beach history.

Tenants are now beginning to move in, a handful of whom are coming back to town for the first time since being displaced by Hurricane Ian in 2022.

After being stuck on a waiting list for affordable housing for a year, Sue Bennett is finally starting to feel a sense of relief.

I can go out and I dont have to worry. Theyre going to worry, not me. Its their worry to take care of and its beautiful here and I like it very much! said Bennett.

Read: Our biggest need: New affordable housing complex in the works for Orlando; see who qualifies

The $23 million project was made possible through a multi-agency partnership that includes the city, the housing authority, and a developer. Its then paid for through a series of tax credits and grants and money from the city.

Florida Housing Finance wants to know that the cities and counties are agreeable on affordable housing projects. So, this is a commitment from the city saying yes, we are in partnership with the housing authority, said Teresa Pope, President and CEO of the New Smyrna Beach Housing Authority.

Pope said this is one of two affordable housing projects planned for the city. A second $25.9 million, 72 multi-family community is in the works on Brooks Street.

We have approval from HUD to do a demolition disposition also on that property and this will be our third year trying to get our tax credit for that property, said Pope.

Read: Orange County commissioners move forward with Disney affordable housing project

Property manager at Greenlawn Manor Rhonda Brandenburg is happy to welcome people home.

People are just, theyre ready! You know theyve been waiting a long time, said Brandenburg.

Many of these residents are still in need of furniture. If you can help, reach out to the housing authority.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
AG Bailey got his way and KC social media employee is out. What about real victims? | Opinion

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wanted blood and got it. The person responsible for a social media post who never should have named the city where Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker lives has been let go.

In an email sent to me Thursday, Jazzlyn Johnson, a spokesperson for Mayor Quinton Lucas wrote: The employee has been separated from the City workforce for violation of City policy by posting outside the scope of authorized City communications. The City will have no further comment on the post or individual employees related to it.

On its face, the post in question was harmless. The fact that it was made on the citys official X account was irresponsible  but should such a foolish mistake lead to someone losing their job? Absolutely not.

I dont pretend to know the ins and outs of how Kansas City officials came to this decision. But Id hate to think this is the world we live in now. A simple error in judgment that harmed no one should not be grounds for termination.

Now before Butker supporters come for my head on a platter, just know, I dont condone what was written on X days after Butkers controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kanass. The citys social media page isnt an appropriate place for such tasteless posts.

But gimme a break. As The Star Editorial Board wrote previously, the Kansas City suburb Butker lives with his family is listed online. He wasnt doxxed, as Bailey and others falsely claimed.

You know who was outed, though? Two female city employees whose names were wrongly leaked all over the internet. Neither had anything to do with the post, according to Lucas. One, an African-American woman, had her name, face and address plastered on social media. She was subjected to hateful and racist rhetoric unsuitable to reprint in a family newspaper.

Now that he got his way, Id like to see Bailey condemn the mob that came after Kansas City employees with death threats. My guess is he wont.

I find it rather ironic that our Republican AG wanted Lucas, a Democrat, to fire whoever was responsible for the post about Butker.

Instead of demanding Kansas City leaders terminate city employees, shouldnt Bailey clean up his own house first? As this publication reported this week, attorneys with the AGs office failed to redact from court documents the names, addresses and contact information of witnesses in a $23 million breaches of contract lawsuit filed against the state.

When Baileys office submitted the court record this March as part of the appeals process, lawyers for HHS wrote that Baileys office did not make a single redaction in the entire record, The Stars Jonathan Shorman wrote in his report.

Wheres the outrage in these glaring omissions?

The same week Bailey embarked on his crusade to rid Kansas City of one of its social media account managers, Id met with survivor advocate Amanda Householder and David Clohessy, former national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

They were in Kansas City for a press conference demanding Bailey do more to protect young people from abuse inside the states unlicensed boarding schools. One day before, the pair sought a meeting with Bailey at his office in Jefferson City. They were met by an aide that refused to adequately identify himself, according to Householder.

He wouldnt give us his last name, Householder said.

Householders parents, Boyd and Stephanie Householder, ran Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in Cedar County and face 99 felony counts that include statutory rape and physical abuse, according to The Star. Amanda Householder is estranged from her parents, she told me.

Baileys failure to take a strong stand against alleged abuse inside these loosely regulated boarding schools needs to be called out, she said.

Instead of meeting with about 20 survivors of abuse  as Householder and Clohessy would hope  the Missouri Attorney General seems to have spent the better part of the last two weeks needlessly campaigning for a Kansas City employee to lose their job making the rounds in right-wing media appearances.

I guess he got his wish.
Ahead of Memorial Day, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs made a renewed request for the publics assistance in returning a dozen Purple Heart medals to their rightful owners.

The medals were submitted to the treasurers office through its unclaimed property program, but their stories remain shrouded in mystery. A Purple Heart is awarded to those who are killed or wounded in service.

These Purple Hearts are priceless. You cant put a price tag on them, Frerichs said at a news conference Thursday morning. Were not going to stop until we get them back into the rightful owners hands.

The initiative, dubbed Operation Purple Heart, was launched in November 2021. Frerichs has returned 10 medals over his nine-year tenure.

12 years after being injured in Afghanistan, Elgin man awarded with Purple Heart in ceremony

The medals are among the billions of dollars in unclaimed funds and property currently held by the treasurers office. A bank account, investment product or safe deposit box is typically turned over to the state if there is no activity for several years. The agency is required by law to attempt to return all unclaimed property.

Military medals, especially Purple Hearts, are something we will never auction off, Frerichs said. You cant buy that valor, you cant buy that glory, or buy that honor.

Purple Hearts are particularly difficult to return because the name under which the property was submitted often doesnt correspond to the name of the honoree, according to Frerichs. The federal government also doesnt maintain a comprehensive list of those awarded the medals.

Its estimated that more than 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1932. The medal is known as the nations oldest military honor, with origins dating back to the Revolutionary War, according to the Department of Defense. At first, the medals were only awarded to soldiers, but in 1942 Congress opened the honor to all services, including some civilians.

Four of the medals most recently acquired by the treasurers office were displayed in their black cases Thursday. Each heart-shaped award was embossed with the face of President George Washington and adorned with a purple ribbon. There were other unclaimed military honors beside them  a Bronze Star, an Air Force medal, honorable discharge documents.

They deserve to be in the warm embrace of family rather than sitting in a cold vault in Springfield, Frerichs said.

A Purple Heart has no engravings identifying the honoree or the conflict in which it was awarded. Even if the honoree is known, many veterans have common names, have left Illinois or have passed away. Some of the medals have been in the possession of the treasurers office for decades.

Military foundation gives wounded Purple Heart veteran a free home in Harvey

Frerichs pointed to one Purple Heart submitted to the agency in 2021. It was acquired through a bank safe deposit box under the name Nancy Johnston, who apparently lived in Frankfort. There was also a Good Conduct medal and an Air Force medal inside the safe.

Its a pretty common name. There are a lot of Nancy Johnstons out there, Frerichs said. But chances are, someone from that town might remember her or a child. That will help us make some additional calls.

The Purple Heart returned most recently belonged to a Marine Corps private who served during World War II. A bullet had ripped through his knee, leaving him with a limp for the rest of his life. He died in 1988. In November last year, the treasurers office returned his Purple Heart to his daughter in Elmwood.

A list of the 12 unclaimed medals and all known information is available on the treasurer offices website. Two are from banks in Oak Park, listed under the names Robert Cawthon and Bernice Smith, and another is from Park Ridge, belonging to Jerome A. Even.

Some of the best times I have had as a treasurer have been the ceremonies where we reunite the owners of these metals with their proper family, and I hope to do more of that, Frerichs said.

In another case, a veteran had given his Purple Heart to his mother, who passed away years ago without telling him the location of the safe deposit box. He thought the medal was lost for good until his family searched the states unclaimed property database.

The veteran insisted on driving to Illinois from Mississippi to collect his honor.

He said No, dont put that in the mail, Frerichs recalled. It means that much to me. Ill drive back up.
North Augusta teacher charged with 5 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF)  The South Carolina Attorney Generals office announced the arrest of 58-year-old Charles Richard Wilson, of Aiken on 5 charges connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor.

Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Aiken Department of Public Safety made the arrest.

Investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which led them to Wilson.

Investigators say Wilson shared files of child sexual abuse material.

He was arrested on May 22nd, 2024.

Wilson is charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, second degree, a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count.

This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney Generals Office.

According to the Aiken County Public School District website, Wilson is a teacher at North Augusta High School. He began teaching there in May of 2023.

A representative for the School District tells us that Wilson was placed on administrative leave following his arrest, stating

These charges are extremely concerning. Wilsons professional and criminal background, checked prior to his employment, did not include any prior arrests, charges, or convictions, or reveal any concerns related to activities of this kind. During his employment of approximately one year with our school system, there have been no reported concerns or employee infractions. Merry Glenne Piccolino

Director of Communications & Community Partnerships

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 WJBF.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, May 23. Turkmenistan and Portugal strengthen their partnership within the framework of international organizations, Trend reports.

According to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry, this was noted at a meeting between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Myakhri Byashimova and Special Representative of the Portuguese Foreign Ministry Pedro Motinho de Almeida.

During the meeting, it was noted that Turkmenistan and Portugal actively cooperate within the framework of various international organizations, primarily the UN, demonstrating their commitment to the principles of multilateralism.

In the mutual opinion of the parties, such a partnership reflects a common approach to solving global problems through multilateral mechanisms, emphasizing the importance of consolidating efforts and collective responsibility in the international arena.

Furthermore, taking into account the existing potential, they also noted the importance of developing trade and economic cooperation and expanding contacts in the cultural and humanitarian spheres.

Meanwhile, since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Portugal and Turkmenistan have been actively developing cooperation in various fields.

One of the key areas is energy, where Turkmenistan, which has significant reserves of natural gas, is of interest to Portugal and other European countries seeking to diversify their energy sources. In addition, the countries also actively cooperate in the cultural and educational spheres, which contributes to strengthening bilateral relations and creating the basis for further partnership.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has denied a request from a two-star general accused of sexual assault and other crimes to retire instead of facing a court-martial, according to the general's attorneys.

The secretary's decision means Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, only the second Air Force general in history to be charged with a sexual crime, is set to be tried by court-martial in June after being relieved of command of the 19th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, last year.

Stewart is charged with allegedly committing a sex act on a woman without her consent near Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma in April 2023, according to a military charge sheet. He is also charged with conduct unbecoming an officer for allegedly asking someone to "spend the night alone with him in his private hotel room" near Denver, Colorado, while on official travel in March 2023. The charges include extramarital sexual conduct.

Read Next: 101st Airborne Soldier Murdered in Off-Base Residence Near Fort Campbell in Kentucky

"We are looking forward to our day in court," Stewart's lead attorney, Sherilyn Bunn, told Military.com in a statement. Spokespeople for Kendall and the Department of the Air Force did not provide comment.

Stewart submitted the retirement in lieu of a court-martial request in January. Jeffrey Addicott, a member of Stewart's legal team, a professor of law and director of the Warrior Defense Project at St. Mary's University School of Law, told Military.com that Kendall denied the major general's request. A person familiar with the legal proceedings said it was denied on Feb. 20.

Stewart pleaded not guilty to the charges in March, and his case is scheduled to go to trial June 17.

Military.com asked Kendall on Feb. 13 at an Air and Space Forces Association conference in Colorado whether he planned on approving or denying Stewart's request. He declined to answer, but said Stewart's case -- despite its historic nature -- did not indicate larger problems in the officer corps.

"I don't think it's representative of a larger issue," Kendall said in response to Military.com during a media roundtable. "Gen. Stewart has not been convicted yet, so I don't want to say anything about his guilt or innocence. We take these cases incredibly seriously."

On May 9, 2023, Air Education and Training Command announced that Stewart had been removed from his role as commander of the 19th Air Force, which is responsible for training 30,000 students annually and is part of AETC. The command cited "a loss of confidence in his ability to lead, related to alleged misconduct, which is currently under investigation."

It was later revealed in a redacted charge sheet provided to Military.com that Stewart was facing a dereliction of duty charge, in which it was alleged that he failed to stop "pursuing an unprofessional relationship." It also states he allegedly "failed to refrain from assuming control of an aircraft after consuming alcohol within 12 hours prior to takeoff."

Addicott told Military.com last year that the judge for the military Article 32 hearing, a process similar to a grand jury for civilians, recommended that the sexual assault charges be dropped and the other charges should not go to trial, but the Air Education and Training Command leader still referred Stewart to a court-martial.

Stewart's case marks the second time an Air Force general has been charged with a sexual crime. The first was in 2022, when then-Maj. Gen. William Cooley -- who had headed the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio -- was convicted during a court-martial of abusive sexual contact.

Cooley was ordered to forfeit $10,910 of pay for five months and received a letter of reprimand. He had faced a maximum of seven years of confinement, separation, and loss of pay and benefits.

Related: Air Force General Convicted in Historic Court-Martial Avoids Jail Time
Metro Detroit, specifically Wayne County, is one of the worst areas in the country for air pollution, and while improving the air quality may be a work in progress for now, some organizations are making other changes to help residents mitigate the poor air quality.

Earlier this month, Wayne County partnered with JustAir, a Detroit-based environmental tech company whose network extends to Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, to install 100 stationary air quality monitors across Wayne County's 43 communities. Utilizing the JustAir platform and public dashboard, Wayne County residents can now check their hyperlocal air quality before spending time outside, which can help prevent respiratory illnesses like asthma in the long run.

An air quality monitor is temporarily strapped to a shelter in the East Canfield art park in Detroit.

JustAir shares that air quality can vary greatly even within a relatively small amount of space  as many as eight variations in one city block  so the company tries to place its monitors strategically within a community's pollutant sources to showcase problem areas and keep people safe.

All monitors measure PM2.5 and PM10  particulate matter of different sizes  and nearly all measure nitrogen dioxide as well, but monitors placed in air pollution hot spots additionally assess nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone.

Data is power, said Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Wayne County Health Director, in a news release. "By understanding the quality of the air, we breathe in real time, we are empowering community members with the information they need to protect themselves and to hold the polluters who poison our air accountable."

Air quality monitoring with JustAir is part of the Wayne County Air Quality Project which launched in August 2023 after Michigan skies filled with smoke from the Canadian wildfires, igniting conversations about air pollution and subsequent health risks.

More about the Wayne County Air Quality Project: Wayne County launches air-quality monitoring system

Later this summer, Wayne County and JustAir will hand out 500 mobile air quality monitors to interested residents to bring with them as they travel to work and school to further assess air quality and collect data on air quality trends during asthma attacks.

Air quality map

Use the handy map below to check the current air quality in your area.

Good

Moderate

Unhealthy for sensitive groups

Unhealthy

Very unhealthy

Hazardous

You also can check the air quality in Wayne County at justair.app. The website will reveal a map where to zoom in and out to select a colored monitor icon. Clicking on a monitor icon will read the location of the monitor, its local air quality index (AQI) and how recently the AQI was updated.

Enter a phone number to create an account and receive text alerts when air quality drops into poor conditions.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Air quality monitors installed across Detroit, Wayne County
Charlotte Douglas International Airport airport workers held a strike Thursday morning as Memorial Day travel begins.

It began around 5:30 a.m. with a picket line set up at the CLT arrivals level, between doors 3 and 4.

A second picket line then formed at 8 a.m. at the corner of Wilkinson Blvd. and N. Josh Birmingham Parkway.

That was then followed by a rally and press conference at 1:30 p.m. at the corner of Wilkinson Blvd. and N. Josh Birmingham Parkway.

Workers said they would be demanding that airline service providers commit to respecting, protecting, and paying airport service workers fair wages.

Planes cant take off without us, but I have to work three jobs so I can support my family, said Lisoley Gutierrez, an ABM cabin cleaner who services American Airlines planes. I leave early in the morning and dont come back until after my kids are asleep. Ive missed out on birthdays and family celebrations because Im always working. We contribute to the huge profits of the airline industry; we should be paid fairly for our hard work.

ALSO READ: UAW strike: General Motors reaches tentative deal with union

Airport workers said they make travel possible for passengers by keeping airports safe, clean, and running. However, despite their critical role in the profits that airlines and major corporations enjoy, many airport service workers must work two to three jobs to make ends meet.

Lashonda Barber told Channel 9 that she drives a trash truck for the airport. She said she works for ABM, a company whose workers provide services for airlines such as clearing planes and taking out trash.

She said her service ensures that flights can continue to take off on time.

However, ABM is the company that workers are asking to come to the table to negotiate a new union contract to raise pay.

I aint even paid my mortgage this month if you want to start with that. A lot of us cant pay bills. Youve got people who are homeless who work here. I support my mom, who is right now fixing to go through surgery, Barber said.

ALSO READ: Charlotte airport wants police to be able to remove people experiencing homelessness

Only ten protesters were allowed outside of the terminal at a time, so workers took turns protesting, attempting to be as visible as possible to those who were traveling for Memorial Day.

Workers claimed they could no longer do their work with their current pay because of the way its forcing them to live.

I ended up in a hotel. I was struggling; I used up my last money to make ends meet. And right now, Im still struggling, airport worker Maribel McBeath said.

Channel 9 has reached out to the airport for a statement regarding the strike. We are waiting to hear back.

VIDEO: UAW strike: General Motors reaches tentative deal with union
















This article was originally published in Alabama Reflector.

With one legislative session finished and the next about eight months away, Alabama legislators will spend the time in-between deciding whether to develop an entirely new school funding formula.

The House and Senate committees that oversee the Education Trust Fund (ETF), the states education budget, held a joint meeting Tuesday to begin discussions about potential changes to the current public K-12 education funding formula.

It has been 30 years since we changed our funding formula for education, and a lot has changed in the past 30 years, said Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, the chair of the House Ways and Means Education Committee, in an interview after the meeting. We are one of six states out of 50 that continues to fund the way we are funding, on a resource-model basis, so we are looking at what other options we have that would be better suited to that.

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It is the first in a series of meetings aimed at providing members an education on the workings of Alabamas Foundation Program, the $4.6 billion program in the ETF which provides funding for schools around the state.

Many states fund their schools using a student-based model, one that takes into greater account not only the number of students within a given school system, but also the students composition, such as whether they are English Language learners or someone with special needs.

Under Alabamas current formula, in place since 1995, the number of students creates a certain number of teacher units. That number of teacher units then becomes the basis of much of the funding.

At a recent State Board of Education work session, State Superintendent Eric Mackey had defined the school as a hybrid program rather than a true foundation program because those units are the basis of funding.

You get what you get based on the number of units, he said.

According to Allovue, Connecticut, Kansas, California, Tennessee, Maryland and Texas have all moved to a weighted student funding formula in the last decade.

Members discussed not only the funding formula, but also underfunding of schools in lower-income communities with significant minority populations; the role of economic development incentives and their effect on school funding, and the lack of funding for special needs students.

Kirk Fulford, deputy director of the Legislative Services Agency, provided lawmakers with an overview of the Foundation Program.

The amount that schools receive is based on a unit count. The state takes the average number of students enrolled in the school or school system for the 20 days following Labor Day. The number is then divided by the divisor, set by the Legislature for the number of students within a set of grade levels.

If a school has 100 students, and the divisor for K-3 grades is 14.25, the school or school district has a unit count for K-3 grade teachers of 7.01. That is then converted to dollars based on the salary schedule that is set.

The number of principals, assistant principals and counselors for a school is also calculated based on units, and the amount of Foundation Program funding for the school is converted by multiplying that unit count by the money per unit decided by legislators.

Other types of funding are added to the Foundation Program allocation for schools, from transportation expenses to additional money specifically for math and science teachers along with special education.

Money to fund the cost determined for each district is shared between municipalities and the state. The formula is designed so that more affluent locations pay a greater share of the cost than those whose residents are lower income.

Local governments must set property taxes at a minimum of 10 mills in order to receive money from the Foundation Program.

For the coming year, the state portion of the ETF for K-12 schools, including the Foundation Program; transportation, and programs run through the Alabama State Department of Education, is about $5.5 billion. The local fund portion is about $831.5 million.

The amount in local property taxes collected for the school system will vary by the assessed value of the properties within the school systems boundaries. Poorer areas will generate less tax revenues than more prosperous ones.

Lowndes County, for example, an area with a significantly lower-income population, paid roughly $1.3 million into the Foundation program. Mountain Brook, a wealthy suburb of Birmingham, paid about $7.3 million to the Foundation Program.

School districts with wealthier populations tend to record higher scores on standardized tests, according to an analysis based on FY21-22 spending and School Year 2022-23 scores from the Edunomics Lab based at Georgetown.

The local allocation has irritated some lawmakers who work to increase their economic development to increase school funding, only to have their state allocation reduced, leaving them net neutral.

We always were under the impression that, Wow, we bring in industry, and they pay $200,000 of property taxes to our schools, said Rep. Troy Stubbs, R-Wetumpka, who used to be on the Elmore County Commission. We felt like we were improving our local schools because we were bringing in more money. However, Elmore County is only a participant in our Foundation Program with our 10 mills. We do not have any local funding. Because of that, all we were really doing was lowering the amount that the state contributed to Elmore County.

In Tennessee, which moved to a weighted student funding formula in recent years, school districts were required to keep funding at previous levels, according to the Commercial Appeal. The state provided overall more funding to the education budget so that districts received more money by numbers, even if the share they received from the state lowered.

Garrett previously told the Reflector that the Educational Opportunities Reserve Fund, created in the 2022 regular legislative session, could be used in shifting the funding formula.

Schools receive additional funding for specific students, such as those with special needs, from the Foundation Program. The formula automatically factors in the number of students who have special needs at 5%. The unit count is then weighted up to 2.5 for those students to give schools additional dollars for more resources.

Currently, the sole adaptation in the formula is headcount, and doesnt incorporate the specific needs of some in schools, one that is based on each student, might.

We know the cost to educate a special needs child is, far and away, more than the average child, said Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, the chair of the Senates education budget committee. The cost to educate an English Language Learner is much more than an average Alabama child. Following the trend, or at least looking at the other states who have gone down this road, seeing if we want to consider changing our funding model, how we fund based on a type of student instead of just a student.

The committees plan to resume the discussions at an August meeting.

Reporter Jemma Stephenson contributed to this story.

Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com. Follow Alabama Reflector on Facebook and Twitter.
Alaska mayor who wanted to give the homeless a one-way ticket out of Anchorage concedes election

Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson poses for a photo in his office, Sept. 14, 2023, in Anchorage, Alaska. Bronson has lost his bid for re-election. On Thursday, May 23, 2024 he conceded the election to his challenger, Suzanne LaFrance. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, file)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, who wanted to give the homeless one-way plane tickets out of Alaskas largest city, has lost his bid for re-election.

Bronson on Thursday conceded this month's runoff election to his challenger, Suzanne LaFrance.

After a long and hard-fought campaign, today I called Suzanne LaFrance to congratulate her on becoming the next mayor of Anchorage and to wish her the best as she prepares to assume the responsibility of leading our great city, Bronson said in a statement.

He also pledged to ensure a smooth transition.

LaFrance, a former chair of the Anchorage Assembly, had claimed victory Tuesday, saying her lead was greater than any outstanding ballots. The two went to a runoff election when neither had more than 45% of the vote among the 10 candidates in the April 2 general election.

In the runoff, LaFrance had 54% of the vote to Bronsons 46%. The assembly will certify the election May 31, and LaFrance will take office July 1.

Bronson had clashed with the assembly throughout his three years in office. The assembly opened several investigations into allegations of ethics violations and mismanagement.

The conservative Bronson, a registered Republican, complained of the assemblys woke policies, but his tenure was also plagued by clashes with assembly members over how to provide housing for the homeless after a record number of people died outside in the winter of 2022-2023.

His unfunded plan to give one-way airline tickets to people who are homeless didnt come to fruition, and the city scrambled to open a large shelter before winter set in last October.

Another contentious issue in this years mayoral race was snow removal.

The city was deluged by snowstorms in November and many streets were clogged with stuck vehicles because streets had not been plowed.

Were a winter city, we know its going to snow ... and we need to plan for it. And I think thats whats so maddening, LaFrance told the Anchorage Daily News at the time. It doesnt have to be this hard.

Another mayoral candidate, Democrat Chris Tuck, filmed himself plowing part of the street where Bronson lives in a pickup outfitted with a blade.

LaFrance, who is registered as nonpartisan, campaigned to restore competency to City Hall.

LaFrance becomes the first female elected mayor of Anchorage, but is not first to serve. Former assembly member Austin Quinn-Davidson became mayor in 2020 when then-Mayor Ethan Berkowitz resigned after a sexting scandal. She did not seek election in 2021.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Alger Middle School students returned to class Thursday, two days after one of their classmates was shot near the school.

It can be traumatizing for students, staff and administrators alike: Shots ringing out from a park bathroom near the Grand Rapids school and an eighth grader shot in the face. Emergency responders and police arrived at their school within minutes. Some students left campus as one of their classmates was taken to the hospital.

The student, identified by his mother as 13-year-old Javeon Childrey, was shot in the cheek and is expected to recover. Police have described the shooting as accidental and Javeons mother told News 8 she did not think his friend meant to hurt him.

Shooting near Alger Middle School was an accident, mom says

Susan Littlejohn-Bergman is a clinic manager for Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services Holland Clinic, which offers therapy and psychiatric services. She said that before parents talk to their kids about situations like the shooting, they should make sure they themselves are ready.

Take care of yourself first, Littlejohn-Bergman said. Parents themselves have to be in a grounded state of mind. Our kids read us like a book, so to be able to come with calm, soothing energy and not with a great deal of stress.

When its time, she said, parents should initiate the conversation instead of waiting for kids to bring it up.

Sometimes I think as parents we fear that talking about it will make it worse. It wont, Littlejohn-Bergman said.

She suggested keeping in mind where and how the discussion is taking place.

Know how to do this with your child, Littlejohn-Bergman said. Some of our kids want to cuddle up and have direct eye contact or physical affection. Some of our kids need to be side by side. If youve got a son, you might want to take a walk in the neighborhood so its a little bit less intense.

While she said younger kids should get less detail about violence, middle schoolers can hear things directly. She recommended that parents ask their kids what they already know before correcting any misinformation and telling them what happened.

Kids are going to be exposed to some version of the events, Littlejohn-Bergman said. Having an accurate description from a parent, being able to control the message is ideal.

Parents should talk children through their feelings and validate their concerns, she said. She recommended emphasizing safety by stressing that first responders arrived quickly and staff and administrators have been there to help.

GRPS looking into how students left Alger Middle School before shooting

Its also just as important that parents keep an eye on how their kids are doing in the days following the conversation, she said.

If you see higher levels of distress or anxiety, even trauma activation, know its okay to ask for professional help and support, Littlejohn-Bergman said.

This can also be a challenging time for staff and administrators. Littlejohn-Bergman said they should remember to practice self-care and try to be a role model by showing healthy ways to deal with these difficult moments.

Honor your own emotional reaction and the stress youre feeling, she said. Really amp up your self-care, getting a good night sleep, drinking water, taking breaks, connecting to friends. Realize kids are looking at you, teachers. How are you handling this information? Are you scared or nervous?

GRPS has released a resource guide to help families and staff process the situation.

Alger Middle School was closed Wednesday, though some staff came in to meet with crisis counselors. Students went through metal detectors as they returned to class Thursday. They will continue to do so for the rest of the school year.

Grand Rapids Public Schools says the two eighth graders had reported to class the morning of the shooting. The school district is still investigating when and why they left building and went to the park bathroom. Police would not tell News 8 on Wednesday how the students got the gun. No one has yet been charged.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
(KRON)  A Bay Area man pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder on Wednesday in connection to the death of 29-year-old Sarah Tillman.

Phillip Thei Ng, 56, of Daly City, is accused of selling drugs to Tillman before she died from a fentanyl overdose inside her San Mateo apartment in 2023.

After Ng entered his plea, a San Mateo County judge revoked his $50,000 bail and ordered Ng into custody on a no bail status Wednesday. Ng was ordered to return to court on September 5 for a preliminary hearing.

Tillman graduated from Harvard University with a bachelors degree in neurobiology, court records show. She earned a masters degree in medical science at the University of Southern California in 2021, her LinkedIn page states. Most recently, she worked as a communications manager for a Silicon Valley pharmaceutical company.

Sarah Tillman (Image via Facebook / Sarah Tillman)

San Mateo Police Department officers found Tillman dead at home on May 6, 2023. Investigators said they found text messages documenting the alleged drug dealers communications with buyers including Tillman.

The victim met Ng and began buying drugs from him in early 2023, prosecutors said. In March of 2023, Tillman was revived with Narcan, a life saving opioid-reversing treatment, after a near-fatal overdose. (Tillman) warned defendant he had nearly killed her with the drugs he sold her, prosecutors wrote.

4 charged in San Jose Baby Winter murder case

Just two months later, Ng sold Tillman drugs laced with fentanyl again that killed her, the suit states.

Her parents believe their daughter did not know that the drugs contained fentanyl, according to a wrongful death civil lawsuit. The lawsuit states that Tillman died from a mixture of fentanyl and bromazepam with amphetamine.

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 KRON4.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  An alligator was seen out on the dock at the Gulfquest National Maritime Wednesday.

Brittany Robinsons dad in Mobile Metro Jail after Oklahoma City arrest

City officials said animal control worked with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to put the alligator back into the water.

People had come in contact with the gator at the museum before it was coaxed back into the Mobile River, according to officials.

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 WKRG News 5.
Bonneville County residents fill out their ballots during the May 21, 2024, primary election at The Waterfront Event Center in Idaho Falls

Bonneville County residents fill out their ballots during the May 21, 2024, primary election at The Waterfront Event Center in Idaho Falls. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Roughly 23.9% of Idahos registered voters cast ballots in Tuesdays primary election for state legislative, congressional and county offices, according to initial estimates from state elections officials.

Thats on par with Idahos previous primary election turnout, Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane told the Idaho Capital Sun on Wednesday.

One of the interesting insights from yesterday is just there were a lot of efforts to increase turnout and increase participation in the primary, McGrane said. Starting with our office doing an ad campaign to let Idahoans know about the election.

Candidates and political action committees also spent more to drive turnout, he said, along with competitive precinct committee races.

And yet, as the dust kind of settles, it looks like turnout was kind of where it normally would be, McGrane said.

The early voter turnout rate for this years primary election doesnt include Election Day voter registration figures. McGrane said he doesnt expect the final number to change much. Counties must share that information with his office by next week, he said.

Tuesdays primary election results wont become official until they are certified by the State Board of Canvassers. The canvass is scheduled at 11:15 a.m. June 5 in Idaho Falls at the Mountain America Center, McGrane said Tuesday.

How did the Idaho Secretary of States Office estimate voter turnout data?

The office used Idaho voter registration totals on April 25, the last day to register in advance of the primary election, Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane told the Idaho Capital Sun. But it doesnt include voters who registered on the same day of the election.

The Idaho Secretary of States Office also used vote totals for congressional races, he said.

When counties submit their canvasses to the Secretary of States Office, that will include details about voters who didnt vote in those races, he said.

McGrane said he expects the final number would remain in the mid-20-percent range.

Idahos estimated 23.9% primary voter turnout rate this year surpassed the 2016 primarys 22.95% voter turnout rate, but fell below voter turnout for Idahos three primary elections since then.

Idahos average primary voter turnout rate was 27.9% since 2000, excluding the 2024 rate.

In the 2024 primary, voter turnout rates varied across Idahos 44 counties, from as low as 16.3% in Nez Perce County in North Idaho and as high as 55.3% in Camas County in south central Idaho, home to around 1,000 people.

In Ada County, Idahos most populated and home to Boise, 18.5% of registered voters cast ballots, along with 20.5% of voters in nearby Canyon County, home to Nampa.

Its difficult to compare turnout rates to recent years, following an all-absentee election in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and historic primary turnout in 2022 that also featured statewide races, Boise State University political science professor Jaclyn Kettler told the Sun on Wednesday.

And as Idahos population has rapidly grown in recent years, Idahos voter registered voter rolls have also grown, surpassing 1 million voters.

Republicans make up 59% of Idaho registered voters, or more than 585,000 people, according to the Idaho Secretary of States Office. Unaffiliated voters make up 27% or more than 273,000 of Idahos registered voters. Over 125,000 Democrats comprise 13% of Idaho registered voters.

Idahos 2024 primary also saw contested and competitive elections that might have helped motivate people to vote, Kettler said. Fifteen Republican state legislators  including the top Senate Republican Chuck Winder  lost re-election campaigns Tuesday, the Idaho Capital Sun reported.

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Idaho primary was two days before Idaho Democratic presidential caucus

This year in Idaho, party caucuses  rather than state-run primary elections  were used to select presidential party nominees. Idaho Republican Party Chairman Dorothy Moon announced former president Donald Trump won Idahos GOP delegates. The Idaho Democratic Party is holding its presidential nominating caucus from 5-8 p.m. today.

Idaho has had separate primaries for presidential and state elections since 2016, McGrane said. This year, following Idahos shift to caucuses, there has been concern about confusion around election dates.

McGrane said election officials received some questions about the presidential primary early Tuesday, but that it wasnt a large volume.

For us and the county clerks, we were nervous about that headed in and that being a major impact. I think it couldve been, McGrane said.  But I think in talking to  other secretaries of state around the country  because the presidential election has been locked up for such a long period of time, voters have kind of just accepted the nominees being President Biden and President Trump headed in. And so there isnt a lot of focus on that at this point in time. I think if it was a more open, competitive presidential election, that would be different.

While some states had seen a drop in primary turnout since, McGrane said he doesnt think it happened in Idaho. But the uptick in turnout some anticipated based on local developments also didnt happen, he said.

I think maybe, to some degree, the two things canceled each other out.  You saw a lot of money, a lot of effort here in terms of the ground games for precinct committee people and other things, helping potentially increase turnout. But then it was also muted because there wasnt an active presidential election that would have normally brought further turnout, McGrane said.

In Idaho, Republican primary elections often decide major elections. Idaho voters last elected a Democrat to statewide office in 2002. Since 1992, Republicans have held a supermajority in both chambers of the Idaho Legislature.

Primary elections  when candidates compete for political party endorsements  tend to have lower turnout than general elections, when voters cast final votes for races. Primaries tend to draw voters among the partys base, Kettler said, who can be more motivated or more ideologically extreme.

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The post Almost 24% of Idahos registered voters voted in primary election, initial estimates show appeared first on Idaho Capital Sun.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 23. Uzbekistans trade turnover of natural and artificial gas reached $515.1 million from January through April 2024, Trend reports.

As per data from Uzbekistans Statistics Agency, this figure indicates an increase of 137.3 percent compared to the same period last year ($217 million in JanuaryApril 2023).

Uzbekistans exports amounted to $52.3 million from January through April 2024, which is 55.6 percent less than the same period last year ($117.9 million in JanuaryApril 2023).

The imports of natural and artificial gas totaled $462.8 million during this period. This indicator has increased by 202.2 percent year-on-year ($153.1 million in JanuaryApril 2023).

Meanwhile, Uzbekistans trade turnover of natural and artificial gas amounted to $405.6 million from January through March 2024. This figure has increased by 124.9 percent year-on-year ($180.3 million in JanuaryMarch 2023).

Uzbekistans exports amounted to $45.4 million from January through March 2024, while imports totaled $360.2 million.
American Airlines says a statement issued by the company on Monday blaming a 9-year-old girl who was recorded while using a plane bathroom was made in error.

The airline is being sued in a Texas court after the now former flight attendant, Estes Carter Thompson III, 37, used a recording device to film girls between the ages of seven and 14 years old using the American Airlines bathroom for several months in 2023.

After Mr Thompsons arrest, the family of a nine-year-old victim sued the airline, alleging that the company should have known he was a danger to guests.

On Monday, a lawyer representing the airline wrote in a filing that the little girl should have been aware that a device was recording her while she was using the bathroom.

Any injuries or illnesses alleged to have been sustained by Plaintiff, Mary Doe, were proximately caused by Plaintiffs own fault and negligence, were proximately caused by Plaintiffs use of the compromised lavatory, which she knew or should have known contained a visible and illuminated recording device, the filing said.

Estes Carter Thompson III was arrested earlier this year

By Wednesday the filing had been widely reported in news outlets. When The Independent pressed American for an explanation, a spokesperson said the filing had been made in error by an outside legal entity on retainer with the airline.

Our outside legal counsel retained with our insurance company made an error in this filing. The included defense is not representative of our airline and we have directed it be amended this morning. We do not believe this child is at fault and we take the allegations involving a former team member very seriously, an American Airlines spokesperson told The Independent. Our core mission is to care for people  and the foundation of that is the safety and security of our customers and team.

Before the walk back, Paul Llewellyn, the attorney representing the girl and her parents, told the New York Post that her family was absolutely livid.

Instead of taking responsibility for this awful event, American Airlines is actually blaming our daughter for being filmed. How in good conscience could they even make such a suggestion? the girls mother said in a statement, according to WCVB. It both shocks and angers us. American Airlines has no shame.

I was absolutely shocked and I think its outrageous, Mr Llewellyn told The Post. The idea that American Airlines and its lawyers would blame a nine-year-old girl for being filmed, in my opinion, just smacks of desperation and depravity.

He said he did not believe American Airlines would have changed its filing without the backlash.

A former American Airlines flight attendant allegedly filmed a nine-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom. The company walked back a legal filing that originally blamed the girl for not noticing the recording device when she used the restroom (Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

I believe the only way, the only reason they amended their answer to this defense is because of the backlash that they received, Mr Llewellyn told Fox4. Actions speak louder than words.

The little girl was allegedly filmed during a January 2023 flight. She and her family flew from their home in Austin, Texas, to Disneyland.

In September of that year, a 14-year-old girl from North Carolina noticed that an iPhone was recording her while she was using the bathroom. Her discovery ultimately led to the arrest of Mr Thompson in January of this year.

The parents of the 14-year-old victim offered their sympathies to the Texas parents after American Airlines blamed the child in its lawsuit.

This callous legal position shocks us. Our hearts go out to the Texas family, they said in a statement.

Police found that Mr Thompson had recorded girls on at least four occasions.

Mr Thompson has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of child sexual abuse material depicting a minor, according to the Boston Herald. His next court date is 1 July.

In addition to blaming the nine-year-old victim, American Airlines also made clear that Mr Thompsons alleged recording of children while they used the bathroom was outside the course and scope of his employment.

In my view, it just smacks of desperation, Mr Llewellyn told WCVB. Really, are they going to stand up in front of a Texas jury and point to a nine-year-old and say, Dont blame us, its her fault.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory

FILE - In this photo provided by the law firm Lewis & Llewellyn LLP, an iPhone is taped to the back of a toilet seat on an American Airlines flight from Charlotte, N.C., to Boston, Sept. 2, 2023. Estes Carter Thompson III, an American Airlines flight attendant, pleaded not guilty Monday, May 20, 2024, on charges of trying to secretly video record a 14-year-old female passenger using an airplane bathroom last September. Police have also alleged that Thompson had recordings of four other girls using lavatories on an aircraft where he worked. (Lewis & Llewellyn LLP via AP, File)

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP)  American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a 9-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.

A former flight attendant is accused of luring girls to use the lavatory after taping his iPhone to the toilet seat. The 9-year-old's family flew from Texas to California on American last year and sued the airline after the FBI told them that videos of the girl were found on the flight attendant's phone.

In response to the lawsuit, American said in a court document that it would dispute the family's claim by showing that any injuries the 9-year-old girl suffered were caused by the girl's "own fault and negligence, were proximately caused by (her) use of the compromised lavatory, which she knew or should have known contained a visible and illuminated recording device.

An American spokesperson said Thursday that outside lawyers working for the company made an error in this filing.

We do not believe this child is at fault, and we take the allegations involving a former team member very seriously, the spokesperson said.

Lawyers for the airline amended the filing Wednesday in a state district court in Austin, Texas. The new filing is shorter and deletes the accusation that the girl caused her own injuries.

Estes Carter Thompson III, a flight attendant who was later fired by American, pleaded not guilty this week to attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of images of child sexual abuse.

Authorities say Thompson, 37, tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using the bathroom on a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Boston, and had recordings of four girls including the 9-year-old using lavatories on earlier flights. He was arrested in January and has been in federal custody ever since.

Thompson is next due in federal court in Boston on July 1. The charges he faces carry maximum sentences of up to 30 and 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.

The 14-year-old's family is also suing American, which is based in Fort Worth.

___

This story has been corrected to note that Thompson is 37, not 36.
The criticism comes after the Biden administration moved to use funds appropriated during the Trump administration to allow for 20 miles of additional border wall along the South of Texas, in the process waiving 26 federal laws. (Getty Images)

Migrants on the U.S-Mexico border. It was a big week for immigration politics, but in Wisconsin a reality check shows farmers and immigrant workers have a lot in common | (Getty Images)

It was a big week for immigration politics. U.S. Senate Democrats queued up another vote on a doomed bipartisan border security bill, in an effort to expose Republican hypocrisy on the issue. Ahead of the floor vote, Wisconsins Republican Sen. Ron Johnson held a press conference Wednesday to denounce the bill, which had Republican backing  until presidential candidate Donald Trump told members of his party to oppose it so he can continue to use immigration as a cudgel.

When you hear Democrats say they want to secure the border, what they really mean is they want to make it more efficient to encounter, process, and disperse illegal immigrants who do not have a valid asylum claim throughout America, Johnson claimed at his press conference Wednesday. Thats what this bill does.

But back when it seemed likely to pass, immigrant rights advocates were alarmed by the border security bill, crafted after months of negotiations among a bipartisan group of legislators including Arizona independent Kyrsten Sinema and Oklahoma Republican James Lankford. Among the red flags were provisions that expedite deportations, make it harder to qualify for asylum and end the practice of allowing people to stay in the U.S. while they await asylum proceedings. It also adds 5,000 new asylum officers to speed up claims and it beefs up the Border Patrol (whose union backed the bill) and targets money laundering and fentanyl traffickers.

Wisconsins Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin held her own press conference Wednesday to speak out in favor of the bill, which she called a strong measure that curbs the flow of fentanyl from coming across our border and expedites the asylum process and boosts border security.

Focusing specifically on overdose deaths in Wisconsin, Baldwin called the bill desperately needed. Its not perfect, Baldwin added, saying she was sad about the omission of protections for Dreamers  children born outside the U.S. who came here when they were young and know no other home. But, she said to Senate colleagues, Lets do something together right now to secure our border to stop the flow of fentanyl, to fix our broken immigration system and to make a real difference for Americans and Wisconsinites.

Making a real difference is not what the vote on this bill is all about, however. Border security is a huge hot button in the 2024 election, courtesy of Trumps demagoguery. Candidates in each of the two major parties will keep tossing it back and forth until November.

Republicans, who got pretty much everything they wanted in the border security compromise, have no intention of voting for it. Theyd rather blame President Joe Biden for a broken immigration system that long predates his term in office. Democrats know the bill is going nowhere and are using it to show that Republicans arent serious.

Meanwhile, back in reality, the same undocumented immigrants who are supposedly such a scourge are propping up the U.S. economy. In Wisconsin, they make up 70% of dairy workers.

Last weekend, UW Eau Claire honored dairy farmer John Rosenow, who is an outspoken advocate for the largely Mexican workforce his industry depends on.

Because the U.S. offers seasonal visas for agricultural work, but not for the year-round work performed on dairy farms, a majority of workers on Wisconsin dairy farms are undocumented.

Rosenow is the rare farmer who is willing to talk openly about this reality.

John Rosenow with his Biden and James Baldwin signs (photo by Ruth Conniff).

Johns life-guiding philosophy is advocating for those who do not have a voice that is heard here, sharing stories with others and connecting people to one another, the UW Eau Claire Alumni Association awards committee wrote. He keeps an open mind. Hes quiet, soft-spoken, and a man who genuinely listens to opposing views, ponders them as needed, and ultimately is not afraid to evolve as a result if he finds worth in those viewpoints.

Rosenow helped create programs in rural Wisconsin that foster cultural understanding, including Bridges/Puentes, a nonprofit organization that takes dairy farmers to Mexico once a year to visit the families of their workers and see the homes and businesses they are building with the money they earn milking cows. He helped launch a program at UW-Eau Claire that next year will begin placing students on his farm so they get to know immigrant workers. He was also involved in a program that started a mobile clinic staffed by nursing students to serve farm workers.

In accepting his award at Eau Claire, Rosenow focused his remarks on an employee named Severo.

Severo came to our farm 25 years ago and started milking cows. Hell be at the farm tomorrow at 2 a.m. to do it again, Rosenow said. Severo came to the U.S. because he realized that if he wanted his young family of four boys and three girls to enjoy a life out of poverty, he had to do something drastic.  For the past 25 years, he has lifted his family out of extreme poverty by sending most of what he earned on my farm back to his family.

Severos sons, Juan, Federico and German Gildo have all worked on Rosenows farm as well, and Severo has built three houses for his family in Mexico with the money he earned milking cows.

I tell this story tonight to offer you a representative of the majority of Mexicans I have had the privilege of working with, Rosenow said. I consider them much more deserving of this award than I am.

Its beyond the politics, Rosenow added when I reached him on the phone. Its just human beings trying to make a living.

In a politically charged arena of immigration discussion, I try to explain  how much we have in common with others from a different part of the world, Rosenow told the awards committee.

What a breath of fresh air.

The post Amid a bitter, ugly immigration debate, a moment of grace and common sense appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Homes in a East Nashville neighborhood. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Tennessee counties are lowering their property taxes as housing values climbed to new highs over the past four years, but that doesnt necessarily mean smaller tax bills for homeowners.

In nearly every county across Tennessee, property tax rates have decreased during the required reevaluation period, a Lookout analysis of county property value data compiled by the Tennessee Comptrollers Office shows. But increasingly across the state, homeowners have to take on a higher share of the total property taxes paid in counties, as residential values go up much faster than the value of land and personal assets owned by businesses.

On average, residential property owners paid 22% more in real property tax dollars last year compared with 2019, while businesses paid 5.1% more.

The increase in taxes comes despite a state law designed to prevent counties from realizing gains in property values. Counties reappraise the value of all the property within them to develop a new tax rate at least every six years, but often more frequently.

In general, a local government cant recognize a revenue windfall as a result of their revaluation, said John Dunn, a spokesperson for the Tennessee Comptrollers Office. A certified tax rate is established so that the local government will bring in just about the same amount of revenue that they brought in before the revaluation was conducted.

But this law is potentially ineffective at protecting homeowners from tax increases in an economic environment where house prices outpace commercial real estate.

For example, if you own a home worth $100,000, the business next door owns $100,000 in property and the county tax rate is 2%, then the homeowner pays $500 in taxes and the business owner $800. This is because residential property is taxed at 25% of the overall rate and businesses at 40%. If the home is reappraised at $150,000 and business property at $125,000, the county is required to reduce the tax rate down to 1.45%. But under the new tax rate the home owner pays $544 in taxes and the business $725.

The homeowner taxes went up in real dollars by $44 and the business owners were reduced by $75.

The adjustment aims to balance the increased property value and the tax rate. But it may not always be a perfect match for every property owner, particularly as home values across the country rise at unprecedented levels since the coronavirus pandemic.

The imbalance between residential and business property values is not specific to certain counties or regions in Tennessee, the Lookouts analysis found. Across all three grand divisions, residential property is growing at about a 50% higher rate than property owned by businesses.

Across the United States, residential property values have significantly increased, while commercial properties have stagnated as more people shift to working from home, lowering the value of office buildings.

But Tennessees home values have increased faster than the national average as the state sees an influx of people from other regions combined with stricter zoning codes that have made it harder to build new housing for decades. Some residential property value growth is also attributable to the new residents as farmland is converted into houses, creating more value.

This rapid growth prompted the comptrollers office earlier this year to push for legislation allowing counties to reappraise every year. But, Republican lawmakers squashed the plan when counties opposed a cap on property tax increases of 2% a year.

During this years reappraisal in counties such as Sumner and Jefferson, many property owners saw the value of their homes in need of renovation often double in value because of the demand.

Jim Lance, a homeowner in Jefferson County, told the Lookout his three-bedroom, four-bathroom house, which he bought in 2018 for around $578,000, increased in value to nearly $927,000 during this years reappraisal period.

Most of Lances neighbors on Byrd Spring Ranch have seen similar increases.

We bought this house when we retired on a fixed income, and if our taxes go up, it will make it harder to afford, Lance said. It seems like the way property values and taxes are going were going to be priced out.

The post Analysis: As housing values soar in Tenn., property tax burden starts to fall more on homeowners appeared first on Tennessee Lookout.
By Greg Torode and Laurie Chen

HONG KONG/BEIJING (Reuters) - In launching two days of "punishment" drills to protest against what it sees as the separatist instincts of Taiwan's newly inaugurated President Lai Ching-te, Beijing is sending a finely calibrated warning.

Analysts, regional diplomats and senior Taiwan officials note that so far the scale of operations around the island that Beijing claims as its own are smaller than the exercises it staged to protest against the August 2022 visit to Taipei of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

And even though Thursday's drills included mock air and sea strikes around the fortified Taiwanese islands of Kinmen and Matsu close to the Chinese coast, they were widely anticipated by Taiwanese and foreign officials.

"Beijing is showing muscle in the immediate wake of Lai's presidential inauguration to signal Beijing's displeasure and shape international understanding of Beijing's narrative about Lai," said Taipei-based analyst Wen-Ti Sung, a fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub.

"But this is just the 'signal'. The real 'punishment' may be yet to come," Sung said.

A senior Taiwanese military official said the drills so far appeared to be repeats of other operations, involving provocatively crossing the so-called median line of the Taiwan Strait and mock attacks on vessels close to Taiwan's 24-mile contiguous zone.

They also noted that in the month before Lai's inauguration, Taiwan reported that China had carried out at least three "joint combat readiness patrols" with warplanes and warships around the island.

As with previous large-scale operations in 2022 and in April 2023, the Eastern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) carried out fully integrated mock attacks at points surrounding Taiwan's main island, seen by some analysts as a warning that Chinese forces could attempt a swift blockade if it wanted to bring Lai to heel.

China, which has never ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, denounced Lai's inauguration speech on Monday, in which he called on China to stop its threats and said the two sides of the strait were "not subordinate to each other".

Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but has been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan's people can decide their future, and rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.

Beijing wants to show that if Lai still wants to take the path of Taiwan independence, China has already acquired the capability to blockade Taiwan, the consequences of which will be very serious," said Victor Gao, a professor at China's Soochow University.

"From this perspective, I think the mainland's intention is very clear. You are causing trouble and playing with fire, next time I won't be so polite and will blockade you with real swords and guns."

Asian diplomats said they were watching closely, noting the drills' significance in both sending a message to Lai as well as honing and testing PLA capabilities.

Some analysts said that while the drills may not be on the same scale as the 2022 operations, which saw Chinese forces fire missiles over the island and into the waters of Japan's exclusive economic zone, they still raised the risk of accidents or miscalculations.

This was particularly acute as Taiwanese forces attempted to shadow and monitor the Chinese manoeuvres.

"These opposing forces could actually be operating in pretty close proximity," said Collin Koh, a security scholar at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

(This story has been refiled to delete the reference to 'mainland' Chinese coast in paragraph 3)

(Reporting by Laurie Chen and Beijing newsroom and Greg Torode in Hong Kong; additional reporting by James Pomfret in Hong Kong and Yimou Li; Writing by Greg Torode; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Samuel Alito flew an 'Appeal to Heaven' flag outside his Long Beach vacation home: report

WASHINGTON  Another flag  not an upside one, but a flag that said "Appeal to Heaven''  carried by some of the people who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, flew over a home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito last summer, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

The second flag, which the report said is a symbol for a religious strand of the Stop the Steal campaign, was raised over Alito's New Jersey vacation home in July and September of 2023.

The Times previously reported that an upside-down American flag flew over the justices Virginia home in January of 2021.

Supreme Court justices are supposed to avoid politics.

Alito told the Times his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, raised the inverted flag in response to a dispute with a neighbor and he had no involvement whatsoever."

The Times said Alito declined to respond to questions about the beach house flag.

A spokesperson for the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY to the latest report.

More Justices Thomas, Alito complain about 'nastiness' and 'imperiled' freedom of religion

Oct 7, 2022; Washington, DC, USA; Members of the Supreme Court pose for a group photo at the Supreme Court. Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY ORG XMIT: USAT-510520 (Via OlyDrop)

The high court is deciding two cases related to former President Donald Trump and his supporters efforts to overturn the results of the election, decisions that will affect the criminal election interference charges pending against Trump.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who heads the Senate Judiciary Committee, renewed his call for Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 insurrection.

This episode will further erode public faith in the court," Durbin said in a statement in which he also urged Chief Justice John Roberts to add an enforcement mechanism to the court's ethics code.

Durbin has been pushing for Congress to impose on the court stronger ethics rules backed by an enforcement process but has been blocked by Republicans.

Related Supreme Court grapples with limits on obstruction charge in Jan. 6 cases

'Freak flag': Senate Democrats bash Supreme Court Justice Alito for upside-down flag

What does the `Appeal to Heaven' pine tree flag mean?

The "Appeal to Heaven" flag  a white flag with a green pine tree in the center  was used during the American Revolution. It has become a symbol for Christian nationalist.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has hung the flag outside his congressional office.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation calls the flag a "sectarian symbol that indicates government endorsement of Christianity."

Delivering the commencement address at a Catholic University this month, Alito said that the freedom of religion is "imperiled."

He told the graduates of Franciscan University of Steubenville they may soon find themselves in a job or social setting where they will feel pressure to endorse ideas they dont believe in or to abandon core beliefs.

It will be up to you," he said, "to stand firm."

When was the flag flown over Alito's beach house?

The Times report included a Google Street View image from last August showing the "Appeal to Heaven" flag at his home on Long Beach Island. The Times said other photographs it obtained, as well as corroboration from neighbors, show the flag flying in July and September of 2023.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alito flag beach house controversy spurs new questions about justice
A second flag carried by rioters during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol was displayed outside a home owned by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, according to a shocking report in The New York Times.

The newspaper published photos from neighbors and from Google Street View that show an Appeal to Heaven flag flying outside the justices beach house in Long Beach Island, New Jersey.

The flag, featuring a green pine tree on a white background, dates to the Revolutionary War, but is now linked with Christian nationalists and those who support former President Donald Trump.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) displayed the flag in his office last year after he was elected to the post.

A Google Maps image taken in August 2023 shows the Appeal to Heaven flag flying outside a beach home the Times identified as Alitos.

An "Appeal to Heaven" flag seen outside the Alito home in New Jersey in August, 2023. Google Street View

The Supreme Court did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The latest report comes after a New York Times investigation found an upside-down American flag  used as a symbol for Trumps Stop the Steal movement  was flown outside the justices home in Alexandria, Virginia, on Jan. 17, 2021. That was just over a week after the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol  and as the nations high court was hearing cases about the integrity of the 2020 presidential election.

Alito issued a brief statement about the upside-down flag, saying he was not responsible for its display outside his home and that it linked to a dispute his wife was having with neighbors at the time.

I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag, he told the Times. It was briefly placed by Mrs. Alito in response to a neighbors use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs.

The dual flag reports have prompted many Democrats to call on Alito to recuse himself from cases involving the Jan. 6 attack, with some House members saying the symbols create, at minimum, the appearance of improper political bias. Even Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said the decision to fly the upside-down flag did not display good judgement.

Two cases are currently pending before the court related to Jan. 6, including Trumps claims he is immune to all prosecution linked to his duties while in the White House.

Related...
While piping plover Imani looks for love at Montrose Beach, Waukegan pair arent wasting any time

Theres a new piping plover at Montrose Beach, and she has the beak coloration of a female, according to Chicago Piping Plovers.

The newcomer joins Imani  the citys most celebrated avian bachelor  who has returned to the North Side beach for three summers, apparently looking for love. The Lake County Audubon Society also announced the return to Waukegan of two plovers that appear to be a few steps ahead of Imani.

The only known surviving chick of local legends Monty and Rose, Imani has endured a series of very public disappointments in his search for a mate.

But his luck may be changing.

There are currently three male piping plovers at the protected beach at Montrose, including one hatched at Cat Island in Wisconsin, and an unbanded bird that arrived Tuesday. But the apparent female has been spending time with the hometown hero, according to Tamima Itani, lead volunteer coordinator for the Chicago Piping Plovers.

Early reports are that shes hanging out with Imani, Itani said.

The stakes are high  and not just because of romantic intrigue.

The Great Lakes population of piping plovers, which once included about 650 nesting pairs, is endangered, with just 80 nesting pairs recorded in 2023, according to the Great Lakes Piping Plover Conservation Team.

When Imanis parents, Monty and Rose, set up housekeeping at Montrose Beach in 2019, the city rooted for the imperiled lovebirds and their fluffy hatchlings.

Piping plovers in Chicago: How the love story between Monty and Rose unfolded at Montrose Beach

The latest piping plover to arrive at Montrose has her own dramatic backstory. She has been identified as Searocket, one of three captive-reared chicks released at Montrose last summer.

Before Searocket left last summer to winter in a warmer climate, she had gotten her foot tangled in a fishing line, a dangerous development. The team of volunteer piping plover monitors that watches the birds every summer attempted to capture her and remove the line, but they were unsuccessful.

Searocket began her migration the next day.

Its really remarkable that she was able to get rid of the fishing line, Itani said.

Searocket is thought to be female because of a smudged border between the orange and black portions of her beak. In males, the border is more of a clear line.

In Waukegan, the Audubon Society said two of four captive-reared plover fledglings released in the city in July have returned within days of one another and were spotted one day after the city named the Great Lakes piping plover its official city bird.

Volunteers have said one of the plovers may be Imanis cousin and related to his father, Monty, who nested in Waukegan as well as at Montrose Beach.

The pair, named Pepper and Blaze, were observed mating multiple times Wednesday, after returning from winters spent in Florida and North Carolina, respectively.

Our city is dedicated to rehabilitating and preserving our lakefront and dunal habitat, which is crucial to the Great Lakes piping plovers, Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor said. We hope for a successful coupling for Blaze and Pepper.

The next step for the plucky shorebirds on Montrose Beach is unclear, but fans are excited.

If its confirmed that shes a female, we could possibly end up having a nest, which would be thrilling, said Itani of the Montrose pairing.

She asked that Chicagoans do their part by staying out of the fenced-off protected beach, which is marked with signs.

The danger is that piping plovers will not nest in an area that they feel is disturbed, she said.

Chicago Tribunes Avani Kalra contributed.

nschoenberg@chicagotribune.com
A Russian court has arrested Vadim Shamarin, Deputy Chief of the General Staff and the head of the Main Communications Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces.

Source: Interfax, a Russian news outlet and news agency; Meduza, a Latvia-based Russian news outlet

Details: It was reported that Shamarin had been charged with receiving a particularly large bribe. The senior official of the Russian Defence Ministry was taken into custody for two months so far.

Shamarin is supposedly accused of bribery in the conclusion of state contracts and has been brought in for questioning in a criminal case.

Background:

Earlier, Russia's Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov was detained in Russia on suspicion of taking a bribe. Putins press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin had been informed of Ivanov's detention, and that Russian former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had been warned in advance.

It was reported that Ivanov was in a Russian detention centre and was being persecuted by the Putin regime as a result of active measures taken by Ukraines Defence Intelligence.

Also in May, Yuriy Kuznetsov, the head of the personnel department of the Russian Defence Ministry, was detained and accused of taking a bribe. In addition, Ivan Popov, the former commander of the 58th Army, who criticised the Russian Ministry of Defence, was arrested in a fraud case.

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Federal prosecutors on Wednesday announced anti-abortionist Heather Idoni has been sentenced to two years in prison for participating in a blockade of a Washington, D.C. area clinic. She is to be sentenced next in July over similar charges involving a clinic in Tennessee. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

May 23 (UPI) -- An anti-abortion activist has been sentenced to two years behind bars for her involvement with a blockade of a Washington, D.C., area reproductive health clinic in October 2022.

Heather Idoni, a Michigan grandmother, was sentenced Wednesday, making her the eighth person to receive jail time for participating in the blockade, with a ninth participate to be sentenced later this month.

The nine people were charged with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act over the Oct. 22, 2020, blockade of the unidentified reproductive health clinic, an act that anti-abortionists call a "rescue."

According to the prosecutors, they had conspired and organized the blockade days before hand, with Idoni being among those who traveled across states to D.C. to participate in it.

The complaint states Lauren Handy, director of the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, made an appointment for reproductive services at the clinic for Oct. 22, and when the clinic opened for services that morning, Handy, Idoni and others "forcefully pushed through the clinic door" into its waiting room.

Handy directed the operation, instructing some of the conspirators to block the way to the clinic's treatment area, while Idoni and another conspirator went to block the employee entrance to the facility.

One of the conspirators, identified as Jonathan Darnel, live-streamed the blockade on Facebook.

"The rescuers are doing their job," Darnel said in the broadcast, according to the complaint. "They're not allowing women to enter the abortion clinic. As long as they're in there, no women can go in to kill their children."

They were indicted in March of 2022.

Most of those involved have been tied to other anti-abortion activities, and Idoni is to be sentenced July 30 after she and several others were convicted in January for participating in a blockade of a Mount Juliet, Tenn., reproductive health clinic in March of 2021.

Idoni was also charged in February 2023 with blocking Michigan reproductive health clinics in 2020 and 2021.

She was sentenced a week after the majority of her conspirators in the Washington, D.C., blockade were sentenced, with Handy receiving the lengthiest sentenced at 57 months.
With antisemitism surging in NYC, 8th graders to learn more about Holocaust

All eighth-graders in New York City public schools will have the opportunity to learn about the Holocaust through field trips to the Museum of Jewish Heritage in lower Manhattan, as city officials grapple with growing antisemitism during the Israel-Hamas war, they announced Thursday.

The program was spearheaded by Councilwoman Julie Menin, D-Manhattan, who, as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, approached the museum with a vision of a universal field trip program after a rash of antisemitic incidents.

The local Education Department has received 281 reports of religious bias this school year, including 42% logged as anti-Jewish hate.

You simply cannot learn about the Holocaust from a textbook  it is not possible, Menin said at a press conference. You need to viscerally see and hear the stories and materials that are on display in this exhibition.

The museum visits, which are optional for schools, are part of a $2.5 million private-public partnership that will start this fall and run for the next three years. Its expected to reach at least 85,000 students in district and charter schools.

This institution is committed to fighting antisemitism and hate by providing good information when there is out there so much bad information, said Jack Kliger, president of the Museum of Jewish Heritage.

The funding includes $1 million from the foundation of Jon Gray, president of the investment firm Blackstone.

While were saddened by the urgent need for this program, given the rising tide of hate and antisemitism, said Gray, were optimistic about the impact it will have on countless students across the city.

Guides will lead students through the main part of the museum on the rise of antisemitism before and throughout the Holocaust and another exhibition on the rescue of Danish Jews during the Nazi campaign, according to a news release. The staff can facilitate discussions and provide teachers with pre- and posttour resources to use in the classroom.

The museum is also expected to use the funding to hire additional education staff and proactively reach out to schools to schedule visits.

Were doing our best to meet this moment, said Schools Chancellor David Banks. It is not easy. I do not have all the answers. But I know together  if we work together in a spirit of collaboration  we will get there.

_____
A Columbus City school board member said Thursday that she was responsible for sharing the document with the Columbus Education Association that is now the center of controversy as the board looks to close district schools.

In a Thursday statement where she stressed she was speaking in her personal capacity, Board Member Sarah Ingles said that she was the one who had shared the document with the Columbus Education Association.

Columbus City Schools Board Member Sarah Ingles speaks at the Democratic watch party on Nov. 7, 2023 at the Junto Hotel. (Columbus Dispatch file photo)

The document in question is a draft of a strategy for handling opposition to school closures and was first published Tuesday by the Columbus Education Association, the union representing the district's more than 4,500 teachers and other educational professionals. In its release, the CEA said the document was racially divisive, and called for a pause to the closure process and for Board Member Brandon Simmons to resign.

More: Read the leak: What to know about the document at the center of a Columbus schools scandal

Neither Simmons nor other school board members returned calls from The Dispatch seeking comment. On Tuesday, Simmons said in two hastily called news conferences that the document was the product of collaboration with other board members and stakeholders.

Simmons on Thursday released a statement via social media, doubling down on his assertion that the document was part of a collaboration, but he also apologized for it's existence.

"I have let our District down," he wrote. "The words on that document should not exist."

Ingles said in a prepared release that she was not present at any meeting where the document was shared, and that she didn't know of its existence until it was shared with her. She did not say who shared it with her.

"After serious consideration of what was best for the district and our students," Ingles said she decided to share the document.

"I was appalled and offended when I read it," Ingles stated in the release. "Our work in the district is too important for these kinds of divisive and absurd tactics."

CEA President John Coneglio told The Dispatch that he commended Ingles for doing the right thing. He said he made the document public because he didn't want the issue swept under the rug.

Columbus Education Association President John Coneglio speaks during the Columbus School Board meeting on May 7, 2024.

"Politicians that do the right thing need support," Coneglio said. "I'm sure the district would have loved to have handled this internally, but then we would still have these bad actors doing this type of stuff in the future, because nobody knows about it."

Who is Sarah Ingles?

Ingles is a first-term board member elected in November, with a term expiring in 2027.

A Near East Side resident, Ingles is currently Democratic legal counsel for the Ohio House of Representatives, and previously worked as a union lawyer. Ingles campaigned on rebuilding trust and relationships with the CEA, The Dispatch previously reported.

Columbus City Schools Board Member Sarah Ingles in a 2023 Dispatch photo.

CEA: District enacted elements of leaked strategy document

In a Thursday release, the CEA said union legal counsel sent a letter to Columbus City Schools detailing what it said was evidence that the Board of Education had already enacted parts of the controversial leaked plan.

The letter to the district chiefly points to what it says are irregularities in the seating and agenda, and a changed location of the Tuesday board meeting.

The release also points to the widely covered media tour of poor conditions at Columbus Alternative High School and better conditions at Downtown High School, held on May 14. The leaked document details plans for a news conference "at our oldest and worst most crumbling (sic) building" on that same day.

Columbus City Schools board member Brandon Simmons and board president Christina Vera lead a tour of Columbus Alternative High School on May 14, 2024. The building is included on a proposal of potential closures for the district.

Coneglio said he didn't believe Simmons acted alone.

"I never think that anybody acts alone," Coneglio said. "Brandon (Simmons) definitely was part of this process  but I don't think Brandon was alone."

More: Who is Brandon Simmons? What to know about CCS board member at center of leak scandal

In her only statement since the release, Board President Christina Vera said during Tuesday's board meeeting that Simmons "was not asked to provide any recommendations and did so independently."

She also said the strategies outlined in the document "do not represent the perspectives of the Columbus City Schools or the entire Board of Education," and that "no action has been or will be taken  to implement the board members suggestions."

@Colebehr_report

Cbehrens@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus City Schools board member Sarah Ingles talks document leak
An obscure Revolutionary War-era flag emblazoned with a pine tree has drawn renewed attention amid reports that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito flew the Appeal to Heaven flag above his New Jersey beach house in the past year.

The Appeal to Heaven flag, also known as the Pine Tree flag, features a rudimentary evergreen tree drawn on a white background with An Appeal to Heaven written in black block letters. Today, the flags can be purchased online for about $30.

The flag was initially designed by Col. Joseph Reed, an aide-de-camp to then-Gen. George Washington during the war. According to researchers, Reed had intended the flag with a white ground and a tree in the middle be a signal by which our vessels may know one another.

Several of the flags were spotted in the mob that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in support of former President Trump and efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Revolutionary War symbolism and slogans, including the cry of 1776, were embraced by Trump supporters as they fought the 2020 election outcome.

More broadly, the Appeal to Heaven flag has served as a call for a conservative, Biblical-centered government. Nearly a decade ago, the flag was reported to be the source of contention in south Arkansas, as the Appeal to Heaven movement tried to catch fire.

The movements adherents ascribe to an effort to honor the Lord by supporting candidates for public office who are believers in Jesus Christ, who regularly attend and display a commitment to an evangelical, Gospel-centered church, and who will commit to live and govern based on biblical  principles.

On its website, the group also outlines the beliefs behind the flag: Individuals have the right to worship God freely without the threat of government intrusion. Marriage was created by God as the union of one man and one woman for life as the basic building block of society. Life begins at conception and should be protected  Taxes should be levied only to support essential functions of government that individuals cannot do for themselves. The traditional, regressive income and property taxes should be replaced with a fair, sales based tax model.

Gay marriage, reproductive rights and religious freedom are all contentious issues that have recently come before the high court.

A New York Times report this week revealed that Alito, the second most senior associate justice and a key conservative voice on the court, flew the arcane flag at his Long Beach Island, N.J., vacation home last summer, as Jan. 6 cases are coming before the high court.

Its the second time this month that Alito has faced backlash over his symbolic decor. Alitos Virginia home, shortly after the Jan. 6 riot, flew an upside-down American flag, which is typically a signal of distress but also embraced by the opponents of the 2020 election outcome.

Alito said the inverted American flag was his wifes response to a personal spat with neighbors, but he has been open about his views on justices showing personal positions.

In a Wall Street Journal interview last year, coincidentally around the time that the Pine Tree flag was spotted at Alitos beach house, the justice marveled that outsiders and advocates were not rallying to the courts defense in the face of increased scrutiny.

And so at a certain point Ive said to myself, nobody else is going to do this, so I have to defend myself, he said.

Alito has skipped every State of the Union address since 2010 because of the precarious position it puts justices in amid the partisan performances on the House floor, according to a separate Wall Street Journal interview.

Alito has also pushed back on an effort from some lawmakers to impose an enforceable code of ethics for justices.

No provision in the Constitution gives them the authority to regulate the Supreme Court  period, he told the Journal.

Justice Clarence Thomas, another conservative voice on the court and the most senior associate justice, also has faced calls for his recusal from cases tied to the Capitol attack. Thomass wife, Ginni, was in close contact with Trumps allies and key Stop the Steal organizers before protesters stormed the Capitol.

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 The Hill.
The 'Appeal to Heaven' flag evolves from Revolutionary War symbol to banner of the far right

FILE - People carry an "Appeal To Heaven" flag as they gather at Independence Mall to support President Donald Trump during a visit to the National Constitution Center to participate in the ABC News town hall, Sept. 15, 2020, in Philadelphia. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is embroiled in a second flag controversy, this time over the Appeal to Heaven flag, a banner that in recent years has come to symbolize Christian nationalism and the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. The flag was seen outside his New Jersey beach home last summer. (AP Photo/Michael Perez, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is embroiled in a second flag controversy in as many weeks, this time over a banner that in recent years has come to symbolize sympathies with the Christian nationalist movement and the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

An Appeal to Heaven flag was flown last summer outside Alitos beach vacation home in New Jersey, according to The New York Times, which obtained several images showing it on different dates in July and September 2023. The Times previously reported that an upside down American flag  a sign of distress  had flown outside Alito's Alexandria, Virginia, home less than two weeks after the violent Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Some of the rioters carried the inverted American flag or the Appeal to Heaven flag, which shows a green pine tree on a white field. The revelations have escalated concerns over Alito's impartiality and his ability to objectively decide cases currently before the court that relate to the Jan. 6 attackers and Trump's attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Alito has not commented on the flag at his summer home.

Here is the history and current symbolism of the Appeal to Heaven flag.

WHAT ARE ITS ORIGINS?

Ted Kaye, secretary for the North American Vexillological Association, which studies flags and their meaning, said the Appeal to Heaven banner dates to the Revolutionary War.

Six schooners outfitted by George Washington to intercept British vessels at sea flew the flag in 1775 as they sailed under his command. It became the maritime flag of Massachusetts in 1776 and remained so until 1971, he said.

According to Americanflags.com the pine tree on the flag symbolized strength and resilience in the New England colonies while the words Appeal to Heaven stemmed from the belief that God would deliver the colonists from tyranny.

HOW HAS ITS SYMBOLISM CHANGED?

There are a few different reasons people fly Appeal to Heaven flags today, said Jared Holt, a senior analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a London-based think tank that tracks online hate, disinformation and extremism.

Some fans of it identify with a patriot movement that obsesses over the Founding Fathers and the American Revolution, he said. Others adhere to a Christian nationalist worldview that seeks to elevate Christianity in public life.

Its not abundantly clear which of those reasons would be accurate in this situation, Holt said. But he called the display outside Alitos home alarming, saying those who do fly the flag are often advocating for more intolerant and restrictive forms of government aligned with a specific religious philosophy.

The Appeal to Heaven flag was among several banners carried by the Jan. 6 rioters, who also favored religious banners symbolizing the white Christian nationalist movement., the Confederate flag and the yellow Gadsden flag, with its rattlesnake and Dont Tread on Me message, said Bradley Onishi, author of Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism.

"Thats the family, he said.

WHAT ABOUT MIKE JOHNSON?

House Speaker Mike Johnson displays the flag in the hallway outside his office next to the flag of his home state, Louisiana. He said he has flown it for as long as I can remember.

Johnson, a Republican, told The Associated Press he did not know the flag had come to represent the Stop the Steal movement.

Never heard that before, he said.

The speaker, who led one of Trumps legal challenges to the 2020 election, defended the flag and its continued use despite the modern-day symbolism around it.

I have always used that flag for as long as I can remember, because I was so enamored with the fact that Washington used it, Johnson said. The Appeal to Heaven flag is a critical, important part of American history. Its something that Ive always revered since Ive been a young man.

He added: People misuse our symbols all the time. It doesnt mean we dont use the symbols anymore.

Johnson said he had never flown the U.S. flag upside in distress, as Alito did, and he declined to assess the justices situation and whether raising the flags at his home was appropriate.

But he called the criticism of the Appeal to Heaven flag contrived.

Its nonsense, he said. Its part of our history. We dont remove statues and we dont cover up things that are so essential to who we are as a country.

SHOULD ALITO RECUSE?

House Democratic Whip, Katherine Clark of Massachusetts said in a statement that the display of the Appeal to Heaven flag at an Alito home was not just another example of extremism that has overtaken conservatism. This is a threat to the rule of law and a serious breach of ethics, integrity and Justice Alitos oath of office.

She called for Alito to recuse himself from any cases related to Jan. 6 and the former president.

There's a clear difference between the House speaker displaying the flag outside his office and a Supreme Court justice flying it and the upside down American flag outside his homes as the court is deciding cases involving issues those flags have come to symbolize, said Alicia Bannon director of the Judiciary Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.

Alito's actions dont just cross the line," she said. "They take you out of the stadium and out of the parking lot.

Alito and the court declined to respond to requests for comment on how the Appeal to Heaven flag came to be flying and what it was intended to express.

Alito has said the upside down American flag was briefly flown by his wife during a dispute with neighbors and that he had no part in it.

ANOTHER BLOW TO THE COURTS REPUTATION

The Supreme Court already was under fire as it considers unprecedented cases against Trump and some of those charged for the attack on the Capitol.

An issue at the center of the controversy is that the high court does not have to adhere to the same ethics codes that guide other federal judges. The Supreme Court had long gone without its own code of ethics, but it adopted one in November 2023 in the face of sustained criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices, including Alito. The code lacks a means of enforcement, however.

The federal code of judicial ethics does not universally prohibit judges from involvement in nonpartisan or religious activity off the bench. But it does say that a judge should not participate in extrajudicial activities that detract from the dignity of the judges office, interfere with the performance of the judges official duties or reflect adversely on the judges impartiality.

Jeremy Fogel, executive director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute at the University of California, Berkeley Law School, said the flag revelations lead to questions about whether Alito can be impartial in any case related to Jan. 6 or Trump.

Displaying those particular flags creates the appearance at least that the justice is signifying agreement with those viewpoints at a time when there are cases before the court where those viewpoints are relevant, he said.

A March AP/NORC poll found that only about one-quarter of Americans think the Supreme Court is doing a somewhat or very good job upholding democratic values. About 45% think its doing a somewhat or very bad job.

Tony Carrk, executive director of Accountable.US, a progressive watchdog organization, said the controversy shows that further steps are needed to put teeth into the court's ethics code.

Theres a reason why the confidence in credibility among the American people for the Supreme Court has plummeted to an all-time low, he said.

___

Associated Press writer Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.
Donald Trump's search for a new running mate in 2024 has been freewheeling and informal so far, with none of the questionnaires, detailed financial disclosures or formal interviews of past vice presidential searches  no noticeable signs of a detailed vetting process, at least not yet.

Instead, the vice presidential candidates seeking to share the GOP ticket with their party's presumptive nominee are engaging in an informal dance with the Trump campaign, trying to be helpful and catch the former presidents attention whenever possible.

Much of it is playing out in public, with many of the front-runner candidates visiting the former president at the courthouse in New York City where he's on trial facing charges stemming from allegations he paid hush money to an adult film actress to conceal an affair. Potential VP candidates also have been appearing with Trump at campaign events and defending him on television.

Behind the scenes, the private jockeying to be Trump's running mate includes phone calls with the former president and efforts by surrogates to promote favored candidates but no formal discussions about the job or requests for personal information from the candidates yet, according to four people with knowledge of the VP search who spoke with USA TODAY on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic.

I think the trial pushed back a lot of this, said one individual who is close to the Trump campaign, adding that the former presidents process for picking a running mate so far has been informal, best I can tell.

As far as I know theres been no formal vetting or anything like that, added another individual with knowledge of how the VP selection process is playing out.

The casual approach to the VP search so far belies the gravity of the choice, with the individual not only second in line to the presidency if Trump wins, but also the instant frontrunner to win the GOP nomination in 2028. Even if Trump loses, his running mate likely would be a major contender for the GOP nomination in the next presidential cycle.

Trump's choice of then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to be his running mate in 2016 proved momentous, with Pence breaking with Trump and certifying the 2020 election won by Joe Biden. There was considerable uncertainty eight years ago about Trump's VP pick up until the day Pence was announced, which came shortly before that GOP convention in Cleveland.

Pence of course is long gone from Trump's orbit, having run unsuccessfully against his former boss in the 2024 Republican primaries. Trump has said he plans to announce his running mate around the time of this year's convention where he'll formally accept the GOP nomination, which kicks off July 15 in Milwaukee.

Trump adviser Susie Wiles leading VP search

Trumps VP candidates havent been asked to turn over any documents or engage in any formal vetting process yet, sources told USA TODAY, but that may come later.

That stands in sharp contrast to another recent Republican nominee: Mitt Romney, the party's 2012 pick who had his VP prospects fill out an 80-question survey and sign a form releasing personal information.

Romney had attorneys digging into VP candidates' backgrounds. It's not clear if the Trump campaign is doing anything similar yet, but if so it hasn't involved the candidates in the process, sources told USA TODAY.

Detailed vetting often is done by presidential campaigns to avoid any surprises in an individual's background that could prove controversial. Trump tends to operate less formally and more by gut instinct, though, which has blown up on him at times.

Some of his nominees as president had past controversies that later emerged and caused him considerable political headaches, including Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court and some of Trump's Cabinet and sub-Cabinet picks.

There doesn't appear to be a "sense of urgency" within the Trump campaign about the VP pick yet, according to an individual close to the process.

"I think they are still in some of those early stages," the individual said. "I think they have other priorities theyve been focused on to date and I think as a result everythings kind of been pushed back a bit and were just not quite there yet.

The jockeying behind-the-scenes for the VP spot has been relatively quiet recently, the individual added.

Not a ton of movement, the person said.

At least six contenders for the former president's running mate  Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.; Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio; Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y.; South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and North Dakota Gov. Doug Bergum  will attend a Republican donor retreat Friday and Saturday in Palm Beach, Florida, in what looks like a series of auditions.

Top Trump campaign adviser Susie Wiles is coordinating the campaigns search for a running mate, according to multiple sources.

I think Susies probably the one whose most closely involved with this on a day-to-day basis in making sure the process gets played out, said an individual with knowledge of the VP race.

In response to a series of questions about Trump's process for picking a running mate, spokesman Brian Hughes said: "Anyone claiming to know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying, unless the person is named Donald J. Trump."

Trump allies have their favorites for VP

Some of the VP candidates have been staying in touch with Trump and Wiles through phone calls or texts, while also seeking to catch their eyes with television and other appearances.

Many of the contenders also have surrogates lobbying on their behalf.

Leading figures in Trumps orbit have their favorites among the top VP candidates, who include North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and others.

Trumps campaign is stocked with Florida operatives, including Wiles, who have known Rubio for years. Wiles is believed to favor Rubio for the VP spot, according to multiple sources.

Senator J.D. Vance listens to Former President Donald Trump talks to the Press Pool outside the Manhattan Criminal Court room during trial in New York City on May 13, 2024. Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to the hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. He has pleaded not guilty and denied a relationship with Daniels.

Meanwhile, Vance has a close relationship with the former presidents oldest child, Donald Trump Jr., and recently appeared on his Rumble show. Former Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway has been advocating for Scott to be the VP pick, according to the Daily Beast.

An individual with knowledge of recent private comments Trump made about the VP contenders said definitely Marco is in the mix in a strong way, (Arkansas U.S. Sen.) Tom Cotton in the mix in a strong way, I think J.D. Vance (is in the mix), I dont know about Burgum I do think Tim Scott is alive.

I know Kristi Noem is not in the mix anymore, no shocker, the individual added, referring to the South Dakota governor who attracted controversy for writing about killing her dog.

Former presidential candidate and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley was floated as a potential VP pick, but Trump quickly shot it down. Haley came out Wednesday and said she will vote for Trump, inching back toward his orbit after refusing to endorse him for months after dropping out of the race.

Trump's campaign is paying close attention to what the VP candidates are saying in public and will offer feedback on TV interviews, according to a source.

Vance, Burgum, former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and U.S. Rep Byron Donalds are among the VP contenders who have traveled to New York to defend Trump outside the courthouse where he is on trial.

Burgum also warmed up the crowd for Trump at rallies in New Jersey and Minnesota recently.

I think its sort of an audition to see how they are on the stump and see how they are in interviews and see how they pushback on interviewers and see how publicly loyal they can be to him, said an individual close to the Trump campaign.

But at the same time," this person said, "I think he also just enjoys watching it play out, he enjoys the dynamic of all of these people competing with each other for his attention He enjoys 'The Apprentice' of it all.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Apprentice': Inside Donald Trump's search for a GOP running mate
Hundreds rally at the state Capitol for the MI Body MI Choice event on Oct. 2, 2021 | Allison R. Donahue

Arguments were heard Tuesday in Michigans Court of Claims over a lawsuit challenging three long-established state abortion regulations, including a 24-hour waiting period.

The Center for Reproductive Rights filed the lawsuit in February on behalf of Northland Family Planning Centers and Medical Students for Choice, alleging the regulations violate the 2022 passage of a ballot proposal that enshrined the right to an abortion in Michigans constitution.

Proposal 3, also called the Reproductive Freedom for All (RFFA) amendment by organizers, struck the 1931 ban on abortions from Michigan law and created additional protections for people seeking reproductive health care.

The lawsuit was filed against Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

The suit claims the laws in question, which also include the required distribution of certain information to patients before an abortion, and the prohibition of advanced practice clinicians to perform abortions, violate the RFFA by imposing medically unjustified restrictions on abortion, singling out abortion care for uniquely onerous treatment, and discriminating against Michiganders who already face health inequities, including Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC), low-income communities, and people in rural areas of the state.

In initial arguments before Court of Claims Judge Siwa Patel, the attorney representing the Center for Reproductive Rights, Rabia Muqaddam, argued that the plain text of the law passed in 2022 made clear that the intent of Michigan residents was to sweep away all barriers to abortion care that didnt serve the interests of patients.

The Reproductive Freedom for All amendment specifies that the state can assert only one very specific interest as compelling; an interest in the health of the pregnant person consistent with the standard of care for evidence based medicine and which does not intrude upon an individuals autonomous decision making, she said. The immense and entirely uncontested medical consensus is that the challenge laws do not serve patient health in any way and actually undermine it.

Speaking specifically to the 24-hour waiting period, Muqaddam said numerous studies over the last two decades have disproven the argument that they are necessary so that patients dont make a hasty decision that would ultimately be harmful to them.

She also said that the mandatory counseling provision often provides factually inaccurate information that is fundamentally at odds with the concept of informed consent.

The reality is, thats not true as numerous articles have demonstrated over the last few decades, she said. What is clear from the research is also that these laws impose significant harm. So they delay abortion care. Abortion care is time sensitive. It increases an incremental risk as time passes.

In response, Assistant Attorney General B. Eric Restuccia, arguing on behalf of the state, said the demands made by the lawsuit are based on a constitutional framework that existed prior to the Dobbs decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which overturned Roe v. Wade, and as such, are entirely compatible with the constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2022.

In fact, one of the central themes of the (RFFA) campaign was Restore Roe. The laws here and others like them were affirmed before Dobbs, so this idea that there was this sea change in Michigan law from the pre-Dobbs legal framework, I think, is inconsistent with the constitutional language and also, I believe, the themes of the campaign of the supporters of the amendment.

Restuccia said that the lawsuit was seeking the wrong venue to remedy the situation.

In short, these are really legislative questions. The proper place to bring these points is to the legislature and not to this court, he argued.

In fact, the Democratic-led legislature tried to overturn the 24-hour waiting period, among other provisions, last year, but were forced to relent after state Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit) expressed opposition, hamstringing the slim 56-54 House majority.

Patel questioned Restuccia how the state answered the plaintiffs argument that the informed consent standard for patients is something that needs to be specific to each individual.

So what is the argument on the other side that you should have this formulaic informed consent that is applied to all patients? she asked.

Restuccia responded that the laws ensure that a consistent standard is applied for all seeking abortion care.

The providers say, Trust us; we give this information. Law and the constitutional protection doesnt protect providers. It protects patients, he said. I know at Northland, I mean, they may be the flagship. I think one of the affidavits (says) that they perform 8,000 of the 30,000 abortions in Michigan each year. They operate by their own statement, and I dont dispute (by the) highest ethical standards. But there are many abortion providers throughout the state of Michigan. Our department has seen things in the past with some of the providers being of questionable ethical practice.

The third law that the lawsuit seeks to make invalid is a prohibition on allowing advanced practice clinicians, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurse-midwives, to be able to perform abortions.

Again, Restuccia argued that it should be a legislative decision to allow advanced practice clinicians to carry out abortions, as that is the case in nearly 20 other states. However, he said keeping the prohibition in place would ensure a Cadillac standard of ensuring proper medical action.

Muqaddam, however, noted that advanced practice clinicians in the state, including at the University of Michigan, are already providing medications and procedures that are used in early abortion care for patients with miscarriages.

Those techniques are identical to what they would be providing for patients seeking an abortion, she said. That is the standard of care in the context of those procedures in the State of Michigan. There is no reason that they should not be permitted to provide the very same care to abortion patients.

Muqaddam added that in those instances where care was found to be appropriate, those providers were held accountable due to generally applicable medical malpractice laws.

Restuccias defense on behalf of the state was made despite the fact that Nessel, his superior, previously said the laws are unconstitutional and supported the request to prevent her office from enforcing them. Regardless, her office said it would create a so-called conflict wall so that Restuccia could represent the State of Michigan.

Judge Patel said supplemental briefs on the arguments will be due in two weeks, with an additional week for each aide to respond to those. After that, she said she would work to issue an opinion as soon as practicable thereafter, although that could take several months.

The post Arguments heard in lawsuit seeking to invalidate Michigan abortion restrictions appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Lady Yvonne Hervey, the Dowager Marchioness of Bristol, said her uncle had been in a "terrible state" - Alan Davidson/Shutterstock

The mother of socialites Victoria and Isabella Hervey has accused a care home of being partly to blame for the death of her 102-year-old uncle.

Lady Yvonne Hervey, the Dowager Marchioness of Bristol, told an inquest in Ruthin, Denbighshire, that she had been left shocked and disturbed by the condition of Norbert Marshalls feet when she visited him in hospital last year.

Mr Marshall, a retired jeweller, died in hospital in November after fracturing his hip in a fall at Plas Isaf Home in Rhos-on-Sea, Colwyn Bay.

The Dowager Marchioness said in a statement: His toes were blue, his nails were three inches long and he was very unkempt.

I had a shock when I saw him: he was in a terrible state. I believe it to be negligence on the part of the care home.

After the inquest was shown photographs of her uncles toes, John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales (East and Central), said he was concerned by their condition.

However, Mr Gittins recorded Mr Marshalls passing as an accidental death, concluding that, despite Lady Bristols claims, the reality was different.

The Dowager Marchioness, who is the widow of the 6th Marquess of Bristol and divides her time between her apartment in Londons exclusive Eaton Square and Monaco, said she believed that the length of her uncles toenails had caused him to be unsteady on his feet, leading to his fall.

The inquest heard Mr Marshall, who retired to Llandudno after falling in love with the town as a child, was known for taking pride in his appearance.

Gwyneth Conway, the current manager of Plas Isaf Home, said staff had been "shocked" by Mr Marshall's death - Google Street View

The widower, who had been diagnosed with dementia, was able to walk with help but had fallen about six times, the inquest was told.

He died on Nov 13, with the cause of death being given as pneumonia. The fall, frailty and dementia were cited as contributory factors.

Asked for her reaction, Gwyneth Conway, the current manager of the home, who was not in post at the time of his death, said: We were shocked.

She told the inquest on Wednesday that improvements had been implemented at the home, including regular visits from a chiropodist.

Mrs Conway added that the manager at the time had left after failing to pass a probationary period.

The coroner concluded: I appreciate that changes have been made for the better. I certainly do not attribute the fall to his feet.

In reality, he was up and about and had been walking with the assistance of one of the carers.

Mr Gittins added that he did not see the need to issue a prevention of future deaths report.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark- Millions of military veterans have something to look forward to after President Biden announced the approval of $1 Million in Pact Act claims nationwide.

Arkansas native Bill Rhodes advocated for the act to be approved after facing his own disparities with his health. He said years ago when his claim was denied he realized he had to do something to help all veterans.

Over 1 million claims related to toxic exposure granted under new veterans law, Biden announces

This was actually the going through an act of congress as an individual and it has proven to me that one person can still make a difference, Rhodes said.

Millions of claims have been granted nationwide, and in Arkansas 19,000 have filled their claims.

The benefits will go towards veterans exposed to hazardous chemicals, medical waste and other toxic substances while in service. The law added 23 illnesses to that list of conditions.

Veterans see historic expansion of benefits for toxic exposure as new law nears anniversary

Rhodes advice to veterans now is to learn what conditions they may have and apply for the benefits.

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 KARK.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin is taking legal action against out-of-state companies he said are violating state law regarding abortion services, specifically abortion pills.

Griffin sent cease-and-desist letters on Tuesday to New York-based company, Womens Health Medical Clinic and Aid Access out of the Netherlands.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin sends cease and desist letters to companies advertising abortion pill access

He is pointing to two state laws as the legal grounds to take this action: the near-total abortion ban in Arkansas that went into effect in 2022, and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

DTPA allows Arkansas to sue vendors selling and shipping products banned in Arkansas to people living within state lines.

Both of the letters say Griffins office has discovered evidence on the two companies websites that conflict with Arkansas laws. According to the Womens Health Medical Clinic website, women can go through an online consultation with one of their providers then travel out of state to pick up the pills. However, with there being two rounds for abortion pills spread out within a few days, that would likely mean women bring the second round back to Arkansas to take a few days later.

Aid Accesss website states it offers options for them to ship the pills to women in Arkansas within one to five days for $150.

Griffin said he is solely focused on the legal aspect of the matter but believes this could lead to more discoveries of companies doing the same.

Arkansas co-leads 17-state coalition suing federal pregnancy, abortion accommodation rule

Those on the pro-choice side, who say they would prefer the services be offered here to begin with, said there needs to be a safe and reasonable plan B in Arkansas case.

State Rep. Denise Garner (D-Fayetteville), who is also a nurse practioner, said as the plan B options potentially narrow down because of Arkansas efforts, a lot of women will still find other methods to terminate their pregnancies in unsafe and potentially fatal ways.

Womens Health Medical Clinic has not responded to requests for comment at this time, but the director of Aid Access provided the following statement:

This action of the Attorney General will just inform more women with unwanted pregnancies living in Arkansas that Aid Access will help and that they can get FDA-approved abortion pills from USA providers at home in Arkansas and that they do not have to travel to another state if they are less than 13 weeks pregnant. Aid Access provides all support they need and we will not stop doing that. Also it is very important that women living in Arkansas who obtain the abortion pills and use it to end their pregnancies know that they are allowed to do that and are not breaking the law.

The Deceptive Trade Practices Act allows penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. The attorney general said the companies have 14 days to comply with the order.

Arkansas enforced a trigger ban on June 24, 2022, that prohibits abortion at all stages of pregnancy. This ban was put in place after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization.

Attorney General Tim Griffin certifies Arkansas Abortion Amendment ballot language

A group is currently working to gather signatures for an abortion ballot question on the Arkansas November ballot. If they are successful, the right to abortion access would be part of the state constitution.

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 KARK.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Arkansas lawmakers plan to meet for a special session from June 17-21 on income tax and the budget for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, according to Arkansas Senate Minority Leader Greg Leding and State Sen. Bryan King.

The last fiscal session ended early this month without a set budget for the AGFC.

Concern grows after fiscal session ends with no set budget for Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Controversy about the budget revolves around the line item increase the agency wants for the AGFC director.

The deadline to pass the budget is July 1. The AGFC cant spend its money or pay employees if a budget isnt passed.

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 KNWA FOX24.
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) over the past year have prompted no end of hyperbolic predictions. Much of the hype is implausibly optimistic, while some is downright apocalyptic.

Depending on whom you believe, AI will either usher in a new golden age of productivity and comfort for humanity or plunge all of us into a Terminator-style hellscape. To the casual observer  the American worker  the truth seems likely to lie somewhere between.

As a CEO who has wrestled with balancing shareholder demands for profit with moral obligations to employees and an investor who has witnessed first-hand the dramatic ways AI is upending industries once thought immune to disruption, we are optimistic that recent AI advances will reap huge benefits for the U.S. economy.

Ensuring those benefits are distributed fairly to include workers displaced by rapid technological progress will require significant reskilling within much of our nations and Tennessees workforce  the precise type of structural challenge where federal and state governments can often fail.

Should business leaders fear artificial intelligence? As a CEO, here's why I am not afraid

How AI revolution compares with massive free trade agreements

NAFTA (now USMCA) provides a salient case in point. Dismantling trade barriers between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico proved inordinately beneficial for American corporations, who squeezed more profit from moving manufacturing south of the border.

President Joe Biden greets a woman before singing her Happy Birthday at the Dr. John Bryant Community Center on Caron Butler Dr in Racine on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Biden spoke earlier from nearby Gateway Technical College to highlight Microsofts expansion of artificial intelligence education and job training programs and data center complex now under construction in Mount Pleasant.

However, it was a disaster for many working-class families, who saw their jobs suddenly evaporate and struggled to make ends meet. When NAFTA was originally ratified, the U.S. federal government waxed eloquently about investing in job retraining programs to assist workers who might lose their livelihoods to cheaper labor from across the border. Those programs never happened.

We are already seeing the early signs of a looming tidal wave of AI-related job losses. IBM plans to replace 8,000 jobs with AI and Google reportedly plans to eliminate 30,000 employees. These downsizings will not be tech executives, but rather middle-class jobs in HR, finance, and sales.

A recent survey of roughly 1,000 companies indicated that nearly 40% anticipated layoffs in 2024. The second most commonly cited reason for these layoffs? AI. Nearly all the potential job losses are white-collar, college degree positions long considered stable and safe. By the time it is all over, Goldman Sachs thinks as many as 300 million jobs globally will be lost or diminished.

More: Tennessee is the first state to enact AI regulations in music; other artists want the same

Tennessee and U.S. must beef up worker retraining programs

At this point, the AI genie is out and not going back into the bottle. New algorithms will help your radiologist better diagnose cancer, your insurance company process claims more efficiently, and your customer service hotline become more responsive.

Jason Eric Schmitt

This will be wonderful news for corporate Americas profitability, but not for white-collar workers who will bear the brunt of the losses from a long, painful wave of productivity-oriented restructurings.

Congress and the state of Tennessee should take care to act now, investing in job retraining initiatives that will cushion middle-class families from AIs inevitable labor market fallout. Recent efforts by the legislature to create an AI Advisory Council for guiding its usage within Tennessee state government are strong first steps in addressing the coming seismic shifts. However, far more action will be necessary in the private and public sectors to ensure Tennesseans are ready to compete as AI shifts from science fiction to reality.

Donald Lacey

Jason Schmitt is the former chief executive officer of Old Time Pottery and serves on the Tennessee State Workforce Development Board.

Donald Lacey is chief investment officer for West Fork, a venture investment firm, and serves on multiple boards of companies in AI, digital health, and fintech.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Artificial intelligence Expect layoffs, retrain middle class workers
Theres when they go low, we go high and then theres a time for Democratic and centrist establishmentarians to pull the sticks from their proverbial asses. If they always go low and we always go high, then we are going to end up with busted ankles. Last week, a House Oversight Committee hearing went low, so to speak.

First, Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene insulted Texas Democrat Jasmine Crocketts false eyelashes. Then Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York demanded Greene apologize. Greene snapped back like a Karen in a bar fight outside a Tampa Bay Applebees, mockingly asking if AOCs feelings were hurt. After some (boring) procedural harumphing that resulted in a non-punishment for Greene, Crockett herself pointed out that Marjorie Taylor Greene has a bad dye job and is built like a linebacker. Monocles popped out. Bow ties spun around. Representatives were aghast! It was great TV.

In the days since, Crocketts closing beach-blonde, bad-built butch body insult has taken social media by storm. Clips from the hearing have been shared and viewed millions of times and remixed over Kendrick Lamars blockbuster Drake diss track Not Like Uswhere it fits perfectly. Crockett has refused to apologize and announced a line of Crockett Clapback merchandise.

Marjorie Taylor Greene has released a video defending her physique, in the style of a Dove ad produced by Stormfront.

The incident was practically begging the civility police to release an APB, and sure enough, the usual suspects clutched their pearls and messed their khakis while bemoaning the death of civility in American politics. Crockett appeared on Jake Tappers show on CNN, where the host finger-wagged the incident in a manner most CNN. Some on the Left were offended by Crocketts use of butch as a descriptor inside an insult. But insults work because the crafter of said insult believes that the recipient of the insult would be hurt by it. It was effective when Crockett described Greene as butch because Greenes own party enforces a narrow, restrictive vision of how an acceptable womans body should look. Butch also starts with a B, like the other words in the insult, and as anybody well-schooled in the art of insults knows, alliteration makes it better. (Greene, meanwhile, resumed being professionally awful.)

The response from the when they go low, we go high crowd is predictable and familiar. The plot is always the same: the long buildup of bad behavior, then the quick and brutal verbal retaliation that becomes the story rather than the bad behavior that led to it. Impoliteness bears a bigger penalty than, say, calling for violence against ones colleagues, spreading anti-Semitic and Islamophobic rhetoric, attending the State of the Union dressed like Hulk Hogan, accusing a colleague of having an extramarital affair during a Homeland Security Committee meeting, or following and harassing a school-shooting survivor. If anything, Crocketts calm string of B-words didnt go far enough.

Greene is no policy whiz and has no legislative accomplishments, shes not particularly interesting, and her life before Congress did not produce any noteworthy achievements. Her popularity is due almost entirely to the fact that she says the things shes not supposed to say to and about people who get upset by those things. For that matter, former president Donald Trumps entire persona is based on his acting like a pig for applause. Voters on the Right arent put off by the rudeness of MAGAverse acolytes; they like them because of it. Why should Democrats have to sit there and take it again and again? Why should they be denied the pleasure of hearing someone finally stick it to a person who deserves it?

And yet, over and over, Democratic and centrist establishmentarians have decided that its the job of Democrats like Crockett to sit there and take insults like substitute teachers at an alternative school. Why is the Left writ large doomed to be dour or be declared the problem?

The worst thing that could happen to Democrats this fall is for their voters to stay home. They have reason to worry that this could happen. Enthusiasm for both major-party presidential candidates is low. Primary turnout was meager. Poll after poll shows voters feeling unenthusiastic about both partiesespecially voters Democrats need in order to win, like young voters and Black voters. People are not keeping up with political news. Theyre tired of moral pablum, widespread self-enrichment, and a media class that is largely insulated from the consequences of government action or inaction treating policy decisions like a game.

Democrats have the opportunity to show voters that they, like Rep. Crockett, have a spine. That theyre a party for people who will work in good faith until theyre pushed to a point of retaliation by increasingly brazen cruelty displayed by those on the other side of the aisle. The adults in the room neednt be hapless meme fodder for the Truth Social accounts of Trumps toadies. Now is not the time for Democrats to privately register their disgust. Progressive votersand I include myself in thisneed to see more fight from the ones weve elected to represent us. We need more people like Rep. Crockettelected officials willing to reach across the aisle and deliver a verbal backhand if necessary. Maybe thats how we can get voters who have tuned out to sit up and pay attention again.

Marjorie Taylor Greene got what she had coming. And, frankly, she started it. Rep. Crockett is right to refuse to apologize. Abrasiveness works for her, and it would probably work for other Democrats and progressives who are tired of being pushed around and insulted by their Right-wing colleagues. Theres no law against being mean. Let the people whose morals demand they go high in the face of provocation continue to go highbut if Rep. Crockett has beach-blonde, bad-built butch body in her back pocket, who are we to dull her shine?



Marjorie Taylor Greene at Her Best:

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The Angelo State University Trumpet Ensemble will be heading to California during the week of May 28 to compete in an international competition.

The contest is the Ryan Anthony Memorial Trumpet Competition, which will be held from May 28 to June 1 in Anaheim, California. The contest is held as part of the 48th annual International Trumpet Guild Conference.

Students from top music schools and conservatories across the United States and around the world applied to take part in the competition by submitting recordings in solo, jazz, ensemble and youth categories. The ASU Trumpet Ensemble was selected to compete in the ensemble category based on its submitted recording of Erik Morales Seven for Five under the direction of Dr. John Irish, professor of music.

These students have worked so hard and could not be prouder of this milestone accomplishment, Irish said. This competition is at the international level, and we are excited that their performance at the competition will be on view across the world.

The Trumpet Ensemble comprises five ASU music majors:

Jesse Crawford, a sophomore from Baird

Jacob Flint, a freshman from San Angelo

Manuel Garcia, a senior from Mineral Wells

Caden Kaufman, a freshman from Shallowater

Gabriel Munoz, a senior from San Angelo

Many thanks to our dean, Dr. John Klingemann, and our department chair, Chris Stewart, for their continued support of the Trumpet Ensemble, Irish said. California here we come!

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As part of the Rack Room Shoes Gives 2024 Teacher of the Year award, an Athens school teacher got thousands of dollars from the shoe company for a new technology grant.

The $10,000 grant was awarded to St. Joseph Catholic Parish School teacher Glorian Cardona, one of five teachers chosen as part of the Rack Room Teacher of the Year program.

According to a release by Rack Room Shoes, Cardona won the technology grant for her school, plus a $500 gift card to the store.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

In materials about the award winners, Rack Room Shoes showed that Cardona was nominated by the parents of one of her kindergarten students after she took the time to help their 6-year-old catch up in class following a dyslexia and attention deficit disorder diagnosis.

We pushed forward to 1st grade and Mrs. Cardona has been a godsend as a teacher, the parents wrote in their nomination. She focuses on each childs strengths and weaknesses to make sure they succeed. Our son is now a top speller and can read.

TRENDING STORIES:

The parents said that without Cardona, their son would have failed in class and called her a hero.

On Thursday, Cardona, school officials, and members of the school district will hold an assembly and check presentation for Cardona at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Parish School in Athens.

Cardona was the only teacher awarded in Georgia. A full list of the Teacher of the Year winners can be found online.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Atlanta police released new body camera video on Wednesday night of officers arresting protesters at Emory University last month.

On April 25, APD assisted the Emory Police Department in securing the campus after a group of Israel-Hamas war protesters reportedly refused to disperse peacefully.

Police arrested at least 28 people. APD released hours of body camera footage on Wednesday night.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The video shows a student removing the crime scene tape put up by officers to keep protesters in a certain area of the campus. After taking down the tape, officers detained the protester.

Another protester tried to hold officers back from taking the female protester. That protester was then taken to the ground and detained by police.

In one of the released videos, police are seen detaining a protester after she walked through officers talking into a megaphone. She was taken to the ground and detained by police.

Channel 2 Action News is still going through the other footage.

RELATED STORIES:

The protests are in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Protests at multiple universities happened throughout April and May with groups setting up encampments after more than 100 protesters were arrested at Columbia University.

The students at those protests called for their universities to separate themselves from any companies that are advancing Israels military efforts in Gaza  and in some cases separate from Israel itself.

After the on-campus protests, Emory moved its graduation off campus to Gwinnett County.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash, has been buried, Trend reports.

According to the information, Raisi was buried in Mashhad in the Imam Reza shrine.

16:42

The plane carrying the body of the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi landed at Mashhad airport, Trend reports via Iranian media.

The media said that a large number of people and a group of servants of Imam Reza's harem gathered at the airport to pay tribute to the president.

Foreign diplomats, as well as official delegations from neighboring countries, also went to Mashhad to attend the funeral ceremony.

To note, on May 19, a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Tabriz Province Imam Ayatollah Ali Hashim, and East Azerbaijan Province Governor-General Malek Rahmati crashed while flying from Khudafarin to Tabriz.

Following the crash, communication with the helicopter crew was established twice, but it was subsequently lost.

The Iranian President and the entire accompanying delegation were confirmed dead.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The defense ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia met in the Lithuanian town of Palanga on May 22 and agreed on their key goals ahead of the upcoming NATO summit, including an allied commitment to invest at least 2.5% of GDP in defense.

The allied countries have been ramping up their defense spending after the outbreak of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, with 18 NATO members expected to hit the current 2% mark in 2024.

Estonia's Hanno Pevkur, Lithuania's Laurynas Kasciunas, and Latvia's Andris Spruds also stressed their continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and confirmed their pledge to allocate at least 0.25% of their budget every year to aid Kyiv.

The three Baltic countries have been among Ukraine's staunchest supporters since the outbreak of the all-out war and repeatedly called for more decisive steps on NATO's side against Russian aggression.

During the summit, which will take place in Washington in July, the three countries also aim to push for NATO allies to strengthen critical capabilities, develop NATO regional defense plans, and discuss the practical implementation of the air defense rotation model.

"We need to make more concerted efforts to commit allies to focus on critical missing capabilities in the short term," Kasciunas said.

The ministers also agreed to accelerate cooperation on the Baltic defense lines, thus strengthening NATO's forward defense. All of the three countries border Russia, and Latvia and Lithuania border Moscow's key regional ally, Belarus.

Given their geographical location, there are worries among the Baltic countries that they might be the first target in the case of an all-out conflict between NATO and Russia.

"Russia will remain a long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security and especially to the Baltic countries, so the solidarity of our countries must be more important than ever," Kasciunas commented.

Read also: Latvia announces new military aid package for Ukraine, includes air defense

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A sign is shown at North Las Vegas City Hall is Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, in North Las Vegas. (Ronda Churchill/Nevada Current)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

Home to more than 275,000 residents, the City of North Las Vegas is the states fourth most populous incorporated city  behind Las Vegas, Henderson, and Reno.

The nonpartisan North Las Vegas City Council includes the mayor and four members, who each represent a ward. This year, seats for two of the wards are up for reelection, but only one will appear on the June primary ballot.

Ward 2: Garcia-Anderson, Taylor, Riley

In Ward 2, Councilwoman Ruth Garcia-Anderson is seeking her first full term. The incumbent faces two competitors: small business owner Robert Twixx Taylor and Air Force veteran Billy Lamont Riley.

If any candidate receives more than 50% of the votes during the primary, they will win the seat outright. If nobody reaches a majority, the top two vote getters move forward and appear on the November general election ballot.

Garcia-Anderson was appointed to her seat by the North Las Vegas City Council in December 2022 after then-Councilwoman Pamela Goynes-Brown was elected mayor.

Ward 2 runs roughly from Rancho Drive to Interstate 15, and from Lake Mead Boulevard to Centennial Parkway.

Garcia-Anderson is endorsed by Goynes-Brown, and her fellow council members, Isaac Barron, Scott Black, and Richard Cherchio. She is also endorsed by the North Las Vegas Police Officers Association, the Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 13, and Sheet Metal Workers Local 88.

Her campaign raised more than $23,000 in campaign contributions during the first quarter reporting period. Station Casinos was her biggest campaign donor, donating $10,000.

Since her appointment, Garcia-Anderson has served as the vice chair of the North Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency, and as a member of the North Las Vegas Deferred Compensation Plan Committee.

The mother of four earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Business with a minor in Marketing, as well as a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Spanish from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Before being appointed to city council, Garcia-Anderson spent more than a decade in North Las Vegas as a stay at home mom. Prior to that, she worked as a Spanish language interpreter for courts in Washoe County.

Garcia-Anderson is the first Latina to serve on the city council. She highlighted her skill as a bilingual speaker as a selling point for her reelection.

I think that is an important skill to recognize, because Im able to communicate with the vast majority of the residents living in the City of North Las Vegas, Garcia-Anderson said.

North Las Vegas is Nevadas largest minority-majority city: 42% of residents identify as white, while 42% identify as Hispanic or Latino, 22% as Black, and 6.7% as Asian.

While campaigning in Ward 2, Garcia-Anderson said she found that residents top priorities were public safety, the rehabilitation of neighborhoods, and education.

Robert Twixx Taylor, owner of Fade Em All barber shops, said his campaign is focused on personally connecting to residents of Ward 2 through door-to-door engagement.

I literally knock on doors personally, myself, every day, said Taylor.

Taylor previously served on the City of North Las Vegas Civil Service Board of Trustees, the Las Vegas Metro Multicultural Advisory Council, and the Urban Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Taylor also ran for mayor in 2022 but did not make it to the general election.

Taylor has been endorsed by various progressive groups, including the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) Action Fund and Make the Road Action Nevada, the organizations campaign arm. Taylor was also endorsed by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 1977.

His campaign reported nearly $17,000 in campaign contributions during the first quarter of 2024. His largest single contribution was $2,500 from Rosalind Cotton, the executive director of the Childrens Center in Chicago.

Taylor described himself as extremely self motivated, recounting how he opened his first barber shop at 23 before developing a chain of shops in North Las Vegas. He also runs a professional event promotions company called Two: Ent. His experience as a small business owner is what led him to getting involved in politics, he said.

I got hindered a few times by the local government, Taylor said.

He recounted a time when the main road to his barber shop was shut down for repair for nearly three months, costing him business and employees.

I saw how they started putting all this money into that new North Las Vegas downtown situation. But for some reason, they werent doing anything to the property where my barber shop was, Taylor said. One of the big reasons Im running is that Im a business owner, and I feel like North Las Vegas can do better supporting small business owners.

Taylor said hes employed hundreds of North Las Vegas residents over the years. He believes his experience with problem-solving, networking, and leadership would serve Ward 2 effectively.

Im the only candidate whos a business owner and who hires people in North Las Vegas. And Im the only candidate who has a 20-year-plus background of doing community work in our community. I am the clear choice, Taylor said. Both of the other candidates have been appointed by the city. I want to be appointed by the people, the citizens, and with their vote Ill be appointed to work for them.

While campaigning in Ward 2, Taylor said some of the most common concerns from residents were public safety, road maintenance, and education.

In one specific neighborhood, the neighbors took it upon themselves and put their own speed bumps and their own cones. And they have their own signs warning about children and they say they all agree to it, Taylor said. If I become the councilman, I want to make sure that becomes a real thing versus the community using their own money. I dont think they should have to do that.

Billy Lamont Riley, a U.S. Air Force veteran, is also a contender in the race to represent Ward 2. Rileys campaign reported $700 in campaign contributions during the first quarter of 2024.

Riley was appointed to the North Las Vegas Planning Commission in 2021, a role he is still serving. Riley earned a bachelors and graduate degree from Bellevue University in 2002 and an associate degree from Metropolitan Community College in 2012.

He has been endorsed by Teamsters Local 14, Teamsters Local 631, and Teamsters Local 986. He was also endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees.

Riley did not respond to Currents requests for an interview.

On his campaign Facebook page, Riley said the city has been plagued by illegal dumping on vacant lots near neighborhoods, an issue he plans to address if elected. He listed affordable housing, public safety, education, economic development, infrastructure, and the environment as top priorities on a Ballotpedias candidate survey.

Both Garcia-Anderson and Taylor are in support of a pair of ballot initiatives set to appear on the citys June primary ballot that would extend two existing property taxes used to fund public safety, street maintenance and public parks.

The street improvement tax collects 24 cents per $100 in property value and is set to expire in June 2025, while the public safety tax collects 20 cents per $100 in property valuation and is set to expire in June 2027. Together, the taxes brought in nearly $35 million in the 2023 fiscal year, according to a city budget document.

Im 100% in support of maintaining these taxes. The tax is not increasing. The citys not going to be increasing the tax, were just maintaining it to keep our city safe, Garcia-Anderson said.

I think its important to ensure that we have enough trained officers patrolling our communities especially at night, so that their response time is improved. As well as 911 response time for medics, sometimes that just takes too long, she continued.

Taylor said the city needs to maintain funding levels, which yes votes would do: We cant go lower when there are police officer vacancies and roads that need repair.

But I feel that we need a deeper dive. Yes, I agree with it. I do support it, but once again, thats something weve already been having but we still only have half of the staff we need. We need to use our money better to recruit, he continued.

Garcia-Anderson and Taylor have different positions on a proposal to tie rent increases to cost of living increases, as proposed by the Culinary Union last year.

Garcia-Anderson said she would not support such an initiative without statewide implementation: I would not support rent control only affecting North Las Vegas because that would affect the quality of homes. There would be no incentives for investors to come in, and I think we would see a decrease in property values.

Taylor said when he ran for mayor in 2022 he did not see the need for such legislation, but has changed his position after seeing rent prices dramatically increase since then.

If elected, Taylor said he would also prioritize zoning, land use, and affordable housing. Taylor said the city council needs to find solutions to prevent out-of-state investors from monopolizing housing stock, which Taylor said is contributing to rising housing costs and the housing shortage.

We cant price ourselves out of our own city, out of our own state. That doesnt make sense, Taylor said.

Ward 4: Cherchio

Incumbent Councilman Richard Cherchio represents Ward 4 and is running unopposed, meaning his name will not appear on June primary ballots but will appear as the only option on the November ballot.

Ward 3 runs roughly south of Bruce Woodbury Beltway to Craig Road, and from Aliante Parkway to Pecos Road.

His campaign raised nearly $108,000 in contributions during the first quarter reporting period. His largest single contributor was the Laborers International Union Local 872, who donated $10,000 to his campaign.

Cherchio did not respond to Currents requests for an interview.

North Las Vegas City Council appointed Cherchio to represent Ward 4 in 2009. He ran to retain the seat in 2011 but lost in the general election by a single vote. He ran again in 2015 and 2019 and won both times.

Before running for public office, Cherchio worked as a USPS mail carrier for more than two decades, according to his campaign site.

On his campaign site, Cherchio lists various initiatives he helped achieve as a member of the North Las Vegas City Council for more than a decade. Those initiatives include the construction of a Veterans Resource Center, a Job Creation Zone on Pecos Road, establishing the Tule Springs Fossil Bed National Monument, and helping the City of North Las Vegas recover from a $150 million deficit.

The post Barbershop chain owner, veteran challenge incumbent for North Las Vegas City Council appeared first on Nevada Current.
Beach weather is here and so are sharks. Scientists say it's time to look out for great whites

FILE - A great white shark swims at the Monterey Bay Aquarium's million-gallon, multi-species Outer Bay Exhibit, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, in Monterey, Calif. Scientists with a Boston aquarium are encouraging beachgoers to report sightings of white sharks this holiday weekend after signs of shark bites were observed on multiple marine mammals. (AP Photo/Salinas Californian, Richard Green, file)

PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  Scientists with a Boston aquarium are encouraging beachgoers to report sightings of white sharks this holiday weekend after signs of shark bites were observed on multiple marine mammals.

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer in New England, and the region has been experiencing beach weather already. That's a good reason to be on the lookout for the sharks, often referred to as great whites, said John Chisholm, an adjunct scientist at the New England Aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life.

The aquarium received a report of a minke whale with a white shark bite off Chatham, Massachusetts, recently, and this is also the time of year scientists expect to see the sharks head to inshore waters to hunt seals, the aquarium said Thursday.

"Although we havent seen a white shark just yet this season, we know theyre here," Chisholm said. With beach weather in the forecast and Memorial Day weekend approaching, this is a good reminder for people to review shark safety guidelines and be shark smart.

Its wise for beachgoers to be aware of the presence of sharks in shallow waters and avoid areas where seals are present or schools of fish are visible, Chisholm said.

Members of the public can report sightings of white sharks via the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's Sharktivity app. The increased sightings of the sharks have been a topic of conversation in New England in recent years.

Efforts to better track white sharks are underway up and down the East Coast. The white shark conservancy said last month that it had deployed its second camera tag on a white shark.

The conservancy said the camera tags are critical to better understand the northwest Atlantic white shark population. The device was clamped to the fin of a female white shark off the South Carolina coast, the conservancy said. The conservancy worked with charter captain Chip Michalove to pin the shark's eye view camera to the big fish.

I never thought Id be holding the dorsal fin of a great white shark and applying this type of technology, Michalove said.
Who Is Behind Naussany Investments, the Mysterious Company at the Center of the Graceland Sale Dispute?

Naussany Investments' attempted foreclosure sale of Elvis Presley's famous property was halted on Wednesday by a Memphis judge

Mick Hutson/Redferns Graceland ca. 1970

When Riley Keough filed documents looking to halt an apparent sale of Graceland, all eyes were on the defendants. Just what was Naussany Investments & Private Lending, and what connection did the mysterious company claiming to have a deed on the property have to the Presley family?

As it turns out, the answer appears to be little to none.

Keough, who inherited Graceland when her mother Lisa Marie Presley died in 2023, wrote in her filing that she and her legal team believed Naussany was a false entity created for the purpose of defrauding the Presleys.

Though the company claimed to have made Lisa Marie a $3.8 million loan that she did not repay, Keoughs filing said her mothers signatures on an apparent Standard Promissory Note and a deed of trust were forged, and the woman Naussany claimed notarized the documents said shed never met Lisa Marie.

On Wednesday, a judge in Memphis halted the foreclosure sale of Graceland scheduled for Thursday, and hours later, someone who claimed to be named Gregory Naussany emailed Keoughs attorneys, saying hed be withdrawing his claim on Graceland.

Related: Graceland Lawsuit Claims Dropped Hours After Judge Sides with Riley Keough, Throws Out Foreclosure Sale

getty; redferns Riley Keough, Graceland

Naussany Investments & Private Lending remains shrouded in mystery; the company has no internet presence, including social media or websites, and email addresses linked to the company in court documents end in outlook.com and hotmail.com, not a business website.

Court documents list the company as having a P.O. box in Kimberling City, Missouri and Hollister, Missouri. Theres also a return address listed on a copy of something they apparently mailed to Lisa Marie in 2022, but the address is a United States Postal Service location in Jacksonville, Florida and not a business office.

The Secretary of States offices in Missouri and Florida found no businesses registered with the Naussany name, according to Fox 13 Memphis.

GAB Archive/Redferns Graceland in 2018.

Related: Judge Halts Graceland Sale After Riley Keough Slammed Foreclosure Attempt as 'Fraudulent'

Kurt Naussany is listed as a defendant in Keoughs filing, as her attorneys claim he sent numerous emails trying to collect the $3.8 million and threatening to sell Graceland. But when reached by PEOPLE via an email listed in the court documents, he responded, Please do not contact, and shared an email for Gregory Naussany that bounced back.

Kurt Naussany told NBC News that he left the company in 2015, and that it was Gregory who handled all loans with Ms. Presley. Kurt later followed up with the outlet, saying that he knew Lisa Marie for years, but never did any loans for her.

PEOPLEs searches in public databases found no contact information for a Gregory Naussany, though someone claiming to be him reached out to Keoughs attorneys confirming he did not intend to move forward with the companys claim.

Gregory Naussany also allegedly sent an email confirming the same information to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, though the outlet said the message was riddled with grammatical errors.

Naussany Investments could possibly face federal charges for fraud, a source tells PEOPLE. The FBI Memphis division did not confirm or deny the investigation and The Office of the U.S. Attorney had no comment on the possibility when reached by PEOPLE.

According to a source, if an investigation does take place, it would be conducted by the FBI along with the DOJ Memphis bureau and possibly the state. The DOJ would indict the individual(s) if the person was found to be fraudulent and arrests would be made.

Elvis Presley bought Graceland in 1957 for $102,500. He lived there for the next 20 years, until his death in 1977, and the property was opened to the public in 1982.



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Read the original article on People.
Belleville Historical Society is asking St. Clair County and the city of Belleville to halt a plan to demolish a vacant storefront on West Main Street that was built during the Civil War.

The county acquired it last fall after 10 years of unpaid property taxes that ended up part of bankruptcies filed by former owners. City officials had complained about the buildings derelict condition. Its supposed to come down within 90 days of a May 1 contract.

Society President Larry Betz implored aldermen at a City Council meeting Monday night to pause the demolition and give experts a chance to assess what could be done to save the storefront at 1013 W. Main St.

Theres a list of a whole bunch of people (on a sign out front) that think theyre really doing a grand thing for Belleville by tearing this building down, and I would say theyre not, he said.

Betz suggested that the $35,800 earmarked for demolition be used for restoration instead.

The 2 1/2-story brick storefront is in Town of West Belleville Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places but has no restrictions beyond regular housing codes. Local residents have been working to preserve and promote its history, which began in 1852.

Bob Brunkow, the Societys historian, said the storefront is on one of the citys few remaining fully-intact blocks of historical buildings, although some are hidden by siding or facades.

Betz likened demolition of a storefront in a row of storefronts to someone pulling a tooth, leaving a gaping hole, and he argued that vacant lots between buildings give neighborhoods a blighted look.

The fact that they didnt consider other options, thats the thing that bothers me, Brunkow said. Demolition has become the go-to.

The city of Belleville has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to tear down more than 100 derelict homes and other buildings in the past 12 years. Some people worry that its destroying the citys rich architectural history. Others applaud the elimination of eyesores.

The West Main Street storefront is unstable and falling apart, according to Mayor Patty Gregory.

Its a safety issue, she said.

St. Clair County, on request from the city of Belleville, plans to demolish a storefront at 1013 W. Main St., center. The 2 1/2-story brick building is covered with tan vinyl siding that is peeling off.

County got state grant

St. Clair County announced earlier this month that it would use a $2 million state grant to demolish unsafe and blighted buildings it had acquired through foreclosure from owners who neglected to pay property taxes.

The first round includes the storefront at 1013 W. Main St. and 30 homes in Cahokia Heights, which Director of Building and Zoning Anne Markezich called the worst of the worst. Shes overseeing the demolition project.

The total cost for the first round is $260,780. The most expensive demolition involves the storefront at $35,800.

Its a danger right now. The brick is falling off, Markozich said, referring to an area at the top of the building, where tan vinyl siding has peeled away, exposing loose brick that now is secured by foam board.

Markozich said she got the list of buildings to be demolished from the states attorneys office, which handled the grant application, and she wasnt sure what was wrong with the West Main Street storefront beyond the loose brick.

Markozich referred questions to Dan Lewis, first assistant states attorney, who didnt return phone calls on Wednesday.

Scott Tyler, the city of Bellevilles director of health, housing and building, said the city had considered demolishing the storefront, which had been vacant and derelict for years.

But we stopped everything, other than barricading the sidewalks off (to protect pedestrians), after we found out it was in the possession of St. Clair County, he said. And we called them, and they said, Yeah, well take care of it, so we didnt send any engineers out there to look at it.

Tyler said he later saw what looked like inspectors at the site and assumed the county had sent them, but he didnt know what they concluded about the storefronts stability.

Betz told the City Council he doubts the building can be torn down without endangering the structural integrity of abutting storefronts on either side. According to county records, both are owned by Ronnie Phillips, who operates the Spaces venue downtown. He couldnt be reached for comment.

Betz said he hasnt been inside the storefront at 1013 W. Main St., but it looks stable on the outside.

The roof seems to be in good shape, front and back, and thats the most important part, he said. ... You dont tear a building down just because there are a couple of bricks falling off of it. That can be fixed.

This drone photo shows historic storefronts on the north side of West Main Street, between 10th Street and 11th Street. St. Clair County plans to demolish the tan-sided one, second from right, which was built in the 1860s.

20 people tried to buy it

St. Clair County Board entered into a contract for the 31 demolitions on May 1 with Hayes Contracting. County Board Chairman Mark Kern said the work would begin immediately.

The contract gives Hayes 90 days to complete the project.

There will be more (demolitions) until the money runs out, Kern said earlier this month.

The storefront at 1013 W. Main St. was most recently owned by Will and Julia Weeks. Will Weeks operated Jamar Properties, a real-estate and management company. He died in 2019.

The Weekses stopped paying property taxes about 10 years ago, and bills got tied up in bankruptcy court, according to Whitney Strohmeyer, president of Joseph E. Meyer & Associates, the Edwardsville-based company that serves as the countys trustee and delinquent-tax agent.

By the time the county foreclosed and obtained a deed in November, the property had accumulated about $40,000 in back taxes and penalties.

We had it in the January auction, and we got 20 bids on it, but it was pulled out of the auction before it ended because the city was going to demolish it, Strohmeyer said, noting that Belleville City Clerk Jenny Meyer notified the trustee in a February email.

Bids had ranged from about $3,000 to $12,500.

Tyler said he isnt sure a purchase would have solved the problem since many anonymous limited-liability companies buy derelict properties at tax auctions for cheap, then continue allowing them to deteriorate.

Eric Schauster, the citys assistant director of economic development, planning and zoning, questioned the historical significance of the storefront at 1013 W. Main St. compared to other buildings in Town of West Belleville Historic District.

Schauster pointed to a survey conducted before the district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.

That property was listed as being a non-contributing property, he said. According to the survey, it did not contribute to the historic value of the district at that time, likely because it was covered with siding.

Brunkow said the non-contributing categorization doesnt lessen the storefronts importance because such buildings can become contributing if siding or facades are removed to reveal original structures.

This 1910 photo shows the business district of West Belleville, by then part of Belleville. Buildings to the right, 1007-1021 W. Main St., are all still standing, albeit covered with siding or facades in some cases.

Town established in 1852

The town of West Belleville was established in 1852. Some of its streets, such as Silver, Gold and Iron, were later renamed.

The towns public square was at the intersection of what is now West Main Street and 11th Street. It had a wagon-size scale, where businesses could weigh commodities, mainly coal and hay, that were being sold.

Town leaders decided to merge with Belleville in 1882.

Brunkow believes Jacob and Rosalie Schlupp, German immigrants from France, built the storefront at what is now 1013 W. Main St. between 1860 and 1866, when they sold it to Philip Weber for $4,000. For the first two decades, it housed a saloon. Then Philip Schmidt rented it.

He was not only a dealer but a maker of shoes, Brunkow said.

The storefront later housed a millinery, meat market, dry-goods store and bakery before the Weekses bought it in the 1980s.

Belleville Historical Society stopped demolition of another building on the southwest corner of West Main Street and 11th Street in 2011. The German-American folk house was built around 1875. Volunteers are gradually restoring it as a visitor center for the historic district.

The city recently erected signs explaining the history of West Belleville, but officials havent followed through on a plan to install brick sidewalks, according to Betz.

Weve taken steps to save a very significant house in West Belleville, and there are other people who are trying to highlight the historic value of the area, but thats getting harder to do when theyre taking down buildings, he said.

Its time for the city to step up and do their part, if they deem that the architectural history of Belleville is important.

Gregory and Schauster said officials have worked with developers to preserve several historic buildings through the citys Infill Redevelopment Program, and they expect that to grow in the future.

A developer went through the program in March to buy a derelict 1884 mansion on East D Street for $1 with plans to renovate it. That home was slated for demolition before news coverage garnered interest.

Were ramping (the Infill program) up, Schauster said.

Belleville Historic Society President Larry Betz reads a sign on Monday that identifies a storefront at 1013 W. Main St. as a structure subject to the St. Clair County Demolition Program.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in Detroit May 17, 2022 | Ken Coleman

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is set to release a book in early 2025, according to a Wednesday announcement.

In an email to supporters of her 2022 campaign and a post to X, Benson shared she has been writing a novel for the past three years, which relays her account of efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and how readers can channel their fears and frustrations into fighting for themselves and their community.

In early 2021 I started writing about what I saw, experienced, and lived through as one of the Women from Michigan in 2020, Benson said in an email to supporters. Turns out I had a lot to write about.

Thats a reference to the three Democratic women in top executive positions in Michigan  Benson, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel  who all have been criticized by former President Donald Trump, particularly about the 2020 election he lost.

The Purposeful Warrior: Standing Up For Yourself and Your Country, will be published through The Open Field, an imprint of Penguin Random House launched by journalist and former California first lady Maria Shriver.

Whitmer is set to come out with her book, True Gretch, in July.

Benson has expressed interest in running for governor in 2026 when Whitmer is term-limited.

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The post Benson to release book sharing experiences and advice following 2020 election appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Berlin uni says Pro-Palestinian activists must go by Thursday night

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators stand behind a police cordon in front of the Institute of Social Sciences at Humboldt University. Activists have occupied rooms at Berlin's Humboldt University in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Soeren Stache/dpa

Activists who have been occupying rooms at a Berlin university in support of the Palestinians since Wednesday afternoon will be allowed to stay until Thursday evening.

The university's president Julia von Blumenthal said Humboldt University agreed to this after talks with students on Wednesday evening.

The university will tolerate the occupation until 6:00 pm (1600 GMT) on Thursday.

"We expect the occupiers to leave the building peacefully afterwards," said von Blumenthal.

A discussion event will be organized beforehand on Thursday afternoon, attended by the activists, the Presidential Board, and academics.

Around 50 activists have occupied several rooms at the Institute of Social Sciences since Wednesday afternoon.

In a statement, the activists of the group called Student Coalition Berlin accused Israel of "genocide" and "ongoing mass murders." It was about "unconditional solidarity with the Palestinian people."

An occupation of rooms at the Free University of Berlin by the same group was recently broken up by the police.

Alongside the Free University (FU) and the Technical University (TU), Humboldt University is one of the three major universities in the German capital.

Police recently cleared a student occupation at the FU.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators sit and stand in front of the Institute of Social Sciences at Humboldt University. Activists have occupied rooms at Berlin's Humboldt University in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Soeren Stache/dpa

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators place handwritten posters on the Institute of Social Sciences at Humboldt University window. Activists have occupied rooms at Berlin's Humboldt University in support of the Palestinians and protest against Israel. Soeren Stache/dpa
Sure, Detroit is featured in the new trailer for "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" that arrived Thursday morning. After all, it's the hometown of Eddie Murphy's famous detective character.

But while the Los Angeles region where Murphy spends most of his time in the movie is all sunshine and palm trees, the Motor City is ... well, it's depicted in an action scene involving a snowplow and Detroit cop cars.

Clips from the action comedy, which debuts on Netflix on July 3, show Foley mostly wreaking havoc and dropping one-liners in Beverly Hills.

But in a scene set in nighttime Detroit, he's careening around the city in a snowplow as Paul Reiser's character, Detective Jeffrey Friedman of the Detroit Police Department, warns him not to damage any city property.

"You're in a snowplow?" asks a desk cop, who's on the phone with Foley as the high-speed chase ensues.

As several police vehicles are hit, Murphy notes, "A lot of blind spots in a snowplow."

(L to R) Joseph Gordon Levitt as Detective Bobby Abbott and Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley in "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F."

The fourth entry in the "Beverly Hills" cop series is anticipated to be one of the big releases of the summer. It joins 1984's "Beverly Hills Cop," 1987's "Beverly Hills Cop II" and 1994's "Beverly Hills Cop III" in Murphy's signature franchise.

More: 'Beverly Hills Cop 4' notifies Detroit residents it will be using streets for filming

In this installment, Foley teams up with a new partner in Beverly Hills (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and his old buddies (Judge Reinhold and John Ashton) after his daughters (Taylour Page) life is threatened in connection with a conspiracy.

And don't worry. It's not just snowplows that will represent Detroit. In California's swanky suburb, Murphy is wearing the ultimate fashion statement: his classic Lions jacket.

Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit police car, snowplow in 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' trailer
Glashutte Original pays tribute to Dresden with its beautifully hand-engraved PanoMaticInverse limited edition

Anyone going on a pilgrimage to the centre of German fine watchmaking  the valley town of Glashutte  invariably gets there via the city of Dresden which is 30km away, if only to switch trains or get a transfer from the airport.

Of course, if you can find the time, Dresden is well worth a visit in its own right. Known for its beautifully restored baroque quarter  including the Frauenkirche Lutheran church  as well as its Academy of Fine Arts and spectacular setting on the banks of the River Elbe, Dresden has been described as the Florence on the Elbe and the Jewel Box of Germany.

Dresden Frauenkirche and River Elbe

This city serving as the state capital of Saxony also played a key role in the development of Glashutte as a horological hub in the mid-1800s. One of the reasons that the four founding fathers of Glashutte watchmaking  Ferdinand Adolph Lange, Moritz Grossman, Julius Assmann and Adolf Schneider  picked this locale to establish a concentration of watchmaking savoir-faire was because of the nearby clockmaking know-how that Dresden had cultivated.

As a tribute to the majesty of Dresden and its historical ties to Glashuttes success story, watchmaker Glashutte Original has chosen to honour the city by presenting a special 25-piece PanoMaticInverse limited edition in platinum. And it features breath-taking hand-engravings depicting Dresden and all its delights on its dial and back.

Dresden Frauenkirche

Back to Front

A quick recap: Glashutte Originals PanoMaticInverse is the automatic, inverted interpretation of the brands asymmetric time-and-big-date model from its iconic Pano collection. It is inverted in that the balance wheel, its bridge and the movements three-quarter plate have all been swapped around so they are now on the face of the watch instead of at the back.

PanoMaticInverse Limited Edition  Glashutte Original

While that switch helps add some mechanical animation to the front side  with the oscillating balance fully on show  the rhodium-treated surfaces of the three-quarter plate and balance bridge can also serve as an ample canvas for various artistic crafts.

For this special edition, Glashutte Original has chosen the medium of hand-engraving to decorate the dial and back plates of the movement, asking its artisans to portray various sights whose outlines mark out Dresdens cityscape.

On the face of the watch, we find the roof of the citys Academy of Fine Arts and its winged statue, plus the dome of the Frauenkirche, with a hot air balloon flying in the background. Meanwhile, the balance bridge is adorned with baroque motifs. And through the display back, under the skeletonised rotor, we can glimpse a representation of the promenade along the River Elbe, with the inclusion of subtle details like birds and clouds.

PanoMaticInverse Limited Edition dial  Glashutte Original

Understated Elegance

Obviously, with a creation like this, telling the time is almost a fringe benefit. In order to keep the spotlight on the stunning engravings, the off-centred hour-minute subdial and small seconds are displayed on a sapphire crystal structure that is transparent where the Roman numeral hours are and frosted for the minutes and seconds. Above, the skeletonised, blued hands manage to pop and match the surrounding blued screws. And powering the indications is the finely-finished, in-house self-winding Calibre 91-03 with 45-hour power reserve.

In-house self-winding Calibre 91-03  Glashutte Original

Given that the hand-engravings constitute a miniature work of art, the 42mm by 12.3mm case provides the perfect frame for it. Its clean lines and brushed and polish surfaces exude understated elegance. The brand has paired this sober housing with a navy Louisiana alligator leather strap with folding clasp in platinum to match the case material.

Limited to 25 pieces and priced just below CHF 50,000, this PanoMaticInverse Tribute to Dresden limited edition is certainly one of Glashutte Originals more costly pieces, but that figure is more than justified in all the artisanal goodness going on here.

For more information, please visit the Glashutte Original website. Or better still, discover this watch in the metal at the brands boutique located in  you guessed it  Dresden, just a stones throw from the citys Frauenkirche!
The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement estimated to be worth $310 million with railway company Norfolk Southern after one of its trains spilled chemicals into the town of East Palestine, Ohio, last year.

That includes an estimated $235 million for cleanup efforts and a $15 million penalty for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. The violations are described as alleged, as the company is not admitting to wrongdoing under the settlement.

In addition, the settlement provides $25 million for a 20-year community health program including long-term health monitoring, $15 million for 10 years of groundwater and surface water monitoring, and $15 million for a private drinking water monitoring fund.

Norfolk Southern will also be required to improve the safety of trains that transport hazardous materials by rail, including by installing devices to detect overheated wheel bearings in time to prevent derailments.

The agreement needs to be approved by a judge before it becomes final.

The company estimates that it will spend more than $200 million in rail safety and a total of more than $1 billion to address the contamination caused by its derailment last year.

The federal suit is separate from the $600 million class action settlement that was recently approved for residents.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan touted the settlement as beneficial to the East Palestine community.

Because of this settlement, residents and first responders will have greater access to health services, trains will be safer, and waterways will be cleaner, Regan said in a written statement.

Norfolk Southerns President and CEO Alan Shaw said in a written statement that he was pleased we were able to reach a timely resolution.

We will continue keeping our promises and are invested in the communitys future for the long-haul, Shaw added.

The derailment became a political flashpoint, with Republicans saying the Biden administration did not do enough and criticizing President Biden for not traveling to the area in the immediate aftermath.

Last week, a former EPA contractor raised concerns about how long it took the agency to deploy a plan thats used to detect unusual chemical or radiological signals in the air.

The Biden administration, meanwhile, has defended its response. The EPA says that it immediately began to monitor the environmental impacts of the derailment and has collected thousands of air, water and soil samples.

The agency says that no chemicals of concern have been found in the air since an evacuation order was lifted days after the incident.

The derailment also spurred a bipartisan effort to pass a rail safety bill. However, a number of Republicans have put up resistance to the measure.

The train was carrying chemicals including vinyl chloride, which is used to make plastic and has been linked to cancers with long-term exposure.

 Updated 12:10 p.m.

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 The Hill.
Is Biden about to allow US weapons to be used in Ukraine? - Ukraine: The Latest

Today, we discuss the latest from the Kharkiv battlefield, hear warnings from Norwegian intelligence of Russian sabotage operations across Europe, ask whether theres about to be a shift in US policy over the use of western weapons inside Russia. Later, we hear about a new film exploring the soldiers road to redemption..

Listen to Ukraine: the Latest, The Telegraphs daily podcast, using the audio player at the top of this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.

War in Ukraine is reshaping our world. Every weekday The Telegraphs top journalists analyse the invasion from all angles - military, humanitarian, political, economic, historical - and tell you what you need to know to stay updated.

With over 70 million listens, our Ukraine: The Latest podcast is your go-to source for all the latest analysis, live reaction and correspondents reporting on the ground. We have been broadcasting ever since the full-scale invasion began.

Ukraine: The Latests regular contributors are:

David Knowles

David is Head of Audio Development at The Telegraph, where he has worked for over three years. He has reported from across Ukraine during the full-scale invasion.

Dominic Nicholls

Dom is Associate Editor (Defence) at The Telegraph, having joined in 2018. He previously served for 23 years in the British Army, in tank and helicopter units. He had operational deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland.

Francis Dearnley

Francis is Assistant Comment Editor at The Telegraph. Prior to working as a journalist, he was chief of staff to the Chair of the Prime Ministers Policy Board at the Houses of Parliament in London. He studied History at Cambridge University and on the podcast explores how the past shines a light on the latest diplomatic, political, and strategic developments.

They are also regularly joined by Telegraph reporters and correspondents around the world, including Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent), James Kilner, (Foreign Correspondent and Editor of the Central Asia & the South Caucasus Bulletin), Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent), Nataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent), Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent), Colin Freeman (Foreign Correspondent), Danielle Sheridan (Defence Editor), and Tony Diver (US Editor).

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.
Biden campaign official meets with Haley supporters hours after she said shed vote for Trump

A Biden campaign official met Wednesday night with Nikki Haley supporters from across several states in a pre-scheduled Zoom call hours after the former Republican presidential candidate said she would be voting for Donald Trump, two sources familiar with the call told CNN.

The meeting was part of an ongoing effort by the Biden campaign to reach out to Haley voters. It was organized by the Haley Voters Working Group.

Conservative Haley backers from Virginia, Massachusetts, Vermont, California, Florida, Georgia, Arizona and North Carolina joined the call, including members of Haleys former state leadership teams and the organization Women for Nikki.

The call, which one source characterized as a constructive initial step, began with a Q&A session for about 35 minutes with the Biden campaign official, who wanted to know which policy issues were most important to the Haley supporters. Another source confirmed that the official on the call was Juan Penalosa, the deputy political director for President Joe Bidens campaign.

After Penalosa left the call, the source said the conversation continued among the group, with a few moments of mourning over Haleys decision to back Trump along with a recognition that it wasnt a full-throated endorsement.

Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me, and not assume that theyre just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does that, Haley said Wednesday at the conservative Hudson Institute in Washington.

Robert Schwartz, the executive director of the Haley Voters Working Group, said that despite the disappointment over the former South Carolina governor saying she would vote for Trump, there was an understanding that this was a choice she was likely to make.

A lot of these people in this group are big supporters of Nikki Haley and want to support her in 2028, he said. Theyre legit Republicans and conservatives, and so they dont want to see Trump destroy the party.

As some Republican voters continue to show support for Haley in primaries since she left the presidential race in March, the Biden campaign is focused on expanding its outreach and talking to these voters, especially in battleground states.

The campaign stressed to CNN that this is part of a larger outreach program targeting GOP voters, which will include dedicated staff and grassroots-driven efforts as the general election approaches.

The campaign issued a press release Thursday afternoon entitled To Haley Voters: Theres a Home For You on Team Biden-Harris.

While Donald Trump continues to attack moderate Republican and independent voters, the Biden campaign is investing to talk to these voters and working to earn their support, the release read.

Schwartz concurred with that sentiment.

While Trump has done absolutely nothing to gain the support of Haley voters and takes them for granted, Biden and his campaign are actively reaching out to build a coalition of Republicans and they know they need to earn their vote. We welcome their initial engagements and know they plan to do much more in the coming months, he said.

On the call Wednesday, the Haley voters raised some of their pressing policy concerns with Penalosa, including the southern border, Ukraine and Israel. Amanda Stewart Sprowls, a Haley supporter from Arizona, expressed a desire for an executive order or some type of strong action from Biden to address the US-Mexico border.

The Daily Beast was first to report on the Zoom call.

Haley supporters say what it would take to earn their vote

Describing herself as politically homeless, Alissa Baker, of Ashburn, Virginia, who was on Haleys Virginia leadership team, told CNN shes undecided and looking at all her options, including Biden.

Baker heard the initial message from Biden that theres a place for Haley voters in his campaign. The call with Penalosa, she said, was the start of a conversation and an opportunity for him to express what that really means.

Dont keep telling us, Democracy is on the ballot, like, we get it, she said. We get that Trumps a problem. Like, you dont have to tell us, you know, so we wanted to move past that and have that substantive discussion.

Asked what it would take for the Trump campaign to earn her vote, Baker said, I dont know that they think they have to earn our vote.

I think that they assume that well just come home, which is a very bad assumption, she added.

Chris Rauen of Paradise, California, is a former Haley supporter who was also on the call. He identifies as a Reagan Republican and is leaning toward Biden right now.

To earn his vote, Rauen told CNN he wants the Biden campaign to move a little bit more to the center on some foreign policy issues and hear less of the raising of taxes.

Rauen was deeply disappointed when he heard Haley say that she is voting for Trump.

Stewart Sprowls  a lifelong Republican, business owner and mom of three  is concerned about employment, criminal activity in border states and the real threat of fentanyl in Arizona.

We need Biden to deliver on centrist policy over the next six months, and an executive order to close the border would go a long way, she added.

As for Trump, Stewart Sprowls said at this point she is not voting for him.

He has not reached out to Haley Republicans, she said. I do not agree with Trumps populist economic policies and his divisiveness. I also strongly disagree with Trumps stance on Ukraine.

This story has been updated with additional reporting.

CNNs Phil Mattingly contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A group of Nikki Haley supporters from Vermont to Arizona met with President Joe Bidens campaign on Wednesday night almost immediately after she announced her plan to vote for Donald Trump, The Daily Beast has learned.

In the previously unreported meeting, a Biden campaign representative listened to the concerns of top Haley supporters from various states as part of Bidenworlds ongoing outreach to win over Haley voters.

The fact they actually sent someone last night to speak to a small group  I think thats a good signal that theyre aware there are huge numbers of Haley voters out there, Robert Schwartz, founder of the Haley Voters For Biden PAC, told The Daily Beast. Schwartz said the meeting was highly encouraging, and likened it to other listening sessions the Biden campaign has done with the pro-Palestinian uncommitted vote.

The Biden campaign did not immediately return a request for comment on the meeting.

Bidenworld Candidate Says Shes a Renter, But She Owns a $1.2M House

Ever since the GOP primary wrapped up, the Biden team has identified Haley voters as a key persuasion target with a unique set of key issues, particularly around Trumps attacks on democracy and the general notion of restoring decency to the office. The Biden campaign has continued trying to refine their definition of a persuadable Haley voter over the past few months, focusing on paid media, Haleys margins in key battleground precincts from the primary, and simply listening to their concerns.

Notably, Haley made sure to point out in her remarks about planning to vote for Trump that she still wants to see his campaign work to court her supporters, something the Trump campaign has largely ignored since the end of the primary.

Haley called Bidens term in office catastrophic, but Schwartz said hes still optimistic that Haley voters will ultimately shuffle over into the Biden column.

She has a very wide coalition of voters, including some from the center-left, the center, and conservatives. And I think among strong conservatives, there are a lot of disagreements about Bidens policy, Schwartz said. While I respectfully disagree with her decision to support Trump, I would also respectfully disagree with her characterization of Biden being catastrophic.

The continued outreach is the most encouraging sign for Schwartz, who called the impromptu meeting a big deal.

Thats an important development: the Biden campaign isnt only investing in digital ads and the traditional media to reach out to Haley voters, Schwartz said, but now we've been asking them to actually come and talk to them just like they've been talking to uncommitted voters and listen to what Haley voters are asking for and what their policy priorities are.

A Zoom meeting may not be the most earth-shattering development in the campaign so far, but Schwartz said its a crucial step for the Biden campaign to gain an edge with this key voting bloc.

It's critical that they make a serious, genuine effort to listen to them.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Kenya to become major non-Nato ally to US as Biden rolls out red carpet for president William Ruto

President Joe Biden and Kenyas President William Ruto meet with business leaders in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (AP)

President Joe Biden will notify Congress that he is designating the Republic of Kenya a major non-Nato ally signifying the East African nations growing role on the world stage as he hosts Kenyan President William Ruto for a state visit.

A senior administration official who briefed reporters on Mr Bidens plans said the decision was part of an administration-wide effort towards elevating and really acknowledging that Kenya is already a global partner of ours

The designation is one that the US government grants to nations outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation with which it has close and strategic working relationships. Kenya will be the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to receive such a designation.

The official said Mr Bidens decision is evidence of one of the major themes of Mr Rutos visit, which will be the first state visit by an African leader since 2008. That theme, they said, is Kenyas growing leadership worldwide.

Kenya has moved from a partner for us who we partner with on regional issues, to a partner with whom we partner on global issues and to solve global challenges, the official said, citing Kenyas government having raised its hand when not a lot of other actors did to assume a leadership role in the multinational security force that is set to be deployed to Haiti to quell months of civil unrest there.

Weve been partnering with Congress to provide $300 million to support Kenyas mission in Haiti so theyre definitely not going alone. But we do see this as a mark of their global partnership for us, the official added.

Mr Ruths arrival in Washington for the state visit marks six decades of formal relations between Washington and Nairobi. It comes nearly three years after Mr Biden outlined a new vision for a 21st-century US-Africa partnership and a new US strategy for sub-Saharan Africa.

Kenya President William Ruto takes the oath of office at the Moi International Sports Center Kasarani in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 13, 2022 during the inauguration ceremony (AFP via Getty Images)

The official said the years since the release of those documents have been all about delivering on that making that vision real, including by hosting the 2022 US-Africa Leaders Summnit, investing more than $55bn into Africa, and dispatching more than 20 members of Mr Bidens cabinet and heads of executive agencies to the African continent on official business.

From the Biden administration standpoint, we do believe ... that Africa will shape the future and we see Kenya's growing leadership worldwide as a prime example of this, they said.

The official also said Mr Rutos visit to Washington will see the Biden administration announce other initiatives including on climate and health matters, such as programs to expand health manufacturing capacity and testing capabilities in Kenya that will serve Africa and the world and efforts to make clean energy industrialization a core pillar of the partnership between Washington and Nairobi.

Another big theme of the visit, the official said, would be the idea that this is a partnership anchored in democracy and powered by people

Democracy is obviously on the backfoot globally, and we see Kenya as an important, stable democracy in East Africa, they continued, adding that both the US and Kenyan delegations for the official visit program feature mayors, some national officials, opposition officials, parliamentarians, county governors [and] civil society.

This underscores that our democracies are way bigger than just one person or one institution. So ... when we think about the partnership of democracies, we see that as a huge focus of it as well.
As the timeline for the deployment of a multinational security force led by Kenya into a gang-ridden Haiti continues to face delays, President Joe Biden and his Kenyan counterpart on Thursday defended the mission, saying they believe the force can help bring peace and stability to the volatile Caribbean country.

Biden also addressed for the first time publicly why hes refusing to commit American troops to Haiti. The country is closer to Florida than Nairobi, but Washington has had a long-tortuous history with Haiti ever since the United States deployed Marines on the heels of a presidential assassination at the start of the century and then stayed for 19 years.

We concluded that for the United States to deploy forces in the hemisphere, it just raises all kinds of questions that can be easily misrepresented by what were trying to do, and be able to be used by those who disagree with us and against the interest of Haiti and the United States, Biden said during a joint press conference with his East African counterpart.

Haiti is in an area of the Caribbean that is very volatile, he later added. And were in a situation where we want to do all we can without us looking like America once again is stepping over, deciding, This is what must be done. Haitians are looking for help, as well as the folks in the Caribbean are looking for help.

President Joe Biden and President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya (not pictured) hold a joint press conference on Thursday, May 23, 2024 in Washington, D.C., during Rutos state visit to the United States.

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are hosting Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife, Rachel, on a state visit this week to mark 60 years of U.S.-Kenyan relations. The Rutos arrived in the U.S. on Monday, the same day that a six-member assessment team made up of senior security planners from Nairobi landed in Port-au-Prince to determine if preparations were in place for the first contingent of 1,000 Kenyan police officers to be deployed.

U.S. congressional and Haitian sources confirmed to the Miami Herald and McClatchy that the team found a shortage in the equipment needed  from armored vehicles to helicopters  to do medical evacuations should casualties arise. The reality immediately dashed hopes of any announcement about the forces arrival during the press conference.

Neither Ruto nor Biden committed a date to the deployment. Nor did either address the concerns raised about the missions lack of readiness.

Ruto also deflected a question about whether the Kenyans will be engaged in actual operations with the Haitian police or serve more as a static force, protecting key government infrastructures like the airport and seaport, which have come under attack. Sources have told the Herald and McClatchy that this remains a matter of debate even as they await the Kenyan government to provide the U.S. Security Council with several documents including its rules of engagement ahead of deployment.

We have clear modus operandi, how we are going to relate with the situation on the ground that has been agreed under the United Nations framework, Ruto said. So we are looking forward to this deployment because we believe that the women and children in Haiti deserve peace like all other women and children and people around the world.

Building a coalition

Haiti featured prominently at the joint press conference even though neither leader mentioned the country and its ongoing gang insurgency during their remarks earlier Thursday on the White House lawn.

Since Feb. 29, a united front of armed groups have overtaken police stations, looted and burned hospitals and forced the suspension of commercial flights in a bid to topple the government. When the violence erupted, the countrys prime minister, Ariel Henry, was in Nairobi signing an agreement with Rutos government to have Kenya lead the mission.

Henry was later forced to resign by the Biden administration after it came under pressure from the 15-member Caribbean Community bloc known as CARICOM amid the escalating unrest and calls by political forces and Haitian gangs for the prime minister to resign.

Following Henrys resignation, Ruto put the mission on hold. He announced its resumption after a transitional presidential council was installed last month to find a replacement for Henry, ready the country for the mission and eventually lead Haiti to elections.

Ruto said he has no doubts that his police, working with Haiti National Police, can loosen the grip of Haitis gangs, which now control more than 80% of Port-au-Prince, the capital.

Gangs and criminals do not have nationalities, Ruto said. They have no religion. They have no language. The language is to deal with them firmly, decisively within the parameters of the law. Thats why were building a coalition of nations beyond Kenya and the U.S.

That coalition so far has six countries officially committing through the United Nations to participate in the mission being led by Kenya. It is supposed to consist of 2,500-security personnel, with Kenya drawing battle-trained officers from its paramilitary General Service Unit and Administrative Police Unit.

President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya speaks during a joint press conference with President Joe Biden on Thursday, May 23, 2024 in Washington, D.C.

Still, the initiative has not been without doubts, especially as ruthless Haitian gangs, threatening civil war, continue their run on police stations and critical infrastructures in Port-au-Prince like schools and hospitals. More than 360,000 Haitians have been displaced by the violence, which began escalating with the 2021 assassination of the countrys president Jovenel Moise.

But despite fears that Haiti could soon be facing a humanitarian catastrophe due to the large number of people who have been displaced and the lack of medication and food, the plan to get help to its police to put down gangs has repeatedly faced legal and financial roadblocks.

In Kenya, opposition groups recently filed a new court challenge against the government to stop the deployment after the High Court in Nairobi earlier this year ruled that it was illegal for Kenyan police officers to go to Haiti because the two countries lacked a reciprocal security agreement. Meanwhile in Washington, skeptical GOP lawmakers are blocking $40 million in financing the Biden administration is seeking.

Last week, a new lawsuit was filed in Nairobi after Kenya decided to move ahead with the deployment following a signed agreement with Henry.

Earlier this week, Republican lawmakers also tried to halt the transfer of $60 million in military equipment by the administration through the use of emergency presidential powers, in order to try and fast track the mission.

President Joe Biden and President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya hold a joint press conference on Thursday, May 23 during President Rutos state visit to the United States

Kenya stepping up

Biden made no reference on Thursday to any of the challenges. Instead, he noted that the United States had pledged $300 million for the mission and said were working with Congress to provide the funding.

Were going to supply logistics, intelligence and equipment, he said. In fact, some equipment already arrived. Kenya is stepping up with the police and other countries plan to do so as well.

Even before volunteering a year ago in July to head the Multinational Security Support mission into Haiti, Kenya has been a vocal proponent at the United Nations of African nations taking more of a leading role in bringing peace and stability to Haiti. Still, its decision to lead an international force into Haiti after the Biden administration said it would not, and Canada also refused, took many by surprise.

The countrys police forces are involved in fighting terrorist attacks by al-Shabaab in East Africa, and Ruto faces a number of domestic challenges such as mounting discontent over the rising cost of living and proposed tax hikes despite his global push to have his country be a player on global issues like technology, democracy and combating climate change.

During the visit, the country became the first sub-Saharan African country to be given non-NATO ally status. The designation by Biden reflects the administrations belief that Kenya is a dependable and reliable partner to assist it in its foreign policy objectives.

Kenya believes that the responsibility of peace and security anywhere in the world, including in Haiti, is the collective responsibility of all nations and all peoples who believe in freedom, self-determination, democracy and justice. And it is the reason why Kenya took up this responsibility, Ruto said. Weve been participating in peacemaking and in peacekeeping over the last 40 years in 47 countries, including very difficult neighborhoods, like what were going to face in Haiti, we are going to take up that responsibility alongside the Haiti police.
President Biden is set to host Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto Thursday at the White House.

The May 23 visit will mark the 60th anniversary of U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relations, according to the Biden administration. Biden is expected to inform Congress that he will designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, a designation that comes with special privileges, according to a senior administration official.

The designation comes as Kenya has stepped up to lead the deployment of a multinational police force to Haiti, where armed gangs have taken over the capital of Port-au-Prince and have plunged the Caribbean nation into a humanitarian crisis.

The event is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. EDT.

Watch the video above.

.

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 The Hill.
American NASA astronaut and former F-14 fighter pilot Scott Kelly came to Ukraine as an ambassador of the presidential initiative UNITED24. He brought along Doug Liman, the director of the famous films The Bourne Identity and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, to accompany him.

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The two men were photographed in front of the central Kyiv railway station, where almost all ambassadors take photos upon arrival. The photo was posted on the official UNITED24 Instagram page.

"Our ambassador, astronaut Scott Kelly, along with Doug Liman, director of The Bourne Identity and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, arrived on the morning train. Welcome to Ukraine," read the caption to the photo.

Scott Kelly became a UNITED24 ambassador in October 2022, but he has been supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Thus, on February 25, 2022, he posted a Ukrainian flag on Instagram and wrote a post of support.

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"I stand with the people of Ukraine alongside my Russian friends, including former cosmonauts, who despise Putin's criminal actions as much as I do. Attacking a weaker neighbor is not strong leadership; it is cowardice based on fear and insecurity," the astronaut said.

Later, Kelly wrote that his nephews have roots in Ukraine - his father was born in Vinnytsia region, but moved to the United States with his entire family at the age of 10. Almost half of the astronaut's posts were about supporting our country.

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In November 2022, Scott Kelly arrived in Ukraine on his own, announcing it with a post on social media. He visited children at the Okhmatdyt hospital in Kyiv and also visited Irpin, where he saw the consequences of Russian aggression.

The astronaut did not disclose the purpose of this year's trip, but it is likely to be related to health issues, as he is working on the Medical Aid project on his fundraising platform and raising funds for Class C ambulances.

Interestingly, last year Scott Kelly supported Ukraine by posting a photo of himself wearing an embroidered shirt. As he reported, it was commissioned by UNITED24 "as a reminder of the most memorable trips - to space and Ukraine."

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Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that the actor of the Supernatural series Misha Collins arrived in Ukraine, and he marked his arrival with a photo taken against the background of broken Russian military equipment.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Biden looks to counter Chinas influence as he rolls out red carpet for Kenya

When Kenyan President William Ruto touched down in Beijing seven months ago, he was welcomed on the tarmac with a red carpet and cordons of Chinese troops standing at attention. Among the goals of his three-day state visit in October: securing another $1 billion in loans from China to help complete infrastructure projects.

On Wednesday, when he arrived at Joint Base Andrews to begin another state visit  this time to Washington  he again found a red carpet and troops. This time, however, a special emissary was sent to greet his plane: first lady Dr. Jill Biden.

President Joe Biden is leaning on the highest trappings of American diplomacy this week to boost ties with the East African nation, including designating Kenya a major non-NATO ally  the first in sub-Saharan Africa  and hosting a sunset state dinner on the White House South Lawn.

Biden offered effusive praise for his Kenyan counterpart, including for Kenyas leadership on a historic African green industrialization initiative as he welcomed Ruto to the White House for the visit.

Together, the United States and Kenya are working to deliver on the challenges that matter most to our peoples lives  health security, economic security, cybersecurity, and climate security, he said. Mr. President, your bold leadership on this front has been important and particularly impactful.

Looming over the pomp and circumstance is Chinas expanding role in Africa, which has become a central testing ground for the worlds two largest economies as they jockey for economic and geopolitical influence.

Senior administration officials acknowledge a central factor in scheduling a state visit with Kenya was the desire to counter Chinas influence and financial leverage on the African continent, which has outpaced the United States in direct investment.

For many, many years, it was really the Chinese who showed up in Africa and in Kenya, US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman told CNN in an interview. With the first state visit for an African leader in nearly two decades, theres a specific message to Kenya and to the continent, which is: America wants to be your partner.

For decades, China has been making high-interest loans to low-income African nations to help them fund development for domestic projects, including some flagship infrastructure projects within Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Among those: A high-speed rail route from Nairobi to Mombasa that the Kenyan government funded with billions in loans from Chinese state banks.

A decade after the construction of that railway, Kenya and the US plan to announce that an American company will be building a roadway along that same corridor.

Thats a great opportunity for America to start bidding on these big government contracts that make a difference to the infrastructure in Kenya, Whitman told CNN.

From 2000 to 2022, Beijing lent $170 billion to African nations  including $6.7 billion to Kenya  to fund these initiatives, according to Boston Universitys Chinese Loans to Africa database. Those loans saddled Africa with costly debt that countries have been increasingly unable to service, leading many nations to seek relief from their sovereign lenders. Kenyas debt is projected to reach a level of 74% of its economic output, with the country paying an increasing share of government revenue on rising interest costs.

Too many nations are forced to make a choice between development and debt, between investing in their people and paying back their creditors, Biden said during a joint press conference with Ruto.

Kenya has been forced to choose between servicing its debt and advancing its development, one reason Kenyas Ruto has continued to seek new funds from Beijing.

These countries, I think, have to stay friends with as many people as they can, Whitman told CNN of Rutos continued financial relationship with Beijing. The needs are great  we have to come with a better offer.

During the state visit, the US and Kenya are set to announce the Nairobi-Washington Vision, calling on creditor countries  and likely China in particular  to provide grants, budget support and debt suspension to help alleviate the burden.

Ruto, meanwhile, has called on African leaders to lean more heavily on Western nations and lower-interest loans from the World Bank to fund their development.

Theres some real China fatigue in Africa, said a former senior administration official. The administration sees an opening there.

And the US has already begun stepping into that opening. At the Group of 20 summit last year, the US and European Union announced they would back the buildout of a rail corridor connecting Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia that would facilitate the transit of the regions critical minerals back to the West.

In his meetings with Biden, Ruto has sought to emphasize Kenya  and the broader African continent  as an area worthy of investment. In a gathering of CEOs on Wednesday at the White House, he told his American counterpart that old perceptions of the continent were changing.

Kenya's President William Ruto and US President Joe Biden take part in an event with CEOs and business leaders in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on May 22. - Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Youre all past thinking about Africa as a place of war and destruction instead of opportunity, and were making that real, Ruto told the president during the meeting, according to a senior US administration official who paraphrased the leaders remark.

Still, Rutos visit to Washington comes at a moment of political instability in many African countries. Military coups over the last year have toppled governments and underscored a fragile rule of law, while traditional American allies on the continent have demonstrated new willingness to break from the United States. One of the goals of Thursdays state visit is to demonstrate the ability of democracies  like Kenyas  to deliver for their people.

Biden, who hosted African leaders at the White House for a summit earlier in his term, has been consumed since then by conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Since the December 2022 gathering, during which he declared he was all in on Africa, hes hosted only one African leader for talks at the White House: Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco.

Its no secret that the world has had a lot going on the last year and a half, a senior administration official said this week, pointing to a stream of Cabinet secretaries and other senior administration officials who have visited Africa as a sign of the Biden teams commitment.

Yet the spate of foreign conflicts has prevented Biden himself from paying a visit, which he vowed to do within a year of the summit. He still intends to travel to Africa as president, his national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Wednesday, though he couldnt say when.

Biden said as he welcomed Ruto to the White House on Wednesday he planned to visit Africa next year  after, he hopes, securing reelection.

I plan on going in February, Biden told reporters. It wasnt clear whether Biden was joking; he asked afterward how questions about his travel plans were relevant.

Relevant or not, a presidential trip to Africa would come only after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the continent last year for talks with leaders of the BRICS emerging economies.

Advisers say Biden remains intent on focusing attention on Africa, particularly amid jockeying for strategic influence from Russia and China. A comparison with former President Donald Trump  who privately referred to some African countries as shitholes and never himself visited Africa when in office  is also not lost on Bidens aides.

Thursdays state visit to Washington will be the first for an African leader since 2008.

Audience members attend the arrival ceremony for Kenyan President William Ruto on the South Lawn of the White House on May 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

We believe that what today will showcase is not questions about the US commitment but answers that the US is actually delivering for Africa, for the African people  in this case, for the country of Kenya, but also with Kenya for the broader continent, Sullivan said Wednesday.

In choosing Kenya for Thursdays state visit, Biden and his team are signaling they view Ruto and his country as among the most critical US allies in a region where allegiances toward Washington have shifted.

Kenya has been a key partner for the US in combatting al-Shabab militants in neighboring Somalia and earlier this year joined a US-led international coalition meant to beat back attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Around the world, Kenya and America are also standing united against the terror of ISIS and Al-Shabaab, that they continue to perpetrate in East Africa, the aggression that Russia is inflicting on Ukraine, the violence that has toppled too many democracies across both our regions, Biden said Thursday as he welcomed Ruto to the White House.

Kenya is also preparing to deploy 1,000 paramilitary police officers to Haiti in a bid to quell gang violence, a mission largely funded by the United States that is expected to last at least one year, according to Whitman.

Biden on Thursday defended his administrations decision not to deploy US troops to Haiti, telling reporters that doing so could raise all kinds of questions that can be easily misrepresented by what were trying to do, and be able to be used by those who disagree with us and against the interests of Haiti and the United States.

Biden said the US was instead focused on finding a partner or partners who would lead that effort that we would participate in, not with American forces, but with supplies and making sure they have what they needed.

This week, a delegation of Kenyan command staff arrived in Haiti, according to a law enforcement source in the country, ahead of the Kenyan-led multinational security support force. The delegation was expected to assess this week whether equipment and facilities for the foreign police forces are ready  an assessment that will be decisive in determining a timeline for the deployment, a source with knowledge of the preparations told CNN.

Despite strong support from the US and other regional powers, however, the mission has been mired in uncertainty and legal challenges for months. It was further delayed following the resignation of former Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry in March, until the creation of a transitional governing council.

This is not something that is a completely straight line. It is a dynamic operating environment, to say the least, in Haiti, and this is going to require an adaptive, flexible approach but one guided by certain core functions and operations, Sullivan told reporters at the White House on Wednesday.

This story has been updated with additional developments on Thursday.

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FILE - The Idaho state flag hangs in the State Capitol in Boise, Idaho, Jan. 9, 2023. Voters in Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon and Georgia and will hold state primaries on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, to choose nominees for U.S. House and other contests. (AP Photo/Kyle Green, File)

BOISE, Idaho (AP)  Idaho Democrats on Thursday selected Joe Biden as their their nominee for the White House, giving the president more delegates after he already clinched his partys 2024 nomination.

Biden won the state Democratic caucus with 95% of the vote in a low-turnout election with just over 2,400 votes cast. The win gives the president all 23 delegates at stake.

The caucus was structured a bit differently than previous Democratic caucuses. Instead of listening to speeches and moving to various parts of the room to show their support for a candidate, voters were given ballots to fill out their choices.

Only registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters were allowed to participate. Unaffiliated voters first had to sign a pledge saying they are participating as Democrats and have not participated in any other presidential nomination contest this year. Voters who are 17 years old are allowed to caucus as long as they will turn 18 before the general election on Nov. 5.

That is different from Idahos Republican caucus, held earlier this year. The Republican caucus allowed only registered Republicans to vote, and they had to be at least 18 at the time of the caucus. Former President Donald Trump won all of Idahos 32 GOP delegates at the March 2 event.

Biden will face a steep hill to climb for Idahos general election. The Republican presidential candidate has won the deep-red state in every election since 1968.

Democrats in Idaho utilized caucuses for years but switched the presidential contest to a primary for 2020. Biden won with about 49% of the vote, compared with roughly 42% that went to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Both the Republican and the Democratic parties had to caucus this year, however, after state lawmakers inadvertently scrapped the states primaries during the 2023 legislative session. The error happened when lawmakers were trying to change the date of the states primary from March to May, but the new date wasnt included in the bill.

By next year, Idahos closed presidential contests could become a thing of the past. A voter initiative that would open the state primaries and switch the state to a ranked-choice voting system is expected to be on the general election ballot this fall.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the 2024 election at https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024.
President Biden penned a letter to the families of the victims of the deadly mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, reaffirming his commitment to gun violence prevention to mark two years since the tragedy.

Biden notes in the letter, dated for the anniversary Friday, that him and first lady Jill Biden visited Uvalde after the shooting. He said, When we met with the families, they had the same message we hear in the aftermath of all too many mass shootings: Do something.

In the 2 years since, they have made their voices heard  and our country has listened, the president added.

In the letter, Biden shared condolences for the 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School who were killed and said that he prays the families find comfort in memories of the victims.

The president noted in the letter that he signed the bipartisan gun safety law months after the shooting, which includes provisions to close loopholes to purchases and to expand background checks. He also lauded his administrations launch of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention last year and renewed his call on Congress to act  especially on legislation related to universal background checks, a national red flag law and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

In the last 2 years, the people of Uvalde have turned their pain into purpose to demand progress for our Nation, Biden said. I know we have a long road ahead of us, but the courage, strength, and resilience you have shown in the face of such profound loss remind us that we can come together as a country and take commonsense actions to save lives and keep our communities safe.

Robert Wilcox, deputy director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, will be in Uvalde on Friday to participate in a vigil honoring the victims and to deliver Bidens letter, according to White House officials.

The anniversary also comes more than four months after the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a scathing report looking into why the gunman was able to enter and open fire in the school, while 400 law enforcement officers from various agencies spent more than an hour waiting outside.

Ultimately, the DOJ found that a lack of preparation, communication and initiative led police to bungle their response to the 2022 school shooting.

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President Biden on Thursday said that a Kenyan-led multinational police force can succeed in overcoming armed gangs that have run amok across Haiti and captured the capital Port-au-Prince.

When asked during a press conference with Kenyan President William Ruto at the White House if they can break the backs of the armed gangs, Biden responded yes.

This is a crisis that will be dealt with, Biden said. We think we can deal with this.

Ruto said Kenya and the U.S. were building a coalition of nations to support a mission he said could defeat the armed gangs that have visited untold suffering in Haiti.

Gangs and criminals do not have nationalities. They have no religion. They have no language, he said, vowing to deal with the gangs firmly, decisively, within the parameters of the law.

An unofficial deadline to begin the deployment of the Kenyan-led international police force on Thursday appears to have been delayed. The deployment would have come as Ruto wraps up a three-day state visit to Washington, D.C., on Friday.

The Biden administration is asking Congress for $300 million for the mission, along with $60 million for equipment assistance.

Biden on Thursday said deploying U.S. forces to Haiti would have been easily misrepresented, expressing his thanks to Kenya for being willing to intervene.

Kenyas willingness to lead this matter, matters, Biden said. Ruto and I agree that Haitian people deserve better. They deserve peace and security.

Ruto said Kenya has participated in peacekeeping missions for the past 40 years across 47 countries and that Nairobi had decided to commit troops out of its own volition.

The responsibility of peace and security anywhere in the world, including in Haiti, is the collective responsibility of all nations and all peoples who believe in freedom, self-determination, democracy and justice, he said. And it is the reason why Kenya took up this responsibility.

The United Nations late last year first approved a plan to send a Kenyan-led police force to Haiti, which has been consumed by violence since the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. The armed gangs have only grown in power since February, when they banded together, freed prisoners and took over the majority of Port-au-Prince.

After the February surge toppled the Haitian government, Kenya paused its deployment plans, but they are now back on track after Haiti formed a transitional council that will lead the Caribbean nation toward new leadership.

The violence has plunged Haiti into its worst humanitarian crisis since the 2010 earthquake.

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 The Hill.
Joe Biden became a meme in 2022 when users posted images of him with laser eyes, under the name 'Dark Brandon' - Instagram/joebiden

Novembers US election between Joe Biden and Donald Trump will feature the two oldest presidential candidates in history, with both expected to struggle with younger voters.

How can they reach this key demographic? The Biden campaign is betting on memes.

The US presidents re-election campaign team is hiring an internet meme expert to reach potential voters who do not pay attention to political news.

Mr Bidens campaign is seeking a partner manager for content and meme pages, according to a job advert posted on Monday.

The role, which pays a salary of up to $85,000 (67,000), will involve engaging the internets top content and meme pages from the campaign headquarters in Delaware.

The ideal candidate for this role is passionate about bringing political content to voters where they already are on the internet, the job advert states.

The partner manager will be tasked with forming relationships with internet personalities, popular podcasters, and so-called meme pages in an attempt to promote Mr Bidens re-election bid.

Meme pages are accounts that typically post jokes or observations, often lifted from other social media sites such as X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, or viral images poking fun at news items or celebrities.

Donald Trump was a frequent social media user during his time in office, and tweeted this image of himself as fictional boxer Rocky - Twitter

They can often attract tens of millions of followers, some outstripping the presidents own 17 million Instagram followers.

The job advert has led commentators to dub the job a paid meme lord position. Meme lord is internet slang for someone who is skilled at both understanding and using memes.

Engaging with meme accounts or popular podcasters, for example by posting popular comments on their posts, is seen as a way of reaching potential voters who are uninterested in political news.

Mr Biden famously became a meme in his own right in 2022 when users began to post images of the president with laser eyes, under the name Dark Brandon, a play on Lets Go Brandon, an anti-Biden chant from Trump supporters.

The president adopted the meme himself and Dark Brandon merchandise accounts for a substantial portion of sales from his campaigns online store.

The US president has said he is not a fan of social media himself and his staff handle his online presence, in stark contrast to Mr Trump, who was known for spontaneous tweeting during his time in office.

Mr Biden joined TikTok in February despite security concerns around the Chinese-owned app in an effort to reach its predominantly Gen Z users.

In April, he signed a bill forcing the apps parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US operations or face a ban.

Mr Trumps personal social media presence is now largely on Truth Social, the X rival that he owns a majority stake in.

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President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are calling out Donald Trump for his mistreatment of Black America.

A new television and radio ad campaign takes jabs at the politician over his unsubstantiated claims of accomplishments for the Black community and his detrimental comments on racial issues.

The ads slam Trump for standing with white nationalists after the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. They criticize him for questioning President Barack Obamas U.S. citizenship and for calling for the execution of the Central Park Five after they were wrongly accused of raping a 28-year-old white woman.

In 1989, five Black and brown teenagers  Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise  from the Harlem area of New York City, were wrongly convicted of brutally beating and raping a white woman in Central Park.

The case sparked public outrage and highlighted the medias race, class and gender biases amid the massive coverage of the crime at the time. The teens served five to 13 years in prison until they were exonerated due to DNA evidence in 2002.

The ads underline how a second term would be worse for Black Americans as Trump promises to enact revenge on his enemies and rule as a dictator and calls the January 6 terrorists heroes and patriots, the Biden-Harris campaign told HuffPost in a news release.

Salaam, who is now a New York city council member, pleaded with Black and brown communities to vote against Trump in the 2024 election, noting that the businessmans actions reveal a deep-seated disdain for Black and Latino lives.

Today, we point our fingers back at Mr. Trump and stand firmly against him and his campaign for office. Throughout my wrongful conviction, the one thing I would not allow to be taken away from me was my voice. I urge black and brown communities across the country: do not sit this election out, he said in a statement shared with HuffPost.

Watch the ads below.

Related...
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump's campaigns are attempting to court Black voters by accusing each other of being racist.

In a pair of radio and television ads released Wednesday, the Biden campaign took aim at the presumptive Republican nominee. The television ad highlighted a decades-old clip of Trump saying, of course I hate these people, from a 1989 CNN interview where the future president was calling for the death penalty for the Central Park Five, a group of teenagers later exonerated of convictions related to a violent sexual attack of a white woman.

Donald Trump disrespecting Black people is nothing new, a narrator said in the Biden ad, launched hours before Trump is set to hold a campaign rally in the Bronx, a diverse New York City borough with large populations of Black and Latino residents.

A Biden campaign account shared the video on X, formerly Twitter, by saying, "lets remember: Trump is a lifelong racist."

The Trump campaign quickly countered, firing off a statement reminding voters of "Joe Biden's history of racist remarks," noting that he was the driving force behind the 1994 crime bill, which led to a sharp uptick of sentences and incarceration rates of Black people.

"This ad is another cheap attempt from the Biden campaign to gaslight Black voters and fails to address Biden's terrible policies that are hurting our community, said Janiyah Thomas, Trump campaign Black media director, in a statement.

Lobbing accusations of racism at the competition used to be a relatively rare campaign occurrence. That the back-and-forth is taking place in May of an election year foreshadows a race that will be both toxic and deeply personal.

But Trump has invited these charges before, by pushing policies like a Muslim ban and disparaging judges overseeing cases involving them by pointing to their ethnicity and heritage. Biden faced blowback in the 2020 Democratic primary for his past work with segregationist senators and his efforts around that crime bill, though charges of overt racism were not leveled by his Democratic opponents.

This cycle, both Biden and Trump are competing hard for Black voters with less than six months to go before the election. And the Biden ad campaign is designed to reach and mobilize them. The audio began airing last week, according to a press release, on nationally syndicated urban radio programs including the "DL Hughley Show" and the "Rickey Smiley Morning Show." The television ad will air in the swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin and Michigan. Black voters, traditionally the most loyal bloc of the Democratic Party, have in recent months shown signs of flagging support in polls.

A recent New York Times survey of key battleground states this month found that more than 20 percent of Black voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin say they would be backing the former president over Biden. If those figures hold, it would be the highest figure a Republican presidential candidate has earned since the Civil Rights era.

Trump has been trying to make inroads with Black voters, insisting that his criminal indictments endear him to African Americans who also have been mistreated by the criminal justice system. During a stop at a Harlem bodega last month, Trump railed against Bidens border policies and called into question why New York Democrats have earmarked millions in assistance for recent arrivals to the county while ignoring American Black and brown communities.

Theyve poured in and taken over parks, they took over your hotels, they take over everything, its no good, Trump said in April. Theyve destroyed so many people, the African American community is now not getting jobs, migrants are taking their jobs that are here illegally.
Maggie Goodlander, a former senior adviser in the Biden White House and newly declared Democratic House candidate in New Hampshires 2nd District, proudly proclaimed upon launching her bid that shes a renter and there should be more renters in Congress.

Its a fair point. As of 2020, half the members across both chambers were millionaires, and Congress is far more likely to have homeowners among its ranks than the general U.S. population.

But Goodlanderwho is also White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivans wifeis herself a homeowner, a Daily Beast review of property records found. The couple own a home worth more than $1.2 million in a historic and pricey seaside neighborhood in Portsmouth, which sits in the states other district.

How RFK Jr. Could Open a Can of Brain Worms at the Debates

Goodlander also touted some local roots in her announcement. While she said she recently signed a lease to rent a home in her hometown of Nashua, she hasnt lived in the city in more than 15 years. She touted Nashua as her familys home for over 100 years, but her parents sold the property in 2008.

Frankly, the more you see candidates try to emphasize how deep their roots go, the more questions it raises over why do you have to do that? a senior New Hampshire Democratic operative told The Daily Beast, requesting anonymity to speak candidly about one of the hottest topics among the states political insiders.

The operative continued, Why are you so focused on how you were born here as opposed to what youve been doing here?

Voting records also show Goodlander hasnt voted in the district since that same year, when Barack Obama was elected to the presidency, and her only two votes were both absentee.

Nobody says it out loud, a high-ranking New Hampshire Democratic adviser and donor bundler told The Daily Beast, also requesting anonymity to share private conversations. She didnt live in that district, and if that isnt the definition of carpetbaggerthats kind of harsh, but it doesnt sit right with me.

Despite Goodlanders well-intentioned point on rentersand only being required under state law to live in New Hampshire, not the districther entrance into one of the hottest congressional races this cycle has already ruffled some feathers. Among New Hampshires political elite, shes stumbled in private meetings and left some power players wondering if theyll have to endorse her anyway because of her Biden ties, two Democrats familiar with the situation told The Daily Beast.

The well-connected Bidenworld alumnas arrival has also reinvigorated the age-old debate of what constitutes a so-called carpetbagger, and a particular New Hampshire cultural quirk.

Who, exactly, gets to call themselves a true Granite Stater in a state where over half the residents are transplants, especially with residents tradition of one-upping their neighbors with how far back their state lineage goes?

To mount a competitive statewide or congressional bid, I dont think its ever been essential that someone is born and raised in New Hampshire, the Democratic operative said. I think the question is how active youve been in the community, and a lot of what you see from elected officials in New Hampshire is an extension of community service.

Thats really the biggest hurdle on her front, the operative added.

The New Hampshire donor bundler said Goodlander has received some critiques following private meetings over being a name dropper, specifically around her tendency to mention her past work for Attorney General Merrick Garland as a deputy assistant attorney general in the DOJs antitrust division.

AG Garland on Doomed Quest Over Hunter Biden Special Counsel

People were almost like, so what? said the donor bundler, who has not settled on a candidate to support in the three-way Democratic primary. Working, slogging as a state rep or slogging as a state senator is just asand maybe even more importantbecause they're working on behalf of the actual state and Granite Staters.

Although Goodlander may not have made the best first impression as the splashy candidate to enter the race, she also has some key New Hampshire bigwigs going to bat for hereven if they havent endorsed yet.

I dont think anyone will hold it against her, because we all travel around, Billy Shaheen, a longtime New Hampshire power broker and the husband of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) told The Daily Beast. Were all kind of transient, so I dont think it looks like shes a carpetbagger.

Her Democratic opponents in the Sept. 10 primary, Colin Van Ostern and Becky Whitley, do not have the same connections to the Biden administration. The presidents allies could be even more influential in an election year where New Hampshire and its four electoral votes could prove pivotal as a swing state.

Democrats are also keeping a close eye on the district, with the departure of Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH) providing Republicans with one of their top pickup opportunities in their efforts to hold the House. Kuster swiftly endorsed Van Ostern, who lost his previous races for governor in 2016 and secretary of state in 2018, when he lost by just four votes after coming short by just one on the first round of voting in the state legislature.

When Rep. Kuster, who has served this district well, retired very late in the process and then almost immediately turned around and endorsed [Van Ostern], that ruffled a lot of feathers, a Goodlander adviser told The Daily Beast. Maggie is a Granite Stater. Like in her bones, shes a Granite Stater. She sounds like it. She looks like it So when it comes to where shed serve, this is a no-brainer.

State Sen. Cindy Rosenwald of Nashua said shes known Goodlander for nearly 30 years. I can tell you she is working overtime and then some to connect with Granite Statersshe was just in my living room listening to and answering questions from voters for more than an hour and a half.

The Big Red Warning Light Biden Needs to Heed

Shaheen, who touted the candidates Republican grandfather (the late real estate developer and GOP activist Sam Tamposi) as Mr. Nashua and an excellent man and businessman, said he doesnt think Goodlander will have an unfair advantage.

None of em automatically get a pass because of what theyve done in the past. Its what they do now, and what argument they lay out to the people as to why they should be that person, Shaheen said.

Plus, he argued, as far as politically connected husbands go, hers isnt exactly the most available to come in and help out on the trail.

I dont think Jake Sullivan has any time to campaign for his wife, Shaheen said. Hes working hard to get us peace in the Middle East.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A possible mountain lion sighting in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, captured by Vladimir Polumiskov. Vladimir Polumiskov

The unconfirmed sighting of a mountain lion in a famous Los Angeles park has fueled a fresh bout of big cat fever for Angelenos.

Reports from last week suggest that a lion was spotted padding around a parking lot on the western edge of Griffith Park, the same location a beloved cougar called P-22 prowled for a decade, with the Hollywood sign in the background.

Video taken by Vladimir Polumiskov appears to show the newly sighted animal minding its own business. Polumiskov says he went back a second time to find the suspected male still there. He is a beautiful, beautiful animal, he told the Los Angeles Times.

The apparent sighting, which has yet to be verified by the National Park Service, has triggered fond memories. P-22, first spotted in 2012, became a California celebrity, and a symbol of efforts to protect the local community of big cats from the risks posed by urban life.

In December 2022, local officials confirmed theyd euthanized P-22 after he was hit by a vehicle  a common problem amid the citys freeways and traffic. His death caused an outpouring of appreciation: Thousands of people attended a P-22 memorial last year, which included musical performances and dances in his honor. Some attendees bore tattoos to mark their affection for the animal.

Exciting news! We have been getting some reports of a mountain lion sighted in Griffith Park. The @SantaMonicaMtns biologists have been alerted and are investigating.



Please give the cat space if you see him-we are trying to avoid for now people trying to photograph him -lights pic.twitter.com/QQeIDpClr6  Beth Pratt (@bethpratt) May 19, 2024

The prospect of new local megafauna has thrilled conservationists in the area, where a parks service project to better understand and protect mountain lions has been running since 2002.

Estimates suggest as many as 15 lions roam the Santa Monica Mountains at any given time  but the newbie may be the only one to have broken from their natural habit and found a home at Griffith Park. Beth Pratt, regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation, explained that residing in the park is a very urban existence.

Watch La La Land, watch any L.A. movie, Pratt, who was perhaps P-22s biggest cheerleader, told HuffPost. Griffith Park is right there in the middle of it. This is not a cat living on the outskirts of L.A. The Hollywood sign is there ... Brad Pitt lives right on the border. When P-22 was alive, hed go into Universal Studios, he was walking down Sunset Boulevard.

The name P-22 needs an explanation. P stands for puma, and the number indicates how many big cats have been collared and are being monitored by the National Park Service. The latest animal sighting, if confirmed, would be listed as P-122. The echo of the earlier cats designation hasnt been lost on wildlife campaigners.

The mountain lion known as P-22, photographed in the Griffith Park area near downtown Los Angeles, in 2014. via Associated Press

Pratt hopes P-122 will have the same impact as its forebear, who represented something more than an animal living large in the Hollywood Hills.

He really changed peoples preconceptions of what it means to live with wildlife, where wildlife can be. And thats been a lasting movement, she said. So when this cat showed up, I think it was even further proof of the wonder of wildlife still living among us in L.A., and people hunger for that.

Pratt  who has successfully campaigned for wildlife crossings to be built over highways  urged amateur wildlife watchers to tread carefully around the big cats. But she is adamant that humans and mountain lions can live cheek-by-jowl.

What P-22 taught us was that these animals arent sitting in the woods ready to leap out at us, she said. For 10 years he was a neighbor. The neighbor you didnt see much of, but it was kind of cool when you did and youd wave hi. And he went on his way and you went on your way. I think it taught us coexistence is possible.

The National Park Service is taking the possible sighting seriously, and is continuing to review Polumiskovs video, spokesperson Ana Beatriz Cholo confirmed to HuffPost. But it could take months to tag the charismatic cat. In any case, she said, it is exciting.

Its unusual, Cholo said. P-22 was in Griffin Park for a number of years, and I suppose we werent expecting to see another so soon.

Related...
The portrait of Princess Kate Middleton of Wales on the cover of Tatler magazine confused fans of the royal family. They expressed the opinion that the picture does not look like the original photo from which it was taken.

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According to the Mirror, the Duchess was chosen for the cover to honor her "strength and courage." British-Zambian artist Hannah Uzor took the liberty of portraying the princess.

She was inspired by Kate Middleton's video message, in which the wife of Prince William spoke about her fight against cancer. However, the portrait was based on a shot taken two years earlier during the Windsors' state visit to South Africa.

On that day, the princess wore a floor-length white Jenny Packham evening dress with a cape and sparkling details on the shoulders and posed with her favorite tiara. The look was completed with a blue ribbon.

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Users recognized the princess by these characteristic features, but they had questions about other parts of the portrait. The comments emphasized that the artist was unable to reproduce Kate Middleton's features in the picture, and the overall picture turned out to be rather gloomy.

According to the artist, Kate on the cover of the magazine, surrounded by a green and blue background, is a reference to the color of the princess's eyes, as well as her favorite pastime - rowing.

"She really lives up to her role - she was born for it. She carries herself with such dignity, elegance and grace," said Hanna Uzor.

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Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
TOPEKA (KSNT)  This Memorial Day weekend is expected to be a big weekend for local parks.

Shawnee County is prepared for the high numbers expected at Lake Shawnee. With the opening of Shawnee County pools just in time for the weekend, the stage is set for the anticipated crowds.

27 News spoke with Sean Zears from Shawnee County Parks and Recreation about taking advantage of the warm weather.

Take advantage of the pools, Zears said. Take advantage of the of the parks. not only just this weekend but all summer long. Cause they are going to be here, and we are gonna do our best to take care of them.

Bomb squad called after Civil War cannon ball found in Overbrook

The county said Lake Shawnee is visited by more than 1 million people each year. In addition to all the local parks, lakes, and pools, Shawnee County has some fun events lined up for this weekend. Learn more about them by clicking here.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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Sen. Max Wise indicates he had received zero requests to meet about his school "guardian" bill. The author is seated behind him. (LRC screenshot)

Near the end of this years legislative session, a week before lawmakers recessed for the 10-day veto period, I met with state Sen. Max Wise in his office for about 15 minutes.

We both agreed to speak off-the-record so that we could speak freely. And so we did.

I am not one of Sen. Wises constituents, so you could argue he had no reason to meet with me at all. But for the last month I had been writing about and actively fighting the passage of Senate Bill 2, which he was sponsoring, to allow school boards to bring unpaid, volunteer, armed guardians  in lieu of school resource officers that schools either could not find or could not afford  into our schools.

I wanted to meet with the senator because I wanted to understand both him and his bill. Was I missing something? Who was Max Wise, the person? Why this bill and why now? Why no funding allocation in a budget year with a surplus? Why not just fund more SROs instead? Did he understand, from a rural perspective, who might apply for these volunteer guardian positions? Could I, a rural citizen, help?

SB 2 was filed late, on Feb. 22, and yet it was blessed with the No. 2, indicating this special number had been saved for its specialness.

Senate President Robert Stivers showed up in committee just in time for Sen. Wises introduction/presentation of the bill, and it has been my experience that Stivers is rarely in committee. His appearance seemed to indicate to committee members and any citizen not in favor: get on board, we are passing this bill.

And yet, I continued  still continue  to ask, why this bill? And why now?

Contrary to how it looks on paper, it is not necessarily easy for a citizen  even a citizen like me with many published columns about Kentucky policy and politics  to get meetings with lawmakers.

And getting 15 minutes of Sen. Wises time was not without drama.

Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, is surrounded by media on Feb. 22 as he fields questions on Senate Bill 2, legislation creating the position of school guardian. (LRC Public Information)

I had written about the fact that, even though Sen. Wise raised his fist in committee to indicate that zero people had asked to meet with him about SB 2, this was not true.

On Sept. 11, I had emailed Sen. Wise about gun violence prevention, closing with, You will often see me sitting in committee meetings, even in the interim, wearing my red Moms shirt. If there is anything I can do to help you, please ask.

He did not ask.

On Oct. 30, I emailed Sen. Wise again. The subject line read: On potential firearm legislation in 2024 and I closed the email with, If you are open to discussing potential firearm legislation for 2024, I would love to talk to you. Please tell me what I can do to help.

He did not tell me what I could do to help.

And in his defense, we had never met and knew nothing about each other. Fair enough.

Sen. Wise and I exchanged long emails and agreed to meet.

This seemed simple. It was not.

When I talked to his secretary  who was extraordinarily helpful, bless her  she first let me know that she had no record of me contacting the office for a meeting. This was true, I told her, I had never called the senators office. I had emailed him directly.

She then said shed been working diligently on getting together the massive amount of information Id demanded. What information? I told her this was not true and unnecessary, that I had not asked for any records or information. That, in fact, I had no interest in any records. I simply wanted to meet with Sen. Wise to discuss his bill.

She said she could get me on his calendar for 15 minutes in about 10 days. It was end of session. He was busy. I said I would gladly come anytime that worked for him. I also indicated that I might bring someone with me, to which she said I would have to let her know in advance because the senators office is very, very small and, if I brought anyone, even one other person, the meeting would have to be moved.

This seemed  odd. Wise is a long-time senator. How small could his office be?

Days later a fellow gun violence prevention activist emailed the senator about SB 2 and said she looked forward to seeing him at our meeting. This prompted some hoopla, as I had not yet called his office to say I would be bringing her. When I called, I was again told about his very, very small office and that, if another person was coming, we would just have to reschedule for a time after the session was over, maybe in the summer.

Again, this made no sense to me  how small could the mans office be?  but I agreed to come alone to keep my meeting time, even as I predicted SB 2, with all of its flaws, lack of funding, and obvious questions, would pass as is because it checked all of the right boxes of not doing nothing.

The day of my meeting with Sen. Wise, I had no other reason to be in Frankfort, but I prepared in advance like I would for any meeting with a legislator, put on a nice suit, and drove to Frankfort and back, all to meet with a state senator for 15 minutes and share my concerns about a bill that we both knew would easily pass.

In the end, SB 2 passed minutes before midnight on the last day before the veto period, with each side given only three minutes for floor arguments.

Three whole minutes.

This is how it works, folks. If our system, such as it is, sounds absurd, it is because it is.

On May 20, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported that Rep. Josh Calloway helped broker a deal regarding Senate Bill 2 We were like  I wont use the word threatened  but they wanted Senate Bill 2 bad. I kept being asked, please, will you not call your amendment?  Finally, about eight oclock that evening I was taken off the floor and asked, What would you have to get in order to not call your amendment? I said House Bill 278. Both Senate Bill 2, without Calloways amendment, and House Bill 278 passed that night.

After reading this story, I immediately texted Rep. Calloway. Can you tell me who kept asking you not to call your amendment? I asked. And who took you off the floor to ask what it would take to get you not to to call your amendment?

I received a read receipt before noon on May 20. As of this writing, Rep. Calloway has not responded.

Remember all of this next time you are told to call or write or meet with elected officials because you are concerned about a bill.

Remember that I emailed the Education Committee and my representative about SB 2 multiple times; exchanged long emails with Sen. Wise; attended Sen. Wises school safety task force meetings over last summer and fall; published columns; testified in committee; met with the sponsoring senator.

None of it mattered.

They wanted SB 2 bad.

Well. They got it.

And Sen. Wises office is not remotely small.

The post How a bill becomes law (the real story) appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
A proposal to allow local governments to hide records related to business negotiations from the public failed to clear one of its final hurdles in the Louisiana Legislature. (Canva image)

A proposal to allow local governments to hide records related to business negotiations from the public failed to clear one of its final hurdles in the Louisiana Legislature.

House Bill 461 by Rep. Steven Jackson, D-Shreveport, would exempt records that could impact local and parish business projects from Louisianas Public Records Law. It was narrowly defeated in a 19-19 tied vote on the Senate floor Tuesday.

Jackson, a freshman lawmaker, planned to bring the proposal back before senators Thursday for a second try, but support for the measure may have weakened further. Its unclear if he will try to move the bill again when lawmakers return Tuesday following the Memorial Day weekend. In a phone call Thursday, Jackson said he has not heard of any senators changing their positions on the bill and hasnt yet decided what to do with it.

The proposal would have allowed a mayor, parish president and other local officials to declare any records confidential if they believed their public release would have a detrimental effect on an active business negotiation. It would have also allowed local governments to hide any records of expenses from the public if the expenses were related to the negotiations.

Jackson later limited his bill to apply only to projects valued at more than $5 million, and he added a four-year sunset provision that would have made the law expire on Jan. 1, 2028.

Public records are a common tool of investigative journalists, community watchdog groups and engaged citizens to expose government corruption, waste and other misdeeds. All states and the federal government have some version of a sunshine law for records.

However, state lawmakers have gradually chipped away at Louisianas Public Records Law, adopting more than two dozen changes to revoke public access to a long list of government documents since the law was enacted in 1940.

Although Jacksons bill attracted very little scrutiny earlier in the session, lawmakers began to question it following public pushback over several similar proposals to hide government records from the public. Those bills, which were introduced at the request of Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, also stalled out.

One of those measures would have concealed most records of the governors office from the public, while a separate one was considered by many to be a near repeal of Louisianas Public Records Law.

During committee hearings on his bill, Jackson said he sponsored the measure because when he served on a local government board, consultants from other jurisdictions would file public records requests to find out what incentives were being offered to a business. The consultants or competing governments would then use the information to lure the projects away, he said.

Jacksons bill created odd bedfellows. It found support from Jacksons fellow Black Caucus Democrats and several conservative Republicans. At the same time, the Black Caucus remained firmly opposed to the other public records bills.

Jackson teamed with a Republican, Sen. Jean-Paul Coussan of Lafayette, who presented the bill on his behalf Tuesday on the Senate floor.

Coussan said the bill would benefit cities and parishes with industrial parks trying to negotiate leases with large tenants who would prefer to strike the deals in secret.

If that becomes public, then theyre basically losing any of their leverage in the negotiations, Coussan said.

The Illuminator obtained public records last year that revealed a proposed fertilizer plant in Jefferson Parish and a large tax incentive for the company behind the project. News reports about the companys waffling promises of jobs prompted residents to speak out against the project, which was ultimately scrapped.

Debating Coussan on the floor, Sen. Thomas Pressly, R-Shreveport, recounted similar situations in other parishes.

I certainly understand the idea behind this, but I have tremendous concerns about the inability of the people of this state to have the opportunity to hear what their local officials are doing, what tax incentives theyre giving away, what jobs theyre able to get, and their agreements, Pressly said.  Its important for people to have a right to step up and speak up against projects.

Pressly also took issue with the bills lack of a definition of economic development records, which it describes as those pertaining to any project involving the retention, expansion or attraction of further economic development.

Sen. Gary Carter, D-New Orleans, said the amendment that limited the exemption to projects valued over $5 million should put to rest any fears that local governments could use the law to hide most business and financial records.

Coussan pointed to a provision in the bill that would require local governments to put a notice on their websites and in their official journals whenever planning to hide records for an economic development project, as well as a provision that limits the secrecy of any records to no more than 24 months.

I do believe that there are some protections, Coussan said. Its not a free-for-all.

Pressly said very few people pay much attention to their towns website or official journal, which no one reads.

This is a vast expansion of our current laws  and its wrong, he said. We need to make sure that the public has the opportunity to get information and to do what they determine is best for the people of their regions. If you had a tire plant that was being put into any of our districts which emitted a smell, you certainly would want your constituents to know about that, and I guarantee your constituents would want to know about that.

The post Bill to let local governments hide business records stalls before final passage appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Migrants wait throughout the night on May 10, 2023, in a dust storm at Gate 42, on land between the Rio Grande and the border wall, hoping they will be processed by immigration authorities before the expiration of Title 42. (Photo by Corrie Boudreaux for Source NM)

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WASHINGTON  U.S. Senate Democrats are pushing for a second attempt to pass a bipartisan border security bill that failed in February after Republicans walked away from the very deal they helped craft, and its likely to fail again when the Senate votes on the legislation Thursday.

So why are we bringing this bill up the second time? said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who was one of three negotiators of the measure. The answer is simple. Democrats care about border security.

The expected vote comes as immigration has continued to rise as a top concern for voters in the polls and as the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump, has centered his reelection campaign on the issue, promising to reinstate his previous policies and carry out mass deportations.

President Joe Biden called Republican leaders in both chambers Monday night to advocate for them to vote for passage of the bill that, among various things, would give Biden the executive authority to close the southern border when its overwhelmed.

Mr. President, you caused this problem, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said he told Biden in their phone call.

McConnell said he pushed for Biden to reinstate Trump-era policies such as the completion of the border wall and the so-called Remain in Mexico policy, which required asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while waiting for their cases.

The president needs to step up to it, do everything he can do on his own, because legislation obviously is not going to clear this year, McConnell said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, already said in a statement that should the bill pass the Senate, its dead on arrival in the House.

Schumer says GOP must go on record

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said he wanted Senate Republicans on the record for voting on the stand-alone bill. Republicans last year originally said they would only vote for vital aid to Ukraine if a border security bill was attached.

Do Republicans want to improve the situation on the border, or not? Schumer said. Maybe theyre happy with the way things are.

Schumer said that Republicans were on board with voting for the border security bill, until President Trump told them to make a U-turn.

Murphy as well as Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent, and Republican James Lankford of Oklahoma spent months crafting a bipartisan border security bill that would overhaul U.S. immigration law. Senate Republicans walked away from the bill, eventually siding with their House colleagues and Trump.

South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Republican, said Democrats are only holding Thursdays vote to protect vulnerable incumbents up for reelection this November such as Ohios Sherrod Brown and Montanas Jon Tester.

Where we are right now, this has become a political liability, a political vulnerability for the Democrats, Thune said, adding all the charades and political theater the Democrats are trying are meant to protect incumbents.

The sweeping border security bill would raise the bar for migrants claiming asylum, clarify the White Houses parole authority and end the practice of allowing migrants to live in U.S. communities as they await their asylum hearings, among other things.

The Biden administration expressed frustration after Senate Republicans voted to kill the border security deal, frequently blaming Trump and Republicans for walking away.

Every day between now and November, the American people are going to know that the only reason the border is not secure is Donald Trump and his MAGA Republican friends, Biden said in February.

The post Bipartisan border bill likely doomed in approaching U.S. Senate vote appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, flanked by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, left, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, speaks during a news conference to support a border security bill on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The bill failed on a procedural vote Thursday. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Senate failed Thursday to advance a border security bill as both parties seek to hone their messages on immigration policy in the runup to Novembers elections.

The Senate bill failed to advance on a 43-50 procedural vote. The chamber already rejected the measure as part of a broader foreign aid package earlier this year. The bill, negotiated with the White House and a bipartisan trio of senators in the hopes of winning broad appeal, would have overhauled immigration law for the first time in more than 30 years.

Two of the border deals chief Senate negotiators, Oklahoma Republican James Lankford and Arizona independent Kyrsten Sinema, voted against advancing the measure Thursday, protesting what they said was an unserious process focused on political optics. The bills third major sponsor, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy, voted in favor.

The procedural vote to advance to debate on the bill came as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aimed to contrast Democrats approach to immigration policy with Republicans ahead of the November elections. The issue continues to rise as a top concern for voters and remains a core campaign theme for the GOP and its presumptive presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

Both chambers are readying other votes seemingly aimed at highlighting election themes.

The Democratic-led Senate is teeing up votes as early as next month on access to contraceptives, and protections for in vitro fertilization, or IVF, as Democrats have continued to campaign on the issue of reproductive rights.

The Republican-controlled House is moving forward with immigration related legislation, such as barring noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, as the GOP continues to highlight its disagreements with the White House over immigration policy.

Shortly after the Senate vote, President Joe Biden in a statement said Senate Republicans put partisan politics ahead of our countrys national security.

Congressional Republicans do not care about securing the border or fixing Americas broken immigration system, he said. If they did, they would have voted for the toughest border enforcement in history.

Losing support

The border security bill, S.4361, received fewer votes Thursday as a standalone bill than it had as part of the larger foreign aid package in February, when it failed on a 49-50 procedural vote. Sixty votes are needed to advance bills in the Senate.

The bill did not get all Democrats on board, which Schumer acknowledged earlier this week was a possibility.

We do not expect every Democrat or every Republican to come out in favor of this bill, Schumer said on the Senate floor Tuesday. The only way to pass this bill  or any border bill  is with broad bipartisan support.

But the bill failed to attract that broad support, losing backing even from Democrats whod voted for the foreign aid package.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said in a Wednesday statement that while he voted for the larger package in early February  mostly because it included critical aid to Ukraine  he would not do so this time around because the bill was too restrictive.

I will not vote for the bill coming to the Senate floor this week because it includes several provisions that will violate Americans shared values, Booker said. The proposed bill would exclude people fleeing violence and persecution from seeking asylum and instead doubles down on failed anti-immigrant policies that encourage irregular immigration.

Another cynical, political game

Democratic senators who voted against moving the bill forward included Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler of California, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Booker. Independents Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sinema also voted against.

Sinema said she voted against advancing her own bill because she felt Democrats were using her bill to point the finger back at the other party.

Yet another cynical, political game, she said.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican to vote to advance the bill after Lankford voted against the bill he helped write.

Lankford said Thursdays vote was a prop.

Everyone sees this for what it is, he said. It is not an actual effort to make law, it is an effort to do political messaging.

Padilla, who voted against the larger package, said on the Senate floor Thursday that he was disappointed Democrats were voting on the bill again because it did not address the root causes of migration or create lawful pathways to citizenship for children brought into the U.S. without authorization known as Dreamers, farmworkers, and noncitizens who have been in the country for decades.

He urged other Democrats to vote no.

The proposal before us was initially supposed to be a concession, a ransom to be paid to Republicans to pass urgent and critical aid to Ukraine, Padilla said. Whats this concession for now? Its hard to swallow.

Senate Republicans accused Democrats of bringing the bill as a political stunt.

One thing the American people dont have to wonder about is why Washington Democrats are suddenly champing at the bit to convince their constituents that they care about border security, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said on the Senate floor Thursday. (Americans) know the solution is not cynical Senate theater.

Biden called McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday night to ask them to vote for the bill, but both Republican leaders rejected that appeal.

First vote

Lankford, Sinema and Murphy introduced the bill earlier this year, optimistic that months of bipartisan negotiations could lead to the first immigration policy overhaul in decades.

But Trump opposed the measure, and after those senators released the legislative text, House Republicans said they would fall in line with the former president. Senate Republicans then walked away from the deal they had said would be needed in order for passage of a supplemental foreign aid package to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region.

The sweeping border security bill would have raised the bar for migrants claiming asylum, clarified the White Houses parole authority, ended the practice of allowing migrants to live in U.S. communities as they await their asylum hearings, and given Biden the executive authority to close the southern border when asylum claims reached high levels, among other things.

Dueling messages

The day leading up to Thursdays vote, Senate Democrats and Republicans held dueling press conferences on the bill.

Democrats, including Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, argued that the bill negotiated earlier in the year would address the fentanyl crisis by providing new scanning technology at ports of entry and increasing staffing for custom agents.

Stabenow said shes tired of Senate Republicans saying that somebody should do something about the border, and that Thursdays vote would give them an opportunity to address the southern border.

She was joined by Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who talked about how many people in their states had died from fentanyl overdoses.

Republicans in their press conference argued that Democrats were holding a second vote to protect vulnerable incumbents in competitive races in Montana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

It is an election-year political stunt designed to give our Democratic colleagues the appearance of doing something about this problem without doing anything, Tennessee GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn said Wednesday.

She was joined by Republican Sens. Roger Marshall of Kansas, Rick Scott of Florida, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, John Coryn of Texas, J.D. Vance of Ohio and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

House opposition

Even if the border security bill passed the Senate, it would have no chance in the House, where Johnson has vowed it will be dead on arrival.

The Louisiana Republican in a Wednesday press conference called the measure a messaging bill and said Schumer was trying to give his vulnerable members cover.

And not all House Democrats were on board with the bill negotiated out of the Senate.

The chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state and the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Nanette Barragan of California, slammed Senate Democrats for putting forth the legislation and urged them to abandon the effort.

We are disappointed that the Senate will once again vote on an already-failed border bill in a move that only splits the Democratic Caucus over extreme and unworkable enforcement-only policies, they wrote in a statement.

This framework, which was constructed under Republican hostage-taking, does nothing to address the longstanding updates needed to modernize our outdated immigration system, create more legal pathways, and recognize the enormous contributions of immigrants to communities and our economy.

Latino Democrats also voiced opposition to the bill when it was first released because it contained many hard-line policies that were reminiscent of the Trump administration.

The post Bipartisan border bill loses support, fails procedural vote in U.S. Senate appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, flanked by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (left), a Minnesota Democrat, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, speaks during a news conference to support a border security bill on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The bill failed on a procedural vote Thursday. (Kent Nishimura | Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Senate failed Thursday to advance a border security bill as both parties seek to hone their messages on immigration policy in the run-up to Novembers elections.

The Senate bill failed to advance on a 43-50 procedural vote. The chamber already rejected the measure as part of a broader foreign aid package earlier this year. The bill, negotiated with the White House and a bipartisan trio of senators in the hopes of winning broad appeal, would have overhauled immigration law for the first time in more than 30 years.

Two of the border deals chief Senate negotiators, Oklahoma Republican James Lankford and Arizona independent Kyrsten Sinema, voted against advancing the measure Thursday, protesting what they said was an unserious process focused on political optics. The bills third major sponsor, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy, voted in favor.

The procedural vote to advance to debate on the bill came as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aimed to contrast Democrats approach to immigration policy with Republicans ahead of the November elections. The issue continues to rise as a top concern for voters and remains a core campaign theme for the GOP and its presumptive presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump.

Both chambers are readying other votes seemingly aimed at highlighting election themes.

The Democratic-led Senate is teeing up votes as early as next month on access to contraceptives, and protections for in vitro fertilization, or IVF, as Democrats have continued to campaign on the issue of reproductive rights.

The Republican-controlled House is moving forward with immigration related legislation, such as barring noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, as the GOP continues to highlight its disagreements with the White House over immigration policy.

Shortly after the Senate vote, President Joe Biden in a statement said Senate Republicans put partisan politics ahead of our countrys national security.

Congressional Republicans do not care about securing the border or fixing Americas broken immigration system, he said. If they did, they would have voted for the toughest border enforcement in history.

Losing support

The border security bill, S.4361, received fewer votes Thursday as a standalone bill than it had as part of the larger foreign aid package in February, when it failed on a 49-50 procedural vote. Sixty votes are needed to advance bills in the Senate.

The bill did not get all Democrats on board, which Schumer acknowledged earlier this week was a possibility.

We do not expect every Democrat or every Republican to come out in favor of this bill, Schumer said on the Senate floor Tuesday. The only way to pass this bill  or any border bill  is with broad bipartisan support.

But the bill failed to attract that broad support, losing backing even from Democrats whod voted for the foreign aid package.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said in a Wednesday statement that while he voted for the larger package in early February  mostly because it included critical aid to Ukraine  he would not do so this time around because the bill was too restrictive.

I will not vote for the bill coming to the Senate floor this week because it includes several provisions that will violate Americans shared values, Booker said. The proposed bill would exclude people fleeing violence and persecution from seeking asylum and instead doubles down on failed anti-immigrant policies that encourage irregular immigration.

Another cynical, political game

Democratic senators who voted against moving the bill forward included Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler of California, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, and Booker. Independents Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sinema also voted against.

Sinema said she voted against advancing her own bill because she felt Democrats were using her bill to point the finger back at the other party.

Yet another cynical, political game, she said.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican to vote to advance the bill after Lankford voted against the bill he helped write.

Lankford said Thursdays vote was a prop.

Everyone sees this for what it is, he said. It is not an actual effort to make law, it is an effort to do political messaging.

Padilla, who voted against the larger package, said on the Senate floor Thursday that he was disappointed Democrats were voting on the bill again because it did not address the root causes of migration or create lawful pathways to citizenship for children brought into the U.S. without authorization known as Dreamers, farmworkers, and noncitizens who have been in the country for decades.

He urged other Democrats to vote no.

The proposal before us was initially supposed to be a concession, a ransom to be paid to Republicans to pass urgent and critical aid to Ukraine, Padilla said. Whats this concession for now? Its hard to swallow.

Senate Republicans accused Democrats of bringing the bill as a political stunt.

One thing the American people dont have to wonder about is why Washington Democrats are suddenly champing at the bit to convince their constituents that they care about border security, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said on the Senate floor Thursday. (Americans) know the solution is not cynical Senate theater.

Biden called McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday night to ask them to vote for the bill, but both Republican leaders rejected that appeal.

First vote

Lankford, Sinema, and Murphy introduced the bill earlier this year, optimistic that months of bipartisan negotiations could lead to the first immigration policy overhaul in decades.

But Trump opposed the measure, and after those senators released the legislative text, House Republicans said they would fall in line with the former president. Senate Republicans then walked away from the deal they had said would be needed in order for passage of a supplemental foreign aid package to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region.

The sweeping border security bill would have raised the bar for migrants claiming asylum, clarified the White Houses parole authority, ended the practice of allowing migrants to live in U.S. communities as they await their asylum hearings, and given Biden the executive authority to close the southern border when asylum claims reached high levels, among other things.

Dueling messages

The day leading up to Thursdays vote, Senate Democrats and Republicans held dueling press conferences on the bill.

Democrats, including Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, argued that the bill negotiated earlier in the year would address the fentanyl crisis by providing new scanning technology at ports of entry and increasing staffing for custom agents.

Stabenow said shes tired of Senate Republicans saying that somebody should do something about the border, and that Thursdays vote would give them an opportunity to address the southern border.

She was joined by Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who talked about how many people in their states had died from fentanyl overdoses.

Republicans in their press conference argued that Democrats were holding a second vote to protect vulnerable incumbents in competitive races in Montana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

It is an election-year political stunt designed to give our Democratic colleagues the appearance of doing something about this problem without doing anything, Tennessee GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn said Wednesday.

She was joined by Republican Sens. Roger Marshall of Kansas, Rick Scott of Florida, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, John Coryn of Texas, J.D. Vance of Ohio, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

House opposition

Even if the border security bill passed the Senate, it would have no chance in the House, where Johnson has vowed it will be dead on arrival.

The Louisiana Republican in a Wednesday press conference called the measure a messaging bill and said Schumer was trying to give his vulnerable members cover.

And not all House Democrats were on board with the bill negotiated out of the Senate.

The chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state, and the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Nanette Barragan of California, slammed Senate Democrats for putting forth the legislation and urged them to abandon the effort.

We are disappointed that the Senate will once again vote on an already-failed border bill in a move that only splits the Democratic Caucus over extreme and unworkable enforcement-only policies, they wrote in a statement.

This framework, which was constructed under Republican hostage-taking, does nothing to address the longstanding updates needed to modernize our outdated immigration system, create more legal pathways, and recognize the enormous contributions of immigrants to communities and our economy.

Latino Democrats also voiced opposition to the bill when it was first released because it contained many hard-line policies that were reminiscent of the Trump administration.

The post Bipartisan border bill loses support, fails procedural vote in U.S. Senate appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, flanked by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, left, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, speaks during a news conference to support a border security bill on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, flanked by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, left, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, speaks during a news conference to support a border security bill on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The bill failed on a procedural vote Thursday. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Senate failed Thursday to advance a border security bill as both parties seek to hone their messages on immigration policy in the runup to Novembers elections.

The Senate bill failed to advance on a 43-50 procedural vote. The chamber already rejected the measure as part of a broader foreign aid package earlier this year. The bill, negotiated with the White House and a bipartisan trio of senators in the hopes of winning broad appeal, would have overhauled immigration law for the first time in more than 30 years.

Two of the border deals chief Senate negotiators, Oklahoma Republican James Lankford and Arizona independent Kyrsten Sinema, voted against advancing the measure Thursday, protesting what they said was an unserious process focused on political optics. The bills third major sponsor, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy, voted in favor.

The procedural vote to advance to debate on the bill came as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aimed to contrast Democrats approach to immigration policy with Republicans ahead of the November elections. The issue continues to rise as a top concern for voters and remains a core campaign theme for the GOP and its presumptive presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump.

Both chambers are readying other votes seemingly aimed at highlighting election themes.

The Democratic-led Senate is teeing up votes as early as next month on access to contraceptives, and protections for in vitro fertilization, or IVF, as Democrats have continued to campaign on the issue of reproductive rights.

The Republican-controlled House is moving forward with immigration related legislation, such as barring noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, as the GOP continues to highlight its disagreements with the White House over immigration policy.

Shortly after the Senate vote, President Joe Biden in a statement said Senate Republicans put partisan politics ahead of our countrys national security.

Congressional Republicans do not care about securing the border or fixing Americas broken immigration system, he said. If they did, they would have voted for the toughest border enforcement in history.

Losing support

The border security bill, S.4361, received fewer votes Thursday as a standalone bill than it had as part of the larger foreign aid package in February, when it failed on a 49-50 procedural vote. Sixty votes are needed to advance bills in the Senate.

The bill did not get all Democrats on board, which Schumer acknowledged earlier this week was a possibility.

We do not expect every Democrat or every Republican to come out in favor of this bill, Schumer said on the Senate floor Tuesday. The only way to pass this bill  or any border bill  is with broad bipartisan support.

But the bill failed to attract that broad support, losing backing even from Democrats whod voted for the foreign aid package.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said in a Wednesday statement that while he voted for the larger package in early February  mostly because it included critical aid to Ukraine  he would not do so this time around because the bill was too restrictive.

I will not vote for the bill coming to the Senate floor this week because it includes several provisions that will violate Americans shared values, Booker said. The proposed bill would exclude people fleeing violence and persecution from seeking asylum and instead doubles down on failed anti-immigrant policies that encourage irregular immigration.

Another cynical, political game

Democratic senators who voted against moving the bill forward included Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler of California, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Booker. Independents Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sinema also voted against.

Sinema said she voted against advancing her own bill because she felt Democrats were using her bill to point the finger back at the other party.

Yet another cynical, political game, she said.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican to vote to advance the bill after Lankford voted against the bill he helped write.

Lankford said Thursdays vote was a prop.

Everyone sees this for what it is, he said. It is not an actual effort to make law, it is an effort to do political messaging.

Padilla, who voted against the larger package, said on the Senate floor Thursday that he was disappointed Democrats were voting on the bill again because it did not address the root causes of migration or create lawful pathways to citizenship for children brought into the U.S. without authorization known as Dreamers, farmworkers, and noncitizens who have been in the country for decades.

He urged other Democrats to vote no.

The proposal before us was initially supposed to be a concession, a ransom to be paid to Republicans to pass urgent and critical aid to Ukraine, Padilla said. Whats this concession for now? Its hard to swallow.

Senate Republicans accused Democrats of bringing the bill as a political stunt.

One thing the American people dont have to wonder about is why Washington Democrats are suddenly champing at the bit to convince their constituents that they care about border security, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said on the Senate floor Thursday. (Americans) know the solution is not cynical Senate theater.

Biden called McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday night to ask them to vote for the bill, but both Republican leaders rejected that appeal.

First vote

Lankford, Sinema and Murphy introduced the bill earlier this year, optimistic that months of bipartisan negotiations could lead to the first immigration policy overhaul in decades.

But Trump opposed the measure, and after those senators released the legislative text, House Republicans said they would fall in line with the former president. Senate Republicans then walked away from the deal they had said would be needed in order for passage of a supplemental foreign aid package to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region.

The sweeping border security bill would have raised the bar for migrants claiming asylum, clarified the White Houses parole authority, ended the practice of allowing migrants to live in U.S. communities as they await their asylum hearings, and given Biden the executive authority to close the southern border when asylum claims reached high levels, among other things.

Dueling messages

The day leading up to Thursdays vote, Senate Democrats and Republicans held dueling press conferences on the bill.

Democrats, including Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, argued that the bill negotiated earlier in the year would address the fentanyl crisis by providing new scanning technology at ports of entry and increasing staffing for custom agents.

Stabenow said shes tired of Senate Republicans saying that somebody should do something about the border, and that Thursdays vote would give them an opportunity to address the southern border.

She was joined by Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who talked about how many people in their states had died from fentanyl overdoses.

Republicans in their press conference argued that Democrats were holding a second vote to protect vulnerable incumbents in competitive races in Montana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

It is an election-year political stunt designed to give our Democratic colleagues the appearance of doing something about this problem without doing anything, Tennessee GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn said Wednesday.

She was joined by Republican Sens. Roger Marshall of Kansas, Rick Scott of Florida, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, John Coryn of Texas, J.D. Vance of Ohio and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

House opposition

Even if the border security bill passed the Senate, it would have no chance in the House, where Johnson has vowed it will be dead on arrival.

The Louisiana Republican in a Wednesday press conference called the measure a messaging bill and said Schumer was trying to give his vulnerable members cover.

And not all House Democrats were on board with the bill negotiated out of the Senate.

The chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state and the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Nanette Barragan of California, slammed Senate Democrats for putting forth the legislation and urged them to abandon the effort.

We are disappointed that the Senate will once again vote on an already-failed border bill in a move that only splits the Democratic Caucus over extreme and unworkable enforcement-only policies, they wrote in a statement.

This framework, which was constructed under Republican hostage-taking, does nothing to address the longstanding updates needed to modernize our outdated immigration system, create more legal pathways, and recognize the enormous contributions of immigrants to communities and our economy.

Latino Democrats also voiced opposition to the bill when it was first released because it contained many hard-line policies that were reminiscent of the Trump administration.

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The post Bipartisan border bill loses support, fails procedural vote in U.S. Senate appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, flanked by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, left, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, speaks during a news conference to support a border security bill on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The bill failed on a procedural vote Thursday. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Senate failed Thursday to advance a border security bill as both parties seek to hone their messages on immigration policy in the runup to Novembers elections.

The Senate bill failed to advance on a 43-50 procedural vote. The chamber already rejected the measure as part of a broader foreign aid package earlier this year. The bill, negotiated with the White House and a bipartisan trio of senators in the hopes of winning broad appeal, would have overhauled immigration law for the first time in more than 30 years.

Two of the border deals chief Senate negotiators, Oklahoma Republican James Lankford and Arizona independent Kyrsten Sinema, voted against advancing the measure Thursday, protesting what they said was an unserious process focused on political optics. The bills third major sponsor, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy, voted in favor.

The procedural vote to advance to debate on the bill came as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aimed to contrast Democrats approach to immigration policy with Republicans ahead of the November elections. The issue continues to rise as a top concern for voters and remains a core campaign theme for the GOP and its presumptive presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump.

Both chambers are readying other votes seemingly aimed at highlighting election themes.

The Democratic-led Senate is teeing up votes as early as next month on access to contraceptives, and protections for in vitro fertilization, or IVF, as Democrats have continued to campaign on the issue of reproductive rights.

The Republican-controlled House is moving forward with immigration related legislation, such as barring noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, as the GOP continues to highlight its disagreements with the White House over immigration policy.

Shortly after the Senate vote, President Joe Biden in a statement said Senate Republicans put partisan politics ahead of our countrys national security.

Congressional Republicans do not care about securing the border or fixing Americas broken immigration system, he said. If they did, they would have voted for the toughest border enforcement in history.

Losing support

The border security bill, S.4361, received fewer votes Thursday as a standalone bill than it had as part of the larger foreign aid package in February, when it failed on a 49-50 procedural vote. Sixty votes are needed to advance bills in the Senate.

The bill did not get all Democrats on board, which Schumer acknowledged earlier this week was a possibility.

We do not expect every Democrat or every Republican to come out in favor of this bill, Schumer said on the Senate floor Tuesday. The only way to pass this bill  or any border bill  is with broad bipartisan support.

But the bill failed to attract that broad support, losing backing even from Democrats who had voted for the foreign aid package.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said in a Wednesday statement that while he voted for the larger package in early February  mostly because it included critical aid to Ukraine  he would not do so this time around because the bill was too restrictive.

I will not vote for the bill coming to the Senate floor this week because it includes several provisions that will violate Americans shared values, Booker said. The proposed bill would exclude people fleeing violence and persecution from seeking asylum and instead doubles down on failed anti-immigrant policies that encourage irregular immigration.

Another cynical, political game

Democratic senators who voted against moving the bill forward included Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler of California, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Booker. Independents Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sinema also voted against.

Sinema said she voted against advancing her own bill because she felt Democrats were using her bill to point the finger back at the other party.

Yet another cynical, political game, she said.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican to vote to advance the bill after Lankford voted against the bill he helped write.

Lankford said Thursdays vote was a prop.

Everyone sees this for what it is, he said. It is not an actual effort to make law, it is an effort to do political messaging.

Padilla, who voted against the larger package, said on the Senate floor Thursday that he was disappointed Democrats were voting on the bill again because it did not address the root causes of migration or create lawful pathways to citizenship for children brought into the U.S. without authorization known as Dreamers, farmworkers, and noncitizens who have been in the country for decades.

He urged other Democrats to vote no.

The proposal before us was initially supposed to be a concession, a ransom to be paid to Republicans to pass urgent and critical aid to Ukraine, Padilla said. Whats this concession for now? Its hard to swallow.

Senate Republicans accused Democrats of bringing the bill as a political stunt.

One thing the American people dont have to wonder about is why Washington Democrats are suddenly champing at the bit to convince their constituents that they care about border security, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said on the Senate floor Thursday. (Americans) know the solution is not cynical Senate theater.

Biden called McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday night to ask them to vote for the bill, but both Republican leaders rejected that appeal.

First vote

Lankford, Sinema and Murphy introduced the bill earlier this year, optimistic that months of bipartisan negotiations could lead to the first immigration policy overhaul in decades.

But Trump opposed the measure, and after those senators released the legislative text, House Republicans said they would fall in line with the former president. Senate Republicans then walked away from the deal they had said would be needed in order for passage of a supplemental foreign aid package to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region.

The sweeping border security bill would have raised the bar for migrants claiming asylum, clarified the White Houses parole authority, ended the practice of allowing migrants to live in U.S. communities as they await their asylum hearings, and given Biden the executive authority to close the southern border when asylum claims reached high levels, among other things.

Dueling messages

The day leading up to Thursdays vote, Senate Democrats and Republicans held dueling press conferences on the bill.

Democrats, including Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, argued that the bill negotiated earlier in the year would address the fentanyl crisis by providing new scanning technology at ports of entry and increasing staffing for custom agents.

Stabenow said shes tired of Senate Republicans saying that somebody should do something about the border, and that Thursdays vote would give them an opportunity to address the southern border.

She was joined by Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who talked about how many people in their states had died from fentanyl overdoses.

Republicans in their press conference argued that Democrats were holding a second vote to protect vulnerable incumbents in competitive races in Montana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

It is an election-year political stunt designed to give our Democratic colleagues the appearance of doing something about this problem without doing anything, Tennessee GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn said Wednesday.

She was joined by Republican Sens. Roger Marshall of Kansas, Rick Scott of Florida, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, John Coryn of Texas, J.D. Vance of Ohio and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

House opposition

Even if the border security bill passed the Senate, it would have no chance in the House, where Johnson has vowed it will be dead on arrival.

The Louisiana Republican in a Wednesday press conference called the measure a messaging bill and said Schumer was trying to give his vulnerable members cover.

And not all House Democrats were on board with the bill negotiated out of the Senate.

The chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state and the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Nanette Barragan of California, slammed Senate Democrats for putting forth the legislation and urged them to abandon the effort.

We are disappointed that the Senate will once again vote on an already-failed border bill in a move that only splits the Democratic Caucus over extreme and unworkable enforcement-only policies, they wrote in a statement.

This framework, which was constructed under Republican hostage-taking, does nothing to address the longstanding updates needed to modernize our outdated immigration system, create more legal pathways, and recognize the enormous contributions of immigrants to communities and our economy.

Latino Democrats also voiced opposition to the bill when it was first released because it contained many hard-line policies that were reminiscent of the Trump administration.

The post Bipartisan border bill loses support, fails procedural vote in U.S. Senate appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, flanked by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, left, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, speaks during a news conference to support a border security bill on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The bill failed on a procedural vote Thursday. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Senate failed Thursday to advance a border security bill as both parties seek to hone their messages on immigration policy in the runup to Novembers elections.

The Senate bill failed to advance on a 43-50 procedural vote. The chamber already rejected the measure as part of a broader foreign aid package earlier this year. The bill, negotiated with the White House and a bipartisan trio of senators in the hopes of winning broad appeal, would have overhauled immigration law for the first time in more than 30 years.

Two of the border deals chief Senate negotiators, Oklahoma Republican James Lankford and Arizona independent Kyrsten Sinema, voted against advancing the measure Thursday, protesting what they said was an unserious process focused on political optics. The bills third major sponsor, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy, voted in favor.

The procedural vote to advance to debate on the bill came as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aimed to contrast Democrats approach to immigration policy with Republicans ahead of the November elections. The issue continues to rise as a top concern for voters and remains a core campaign theme for the GOP and its presumptive presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump.

Both chambers are readying other votes seemingly aimed at highlighting election themes.

The Democratic-led Senate is teeing up votes as early as next month on access to contraceptives, and protections for in vitro fertilization, or IVF, as Democrats have continued to campaign on the issue of reproductive rights.

The Republican-controlled House is moving forward with immigration related legislation, such as barring noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, as the GOP continues to highlight its disagreements with the White House over immigration policy.

Shortly after the Senate vote, President Joe Biden in a statement said Senate Republicans put partisan politics ahead of our countrys national security.

Congressional Republicans do not care about securing the border or fixing Americas broken immigration system, he said. If they did, they would have voted for the toughest border enforcement in history.

Losing support

The border security bill, S.4361, received fewer votes Thursday as a standalone bill than it had as part of the larger foreign aid package in February, when it failed on a 49-50 procedural vote. Sixty votes are needed to advance bills in the Senate.

The bill did not get all Democrats on board, which Schumer acknowledged earlier this week was a possibility.

We do not expect every Democrat or every Republican to come out in favor of this bill, Schumer said on the Senate floor Tuesday. The only way to pass this bill  or any border bill  is with broad bipartisan support.

But the bill failed to attract that broad support, losing backing even from Democrats whod voted for the foreign aid package.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said in a Wednesday statement that while he voted for the larger package in early February  mostly because it included critical aid to Ukraine  he would not do so this time around because the bill was too restrictive.

I will not vote for the bill coming to the Senate floor this week because it includes several provisions that will violate Americans shared values, Booker said. The proposed bill would exclude people fleeing violence and persecution from seeking asylum and instead doubles down on failed anti-immigrant policies that encourage irregular immigration.

Another cynical, political game

Democratic senators who voted against moving the bill forward included Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler of California, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Booker. Independents Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sinema also voted against.

Sinema said she voted against advancing her own bill because she felt Democrats were using her bill to point the finger back at the other party.

Yet another cynical, political game, she said.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican to vote to advance the bill after Lankford voted against the bill he helped write.

Lankford said Thursdays vote was a prop.

Everyone sees this for what it is, he said. It is not an actual effort to make law, it is an effort to do political messaging.

Padilla, who voted against the larger package, said on the Senate floor Thursday that he was disappointed Democrats were voting on the bill again because it did not address the root causes of migration or create lawful pathways to citizenship for children brought into the U.S. without authorization known as Dreamers, farmworkers, and noncitizens who have been in the country for decades.

He urged other Democrats to vote no.

The proposal before us was initially supposed to be a concession, a ransom to be paid to Republicans to pass urgent and critical aid to Ukraine, Padilla said. Whats this concession for now? Its hard to swallow.

Senate Republicans accused Democrats of bringing the bill as a political stunt.

One thing the American people dont have to wonder about is why Washington Democrats are suddenly champing at the bit to convince their constituents that they care about border security, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said on the Senate floor Thursday. (Americans) know the solution is not cynical Senate theater.

North Dakota senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, both Republicans, voted against the bill.

U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer (Photo provided)

U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. (Provided)

Senate Democrats sudden interest in the border is a halfhearted reaction to the realization the American people know they helped foster this crisis, Cramer said in a statement.

This legislation does not include provisions to ensure the Biden administration will enforce the law and close the border, while at the same time, the bill provides funding to sanctuary cities and includes other incentives that increase illegal immigration, Hoeven said in a statement.

Biden called McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday night to ask them to vote for the bill, but both Republican leaders rejected that appeal.

First vote

Lankford, Sinema and Murphy introduced the bill earlier this year, optimistic that months of bipartisan negotiations could lead to the first immigration policy overhaul in decades.

But Trump opposed the measure, and after those senators released the legislative text, House Republicans said they would fall in line with the former president. Senate Republicans then walked away from the deal they had said would be needed in order for passage of a supplemental foreign aid package to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region.

The sweeping border security bill would have raised the bar for migrants claiming asylum, clarified the White Houses parole authority, ended the practice of allowing migrants to live in U.S. communities as they await their asylum hearings, and given Biden the executive authority to close the southern border when asylum claims reached high levels, among other things.

Dueling messages

The day leading up to Thursdays vote, Senate Democrats and Republicans held dueling press conferences on the bill.

Democrats, including Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, argued that the bill negotiated earlier in the year would address the fentanyl crisis by providing new scanning technology at ports of entry and increasing staffing for custom agents.

Stabenow said shes tired of Senate Republicans saying that somebody should do something about the border, and that Thursdays vote would give them an opportunity to address the southern border.

She was joined by Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who talked about how many people in their states had died from fentanyl overdoses.

Republicans in their press conference argued that Democrats were holding a second vote to protect vulnerable incumbents in competitive races in Montana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

It is an election-year political stunt designed to give our Democratic colleagues the appearance of doing something about this problem without doing anything, Tennessee GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn said Wednesday.

She was joined by Republican Sens. Roger Marshall of Kansas, Rick Scott of Florida, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, John Coryn of Texas, J.D. Vance of Ohio and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

House opposition

Even if the border security bill passed the Senate, it would have no chance in the House, where Johnson has vowed it will be dead on arrival.

The Louisiana Republican in a Wednesday press conference called the measure a messaging bill and said Schumer was trying to give his vulnerable members cover.

And not all House Democrats were on board with the bill negotiated out of the Senate.

The chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state and the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Nanette Barragan of California, slammed Senate Democrats for putting forth the legislation and urged them to abandon the effort.

We are disappointed that the Senate will once again vote on an already-failed border bill in a move that only splits the Democratic Caucus over extreme and unworkable enforcement-only policies, they wrote in a statement.

This framework, which was constructed under Republican hostage-taking, does nothing to address the longstanding updates needed to modernize our outdated immigration system, create more legal pathways, and recognize the enormous contributions of immigrants to communities and our economy.

Latino Democrats also voiced opposition to the bill when it was first released because it contained many hard-line policies that were reminiscent of the Trump administration.

The North Dakota Monitor contributed to this report.

The post Bipartisan border bill loses support, fails procedural vote in U.S. Senate appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, flanked by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, left, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, speaks during a news conference to support a border security bill on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The bill failed on a procedural vote Thursday. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Senate failed Thursday to advance a border security bill as both parties seek to hone their messages on immigration policy in the runup to Novembers elections.

The Senate bill failed to advance on a 43-50 procedural vote. Both of Utahs Republican senators, Sen. Mike Lee and Sen. Mitt Romney, were among the nay votes.

The chamber already rejected the measure as part of a broader foreign aid package earlier this year. The bill, negotiated with the White House and a bipartisan trio of senators in the hopes of winning broad appeal, would have overhauled immigration law for the first time in more than 30 years.

Two of the border deals chief Senate negotiators, Oklahoma Republican James Lankford and Arizona independent Kyrsten Sinema, voted against advancing the measure Thursday, protesting what they said was an unserious process focused on political optics. The bills third major sponsor, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy, voted in favor.

The procedural vote to advance to debate on the bill came as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aimed to contrast Democrats approach to immigration policy with Republicans ahead of the November elections. The issue continues to rise as a top concern for voters and remains a core campaign theme for the GOP and its presumptive presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump.

Both chambers are readying other votes seemingly aimed at highlighting election themes.

The Democratic-led Senate is teeing up votes as early as next month on access to contraceptives, and protections for in vitro fertilization, or IVF, as Democrats have continued to campaign on the issue of reproductive rights.

The Republican-controlled House is moving forward with immigration related legislation, such as barring noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, as the GOP continues to highlight its disagreements with the White House over immigration policy.

Shortly after the Senate vote, President Joe Biden in a statement said Senate Republicans put partisan politics ahead of our countrys national security.

Congressional Republicans do not care about securing the border or fixing Americas broken immigration system, he said. If they did, they would have voted for the toughest border enforcement in history.

Losing support

The border security bill, S.4361, received fewer votes Thursday as a standalone bill than it had as part of the larger foreign aid package in February, when it failed on a 49-50 procedural vote. Sixty votes are needed to advance bills in the Senate.

The bill did not get all Democrats on board, which Schumer acknowledged earlier this week was a possibility.

We do not expect every Democrat or every Republican to come out in favor of this bill, Schumer said on the Senate floor Tuesday. The only way to pass this bill  or any border bill  is with broad bipartisan support.

But the bill failed to attract that broad support, losing backing even from Democrats whod voted for the foreign aid package.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said in a Wednesday statement that while he voted for the larger package in early February  mostly because it included critical aid to Ukraine  he would not do so this time around because the bill was too restrictive.

I will not vote for the bill coming to the Senate floor this week because it includes several provisions that will violate Americans shared values, Booker said. The proposed bill would exclude people fleeing violence and persecution from seeking asylum and instead doubles down on failed anti-immigrant policies that encourage irregular immigration.

Another cynical, political game

Democratic senators who voted against moving the bill forward included Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler of California, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Booker. Independents Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sinema also voted against.

Sinema said she voted against advancing her own bill because she felt Democrats were using her bill to point the finger back at the other party.

Yet another cynical, political game, she said.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican to vote to advance the bill after Lankford voted against the bill he helped write.

Lankford said Thursdays vote was a prop.

Everyone sees this for what it is, he said. It is not an actual effort to make law, it is an effort to do political messaging.

Padilla, who voted against the larger package, said on the Senate floor Thursday that he was disappointed Democrats were voting on the bill again because it did not address the root causes of migration or create lawful pathways to citizenship for children brought into the U.S. without authorization known as Dreamers, farmworkers, and noncitizens who have been in the country for decades.

He urged other Democrats to vote no.

The proposal before us was initially supposed to be a concession, a ransom to be paid to Republicans to pass urgent and critical aid to Ukraine, Padilla said. Whats this concession for now? Its hard to swallow.

Senate Republicans accused Democrats of bringing the bill as a political stunt.

One thing the American people dont have to wonder about is why Washington Democrats are suddenly champing at the bit to convince their constituents that they care about border security, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said on the Senate floor Thursday. (Americans) know the solution is not cynical Senate theater.

Biden called McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday night to ask them to vote for the bill, but both Republican leaders rejected that appeal.

First vote

Lankford, Sinema and Murphy introduced the bill earlier this year, optimistic that months of bipartisan negotiations could lead to the first immigration policy overhaul in decades.

But Trump opposed the measure, and after those senators released the legislative text, House Republicans said they would fall in line with the former president. Senate Republicans then walked away from the deal they had said would be needed in order for passage of a supplemental foreign aid package to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region.

The sweeping border security bill would have raised the bar for migrants claiming asylum, clarified the White Houses parole authority, ended the practice of allowing migrants to live in U.S. communities as they await their asylum hearings, and given Biden the executive authority to close the southern border when asylum claims reached high levels, among other things.

Dueling messages

The day leading up to Thursdays vote, Senate Democrats and Republicans held dueling press conferences on the bill.

Democrats, including Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, argued that the bill negotiated earlier in the year would address the fentanyl crisis by providing new scanning technology at ports of entry and increasing staffing for custom agents.

Stabenow said shes tired of Senate Republicans saying that somebody should do something about the border, and that Thursdays vote would give them an opportunity to address the southern border.

She was joined by Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who talked about how many people in their states had died from fentanyl overdoses.

Republicans in their press conference argued that Democrats were holding a second vote to protect vulnerable incumbents in competitive races in Montana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

It is an election-year political stunt designed to give our Democratic colleagues the appearance of doing something about this problem without doing anything, Tennessee GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn said Wednesday.

She was joined by Republican Sens. Roger Marshall of Kansas, Rick Scott of Florida, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, John Coryn of Texas, J.D. Vance of Ohio and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

House opposition

Even if the border security bill passed the Senate, it would have no chance in the House, where Johnson has vowed it will be dead on arrival.

The Louisiana Republican in a Wednesday press conference called the measure a messaging bill and said Schumer was trying to give his vulnerable members cover.

And not all House Democrats were on board with the bill negotiated out of the Senate.

The chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state and the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Nanette Barragan of California, slammed Senate Democrats for putting forth the legislation and urged them to abandon the effort.

We are disappointed that the Senate will once again vote on an already-failed border bill in a move that only splits the Democratic Caucus over extreme and unworkable enforcement-only policies, they wrote in a statement.

This framework, which was constructed under Republican hostage-taking, does nothing to address the longstanding updates needed to modernize our outdated immigration system, create more legal pathways, and recognize the enormous contributions of immigrants to communities and our economy.

Latino Democrats also voiced opposition to the bill when it was first released because it contained many hard-line policies that were reminiscent of the Trump administration.

The post Bipartisan border bill loses support, fails procedural vote in U.S. Senate appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
When exploring space for potentially habitable worlds, scientists were looking for green, because it is the color of life on Earth. But later they assumed that on distant planets it might have other shades.

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For example, purple, according to scientists who began studying microorganisms of this color. The results of their research were published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Purple and magenta bacteria are found in some of the most extreme environments on our planet. The researchers collected and grew samples of the bacteria and measured the wavelength of light they reflect.

The idea is to add possible signs of life to a database that future astronomers can look for on other worlds.

"There is such a variant of life. We shouldn't disregard it just because it's not green," says study co-author Lisa Kaltenegger, an astronomer at Cornell University and author of a new book on alien worlds.

Why purple?

Long before we had the plants that color our world green, the Earth was a difficult place to live. This was due to a lack of oxygen and extreme temperatures.

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But in these harsh conditions, purple bacteria can develop.

Instead of using chlorophyll, which most plants use for photosynthesis, purple bacteria need bacteriochlorophyll and carotenoids, which allows them to perform photosynthesis in low light and low oxygen conditions.

In a 2018 study, scientists concluded that purple archaea - another type of microorganism that uses a molecule called retinal for photosynthesis - may have dominated our planet before it was filled with oxygen.

The authors of the scientific article in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society added spectral data from 20 species of purple bacteria collected in lakes and swamps. The researchers measured the wavelengths of light reflected by the bacteria and modeled how these patterns might look on a distant planet.

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The result is a collection of light signatures that the team adds to the database. This data is publicly available, and scientists can use these signatures for their own projects.

Color as a signal from other planets

Astronomers search for life on other planets using markers called biosignatures. The color of a planet's surface can be one of these biosignatures. To see this, astronomers use a technique called reflected light spectroscopy.

"But this type of observation is not possible with the telescopes we have today," says Edward Schwieterman, an astronomer at the University of California, Riverside.

For example, the James Webb Space Telescope can only detect biosignatures in the exoplanet's atmosphere. For example, to see if it contains oxygen, methane, and other gases. It is not able to measure light reflected from the planet's surface.

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Researchers hope that projects such as the Chilean Very Large Telescope and NASA's Habitable World Observatory can do this. They aim to obtain images of these measurements at the surface level. It is planned that the observatories will be operational by the end of 2030.

Extraterrestrial biodiversity

Understanding purple life on Earth also expands our understanding of life elsewhere.

Many habitable rocky planets orbit stars known as red suns - dimmer versions of the yellow sun in our solar system. Purple organisms are able to utilize the low-energy rays emitted by these red suns, the most common type of star, according to scientists.

"All the amazing biodiversity we have, we need to study it to give us the tools to search for life on other planets. Biodiversity is essential in astronomy," the scientists say.

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U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, flanked by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, left, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, speaks during a news conference to support a border security bill on May 22, 2024. The bill failed on a procedural vote. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, flanked by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, left, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, speaks during a news conference to support a border security bill on May 22, 2024. The bill failed on a procedural vote. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Senate failed Thursday to advance a border security bill as both parties seek to hone their messages on immigration policy in the runup to Novembers elections.

The Senate bill failed to advance on a 43-50 procedural vote, with South Dakota Republicans John Thune and Mike Rounds both voting no. The chamber already rejected the measure as part of a broader foreign aid package earlier this year. The bill, negotiated with the White House and a bipartisan trio of senators in the hopes of winning broad appeal, would have overhauled immigration law for the first time in more than 30 years.

Two of the border deals chief Senate negotiators, Oklahoma Republican James Lankford and Arizona independent Kyrsten Sinema, voted against advancing the measure Thursday, protesting what they said was an unserious process focused on political optics. The bills third major sponsor, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy, voted in favor.

Read more

Thune calls bill charades and political theater.

The procedural vote to advance to debate on the bill came as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aimed to contrast Democrats approach to immigration policy with Republicans ahead of the November elections. The issue continues to rise as a top concern for voters and remains a core campaign theme for the GOP and its presumptive presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump.

Both chambers are readying other votes seemingly aimed at highlighting election themes.

The Democratic-led Senate is teeing up votes as early as next month on access to contraceptives, and protections for in vitro fertilization, or IVF, as Democrats have continued to campaign on the issue of reproductive rights.

The Republican-controlled House is moving forward with immigration related legislation, such as barring noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, as the GOP continues to highlight its disagreements with the White House over immigration policy.

Shortly after the Senate vote, President Joe Biden in a statement said Senate Republicans put partisan politics ahead of our countrys national security.

Congressional Republicans do not care about securing the border or fixing Americas broken immigration system, he said. If they did, they would have voted for the toughest border enforcement in history.

Losing support

The border security bill, S.4361, received fewer votes Thursday as a standalone bill than it had as part of the larger foreign aid package in February, when it failed on a 49-50 procedural vote. Sixty votes are needed to advance bills in the Senate.

The bill did not get all Democrats on board, which Schumer acknowledged earlier this week was a possibility.

We do not expect every Democrat or every Republican to come out in favor of this bill, Schumer said on the Senate floor Tuesday. The only way to pass this bill  or any border bill  is with broad bipartisan support.

But the bill failed to attract that broad support, losing backing even from Democrats whod voted for the foreign aid package.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said in a Wednesday statement that while he voted for the larger package in early February  mostly because it included critical aid to Ukraine  he would not do so this time around because the bill was too restrictive.

I will not vote for the bill coming to the Senate floor this week because it includes several provisions that will violate Americans shared values, Booker said. The proposed bill would exclude people fleeing violence and persecution from seeking asylum and instead doubles down on failed anti-immigrant policies that encourage irregular immigration.

Another cynical, political game

Democratic senators who voted against moving the bill forward included Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler of California, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Booker. Independents Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sinema also voted against.

Sinema said she voted against advancing her own bill because she felt Democrats were using her bill to point the finger back at the other party.

Yet another cynical, political game, she said.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican to vote to advance the bill after Lankford voted against the bill he helped write.

Lankford said Thursdays vote was a prop.

Everyone sees this for what it is, he said. It is not an actual effort to make law, it is an effort to do political messaging.

Padilla, who voted against the larger package, said on the Senate floor Thursday that he was disappointed Democrats were voting on the bill again because it did not address the root causes of migration or create lawful pathways to citizenship for children brought into the U.S. without authorization known as Dreamers, farmworkers, and noncitizens who have been in the country for decades.

He urged other Democrats to vote no.

The proposal before us was initially supposed to be a concession, a ransom to be paid to Republicans to pass urgent and critical aid to Ukraine, Padilla said. Whats this concession for now? Its hard to swallow.

Senate Republicans accused Democrats of bringing the bill as a political stunt.

One thing the American people dont have to wonder about is why Washington Democrats are suddenly champing at the bit to convince their constituents that they care about border security, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said on the Senate floor Thursday. (Americans) know the solution is not cynical Senate theater.

Biden called McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday night to ask them to vote for the bill, but both Republican leaders rejected that appeal.

First vote

Lankford, Sinema and Murphy introduced the bill earlier this year, optimistic that months of bipartisan negotiations could lead to the first immigration policy overhaul in decades.

But Trump opposed the measure, and after those senators released the legislative text, House Republicans said they would fall in line with the former president. Senate Republicans then walked away from the deal they had said would be needed in order for passage of a supplemental foreign aid package to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region.

The sweeping border security bill would have raised the bar for migrants claiming asylum, clarified the White Houses parole authority, ended the practice of allowing migrants to live in U.S. communities as they await their asylum hearings, and given Biden the executive authority to close the southern border when asylum claims reached high levels, among other things.

Dueling messages

The day leading up to Thursdays vote, Senate Democrats and Republicans held dueling press conferences on the bill.

Democrats, including Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, argued that the bill negotiated earlier in the year would address the fentanyl crisis by providing new scanning technology at ports of entry and increasing staffing for custom agents.

Stabenow said shes tired of Senate Republicans saying that somebody should do something about the border, and that Thursdays vote would give them an opportunity to address the southern border.

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She was joined by Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who talked about how many people in their states had died from fentanyl overdoses.

Republicans in their press conference argued that Democrats were holding a second vote to protect vulnerable incumbents in competitive races in Montana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

It is an election-year political stunt designed to give our Democratic colleagues the appearance of doing something about this problem without doing anything, Tennessee GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn said Wednesday.

She was joined by Republican Sens. Roger Marshall of Kansas, Rick Scott of Florida, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, John Coryn of Texas, J.D. Vance of Ohio and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

House opposition

Even if the border security bill passed the Senate, it would have no chance in the House, where Johnson has vowed it will be dead on arrival.

The Louisiana Republican in a Wednesday press conference called the measure a messaging bill and said Schumer was trying to give his vulnerable members cover.

And not all House Democrats were on board with the bill negotiated out of the Senate.

The chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state and the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Nanette Barragan of California, slammed Senate Democrats for putting forth the legislation and urged them to abandon the effort.

We are disappointed that the Senate will once again vote on an already-failed border bill in a move that only splits the Democratic Caucus over extreme and unworkable enforcement-only policies, they wrote in a statement.

This framework, which was constructed under Republican hostage-taking, does nothing to address the longstanding updates needed to modernize our outdated immigration system, create more legal pathways, and recognize the enormous contributions of immigrants to communities and our economy.

Latino Democrats also voiced opposition to the bill when it was first released because it contained many hard-line policies that were reminiscent of the Trump administration.

The post Bipartisan border bill loses support, fails procedural vote in U.S. Senate appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, flanked by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, left, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, speaks during a news conference to support a border security bill on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The bill failed on a procedural vote Thursday. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Senate failed Thursday to advance a border security bill as both parties seek to hone their messages on immigration policy in the runup to Novembers elections.

The Senate bill failed to advance on a 43-50 procedural vote. The chamber already rejected the measure as part of a broader foreign aid package earlier this year. The bill, negotiated with the White House and a bipartisan trio of senators in the hopes of winning broad appeal, would have overhauled immigration law for the first time in more than 30 years.

Two of the border deals chief Senate negotiators, Oklahoma Republican James Lankford and Arizona independent Kyrsten Sinema, voted against advancing the measure Thursday, protesting what they said was an unserious process focused on political optics. The bills third major sponsor, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy, voted in favor.

The procedural vote to advance to debate on the bill came as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aimed to contrast Democrats approach to immigration policy with Republicans ahead of the November elections. The issue continues to rise as a top concern for voters and remains a core campaign theme for the GOP and its presumptive presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump.

Both chambers are readying other votes seemingly aimed at highlighting election themes.

The Democratic-led Senate is teeing up votes as early as next month on access to contraceptives, and protections for in vitro fertilization, or IVF, as Democrats have continued to campaign on the issue of reproductive rights.

The Republican-controlled House is moving forward with immigration related legislation, such as barring noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, as the GOP continues to highlight its disagreements with the White House over immigration policy.

Shortly after the Senate vote, President Joe Biden in a statement said Senate Republicans put partisan politics ahead of our countrys national security.

Congressional Republicans do not care about securing the border or fixing Americas broken immigration system, he said. If they did, they would have voted for the toughest border enforcement in history.

Losing support

The border security bill, S.4361, received fewer votes Thursday as a standalone bill than it had as part of the larger foreign aid package in February, when it failed on a 49-50 procedural vote. Sixty votes are needed to advance bills in the Senate.

The bill did not get all Democrats on board, which Schumer acknowledged earlier this week was a possibility.

We do not expect every Democrat or every Republican to come out in favor of this bill, Schumer said on the Senate floor Tuesday. The only way to pass this bill  or any border bill  is with broad bipartisan support.

But the bill failed to attract that broad support, losing backing even from Democrats whod voted for the foreign aid package.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said in a Wednesday statement that while he voted for the larger package in early February  mostly because it included critical aid to Ukraine  he would not do so this time around because the bill was too restrictive.

I will not vote for the bill coming to the Senate floor this week because it includes several provisions that will violate Americans shared values, Booker said. The proposed bill would exclude people fleeing violence and persecution from seeking asylum and instead doubles down on failed anti-immigrant policies that encourage irregular immigration.

Another cynical, political game

Democratic senators who voted against moving the bill forward included Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler of California, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Booker. Independents Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sinema also voted against.

Sinema said she voted against advancing her own bill because she felt Democrats were using her bill to point the finger back at the other party.

Yet another cynical, political game, she said.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican to vote to advance the bill after Lankford voted against the bill he helped write.

Lankford said Thursdays vote was a prop.

Everyone sees this for what it is, he said. It is not an actual effort to make law, it is an effort to do political messaging.

Padilla, who voted against the larger package, said on the Senate floor Thursday that he was disappointed Democrats were voting on the bill again because it did not address the root causes of migration or create lawful pathways to citizenship for children brought into the U.S. without authorization known as Dreamers, farmworkers, and noncitizens who have been in the country for decades.

He urged other Democrats to vote no.

The proposal before us was initially supposed to be a concession, a ransom to be paid to Republicans to pass urgent and critical aid to Ukraine, Padilla said. Whats this concession for now? Its hard to swallow.

Senate Republicans accused Democrats of bringing the bill as a political stunt.

One thing the American people dont have to wonder about is why Washington Democrats are suddenly champing at the bit to convince their constituents that they care about border security, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said on the Senate floor Thursday. (Americans) know the solution is not cynical Senate theater.

Biden called McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday night to ask them to vote for the bill, but both Republican leaders rejected that appeal.

First vote

Lankford, Sinema and Murphy introduced the bill earlier this year, optimistic that months of bipartisan negotiations could lead to the first immigration policy overhaul in decades.

But Trump opposed the measure, and after those senators released the legislative text, House Republicans said they would fall in line with the former president. Senate Republicans then walked away from the deal they had said would be needed in order for passage of a supplemental foreign aid package to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region.

The sweeping border security bill would have raised the bar for migrants claiming asylum, clarified the White Houses parole authority, ended the practice of allowing migrants to live in U.S. communities as they await their asylum hearings, and given Biden the executive authority to close the southern border when asylum claims reached high levels, among other things.

Dueling messages

The day leading up to Thursdays vote, Senate Democrats and Republicans held dueling press conferences on the bill.

Democrats, including Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, argued that the bill negotiated earlier in the year would address the fentanyl crisis by providing new scanning technology at ports of entry and increasing staffing for custom agents.

Stabenow said shes tired of Senate Republicans saying that somebody should do something about the border, and that Thursdays vote would give them an opportunity to address the southern border.

She was joined by Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who talked about how many people in their states had died from fentanyl overdoses.

Republicans in their press conference argued that Democrats were holding a second vote to protect vulnerable incumbents in competitive races in Montana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

It is an election-year political stunt designed to give our Democratic colleagues the appearance of doing something about this problem without doing anything, Tennessee GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn said Wednesday.

She was joined by Republican Sens. Roger Marshall of Kansas, Rick Scott of Florida, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, John Coryn of Texas, J.D. Vance of Ohio and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

House opposition

Even if the border security bill passed the Senate, it would have no chance in the House, where Johnson has vowed it will be dead on arrival.

The Louisiana Republican in a Wednesday press conference called the measure a messaging bill and said Schumer was trying to give his vulnerable members cover.

And not all House Democrats were on board with the bill negotiated out of the Senate.

The chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state and the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Nanette Barragan of California, slammed Senate Democrats for putting forth the legislation and urged them to abandon the effort.

We are disappointed that the Senate will once again vote on an already-failed border bill in a move that only splits the Democratic Caucus over extreme and unworkable enforcement-only policies, they wrote in a statement.

This framework, which was constructed under Republican hostage-taking, does nothing to address the longstanding updates needed to modernize our outdated immigration system, create more legal pathways, and recognize the enormous contributions of immigrants to communities and our economy.

Latino Democrats also voiced opposition to the bill when it was first released because it contained many hard-line policies that were reminiscent of the Trump administration.

The post Bipartisan border bill loses support, fails procedural vote in U.S. Senate appeared first on Nevada Current.
A bipartisan piece of immigration and border security legislation died again on the Senate floor on Thursday after Republicans blocked a bill meant to clamp down on the number of migrants allowed to claim asylum at the US-Mexico border.

The legislation is now dead for a second time after failing a procedural vote with 42 Democrats and one Republican voting in favor of considering the bill; and six Democrats, one independent and 42 Republicans voting against.

The bill, negotiated by a bipartisan group of senators, was already rejected by most Republicans in February when it was linked to a foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other US allies.

The bill had initially seemed set up for success but quickly collapsed after Donald Trump and his cadre of loyalists in the House and Senate GOP came out against it. Mr Trump was reportedly apoplectic over Republicans joining with Democrats on one of his key campaign issues.

Now, with immigration and border security one of the top issues of the 2024 election, Democrats are looking for an answer to the barrage of GOP attacks, led by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mr Trump.

The bill was brought up for vote again on Thursday by Democrat Chris Murphy, an attempt by the White House and its allies to underscore Republicans failure to come to the table. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer highlighted the GOP resistance to the bill following the vote on Thursday.

Senate Republicans again rejected the strongest, most comprehensive bipartisan border bill weve seen in decades. A sad day. While the GOP isnt interested today in getting this donewell keep trying. Its too important to our national security, our communities, our country, he posted on X.

But the bill has also been heavily criticized by some progressive Democrats and Latino members of the party over the bills exclusion of key priorities including a pathway for citizenship for undocumented immigrants including Dreamers, those brought to the US by their parents when they were young children.

Thursdays vote, meanwhile, leaves Republicans with the dilemma of bad optics. The party took a political beating from Democrats after the failure of the border bill in February, with the presidents party blasting them for doing nothing on the issue. The GOP continues to face awkward questions from more engaged voters on border security.

On Thursday, Republicans such as James Lankford, the GOPs lead negotiator in the border negotiations, voted against it, as did frequent swing votes Susan Collins and Mitt Romney. The bill also picked up new Democratic opponents, Sens Laphonza Butler and Cory Booker.

I think its going to be an overwhelming number that vote no, the GOP caucuss whip, John Thune, told The Independent ahead of the vote on Wednesday.

Senator Alex Padilla, one of a handful of Latino Democrats in the upper chamber, was also a no on the bill. Padilla has been a vocal critic of the legislation for months, not just of the policy itself but the process: he has strongly criticized the exclusion of Latino senators from the negotiations.

This bill contains some of the same tried and failed policies that would actually make the situation worse at the southern border, he said in a floor speech on Thursday.

Its not just whats in the bill that troubles me; its whats not in the bill. If enacted, this bill would fail to provide relief for a single Dreamer, for a single farm worker, or a single essential worker or long-term resident of the United States who has been here for years, in some cases decades, working, paying taxes, contributing to the strength of our communities and our country and the success of our economy.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill Thursday that would make it illegal to share deepfake pornographic images and videos without consent.

The legislation, led by Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), is the latest effort to combat the nonconsensual distribution of sexuality explicit deepfakes, which refers to images and videos made with advanced technology including artificial intelligence (AI).

These doctored images are often made to resemble women, often celebrities or other public figures, and are posted online without their permission.

If passed, the bill would create a new criminal offense for sharing these images, along with a private right of action for victims to file a lawsuit against parties  including websites  that intentionally share the images. The criminal penalties would include a fine and up to two years in prison, while the civil penalties could be up to $150,000 in fines in most cases, and sometimes more.

The sharing of intimate images without consent can cause extraordinary emotional distress and harm and can put victims at risk of stalking and assault, Hassan said in a statement Thursday.

Especially as technology advances to a point where it is hard to tell which photos and videos are real and which have been entirely faked, we need stronger guardrails that protect peoples safety, privacy, and dignity and prevent non-consensual intimate images from proliferating across the internet.

The bill was co-signed by Sens. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) and Angus King (I-Maine).

Earlier in the day, the White House issued its latest push for the technology industry to willingly cooperate on the issue of sexually explicit AI deepfakes.

As generative AI broke on the scene, everyone was speculating about where the first real harms would come. And I think we have the answer, said Arati Prabhakar, head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, The Associated Press reported.

A document from the White House calls for action from AI developers, payment processors, search engines and those who control app stores, the AP reported.

Artificial intelligence and the companies that wield its possibilities are going to transform the lives of people around the world  theres no doubt about that, Biden said Tuesday on the social platform X. But first, they must earn our trust.

Concerns over deepfakes have increased over the past year as AI continues to advance and becomes more pervasive.

In January, the spread of explicit AI-generated images of Taylor Swift accelerated the push for lawmakers and the White House to prevent the spread of deepfake porn.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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What Year Is This?? Black Man's Home Set on Fire After Receiving Mysterious Racist Packages

The home of Terry Williams on fire on May 21, 2024. - Photo: San Francisco Fire Department

After receiving several racist packages in recent weeks, Terry Williams experienced the unthinkable: his San Francisco home set ablaze Tuesday.

Though Williams  a professional dog walker and lifelong resident in his Alamo Square neighborhood  wasnt home at the time of the blaze, he shares the home with his elderly parents, who were rescued by firefighters. The fire follows the discovery of two packages on April 26 and May 5 that contained racist epithets, according to The San Francisco Standard.

It was a plastic bag that had Gangster, thug and other negative words about Black people on it, Williams told Per KGO-TV, an ABC San Francisco affiliate. He also told the network that the bag had a photo of him in it with racist slurs written on it as well as a doll with a noose around its neck.

Authorities are looking into who sent the packages and determining if they are connected to the fire, but have yet to identify a suspect.

UPDATE



This 1-alarm fire with 40 SFFD members is now contained. This fire is under investigation. 2 adults were rescued by #yoursffd on the upper floors in conditions with high heat and no visibility due to smoke. Both victims were immediately treated by #SFFDEMS and taken to https://t.co/DpGAvMdRX4 pic.twitter.com/iWljl3Y2vB  SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) May 21, 2024

At the time of the blaze, Williams was meeting with city officials. His father, Luddie, told the The San Francisco Standard about the panic and shock he experienced. I dont know what happened, Luddie Williams said. I was just trying to get me and my wife the hell out of there.

The pair were taken to a local hospital. The Williams family has lived in San Franciscos Alamo Square neighborhood since the 1970s. For the last several decades, the citys Black residents have left as gentrification and housing costs forced them to seek out more affordable areas.

I feel like I should have been here. I couldve stopped it, Terry Williams stated. My parents are elderly and then something like this happens. Its my worst nightmare.

A GoFundMe campaign to help the Williams family install security cameras on their property exceeded its $10,000 goal Tuesday.

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Black Tacoma hasnt gotten far enough, Urban League CEO says. Shell say more next week

Janice Lee knows the spotlight is on her  figuratively, and later this month, literally.

Lee, who spent two decades in senior leadership positions before embarking on her latest career challenge, is the new chief executive officer of the Tacoma Urban League.

On May 30 at the Evergreen State College Tacoma campus, shell do something familiar to those who came before her: address the state of Black Tacoma, providing a sober, data-and-expert-driven analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing the local African American community.

Under the direction of Lees predecessor, state Senator Twina Nobles  who was named Tacoma Urban League CEO in 2017 and officially departed last year  all of this happened under the banner of the organizations now annual State of Black Tacoma event, now in its sixth year.

Scheduled in conjunction with the yearly release of the National Urban Leagues State of Black America report, which dates back to 1976, the Tacoma Urban Leagues State of Black Tacoma program is designed to offer what Nobles described as a reality-based, localized progress report  accompanied by direct, tangible calls to action for those in the audience.

Lee officially took the reins of the Tacoma Urban League late last year.

Last month, she said she feels the full weight and responsibility of leading such a storied organization, which today provides resources and direct assistance to Black residents and other vulnerable, under-served populations with a focus on education, economic empowerment, health, housing and justice.

As CEO, Lee follows in the footsteps of local civil rights heavyweights like the late Thomas Dixon, the Urban Leagues founder, Harold Moss, who stood beside him when the organization was launched more than 50 years ago, and current Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards, who served as president and CEO during her time as a City Council member.

Over the last five-plus decades, the Tacoma Urban League has been at the forefront of every social justice issue the city has faced, she noted, from redlining and housing discrimination to the ongoing fight for equal education and employment opportunities.

This years State of Black Tacoma event will be Lees first as Urban League CEO.

Shes ready to meet the moment, she said, motivated by the work that remains to be done.

Im in the community. Im talking to families, talking to businesses, talking to individuals  and Black Tacoma hasnt gotten far enough, said Lee, who grew up in the Puget Sound region and previously worked in strategic planning roles in the fields of education and behavioral health.

Despite notable achievements and hard-fought legislative wins in recent years, Lee said long-standing issues like flagging home-ownership rates, a lack of career advancement opportunities and a deficit of affordable housing continue to negatively impact the lives of Black Tacoma residents.

All of it and more  including pronounced local health disparities, systemic racism and continued public safety concerns  will be discussed and dissected during next weeks State of Black Tacoma event, she promised. Guest panelists include Tacoma Police Chief Avery Moore, Shellie Willis, the senior director of collective impact at WorkForce Central and Gary Sterling, deputy director of the Foundation for Tacoma Students.

As the Tacoma Urban Leagues point person, its Lees job to forge the path of progress, she said.

The potential of the Tacoma Urban League is unlimited, Lee told The News Tribune.

As CEO, its my responsibility to take leadership.  Its my job to say, This is where were at right now, and these are the solutions were going to work toward.

Nobles, who first announced her intention to step down as Tacoma Urban League CEO not long after being elected to the state Senate in 2020, ultimately stuck around for the duration of what proved to be a lengthy search for a successor.

Last year, she spent roughly four months mentoring Lee before working her last day at the agencys well-known offices on Yakima Avenue.

Nobles agrees: The job is as important as ever, with executive challenges ranging from sustained fundraising to meeting the needs of the next generation of Black Tacomans.

She believes Lee is up to the task.

The stakes are too high to fail, Nobles said.

Like theyve been since the day Tacoma Urban League was born.

The Tacoma Urban League belongs to the community. It doesnt matter who the CEO is, the goal is providing services and a connection that includes as many people as possible, Nobles said.

People wont remember a face or who held a title, but theyll remember what happened to them at Tacoma Urban League, she continued.

Whoever the leader is, there has to be for the community and love for the organization to move the work forward.

State of Black Tacoma 2024

 Thursday, May 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

 The Evergreen State College Tacoma campus,1210 Sixth Ave.

 Registration and live streaming information online at thetacomaurbanleague.org/events
Long ago, I took advantage of the Kansas City Police Departments ride-along program after a shooting three blocks from my home.

What I most remember is the trash. Officers showed me run-down neighborhoods with vacant and collapsing houses, piles of trash neglected for weeks and discarded furniture along the streets. Its tough to care about your community, the officers told me, when no one else does.

Years later, in 2016, then Kansas City Police Chief Darryl Forte wrote in his blog that neighborhoods with low levels of violent crime have, among other things, more occupied homes, working streetlights and minimal trash: There is a sense of pride and ownership in those neighborhoods. People look out for one another. At recent homicide scenes, Ive seen trash everywhere, overgrown brush, blighted vacant houses, busted sidewalks and more. Two weeks later, Kansas City PBS aired Our Divided City, a documentary highlighting the impact of blighted properties on crime and poverty.

Have things gotten any better in the years since? Forest Tyson doesnt think so.

Tyson, vice president of the Oak Park Neighborhood Associations 7,000 homes, said the city has taken the position that theyre waiting for developers to come and do the work.

Its a national issue. In 2019, the Manhattan Institute published an essay, Cleaning Up Vacant Lots Can Curb Urban Crime, that identified the same issues Forte did, pointing to a successful anti-blight program in Philadelphia. At the time of the article, the Philadelphia LandCare program, initiated in 1996, had transformed more than 13,000 vacant lots across the city, partnering with local contractors and city agencies. The scalable model improved more than 18 million square feet of land, a model for other cities.

It turns out that reducing blight reduces crime. In a citywide experiment, the LandCare program was found shootings reduced by 8% and nuisance crimes reduce by 7% around remediated lots. In neighborhoods below the poverty line, these effects were even more pronounced, with a 29% reduction in gun assaults.

Residents nearby reported feeling safer and more likely to use outdoor spaces for relaxing and social activities, contributing to a sense of community well-being. More than half of the residents surveyed experienced fewer security concerns when leaving their homes, and more than three-quarters indicated increased outdoor activity.

Beyond crime reduction, study indicates the program provided economic opportunities by employing local residents for lot maintenance, fostering community engagement and improving social infrastructure. Additionally, improved perceptions of safety and reduced stress contribute to better health outcomes, reducing chronic stress and health disparities in low-resource neighborhoods.

Every element of that program could be copied in Kansas City. Why arent we?

Portland, Oregon, undertook a similar effort in 2021 to reduce shootings by two-thirds by using traffic-calming orange traffic barrels, enhanced street lighting and park patrols. Gun violence rates remained constant in the rest of the city. The pilot program ran for just two months, and while its not enough to draw conclusions, the results were promising.

An entertaining six-minute video released in 2022 by Kite & Key Media called Less Crime, By Design outlines some of the successes in Philadelphia and elsewhere of reducing crime by addressing blight.

Unfortunately, too many leaders want to talk about guns when asked about violent crime. Thats a dodge. Fortes 2016 blog post anticipated as much: Without a doubt, guns have always been the leading cause of violent death in Kansas City. But guns are just a small piece of the issue.

The policies arent particularly flashy, but they work. Cities can deliver basic services such as trash removal and maintain city property  especially city-owned vacant lots and abandoned houses. Getting police officers out of their cars and walking the beat, as was done in the 1990s, would help, too. And when people want to invest in neighborhoods by building homes, cities should do what they can to remove barriers and reduce costs.

City officials can do plenty to alleviate crime and persistent poverty. We should demand they do so.

Patrick Tuohey is co-founder of Better Cities Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on municipal policy solutions, and a senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to Missouri state policy work.
Blinken's statement about attack on Russia gives us hope  Ukraine's head of mission to NATO

Nataliia Halibarenko, the head of the Ukrainian mission to NATO. Photo: Ukrainian Mission to NATO on X

Nataliia Halibarenko, the head of the Ukrainian mission to NATO, believes that sooner or later, a decision on the right of Ukrainian troops to use US weapons to strike targets in Russia will be made.

Source: Nataliia Halibarenko, in an interview with Ukrinform news agency; European Pravda

The ambassador noted that at all meetings and negotiations, the Ukrainian side has always stated that Russia's war against Ukraine gives Ukrainian forces every right to hit targets on Russian territory. In this context, she recalled the latest statements of the US Secretary of State during a visit to Kyiv.

Quote: "Blinken's statement, which he repeated twice, that Ukraine is the one to choose its targets, created hope that the United States had changed its position: Ukraine should make its own decisions on the territories where it uses certain Western weapons, especially American ones," Halibarenko said.

However, she clarified that later on, the Pentagon's position was completely different, saying that the United States expects Ukraine to use American weapons only on Ukrainian territory.

Halibarenko insists that Ukraine can hit the Russian Federation while defending itself. The ambassador hopes that Washington will take this position, too.

Quote: "The decision that we have the right to use American weapons beyond Ukraine must be made sooner or later. It is a pity that we are wasting time searching for a solution that should not cause doubts. But we will continue to promote it at all levels," Halibarenko said.

Background:

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba insists that Ukraine should be able to strike military targets on the territory of the Russian Federation since this will help bring the end of the war closer.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed in an interview with Reuters that Ukraine is negotiating with international partners on the ability to use their weapons against targets on the territory of Russia.

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The Norwegian government has taken another step towards isolating Russia. Starting May 29, the country will not allow Russians whose purpose is tourism.

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According to the local newspaper NRK, the police will be able to expel Russian citizens who fall under this rule. However, Russians will be able to cross the border for other purposes.

Foreigners will be allowed to enter Norway if they have a special reason, such as visiting close relatives, work or study.

"The decision to tighten entry rules is in line with Norway's policy of standing together with allies and partners to counter Russia's illegal aggressive war against Ukraine," Emily Enger Mel, Minister of Justice and Public Security, was quoted as saying.

As a reminder, Norway suspended its simplified visa regime with Russia in 2022, after which it practically stopped issuing visas to Russians. Later, the border was closed for cars with Russian license plates.

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There is only one checkpoint on the border between Russia and Norway - Sturskug-Borisoglebsk. Norway, although not a member of the EU, is a member of the Schengen area, so Russians can freely enter other Schengen states, most of which are EU members, through its territory.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that last year Finland decided to temporarily close the last checkpoint on the border with Russia. Thus, the country completely "fenced off" from Russia.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley were found dead in April, leading to murder charges against Tifany Adams, Tad Bert Cullum, Cole Twombly, Cora Twombly and Paul Grice

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Tifany Adams, Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley

Two women who were allegedly killed over a custody battle by a grandmother and her friends were reportedly found in a chest freezer buried on property leased by one of the alleged murderers.

Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, disappeared in March in rural Oklahoma while on their way to pick up Butlers children from their grandmother, Tifany Adams, who would later be accused of murdering the two women.

On April 13, Adams, 54, was arrested alongside her boyfriend Tad Bert Cullum, 43, Cole Earl Twombly, 50, and Cora Twombly, 44. Each of the suspects is charged with murder and kidnapping in connection with the deaths of the women, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said at the time.

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Cole Earl Twombly (left), Tifany Machel Adam

Days later, authorities arrested a fifth suspect, Paul Grice, in connection with the killings, ABC 7 and KOCO reported at the time.

All five are allegedly members of Gods Misfits, which authorities claim is a fringe anti-government religious group. (The official Facebook page of the group denounced the murders in a statement following the arrests).

Related: Preacher's Wife and Her Friend Go Missing in 'Suspicious Disappearance,' Okla. Police Say

In search warrants reviewed by several local news outlets, authorities say they found the womens bodies in a chest freezer on property leased by Cullum a few miles away from where Butlers abandoned car was found, News Channel 10, KTUL and KATV report.

The freezer was discovered by investigators a day after they executed a search warrant on the property, News Channel 10 reports, citing the warrant documents.

Authorities reportedly found other items alongside the freezer that didn't belong to either of the victims, per the warrant, which was published by News Channel 10.

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Cora Twombly (left), Tad Bert Cullum

Related: 'God's Misfits' Grandma Allegedly Confessed Role in Deaths of 2 Kansas Women Amid Custody Battle: Affidavit

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.

Plea information for the accused was not available in online court records. PEOPLE was not able to immediately reach the attorneys listed in court documents.



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Read the original article on People.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Arkansas State Police is investigating a homicide in Lee County, Arkansas after a local farmer found a body.

According to reports, on Tuesday, a Lee County farmer reported that he found the body of a woman on a farm field road off Lee County Road 706, north of Marianna.

Multiple officers, nurse treated for fentanyl exposure after AR traffic stop

The woman was later identified as 30-year-old Ashley Monroe of Lexa, Arkansas. Reports say her body was transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the cause of death.

The ASP Criminal Investigation Division was requested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office to investigate the homicide.

The investigation is ongoing.

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 WREG.com.
Spend some time in Southwest Boise and it can feel like youve been shipwrecked in a sea of houses, with rooftops stretching for miles in every direction.

While the homes  some virtual carbon copies of each other  have served as a bulwark against a continued housing shortage, residents see the area as commercially barren. For many, theres an almost unbearable lack of spots to grab a bite to eat or shop for clothes without spending half an hour locked in a car.

Frustrations have simmered over this commercial desert for years and came to a head in January when the Board of Ada County Commissioners heard hours of public testimony against turning one of the last remaining chunks of land in the area zoned for commercial uses into more homes.

Citing neighbor complaints, the board made a final decision Wednesday to reject the proposed $45 million project from the Utah-based Peg Cos. that would have built 118 homes and 20,000 square feet of stores on a vacant 10-acre parcel.

The Ada County Commission rejected an attempt to rezone this 10-acre piece of land in Southwest Boise at Five Mile and Lake Hazel roads.

Commissioner Ryan Davidson, who won his race against challenger Clyde Dornier in Tuesdays Republican primary election, said he has spoken with constituents lately and heard more opposition against high-density projects such as Pegs proposal.

Overall, we support commercial development and residential development as well, Davidson said. But after hearing a lot of public testimony, I think that this is not a project that would be a good fit for this neighborhood.

This is the second time the project, called Alante Homes at Hazelwood Village, has gone in front of the commissioners after the board rejected Pegs 2022 proposal that included homes only. The board asked Peg to add commercial elements to the plan, which it did.

Were just disappointed because really, the only reason were here the second time around is because of specific feedback that the commissioners gave us  which we followed exactly, said David Bourne, director of investments for Peg. I dont know if they were sincere in their desire to have us do that or if they were always going to fold if faced with opposition from neighbors.

The project would have included 20 one-bedroom, 37 two-bedroom and 61 three-bedroom rental homes, according to prior Idaho Statesman reporting.

The units would have included single-family and duplex offerings running from an average of $1,700 to $2,500 per month, according to prior Statesman reporting. The developers proposed including a private park, clubhouse, pool, pickleball courts and a playground.

The 20,000 square feet of commercial space on the eastern side of the property would have fit six to 12 businesses, Bourne said in a January meeting.

The proposed Alante Homes at Hazelwood Village from Utah developer Peg Cos. aimed to add 118 homes to southwest Boise and 20,000 square feet of commercial space.

Bourne said that while he believed a lot of neighbors were well-intentioned, hed never seen such a clear case of NIMBYism, the acronym that stands for not in my backyard and refers to neighborhood opposition to development.

Residents celebrated the boards decision Wednesday, hoping the site could someday serve the neighborhood better.

The whole key of planning is to preserve the commercial to support the houses that go out there, said Gerry Armstrong, a nearby resident and the former director of planning and development at Ada County.

Armstrong said a goal of planning is to build a community and that there is a lack of gathering spaces to do so in Southwest Boise.

You want people to come together and have their coffee, go out to breakfast together, Armstrong said.

Dwindling hope for mixed neighborhoods

Carlos Vidales, a nearby resident who led much of the opposition to the project, said there were about 80 acres in the area reserved for commercial uses. Then it dropped to 50 acres as developers rezoned it for homes. A few businesses including an Albertsons, McDonalds and Idaho Central Credit Union snagged some of that acreage, leaving the 10-acre parcel as some of the last available land.

This parcel is the last of that, Vidales said.

According to Armstrong, who helped put together the land-use map of the area, there was concern that developers would fill Southwest Boise with strip commercial like along Fairview Avenue.

Five Mile Road borders the site to the east while Lake Hazel Road is to the north.

Instead, they wanted to build small commercial villages clustered around intersections that could offer places like barber shops and cafes, Armstrong said.

As developers rezoned the region for more houses, those goals began to disappear, he said.

Now, there is barely any available land in the area that can be used for anything other than homes, Vidales said.

Just about everybody I know  has been counting on it being businesses there, said Vidales. Theres a lot of pent-up demand.

Carlos Vidales stands in the 10-acre lot that the Ada County Commission refused to rezone. Vidales and other residents of the Lake Hazel Village neighborhood want to see the lot stay zoned for commercial and bring more businesses to the mostly residential area in Southwest Boise.

What would more homes do to congested roads?

Like many Southwest Boise developments now worming their way through the entitlement process  such as the nearly 381-acre Murio Farms project and the proposed Syringa Valley project  one of the biggest concerns for local residents is clogged roads.

Murio Farms is a roughly 1 mile drive from the 10-acre piece of land Peg wanted to rezone.

Several local residents testified in front of Boise City Council in early May on Murio Farms, saying that the roads in the area cant support the amount of development.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

We are getting so many additional homes in the area that the infrastructure cant keep up, said Estee Lafrenz, president of the South Cole Neighborhood Association, during that meeting.

Even though plans for Murio Farms include some commercial areas, Vidales said they likely wouldnt start building businesses there for over 10 years.

For now, the vast majority of commercial opportunities for Southwest Boise residents are to the north  forcing residents to cram onto a few roads like Cloverdale, Five Mile or Maple Grove to pick up supplies.

We all have to drive long distances, Vidales said. We need the businesses so we dont congest the roads all over Ada County.

What next for Southwest Boise site?

There are still some avenues for Pegs project to come to life, Bourne said, though they are unlikely.

There are some commercial uses at the intersection of Five Mile and Lake Hazel roads, including an Albertsons, pizza shop, McDonalds and an Idaho Central Credit Union. This south-facing aerial image shows the vacant parcel at top and a few stores at bottom.

The most likely option for the site now? A 24-hour self-storage site, Bourne said.

I dont think its the best use for this neighborhood, he said. It denies a lot of the things that Ada County claims to be looking for.

The site could now turn into a 24-hour self storage business, Bourne said.

With current zoning, turning the vacant lot into self-storage wouldnt require any type of public hearing, Bourne said. It would just need administrative approval.

No developer will see how Peg was treated and want to move forward with a plan to mix homes and businesses there, Bourne said.

There will never be a shop or a restaurant on that site, Bourne said.

Boise development would add 3,500 homes. Why staff analysts say its a bad deal

What happens when you build houses, but no stores? This Boise neighborhood is finding out

Multistory apartment building could come to this busy Boise Bench area. Are you ready?

Dream to bring 1,500 homes to South & Southwest Boise still on the table. Heres the plan
The Boise Police Department is asking the public for help identifying a person of interest nearly two months after a downtown Boise fight left a man with serious injuries, according to a news release from the agency.

Officers from the Boise Police Department responded to a report of a fight outside of the Idaho Central Arena on March 29 as people exited the building, according to the news release. Police quickly found a man who suffered several injuries, and the victim was taken to a local hospital and was treated for serious but not life-threatening injuries, police said.

Detectives said theyve followed up on several leads and are now asking for the publics help identifying the man. Anyone with any information is asked to call the Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.
Former national security adviser John Bolton fiercely defended Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito against a barrage of criticism Wednesday following reporting that, at one point, two flags associated with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol had been on display outside his home.

Absolutely not, Bolton told CNNs Wolf Blitzer when asked whether the recent reporting about the flag raised concerns about whether he can serve impartially on the Supreme Court.

I think it is outrageous, outrageous and unacceptable, for people to take a flag from the American Revolution and say that because some Jan. 6 protesters flew it, that its now unacceptable to fly that flag, and Id like to hear a Democratic Party politician say that expressly, added Bolton, who has frequently been critical of former President Trump and the risk he says Trump poses to the countrys national security.

An Appeal to Heaven flag  which has origins dating back to the Revolutionary War but is now associated with Christian nationalism and Stop the Steal efforts  was seen flying outside Alitos New Jersey beach home in July and September 2023, The New York Times reported, around the same time a high-profile Jan. 6 case arrived at the Supreme Court.

The flag was also toted by rioters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The Wednesday report comes just days after the newspaper reported that an upside-down American flag flew outside Alitos Virginia home in January 2021  around the time rioters stormed the Capitol when Congress was set to certify Joe Bidens 2020 election win over then-President Trump.

Alito said his wife hung the flag during a spat with neighbors but did not deny its political association.

The Jan. 6 people flew a lot of flags, Bolton said, before offering some examples. They dont have the right or the ability to expropriate a patriotic symbol of the United States, and then have everybody else say it belongs to them and condemn Sam Alito or anybody else for flying that flag.

I think whats unacceptable is this rush to find some reason to criticize Alito, Bolton added.

Blitzer repeatedly pressed Bolton on the fact that the flags now do have political implications to certain groups, and he noted supporters of the so-called Stop the Steal movement have celebrated the reporting about the flags at Alitos homes.

Bolton grew increasingly animated as he insisted that the flags did not have political implications and chastised those saying otherwise, adding, They do not. Thats just wrong. That is just wrong, and, Well they dont have political implications to me.

Its controversial for liberals who have it in for Sam Alito. Its not controversial for me, and Im as against Donald Trump as anybody I know in this country, Bolton said.

Bolton said Alito should certainly not recuse himself from the upcoming Jan. 6 cases before the Supreme Court.

Theres no indication that it was intended to express any support for January the sixth. And Ill tell you, those who are using this tactic against Alito now, it will come back to haunt them, he said.

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 The Hill.
This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grists weekly newsletter here. Is bottled water really natural if its contaminated with microplastics? A series of lawsuits recently filed against six bottled water brands claim that its deceptive to use labels like 100 percent mountain spring water and natural spring water  not because of the waters provenance, but because it is likely tainted with tiny plastic fragments. Reasonable consumers, the suits allege, would read those labels and assume bottled water to be totally free of contaminants; if they knew the truth, they might not have bought it. Plaintiff would not have purchased, and/or would not have paid a price premium for bottled water had they known it contained dangerous substances, reads the lawsuit filed against the bottled water company Poland Spring. The six lawsuits target the companies that own Arrowhead, Crystal Geyser, Evian, Fiji, Ice Mountain, and Poland Spring. They are variously seeking damages for lost money, wasted time, and stress, aggravation, frustration, loss of trust, loss of serenity, and loss of confidence in product labeling. Experts arent sure its a winning legal strategy, but its a creative new approach for consumers hoping to protect themselves against the ubiquity of microplastics. Research over the past several years has identified these particles  fragments of plastic less than 5 millimeters in diameter  just about everywhere, in nature and in peoples bodies. Studies have linked them to an array of health concerns, including heart disease, reproductive problems, metabolic disorder, and, in one recent landmark study, an increased risk of death from any cause. Of the six class-action lawsuits, five were filed earlier this year by the law firm of Todd M. Friedman, a consumer protection and employment firm with locations in California, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The sixth was filed by the firm Ahdoot & Wolfson on behalf of a New York City resident. Each lawsuit uses the same general argument to make its case, beginning with research on the prevalence of microplastics in bottled water. Several of them cite a 2018 study from Orb Media and the State University of New York in Fredonia that found microplastic contamination in 93 percent of bottles tested across 11 brands in nine countries. In half of the brands tested, researchers found more than 1,000 pieces of microplastic per liter. (A standard bottle can hold about half a liter of water.) More recent research has found that typical water bottles have far higher levels: 240,000 particles per liter on average, taking into account smaller fragments known as nanoplastics. The complaints then go on to argue that bottled water contaminated with microplastics cannot be natural, as implied by product labels like natural artisan water (Fiji), 100 percent natural spring water (Poland Spring), and natural spring water (Evian). The suit against Poland Spring cites a dictionary definition of natural as existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind. That lawsuit and the others also point to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which does not strictly regulate the use of the word natural but has a longstanding policy of considering the term to mean a food is free from synthetic or artificial additives that would not normally be expected to be in that food.. The lawsuit against Arrowhead bottled water, advertised as 100 percent mountain spring water, argues that its the 100 percent thats deceptive. Reasonable consumers do not understand the term 100 percent to mean 99 percent, 98 percent, 97 percent, or any other percentage except for 100 percent, the complaint reads. In other words, consumers expect a product thats labeled as 100 percent water to contain exactly 0 percent microplastics. Are reasonable consumers really taking labels so literally? Jeff Sovern, a professor of consumer protection law at the University of Maryland, said its plausible that people would expect bottled water labeled as natural to not contain non-natural microplastics, but its hard to say without conducting a survey. It will be up to judges to evaluate that argument  if the cases go to trial. One of the lawsuits filed by the firm of Todd M. Friedman against the company that owns Crystal Geyser was withdrawn last month, potentially a sign that the parties reached a settlement. A lot of these types of cases get settled, said Laura Smith, legal director of the nonprofit Truth in Advertising, Inc. This may reflect the strength of the plaintiffs arguments, or it could reflect a companys desire to avoid the expense of going to court. In response to Grists request for comment, Evian  owned by Danone  said it could not comment on active litigation, but that it denies the allegations and will vigorously defend itself in the lawsuit. Microplastics and nanoplastics are found throughout the environment in our soil, air, and water, and their presence is a complex and evolving area of science, a spokesperson told Grist, adding that the FDA has not issued regulations for nano- or microplastic particles in food and beverage products. The companies named in the other lawsuits  BlueTriton Brands Inc., CG Roxane LLC, and The Wonderful Co. LLC  did not respond to requests for comment. Erica Cirino, a spokesperson for the nonprofit Plastic Pollution Coalition, said the new lawsuits are part of a longstanding effort to hold bottled water companies accountable not only for microplastic contamination, but also for other misleading claims about their products purity. A lawsuit against Nestle in 2017 said its Pure Life Purified brand name and labels misrepresented the purity of its water, in violation of the California Legal Remedies Act. That case was dismissed in 2019 for a failure to allege a cognizable legal theory; the latest lawsuits natural claims represent a different tactic. Perhaps the best-known legal challenges have involved the origin of so-called spring water. In 2017, for example, a class-action lawsuit against Nestle Waters North America, which owned Poland Spring at the time, said the company was fooling customers into buying ordinary groundwater. A U.S. district court judge dismissed that suit in 2018 on the grounds that its allegations improperly cited violations of a state law, rather than a federal one. Nestle settled a similar lawsuit in 2003 for $10 million, though it denied that its practices had been deceptive. More recent lawsuits have taken aim at bottled water companies claims that their products are carbon neutral, or that their bottles are 100 percent recyclable. Only 9 percent of plastics worldwide ever get recycled. Many of these lawsuits have yet to be evaluated by a judge, although a 2021 complaint against Niagara Bottling over 100 percent recyclable labels was tossed out by a U.S. district court judge in New York in the following year. According to Smith, one hurdle for these lawsuits is that theyre only able to cite research on the microplastics potential to damage peoples health, rather than actual damages that theyve suffered from drinking contaminated bottled water. Even if the plaintiffs did have health problems linked to microplastics, these particles are ubiquitous; it would be nearly impossible to isolate the effects from drinking microplastics in bottled water from those of microplastics found everywhere else. Its a wider systemic issue with our entire food and beverage supply, Cirino said. Keeping microplastics out of peoples bodies would require a similarly systemic approach, potentially involving government rules and incentives for companies to replace single-use plastics with reusables made from glass and aluminum  as well as an overall reduction in the amount of plastic the world makes. In the meantime, one recent article in The Dieline floated the idea of putting microplastics warning labels on plastic water bottles. Of course, anyone worried about drinking plastic could turn to tap water, which typically has lower concentrations of microplastics and other contaminants, and is hundreds of times cheaper than water from a plastic bottle. Research suggests that more than 96 percent of the United States community water systems meet government standards for potability. This article originally appeared in Grist at https://grist.org/accountability/bottled-water-microplastics-natural-evian-poland-spring-arrowhead-crystal-geyser-fiji-lawsuit/. Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org

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Raul Ortiz and his mother have sued the Elyria, Ohio, police department and three officers after they entered his home without a warrant and tased and arrested him. Ortiz's ex-girlfriend had contacted police and told them she previously lived at his house and wanted to retrieve her belongings. When they met her there, Ortiz refused to allow them in. (The landlord later confirmed she had turned in her keys and was no longer a resident.) One of the officers encouraged the ex to kick in the door, and they all rushed in. Ortiz demanded to know why they had kicked in the door, which led to a struggle in which one of the officers used a Taser on his bare stomach as he protested that he had a pacemaker. Police charged Ortiz with five felonies, including three counts of assaulting an officer, and his mother with felony obstruction for demanding to know why her son was being arrested. Prosecutors dropped all charges, but only after Ortiz had spent nine days in jail.

The post Brickbat: No Keys? No Problem. appeared first on Reason.com.
After brief legal battle with National Park Service, Knights of Columbus in Virginia get permit for Memorial Day worship service

Members of the Knights of Columbus stand inside the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen before a funeral Mass for Cardinal William Keeler in Baltimore, Tuesday, March 28, 2017. | Patrick Semansky

Two days after filing a religious freedom lawsuit against the National Park Service, the Knights of Columbus council in Petersburg, Virginia, has been granted a permit to hold a Memorial Day worship service in a nearby national cemetery.

In the lawsuit, the Knights alleged that park officials had violated their right to religious expression by refusing to grant a permit for the service. Citing a 2022 policy on special events, officials had said the Knights needed to hold the event in a designated free speech zone, as the Deseret News previously reported.

Now, park officials have granted the group access to Poplar Grove National Cemetery, and the Knights have dropped their lawsuit.

The Petersburg Knights of Columbus council will be able to hold its worship service in the cemetery on Monday, as it has nearly every year since at least the 1960s.

The Knights are thrilled that they will be able to exercise their religious beliefs and keep this honorable tradition alive. We appreciate the tremendous support of Governor (Glenn) Youngkin and Attorney General (Jason) Miyares in this case, said Roger Byron, senior counsel at First Liberty, one of the firms representing the council, in a press release.

As Byron noted in the statement, the Knights had some high-profile support as they fought for a permit.

Miyares issued a statement of his own on Thursday, congratulating the Petersburg council on how the situation had worked out.

Im pleased that the Petersburg Knights of Columbus was granted access to observe Memorial Day and gather to pray and mourn the loss of fallen military personnel. The First Amendment very clearly allows religious and non-religious groups to hold these types of gatherings on government grounds. Its shameful and un-American that they were denied in the first place, his statement said.
Brinks scholarships go to six students in memory of O'Grady and Brown

NYACK - Six Rockland students have been awarded a $1,000 scholarship in memory of the two police officers murdered in the 1981 Brinks robbery.

The OGrady-Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund has scheduled its annual scholarship awards breakfast for 10 a.m. June 1 at the Nyack Seaport.

Detail of the Rockland Brink's Robbery marker is pictured during the 42nd annual Brinks robbery memorial service for slain Nyack Police Sergeant Edward O'Grady, Police Officer Waverly L. Brown and Brinks guard Peter Paige, during the ceremony on Mountainview Avenue in Nyack, Oct. 20, 2023.

The annual breakfast and scholarships are held to "acknowledge these students and let them know that this memorial scholarship, founded to perpetuate the goals, aspirations, and ideals that characterize these two tragically slain Nyack police officers, continue to live on through its recipients," said Robert Van Cura, who chairs the scholarship fund. Van Cura is also a Rockland undersheriff and former South Nyack Grand View police chief.

Six seniors receiving scholarships

The scholarships were started in 1991 to honor Nyack Police Sgt. Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly "Chipper" Brown. High school seniors interested in law enforcement careers apply for the awards.

Chosen for 2024:

Joseph Ford of Suffern High School and Sloatsburg

Brian Hennessy of Pearl River High School and Pearl River

Daniel Lagiovane of Clarkstown South High School and West Nyack

Justin McAleer of Albertus Magnus High School and Congers

Andrew Weiss of North Rockland High School and Garnerville

William Zamprelli of Clarkstown South High School and Bardonia

The Brinks robbery-murder in 1981

Embedded content: https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/rockland/2021/10/20/brinks-robbery-murders-40-year-anniversary-nyack-cops-guard-killed/8523521002/

O'Grady and Brown were killed on Oct. 20, 1981, at a roadblock on the New York State Thruway entrance ramp off Route 59 in Nyack. Police established the roadblock as they searched for the gunmen who robbed a Brinks armored car at the Nanuet mall.

At the roadblock, six men with automatic weapons jumped from the back of a U-Haul. O'Grady and Brown were killed, while Detective Arthur Arthur Keenan was grazed across the stomach and Brian Lennon was injured.

Brinks security guard Peter Paige inside an armored truck. Paige was gunned down at the Nanuet Mall on Oct. 20, 1981, shortly before two Nyack police officers, Sgt. Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly Brown, were killed in Nyack.

The Thruway shootings came less than an hour after a Brinks armored car was robbed of $1.6 million by a gang of self-professed revolutionaries. Brinks security guard Peter Paige was murdered during the robbery while his partner Joseph Trombino was wounded.

A yearly remembrance ceremony for the two officers and Paige is held on Oct. 20 at the memorial site on Mountainview Avenue. The post office building on Broadway in Nyack is named for O'Grady and Brown, whose names are etched into monuments in New City and Washington, D.C., for officers killed in the line of duty.

Nyack Police Officer Waverly "Chipper" Brown, left, and Sgt. Edward O'Grady were murdered Oct. 20, 1981, at a Nyack roadblock during robbery of a Brinks truck.

Additional information about the Scholarship Fund can be found at www.ogradybrown.com.

Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland students receive scholarships in memory of murdered Brinks cops
The European Union is considering tightening sanctions against Belarus and closing a loophole that allowed Moscow to import goods from Western countries that were banned in Russia because of the war in Ukraine. EU customs officials have found that Belarusian companies have become key intermediaries in the smuggling of luxury cars to Russia, which could lead to new restrictions on imports.

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The Financial Times reports. The new restrictions, aimed at "minimizing the risk of circumvention," include a ban on the export of technology and goods that can be used for military purposes, as well as liquefied natural gas and diamond imports from Belarus.

The EU emphasizes that Belarus is being used to smuggle luxury cars to Russia, circumventing the sanctions. Russian documents show that Rolls-Royce and Maybach cars, which are on the EU's sanctions list against Russia, are illegally entering Moscow through Belarusian companies.

The monthly flow of vehicles and spare parts to Belarus from EU countries increased from $50 million in January 2022 to $268 million in January 2024. Russian documents show that one Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge, manufactured in late 2022, was recorded as arriving in Russia through a Belarusian source.

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The car, which is listed at $630,000, was in Russia for nine months after leaving the factory. The same trade data also shows that at least 28 Maybachs, a luxury brand owned by Mercedes-Benz, entered Russia via Belarusian suppliers in 2023. The average price of these cars was $217,000 thousand.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
British Climber and Guide Missing on Mount Everest as Death of Another Mountaineer Confirmed

"Our thoughts and prayers are with their families during this challenging time," said an expedition company

Tsering Pemba Sherpa / AFP via Getty Khumbu Glacier below Mount Everest

A British climber and his Nepali guide remain missing after they reportedly reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 21, while a Kenyan adventurer who had been scaling the same mountain was confirmed dead.

Daniel Paterson, 40, and his guide Pas Tenji Sherpa, 23, disappeared when an ice collapse knocked them out upon their descent, The Independent and The Daily Beast reported.

Per BBC News, 8K Expeditions, an adventure company that put together the expedition, said that rescuers were unable to locate the two, adding that Paterson and the guide "fell down towards the Tibet side through a very vertical steep.



In an Instagram post, 8K Expeditions shared about the missing persons following the cornice collapse: Eyewitnesses reported the incident took place between Summit Ridge and South Summit and some climbers were swept away in Kangshung Face.

Related: Climber Dead After 2-Person Team Falls 1,000 Feet Off Alaska Mountain

Our dedicated search and rescue teams are deployed on the ground, the statement continued. They are working tirelessly to locate our missing climbers. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families during this challenging time.

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Paterson, a co-owner of the U.K.-based Wakefield Crossfit, undertook the expedition to raise funds for the family of a gym member who died from cancer, via BBC News.

Paterson and Sherpas disappearance comes as officials confirmed the death of Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui, a Kenyan mountaineer who went missing Wednesday as he was attempting to climb Everest, per ABC News. Via Nepals Department of Tourism, Kiruis body was located more than 60 feet below the mountains peak.

The tourism department said Kirui's guide remained missing, The Independent reported.

Related: Solo Climber from Japan Found Dead at 17,000 Feet After Falling on Alaska's Mt. Denali

According to BBC News, Kirui, 40, was looking to become the first African to scale Everest without additional oxygen.

In his last Instagram post dated May 17, Kirui wrote in part: My plan...A no-oxygen attempt comes with it's special preparations and risks, physically my body is ready.

Cheruiyot Kirui/Instagram Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui

The Himalayan newspaper reported Kiruis guide had last spoken with base camp officials from Bishop Rock, saying that Kirui refused to return and even consume bottled oxygen but showed abnormal behaviour."

Kiriu was a banker with Kenya Commercial Bank, CBS News reported.

And so after heavy investment physically, mentally, timewise (this expedition is taking more than a month from a regular 8 to 5 banker), financially (the amount of zeros needed to make this happen means I declare bankruptcy immediately I land back in Kenya)...it's now the moment of truth, Kiriu later wrote in his last Instagram post.

Related: 1 American Climber Killed, 1 Missing After Twin Avalanches Near Peak of Tibet Mountain

Another climber, James Muhia, remembered Kiriu in an X (formerly Twitter) post, writing: I have found myself shedding tears this morning after confirmation that my brother @cheruiyot_ak has rested on the mountain. No one can ever understand the heart and the mind of a mountaineer. The drive that takes us to some places. It is a sad day. Our brother is now one with the mountain . It will be a difficult time."

Go well my brother, Muhia concluded.

According to Outside, with the news of Kirius death, the number of fatalities on Mount Everest so far this year is five.



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Read the original article on People.
Listen up, royally obsessed fans, because theres been a slight change in plans when it comes to the British royal familys royal engagement schedule.

On May 22, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak revealed in a press conference that a general election will take place on July 4, 2024. Earlier today, I spoke with His Majesty The King to ask for the dissolution of Parliament. The King has granted this request, and we will have a general election on the 4th of July, he told reporters, according to People.

Shortly after, Buckingham Palace announced that the royal family would postpone some engagements, which appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign, a spokesman for the palace said.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

However, the spokesman revealed that the royal family sends their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result of the schedule change.

While it has been confirmed that the royal fam will attend the ceremony for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, its still unclear which engagements, in particular, have been affected by the shift in plans.

This election could determine if King Charles has a third prime minister following his ascension to the throne in September 2022.

JONATHAN BRADY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

According to Hello! Magazine, Sunak became the monarchs second Prime Minister after British politician Liz Truss resigned from the position. In case you didnt know, His Majesty and Sunak seemingly met at Buckingham following the Princes Trust Awards.

Unified King Charles & Queen Camilla Stand Side By Side in Striking Photo from Royal Garden Party

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The Supreme Court of Ohio issued the Bucyrus city law director a two-year, fully stayed suspension for ethical violations arising from two separate drunken driving arrests and subsequent probation violations.

Brian N. Gernert was appointed Bucyrus interim law director in October 2021. His criminal convictions and professional conduct violations occurred before his election to the post in November 2023.

In a per curiam opinion, the Supreme Court found Gernert demonstrated a commitment to working toward [his] sobriety. After comparing Gernerts conduct to that of other attorneys and judges who had committed alcohol-related offenses, noting the limited effect Gernerts alcohol use had on his professional performance and weighing the character letters submitted by others active in the Bucyrus legal community, the court determined an actual suspension from practicing law was not necessary to protect the public.

Brian Gernert

Following a May 2023 probation violation, Gernerts probation was extended until November 2025, according to the ruling issued Thursday. The court stated it would revoke the stay of Gernerts disciplinary suspension and make him serve the full two-year suspension if he violated the terms of his probation again. The court also placed other conditions on Gernert.

Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy and Justices Patrick F. Fischer, R. Patrick DeWine, Michael P. Donnelly, Melody Stewart and Joseph T. Deters joined the per curiam opinion. Justice Jennifer Brunner did not participate in the case.

Twice-convicted lawyer also violated probation terms

In May 2022, Gernert was driving his SUV in Bucyrus around 10 p.m. when another driver called 911 to alert police to a possible intoxicated driver. The caller saw an SUV veer into a ditch, strike a utility pole and drive away. A Crawford County Sheriffs deputy located Gernerts vehicle and noticed it sustained heavy damage to the passenger side.

Gernert told the deputy he only had a drink or two. The deputy attempted to have Gernert perform a field sobriety test, but Gernert lost his balance during the gaze test, and he was arrested on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (OVI).

Once Gernert was in the deputys cruiser, the officer observed an open beer can and a bottle of whiskey on the floorboard of Gerners SUV. He noticed a large chunk of wood protruding from the fender area of the passenger side, which he presumed was from the utility pole. Another deputy found the broken passenger-side mirror from Gernerts vehicle at the scene of the crash.

Gernert refused to take a breathalyzer test and was charged with OVI and refusal to submit to chemical testing.

Because of his position as interim law director, a special prosecutor and visiting judge were appointed to his case. He pleaded guilty to OVI, and the other charge was dismissed. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 177 days suspended, and placed on two years of community control. He was prohibited from consuming alcohol and required to participate in the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program (OLAP). His drivers license was suspended for one year, but the Crawford County Municipal Court allowed him to drive to and from work as well as to medical, court, and counseling appointments.

Four months later, an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper observed Gernerts SUV weaving as he drove through Bucyrus around 11:30 p.m. He learned Gernert had a suspended license with limited driving privileges, so he pulled Gernert over.

Gernert initially refused to leave the vehicle and slurred his speech while speaking to the trooper. When asked to exit the vehicle, Gernert responded, Call my parents. When the trooper told Gernert he would be charged with obstructing official business if he did not get out of the vehicle, Gernert opened the door and swung his legs out. He was not wearing shoes and braced himself against his SUV to exit. The trooper escorted Gernert to his patrol car, where Gernert failed a gaze test and refused to complete any additional sobriety tests.

At the county jail, Gernert again refused further testing and was charged with OVI, refusing a chemical test, driving under suspension, a seatbelt infraction and a probation violation.

After five days in custody, Gernert was released and required to wear an ankle bracelet that would alert the probation department of any alcohol consumption.

In November 2022, he pleaded guilty to the OVI offense and all other charges were dropped. His probation from the May 2022 case was extended to November 2024, and his license was suspended for another year. This time, he did not apply for driving privileges.

Law director calls off case; found intoxicated at home

In May 2023, Gernert was scheduled to prosecute a person for driving under suspension. About 10 minutes before trial, he called the municipal court clerk, who had difficulty understanding Gernert. The clerk surmised Gernert wanted to dismiss the charges when Gernert indicated he would call off the police officer scheduled to testify in the case.

The magistrate handling the case interpreted the call as a request for a continuance, which was denied, and the case was dismissed for failure to prosecute.

Later that day, a probation officer made an unannounced visit to Gernerts home and found him highly intoxicated. Gernert admitted to drinking and was charged with a probation violation that led to his probation being extended to November 2025.

Gernert relapsed again in September 2023 and reported the violation to his probation officer. Gernert, who attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and counseling, would later testify he had not consumed alcohol since October 2023.

Lawyer violated professional conduct rules

Based on his convictions and probation violations, the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel filed a complaint against Gernert in June 2023 with the Board of Professional Conduct. The parties stipulated, and the board agreed, Gernert engaged in conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice when he failed to prosecute the driving under suspension case. The board also found his conduct adversely reflected his fitness to practice law.

The Court adopted the boards findings of misconduct and specified Gernerts two OVI convictions and his failure, in his role as interim city law director, to prosecute a driving-under-suspension case due to his own intoxication adversely reflect on his fitness to practice law.

Supreme Court considers sanction

When recommending a sanction in a disciplinary case, the board considers aggravating circumstances that could increase the penalty and mitigating factors that could lead to a lesser sanction. The board found Gernert engaged in a pattern of misconduct and committed multiple offenses. The board also reported Gernert submitted nine character letters from attorneys, judges and the Bucyrus mayor that conveyed Gernerts diligence, honesty and professionalism. The authors expressed the belief with treatment, Gernert would continue to be a productive member of Bucyruss small legal community, the opinion stated.

The board noted Gernert issued a public apology in the local newspaper following his second OVI arrest and contacted OLAP following his first arrest to start treatment. The board reported Gernert has completed intensive inpatient and outpatient treatment programs.

The board indicated the letters from the Bucyrus legal community and mayor uniformly describe him as a prepared and effective attorney and expressly note that to the authors knowledge, his alcohol use had not caused any impairment or adverse consequences in the performance of his professional duties.

The board recommended, and the court agreed, to stay Gernerts two-year suspension under the condition he remain in compliance with his OLAP contract; complete three hours of continuing legal education focused on alcoholism, substance abuse and mental health issues; engage in no further misconduct; and comply with his probation terms.

He also must serve two years of monitored probation under the supervision of another attorney. The court ordered Gernert to pay the costs of the disciplinary proceedings.

Dan Trevas is from the Office of Public Relations at the Ohio Supreme Court.

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Bucyrus Law Director Brian Gernert gets two-year stayed suspension
Correction: A previous version of this story indicated that the vote was unanimous.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  The Buffalo Common Council passed the $618 million city budget Wednesday by unanimous vote after a handful of amendments, the biggest of which was reducing the tax levy increase.

The process was at a standstill for over five hours. The largest issue was whether the council would approve the mayors budget, which included a 9 percent tax levy hike, far higher than the state-mandated two percent cap.

In the end, the council approved a budget with a reduced tax levy hike of 4.19 percent. The vote was 8-1, with Rasheed Wyatt being the only councilmember voting against it.

As a council, it is our responsibility to protect the residents of the City of Buffalo, financially and otherwise, and this city has not done that for them all these years, Council Member Zeneta Everhart said.

Council President Christopher Scanlon says this years budget is a win for city residents.

The sticker shock associated with the May 1 release of the budget has been drastically reduced, Scanlon said. Impact to the residents on their tax rate will only be 4.19 percent, so we were able to negotiate that down quite a bit.

Early Wednesday afternoon, there appeared to be a budget deal in place with the Brown administration to convene a vote, but a last minute hiccup held up the entire process.

That was the big delay  just trying to make sure that everything was on the up and up related to the local law and the tax cap, Scanlon said.

The council had agreed to override the states tax levy cap last month. The mayors office was supposed to get the agreement certified by New York State, but they couldnt find the paperwork.

A mayors spokesman tells News 4 the state certification was completed correctly.

Some council members aired concerns over what they described as delaying financial hardship for the city and local voters:

Were relying on revenue that is one time  the $14 million from the reserve fund, the $25 million from the ARP  thats a one time thing, Council Member David Rivera said.

Either theyre going to have to make draconian cuts where it is going to hurt, Rivera added. We shouldve been making these cuts years ago. We pushed it down the road, we kicked the can down the road. That is going to catch up with us.

You can tell by the mood in here tonight during this vote that no ones real happy where were at and I think that its probably a wake up call for everyone, Scanlon said.

The council also voted to reduce vacant exempt positions within the city.

Latest Local News

Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo police officer was hurt in a crash on an I-190 ramp on Wednesday night, according to Buffalo police.

Police said a white Chevrolet struck a patrol vehicle on the exit ramp of I-190 south at Porter Avenue just before 10 p.m. Wednesday. The crash caused the vehicle to go off the road and onto the sidewalk.

The other vehicle fled the scene, but was located a short time later.

The officer was transported to ECMC to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the other car has been questioned in connection and charges are pending.

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.

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 News 4 Buffalo.
A home stands on Alta Vista Drive in Atherton. An uptick in burglaries has prompted local police to create "bait houses." (Bloomberg / Getty Images)

Next time burglars hit a house in Atherton, they may be walking into a trap and a quick trip to jail.

Faced with an uptick in residential burglaries, police in the wealthy Northern California town decided this year to try an unusual tactic: the "Bait House Program."

"We don't want to do nothing and just let it happen," said Cmdr. Daniel Larsen of the Atherton Police Department. "We want to be proactive and deter."

About 50 homeowners in the community have volunteered their homes for police department's "Bait House Program," Larsen said. As part of the program, police outfit certain valuable items in the homes with GPS devices to track the valuables and, hopefully, lead them straight to the criminals.

Read more: 4 Chileans stole from homes across L.A. in a case of 'burglary tourism,' police say

The program began taking shape in February, when officers noticed a surge of burglaries in the town of about 7,000 residents, he said.

Last year, Atherton reported 17 residential burglaries during the entire year. So far this year, the city has already had 15 burglaries.

That's when one of the officers came up with the idea of a "Bait House," Larsen said.

Police selected the first home last week, and are keeping a list of homeowners that have volunteered their home to outfit belongings in the homes with GPS devices.

Once the GPS devices are added, police will receive an alert when the object is moved. That means that even if home alarm systems fail to notify police of a burglary, the movement of the objects can secretly signal police as well, he said.

Police are also using license plate-reading cameras in town in conjunction with the program, he said. Investigators can track the GPS signal and use the cameras and the real-time location of the stolen items to follow the movement of the vehicles to track the burglars and the stolen belongings wherever they go.

"If we can't apprehend at the scene, then we're just able to track the property wherever it goes," he said.

If the belongings are inadvertently moved in the home, police have a plan to contact the homeowner to avoid any confusion.

Read more: 34 home burglaries in 35 days: Is Irvine still one of the safest cities in U.S.?

"The last thing we want to do is show up at someone's home when they're just hanging out and redecorating," he said.

Larsen won't say how many houses are being used at a time, or where, but said investigators are trying to be selective and strategic to find a pattern for the targeted homes. Homeowners are also being told that, if their home was not selected at this time, they could be contacted later on.

No arrests have been made, yet.

Despite the name of the program, Larsen said, the homes being selected are not being made more "appealing" to burglars.

In fact, he said, he hopes that word of the program itself might be a deterrent for burglars thinking of targeting Atherton homes. It may be just a handful of homes fitted with these "GPS" traps, he said, but he hopes burglars feel like every home is a trap.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Burlingame students artwork to be displayed at US Capitol

(KRON)  A Burlingame High School student has been chosen to have her art showcased at the U.S. Capitol Building. The piece is both a work of art and a work of activism.

KRON4 spoke with the high school senior about her political message.

When you first look at Lauren Chengs artwork, you question what it means. She explained how its a message about the number of mass shootings in the U.S. and her plea to lawmakers to do more to prevent them.

Every year, Congress holds a high school art competition.

South Bay tech workers quit jobs to run Cybertruck-powered coffee shop

A U.S. representative from each district picks a winner, and this year Rep. Kevin Mullen picked Burlingame High School senior Lauren Cheng.

She explained how her graphic art piece is also a message. See a couple of her art pieces below.

(Office of Rep. John Garamendi)

(Office of Rep. John Garamendi)

Highlights the issue of gun violence in our country and uses 646 dots to symbolize the 646 mass shootings in the year 2022, Cheng said.

Every year that the 17-year-old went to school in Burlingame, she watched school shootings in other U.S. towns make the news.

Living with the anxiety that her own school could be targeted.

There have been school shootings, shootings in the public, shootings directed towards racial minorities, Cheng said. In my middle school, we had a walkout and we had a potential school shooting threat.

As a winner, Chengs art will be hung in the U.S. Capitol building for one year. Shes been told that it will be seen in a hallway between congressional offices and the house floor.

Its not her only win this week.

Burlingame High School Principal Dr. Jen Fong says Cheng has also been selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar for the Arts.

Great that she was selected by the White House and equally great that she will have her work hanging in the capitol with the legislators walking by and everyone else visiting, Fong said.

The winning art displays a QR code, so passersby can scan it with their phones and read more about mass shootings and current statistics.

Walmart layoffs to affect hundreds in Bay Area

Bigger than the QR code are the words Please No More Dots, and the artist hopes the message is clear to lawmakers in Washington.

Having it serve as a reminder that we cant become numb to gun violence is really important, Cheng said.

Cheng will be graduating from high school next Thursday. Shell be headed to UC San Diego in the fall to study Design and Cognitive Science.

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 KRON4.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  State lawmakers are introducing a new bill that would prohibit Californias school districts from enacting policies requiring educators to inform parents about transgender students identities.

The measure will be added to Assembly Bill 1955, which was introduced by Asm. Chris Ward (D-San Diego) earlier this year, through a maneuver called a gut-and-amend, replacing an existing bill with an entirely new one.

Under the revised version of the bill, called the Support Academic Futures and Educators for Todays Youth or SAFETY Act, school districts would be barred from enacting what Ward describes as forced outing polices, or rules mandating educators to inform parents about their students gender identity or sexual orientation if they are open about it at school.

California court to weigh in on fight over transgender ballot measure proposal language

The bill would also direct the states Department of Education to provide resources for parents and students to navigate conversations about gender and sexual orientation on their own terms, and create protections for staff against retaliation if they refuse to out a student.

Forced outing policies that require exposing students (identities) without their consent harm everyone  parents and guardians, families, school staff, but unnecessarily, students, Ward said in a press conference on Wednesday announcing the change. It puts them at risk and removes the opportunity for families to build trust and have conversations on their own terms.

The proposed law codifies existing guidelines from the state Department of Education on how districts should accommodate its LGBTQ+ students, particularly those that are transgender or non-binary, for better academic outcomes while protecting their right to privacy.

However, it comes amid growing fights over policies about when  or if  parents should be informed about an LGBTQ+ students identity, balancing the privacy of those who may feel unsafe coming out to their family with the inclusion of parents in their childs education.

School districts across the state have taken contrasting stances on the best way to approach the issue, drawing controversy and, in some cases, lawsuits.

A handful of these suits have resulted in conflicting legal interpretations of how schools are supposed to handle issues of student privacy, with both forced outing and student privacy policies having been struck down by California judges.

It comes as more than a dozen school districts across the state have opted to implement parental disclosure rules, which mirror laws enacted in at least six states across the country since 2020  stances that advocates describe as harmful to the health and safety of LGBTQ+ students.

Research has shown a majority LGBTQ+ youth do not live in homes they view as supportive of their identity, and those who live in such environments but are outed before they are ready seeing higher rates of experiencing homelessness, familial abuse and suicidal ideation.

One of the most frequent places where LGBTQ+ youth access spaces that affirm their identity outside the home is at school. A 2021 survey from The Trevor Project reported about half of LGBTQ+ students said school was a place they felt comfortable to be their most authentic self.

Had I not had a single supportive adult in my life, I never would have been able to find the strength to come out to my family, or to teach them what I had learned about who I am on my own, said Kai, a Northern California-area LGBTQ+ youth, at Wednesdays press conference.

Childrens book sparks controversy in North County school district

For Kai, that supportive adult was a teacher who he felt comfortable confiding in about his gender identity. However, he remained apprehensive about how his parents would react, so he said he asked she show the discretion I needed to feel safe and she did.

Having a trusted adult is paramount to making sure a queer kid makes it to their next birthday, Kai added. Without my teacher, I would not be here today. Please dont let another child endure the consequences of that support system being taken away due to forced outing policies.

With the SAFETY Acts introduction, it will now be heard by the Senate Education Committee, which was where the previous version of bill had been before it was revised. If it is approved by the full Senate, it will return to the Assembly to consider again before heading to the governors desk.

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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
The Russian missile ship Cyclone was probably sunk as a result of a Ukrainian strike on the port of Sevastopol in occupied Crimea on May 19. British intelligence is "almost certain" that the Russian missile carrier was hit.

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This was reported by the UK Ministry of Defense. "The attack, which likely involved a combination of unmanned aerial vehicles and ATACMS missiles, almost certainly resulted in the sinking of the Cyclone class corvette Karakurt," the statement said.

This ship is one of four Russian Karakurt project vessels equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles.

Two of these vessels were allegedly transferred to the Caspian Sea to safely complete sea trials after a series of successful Ukrainian attacks. The fourth vessel was previously severely damaged in a Ukrainian strike in November 2023.

"Although this is unlikely to significantly change the impact that the Russian Black Sea Fleet has on Ukrainian operations, the incident highlights the ongoing danger to Russian forces operating in Crimea and the Black Sea and Ukraine's continued success in conducting coordinated strikes," British intelligence officials said.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, in April it was estimated that during the full-scale war, the Russian Black Sea Fleet has already lost a third of its ships. Among the vessels destroyed by the Ukrainian Defense Forces are not only the flagship but also patrol vessels and large landing craft. There is even a submarine.

Earlier, agents of the Atesh military movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars reported that the occupiers are strengthening their naval base in Novorossiysk, where they had previously moved most of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. They are installing various means against marine drones.

The network showed images of damaged ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the bay of the temporarily occupied Sevastopol. Among them are two amphibious assault ships and the Ivan Khurs.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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California is another state lining up to pass a law requiring adult sites to verify the ages of porn watchers.

The California State Assembly passed the Parents Accountability and Child Protection Act that will require porn companies doing business in the state to verify that users are 18 years or older. This law would also affect other businesses such as fireworks, body branding, and even BB guns. Democrat Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and Republican Juan Alanis pushed for passage of the bill, which ended up receiving 65 out of possible 80 yes votes, and zero no votes with 15 assembly members listed as not voting.

Before the bill becomes law, it still has to pass the State Senate and then be signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Louisiana was the first state to pass an age verification law for adult sites in 2022. In the past year, several other states jumped on the bandwagon including Utah, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

One of the largest porn sites around, Pornhub, has taken issue with the age verification laws passed by the states. The company has instead pulled out of those states requiring verification.



As you may know, your elected officials in Texas are requiring us to verify your age before allowing you access to our website, reads a message Porhub visitors in Texas find when clicking on the site. Unfortunately, the Texas law for age verification is ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous. Until the real solution is offered, we have made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in Texas.

Aylo, Pornhubs parent company, says it supports age verification, but we believe that any law to this effect must preserve user safety and privacy, and must effectively protect children from accessing content intended for adults.

The company says that users who are required to verify their age instead go visit other sites that dont comply with state law.

In Louisiana last January, Pornhub was one of the few sites to comply with the new law. Since then, our traffic in Louisiana dropped approximately 80 percent, the company said in an emailed statement to Gizmodo on Thursday. These people did not stop looking for porn. They just migrated to darker corners of the internet that dont ask users to verify age, that dont follow the law, that dont take user safety seriously, and that often dont even moderate content. In practice, the laws have just made the internet more dangerous for adults and children.

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Reality Check is a Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email realitycheck@sacbee.com.

A California Republican lawmaker made a series of false statements Wednesday, in response to a Democratic bill that would stop school districts from forcing school staff to inform parents that their child is transgender.

Assemblyman Bill Essayli, R-Corona, made the statements on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Lets be clear. There are no forced outing policies in California. This is a false narrative manufactured to prey on peoples emotions, Essayli wrote in the lengthy post.

Essayli has frequently taken exception to describing the practice of forcibly revealing a students gender to their parents against their will as forced outing, though that is in fact what districts across California have been doing since the first such policy was enacted last summer.

School districts from Chino Valley to Rocklin have passed policies requiring teachers to notify parents if their child uses different pronouns or a different name at school, regardless of whether that notification would place the child in danger of abuse.

Which leads to Essaylis second falsehood.

There is no evidence that parents are rejecting children who are experiencing gender dysphoria, Essayli wrote, referring to the medical diagnosis for the psychological distress resulting from the conflict between ones sex assigned at birth and ones gender identity.

This is incorrect.

An August 2021 study published in the medical journal Pediatrics found that transgender and gender-non-conforming adolescents are more likely to experience physical, psychological and sexual abuse than their gender-conforming peers.

A 2022 survey by LGBTQ advocacy group the Trevor Project found that less than a third of trans and nonbinary youths view their home as a safe and affirming place.

About a third of LGBTQ youths experience parental rejection, according to a 2015 study cited by the Trevor Project. Another study in 2019 found that approximately half of all transgender and gender-non-conforming youths continued to experience minority stress related to parent rejection.

A 2009 study that looked at transgender women of color found that many reported being forced out of their homes as adolescents or choosing to leave, increasing their risk of homelessness and poverty. Another study found that the odds of suicide attempts and drug and alcohol abuse increased significantly with family rejection.

Theres also anecdotal evidence.

When the Rocklin Unified School District was considering implementing a parental notification policy last fall, a number of LGBTQ people wrote in to describe their own tumultuous home lives, and the danger such a policy would have placed them in had it been in place when they were in school.

One person wrote about when they were 14 and still very confused about their gender identity. The person said it was not safe or reasonable for them to talk to their parents, as they were subject to abuse of many types at home.

Another person wrote that they knew at least two people who had completed suicide citing fear of being outed at home.

Essayli also claimed in his post that courts have ruled against the states efforts to block this common sense parental notification policy. A federal judge ruled that parents have a constitutional right to be informed, and teachers have a constitutional right to not keep secrets from parents.

While its true that a federal judge has sided with two San Diego-area educators who sued alleging they have a First Amendment right to inform parents about their trans children, in the state courts the response has been considerably more mixed.

Finally, Essayli repeated the falsehood that most transgender youths will outgrow it naturally after going through puberty.

Again, this is incorrect.

While previous, decades-old studies have shown a majority of children do cease identifying as transgender, those studies included in their sample children who today would not be identified as transgender.

The methodology of those studies is very flawed, because they didnt study gender identity, Diane Ehrensaft, director of mental health at University of California San Franciscos Child and Adolescent Gender Clinic, told KQED in 2018.

Ehrensaft told KQED that a good majority of those who were listed as no longer identifying as transgender were actually gay boys whose parents were upset because they were boys wearing dresses. They were brought to the clinics because they werent fitting gender norms.

A 2022 study appearing in the journal Pediatrics found that at the end of a five-year period, 94% of trans youths persisted in their transgender identity.

These results suggest that retransitions are infrequent. More commonly, transgender youth who socially transitioned at early ages continued to identify that way, the study found.

Another study, from 2021, found that 86.9% of people who socially transitioned, meaning they started going by a different name and pronouns and dressing to match the gender identity, persisted in doing so.

Essaylis office did not respond to The Bees request for comment or a request to provide the sources of his claims by deadline.

Jenavieve Hatch contributed to this report.
California lawmakers approve bill to take Flamin Hot Cheetos out of schools

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LAWMAKERS PASS FLAMIN HOT CHEETO BAN, OTHER MEASURES

Its House of Origin week, when California bills face a deadline to pass out of either the Assembly or Senate. That means lawmakers have been extra busy, taking part in extended floor sessions where they debate a variety of bills.

One such bill to emerge from the scrum was Assemblyman Jesse Gabriels AB 2316, which would ban food products like Flamin Hot Cheetos and Fruit Loops with certain chemical food dyes found to be toxic to humans from being served to students in California schools.

That bill cleared the Assembly floor Tuesday by unanimous vote, 59-0, though 21 lawmakers from both parties abstained from voting on it.

California has a responsibility to protect our students from chemicals that harm children and that can interfere with their ability to learn, Gabriel said in a statement.

That bill goes on to the Senate now.

Lawmakers approved a host of other bills, as well, including:

AB 1780 , by Assemblyman Phil Ting , which bans legacy admissions at private California universities.

AB 1858 , by Assemblyman Chris Ward , which prohibits schools from conducting hyper-realistic shooting drills.

AB 2584 , by Assemblyman Alex Lee , which limits corporations ability to mass-purchase homes.

AB 3080 , by Assemblyman Juan Alanis , which requires porn websites to verify users ages.

SB 915 , by Sen. Dave Cortese , which gives local jurisdictions the ability to regulate autonomous vehicles.

SB 1116 , by Sen. Anthony Portantino , which allows striking workers to claim unemployment insurance benefits.

SB 1174 , by Sen. Dave Min , which prohibits local governments from enacting voter ID requirements.

SB 1446, by Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, which limits retailers ability to use self-service checkout stations.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

If we are to make impactful change, it is imperative that we bring all stakeholders to the table and not work in silos creating echo chambers that may prove or have proven detrimental to our communities safety.

- Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, R-Yucaipa, in a statement supporting an audit of the effectiveness of the 2014 ballot measure Proposition 47, which reclassified a number of drug- and theft-related offenses from felonies to misdemeanors.

Best of The Bee:

A previous version of this story incorrectly listed the status of SB 1327, the media tax credit bill. That bill is still awaiting a floor vote.
California lawmakers plan to expedite their bills to address retail theft  an effort to derail a movement to put a question on the November ballot that would toughen a law that made certain lower-level crimes misdemeanors.

The deadline to qualify that ballot measure is June 27, and the bid appears to have momentum. Now lawmakers may be attempting to head off the issue by speeding along their packages of bills.

Legislative leaders would rather pass measures to address the issue because they do not believe Proposition 47  a 2014 voter-approved initiative that reduced penalties for some drug and theft crimes  needs the significant changes that a ballot measure would implement.

Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, on Wednesday said they plan to send their bills to Gov. Gavin Newsom sometime next month.

The announcement comes as the measure altering Proposition 47 is close to landing on the general election ballot.

McGuire, Rivas and Newsom are all against such changes to the ballot, saying they can address retail theft without altering the measure.

The leaders also say they want to avoid undoing criminal justice reforms and returning to stringent sentencing laws of the past that led to mass incarceration of Black and brown Californians.

Californians for Safer Communities, the group backing the measure, said last month it had gathered more than 900,000 signatures in favor of it.

Those backing the measure, called the the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, attribute a perceived uptick in retail theft to Proposition 47, which set a $950 threshold for misdemeanor shoplifting.

There is currently little conclusive data indicating whether retail theft crimes have increased substantially in recent years. Public Policy Institute of California data from 2022 showed the state shoplifting rate was 8% below levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Retail Federations 2023 security survey said the 2022 nationwide shrink rate  losses caused by external theft, employee stealing and systemic errors  was 1.6%, up slightly from 1.4% in 2021 but in line with shrink rates seen in 2020 and 2019.

When asked whether the ballot measure deadline was a factor in speeding the retail theft bills, McGuire did not directly answer the question.

We want to be able to meet this moment, to be able to get these bills on the governors desk, he said. I would like to see it sooner rather than later.

Californians for Safer Communities on Wednesday released a statement indicating the group intends to continue pushing their ballot measure, saying these proposals only incrementally address the serious issues of serial retail crime and the fentanyl crisis we face today.

To make a significant difference, thoughtful reforms to Proposition 47 are necessary, the groups statement said.

Rachel Michelin, president of the California Retailers Association, said the collection of Senate and Assembly bills address retail theft issues in ways the ballot measure does not.

Michelin cited a handful of measures, including Assembly Bill 1779 from Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks, to allow local prosecutors to charge related organized retail theft incidents in one county Superior Court filing.

She also mentioned Assembly Bill 1802 from Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, that would extend indefinitely the crime of organized retail theft and the existence of a task force to address it, which were to expire in coming years.

Michelin said working with lawmakers allowed her group to take time to help craft and add to measures during the legislative process. She wants to see the Legislature pass the retail theft measures by June to show members they are serious and that the topic is a priority for them.

When asked about the Proposition 47 initiative, Michelin acknowledged it had served its purpose, saying the big checks written by members of her group to fund signature-gathering efforts had produced the bill packages.

Large retailers  including Walmart, Target and Home Depot  have contributed millions of dollars to the measures campaign. Although the Retailers Association does not control the fate of the ballot measure, Michelin said, members could choose to stop funding the initiative if they are satisfied with the legislation.
Over the years, California has developed a reputation for its distinct approach to lawmaking. Sometimes, thats a good thing. Other times, some ideas coming from Sacramento more closely resemble parody. Its enough to leave everyday Californians asking themselves, Whats it this time?

Well, this time, its regulating to the extreme self-checkout at your local grocery store.

Under the guise of combating retail theft, Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, D-Culver City, has introduced Senate Bill 1446, which would severely limit self-checkout and likely lead to many retailers eliminating this convenient and popular means of quickly paying for ones grocery items. Specifically, SB 1446 seeks to legally limit self-checkout to 10 items or less, disallow any item secured by lock and key (like razors) from self-checkout and require one employee be positioned between every two self-checkout kiosks.

Opinion

It used to be that California sought to be a leader in technology; however, under SB 1446, the states retail shopping environment would be resolutely stuck in the past. Thats because the bill doesnt limit its ambitions to upending and presiding over the self-checkout process, it also takes aim at retail technology in general. The bill requires a special assessment of technologies before implementation for impacts on jobs and consumers. This process would have a chilling effect on technological investment and advancement throughout the state.

Lets consider the facts about self-checkout: Consumers love it for its convenience. According to a survey conducted by Progressive Grocer and RIS News, 44% of consumers prefer the self-checkout process to traditional checkout. This means many California shoppers  nearly half  would be deeply disappointed if the state chose to stymie the self-checkout option.

Smallwood-Cuevas and supportive advocates claim to be doing all this to combat retail theft, but its worth noting that the effort is not supported by retailers, police or the California District Attorneys Association  the three groups currently leading conversations with Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders to tackle retail theft.

How does SB 1446 propose to deter retail theft? By dictating to grocers where they should position their store employees  one worker per every two kiosks  so that they can hover over customers and goal tend against would-be thieves. This concept would only increase the potential for violent incidents as it seeks to turn store employees into security guards and the 10 items-or-less police.

These types of confrontations between thieves and store team members are the exact opposite of whats needed. In fact, most grocers do not even allow store employees to confront thieves, instead leaving security work to asset protection professionals who are properly trained to handle such situations.

Instead of working to make the retail experience safer and more convenient for Californians, SB 1446 merely attempts to reach further into business operations and wrest control away from business owners in the name of preventing the very thing keeping them up at night: retail theft. But under SB 1446, both shoppers and retailers lose.

California legislators should reject this cynical and impractical approach, and focus on the retail theft package already supported by statewide leaders.

Ronald Fong is the California Grocers Association president and CEO.
California's Telemedicine Restrictions Are Forcing Rare Disease Patients To Travel Out of State for Care

To receive treatment and consultations for her hemophilia A, a rare bleeding disorder, Shellye Horowitz will periodically travel from her home in rural northern California to a hemophilia clinic associated with the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Hospital in Portland, Oregon.

California's telemedicine regulations require that doctors who treat or consult with patients in California must also be licensed in California. Since the specialists Horowitz sees aren't licensed in California, she's frequently having to make the 14-hour round trip up to Portland for appointments that could have easily been done remotely.

"I have had so far three appointments at my hemophilia treatment center where when the time I was available to travel to Portland, they only had phone appointments available," says Horowitz. "I've had to physically travel to Portland to sit in a hotel with worse internet than my home to have telehealth appointments."

Telemedicine experienced a boom during COVID, when states waived restrictions on remote medical appointments via emergency orders as part of their social distancing regimes. Many have since passed permanent policy changes allowing out-of-state doctors to offer their services to patients.

But California is far behind the curve, as a January report from the Reason Foundation (which publishes this website) makes clear.

California is one of 27 states that does not allow doctors and other medical professionals outside the state to treat or consult with patients. It also has not joined the 40-state Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which allows doctors to apply for licensure in multiple states at once.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's telemedicine emergency order during COVID offered only minor regulatory relief to patient privacy and data security regulations. With the state of emergency now gone, that temporary deregulation is gone too.

In 2023, the state adopted a new law allowing doctors licensed in other states to provide telehealth services, but only in "emergency" circumstances where a patient was expected to live for only a few months and they hadn't been accepted in clinical trials closer to their home.

California's licensure requirements pose particular problems for patients, like Horowitz, who have rare conditions in need of specialized, frequent care.

They also pose a major roadblock to specialized clinics that seek to treat a small number of patients spread across the country. The time and expense of acquiring and maintaining licensure in California, or other equally restrictive states, might not be worth it if there's only a handful of patients there seeking their care.

This past week Horowitz and Sean McBride, a radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, sued the head of California's medical licensing board, Randy Hawkins.

Their lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

The lawsuit argues that California's restrictions on interstate medical practice without any purported local benefit violate the U.S. Constitution's "Dormant Commerce Clause," which prohibits states from "enacting laws that discriminate against interstate commerce or excessively burden interstate commerce in relation to any putative local benefits."

"Licensure requirements are substantively identical from state to state. Treating cancer in California is the same as treating cancer in Vermont," says Caleb Trotter, an attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation, which is representing Horowitz and McBride.

California's discrimination against doctors licensed out of state doesn't do anything to improve the quality of medical care, says Trotter. Nor did the COVID-era rollback of such licensure requirements in other states produce any harms for patients.

Their lawsuit challenges only California's restrictions on doctors licensed out-of-state from consulting and following up with patients. It leaves unchallenged licensure requirements for out-of-state doctors treating patients (say via remote talk therapy sessions) or prescribing medicine.

That California's licensure restrictions apply to mere communication between doctors and patients violates the First Amendment's free speech protections as well, argues the lawsuit.

The ability to have follow-up consultations with doctors and medical professionals is especially important for Horowitz. California's restrictions leave her uncertain whether she could even consult with a nurse at her Oregon clinic if she were having a bleeding incident.

"It's my body and my healthcare," she says. "I should be able to choose to go to a provider I trust. I don't like the fact that my state is limiting my ability to connect with and follow up with a provider of my choice."

The post California's Telemedicine Restrictions Are Forcing Rare Disease Patients To Travel Out of State for Care appeared first on Reason.com.
In recent weeks, college campuses across the U.S. have been roiled by pro-Palestinian protests, with the police called in to arrest demonstrators and students threatened with expulsion.

But theres nothing unusual about the protesters tactics of taking over university buildings and erecting tent encampments on college lawns and quads.

These students, whose actions build on years of organizing spearheaded by the Students for Justice in Palestine, are part of a long history of radical student organizing.

There are echoes of both the protests against the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s and, more recently, of South African apartheid in the 1980s.

In the 1980s, U.S. student activists worked to make higher education South Africa Free. They urged institutions of higher learning to commit to divest all assets held in endowments that were tied to doing business in or with South Africa.

Over the past 10 years, Ive researched and written about these Black-led anti-apartheid movements, with a particular focus on student campaigns.

By calling out complicity on the part of colleges, corporations and the government in South Africas system of apartheid, student activists were able to show that demands for divestment could be a concrete and effective form of protest.

A movement decades in the making

Apartheid was a racist and exploitative project that white South African officials had developed over decades.

Segregationist laws and land seizure policies created a captive, impoverished Black population, whose exploitation and disenfranchisement supported the economic prosperity of the governing white minority.

Originally, the idea to push for the sale of assets tied to corporations doing business in South Africa stemmed from the directives of the South African liberation movements, which called for a total economic, cultural and diplomatic boycott of the countrys white minority government.

The foremost South African liberation movements were the African National Congress, formed in 1912, and the Pan Africanist Congress, established in 1959. The South African government banned both organizations in 1960, forcing organizers to build their movements in exile.

In response, anti-apartheid organizers around the world developed creative ways to heed the call.

In the late 1960s, for example, U.S. students targeted U.S. banks that lent to the South African government, calling them partner[s] in apartheid.

And the Students for a Democratic Society and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee coordinated a sit-in at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City in 1965.

Following the 1976 Soweto uprising, in which South African police massacred at least 150 children, some U.S. workers began to demand that their pension funds be South Africa Free, and students at U.S. colleges and universities organized some of the first protests calling for the divestment of their schools endowments.

The 1977 formation of the Committee to Oppose Bank Loans to South Africa made economic withdrawal a centerpiece of the U.S. anti-apartheid movement, one that grew stronger both on and off campus in the decade that followed.

Calls for divestment grow

At its climax in 1985 and 1986, protests for total economic isolation of South Africa surfaced at more than 200 colleges and universities across the U.S.

Whether they were enrolled at historically Black colleges and universities, liberal arts colleges, Ivy League schools or public universities, students coordinated a national divestment movement, pushing the issue of U.S. investment in South Africa to the center of American intellectual and civic life.

Student organizing formed the militant grassroots basis for the U.S. anti-apartheid movement and contributed to the economic, political and cultural isolation of South Africas violent and repressive white minority regime.

Student protesters hold placards urging Harvard University to divest itself from companies doing business with South Africa. Barbara Alper/Getty Images

Students assembled blockades, organized sit-outs, occupied buildings and built shantytowns  made to resemble the makeshift dwellings in which many Black South Africans lived under apartheid  at more than 100 universities.

These shantytown protests marked the culmination of nearly a decade of campus anti-apartheid organizing. Thousands of students at hundreds of campuses erected encampments to try to stop business as usual, as student groups put it.

Persistence pays off

At schools across the country, university administrators ordered police to dismantle the shantytowns.

University backlash ended up only amplifying support for the movement as media flocked to the shantytowns, while faculty, parents and alumni rallied around the students.

Students, in turn, rebuilt their encampments. Joining them were supporters from beyond the university: musicians, politicians, and New Left and Black Power activists. The presence of feminist political activist Angela Davis, counterculture activist Mario Savio, poet June Jordan, writer Amiri Baraka and Pan-Africanism organizer Kwame Ture helped draw further national attention to student demands.

The highly publicized determination of the students helped turn the tide of public opinion. Founded by Black organizers Randall Robinson, Mary Frances Berry, Eleanor Holmes Norton and Walter Fauntroy, the Free South Africa Movement  working closely with the foreign policy advocacy organization TransAfrica  led hundreds of students and everyday people in a picket outside the South African Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Many of the activists and student protesters were arrested. But by calling out specific corporations doing business in South Africa and popularizing corporate ties to anti-Black violence, oppression and massacres in a foreign country, students succeeded in making investments in those stocks riskier and unattractive.

After two years of sustained militant organizing and demonstrations, the student anti-apartheid movement claimed to have gotten colleges and universities to divest about US$3.6 billion  or $10.3 billion in todays dollars  from their endowments.

Revisionist history

In 1990, after 27 years of imprisonment, African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela was released from prison.

By then, South Africas system of apartheid was crumbling. The reinstatement of the liberation movements in 1990, the repeal of segregationist laws in 1991 and the first democratic election of 1994 signaled the official end of apartheid, though discrimination and inequality persist in South Africa to this day.

In the collective memory of the U.S., anti-Vietnam and anti-apartheid movements are generally seen as righteous struggles that U.S. institutions couldnt help but get behind.

Perhaps thats why, after the death of Mandela in 2013, the University of California, Berkeley, administration claimed to be at the forefront of student divestment protests for South Africa.

This was revisionist history.

In fact, at Berkeley and across many campuses, administrators called the police on protesters, threatened to revoke their scholarships, took others to court and ordered custodial staff to demolish the shanties.

Past as present

Activists, scholars and even former U.S. President Jimmy Carter have drawn comparisons between South African apartheid and Israels occupation of the Palestinian territories. Many Palestinians refer to the 440-mile (708 km) separation barrier that Israel erected along the Gaza Strip as the Wall of Apartheid.

Still, there are some notable differences between the two movements.

Divestment is trickier today because financial instruments are more complex than they were in the 1980s, in part due to the outsourcing of their management to investment firms and hedge funds. The size of many university endowments have also grown exponentially since then.

Nonetheless, I believe divestment from companies doing business with Israel is still possible  and can be an effective demand. Several college administrations have agreed to consider divestment, including Brown University, Northwestern University, Evergreen State College and the University of Minnesota.

The U.S. anti-apartheid movement of the 1980s helped topple South Africas apartheid government. Back then, campus anti-apartheid occupations placed students at the forefront of changing the national consensus on U.S. complicity with injustice in South Africa.

Time will tell whether todays students can do the same with regards to Israels systematic oppression of the Palestinian people.

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: Amanda Joyce Hall, University of California, Santa Barbara

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Amanda Joyce Hall has been a recipient of the U.S. Fulbright Student Fellowship Program, The Ford Foundation Fellowship, and the Institute for Citizens and Scholars Newcombe Fellowship.
Democrats will be lucky to keep control of the U.S. Senate after Novembers elections. Yet Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. lately has shown again why thats imperative: A Republican-run Senate would confirm more far-right ideologues like him to the federal bench if Donald Trump is once again choosing the nominees, or block many of Joe Bidens picks if the president is reelected.

First for the Alito story : An upside-down U.S. flag flew in his front yard for days in January 2021, the New York Times first reported. That such a thing would happen at any time at a Supreme Court justices home is abhorrent. That it did so when the inverted flag served as a banner for the mobs whod just besieged the Capitol and tried to subvert an election is not only arguably unethical (the Supreme Court was hearing cases related to the Trump-inspired Stop the Steal effort, and still is) but downright seditious. No matter if the hoisting was his wifes doing, as Alito ignobly claimed.

Then on Monday, Chris Geidner, in his Substack publication Law Dork, disclosed that Alito last year appeared to have joined the Bud Light boycott protesting that brands advertised support for transgender people.

According to federal disclosure reports that Geidner posted, Alito sold shares in Bud Lights maker, Anheuser-Busch, at the height of the controversy last summer and bought stock in competitor Molson Coors. The transactions didnt involve large amounts of money, but here again, cases related to transgender rights were  and are  making their way through the courts to the Supremes.

To make matters worse, on Wednesday, the New York Times reported that another protest flag associated with right-wing, pro-Trump sentiment flew from the Alitos' New Jersey vacation home last summer.

Alitos apparent blindness to conflicts of interest and his penchant for peevish shows of right-wing partisanship are second only to those of his Republican-appointed colleague Justice Clarence Thomas, spouse of Stop the Steal schemer Ginni Thomas. Both justices reject calls to recuse themselves from pending cases stemming from Jan. 6. Both are complicit in, and perhaps responsible for, the courts unconscionable delay in deciding whether Trump is immune from criminal prosecution for his role in the insurrection attempt. We might get its ruling by July, likely too late for a trial before November.

Read more: Upside-down flag controversy is the latest for Supreme Court Justice Alito

Also, both justices are in their mid-70s. And thats where political calculations about the Senate come in.

Its widely believed among court watchers and pundits that Alito and Thomas might well retire if Trump wins another term, so he could nominate much younger versions of themselves who could serve for many more decades to come alongside Trumps trifecta of 50-somethings: Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Trump could elevate younger judges such as those he tapped for lower federal courts  say, 40-something district court judges Aileen Cannon, who helpfully suspended his classified documents trial indefinitely, and Matthew Kacsmaryk, whose ruling outlawing a pill used for most abortions is currently before the Supremes.

A Republican-controlled Senate presumably would fast-track Trumps high court nominees, and perhaps more than a couple hundred others for the lower federal courts  just as it did the first time around for Trump. A Senate still under Democrats control, however, could presumably force a reelected Trump to tap more moderate judicial candidates, and, if he refused, could slow-walk, shelve or reject extremists. Like more Alitos and Thomases.

Read more: Senate confirms 200th federal judge under Biden as Democrats surpass Trump's pace

Lest anyone doubt that Republican senators would be a conveyor belt for right-wing judges under Trump, or a blockade against Biden nominees if he wins a second term, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell offered a reminder of their MAGA-apologist mindset on Wednesday. When a reporter asked him to weigh in on the Alitos flag, McConnell snapped , Im not going to dignify that with a response.

Talk about misplaced indignation.

More voters, Democrats as well as independents and moderate Republicans who oppose right-wing activists throughout our judiciary, must cast ballots for the Senate as well as for president with the composition of the courts in mind  as conservative voters did for decades, successfully. Democratic candidates, including Biden, are doing more to raise awareness. But its not enough. The message has to be explicit, and frequent: The courts are on the ballot too.

A big test is in Democratic-blue Maryland, of all places. Larry Hogan, the popular former governor and probably the only Republican in the state who could get elected to the Senate, last week won his partys nomination to fill the seat that Democratic Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin is giving up. The Democrats have to defend that seat along with those of incumbents in red states Ohio and Montana, and swing states Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The party, with just a two-vote majority now, has already written off the Senate seat that Democrat Joe Manchin III is vacating in Trump-loving West Virginia, so every seat is crucial.

Read more: Opinion: The Supreme Court just showed us that Trump is not incompetent. He's a master of corruption

Hogan, a personable pragmatist and Trump critic, appeals to some Maryland Democrats despite his party label, and to moderate Republicans and independents whove otherwise soured on the Republican Party in the Trump era. Many of them backed him for governor, and might for senator. To entice them, the former pro-life governor has flipped to declare himself a pro-choice Senate candidate.

Yet because the Senate stakes are so much bigger than just Maryland, Hogans Democratic and other anti-MAGA fans should resist his charms this time. His victory would make it that much more likely that Republicans will capture control of the chamber with power to confirm federal judges and justices. His Democratic opponent, widely respected county executive Angela D. Alsobrooks, shows early signs of hammering that point.

Her challenge is to get voters who like Hogan to instead think strategically and do their part to help keep the Senate out of MAGA-fied Republicans control. The makeup of that other branch of government  the Supreme Court and the rest of the federal bench  could depend on it. That should be the thumb on the scale.

@jackiekcalmes

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Satellite images of Kuryacha Bay in Sevastopol, where the small missile ship "Cyclone" was destroyed, have been published online. It shows, in particular, the destruction and crater from a missile launched by the Defense Forces on the night of May 19.

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The image of May 23 was published on the Telegram channel of "Radio Liberty". The message reminded that analysts of the Conflict Intelligence Team investigation group had received a photo from a source in Sevastopol confirming that the ship had indeed sunk  only its mast was visible from the water, and a rescue boat was standing nearby.

As a reminder, on the night of May 19, the Ukrainian Defense Forces hit the "Cyclone" missile ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet's 22800 project in Sevastopol. The ship was probably hit with ATACMS missiles. The attack killed six Russian Black Sea Fleet servicemen and wounded 11 others. The ship itself sank.

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The spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces, Dmytro Pletenchuk, said that the corvette did not even manage to pass state tests because it never launched a single cruise missile.

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Currently, Russia has 10 more surface-to-air missile launchers in the Black Sea. Taking their total number into account, they can simultaneously launch "a little more than 50 Kalibr missiles. But in reality, this is unlikely, and "such a practice has never been used," Pletenchuk added.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

 On the night of May 19, the Defense Forces destroyed the Russian Black Sea Fleet's Project 266-M "Kovrovets" minesweeper. The vessel was designed to trawl for ships and vessels, conduct reconnaissance and control trawling, lay fairways in minefields, and participate in mine installations in the far zone from its bases.

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 On May 13, the ship "Lomonosov", which was undergoing repairs, caught fire in Arkhangelsk, Russia. The fire engulfed the upper deck over an area of more than 900 square meters.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Amid all the bad news in the post-pandemic public education sphere, there is a bright spot in a surprising city, Camden, New Jersey. There, students, while suffering steep learning losses so common in low-income districts, are finding their way forward through the collaboration of three different public school sectors: district, charter, and an unusual hybrid called renaissance schools. These renaissance schools, authorized by a law that let Camden approve partnerships with high-performing, nonprofit charter school networks willing to take on the lowest-performing schools, are driving the citys learning gains. As such, the story of Camdens comeback, described in a new report by Camden Education Fund, provides a blueprint for an innovative model of public education, not just in New Jersey but throughout the country.

Camden is home to one of the most innovative school systems in the country, Giana Campbell, Executive Director of Camden Education Fund (CEF), said in an interview. We are proud to serve as an example of what an equitable modern school system looks like when we come together across sectors to ensure that we have the best educators, that all of our students feel supported, and that families feel welcomed to participate in their success.

It is worth looking back at the evolution of this South Jersey city, just across the Ben Franklin Bridge from Philadelphia, which was once the subject of a Rolling Stones article called Apocalypse, New Jersey: A Dispatch From Americas Most Desperate Town. Eleven years ago the NJ State Department of Education took over the district due to student to outcomes so dismal that 23 of the Camden City School Districts 26 schools ranked in the bottom 5 percent of the state, the high school graduation rate was 49 percent, and a total of three high school students scored college-ready on the SATs. Shortly after the takeover, the State Legislature passed the Urban Hope Act, which allowed three city school boards, Camden, Trenton, and Jersey CIty, the chance to approve nonprofit charter partners to act as turnaroundstake over failing district schools and transform them by providing whole-child learning and wrap-around serviceswith the district controlling enrollment. Newark and Jersey City declined to participate. The Camden board chose three charter operators: KIPP, Mastery, and Uncommon.

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During this period student learning accelerated, first under the leadership of Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard and now under his successor, Superintendent Katrina McCombs, a Camden native and long-time Camden teacher and administrator. A national study from Brown University, which analyzed state takeovers of districts from 2011 through 2016 for their effects on student achievement, found that in most students didnt improve but in Camden they did. Research by CREDO at Stanford University showed by 2017 all studentstraditional, charter, and renaissance were achieving roughly 85 days more of learning in math and 30 days more in reading. And according to a 2018 study by Bellwether Education Partners, after the state takeover, Camden high schools saw their average high school graduation rates increase by 17 percentage points while elementary school students doubled their proficiency rates in reading and math.

Then Covid hit. Camdens schools closed in March 2020 and, while younger students started returning in April 2021, the district wasnt fully open until September, eighteen months after the initial closures. Like districts all over the country that primarily serve low-income students of color, proficiency levels plummeted. The gaps that had been closing pre-pandemic widened once again.

Yet, as CEFs report, Can Camden Students Continue the Comeback?, points out, while Camden students fell behind at a rate similar to statewide averages, they are now catching back up at the same rate statewide, unlike many other urban districts.

In addition, while much of the country reports declines in enrollment, Camden schools have seen enrollment remain steady overall, with a 400-student increase from last year to this year.

Here is what has changed: While enrollment in district schools has dropped by nine percentage points in the last five years, there is a ten point increase in students enrolled in renaissance schools. (Traditional charter enrollment is steady.) Currently renaissance schools serve four percent more English language learners and students with disabilities than district schools.

Much work remains. Citywide, the chronic absenteeism rate is 51 percent. Social-emotional well-being looms large, with parents citing it as their second biggest concern, just after teacher shortages.(A non-profit called Women of the Dream is using a new grant from CEF to address middle school girls childhood trauma.). Student learning is still depressingly low: Improvements aside, four out of five students citywide are not reading at grade-level.

Yet the story of Camden seems to offer a holistic model built around effective options for families that other city school systems can emulate: When leaders recognize that the student outcomes are more important than which public school a child attends, when different sectors collaboratesupported with a district-run universal enrollment systemto bolster academic success, all students benefit. Our collective efforts have demonstrated and revealed that all of Camdens children, all of them, are valued, said said Superintendent McCombs at the reopening of the districts Eastside High School. Or, as Campbell of CEF remarks, We know that our students are gifted, our staff are dedicated, and our city is focused. By working together, we can ensure that Camden continues to rise.

This analysis originally appeared at NJ Education Report
At a new housing campus in Detroit's Core City, there are heating lamps to warm the covered sidewalks where people can sleep outdoors if they don't want to come inside.

There is an eight-bed respite center for those discharged from the hospital but who still need time to recover.

There is a free medical clinic for community members, a gymnasium, commercial kitchen and donation center to drop off clothing and furniture.

Father Tim McCabe, president and CEO of the Pope Francis Center, after giving a tour of the new Pope Francis Center Bridge Housing Campus on Detroit's west side on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

These details are what make the Pope Francis Center's new Bridge Housing Campus a culmination of best practices to address chronic homelessness from across the country brought right to Detroit.

"The homeless generally feel invisible and so we see them and they know we see them and we care about their well-being," said the Rev. Tim McCabe, president and CEO of the Pope Francis Center, during a tour of the long-awaited campus, which is gearing up to open in late June.

The building is designed to help people transition from the streets into housing, McCabe said. The 60,000-square-foot campus, which sits on 5.3 acres of once vacant land, has 40 studio apartments that, for now, will be for single men experiencing homelessness.

One of the 40 studio residential rooms at the new Pope Francis Center Bridge Housing Campus on Detroit's west side on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

More: Family Fare to donate $10,000 to homeless shelters after woman found living inside sign

The Pope Francis Center will assess and determine who will stay in the building by focusing on those who are failing within the traditional system, McCabe said. The center aims to prioritize people the nonprofit sees at its downtown location and already has a list of residents. McCabe expects people to stay between 90 to 120 days before getting into stable housing, but they can remain beyond that, if needed.

The 336-square-foot units include a bathroom and living area with a bed, TV and kitchenette. There are four anti-ligature rooms designed with fixtures to mitigate the risk of suicide, such as a sink with no knobs. There are also bigger rooms on-site for when families arrive.

One of the 40 studio residential rooms at the new Pope Francis Center Bridge Housing Campus on Detroit's west side on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The room uses fixtures chosen for a population that may be vulnerable to suicide attempts.

Housing specialists will help residents identify permanent homes and navigate the challenges that arise even after a person is selected to receive a federal housing choice voucher. They will have continued access to the campus in order to cultivate a sense of family and community, McCabe said.

"People are welcome back here," he said. "This is your home."

The idea behind the campus is to offer wraparound services on-site because addressing homelessness goes beyond securing a roof over one's head. The building will have social workers, addiction specialists and a psychiatrist. It has classroom space for job preparation and financial literacy trainings. There's a barber shop, library, computer lab, art room and a meditation space.

"We understand homelessness as trauma and so our approach is going to be a trauma-informed care approach  understanding that all homelessness and ... presenting issues, mostly addiction and mental illness, are a result of trauma. They have early childhood trauma, they have complex trauma, they have trauma from becoming homeless," he said.

The complex, apart from the residential area, is open to the broader community.

The CHASS Center will operate a free health clinic at Pope Francis Center's new campus with a doctor, nursing staff and a dental wing for anyone in the neighborhood to access. Residents can use the classroom, cafeteria, kitchen and gym.

A courtyard has overhead heating lamps and can fit about 13 people. It's meant to offer a reprieve for those whose trauma is so severe they are unable to come inside, McCabe said, citing the example of one man who felt nervous around tight spaces and preferred the outdoors. The idea came about after McCabe toured shelters in Orange County and San Antonio with misters and fans to keep people cool and he thought Detroit needed something similar, but for cold weather.

This outdoor warming area and sleeping space for the homeless includes overhead heating elements and heated sidewalks at the new Pope Francis Center Bridge Housing Campus on Detroit's west side on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

"It's really designed to stop people from freezing to death during the winter," he said. McCabe leads a yearly memorial at the Pope Francis Center honoring those who died while homeless in the city.

In 2022, there were 200 people who were homeless on the streets of Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park, according to a one-night tally conducted by the Homeless Action Network of Detroit (HAND) in January. Last year, those experiencing unsheltered homelessness were not counted but there were 1,280 people living in shelters or other housing programs. Data for this year's count  meant to provide a snapshot of homelessness in a community and help determine needs and federal funding for programs and services  is not yet available.

The Bridge Housing Campus, located along West Hancock Street, between Lawton Street and the Jeffries Service Drive, has been under construction since 2022  but in the works for nine years.

McCabe looked at 27 different programs across the country to identify effective models to treat chronic homelessness.

The elements of the building are based on this research, as well as feedback from clients and services providers. Inside the lobby, there is a "hot room," which heats up to 145 degrees to disinfect blankets and clothing as people move in. That was inspired by a shelter in California. Hallways are wide for those dealing with mental illnesses for whom small spaces cause anxiety. Even the colors inside the building are meant to be calming.

The exterior of the Pope Francis Center Bridge Housing Campus on Detroit's west side on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The center is projected to open in late June.

The project is a game-changer, McCabe said, and he hopes it will spur a national conversation around the causes and solutions to homelessness, especially as the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether cities can fine and arrest people for sleeping outdoors when there are no shelter beds available.

The Pope Francis Center received a majority of the funding for the Bridge Housing Campus from the California-based Julia Burke Foundation. Other funders include Magna International, the Ford Motor Co., Lear Corp., the state of Michigan and the city of Detroit.

The new project increases Pope Francis Center's operating expenses from around $3 million to $7 million, McCabe said, but he added that he is confident the nonprofit's funding is sustainable enough to support the expansion.

Regular Pope Francis Center services at the nonprofit's downtown location on Saint Antoine Street are expected to continue after the Core City campus opens. The day center provides two meals, laundry and shower facilities, medical, dental and legal clinics and help finding housing, and sees up to 250 people a day.

Contact Nushrat Rahman: nrahman@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @NushratR.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pope Francis Center to open $40M housing campus this summer
A distinguished Anglican priest, theologian and chaplain will be visiting Oklahoma City for a series of events.

The Rev. Robert Willis, dean emeritus of Canterbury Cathedral in England, will be guest speaker at "A Community Conversation" set for 11 a.m. Thursday at Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel on the campus of Oklahoma City University, 2501 E Blackwelder. The free event is sponsored by the Oklahoma Faith Network.

The Rev. Shannon Fleck, Oklahoma Faith Network executive director, said Willis will speak about cultivating hope, progressive faith and the dangers of extremism.

Willis also will be guest speaker at the St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church 40th anniversary celebration on Sunday, May 26, at 14700 N May. He will speak at the church's adult forum at 9:30 a.m. and a worship service at 10:45 a.m.

More: A year later, Blessed Stanley Rother shrine offering worship, fellowship in spectacular setting

The Rev. Joseph Alsay, rector of St. Augustine of Canterbury, said he invited Willis to serve as guest preacher for his church's anniversary celebration after hearing him preach at the Leader's Way, a leadership initiative for Episcopal clergy held at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale.

"He's a fine theologian," Alsay said. "I didn't know if he would come to Oklahoma to a small church, but he is coming."

Willis, who is also a music composer, served as the dean of Canterbury, running the mother church of the Anglican Communion and the Kings School at Canterbury. In that capacity, he advised three archbishops, government and the crown of England from 2001 to 2022.

He became known particularly for his broadcasts of morning prayer that he and his partner Fletcher Banner made each day for 26 months during the COVID pandemic. The broadcast snippets attracted views from people around the world.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Dean emeritus of Canterbury Cathedral in England coming to Oklahoma
The Case For Breaking Up Ticketmaster, 'The Monopoly Of Our Time That Everybody Hates'

The Justice Department filed a long-awaited antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation on Thursday, seeking to break up what officials call an unlawful monopoly thats squeezing artists, promoters and venues while jacking up prices for fans.

Two days before the suit was filed, one of the architects of President Joe Bidens antitrust agenda made a concise and plainspoken case for why the administration should pursue it.

Tim Wu, former special assistant to the president for technology and competition policy, was speaking to a gathering of antitrust hawks at the American Economic Liberties Projects Anti-Monopoly Summit in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. When the discussion turned to Ticketmaster and Live Nation, Wu called it the monopoly of our time that everybody hates.

He argued that if any modern company should be targeted for antitrust enforcement, it should be Ticketmaster-Live Nation, and that pursuing such a case was a matter of following popular will:

If or when the Justice Department of the United States files suit against Ticketmaster-Live Nation, that will be a happy day for the republic. I just want to point out if you ask a person in the street, they may have whatever feelings about Google or Apple, but nobody, nobody likes the Ticketmaster monopoly. And I think theres something to that. I think that we have to be showing were taking peoples concerns seriously. Its just like sitting in front of everybodys faces that Ticketmaster Live Nation is this untouched monopoly Going back in history again, Theodore Roosevelt started antitrust, and he was like, We have to break up Standard Oil. Like, what is this? If this law was written for something, it was written for the Standard Oil monopoly. And in our times, if this movement means something, its going to be taking on Ticketmaster, which is the monopoly of our time that everybody hates. Now, I dont want to prejudge the case, but I guess I just did. But I do think its important that popular will says something.

Watch Wus remarks in full above, courtesy of the American Economic Liberties Project.

The Justice Departments lawsuit accuses Ticketmaster-Live Nation of muscling out rivals in the live events market, retaliating against venues that dont play along, locking out competition with exclusive contracts and bullying artists into using their promotional services. The agency was joined by 30 state and district attorneys general in filing the complaint.

Live Nation said in a statement that the lawsuit wont solve the issues fans care about related to ticket prices and service fees, and called the Justice Departments allegations baseless.

Calling Ticketmaster a monopoly may be a PR win for the DOJ in the short term, but it will lose in court because it ignores the basic economics of live entertainment, such as the fact that the bulk of service fees go to venues, and that competition has steadily eroded Ticketmasters market share and profit margin, the company said.

If the suit succeeds, a judge could force the company to divest certain parts of its business. Jonathan Kanter, head of DOJs antitrust division, said in a statement Thursday that the goal was to restore competition for the benefit of fans and artists.

Related...
Case of Pennsylvanias newest healthcare serial killer highlights need for change

The case of a local serial killer, who went undetected for years in western Pennsylvania nursing homes, is highlighting the need for more safeguards to protect patients.

Advocates for Pennsylvanias aging population are urging lawmakers to take action following the sentencing of a former nurse, Heather Pressdee. She unnecessarily injected almost two dozen of her patients with insulin. Eighteen of those people have died. Another four are disabled, according to their family members.

>> Killer nurse pleads guilty to killing, harming care home residents with insulin

Pressdee pleaded guilty in early May and is now serving multiple life sentences.

11 Investigates has been digging for answers about how red flags were missed or ignored and why it took years to stop Pressdee.

Its disturbing to know that people can kill undetected, said Chalon Young, professor at Pitt Law.

The FBI defines a serial killer as a person who kills two or more victims in separate events. Theres a subgroup coined healthcare serial killers.

Young said this group of killers uses vulnerabilities within the healthcare system to cover their crimes.

In Pressdees case, she identified exactly that.

Working the night shift when a place is understaffed, theres less supervision... there are fewer visitors, Young said. Deaths are not uncommon in nursing home, and autopsies are not routine practice.

Pressdees first documented victim was Ruth Erikson at Concordia at Rebecca Residence in Allison Park. She died in December 2020. There is not another documented death until eight months later at Belair Healthcare in Lower Burrell.

But in the last four months of Pressdees career, six patients at Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Butler died in her care.

The pace seemed to pick up so rapidly, Young said. The escalation makes me question what type of serial killer were dealing with.

Her theory is that Pressdee may have been a mercy killer but only at first. Then she believes Pressdees motives changed and became about power, power over vulnerable victims.

Her actions destroyed nearly two dozen families, but her crimes were not original.

Netflix documentary Capturing the Killer Nurse recounts in detail how a former intensive care unit nurse moved from hospital to hospital, in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, killing patients with drugs. Charles Cullen committed his crimes between 1984 and 2003.

There are eerie similarities between Cullens case and Pressdees, including commonalities of coworkers who spoke up about concerning behavior and the nurses repeated exits from jobs without facilities notifying police.

Shortly after Cullens arrest, New Jersey lawmakers began discussing changes to close the loopholes that helped Cullen get away with murder for years. They enacted the Cullen Law, which requires healthcare providers to report employee impairment, incompetence or misconduct that could impact patient safety to a clearinghouse, run by the state. Potential employers have access to that information.

Andy Aronson is the president and CEO of the Health Care Association of New Jersey.

Its very, very important that, you know, employers dont just say, oh, you know, so and so was really weird, and there were problems, but lets just let them go and forget about it. Its important that they actually report that person to the clearing house so that they can be properly vetted, Aronson said.

He said the law gives employers protection to be honest about concerns surrounding current or former employees, and that in turn, helps providers protect patients.

Its important to put responsible laws and responsible systems in place to provide the best protections we possibly can, Aronson said.

He believes it is time for Pennsylvania lawmakers to take action to try to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.

Some local lawmakers tell 11 Investigates they are now looking into the issue and studying New Jerseys legislation. We will keep you updated on their efforts.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

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U.S. Senator Bob Casey speaks at the opening of the 108th Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Commonwealth Media Services)

Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Caseys campaign is launching a new initiative aimed at courting older voters who reliably show up at the polls and who may prove pivotal in races up and down the ballot in 2024.

First shared with the Capital-Star, the Seniors for Casey coalition has more than 100 seniors across the commonwealth, including former Gov. Ed Rendell, former Philadelphia Mayor John Street, and former International Vice President of SEIU Rosemary Trump.

His campaign told the Capital-Star that showing up for seniors in Pennsylvania is a top priority for Casey and touted his record of advancing legislation that benefits seniors.

This coalition will help ensure his priorities for seniors are shared throughout the state from now until election day through events, outreach, organizing, and conversations within their communities, Maddy McDaniel, spokesperson for Bob Casey for Senate, told the Capital-Star. Senator Casey has championed seniors issues throughout his time in the Senate and this coalition is just another way he is centering them in his work.

Casey, who is seeking a fourth term in the U.S. Senate serves as the Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging. His campaign points to Caseys efforts on lowering costs, protecting seniors from scams and financial exploitation, holding long-term care facilities accountable, and protecting Social Security and Medicare. Hes also been endorsed by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, a left-leaning advocacy group.

Seniors have been a key part of Caseys reelection in the past, but recent polling suggests that he is running neck-and-neck with Republican challenger David McCormick among this group of voters. An AARP Pennsylvania statewide election survey released on May 7 showed Casey leading McCormick by 4 points among voters 18 and over, and McCormick with a 1 point advantage over Casey with voters 50 and older.

During Caseys most recent reelection in 2018 over then-GOP U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, Casey won voters 50-64 by 5 points and defeated Barletta with voters 65 and older by 17 points. He won the election by 13 points overall.

Pennsylvania has one of the largest senior populations among battleground states. And Casey is not the only candidate for office seeking to secure a win among older voters. Bloomberg reports President Joe Bidens campaign has been courting this group of voters by organizing bingo games in key states and running ads during shows with a large senior viewing audience, such as the Price is Right.

The post New Casey campaign coalition puts focus on senior voters in Pennsylvania appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Two Columbus superintendent task force engagement sessions, scheduled to receive feedback from the public on the groups investigation into closing and consolidating Columbus City Schools buildings, have been postponed.

The postponement comes after a document on how the district should take control of the task force narrative, which includes suggestions like driving a wedge between the teachers union and other staff members, was leaked on Tuesday.

Ohio Supreme Court rejects challenge to temporary halt on trans healthcare ban

The leak has one central Ohio organization renewing its call for transparency from the board and the district.

The district is pointing to one board member  Brandon Simmons  for writing the document, while Simmons claimed it was a group effort.

President of the Columbus chapter of the NAACP Nana Watson regularly attends Columbus Board of Education meetings. Watson said she attended Tuesdays meeting to hear how the district would address the document.

The NAACP gave the board a vote of no confidence last year and Watson said the group stands behind that vote. She called for more transparency not just with this leak, but in general.

New Columbus police substation coming to Easton

If they make an error, just say it, Watson said. People value the truth are as opposed to trying to cover up things. And I dont know what the truth is.

In an email to parents Wednesday, the district said the task force engagement sessions for Wednesday and Thursday were canceled because of recent events with the Columbus Board of Education. The email stated that the district is working to have the sessions rescheduled.

As of now, the next three engagement sessions with the task force are a virtual one on May 29, various in-person ones on May 30, and a radio town hall on June 1. For more on the task force, click here.

The document in question can be read below.

CCS-Strategy-DocumentDownload

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 NBC4 WCMH-TV.
OHIO (WJW)  Memorial Day Weekend is here, and there are a handful of freebies and discounts available to honor the military and military veterans around Northeast Ohio.

Circle K offering 40 cents off every gallon of gas

Memorial Day is Monday, May 27.

Check out our list below:

African Safari Wildlife Park

Current members and veterans of the United States Armed Forces will be admitted free on Monday. A valid military ID is required to redeem the offer. The park will offer its full suite of animal experiences and attractions, including the Drive-Thru Safari, Walk-Thru Safari, Dinosaur Takeover and other programs.

Cleveland Aquarium

Greater Cleveland Aquarium is offering free general admission and parking to active duty military, veterans and first responders on Memorial Day weekend (Friday, May 24, through Monday, May 27), with the presentation of a corresponding badge or ID.

Cedar Point

Active and retired military members, including National Guard, reserves and veterans, will receive a free ticket to Cedar Point valid for a single day Friday, May 24, through Monday, May 27. Military members can also save up to 50 percent on tickets for friends and family when purchasing tickets online.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Military personnel, veterans and their families can get $12 admission (every day of the year) with a photo ID.

Guide: Memorial Day 2024 festivals, parades and ceremonies

Great Lakes Science Center

Active and retired military members with proper ID can get half-price admission on up to four tickets (all year long).

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Military, police and first responders who are active or retired can get a discounted ticket price ($30). Eligible service members with valid ID can also buy one additional discounted ticket for a guest.

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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
This month CEHMM celebrated our 20th Anniversary with an Open House event, which was well attended by many in the community. Thank you to all who attended and helped us to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Incorporated in 2004 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in the state of New Mexico, funding for the development of the Center of Excellence for Hazardous Materials Management was part of an appropriations bill funding the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. CEHMM was built on the WIPP legacy of significant hazardous materials management expertise and expanded scientific research into new areas that would benefit the public and environment. The purpose of the CEHMM projects is to work toward practical solutions to issues that affect both human health and the environment. The projects serve the community, the region, and the state through educational outreach, job creation, and research leading to the resolution of important technical and environmental challenges.

Emily Wirth

Since its inception, CEHMM has identified and pursued applied research projects that have a nationwide impact and are innovative, meaningful, and practical. Originally housed in a Greene Street office, CEHMM created a wide range of cutting-edge programs, including developing technology for using algae as a feedstock for biofuels and co-products, biomonitoring for avian influenza, and West Nile viruses, cooperative conservation of species listed as warranted but precluded from listing under the federal Endangered Species Act.

In 2006, CEHMM began working on the Lesser Prairie-Chicken and Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Candidate Conservation Agreements in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and ranching and industry partners. These voluntary agreements allow ranchers and industry to continue working on the landscape in the event a species is listed as threatened or endangered, while protecting them from take of the species. In 2007, CEHMM built two algae ponds via Department of Energy grants, which kicked off our biofuel research. During that year, CEHMM also conducted research on avian influenza (bird flu) and West Nile virus. In 2008, CEHMM finalized the Lesser Prairie-Chicken and Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Candidate Conservation Agreements and began to enroll stakeholders into the programs.

In 2009, CEHMM purchased an extraction unit to remove oil from algae to produce biodiesel, in partnership with the City of Carlsbad. In 2010, we expanded CEHMMs algae farm facility and were successful in producing algae oil from our facility. By 2011, we produced 200 gallons of algae biofuel, and the Conservation Agreements were able to fund habitat restoration projects to support the Lesser Prairie-Chicken and Dunes Sagebrush Lizard. In 2012, the US Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard did not warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act largely due to the success of CEHMMs Candidate Conservation Agreement Programs and our partners in conservation. In 2013, CEHMM developed our Environmental Services division, which is designed to assist industry with environmental permitting. In 2015, CEHMM once again began developing Candidate Conservation Agreements, this time in support of the Texas Hornshell Mussel, which makes its home in the Black and Delaware Rivers south of Carlsbad. By 2017, this agreement was developed and CEHMM began enrolling both ranching and industry partners into the programs.

Having grown immensely since our inception, CEHMM now operates out of two offices in Carlsbad and one in Milnesand, New Mexico. Currently, CEHMMs focus is primarily on conservation and environmental services, and we work closely with ranchers and industry to keep projects moving on the landscape in the face of threatened or endangered species. Because of our current focus, we have begun the process of changing our name to the Center for Environmental Health, Monitoring, and Management. It is due to our relationships and partnerships with industry, ranchers, and the local community that CEHMM has been so successful over the years. Thank you to everyone for your support and dedication to our programs.

CEHMM is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in Carlsbad, New Mexico. We are here to help keep industry on the ground working while simultaneously providing conservation efforts through cooperative conservation. For further information on how CEHMM can assist your activities on the landscape, visit our website at www.cehmm.org or call the CEHMM office at 575-885-3700.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: CEHMM celebrates 20 years of success
Filipino farmers protected as Senate ratifies Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Bill - JV Ejercito

Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito praised the Senate's ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Bill on Wednesday, May 22.

As the principal author of the bill, Ejercito said that the measure will safeguard the state from economic saboteurs and protect the livelihood of Filipino farmers.

"Ang panukalang ito ay binhi ng pag-asa para sa ating mga magsasaka. Ito ay itinanim ng Senado para sa kanilang kinabukasan," Ejercito said.

The bill aims to repeal Republic Act No. 10845, or the "Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act," and introduce severe penalties for smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and forming cartels of agricultural and fishery products.

Ejercito pointed out that the measure will level the playing field for local farmers as it "will purge our land of profiteers, hoarders, and cartels."

"They are the pests who are choking our agricultural sector. This bill will uproot them and put them in jail, where they belong," he emphasized.

The lawmaker from San Juan commended Senator Cynthia Villar for her efforts in shepherding the bill through Congress.

He also expressed gratitude to former Senate President Migz Zubiri and former Majority Leader Joel Villanueva for their leadership.

"Nawa'y magbunga ang panukala na ito ng masaganang ani para sa ating bayan."
The terrorist country Russia continues deportations and filtration measures against Ukrainians. Recently, large-scale construction of filtration camps under the guise of children's pioneer camps has begun on the territory of the Russian Federation.

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The occupiers are building such camps in the Volga region. This was reported by the Center for National Resistance.

According to the CNS, prefabricated modular houses, which are actually barracks, will accommodate hundreds of people. It should be noted that the leadership of the terrorist country of Russia has been building a system of filtration camps since the beginning of its occupation of Ukraine.

In such zones, people are tested for loyalty to the occupation authorities. The invaders are also trying to create a database of residents of the occupied territories.

Recently, filtration measures have been intensified on the territory of Ukraine temporarily controlled by the occupation forces. Particularly strict checks are observed in the southern regions of Ukraine.

As a reminder, Russian terrorists continue to deport children from Ukraine to the territory of the Russian Federation. Moreover, the invaders practice changing the names and places of birth of deported children.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier it was reported that the terrorist state of Russia forced almost three million Ukrainians to obtain so-called Russian passports. At the same time, the aggressor will consider people who refused to receive fake documents as "foreign citizens or stateless persons."

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
The city of Moline has its 13th local historic landmark, as the Moline City Council has adopted designation of the Deere-Wiman property, Deere-Wiman House and its Carriage House, and grounds, as a city landmark.

A ceremony to recognize this honor is planned for 1 p.m. on Friday, May 31st. The public is invited to take part by meeting at the 11th Avenue entrance to Deere-Wiman House, 817 11th Ave., Moline.

The 1872 Deere-Wiman House is at 817 11th Ave., Moline.

The William Butterworth Foundation, owner of the property, applied early this year to the city for landmark status, according to a Thursday foundation release. After an extensive vetting process by the Moline Historic Preservation Commission, the Deere-Wiman property was approved for this prestigious status, based on six criteria established by the commission that recognizes historic and architectural significance in the community, the release said.

The Moline Historic Preservation Commission is elated that the William Butterworth Foundation has chosen to landmark this iconic property, said

Dick Potter, chair of the Moline Historic Preservation Commission. This is one of the most significant historic properties in the city of Moline and a fitting occasion to celebrate Historic Preservation month.

Deere-Wiman House (OurQuadCities.com)

The home was built in 1872 (the same year that the city of Moline was incorporated) for the family of Charles Deere, president of John Deere from 1886  1907, and son of the company founder. Deere hired prominent Chicago architect William LeBaron Jenny to design both the house and grounds. Until 1976, the house was home to four generations of John Deere descendants.

Pattie Wiman, wife of Charles Deere Wiman, willed the site to the William Butterworth Foundation in 1976 to join nearby Butterworth Center in supporting community services, arts and culture, and lifelong learning. The Foundation accepted the gift to save this significant site, although her estate included no additional funds for its operation.

Today, the Deere-Wiman property serves as a community center for celebrating local history and education for all ages through year-round programming and special events.

Executive director Heather Calvert in the Butterworth Center library.

Historic landmark status will ensure that we provide the best long-term care for the Deere-Wiman property to keep alive for future Quad Citians the Deere familys history and contributions to our area, said Butterworth Foundation executive director Heather Calvert.

A large wedding gift

The William Butterworth Foundation manages two historic properties: Butterworth Center, 1105 8th St., Moline, and Deere-Wiman House, 817 11th Ave., Moline. The former was built in 1892 by Charles Deere as a wedding gift for his daughter Katherine and her husband.

In 1951, Katherine Butterworth established the charitable trust in honor of her late husband, Willam Butterworth. Katherine was John Deeres granddaughter and William was Deere & Co.s president from 1907 to 1928. In 1928, he retired and became the first chairman of Deeres board, a position he held until his death in 1936. In 1956, Butterworth Center was opened for community use.

The beautiful Butterworth Center library was added in 1917 to the 1892 original home.

There is a current $3.2-million fundraising campaign for Deere-Wiman House aimed to restore interiors, exteriors, and grounds, provide better community use and accessibility, water mitigation, Carriage House improvements, and programming and outreach support.

About $2.2 million has been raised so far, Calvert, noting the scale of renovations may be scaled back if the financial goal isnt met. The foundation did recently get $40,000 from the Moline Regional Community Foundation over two years for the improvements to the living room, including new carpeting and drapes.

A dining room inside the Deere Wiman House in Moline.

While the Butterworth Foundation has $30 million in assets, it can only draw a small percentage of investment income each year for operations and do not get operational funding from Deere & Company, the city or other governments.

Of the other 12 Moline historic landmarks, the 1892 Butterworth Center is not one. The last historic landmark approved by the city was in 2022, for the 1932 former Skelly gasoline service station, at 820 5th Ave.

Calvert said the foundation did not apply for landmark status for the Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman together since they wanted to designate one building first, and its the latter thats getting the most attention currently.

Landmark status will not affect interior renovations, but the Deere-Wiman House will need Historic Preservation Commission approval to do exterior work (like retaining wall, downspouts and driveway repairs), Calvert said.

For more information about the wide range of services and programs offered at these historic houses, call 309-743-2700, or click HERE.

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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Celebrating Memorial Day in Sacramento? Here are 8 fun things to do

Sacramento is celebrating Memorial Day this year with several fun events.

From free concerts and a classic car show to a fun run and river cruises, theres plenty to do and see in the capital city this holiday weekend.

Here are just a few of the events planned for the Sacramento area:

Veterans Memorial Day Car Show

The California Automobile Museum will be presenting its Veterans Memorial Day Car Show on Monday.

There will be classic cars and military vehicles on display, as well as coffee, beer and snacks.

You can register to show off your car during the event.

All makes and models are welcome, the museum said on its website, so whether you have a classic beauty or a modern marvel, we want to see it shine at our car show!

Proceeds go toward the museums educational programs and Wounded Warriors.

When: 9 a.m. Monday

Where: California Automobile Museum, 2200 Front St.

How much: Museum admission is $12; $10 for seniors and military members, veterans and students, and $6 for kids ages 6 to 17. Vehcle registration is $35, or $45 on the day of the event, and registers get their museum entry fees waived.

Noemi Bushman of Rancho Cordova sits at the gravestone of her husband Lt. Col. William Bushman during Memorial Day at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon on Memorial Day, May 29, 2023. Her husband was a B-52 pilot during the Vietnam War and they were married for 28 years.

Memorial Day Community Event

The city of Sacramento is hosting the Memorial Day Community Event on Monday.

Come out for a community event recognizing Sacramento citizens who made the supreme sacrifice in service to our country, according to Sacramento365 website. The event will begin with a flag ceremony and welcome speeches on the Memorial Plaza.

This is a free event. Guests will be able to view the Memorial Hall tablet room, as well as the Jean Ruyon Little Theater.

When: 10 a.m. to noon Monday

Where: Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J St.





How much: Free

People celebrate the opening night of the Concert in the Park music festival series Friday, May 3, 2024, at Cesar Chavez Plaza. The concerts will continue every Friday night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (except July 5) through the end of July.

Concerts in the Park

Cesar Chavez Plaza is hosting a free concert to kick off Memorial Day weekend as part of Concerts in the Park.

The annual summer program brings local and well-known artists to downtown Sacramento.

Rock band Destroy Boys will headline Fridays show. Hotplug, Swan Ronson, The Snares and Strings 2 the Groove will also perform.

In addition to live music, the outdoor festival will have a vintage market presented by Worlds Worst Expo, Silent Disco by the Hall of Fame, a community art project, a beauty bar hosted by a local salon and surprise vendors.

When: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday

Where: Cesar Chavez Plaza

How much: Free

A City Cruise ship on the Sacramento River.

Sacramento river cruises

There are multiple river cruises available in Sacramento this weekend.

Although the Sacramento Memorial Day River Cruise was sold out as of Thursday, you can join the waitlist to get notified if tickets become available.

Tickets for the Historic Sacramento River Cruise were available for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The cruise will take you through Old Sacramento historical sites, including the Delta King and the Tower Bridge.

When: Various times, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Where: 1206 Front St.

How much: $28 to $31, discounts for military members and kids 4 to 12. Kids 3 and under are free.

Barks & Brews 5K

Stretch your legs as you participate in a Memorial Day fun run in support of Canine Companions, an organization that helps connect those with disabilities with expertly trained service dogs.

Attendees of the Barks & Brews 5K on Monday can participate in a one-mile walk or 5-kilometer run through William Land Park. You can also register to run with your dog.

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday:

Where: William Land Park

How much: $46, $17 ages 17 and under. Registration prices increase on Saturday.

Jeremiah Walker, 5, of Sacramento, looks at his mother at the Sacramento County Fair at Cal Expo during opening day on Thursday, May 26, 2022.

Sacramento County Fair

The Sacramento County Fair is back with concerts, carnival rides, a rodeo and more.

Headliners for the 2024 fair include tribute bands Fast Times, which performs on Friday, and Sacred Fire Band, which takes the stage on Saturday. Mezcal de Alicia plays pop and Spanish rock on Sunday.

When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday

Where: Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd.

How much: Admission prices at the gate are $12 or $10 for kids 12 to 17. Kids under 12 are free. Carnival wristbands cost $35.

The International Kids Fest

The International Kids Fest returns to Sacramento this weekend.

The free event focuses on bringing children from different cultures and countries together. There will be performances, food trucks and educational booths.

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

Where: William Land Park, 3901 Land Park Drive

How much: Free

Reggaeton Fest Sacramento

District 30, a nightclub in Sacramento, is having a Reggaeton Fest just in time for Memorial Day weekend.

The 21-and-over party will feature reggaeton and Latin EDM remixes as well as live performances by rising artist Lil Catra, local DJ Oasis and more.

When: 8 p.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. Monday

Where: District 30, 1022 K St.

How much: General admission is $10 before fees, or $15 for two passes.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Central Florida priest bites woman after denying her communion, police say

Central Florida priest bites woman after denying her communion, police say

Communion at a Central Florida church took an unexpected turn: an argument that ended with a priest biting a church member, according to police.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Action News Jaxs sister station WFTV said it all went down on Sunday at the St. Thomas Aquinas Church in St Cloud.

Police have recommended that the priest, Father Fidel, be charged with battery.

Read: AAA activating Tow to Go in Florida, Georgia for Memorial Day Weekend

The incident happened during mass when parishioners were receiving communion.

The unidentified woman told St Cloud police that the scuffle started when she tried to receive communion and was denied.

He wouldnt give me the cookie. I dont know if it was the way i was dressed, or if it is what I like, the woman can be heard saying on the police worn body cam video.

CLICK HERE to read the full story by WFTV.

Read: INVESTIGATES: Chop-shops swapping VIN numbers as illegally cloned cars being sold to local buyers

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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.
Nathan Vasquez responds to Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, not seen, during a candidate debate hosted by The Oregonian and KGW news at KGW's studio the evening of Thursday., May 2, 2024 in Portland, Ore. Schmidt is seeking a second term, while Vasquez currently works for Schmidt as a senior deputy district attorney. (Dave Killen /The Oregonian via AP)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Centrist district attorney candidate Nathan Vasquez has ousted the incumbent progressive prosecutor in Oregons Multnomah County, home to Portland, after running a campaign in which he vowed to be tough on crime.

One of District Attorney Mike Schmidts deputies, Vasquez was endorsed by several police groups. He won Tuesdays nonpartisan primary election after returns showed him receiving more than 50% of the vote. While there was a write in option, Vasquez and Schmidt were the only two candidates in the race.

Vasquez said Schmidt conceded the election when they spoke on Wednesday afternoon. In a post on his campaign's Facebook page, he thanked Schmidt for his service and said he was grateful for the support he received from voters.

Vasquezs victory comes at a time when progressive DAs and candidates in liberal bastions ranging from the San Francisco Bay Area to Seattle have faced setbacks as frustrations over public safety and homelessness have risen.

The voters have made it clear that they are ready to take our county in a new and safer direction, Vasquez said in his post Wednesday.

I am committed to ending open air drug dealing and drug use while helping connect individuals to treatment, to rebuilding the broken relationships between the DAs office and the community, and to ensuring that victims are the number one priority of my office, he added.

Schmidt was elected in 2020 as social justice protests gripped Portland and the nation. He campaigned on reforming the criminal justice system, and while in office, he launched initiatives to review wrongful convictions and prison sentences and focus prosecutions on violent crime rather than low-level offenses.

During the campaign, Vasquez denounced some of Schmidts policies, such as his decision not to prosecute protesters arrested during the 2020 demonstrations for low-level, non-violent offenses, and his past support of Measure 110, a ballot measure approved by voters in 2020 that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of drugs.

Amid one of the nations largest spikes in overdose fatalities, state lawmakers this year ended up rolling back the first-in-the-nation law and restoring criminal penalties for so-called personal use possession. Schmidt supported reinstating the penalties.

Vasquez has been a prosecutor in the district attorneys office for over 20 years.

Before taking office, Schmidt led the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, a state agency tasked with improving the legitimacy and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. Prior to that, he had served as a deputy district attorney for Multnomah County.
"Certain progress" in talks on Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine  Kyiv's ambassador to NATO

Nataliia Halibarenko, Ukraine's Ambassador to NATO, has noted "some progress" in discussions on supplying the country's military with additional Patriot air defence systems.

Source: Halibarenko in an interview with Ukrinform news agency, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The ambassador said that work is underway "on all levels" on potential Patriot deliveries, but she admitted that it is "not an easy task".

"Not all NATO countries have the Patriot systems that we need to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles. Those countries that do have Patriots, except for the United States, have only a few such systems and have to take into account their capabilities in terms of their own national security, the political situation in the country, and sometimes the upcoming elections," Halibarenko explained.

However, the ambassador stressed that "there is a certain progress" despite the challenges.

"I can't speak about it in detail, but some countries are expressing potential readiness to provide Ukraine with Patriot systems. They are, of course, raising the question of what to replace these systems with, and we must also take this into account," the ambassador said.

Background: On 22 May, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis noted that the condition for providing Ukraine with a Romanian Patriot system is that it should not lead to a weakening of Romania's air defence.

Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, hopes for "brave decisions" from the United States in anticipation of the desperately needed Patriot air defence systems.

So far, only Germany has responded to Ukraine's request to provide a Patriot battery, and training for this purpose is already underway.

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Chad Daybell says he will not testify in murder trial

Chad Daybell tells Judge Steven Boyce he does not intend to testify in the trial on Thursday. The defense then rested its case. | Judge Steven W. Boyce via Youtube

Chad Daybell will not testify on his own behalf, he told the judge Thursday in Boise, after defense attorney John Prior called his last witness to the stand.

Daybell follows the suit of his wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, who likewise declined to testify during her trial last year. It is not uncommon for defendants not to testify during trials, particularly murder trials.

Dr. Eric Bartelink, a forensic anthropologist, was the last defense witness and testified about the remains of 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, found buried in a fire pit on Chad Daybell's property in Salem, Idaho.

"I believe a large amount of these bones are actually missing," said Bartelink, who reviewed evidence from the recovered remains. Bartelink wrote a report after examining the remains with his team and concurred with the original findings that numerous bones from the arms, legs and spine have not been recovered.

Bartelink said that it was a "possibility" more of the girl's bones could be on Daybell's property or elsewhere.

The defense rested its case just before 11 a.m., after Daybell announced he would decline to testify, moving the trial into the rebuttal phase of the case. Prosecutors called former co-workers of the Daybell children and a detective who had a role in the investigation.

Deputy cant return as rebuttal witness

On Wednesday, prosecutors argued that they should be allowed to call three specific witnesses back to the stand  Tammy Daybells former co-worker Janice Olsen, Rexburg police detective Ray Hermosillo and Fremont County sheriffs deputy Colter Cannon.

But Prior argued that Cannon "has now been tainted" because he had listened to trial testimony after his testimony ended, and Prior objected to having the witness return, calling it "highly inappropriate."

Judge Steven Boyce denied the prosecutors' request to call Cannon back to the stand Thursday, saying his exposure to the previous testimony was "concerning" and would present "an appearance of impropriety or an unfair advantage."

Hermosillo and Olsen are expected to testify when the trial resumes on Tuesday.

Conflicting testimony

Lisa Marie Jensen, a former co-worker of Tammy Daybell, testified Thursday that the former librarian was well, healthy, and strived to keep herself that way in the months leading up to her death. Jensen said the woman never complained about sickness and told jurors she never noticed Tammy Daybell getting tired, winded or exhausted.

Jensen also worked with Tammy Daybell's daughter Emma Murray, playing a role in her hiring. Murray told Jensen she believed her mother's death was "related to a blood clot," Jensen said Thursday.

Murray and her brother Garth Daybell testified Monday that their mother's health had been declining in the last year or so of her life and that she experienced "fainting spells" and shortness of breath.

A former co-worker of Garth Daybell, Jason MacKay Abegglen, was next to testify Thursday. He told the jury that Garth Daybell did not usually talk about family with him, but on the week following his mother's death they spoke of the events.

"I remember he said that he found her when he got home from work, and he didn't know where his father was," Abegglen said. "He said she was kind of pale, and her lips were blue."

Garth Daybell testified earlier this week that upon coming home from work the night of his mother's death, "They were both in bed; I saw their forms, their shapes in the bed as I passed by the room." He also said that he heard his father snoring.

Fremont County sheriff's detective Bruce Mattingly testifies during Chad Daybell's Murder trial in Boise on Thursday. Mattingly testified about his efforts to give Emma Murray, Daybell's daughter, the results of her mother's autopsy after the body had been exhumed. | Judge Steven W. Boyce via YouTube

Fremont County sheriff's detective Bruce Mattingly testified about his efforts to give Murray the results of her mother's autopsy after the body had been exhumed. Mattingly and a Rexburg police officer went to Murray's school after trying unsuccessfully to contact her.

A voice recording of the interaction at the school was played for the jury. They met Murray after school, but Murray refused to be told the results of the autopsy without a lawyer present.

"We're not looking to ask any questions," Mattingly said in the recording. "We just want to give you the information."

Murray continued to decline to listen to the report.

On cross-examination, Prior said, "Isn't it true your motive to talk to Emma Murray was to capture her reaction on tape?"

Mattingly denied that it was.

Boyce released the jurors for a long holiday weekend and scheduled the prosecution's rebuttal to resume on Tuesday morning. Closing arguments will likely be held next week, and the jury will begin deliberations.

Daybell is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Lori Daybell's children  7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan  and the death of his former wife, Tammy Daybell, in late 2019. He is also charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder of each of the victims, grand theft and two counts of insurance fraud.

If Daybell is convicted, a sentencing phase of the trial would be held, and the same jury would determine whether he should receive the death penalty.
Chad's Deby sworn in as president after three years of military rule

By Mahamat Ramadane

N'DJAMENA (Reuters) - Chad's newly elected President Mahamat Idriss Deby was sworn in to succeed his late father on Thursday, after three years as an interim leader under military rule in the central African country.

Deby seized power after rebels killed his father, long-standing President Idriss Deby, as he was visiting troops fighting militias in the north of the country in 2021.

The older Deby had ruled Chad - which is rich in oil resources but one of the poorest countries in Africa - since a coup in the early 1990s.

Chad was the first of six junta-led states in West and Central Africa to hold elections following a string of coups over the past four years that further destabilised a volatile region.

Even so, Mahamat Idriss Deby's victory this month was controversial. He won a sweeping 61% of votes in the tense May 6 poll that two losing candidates, including runner-up Succes Masra, unsuccessfully challenged on allegations of fraud.

Masra, who was Deby's prime minister, came second with 18.54% of votes. He resigned on Wednesday after results were confirmed last week.

Before the election, some opposition parties and civil society groups had called for a boycott, saying Deby and his allies and clan control the main institutions of power.

"To my brothers and sisters who did not choose me... I would like to say that I respect your choice, which contributes to the vitality of our democracy," Deby said after taking the oath of office. He promised that 70% of the government's budget would be spent on social welfare.

More than 40% of Chad's population live below the poverty line, and extreme poverty has increased in past years according to the World Bank.

The arrival of over half a million war refugees from neighbouring Sudan after civil war erupted there in April 2023 has added to the pressure on the Chad's resources.

Hundreds of people were gathered outside the Palace of Arts and Culture in the capital N'Djamena before the swearing-in ceremony began.

Several African leaders attended the event, including the current African Union Chairperson, Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Cheikh AI- Ghazouani, Gabon's junta leader Brice Oligui Nguema, and the interim prime minister of Niger, which has been under military rule since a coup last year.

(Reporting by Mahamat Ramadane; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Frances Kerry)
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY)  Its an understatement to say that many Virginia military and Gold Star families are concerned after Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the budget bill that enacted changes to the tuition waiver program.

The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program helps families of disabled veterans, or those killed in action, further their education in the Commonwealth.

Families said they feel like the changes are intentional, especially being so close to Memorial Day weekend.

I think that this is a promise that was made to people, so its a betrayal of that promise, and I think the fact that its happening right before Memorial Day is incredibly triggering for a lot of people, said Friends of VMSDEP co-founder Kayla Owen. Were aware of at least three people specifically that have a 100% rating because of PTSD who were off of medication and have gone back to the doctor to get back on medication because they are not able to handle these changes.

Friends of VMSDEP is a group advocating for the governor to call a special session to revisit the language in the bill because it impacts a lot of families in the state. As of 2019, 730,215 veterans called Virginia home. The group was formed to help bring awareness and advocate for the program.

Growing up without a father was very different and hard, said Cox High School senior Lauren Fenty. There are many things that other children got to experience and have that I didnt, but one thing that I was guaranteed was this benefit and now that its not guaranteed anymore, its just another thing thats been taken away.

Fenty was only 28 days old when her father, Joseph, was killed in Afghanistan. Shes graduating from high school this year, preparing to head to the University of Virginia this fall, and instead of enjoying prom and graduation festivities, she and her mom, along with other Virginia families, are worried about the future.

When I first found out that this was happening, I was very concerned, Lauren Fenty said. I love to learn. I think that learning is the best thing you can do for yourself and for the world.

Laurens mother, Kristen Fenty, said it has been a very stressful time as were approaching Memorial Day, a time when we should be honoring our dead and licking our wounds and instead, folks are panicking. Theyre panicking financially.

Currently, the children of veterans who are more than 90% permanently disabled, or who were killed in action or taken prisoner, can have their tuition waived for up to eight semesters at a public college or university in Virginia.

However, changes to the program require families of students who were not enrolled in schools by May 15 to apply for financial aid and potentially pay out of pocket before using a tuition waiver.

The filling out of the FAFSA is not the problem, Owen said. The problem is that there is now an expected family contribution, and youre expected to use Chapter 35 money, which is federal money allocated for people that have 100% totally permanently disabled or Gold Star families, and that money is supposed to be used for room-and-board, so now the state is imputing that money prior to VMSDEP spending a single dollar.

Owen said their Facebook group went from 300 people to 1,100 in less than a week.

We are having people come to our Facebook group every single day that are saying, I was never notified. How was I supposed to be grandfathered when I had no information about what was going to happen? Owen said.

Owen added that Virginia used to be one of the best states for benefits that are provided to 100% or totally and permanently disabled or Gold Star families, but by the changes that took place in House Bill Senate Bill 6001, Virginia basically went from being the best to the worst.

(Courtesy of Friends of VMSDEP)

She said this is the greatest rollback of veteran benefits in Virginias history.

This is a significant hit, Owen said. I think people are concerned about what other benefits could be on the chopping block without notice, and if they could be legislated through the budget again, just like this was.

Lauren Fenty might be grandfathered into the program because she was committed to UVA before the deadline, but theres still a lot of uncertainty based on language in the bill.

The grandfather language was amended, stating the guidance shall clearly state that the grandfather clause at 4-5.01(b)(7)(d) applies for the duration of the students enrollment in his or her program of study, or the students four years of program eligibility, whichever comes first.

And although she might be covered, the Fenty family is advocating for other families that may be impacted by these changes in the future.

Ive taught my daughter that if you make a mistake and if you harm somebody, then you make it right, Kristen Fenty said. If the governor made a mistake signing the budget bill with this language in there, he can make it right.

Youngkin issued an executive directive to establish a task force to review the changes, but families believe this shouldve been done prior to any changes being made.

Without question, this study should have been done prior to changes to the program, Owen said, and the concern about the study the way the governor has proposed it is the the scope of the study is very restrictive, and the scope of that study only looks at the unintended harm caused by the budgetary language rather than the program at large. So were actually calling for there to be a comprehensive study and for the previous language to be returned until that comprehensive study can be completed.

Youngkin press secretary Christian Martinez released this statement to 10 On Your Side:

Governor Youngkin addressed this issue in his budget amendments by removing the General Assemblys eligibility changes and replacing them with a work group that included military families; the amendments were not accepted. Governor Youngkin is eager to work with all stakeholders, which will include Gold Star families, legislators, members of the military, veterans, and institutions of higher education.

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 WAVY.com.
North Carolinas public university system has a complex governance structure. Heres a brief primer on the hierarchy of the UNC System:

Systemwide governance

The UNC Board of Governors is the governing body of the UNC System and its 17 constituent institutions. It sets policies that all campuses must follow. The board has 24 voting members, all of whom are appointed by the North Carolina General Assembly to four-year terms.

The Board of Governors chooses the UNC System president, who is the chief executive and administrative officer for the UNC System. The current UNC System president is Peter Hans.

University governance

Each university has a board of trustees, which serves as the governing board for that campus. At most schools in the UNC System, the board of trustees has 13 members. Eight are chosen by the Board of Governors, and four are chosen by the legislature. The student body president serves as a 13th, but non-voting, member.

Republican lawmakers passed a bill last year that added two additional trustees at UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State, increasing the size of those boards to 15 members. In that bill, lawmakers gave themselves the power to appoint the two additional members.

Each campus also has a chancellor, who serves as the head of the university and reports to the president of the UNC System. Per system policy, the chancellor search process includes a committee of up to 13 members. The UNC System president and the chair of the universitys board of trustees are responsible for appointing members to that committee, which must include trustees, faculty, students, staff and alumni. Members of the Board of Governors are also required to be part of the committee. The committee submits its preferred candidates to the board of trustees, which then submits finalists to the UNC System president. The UNC System president ultimately chooses a final candidate to be voted on by the Board of Governors.

This version of the process was adopted last year and gave the UNC System president and Board of Governors more direct influence over the process than theyd had previously.

The provost is the chief academic officer of the university and reports directly to the chancellor. The chancellor appoints a search committee and ultimately chooses a finalist who emerges from the committees process, then submits the final recommendation to the board of trustees.

Who is (really) in charge at UNC?

The UNC System has faced accusations of political interference and partisan overreach by North Carolinas Republican-led legislature, who has exerted an increasing amount of influence over the system in recent years. Lawmakers have given themselves near-total appointment power to the systems governing boards, which has dramatically tilted the ideological balance of the boards in favor of Republicans.
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  A couple accused of killing a man and hiding his body under a house is facing a new charge after a continued investigation.

33-year-old Courtney Ingram and 31-year-old Richard Bishop Jr. are now charged with one count each of abuse of a corpse.

Ingram and Bishop Jr. were initially charged with only murder in the death of Patrick Parrish.

RELATED: UPDATE: Couple wanted in Dothan murder captured in Eufaula

According to Dothan Police Lt. Scott Owens, Parrishs body was found under his house in the 1300 block of Coe Dairy Road after officers conducted a welfare check on May 8.

The positioning of the body was indicative of foul play, and investigators were called to the scene, said Lt. Owens in a release to WDHN.

Lt. Owens said the new charge spawned from Ingram and Bishop Jr. hiding the body.

After a lengthy investigation, Dothan Police issued a warrant for Ingram and Bishop Jr.s arrest on May 17. They were arrested in Eufaula the next day.

The investigation is still ongoing.

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 WDHN - wdhn.com.
The Russian occupation army continues active offensives in most areas of the frontline. The hottest spots remain Kupiansk and Pokrovsk directions, where the enemy made a total of 20 attempts to advance.

ADVERTISIMENT

This is stated in the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook as of 17:00 on May 23. Ukrainian defenders are holding back the onslaught and giving a decisive rebuff to enemy assault groups.

According to the General Staff, the occupants have already attacked Ukraine's defenses 13 times in the Kupiansk sector. Of these, 8 are still ongoing in the areas of Stelmakhivka, Tverdokhlibove, Druzheliubivka, Nevske, and Ivanivka.

In addition, the enemy fired unguided aerial missiles near Andriivka, Serhiivka, and Makiivka. Ukrainian soldiers are preventing the invaders from escalating their efforts and depleting the enemy's offensive potential.

ADVERTISIMENT

Six combat engagements took place in the Kramatorsk sector. Ukrainian troops repelled three enemy attacks near Andriivka and Novyi. The situation is under control. The invaders attacked the area near Druzhba and Pivnichne with Su-25 attack aircraft.

Seven combat engagements are still ongoing in the Pokrovsk sector, in particular in the areas of Kalynove, Novooleksandrivka, and Sokil. In total, the enemy has made 16 attempts to improve the tactical situation.

As noted by the General Staff, Ukrainian defenders are fiercely resisting the invaders. The Russians support their attacks with air strikes. In particular, bombs were dropped near Yevhenivka, Kalynove, Novoselivka Persha, and Netailove, and the enemy used unmanned aerial vehicles near Umanske.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Charges: St. Paul school put on lockdown after man tried to get inside, threatened staff with machete

After a man tried to get into a St. Paul charter school through a locked door on Monday, he grabbed a machete and threatened two staff members with it, charges say.

St. Paul police were called to Hmong College Prep Academy at 1515 Brewster St., just east of Snelling Avenue, shortly before noon on a report of a man who was outside the school with a machete that he used to threaten several staff members.

When officers arrived, staff was hysterically yelling and pointing to a man, later identified as 40-year-old Marcelo Rubio Loredo, according to Wednesdays charges. They said Loredo tried to enter the school.

Officers saw a machete in Loredos hand and told him to drop it. He replied in Spanish, then walked away with the machete. When other officers arrived, he ran.

Loredo ignored a Spanish-speaking officers commands to stop. He struggled with officers, who used tear gas to arrest him. Officers found the machete on a path.

A school staff member told police Loredo tried to open a locked door. Another staff member said he saw Loredo with his face pressed up against the glass of the locked door and told him to leave. Loredo gave the staff member the finger and kicked the door before going over to his bike and grabbing a machete, the charges say.

Loredo raised the machete over his shoulder in a swinging manner, which the staff member took as a threat, the charges say. The school was put on lockdown.

A school maintenance worker then encountered Loredo with the machete and tried walking him off the schools property, but he raised it in a swinging manner over his shoulder twice, the charges say.

Loredo told an investigator in an interview that he had left his job and was looking for something to eat. He said he had the machete because he was working on a yard, the charges say.

When asked if he understood that people at the school would be afraid of him waving the machete around, Loredo didnt answer. He accused police of taking his bike and money, and asked for an attorney.

Loredo was charged with two counts of felony threats of violence and remained jailed Wednesday in lieu of $50,000 bail. Loredo, who has no permanent address, was granted a public defender, according to court records. The attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Charlotte police on Thursday arrested a 19-year-old man with a loaded gun outside of Julius Chambers High School.

The arrested man, Takiy Darryl Brownlee, wasnt connected to a lockdown that drew police to the school, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said in the news release. CMPD responded to a threat at the campus at approximately 11:15 a.m., where they found Brownlee in his vehicle with a loaded rifle. The officers found the initial threat to be unsubstantiated.

Officers arrested Brownlee on charges of possession of a firearm on educational property and possession of a firearm with obliterated/altered serial number.

CMPD strongly urges parents and caretakers  do not bring weapons on campus or have them in your vehicle when you are picking up your child or dependent, CMPD said in the news release.

Brownlee was previously arrested in March 2023 by officers from the Iredell County Sheriffs Office on charges of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, fleeing or eluding arrest with motor vehicle, misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon, misdemeanor resist or delay an officer, misdemeanor reckless driving and two misdemeanor drug offenses.

Further details havent been released. An investigation of the incident is active and ongoing. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools directed any questions to the police department.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Charlotte man accused of killing his girlfriend and her two children is scheduled to be inside a Mecklenburg County courtroom on Thursday.

Benjamin Taylor, 34, is facing three counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors said he killed Markayla Johnson and her two children, 4-year-old Miracle, and 7-month-old Messiah.

Following the murders, authorities said Taylor fled to California where he was eventually found in the southern part of the state camping out near the Mexican border. He was eventually transported back to North Carolina.

VIDEO: Body cam shows arrest of suspect accused of killing Charlotte mom, 2 kids

The bodies were found at an apartment complex in northeast Charlotte on March 15 after the three were reported missing on March 3. Thursday, May 23, will feature a hearing process on whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Taylor.

According to the NC Department of Adult Correction, Taylor has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2007. Charges include breaking and entering, assault, as well as weapon and drug-related charges. He is currently being held without bond.

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Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones called a press conference Thursday to address the indictments of two former Savannah Police Department officers.

A Chatham County grand jury on Wednesday indicted two former Savannah Police Department officers on multiple counts of perjury and violating their oaths of public office. These are the first charges brought by Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones against local law enforcement.

Former detective Ashley Wood was indicted on four counts perjury and four counts of violating her oath of office. Former corporal Darryl Repress was indicted on one count of perjury, three counts of violating his oath of public office, and two counts of making a false statement.

"Just as no officer, no prosecutor is perfect, and we are all subject to make mistakes and misjudgments in the performance of our duties, no officer is above the law," said Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones during a press conference Thursday.

Wood was fired from SPD in July 2023 for falsifying information, including security footage and text messages, in multiple search warrant applications tied to a 2021 murder case. The indictment accuses Wood of knowingly making false statements relevant to probable cause in obtaining search warrants for multiple, separate crimes.

On Sept. 28, 2023, SPD terminated Repress after an internal affairs investigation found that he had a relationship with a convicted felon, according to documents obtained via open records request by the Savannah Morning News. An internal affairs investigation, launched in August 2023, stemmed from allegations that Repress was having a relationship with a woman, Phatemia Bigham, whom he also was using as a confidential informant.

When questioned about this relationship, according to the indictment, he lied to his supervisors and internal affairs investigators. The indictment also alleges that Repress knowingly purchased stolen goods from Bigham and two others.

Repercussions: Georgia POST Council votes to strip former Savannah Police Officer of law enforcement certification

Relieved of Duty: Savannah Police officer fired for relationship with convicted felon

During her press conference, Jones also shed light on the ripple effect of having criminal indictments of former law enforcement officers who worked crimes being prosecuted by the DA's office.

Jones said her office has identified "a multitude" of crimes, including murders and shootings, that cannot currently be prosecuted due to the involvements of Wood and Repress when they were employed as police officers.

"What that means is that my office and I have gone to great lengths to review previous cases that these individuals were involved in, and pending cases they are involved in," Jones said.

The office will release in coming days which cases can and cannot be prosecuted as a result of that review, Jones said. Jones and others within her office reviewed every case Repress and Wood were involved in, and the focus is to prioritize pending cases, Jones said.

In the case of Wood, the City of Savannah Civil Service Board demoted her to a lower civilian position within the City of Savannah, according to previous reporting by the Savannah Morning News. A City of Savannah spokesperson Josh Peacock confirmed as of Thursday afternoon Wood was still an active employee with the City of Savannah.

SPD spokesperson Neil Penttila responded to a request for comment saying the department "does not have anything to add to the story at this time."

Evan Lasseter is the city and county government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at ELasseter@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Chatham county grand jury indicts two former Savannah officers for perjury
Chicago City Council gives itself power to take control of ShotSpotter, defies Johnson campaign promise

Chicago aldermen voted Wednesday to take control over the ShotSpotter gunshot detection systems future out of Mayor Brandon Johnsons hands in a bid to stop him from deactivating it.

The 34 to 14 vote to give the City Council final say over the mayors cancellation plans sharply defies Johnson, who campaigned on the promise of getting rid of the controversial and expensive technology.

Under the order that passed Wednesday, the pact with ShotSpotter is now subject to an up-or-down council vote before it can be terminated. It is not clear how the new rule will be applied to a deal the mayor already announced will end, however, especially since Johnson has suggested its illegal for aldermen to try to exert such authority over a city contract.

After the meeting, Johnson did not answer directly when asked if he would veto the measure. But he said the order did nothing because the City Council does not have executive authority.

This passage, whatever it was, has no bearing on my executive authority to cancel the ShotSpotter contract, Johnson said. It doesnt make any sense, frankly.

The order faced a last-second effort to send it back to committee for further consideration. That effort was supported by almost a dozen aldermen who ultimately voted for the order.

Some supporters of taking more time to consider the order argued it has questionable legal standing and may fail to effectively secure ShotSpotters future.

Or else, this (order) on its face has got no shot, Ald. Timmy Knudsen, 43rd, said.

Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th, who led the push to try to stall a vote on the order, called on the council to consider other technologies besides ShotSpotter, a system ardently opposed by Johnson.

This is about trying to get the best for our citizens, Ervin said. We have got to get beyond one piece of technology if the goal is to make the city of Chicago safer.

But stalwart ShotSpotter supporters who expected the order to easily pass angrily challenged the proposed delay. The order would only give aldermen the ability to vote over ShotSpotters tenure in the future with better data, said its sponsor, Ald. David Moore, 17th.

It just blows my mind, Moore said. Youre voting against having a voice for your constituents.

Ald. Peter Chico, 10th, a former police officer, told his fellow aldermen he knew ShotSpotter better than any of them.

Ive used ShotSpotter. Ive seen what happens. Ive seen it works, Chico said, recalling the technology helping him find wounded gunshot victims despite no one calling 911. That body that I saw there, many, many times, we cannot put a price tag on that.

Questions remain about the passed orders strength. A Department of Law spokesperson did not say Wednesday whether Johnson has the power to veto the councils effort, and the order passed with a veto-proof majority. Johnsons administration has declined to further explain the mayors contention that the order lacks legal standing.

Opponents of ShotSpotter argued Wednesday the technology  which costs the city around $9 million a year  is too expensive, does not help convict criminals and hurts police-community relationships.

Council breaks from mayor again over CTA presidents future

The City Council flashed its growing independence again Wednesday by introducing an ordinance calling for Johnson to fire Chicago Transit Authority President Dorval Carter. Carter has faced mounting pressure from commuters in recent months as the CTA continues to struggle with quality, hiring and impending financial crisis, but Johnson has so far declined to discuss Carters future.

Twenty-nine out of 50 aldermen co-sponsored the resolution authored by Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th. But Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, and Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th, used a legislative maneuver to send the resolution to the councils Rules committee, stalling the well-supported criticisms passage.

The council was set for another tense transportation-focused moment to vote on the appointment of West Side Pastor Rev. Ira Acree to the Regional Transportation Authoritys board, but Acrees nomination was instead withheld from consideration. Johnsons administration decided to withhold Acrees nomination, according to Vasquez, the Transportation committees Vice Chair.

The Johnson nominee drew scrutiny earlier this month when he struggled to answer basic questions about the RTA during a Transportation committee and said he did not know about the upcoming $730 million budget gap the financial oversight body is facing.

Progressive allies of the mayor also introduced an ordinance Wednesday seeking to establish a citywide referendum that, if successful, would make a police oversight board whose members are appointed by the mayor instead almost fully elected. The proposal was also sent to the Rules committee.

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th, said he hopes the referendum appears on the November election ballot and has not yet heard from Johnson on the proposal that would take power away from the mayors office. If the referendum gets on the ballot and passes, the mostly-elected board powers would include setting the police departments budget, hiring and firing superintendents and bargaining police union contracts.

Zoning Board gets long-awaited appointment

Also Wednesday, aldermen approved Johnsons first appointee to the Zoning Board of Appeals, a powerful government board that controls major development decisions in the city. Adrian Soto, the executive director of the Greater Southwest Development Corporation, cleared the final hurdle without pushback.

However, Johnsons second appointee introduced last month, Vaishali Rao, withdrew her candidacy due to the time commitment, according to Department of Planning and Development spokesman Peter Strazzabosco. She will remain an alternate member of the board, which still has a vacancy more than a year after the Johnson administration came into office.

At the start of Johnsons term last May, the five-member panel had one unfilled seat, from when Ald. Timmy Knudsen, 43rd, was appointed to City Council by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot in fall 2022. The lack of urgency to fill that spot in the past year cost the Johnsons administration a high-profile vote in February, when the ZBA tied 2-2 on a proposed homeless shelter in Uptown. Every ZBA proposal requires at least three votes to advance, and an alternate member cannot fill a vacancy.

Since then, ZBA member Sam Toia resigned in March, leaving another vacancy. Toia, president of the Illinois Restaurant Association, told the Tribune the decision was 100% my call ahead of his term expiring in July.

Aldermen were set to consider an ordinance from Ald. Bill Conway, 34th, aimed at quieting anti-abortion protests outside a West Loop clinic, but the legislation was stalled using legislative maneuvers by Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th, and Ald. Nick Sposato, 38th.

Do not worry, Conway told fellow aldermen after the stall tactic. This delay will not stand, and this will pass.

The ordinance would block the use of noise-making devices outside the clinic, which Conway said had been used to disrupt health care inside and harass arriving patients.

____
Child who drove toy tractor into Beaver Co. river IDd as son of rodeo star Spencer Wright

BEAVER, Utah (ABC4)  The child hospitalized after driving a toy tractor into a river in southwestern Utah is the son of rodeo star Spencer Wright, the familys spokesperson and close friend told ABC4.com on Wednesday.

Mindy Sue Clark told the station the child in the incident was Levi Wright, a young boy in a Utah family of rodeo superstars. Levi is currently at a Salt Lake City hospital and continues to be in critical condition.

PREVIOUS: Utah child airlifted, hospitalized after driving toy tractor into river

Earlier on Wednesday, Clark posted a statement on Facebook on behalf of the boys parents, Spencer and Kallie Wright:

Levi Wright is seen being held by his mother, Kallie Wright, and while father, Spencer Wright, stands by the hospital bed.

Levis heart is beating on its own, he has a will to breathe but his sweet little brain was without oxygen too long and there is no coming back from that. We cuddled him all night and feel strongly that his spirit is no longer with us. We cant be selfish and drag this out for days, he doesnt deserve that. Shortly we will stop care and hold him close until his last breath on earth. My Baby, my beans, Mom & Dad love you always and forever!

The statement added: Please give them time to navigate through this process. They will have more to share soon. Please send prayers for healing and comfort.

While the family is preparing for the worst, Clark told ABC4.com that the family has not given up all hope. She says they are still watching for any signs that may indicate a positive outcome. They also hope that sharing their story might connect them with someone who may be able to help them in their situation.

On Tuesday, Beaver County Sheriffs Office said the child drove a toy tractor into a river around 6 p.m. The reporting party told dispatch they lost visual contact with the boy.

Alongside deputies, the Utah Highway Patrol, the Beaver County Search and Rescue team, and Beaver firefighters responded. Crews quickly found the child.

They administered life-saving measures before an ambulance brought the boy to a Beaver County hospital. A helicopter later transported him to Salt Lake City.

Friends of the family are hosting a raffle in which ticket-buyers will be able to win hat racks and other rodeo-related items. All of the money will go to the Wright family, organizers said.

Clark said they have felt an outpouring of support from the rodeo community and that it means the world to them.

The child hospitalized after driving a toy tractor into a river in southwestern Utah has been identified as Levi Wright, the son of rodeo star Spencer Wright. (Credit: Mindy Sue Clark)

Levi Wright is seen driving a toy tractor. A family spokesperson says his brain was without oxygen for too long after he drove a toy tractor into a river in Beaver County. (Credit: Mindy Sue Clark)

Levi Wright (left) has been identified as the child who drove a toy tractor into a river in Beaver County. (Credit: Mindy Sue Clark)

The child hospitalized after driving a toy tractor into a river in southwestern Utah has been identified as Levi Wright, the son of rodeo star Spencer Wright. (Credit: Mindy Sue Clark)

The Wright name is synonymous with dominance on the rodeo circuit. Spencer Wrights father, Bill Wright, is a ProRodeo Hall of Famer, and most of Spencers siblings are top athletes who compete in rodeo events across the country.

According to The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Spencer Wright currently ranks 35th in global standings. Earlier this year, he won the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show and Rodeo in Mercedes, Texas.



In a statement PRCA CEO Tom Glause said that the Wright family has been a cornerstone in rodeo for years.



The entire ProRodeo communitys heart aches for the Wright family, he said. We will continue to hold them in our thoughts and prayers.

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 ABC4 Utah.
A 45-year-old Swansea man who was a registered sex offender has been sentenced to serve about 40 years in prison after a jury convicted him of sexually exploiting a teenager, the U.S. Attorneys Office said Thursday.

Dan R. Waeckerle Jr. was convicted in January by a federal jury of soliciting an obscene visual depiction of a minor, transferring obscene matter to a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor and offense by a registered sex offender, according to a news release from federal prosecutors.

Waeckerle had sexually explicit conversations with a 15-year-old minor via text message in July 2021, the release states. Evidence presented during the trial revealed Waeckerle sent the minor a genital image, requested sexually explicit images and videos from the minor and discussed meeting the minor for sex.

U.S. District Judge Staci Yandle on Monday in Benton sentenced Waeckerle to serve 485 months in prison, which is about 40 years. He also must be on supervised release for life and pay a $1,000 fine, according to court records.

Waeckerle was previously convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against a minor in Hamilton County, Illinois, in 2010, according to the news release.

The latest investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service Central and Southern Illinois Financial and Cyber Crimes Task Force, with members from the OFallon Police Department leading the investigation. Additional support was provided by the Illinois Attorney Generals Office, the Swansea Police Department and the Illinois State Police.

Child predators like Waeckerle leave their victims with lasting trauma, and this significant prison sentence sends a strong message to abusers, said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe said in a statement. The U.S. Attorneys Office will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to protect children from offenders. I commend the OFallon Police Department for their investigation which ultimately placed Waeckerle behind bars.
China begins large military exercises around Taiwan after new president sworn in

China launched new military exercises around Taiwan, scrambling jets and sending ships out for patrols just days after the self-governing island nation swore in a new pro-U.S. president who Beijing criticized for escalating tensions in his inaugural address.

The military drills, code-named Joint Sword 2024A, will run from Thursday to Friday, according to state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua. The exercises involve the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Rocket Force, which is involved with nuclear and conventional missile management for the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

A PLA spokesperson said the drills will involve ships and aircraft around Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press briefing Thursday that Beijing was seeking to strongly punish the separatist forces.

All Taiwan independence separatist acts will be hit head-on by more than 1.4 billion Chinese people, and all Taiwan independence separatist forces will be hit hard in the face of the historical trend of Chinas complete reunification, Wang said, per Xinhua.

Taiwans Ministry of National Defense condemned the new exercises as jeopardizing peace and stability.

We seek no conflicts, but we will not shy away from one. We have the confidence to safeguard our national security, the ministry wrote on social media platform X.

Taiwans new president, Lai Ching-te, campaigned on closer relations with the U.S., with his January victory dealing a major blow to Beijing.

The U.S. has unofficial relations with Taiwan but supports the nation with arms and has congratulated Lai on his victory.

Though his ruling government is closer to Washington, Lai is advocating to maintain the status quo of Taiwan, which means not calling for independence.

In his Monday inauguration speech, Lai hailed that the island nation is a sovereign, independent nation in which sovereignty lies in the hands of the people.

The future of cross-strait relations will have a decisive impact on the world, he said. This means that we, who have inherited a democratic Taiwan, are pilots for peace. Our government will uphold the Four Commitments, neither yield nor provoke, and maintain the status quo.

He also called for China to cease their political and military intimidation against Taiwan.

China condemned the speech and called it a confession of Taiwanese independence.

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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin denied that China has supplied lethal weapons to Russia on May 23, pushing back on claims made by U.K. Foreign Secretary Grant Shapps the previous day.

Speaking at the London Defense Conference, Shapps said on May 22 that he was declassifying new intelligence to reveal the "quite significant" development that the U.K. and U.S. had reports that "lethal aid is now, or will be, flowing from China to Russia and into Ukraine."

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan subsequently distanced himself from Shapps' assertion, saying that the U.S. had seen no evidence of it either in the past or "to date."

"We condemn the U.K. politician's groundless and irresponsible vilification of China," Wenbin said.

"We noted the fact those remarks from the U.K. side were not even seconded by its

"close ally," he added, referring to Sullivan's remarks.

"It (was) reported that two years ago when Russia and Ukraine were close to an agreement to end the conflict, it was the U.K., among others, that jumped in the way to stop it and the conflict has continued since," Wenbin said.

The spokesperson was likely referring to a theory, unsupported by contemporaneous accounts of the talks, that former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson sabotaged the negotiations.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba released a video earlier in May refuting that narrative, saying that is "one of the favorite lies promoted by Russia."

China officially declares itself a neutral party to Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine and has denied providing lethal aid, but Beijing and Moscow continue to develop closer ties, most recently with Russian President Vladimir Putin visiting his counterpart Xi Jinping earlier in May.

U.S. officials have previously warned China against providing Russia with lethal military aid and urged Beijing to use its influence over Moscow to help end the war.

Although Sullivan declined to confirm Shapps' assertion, he did say that China is clearly providing weapons components to Russia, which the U.S. has "taken action to deal with."

Read also: Russias latest offensive into Kharkiv Oblast is stretching Ukrainian defenses

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(Bloomberg) -- China started its most expansive military drills in a year around Taiwan, ramping up pressure on Lai Ching-te just days after he took over as the islands new president.

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The drills on Thursday were intended to serve as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces, Chinas Xinhua News Agency reported, citing a military spokesman.

The external forces line is likely a reference to the US, which is Taiwans main military backer. President Joe Biden has repeatedly said the US would defend the democracy of 23 million people if its attacked, while China has pledged to bring Taiwan under its control eventually, by force if necessary.

Taiwan deployed sea, air and ground forces in response to the exercises, according to a press release from the Defense Ministry in Taipei. It also condemned Beijing for provocations that undermine regional peace and stability. A spokesman for the ministry said at a briefing later that Taiwans military was at a normal level of combat readiness.

Chinese defense stocks jumped, with Bestway Marine & Energy Technology Co. and Jiangxi Xinyu Guoke Tech Co. rising as much as 20%. In Taiwan, Lungteh Shipbuilding Co. gained as much as 5.6% and Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. rose 5.7%. The Taiwan dollar climbed 0.1% to 32.25 versus the greenback.

Lai took office on Monday in the island that makes the bulk of the worlds most-advanced chips. He said in his inaugural address that China should drop its threat of war and that neither side of the strait was subordinate to the other.

China has already signaled its displeasure with him, saying his speech sent a dangerous signal of seeking independence. It also condemned US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for congratulating Lai, sanctioned a former US congressman who supported Taipei and hit US defense companies with symbolic sanctions.

A CCTV commentary said on Thursday that Lais speech showed hes pursing independence more aggressively than his predecessors, including Tsai Ing-wen and Chen Shui-bian.

Chinas military drills add to the complications for the new government in Taipei. Opposition lawmakers are pushing through changes to the law that are aimed at reining in the presidents powers, bringing thousands of people onto the streets on Tuesday night. Those demonstrations are likely to resume on Friday when the legislature takes its next steps forward on the changes.

The Chinese drills were being carried out in the Taiwan Strait; north, south and east of Taiwan; and around the offshore islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, Xinhua said. The exercises would last two days, it added.

The PLA issued a map of the drills, marking five areas around Taiwans main island and circling four smaller islands off Chinas coast. The Chinese Coast Guard announced exercises in the waters near Wuqiu and Dongyin islands on the same day.

China didnt send out navigational alerts for ships and airplanes as it did during the drills in August 2022, when Beijing blocked off six areas in the sea and fired missiles in response to then-Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan.

While it wasnt immediately clear how many ships and planes were involved, Chinas military has not held exercises in so many locations around Taiwan since April of last year.

--With assistance from Betty Hou, Sangmi Cha, Yasufumi Saito, Miaojung Lin and Chien-Hua Wan.

(Updates with Taiwans Defense Ministry briefing.)

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On the morning of May 23, Russian troops struck Kharkiv about 15 times, killing seven people and wounding 17. The enemy also attacked Zolochiv and Liubotyn, with at least two casualties.

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In Kharkiv, Ukrzaliznytsia facilities, a subdivision of the utility company, and the Vivat printing house came under attack. The explosions in the city were reported by the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, as of 10:27 a.m.

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"The occupiers have struck about ten times in Kharkiv! According to preliminary data, five civilians were injured," he wrote on his official Telegram channel.

At 10:36 a.m., the Ukrainian Air Force reported a threat of ballistic missile attacks on the northeastern and eastern regions from the Russian city of Belgorod.

According to the head of the region, "as usual, only civilian infrastructure was under fire".

"The occupiers attacked a civilian enterprise engaged in regular printing. There is a fire in the paper shop," he said.

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The occupants also attacked the village of Zolochiv in Bohodukhiv district, at least two people were wounded, the official said.

Later, Syniehubov informed that medics provided assistance to two more wounded as a result of enemy shelling of the town of Liubotyn, Kharkiv district.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, in turn, said that there is now confirmed information about strikes on the transport infrastructure and one of the units of the utility company that provides life support to the city.

As of 12:29 a.m., Syniehubov clarified that six people were killed and 16 wounded in the shelling of Kharkiv. Preliminary, the enemy struck with S-300 missiles.

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According to him, the hits were recorded in Kholodnohirsk and Osnoviansk districts. "The enterprise that was shelled is a civilian one, an ordinary printing house," he said.

According to media reports, the occupants damaged the Vivat printing house. The company confirmed this and said that the enemy had struck the Factor Printing House.

"This is one of the largest full-cycle printing complexes in Europe, so not only books by Vivat, but also almost all Ukrainian publishers are printed there," Vivat's website said.

In addition, Ukrzaliznytsia said that several of its facilities in Kharkiv and the region had been confirmed hit.

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"During the arrivals, the employees were in the shelter. According to preliminary data, six railroad workers were injured. They were provided with medical aid. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Trains continue to run on schedule," the statement said.

As of 1:35 p.m., Sinegubov reported seven dead. Almost all of those killed at the printing house in Kharkiv were women, the exact number of victims is still being established, Terekhov told Dumka.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry showed footage of the aftermath of the attack in Kharkiv region and reported that the number of wounded had increased to 17. "Our emergency services, as always, are the first to arrive at the scene of the attack. The State Emergency Service is fighting a large-scale fire, and together with the police they are rescuing the victims," said Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the shelling by posting a photo of the aftermath of the strikes.

"An extremely brutal Russian attack against Kharkiv and Lyubotyn  according to preliminary data, 15 missiles at once. Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded. Emergency services are already at the sites of the hits, and everyone who has suffered will be provided with the necessary assistance," he wrote on his official Telegram channel.

Zelenskyy added: the enemy is taking advantage of the fact that Ukraine still lacks sufficient air defense and a reliable ability to destroy its launchers near our borders.

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"And this is a weakness  not our weakness, but the weakness of the world, which for three years now has not dared to treat terrorists exactly as they deserve. Terror must lose everywhere  in any conditions, on any continent. ... I am grateful to everyone who helps us. But we need more determination. And it is from the leaders of the world," the President emphasized.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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China on Thursday launched a two-day military exercise near Taiwan after the island inaugurated William Lai Ching-te as its new president on Monday. Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA-EFE

May 23 (UPI) -- China deployed naval and air forces around Taiwan on Thursday, as it launched a two-day military exercise just days after the island's presidential inauguration of William Lai Ching-te.

China's Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People's Army said the drills, codenamed Joint Sharp Sword-2024A, began at 7:45 a.m. local time in the Taiwan Strait and areas surrounding the self-governing, democratic island of some 23. 5 million people.

In response, Taiwan scrambled naval, air and ground forces to combat what it called China's "irrational provocation."

WE CONDEMN PLA Eastern Theater's announcement of "Joint Li Chien-2024A" jeopardizing regional peace and stability. WE STAND READY with firm will and restraint. We seek no conflicts, but we will not shy away from one. We have the confidence to safeguard our national security. pic.twitter.com/KaEINkLfHx  Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. (@MoNDefense) May 23, 2024

China frequently deploys war assets to Taiwan in a tactic called "gray zone" warfare, raiding its air defense identification zone, in an effort to drain it of morale and resources.

However, the two-day exercise was initiated just three days after Lai's inauguration on Monday, which he used to call on Beijing to drop its bellicose rhetoric and destabilizing actions and seek co-existence with the island and respect the decisions of its voters.

Beijing views the island as a rouge province it has vowed to take back by force if necessary, though the island has never been a part of the People's Republic of China, which was founded in 1949.

China has called Lai a separatist, and Chen Binhua, spokesman for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, described the new leader's speech to reporters Tuesday as being "full of hostility and provocation, lies and deception."

"The leader of the Taiwan region incites 'anti-China' and 'resist China' sentiments, attempting to use military means to seek independence, which will only push Taiwan into the perilous situation of war and disaster, bringing profound calamity to the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots," he said.

China's Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement that its two-day exercise serves "as a powerful punishment for Taiwan independence separatists forces" and as a warning against the interference of external forces.

"This exercise also serves as a powerful punishment for 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and a serious warning against external forces' interference and provocations," the command said in a statement.

Taiwan's ministry of defense said it "expressed regret" over Beijing's "destruction of regional peace and stability."

"This military exercise is not only helpless to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Sea, but also highlights its hegemonic nature," it said.
(Bloomberg) -- China, Japan and South Korea are set to hold their first summit in more than four years, with a gathering in Seoul next week for talks that offer the neighbors a chance to manage their relations amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will attend the summit on Sunday and Monday, an official for Yoons office said Thursday.

Bilateral discussions will take place on Sunday and the summit is planned to cover six areas of cooperation that include sustainable development, people-to-people exchanges as well as economy and trade, Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo told reporters. Kim added the summit would serve as a turning point for fully restoring a three-way cooperation system.

The trilateral summits have been on hold since 2019 due to the pandemic and Chinas anger at Japan and South Korea moving closer to Washington in recent years. The US and its two key allies in Asia have raised their security cooperation to some of the highest levels in decades, largely on concerns about North Koreas behavior and China becoming more assertive militarily.

The meeting will take place against the backdrop of an intensifying US-China rivalry for semiconductor supremacy. Washington has imposed a wall of restrictions to deny Beijing access to the latest semiconductors and sophisticated equipment needed to make the most advanced chips.

China will likely try to push Japan and South Korea not to join US-led efforts in further restricting exports of advanced chipmaking equipment, after Tokyo imposed export controls last year. Japan has been resisting US pressure to further curb sales to China. The Biden administration is also trying to bring South Korea into the agreement that includes Japan and the Netherlands.

Against the backdrop of complex and evolving international and regional situations, China looks forward to this meeting injecting new momentum into trilateral cooperation and better achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes among the three countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a briefing Thursday in Beijing.

The summit highlights the difficult balancing act faced by South Korea and Japan, which both had China as their biggest trading partner last year. Both also have a security alliance with the US, which stations tens of thousands of troops in the two countries and has stepped up military training with the two.

Economic and trade ties, which have been the bedrock of regional relations, appear to be weakening. While Japan is still the single most important source of investment for China, the speed of investment has slowed. New investment fell for a second year in 2023, and total new money into China and Hong Kong was less than a tenth of the spending in the US, according to government data.

The same is true for South Korean firms. Investment into China last year was the lowest in 20 years, while Korean companies continued to pour money into the US to take advantage of subsidies for high-tech investment.

The upcoming trilateral summit will be a first major diplomatic test for Yoon as he tries to maintain the momentum for the remaining three years of his term after suffering a major defeat in parliamentary elections last month.

Yoon and Kishida may be heading to the US in the next few months, possibly to hold a summit with President Joe Biden that will build on an unprecedented security meeting the three had about a year ago, according to reports from Kyodo News of Japan and other media.

Read more: Five Takeaways From the US, Japan and South Korea Summit

Their meeting last year at the Camp David presidential retreat in rural Maryland included practical steps such as real-time data sharing to counter threats by North Korea, measures to de-risk global supply chains from exposure to China and moves to bind the trilateral relationship so tightly that it would be hard to unravel.

Apart from security, Chinas import ban on Japanese seafood and the detentions of Japanese citizens have soured ties between the two nations. The ban, prompted by a release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, has continued despite ongoing protests from Japan.

South Korea, Japan and the US in turn are keen for Beijing to use its influence on Pyongyang to rein in Kim Jong Uns nuclear ambitions. China has been North Koreas biggest benefactor for years, providing a lifeline that has kept its economy afloat.

Kims regime has stated it has no intention of relinquishing a nuclear arsenal it says protects it from a US invasion, calling American offers for talks hypocrisy too shameless to blind the world people, its official Korean Central News Agency reported this month.

--With assistance from Shinhye Kang, Seyoon Kim and Charlie Zhu.

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China has launched new drills encircling Taiwan. Why now?

Tensions are once again ratcheting up in the Taiwan Strait, with China launching two days of military drills encircling Taiwan just days after the democracy swore in a new leader long loathed by Beijing.

The exercises began early Thursday, in what China described as punishment for separatist acts  alluding to the election and inauguration of the self-governing islands new President Lai Ching-te.

Chinas military says the drills are designed to test its ability to seize power over Taiwan.

Though relations between the two sides have been steadily worsening in recent years, this latest escalation marks a significant test for Taiwans new leader, whose ruling party has championed democracy in the face of growing threats from its authoritarian neighbor.

Chinas ruling Communist Party says Taiwan is part of its territory, despite never having controlled it, and has vowed to take the island, by force if necessary. And it has become much more bellicose under Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Heres what you need to know.

Whats happening with the drills?

The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) said it launched joint military drills involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force in areas around Taiwan early Thursday morning.

The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait  a narrow body of water separating the self-ruling island from mainland China  as well as north, south and east of Taiwan.

They are also taking place in areas around Taiwans outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, located just off Chinas southeastern coast, the command said in a statement.

Soldiers pose for group photos with a Taiwan flag after a preparedness enhancement drill simulating the defense against Beijing's military intrusions in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan on January 11, 2023. - Daniel Ceng/AP

Naval Colonel Li Xi, spokesperson for the command, called the exercises a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a serious warning against interference and provocation by external forces.

As part of the drills on Thursday, dozens of Chinese fighter jets carrying live ammunition conducted mock strikes against high-value military targets of the enemy alongside destroyers, frigates and missile speedboats, according to Chinas state broadcaster CCTV.

On Friday, the Eastern Theater Command said it was continuing the drills on both sides of the Taiwan island chain to test the ability to jointly seize power, launch joint attacks and occupy key areas. CCTV aired footage that shows PLA soldiers moving mobile artillery and missile systems into position, though it did not show any live fire.

Chinas military drills are often as much about playing to a domestic audience as signaling intentions internationally. Chinese state media heavily covered the drills while the military also posted footage on social media. The exercises subsequently went viral on Chinas heavily regulated internet.

How has Taiwan reacted?

Taiwans Defense Ministry said it had dispatched sea, air and ground forces to respond to Chinas drills. It expressed regret at such irrational provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability.

Taiwan has also been closely monitoring Chinas warplanes and naval ships that came close to the island. Between 6 a.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday, the ministry detected 49 Chinese aircraft, 19 warships and seven coast guard vessels.

The islands presidential office said in a statement that it was confident and capable of defending national security, accusing China of using unilateral military provocation to threaten Taiwans democracy and freedom.

But despite Beijings large show of force, life continued as normal in Taiwan, whose 23 million people have become used to Chinas military threats, even as they become more regular and prominent in recent years.

We are not scared of the Chinese Communist Party, and we have confidence, an 88-year-old retiree, who gave his surname Liu, told CNN.

If the Chinese Communist Party does attack Taiwan, it wont be easy for them to take Taiwan. Taiwanese people are not afraid of war.

What triggered this?

The most obvious answer is Lais inauguration on Monday.

Lais Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), now in power for a historic third term, views Taiwan as a de facto sovereign nation with a distinct Taiwanese identity.

Ahead of Taiwans elections back in January, Beijing had warned that a Lai victory could inflame tensions and spark conflict  repeatedly framing the vote as a choice between peace and war.

Taiwanese voters dismissed those warnings, returning the DPP to power  although two opposition parties that favor closer ties with China now have a majority in parliament.

Chinas government and state media regularly rebuke Lai, calling him a dangerous separatist, troublemaker and war maker, while rejecting his repeated offers of talks.

Their vehement dislike of Lai is rooted in his political past, as well as Beijings refusal to deal directly with a huge swathe of Taiwans leaders.

The 64-year-old former doctor and political veteran was once an open supporter of Taiwan independence  a red line for Beijing.

His views have tempered over the years, and he now says he favors the status quo, saying there is no plan or need to declare independence since the island is already an independent sovereign country.

But Beijing has never forgiven him for those early comments  making its stance clear with the drills on Thursday.

Lai, too, has set the tone for his new administrations approach to China  using his inaugural speech on Monday to declare that a glorious era of Taiwans democracy has arrived, and reiterating a determination to defend its sovereignty.

He also called on Beijing to cease its intimidation of Taiwan and respect that its people want to decide their own destiny.

Whats the relationship between China and Taiwan?

The Chinese Civil War ended with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) taking power in the mainland, establishing the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing in 1949.

The defeated Nationalist Party fled to Taiwan, moving the seat of their Republic of China (ROC) government from the mainland to Taipei.

Both proclaimed themselves the sole rightful government of the entire Chinese territory.

In recent years, Taiwan has downplayed its territorial claims over mainland China, and is today a vibrant democracy, with its own military, currency, constitution and elected government.

But it is not recognized as an independent country by most governments in the world. Over the decades it has become increasingly isolated, with a number of governments switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. But unofficial diplomatic ties with many Western nations have in fact been bolstered in recent years, in part thanks to Chinas saber-rattling.

Meanwhile, under Xi, China has become increasingly assertive in foreign policy and grown more authoritarian at home.

China has cut official communication with Taiwan since the DPP took office in 2016, and has ramped up economic, military and diplomatic pressure on the island.

At the same time, ties between Taipei and Washington have become more robust, with increased arms sales and high-level political engagement under Lais popular predecessor Tsai Ing-wen. This has infuriated Beijing, spurring it to unleash more pressure on Taiwan and sending cross-strait relations on a downward spiral.

Where does the US stand in this?

The US formally switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979  but has long trod a delicate middle path.

In what is known as the One China policy, Washington recognizes the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China; it also acknowledges Beijings position that Taiwan is part of China, but has never accepted the Chinese Communist Partys claim of sovereignty over the island.

The US maintains close unofficial ties with Taiwan, which have been strengthened in recent years. It is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself, and supplies it with defensive weaponry.

American lawmakers regularly visit Taiwan and have supported legislation to bolster US support for the island and its defensive capabilities.

But it has historically remained deliberately vague on whether it would defend Taiwan in case of a Chinese invasion, a policy known as strategic ambiguity.

After the election in January, the US sent a bipartisan delegation to Taiwan, where they met with Lai and Tsai  and promised that American support for Taiwan will continue no matter who wins the upcoming US election.

Beijing on Tuesday also announced sanctions against former US House Representative Mike Gallagher, who led that delegation, citing his remarks and actions that interfere in Chinas internal affairs.

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Just days after the inauguration of Taiwans new President William Lai Ching-te, of the Beijing-skeptical Democratic Progressive Party, China initiated surprise military drills around the self-governed island it claims as its own.

The Peoples Liberation Army described the exercises, which included sending naval ships and warplanes into the Taiwan Strait and launching target strikes on areas surrounding the island, as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces.

Taiwans government was quick to condemn the show of force, which its defense ministry condemned as irrational provocations that undermine regional peace and stability.

A resident of Lieyu Township watches news of Chinas drills around Taiwan on May 23, 2024. I-Hwa ChengAFP/Getty Images

Chinas actions also notably drew a response from Taiwans more Beijing-friendly Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang (KMT), which urged the other side of the Taiwan Strait to exercise restraint.

The party said in a statement that Taiwans defense ministry should respond rigorously to the exercises and called on the Chinese Communist Party to stop unnecessary measures, avoid conflicts across the Taiwan Strait, and cherish the results of cross-Strait peaceful development.

The KMT is widely regarded as pro-China, but it has tried to move away from that image in a bid to win back popular support as the Taiwanese public largely prefers maintaining the status quo more than either outright independence or unification. Hou Yu-ih, the KMTs presidential nominee who lost to Lai in January, has ruled out talks of unification with China, though former Taiwan President and prominent KMT leader Ma Ying-jeou met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April to promote unification.

Beijing has long accused Taiwans ruling DPP of stoking tensions in advocating for Taiwans independence and has called Lai a dangerous separatist. Ahead of Taiwans presidential election in January, the Chinese government reportedly embarked on a concerted campaign to sway Taiwanese voters in favor of the KMT; and in the wake of DPPs election victory, Beijing rebuked countries who congratulated Lai.

The KMT previously voiced concern about Chinas military activities near Taiwan in 2022, when the partys vice chairman Andrew Hsia traveled to several Chinese cities while Beijing launched a large-scale military exercise to protest then U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taipei. Hsia said he told his Chinese counterparts that the military exercises were threatening cross-Strait relations.

As part of Beijings efforts to pressure Taiwan over its longstanding sovereignty dispute, Chinese military activities near Taiwan have been a regular occurrence, typically scheduled around sensitive political eventsincluding Pelosis 2022 trip and former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens visit to the U.S. in 2023.

A map shared by the PLA on Thursday shows the regions around Taiwan where it plans to conduct large-scale military exercises. The text reads, Schematic diagram of the Joint 2024-A exercise area. Eastern Theater Command/Weibo

But there are worrying signs that Beijing is amping up the aggression, with the drills this week marking the first time the Chinese army is simulating a full-scale attack and targeting Taiwanese islands close to its coast, the BBC reported, citing military analysts.

The two-day military drills, which were launched Thursday morning, were uncharacteristically announced on the day itself. A map released by the Eastern Command of the PLA showed that the exercises will be held in five different areas surrounding Taiwan, as well as the outlying islands Taiwan controls like Matsu and Kinmen, which are located closer to the mainlands shores.

Taiwans defense ministry said on Thursday that it had dispatched forces, including aircraft, navy vessels, and coastal missile systems to respond to the PLAs activities. The ministry also wrote in a post on X: We seek no conflicts, but we will not shy away from one to ensure our nations safety and protect our beautiful homeland.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
By Bernard Orr and Yimou Lee

BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) -China launched "punishment" drills around Taiwan on Thursday in what it said was a response to "separatist acts", sending up heavily armed warplanes and staging mock attacks as state media denounced newly inaugurated President Lai Ching-te.

The exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around groups of Taiwan-controlled islands beside the Chinese coast come just three days after Lai took office.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and denounces Lai as a "separatist", decried his inauguration speech on Monday, in which he urged Beijing to stop its threats and said the two sides of the strait were "not subordinate to each other".

On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called Lai "disgraceful".

Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but has been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan's people can decide their future, and rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.

The Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) said it had started joint military drills, involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force, in areas around Taiwan at 7:45 a.m. (2345 GMT).

The drills are being held in the Taiwan Strait, the north, south and east of Taiwan, as well as areas around the Taiwan-controlled islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, the command said in a statement, the first time China's exercises have included areas round these islands.

State media said China sent out dozens of fighter jets carrying live missiles, and conducted mock strikes, along with warships, of high-value military targets.

Taiwan's defence ministry said 15 Chinese navy ships, 16 coast guard and 33 aircraft were involved, but no live fire drills were held in any areas close to Taiwan.

The drills, dubbed "Joint Sword - 2024A", are set to run for two days. However, unlike a similar "Joint Sword" exercise in April last year, these drills are tagged "A", opening the door to potential follow-ups.

Taiwan's defence ministry said it had sent forces to areas around the island, with its air defences and land-based missile forces tracking targets. It said it was confident it could protect its territory.

"The launch of military exercises on this occasion not only does not contribute to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, it also highlights (China's) militaristic mentality," the ministry said.

The U.S. State and Defense departments put out identical statements strongly urging Beijing to act with restraint and saying it should not use Taiwan's political transition as a "pretext or excuse for provocative or coercive measures."

"(China's) actions risk escalation and erode longstanding norms that have maintained regional peace and stability for decades," they said.

Analysts, regional diplomats and senior Taiwan officials noted that so far the operations around Taiwan are smaller than the those China staged to protest at the August 2022 visit to Taipei of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Then China staged live-fire drills as part of exercises that ran for days and were denounced by the U.S. as "extreme, disproportionate and escalatory."

Taiwan's presidential office expressed regret that China was threatening the island's democratic freedoms and regional peace and stability with its "unilateral military provocations", but said Taiwan could ensure its security.

"I have confidence in the military," Lai said at a military base in Taoyuan, near Taipei. "I also ask all my compatriots to rest assured."

China's state broadcaster CCTV said Lai's inauguration speech was "extremely harmful" and China's countermeasures "legitimate, legal and necessary".

It said Lai's speech was a confession of a desire for Taiwan independence and undermined peace and stability across the strait. Taiwan's future can only be decided by China's 1.4 billion people, not just Taiwan's 23 million people, it added.

Over the past four years, China's military has carried out almost daily activities near Taiwan, and last staged large-scale war games near the island in 2023 and 2022.

One senior Taiwan official, who sought anonymity as the matter is sensitive, said this time around China was essentially "putting a name" on its regular activities, rather than a dramatic escalation.

Those drills include crossing the strait's median line, which had previously served as an unofficial barrier, and staging mock attacks on Taiwanese and foreign vessels, the official added.

NO SURPRISE

Another senior Taiwan official told Reuters the drills were part of a scenario Taiwan had anticipated.

China's military said the drills focused on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrols, precision strikes on key targets, and integrated operations inside and outside the island chain to test the "joint real combat capabilities" of the forces.

"This is also a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces," the command added.

Chinese state media published a map of the drill zones, in five areas all around Taiwan and the islands Taiwan controls near the Chinese coast.

Taiwan officials told Reuters those areas were outside Taiwan's contiguous zone, which is 24 nautical miles from the main island's coast.

One of the officials said China had not announced any no-fly zones, nor had Taiwan observed any large-scale movements of China's ground and rocket forces.

Su Tzu-yun, a research fellow at Taiwan's top military think tank, the Institute for National Defence and Security Research, said that although the drills would only last two days, their scope was large relative to previous exercises, as they included Taiwan's outlying islands.

This is designed to demonstrate China's ability to control the seas and prevent the involvement of foreign forces, he said.

"The political signals here are greater than the military ones," he added.

(Reporting by Yimou Lee and Bernard Orr; Additional reporting by Roger Tung, Liang-sa Loh and Jeanny Kao and David Brunnstrom and Michael Martina in Washington; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Michael Perry, Clarence Fernandez, Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis)
China starts punishment military drills around Taiwan days after island swears in new leader

China has launched two days of large-scale military drills surrounding Taiwan in what it called punishment for so-called separatist acts, days after the self-ruling island swore in a new democratically elected leader who called on Beijing to cease its intimidation tactics.

As part of the drills, dozens of Chinese fighter jets carrying live ammunition conducted mock strikes against high-value military targets of the enemy alongside destroyers, frigates and missile speedboats, according to Chinas state broadcaster CCTV.

The exercises, which started early on Thursday and will encircle Taiwan, pose the first real test for newly elected Lai Ching-te as he attempts to manage relations with the islands powerful authoritarian neighbor.

An outdoor screen in Beijing shows footage of Chinese military drills around Taiwan. - Jade Gao/AFP/Getty Images

Chinas ruling Communist Party says Taiwan is part of its territory, despite never having controlled it, and has vowed to take the island, by force if necessary.

Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) said it launched joint military drills involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force in areas around Taiwan at 7.45 a.m. on Thursday.

The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait  a narrow body of water separating the island from mainland China  as well as north, south and east of Taiwan. They are also taking place in areas around Taiwans outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, located just off Chinas southeastern coast, the PLAs Eastern Theater Command said in a statement.

PLA Naval Colonel Li Xi, spokesperson for the command, called the exercises a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a serious warning against interference and provocation by external forces.

A senior official responsible for Taiwans security affairs told CNN that as of noon Thursday, the island detected about 30 Chinese aircraft, most of which crossed the Median Line into Taiwans air defense identification zone (ADIZ). The Median Line is an informal demarcation point in the Taiwan Strait that Beijing does not recognize but until recent years had largely respected.

The Chinese military also deployed about a dozen Chinese warships around Taiwan, as well as a dozen Coast Guard vessels near Taiwans outlying islands, according to the official.

Taiwan has deployed its own warships to monitor the situation, the official said, adding no Chinese aircraft carrier were involved in the drills so far.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Sun Li-fang speaking on May 23. - Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images

Irrational provocations

Taiwans Lai is detested by Beijing as a dangerous separatist for championing the islands sovereignty and distinct identity. He succeeded two-term president Tsai Ing-wen to start an unprecedented third consecutive term in power for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

Beijing has denounced Lais inauguration speech, during which he called on China to cease its intimidation of Taiwan.

Taiwans Defense Ministry has condemned Chinas drills as irrational provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability.

In a statement Thursday, the ministry said it had dispatched sea, air and ground forces in response to the drills.

We stand by with firm will and restraint. We seek no conflicts, but we will not shy away from one. We have the confidence to safeguard our national security, it said.

Taiwans presidential spokeswoman Karen Kuo said in a statement: It is regrettable to see China threatening Taiwans democracy and freedom and regional peace and stability with unilateral military provocations.

In the face of external challenges and threats, we will continue to defend democracy and have the confidence and ability to protect national security, Kuo added.

In a statement on Thursday, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was following developments in the Taiwan Strait closely, and urged all parties to refrain from acts that could escalate tensions in the region.

Taiwans 23 million people have long become used to the threat of Chinas war drills, and Thursday life continued as normal in the capital Taipei.

While Taiwanese news outlets were reporting on the Chinese drills, it was far from the only headline on their agenda, which also included recent political bust ups in the legislature, and even information on filing taxes during the tax season.

Taipeis main stock index, the TAIEX, was 0.26 percent up in mid-afternoon trade.

Chinese guided missile frigate Nantong is seen taking part in the military drills. - People's Liberation Army/Weibo

Propaganda push

Chinas military drills are as often as much about playing to a domestic audience as signaling intentions internationally. Chinas military and state media churned out propaganda and highlighted coverage of the drills, which remained a top trending topic Thursday on tightly controlled Chinese social media platforms.

Footage of the drills released by the PLAs Eastern Theater Command showed a guided missile frigate, the Nantong, and a pilot climbing into a fighter jet at a military base.

The rhetoric coming from Chinese state media and the PLA portrayed the exercises as a practice run for encircling Taiwan, and even threatening small outlying islands that lie close to Chinas mainland.

Chinas state broadcaster CCTV said multiple destroyer and frigate formations of the Eastern Theater Command Navy maneuvered at high speed in multiple directions in the waters surrounding Taiwan, creating an omnidirectional approach in pushing toward the island.

Meanwhile, the commands air force dispatched dozens of fighter jets to Taiwans main island and outlying islands, according to CCTV.

Under the support and cover of the Army and the Rocket Force, multiple types of aircraft were organized and loaded with live ammunition, flew to the predetermined airspace to establish multiple strike positions, and coordinated with destroyers, frigates, and missile speedboats to simulate attacking the enemys high-value military targets and reconnaissance and patrol aircraft, the report said.

In another report, CCTV published a series of posters of what it calls the magic weapons killing separatists promoting Taiwan independence.

They include the J-20 and J-16 fighter jets, the Type 052 destroyer and Type 071 amphibious transport dock, and the Dongfeng ballistic missile. Though the report did not specify if they were being used in the ongoing drills.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te visits a military camp in Taoyuan, Taiwan, on Thursday. - Ann Wang/Reuters

A Taiwanese sailor aboard a Taiwan Navy vessel gazes at a Chinese warship, off Taiwan's western coast, on Thursday. - Taiwan Defence Ministry/Reuters

Carl Schuster, a former director of operations at the US Pacific Commands Joint Intelligence Center, said Beijing was trying to stress Taiwans older and less numerous hardware.

For instance, Taiwans F-16s are over 20 years old and every flight hour tasked to those air frames draws the fuselage and equipment ever closer to refurbishment, which takes them out of service for 1-4 months. It also stresses the force overall, keeping them on edge, he said.

Schuster said in addition to the drills around Taiwans main island, the pressing of Chinas Coast Guard and other forces into waters close to the outlying islands controlled by Taipei is provocative.

It puts Taiwan on the spot. If they react militarily or forcefully, they risk triggering a conflict, he said.

Rising tensions

Under leader Xi Jinping, China has grown more assertive and ramped up diplomatic, economic and military pressure on Taiwan as the island democracy tightens informal ties with the United States.

Officials in Washington have been anticipating for several months the prospect of Chinese provocations around the inauguration and had been having contingency conversations as part of their planning, according to officials.

Periods of higher tension, like the swearing-in of a new president in Taiwan, are areas where US officials frequently brace for a Chinese show of force, officials say.

Theres no surprise whenever theres an action that highlights Taiwan in the international sphere the Chinese feel compelled to make some kind of form of statement, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Stephen Sklenka, the deputy commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command told the National Press Club of Australia on Thursday.

In August 2022, China staged massive war games around Taiwan to show its displeasure with then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taipei. Beijing fired missiles into waters surrounding the island and simulated a blockade with fighter jets and warships, in its largest show of force in years.

A similar encirclement exercise was also held in April 2023.

Chinese warplanes now regularly fly into Taiwans air defense identification zone (ADIZ) and across the Median Line in the Taiwan Strait  an informal demarcation point that Beijing does not recognize but until recent years had largely respected.

Beijing has also exerted pressure on Lai in the lead-up to his inauguration. On May 15, days before Lai took office, Taipei said it detected 45 Chinese military aircraft around Taiwan, the highest single-day number this year.

Evan A. Feigenbaum, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, calls Chinas latest drills an intimidation tactic, part of a pattern, not a sign of imminent war.

Beijing has a robust coercion kitbag from which it will mix and match, ratchet up and back and up again to signal its range of options to coerce and inflict pain, he wrote on social platform X.

Some defense experts noted that the name of Chinas latest military exercises Joint Sword-2024A suggests another round of drills could follow later this year.

Drew Thompson, a senior research fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, noted the drills were part of a pattern.

It is not a surprise, nor is it a tactical response to President Lais speech. These exercises are part of the PLAs long-term, strategic preparations to fight and win a war over Taiwan, he told CNN.

CNNs Martha Zhou in Beijing and Richard Roth at the United Nations contributed reporting.

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Lai Ching-te, Taiwans new president, has said he will stand on the front lines to defend his island country after China surrounded it with surprise military drills.

The punishment air and sea manoeuvres are simulating direct attacks on the territory for an invasion, something Beijing has threatened for years.

Speaking at a military base after the war games began, Mr Lai said: I will stand on the front line with our brothers and sisters in the military to jointly defend national security.

Faced with external challenges and threats, we will continue to defend the values of freedom and democracy, and safeguard peace and stability in the region.

Mr Lai, a moderate labelled a separatist by China, took power this week. At his inauguration he warned China against further military intimidation and said: Peace is the only option.

Experts said the drills simulated a full-scale attack on Taiwan for the first time - I-Hwa Cheng/Bloomberg

The Chinese military exercises began without warning early on Thursday morning, and involved aircraft and ships surrounding the island to test their combat capabilities, according to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) of China.

Experts said the drills simulated a full-scale attack on Taiwan for the first time, rather than just a blockade, as in similar exercises in 2022. The previous exercises also came with advance warning.

Launching the drills abruptly, the PLA put out a series of posters touting what it called its cross-strait lethality.

These featured missiles, jets and boats next to blood-stained text, declaring: The weapon aimed at Taiwan independence to kill independence is already in place.

The Chinese Communist Party, which claims Taiwan as its own despite never ruling there, has refused to renounce seizing the island by force. It has ignored Mr Lais repeated invitations to talks.

Posters by China's military touting its "cross-strait lethality"

The drills are an early test for the Lai presidency, although Taiwan has long been subjected to sustained Chinese military and economic coercion tactics.

In a defining speech on Monday setting the tone for his administration, Mr Lai told China to cease military and political intimidation of his country and respect its democracy.

Taiwans defence ministry condemned the drills as irrational provocation that has jeopardised regional peace and stability and said it had put its forces on alert to protect its territory.

In a statement, the ministry urged citizens to stand united and added: We seek no conflicts, but we will not shy away from one. We have the capacity, determination and confidence to safeguard our national security.

The PLA said the drills serve as strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and as a warning against interference, in reference to Western support for Taiwan.

Mr Lai, of the Democratic Progressive Party, was elected in January in a poll that Beijing portrayed as a choice between war and peace.

A Chinese military ship northwest of Pengjia Island, off the coast of northern Taiwan - AFP

Officials in Taipei had indicated they were preparing for new Chinese military movements around the time of the inauguration.

In Aug 2022, China launched larger four-day live-fire exercises after it was angered by a visit to the island by Nancy Pelosi, the former US House speaker.

A military expert told Chinese state TV that the drills were partly intended as a rehearsal of an economic blockade of the island.

Zhang Chi, a professor at China National Defence University in Beijing, said the drills aimed to strangle Taiwans critical Kaohsiung port and severely impact its foreign trade.

They would cut off Taiwans lifeline of energy imports as well as block the support lines that some US allies provide to Taiwan independence forces, he added.

A Taiwanese Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jet - YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP

Analysts, regional diplomats and senior Taiwanese officials said the drills were widely anticipated by Taiwan and overseas. They included mock air and sea strikes around the fortified Taiwanese islands of Kinmen and Matsu, close to the Chinese coast.

Wen-Ti Sung, a fellow at the Atlantic Councils Global China Hub in Taipei, said: Beijing is showing muscle in the immediate wake of Lais presidential inauguration to signal Beijings displeasure and shape international understanding of Beijings narrative about Lai.

He added: But this is just the signal. The real punishment may be yet to come.

A senior Taiwanese military official said the drills so far appeared to be repeats of other operations, involving provocatively crossing the so-called median line of the Taiwan Strait and mock attacks on vessels close to Taiwans 24-mile contiguous zone.

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Ukrainian defenders are bravely holding back the enemy's onslaught and continue to fiercely counter Russian occupiers' attempts to advance into the depths of the country. The enemy has been concentrating its efforts in the Kharkiv region, as well as on the Pokrovske and Kurakhove directions. However, the Armed Forces are aware of the enemy's plans and are doing everything to disrupt them.

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This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a summary on May 22, 2024, as of 22:00. It is noted that 121 combat engagements have taken place since the beginning of the day.

Situation at the front

In the Kharkiv sector, Ukrainian troops repelled eight Russian attacks in the vicinity of Liptsi and Starytsia villages. Fighting continues in the Pletenivka-Vovchansk sector. The situation is controlled by the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

As of the beginning of the day, the Russian army has lost 87 servicemen and 21 pieces of military equipment in the Kharkiv sector, including two artillery systems that were completely destroyed.

In the Kupyansk sector, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 22 attacks by Russian invaders. Four combat engagements are still ongoing in the areas of Berestove and Makiivka. According to the General Staff, the situation is under control.

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Six attacks by Russian occupants were repelled in the Lyman sector today. The Russian army was not successful.

Two attacks by the Russian army in the vicinity of Vyymka continue in the Siversk sector. The situation is under control. Eight more attempts by the Russian army to advance in the areas of Bilohorivka and Verkhnekamianske have failed this day.

In the Kramatorsk sector, the number of combat engagements increased to 10. Ukrainian defense forces held their positions. Over the last day, Russian occupants lost 58 people in killed and wounded in the sector, destroying a T-90 tank, two armored personnel carriers and four BMP-3 units. Two more such armored infantry vehicles were damaged.

The number of attacks in the Pokrovske sector increased to 25. In particular, the Russian army is trying to break into Ukrainian combat formations with assault groups and equipment. The situation remains tense, with nine combat engagements still ongoing. Ukrainian troops have reportedly destroyed a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft.

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In the Kurakhove sector, fighting continues in the area of Heorhiivka. In total, since the beginning of the day, the Russian army has attacked Ukrainian units 18 times in the areas of Novomykhailivka, Krasnohorivka, Kostyantynivka and Paraskoviyivka.

According to the General Staff, the situation in the rest of the sectors has not changed much.

Russian attacks

The enemy launched four missile attacks with five missiles, 37 air strikes using 47 combat aircraft and 376 kamikaze drone strikes, and fired 3,280 times at the positions of our troops using various types of weapons.

Strikes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Aviation, missile and artillery units struck four areas of personnel concentration, two control points, two UAV control stations, one electronic warfare facility, two cannons and a S-400 air defense system. Information on the results of the damage is being clarified.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft. It was shot down in the Pokrovske direction.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
By Mei Mei Chu

BEIJING (Reuters) - China, the world's biggest agriculture importer, has set targets to drastically reduce its reliance on overseas buying over the coming decade in line with its push for food security, but they will be exceedingly difficult to meet, experts say.

With limited land and water, China will have to sharply increase farming productivity through technology, including genetically modified crops, and expand area under cultivation to meet Beijing's 10-year projections.

The government envisions 92% self-sufficiency in staple grains and beans by 2033, up from 84% during 2021-2023, according to a document released in late April, on a path towards President Xi Jinping's goal to become an "agriculture power" by the middle of the century.

Cutting the country's imports would be a blow to producers from the U.S. to Brazil and Indonesia, who have expanded capacity to meet demand from China's 1.4 billion people, the world's largest market for soybeans, meat and grains.

Over the 10 years to 2033 the agriculture ministry projects a 75% plunge in corn imports to 6.8 million tons and a 60% drop for wheat to 4.85 million tons.

For soybeans, the biggest item on a farm import bill that totalled $234 billion last year, Beijing sees imports falling 21% to 78.7 million tons in a decade.

Those targets defy the trends of the past decade in which grains and oilseed imports have surged 87%.

"Forecasting a sharp reversal where in 10 years the country will be importing less than it does today seems questionable," said Darin Friedrichs, co-founder of Shanghai-based Sitonia Consulting.

China will struggle to meet its targets mainly due to a lack of land and water, five analysts and industry executives say.

In stark contrast to Beijing's projections, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sees China's corn imports in 2033/34 roughly in line with current levels and wheat imports declining 20%. In the biggest divergence, USDA expects soybean imports to rise 39%.

The USDA also expects growth in demand for animal feed, a key user of soybeans and corn, to outpace domestic corn output expansion and spur imports of sorghum and barley.

NATIONAL SECURITY

Food security has long been a priority for China, which has a painful history of famine and must feed nearly 20% of the global population with less than 9% of its arable land and 6% of its water resources.

The urgency to cut dependence on imports grew after the country faced supply chain disruptions during the COVID pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

A trade war with the U.S., its No.2 agriculture supplier after Brazil, and climate shocks such as heavy rains last year that damaged China's wheat harvest, have added to the challenge.

On June 1, China will implement a food security law that calls for absolute self-sufficiency in staple grains and requires local governments to include food security in their economic and development plans.

That will add to other efforts to bolster food production, including stepped up grains insurance cover for farmers to protect their income, announced this week.

Last month, Beijing launched a drive to raise grain output by at least 50 million tons by 2030, spotlighting upgraded farmland and investments in seed technology for higher crop yields and quality.

SOIL CHALLENGES

China increased production of corn, soybeans, potatoes and oilseeds last year after expanding planting on previously uncultivated land and encouraging farmers to switch from cash crops to staples.

However, even as the world's no. 2 corn producer harvested a record 288.84 million metric tons last year, imports surged to a near-record 27.1 million tons, driven by traders' preference for corn from overseas that is often higher quality and cheaper.

Production growth has hit a bottleneck due to insufficient arable land, small production scale and a lack of farmers and agriculture technology, state media reported.

China's arable land per capita is less than one-third the level in Brazil and one-sixth the level of the U.S., World Bank data from 2021 shows.

Degraded and polluted soil in a country where a significant share of land is either rocky mountains or desert leave it with little space for expansion.

The government, which has increasingly called for protection of its fertile black soil, is set to complete a four-year soil survey in 2025. The last survey, in 2014, found that 40% of its arable land was degraded from overuse of chemicals and heavy metal contamination.

To compensate, China is pouring millions of dollars into research of farming water-intensive crops such as rice in the deserts of Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang.

By turning sand into soil and breeding saline-tolerant crops, it aims to develop more farmland, a strategy industry executives say will take time and heavy investments in fertiliser, irrigation and biotechnology.

One obstacle is China's predominance of small farms, run by aging owners who may not be able to afford or operate machinery such as drone sprayers, more productive seeds and technology such as big data and AI.

Farms in China average 0.65 hectares, compared to 187 hectares in the U.S. and 60 hectares in Germany. China is gradually shifting towards a consolidation of its fragmented farms.

After decades of hesitation, it is slowly adopting genetically modified crops, this year approving the planting of corn and soybean varieties that are higher-yielding and insect-resistant, as well as gene-edited disease-resistant wheat in hopes of accelerating production growth.

China's soybean yields at 1.99 tons per hectare lag the 3.38 and 3.4 ton-yields in Brazil and the U.S., which have embraced genetically modified soybeans.

But analysts say the government's target for cutting soybean imports is unrealistic. At best, China could ease its dependence on soybean imports to 70% from more than 80% now, said Carl Pray, an agriculture professor at Rutgers University in the U.S.

Almost all of China's soybeans are high protein varieties to produce tofu, and to replace imports it would need to rapidly expand production of high-oil producing varieties for cooking oil, which he said would be hard, even with research.

"To produce enough soybeans to replace the Brazilian and U.S. imports, there is just not enough land," Pray said.

($1 = 7.2276 yuan)

(This story has been refiled to correct a typo in the chart)

(Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Tony Munroe and Sonali Paul)
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Taiwan was surrounded by Chinese fighter jets and naval ships on Thursday, conducting drills as punishment, according to the military, following newly-appointed Taiwanese president Lai Ching-tes inauguration speech on Monday.

In the speech, Lai told China to stop its intimidation tactics, and China responded by kickstarting two days of military drills. Taiwan has scrambled its own air force and put its naval and land units on alert.

This is Lais first foreign policy test and sets the tone for how Taiwan and China might navigate the cross-strait tensions over the next four years of Lais term.

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Chinas drill is not too big, not too small, but just right to keep neighbors at bay

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Source: EBC News

The drills are significant, but they arent as extensive as previous ones and dont extend along the entire eastern half of Taiwan as some have before, Taiwan-based military analyst Lin Yingyou said. Whats clear is that Beijing is willing to perform the drills closer to the island, but the reduced size might reflect lessons learned after former United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan in 2022. At that time, Beijing fired a missile that landed in Japanese waters, sparking a diplomatic crisis with Tokyo. When Taiwan has trouble, Japan has trouble, Lin said, and provoking US military allies could backfire.

Lai must balance nationalist ambitions with economic considerations

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Sources: Asia Society Policy Institute, The News Lens, Bloomberg

Lais pro-independence rhetoric has already provoked Beijing and if he continues, his domestic economic agenda may be more difficult or costly to achieve, as investors look to less risky bets, Rory Daniels of the Asia Society Policy Institute think tank said. Economic woes trumped security from China for voters in the 2023 presidential election, according to Taiwans The News Lens. Lai promised to reboot the economy with foreign investment, but global firms are already debating the hidden costs of getting involved with Taiwan. If China invaded Taiwan, it could cost the global economy $10 trillion, or about 10% of global GDP, according to Bloomberg.

China seeks to boost morale through its military

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Sources: Tiandu News, CNN, Semafor

Chinese state media was quick to boast about the countrys military strength on Thursday, with reporters on social media platforms like Weibo sharing movie poster-like images of the Chinese navy with the hashtags Sword Pointed at Taiwanese Independence, and Cross-Strait lethality. The messaging follows a similar pattern to previous drills: Chinas military exercises are often as much about playing to a domestic audience as signaling intentions internationally, according to CNN. In general, Chinese people are worried about the consequences of potentially invading Taiwan, and China has used the media in the past to boost national morale, as Semafor previously reported.

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China began conducting military drills around Taiwan after Lai Ching-te became president.

Chinese fighter jets, frigates, and destroyers have been active during the exercise.

China's actions are seen as punishment for Taiwan's separatist stance amid rising tensions.

The Chinese armed forces began conducting large-scale military exercises around Taiwan on Thursday, just days after the island's newly elected president Lai Ching-te took office.

It's not the first time China has conducted a large exercise around Taiwan like this, but it is a noticeably large event. The move sends an unmistakable message to Taiwan, yields strategic benefits for Beijing, and sets a sour tone for Chinese-Taiwanese relations as a new president's term in office begins.

Exercise "Joint Sword" began Thursday morning, and it will last two days. The drills will focus on "joint sea-air combat readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets," per Chinese state media reports on these exercises.

Taiwan's military reported that China deployed 33 aircraft, 16 Coast Guard vessels, and 15 Navy ships for the drill. In addition to surrounding Taiwan's main island, Chinese forces also executed drills in the waters around offshore islands Kinmen, Matsuri, Wuqiu, and Dongyin.

The Chinese exercises notably include mock strikes by fighter jets with live ammunition and drills with various naval vessels, including frigates and destroyers. Taiwan's defense ministry posted a video condemning Chinese actions, as well as showing the various locations around it where Chinese forces are operating.

The CCPs military exercises, which highlight its hegemony mindset, have undermined regional peace and stability. The ROC Armed Forces stand ready to defend our country. We seek no conflicts, but we will not shy away from one. pic.twitter.com/6F3imAsi3u   Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.  (@MoNDefense) May 23, 2024

Taiwan's military has responded to Chinese activities, dispatching ground, sea, and air forces to monitor the drills closely for escalation. Its defense ministry sharply criticized the drills, calling them "irrational provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability."

"We stand by with firm will and restraint. We seek no conflicts, but we will not shy away from one. We have the confidence to safeguard our national security," the ministry added.

An outdoor screen shows a news coverage of China's military drills around Taiwan, in Beijing on May 23, 2024. JADE GAO/AFP via Getty Images

The Chinese military characterized the exercises as a "strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan's independence forces," Chinese state media said in its reporting, also calling them "a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces," such as the US and Japan.

This kind of rhetoric, while typical for Beijing, follows the May 20 inauguration of Lai Ching-te, who served as the former vice president under Tsai Ing-wen.

Lai's win was seen as a historic move for Taiwan. It indicated a desire by its voters to see the Democratic Progressive Party, which has typically taken a harder line on policies toward China and prioritized Taiwanese autonomy, remain in office for an unprecedented third consecutive term.

Chinese-Taiwanese tensions flared under Tsai, and Lai's rhetoric indicates he will uphold many of Tsai's policies relating to Beijing. In his inauguration speech, the new president highlighted broad continuity with how Tsai addressed the cross-strait relationship, but he also expressed a desire to maintain the status quo with China. The new president asserted peace is "the only option." Beijing has, however, repeatedly asserted that force is on the table as an option for achieving its aims.

During his inaugural speech, Lai touched on China's mounting pressure on the island, saying, "In the face of the many threats and attempts of infiltration from China, we must demonstrate our resolution to defend our nation."

This, along with China's long-held contempt for Lai, prompted Chinese media to say Lai had "surpassed" some previous Taiwanese presidents labeled by China as "separatists."

A spokesperson for China's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said that the drills were, at least in part, a punishment and a response to Lai's inauguration speech.

Taiwanese soldiers stand guard as flares are fired during a Taiwanese military live-fire drill, after Beijing increased its military exercises near Taiwan, in Pingtung, Taiwan, 6 September 2022. Ceng Shou Yi/NurPhoto via Getty Images

While Taiwanese and US officials had long assumed Chinese drills would take place around the inauguration, the scale is still concerning, effectively showing that China can, at any time it wants, surround Taiwan in an effort to force its people to accept Beijing's control.

For Beijing, the benefit of this exercise isn't just intimidation or a show of force. It also helps them normalize "large-scale activity around Taiwan, to deceive about future intentions," Mick Ryan, a retired Australian major general and strategist focusing on evolutions in warfare, wrote on X.

The exercise also "bullies and seeks to coerce" Taiwan's government and suggests that unification is inevitable, he added. "Of course it is not inevitable, but CCP [Chinese Communist Party] is using the same propaganda playbook as Putin in Ukraine," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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A large portion of Americans think the US government needs major, systemic reform  at least according to some polling  so its worth looking at how other countries are doing things.

Where are elections not never-ending?

Anyone struggling to maintain interest in the never-ending, yearslong focus on the American presidential election might look with envy at the United Kingdom.

Voters there only learned Wednesday theyll have an election in July, when rain-soaked Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gambled by announcing a snap general election for July 4. No months of primaries. No party conventions.

Everyone knew something was coming  Sunaks Conservative Party had until next January to call the election, and it seems like an excessive period since the last UK-wide election in December 2019  but clearly the campaign portion will be truncated. Sunak and his party have six weeks to make up a steep deficit in the polls or at least hope to block an outright majority for the Labour Party.

RELATED: 7 questions you might have about the UKs snap July general election

British voters wont directly pick a prime minister. Instead, theyll select members of Parliament. The leader of the party that wins a majority automatically becomes prime minister, and he or she assembles a government around them. It would be as if US House Speaker Mike Johnson appointed fellow lawmakers to run portions of the federal government.

It can be a messy system, such as when the ruling Conservative Party churned through a series of prime ministers in recent years without having to get any input from voters.

In contrast, India, which is the worlds largest democracy and which, like the UK, has a parliamentary system of government, conducts its election over the course of many weeks. Results will be announced on June 4. CNNs Will Ripley was recently out on the campaign trail with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is vying for a third consecutive term. Modis international reputation has morphed in those years from that of a reformer to that of a divisive nationalist, vilifying the countrys Muslims in his bid to keep power.

Where are they choosing between 2 younger women instead of 2 old men?

Anyone struggling to find inspiration in the rematch of two senior citizens vying for the US presidency might look with some envy at Mexico, where the government bears many similarities to the US but where the president can only serve a single six-year term.

That means Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador must step aside despite his relative popularity  and, at 70, youth  compared with the US options, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

Mexico presidential candidates Xochitl Galvez (left) and Claudia Sheinbaum (right). - Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images

Instead of choosing between two older men, when Mexican voters go to the polls on June 2, they will be choosing between two younger women. Lopez Obrador endorsed the front-runner, Claudia Sheinbaum, the candidate from his Morena Party who previously led the Mexico City government. The candidate for an opposition coalition is Xochitl Galvez, a former Mexican senator. Both are 61.

There are other candidates, although they have little chance of winning. Tragedy struck the campaign trail Wednesday when a stage collapsed due to heavy winds, killing nine people.

Its a direct election  no Electoral College  and the person who gets the most votes wins.

Where do judges not have lifetime appointments?

Another difference in Mexico is that Supreme Court justices serve a 15-year term instead of the justice-for-life tradition in the US.

If the US had term limits, Samuel Alito would be three years off the bench and free to fly whatever flag he wanted at any of his homes. Instead, with no term limits and no binding ethics rules for US Supreme Court justices, theres nothing to keep Alito from joining opinions related to Novembers election.

Thats despite the fact that the flags outside his homes suggest he might have some preferences. Does an upside-down flag flown outside his home in Virginia days before Bidens inauguration betray a bias? Does the flying of a flag seen at the January 6, 2021, Stop the Steal rally suggest a friendliness to Christian nationalists? Theres arguably more evidence of a preference in the activism of fellow justice Clarence Thomas wife, Ginni.

Thomas, who was appointed to the bench in 1991 by then-President George H.W. Bush, is more than 30 years into his Supreme Court tenure. Both Thomas and Alito, in their 70s, are younger than both of the men most primary voters for the major political parties have selected to run for president.

Where do they overhaul their court systems?

If the nature of the US Supreme Court seems immutable and unchangeable, its not. Theres no political will to change the system, but that doesnt mean it cant happen.

Congress could, in theory, impose term limits on justices. It could also change the number of justices on the court, as it has in the past. There are active campaigns to change the US system, including changing the number of justices and imposing 18-year term limits. But these do not currently have major political momentum. Plus, Republicans rightly feel they will enjoy an advantage with the current system for decades to come. Its unlikely they would buy into an overhaul.

The UK actually overhauled its Supreme Court with a Constitutional Reform Act back in 2005, although a major difference between the UK and the US is that the UK does not technically have a written constitution.

There are plenty of cautionary tales out there as well about other forms of government. In Russia and China, where free speech and the press are seriously limited, autocratic leaders have instilled themselves and are looking to widen their worldwide influence.

El Salvador had a ban on its president serving two consecutive terms, but a court full of appointees by controversial President Nayib Bukele gave him the power to seek and win reelection in February.

Thats not an option in the US, where the 22nd Amendment only allows for a person to serve two four-year presidential terms. Whoever wins in November  Biden or Trump  will be unable to run again.

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CHP: Man found with almost $400K worth of cocaine in Fresno Co.

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Over $399,000 worth of cocaine was seized from a Stanislaus County man in Fresno County, the California Highway Patrol Merced announced on Wednesday.

According to CHP, on May 17 at 7 p.m., a Central Valley CHP K-9 sergeant conducted an enforcement stop on a 2015 Toyota Tacoma for a traffic violation on northbound I-5 at Nees Avenue.

I-5 to undergo repairs in Fresno County for 6 months

The sergeant reported several factors led him to believe the driver was engaged in criminal activity. The sergeant searched the vehicle and found a gym bag with about 11 pounds of cocaine an estimated street value of about $399,520.

Officers say the driver, 38-year-old Barajas of Ceres, California, was booked under suspicion of possession of cocaine for sale and transportation of cocaine across noncontiguous counties.

The case was turned over to the Fresno High Impact Investigation Team.

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 YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Sam Alito  the arch conservative Supreme Court justice  now has two flag controversies to explain, and another striking reason to doubt his impartiality in cases involving Donald Trump and the Jan. 6 defendants.

Alito has already been in the news for an upside-down American flag that flew at his primary residence during the period surrounding Jan. 6, 2021. Alito has blamed the placement of that flag  which is typically only to be flown to signify national distress, including when the government has fallen  on his wife Martha-Ann. He characterized her action as the result of a heated dispute with neighbors over a coarse anti-Trump political yard sign.

But now the New York Times is reporting that an even more provocative flag was seen flying at the Alitos vacation home on the New Jersey Shore last year. The Alito home on Long Beach Island was photographed flying the Appeal to Heaven flag, also known as the Pine Tree Flag, during the summer months of 2023.

That flag was originally flown during the American Revolution. It carries a quote from the Enlightenment philosopher John Locke, who argued that when a just people are faced with injustice in the political realm, and have exhausted all avenues for redress, that they can move to violence  and God will judge the righteousness of their action. Where there lies no appeal on Earth, the philosopher wrote, they have just cause to make their appeal to heaven.

This flag was laregly a relic of history until it was revived by a far-right religious leader named Dutch Sheets, who has transformed the flag into a banner for Christian nationalists. The pine tree on the flag was originally a symbol of protest for British exploitation of the colonies; the monarchy exported the tallest and truest pine trees from New England for the masts on British navy ships. But in Sheets appropriation, the tree now is said to symbolize Gods covenant with Abraham  and with America as a supposedly divinely chartered nation.

The Appeal to Heaven flag is now associated with a militant arm of Christian nationalism. It waved as a battle flag by many of the Jan. 6 insurgents, who stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021 seeking to keep Donald Trump in office and prevent the peaceful transfer of power to President Joe Biden.

The flag has continued to be displayed by the kinds of religious-right politicians who baselessly cast doubt on the legitimacy of the outcome of the 2020 election, including by failed Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, as well as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), as Rolling Stone reported last November.

The symbolism of the flag is no longer oblique. It is a potent symbol for American zealots who breed distrust in American democracy and seek a vast expansion of religion in public life. The notion that a sitting Supreme Court justice would have this flag waving, unabashedly, above his home casts doubt on his impartiality in significant matters before the court, including cases involving Jan. 6 defendants, and the questions about whether Donald Trump can be prosecuted for allegedly criminal acts he undertook as president.

Alito did not answer the New York Times questions about what message was intended to be sent by the flying of the banner above his home. The paper published photographs of the flag taken by neighbors, as well as a Google Street View image of the justices home that captured the flag. It is no longer flying above the Jersey Shore home.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
Police are treating this act of vandalism as a hate crime

Police are treating graffiti by suspected pro-Palestine protesters on a cinema showing a documentary about the Hamas terror attack as a potential hate crime.

The Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley, north London - an area with a high Jewish population - was sprayed with red paint before Thursday evenings screening of a documentary about the October 7 attack on the Supernova Festival.

The graffiti - described as looking like blood - read say no to artwashing. The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation, and officers are investigating the incident as a potential hate crime.

Protests are expected outside the cinema at 7pm to coincide with the time of the screening.

During the afternoon, local members of the community rallied to try to wash off the graffiti.

The graffiti - described as looking like blood - read 'say no to artwashing'

One volunteer, who wished to remain anonymous, said: Its just an outrage. People who are survivors of this massacre are coming here and they could have been confronted with red graffiti that honestly looked like blood.

One of the people here knows someone who survived the massacre and she was coming tonight. Imagine the trauma if she saw this. People from the community have gone together to clean it up.

It claimed that the film was artwashing - but its not. Its footage from the festival. It shows what happened. Theres no agenda.

People have clearly got the wrong idea about this film. And to take it out on The Phoenix - a charity? Its awful.

The documentary, Supernova: The Music Festival Massacre, is a one-hour film being screened as part of the Seret International Israeli Film Festival. It features eyewitness accounts from survivors of the massacre that took place at the festival last year.

Various Jewish organisations have already responded to the graffiti - with UK Jewish Film saying it was appalled.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, they said: We condemn any attempt to bully and intimidate cinemas into censoring films and are proud to show films that reflect Jewish and Israeli life.

Meanwhile, the Campaign against Anti-Semitism added:

Ahead of a screening of a documentary about Hamas' barbaric attack on the Nova music festival on 7th October, in which over 360 people were killed, the @PhoenixCinema has been defaced.



The historic Cinema resides in Finchley, an area of London home to a large Jewish community. pic.twitter.com/KjzQaj4ZSd  Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) May 23, 2024

The Phoenix Cinema is an independent, single-screen community cinema which opened in 1912. It has been run by a charitable trust since 1985 and is one of the oldest continuously running cinemas in the UK.

Workers inside the cinema refused to comment on the graffiti.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: Police were called at 10:11hrs on Thursday, 23 May to reports of criminal damage at the Phoenix Cinema in High Road N2.

An investigation has been launched. There have been no arrests. While enquiries are ongoing, at this time the incident is being investigated as a potential hate crime.

Police had already been made aware of protests expected at the venue regarding a film screening on Thursday night.

Officers will be there to make sure those attending can protest safely whilst at the same time minimising serious disruption to the community.

A Change.org petition signed by more than 10,000 members of The Jewish Community in north London, has also been launched. It read: While we uphold the right to freedom of speech, this right must be balanced with our communitys right to live in safety and peace.

We urge the authorities to relocate this protest to a different venue, far from our quiet and peaceful neighbourhood, to avoid creating an unnecessary crisis.

A Just Giving account to raise 1,500 to cover the cost of repairing the vandalism, has already raised more than 5,000.

The fundraising page said: This act of vandalism was truly outrageous and has left us in urgent need of support. We are seeking voluntary contributions to cover the costs of cleaning and repairing any damage caused by this senseless act. Our fundraising campaign aims to ensure that this historic institution can continue to serve our community for years to come.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants stormed into Israel from Gaza, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 others back to Gaza as hostages.

In response, Israel launched an airstrike campaign in Gaza, followed by a ground invasion. More than 33,000 Palestinians have since been killed since the start of the war, according to Gazas Hamas-run health ministry.

The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which monitors anti-Semitic incidents in the UK, said that there has been a dramatic increase in university-related antisemitic incidents following October 7 last year.

In CSTs 2023 incident report, the charity recorded 182 university-related antisemitic incidents, which is an increase of 203 per cent from the 60 incidents recorded in 2022.

Furthermore, in its annual report published in February, the charity concluded that there had been a hate explosion since the Hamas terror attack in Israel on October 7.

According to the latest figures, there has been a 589 per cent increase in the number of incidents compared with the same period in 2022 and described the unprecedented rise as a watershed moment for antisemitism in the UK.

The figures have spiked to a record high of truly unprecedented 4,103 cases of recorded antisemitic incidents, with 66 per cent (2,699) of such cases occurring after 7 October. Such a figure, says the report, on its own, eclipses any annual antisemitic incident total reported to CST.

It is the highest figure that the charity has ever recorded in a single calendar year. The 2023 report also marks the first time that the CST recorded an anti-Semitic incident in every single police region in the UK.

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.
(Bloomberg) -- Venezuelas opposition is weighing a move that would slow the sale of oil assets under its control by having Citgo Petroleum Corp.s holding company file for bankruptcy in the US, according to people familiar with the deliberations.

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Opposition-appointed Petroleos de Venezuela executives are seeking to retain control of their most important overseas asset, which is up for auction, and are mulling using a US Chapter 11 filing to block finalization of its sale, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they werent authorized to speak publicly about the tactic. Trade publication Reorg previously reported the plan.

Final bids are due June 11 for shares of Citgos US parent  which amount to ownership of the refiner  in a separate legal process. If the opposition decides to file for bankruptcy protection, its unclear whether that would happen before then, or before the winning bidder is announced in July, the people said.

This play would buy them some more time to try and hike what they get for Citgo or bring in an outside party to rescue it, said Charles Tatelbaum, a veteran bankruptcy lawyer who isnt involved in the case.

Any decision by Citgos US parent, PDV Holding, to file for bankruptcy would need to be made in consultation with the opposition-led assembly, the only Venezuelan government body recognized by the US since it broke diplomatic relations with President Nicolas Maduros regime in 2019, said Yon Goicoechea, a member of the council that manages Venezuelan assets abroad known as CAPA.

We have not taken any decision on the issue of bankruptcy as an option, Goicoechea said. We have been informed and participated in discussions on different options regarding the legal strategies on the sale.

Under US bankruptcy law, PDVSA can ask a judge to stop attempts to target Citgo and other assets while the court sorts out whether the refiners Chapter 11 filing was proper. Other companies whove turned to bankruptcy in hopes of corralling US litigation have had their cases tossed.

While the auction is being held under the auspices of a federal judge in Delaware, its unclear whether any bankruptcy case would be filed in the state, the people said. Judge Leonard Stark refused last week to delay the auctions final stage. Almost 20 creditors have won the legal right to some of the sales proceeds.

In a statement today Citgo said its management had no plans to file for bankruptcy, declining to comment on matters regarding its shareholder, PDVSA. Horacio Medina, a Venezuelan-opposition member who heads the ad hoc board that represents PDVSA in US courts, didnt immediately return a message Wednesday seeking comment on the bankruptcy considerations.

The Citgo sale is designed to generate billions of dollars to repay companies whose assets Venezuela seized under the late Hugo Chavez. Among the companies claiming a share of the sales proceeds are Siemens AG, ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil Corp. Conoco says its owed more than $1.2 billion over the seizures.

The compensation push started with efforts by Crystallex International Corp., a Canadian miner whose rights to the Las Cristinas gold field were seized by Chavez. The now-defunct company won a $1.2 billion arbitration award in 2016 that grew to $1.4 billion with interest. Venezuela has made a partial payment on the arbitration award, so the country now owes nearly $970 million to Crystallex, which is first in line to have its judgment paid out of the auctions proceeds.

The sale also is entangled in Venezuelan politics as Maduros government characterizes the potential loss of Citgo as the theft of an asset that provides much-need hard currency for the struggling country. While PDVSA remains in the hands of Maduros government, its US subsidiaries are controlled by an ad-hoc board appointed by the political opposition, led by former legislative leader Juan Guaido.

The people said its unlikely the opposition-led faction of PDVSA will take the bankruptcy route for Citgo before national elections in July, so the auction doesnt become an issue. Polls this month show Maduro trailing far behind opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez ahead of the July 28 vote. Venezuelas president serves six years.

The US Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control also must sign off on any sale, as Citgo is protected by US law.

The case is Crystallex International Corp. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 17-mc-00151, US District Court, District of Delaware (Wilmington).

--With assistance from Andreina Itriago Acosta and Lucia Kassai.

(Updates with details on arbitration award starting in the 11th paragraph.)

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The Ukrainian defenders told us about the food that makes up their menu at military exercises abroad. Some were surprised by the food they were given: some liked the quality of the food, while others were dissatisfied.

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Photos of the meals served during the exercises abroad are posted online by the military. In particular, Ukrainian defenders showed the food they are fed in France.

The menu includes rice, meat dishes, dairy products, salads, dessert, etc.

The soldiers also spoke about the food at the exercises in Germany. "It was a buffet with lots of side dishes, salads, and meat/fish to choose from, and you took exactly as much as you could eat, because you weren't allowed to throw away food (i.e., not finish it)," said one of the servicewomen.

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At the same time, the feedback from defense lawyers studying in Poland is contradictory. Some express dissatisfaction, while others note that the quality of food in this country depends on a particular training center.

In particular, one of the servicemen was outraged by the way he was fed in this NATO country and showed a photo of the food: Polish " barszcz", kaiser rolls, the equivalent of Ukrainian dumplings, pierogi, and "Munich" sausages.

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"If you happen to be a soldier and find out that you are going abroad for training, don't rush to rejoice. For your attention, the food of a soldier from the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the basis of a NATO country, namely Poland," he wrote.

The same soldier noted that, in addition, the food provided was not enough.

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Others in the comments said that other training centers in Poland served completely different food.

"My boyfriend was also on training in Poland, and the food was really good." "Most likely different training centers, if you can call them that. Mine was right next to the border with the Germans, so he recognized what is in the photo," they write and add a photo of the food.

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Earlier, border guards at the front line compared Ukrainian dry rations with those donated by Spain and the UK. All three, according to the defenders, "passed the border control."

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
WETM, N.Y. (WETM)  The City of Elmira has pulled the first Fight on Blight list two days after its release because some properties without open violations were included by mistake, 18 News confirmed.

In a press release on May 22nd, the city announced it had discovered erroneous data in the reports as published and is working to address the issue before the June report. The list was first released on May 20th.

In a phone call with 18 News, Fourth District Councilmember Gary Brinn said The information pulled from the database included properties not covered under the resolution. They were not rental properties with open violations.

Fight on Blight City of Elmira releases first list of rental property violations/violators

When asked how many properties were included by mistake, Mr. Brinn said he could not provide an exact number as the list is still being revised.

The citys Fight on Blight resolution list passed with bipartisan support on Monday, April 22nd. The resolution was co-sponsored by democrat Councilmember Brinn and republican Mayor Dan Mandell. Councilmembers Jackie Wilson, Nanette Moss and Joe Duffy joined Mayor Mandell and Councilmember Brinn in voting in favor. First District councilmember Nick Grasso voted against it. Second District councilmember Corey Cooke was absent.

Agenda item 2024-145 reads: Act on resolution posting a publication on the City website, City social media channels, City email newsletter and issues as a press release of Rental Properties that are not properly registered and inspected, have outstanding municipal code violations or have failed to address said Code Violations resulting in loss of tenancy by residents; said publication may include identifying property owners, property managers and limited-liability companies with uncorrected violations and caused loss of tenancy, will remain on the published list for one year after the last violations.

The city says a 2023 Chemung County Housing Market Study found 44.85% of the more than 10,000 homes in Elmira are occupied by renters. The study says Elmira has more than 3,000 low-income households. 1,490 households spend more than half of their income on rent. The city says renters often complain about poor and sometimes unsafe conditions. The city says landlords can currently be fined up to $250 for each code violation.

Elmira landlords respond to citys new monthly worst landlords list

The city says 14,72% of homes in Elmira are vacant. The city says the worst landlord list is part of a three-part effort in Elmiras Fight on Blight. In a press conference on April 22nd, Mayor Mandell said another part of the plan is putting so-called zombie homes back on the market.

Elmira has some very nice homes and some very nice neighborhoods. But we also have hundreds of vacant properties. Some qualify as zombie properties under New York State statute. We have many properties that are burned out and boarded up, and empty lots in residential neighborhoods where homes once stood, Mayor Mandell said.

New York State says Zombie properties are homes that the homeowner has abandoned, typically in the face of a foreclosure action. With no occupant to perform basic maintenance, these homes can fall into a state of serious disrepair.

Mayor Mandell says the overwhelming majority of zombie properties in Elmira are in the hands of banks, holding companies and long-distance speculators.

We have already met with representatives from the City of Albany, a city that has been successful in this area, said Mayor Mandell. Dramatic increases in enforcement and penalties for neglected zombie homes, have led to significant financial settlements.

The third part of the plan calls for building new homes at the site of empty lots or unused land, known as infill housing.

Our final focus area may be the most challenging, said councilmember Brinn. While we cannot reduce the material cost of construction, we can reduce expenses related to the approval process. We will pursue a series of approximately 6 different pre-approved designs that will fit the character of most Elmira neighborhoods. We will prioritize what is known as the missing middle: 2-to-6-unit properties with some units specifically designed for our aging population.

You can read the full resolution on the City of Elmira website.

The link to the list is currently unavailable. A new list will be released in June.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
CLEBURNE COUNTY, Ark.  The Cleburne County Sheriffs Office has identified human remains that were found in December.

Deputies identified the remains as those belonging to 63-year-old Edward Rounds of Drasco.

Human remains found in Cleburne County woods, sheriff investigating

In early January, Cleburne County officials said deputies were dispatched to the Jim Kress Wildlife Management Area near Wilburn on Dec. 31, 2023, after a woman found skeletal remains while walking her dog.

Deputies later asked for the publics help in identifying the remains after previous attempts were unsuccessful.

Authorities said the investigation into the death is still ongoing.

Cleburne County sheriff asks for publics help in identifying human remains

Anyone who thinks they may have information is asked to contact detectives with the CCSO at 501-362-8143.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
This month has already proven be one for the records  the hottest May ever documented in Miami, based on the heat index, a feels like measure that accounts for temperature and humidity. The index this past weekend peaked at a staggering 112 degrees, the Herald reported Tuesday.

The extreme weather has been the result of a perfect storm of fewer clouds, moist air coming from the southwest and the air sinking and warming, an occurrence known as a high pressure ridge, the Herald reported. Last summers unbearable temperatures were influenced by the El Nino phenomenon.

But scientists have made it clear: climate change is making these record-high temperatures and hotter summers more common. The whole planet has gotten warmer.





As Miami-Dade County takes the lead by planting more tree canopies (though thats not going as planned, as the Herald reported) and having conversations about a green sustainable future, Florida has knee-capped many of those efforts, as well as efforts to deal with some effects of climate change.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation this year that prohibits local governments from passing heat protections for outdoor workers.Another bill he signed last week deletes most references to climate change from state law, among other things.

Ironically, both laws will go into effect this summer, on July 1, while many of us brace for another season of potentially sweltering temperatures and the possibility of farm workers dying from excessive heat, as it reportedly happened in 2023.

To give the governor credit, the state has invested millions of dollars in sea-level and flooding resilience projects and he even appointed a chief resilience officer. But Florida ignores that the long-term solution is to reduce carbon emissions, though we recognize that it takes more than one state to accomplish that.

House Bill 1645 removes the word climate from Florida statute in nine different instances, limits renewable energy production and likely expands the use of fossil fuels, according to the CLEO Institute. The legislation bans offshore windmill turbines and relaxes regulations of natural gas pipelines.

In some cases, the bills deletions of climate change seem innocuous. In others, those deletions are more far-reaching.

For example, Florida statute used to read: The Legislature finds that... the impacts of global climate change can be reduced through the reduction of greenhouse gas emission. That was removed and replaced with: The purpose of the states energy policy is to ensure an adequate, reliable, and cost-effective supply of energy for the state...

In some ways, the new law is a symbolic move that Florida is rejecting the agenda of the radical green zealots, as DeSantis said last week. The state, for example, doesnt attract much wind energy investment because of its lower wind speeds. Therefore, the practical effects of the HB 1645 might be minimal  though it could stifle future innovation if wind energy becomes more feasible in the state, the Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau reported.

House Bill 1645 is as much about energy policy as it is about using climate change to launch culture wars as DeSantis fights to stay relevant ahead of a potential presidential bid in 2028. Yet the consequences of a warmer planet are not in some hypothetical dystopian future.

Florida has always been vulnerable to hurricanes, but, thanks to warmer ocean waters, theres evidence they are intensifying more quickly. A warmer ocean also prompted an unprecedented coral reef die-off last year, the Herald reported.

According to NASA: Due to global warming, global climate models predict hurricanes will likely cause more intense rainfall and have an increased coastal flood risk due to higher storm surge caused by rising seas.

Florida is already dealing with a property insurance crisis as premiums skyrocket and homeowners are dropped by their insurers. Our state leaders would rather ignore how more intense rainfall and increased coastal flood, especially in places like Miami Beach, could make that crisis worse.

Climate change denial  and the politicization of this real problem  has made inaction acceptable. How much longer can we pretend reality isnt happening before living in Florida becomes too unbearable?

Click here to send the letter.
FILE - The Veranda hotel on May 13, 2014, in Tunica Resorts, Miss., one of two hotels being considered to house unaccompanied immigrant children in northwest Mississippi. The hotels were part of a Harrah's casino complex that closed in 2014. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

TUNICA RESORTS, Miss. (AP)  Officials are considering a proposal to house unaccompanied migrant children at two former casino hotels in northwest Mississippi, an idea that has drawn opposition including from the local sheriff who said the county lacks resources to accommodate the plan.

Local news outlets reported that the repurposed facility would house as many as 2,000 children and teens at the hotels that were part of the Harrahs casino complex, which closed in 2014. The casino was demolished, and other proposals to reuse the hotels have not succeeded.

County supervisors met in executive session Monday to discuss the project, but Tunica County Attorney John Keith Perry told WREG-TV that supervisors have not officially endorsed the plan.

Obviously, anything that deals with immigration is a hot-button issue, Perry said.

Perry said the current owners are in talks with a private entity interested in buying the property, which he says is in good condition after being closed for 10 years.

Any facility housing immigrants ages 17 and younger would have to meet federal regulations, Perry said, and his understanding is the facility would be self-contained.

So, you dont have children that would be out and about for their safety reasons, he said.

The facility would also have to comply with a court settlement governing how the federal government treats migrant children, including limiting how long they can be confined.

Tunica County Sheriff K.C. Hamp said Wednesday that the county doesnt have resources, including a hospital, to care for immigrants, and they would have to be taken to neighboring communities.

When it concerns public safety, public healthcare, along with child protective services, Tunica County does not have a local hospital in the event of an emergency, Hamp said in a statement.

State Rep. Cedric Burnett, a Democrat from Sardis who represents the area, also opposes the plan, saying he supports efforts to redevelop the complex to enhance tourism and gambling in Tunica County.

I think that location should be used to compliment the gaming industry, Burnett told WREG-TV. You know Tunica is a tourism town, we depend on gaming.

Burnett said the benefits of using the hotels to house migrants would be limited to the current owners and the people operating the facility.

Harrahs opened in 1996 as the Grand Casino and was conceived on a grand scale, topping out with 1,356 hotel rooms across three buildings. Its now-demolished casino floor was the largest between New Jersey and Las Vegas.

Tunicas casino market has been in decline for more than a decade, While it was once the nearest gambling destination to parts of the South and Midwest, most of those states now have their own casinos. A casino in West Memphis, Arkansas, has also lured away patrons.
(SOUTHERN COLORADO)  Colorado Highway 10 will close under Interstate 25 in Walsenburg for safety-critical work on Wednesday, May 29.

Starting at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will close both directions of Colorado Highway 10 under I-25 in Walsenburg while crews perform a safety-critical bridge deck pour on a portion of the new southbound I-25 bridge structure.

Detour routes will go through Main Street for both west- and eastbound CO-10. Construction will subside at approximately 7 a.m. on Friday, May 31. Reopening time is subject to change, depending on concrete cure times.

Motorists can expect traffic as the detour routes will add five miles and 10 minutes extra to drive time.

The project limits on CO 10 are at the junction of CO 10/US 160 and extend from Mile Point 0 near County Road 114 to MP .25.

Signs, barriers, and construction devices will be present to alert motorists to the closure and detour routes. As always, motorists are advised to Slow For The Cone Zone and gather information about travel impacts, weather forecasts, and road conditions.

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 FOX21 News Colorado.
A sailboat hauling cargo from Colombia destined for Europe sank in heavy weather off the Bahamas this week, and the Coast Guard said Thursday that it has ended its search for two missing crew members.

The 90-foot schooner De Gallant encountered a passing storm about 20 miles north of Great Inagua, the southernmost island in the Bahamas, Tuesday morning, and the eight-member crew abandoned ship when the vessel began taking on water and going under, according to a Coast Guard statement.

After receiving the distress call, the Coast Guard was unable to make contact with the crew. The maritime service received signals from personal locator beacons and launched a MH-60 Jayhawk to the area to search for survivors.

Around 8 a.m. Tuesday, the chopper crew spotted two life rafts floating amid a field of debris, the Coast Guard said. On the rafts were six French nationals. They were hoisted aboard the helicopter and flown to Coast Guard Air Station Miami in Opa-Locka and are in good health, the agency said.

Two women from the De Gallant remained missing, however.

The Coast Guard and Royal Bahamas Defense Force conducted a 3,700-square-mile search for the women using planes, helicopters and ships over the ensuing two days, but did not locate them, the agency said Thursday.

It is with heavy hearts we offer our sincere condolences to the families and crew that lost these two mariners, Cmdr. Lindsey Seniuk, Coast Guard Seventh District command center search and rescue mission coordinator, said in a statement.

When we send our rescue crews out, it is with great hope we can bring people home safely, which is why suspending this case is one of the hardest decisions our personnel make, Seniuk said. We are grateful we were able to bring home the six survivors and thankful for the assistance of our partners in the Royal Bahamas Defense Force.

The De Gallant sailed under the flag of Vanuatu, an island nation in South Pacific, but is owned by the Blue Schooner Company, a French cargo firm.

According to a statement on the companys website, the De Gallant was shipping coffee, cocoa and sugar cane from Santa Marta, Colombia, to various locations in Europe. It set sail Saturday, May 11, the company said.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Officials are investigating after a body was recovered from Lake Erie Wednesday evening.

First responders started searching after a witness said someone jumped into the water off a pier near Edgewater Park and didnt resurface, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Cleveland Division of Fire said they deployed a dive rescue team. One of the divers found the deceased male victim, fire officials say.

Coast Guard searching after person reportedly didn't resurface at Lake Erie

Coast Guard searching after person reportedly didn't resurface at Lake Erie

Coast Guard searching after person reportedly didn't resurface at Lake Erie

Coast Guard searching after person reportedly didn't resurface at Lake Erie

1 killed when tree falls on home in Akron

Cleveland Metroparks police and officials with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources were also on the scene.

Metroparks officials confirmed the body was recovered offshore near Edgewater Park. The victims identity will come from the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office.

According to Metroparks officials, in an unrelated incident, officers responded to another male who went into the water at Edgewater Park Wednesday evening. He was located safely on shore and taken to an area hospital for treatment.

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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The search for two missing mariners has been suspended after crews rescued the remaining six survivors aboard a sinking boat on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

On Tuesday morning, crews received distress calls from a 90-foot Vanuatu-flagged schooner De Gallant, carrying eight people.

Florida Attorney General accuses Starbucks of racial discrimination, calls for investigation

A helicopter from Air Station Clearwater found the two life rafts carrying six French nationals at around 8 a.m. nearly 20 miles north of Great Inagua, located in the Bahamas. The survivors said their boat began taking on water after passing a storm.

The six people rescued were taken to the Coast Guard Air Station Miami in Opa Locka, in good health, according to officials.

However, two women were still missing.

Florida cant enforce law criminalizing transportation of undocumented immigrants, judge rules

After 44 hours and more than 3,700 square miles of searching, the Coast Guard suspended its search on Wednesday evening.

It is with heavy hearts we offer our sincere condolences to the families and crew that lost these two mariners, Cmdr. Lindsey Seniuk, Coast Guard Seventh District command center search and rescue mission coordinator said. When we send our rescue crews out, it is with great hope we can bring people home safely, which is why suspending this case is one of the hardest decisions our personnel make. We are grateful we were able to bring home the six survivors and thankful for the assistance of our partners in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

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 WFLA.
House Republicans on Thursday tried to chastise two university presidents over their deals to disband antiwar encampments, but the college leaders refused to allow lawmakers to dress them down without a fight.

House Education and the Workforce Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) slammed Northwestern University President Michael Schill and Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway for making deals with their students that included providing amnesty for protesters, discussing school investments and supporting scholarships for Palestinian students. Foxx called the deals disgraceful and egregious.

Each of you should be ashamed of your decisions that allowed antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students, Foxx said in her opening statement. Mr. Schill and Dr. Holloway, you should be doubly ashamed for capitulating to the antisemitic rulebreakers.

But both presidents pushed back on several lines of questioning from Republicans that ranged from calling for disciplinary action on protesters to scrutinizing their deals. Schill got into several scuffles with lawmakers and bluntly told them he would not engage in hypothetical scenarios or discuss specific faculty and students, while Holloway rebuked their likening of protesters to a mob.

I was not negotiating with the mob, but talking to students, Holloway said to Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) who said Rutgers had given into the demands of the mob.

Students across the country have been pressuring their institutions to divest from companies connected to Israel and to join their calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. To quell the unrest, college leaders have called on law enforcement to clear the encampments or allowed students to continue their protest or made deals with their students.



Schill agreed to cover the tuition and other costs for five Palestinian undergraduates to attend his school, among other deals. At Rutgers University, Holloways agreement included exploring the possibility of creating an Arab cultural center on campus and supporting displaced Palestinian students so they can finish their studies at his school.

Both Schill and Holloway have faced calls to step down from Jewish advocacy groups who say the presidents caved to protesters who have harassed or intimidated Jewish students on campus.

But Schill took the most heat from lawmakers during the hearing.

Reps. Elise Stefanik(R-N.Y.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Burgess Owens (R-Utah) and others sparred with Schill over his agreement with protesters, decision not to suspend or expel protesters, failing grade on antisemitism from the Anti-Defamation League and his institutions foreign ties.

Stefanik referred to the deal Schill made with protesters as the Deering Meadow agreement, while slamming provisions in it, to which Schill at one point replied: Actually, I never called it that, but the Deering Meadow agreement was just a framework of an agreement that was reached with students at 4 o'clock in the morning. If you would like to see the entire program, go on our website.

He also pushed back on Stefaniks framing of her questions and responded to her probing about antisemitic incidents by saying: All of these are allegations that are being investigated.

Schill also pushed back on Banks' questioning about Northwesterns decision to fire former football coach Pat Fitzgerald, who is suing the school for wrongful termination.

Youre asking for facts and your premise is inaccurate, Schill said.

Don't accuse me of that. Thats outrageous, Banks said.

Well its wrong what you just said, Schill responded.

Schill also refused to answer some yes or no and hypothetical questions, such as those about whether students could put up an encampment on campus again if he doesnt uphold the schools end of the agreement. Owens asked Schill if he would put up with Ku Klux Klan members on his campus harassing Black students.

Im not going to engage in hypotheticals like that, Schill told Owens.

Owens continued to needle Schills responses, and rattled off quick fire questions about Northwesterns funding from Qatar, whether Schill had knowledge of Qatars support of Hamas and the countrys connections with Iran.

This is not my area of expertise, Schill said, though he did respond to questions about the universitys Doha campus.

If this was true, do you think it'd be a good idea for the University of Northwestern to partner with a government that harbors terrorists, Hamas and Iranian operatives who fund terrorism, yes or no? Owens said.

Im not going to engage in yes or no answers, Schill responded.

OK, obviously you dont have a problem with that, Owens quickly shot back.

Im offended by you telling me what my views are, Schill said while Owens tried to fire off another question.

Schill repeatedly defended his decision to negotiate with students while outlining why he decided against allowing the encampments to stay and calling in law enforcement. He also acknowledged the encampment was making his Jewish students feel unsafe.

Holloway similarly defended his deal by saying instead of calling police, his school chose to engage with their students as the first option.

We have seen what transpired in other universities and sought a different way without compromising on my fundamental stance against the divestment and the boycotts. We agreed to talk and to listen, he said.

University of California, Los Angeles, Chancellor Gene Block, who testified alongside Holloway and Schill, also received a reprimand from Foxx for not stepping in sooner to clear out an encampment that faced attacks from counter protesters. Frederick Lawrence, CEO of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and former president of Brandeis University, was invited to testify as the Democratic witness but didn't receive many questions.

Lawmakers also brought out several props to emphasize their points.

Stefanik brought an ADL report card with a large F. Banks brought a large board with a photo of faculty protesters at Northwestern University linking arms in front of a police officer. Owens propped up a giant fake check of $600 million written out to Northwestern from QATAR RELATED SOURCES.

Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) displayed a video that showed some student protesters didnt know the meaning of certain pro-Palestinian chants they used. And Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) also played a video of a Jewish student being blocked from going to class by protesters at UCLA.

Across the aisle, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) brought printed photos of the encampment at UCLA while she reprimanded Block.

Several Democrats also used their time to defend protest agreements.

Reps. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) described the process of dismantling encampments through agreements as peaceful.

Takano pointed to the University of California, Riverside, in his district, which also negotiated with protesters, while drawing contrast with the violence that broke out and hundreds of arrests at UCLA. He pressed Block on how much time leadership had spent discussing solutions with protesters.

My university is leading by example, but my Republican colleagues are characterizing any agreement made between university administrators and student protesters as conceding to the mob, Takano said.

Jayapal also lauded Schill for de-escalating protests and peaceful negotiations, and criticized Republicans for holding hearings for political bullying purposes.

I really appreciate your focus on negotiation and a peaceful resolution and protecting all students, she said. Thank you, Mr. Schill.

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the committee, criticized Republicans for holding a fifth hearing on campus antisemitism and said no work is being done to find a meaningful solution to address animus on college campuses.

Complaining about a problem is not a solution, he said. It certainly riles people up, generates a lot of media coverage, but it does not solve anything.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has said that the country may be ready to transfer the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine to protect it from Russian missiles and drones but on one condition. Bucharest must receive "something else" if it transfers this air defense system to Kyiv.

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The Romanian president was quoted by Digi24 on Wednesday, May 22. According to him, the decision must be approved by the country's Supreme National Defense Council.

Iohannis said that he reserves the right not to discuss the issue of a possible transfer of the Patriot system to Ukraine "in a wide public space," saying that "this should be discussed with army experts."

According to the newspaper, the president said that "there is no time horizon" for making this decision, but made it clear that he would not accept Romania being left without air defense: if Romania gives up something, it must receive something else.

"I don't comment on this issue and I don't think it has anything to do with the general public. This is an issue that needs to be discussed with army experts, which should be finally resolved by the CSAT (Supreme Council of National Defense)," said Iohannis.

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He emphasized that the transfer of Patriot is a complicated process involving a number of logistical and legal issues, "not to mention that I do not agree under any circumstances that Romania should be left without missile and air defense."

"If Romania ends up giving up something, it has to get something else. Otherwise, nothing will be done," the Romanian president said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilver expressed great doubts about the transfer of Patriot to Ukraine. However, when Germany called on the EU and NATO countries to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, Romanian leader Klaus Iohannis said he was ready to consider the issue.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Colombia on Wednesday declared a "protected archeological area" around the spot where the legendary San Jose galleon sank off its Caribbean coast more than three centuries ago laden with gold, silver and emeralds believed to be worth billions of dollars.

The designation, said the culture ministry, "guarantees the protection of heritage" through the ship's "long-term preservation and the development of research, conservation and valuation activities."

Dubbed the "holy grail" of shipwrecks, the San Jose was owned by the Spanish crown when it was sunk by the British navy near Cartagena in 1708. Only a handful of its 600-strong crew survived.

The galleon had been heading back from the New World to the court of King Philip V of Spain, bearing chests of emeralds and some 200 tons of gold coins.

The Spanish San Jose Galleon sunk in the Caribbean in 1708 after a battle with the British. New data suggests such shipwrecks could reveal the history of hurricanes in the region. / Credit: Samuel Scott

Before Colombia announced the discovery in 2015, the ship had long been sought by adventurers.

The value of its bounty has been estimated to run into the billions of dollars.

Culture Minister Juan David Correa insisted Wednesday: "This is not a treasure, we do not treat it as such."

He announced the area's new designation at an event launching the first "non-intrusive" phase of a scientific exploration of the wreck.

In February, Correa told AFP that an underwater robot would be sent to recover some of its bounty.

Spain had laid claim to the ship and its contents under a UN convention Colombia is not party to, while Indigenous Qhara Qhara Bolivians claim the riches were stolen from them.

But the government of President Gustavo Petro has insisted on raising the wreck for purposes of science and culture.

Spanish and Qhara Qhara delegations were present at Wednesday's event.

The wreck is also claimed by U.S.-based salvage company Sea Search Armada -- which insists it found it first more than 40 years ago and has taken Colombia to the U.N.'s Permanent Court of Arbitration, seeking $10 billion.

The exact location of the shipwreck is being kept secret to protect what is considered one of the greatest archaeological finds in history from malicious treasure hunters.

In June 2022, Colombia said that a remotely operated vehicle reached 900 meters below the surface of the ocean, showing new images of the wreckage.

The video showed the best-yet view of the treasure that was aboard the San Jose  including gold ingots and coins, cannons made in Seville in 1655 and an intact Chinese dinner service.

At the time, Reuters reported the remotely operated vehicle also discovered two other shipwrecks in the area, including a schooner thought to be from about two centuries ago.

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CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn (PIX11)New York City officials are working to combat what they say is a rise in antisemitism in public schools through a new curriculum that will be implemented next year.

Chancellor David Banks made the announcement Wednesday at a gala at the Jewish Childrens Museums 19th-anniversary gala dinner, where he unveiled a new initiative. A collaboration between the museum and the citys Department of Education is designed to tackle antisemitism head-on using educational programs to foster a deeper understanding of Jewish culture amongst the student body.

We are creating a brand new curriculum for the first time, said Chancellor Banks. Right now in New York State, it is the law. We teach about the Holocaust in grades eight, nine, and eleven, but we dont teach the full breadth of the Jewish experience.

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The announcement comes as the citys Department of Education cites at least 281 incidents of religious bias since last October, including incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Devorah Halberstam co-founded the Jewish Childrens Museum after her teenage son Ari Halberstam was killed in an antisemitic attack 30 years ago. Shes hoping this new effort will honor his memory by promoting acceptance and understanding in city schools.

When you learn and you teach, thats how it changes the hearts and minds of people, Devorah said.

Eleven-year-old Jannatul Ferdouse is a student at P.S. 399 who says her experience visiting the museum has helped her better understand Jewish culture and the importance of combatting prejudice.

I learned that Jewish people, theyre just like us and even if people are not Jewish, were all the same, said Ferdouse. We just have different beliefs, and we should learn to respect each other despite what we believe.

As Chancellor Banks said, education is crucial in the fight against antisemitism, and hes hoping to eradicate hate in all forms, starting in the classroom.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Former FBI Director James Comey weighed in on former President Trumps criminal hush money case Wednesday, saying it was much stronger than he thought.

I wasnt sure that I would have [brought the case] when I read the indictment, but now having seen the case, Im not sure  after investigating it  how they wouldnt bring it, Comey told NewsNations Dan Abrams on Wednesday. They had a much stronger case than I imagined.

The former Trump official, who was removed from his post in 2017, also suggested there is an overwhelming chance his former boss would be convicted in the case.

Theres an overwhelming chance of a conviction, a significant but much smaller chance of a hung jury and zero chance of an acquittal, Comey said.

The Manhattan trial, the first criminal trial of a sitting or former president, began to wrap up earlier this week, as both sides rested their case Tuesday. Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, scheduled closing arguments for next week, and the jury deliberations will follow.

The former president is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to reimbursements to his former fixer, Michael Cohen, who paid an adult film actor $130,000 prior to the 2016 election to keep quiet about an alleged affair she had with Trump in 2006, which he has denied.

Comey also criticized Trump in an interview on MSNBC on Tuesday, claiming he thinks the former president is coming for the FBI and the Justice Department if he returns to the White House.

Serious for the Justice Department and the FBI, because Trump is coming for those institutions. He knows their power, and I think he has regrets that he didnt work hard enough to corrupt them last time, the former FBI official said. So, hes coming for them, and thats a danger for all Americans.

Hes going to put people in positions in those organizations. He didnt have all-stars the last time. Hell have the bottom of the barrel this time, but people who will want to do his will  and that should worry every American, he added. This election matters because of a reason like that.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A former Kansas City, Kansas, cop has been stripped of his police license after he was convicted of felony crimes related to domestic abuse.

Deotis Brown, 35, lost his Kansas law enforcement certification earlier this month based on a ruling by the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training.

He did not participate in an interview with a state investigator, according to state records, and the revocation order was issued based on criminal allegations raised in Jackson and Wyandotte counties.

The allegations came to light when a longtime romantic partner reported to Kansas City, Missouri, police that Brown assaulted her at a wedding reception.

She had fresh bruises when she walked into KCPDs East Patrol station the next morning, according to court records. She told detectives she was choked and struck after an argument.

She also accused Brown of pointing a firearm at her on an earlier occasion and harassing her for contacting police. That information led Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree to bring additional felony charges.

Jackson County prosecutors charged Brown with three felonies. He pleaded guilty in September to one count of second-degree domestic assault.

Conditions of his plea agreement included no contact with the victim in the case and that he no longer be employed as a police officer. Jackson County District Court Judge Bryan E. Round ordered Brown to a term of probation with a suspended sentence of four years.

In the Wyandotte County case, Brown entered a no-contest plea to a single felony count of making a criminal threat. He was sentenced in February to two years of probation.

A criminal defense attorney who represented Brown in the Wyandotte County case declined to comment on the certification decision.

KCKPD hired Brown in 2017. He was placed on unpaid leave after the criminal allegations surfaced. His employment with the department ended Sept. 25.

The Stars Katie Moore contributed to this report.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  City and community leaders hosted a Community Homelessness Meeting Thursday morning at Woodlawn Baptist Church in south Austin.

Council members, Austins Homeless Strategy Officers, and the executive director of Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center on Menchaca Road addressed the challenge of balancing public safety with providing important resources to the homeless community.

Crime Imprints: City looks at solutions as concerns grow over homeless activity near elementary school

Most people who attended the meeting expressed frustrations and concerns about public safety issues related to homelessness in the Western Trails neighborhood, which is just south of Highway 290 in south Austin. Many wanted Sunrise to move its center elsewhere. Its currently across the street from Joslin Elementary School.

Ive been assaulted. One of the workers had to pick up dope paraphernalia, one woman said during public comment.

Whats happening in our area is a crisis, and you need to treat it like a crisis, said another participant.

Sunrise provides the homeless community with basic, day-to-day services like showers, food, coffee and clothes. It also provides resources related to mental health, addiction and housing. The centers executive director Mark Hilbelink said last year, the center helped get more than 800 people off the streets.

KXAN asked Hilbelink his thoughts about the concerns addressed during the meeting.

We find that people really have a passion for wanting to bring real solutions to homelessness in our community and I think thats what all the officials here want to do and what all of the people in the audience want to do, he said.

Hilbelink did not take the podium to respond to anyones concerns during the public comment portion. During his initial speech at the beginning, he said his team was working to expand its digital services to help lessen the amount of people coming to the center in person. He also said he would love to have centers all over town. He just needs the funding for it.

Austins Homeless Strategy Office said the city will have an announcement in the coming weeks about new initiatives to address homelessness city-wide.

Council Members Ryan Alter, Vanessa Fuentes and Zo Qadri, as well as Lt. Fausto Rodriguez with APD also sat on the panel.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Exercise TARTAN SPIRIT has tested, trained and integrated critical capabilities to ensure they are ready for any operational missions. From scenario driven training to Tactical Landing Zones, this Exercise takes personnel from RAF Brize Norton, the RAFs largest station and home to the UKs Air Mobility Force, Prestwick Airport is the Deployable Operating Base and West Freugh the Forward Operating base. II Squadron RAF Regiment deployed alongside the Air Mobility Force to further strengthen their tactics, training and techniques alongside various aircraft. These skills are essential for ensuring RAF aircraft can operate safely across the globe. By training together we continue to provide integrated and scaleable Air Force Protection capability whilst preparing all RAF personnel for the rigours of operations, providing them with critical skills to survive, operate and maintain their operational edge.

The C-130 Hercules is almost certainly the best-known military transport aircraft in the world, and, with its unrivaled production record, its outlived many of the far more glamorous fighters and other combat jets with which it might be (less than fairly) compared. Despite many epic missions flown during its long service career and some remarkable attributes of its own, we dont so often get to hear from those who have flown it.

On such pilot, former Capt. Scott Bateman MBE, learned his way around the legendary Hercules during an 18-year career with the U.K. Royal Air Force . After joining the service in 1990, the first part of his career saw him as an air loadmaster on the Hercules. In 1997, he was selected to train as a pilot, giving him a very different perspective on the C-130. In the process, he experienced the transition from the old C-130K (broadly equivalent to the U.S. Air Forces C-130E) to the current state-of-the-art C-130J.

Scott Bateman as a captain on a Hercules squadron in Afghanistan in 2003. via Scott Bateman

Scott had left the Royal Air Force before the controversial decision was made to withdraw the Hercules fleet. After 56 years of service, the last of the RAF's C-130Js were retired on June 30, 2023, leaving some big questions about the ability of their successor, the Airbus A400M Atlas , to take on the whole of the diverse mission set. More on that later.

Scotts first book, Hercules, is published today and he recently sat down for a virtual interview with TWZ to reflect on his relationship with the aircraft.

Face-to-face with a (noisy) giant

Id never really seen a Hercules before I got posted to one. Id kind of seen them around the periphery but Id never been inside one before I got posted [to RAF Lyneham, in England, the former U.K. Hercules master base] as an air loadmaster. Id been in a trainer, a mockup which they had at RAF Finningley. Really, the first time I arrived at Lyneham was the first time Id really seen one, and heres this aeroplane the size of a Boeing 737 and Im going to be in charge of everything thats behind the flight deck as a loadmaster. And you just think, Oh my god, this is enormous. And you compare it to the C-17 and the A400M Atlas now, and its not that big, but at the time, this was a big, big aeroplane for me, and a massive leap.

The other thing that strikes anyone whos flown in a Hercules is noise. It is the noisiest aeroplane ever. Its designed to carry freight, its not designed to carry people, so the creature comforts are few and far between. And that includes toilets. The toilet is a little honey bucket that sits six feet in the air and if you need to use it, it comes down. Its not the most glamorous of aeroplanes to fly as a passenger.

A Royal Air Force C-130J rests at RAF Brize Norton  its final base  during Exercise Tartan Spirit. Crown Copyright

The best view in the Air Force

I think the one thing that the C-130 has that no other aeroplane in the inventory has, and I include the C-17 and A400M, is the view out the flight deck  the view out the flight deck is amazing. Youve got so many windows: windows behind you, windows above you for when youre taking it into tight steep turns. You can look through the brow windows and also you can look down, through the two windows which are below your eye level.

I dont think Ive ever been in an aeroplane  until I flew the Airbus A350  with such a good view out of the flight deck. On all the others, looking out of the windows on the flight deck is kind of an afterthought. With this aeroplane, tactical awareness out of the window was a big thing. So big windows, lots of light. It was a real joy to fly in that respect.

The flight deck of a Royal Air Force C-130J conducting a supply run across the Middle East. Crown Copyright

Tracking the technological pace of change from the legacy Herk to the C-130J

If we look at the K-model or the E-model as the Americans would refer to it, it was built with late 1960s technology, and it didnt really change at all.

In terms of technology, when I first started out, the Hercules didnt even have GPS. We were using Doppler and Decca and LORAN C [a radio navigation system using low-frequency signals]. And you know, people look at you and say LORAN C? That was used for submarines, but we used it for aeroplanes as well. There would be someone with an oscilloscope back here, the navigator trying to figure out where you were. We actually had a periscope that we could put up, with a sextant to take star shots to find out where we were when we were out over the Atlantic.

Five of the first C-130K Hercules delivered to the U.K. Royal Air Force. Photo by Central Press/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Every airliner back in the 1980s had got rid of their navigators, got rid of their flight engineers, and moved onto glass cockpits and integrated avionics. The military have never really done that with the C-130 and I think when the J came out in the 2000s it was a chance for them to leap two or three generations of avionics and integration. It really is like comparing a 1970s Ford Fiesta to a Tesla in many respects, in terms of the leap in technology going from steam dials to glass panels, to head-up displays, to the integration of your flight management computer where the pilots can manipulate all this information. There is now a lot of automation: you put the data in and you follow the 'pink string' [a route line shown on the cockpit displays] whereas back in the day, we were literally using a map and the Mk 1 eyeball and a navigator using Doppler in the back. All those things are gone but gone for the right reasons.

The C-130J also brought full integration of night-vision goggles from the outset, which was an afterthought on the E or the K models, and which really makes it a super-capable platform. If you look at most head-up displays, theyre quite small. The one introduced in the C-130J is enormous and I think that really was one of the great things  it put all this stuff in front of you. Being able to get rid of the navigator and the flight engineer was a blow to the socializing, but actually, it made it a better aeroplane.

A U.K. Royal Air Force C-130J Hercules. Crown Copyright

More than just a Super Hercules

The shape of the J-model is the same stalwart shape of the legacy Hercules because the shape worked and the wing worked. What didnt work was the engines: engine technology had leaped forward four or five generations.

Its like apples and oranges, they look a little bit similar from the outside but actually, at heart the C-130J is so different that it makes it almost a different aeroplane. They called it the Super Hercules but actually, it wasnt really a Hercules, it was a clean-sheet design for something much better, with FADEC-controlled engines , which were a massive improvement.

A U.K. Royal Air Force C-130J Hercules takes off from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, during Operation Shader, the U.K. effort to defeat ISIS. Crown Copyright

On the E-model or the K-model, you could easily over-torque or overtemperature the engines. You just cant do that on the J. You just ram the thrust levers to the end, and you let the FADEC sort it out. I can guarantee, you did that in the K-model and the flight engineer would hit you across the head with his ruler so hard that you would never touch the thrust levers again.

The hardest missions, high and low

Two different types of missions spring to mind in terms of the very different challenges they presented, for different reasons.

The first one is HALO [high-altitude, low-opening parachute] drops. High-altitude parachuting is a very niche skill, only a few crews held the qualifications to be able to do those flights. And the process of getting people to that altitude to be able to open the doors and allow them to jump out is exceptionally complex. Its done with great care and safety because youre dealing with humans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop\u0026v=qlSCceijblY

For me, dropping HALO troops is a really complex function. Its not just climb up to an altitude and they jump out and thats it. Theres a lot that goes into getting to that altitude and that point where you can open the door, and someone can jump out. Not that I would want to jump out from that altitude  or any altitude!

British soldiers from the 3rd Parachute Brigade jump from a C-130J during the 16 Air Assault Brigade Exercise Joint Warrior at West Freugh Airfield, Stranraer, Scotland in April 2012. PETER MUHLY/AFP via Getty Images

A C-130J, carrying a total of 80 paratroopers, delivers the soldiers during an exercise in Jordan. Crown Copyright



The other really challenging mission, I think, is dropping heavy loads. So things like what they call the Medium Stress Platform [MSP]. Youre looking at something near 20 tons. Two platforms, 10 tons each, going out in probably under two seconds. This is complex to rig for the loadmaster, so the loadmaster takes hours and hours to rig this load to make it work. In terms of the space, there are roughly three inches around this load within the airframe and, when it leaves, and it goes from zero to 150 miles an hour in about three feet.

https://www.twitter.com/thinkdefence/status/1560288625010638849

Basically, a massive parachute deploys out the back of the aeroplane, the load stands still, and you fly off, in essence. The load has a cable inside that basically holds on until it gives way and that means that the load has enough impetus to go straight out and wont tip over and take your tail off. So youre a heavy aeroplane, at exceptionally low level, at exceptionally high weight, and trying to maneuver to get this load in the right place. Those kind of heavy loads that are complex are the most challenging to fly accurately and it takes masses of capacity to fly those accurately. And thats why you see now, big heavy loads like boats, for example, arent dropped from the A400M.

The view from the rear ramp of a U.K. Royal Air Force C-130J during a training sortie over the Mediterranean. Crown Copyright

When the RAF first got the C-130, it had no self-defense measures to speak of

When we bought the aeroplane back in the late 1960s and it was delivered in the early 1970s, it was never envisaged that this would be a tip of the spear asset. This would never be a tactical aeroplane. It was always going to be the removals van, and it was always going to move stuff from the base to the front-line-ish, but never go across the front line.

The Falklands changed that initially. You had fighters that were challenging Hercules. We also needed an air-to-air refueling capability which was literally designed from stuff they found in a scrapyard.

In 1982, a number of C-130K Hercules were converted to single-point tankers to support the Falklands airbridge from Ascension Island and air defense operations from Mount Pleasant airfield. Here, one of those aircraft refuels a Nimrod MR2 maritime patrol aircraft. Crown Copyright

If the first step change was the Falklands , then the next step change was the beginning of the 1991 Gulf War . The first night, they went in with no defensive aids. When we were first going in there on that first night, we had pilots who didnt even have flak jackets. The aeroplane wasnt armored in any way, shape, or form from small arms fire. We had crew members sitting on chains which they put in the seat bottoms to give them some protection if somebody was shooting from below. Not sure if that would have worked, but in their mind a steel chain wrapped there was going to give them more protection than not.

A poor-quality but rare photo of a U.K. Royal Air Force C-130K Hercules in desert camouflage during the Gulf War in 1991. Crown Copyright

I think after that initial experience in the Gulf where people went Hang on a minute, the Brits have got nothing, this is quite embarrassing, I think that was the second step change. Then we saw real investment in the platforms  particularly what they called 'the mini fleet.'

The mini fleet, which was six aircraft, was hugely invested in. They had an enhanced vision system  a linked infrared vision system, we ended up with MX-15 turrets, and we had proper armored flight decks, which was fantastic. And then we started to go from having the infrared countermeasures that we had for beating the surface-to-air missile threat in Northern Ireland  which were nothing more than a big infrared lamp if Im being honest  to seeing things DIRCM and LAIRCM becoming available on the aircraft.

Armorers fitting flares on a C-130J at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, in February 2014. Crown Copyright



DIRCM for us was the biggest leap forward really, linking that in with MAWS [missile approach warning system], it was really, really great. But we didnt see ESF [Explosive Suppression Foam] come in. And actually, thats a theme throughout my book. ESF was really never thought of as being required for the aeroplane because it was never going into that threat environment. But sadly it did, and we lost an aircraft , in Iraq, in part perhaps because ESF wasnt fitted. Im not saying the aircraft wouldnt have been downed, but theres a school of thought, and I subscribe to that, that ESF perhaps would have prevented that accident.

Going to war in the Herk

Actually, I think every time I got behind the column, some people would say that was the scariest mission for them!

But I think Afghanistan was really the scariest for me. Every day you faced a threat. I was there very early in the conflict, way before the likes of Camp Bastion [the largest postwar operational British military base ] were even thought of, never mind built. There was only one aeroplane in theater at the time and we were working quite hard both day and night. Flying in daylight in Afghanistan in a Hercules came with a unique set of threats, not only from an environmental viewpoint

British troops disembark from a Hercules at Camp Bastion in southern Afghanistan. Crown Copyright



The threat from proper surface-to-air missiles was greater in Iraq, but for daylight missions in Afghanistan, RPGs and small arms were a really serious threat and most of the airfields we were going to were not protected. So they didnt have a protection zone around them. These airfields are, in some cases quite rudimentary. So youre arriving, picking some people up, and taking them somewhere else because they cant drive there because its so dangerous.

Flying in the daylight in Afghanistan was the most challenging, and people took potshots at you and youd see the occasional RPG, but touch wood, we were very fortunate and didnt get anywhere near any hits.

Hugging the terrain in Afghanistan. via Scott Bateman



The mystique of 47 Squadron  just dont call it Special Forces

47 Squadron seems to have this legend that goes around, but were just humans.

The final iteration of the squadron started off back in the 1970s having a small group within it. That group got bigger and bigger and eventually, by the late 2000s, the entire squadron was dedicated to supporting specialist troops. And the squadron had two tiers within it. A tier one support and a tier two support. I was never tier one, I was in the other part, what they called the main squadron.

Pilots from 47 Squadron ready their C-130J Hercules for takeoff during Exercise Askari Storm in Kenya in 2020. Crown Copyright

I hate to use the word elite, but its role was seen as elite. We aircrews were not elite in any way shape or form. But the role was certainly a niche role, that parts of the squadron fulfilled. And I think globally, because of that, like 7 Squadron in the Chinook world , it has a bit of mystique around it which people are always willing to fuel. Because why wouldnt you fuel that mystique?

But the squadron had humble beginnings back in Khartoum in 1917-18. That is where it did its first missions as a squadron.

If you wear the flag, youre in the gang

The squadron is unique in the Royal Air Force in that it is the only squadron to have ever fought under its own flag. So if you see 47 Squadron members, they will wear a tricolor flag which is red, blue, and yellow, which theyre allowed to wear instead of the Union Jack. This is because the squadron, back in the days of the Russian Revolution, was officially disbanded and became something called A Flight, which fought in the Revolution on behalf of the U.K. The squadron commander was even appointed as the first governor of Crimea, which is bizarre if you look at where we are politically now.

Scott (right) on the flight deck during his first tour on 47 Squadron. Note the unique tricolor flag on the flight suit of the pilot on the left. via Scott Bateman

After being rebadged as 47 Squadron, the crown essentially gave them the right to retain the flag, which actually adds to that mystique around it: if you wear the flag youve been in the gang.

A unique camaraderie

Other communities within the RAF probably look upon Hercules guys and girls as dirty, smelly, propeller types! But I think that every squadron is a community. Whether youre on a fast-jet squadron or a helicopter squadron, that is your family and I think if you are deployed with the same people all of the time, you get to know those people really well.

The Hercules has such a big crew  sometimes you could be going away with seven or eight people as a crew, with the ground support staff, ground engineers  you could be living with these people for months. I think that helps to gel the squadron into lots of little groups, and then youll mix that group with this group, so not only do you work with these people, you live with these people. You understand their fears, their loves, their joys, all of these things, and I dont think that anyone whos not been in that environment would understand that camaraderie.

You wouldnt get that in an office.

Scott Bateman (on the right) as an air loadmaster in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1992. via Scott Bateman

I have, even now, absolute trust in the people that I worked with. We still see each other today, even though Ive been out of the Royal Air Force for 16-17 years now. On a daily basis, I will text buddies who I was in there with. It makes bonds for life.

Joshua Shani: My Hercules hero

Lt. Col. Joshua Shani, Israeli Air Force, was the lead pilot of the Entebbe Raid, in July 1976. This was by far the largest and most audacious raid that anyone has ever done in a Hercules. Shani led a formation of four C-130s and he was 29 years old when he did that. The raiders saved every hostage that was at the airport. Only one of the special forces troops was killed  Yonatan Netanyahu, Benjamins brother.

Entebbe is, for me, the most audacious raid ever. Nothing anyone else has done really gets anywhere near that.

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Minister of Defense Shimon Peres welcome the hostages from the Air France flight that was hijacked to Entebbe in Uganda before being released by the Israel Defense Forces in Operation Thunder Ball. IDF

The A400M: Good, but not quite a Hercules replacement

The A400M, from its outset, was never designed to be a Hercules replacement. Lockheed Martin was a key partner when the A400M was being designed, but that kind of slips peoples minds, that Lockheed was part of that coalition. And the A400M was marketed as a gap-filler between the C-130 and the Transall at one end, and the C-17 at the other end  there was nothing else in that mid-market air transporter range. And the A400M had the ability to be a tactical aeroplane and a strategic airlifter. There was just nothing else in that group, once the C-141 was gone.

So this was a new, clean-sheet idea and for that its amazing.

What its metamorphosized into, for some reason, and I imagine thats related to politics and cost, is that this is going to be a replacement for the C-130. If we look at other countries that have kind of followed that, for example, Germany, the Luftwaffe thought theyd replace their Transalls with the A400M, but theyve decided that now theyre going to have C-130Js too .

A U.K. Royal Air Force A400M Atlas (left) and a C-130J during Exercise Tartan Spirit. Crown Copyright

Because the A400M just isnt a direct replacement. It is a tactical air transporter that has turboprops but otherwise, its in a completely different category. It can go further, faster, and carry more. And that's the RAFs mantra and I get that, but the thing it cant do is some of the niche capabilities that the C-130 can. It cant stop as quickly on rough surfaces. Its only recently been cleared to land on sand. Paratrooping from it is a challenge. Although they can do side-door paratrooping it is challenging because of the airflow coming off of the aircraft. As for some of the more niche loads like dropping boats, well, the U.K. Ministry of Defense is currently tendering for a capability to do that, because the A400M cant do that currently.

There are some capabilities that will come, I have no doubt that they will come, in time. But what the Royal Air Force particularly has done, theyve retired this capability before the next one is ready to take over. The A400M will get there, its just not there yet, which is a sad thing.

The only C-130 replacement is another C-130

I think the United Kingdom will buy more Hercules. Honesty, I think well get to that point.

I don't think well ever go back to a large fleet of C-130s, but I think well do perhaps what the Germans have done and buy a small fleet, a mini fleet for niche capabilities. The kind of stuff that the A400M is unlikely without significant investment to be able to do. Its stuff it was never designed for, to be honest. Trying to push that onto an airframe that was never designed for that is just folly, and youll end up spending a lot of money and not actually getting anything.

A U.K. Royal Air Force C-130J photographed over the runway at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. Crown Copyright

This year the Hercules celebrates 70 years of continuous production, a world record for any military aeroplane. I think that the C-130J will expand into other roles. The J-model, and particularly the Special Forces MC-130J Commando II , is in big demand, huge demand. I think well see more of those come off the line for USAF.

I also think well see more European operators going back to it. The only real competition at the moment is the Embraer KC-390 in that market niche and I think that really hasnt got much legs beyond some smaller countries.

I think 50 years from now, well still see Hercules coming off the line.

So, youve been selected as a C-130 pilot

My advice for Hercules pilots? Learn to love sausage rolls and drink more tea.

There was a real generational shift from the K-model, on which all we did was drink tea and eat sausage rolls.

The J-model, when we moved away from Gen X into Gen Z, it was all about drinking water and going on the Peloton.

But seriously, I think if youve got the chance to fly a Hercules now, just enjoy it. Its the most forgiving and beautiful aeroplane to fly.

Enjoy your time because it will be too short.

Scott Batemans book, Hercules , is published on May 23, 2024, by Penguin.

Contact the editor: thomas@thewarzone.com
Can Congress do anything about the rise in antisemitism on college campuses?

Supporters of Israel demonstrate at George Washington University, where pro-Palestinian students protest over the Israel-Hamas war, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Washington. | Jose Luis Magana

In the days and weeks following the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel, when more than 1,200 people were killed  most of them civilians  the reactions on college campuses, including some students and professors who seemingly cheered the attacks, shocked many.

In nearly 50 years of @Harvard affiliation, I have never been as disillusioned and alienated as I am today, former Harvard President Lawrence Summers wrote on X on Oct. 9. The silence from Harvards leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel.

On Oct. 25, the U.S. House passed a resolution condemning the Hamas attacks in a 412-10 vote, with nine Democrats and one Republican opposed.

In the months since, several more resolutions have passed in the House and/or Senate, including one condemning Hamas for sexual violence, calling on Hamas to release hostages, and condemning antisemitism on college campuses.

Utah Rep. Burgess Owens has spoken out repeatedly about the rise in antisemitism, including in hearings held in the House Committee on Education & the Workforce. Another hearing, featuring the presidents of Rutgers, Northwestern and the University of California Los Angeles, will be held Thursday.

In an interview with the Deseret News on Wednesday, Owens said he sees the increasing hatred expressed toward Jews and Israelis on college campuses as part of a larger problem.

We need to continue to let people know that what were up against is not just something that happened on Oct. 7. We have administrators, we have people in DEI offices, and indoctrination of divisiveness and hatred. We have allowed them to come into our college campuses, and increase what it costs to go to college, he said.

Owens said he doesnt think things will change until the American people educate themselves on what is going on, and he thinks Republicans in the House, by shining a light on the issue, are doing their part to increase understanding of the issue.

Rise in antisemitism

Since Israel responded to the Hamas attacks by launching a war in Gaza, displacing an estimated 1.5 million people, and leading to thousands of civilian deaths, students on college campuses across the country have held anti-war and anti-Israel rallies. At times, these rallies have included antisemitic incidents.

Hillel International, a global Jewish student organization, said since Oct. 7, there have been 1,597 reports or antisemitic incidents on college campuses, a 700% increase compared to last year. Even before the explosion in incidents this year, Jews were already the target of the highest number of religion-based hate crimes, according to the latest FBI hate crime statistics.

In response to the rise, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights has filed lawsuits on behalf of Jewish students against university administrators at a number of colleges, including Harvard University, UC Berkeley Law, American University and the University of Vermont.

What can Congress do about antisemitism?

But there is, of course, a limit to what Congress can do to combat hate on college campuses, whether thats against Jews, Muslims or any other students.

Owens said he thinks Congress should withhold funds from college campuses that allow antisemitism and other bigotry to fester. But while legislation along those lines may pass the Republican-controlled House, it is unlikely to clear the Democratic-controlled Senate or White House.

Other attempts to address antisemitism in Congress have also received pushback.

Earlier this year when the House passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which would define antisemitism in federal law, the legislation was criticized by lawmakers and others across the political spectrum.

In a column in the Free Press, conservative Christopher F. Rufo and progressive Jenin Younes wrote: Existing laws against trespassing, violence, and property destruction are sufficient to deal with unlawful expressions of antisemitism on campus. And campus codes of conduct, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, religion, and ethnicity, cover much else.

Hate speech provisions, on the other hand, are unnecessary, ill-defined, and often in conflict with fundamental First Amendment rights, they said.

Owens: DEI programs to blame for antisemitism, other prejudice

The other power Congress has is to call on Americans to testify in front of legislative committees, which has led to the testimonies of several college presidents and administrators in the House this year  including the presidents of Harvard, Penn and MIT, who faced withering criticism over their responses to questions.

Owens, who has participated in most of these hearings, said what has come to light during the hearings has shown the problems on college campuses, where progressive ideologies have been taught to students, including that Jews are oppressors, as part of diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

We are at a time now where we understand our education is at risk, he said.

Americans are losing trust in universities after witnessing the protests on campuses, he said.

Weve got to end this, taxpayer dollars shouldnt pay for that kind of craziness, he said of DEI programs, which he said also teach Black Americans to hate white Americans. I have seen it. But we just call it teaching  one race to hate another, not matter what race, what religion. Thats not the American way.

He also criticized the way students have protested the war in Gaza, saying the vandalism associated with student encampments on campus shows they feel entitled, they dont understand respect for other peoples property.

And this is where its up to us to make sure that were teaching accountability, he said.
This congressional candidate called herself a renter. But she actually owns a $1.2m home

Maggie Goodlander, a former Biden White House official who is running for New Hampshires 2nd District Congressional seat, has described herself as a renter despite owning a $1.2m home (Maggie Goodlander for Congress)

A former senior adviser in Joe Biden's White House is running for a congressional seat in New Hampshire and has presented herself as a voice for renters in a government filled with homeowners.

I am a renter, and there should be more renters in Congress, Maggie Goodlander, whose husband Jake Sullivan serves as the White House national security adviser to President Biden, told The Boston Globe when she tossed her hat in the ring.

She's right  approximately half of congressional leaders are millionaires, and members of Congress are far more likely to be homeowners than the general American.

Whats up for debate is whether she can really count herself among the renters.

According to an analysis by The Daily Beast, Ms Goodlander and Mr Sullivan own a home worth more than $1.2m in a posh, historic seaside neighborhood in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Ms Goodlander is running for New Hampshire's 2nd District. Portsmouth is in the state's 1st District, but federal law only requires congressional candidates to reside in the state, not the district, they hope to represent.

Maggie Goodlander, a former Biden White House official who is running for New Hampshires 2nd District Congressional seat, has described herself as a renter despite owning a $1.2m home (Maggie Goodlander for Congress)

Ms Goodlander, is, however, renting a home in Nashua, according to the Concord Monitor.

She also told voters and the press that her family has been part of the Nashua community for over 100 years, but her parents sold their property in that district in 2008.

The last time Ms Goodlander voted in the district was during the 2008 primary and presidential elections. She voted absentee in both.

A donor and Democratic adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Daily Beast the situation made them uneasy.

She didnt live in that district, and if that isnt the definition of carpetbaggerthats kind of harsh, but it doesnt sit right with me, the donor said.

Billy Shaheen, husband of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and a power broker in the state's political world, said elected officials at the congressional level were often transient and did not agree that the carpetbagger label should be applied to Ms Goodlander.

I dont think anyone will hold it against her, because we all travel around, he told The Daily Beast.

Ms Goodlander is hoping to pick up the seat left open by the departure of Congresswoman Annie Kuster.

Ms Kuster has endorsed Ms Goodlander's Democratic opponent, Colin Van Ostern. The two will face off in the states primary on 10 September.

Ms Goodlander recently said in an interview that, if she were elected, one of her top priorities early on is to address the high cost of living in her district. She said a lot of our laws that were designed to protect consumers and workers have not been updated in years, and needed to be in order to reflect the conditions of the modern US economy, WMUR reports.

When asked if her beliefs deviated at all from the Biden White House, she admitted that she believed the president could be tougher on China.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is reportedly planning to attend the D-Day events in France in early June, as well as the G7 leaders' meeting in Italy. The head of state will use these events to call on the West to send more aid to fight Russia. He also allegedly plans to ask NATO to shoot down Russian missiles.

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This was reported by Politico, citing two sources. It is about the events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the landing of Western allies in Normandy.

Journalists write that the Ukrainian president's schedule is always subject to change, but if all goes according to plan, Zelensky is expected to use the trip to call for more military support from the West and ask NATO to shoot down Russian missiles, as the US and Britain did when Iran attacked Israel.

He will also demand that the United States and European countries confiscate Russian assets to help fund Ukraine's defense and post-war reconstruction.

"Zelensky's plans are particularly noteworthy as he recently canceled trips abroad after Russia launched a major offensive in the Kharkiv region. But Ukraine is also in desperate need of continued support and global attention, and this trip will give him the opportunity to meet with world leaders, including President Joe Biden, to advocate for his country's interests," the newspaper writes.

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Then, according to journalists' sources, Zelensky plans to travel to Italy for the G7 meeting.

"For several months, the group members have been debating the feasibility of using hundreds of billions of confiscated Russian assets to bolster Ukraine's defense and economy, citing legal issues and fears that Moscow could do the same to Western countries. The United States and Britain have strongly supported the idea, while some European members, such as Germany, are more skeptical," the article says.

This issue stirred up the previous meeting of the G7 finance ministers, at which European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde strongly opposed the full confiscation of Russian assets to provide a loan to Ukraine.

Zelensky is likely to use this opportunity to speak to heads of state and government to try to convince those who doubt him.

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"If there is $300 billion in the world, why not use it?" he said in January.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, French President Emmanuel Macron announced an increase in aid to Ukraine, including the supply of military equipment. He also warned that if Moscow goes too far, Europe must be ready to act to protect the world.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
President Joe Biden is expected to announce a new policy that would allow him to close the southern border between certain points of entry  effectively mirroring a provision in the Senate's bipartisan border bill that has already infuriated progressives.

That step, confirmed by a half-dozen people familiar with the administration's planning, is expected to come after Mexicos June 2 presidential election. It would give Biden the power to close the border if illegal crossings exceed a certain daily threshold, though a White House official said that until a final decision is made on any policy moves, the timing and details could shift.

And its guaranteed to further split Democrats, given that liberal lawmakers have publicly blasted party leaders for forcing a new Senate vote this week on a border package that the GOP blocked in February. The left isnt alone in its fury; centrist Democrats are angry that negotiations on immigration have ground to a halt. Republicans are angry at Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for teeing up a vote that is widely seen as bound to fail.

Border politics are headed straight to the gutter of campaign trail attacks now, with no goodwill left between even both parties known dealmakers on immigration  with the situation unlikely to change after Election Day.



Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), who opposed the border bill earlier this year and will do so again during Thursdays test vote, said hes already repeatedly aired his frustration with the White House over its proposed border policy changes.

I certainly hope this isnt the new starting position for Democrats in future negotiations on immigration, Padilla said. I made that concern very clear to my colleagues, Leader Schumer and to the White House.

Despite many progressives sense of a frayed relationship with Bidens team when it comes to the border, White House officials are standing by Schumers decision to push the second bound-to-fail vote. They see it as a way to give Democrats as much runway as possible to hammer Republicans for voting against the deal in February at Donald Trumps behest.

This week has seen a steady drumbeat of attacks from the White House leading up to the Senate vote. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday opened the press briefing with another call for Republicans to pass the border bill.

"Its now up to Republicans in Congress  do you actually want to do something to solve the problem? Or would you rather use it as a political issue? she asked.

In addition, administration officials see Bidens slated bid for unilateral action next month as another means for showing voters that he used all of his available tools to try to tackle surging migration before his fall rematch with Trump. The Biden administration has already announced new actions this month to speed up the asylum system, but officials have also continued to argue that without congressional action, policy changes from the White House wont truly ease things at the border.

We recognize that there are limits to what any administration can do in the space with executive action. We have seen the surges of migration now occur regularly under the last three administrations of presidents of both parties. And you see presidents of both parties using their executive authorities to address it, said a senior administration official.

What we really need here, and we continue to call for, is Congress to do its job and to take up and pass the Senate bipartisan border security legislation.

For lawmakers who have struggled for decades to achieve any consensus on immigration, however, it's tough to see room for legislative movement any time soon, no matter who's in the White House and no matter the professed sense of urgency.

Months of Senate border negotiations over the winter ended in a package that imploded on the floor, wasting time in both chambers. Campaign committees are left to salivate at the chance to bombard their bases with messaging about the lack of action being the other party's responsibility.

I have conversations behind the scenes with Republicans. I'm trying to get something done. And in most of the responses, there's just no appetite to really do anything to fix it, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.), who is staunchly opposed to the Senate border bill, said in a brief interview.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), meanwhile, spoke for many Republicans in slamming Schumer for scheduling Thursday's vote.

"If Schumer is playing this game, then he's not interested in" progress, Tillis said. "If he were seriously considering trying to mount a bipartisan effort, hed reach out to people like me, and others who have tried to show some flexibility on the border. ... He didn't do that. He just announced he was going to run it again."

Schumer this week maintained the vote is a genuine attempt at solving the problem at the border on a bipartisan basis.

The White House's planned June move won't cover all the elements of the Senate's doomed bill, but the expected executive order's alignment with a major provision of the border legislation shows how far things have fallen since the winter.

About five months ago, Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) holed up in the Capitol over the holiday break to hash out a compromise that all three acknowledged was a long shot, designed to unlock GOP support for new aid to Ukraine. Both parties Senate leaders were backing the talks, and senators outside of the group were largely locked out, left to put their trust in the process.

These days, many on both sides still feel burned by the outcome.

They told to us back off, that James Lankford is the one who's gonna bargain the agreement for the Republicans, and we're standing by what he comes up with, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said of the GOP. They certainly didn't do that, they walked away from it at Trump's direction.



The Hispanic Caucus, meanwhile, has asked for a meeting with the president but hasnt yet found a time, according to multiple people familiar with the situation. That's left Hispanic lawmakers feeling left out of the loop as the Biden administration pulls together its next steps, including the upcoming executive-branch action.

We just hope that the administration communicates with members on the border who are experiencing this humanitarian crisis firsthand, Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) said in an interview. We haven't heard anything yet. But we expect them to let us know at least  at the very least  let the Congressional Hispanic Caucus know and let the border members know as well.

Purple-district Democrats are making their own push for attention from the Biden administration to counter election-year attacks from Republicans centered on immigration. They're focused on issues they believe the administration can also tackle unilaterally, such as fentanyl funneled through the border.

Vulnerable Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.) called on the administration to do whatever is possible to address the border, while still holding out hope for an ever-elusive congressional accord.

We are certainly asking him to do everything he can within the confines of what executive action can do, Scholten said. But that is a very limited subset of the law. What we need to do, as members of Congress, is a legislative fix for the way that we treat asylum in this country.

And another swing-district lawmaker diverged notably from Democrats and the White House, who have sought to highlight Trumps opposition to the border bill to cast blame on the right for sinking the Senate's proposal.

Rather than just say it's Republicans' fault, I think the time is now for the administration to step forward and issue executive actions and prove to America that we want to address these issues, Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) said.

Jennifer Haberkorn and Burgess Everett contributed to this report.
A Conservative Group Has Filed A Lawsuit Against MIT For Its Women Of Color Program, Claims Its Discriminatory

A lawsuit has been filed against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The Equal Protection Project, which is under the Legal Insurrection Foundation, is suing MIT for its program supporting women of color, CRWN (The Creative Regal Women of kNowledge), according to Boston.com. The nonprofit claims that the program is exclusionary, discriminatory, and violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 because only undergraduate women of color can participate in the program.

We bring this civil rights complaint against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for creating, supporting and promoting a program for undergraduate students  called the Creative Regal Women of Knowledge, or The CRWN  that engages in invidious discrimination on the basis of race, color and sex, foundation founder William A. Jacobson wrote in the complaint, per the outlet.

In a follow-up statement, he added. It is sad and disheartening to see that institutions like MIT that receive federal funding are re-segregating the student body through exclusionary programs.

Although CRWN was created to inspire undergraduate women of color at MIT, the programs website notes that it remains open to all.

While our program is designed to support and celebrate undergraduate women of Color, participation is open to all students regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, and national origin, the website states.

Filing a lawsuit against MIT isnt the only legal battle that the Legal Insurrection Foundation has opened in 2024. As previously reported by AFROTECH, the conservative law and politics organization filed a federal complaint against Minneapolis, MN-based North Central University for its George Floyd Memorial Scholarship due to it requiring applicants to be Black or African American.

Discrimination against white applicants is just as unlawful as discrimination against black or other non-white applicants, said Jacobson and civil rights attorney Ameer Benno. Regardless of NCUs reasons for sponsoring and promoting the GFMS [scholarship], it is violating Title VI by doing so.
Americans dont want abortion to be banned. In fact, they barely want it legislated at all: A 2024 poll found that 81 percent of voters dont want abortion issues to be regulated by the government. Instead, they want the decision to be between a patient and their doctor.

That overwhelming support for legal abortion leaves Republicans with a major problem: How do you defend and push a policy that no one wants? In the nearly two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the GOP has faced an unprecedented backlash. Theyre losing election after election  from the 2022 midterms to state Supreme Court races  and abortion rights win every time they are on the ballot. Republicans are even considering doing away with the term pro-life because Americans view it as too extreme. The horror stories regularly coming out of states with abortion bans certainly dont help.

In response, anti-abortion lawmakers and groups have recently launched a new two-pronged attack. Theyre changing the way they publicly talk about abortion, using specific terms and phrases to make Americans believe that theyre softening on the issue; at the same time, theyre systematically chipping away at democracy so that voters wont have a say in the matter, just in case their talking points dont work.

Ive been tracking these tactics in my newsletter, Abortion, Every Day, since Roe was overturned, finding that the GOPs deception runs deeper than most people realize.

It wasnt long after the Supreme Courts 2022 decision, for example, that anti-abortion organizations and politicians stopped using the word ban. (James Bopp, general counsel for the National Right to Life Committee, called the term the big ban word.) Instead, they replaced it with words like standard and consensus.

It makes sense: I support a national consensus sounds a whole lot better than I support a national ban, especially given how unpopular Republicans bans are.

More recently, conservative lawmakers and activists are using the phrase the will of the people. Donald Trump used it when announcing that he believed abortion should be left to the discretion of the states, and Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, used the phrase six times in an interview with The New York Times. Like consensus, will of the people gives voters the impression that the GOP actually cares what Americans want.

And in a moment when so many states are using citizen-led ballot initiatives to restore and protect abortion rights, Republicans are also eager to claim that the will of the people is being represented by legislators  rather than voters having a direct say on an issue. Before the Supreme Court heard arguments this spring over lifesaving abortions in emergency rooms, for example, conservative legal powerhouse Alliance Defending Freedom accused the Biden administration of overrid[ing] the will of Idaho voters enacted through their elected representatives.

Anti-abortion lawmakers and the organizations directing them are desperate to hide the truth: They know Americans dont want abortion banned, and they simply dont care. In fact, theyre willing to pass bans at any cost to democracy, and to womens lives.

Consider the dirty tricks Republicans have pulled in every state where abortion has been on the ballot. In Ohio, not only did lawmakers try to raise the standards on ballot measures to require 60 percent of the vote instead of a simple majority, but Secretary of State Frank LaRose admitted to working with anti-abortion groups to craft a biased ballot summary. That means when voters went to the ballot box to decide on a pro-choice amendment, they didnt actually see the amendment as it was being proposed  but an anti-abortion interpretation of the measure. (Voters were so eager to restore abortion rights that the amendment won regardless.)

In Kansas, anti-choice groups sent out text messages to voters to Vote YES to protect womens health, even though a yes vote would have removed abortion protections. As pro-choice activists collected signatures to get abortion on the ballot in Missouri, anti-abortion groups warned voters via text messages that out-of-state strangers would try to steal their personal information by asking them to sign petitions. Missourians got texts instructing them to protect yourself from fraud & theft by not signing any petitions. This move came after the states attorney general held up abortion-rights advocates signature-gathering for months by refusing to sign off on a cost estimate for the ballot measure before being forced by the state Supreme Court to let it move forward.

In Arizona, Republicans took a different tack. After an 1864 ban was allowed to stand by the state Supreme Court, sparking a national backlash, Republicans decided to propose a ballot measure of their own in order to trick angry voters. A leaked GOP strategy document laid out the partys plan to introduce a ballot measure that sounded pro-choice in order to siphon votes away from the real abortion-rights amendment in the state. They even floated using names like the Arizona Abortion Protection Act and the Arizona Abortion and Reproductive Care Act.

Anti-abortion groups in Nebraska did much the same thing earlier this year: After the pro-choice group Protect Our Rights launched a ballot initiative, conservatives proposed a similar-sounding amendment that they called Protect Women and Children. They claimed the measure would protect abortion in the first trimester of a pregnancy. What they failed to mention is that Nebraska recently enacted a 12-week ban; that means passing their pro-choice amendment would actually enshrine a ban into the state constitution  making it nearly impossible to repeal.

All of these efforts  the fake ballot measures, text trickery, and the war on language  are being pushed precisely because Republicans know that Americans support abortion rights. They know they cant win on their own arguments and merits, so they try to lie and fool voters in order to win. As we speed toward the election this November, well see the same kinds of tactics from the Republicans running  including Trump, who is desperate to escape voters post-Roe fury.

But as dystopian as the attacks on democracy are, there is also good news. The anti-abortion future Republicans want for this country is a vision shared by only a handful of powerful extremists. The vast majority of us want peoples health protected, womens humanity and dignity intact, and personal health decisions to stay personal.

We quite literally have the power of the people on our side. We just have to be ready for a long-haul battle that doesnt stop with one state or one win. And we have to point out, again and again, that what the GOP is doing with abortion rights is being done against our wills.

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The federal judge overseeing Sen. Bob Menendezs corruption trial could soon blow a hole in prosecutors ability to prove their central claim: that he took bribes to help send billions of dollars of American military aid to Egypt.

Menendezs attorneys are arguing that some of the most damning evidence against him cannot be shown to jurors without violating lawmakers constitutional speech or debate privileges. Now prosecutors worry a pending ruling by Judge Sidney Stein could create a class of super citizens in Congress who are above the law.

Stein is considering whether jurors can see text messages and phone records that prosecutors say will show Egyptian officials were frantic about not getting their moneys worth and Menendezs wife boasted about her husbands influence over arms sales.

The constitutional fight has been brewing for months and will come up again and again during Menendezs trial, which started last week and is expected to last through June.



Menendez is charged with accepting bribes, including cash and gold bars, from a pair of New Jersey business people who hoped he would use his perch atop the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to help Egypt get American military aid and arms.

Prosecutors are already having to dance around some of Menendezs Senate actions because of the Constitutions speech or debate clause. It grants a form of immunity to lawmakers that is mostly impenetrable in investigations relating to the official duties of lawmakers, their aides or other congressional officials.

Stein has rejected Menendezs attempt to have the whole case thrown out. He ruled, citing precedent, that the constitution doesnt protect promises lawmakers make in exchange for bribes.

So while prosecutors can talk about alleged promises, they still cant talk about legislative acts themselves. That means the case is already convoluted. They could show evidence, if they have it, that Menendez promised to do something in exchange for bribes  but not show evidence about whether he actually did the thing he promised.

In this case, the fight is over whether Menendez took bribes to help Egypt obtain billions of dollars in military aid, which faced obstacles in the Senate, including holds placed on the funding by senators with power over aid and arm sales.

Prosecutors are trying to show jurors texts they believe show Menendez did this while defense attorneys are trying to exclude some of the same evidence, which they say is protected by the Constitution.

I understand this may be more challenging for the government to prove its case, Menendez attorney Avi Weitzman told the judge during an argument without jurors present. Weve said from the beginning that government cannot prove the case they promised.

Potential confusion for jurors

In Weitzmans view, the government can introduce evidence of a promise, but they cannot introduce activity that the senator takes in putting a hold, or lifting a hold, or someone else asking about a hold that he put on or didnt put on, in an effort to prove a corrupt agreement that we believe never existed.

Paul Monteleoni, one of the prosecutors trying Menendez, agreed in part about the legal standard in the Constitution.

But, Monteleoni told Stein, it is also not designed to make members of Congress super citizens immune from all criminal responsibility.

Attorneys are already being forced to resort to hypotheticals in court that could soon confuse jurors, if they havent already. This week, for instance, a former State Department official called as a witness gave lengthy testimony about Egyptian arm sales but only barely mentioned Menendez because of the speech or debate restrictions.

Jury confusion could increase as future witnesses will be unable to talk what Menendez did or didnt do while taking legislative action.



In coming weeks, prosecutors plan to refer to language from a news article about a hold Sen. Patrick Leahy put on arm sales to Egypt that Menendez uses in an email to his now-wife, Nadine. But even though Leahy is a former senator, his actions are also protected by the speech or debate clause. So in front of the jury, attorneys plan to refer to Leahy as not Menendez or a pseudonym.

Stan Brand, a former counsel to the House of Representatives who has argued a bunch of speech or debate cases, said the notion that the constitutional clause walls lawmakers off from accountability is wrong, but prosecutors being allowed to introduce privileged evidence creates grounds for Menendez to appeal.

They are tying themselves in knots and if the judge sustains it, its going to put a big hole in their case, and if he doesnt, Menendez is going to have a great appeal, Brand said.

Prosecutors face a gauntlet of constitutional issues to convict Menendez and make it stick. The speech or debate issues are separate from the challenge presented by what counts as an official act following a Supreme Court ruling that overturned former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnells conviction. The high court found that setting up a meeting, calling another public official, or hosting an event does not, standing alone, qualify as an official act.

So, on the one hand, legislative acts that are clearly official acts cannot be talked about directly; and on the other, actions that are not legislative acts  like a Menendez call trying to brush back a USDA inquiry into a friends Egyptian meat monopoly  may not be deemed significant or substantial enough to qualify as official acts.

Key text messages for prosecutors

There are at least two slices of Egypt-related evidence that the defense wants Stein to keep from the jury on speech or debate clause grounds. Prosecutors have called the evidence critical to parts of their case.

First, prosecutors say they have a Sept. 9, 2019, text message from an Egyptian official to one of the business people accused of bribing Menendez that shows Egypt worried that Menendez put a hold on a billion dollars in aid to the country. According to prosecutors, the business person, Wael Will Hana, then tried to reach Nadine, who was dating Menendez at the time. Hana then called Fred Daibes, another business person accused of bribing Menendez. Daibes called the senator and then called Hana. Within minutes, Hana texted the Egyptian official saying Menendez said it wasnt true that hed put a hold on the aid.



Prosecutors also said they have great evidence that they know they cant use about what really happened. According to prosecutors, after Menendez got this inquiry, he went to talk to a staffer who placed the hold and told her to lift it.

The second piece of evidence is a January 2022 text message that Nadine sent Hana with a link to an article she received from the senator about pending foreign military sales totaling $2.5 billion. Bob had to sign off on this, she wrote, according to prosecutors.

Monteleoni said the text implied Menendez wanted to let Egypt know to keep the bribes flowing, and he is going to keep giving you what you want on the military aid.

Menendez and his co-defendants, Daibes and Hana, have all pleaded not guilty.

Attorneys for Menendez have portrayed his actions to aid Egypt as consistent with long-standing American interests. Since the 1978 Camp David Accords, which brokered peace between Egypt and Israel, Egypt has been the No. 2 recipient of American military aid  second only to Israel.
Paul Carpenter, pictured, a New Orleans magician, says he was commissioned to create the robocall by Kramer.

Paul Carpenter, pictured, a New Orleans magician, says he was commissioned to create the robocall by Kramer. Photograph: Matthew Hinton/AP

Steve Kramer, a political consultant who admitted that he deepfaked Joe Bidens voice in a robocall that was sent out to thousands of US voters in January 2024, has been indicted and fined $6m.

The robocall, which went out ahead of the first Democratic presidential primary in the US in New Hampshire, used artificial intelligence to fake Bidens voice telling voters to stay home and save their votes for the November general election.

Ten criminal charges were filed against Kramer out of Rockingham County on 22 May, including allegations of bribing, intimidation and impersonation of candidates, TV station WMUR in New Hampshire reported. Similar charges were filed in Merrimack and Belknap counties in New Hampshire, where others reported receiving the robocall.

Separately, the Federal Communications Commission announced on 23 May that it would fine Kramer $6m for the robocalls and also issued a $2m fine against Lingo Telecom, which is accused of transmitting the robocall.

It sounded like Joe Biden, and I was, like, Thats weird, and then as I listened more, Im like, It doesnt really sound like Joe Biden, Krista Zurek, who received one of the robocalls, told WMUR.

The robocall is the first reported deepfake to be used in US presidential politics. Various kinds of attempts at fakes in public life and politics have always been common  but deepfakes use artificial intelligence and various technological tools to copy voices or faces, for example, in ways that are often extremely convincing.

The incident in New Hampshire prompted the Federal Communications Commission to ban the use of robocalls  which utilize recorded voices on automated calls that dial multiple recipients simultaneously  using voices generated by artificial intelligence.

Related: US outlaws robocalls that use AI-generated voices

Because when a caller sounds like a politician you know, a celebrity you like, or a family member who is familiar, any one of us could be tricked into believing something that is not true with calls using AI technology, said the FCC chairwoman, Jessica Rosenworcel, in a statement on 23 May. It is exactly how the bad actors behind these junk calls with manipulated voices want you to react.

According to Kramer, he sent out the robocalls to advocate for the need to regulate artificial intelligence. He had previously worked as a contractor for Dean Phillipss failed presidential campaign, but both denied that the Phillips campaign had knowledge about the plan for the robocalls.

The creators of the robocall were unknown until a street magician named Paul Carpenter came forward to NBC News stating that he created the robocall for Kramer.

He said he provided text screenshots and Venmo payments to corroborate his account. Kramer later admitted his role in commissioning the robocall.

Kramer and two Texas companies involved in distributing the call are also being sued.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.  A registered sex offender from Swansea, Illinois, appeared in federal court to be sentenced for sexually exploiting a minor.

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Illinois said a federal jury convicted Dan R. Waeckerle Jr., 45, in January of soliciting an obscene visual depiction of a minor, transferring obscene matter to a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, and offense by a registered sex offender.

Woman and two children die in fiery crash on I-270

During trial, prosecutors showed Waeckerle had sexually explicit conversations with a 15-year-old through text messaging in July 2021. Waeckerle sent the minor a nude image, requested sexually explicit pictures in return, and talked about meeting up for sex.

Waeckerle previously had to register as a sex offender following a 2010 conviction for aggravated sexual abuse against a minor in Hamilton County, Illinois.

A U.S. District Court judge sentenced Waeckerle to 485 monthsmore than 40 yearsin federal prison. Waeckerle was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release and pay a $1,000 fine.

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Cooper vetoes bill that would let billboard companies cut more trees along NC roads

Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a bill Thursday that would have allowed the billboard industry to cut more trees along the states highways.

The bill also would have eliminated protections for redbud trees, which under current law cannot be cut on state highway right-of-way to improve the view of billboards.

In a statement announcing his decision, Cooper said protecting North Carolinas natural beauty should be a top priority, and that the bill, which received final approval Wednesday, undermines that.

North Carolinas scenic landscapes are one of the reasons why our state just broke records with our tourism economy, and why we have one of the most beautiful places in the world to live, he said. Therefore, I veto the bill.

The billboard provisions are part of House Bill 198, a larger piece of legislation known as an agency bill mostly containing changes requested by the state Department of Transportation. NCDOT did not ask for the billboard measure.

The bill would have expanded the view zone for each billboard. Under current state law, companies can remove trees and vegetation from up to 380 feet of the public right-of-way so that motorists can see a billboard. The bill would have set the view zone at 350 feet on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less and 500 feet on roads over 35 mph.

The billboard industry sought the changes because it said too many of its signs were obscured by trees growing on state property.

But environmental groups said the bill was unnecessary and would result in the loss of hundreds or thousands of trees. They said the view zone established by lawmakers in 2011 provides enough visibility for roadside signs. They also said the changes were pushed through the General Assembly without the kind of consensus developed around the earlier rules.

The North Carolina Sierra Club applauded Coopers veto.

Billboard blight has no place in North Carolina, a state justifiably famous for its scenic beauty, Erin Carey, the groups acting director, wrote in a statement. Todays veto was a critical show of leadership on behalf of natural beauty and environmental stability.

The House passed the bill a year ago by a wide margin, 108-8, but the Senate did not take it up until this spring. The Senate tinkered with the bill, though left the billboard provisions unchanged, and passed it 30-14 earlier this month.

The House approved the amended bill 65-38 on Wednesday.

Lawmakers can override a veto with support of three-fifths of those voting. The bill passed both chambers by more than that margin.

Three Republicans who head the Senate Transportation Committee issued a statement Thursday calling the bill bipartisan, compromise legislation.

Gov. Coopers partisan veto of this bill shows he values his relationship with Green New Deal liberal advocacy groups more than implementing good policy, they wrote. We look forward to overriding Gov. Coopers latest misguided veto.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Airport (COS) set a new record for April traffic this past month. COS announced on Wednesday, May 22 that there was a travel increase ahead of the summer months.

In April, the airport saw a total of 194,004 passengers travel through the terminal, which represents a 15.4% increase from last April. Enplanements were up by 15.6% year-over-year, with 97,293 travelers boarding a plane out of COS in April.

We have consistently seen an increase in traffic at COS, and as we approach the summer months, we anticipate that this trend will continue, said Director of Aviation Greg Phillips. This reflects the strong support of our community for our airport.

With a 10.2% year-over-year increase of seats available in April, totaling 118,774 seats for the month, COS saw a nice increase in enplanements and a 3.8 percent increase in load factors, averaging 81.9 percent for the month across all nonstop options.

This summer, seats are 6% higher from June through August than in the same period last year. New additions will also be available starting in May, with an array of new air service including nonstop flights to Burbank, Minneapolis and Baltimore.

Routes updates:

American Airlines: Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW)  Adding a 6th daily nonstop in May 2024

Avelo Airlines: Hollywood Burbank nonstop resumes Thursday, May 23

Sun Country: nonstop service to Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) starting Wednesday, June 5

United Airlines Three daily nonstop destinations coast-to-coast and worldwide Increasing to 12 nonstop flights to DEN effective May 2024

Southwest Airlines Daily nonstop to Baltimore/Washington starting Tuesday, June 4 Daily nonstop to Long Beach (LGB) Daily nonstop to Denver (DEN) with easy connections coast-to-coast Seasonal service to San Diego (SAN) and San Antonio (SAT) on peak days in November, December

Delta Airlines: Daily nonstop to Atlanta (ATL)  twice daily service beginning Tuesday, June 4 Daily nonstop to Salt Lake City (SLC) Seasonal service to Minneapolis starting Friday, June 7



For more information, flyCOS.com

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Road construction between Norris and Mammoth in Yellowstone National Park taken on June 7, 2017. (Photo by Jacob W. Frank/Courtesy of the National Park Service)

Tourists get to enjoy all the amenities of Missoula without having to pay local taxes for them, and Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick told lawmakers Wednesday he thinks they should pay their fair share.

Slotnick listed taxing tourists as one proposed solution the state could consider to help give some relief to residents, who recently saw a median property tax increase of 21%, during a presentation to the Local Government Interim Committee. Other solutions included tying property tax rates to median home prices in a county or shifting the tax burden to other tax classifications, like major industries operating in the state.

The Montana legislature has previously considered a local-option sales tax, as Sen. Mary Ann Dunwell, D-Helena, pointed out in the meeting, but the pressure on both parties to take action on property taxes is rising and may lead to action this time around.

Property taxes have become a major issue for Montana residents this year and a point of contention between counties and the state, each pointing the finger at the other for whos to blame for the rate increase. Two commissioners with separate party affiliations spoke to legislators as a way to move towards potential solutions.

Commissioner Joe Briggs, a Republican of Cascade County, joined Slotnick to say although the counties deliver your local tax bill, they are largely not responsible for the amount charged.

I would just hope that everybody remembers that we are acting as an agent of the state in this whole situation, Briggs said. Statute defines how we generate the tax bills.

Slotnick said the current tax system is for a Montana economy that no longer exists, with industrial sectors largely gone and home values rising.

We have homes that cost a lot, no industrial footprint, and two-and-a-half million tourists that came last year. We have to provide services to those folks, he said. So that tax system that was designed from the 1990s, it doesnt work.

If local voters support it, Briggs agreed with Slotnick that charging a local option tourist tax could help localities offset the expenses of services rendered to tourists who dont pay for them. But Briggs said it has to be done in a way that also includes drive through counties.

Theres a lot of counties that are separating Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, for example, and tourists do drive through and use those roads. They may or may not stop for fuel in any given county, so theres a sharing issue there, Briggs said.

Some smaller Montana communities do something similar, voting to establish a resort district, to charge taxes in heavily trafficked communities. However, they must be smaller than 5,500 people. These communities include Whitefish, Red Lodge, Virginia City, West Yellowstone, Big Sky, Craig, Cooke City, Gardiner, St. Regis, and Wolf Creek.

Briggs said one solution would be to put a sales tax on select items tourists would likely use and establish an Earned Income Tax Credit to pay residents back.

Slotnick said it could be done through one to one property tax relief.

If we raise a million bucks from tourists, we take a million dollars off of property taxes, Slotnick said, with a 10% carve out to give to those drive through counties.

He said there would be some overlap in a local sales tax, where residents would pay extra at restaurants and bars, but it would still be a massive net gain.

In Missoula County, for locals, at the end of the year you pay less money by having this tourist tax than you would without it in terms of your property taxes, Slotnick said.

He did concede that there would have to be thoughtful consideration for people who dont own property.

We need to figure out a way that if were going to credit families, they need to experience that credit the way they experience their economy, which is on a bi-weekly or month-to-month level, he said.

Another solution Slotnick discussed was to offset the increases to residential properties to other tax bases in the state like industry and big corporations.

If one classification gets a break, another classification gets added on to. It doesnt go away. Its like squeezing a water balloon, he said. And right now homeowners and renters are carrying the overwhelming load of this.

Slotnick said tax increases from residents covered tax deductions in other tax groups, like centrally assessed which he said covers pipelines, telecommunication companies, airlines, Northwestern Energy and railroads.

He said Missoula County saw a $50 million decrease from these industries this year, and noted how properties in different classifications saw huge increases and decreases in the same location.

Its because you didnt just pay your taxes. You covered the tax break for other property tax classifications, this system of 16 different classes that are all assessed differently and have a different tax rate, he said. This system has gone way out of balance.

Slotnick said theres a general confusion around property taxes and that people assume because the bill they received charged them 25% more, that the county received 25% more money, but thats not the case.

We gave our deputies a raise and kept the lights on, and thats pretty much it, he said.

He also pointed out that big spending doesnt always come from local tax dollars, giving the example of federal pandemic response grants Montana counties received.

Another suggestion Slotnick discussed was tying property tax rates to the median home price in a county.

If your house is worth more than that median home price, then the tax rate would go up, he said.

Briggs mentioned as he spoke to legislators that him and Slotnick working together was an Odd Fellows collaboration  with Briggs being a Republican from Cascade County and Slotnick a Democrat from Missoula.

A few years ago, if you had told me that Josh and I would be working together on an issue, I might have found that hard to believe, Briggs said. But the reality is taxation cannot be partisan.

The post County Commissioners propose taxing tourists to help residents with property taxes appeared first on Daily Montanan.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Newly released court documents are providing new information about the arrest of a man for an alleged arson attempt at Robinson Middle School in central Topeka.

The Topeka Police Department arrested a 28-year-old Topeka man on Sunday, May 5 just before 6 p.m. He was later charged with felony attempted arson of a property or building that is not a dwelling.

According to court documents, a police officer arrived at the school in the 1100 block of SW 14th Street to find a man bending over with what looked like a bottle and sock. The officer reported the man began to walk away but eventually stopped at an officers request and was taken into custody.

Police chase crosses county lines, ends in Jackson Co.

When the officer returned to where the man had been standing, he reported finding an open bottle of alcohol, two wet socks and broken glass on the ground. A witness told police she saw an individual standing by the doors of the school with something that appeared red and orange in his hand. She said the man threw that object at the school.

For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
On Thursday, May 23, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a regular Supreme Commander-in-Chief meeting. At the meeting, he listened to reports from Chief of Staff Oleksandr Syrskyi and Head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov.

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The Ukrainian leader said this on his Telegram channel. He also noted that the aggressor country wanted to pull Ukrainian troops back to the north and advance in the east.

After the report of the Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov and the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Oleh Ivashchenko, the president said that in addition to Russia's plans on the battlefield, intelligence officers had received a lot of data on the strategy to disrupt the Peace Summit. According to Zelenskyy, this has become the main task of Russian diplomacy and foreign intelligence for the near future.

"An in-person report from the Chief of the Main Command, Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was in Kharkiv region all these days and led the defense of the region. A complete picture of the fighting in the Kharkiv sector and Donbas. The intention of the occupiers is clear: to pull our forces to the north to advance in the east. We know how to respond," Zelenskyy said.

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He also noted that he had heard a report from Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on providing the army with everything it needs. According to the president, there are already certain schedules for the delivery of weapons from the already announced and expected aid packages from partners.

Earlier, the President of Ukraine also reacted to the enemy's cynical attack on Kharkiv, calling on partners to provide our country with more means of defense. Russian occupants fired at least 15 missiles at civilians.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Simon Case gave his much-anticipated evidence to the Covid Inquiry - Paul Grover/Paul Grover for the Telegraph

The head of the Civil Service has admitted to the Covid Inquiry that the Government failed to be open with the public about alternatives to lockdown.

Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, said there was a failure of transparency over what other options ministers looked at before locking down the nation for a second time.

Giving evidence, which had been delayed owing to illness, Mr Case compared officials making decisions in No 10 to boiling frogs who were trapped into a way of thinking that stopped them taking decisive action.

It also emerged that he privately told Boris Johnson to stop agreeing all the time with Rishi Sunak, the then-chancellor, urging him to assess factors other than the economy.

Mr Case replaced Sir Mark Sedwill as Cabinet Secretary in September 2020, becoming the youngest person ever to take the job at the age of 41, having been brought into Downing Street at the height of the pandemic as the prime ministers permanent secretary.

During nearly five hours of questioning, Mr Case was asked by Hugo Keith KC, lead counsel to the inquiry, if the Government had failed to show it had considered alternatives to lockdown in late 2020.

I think its a very fair criticism, he said. There were a number of occasions where this desire to have simple, clear unambiguous messages coming out of government about the strategy meant that there wasnt enough engagement on the alternatives.

I think this is a case where there could have been an explanation, there could have been more explanation of what wed done to explore alternatives and why they wouldnt work, it was a sort of failure of transparency.

Simon Case gives evidence at the inquiry - REUTERS

Mr Case claimed that Boris Johnson had found the decisions to introduce lockdowns difficult, and said he had not initially understood that the prime minister struggled on a deep ideological level with the idea of the mass locking up of the population.

He said that Mr Johnson was worried about the damage, as he saw it, that was being done to society through those big decisions on lockdowns.

Mr Case said that he and others in Downing Street became prisoners of our own thinking during the pandemic.

When it came to deciding what needed to be done to tackle surging Covid cases in autumn 2020, Mr Keith asked him if, put bluntly, you just couldnt see your way out of the sack that you were in.

Mr Case compared the situation to an expression that gets used about boiling frogs.

This idea that wed sort of got trapped into a way of thinking and wrestling that meant we couldnt actually see and take decisive action, he said. We were prisoners of our own mentality, which was that we were desperate to avoid another lockdown. There were all these attempts to try and come up with solutions and we were just prisoners of our own thinking.

Baroness Hallett, the inquiry chair, earlier heard how Mr Case privately told Boris Johnson to stop backing Mr Sunaks decisions during the pandemic, sending a WhatsApp that Mr Keith said told him to stop agreeing all the time with his own chancellor.

The inquiry heard that Mr Case told his boss, It cant always be you agreeing with Rishi. Mr Keith said that Mr Case was driven to WhatsApp your own prime minister to tell him that the relationship between him and his chancellor was being operated in such a way that you had to advise him, to stop agreeing all the time with his own chancellor.

Mr Case said this was reasonable because the chancellors job was to put forward the economic case, the economic argument and the prime ministers job is to balance other considerations.

The Cabinet Secretary said that it was no secret they were very different personalities and took decisions in different ways but that they had a good relationship as he was asked if bilateral meetings became places where the prime minister was bounced into a U-turn.

Mr Case told the inquiry that 'good people were just being smashed to pieces' - UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA

WhatsApps revealed that early in the pandemic Mr Case said Nicola Sturgeon was showing the UK Government how to do it in a discussion with Helen MacNamara, then the deputy cabinet secretary.

She had said she was horrified by secrecy in decision-making and said that there were suggestions of introducing different restrictions in different places which she likened to an experiment with peoples lives.

Mr Case replied: Nicola Sturgeon showing them how to do it. Honestly need to start being transparent about the issues and choices.

Other WhatsApps showed Mr Case complained that crisis + pygmies = toxic behaviours after Ms MacNamara said there was far too much ego and bitching going on.

He said it was a fair conclusion to draw that the WhatsApp was an observation on the abilities of individuals in the Cabinet Office and No 10.

Good people were working incredibly hard in impossible circumstances with choices where it seems there was never a right answer, he said.

But that lack of sort of a team spirit, the difficult atmosphere, we were trying to run everything from the centre of government, trying to run the response to a global pandemic.

There was a duplication of effort, overlapping of meetings and good people were just being smashed to pieces, he said.

In another WhatsApp Mr Case sent to Ms MacNamara in August 2020 he described the U-turn on exam results as the most awful governing I think Ive ever seen.

He added that lots of people should lose their head over the controversy, which saw the Government announce that A-level and GCSE results would no longer be determined by an algorithm and that pupils would instead receive grades their teachers predicted for them.

Mr Case's testimony concludes the oral evidence of the Covid Inquiry's second module, scrutinising government decision-making during the pandemic - UNPIXS

Asked what the root cause of the dysfunctionality was during the pandemic, Mr Case said they couldnt get the right balance of personalities and people and it took us too long to get those things right.

Mr Keith then asked why he had agreed that the Government failed at a number of fundamental levels.

Becoming emotional, Mr Case said: The language in those WhatsApps that weve discussed, they come out of a raw human in the moment, its not a roundly considered view in those moments. There were some dark days when it felt we just couldnt get it right.

Mr Cases testimony concludes the oral evidence of the Covid Inquirys second module, scrutinising government decision-making during the pandemic.

The inquiry will not hear evidence again until September when it examines healthcare systems, but will report back on its first investigation into pandemic preparedness over the summer.

Lady Hallett said she wanted to assure the public that the inquiry teams for each module had begun work on producing our analysis of the evidence.

She added that the inquiry was close to publishing its report for module one, which examined pandemic preparedness.

04:38 PM BST

The live blog on the Covid Inquiry has now ended. Here are the key moments:

Case told inquiry that there were a number of dark days at No10 when it felt we just couldnt get it right

Stop always agreeing with Sunak, Case told Johnson,adding that the two politicians are very different personalities

Case asked why he said it was genius to exclude Sir Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance from a vital lockdown meeting

Case told deputy cabinet secretary No10 was chaos and dysfunctional

Case acknowledged the delay in giving evidence owing to his medical leave. He also paid tribute to those affected by Covid.

03:17 PM BST

Dark days at No10 when it felt we just couldnt get it right

Simon Case said there were some dark days in Downing Street where he felt like the government just couldnt get it right.

Asked by Hugo Keith KC what the root cause of the dysfunctionality was during the pandemic, he replied: Between us, we couldnt get the right balance of personalities and people. It took us too long to get those things right.

Mr Keith then asked is that why he had agreed that the Government failed at a number of fundamental levels and, in Mr Cases words, contributed to the worst governing ever seen.

Becoming noticeably emotional, Mr Case said: The language in those WhatsApps that weve discussed they come out of a raw human in the moment, its not a roundly considered view in those moments.

But yeah, there were some dark days when it felt we just couldnt get it right.

02:54 PM BST

No10 decision-makers became prisoners of our own thinking, says Case

Simon Case told the inquiry that he and the other decision-makers in No10 in 2020 became prisoners of our own thinking.

Hugo Keith asked him if, put bluntly, you just couldnt see your way out of the sack that you were in when it came to deciding what needed to be done to tackle surging Covid cases in Autumn 2020.

Mr Case responded: The consciousness around the harms was much more part of the conversation of the internal decision-making. Theres a sort of expression that gets used about boiling frogs, I dont know if youve ever heard of it? I wont bother with it.

But this idea that wed sort of got trapped into a way of thinking and wrestling that meant we couldnt actually see and take decisive action. We were prisoners of our own mentality, which was that we were desperate to avoid another lockdown, there were all these attempts to try and come up with solutions and we were just prisoners of our own thinking.

02:42 PM BST

Failure of transparency, says Case

Mr Case was asked if the government had failed to make clear it had considered alternatives to lockdown.

I think its a very fair criticism, he said.

There were a number of occasions where this desire to have simple, clear unambiguous messages coming out of government about the strategy meant that there wasnt enough engagement on the alternatives, and as you say I think this is a case where there could have been explanation, there could have been more explanation of what wed done to explore alternatives and why they wouldnt work, it was a sort of failure of transparency.

01:38 PM BST

Stop always agreeing with Sunak, Case told Johnson

Simon Case privately told Boris Johnson to stop agreeing with Rishi Sunak on decisions during the pandemic.

The Cabinet Secretary sent the then-prime minister a WhatsApp telling him to stop agreeing all the time with his own chancellor, according to the inquirys lawyers.

Mr Case was asked by Hugo Keith KC, lead counsel to the inquiry, whether bilateral meetings became places where the Prime Minister was bounced into a u-turn or as he described it, these are your own words, it cant always be you agreeing with Rishi.

In response Mr Case said that it was no secret they were very different personalities and took decisions in different ways but it was a good relationship.

Mr Keith then said that the relationship was so important that Mr Case was driven to WhatsApp your own prime minister to tell him that the relationship between him and his chancellor was being operated in such a way that you had to advise him, to stop agreeing all the time with his own chancellor.

Mr Case replied: That would be reasonable because the chancellor is, the chancellors job, quite properly, is to put forward the economic case, the economic argument. The prime ministers job is to balance other considerations.

12:58 PM BST

Case asked why he said it was genius to exclude Sir Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance from vital lockdown meeting

Simon Case was asked about a message where he said it was genius to exclude Sir Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance from a meeting with the prime minister about a roadmap out of lockdown.

Explaining why he saw this decision by then cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill as genius, he said: The prime minister had already had many, many discussions with Chris and Patrick about it, and sometimes, to go back to trying to get decisions that sort of worked and stuck with the prime minister.

If there were too many people in the room putting forward competing views, it would be difficult to get to a decision that would stick.

Actually what happened in that instance was the prime minister had already agreed, I believe, an approach with Chris and Patrick to the next steps, and quite straightforwardly then agreed with the chancellor.

Sir Chris Witty, left, Boris Johnson and Sir Patrick Vallance, right, during a Covid briefing in 2020 - ALBERTO PEZZALI/AP

12:10 PM BST

Case: Sunak and Johnson are very different personalities

Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson were very different personalities, Mr Case told the inquiry.

The Cabinet Secretary was asked whether bilateral meetings became places where the prime minister was bounced into a U-turn or as he described it, these are your own words, it cant always be you agreeing with Rishi.

Mr Case replied: Ones the prime minister and ones the chancellor. In the end, the prime minister is the boss and certainly in my experience Rishi Sunak was always very clear that that was the nature of their relationship.

Its not secret they were very different personalities, they took decisions in different ways, but they were  they were good meetings, and it was good, was a good relationship.

Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson during a Covid briefing in 2020 - MATT DUNHAM/GETTY

Mr Keith said the relationship was so important that he was driven to WhatsApp your own prime minister to tell him that the relationship between him and his chancellor was being operated in such a way that you had to advise him, to stop agreeing all the time with his own chancellor.

Mr Case replied: That would be reasonable because the chancellor is, the chancellors job, quite properly, is to put forward the economic case, the economic argument. The prime ministers job is to balance other considerations.

12:04 PM BST

Cummings rejected Economic Recovery Council proposal in May 2020

A proposal to discuss with Rishi Sunak, the chancellor at the time, to establish an Economic Recovery Council was personally rejected by Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnsons then-chief advisor.

The inquiry was shown a document from May 2020 where Simon Case and Helen MacNamara, deputy cabinet secretary at the time, had made a series of proposals to the prime minister and Dominic Cummings had scribbled his comments.

Essentially the question is whether you and the chancellor think this sort of formal structure would be useful, the document read.

In particular it might be helpful to lock in external voices like the Governor of the Bank of England. Do you want to see further advice and discuss with the chancellor.

NO! Dom, a handwritten answer said.

12:00 PM BST

Johnson had real aversion to dealing with devolved governments, says Case

Boris Johnson had a real aversion to dealing with devolved governments, Mr Case said.

He delegated it very much to Michael Gove as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

At the first minister level, the prime minister and first ministers only got together in those COBRs that were called before the big new crisis moment, so the second lockdown, for example.

So I think its a combination, I think its politics and personality.

11:32 AM BST

Case: Sturgeon is showing UK how to deal with pandemic

Simon Case said Nicola Sturgeon was showing the UK Government how to do it early in the pandemic, messages have revealed.

WhatsApps between Mr Case and Ms MacNamara, the deputy cabinet secretary at the time, revealed their concerns with how decisions were being made.

In April 2020, Ms MacNamara says: I am so horrified by it. The arrogance and the waste. And the contempt for cabinet. Ive started putting some witches warnings on the record in a way I dont really like doing: e.g. that the Cabinet Office have to be properly briefed on the science.

Mr Case went on to say that real lives being played with here before Ms MacNamara said that there was a genuine suggestion that we secretly do different things with schools in places to see the impact that has. Which was last straw for me.

The secretly bit, she added. Not that we shouldnt do some things and carefully monitor impact.

But that we should experiment with peoples lives.

Mr Case replied: Nicola Sturgeon showing them how to do it. Honestly need to start being transparent about the issues and choices.

11:25 AM BST

Case told deputy cabinet secretary No10 was chaos

Simon Case described No10 as chaos in an emotional rant with Helen MacNamara in April 2020.

On the reality, it is chaos, he wrote in a WhatsApp to the deputy cabinet secretary at the time. Too many programmes - overlapping, in tension, no way to resolve issues because the MIGs are being run as comms fora not decision-taking things, he added.

But overall, in the space I am in, there is no direction. The No 10 problem is that that depts wont do what they say

In a later message, he said that decisions in Whitehall doesnt equal facts on the ground, adding: Not enough people at the centre know this - nor do they have the vision and patience to realise how we have to work.

Helen MacNamara, the former deputy cabinet secretary, giving evidence at the inqury on Nov 1 2023 - AFP

11:01 AM BST

Case: Good people were being smashed to pieces in Johnsons government

Simon Case said good people were just being smashed to pieces during Boris Johnsons pandemic-era government.

He said it was a fair conclusion to draw that a WhatsApp message he sent saying Crisis + pygmies toxic behaviour was an observation on the abilities of individuals in the Cabinet Office and No10.

He also said: Good people were working incredibly hard in impossible circumstances with choices where it seems there was never a right answer.

But that lack of sort of a team spirit, the difficult atmosphere, we were trying to run everything from the centre of government, trying to run the response to a global pandemic.

There was a duplication of effort, overlapping of meetings and good people were just being smashed to pieces.

10:57 AM BST

Case: It was frustrating having to act as Johnsons gearbox

Simon Case said it was incredibly frustrating having to act as the gearbox trying to connect Boris Johnsons system when the prime minister kept changing his mind on decisions.

Mr Case was asked by Hugo Keith KC if he would agree the incredibly difficult decisions that Mr Johnson personally had to make affected him so viscerally and gave rise to such internal agonising debate that it had an impact upon the proper management of the system of which he was of course the head.



Mr Case replied: I was the sort of technocrat employed to connect political will to administrative action across the system, so you know it was real frustration  I was the one that had to take what he and his ministerial team were deciding and go and tell other members of the Covid taskforce, tell the rest of Whitehall, talk to Simon Stevens at the NHS and say this is the discretion we are going and this is what weve got to do.



So I found it incredibly frustrating that one day I thought, ok weve got this, I can now safely talk to my colleagues and say this is the direction were going in and weve taken this decision.

And then ... the following day it was like ok well were now somewhere else.



That was really difficult as a sort of technocrat, as the gearbox trying to connect the prime ministers system.

10:48 AM BST

No10 was dysfunctional, says Case

Downing Street was definitely dysfunctional, Simon Case has admitted after being asked if it was a sclerotic administration by Hugo Keith, lead counsel to the inquiry.

It was definitely dysfunctional and too dynamic, you know, it was difficult to settle on a course of action and be sure that the course of action would be consistent. I think thats, its sort of the almost opposite of sclerosis.

He said there were examples that I obviously now deeply regret expressing my in-the-moment frustrations with the former prime minister.

He said he had not initially understood how difficult Boris Johnson had found the decisions to introduce lockdowns.

I dont think I really understood how at quite a deep ideological level the prime minister found the mass locking up of the population, the charms, he was always really thinking, particularly focusing about children and education, the sort of, the damage as he saw it that was being done to society through those big decisions on lockdowns.

10:46 AM BST

Case complained of toxic behaviours in Cabinet

Simon Case was shown a series of WhatsApps between him and Helen MacNamara, deputy cabinet secretary at the time, from April 2020.

He complains that crisis + pygmies = toxic behaviours after she said there was far too much ego and bitching going on.

Mr Case appeared emotional when asked about the messages. I found reading Helen MacNamaras both written evidence and oral evidence quite difficult, just as I found preparation for this, re-reading this material, quite emotionally difficult, because it reminded me of quite how difficult it was, he tells the inquiry.

10:40 AM BST

Case WhatsApp message: Am flipping p----d off at being attacked for partygate

The inquiry is shown a message from December 2021 between Mr Case and Martin Reynolds, then prime minister Boris Johnsons principal private secretary, where the Cabinet Secretary appeared angry after having to recuse himself from the Partygate investigation

He told Reynolds he had been dragged through the mud by association. Am flipping p----d off deep down (like the PM) that I am being attacked for something which I wasnt even involved in  I have to carry the can as the boss.

Simon Case, left, pictured at a Downing Street party with Boris Johnson - SUE GRAY REPORT/CABINET OFFICE/PA

In the same conversation, he later suggested Boris Johnson did not think his WhatsApps would be made public by an inquiry.

PM is mad if he doesnt think his WhatsApps will become public via Covid Inquiry  but he was clearly not in the mood for that discussion tonight!. Well have that battle in the new year, he wrote.

10:37 AM BST

A timeline of Simon Cases involvement in the pandemic

10:30 AM BST

Case: WhatsApps were raw and in the moment

Simon Case said his WhatsApp messages were raw, in-the-moment expressions but acknowledged that they form part of the historical record for the Covid-19 inquiry.

Mr Case is giving evidence to the Covid-19 inquiry about his scathing views of Boris Johnsons pandemic-era government.

They are very raw, in-the-moment human expressions - theyre not the whole story but I recognise theyre part of the story. Many of them now require apologies for things that I said and the way I expressed myself, Mr Case said.

10:23 AM BST

Case: I tried to get serious discussions off WhatsApp

Simon Case has said there were a number of times where he intervened to try and get serious discussions off WhatsApp.

The Inquiry is shown a message in April 2021 between Mr Case and Jack Doyle, then Downing Streets director of communications.

The Cabinet Secretary wrote: Who the hell has briefed The Times and Tel that I advised PM to change his phone number?

I dont think this is true, by the way  I certainly dont remember ever having told him this! Weve all told him to get off WhatsApp, but I dont remember ever telling him to change his number!

10:11 AM BST

Case apologises for delay in evidence

Simon Case has begun with a short statement where he acknowledged that the delay in giving evidence must have been particularly frustrating to bereaved families and paid tribute to those affected by Covid.

Id like to pay tribute to those whove died and for those who lost loved ones during the pandemic, he said.

Its so important that through this inquiry we learn the lessons from this period so that we are as prepared as possible for next time.

He also said he wished to recognise the contribution of thousands of civil servants and NHS staff during the pandemic.

10:01 AM BST

Simon Case arrives at inquiry

Simon Case has arrived at the Covid Inquiry in central London to give evidence for the first time.

Simon Case

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UPDATE 5/23/2024 3:14 p.m. Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan is asking the community for assistance in identifying the body:

UPDATE 5/23/2024 2:58 p.m.  The Muscogee County Coroners office has released new information about the body found at Odis-Spencer Stadium.

Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan told WRBL the body is an African American male, approximately in his mid 50s. There are no immediate signs of foul play, and the body is being sent for an autopsy.

At this time, Officials are unsure how the body was found, and say he appears to be homeless.

This is a developing story. WRBL News 3 will update this story why more information is available.

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Columbus Police Department are investigating a body found at Odis-Spencer Stadium.

The body was located along the fence line at approximately 1:24 p.m.

This is a developing story. WRBL News 3 will update this story when more information is available.

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 WRBL.
Chicago Public Schools moved a step closer to finalizing a new school safety policy Thursday, following a Board of Education vote in February to remove uniformed Chicago Police Department officers from all district schools as of the end of the school year.

The board approved a new Whole School Safety Framework presented by the district Thursday. But a state bill that could supersede the districts plans may also be voted on this week. Sponsored by Rep. Mary Gill, D-Chicago, HB5008 would allow high school Local School Councils to contract directly with CPD to employ school resource officers, known as SROs, through February 2027.

The tension between state and local policy efforts is the latest in a long-running debate on whether a blanket, rather than school-level, decision to remove police from schools should be made.

Under the districts $10.3 million CPD contract expiring in August, SROs are currently in about a quarter of district high schools, where LSCs have voted to have one to two officers on patrol during the school day. As of the end of this school year, the new policy mandates the end of SRO programs districtwide, with the understanding that CPS will continue to partner with CPD, which have always, and will continue to, provide critical support for all of our schools.

Chief of Safety and Security Jadine Chou said at the meeting Thursday that CPD has committed to maintaining School Sergeants, whove long been working with the vast majority of the districts more than 600 schools which have either never had SROs or removed them.

The vote to remove all SROs made good on a 2020 district commitment to phase out their use, Board members said in February, adding that a central decision was needed to prevent proven disparities in school-based arrests from being perpetuated. Around 70 school districts nationally have adopted policies to remove police from schools, according to a 2023 Georgetown Law report.

Proponents have argued that LSCs should continue to vote on whether to keep SROs, given that different schools have different needs.

Lynn Morton of Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI), one of four community-based nonprofits which have partnered with CPS to reshape its safety policies, recognized that removing SROs makes some community members nervous.

Lets keep in mind, all of us, that real discipline is about education. Its about learning. So our dollars should be spent in areas that promote learning and education, she said.

A new school safety framework

The proposed policy expands upon the holistic approach to school safety CPS adopted in 2020 when the district began incorporating community groups and students in safety planning. Adopted in the wake of racial justice protests in 2020, the reform also allowed LSCs to trade in SRO funds to invest in alternative strategies, such as hiring restorative justice coordinators.

Data on school-based arrests the district released that year showed the overwhelming majority  73%  involved Black students, who were only 36% of students. Calls to police continue to be disproportionately higher for students with disabilities, according to the boards February resolution.

The new policy dictates that every school must have working indoor and outdoor security cameras and at least one security officer, with the allocation of additional officers dependent upon the size of the school population and neighborhood crime rates. Schools can consider metal detectors and must also have emergency procedures in place, for which drills must be conducted with students.

CPS has historically required part-time security roles be filled by sworn police  a provision that district officials said last June would be removed in a new collective bargaining agreement with Service Employees International Union Local 73. The district did not provide comment regarding whether that provision has been lifted in an agreement with the union representing security guards and other support staff that the board also approved Thursday.

Physical, emotional and relational safety are the pillars of the districts approach, which will be implemented in phases, Chou said at a board committee meeting last week. That starts with a baseline assessment  working with our community partners and our stakeholders, like parents and students, to make sure that were understanding their needs, she said.

Later phases entail the creation of school-level safety committees, which will develop and implement safety plans that emphasize cultivating trusting relationships between students and staff, social-emotional learning and non-exclusionary discipline, by the 2028-29 school year. Safety cannot be defined or driven by fear-based reactions, Morton said.

Mandatory monthly conversations between administrators and student representatives will also take place at high schools under the proposal. But whereas previously only high schools had the opportunity to create comprehensive safety plans inclusive of student and community input, the proposed policy expands the process districtwide.

More than 9,000 responses to a public survey on school safety have shaped the new draft policy, Director of Safety Operations Kylie Kosmacek said last week. The policy will next be published for public comment. In June, four community engagement sessions will be hosted by COFI and CPS three other community-based partners, Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development Inc., Mikva Challenge and Voices of Youth in Chicago Education.

We are coming together to reimagine school safety to prioritize students social-emotional and physical safety and well-being in a safe environment that allows us to learn and thrive regardless of the neighborhood we live in, Amundsen High School student Edgar Nava, a member of the Whole School Safety Steering Committee, said in a news release.
Creepy NYC substitute teacher showed 14-year-old his hickeys and said hed make her fall in love if they had sex: prosecutors

Queens substitute teacher Jasskirat Saini allegedly harassed a 14-year-old student for nearly two months, prosecutors said.

A sicko substitute teacher showed a 14-year-old his hickeys and told her hed make her fall in love if they had sex  during a series of disturbing interactions, authorities said.

Jasskirat Saini, 27, was arrested for the alleged bizarre harassment of the child at Hillcrest High School over several weeks  years after he was charged for drawing swastikas on a college campus.

If I was a student at Hillcrest, I would make you fall in love with me by having sex with you, so you can never stop thinking about me, Saini, 27, allegedly told the girl, according to a criminal complaint.

You are a teacher and are not supposed to be saying something like that, the teen responded.

Jasskirat Saini was previously arrested for scrawling swastikas and KKK on buildings at Nassau Community College. Obtained by NY Post

Saini then brazenly laughed in her face, according to a criminal complaint.

The creepy interaction is one of many the skeevy sub is accused of making over the course of a month and a half, beginning in mid-March, prosecutors said.

Saini allegedly asked the girl if she found him attractive while telling her multiple times that he wanted to have sex and start a relationship with her, according to the court papers.

He also touched her several times  hugging, poking her body and putting his head on her hand, prosecutors said.

In another interaction, he allegedly showed off hickeys his girlfriend left on his neck while telling the student he wished that she was old enough to be in a dating relationship with him.

In front of other students, Saini urged her to sit next to him as he brushed the other kids away, telling them they were being annoying, according to the complaint.

Jasskirat Saini, 27, allegedly harassed the 14-year-old several times in Hillcrest High School. Brigitte Stelzer

Other students are jealous of you, want to be in your place and be this close to me, he allegedly told her many times.

Saini also asked her to spend time with him outside of school hours, demanded a hair tie as a memento and creepily pulled her chair closer to his  making their knees touch, prosecutors said.

Authorities said he doused himself in her perfume and said he wanted to smell like her and make his girlfriend jealous.

When the girl told him she wanted nothing to do with him, he exploded on Instagram, officials claimed.

Actions speak louder than words, he seethed on the app in a message to her, according to the complaint.

You could not have even shown me respect or energy on my last day and ruined my whole day.

The creepy interactions occurred several times in the Queens high school Dennis A. Clark

Police arrested Saini at the school on Monday after the girls father filed a complaint against him, police said.

The sub was slapped with child endangerment and harassment charges.

At his Queens Criminal Court arraignment, he was released without bail and ordered to stay away from the girl, court records show.

Its not the first time Saini, of Plainview, has been in legal trouble.

In 2016, Saini, then a student at Nassau Community College, allegedly scrawled swastikas and KKK on campus buildings over a two-month period.

He was charged with 10 counts of felony harassment, The Post reported at the time.

Officials said Saini believed he was being harassed by members of the Jewish community.

He later pleaded guilty to attempted criminal mischief: intent to damage property and was sentenced to one year of probation, the Nassau County District Attorneys office told The Post on Wednesday.

Sainis next court date is set for July 10.

The Department of Education did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Editors Note: The following arrest and incident reports were supplied by the Abilene Police Department. All information below comes from reports made by responding officers, and all suspects are considered not guilty unless determined otherwise in a court of law.

Incidents

4100 block of Old Anson Road  Forgery-Financial

Police took a report in reference to fraud.

500 block of Saddlewood Drive  Burglary of Vehicle

Police took a report in reference to a burglary of a motor vehicle where jewelry, important documents, and more was reported stolen.

1400 block of W Overland Trail  Theft of Property

A victim reported a utility trailer and roll of wire was stolen.

1300 block of Grape Street  Assault

A victim reported he was assaulted by a known suspect.

2500 block of Shoreline Drive  Unlawful Installation of Tracking Device

Police took a report in reference to unlawful use of tracking device.

4500 block of S 1st Street  Harassment

A report for harassment was taken in south Abilene.

800 block of Green Street  Assault

Two victims reported they were assaulted by a known suspect.

2700 block of E Lake Road  Assault Family Violence

A suspect was arrested for Assault Family Violence in north Abilene.

4300 block of Buffalo Gap Road  Theft of Property

Arrests

David Baldoza  Theft of Property

Jonathan Rodriguez  Public Intoxication

Elias Tonche  Assault Family Violence

Miley Young  Theft of Property

Kimberly Wahlquist  Warrant

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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Crime Stoppers: 2 wanted and seek to identify 2 others

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  This week on Crime Stoppers police need your help locating two wanted fugitives and in identifying two men who are suspects in a Lansing larceny.

If you have information regarding the cases below, call Crime Stoppers of Mid-Michigan at (517) 483-STOP. You can remain anonymous.

Those who contact Crime Stoppers with information can get up to a $1,000 award.

Brent Lee McPhall

Courtesy photo Meridian Township Police.

Meridian Township is seeking Brent Lee McPhall, 40, on a felony assault warrant. Hes 5 foot 10 inches and 165 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

Maraje Renee Bright

Courtesy Jackson Law Enforcement.

Law enforcement in Jackson is seeking Maraje Renee Bright, 23, on a probation violation in the county. Shes 5 foot 3 inches and 187 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.

Seeking to Identify

Subject one. Courtesy Lansing Police Department.

Lansing Police are seeking information about the identity of two men they say were involved in a larceny of a business on the citys south side. The larceny occurred on April 29, 2024, at approximately 1:30 p.m.

Subject 2. Courtesy Lansing Police Department.

(WLNS)

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 WLNS 6 News.
Crime victims may get fewer services as federal aid drops. States weigh how to help.

An An attendee looks at a series of banners for National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

An attendee looks at a series of banners for the 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. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Groups that assist crime victims across the United States are bracing for significant financial pain after the amount available from a major federal victim services fund plunged $700 million this year.

Congress recently lowered spending to $1.2 billion from the fund, which provides grants to nonprofit and local programs across the country.

This latest round of cuts has sparked widespread concern among district attorneys offices, rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, child advocacy centers and law enforcement agencies that offer victim support services. Many of these organizations and agencies now expect to have to close locations, lay off staff and cut back on services.

Meanwhile, the drop in dollars has many experts and advocates rethinking the current, uncertain system of helping crime victims. How much federal 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.

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 affected 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 U.S. 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 isnt enough money to do that.

Victim services providers say that smaller groups or branches, particularly those in rural towns or counties, are at an especially high risk of closing because of the expected cutbacks. Many rely solely on federal dollars.

Shakyra Diaz, the chief of federal advocacy with the Alliance for Safety and Justice, which advocates for crime victims, said many groups are seriously in a situation where they may have to close their doors, they may have to cut services, they may have to cut staff, they may have to tell crime victims, I cannot help you right now. You have to wait six months.

In at least three states  California, Colorado and Maine  state legislators have proposed bills that would create new avenues for state-based funding for victim services. A couple of bills would inject general state dollars into victim services to offset the federal cuts, while one would create a new tax on firearms and ammunition, and yet another would increase criminal penalties on corporations. The money collected from taxes or fines would then go toward supporting victim services.

The federal crime victims fund gets its money from fines, forfeited bonds and financial penalties in certain federal cases.

The year-by-year uncertainty around how much money will come from federal crime cases, which directly affects how much will be available to states to distribute to victim services providers, makes it challenging for groups to budget over the long term.

Services for victims and resources for victim services are already so tight. And so when youre talking about taking a pot of money thats already stretched at its best and making it smaller  its frankly terrifying, said Renee Williams, the executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime.

The federal fund was established in 1984 under the Victims of Crime Act, known as VOCA. Congress tried to stabilize the fund in 2000 by setting an annual cap on withdrawals. The cap remained below $1 billion a year until 2015, but Congress raised it to $2.3 billion that year, and in 2018 it peaked at $4.4 billion.

Then, the cap plummeted, and by fiscal year 2023, Congress had set it at $1.9 billion, according to data from the U.S. Department of Justice.

This past March, Congress again lowered the cap, to $1.2 billion, a drop of more than 35%. The cuts will not take effect until October of this year, when the federal governments next fiscal year begins.

Victim services groups say that the demand for help has continued to surge. Some anticipate the grant process to become even more competitive.

Theyre asking state lawmakers for help.

State legislation

For Stand Up Placer, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in Placer County, California, the anticipated federal cuts are expected to slash about $700,000, or 22%, of the group's budget, according to Cheryl Marcell, the organization's CEO.

Some of the groups services, such as legal counseling, are likely to be scaled back. Instead of serving the current caseload of 500, the group may only be able to accommodate 200 clients, Marcell said.

In California, local district attorney's offices are grappling with how to address this funding shortfall, according to Jonathan Raven, assistant CEO of the California District Attorneys Association and former Yolo County chief deputy district attorney.

Offices are considering options such as laying off staff, requesting local funding or scaling back services altogether, Raven told Stateline.

The people that are victimized that are the most vulnerable are no longer going to get the services that they should expect and they do deserve, Raven said. It's really going to be a significant impact across California and across the country.

State legislators in California have proposed two bills aimed at mitigating the federal cuts.

One of the bills would require state supplemental funding whenever the federal VOCA award is reduced more than 10% than the amount awarded the prior year. The bill is in committee.

The other bill, which is still under consideration in the Assembly, would increase fines levied on corporations convicted of misdemeanor and felony offenses. These fines would be used to fund a new California Crime Victims Fund.

In Colorado, the legislature passed a bill proposing a more permanent state funding source for victim services through a 9% gun and ammunition excise tax. The tax revenue would be spent on crime victim support services, mental health services, school safety and gun violence prevention.

The bill is now headed to Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, who has until June 7 to sign or veto it, according to his press secretary. If he signs it, the measure will go before voters on the November ballot.

Meanwhile, in Maine, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills signed a budget bill in April that includes a one-time allotment of $6 million for victim services.

Effects on services for victims

There are about 12,200 victim services providers in the United States, with nearly a quarter of them located in the country's most populous states  California, Florida, Texas and New York, according to the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics' 2017 census.

Ohio has more than 400 victim services providers, many of which receive funding from the federal crime victims fund. Last year, the state received $46.6 million.

But for fiscal year 2024, Ohio has been awarded just $26.7 million, a 42.8% decrease from 2023 and a 77% decrease from 2018.

With such a steep cut, some victim services providers in Ohio fear they will no longer be able to serve rural communities, particularly those in the Appalachian region. For the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, a statewide coalition that supports rape crisis centers, losing funding could reduce its support to the 12 counties that do not have local rape crisis centers or programs.

It's the places that already don't have great access to services and that have never had access to services [that] will be the ones to have whatever access they have further reduced, said Emily Gemar, the groups director of public policy.

Court-appointed special advocate programs in Appalachian counties also are expected to bear the brunt of the funding cuts, according to Doug Stephens, the executive director of Ohio CASA, which oversees 47 local programs covering 60 counties that support children navigating the court system. Stephens anticipates as many as 10 local programs shutting down.

They are working very hard to provide the same services as the big cities, he said in an interview. The only way they can stay open is with VOCA funding.

In South Carolina, victim services providers and Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson are urging the state legislature to offset the looming federal cuts. Wilson has requested $15 million, which is just enough money to keep existing services.

The state Senate has proposed a $5 million allotment, while the House has put forward a $3 million proposal. Under either plan, current projects could face cuts ranging from about 15% to 30%, according to the attorney generals office.

When things like this happen, people just think about dollars. What we see is the real people, we see the feelings, we see the pain and emotions they're going through.

 Richland County, S.C., Sheriff Leon Lott

Richland County, South Carolina, Sheriff Leon Lott, whose department receives VOCA funding and employs victim advocates who help people go through the criminal legal system, said the state should offer more support.

When things like this happen, people just think about dollars. What we see is the real people, we see the feelings, we see the pain and emotions they're going through, said Lott, a Democrat. This loss of funding, I'm afraid, will have a negative impact on the things that we try to do with victims and may end up victimizing them even more.

If the feds are not going to provide the money, then the state needs to do it.

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Crime victims may get fewer services as federal aid drops. States weigh how to help

An attendee looks at a series of banners for the 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 (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images).

Groups that assist crime victims across the United States are bracing for significant financial pain after the amount available from a major federal victim services fund plunged $700 million this year.

Congress recently lowered spending to $1.2 billion from the fund, which provides grants to nonprofit and local programs across the country.

This latest round of cuts has sparked widespread concern among district attorneys offices, rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, child advocacy centers and law enforcement agencies that offer victim support services. Many of these organizations and agencies now expect to have to close locations, lay off staff and cut back on services.

Meanwhile, the drop in dollars has many experts and advocates rethinking the current, uncertain system of helping crime victims. How much federal 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.

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 affected 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 U.S. 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 isnt enough money to do that.

Victim services providers say that smaller groups or branches, particularly those in rural towns or counties, are at an especially high risk of closing because of the expected cutbacks. Many rely solely on federal dollars.

Shakyra Diaz, the chief of federal advocacy with the Alliance for Safety and Justice, which advocates for crime victims, said many groups are seriously in a situation where they may have to close their doors, they may have to cut services, they may have to cut staff, they may have to tell crime victims, I cannot help you right now. You have to wait six months.

In at least three states  California, Colorado and Maine  state legislators have proposed bills that would create new avenues for state-based funding for victim services. A couple of bills would inject general state dollars into victim services to offset the federal cuts, while one would create a new tax on firearms and ammunition, and yet another would increase criminal penalties on corporations. The money collected from taxes or fines would then go toward supporting victim services.

The federal crime victims fund gets its money from fines, forfeited bonds and financial penalties in certain federal cases.

The year-by-year uncertainty around how much money will come from federal crime cases, which directly affects how much will be available to states to distribute to victim services providers, makes it challenging for groups to budget over the long term.

Services for victims and resources for victim services are already so tight. And so when youre talking about taking a pot of money thats already stretched at its best and making it smaller  its frankly terrifying, said Renee Williams, the executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime.

The federal fund was established in 1984 under the Victims of Crime Act, known as VOCA. Congress tried to stabilize the fund in 2000 by setting an annual cap on withdrawals. The cap remained below $1 billion a year until 2015, but Congress raised it to $2.3 billion that year, and in 2018 it peaked at $4.4 billion.

But in fiscal year 2023, Congress lowered it to $1.9 billion, according to data from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Then, the cap plummeted, and by fiscal year 2023, Congress had set it at $1.9 billion, according to data from the U.S. Department of Justice.

This past March, Congress again lowered the cap, to $1.2 billion, a drop of more than 35%. The cuts will not take effect until October of this year, when the federal governments next fiscal year begins.

Victim services groups say that the demand for help has continued to surge. Some anticipate the grant process to become even more competitive.

Theyre asking state lawmakers for help.

State legislation

For Stand Up Placer, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in Placer County, California, the anticipated federal cuts are expected to slash about $700,000, or 22%, of the groups budget, according to Cheryl Marcell, the organizations CEO.

Some of the groups services, such as legal counseling, are likely to be scaled back. Instead of serving the current caseload of 500, the group may only be able to accommodate 200 clients, Marcell said.

In California, local district attorneys offices are grappling with how to address this funding shortfall, according to Jonathan Raven, assistant CEO of the California District Attorneys Association and former Yolo County chief deputy district attorney.

Offices are considering options such as laying off staff, requesting local funding or scaling back services altogether, Raven told Stateline.

The people that are victimized that are the most vulnerable are no longer going to get the services that they should expect and they do deserve, Raven said. Its really going to be a significant impact across California and across the country.

State legislators in California have proposed two bills aimed at mitigating the federal cuts.

One of the bills would require state supplemental funding whenever the federal VOCA award is reduced more than 10% than the amount awarded the prior year. The bill is in committee.

The other bill, which is still under consideration in the Assembly, would increase fines levied on corporations convicted of misdemeanor and felony offenses. These fines would be used to fund a new California Crime Victims Fund.

In Colorado, the legislature passed a bill proposing a more permanent state funding source for victim services through a 9% gun and ammunition excise tax. The tax revenue would be spent on crime victim support services, mental health services, school safety and gun violence prevention.

The bill is now headed to Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, who has until June 7 to sign or veto it, according to his press secretary. If he signs it, the measure will go before voters on the November ballot.

Meanwhile, in Maine, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills signed a budget bill in April that includes a one-time allotment of $6 million for victim services.

Effects on services for victims

There are about 12,200 victim services providers in the United States, with nearly a quarter of them located in the countrys most populous states  California, Florida, Texas and New York, according to the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics 2017 census.

Ohio has more than 400 victim services providers, many of which receive funding from the federal crime victims fund. Last year, the state received $46.6 million.

But for fiscal year 2024, Ohio has been awarded just $26.7 million, a 42.8% decrease from 2023 and a 77% decrease from 2018.

With such a steep cut, some victim services providers in Ohio fear they will no longer be able to serve rural communities, particularly those in the Appalachian region. For the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, a statewide coalition that supports rape crisis centers, losing funding could reduce its support to the 12 counties that do not have local rape crisis centers or programs.

Its the places that already dont have great access to services and that have never had access to services [that] will be the ones to have whatever access they have further reduced, said Emily Gemar, the groups director of public policy.

Court-appointed special advocate programs in Appalachian counties also are expected to bear the brunt of the funding cuts, according to Doug Stephens, the executive director of Ohio CASA, which oversees 47 local programs covering 60 counties that support children navigating the court system. Stephens anticipates as many as 10 local programs shutting down.

They are working very hard to provide the same services as the big cities, he said in an interview. The only way they can stay open is with VOCA funding.

In South Carolina, victim services providers and Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson are urging the state legislature to offset the looming federal cuts. Wilson has requested $15 million, which is just enough money to keep existing services.

The state Senate has proposed a $5 million allotment, while the House has put forward a $3 million proposal. Under either plan, current projects could face cuts ranging from about 15% to 30%, according to the attorney generals office.

Richland County, South Carolina, Sheriff Leon Lott, whose department receives VOCA funding and employs victim advocates who help people go through the criminal legal system, said the state should offer more support.

When things like this happen, people just think about dollars. What we see is the real people, we see the feelings, we see the pain and emotions theyre going through, said Lott, a Democrat. This loss of funding, Im afraid, will have a negative impact on the things that we try to do with victims and may end up victimizing them even more.

If the feds are not going to provide the money, then the state needs to do it.

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 Crime victims may get fewer services as federal aid drops. States weigh how to help appeared first on Missouri Independent.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA), which provides water to Santa Teresa and Sunland Park, said that the number of calls it receives from customers for discolored water is down 75 percent from February to April.

Those calls include brown and yellow water, the utility said.

Utility addresses discolored water in Sunland Park, Santa Teresa

Were definitely turning the corner, said CRRUA Executive Director Juan Carlos Crosby. This marked decrease is an encouraging sign that our efforts to systematically assess, repair and upgrade the utility infrastructure is resulting in positive outcomes for our customers.

The utility said Crosby initiated the monthly recording of discolored water calls in February after taking over as interim executive director in January 2024.

Month Number of calls Percent difference from April February 28 N/A March 20 28.57 percent April 7 65 percent

Causes of water discoloration include hydrant flushes, water line breaks and low water levels in water storage tanks that disturb naturally occurring sediments that accumulate over time, according to the utility.

CRRUA begins flushing hydrants, will cause discolored water

The utility said that these latest indicators of system improvements follow CRRUA passing four arsenic water sample tests in a row and reaching 70 percent compliance in correcting deficiencies identified by the New Mexico Environment Departments in its 2023 Sanitary Survey of CRRUA.

CRRUA says it is now 70 percent compliant after deficiencies were IDd in late 2023

Since the beginning of this year the entire CRRUA team and board of directors have been working tirelessly to elevate the utility to function at an optimal level, Crosby said. Our objective is to continue to build upon these successes to help restore customer confidence.

CRRUA under scrutiny again for water quality issues

As we previously reported, CRRUA has an extensive history with water quality issues. Residents in the area have told KTSM that these issues are nothing new and they dont trust the utility.

Santa Teresa residents speak out about water issues

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Top Republicans are already rushing to buy into a new 2024 election fraud narrative sown by ex-President Donald Trump in their zeal to appease their partys presumptive nominee.

Leading party figures are increasingly warning they will only recognize the result of Novembers presidential vote if there is no fraud. But there is no indication that there will be irregularities in the election. And their warnings come despite many Republican state legislatures taking steps to tighten voting rules  based on Trumps lies about fraud in 2020.

The new Republican trend of casting doubt on the integrity of the 2024 election in advance was exhibited by Sen. Ted Cruz on Wednesday in an interview with CNNs Kaitlan Collins. The Texas lawmaker, who in 2016 fell in line behind Trump despite the ex-presidents insults about his father and his wife, falsely stated that the 2020 election was tainted by fraud. Despite Trumps claims of voting irregularities, multiple courts, including the US Supreme Court, rejected the former presidents claims he was cheated out of power. And Trumps then-attorney general, William Barr, looked into his claims and decided that there was no widespread fraud that would have changed the result of the election.

But Cruz told Collins that a question about whether he would accept the results of the 2024 election was ridiculous.

So youre asking, Will you promise, no matter what, to agree an election is legitimate regardless of what happens?, and that would be an absurd thing to claim, Cruz said. We have an entire election law system: that people challenge elections, elections get overturned, voter fraud gets proven. That happens all the time. Cruz, who objected to election results in Arizona, which Trump narrowly lost to Biden, on January 6, 2021, went on to suggest there was significant fraud in 2020. And he implied the same could happen this year.

If the Democrats win, I will accept the result, but Im not going to ignore fraud regardless of what happens, Cruz said.

A sign of Trumps power

The equivocating of senior Republicans appears motivated by a fear of crossing Trump, the twice-impeached GOP leader who has the power to end careers in the party simply by turning against an individual lawmaker. The positioning looks a lot like laying the groundwork for a challenge to the fairness of the 2024 election if Trump loses in November. Undermining an election even before it happens represents a grave threat to democracy.

The attempt to raise the specter of election fraud this year is especially corrosive because of the likelihood that the 2024 vote will be decided in a handful of swing states by mere thousands of ballots and raises the possibility of prolonged legal action by Trumps camp that would tarnish yet another US election. Trump is still claiming falsely that Mike Pence had the constitutional authority power to overturn the 2020 election result, and the former vice president has been largely ostracized within his party for following the Constitution and overseeing the certification of Bidens victory.

Cruz is just one of the latest senior party figures to try to avoid getting on the wrong side of Trump when asked whether they will accept the result of the 2024 election. The attempt to win Trumps favor follows an interview that Trump gave to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper earlier this month. If everythings honest, Ill gladly accept the results. I dont change on that, Trump said. If its not, you have to fight for the right of the country. His comments carried the implicit threat that he will decide if he loses, as he did in 2020, that the election was not fair. Trump frequently claims he did better in the popular vote four years ago than any incumbent president, creating a false argument that it was therefore impossible to lose to Biden, who got more votes.

Trumps renewed election denialism is disturbing for several reasons. First, it mirrors his pre-election spin in 2020, when he suggested that the election might not be fair  which he later built upon after losing to Biden with a widespread campaign that culminated in the mob attack by his supporters on the Capitol that was designed to thwart the certification of Bidens victory. Trump often leaves the impression that any election he loses cannot, by definition, be legitimate. His false claims about election fraud in 2020 are now believed by millions of Republican voters despite the fact that he has been indicted twice  in a federal case and in Georgia  for his attempts to steal the election and stay in power.

Comments like Cruzs on Wednesday serve to create an expectation among some voters that the coming election will not be fair, even though there is no indication that this, or any other US election, will be tarnished by fraud, which historically has only taken place at very low levels.

Republican senators try to demonstrate loyalty to Trump

The Texas senator is far from the only senior party figure to buy into Trumps claims, a trend that shows the sheer power of Trump in the GOP. It also follows the announcement by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley on Wednesday that she will vote for Trump despite having called him unhinged and unfit to serve in the Oval Office again during her primary campaign earlier this year. Her move appeared to be an attempt to retain viability in the Republican Party for any future run for president.

It seems like it should be easy for Republicans just to state that they will accept the result of the 2024 election and that US presidential votes in the modern era have not been tainted by fraud. But they cant seem to do it.

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, whom Trump mentioned as a possible vice presidential contender on Thursday, said on CNN the same night, I will accept the results if its done in a fair and transparent way, going on to raise doubts about mail-in voting.

Also on CNN Thursday night, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds  whos also been mentioned as a possible Trump running mate  was asked if hed accept the results if Trump loses. If the states and localities actually follow the rules and procedures and everybody sees the rules followed, then of course, you accept whats done, Donalds said.

Earlier this week, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who ran against Trump in 2016 but has since adopted Trumpian positions, was asked Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press whether he would accept the result of the election no matter what happens. He replied: If its an unfair election, I think its going to be contested by either side. He claimed that Democrats have opposed every Republican victory since 2000 and added: If its unfair, we are going to do the same thing Democrats do  were going to use lawyers to go to court and point out the fact that states are not following their own election laws.

Rubios comment is misleading because, while there were some claims by small groups of Democrats that the elections of 2004 and 2016 featured some fraud, the Democratic candidates in each case quickly conceded to Republicans, unlike Trump, who has never accepted that he lost. The 2000 election was contested by Republicans and Democrats over a recount controversy in Florida, the pivotal state. The Democratic candidate, then-Vice President Al Gore, eventually conceded after the case was adjudicated by the Supreme Court  a step that Trump never took as he sought to disrupt the American tradition of peaceful transfers of power.

The idea that the 2024 election may not be free and fair was also raised recently by Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, who is reported to be on Trumps shortlist as a potential vice presidential nominee. He told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union earlier this month that I totally plan to accept the results of 2024, while holding out the possibility that the election may not be fair if Trump were to lose.

I think that Donald Trump will be (the victor). And if its a free and fair election, Dana, I think every Republican will enthusiastically accept the results. And, again, I think those results will show that Donald Trump has been elected president, been reelected president.

Vance argued that parties in the election had to be willing to prosecute their cases if they believed there was election fraud. But academic studies and multiple legal cases have shown that fraud in presidential elections only occurs in isolated cases. Thats not stopping Republicans demonstrating their loyalty to Trump by casting doubt on the integrity of the 2024 election before it even happens.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

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CHICAGO  The Chicago Transit Authority released a rendering Thursday of a project that would rehab the Western Brown Line station.

The CTA is holding a community meeting May 29 at 6 p.m. for the Lincoln Square neighborhood.

The agency said they will provide scope details based on feedback provided by the community as well as solicit feedback based on progress made so far.

I am thrilled to have worked with the CTA to make these much-needed improvements possible. Constituents have been calling for years for the Western Station  the busiest in the 47th Ward  to be updated, said 47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin. The refreshed look and updated ADA access will complement the concurrent rebuilding of the adjacent plaza and parking lot as we breathe new life into the heart of Lincoln Square.

The following is a summary of what will be added, per the CTA.

As part of the rehabilitation, new ADA doors will be added to the main entrance on Western Avenue. Beginning this summer, crews will begin work on track structure painting, platform rehabilitation, and roof replacement.

The station will also feature a new bus boarding island and canopy structure for customers to use while waiting for one of the several routes that connect through the station. Sidewalks will be replaced in front of the station and lighting will also be upgraded along the walkway between the station and Lincoln Avenue. Upon completion of the project, riders will have smoother access to the station thanks to the replaced sidewalks.

The rehabilitated station interior will also feature new accent lighting that highlights a segment of the Berlin Wall on display. The CTA will also be refinishing the floors and interior walls as well as replacing the elevator cabs, stair treads and risers as well as a constructing a new customer service assistance kiosk.

On the platform level, the concrete platform edge will be replaced. Repairs will also be made to the existing concrete platform, handrail, and platform canopy.

To perform this work, occasional weekend day line cut cuts between Kimball and Western will be required. There will also be temporary bus stop relocation while the bus turnaround is being rehabbed. Details of any service impacts will be shared with customers once details are finalized. Work is anticipated to continue through late 2025.

City Council votes to limit mayors ability to cancel ShotSpotter contract

The renderings come as City Council is questioning the leadership of CTA chief Dorval Carter Jr. On Wednesday, a symbolic vote of no confidence against him was introduced but immediately sent to the Rules Committee.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
(Reuters) -CVS Health Corp has been seeking a private equity partner to fund growth at Oak Street Health, a primary care provider it bought a year ago, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

The company has been working with financial advisers to help find capital to back new clinics that will be opened by Oak Street, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The deliberations are in a preliminary stage and the structure could change, while there is no guarantee a deal will be reached, according to the report.

CVS declined a request for comment from Reuters.

A potential CVS-private equity partnership would help lessen the capital investment burden associated with the build out of the Oak Street Health clinic base, Leerink Partners analyst Michael Cherny said in a note.

"Overall, we see this move as prudent on the surface, but need more details on the potential joint venture," he added.

The U.S. healthcare conglomerate bought Oak Street Health for about $9.5 billion in February last year.

CVS had said in February it planned to nearly double the business to 300 clinics by 2026 and aimed to grow the number of Oak Street patients over time.

(Reporting by Sneha S K in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
An immigrant family wades through the Rio Grande while crossing from Mexico into the United States on September 30, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

As you may have heard by now, a bill currently making its way through the North Carolina legislature (House Bill 10  Require Sheriffs to Cooperate with ICE) is the subject of significant controversy. The bill would require county sheriffs to hold people they arrest at the request of federal immigration agents.

Many sheriffs, however, do not want to do the job of the federal government. They see immigration enforcement as a federal issue. For their part, they want to provide safety and protection to all local residents and to avoid, where possible, separating families unnecessarily.

Sadly, this is far from the first time such an issue has arisen at the General Assembly. Indeed, let me tell you about a bill from a few years back that helped start this anti-immigrant mess in our state. I was there. I lobbied against it, and it is just as hateful now as it was then.

History is instructive. There is very little that is new under the sun if one studies history. Anti-immigrant fervor has always been a hallmark of American history. One just needs a scorecard and a calendar to keep track of which ethnic group, nationality, or religion the hatred and bigotry was aimed at.

In 2005, I was the first paid contract lobbyist at the General Assembly for the Raleigh-based nonprofit, El Pueblo. At the time, we had high hopes for passing some forward-looking legislation, including a proposal that would have granted the children of immigrants access to in-state tuition rates when they attended public colleges and universities. We had a lively and positive news conference in the Press Conference Room in the Legislative Building to promote the bill. There was a big crowd with many legislators in attendance, that was headlined by none other than the former Governor of North Carolina, Jim Hunt.

We had barely left the event, however, when the phones began to ring off the hook in the offices of legislators due to calls from angry North Carolinians. Legislative assistants were spoken to in unforgivable ways, and ultimately, they had to stop answering the phones. The offices of El Pueblo had to be locked and a security system was installed. The Executive Director was forced to hire a bodyguard.

One day, I brought the Consul General of Mexico  an ambassador-level official  to a legislative committee meeting where he was, absurdly, accused by a lawmaker of traveling around North Carolina to register non-citizens to vote. Meanwhile, the chair of the committee sat idly by and said nothing.

This offensive and horrible behavior went on all session.

In the next legislative session that commenced in 2007, HB 1950  Sheriffs Immigration Enforcement Agmt./Funds. was introduced. This was the beginning of the 287(g) program, which allowed the Sheriffs Association to collect funds for each immigrant they would arrest and detain in their jails. It was nothing but a money-making scheme. Never mind the harm it would do to families and children.

Sadly, just as it did in 2007, the state Sheriffs Association is backing HB 10 in 2024. Only this time, it has the full cooperation of legislative leaders.

Of course, the ultimate tragedy here is that its all so unnecessary.

Republicans had a golden opportunity to solve the border crisis earlier this year  a problem they have stood in the way of solving in Congress for the last 30 years. They helped write a bipartisan bill, to which Democrats agreed, that would have strengthened immigration enforcement while providing a realistic path to legal status for many longtime immigrants and helped bring them out of the shadows.

Unfortunately, that kind of plan didnt mesh with Donald Trumps scheme to base his fall campaign on racist and fear-based appeals and to deny any kind of victory  even one that would greatly benefit the nation as a whole  to President Biden, so he told the Republicans in Congress to back out of the deal.

In short, as has been the case in North Carolina on this issue for many years, cynical and petty politics waged by petty politicians remain, for now, triumphant. And its a sickening sight to behold.

The post Cynical politics behind anti-immigrant bill trump the common good appeared first on NC Newsline.
FILE PHOTO: Czech President Pavel attends a conference '20 years of the Czech Republic in the EU: A vision for an enlarged Europe' in Prague

PRAGUE (Reuters) -Czech President Petr Pavel was injured on a motorcycle, but not seriously, his office said on Thursday.

"The president was injured while riding his motorcycle," Pavel's office said on social media platform X. "The injuries are not serious but will require a short observation in the hospital."

The office said it would provide more information when available.

Police said on X that the accident occurred on a closed course and was not a road accident.

Pavel, a 62-year-old former Czech army chief and high-level NATO official, took office last year and has maintained his hobby of motorcycling since then.

(Reporting by Jason Hovet; Editing by Leslie Adler)
WASHINGTON D.C.  The attorney for former Little Rock airport Director Bryan Malinowski testified before the House of Representatives subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government Wednesday.

The hearing put Arkansas at the center of the discussion of what is right and what is wrong for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

Its a senseless tragedy Family attorney speaks on death of Bryan Malinowski following Tuesday ATF raid

The Malinowski family attorney said ATF agents were in place at a parking lot near Malinowskis home to execute a search warrant on the airport executives home a week before they did on March 19, but abandoned the attempt because they learned the airport executive was not there.

Bryan Malinowski died as a result of an ATF search warrant where he fired at agents. An affidavit shows Malinowski sold guns at gun shows from his personal collection at a rate the ATF alleged crossed a line for when a private seller is required to get a federal firearms license (FFL).

Private sales do not require background checks and is commonly referred to as the gun show loophole where those who cannot legally possess a gun can easily acquire one.

Bud Cummins, attorney for the Malinowski family, told U.S. House representatives that the line he allegedly crossed is very murky and the ATF should have taken less drastic action.

He loved his career. He loved being in the airport management business. If anyone had ever suggested to him that his weekend hobby was in any way threatening that, he would have immediately been hands off, but nobody told him, Cummins said.

Bryan Malinowski, the Little Rock airport executive shot by ATF agents, dies from injuries

The Arkansas attorney also said that there were 57 seconds between when ATF agents covered the lens of the front door camera and when Malinowski was shot in the forehead with retaliatory fire. All of this happened well before sunrise.

We are making a big deal at 6 a.m., but this is the standard time law enforcement executes arrest warrants and executes search warrants, Rep. Dan Goldman (New York-D) said.

One thing that was not standard procedure was the lack of body cameras. According to Cummings neither the ATF nor the Little Rock Police Officers present were wearing any. If true, it goes against a 2021 Presidential policy.

Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D) stated only a third of ATF agents are currently wearing body cameras.

I have specifically requested from Congress the funding from Congress so that everyone can wear those body cams, but my colleagues have denied that, Plaskett said.

Malinowskis widow, Maer, was present but did not testify. The only thing on her lips were tears she wiped away as they rolled down her face.

Mrs. Malinowski I feel like we owe you an apology on behalf of the American government, stated Rep. Gregory Steube (Florida-R).

Attorney of former Little Rock airport exec Bryan Malinowski releases video events ahead of deadly ATF raid

It is inappropriate to be drawing conclusions before the results of an investigation are released, Plaskett said.

Whether any changes come from the deadly search warrant is yet to be seen. Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson (R) said there were less invasive means and he hopes a statute or practice can be drafted to deescalate future warrant searches.

The Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorneys Office is currently investigating the Malinowski raid. Sixth Judicial District Prosecutor Will Jones said Wednesday the file is still in review.

The ATF rule change on private sellers implemented on May 11, 2024, is also in the court system. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin is working to stop the rules implementation. His office said it is still waiting on a ruling.

Plaskett brought up Malinowskis job as an example and a reason why the ATF changed the language of the rules it enforces on private sellers.

The ATF removed any language of the gun sales having to be linked to a persons livelihood or main source of income. The current rule implemented applies to those who sell guns predominately to earn a profit. Malinowski could sell many firearms but did not rely on gun sales as his primary source of income because he was the highest-paid official in Little Rocks government.

Malinowski familys lawyer reacts to congressional letter sent to ATF

Thursday at 9 a.m., the subcommittee will question the ATF director on the Malinowski search warrant.

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Euclid's new image of star-forming region Messier 78  1,300 light-years away  offers hints as to what exactly dark matter is - PA/ESA

The dark matter-hunting telescope Euclid has sent back new images which hint at the origins of one of the most mysterious forces in the universe.

For the first time, scientists have pulled back the curtain on the Messier 78 nebula, a region where stars are forming which is usually shrouded by dense clouds of dust and gas, and impossible to penetrate.

The near-infrared camera on Euclid has allowed scientists to peer inside, where they have spotted brown dwarfs and rogue planets, both of which are candidates for dark matter.

Although nobody knows what dark matter is, it is believed to make up about 85 per cent of the Universes mass, keeping stars and planets in their galaxies.

It cannot be seen but its impact can be viewed through telescopes because it bends light around galaxies, creating a ring of star light known as gravitational lensing.

Brown dwarfs are halfway between massive planets and stars and emit radiation but have not burst into being full stars. Rogue planets are planets around four times the mass of Jupiter, but are not orbiting a star.

If brown dwarfs and rogue planets are responsible for dark matter there would need to be far more than have currently been spotted, but with Euclid, scientists are now able to look into nebulae to see if there are enough.

Jerry Zhang, of the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, said: Dark matter, as we all know, is so mysterious, and its invisible. But so far, brown dwarfs and planetary-mass objects are actually candidates for this missing mass.

However, the individual object has so little mass that we have to find a significant number of them to support this idea. We still believe that we only found the tip of the iceberg.

The 1.2 billion Euclid space telescope, which includes a camera developed by University College London, is studying the impact of dark matter and dark energy on 1.5 billion galaxies  more than one third of the visible sky, and probe 70 per cent of cosmic time.

Led by the European Space Agency (ESA) the telescopes enormous field of vision is 250 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope and creates more data in one day than Hubble has ever produced.

Just five per cent of the universe is visible. The rest is made up of strange unknowns whose presence can only be inferred by their influence on the universe.

A new image of spiral galaxy NGC 6744, which 30 million light-years away, one of several pictures take help us unravel the secrets of the cosmos - PA/ESA

Without dark energy the universe would not continue to accelerate as it expands, while galaxies rely on the gravitational heft of dark matter to keep them together. Both have been notoriously difficult to pin down.

Messier 78  the central and brightest region in the images  is around 1,600 light years away in the Orion constellation. The foreground resembles a seahorse with bright stars lighting up the eye and chest regions with purple light.

Dr Marusa Zerjal, of the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, said: This image is unprecedented because this is the first such image with depth and sharpness and [the] large field of view actually enables us for the first time to study objects of a very low mass to such details and in uniform manner.

We can study the number of newly formed stars, but also the number of objects that are less massive than stars, called brown dwarfs, and there are free-floating planets, or rogue planets and that is the most interesting part of this image.

British scientists from the universities of Manchester, Nottingham and the Open University are responsible for many of the instruments on the telescope.

Dr Rebecca Bowler, Ernest Rutherford Fellow at The University of Manchester, said: In these spectacular images we can see galaxies that were previously invisible, because the most distant galaxies can only be discovered using the longer near-infrared wavelengths seen by Euclid.

What is amazing is that these images cover an area of less than one per cent of the full deep observations, showing that we expect to detect thousands of early galaxies in the next few years with Euclid, which will be revolutionary in understanding how and when galaxies formed after the Big Bang.

Unlike normal matter, dark matter does not reflect or emit light. To map it, the Euclid mission will use a technique called weak gravitational lensing which works by measuring how much light is bent on its way through space, a good indicator of where dark matter is lurking.

ESA also released an image of the cluster Abell 2390, which shows giant curved arcs in the sky, caused by gravitational lensing.

Abell 2390, a galaxy cluster 2.7 billion light-years away in the constellation of Pegasus - PA/ESA

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DC police arrest man for sexually abusing victim in 2011

WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police said a man from Baltimore was arrested for committing sexual abuse back in 2011.

Ambulance stolen in DC; person detained

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested and charged 34-year-old Daryl Fowler on Wednesday.

The situation happened on Nov. 1, 2011 when Fowler man forced a victim into an unwanted sexual act. He then ran away.

Fowler was charged with first degree sexual abuse.

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Alvarez Maynez before the stage collapses at the end of Lorenia Canavati's campaign, in San Pedro Garza Garcia (State of Nuevo Leon).

At least nine people were killed and 121 more injured after strong winds knocked down the campaign stage where a Mexican presidential candidate, Jorge Alvarez Maynez, was supporting a local nominee running for mayor of San Pedro Garza Garcia, in the state of Nuevo Leon. Governor Samuel Garcia has confirmed the number of victims; the dead include eight adults and one child.

Alvarez Maynez, a presidential hopeful representing the progressive party Citizens Movement (MC), was standing on stage next to Lorenia Canavati von Borstel, the mayoral candidate, when a gust of wind knocked down the stage lighting truss and the giant screen behind them, which nearly came down on the politicians and their aides. Instead, the structure collapsed on the crowd standing in the front rows.

Governor Garcia told victims and their families that authorities will cover all funeral-related expenses and also provide assistance for children who have lost a parent.

The stage as it looked ahead of the campaign rally in San Pedro Garza. Prensa MC

The incident took place in El Obispo park, in the outskirts of San Pedro Garza Garcia, which is one of the wealthiest municipalities in Latin America. The site of the accident is located about seven kilometers from the city center, far from the wealthiest neighborhoods.

A video has gone viral on social media in which several people try to rescue others trapped by the giant metal structure. In the video one can hear pleas for help and desperate cries from those trying to pull them out.

A few minutes after the accident, Alvarez Maynez posted a message on his X account saying that he was safe: After the accident in San Pedro Garza, where a gust of wind knocked down the stage we were on, I went to San Jose hospital. I am fine and in communication with state authorities to follow up on what happened, he wrote. Moments later, the candidate reported that he had left the hospital to return to the site and be with the victims. He also said he had cancelled his agenda for Thursday, which had included trips to the states of Hidalgo and Tlaxcala.

Canavati also lamented the accident in an X post. There are no words to describe the pain and sadness everyone is feeling over the terrible accident that took place today at our campaign event. At this time all I can think of is affected people and their families. My team and I are coordinating with authorities to bring them attention and support. They are the most important thing right now, she wrote.

In a video uploaded on his social media accounts, Governor Samuel Garcia asked the population of the metropolitan area to take shelter from the storms and winds. Claudia Sheinbaum, the presidential candidate for the governing party Morena, announced she was cancelling a rally in Monterrey.
This week Judge Aileen Cannon unsealed a filing from Donald Trumps legal team in the classified documents case in South Florida, setting off a firestorm of baseless conspiracy theorizing by the former presidents supporters that blazed its way from a long-discredited conspiracy writer through Fox News and many top right-wing radio shows. It eventually ended up, as so many things do, in a fundraising appeal from Trump himself.

The narrative arc of this alternative reality is familiar: the sensationalization of perfunctory government-speak, the unhesitating acceptance of unproven claims, the quick and authoritative debunking of the false assertions, the desperate insistence that whats been debunked should still generate outrage. Understanding what happened here provides useful insight into the cluttered information environment so crucial to Trumps political success.

The swiftness with which the false claimsthat the FBI, under direction from Joe Bidens Justice Department, sought to use deadly force against Trump and even to assassinate himmade it from the fever swamps of the internet to the former president demonstrate how the MAGA ecosystem inculcates a culture of lying and misrepresentation of facts. Its worth deconstructing both how the falsehoods entered the bloodstream and exactly what Trumps acolytes in the media have gotten wrong, according to multiple sources at the Justice Department and FBI who spoke to The Dispatch about standard operating procedures.

First, the Trump motion itself, which seeks to dismiss the case in part by arguing the FBIs 2022 raid on Mar-a-Lago violated Trumps constitutional rights, appears designed to mislead the public. Trumps filing lays out his case with several dubious claims, but what members of the pro-Trump media seized on Tuesday was language from the FBIs operations order that governed the agents execution of the legally obtained search warrant for Mar-a-Lago.

Under a heading titled The Illegal Raid, Trumps filing noted that the FBI order contained a Policy Statement regarding Use Of Deadly Force, which stated, for example, Law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice may use deadly force when necessary. (The FBI order had been obtained by Trumps defense team during discovery and presented as an exhibit in its filing.)

What the defenses filing does not detail is the fact that the operation orders permission for law enforcement to use deadly force when necessary is boilerplate language included in the operations order from the DOJs policy on use of deadly forcethe same language used in pretty much every order authorizing the execution of arrest and search warrants. This is what FBI sources told The Dispatchthat at any point where armed agents are involved in an operation, even one with no expectation of resistance such as a search warrant execution, a policy dictating when deadly force can and cannot be used is not only standard but necessary. Whether the FBI is raiding the offices of a business suspected of mail fraud, the headquarters of a drug kingpin suspected of racketeering, or the home of a former president suspected of retaining classified documents illegally, the rules governing the use of deadly force remain the same.

But Americans who receive their information from a variety of pro-Trump and MAGA sources would learn none of that. The reaction from those voices was quick, hysterical, and wrong. Leading the charge was Julie Kelly, a writer at Real Clear Investigations who for years has proliferated conspiracy theories and false narratives regarding the January 6 riot at the Capitol, the prosecutions of Trump, and other subjects of interest to the MAGA movement. Her explanation of January 6? Trump supporters were innocent victims of left-wing troublemakers and Democrats started the trouble to suppress the facts about voter fraud in the 2020 election.

On Tuesday, Kelly breathlessly relayed the details of the FBI operations order on her X account.

Oh my God, Kelly wrote. Armed FBI agents were preparing to confront Trump and even engage Secret Service if necessary. They were going to go door to door to terrorize MAL guests and even pick the locks. Gestapo. She noted the operations orders medical plan in case anyone was injured during the raid.

Kelly even provided a screenshot of the section from the order citing the FBIs policy statement on use of deadly force, which states that such force can only be used when the officer has a reasonable belief that the subject of such force poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to the officer or to another person. But from this, Kelly claimed the FBI risked the lives of Donald Trump, his family, his staff, and MAL guests and said that people need to be arrested for this.

Setting aside that Trump himself was not at Mar-a-Lago at the time of the raid, its worth noting that the policy itself is designed to protect people at the location where a search warrant is being executed by limiting how law enforcement officers are allowed to use deadly force. As FBI sources told The Dispatch, since the Obama administration, the policy has increasingly restricted the circumstances in which federal law enforcement can use deadly force, including more limits on when firearms can be used on moving vehicles. The policy is built on the presumption that such force should only be used in times of imminent serious injury or possible death or to officers or other persons.

Yet Kellys tweets, and her bogus claim that the FBI language was unusual and ominous, were amplified in real time by a series of credentialed accounts on the MAGA right. One of those was the X account for the Republicans of the House Judiciary Committee, which retweeted one of Kellys tweets with several siren emojis. Others included Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Jim Banks and Sens. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz. Rep. Paul Gosar even said Biden ordered the hit on Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

On Tuesday night, the FBI issued a rare public statement seeking to quell the growing frenzy: The FBI followed standard protocol in this search as we do for all search warrants, which includes a standard policy statement limiting the use of deadly force. No one ordered additional steps to be taken and there was no departure from the norm in this matter.

It didnt work. Pro-Trump commentators continued to misrepresent the order online.

It is standard policy to authorize shooting our Republican political opponent when we raid his home for no good reason after running the Russia collusion hoax and other scams.  Biden DOJ tweeted Mollie Hemingway, a Fox News contributor, attempting to satirize the FBIs defense while misrepresenting the text and meaning of the policy. She later gleefully tweeted about Trumps own proliferation of this misrepresentation.

It was not a standard op, tweeted Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent who hosts a popular online podcast show. The MAL raid was an unprecedented action with significant potential for confusion and blue on blue issues and conflict. It also involved competing equities between federal agencies (FBI & USSS) with equal statutory claims to interrupt the others activities.

What Bongino does not note is that the operating order itself provides the guidelines for how to coordinate with other law enforcement agents and even with Mar-a-Lago security and staffquite literally a standard part of any FBI field operation.

Perhaps the best example of how pro-Trump voices online were acting in bad faith on this idea comes from Kellys claim that FBI agents were preparing to confront Trump and even engage Secret Service if necessary. The phrase engage Secret Service has been interpreted by Kellys followers to mean the FBI was explicitly prepared to engage the former presidents protective service with firearms. But a clear reading of the order, which Kelly is paraphrasing, shows that FBI planned on contingencies in which their officers would need to engage in conversation with either Secret Service or Trump himself if he returned to the scene of the search.

The lie that the FBI, with the approval of Attorney General Merrick Garland, was authorized to shoot at Trump, at will, during its lawful execution of a search warrant, has successfully seeped into the bloodstream of right-wing America. The story even ended up on the flagship evening news program of Fox News, Special Report, where on Tuesday correspondent Kevin Corke described the details from the unsealed filing as quite shocking and read snippets from the operations order that he called very interestingall without noting that the language about using deadly force reflected the standard policy for FBI field operations.

It fell to anchor Bret Baier to raise this unavoidable fact at the conclusion of Corkes live report. Baier noted that some people may point out that the FBI was simply using the language of its standard policy for the use of deadly force, but then hedged a bit.

But obviously its not standard operating procedure when youre going into the house of a former president who happens to be protected by Secret Service. One would think that would be different, Baier said.

As Special Reports coverage moved to a panel discussion, the main Fox News X account tweeted: SERIOUS THREAT: The bombshell documents show a court filing stating, Law Enforcement officers of the Department of Justice may use deadly force when necessary during the FBIs raid on Former President Trumps estate. (The tweet from 6:44 p.m. has been deleted without explanation. A spokeswoman for Fox News did not respond to a request for comment.)

Just over an hour later, Fox News host Jesse Watters continued to hype the story. Think about this for a second: Joe Biden sent men with guns to his political opponents house. And turned their bedrooms upside down. Thats never happened in the history of the United States, he said. And since she first launched the orgy of deception on Tuesday morning, Julie Kelly, the conspiracy maven, was busy appearing on many of the countrys most popular right-wing talk radio and podcast shows, including Mark Levin, Charlie Kirk, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton (successors to Rush Limbaugh), and Steve Bannons War Roomreaching millions of listeners across the country.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Trump is raising money off the controversy. Breaking from Trump: Bidens DOJ was authorized to shoot me! blares the headline on a Trump fundraising email from Tuesday. And then: Its just been revealed that Bidens DOJ was authorized to use DEADLY FORCE for their DESPICABLE raid in Mar-a-Lago. You know theyre just itching to do the unthinkable. Joe Biden was locked & loaded ready to take me out & put my family in danger.

That was never the plan, of course. There was no assassination plot. There was no threatening language. Nobody was going to do the unthinkable and the FBI made special efforts, in advance, to make sure no one was in danger. Most of that was obvious right from Julie Kellys first irresponsible tweet. But it was confirmed in almost comical fashion some 36 hours after the manufactured controversy began, when Jacqui Heinrich, White House correspondent for Fox News, tweeted that the same FBI language that had MAGA world in hype mode was included in the operation order for the searches conducted at President Joe Bidens home when he was believed to have retained classified documents.

Read more at The Dispatch

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GREENFIELD  Hundreds of volunteers from all over Iowa entered and exited the doors of a church here on a sunny Thursday morning, carrying water, paper towels, diapers, food and clothes in an effort to help the community after a deadly tornado ripped through town two days prior.

The parking lot of St. Johns Catholic Church, 303 N.E. Elm St., was lined with SUVs and pickup trucks filled with supplies as people gave orders to volunteers with smiling and determined faces. Thursday was the first day volunteers were allowed into Greenfield, a town decimated Tuesday afternoon by an EF4 tornado that killed four people, injured at least 35 others and damaged or destroyed 153 homes.

The tornado took a mile-long path across Greenfield, taking only one minute to destroy a large part of the town, Donna Dubberke, meteorologist-in-charge for the National Weather Service in Des Moines, said at a news conference.

Gov. Kim Reynolds said at the news conference that the quick cleanup in the Adair County town of about 2,000 people, 60 miles southwest of Des Moines, has been remarkable.

"I was on the ground yesterday and I can't even tell you the amount of debris that has been collected and hauled off," said Reynolds, adding that about 50% of the town's power was restored as of Thursday morning.

Residents and emergency responders have so far done the bulk of the cleanup. But Iowans stood at the ready to be allowed in to help.

More: 'Somehow I'm here': Neighbors say four people died in powerful Greenfield tornado

A crew of high school football players from Red Oak High School, about an hour away from Greenfield, were some of the many people who showed up to carry donated supplies into the church.

Volunteers bring food, clothing and more as they assist the town of Greenfield after an EF4 tornado Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Michael Nordeen, head football coach, brought 16 players to volunteer.

We thought it was important to come out and help the community, Nordeen said. We try to teach our kids to do the right thing. We want to be there for the community. Were just showing love to the state of Iowa and people in need.

The community of Red Oak also pitched in, donating four vanloads of supplies, Nordeen said. The football team planned to help around town after they finished at the church.

Maggie Parish, a plant nurse with Michael Foods, an egg production plant in Lenox, brought her team of employees to help.

Our initial goal was to provide breakfast in the morning, but while we were here we just stepped in and started helping, Parish said. Lenox had a tornado 11 years ago and so this is our pay-it-forward moment. We can give back and help those who probably helped us at one point. You hear about Iowa nice all the time, so this is what we do.

Friends and family of Greenfield residents, clad in vests and work gloves, also drove from hours away to help remove the massive amounts of debris from the streets.

Volunteers with Graphite Construction work to clear debris on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Greenfield, IA.

A group of three people in a golf cart drove around the dusty and debris-scattered streets to hand out breakfast sandwiches, sports drinks and water to workers and volunteers.

Ryan Antisdel, an owner of Moes RBF, a Greenfield coffee and breakfast shop, made more than 300 breakfast sandwiches and 200 lunch wraps on Wednesday to hand out to people in Greenfield. He planned to do the same Thursday. Nancy Antisdel, Ryans mother and an owner of Moes RBF, said they planned to give away food until they felt like everyone in town had been fed.

NWS: Reports show tornadoes ran 130 miles

The National Weather Service on Thursday classified the Greenfield tornado as an EF4, and designated a tornado in the southwest Iowa counties of Page, Montgomery and Adams as an EF3. One that started in Johnston and ran to Nevada was categorized as an EF2.

Crews are still surveying the tornado tracks and damages, but said they knew as of Thursday morning that those three tornadoes had tracked 130 miles through the state, starting at about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday in Montgomery and Page counties and ending shortly before 5 p.m. in Nevada. The Greenfield tornado traveled 44 miles from near Visilica and reached speeds of 185 mph, according to NWS.

More: 'Lucky again': Tornado kills one in rural southwest Iowa; neighbors describe near-misses

The storms not only produced tornadoes, but high winds and heavy rains, which caused damage and flooding across the state. A tornado also killed Monica Zamarron, who was blown out of her car in Adams County.

An early morning satellite image shows the nearly mile-long path of damage left by Tuesday's tornado in Greenfield, Iowa. Image collected at 9:27 a.m. on May 22, 2024.

Reynolds had issued a disaster declaration for 15 counties on Tuesday. She added 17 more counties Wednesday, bringing the total to 32  nearly a third of the state's 99 counties.

They are: Adair, Adams, Black Hawk, Buena Vista, Butler, Cass, Cedar, Clay, Clinton, Dubuque, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Humboldt, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Kossuth, Marshall, Mills, Montgomery, Muscatine, O'Brien, Page, Palo Alto, Polk, Pottawattamie, Tama, Story and Warren counties.

Reynolds said Thursday that at least 202 homes incurred major damage or were destroyed in the storms, including 153 in Adair County, 26 in Polk County, 15 in Story County and eight in Montgomery County.

"We've had a lot of destruction and damage across the state," she said.

The governor has requested an expedited presidential disaster declaration from President Joe Biden. In her report, she estimated $11 million has been spent statewide on debris removal and emergency protective measures and damage to utilities. It also said 69,005 homes, businesses and facilities statewide lost power Tuesday.

The Adair County Health System hospital that was struck Tuesday sustained "substantial damage," MercyOne spokesperson Eve Lederhouse said in a news release. Staff and patients were evacuated; there were no injuries. Hospital officials expect repairs could take weeks, if not months, and the hospital will remain closed until "further assessments can be completed," Lederhouse said. Doctors and nurses are providing care at the local elementary school.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, who toured the damage on Thursday with the governor, said she would work with the Biden administration on the state's request.

More: Here's how you can help Greenfield Iowa recover from Tuesday's tornado

She said she was on the ground because photos and videos do not show the full scope of the destruction.

As much as Ive been watching the videos and seeing the pictures of the tornado damage, it just does not do it justice," Criswell said. "When youre here on the ground and you can see the homes gone or you can talk to a member who lost their home and they share their story of how they just barely escaped death, where they decided to keep safe during the storm, those are the kind of things that you just can't get unless you're here on the ground."

Jose Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Greenfield tornado damaged or destroyed 153 Iowa homes in 1 minute
Patrick Eller, a data forensic examiner, testifies on the mountain of digital information he analyzed for the Chad Daybell murder trial on Wednesday. | Judge Steven W. Boyce via Youtube

The final two witnesses for the defense, two forensic experts, testified Wednesday about digital and DNA evidence, or the lack thereof, used by the prosecution in the murder trial of Chad Daybell in Boise.

Afterward, Judge Steven Boyce cleared the public from the courtroom about 1:40 p.m. Defense attorney John Prior said he was "prepared to rest" his case, and the two teams of litigants discussed witnesses for the prosecutors' rebuttal case.

Boyce overturned a previous motion barring Tammy Daybell's former co-worker, Janice Olsen, from testifying about a conversation over insurance policies. Olsen had previously testified May 1, calling Tammy Daybell "active and healthy," but will be called back to testify about a conversation she had with Tammy Daybell that was relayed to Fremont County sheriff's detective Bruce Mattingly in a recorded interview.

The conversation will likely address Chad Daybells involvement in the increase in life insurance taken out shortly before his former wifes death, after the testimony of Tammy Daybells daughter, Emma Murray, opened the door for rebuttal testimony, according to the judge. Murray told jurors Monday that Tammy Daybell increased her policy without consulting her husband.

Prior argued that the return of Olsen would start "muddying the waters and creating confusion."

Prosecutors also argued they should be allowed to call Rexburg police detective Ray Hermosillo and Fremont County sheriffs deputy Colter Cannon back to the stand for rebuttal.

The first to testify Wednesday was Patrick Eller, a data forensic examiner, who said he was given almost 10 terabytes of data to review from cellphone towers, search warrants and device metadata. For reference, he told the jury, digitizing the entire Library of Congress would equate to about 1 terabyte of information.

Prior questioned Eller primarily about the availability of location data that places Daybell on his property during key time periods.

In the days following the disappearance of the two children, Joshua JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, cellphone data showed Lori Vallow Daybells brother, Alex Cox, on Chad Daybells property. Prior asked, Do you have any electronic information or data of any kind to suggest Chad Daybells device was on the property at the same exact time? Eller replied, No.

Madison County prosecutor Rob Wood, on cross-examination, walked through a presentation showing call logs between Chad Daybell and Alex Cox and device data from the same days in question.

"Are you aware that .... looking at that data placed on the screen right now was how law enforcement found Tylee Ryan?" Wood asked. Eller said Chad Daybell used multiple phones, but no geolocation data was found associated with those devices.

Eller said someone can prevent geolocation data from being collected by adjusting many of the settings on a device and the applications in use or by turning a device off.

Forensic DNA expert Dr. Greg Hampikian took the stand to discuss his independent review of documents and electronic files, lab records, tests and reports pertaining to biological evidence collected in the case.

He said the controls and experiment were valid in testing the genetic material found on the blade of a shovel, the eye of a pickax, and hairs gathered from the scene. Four hairs were tested against reference samples from Chad Daybell, Lori Daybell and JJ. None of the four hairs were found to be a match with the reference samples.

Did you find any evidence ... indicating that Chad Daybells DNA was present on anything? Prior asked. Hampikian replied, No.

Chad Daybell is on trial for first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Tammy Daybell. He is also charged with killing his new wife Lori Daybell's children  7-year-old JJ and 16-year-old Tylee, as well as with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder of each of the three victims, grand theft and two counts of insurance fraud.

Once the defense rests and prosecutors call any rebuttal witnesses, a handful of procedural and administrative tasks will have to be completed, including alterations to jury instructions and some evidentiary organization, before both sides will present closing arguments to jurors, which could occur next week.
Opponents of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs scored a major victory this month in North Carolina, with the states flagship public university preemptively moving funds away from DEI due to fears of a ban, indicating that dangers to the policies are growing even beyond conservative strongholds.

Red states including Texas and Florida have gone all in banning DEI at public colleges, but experts fear the effects on school culture and loss of jobs as the battleground map expands.

People misunderstand DEI to be just about LGBTQ students and students of color, but its also about low-income students, students with disabilities, veteran students and many, many, many other students who make colleges diverse, said Shaun Harper, a professor of education, business, and public policy at the University of Southern California.

Its really clear to me that they didnt think through the implications and the impact that those bans would have on the multitude of student populations that make campuses [diverse], Harper added.

In Texas, hundreds of jobs have been cut after the law banning DEI programs took effect, with the University of Texas system alone losing 300 part- and full-time positions. More than a dozen jobs were lost at the University of Florida after it disbanded its DEI office.

You may not like the law, but it is the law, University of Texas System Chancellor James Milliken said.

But North Carolina is significantly more purple: It has a Democratic governor, and the Biden campaign has indicated that in November it will try to flip the state, which twice voted for former President Trump.

Nevertheless, last week the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill board of trustees voted to divert $2.3 million in DEI funding to safety measures, potentially killing the schools DEI program.

Chapel Hill budget Chair Dave Boliek said the university is trying to set the tone before the state Legislature gets involved.

Were going ahead and, you know, sort of taking a leadership role in this. Thats the way I view it, Boliek said, according to The Associated Press.

Republicans were thrilled with the move.

Good for the UNC-Chapel Hill board for recognizing common sense and pushing back against the woke mob. Now is the time to prioritize campus safety, not virtue signalling, said Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) after the vote was announced.

Schools across the country are increasingly finding themselves in a tough spot legally as they seek to balance their commitments to diversity with shifting state laws.

Every single institution is going to be sitting in a very context-specific world, said Heidi Tseu, the assistant vice president on national engagement for the American Council on Education. Every institution is sitting in a community and sitting with its own relationship to its state government, and all the different stakeholders that create that sort of micro political climate. And so, I dont think there is [a] one-size-fits-all approach to how any of this is being handled.

The University of Wyoming, for example, has eliminated its DEI offices in response to state legislation but says it is committed to maintaining services to students that, in some cases, have existed for decades. Among the policies that wont change at the school are nondiscrimination rules and increased access programs for certain groups such as veterans and Pell Grant recipients.

Theyre quietly trying to work with what they have, Tseu said.

And then you have other jurisdictions that arent impacted yet, but you can tell the chilling effect, some of this sort of public narrative around DEI thats changed in the last couple years, she added.

Liberal and Democratic-run states have steadfastly opposed efforts to nix DEI programs, though in some cases, even they have come out against diversity statements faculty are required to sign when they are hired.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a top school that sits in a solidly blue state, announced this month it will no longer require prospective faculty members to sign on to a diversity statement, saying that while the university wants an inclusive environment, it shouldnt be built on compelled statements that impinge on freedom of expression, and they dont work.

The Washington Post editorial board also recently came out against such diversity statements, saying they too often led to self-censorship and ideological policing.

However, the moves in conservative states to take away whole programs could run into federal trouble.

These conservative state legislators that are banning DEI  I dont think they were thinking about the federal compliance burden that this is going to place on colleges and universities, because, ultimately, like the people who were doing all the work of doing the investigations and all the stuff, right?  Those peoples jobs no longer exist. Whos going to do all of that? Harper said.

Janet Stovall, global head of DEI at the NeuroLeadership Institute, says colleges are going to find legitimate ways around the DEI bans.

Schools will need to find a way to talk about what they are living by, Stovall said, adding that universities are going to hurt if they do not figure out how to work around the laws.

NFL legend and University of Florida alumnus Emmitt Smith joined the debate this week, saying in an interview with USA Today that the state had conformed to the political pressures of todays time, while encouraging students to be sure to chose open-minded schools for their higher education.

When I see them destroying DEI for the sake of politics  its not even common sense, Smith said.

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DEI policy set to be repealed for UNC System. How diverse is board making the decision?

The UNC System Board of Governors is scheduled to vote Thursday on a policy that would repeal existing diversity, equity and inclusion mandates across the states public universities, likely impacting efforts with stated missions to support students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.

But the board making the decision lacks the same level of diversity seen on the campuses it oversees. The lack of diversity on the board is not a new trend, but its one that is perhaps more noticeable ahead of Thursdays vote.

The Board of Governors, which sets policy for the states 16 public universities and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, consists of 24 voting members selected by the General Assembly and one nonvoting student member, who is chosen by the UNC Association of Student Governments.

Each legislative chamber  both of which have been in Republican control since the 2010 election  appoints six candidates in odd-numbered years. Legislators selected the most recent group of new members last summer, with picks that slightly increased the limited racial diversity of the board but reduced the amount of women in the group.

One seat on the board is currently vacant, as Lee Roberts resigned in January to become the interim chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill.

The UNC Board of Governors are, from left, top row: Dr. Lee Barnes, Harry Brown, Swadesh Chatterjee, Woody White, Kellie Hunt Blue, Kirk J. Bradley, C. Philip Byers, Jimmy D. Clark. Second row, from left: Carolyn Coward, Gene Davis, Terry Hutchens, Mark Holton, Reginald Ronald Holley, John Fraley, Joel Ford, Pearl Burris-Floyd. Third row, from left: Michael Williford, J. Alex Mitchell, Wendy Floyd Murphy, Randy Ramsey, Sonja Phillips Nichols, Temple Sloan, Art Pope

Still, of the 23 members currently on the board, the majority are white, including 15 white men who account for about 65% of the membership. The board also includes four Black members, accounting for about 17% of the membership, and one Indian-American member.

UNC System enrollment data shows that, in the current semester, about 52% of all students are white. About 21% of students are Black, and about 6% of students are Asian.

Five board members, or about 22%, are women. About 59% of students across the system are female in the current semester.

The News & Observer previously reported that a 2020 survey of more than 20,000 students and employees across the UNC System found that 75% of respondents believed the systems leadership was not diverse.

The report stated that diverse leadership is an important component of both ensuring racial equity and aiding institutions to perform at a high level of excellence.

Samuel Scarborough, a UNC-Chapel Hill student who is a member of the Southern Student Action Coalition and TransparUNCy, a group that highlights political connections in North Carolina higher education, said more diversity on the board could lead to decisions that better reflect students and people of the state.

If the boards makeup was more diverse in terms of race, economic class and gender identity, those board members would have a better opportunity to empathize with students, faculty and staff in their day-to-day lived experiences, so that they can work on policies with those same constituencies to make the system better, Scarborough said.

Should the board mirror student demographics?

When the state House of Representatives appointed new members to the Board of Governors last summer, Rep. Kelly Hastings, a Republican who chairs the chambers nominating committee for the board, told The N&O that the Houses nominations  which included a Black woman and an Indian-American man  were a diverse group of people who were very qualified.

Its always good to have people from different backgrounds. I think that brings a lot of diversity to the table, especially with a public university system, Hastings told The N&O last May. But diversity is not the overriding factor in nominating people to the board, he said at the time.

The board has also been criticized for its conservative political leanings and partisan influences, leading Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to form a commission to suggest changes to the processes used to appoint members. Among other suggestions, the commission last summer recommended increasing the size and diversity of both the system-level Board of Governors and the campus-level Boards of Trustees.

The commission was co-chaired by former UNC System presidents Margaret Spellings and Tom Ross.

The bipartisan Commission on the Governance of Public Universities found that a lack of diversity among university leadership and governance boards is both a disservice to students across the UNC System and leads to the controversy and volatility that we are seeing threaten our public universities, Ross said in a statement after a Board of Governors took the first step to approve the DEI repeal last month. Our universities should encourage diversity on their campuses and governance boards and have leaders, administrators, faculty and staff that reflect the extraordinary diversity of our amazing state.

Democratic Rep. Maria Cervania, who hosted a press conference Wednesday at the General Assembly highlighting the importance of DEI in higher education and workforce pipelines, said she hopes all board members try to represent voices that may not be at the table.

Still, Cervania said boards and commissions across the state would ideally include members who are representative of our population.

I think if theres more people who are in this industry, or in education, or in work who look like the people of North Carolina, it provides much more of a richness of decision-making and a richness of goal-setting strategy or in efforts towards making North Carolina look like what it looks like now, or what it wants to be, Cervania said.

Scarborough, the UNC student, said he believes it is crucial for the Board of Governors to represent the demographics of the state, given the UNC Systems mission to serve the people of North Carolina.

UNC trustee wants equality of opportunity

But not everyone agrees with the notion that the systems governing boards should inherently be diverse or reflect the demographics of students or other groups they oversee.

Marty Kotis, a member of the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees who previously served on the Board of Governors, told The N&O Tuesday that diversifying the boards could be a very slippery slope. Making the boards match the demographics of their campuses or the state at-large doesnt really account for personal choice from those who make the nominations, Kotis said.

If you say that it has to mirror something exactly, I think, you know, the only way to do that is, youre discriminating, Kotis said. Youre engineering the system to obtain a particular outcome at that point.

Kotis said he believes in equality of opportunity, not equity of outcome, a notion he also extends to the debate over existing DEI programming and his position against the efforts.

I think thats a critical difference, Kotis said. Everyone should have the exact same shot, no matter what their race, gender or the various categories.

Vinay Patel, left, whispers to Marty Kotis during their first meeting as a members of the UNC Board of Trustees, at the Carolina Inn, on Thursday, July 15, 2021, in Chapel Hill, N.C.

At UNC-Chapel Hill, Kotis serves on a board of 15 members, 11 of which are white  accounting for about 73% of the board, compared to the student body, which is about 55% white. Two members are Black, including the student body president, who is selected by students and not appointed to the board by the Board of Governors or lawmakers. Two members are Indian-American.

Three members of the UNC-Chapel Hill board, also including the student body president, are women. They account for 20% of the board, while women account for more than 60% of the student body.

NC State Universitys Board of Trustees also noticeably lacks diversity, with just one Black member and three women, including the student body president, on the 15-member board.

What board members are saying about DEI programs

Ahead of the Board of Governors vote Thursday, the exact implications of the new policy  which emphasizes equality over the current policys focus on diversity and inclusion  remain unclear.

If the board approves the policy, the UNC Systems legal affairs division is expected to issue guidance to campuses on how to comply with the new directive. But there are some clues about what programs and jobs could be targeted by the policy, which directs chancellors to inform UNC System President Peter Hans by Sept. 1 of any reductions in force and spending, along with changes to job titles and position descriptions that result from the policy being implemented.

According to annual campus reports on DEI spending and efforts obtained and reported by The N&O, the programs that could be impacted by the new policy span a wide range, from those dedicated to recruiting underrepresented students to those that support students with disabilities or veteran status.

In an opinion piece published in The N&O and The Charlotte Observer, Board of Governors Chair Randy Ramsey pointed to a handful of examples of programming or incidents that show, in his words, its inappropriate to require university students or employees to adhere to a particular view of race, gender or other controversial topics.

Among other examples, Ramsey cited DEI efforts in the UNC School of Medicine, including a previous requirement for applicants to provide diversity statements as a condition of employment, promotion or tenure, and recommendations from a social justice task force in the school. Ramsey also cited a previous requirement for students applying to NC State University to describe how they would contribute to the universitys diverse environment.

These are all fine discussion topics for the classroom or in a student-led organization, and our proposed policy very clearly protects the right of faculty and students to tackle difficult and controversial topics in whatever way they see fit, Ramsey wrote.

Through a policy banning compelled speech, the Board of Governors had already banned diversity statements last year, prior to proposing the policy targeting DEI efforts more broadly, and neither UNC nor NC State currently require applicants to submit such statements. The social justice task forces recommendations were also not implemented, as reported by The N&O.

Asked by The N&O about any DEI programming he had first-hand experience attending, Kotis pointed to his 10-plus years serving on the Board of Governors and the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees and said he had seen a lot of the reports on the issue. He also cited the previously required DEI statements as an issue, calling them a political litmus test.

The UNC-Chapel Hill board last week voted to divert the universitys $2.3 million in annual DEI spending to public safety. While Kotis supported that decision, he said its possible to chew bubble gum and walk at the same time  indicating that some efforts that support students from diverse backgrounds, such as the universitys new offer of free tuition to some students based on their familys income, will likely continue even with the changes to DEI at the campus and UNC System levels.

I think its not an either-or on what the Board of Governors is proposing, Kotis said. You can do both.

Scarborough said he wishes the Board of Governors would leave the existing DEI policy in place, though he acknowledged that the current mandate is not perfect and there are definitely ways that it could be improved.

He noted that a board committee approved the policy last month with no discussion, and said he wished members allowed for more deliberation on the issue, including by involving students.

I think if the boards makeup was more diverse, there would be more support for DEI, Scarborough said. And even if it wasnt full-hearted support, there would be a lot more deliberation on DEI.

In the Spotlight designates ongoing topics of high interest that are driven by The News & Observers focus on accountability reporting.
Low-income parents and caregivers in Delaware and Tennessee are getting a lifeline to help curtail one of the most common medical conditions for babies: diaper rash. Both states have received federal approval to provide free diapers through their Medicaid programs, according to federal and state officials.

Under TennCare, Tennessee's Medicaid program, parents and legal guardians can pick up as many as 100 diapers a month for kids under age 2 at participating pharmacies beginning in August, Tennessee officials said.

"For infants and toddlers, a key benefit to adequate diaper supply is preventing diaper dermatitis, otherwise known as diaper rash, and urinary tract infections," the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services stated last week in an approval letter to Tennessee.

The federal agency also approved a similar Medicaid program in Delaware that will provide up to 80 diapers and a pack of baby wipes a week to parents for the first 12 weeks after a child is born. CMS said the state can use Medicaid funding to extend the program for an additional five years.

"Access to sufficient diapers offers health benefits to the parent, as well, as diaper need is associated with maternal depression and stress," a spokesperson for the Delaware Health and Social Services told the Associated Press in an email.

The cost of diapers

An infant needs as many as a dozen diapers a day, at a cost of $80 to $100 or more a month, according to the National Diaper Bank Network, an advocacy group. The cost of diapers can equate to 8% of someone's income if they are earning the federal minimum wage, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has noted.

Meanwhile, parents who do not have enough diapers are unable drop their kids off at childcare, hindering their ability to work.

The Tennessee request to the federal agency came from an initiative supported by Gov. Bill Lee in 2023 that had lawmakers approving $30 million in TennCare funding for the free diapers.

"We are the first state in the nation to cover the cost of diapers for mothers in the first two years of a child's life, and we hope this is a model for others," Lee, a Republican, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Tennessee has built a track record over the years for its willingness to reject federal funding for those struggling or who live in poverty. The state in January announced it would rebuff nearly $9 million in federal funding to prevent and treat HIV, with Lee saying Tennessee did not want to contend with the strings attached to accepting federal funds.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Delta pumps likely killed over half a million fish in two decades. This year was extra deadly

Just east of the San Francisco Bay, a steel bucket holding 90 gallons of water is strained to rescue precious cargo. The metal roars as it spins, dispelling more and more water, to reveal, finally, a wriggling pair of juvenile Chinook salmon.

These young, 2-inch long fish were drawn into danger by giant pumps that push water south to millions of Californians and farms. Saving them from likely peril has been the core purpose since 1968 of the John E. Skinner Delta Fish Protective Facility.

But the facility been the subject of considerable attention recently for a spike in fish deaths, drawing the ire of environmentalists and anglers. Thats not to say farmers are happy either, as pumps deliver less water despite a second year of drought-busting storms.

A Sacramento Bee analysis of data from the Department of Fish and Wildlife shows that since 2002, state and federal water pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta killed an estimated 600,000 Chinook salmon and 50,000 steelhead trout.

A steelhead trout, about 6 inches long, is collected at the John E. Skinner Delta Fish Protective Facility in April. Fish are captured at the facility, so they can be returned to the Delta, before they reach the huge Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant that feeds the California Aqueduct.

That is a lot of fish, including a lot of commercially viable fish and a lot of endangered fish, to kill year in, year out, said Jon Rosenfield, science director at the environmental watchdog San Francisco Baykeeper.

No organism is designed to withstand additional mortality ad nauseam on top of all the other things theyre struggling with, he said. Its no wonder the populations are declining. Some years its a big impact, some years less, but its always there.

In this rare year of average rainfall, scrutiny of the pumps underscores a perennial tension baked into Californias water delivery system: The more water pumped out of the beleaguered Delta, the harder the hit to beleaguered fish.

The Department of Water Resources says pumping for exports this year has been relatively minimal due to environmental restrictions, and that the overall population numbers for protected fish are high despite the spike at the pumps.

The Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant, photographed Wednesday, pumps water from the Delta into the California Aqueduct. The John E. Skinner Delta Fish Protective Facility fish protective facility intercepts fish about two miles before water reaches the pumps.

This year has been especially deadly, state figures showed. During February and March, pumps killed an estimated 3,600 winter-run Chinook, the highest number killed in any two-month period in 20 years.

And about 3,200 steelhead died in February and March, the highest number since 2007.

The exact reason for this years high mortality is unclear, fish scientists have said. And Delta pumps are just one of many threats to fish survival in Californias main waterways, including habitat loss and drought.

But they agree its one that shouldnt be ignored.

Catching the lucky few

Californias large water pumps, as well as nearby federal pumps that draw water to the canals of the Central Valley Project, are so powerful they often change the natural flow of water in parts of the south Delta.

The risk for fish is not simply that they could be killed by the pumps machinery, state scientists say, but also that they will be incidentally pulled into waters where predators are waiting for them.

The pumps feed water from the Delta into Californias state and federal water projects, with he bulk of it supplying states powerhouse agricultural industry and the rest to cities.

The entrance to the states Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant opens to a shallow holding reservoir called Clifton Court Forebay. Its filled with nonnative striped bass and other predator fish that feed on juvenile salmon, steelhead trout and other native species.

Miguel Gonzales of San Jose fishes in the Clifton Court Forebay near the John E. Skinner Delta Fish Protective Facility on Wednesday. The forebay is filled with nonnative striped bass and other predator fish that feed on juvenile salmon, steelhead trout and other native species.

State studies have shown that about 75% of the young salmon that enter the forebay are killed by predators. As part of those studies in years past, state scientists attempted to capture nonnative fish and move them elsewhere with little success.

The fish that do manage to evade predators encounter an elaborate network of underwater barricades at the fish protection facility, about 2 miles from the pumps. Metal louvers guide fish into the facility instead of toward the pumps.

The fish pass through large pipes, enter other large channels and finally travel through smaller pipes into the building where they end up in the giant concrete tanks. State scientists say close to 80% of fish that reach the fish facility are collected via this system.

The louvers, left, of the John E. Skinner Delta Fish Protective Facility, seen by drone on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, help guide fish out of the channel that leads to the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant at the beginning of the California Aqueduct. The fish are released back into the Delta.

Once collected, the fish are hauled via truck to be released back into the Delta. These are the fish counted as salvage, and used by state scientists to estimate the number of fish estimated to be lost to the system with a calculation based on past studies.

CDFW did a number of studies from the 80s all the way through the early 90s looking at losses throughout the project, said Javier Miranda, DWR environmental program manager for fisheries monitoring at the state water project.

His role in the last several years has been to recreate those studies with more detail, to see if the states water delivery systems still create the same level of fish loss.

The fact of the matter is, yes, things are the same they were 20 years ago, he said.

Javier Miranda, environmental program manager for the California Department of Water Resources, stands in front of the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant in April. Miranda studies the effectiveness of measures taken to protect fish from the pumping plant.

Some environmental groups have advocated for fish screens along the forebay gates to prevent fish from being drawn in, but state scientists argue that wouldnt necessarily solve the problems.

Trends in state data show that the estimated loss of fish at the pumps is highly variable depending on the year.

Since 2002, an average of 53,000 Chinook or steelhead were estimated killed during years state and federal facilities pumped at least 5 million acre-feet of water. In the years they pumped less than 4 million, only an average of 8,200 died.

We do everything that we can possibly do to improve fish survivability and return them to the Delta alive and kicking, said Trent Schaffer, branch manager for the state water projects Delta field division. Thats a simple answer. We take our job very seriously.

Smaller fish are guided by a louver system into a bypass pipe at the John E. Skinner Delta Fish Protective Facility near Byron in April. The facility intercepts fish, which are released back into the Delta, before they reach the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant at the beginning of the California Aqueduct.

No easy solutions

Historically, Californias mighty rivers teemed with salmon. Now dams block them from reaching cold mountain streams to spawn. Government-run hatcheries rear and release millions of salmon a year to help prevent population decline.

But those efforts havent worked, and salmon as well as other native fish are in deep trouble. According to some estimates, about 5.5 million salmon once returned to California rivers in the 19th century. Fewer than 200,000 fish on average were counted by state and federal fisheries in the last five years.

A Chinook salmon, just a few inches long, swims in a tank after a collection at the John E. Skinner Delta Fish Protective Facility in April. Fish are captured at the facility, so they can be returned to the Delta, before they reach the massive Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant that feeds the California Aqueduct.

Now the commercial salmon fishing season, which relies on fall-run Chinook, is closed for the second year in a row. Spring-run are threatened, and winter-run Chinook are endangered under the Endangered Species Act along with steelhead trout.

State officials and scientists acknowledge shortcomings in their facilities, such as the predator-filled forebay, but say they are improving operations.

As one example, DWR installed a barrier of bubbles, flashing lights and pulsating sounds in the north Delta to deter migrating fish from entering the more dangerous south Delta, where the dangerous forebay sits, and guide them toward San Francisco Bay.

The department also said it is using genetic testing technologies to help more quickly distinguish between endangered and non-endangered salmon species, which they say enhance fish-collection efforts with better management.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has emphasized his commitment to salmon population recovery. In January, he unveiled a salmon strategy plan, detailing a range of enhanced measures such as habitat restoration and hatchery modernization.

The department has also sought to improve the operation at the fish-collection facility by incorporating genetic testing technologies to differentiate more accurately between endangered and non-endangered types of salmon.

The John E. Skinner Delta Fish Protective Facility screens fish and other large objects in the intake channel from the Clifton Court Forebay, before the water is pumped into the California Aqueduct.

Despite these efforts, managers of the State Water Project have so far limited this years allocation to 40% of suppliers full allotments  the same level that federal officials have set for agricultural water districts south of the Delta.

Independent fish scientist Brad Cavallo said increased pumping could actually benefit fish. He pointed to tagging studies that he said shows salmon from the San Joaquin River are more likely to survive through the Delta than fish that are not affected by the pumps.

If anything, regulatory policies intended to protect juvenile salmon have made the problem worse, said Cavallo, a scientific advisor to the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta. Pumping restrictions have reduced river flows and limited access to the one of the highest survival routes for fish originating from the San Joaquin River basin.

But Rosenfield, the Baykeeper scientist, referenced core goals of the the Delta Protection Act and the need to prioritize conservation and reduction of our reliance on water from the estuary.

Were supposed to be operating dual goals in a deathmatch tension. One is to increase the supply or increase the reliability of the supply of water, and the other goal is to protect the ecosystem, he said. No one talks about the third goal, which is to reduce reliance on the Delta.
A woman casts a ballot paper for the European elections. For the first time, people in Germany aged 16 and over will be allowed to cast a ballot in the European elections in two weeks' time, in a milestone for voting rights in the country. Jan Woitas/dpa

For the first time, people in Germany aged 16 and over will be allowed to cast a ballot in the European elections in two weeks' time, in a milestone for voting rights in the country.

The previous minimum voting age of 18 was lowered in November 2022 - although for elections to the national parliament, the minimum age is still 18.

The new law is adding about 1.4 million German voters to the electoral roll, and means that Germany is joining Austria, Belgium and Malta in allowing voting at 16. But to what extent are young people in Germany politically engaged in Europe?

Schoolyard politics

Having the opportunity to participate in democracy as early as possible will "ultimately also reduce disenchantment with politics," says Joshua Meisel, chairman of the Baden-Wurttemberg State Pupils' Advisory Council.

"You realize early on that you can have a say, that you are taken seriously as a young voter."

Meisel, 19, remembers how vigorously the 2016 Trump vs Biden presidential election in the United States was discussed at school, even in year 5, where pupils are aged 11.

But would children talk about the EU elections as much?

"Europe is a subject that divides opinion a little. There are some who are very passionate about Europe," he says. And then there are others for whom regional, local and national politics are more important.

Meisel himself is an enthusiastic European: "Personally, I think Europe is very, very important, including voting and taking part, because the EU has long been a guarantee of peace in Europe."

Global thinking at 16

According to youth researcher Klaus Hurrelmann from the Berlin Hertie School, "Europe has a very positive image among the younger generation."

In the European Parliament's Eurobarometer survey, 91% of 15 to 24-year-olds said that voting in the European elections was important to them.

"It is a great opportunity to set the voting age at school, because we have this state institution that can introduce the topic to all eligible voters," says Holger Hofmann, chairman of children's rights group Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk.

"They realize that the problems they face in the world can only be solved globally," says Hofmann, adding that this leads them to think about action on the European level.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, there were around 1.4 million 16 and 17-year-old first-time voters in Germany at the end of 2023 who are now allowed to vote in the European elections.

How many will actually go to the polls is an open question. Some analyses have shown a trend towards lower voter turnout among younger age groups.

Researcher Hurrelmann says older generations see voting as a social duty and appreciate the fact that it is possible to vote freely.

Younger people need to see an impact and "prefer to go to the polls when their vote really counts," he said.

Clear messages and social media

Hurrelmann is convinced that by the age of 14, young people are already able to judge what happens in an election. At the age of 16, it is therefore possible for them to express a voting preference.

In order to attract this young group of voters, he said, parties need to take clear positions and communicate in a way the new electorate understands.

"Most political information is received via digital platforms," explains Hurrelmann. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) makes particularly good use of social media to reach young people.

The far-right and populist parties as a whole are expected to do well in the June polls, which take place from June 6-9 across the continent.

The AfD campaigns "resonate with the younger generation and the party is doing very well as a result," he says. Other parties are having to catch up, he said.

"They are doing this now - it may yet prove enough to catch up in the election campaign."

Parallel election for 1.26 million (even) younger people

Running parallel to the real European Parliament elections in Germany is the Juniorwahl, or Junior Election 2024. Pupils from year 7, so age 13, can take part.

The legal right to vote from the age of 16 has provided an impetus for younger children to get involved, says Gerald Wolff from Juniorwahl. "We are seeing extremely high demand: The number of schools involved has doubled compared to the last European elections."

According to the figures, one in three schools will take part in the dummy election, meaning some 1.26 million young people in an initiative supported by around 40,000 politics teachers.

"You can see that the right to vote from the age of 16 has definitely caused a shift," says Wolff. The project has been offering political education for over 20 years and is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs and the Federal Agency for Civic Education.

Scientific studies have also shown that starting early helps bolster democracy: Those who vote for the first three times in their lives are more likely to vote for the rest of their lives. "It's all about the fight against indifference," Wolff says.
A Democratic lawmaker had his comments on the House floor struck from the record after he used his time to detail Donald Trump's troubles with the law on Wednesday, per NBC News.

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., used his floor time to criticize the House's Republican majority for shutting down honest discussion of Trump's criminal cases and distracting people "from the fact that their candidate for president has been indicted more times than he's been elected." But he was ruled out of order by the presiding officer, Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Ala., for then actually listing all of Trump's legal entanglements.

The back-and-forth between McGovern and Republican House members grinded proceedings to a halt for about an hour. Carl told McGovern to refrain from engaging in personalities," to which the Democrat responded by asking where it was "unparliamentary to state a fact." McGovern also pointed out that GOP members who had called Trump's Manhattan trial a sham and accused the judge of bias were allowed to speak unabated. Carl declined to weigh in. "In this Republican-controlled House, its okay to talk about the trial, but you have to call it a 'sham,'" McGovern complained.

Rep. Eric Houchin, R-Ind., then entered the fray, asking that McGovern's words be stricken from the record, a request that members can make if they feel that a colleague has used disorderly language. As they fired broadsides, staff members scrambled to figure out how to proceed correctly. Eventually, Carl ruled McGovern's words out of order, citing rules that prohibited members from using "personally offensive" language about the president.

"The accusation that the president has committed a crime or even that the president has done something illegal is not in order," Carl said. Even though Trump is no longer in office, Carl said that precedents have expanded this rule to include former presidents as well.

McGovern was not allowed to speak on the House floor for the rest of the day, so the congressman took his speech to the reporters outside.

This is a cult, McGovern said, referring to the Republican Party. I mean, they go to extreme measures to protect Trump, you know. And any which way they can. And theyre awfully sensitive.
China formulating plan to improve biodiversity conservation

Xinhua) 09:37, May 23, 2024

HAIKOU, May 22 (Xinhua) -- China is formulating a plan for implementing major biodiversity conservation projects, with the country considering this an undertaking of great importance.

China's Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu confirmed this initiative when speaking in the southern island province of Hainan during an event to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity on Wednesday.

The global theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2024 is to "Be part of the Plan."

"As a country with high levels of biodiversity and as one of the first signatories and ratifiers of the Convention on Biological Diversity, China has always placed high value on biodiversity conservation," Huang said.

China is continuously improving laws, regulations and relevant mechanisms regarding biodiversity protection and taking action to vigorously enhance its ability to ensure its biodiversity, he noted.

Official data showed that 90 percent of terrestrial ecosystem types and 74 percent of populations of key protected wildlife species at the national level in China are currently enjoying effective protection.

Meanwhile, China is actively deepening international cooperation and contributing to global biodiversity governance.

When holding the presidency of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), China spearheaded efforts that led to the adoption of the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022.

Huang, who is also serving as COP15 president, called on developed countries to fulfill their commitments and significantly increase their support for developing countries in terms of funding, technology, and capability-building so that the framework can be implemented in a comprehensive, balanced and effective manner.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze criticized the Venice Commission, stating that it had rejected "professional dignity" and assessed that the conclusion "lacks legal arguments"."I read the conclusion, and as a jurist, I can say that the Venice Commission has rejected professional dignity altogether. I felt uncomfortable as a jurist when I read this document; the face the Venice Commission showed was so weak. They have nothing to say, and the document is full of absurd entries and lies. Along with many lies, there is completely absurd legal reasoning without arguments," said Kobakhidze in an interview with the public broadcaster.According to him, the public is not focused on what the Venice Commission said, but on where the "truth" is."That's why we sometimes say that today our country is more sovereign than ever before. This means that they value the independence of our country more than they did even 3-4 years ago," added Kobakhidze.The Supreme Council of Justice of Georgia appointed 21 judges for life with a majority of 15 votes. However, the Georgian Young Lawyers Association has raised concerns regarding whether the Supreme Council of Justice conducted interviews with these judges, as required by the procedure.GYLA stated that the Council did not publish information about the interviews with judges appointed for life on its website."The election of judges to be appointed for life was unexpected for the monitoring organizations, as the procedure provides for an interview with candidates who are on a three-year probationary period. Information about the interviews with these judges was not published on the website of the Council; therefore, it is not known whether the interviews were conducted at all. If they were conducted, it is unclear why monitoring organizations were not given the opportunity to monitor them," GYLA stated.
Until recently, the expression recognition of the State of Palestine was only seen in Israel when consulting the newspaper archives. At the beginning of the last decade, a fruitful diplomatic campaign succeeded in stringing together recognitions and, above all, generating enthusiasm around the idea that it was the best response to the paralysis of the Middle East peace process. More than 20 Latin American, African, and Asian countries recognized Palestine in 2011. A year later, with the West Bank city of Ramallah decked out and screens set up to follow the session live, the United Nations General Assembly approved granting Palestine non-member observer status. The taste was bittersweet: it had given up asking for full membership in the Security Council because of the certainty that the United States would exercise its veto.

Cyprus was the only EU country to recognize the State of Palestine at that time. The idea was that the momentum from the Global South would eventually cross over to Europe. Several national parliaments of EU countries, such as Spains, passed motions to that effect. In the end, like friends who promise to jump into a freezing swimming pool at the same time and then leave the first one to do so alone, Sweden followed in 2014 but there was no domino effect.

The recognition dossier was left gathering dust on the shelves of the chancelleries. In the nine years between Swedens decision and the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, which triggered the invasion of Gaza, only three countries joined. The only major one was Colombia. The other two, St. Lucia and St. Kitts and Nevis, have a combined population of just over 200,000 inhabitants. As political analyst Akiva Eldar recalled last April in the Israeli daily Haaretz: There was a time when Israel would fly into a rage every time a minor country threatened to recognize the Palestinian state.

Today, it is Israel itself  which has left more than 35,000 dead in Gaza and deployed the use of famine as a weapon of war amid scenes of devastation in the Strip  that has resurrected the recognition of the State of Palestine, in one of its biggest diplomatic setbacks at a time when its reputation is increasingly in decline.

ICC request for Netanyahu arrest

Just two days ago, the Prosecutors Office of the International Criminal Court asked the judges to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, placing the country in the same symbolic bag as the three Hamas leaders whose arrest it also requested, as well as various African dictators and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The International Court of Justice in The Hague is considering a lawsuit against the country for alleged genocide in Gaza. Added to this are the anti-war demonstrations on university campuses in the United States, unprecedented in decades, and the accumulation of quarrels with the White House, which nevertheless maintains its arms and diplomatic support for Israel. The latest blemish on Israels international image came Tuesday, with the confiscation of recording equipment from the U.S. news agency Associated Press  reversed a few hours later after complaints from the White House  for providing a signal to the Qatari network Al Jazeera (and hundreds of other media outlets).

Spain, Ireland, and Norway broke the ice in the EU on Wednesday by setting a date (next Tuesday) for recognition of the State of Palestine. The three countries also broke the traditional divide between the West  which has generally not recognized Palestine  and the rest of the world. A total of 143 of the 193 member states of the United Nations have taken the step, the most recent four in the past month: the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Barbados.

Nour Odeh, a Palestinian political analyst, was a spokesperson for the Palestinian National Authority government on the day of the vote in the General Assembly in 2012. Recalling the enthusiasm of the moment, she says that European countries were not yet ready to admit that their policy over the past three decades on the so-called peace process has been a failure. This is what, in his view, the coordinated announcement by Spain, Ireland, and Norway represents. The realization that if a country is serious about the two-state solution (which is the only one on the table) it has to be consistent with it and make it clear to Israel that the borders are not elastic, he says by phone.

Odeh insists that recognition is not merely a symbolic act, but an act of legal and political commitment. And he believes that Europe has ended up feeling the need to balance the yardstick it applies to Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, so as not to lose credibility with the rest of the world.

Last February, when reports were growing about the imminence of the recognitions, the Israeli parliament gave the green light by a large majority to a text  presented by Netanyahu and unanimously approved by his emergency government  in which it rejected both the international dictates on a permanent agreement with the Palestinians and the unilateral recognition of the State of Palestine. Israel describes such moves as unilateral because they do not take place within the framework of a negotiated peace agreement.

On Wednesday, after recalling his ambassadors to the three European countries preparing recognition, Netanyahu called the decision a reward for terrorism and stressed that an eventual Palestinian state would be a terrorist state that would try to repeat the massacre of October 7 again and again.

Aware of the mantra, Irelands ambassador to Israel, Sonya McGuinness, said in an op-ed that the reality is the opposite. It involves supporting the vision of Palestinian self-determination in which a free and independent Palestine accepts the rights and obligations of a state, including full compliance with the UN Charter and the pursuit of its goals exclusively through political and diplomatic means.

The recognition, moreover, marks the borders of the future state as those accepted both internationally and by the official Palestinian leadership for the past three decades: Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem as the capital. On the other hand, the perpetrator of the October 7 attacks, Hamas, formally aspires to the disappearance of Israel, although part of its leadership has expressed its openness to accepting a Palestinian state in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
Democrats go on offense as the GOP opens the door to birth control restrictions

Former President Donald Trump opened the door to restricting access to contraceptives earlier this week, less than a week after Virginia's Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed two bills that would have established the right to contraception in the state.

Now, Democrats are sounding the alarm over the fact that access to birth control methods are in question across the GOP ideological spectrum -- arguing that with Trump at its helm, the Republican Party is only further siphoning reproductive rights in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade in June 2002.

Trump and many states' leaders are scrambling to weigh in on access to contraception and abortion -- key issues in an election year.

PHOTO: Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivers his State of the Commonwealth address before a joint session of the Virginia General Assembly, Jan. 10, 2024, at the state Capitol in Richmond, Va. (Steve Helber/AP, FILE)

MORE: Facing backlash, Trump walks back comments on restricting contraceptives

Trump said on Tuesday that he was open to supporting contraceptive regulations during an interview with KDKA-TV, a CBS affiliate in Pittsburgh.

The former president later in the day insisted that he has "never, and will never advocate imposing restrictions on birth control, or other contraceptives," but not before President Joe Biden's campaign seized on his initial remarks, saying they reflected a larger "post-Roe nightmare" that includes not only the restriction of abortion but also in-vitro fertilization and contraception.

Youngkin -- a more moderate conservative who endorsed Trump for president in March despite past criticism of the former president -- on Friday vetoed two pieces of legislation that would have protected Virginians' access to contraception such as condoms and IUDs in the event federal law protecting it were overturned.

PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the end of the day during his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court, May 21, 2024, in New York. (Michael M. Santiago/Reuters)

Youngkin wrote in a statement after his actions last week that while he said he "supports contraception access," the two bills would too broadly address the issue without input from parents, healthcare providers or municipalities. He needed to "uphold the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning their children's upbringing and care," he said.

Illinois' Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and founder of Think Big America, a PAC focused on abortion access, weighed in on Youngkin's veto.

"Glenn Youngkin's veto is shameful but predictable -- just like a former president who brags about ripping away abortion rights, a governor who promotes an abortion ban was never going to stop there," Pritzker said in a statement to ABC News.

Think Big America donated $250,000 to Virginia Democrats a week before high-stakes state legislative elections in November 2023 -- races that helped determine impending abortion policy in Virginia. Democrats ultimately won full control of the state's General Assembly and were therefore able to block Youngkin's proposed 15-week "limit" on abortion access.

"MAGA extremists like Youngkin and Donald Trump have made it clear -- they're coming after abortion, they're coming after contraception, they're coming after IVF, and they're coming after women," Pritzker told ABC News.

PHOTO: J.B. Pritzker, governor of Illinois, is seen following an interview, May 6, 2024, in Chicago. (Jamie Kelter Davis/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Youngkin's press secretary Christian Martinez said in a statement to ABC News that Virginia's governor supports access to contraception and IVF "without trampling on constitutional rights and religious liberties."

"The Youngkin administrations historic efforts are supporting maternal health so Virginians can realize their dream of building a family," Martinez said. "Governor Pritzker should pay attention to his own state instead of using scaremongering tactics to distract from the number of people moving away from Illinois, placing them among other states run by progressive liberals like New York and California."

In Virginia, advocates of the contraception protections said the bills were introduced in the aftermath of Dobbs, when Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas signaled that other settled cases regarding reproductive rights could be reassessed -- including Griswold v. Connecticut, a ruling on birth control access.

Democrats have claimed Youngkin's actions are a link to Trump's policy and the greater GOP agenda of rescinding reproductive rights for women.

"Veto of legislation to protect Virginians' right to contraception offers further evidence that Youngkin is still operating from Donald Trump's losing playbook as he doubles down on Trump's deeply unpopular, anti-freedom agenda. Trump, Glenn Youngkin, and MAGA extremists across the country seem as hellbent on ripping away women's reproductive rights as they are on losing elections," Democratic National Committee spokesperson Jackie Bush said after the governor's actions.

Fourteen states currently have legal or constitutional protections for the right to contraception, according to a paper by KFF, a nonprofit health policy organization. Those states are: California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington and Washington, D.C.

California, Michigan, Ohio and Vermont have enacted constitutional rights to contraceptives, which is a more secure form of protection, while the rest of the states have safeguarded birth control through statutory methods.

About half of those states enacted these protections since the fall of Roe, according to a KFF. Those states are California, Michigan, Vermont, D.C., Minnesota, New Mexico and Ohio. Only Florida and Ohio are states among the group that are under Republican leadership.

Mabel Felix, a policy analyst with KFF, and Alina Salganicoff, the senior vice president and director for Women's Health Policy at KFF, authored the paper on state and federal actions surrounding contraception.

They said Virginia was the only state they tracked that had vetoed any birth control protections in the aftermath of Dobbs.

Abortion or reproductive rights-related ballot initiatives are confirmed on the general election ballots in four states (Maryland, Florida, South Dakota, Colorado), and overall could be on the November 2024 ballot in at least 12 states (including those four), according to ABC News analysis.

PHOTO: In this July 6, 2022 file photo, Plan-B, an emergency contraceptive, is seen on the shelf in a drug store in Annapolis, Md. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Nevada and Maryland are states where language surrounding contraceptive protections are included in the measures, according to Felix and Salganicoff.

"Before Dobbs, I think that most people thought that their right to contraception was guaranteed and protected," said Salganicoff in an interview with ABC News. "[Justice Thomas] raised a lot of red flags for people. That pushed some advocates and legislators to really start to do more work on the ground, to protect the right to contraception."

Salganicoff said Trump's comments on contraceptive access earlier this week "has even [more] greatly given this issue even more attention."

Separately, some states are taking additional means to make birth control access easier, including giving pharmacists the right to prescribe, not just dispense, hormonal contraception.

As recently as Monday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, announced the implementation of legislation that authorizes pharmacists to sell hormonal contraceptive birth control without a prescription.

"In New Jersey, we will continue to protect a woman's right to plan her future on her own terms," said Murphy in a statement.

"[This] marks an important step forward in our efforts to expand access to reproductive health care as we make birth control more accessible across the state. As we witness an attack on reproductive freedom across the country, New Jersey will continue to be a safe haven for women to access the care they need."

ABC News' Oren Oppenheim contributed to this report.

Democrats go on offense as the GOP opens the door to birth control restrictions originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Democrats intensified their calls on Thursday for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to step aside in two cases - one on Donald Trump's bid for immunity from prosecution and the other on a charge involving the Capitol attack - after a media report that another provocative flag flew outside one of his homes.

A flag bearing the phrase "Appeal to Heaven" flew outside Alito's vacation home on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, in July and September of 2023, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing photographs and interviews. This type of flag, which has come to symbolize hopes by some conservative activists for a more Christian-centered U.S. government, was carried by some Trump supporters during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot .

The report came days after it was revealed that an upside-down American flag had flown outside Alito's Virginia home in the aftermath of the riot and the days before Democratic President Joe Biden's inauguration.

The inverted flag was adopted as a symbol by some Trump supporters, including some of the rioters who stormed the Capitol as Trump sought to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden with false claims of widespread voting fraud and a "stolen" election.

Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, said at his weekly press conference that Alito should recuse himself "from any matter pending before the Supreme Court of the United States that has to do with the January 6 violent insurrection. He should have no part of it."

Jeffries earlier on social media said the American people "deserve better than an insurrectionist sympathizer on the Supreme Court."

If the court "does not get its act under control," Jeffries told reporters, congressional Democrats will use the first opportunity they get "to engage in thorough oversight and consideration of imposing an ethical code of conduct on Supreme Court justices."

The court last November adopted its first formal code of conduct governing the ethical behavior of its nine justices.

An "Appeal to Heaven" flag also hangs outside the congressional office of Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Democrat Dick Durbin, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also called on Alito to "recuse himself immediately from cases related to the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection," calling the latest flag flap "another example of apparent ethical misconduct by a sitting justice, and it adds to the court's ongoing ethical crisis."

Durbin also said that the new issue will "further erode public faith in the court," and that conservative Chief Justice John Roberts "must see how this is damaging the court and immediately enact an enforceable code of conduct."

Alito, a member of the court's 6-3 conservative majority, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

One of the two cases at the center of the recusal calls involves Trump's claim of presidential immunity from prosecution on federal criminal charges relating to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

The other involves a challenge by a Pennsylvania man to a federal criminal charge of obstruction that he faces for his involvement in the Jan. 6 attack. Trump faces the same charge in the election-related criminal case brought against him by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

Alito last week indicated that his wife had raised the upside-down flag outside their house in the Washington suburb of Alexandria in a dispute with a neighbor who displayed an anti-Trump sign.

Members of the judiciary typically take great care to avoid even the appearance of impartiality.

The flag revelations raise further ethics questions about the justices following revelations last year of undisclosed luxury trips and hobnobbing with wealthy benefactors by some of them.

Alito was the author of a major ruling on Thursday in which the court made it harder to prove racial discrimination in drawing electoral maps.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York, and John Kruzel and Richard Cowan in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham)
Utah Democratic Central Committee members will select a replacement to run for Utah's 2nd Congressional District in a ranked-choice election. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

After Brian Adams dropped his spot representing the Utah Democratic Party in the race for the U.S. House 2nd Congressional District, the party is looking for a candidate to take his place on the November general election ballot.

Utah Democrats will convene virtually on Saturday at 10 a.m. to hear from the eight candidates running for the spot and to select a replacement for Adams, who had earned his nomination in an uncontested race.

Adams agreed to withdraw his nomination after the Young Democrats of Utah said he didnt represent the partys values. He had publicly praised independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and on his website described Jan. 6 offenders as politically persecuted.

We call on Brian Adams to immediately end his Democratic candidacy for Utahs 2nd Congressional District. If he does not, we call on all UDP State Delegates to exercise their democratic right and reject the nomination of Brian Adams during the 2024 State Convention. #utpol pic.twitter.com/p9suKIevGP  Young Democrats of Utah (@YDUtah) April 26, 2024

His political and policy positions are untethered from both reality and the principles that motivate our members, Young Democrats of Utah wrote in a statement.

Candidates comments will be limited to five minutes on Saturday. Central Committee Members within District 2 will have two hours to vote in a virtual ranked-choice, convention-like election. The candidate who is selected will go on to the November general election, without facing a primary.

The nominee will face either incumbent Rep. Celeste Maloy or Colby Jenkins, depending on the outcome of the June 25 Republican primary.

These are the Democrats vying for the nomination in Utahs 2nd Congressional District:

Benjamin Coffey

A project engineer at a Sandy electric company, Benjamin Coffey said in his pitch on the Utah Democratic Party website that growing up as a Latter-day Saint in West Valley City  one of the most diverse areas in Utah  pursuing traditional and technical careers, and being lower-middle class would help him represent Utahns of different backgrounds.

To me the pursuit of happiness means that all who wish to own a home can do so. Everyone should be able to see a doctor without a fear of bankruptcy. Education of any type should be available to every person of any walk of life, Coffey wrote.

Darrell Curtis

Darrell Curtis has previously run for local offices, such as the West Valley City Council. In a previous bio, Curtis said he was a Utah Technical College (now Salt Lake Community College) and University of Utah graduate who went on to work for a non-profit group in Washington D.C. He then moved back to West Valley City in 1993.

I believe that our representatives must stand for truth and values. That character does matter. I cannot stand by and let this hypocrisy continue, Curtis wrote in a statement. The lies about the 2020 election have driven a (wedge) in our country. Our country is better than this. We need people as our representative that stand for truth and character.

Charles Free

For the last 26 years, Charles Free has owned and operated a yellow cab in Salt Lake County, he wrote to the committee. His priorities are reproductive rights, helping fix a broken immigration system and taking advantage of new political opportunities to drive MAGA policies away from the countrys political power, he said.

There is a unique opportunity now to reach Republican leaning Independents, and Republicans, Free wrote.

Randy Hopkins

Randy Hopkins unsuccessfully pursued the Democratic nomination in the 2018 and 2020 elections. Before retiring in 2013, he was a regional director at the Utah Department of Workforce Services for 35 years. The issues hes planning to prioritize are climate change, public lands, affordable health care, Social Security and Medicare, and health care for women without government interference.

Im not naive enough to believe that this is an easy race for our party to win, he wrote. But Im confident that many Republican-leaning independent voters, disgusted with Donald Trump, are now willing to consider a Democratic candidate.

Schuyler Rhodes

Schuyler Rhodes is the Iron County Democratic Party chair. He has also been a pastor, author, teacher and community organizer, according to his website. Some of the issues he highlighted in his statement to the party were water, education, affordable housing and environmental degradation.

I have spent a lifetime standing for the values of justice and community and I bring this experience to this time and place, he wrote. Our future depends upon our ability to come together to collaborate, to care and to move forward for the good of all.

Garret Rushforth

Garret Rushforth is a social studies and theater teacher who tried gathering signatures to run for U.S. Senate earlier this year. In his statement to the state Democratic Party, he said there is no one more versed in the volatility of education today, or the state and national educational crises.

Im tired of waiting for our politicians to do what they have promised in this state. Im tired of the elected officials who misrepresent us at the federal level. Im tired of waiting and hoping that someone will swing out of the sky and save us, he wrote. So, its time for me to step up.

Nathaniel Woodward

Nathaniel Woodward is the chair of the Carbon County Democratic Party. He grew up and lives in coal country where he practices law, representing rural residents in nearly any capacity they may need. He pledged to work in Congress to focus on issues that reflect the states values and benefit people affected by federal legislation.

Governor Cox has touted a disagree better platform from a position where he and his party have all the power, Woodward wrote in a statement. I will work to disagree better from a platform that benefits all that come to the table as long as they are honest, trustworthy, and dedicated to the freedom and protection of all Utah residents.

Warren Wright

As an African American combat veteran, Warren Wright said he would bring his experience navigating challenging environments to Congress. He also is committed to making meaningful change in our society.

With an unwavering spirit of service, I stand ready to lend my support wherever and whenever it is needed, endeavoring to make a tangible impact on issues that matter most to our communities, Wright wrote in a statement.

The post Democrats have a spot to fill in the race for Utahs 2nd Congressional District. Whos running? appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
Republicans and a few Democrats voted to tank legislation addressing immigration and border security on Thursday, as Democrats turned a bipartisan compromise into their newest punching bag.

The White House and its allies in the Senate see a political advantage in hammering Republicans over walking away from the table, and brought up the legislation which previously failed to pass the chamber in February again in the hopes of rubbing it in. The move left two of the compromises architects, Kyrsten Sinema and James Lankford, fuming. Both joined the effort to kill it; Sinema, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, joined six members of the presidents party in doing so.

Today is not a bill. Today is a prop. Today is a political messaging exercise, Lankford, a Republican, told The Hill. That doesnt help us as a country.

Sinema, who called the vote cynical, added: "To use this failure as a political punching bag only punishes those who are courageous enough to do the hard work in the first place.

The bill, like its predecessor, would have expanded the presidents authority to shut down the asylum system if unauthorized border crossings passed a certain monthy threshold. It would also have tightened standards for asylum-seekers and empowered US officials to remove those who did not qualify. Immigration is a key election issue for both sides, and Donald Trump had openly urged his party to kill the legislation earlier this year to avoid handing his opponent a victory on one of his favorite topics.

Democrats were already rubbing salt in the wound before the vote even occurred.

Republicans are likely going to kill it because Trump told them to keep the border a mess because it helps Trump in the fall election, said Senator Chris Murphy on X.

Senate Republicans again rejected the strongest, most comprehensive bipartisan border bill weve seen in decades. A sad day. While the GOP isnt interested today in getting this donewell keep trying, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on X, minutes after the vote took place.

It seems as unlikely as ever that Congress will take any legislative action to address the US southern border before the election. That in itself could end up putting more pressure on Joe Biden to address the problem with executive action. Helping their case are a handful of Republicans, like Lankford, who have not been afraid to blame their own party for playing politics.

Dan Crenshaw of Texas is one of those Republicans. In a gaggle on the Capitol steps today, he told reporters that torpedoing the legislation was inconsistent with what we told our voters we would do  namely, vote for provisions to fight illegal immigration.

Lankford, meanwhile, trashed his party in a Fox News interview.

Quite a few of my colleagues backed up, looked for a reason to be able to shoot against it after Donald Trump signaled his opposition, Lankford said on Fox.

Thursdays vote matters little in the grand scheme of things but should be considered part of congressional Democrats overall strategy in the upcoming elections: paint their enemies as chaos agents who would prefer to play politics with major issues rather than address them. The now-months long fight over an immigration compromise originally constructed by Republicans and Democrats is the latest brick in that wall which also includes the chaos unleashed by Republicans last fall when Kevin McCarthys ouster as speaker of the House paralyzed the chamber for weeks.

The chambers of Congress are not likely to make much progress on most issues at all in the coming months, given the underlying reason the immigration vote failed: Republicans led by Donald Trump do not want to hand the president a victory in an election year, especially one that polls indicate could be very close.

The former president is heading back to New York today, but not to see the inside of a courtroom for a change. Hes set to hold his first rally in the state in years, and will appear in the south Bronx. The state is not one Trump is expected to have a serious shot of winning in 2024, given its deep-blue reputation and history.

His trial over criminal fraud charges related to his hush money scheme involving porn star Stormy Daniels is headed to a jury after both sides rested their cases. That phase is expected to begin next week with Judge Juan Merchan set to provide the jury with a final version of their instructions by the end of today.

Looking ahead: Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr will both speak this weekend at the Libertarian Partys nominating convention in Washington DC. RFK Jr will be on Friday afternoon, while the former president is slated for Saturday evening. The Independent will have coverage of the speeches and the convention itself over Friday and Saturday.
FILE PHOTO: A view of a makeshift barricade built by residents out of abandoned vehicles to block a road and prevent gangs from entering their community, in Port-au-Prince

By Aaron Ross

NAIROBI (Reuters) -The deployment of the first Kenyan police officers to Haiti to lead an international anti-gang force has been delayed after a planned flight from Nairobi was postponed on Tuesday, two sources briefed on the matter told Reuters.

U.S. officials had previously indicated that the officers would be in Port-au-Prince by Thursday to coincide with Kenyan President William Ruto's state visit to the White House.

Speaking at a joint news conference with U.S. President Joe Biden, Ruto reiterated Kenya's commitment to sending the officers to Haiti.

Kenya volunteered in July to lead the mission but has faced repeated delays deploying due to litigation brought by opponents of the government's plan and a surge of violence in March that led the Haitian prime minister to resign.

The mission, which will comprise up to 2,500 personnel, is intended to counter gangs who control most of Port-au-Prince and have carried out widespread killings, kidnappings and sexual violence.

Kenya has committed 1,000 police officers to the U.N.-approved mission, most of which is being financed by the United States.

"Kenya believes the responsibility of peace and security anywhere in the whole world, including Haiti, is the responsibility of all nations," Ruto told the news conference with Biden.

Two hundred Kenyan officers assigned to the mission were told they would fly out of Nairobi on Tuesday evening, the two sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

One source, a former police officer in contact with members of the mission, said the officers were given no explanation for the last-minute delay and were told to remain on standby.

The other source, who was briefed by a government official, said conditions were not in place in Port-au-Prince to receive the officers.

Kenya's government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Aaron Ross; Additional reporting by George Obulutsa; Editing by Alison Williams and Cynthia Osterman)
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  The Georgetown County Sheriffs Office has located a woman who was reported missing in Georgetown County.

Editors note: Because the woman was found safe, all identifying information has been removed from this story.

* * *

Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylors work here.

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 WBTW.
The front page of the Deseret News announcing the capture and deaths of Bonnie and Clyde in 1934.

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On May 23, 1934, bank robbers Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker were shot to death in a police ambush in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. Their lives and deaths would have been fodder for the true-crime genre, only this legend only got bigger as time went on.

Bandit, girl killed by Texas officers, reads the bottom of the page story on the cover of the Deseret News in 1934. Southern public enemy and moll fail to get guns in time as auto speeds 85 miles an hour.

Granted, the crime spree attributed to this pair occurred in the central and the southern U.S. during the Great Depression. But their pursuit came during a time when capturing criminals often ended in dramatic shootouts. Some refer to it as the public enemy era, when law enforcement began to label criminals as Public Enemy No. 1. Think Al Capone, John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, etc.

Including the barely-in-their-20s Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. They are believed to have murdered at least nine police officers and four civilians, according to historical accounts, robbing big banks and small out-of-the-way stores, and avoiding capture with daredevil getaways.

While their accounts of exploits, crimes and demise are well-documented, much of what shows up in news archives since relates to Bonnie and Clyde memorabilia. Hollywood created a couple of movies about the pair, while a musical a dozen years ago did fairly well.

Town to mark demise of Bonnie and Clyde

Louisiana town hopes to cash in on the legend of Bonnie and Clyde

Guns of outlaws Bonnie and Clyde to be auctioned

Spotlight: Home is homage to Bonnie and Clyde
It can take months for Lisa Winton to find the skilled machinists she needs to build the equipment that fabricates tubes and coax cables for her customers. She knows theres a bigger pool of experienced workers out there, but she cant hire them because they are undocumented immigrants.

Winton, who co-founded and runs Winton Machine Company in Suwanee, Georgia, depends on immigrant workers  about a quarter of her 40 employees were not born in the US. Some have been in the country for many years, and all are authorized to work, she said, noting that she turns away applicants who ask to be paid off the books.

Unlike larger competitors, her company is too small to help promising candidates apply for work authorization, which puts her at a disadvantage.

Thats why Winton is among the hundreds of business leaders pushing the Biden administration to allow more undocumented immigrants who have been living in the US for years to work legally. Many of them already have jobs, are more connected to their communities and have a better command of English  making them more desirable employees than recent arrivals, she said.

If youre going to give all these people flowing over the border work permits, lets focus on the people whove been here for a long time, paying into the system, Winton said. I need more legal people coming to me for jobs.

Lisa Winton, CEO and co-founder of Winton Machine Company in Georgia, would like more longtime undocumented immigrants to get work permits so she can hire from a larger pool of experienced workers. - Courtesy Lisa Winton

Spearheaded by the American Business Immigration Coalition and joined by employers, federal lawmakers, local officials and advocates, the drive is asking President Joe Biden to provide work permits to more long-term undocumented residents, as he has done for certain migrant arrivals. The groups have held multiple news conferences and rallies over the past year to bring attention to the issue.

Employers have long sought to help fill their labor needs through immigration reform, but Congress remains gridlocked on the issue. The coalition argues Biden can do more through executive action under current law, including by expanding work permits to spouses of US citizens. Similar actions by Biden and former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama, however, have spurred lawsuits.

The coming presidential election is adding urgency to the coalitions plea. Trump recently told Time magazine that he plans to deport millions of undocumented people if he wins in November.

President Trump will put America and the American worker first, said Karoline Leavitt, a Trump campaign spokeswoman. He will seal the border, stop the invasion and expand economic opportunity for American citizens, not illegal aliens.

Its a campaign promise that worries many employers who depend on immigrant workers.

With the election only months away, the Biden administration is discussing providing work permits to undocumented spouses of American citizens and legal residents, as well as to certain other immigrants who have lived in the US for many years, according to sources involved in the conversations.

Asked about the discussions, a White House spokesperson said that the administration is constantly evaluating possible policy options.

The administration remains committed to ensuring those who are eligible for relief can receive it quickly and to building an immigration system that is fairer and more humane, the spokesperson said in a statement to CNN.

Millions of undocumented workers

About 7.8 million unauthorized immigrants were in the labor force in 2021, up slightly from 2019, according to the Pew Research Center. They make up just under 5% of the workforce. Many use fake documents or are paid off the books.

Some industries employ a sizeable share of undocumented workers, though exact numbers are hard to come by.

About 40% of hired farm crop workers are not legally authorized to work, according to the Labor Departments National Agricultural Workers Survey, though this could be a significant undercount. One in five undocumented workers are employed in a construction-related sector, according to a Center for American Progress report. A significant number of foreign workers in the dairy industry lack proper documentation, according to the National Milk Producers Federation.

Many dairy farmers, including Steve Obert in Indiana, depend on immigrants to take care of their herds. - Courtesy Steve Obert

Other immigrants have received work permits through various US Citizenship and Immigration Services programs, such as Temporary Protected Status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, and Humanitarian Parole. Asylum-seekers can obtain work permits 180 days after they file for asylum. Mayors in several northern US cities, where migrants are arriving, have pushed the Biden administration to expedite the new arrivals work authorizations so they can get jobs and not rely on public assistance.

More than 2 million people have work authorization through these USCIS programs, though their status is fluid, according to Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for lower immigration.

Expanding work authorization to more longtime immigrants will make it easier for businesses to fill job openings, as well as bring stability to those who may already employ undocumented workers, said Rebecca Shi, executive director of the American Business Immigration Coalition, which has 1,400 employers, associations and executives as members.

Our employers started asking, Hey, what about our existing employees? People that have been working on our farm, milking our cows at 3 a.m. for the last 20 years, or people that are designing semiconductors in these fabrication facilities and have very high skills, she said.

Nearly 80% of the nearly 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the US in 2022 entered before 2010, according to a recent report from the Department of Homeland Security.

With work permits, the immigrants will be able to get better jobs that pay more  resulting in a boost to federal, state and local tax revenue, Shi said.

While its easy to understand why both employers and undocumented workers would want to legalize the arrangement, expanding work authorization could hurt Americans, Vaughan said. Instead, she argued, it would be better to lure back the millions of people who have dropped out of the labor force.

If we could tap this population, we could meet the needs of a lot of these employers, she said. Creating a situation where its easier for employers to bypass available US workers is going to create other social problems.

Trumps promise to deport millions

Trump has repeatedly said on the campaign trail that he would conduct the largest domestic deportation operation in American history if he is reelected. He made similar promises during his first run for the presidency.

During his first term, Trump undertook more than 400 executive actions on immigration, according to the Migration Policy Institute. His administration quadrupled the number of worksite investigations and broadened the types of immigrants subject to enforcement actions, including removal.

While arrests and deportations of immigrants living in the US increased, they remained far short of the levels seen under Trumps predecessors, Tara Watson, an economics professor at Williams College, wrote in an EconoFact post in 2021.

Relative to the late Bush and early Obama eras, the Trump administration removed a modest number of immigrants from the nations interior, she wrote. Instead, the administration increased the visibility and unpredictability of enforcement activity directed at unauthorized individuals living within the U.S. and expanded the use of detention as part of immigration enforcement.

If Trump wins in November, his administration officials would likely be able to quickly ramp up detentions and deportations since they would have experience from his first term, said Kerri Talbot, executive director of the Immigration Hub, an advocacy group that works with Congress and the administration on a pro-immigrant agenda.

Trumps first-term policies had an impact on businesses that rely on immigrant labor. For instance, it was harder for dairy farmers in Indiana to find workers during his first term, said Steve Obert, a fifth-generation farmer in the state and executive director of Indiana Dairy Producers. If Trump wins the 2024 election and carries out his promise, it will hurt farmers, deport taxpayers and break up families, he said.

All of Indiana dairy farmer Steve Obert's employees are authorized to work, but he is among the business leaders advocating for more work permits for longtime undocumented residents. - Courtesy Steve Obert

All of Oberts 15 non-family employees are foreign born and have work permits. But he knows that undocumented workers contribute a lot to the industry, as well as to the communities where they live. Hes advocating for allowing these folks to work legally so they can live without a cloud over them and so that dairy farmers can build experienced, stable workforces to care for their herds.

You will absolutely cripple the dairy industry in this country if they send these workers back, Obert said.

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It has been 400 years since the founding of what is now New York City, which took place in the spring of 1624. While it would be logical for the anniversary to be a cause for celebration, the truth is that the occasion is almost going unnoticed. One exception, however, is an exhibition titled New York Before New York: The Castello Plan of New Amsterdam. Its a tiny display that occupies a corner of the lobby in the New York Historical Society, an elegant neo-Roman style building located in front of the west side of Central Park.

The exhibition includes maps, objects and documents of considerable interest. Among the items is a letter in which an administrator from the Dutch West India Company, Pieter Schagen, informs his superiors about how the founding of the city took place. In 1624, the original inhabitants of the area  those belonging to the Lenape tribe  agreed to sell Manhattan Island for 60 florins (or 60 two-shilling pieces) to European settlers, the equivalent of $24. Located at the southern tip of the island, the colonized territory was called New Holland, while the inhabited core was called New Amsterdam. In 1664, when the English took possession of Manhattan, the enclave was renamed New York.

Three groups made up the original New York City: the settlers of European origin, the Native Americans and the slaves who were forcibly brought from Africa. The commissioner of New York Before New York  Russell Shorto, author of The Island at the Center of the World, a magnificent chronicle on the history of the Dutch colony  invited the descendants of the Lenape people to write a letter in response to Schagen, 400 years after the deceptive transaction. In the response  which can be seen in the exhibition  todays Lenape detail four centuries of devastation, disease, forced displacement, oppression, murder, division, suicides and generational trauma. Other documents show the timid beginnings of a long process of emancipation carried out by the colonys slaves. Not exactly cause for celebration.

But this is how New York was born, beginning the prodigious history of one of the most powerful and influential cities on the planet. A financial, artistic and intellectual center that, even today, has barely lost an iota of strength. Four centuries later, it can be argued that New York Citys vitality and ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural diversity are unparalleled anywhere else in the world, even though theres never a shortage of those who strive to find comparable urban spaces.

Throughout all those years, there were traumatic moments that had effects that were felt across the rest of the planet, such as the Wall Street crash that gave rise to the Great Depression of 1929, the destruction of the Twin Towers in September 2001, or the global financial crisis of 2008. But despite these and other catastrophes  such as the fires that destroyed large portions of the city at different points in its history  New York always knew how to pick itself up and be reborn from its ashes (literally and figuratively). It has always managed to be at the global forefront. The clearest measure of its centrality on a universal scale is demonstrated by the fact that the U.N. headquarters  the meeting point of all the nations of the world  is located in Manhattan.

One of the things that the Historical Societys exhibition highlights is that the personality of New York was clearly defined from the moment of its founding. Over the course of 400 years, the city has experienced innumerable changes, but its spirit has always been the same: wild and voracious, individualistic as well as supportive, presided over by the signs of ambition, ruthless competition, tolerance, breadth of vision and diversity. The situation is complex, and addressing it requires paying attention to nuances, or choosing between them. In this sense, the true measure of the diversity that exists in New York takes place at the linguistic level. In Language City  a book published earlier this year  author Ross Perlin notes that more than 700 languages are spoken in New York, many of them in danger of extinction.

When New York was a colony  first ruled by the Dutch, then the British  the presence of Spanish speakers was virtually non-existent. Things changed gradually, at a very slow pace. By 1890, there were a total of 6,000 New Yorkers from different Spanish-speaking countries, including about 1,500 Spaniards. At the beginning of the 20th century, the immigration process began to accelerate, reaching a point where a third of the 8.5 million New Yorkers are now of Latin American origin.

In this context, the power and vitality of the Spanish language plays a fundamental role. Its difficult  if not impossible  to walk through the different neighborhoods of New York or take the subway without hearing it. In the biggest city in the U.S.  as in the rest of the country  its no longer a foreign language.

If the Historical Societys exhibition is an invitation to look to the past, the reality of the city invites us to look towards the future. And, in a reconfiguration with deep historical roots  due to Latin American immigration, whose waves dont cease  New York is, in a very marked way, a pan-Latin city. A good part of its identity is based on the strength of a language whose presence is constantly renewed.

Migrants from all over the Spanish-speaking world converge in New York, which has long been creating a new variety of Spanish, resulting from the encounter between so many different ways of speaking the common language. Nowhere else in the Spanish-speaking world does something like this happen. A good part of the phenomenon is also related to the encounter between Spanish and English. And not everything is reduced to the strict scope of the most recent waves of immigration: in the city, there are consolidated Spanish-language media outlets that wield enormous power, as well as relevant cultural entities, including theaters, radio programs and artistic societies of the most diverse nature.

One demographic reality that shouldnt be ignored is that, by the middle of this century, the United States will be the country with the largest number of Spanish speakers in the world. And the most populous city in the country will continue to be New York, from whose urban landscape the Spanish language will continue to be a character who is impossible to eradicate.

At certain levels, New York operates as the meeting point between all cultures of Hispanic origin. And this isnt something new, either. Its important to point out that no entity or political force can change a fact like this.

Translated by Avik Jain Chatlani.
Local law enforcement leaders are looking for more support to help them fill vacancies faster and keep more officers on the job.

Zebulon Police Chief Jacqui Boykin said her department has four vacancies.

That doesnt sound like a lot. But when youre talking about a staff of 26, its a very big deal. A quarter of our patrol division is missing, Boykin told reporters on Wednesday during a news conference at the Department of Justice building in downtown Raleigh.

And were desperate to find people who are interested in serving their communities, who are interested in being a part of this noble profession.

But honestly, the recruitment pool is shallow, Boykin added, and anything that the legislature can do to help us improve our position, to grow that pool, would be a benefit to myself, a small agency, and in those agencies that are more rural in nature and dont necessarily have the applicant pool that some of the larger ones do.

Other police chiefs and sheriffs also talked about their vacancy rates during the news conference Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein held to talk about overall public safety needs.

Here are more takeaways from law enforcement.

Why do law enforcement staffing shortages matter?

 Emergency response

Stein said he regularly hears about the struggles of chiefs and sheriffs to hire and retain officers.

Responding to violent crime and drug trafficking is demanding work, he said. Stein said vacancies put more of a burden on existing officers.

He said that especially with smaller law enforcement agencies, shortages mean that emergency calls are responded to slower.

 Officer safety

Apex Police Chief Jason Armstrong said another factor in staffing shortages is officers feeling safe and being out there on the streets. And one of the things that we regularly hear when officers are looking to leave departments, is because they may be working by themselves an awful lot, or theyre in a big rural area and their backup may be 20, 30, 40 minutes away.

You get into a fight, if you get into an altercation where your life is on the line, that is not an ideal situation to be in, Armstrong said.

He said officers need to feel confident knowing that they have the support they need every night and day on the job.

 Jail security

Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead said all agencies are suffering from the staffing shortage.

At the Durham County Sheriffs Office, in our detention center, right now we have 83 vacancies. Were housing nearly 400 individuals in our facility. So it stands to reason that I need the appropriate staff and adequate staff to operate this facility in a safe and secure manner, he said.

What are possible solutions to the recruitment and retention problem?

 Incentives for out-of-state recruitment?

Birkhead said some solutions to the vacancies are better pay and removing some of the barriers so that we can recruit from out of state and fill our vacancies.

Armstrong said that the state could create more incentives to recruit law enforcement officers from out of state, including reducing hurdles that, for him, meant nearly 200 additional training hours even though he already had a 20-year law enforcement career, including as a police chief.

North Carolina has a chance to send a message to future police officers that this is the state that you want to be in doing this profession, Armstrong said.

 Incentives for retired officers to work?

One recruiting solution Stein offered was to urge state lawmakers to pass House Bill 768, called Law Enforcement Officer Return to Work from Retirement, which allows retired officers to keep their retirement benefits even if they go back to work. The bill passed the House 118-0 in May 2023, but has not been taken up by the Senate.

 Better pay?

Raleigh has one of the lowest salaries for starting officers, but the city managers proposed budget calls for increasing the starting pay and raising the pay of some officers by 10%.

Durhams city manager has proposed increasing pay for new officers by 14% to $54,817 to help with recruitment and retention.

 Financial aid?

Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said the Criminal Justice Fellows Program, which forgives community college loans, is one way to help recruit.

Blackwood said that recruitment and retention is not an issue thats unique to North Carolina or to law enforcement.

I believe we can all agree that over the past five years, every facet of Americas workforce has been impacted. In short, time has changed; so, too, must be how we recruit our employees, he said.

Blackwood said that in the past, he could count on new hires to stay 10 or 15 years, but that is no longer the case. And we shouldnt be surprised when they, in a few years, decide perhaps that law enforcement is not for them or they want to go to another agency or to a better paying job.

What vacancies are agencies seeing around the Triangle?

Here is more data about Triangle police department vacancies:

 The Orange County Sheriffs Office has five openings right now, Blackwood said.

 The Mebane Police Department has four vacancies out of 46 sworn officer positions.

 The Durham County Sheriffs Office has 10 law enforcement officer vacancies and another 83 in the jail, which is a 37% vacancy rate, Birkhead said.

 The Apex Police Department has five vacancies.

 The Raleigh Police Department has between 80 and 90 vacancies, or about 10% of the force.

 The Durham Police Department is about 75% staffed, with more than 130 vacancies among sworn officers.

Reporters Mary Helen Moore and Anna Johnson contributed.

NC Reality Check is an N&O series holding those in power accountable and shining a light on public issues that affect the Triangle or North Carolina. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email realitycheck@newsobserver.com
Call me an optimist, but my heart beats toward the belief in a brighter future. Thats why I ran for the U.S. Congress' 13th District seat in 2022, despite the fact that eight other candidates entered the race.

I was one of seven Black Detroiters seeking the seat, and I believe now that my run, unfortunately, contributed to a fractured vote in the Black community in a low-turnout primary, ultimately sending U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar to Washington D.C. with just 28% of the vote. Because the 13th District is so heavily Democratic, the election was decided in the August primary, in which 18% of registered voters cast ballots. As a result, for the first time in sixty years, Detroit does not have a Black representative in Congress. In good humor, friends in D.C. often send me various pictures of Thanedar posing around the Capitol with the caption Griffies fault.

But lessons were surely learned. Shortly after the race, I proposed a solution to Michigan's crowded partisan primaries: ranked choice voting.

Ranked choice voting gives voters a chance to rank their top three candidates, creating an instant runoff of sorts. A candidate who received more than half of the first-choice votes would win, as in our current system. If the top vote-getter received less than half the vote, the candidate with the fewest votes would be out, and the votes of those who chose that candidate first would be reallocated to the voter's second choice. And so on, until one candidate has amassed more than half the vote. Ranked choice voting would provide a clearer view of voters' will, and prevent the election of a candidate most voters didn't choose  and require candidates to make the deeper and broader connections with voters required to win in this format.

But adopting ranked choice voting would require amending the state constitution.

The more obvious and immediate solution to the problem of Black representation for the 13th District was also simpler  if fewer candidates run, the vote doesnt get split.

And so began the 2024 race for the 13th Congressional District.

Only one candidate from that 2022 race filed to run against Thanedar. His name is Adam Hollier. Hollier received the coveted endorsement of a group backed by Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, raised $1.2 million and was the recipient of an additional $4.3 million in outside spending. When he finished second, with 23% of the vote, he made his intentions to run again clear. As early as 2023, Hollier worked the phones seeking endorsements from myself and some of his other 2022 opponents. (None have endorsed him.)

City Council Member Mary Waters will appear on the ballot, as well as attorney Shakira Lynn Hawkins.

But the undercurrent in the 2024 race was clear from the beginning: A heads-up matchup between Hollier and Thanedar would rightfully return a Black person from Detroit to Congress, and Hollier appeared to have the wind at his sails. Hollier received early endorsements from prominent Democrats here at home and around the country, which all but confirmed that the lessons of 2022 had been heeded.

Then disaster struck.

Michigan Sen. Adam Hollier

More from Freep Opinion: Hollier off ballot? So much for Black representation for Detroit in Congress

Second verse, same as the first

The last time I saw Hollier was at the Wolverine Bar Association's annual Barrister's Ball, about a week before the April 23 deadline for would-be candidates to file the nominating petitions required to make the ballot. He was confident about his chances this time around, and optimistic about his fundraising prospects.

There's an old saying, "Money is the mothers milk of politics." But thats not exactly the only thing needed.

As a political newcomer in 2022, I hired a company to collect signatures on those nominating petitions, but I also canvassed myself, because I saw an opportunity to meet voters and better understand the process.

My campaign manager validated every signature we received, checking to be sure that each signer did not live outside of the district or wasn't registered to vote, or was ineligible to sign for some other reason. If a signature was invalid, we would cross off the name with a black marker. If the signature was valid, we tagged that voter in our software system as having signed the petitions. In the end, we submitted 2,000 signatures: the required 1,000, and an ample cushion in case some invalid signatures slipped through our vetting process.

In 2022, Hollier pursued the same strategy, submitting the maximum 2,000 signatures. This year, he turned in only 1,500 signatures. Some were blatant forgeries. Hundreds more were invalid. Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett's staff determined that Hollier fell 137 signatures short of the 1,000 required. It's hard not to think that his priorities were elsewhere. As a result, this week Garrett formally removed his name from the August primary ballot.

Its hard to imagine what Hollier can say to the supporters who contributed at least $790,000 to his campaign many of whom supported other candidates in 2022  or to the dozens of elected officials who put their reputations on the line to endorse him in a Democratic primary against an incumbent  nearly unheard of in political circles.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Hollier wrote that he was extremely disappointed with the news from the Wayne County Clerk  not for myself, but the voters across the 13th District who deserve a real choice in who their next Congressperson will be.

Waters trails Hollier significantly in fundraising, with just $9,800 at the end of the last reporting period. Hawkins has kept a low public profile, and has not filed any campaign finance reports with the Federal Elections Commission.

So here we are again, with Thanedar likely to return to Washington, this time because we had too few credible Black candidates.

More from Freep Opinion: Campaign forged Free Press reporter's signature

State Rep. Shri Thanedar, representing the third district, talks to the crowed gathered at the Cass Community Social Services Taylor Park in Detroit on Thursday, July 28, 2022. The social service agency hosted a "Get Out the Vote" community day along with giving out free haircuts to kids

There's a better way

Which brings us back to ranked choice voting. Certainly, the group of influencers who didnt want a crowded primary got their wish. But the outcome appears to line up exactly the same as it was two years ago.

As I said nearly two years ago, ranked choice voting increases voter participation, and offers a more accurate view of the will of the people. But now we can also see that ranked choice voting has the potential to stave off hits to the reputations of prominent elected officials, and level the fundraising playing field. It's not hard to imagine that more candidates would have run for the 13th Congressional District this year, if ranked choice voting meant there was no chance of splitting the votes of a key bloc.

There is real movement toward ranked choice voting here in Michigan. Recently, voters in East Lansing, Royal Oak, and Kalamazoo supported ranked choice voting, following Ann Arbor and Ferndale, which adopted the practice a few years ago  but it remains prohibited by state law.

While ranked choice voting seems to be a sharp departure from what weve always done, I believe it could lead to a brighter future in Michigan  one where voters more accurately elect their officials, more candidates participate in the democratic process and where the same mistakes arent repeated over and over again.

Michael Griffie

Free Press contributing columnist Michael Griffie is an educator, attorney and infrastructure executive. 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: Ranked choice voting could change Detroit Congressional races
Dairy cattle infected by highly pathogenic avian influenza have large amounts of the virus in their milk. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Amid an ongoing outbreak of Influenza A across multiple states, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has identified its first case within the state.

Influenza A  also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza or bird flu  has been circulating in dairy and poultry farms across the U.S. this spring, with state and local officials monitoring closely for cases of human infection. There have been two cases of human infection reported in the U.S. since 2022, one in Colorado in 2022 tied to exposure to poultry, and one in Texas in early April, tied to exposure to dairy cattle.

The infection was identified in a Michigan farmworker who was regularly exposed to livestock infected with type A influenza, who has since recovered after experiencing mild symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said risk to the public remains low.

The CDC said the infections might have happened when the workers eyes were splashed with contaminated fluid or if they touched their eyes with a contaminated hand.

Given the high levels of  virus in raw milk from infected cows, and the extent of the spread of this virus in dairy cows, similar additional human cases could be identified, the CDC said.

As of Wednesday, USDA data showed that 15 Michigan farms have had infections  the most of any state. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) listed four more for a total of 19.

The initial source of infection in Michigan is believed to be sick dairy cows that were transported from Texas before they showed symptoms. The virus has transmitted from cows to other cows and to poultry.

The virus has infected eight commercial or backyard poultry flocks in Michigan since early April. Three of them were large egg-producing operations with a total of about 6.5 million birds.

Entire flocks are culled to prevent the virus spread. It is highly contagious and deadly for domestic birds, but cows typically recover in 10 to 14 days.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, DHHSs chief medical executive, said that Michigan has led a swift public health response, and we have been tracking this situation closely since influenza A (H5N1) was detected in poultry and dairy herds in Michigan. Farmworkers who have been exposed to impacted animals have been asked to report even mild symptoms, and testing for the virus has been made available.

The current health risk to the general public remains low. This virus is being closely monitored, and we have not seen signs of sustained human-to-human transmission at this point. This is exactly how public health is meant to work, in early detection and monitoring of new and emerging illnesses, Bagdasarian said.

DHHS is also working alongside MDARD and local health departments to monitor the health of those exposed to ill animals.

Since the first detection of influenza A (H5N1) in dairy cattle on March 29, Michigan has prioritized both the animal and human health aspects of this disease outbreak. Todays news underscores the continued importance of limiting nonessential farm visits, including farm tours and field trips, as well as the use of personal protective equipment when working with livestock, MDARD Director Tim Boring said in a statement.

MDARD has identified dairy and poultry farms in several Michigan counties that have tested positive for influenza A, and has been working with federal, state and local partners to address animal and public health concerns and mitigate the spread.

On May 1, Boring signed a Determination of Extraordinary Emergency Order bringing further protections to Michigans livestock and poultry industries and enhancing the U.S. Department of Agricultures April 24 order requiring testing of dairy cattle moving between states as well as mandatory reporting of positive Influenza A results in livestock.

DHHS has advised people working on poultry and dairy farms to receive their seasonal flu vaccination. While this will not prevent infection with avian flu viruses, it can reduce the risk of coinfection with avian and flu viruses.

The CDC also advises those who come into contact with infected animals to use protective equipment including gloves, eye protection, and an N95 respirator or well-fitting face mask.

It also recommends hand washing after touching birds, changing clothes before interacting with healthy poultry if youve previously interacted with potentially infected birds, and advises against touching your mouth, nose, or eyes after contact with birds or surfaces and materials that might be contaminated with saliva, mucus or feces from birds.

The USDA recently announced it will reimburse dairy farms for costs associated with those precautions, including protective equipment for workers and heat treatments to inactivate the virus in contaminated milk.

Milk from sick cows is required to be discarded, but federal tests have detected fragments of the virus in the countrys commercial milk supply. Despite that, the Food and Drug Administration said it is safe to drink the milk, which is pasteurized to kill pathogens.

The states with bird flu infections among cattle include Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas.

The post DHHS urges farmworkers to be vigilant after detecting bird flu in Michigan resident appeared first on Michigan Advance.
DENVER (KDVR)  Denver International Airport is expecting a record number of travelers to pass through its terminals for the 2024 Memorial Day weekend.

DIA is projecting the busiest days to be Thursday and Friday before the holiday. The airport said it expects over 450,000 people to pass through TSA, projecting 80,000 on Thursday and Friday each, which is around 9% more than during Memorial Day weekend in 2023.

AAA projects 56% longer commute from Fort Collins to Denver on Memorial Day

FOX31 got a rare, behind-the-scenes look at operations underway with one of the busiest airlines at DIA.

The Memorial Day weekend begins what United anticipates will be its busiest summer of travel ever, with 5% more customers flying with the airline this June, July and August.

Were expecting our busiest summer ever in our 98-year history, said Jonna McGrath, Uniteds vice president of airport operations at DIA. We, on average, have about 4,400 flights a day. Thats three takeoffs every minute. So it just really shows the immense size of how many people will be traveling this summer.

McGrath told FOX31 the company started preparing in January for the summer.

From curbside to the pilot thats flying the plane, and the flight attendants that are doing the service and keeping you safe on board, we have extra staff in all those areas to ensure we have a good holiday weekend, she said.

When will TSA open at the Denver airport on Memorial Day weekend?

United ramp lead Erik Dahl has been working at DIA for two years and said he does not mind staying grounded and working to make sure others can take off and enjoy the holiday.

I really like helping people out. Its part of my passion is to make sure that people get to where they want to go safely, Dahl said. Im just very thankful to be part of that process.

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 FOX31 Denver.
How Did Chad Daybell's 2 Children Defend Him in Court Against Accusations He Killed Their Mother?

Chad Daybell is accused of murdering his first wife Tammy Daybell along with Lori Vallow's two children, Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow

John Roark/Post Register via AP Chad Daybell

Two of Chad Daybells adult children took the stand this week in an Ada County, Idaho, courtroom, where their father is accused of murdering three people, including their mother.

Emma Murray and Garth Daybell testified during the first day of their fathers defense after prosecutors alleged he killed his wife Lori Vallows two children, Joshua "J.J." Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16 and their mother, Chad Daybell's first wife Tammy Daybell, who was found dead in her bed on Oct. 19, 2019.

Murray testified that her father, who was married to Tammy for nearly 30 years and had five children with her, was distraught over Tammy's death at the age of 49.

Id never seen him more upset than in that moment, Murray told the jury, 12News reported. I know the grief was real. He may not have had the same romantic relationship that he had with my mother in the past, but I know he valued her as a person and seeing her die was very traumatic.

Murray told the jury that her mothers health began to get worse leading up to her death.

"Her health started declining. I was really worried about it, she testified, per FOX 10. She, well, she'd always be one to meet the demands of daily life without being exhausted and she started going to bed before dinner some nights."

Related: 'Attraction from the Very Beginning': Inside the Courtship of Lori Vallow & Chad Daybell

Rexburg Police Department (2) Lori and Chad Daybell

Garth Daybell also testified that his mother was getting tired extremely easily, got winded often and had fainting spells after kneeling, according to KSL.

Daybell told authorities Tammy had gone to bed with a cough and didn't wake up. Her manner of death was initially ruled as "natural causes," and no autopsy was done. Tammy's death was later deemed "suspicious, and her body was exhumed. Prosecutors later revealed that Tammys death was a homicide and she died by asphyxia.

Murray also testified that both of her parents had the same views about religion and spoke to her about a dark entity that was plaguing her.

Dad cast it out using the power of the priesthood and then I felt better afterwards, she testified, per 12News.

Related: Prosecutors Reveal How Tammy Daybell Died During Lori Vallow Daybell Trial: 'At the Hands of Another'

Rexburg Police Department (2) Joshua Vallow, Tylee Ryan

Prosecutors said that Daybell, a self-published author of doomsday-themed books, believed that both of Loris children as well as Tammy were possessed by dark spirits and that Daybell and Lori's life together revolved around a small doomsday cult that believed in preparing for the imminent end of the world and eliminating people whose spirits had turned "dark.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

J.J. and Tylees badly decomposed remains were found buried on Daybell's Idaho property on June 9, 2020. Tylee had been dismembered and burned; J.J. was asphyxiated and wrapped in plastic and bound by duct tape.

Facebook Chad and Tammy Daybell

During her testimony, Murray said she spoke to Daybell about where the kids were prior to their discovery.

Daybell allegedly told her they were in a safe place, she testified, according to 12News.

Lori was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in July 2023 after a jury found her guilty of murdering J.J. and Tylee and conspiring to murder Tammy.

Prior to sentencing her, Judge Steven Boyce called Lori's crimes "heinous and egregious," saying that she hadn't shown any remorse for her actions.

Daybells capital murder trial began in March.



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Read the original article on People.
Did Dr. Beach pick Florida again in 2024 for best beach in the US? Here's the new list

Scandal! Florida no longer features the best beach in the nation, according to Dr. Beach's 2024 list of Top Ten Beaches in the U.S.

Top spot St. George Island beach from last year was toppled by Hawaii's Duke Kahanamoku Beach. But we're not bitter. We still know it's a great beach.

Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, a.k.a. Dr. Beach, a professor in the Department of Earth & Environment at Florida International University with what has to be the best job in the world, has released his 34th annual rankings of the best of Americas 650 public beaches.

Hawaii continued to dominate Dr. Beach's list, once again nabbing three of the spots. While we might not have come out on top this year, Florida still saw two of its popular beaches made the list this year  Caladesi Island State Park and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park.

Dr. Beach uses 50 criteria to evaluate beaches, including water and sand quality, safety and environmental management practices. Beaches receive bonus points for not allowing smoking.

Duke Kahanamoku Beach is Dr. Beach's top pick for 2024

Up from last year second place last year, Hawaii's Duke Kahanamoku Beach is Dr. Beach's top pick this year. And it's easy to see why, with its picturesque palm trees and clear blue water along the coastline.

Located at the west end of Waikiki Beach, the beach is far away from the large crowds that Hawaii attracts.

It is the widest beach on this world-famous stretch of sand and protected by an offshore coral reef, making it a good beach for families with children, says Leatherman.

The nearby Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon is also a favorite bathing and swimming spot. Smoking is prohibited on all beaches in Hawaii for public health and protection of the marine life.

Dining by the sea: What's the best waterfront restaurant in Florida? 17 favorites for food, drinks and fun!

Caladesi Island State Park is No. 4 on Dr. Beach's list in 2024

The northern tip of Caladesi Island State Park is virtually deserted Friday afternoon, July 11, 2008.

As for what Florida spots make the list, frequent Dr. Beach top-tenner, Caladesi Island State Park, is fourth this year, maintaining its same spot from last year.

Caladesi is reachable mainly by ferry and private boat, but a person in good shape watching the tides could walk there from Clearwater Beach. Caladesi isn't a true island any longer because an inlet closed off, Leatherman said.

The white beach is composed of crystalline quartz sand, which is soft and cushy at the water's edge, inviting one to take a dip in the sparkling clear waters, he said.

Caladesi has boardwalk nature trails and kayaking through mangroves that are home to numerous species of fish, birds and other animals. The ferry drops visitors off in the middle of the island so anyone looking for a more secluded environment need only walk a short distance north or south.

Best beach bar in Florida? Top 10 we love for drinks, food, views and waterfront fun!

"My favorite is the kayak and canoe trails through the mangroves to see the large blue herons and other birds that frequent this wonderful natural area," Leatherman said.

Naples' Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park secures spot on Dr. Beach's list

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park on June 29, 2023. The popular beach reopened in May 2023 after suffering major damage during Hurricane Ian.

Securing the eighth spot on Dr. Beach's annual list, the Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples was highlighted for its beautiful white sand beaches and crystal-clear Gulf waters.

"Activities include swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, shelling, and fishing. Wildlife in the park includes bald eagles, ospreys, and manatees. Pine trees provide welcome shade," Leatherman said.

He does note the park is still recovering from Hurricane Ian in 2022 so some areas are still closed to the public. Past Naples Daily News coverage detailed the major damage the barrier island beach received, yet officials encouraged those to still visit.

"The beach experience is more rustic but the sand is soft and the sunsets are still glorious," they wrote when the park reopened in 2023.

What are Dr. Beach's top 10 beaches for 2024?

Duke Kahanamoku Beach Oahu, Hawaii Coopers Beach Southampton, New York Wailea Beach, Maui, Hawaii Caladesi Island State Park Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina Main Beach, East Hampton, New York Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Naples, Florida Coast Guard Beach Cape Cod, Massachusetts Coronado Beach, San Diego, California

Who is Dr. Beach?

Dr. Stephen Leatherman, a.k.a. Dr. Beach, in his office.

Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, the face behind Dr. Beach, is a proud lifelong beachgoer.

"I had the biggest backyard sandbox in Charlotte, North Carolina," he said on his website. "I loved it. Every year I opted for a beach vacation to play in the worlds largest sandbox and frolic in the surf."

A job surveying storm-struck beaches in Cape Hatteras launched his lifelong career to become an internationally recognized authority on beach erosion, hurricane impacts, the effects of sea level rise and rip currents. Leatherman often has provided expert testimony before Congress and also consults nationwide on beach-related environmental matters. He also hosted and co-produced the 1992 film Vanishing Lands, winner of three international film awards.

In 1989 a travel magazine caught Leatherman on his way out the door for a trip and asked for a list of the top ten U.S. beaches.

"Pressed by the reporter, I rattled off the first 10 wonderful beaches that came to mind," he said. And then he forgot about it until the magazine came out and the phone began to ring. He heard from the winners and he heard from the places snubbed.

Dr. Stephen Leatherman (Dr. Beach) will present a talk on Beach Ratings, Rip Current, and Surf Safety, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 at the Challenger Learning Center.

"The media people at Daytona Beach were the most emphatic about the whole thing," Leatherman said. "They wanted to know why their beach was not on the list because everybody knows that Daytona is one of the greatest beaches in the world, it even says so on the town water tower."

So he developed 50 criteria to rate each beach and surveyed them all. The university released the first Dr. Beach list on Memorial Day weekend in 1991 and for the next 33 years it only grew as readers shared it, argued about it, and planned their vacations around it.

Originally, any beach that won the top spot on Dr. Beach's list was retired and ineligible for subsequent years, but in 2016 Leatherman cleared the slate to allow any beach in the nation to once again be eligible for the contest and for the top pick.

Leatherman has authored or edited 16 books including, not surprisingly, "America's Best Beaches."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Dr. Beach's 2024 list: See where the best beach in the U.S., Florida
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe in December 2021 (Photo by Shaun Griswold / Source NM)

Changes for rules around New Mexicos oil and gas wastewater are under consideration, but questions about how the people responsible for adopting those rules  specifically their personal business dealings  have taken the debate into murky waters.

Concerns raised by environmental groups before the hearings said failures to add financial disclosures and declare alleged conflicts of interest threatens a potential decision about a contentious proposal to expand uses for oil and gas wastewater.

The Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) is responsible for the fate of the proposal and its members said theyve followed the law to declare conflicts of interest.

State ethics and elections officials, who oversee financial disclosures, said there isnt a formal opinion, or were unsure if they enforced portions of the disclosure requirements for the board.

That issue brought more eyes and scrutiny on the twelve-members sitting on the commission and if their role in shaping water policy is impacted by personal work they do with the industries seeking a new way to make money with produced water.

And now, its unclear what, if any, process is in place to give the public an answer.

Commissioners said the rules around disclosure are unclear and our questions posed to state entities dont lay out strict disclosure rules, but leave it to some discretion of board members.

Produced water rose to the fore in the 2024 legislative session when Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham unveiled a policy to use half a billion dollars to purchase brackish  salty waters from deep aquifers  and oil and gas wastewater for treatment and use in other parts of the state.

The plan was proposed as a means to address climate-crisis fueled water shortages desiccating the Southwest.

The proposal ultimately failed, but it ignited opposition around efforts to expand uses for oil and gas wastewater. Environmental and Indigenous groups say the plans offer a bailout to the oil and gas industry, and pose unknown threats, because of the nature and lack of research on chemicals and contaminants in produced water.

Now, a lot of eyes are on the Water Quality Control Commission because of an effort championed by the states top environmental officials to put forward initial rules for reusing the wastewater in pilot projects.

The rule-making process will stretch into the summer, with another round of hearings scheduled for July 1 to July 5, with a break for the holiday, and the potential for one last witness scheduled in August.

What happened at the first meeting?

The first order of business for the board last week was attempting to address environmental groups concerns submitted in the hearings on May 10 that brought up late or missing financial disclosures and purported conflicts of interest.

A motion filed by three conservation and environment nonprofits requested the board to close the proceedings and reopen them, saying a previous vote was unlawful and void.

The motion stated that the board had improperly voted to start proceedings on the produced water rule, without filing any financial disclosure filings, writing that if ignored, would create a serious issue of appeal for any party dissatisfied with the outcome of the rulemaking.

Bruce Thomson, a civil engineer and chair of the commission, said attorneys for the commission recommended the board members individually state whether they had conflicts.

Eleven of commissioners affirmed they had no conflicts that are financial, personal or perceived. Only one member, Toby Velasquez, recused himself from the proceedings to a personal conflict.

After that, Thomson took the floor before starting the hearing.

New Mexico is a small state, which is one of the nice things about it, many of us know each other, Thomson said. But I think its worth getting on the record that we dont have any conflicts that might influence our participating in these deliberations

The issue later resurfaced in the chat of the WebX meeting. Posts to the chat from Maine-based muckraker and blogger Bruce Wetherbee and Melissa Troutman, the climate and energy advocate from WildEarth Guardians, raised disclosure issues.

Both Wetherbee and Troutman asked if the commission would address the motion seeking a cancellation and refilling of the hearings, and additional information about one of the businesses, Houston-based Select Energy Services.

Troutman posted at 9:55 a.m., in response to Troutmans question: Similarly, can the commissioners clarify how Krista McWilliams can claim no conflict of interest as Engineering Operations Manager of the oil and gas company Logos Resources LLC?

Minutes after Troutmans question, a message appeared, saying the chat was disabled at 9:57 by host or co-host.

Wetherbee, in a phone call with Source New Mexico said he did not feel there were any issues with the chat outage, because the chat was later turned back on for additional parts of the hearing.

I didnt take it that we were being shut off, he said, adding that he felt it could be ascribed to a technical error.

Wetherbee, who operates the blog The CANDLE, said he hoped the conversation would go beyond just the statements made by commissioners.

There needs to be some explanation, the public deserves to know where these folks, who are going to make a ruling on something so important, where their guidance is coming from, Wetherbee said.

In the meeting, Chris Dodd, an attorney representing the nonprofit New Energy Economy, asked hearing officer Felicia Orth if there would be a determination on the environmental groups motion to stop the proceedings.

Thomson said he considered the matter closed, saying the board did not need to make a further jurisdictional determination.

Im going to let the record stand that if all of the commissioners have stated they dont have a conflict and leave it at that, he said.

Addressing additional calls for disclosure

In the chat, McWilliams was called out directly to potentially recuse herself due to her role as co-chief operating officer at LOGOS Resources, an oil and gas company based in Farmington.

McWilliams husband, Jay Paul, was a former member of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, which is now a party in the hearings on produced water. He was listed as a board member starting in 2017 through 2021 tax filings, but is no longer on the board, according to the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association 2022 tax documents.

Jay Paul is currently the Chief Executive Officer of LOGOS Resources II, which includes LOGOS Energy.

The Financial Disclosure Act, a state law, only requires board members confirmed by the state senate to file Financial Disclosure paperwork with the secretary of state.

However, there is another provision in the Water Quality Act which says WQCC members must file a disclosure if they make a certain amount of income based on industries that they oversee.

According to the law, members must disclose, before taking action on the commission if they make more than 10% of their income directly or indirectly from permit holders or applicants for permits required under the Water Quality Act.

McWilliams, told Source NM that she has no conflict of interests, and does not meet the state laws for additional disclosure reporting to the Secretary of State.

No, neither LOGOS Energy or LOGOS Operating LLC are discharge permit holders or applicants, she wrote in an emailed response.

McWilliams said that she does not meet the threshold for additional disclosure.

Confusion abounds

But narrowing down who the rules apply to on the commission isnt cut and dry. In an email, Thomson said he filed a disclosure, but said the guidelines are not at all clear of who it applies to.

I was appointed as an at-large member by the Governor, my appointment did not require Senate confirmation. Thus, it is not clear whether I had to file a disclosure. I filed one just to be safe, he wrote.

When asked about the motion filed by environmental groups, the chair said he did not have the expertise for an opinion of its merit.

Im an engineer, not a lawyer, Thomson wrote in an email.

Thomson said attorneys for the WQCC spent a considerable amount of time on the issues in the two weeks prior to the hearings, and characterized the summary of conclusions that the objection was not supported by law or regulation.

Thompson directed Source NM to the Secretary of States office on additional questions on financial disclosures.

Commissioners on the WQCC are not automatically required to file financial disclosure statements since they are not confirmed by the state senate, said Alex Curtas, the spokesperson for the Secretary of States office.

However, Curtas said he could not answer questions about financial disclosure provision in state water law, nor clarify who a permit holder or applicant was.

Regarding your other questions about the Water Quality Act, we are not the administrators of that Act  it is probably the NM Environment Department, Curtas wrote.

The New Mexico Ethics Commission, who jointly oversees financial disclosure issues alongside the New Mexico Secretary of States office, said they didnt have much official guidance, because theyve never been sought out for a formal, binding opinion.

The state law requiring disclosure from WQCC board members, would have to be determined by each individual board member, said Jane Kirkpatrick, the spokesperson for the ethics commission.

The post Disclosure rules unclear for commissioners set to decide on O&G wastewater rules appeared first on Source New Mexico.
Challengers are hoping to break the hold of development-backed members of the Henderson City Council. (Photo: City of Henderson)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

In the City of Henderson, three is a magic number. Thats how many votes it takes to prevail before the five member City Council where four members  Mayor Michelle Romero, longtime council members Dan Stewart and Dan Shaw, and new member Jim Seebock  often vote in lock step. Councilwoman Carrie Cox is the odd woman out.

If you look at the campaign contribution and expense reports of the three up for election, the contributions are identical. Its over 95% from big developers, says Dr. Monica Larson, who recently moved to Inspirada from Pasadena, and is challenging Shaw in Ward 2 So thats my concern is where their allegiance lies.

Challenges to incumbents are rare in Henderson, but Larson and a handful of others are hoping to break the hold by ousting Seebock, Shaw, and Stewart in the general election, if not the primary. The council races are non-partisan.

Ward One

Split government is a really good thing, says Jason Porter, one of two candidates challenging Seebock in Ward 1. Its a really good thing to have dialogue. Any single mindset as the only mindset being represented is a problem.

In Henderson, Porter says, that mindset is growth at all costs, even though the infrastructure to support it is non-existent.

There is a pay for play theme in Henderson and thats why theyve never found a development project they dont love, he said during a recent phone interview. Developers have bought and paid my competitor to the tune of $677,000 for a $60,000 a year job, Porter said, referring to Seebocks campaign contributions, including the special election last year that landed him on the council. That doesnt make sense.

Seebock is a former Las Vegas Metropolitan police officer. According to his campaign contribution and expense reports, he raised $378,000 last year, $91,000 in the first quarter, and had $400,000 in the bank as of April 15.

Seebock is awaiting resolution of a state ethics complaint alleging he used the trappings of his position as an assistant sheriff at Metro in his campaign for city council.

Another candidate in the race, Rick Whittaker, did not respond to requests for an interview.

Porter says he hopes to emphasize quality of life for residents over new development.

He and his wife moved to Henderson six years ago. In our time being here, weve just seen a change, he says, adding hes running for office because I am very concerned about the overdevelopment of Henderson. Im running to try to slow that down. Its not that Im anti-growth. I think were approving development too fast for our infrastructure to be able to handle things.

Porter says hes heard different takes on the valleys water problem, but notes a neighbor was fined $300 for allowing water to seep onto his sidewalk. If water is a problem for him, how is it not a problem elsewhere? Whether water is a problem or not, growth is a problem.

He points to the planned remediation of contaminated land at Three Kids Mine, a former open-pit manganese mine that operated from 1917 to 1961. Pulte Homes plans to build 3,000 homes after the remediation, estimated to cost $250 million. The original development agreement called for then-owner Bob Unger to foot the bill for the clean-up.

Instead, Pulte is providing $31 million in financial assurance for the remediation and the city council agreed to provide $250 million plus interest in tax incentive financing  a scheme that leaves Henderson taxpayers subsidizing each home to the tune of $100,000, according to Bob Understein, a member of the original development group. Thats more than seven times the amount of tax incentive financing provided to the developer of Cadence, which is also built on remediated land.

If I had been on the council, I would have had real problems with privately cleaning up a site that the federal government couldnt or wouldnt do, Porter says. I would not have supported that. It doesnt make sense mathematically to have a developer spend under $40 million, and as a city, commit incentives back to them of $250 million over 30 years.

He adds the city doesnt have enough police officers to keep our city safe, noting Henderson has less than one officer per 1,000 residents when it should have more than two. He points to recent news that Henderson is the second most dangerous city in Nevada, behind Winnemucca. Las Vegas is sixth.

I want to put the onus on the developers who want to make money off of our population and our lands to provide public safety infrastructure. And I just dont see that.

Porter invests in tax deeds and tax liens with the goal, he says, of keeping people in their homes.

I figured out solutions to provide people with safe, clean, affordable housing, and I fight to keep them in their home, he says. I fight against gentrification.

He acknowledges the city needs affordable housing, but even more he says, we need a pathway to ownership for anyone who seeks to do that. Homeownership is the way out of poverty for people. The American dream is not to rent.

He doesnt favor rent control. Im a free market guy. But he thinks barriers to affordable rentals, such as charging applicants fees for multiple rental applications, should be removed. Its ludicrous that application fees can be as profitable as actually renting the property itself. Its egregious, and to me thats predatory.

He says inadequately funded projects such as Hendersons animal shelter can be properly funded if we quit buying $32 million casinos to tear down or we dont spend $140 million reimagining Boulder Highway. We just have to be smarter with allocation of capital, it needs to go to the things that bring us a quality of life.

He favors reliance on property taxes and is interested in proposals to tweak Nevadas cap of 3% on annual growth, but wants to learn more. Any place that I have seen that forces the reduction of property tax to be something other than based on the actual assessed value of the property eventually has problems.

Porter says his primary goal is to bring ethics and honesty to the city council, where he says ethics have been forgotten and honesty is malleable to some, and I have a problem with that.

The council recently approved a governance policy that requires members to gain approval from the city before speaking about issues of concern.

The first thing Ill do when I win is change that governance policy. Look, were a city and were electing a representative and if that representative has to have somebody go through a filter to get to them, then theres a problem, he says of the gag order.

The second thing hell do, if elected, is pass an ordinance prohibiting any council person from having a consulting company that provides any consulting services to any company of any type operating in Henderson.

Romero and Seebock have consulting companies. Romero has represented parties who appear before the council.

Ward Two

Im optimistic for this election, says Larson, a clinical forensic psychologist from Pasadena who says her family moved here less than two years ago for a better quality of life. I really do think people are ready for change, and they want accountability.

Larson alleges Shaw lives in Utah, where he has property, and travels to Henderson twice a month for council meetings.

You have to live in your community that you represent and care about it, she says, adding her concerns about public safety in her neighborhood, which she brought before the council, drew no response from Shaw, who she says becomes animated only when developers appear before the council.

Shaw, who was appointed to the council in 2017, declined to be interviewed. He raised more than $300,000 in 2023, another $63,000 in the first quarter, and had $266,000 on hand as of April 15. He takes pride in having increased Hendersons general fund without raising taxes, according to his website.

Larson says Henderson touts itself on its website as the second safest city in the nation.

That was really appealing to me. We quickly found out it was not true.

After a rash of crime in her neighborhood, Larson mobilized her neighbors and began a patrol program that has almost eliminated crime. But shed like to rely on the police.

We are critically low on officers, she says, adding Henderson police are the lowest paid in the valley.

Larson says she wants city funds to be spent fairly and equitably, instead of for the benefit of council members.

Youd think that they would put their money where their mouth is and invest and vote in favor of our law enforcement and first responders, she says, noting the citys fire chief had to come to a city council meeting literally begging for funds for new equipment and facilities.

Shaw, along with his Henderson business partner, recently settled lawsuits for making and collecting unlawful loans in Illinois and Indiana.

Larson says its infuriating and despicable that an elected official would take advantage of low-income individuals. How can you ethically and with integrity represent your constituents?

Larson says shes shocked by the price of housing, which she says rivals California. While she recognizes the need for affordable and low-income housing, she says neighbors in Seven Hills and Inspirada are opposed to the proliferation of multi-family developments, and notes the city lacks the public safety infrastructure to support it.

She says shed support requiring developers to include workforce or affordable housing in their projects, or pay a fee to the city to be used for construction.

Everyone deserves to have quality and sustainable housing, but Ive seen that the council is not interested. Everything seems to focus on the benefit and incentives for the developers, never for the residents, she says. There has to be a balance because a lot of people want the American dream of home ownership.

Larson, who touts herself as a quality of life candidate on her website, says shes interested in removing barriers to affordable housing, including rentals. She notes a relative was gouged by property managers over application fees. They had to pay for each family member in the home.

Like Porter, shes concerned about the development slated for the land at Three Kids Mine.

All it takes is three councilmen, the incumbents who vote in favor of these things, and this is one of them, she says, adding the council is sacrificing the health of safety of the community to focus on big business and special interests.

I want things to be transparent, she says, in reference to the citys gag order on city council members. Im opposed to that, and I know it was strategic, and its against our First Amendment rights. You should be able to speak and be held accountable. If you dont have anything to hide, why would you implement something like that?

Larson says a recent trip to Hendersons understaffed and over-populated animal shelter was truly upsetting. I saw one volunteer. They need a better facility, staff and volunteers to better care for the animals.

She says shed support an effort to legalize the practice of trapping, neutering and releasing stray and feral cats, which has long been prohibited in city limits. They cant fend for themselves. Theres no harm to feeding a cat whos hungry, or giving it shelter.

Larson is endorsed by the Fraternity of Police, Stagehands union, Teamsters, and the Armed Forces Chamber, a veterans organization.

Another candidate in the race, Bristol Marunde, did not respond to requests for an interview.

Marunde, according to his website, is a mixed martial arts fighter and appeared in a now-defunct television series about flipping homes in Las Vegas. He raised close to $26,000 in 2023 and another $42,000 in the first quarter. He had $48,000 on hand as of April 15.

Ward Four

Ward Four

Councilman Dan Stewart is a fourth-generation Nevadan, according to his website.

He declined to be interviewed for this story.

Stewart has served on the State Ethics Commission, the Colorado River Commission, and the City of Henderson Planning Commission.

He was once at the helm of Landwell, the company that turned a toxic waste site into the master planned community Cadence.

Stewart is endorsed by the Henderson Chamber Political Action Committee, the International Association of Firefighters, and the Southern Nevada Building Trades, among others.

He raised $492,000 in campaign contributions last year, another $35,000 in the first quarter of this year, and has $378,000 in the bank.

Stewart is being challenged by Cherlyn Arrington, who ran unsuccessfully in 2010 and 2018 for State Assembly District 21 and in 2022 for State Senate District 12.

She confirms she was among the founding member of the Nevada Oath Keepers,

The Nevada Oath Keepers had nothing to do with what happened on January 6. To affiliate me with those type of people was wrong. It was a lie put out by the Democratic Party so people would go against me, she says. The original Nevada Oath Keepers had to do with law enforcement, our Constitution, and standing up for whats right.

The Oath Keepers originated in Nevada, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

When asked whether she believes Joe Biden won the 2020 election, Arrington replied Hes our president. She says she doesnt know who shes going to vote for in November.

I believe that President Trump should learn how to be more cognizant of what comes out of his mouth. And how he tweets, Arrington said. I think he ran our country amazingly. We were great. We were prosperous at the time. And other leaders showed us respect. They dont now. Look at our economy. Look at the crime rate.

The violent crime rate has been on the decline in Nevada in recent years, however property crimes are increasing, according to state statistics.

Shes endorsed this election by the Henderson Police Officers Association and the Henderson Police Supervisors Association, according to her website. She has raised close to $26,000 and has about $18,000 remaining.

Im running because our law enforcement officers need someone to stand up for them and not tell them one thing behind closed doors and stab them in the back once they get to the chamber floors, she said, noting the disparity in Henderson police pay with other jurisdictions.

The average salary for a Henderson officer is $56,000 a year compared with $66,000 for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, according to estimates from Zip Recruiter.

Ive spoken to voters who said they would be in favor of a small tax increase, just like the fire department is requesting right now, says Arrington, adding shed support higher taxes for police and fire services.

In November, Henderson voters will be asked to approve a ballot measure increasing the property tax by .06 cents per $100 assessed value to fund fire services.

Arrington disagrees with the Henderson Councils decision to subsidize Pulte Homes remediation of toxic land at Three Kids Mine.

I think that money would have been better spent somewhere, she says, adding the city should have fenced it off and walked away.

She considers many Henderson projects to be a wasteful use of resources..

They are allowing builders to build when our water resources are not there. Law enforcement is not there. Education is not there.

Arrington says shes undecided on the issue of rent control. She also says theres enough low-income housing available via Section 8 subsidies.

A 2021 report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimated Nevadans wait an average of 38 months to receive housing vouchers.

Early voting begins Saturday. Primary election day is June 11.

This story was updated with information from Cherlyn Arrington.

The post Disillusionment leads newcomers to challenge Henderson council incumbents appeared first on Nevada Current.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Trustees convenes for a regular meeting at the UNC Center for School Leadership Development in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Thursday, May 16, 2024. The meeting came a few days after the board voted to cut $2.3 million of diversity spending to reallocate toward public safety. (AP Photo/Makiya Seminera)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  North Carolinas public university system board voted Thursday to repeal a nearly five-year-old diversity, equity and inclusion policy, meaning its 17 schools will likely join other major universities in cutting diversity programs and jobs.

The 24-member University of North Carolina Board of Governors approved its agenda, which included the diversity policy repeal, with two members voting against the repeal. Campus changes are expected to take place at the start of the next school year.

UNC System President Peter Hans said in his meeting remarks that students and faculty should be allowed to confront competing ideas but the role of public universities is to remain neutral on political controversies.

No one can speak for the whole university community on contentious issues because the university is not of one mind about anything, Hans said.

The system's policy change focuses on removing a 2019 regulation that outlines various DEI positions  such as diversity officers across the university system  and also defines officers duties, such as assisting with diversity programming and managing trainings for staff and students.

The new policy includes compliance with state and federal nondiscrimination laws, a commitment to free speech and academic freedom, and a requirement to adhere to institutional neutrality  which prevents the university system from taking a stance on debated political topics.

It does not include the outlined responsibilities of DEI officers and liaisons, suggesting they may be eliminated. A university system document about the policy said its goal is not to cut jobs, but some positions could be discontinued.

The policy will not impact classroom instruction or university research, nor will it dismantle student organizations or cultural centers, according to the university system. It initially passed through the boards university governance committee last month in less than four minutes with no discussion.

Hans told reporters after the vote that the new policy likely meant DEI staff would change their titles and responsibilities to comply. He also anticipated legal guidelines to come out this summer to facilitate the transition.

Extra funding originally designated for DEI offices will go to student success initiatives, the system said. Hans said the board would trust university chancellors to reinvest the funds, but those initiatives wouldnt include policing and public safety  a funding area that the board of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the systems flagship university, decided to reallocate millions of DEI funds from next year's budget to.

That decision last week violated the Board of Governors budget policy, Hans said.

The system's legal counsel advised the university board that it could not make line-item changes such as the DEI cut to the university budget, but they chose to disregard that advice, he said.

The boards budget chair, Dave Boliek, said in an interview last week that the budget cut had been under consideration for almost a year.

Theres no reason why we cant, as university trustees, signal that this is the direction the university needs to take. I feel good about it, said Boliek, who also won the Republican primary for state auditor last week.

More definitive plans to cut DEI funding date back to at least late March, according to UNC public records obtained by The Associated Press. In an agenda sent to another administrator before last months Board of Governors meeting, university provost Chris Clemens wrote that a plan to remove at least $1 million from the universitys DEI budget was needed.

Public feedback to the UNC Board of Governors before the vote was largely limited to a submission form on its website, which closed Thursday. As of Monday, more than 250 people had submitted public comments  with most identifying as alumni, according to University of North Carolina system public records.

Just 13 people expressed support for the potential repeal while most others voiced opposition to it. Commenters included students who recounted how they benefited from university diversity programs and parents who said they wouldn't send their child to a UNC school if the policy changed.

About 35 protesters from schools across the system gathered outside of the UNC System Office in Raleigh to oppose the policy repeal  and at one point, attempted to enter the building. Two people were arrested, a UNC system spokesperson said.

Despite their best efforts, we have not been silenced and we will not be silenced, said Nathaniel Dibble, a member of Young Democratic Socialists of America at North Carolina State University, before the vote.

Sonja Phillips Nichols, one of four Black members on the board, told reporters she voted against the repeal because of people's concerns that they weren't heard by the governing body.

DEI has become one of the most contentious issues on college campuses in recent years as conservatives have claimed that the practices can lead to discrimination. Advocates, however, say diversity initiatives do the opposite by ensuring minority students' and faculty's inclusion in the university community.

Elsewhere, the University of Florida and the University of Texas at Austin both announced job cuts for diversity staff this year. More broadly, at least 20 states have seen Republican proposals seeking to limit public diversity and inclusion programs.

North Carolina's Senate leader Phil Berger, whose chamber along with the House elects the boards voting members, said Thursday that DEI policies are completely different from the average persons understanding of the need for diversity, for equity, for inclusion.

The concerns that have been expressed about DEI  not just in North Carolina, not just in North Carolina universities  but across the nation are legitimate concerns," he told reporters before the vote.

House Speaker Tim Moore also told reporters Wednesday that he fully supported the repeal, but if there seemed to be more work to be done on DEI, the General Assembly could consider further action.

___

Associated Press writer Gary Robertson in Raleigh contributed to this report.
On May 14, 2019, Patricia Franquesa sat down to eat a fried squid sandwich at a bar, had her laptop stolen, and two months later, received an email: Hello Patricia. Sadly, this is not spam. This is a serious matter. I have hacked your PC. Dont be frightened. Everything will be OK. You dont know me, and I dont know you. I dont have any intention of harming you, if you follow these instructions. Youll have to deposit $2,400 in the following Bitcoin account. I have your work contact lists, social media, email passwords and access to virtual material. Ive found these (photos attached) and Im sure that you dont want all of your contacts, including family members, friends and professional colleagues seeing this. This was three photos of her vagina. All of her contacts were around 1,100 people. And Franquesa, whose interview with EL PAIS took place via Zoom from Barcelona, where she was born in 1989, says that she immediately called the police.

I had the immediate need to yell help. My mother taught me that if someone touched me when I was on the bus, I had to say very loudly Sir, do not touch me. That way youd embarrass them, theyd leave, and youd alert those around you. It was that instinct, she said on May 14, five years after the theft. She says that shes closing a cycle but that, in reality, this is a beginning.

Franquesa, who is a documentary filmmaker, didnt know when she called the police that what had just happened to her had a name. She learned it just after filing a police report, when officers recommended that she send an email to all her contacts alerting them that they could receive the images. She sat down to write that email and I didnt really know what to say. She started searching the internet. I began to see that this is happening everywhere, and I started to have many questions. I told myself that if I had so many questions, its a documentary.

That was the day she learned about sextortion, a crime that consists of blackmailing someone in exchange for not publishing their sexual content. That was also the day My Sextortion Diary, Franquesas lastest work, whose distribution rights have been acquired by Taskovski Film Sales in the United States and which made its U.S. debut at South By Southwest in March, was born. She created a folder on her desktop called Digital Vagina and started to save everything.

The director of the documentary My Sextortion Diary,' Patricia Franquesa, in an image from the film. Gadea Films

In Spain, according to numbers from the Ministry of the Interior to which this publication had access, there has been exponential growth in sextortion rates: 1,691 reports in 2018, 1,199 in 2019, 1,923 in 2020, 2,649 in 2021, 3,219 in 2022 and 4,460 in 2023. The number grows every year and although its victims can be of any age, the most frequent targets are young women and children. Franquesa says that attacks against women using their sexuality are common. We have always been societys sexual elements. But I also saw that there were many statistics that referred to adolescents, she says.

Whoever the victims are, the blackmail has predictable motivations, like economic and financial  demanding money from the victim  or control, which is the case when the perpetrator is someone who they know, or even partners or former partners. Franquesas case was economic. Though some victims of this kind of sextortion wind up paying, thinking that this will end the blackmail, oftentimes thats not what happens, and the criminals insist on receiving more funds.

In August of that year, 2019, the filmmaker received another email: Hello, Patricia, how was your vacation? Im about to upload the photos to a website. I have not received any response from you, the bitcoin wallet is still empty, so tomorrow a quarter of your network will receive a message with you-know-what if you dont make the payment. Want to negotiate? Lets negotiate. But you have until tomorrow to respond to this email. Please dont make me do this, pay up and well be done with this. Make an offer.

A scene from the documentary My Sextortion Diary.' Gadea Films

Franquesa recalls spending time thinking about the kind of situations that can leave someone so vulnerable that they think about paying or giving them what they want. She didnt give in, the photos began to be sent to some of her contacts, who had been warned that theyd come, and the hacker continued to write to her: Well keep going until the end. Ill send them to more contacts on Facebook and Instagram. Instagram is very easy, one direct message and everyone will see it.

And she made a decision: she herself would publish those three photos of her vagina. In a way, this let her take control over the situation. When youre going through a criminal and judicial process in which you are legally the victim, you feel more exposed and vulnerable. It was a way of taking back power.

It wasnt easy, but she sat down and prepared a post for social media. I am being blackmailed by a group of criminals. They stole my computer with all my archives inside it. They are asking me for money to not share this with you. Theyve already sent emails and messages to extort me, to make me feel so ashamed of my body that I end up paying them. So, I want to publish these photos myself. Please, if you receive any strange message or email through any social media network where my name appears, tell me and dont erase the message.

This was also a way of asking for help: Of saying, Hey, this is happening to me, help me, that way I have more proof to bring to the police. The response was immediate, there was an avalanche of messages. One friend wrote her that she was lucky to have so much support. Franquesa cried: That makes you feel like you have a security network around you. Family, friends, they are very important.

Now, five years later, the police have yet to find the extortionist and, though officers in Madrid arrested and sentenced one of the men who stole her computer, they never knew if he was connected to the hacker. Because of this, the story continues because they still have access to a multitude of data like my identification, online documents, passwords.

Franquesa has many thoughts about what happened to her. About the lack of protection around our online privacy; about the people who asked her why she had those photos on her computer in the first place, as if she were the criminal; about the little boys, girls, teens who are subject to this type of violence. About the legal channels that are sometimes not enough to solve the problem. Also about telling, sharing, which is hugely important because if you dont, you become much more isolated, youre vulnerable, much more fragile and more accessible to being manipulated. And about how the violence shifts from our body to the screen. It seems cleaner, its more psychological, but the damage is the same.

The number of the 24-hour, toll-free National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-7999-7233, or text START to 88788. Services are available in 140+ languages using interpretation services. You can also visit its website at thehotline.org, and chat live with an expert advocate.
The Iowa Board of Medicine regulates the state's medical profession as part of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. (Photo by Getty Images, board seal courtesy the State of Iowa)

The Iowa Board of Medicine has agreed to the early termination of probation for a physician who argued the sanctions were making it difficult for him to find work.

In April 2021, the board charged Dr. Gregory Ingle of Pella with professional incompetence and placed his medical license of on probation for five years. At the time, the board alleged Ingle had engaged in incompetence with regard to the pain-management care he provided several patients.

The board issued Ingle a warning, fined him $2,500 and placed his license on probation for five years, during which time his practice would be subject to worksite monitoring by the board. In addition, Ingle was ordered to take educational training on prescribing opioids and recordkeeping,

Recently, the board agreed to terminate Ingles probation two years early, noting that Ingle claimed the worksite monitoring that was ordered as part of his probation was proving to be a barrier in finding work. Ingle informed the board he intended to practice medicine in some capacity, but not in a manner that would result in the prescribing of opioids.

In addition to agreeing to terminate Ingles probation two years earlier than expected, the board has restored his license to full privileges with the restriction that he will remain barred from prescribing opioids until April 2026.

The post Doctor says sanctions hinder his job search, board agrees to terminate his probation appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Doctors, beauty queen in DC to advocate for CPR training and AEDs in schools

Chloe Burke, a 25-year-old upcoming Miss Texas contestant, will be in Washington D.C. Thursday to lobby for the HEARTS Act and Access to AEDs Act.

Access to AEDs (or Automated External Defibrillators) is a deeply personal issue to Burke, who suffered a cardiac arrest in 2019 at University of Houston while she was cheerleading at a football game. She remembers completing her stunt, and then collapsing on the ground.

"It was the most helpless I've ever felt in my entire life," said Burke. "Your survival is up to the fate of hoping there's someone around you that knows how to act."

PHOTO: A view of the US Senate office in Washington, DC, Aug. 2, 2023. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

MORE: Buffalo Bills Damar Hamlin partners with American Heart Association for CPR challenge

Burke was fortunate. On-field paramedics performed CPR and used an AED to get Burkes heart pumping normally again.

However, Burke knows that others are not as lucky. According to the CDC, more that 356,000 Americans suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year and up to 80% of them die before reaching the hospital.

To improve outcomes for others, Burke is joining the American Heart Association (AHA) and roughly 200 others in an Advocacy Day in D.C. on May 23, 2024. Advocates will meet with lawmakers and staff to discuss the two federal bills that the AHA is supporting.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.s (D-NJ-6) bill, the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in the Schools Act of 2023 or the HEARTS Act (H.R. 6829), encourages research and education around cardiomyopathy. The bill has passed through committee and is awaiting a vote in the House.

PHOTO: The US Capitol is seen in Washington, DC on October 24, 2021. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images)

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormicks (D-FL-20) bill, Access to AEDs Act (H.R. 2370), has 110 cosponsors in the House, and is still in committee. An identical bill has been introduced in the Senate (S. 1024). The bill earmarks $25 million to be distributed through grants to schools to provide CPR training and buy AED equipment.

MORE: 'The Damar Effect' -- the nationwide backorder on a lifesaving machine and the 620% increase in CPR

Bystander CPR and AED use can increase survival rates. Dr. Gordon Tomaselli, a cardiologist and past president of the AHA, said that "CPR is effective, but it needs to be done in a very timely fashion."

"The clock here is not even in minutes. It's in seconds," he said.

However, a national poll of more than 1,000 people conducted by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center showed that only 51% of respondents have been trained to perform hands-on CPR in the last two years and feel comfortable administering it.

Burke, the current Ms. Space City said "any amount of time or money or rules or laws is worth teaching people the skills that can save lives."

She hopes that the HEARTS Act and Access to AEDs Act will ultimately create "a future of people who could save lives at any time in any place because [CPR is] a skill they can take with them."

Dr. Sejal Parekh is a Stanford Health Equity Media Fellow and a practicing pediatrician. She is a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.

Doctors, beauty queen in DC to advocate for CPR training and AEDs in schools originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Hundreds of people suffer heatstroke in Pakistan, and dangerous heat is forecast to stay a while

Volunteers provide lime sugar water to people at a camp set up to prevent heat stroke on a hot summer day, in Karachi, Pakistan, Thursday, May 23, 2024. Doctors were treating hundreds of victims of heatstroke at various hospitals across Pakistan on Thursday after an intense spell of the heat wave began in the country, and the mercury rose to above normal due to climate change, officials said. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

ISLAMABAD (AP)  Doctors treated hundreds of victims of heatstroke at hospitals across Pakistan on Thursday after an intense heat wave sent temperatures above normal levels due to climate change, officials said.

Temperatures soared as high as 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) the previous day in Mohenjo Daro. The city, known for its archaeological sites, is in southern Sindh province, which was badly hit by climate-induced monsoon rains and devastating floods in 2022. The heat wave is forecast to continue for at least a week.

Authorities have urged people to stay indoors, hydrate and avoid unnecessary travel. But laborers say they don't have a choice because they need to work to feed their families.

Pakistan is the fifth most vulnerable country to the impact of climate change. We have witnessed above normal rains, floods, Rubina Khursheed Alam, the prime ministers coordinator on climate, said at a news conference in the capital, Islamabad.

Barakullah Khan, a civil defense official, asked people not to place cooking gas cylinders in open areas as a safety measure. He warned those living near fields that snakes and scorpions could enter homes and storage places in search of cooler spaces.

This month, temperatures are likely to soar to 55 C (131 F), weather forecasters said.

Doctors say they treated hundreds of patients in the eastern city of Lahore, while scores of people were brought to hospitals in Hyderabad, Larkana and Jacobabad districts in the southern Sindh province.

The situation has been getting worse since yesterday, when people affected by heat started coming to hospitals in the Punjab province, said Ghulam Farid, a senior health official. Pakistan has set up emergency response centers at hospitals to treat patients affected by the heat.

The state-run ambulance service is now carrying bottled water and ice to provide emergency treatment to victims of the heat, health officials said.

The United Nations childrens agency appealed for children to be protected from the heat.

UNICEF is deeply concerned about the health and safety of babies and young children as debilitating heatwave conditions take hold in several countries, said Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF regional director for South Asia. He said the increasing temperatures across the region could put millions of childrens health at risk if they are not protected and hydrated.

Heatstroke is a serious illness that occurs when ones body temperature rises too quickly, causing some to fall unconscious. Severe heatstroke can cause disability or death.

This year, Pakistan recorded its wettest April since 1961, with more than double the usual monthly rainfall. Last months heavy rains killed scores of people while destroying property and farmland.

Daytime temperatures are soaring as much as 8 degrees Celsius (46 degrees Fahrenheit) above Mays average temperatures over the last 20 years, raising fears of flooding in the northwest because of glacial melting.

The 2022 floods caused extensive damage in Sindh and Baluchistan provinces, as 1,739 people were killed across the country.

Pakistan's southwest and northwestern areas are also experiencing the heatwave.

Authorities have shut schools for a week in Punjab.

On Thursday, nongovernmental organization Save the Children said more than half of Pakistans school-age children  about 26 million  will be locked out of classrooms for a week due to the heat wave. In a statement, it said the closure of the schools in Punjab means 52% of the countrys students will be out of school.

In the city of Lahore people were seen swimming in roadside canals. Pakistan says despite contributing less than 1% to carbon emissions, it is bearing the brunt of global climate disasters.

Alam said recent erratic changes in weather patterns were the result of human-made climate change.

___

Associated Press writer Babar Dogar contributed to this story from Lahore, Pakistan.

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Follow APs climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
'What does it tell a student?': Jackson-Madison Co. superintendent opposes arming teachers

Jackson-Madison County Superintendent Dr. Marlon King speaks with Jackson Sun reporter Sarah Best concerning his opinions on a recent bill allowing Tennessee teachers to posses firearms inside the JMCSS Office in Jackson, Tenn., on Monday, May 5, 2024.

Allowing teachers and staff to carry a concealed handgun in schools, Senate Bill 1325, was met with swift opposition from the superintendent of Jackson-Madison County School System on the same day it was signed by Gov. Bill Lee.

Originally introduced in January 2023, the bill permits faculty and staff to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds after extensive training and eligibility process.

Amending present rules prohibiting firearm possession on a school campus, Lee signed the measure on April 26.

JMCSS Superintendent Dr. Marlon King released a formal statement concerning the legislation later that day, among the first to voice opposition. Other districts like Metro-Nashville Public Schools and Memphis-Shelby County Schools have also opposed the legislative effort.

"With our school system being the second largest school system in West Tennessee, I think that we do have people that respect the work that we do, and when you have that level of respect, I think in my role, is influential," King said.

"I think in this role, there's a level of responsibility that I much have, and I think by putting it out there that I'm being very responsible for our system but also for the citizens of West Tennessee and Tennessee in general."

More: County commission approves funds for increased JMCSS security, hospital debt resolution

More: Jackson-Madison County superintendent highlights district strengths, challenges at Rotary

More: Jackson-Madison County school board passes anti-voucher resolution, central office move

In the weeks leading up to its signing, controversy surrounding the legislation brewed. King says he was inundated with emails and calls from concerned parents about what it would mean for their children.

SB 1325 aims to make exceptions for faculty and staff employed by a Local Education Agency (LEA) to carry a concealed handgun. It removes previous requirements like prior law enforcement experience.

Jackson-Madison County Superintendent Dr. Marlon King speaks with Jackson Sun reporter Sarah Best concerning his opinions on a recent bill allowing Tennessee teachers to posses firearms inside the JMCSS Office in Jackson, Tenn., on Monday, May 5, 2024.

Stipulations for an individual wanting to carry include complying with a psychiatric evaluation, fingerprinting and background checks, 40 hours of basic training in school policing, and 40 subsequent hours of training approved by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), the entity responsible for upholding local law enforcement standards.

"Arming teachers, what does it tell a student? That this is the first conflict resolution that we use? That we're going to shoot you? Or do we work through plans and figure out how do we put a plan in place to make sure that we have the best environment and the safest environment," King said.

King will not sign agreement

A component of the bill mandates a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between local law enforcement, the school principal, and the school district.

Trusting both the existing safety measures and the school district's partnership with the Jackson Police Department and Madison County Sheriff's Office, King said he would not sign it.

"By working hand in hand with our local law enforcement  Sheriff Wiser and Chief Corley, we can ensure a swift and effective response to any potential threats, while maintaining the sanctity of our educational environment," he wrote in the April 26 statement.

Jackson Police Chief Thom Corley echoed King's sentiment of wanting to preserve safety in schools.

"The Jackson Police Department has a strong partnership with the Jackson-Madison County School System, and we share Dr. King's desire to maintain a safe and secure environment for students, faculty and staff. Our officers train and work closely with the System's security specialists and the School Resource Officers from the Madison County Sheriff's Office," Corley said.

"We stand ready to continue in these efforts and to provide our resources and support to the mission of school safety in Jackson."

"If we lean in on the fact that we're considering to arm our teachers, then what does that say about the current memorandum of understanding that we put in place to say that we're going to keep schools safe," King said.

Jackson-Madison County Superintendent Dr. Marlon King speaks with Jackson Sun reporter Sarah Best concerning his opinions on a recent bill allowing Tennessee teachers to posses firearms inside the JMCSS Office in Jackson, Tenn., on Monday, May 5, 2024.

Existing safety measures

Mentioned in his statement, was the effort by the Madison County Commission last year in October to approve funding for School Resource Officers in schools.

Despite nationwide hiring shortages in law enforcement, a concerted effort to secure additional SROs is ongoing.

JMCSS currently has 19 SROs across its 25 schools. Every high school has an SRO, while some middle and elementary schools share.

Different than SROs in that they are unarmed, JMCSS also employs security-guard-like individuals called Safety Specialists at every high school. Safety Specialists are hired by the school system, whereas the sheriff's department is responsible for hiring the SROs.

King noted Safety Specialists are more likely to become armed before teachers do but seldom see even that as a possibility.

"With that set-up, we feel very comfortable and feel very sure that the safety proposal and safety plan we have in place is the right plan for our current system," he said.

While safety specialists are exclusive to high schools, the district also has a contract with the security guard service Maxxguard at middle schools and elementary schools.

The SROs, Safety Specialists, and Maxxguard contract create a three-fold approach to protecting students and staff.

When asked by the Jackson Sun, the sheriff's department did not state whether or not Sheriff Julian Wiser would approve or disapprove arming teachers.

King says that before releasing his statement, he communicated with Wiser, who he said agreed that the current memorandum of understanding is strong.

"We have saturated the system with the level of safety support that we feel that we need," King said.

Sarah Best is a reporter for The Jackson Sun. To support local journalism, subscribe to the Daily Briefing here.

"

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Jackson-Madison Co. superintendent voices opposition, arming teachers
Donald Trump to hold campaign rally in the Bronx

Donald Trump to hold campaign rally in the Bronx

THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11)  Former President Donald Trump will hold a rally in New York City Thursday as he continues his presidential campaign.

It will be Trumps first campaign event in New York since 2016. The rally will be held around 6 p.m. in Crotona Park in the Bronx, a borough where Trump lost to President Joe Biden by 78 points.

More Bronx News

The event has a permit for a crowd of 3,500, according to the NYPD. Trumps criminal trial in Lower Manhattan is not in session Thursday.

Trump held a rally on May 11 down the Jersey Shore.

Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com.

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 PIX11.
Donald Trump Labeled A 'Coward' For His Reasons For Not Testifying At Hush Money Trial

Donald Trump is facing criticism for avoiding testifying in his hush money trial after he initially hinted at plans to do so.

Several individuals have slammed his reasons for not testifying, one of which he claimed was the rulings made by the presiding judge.

They claimed that the former president only wanted to avoid perjuring himself on the stand if he was questioned about shady deals he had made in the past.

Donald Trump Gets Called Out Over Reason Why He Refused To Testify

MEGA

Trump's hush money trial is slowly nearing its conclusion, following the defense and prosecution resting their case earlier in the week.

While several individuals, including former associates of the former president, testified in the preceding weeks, Trump himself opted out of taking to the stand despite earlier making claims that he was willing to do so.

More recently, he gave reasons why he changed his stance, blaming it on the rulings made by Judge Juan Merchan. However, this has drawn criticism from several social media users, with many claiming that Trump did not want his past lies brought up.

Trump is asked on WABC why he didn't testify in the NY criminal trial and responds with a bunch of incoherent gibberish. He then falsely claims the decision against him in the NY civil fraud case before Judge Engoron was overturned (it was not). pic.twitter.com/capx0JGby4  MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) May 22, 2024

One user countered, "There literally was no ruling that would have prevented him from getting on the stand and telling the truth. Now, perjury, which is standard in all court cases, was the reason he didn't testify. He lies like he drinks Coke."

A second person commented, "He literally just admitted to not testifying because the prosecution would bring up his previous lies and use them against him, lol."

Another person wrote, "So... Basically, Trump didn't testify because there's stuff in his past he doesn't want them to bring up. There's probably truth in his thinking. He's a criminal with lots to hide."

The Former President Was Called A 'Coward' For His Reasons

Trump: I didn't testify because I'm a spineless coward. Also, l'm guilty as sin!#LockHimUpAlready pic.twitter.com/ly8yXtd9X7  Voice of Reason (@raggapegs) May 23, 2024

Trump spoke about why he refused to testify during an interview with WABC Radio in New York.

"He made rulings that makes it very difficult to testify," Trump said of Merchan, per The Hill. "Anything I did, anything I did in the past they can bring everything up. And you know what, I've had a great past."

The billionaire mogul reiterated a stance predating his trial as another reason for his decision to abstain from testifying.

"The other reason is because they have no case," the former president added. "In other words, why testify when they have no case  There's no crime  so when you say, 'Why not testify,' they have no case, other than it's a corrupt system."

Trump didnt testify because hes a coward and he doesnt need to as his followers all believe his BS anyway. Its the same reason he wont debate.  NoelCaslerComedy? (@caslernoel) May 21, 2024

Social media users also blasted Trump on this claim, as many questioned his ability to speak coherently.

A user remarked, "Trump is unable to speak in complete sentences. He is an incoherent mess," while another added, "No idea what he said. Went about 20 different directions."

Popular podcast host Noel Caster claimed, "Trump didn't testify because he's a coward, and he doesn't need to as his followers all believe his BS anyway. It's the same reason he won't debate."

"Plenty of legal reasons why Trump isn't testifying. There are pathological reasons too, which add to the risk of him perjuring himself. But there's a simpler reason underlying all. He's a coward. He spends enormous effort to feign otherwise. Cowards don't like to testify," an account on X noted.

Jury Set To Deliberate In Donald Trump's Hush Money Trial

MEGA

Next up on the agenda for Trump's hush money trial is the pivotal phase of jury deliberations, scheduled to commence in the forthcoming week.

The 12-man team, made up of seven men and five women, is required to reach a unanimous decision to determine Trump's guilt or acquittal on 34 counts of falsifying business records with intent to commit another crime filed against him by the prosecution.

Typically, there's no set limit on jury deliberations, but a decision is generally expected within a week of deliberations commencing.

When the jury fails to reach a unanimous decision and is not open to further reviewing the case, it's deemed a "hung jury," necessitating the judge to declare a mistrial.

Following a mistrial declaration, the prosecution may opt to retry Trump or decide against pursuing another trial, effectively dismissing the charges.

The Billionaire Mogul Faces Possible Jail Term If Convicted

MEGA

Legal experts suggest that if Trump is ultimately convicted, he could potentially face more than a decade behind bars. The charges against him are class E felony offenses, each carrying a maximum sentence of four years.

Theoretically, this could amount to a staggering 136 years of imprisonment, though New York law imposes a 20-year sentencing cap for such offenses; additionally, whether the sentences run concurrently or consecutively would be at the discretion of the judge overseeing the case.

Given Trump's status as a first-time offender, a considerably lighter sentence may be handed down. Furthermore, the former president is anticipated to appeal any such decision, prolonging the legal battle, just like he has in many of his prior cases.

If the initial appeal fails, he would take the case to the Appellate Division in Manhattan and ultimately to the state's highest court, the Court of Appeals in Albany.

The Former President Was Recently Forced To Take Down A Controversial Post About A 'Unified Reich'

MEGA

The billionaire mogul was recently slammed after he posted a video on his Truth Social that seemingly had a Nazi-centered narrative.

The video had several shocking headlines from mocked-up newspapers predicting a future of Trump winning the upcoming presidential elections later this year. One stood out for its remark, which read, "Industrial strength significantly increased, driven by the creation of a unified Reich."

Social media users were quick to point out that the "Unified Reich" phrase mirrored Hitler's Nazi Germany and should not be associated with a presidential candidate.

After hours of being slammed online, the 30-second clip was removed from Trump's page.

While he has yet to comment on the issue personally, his campaign secretary, Karoline Leavitt, claimed that the video was "not a campaign video," contrary to what many online have claimed it to be.

"It was created by a random account online and reposted by a staffer who clearly did not see the word while the President was in court," Leavitt said in a statement to AP News.
NEW YORK (AP)  Former President Donald Trump will campaign in one of the most Democratic counties in the nation Thursday, holding a rally in the South Bronx to woo minority voters days before a Manhattan jury will begin deliberations on whether to convict him of felony charges in his criminal hush money trial.

Trump will address supporters in Crotona Park, a public green space in a borough that is among the citys most diverse and its most impoverished, a change from the majority-white areas where he holds most of his rallies. His campaign said he is expected to draw a crowd of several thousand people.

With Trump confined to New York for the last six weeks, the presumptive Republican nominees campaign planned a series of local stops across his hometown before and after court. He visited a bodega in Harlem, dropped by a construction site one morning, and held a photo op at a local firehouse.

The Bronx rally will be Trumps first event open to the general public as he insists he is making a play to win an overwhelmingly Democratic state that hasnt backed a Republican for president since Ronald Reagan in 1984. Besides creating a spectacle of rallygoers and protesters, the rally also allows Trump to highlight what he argues are advantages on economic and immigration issues that could cut into key Democratic voting blocs.

The strategy is to demonstrate to the voters of the Bronx and New York that this isnt your typical presidential election, that Donald Trump is here to represent everybody and get our country back on track, said Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, a potential Trump running mate who grew up in Brooklyn and will join him at the rally.

The Bronx Democratic Party is planning to protest Trumps appearance with its own event at the park.

Trump isnt welcome in the Bronx, they wrote in a social media advertisement.

Trumps campaign believes he can chip away at President Joe Bidens support among Black and Hispanic voters, particularly younger men who may not follow politics closely, but are frustrated by their economic situations and drawn to Trumps tough-guy persona.

Hes also argued the indictments he faces in New York and elsewhere make him relatable to Black voters frustrated by the criminal justice system, a statement that was harshly criticized by Bidens allies.

The rally comes during a pause in Trumps criminal hush money trial. Court will resume following the Memorial Day weekend with closing arguments. The jury will then decide whether Trump will become the first former president in the nations history to be criminally convicted and whether he will be the first major party presidential candidate to run as a convicted felon.

Several longtime figures in New York politics  both Republican and Democrat  argued theres good reason for Trump to go to the Bronx and other majority Black and Latino communities.

Ed Cox, chairman of the New York Republican Party, noted that the GOP, in an upset victory, picked up a city council seat from the borough last year for the first time in 40 years. He pointed to the current political climate, with some voters pessimistic about the economy and viewing Biden as weakened.

As chairman of the party here in New York, Im not going to write off New York. Were going to go for it, he said.

Trump has often pointed to the success of former Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Republican who ran for governor in 2022 against Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul. Zeldin ultimately lost the race by an unusually close margin.

During his campaign, Zeldin appeared in the Bronx alongside the Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr., a former state senator and city council member who had urged Trump to hold a rally in the borough and held a pro-Trump event there Saturday.

While other presidential candidates have visited and met with local leaders, Diaz commended Trump for being the first and only president or presidential candidate who has shown respect to minority communities in the Bronx by holding a rally.

Diaz, who remains a Democrat despite backing Trump, said he believes there are others in the borough who will also cross the aisle, pointing to concerns over an influx of migrants that has dominated headlines in New York over budget and safety concerns.

People are fed up, he said. Democrats say they are there to help us  but our people are doing worse under the Democratic control.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that campaigning in that part of the city makes sense for Trump.

There is a concentration of Latino ministers who are pro-life in the Bronx and they are mobilized and energized, said Cuomo, who chose to appear with Diaz in 2022 as he floated a political comeback months after the Democrat resigned after being accused of sexual harassment by at least 11 women.

Cuomo, who has denied the allegations, said: Its not really indicative of New York, but there is a lot of energy on that issue in that part of the Bronx.

The Bronx was once the most Democratic borough in the city. Barack Obama won 91.2% of the boroughs vote in 2012, the highest anywhere in the state. Biden won 83.5% of the borough in 2020. Trump garnered only 16% of the vote.

The area Trump will be visiting is overwhelmingly non-white  a departure from most of his rally locations. About 65% of residents are Hispanic and 31% Black, according to U.S. Census data. About 35% live below the poverty line.

Trump will not be the first Republican presidential candidate to visit the borough. Ronald Reagan held an event in the South Bronx as he ran against Democratic President Jimmy Carter in 1980, delivering a speech at a vacant lot on Charlotte Street. Reagan, according to a New York Times report from the time, likened the area to London in World War II after the German blitz and accused Carter of failing to deliver on promised revitalization efforts. Carter had visited the same spot several years earlier, vowing improvements.

Reagans visit was interrupted by protesters, who chanted, You aint going to do nothing, and Go back to California.

Adam Solis, the chairman of the Black Caucus of the New York Young Republican Club, which helped Trumps campaign organize the event, said the visit to a park where he played growing up shows Trump cares about what he dubbed the forgotten borough.

You can imagine being a Trump supporter in the Bronx. You can get ostracized sometimes, said Solis, who still lives in the borough.

He also called on any protesters who might choose to demonstrate to remain peaceful.

I wish any protesters the best. I hope they have fun sharing their views, he said. But I just hope they tread lightly. Because disrespect is not accepted in the Bronx.

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 PIX11.
Driver accused of DUI in Aurora crash that killed woman

DENVER (KDVR)  A driver is accused of DUI and vehicular homicide after a Monday crash in Aurora that led to a womans death.

James Cooke, 45, of Aurora, was arrested after the crash, and the woman died from her injuries early Wednesday, according to the Aurora Police Department.

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The crash happened just before 4 p.m. Monday on East Smoky Hill Road and South Riviera Way. Police said Cooke drove a 1999 Ford F-150 pickup truck off Smoky Hill and crashed into a tree.

A 46-year-old woman in the truck was ejected and hospitalized until her death on Wednesday, according to police. The Arapahoe County coroner will release the womans identification.

Court records show Cooke is due in court on Tuesday for a filing of charges hearing. Information on whether Cooke had obtained an attorney was not immediately available.

Police said this was the 19th traffic-related death this year in Aurora.

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 FOX31 Denver.
Driver killed, another injured after being hit by car on Texas 360 in Fort Worth

Authorities are investigating a car crash that killed one driver and injured another early Thursday morning, Fort Worth police announced in a news release.

At around 6:15 a.m. Thursday, police responded to a major accident near northbound Texas 360 at Trinity Boulevard in far east Fort Worth.

The initial call reported a two-vehicle accident, police say. The drivers of both vehicles got out of their cars and were both hit by an oncoming vehicle, according to the release.

One of the drivers that was hit was pronounced dead at the scene and the other victim was taken to a local hospital in unknown condition.

The driver of the oncoming vehicle remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation, police say.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner will release the identity of the deceased once the next of kin has been notified.

The Fort Worth Police Department Traffic Investigation Unit is working the case.
A US Navy carrier drone in sea trials. The US is taking the approach of integrating drones into the mostly manned air wings of conventional carriers - Timothy Walter/Navy Media Content Service

China has secretly built an aircraft carrier for drones. The approximately 500-foot vessel appears in recent satellite photos of an obscure shipyard on the Yangtze River outside Shanghai.

Its not the first big-deck warship designed to launch and recover unmanned aerial vehicles. Turkey commissioned an assault ship designed for a drone air wing last year. And, around the same time, Iran began modifying a tanker ship into a drone carrier.

But by placing third in the race to send aerial drones to sea aboard their own flattop, China still comes in way ahead of the United States and other Western powers when it comes to developing a whole new type of warship. Western fleets are focusing on integrating drones with existing carriers that primarily operate manned aircraft.

Britain has also carried out trials of drones with conventional aircraft carriers - PO Phot JJ Massey/Royal Navy

Which approach is best remains to be seen. But its notable that the Turks, Iranians and Chinese are the ones really testing a new naval concept, for better or worse. If drone carriers prove functional and efficient, Turkey, Iran and China could be the first to deploy them on a meaningful scale. Other countries, if they choose to copy the concept, would be playing catch-up.

It speaks to the sheer scale of Chinese naval shipbuilding that foreign media didnt notice the new drone carrier until nearly two years after the vessel apparently began construction. The overhead imagery points to a vessel thats roughly as long as a World War II escort carrier but wider, with space on its deck for potentially scores of fixed-wing drones  or many hundreds of small quadcopter drones.

Any ship with a big flat deck can launch and recover drones; what will likely make or break these new drone carriers is whats invisible from the outside: the control systems. Even with the advent of highly-capable artificial intelligence for drone navigation, most drones still need help  from human operators sitting behind banks of radios  launching and landing and firing weapons.

Turkish warship TCG Anadolu. Classed by Turkey as a 'Multi-purpose amphibious assault ship', the Anadolu can carry various types of manned helicopter and/or fixed-wing drones such as the Bayraktar TB3 or the jet-powered, stealthy Bayraktar Kizilelma - Turkish Defence Industry Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty

Plus, drones are capable of piping back to their bases  on land or at sea  vast volumes of video and other data that require intensive analysis, usually by human experts. Its not for no reason that, in developing its own carrier-launched drone  the stealthy MQ-25  the US Navy devoted as much effort to the drones controls and communications as it did to the airframe.

If the Turkish, Iranian and Chinese navies can solve the control problem, they could be the first to wage war at sea with robotic air wings. The advantages of drones over manned planes are, by now, well-established: theyre relatively inexpensive and thus deployable in large numbers  and disposable.

Lose a drone  or a hundred drones  in combat, and the cost is strictly monetary. There are no bodies to recover, no skilled pilots to replace and fewer political ramifications than would result from losing a manned plane and its crew.

But dont assume, as the Turks, Iranians and Chinese tinker with their new drone carriers, that these experiments will all prove that drone carriers actually work  and are worth it. Its possible to imagine what could go wrong.

The crews could struggle to operate delicate drones in salt spray, bad weather and roiling seas. They could fail to maintain a sortie rate that justifies the cost of building a drone-only carrier. It might be difficult to deconflict the radio channels as more and more drones take flight from the same vessel. Lacking high-performance fighter aircraft for protection, the carriers themselves might prove too vulnerable for intensive combat.

Its worth remembering that the US Navy chose to integrate its new drones with its existing manned carrier planes in combined manned-unmanned air wings rather than develop a new ship class exclusively for drone operations.

The US fleets dozen big supercarriers are stable platforms in all weather conditions. Theyre already capable of launching hundreds of sorties per day, day after day. Their elaborate communications suites already possess massive bandwidth. And sailing with scores of supersonic fighters, theyre among the best-protected warships in history.

It may be that, at the end of this era of drone experimentation, the Turkish, Iranian and Chinese navies concede the US Navy was right all along  and drones shouldnt have their own carriers.

Of course, its also possible the Turks, Iranians and Chinese discover drones should have their own carriers. If so, theyll already have drone carriers in the water; the Americans and their Western allies will have to build them from scratch.
Before coming to the state of Maryland, where he resides, Jorge Velazquez used to vote in Puerto Rico, his birthplace. Since leaving there more than a decade ago, he has not done so again. The 33-year-old works in a barbershop in Takoma Park and wont exercise his right to vote in November either. Im not voting because I dont think either candidate favors me. Biden is not known for working for Latinos and Trump is anti-immigrant, he says. His wife is Salvadoran and has been in the process of regularization for a year, but he knows that there are compatriots who have been waiting for more than a decade to have their papers in order. He does not expect the process to move forward, whoever the winner is. Velazquez lives with his back to politics and there is no message that will make him change his mind.

A mural encouraging voting with the slogan Vote like your life depends on it, in Michigan, February 27, 2024. Getty Images

Velazquezs case is not isolated. There is a high rate of abstention among Latinos, especially among young people. Every 30 seconds a Latino turns 18, the legal voting age, and in what is expected to be a very close election they could prove a determining factor in who occupies the White House. More than 36 million Hispanics will be eligible to vote in November, four million more than in 2020. U.S. election law requires all voters to be registered and that is where the first stumbling block appears. While 72% of all voters registered to vote in 2020, only 61% of Latinos did so, according to census data.

Bonard Molina Garcia, a 44-year-old lawyer who lives in the Washington metropolitan area, senses disenchantment among young people. They need to vote, but they are disillusioned, disconnected from politics. They are potential votes, but they dont understand the importance of voting, says Molina, a Mexican-born U.S. citizen. His son Lucas, 19, has already registered and will vote for the first time this year.

Several organizations are dedicated to promoting voting among Latinos. With home visits, advertisements in the media, social networks, or booths in meeting places, they inform them, often in Spanish, how to register and what their rights are. We make them understand that those communities that have high voting rates are the ones that have better resources, better schools, hospitals. We also try to break one of the myths they may have from their countries of origin, where they think that the electoral process does not impact their lives, says Frankie Miranda, president of the Hispanic Federation. They scored a victory this year when a federal judge blocked a Florida law that fined non-citizens $50,000 for registering others to vote. Many of the volunteers they work with only have green cards and the law would have had a negative impact on Latino registration.

The controversial identification

Lack of information and distrust of authorities in a system that has historically looked down on minorities discourages Hispanics from registering. They dont want to give information because they are afraid it will become public and hurt them, notes Ameer Patel, program director of Voto Latino, an organization focused on encouraging young people to vote that aims to register half a million Hispanics before November.

Democratic campaign workers communicate with voters from their campaign headquarters in Wisconsin on April 25, 2024. Wisconsin Democrats use phone banking as a strategy to contact voters to inform them about upcoming political events or to educate and persuade voters about a particular candidate. Getty Images

The registration process is usually simple: fill out a form with first name, last name, and address. It can be done online, by mail, or in person. But the rules are different in each state, and in some the complication comes when a photo ID is required, which is mandatory in 21 states, including Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and North Carolina. In the latter, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has taken the law imposing this requirement to court on the grounds that it was implemented with discriminatory intent against African-Americans and Latinos, as they are twice as likely to lack it as non-Hispanic whites.

One of the most common forms of photo identification is a drivers license, but many dont have it, especially if they live in urban areas, because they dont have a car, notes Angelica Razo, director of Latino voting programs and campaigns for Mi Familia en Accion. Another form of identification is a passport, but not everyone has one, because it also requires an expense, she adds. Texas is another state where photo ID is required and one where there is a higher concentration of Latinos: 32% of all voters. In the southern state, a student ID card is not valid for registration, but a firearms license is.

Proponents justify the ID requirement because it minimizes voter fraud. Voting without ID damages the electoral system, says Daniel Garza, president of the Libre Institute. In his opinion, those who advocate the opposite demonize Republicans by saying they want to suppress the Latino vote, but thats a lie.

His organization is part of the Vota Conmigo campaign, launched this month by the Spanish-language network Univision to promote Latino electoral participation, and which has been joined by several entities with opposing political positions. Its not about politics, its about empowering the Latino voice, says Teri Arvesu, head of the campaign. Ricky Martin, Luis Fonsi, and Roselyn Sanchez participated in previous ads and the network is in the process of recruiting other celebrities.

Another obstacle in some states is the impossibility of voting by mail. Many Latinos cannot leave their jobs to stand in long lines to exercise their right to vote. Celia Salmeron, a 54-year-old Salvadoran who works as a hairdresser on the outskirts of the District of Columbia, did not vote in the last election. She has been in the United States for 41 years and has been a citizen for 20. I never had time to go. Its easier if they mail it. You dont have to wait in line so long, she says. Latino organizations complain that in areas where minorities live, there are fewer places to vote and the lines can be several hours long. As a result, laws such as the one in Georgia that prohibits offering water or food to those waiting their turn to vote have proven very controversial. In eight states, including California and Nevada  where 33% and 22% of voters are Latino, respectively , the ballot is received by mail without the need to request it.

Flavia Rodriguez in her cosmetics and nutrition store in Maryland. Patricia Caro

But for participation among Latinos to improve, in addition to overcoming logistical hurdles, they need to feel they are part of society. Flavia Rodriguez, Mexican by birth, runs a cosmetics and nutrition business in Maryland. Although she has lived in the United States for 29 of her 51 years, she denounces the discrimination her family has suffered. She assures that the treatment worsened during Donald Trumps presidency and that her daughters suffered at school for having Hispanic surnames. In the library classmates would ask them if they worked in cleaning, she recalls. Although she claims to have voted for Joe Biden in 2020, she believes that it is not in the Latino culture to make her vote count: We feel it is not important, thats why we dont vote. Also because we dont know what is going on, we are focused on surviving.
Officers who turned up to assist with the unfolding mass shooting incident in Lewiston, Maine, allegedly smelled of alcohol and almost crashed their armored vehicle into other emergency responders, according to a damning incident report.

The scene was described as utter chaos with some officers arriving in civilian clothes from a funeral, running the risk of being mistaken for the gunman, according to the after action report from the Portland Police Department.

Eighteen people were left dead and 13 more were injured after 40-year-old Robert Card, a Sgt 1st class in the Army Reserve, went on a rampage in the town last October. His body was later found close to the scene after a 48-hour manhunt.

The incident, which took place in several locations including a bowling alley and a local bar and grill restaurant was the states deadliest ever shooting.

A new report, obtained by the Associated Press, described how officers rushed to secure the scene following initial reports of the attack. Tactical team leader Nicholas Goodman said in the report that the officers who showed up without any orders risked doing more harm than good.

In a new report, the scene in Lewiston, Maine, was described as utter chaos with some officials arriving in civilian clothes from a funeral (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Mr Goodman said that a second tactical team that was also responding to the incident, and traveling from Cumberland County, nearly crashed their vehicle into his.

It locked up its brakes and came to an abrupt halt with the tires making a noise a large 18-wheeler makes when it stops abruptly while carrying a copious amount of weight, he wrote. Id estimate the armored car came within 20-30 feet of striking our armored car and most likely killing a number of us.

Mr Goodman added that the aroma of intoxicants was wafting from the armored vehicle. Its occupants later told him they had come to the scene from a funeral.

Eighteen people were left dead and 13 more were injured after 40-year-old Robert Card, a Sgt 1st class in the Army Reserve, went on a rampage in the town (Lewiston Police Department)

Tactical vehicles used by the Cumberland Sheriffs Office and Portland police apparently were not aware of each others presence, the nine-page report added.

In addition, it suggested a number of self-dispatching officers had arrived to help in plain clothes  similar clothing to the suspect  had created a dangerous situation in which officers could have exchanged fire with each other in the dark wooded area.

I have never seen the amount of self-dispatching, federal involvement with plain clothes and utter chaos with self-dispatching in my career, Mr Goodman wrote in the report.

Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said in an earlier statement that an internal investigation had cleared his officers and that no one was determined to be intoxicated at the scene. He said any report of intoxicated officers should have been raised at the time, not six months afterwards.

Community members look at a memorial outside Schemengees Bar & Grille about one week after a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Daniel Wathen, the chairperson of an independent commission investigating the shooting, said the allegations included in the report were disturbing and that some, including those of intoxicated officers, were outside the scope of the panel.

The commission previously heard testimony from law enforcement officials about the chaotic hours after the shooting in which agencies mobilized for a search and police officers poured into the region.

The panel is set to reconvene on Friday to hear about communications and coordination problems from witnesses.

The Associated Press contributed to his report.
DENVER (KDVR)  Pro-Palestinian protesters met with University of Denver school officials for three and a half hours on Wednesday, organizers said, with the meeting coming a day after the university gave them an ultimatum to clear out.

A spokesperson for the school also confirmed the meeting took place. A spokesperson for the protesters says the meeting went well.

Pro-Palestine protesters reject DUs deadline to clear encampment

Protesters say their demands for the school remain in support of disclosure, divestment and declaring their ties to Israel as the country continues its war against Hamas in Gaza.

An encampment with approximately three dozen protest tents remains on the campus after nearly two weeks.

Protesters with arms linked on DU campus

DU Chancellor Jeremy Haefner said Tuesday that the move to clear the encampment came as university leaders have become increasingly concerned about the safety of our campus community, including for those in the protest encampment.

DU graduation is set for June 14-15.

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 FOX31 Denver.
Action News Jax is learning more about Jacksonvilles connection to the attempted auction sale of Elvis Presleys Graceland.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

During a hearing on Wednesday in Memphis, Tennessee, a judge blocked the attempted sale of Graceland, saying, The notary has sworn that the notary did not notarize the signature of Lisa Marie Presley on the deed of trust, which brings in the question as to the authenticity of the signature and indeed the deed of trust as being a fraud.

The hearing was initially called whether a mysterious business out of Jacksonville, Florida, could auction off the estate. Naussany Investments and Private Lending LLC presented documents that alleged Elvis daughter Lisa Marie Presley borrowed $3.8 million from the company and gave a deed of trust encumbering Graceland as security. The company alleged the loan was never paid back before Presleys death.

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Actress Riley Keough, Lisa Maries daughter and Elvis granddaughter, became the owner of Graceland after her mothers death. She sued Naussany, alleging the company presented fraudulent documents.

Keough is being represented by lawyers based in both Memphis and Jacksonville. Her legal team told the court that signatures from Lisa Marie Presley on the promissory note and deed of trust were forged. They said that the documents were purportedly acknowledged before notary public Kimberly Philbrick in May 2018 in Duval County, Florida but never recorded with the Shelby County Register.

Read: Judge blocks sale of Elvis Presleys Graceland

In addition, Naussany Investments isnt listed as a registered business in Florida, Missouri or Tennessee even though it has postal addresses in Missouri and Florida.

Philbrick, a registered notary in Daytona Beach, signed an affidavit on May 8 claiming that she never met Lisa Marie Presley or notarized the documents.

Graceland remains open to the public for tours.

Read: Graceland headed for foreclosure sale, but Elvis granddaughter sues, claiming fraud

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The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled there are no grounds to believe criminal proceedings against former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili are unfair, it said in a ruling on May 23.

Saakashvili is currently serving six years in prison in Georgia after being found guilty in absentia in 2018 on charges of ordering the beating of opposition lawmaker Valery Gelashvili in 2005. He was also given a three-year sentence for abuse of power charges for pardoning four police officers convicted of murder in 2008.

Saakashvili has maintained the charges were trumped up and appealed to the ECHR in 2020, saying the former was based on testimony by two of his political foes and in the latter, that his right to pardon them was not constitutionally limited.

He also claimed there was an ulterior motive in the prosecutions which he said were designed to prohibit him from participating in Georgian politics.

In its ruling, the ECHR declared unanimously that there were no breaches of his right to a fair trial in the way the Georgian courts had dealt with the evidence against him, or in the independence or impartiality of the judge in the case of the pardoning of police officers.

The ECHR also rejected his complaints of an ulterior motive in the prosecutions.

"The authorities honest desire was to bring the applicant to justice for his wrongdoing and that, in the absence of sufficient evidence to the contrary, the allegation of an ulterior motive is unsubstantiated," it said.

The ECHR said Saakashvili had the right to appeal to the Grand Chamber of the Court to consider further examination of the case.

Saakashvili, who was the president of Georgia in 2004-2013, carried out pro-Western reforms in his native country while in office.

After the rival Georgian Dream party came to power in Georgia in 2012-2013, Saakashvili moved to Ukraine.

Then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko appointed him as head of an advisory reform council and governor of Odesa Oblast in 2015.

However, Saakashvili started exposing corruption schemes and fell out with Poroshenko. He was stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship, prosecuted, and then deported by the Ukrainian authorities in 2018 in what he believes to be an unlawful political vendetta.

In 2019 Zelensky was elected president and restored Saakashvili's Ukrainian citizenship. In 2020 Zelensky appointed the ex-Georgian president as head of Ukraine's Executive Council for Reforms.

Saakashvili returned to Georgia in 2021 in an effort to boost support for the opposition and was jailed.

Zelensky in February 2023 said he believed the "Georgian government is killing" Saakashvili after the media published photos that showed signs of his worsening health and rapid weight loss.

Saakashvili, a foe of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, has accused Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Honorary Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party who is widely seen as the power behind the throne, of persecuting him on Russian President Vladimir Putin's orders.

The ruling Georgian Dream party has sought to maintain good relations with both Russia and the European Union. The country has been rocked by popular protests in recent weeks over the passing of a controversial "foreign agents" bill, which mirrors a similar law in Russia.

Read also: Explainer: Whats behind ongoing protests in Georgia?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
It's time to raise the bar for campaigns and elections. (Elena Sunagatova | iStock | Getty Images Plus)

One of our candidates for governor appears to be betting it all on the belief that if theres one thing the people of New Hampshire can agree on its that Massachusetts is terrible.

Maybe it will prove to be a winning strategy, because who among us hasnt been stuck behind a Massachusetts driver chilling in the left lane of Interstate 89 for mile upon maddening mile. In those moments, I sometimes imagine a big, beautiful wall at New Hampshires southern border but then quickly remember how much I love Boston and the Berkshires, and all the ties my family has to the commonwealth. I also remember how ridiculous it is to believe that border walls are a good solution for anything, and so I pass on the right and silently wish my Massachusetts neighbor a pleasant visit.

I get that the candidate is probably using Massachusetts as shorthand for bastion of liberalism, but its not exactly an inspiring platform. In a way, it shows contempt for voters, as if to say: Instead of explaining in detail the ways I intend to help improve your lives and the lives of your children, instead of campaigning on ideas, lets just keep it simple and say that whatever you hate about Massachusetts I also hate that.

This country is getting killed by simplicity.

Occasionally, I drive by a house with a yard sign that says, Whoever voted for Biden owes me gas money. As far as political signs go, its fine. It makes a clear statement, with a touch of humor, and thats actually kind of nice in these powder-keg times. But I also cant help but wonder if the owner of the sign is under the impression  as I once was  that a president has a lot of control over the price of gasoline, because the truth is they dont.

I remember, years ago, being gently corrected by a colleague when I suggested during a wide-ranging debate that the George W. Bush administration was manipulating prices at the pump. Honestly, it was a life-changing bruising of the ego for me at an age where I should have known better. I still cant tell you off the top of my head how global fossil fuel markets work exactly, but I do know from that lesson that its complicated. So that was a big moment. To move from the president is to blame for the high cost of gasoline to theres a crazy number of fluctuating factors that contribute to crude oil prices is a good step. Its like taking a damp rag to a dirty window.

American politics has a lot of problems, and one of the biggest is the reductive nature of our elections.

Theres plenty of blame to go around for this sorry state of affairs. Americans have short attention spans  sorry, but we do  and journalists understand that as well as anyone. Theres also a general lack of curiosity about why things are as they are, like gas prices. So whats a candidate to do? Dryly lecture about the intricacies of housing policy and risk creating an impromptu adult nap time, or stitch together a bunch of fact-deficient one-liners interspersed with cherry-picked statistics? Its probably not that hard of a choice if youre trying to win.

But it doesnt really have to be an either/or proposition, does it? No, it doesnt.

If you decide to run for office out of a desire to truly serve the people, your first phone call for campaign advice should be to the best school teacher youve ever had or met. Who is better at reaching a diverse audience than a good teacher? Who is better at reading a room and adjusting a lesson on the fly, with humor and humility? Who is better at explaining complicated topics in a way that not only illuminates but inspires? Who is better at always treating people with respect, regardless of who they are or where they come from? Who is better at showing people, by example, why knowledge, empathy, and honesty are foundational to being a good citizen? Who is better at making us believe that we matter?

As politically divided as this nation is right now, I hope we can all see that the bar has been set much too low. The politicians are to blame for that, but we are too. We have not demanded more, and so we havent gotten it.

Thankfully, theres always an election underway. Its never too late to ask for better from our elected officials and candidates  our policy teachers for the class that never ends.

The post Editors Notebook: We asked for it, and now were getting it appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin.
Only rarely do we see boards of foundations and other mission-based entities proactively demanding answers when managers and executives do questionable things. And thats why what took place in recent months at the Cook County Health Foundation is so refreshing. It should serve as an example to directors at all levels, whether at for-profit corporations or nonprofits.

As the Chicago Tribune has reported, directors of the foundation hired a Chicago law firm to probe an initiative by Cook County Health Foundation Executive Director Sylvia Zaldivar to substantially broaden the foundations mission to administering programs of its own rather than only raising money on behalf of the Cook County Health system, as the foundation has mainly done since 2011. That long-standing mission, by the way, is important given that Cook County Health is tasked with providing care to all county residents regardless of their ability to pay.

That firm, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila, then produced a memo for the board that raised questions about conflicts of interest in the foundations hiring of a separate law firm, based in Atlanta, to help negotiate an agreement with Cook County Health to pursue the expansion. Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila also flagged the foundation staffers hiring of the law offices of Marc J. Lane, a local firm, saying there was inadequate documentation of what Marc J. Lane was doing in any effort to expand the foundations scope.

The boards intervention led the foundation to give up on the initiative, but the fallout continues. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raouls office has asked for documents going back four years, as well as more information about what Riley Safer uncovered. In so doing, the AGs office cited allegations involving serious governance issues. Zaldivar, after initially asserting that Riley Safers memo contained unspecified inaccuracies, no longer is commenting on the matter.

Many board members clearly remain unsettled. Bill Quinlan, an attorney who was among the directors who pushed for the hiring of Riley Safer, told the Tribune he was concerned about how quickly the project was moving. We were taking on, conceptually, all this responsibility when we didnt seem to have infrastructure in place and we hadnt discussed it, he said.

Several directors, he added, are very concerned. Theyre giving their reputations, their name, their efforts, and in many cases, their money, and they want to make sure its used in the best method, no one can claim were using money improperly.

Exactly. That is how everyone who takes on the critical role of overseeing an institutions management by sitting on a board should think and behave. In addition to the welfare and health of that organization, what is at stake when things go off the rails is the reputation of each board member. When directors take a hands-off approach or look the other way because they dont want to make waves or due to personal relationships, they often unwittingly put their hard-won reputations at risk.

This is a board that has done precisely the opposite. By acting as engaged caretakers for the institution, these directors only have burnished their reputations. Board Chairman Joseph Flanagan, who is CEO of Evanston-based business-to-business sales outsourcer Acquirent and a veteran of Chicagos business scene, told the Tribune in April that the foundations directors take corporate governance matters very seriously.  We have never lost sight of the people we serve, and we never will.

The continued investigation of the foundation may or may not turn up more serious issues than whats surfaced so far. Regardless, this board has set an exemplary standard. Effective corporate governance works just like it has here  asking questions before its too late, refusing to accept vague assurances, acting with decisiveness when actions dont pass the smell test.

Thanks to the boards due diligence, donors to the Cook County Health Foundation should feel much more confident their contributions are doing what theyre supposed to be doing.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt remains committed to helping negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza despite doubts about its mediation role, and it is in touch with Israel about setting dates for new talks, two Egyptian security sources said on Thursday.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been attempting over months of stop-start talks to strike a phased agreement between Israel and Hamas that would lead to truce in Gaza and the gradual release of Israeli hostages held in the territory.

On Wednesday, Egypt indicated it might withdraw from its role as a mediator amid tensions related to the stalling of previous talks and Israel's military advance in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Egyptian mediators received calls from Israeli security officials on Wednesday and Thursday in which the Israelis thanked Egypt for its role, the Egyptian sources said.

During the calls, the Egyptians stated their desire to conclude the Gaza negotiations and agreed to set a date for talks.

After a late-night war cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement: "The war cabinet has instructed the negotiation team to continue negotiations to return the hostages."

Israel's offensive in Rafah and its decision to take operational control of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula have angered Egypt, which is nervous about any mass displacement of Palestinians due to the war.

The U.S. has called on Egypt to facilitate a resumption of aid deliveries through the Rafah crossing but Egypt says it wants the Gaza side of the crossing to be restored to Palestinian control for aid flows to restart.

(Reporting by Ahmed Mohamed Hassan and Maayan Lubell; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Philippa Fletcher)
The entrance to the Alaska Gasline Development Corp.'s Anchorage office is seen on Aug. 11, 2023. The state-owned AGDC is pushing for a massive project that would ship natural gas south from the North Slope, liquefy it and send in on tankers from Cook Inlet to Asian markets. The AGDC proposal is among many that have been raised since the 1970s to try commercialize the North Slope's stranded natural gas. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

The entrance to the Alaska Gasline Development Corp.'s Anchorage office is seen on Aug. 11, 2023. The state-owned AGDC is pushing for a massive project that would ship natural gas south from the North Slope, liquefy it and send it on tankers from Cook Inlet to Asian markets. The AGDC proposal is among many that have been raised since the 1970s to try commercialize the North Slope's stranded natural gas. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

A group of young Alaskans, backed by an out-of-state nonprofit legal firm, is suing the state of Alaska and the state-owned Alaska Gasline Development Corp. in an attempt to block construction of the corporations long-planned trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline.

In a complaint filed Wednesday in Anchorage Superior Court, the eight plaintiffs argue that the corporations founding laws are unconstitutional because the gas pipeline would result in so much climate-altering greenhouse gas that it would endanger their constitutionally guaranteed ability to access Alaskas fish, wildlife and other natural resources.

The plaintiffs, who range in age from 11 to 22, are being supported by Our Childrens Trust, a nonprofit that has supported climate-related lawsuits in state and federal courts across the country.

The decision in the prior case was 3-2 against the plaintiffs, and two of the judges who ruled in favor of the state have since retired.

Two years ago, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled against plaintiffs in a broader but similar lawsuit supported by the group. That suit, filed by 16 youth plaintiffs, argued that the states policy on fossil fuels violates their constitutional rights. Some of the plaintiffs in that case are parties to the new one.

The decision in the prior case was 3-2 against the plaintiffs, and two of the judges who ruled in favor of the state have since retired.

Last year, the Montana Supreme Court ruled in favor of youth plaintiffs in a similar lawsuit filed in that state.

In the new Alaska lawsuit, plaintiffs contend that the Alaska Constitution contains an implicit right to a livable climate. That issue was raised as a hypothetical in 2022 by the two Alaska Supreme Court justices who dissented from the prior climate lawsuit.

The right to a climate system that sustains human life, liberty, and dignity is both necessary for and foundational to the explicitly enumerated rights reserved by the Alaska Constitution, the lawsuit says in part. Without a climate system that sustains human life, liberty, and dignity, Youth Plaintiffs cannot grow to adulthood in safety, live long healthy lives, provide for their basic human needs, safely raise families, learn and practice their religious and spiritual beliefs, learn and transmit their cultural traditions and practices, maintain their personal security and bodily integrity, or lead lives with sufficient access to clean air, water, shelter, and food.

Tim Fitzpatrick, a spokesperson for AGDC, said by email that the corporation will review the claim and respond accordingly.

AGDC is directed by Alaska statute to commercialize North Slope natural gas because of the substantial environmental, economic, and energy security benefits it unlocks for our state. Alaska LNG has withstood intensive environmental scrutiny by two successive administrations because of its obvious and abundant benefits, which include reducing global emissions by up to 2.3 billion tons and finally ending longstanding air quality problems plaguing Interior Alaska villages and communities, he said.

Attorney General Treg Taylor, by email, said that the state Department of Law had just received the lawsuit and will be reviewing it carefully.

On its face, we can see that it is an attempt to block the development of Alaskas natural gas reserves based on a purported environmental safety rationale. It is a misguided effort, he wrote.

Taylor said that AKLNG, the pipeline project, is one of several similar projects being considered globally, and shutting down the project here means development in other places with lighter environmental regulation.

This challenge to the project also comes when theres a supply shortage for Alaska, and importing natural gas is now a consideration, he wrote. We are confident that the courts will uphold the Alaska Legislatures laws providing for the development of an LNG project in Alaska.

The lawsuit arrives at a key moment for the natural gas pipeline project. State legislators have become increasingly skeptical of AGDCs plans for a large pipeline that ends in an export terminal, and a plan to defund AGDC was narrowly defeated in this years state budget process.

AGDC now appears to be pivoting toward a plan that would involve construction of a smaller gas pipeline for in-state use, with a larger pipeline and export terminal to come later.

Either idea would be dependent upon the availability of construction funding, and to date, neither the state nor any private-sector funders have said they are willing to pay for construction.

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The post Eight young Alaskans sue to block proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
EL comes together for wreath-laying ceremony ahead of Memorial Day

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  The Medal of Honor monument in front of Hannah Community Center was originally dedicated on Veterans Day in 2013. Wednesday, the community gathered there for a wreath-laying ceremony just ahead of Memorial Day.

Deborah Stuart came in memory of her father who enlisted for World War II at age 17.

We owe many of our freedoms today to Dad and his generation and I wanted to honor that, she said.

EL community honors fallen Veterans (WLNS)

Dozens of people showed up to watch the laying of the wreaths, including former mayor of East Lansing Victor Loomis. Loomis is also a Vietnam-era non-combat army veteran.

I really applaud the city of East Lansing for organizing this event, Loomis said. To see so many of the city staff show up and support, [its] very meaningful.

EL community honors fallen Veterans (WLNS)

Scott House, deputy commanding general in the Lansing National Guard, spoke about the importance of remembering those who have served.

House says Memorial Day is about more than barbecues and a long weekend. To him, its about reflecting and honoring the sacrifices of the fallen and remembering that freedom is not free.

House also spoke about supporting veterans who need assistance after serving.

EL community honors fallen Veterans (WLNS)

The war never stops really, House continued. We always remember those who have fallen, those who are buried, but we have to remember those that came home and the help that they will need.

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 WLNS 6 News.
KYODO NEWS - May 23, 2024 - 20:13 | World, All

China's military said Thursday it has started two-day drills around Taiwan as a "strong punishment" for those seeking the island's independence and a "stern warning" against interference and provocation by external forces.

The exercises involving China's army, navy, air and rocket forces followed Monday's inauguration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing condemns as a separatist. A map released by the military showed drill zones in five areas surrounding Taiwan, as well as outlying islands close to the Chinese coast.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said it confirmed 15 warships and 33 planes from the Chinese military, as well as 16 China Coast Guard vessels deployed around the self-ruled island.

The drills through Friday are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, to the north, south and east of Taiwan Island, as well as around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, according to the military's Eastern Theater Command, which covers the strait.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin defended the exercises, saying they are a "necessary and legitimate move to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity." He urged the United States to halt its support of "Taiwan independence" forces and stop interfering in China's internal affairs.

The Taiwan defense ministry condemned China's military drills as "irrational provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability." The ministry added that Taiwan's sea, air and land forces have been deployed accordingly and expressed confidence in their ability to safeguard the island's security.

The ministry also said it has been closely monitoring the routine training of China's amphibious landing forces and the movements of Rocket Force troops in conjunction with the island's coast guard.

Lai told military officers in northern Taiwan, "In the face of external challenges and threats, we will continue to defend the values of freedom and democracy and safeguard regional peace and stability."

The presidential office said it is "regrettable" to see China unilaterally conducting provocative military exercises, which threaten not only freedom and democracy in Taiwan but also the status quo of peace and stability in the region.

The Chinese military said the drills involve the integrated operation of its forces to test the actual combat capabilities, focusing on the seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, joint precision strikes on key targets, and the patrol of vessels and planes closing in on areas around Taiwan.

Footage from state-run China Central Television showed a military vessel navigating the sea, with crew members seen climbing aboard a warplane. CCTV also emphasized the significance of conducting drills for a maritime blockade near Taiwan, aimed at restricting the island's energy imports and deterring U.S. military support.

The China Coast Guard also said it has conducted a drill near Wuqiu and Dongyin islands. Taiwan's coast guard later said Chinese vessels briefly entered restricted waters near these outlying islands.

Beijing has ramped up criticism of Lai, who called Taiwan a "sovereign, independent nation" in his inauguration speech and insisted that it and the mainland are "not subordinate to each other" while vowing to maintain the status quo.

In the speech, Taiwan's new leader also urged China to stop its military and political threats against the self-ruled island amid heightened cross-strait relations, with Beijing regularly sending military vessels and warplanes near the territory.

The mainland has also rapped the United States, Japan, Britain and South Korea for congratulating Lai on his inauguration. China is vehemently opposed to countries that have switched their diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing and are engaging in official exchanges with Taiwan.

In August 2022, China conducted large-scale military drills encircling Taiwan following a visit to the island by then U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who became the highest-ranking U.S. official to set foot in the territory in a quarter century.

Communist-led China and Taiwan have been governed separately since they split as the result of a civil war in 1949. Beijing aims to bring the island into its fold, by force if necessary.

Related coverage:

China ramps up criticism of Taiwan's Lai over inaugural speech

China rebukes Japan, U.S. for congratulating new Taiwan leader

China says Taiwan leader's inaugural speech sent "dangerous signal"
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  An El Paso man was arrested on criminal charges for alleged failure to account for and pay trust fund taxes.

Edward Dean La Puma, 57, is the founder and sole proprietor of his business 77 Stone, according to the news release by the United States Attorneys Office Western District of Texas.

La Puma allegedly failed to account for and pay the trust fund taxes to the IRS on behalf of his employees between March 2018 and January 2023, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

The IRS CI provided a table of the dates and amounts La Puma owed totaling close to $400,000. That table is displayed below.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, La Puma is charged with 20 counts of failure to account for and pay over trust fund taxes. If La Puma is convicted, he may face up to five years in prison for each count.

IRS CI is investigating the case.

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 KTSM 9 News.
This election heralds the death of the Thatcher-Blair era. A new populist Right will replace it

The election that Rishi Sunak has now called will almost certainly have a decisive result but it will not mark a true turning of the way in British politics. It is rather the last stand of an order that is passing, under growing assault from both sides of the new political spectrum.

Barring a miracle, the Conservative Party will suffer a catastrophic and crushing defeat. Right now the busy betting market is whether they will do worse than their previous low of 156 seats (out of 670) in 1906. There is serious money being wagered that they will get fewer than 100 seats.

The reason for this sentiment is not only Labours massive poll lead but the suggestion that there will also be large-scale tactical voting, making many apparently safe seats vulnerable to the Liberal Democrats as well as Labour. This outcome would not reflect any enthusiasm for Labour or for Keir Starmer and Rachel Reevess agenda.

In that there is a marked contrast to 1997 and 1945. The dominant sentiment among voters (probably leading to a low turnout) is weariness and contempt for the entire political and media class but with visceral hostility and fedupness for the Tories. In many ways this makes it more like 1906, something Keir Starmer and the Labour Party should bear in mind.

This will therefore be a decisive election, one that delivers a clear and crushing verdict on fourteen years of the Conservatives being in power but with no real enthusiasm for the alternative. What it will not be is a realigning election  one that reveals a new and transformed political landscape and voting pattern.

However we did have such an election only five years ago, in 2019. So what has happened? In the years leading up to 2019 there was a realignment of voters, with the older issue of economics losing its salience and being replaced by the new one of nationalism versus cosmopolitan globalism.

In 2019 the Tory Party leaned into that realignment and won over a lot of new voters, in parts of the country they had not reached before. This achieved this thanks to promises of getting Brexit done, levelling up the North and Midlands while moving away from free markets, and controlling and reducing immigration.

Simultaneously they held on to voters who combined cosmopolitanism (Remain voters) with support for free markets, because they had the bonus of facing Jeremy Corbyn.

Had the Conservatives followed through on that, then the new alignment revealed in 2019 would have been consolidated this time. The Conservatives would have made further gains in the North and Midlands but lost seats in the suburban South East and in the South West, to both Labour and the Liberal Democrats. The result would have been much tighter and the new alignment and division would have become even clearer, with the Tories a moderate national populist party.

This of course has not happened. The political and media class refused to accept the new alignment and the promises of the 2019 manifesto were simply ignored, while Starmer abandoned the popular parts of Corbyns agenda (the Left economics) as well as the unpopular part (the radical anti-Western foreign policy). Hence the deep disillusionment of many voters.

In the case of the Conservative Party, media figures, politicians, and donors all refused to follow up the logic of the 2019 election, seeing it as a one-off produced by Brexit rather than as a realignment.

This took two forms. Some rejected the nationalism and cultural conservatism while continuing to promote a kind of technocratic liberalism in economics. Others accepted the nationalism, but rejected the idea of things like levelling up and immigration controls in favour of reinvigorated free-market radicalism.

This combination, personified by Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, alienated two thirds of the voting coalition of 2019 and left them with a Thatcherite rump. Refusing to accept the inevitable loss of one third of the 2019 electoral coalition while looking to expand the opposite third has meant they have lost both.

That, plus exhaustion after fourteen years in office and refusing to accept or even address the accelerating breakdown and general uselessness of most of the British state, means that they are doomed.

On July 5 there will be many people arguing that normal service has been resumed after the episode of populist chaos caused by David Camerons decision to have a Brexit referendum. This will be a huge and (for those making it) disastrous misjudgment.

The 1906 election may offer a foretaste of what is to come. The enormous Liberal majority turned out to be the last great stand of the old Gladstonian liberalism. They won a landslide mainly because the Tories (Unionists) were utterly split over Tariff Reform and deeply unpopular after a long period in office.

Only four years later, in 1910, they lost their majority to a resurgent and now united Conservative Party (the Tariff Reformers having triumphed in the meantime), and became dependent on the Irish Parliamentary Party. Something similar will happen in the next Parliament.

Keir Starmer will almost certainly get a landslide majority but he will find, as the Liberals did after 1906, that his support is wide but shallow and driven more by disgust with the Tories than any real commitment. The concerns over issues such as immigration, national sovereignty in a world of globalised rules, and the various imbalances in the UK economy, which led to the realignment among voters before 2019, will not go away.

Because of that realignment and the refusal of most of our political class to accept it and address it (from either side), there is now a huge hole or gap in British politics. That is for a party that is nationalist and anti-globalist, traditionally patriotic, anti-immigration, culturally traditionalist, and Left-wing on economics.

This is the kind of party that is on the rise all over Europe but here there is no party offering this, apart from the SDP (still a fringe party) and George Galloways Workers Party (in his case hampered by the radical anti-Western foreign policy positions).

There is also space for a party offering a plausible version of the opposite position but that space is currently overcrowded.

Currently about 35 per cent of voters are effectively unrepresented. Many of them will abstain on July 4. This situation will not last.

After defeat the Conservative Party will either finally accept the new alignment, become firmly nationalist and move away from free markets, or it will either split or be replaced by a new political force on the populist Right.

This could take time but the politics of the 1980s are now a dead end for the Right in Britain. Meanwhile, a Labour government with a big majority will soon become very unpopular as it disappoints its supporters (inevitable, given the difficulties it will face) and does not address the kinds of issue that drive the new alignment.

Like the Liberals after 1906, they will find themselves under pressure from both sides, from a more coherent nationalist Right on one side and from radicals of various kinds plus more effective and consistent liberals on the other.

The election in July and the Parliament after it are the last stand of the political era created by the combination of Thatcher and Blair. The alternatives will emerge in the next Parliament.

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The electric school bus cost $446K. Districts will need them. Local voters said no.

A down-ballot result in Churchville-Chili in Tuesday's school district elections captured the attention of other school districts in Monroe County and beyond, as voters rejected spending $446,000 on an electric school bus of the sort that soon will be mandatory across the state.

Churchville-Chili residents voted 591 to 420 against the purchase. On the same ballot, they overwhelmingly supported the purchase of eight gasoline-powered buses for a total cost of $1,456,000.

New York state recently adopted a law banning the purchase of gasoline-powered school buses starting in 2027 and requiring an all-electric fleet by 2035. Lobbyists for the transportation industry opposed the law, calling it too hasty.

New electric school buses in Sleepy Hollow, New York, in December 2023.

Gov. Kathy Hochul in November announced $100 million available through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to help school bus fleet operators purchase zero-emission vehicles. The Empire Center For Public Policy, meanwhile, estimates the shift to an all-electric school bus fleet could cost between $8 billion and $15.3 billion.

"If voters dont vote for zero-emissions busing, districts have to figure out how theyre going to come up with those funds  for that state mandate," Monroe County School Boards Association Executive Director Amy Thomas said. "Thats an interesting result that we all have to take very seriously, because every district is ultimately going to be in that position."

Residents in Baldwinsville, Onondaga County, and Mexico, Oswego County, also turned down electric school bus purchases on Tuesday.

 Includes reporting by Nancy Cutler and Diana Dombrowski.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Churchville-Chili votes down electric bus purchases, despite mandate
In the Spotlight is a Sacramento Bee series that digs into the high-profile local issues that readers care most about. Story idea? Email metro@sacbee.com.

At least one Elk Grove resident is worried that people could be moving out of the city near where the new zoo is expected to be built.

Following this months approval by the Elk Grove City Council to relocate the Sacramento Zoo from Land Park to Elk Grove by 2029, a Reddit user in a recent post claimed to have seen a plop of for sale signs go up around the neighborhood, near Kammerer Road and Lotz Parkway.

The anonymous user asked, Is this a real phenomenon, or am I just seeing things? Are (owners) dumping their property because they worry about future traffic noise and smell? If you are the owner near that area, how are you feeling about this proposal and the future of your property?

Sacramento real estate agent Christina Changco shot down the notion that people were moving away because of the new zoo. Its quite the opposite, she said.

People are going to flood in, said Changco, who has been a real estate agent for the previous two years after 13 years in corporate real estate.

Its a five-year project, too, set to be completed by 2029. Its going to bring jobs, so more people are going to move in here. Its going to bring experiences, so tourism is going to increase in Elk Grove. So with those two combined, Elk Grove is going to be an insane housing market. So nows the time to get your foot in the door.

Changco held an open house Sunday for an Elk Grove home located at 8883 Solo Way. The house is listed at $599,999, she said. It was rented for $3,500 a month.

She said it was the previous owners first home, and now theyre ready to move on.

They turned it into a rental property and then once the tenants decided to leave, they decided to sell, use that equity and move into something bigger, a forever home, Changco said. I think a lot of homeowners failed to plan. These homeowners planned and now they have an opportunity to get their bigger forever home in a five-year span. Thats unheard of.

Changco, 34, has seen the growth and even experienced it for herself, having moved to Elk Grove from San Francisco with her family four years ago.

Theres a huge opportunity here, especially in the 95757, for homeowners to build fast equity, Changco said. A lot of the homeowners buying here are relocating from the Bay Area. (Elk Groves) kind of like a hidden secret.

The next Land Park?

Changco expects the neighborhoods adjacent to the eventual zoo in Elk Grove to increase in value, similar to houses near the Sacramento Zoos current home in Land Park.

This area is set to be the next Land Park and we already know the home values  were talking about a 1,000 square foot home for going for a million dollars (in Land Park), Changco said. Theres a huge opportunity, especially for first-time home buyers. Dont sleep on this opportunity.

The new zoo is one of the reasons why 34-year-old Ricci Walker moved his family to Elk Grove over a year ago.

That was one of the reasons why we wanted to move, to come over here and live over here is because they were building the zoo and because they were putting the casino over here, Walker said, referring to Sky River Casino, which opened in 2022. Plus, it was more of a smaller, cheaper community compared to a lot of the other houses over here.

Walker said he isnt worried about the new zoo, construction or the heightened foot traffic thats to come with all of it.

I understood all the ins and outs, Walker said. I know that theyre going to be moving the dirt and thered be a lot of bugs and stuff coming.

Walkers concerns are whether a new light rail route would cut through parts of his neighborhood near Lotz Parkway. Although there have not been any official transit plans for the area, he made it clear that he disapproves of a light rail or some sort of public transportation stop.

In the meantime, he said he just has to look at a cheesy fence and would rather a brick wall separate the community from main streets and grass areas.

Walker is hoping the city will provide residents who live nearby the construction site with some type of year pass to the zoo.

Nevertheless, Walker is happy with his location. When asked if hed ever look to sell, it was a resounding no.

I was more in the end game of knowing the property is going to go up because the zoo is there, Walker said.

Elk Grove Realtor Britt Wiseman was shocked to hear there were murmurs of people moving out because of the zoo. She, too, anticipates the home values in southeast Elk Grove will increase, similarly to Land Park.

We are literally using the zoo as a selling point, said Wiseman, who has been a Realtor in the Sacramento region for 20 years. From my perspective, all you have to do is look at Land Park and know that the zoo has enhanced that neighborhood and not detracted. Were really touting that as a positive for the (Elk Grove) neighborhood.

Wiseman, who is also an Elk Grove resident, described the city as a family-friendly neighborhood.

She held an opening for a five-bedroom, four bathroom home that included an in-laws quarter. The home, located at 8812 Polka Way, is more than 3,000 square feet and is listed at $825,000.

She said it was owned by a military family that was relocated to Maryland for work.

Its an amazing house, Wiseman said. Amazing open floor plan. ... It has fabulous outdoors and a nice entertaining space. A little bit of grass, room between your neighbors and a covered patio. Its a great house.

Wiseman feels that the zoo will enhance the entire area.

How awesome to be able to walk to the zoo and have that be part of your experience like on a weekly basis, Wiseman said. All those neighbors (near the Sacramento Zoo) love having it right there. So I think it will only do good things for this area. Im sure theyre sad its leaving because it really does enhance that neighborhood and itll do the same over here.
Australian "radical transparency" activist Julian Assange got a boost this week in his efforts to avoid extradition from the U.K. to the U.S. to face multiple Espionage Act charges. On Monday, the U.K.'s High Court ruled that Assange could once again appeal the U.S. government's attempt to extradite him.

American national security bureaucrats and prominent political figures have never forgiven Assange and WikiLeaks for exposing clear-cut war crimes committed by U.S. forces in Iraq during the George W. Bush administration. The U.S. government used its own document classification system and policy to conceal those war crimes, which included the murder of journalists and Iraqi civilians caught on video from a U.S. Army helicopter.

Yet the coverage of the High Court's most recent decision in Assange's favor by outlets such as the BBC, the Associated Press, ABC, and The New York Times includes no reference to that fact. There's no mention of how the "leader of the free world" used patently undemocratic methods not only to hide criminal conduct by its military but also to politically and legally destroy Assange and Chelsea Manningthe whistleblower who leaked the helicopter murder video to WikiLeaks.

Over the years, Assange and his allies have slowly but surely been gaining support to get the U.S. government to drop the case. One of Assange's most significant victories came in February 2024 when Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined 85 of his colleagues in Parliament in supporting a motion calling on the U.S. government to end the legal case against Assange "so that Mr. Assange can return home to his family in Australia."

While Albanese's rhetorical support is helpful, he could do more to resolve this matter quickly. For decades, Australia and the U.S. have operated joint intelligence-related bases on Australian soil, which are vital to the U.S. national security establishment. If Albanese were to suggest that a failure to drop the charges against Assange would force Australia to reconsider hosting U.S. intelligence operations, it would send a clear message to the Biden administration about the high cost of continuing the Assange prosecution.

Some might argue that such a threat could backfire. The dispute in 1985 over New Zealand's ban on U.S. nuclear-armed or nuclear-powered ships docking at its ports led to a major rupture in relations. However, the geopolitical situation in the Pacific is far different today, as is Australia's defense and security relationship with the United States.

In light of China's growing influence in the region, a threat by Australia to reevaluate security cooperation with the U.S. unless the Assange indictment is dropped would send political shock waves through Washington. Just last month the Biden administration floated a trial balloon in the press about dropping the Assange indictment. A not-so-subtle nudge by Albanese, coming on the heels of this week's High Court ruling, might be enough to convince Biden that it is time to close the books on the Assange episode once and for all.

The post End the Assange Indictment Charade appeared first on Reason.com.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to include new updates on the restoration of the power supply.

Ukraine's nuclear energy agency Energoatom said on May 23 that workers had restored the main external power line to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant after earlier warnings that it was disconnected.

The plant is now connected to two powerlines, Energoatom said.

Energoatom said earlier that the disconnected power supply caused the facility to be on the "verge of blackout." It did not specify the reason for the disconnection.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear power station in Europe, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022.

Ukraine has repeatedly accused Moscow of using the plant as a launching site for drone attacks, presenting a serious security hazard.

Energoatom said earlier the plant would be in a total blackout if the other power line failed.

"Russian (forces) continue to create an extremely dangerous situation" at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, said Energoatom President Petro Kotin.

"In order to prevent the development of worst-case scenarios, the station must be returned to the control of the legitimate operator  Energoatom as soon as possible."

Energoatom said that the plant has experienced eight complete blackouts and one partial shutdown since the beginning of the full-scale war.

Read also: Russias renewed offensive is stretching Ukrainian defenses thin

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Photo illustration by Getty Images.

The estate of a man killed by police in Bozeman last year, who was in the midst of a mental health crisis, sued the Bozeman Police Department and eight officers this week alleging they violated the mans constitutional rights and wrongfully caused his death.

The federal lawsuit was filed Tuesday on behalf of the estate of Michael Rogel, the 39-year-old man shot and killed by police in April 2023, by Bozeman attorneys Hillary Carls and Timothy Bechtold.

It claims the department and officers were not properly trained and failed to try to de-escalate the situation with Rogel by not calling in mental health professionals and by shooting him with bean bag rounds and then bullets. The suit also claims the department and officers violated Rogels rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution and violated the Montana Constitutions equal protection clause.

According to the lawsuit and prior news reports about the shooting and subsequent investigation  a coroners inquest jury found the shooting to be justified, KBZK and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported  what started with Rogel and his mother both calling 911 to report Rogel was in the middle of a mental health crisis ended with both he and his dog being shot and killed by five BPD officers on April 3, 2023.

Both the suit and testimony from the coroners inquest said Rogel believed people were chasing him and trying to kill him when he called 911 that day. KBZK reported Rogels mother had told police her son was supposed to be taking antipsychotics. The lawsuit says officers and dispatch did not connect him with mental health services or keep him on the phone.

When officers started organizing to respond to his home, according to the suit, a member of the police departments Special Response Team, which has access to a Bearcat armored truck and is typically utilized in standoffs with people in possession of weapons, offered to help, but an officer at the scene declined the assistance.

Rogel left home in his vehicle along with his Bernese Mountain Dog before officers arrived at his house, according to the suit, and officers chased him to a cul-de-sac on Greenmore Court, where the vehicle got stuck in a snowbank. The lawsuit and a report from the police department said officers surrounded the vehicle with guns drawn.

BPD fueled Mr. Rogels emergency, becoming the people with guns that Mr. Rogel feared were chasing him. BPD made Mr. Rogels fears a reality, the lawsuit says.

A spokesperson for the City of Bozeman said Thursday the city was aware of the lawsuit but does not comment on pending litigation.

Rogel had a shotgun in the vehicle at the time, according to both the lawsuit and prior information released by the police department. According to KBZK, a news release from the police department released a week after the shooting said officers saw Rogel manipulating and moving the shotgun and that he pointed it in their direction before officers fired upon him.

The lawsuit, however, says that while Rogel had a shotgun in the vehicle, it was not loaded, he did not have any ammunition for it, and he did not know how to use it.

Mr. Rogel could not be a physical threat to anyone because of the medical emergency that he was experiencing. Mr. Rogel was incapable of threatening trained and armed law enforcement officers, especially when six officers had weapons pointed at him, the suit says. It is unreasonable to conclude that Mr. Rogel threatened anyone or was a threat to anyone.

The lawsuit claims the four officers who initially surrounded the vehicle put themselves in a situation where they did not have proper cover by declining to order the Bearcat at first and threatened to shoot Rogel if he didnt follow their orders. It says that Rogel was not in a mental state in which he could respond logically and calmly and accuses officers of losing patience and failing to properly communicate with Rogel to de-escalate the situation.

It says one officer fired bean bag rounds at Rogel and his dog, and after that called in the Special Response Team and Bearcat, which the suit says should have been called in sooner because it could have been a tool to ensure officer safety for the entire interaction while they waited for Mr. Rogel to calm down or were able to get the proper professionals in place to help Mr. Rogel navigate this mental health emergency.

KBZK reported that body camera footage shown to the inquest jury showed officers asking Rogel to keep his hands up and off the shotgun for about 30 minutes before they shot him.

The suit says that the officer driving the Bearcat did not activate the dashboard camera on the vehicle nor his body camera, and that as it arrived, five officers opened fire on Rogel, including one the suit claims reloaded their weapon before firing more rounds.

The lawsuit claims officers fired 28 bullets total from handguns and rifles, as well as several bean bag rounds, at Rogel and his dog, both of whom were killed in the shooting. It calls the fatal shooting one that was based on a perceived threat of (the officers) own making.

Mr. Rogel called BPD to save his life. It is tragic that this call for help resulted in Mr. Rogels exact fearhis death, the lawsuit says.

The lawyers are asking for a jury trial in the case and are claiming multiple constitutional violations by both the department and the officers.

The lawsuit says the officers and department each violated amendments to the U.S. Constitution protecting against unreasonable seizure, excessive force, and against deprivation of life, liberty or property without due process or equal protection under the law.

The suit also claims the police department was deliberately indifferent by failing to adequately hire, supervise, train, or discipline its law enforcement officers. It says the department has unwritten patterns and practices of failing to properly train officers on use of force, investigating such incidents, and fail to adequately train officers on how to respond to mental health emergencies.

The policies, customs, and practices implicitly or explicitly adopted by the BPD amounted to deliberate indifference to and conscious disregard of Mr. Rogels constitutional rights and ratified the violation of his rights, the suit says. BPDs breach resulted in Mr. Rogels death.

The suit claims all the defendants in the case also violated the Montana Constitutions equal protection clause by not properly responding to a mental health crisis and failing to intervene and makes claims of assault and battery against the officers and emotional distress the shooting caused to Rogel and his family.

The attorneys for Rogels estate are asking a judge to grant compensatory damages from the department and officers, punitive damages against the officers, injunctive relief, incurred costs and interest, as well as attorneys fees in the case.

1 4

The post Estate of man killed by Bozeman police sues department, officers appeared first on Daily Montanan.
(Bloomberg) -- Estonian border authorities accused Russian counterparts of removing a set of buoy markers on the Narva River, as Baltic leaders raised concerns this week over confusing signals from Moscow over demarcating its frontiers.

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The border guard service of the Baltic nation accused Russian officials of carrying off 24 of 50 buoys helping to separate the two countries on the waterway at 3 a.m. local time, according to a statement. The markers had been placed within Estonian waters by authorities over the last 10 days.

Russia uses border issues as a means to create fear and anxiety, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said at a press conference in Tallinn Thursday. We will approach this incident soberly, in a balanced way, if needed also in communication with partners and allies.

The incident comes a day after a Russian Defense Ministry proposal to modify the countrys Baltic Sea border and territorial waters prompted vocal responses from Lithuania and Finland. The document outlining the draft proposal was later removed from a government website without explanation.

The Narva River border had been a matter of dispute earlier this year, when Russia said it didnt accept the location of half of the 250 buoys proposed by Estonian officials, the border guard statement said. The floating markers, positioned each spring, are used for boats to navigate the river without veering into Russian waters.

Read More: Russia Pulls Notice of Baltic Sea Border Plan That Raised Alarm

An Estonian border official, Eerik Purgel, said the buoys were marked for the summer season according to a 2022 agreement as a guide for those fishing or boating in the waters.

While the installation of buoys largely took place by mutual agreement before the beginning of the war in Ukraine, since 2023 Russia hasnt agreed with Estonias positioning, Purgel said in a statement. The authority will contact Russian counterparts to discuss the issue, he said.

Estonia, a European Union and NATO member with a population of 1.3 million, has been an outspoken critic of Russias war against Ukraine. The Baltic nation has been a target of Moscow, with Kallas earlier this year landing on a Russian wanted list for criminals.

(Updates with comments from prime minister from third paragraph.)

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By May Masangkay, KYODO NEWS - May 24, 2024 - 07:24 | Arts, Feature, All, Japan, Travel/Tourism

From the art of giving broken ceramics a new life to creating traditional personalized seals carved with hit manga and pop culture characters, centuries-old crafts are giving tourists present-day experiences with a flavor of Japanese authenticity.

Boyana Babanovski, who recently visited Japan for the first time, is among a growing number of tourists who have opted to go beyond typical sightseeing itineraries and instead are immersing themselves in activities that introduce them to traditional Japanese culture.

"This was the first activity we booked for our trip here outside of our (plane) tickets," Babanovski, who traveled from the United States, said during a one-hour workshop on "kintsugi."

Kintsugi is the art of restoring ceramics with durable "urushi," or natural lacquer, and embellishing the seams with Bengal red powder sprinkled with gold, instead of piecing together broken or chipped fragments with glue or tape or simply throwing them away.

"I love the concept," said the 25-year-old Arizona resident who came with her friends to the workshop which offered a taste of the kintsugi pottery-repairing technique, a process which typically takes up to three months to complete.

"We all have issues, cracks, broken things. So it's nice to make something nice and beautiful out of it," she said.

While urushi has been used for repairs with glue and protective coatings dating back to the Jomon Period (14,000-300 BC), kintsugi became popular during the Muromachi Period (1336-1573 AD), also helped by the time's flourishing tea ceremony culture.

Yuki Matano, CEO of workshop organizer Tsugu Tsugu Inc., said she discovered kintsugi years ago when she was living in Europe and wanted to repair her favorite bowl that had broken.

"At first, I just wanted to continue using what I cherished. Later on, I learned about the spirituality behind kintsugi -- seeing breakage as strength -- and I saw the business potential in spreading this overseas," Matano, 40, said.

She studied kintsugi herself, received a master's in business administration, and in 2020 set up her own company.

Tsugu Tsugu repair kits, including those for beginners, have been sold online, with customers from the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia, and sometimes from parts of Asia including China and South Korea.

Matano offers workshops in Japan now and again in English, as she is determined to spread the tradition to a broader audience.

With a shift in the trend for tourists from buying "things" to buying "experiences" in recent years, Takahiro Noguchi, CEO of BOJ Inc., a Tokyo-based firm specializing in custom-made luxury tours for foreign travelers, said kintsugi has evolved to become a popular activity for overseas travelers.

The appeal behind kintsugi lies in the spirit of valuing objects even if they are broken, Noguchi said, adding interest and awareness of kintsugi has been spurred, for example, by Britain's tea culture and the value it bestows on cups.

"For well-traveled, affluent people, who typically make overseas trips twice or three times a year, they want to learn and discover something new and be inspired," Noguchi said.

Another Japanese tradition that has become a point of interest with foreign travelers is the "hanko" carved stamp, or personal seal, with those bearing images of Japanese anime being particularly popular.

Kojiro Okayama's brainchild, the "Neko zukan" hanko series, features a cat image that can be used officially. The CEO of Okada Shokai Co. expressed his vision of "passing on a centuries-old tradition in a new form and adding value to it through anime."

Having gained success from a collaboration with the production of the late manga and animation creator Osamu Tezuka and later with other works like the hugely popular anime and manga series Jujutsu Kaisen, Okayama has set his sights on breaking into the U.S. market.

The company started online sales last year, first with Godzilla, followed by anime series My Hero Academia and most recently Naruto, all of which have a strong following in the United States.

"I'd like to believe that hanko culture can permeate the United States, where it is customary to send greeting cards, Okayama said, adding he hopes to see interest in hanko take off as a hobby and a tool for communication.

Positive feedback from overseas customers has been very encouraging, he said.

Demonstrating the popularity of hanko as souvenirs, Okayama, 46, said that some foreign visitors have even ordered customized hanko seals for delivery to their hotels during their stays.

Ultimately, Noguchi pointed out, what foreign travelers seek are "unique cultural experiences" that could inspire or impact their way of thinking.

For Kaylee Weyrauch, who joined Babanovski in Matano's workshop, it was eye-opening to learn, among other things, how urushi, the main ingredient used in kintsugi, is collected.

Matano explained to the group that urushi is made of sap from the trunk of a urushi tree. With only about 200 milliliters of sap extracted from each tree, it takes more than a decade for such trees to grow and produce sap.

The way substances were used to restore broken ceramics is "very honoring of the material," Weyrauch said. "It's different from how we treat things we use and throw away."

Related coverage:

FEATURE: Struggling sake breweries getting revamped, eye on overseas markets

FEATURE: Film shows rural Japan's changing face through eyes of mythic critter

FEATURE: Myanmar residents lobby Japan to act over conscription law
VILNIUS (Reuters) -Russian border guards have removed navigation buoys from the Estonian side of a river separating the two countries, the Baltic nation said on Thursday, adding that it would seek an explanation as well as a return of the equipment.

Some 24 out of 50 buoys recently placed on the Narva river to mark sailing routes were removed in the early hours of Thursday the Estonian police and border guard said in a statement.

Natural changes to the riverbed make it necessary to retrace shipping routes annually, the authority said, adding that the location of buoys between Russia and Estonia had been disputed since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Russian defence ministry earlier this week briefly published a proposal to revise Russia's maritime border in the eastern Baltic Sea, but later deleted it from an official portal after creating concern among NATO members, including Estonia.

It was not immediately clear if the removal of buoys was related to any Russian Baltic Sea border plan.

The Estonian foreign ministry said it treated the removal as a provocative border incident and would demand an explanation as well as the return of the buoys immediately.

"This action by Russia, carried out in the shadow of the night, fits well within the broader pattern of Russia's provocative behaviour, including on its borders with neighbours," it said in a statement.

The Narva river runs from a lake between Russia and Estonia and ends up in the Gulf of Finland, part of the Baltic Sea.

The Russian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Russia's Baltic Sea borders should be in accordance with international law, and that the defence ministry's work to clarify the border was of a technical nature.

(Reporting by Andrius Sytas, writing by Louise Rasmussen, editing by Terje Solsvik, Philippa Fletcher, Alexandra Hudson)
Estonia's Hermann Castle (L) opposite the Ivangorod Fortress, which is on the Russian side of the Narva River

Estonia's Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) said on May 23 that Russian border guards removed the boundary markers from the Narva River that separate Russian and Estonian territory.

The incident follows a Russian decree suggesting that Russian maritime borders in the Baltic Sea be unilaterally changed. The decree was subsequently removed from the government's website without an explanation following swift condemnation from some NATO members.

Eerik Purgel, head of the PPA's Eastern Prefecture, said that Estonian and Russian authorities install the buoys that separate the territories on a yearly basis in order to ease navigation on the river and prevent fishermen and others from accidentally straying across the border.

The respective authorities agreed on the buoys' location in 2022, but Russia then backtracked and disputed the placement of more than half of the 250 markers.

Russian border guards then unilaterally began removing them on May 23 without providing an explanation for their actions.

"The PPA will contact the Russian Border Guard and request clarifications on the removal of the buoys and return of buoys," Purgel said.

"The PPA expects evidence from Russia that the position of the shipping route agreed so far has changed and, if they are not presented, we will continue to install buoys."

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas characterized it as a "border incident" and said it was being investigated.

"We will approach this case in a sober, balanced way, engaging with allies where necessary. We see a broader pattern of Russian actions trying to sow anxiety," Kallas said.

Estonia began nightly closures of the crossing between Narva and the Russian border city of Ivangorod earlier in May.

Read also: Russias latest offensive into Kharkiv Oblast is stretching Ukrainian defenses

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Paul Richard, chair of the North Dakota Ethics Commission, intends to step down at the end of August. (Photo provided)

North Dakota Ethics Commission Chair Paul Richard plans to step down at the end of August, the commission announced Thursday.

Richard, an attorney with experience in health care law, was a founding member of the commission. He was first appointed in 2019, re-appointed in 2021 and elected chair by his fellow commissioners in 2022.

Richard was involved in laying the groundwork for the commission and approving the boards foundational policies  including its conflict of interest, complaint and gift rules.

In my view, the five Commissioners, together with our excellent staff, have successfully implemented the goals for which the Ethics Commission was created, Richard said in the announcement. I have great confidence that the Commission will continue to achieve the goals intended by Article XIV of the North Dakota Constitution.

The state is now accepting applications to fill Richards seat on the Governors Offices website.

Ethics Commission members are appointed by the consensus of the North Dakota governor, Senate majority leader and Senate minority leaders.

Those with questions can reach out to Ethics Commission Executive Director Rebecca Binstock at 701-328-5325.

Richard intends to stay on the commission until the newest member is chosen, according to the announcement.

Richard is an impactful leader, innovative thinker, and advocate for government transparency, Binstock said in the announcement. We are grateful for his dedication to the Commission over the past five years.

The Ethics Commission was created through a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2018. It regulates ethical behavior in the areas of elections, corruption, lobbying and transparency.

The post Ethics Commission recruiting new member after chair announces retirement appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
EU official says remarks to Georgian PM on Slovak assassination attempt 'taken out of context'

By Felix Light and Andrew Gray

TBILISI/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A senior European Union official expressed regret on Thursday after warning Georgia's prime minister that polarisation over a contentious "foreign agent" law could create a situation akin to the recent assassination attempt on Slovakia's leader.

Oliver Varhelyi, EU commissioner for neighbourhood policy and enlargement, said his comments on the attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico were taken out of context.

Earlier, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze was quoted as saying that an EU official had reminded him of the assassination attempt and warned him to "be very careful".

The implication was that the European Union was using scare tactics to increase pressure on Tbilisi to drop the law.

Varhelyi said in a statement he wanted to tell Kobakhidze not to inflame passions and the assassination attempt in Slovaka "was made as an example and as a reference to where such high level of polarisation can lead in a society even in Europe".

"I regret that one part of my phone call was not just fully taken out of context, but was also presented to the public in a way which could give rise to a complete misinterpretation of the originally intended aim of my phone call," Varhelyi said.

Georgia's Interpress news agency cited Kobakhidze as saying that an unnamed European commissioner told him in a phone call: "Look what happened to Fico, and you should be very careful".

Fico, a Eurosceptic populist, was shot four times at point-blank range on May 15. Slovak police arrested a 71-year-old suspect who said he had wanted to hurt Fico because he disagreed with government policies.

Georgia's government is at odds with both the EU and the United States over the foreign agents law passed by parliament this month. It would require organisations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as agents of foreign influence or face punitive fines.

The issue has sparked huge protests in Georgia and called its longstanding pro-Western foreign policy into question.

President Salome Zourabichvili has vetoed the bill, but the ruling Georgian Dream party has the numbers in parliament to override her veto in a vote next week.

Georgian Dream, which says it still wants to join both the EU and NATO, maintains that the law is necessary to protect Georgian sovereignty and to combat the efforts of a shadowy "global party of war" to pit the country against Russia, which defeated it in a five-day war in 2008.

Critics say the bill was itself inspired by a Russian law used against Kremlin opponents. The protests are some of the largest since Georgia won independence from Moscow in 1991.

(Reporting by Felix Light and by Andrew Gray in Brussels; Editing by Mark Trevelyan, Ron Popeski and Cynthia Osterman)
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The Scoop

The growing potential of Donald Trumps return to the White House fills European leaders with stress and anxiety, in large part because of the former US presidents proclivity for wild and unexpected policy swings, Kosovos prime minister told Semafor in an interview.

Albin Kurti also said that his own poor relations with Richard Grenell  previously a Trump special envoy for peace negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia  could be a challenge, were Grenell to secure another senior foreign policy or national security position in a new Trump administration.

Kurti urged Western nations to ease Kosovos path to join NATO and the European Union, pointing to increased defense spending amounting to 2% of GDP, a target set by the military alliance for its members.

We deserve more, he said.

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The risk of a geopolitical crisis in the Balkans is a persistent worry for the West: Kosovo and Serbia  from which the former declared independence in 2008  are persistently at loggerheads, with Pristina demanding Belgrade recognize it as a sovereign state, and Serbia arguing Kosovo treats its Serb communities poorly.

Kurti said that unprecedented polarization in the United States was increasingly an issue for European leaders, who have to grapple with the uncertainty surrounding US politics in much the same way as American politicians: There are certain aspects of governance, and policymaking, and of public opinion that the US nowadays is facing for the first time, he said.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event at the ODI global affairs think tank in London, Kurti said long-term US support for Kosovo was unlikely to change, but with the return of President Trump there is a certain stress and anxiety across the continent, and Kosovo is no different. The issue, he continued, was not that something bad can happen, but rather anxiety for something unknown. Put simply: What they [the US] will do and how they will think, and how a certain urgency can hijack the entire agenda, this is what people worry most about.

Kosovo has upped its defense spending to meet NATOs 2% defense target, Kurti added, despite not being a member of the bloc: European nations spending below that threshold and not taking on enough of a military burden was a bugbear of Trumps during his time in office. So perhaps we are not at the top of [Trumps] list, the Kosovar leader said, laughing. He will be dealing with some other countries beforehand.

Kurti also pushed for increased engagement with NATO and to join the alliance, but that ambition is currently blocked by four member states, and Kosovo lacks recognized statehood under the United Nations, another hurdle. We do not have the imminent threat like Ukraine or like Moldova from the Russian Federation, but Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and even Montenegro, I must say, are not completely safe, Kurti said. We are not afraid, but we are vigilant. Our vigilance must also be supported by NATO.

Referencing Chinese leader Xi Jinpings trip to Serbia this month, Kurti said that between Beijing and Moscow, Russia is more destructive in the sense that Russia wants to see the democratic West and especially the US destroyed. China, on the other hand, was not into destroying the West or US, but rather into dividing it.

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Prashants view

Kurtis comments are remarkable for their frankness, voicing in public what many European leaders, officials, and diplomats have said mostly in private: That a second Trump presidency poses a particular risk to Europe, which benefits from a US security umbrella and has built interconnected trade and economic ties across the Atlantic over the course of decades. Europe saw the value of both questioned repeatedly and the latter at times curtailed during Trumps time in the White House.

Yet they also betray a growing worry about the US more broadly. Even under Joe Biden, the US has been slow to ferry much-needed military aid to Ukraine in recent months, and has erected protectionist measures which  while mostly targeted at China  have shut out European companies from key industries, too.

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The View From The US

Kurti voices unalloyed support for the US: When asked whether Kosovo, like other small countries, faced a difficult choice between the US and China, he replied simply, We dont have to choose because weve already made that choice, and we never had nor have second thoughts.

Washington, however, is not as happy with his government: Politico reported in June 2023 that Kurti is viewed by both Democrats and Republicans as stubborn, and at times, reckless, with the Biden administration blaming him for unrest in Serb-majority areas of northern Kosovo and the US ambassador to Belgrade acknowledging Washington has some very fundamental issues with him.

Grenell, meanwhile, has been a vocal critic of Kurtis, saying just last week that the prime minister was holding Kosovo back.

Asked how he would deal with Grenell if he became a significant figure again , Kurti replied: Yes, he criticized me time and again, but I dont mind critique If I dont find the common language, if he happens to come back to some position, then perhaps I should try and make sure that my minister of foreign affairs does that job. But he added, Grenell or other critics of his leadership in government could be a challenge.

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(Bloomberg) -- Infighting among some of Europes most prominent far-right parties has thrown pre-election campaigning into turmoil, threatening to tarnish a parliamentary vote that was supposed to see ultra-conservative groups make major gains.

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Marine Le Pen on Wednesday said her National Rally, or RN, would break ties with the Alternative for Germany after the AfDs lead candidate said that not all members of the Nazi SS paramilitary organization were criminals.

In a further blow to the embattled German party, the Identity and Democracy alliance in the European Parliament, which includes RN, expelled the AfD after a vote among its members, ID said in a Thursday statement on the social media site X.

This is real damage in the final stages of the election campaign, Daniel Tapp, a spokesperson for AfD leader Alice Weidel, said in a statement.

We remain confident that we will be able to continue working in a joint parliamentary group with our current partners after the European elections, Tapp added. An ID spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The ruptures underscore one of the traditional problems faced by far-right parties  they dont form a cohesive bloc and their many differences may outweigh their commonalities. This makes it even less likely a unified group will be able to emerge from the June 6-9 European elections with enough leverage to further a conservative agenda.

These are all nationalist parties that dont agree on much on the EU level except that they largely oppose the EU, Jacob Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund in Brussels, said in an interview. They dont like immigrants, they dont like the EU, but what else do they agree on? Almost nothing.

ID is projected to win 11.2% of the vote next month, according to a polling average compiled by Europe Elects. That would give the euroskeptic bloc 84 seats in the assembly, up from 59 at the last election.

But that projection is down from December when it appeared on track to win 93. And the recent AfD misstep wasnt its first.

Maximilian Krah, the AfDs lead candidate in the EU elections, was quoted last week by Italian newspaper la Repubblica making the comments which read as an exoneration of the Nazi SS.

He had already been under pressure after his assistant in the European Parliament was detained last month under suspicion of spying for China. On Wednesday, Krah quit the partys leadership committee and said he would stop campaigning.

This will surely have a negative effect on the election results, Kirkegaard said. People like winners, and the right-wing parties dont look like winners right now. The populist appeal of right-wing parties can develop very quickly, but it can also disappear very quickly again.

In its statement expelling the AfD from its group, ID said it no longer wants to be associated with the incidents involving Maximilian Krah.

Far-right groups had hoped to be able to form a big enough bloc after next months European elections that they could water down ambitious climate regulations and propose tougher measures on immigration.

One of their main proponents has been Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose 14 years of uninterrupted rule in Hungary made him a standard bearer of far-right ideology in Europe and beyond.

But Orban too is now beset with problems after a scandal involving a child sex-abuse case earlier this year toppled his key allies, including the countrys president.

With an upstart former regime insider capitalizing on the political moment, the upcoming ballots for Orban are more about holding on to domestic support than any grand plans he once had of uniting far-right European parties under one political umbrella.

Read more: Why Eyes Are on the Far Right in European Elections: QuickTake

The largest group in the EU parliament  the center-right European Peoples Party  is polling at 23%, a share that would grant it 183 seats.

The center-left S&D is projected to win 140 seats, while centrist-liberal group Renew is projected to get 86. That would comfortably give the three parties an absolute majority in the chamber, allowing them to block proposals from the far right.

The vice-president of Le Pens National Rally, Louis Aliot, said this week that his party doesnt share the same vision of the world as the AfD, and that the current composition of coalitions is unlikely to persist beyond the elections.

This certainly spells trouble for the far right as it illustrates the extent to which the extremism of some parts of the AfD could go, Simone Tagliapietra, a senior researcher at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels, said in an interview. This could cast a shadow on the overall far-right front and scare part of the potential electorate.

Russias war in Ukraine has also served to split the right, with many parties, including the AfD and Orbans Fidesz group, sympathetic to the Kremlin. Others, like Le Pen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have stood behind Ukraine.

The rift in the far right could also serve national interests, as Le Pen looks toward Frances 2027 election, when Emmanuel Macron is unable to run because of term limits. Her National Rally party currently has a double-digit lead in the polls.

Le Pen doesnt really care much about the European Parliament, Kirkegaard said. She only cares about positioning herself to win the next presidential election in France. For her, the chance to distance herself from a German right-wing party, which has sympathies for the Waffen-SS, is a gift.

That means that even if the far right perform in line with expectations, their failure to find a common agenda could hamper their ability to follow through in Brussels.

Unity has always been one of the main problems, Dave Sinardet, a professor of political science at the Free University of Brussels, said in an interview.

--With assistance from Zoe Schneeweiss, Lyubov Pronina, Ania Nussbaum and Zoltan Simon.

(Updates with ID statement in the third paragraph.)

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Maximilian Krah, AfD lead candidate for the European elections, leaves after a press statement. Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has banned its lead candidate for the European election, Maximilian Krah, from making public appearances, following his comments that not all SS members were criminals. Michael Kappeler/dpa

The leader of the Identity and Democracy group in the European Parliament has made a request to expel the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, according to a document seen by dpa on Thursday.

The move comes after a "string of incidents involving Mr Maximilian Krah and - by extension - the German delegation of the Group" and their impact on the group's reputation, the text of the motion reads.

Krah has come under significant public scrutiny following his comments that not all Schutzstaffel (SS) members were criminals. The SS was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.

All nine AfD lawmakers in the group are listed for expulsion in vote taking place on Thursday.

The request to expel all AfD members from the European Parliament group was sent to top representatives of political parties in ID. The Italian party Lega has already agreed to the motion.
On Thursday, former Trump White House attorney Ty Cobb accused Judge Aileen Cannon, the federal judge overseeing his ex-bosss classified documents case, of incompetence, insisting that theres more than enough evidenceand timeto take the case to trial before Election Day.

I dont think this case will move at all, Cobb said on CNN. And I think the fact that shes scheduling hearings, multiple hearings, sort of one or two motions at a time, is compelling evidence of that. Most federal judges would have long ago ruled on all the pending motions.



And frankly, this is a case that shouldve started trial yesterday or two days ago when the original trial date was set, he continued. This case could have easily gotten to trial. Only her incompetence and perceived bias has prevented that.

Earlier this month, the Trump-appointed judge ordered a stay on the GOP presidential nominees legal requirement to give the government advance notice of which classified materials will be discussedbut offered no expiration date for the theoretically temporary reprieve. Legal analysts have worried that a strategy of continual delays could be the Trump-appointed judges way of surreptitiously dismissing the trial altogether.

Cobb also accused Cannon of simply failing to understand the caseor the determination of the serial fraudster being tried.

Trump has a consistent record of lying about the judicial process, and his perception of that process is really odd, Cobb said, pointing to Trumps accusation that the Biden administration had authorized the FBI to shoot him during its search and seizure of Mar-a-Lagoa claim that was, in actuality, a wild, willful misread of a standard policy statement regarding the use of deadly force.
The closure of UW branch campuses, including UW-Plattevilles Richland campus, UW-Milwaukees Washington County and UW-Oshkoshs Fond du Lac campuses, have left local communities facing potential economic crises. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner)

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is requesting that the state budget committee release $20 million meant to create a grant program that would support communities where a University of Wisconsin branch campus has closed.

The request is the third submitted to the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) by Gov. Tony Evers administration this week, bringing the total amount to be released to $45 million. The requests come as lawmakers and Evers have been in conflict over the release of other state funding that was improved in the budget, including funds for fighting PFAS contamination of local drinking water supplies, grants to support hospitals in western Wisconsin and a new literacy program in schools.

The closure of UW branch campuses, including UW-Plattevilles Richland campus, UW-Milwaukees Washington County campus and UW-Oshkoshs Fond du Lac campus, have left local communities facing potential economic crises.

WEDCs request would allow the agency to implement the grant program as instructed by a law passed by the Legislature in February and signed by Evers in March. Under the law, communities will be eligible for a $2 million grant.

Evers said in a statement that a lack of meaningful investments in the UW system has caused the recent campus closures along with staff layoffs, and the state needs to quickly work to address the challenges to prevent additional layoffs and closures.

This funding is critically important in the meantime to help communities like Richland Center, Washington County, Fond du Lac, and Marinette find new uses for the infrastructure and existing buildings to support local communities and economies, Evers said.

When Evers signed the bill, he used his partial veto power to eliminate requirements that local communities make a 20% match to receive the state funding and language that prohibited communities from using the funding for redeveloping facilities to be used for academic purposes.

Evers also eliminated language requiring WEDC to get approval from the Joint Finance Committee before releasing funds and requiring the grants go to Richland County and then Fond du Lac County, Washington County, and Marinette County before any other communities could receive the support. He said in his veto message that those partial vetoes are meant to help avoid delays in the delivery of funds to communities.

I look forward to the Joint Finance Committee releasing these funds without delay so we can get them into the hands of the folks who need them and revitalize these campus sites as soon as possible, Evers said.

The post Evers requests release of $20 million for communities affected by UW branch campus closures appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
KYODO NEWS - May 23, 2024 - 20:28 | All, World

French President Emmanuel Macron visited New Caledonia on Thursday for talks with local officials over a solution to the deadly riots that have rocked the French Pacific territory since early last week.

The unrest has involved protestors seeking independence from France and has led to the closure of the island's international airport, with foreign nationals seeking to evacuate.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry said that an additional 38 short-term visitors to the island left for Australia on Wednesday, bringing the total of evacuated Japanese nationals to 42. A total of around 230 Japanese nationals, including about 20 short-term visitors, remain in New Caledonia.

Speaking to reporters after arriving at La Tontouta international airport early Thursday, Macron said he wanted to ensure a return to peace, calm and security "as quickly as possible" following more than a week of rioting that has seen six people killed, more than 280 arrested and left businesses looted and destroyed.

The president met with local political and business leaders to discuss economic reconstruction, support and rapid response, as well as political questions on the future of the French-ruled archipelago, where the indigenous Kanak people have long pursued independence from the French state.

The violence broke out on May 13 as lawmakers in Paris adopted a constitutional amendment that would widen voter eligibility in the territory's provincial elections to French residents who have lived there for at least 10 years, a move that local leaders fear will dilute the primarily pro-independence vote of the Kanak population.

Speaking before the meeting with local leaders, Macron called for a "frank and open debate" on the political and institutional future of New Caledonia, saying all stakeholders must be brought to the table to find a constructive appeasement.

Related coverage:

4 Japanese in New Caledonia evacuate with support from Australia

France to deploy military to New Caledonia to quell riots
Welcome back to Everythings Political, Capital Bs weekly news, culture, and politics newsletter!

In this edition, learn about the U.S. Supreme Courts devastating decision on a South Carolina congressional map, the pardon of a man who killed a Black Lives Matter protester, voting rights in Louisiana, the search for a missing Black woman in Mississippi, a pro-insurrectionist flag flying outside a U.S. Supreme Court justices home, and Abbott Elementarys radical commitment to Black joy.

Now, on with the show.

Black South Carolinians Cant Catch a Break

The Palmetto State wont have a fair map in 2024. What a gut-wrenching reversal.

In a 6-3 decision on Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that South Carolinas congressional map isnt a racial gerrymander. Earlier, a lower court had struck down the map.

According to Justice Samuel Alitos opinion for the majority, if a state defends a map by saying that it isnt a racial gerrymander but rather a partisan one, then the plaintiffs must demonstrate that a partisan gerrymander is possible without targeting voters of color.

The problem? Race and party are linked, particularly in the South. This means that the most surefire way for Republican lawmakers to draw a map that benefits their party is by targeting Black voters.

As Brenda Murphy, the president of the South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, a plaintiff in the case, said earlier this year, For over a century, the NAACP has worked fervently to protect Black Americans access to the ballot box. Make no mistake  these discriminatory maps are a direct attempt to suppress Black voices ahead of a consequential election.

A Heartbreaking Pardon

The decision was both chilling and telling.

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott fulfilled a long-held pledge last Thursday, when he pardoned Daniel Perry, a former Army sergeant serving 25 years in prison for fatally shooting Garrett Foster, a 28-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran, at a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest.

Fosters mother said that she feels as if the peace she and so many others had fought for has been ripped right from under us.

For Black Americans and those who embrace racial justice, Abbotts pardon sends an alarming message  that murder can be forgiven as long as your target has the wrong politics.

Or as Slates Joel D. Anderson put it on X, These people really hate us, man. And theyre increasingly unafraid of proving it.

Voting Rights in the Bayou State

Theres been no shortage of action in Louisiana when it comes to voting rights.

Last Thursday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, known for its conservatism, began revisiting a 1986 case and its resulting consent decree, an agreement ensuring that Louisianas Supreme Court elections dont violate the countrys Voting Rights Act. Louisiana appealed to the court because, now, it wants to abolish the decree, which has been a boon for Black representation on the bench.

And last Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court gave the greenlight for Louisiana to use a congressional map with two majority-Black districts in the 2024 elections. Even so, the issue is poised for a showdown during the next term, which starts in the fall. The court will likely hear a challenge from a group of non-African American Louisianans who insist that using a map that complies with the Voting Rights Act discriminates against white Americans and, as a result, violates the 14th and 15th Amendments.

Together, these two cases shine a light on the uncertainty looming over Black voting rights  and the importance of keeping an eye on the Bayou State in the months ahead.

Searching for Latasha Crump Coleman

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi has a plea for the FBI  help.

The Democratic lawmaker last week called on the authorities to investigate the disappearance of Latasha Crump Coleman, a 46-year-old Jackson native.

The expertise and resources of the FBI are essential in situations like these, where time is of the essence and the need for a thorough, exhaustive investigation is paramount, Thompson said.

Colemans disappearance might bring to mind the larger epidemic of missing Black Americans.

As my colleague Christina Carrega reported last year, while Black women and girls make up only 7% of the U.S. population, they account for 40% of missing women and girls cases.

I encourage you to check out her story to learn more about the lawmakers from California to Wisconsin to New York who are introducing legislation to focus the countrys collective attention on a crisis thats too often ignored.

Waving the Flag of the Far Right?

Wednesday, news broke that an Appeal to Heaven flag was seen flying over U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos vacation home last summer. The flag, which was carried by rioters on Jan. 6, is a symbol of support for former President Donald J. Trump, for a religious strand of the Stop the Steal campaign and for a push to remake American government in Christian terms, The New York Times reported.

This comes just a week after we learned that an upside-down American flag flew outside Alitos primary residence 10 days after the insurrection. The inverted flag was used by Trump followers around the time of Jan. 6 to broadcast their belief in the lie that the contest had been stolen.

When asked about the upside-down flag, Alito pointed the finger at his wife, telling The New York Times that he had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag and that it was briefly placed by Mrs. Alito in response to a neighbors use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs. At press time, Alito has made no comments on the Appeal to Heaven flag, and its unknown if the same or a similarly critical neighbor also has a home near the couples beach house.

We cant say for sure what these incidents might reveal about Alitos jurisprudence. But the fact that he and Justice Clarence Thomas are linked to attempts to block the 2020 election and, more generally, thwart multiracial democracy is troubling.

The Supreme Court is set to rule on two consequential cases involving the attack on the Capitol. One would determine whether Trump is immune from prosecution on election subversion charges. The other case, which arrived to the court during the weeks in which an Appeal to Heaven flag billowed above Alitos summer getaway, would decide whether prosecutors can charge Jan. 6 rioters with obstruction.

The Everlasting Joy of Abbott Elementary

Black students have always had it rough.

Disciplinary policies with roots in widespread resistance to school desegregation efforts still banish Black kids from classrooms. And as President Joe Biden recently noted on the campaign trail, Black borrowers face a disproportionate debt burden when they try to pay back their student loans.

These are just two reasons why, to me, the Emmy-winning series Abbott Elementary feels like a balm  or at least like a temporary reprieve. The show, whose Season 3 finale aired on Wednesday, lets Black students have fun.

Starring Quinta Brunson as the bright-eyed teacher Janine Teagues (Brunson is also the shows creator), Abbott Elementary charts the chaotic adventures of a group of educators at the titular, largely Black public school in Philadelphia.

The series doesnt shy away from the major challenges that the Abbott crew faces, such as relentless funding woes and bureaucratic hurdles. But neither does it forget its center of gravity: the delightful kids.

One of my favorite episodes is a Halloween special where a boy nicknamed Baby Thanos takes a stash of candy and distributes it to the other students, turning them into a horde of sugar-addled tyrants who threaten to take over the school.

This levity, this Black joy, is the shows stock-in-trade. And I cant wait to indulge in it again when Abbott Elementary eventually returns for Season 4.

Pledging my loyalty to Baby Thanos,

Brandon Tensley

Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified Samuel Alitos title. He is a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The post Everythings Political, Including a South Carolina Map appeared first on Capital B News.
As soon as she saw the eviction notice posted on her Columbus apartment door, Lanika Carpenter knew where to go.

Carpenter, 32, of the South Side, found Community Mediation Services of Central Ohio (CMS) when going through the same process a few years ago.

"They really are just the best thing ever," she said.

The nonprofit agency helped her come to an agreement with her landlord last month so that she can stay in her home after she fell behind on rent due to unexpected health issues.

Community Mediation Services provides a nonadversarial, neutral approach to disputes, organizers say, and the process is confidential and voluntary.

Dana Comparetto, a mediation specialist, works with people facing eviction in Franklin County Municipal Court. Comparetto helps tenants, landlords and attorneys work out solutions between parties in an eviction dispute.

Since 2014, the agency has had an office and tables outside Franklin County Municipal Courts Eviction Court, where people can come to them before seeing a magistrate and hopefully come to an agreement to catch up on their payments and stay in their home  or vacate the premises and avoid going through court proceedings at all.

Though proven to work, services like Community Mediation Services are often only well-funded by government agencies in times of crisis, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis, said Deanna Pantin Parrish, who is on the faculty at Harvard Law School and studies landlord-tenant mediation.

And not having well-funded mediation services can have dire consequences, she said.

Eviction mediation doesnt just keep people housed, it keeps people alive, Parrish said.

Eviction set outs where law enforcement officials remove a person's belongings from a rented residence and change their locks can result in violence, she said.

In March 2023, for example, a Cincinnati woman shot and killed three of her family members moments before deputies arrived at her house to serve her with eviction papers and remove them from their foreclosed home.

There have been more than 80 eviction-related deaths since July 2021, Parrish found while working to track media reports of violent outcomes of eviction with Princeton's Eviction Lab. More than 30 of them took place in 2023. Physical altercations also happen between tenants and landlords.

Evictions can additionally cause poverty, Parrish said.

Increases in homelessness and hospital visits and declines in financial health and credit scores result from evictions, according to a study by the Tobin Center for Economic Policy at Yale University. Evictions also remain on residents' records, making it difficult, if not impossible, to find new housing.

People who are evicted  disproportionately Black and Latino individuals  are more than 300% more likely to use an emergency shelter compared with those who have not been through the process, the study found. Eviction can also decrease people's annual earnings by nearly 15% over two years because they disrupt more than just housing, according to the study.

Evictions are at a 20-year high in Franklin County

Eviction filings hit at a 20-year high in Franklin County in 2023 at 23,921, and are expected to continue to rise this year, according to the Franklin County Municipal Court.

During an 18-year period, the Eviction Lab found that, on average, 3.6 million evictions had been filed every year since 2000  that is, approximately nine evictions filed for every 100 households.

Tenants and landlords working with Community Mediation Services save time and money, with people often resolving their disputes within a day or two instead of the weeks, months and sometimes even years it can take through court, CMS Executive Director Shelley Whalen said.

Last year, CMS helped 1,900 tenants (a total of 4,448 household members) and reached an agreement in 97% of its cases, Whalen said.

A year after tenants worked with CMS, 86% of them had no subsequent evictions, she said.

How does mediation work?

When people facing eviction or who have been evicted approach mediation specialist Dana Comparetto, she explains what she does and what's involved in the mediation process.

"What we do is help anybody. Landlord or tenant," said Comparetto, who has worked for CMS for eight years. "A lot of people don't have anyone to help them."

Comparetto said she has seen a shift in the reasons tenants face evictions over the years.

"Before COVID, people had to bury a parent or use funds to divert it to something very important in life," she said. "Now, people are just trying to survive because everything is so expensive."

Comparetto said she has also seen rents steadily increase, pushing people in all kinds of situations, especially older adults, out of their homes more often than before.

Median rent in Columbus was at $1,298 per month in December, according to Yardi Matrix, a real estate service.

The key to being a mediator, Comparetto said, is staying impartial.

"There are always two sides to every story," she said. "We want the best outcome for both parties."

Mediation as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic

With federal and state eviction moratoriums in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were fears of large amounts of evictions happening as soon as they lifted.

Federal funding made available during the height of the pandemic helped develop new mediation programs and grow existing ones across the nation, Parrish said.

In 2022, there were at least 26 such programs in the country and at least 15 of them were formed as a direct response to the pandemic, she said.

People facing eviction wait to be seen by various resource groups outside eviction court at the Franklin County Municipal Courthouse.

Mediation programs can be more than a Band-Aid, Parrish said, they can also help prevent eviction.

But she and others worry about what happens to these programs when federal pandemic-related funding runs out.

"Eviction mediation programs come and go based on political will and sufficient funding," Parrish said. "For these programs to really bloom and do their necessary work, they need early and ongoing investment so that they can intervene in disputes in an early and ongoing way."

dking@dispatch.com

@DanaeKing

Dana Comparetto, a mediation specialist, works with people facing eviction at the Franklin County Municipal Courthouse. Comparetto works with tenants, landlords and attorneys to work out solutions between parties in an eviction process. Community Mediation Services is a neutral third party non-profit that works with tenants and landlords before they see the magistrate in eviction court to come to an agreement so the tenant can pay and stay or move out with more time.

Dana Comparetto, a mediation specialist, works with people facing eviction at the Franklin County Municipal Courthouse. Comparetto works with tenants, landlords and attorneys to work out solutions between parties in an eviction process. Community Mediation Services is a neutral third party non-profit that works with tenants and landlords before they see the magistrate in eviction court to come to an agreement so the tenant can pay and stay or move out with more time.

Dana Comparetto, a mediation specialist, works with people facing eviction at the Franklin County Municipal Courthouse. Comparetto works with tenants, landlords and attorneys to work out solutions between parties in an eviction process. Community Mediation Services is a neutral third party non-profit that works with tenants and landlords before they see the magistrate in eviction court to come to an agreement so the tenant can pay and stay or move out with more time.

Dana Comparetto, a mediation specialist, works with people facing eviction at the Franklin County Municipal Courthouse. Comparetto works with tenants, landlords and attorneys to work out solutions between parties in an eviction process. Community Mediation Services is a neutral third party non-profit that works with tenants and landlords before they see the magistrate in eviction court to come to an agreement so the tenant can pay and stay or move out with more time.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus evictions: Will funding last for eviction meditation program?
A key International Brotherhood of Boilermakers employee who served as chief of staff and assistant to the former president pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of racketeering conspiracy, accused of scheming with others to steal from the union.

Tyler Brown, 44, who reported directly to Newton B. Jones, entered the guilty plea at a hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

Did you realize when you did those things that what you were doing was in violation of the law? U.S. Magistrate Teresa J. James asked Brown.

Yes, I did, Brown replied.

Brown, who has a law degree, is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 22. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Federal law also says that if any person derived financial gain or loss because of the offense, the defendant may be fined twice the amount of that gain or loss.

The felony charge comes a year after the Kansas City, Kansas-based unions executive council voted to oust Jones as international president, accusing him of misusing union funds for personal gain  including funneling large sums of money to his Ukrainian wife for work she never performed. That led to a monthslong court battle over who controlled the union.

According to the court filing, Brown and others known and unknown comprised what prosecutors called the Boilermakers Union Enterprise that was engaged in foreign and interstate commerce.

The document says the purposes of the Boilermakers Union Enterprise included enriching the members and associates of the Boilermakers Union Enterprise through, among other things, theft from a labor organization, and preserving and protecting the power and profits of the Boilermakers Union Enterprise through theft from a labor organization.

Brown was a primary figure within the Boilermakers Union Enterprise, prosecutors allege, as well as an employee and member of the union.

Beginning in or about January 2013 until in or about October 2022, Defendant Tyler Brown participated in the activities of the Boilermakers Union Enterprise as Executive Director of Industrial Sector Operations, Chief of Staff, and Special Assistant to the International President of the Boilermakers Union, the court filing says.

From 2018 to 2022, it says, he held all three positions at once and reported directly to Jones.

The filing does not name any co-conspirators.

Brown reported directly to Jones from 2013 through October 2022 and carried out his directives, according to a news release Thursday afternoon from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Between those dates, Brown was involved in numerous instances of unlawful misappropriation of union funds, the release said.

Among his actions, it said: Purchasing merchandise and hundreds of restaurant meals for the International President and his wife in their hometown that were not necessary to conduct union business or benefit the union or its members and employing several family members of international officers who received several hundred thousand dollars in salary, reimbursed expenses, unearned vacations, and benefit contributions for minimal or no productive work.

Other unlawful misappropriations of funds, the release said, involved paying for dozens of international trips to Europe, Asia, and Australia for large entourages of international officers and employees of the Boilermakers Union, their families, and outside guests whose travel was not necessary to conduct union business or benefit the union or its members.

Brown occupied a position of trust with the union and its members, the filing says, and was subject to several fiduciary duties, including holding the unions money and property solely for the benefit of the organization and its members and managing, investing and spending the unions money and property in accordance with its constitution.

Brown also was required to refrain from holding or acquiring any financial or personal interest that conflicted with those of the union and to account for any profit he received in connection with transactions conducted by him or under his direction, the document says.

Brown was charged in federal court on May 16, and Thursday was his initial court appearance. He first pleaded not guilty, then during his arraignment changed his plea to guilty.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra told the judge that as part of the plea agreement, the government is recommending that the court sentence Brown to no more than 60 months in prison and impose no fine or restitution. James told Brown that those were recommendations but that the court could depart from them at sentencing.

James released Brown with the conditions that he surrender his passport, remain in the United States and possess no firearms or other weapons.

The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers has about 45,000 members who fabricate and maintain steam boilers and engines for industrial uses in heavy manufacturing, shipbuilding, utility, rail, metal work, and construction industries in the United States and Canada.

The union represents members in collective bargaining with employers throughout the United States and Canada with respect to wages, hours, grievances, and other terms and conditions of employment.

The battle over control of the union erupted when members of its executive council voted June 2, 2023, to remove Jones as the international president, alleging he had misappropriated union funds for his own use.

The executive council found that Jones ordered the union to give Jones wife, Kateryna, more than $100,000 plus benefits in back pay for apparently no union purpose while she was living in the Ukraine and spent more than $20,000 in union funds for flights to Ukraine to visit his wife and to go to the home which he owns in the Ukraine.

Jones and his wife also turned in about $40,000 in receipts for meals for them and other family members when at their home in North Carolina  some quite lavish and expensive  with no justification for the expenses, the executive council found.

Jones, who had led the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers since his father retired in 2003, denied any wrongdoing and said the executive council had no authority under the unions constitution to dismiss him.

The case ended up in federal court after the union filed a civil suit against the executives who ousted Jones, requesting a temporary restraining order and then an injunction to prohibit Jones removal. Though the lawsuit was filed by the union, many members said it didnt represent their feelings and they wanted no part of it.

The union executives fought back, filing a counterclaim against Jones, his wife and the unions secretary-treasurer, William Creeden. They asked the court for a temporary restraining order followed by an injunction enforcing their decision to remove Jones.

The counterclaim alleged that Jones misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars from the union and its members. But instead of putting a stop to the practice, it said, Creeden authorized the transactions. And because four of the unions five top executives had participated in the internal disciplinary process that led to Jones ouster, they said, Jones had engaged in a campaign of retaliation against them.

At a June 20 hearing, Chief Judge Eric F. Melgren ordered a stay of the executive councils actions to remove Jones and the councils decision to elect retired international vice president Warren Fairley to replace him.

But Melgren also ordered that any efforts to remove the executive council members from office for expelling Jones be stopped. And he said that Jones action to remove them from other appointments, such as committees and trust funds, would be stayed, saying it was clearly done in retaliation for the officers ousting him.

In August, Melgren upheld the June 2 decision by the unions top executives to remove Jones as president.

The Star investigated the Boilermakers in 2012, finding that Jones and other executives were living the good life. Jones salary and business expenses totaled more than $607,000, which put him above the presidents of the biggest unions in the country. The newspaper also found that several of Jones family members and relatives of other officers were earning hefty union salaries as well.

A followup story in 2017 found that little had changed. Six-figure salaries were still common for officers and their relatives, as were fine dining, stays in posh hotels and expensive hunting retreats. Cars were still given as parting gifts for retired employees, and hundreds of thousands of dollars continued to be spent on promotional events and videos  all while membership continued its downward spiral and the unions pension fund struggled to stay afloat. And federal authorities, including the U.S. Department of Labor, had investigated the $28 million Boilermaker Vacation Plan and one of its local lodges.

The unions 2022 annual report, filed with the Labor Department for the period ending June 30, 2022, showed that Jones salary and disbursements for official business totaled $656,179.

Some of his relatives remained on the payroll, including his wife Kateryna, who as special assistant to the international president received salary and disbursements of $210,369. Jones son, Cullen, made $115,422 as film project coordinator. And Jones daughter, Shea, received $113,590 as a graphic artist.
Ex-inmate who faced 100 years in prison reunites with dog she trained behind bars

MCLOUD, Okla. (KFOR)  A former Oklahoma inmate who faced a 100-year sentence was recently released from prison after turning her life around, and she reunited with a special friend.

In April 2000, Melissa Morgan was sentenced to a century in prison for a robbery in Tulsa County, according to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC).

She made positive changes to her life after getting involved in several programs at the Mable Bassett Correctional Center, including Guardian Angels. Through the program, inmates train dogs that come from shelters, rescues or families. They teach them basic commands like sit and stay. Then, the pets go back home or get put up for adoption.

The goal of this program is to make sure that the dogs dont go back to shelters, but to actually go to homes, said ODOC public information officer Kay Thompson.

Mini-bikers arrested after New Years Eve brawl with actor Ian Ziering

While incarcerated, Morgan trained a Labrador mix named Ezera. The dog meant so much to her that her family eventually adopted him, hoping that one day he and Morgan could reunite.

Eventually, the Pardon and Parole Board granted Morgan a shorter sentence. She then reunited with the dog that gave her hope behind bars.

Probably one of the most transformational experiences Ive ever had in my life, Morgan told ODOC officials in a video interview published on May 15. I found my faith. I discovered what the word hope meant.

Officials said the Guardian Angels program has been successful; however, Morgan is the first-ever inmate to adopt. They hope there will be more to come.

It gives them something to look forward to and help them serve their time without, you know, just sitting around and being bored. So, it really does help the dog and helps the inmate, as well, said Thompson.

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 Queen City News.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A former U.S. Marine found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2022 death of a man in Ridgecrest was sentenced Thursday to two years probation.

Brian Coykendall, 34, had faced a murder charge at his trial last month but jurors convicted him of the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Man guilty of murder in Lamont crash that killed 3 women

His co-defendant, Erwin Moore Jr., 30, was acquitted.

The two were accused of killing Matthew Ian Peterson on March 4, 2022. Peterson, 43, was severely beaten and shot once in the back of the head, a prosecutor said.

Defense attorneys at trial argued Peterson was accidentally shot in a struggle over a gun. A prosecutor said the killing was planned in advance.

On Thursday, Deputy Public Defender T. Alan Rogers, Coykendalls attorney, asked that the court sentence his client to probation. He said Coykendall suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder from his service in Afghanistan, which should be considered a mitigating factor.

The goal here is to punish someone, but its also to rehabilitate them, Rogers said.

Prosecutor Christine Antonios argued Coykendall should be sentenced to a four-year prison term. She acknowledged he had enough custody credits to fulfill the sentence and be placed on parole, but said parole restrictions were more appropriate than probation.

In deciding on probation, Judge Kenneth C. Twisselman II said he found it significant Coykendall wrote a letter expressing remorse and wishing Petersons children still had their father. Twisselman said he believed the letter was sincere. He said in many cases defendants refuse to admit wrongdoing or show remorse.

The judge told Coykendall this sentence gives him an opportunity to get his life back on track. He said he hopes Coykendall completes probation, gets whatever treatment is necessary for his PTSD and stays out of trouble.

Peterson and Coykendall were once friends. But after Peterson went to jail, Coykendall started dating his girlfriend.

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Antonios said at trial Coykendall hatched a plan to kill Peterson if he returned to Ridgecrest. The evidence, she said, suggested Coykendall and Moore had an agreement in which Moore  who lives outside the county and was also a Marine  would drive to Ridgecrest and assist Coykendall in the slaying.

When Petersons body was found shortly after his death, his hands were bound behind his back. Surveillance video, while not showing what happened, captured his screams for help.

Moores attorney, Mark Anthony Raimondo, told the jury a fight broke out between Coykendall and Peterson after Moore arrived, and when Moore tried to break it up a gun fell from his waistband.

There was a struggle over the gun, he said. It went off, and the round struck Peterson.

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 KGET 17.
The relationship between Georgias District Attorney Fani Willis and the states former prosecutor Nathan Wade grew organically over time, he told Joy Reid on The ReidOut Wednesday night. It was something that was not deliberate or intentional. I made the statement earlier that workplace romances are as American as apple pie, right? That was not to make light of the situation. That was just to say that it could happen to anyone.

Its a thing that happened to us, Wade said, describing the matter in passive voice. I felt like we dealt with it in a manner that was professional. We kept our personal lives personal and private, and I still believe that it had no place in the courtroom, not now and not then.

Now on #TheReidOut: Former Georgia special prosecutor Nathan Wade on his former relationship with Fulton County DA Fani Willis.



"Our relationship was professional. Our relationship grew organically over time. It was something that was not deliberate or intentional." pic.twitter.com/nAsFDjwGd0  The ReidOut (@thereidout) May 22, 2024

Wade insisted that the pairs relationship was strictly professional when he joined the case on November 1, 2021the same day he filed for divorce from his ex-wife, who alleged Wade used marital funds to entertain Willis and attempted to subpoena the DA as part of the divorce case.

After Reid agreed that workplace romances happen, Wade offered, I needed to be clear that, when the relationship began, my then-wife was not in the home, she had moved to Texas, and we had been separated for a period of time.

We did not have a relationship. She knew and I knew, by agreement, that as soon as our youngest child graduated high school and matriculated into college, then we would then formally file the divorce, he added.

He and Willis didnt enter into their relationship lightly given the high-profile nature of the states case against Donald Trump, Wade continued. He said, She and I had conversations about that. When we felt as though the relationship was going to a place that could potentially become an issue with our work, then we sat and we had a conversation and we did what was necessary to protect the sanctity of the case.

Judge McAfee concluded that Willis and Wades affair didnt meet the criteria of a conflict of interest, but he criticized Willis for unprofessional behavior and tremendous lapse in judgment, and said the relationship gave her office a significant appearance of impropriety. He ordered Wade to resign as a condition of not firing Willis.

Since resigning, Wade told Reid he has to empty my voice-mail three and four times a day, having to have security with me at my office.

I love, love, love my fraternity brothers, Alpha Phi Alpha. I love them. They were offering to send armed guards to protect me just so that I could get some sleep. And itmuch-needed, he continued. These people were doing things unimaginable. At certain points, I had to call my parents to make certain that they didnt change my name and I didnt know about it.

My children couldnt come to visit me because of the danger that they would face. But those threats are real.

The revelation of Wade and Willis affair surprised and angered many, including the women of The View, who worried the information could help Trump delay the trial until after the 2024 presidential election. I just, personally, am pissed off about this, Alyssa Farah Griffin said in January.

This is the case of her lifetime, its a sweeping RICO case, its a tough one  I think she actually has what she needs to prove this case  but one of my best friends, Cassidy Hutchinson, spent months in Atlanta protected by US Marshals to testify for this case, she continued. And now it may all fall apart because these allegations of impropriety.

The affair also dominated parts of Willis testimony in the case itself. Trump codefendant Michael Roman accused Willis of benefiting financially from the relationship with Wade, something both parties denied.

Watch the interview with Nathan Wade in the video above.

The post Ex-Prosecutor in Atlanta Trump Trial Defends Dating Fani Willis: Workplace Relationships Are as American as Apple Pie | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
FILE - Maryland State Attorney for Baltimore City Marilyn Mosby speaks during a news conference, Oct. 11, 2022, in Baltimore. Sentencing for the former Baltimore state's attorney is set to open Thursday, May 23, 2024, at a federal courthouse in Greenbelt, a Maryland suburb of the nation's capital. Mosby is to be sentenced for lying about her personal finances so she could improperly access retirement funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

GREENBELT, Md. (AP)  A former Baltimore city prosecutor who achieved a national profile for charging police officers in a Black mans death was spared prison time in her sentence Thursday for perjury and mortgage fraud.

Democratic former State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby's sentence includes 12 months of home confinement, 100 hours of community service and three years of supervised release.

After the sentencing hearing, Mosby hugged her supporters, some of whom applauded when the judge announced the sentence.

I'm just so incredibly grateful, Mosby told dozens of supporters outside the courthouse. This is not over, but God was here today."

Mosby was convicted of lying about her finances to make early withdrawals from retirement funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, and fraudulently claiming that her own $5,000 was a gift from her then-husband as she closed on a Florida condominium.

Mosby, 44, has maintained her innocence. She declined to address U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby before learning her sentence. Her lawyers said they would appeal her conviction and sentence while they seek a presidential pardon,

It's a sad day for Mosby and her family, the judge told her. Its also a sad day for the city of Baltimore, said Griggsby, adding that Mosby displayed a pattern of dishonesty while serving in a public office.

She also noted that her crimes didnt involve any taxpayer money and said the prospect of separating Mosby from her two young daughters weighed very heavily on her decision.

Griggsby questioned Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Delaney when he argued for a 20-month sentence. Are there victims and who are they? she asked.

Its a good question, your honor, Delaney responded. I get it. This isnt an embezzlement case.

Delaney said it harms the public when a public official lies under oath: All citizens are victims when their public officials lie, he said.

Delaney also denied claims by Mosbys supporters that she is a victim of selective prosecution and said she has repeatedly lied about the case and prosecutors handling of it.

These lies demonstrate that Marilyn Mosby is unremorseful, that she has no regard for the truth, Delaney said.

Mosby gained national attention when she charged officers in the 2015 death of Freddie Gray, which led to riots and protests in the city. After three officers were acquitted, Mosbys office dropped charges against the other three officers. She ultimately served two terms as state's attorney before she was indicted and lost reelection.

James Wyda, one of Mosby's attorneys, argued that Mosby is in a category of one, a unique case.

This is not a public corruption case, he said. There was no financial loss to any victim.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump told the judge that imprisoning Mosby for a victimless, minor white-collar crime would be a grave injustice.

Crump said she dared to challenge the status quo while in office and suggested that prosecutors like her tend to be targeted for their pursuit of equal justice.

The prosecution of Marilyn Mosby seems intended to send a chilling message to our progressive prosecutors, he said.

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Mosby withdrew $90,000 from Baltimore citys deferred compensation plan and used it to make down payments on vacation homes in Kissimmee and Longboat Key, Florida.

Prosecutors argued that Mosby improperly accessed the funds under provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act by falsely claiming that the pandemic had harmed her travel-oriented side business.

In court documents, Mosby's lawyers argued that the retirement funds came from her own income and that no one was defrauded because she paid an early withdrawal penalty and all federal taxes on the money. The government said that money remained the property of the city until she was legally eligible, and her perjury harmed everyone who followed the rules during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mosbys mortgage fraud conviction stems from a $5,000 gift letter she submitted when taking a loan to buy the Longboat Key property. Prosecutors said the letter falsely stated that Mosbys husband was giving her a $5,000 gift for the closing when it actually was her own money.

Without the gift letter, the loan would never have been provided and Ms. Mosby would not have obtained the property. No gift letter, no loan, prosecutors wrote.

Federal prosecutors also said she deserves prison because unlike others convicted of white-collar crimes, shes expressed no remorse or contrition and has tried to delegitimize the case against her.

Ms. Mosby was charged and convicted because she chose to repeatedly break the law, not because of her politics or policies, prosecutors wrote.

Mosbys attorneys urged the judge to spare her from prison. They said she is the only public official who has been prosecuted in Maryland for federal offenses that entail no victim, no financial loss, and no use of public funds.

Jail is not justice for Marilyn Mosby, her lawyers wrote.

Several of Mosbys supporters, including two of her siblings, urged the judge to show leniency.

We need Marilyn Mosby in our community. We need her experience, her knowledge, her training, said J. Wyndal Gordon, a criminal defense attorney who has known Mosby for a decade. He said Mosby was prosecuted for crimes that have no real victim and were unrelated to her public office.

Were here because they werent satisfied that they found nothing when they investigated her, Gordon said.

Mosby applied for a presidential pardon earlier this month. In a letter to President Joe Biden, the Congressional Black Caucus expressed support for her cause.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  For the third year in a row, drug overdoses are the leading cause of accidental death in Travis County. That was revealed by the Medical Examiner Thursday afternoon with the release of the 2023 Medical Examiner Report.

KXAN exclusively received an advanced copy.

The report shows that in 2023, 486 people died of overdoses in Travis County. Thats up from 417 people the year prior. Looking specifically at fentanyl-related deaths, there were 279 in the most recent report compared to 245 in 2022.

The report is always a kind of grim measure of how bad the overdose crisis is in Travis County, County Judge Andy Brown said.

While the numbers are an increase from 2022 to 2023, the percentage in which they climbed is less dramatic than it was from 2021 to 2022.

The Travis County Medical Examiner, Dr. Keith Pinckard, noted Thursday  saying the increase of fentanyl-related overdose deaths went from a more than 100% increase between 2021 and 2022 to a less than 20% increase between 2022 and 2023.

Brown contributed that to things like more access to naloxone  an overdose reversal medication  and more emphasis from the county on recovery housing.

Its always devastating to talk about the loss of members in our community but also we need to note that these are preventable deaths, Phil Owen said of the report Thursday. Hes both survived an overdose, lost a son to an overdose and now works with Communities for Recovery.

Brown also said the county signed on with a group that will help it collect data on non-fatal overdoses just a couple weeks ago. That company will use EMS, Medical Examiner and self-reported data to give the county a clearer picture of the problem.

I think once we get that data up and running we will see the ratio between overdoses that did not result in death and deaths from overdose. And I think that will really inform our public health work, whether its working or not, Brown said.

Families of victims asking for more resources

We brought the numbers to Carilu Bell and Stefanie Turner, both of whom have lost sons to fentanyl and are now part of a group called Texas Against Fentanyl.

Its sad. Its heartbreaking. Something should have been done a long time ago, responded Bell, who lost her son, Casey, to fentanyl almost three years ago. We also talked to Bell when the grim fentanyl-related death data was released last year.

Casey Copeland died of fentanyl poisoning in 2021. (KXAN photo/Grace Reader)

This is the greatest threat on our nation, yet its just not understood, its not talked about. We need to magnify this message, magnify this voice and move faster. We need to have a COVID-like response, Turner, the president of Texas Against Fentanyl, said.

Thats where the county is, once again, calling on state partners to help  by putting funding into education and resources and legalizing fentanyl test strips, which can help someone detect the fatal drug.

2022 REPORT: Drug overdoses leading cause of Travis County accidental deaths

The sad thing is that we could do different things to prevent those deaths that were not doing at the state level and we clearly need to do more at the local level, too, to address what is the number one of cause of accidental death in Travis County again in 2023, Brown said.

Thats something groups like Urban Alchemy, which runs the ARCH shelter downtown, says is a tool theyre using regardless. Theyve deployed a three-part strategy, which they say theyve seen a lot of success with in their California locations.

The education, the strips and the Narcan, said Kevin Lee, director of operations at Urban Alchemy here in Austin. Its a tool that needs to be implemented.

In the meantime, the families of victims of fentanyl poisoning are asking that people in Travis County take a real hard look at these numbers, and start educating themselves on how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

Talk about it. Dont shy away from it because it could be you that is impacted like this, Bell said.

Texas Against Fentanyl is hosting a substance abuse and mental health town hall Tuesday, May 28 from 10 am-noon. You can find more information about the event or learn more about the group here.

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 KXAN Austin.
Exclusive NJ beach to open to public on Sunday morning for the first time in 155 years

For the first time since 1869, a small slice of the Jersey Shore will be open to the public on Sunday mornings.

The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, which owns a picturesque beach, has had to agree to open its gates or face fines of up to $25,000 a day.

But the Christian group is not giving up the fight.

For 155 years we have closed our beach on Sunday mornings to honor God  a core pillar of this community since the founding of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, the organization said in a statement to The Post on Wednesday.

The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, a Methodist Christian group, has been forced to open its beach on the Jersey Shore on Sunday mornings for the first time in 155 years. AP

Now the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is ordering us to open our privately owned beach on Sunday mornings. We are challenging this order to preserve our property rights and religious freedom, the statement said.

We are currently compelled to comply with the NJDEP order but have not ceased nor abandoned our quest to protect our religious and property rights.

Still, the group said it would hire lifeguards to staff the beach in the hours before noon on Sundays, when it has historically opened to the public.

The Methodist association calls its land just north of Asbury Park Gods Square Mile at the Jersey Shore, and has closed the beach during those hours for generations in order to honor God.

After some locals complained and started to defy the groups decree, state regulators ordered on Oct. 12 that the beach must be open on Sunday mornings under New Jerseys beach access laws.

In court papers, the association fired back that the beach was open to the public for 365 days a year  and for 99.5% of the time, with the exception being Sunday mornings, and called that abundantly reasonable.

But the DEP ruled otherwise and ordered they cease its use of chains and padlocks or any other barriers that restrict reasonable public access to the beachfront.

In a ruling Tuesday, DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette denied the associations request to rescind the order, dismissing the claim that it was doing the right thing most of the time.

While [Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Associations] intent to comply with the Public Access Law during the majority of the calendar year is acknowledged, the associations legal compliance at most times does not justify its illegal violations at other times, LaTourette wrote.

The DEP order dictates that the association could be fined $25,000 per day if they violate it.

The Great Auditorium is at the heart of the beachfront property owned by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association on the Jersey Shore. The Methodist group has been on the side since 1869. AP

The New Jersey DEP commissioner said the Methodist group Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association has to open its beach all the time, not just most of the time. AP

The group was founded as a Methodist retreat, with religious services centered around a massive hall on the property called The Great Auditorium surrounded by tents occupied by pilgrims who come to worship.

Under a state charter dating to 1870, outsiders were prohibited from setting foot on the private beach during the weekly Sunday morning services.

But as the area grew, some neighbors took issue  and questioned whether the age-old practice was discriminating against non-Christians and other sectors of society.

Sun worshipers on the beach owned by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, which is in the middle of a legal dispute. AP

We just feel thats wrong, that its not what America is supposed to be about, neighbor Paul Martin told the Associated Press earlier this month.

It makes living here very uncomfortable when youre gay, when youre Jewish, an atheist or agnostic.

With Post wires
KYODO NEWS - May 23, 2024 - 22:02 | World, All, Japan

South Korea said Thursday that a trilateral summit involving Japan and China is scheduled to be held in Seoul on Monday, the first of its kind in more than four years amid an increasingly unstable regional security environment.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang are expected to discuss a wide range of topics, including people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation.

At the meeting, set to take place for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, the three leaders are likely to exchange views on how to address issues related to North Korea, as Pyongyang has continued to develop nuclear weapons and missiles.

Kishida said in a speech in Tokyo later in the day that Japan, South Korea and China will "keep engaging in practical cooperation among the three nations that share a great responsibility for peace and prosperity in the region."

A Japanese government official said a joint statement emphasizing the importance of boosting economic ties among the three Asian countries is being arranged for release after the trilateral summit.

Yoon, Kishida and Li are set to meet days after China's military on Thursday started two-day drills around Taiwan as a "strong punishment" for those seeking the island's "independence" and a "stern warning" to "external forces" against interference and provocation.

The exercises followed Monday's inauguration of Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te, whom China condemns as a separatist. He is the leader of the ruling, independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party.

It is uncertain whether Yoon, Kishida and Li will raise issues surrounding Taiwan, the official said. Taiwan and mainland China have been governed separately since they split as the result of a civil war in 1949. Beijing claims that Taiwan is part of China's "internal affairs."

The trilateral summit is supposed to be held annually on a rotating basis by the three nations, but it has occasionally been suspended due to a chill in Japan's relations with its two neighbors over historical and territorial disputes.

The summit was last held in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu in December 2019.

In Tokyo, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference that Kishida is slated to visit South Korea for two days from Sunday to participate in the trilateral summit and hold bilateral talks with Yoon.

On Sunday, Kishida and Yoon are certain to reaffirm the necessity of bolstering their security ties with the United States, said Hayashi, the top government spokesman. The two leaders last met in person in the United States in November 2023.

Since Yoon took office in May 2022, Japan-South Korea relations have been improving in the wake of South Korea's announcement in March last year of a solution to a long-standing wartime labor compensation dispute.

But fears are growing that bilateral ties could become frayed after the Japanese government said earlier this year that LY Corp., operator of the popular Line messaging app, relies too heavily on Naver Corp. of South Korea, a major shareholder of the Tokyo-based company, in the wake of a massive data breach at the firm.

With the government's call to review the capital relationship between LY and Naver triggering a backlash in South Korea, Kishida and Yoon may touch on the issue during their upcoming meeting, sources close to the matter said.

Related coverage:

Japan, South Korea leaders to agree in Seoul to tackle North Korea threats

China warns South Korea about closer ties with U.S., Japan

U.S., Japan, South Korea share concerns over yen, won depreciation
This article was originally published in The Conversation.

For more than 50 years, Asian American studies has been a recognized field at American colleges and universities. But outside of California, students who want to study it as a major or minor are usually out of luck.

However, the tide is beginning to turn.

Duke University created an academic minor in Asian American studies in 2022. Harvard University, long criticized for not offering enough courses in ethnic studies, hired two tenured faculty members in Asian American studies over the past two years.

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Vanderbilt University announced its new major and minor in the field in 2023. That same year, Williams College started its concentration, akin to a minor, and Fordham University started its minor.

Amherst College, where I teach, recently created a major in Asian American and Pacific Islander studies, to start in the fall of 2024. Amherst will be the first liberal arts college in the country with its own major in the field.

Southern Californias Claremont Colleges  Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, Pomona and Scripps  have collectively offered a shared major for 25 years. Public high schools across the country have similarly experienced growth in content on Asian Americans.

Decades of lobbying

These programs did not get going overnight. Students on these campuses  and others  campaigned for Asian American studies for years. Across the nation, student activists in the South, the Northeast and the Southwest continue to lobby for more courses and for majors or minors in the field.

But if student activism and faculty interest were all it took to achieve curricular change, Asian American studies and related fields would have been popping up on campuses long ago. At Amherst, students had been pushing for greater attention to Asian American studies for 50 years.

The recent commitment to teaching more courses and hiring permanent faculty  as opposed to visiting faculty  stems, in part, from tragedy. Programs began to grow as attacks on Asian Americans, including the 2021 murders of spa workers in Atlanta, increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Former President Donald Trumps repeated reference to COVID-19 as the Chinese virus added rhetorical fuel to racial animosity.

Battles against discrimination inspire new programs

Historically, ethnic studies programs have come into existence after protests against public discrimination. The establishment of Black, Native, Latino and Asian American studies in California followed the Civil Rights Movement and protests of the 1960s.

The discriminatory attacks that increased during the pandemic inspired a rise in activism among Asian American students. They wanted to embrace their heritage and see their own histories and experiences represented in course offerings. The attacks also made university administrators recognize that  contrary to their stereotype as problem-free, high achievers  Asian Americans experience a unique kind of discrimination in which they are forever foreign. They deserve greater attention in the college curriculum.

Related

What Teacher Preparation Programs Can Learn from Minority-Serving Institutions

As more schools join the roster of colleges offering programs in Asian American studies, the material included within Asian American studies is also expanding. The most common subjects in the Asian American program are cultural studies, literary studies and other interdisciplinary areas in the humanities. The field also has drawn on history and sociology, subjects that similarly question popular views about which racial groups have been in authority and why.

Now, prominent topics within Asian American studies include critical race theory and critiques of the United States as an empire and U.S. militarization.

Proponents of Asian American studies may be more likely to hold political views such as support for Palestinians and for affirmative action that share the perspectives found in these topics. Given that Asian American studies started in the 1960s and 1970s because of student activism, political activism has remained central to the field.

The fields foundation in the humanities and humanistic social sciences, however, has meant that other disciplines have been left out. This is also changing. In the past two years, for example, the Association for Asian American Studies, the largest professional association in the field, has stressed the need for more attention to the study of Asian America in social sciences such as political science, anthropology, economics and psychology. At an April 2024 symposium, the organization connected faculty from psychology, education, political science and other disciplines to the field and vice versa. It also provided a mentoring program for these faculty.

The field will likely continue to add to its areas of representation as it expands on campuses. A more comprehensive look at Asian American experiences may lead to a better understanding of the recent conditions that caused the number of programs on college campuses to increase. Understanding the rise of violence against Asian Americans, for instance, requires knowledge of the U.S. wars in Asia and their connection to individual Americans social psychology.

More than 50 years ago, Asian American studies were almost unheard of. In another 50 years, perhaps, programs that similarly combine subjects from multiple disciplines may become mainstream.

The Conversation

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Some provisions of the 2017 federal tax law expire at the end of next year, setting off debates about what changes to make to the tax code. (Douglas Sacha/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The race to harness the tax code is in full swing as economists and advocates across the political spectrum view the expiring Trump-era tax law as an opportunity to advance their economic priorities.

Democratic Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington said Wednesday that reworking the tax code will be a reflection of what your values are.

DelBene, who sits on the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy, said her priorities include modernizing the tax code, raising revenue via carbon fees on imported goods, and making permanent an expanded child tax credit akin to the temporary changes in place during the pandemic.

The top line is starting from what our values and goals are, and then looking at what the policies are that help us get there, DelBene said at a Politico-sponsored discussion on proposed tax law changes.

The early morning event at Washingtons Union Station brought together tax experts and advocates from Georgetown University Law Center, the Urban Institute, the Heritage Foundation and Groundwork Collaborative.

Tax overhaul

The massive tax overhaul ushered in under the Trump administration permanently cut the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%. The 2017 law, championed by Republicans as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, also put in place several temporary measures for corporations and small businesses. Some are phasing out or already expired, including immediate deductions for certain investments.

Temporary changes for households included marginal tax rate cuts across the board, a doubling of the child tax credit, and a near doubling of the standard deduction  all of which are set to expire Dec. 31, 2025.

A bipartisan bill to temporarily extend the expiring business incentives and expand the child tax credit beyond 2025 sailed through the U.S. House in late January, but has been stalled by U.S. Senate Republicans who oppose some of the child tax credit expansion proposals.

A May 2024 nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office report estimated extending the tax cuts would cost roughly $4.6 trillion over 10 years. The bulk of the cost would stem from keeping in place individual tax cuts, according to an analysis of the report by the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Critics of the 2017 law point to a recent March analysis from academics and members of the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Federal Reserve that shows that the laws benefits flowed to the highest earners.

DelBene said revisiting the corporate tax rate, even on the Republican side, is on the table and lawmakers will be talking about where the TCJA wasnt about investing and making sure that we were being fiscally responsible.

Incredibly bullish

Lindsay Owens, executive director of the Groundwork Collaborative, said Wednesday shes incredibly bullish on elected officials making fundamental changes to the tax code next year.

The progressive think tank sent a letter Wednesday to House and Senate leadership and top tax writers urging them to use the expiration of these provisions as an opportunity to address longstanding problems with our tax code, not just to tinker around the edges.

The letter was signed by 100 organizations from across the U.S., ranging from the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers to the National Womens Law Center and United Church of Christ.

Stephen Moore, who helped write the Trump-era tax law and is now the conservative Heritage Foundations senior visiting fellow in economics, said the 2017 law was a huge success and that were gonna definitely make those tax cuts permanent.

Moore is an economic adviser for former President Donald Trumps reelection effort, but said he was not speaking on behalf of the presidential campaign.

He said he does not agree with Trump on everything, including a promise to enact 10% tariffs on imported goods, reaching as high as 60% on Chinese imports.

A tariff is just a consumption tax, he said. And so you know, I think that it is not a great policy, in my opinion. But if youre gonna have a tariff, I would rather have a tariff that is uniform than trying to have, like, a protectionist tariff to, you know, protect this industry or that industry.

When pressed on data that shows funding the Internal Revenue Service increases revenue, Moore said that President Joe Bidens increase in funding for the agency is diabolical.

The post Experts eye tax changes ahead of Trump-era cuts sunset appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Some provisions of the 2017 federal tax law expire at the end of next year, setting off debates about what changes to make to the tax code. (Photo by Douglas Sacha/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The race to harness the tax code is in full swing as economists and advocates across the political spectrum view the expiring Trump-era tax law as an opportunity to advance their economic priorities.

Democratic Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington said Wednesday that reworking the tax code will be a reflection of what your values are.

DelBene, who sits on the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy, said her priorities include modernizing the tax code, raising revenue via carbon fees on imported goods, and making permanent an expanded child tax credit akin to the temporary changes in place during the pandemic.

The top line is starting from what our values and goals are, and then looking at what the policies are that help us get there, DelBene said at a Politico-sponsored discussion on proposed tax law changes.

The early morning event at Washingtons Union Station brought together tax experts and advocates from Georgetown University Law Center, the Urban Institute, the Heritage Foundation and Groundwork Collaborative.

Tax overhaul

The massive tax overhaul ushered in under the Trump administration permanently cut the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%. The 2017 law, championed by Republicans as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, also put in place several temporary measures for corporations and small businesses. Some are phasing out or already expired, including immediate deductions for certain investments.

Temporary changes for households included marginal tax rate cuts across the board, a doubling of the child tax credit, and a near doubling of the standard deduction  all of which are set to expire Dec. 31, 2025.

A bipartisan bill to temporarily extend the expiring business incentives and expand the child tax credit beyond 2025 sailed through the U.S. House in late January, but has been stalled by U.S. Senate Republicans who oppose some of the child tax credit expansion proposals.

A May 2024 nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office report estimated extending the tax cuts would cost roughly $4.6 trillion over 10 years. The bulk of the cost would stem from keeping in place individual tax cuts, according to an analysis of the report by the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Critics of the 2017 law point to a recent March analysis from academics and members of the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Federal Reserve that shows that the laws benefits flowed to the highest earners.

DelBene said revisiting the corporate tax rate, even on the Republican side, is on the table and lawmakers will be talking about where the TCJA wasnt about investing and making sure that we were being fiscally responsible.

Incredibly bullish

Lindsay Owens, executive director of the Groundwork Collaborative, said Wednesday shes incredibly bullish on elected officials making fundamental changes to the tax code next year.

The progressive think tank sent a letter Wednesday to House and Senate leadership and top tax writers urging them to use the expiration of these provisions as an opportunity to address long-standing problems with our tax code, not just to tinker around the edges.

The letter was signed by 100 organizations from across the U.S., ranging from the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers to the National Womens Law Center and United Church of Christ.

Stephen Moore, who helped write the Trump-era tax law and is now the conservative Heritage Foundations senior visiting fellow in economics, said the 2017 law was a huge success and that were gonna definitely make those tax cuts permanent.

Moore is an economic adviser for former President Donald Trumps reelection effort, but said he was not speaking on behalf of the presidential campaign.

He said he does not agree with Trump on everything, including a promise to enact 10% tariffs on imported goods, reaching as high as 60% on Chinese imports.

A tariff is just a consumption tax, he said. And so you know, I think that it is not a great policy, in my opinion. But if youre gonna have a tariff, I would rather have a tariff that is uniform than trying to have, like, a protectionist tariff to, you know, protect this industry or that industry.

When pressed on data that shows funding the Internal Revenue Service increases revenue, Moore said that President Joe Bidens increase in funding for the agency is diabolical.

The post Experts eye tax changes ahead of Trump-era cuts sunset appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Some provisions of the 2017 federal tax law expire at the end of next year, setting off debates about what changes to make to the tax code. (Douglas Sacha/Getty Images)

The race to harness the tax code is in full swing as economists and advocates across the political spectrum view the expiring Trump-era tax law as an opportunity to advance their economic priorities.

Democratic Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington said Wednesday that reworking the tax code will be a reflection of what your values are.

DelBene, who sits on the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy, said her priorities include modernizing the tax code, raising revenue via carbon fees on imported goods, and making permanent an expanded child tax credit akin to the temporary changes in place during the pandemic.

The top line is starting from what our values and goals are, and then looking at what the policies are that help us get there, DelBene said at a Politico-sponsored discussion on proposed tax law changes.

The early morning event at Washingtons Union Station brought together tax experts and advocates from Georgetown University Law Center, the Urban Institute, the Heritage Foundation and Groundwork Collaborative.

Tax overhaul

The massive tax overhaul ushered in under the Trump administration permanently cut the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%. The 2017 law, championed by Republicans as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, also put in place several temporary measures for corporations and small businesses. Some are phasing out or already expired, including immediate deductions for certain investments.

Temporary changes for households included marginal tax rate cuts across the board, a doubling of the child tax credit, and a near doubling of the standard deduction  all of which are set to expire Dec. 31, 2025.

A bipartisan bill to temporarily extend the expiring business incentives and expand the child tax credit beyond 2025 sailed through the U.S. House in late January, but has been stalled by U.S. Senate Republicans who oppose some of the child tax credit expansion proposals.

A May 2024 nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office report estimated extending the tax cuts would cost roughly $4.6 trillion over 10 years. The bulk of the cost would stem from keeping in place individual tax cuts, according to an analysis of the report by the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Critics of the 2017 law point to a recent March analysis from academics and members of the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Federal Reserve that shows that the laws benefits flowed to the highest earners.

DelBene said revisiting the corporate tax rate, even on the Republican side, is on the table and lawmakers will be talking about where the TCJA wasnt about investing and making sure that we were being fiscally responsible.

Incredibly bullish

Lindsay Owens, executive director of the Groundwork Collaborative, said Wednesday shes incredibly bullish on elected officials making fundamental changes to the tax code next year.

The progressive think tank sent a letter Wednesday to House and Senate leadership and top tax writers urging them to use the expiration of these provisions as an opportunity to address long-standing problems with our tax code, not just to tinker around the edges.

The letter was signed by 100 organizations from across the U.S., ranging from the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers to the National Womens Law Center and United Church of Christ.

Stephen Moore, who helped write the Trump-era tax law and is now the conservative Heritage Foundations senior visiting fellow in economics, said the 2017 law was a huge success and that were gonna definitely make those tax cuts permanent.

Moore is an economic adviser for former President Donald Trumps reelection effort, but said he was not speaking on behalf of the presidential campaign.

He said he does not agree with Trump on everything, including a promise to enact 10% tariffs on imported goods, reaching as high as 60% on Chinese imports.

A tariff is just a consumption tax, he said. And so you know, I think that it is not a great policy, in my opinion. But if youre gonna have a tariff, I would rather have a tariff that is uniform than trying to have, like, a protectionist tariff to, you know, protect this industry or that industry.

When pressed on data that shows funding the Internal Revenue Service increases revenue, Moore said that President Joe Bidens increase in funding for the agency is diabolical.

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The post Experts eye tax changes ahead of Trump-era cuts sunset appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Some provisions of the 2017 federal tax law expire at the end of next year, setting off debates about what changes to make to the tax code. (Photo by Douglas Sacha/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The race to harness the tax code is in full swing as economists and advocates across the political spectrum view the expiring Trump-era tax law as an opportunity to advance their economic priorities.

Democratic Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington said Wednesday that reworking the tax code will be a reflection of what your values are.

DelBene, who sits on the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy, said her priorities include modernizing the tax code, raising revenue via carbon fees on imported goods, and making permanent an expanded child tax credit akin to the temporary changes in place during the pandemic.

The top line is starting from what our values and goals are, and then looking at what the policies are that help us get there, DelBene said at a Politico-sponsored discussion on proposed tax law changes.

The early morning event at Washingtons Union Station brought together tax experts and advocates from Georgetown University Law Center, the Urban Institute, the Heritage Foundation and Groundwork Collaborative.

Tax overhaul

The massive tax overhaul ushered in under the Trump administration permanently cut the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%. The 2017 law, championed by Republicans as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, also put in place several temporary measures for corporations and small businesses. Some are phasing out or already expired, including immediate deductions for certain investments.

Temporary changes for households included marginal tax rate cuts across the board, a doubling of the child tax credit, and a near doubling of the standard deduction  all of which are set to expire Dec. 31, 2025.

A bipartisan bill to temporarily extend the expiring business incentives and expand the child tax credit beyond 2025 sailed through the U.S. House in late January, but has been stalled by U.S. Senate Republicans who oppose some of the child tax credit expansion proposals.

A May 2024 nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office report estimated extending the tax cuts would cost roughly $4.6 trillion over 10 years. The bulk of the cost would stem from keeping in place individual tax cuts, according to an analysis of the report by the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Critics of the 2017 law point to a recent March analysis from academics and members of the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Federal Reserve that shows that the laws benefits flowed to the highest earners.

DelBene said revisiting the corporate tax rate, even on the Republican side, is on the table and lawmakers will be talking about where the TCJA wasnt about investing and making sure that we were being fiscally responsible.

Incredibly bullish

Lindsay Owens, executive director of the Groundwork Collaborative, said Wednesday shes incredibly bullish on elected officials making fundamental changes to the tax code next year.

The progressive think tank sent a letter Wednesday to House and Senate leadership and top tax writers urging them to use the expiration of these provisions as an opportunity to address long-standing problems with our tax code, not just to tinker around the edges.

The letter was signed by 100 organizations from across the U.S., ranging from the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers to the National Womens Law Center and United Church of Christ.

Stephen Moore, who helped write the Trump-era tax law and is now the conservative Heritage Foundations senior visiting fellow in economics, said the 2017 law was a huge success and that were gonna definitely make those tax cuts permanent.

Moore is an economic adviser for former President Donald Trumps reelection effort, but said he was not speaking on behalf of the presidential campaign.

He said he does not agree with Trump on everything, including a promise to enact 10% tariffs on imported goods, reaching as high as 60% on Chinese imports.

A tariff is just a consumption tax, he said. And so you know, I think that it is not a great policy, in my opinion. But if youre gonna have a tariff, I would rather have a tariff that is uniform than trying to have, like, a protectionist tariff to, you know, protect this industry or that industry.

When pressed on data that shows funding the Internal Revenue Service increases revenue, Moore said that President Joe Bidens increase in funding for the agency is diabolical.

The post Experts eye tax changes ahead of Trump-era cuts sunset appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
FILE - Captain Richard J. Bong, of Poplar, Wis., points to a large picture of his girl friend, Marge Vattendahl, on his Lighting P-38 fighter plane pilot stationed at a New Guinea Air Base, March 31, 1944. Searchers announced Thursday, May 23, 2024, that they've discovered what they believe is the wreckage of World War II ace Bong's plane in the South Pacific. (AP Photo, File)

MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Searchers announced Thursday they've discovered what they believe is the wreckage of World War II ace Richard Bong's plane in the South Pacific.

The Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center in Superior, Wisconsin, and the nonprofit World War II historical preservation group Pacific Wrecks announced in March they were launching a joint search for Bong's Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter. Bong nicknamed the plane Marge after his girlfriend, Marge Vattendahl.

Another pilot, Thomas Malone, was flying the plane in March 1944 over what is now known as Papua New Guinea when engine failure sent it into a spin. Malone bailed out before the plane crashed in the jungle.

The expedition's leader, Pacific Wrecks Director Justin Taylan, said that the search team discovered the wreckage in the jungles of Papua New Guinea's Madang Province on May 15.

He released photos of himself in the jungle with chunks of metal on the ground. In one photo he points to what the caption calls a wing tip from the plane stamped with 993, the last three numbers of the plane's serial number. Enlarging the photo shows markings that could be two 9s but they're obscured by what might be dirt or rust and difficult to make out. Another photo shows a piece of metal stamped with Model P-38 JK.

Taylan said during a video news conference from Papua New Guinea on Thursday afternoon that the serial number and model identification prove the plane is Marge definitely, beyond a doubt."

I think its safe to say mission accomplished, Taylan said. Marge has been identified. Its a great day for the center, a great day for Pacific Wrecks, a great day for history.

Taylan has been researching the location of the crash site for years. He said that historical records suggested it went down on the grounds of a 150-year old plantation. Local residents initially showed the expedition the wreck of a Japanese fighter plane before telling the searchers about wreckage deeper in the jungle.

The explorers hiked through the jungle until they discovered wreckage in a ravine, Taylan said. At the top of the ravine they found two aircraft engines sticking out of the ground, indicating the plane went in nose-first and buried itself in the ground. Taylan said Bong painted the wing tips red and the paint was still on them.

Bong, who grew up in Poplar, Wisconsin, is credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft during World War II. He plastered a blow-up of Vattendahl's portrait on the nose of his plane, according to a Pacific Wrecks summary of the plane's service.

Bong shot down more planes than any other American pilot. Gen. Douglas MacArthur awarded him the Medal of Honor, the U.S. military's highest decoration, in 1944. Taylan said that Bong shot down three planes while flying Marge.

Bong and Vattendahl eventually married in 1945. Bong was assigned to duty as a test pilot in Burbank, California, after three combat tours in the South Pacific. He was killed on Aug. 6, 1945, when a P-80 jet fighter he was testing crashed. He died on the same day the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

Vattendahl was 21 at the time of Bong's death. She went on to become a model and a magazine publisher in Los Angeles. She died in September 2003 in Superior.

A bridge connecting Superior and Duluth, Minnesota, is named for Bong. A state recreation area in southeastern Wisconsin also is named for him.

The Bong family is very excited about this discovery, James Bong, Richard Bong's nephew, said in the news release. It is amazing and incredible that Marge has been found and identified.
Extreme weather is having a dire effect on animals. Heres whats being done to protect them.

A veterinarian holds a young howler monkey rescued amid extremely high temperatures in Tecolutilla, Mexico, in late May. (Luis Sanchez/AP)

At least 138 howler monkeys have been found dead in Mexico since May 16 amid a heat wave that reached 113 degrees on Tuesday.

The monkeys, which reportedly have been falling dead out of trees like apples, are among the latest victims of extreme heat caused by the current El Nino cycle, which is having dire effects on humans and animals alike. They were in a state of severe dehydration, and they died within a matter of minutes, wildlife biologist Gilberto Pozo told the Associated Press.

Yahoo News spoke to Nikhil Advani, senior director for wildlife and climate resilience at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) about how global warming is affecting animals like the howler monkeys in Mexico, and what conservationists are doing to try to protect them.

 What's happening?

El Nino, a global climate-warming phenomenon that happens every few years, causing significant fluctuations in temperature and other weather disruptions, has been exacerbated in recent years by unprecedented heat from climate change.

This combination, Advani explained, has proven fatal for a variety of wildlife, including the howler monkeys, primates that are mainly found in Central and South America and known for their distinct roar.

All species have temperature thresholds within which they can tolerate, explained Advani. In the case of these monkeys, these temperatures have clearly exceeded those thresholds.

Advani said that in response to the increasingly hot temperatures, some animals are forced to move to new locations, and in some cases, even their body sizes have changed to adapt to new environments. For some species, such as sea turtles in Colombia, temperature changes have also caused an imbalance in sex ratios, which disrupts mating.

There's also the impact of a lack of water availability that often goes hand in hand with extreme heat events, said Advani, adding that natural disasters and other extreme weather events like severe flooding, cyclones and hurricanes can also cause a shortage of food for many animals.

All of these things are impacting species in many ways, he said. We're seeing species that are going extinct, potentially due to impacts of climate change.

Climate change is also causing ocean temperatures to rise, resulting in the bleaching of about 63% of the worlds coral reefs. During these events, coral become pale and can eventually die. The devastation impacts other living creatures that depend on the coral.

In the places where we have coral reef systems, they are the foundation of the ecosystem there  they are the lifeblood of that ecosystem, said Advani. If we lose that coral reef, you see a huge reduction in species diversity.

Advani explained that once the El Nino season ends, flooding, droughts and extreme heat wont be as severe as what were seeing now. However, climate change is worsening the long-term impacts of these cycles.

"Climate change is something that's here to stay, said Advani. We tend to look at El Nino years as a proxy for how bad things could get potentially within even a decade or two."

 Whats being done to protect wildlife?

Conservationists are working on a range of research and initiatives to reduce the negative effects of climate change on wildlife.

For example, WWF says that it has funded 25 projects around the world, including the Wildlife Adaptation Innovation Fund designed to help vulnerable animal populations. They include:

Improving nest design for birds

Providing artificial shade structures near watering holes

Controlling sand temperatures for sea turtles

Providing additional water sources for animals

Advani noted that there is a chance that some of these solutions may not work because creatures may face challenges adapting to human-made solutions. So organizations like WWF test out the solution on a smaller scale and then scale up if it proves to be successful.
F-35s are going to be a 'game-changer' for US Navy amphibious assault ship and former 'Harrier carrier' USS Bataan, senior officer says

USS Bataan is about to undergo a major overhaul to carry F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters.

The flight deck will be completely revamped for vertical takeoff, giving the Bataan a major air combat capability.

The Bataan will be "the most advanced amphibious warship in the Navy," a senior officer said.

USS Bataan just finished a lengthy deployment in Middle Eastern waters that took it into the ongoing Red Sea fight, but it'll soon be headed to the shipyard for a major overhaul.

The amphibious assault ship, currently docked in New York City for Fleet Week 2024, will undergo work to carry F-35B Lightning II fighter jets. The upgrade will be "game-changer" for the capabilities and future operations of the ship, a senior officer said.

Envisioned as an option to project US power in a more distributed force, namely across the Pacific, the lightning carrier doesn't carry as many fighters as an aircraft carrier like the USS Gerald R. Ford  at most 20 compared to more than 50  but it's less expensive than building an entirely new aircraft carrier and flexes a better versatility thanks to its other capabilities.

Such a conversion process, though, will keep the Bataan in the shipyard for more than 600 days. "We have to completely revamp the flight deck," Capt. Trace Head, the ship's executive officer, told Business Insider this week, explaining that "the electrical demand is different from any aircraft that we have on board."

An F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft sits on the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chandler Harrell

"As we transition from the Harrier to the F-35 on these ships, there's certain maintenance things that have to be done, and that's all planned and programmed," Marine Forces Command leader Lt. Gen. Brian Cavanaugh said.

Perhaps the largest rework will involve making sure that the Bataan can withstand the F-35B's unique vertical takeoff process, which produces intense heat that can damage the flight deck. The B variant of the F-35 is designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings, eliminating the need for catapult launch systems like those on US Navy Nimitz- and Ford-class aircraft carriers.

The upgrade will allow the Bataan to bring a limited force of fifth-generation F-35s into a fight while also maintaining key amphibious assault capabilities. These ships are smaller and more versatile in their missions.

Once the Bataan is effectively set up to carry F-35s, "the capability that we will bring, especially from an air-to-air standpoint with the F-35s, will be incredibly advanced," Head said. "It's something that will be a game-changer."

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter prepares to make a vertical landing aboard Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., March 21, 2013. Cpl. Ken Kalemkarian/released

The idea of a lightning carrier has roots in the "Harrier carrier" concept, which the Bataan notably employed in Iraq in 2003. Experts have debated how useful a lightning carrier would be in a conflict against a great power, such as China, but certain US allies, such as Australia, Japan, and South Korea, are moving full-steam ahead with similar concepts. Those programs are in various stages.

One major benefit of a lightning carrier is the F-35B's array of sensors, which allow the jet to act as a battlefield hub and relay information to friendly forces across a wide area.

Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft operate alongside amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) in the Gulf of Oman, Aug. 17, 2023. US Navy

The transition to the F-35 fighter jets from the older Harrier jump jets could change which missions the Bataan goes out on and potentially for how long.

The big-deck amphib was in the Red Sea this past fall, deterring threats and projecting US power in the area as the US and its partners engaged with Houthi forces in the area. At that time, the Bataan didn't bring as much applicable combat power to the fight.

"There's absolutely no question about" whether the F-35 would've completely changed how the Bataan entered that conflict, Head said. "We might still be there if we had F-35s on board."

Cavanaugh noted that the F-35 upgrade will be a "significant jump" from other aircraft, presenting new capabilities and challenges for the force. "As we get increased technologies" and incorporate them, he said, "it's a stronger deterrent all across the globe."

An F-35B begins its short takeoff from the USS America with an external weapons load. Lockheed Martin

It remains to be seen where the Bataan will go once it returns to the force, suspected to be around May 2026. But for Head, thinking about what the ship, with its new capabilities, will bring to the force is an exciting prospect.

"The next deployment, we will be the most advanced amphibious warship in the Navy coming out of the shipyard," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
KYODO NEWS - May 23, 2024 - 09:32 | All, World

Nikki Haley, a former U.S. Republican presidential candidate, said Wednesday she will vote for Donald Trump in the 2024 general election, but warned the presumptive nominee not to take the support of those who backed her for granted.

Haley's announcement at a conservative think tank in Washington could be a blow for President Joe Biden, who polls indicate is locked in a neck-and-neck race with Trump.

Haley, the last Trump rival to pull out of the race for the Republican nomination ahead of the Nov. 5 election, continues to win a notable share of votes against him in states around the country despite bowing out in March. Biden's campaign has been counting on support from anti-Trump Republicans to give the incumbent an edge.

"As a voter, I put my priorities on a president who's going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account, who would secure the border, no more excuses," Haley said at the Hudson Institute, in her first public appearance since dropping out of the Republican primary.

Haley said she is also in favor of a president who will support "capitalism and freedom" and who understands that the country needs "less debt not more debt."

"Trump has not been perfect on these policies. I've made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So I will be voting for Trump," Haley said during an event to discuss foreign affairs at the institute.

The 52-year-old former South Carolina governor who later served as U.N. ambassador under Trump, however, went on to say, "Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me, and not assume that they're just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does that."

Before ending her 2024 campaign, she repeatedly made the case that Trump and Biden are equally bad for the future of the United States and urged Republican voters to choose a younger leader.

Polls have shown that large numbers of U.S. voters are unhappy with the prospect of a rematch between Biden and Trump. A number of polls have Trump, despite the slew of criminal charges he faces, with a narrow lead over Biden in key states.

Related coverage:

Biden, Trump to face off in 1st 2024 presidential debate on June 27
F the LAPD shirt sells out after police org fails to get it taken down

Perhaps youve heard of the Streisand effect, in which an attempt to suppress or censor something online only draws more attention to it.

Apparently, the Los Angeles Police Department Foundation was not familiar with that concept.

As reported by 404 Media, the nonprofit that supports the LAPD tried to claim copyright to the letters LAPD, which are prominently featured in the Cola Corporations shirt modeled after the Los Angeles Lakers logo, though the words instead read F the LAPD.

While 404 Media described the LAPDF as a union, its more of a fundraising arm for the LAPD, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

But what exactly the LAPDF does wasnt the focus of the Cola Corporation, which asserts on its website that provocation is a public service. The company responded to the foundations demand with a simple response: LOL, no.

A second, more substantive letter from Colas attorney Mike Dunford was also shared prominently online and refuted the foundations claims, suggesting the thin-skinned bullies of the LAPD Foundation had but one choice: to not do things that result in people wanting to buy and wear F the LAPD merchandise.

To make matters worse for police, the attention drawn to the Cola Corporations products has caused sales to skyrocket.

The F the LAPD shirts are sold out, as are many of the companys other products, which are similarly transgressive, referencing the Irish Republican Armys attempts to assassinate Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and serial killer Aileen Wuornos.

Mikes first letter was RTd by Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine, and my shop is now almost entirely sold out, Cola told 404 Media. I am struggling to keep items in stock, even with restocks. The second letter has been received with even more rejoicing across the internet. Streisand Effect in effect.

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 KTLA.
Foreign Ministers from Spain, Norway and Ireland meet with the PM of the Palestinian Authority Mohammad Mustafa, in Brussels

(Reuters) - Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognised a Palestinian state on Tuesday, despite an angry reaction from Israel, which has found itself increasingly isolated after more than seven months of conflict in Gaza.

The three countries said they hope their decision will accelerate efforts towards securing a ceasefire in Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, which is now in its eighth month.

Below are some of the key elements related to that decision.

WHAT DID IRELAND, NORWAY SPAIN ANNOUNCE?

The three countries recognised a Palestinian state with its borders to be demarcated as they were prior to 1967, with Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine.

However, they also recognised that those borders may change in any eventual talks to reach a final settlement.

"It's the only way of advancing toward what everyone recognises as the only possible solution to achieve a peaceful future, one of a Palestinian state that lives side by side with the Israeli state in peace and security," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a televised address.

Ireland said it would upgrade its representative office in the West Bank to a full embassy and the Palestinian mission in Ireland will also be offered full embassy status.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris also stressed that recognising a Palestinian state does not diminish Ireland's belief in Israel's right to exist in peace and security - a position that he said was unequivocal.

WHO ELSE HAS RECOGNISED PALESTINE?

About 144 of the 193 member-states of the United Nations recognise Palestine as a state, including most of the global south, Russia, China and India. But only a handful of the 27 European Union members do so, mostly former Communist countries as well as Sweden and Cyprus.

Other states have said they are considering following suit, including Britain, Australia, Malta and Slovenia.

WHY IS THIS SIGNIFICANT?

The decision to recognise Palestinian statehood by three major European nations is mostly symbolic, but it makes Israel appear more isolated on the international stage.

The move could also prove significant if, as the three countries hope, other nations follow in recognising Palestinian statehood.

Alon Liel, a former director general of Israel's foreign ministry, said it may also have an impact on public opinion within Israel as these nations were viewed by many as diplomatic role models.

HOW DID ISRAEL, PALESTINIANS REACT?

Israel reacted angrily and immediately withdrew its ambassadors from the three countries and summoned their representatives in Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said such recognition effectively rewards Hamas, which governs Gaza and staged the Oct. 7 attack on Israel from its Gaza base, for its violence.

The war in Gaza was triggered on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants burst across Israel's southern border and carried out the bloodiest attack in the country's 75-year history.

"Sanchez, when you... recognize a Palestinian state, you are complicit in incitement to genocide against the Jewish people and in war crimes," Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on X on Tuesday.

Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected the concept of a "two-state" solution and said such recognition would neither bring peace nor change its resolve to eradicate Hamas.

The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, and Hamas welcomed the recognition by Spain, Norway and Ireland.

WHAT DID THE UNITED STATES SAY?

The United States supports a two-state solution, but says that this is something that can only be achieved through direct dialogue between the two parties and not through the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state by other nations.

Last month, the United States effectively vetoed an attempt at United Nations recognition of a Palestinian state by denying Palestinians full membership in a vote in the Security Council.

WHAT IS THE POSITION OF OTHER EUROPEAN NATIONS?

Spain, Norway and Ireland spent months lobbying EU members to join them in their announcement, but the issue still divides some of the bloc's biggest countries.

France said Palestinian statehood is not a "taboo" for Paris, but that now is not the right time. Germany stressed its long-term goal is for a two-state solution, but, like the U.S., said that that could only come through dialogue.

(Writing by Sharon Singleton; Editing by Nick Macfie, William Maclean)
Bethany Heintz stood before the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Board and announced her resignation, saying unresolved issues in the districts special education department drove her to quit her dream job.

She referenced an exodus of special education staff, outlined in a recent report by the University of Kansas, reminding the elected board and district officials she was not the first to raise concerns over a system she described as in turmoil.

Student and parental rights are being violated, and we are instructed to ignore it, Heintz, a KCKPS bilingual speech pathologist for four years, said in her damning public remarks last month.

Tonight I stand here speaking up for those who cant. I hope Im the last person who has to stand before this board and give this speech.

She was not the last.

Last week, Jessica Davenport  an occupational therapist with the district for a single school year  also resigned in front of the school board, saying KCKPS is failing to provide adequate special education services to our kids. She encouraged officials to promptly enact real change and stem the hemorrhage of incredible staff members leaving for other jobs.

District officials have acknowledged those worries, saying work is progressing to build trust with current employees, improve retention and recruit new hires for open positions. They met with KU last week to discuss next steps, and another meeting with members of the special education department is slated for June.

Our goal is to create a culture of continuous improvement where every member of our team feels valued, supported, and empowered to make a difference in the lives of our students, Superintendent Anna Stubblefield said in a recent memo to staff, which was shared with The Star.

The latest resignations come amid the release of a new evaluation of the special education department that paints a bleak picture of the increasingly strained system.

The April report by KUs Center for Evaluation and Educational Leadership said mass resignations in the past four years are plaguing the department, rooted in disagreements over policy changes and a feeling of disrespect.

The district has relied on outsourcing and hiring virtual staff to fill roles, the report says, causing challenges adhering to policies and state laws.

The report also highlights issues with training, a lack of trust and dysfunctional communication in the department, making it more difficult to appropriately address students needs.

In focus groups organized by the university, the terms vindictive and retaliatory frequently came up in the description of tensions between staff members and program coordinators.

Recommendations outlined in the report include developing a long-term vision plan for the department and communicating with department personnel to address challenges.

The latest report comes roughly two years after KU conducted a larger-scale analysis of KCKPS operations. Some of the recommendations outlined in the April report mirror ones that were presented in 2022  a point some school board members raised.

I more or less am continually frustrated by the lack of change in the department and how we have to continue to outsource our services because we cannot keep staff, Rachel Russell, a KCKPS board member, said during the April meeting after the report had been finalized.

Board member Wanda Brownlee Paige called the latest report mind-boggling.

We dont want to keep losing people, she added, advocating for getting everyone to sit down and work it out.

Its a challenging time in special education across Kansas and the country, as districts have reported record staffing shortages in recent years. The KU report says urban districts including KCK have been especially hard hit, suffering unacceptable levels of vacancies.

Districts in the state also say challenges have mounted over a more than decade-long underfunding of special education in Kansas. After years of advocates pleading for lawmakers to fully fund special education, Gov. Laura Kelly earlier this month signed a K-12 budget that provides an additional $75.5 million earmarked for special education, a first step toward meeting the states statutory obligations.

Additional dollars to help KCKPS address its challenges with special education are welcomed, said Dominick DeRosa, president of KCKs teachers union.

Two years ago DeRosa formed a group with special education teachers to learn about the problems they face and help support them. He said those conversations with the district are ongoing and teachers are committed to work through the summer to find solutions before the next school year begins.

There is a shortage of staff coming to KCK, and that is a concern, DeRosa said. And we are dedicated to work with the district to improve the retention of our staff, because retaining our excellent staff will ensure that our students get the education that they deserve.

Stubblefield told staff in the recent memo that the district will continue its partnership with KU. She said the district aims to develop a plan to ensure the system is meeting the needs of students, clarify roles and responsibilities within the department, and find ways to improve employee recruitment and retention.

Together, we will chart a path forward that ensures every child receives the exceptional education they deserve, the superintendent told staff.
The Navy cruiser Leyte Gulf completed its final deployment late last week.

The 36-year-old ship left Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on Jan. 28 for a cruise in the waters of U.S. 4th Fleet and returned to Norfolk on Friday, according to a Navy release.

Named after the legendary World War II Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippine Sea in 1944, Leyte Gulf was built in 1985 and commissioned in 1987.

This ship is full of history, Capt. Nathan Diaz, Leyte Gulfs commanding officer, said in a statement. Each period brings its own far-off journeys, along with generations of sailors who have manned the helm.

Our last deployment was full of sailors who made their own mark on the story of this great warship.

Leyte Gulfs final deployment comes as the Navy and Congress continue to disagree as to the pace of retirement for the aging cruiser fleet.

Navy leaders want to retire the ships as soon as possible in the next few years to free up money for new ships and maintenance, even as billions have been sunk into cruiser modernization efforts in the past decade, with mixed results.

The Navys continuing cruiser debacle

Lawmakers on the committees that decide on Navy shipbuilding counter that the cruisers should be kept in service as long as possible to prevent any capability gap.

But far from these high-level discussions, the men and women of the Leyte Gulf took the cruiser on one last deployment, where the ships generally built for ballistic missile defense took on drug interdiction missions with their Coast Guard partners.

The Leyte Gulf team at one point seized a drug smuggling submarine carrying 5,224 pounds of illicit drugs that were sent to the briny depths during a sinking exercise, and 15 drug traffickers were nabbed during such operations.

This is a profound final chapter for one of the Navys finest ships, and their crew should be proud of all they accomplished, U.S. 2nd Fleet commander Vice Adm. Doug Perry said in a statement.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A Fairhope man has been sentenced to prison after he reportedly paid women to abuse minor children on video chat.

Motorcycle community comes together to escort 6th grader to school dance

Senior United States District Judge Callie V.S. Granade sentenced 54-year-old Jeremy Dixon Kinsey of Fairhope to prison for the production of child pornography after he pled guilty to five counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography in January 2024.

According to court documents, although he pled guilty in 2024, the charges stem from incidents that happened in April and May 2023:

Kinsey reportedly sent money to women in exchange for WhatsApp video chats where the women were sexually assaulting minor children including a toddler-aged child at his discretion while he watched and recorded, according to the release.

Judge Granade imposed a 360-month or 30-year sentence of incarceration for the production counts and a 240-month sentence for the possession count. Kinsey will also be on a 15-year supervised release following his prison sentence.

The Lost Resort in Spanish Fort: From fancy to forgotten

He will also be required to undergo mental health evaluation and sex offender treatment and will be required to register as a sex offender upon release.

The case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriffs Office and the Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant United States Attorneys Beth Stepan and Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States, according to the release.

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 WKRG News 5.
Ground level wreckage photo from USMC investigative report. Credit - <em>U.S. Marine Corps' investigation report</em>

Family members of four out of the five U.S. Marines who were killed in the 2022 Osprey V-22 crash filed a wrongful death lawsuit accusing Boeing and two other companies of being negligent about the aircrafts design and safety.

Plaintiffs are suing Bell Trexton, Boeing Co., Rolls Royce Corp, and Rolls Royce North America to ask for answers and accountability regarding the aircraft failure. In June 2022, the servicemen, who were part of Camp Pendletons Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364, were taking on a routine fight when their Osprey, Swift 11, had a mechanical failure known as a dual hard clutch engagement outside of Glamis, California.

The complaint, filed in federal court on Thursday, alleges that the failure was due to the Ospreys lack of compliance. It also says that there were no previous indications that a hard clutch engagement would happen. Plaintiffs say that they have suffered damages exceeding $75,000, and charged defendants with nine counts ranging from breach of contract to fraudulent misrepresentation.

The accident killed John J. Sax, 33, from Placer, California; Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, from Rockingham, New Hampshire; Nathan E. Carlson, 21, from Winnebago, Illinois; Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, from Johnson, Wyoming; and Evan A. Strickland, 19, from Valencia, New Mexico.

As we approach Memorial Day weekend, we cannot help but think of the families of our service members who have lost their lives, not in combat but in training exercises here at home. Too many service members such as the Marines onboard Swift 11 have perished due to the negligence, and systemic failures of manufacturers of military aircraft and other equipment, said Timothy Loranger, senior partner at Wisner Baum. For years Bell-Boeing and others have asserted that this aircraft and all of its systems are safe, yet the facts keep telling a different story.

The U.S. military temporarily suspended its use of Osprey V-22 aircrafts after an accident last November caused the deaths of eight U.S. airmen off Japan's coast. However, the Osprey V-22 was deemed safe enough to fly again in March. In response, the House Oversight Committee, which has been investigating the safety of the Department of Defenses Osprey program, noted that the Department had not provided the committee with answers about the aircrafts safety.

Ospreys are a unique military aircraft in that they are dual-piloted and have vertical take off and landing properties, which means it functions similar to both helicopters and airplanes. The aircraft has been the subject of much criticism, as more than 50 U.S. service members have died in Osprey crashes over the past 30 years. Since the crash in 2022, there have been six other hard clutch engagement incidents involving the Osprey, according to the complaint.

Ospreys do not have ejection seats or parachutes, which would help the crew evacuate in the case of an emergency.

In the complaint, plaintiffs allege that the aircraft has failed and continues to fail to meet the governments safety and reliability specifications, and that it is not safe for use in vertical or horizontal mode.

There is a level of responsibility expected when youre manufacturing, designing, and engineering aircraft that carry human lives. These Ospreys can carry over 20 service members, and each near-miss or mishap should be recognized for the fact that it had the potential for over 20 families to be standing on the tarmac at Dover watching a flag-draped casket containing their loved one, said Amber Sax, the wife of U.S. Marine Corps Captain John Sax, who died in the crash. That point needs to sink in  20 families. One life lost is too many; 20 is unfathomable.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The families of four US Marines killed in a 2022 crash of an Osprey aircraft are suing Boeing, Bell Textron Inc. and Rolls Royce, alleging that the companies failed to address known issues with the aircraft that resulted in the crash.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, focuses on a MV-22B Osprey crash in June 2022, when five Marines stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, were killed while conducting a training mission. A Marine Corps investigation determined last July that the accident was caused by a mechanical failure and that there was no error on the part of the pilots and aircrew and nothing they could have done to anticipate or prevent this mishap.

They were conducting routine flight operations in accordance with applicable regulations when this catastrophic and unanticipated mechanical failure occurred, the Marine Corps said in 2023.

The five Marines killed were Capts. Nicholas Losapio and John Sax;, Cpls. Nathan Carlson and Seth Rasmuson; and Lance Cpl. Evan Strickland.

The lawsuit, filed by the families of Sax, Carlson, Strickland and Rasmuson, accuses Boeing, Bell Textron, Rolls Royce Corps and Rolls Royce North America of negligence, negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation, and the failure to warn.

Tim Loranger, the lawyer representing the families in the lawsuit, told CNN on Thursday that ultimately the lawsuit alleges that the aircraft the Marines were on was known to have a defect but insufficient steps have been taken to correct it.

We allege they had information they didnt disclose, Loranger said. And here we are today as a result.

Aerial wreckage photo from USMC investigative report - From the US Marine Corps

The mechanical failure in June 2023 involved the dual hard clutch engagement, which the Marine Corps said created a Single Engine and Interconnect Drive System (Single Engine/IDS) failure. The failure ultimately resulted in an unrecoverable departure from controlled flight, resulting in the tragic crash.

Due to their defective products, breaches of contracts, breaches of warranties, wrongful actions and omissions, the defendants named herein caused the accident and the tragic deaths of Plaintiffs decedents, five fine young United States Marines, the lawsuit says.

Boeing, Bell Textron and Rolls Royce have not yet responded to request for comment from CNN. The lawsuit comes as Boeing has been under scrutiny and is expected to present a plan to fix quality issues on its assembly line next week, after a hole blew open on the side of a Boeing 737 Max mid-flight in January.

The lawsuit comes months after another deadly V-22 Osprey crash off the coast of Japan, which resulted in the deaths of eight US Special Operations airmen. The US military grounded its entire fleet of V-22 Ospreys in December as a result. That grounding guidance was lifted in March this year; officials said at the time an investigation identified a materiel failure responsible for the crash.

Col. Brian Taylor, the program manager of the Naval Air Systems Command V-22 joint program office, told reporters in March that the crash resulted from an unprecedented component failure, though he declined to say what component specifically failed or how.

The deadly crash near Japan had been the latest in a string of Osprey incidents. In August 2023, three US Marines were killed when a MV-22B Osprey crashed during military exercises in Australia. And in March 2022, just months before the five US Marines were killed in California, four US service members died in a MV-22 crash during a NATO exercise.

Loranger told CNN that its unclear whether there is a common thread between the June 2023 crash and the other recent incidents but said the point for the families in the lawsuit is to get to the bottom of what happened, why did this aircraft crash, why have other Ospreys crashed, and what has been done to make sure this doesnt happen again.

Its making sure when families send their Marines or airmen off to do their job, that they arent going to get the knock on their door because something broke in the (aircraft), he said.

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An MV-22 Osprey is signaled to land on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea in 2019. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Amber Smalley / Associated Press)

The families of five Marines who were killed when their V-22 Osprey helicopter crashed during a 2022 training exercise in Imperial County have sued the designers and manufacturers of the aircraft, alleging deceptive practices and systemic failures.

Bell Textron, Boeing and Rolls Royce failed to make truthful statements to the government and to service members about the design, operation, and safety of V-22 Osprey aircraft, the complaint alleges.

A military investigation of the crash concluded that pilots and maintenance crews were not at fault. The report said that a clutch disengaged and then reengaged, damaging the aircraft's transmission and causing engine failure.

Bell-Boeing has been aware of hard clutch engagement problems in the V-22 Ospreys since 2010, said Timothy Loranger, a Marine Corps veteran and lawyer representing the families of those killed in the accident. But here we are more than a dozen years later, and that knowledge hasnt resulted in a solution, and the malfunction has continued to cost lives.

Read more: U.S. and Japanese forces to resume Osprey flights in Japan following fatal crash

The Marines killed in the crash were Cpl. Nathan E. Carlson, 21, of Winnebago, Ill., a Tiltrotor crew chief; Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, of Rockingham, N.H., an MV-22B pilot; Cpl. Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, of Johnson, Wyo., a Tiltrotor crew chief; Capt. John J. Sax, 33, of Placer, Calif., an MV-22B pilot; and Lance Cpl. Evan A. Strickland, 19, of Valencia, N.M., a Tiltrotor crew chief. They were assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364, under the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The lawsuit claims that six more similar incidents have occurred since the June 2022 crash.

The Osprey has had a troubled recent history, including two fatal accidents last year: a crash in Australia which left three service members dead, and another in Japan which killed eight.

The U.S. military grounded its Osprey fleet in late 2023 after the crash in Japan and Congress launched an investigation into the Osprey program shortly thereafter.

In March 2024, U.S. and Japanese forces resumed Osprey flights after completing maintenance and training programs.

Read more: Congress launches investigation into Osprey program after deadly crash in Japan

Boeing has been in hot water over aircraft malfunctions on commercial flights, and now also faces scrutiny as one of three manufacturing and design companies involved in the lawsuit.

A spokesperson for Bell Textron declined to comment. Representatives for Boeing and Rolls Royce did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

We want assurance that these components have been successfully redesigned, tested, and rendered safe," Amber Sax, the wife of Capt. John Sax, one of the deceased, said in a statement.

"The importance of addressing this cannot be overstated," she said. "It is not just about fixing a machine, but about ensuring that no other family has to endure this loss again.

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  The families of 19 of the victims in the Uvalde elementary school shooting in Texas on Wednesday announced a lawsuit against nearly 100 state police officers who were part of the botched law enforcement response.

The families said in a statement that they also agreed a $2 million settlement with the city, under which city leaders promised higher standards and better training for local police.

The announcement came two days before the two-year anniversary of one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Nineteen fourth-graders and two teachers were killed on May 24, 2022, when a teenage gunman burst into their classroom at Robb Elementary School and began shooting.

Video above: Uvalde families call for criminal charges for leadership after DOJ report in Jan. 2024

The lawsuit is the latest of several seeking accountability for the law enforcement response. More than 370 federal, state and local officers converged on the scene, but they waited more than 70 minutes before confronting the shooter.

It is the first lawsuit to come after a 600-page Justice Department report was released in January that cataloged cascading failures in training, communication, leadership and technology problems that day.

The lawsuit notes state troopers did not follow their active shooter training and responsibility to confront the shooter, even as the students and teachers inside were following their own lockdown protocols of turning off lights, locking doors and staying silent.

The protocols trap teachers and students inside, leaving them fully reliant on law enforcement to respond quickly and effectively, the families and their attorneys said in a statement.

FILE  Crosses are surrounded by flowers and other items at a memorial, Thursday, June 9, 2022, for the victims of a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The families of 19 people who were killed or injured in the shooting and their attorneys are set to make an announcement, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Friday will mark the two-year anniversary of the shooting where a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Terrified students inside the classroom called 911 as agonized parents begged officers, some of whom could hear shots being fired while they stood in a hallway, to go in. A tactical team of officers eventually went into the classroom and killed the shooter.

Law-enforcements inaction that day was a complete and absolute betrayal of these families and the sons, daughters and mothers they lost, said Erin Rogiers, one of the attorneys for the families. TXDPS had the resources, training and firepower to respond appropriately, and they ignored all of it and failed on every level. These families have not only the right but also the responsibility to demand justice.

A criminal investigation into the police response by Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchells office remains ongoing. A grand jury was summoned this year, and some law enforcement officials have already been called to testify.

The lawsuit against 92 Texas Department of Public Safety officials and troopers also names the Uvalde School District, former Robb Elementary Principal Mandy Gutierrez and former Uvalde schools police Chief Peter Arredondo as defendants.

Another lawsuit filed in December 2022 against local and state police, the city, and other school and law enforcement, seeks at least $27 billion and class-action status for survivors. And at least two other lawsuits have been filed against Georgia-based gun manufacturer Daniel Defense, which made the AR-style rifle used by the gunman.

The settlement with the city was capped at $2 million because the families said they didnt want to bankrupt the city where they still live and to allow the community to continue to heal. The settlement will be paid from citys insurance coverage.

Under the settlement, the city agreed to a new fitness for duty standard and enhanced training for Uvalde police officers. It also establishes May 24 as an annual day of remembrance, a permanent memorial in the city plaza, and support for mental health services for the families and the greater Uvalde area.

The police response to the mass shooting has been criticized and scrutinized by state and federal authorities. A 600-page Justice Department report in January catalogued cascading failures in training, communication, leadership and technology problems that day,

Another report commissioned by the city also noted rippling missteps by law enforcement but defended the actions of local police, which sparked anger from victims families.

For two long years, we have languished in pain and without any accountability from the law enforcement agencies and officers who allowed our families to be destroyed that day, said Veronica Luevanos, whose daughter Jailah and nephew Jayce were killed. This settlement reflects a first good faith effort, particularly by the City of Uvalde, to begin rebuilding trust in the systems that failed to protect us.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has filed court documents to appeal the decision to throw out several charges against several of the defendants in the Georgia election interference case.

Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that six of the charges in the indictment be quashed because they lack sufficient detail.

They were related to the charges of Solicitation of Violation of Oath by Public Office.

RELATED NEWS:

Former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants had filed to dismiss the counts because they argued they were legally deficient, making the ruling a win for the former president.

Many of those specific counts allege that the men illegally asked Georgia election officials to convene a special legislative session and appoint pro-Trump electors.

Three of the dismissed counts directly name Trump and allege that the former president solicited the Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to unlawfully influence the certified election returns and requested that Raffensperger decertify the election in an infamous phone call in which Trump asked Raffensperger to find him more votes.

McAfee wrote that prosecutors could seek a new indictment on the charges that were dismissed.

RELATED NEWS:




KYODO NEWS - May 23, 2024 - 16:41 | All, Japan

Japan's lower house passed a bill on Thursday that requires employers to conduct criminal background checks dating back 20 years to block people with sex offense convictions from jobs involving children.

The bill that cleared the House of Representatives, if made into law, will introduce the system dubbed the "Japanese DBS," similar to the British government's Disclosure and Barring Service. The move comes following a series of cases in which children have been sexually abused by figures of authority.

The bill will now be deliberated by the upper house.

The background checks will cover those convicted of crimes such as nonconsensual sex. In addition to criminal offenses, violations of local ordinances such as groping or nonconsensual photography will be covered by the system.

Under the envisioned system, schools, day care centers and kindergartens will be required to refer job candidates for criminal background checks conducted by the Children and Families Agency.

Cram schools and afterschool clubs can voluntarily sign up to the program. By participating, they will receive official certification that can be used in marketing materials.

If the agency confirms the jobseeker was handed a prison sentence for a sexual offense in the last 20 years, or a fine in the past 10 years, it will notify the individual and give them the option of declining the job offer.

If the individual chooses not to decline the offer, the agency will inform the prospective employer of the outcome of the background check.

The government plans to compile guidelines laying out criteria for employers to use when implementing precautionary measures or dealing with an allegation against a worker.

Related coverage:

Japan's Diet enacts law to create economic security clearance system

Lower house OKs bill to create economic security clearance system

Gov't to require sex offense checks when applying to work with kids
Far-right German politician punched in the face at supermarket

Mario Kumpf, a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) poses for a photo on the occasion of the constituent session of the Saxon state parliament. A far-right German politician was punched in the face while at a supermarket, adding to a rash of violent attacks on lawmakers of all parties. Sebastian Kahnert/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB

A far-right German politician was punched in the face while at a supermarket, adding to a rash of violent attacks on lawmakers of all parties.

Mario Kumpf, a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), was assaulted at the store in the eastern town of Ebersbach-Neugersdorf on Wednesday afternoon.

The assailant went on shopping after punching Kumpf, according to a police statement. Kumpf himself called the police after the attack.

Officers arrested the 53-year-old alleged perpetrator and filed charges of assault.

Kumpf has been a member of the Saxony state parliament since 2019.

A series of attacks on politicians and political campaign workers have left Germany wondering about the state of its democracy. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has denounced the crimes as "outrageous and cowardly."

Franziska Giffey, a prominent Berlin state minister and former mayor, who belongs to Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats (SDP), was attacked while visiting a library in the German capital earlier this month.

Bundestag member Matthias Ecke, also from the SPD, was beaten and hospitalized in Dresden at the start of May. Green Party politician Yvonne Mosler was also insulted, threatened and spat at while putting up posters in Dresden a few days later.
Darryl George, 18, stands next to his mother, Darresha George in front of Galveston County Court House on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Galveston, Texas. A hearing was set to be held Thursday in a federal lawsuit a George filed against his Texas school district over his punishment for refusing to change his hairstyle. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via AP)

GALVESTON, Texas (AP)  A federal judge did not issue an immediate ruling on Thursday after hearing legal arguments over whether to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a Black high school student who has alleged racial and gender discrimination over his monthslong punishment by his Texas school district for refusing to change his hairstyle.

Darryl George, 18, has not been in his regular Houston-area high school classes since Aug. 31 because the district, Barbers Hill, says the length of his hair violates its dress code.

The district has argued that Georges long hair, which he wears to school in tied and twisted locs on top of his head, violates its policy because it would fall below his shirt collar, eyebrows or earlobes when let down. The district has said other students with locs comply with the length policy.

Darryl George and his mother, Darresha George, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit last year over his punishment against the school district, the district superintendent, his principal and assistant principal as well as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The lawsuit alleges the defendants have taken part in or failed to prevent racial and gender discrimination against George through his ongoing punishment over his hairstyle.

Im just happy that were here. We finally made it here. This is another stepping stone we have to cross. Its been a long road and we will just be in this fight, Darresha George said after Thursdays court hearing.

The suit alleges Georges punishment also violates the CROWN Act, a new state law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination. The CROWN Act, which took effect in September, bars employers and schools from penalizing people because of hair texture or protective hairstyles including Afros, braids, locs, twists or Bantu knots.

The suit also alleges Georges First Amendment rights to free speech and expression are being violated. For most of the school year, George, a junior, has either served in-school suspension at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu or spent time at an off-site disciplinary program.

Allie Booker, Georges attorney, on Thursday told U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown the districts policy is discriminatory and not race neutral. Booker alleged the school district was making religious exemptions for length of hair, but was not following the CROWN Act by not offering race-based protections.

Booker also argued the school district didnt have clearly defined policies on why girls could be allowed to have long hair but boys could not.

Brown asked if there was any case law that indicated hair length is protected as expressive conduct under the First Amendment. Booker said she had not found any but said Georges lawsuit is a precedent-setting case and that self-expression in the form of a hair style does not have to be strictly tied to religious belief in order to be granted protection under the law.

Its not about the length of hair, its about acceptance for all in the same manner, Booker said after the court hearing.

Jonathan Brush, an attorney for the Barbers Hill school district, repeatedly told Brown the districts policy is race neutral and that Georges lawsuit had not shown a sufficient pattern of racial discrimination by the district.

Brush said having different hair length restrictions for boys and girls does not constitute discrimination and the districts hair length policy would pass muster in the workplace and the military.

Brush also said Georges First Amendment rights weren't being violated because the student failed to show his hairstyle communicates a message to the world.

Darresha George has said her sons hairstyle has cultural and religious importance to him. Historians say that braids and other hairstyles carry cultural significance for many African Americans.

Brown said he was inclined to dismiss Abbott and Paxton from the lawsuit as well as some of the claims filed against the superintendent and school administrators. He said a final ruling would be issued at a later date.

In February, a state judge ruled in a lawsuit filed by the school district that its punishment does not violate the CROWN Act.

Barbers Hills hair policy was also challenged in a May 2020 federal lawsuit filed by two other students. Both withdrew from the high school, but one returned after a federal judge granted a temporary injunction, saying there was a substantial likelihood that his rights to free speech and to be free from racial discrimination would be violated if he was barred. That lawsuit remains pending.

George declined to speak after Thursday's hearing. Booker said that Darryls a little sad because hes had difficulty finding a job for the summer.

Hes just afraid that some of the people that dont agree with this case will hold it against him as they have been, Booker said.

___

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An FBI informant who leaked sensitive government secrets that reportedly then led to a deadly U.S. drone strike claims Irans fearsome security apparatus has targeted him for assassination over the perceived betrayal, forcing him underground, in an undisclosed location, following a botched kidnapping attempt.

In a heavily anonymized federal lawsuit obtained by The Daily Beast, John Doe says Iranian agents torched his car, broke into his home, and threatened his relatives after learning he was working with the American government. He now lives in constant fear of being killed by Iranian agents who have carried out dozens of hits and hundreds of abductions in various countries with impunity, according to his complaint.

Because Doe is a marked man, he went into exile in a nearby nation where he must now avoid any public interaction, in order to remain safe, the complaint states.

This has required him to shut down four businesses that he owned, all of which require public interaction, it says. The value of these businesses exceeded $5 million.

All told, Doe contends, the Islamic Republic of Iran, which in recent years has declared war on, among others, a podcaster in Vancouver who discussed sex on the air and a journalist in Brooklyn who criticized the regime, has intentionally inflicted emotional distress, induced severe mental anguish and emotional and psychological pain and suffering, and caused the need for medical treatment.

Does attorney, former Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), served papers on the Iranian regime through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Imam Khomeini Street, sending them via DHL, according to a tranche of companion court filings.

On Tuesday, Grayson, who filed the lawsuit on May 7, told The Daily Beast that the case was extremely sensitive, and tragic on many levels. He was unable to offer complete details of his clients situation due to the obvious security issues, but said, There have been many disturbing resorts of Iranian activity, particularly in Europe, that involves everything up to, and including, murder This is a real problem.

Doe himself was unable to be reached.

Accused Iranian Agent Sues Tehran for Ruining His Life

The terrifying situation in which Doe presently finds himself stems from a series of interactions he had with the FBI, according to the complaint. At those meetings, which took place on an unspecified date at an FBI office in Washington, D.C., and during numerous visits to a U.S. facility at an overseas location, the complaint says Doe provided very detailed and specific information regarding the efforts of the Government of Iran to evade U.S. and international sanctions, including the details of large, specific financial transfers for that purpose.

Doe hired two unnamed family members in Iran to assist him in gathering the info, according to the complaint. It says Doe also shared intel with FBI agents in numerous texts and instant messages to a United States telephone number.

The information that John Doe conveyed to the FBI appears to have resulted in, among other things, a drone attack by the United States Government that killed a terrorist, the complaint states.

What Doe didnt know, however, was that Iranian government operatives were tailing him, and had apparently filmed him entering the overseas U.S. facility, according to the complaint. And thats when things went bad.

After he was identified, Does automobile was set ablaze by Iranian agents, the complaint alleges.

Next, it says, [s]everal persons, resembling Iranians, went to [Does] home, apparently with the intention of killing, torturing or kidnapping him. On information and belief, these persons were agents of the Government of Iran. These persons entered his home. John Doe escaped from them, however.

At this point, according to the complaint, a business acquaintance of Does with close ties to Iran told him that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an Iranian paramilitary organization designated a terrorist group by the U.S. and the European Union, knows that he provided information to the United States Government, and it intends to kill him.

John Doe also has received texts and instant messages threatening action against him by the IRGC, the complaint states.

It has been publicly reported that agents of the Government of Iran have killed dozens of persons on foreign soil, and kidnapped hundreds of them, the complaint says. This activity, and the fact that the Government of Iran does so with impunity, has added to the fear and anxiety of [Doe].

It says Does two family members were also caught in the crosshairs of the regime, which sent a squad of intelligence agents to break into their home. There, the operatives identified themselves, after which they threatened them and their children.

The family subsequently fled Iran, according to the complaint.

The nearby country where they are now domiciled publicly hosts numerous agents of the Government of Iran, so they must live there in secret, it states.

Doe argues that the attacks on him and his relatives, and his property, constitute acts of terrorism. He is demanding a jury trial, along with compensatory, economic, consequential, incidental and punitive money damages in an amount substantially exceeding $5 million.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Riley Keough's team reportedly was contacted by the FBI this week regarding possible fraud in Naussany Investments' attempt to auction off Graceland. (Alex Harper / For The Times)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation may launch a criminal probe into possible fraud allegedly surrounding a now-blocked foreclosure sale of Elvis Presley's famed Graceland mansion, according to TMZ and Radar.

The outlets reported Wednesday that the FBI had contacted actor Riley Keough's team and Graceland officials on Tuesday, allegedly expressing interest in Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC, the company seeking to auction off the building.

Read more: Ohtani's ex-interpreter reportedly wired money to 'Real Housewives' star to pay gambling debts

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation told The Times via email that it had not received a request to "investigate from the district attorney general in Shelby County, which would be the mechanism for our potential involvement."

Representatives for Keough did not immediately respond to The Times request for confirmation and comment.

Keough filed a lawsuit against Naussany Investments last week, alleging that the company had presented fraudulent documents stating that her late mother, Lisa Marie Presley, had borrowed $3.8 million from the company and gave a deed of trust encumbering Graceland as security.

The Daisy Jones & the Six star stated in her lawsuit  which asked a judge to block the auction of Graceland and to declare that the documents were fraudulent  that Lisa Marie Presley never borrowed money from Naussany Investments and never gave a deed of trust to Naussany Investments.

Read more: Riley Keough says 'clarity has been had' after mom's death, 'upheaval' over Elvis' estate

A Tennessee judge awarded Keough a temporary injunction against the sale on Wednesday. The court also said it would move forward with the fraud case, citing a lack of appearance by Naussany Investments representatives at Wednesday's hearing and the need for additional evidence from Keough's lawyers.

After the ruling, a person purporting to be a Naussany Investments representative submitted a statement that said the company would drop its claims on Graceland, the Associated Press reported.

Elvis Presley Enterprises, which manages the Presley estate, told The Times in a statement Wednesday that business would continue as usual.

As the court has now made clear, there was no validity to the claims, the statement read. There will be no foreclosure. Graceland will continue to operate as it has for the past 42 years, ensuring that Elvis fans from around the world can continue to have a best in class experience when visiting his iconic home.

Read more: What Priscilla Presley got for giving up Lisa Marie's trust: Graceland burial and $1 million

Keoughs lawsuit, which was reviewed by The Times, said Naussany Investments presented a deed of trust for Graceland and a standard promissory note to the estate via the Los Angeles County Superior Court in September.

The deed of trust contained the signature of Florida notary Kimberly Philbrick, who submitted an affidavit May 8 saying she had no involvement with the documents.

I have never met Lisa Marie Presley, nor have I ever notarized a document signed by Lisa Marie Presley, Philbricks affidavit read. I do not know why my signature appears on this document.

Keough was formally named the sole trustee of her mother's estate  and, by extension, of Elvis estate  in November after settling a legal dispute with grandmother Priscilla Presley, Elvis widow.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The manufacturer's logo on the VinFast VF 8. VinFast is a Vietnam-based multinational car manufacturer that was founded in 2017. (Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times)

For the record:

9:32 a.m. May 24, 2024: An earlier version of this article said the National Highway Safety Board was investigating the crash. Its the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.



A Vietnamese-manufactured electric vehicle is now under review by federal investigators after one of its models was involved in a fiery crash that killed a Pleasanton, Calif., family of four.

Tarun George and his wife, Rincy George, both 41, and sons Rowan, 13, and Aaron, 9, died when their VinFast VF 8 crashed April 24. As they traveled down Foothill Road in Pleasanton around 9 p.m., their car "appeared to have lost control and collided with a large oak tree," according to a Pleasanton Police Department report.

Speed may have been a factor in the incident, according to police officials.

Investigators later discovered that the car collided with a pole and then a tree, and that it caught fire immediately after the collisions. When the department was clearing the scene that night, the car reportedly reignited a few times, according to KABC-TV.

VinFast is a Vietnam-based multinational car manufacturer that was founded in 2017.

Read more: U.S. to investigate fatal crash that may have involved Ford partially automated driving system

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the VinFast VF 8 in response to a complaint filed by a co-worker of one of the Georges.



In the complaint, the co-worker said that the VF 8's software turned the steering wheel to the right erroneously more than once when the co-worker was driving, pulling the car out of its lane. The co-worker, who was able to regain control of the steering wheel and maneuver the car into the correct lane, expressed concern that caused the George family's crash.

VinFast representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to the VinFast website, the VF 8 model comes equipped with "Advanced Driving Assistance" features, but it is unclear whether they played a role in the crash.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A young Arctic fox sits on a hillside of tundra plants outside its den in Northern Alaska on July 9, 2021. (Photo by Lisa Hupp/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

A young Arctic fox sits on a hillside of tundra plants outside its den in Northern Alaska on July 9, 2021. Rabies in Alaska and other parts of the far north is endemic in Arctic fox populations, but regular veterinarian service to protect pet dogs and people is scarce. (Photo by Lisa Hupp/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

The Indian Health Service provides medical and dental care to the Indigenous peoples of Alaska and elsewhere in the nation. What it does not provide, however, is veterinary care for animals living with the IHS human clients.

A bill introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is an attempt to change that.

The bill, called the Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act, was introduced by the Alaska senator last week. It would add veterinary services to the federal agencys duties. That is important in rural Alaska, she said, where regular veterinarian care is notoriously scarce and where diseases in wild animal populations pose threats to domestic animals like dogs and, potentially, people.

The bill would direct the IHS to work with tribal organizations to provide veterinarian services, including spaying and neutering of pets.

A top concern is rabies, which is common in Alaska fox populations but also found in other animals and thus poses risks to people.

Unfortunately, in Alaska we are experiencing more frequent rabies outbreaks in wild animal populations. Rural communities are disproportionately at higher risk of rabies transmission to humans due to uncontrolled dog populations in remote areas of Alaska  which is particularly concerning given the challenges of providing health care in many rural and remote villages, Murkowski said in a statement. There are vaccination and voluntary veterinary services trying to address the problems, but those are simply not able to meet the growing need for services. My bill would help bolster the veterinary workforce in Alaska, creating healthier and safer communities across the state, she said.

Alaska Native children, research shows, are at elevated risks for dog bites, which could, in turn, expose them to rabies or other diseases that can spread between animals and people, also known as zoonotic diseases. A 2013 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that Alaska Native childrens rate of hospitalization for dog bites was about twice that of the general U.S. child population. Indigenous children in the Southwestern and Northern Plains states also had high rates of hospitalization for dog bites, the study found.

Dog bites and exposure through them to rabies and other diseases is a problem in Indigenous communities throughout the circumpolar north, and dog bites have become an important public health burden in those places, said a 2022 report by Canadian researchers that synthesized 257 individual studies.

Rabies is endemic, meaning entrenched, in the Arctic fox and red fox populations of northern Alaska, Western Alaska and the Aleutians, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. But rabies has been found in other wild animals, such as caribou and polar bears, according to the department.

Last summer, North Americas first confirmed case of a rabies-infected moose occurred in the Bering Strait-area village of Teller. The moose, found wandering in and around the community, was euthanized and found to be carrying the Arctic fox variant of the rabies virus, which is different from the red fox variant, the Department of Fish and Game said.

Among the provisions in Murkowskis bill is a directive for the veterinary officers from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to provide services to the IHS, a directive for a study about the feasibility of delivering oral rabies vaccines in Alaskas Arctic region and inclusion of the IHS as a coordinating agency in the National One Health Framework, which is addressing zoonotic diseases and federal agencies readiness to respond to them.

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Felon arrested for selling enough fentanyl to kill over 3,000 people according to Flagler deputies

Rodrick Lenon Williams Jr. of Bunnell, was arrested for selling enough fentanyl to potentially kill 3,350 people, according to the Flagler County Sheriffs Office.

A detective arrested the 22-year-old Monday for selling 6.7 grams of fentanyl. The sheriffs office said two milligrams are enough to kill someone.

He was on probation for selling cocaine near a park in 2022.

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Heres another example of a drug dealer whose next stop should be state prison. He was already on probation and went right back to peddling his poison, Sheriff Rick Staly said in a news release.

Williams is being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on a $50,000 bond.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A felon and foreign national living in Utah was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday for federal drug and gun crimes.

Rafael Maldonado-Solario, 46, of Salt Lake City, was charged with possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, May 23.

READ NEXT: Utah child airlifted, hospitalized after driving toy tractor into river

The U.S. Attorneys office said Maldonado-Solario has been under investigation for allegedly distributing fentanyl in the Salt Lake Valley.

On May 9, authorities reportedly seized 2,290 grams of blue pills stamped M30 from his SLC apartment, which later field tested positive for containing fentanyl. Authorities also seized a Taurus CCP .380 handgun from his apartment, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

As a previous convicted felon, the U.S Attorneys Office said Maldonado-Solario is restricted from possessing a firearm.

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Utah State Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/ Enforcement and Removal Operations.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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 ABC4 Utah.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, left, and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell speak on the Greenfield tornado and the move toward federal recovery assistance at a news conference May 23, 2024 at Nodaway Valley High School in Greenfield. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

GREENFIELD  A top Federal Emergency Management Agency official joined Gov. Kim Reynolds in Greenfield Thursday to discuss recovery efforts after this weeks tornado and warn about future severe weather events that could hit Iowa later this week.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell was in Greenfield as part of the agencys efforts to assess damage and determine a federal response to tornadoes that hit the community and other Iowa communities Tuesday. At a news conference Thursday, she said she was already in Iowa as part of a FEMA team working in Minden, a western Iowa town hit by a tornado April 26, and traveled over to Greenfield shortly after the most recent natural disaster.

She said being in Greenfield so soon after the tornado helps her understand the actual impact and destruction caused by the storm.

As much as Ive been watching the videos and seeing the pictures of the tornado damage, it just does not do it justice when youre here on the ground and you can see the homes gone, or you can talk to a member who lost their home and they share their story of how they just barely escaped death, you know, where they decided to stay to keep safe during the storm, Criswell said. Those are the kinds of things that you just cant get unless youre here on the ground and talking to people and seeing the impacts firsthand. And so we are going to continue to work with the governors team to assess all of the damages that have happened, and make sure that whatever we can provide assistance for, that were able to do so.

Reynolds submitted an expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration earlier Thursday, requesting the activation of FEMAs Public Assistance Program for Adair County, where the tornado destroyed part of the local hospital as well as public utilities. Reynolds is also seeking aid from the agencys Individual Assistance Program and the Small Business Administrations disaster loans for Adair as well as Polk, Story, and Montgomery counties. These programs will help provide grants and loans to residents and business owners that had property damage caused by the extreme weather.

While the full extent of the damage is still unknown, Reynolds said that so far reports show 153 homes in Adair County have been destroyed in the storm, in addition to eight in Montgomery, 26 in Polk and 15 in Story counties. The governor thanked Criswell and FEMA staff for helping the state work through the process for applying for federal aid for affected Iowans.

Weve had a lot of destruction and damage across the state, Reynolds said. And hopefully well meet the criteria to qualify. They have policies and metrics in place, and were going to do everything we can to get that declaration. And I just again, appreciate FEMAs response and helping us work through that paperwork.

Criswell also offered deepest condolences on behalf of herself and President Joe Biden for those people who lost friends, family members, neighbors, as a result of the tragic tornado. Four Greenfield residents died in the tornado, the Iowa Department of Public Safety confirmed Wednesday, in addition to at least 35 injuries resulting from the extreme weather.

The FEMA official also warned Iowans to prepare for incoming severe weather conditions that are expected this weekend.

The one thing I also want to say is make sure youre listening to your local officials, make sure youre listening to the weather reports, make sure that you take the steps necessary to protect yourselves and your families as you see the next round of weather coming through, Criswell said.

Donna Dubberke, meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service in Des Moines, said at the news conference that there is severe storm potential in areas impacted by tornadoes earlier this week returning after midnight Friday. Dubberke said NWS will be working with emergency management services and local officials to ensure that communities are prepared for potential extreme weather events in the days ahead.

A line of storms moving through late tonight into Friday morning will bring chances for severe weather to the area. This will begin in western Iowa around 3 am Friday and depart the area around 9 am Friday. Have multiple ways to receive warnings tonight! #iawx pic.twitter.com/OSfSSHeQ1i  NWS Des Moines (@NWSDesMoines) May 23, 2024

While the destruction caused by the tornado was extensive, Reynolds praised the ongoing recovery efforts and the support provided by Iowa law enforcement, emergency service providers and communities across the state in responding to the needs of Greenfield residents in recent days. She also noted that despite the recent tragedy, Greenfield is not only working hard to recover but to prepare for a return to normalcy.

I guess theyve got some things going on here  theyve got a county fair thats going to happen in about three weeks, and in addition to that, theyve got to RAGBRAI thats coming through, Reynolds said. So this is a community thats in gear and just  it is so inspiring to see their response to it, looking forward looking to the future, how strong they are in this complete devastation.

The post FEMA official joins Reynolds in Greenfield as Iowa seeks federal aid for tornado appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
A swastika drawn in the dust on a students car.

A refusal to partake in a Jewish groups food at a school fair.

Graffiti in a campus bathroom with the phrase from the river to the sea, widely seen as a call for the destruction of Israel and killing of Jews.

Those are not ripped-from-the-headlines incidents from the pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses across the country this spring, where antisemitic rhetoric and actions were common. All reportedly took place at one of Broward Countys premier schools, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, described this week during a daylong symposium on combating antisemitism.

Hundreds of civic, business, religious and government leaders  mostly from Broward  heard sobering assessments of the breadth and depth of the antisemitism, grappled for anything that might alleviate it, and searched for reasons to offer optimism.

We will never go back to business as usual, declared Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee and a former Broward-Palm Beach county member of Congress. We will be in this fight for decades to come.

In speeches, panel discussions and interviews, neither Deutch nor more than a dozen other speakers had easy answers for combating hatred and conspiracy theories directed at Jewish people.

Surge

Antisemitism has surged in the U.S. and around the world in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks when Hamas killed 1,200 people, wounded, tortured or raped many more, and took 250 hostages with about half still remaining in captivity.

Even before the start of the ensuing Israel-Hamas war  with pro-Palestinian protesters pointing to the significant civilian death toll  antisemitic rhetoric and actions have been flourishing, both at home and abroad, said U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Broward Democrat who was the first Jewish woman elected to Congress from Florida.

Wasserman Schultz said there have been massive rises in antisemitism  and it is not just the isolated one-off incidents that probably each of us throughout our lives could share stories about  but consistent and systematic organized antisemitic attacks.

Doug Emhoff, vice president Kamala Harriss husband, described this week an epidemic of hate, including a crisis of antisemitism, in our country and around the world. We see it on our streets, our college campuses, and our places of worship. Emhoff, who is Jewish, made his comments this week at a White House event for Jewish American Heritage.

And in Broward, State Attorney Harold Pryor said he saw an increase in antisemitic incidents that predate the terrorist attacks and the war. You saw the rise, and even higher rise since Oct. 7, he said.

Wasserman Schultz has long warned about the wildfire-like spread of antisemitism on social media. More recently, she has described TikTok as a horrific actor where hate and disinformation is rampant on a platform that is a prime way young Americans get their information.

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Wasserman Schultz said the messages can easily and dangerously leap from the virtual world to real life.

Long before the speed of the internet, antisemitism has always been present, including in South Florida.

Broward Mayor Nan Rich, a former Florida Senate Democratic leader and former national president of the National Council of Jewish Women, said when she was growing up decades ago in Miami Beach some establishments still had no Jews signs.

It was OK at mostly Jewish Miami Beach High School. But when Rich, who was a cheerleader, traveled to away games in Miami or Fort Lauderdale, they were sometimes taunted with antisemitic slurs.

Its always there, she said.

Entire community

Multiple speakers and attendees at Standing Together: A Community Response to Antisemitism said its a problem for all, not just the Jewish community.

We cant just bring Jews together. This is bringing the whole community to respond, Rich said.

Deutch called for a whole-of-society approach.

Close to 400 people attended the conference at the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie, sponsored by the American Jewish Committee.

It was part of a broad AJC effort, supported with a $250,000 grant approved by Broward County commissioners, to combat antisemitism. It has funded training for law enforcement, education institutions, nonprofit organizations, corporations and elected officials on recognizing and addressing antisemitism, Rich said.

AJC and county commissioners began work on the program well before Oct. 7, and Deutch hopes it becomes a national model that can be replicated.

Across the spectrum

Antisemitism has adherents on the political right and political left. But there has been a shift, said Adam Kolett, the Broward/Palm Beach county executive director of Hillel, the international organization for Jewish college students.

In prior years, antisemitism has been coming more from the right on the political spectrum. Since Oct. 7, its been coming more from the left. Its a different reality, he said.

The Standing Together event was bipartisan, and brought together people with divergent political views.

Keynote speaker Roy Atlman was introduced by Rich, who was an outspoken liberal when she served in Tallahassee, and championed Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential candidacy.

Altman, who delivered history of Israels existence and discussed antisemitism for more than an hour without notes, is a Miami-based federal judge and member of the conservative Federalist Society  who was nominated to the bench by former President Donald Trump. He led a bipartisan delegation of federal judges on a trip to Israel in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks.

College contrasts

Maia Kofman said her career path has been altered by antisemitism she experienced.

Kofman received her bachelors degree in 2022 from the University of Florida. With the exception of one negative experience, she said UF was welcoming with a large and thriving community of Jewish students. (Hillel International said 19% of UF undergraduates and 14% of graduate students are Jewish, and it has the largest Jewish student population of any public university.)

It was different, she said, when she arrived at New York University  which has been the site of extensive pro-Palestinian protests this year  in 2022 to begin work on her masters degree in animal studies.

She was planning on becoming a veterinarian.

An advance reading for one class compared factory farms to the Holocaust, during which 6 million Jews were murdered by the Nazis.

Kofman said she told her classmates on Day One that it was a horrible comparison that was incredibly antisemitic  and was told by a fellow student that she values life of a Jew and that of a cow to be the same.

NYU post-Oct. 7 was so uncomfortable. You couldnt go to class without walking through a rally of students chanting from the river to to the sea, intifada, revolution, or we dont want no two state, we want all of it, Kofman said.

As a Jewish student hearing those things, knowing that its calling for your destruction and the destruction of your people, How could you not feel harassed? How could you not feel uncomfortable? How could you not feel like you dont belong in that environment? she said.

She received her masters degree in January. By then, her NYU experience made her change course, and decide she wanted to work in the Jewish community. Shes now AJCs development coordinator in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

National picture

Kofmans experiences echoed harrowing stories Wasserman Schultz said she heard when she recently met with a group of Jewish students in Washington, D.C.

Deutch described ugly scenes on many college campuses, with Jewish kids being shouted at, told to go back to Poland and Israeli kids being chased and told they need to leave campus and at times not allowed to pass.

Deutch said too many university leaders have struggled with what to say and how to respond. Post-10/7 was a moment that begged for moral clarity. There is no gray. This was black and white, he said. Its not hard but it has been on too many campuses.

He said he has spoken with many university leaders who think  misguidedly, in his view  that if they make it to summer break, the problem will go away and that by next semester hopefully everything will be fine.

Florida universities

Deutch said the situation is different at universities in South Florida  Miami, Florida Atlantic and Nova Southeastern.

Kolett, the Hillel leader for Broward and Palm Beach counties, said there are antisemitic incidents on Florida campuses, and they have increased since Oct. 7. Were not immune to whats going on in the world.

But, he said, Florida stands out. Its universities have not allowed actions that have intimidated Jewish students elsewhere.

Leaders of Florida universities have been really supportive and theyve been enforcing their codes of conduct. Thats all it takes, he said. In Florida theyre working in tandem, in concert with each other and weve really been realizing the difference here. Were fortunate here in Florida, and I just hope that others across the country can see the environment that its creating for students.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has been among the most outspoken elected officials in the country with a zero-tolerance policy toward protests that infringe on other peoples well-being and disrupt the institutions operations. At one news conference, he praised what happened at Florida State University when a tent encampment formed and sprinklers were turned on. (Accounts deferred, and ultimately it wasnt clear if the sprinklers were intentional or a coincidence.)

Stoneman Douglas

Antisemitic incidents at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, which gained worldwide attention because of the Feb. 14, 2018, school massacre, were recounted by Maya Gordon, a senior at the school.

Gordon, who has interned for a congressman, a state legislator and a circuit court judge, is School Board Chair Lori Alhadeffs appointee to the School Districts Human Relations Committee. She is president of the Jewish Student Union.

Her group has regularly participated in the twice-a-year multicultural food fair, at which different organizations bring foods that represent their cultures.

Offerings from the Jewish Student Union have included bagel with a schmear, sweet treats hamantaschen and rugelach, and falafel with little Israeli flags. She was always really proud of the amount of coexisting that we had going on there showing that youre one school, one community as a whole, not a bunch of individual(s).

That changed in March 2023, when Gordon said she was told by another student that we dont want the Jews there.

Gordon said her organization was able to participate after she reported the statement to the principal.

At the December 2023 food fair, Gordon said she wore an Israeli flag around her waist. She said some visitors to the table were screaming free Palestine and some wouldnt take our stuff because it was the Jewish one.

Also, she said, there have been other incidents at school since Oct. 7, including the drawing of a swastika in the dust on a students car and swastikas and stuff written in the bathrooms, multiple times, including graffiti containing the phrase from the river to the sea.

Since Oct. 7, Ive seen so many things written in the school written on the walls and bathrooms, she said.

Broward Public Schools painted a different picture.

Spokesperson Cathleen Brennan, responding for the school district and Principal Michelle Kefford, said via email that Stoneman Douglas is committed to offering an inclusive and supportive educational environment. At no time are displays or acts of bigotry and hate tolerated. If made aware of an issue, the schools administration takes prompt action to resolve it. Students involved in any incidents receive appropriate disciplinary consequences.

Brennan said the river to the sea graffiti was immediately removed and the schools leadership says this was an isolated situation and the school has not seen an increase in incidents.

She said Kefford is reaching out to Ms. Gordon to learn more about the experiences she shared and any student with concerns is encouraged to report them.

The statement didnt address whether there has been an increase in the number of antisemitic incidents districtwide.

Alhadeff, who is Jewish and speaks against antisemitism in a video on the School District website, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Outspoken judge

Altman, the federal judge, said Oct. 7 drove an awakening inside me, and I realized I have an obligation to speak up for the Jewish people and for western civilization.

He lambasted narratives he said emanate from some universities, media outlets and the United Nations, that the Jews are the oppressors.  How can this be? The moral inversion, the moral confusion, the moral vulnerability we see all around us in the west is too pathetic for words. 

Jew hatred is the lie that one society after another is willing to accept about the Jews. It is the lie that we are not yet inoculated against, describing it as the moral rot that eats away at the wooden framework of our house, he said. We have seen  as with COVID  societies that allow Jew hatred to proliferate are societies that are symptomatic, societies that are sick and dying.

Going forward

Deutch and Wasserman Schultz advocated some, including calling for passage of legislation to implement the Biden Administrations plan to combat antisemitism.

And Wasserman Schultz said the provision of federal law, widely known as Section 230, that allows social media companies to avoid legal responsibility for whats posted on their sites should be modified or repealed.

Gordon, who is about to start college in the fall, said educating people is the answer  letting people know what is happening, what is antisemitic, and the implications of what theyre saying.

Thats what we need more of: just casual open dialog, making sure that you actually understand what youre saying, she said. I feel the issue that we keep on seeing is  that people just have no clue.

Toni Weissberg and her husband, Rabbi Leon Weissberg, are both in their 70s, children of Holocaust survivors and explain history at the Mania and Max Nudel Holocaust Learning Center at the Posnack JCC campus. They remain hopeful, yet concerned.

The uptick in antisemitism has us very worried, Toni Weissberg said after hours of sessions about whats gong on.

We need to continue to educate, she said. That is the only way.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and journa.host.
Click here to buy "Why Johnny Can't Read, Write, or Do 'Rithmetic Even With a College Degree" and learn the full story of the madness infecting what used to be our institutions of higher education.
KYODO NEWS - May 23, 2024 - 19:47 | World, All, Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, agreed Thursday to promote cooperation in various sectors as Tokyo seeks to boost relations with ASEAN members amid China's growing assertiveness in the region.

During their talks in Tokyo, Kishida and Anwar praised the launch of Japan's new security collaboration framework, known as official security assistance, or OSA, which is designed for like-minded partners such as Malaysia, the government said.

"Japan intends to expand cooperation with your country further to uphold and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law," Kishida was quoted by his government as saying, while Anwar pledged to make efforts to enhance bilateral ties.

At their previous talks in Tokyo in December, Kishida agreed with Anwar to provide rescue boats to Malaysia under the new framework. Japan has designated four Asia-Pacific nations -- Bangladesh, Fiji, Malaysia and the Philippines -- as OSA recipients.

In February, meanwhile, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force and Malaysia's navy held their first joint exercise in the Andaman Sea, a marginal body of the northeastern Indian Ocean bounded by the west side of the Malay Peninsula, followed by a second one in April.

Kishida met with Anwar as Japan strives to bolster relations with emerging and developing countries, collectively referred to as the Global South, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Kuala Lumpur will assume the ASEAN chair next year.

The two leaders agreed on Thursday to collaborate in several areas, including decarbonization, digitalization, cybersecurity capabilities, and economic security to enhance supply chains, according to the Japanese government.

Moreover, Kishida and Anwar agreed that Japan and Malaysia will cooperate in addressing issues such as the situation in the East and South China seas, where Beijing has been increasing its military presence, and North Korea's nuclear and missile development.

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Japan, South Korea leaders to agree in Seoul to tackle North Korea threats

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Japanese, Cambodian leaders vow to bolster security cooperation
Fight ensues over pristine Texas land purchased by billionaire for luxury resort: 'The alarms went off when people in this area first heard'

A Central Texas landowner and other conservationists are dreading the development of a resort complex that could forever alter an undisturbed area.

What's happening?

The Mirasol Springs luxury resort and housing tract will sit on 1,400 acres, with an eco hotel of 70 rooms plus 30 cottages and 39 residential lots. Though about 1,000 acres will become a conservation easement, the site threatens Roy Creek Canyon, Texas Monthly reported.

Part of the area, perhaps "one of the last remaining ecosystems" in the state, according to the Austin American-Statesman, has been in Lew Adams' family since the 1940s. The creek and springs feed the Pedernales River, which ran dry in each of the last two summers. Uphill, Mirasol Springs has a permit to pump 100,000 gallons from the river every day, except during droughts, per Texas Monthly.

"What are we going to do with this place if the creek were to go dry? What is the value then?" Adams said. "All the cypress trees will start to diminish; this whole deciduous forest, which relies on [the springs], could be endangered."

He and others are also worried about pollution from visitors and wastewater.

Why is this important?

The Lower Colorado River Authority, which approved the Mirasol Springs contract, in February implemented water restrictions because of a severe drought. Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan were down to 847,000 acre-feet of water combined, or about 42% capacity. They've bounced back after recent storms to 1,047,153 acre-feet but are still at just 39.4% and 71% capacity.

"The alarms went off when people in this area first heard about Mirasol Springs," Hill Country Alliance co-founder Christy Muse said. "To their credit, the Mirasol people paused and wanted to hear what locals had to say. They thought they were doing something really great right off the bat and quickly learned that a lot of people around here don't feel the same way."

Muse is "haunted" by what will happen to the area once it's developed because of the drought and rising global temperatures, Texas Monthly reported, noting the "dry line"  where dry air from the Western United States meets moist air from the East  has moved 140 miles east over the last 100 years, leaving the Austin area in the dust.

"There is a lot about this that I personally like, but the site they chose is just so fragile that it makes things really challenging and not just for Roy Creek," she said. "The conservation community in this area is deploying every strategy we can think of to benefit water recharge and the flow in the Pedernales, and pulling water out of the river that makes up 25 percent of the flow into Lake Travis just doesn't seem logical."

What's being done about the development?

A representative of the development told Texas Monthly it will collect rainwater from every rooftop on the property and that deed restrictions will ban herbicides, pesticides, nonnative plants, septic systems, and private wells. And after public outcry in 2022, the site was scaled back, with a decrease in houses from 55.

Still, it's not enough for those who hold the Hill Country and its iconic springs near and dear. That's because the only way to preserve such natural features is to leave them in pristine condition, in part by not pumping groundwater, which feeds the springs.

Though officials have said Mirasol Springs won't extract groundwater unless the LCRA contract changes and, later, that it would only do so a quarter of the time, it has asked to pump 27.6 million gallons per year, nearly as much as its surface water allotment (35 million gallons, per the Statesman.

"Roy Creek is not necessarily unique on its face," hydrogeologist Doug Wierman told Texas Monthly. "There are a lot of these springs tucked away in the Hill Country, but as land is partitioned, developments added, and more groundwater pumped, they're disappearing."

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(Bloomberg) -- On a boat weaving through the Aland Islands in late April, coastguard officer Kim Westman was on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary.

Most Read from Bloomberg

And like nearly every patrol since Russias invasion of Ukraine some two years ago, Westman found nothing of serious concern to report. But the serenity belies growing concerns over a crucial maritime gateway and shipping routes worth $160 billion a year.

The self-governing archipelago stretching across the middle of the Baltic Sea officially belongs to Finland, its residents speak Swedish, and Russia is tasked with enforcing an accord that has banned any military presence on its shores for over a century.

With Finland now a member of NATO and Russia jostling to assert its rights in the region, hawks say the unusual set up has become the Nordic countrys greatest vulnerability, giving Moscow an open field should it ever decide to invade.

Read More: Russia Pulls Notice of Baltic Sea Border Plan

If you have all the Aland Islands, you can block maritime traffic both to the Gulf of Bothnia and to the Gulf of Finland, said Pekka Toveri, a former major general in Finlands armed forces and member of parliament for the center-right National Coalition Party, part of the ruling coalition. Then we are pretty screwed.

About 96% of Finlands trade flows through sea lanes near Aland. The ability to send goods entirely by land, over the top of Norway or Sweden into Finland, is limited by harsh Arctic winters, poorly maintained roads and different rail gauges. The area is also home to key communication and energy infrastructure, including undersea electricity and internet cables.

Finland forged a careful coexistence with its eastern neighbor after fighting two wars against the Soviet Union in the 20th century. Its shift towards the west culminated in a break from non-alignment when Putin sent tanks to Ukraine. Eight out of nine nations on the Baltic Sea are now NATO members; only Russia is not.

The next step in strengthening defenses should be to close the Russian consulate on the Aland Islands and allow Finnish forces to train on them, according to Toveri. He said the archipelago is more important to Finland than Gotland Island is to Sweden  and the Swedish government remilitarized that island after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, later re-introducing permanent troops, adding tanks and reactivating air defense systems.

Dismantling layers of international demilitarization agreements would be complex, though, and is unlikely for now. Recent polls suggest the 30,000 Aland residents see no great need to do so and the Finnish government recently reviewed the islands status, without concluding changes should be made.

Instead, the focus is on vigilance and contingency planning. Wille Rydman, Finlands economy minister, said the country has prepared for scenarios ranging from an attempt by Russia to take control of the Baltic Sea, to more limited operations he declined to detail. They likely include acts of sabotage with plausible deniability aimed at testing NATOs resolve.

There has already been an increase in jamming of satellite signals used by airlines, smartphones and weapons systems in the Baltic Sea that officials said have largely been traced to areas near the Russian city of St. Petersburg and its enclave Kaliningrad, wedged between Poland and Lithuania.

Jan Olav Hanses, chief executive of Viking Line Abp  which is based on Aland and is a major carrier of goods between Sweden and Finland  said hes introducing back-up systems to restore critical services in case his fleets navigational systems are targeted next. We need to be prepared, Hanses said, adding that the companys sales and bookings were disrupted for 24 hours following a cyber attack on its website in October and that the hackers identified themselves as Russian.

Later this month, shippers key to Finlands security of supply, port operators and the National Emergency Supply Agency will practice using less optimal routes, as well as operating with reduced crews in the event seafarers are mobilized to serve with defense forces, according to Tiina Tuurnala, chief executive of the Finnish Shipowners Association.

Finland has already updated emergency legislation that allows the state to guarantee insurance for vital cargo, ships, aircraft and other vehicles that transport them, along with their crews. Insurance typically amounts to around 1% to 1.5% of the insured value of a vessel  Viking ships are worth as much as 200 million euros  and that percentage could run into the double-digits for war or conflict insurance, Hanses said.

Despite the assurances and all the planning, the native of Finland who has lived in Aland for more than 35 years, said his preference would still be for troops to be stationed on the islands.

Read more: Russian Sabotage, Spying and Intimidation Is Spreading in Europe

As Westmans crew maneuvered their 13.5-meter (44 meter) boat through a gentle chop, they consulted electronic charts of some 6,800 islands and skerries that make up the archipelago. The Baltic Sea is shallow  one reason shipping routes are limited  and treacherous, with rapakivi granite jutting out of the water throughout the islands or lurking below the surface.

Perched on a dark green gurney inside the cabin, Westman said his team has a high situational awareness of all maritime traffic including cargo, crews, the origin and ownership of ships, along with the profiles of visitors who arrive on 25 passenger vessels each day.

Founded in 1930 to chase smugglers during Finnish prohibition, the coastguard provides security in the absence of a military presence on Aland.

Coming under the auspices of Finlands Interior Ministry, its members carry sidearms and long guns. While they cant have army-grade equipment, they practice using such weapons during military drills on the mainland.

The Aland Islands have been impacted by every war in the Baltics since 1741, according to Kenneth Gustavsson, a local military historian, three of which ended with major treaties that shaped the identity of its residents.

An initial demilitarization pact was signed in 1856 after the Crimean War. Swedish became the official language as a result of protections won from the League of Nations following World War I, in an agreement that also granted sovereignty to Finland. Two decades later, the Soviet-Finland accord allowed the then-USSR to open a consulate and monitor the islands.

With those arrangements now under pressure, Alanders have found a way to express their displeasure with Russia while simultaneously demonstrating their commitment to peace.

Every day since Moscows invasion of Ukraine, a small group of protesters gathers outside Russias consulate in the capital, Mariehamn at precisely 5 p.m. Standing on the boulevard opposite the building  next to a Ukrainian flag and a peace sign  they hold a moment of silence, sing and shout: Putin to The Hague!, a reference to the home of the international criminal court.

Then both sides return to their normal business, the consul free to travel the islands by boat and car with his wife to check Finland isnt trying to smuggle in weapons or soldiers  though hes been keeping a low profile recently, and declined to be interviewed.

Earlier this spring, one of the protest regulars, Ulf Grussner, a retired businessman in his eighties, was arrested and fined 900 ($978) for carrying a weapon without a permit after he took a WWI-era rifle, asked his artist granddaughter to tie a knot in the barrel, and placed it outside the consul where it remained for more than a week before it was confiscated by police.

Grussner doesnt want the consulate closed, reasoning: It is better to see your enemy in his eyes and talk to him than to wonder where he is and what he is going to do. And he says he feels safe because in the event of an Ukraine-type attack, the Finnish military would be legally obligated to defend the islands. Finlands government could also invoke NATOs collective defense pledge known as Article 5.

When Grussners rifle  a mini replica of the nonviolence sculpture outside the United Nations building in New York  is released by police, a local museum has asked to exhibit it.

I wouldnt say that we are afraid, but we are alert, said Aland government leader Katrin Sjogren when asked about resistance to remilitarizing. She added, At times like these, it becomes more important than ever to look for solutions that push the pendulum back toward peace.

Constructed for trade after the Crimean War, it would be hard to invent a town more suited to that ideal than Mariehamn.

The beauty of its deep-water port is enhanced by tidy streets and paths that wend between beaches, wildflowers and linden trees. Cyclists glide past ponds where barnacle geese sun themselves on tiny islands topped with red-painted houses.

The local economy is fishing and agriculture, as well as trade and tourism. The Aland Islands are known for being a tax-exempt passage for ferries going to and from Sweden, where passengers can stock up on cheaper alcohol and tobacco without even getting off the boat, though many choose to.

Beyond wanting to maintain an idyllic existence  and worrying about the consequences of picking a fight with Russia  Alanders fear that pulling on the demilitarization thread would unravel the other agreements that guarantee their language and cultural rights.

In tense situations, the web of treaties that keeps everyone in check is crucial, said Susann Simolin, director of the Aland Islands Peace Institute. Aland is one piece in a much larger puzzle, she said.

On the boat, Westman stressed that if needed the coastguard can scale up their numbers very flexibly and very fast with other members of the some 3,100-strong border force, which includes civilians. But he speculated that it might not be in Russias interest to push the threat level too high because it benefits from demilitarization.

The reason? Should they ever want to perform a military action, he said, then it surely would be easier if this was not already occupied by other military personnel.

--With assistance from Demetrios Pogkas.

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Finneytown Elementary School band and orchestra classes may be held before school hours in the 2024-25 school year, a move that has raised concerns among some parents.

During a Finneytown Board of Education meeting Monday evening, board members discussed a recent change in the elementary school's schedule that would require band and orchestra students to come one hour before school starts. That would be two days a week for fifth graders and three a week for sixth graders.

That left some parents questioning the fairness to all the kids.

Superintendent Laurie Banks said it was so these students could take general music in addition to performance music classes. She said she worked with the Finneytown Music Parents Association, the two building principals, director of operation and the band and orchestra instructors to make the changes.

"This change will allow for more  and especially more uninterrupted  instruction in band and orchestra. The change in scheduling is also being made so that students can attend all regular specials classes, including general music," Banks wrote in an email. She noted the district has had success with other, similar before-school programs and that secondary school band and orchestra classes take place before school.

"We believe this change may encourage even more students to participate in band and orchestra and can help ease the transition from one school to another, particularly for sixth graders."

It was the superintendent's office that made the changes, not the school board. According to the music parents' association treasurer Amy Catanzaro, it wasn't the deal music parents or teachers wanted.

Finneytown Elementary School's 2023 sixth grade orchestra.

"In the last month or so, the principal and super presented this plan to the band directors and orchestra director. They expected them to present a united front, and get behind the plan and support it, but they do not," Catanzaro said. "That is because it reduces equity and availability of the programs to at least a portion of the students."

During the meeting, board member Jelicia McMullen noted equity concerns in the socioeconomically diverse district. One example: some children may be responsible for getting their siblings on the bus, for example, or may not have another ride to school, and because of this, they wouldn't be able to be a part of the before-school program. Students within a mile of the school are not provided busing, and they would have to cross Winton Road in the dark during rush hour, leaving parents to choose between their child's benefit of being in the program and their safety. Earlier transportation would be provided to the students who take the bus.

Catanzaro said 68 fourth graders  the entire class  are currently signed up for either band or orchestra next year. Holding the class before school may rule out those children who either don't want to or can't wake up an hour earlier. It also makes their school day an hour longer.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Den Tenhundfeld, a product of Finneytown Local School District's music program and parent of a recent grad and current marching band student, said starting the school day earlier and potentially losing an hour of sleep may be OK for high schoolers, but it would be hard on younger children. "So the theory is flawed," he told the board.

School board members acknowledged concerns raised by band and orchestra parents. Board member James "Eddie" Reeb proposed a resolution to change that at the meeting, but it failed.

Two board members will meet with school officials and teachers who contributed to the plan at a future meeting, Banks said. A date has not been set.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Finneytown Elementaryband, orchestra may be held before school hours
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.

Let Me Say That Again: Google Effing Street View!

The Appeal to Heaven flag flying at Samuel Alitos Jersey shore beach house is right there in Google Street View, if you know where to look. Morning Memo isnt in the habit of giving out the addresses of Supreme Court justices, but it took about 10 minutes to locate it (would have been faster with more than one cup of coffee under my belt).

Its not the Google Street View of Alitos beach house proper. Its a shot from between two houses on an adjacent street, looking across a canal, toward the back of the Alito house, where the flagpole stands.

One of the NYTs reporters on the story:

And thanks to the Google Street View car for driving by exactly at the right time. It hadn't been by since 2013 before this image. pic.twitter.com/gmgSCq9VFI  Aric Toler (@AricToler) May 22, 2024

I want to be super clear though: Google Street View is a hilarious confirmation under the circumstances, but the NYT story almost certainly originated with tip(s) from neighbors and/or others who saw the earlier story about the upside down American flag at Alitos Virginia home and shared what theyd seen at his New Jersey beach property. The story cites accounts from a half-dozen neighbors and passers-by.

Ill leave the Times to provide you with the background and history of the flag and what it has come to represent. Pay particular attention to the role of Dutch Sheets in elevating the flag to prominence in right-wing religious circles.

Stop The Stealito!*

Lets have some fun with this, shall we?

John Collins: Schoolhouse Rock never prepared us for this shit.

Jay Willis: Were at most 48 hours away from learning that Sam Alito has been the QAnon Shaman for Halloween for the last three years running.

Steve Vladeck: I wonder what the neighbors did to provoke this one 

Chris Hayes:

And this one:

TFW when you're stuck in traffic behind Sam Alito pic.twitter.com/7otftSjbDJ  Eric Muller (@elmunc) May 23, 2024

*Credit for the subhead goes, as best as I can tell, to Leah Litman. Kudos.

On A More Serious Note 

Some of the more substantive reactions to the discovery of the second Alito flag:

Joyce Vance: Perhaps we will learn some feud with local aquatic life led Mrs. Alito to fly the flag. But sarcasm aside, when youre a Supreme Court Justice, youre supposed to avoid giving off even a whiff of partisan bias. Or religious favoritism. As a judge, and certainly, as a Supreme Court Justice, you have that duty. Justice Alito flunks the test and flunks it badly.

Law Dork Chris Geidner: Its been clear for some time that Justice Sam Alito was the Fox News (or an even further right-wing channel) justice on the U.S. Supreme Court bench. The past two weeks have helped to cement that into the public consciousness for those who dont hear him at oral arguments or read his opinions  particularly his concurrences and dissents.

Dahlia Lithwick: [R]ather than hurling ourselves headlong into the Alito Must Recuse brick wall of yeah, no, we need to dedicate the upcoming election cycle, and the attendant election news cycle, to a discussion of  what it means to have a Supreme Court that is functionally immune from political pressure, from internal norms of behavior, from judicial ethics and disclosure constraints, and from congressional oversight and why that is deeply dangerous.

Aileen Cannon Actually Held A Hearing In MAL Case

The good news is U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon held an actual hearing in the molasses-slow Mar-a-Lago case. The bad news is that it was to entertain a ridiculous claim of selective prosecution that most other judges would have rejected out of hand.

Cover Up?

Smartmatic is accusing Newsmax of destroying evidence to thwart the voting machine companys defamation lawsuit over the 2020 Big Lie, NBC News reports:

Lawyers for Florida-based Smartmatic allege that Newsmax engaged in a cover-up by destroying texts and emails of key executives that would demonstrate the networks knowledge that voting fraud claims being pushed by former President Donald Trump and his allies were untrue. Smartmatic says the deletions occurred after Newsmax had received notice to preserve evidence for the pending suit.

Newsmax denies the allegation.

2024 Ephemera

Bloomberg: Half of Swing-State Voters Fear Violence Around US Election

NBC News: Steve Kramer, the political consultant who admitted to NBC News that he was behind a robocall impersonating Joe Bidens voice, has been indicted in New Hampshire.

Nikki Haley commits to voting for Donald Trump again:

Nikki Haley: I will be voting for Trump. Having said that  Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that they're just going to be with him. pic.twitter.com/DgPIoFNa7q  The Recount (@therecount) May 22, 2024

Abortion Watch

A new law scheduled to take effect this summer in Kansas would require abortion providers to ask their patients the following questions, compile the answers, and submit them to the state twice a year for inclusion in a public report, as Brandi Buchman reports:

Would having a baby interfere with the patients education, employment or career?

Was the patient able to provide for the child?

Does the patient already have enough, or too many, children?

Does the patients husband or partner want them to have an abortion?

Does the patient lack enough child support from family or others to raise a child?

Was the pregnancy the result of rape or incest?

Does the pregnancy threaten the patients physical, mental or emotional health?

Would the child have a disability?

When The Truth Hurts

House Republicans lost their minds yesterday when Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) went on the floor and listed the trials Donald Trump is currently facing. They moved to strike McGoverns comments from the record and admonished him for making them. McGovern was dumbstruck:

McGovern: I was admonished for stating that the former president is on trial in a court of law. It's the truth. Is it unparliamentary to state a fact? pic.twitter.com/31dClGDzsn  Acyn (@Acyn) May 22, 2024

The result of the admonishment was that McGovern was barred from speaking on the House floor for the rest of the day.

Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know!
They flew to New Caledonia for a romantic escape. Now theyre trapped as Macron tries to quell deadly riots

When Maxwell Winchester and his wife arrived in the South Pacific island of New Caledonia nearly two weeks ago, they were excited for what would be their first child-free holiday since becoming parents.

But what was supposed to be a romantic getaway has instead left the Australian couple stranded and far from their children back in their home state Victoria, after deadly riots broke out across the French territory sparked by electoral changes from the national government.

We are sheltered in place because its largely been too dangerous to leave. Weve had barricades, riots  shops looted, burnt to the ground. Our suburb near us basically has nothing left, he told CNN on Thursday.

In the hotel where theyre staying, food and medicine are running low, he said, and there is no sense of when help is arriving; evacuations for foreign nationals have paused on Thursday due to French President Emmanuel Macron arriving for talks.

We have people who have run out of medicine  People are running out of food. Other Australians stranded have had to go scrounge coconuts to eat, he said.

Now, the couple and other foreign nationals stuck on the island are desperately trying to find a way home, with commercial flights canceled and the main international airport closed.

Our embassy went AWOL the first day, and we only first heard from (them) last night for the first time for a welfare call, he said. Were frustrated with it all  What Im hoping is that our government will evacuate us promptly.

Australia and New Zealand began sending government planes to evacuate nationals starting Tuesday, with the Australian embassy in New Caledonia saying on Facebook that 108 Australians and other tourists were successfully transported from the island to Brisbane on two flights on Tuesday.

We continue to work with partners to support the departure of all Australians who want to leave, it said in a post on Wednesday.

But Winchester said he and other tourists have no sense of when it might be their turn. The local government estimates there are around 3,200 people waiting to leave or enter the island.

Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) says on its website it is communicating directly with registered Australians in New Caledonia about departure options from New Caledonia, and has instructed Australians on the island to register their details on the agencys online portal.

People line up at a store for supplies in New Caledonia, with larger supermarkets nearby burned and looted during the riots on the French territory. - Obtained by CNN

Deadly unrest

Lying some 930 miles (roughly 1,500 kilometers) to the northeast of Brisbane, New Caledonia has long been a popular destination for both Australians and New Zealanders looking for some Pacific sunshine and beaches.

But it is also a hangover of Frances colonial past, a territory on the other side of the globe where many indigenous inhabitants suffer from entrenched poverty and have long chafed under Paris rule.

The latest protests, the worst since the 1980s, were sparked by anger among indigenous Kanak people over a constitutional amendment approved in France that would change who is allowed to participate in elections, which local leaders fear will dilute the Kanak vote.

The unrest has killed at least six people, and has left a trail of burned cars and looted stores, with road barricades restricting access to medicine and food.

The situation got so bad that Macron has been forced to fly some 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles), landing on an island seething with resentment from indigenous community leaders, business owners and stranded tourists.

Macron arrived in New Caledonia on Thursday, telling reporters that a return to peace was his top priority  but that French security forces will stay in the territory for as long as necessary, even during the Olympic Games.

Three thousand French security forces have already been deployed, with a number of those still arriving Thursday, he said. He added that he believes that the state of emergency should not be extended, provided that all political forces on the island issue a clear call for the roadblocks to be lifted.

As part of his visit, Macron will set up a mission in New Caledonia, government spokesperson Prisca Thevenot said at a press conference earlier this week. The visit comes as France prepares for the Paris Olympic Games, which will be held from July 26 to August 11.

Roads barricaded

But Macrons arrival was little solace for Winchester and his wife, who are staying at a resort outside the city center. They described the anxiety and desperation inside among hotel guests and staff alike. The resort has barricaded all roads leading to the hotel, leaving just one entrance that is guarded 24/7, he said.

And among the stranded tourists, frustration is growing over what they say is a lack of assistance or clear instructions from their governments.

The Australian government is only notifying its nationals of evacuation plans 30 minutes before the flight for security reasons, said Winchester  meaning everyone is constantly on edge, and theyre frightened to leave the hotel rooms in case they get a call telling them (to get on the plane).

When contacted by CNN for comment, DFAT pointed to a statement online by Australias Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong on Wednesday.

The Australian Government stands ready to assist more tourists out of New Caledonia and has planes ready to fly. We have not been given clearances for additional flights. We know this is frustrating for the Australians who remain, she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. We are working to ensure flights tomorrow.

A burnt building in an industrial district in Noumea, New Caledonia, on May 20, 2024. - Theo Rouby/AFP/Getty Images

With the international airport closed, evacuation flights can only leave from the domestic airport, located close to the city center  which is largely inaccessible to people staying further away, like Winchester and other guests at their resort, due to roadblocks and gun violence on the main highways.

My wife and I dont have a car, so we have no way to get to the city if were put on a flight, he said. We dont know if theyre going to come and evacuate us from the location were in or not. But to drive through to the city is very dangerous in the moment.

New Zealand nationals on the island are in a similar predicament  with their governments instructing them to drive to the city and leave their cars at a hotel to avoid being hijacked, before being picked up there for evacuations, he said.

And with Macrons visit, it could get worse, he said. The French government has not handled this well. And if (Macron) says the wrong things and then goes back to France, it could all kick off again  thats our fear.

In the meantime, stranded foreign nationals continue searching for a way out  while racking up hefty bills, with Winchester describing tourists spending tens of thousands of dollars on food, accommodation and supplies.

The couple is now trying to travel into the city with some New Zealand nationals, and find a flight out with them  hoping for safety in numbers on the perilous drive.

From our own government now, their position is the French will fly us out, and were not confident in the French governments ability to keep us safe, he said.

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Flight from Boston to San Francisco makes emergency landing in Denver

A United Airlines flight from Boston to San Francisco was forced to make an emergency landing in Denver on Tuesday morning.

United Flight 625 was carrying 177 passengers and 7 crew members when the Boeing 737-9 MAX had to address a potential mechanical issue, while in flight.

The aircraft was diverted and landed safely in Denver and another aircraft was able to get passengers to San Francisco later that afternoon.

This incident comes after a door blew out of an Alaskan Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 in January. There were no serious injuries in that incident.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  The Florence County Sheriffs Office is asking for help finding a camper stolen in the Timmonsville area.

A 2016 Keystone Hideout camper was stolen Tuesday from a property on Langston Road, the sheriffs office said. The camper is tan and gray and has a South Carolina license plate tag KT70923.

Courtesy: Florence County Sheriffs Office

Courtesy: Florence County Sheriffs Office

Courtesy: Florence County Sheriffs Office

Video surveillance shows the camper being taken from the property by a white flatbed dually truck.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriffs office at 843-665-2121.

* * *

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.

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 WBTW.
KYODO NEWS - May 24, 2024 - 17:30 | World, All, Japan

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Thursday that there is a "very strong possibility" for his country and Japan to sign an agreement allowing their defense forces to train in each other's territories during a meeting involving the two nations' foreign and defense ministers in July.

In an interview with Kyodo News, Teodoro stated that negotiations on a reciprocal access agreement were nearing conclusion, with no remaining contentious issues. These negotiations commenced in late November, following an agreement earlier that month between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to initiate talks aimed at enhancing security ties.

"It will allow your maritime forces...land (forces) and your air forces to train with us in a different environment (from what) you are used to," Teodoro said, referring to possible cooperation between Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the Philippine military.

It will be Japan's first RAA with a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the third following pacts with Australia and Britain, which took effect last year.

Once both countries ratify the RAA, it will enable Japanese forces to participate in the annual large-scale Balikatan military exercise conducted by the Philippines and the United States, he said.

Teodoro, his Japanese counterpart, Minoru Kihara, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa will attend the bilateral security meeting scheduled for July in Manila.

Teodoro said the Philippines and Japan would eventually consider holding talks about a military intelligence-sharing accord called the General Security of Military Information Agreement, which Manila is currently negotiating with Washington.

Japan and the Philippines, both U.S. allies, have been strengthening bilateral defense ties in recent years in response to China's intensifying provocative activities and territorial claims in the East and South China seas.

The Philippines is deepening its security ties with other like-minded countries such as Australia. In April, the Philippines, Australia, Japan, and the United States conducted a joint maritime exercise in the South China Sea, of which China claims almost the entire area as its territory.

In order to "demonstrate to the world freedom of navigation," Teodoro said his country hopes to conduct naval activities with the three allies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone "as often as possible."

Beijing's sweeping claims in the South China Sea were invalidated by a 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

For this year's Balikatan exercise held in the Philippines from April 22 to May 10, a midrange U.S. missile system was deployed for simulated firing in a scenario where the two countries' forces sank an enemy ship in the South China Sea, according to the U.S. military.

While China has said the missile deployment "severely threatens" regional security, Teodoro said the Philippines is willing to host more such U.S. defense equipment for exercises. He added that Chinese government officials "are paranoid about things."

Regarding China's move to enforce a new law in June to detain foreigners suspected of crossing its maritime borders for up to 60 days, Teodoro described it as "roguish" behavior that threatens "international stability and peace."

In a bid to monitor the areas where the Philippines exercises sovereignty, Manila is hoping to acquire additional coastal surveillance radars from Tokyo under Japan's official security assistance, he said.

Related coverage:

Japan, Philippines to hold 2-plus-2 security talks in July

Japan to provide Philippines 64 billion yen for 5 more patrol ships
Related video: Starbucks accused of illegal union busting during congressional hearing

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Floridas Attorney General Ashley Moody filed a complaint on Wednesday, calling for an investigation into Starbucks hiring process, accusing the company of racial discrimination.

Moody is calling on the Florida Commission on Human Relations to investigate the coffee giant. She claims the companys hiring practices go beyond aspirational goals, and are there to reach unlawful quotas.

Florida cant enforce law criminalizing transportation of undocumented immigrants, judge rules

On the companys website, Starbucks discloses that its executives have compensation tied to our inclusion and diversity objectives.

In a 2022 press release, the chain vowed to achieve BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, and People of Color] representation of at least 30 percent at all corporate levels and at least 40 percent of all retail and manufacturing roles by 2025 in the U.S.

Moodys complaint cites a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. In it, the court ruled racial discrimination demeans the dignity and worth of a person to be judged by ancestry instead of by his or her own merit and essential qualities.

Moodys complaint said Starbucks policies are concerning and that the commission should evaluate if the company could be considered an abusive work environment.

Sarasota man charged in shooting that injured Auburns Brian Battie, killed brother

Moody said the anti-bias training Starbucks offered to its workers tried to convince white employees that they were the problem. The complaint cited a statement from 2018, in which the executive vice president said, I was bearing witness to my own white privilege. I had to realize that Im the problem.

The bottom line is hiring practices using race-based quotas are illegal, Moody said. Starbucks has published publicly available policies that raise sufficient concerns that they are using a quota system, and that compensation is tied to that system. The Florida Commission on Human Relations has a duty to investigate these concerns to ensure that Florida civil rights laws are not violated.

WFLA.com has reached out to Starbucks for comment.

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 WFLA.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  New body camera video released this week shows an Alachua police officer rescuing a kitten in the middle of a Florida roadway.

Last week, Officer Stanfield located the kitten in the middle of NW US Highway 441, the Alachua Police Department said in a Facebook post.

Credit: Alachua Police Department via Storyful

The kitten was lying in the roadway while cars passed within feet of the poor animal.

Officer Stanfield stopped to rescue the kitten with the help of a Mi Apa Latin Cafe driver who used their truck to stop traffic.

The police department said the kitten was successfully rescued and now has a new home with one of the departments dispatchers.

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 WFLA.
Florida woman sentenced for $3.4 million tax scheme after more than 8 years on the run

Judy Grace Sellers, of Chipley, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for a $3.4 million tax fraud scheme, filing a false lien, and running away while on bond, according to the United States Attorneys Office.

Evidence shows Sellers operated a website in 2008 and 2009 where she promoted the use of an IRS Form to commit tax fraud.

She identified as a sovereign citizen and perpetuated the false premise that the U.S. Treasury maintains secret accounts attributed to every U.S. citizen that can be drawn on by filing a series of bogus documents with the Treasury and other government entities, the U.S. State Attorneys Office explained in a news release Wednesday.

The FBI defines a sovereign citizen as someone who believes they are separate from the U.S. even though they live in the country. These people often believe they dont have to answer to government authority, including courts, tax entities, or law enforcement.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Sellers scheme led to the submission of at least 22 tax returns requesting fraudulent refunds totaling at least $3.4 million.

In 2011, she filed a false lien against the then-U.S. Attorney and a Department of Justice tax attorney leading a civil action to stop her from promoting the fraud scheme.

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Sellers was arrested in 2014 for tax fraud and filing a false lien. In January 2015, she cut her house arrest ankle monitor off after getting permission to get her hair done in preparation for a pretrial hearing, according to the United States Attorneys Office.

She was found more than eight and a half years later in New Mexico.

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Jon Maynard of Chelmsford, who is leading the research investigation into a lost cemetery associated with the State Reform School for Boys, stands amid three graves marked by small red flags on the shore of Lake Chauncy in Westborough.

WESTBOROUGH  Beside Lake Chauncy stood Jon Maynard, who believes this is sacred ground.

Maynard's research had led him to this small stretch of shoreline that could include the remains of boys who once lived in the first public reform school in the country.

After years of poring over historic documents and photographs, Maynard feels he's located the cemetery that once belonged to the State Reform School for Boys, which closed in 1884. It was located on the grounds that later became the Westborough State Hospital.

Today, the former hospital site is dotted with private condo buildings and playing fields owned by the Town of Westborough. It's on that town land near the lake where red flags were stuck in the ground to mark the spot where human remains might have been buried.

If a long-forgotten cemetery is there, Maynard wants the world to know about it.

I want to make sure these kids are not forgotten," he said. "If nothing is done, it will be like they never existed.

Jon Maynard of Chelmsford is leading the research investigation into a possible lost cemetery associated with the State Reform School for Boys on the shore of Lake Chauncy in Westborough.

However, Maynard may never get the chance to finish his investigation. Earlier this month he was hit with a cease-and-desist order by the Town of Westborough, demanding he stay off the property in perpetuity. If he doesnt, hell be fined $300 every day that he sets foot there.

Not to be deterred, Maynard said, I have every intention of moving forward.

Who is Jon Maynard?

By day, the 39-year-old Chelmsford resident works as a commercial property manager. In his spare time, he hunts for historic photographs and documents.

While researching a book about the history of Westborough State Hospital, Maynard found documents that showed the reform school opened in 1848, and had its own cemetery built in 1858 where some of the schools residents (inmates, according to one document Maynard shared) were buried if no family members claimed the bodies.

Maynard believes James T. Washington, a former slave born in South Carolina, could be buried on the site. Washington was sent to the school on a larceny offense and died Dec. 4, 1873, at age 16 from pulmonary consumption, according to Maynards research.

When (Washington) died, there were 300 boys down here for the funeral," he said.

Jon Maynard of Chelmsford, who is leading the research investigation into a lost cemetery associated with the State Reform School for Boys on the shore of Lake Chauncy in Westborough, indicates where a receiving tomb's entrance is believed to be.

Samuel Thompson is another boy who could be buried there. Thompson was sent to the school for the crime of stealing, according to Maynard, and died of consumption on June 10, 1858. Documents show other deaths were linked to typhoid fever and cerebrospinal meningitis.

Thought he was in the clear

The Westborough Conservation Commission voted 5-0 in 2019 to allow Maynard to clear overgrown brush along the lake so ground-penetrating radar could commence.

Maynard got the brush cleared, but the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the radar work was put on hold. He informed Westborough officials earlier this year that he planned to restart the project and needed to clear more brush to get the radar portion going.

That's when his plans hit a snag.

More approvals needed

Jennifer Miller, Westboroughs conservation director, told Maynard in March that he needed additional approvals. "I agree this is an important project, but when it comes to gravesites and human remains, you are well outside my authority to grant permission for access, reads Millers email.

She instructed Maynard to get permission from the state archaeologist at the Massachusetts Historical Commission and from the towns Select Board.

Maynard was surprised Miller wanted more approvals since he had the Conservation Commission vote. Miller was not the towns conservation director when the commission voted in 2019.

The Massachusetts Historical Commission told Maynard it cant grant or deny approval because the cemetery isnt located on state land. It also said a permit isn't needed to conduct ground-penetrating radar, because its classified by the state as a nondestructive field investigation. That means theres no digging into the ground, as the radar equipment glides over the surface.

However, the Historical Commission advised against radar because it is not an effective and reliable method for locating and identifying archaeological deposits and features, such as unmarked graves, in New England soils.

Instead, it suggested an experienced documentary historian should study documents and photos to gather more clues about the location and those who could be buried there. The result, the letter noted, could be an online memorial to the people likely interred on the site.

The Historical Commission also mentioned the possibility of an archaeological investigation to determine the precise location of the cemetery. Graves wouldnt be excavated, but the area could be improved with fences and plantings.

Proceeds with caution

Maynard is cautious about the states motives, because he believes officials will drag their feet or never investigate the site.

He said as much in an email to Miller earlier this year.

If I just hand it over to the state too soon I have every reason to suspect they'll kill it; abandoning a cemetery for children isn't seen as good PR. Those kids were forgotten by their family, and society, if the state kills it then even the basic dignity of acknowledging their existence will be permanently denied.

Maynard said that when the radar work is finished, he'd be happy to hand over his findings to the state so it can take charge of the investigation. But he believes he needs the radar findings, because without them, the state could bury the project.

'Bone finder' hired

Maynard organized a team of volunteers in April to clear more brush and paid a bone finder to do ground-penetrating radar.

Bob Perry is the bone finder. He grew up in Dorchester and owns Topographix in New Hampshire. He's been in this line of work for 25 years, hired by a variety of clients to find unmarked graves, including police departments conducting homicide investigations.

A 19th-century photo of the State Reform School for Boys in Westborough shows what could be headstones, circled, near the shore of Lake Chauncy.

Perry typically charges about $2,000 daily for his services but dropped his fee for Maynard, charging him $1,000 for the entire project.

He hounded me for about two years to take the job, said Perry with a laugh. Its important for (Maynard) to resolve this issue, to locate the graves.

Perry did one radar scan earlier this month that identified two anomalies that identified the probability of graves. He planned to return this month for a second scan to compare it to the previous one for a more precise analysis. That's in doubt because of the recent cease-and-desist order.

Perry conceded the only way to know for sure if remains are buried along Lake Chauncy is to shovel into the ground. Unless you dig it up, you don't know if theres a grave or not.

Surprised, disappointed

Miller expressed dismay that the brush clearing was done without the towns permission.

"Surprised and disappointed were her words in a May 9 email to Maynard, especially when all of our phone and email conversations indicated that the proposed scope exceeded the authority of the Conservation Commission because it involved human remains.

Millers email also said she was contacted by the Special Commission on State Institutions and was told not only did Maynard need permission from the special commission but also from the State Medical Examiners office and the state Department of Public Health.

Miller declined several interview requests for this story.

Maynard doubts the special commission has the authority to weigh in on his investigation. The commission was established in 2022 to study and report on the history of state institutions for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions. The former reform school doesn't fall in any of those categories, said Maynard.

The commission has the authority to assess and compile records of burial locations for the residents who died while in the care of the institutions. It also determines the likelihood and possible locations of unmarked graves at sites of former state institutions for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions.

The site of a possible lost cemetery associated with the State Reform School for Boys on the shore of Lake Chauncy in Westborough.

UMass Chan Medical School is linked to the special commission. The school's Center for Developmental Disabilities Evaluation and Research has a contract to support the special commissions work, including aspects of the suspected burial site along Lake Chauncy.

The special commission declined an on-the-record interview about Maynard's investigation but issued a statement.

Part of the charge of the Special Commission on State Institutions is to look into the locations where people who lived in institutions are buried. When there is a question of a potential unmarked burial location, the Commission emphasizes the importance of following all state laws and local ordinances and by-laws."

The statement continued: The Commission also emphasizes the importance of working in close coordination with state and city officials throughout the entire process to ensure research is properly conducted and that the site is fully protected, including archival and archeological details of the site and any potential remains therein.

Cease and desist

The cease-and-desist order from the Westborough Conservation Commission stated that Maynard had violated a local wetlands protection bylaw because of vegetation removal and ground disturbance without a permit. Besides the risk of fines, he was ordered to remove all social media posts and withdraw all pending media releases related to activities at the site.

Maynard said hes stubborn and wont give up the fight to have those buried along Lake Chauncy finally recognized. He plans to attend next month's Westborough Conservation Commission meeting to smooth out any hard feelings. It that fails, he said he'll go public with his efforts in order to generate support for his investigation.

Conservation Commission member Gary Kessler recently notified Maynard that the commission no longer supports him and advised Maynard to share his research with the states special commission.

Kessler served on the commission in 2019, when it unanimously voted to support Maynard's investigation.

'We have to save it'

Anne Dawson is in Maynards corner. The retired arts historian lives in a condo on the former grounds of Westborough State Hospital, and recently strolled by as Maynard gave a tour of the possible cemetery site.

I think we have to save it," she said.

Thats exactly what Maynard hopes to do. He's already paid Perry $1,000 for the radar work and established a nonprofit to erect a permanent memorial on the site to remember the boys who could be buried there.

These kids were forgotten and not valued when they died. Nobody picked them up. There was no family to get them," said Maynard. Im going to take any route I can to continue. Even if it takes five, 10 years, Im still going to try to figure something out.

Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on X: @henrytelegram.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Westborough, history buff at odds over possible long-lost burial site
DILLON, S.C. (WBTW)  A former Dillon mayor was arrested after allegedly failing to abide by standard sex offender conditions, according to a warrant from the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.

John Corey Jackson failed to refrain from the possession or use of any sexually stimulating or sexually explicit material after a forensic analysis of his cellphone on Tuesday found multiple photos of male private parts, the warrant shows. He was arrested on Wednesday.

Jackson is also accused of using his phone to schedule meetups with male escorts to solicit sexual favors, according the warrant. He allegedly exchanged pornographic images with them using text messages or apps like Tinder.

Jackson was suspended in 2019, shortly after being sworn in. He pleaded guilty last August in sexual exploitation and forgery cases. He was given a three-year suspended prison sentence and placed on probation for five years after pleading guilty to three counts of communicating obscene messages for incidents involving multiple teenage boys between June 2017 and April 2019. He had been charged with nearly a dozen counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Jackson was also given three years of suspended probation after pleading guilty to two counts of forgery. He was arrested in April 2023 by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and accused of submitting multiple pre-approval applications to the Dillon Historic Preservation Committee for $50,000 grants being offered to help local businesses with property repairs that contained forged contractor quotes totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars for properties he owned on North Railroad Avenue in Dillon.

Jackson was suspended by Gov. Henry McMaster shortly after being sworn in as mayor in 2019 after being indicted on 11 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. He had been scheduled to go on trial last December but the case was delayed because one of his attorneys is a state senator who was unavailable until after the General Assembly adjourned.

Jackson was just 23 when he was elected to a four-year term in 2019. He took office as Dillons youngest mayor. That term ended in December. Tally McCall was sworn in as mayor in April 2023 after defeating three other candidates by a wide margin.

* * *

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.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A former mayoral candidate was arrested in Tallahassee for allegedly robbing a Dollar General store at gunpoint, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Whitfield Leland, 44, who ran for Tallahassee mayor in 2022 but came in a distant third place, was found by police after they followed a trail of bills spilling from his pockets following the robbery, the paper said, citing court records.

He is dead: Suspect found covered in blood after man killed on Palm Harbor patio

Leland reportedly pulled a gun on the store manager of Dollar General and demanded cash from the register. He also demanded money from a safe, but was informed the safe was delayed and would not open right away.

The suspect responded, I should have remembered from the last time,' records say.

The report said Leland removed the managers shirt and put it on once police arrived, then fled through the emergency exit with his hands up.

Police reportedly believed he was an employee at first, but gave chase after Leland took off running through the parking lot.

The Tallahassee Democrat said Leland had been paid small sums of money for work on various political campaigns.

Leland reportedly made $65 from the campaign of Rudy Ferguson, whos running for City Commission Seat 1, for consulting last November and another $100 for get-out-the-vote efforts on March 6.

Leland was also paid $110 for campaign labor on the campaign of Kenneth Preston, whos running for Leon County property appraiser, the paper reported.

Leland is reportedly facing multiple charges, including robbery with a firearm, grand theft of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and resisting an officer without violence.

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 WFLA.
TULSA, Okla.  A former Miami school teacher pleaded guilty to six sexual abuse charges involving a 14-year-old student on Wednesday in U.S. Federal Court.

Wearing blue jail clothes, Ronald Dale Sanders, 56, of Belton, Mo., sat handcuffed, appearing before Federal Judge Sara Hill. He confessed to traveling to Welch between Aug. and Oct. 2023 to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a Miami student he met when he was a teacher at Miami High School.

Sanders also admitted he encouraged the victim to deny, deny, deny anything that happened between the two, according to Wednesdays testimony.

Former Miami teacher charged with having sex with former student

Court records show there were 32,000 text messages between the teen and Sanders.

Sanders taught at 12 schools in Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and New Mexico since 2000.

Were Four State schools Passing the Trash with former Miami teacher accused of sexually abusing student?

Sanders kept his head lowered as Hill read all six charges:

Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity

Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country

Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country

Tampering with Evidence by Corrupt Persuasion

Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

Production of Child Pornography

Before entering his guilty plea he said he was on medication for depression, high blood pressure and cholesterol.

As part of his guilty plea, prosecutors agreed not to ask for more than 35 years in total on all six counts. Additionally, the parties agreed the sentences could run concurrently and that if hes released from prison, Sanders must register as a sex offender.

Judge Hill asked Sanders if he understood she didnt have to follow the plea agreement and his sentence could be longer. Sanders acknowledged that fact.

Hill ordered a pre-sentence investigation. A sentencing date will be set after the PSI is complete.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact Leslie Bissell, Childrens Advocacy Center of Ottawa County executive director at (918) 540-1621 if they suspect any child is a victim of abuse.

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Former MS casino hotel could be used to house immigrant minors

TUNICA, Miss.  A former Tunica, Mississippi casino hotel could be used to house unaccompanied immigrant minors.

The Influx Care Facility or ICF would be located in the sprawling Harrahs Hotel Complex, which has been vacant since Harrahs Casino closed in 2014.

John Keith Perry, Board Attorney for the Tunica County Board of Supervisors, says the County has not officially voiced support for the vacant Harrahs Casino Hotel complex to become an immigrant influx care facility, housing as many as 2,000 minors.

UPDATE: MS sheriff says Tunica County unequipped to house thousands of immigrant children

Obviously, anything that deals with immigration is a hot button issue, said Perry. The Board, like any other Board of Supervisors, speaks through its minutes, speaks through its resolutions. There has not been any formal action from the Board of Supervisors.

Perry says at this time, the current owners are in talks with a private entity interested in acquiring the property, which he says is in remarkably good condition after being closed for 10 years.

Perry says any facility housing immigrant minors 17 years of age and younger would have to meet strict and specific federal regulations, and its his understanding the facility would be self-contained.

So, you dont have children that would be out and about for their safety reasons, he said.

Perry says he does not see the facility as a detriment to the community. State Representative from District 9, Cedric Burnett says he does not agree.

I think if they located immigrants at that location it would not benefit Tunica, it would not benefit the casinos, it would not benefit the State of Mississippi, said Burnett.

Burnett says he was approached to support the project but declined.

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 See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South.

I think that location should be used to compliment the gaming industry. You know Tunica is a tourism town, we depend on gaming, he said.

Burnett believes the 22 acres could best be developed for tourism and says if the project goes through, Tunica County will lose out.

It seems to me that the only two people that would benefit from it would be the person whos selling the land, and the person thats actually got a large contract with the Federal Government to house the immigrants, said Burnett.

According to Cedric Burnett, if the deal goes through, the firm operating the facility could receive as much as $150 per child from the federal government.

The Tunica County Sheriffs Office released a statement Wednesday night stating that the county can not appropriately accommodate the Immigrant Initiative.

We do not have the adequate resources to support or accommodate the Immigrants Initiative. When it concerns public safety, public healthcare, along with child protective services; Tunica County does not have a local hospital in the event of an emergency. We have to transport our patients to area hospitals located in Desoto County, Tate County, Clarksdale and Memphis, Tennessee.

We reached out to the law firm representing the current owners of the property for a comment but we have not heard back.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Veteran fighters parade as they wait for former South African President Jacob Zuma to arrive at Orlando stadium in the township of Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, for the launch of his newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party's manifesto Saturday, May 18, 2024. Zuma, who has turned his back on the African National Congress (ANC) he once led, will face South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who replaced him as leader of the ANC in the general elections later in May. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP)  Former South African President Jacob Zuma on Thursday criticized the country's highest court and his former allies in the ruling African National Congress over his disqualification from next week's election and said he would fight for his rights in a disciplined way.

Zuma's comments came in a video message he said was aimed at the people of South Africa and released on social media six days before the possibly pivotal national vote.

The 82-year-old former leader made clear he would still campaign against the ANC he once led in the run-up to Wednesday's election with his new political party, even though he has been barred from standing as a candidate for a return to Parliament six years after he resigned the presidency under a cloud of corruption allegations.

Zuma was disqualified on Monday by the apex Constitutional Court over a section of the constitution that says anyone who has been given a prison sentence of 12 months or more without the option of a fine cannot stand for Parliament until five years after the sentence was completed. Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2021 for contempt by the same court for refusing to testify at an inquiry into corruption.

Zuma cast himself as a victim of a biased legal system and asked the people of South Africa to "take a stand to correct the wrongs of this country. It was not a call for unrest, though, as he emphasized I want peace. I want equality. I want freedom.

But his criticism of the highest court could still be seen as concerning for many South Africans who hold dearly their constitution, which guaranteed the freedom and rights of people of all races after the end of the apartheid system of forced segregation. Zuma referred to the panel of Constitutional Court judges who ruled on his disqualification as learned friends and said they had restricted his freedom and democracy.

Ive taken a decision that I will continue fighting ... in different ways to convince everyone that I am right. The learned friends are not, Zuma said. I will continue, in a disciplined way, to fight for my rights.

His options to appeal his election disqualification are almost non-existent as the court that barred him is the highest authority on the constitution.

Zuma's surprising return to politics late last year with his newly formed uMkhonto we Sizwe, also known as MK Party, shook South African politics at a time when the ANC was especially vulnerable. The long-ruling party, which has been in government since the end of apartheid in 1994, could lose its majority for the first time in this election.

Analysts expect Zuma's new party to further erode the ANC's declining support in another blow to its chances of holding onto its majority, while Zuma has directed fierce criticism at current President Cyril Ramaphosa, the man who once served as his deputy president. It has increased tensions around an election that was already seen as the country's most important in 30 years.

South African authorities have learned to take Zuma's influence seriously after his jailing in 2021 was followed by a week of rioting, looting and burning in parts of Africa's most advanced country, leading to more than 350 deaths. It was some of the worst violence South Africa had seen since the end of apartheid.

___

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
KYODO NEWS - May 23, 2024 - 20:11 | All, Japan

Japan's four leading property and casualty insurers admitted on Thursday to having shared contract information of their auto insurance customers with their competitors, following a recent series of scandals exposing industry-wide compliance issues.

The four firms involved are Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Sompo Japan Insurance Inc., Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co.

The information that was shared included customer names, insurance policy numbers, types of insurance, maturity dates and premium amounts.

The data leak revolved around insurance agencies that handle products from multiple firms. When the agencies sent emails containing contract information for a particular firm within their outlets, employees of its competitors ended up being included as recipients.

However, the insurers did not see the leak as problematic and failed to stop the practice, they said.

Thursday's announcements came after the four firms vowed to improve compliance following the scandals.

Last December, Japan's financial watchdog ordered these firms to improve their business operations after finding they colluded over insurance premiums for corporate customers and government agencies.

Then, in January, Sompo Japan was slapped with another order by the Financial Services Agency for maintaining a business relationship with used car chain Bigmotor Co. despite the revelations of the dealership's involvement in insurance fraud.

Related coverage:

Scandal-hit Bigmotor worker arrested over roadside tree destruction

Sompo CEO to step down over Bigmotor insurance fraud scandal

Japan slaps 4 insurers with improvement order over price collusion
MADISON, Ala. (WHNT)  A former Summit Crossing Community Church employee was charged after Madison City Police say he electronically solicited a child.

According to the Madison Police Department (MPD), 49-year-old David Mark Sellers was arrested and taken to the Madison County Jail.

Man wanted in shooting, standoff at Huntsville apartments arrested

Sellerss title at the church was Director for Missional Communities, according to the churchs website and social media.

Summit Crossing Community Church told News 19 that on May 13, church leadership became aware that an employee had been sending sexually inappropriate and explicit text messages to a teenager.

The next morning they filed a report with Alabama DHR and local law enforcement and waited to take disciplinary action at the request of law enforcement. Upon Sellers arrest, the church fired him and indefinitely suspended him from returning to church property or events.

We are deeply grieved for those who have experienced this sinful behavior by one of our employees, and grateful to the family that initially came forward to report it. We remain in contact with them and are following their wishes regarding how we can support them moving forward, said the church in a statement to News 19. We are also saddened by the impact this will have on the former employees family and are committed to supporting and caring for them in the days ahead.

The department said it searched Sellers home in Madison yesterday, as well as an office at the church.

The case is still under investigation but Madison Police say that Summit Crossing Community Churchs leadership has been cooperative and instrumental throughout the situation.

If you have any information about the case, MPD says to contact them at tellmpd@madisonal.gov.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
Former Trinity Valley teacher accused of misconduct in presence of students, school says

The Fort Worth Police Department and Child Protective Services are investigating reports of misconduct involving a former Trinity Valley School piano teacher, officials said.

The safety and well-being of our students and the entire Trinity Valley community is our top priority, head of school Blair Lowry said in a statement to the Star-Telegram. When we recently received a report about a former piano teacher, we immediately notified Child Protective Services. We are meeting with families and will be assisting and supporting the families as we move forward.

Officials at the Fort Worth K-12 private school didnt specify what the behavior was in a letter sent to parents Tuesday.

Late last week, we received reports of conduct involving our former piano teacher in the presence of students during the 2022-2023 school year, the letter stated. This information caused us to have concern for our school community.

The teacher, who wasnt mentioned by name in the letter, hasnt been on the Trinity Valley campus since April 2023.

According to the letter, Trinity Valley School employees undergo a thorough background check before hiring and are required to sign a sworn affidavit that they have never been charged with or convicted of an inappropriate relationship with a minor. They also receive training on boundaries and what to do if child abuse is suspected.

The teacher in question cleared a background check and reference checks before he was hired, the letter said.

Inappropriate conduct is not tolerated, and we were deeply disturbed by these reports, the letter stated.

Counselors will be available to meet one-on-one with affected students.

 More top stories from our newsroom:

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Judge Aileen Cannon declined to rule on a motion filed by Trump's lawyers on Wednesday to dismiss special counsel Jack Smith's indictment of the former president on the grounds that it had technical flaws, once again pushing back an already long-delayed trial. CNN reports that while Cannon appeared unconvinced by their argument, she raised concerns that the jury might not understand the nuances of the case.

Cannon's stalling provoked criticism from former Trump White House lawyer turned Trump critic Ty Cobb, who criticized her "incompetence" and "perceived bias" and suggested that most jurors won't "have the difficulty that she perceives."

"I dont think this case will move at all, Cobb told CNN's Erin Burnett. And I think the fact that shes scheduling hearings, multiple hearings, sort of one or two motions at a time is compelling evidence of that. Most federal judges would have long ago ruled on all the pending motions. And frankly, this is a case that shouldve started trial yesterday or two days ago when the original trial date was set."

Cobb has been a prominent critic of Cannon, a Trump appointee, since proceedings began last June. Earlier this month, he said that she was "not capable of ruling intelligently" after Cannon indefinitely postponed the case on the grounds that there were too many pretrial matters to be resolved. Last month, he suggested that Cannon's "partiality" would get her removed from the case.

In March, when Cannon requested proposed jury instructions based on Trump's widely-rejected interpretation of the Presidential Records Act that government material was his personal property, Cobb criticized her "remarkable misunderstanding of the applicable law" and said her handling of the case was "embarrassing."

Before the motion filed on Wednesday, there were already five other motions by Trump's lawyers to dismiss the case that Cannon has not yet ruled on. Unless Cannon decides to pick up momentum, the trial is unlikely to take place before the 2024 election. Former President Donald Trump, who has lashed out repeatedly against the prosecutors and their case, could have the case thrown out if he returns to the White House.
Formolis Bistro in East Sacramento was an institution. The chef is back with a food truck

Formolis Bistro closed six years ago in East Sacramento. Past customers still tell Aimal Formoli that they miss it constantly, he said.

Formoli, who operated his namesake restaurant with his wife Suzanne Ricci from 2005-2018, has returned to East Sacramentos dining scene. The couple now co-owns Chow, a food truck rooted at SacYard Community Tap House that opened April 1, as well as Sequoia Event Space in The Cannery development around the corner.

Ricci and Formoli opened Formolis Bistro at 3839 J St. when they were just 23 and 25 years old, respectively. While the namesake chef garnered a devoted following for his iconic whiskey cheeseburger, Ricci kept the restaurant running behind the scenes, Formoli said.

Formolis Bistro could be hard to pin down beyond the catch-all of California cuisine, It wasnt unusual to see Peruvian poutine with flat iron steak, peperonata and fromage blanc share table space with stuffed medjool dates, roasted jerk chicken and cioppino. The bold burger with a whiskey demi-glace and habanero aioli, though, stood out as a dish of Sacramentos early 2010s.

Chef Aimal Formoli, center, talks with a customer in 2016 at Formolis Bistro in East Sacramento. The restaurant closed in 2018.

Youll find the same freewheeling spirits at Chow  albeit with some limitations, Formoli said. There are no walk-in coolers in the 18-foot truck with a 12-foot interior, no space for grand culinary experimentation. Specials such as poke bowls or bay scallop ceviche are created within those cozy confines.

Chows 11-item seasonal menu includes smashburgers with housemade spicy pickles, chili cheese bratwursts and chicken salads tossed in bacon vinaigrette. The heart-healthy Fleet Feet protein bowl with couscous, guacamole, radishes, tomatoes, red salsa and choice of protein ($16 with chicken or $17 with rib-eye steak) caters to members of the fitness stores running club, which meets at SacYard each Tuesday.

On a given night, Chow serves anywhere from 180 to 300 people, with the same SacYard customers coming back three or four times per week. Some are newcomers, but others are loyalists from the Formolis Bistro days.

As far as the legacy of the chef goes or whatever, I could care less about Michelin or James Beard or any of that stuff, Formoli said. I still get people that remember me ... its so cool to have that happen to you this far along, that youre still relevant. Thats my crowning achievement.

After closing his restaurant, Formoli worked as Stanford Hospitals executive chef in Palo Alto for a year. Ricci, meanwhile, met Sequoia Surgical president Kevin Barnett.

She convinced Formoli to partner with Barnett and oversee the food operation at Sequoias attached event space in The Cannery development; the trio then went in on Chow with SacYard owners Dan and Melody Thebeau.

What Im Eating

Downtown Sacramentos hottest pizzeria is Pizza Supreme Being, Ben Roberts creative outpost just south of the Capitol. PSB, as its known to fans, is cutting-edge infused with a hefty dose of Americana nostalgia, a place where a bespoke natural wine called Pizza Grease was served alongside a recent Jimboys Tacos-inspired pizza special.

For a dollar inserted into an arcade claw machine, customers can try to grab coupons for a soft serve ice cream cone, a slice of pizza or even a sweatshirt bearing the words Sacramento is just Sacramento, Roberts memorable quote to conclude a New York Times article praising the citys restaurant scene.

PSBs Hawaiian ($5 per slice/$34 per pie) makes a strong argument that pineapples do, in fact, belong on pizza. The key is that Roberts slices fresh pineapple, not the syrupy canned version, into thin sheets and cooks them in the oven alongside jalapeno slivers and cubed Spam. Esquire recently named it one of the best Hawaiian pizzas in the United States; at the very least, its the best in Sacramento.

Pepper slivers aside, the Hawaiian pales in contrast to PSBs heatwave ($5/$37), a mouth-burner that hikes up the Scoville scale on the back of fiery coppa and Zabs hot honey. The crispy-bottomed sourdough crust is chewy throughout, ripe for dipping in a cup of housemade ranch.

Salads and sandwich specials went beyond typical pizza parlor fare as well, such as lamb chopped cheese ($16) on a house-baked sesame hoagie roll that riffed on New York Citys bodega creations. Fresher elements such as citrus-garlic aioli, cucumber slices, iceberg lettuce and red onion effectively counterbalanced the shaved merguez sausage with provolone.

Pizza Supreme Being

Address: 1425 14th St., Suite C, Sacramento.

Hours: 12-8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday.

Phone: (916) 917-5559

Website: https://www.pizzasupremebeing.com/

Drinks: Natural wine is a focus, along with craft beer.

Vegetarian options: Many.

Noise level: Relatively loud.

Outdoor seating: Many tables stretched over two patios.

Openings & Closings

 Green Grills first Sacramento location opened May 15 at 1020 16th St., Suite 17 in midtown. Rajbir Randhawas mostly-vegan, mostly gluten-free health food restaurant, initially named Baagan, has served veggie meatball tacos and pistachio-citrus-beet salads to customers in Rancho Cordova and Granite Bay for years.

 Gondo Fusions first sit-down location began its soft opening on May 13 at 2790 Stockton Blvd. in North Oak Park. Silvia Rodriguezs Cuban-Mexican concept also turns out burritos stuffed with mojo pork and plantains from a food truck and The Line ghost kitchen.

 Holaloha Fusion Restaurant & Bar has closed in Folsom Village shopping center after three months, with Alyssa Caballero planning to transition her Mexican-Hawaiian restaurant into a mobile concept called Da Tiki Hut. Holaloha had replaced The Canyon Grill & Alehouse at 9580 Oak Avenue Parkway, Suite 8; it appears Joe Garnica, a co-owner in both restaurants, will resuscitate that previous restaurant in the expansive space.
Its been nearly four years since police shot tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters as they left a previously peaceful rally held in downtown Fort Lauderdale in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, fracturing the eye socket of LaToya Ratlieff.

Now, new evidence in a civil rights lawsuit filed by Ratlieff appears to undermine the departments official justification for using chemical agents and so-called less lethal munitions against protesters that day.

Although there had been no violent incidents all afternoon, police said their heavy-handed tactics that evening were a response to an officer screaming for help over the radio as protesters attacked her unmarked police car, pounding on windows and jumping on the vehicle.

During a deposition taken under oath, the officer who made the initial distress call admitted she never actually saw anyone damaging her vehicle or jumping on the trunk as described in her incident report. And a forensic analysis of synchronized video and audio from the scene shows no evidence that protesters were surrounding the vehicle, as the officer reported as she radioed for back up.

The analysis, commissioned by Ratlieffs attorneys and submitted as evidence, confirmed the findings of a Miami Herald investigation based on publicly available images at the time: the hours of violence between police and protesters erupted after an officer pushed a kneeling protester, prompting an angry response from the crowd. Video evidence shows police arriving to the scene following the distress call then began to deploy tear gas and hard-packed projectiles without warning.

The new evidence bolsters Ratlieffs claim that police initiated the confrontation and escalated the situation by unlawfully deploying tear gas and other projectile weapons to clear a crowd of peaceful protesters without warning. The case also opens the door for other protesters present at the scene to file their own civil rights lawsuits.

We believe that anyone who was tear gassed, shot by projectiles, or otherwise forced to leave the area because of this use of force had their civil rights violated, said Michael Davis, the attorney for Kuehne Davis law who represents Ratlieff.

Ratlieff called the evidence uncovered in her case incredible. She encouraged other protesters to file similar lawsuits, saying the time to pursue justice is now.

Anyone who was tear gassed or shot at by Fort Lauderdale Police that day should take action immediately, Ratlieff said. The only way to achieve change and accountability is through the courts. Fort Lauderdale has made clear they wont change their ways voluntarily.

Both the city of Fort Lauderdale and the police department declined to comment on active litigation.

The deadline for other protesters to file a their own lawsuits is May 31, according to applicable case law.

The officers story

A march through downtown Fort Lauderdale on May 31, 2020 had been peaceful all afternoon. Organizers picked up trash and de-escalated the occasional tensions that arose between police and protesters. Trouble began after the official protest ended and the crowd began to disperse.

A small group of protesters leaving the rally stopped in an intersection a few blocks away from the main staging area. There, they held up signs and chanted in front of an officer on a motorcycle and another in an unmarked police vehicle.

Thats when court records show officer Stylianee Hayes called for backup, saying  not screaming  that a group of protesters were jumping on her car, and that she was completely surrounded.

Send me units, she said.

A body camera worn by Officer Steven Pohorence shows the moment officer Stylianee Hayes reported protesters jumping on the trunk of her black Toyota Camry. No one is visible near the vehicle.

In a report filed the next day, Hayes, who normally worked as a code enforcement detective, said she radioed for help because she was trapped in a hostile crowd of subjects intending to cause me harm. She was so worried about her life being in imminent danger from a hostile and agitated group of protesters, she reported she was not able to activate her body-worn camera.

Unknown subjects were pounding on vehicle, the windows, and subjects even began to jump on the trunk of my car, Hayes wrote in the June 1, 2020 report documenting damage to the 2019 Toyota Camry she was driving. She took a photo of a footprint on the trunk of the car, which she said was evidence of the attack. Her report also noted damage to the trunk and passenger side door.

But during a deposition in Ratlieffs case, Hayes admitted she never actually saw anyone touching her vehicle as she told dispatch theyre jumping on my car. But, she said, she still believed it to be true.

I was looking forward, she said, when asked why she didnt see a person if they were jumping on the trunk. I didnt look in my rear-view mirror, she added when prompted.

My car was moving, like feeling like they were jumping on my car, Hayes clarified.

Aside from the movement, she said she had no other evidence of any physical attack on her vehicle other than the footprint on the trunk, which she said she discovered later that night but did not document until the following morning. Video submitted as evidence shows no one close to the vehicle at the time of her distress call, nor was the vehicle surrounded by protesters as she suggested.

Do you think that you maybe said theyre jumping on my car because you were scared at the time? the interviewer asked.

Hayes denied it, saying I mean, I was scared at the time, but no.

Initiating violence

Officer Steven Pohorence was already on the scene when Hayes first made her distress call, according to videos professionally synced up with the dispatch audio and entered into evidence.

The synched video shows Pohorence had just switched on his body-worn camera as Hayes reported protesters were starting to surround my car. He walked past the vehicle toward a group of protesters.

Pohorences body-worn camera captured a full profile of Hayes vehicle as she radioed that protesters were jumping on the trunk. No one was touching the car. The closest protester appeared to be feet away from the front of the car at the time, and no one was on any of the other sides.

Back up. Back up,  Pohorence shouted as he moved into the middle of the group of protesters in the street and Hayes exited her vehicle.

Protesters responded by putting their hands up and kneeling in the street. Pohorence then shoved one young woman in the back of the head before hastily retreating back into the nearby parking garage where he was berated by Officer Krystle Smith.

Dont push her! You agitated her! Smith can be heard yelling angrily at Pohorence as she clenched her hands and pointed him away from the crowd. A handful of people responded by pelting Pohorence and the other officers with plastic water bottles that were handed out at the end of the rally. Pohorence was suspended over the incident. He was later charged with battery but was acquitted by a jury who found he acted lawfully to help a colleague. Pohorence is back on active duty, according to a spokesperson for the department.

At a Black Lives Matter protest in Fort Lauderdale on May 31, Ofc. Steven Pohorence turns to look at a kneeling young woman just moments before shoving her in the head.

More protesters ran to join the group incensed by Pohorences actions, including Ratlieff, who came across the scene as she was walking to her car. While the dispatcher described an escalating situation and officers flooded the area, video shows protesters had gone back to kneeling in the streets and raising their fists  and in a few cases, their middle fingers  in protest.

When the S.W.A.T. team arrived, officers deployed tear gas at the group without warning. At that point, several protesters began chucking the smoking canisters back at the line of officers who were wearing protective equipment and carrying shields.

Officers armed with foam-batons  hard-packed projectiles shot from rifle-barreled launchers  were instructed to target anyone throwing the canisters in order to ensure the chemical stayed in place and was effective in dispersing the crowd, according to one deposition.

Body-worn camera footage first reported by the Herald shows some officers reveling in the fight, as they laughed and joked about shooting the protesters with the projectiles launched at nearly 300 feet-per-second. Did you see me f**k up those motherf****rs? one of the officers said to another who laughed.

Still, protesters including Ratlieff  who never threw anything  made efforts to restore calm by kneeling in the streets and asking officers to stop shooting. But just after 7 p.m. following another round of tear gas that sent the protesters scattering, detective Eliezer Ramos shot Ratlieff with a projectile as she stumbled away, choking from the chemicals, court records confirmed.

Shes bleeding, someone can be heard yelling in the videos. No officers are seen moving to assist Ratlieff, who was taken to the hospital by other protesters.

Latoya Ratlieff, in the aftermath of being struck in the eye.

During an internal investigation, Ramos said he was aiming for a protester behind Ratlieff who had just hurled a teargas canister. Ramos told investigators he had a clear and safe shot when he fired. But the forensic analysis submitted to evidence showed Ratlieff was almost directly in front of the unidentified protester when Ramos took the potentially lethal shot through a cloud of tear gas.

Ramos was cleared of wrongdoing following the internal investigation, during which the lead investigator resigned after telling Ratlieff that Ramos was a good guy. When she sat for an interview, Ratlieff said she was inappropriately interrogated.

Police and city officials initially accused Ratlieff of violent actions. But the department quickly walked back their accusations, following a series of stories by the Herald that showed Ratlieff was peacefully protesting and shot while walking away from the line of officers.

The police chief who had initially tried to blame Ratlieff was removed from his post. Ratlieff testified before a congressional committee on excessive use of force against peaceful protesters.

But after two years and scant reforms, Ratlieff filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Fort Lauderdale and its police department. The case is pending after both sides filed motions for summary judgment.
The red line pulls up to an Albuquerque Rapid Transit stop in Nob Hill in 2021.

The red line pulls up to an Albuquerque Rapid Transit stop in Nob Hill. The city bus stop is on the eastern side of the New Mexico Senate District 18, a seat that will be represented by a new person for the first time in 27 years. (Photo by Shaun Griswold / Source NM)

After 27 years in the state House, New Mexico Rep. Gail Chasey (D-Albuquerque) is retiring, and four Democratic candidates are vying for her Nob Hill-area District 18 seat in the primary election.

All four say theyre big fans of Chasey and much of the legislation the Majority Floor Leader has championed. With the four progressives sharing similar political ideals, their varied backgrounds have emerged as a focal point of the campaign.

Marianna Anaya is a community organizer and registered lobbyist, the latter of which can get a bad rap. But she doesnt see what she referred to as the big L word that way.

I usually answer questions about L words in terms of me being a lesbian, but right now Im answering them about me being a lobbyist, she said. I really have no shame in the work that Ive done.

Outgoing Rep. Chasey has endorsed Anaya, saying whats important is what she lobbies for. Anaya worked to repeal New Mexicos dormant abortion ban before Roe v. Wade was overturned and increase access to the ballot through the New Mexico Voting Rights Act among other progressive policies.

In her endorsement, Chasey also called Anaya the exception as a candidate with lived experience.

I fight for our public schools because I went to our public schools, Anaya told KUNM. And I fight for homelessness and housing issues because my family has struggled with homelessness.

Anaya identifies as a queer Chicana and was raised in Albuquerques North Valley by her mother, grandmother and eight aunts. She was also the first in her family to go to college, receiving a Bachelors degree at the University of Texas at Austin.

What that meant for me is that I was helping my family navigate all of these different barriers that we were facing, she said. Whether it meant struggling with substance abuse, or struggling with trying to get medical care, or the mass incarcerations system or CYFD [Children, Youth and Families Department].

Anaya said those experiences position her well to advocate for district residents and further her policy priorities of addressing homelessness, housing and poverty.

The races other candidates, including Gloria Doherty, push back against Chaseys characterization of Anaya.

You cant dismiss other peoples lived experiences, Doherty told KUNM. I grew up in poverty, both of my parents died from social inequities and health care disparities, and I had to work five jobs to get my way through school. [I am a] single mother, raising my kids.

Doherty said her perspective has been further broadened working as a nurse practitioner at Sandoval Regional Medical Center.

I am exposed to thousands of lives who express what their frustrations are, what their needs are, why they arrived because of not being able to get access, she said.

She also holds a Doctoral degree in Public Policy and Public Administration. Health care and education reform top her list of priorities.

Im able to analyze policy, and do analyze policy, and have for over 20 years, she said. Ive developed policies both at the local and state levels.

Candidate Dr. Anjali Taneja, a family physician, also has a background in medicine and pushing for health care policies.

She takes issue with the idea that Anaya, who conducts work in the Roundhouse, is the only candidate who could get things done if elected.

That feels very exclusive to me because that means that those of us on the ground fighting shoulder to shoulder with community members dont have the ability to have access, she said. And it creates an echo chamber of sorts  that only people who are already in the Roundhouse are the ones who get to represent us.

As the executive director of the nonprofit clinic Casa de Salud, Taneja works with people who traditionally struggle to access care  those experiencing poverty and homelessness, coming out of incarceration, or navigating the immigration system.

I am an advocate for people with lived experience, she said. And I think that that vision, that knowledge, that fuel, that level of expertise, and what I get to bear witness to, is incredibly valuable.

She added she comes with her own life experience of another kind, as a queer daughter of immigrants from India.

State politics are also not unfamiliar territory for the candidate.

Ive been appointed to the primary care council, Ive been appointed to the governors council for racial justice, and Ive helped introduce and helped pass over six bills, she said.

Those include expanding access to opioid addiction treatment in prisons and jails and protecting consumers from surprise medical bills.

There are currently no doctors serving in the New Mexico House. Taneja said it is important that changes, particularly because health care policy takes up a lot of room in the budget and lawmakers are unpaid and lack staff.

They might not be able to have the education needed on specific health care issues that would be important in setting policy, she said.

Taneja has the endorsement of the areas state Senators Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and Gerald Ortiz y Pino.

Juan Larranaga identifies as a Chicano and grew up in poverty in Albuquerque, attending public school. He credits mentorship programs for his attending Occidental College, a liberal arts school in California, and then UNM business school. He has worked in higher education most of his career, primarily in IT support.

I consider myself a scholar, advocate, and parent of color, he told KUNM.

As a board member for Libros for Kids and ABQ Read to Me, early literacy and education are central to his platform.

On his website, he says he promotes parents rights in schools, a term that has become synonymous with a conservative movement furthered by groups like Moms for Liberty that promote anti-LGBTQ policies and book banning in schools. Larranaga said thats not how he uses the term.

Parents rights for me is more lets support parents. Parents want the best for their children and sometimes they dont know how to get that extra tutoring or how to support their child, he said. My child is profoundly deaf in one ear. What rights do I have as a parent to support her? What rights does she have in the classroom?

He said the four candidates in the race are closely aligned politically, but he hopes to distinguish himself.

I definitely see myself as very similar, but also see myself as different, he said. I see myself as a family voice, a different voice in my background working with stakeholders and my passions of literacy and renewable energy.

Larranaga has brought in the least money in the campaign, with $2,530 in contributions, according to the Secretary of States Office. Records show Anaya has raised the most, at $119,764, followed by Taneja with $92,912 in contributions. Doherty has gotten $49,811 in the door so far. A final campaign finance disclosure is due on May 30.

No Republicans are running for the deeply blue District 18 seat. Early voting ends June 1 ahead of Primary Election Day on June 4.

The post Four progressives vie to replace the longest-serving NM state rep appeared first on Source New Mexico.
A former purchasing agent for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is the latest to be charged in connection to a fraud investigation at the zoo.

Tracy Murnane, 65, of Westerville, was charged Thursday with grand theft, complicity in the commission of an offense, forgery, telecommunications fraud, and filing incomplete, false, and fraudulent tax returns. He is also facing two misdemeanor charges.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Former Ohio zoo executives indicted, accused of misusing over $2M of public funds

With the charges, Murnane became the fourth Columbus Zoo employee to be criminally charged with felony theft-related offenses in connection to the states ongoing fraud investigation, according to the Ohio Attorney Generals Office.

Murnane allegedly sold services from his familys business to the zoo while working as a zoo purchaser. During his employment at the zoo, he also allegedly sold personal cars using a straw seller and aided former zoo CEO Tom Stalf in using zoo funds to buy a vehicle for Stalfs personal use.

Court documents also allege that he used a zoo vendor barter system to book a party bus for a family members wedding and file tax returns for 2019 without accounting for his fraudulent gains.

In September 2023, three former zoo executives were indicted on charges in connection to allegedly stealing more than $2.29 million in public funds for their benefit.
Fourth former Columbus Zoo executive accused of using funds to buy, sell cars

For an earlier report on this story view the video player above.

Editors Note: This story has been updated to clarify the charges against Tracy Murnane.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A former Columbus Zoo official has become the fourth charged after a group of executives was accused of stealing $2.3 million.

Tracy Murnane, 65, of Westerville, is the fourth former Columbus Zoo employee criminally charged with theft and fraud offenses as part of an ongoing criminal prosecution led by the attorney generals special prosecution section.

Murnane, a former purchasing agent for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, was charged with six total felonies, including grand theft, telecommunications fraud, complicity in the commission of an offense, filing incomplete, false and fraudulent tax returns and two counts of forgery.

The charges are contained in a bill of information filed in Delaware County Common Pleas Court. A bill of information is a formal accusation of a crime issued by a prosecutor and presented to a defendant; it serves the same function as an indictment issued by a grand jury in felony cases. While the charges dont directly tie Murnane to the $2.29 million theft, they do accuse him in a number of related incidents:

A grand theft charge combines several actions worth between $7,500 and $150,000: selling cars to the zoo with a straw seller, using the zoo barter system for personal purchases and attending events at Nationwide Arena and the Schottenstein Center with tickets the zoo paid for

While working as a zoo purchaser, selling services from his familys business to the zoo

Aiding another defendant, former CEO Tom Stalf, in using $45,000 in zoo funds to buy a car for Stalfs personal use

Purchasing vehicles without obtaining a certificate of title, including four Corvettes, years 2001, 2000, 1996 and 1968, along with a 1965 Ford and a 2009 Chevrolet PT.

Filing tax returns for 2019 without accounting for his fraudulent gains.

Man from China sentenced on 300 charges in Ohio Walmart gift card scam

The bill of information reports the alleged offenses took place between April 2014 and March 2020. While not directly naming Murnane or the accusations, a Columbus Zoo spokesperson gave a statement to NBC4 distancing it from the accused.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has taken decisive action to strengthen our financial policies and rebuild public trust  Attorney General Dave Yosts office has our full support to actively pursue restitution on behalf of the Zoo and seek justice using the full extent of the law, the spokesperson wrote.

Unsolved Ohio: Suspect unknown three years after woman stabbed to death in Columbus

Murnanes attorney, Bradley Barbin, also provided a statement on behalf of his client.

In his purchasing position at the zoo, Mr. Murnane was directed to operate in a way that inappropriately benefitted senior executives at the zoo, Barbin wrote. He is owning up to his mistakes and recognizes the activities which provided inappropriate benefits to zoo leaders and employees. For his part, he is providing evidence to the government and will pay restitution.

(Courtesy Graphic/Ohio Attorney Generals Office)

The charges against Murnane follow the indictment in September of three former Columbus Zoo executives accused of stealing more than $2.29 million in public funds for their own benefit.

Stalf, former Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled for trial on Aug. 6, which consists of 36 felony charges. Pete Fingerhut, the zoos former marketing director, is facing 62 felony charges and will begin a trial beginning July 9. They both pleaded not guilty in October 2023.

Greg Bell, former Chief Financial Officer, pleaded guilty to 14 felony charges, including aggravated theft and tampering with records. He will be sentenced at the conclusion of his co-defendants cases.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
SHANGHAI, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Global logistics giant DHL Group on Wednesday announced that it has established a center of excellence in Shanghai for electric vehicles (EVs) made in China, aiming to provide end-to-end, integrated logistics services for EV products such as batteries, motors and charging infrastructure.

It is the first EV logistics center the group has opened in China. Previously, it has built such centers in countries such as Indonesia, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.

The Shanghai center is expected to provide logistics solutions for complete vehicles and batteries, including storage facilities, domestic pick-up and certified transportation services for nationwide imports and exports, and a compliant, international intermodal transport network for batteries and complete vehicles, according to the group.

The new center will also open more than 50 warehouses and distribution facilities in major Chinese cities to store and deal with imports and exports, including imports and exports of batteries and complete vehicles.

DHL has an extensive global network to support the continued expansion and development of Chinese EV enterprises in the global market. With the new Shanghai center, DHL is committed to becoming the preferred partner for customers looking to expand their international business, according to Niki Frank, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific. 
Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo seemed very worried about Chinese influence during a Thursday segment, where she wondered if a little baby army of foreign nationals was infiltrating the United States.

During an interview with Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), the host of Mornings with Maria took issue with Democrats attempt to revive their once-thwarted border security bill, and asked if anyone on Capitol Hill is scrutinizing military-aged men coming into the country.

In an attempt to bolster her concerns, Bartiromo played a clip of a California man who claims hes been collecting passports and ID cards that immigrants are allegedly discarding so they can assume a new identity in the States.

These are all military-aged males, San Diego resident Cory Gautereaux told Foxs Bill Melugin, pointing to a collection of ID documents pinned to his wall in plastic bags. People keep saying that. Ive got the proof right here.

So there you go. The passports are right there, Bartiromo concluded from the clip.

Theyre largely military-aged men. Many from Communist China. A lot of people worried that [Chinese President] Xi Jinping is creating a little baby army here in America, she went on. Whos watching that?

Davidson used the question to tear into Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his own Democratic peers on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. But Bartiromo wasnt done speculating about an alleged mini-army.

I mean, what are we going to do? she said. At some point, turn around and say, Oh, wow, weve got a million people, military-aged men, and now theyre up in arms and they are creating discontent in America?

Are we just going to say, Oh, wow, look at all these Chinese military-aged men that are in the country. Theyre like a little baby army. Wow, we missed that, she continued.

Bartiromos remarks sounded a lot like accusations that former President Donald Trump made during a campaign rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, last month.

Theyre coming in from China  31, 32,000 over the last few months  and theyre all military age and they mostly are men, Trump claimed then. And it sounds like to me, are they trying to build a little army in our country? Is that what theyre trying to do?

Reports of Anti-Asian bigotry have conspicuously risen in the U.S. in the past four years, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. About a third of Asian adults in a 2023 Pew Research Center survey said they personally knew an Asian person in the U.S. who has been threatened or attacked because of their race or ethnicity since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.

The U.S. border has seen a rise in immigration from China in recent years, and while federal figures show that a majority of those newcomers are single adults, the data is not broken down by gender, according to The Associated Press.

Watch Bartiromos full remarks above.

Related...
Fox Business host Charles Payne reveals his niece, 39, was struck by stray bullet in Harlem shooting

The niece of Fox Business anchor Charles Payne was struck by a stray bullet in a shooting earlier this month on the Harlem street where he grew up, the journalist revealed on-air Wednesday.

Payne, 61, said his niece, 39-year-old Keisha Williams, was attending a sidewalk memorial service on May 6 for a friends son who had died when masked shooters rolled up and opened fire.

They come in with the masks, theyre shooting crazy, a third-floor apartment was all busted up, Payne said during an appearance on Fox & Friends, explaining he believed the assailants were looking for another gang guy.

Williams and a 63-year-old woman, whom Payne described as a longtime friend, were struck by gunfire.

Police sources said the two women were unintended targets.

Fox Business host Charles Paynes niece was wounded during a gang shooting in Harlem on May 6, he said Fox & Friends

Both victims were taken to the hospital in stable condition  but Paynes niece needed to undergo four hours of surgery to treat her wounds.

Our country is really getting so cracked apart where the haves are doing extraordinarily well  they live in safety, Payne said.

And the rest of us, whether its in places where the opioid epidemic is out of control, or places like my neighborhood

Payne had joined Fox & Friends to discuss Donald Trumps plans to hold a rally in the South Bronx on Thursday Fox & Friends

This gang thing has really been amazing, I had no idea it was this bad, he said.

No arrests had been made in the shooting as of late Wednesday, cops said.

Payne had joined Fox & Friends to discuss Donald Trumps plans to hold a campaign rally in the South Bronx Thursday, and comment on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez telling reporters the rally was an embarrassment for the former president.

Payne, for his part, said he was pleased Trump was holding a rally and hoped he would pay a visit to Harlem in light of the shooting that hit close to home.

Im thrilled President Trump is going there, I wish he would go to Harlem.

He cant leave the five boroughs because he always has to be in court, Ocasio-Cortez said.

I am looking forward to the response of everyday Bronxites talking about how they feel about him coming to their backyard.

Payne, for his part, said he was pleased Trump was holding a rally and hoped he would pay a visit to Harlem in light of the shooting that hit close to home.

Im thrilled President Trump is going there, I wish he would go to Harlem.
Following a 24-hour news cycles worth of MAGA outrage over Donald Trumps claims that President Joe Biden authorized an assassination plot against him, Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich put the nail in the coffin of this latest Trumpian conspiracy theory on Wednesday night.

Heinrichs scoop that the search warrants of Bidens homes in Delaware contained the same standard deadly force language as the Mar-a-Lago raid came after a number of pro-Trump Fox News stars wondered if Biden had told the FBI it would be OK to kill Donald Trump.

A person familiar with the Hur investigation confirms that the standard Department of Justice policy statement regarding the use of deadly force was also included in the operations order for the searches at President Bidens residences in Delaware, Heinrich tweeted on Wednesday evening.

CONTEXT: yesterday, former President Trump suggested that the Biden administration wanted to kill him during a search of his Mar-a-Lago estate. A fundraising email read, Joe Biden was locked & loaded ready to take me out. The FBI said standard protocol was followed, no additional steps were taken and there was no departure from the norm, she continued. This news about the deadly force policy also being in place for the FBI searches at Biden's homes underscores that point.

Trump Claims the FBI Wanted to Kill Him. Fox News Ran Wild With It.

Indeed, Republicans and conservative media were set ablaze on Tuesday afternoon after motions from Trumps classified documents case were unsealed and it was discovered that there was a policy statement included in the search warrant of the ex-presidents residence that detailed the FBIs deadly force protocols.

MAGA lawmakers and far-right influencers claimed that Biden DOJ and FBI were planning to assassinate Pres Trump and gave the green light. And on Tuesday evening, Fox News reporter Brooke Singman published a story early boosting those claims with the provocative headline: Biden administration authorized 'Use of Deadly Force' in Mar-a-Lago raid.

After that report went up, Fox News on-air anchors and hosts ran wild with the quite shocking story, calling it not standard operating procedure and speculating that the bureau's agents were looking for a little action so they could engage in deadly physical force. The FBI issued a rare statement noting that it followed standard protocol in this search as we do for all search warrants, which includes a standard policy statement limiting the use of deadly force.

Singmans digital story was soon updated with the FBIs statement, and the headline was eventually tamed down to Trump highlights Biden admin authorizing deadly use of force in Mar-a-Lago raid.

Despite the FBIs statement, the networks MAGA primetime stars continued to rage about the deadly force order, with the coverage spilling over to Wednesday morning across Fox News and its sister channel Fox Business Network. Notably, after Fox shifted to its straight news programming in mid-morning, the network dropped the story altogether.

Outside of an additional line added to Singmans digital story on Wednesday evening, the network has yet to mention Heinrichs report on the air. Fox News did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The White House correspondent also tweeted on Thursday morning that the FBI had confirmed her reporting on the Biden search warrants, noting that fellow Fox News correspondent David Spunt had received the bureaus statement.

Hunter Biden Reveals Why Hes Punching Back at Fox News

The FBI followed standard protocol in this search as we do for all search warrants, which includes a standard policy statement limiting the use of deadly force. No one ordered additional steps to be taken and there was no departure from the norm in this matter, the FBIs comment says. The standard deadly force policy statement included in the operations order for the search of the former presidents residence was also included in the operations order for the search of the sitting presidents residence in Delaware, as is standard practice for all FBI operations orders.

Additionally, Attorney General Merrick Garlandwho has also been accused by MAGA world of authorizing the so-called assassination plot on Trumpnoted that the instructions are just part of a standard operations plan for searches, and in fact it was even used in the consensual searches for President Biden's home.

Heinrich, meanwhile, has previously come under fire from the conservative cable giants top stars for publicly refuting MAGA conspiracy theories. In fact, after she fact-checked an election-denying tweet from Trump that also tagged Fox News host Sean Hannity, former Fox News star Tucker Carlson and Hannity attempted to get Heinrich fired.

More than three years after that effort, Heinrich still remains at the network while Carlson was canned last year.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The Mayor of Saint-Emilion Bernard Lauret (C), flanked by members of the Jurade, a brotherhood that has been preserving the wines and cultural heritage of the Saint-Emilion wine-growing region in France for over 800 years, holds the Olympic flame as part of the Olympic and Paralympic torch relay in the run-up to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Philippe Lopez/AFP/dpa

French security forces arrested a man suspected of planning an attack during the Olympic torch relay through the western city of Bordeaux, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.

The local public prosecutor's office, however, said that the man had not yet chosen a site for his attack and had not mentioned Thursday's torch relay.

Investigators confiscated a weapon that could fire rubber bullets.

The prosecutors said the suspect had shown interest in the violent and misogynistic "incel" movement, which is characterized by heterosexual men who blame women for their failings in life, romantic or otherwise.

The relatives of the man in his mid-20s stated that he was mentally unstable.

Investigators became aware of the man because of a post about a killing spree 10 years ago in California, in which a student killed six people out of hatred of women. He was taken into custody on Tuesday.

The public prosecutor's office recommended initiating a preliminary investigation into the glorification of a criminal offence and criminal association.

The Olympic flame arrived in the southern French city of Marseilles earlier this month. From there it began its trek across the country - usually via runners, but also other forms of transport - ahead of the 2024 Paris Games that start on July 26.
(Bloomberg) -- French President Emmanuel Macron received another warning about the countrys high debt burden as the International Monetary Fund said more efforts are needed to get budget deficits under control.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The deficit will remain elevated at 5.3% of economic output this year and only fall modestly to 4.5% in 2027, taking into account current legislation and clearly specified measures, the IMF said in a statement on the preliminary findings of its Article IV report on France.

Substantial additional efforts, compared to staffs current policy baseline, will be needed over the medium-term, starting in 2024, to strengthen public finance, the IMF said on Thursday.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire responded by saying the government will do everything necessary to meet its pledge to bring the budget deficit within the European Unions 3% limit in 2027.

He said the report didnt take into account additional savings announced last month of 10 billion ($10.8 billion) for this year, adding that the IMFs recommendations for reducing public spending had been fully respected.

The whole economic and financial strategy of the French government is validated by the IMF, Le Maire told reporters on Thursday.

Macrons plans to reduce budget shortfalls and curb debt after the Covid pandemic and energy crisis have fallen foul of a slowdown in growth last year. To get back on track, his government has pledged extra spending cuts in 2024 and another round of savings in the 2025 budget. But those plans have faced skepticism, with the countrys fiscal watchdog saying they lack credibility and coherency.

Macron also faces challenges at the National Assembly, where he lacks an absolute majority and opposition parties are threatening to bring down the government with no-confidence votes over budget bills.

Like Frances High Council of Public Finances, the IMF also warned that the governments assumptions for economic growth might prove somewhat optimistic.

The fund expects growth in gross domestic product to pick up to 1.3% by 2025 from 0.8% in 2024  slightly less than forecast by the Finance Ministry  as financial conditions ease, investment starts to recover, and households purchasing power and consumption improve.

Over the medium-term, potential growth is projected to reach 1.3% before decelerating toward 1% in the long-term as the population ages, the IMF added. Le Maire said this was very close to the governments forecasts.

Fiscal Risks

Without further measures to control the budget, the fund said debt would rise to 112% of economic output in 2024 and increase by about 1.5 percentage points a year over the medium-term.

This relatively high level of debt is a source of fiscal risks, as it leaves the future evolution of public finances exposed to an unexpected increase in funding costs or a reduction in growth, the IMF said.

(Updates with comments from French finance minister starting in fourth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Free gas offered to veterans, active and retired servicemembers at this location

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  In honor of Memorial Day weekend, San Diego Honda Dealers is offering complementary fuel to veterans, active and retired servicemembers for a limited time.

On Friday, May 24, volunteers with Helpful Honda will be pumping free gas at Food4Less Fuel Center, located at 7420 Broadway in Lemon Grove. The first 100 drivers to the location will get in on the deal between 10 a.m. and noon.

Get 40 cents off gas Thursday at these Circle K locations in San Diego

Veterans and military members will be asked to present a valid I.D.

Honda drivers at this location will also be offered complimentary fuel during that timeframe.

Helpful Honda volunteers

The amount of gas given per vehicle may be restricted to a certain dollar amount. Receiving a full tank is not guaranteed. All free gas is first come, first served.

San Diego Honda Dealers said the event is meant to thank the brave men and women who serve us, and also loyal Honda drivers who are hitting the road for summer vacations.

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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
(KRON)  Fremont Fire Department responded to a commercial fire at Chipotle Mexican Grill at 2760 Mowry Ave. in Fremont on Thursday morning. The fire caused the restaurant to close until further notice, fire officials said.

Massive fire burns at Redwood City metal scrapyard

The fire occurred at about 9:15 a.m. on Thursday. Crews arrived to find an automatic fire extinguishing system activation and the smothering of a small fire, Fremont Fire said.

Photo Courtesy: Fremont Fire Department

No injuries have been reported by fire officials.

While the 2760 Mowry Ave. location is closed, there are two additional Chipotle locations in Fremont to choose from: 5565 Auto Mall Pkwy and 44029 Osgood Rd #106.

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 KRON4.
PARIS (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and far-right party leader Jordan Bardella clashed in a TV debate on Thursday in which they presented radically different views of the European Union, ahead of the June 9 European Parliament elections.

Accusations of lying abounded in a debate that held high stakes for both sides.

The eurosceptic National Rally (RN) party of Bardella and Marine Le Pen leads opinion polls by a huge margin, with as much as 33% of the vote, or about twice as much as what is forecast for Attal, and President Emmanuel Macron's, centrist, pro-EU party.

The challenge for Attal, who stressed the benefits of the EU for French citizens, was to try and revert the polling trend.

The challenge for Bardella, whose party has often lost points in national elections, especially among older voters, because of its euroscepticism and doubts over its economic policies, was to prove its seriousness on those fronts - and to attack Attal and Macron on their track-record.

Throughout the debate, Attal aimed to show contradictions and loopholes in the RN's EU policies.

"When were you lying, now or then?", Attal said, pointing at the RN's policy changes, over the years, on issues including the euro, which it no longer wants to ditch.

"Unlike you I don't want to destroy the single market," Attal said, saying the RN's "buy France" stance would breach EU rules but also harm French businesses, as other EU countries would do the same and prioritise their own businesses.

"What he (Bardella) said on nuclear energy in nonsensical," Attal also said.

Bardella, in turn, attacked Attal on Macron's track record at home, also accusing him of backing EU policies he said harmed the interest of the French, on anything from agriculture to immigration, which he said the government has lost control of.

They also accused each other of being soft on Russia.

"You are lying, Mr Attal," Bardella said at one point.

"I recognise here the Macron camp's talent for saying everything and anything and contradict yourself," Bardella said of Attal.

(Reporting by Ingrid Melander; Additional reporting by Sophie Louet; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
RI's top officials are racking up out-of-state travel, but this one was gone the most by far

PROVIDENCE  Rhode Island's first-term state treasurer, James Diossa, is a frequent traveler.

Since he took office in January 2023, the $137K-a-year treasurer has been on 28 out-of-state and in some cases out-of-country trips that took him out of Rhode Island for at least 74 days  roughly two and a half months  on state, personal and campaign business.

Only 19 of those days were attributed to "state business,'' although his staff says a number of his campaign-paid trips were related to his official duties.

His travels during this stretch took him to New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Las Vegas, Malibu, LA, Colombia and the Dominican Republic, according to travel data collected by The Journal.

Diossa is not the only out-of-state traveler among Rhode Island's five top-ranked elected officials.

But a review of travel summaries for the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer indicate that Diossa is the most frequent traveler, with state taxpayers paying only $4,705 toward his expenses, and his campaign  or his hosts  paying the rest of his non-vacation time.

Of the five top elected officials in Rhode Island, State Treasurer James Diossa has traveled out of state the most.

Where did Diossa go?

Some of his away days were day trips, such as his drive to Hartford, Connecticut, in May 2023 to attend a "Treasury Investor Conference."

Others were described in a summary provided by his office as campaign-paid trips to Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York City and California for fundraising and networking events including, for example, a four-day trip to NYC last July for a National Association of Latino Elected Officials Annual Conference and a four-day trip to Los Angeles earlier this month to attend a Milken Institute Global Conference.

He also went on three family vacations since taking office, including two trips to Colombia and one to the Dominican Republic, that took him out of the country for 26 days, from June 28-July 3, 2023; Dec. 9-14, 2023 and April 6-19, 2024.

By way of comparison, the state's employee handbook says state workers get 70 hours  which equates to two 35-hour weeks  of vacation each year. Put another way: Diossa has already used up all of the 2024 vacation time he would have if he were a rank-and-file state employee.

How much has he spent on travel?

Altogether, his office says, the state paid $4,704 toward his travels. His campaign, his hosts or his own bank account paid the rest.

He has spent a total of $123,606 out of his campaign account since taking office as treasurer, according to his filings with the state Board of Elections. That included $13,472 for what his reports described as "travel & lodging."

The only "host" payment he reported on his separate 2023 ethics-disclosure filing was the $500 he said the National Institute of Public Finance contributed toward his hotel bill while he was enlisted to speak at a conference in Malibu in July.

Asked what Rhode Islanders should make of his frequent travels, Diossa spokeswoman Michelle Moreno-Silva said "most" of his trips, including his campaign-paid trips, took him to "financially related conferences ... relating directly to his work as state treasurer and his fiduciary responsibility to all Rhode islanders."

"The reason for not using state funds is because we want to be mindful of taxpayer money," she said.

Beyond that, she said, Diossa, who has two young children with state Sen. Sandra Cano, "has a young family and has taken vacation time to travel with them. While traveling, Treasurer Diossa works remotely, remaining in constant contact with the Treasury team using the technology tools available to anyone today."

Though the Senate's often inaccurate journal marked Cano as present in the Senate chamber during Diossa's most recent trip to Colombia, where Diossa and Cano still have family, Moreno-Silva said Cano and the children were with Diossa on the family trip.

"Senator Cano and their daughter [also] accompanied Treasurer Diossa to the White House Easter Egg Roll event on April 10, 2023. Their travel was paid with campaign funds, according to the office list.

More: RI's top politicos are making their income tax filings public. Here's what we learned.

Other state officials do not travel so frequently

Others at the heights of state government travel on state, campaign and personal business, but not as a rule as frequently as Diossa, who as treasurer oversees the operation and investment of the state's $11-billion pension fund, and this year, a months-long study of the aftereffects of the state's massive 2011 pension overhaul.

At some point, the retiree advocates fighting for restoration of annual cost-of-living increases noted his absence from State House hearings on what they consider a top issue of the year: pension relief.

Who else travels?

Gov. Dan McKee: The governor's office is still compiling a detailed list of his out-of-state travels, beyond the advisories his office periodically sends the media.

Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos: The lieutenant governor was of out of state 55 days since she was sworn in to her second term in January 2023. That included day trips to Foxboro on a Saturday to see an Army-Navy game and Dorchester, Massachusetts, on a Tuesday, for a 1st Dominican Independence Day Breakfast.

Many of her trips in 2023 took place while she was running for an open congressional seat. She lists them as "Political/CD1 Campaign," and ascribes no state cost to them. They took her to NYC, Miami and Washington, D.C.

She billed the state for $3,894 in travel expenses to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for four days for a National Lieutenant Governors Association gathering in April; a National Lieutenant Governors Association Federal-State Relations meeting in D.C. in March 2023; and a White House Black History Month reception in February 2023.

She took two family vacations, both to Vermont, for a total of five days: Four days from Jan. 5 through 8, 2024, and a one-day round-trip on April 8, 2024.

Attorney General Peter Neronha: The attorney general was laid up a good part of last year, so he did not do much traveling. But he did some.

He drove back and forth to the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, for an Aug. 2-3, 2023, regional meeting of the National Association of Attorneys General. He attended two gatherings of the Democratic attorneys general in Boston and Washington, including a holiday party the day before a three-day "NAAG Capital Forum" in December.

On the vacation front, he went to London, at his own expense, for a Friday-to-Monday getaway with his family in February 2023. He took two three-day family trips to Dallas and a nine-day family trip to Greece in September 2023.

Moving ahead to Feb. 7, 2024, "the AG drove to and from Boston via his state car" to deliver a talk on The Peoples Lawyer: The Impact on State Attorneys General. On Feb. 28, he attended a wake in North Branford, Connecticut.

Then he took some family vacation time, including a March 14-17, 2024 trip to St. Louis, Missouri; an April 25-May 5 trip to Rome and, May 10-19, to St. Louis again, at personal expense, when his son was graduating from Washington University medical school and moving to Illinois for his residency.

Secretary of State Gregg Amore: The secretary of state was out of state at least 49 days since taking office in January 2023.

Several of those trips took him to NYC on weekends, at personal expense, for his daughter's moving-in, moving-out and graduation. His travel list also reflected his "annual trip to Yankee Stadium for the Yankees Opening Day, which was his March 30 trip last year and April 5-6 trip this year," according to his office.

His longest out-of-state trip was a Thursday-through-Monday "personal trip" to New Orleans in February 2023.

His state-paid trips cost taxpayers $6,239 for his expenses alone, and a total of $18,153, including the cost of bringing anywhere from one to seven of his staffers with him, as he did when he went to a National Association of Secretaries of State meeting in D.C. from July 9-12, 2023.

He brought both deputy secretaries of state, chief of staff, director of outreach and engagement, director and deputy director of the state's Business Services Division, and his communications director, Faith Chybowski, who explains: "This was an important opportunity for members of our staff to become acquainted with NASS and other secretaries/their staff, especially in the first year of our administration."

The Center for Election Innovation & Research paid $1,365 toward Amore's three-day trip to D.C. in May 2023 for a "CEIR Summit on American Democracy."

With reports from Patrick Anderson

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI treasurer James Diossa logs 11 weeks of out-of-state travel time
The European Union is considering imposing sanctions on Belarus as a way to close a trade loophole that has allowed Russia to import luxury cars and other banned goods produced in Western countries, the Financial Times reported on May 23.

The EU has already imposed economic sanctions against the Belarusian regime for its involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko is a loyal supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has been accused of abuses of power and political oppression inside his own country.

According to the Financial Times, the newest round of sanctions aims to "minimize the risk of circumvention."

The measures would ban exports of technology and other goods that have military use to and from the country, as well as liquified natural gas. The bloc will also reportedly stop importing diamonds from Minsk.

Luxury cars are one of the major exports that will be stopped by the new sanctions against Minsk. Currently, European car manufacturers can sell products to Belarus but not Russia.

The FT reports that the monthly flow of vehicles and vehicle parts from EU countries to Belarus increased significantly from $50 million in January 2022 to $268 million in January 2024. The export flow is now the largest single element of EU-Belarus trade.

Most notably, the largest export growth to Belarus occurred among cars targeted by EU-Russian sanctions bans. The bloc believes that Belarusian companies have played a major role in smuggling Western cars to Moscow.

Vehicles made by Western luxury car brands such as Rolls-Royce and Maybach entered Russia via Belarusian suppliers in 2022 and 2023.

The Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte told FT that "for a Russian to get a car in Belarus is not a problem."

The Lithuanian customs service reportedly struggles with the "complicated" system of inspecting cargo bound for Belarus. Prime Minister Simonyte said the two sanctions regimes have left "very clear holes."

The Prime Minister of Lithuania, as well as Poland's Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, agreed that the only way to close these gaps is to align the two regimes.

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said the new sanctions were important but did not go far enough. She also criticized the lack of sanctions enforcement mechanisms inside the bloc.

Sanctions  imposed on Russia or the Belarusian regime  cannot work effectively if they are not synchronized," Tsikhanouskaya said. "Dictators use each other to circumvent sanctions and continue to trade. The Belarusian regime is buying military stuff, luxury cars . . . for Russia....In Europe, there is no mechanism for sanctions enforcement.

Read also: US expands sanctions against Belarus

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
CHANGCHUN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Li Hongzhong has called for efforts in forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and enhancing the legal guarantee for advancing ethnic solidarity and progress.

Li, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during a research tour to northeast China's Jilin Province from Monday to Wednesday.

During the tour, Li visited residential communities, rural areas, a local agricultural product processing enterprise, and the Jilin Museum.

While attending a symposium in Changchun, Li noted that advancing ethnic solidarity and progress is a major task in forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and called for redoubled efforts in improving the laws and regulations in this regard.

He also said that it is imperative to follow the fundamental guidance of the Constitution, maintain that all ethnic groups are equal and all are equal before the law, and safeguard the lawful rights and interests of all ethnic groups in accordance with the law. 
Fugitive wanted in Massachusetts homicide captured by U.S. Marshals in Connecticut

Federal marshals in Connecticut have captured a man wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in Fall River, Massachusetts in December, authorities said.

Lee George-Maldonado, 28, of Puerto Rico, is charged in Massachusetts with murder, carrying a firearm without a license, attempt to commit a crime, kidnapping with a firearm, and two counts of attempted assault and battery with a firearm, the U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement on Thursday. Maldonado is also facing domestic violence charges out of Puerto Rico.

The charges stem from a Dec. 23, 2023 shooting in Fall River that left Juan Castro, 44, dead outside his home on Bank Street, authorities said.

Fall River police obtained an arrest warrant for Maldonado on Friday and requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service to locate and apprehend him.

U.S. Marshals arrested George-Maldonado at a home in the 20 block of Taylor Court in Willimantic, where he was hiding out, authorities said. He was taken into custody charged as a fugitive from justice and was held pending extradition to Massachusetts to face the charges against him.

The Connecticut U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force, Willimantic SWAT team and detectives division assisted in the investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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(Bloomberg) -- The Group of Seven countries are converging on a US plan to squeeze value out of frozen Russian assets, a move that would secure as much as $50 billion in critical financing for Ukraine and help shield it from political shifts on both sides of the Atlantic.

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Officials familiar with the discussions say G-7 governments are all now broadly supportive of a US proposal to leverage future revenue generated from about $280 billion in Russian central bank funds  most of which lies immobilized in Europe  to back the massive loan to Kyiv.

Finance ministers from the G-7 economies are discussing the matter during a meeting this week in Stresa, Italy, with the aim to agree on a set of options for their leaders for a final decision when they meet on June 13-15.

While the G-7 is closing in on the broad strokes of the agreement, many critical details are still being negotiated and would need to be agreed, according to the people, who asked not to be identified as the talks are private and ongoing.

Those include the exact mechanism of the loan, the size of the amount that will be raised upfront and, crucially, how the risk will be shared among the participating parties, they said.

Still, one thing where there is consensus among the G-7 is that more financing for Ukraine will be needed.

With the war showing no signs of abating and Russias military offensive gaining ground, focus has shifted on securing medium-term assistance for Kyiv and sending a strong signal to Moscow that G-7 allies are committed to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes.

At stake is not just ensuring Ukraine can continue to fund its defense and service its debt but also that it will be able to receive sustainable financial support through 2025 and beyond.

The money raised from such a plan could be used to assist Ukraine with reconstruction and military needs, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday. She added that the amount raised would help Ukraine not just through 2025 but further down the line.

Our hope would be to show that those assets do provide a viable stream of support in the years to come, she told reporters ahead of meetings with her G-7 counterparts. This is an assured source of financing and its important that Russia realize that we will not be deterred from supporting Ukraine for lack of resources.

Key Issue

Italian Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti struck a similarly positive note, saying he is optimistic on this key issue and that the hope is to present the G-7 leaders with a plan.

The problem is what legal basis we have, he told reporters. Its not simple, were working on it we need to be a bit creative. Currently legally the idea is to use the interest to repay the loans we give to Ukraine. The issue is we have to see if thats feasible.

His German counterpart, Christian Lindner, also highlighted that there are many unresolved issues, many unanswered questions here.

Now is an opportunity to talk about it, he said. However, I dont expect any decisions to be made, the matter is too complex for that, there are still far too many questions open.

The EU has separately already agreed to provide Ukraine twice a year with the profits from the frozen funds as they are generated. The US has been pushing to leverage those profits to be able to provide Kyiv with more money up front, with the future proceeds covering that outlay. The frozen assets are expected to raise about $5 billion a year.

Should the G-7 come to an agreement, that accord would replace the EU initiative.

An advantage of front-loading the proceeds from the assets would be to secure the benefit for Ukraine regardless of political uncertainty surrounding the presidential election in the US. Divisions in Washington have already made it difficult for President Joe Biden to extend more aid to Ukraine, and his challenger, former President Donald Trump, has expressed skepticism about support for the embattled country.

Stumbling Blocks

Still, officials caution that a lot of key details still need to be agreed given uncertainties surrounding the assets continued immobilization and the various technical aspects of this plan.

Should the war come to an end and some kind of peace settlement is struck with Russia, with Moscow agreeing to pay for Ukraines reconstruction, that would raise questions over whether the assets would remain frozen and, if not, what guarantees would be provided for repaying the loan.

Another uncertainty may stem from the fact that the EU has to renew its decision on keeping the assets immobilized every six months if the initiative is structured as a sanction, a procedure that would require unanimity. While unlikely, that raises the risk that a single EU nation could throw loan repayments into doubt by blocking a continued freeze.

The European Central Bank and EU member states are also concerned about protecting Belgian-based Euroclear, which holds most of the assets, from any financial risk, for example from Russian lawsuits or possible retaliation from Moscow. Under the EUs current initiative the clearing house retains the profits generated before Feb. 15 to cover those scenarios and a mechanism has been put in place to hold back more funds should the risks prove greater than anticipated.

--With assistance from Alberto Nardelli, Jorge Valero, Alessandra Migliaccio, Kamil Kowalcze, Zoe Schneeweiss and Caroline Connan.

(Updates with Giorgetti, Lindner starting in 11th paragraph.)

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An anti-female genital mutilation (FGM) protester outside the National Assembly in Banjul on March 18, 2024, during the debate between lawmakers on a highly controversial bill seeking to lift the ban on FGM. Credit - Muhamadou BittayeAFP/Getty Images

At eight years old, Fatou Baldeh was told she would be attending a party at her uncles house to celebrate girls in her local community in The Gambia. Excited, she picked out a new outfit and braided her hair for the special occasion. But that excitement suddenly changed, she recalls decades later, when we were all put in a line and blindfolded.

With her eyes covered, Baldeh could only hear the sound of girls being taken to a bathroom nearby before shrieks of agony filled the room. I still remember the scream of every girl, she says. Soon after, a tight grip pinned her down to the floor, and an older womantraditionally known in the community as a cutterappeared, before using a razor blade to remove Baldehs genitals.

This is how female genital mutilation is practiced in The Gambia, Baldeh tells TIME at the 2024 Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy in May, where the 40-year-old survivor received an International Womens Rights Award for her advocacy efforts to put an end to the practice globally.

But Baldehs work is far from over. Female genital mutilation, or FGM, entails the deliberate cutting or removal of a female's external genitalia for non-medical reasons through several different procedures. In 1997, the World Health Organization classified FGM (also sometimes known as female circumcision or FGC), into four different types of procedures, which can vary further through subtypes entailing the partial or total removal of clitoral glans.

Over 230 million women and girls alive today are FGM survivorsan alarming 15% increase from eight years ago, according to UNICEF. Africa accounts for the largest number of survivors with 144 million cases. And in 29 countries in Africa and the Middle Eastincluding in countries that have put in place some form of legislation or decree banning FGMthe practice is still being widely carried out.

In the Gambia, the practice was outlawed in 2015 under the dictatorship of President Yahya Jammeh, who said it was not required under Islam. Yet, more than three-quarters of women and girls in the country have been subjected to it, according to the United Nations, because of religious beliefs that the partial or total removal of these body parts ensures that women remain chaste.

Now, a new bill tabled in Parliament by an independent lawmaker in March threatens to overturn the ban due to a push from influential Muslim clerics. If Gambias National Assembly adopts the Womens (Amendment) Bill 2024 at its June session, it will become the first country in the world to overturn a ban on FGM. And what happens in Gambia could have a ripple effect across Africa, especially among Muslim-majority West African countries like Kenya and Guinea, warns Satang Nabaneh, a human rights law professor at the University of Dayton.

There has been an uptick in [attempts to reverse] anti-FGM laws within the continent, says Nabaneh, and what happens in the Gambia will be a signal to other West African countries or conservative actors to roll back womens sexual and reproductive rights, as well as to allow for gender-based violence.

Why FGM is still prevalent

The reasons for practicing FGM can vary from country to country, but they are almost always rooted in social acceptance, cultural and religious beliefs, misconceptions about hygiene, or as a means of preserving a girls virginity.

In Somalia, where 98% of women have undergone FGM, the practice is seen as a religious requirement. Similarly, in the Gambian context, FGM is seen as an obligation as a Muslim that is also deeply rooted as a rite of passage among families, according to Baldeh.

Parents will say, This is what my grandmother did to my mother, and what she did to me, so now I have to do it to my daughter, she says.

These beliefs have also deemed talking about FGM openly taboo, especially to avoid criticism from outsiders, according to many of the women surveyed by Unicef and the WHO. Growing up, nobody in my community said what was happening out loud, but every girl I knew went through that process, Baldeh recalls.

However, most health professionals and human rights activists have long argued against the practice for its long-lasting health effects, including chronic pain, infections, difficult labor, and even death during the mutilation or after. FGM is a devastating human rights abuse that has lifelong health and psychological consequences for women and girls, says Nimco Ali, the CEO of the Five Foundation, an international organization working towards the elimination of FGM. The act normalizes other forms of violence against women and girls, deepens inequalities, and increases poverty, especially in rural communities. 

The fight to overturn the FGM ban in the Gambia

In addition to banning the practice in 2015, the Gambian government also adopted a national strategy and policy last September to end the practice in the country by 2030. Despite the practice being outlawed, however, only two FGM cases have been prosecuted in Gambian courts to date, with the first conviction against performing FGM made last August.

Whats more, support for FGM still exists among the conservative members of its community. In March, lawmaker Almammeh Gibba further championed the bill in Gambias parliament to overturn the FGM ban, saying that the practice should continue to uphold religious purity and safeguard cultural norms and values.

The bill was tabled at a time when the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council, the main body of Muslim clerics in the country, repeatedly called for the ban to be scrapped. The clerics believe that the practice would not be considered mutilation if done properly.

As the Parliament discussed Gibbas bill in March, outside the National Assembly, supporters of another Muslim cleric, Abdoulie Fatty, gathered to chant, Female circumcision is my religious belief, Gambia is not for sale.

But for many Gambian womens rights activists, the writing is on the wall if the ban is reversed. Whatever happens with this law, the consequences have already reached our communities, says Baldeh.

The religious leaders pushing for FGM are advocating for it during Friday prayers, asking families to cut their daughters, and making it seem as if those opposed are going against our religion because of Western ideologies, she continues, as a result, the community has shut down towards us.

Human rights organizations also warn that overturning the ban would constitute a blatant human rights violation on Gambias part. Notably, the country is a signatory to numerous international bills for the rights of women, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. It would also violate the principle of equal dignity of the person guaranteed in the Gambian Constitution.

This bill would set a dangerous precedent for womens rights and tarnish Gambias human rights record. We urge parliament to vote against it, stated Michele Eken, a senior researcher at Amnesty Internationals West and Central Africa office.

The ripple effect in other African countries

Those advocating against the reversal of the FGM ban argue that such attempts are not isolated in Gambia, but are part of a global trend of rolling back progress on gender equality.

In many West African countries, this is happening by limiting the voices of women. In Sudan, for example, womens rights activists protesting the countrys ongoing revolution have faced state-sanctioned violence and restrictions on public participation. In Tanzania, now-repealed laws that attempted to bar teenage mothers from attending public schools have since been repealed. And in Kenya, similar laws to repeal FGM bans were unsuccessfully brought to court in 2021.

We've also seen this in countries like Egypt, where medical FGM has been allowed, says Nabaneh, the law professor at Dayton University. However, we know that medicalized FGM itself is a human rights violation rather than a harm reduction strategy.

Ultimately, FGM is performed to control women's sexuality, says Baldeh, referring to community narratives and pressures on young girls to be chaste, clean and ready for marriage.

But come June, if Gambia does reverse the ban on FGM, the consequences will be clear: The health, education, bodily autonomy, and overall wellbeing for women and girls in our generation and future generations will be at risk, she says.

And this is how they will continue to hold us down.

Write to Astha Rajvanshi at astha.rajvanshi@time.com.
FORT PIERCE, Florida  The judge in the Donald Trump classified documents case reprimanded a prosecutor Wednesday during a tense hearing over a Trump co-defendants accusation of prosecutorial misconduct.

Im going to have to ask that you calm down, Judge Aileen Cannon told prosecutor David Harbach, a member of special counsel Jack Smiths team.

The reprimand came after Harbach became agitated when Cannon asked him whether prosecutors had kept evidence of an August 2022 meeting with defense lawyer Stanley Woodward.

Harbach argued in court Wednesday that Woodward was invoking that meeting as part of a garbage argument in a bid to get the criminal charges against his client, Walt Nauta, dismissed.

Cannon, a Trump appointee, did not rule on the dismissal bid. It was her first public hearing in the case since she indefinitely postponed the trial date, which had initially been set for May 20.

Nauta, who was Trumps White House valet and still works for him at Mar-a-Lago, is charged with helping Trump obstruct the governments efforts to retrieve classified documents at the Palm Beach resort. Trump himself is facing dozens of felony charges for hoarding the documents, and one other defendant, property manager Carlos De Oliveira, is also charged in the case.



Woodward has contended in court papers that Nauta has been subject to selective and vindictive prosecution. He has several arguments to support the claim, but the most explosive stems from the 2022 meeting between Woodward and prosecutor Jay Bratt. Woodward, who had been under consideration to be appointed to a judgeship by President Joe Biden, claims that Bratt implied at that meeting that Woodward would not get a judgeship unless his client, Nauta, cooperated in the documents investigation.

The special counsels team has denied Woodwards claim, and at Wednesdays hearing, Harbach called Woodwards version of the meeting a fantasy that did not happen.

Bratt himself was sitting in the courtroom as lawyers argued over what happened at the meeting, but he did not address the court on the subject.

Trump was excused from attending the hearing. Hes currently on trial in New York on charges stemming from a hush money payment to a porn star. Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday and a verdict could come as soon as next week.

In addition to the dispute over Woodwards meeting with Bratt, Woodward accused the special counsels team of singling out Nauta for far worse treatment than other people who were interviewed in the documents case or in similar circumstances.

In response, Harbach listed a slew of accusations against Nauta, saying he lied to investigators, lied to the grand jury, moved boxes and deleted video. No one had done anything close to what Nauta did, he said.

Show me someone who has done all that and Ill show you someone indicted, he said.

Cannon also heard arguments Wednesday on a separate bid to dismiss certain charges because of technical issues involving how certain charges seem similar to each other and how the defendants are grouped together. Again, she didnt rule, saying only that she would take the arguments under advisement.

The judge again became irritated with Harbach when he whispered to other members of the prosecution team while a defense lawyer was speaking. Cannon asked him to keep his voice down.



But the prosecution wasnt the only side to draw Cannons ire Wednesday. At one point, she told Woodward to slow down, and later she became impatient with him when he was unable to answer a line of questioning.

You should have been prepared to address this, she said.

Woodward later apologized for having been caught flat footed.

Josh Gerstein contributed to this report.
Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday slammed former President Donald Trump for insinuating President Joe Biden authorized his potential assassination during the FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago resort in August 2022 for confidential government material, pointing out that a similar Justice Department memo on the use of deadly force was also used in the FBI search of Biden's Wilmington, Delaware, home in January 2023.

Garland called Trump's accusation, which came after documents were unsealed Tuesday by the special counsel investigating the ongoing federal probe into those missing documents, "false and extremely dangerous."

"The document that has been referred to in the allegation is the Justice Department's standard policy, limiting the use of force as the FBI advises it as part of the standard operations plan for searches," he told reporters at an unrelated news conference. "And in fact, it was even used in the consensual search of President Biden's home."

PHOTO: Attorney General Merrick Garland announces an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment during a press conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., May 23, 2024. (Ken Cedeno/Reuters)

MORE: Trump falsely claims Biden, FBI had plan to assassinate him during Mar-a-Lago search

As part of the Aug. 8, 2022, operation at Mar-a-Lago, FBI agents were given a standard policy document that limited the use of deadly force, according to the unsealed memo.

The FBI echoed Garland's comments in a updated statement Thursday, noting that its use of a "deadly force" policy statement was included when agents searched Biden's Delaware home a few months later over the same issue, "as is standard practice for all FBI operations orders."

"No one ordered additional steps to be taken and there was no departure from the norm in this matter," the agency said in a statement.

This was the FBI's second response this week over Trump's false claims, which he made in a Truth Social post and fundraising letter Tuesday.

PHOTO:Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak to the press at the end of the day's proceedings in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, May 21, 2024. (Dave Sanders/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump falsely claimed Biden was "locked & loaded ready to take me out," in the letter. In the Truth Social post, the former president claimed he was "shown Reports" that Biden's DOJ "AUTHORIZED THE FBI TO USE DEADLY (LETHAL) FORCE" in their search of the property for classified documents.

The memo was part of a 'Law Enforcement Operations Order' drawn up by agents preparing to carry out the search of Mar-a-Lago, after a magistrate judge agreed the government had shown probable cause that agents would find evidence of unlawfully retained national defense information and obstruction of justice on the premises.

Agents ultimately recovered around 100 documents with classification markings -- months after the government subpoenaed Trump for any remaining in his possession, and after the government said it gathered evidence Trump had misled his own lawyers to sign a false certification asserting all such documents had been returned.

PHOTO: Secret Service and Palm Beach police are seen in front of the home of former President Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago, Aug. 8, 2022, in Palm Beach, Fla. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images)

"The FBI followed standard protocol in this search as we do for all search warrants, which includes a standard policy statement limiting the use of deadly force," the FBI said in a statement Tuesday. "No one ordered additional steps to be taken and there was no departure from the norm in this matter."

Multiple former FBI and DOJ officials also confirmed the standard nature of the inclusion of the deadly force policy.

"Anytime the [FBI] takes an adversarial action like executing a search warrant, there is a deadly force policy," former DOJ official and ABC News contributor Sarah Isgur tweeted. "If there is danger to you or public and there's no alternatives, you are authorized to use deadly force. This is standard policy."

Trump and two co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges against them and denied wrongdoing.

Trump's attorneys in their filing Tuesday made no such accusation that the inclusion of the policy showed Biden was preparing to assassinate Trump, and it's not immediately clear whether they had shared the information -- part of a vast trove of discovery in his case -- with Trump before it being unsealed.

While Trump said he first learned of the filing after being "shown Reports" about it after court proceedings were finished in his New York state criminal hush money case, Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene later posted on X that she "made sure" Trump knew about the false claim the "Biden DOJ and FBI were planning to assassinate" him.

The operations order further indicated how agents were well aware Trump would not be present at the property during the search, as it was carried out during Mar-a-Lago's off-season when Trump normally resides at his property in Bedminster, New Jersey.

MORE: Special counsel suspected additional obstruction effort by Trump in classified docs case

They did, however, include a contingency plan in the event Trump showed up at the property mid-search, at which time they said FBI personnel on site would be prepared "to engage with" him and his Secret Service security detail. The full context shows there's no suggestion of the situation escalating into violence, and that it was more about assigning points of contact responsible for speaking with members of Trump's detail.

PHOTO: A police car is seen outside former President Donald Trump's residence in Mar-A-Lago, in Palm Beach, Fla., Aug. 8, 2022. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)

The order also further bolsters testimony from the former director of the FBI's Washington, D.C., field office Steve D'Antuono, who previously testified to Congress he was "adamant" agents executing the warrant "didn't do a show of force."

"It wasn't even a show of force, right, because we were all in agreement," D'Antuono said in an exchange with Rep. Jim Jordan, the Ohio Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee. "No raid jackets, no blazed FBI ... We weren't bringing any like FBI vehicles, everything that was reported about helicopters and a hundred people descending on, like, a 'Die Hard' movie, was completely untrue, right? That is not how we played it."

The operation order shows case agents on scene were instructed to dress "business casual" with "unmarked polo or collared shirts" and other law enforcement equipment concealed.

Garland calls Trump's false claim of Biden DOJ plan to potentially assassinate him during FBI's Mar-a-Lago search 'extremely dangerous' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday took a quick jab at the House Oversight Committee for devolving into highly publicized chaos last week during a markup to hold him in contempt of Congress.

When asked Thursday if he watched the Oversight Committees hearing last week, Garland quipped, I caught part of that hearing on Saturday Night Live.'

Nearly an hour of disorder unfolded during the contempt markup when Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) clashed after the Georgia Republican accused Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) of wearing fake eyelashes.

Despite the disruption, the Oversight Committee eventually voted 24-20 to advance a measure to hold Garland in contempt of Congress in an attempt to censure him for failing to turn over audio recordings of the president speaking with special counsel Robert Hur. The House Judiciary Committee also passed the measure in a 18-15, party-line vote.

NBCs Saturday Night Live poked fun at the raucous meeting during its Weekend Update segment of last Saturdays episode.

But seriously, I am very disappointed, Garland said of the vote during a Thursday press conference. The Justice Department, as Ive explained before, has gone to extraordinary lengths to accommodate the legitimate interests of the committees.

House Republicans have repeatedly sought the recordings from Hurs interview with President Biden during his probe of the presidents handling of classified documents. Lawmakers already have the transcripts of the conversation, but GOP members argue the audio recordings will be more revealing, arguing pauses could speak to Hurs commentary about the presidents cognitive functions or show a hesitancy to ask questions.

I have released the full and unredacted report of Mr. Hur. We permitted Mr. Hur to testify for over five hours on everything that happened in connection with this investigation, and we provided the transcripts of the interviews in which the committee is interested, Garland said.

Hours ahead of the committees markup hearings last week, Biden invoked his executive privilege to block House Republicans from obtaining the recordings.

Garland on Thursday maintained this was done to protect the Justice Departments ability in future investigations to get cooperation in high-profile cases, particularly involving the White House.

The uproar during the Oversight hearing began after Greene asked if any Democrats on the panel were employing the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing former President Trumps hush money trial in Manhattan. Republicans have repeatedly targeted Merchans daughter for working at a progressive digital agency.

Please tell me what that has to do with Merrick Garland, Crockett asked. Do you know what were here for?

I dont think you know what youre here for, Greene responded. I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what youre reading.

Democrats immediately lambasted Greene for the comment, with Ocasio-Cortez yelling thats disgusting and calling her remarks absolutely unacceptable.

A back-and-forth among Ocasio-Cortez, Greene and Crockett followed, with lawmakers occasionally stepping in to take jabs at the other side.

At one point, Crockett asked if a hypothetical comment  which appeared to be a jab at Greene  would break congressional protocol.

Im just curious, just to better understand your ruling, Crockett said, referring to a ruling House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) made about Greenes comments. If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebodys bleach blonde bad built butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?

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 The Hill.
Questions surround the death of a 38-year-old man who died after an encounter involving a Brunswick school resource officer.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Isaias Gomez Pena can be seen on the ground in a video sent to Action News Jax. Shortly after the encounter, he died from what the Georgia Bureau of Investigations called a medical emergency. It happened on Tuesday, outside Risley Middle School in Brunswick within 100 yards of the property and the Glynn County Police Department was also called to assist.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

The GBI is looking into the case and the use of force. The agency said he was in distress and during an encounter with law enforcement, he had some sort of medical emergency and ultimately died at the hospital.

Action News Jax law and safety expert, Dale Carson, spent decades with the FBI and law enforcement. He said school resource officers are trained to respond to anything out of the ordinary near school property.

Anytime you have an encounter with someone who is having difficulty, not acting normally, thats a normal police function and sometimes it leads to unintended consequences, Carson said.

Pena was a father of a five, Action News Jax spoke with his family members off-camera, who told us he lived in the community across the street from the school and was being driven home because he was under the influence of alcohol. They said his driver pulled over because he desperately needed air, saying he has had heart issues in the past. Family members said he got out of the car to breath and thats when the school resource officer came over.

Family claimed he was eventually thrown to the ground and tased and they believe he died of a heart attack. The GBI special agent in charge of the case told me right now theres no evidence a taser was used, they also said a bystander was hurt with minor injuries after getting involved.

WATCH: Brunswick doctor killed in murder-suicide

Its okay, calm down, someone can be heard saying.

We need this hand, another person said.

I want to get him cuffs, a school resource officer said, followed by Pena groaning.

He can go to the hospital? What are you going to do? a woman can be heard saying in the video sent to Action News Jax.

Right now, were just trying to get him under control, a school resource office said in the video.

In the video, you can see someone what appears to be fanning him.

READ: Georgia AG hosts roundtable discussion on combating gang violence in Brunswick

Carson called this a sad situation.

Perhaps he had no intention of being near the school and was looking for assistance in his diminished capacity. We will find that out, the fact the GBI is investigating means theres a bit more to the circumstances than we currently understand, Carson said.

Family members said he never got in trouble. Action News Jax requested any potential criminal history and the only report we got back was when he a verbal argument led to him getting hit. Glynn County schools and the police department told Action News Jax they wouldnt be commenting any further.

The GBI is asking anyone who was in this area around 2:30-3:00pm the day it happened to give them a call.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

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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.
Ukrainian forces hit a Russian S-400 air defense system on May 22, Ukraine's General Staff reported on May 23.

Ukraine's Air Force and rocket and artillery forces also hit two Russian artillery pieces, two drone control stations, two command posts, an electronic warfare station, and a Su-25 aircraft, according to the report.

The General Staff did not elaborate on the extent of damage done to the air defense system or its location.

Russia's modern S-400 Triumph air defense system has an estimated price tag of around $1.2 billion.

Four S-400 launchers were destroyed in mid-April along with other equipment in an attack on a Russian military airfield in occupied Crimea, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) reported.

Read also: Uncertain Triumph: Ukraine picks apart Russias best air defenses in Crimea

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Maximilian Krah, AfD lead candidate for the European elections, leaves after a press statement. Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has banned its lead candidate for the European election, Maximilian Krah, from making public appearances, following his comments that not all SS members were criminals. Michael Kappeler/dpa

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party could face expulsion from the European Parliament group it belongs to, according to a document seen by dpa on Thursday, just two weeks ahead of European elections.

Marco Zanni, the leader of the Identity and Democracy (ID) group, made a request to expel the AfD after multiple negative headlines about the party in recent weeks, including about the AfD's lead candidate for the elections in June, Maximilian Krah.

The move comes after a "string of incidents involving Mr Maximilian Krah and - by extension - the German delegation of the Group" and their impact on the group's reputation, the text of the motion reads.

Krah came under significant public scrutiny following his comments that not all Schutzstaffel (SS) members were criminals. The SS was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.

In response, the AfD banned Krah from making public appearances.

Another AfD candidate, Petr Bystron, will also no longer appear due to investigations by the public prosecutor's office into alleged corruption.

Both Krah and Bystron have come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks for alleged links to pro-Russian networks.

In addition, German police last month arrested Krah's assistant at the time, Jian Guo, on suspicion of espionage. Krah fired him following the allegations that the aide was spying for China.

All nine AfD lawmakers in the ID group are listed for expulsion in a vote due to take place later Thursday. The request to expel all AfD members from the European Parliament group was sent to top representatives of political parties in the ID.

The Italian League party, to which Zanni belongs, has already agreed to the motion.

Christine Anderson, leader of the AfD delegation in ID, objected to the vote however and demanded to be consulted as per the group's rules, according to information obtained by dpa.

With the support of six other members of the AfD, Anderson demanded that only Krah be expelled from the ID group and submitted a countermotion. Only one AfD lawaker did not support Anderson.

The exclusion of AfD members of the EU legislature would be primarily symbolic, as the parliament will not meet again until after the European elections in June. The political groups may then possibly be reformed.

In addition to the Italian League, the ID group in the European Parliament also includes Marine Le Pen's French party National Rally and the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV) led by Geert Wilders, although the latter has no seats in the European Parliament.

Le Pen's National Rally had previously terminated its cooperation with the AfD after plans to deport migrants on a large scale were discussed at a secret meeting attended by members of the AfD and well-known radical right-wingers last November near Berlin.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) logo is projected onto a curtain at the national party conference. A 52 year old man threw an ashtray at an AfD politician in a pub. Sina Schuldt/dpa
Dragon boat racing is one of the customs of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival and one of the most important folk activities, particularly prevalent in southern China.

"As dragon boats from every village spread across the land, flags and drums vie to soar aloft everywhere," depicted by the Song Dynasty poet Ye Shi, illustrating the vibrant scenes of the Dragon Boat Festival in his hometown, Ruian, Wenzhou, in east China's Zhejiang province. This attests to the high popularity of dragon boat racing at that time.

Presently, orders are pouring into the various dragon boat manufacturing bases in Ruian, with each village scrambling to produce their "village boats," readying themselves to display their prowess during the events.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service




Pro-Palestinians demonstrators who show the victory sign are escorted by police as they leave a building of the Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2024. Pro-Palestinian activists had occupied rooms at the Humboldt University in central Berlin. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

BERLIN (AP) 

German police cleared about 150 pro-Palestinian demonstrators from a Berlin university faculty on Thursday, ending one of a wave of student-led protests across Europe over Israels conduct in its war against Hamas.

Activists had occupied several rooms of the Humboldt Universitys Institute for Social Sciences in downtown Berlin on Wednesday.

Student Coalition Berlin, the group which organized the protest, called in a statement posted on social media for the university to take an active role in ending the genocide against the people of Palestine and their decades-long suffering.

University administrators agreed after talks with protest leaders to let them stay until Thursday evening. But they called in the police when some of them refused to leave, German news agency dpa reported.

Police spokeswoman Beate Ostertag said that, while some of the demonstrators left voluntarily, police officers had to lead others from the building. Police said about 130 people were briefly detained during the operation, in which officers broke through several barricaded doors.

Student protests over the war in Gaza that began in the United States have spread to university campuses in many European countries. In Germany, protests have taken place this week at universities in cities including Munich and Leipzig.

Berlin authorities have taken a tough line against anti-Israeli demonstrations, urging police to step in if demonstrators use slogans that could incite hatred against Jews  taboo in a country marked by the memory of the Holocaust.

There is no place for hate and anti-Semitism in Berlin and at our universities, said Burkard Dregger, a lawmaker for the Christian Democratic Union, which leads the Berlin state government.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaks during the state ceremony to mark "75 years of the Basic Law" on the forum between the Bundestag and the Federal Chancellery. The Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany was promulgated on May 23, 1949 and came into force the following day where the anniversary will be celebrated with a three-day democracy festival from 24 to 26 May 2024 in Berlin's government district. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Germany's constitution, or Basic Law, was a "great gift" after the tyranny of the Nazi regime, President Frank-Walter Steimeier said at the ceremony marking the entry into force of the law 75 years ago.

"A gift that must not only be remembered, but that we must cherish, preserve and defend in the everyday life of the republic," Steinmeier said during the celebration on Thursday in Berlin.

It is one of the oldest constitutions in the world and has become a model for many constitutions, Steinmeier said.

The Basic Law was the "dawn of a brighter future," he added.

"It created a stable structure in which people could increasingly feel at home and at ease, in which society could develop and renew itself. It is the model for peaceful coexistence in a diverse society - aware of history and open to the future," Steinmeier said.

The ceremony was attended by the heads of Germany's five constitutional bodies. In addition to the president, these included the presidents of the lower and upper house of parliament, the Federal Constitutional Court as well as Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaks during the state ceremony to mark "75 years of the Basic Law" on the forum between the Bundestag and the Federal Chancellery. The Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany was promulgated on May 23, 1949 and came into force the following day where the anniversary will be celebrated with a three-day democracy festival from 24 to 26 May 2024 in Berlin's government district. Michael Kappeler/dpa
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) logo is projected onto a curtain at the national party conference. A 52 year old man threw an ashtray at an AfD politician in a pub. Sina Schuldt/dpa

All members of the far-right Alternative for Germany party have been expelled from the Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European Parliament, multiple employees of the group told dpa on Thursday.

Marco Zanni, the leader of the ID group, made a request to expel the nine AfD members after negative headlines about the party in recent weeks, including about the AfD's lead candidate for the European elections in June, Maximilian Krah.

The move comes after a "string of incidents involving Mr Maximilian Krah and - by extension - the German delegation of the Group" and their impact on the group's reputation, the text of the motion to expel the AfD read.

Krah came under significant public scrutiny following his comments that not all Schutzstaffel (SS) members were criminals. The SS was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) logo is projected onto a curtain at the national party conference. A 52 year old man threw an ashtray at an AfD politician in a pub. Sina Schuldt/dpa

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been expelled from the Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European Parliament, in a further blow to the German party.

ID "no longer wants to be associated with the incidents" involving Maximilian Krah, head of the AfD list for the European parliament elections in Germany in June, a group statement said on Thursday.

Marco Zanni, the leader of the ID group, made a request to expel the nine AfD members after negative headlines about the party in recent weeks, particularly Krah.

The move comes after a "string of incidents involving Mr Maximilian Krah and - by extension - the German delegation of the Group" and their impact on the group's reputation, the text of the motion to expel the AfD read.

In a vote on Thursday afternoon, the Italian League, led by Zanni, the French National Rally, Flemish Vlaams Belang, the Danish People's Party and the Czech Freedom and Direct Democracy party voted in favour of expelling the AfD, according to information obtained by dpa.

The Freedom Party of Austria and the Conservative People's Party of Estonia voted against.

Krah came under significant public scrutiny following his comments that not all Schutzstaffel (SS) members were criminals. The SS was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.

In response, the AfD banned Krah from making public appearances.

Another AfD candidate, Petr Bystron, will also no longer appear due to investigations by the public prosecutor's office into alleged corruption.

Both Krah and Bystron have come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks for alleged links to pro-Russian networks.

In addition, German police last month arrested Krah's assistant at the time, Jian Guo, on suspicion of espionage. Krah fired him following the allegations that the aide was spying for China.

The exclusion of AfD members of the EU legislature is primarily symbolic, as the parliament will not meet again until after the European elections in June. The political groups may then possibly be reformed.

Le Pen's National Rally had previously terminated its cooperation with the AfD after plans to deport migrants on a large scale were discussed at a secret meeting attended by members of the AfD and well-known radical right-wingers last November near Berlin.
Member of the Bundestag Petr Bystron of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) speaks in the plenary session of the German Bundestag. Christoph Soeder/dpa

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has banned its lead candidate in next month's European elections, Maximilian Krah, from making public appearances, following his comments that not all SS members were criminals.

A party spokesman confirmed a report in the Bild newspaper on Wednesday that the federal executive committee had banned Krah from making public appearances ahead of the pan-EU elections to decide the next European Parliament.

Krah said on the social media platform X that he would refrain from further campaign appearances and would resign as a member of the federal executive committee.

The move comes a day after the French far-right National Rally party said it no longer wants to sit in the same parliamentary group as the AfD over Krah's comments.

Krah told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica that not all members of the SS were criminals, referring to the Schutzstaffel (SS), a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.

"I will never say that everyone who wore an SS uniform was automatically a criminal," said Krah. When asked whether the SS were war criminals, he replied, "There was certainly a high percentage of criminals, but not all of them were criminals."

Nazi concentration camps were guarded and administered by the SS, which was heavily involved in war crimes. The force was declared a criminal organization in the Nuremberg trials after the end of World War II.

Krah said on X: "I realize that factual and nuanced statements by me are being misused as an excuse to harm our party."

The AfD must maintain its unity, he continued. "For this reason, I will refrain from further election campaign appearances with immediate effect and resign as a member of the federal executive committee."

It is unclear how the AfD's European election campaign will continue. According to the party leadership, the number two on the European list, Petr Bystron, will also no longer appear due to investigations by the public prosecutor's office.

Bystron announced on Wednesday that he will no longer be campaigning for the time being, due to family reasons.

"My closest family members have once again been the victims of a house search and media harassment," Bystron told dpa. "Anyone who doesn't understand that I have to look after them first has no heart."

Bystron is currently under investigation for money laundering and bribery. His Berlin home was searched on Tuesday.

Bystron's announcement came several days after AfD chairpersons Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla had asked him to refrain from making any further appearances in the European election campaign until the allegations against him had been clarified.

Both Krah and Bystron have come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks for alleged links to pro-Russian networks.

In addition, German police arrested Krah's former assistant Jian Guo on suspicion of espionage last month, and Krah fired him following the allegations that the parliamentary aide was spying for China.

The AfD's signature issue is a hard-line anti-immigration stance, and the party is profiting from increased concern among many German voters over rising numbers of people seeking asylum in the country.

The party is polling nationally at around 19%, amid high dissatisfaction with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition, and is predicted to do well in the EU election on June 9.

The AfD works together with France's National Rally and Italy's League party in the far-right nationalist Identity and Democracy (ID) grouping in the European Parliament.

The split between the French and German parties comes after a series of disagreements between the AfD and National Rally.

National Rally leader Marine Le Pen criticized the AfD after plans to deport migrants on a large scale were discussed at a secret meeting attended by members of the AfD and well-known radical right-wingers last November near Berlin.

"So I think that, if this is the case, we have a glaring difference of opinion with the AfD and that we need to talk together about major differences like this and see whether or not these differences have consequences for our capacity to ally ourselves in a parliamentary group," Le Pen said.

Maximilian Krah, AfD lead candidate for the European elections, leaves after a press statement. Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has banned its lead candidate for the European election, Maximilian Krah, from making public appearances, following his comments that not all SS members were criminals. Michael Kappeler/dpa
These 'ghost villages' in Indonesia are all that remain after years of volcanic eruptions from Mount Sinabung

In 2010, Mount Sinabung erupted for the first time in 400 years in Sumatra, Indonesia.

The massive blast of lava and ash forced all villagers in the surrounding area to leave their homes.

These eerie photos show the lives left behind in the places the government no longer deems safe.

Indonesia has 120 active volcanoes, and Mount Sinabung is one of the most dangerous.

After 400 years of dormancy, it sprang to life again in 2010. At least two villagers were killed, and thousands more were displaced as the government declared the area too dangerous to inhabit.

However, some villagers, without anywhere else to go, returned to their homes. In 2014, the volcano had its deadliest eruption, killing at least 16 villagers as it spewed lava and ash into the air, reported CBS News. Following this eruption, the government deemed anywhere within a 4.3-mile radius of the volcano too dangerous to live, BuzzFeed News reported.

In addition to making the immediate area unsafe to live in, the volcano's ash has hurt nearby farms. According to The Jakarta Post, farmers in Karo lost at least $2.8 million in 2020 due to the volcanic material that rained from the sky.

Though the volcano was relatively quiet between 2010 and 2013, following its eruption in 2014, it has remained highly active, most recently erupting again in 2020 and 2021.

Most villagers have never gone back to their homes, and only a handful of residents have returned to some of the towns, as The Lost Boys found in 2023. Instead, the towns of Sinabung, Mardinding, and Karo are largely "ghost villages," covered in ash and populated more by passing animals than humans.

Take a look at the eerie photos of the once bustling centers below the volatile Mount Sinabung.

Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra was dormant for 400 years before its eruption in August 2010.

A Mount Sinabung eruption on June 9, 2019. Tibta Pangin:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Source: The Atlantic

Though there was a brief quiet period following Sinabung's eruption in 2010, it became highly active again in 2013 and has remained so ever since, with the most recent eruption in 2021.

Ashes spew from Mount Sinabung. Jefta Images/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Source: Phys.org

After Sinabung's largest eruptions in 2014 and 2018, much of the surrounding area was decimated by lava.

Mount Sinabung's eruption destroyed everything in its path. Ivan Damanik:NurPhoto via Getty Images

Source: NASA

The 2021 explosion sent ash and smoke flying 4,500 meters (roughly 14,700 feet) into the air.

Mount Sinabung spews ash during its eruption as seen from Berastagi district in Karo, North Sumatra, on March 11, 2021. SUGENG NURYONO/AFP/Getty Images

Source: The Jakarta Post

Nearly 30,000 villagers were told by the government that all homes within a 3.4-kilometer radius of the volcano were too dangerous to live in.

A puppy in front of an abandoned home in Mardinding village. Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images

Source: The Atlantic

Thousands of displaced families became refugees and were forced to relocate to government and community-sponsored housing.

A woman and her son in Karo, Indonesia, look on as Mount Sinabung erupts. Ivan Damanik: AFP via Getty Image

Source: The Atlantic

Following the mass exodus, towns became entirely abandoned.

Gurukinayan Village in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Sabirin Manurung: Pacific Press: LightRocket via Getty Images

Boarded-up homes near the mountain have an eerie appearance.

An abandoned house below Mount Sinabung in Indonesia. Keow Wee Loong: Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Churches and community centers can no longer serve their purposes as meeting places.

An abandoned church in Sinabung, Indonesia. Keow Wee Loong: Barcroft Media via Getty Images

This abandoned commercial building below Mount Sinabung is succumbing to the elements.

An abandoned commercial building below Mount Sinabung. Keow Wee Loong: Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Mardinding village, which sits at the foot of Mount Sinabung in Karo, has been largely uninhabited since 2014.

The abandoned Mardinding village in Karo, Indonesia. Ulet Ifansasti:Getty Images.

Source: Vice

In many places, nature has started to overtake the man-made.

An abandoned home and storefront in Sinabung, Indonesia. Keow Wee Loong: Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Cars have also rusted and succumbed to nature.

An abandoned car in Sinabung, Indonesia. Keow Wee Loong: Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Storefronts can be seen with missing ceiling planks and crumbling woodwork.

An old storefront in Sinabung, Indonesia. Keow Wee Loong: Barcroft Media via Getty Images

In this home, "Allah hu Akbar"  meaning "God is great"  is written in the dust in an abandoned kitchen. Indonesia is primarily a Muslim country.

A home covered in ash in Karo, Indonesia. Ivan Damanik:NurPhoto via Getty Images

Many homes retain much of the furniture they had before the villagers fled.

A chair in Sigarang Garang village, in Karo, Indonesia. Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images

Kitchen items, like this strainer, have been left behind as villagers hurried to evacuate their homes.

A strainer covered with dry volcanic ash from Mount Sinabung. Jefta Images:Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Kitchen appliances and dishware give light to the people who once lived in these homes.

Kitchen appliances covered in ash in Karo, Indonesia. Jefta Images : Barcroft Media via Getty Images

In many of the "ghost villages," animals are more common than humans, like these two cats napping on an ash-covered bag.

Cats sit in front of an abandoned home in Karo in 2014. Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images

Dogs took over this old storefront in Mardinding village.

Dogs sit in front of an abandoned house in Mardinding village. Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images

Shoes sit covered in ash and dust.

Shoes left behind and covered in ash from Mount Sinabung. Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images

Until Sinabung falls dormant once more, these towns will remain empty as reminders of the bustling communities they once were.

An abandoned building in Karo, North Sumatra. Kriswanto Ginting/Getty Images

Read the original article on Business Insider
The ginormous tax bill had very few actual tax provisions; heres what they are

Minnesota Capitol. Courtesy of Minnesota House Information Services.

The Minnesota Legislature in the final minutes of the 2024 session passed a more than 1,400-page tax bill that Democrats used to push through their to-do list, including a ban on a certain kind of rapid-fire gun trigger and a bill guaranteeing minimum pay rates for Uber and Lyft drivers. But the bill itself has very few tax provisions.

The biggest change will make last years child tax credit more user-friendly. The bill, which Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign, allows families to receive the child tax credit in installments throughout the year, rather than in one lump sum.

The program creates a guaranteed minimum credit, meaning those who qualify for the child tax credit one year would be guaranteed to receive up to 50% of the amount for each child in the next tax year, without a tax penalty even if their income goes up. The bill makes this safe-harbor provision permanent; the point is to ensure families arent punished even if they find better-paying work.

House Democrats wanted to allow 18-year-olds to be eligible for the credit, but that didnt make it into the final bill.

The big tax bill also expands the definition of moist snuff tobacco, which will generate about $3 million in taxes in fiscal year 2024-2025 and about $7 million in fiscal year 2026-2027. This revenue will be used to offset some of the cost associated with the new child tax credit provisions.

The Department of Revenue will also receive $1 million to distribute grants to volunteer taxpayer assistance organizations that assist Minnesotans with filing their taxes, and another $1 million for grants to organizations that educate Minnesotans about the tax credits available to them.

Rep. Aisha Gomez, DFL-Minneapolis, and chair of the House Taxes Committee, said the few provisions were ultimately what she and Senate Taxes Chair Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, could agree on.

Among the bills not included in the tax omnibus: a bill forcing corporations that make over $250 million in gross revenue to disclose more about their finances; the creation of a new account that aimed to distribute local sales tax revenue more equitably; and a proposal that would have created a state-run tax filing system, similar to H&R Block or Turbotax.

Paid Leave Law

Changes to the paid family and medical leave program that passed last year were also included in the tax bill, and it will mean a hike in the payroll tax used to pay for the program.

For starters, its no longer known as the paid family and medical leave program. The Department of Employment and Economic Development is referring to the program as paid leave, since paid family and medical leave was too much of a mouthful, said Evan Rowe, deputy commissioner with DEED.

The bill clarifies that the first week of the program will now be paid.

Last year when DFL lawmakers approved the law creating the program, they repeatedly stated it would provide Minnesota workers 12 weeks of paid family leave and 12 weeks of paid medical leave per year, capped at 20 weeks in a single year.

But Rowe said the Walz administrations interpretation of last years paid leave law was that the first week would not be paid for people who made medical claims, although the law was clear that all 12 weeks would be paid for those who took leave to bond with a newborn.

Our interpretation of the bill previously was that the initial week was not payable under the previous law, Rowe told the Reformer Wednesday.

The bill passed on Sunday now makes the first week of leave paid for people who make medical claims, but theyll get the payment at a later date. The law clarifies that a person must have a seven-day qualifying event to get the first week paid retroactively. For example, if a person is applying for medical leave, they would need a medical provider to verify they have a condition that requires extended leave.

That person would file the claim, and then, likely in their first check, they will be paid for the first week of leave.

This retroactive payment will require a higher payroll tax, Rowe said. Last week, Rowe told lawmakers that if the bill passed with the retroactive payment, DEED would set the payroll tax at 0.88%, which is about 25% higher than the 0.7% tax DEED estimated last year.

But Rowe in the Reformer interview walked back his previous statement to lawmakers. The payroll tax will increase, but DEED hasnt set an official rate yet, he said.

The 0.88% rate comes from a February letter from an actuary, which stated that there is greater uncertainty when the program begins, and additional margin seems prudent when benefits become effective.

Rowe said DEED will study the situation before deciding on the rate.

The actuaries recommend that 0.88% rate based on the bill text, and our next steps really are to undertake due diligence to make sure that number is correct before we formally adjust the rate, Rowe said.

The 0.88% payroll tax will bring in over $300 million in revenue for the paid leave fund compared to the 0.7% rate, House fiscal staff estimated. In the first year, they estimated the state will distribute over $1.6 billion in benefits through the paid leave program.

The post The ginormous tax bill had very few actual tax provisions; heres what they are appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
Cardinal Agostino Vallini, left, holds a relic of 15-year-old Carlo Acutis, an Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia, during his beatification ceremony celebrated in the St. Francis Basilica, in Assisi, Italy on Oct. 10, 2020. - Photo: Gregorio Borgia (AP)

Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old programmer who died of leukemia in 2006, is set to be the first millennial saint, according to a new report from the Catholic News AgencyThursday. Acutis created websites documenting purported miracles and has been dubbed Gods influencer since his death.

Anyone whos going to become a saint in the Catholic Church needs to be recognized as having performed at least two miracles, even if those miracles happened after the saints death. Pope Francis acknowledged Acutiss second miracle on Thursday, according to the Catholic News Agency.

The miracle involved a 21-year-old girl from Costa Rica named Valeria Valverde who was studying in Italy, where Acutis lived. Valverde suffered a head injury in 2022 from a bicycle accident and had to undergo surgery, but her mother went to pray at the tomb of Carlo Acutis, where his body is publicly displayed.

From the Catholic News Agency:

Six days after the accident, Valerias mother went on a pilgrimage to Assisi to pray for the healing of her daughter at the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis, leaving a written note. On that same day, Valeria began to breathe on her own and on the following day she recovered the use of her upper limbs and partly recovered her speech. Valeria was discharged from the intensive care unit 10 days after her mothers pilgrimage and underwent further tests that showed that the hemorrhagic right temporal cortical contusion in her brain had completely disappeared. Contrary to medical predictions, Valeria spent only one week in physical therapy and on Sept. 2, 2022, two months after her accident, she went on a pilgrimage to Carlo Acutis tomb in Assisi with her mother to celebrate her complete healing.

The first miracle attributed to Acutis happened in 2013 and was recognized by the pope in 2020. That miracle involved a boy in Brazil who was reportedly healed of a rare pancreatic condition.



15-year-old Carlo Acutis, an Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia, lies in state ahead of being beatified by Cardinal Agostino Vallini, in Assisi, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. - Photo: Gregorio Borgia (AP)

Acutis, who was born in 1991, created an online exhibition on Eucharistic miracles that went live shortly before his death in 2006. The Eucharist is the practice of Holy Communion, consuming bread or wafers and wine, which Catholics believe become the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ in a process called transubstantiation. The practice commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus ate with his disciples the night before he was betrayed and crucified.

The EWTN Global Catholic Network has a video on YouTube about Acutis and his faith.

Acutis wont be the first saint in the Catholic Church tied to technology. Pope John Paul II declared Isidore of Seville the patron saint of the internet in 1997. Saint Isidore, who died in the year 676, attempted to record all human knowledge in an expansive encyclopedia that was only published after his death, making him a natural choice for associations with the web.



Its not clear when Acutis will officially become a saint, but the popes recognition of a second miracle is one of the last steps necessary to finish the process. The last Catholic to be canonized was Maria Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, an 18th-century nun in Argentina, who became a saint in 2016.



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A 3.5-million-acre swath of Mojave Desert between Ridgecrest and the Morongo Basin has received a new federal designation that advocates hope will help protect vulnerable wildlife like the Mojave desert tortoise.

The area has been named a sentinel landscape, a federally led effort to promote sustainable land-use practices near military installations.

Its built on partnerships, said Phil Murray, encroachment manager for the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, one of five installations that surrounds the newly designated land. A lot of the conservation work thats done around the Morongo Basin or Mojave Desert is coordinated through different federal agencies, NGOs and private partners.

The goal is to encourage a more collaborative approach, and to streamline federal assistance to the various agencies, groups and people involved, he said.

The designation doesnt change who owns or manages the land and does not come with dedicated funding, aside from money for an implementation plan and a coordinator, Murray said. But sentinel landscapes are prioritized for funding through certain grants, he said.

Read more: He picked up a package and found a live rattlesnake inside: 'Do I have any enemies?'

The coalition is expected to support conservation efforts such as erecting desert tortoise fencing to reduce vehicle strikes, creating wildlife crossings, propagating seeds and rehabilitating habitat, including areas that have burned in wildfires, Murray said.

The Mojave Desert Land Trust expects to do much work on the ground, including helping with seed collection and outreach, said Cody Hanford, deputy executive director and chief conservation officer of the nonprofit dedicated to protecting the California desert.

It will elevate our projects, elevate our goals, which I think in the end will help them become more accomplishable, he said.

Other partners include various federal and state agencies, conservation groups and San Bernardino County.

Read more: Joshua Tree's celebrity rattlesnake wrangler wants to change how you see reptiles

The expanse of desert that received the designation is ringed by the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, National Training Center Fort Irwin, Edwards Air Force Base, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow.

Its also the heart of desert tortoise habitat in California, said Ken MacDonald, board member at-large and former president of the Desert Tortoise Council conservation group, a partner in the new effort.

Theres recreational interests, tribal interests, local community interests, he said. So coming together as a partnership, we thought, would make the coalition and the cooperation more effective than everybody chipping away and working independently in their own backyard.

And so really, its to manage the whole 3 million acres cooperatively and collaboratively and be more effective in conserving and recovering the desert tortoises, and thats pretty much it, he said. Just team up and take care of these critters.

The stretch of desert includes at least 40 other protected species, including the Western Joshua tree, which California has protected with a conservation plan, and the Mohave ground squirrel, which the state lists as threatened.

Read more: How large fires are altering the face of California's Mojave Desert

But perhaps none is as imperiled as the desert tortoise, which California recently listed as endangered.

The species is facing pressure from a number of fronts, MacDonald said. The slow-moving reptiles are vulnerable to being hit by cars. Development has carved up previously wide-open stretches of desert into parcels that are in some cases too small to allow for the breeding and genetic diversity needed to sustain their population health. Drought conditions meant the wildflowers they like to eat never grew some years, and invasive species outcompeted them in other years.

And so-called human-subsidized predators, including ravens and coyotes, have followed people into these previously undeveloped areas, perching on the structures they build and feeding on their trash, MacDonald said. They find relatively easy meals in juvenile tortoises, whose shells tend to remain soft until theyre at least 5 years old. They dont typically reproduce for another eight to 10 years after that, he said.

Climate change has raised the stakes by ensuring conditions are hotter and drier than the desert tortoises are adapted to, Hanford said.

They have to live within these small climate margins, he said. Climate change is threatening those margins.

Read more: Joshua Trees famed three-legged coyote Tripod is in danger of being loved to death

Already, the Twentynine Palms combat center has a head start program, in which they work with UCLA to identify and monitor tortoise burrows, Murray said. Once females lay eggs, scientists incubate them in a facility on base. They let the tortoises grow in pens for five to seven years until their shells harden, then they release them back into the wild.

The Department of Defense also restricts explosive ordnance training in areas with high concentrations of desert tortoises, and Marines receive training on how to avoid them and how to handle them if they need to be moved away from a road or target site, Murray said.

The sentinel landscapes program was established in 2013 as a partnership of the departments of Agriculture, Defense and the Interior. Other newly designated sites include areas in New Mexico, Utah, Hawaii and Pennsylvania. The portion of land named in the Mojave is Californias first.

As the state's population continues to surge inland, the stretch of desert will also be targeted by future development and all the infrastructure that comes with it, Hanford said.

So it makes a lot of sense to focus here, he said. Because if were going to save the desert tortoise, this area that has been identified is required to be managed properly.

Read more: Mojave desert tortoise officially joins California's endangered list

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Fact checked by Nick BlackmerFact checked by Nick Blackmer





Regardless of a person's genetics, having consistently good sleep habits is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, a new study found.

Going to bed at the same time every night, getting around eight hours of sleep, sleeping well, and taking a short midday nap had a positive impact on cardiovascular risk.

Poor sleep has been linked to high blood pressure, inflammation, metabolic imbalances, and other cardiovascular issues.







Having a consistent sleep schedule and regularly getting enough shuteye may lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke, according to new research.

Its well-established that sleep is a fundamental part of health, and not getting enough sleep can be harmful to your health. Disrupted sleep due to shift work has been linked to a higher risk of developing diabetes or having a heart attack. And getting too much or too little sleep has been linked to a higher risk of infection.

This latest study, published in JAMA Network Open in April, similarly came to the conclusion that good sleep is linked to better health. But interestingly, they found that the association between consistently good sleep and lowered risk of cardiovascular disease was true regardless of a persons genetic risk for developing the disease.

Our results further suggested that individuals with a higher genetic predisposition may benefit from persistent favorable sleep patterns, Xiaomin Zhang, MD, PhD, MPH, study author and professor of occupational and environmental health at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College, told Health.

Heres what experts had to say about the new research, the connection between healthy sleep patterns and heart health, and tips for consistently sleeping well.



Toa55 / Getty Images

Good Sleep Habits Can Reduce the Burden of Some Genetic Risk Factors

This new study builds upon research published last year in the European Heart Journal, which found that people who maintained healthy sleep patterns over a two to five year period reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease.

Further investigating this finding, Zhang and her colleagues collected data on the sleep habits of more than 15,300 people in China who were retired. The average age in the cohort was about 66 years old, and about 58% were women. None of the participants had cancer or cardiovascular disease when the study began.

Participants filled out questionnaires and had a medical exam at the beginning of the study, and then again five years later.

The questionnaire asked people to report their sleeping habits, including their bedtime, sleep duration, sleep quality, and any midday napping. From there, the research team used data to determine if a persons sleep habits were persistently favorable or unfavorable.

Favorable sleep meant people were following four habits: getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night, going to bed between 10:00 p.m. and midnight, reporting good or fair sleep quality, and taking a midday nap for no more than an hour.

In addition to these sleep questionnaires, researchers used genotyping to assess participants genetic risk for developing stroke and coronary heart disease.

In the end, Zhang and her colleagues found that people who reported consistently favorable sleep habits had a lower risk of developing coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. This was true regardless of a persons genetic risk for these diseases.

People who reported favorable sleeping habits at both points in the study had a 16% lower risk of coronary heart disease and a 34% lower risk of stroke.

For participants who both slept well consistently and had a low genetic risk, they saw a 35% lower risk of coronary heart disease and a 52% lower risk of stroke as compared to people on the other end of the spectrum, who were at high risk for cardiovascular disease and had poor sleep habits.

It is not surprising, but it is good additional supportive data to indicate the link between sleep and cardiovascular disease, Ashish Sarraju, MD, a staff preventive cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic who was not involved with the research, told Health.

Importantly, the studys findings emphasize that even people with a high genetic risk for stroke and coronary heart disease risk can lower their risk for these conditions by maintaining good sleep habits.

Of course, those at genetic risk are likely to have an overall higher risk for cardiovascular disease, said Sarraju. But there is no reason to believe that sleep is less important in those patients.

Related: Sleep Regularity More Important than Sleep Duration, Study Finds

How Does Sleep Impact the Heart?

The link between sleep health and heart health is a strong one. The American Heart Association lists sleep on its Lifes Essential 8 list, which includes the most significant lifestyle factors for preserving cardiovascular health.

According to Zhang, lack of sleep or inconsistent sleep habits may affect heart health by causing inflammation and metabolic imbalances, or disruptions in how the body metabolizes food and gets rid of waste.

Poor sleep hygiene also disrupts circadian rhythm, which has been linked to issues such as hypertension.

Sleep patterns can be linked to high blood pressure and stress, Sarraju added.

Beyond just unfavorable sleep, not getting enough shuteye due to sleep disorders can also impact heart health. Specifically, obstructive sleep apnea is linked to both poor sleep and increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

Because of these associations, doctors should ask about sleep quality and quantity as they assess a persons cardiovascular disease risk, Sarraju said, especially if the patient has high blood pressure. Addressing these poor sleep patterns or sleep disorders will likely, in turn, improve heart health.

Even if a person does have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, this new study and others show that patients are not 100% chained to genetics, Sarraju explained. Modifying risk factors still has an effect in decreasing cardiovascular disease in those patients.

Related: Study: Regular Sleep and Physical Activity Boost Heart Health in Middle Age

How to Get Better Sleep

Getting good sleep regularly is often easier said than done. Adults should get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night, and its recommended that people go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. But this consistency may not be as easy for people who work, people who are raising children, or others with busy, changing schedules.

But whenever possible, people should follow recommendations for good quality sleep from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These guidelines include exercising during the day, avoiding large meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bed, sleeping in a quiet, dark, and cool room, and avoiding screens 30 minutes before bedtime.

In general, these are actionable steps that people can incorporate into their nighttime routinesthis might be especially good news for people who are genetically predisposed to heart disease.

Genetic factors are inherent, Zhang said. Sleep patterns can be actively managed and adjusted.



Related: Can't Fall Asleep? 12 Tips for What To Do

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Turkish ceramist Duygu Kavukcu (2nd L) instructs her students, who are suffering from various health issues, how to mold clay and make ceramic objects in a studio in Ankara, Turkiye, on May 22, 2024. People suffering from various health issues are finding therapeutic solace offered by female Turkish ceramist Duygu Kavukcu willing to go the extra mile for those in need of inner well-being and emotional support. In a small studio in the distant Batikent district of Ankara, a cheerful group of mostly female participants engage in small talk as they work on different ceramic objects. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

by Burak Akinci

ANKARA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- People suffering from various health issues are finding therapeutic solace offered by a female Turkish ceramist willing to go the extra mile for those in need of inner well-being and emotional support.

In a small studio in the distant Batikent district of Turkiye's capital city Ankara, a cheerful group of mostly female participants engage in small talk as they work on different ceramic objects.

"Working with clay can be a therapeutic experience for many people, particularly those bothered by health issues," said ceramic artist Duygu Kavukcu.

Kavukcu is now offering sessions that appeal to the souls of people with a range of conditions, including cancer and anxiety.

"We want people who participate in our courses to socialize, to find themselves, and forget their daily grievances through clay," she told Xinhua.

For several years, this ceramist, who left a ten-year-long career as an air traffic controller to pursue her dreams, has been dispensing regular classes for people affected by ailments of various seriousness.

"It's not only cancer patients, but we also have participants suffering from epilepsy or muscular diseases, and they all say that they find themselves in clay," she said.

"We have witnessed that art therapy is a treatment method for a patient or a person suffering from an ailment," Kavukcu added.

In her opinion, working with clay, which is derived from nature, is a creative pursuit and a practice of mindfulness, offering a source of solace from the stresses of everyday life.

The items created in her classes may not be the most visually striking or artistically accomplished, but they hold deep meaning for their creators.

Working with clay can be meditative. This form of therapy is not intended to cure patients but to provide mental support while they undergo sometimes rigorous treatments.

Demet Uludag, a 53-year-old mother of two, had been withdrawn from family and friends while she received chemotherapy for breast cancer diagnosed back in 2017.

However, she said her mood had significantly changed since she started molding clay and making ceramic objects.

"Muddling clay is a very different experience and the energy it gave me was therapeutic, I found peace and forgot my problems. I clung to life by creating something from scratch. It felt great," the cancer survivor stressed.

"Clay has become a therapy for my soul," said Uludag, whose cancer is in remission, indicating that a patient cannot battle cancer only with pills and medication.

"When your soul and your morale are lifted, you become more resilient to cancer," she said, recommending these courses to everyone stressed by their daily routine.

"In our religion, we believe we are made of clay ... As you're dealing with clay, it's like you're connecting with yourself," Uluday added.

According to Ceyda Yilmaz, a university student struggling with anxiety and diagnosed with attention deficiency as a child, the process of working with clay is transformative.

"Working with ceramics has been helpful for me in dealing with my issues. I've learned to focus and stay in the present moment," the student said with a smile. 

Photo taken on May 22, 2024 shows a studio set up by Turkish ceramist Duygu Kavukcu offering ceramic sessions to people with health issues in Ankara, Turkiye. People suffering from various health issues are finding therapeutic solace offered by female Turkish ceramist Duygu Kavukcu willing to go the extra mile for those in need of inner well-being and emotional support. In a small studio in the distant Batikent district of Ankara, a cheerful group of mostly female participants engage in small talk as they work on different ceramic objects. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

A group of participants, who are suffering from various health issues, mold clay and make ceramic objects in a studio in Ankara, Turkiye, on May 22, 2024. People suffering from various health issues are finding therapeutic solace offered by female Turkish ceramist Duygu Kavukcu willing to go the extra mile for those in need of inner well-being and emotional support. In a small studio in the distant Batikent district of Ankara, a cheerful group of mostly female participants engage in small talk as they work on different ceramic objects. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

A group of participants, who are suffering from various health issues, mold clay and make ceramic objects in a studio in Ankara, Turkiye, on May 22, 2024. People suffering from various health issues are finding therapeutic solace offered by female Turkish ceramist Duygu Kavukcu willing to go the extra mile for those in need of inner well-being and emotional support. In a small studio in the distant Batikent district of Ankara, a cheerful group of mostly female participants engage in small talk as they work on different ceramic objects. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

Turkish ceramist Duygu Kavukcu (3rd L) instructs her students, who are suffering from various health issues, how to mold clay and make ceramic objects in a studio in Ankara, Turkiye, on May 22, 2024. People suffering from various health issues are finding therapeutic solace offered by female Turkish ceramist Duygu Kavukcu willing to go the extra mile for those in need of inner well-being and emotional support. In a small studio in the distant Batikent district of Ankara, a cheerful group of mostly female participants engage in small talk as they work on different ceramic objects. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

A group of participants, who are suffering from various health issues, mold clay and make ceramic objects in a studio in Ankara, Turkiye, on May 22, 2024. People suffering from various health issues are finding therapeutic solace offered by female Turkish ceramist Duygu Kavukcu willing to go the extra mile for those in need of inner well-being and emotional support. In a small studio in the distant Batikent district of Ankara, a cheerful group of mostly female participants engage in small talk as they work on different ceramic objects. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)
Google is preparing to build what will be the first subsea fiber-optic cable connecting the continents of Africa and Australia.

The news comes as the major cloud hyperscalers battle it out for business dollars, with Google playing catch-up with AWS and Microsoft's Azure.

Google's announcement follows widespread outages across Africa, which have been attributed to faulty undersea cables. And for a company that relies on resilient connectivity to deliver its services to consumers and businesses alike, Google's clearly trying to capitalize on this to position itself as the solution.

Dubbed "Umoja," its new cable starts off in Kenya and runs through various countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, before concluding its land journey in South Africa -- notably, home to Google's first African data center region, which has been operational in Johannesburg since the start of this year.

The terrestrial part of the route is actually already complete, Google confirmed to TechCrunch, which said it worked with a company called Liquid Intelligent Technologies for that segment. The work on channeling the cable across the Indian Ocean to Perth, Australia, is now underway -- with no confirmed timeline for completion.

"Umoja will enable African countries to more reliably connect with each other and the rest of the world," Brian Quigley, Google Cloud's VP for global network infrastructure, said in a blog post Thursday. "Establishing a new route distinct from existing connectivity routes is critical to maintaining a resilient network for a region that has historically experienced high-impact outages."

Google's Umoja cable.

There are hundreds of cables spanning the world's seas, oceans, and waterways, with Big Tech  including Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft  claiming an increasingly greater stake in the infrastructure. The reason is simple: The more cables and data centers there are, the better quality of service they can provide to their customers, be it lower-latency YouTube streams or speedier data transfers for enterprises built on cloud computing.

The current closest subsea cable route to Google's planned route for Umoja is SUB.CO's Oman Australia Cable (OAC), which opened for business in 2022 -- connecting Oman with Perth. Google has also already invested in various cabling projects centered around Africa, including Equiano, which connects Portugal with Nigeria and South Africa.

Earlier this year, the company also announced plans to build what will be one of the first subsea cables connecting South America with Asia-Pacific, running from Chile to Australia via French Polynesia.

While Google hasn't provided a specific timeframe for completing Umoja, a spokesperson told TechCrunch that a typical submarine cable build, from planning to becoming operational, takes around three years. So we can, perhaps, expect this cable to be ready for prime time by around 2026.
A 2020 change to the law could be the key to whether the Vernon County candidates remain on the ballot after the appeals court arguments scheduled for June 25 (Getty Images).

Eight Republican candidates for county office  including four GOP incumbents  will be on the ballot in Vernon County in August, at least until a lawsuit plays out at the Missouri Court of Appeals.

An order issued Wednesday by the Western District Court of Appeals stayed a trial court decision directing Vernon County Clerk Adrienne Lee to remove the names from the ballot. The order, issued by Presiding Judge Lisa White Hardwick, is intended to prevent the appeal from becoming moot because of tight deadlines for Lee to finalize the Aug. 6 ballot.

The case is one of two in Missouri this year that illustrate the power  and limitations  of political parties in controlling who seeks nomination to office. The core dispute in both cases is whether the decision is made when the party accepts or refuses the legally required filing fee that is paid to the parties.

In Vernon County, the Republican Central Committee refused to accept the filing fees of any candidate who did not accept its vetting process. Candidates must sign a pledge to support the Republican Party platform and a 75% or better score on a test with 25 questions taken from the Republican, Democratic and Libertarian party platforms, Mark McCloskey, an attorney representing the county party, said in an interview with The Independent.

If there is a reason to have a Republican Party, as opposed to a Democrat Party or Libertarian Party, its got to be that there are some core values that are represented by that party that are different than the other party, McCloskey said.

In the other case, in Cole County, the Missouri Republican Party last week lost a lawsuit seeking to kick Darrell McClanahan III off the ballot for governor. McClanahan, a resident of Milo in Vernon County, is listed first, with eight other candidates.

The state party doesnt want McClanahan on the ballot because he admitted being an honorary member of the Ku Klux Klan in a lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League. McClanahan also faces felony property damage and stealing charges in a case being heard in Wright County.

The state Republican Party sued Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft to remove McClanahan, but Circuit Judge Cotton Walker wrote that by accepting his $500 filing fee, the party was stuck with him.

In his ruling, handed down last week, Walker noted that McClanahan was a candidate in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate in 2022 and the party did nothing to prevent him from filing for governor.

Here, the situation of which the plaintiff complains only exists because it made the voluntary decision to accept filing fees, on two occasions, that McClanahan offered in accordance with Missouri law, Walker wrote.

Lowell Pearson, attorney for the state party, did not return a call seeking comment on the decision. So far, no appeal has been filed. If an appeal is made, it will go to the same court hearing the Vernon County case.

Dave Roland, attorney for McClanahan, said Republicans should have learned they could not boot McClanahan from the ballot from a case he handled in 2018 involving the Democratic Party. At that time, the party sued unsuccessfully to keep John Boyd Jr. off the ballot in the 36th House District.

The party accepted Boyds filing fee despite his two previous bids for office as a Republican. Ashcroft, a Republican who is running for governor, was not defending McClanahans spot on the ballot, Roland said.

They were going to let him be bulldozed, Roland said. And regardless of what I feel about some of the opinions that Mr. McClanahan has expressed, I was not cool with him getting bulldozed like that, especially when I think hes right on the law.

The Cole County case shows why the state party should adopt a vetting process like the one adopted in Vernon County and several other counties across the state, McCloskey said.

McCloskey, who gained national attention when he was photographed outside his home in 2020 pointing a firearm toward Black Lives Matter protesters, was also a candidate in the 2022 Senate primary.

McClanahans views were known at that time, McCloskey said.

If wed had a good vetting process, it would have weeded out McClanahan before he ever got to the secretary of states office, McCloskey said.

Walker, in his ruling, alluded to vetting as a way to screen candidates.

The Republican Party is a sophisticated entity and the record shows that it was not only aware of a partys authority to reject a filing fee offered by a candidate, Walker wrote, but that segments of the Missouri Republican Party have already adopted a policy of rejecting filing fees from any candidate who has not completed a prescribed vetting process.

Walker also wrote that primaries are intended to put nominating decisions in the hands of rank-and-file party voters, not party leaders.

If the partys voters eventually did choose McClanahan as their nominee, it could merely indicate that the plaintiff did not actually know or correctly represent the values or interests of its own rank and file members, Walker wrote.

The filing fee is required by state law and varies in amount depending on whether the office is a statewide position, a legislative post or local office. For candidates who file at the secretary of states office, the fee goes to the statewide party committee. For local offices, the money benefits the county central committees.

A 2020 change to the law could be the key to whether the Vernon County candidates remain on the ballot after the appeals court arguments scheduled for June 25. At that time, lawmakers rewrote the statute to require fees due when filing at the secretary of states office to be paid directly to the political party. The legislature left in place an allowance for the fee in local races to be paid to the election authority and forwarded to the local party treasurer.

For years, Democratic and Republican state parties have sent representatives to the secretary of states office to speed up the process for the hundreds of candidates who file on the first possible day  the only time when the first position on the ballot is available.

In 2018, the Democratic Party representatives at the secretary of states office refused to accept the filing fee presented by state Rep. Courtney Curtis of St. Louis as he filed for a state Senate seat. When Curtis went upstairs and attempted to file without a signed receipt, his paperwork was refused.

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the party had no legal duty to accept the filing fee and that Curtis did not attempt to pay the fee directly to the secretary of states office, as the law allowed at the time. The ruling prompted the change in law.

Lawmakers only changed the requirement for candidates filing in Jefferson City. The eight Vernon County candidates awaiting a final ruling paid their fees in the clerks office.

The clerk should have waited for the party to decide whether to accept the money before allowing the candidates to finish filing, Circuit Judge Gayle Crane ruled.

The court finds that the Vernon County Clerk failed to perform the ministerial duty imposed by Section 115.357 of receiving a receipt from the party the candidate seeks nomination from, prior to accepting a declaration of candidacy, the order states.

The appeal will seek to prove the clerk did everything as she should have and the partys decision on whether to accept the fee is irrelevant, attorney Travis Elliott, who is representing the clerk, said Thursday.

The statute says that a candidate may submit their filing fee to the county clerk who shall promptly forward it to the party, whichever party it is, Elliott said. And so once she has done those things that the statute says, there can be no mandamus for other things that the statute does not say.

The candidates who could lose spots on the ballot include the incumbent county assessor, county treasurer, public administrator and an associate commissioner. The other four include two candidates for sheriff and two candidates for a commission seat.

Mike Buehler, one of the candidates for sheriff, is a former county clerk who resigned because he did not want to create any concern he would favor himself in the election.

He said he refused to undergo the vetting because it would put his loyalty to the party above his loyalty to the duties of the office.

I will not lay down, Buehler said. I will not let them bully people, or push them around like theyre doing with us. I will stand up for all eight of us if I have to.

Buehler said he will run as an independent if necessary.

I am not going to let the bastards win, he said.

The post GOP candidates will remain on Vernon County ballot pending review by Missouri appeals court appeared first on Missouri Independent.
State Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids) speaks during a Lansing press conference on bills to strengthen hate crime laws, April 26, 2023 | Laina G. Stebbins

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has been asked to investigate a state House member amid a discrepancy involving COVID-19 recovery funds.

State Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay) sent a letter to Nessel Wednesday requesting her office investigate fellow state Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids) after he claimed she misled Kent County officials regarding a previous tax filing.

DeBoyer was referring to a Detroit News report last month that Kent County officials in 2022 found conflicting sales data listed in applications filed by Grant in 2020 for COVID-19 recovery funds for two businesses she owned.

Grants business, Game Plan Lifestyle Planner, which sold day-planner books online, was reported to have had $4,250 in sales in December 2019, three months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Michigan. However, county officials said a separate application for another of Grants businesses, Mini Mogul Group, indicated only $205 in sales for Game Plan Lifestyle Planner for all of 2019.

At the time of the April 13 report by the Detroit News, a Kent County administrator said Grant claimed last year that she had filed amended 2019 tax returns to account for the discrepancy. But by May 1, it was reported that no such filing had been made, which Grant indicated was due to an issue involving an accountant. Grant then returned $5,000 in assistance money.

Some people think thats good enough, but it isnt, said DeBoyer. Public officials should be held to a higher standard, and instances where they are able to abuse public assistance for personal gain need to be thoroughly investigated and fixed. No one should get a get out of jail free card simply for being an elected official.

Requests for comment were sent by Michigan Advance to Grant and Nessel, but have yet to be returned.

DeBoyer said several questions about the loans remain unanswered, including whether fraudulent documents had been sent to either the IRS or to Kent County.

This pursuit of justice cannot come with caveats for political affiliation, and the public needs to know that Rep. Grant is not avoiding consequences just because she is a high-ranking Democrat politician, DeBoyer wrote in the letter to Nessel. The circumstances surrounding Rep. Grants applications, her tax filings, and the funding she was awarded still dont add up. They must be looked into immediately.

DeBoyer also noted that Grant was a member of the House Tax Policy Committee, where she helps oversee both tax policy and the $80 billion state budget. That means a lot of sway over her fellow politicians and the public. But it should also mean that she is held to a higher standard and faces a higher level of scrutiny.

In his letter to Nessel, DeBoyer pointed out the AGs previous statements to aggressively pursue those who took advantage of government aid programs, and referenced her offices extradition in December of a woman from Texas on suspicions of PPP loan fraud.

In that case, the defendant, a former investigator for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, is accused of fraudulently obtaining nearly $35,000 in COVID assistance loans by falsely claiming she had employees and payroll expenses.

While that is not the same issue involving Grant, who is accused of misstating the monthly sales of one of her businesses, DeBoyer said only an investigation can make a final determination.

The circumstances surrounding Rep. Grants applications, her tax filings, and the funding she was awarded still dont add up. They must be looked into immediately, he said.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  Gov. Jeff Landry appointed five council members for the city of St. George on Thursday, May 23.

Landry appointed Steven Monachello for District 1 Alderman, Ryan Heck for District 2 Alderman, Max Himmel for District 3 Alderman, Richie Edmonds and Patty Cook for Aldermans-at-large.

Each of these folks have been heavily involved with the incorporation effort and are dedicated to ensuring the success of the city of St. George. I am confident in their leadership and looking forward to the work they will accomplish alongside Mayor Yates and Police Chief Morris, said Landry.

According to the announcement, Monachello is a retired East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office deputy, Louisiana State Police trooper and Drug Enforcement Administration agent. After retiring, Monachello began working with the United States Department of Homeland Security as a FEMA Fraud Task Force agent. He currently works as a federal background investigator for the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Im extremely honored to be selected for this appointment, said Monachello. Im very excited to play a role in the formation of my new City of St. George. I see the task, as we move forward, to be one of starting from ground zero on a previously untraveled road in the beginning in an effort to move our city forward. I look forward to working in an environment of like-minded individuals where a team effort will be required for all of us to succeed.

District attorney believes Baton Rouge judge gave out a wrong ruling

Headshot of Max Himmel (Photo Courtesy of St. George)

Headshot of Patty Cook (Photo Courtesy of St. George)

Headshot of Richie Edmonds (Photo Courtesy of St. George)

Headshot of Steve Monachello (Photo Courtesy of St. George)

Heck served as an East Baton Rouge metro council member from 2012-2016 and is an entrepreneur who invests in agriculture, disaster recovery and tech startups.

Id like to thank Governor Landry for the appointment, and I look forward to getting to work, said Heck.

Himmel was the owner of Himmel Architectural Door and Hardware Company, a top-five architectural door supplier in the U.S. Himmel sold the business but works as an advisor.

One of my main goals in the very beginning, I feel we need better infrastructure for our roads and drainage before we can allow any more subdivisions mainly on Hoo Shoo Too Road which is 8 too narrow, said Himmel. Tiger Bend is the same along with Elliott Road. I have been out here for 25 years and have not seen any changes in the width of the roads or the intersections and a complete overlay of the roads is needed after the road problems are taken care of. When someone has a problem, we need to look at it and make sure we dont cause a problem to their neighbors or the whole subdivision. I am very happy to work with anyone and we can ALL work together.

Edmonds is a business owner, a licensed contractor with the Louisiana State Board of Contractors and a licensed real estate agent.

I am extremely humbled and honored to be appointed by Governor Landry as interim

Councilman for the City of St. George, said Edmonds. It will be my No. 1 goal to serve all of the wonderful residents of St. George and work tirelessly with Mayor Yates, Chief Morris, our new council, and the transition team to make the City of St. George the next great American City! What a great day for Louisiana and East Baton Rouge Parish for the creation of our new city! St. George is open for business, lets get to work!

Cook is an active member of the community who spends time as a substitute teacher at the LSU Lab School. Cook was the office manager for the Louisiana Parent-Teacher Association.

I am honored and humbled to have been chosen to serve on the interim council for St. George, said Cook. My goal is to help achieve our vision of being a city in which we can be proud to live and raise our children and grandchildren. We need to keep our families here with less crime and a better sense of community.

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All nine indigenous tribes in South Dakota have now banned Gov. Kristi Noem from entering their land in response to the Republicans offensive claims about the roughly 70,000 Native people who live in her state.

The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, the ninth and final tribe to take such action, announced its decision Tuesday, after its executive board held an emergency meeting about the matter over the weekend and then met with Noems office Monday.

Until Noem issues an apology, the people of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe stand with our fellow nations, the tribes statement said.

This ban means Noem, whos been floated as a presidential running mate for presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump, is now banned from 20% of her states land.

At Mondays meeting between Noem and tribe leadership, the announcement continued, tribe president Tony Reider informed the governor that a ban from our territories is imminent and requested that the Governor refrain from making future blanket statements that offend the tribes within the boundaries of the State of South Dakota, some of which depend on state services for the needs of their people.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem accused tribal leaders of "personally benefiting" from Mexican drug cartels. via Associated Press

The emergency meeting over the weekend was contentious at times, as some members vocalized their opposition, the statement noted.

The announcement comes just a week after the Flandreau Santee Sioux told The Daily Beast it didnt have plans to ban Noem, making it the states one holdout until now.

The governor has her agenda; we have ours, the tribes communications director, Francis Wakeman, said at the time. Were just continuing forward. So, were not going to get into the issue of banning the governor or anything at this time.

Tribes began banishing Noem in February after she made comments saying Mexican drug cartels were infiltrating South Dakotas reservations. The Oglala Sioux Tribe, the largest in the state, was the first to do so, with its president accusing Noem of using Indian people and reservations  as a basis to create a bogus border crisis and curry favor with Trump.

But Noem only doubled down on her remarks.

Weve got some tribal leaders that I believe are personally benefiting from the cartels being there, and thats why they attack me every day, she said at a forum in March.

Noem also attacked parents on reservations for their childrens struggles.

Because they live with 80% to 90% unemployment, their kids dont have any hope. They dont have parents who show up and help them, she said. They have a tribal council or a president who focuses on a political agenda more than they care about actually helping somebodys life look better.

She also called for President Joe Bidens administration to conduct an audit of all federal funds given to South Dakotas tribes, saying law enforcement on reservations is failing to meet basic safety needs.

Noem, whos led South Dakota since 2019, has also been under fire since last month when she admitted in her new book to shooting one of her dogs because the pup was aggressive and less than worthless for hunting.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Gov. Mike DeWine called for a special Statehouse session on Thursday after state leaders failed to agree on a legislative solution to place President Joe Biden on the November ballot in Ohio.

DeWine, a Republican, instructed the legislature on Thursday to meet on May 28 and argued Ohio is running out of time to get Joe Biden, the sitting president of the United States, on the ballot this fall. The news conference came after neither the Ohio House nor the Senate passed a proposal to remedy the deadline issue that will block Biden from appearing on Ohios November ballot.

The Senate has passed several bills that would remedy the situation, however, the House of Representatives has failed to do, DeWine said on Thursday, calling the situation unacceptable, ridiculous and absurd.

While current Ohio law requires elections officials to certify the November ballot 90 days before the election on Aug. 7, Biden will not be nominated until the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19. Lawmakers then had until May 9 to pass a measure that could be signed into law to circumvent the issue, Secretary of State Frank LaRose said.

For weeks, we have been pushing to find a legislative solution to having President Biden on the ballot. Ultimately, the will to do so wasnt there in the Republican caucus, said Speaker of the Ohio House Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill). We look forward to real solutions that will actually pass both chambers next week and solve problems.

Two bills were amended when the House and Senate were in session on May 8 to include a fix, like House Bill 114 which would have pushed back Ohios filing deadline. However, the bill was further amended in the Senate, which led to all seven Senate Democrats voting against the measure.

Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) said her caucus voted against the bill because it also included an election provision that they believe would disenfranchise Ohioans.

Theyre playing games with this, and we had a clean option that everyone had agreed to, she said after the session in early May.

This is not the first time a presidential candidate has scrambled to get onto the Ohio ballot because a partys convention did not occur before the states filing deadline. Senate Bill 92 was the other proposal, which would have created a permanent fix, not just one-time. The bill was stripped of other provisions, making it so it only addressed this issue.

However, Senate President Matt Huffman said earlier this month it was a nonstarter. He theorized the bill would be brought to the Senate with more Democratic support than Republican, and said, theres no realistic way that Im going to look at my caucus and say, Republicans didnt support it in the House, but we should pass it too.'

Other states, like Alabama, have passed a bipartisan fix for the same issue, but Huffman said thats not likely in Ohio unless conservative measures are also in the bill.

Republicans in both the House and the Senate are not going to vote on a standalone Biden bill, he said.

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Gov. Jared Polis signs a bill on May 1, 2023 at the Colorado Capitol in Denver. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

Gov. Jared Polis last week vetoed six bills that had passed with substantial majorities in both chambers of the Colorado Legislature. In a General Assembly dominated by Democrats, one of the bills even boasted bipartisan support, and another was co-sponsored by a Republican. All of the bills had been subjected to the laborious legislative process, including committee hearings, public input, floor debate, amendments and votes.

None of the votes among the 100 members of the Legislature were even close. Yet the fate of the doomed bills, the first to be vetoed this year, came down to one person  Polis.

Veto power can be a crucial check on a misguided or rogue legislature. In recent years, for example, some Democratic governors have vetoed legislation that would have weaponized election misinformation or marginalized LGBTQ residents. We have a James Madison veto to thank for reinforcing the separation of church and state. Vetoes are sometimes deployed to thwart unconstitutional bills.

Polis takes a more expansive view of his veto power. He told The Denver Post last year that he vetoes bills based on whether he thinks theyre in the best interest of Colorado. The six vetoed bills last week can simply be understood as losers in that policy-preference test. But Polis also explained to the Post that, while legislators represent discrete districts around the state, hes the only one involved in law-making elected to represent the entire state.

The vetoes make no sense under that logic. Heres why.

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Polis vetoed House Bills 1008, 1010, 1080, 1260 and 1307, and Senate Bill 150. Of those, SB-150 received the fewest yes votes in both the Senate and House  but even it passed by an overwhelming margin, 21-10 in the Senate and 41-17 in the House. The other vetoed bills all earned a greater number of yes votes in both chambers. HB-1010  which supporters said would have restricted the practice of white bagging by making it easier for patients who need special drugs to get them from their doctors office rather than specialty pharmacies  passed the Senate unanimously and was co-sponsored by a Republican, Sen. Perry Will.

If you add up the yes votes and no votes of the six vetoed bills, you find that lawmakers favored them 417-156, a massive margin of approval.

Individual lawmakers who voted for the vetoed measures might represent particular communities, but together they exercise the will of millions of Coloradans from around the state. Collectively they have a greater claim to general state representation than any single person, and the burden falls squarely on the governor to demonstrate the superiority of the choices he makes on the peoples behalf.

Polis, a Democrat, did not point to unconstitutionality as a justification for his vetoes. And he didnt indicate that he thought the Legislature had egregiously erred. His opposition, as stated in his veto letters, was that he thought the bills would lead to unintended consequences, or they were unworkable, or they had terms that were poorly defined, or they created too much red tape.

In other words, the vetoes concerned policy disputes.

Polis has wielded his veto pen with comparative restraint. But that pen has a huge amount of anti-democratic potential.

Take the HB-1008 veto, the one that received the most press attention and caused the most anguish among statehouse Democrats. The bill would have cracked down on wage theft in the Colorado construction industry by making general contractors liable for payment to workers even if theyre employed by a subcontractor. Construction workers are particularly vulnerable to wage theft. Employers pocket more than $700 million a year thats owed to more than 400,000 Colorado workers, say bill sponsors.

Polis objected that the bill misaligns incentives for subcontractors to pay their workers by making general contractors liable, even when the general contractor is not at fault. He added that the bill sponsors were unwilling to entertain more targeted measures that would have allowed him to sign the bill.

Bill sponsor Rep. Meg Froelich, an Englewood Democrat, had a different view of the negotiations.

I think by that he means the general contractors had a list of demands that, generously, you could call them amendments to the bill. But they were a list of things they wanted to see done differently that essentially made the bill useless, Froelich told Newsline this week.

She emphasized that the bill had broad support, undercutting the notion that a veto was necessary to better represent Colorado as a whole.

Its not like we didnt win over even our moderate and business-friendly Dems. Especially the Business Committee, when they heard the testimony, they were like, Oh yeah, man, this is wrong.'

Froelich voted in favor of all six vetoed bills.

I dont feel like these issues have a regional component. You know, theyre not Front Range-centric, Froelich said. She wonders if when Polis says he represents the entire state he actually means the whole state business community or the whole state chamber of commerce.

Polis acted well within his rights. The Colorado Constitution says he can reject a bill if he does not approve. Policy differences are fair game for vetoes under the law.

And hes hardly profligate with their use. His veto record is 10 in a year. Thats nothing compared with former Republican Gov. Bill Owens, who spiked 44 bills in 2006. Arizonas Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs last year set a state record when she vetoed 143 bills that came out of a Republican-majority statehouse.

Polis has wielded his veto pen with comparative restraint. But that pen has a huge amount of anti-democratic potential. Some vetoes are a triumph of justice and the public interest. Others are just the work of a one-man legislature.

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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  Recent Facebook posts highlighted the current state of bridges around the city.

Grand Junction has 87 bridges scattered across the city, some dating more than 100 years.

The Facebook post contained several photos of poor conditions of several bridges.

The 5th Street bridge is one of the bridges in question.

The Colorado Department of Transportation inspects bridges every two to six years to confirm the bridges are safe to travel.

The Grand Junction Engineering and Transportation Director Trent Prall says the bridges are safe to use.

Weve been assured the deficiencies or the concern to some residents here are cosmetic in nature.

A CDOT consultant last inspected the bridge in March of this year. City officials expect to learn the findings of that inspection by September of this year. City officials say theyll share any urgent concerns with city staff at that time.

The city has allocated $900,000 this year for engineering studies and plans to redo the entire surface of the interchange in 2026.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  If youve ever came home after a day of work and noticed theres new gravel on the ground, its probably a temporary, albeit cost effective, road repair known as Sealcoat.

KXAN Traffic Anchor Erica Brennes spoke with Jermaine Bunton, division manager of pavement operations with the City of Austin, as workers put down Sealcoat in a northeast Austin neighborhood. Below is a transcript of their discussion, edited for clarity.

Bunton: What you see here is our Sealcoat process. Its one of three major treatments that we apply to our city streets. Sealcoat prolongs the life of our streets. It gives us about another five or six years so that we dont have to come in to replace the entire road for you guys. Its a light gravel that we apply on asphalt rocks, and oil binds to the ground.

Brennes: Is this something that you guys do ahead of the summer months? Because I know that weather takes a toll on city streets.

Bunton: We start this process in March, early March into May and it extends throughout the summer. Its over on Oct. 1. We have to do this in the summer months, because of the material that we use, the hotter it is, the easier it is to bind to the road.

City of Austin crews repairing streets with Sealcoat (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)

City of Austin crews repairing streets with Sealcoat (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)

City of Austin crews repairing streets with Sealcoat (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)

Brennes: Can we see this happening throughout different parts of Austin?

Bunton: Our program has 1,000 lane miles, we do about 800 per year. We have another two days in this neighborhood. After this, well be moving over to Tarrytown. So youll see us out there.

Bunton: Before we even do anything to the streets, our guys come out 30 days before and put out notices, three days prior and put out notices. And there are numbers to myself, the division manager, the supervisors and superintendents on those notes.

Brennes: Youll have to move your car. You have to make [room]. These trucks are big that come through.

Bunton: Yes, we provide those notices and let the citizens know well be out there in 30 days. Please move your cars because if not, then we may have to send a tow truck in. Now we dont take the cars to the yard, we just tell you your cars around the block. But thats the inconvenience for anybody.

Brennes: Well, thank you so much, Jermaine, for your time.

To learn more, visit the City of Austin site for Pavement Operations.

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Kouri Richins is accused of killing husband Eric Richins by lacing his drink with fentanyl

Kouri Richins and family

Kouri Richins, the Utah mom who wrote a book about grief after the 2022 death of her husband, is speaking out for the first time since she was arrested on accusations that she murdered him.

Richins, 34, stands accused of murdering 39-year-old Eric Richins on March 3, 2022, by lacing his drink with fentanyl.

After Kouri, who shared three children with her now-deceased husband, wrote her book, she said she did so to help the children cope with their grief.

She was arrested in May 2023. Now, in a series of jailhouse she provided through a spokesperson to NBC's Dateline ahead of Friday night's episode, Kouri reiterated her claims of innocence and alleged her defense team was "forced" to withdraw from her case.

Expressing her frustration over being locked away from my kids, my family, my life, she said it was time to start speaking up after a year of the media telling the world who they think I am, what they think Ive done or how they think Ive lived," Kouri told the spokesperson in the recordings.



Related: Grief Author Kouri Richins Allegedly Texted 'Paramour' She Loved Him Hours Before Her Husband Died: Docs (Exclusive)

You took an innocent mom away from her babies, she said in the recordings. And this means war.



Related: How Sisters of Utah Father Allegedly Poisoned By His Wife Pushed Investigation Forward: Not Giving Up (Exclusive)

Rick Bowmer/AP Photo Kouri Richins

Kouri's statements to the spokesperson addressed the unexpected quitting of the case by Kouri's defense lawyers. Kouri alleged her defense lawyers were "forced" to withdraw.

[What] I will say is this withdrawal was not my choice. And it was not a personal choice of any counsel on my defense team, Kouri said, per NBC.

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Skye Lazaro, Kouris lead attorney, said in a filing their team was withdrawing from the case because of an unspecified irreconcilable and nonwaivable situation, the outlet reported. Lazaros team did not comment further on the issue on Dateline.

In the filing, cited by NBC, the defense team alleged that prosecutors listened to jail phone calls between Kouri and her attorneys that were recorded without their consent.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.



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ISLAMABAD, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani government has launched a public awareness campaign to counter the adverse impacts of the severe ongoing heat wave spell in the South Asian country, coordinator to the Pakistani prime minister on climate change and environmental coordination Romina Khurshid Alam said on Thursday.

"Measures are being taken to spread mass awareness for the public through adopting preventive measures about heat waves and to reduce its impacts through issuing advisories, public service messages, and awareness campaigns through television, radio and social media platforms," the official said during a press conference.

Commenting on the country's hardest-hit areas, Alam said that 13 districts of southern Sindh province, nine in eastern Punjab province, and four districts of southwest Balochistan are experiencing severe heat waves.

"Rising global temperature across the world is a matter of serious concern. In Pakistan, the months of May and June are recorded as driest and hottest with higher monthly average temperatures," she said. 
It has been nearly three years since Americas longest armed conflict  the so-called Global War on Terrorism  officially ended.

But a group of Michiganders, devoted to annually marching in Ferndales Memorial Day Parade on Monday, are seeking to enlist volunteers to help them remember the fathers and mothers, sons and daughters who died in the wars battles.

The marchers, who call themselves the Michigan Fallen Heroes Foot Float, are part of the spirit and tradition of the holiday parade, which is one of  if not the  states oldest, having been held every year for more than 100 years, except a couple during the pandemic.

Chris Strzalkowski, a long time member of the Michigan Fallen Heroes Foot Float, sets out a memorial banner in 2023.

The groups members, which call themselves a "foot float" because the marchers  who carry signs and banners and flags to honor the fallen as bagpipes wail and onlookers stand and sometimes salute to recognize the price of freedom  move together, as a unit, through the city, as if they were the float.

They still need 100 more volunteers, at least, to join them, to help hold the signs and banners that include the names and photographs of scores of Americans who died in the military campaign initiated by the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"So much has happened in our world since then and people have shifted their focus to other things," said Larry Saville, who, along with his sister-in-law, Kim Saville, of Lake City, started the group while the war was going on, and soldiers were coming home in body bags. "But our purpose has never changed."

A way to honor the fallen

To put the foot float in context, we must go back to 2006, when the Savilles came up with it. Or perhaps, before that, to 2001, when America was attacked, setting off the military campaign against terrorists that lasted nearly 20 years.

President George W. Bush defined the conflict as a "war on terror" and the enemy as a "radical network of terrorists and every government that supports them." Many Americans, and especially those in Ferndale, never fully got behind it, much less agree on what to call it.

But Memorial Day isnt really about war, its about remembering those who perished in it.

Larry Saville, who recalled that in 2006 he was reading the Free Press when he realized the toll the war was taking in terms of lost American lives, and he decided that he wanted to do something more to memorialize them.

It was too bad, he said, when he saw the faces in the newspaper of those who died in combat, that there wasnt another way to honor them, to remember them, if not for the dead, but for the living, the families and loved ones who felt that loss the most.

His sister-in-law, who thought he had a good idea, told him maybe there was a way.

Together, Saville said, they dreamed up the foot float.

They got dozens of other people to join them, and they have been recognizing the fallen every year at the parade, in the sunshine or rain, because no matter what you think about the controversial war  or series of wars have been lumped together  everyone deserves to be remembered, somehow.

Decoration Day to Memorial Day

And thats the idea behind Memorial Day  even though for many it has become one of the busiest days for travel and marks an unofficial start of summer  to honor Americas war dead. It was a way, after the Civil War, for a divided America to cope with the death toll.

Many places claim to be the birthplace of the holiday.

In 1868, John Logan  a soldier, politician and sometimes credited with starting Memorial Day  proclaimed May 30 to be Decoration Day. Logan, the commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, sought a way to remember the Union soldiers who died.

It was called Decoration Day, because thats when relatives would decorate graves with flowers.

States began to recognize the holiday and soon, each one had adopted it.

And in the early part of the 20th Century, after the first World War, a then-popular poem, "In Flanders Fields," referred to the fields of poppies that grew among the soldiers graves in Flanders, Belgium. People started wearing the silk poppy as a symbol of remembrance.

World War II inspired more efforts to memorialize the dead.

In 1967, Congress made Memorial Day an official federal holiday  a paid day off  and a few years later, in 1971, lawmakers declared the holiday would be observed on the last Monday in May, which many companies now also recognize as a day off.

A sense of what was lost

Still, Larry Saville, a 70-year-old groundskeeper at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale, said that he hopes the foot float  and other emotional experiences  reminds Americans that the day off is more than a moment to forget about work.

Five years after the groups first parade march, a Free Press editor wrote about the foot float.

Its not possible, really, to measure what Michigan has lost to the long years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 2012 piece began. A simple count of the dead cannot account for the unrealized potential, the empty chairs at family tables, the holes in the hearts and the dreams forever dashed.

The foot float, the Free Press piece added, gives you a strong sense of that toll.

Over the years, Saville said, hes seen  and heard about  how the float has struck an emotional chord with people who did not realize  or consider  the depth of the sacrifice of the men and women whose lives were taken in the conflict.

Saville described a woman who, one year, stood up, covering her mouth in horror, as the foot float passed. She simply could not believe how many lives were lost until she saw the sheer number of them, each sign representing another person.

And another year, Saville said, he heard a story about a man, carrying a little boy, who walked over to one of the signs with a photo of one of the fallen, and he said that he just wanted to introduce his nephew to his father.

The group is asking volunteers  who can sign up and grab a sign between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., at the corner of West Lewiston and Livernois in Ferndale  to wear red, white or blue clothing, but nothing that promotes a political, commercial or religious theme.

Saville, who fears that much of the holidays original meaning is being lost, is inviting you, if you "want to honor those who gave their all," to participate in  or attend  Ferndales Memorial Day parade, which starts at 10 a.m.

To volunteer, call or text Seville at 313-413-4521 or email ferndalefootfloat@gmail.com.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Want to walk in a Memorial Day parade? Ferndale group needs volunteers
Law enforcement officers speak together outside of Robb Elementary School following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. As the two-year anniversary of the shooting approaches, gun control advocates are pushing for stricter laws. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin and a coalition of medical officers advocated Tuesday for Congress to pass stronger gun safety laws.

Congress should build on the 2022 gun control law following high-profile mass shootings, Durbin, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy and about 80 members of OnCall4Kids, a group of doctors and healthcare professionals that advocates for stricter gun laws, said at a Tuesday press conference.

There is a constant in America, and one that Im very embarrassed to say we have allowed to transpire and to exist for too long a period of time, and that is gun violence, Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, said.

Speakers included Emily and Elliot Lieberman of Illinois and Ashlee Jaffe of Pennsylvania who survived the July 4, 2022, mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, where seven people were killed.

It is unlikely that Ill ever be able to do my job again as a result of my injuries, Jaffe, a pediatric physiatrist, who was shot in the hand and sustained nerve damage, said.

The speakers pushed for Congress to pass an assault weapons ban, universal background checks, legislation to regulate the storage of firearms and restrictions on the sale, transfer and receipt of gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and high capacity magazines.

But in a divided Congress, with Democrats controlling the Senate and Republicans holding a majority in the House, any gun safety legislation is unlikely to pass.

Durbin called for voters to elect candidates who would enact gun-safety legislation.

What we need to do and say as American voters: Were going to the polls to elect women and men who have a sense of responsibility to change this once and for all, to take away these gun threats, Durbin said.

The press conference came ahead of Fridays two-year anniversary of the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting where 19 children and two teachers were killed.

We are losing a generation of children in this country to the trauma of gun violence, Murphy said.

That mass shooting, coupled with another in Buffalo, New York, where a white supremacist targeted a predominantly Black neighborhood and killed 10 Black people, led to the passage of gun safety legislation in 2022.

Murphy led the coalition of 20 bipartisan senators to pass the legislation.

That law led to the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, allocated $750 million for states to enact red flag laws, provided $11 billion in mental health services for schools and families and aimed to curb the illegal trafficking of guns known as straw purchases, in which a buyer can acquire a gun for someone else.

Incremental progress

While the legislation was historic  it was the first time in 30 years Congress passed a comprehensive gun safety bill  many Democrats noted that it did not ban assault weapons, a term that generally refers to semiautomatic rifles, or high-capacity magazines.

Shooters used those weapons in seven of the most deadly mass shootings in the last decade, according to the Giffords Law Center, an organization that conducts research on gun violence and advocates to end it.

Let us not judge the legislation for what it does not do, but for what it does, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, said at the time of the bills passage in the House.

Several of the speakers from OnCall4Kids mentioned they were grateful for the gun safety legislation that Congress passed nearly two years ago, but that more needed to be done.

Incremental progress is still progress, Emily Lieberman said. However, death rates from firearms continue to climb.

Elliot Lieberman said that the leading cause of death for children is firearms.

If your child dies in this country, the most likely reason will not be a drowning accident. It wont be a car crash and not even cancer, Elliot said. Its a bullet.

Sofia Chaudhary, a pediatric emergency physician in Atlanta, advocated for laws to require safe storage of firearms. She said those kinds of laws could have saved the lives of several of her patients  including a one-month-old  who were unintentionally shot by other children

These patients haunt me, she said. Their needless, senseless loss haunts me. The piercing cries of their parents haunt me.

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For many outside the ivory tower, it was clear university leaders needed to do something to quell the chaos surrounding pro-Palestinian encampments on their campuses. So when college presidents from New Hampshire to New York to Georgia to California invited riot police to break up the protest camps, firing "less-lethal" weapons, zip-tying students and throwing professors to the ground, it may have seemed like a tough but necessary call.

"There must be consequences," declared the president of my university, USCs Carol Folt, for students who "foment harassment, violence, and threats." This echoed statements of other university leaders, and President Biden himself, who, despite a nod to the First Amendment, pronounced, "order must prevail." In denouncing the protestors, he also cited antisemitism and a "fear of being attacked."

Not least, and not lost on university presidents, Virginia Foxx, the Republican chair of a key House education committee, warned administrators to take firm action against their "unlawful antisemitic encampments"  lest they be hauled in front of Congress, and, like a few of their Ivy League peers, be forced to resign. By opting to militarize our campus, Folt has dodged the next round of these McCarthyistic congressional hearings, which begin today.

Yet for those of us on the inside, at USC and elsewhere, the image of a lawless, violent, antisemitic pro-Palestinian mob stands completely at odds with the reality. With few exceptions, the encampments have been overwhelmingly peaceful, well-organized microsocieties, with posted community rules, medical and food tents, yoga and meditation, kite-making workshops, teach-ins, and Shabbat services and Passover seders. These students and supporting faculty form a multi-racial interfaith community. They are united by their outrage at the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza by Israeli bombs supplied by U.S. taxpayers. They share a vision for freedom and justice for Palestine.

President Folt could have understood all this herself had she ventured from her office bunker and walked the 75 paces to the encampment. The many Jewish students there would have told her why they've been proudly saying, "Not in my name." Or, that there's a difference between feeling unsafe by hearing a "free Palestine" chant, and actually being unsafe  a crucial distinction in determining free-speech rights. Even the allegedly antisemitic chant, "from the river to the sea"  which originated as a Zionist concept decades before the creation of Israel, and was written in the original platform of the Likud Party in 1977  is understood by Gaza protestors today as a vision of equality, and freedom from occupation and violence, for all the people of the Holy Land, Palestinian and Israeli alike. While the slogan engenders fear for many Jewish students, a University of Chicago poll showed 76 percent of Muslim students understood it to mean that Palestinians and Israelis should live together (in one or two states) on the same land.

Some university presidents, refusing to "solve" the problem with riot police, have shown what real leadership means. They listened to their encamped students and agreed to some of their demands. "That's what a lot of students are really looking for  to take a moral stance about what is taking place in the world," Cal State-Sacramento president Luke Wood told CBS News. Wood said he did "92 listening sessions" before coming to an agreement. College presidents at Northwestern and Rutgers also reached agreements with their student encampments without calling in the police. Not coincidentally, those two presidents have now been summoned before Rep. Foxx's committee and will appear today.

Avoiding that summons is likely one of the reasons why USC President Folt never made that walk to our student encampment. Nor has she responded to the letter signed by some 60 USC Jewish faculty members, denouncing the weaponization of antisemitism "to silence and delegitimize certain perspectives and expressions of protest," while "fueling counter-protests by right-wing nationalists exploiting the struggle against antisemitism for their own gain." Missing in the discussion is the fact that nearly equal percentages of Muslims also feel unsafe on campus. Hardly surprising, Islamophobia is not on the Foxx agenda today. Yet pro-Palestinian students "have not only had job offers rescinded," writes UCLA's Saree Makdisi in the Los Angeles Review of Books, "but also have been doxed, placed on blacklists...fired, suspended, banned from campus," and "sprayed with irritants or chemical weapons..."

At UCLA late on April 30 and the morning of May 1, multiple accounts show, pro-Israel counterdemonstrators relentlessly attacked a peaceful pro-Palestinian encampment. A mob of men, some of them later identified as far-right activists, reportedly launched fireworks into the encampment, swung two-by-fours with nails sticking out of them, and uttered death and rape threats," Piper French wrote in the New York Review of Books. "They punched and maced four student journalists, brought one to the ground, and beat him at length. One student journalist required hospitalization, along with 25 other students for "broken bones, head trauma, and severe lacerations." The counter-protesters also inexplicably released live mice into the camp. The violent siege went on for several hours, with no police intervention.

One of the men on hand that night was later identified as a member of the Proud Boys; another, as an anti-gay activist known for his antisemitic statements and Nazi salutes. Yet another participant, it turned out, was apparently embedded with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. Aaron Cohen, a self-proclaimed former Israeli special-ops veteran, boasted on X that he "[r]an a quiet infiltration operation into the UCLA encampment and now down here with LASD whos staging now and preparing to make entry...to begin taking down the pro-terror antisemitic encampment. "

Meanwhile, after a night in which the police were shockingly absent, in the wee hours of May 2, dozens of officers from LAPD, LASD and the California Highway Patrol dismantled the camp, arresting more than 200 protesters. Despite the one-sided violence, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block defended his decision to ask the police to take down the camp. "Several days of violent clashes between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators put too many Bruins in harms way and created an environment that was completely unsafe for learning." Of course, riot police are also, arguably, not safe for learning.

And yet despite the smearing and false accusations against pro-Palestinian demonstrators, in the vast majority of cases, at UCLA, USC, and elsewhere, students who endured the violent crackdowns now face trespassing charges on their own college campuses, and potentially disastrous academic sanctions. They are guilty not of antisemitism, but of expressing the "wrong" kind of speech about Israel's war on Gaza. As the USC Jewish faculty letter states, "the universitys actions have distorted principled, peaceful protest and demonized encamped students and their supporters."

In smearing our students, my USC president and her peers have taken extreme measures against those they are charged to protect  not, I believe, to ensure peace on campus, but out of mortal fear of their own universities donors, and of being called to testify in Congress. Rep. Foxx assailed the Rutgers and Northwestern agreements as "surrender to antisemitic radicals." Foxx's Education and the Workforce Committee has been transformed into a modern-day Star Chamber, where Trump sycophant, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY, lies in wait like a 21st Century inquisitor. Stefanik, who inspires dread akin to the likes of Lord Voldemort, already has a few notches on her belt, including the resignations of the presidents of Harvard and Penn.

It's a sign of the times that university presidents like Folt, who called in the helicopters and body-armored police, sealed the gates of the university, barred non-USC journalists, and implemented double-ID scans and bag checks for everyone on campus, have for now escaped the committee's scrutiny. And so the Northwestern and Rutgers presidents who refused to militarize their campus are now preparing to defend themselves in Congress. UCLA's chancellor will also face questioning by Foxx, Stefanik and other committee members.

Stefanik has a much broader agenda, including as a potential running mate to Donald Trump in 2024. On Sunday she was in Israel, addressing the Knesset, where she proclaimed that "with God's help," Donald Trump will win reelection. Part of her Trump bona fides is her broader reactionary attack on free speech. She voted for the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act, which incorporates a sweeping definition of antisemitism proposed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Many Jewish groups oppose this effort, believing it stifles legitimate criticism of Israel under the guise of antisemitism. A coalition of 104 human rights and civil society groups, including many in Israel, wrote that the IHRA definition "has often been used to wrongly label criticism of Israel as antisemitic, and thus chill and sometimes suppress, non-violent protest, activism and speech critical of Israel." More than 1300 Jewish professors in the U.S. also objected. "If imported into federal law," the scholars wrote, "the IHRA definition will delegitimize and silence Jewish Americansamong otherswho advocate for Palestinian human rights or otherwise criticize Israeli policies."

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These efforts to restrict criticism of Israel are themselves part of a broader right-wing effort to undermine academic freedom, attack diversity efforts and suppress dissent nationwide. Some 57 bills in state legislatures are part of a "coordinated attack against public colleges and universities with legislation that would undermine academic freedom, chill classroom speech and impose partisan agendas," according to the American Association of University Professors. And in recent years, since the protests against oil pipelines in the Dakotas and the Black Lives Matter mobilizations after the murder of George Floyd, dozens of red states have advanced anti-protest laws. In some cases, these laws define a "riot" as a gathering of three or more people that allegedly pose a threat to public safety.

This anti-democratic agenda is already gaining momentum under Biden. We can only imagine how far it could go in a second Trump term.

And so the college presidents preparing to address Congress this morning would do well to consider the broader historical implications of their testimony. It is time for them to speak out: not in support of repression, but in defense of their students, and of the principles of free expression and academic freedom.

Seventy years ago, Army lawyer Joseph Welch faced down Sen. Joe McCarthy, who accused Welch of harboring a Communist sympathizer on his staff. Welch responded with the words that Americans had been longing for.

"Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness," Welch told McCarthy. "Have you no sense of decency?"

The time has come for an American college president to stop cowering and speak truth to power. We need another Joseph Welch moment. College administrators who bow to the anti-democratic forces of the hard right in Congress, and the Trumpian neofascists poised to take power, are perched at the edge of an icy, perilous slope. Principles far greater than job security are at stake. How college presidents act from here forward matters more than ever.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  On May 22, 1954, broadcasting pioneer Rex Howell launched Western Colorados first TV station  KREX TV. It was the only TV station on the Western Slope for 25 years carrying programming from ABC and NBC, while primarily the CBS affiliate. It is now the primary CBS and FOX affiliate. On January 20, 2008, a fire engulfed the station and KREX lost five decades of irreplaceable photographs, files and tapes of Western Colorado history. By August 10, 2009, KREX moved into the newly constructed media building with the original tower still next to the building. KREX 5 is proud to be Western Colorados first and still most watched TV station. Since the beginning, KREX 5 continues to strive for broadcasting excellence Coverage You Can Count On and First on the Western Slope. We hope to bring the western slope many, many more years of news coverage.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
The South Carolina Freedom Caucus, a hard-right faction of Republican lawmakers, said grant money from the National Institute of Health required the university to EXCLUSIVELY focus on hiring LGBTQ persons, in a social media post on Tuesday.

USC is clearly still pushing discriminatory hiring policies, the caucus wrote on the platform X.

Those claims are misleading.

I wont speculate on the motivation for the Freedom Caucus tweet, but it is completely false, said university spokesman Jeff Stensland.

The University of South Carolina was one of only a handful of institutions to receive a massive $13.2 million grant from the NIH in 2022. It was lauded a as a game-changer for public health, and for the university. About $4.8 million of that funding has been paid out to the university so far.

Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of South Carolina is a central value for me, President Amiridis, and our universitys larger leadership team, USC Provost Donna Arnett said at the time. I am excited to see the tremendous impact this grant will have on increasing diversity in our universitys faculty ranks.

The grant, funded through the Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation, was meant to expand the number of number of faculty members in the Arnold School of Public Health and College of Nursing who are dedicated to researching health disparities within South Carolina, the university said.

According to the grant description on USAspending.gov, the official source for federal government spending data, it is part of an initiative to recruit and retain 10 diverse, early-career faculty members and offer mentorship, training, and professional development. It was awarded with the goal to achieve sustainable institutional culture change and inclusive excellence.

But it did not dictate that the hires must be from the LGBTQ community.

Biomedical research institutions have generally failed to effectively incorporate minoritized groups, such as individuals who identify as people of color, women, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ) persons, the grant description read.

The grant praised USCs 2020 Revision Action Plan, a six-step plan to address diversity, equity and inclusion established to address systemic racism and societal inequity.

The leadership of the University of South Carolina (UofSC) has been intentional about transforming the institutional culture to one that embraces and expects a climate of diversity, equity and inclusion, the description read. ...These efforts reflect UofSCs campaign to identify and remove factors supporting systemic racism and gender-bias across all campus endeavors.

Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in South Carolinas public higher education system have been under attack by the Freedom Caucus for over a year. H. 4289, a bill introduced last spring, targeted DEI efforts in the states 33 schools and aimed to prohibit employment decisions based on political beliefs of DEI statements.

That bill passed the House in March, but died when the 2024 legislative session came to a close earlier this month.

For decades, USC has partnered with state and federal health agencies in efforts to reduce persistent health disparities in rural, minority, and economically depressed communities, Stensland said. We are proud of our work to help improve community health through both research and training of health professionals.

USCs School of Medicine was recently ranked fifth in the nation by U.S. News and World Report for training doctors practicing in medically-underserved areas.

The State called Freedom Caucus leadership three times and sent multiple text messages to ask about the discrepancy in the claims made in their post on X.

From 2022-27, USC got a $4.8 million TRANS-NIH RESEARCH SUPPORT grant. It requires USC to EXCLUSIVELY focus on hiring LGBTQ persons.



Despite renaming the DEI office, USC is clearly still pushing discriminatory hiring policies.



We must stop this.https://t.co/mztxkroFYN  South Carolina Freedom Caucus (@SCFreedomCaucus) May 21, 2024
Judge DaSean Jones, left, enters the the courtroom with his attorney at the Harris County Civil Courthouse in Houston on April 1, 2024. Credit: Courtesy of Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle

HOUSTON  A day after a fellow judge ruled that he may have incorrectly been named the winner of a 2022 election to Harris Countys 180th District Court, Judge DaSean Jones sat in the courtroom on the 18th floor of a downtown courthouse last week and presided over a trial.

While Judge David Peeples ordered a new election for what was a narrow judicial race, his ruling didnt strip Jones of his position  and it didnt undo any of the myriad decisions Jones has made in innumerable cases that have come before him since he took office in January 2023.

That may not stop lawyers from trying to overturn the outcomes of cases over which Jones presided if there is a new election that ousts Jones, according to political observers.

Nobody seems to know what exactly would happen to those cases, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political scientist at the University of Houston. This is not a test that has a legitimate grounds of an appeal. I think we dont know what precisely this would look like.

But any potential challenges would be unprecedented  and likely become a question for the legal system to answer. And Peeples ruling was aimed squarely at how Harris County elections counted ballots in the race  not at anything Jones did.

This is a pretty unprecedented situation but I would be surprised if it was anything that affected any cases that he tried, as far as them being overturned or anything like that, said Murray Newman, a defense lawyer who also serves as the president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association.

Jones, a Democrat, beat Republican Tami Pierce by 449 votes. Pierce and several other Republican candidates on the November 2022 ballot contested that and other elections. Peeples upheld the outcomes in 20 contested races  but after a two-day trial in April, found that more than 1,430 votes were cast illegally in Jones race against Pierce. Peeples said many were invalid because voters lived outside Harris County, had other residency-related issues or failed to show a valid identification

Since it wasnt known who got the majority of those votes  and because the number of those ballots is larger than Jones margin over Pierce  Peeples ordered a new election. Jones lawyer is appealing that order. Jones will remain on the bench during the appellate process, and the case is expected to eventually make it to the Texas Supreme Court.

Regardless of the outcome, the case has already raised concerns about the cost of holding a new election in Texas largest county  and what it could mean for elections across the state.

This is really more of a political battle more so than a criminal justice battle, Newman said. The issue is going to be how we look at elections that are close, and do we really want to set into a precedent where we have this much uncertainty?

Jones lawyer, Oliver Brown, blamed the current election system on the errors that Peeples identified.

The most troubling part about all of these cases is that our Texas election code places a burden on candidates to defend the ballot box and not the government, Brown wrote in an email this week. It is time for the Legislature to revamp the entire election contest process and hold the government responsible for protecting democracy. My client was not responsible for any of the errors alleged in the election process.

In Harris County, the fight over a judicial seat may be Republicans' last battleground in a county that has been reliably Democratic for years, said Newman, the defense lawyer.

Republican state lawmakers have targeted Harris County over how officials operate elections since at least 2020, when local leaders expanded voting access during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, the Republican-controlled Legislature passed sweeping legislation that further restricted the states voting process and narrowed local control of elections. In 2023, the lawmakers passed a bill eliminating Harris Countys chief elections official and allowing state officials to intervene and supervise the countys elections in response to administrative complaints.

For Jones, another potential political wrinkle could have been a rule that limits judges from running for two seats at the same time, said Rottinghaus, the political scientist. Jones will be on the ballot in November for a seat on the Texas Supreme Court. But after his initial call for a new election, Peeples set the date for a redo for May 3, 2025, according to the Houston Chronicle. That would come months after that state supreme court race will be decided.

Historically, losers of tight races demanded a recount, which have typically affirmed the outcome, said Mark Jones, a political scientist at Rice University.

If a new election for the Harris judicial seat is ultimately held, scrutinizing which ballots election officials do or dont count in narrow races could become the new playbook for contesting elections.

Now this has opened the door to another way to challenge, Mark Jones said.

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.
A wave of protests that culminated in a 1,000-person walkout marked Harvard Universitys commencement ceremonies Thursday, sparked by its highest governing bodys decision to deny a faculty-led action to let 13 students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests walk at their graduation.

Beyond the gates where graduates lined up, three people held a banner reading Stop the Genocide in Gaza as several graduates in cap and gown donned keffiyehs and other displays of support for Palestine. Earlier Thursday morning, students in support of the 13 graduates who had been barred from walking in the ceremony rallied with signs like This Jew Stands With Palestine and Let Them Graduate.

Harvard Occupied Out of Palestine, the student coalition that organized the universitys encampment, distributed copies of a parody newspaper titled The Harvard Crimeson detailing its demands for divestment from Israel and accusing the school newspaper of refusing to talk about Palestine. The move mimics a similar satirical paper that targeted The New York Times, accusing the paper of pro-Israel bias and deriding it as The New York War Crimes.

Counterprotesters funded planes over Harvard Yard that trailed the slogan Jewish Lives Matter.US and flew the Israeli and American flags high in the sky, the Harvard Crimson reported, as the slow creep of commencement processions began. Outside the Yard, trucks bearing the names and faces of students who protested for Palestine circled the square, beneath a banner declaring them Harvards Leading Antisemites. The trucks were financed by Accuracy in Media, which has been doxxing students all year, the Crimson reported.

When they go low, we go high! This plane will be flying all over Harvards campus during graduation today

@therealredjew pic.twitter.com/7jYpJkMNne  Shabbos Kestenbaum (@ShabbosK) May 23, 2024

During the ceremony, undergraduate student speaker Shruthi Kumar put the institution on blast in her commencement address, criticizing the school for punishing more than a dozen of her peers for their activism. Graduate speaker Robert L. Clinton IV also threw a dig at the university leaders for the same reason, while the administrators sat expressionless onstage.

Then, as the names began to be called for the conferral of degrees, more than 1,000 people stood up and walked out of the ceremony, chanting Let them walk in support of their 13 peers barred from graduation. The administrators, handing out degrees and reading names, reacted with all the poise of stage actors, appearing unfazed and raising their voices slightly to be heard over the din of the crowd.

The protesters marched onto another site not far from Harvard Yard, and promptly began their Peoples Commencement ceremony, which would include honors for the 13 seniors denied from the official procession.

The demonstrations came to a head after a long year of encampments, resignations, and lawsuits over the universitys handling of pro-Palestinian protests on campus, which some argued threatened the safety of Jewish students. Others have criticized Harvard, like many of its ivy-trellised peers, of unfairly censoring and punishing students who display pro-Palestinian views.

Crowd Erupts After Columbia Grads Mic Cuts Off When She Mentions Gaza

Thursdays commencement demonstrations were in direct response to the Harvard Corporations decision to bar 13 pro-Palestinian protesters from partaking in commencement festivities over their disciplinary standing. Late Tuesday night, the corporation rejected an amendment proposed by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) to add 13 students to the list of graduates whose names had been left off the roll.

Traditionally, the registrar sends the list of those who have met graduation requirements and are in good standing for approval by FAS, which then sends the list to the corporation. The event usually proceeds without incident, but this year, about 500 faculty and staff members signed onto a letter demanding the restoration of those 13 studentsincluding two Rhodes scholarsto the list of graduates. Those students participation in pro-Palestinian protests led to disciplinary action, which meant they were no longer in good standing and not eligible for degree conferral.

UAW Files Complaint Against Harvard for Punishing Student Workers in Gaza Protests

In a show of force, 115 faculty members were present at the usually sedate meeting to support the students. But the corporation shut it down, saying that because the amendment did not challenge the disciplinary status of the students, the corporation could not allow them to walk.

Because the students included as the result of Mondays amendment are not in good standing, we cannot responsibly vote to award them degrees at this time, the corporation said Wednesday. It added that allowing the 13 protesters to receive degrees would be unfair to other students not in good standing for reasons unrelated to the protests.

But the decision to bar the protesters from degree conferral will almost certainly set off a circular chain of events: Harvard Occupied Out of Palestine, the pro-Palestinian student coalition that organized the universitys encampment, signaled its willingness to disrupt the ceremony anyway.

Graduation Cant Stop These Students From Protesting

Your repression only makes us stronger, the organization wrote Wednesday night, just 12 hours before commencement exercises were set to begin. Collective punishment will not slow us down. There can be no peace during genocide, and we will not rest until Harvard divests.

On Thursday morning, Harvard Occupied Out of Palestine posted an update from the front gates.

Good morning from Harvards commencement, it wrote in an Instagram post.

Hanging from the closed gates to the college was a white banner with text in black, green, and redthe colors of the Palestinian flag. Harvard Funds Genocide, the banner read.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Harvard Universitys governing board rejected an effort from faculty Wednesday to allow a group of 13 students sanctioned due to their participation in pro-Palestine protests to receive their degrees and graduate.

The Harvard Corporation veto of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) decision, which The Harvard Crimson described as unprecedented, underlines tensions between the universitys faculty and administration in the wake of mass pro-Palestine protests that have roiled college campuses this year.

FAS voted Monday to recommend that the 13 sanctioned students be allowed to receive degrees and graduate despite their disciplinary violations, going against a decision from the universitys administrative board last week. The corporations veto of that faculty vote again bars the students from graduating.

Because the students included as the result of Mondays amendment are not in good standing, the corporation wrote in a statement, referring to the 13 students, we cannot responsibly vote to award them degrees at this time.

Both the FAS approval of the list of graduates and the corporation acceptance of faculty measures are generally rubber-stamp votes, with the conflict over the student protesters upsetting a standard process.

About 115 faculty members showed up to vote Monday to allow the sanctioned students to graduate. Professor Steven Levitsky warned Tuesday in an interview with the Crimson that faculty could revolt if their vote is overturned.

I would expect a faculty rebellion, possibly a faculty rebellion against the entire governance structure, because theres already a fair amount of mistrust toward the Corporation, to begin with, Levitsky said.

Harvard moved last week to suspend five students and sanction more than 20 others for their participation in a pro-Palestine campus encampment, which ended earlier this month. The group included the 13 senior students.

The corporation wrote that the impacted students may still be given degrees once their disciplinary cases go through the standard university process, dependent on outcome.

We care deeply about every member of our community  students, facility, staff, researchers and alumni  and we have chosen a path forward that accords with our responsibilities and reaffirms a process for our students to receive prompt and fair review, the corporation wrote.

Similar pro-Palestine campus encampments popped up at hundreds of college campuses nationwide earlier this year, as unrest over the Biden administrations response to the Israel-Hamas war rises.

While most protests were uneventful, some led to violence with police and counterprotesters, and more than 2,000 students were arrested nationwide.

Political attention was mostly focused on Columbia University in New York, the first of the major encampments, attracting political visits from notable members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. Columbia suspended dozens of students for participation in the protests, and later called in police to violently clear the encampment after some protesters took over a campus building.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Head Country BBQ gives out hundreds of free meals for OKC line workers

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Once again Head Country BBQ gathered its staff and handed out hundreds of free meals Wednesday for Oklahoma City street crew workers.

It takes all these people to make a whole city run, said owner C.R. Head. When I saw them in the ditch that day I was like man, weve got to do something for them.

Head said that this winter he happened to see some road crew members working in the cold and felt like something needed to be done.

These guys are big meat eaters and like barbecue so what a great combination, said Head.

Wednesday just after 11 a.m. they had several grills and pounds of different kinds of meats ready to eat.

Ive had so many of these workers stop and tell me what flavors of sauce they keep in their house, its amazing, said Head.

You might recognize this as a similar story and thats because Head Country BBQ has given out free food several times before.

In 2022 the family threw a BBQ bash that 4th of July weekend in Ponca City. It was a community-wide party that resulted in over 5,000 mouths fed.

| RECALL THE FREE BBQ > Restaurant family throws BBQ bash in Ponca City, feeds thousands >

Its the Oklahoma standard and thats the Head family, said Rich Cantillon, the President of the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce then.

That wasnt the only time either, last year in April the family wanted to show gratitude for healthcare workers. At the time Danny Head, C.R.s father had just had heart surgery that saved his life.

So, they gave out hundreds of meals for free to healthcare workers.

| YET ANOTHER FREE BBQ FEAST > Oklahoma family feeds hundreds of healthcare workers >

I said to them, Ill tell you what, [if] you get me through this deal and Ill feed the whole place, said Danny Head that day.

The feast held on Wednesday was specifically for OKC workers and C.R. said it was well deserved. Overall he said that they ended up giving out over 350 meals, maybe more.

They are the unsung heroes I feel like dont get the thanks they deserve, so, thank you, said Head.

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BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Norway, Ireland, and Spain announced on Wednesday their official recognition of Palestine as a state. The decision came amid international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza following Israel's military operation.

Global reactions to the recognition varied, with dozens of countries welcoming the decision.

The Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said the recognition sends the right message to the Palestinians that the world is willing to defend their right to self-determination and to be an independent state.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry urged countries that have not taken this step to push forward with recognizing a Palestine state to uphold the values of justice and support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday welcomed the decision, saying that this represents a step toward implementing the two-state solution.

Qatar welcomed the recognition and considered this a significant step in supporting the two-state solution and achieving peace and stability in the region, said the Qatari Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.

The ministry stressed "the need to end the war on the Gaza Strip immediately and return to the political track as the only guarantee to achieve stability in the region."

In response to the news that Spain and Ireland said they are going to recognize the Palestinian State, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China always firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights, supports the two-State solution and is one of the first countries to recognize the State of Palestine.

China will continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role in ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as early as possible and promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, the spokesperson added.

In Europe, Malta, Slovenia, and Slovakia expressed support, with Slovenia also taking steps toward recognizing Palestine, while the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Lithuania expressed reservations.

Israel, infuriated by the decision, perceived it as a form of reward for Hamas militants. "The intention of several European countries to recognize a Palestinian state is a reward for terrorism," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. The country swiftly recalled its ambassadors from Ireland, Norway, and Spain.

The U.S. government pushed back against a move from Ireland, Spain, and Norway to recognize a Palestinian state. "The president is a strong supporter of a two-state solution and has been throughout his career," a National Security Council spokesperson was quoted by CNN as saying.

"He believes a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition," the spokesperson added.

Observers noted that the three countries' recognition could generate momentum for other nations to recognize a Palestinian state and might further isolate Israel. In March, Malta and Slovenia, alongside Spain and Ireland said they were considering recognizing a Palestinian state as "a positive contribution" toward ending the conflict.

More than 140 countries have already recognized a Palestinian state, representing over two-thirds of the United Nations' membership. However, none of the major Western countries have taken this step, making the recognition a notable achievement for the Palestinians.

Diplomatic pressure on Israel has also grown as there is a sign of growing international support for Palestine's UN membership. On May 11, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, recognizing Palestine as qualified to join, with 143 votes in favor and nine against, including the United States and Israel, while 25 countries abstained.

The Palestinians demand the establishment of an independent state alongside Israel with pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital. 
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A preliminary hearing for a man charged with murder in the death of a gay rights activist was postponed Wednesday.

Fredi Rivera now has a hearing set July 15 at which a judge will determine whether theres enough evidence to order him to stand trial in the death of Daniel Landeros, 43.

On the night of Sept. 18, Landeros and a male friend were walking at night through Yokuts Park when a man approached them and called Landeros a gay slur, according to the friends statement to police.

Landeros, an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, argued with the man while the friend waited near a park bench.

Police seek help locating missing teen last seen near Independence High School

The friend told police he heard single gunshot then saw Landeros stumble toward him. A dark-colored SUV sped away moments later.

Landeros was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police retrieved surveillance video identifying the suspect vehicle as a black 2006-07 Hummer H3, the documents say. They linked the vehicle to Rivera and learned he was on probation for grand theft, according to police reports.

Rivera was arrested near his mothers home in Delano early on Oct. 4. He has pleaded not guilty.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of abuse. Reader discretion is advised.

Heather Hare is 33 years old and pleaded guilty to transporting a minor across state borders for the purpose of unlawful sexual activity. She was convicted on January 22, 2024. Hare was an Arkansas high school teacher who appeared on Good Morning America four years ago. She appeared on the show after her students made a sweet video for her. The video was made because of the break in her classes during the pandemic. She has now been found guilty of repeatedly sexually abusing a child, as per a People Magazine report.

Hare reportedly took family consumer science classes at Bryant High School. She had a sexual relationship with a senior student there. During the academic year between 2021 and 2022, Heather Hare reportedly engaged in sexual activity with her student about 20 to 30 times. They engaged in intercourse at her Conway residence, in the school classrooms and parking lots, as well as in her vehicle.

Hare allegedly began one-on-one counseling sessions with the victim on the very first day of their senior year. She then began to get close to the victim and gave them her contact details. They messaged each other on Snapchat and Instagram while she made it clear that she dreamed of having sex. She then went ahead and gave them her home address.

Heather Hare pleaded guilty to having sex with the victim while they were on a field trip to Washington, DC. She was arrested in August 2023 after she was charged with foreign travel for sexual activity, too. However, this charge was dropped based on the plea agreement.

How much prison time did Heather Hare get?

A Saline County Circuit Court sentenced Heather Hare to 13 years in prison for sexual assault. She was also sentenced to another 20 years in prison, which will be served concurrently, as per ABC 7. She will also face a lifetime of supervised release.

Hare was indicted on August 1, 2023. She was charged with one count of interstate/foreign travel for prostitution/sexual activity by coercion and one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, as per records of the United States Attorneys Office.

As per a report by KARK, many parents and residents around Bryant expressed their concerns about their childrens future. There was also a sense of shock considering how infrequent such incidents are in the area. Heather Hare was let go by the school in March when the allegations against her were made public.

This former teacher took advantage of her position of trust and the vulnerability of a minor, using her role to entice and lure this minor into engaging in unlawful sexual activity, the judge who sentenced Heather Hare said. Our office will continue to seek significant penalties against any educational professional who sexually abuse their students.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bryant Police Department, and the Saline County Sheriffs Office collectively investigated the case against Heather Hare. Although some of the charges against her were dismissed as part of a guilty plea, Hare is likely to spend a significant amount of time in prison and will be under supervision for the rest of her life.

The post Heather Hare: What Was the Arkansas Teacher Convicted Of? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
A bridge to Berlin's government district is cordoned off by the police during the state ceremony to mark "75 years of the Basic Law" on the forum between the Bundestag and the Federal Chancellery. The Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany was promulgated on May 23, 1949 and came into force the following day where the anniversary will be celebrated with a three-day democracy festival from 24 to 26 May 2024 in Berlin's government district. Christophe Gateau/dpa

A total of about 1,000 police officers were deployed in and around the government district of Berlin on Thursday, a spokeswoman said, in order to police the state ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of Germany's constitution.

The police were also out on the Spree river on patrol boats and had deployed a helicopter.

The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and special task forces (SEK) from the Berlin State Criminal Police Office and from Lower Saxony were also involved.

The situation was calm and relaxed in the morning, police said.

A total of 1,100 guests were expected on the square in front of the Chancellery. Among them were Chancellor Olaf Scholz, most of the ministers, many state premiers and representatives of the Bundestag and other institutions. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is to deliver the main speech.

The Basic Law come into force on May 23, 1949, which is also the founding date of the Federal Republic of Germany.

A bridge to Berlin's government district is cordoned off by the police during the state ceremony to mark "75 years of the Basic Law" on the forum between the Bundestag and the Federal Chancellery. The Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany was promulgated on May 23, 1949 and came into force the following day where the anniversary will be celebrated with a three-day democracy festival from 24 to 26 May 2024 in Berlin's government district. Christophe Gateau/dpa

A bridge to Berlin's government district is cordoned off by the police during the state ceremony to mark "75 years of the Basic Law" on the forum between the Bundestag and the Federal Chancellery. The Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany was promulgated on May 23, 1949 and came into force the following day where the anniversary will be celebrated with a three-day democracy festival from 24 to 26 May 2024 in Berlin's government district. Christophe Gateau/dpa
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA/Tampa Hoy)  A Colombian family residing in Sarasota is in mourning after losing one of their own drowned on a Sarasota beach. Amidst the grief, they face an additional challenge as they cannot give their loved one a Christian burial due to lacking the necessary economic resources to do so.

We came for a dream, to achieve many goals, to support our little girl. And our lives changed, said Wendy Rodriguez, wife of Jose Daniel Venta Ciro, a young Colombian who lost his life while attempting to rescue two swimmers who were swept away by a rip current at Turtle Beach in Sarasota on Sunday.

The body of 23-year-old Jose Daniel was found on Monday afternoon in the area of 9150 Blind Pass Road, near Siesta Key, approximately a quarter-mile south of where recovery efforts were underway, said deputies from the Sarasota County Sheriffs Office.

Andrea Ciro, mother of Jose Daniel, says her son is a true hero as he lost his life helping two swimmers who were rescued from a dangerous rip current.

My boy always cared for others, and in that moment, yes, my son is a hero, said the distraught mother, who also mentioned she never knew who the bathers were whom her son helped rescue.

Julian Betancourt, cousin of Jose Daniel, says their family still hasnt been able to retrieve the body of their loved one to bid him a final farewell.

We still dont have the resources to retrieve him because its not just the funeral expenses but also the expenses for his body, his ceremony Its the least we can do for him, says Betancourt.

Following the young mans death, his mother Andrea and his wife Wendy are trying to move forward, especially to provide everything necessary for Jose Daniels 5-year-old daughter, who suffers from a medical condition called bilateral profound hearing loss.

Last September, Jose Daniel arrived in the United States with his family, hoping to provide a better quality of life and better care for his daughters condition.

My girl doesnt hear; my girl has an implant. They put a cochlear implant on her () My girl is five and a half years old but in terms of hearing, shes less than two years old, explains the grandmother of the little girl and mother of Jose Daniel.

We also came because here there is a future for her, Wendy said.

Now the family faces thousands of dollars in funeral expenses and to support the little girl as they navigate through this traumatic transition period after losing Jose Daniel, who was the main financial provider.

For this reason, they have created a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe, seeking the support of the community during these challenging times.

We hope in God that it can touch the hearts of several people: friends, family, anyone who is able to contribute something so that he can rest well rest in peace, Betancourt concluded.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Kathryn Hooker grew up not realizing her ancestors were a part of history, a group that might very well have preserved the freedom she and her daughter Ruth enjoy today.

Kathryns grandfather and Ruths great grandfather, George Davenport, and her uncle and Ruths great uncle, Joseph Davenport, were code talkers. They were two of 19 Choctaw Native Americans in the 36th Infantry Division from Fort Worths Camp Bowie who played a major role in the outcome of World War I.

Code talkers used their native language to send secret communications on the battlefield. It confused the enemy and saved countless lives of American soldiers.

These young men had to sign an oath of secrecy. They (the government) were going to see how well it worked, Kathryn said. It worked so well they used it again in World War II. But they were never recognized again until after their death.

Now they are on display for all to see at the Military Museum of Fort Worth, in Ridgmar Mall, at 1888 Green Oaks Road. The exhibit was put in place a few months ago as part of the museums larger feature on the 36th Infantry.

Among the most prominent parts of the exhibit is a photo of George and Joseph side-by-side.

Kathryn Hooker (left) and her daughter, Ruth Hooker, next to the display honoring the original Choctaw code talkers in World War I. Among them were Kathryns grandfather (Ruths great grandfather) George Davenport and her uncle (Ruths great uncle) Joseph Davenport.

The Germans couldnt make heads or tails of what was going on, said Bill Leaf, who is in charge of special projects at the museum. And the code talkers saved a lot of lives.

Bills wife, Jackie, is part Choctaw and on their national roll. He recalled seeing pictures of code talkers when they would visit Choctaw Nation Headquarters in Durant, Oklahoma.

World War II history is one of my hobbies. I didnt know about World War I code talkers until Jackie and I started going up there, he said.

The code talkers of World War II, who were mostly Navajo, became popularized through the 2002 film Wind Talkers, starring Nicolas Cage. However, Leaf noted it was the Choctaw, who joined the fight late in World War I, who were the originals.

Normally, I point that out to folks and they say, Oh, I knew about the Navajo, but I say, no, the Choctaw in World War I, Leaf said.

Kathryn, who is one-fourth Choctaw (Ruth is one-eighth), said she learned of her grandfather and uncle being a part of this historic group after she was grown up and working for the Choctaw Nation.

It was 1986 when I first heard. I said, My grandpa did that! Kathryn reminisced with excitement.

Joseph died in 1923, a few years after the war ended. George, though he lived until 1950, remained mostly silent on the subject.

Joseph Davenport and George Davenport were among the original Choctaw code talkers in World War I. Their story is on display at the Military Museum of Fort Worth.

I dont remember it being talked about in our family, but Indian people are typically private, Ruth said. I remember hearing about it and going, huh? But like most teenagers, I didnt really think about the value at the time.

But when I started looking at code talkers and their contribution to the nation, it became a passion with me.

As for the museum exhibit, Kathryn and Ruth found out when the Leafs stopped by their popular Stockyards restaurant Hookers Grill. He recalled having a hamburger and Jackie had an Indian Taco, their two most popular dishes.

I was totally surprised and very happy, Kathryn said. Its so wonderful to see them recognized here for people to come in and see the great thing they did.

Im so glad this is here for young people to see and learn about.

Recognition for code talkers

Even when the code talker program was declassified in 1968, national recognition of code talkers was slow. It wasnt until 2000 that code talkers were honored by the U.S. Congress and awarded gold and silver medals for their contribution.

Kathryn and Ruth went to Washington in 2013 as President Barack Obama honored all tribes with code talkers.

Nobody talked about it, Ruth said. This is a vital part of our history that people are still learning about.

It wasnt until 1924 that Native Americans were awarded U.S. citizenship and granted the right to vote.

They volunteered to save a country they werent even considered a part of, Ruth said. My great grandfather, when he got back home, he never spoke Choctaw to his children. He said its a white mans world.

Remembering at the restaurant

Kathryn and Ruth opened Hookers in 2017. On the building is a painting of a Native American Girl. Visitors will also see the phrase Chi Pisa la chike, which is Choctaw for Until we meet again.

And soon, Ruth said a star elsewhere in the Stockyards that honors code talkers will be moved to the restaurant. She is on the board of directors for the Texas Trail of Fame, the folks who place the stars.

Probably in October, when the new inductees go in, she said.

They even honor their heritage with their food, most notably the Indian Taco. It features frybread, a dish of the indigenous people of North America that is a flat dough bread, fried or deep-fried.

You can put anything on it. Its the bread that makes it special, Ruth said. The Indian Taco, you cant get anywhere else.

Ruth stressed that, honoring the heritage of theirs and all families, the restaurant is closed on all holidays, even ones such as Mothers Day and Fathers Day when they could likely be making a lot of money.

Any time somebody should be with their family were closed, she said. At our place were not traditional. We dont punch a time clock and we feed every homeless person who comes to our window.

More education about Native Americans

While thrilled about the exhibit, Kathryn and Ruth agree that much more can be done to educate folks about code talkers and Native Americans in general.

Our ancestors are our history. We should know where they came from and the contributions they made, Kathryn said.

Ruth is leading a charge to bring more recognition locally to Native Americans, including a goal of having them honored during a night at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

Theres really not enough to educate young people  and even adults  about Native Americans, she said.

In the meantime, Bill said there are no plans to take down the code talkers exhibit.

The World War I 36th wall has been there since Ive been here, he said. Its something everyone needs to know about, and the code talkers are a part of that.
By Sabrina Valle

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hess Corp CEO John Hess has until Tuesday to quell a rebellion by shareholders over his handling of what could turn out to be one of the largest mergers in oil industry history: a proposed $53 billion sale of the oil producer to Chevron Corp.

Hess, 70, has spent the past month visiting or calling dozens of investors to gather support. The sale seemed all but certain last fall and Hess still appears poised to win, based on Reuters' interviews with large investors. But support has slipped in recent weeks with more investment funds voicing concerns about the deal.

A lengthy U.S. federal regulatory review and a surprise arbitration challenge from Exxon Mobil have put about 40% of shares outstanding on the fence, interviews show.

That could make it harder for Hess to get more than 50% of the 308 million shares outstanding to win approval, even though he can count on his family shares along with other directors and management, for about 10%.

Hess has lost about $5 billion in market value since the deal was announced. Every quarter the merger is delayed, its shareholders lose the chance for a dividend payment from Chevron -- a major incentive since Chevron's dividend is four times bigger than the Hess payout.

This is the mother of all embarrassments, said a London-based investor who declined to be named, adding that if Hess shareholders approve this deal, chances will fade for a higher bid.

TIGHT SCOREBOARD

Three firms - HBK Capital Management, D.E. Shaw & Co, and Pentwater Capital Management - have stated they are not ready to give their go ahead. Together they hold almost 6% of Hess.

Another three investors filed lawsuits to delay or block the vote, backed by a flood of letters to Hess management complaining it failed to disclose legal and regulatory issues that could delay the transaction by up to one year.

Six large investors who spoke with Reuters under condition of anonymity estimated firms holding about 40% of the companys stock have decided or are strongly considering abstaining, essentially a no vote.

The longer this takes, the more I would begin to question the value proposition of this merger, said Roy Behren, co-president of Westchester Capital Management, which holds $317 million in Hess shares and is considering an abstention.

The delays have shrunk expected profits for arbitrage funds that pounced on Hess shares after the deal was announced betting it would close in the first quarter.

Fayez Sarofim & Co, Invesco and Barrow Hanley which hold some 3% of outstanding shares worth about $1.5 billion, are expected to vote yes, according to people familiar with the matter. The three firms declined requests for comment.

Influential proxy advisor Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended abstention to give more time for details of the arbitration case to emerge. Rival Glass Lewis, recommended a vote in favor, saying the Chevron deal merits are sound and offer Hess shareholders a premium.

Top investment firm Vanguard Group, with 10% of Hess shares, holds the largest individual stake. Votes of its portfolio managers could swing the outcome. Vanguard declined to disclose its vote.

EXXON AS POSSIBLE SPOILER

This year, Exxon and partner CNOOC Ltd filed an arbitration case claiming they have a first right of refusal to buy Hess' Guyana assets. Chevron and Hess say a right of refusal does not apply to sale of the entire company. If Exxon's arbitration succeeds, Chevron could walk away from the deal without paying a break up fee.

In recent private meetings, John Hess told investors he did not know Exxon's end game with the arbitration. If Exxon succeeds, Hess and Chevron say they would call off the deal, and Hess said this would mean Exxon could not exercise its right of first refusal on the Guyana assets.

If the arbitration succeeds and Chevron walks away, Hess would have few alternate buyers given the pre-emption right to any future deal, said Biraj Borkhataria, an energy analyst with researcher RBC Capital Markets.

Chevron sorely needs the deal to keep up with rival Exxon, which this month closed its $60 billion acquisition of shale producer Pioneer Natural Resources.

The lucrative Guyana oilfields from Hess would help Chevron hedge geopolitical risks associated with TengizChevroil project in Kazakhstan, which moves most of its oil across Russia to a Black Sea port. It would also help balance overruns at Chevron's Australian liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, hit by labor and operating troubles.

A spokesperson said Chevron "looks forward to Hess obtaining a successful shareholder vote and completing the transaction on the terms of our merger agreement." Last month, CEO Michael Wirth said Chevron would be in good shape regardless of the acquisition.

Some Hess shareholders wonder if Exxon would make a higher offer for the Guyana assets than what they would get from Chevron's bid for the company. There are no legal impediments to an Exxon offer before Tuesday, but Exxon has said it wanted to have its rights over the Guyana asset affirmed before making any decision on a bid.

Exxon has also said it would not seek to acquire Hess as a whole.

I don't see how Exxon can bid (for Hess) when they have said they would not, said oil analyst Paul Sankey, from Sankey Research firm. Unless they wait a while, and things change a lot. I mean years.

(Reporting by Sabrina Valle in Houston and Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Boston; Editing by David Gregorio)
"Hiding like Count Dracula": Ukrainian intelligence knows where Putin's bunkers are

Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (DIU) knows the locations of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's bunkers.

Source: Andrii Yusov, representative of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), on air of the national 24/7 newscast on 23 May

Quote: "The information about Putin's bunkers is known and continuously updated. One of the aliases of the Russian dictator is "Bunkernyi." He loves this business... like Count Dracula hiding in these dungeons."

Details: Yusov did not specify how many underground hideouts Putin has exactly.



Background:

Russian media outlets reported that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has a global network of secret bunkers stretching from Moscow to the Ural region and continues to build underground shelters in Russia.

In 2023, Business Insider released diagrams and drawings of the underground part of Putin's palace in Gelendzhik, Russia's Krasnodar Krai.

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ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  Police in Roanoke say a man is dead after a high-speed chase in the Northwest area early Thursday morning.

According to the Roanoke Police Department (RPD), on May 23 just after 1 a.m., while on patrol near 5th Street NW and Shenandoah Avenue NW, an officer spotted a vehicle driving recklessly with its headlights off.

The officer began following the vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop; however, the male driver allegedly refused to stop and began driving faster.

Police said the driver continued speeding and disregarded several stop signs. He eventually lost control and crashed in the 2300 block of Shenandoah Avenue NW.

Man injured in Southeast Roanoke shooting, investigation underway

The man was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, where he later died. The name of the driver has not been released at this time.

The police department said no officers or civilians were injured during the pursuit.

In accordance with the RPDs policy, Virginia State Police are handling this investigation.

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Hiker Played Dead While Being Mauled by Grizzly Bear, Who May Have Been Protecting Cub

A Massachusetts man was injured following a bear attack in Wyoming on May 19

Getty A stock image of a grizzly bear

A Massachusetts hiker who was mauled by a bear on May 19 in Wyoming reportedly told officials that he pretended to be dead as he was being bitten.

According to a news release from Grand Teton National Park, authorities received a report of a man who was seriously injured by a bear in the Signal Mountain Summit Road area.

Grand Teton National Park rangers and Teton County Search and Rescue personnel responded to the scene to provide emergency medical care and air lifted the patient via helicopter to an awaiting ambulance where he was transported to St. Johns Hospital, the statement read, adding that the man, 35, was in stable condition and expected to recover from his injuries.

The park also said that the incident may have been a surprise encounter involving the man and two grizzly bears, with one of the bears contacting and injuring the visitor, based on a preliminary investigation and initial reports.

Related: How to Prevent Bear Attacks and What to Do If a Bear Approaches You, According to Experts

The Associated Press reported that the victim, who was not identified, told officials that he encountered a small bear that ran away from him. Then, according to the Massachusetts hiker, a large bear came at him as he was holding bear-repellent spray.

The man then fell to the ground before he could use the repellent and had his fingers on his neck and another finger on the canister. He was bitten several times by the bear until the animal bit into the canister, which burst.

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Both bears then ran away, the AP reported. The injured man was able to get to an area that had cell phone coverage and contacted for help.

Related: Tourist Mauled After Rolling Down Window to Take Selfie with Bear

Per a statement, via the AP, park officials said that the bear who bit the man and the canister wont be captured or killed because the animal was probably trying to protect a cub.

PEOPLE reached out to Grand Teton National Park for additional information.

The Grand Teton National Park in its statement about the incident offered tips on avoiding human-bear conflictsamong them, not leaving food unattended unless it is secured; giving the bear space if you see one and staying away from the animal for at least 100 yards; and not eating or cooking in a tent.

The incident comes just three days after a 36-year-old man suffered numerous injuries following an attack by an adult grizzly bear in Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced. The victim's father, who was with his son at the time, called for help.

Related: Pennsylvania Man Bitten on the Head During Bear Attack Inside His Garage: 'I Got Pummeled'

The injured man was later rescued and transported to a hospital; he was reported in stable condition as he was leaving the scene, said authorities. The bear in that incident was later found deceased.



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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Five foreign nationals in Brunei were sentenced to imprisonment and fined for immigration violations, according to the Immigration and National Registration Department (INRD) of Brunei Darussalam.

According to the INRD, a 64-year-old Filipino was sentenced to nine months in prison and an 800 Brunei dollars (590 U.S. dollars) fine in lieu of whipping for overstaying. The man failed to pay the fine and had his imprisonment extended to 10 months, the local daily Borneo Bulletin reported on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a 60-year-old Indian national was sentenced to six months in prison for overstaying.

In another case, three Indonesians were arrested and sentenced to prison, including a 50-year-old man receiving a final sentence of six months in prison, and the other two sentenced to two-year imprisonment and three whippings for conspiring to help the 50-year-old leave the country illegally. 
Hillsborough County commencement ceremonies kicked off May 14, with most of them being held at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall. More than 14,200 seniors are graduating from the school district this year, including 275 Chamberlain seniors who received their diplomas on Wednesday. Celebrations for Pasco County graduates will start May 28 and continue into early June.

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Latino library patrons say Green Road branch needs improvements, and it needs them now

Coreen Villalobos aims to improve her English language skills every day.

She says spending time with her 13-year-old son, Julio, at the Green Road Community Library has helped her learn more and practice those skills.

Every child, regardless of their ZIP code, deserves access to a powerful library, Villalobos said. A place where dreams are nurtured and futures are forged. The Green Road library should not only be a beacon of knowledge for my family, but for all families in our area.

Villalobos is one of dozens Latino community members who are asking Wake County leaders to improve and expand the Green Road Community Library in northeast Raleigh. She and others spoke before the Wake County Board of Commissioners multiple times over the last month.

The library is included in a proposed $142 million bond for the countys libraries this fall, but some say the renovations should happen sooner to serve the centers significant Hispanic population.

Julio Villalobos called the Green Road library a sanctuary less than 10 minutes from his familys home.

It has served as our main family reference and learning center, he said. Shaping the minds and futures of children, teens like me, young adults and adults who want to better themselves like my mom. The Green Road library finds itself neglected in budgetary discussions. This exclusion from priority investments is not only unjust but threatens to perpetuate inequities in our community.

Rocio Anderson, president of the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals, has tried to bring programs to the Green Road library but said there isnt enough space for their events.

Youve heard the needs that the library has, she said, appealing to the Wake County commissioners. But more than that, the needs of the community are very important. We want to make sure that the library provides enhanced learning opportunities with additional space and resources, (and) improve technology access. The digital divide is a real thing.

Jeri Lewis looks for books to check out at the Green Road Library in Raleigh on Tuesday, May 22, 2024.

Hispanic reach

Wake County measures potential users for a particular library branch by looking at the population within a 10-minute drive. For Green Road, thats just over 130,000 people. And, according to the most recent U.S. Census data, about 19% or 24,700 people, identify as Hispanic within that 10-minute drive.

Its one of the Wake County Public Libraries busiest branches for Spanish speakers, said Matt Roylance, interim library director.

You love hearing about how important it is to the community and how much they love coming to the library, Roylance said. Thats the impact we want to have with all of our libraries. And so to hear that people care that much about Green Road is wonderful. And thats the experience that we hope to create with all our libraries, that people love them that much.

Wake County Public Libraries has about 14,000 books offered in languages other than English, most of them in Spanish. But those are spread across the countys 23 locations.

Green Road has about twice the number of Spanish language books as any other community branch because were being response to what the community there is interested in reading, Roylance said.

Luisa Scott is a social worker who works with the Latino community near the Green Road Community Library.

Libraries are sanctuaries of knowledge, havens of learning, centers of community engagement, she said. As our community grows, so do the demands of Green Road library. It is imperative that we provide the necessary funds to expand our library to meet these increasing needs.

Wake Tech student, Alusine Kamara, studies at the Green Road Library in Raleigh on Tuesday, May 22, 2024.

Library bond

Green Road Community Library is one of eight libraries in a proposed $142 million bond for renovations. It would receive $3.5 million for renovations.

The other branches listed for renovations are Leesville, Northeast, Richard B. Harrison, Southeast, Zebulon, Fayetteville Street and the Library Administration building.

A new library in Rolesville and in the Friendship area of Apex, replacements of the Athens Drive Community Library and the Wendell Community Library and an expansion of the Fuquay-Varina Community Library are also included in the proposed bond.

Our libraries get a lot of love and wear and tear, Roylance said. And when they get to a certain age, like anything else that gets that much use, it just doesnt look quite as nice as you would like it too. And theyre starting to show a little bit of that wear and age. Its been since 2012 since (Green Road) was last renovated.

Leonor Clavijo, a member of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, said her three children sometimes call Green Road branch the poor library because of the shape it is in.

They dont want to go sometimes, and I dont want my kids continuing to say that, she said. So we believe its very important to have equal access to libraries, and that the kids feel that every library in the county is the same.

Uncertain schedule

The schedule for the library bond projects isnt set in stone, but design on the Green Road library is tentatively scheduled for 2029 with construction starting a year later. Community members say the work should happen sooner.

Renovations normally include upgrading furniture and lighting, shelving and the placement of the circulation desk and computers.

But just because a project is included in a bond proposal doesnt mean it will happen.

Voters approved a $45 million library bond in 2007. Ultimately, two more libraries, Eva Perry Regional and North Regional, were added to the bond after it was backed by voters. And a plan to buy land for a North Hills branch ended up not happening.

Any project could possibly be bumped, Roylance said. With North Hills, the issue was we just couldnt find a space at a price that would work. The other common thing that comes up is cost escalations. Sometimes we think were going to do 10 projects, for example, and then all 10 of them are more expensive than we thought and so either we have to cut back on all of them, or we have to maybe only do nine out of the 10 to be able to afford the increased cost.

This bond package does include built-in escalation costs but there are no guarantees, he said.

If the bond is approved by voters, its expected to result in a 0.25-cent property tax rate increase in 2025. That would cost the owner of a $480,000 home, the countys median price, about $12 a year.

Residents can weigh in on the proposed $142 million bond referendum during the county commissioners 2 p.m. July 8 meeting at the Wake County Justice Center, 300 S. Salisbury St. in downtown Raleigh. Election day is Nov. 5.
This article was originally published in Open Campus.

Kadeidra Henderson is a student at Bishop State Community College, in Mobile, Ala. She didnt initially care much about the history of her institution  originally, higher education wasnt in her plans.

I am 25 years old, and I was trying every way possible not to go to college. I didnt want the student loans. I didnt want that, said Henderson.

When it came to deciding whether or not to further her education, Henderson realized that attending a historically Black community college just seven miles from her high school  Davidson High in Mobile  was a viable option.

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When I did a little bit more research, I saw that you get a bit more money for having a Bachelor of Science, and they only have an Associate of Science. So I was like, okay, Ill just take the first step. It isnt hard to go ahead and take the first step that leads you to where you are trying to go.

Henderson serves as Miss Bishop State, a leadership position on campus that involves giving back to the community and uplifting the students.

Historically Black colleges and universities are such an institution in the United States that they are commonly referred to by an acronym  HBCUs  but its a lesser-known fact that two-year programs exist to serve this student population as well. Though the HBCU experience is typically tied to prestigious four-year schools like Howard University, Spelman College, and North Carolina A&T, some say the importance and unique aspects of two-year Black institutions are overlooked.

Historically Black community colleges (HBCCs) are two-year institutions that generally lead to an associate degree. According to Complete College, HBCCs are defined as institutions with a historical mission of serving Black students that predates the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

H.M. Kuneyl, a Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois, researches the history of community colleges and their unique role within the broader landscape of higher education.

Kuneyl spent time at a community college in Texas earlier in her academic career. While researching, Kuneyl realized that many pieces were missing from the history of HBCCs.

Im thinking, well, wait a minute, what does it look like to be an institution that is theoretically open access in a time of the Jim Crow and a time of segregation, where is this story? she said. So that is what led me to focus on the history of HBCUs, or what we call them, HBCC, historically Black community colleges.

Florida once had 12 Black junior colleges that closed in the aftermath of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Research showed certain shared characteristics for all 12 of these institutions.

All of these colleges are located in the southern former Confederate states. They were developed and began serving students during segregation, and most of those were actually developed after Brown v. Board of 1954 and 55, so that tells you a lot about why these institutions were built and who they were intended to serve, Kuneyl said.

I think the way that I looked at college was completely wrong, but this community college that I started going to made me have a whole different perspective, Henderson said. Your education will help you make money rather than lose it, so when I started going to Bishop State, I started getting involved. They have so many different opportunities for you.

Affordability makes community colleges attractive, and HBCUs can play an important role in helping students shore up their academics before heading to another institution, according to Gregory Price, a professor of economics at the University of New Orleans.

Community colleges likely have an advantage in remediating any academic deficiencies. If youre weak in math and reading, community colleges are probably better able to address those shortfalls. And they can do it at a lower cost because operational expenses are probably lower, said Price.

According to a UNCF report, many Black students face barriers when it comes to accessing college and achieving success. These obstacles include insufficient academic readiness, limited access to necessary technology and resources, as well as higher chances of balancing caregiving duties and full-time employment.

Only 57% of Black students have access to the full range of math and science courses necessary for college readiness, compared to 81% of Asian American students and 71% of white students, the report reads.

After graduation, Henderson plans on attending Tennessee State University, an HBCU in Nashville, to study dental hygiene. She feels the relationship between Bishop State and other HBCUs in Alabama and surrounding areas isnt as pronounced as it could be.

We have so many career fairs at our school, but none of them are HBCUs. Were close to Alabama A&M, and I never see their table, she said. We dont have the HBCU tables that we need. I think we all have to do our own research on that. Even our advisors, theyre the ones who are looking up HBCUs for us.

This relates with Kuneyls research, which highlights how the historical narrative of education often overlooks the experiences of racially minoritized students, especially in community colleges.

Theres a lot of interest in helping racially minoritized students, but there wasnt a lot of history about the institutions that serve these students. In particular, community college history is often told from a northern white perspective, said Kuneyl.
The history of the We Energies Cookie Book

99. Every year, the company compiles recipes submitted by residents in the annual We Energies Cookie Book. The book was introduced in 1928, back when the company was known as the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.

Pecan fingers, snickerdoodles, butterscotch bars and more.

Wisconsin residents have been making Christmas treats published in the annual We Energies Cookie Book for nearly a hundred years.

Every year, the company compiles recipes submitted by residents in a book celebrating themes like military service and hometown favorites.

Picking up a copy of the book has become a Christmas tradition in many Wisconsin households. Some longtime Wisconsinites collect copies for years, passing them down through generations.

The We Energies Cookie Book was introduced in 1928, back when the company was known as the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.

The book was sent to customers to promote the companys appliances. Through the 1930s, the book grew in popularity and was distributed at the Public Service Building in downtown Milwaukee.

The book has gone through temporary changes over the years. During World War II, the 1942 edition had 14 recipes for wartime cookies, featuring cookie low in shortening and sugar to accommodate for rationing ingredients during the war.

After the 1973 book, the company stopped publishing the book until 1984 due to rising energy costs. The book was published in 1991, 1998, 2002 and restored to its annual printing tradition in 2006. You can find each cookie book digitally archived at we-energies.com/recipes/archive.

See the rest of Milwaukee's 100 objects

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The history of the Wisconsin We Energies Cookie Book
Prince George's County Executive, and Democratic Senate nominee, Angela Alsobrooks in Baltimore where she promised Wednesday to support abortion access if elected - and attacked GOP Senate nominee Larry Hogan's claims that he would do the same. Photo by Danielle J. Brown.

Republican Senate nominee Larry Hogan doubled down Wednesday on his pledge to be a pro-choice senator, promising to support legislation codifying the protections of Roe v. Wade that guaranteed a right to an abortion up to 26 weeks.

But his Democratic opponent, Angela Alsobrooks, shot back Wednesday, arguing that Hogans time as Marylands governor proves that voters cant trust his newfound position on abortion.

Political analysts say it was necessary Hogan for come out in support of some abortion protections if he hopes to win a Senate seat this fall, as abortion continues to be one of the issues driving voters to the polls since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Especially in a place like Maryland, the fact that Hogan chose it to be the topic of his first general election ad is a clear sign that this is an issue he wants to get ahead of, Jacob Rubashkin, deputy editor for Inside Elections, said Wednesday. He added that Hogan clearly sees abortion as his No. 1 vulnerability in this race.

Hogan, who described himself as personally pro-life, has previously avoided definitive statements on what abortion access should look like in Maryland and nationally. The former governor, who served from 2015 to 2023, said then that considered abortion protections to be settled law in Maryland.

That said, Hogan vetoed a measure in 2022 that would have expand abortion access in the state. When the legislature overrode his veto, Hogan withheld state funding to train nonphysicians to perform abortions, funding that Gov. Wes Moore (D) released on his first day in office in 2023.

But Tuesday, Hogans campaign released an ad saying he would support legislation that makes Roe the law of the land, in every state, so that every woman can make her own choice.

He expanded on that stance Wednesday during an appearance on WBAL Radio to talk about his crime plan.

It was the law for 50 years and thats the way we were operating, Hogan said of the 1973 Supreme Court ruling. And theres a compromise bill  that would just re-enshrine pre-existing law.

He said that bill would allow abortions up to 26 weeks, claiming that the Democrats, including Alsobrooks, want to go further than that and take it up to the moment of birth.

Then-Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) in 2022. Now running for Senate, he claims to support abortion rights. Photo from the Executive Office of the Governor.

Rubashkin said Hogan knows that this is the issue that Democrats are going to hit him on and so he wants to start defining himself on abortion before Democrats can try and litigate his record.

Thats exactly what Democrats tried to do Wednesday.

The Alsobrooks campaign has long branded Hogan as a threat to abortion access if he wins the Senate seat. At a news conference Wednesday outside the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Alsobrooks said that voters should look to Hogans history.

We are going to stand strong on this issue, that we send out the message again, that it is not your words that matter. It is your actions, she said.

Republicans see Hogan as a ticket to national abortion ban, Alsobrooks said. They believe that road runs through Larry Hogan and runs through the state of Maryland.

If elected, Alsobrooks said she intends to co-sponsor the Womens Health Protection Act to codify in federal law a womans right to choose.

We cannot trust anyone with this, said Alsobrooks, who was backed by state lawmakers and abortion-right supporters.

Rubashkin suspects that Hogan may lose some votes from the anti-abortion crowd, but for the most part, Republicans will likely still vote for the Republican candidate.

The strategy here is that whatever kind of minimal drop-off is made on the Republican side by taking this stance is far outweighed by the number of voters he maintains the possibility of winning over by articulating a pro-Roe stance, Rubashkin said. He keeps himself alive with the independents and even some moderate Democrats if he takes this stance.

An April poll from Goucher College, in partnership with the Baltimore Banner, said 60% of Maryland voters said a candidates position on abortion would be a major factor in determining their vote. Among Democrats surveyed, 70% said abortion would be a major factor in the primary, compared to 47% of Republicans and independent voters.

Regardless of what he (Hogan) may believe in his heart, and thats beyond my pay grade, Rubaskin said, I think that politically, to win statewide in Maryland in a Senate race, this is where you have to be.

Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Marys College of Maryland, agreed.

This is something I think Hogan had to do, and the campaign realized they had to do it. And it gains them more votes than it probably costs them, he said.

If Larry Hogan came out and basically said that he would not support codifying Roe, that he wanted it to be decided solely by the states, that he wouldnt protect that right  it would be the death knell of his campaign, Eberly said.

Both Eberly and Rubashkin believe Democrats will continue to question Hogans commitment to abortion rights. Eberly added that if Hogan reversed course once in the Senate and did not keep his campaign promise to support abortion access, he might have a hard time getting reelected, but there would be little repercussion during his term.

I suspect thats one of the messages that the Democrats would use  that if he doesnt keep his word, hes there for six years with no recourse, Eberly said.

 Maryland Matters reporter Bryan P. Sears contributed to this report.

The post Hogan doubles down on abortion stance; Dems say his track record shows otherwise appeared first on Maryland Matters.
A lawyer for Karen Read tried to implicate a key prosecution witness on Wednesday, accusing Jennifer McCabe of conducting an incriminating internet search hours before John OKeefes body was discovered and then deleting the search to cover her tracks.

Sisters who vacationed in Aruba with Read, OKeefe before his death detail tense moments during trip

Read, 44, of Mansfield, is accused of striking OKeefe with her SUV on Jan. 29, 2022, and leaving him for dead in a snowbank in the Boston suburb of Canton. She has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges.

The case has garnered national attention because the defense alleges that state and local law enforcement officials framed Read and allowed the real killer to go free. OKeefes body was found outside the home of another Boston police officer, Brian Albert, and the defense argues his relationship with local and state police tainted their investigation.

After a night out drinking at several bars, prosecutors say Read dropped OKeefe off at a house party hosted by Albert and his wife just after midnight. As she made a three-point turn, prosecutors say, she struck OKeefe before driving away. She returned hours later to find him in a snowbank.

Jennifer McCabe, a friend of the couple and Alberts sister-in-law, previously testified that soon after OKeefes body was found, Read screamed, I hit him! I hit him! I hit him! and frantically asked her to conduct a Google search on how long it takes for someone to die of hypothermia.

But Reads attorney showed jurors cellphone data Wednesday that suggested McCabe also did an internet search for variations of how long to die in cold four hours earlier.

You made that search at 2:27 am because you knew that John OKeefe was outside on your sisters lawn dying in the cold, didnt you? attorney Alan Jackson asked McCabe. Did you delete that search because you knew you would be implicated in John OKeefes death if that search was found on your phone?

I did not delete that search. I never made that search, McCabe said. I never would have left John OKeefe out in the cold to die because he was my friend that I loved.

Witness Jennifer McCabe denies deleting phone calls

Jackson said it was awfully convenient that McCabe disavowed the search, which he said would exonerate his client. He also pressed McCabe on why she told grand jurors a dozen times that Read said, Did I hit him? or Could I have hit him, and not the definitive, I hit him that she now says she heard.

He suggested McCabe changed her story after experiencing what she has described as vicious harassment from Reads supporters.

You were upset by April of 2023 that there was public outrage about your family being involved in the death of John OKeefe, he said. And two months later, in June of 2023, for the first time, you testified at another proceeding, and lo and behold, you attributed the words I hit him to my client.

McCabe acknowledged that she first used those words under oath in June but insisted she also had told an investigator the same thing in the days after OKeefes death.

She also described daily, near hourly harassment directed at her family, including a rolling rally past her home, though the judge warned jurors that there is no evidence Read herself orchestrated it and that it shouldnt be used against her.

I was outraged because I am a state witness that is being tortured because of lies, McCabe said. I am not on trial, and these people are terrorizing me.

There will be no testimony on Thursday. The trial resumes on Friday at 9 a.m.

Get caught up on Wednesdays testimony:

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The House on Wednesday night advanced an $883.7 billion defense policy bill for fiscal 2025. It provides a 20% pay boost to junior enlisted troops while pushing back against the Defense Departments shipbuilding and Air Force procurement plans.

The Armed Services Committee voted 57-1 to advance the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act to the House floor after considering more than 700 amendments during a roughly 12-hour markup. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., cast the single vote against the legislation.

The bill adheres to the spending caps from last years debt ceiling deal, allowing a 1% increase over the $874.2 billion FY24 defense policy bill.

This bill is also the product of hundreds of hours of oversight done by all members and staff over the past few months, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., said ahead of the committee vote. It is a good bill that will help revitalize the defense industrial base and build the ready, capable, and lethal fighting force we need to deter China and our other adversaries.

The legislation would incrementally fund a second attack submarine for FY25 against the Pentagons wishes, block certain aircraft retirements and maintain restrictions on downsizing the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

The Navy, citing industrial base delays, only asked for one Virginia-class submarine for FY25 in a break from the two-per-year cadence. But the defense bill provides $1 billion toward funding for the second submarine and intends to provide additional funds for the vessel in future fiscal years.

Meanwhile, the bill would procure 58 F-35 fighter jets for FY25, 10 less than the Pentagon requested amid growing congressional frustration with manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Ma., floated  then withdrew  an amendment that would have authorized the defense secretary to seize intellectual property from Lockheed Martin and open it up to competition, taking aim at the F-35s software problems.

Moulton was not able to hold a vote on the amendment after a Congressional Budget Office cost determination but that didnt stop lawmakers from excoriating Lockheed Martin.

We all know that the F-35 program is behind schedule, said Moulton. Its way over budget grossly and its not delivering the programs ready to fight that we need.

Several Republicans, including Reps. Morgan Lutrell of Texas as well as Carlos Gimenez and Cory Mills of Florida, also said they may support Moultons efforts in the years ahead.

But Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the top Democrat on the committee, cautioned that its no small thing for the government to confiscate intellectual property.

In law, we would possibly have to compensate them for that, which would be really, really, really expensive, said Smith.

Additionally, the bill would block the Air Forces effort to retire 32 Block 20 F-22 Raptors, also made by Lockheed Martin, through FY27. It would also pause the Air Forces plans to retire 26 F-15E Strike Eagles, made by Boeing.

The bill also prevents efforts to retire the B83 nuclear gravity bomb, which is at least 80 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, and requires the military to deploy at least 400 intercontinental ballistic missiles.

It also establishes a chief talent management officer at the Pentagon to improve recruitment, retention and workforce development for military personnel and civilian employees alike.

The committee also adopted an amendment that would automatically register all male U.S. residents ages 18 to 26 into the Selective Service amid a drop in mandatory registrations from eligible individuals in recent years. The committee adopted the amendment from Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., by voice vote.

The committee also voted down multiple amendments. For instance, it overwhelmingly voted 46-11 against an amendment from Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., that would have abolished the requirement for military services and combatant commands to submit annual unfunded priorities lists to Congress.

They also struck down 48-10 an amendment from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., that would have banned the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine.

Quality of life

This years committee draft of the authorization bill had a specific focus on military quality of life issues, after panel lawmakers spent the last 15 months reviewing ways to address frequent complaints among troops and family members.

No service member should have to live in squalid conditions. No military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, said Rogers. And no one serving this country should have to wait weeks to see a doctor or a mental health specialist.

This bill will go a long way toward fixing that.

The measure contains a dramatic overhaul of the militarys pay tables, giving a pay bump of nearly 20% to junior enlisted troops next year. The move would bring almost every service members base pay to more than $30,000 a year, a move lawmakers hope will limit the financial strain on younger military families.

The authorization bill also includes increases to troops housing allowances (bringing them up to 100% of regional housing costs) and expands eligibility for the militarys Basic Allowance for Subsistence stipend.

And lawmakers also inserted language in the defense bill improving pay and benefits for Defense Department child care workers, to help with recruiting and retention of those posts.

Those reforms are included alongside a 4.5% pay raise for all troops next year, which would be the third consecutive year of increases of more than 4% for the military.

Not including that salary hike, the cost of the quality of life reforms total about $4.2 billion, a significant section of the constrained authorization bill total. But supporters said the moves are needed now to ensure that the services can keep pace on recruiting and retention issues.

The Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to take up its version of the legislation in June.
An accused murderer and Renaissance fair enthusiast out on $100,000 bond as she awaits trial for allegedly shooting her boyfriend in the head has made a mockery of her release conditions, according to prosecutors, who say the woman surreptitiously ditched her court-ordered ankle monitor nearly three years agowhile under house arrest.

The Missouri Attorney Generals Office now wants Alice Patricia Weiss locked up for her brazen behavior, telling the judge overseeing the case that the 67-year-old lied about her whereabouts. A motion for rearrest filed by the AG says the government is now concerned for the safety of the community, including witnesses, and says Weiss, who is charged with second-degree murder over the April 2004 shooting of then-boyfriend James Summers, is a dangerous flight risk.

Kodi Herlein, who lives across the street from Weiss in Columbia, Missouri, told The Daily Beast that she is outraged by the situation.

Throughout it all, the alleged killer remained in place as treasurer of her local homeowners association, which Herlein says Weiss has used as a cudgel to drag her and her husband into court over minor HOA violations. (Another neighbor previously told The Daily Beast that Weiss was a pain in the ass, and would argue with you about the color of the sky.)

We attended the HOA annual board meeting May 3, 2022 and asked Alice to resign from the HOA board due to her second-degree murder charge, and she refused, Herlein said.

Weiss attorney, Scott Rosenblum, did not respond to a request for comment. Her former attorney, who Weiss fired last December, previously told The Daily Beast that Weiss firmly maintain[ed] her innocence. The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorneys Office chose not to file charges 17 years ago for a reason. He said the circumstantial evidence amassed by prosecutors will prove to be misleading.

The morning after this article was first published, Weiss emailed The Daily Beast with her side of the story. She claimed the ankle monitor issue was a misunderstanding; that there was a mixup and the AGs office got it wrong.

The AGs Motion stated very clearly that they believe I have been lying to the court for almost 3 years now, Weiss wrote. The truth is that my attorney submitted motions at various times to the court to amend my bond conditions so that I could 1) go to the funerals of friends; and 2) attend several Renaissance Festivals.

The AG made a mistake, Weiss argued.

They know now that they made a mistake, but they refuse to admit it officially, she wrote. They could simply withdraw their motion now that they know they made a mistake, but they have chosen not to do so.

Police believe Weiss shot Summers in the head and back with a .22-caliber pistol some two decades ago, leaving him for dead in the driveway of his Dittmer, Missouri home. Investigators questioned Weiss in the aftermath, and fingered her as the prime suspect.

No other credible suspects ever emerged, but charges were never filed until August 11, 2021, when Weiss was arrested for the cold-case murder. She told a series of conflicting stories to detectives, who considered her excuses implausible, according to a probable cause statement filed at the time by the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office.

Years after the shooting, Weiss cousin told police that Weiss confessed to him in 2008, saying that she always wanted to know if killing someone was as pleasurable as sex, the probable cause statement alleges. The cousin, who is not identified by name in court papers, said he asked Weiss why she had shot Summers. In response, according to the probable cause statement, Weiss said there was little difference between love and hate, after which she went on to compare Summers to her older brother, whom she hated.

A week after Weiss was arrested and ordered held without bail, her attorney successfully petitioned the court to release her on $100,000 bond, with the special conditions of house arrest with GPS monitoring, according to the AGs motion for rearrest, which was filed May 15. The next day, Weiss was released and fitted with a GPS-enabled ankle monitor.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=103172505429911&set=a.103172528763242

On Sept. 1, 2021, Weiss asked the judge for permission to switch to another ankle monitor provider, which was granted, according to the rearrest motion. (The motion does not specify Weiss reason but the new provider, Missouri Alternative Pre-Trial Services, was $70 cheaper for defendants.) She was directed to immediately engage with MAPTS, the motion states.

Weiss case continued to slowly wind its way through the system, and she was kept on a relatively short leash, court documents show. In late August 2023, Weisswho says she lives on Social Security benefitspetitioned the court, unsuccessfully, for permission to attend a pair of Renaissance festivals as a way for her to supplement her income.

As 2024 got underway, Weiss decided to sell her home, according to a March 28 court filing. She asked for permission to leave her house so she could properly search for another place to live, which was granted, as long as she notified MAPTS every time she went out and submitted a written log of her movements to supplement the GPS tracking.

This order does not amend any other bond conditions or house arrest conditions, the judges order states.

But on March 29, a state investigator contacted MAPTS to confirm the new terms of Weiss bond and instead learned she had never been under GPS monitoring with them, according to the AGs rearrest motion.

The investigator quickly discovered she had simply ditched her monitor on the day she was supposed to change providers.

In all, Weiss was only on GPS monitoring for a mere 22 days since bonding out 984 days ago. The motion says she also failed to file with the Court a log of her travels pertaining to the selling of her home for the month of April. Accordingly, the motion argues, Weiss has violated the conditions of her bond and should be jailed.

Kodi Herlein told The Daily Beast she cannot comprehend how Weiss somehow slipped through the cracks.

But Weiss argued in her email on Thursday that she did, in fact, sign up with a new monitoring company with a similar name, which led to a great deal of confusion. She said her bail bondsman runs a monitoring company that was previously named Missouri Alternative Pre-Trial Services and abbreviated MAPS, and that she has been a client of theirs since Sept. 9, 2021, when she switched from EMASS.

However, MAPS changed their company name to ASAP Monitoring in January 2023, Weiss wrote. They notified the court of the name change. It seems that the court never updated their records. There is another company with an almost identical name, but they abbreviate it MAPTS. They are two entirely different companies. The Attorney Generals investigator CALLED MAPTS, WHICH IS THE WRONG COMPANY. That company naturally said I was not one of their clients.

She also said that she did not submit her April travel log because she did not make any trips for the purposes of selling her home until May.

According to a website set up in support of Weiss, she is simply the victim of slander and libel by a political campaign. The site says Attorney General Eric Schmitt had aspirations to run for U.S. Senate, and brought the charges against Weiss to appear tough on crime. It also portrays the cousin who said Weiss confessed to him as a problematic witness with a delusional mental disorder, who held a grudge against Weiss over deep intrafamilial strife.

The website Alice is Innocent, which includes contact info for Weiss and her present attorney, says Weiss met Summers when she was 45 and running the computer network at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The two quickly hit it off and moved in together.

Shockingly, on April 27, 2004, Jim was shot outside their home as he was leaving to pick up his daughter from gymnastics class, the site contends. Alice was showering at the time, heard several shots, and when she went outside to investigate she found Jim lying on the ground covered in blood. She immediately called 911.

It says Summers was a classic car enthusiast, and that [t]housands of dollars of car parts and personal objects were stolen, but police did not investigate the theft, look into a recent threat to Jim, inspect the grounds for other clues, or check phone records, and the case remained unsolved. Until, that is, when Weiss was arrested and charged 17 years later.

Alice suffers from degenerative disc disease, cervical stenosis, chronic sciatica, polymyalgia rheumatica, shingles, ulnar nerve entrapment, rheumatoid arthritis and neuropathy, and lives in great pain, the website claims. When she leaves her house for events that involve standing or sitting for lengthy periods, she must do so in a wheelchair Alice also has Severe Gluten Intolerance, and cannot eat most normal food without experiencing severe abdominal pain In 2019, Alice had surgery on her neck because steroid injections were no longer effective and the pain had become unbearable. She now has titanium implants in her neck. She lives every day in pain.

In a photo posted on the site, Weiss is pictured at the Central Missouri Renaissance Festival, in full medieval regalia, which, according to the site, she could only attend in her wheelchair.

Weiss was scheduled to appear in court on Monday afternoon, via video link, to answer the AGs charge of violating her bond. However, the hearing never took place and Weiss remains free. The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office confirmed in an email that Weiss is not in its custody.

Weiss wrote on Thursday that she would never in a million years have risked going back to jail by discontinuing my GPS monitoring.

The Jefferson County, MO jail is a death trap for me because they refused to honor my medically-prescribed diet (I suffer from severe gluten intolerance and must follow a fat-free diet due to gallbladder issues), and so for 8 days I had no food to eat, and I lost 10 lbs, she said in her email. They also refused to give me the correct dose of a medication I need to take every day in order to stay alive, saying it was too expensive. If I had to go back to that jail I would be dead in less than a month. I cannot and would not risk that.

Herlein, for her part, said, What shes put us through, its like were prisoners in our own home.

As for Weiss, she remains steadfast in proclaiming her innocence.

You know absolutely nothing about my case except for what you read in the online court records or might have been told by members of law enforcement, she told The Daily Beast. If you attend the trial, you will find out the truth.

Weiss trial is set to begin Dec. 13.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The military would dedicate more Lockheed Martin-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to testing new technologies and capabilities under the Houses proposed fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.

An amendment proposed by Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., and adopted by a voice vote Wednesday would increase the number of developmental test F-35s in the works from six to at least nine, tweaking a provision that was passed as part of the FY24 NDAA.

Wittmans amendment to the annual defense policy bill would also require those test F-35s to come from the 18th lot of jets. That would be sooner than the schedule in the FY24 NDAA, which had its six test F-35s coming from the 19th lot.

Wittmans amendment would also give the military more flexibility to decide which F-35 variants  the Air Forces conventional takeoff-and-landing F-35A, the Marine Corps short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing F-35B, and the Navy and Marine Corps F-35C that can land on carriers  will be used as developmental test jets.

The FY24 NDAA required the Pentagon use two of each variant as test jets, but the latest proposal would not set any such requirements.

The House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday advanced the proposed $883.7 billion bill to the full House after a 12-hour markup.

Wittman, who chairs the panels Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, has frequently spoken about what he considers a need to increase the number of test F-35s to perfect upgrades, such as Technology Refresh 3. The F-35 program is struggling to finish TR-3, its latest series of hardware and software improvements. The effort is now roughly a year behind.

TR-3 is facing software problems and delays in the production of key parts, and a Government Accountability Office report earlier this month said test officials reported the software remains unstable.

Since July, the Pentagon has refused to accept deliveries of the newest F-35s from Lockheed Martin over the TR-3 delays. An undisclosed number of those jets are stored at Lockheed facilities, particularly its factory in Fort Worth, Texas, but GAO warned in its May 16 report that the firm may start running out of room to park undelivered F-35s.

GAO also raised concerns about the F-35s programs testing capacity, which now has jets older than four decades that frequently break.

Four more F-35s are to receive modifications and become test jets by 2026, but GAO said testers would need to use workarounds and could not conduct all the external weapons tests some F-35s would need.

The proposed FY25 NDAA would cut the Pentagons planned F-35 purchase by 10, redirecting the roughly billion dollars in savings to expanding the jets testing capacity, including by buying more test aircraft.

Wittman told reporters this month, after the committee released its proposed bill, that the F-35 programs testing capabilities sorely need improvement and are long overdue. He said failure to invest in sufficient testing infrastructure has directly resulted in problems, such as the TR-3 delays.

GAO also raised concerns in its report about the timetable for bringing on new developmental test F-35s. The six jets that were already in the works would have been unprepared to conduct test flights until 2029 at the earliest. And the plans to retire existing test F-35s, GAO said, would have left the F-35 program with no test jets in 2028 and part of 2029.

Lockheed Martin said testing of the latest version of TR-3 is underway and expects the jets will work well enough for deliveries to resume in the third quarter of 2024. But even if the military accepts delivery of those jets, they would likely only be able to fly training missions and would be unprepared to fly combat operations until 2025.
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) included an amendment to the annual defense bill that would require a report on the impact of a detonation of a nuclear weapon in space and the consequences of publicizing Russias alleged pursuit of a space-based nuclear weapon.

The amendment, agreed to Wednesday night before the HASC passed the National Defense Authorization Act and sent it to the House floor, includes language mandating a report from the U.S. government on whether intelligence sources were compromised or lost after classified information was leaked earlier this year about Russias development of a nuclear weapon in space.

It also asks for the report to include information on what options may have been lost to counter the weapon after it became publicly known, along with the assessment of the impact of a detonation of a nuclear weapon in space.

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), who offered the amendment, said it was vital to know the impact of the leak of information about the Russian weapon.

We should just understand the consequences of that to our nations response to a very serious threat to our national security, he said.

Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), chair of the House Intelligence Committee, was the first to sound the alarm back in February when he warned of a new national security threat. His committee later voted to declassify the information on the threat.

Turner, also a member of the HASC, argued that the U.S. had information about the Russian weapon for some time. The weapon, he said, threatened the economy and daily life.

There are things that need to be done. As time just passes, we lose options and the world becomes less safe and the vulnerabilities become greater, he said. But without the world understanding, you dont have an ability to impact the outcome. You dont have an ability to change Day Zero.

Still, before the Biden administration could publicly divulge details about the Russian weapon following Turners move to declassify, several media outlets reported on it, which Moulton argued was concerning enough to assess the consequences.

The U.S. warned this week that Russia launched an antisatellite weapon into space but it does not appear to be a nuclear weapon.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied preparing to deploy a nuclear weapon in space, but Russia vetoed a measure last month in the United Nations Security Council that would have affirmed the commitment of all nations to abide by the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and prevent the deployment of weapons of mass destruction in space.

Russia offered another resolution at the council this week to prohibit all weapons deployment in space, but the measure was vetoed by the U.S., the U.K. and France.

The HASC-passed National Defense Authorization Act must now head to the House floor, where amendments can be added, removed and changed. It will then have to be reconciled with the Democratic-controlled Senate before Congress can pass the defense bill.

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 The Hill.
Ulviyya Shahin

As of January 1, 2023, the balance of the state fund for environmental protection was 27.6M manats ($16.24M), Azernews reports.

This figure was reflected in the draft law "On the implementation of the state budget of 2023".

Thus, in the reporting year, 6.9M manats ($4.06M) of funds were received into the fund due to payments for the use of nature, fines received for violating the legislation on environmental protection (except for fishing), and funds received from the sale of confiscated hunting tools.

During the reporting period, the Fund's expenses amounted to 12.9M manats ($7.59M) , which, in accordance with the Fund's charter, were used to represent our country at international events (the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (Dubai) and "Green desert is a better environment horticulture exhibition on the theme of the environment (Doha)), aimed at improving the financial support of workers in this field, creating and developing the material and technical base of state bodies operating in the field of environmental protection.

As of January 1, 2024, the Fund's balance was 21.6M manats ($12.71M), or 5.9M manats ($3.47M) decreased compared to the beginning of 2023.
VIENTIANE, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Farmers in southern Laos' Khammuan province will get funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to plow into crop cultivation, with the support scheme targeting 13 farming groups in three districts of the province.

Farmers' groups will use the money to buy machinery and vehicles to streamline the rice cultivation and production process, with their groups expected to make good use of and benefit from the additional working capital at their disposal, according to a report from the local Pasaxon newspaper on Thursday.

The funding will be directed at improved rice production and the provision of paddy seeds for trading farmers' groups, to help them improve the third generation of paddy seeds they use for trading.

The main aim of the project is to improve agricultural infrastructure so that more crops are grown in ways that are commercially viable, as well as resistant to climate change.

The whole production system and agricultural business will be geared to mitigating the effects of climate change, and create a favorable environment for the development of environmentally-friendly agriculture.

The money will be provided under the smallholder finance scheme through the Climate-Friendly Agribusiness Value Chains Sector Project to help agricultural production groups boost crop yields and meet the increasing consumer demand. 
Lawmakers on the GOP-led House Education Committee grilled more university leaders on Thursday, insisting they defend their handling of pro-Palestinian protests and respond to allegations of antisemitism on campus.

As in previous hearings, there were heated exchanges between lawmakers and school officials over what Republicans, especially, are making an election-year issue.

Leaders from Northwestern, Rutgers and UCLA were called as the committee's main witnesses, joining previous appearances by leaders of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Columbia University amid a months long probe the committee says is aimed at rooting out antisemitism.

PHOTO: (L-R) Northwestern president Michael Schill, Rutgers president Jonathan Holloway, Phi Beta Kappa Society CEO Frederick M. Lawrence and UCLA Chancellor Gene Block at a Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing, May 23, 2024, in Washington. (Pool/ABC News)

Rep. Elise Stefanik, who has often taken the lead in the questioning, focused on Northwestern President Michael Schill. The New York Republican blasted Schill for his university's response to antisemitism, citing the Anti-Defamation League giving issued the school an "F" grade.

Schill, who is Jewish, acknowledged several incidents Stefanik cited of Jewish students she said had been physically and verbally assaulted, but also repeated several times that they are under investigation.

MORE: Presidents of universities grilled on efforts to counter antisemitism on campus

"We believe in investigations," he said. "I'm not going to be able to tell you that they'll be finalized."

"But it is a fact you said that there have been zero suspensions, zero expulsions with lots of investigations on their way?" Stefanik demanded.

PHOTO: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) holds out a printout of a reporting on semitism at Northwestern University during a House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing on pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses in Washington, May 23, 2024. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/Reuters)

The Northwestern president acknowledged that no student has been suspended but reiterated that the investigations are ongoing.

During his opening remarks, Schill vowed to crack down on antisemitism and admitted "our existing rules and policies are falling short."

We're going to reconstitute a task force that will benefit from the information from other task forces," he said. "We will revise our student code, we will enhance enforcement, [and] we will increase our security and we will do what we do best, teaching our students about the dangers of antisemitism."

Throughout the hearing Democrats, including Reps. Haley Stevens of Michigan and Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon, grew frustrated with their Republican colleagues.

Bonamici called out what she called the hypocrisy of Republicans who she said wouldn't denounce a video posted on former President Donald Trump's Truth Social platform that had Nazi language. The post was taken down the next day and the Trump campaign claimed it is not a campaign video but rather a random online video reposted by a staffer who did not see the phrase.

MORE: Trump deletes social media video about election victory referencing 'Unified Reich' after facing backlash

Did any of my colleagues on this committee call that out and ask the candidate that most of them have endorsed for its removal, Bomamici said, adding, It baffles me that some people are opposed to antisemitism when it's politically convenient instead of whatever it rears its ugly head.

PHOTO: Northwestern University President Michael Schill testifies during a hearing of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce regarding pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses on Capitol Hill, May 23, 2024, in Washington. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP)

Stevens strongly condemned the premise of the hearing.

It is deeply frustrating and concerning that this is the third hearing that we have had cosplaying about protecting students equally when every single one of my colleagues last term in Congress voted to exclude a group of students from receiving mental health resources, she said.

While Northwestern is a private institution, the heads of Rutgers and UCLA are the only public school leaders to testify since the committee hearings that started in December.

PHOTO: Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., speaks at the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, May 23, 2024, in Washington. (Pool/ABC News)

The five-and-a-half-month election-year crusade has so far resulted in investigations of each school, the subsequent ousters of two university presidents -- Harvard's Claudine Gay and Penn's Liz Magill -- and even the first congressional subpoena of a university in this committee's more than 150-year history.

Before the first two committee hearings and at other House events, Jewish students from those schools have participated in news conferences and roundtables detailing their fears and frustrations with campus leadership.

Last month, as college protests over the Israel-Hamas war boiled over, House Education Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx said her panel had a "clear message for mealy-mouthed, spineless college leaders: Congress will not tolerate your dereliction of your duty to your Jewish students."

PHOTO: Police advance on pro-Palestinian demonstrators in an encampment on the UCLA campus, May 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Jae C. Hong/AP)

She has complained that UCLA did not act quickly enough to remove protesters and that Rutgers and Northwestern officials negotiated with them.

PHOTO: Signs are displayed outside a tent encampment at Northwestern University, April 26, 2024, in Evanston, Ill. (Teresa Crawford/AP)

During the same news conference, House Speaker Mike Johnson expanded the committee's antisemitism probe into a House-wide investigation after weeks of college campus protests, which included encampments at schools that included Columbia University.

MORE: Speaker Johnson, House Republicans ramp up criticism of 'out of control' college protests

Thursday's hearing comes after the cancellation of Columbia's main graduation ceremony and the clearing of several pro-Palestinian demonstrations at universities around the country.

UCLA became a flashpoint of the nationwide campus protests earlier this month when violent clashes broke out between protesters and counter-protesters as police allegedly stood by.

Earlier this week, former UCLA Police Chief John Thomas was reassigned temporarily, pending an examination of the school's security processes, the school said in a statement to ABC News.

Foxx has insisted to ABC News that the Education Committee is not out to get college presidents, saying it has been the committee's goal to hold them accountable and maintain safe learning environments for students.

ABC News' Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.

GOP lawmakers grill Northwestern, Rutgers and UCLA leaders on college protests, alleged antisemitism originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
"The American people understand that President Biden's economic policies actually harm working-class families. The biggest factor in raising workers' wages is a strong economy," U.S. Rep Bob Good, R-Va., said Wednesday at a hearing by the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI

WASHINGTON, May 22 (UPI) -- House representatives clashed Wednesday over the fairness of union organization, with the Republican majority of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions calling it "big labor lies" and "union tactics to undermine free elections."

Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., said the need for unions is not on the radar anymore, and employees' desire to be members is diminishing.

And Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., noted that workers seek better conditions in a robust economy that cannot be achieved under the Biden administration's economic and labor policies.

"The American people understand that President Biden's economic policies actually harm working-class families. The biggest factor in raising workers' wages is a strong economy," Good said.

However, recent polls by public research firm GBAO show that support for unions is at the highest level in decades, particularly among young workers.

Unionizing provides workers with gains in pay, benefits, and working conditions, and non-benefit workers take advantage of it, as well, said Lynn Rhinehart, a senior fellow at the Economic Policy Institute.

"This is the fifth anti-union and anti-worker hearing that the majority has held this Congress," said Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Ga. "And it's no coincidence that these are coming at a time when unions are successfully organizing and negotiating in some of the most difficult places in the country."

Republican representatives, however, questioned the legitimacy of many unions, asserting that often they are organized by a minority of workers and do not wholly represent the workplace.

"[They] might not reflect the true wishes of the majority of workers," said Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich.

Rep. Rick Allen, R-Ga., further questioned the union organizing process, asserting that secret ballot elections should be the standard. He said his proposed Employee Rights Act would help legalize it and "protect workers from coercive union tactics."

However, Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., noted that it's not the unions, but rather the employers act coercively, as 75% of companies conduct mandatory meetings for anti-union campaigns.

Rhinehart reinforced her statement, saying that in general, union organizers cannot get inside the workplace to talk to employees, and employers have the greatest access to workers.

"If the union organizer is not an employee, they have to stand in the parking lot, if the parking lot is open, or they have to stand on the street to try to talk to workers as they come and go from work," she said.

According to McBath, union-to-employer negotiations also imply different stakes for the company and the workers.

She said that if a workplace is closed due to shutdown attempts to organize or workers are illegally fired, they lose their livelihood and the ability to provide for themselves and their families.

However, Rhinehart noted, the National Labor Relations Act does not apply a monetary penalty for illegally firing a worker.

"Many workers are not provided with a fair opportunity to consider the benefits or the drawbacks of unionizing because their employers take advantage of weak enforcement laws," said Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn.

Rhinehart emphasized that unions also benefit the employer because unionized workers have less turnover, which saves the business money on recruitment and replacement.

"We should support employers and unions coming together to reach agreements," she said.
A pair of university presidents testifying Thursday on Capitol Hill managed to quell their campus protests without calling in the police  only to make themselves a target for House Republicans who are lambasting their tactics as defeats.

Once praised in some circles for finding less chaotic ways of diffusing tensions over the Israel-Hamas war, Northwestern University and Rutgers University presidents are now facing GOP backlash for making deals with students to disband their pro-Palestinian encampments.

The hearing about campus antisemitism is the latest in a litany of conservative reprimands for the way colleges balance free speech and public safety. It also serves as another political flare as Speaker Mike Johnson, House Education Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) and other Republicans look to squeeze more attention out of campus strife and cement the idea that their party stands for restoring order ahead of the November election.

Thursdays hearing serves to warn other institutions against hashing out deals with protesters and prod them to impose their policies around campus protests. House Republicans argue that the presidents sidelined the concerns of Jewish students and caved to small groups of students.



Enforce your rules that say no camping on campus, no threatening students, no harassing students, no occupying buildings, Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.), a GOP member of the House education committee, said in an interview. What you shouldnt do is negotiate with people who are breaking the law.

Foxx has called those leaders spineless and referred to their agreements as shocking concessions to the unlawful antisemitic encampments on their campuses.

To disband the encampment on his campus, Northwestern President Michael Schill agreed to cover the tuition and other costs for five Palestinian undergraduates to attend the school and allowed students to continue protests through the end of the quarter, among other deals. At Rutgers University, President Jonathan Holloway agreed not to retaliate against pro-Palestinian protesters, and announced the school would discuss divestment requests with protesters, explore creating an Arab cultural center and support displaced Palestinian students so they can finish their studies at the school.

Northwesterns foremost responsibility is ensuring the safety of our students, a Northwestern spokesperson said in a statement. We are confident in the actions we have taken to address antisemitism on our campus and President Schill looks forward to discussing them with the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

University of California, Los Angeles Chancellor Gene Block, who did not negotiate with protesters but disbanded his encampment with more than 200 arrests, will also testify. The university has faced scrutiny over its response to violence that broke out between protesters at the encampment and counterprotesters. Attacks on the encampment continued for hours before law enforcement stepped in. UCLA Police Chief John Thomas was removed from his post ahead of the hearing.

Republicans have been partial to strict enforcement of campus rules during the tumult, including calling on law enforcement to arrest protesters and deter them from setting up camp. But that tactic has been slammed by Democrats, academics and free speech groups, who have instead lauded colleges that have resolved to negotiate with protesters.

For the House to be scrutinizing these negotiations is a wildly inappropriate interference, said Irene Mulvey, president of the American Association of University Professors, who has been supportive of the negotiations. I see them as disingenuous and not in any way an attempt to address issues the way we would on a campus with open discussion and debate.



Mitch Daniels, the former Indiana governor and former president of Purdue University, said campuses must have clear policies that outline that free speech is protected but conduct that injures or threatens others is not. He also called negotiating with student protesters senseless.

I disagree with the whole idea of negotiating, he said, adding that prompt enforcement of university rules could serve as a deterrent for future disruptions on campus. Daniels also was critical of schools for accommodating a small group of students on campus, and warned schools may be likely to face similar issues again if they decide to negotiate with protesters.

Several colleges and universities beyond those who will be at Thursdays hearing have struck deals with protesters. University of California at Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ agreed to call for a cease-fire in Gaza. Brown University said it would consider a vote on divesting from Israel. Harvard University agreed to a discussion with students about its endowment. And the University of Minnesota said it will not pursue disciplinary action against students or employees for their encampment protest.

Kiley criticized college presidents for giving a privileged seat at the negotiating table to protesters and sidelining the voices of Jewish students who werent invited to express their concerns with top college leaders. Northwesterns Schill and Rutgers Holloway have faced rebukes from Jewish advocacy groups that have also called for them to resign because of their negotiations.

Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), a member of the House education committee, said demonstrations are not a problem at most schools, but institutions must be firm with students about their campus policies. He wants to press the college leaders to be transparent about the deals they made with student protesters and their motivations behind negotiating with them.

Why are you negotiating? What do you gain as opposed to simply taking a stand? Walberg said, adding that the deals showed college leaders gave away their authority.

Committee members Burgess Owens (R-Utah) and Aaron Bean (R-Fla.) also said many college leaders failed to keep their students accountable for their actions when they negotiated with protesters  especially when agreements included amnesty for protesters.



Once they start breaking the law, once they start camping on public property where they don't belong, once they stop listening, call the police and get them out of there and then move on, Owens said. If you continue to negotiate with people who have no idea of what parameters look like, they're going to take as much as they can.

Sonoma State President Mike Lee this week resigned after the California State University system chancellor placed him on leave for approving an agreement that included financial transparency and calling for a cease-fire.

In my attempt to find agreement with one group of students, I marginalized other members of our student population and community, Lee wrote in a message to his campus. I realize the harm that this has caused, and I take full ownership of it. I deeply regret the unintended consequences of my actions.

Daniels, however, emphasized that many college leaders have largely managed to dodge calls for resignation, federal investigations, hearings and intense scrutiny.

More have done well than not. It's the nots that make the big news, Daniels said about how most college leaders have handled protesters.

If you look across the whole landscape, those were the exceptions, he said about institutions such as Columbia University, which became the center of campus unrest after its president testified before the House in April. There were an awful lot of schools with many, many thousands of students that you didn't hear about or that weren't newsworthy enough for you to write about the last couple of weeks.
The House approved a bill Thursday that seeks to ban non-U.S. citizens from voting in local Washington elections, once again taking aim at the capital city through legislation.

The four-page measure, which passed 262-143, would forbid any noncitizens from voting in elections for municipal office or on ballot initiatives and referendums. Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in any federal-level election.

The D.C. Council approved a measure in 2022 that added eligible noncitizen residents to the definition of a qualified elector for local elections. Seven D.C. voters filed a lawsuit against the citys Board of Elections, but a federal court upheld the law in March, dismissing the suit after a judge determined the plaintiffs could not prove they were harmed by the policy.

Republicans this week hammered away at the local law, arguing that noncitizens should not be allowed to weigh in on leadership in the nations capital.

The city council has decided they want noncitizens and foreign actors deciding who will serve as mayor and the local, attorney general here. As the body in charge of overseeing DC, Congress will not support such lawless behavior, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said during a press conference Wednesday.

Democrats, led by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.), have blasted the GOP-led bill, calling it undemocratic and paternalistic.

D.C. residents, a majority of whom are Black and brown, are worthy and capable of self-government, Norton added in remarks on the House floor. I urge members to vote no.

The now-defunct outlet DCist reported earlier this year that only 32 noncitizens had registered to vote in D.C. local elections.

Republicans and some Democrats previously expressed their disapproval of the D.C. council law in February  42 Democrats joined all Republicans in supporting a resolution slamming the local statute.

And the effort to strike down the D.C. bill follows another GOP piece of legislation to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections  despite law already on the books prohibiting that in federal elections.

Just 16 cities and towns allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, while at least six states have enacted bans that limit localities from allowing them to vote.

Reporting indicates even when cities allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, such votes represent a fraction of the totals.

Just 86 noncitizens voted in local elections in March in Vermont, while 31 voted in a 2020 election in San Francisco, according to reporting from Stateline.

In Takoma Park, Md., which has allowed noncitizen voting for more than 30 years, the latest figures show about 20 percent of the 347 noncitizens who have registered to vote in recent elections have cast ballots.

But the constitution leaves it to the states to set the time, place, and manner of elections  making all laws but D.C. beyond the reach of Congressional review. The 50-year-old Home Rule Act gives Congress the power to object to D.C. laws.

The passage of the bill is the latest Republican rejection of D.C. legislation.

Last year Congress blocked a police accountability law passed by the D.C. counsel, sparking a veto from President Biden who said it included important police reforms.

Before that, Biden signed a resolution to overturn D.C.s crime bill, after initially saying he was opposed to the measure.

Updated at 3:38 p.m.

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 The Hill.
Governors would maintain their authority over Air National Guard units with space missions under an amendment approved by the House Armed Service Committee Wednesday, complicating an Air Force proposal that seeks to transfer those units and several hundred airmen to the Space Force.

The committee unanimously adopted the amendment, introduced by Republican South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson, during a markup of its version of the 2025 defense policy bill. If the provision becomes law, it could end a contentious period between Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, who asked to circumvent governors during those transfers as part of draft legislation in mid-March, and the state governors and National Guard officials who oppose the idea.

Airmen, guardians could skip shaving under congressional plan

National Guard officials called the proposal an existential threat, arguing that it would have denied states the ability to tap into hundreds of citizen airmen in times of crisis, such as support during a national disaster, a core Guard mission.

Having the Air Force come to the table and actually work with the governors instead of going around their backs, and give a little give-and-take  instead of all take  is exactly why the amendment was changed, Brig. Gen. Michael Bruno, chairman of the space task force for the National Guard Association of the United States and director of the Joint Staff of the Colorado National Guard, told Air Force Times in an interview. It cant be all take.

An Air Force spokesperson declined to comment Thursday, citing pending legislation.

House advances $884 billion defense bill with enlisted troop pay raise

About 1,000 Air National Guardsmen serve in space-focused units across seven states, handling national missions like missile warning and space electronic warfare and state-level operations like wildfire tracking. They have remained in the Air National Guard even as active duty space units transferred from the old Air Force Space Command to the new Space Force.

Kendall, who in overseeing the Department of the Air Force also serves as the Space Forces top civilian, sought a legal path for the Space Force to pursue its unusual idea for a part-time component. Rather than establish a Space Force Reserve and Space National Guard like the other services, the Space Force hopes to create a more flexible system that allows troops to switch between full-time and part-time work without formally transferring between active duty and the Guard or Reserve.

Bringing Air National Guardsmen in space units under the Space Force would be an early step toward building that nascent part-time component.

But under the provision HASC approved Wednesday, the Air Force secretary would be barred from deactivating Air National Guard units that transfer to the Space Force, and would be unable to assign them new missions. The secretary would also be required to find a new job for any guardsman who declines to transfer to the Space Force, and would be barred from moving units, equipment or billets to a new state. The language requires the defense secretary to report to Congress on the transitions progress each year.

The amendment also caps the number of Guard members allowed to transfer to the Space Force at 580, a number nearly identical to an analysis of one of three scenarios laid out in a review the Department of the Air Force submitted to Congress in late April.

That review, required by the fiscal year 2024 defense policy bill and obtained by Air Force Times, assessed the feasibility of transferring space missions performed by the Air National Guard to the Space Force. It also considered two other actions: maintaining the current structure and establishing a separate Space National Guard. The latter is favored by the National Guard  and has been repeatedly pitched in congressional legislation since the Space Force was created in 2019.

The review evaluated each option on eight factors, ranging from readiness, unity of command and effort, feasibility, simplicity, cost, and impacts to recruiting and retention. Each could require new legislation or policy changes to accomplish.

While the review found each of the three options feasible, Kendall and Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman endorsed the transfer of nine space-focused units that were included in the study as the only advisable choice. That would include the transfer of 578 billets, 224 of which are full-time and 354 are part-time, in six states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Ohio and Hawaii. The transfer would not include more than 100 air guardsmen who work in support roles.

Although that transfer would be more complex than the other two options, taking as long as five years, the review said it would better align space missions, improve readiness, recruitment and retention and reduce bureaucratic overlap in some administrative roles. It would also keep in line with the Space Force Personnel Management Act, which gave those serving in the nations youngest military branch the ability to switch between full-time and part-time status.

Meanwhile, the report said maintaining the status quo would cause problems for readiness, as well as with unity of command and effort. The Air Force trains, deploys and presents forces to the combatant commands differently than the Space Force  disconnects that could degrade readiness over time, the report noted.

Command structure could also cause problems: The Guard units fall under the Air Force, and there could be fewer opportunities for career advancement for space-focused troops in the air-focused service, the report said.

Setting up a Space National Guard, which National Guard leadership prefers, addresses readiness and unity questions while also simplifying policies and procedures with the Air National Guard by moving misaligned units, according to the report. It would also require creation of command elements  cross-state deltas that would be associated with the Space Forces current deltas that manage various types of space missions across multiple squadrons.

Standing up a Space National Guard, with a footprint of about 700 people, would run counter to the Space Force Personnel Management Act, the report said. Growth beyond its initial units could also become problematic, though the report acknowledges thats only speculation at this time.

A troubled proposal

Kendall submitted the draft legislation to Congress in March, weeks before his departments review was sent. That draft, referred to as LP480, sparked uproar from the National Guard Association, lawmakers and state adjutant generals, who said they felt sideswiped.

When asked about the proposal during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in April, Kendall downplayed concerns about the plan as overblown, but he offered few specifics other than he did not plan to move affected troops, who would first have to agree to the transfer.

They would have stability and they will be able to continue to serve in the way, generally, that they currently would serve, Kendall told senators April 16. There should not be a lot of concern about dramatic changes, as far as were concerned.

But those concerns persisted. Internal surveys cited by the NGAUS said the proposal could drive out between 70% to 90% of troops affected by Kendalls proposal, and that recovery would take as long as nine years and cost $1 billion. While the Air Force has maintained that the moves would only affect about 580 airmen, NGAUS President Francis McGinn, a retired Army major general, said the report is fraught with inconsistencies, inaccuracies [and] absent information thats crucial.

How do you transfer 11 units or 578 billets with no people and not affect readiness? McGinn asked. That is just an illogical statement.

With so many Guard members expressing an unwillingness to transfer, their departures would lead to a gap in military capabilities, McGinn argued.

Thats not addressed in this report, he said.

Governors from 53 states and territories in April signed a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin opposing the Air Forces plan, and several lawmakers sent a similar letter earlier this month to the leaders of the House and Senate armed services committees.

A spokesperson for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis lauded the amendment on Wednesday. Polis, a Democrat whose state serves as one of the countrys military space hubs, has been a leading opponent of the Air Forces proposal as vice chairman of the National Governors Association.

This amendment ensures that the Air Force works with governors before changing force structure in their state, as has been the process for over 120 years, Polis spokesperson Shelby Wieman told Air Force Times via email. Gov. Polis has led the way on the issue  and is glad to see the federal government taking action and heeding the call of governors to follow federal law.
WASHINGTON  House Republicans on Wednesday unveiled new documents they claimed showed President Joe Bidens son Hunter had lied three times during his testimony to Congress earlier this year.

But the evidence they presented doesnt actually show Biden lying about at least one of those claims.

During a closed-door deposition on Capitol Hill in February, the younger Biden told lawmakers that he did not help foreign nationals obtain visas for traveling to the U.S. as part of his overseas business dealings.

Id never pick up the phone and call anybody for a visa, Biden said, according to the transcript.

Its a key claim, because an American helping a foreign national deal with the U.S. government can face criminal penalties if they fail to register as a foreign agent, under a law called the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Republicans have long said Bidens work for various foreign nationals should have made him register.

One of the emails Republicans released Thursday is a February 2015 message from Devon Archer, one of Hunter Bidens former business partners, to officials with the Ukrainian gas company Burisma, which employed both Archer and Biden as board members.

Hunter is checking with Miguel Aleman to see if he can provide cover to [Burisma founder Mykola Zlochevsky] on the visa, the message says.

Citing that email, House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said in a statement Wednesday that Hunter Biden lied during his deposition when he said he never helped individuals obtain U.S. visas.

But the documents Republicans released Wednesday show Bidens associates talking about a Mexican visa, not an American one.

Archer was responding to an email from Burisma executive Vadym Pozharskyi about a trip to Mexico that Zlochevsky had apparently been planning.

Zlochevskys U.S. visa had been revoked  the U.S. government considered him corrupt  and Pozharskyi was worried that could complicate an attempt to get a Mexican visa for the upcoming Mexico trip. Pozharskyi said a travel agent had warned them that supposedly Mexico and the USA customs authorities share the same database.

With this in mind, I feel that theres a risk that he will fly to Mexico and would be denied entry, and in bad mood would be forced to come back, Pozharskyi wrote.

Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) in February. Tom Williams via Getty Images

Archer replied by tellingPozharskyi to send Zlochevskys passport and other documents to Biden, and that Archer and Biden would check with Mexican businessman Miguel Aleman Magnani, another of their international contacts, to see if he could help with the visa. In a follow-up, Pozharskyi said he attached an image of Zlochevskys passport and his revoked U.S. visa.

The batch of messages Republicans released Thursday doesnt contain a response from Biden to Zlochevsky; there is only a message sent to Biden.

On BidenLaptopEmails.com, a right-wing site that has become Washingtons unofficial search engine for the contents of Bidens hard drive, theres an entry showing that Biden forwarded Pozharskyis email to Aleman Magnani with a note saying Zlochevskys U.S. visa was suspended and we are working on that.

In subsequent emails Biden and his partners seem disappointed with Aleman Magnani, suggesting the Mexican visa never came through.

The emails dont make it clear what Biden meant when he said his team was working on Zlochevskys visa. In his testimony, he said he told Burisma officials that if they needed help getting visas or had other issues with the U.S. government, they should use a Democratic consulting firm called Blue Star Strategies, a suggestion that Burisma followed.

They needed a consulting company in order for them to be able to approach anybody in the United States Government that was not me or anybody associated with me, Biden said in his deposition.

In an April 2014 email to Archer  which was around the time Biden and Archer joined Burismas board  Biden made clear he didnt want to run afoul of FARA. People at Burisma, he wrote, according to BidenLaptopEmails.com, need to know in no uncertain terms that we will not and cannot intervene directly with domestic policy makers, and that we need to abide by FARA and any other US laws in the strictest sense across the board.

Documents previously released by Senate Republicans, who conducted their own probe of Bidens foreign business deals in 2020, included an email showing Blue Star helping Porzhaskyi with Zlochevskys U.S. visa application for a 2018 trip to New York, though the executives testified that the trip never happened and he was not given a visa.

The Justice Department has not included any FARA violations in its ongoing criminal prosecution of Hunter Biden, which centers on charges he illegally owned a gun and didnt pay his taxes.

Republicans have been running an impeachment inquiry accusing Joe Biden of using his position as vice president under Barack Obama to make money for his son and brother, who would dangle the possibility of access and favors to clients foreign and domestic. Theyve baselessly claimed the elder Biden did favors for Burisma, but keep striking out on evidence.

Wednesdays release from Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee focused on the far narrower question of whether Hunter Biden lied during his deposition. Republicans obtained the documents not from BidenLaptopEmails.com, but from IRS criminal investigators who claimed the Justice Department slow-walked the Biden case. They voted to release the material Wednesday under a tax disclosure law that allows Congress to make private tax information public.

A spokesperson for Smith declined to comment on the apparent discrepancies between the visa-related emails and Smiths description.

Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on Ways and Means, said Republicans presented not one new scintilla of evidence at Wednesdays hearing. He said the committee shouldnt be trying to second-guess the criminal prosecution of Hunter Biden.

We are not a law enforcement agency, Neal told HuffPost.

Republicans accused Biden of telling two other lies in his deposition.

The first concerns his claim that he sent a threatening WhatsApp message to the wrong Chinese national. In July 2017, Hunter Biden sent a message to a Chinese businessman named Raymond Zhao, claiming that he was sitting next to his father and demanding Zhao pay him for consulting work.

Biden said he was high or drunk at the time and accidentally sent the message to a Henry Zhao, who was not affiliated with the Chinese company with which he was arranging a deal, but Smith said the records showed Biden sent the message to the correct Chinese businessman.

The other lie Biden allegedly told was when he said he was not the corporate secretary of Rosemont Seneca Bohai, one of several limited liability companies he set up with Archer and other associates. One of the documents released Wednesday shows Hunter Bidens signature on a form indicating he was, in fact, the companys secretary.

Archer had previously also testified that Biden was not part of the company, though he said he and Biden had a handshake agreement about it. During Archers deposition, a Republican staff attorney said, So youre saying theres no  he had no  he being Hunter Biden  had no position with RSB, Rosemont Seneca Bohai?

Right, Archer said.

Related...
Republicans on the House Education Committee went on the offensive during a Thursday hearing on college antisemitism that largely focused on deals Northwestern and Rutgers universities made with pro-Palestinian protesters to get their encampments taken down without police force.

I want to discuss what has been referred to as the Deering Meadows agreement, your unilateral capitulation to the pro-Hamas, anti-Israel, antisemitic activists, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) told the president of Northwestern.

The heads of Northwestern and Rutgers were called as witnesses after they reached agreements with protesters to get rid of the encampments, while other colleges made headlines after police were used to forcibly clear their demonstrations.

The deals, which were also reached at Brown and Johns Hopkins universities, included concessions ranging from consideration of divestment from Israel to more lenient punishment for student protesters.

Northwestern received the most attention, as it was one of the first schools to come to such an agreement, but President Michael Schill said the school did not cave to any major demands.

Importantly, I rejected the main student demand of divestment, Schill said.

I will not recommend to our board that Northwestern uses the endowment for political purposes, he added.

Republicans, who have denounced the entire recent pro-Palestinian movement as antisemitic, chastised Rutgers for giving amnesty to student protesters who broke the universitys rules with the encampment in the deal to end the demonstrations.

Education Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) called Rutgerss agreement egregious, adding she wanted to know what message the president thought that sends to your Jewish students.

Northwestern and the president of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) said no students have been suspended due to the protests, but investigations are taking place. Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway tallied four suspensions so far on his campus, but he did not clarify what the suspensions were for.

For Northwestern and Rutgers, Democrats largely praised the presidents for their ability to come to a resolution without police force, which was used by many others school and led to the arrests of more than 3,000 individuals on U.S. campuses.

Im also concerned about any suggestion that the first step to address protests should be to call police, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) said, adding it could put students in danger.

The head of UCLA, Chancellor Gene Block, received far less questioning than the other school leaders despite hundreds of arrests on his campus and fights that broke out after attacks by pro-Israel counterprotesters.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), whose daughter was part of Columbia Universitys encampment, got into an argument with Block after he rejected the premise of a question implying the school was not safe for students.

You should be ashamed for letting a peaceful protest gathering [get] hijacked by an angry mob. You should be ashamed for allowing such violence to take place on your campus, which will now be weaponized by Republicans in this committee, Omar said.

The university leaders avoided the infamous question used at the December antisemitism hearing that led to the eventual ouster of Harvards and the University of Pennsylvanias presidents: Would calls for the genocide of Jewish people be considered harassment on campus?

Some notable moments, however, came when the witnesses were asked who was behind the encampments. UCLA and Northwesterns presidents said they didnt know, and Rutgerss leader said he was uncertain.

All three said no when asked if the Israeli government is genocidal, despite the head of Rutgers at first not willing to answer the question.

Sir, I dont have an opinion on Israels  in terms of that phrase, Holloway originally said when asked if the Israeli government was genocidal.

Block, describing his upbringing as a Jewish kid with relatives who were Holocaust survivors and victims, said hes fully aware that many of our Jewish students, of rhetoric and images on campus that any reasonable person would find repugnant. Trust me, I understand their pain.

Foxx warned the three at the end of the hearing that the investigations would continue.

Ranking member Bobby Scott (D-Va.), meanwhile, accused Republicans of only holding these hearings to make headlines instead of taking concrete steps to fix the problems on campuses.

Here we are for the fifth time in six months holding another hearing to complain about the problem of antisemitism, Scott said, adding there needs to be more done to find a meaningful solution to address the issue.

Complaining about a problem is not a solution, he added.

Foxx defended her handling of the situation.

One of Congresss constitutional powers is to conduct investigations. These are important mechanisms for transparency, bringing bad things to light, informing new legislation to address problems. They uncover and yield accountability. Todays testimony certainly brought bad things to light, she said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Employees in PPE work inside a lab where the HPV vaccine is produced at the Serum Institute of India, in Pune

By Nancy Lapid

(Reuters) - Vaccination of boys and men against the human papillomavirus (HPV) reduces their risk of head and neck cancers and other malignancies, a new analysis shows, adding to the vaccine's proven benefit in protecting women from cervical cancer.

The study of more than 3.4 million people is one of the first long-term analyses of the vaccine's real-world effect on preventing HPV-related cancers of the head and neck, anal areas, penis, vulva, vagina and cervix, researchers said.

Previous studies of the vaccine have focused mainly on cervical cancer. In one large 2020 study from Sweden, for example, cervical cancer rates were 47 per 100,000 in vaccinated women and 94 per 100,000 in unvaccinated women.

The new study, scheduled for presentation at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, included more than 1.7 million volunteers who were vaccinated against HPV since 2010, at some point between ages 9 and 39, and roughly equal numbers of similar unvaccinated volunteers. About 44% were male.

Vaccinated males had lower rates of any HPV-related cancer and of head and neck cancers (3.4 and 2.8 cases, respectively per 100,000 vaccinated patients, compared with 7.5 and 6.3, respectively, per 100,000 unvaccinated patients), the study found.

Smoking was formerly the main driver of many head and neck cancers - such as cancers of the mouth and throat - but today the main cause is HPV infections, ASCO President Dr. Lynn Schuchter said on Thursday at a press briefing. Schucter was not involved in the study.

The new study "extends what we know" and shows that preventing infection with the vaccine helps prevent these additional HPV-related cancers, she added.

Vaccinated females had a lower risk of any HPV-related cancers in the study and, as expected, a lower risk of cervical cancer, compared with unvaccinated females.

Vaccination did not significantly reduce their risks for head and neck cancers and vulvar or vaginal cancer.

Merck's HPV vaccine was approved in 2006 for girls and women ages 9 to 26 and in 2009 for boys and men in that age group. The most recent version, Gardasil 9, has been approved in the U.S. since 2018 for use in children and adults ages 9 through 45.

A separate study to be presented at the ASCO meeting found that between 2011 and March 2020, U.S. uptake of the HPV vaccine rose from 23.3% to 43.0% of the eligible population, improving from 7.8% to 36.4% in males and from 37.7% to 49.4% among females.

(Reporting by Nancy Lapid; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacts during his statement to press ahead of the Likud party meeting in Israeli Parliament (Knesset). Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

Hungary has said it would not enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on its territory.

Government minister Gergely Gulyas told reporters in Budapest on Thursday that Netanyahu would not be detained if he visited Hungary.

Hungary is a signatory of the Rome Statute which established the ICC, but Gulyas said provisions for the enforcement of the court's decisions are not yet fully in force in the central European country.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is seen as an ally of Netanyahu, who condemned the ICC move as "outrageous" and a "disgrace."

ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan on Monday said he is seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and three leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas over war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Israel and the Gaza Strip since the October 7 attacks.

The judges of the ICC's pre-trial chamber will now decide whether the requested arrest warrants will be issued, meaning that formal proceedings can be initiated against the accused.

Budapest said last year it would not enforce an ICC arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes in Ukraine.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (R) shakes hands with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto during their meeting in Amman, Jordan, on May 22, 2024. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Wednesday the situation in the West Bank was worsening, blaming Israel's "illegal and repressive measures" for killing opportunities for peace. Safadi made the remarks during a joint press conference in Amman with visiting Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua)

AMMAN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Wednesday the situation in the West Bank was worsening, blaming Israel's "illegal and repressive measures" for killing opportunities for peace.

Safadi made the remarks during a joint press conference in Amman with visiting Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto.

Speaking of the visit on Wednesday by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem, Safadi said the "provocative" action "violated international law and the historical and legal status quo of the holy sites, which will only lead to further escalation."

The priorities are to stop the aggression on Gaza, lift all restrictions imposed by Israel to allow for the entry and adequate distribution of aid to Gaza, and work for the comprehensive and just peace in the region, which will not be achieved without a two-state solution, he stressed.

Safadi also welcomed the decisions made by Norway, Ireland, and Spain to recognize the State of Palestine, adding "other European countries are also on this path."

Szijjarto, for his part, said this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of ties with Jordan, and praised Jordan's role in the region.

Noting that the current war in Gaza poses a security threat even to Europe, the Hungarian minister said his country rejects all forms of terrorism and extremism, calling for the protection of civilians, the immediate and adequate delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid, and the release of all hostages, including a Hungarian citizen.

Szijjarto lauded Jordan for its significant role in supporting refugees. The minister said that during the upcoming Hungary's presidency of the European Union (EU), starting on July 1, Hungary would like to convene the EU-Jordan Joint Council to discuss EU's support for Jordan to alleviate the burden on Europe from future migration waves. 

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (R) meets with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto in Amman, Jordan, on May 22, 2024. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Wednesday the situation in the West Bank was worsening, blaming Israel's "illegal and repressive measures" for killing opportunities for peace. Safadi made the remarks during a joint press conference in Amman with visiting Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua)

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (R) and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto attend a joint press conference in Amman, Jordan, on May 22, 2024. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Wednesday the situation in the West Bank was worsening, blaming Israel's "illegal and repressive measures" for killing opportunities for peace. Safadi made the remarks during a joint press conference in Amman with visiting Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua)
NOAA's Climate Prediction Center made its most aggressive early hurricane season forecast on record Thursday, joining other seasonal predictions in an unwavering and unnerving message that the Atlantic basin is ripe for tropical tumult.

The center is predicting 17 to 25 named storms, including eight to 13 hurricanes. Of the hurricanes, four to seven could be major Category 3 strength storms or higher. That is the most named storms the center has predicted in a May forecast since it began forecasts in 1999.

An average hurricane season has 14 named storms and seven hurricanes. Of the seven hurricanes, three are Category 3 or higher.

Driving the centers high numbers are record warm waters across the Atlantic basins stretch from Africa into the Caribbean, which are running nearly 4 degrees above normal in some areas.

The extent of the marine heat has never been greater heading into hurricane season, said Michael Lowry, a meteorologist with South Florida ABC affiliate Channel 10 in a column for Yale Climate Connections. Although record-setting sea surface temperatures alone dont guarantee a busy hurricane season, they do strongly influence it.

Lowry noted that simmering water temps are widely outpacing what they were in May 2005, which had 28 named storms, including eight hurricanes and seven major hurricanes.

NOAA is forecasting an above average 2024 hurricane season.

NOAA is confident this season, which begins June 1, will be especially fertile, giving it an 85% chance of being above normal, a 10% chance of being near-normal and only a 5% chance being below normal.

National Weather Service Director Ken Graham, who previously led the National Hurricane Center, tried to temper fervor about the forecast, noting that the use of "alarming" terminology can do more harm than good.

"We have a responsibility to keep everyone calm out there," Graham said. "Yes, it's the highest number of storms, but at the same time, let's bend it very quickly as a community to say this is about being prepared."

The second contributor to the widespread predictions for an above-average hurricane season is the demise of El Nino, which is expected to transition to a more hurricane friendly La Nina by peak hurricane season.

La Nina is a climate pattern that occurs when the waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean cool. The ripple effect through the atmosphere reduces the wind shear in the Atlantic, giving budding storms room to grow.

People ask what can change to make things better this season, said Colorado State University senior research scientist Phil Klotzbach at the Governors Hurricane Conference in West Palm Beach this month. Basically, a major volcanic eruption that will launch a bunch of aerosols into the atmosphere and knock down global temperatures.

More: Storm season 2024: Experts at Governor's Hurricane Conference braced for active six months

Although NOAA doesn't predict where hurricanes will make landfall each season, Colorado State University started using a new method last year to determine the probability of a storm tracking within 50 miles of an area using NOAA's Historical Hurricane Tracks website.

With its conspicuous peninsula dangling into the overheated Atlantic, Florida has the highest vulnerability in the United States with a 96% chance this year that it will be impacted by a named storm, according to CSU. There is a 75% chance for a hurricane and a 44% chance that a major hurricane will reach Sunshine State shores.

The top counties in Florida most likely to have impacts from a named storm this season are Monroe (71%) and Miami-Dade (62%). Brevard, Broward, Collier and Palm Beach counties all have a 61% chance of seeing the effects of a named storm.

And thats a concern considering the high number of new residents who relocated to South Florida during and after the pandemic. Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties have seen a population surge since 2020 of 137,000 new residents, according to an April report by the University of Floridas Bureau of Economic and Business Research.

Susan Cohen and her husband bought a house in Jupiter this year and will spend part of their time there and part in Ohio.

I am nervous about hurricanes because they seem to be getting stronger and bigger geographically, which Im sure makes it more difficult for FEMA to respond, Cohen said.

More: 2024 hurricane season: Florida Emergency Manager Kevin Guthrie pledges better communication

While they were careful to buy a newer home several miles inland with hurricane impact windows, theyre still learning about whether they are in an evacuation zone and what supplies theyll need if a storm threatens.

My strategy is just to educate myself as opposed to saying, Im not coming to Florida, because there are so many other benefits, Cohen said.

Since 2000, nine hurricanes have tracked within 100 miles of West Palm Beach. The most recent include hurricanes Nicole and Ian in 2022, Hurricane Dorian in 2019, 2017's Hurricane Irma and 2016's Hurricane Matthew. Others include Wilma (2005), Katrina (2005), Jeanne (2004) and Frances (2004).

Following Florida, the top five states most vulnerable to named storms this season are North Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Texas and Alabama.

Register for the Palm Beach Post's 2024 Storm Season Preparation forum

The 2024 hurricane season is forecast to be one of the most active on record with most predictions calling for more than 20 named storms. To help our communities get prepared, The Palm Beach Post is hosting a forum on storm readiness Wednesday, June 5, from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. at Palm Beach State College's Lake Worth Beach campus. To attend, please scan the QR Code to register or click this link.

The 2024 hurricane season is forecast to be one of the most active on record with most predictions calling for more than 20 named storms. To help our communities get prepared, The Palm Beach Post is hosting a forum on storm readiness Wednesday, June 5, from 6:15-8:30 p.m. at Palm Beach State College's Lake Worth Beach campus. To attend, please scan the QR Code to register.

Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate and how growth affects South Florida's environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: NOAA 2024 hurricane forecast is for an active hurricane season
A Palestinian child collects his belongings from destroyed buildings after the Israeli army's airstrike at Nuseirat Refugee Camp. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is to rule on Friday on further legal steps to prevent the genocide of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in response to a South African application.

The ICJ said on Thursday that the ruling would be announced during a public sitting at the Peace Palace in the Dutch city at 3 pm (1300 GMT). ICJ presiding judge Nawaf Salam will read out the court's order.

The ruling refers to a request by South Africa on May 10 this year concerning the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip and an urgent application for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to withdraw from the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.

While the top UN court's rulings are binding, the court has no means of forcing compliance. It can, however, call on the UN Security Council to act.

In its May 10 application, which followed earlier applications dating back to December last year, South Africa said it had returned to the court for further provisional measures as a result of Israel's ongoing military assault on Rafah.

"The situation brought about by the Israeli assault on Rafah, and the extreme risk it poses to humanitarian supplies and basic services into Gaza, to the survival of the Palestinian medical system, and to the very survival of Palestinians in Gaza as a group, is not only an escalation of the prevailing situation, but gives rise to new facts that are causing irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people in Gaza," it said.

In earlier rulings, the ICJ instructed Israel to take protective measures to prevent genocide and also allow more humanitarian aid to the population.

When the court will rule finally on the genocide application remains unclear. Legal experts predict that the process could take years.

Israel has rejected all the allegations, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invoking the country's right to self-defence in response to the attack mounted by Hamas and other groups on October 7.

Bodies of Palestinians who lost their life are brought to Al-Aqsa Hospital after an airstrike conducted by the Israeli army on the city of Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
An Idaho officer was charged with rape, died by suicide. Now the victim is suing

Editors note: This story contains graphic details of a sexual assault account.

An Idaho woman who was incarcerated at the Pocatello Womens Correctional Center has sued the states prison system over allegations it grossly failed to protect her from a former correction officer who admitted he sexually assaulted her in November 2021.

The lawsuit accused Idaho Department of Correction Food Service Officer Derek Stettler of sexually battering the 37-year-old woman after he backed her into a bathroom corner and forced her to perform oral sex on him, according to the 11-page complaint. In an interview with Idaho State Police, Stettler said he sexually assaulted the woman, according to records.

I know all about (the Prison Rape Elimination Act) and all that. I really f****d up, Stettler said in an August 2022 interview with state police. I know there is no consent, it does not exist, and even if they want it and signed a contract, (it) is still a no.

Under the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act, or PREA, individuals who are incarcerated within state prisons or county jails cannot consent to sexual contact, so any form is considered sexual abuse.

It wasnt until November 2022, after an investigation by Idaho State Police, that numerous felonies were filed against Stettler: three counts of sexual contact with an adult inmate and one count of rape, online court records showed.

Police reports filed by Idaho State Police, and obtained by the Idaho Statesman, detailed a monthslong investigation into the accusations against Stettler  with several people telling law enforcement that he wasnt the only employee accused of inappropriate sexual conduct.

A month after the Bannock County Prosecuting Attorneys Office brought the felonies against the 42-year-old, Stettler killed himself in December 2022. The woman filed the lawsuit against the Idaho Department of Correction, the womens prison and Stettlers estate nearly a year later.

While IDOC officials may have limited control over which inmates are assigned to them at the Pocatello Womens Correctional Center, Meridian-based attorney Susan Mimura wrote in the lawsuit, they have absolute control over which employees they elect to hire and to place in the facility with the inmates.

At least 2 others accused of sexual contact

The lawsuit was also filed against correctional officer Jessica Urban for failing to report the allegations. In the state police reports, Urban said she witnessed Stettler acting inappropriately with the woman after Urban told him to stop and spending time with the victim alone. Other prisoners reported to Urban that they were uncomfortable with Stettler, she said.

Despite the information known or reasonably should have been known at the time, Jessica Urban failed to report the inappropriate conduct in a timely manner, the lawsuit said, accusing her of violating federal law and the agencys policies.

In the state police reports, Urban said that while she didnt immediately report the allegations, by August 2021 she had reached her breaking point and had started documenting Stettlers interactions. She added that she also told her supervisors but felt as if she was the only one who cared about Stettlers actions, the reports said.

She expressed that her concerns were going nowhere, one report said. She felt they completely blew it off.

Urban, who remains employed by IDOC, declined to comment to the Statesman for this story.

At least two other employees were accused of having sexual contact with women incarcerated at the prison, according to the police reports, one of whom was accused of covering for Stettler while he assaulted the plaintiff  with Stettler then doing the same for him.

Both of those men left the agency last year, but its unclear why. A spokesperson for the states prison system declined to comment, citing an exemption in Idahos Public Records Act for personnel records and providing only the date the men left their jobs. Neither has been charged with a crime.

We have zero tolerance for sexual abuse and harassment, and all reports are investigated, IDOC spokesperson Sanda Kuzeta-Cerimagic told the Statesman. These investigations are important to uncover wrongdoing and/or exonerate individuals who are wrongly accused.

It felt like rape: Police reports detail assault

From May to October 2022, investigators with Idaho State Police looked into the allegations against Stettler, and interviewed several employees and women at the prison after IDOC asked for the investigation.

In an interview with police, the woman who sued said shed known Stettler since 2015, when she was in prison on a different charge, according to the reports. But it was when she was back at the East Idaho prison in August 2021 that things started to escalate, the reports stated.

The woman, who worked in the prisons kitchen under Stettlers supervision, told state police that she felt obligated to do whatever Stettler wanted because of his position within the department, the reports said. She added that she didnt know whether Stettler would retaliate against her if she resisted but that the not knowing scared her, given that IDOC employees had the power.

One day in November 2021, the woman said in state police reports that she was replacing toilet paper in the employee bathroom when Stettler followed her. She told police that Stettler unbuttoned his pants, pulled out his penis and told her to come over. She said she responded, Are you  kidding me? but performed oral sex on him.

Asked in her interview with law enforcement what her feelings were afterward, she replied that it felt like rape. She said after that incident, Stettler would come up behind her and feel her up, and she would tell him that she didnt want him touching her. By March 2022, the woman said, someone had informed superiors about Stettlers actions because he was being weird when they worked together in the kitchen, according to the reports.

She was transferred to the South Idaho Correctional Institution near Boise that same month. According to the reports and IDOC, Stettler was placed on suspension sometime after the womans transfer and left the department in May 2022  when state police began their investigation.

Kuzeta-Cerimagic declined to say whether Stettler was fired or resigned from the department.

IDOC says it added staff presence and cameras

During their investigation, state police obtained several letters Stettler had sent the women, including one in which hed ejaculated and wrote, I left you something, according to the reports. State police as part of their investigation took DNA samples of the inside of Stettlers mouth, though its unknown whether they matched the DNA to the letter before he died.

Stettler and several others incarcerated at the Pocatello facility told police during the investigation that there were areas in the kitchen that were blind spots for the security cameras. The reports said Stettler admitted in an interview with police that hed told the woman not to do anything unless they were in those blind spots.

Following the investigation, IDOC  with the help of a $33,000 federal grant  purchased and added cameras to address coverage issues at the Pocatello Womens Correctional Center and the Idaho State Correctional Institution, according to the department and an annual PREA report. The cameras were added in November 2022.

Kuzeta-Cerimagic said in an email that prison officials also increased staff presence and the number of random checks in the kitchen. Theyve also continued to re-educate staff on how to identify red flags and provide appropriate guidance and resources to residents, she said.

When wrongdoing is uncovered, we take a particular interest in learning how to prevent a recurrence of similar behavior in the future, Kuzeta-Cerimagic said, adding that a review by the department highlighted some areas for enhanced monitoring and security.
Imagine getting a 79% pay raise. That's what the Quincy mayor is requesting

QUINCY  About three weeks after consultants recommended raising Mayor Thomas Koch's salary, the mayor has formally requested a $285,000 salary from city council  a 79% increase.

The consultants recommended a pay raise from his $159,141 to as much as $370,000.

The mayor coupled the request with a proposal to boost the councilors' own compensation from just under $30,000 to $47,500 each.

Chris Walker, Koch's chief of staff, introduced both raises during the May 20 council meeting. The council referred the order to subcommittee without discussion. The matter will be raised again during the June 3 regular council meeting, Walker said.

If approved, the higher salary would take effect Jan. 1, 2025.

Dorminson, the consulting firm, recommended a salary range from $298,957 to $370,000, a figure arrived at by examining a 2019 national survey of salaries for chief administrative officers of local governments serving populations between 100,000 and 250,000.

Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch requested a raise from under $160,000 to $285,000.

Would the mayor still make less than Plymouth's town manager?

On the mayor's salary, Walker said the requested $285,000 is less than Plymouth's town manager receives. According to a report compiled by the city's Department of Municipal Finance, Plymouth's town manager makes $293,398. Plymouth's current town manager, Derek Brindisi, will make $252,000 in base pay for fiscal 2025, according to his contract.

Director of Municipal Finance Eric Mason said that the $293,398 figure comes from fiscal 2022, when former Plymouth Town Manager Melissa Arrighi received that amount in total compensation, including a base pay of $226,000 plus $34,461 in "other pay" and $33,271 in "employer-paid benefits", according to Plymouth's Open Finance records.

Mason said that if approved, Koch's $285,000 would reflect his total compensation except common employer-paid benefits like health insurance. Currently, Koch is allowed use of a city vehicle and receives a $600 monthly car allowance as well as $1,000 in annual longevity pay, Mason said. With the new salary, Koch would no longer receive the allowance and longevity pay, though he'd still have use of the city vehicle.

Quincy politics: Lunar New Year brouhaha: Turf war erupts between elected Quincy officials

Shake up at Quincy elder services: Koch fires top city official amid investigation into 'financial irregularities'

Walker said Koch would also make less than Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang, who receives $344,274 in salary. Plymouth and Cambridge have populations of 61,217 and 118,403 respectively, according to 2020 census data. Quincy's population stands at 101,727.

If the council approves the request, Koch would have a higher salary than the mayors of major U.S. cities, including Michelle Wu, of Boston ($207,000); Eric Adams, of New York ($258,041); and Brandon Johnson, of Chicago ($221,052).

Walker stressed that the proposed salary change is not specific to Koch, but the office of mayor. Compensation should "attract and retain experienced, talented, committed and passionate individuals to the position," Walker said. "We should not have a system that actively dissuades people from participating because salaries are far undervalued."

Raises would be first in about a decade for Quincy mayor and councilors

Koch's one pay raise during his 16 years in office came in 2014, when the council increased his salary from $122,474 to $150,952, a 23% bump. Koch had requested a 30% raise, which drew some criticism from the council at the time.

"In my 25-plus years of government service, I honestly know of no person  no person ever  who got a 30% raise," said then-Councilor-at-large Doug Gutro, who is now on the school committee.

The increase for city councilors would the first in over a decade, according to Walker. In 2022, then-council president Noel DiBona proposed a raise in salaries and travel allowance that would have increased total yearly compensation by $7,650, but the measure failed.

Walker described the roughly $17,500 raise as "fair and adequate for what you all do." None of the councilors made comments about their own potential raise during the meeting. On the reading of the proposal, Ward 6 Councilor Bill Harris objected, effectively tabling the measure until the next council meeting.

Councilor Harris objects to councilors' raise

In a phone interview, Harris told The Patriot Ledger he will not support the raise for councilors.

Harris said he's never asked for raise since joining the body in 2016: "I didnt get into this for the money."

He said couldnt bring himself to ask Quincy taxpayers for more money, noting substantial raises across the board for department heads and supervisors approved by the council at Koch's request last year.

Harris said he respects differing opinions among his colleagues, whom he said probably deserve more money for the work they do.

Rather than increase councilors' pay, Harris said additional money would be better spent by assigning one secretary to every two councilors, thus allowing quicker responses to constituents. As it stands, a single secretary serves the entire council, Harris said.

On the mayor's raise, Harris said the high end of the initial recommendation, $370,000, was shocking but $285,000 is close to the right number. He echoed Walker's comment that the raise is as much about attracting qualified mayors in the future as about adequate compensation for the current mayor.

Peter Blandino covers Quincy for The Patriot Ledger. Contact him at pblandino@patriotledger.com.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch asks for big raise for self, city council
PRINCETON (WVNS)  When it comes to people diagnosed with cancer, some have to drive far out of their way to get the treatment they need. To combat this struggle, WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital is opening a brand new Cancer Clinic and Infusion Clinic.

On Wednesday, May 22nd, WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital hosted a grand opening for some brand new cancer treatment clinics.

First virtual integrated career services website in West Virginia launched by Concord University

With medical treatments and technology advancing by the day, these clinics are aimed to provide those with cancer the best care possible.

In some situations, it is difficult for patients to travel far away for quality treatment.

Khristy Shrewsbury, Director of Outpatient Cancer Services, said these clinics will make the treatment process run more smoothly in the long run.

We started out with two chairs giving infusions. Now, we have this beautiful center to where all of our patients have the convenience of doing all their cancer care in one buildingwhich is the first step of this project. This clinic, it combined the two cancer clinics. The one that was on undercliff terrace and the one here in the hospital, into one big clinic, said Shrewsbury.

The WVU Cancer Institute at WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital will be in reach of 10 different counties around the region.

Pipestem Adventures open for the season!

Dr. E. Gordon Gee, President of West Virginia University, said he wants the community to know that quality health care is right in their community.

Their university, West Virginia University, cares about them. Second of all, what we are doing here is to show how much we care by making sure that they have the very best possible health care and the very best possible opportunity to recover from some of the health challenges that they have and that they dont have to travel far, but rather they can be right here in their own communities being taken care of by wonderful people, said Dr. Gee to 59News.

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 WVNS.
Indian teen allegedly kills two while drunk driving. As punishment, he was told to write an essay

Anger is growing in India after a teenager who allegedly killed two people while drunk driving was ordered to write an essay as punishment, with many demanding a harsher penalty and accusing the judiciary of leniency.

The 17-year-old boy was allegedly speeding in a Porsche in the city of Pune on Sunday when the vehicle hit a motorcycle, killing two people, according to Maharashtra states deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The minor was taken into custody and later presented to the Juvenile Justice Board, where he was released on bail and given 15 days of community service. He was also asked to write an essay about road safety, Fadnavis said.

The outrage grew after this. According to police, the boy is 17 years and 8 months. This is a heinous crime, he told reporters Tuesday, pointing to the 2015 changes to Indias juvenile laws, which allow children above 16 to be tried as adults if they allegedly commit a heinous crime.

This was a surprising order passed (by the Juvenile Justice Board), Fadnavis said.

Following the outrage, the minors lawyer, Prashant Patil, on Wednesday told reporters that the teens bail terms were modified, with the Juvenile Justice Board ordering him to remain in a rehabilitation home until June 5. The minor will receive counseling, Patil said.

CNN has attempted to contact the Patil for comment.

Fadnavis added that Pune police are investigating the minor for alleged culpable homicide not amounting to murder. They have also asked the Juvenile Court to review its bail order, he said.

CCTV video, purportedly filmed moments before the crash, shows a white Porsche speeding down a busy main road. People can be seen rushing to the scene of the crash, which is not pictured in the video that was shared widely on social media and broadcast on local news channels.

The minors father has been arrested for allegedly allowing his son to drive despite being underage, according to Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar. The legal driving age in India is 18.

Three people who served the minor liquor have also been arrested, Kumar added.

We have adopted the most stringent possible approach, and we shall do whatever is at our command to ensure that the two young lives that were lost get justice, and the accused gets duly punished, he said.

The incident has dominated headlines in India and sparked widespread anger, with many taking to social media to condemn the boys bail conditions.

Suresh Koshta, whose 24-year-old daughter was killed in the crash, urged authorities to take tougher action against the alleged driver.

It was wrong (to allow the minor to drive), he told reporters outside his home, while fighting back tears. One needs to know how to drive first.

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of Indias main opposition, the Indian National Congress, questioned whether a bus or taxi driver would be given the same punishment.

If a 16-17-year-old son of a wealthy household, driving a Porsche under the influence, is caught, he is asked to write an essay, Gandhi said in a video posted to X. Why arent essays assigned to truck drivers or bus drivers?

This isnt the first time a courts verdict has been scrutinized in this manner.

In 2015, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, who was facing a lengthy prison sentence for a fatal hit-and-run, got a reprieve when the Bombay High Court tossed out his conviction for lack of evidence, causing widespread outrage.

On basis of evidences produced by the prosecution, the appellant cannot be convicted, no matter how differently the common man thinks, the court said.

The hit-and-run incident took place outside a Mumbai bakery in September 2002, with prosecutors saying Khan ran over five sleeping men after losing control of his vehicle. He was returning from a bar after a night of drinking, they said.

The actor said he wasnt the driver.

One of the victims was killed; the others injured.

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Indigenous community turns to ancient practices to protect crops from harsh weather: 'We lost around 90% of the first harvest due to drought'

Indigenous communities in Colombia are going back to their roots, turning to traditional farming techniques to grow more resilient crops in the face of the changing climate.

While the Indigenous Zenu have practiced ancestral farming for hundreds of years, their way of life is hanging by a thread because of increasingly frequent natural disasters and heat waves.

"We lost around 90% of the first harvest due to drought, and the little corn we have now is smaller than usual. We had no rain during the last month, and now we can't sow," Remberto Gil, a farmer who lives in the 25,000-acre Zenu reserve in northwestern Colombia, told Mongabay.

To safeguard their food supplies and protect their people, the Zenu are turning to more heat-resistant ancestral corn varieties, such as blaquito and negrito, along with drought-tolerant corn called cariaco, as the outlet reported.

Local farmers told Mongabay that these indigenous corn plants are adapted to the environment and don't need as much water as the imported corn varieties they now grow.

While the Zenu still eat traditional dishes made with native fish and reptiles such as caiman, their focus is shoring up ancestral food stocks as the weather becomes more unpredictable.

Victor Negrete, a professor at Sinu University in Colombia, spoke to Mongabay about how farmers and seed guardians like Gil are working to preserve their ancestral foods. The Association of Organic Agriculture and Livestock Producers and their Communitarian Seed House are two projects helping the Zenu maintain their agricultural wisdom and save seeds for the future.

The seed bank houses 12 indigenous corn varieties, along with numerous native beans, pumpkins, eggplants, and herbs, in jars and two refrigerators. In addition to the seed house, an agroforestry system complete with chickens, turkeys, and various tropical fruit trees such as papaya, banana, and passionfruit provides food security for local families.

Mongabay reports that 25 families participate in sharing, preserving, and selling the seeds of 32 rare vegetables and traditional herbs, such as lemon balm.

"Working together helps us to save, share more seeds, and sell at fair price [while] avoiding intermediaries and increasing families' incomes," Gil told the outlet. "Last year, we sold 8 million seeds to organic restaurants in Bogota and Medellin."

These traditional farming practices not only benefit the Zenu but also help to support a healthy, thriving ecosystem for animal and plant species. Farmers in Peru are turning to ancestral agricultural methods as well to grow hundreds of varieties of climate-resilient potatoes, quinoa, corn, maize, and other crops in an effort to adapt to the warming planet.

"The most important challenge we have now is to save ancient species and involve new generations in ancestral practice," Sonia Rocha Marquez, a professor of social sciences at Sinu University, also told Mongabay.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Federal officials are looking into a northern Indiana utilitys cleanup plan that left residents exposed to potentially cancer-causing chemicals for nearly a decade, despite being told the threat was mitigated.

An IndyStar investigation found the soil analysis the plan was based on was flawed, resulting in a failure to remove dangerous concentrations of coal ash at several locations in the Town of Pines, a Superfund pollution site just a stone's throw from Lake Michigan.

How the heck did this happen? asked Mark Hutson, an advisor to the Pines community for several years as part of the Superfund process. Absolutely this has very real-world implications for residents.

The investigation traced the error to a NIPSCO-hired consultant with ties to the coal ash industry and a history of dismissing the potentially harmful risks of the toxic waste. She included what should have been an invalid sample in the report and that skewed several important numbers  a seemingly small misstep that an attorney working with residents said has had major consequences.

Experts said another problematic sample, which did not include coal ash but likely other industrial contamination, further skewed the data and also should have been dismissed as an outlier.

The result: Residents were left exposed to potentially cancer-causing substances for years after being told they had been removed and the remaining soil was safe.

IndyStar also learned the EPA didnt catch the error for nearly a decade.

When initially confronted in March by IndyStar, the EPA insisted no errors were made. But after IndyStar pointed to specific records that documented the mistake, the agency acknowledged it was looking into the issues raised by our investigation.

Lisa Bradley, a toxicologist and the NIPSCO-hired consultant behind the mistake, did not respond to multiple requests for comment from IndyStar.

NIPSCO said it was recently brought to its attention that one of the samples in the cleanup plan contained coal ash and that this sample will now be excluded. The utility said it is committed to following the EPA's direction "to ensure this remediation work is conducted properly so that human health and the environment are protected."

The struggle with coal ash, which was used extensively as construction fill in Pines, dates back at least to the 1970s. As members of the community pushed for answers about the dangers, they felt dismissed or left in the dark at every turn. Residents told IndyStar they just want to feel safe gardening in their yard or letting their children play outside, but even that has been out of reach.

Michigan City Generating Station can be seen from a playground in The Town of Pines. The station is a NIPSCO (Northern Indiana Public Service Company) coal and natural gas-fired power plant located on the shores of Lake Michigan. This playground was recently redone after it was discovered to be built on coal ash.

Meanwhile, theyve watched neighbors fall ill, wondering if their health problems were caused by exposure to the waste used as fill for roads and building lots  even a playground at the town hall  or harmful chemicals that leached from the ash and seeped into residential water wells.

A huge percentage of residents of Town of Pines have no trust in NIPSCO or the government, and they have felt marginalized and forgotten, said Paul Kysel, an area resident and a member of a former community group created as part of the Superfund.

This is the same bullshit thats been going on since Day One, he continued, so sadly it doesnt surprise me at all.

An attorney working with local residents said it is not uncommon for a polluter to inadequately investigate the site they polluted.

They have a motivation," said Lisa Evans with Earthjustice, an environmental law nonprofit, "to not find as much contamination.

Regardless of motivation, Evans told IndyStar, the report prepared by NIPSCOs consultant was wrong.

A mistake was made, but it can be corrected, she said. Its not too late to go back.

Use of coal ash dates back decades

Coal ash, the byproduct of burning coal to produce electricity, is the second-largest waste stream in the U.S. behind household garbage. One of the main toxic contaminants targeted in a coal-ash cleanup is arsenic because its common in ash and a known carcinogen. Last year, the EPA issued an updated report revealing the cancer risk from arsenic is 35 times higher than previously recognized.

Arsenic exposure also is linked to other health problems such as heart disease. The main risks come from ingesting the heavy metal, such as from produce grown in contaminated soil, or inhaling it when kicked up in dirt and dust particles.

NIPSCOs Michigan City power plant on the shore of Lake Michigan less than five miles from Pines, a small community which covers less than three square miles. In the heart of the town is a mostly unlined landfill where the utility sent much of its coal ash  more than one million tons over time, according to federal documents. Thats enough to fill the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a layer of coal ash more than a foot deep.

The landfill, referred to as Yard 520, sits above the aquifer that supplied water to most of the private wells used by town residents. The mound of waste began leaching arsenic and other harmful materials  including chromium, boron, molybdenum and more  into the water supply.

But not all of NIPSCOs coal ash made it to or stayed in the landfill. As early as the 1970s, coal ash was being hauled to Pines by the truckloads to create the base of roads, city buildings, parks and homes.

Pines resident Cathi Murray recalls walking along an unpaved road at the back of her property more than 20 years ago when she was pregnant, and later with her daughters as they learned to walk and run. The girls would pick up these black rocks, said Murray, who didn't find out until years later the road was built on coal ash.

Town of Pines residents and advocates Cathi Murray and Larry Jensen are photographed at the Town of Pines Whitey Wardean Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2023, in the Town of Pines, Ind. The hall and surrounding playground were built using coal ash fill, which a recent EPA report found that the risks of radioactivity from coal ash (and associated public health and cancer concerns) are MUCH higher than previously known.

Since then, she's had more than 60% of her thyroid removed. Murray remembers once sitting in a group of about 10 of her neighbors, and more than two-thirds of them also had thyroid issues.

No, I cant prove its because of the coal ash, she said. But when you start to think of what we have in common  We were all drinking the same water from the contaminated aquifer and living on top of coal ash.

Internal documents reviewed by Evans, the attorney working with Pines residents, indicate the utility first became aware of the contamination concerns in the mid-1980s. But it would be nearly 20 years before NIPSCO took any action.

'Something was just off'

When Phyllis DaMota moved to the town in 2000 she noticed her water had a strange odor: It had a chemical smell," she said. "Something was just off.

She asked the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to test her water, setting off a chain of dominoes that exposed pollution concerns still plaguing the town today. The state environmental agency found coal ash constituents in her water, and a sampling of other neighboring wells raised similar concerns.

Thats when the EPA came in and determined the metals came from the nearby Yard 520 landfill. Pines was declared in 2004 a Superfund site, a federal program that is responsible for cleaning up some of the nations most contaminated land, according to the EPA.

Pines was one of the first sites to be designated a Superfund for coal ash contamination, making it "the canary in the coal mine," Kysel said. And yet, 20 years later, the cleanup is still far from complete.

EPA: Cancer risk from coal ash higher than previously revealed. Could it be in your yard?

In Pines, the fix for the contaminated wells was to run municipal water lines from nearby Michigan City into the town. It was during the process of digging up the roads for the new water lines in the mid-2000s that another, possibly larger problem was discovered: Coal ash also had been used as fill in roadbeds and other sites around the community.

That discovery prompted the need for more cleanup. But first, investigators needed to determine where all the coal ash was buried and if it posed a risk to residents. Part of that process involved determining what metals exist in the soil naturally and at what levels.

These background levels are used to set the standards for what amounts would trigger a cleanup to return the soil back to natural levels.

'Not without harmful consequences'

According to the EPA, the risk-based cleanup number for arsenic in residential soil is less than 1 parts per million. That increases cancer risk by one in 1,000,000  meaning there would be one more case of cancer in a population of one million people compared to if there were no arsenic in the soil.

But arsenic occurs naturally in soils at levels higher than 1 ppm. Thats why the cleanup level is set to whats natural for the area.

The average level naturally occurring in Indiana soil is around eight to nine ppm, according to IDEM as well as the U.S. Geological Survey. But that rate varies by location. To determine the levels in Pines specifically, more than 40 soil samples were taken in 2007 and 2012.

The goal was to focus on soil that didnt contain coal ash to determine those natural levels. But of all the samples taken, nearly half did reveal the presence of coal ash  showing just how widely the waste material was used throughout the area.

Any sample with coal ash should have been excluded from the naturally occurring soil samples, but that didnt happen.

Embedded content: https://semspub.epa.gov/work/05/926433.pdf#page=4217

A letter from the lab that performed the microscopic analysis of the samples clearly shows a specific soil sample  the one used to set the background level and cleanup standard  contained coal ash. And yet Bradley, the NIPSCO-hired consultant, included it in her analysis as a "non-detect" or natural sample.

This skewed the levels: The cleanup guideline was set to 30 ppm, more than double the 14 ppm of the highest truly natural ash-free soil sample.

That resulted in some troubling coal ash not being removed: Residents whose soil tested under 30 ppm were told their properties didnt need any cleanup. According to Bradleys 2016 report, at least eight of nearly 60 homes tested at that time had levels above 14 ppm but didnt have any soil removed because of the error in setting the standard.

If folks thought their yards were clean and were told their yards were clean, they might not have taken any additional precautions, Evans said. So this is not without potential harmful consequences.

'Coal ash is not toxic'

Beyond fixing the levels, and addressing sites with more than 14 ppm of arsenic in their soils, residents of Pines and environmental advocates now want accountability. Some suspect the error had something to do with NIPSCO being in charge of the investigation and the consultant doing the work on its behalf: Lisa Bradley.

Bradley has a history of downplaying the risks of coal ash and leaving communities dismayed by her work, IndyStar found. She first got involved at Pines in 2004 with the water issues. Working at the time for a company called AECOM, Bradley was brought on by NIPSCO to assess how bad the water contamination was. She later continued her analysis for NIPSCO of the soil problems.

Bradleys bio says she has a doctorate in toxicology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is certified by the American Board of Toxicology and has 25 years of experience in risk assessment and toxicology. In addition to NIPSCO, Bradley has worked for other utilities around the country including Ameren in Missouri and Duke Energy in North Carolina.

In 2011, testifying on Amerens behalf, she said children could eat coal ash every day and not face an increased risk of arsenic exposure compared to regular soil. The judge in that case dismissed a lawsuit raising concerns over a proposed Ameren coal ash landfill in a decision based largely on her testimony, according to press coverage of the case at that time.

And in publications for both Duke Energy as well as for the ACAA, Bradley has written that coal ash is not toxic.

Hutson, the former advisor for Pines residents, said Bradley uses her experience and background to advance these claims: I think she could convince regulators it would be good to sprinkle coal ash on your cereal every morning.

Many scientists such as Hutson as well as environmental and public health experts, including those at EPA, would disagree. A report from Physicians for Social Responsibility says coal ash toxins have the potential to injure all of the major organ systems.

That was the case for hundreds of cleanup workers for the Tennessee Valley Authoritys Kingston coal ash spill in 2008, often referred to as the worst ash spill in history. Those workers spent years breathing in coal ash dust and having it coat their skin as they were told there was no risk. But in the decade since, at least 50 of those workers have died and hundreds are sick with a variety of ailments. Even family-members have fallen ill from second-hand exposure, according to lawsuits in the aftermath of the spill.

Many of Bradleys claims about risk, or lack thereof, also parallel those of the American Coal Ash Association, a group she has been involved with for many years. The ACAA is a trade group whose members, according to its website, share a common interest in using coal ash products to enhance revenues, minimize disposal costs, reduce liability and support environmental policies.

As part of the associations mission, the organization has consistently argued that coal ash is the same as soil because many of the same substances are found in both. While that may be true, they appear in different amounts  the heavy metals in coal ash are concentrated after combustion, according to the EPA and USGS.

Bradley served as a director for the association beginning in 2012 before joining the groups executive committee in 2014. She served in the secretary and treasurer position from that time until 2020, according to tax records. For reference: The background soil samples in Pines were collected in 2007 and 2012 and the feasibility study that set the arsenic cleanup standard was approved in 2016.

'Be careful what you look for'

Additional flaws with Bradleys assessment in Pines were revealed in a 2016 deposition for an unrelated coal ash case in North Carolina.

When doing her soil analysis in Pines, Bradley didnt even assess coal ash in peoples yards, she said in the deposition. Most of the ash used in Pines residential properties is called fly ash. Instead, she relied on the assessment of a different kind of ash, known as bottom ash, that was in roadbeds around Pines. That bottom ash, according to the EPA, is a different and slightly less toxic type of ash  a fact that Bradley also acknowledged in the deposition.

In other words, Bradley made an assumption at first without actually testing residents yards.

When it finally became clear the problem was bigger than she had assumed, Bradley said in her deposition that NIPSCO asked her to do a new risk assessment of the ash on peoples properties.

Bradley told NIPSCO to not waste its money with a risk assessment: Its not going to get us anything, she said in the 2016 deposition, an apparent reference to reducing the utilitys obligation to cleanup the pollution.

Page 69 of Bradley Deposition - NC Duke Energy case 2016

Page 69 of Bradley Deposition - NC Duke Energy case 2016

Contributed to DocumentCloud by Sarah Bowman (The Indianapolis Star)  View document or read text

Evans, the Earthjustice attorney working with Pines residents, said she was shocked when she read that Bradley so clearly aligned herself with NIPSCO and acknowledged an assessment would not benefit the utility.

In his work as a technical advisor for the Pines community group, Hutsons job was to help residents understand the complex science and hold the polluters accountable. But before that role, he previously worked for industry and companies similar to Bradley. That meant he was able to understand how Bradley and NIPSCO may have worked  steering where samples were taken and what they would sample for.

There is a saying among consultants: Be careful what you look for, because you just might find it, said Hutson, a geologist by training. His new role was a refreshing change, he said, because we were actually looking for the truth rather than looking for an angle on how to get your client out of a bind.

By 2016, when the flawed cleanup plan was approved, Hutsons watchdog work with the Pines community group had ended. Thats because the years-long back-and-forth between the utility and residents had exhausted the money provided by NIPSCO as part of the superfund program.

'A generation has grown up with contamination'

Now, EPA can no longer brush off the problem it failed to catch those years ago, Evans said.

The agency acknowledges that a key sample used in the original analysis contained fly ash. As a result, it said staff is currently re-evaluating the background levels, a process EPA said will likely wrap up within a few weeks. The agency plans to have a public meeting for Pines residents to share the new background level and answer any associated questions, according to NIPSCO.

In the meantime, the EPA is encouraging additional Pines residents to get their yards tested. There are still dozens of properties that have yet to have soils samples taken, meaning it is unknown if they will need any cleanup depending on the revised standards.

The agency held a community meeting in early March, the first in nearly eight years, to promote more sign-ups for testing. That community meeting came before the EPA acknowledged any issues with the numbers. Some residents raised concerns on that topic during the forum, according to Kysel, but the agency largely dismissed them.

It wasnt the first time EPA had cast off issues brought forward about Bradleys work in Pines. Nearly a decade ago, Kysel and others raised concerns about her apparent conflicts of interest. At one point the community group even asked the EPA to remove her as the consultant, Kysel said, but was told she was qualified given her educational background.

Still, the question of accountability looms large for residents. They want to know if anyone will be held responsible for the error that left members of their community potentially exposed.

Larry Jensen digs in soil for coal ash near the Calumet Trail on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2023, in the Town of Pines, Ind.

Evans with Earthjustice also wants to better understand how EPA plans to re-evaluate the levels and set new standards. She requested a meeting with the agency to that end. It denied her request, she said.

If EPA just goes into a back room and comes out with a new number that we have to fight about, then that just wastes even more time, Evans said.

She was shocked that EPA said no to her meeting request. Evans worked for the agency for several years and said she thinks it should welcome the feedback and participation, especially after these errors were made.

The attorney wants to make sure the agency doesnt introduce another error, in her eyes, by using the secondary outlier sample. Residents deserve to finally be protected and have that peace of mind they seek, she added.

A generation has grown up within this contamination because of everyone dragging their feet on cleanup, Evans said. Thats why its so dangerous to have polluters and their consultants conducting investigations and driving cleanup decisions  it becomes an us or them dynamic.

And too often, she said, the residents are the ones who suffer.

Call IndyStar reporter Sarah Bowman at 317-444-6129 or email at sarah.bowman@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @IndyStarSarah. Connect with IndyStars environmental reporters: Join The Scrub on Facebook.

IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Residents of small Indiana town face risks even after coal ash cleanup
SHANGHAI, May 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. carmaker Tesla broke ground on a mega factory in Shanghai on Thursday to manufacture its energy-storage batteries, Megapacks, a project hailed by the company as a "milestone."

The latest move underscores Tesla's commitment to investing in the world's second-largest economy, defying the rhetoric of "decoupling" and "de-risking" from China ratcheted up by some U.S. politicians.

The new plant spans an area of approximately 200,000 square meters, with a total investment of around 1.45 billion yuan (about 203.94 million U.S. dollars), according to the administration of Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

The mega factory is the first of its kind built by Tesla outside the United States and the company's second plant in Shanghai, following the inauguration of its gigafactory in 2019 which involved an initial investment of over 50 billion yuan.

"I believe the new plant is a milestone for both Shanghai and Tesla," the company's vice president Tao Lin told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

"In a more open environment, we can create a new Tesla speed at the Megapack factory, and supply the global market with large-scale energy-storage batteries manufactured in China," she added.

At Thursday's ground breaking ceremony in Shanghai, Tesla representatives and local government officials formally initiated the construction of the Megapack factory, which is expected to begin mass production in the first quarter of 2025, with an initial capacity of 10,000 Megapack units a year.

"With Tesla's benchmark project, we anticipate that within the next three to five years, an industrial cluster centered around energy storage will rapidly emerge," said Lu Yu, an official from the Lin-gang Special Area Administration.

After the ceremony, Tesla signed a deal with Shanghai Lingang Economic Development (Group) Co., Ltd., securing the first batch of orders for its Megapacks in China.

Gong Wei, vice president of Lingang Group, said the Megapacks would be used for energy storage in a data center in the Lin-gang Special Area, as part of its efforts to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

Tesla's deep involvement in the energy storage industry now rivals its electric vehicles in importance, Tao said, adding that its energy storage products are currently applied in over 65 countries and regions.

The U.S. company already has a factory for its Megapacks in California, which has an annual capacity of 10,000 units.

Each Megapack unit can store over 3.9 megawatt-hours of energy, sufficient to power approximately 3,600 households for one hour. 
Infant found dead in back seat of SUV in Morgantown, police say

Morgantown police are investigating after an infant was found dead in the back seat of an SUV on Wednesday.

Officers were called to 3610 Collins Ferry Road in Morgantown around 3:05 p.m. for a reported cardiac arrest.

When officers arrived, they saw a young child in a rear-facing car seat in the back of an SUV. The child was pronounced dead on the scene.

The case is still under investigation by the Morgantown Police Department and the West Virginia Medical Examiners Office.

The department wishes to express their sincere condolences to the family and friends that have been directly impacted by this tragic loss as well as recognizing the devastating impact such a loss is to the community, said Morgantown Police Department Chief Eric Powell.

At this time, no charges have been filed and information is still being gathered, police said.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  Just over a week after speaking out publicly for the first time in an exclusive KXAN investigation, a family of four seriously hurt in Februarys deadly car crash at an Austin hospital is suing.

The Bernard family filed a 25-page lawsuit, which was first reported by KXAN, in Travis County against St. Davids HealthCare early Thursday morning. The lawsuit seeks more than $1 million for mounting medical bills, pain and suffering and lost wages. Their attorney said what happened to them should have been prevented.

EXPLORE: KXANs Preventing Disaster investigation

Project Summary:

This story is part of KXANs Preventing Disaster investigation, which initially published on May 15, 2024. The project follows a fatal car crash into an Austin hospitals emergency room earlier that year. Our team took a broader look at safety concerns with that crash and hundreds of others across the nation  including whether medical sites had security barriers  known as bollards  at their entrances. Experts say those could stop crashes from happening.

Plaintiffs have filed this case to encourage St. Davids and all hospitals to quit waiting for accidents to happen and construct safety barriers now at their emergency rooms before more people are hurt by vehicle intrusions, a very common incident, the lawsuit stated.

WATCH: Levi and Nadia Bernard speak in an exclusive, extended interview with KXAN investigators.

In recent days, when asked about the lawsuit the family was planning to file, St. Davids acknowledged, the safety of our patients and their families, as well as our employees and visitors, is always our top priority. Citing hospital policy, it would not comment on pending claims or litigation.

KXAN sent St. Davids a copy of the lawsuit after it was filed Thursday morning. Asked again for comment, St. Davids reiterated the same statement.

Nadia Bernard seen from behind being helped up (Courtesy Stephen Hughes)

For my clients, the fact that this happened to them is completely unacceptable, said Austin trial attorney Sean Breen, who represents the Bernard family, with the law firm Howry, Breen & Herman. Theyre still dealing with it. It was totally unnecessary. It was totally preventable. And, what they really, really want is for nobody else to have to go through what theyve gone through.

Its been more than three months since Nadia Bernard, her husband Levi, and their two toddlers were inside the lobby of St. Davids North Austin Medical Center looking at a fish tank. The car hit the tank and the family.

The driver of the vehicle, Michelle Holloway, died.

The Austin Police Department is still investigating the cause of the crash but previously said it wasnt intentional. The lawsuit alleges Holloway arrived at the hospital with her niece to visit a sick family member. According to the lawsuit, Holloway, a passenger, was asked to move the 2016 white Acura TLX, which was parked at the hospitals north entrance. The lawsuit alleges Holloway was unfamiliar with the car and accidentally lost control, crashing into the vulnerable and unprotected ER entrance and into the lobby, running over and seriously injuring all four members of the Bernard family.

The police investigation into the crash is ongoing and contingent on (Holloways) pending autopsy and toxicology results, APD said in a statement Thursday.

The crash report is heavily redacted. It categorizes what happened as an aggravated assault with a motor vehicle and only reveals what happened, not why: a mass casualty incident caused by a vehicle crashing through the doors of the ER lobby.

READ: Hospitals respond to KXANs Preventing Disaster investigation

I think I still (have) not super processed  everything, said Nadia, tearing up and still in a wheelchair recovering from a broken leg. I think Im still very much not sure what to think of it.

Nadia Bernard spent weeks in the hospital following the Feb. 13 crash at St. Davids North Austin Medical Center. (Courtesy Bernard family)

Why did it happen to us?

Levi Bernard at the hospital with youngest son, Sunny (Courtesy Bernard family)

Cell phone video taken moments after the crash shows Nadia unable to stand, being carried away.

Their youngest son, 2-year-old Sunny, needed hundreds of stitches around his face and head and is being monitored for a brain injury after going through the cars windshield. His dad found him in the passenger footwell.

Levis previous descriptions to KXAN were quoted in the lawsuit, including when he described the situation as his worst nightmare  watching your whole family get taken out by a vehicle and (theres) like literally not a thing you can do to stop it and when he recalled thinking: This is what dying feels like.

Back in his office, Breen opened a cardboard box and showed KXAN investigators the large, thick shards of glass and granite found inside the white Acura after it had been towed away.

This is where they found little Sunny laying on this, he said, showing a heavy piece of glass from the aquarium.

Why did it happen to us? Nadia asked. Why did we survive this?

Aftermath of Feb. 13 crash at St. Davids North Austin Medical Center (Courtesy Diane Warmoth); white Acura months later in a tow yard, including passenger footwell where Sunny was found (Courtesy Howry, Breen & Herman)

In the lawsuit, the Bernard family and their attorney accuse St. Davids of gross negligence for failing to take safety precautions used around the country, around the state, around the city and in some of St. Davids other facilities. The lawsuit points to the hospitals lack of vertical security posts, called bollards, which were installed after the Feb. 13 crash and has been the focus of an ongoing KXAN investigation.

Had St. Davids installed those safety bollards before this incident, as a reasonable hospital should have, this incident would have been totally harmless, the lawsuit said. St. Davids cannot profess ignorance of either the dangerous condition or the solution.

Lawsuit evidence photos showing St. Davids North Austin Medical Center without bollards (Courtesy Howry, Breen & Herman)

St. Davids did not answer our questions about its bollards saying it cannot disclose specific details of our security measures.

Lawsuit evidence photos showing bollards installed at St. Davids North Austin Medical Center after the Feb. 13 crash (Courtesy Howry, Breen & Herman)

The lawsuit criticizes St. Davids, a $2.1 billion hospital system, for announcing $953 million worth of healthcare infrastructure investments in a news release in 2022, but not spending a very small fraction of that money on bollards at vulnerable ER entrances. The lawsuit said organizations, like the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety, have called for physical barrier protection for emergency rooms since at least 2012.

KXAN investigates recently traveled to Texas A&Ms Transportation Institute near College Station to see, firsthand, how effective crash-rated bollards can be at stopping the equivalent of a Dodge Ram pickup truck going 20 miles per hour. At the time of the crash, St. Davids, instead, credited the large lobby fish tank for absorbing the impact and saving lives.

I thank God for intervening there and giving us that protection, St. Davids North Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peter DeYoung said on Feb. 14, less than 24 hours after the crash.

I wish it was thanking God that there were bollards in front of the building, Levi countered. Not the thing that attracted us to the center of the lobby.

The lawsuit called DeYoungs remarks both cruel and damning.

This isnt the first time a hospital has been sued over its lack of bollards. A KXAN investigation found Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta was sued in 2020, and settled for an undisclosed amount, following a similar deadly crash at its ER. Piedmont did not respond to our multiple requests for comment.

The Storefront Safety Council, which tracks building crashes, and a KXAN analysis of TxDOT data, revealed more than 300 crashes at medical facilities nationwide in the past decade, including at least 85 in Texas  a fact referenced in the lawsuit.

Two Austin City Council members

Two Austin City Council members have already reached out to the SSC, in direct response to KXANs investigation, wanting to collaborate on an ordinance that would require bollards at Austin hospitals.

The reality is these accidents are frequent, said Rob Reiter, SSC co-founder and expert in vehicle-into-building crashes. They are foreseeable. And they are preventable.

Breen agrees and believes a jury will, too.

Oh, this is 100% preventable, he said. On the scale of accidents that dont need to happen, this is a 10 all right. Why? Because you have a known problem thats easy to predict. You know its going to happen. Its cheap to prevent. Why not do that? Why wait until someone is destroyed before you actually act?

Read the lawsuitDownload

KXAN Investigative Photojournalist Chris Nelson, Graphic Artist Wendy Gonzalez, Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle, Investigative Producer Dalton Huey and Digital Director Kate Winkle contributed to this report.

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 KXAN Austin.
INDIAN RIVER  As graduation approaches and Inland Lakes prepares to see their students walk across the stage on May 23, the school is celebrating its top graduates.

The school has two co-valedictorians and one salutatorian.

Hanna Hinman

More: Area high schools get ready for graduation ceremonies

With a perfect 4.0 GPA and top of the class rank, Hanna Hinman will be crossing the stage this Saturday as a co-valedictorian.

Throughout high school, Hinman participated in track, cross country, National Honor Society and student council. She plans to go to Michigan State University to study biology in a pre-med track.

Her parents are Bob and Krysta Hinman.

In a message to the Daily Tribune, Hinman wrote to her fellow graduates, "Congratulations and good luck!"

Madison Thompson

Also graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA is co-valedictorian Madison Thompson.

Thompson, the child of Ambyr Thompson, participated in robotics, National Honor Society and high school video production throughout her time at Inland Lakes. After graduation, she plans to attend the University of Michigan to study political science on a pre-law track.

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage

Claire Feagan

Claire Feagan is graduating as the schools salutatorian, ending with a 3.98 GPA. In high school, she participated in volleyball and National Honor Society.

The child of Jim and Jill Feagan, she is planning to attend North Central Michigan College for a year before transferring to Michigan State University, where she will pursue a degree in biomedical science before completing the Physician Assistant Program.

I would like to thank Inland Lakes schools for the growth of my education and a shoutout to my family as well for guiding me through this journey, Feagan wrote to the Daily Tribune.

 Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Inland Lakes celebrates top students ahead of graduation
His insurance card said out-of-network care was covered. Then, he found out it was a typo.

No one's thrilled when their doctor says they need a colonoscopy. But the five-figure medical bill that later landed in Mike Meier's mailbox proved to be much worse than the procedure itself.

In December 2022, Meier's doctor recommended a colonoscopy for routine cancer screening. When Meier arrived at Aurora Health Center in Greenfield for the procedure, he thought his Alliant Health Plans insurance would cover the charges.

After all, Meier's insurance card, which he brought to the appointment, stated out-of-network care was covered. And his plan was offered through HealthCare.gov, which he assumed covered preventive procedures.

Mike and Julie Meier were shocked when they received a $10,000 medical bill last year, and have tried to figure out how to dispute or reduce the charge ever since.

Three months later, Meier received a bill for $10,745.

When Meier asked Aurora about the bill, the health care system said Alliant denied the charges because the procedure was completed by an out-of-network provider.

Through numerous complaints, appeals and a letter to the commissioner of insurance in their new home state of Georgia, Mike Meier found out Alliant had misprinted his insurance card: He had out-of-network coverage only for emergency care.

Despite the error, both the health system and the insurance company were unwilling to reduce Meier's charges because the couple had selected a plan with a $20,000 deductible. Because the colonoscopy was not a covered service, that meant  misprint or not  they'd still have to pay.

As users of HealthCare.gov's Affordable Care Act plans for over 10 years, the Meiers were shocked a preventive procedure like a colonoscopy wouldn't be covered.

"I had heard or thought at the time that it would be completely covered because it was an Affordable Care Act plan," said his wife, Julie Meier.

After Mike Meier lost his job earlier this year, the couple told Aurora the huge medical bill could put them into bankruptcy, she said.

In a statement to Public Investigator, an Aurora Health Care spokesperson acknowledged how "unexpected medical bills can be distressing" and advised patients to contact their insurance provider before a procedure.

"We are committed to transparency in our billing practices and to guiding patients as they navigate and plan for the cost of their care," said spokesperson Adam Mesirow.

He said Aurora offers several services like cost-of-care estimates, financial assistance programs and charity care.

Alliant Health Plans declined to comment, citing patient privacy. The company also declined to offer Mike Meier a patient privacy waiver that would allow Alliant to speak about his case.

The couple's yearlong search for answers reveals how even the smallest assumption can have major consequences in health care billing, despite reforms meant to prevent such surprises. That's especially true with colonoscopies, which have been frequently confusing for patients and insurers to navigate.

MORE: Two sisters are finding that colonoscopy pricing is a pain in the butt

Alliant admits the card was misprinted, but says it wouldn't have made a difference

After receiving little insight from Aurora and Alliant, the Meiers reported their case to the Georgia Insurance Commissioner last year.

In a letter to the commissioner, Alliant admitted the insurance card "mistakenly indicated that Mr. Meier had out-of-network benefits." Alliant clarified Mike Meier's plan allows for out-of-network coverage only in the case of emergency medical services.

A corrected card was sent to Mike Meier 13 days after he received his colonoscopy, Alliant said.

Regardless of the error, Alliant wrote, the colonoscopy would not have been covered.

Julie Meier didn't understand why the preventive procedure  one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer  wouldn't be covered.

The answer is in the details.

All HealthCare.gov plans are required to cover certain preventive services, a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services spokesperson told Public Investigator. Those services include screening for colorectal cancer in asymptomatic adults who are 45 to 75 years old and at average risk of colorectal cancer.

However, when Mike Meier received the procedure, he was only 44 years old  barely missing the age cutoff.

Additionally, the spokesperson said the procedure is covered only when performed by a provider in the plan's network.

"However, nothing in the (Affordable Care Act) prevents the plan from covering the services out of network," a CMS spokesperson added. "This will be determined by the terms of the individuals plan and applicable state law."

Mike Meier had a benign polyp removed during the screening, but the CMS spokesperson confirmed that does not alter a patient's eligibility for coverage. Providers have incorrectly billed patients for polyp removal during colonoscopies in the past.

Wisconsin state statute and administrative code also outline a few more protections.

In most cases, insurers covering Wisconsinites are required to cover colorectal cancer examinations and lab tests for patients 50 years of age or older, or patients under 50 years of age who are at high risk for colorectal cancer, according to the Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner.

In part because of a misprint on his Alliant health insurance card, Mike Meier didn't realize his insurance wouldn't cover his colonoscopy.

Insurers responsible for clearly stating out-of-pocket maximums

There was one more safeguard that might have protected Mike Meier.

Under the No Surprises Act, a law that went into effect in 2022, group health plans and insurance companies are required to state in clear writing the maximum out-of-pocket limit that a patient can be charged.

The law is meant to protect people from surprise billing, which is when patients receive an unexpected charge for medical care at an out-of-network facility, often after an accident or emergency.

In Mike Meier's case, his Alliant insurance card should have accurately communicated the amount of coverage he had for out-of-network treatment, according to the CMS spokesperson. In addition, Aurora could have verified the information ahead of his appointment, although that was not required, the spokesperson said.

In Alliant's response to the Georgia insurance commissioner's inquiry, the company said an Aurora representative called Alliant at 4:04 p.m. the day of Mike Meier's appointment. That's when Alliant confirmed he did not have out-of-network benefits, the letter said.

By that time, the Meiers said, his procedure was already complete.

Lisa Grabert, a visiting research professor at Marquette University who specializes in insurance policy, said the unusual circumstances the Meiers faced with the inaccurate card might fall into a gap of cases the law doesn't cover.

Since the No Surprises Act is a fairly new law for the American health care system, Grabert said some companies are still adapting, and many cases fall outside of the law's purview.

"(Lawmakers) need to go back and really legislate around possible holes in the legislation where people might be trying to get away and around the rules," said Grabert. "I'm not sure that the rollout of the law has been quite what anybody has intended."

According to CMS, over the next few years, regulations will be issued to enforce the provisions protecting patients who mistakenly receive care from out-of-network providers due to inaccurate information.

For now, insurance companies are expected to comply with these provisions using "a good faith, reasonable interpretation of the statute."

More: If you're having a health insurance dispute in Wisconsin, here's how to get help

Days after Public Investigator contacted Aurora, Meier's bill was discounted

After Mike Meier lost his job earlier this year, the couple, who had been paying a $385 monthly medical bill, turned to Public Investigator.

Public Investigator contacted Aurora in late March. The next day, Julie Meier said Advocate Aurora's vice president of patient experience, Bradley Krueger, called her husband to talk about the couple's bill.

The next week, Mike Meier received a new statement that showed his charges had been discounted by $3,700.

Despite multiple attempts, both Public Investigator and the Meiers have been unable to reach Krueger regarding how this discount came to be.

Either way, Julie Meier said the discount is a relief after nearly a year of trying to dispute or reduce the charge.

"It's definitely a step in the right direction," she said.

Tamia Fowlkes is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at tfowlkes@gannett.com. Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at qclark@gannett.com.

How to get help with an unexpected medical bill

If you receive a surprise medical bill, you can contact the federal government's No Surprises Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059 or submit a complaint online at www.cms.gov/medical-bill-rights. The state or federal government can investigate the case and may be able to help.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' guide for Affordable Care Act and Medicare coverage requirements for colorectal cancer screenings is available on health.gov.

Do you have a tip? Contact Public Investigator

Public Investigator

Government corruption. Corporate wrongdoing. Consumer complaints. Medical scams. Public Investigator is a new initiative of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and its sister newsrooms across Wisconsin. Our team wants to hear your tips, chase the leads and uncover the truth. We'll investigate anywhere in Wisconsin. Send your tips to watchdog@journalsentinel.com or call 414-319-9061. You can also submit tips at jsonline.com/tips.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Couple faces $10,000 bill for colonoscopy after insurance card misprint
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Do you have what it takes to be a firefighter? Las Vegas Fire and Rescue is hosting a free community boot camp to recruit more firefighters. People ages 14 and older can participate in challenging workouts alongside real-life firefighters and learn what it takes to be on the frontline.

The boot camp is an effort to entice more men and women to think about a firefighting career ahead of the departments firefighter recruitment on Monday, June 3, as well as its upcoming LVFR Explorer Program recruitment later this summer. The LVFR Explorer program educates, trains, and mentors people ages 15 to 25 who want to learn more about the fire service.

The Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Community Boot Camp takes place Sunday, May 26, from 9 a.m. to noon at the lower parking lot of the Cashman Field Complex at 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Free parking will be available in the upper lot of the Cashman Complex.

Firefighter recruitment is open to those ages 18 and older with a high school diploma or equivalent and a valid drivers license. Candidates will have to pass a written firefighter exam and physical fitness assessment. Current emergency medical technician or paramedic certification is preferred; wildfire experience, veteran status, military experience, and bi-lingual fluency are all considered pluses candidates.

For more information on becoming a firefighter or joining the Fire Explorer program, visit this link.

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 KLAS.
Rescue team members search an area near the crash site of a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Varzaghan, in northwestern Iran, on May 20, 2024. Credit - Azin HaghighiMOJ News Agency / AFP / Getty Images

If the Middle East is a puzzle, its one that grew even harder to imagine ever clicking together as the evening of May 19 gave way to May 20. In the space of 24 hours, the President of Iran was killed, and the Prime Minister of Israel learned that a warrant for his arrest for war crimes and crimes against humanity were sought by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), who also wanted warrants for leaders of Hamas. Even before Saudi Arabia announced its elderly King was gravely ill, the point had come home: nearly eight months after Oct. 7, the essential question in the Middle East is leadership.

Iran's status quo

In Iran, more than fog obscured the helicopter crash that left President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others dead. Though the default explanation traced the cause to an aviation fleet stunted by decades of U.S. sanctions, conspiracy theories regarded that as a handy cover for either Mossadin retaliation for Irans April 13 assault on Israelor bloody-minded rivals of Raisi in the competition to succeed 85-year-old Ali Khamenei in in Irans top job. His title, Supreme Leader, says it all.

Unlike Gen. Qasem Soleimani, whose popularity across Iranian society made his 2020 assassination by U.S. drone a profound loss to the regime, Raisi left no void. Khamenei will decide which hardline apparatchik appears on the ballot to replace him. He vowed no disruption in the countrys work. Iran will continue waging war on Israel by arming Hamas in Gaza and Hizballah in Lebanon.

Netanyahu besieged

Israels conviction that not only those enemies but also the world is against them feeds a bristling solidarity that may have been the only comfort to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the news that, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, his arrest was sought by the prosecutor of the ICC. The charges, which await approval by a panel of judges, allege deliberately killing civilians and starvation as a weapon in Israels war against Hamas in Gaza, where 35,000 have been killed, per the count of the Hamas-run health ministry, which is accepted by the U.S. and the U.N.

Prosecutor Karim Khan also seeks the arrest of Yahya Sinwar, who organized the Oct. 7 attack; Mohammed Deif, who leads Hamas armed wing; and Ismail Haniyeh, its political chief, based in Qatar. Sinwar and Deif are thought to be in Gaza, where Israel has been trying to kill them. The chargesincluding rape, torture, taking hostagesserve to reinforce Israels efforts to direct global attention to the 1,200 Israelis killed in the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust. But Hamas made its name with suicide bombings and has little to lose from the ICCs accusations, whereas Israela society built around what it calls the most moral army in the worldhas historically sought to claim the high ground. The ICC move was a body blow to a state that, despite defiant statements about going it alone, relies heavily on the support of Western allies, especially the U.S. To wit: As many as half of those 300 Iranian missiles and drones knocked out of the sky in April were downed by the U.S. and others.

Read more: What ICC Arrest Warrants Would Mean for Israel and Hamas Leaders

The risk to Netanyahu is both personalhe might be arrested if he travels to any of the 124 nations that signed the treaty creating the courtand political. Already blamed by Israelis for the security lapses that allowed Oct. 7, he also owns all that has followed, including the fate of the remaining 128 hostages. Days before the ICC news, Gallant berated Netanyahu for refusing to formulate a day after plan for Gaza, beyond leaving troops there indefinitely. Former military chief of staff Benny Gantz, the only other member of Israels war cabinet, then gave Netanyahu a June 8 deadline to come up with an endgame, arguing that progress was impaired by Netanyahus personal interest in refusing to defy the far right, which he brought into the mainstream in order to win office. If you choose the path of the zealots and lead the whole state into the abyss, we will be forced to leave, Gantz said, threatening to force an election.

The Saudi question

Saudi Arabia, of course, makes no pretense of democracy. Even King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, 88, routinely defers to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who on May 20 delayed a foreign trip as the monarchs health took a turn. Along with the execution of Jamal Khashoggi, MBS might be best known for his keenness to establish relations with Israel. To confront rival Iran, the Saudi was prepared to let Israel have its way with Palestinians. A pact on those terms was getting closer when Oct. 7 returned the matter of a Palestinian state to center stage.

To much of the world, such a state seems inevitable. Spain, Norway, and Ireland declared May 22 that they would recognize one. But in Israel, the debate is whether to establish what Gantz termed an international civilian governance mechanism for Gaza, including American, European, Arab, and Palestinian elements. What exactly the Palestinian elements would be was not identified, and so qualifies as a missing piece. But hardly the only one.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Iran's late president Raisi to be buried in home city of Mashhad

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leads a funeral service for the late President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign minister and others killed in a helicopter crash. -/Supreme Leader of Iran Official Website/dpa

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash at the weekend, is to be buried in his home city of Mashhad on Thursday.

Raisi is to be laid to rest at the city's shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth imam of Shia Islam.

High-ranking representatives of friendly states are expected to attend, including Russian parliamentary leader Vyacheslav Volodin.

Iran's state railway company has organized special trains to take mourners from Tehran to the north-eastern city.

There have been several ceremonies and public displays of mourning for Raisi, late foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and other victims of Sunday's crash. Millions of mourners flocked to a funeral procession in Tehran on Wednesday.

Raisi and Amirabdollahian were killed in the crash with seven other occupants of the ill-fated helicopter. They went down in dense cloud in the mountains while travelling back from a meeting with Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan.

Iran's religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ordered five days of national mourning, and a nationwide holiday was held on Wednesday.

Raisi's death has provoked mixed reactions in Iran. While supporters of the country's Islamic regime have mourned the loss of an important political figure, critics have highlighted the heightened repression his administration oversaw.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leads a funeral service for the late President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign minister and others killed in a helicopter crash. -/Supreme Leader of Iran Official Website/dpa

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leads a funeral service for the late President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign minister and others killed in a helicopter crash. -/Supreme Leader of Iran Official Website/dpa
Iran's late president Raisi to be buried in home city of Mashhad

Mourners carry the flag-draped coffins of Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others who were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday, during their funeral ceremony in the city of Mashhad. -/Iranian Presidency/dpa

Ebrahim Raisi, the late Iranian president who died in a helicopter crash at the weekend, is to be buried in his home city of Mashhad on Thursday as mass mourning ceremonies continue in the country.

Raisi is to be laid to rest at the city's shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth imam of Shia Islam.

High-ranking representatives of friendly states are expected to attend, including Russian parliamentary leader Vyacheslav Volodin. Iran's state railway company organized special trains to take mourners from Tehran to the north-eastern city.

Before arriving in Mashhad, there was a state-organized service on Thursday morning in the city of Birjand in which tens of thousands of people turned out, state broadcaster IRIB said.

Raisi represented Birjand, located south of Mashhad, on the Assembly of Experts, an influential clerical body in Iran.

There have been several ceremonies and public displays of mourning for Raisi, late foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and other victims of Sunday's crash, with millions of mourners flocking to a funeral procession in Tehran on Wednesday.

Amirabdollahian's funeral took place on Thursday in Tehran. The Iranian state news agency ISNA said the burial was held in the Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine in the south of the capital.

Raisi and Amirabdollahian were killed in the crash with seven other occupants of the ill-fated helicopter. They went down in dense fog in the mountains while travelling back from a meeting with Ilham Aliyev, the president of neighbouring Azerbaijan.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered five days of national mourning, and a nationwide holiday was held on Wednesday.

Raisi's death has provoked mixed reactions in Iran. While supporters of the country's Islamic regime have mourned the loss of an important political figure, critics have highlighted the heightened repression his administration oversaw.

Mourners carry the flag-draped coffins of Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others who were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday, during their funeral ceremony in the city of Mashhad. -/Iranian Presidency/dpa
Mourners carry the flag-draped coffins of Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others who were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday, during their funeral ceremony in the city of Mashhad. -/Iranian Presidency/dpa

Iran's late president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash last weekend, was laid to rest in his home city of Mashhad on Thursday.

Raisi was buried next to the mausoleum of the eighth Shiite Imam Reza in Mashhad, state broadcaster IRIB reported. It is considered the most important Shia shrine in Iran.

Three million people attended the funeral ceremony in Mashhad, according to the state news agency IRNA. There were no independent estimates of the size of the crowd.

Raisi and his foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were among those killed in the helicopter crash in the north-west of the country on Sunday.

Amirabdollahian's funeral took place on Thursday in Tehran. The Iranian state news agency ISNA said the burial was held in the Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine in the south of the capital.

Prior to this, there was another state-organized funeral service for the president in his home region of Khorasan, where tens of thousands took part.

The provincial capital of Birjand was chosen as the penultimate stop of the funeral ceremonies because Raisi had a special relationship with the city, explained Vice President Mohsen Mansouri. Raisi also represented Birjand on the Assembly of Experts, an influential clerical body in Iran.

On Wednesday, a similar funeral service was held in the capital Tehran, which was also attended by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

After the religious ritual at Tehran University, there was also a ceremony with foreign representatives who had travelled to Tehran. In addition to the emir of Qatar, Egypt's foreign minister, the head of Hamas and the chairman of the Russian Duma paid their last respects to the late president.

The absence of the last three Iranian presidents caused a stir. Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005), Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-13) and Hassan Rowhani (2013-21) were allegedly not invited to the funeral ceremony because they had harshly criticized Raisi and his arch-conservative stance course on several occasions.

Raisi's successor is due to be elected on June 28.

According to observers, the country's moderate politicians are once again likely to be excluded in the run-up to the election. It is therefore expected that a candidate from the arch-conservative camp will once again win the race.

The favourite is Raisi's deputy Mohammad Mokhber, who is also acting as interim president until the election. As a close confidant of Raisi, Mokhber is very likely to continue his policies. There is little hope among Iranians that there will be political change under him - or under another arch-conservative president.

While government supporters mourned Raisi's death, critics in Iran pointed to the cleric's past. During his time as prosecutor general in 1988, he was held responsible for the execution of numerous dissidents. He also took a hard line as president - especially against women and their social rights.

Raisi and Amirabdollahian were killed in the crash with seven other occupants of the ill-fated helicopter. They went down in dense fog in the mountains while travelling back from a meeting with Ilham Aliyev, the president of neighbouring Azerbaijan.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered five days of national mourning, and a nationwide holiday was held on Wednesday.

Mourners attend the funeral ceremony in the city of Mashhad for Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others who were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday. -/Iranian Presidency/dpa

Mourners carry the flag-draped coffins of Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others who were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday, during their funeral ceremony in the city of Mashhad. -/Iranian Presidency/dpa
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a scientific research institution in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, May 22, 2024. Li made a research trip to the province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

ZHENGZHOU, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for efforts to secure a bumper summer grain harvest and promote the innovative development of agriculture.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a research trip to central China's Henan Province from Wednesday to Thursday.

During his inspection of high-standard farmlands in the city of Xinxiang, Li called for efforts to enhance cross-regional mechanized harvesting, prevent and control disasters, and prepare for summer sowing.

Minimum grain purchase prices should be utilized well to ensure farmers are able to earn money, he said.

During his tour, he also visited a seed-breeding innovation center, a food enterprise and a scientific research institution.

Efforts should be made to promote the construction of innovative platforms in the seed industry, and to strengthen support for research personnel in the agricultural sector, Li said.

He noted the importance of efforts to leverage the leading role of key enterprises and promote the coordinated development of the entire industrial chain to develop a specialty food industry.

Deepening the reform of science and technology mechanisms is an important measure to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, Li said. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspects high-standard farmlands in the city of Xinxiang, central China's Henan Province, May 23, 2024. Li made a research trip to the province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
FILE - Smoke billows after an explosion in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel on May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa, File)

JERUSALEM (AP)  Diminished but not deterred, Hamas is still putting up a fight after seven brutal months of war with Israel, regrouping in some of the hardest-hit areas in northern Gaza and resuming rocket attacks into nearby Israeli communities.

Israel initially made tactical advances against Hamas after a devastating aerial bombardment paved the way for its ground troops. But those early gains have given way to a grinding struggle against an adaptable insurgency  and a growing feeling among many Israelis that their military faces only bad options, drawing comparisons with U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This was the subtext of a rebellion in recent days by two members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's three-man War Cabinet  Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Benny Gantz, Netanyahu's main political rival  who demanded that he come up with detailed postwar plans.

They supported Israel's retaliation for Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, including one of the heaviest bombing campaigns in recent history, ground operations that obliterated entire neighborhoods and border restrictions that the U.N.'s World Food Program says pushed parts of the territory into famine.

But now the two retired generals fear a prolonged, costly re-occupation of Gaza, from which Israel withdrew soldiers and settlers in 2005. They are also opposed to a withdrawal that would leave Hamas in control or lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Instead, they have put forth alternatives that many Israelis see as wildly unrealistic. Hamas, meanwhile, has proposed its own postwar plan.

Here's a look at four ways this war might end.

FULL-SCALE MILITARY OCCUPATION

Netanyahu has promised a total victory that would remove Hamas from power, dismantle its military capabilities and return the scores of hostages it still holds from the attack that triggered the war.

He has said victory could come within weeks if Israel launches a full-scale invasion of Rafah, which Israel portrays as the last Hamas stronghold.

Amir Avivi, a retired Israeli general and former deputy commander of the Gaza division, says that's only the beginning. He said Israel would need to remain in control to prevent Hamas from regrouping.

If you dont drain the swamp, you cannot deal with the mosquitoes. And drain the swamp means a complete change in the education system, and dealing with local leadership and not with a terror organization, he said. "This is a generational process. Its not going to happen in a day.

Far-right members of Netanyahu's governing coalition, who hold the key to his remaining in power, have called for permanent occupation, voluntary emigration of large numbers of Palestinians to anywhere that will have them, and rebuilding of Jewish settlements in Gaza.

Most Israelis are opposed, pointing to the immense costs of stationing thousands of troops in the territory that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians. As an occupying power, Israel would likely be held responsible for providing health, education and other services. It's unclear to what extent international donors would step in to fund reconstruction amid ongoing hostilities.

There's also no guarantee such an occupation would eliminate Hamas.

Israel was in full control of Gaza when Hamas was established in the late 1980s. Israels 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon coincided with the rise of Hezbollah, and Israeli troops routinely battle militants in the West Bank, which it has controlled since 1967.

A LIGHTER OCCUPATION, AIDED BY UNICORNS

Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain security control over Gaza but delegate civilian administration to local Palestinians unaffiliated with Hamas or the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the occupied West Bank. He has suggested that Arab and other countries assist with governance and rebuilding.

But so far, none have shown interest.

No Palestinians are known to have offered to cooperate with the Israeli military, perhaps because Hamas has said they would be treated as collaborators, a veiled death threat.

Efforts to reach out to Palestinian businessmen and powerful families have ended in catastrophe, says Michael Milshtein, an Israeli analyst of Palestinian affairs at Tel Aviv University and a former military intelligence officer.

He says Israelis seeking such allies are searching for unicorns"  something that does not exist.

Arab states have also roundly rejected this scenario  even the United Arab Emirates, which is one of the few to formally recognize Israel and has close ties with it.

The UAE refuses to be involved in any plan aimed at providing cover for the Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip, Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said this month.

A GRAND BARGAIN

Instead, Arab states have coalesced around a U.S. proposal aimed at resolving the decades-old conflict and transforming the Middle East.

Under this plan, a reformed Palestinian Authority would govern Gaza with the assistance of Arab and Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia, which would normalize relations with Israel in return for a U.S. defense pact and help in building a civilian nuclear program.

But U.S. and Saudi officials say that hinges on Israel committing to a credible path to eventual Palestinian statehood.

Netanyahu has ruled out such a scenario  as have Gallant and Gantz  saying it would reward Hamas and result in a militant-run state on Israel's borders.

Palestinians say ending Israel's decades-long occupation and creating a fully independent state in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem  territories Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war  is the only way to end the cycle of bloodshed.

Hamas has said it would accept a two-state solution on at least an interim basis, but its political program still calls for the full liberation of Palestine, including what is now Israel. Hamas has also said it must be part of any postwar settlement.

A DEAL WITH HAMAS

Hamas has proposed a very different grand bargain  one that, ironically enough, might be more palatable to Israelis than the U.S.-Saudi deal.

The militant group has proposed a phased agreement in which it would release all of the hostages in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners  including senior militants  as well as the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, a lengthy cease-fire and reconstruction.

That would almost certainly leave Hamas in control of Gaza and potentially allow it to rebuild its military capabilities. Hamas might even claim victory, despite the extensive death and destruction suffered by Palestinian civilians since Oct. 7.

But thousands of Israeli protesters have taken to the streets in recent weeks calling on their leaders to take such a deal, because it's probably the only way to get the hostages back.

They accuse Netanyahu of standing in the way of such an agreement because it could lead his far-right allies to bring down his government, potentially ending his political career and exposing him to prosecution on corruption charges.

Supporters of such a deal say there would be other benefits for Israel, beyond freeing the hostages.

The low-intensity conflict with Lebanon's Hezbollah would likely die down as regional tensions ease, allowing tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border to return to their homes. Israel could finally reckon with the security failures that led to Oct. 7.

And it could prepare for another inevitable round of fighting.

Milshtein says Israel should adopt Hamas' concept of a hudna  a prolonged period of strategic calm.

Hudna doesnt mean a peace agreement," he said. Its a cease-fire that you will exploit in order to make yourself stronger and then to attack and surprise your enemy. ___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
(Bloomberg) -- Israel said it would revive stalled cease-fire talks with Hamas after social media video showing female Israeli soldiers being abducted by the militants on Oct. 7 sparked a public outcry.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The 190-second clip, compiled from footage filmed by the militants on the day of the attack, shows five young women in civilian clothes, some bruised and bloodied, lined up against a wall before being pushed into a jeep.

The women, who Israel confirmed are military personnel, were kidnapped when Hamas invaded Israel and killed 1,200 people. The attack triggered an Israeli military response thats destroyed much of Gaza and killed more than 35,000 Palestinians.

More than 100 Israeli hostages are still being held in Gaza by Hamas, although its unclear how many are still alive. Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the US and the European Union.

Israels War Cabinet in Turmoil But Netanyahu Seen as Secure

In a statement, Hamas said the video showed deliberate distortions and dismissed the womens injuries as something to be expected. The statement didnt address the talks.

Last week, Qatar said the negotiations had reached an impasse after Israel invaded the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where more than 1.4 million Palestinians had sought refuge before being forced to flee again.

The two sides are also at odds over the deployment of Israeli troops in Gaza and the terms of the release of the remaining hostages. Qatar is mediating the talks alongside Egypt and the US.

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The ambassadors of Spain and Ireland as well as the Norwegian representative to Israel have been reprimanded at the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

They were also shown a video on Thursday of the brutal capture of army observers on October 7 by militants from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz had already announced this plan on Wednesday together with the summoning of the diplomats. Israeli media had also been invited to the screening of the video.

In a subsequent statement, the Foreign Ministry said that the recognition of a Palestinian state by the governments of Norway, Spain and Ireland would give Hamas a boost and make it even more difficult to push ahead with an agreement to release hostages.

The video was released in Israel on Wednesday evening - at the urging of the families of the young women, who want to put pressure for the resumption of negotiations for the release of the hostages.

The footage was taken from the helmets and bodycams of Hamas militants who were involved in the attack on the military base where the observers were working.

Even though images of those killed and the worst scenes of violence had been edited out, the video clearly shows the fear of the bound and sometimes bleeding young women and the threatening situation.

Israel reacted with outrage to the announcement by the three countries that they wanted to recognise a Palestinian state.

In addition to summoning the countries' representatives to the Foreign Ministry, Katz had also ordered the recall of the Israeli ambassadors in Oslo, Dublin and Madrid for immediate consultations.
FILE PHOTO: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to the media after the Senate dismissed the House Republican impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in Washington

By Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic U.S. Representative Pete Aguilar will deliver keynote speeches at the Israeli embassys Independence Day reception on Thursday, headlining a more subdued event under the shadow of the Gaza war.

The diplomatic gathering comes amid tensions between U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a U.S. push for Israel to do more to protect Palestinian civilians in the war against Hamas militants in Gaza.

It will be a chance for Johnson, an outspoken critic of Bidens Israel policy, and Aguilar, an ally of the Democratic president, to lay out their views more than seven months into the conflict.

Successive U.S. administration have usually sent a high-level official to the Independence Day receptions, reflecting Israel's status as Washingtons top Middle East ally.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who in recent months has called the situation in Gaza a "humanitarian catastrophe" and has urged a ceasefire, delivered last year's keynote, mostly extolling U.S. support for Israel. Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas spoke the year before.

A Israeli official said this year the embassy wanted to honor lawmakers with high-profile speaking roles in appreciation for congressional approval of new U.S. military aid to Israel.

"Their participation highlights the strong, bipartisan support for Israel in the United States, and the Congress in particular," the embassy said in a statement.

The reception takes place on the same night as a White House state dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto, which the Israeli official said created a scheduling conflict for senior members of the administration.

Other more junior administration officials are on the embassy's guest list, according to the Israeli official.

Johnson, speaker of the House of Representatives and the top Republican in Congress, and Aguilar, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, have both been granted speaking slots on Thursday night, the embassy said.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the absence of an administration official from the speakers' list.

Johnson, a staunch supporter of Israel, has opposed Bidens efforts to rein in Netanyahus Gaza campaign, though the administration has continued the flow of most U.S.-made weapons.

On Tuesday, Johnson said he was close to inviting Netanyahu, who had warm relations with former President Donald Trump and has closely aligned himself with Republicans, to address lawmakers. Such a speech would likely anger some progressive Democrats critical of Netanyahu's conduct of the war.

Johnson, a Trump ally, has been a prominent voice in Washington reflecting the U.S. political divide on Israeli policy following Hamas' cross-border Oct. 7 attack on Israel, triggering the Gaza war that has raged ever since.

Politicization of the issue has intensified ahead of the November presidential election in which Biden is running against Trump.

In contrast to past years gala celebrations, this years reception, marking the 76th anniversary of Israels founding, is being billed as a solidarity event.

Similar to observances on May 13 in Israel, it is being toned down out of respect for what Israeli authorities say are more than 120 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza.

The reception will feature exhibits honoring the hostages.

With pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protesters expected near the venue on Thursday night, security will be tight.

(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick;Editing by Alison Williams and Marguerita Choy)
Then Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz speaks during a pre-election event at the Manufacturers Association of Israel. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

Benny Gantz, a minister in the Israeli war Cabinet, has spoken out in favour of a commission of inquiry to clarify how the terrorist attack on October 7 could have happened.

"It is not enough for us to take responsibility for what happened: We must learn the lessons and act so that it never happens again," he said in a video message on the social media platform X on Thursday evening.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier denied in a statement that he had received warnings from the military about a possible attack from the Gaza Strip.

Gantz threatened to resign from the government at the weekend if Netanyahu did not present a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip by June 8.

The Gaza war began with the terrorist attack by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement on Israel on October 7. In the unprecedented massacre by Hamas and other extremist groups, around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage to the Gaza Strip.
A construction site for one of the centres in Shengjin, pictured earlier this month. Opposition MPs said 'nothing' had been built at a second site about 15 miles away - ADNAN BECI/AFP

Italys much-vaunted scheme to divert migrants to two centres in Albania so far amounts to nothing more than a few bulldozers and a dozen workers, opposition MPs claim.

The plan to intercept migrant boats in the Mediterranean and transfer those on board to two facilities in northern Albania was announced amid much fanfare by Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, last autumn.

Ms Meloni said the centres would be up and running by this week. However, they are far from operational.

Like the British Governments scheme to send migrants to Rwanda, Italys Albania plan has been subject to legal challenges  not by human rights groups but by Albanias constitutional court.

The court in Tirana eventually gave the green light for the project to go ahead.

However, construction delays mean that the facilities may not be ready until October or November at the earliest.

One centre is due to be built in the holiday resort of Shengjin, on the Adriatic coast in northern Albania, while the other will be in the village of Gjader about 15 miles away.

Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, announced the plans last autumn - TIZIANA FABI/AFP

The migrant centre should have been up and running two days ago, said Matteo Mauri, one of four MPs from the centre-Left Democratic Party, the main opposition bloc, who visited Gjader this week.

However, the MPs said they had found little activity at the construction site, which is located on a former Cold War military airfield.

Mr Mauri said: We saw about a dozen workers and a few bulldozers but nothing has been built. Right now, you struggle even to realise that this is a construction site.

The governments attempt to give themselves an electoral boost ahead of the European elections has failed miserably. We are looking at 70,000 square metres of nothing. We have come here to show that the whole thing is useless and expensive electoral propaganda.

Ms Meloni has pledged to reduce the number of boats arriving in Italy from North Africa. Last year more than 155,000 migrants and refugees reached Italian shores, compared with 105,000 in 2022.

The cost of building the two centres  which has been estimated at 800 million (680 million)  would be better spent on improving the Italian health system, the MPs said.

A group of migrants look out to sea after being rescued off the coast of Malta. More than 155,000 reached Italian shores last year - CLEMENT MELKI/AFP

Simona Bonafe, another opposition MP, said: It is obvious that there are still months of work to complete, whereas in theory we should have seen thousands of migrants here.

Enzo Amendola, also from the Democratic Party, added: The government is throwing away mountains of public money. From the initial estimates of 650 million (550 million), the estimated cost has now become 800 million (680 million).

Under the governments plan, the facility in Gjader will accommodate up to 3,000 migrants each month, with 36,000 expected to pass through each year as their asylum applications are assessed by Italian officials.

Those who have their asylum applications accepted will be flown back to Italy. Those that are rejected will be repatriated to their home countries.

Despite the delays over the migrant plan, the latest polls show Ms Melonis Brothers of Italy party remains the most popular among Italians, with 26.5 per cent of the vote. The Democratic Party has the support of 22 per cent of voters, polls suggest.

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CANBERRA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The discovery of artifacts and bones in a cave on Timor by Australian researchers has led archaeologists to reassess the migration of early humans through Southeast Asia.

In a study published on Wednesday, researchers dated and analyzed thousands of stone artifacts and animal bones found in a deep cave at the Laili rock shelter in northern Timor-Leste.

The study, which was funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Center of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, found that human occupation of Timor Island began 44,000 years ago.

Sue O'Connor, co-author of the study from the Australian National University (ANU), said the findings challenge the belief that Timor Island was used as a stepping stone for the first human migration from Southeast Asia into Australia and New Guinea.

"The absence of humans on Timor Island earlier than at least 50,000 years ago is significant as it indicates that these early humans arrived on the island later than previously believed," she said in a media release.

"This provides further evidence to suggest early humans were making the crossing to Australia using the stepping stone island of New Guinea, rather than Timor Island as researchers had previously suggested."

Most of the items excavated by researchers at the site were small stone tools and fish bones.

Co-author Shimona Kealy from the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific said the large number of artifacts unearthed at the site indicated major migration of early humans to Timor Island -- likely from the nearby Flores Island and mainland Southeast Asia. 
Javier Milei has performed at his own rock concert to launch a new book, after pulling out of Argentinas biggest literary fair over criticism from its Leftist organisers.

The Argentinian president, 53, donned a black leather coat for a rendition of a punk rock song in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, before leading a more conventional discussion on economic theory.

Im the king, Im the lion! sang Mr Milei during the musical opening, which saw him joined on stage by Congressman Bertie Benegas Lynch, a political supporter, on drums. Mileis biographer played bass.

I eat the elite for breakfast! Milei continued, performing a cover version of Panic Show, by Argentinian rock band La Renga, to the delight of a 10,000-strong crowd at the citys Luna Park arena.

Mr Milei has often targeted Argentinas political elite, whom he describes as the caste that has caused the economy to slide and annual inflation to balloon towards 300 per cent.

Mr Milei acted as frontman, with his biographer playing bass - Luis Robayo/AFP

The libertarian politician had initially planned to promote his book Capitalism, Socialism and the Neoclassical Trap at the Buenos Aires International Book Fair, the countrys top literary event, which began earlier this month.

However, when Left-leaning organisers attacked his government for defunding the countrys cultural institutions, he pulled out and switched to a downtown location for his own unique free-entry event.

With an attempted boycott, you gave us this party, he told the crowd in a message to the literary fair organisers.

Mr Milei, who took office in December, is no stranger to singing in public.

His love for rock music dates back to school, where he started a Rolling Stones tribute band called Everest and was known for routines in which he danced like Mick Jagger.

Mr Milei told the crowd: 'I really wanted to sing' - Luis Robayo/AFP

Performances of Panic Show, with reworked lyrics, have also been an occasional feature at his campaign events. Mr Milei has ignored objections from La Ranga over its use.

The lyric about being a lion particularly resonates with Mr Milei, who often depicts himself as the animal, fierce in slashing the nations budget and trampling on the political establishment.

I wanted to do this because I really wanted to sing, he told the crowd before removing his coat at the end of the performance to reveal a more conventional business suit.

At that point, he embarked on a more serious discussion about his book, which calls on governments to curtail state intervention and allow free markets to prevail.

Market failures do not exist. First, check there is no state intervention, he said as many of the music fans started to disperse, leaving a half-empty arena for the economics conversation.

A supporter dressed as Mr Milei, complete with wig, at the book launch - Luciano Torres/Anadolu

Critics of Mr Milei, including opposition politicians, attacked the musical stunt as cavalier at a time when Argentinians are struggling under his tight spending controls.

They highlighted poverty levels rising to nearly 60 per cent during Mr Mileis administration, with the halt of almost all public spending on construction leading to large job losses.

In contrast, supporters at the venue welcomed their leaders energy and maverick approach to politics.

This connection he has with people, Ive never seen anything like it, Liliana Varela, a 72-year-old attendee, told Associated Press. He is creating a disruption at the very moment that we need it.

Such disruption has also seen Argentina become involved in a diplomatic crisis with Spain, a historic ally and major trading partner.

Ten thousand people attended the free concert - Luciano Torres/Anadolu

The row follows Mr Mileis criticism of socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and a claim of corruption involving his wife. The claim is strongly denied.

When members of the crowd screamed vulgar insults about Sanchez on Wednesday, Mr Milei appeared to respond with a smirk.

Milei doesnt have to answer to Sanchez, another attendee, Hernan Sanchez, 62, told Associated Press. He is defending his beliefs.

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Vanessa Cruz learned the hard way that dreams are just an ache in your chest until you work and sacrifice to make them real. And really big dreams, like the American Dream, require more from some than others.

Her parents came to the United States chasing their own aches for a better life, her mother from Honduras and her father from Mexico. They met in Georgia and Vanessa was born in an Augusta hospital. But just as their fingers began to close around what they most wanted, economic challenges forced them apart. When Vanessa was 2-years-old, her mother took her back to her family in Central America while her father remained in Jefferson County. He planned to work and earn enough to set them up and bring them back to their new home.

For 10 years, Vanessa and her mom built a life in Honduras, always with their eyes on returning to the states.

When Vanessa was 6, her mother tried twice to pass through Guatemala and Mexico, but both times she was caught and sent back.

In Honduras Vanessa did well in school. She was bright, worked hard and won prizes for being at the top of her class. She was often complimented on her intelligence, but as she grew older, she could see that regardless of how hard she might work, there were only so many paths she might follow there.

I knew that in Honduras there were no opportunities at all, Vanessa said. I have four uncles and an auntee there and just one of them had a job and he has just recently been told he could no longer work. Theres barely an education. There is a lot of poverty. I knew people who worked a week for $50. My mom knew if we went back to the States I could get a better education and even go to college. It would make things possible. We were just looking for a better life.

When Vanessa was 12, they decided to try again.

Vanessa Cruz

Theres a train that passes through Mexico, through the desert, Vanessa said. People actually jump onto it. There are many people who die trying. There are many crimes, people trafficking drugs. I didnt want my mama to risk her life like that.

Vanessa thought that herself having citizenship in all three countries might in some way help make the journey easier for her mother. It didn't. The first time they tried, they were stopped on a bus not far from Mexicos southern border by immigration agents. They were locked up for two months and sent back.

Thats when they decided they needed help.

We call them coyotes, Vanessa said. There are these people who know where immigration will be and wont be and you can pay them to help you.

It took all of her mothers and fathers savings, but they were driven from the Mexican border to a small town and taken into a home with the mans mother.

We did not know them at all. They were not good people, Vanessa said. We wanted to make the trip as fast as possible, but they were taking their time. What was going to be a day turned into a week and they were taking money from our bags. It was all my parents were able to save.

A Mexican policewoman eventually caught on to what was happening, learned that the coyote was demanding more and more money from Vanessas father, and helped them get to her dads family in Queretaro, Mexico. They stayed with them for a month and a half.

I started school there because I didnt want to miss out on anything, Vanessa said. It was pretty small. There was barely any technology, but there were a lot of sweet people there. I quickly became friends with the administrator of the school, and he told me if I stayed, he could make contacts for me. He said he could make something of me in that country.

I told him thank you, but that was not our goal. We were going to the United States. We were trying to be with my dad.

Several weeks later, Vanessa met her father for the first time since she was in diapers. Not long after, she entered Jefferson County Middle School as a seventh grader. She spoke almost no English.

I barely understood anything. Maybe just a few words, Vanessa said. I was really lonely. I remember looking at people and trying to guess what they were saying. I wished I was just like them, just to understand. I felt like they thought I was not smart, that I was slow for not speaking English. That made me feel really bad. I didnt have any friends. There was no one to talk to but my mom and my dad. I was really lonely.

The school assigned another Spanish-speaking student to help her translate, but that did not work out well, she said.

We were not friends and did not really talk, she said.

Teachers were always asking if she was OK, but she just shrugged in response. She wasnt OK.

Back in Honduras I was used to receiving compliments on how smart I was and the bright future that was waiting for me, she said. Here I didnt understand anything.

After the terrifying journey, Vanessa wondered why her mother suffered so much and risked so much more to get her to this place where she could not even communicate with the people around her.

I felt like I came to fail here, Vanessa said. I didnt understand anything. I had failing grades where in Honduras I was winning prizes. I used to sit by myself. If a teacher asked me something I just shrugged. I couldnt answer. I questioned a lot, what I came here for. I felt there was no point in trying when I couldnt even understand a sentence.

Her desire to learn evaporated. Vanessa said that she was full of anger and disappointment and shame.

Those feelings continued intensifying until I reached a breaking point," she said. I understood that if I wanted to become someone in life, I needed to make more of an effort, I needed to make my opportunities and that meant teaching myself English.

Vanessa started studying English on her own and the school set her up with digital learning software that teaches the language systemically, connecting meaning while building decoding skills. She started watching more English-speaking television shows. She had her mother get her a Spanish-English dictionary.

By eighth grade she had started to get the hang of things. It was 2019 and then the COVID pandemic hit, forcing schools and students across the world to redefine what education looked like.

Her ninth-grade year she and her classmates started returning to class.

When school started being normal (after that initial year of COVID), thats when I started to think that maybe Im as good as everyone else, Vanessa said.

Jefferson County High School agriculture teacher and Future Farmers of America (FFA) Advisor Sandy Cook said she remembers Vanessa coming into her room, quiet, shy, but clearly academically gifted.

That was in the dark days of COVID and there were only like five kids in a class, Cook said. She has such a quiet nature, but shes so mature and highly self-motivated. She doesnt have someone at home nagging her about her grades or attendance, but she is on top of everything.

When Vanessa approached her about joining FFA, Cook said she welcomed her into the student organization.

She signed up for our Four-Man Forestry CDE (career development event) and poured herself into it, Cook said. She was at every meeting, every practice. She wanted to practice on days before we went out on holidays. She really bought into it.

Vanessa said that the schools FFA program provided her so much more than an after-school club.

Before FFA my life was just going from school to my house to school, she said. I started getting to know more people. I had opportunities to talk more.

Cook was so helpful and inviting, she said. It was a place where she found a voice she had forgotten she had. The leadership training, she thought, was particularly engaging.

At meetings and such she was always looking for the other quiet and shy people, Cook said. She would slip to the back to sit with someone who was off by themselves. She looked to other people to draw them in, asking people who had not said anything in a while what they thought of this or that.

She became an officer in the organization and this year serves as vice president.

She stuck with those CDEs for four years, Cook said. The four-man team made it to state this year, they were region champs. Our forestry field day team made it to state all three years she competed and she and her partners saw a lot of success in their events. She has made a big impact on our officers and competitive teams.

Even more impactful than that, Cook said that Vanessa has played a major role in bringing more of the schools Hispanic student body into the FFA program.

She was always looking to bring more people from class into the after-school gatherings, Cook said. I think Vanessa is the most resilient person I know. She has overcome all of these obstacles that were out of her control. She didnt just overcome them, she mastered them.

Cook and several other Hispanic students were with Vanessa at lunch earlier this Spring when the school announced its top honor graduates.

When they called her name as the schools 2024 valedictorian, Vanessa said she first thought they had made a mistake. It took her a week to accept that it was true.

Vanessa Cruz

I feel like it demonstrates I can achieve more if I really want to, Vanessa said. Everything I went through, it changed the way I work. When I choose to do something, I want to do it the best I can. If I actually want something, Im going to fight for it.

When she thinks back on the journey, those terrifying days with the coyote, the heartbreaking loneliness when she first returned, more than anything, she believes that journey has taught her more about herself than anything else.

A lot of people really want to be in the United States. They are all just trying to reach the American dream, Vanessa said. For me, thats to have a better life, where you can work, where you are not constantly worried about not having enough money to pay your bills, a place where you can live, safely, with your family. So many people I met were just trying to reach that dream. I feel like people here dont really understand. You have to act for it. Opportunities are there, but you have to take them.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: JCHS valedictorian Vanessa Cruz chased her dream 4,000 miles
New Jersey man accused of sexually assaulting teenage girl at apartment in Centre County

A New Jersey man was arrested Monday after being accused of sexually assaulting a teenager inside his apartment in Patton Township.

Nadir J. Harris, 22, was accused of groping, disrobing and having sex with a 15-year-old girl in June 2022, township police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause. Harris was 20 at the time.

The teen told an officer during a May 2023 interview that she did not consent, police wrote. A defense lawyer was not listed.

Harris was charged with felony counts of statutory sexual assault, sexual assault and unlawful contact with a minor, as well as a minor count of indecent assault.

He was arraigned Monday by District Judge Allen Sinclair, who set bail at $250,000. Harris did not post bail and is incarcerated at the Centre County Correctional Facility.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 5.
A general view of an American Airline plane being refeuled at JFK Airport

Workers who refuel the planes at John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens plan to go on strike Friday  providing uncertainty for travel plans during the busy Memorial Day weekend, The Post has learned.

Teamsters Local 553  representing 300 workers and mechanics who fuel commercial and cargo jets at the airport  said it is at loggerheads with Allied Aviation Services, the private firm that services the planes at the regional airports.

The union said it had continuous contracts for decades, but has been working without a collective bargaining agreement since June 30, 2023.

The union went on strike in 2005 in a dispute over compensation and health care.

We have been without a contract for almost a year, and Allied Aviation has not been negotiating in good faith since they are conditioning any new contract on our forfeiting our right to strike and fight for our members in the future. That is simply a non-starter for us, said Demos Demopoulos, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 553.

We will never give up the right to strike and fight for our members, a right granted to us by the National Labor Relations Act, he said.

Allied is the sole fuel service provider at JFK, which means it is the only company that airlines can use to receive, store, test and deliver jet fuel, the union said.

The labor spat is a jurisdictional issue over which national labor agency oversees contract disputes  the National Labor Relations Board or the National Mediation Board.

The union has greater protections and the right to strike under the NLRB  something Allied is contesting, the union said.

Teamsters Local 553  representing 300 workers and mechanics who fuel commercial and cargo jets at the airport  said it is at loggerheads with Allied Aviation Services, the private firm that services the planes at the regional airports. X / @Teamsters533

This has been a coordinated effort by Allied at airports across the country, to have unions give up on this jurisdiction issue, said the Teamsters Demopoulos.

They are trying to get other unions to give up their rights in exchange for a contract. They might have succeeded in some cities, but they failed against us at Newark, and they will fail again here at JFK.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey oversees JFK airport.

Asked about contingency plans in the event of a walkout, PA spokesman Seth Stein said, We will work closely with our airport partners to minimize any disruptions over this busy holiday travel weekend. We have no involvement in negotiations between our contractor and their unionized staff.

The union said it had continuous contracts for decades, but has been working without a collective bargaining agreement since June 30, 2023. AFP via Getty Images

Brian Xavier, the general manager for Allied Services at JFK Airport, said he was not aware of the unions planned strike.

I cant comment on this, he said.

During the last strike, Allied used management personnel to refuel planes.
In a rare move, a federal judge on Thursday appeared to reverse his own ruling blocking the enforcement across Florida of one of Gov. Ron DeSantis major immigration policies that criminalizes anyone who transports undocumented immigrants into the state.

Just hours after Judge Roy K. Altman made clear that his injunction issued Wednesday was meant to apply statewide, he issued a separate, conflicting order in which he pondered whether his own ruling from a day earlier was too broad  sparking confusion among immigration attorneys and advocates.

On further reflection, Altman wrote in an order released Thursday afternoon, we now invite further briefing on the proper scope of the injunction. Altman invited the attorneys on the case  representing Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and the Farmworker Association of Florida  to make arguments by June 6 about how widely the order should apply.

Before Altman pumped the brakes on Thursday, advocates and lawyers had celebrated the ruling, arguing that the law harms service providers who assist immigrants, mixed-status families that live in different states and seasonal farmworkers who chase crops across the country.

Read more: Judge blocks Florida law criminalizing transport of undocumented immigrants into state

The Florida Highway Patrol has arrested at least 11 people under the statute, with additional arrests likely in local jurisdictions. In one case, a Mexican national has been detained in county jail for more than six months after he was arrested on human smuggling charges for driving six other Mexican nationals in a van from Georgia into Florida.

Yesica Ramirez, general coordinator for the Farmworker Association, told the Miami Herald prior to Altmans backtracking that the group was very grateful with his decision, because the law had a very negative impact within Floridas immigrant communities.

Now, the conflicting back-to-back orders have sowed confusion about how pending cases being prosecuted under the human smuggling law will proceed.

Explaining the flip flop

The Florida law at the center of the case has been a cornerstone of DeSantis immigration agenda since it went into effect last year. The law makes it harder for undocumented immigrants to live and work in Florida and hampers service providers ability to transport undocumented immigrants across state lines to appointments for medical and immigration services.

The Farmworker Association of Florida, an advocacy group of nearly 12,000 seasonal and migrant workers in the state, challenged the law, with help from attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Americans for Immigrant Justice and the American Immigration Council.

To explain his flip flop, Altman, a Trump-appointed jurist in the Southern District of Florida, cited a legal debate over so-called universal injunctions  sweeping court orders that can halt the enforcement of a government policy  which experts say judges have used with more regularity since the Trump administration.

In his first order on Thursday, Altman had rejected Florida officials argument that the preliminary injunction should be limited so that it applied only to plaintiffs with standing in the case because, among other reasons, it would cause needless litigation on the matter. He also wrote that courts routinely grant statewide injunctions when plaintiffs can likely show that a state law is preempted.

In the judges second order on Thursday, he did not discuss the merits or legality of DeSantis law, rather he asked the parties to explain why the order should apply to the plaintiffs alone, South Florida or the entire state.

Altman quoted a court order issued on May 7 in a federal case in Arkansas that concluded the state cannot prevent two high school teachers from discussing critical race theory in the classroom. In that ruling, the federal judge stopped short of more broadly blocking the state from enforcing its ban on the subject matter in public schools.
Jenna Ellis, then a member of President Donald Trump's legal team, listens to Detroit poll worker Jessi Jacobs during an appearance before the Michigan House Oversight Committee on Dec. 2, 2020, in Lansing, Michigan. (Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

Jenna Ellis, previously an attorney for former President Donald Trump, is negotiating a settlement agreement in a case over whether she engaged in professional misconduct, according to the parties in the case.

The parties appeared for a hearing Thursday before Presiding Disciplinary Judge Bryon M. Large, who handles lawyer discipline cases in Colorado. Jacob Vos, an attorney with the Colorado Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, which investigates allegations of lawyer misconduct, indicated that a settlement between the office and Ellis was near.

At this point, we have not just an agreement in principle, but we have an agreement as to all the specific terms, Vos told Large. Im just waiting on a set of signatures so that I have something to countersign.

John Richilano, Ellis attorney, told Large he would deliver settlement documents to Vos before Friday. The deadline to submit the proposed settlement to the court is Tuesday. Richilano said that as part of the agreement Ellis will submit a letter to the court. He did not elaborate on what the letter would say.

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Large cautioned the parties that he could choose to reject the proposed settlement. The brief hearing included a discussion about a pending motion from the OARC for summary judgment. Large appeared displeased that Richilano had not responded to the motion and instead moved ahead with settlement negotiations, even though the motion would remain a pending matter were Large to reject the proposed settlement.

I am a little concerned that, you know, Mr. Richilano, we have summary judgment stuff pending, Large said. I received an email but not a motion from you that you werent going to be filing a response. I very much feel like youre banking on the court accepting the stipulation as well, and I just want to caution you about that, sir.

Later, Large added, The court will not hesitate to rule on the paperwork thats pending before the court.

Neither Richilano nor Ellis responded to a request for comment from Newsline.

Officials with the OARC in January accused Ellis, previously a Colorado resident who now lives in Florida but is still licensed to practice law in Colorado, of professional misconduct. Their complaint came in response to Ellis guilty plea to a count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings in a Fulton County, Georgia, case, which is related to Trumps allegedly criminal attempt to remain in power after he lost the 2020 election.

It was the second time the OARC had brought Ellis to court over alleged professional misconduct. Ellis last year was censured by Large for misconduct related to misrepresentations she made when she worked alongside another former Trump attorney, Rudy Giuliani, as Trump tried to overturn President Joe Bidens 2020 win. She is among the lawyers in Trumps circle around the 2020 election, including Giuliani and John Eastman, who have faced professional repercussions tied to their work for Trump.

Asked about the current complaint, Ellis in January told Newsline, I will vigorously defend against this complaint and am confident that once all the facts are brought out, I will prevail.

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The post Judge cautions Ellis as she nears settlement in second Colorado law license case appeared first on Colorado Newsline.
ATLANTIC BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  A judge denied a motion Thursday for a temporary injunction filed by an Atlantic Beach councilwoman against some of its town leaders.

In the motion, Carla Taylor argues that the defendants  Atlantic Beach Mayor Jake Evans, councilwoman Jacqueline Gore, councilman Edward Campbell and councilman John David would prevent her from fulfilling her role as councilwoman without the injunction, but the court concluded that Taylor suffers no personal harm or injury while the proper legal proceedings take place to determine the proper outcome of the hotly contested Nov. 7 municipal election.

The judge further said that Taylor has no merit while a pending investigation is taking place into the validity of the 2023 election as to whether or not non-resident members of the community contributed to the votes in the election.

Last month, Taylor sued the town and several of its leaders and filed a temporary restraining order, alleging the town kept her from fulfilling her duties as councilwoman. She filed the suit in Horry County Common Pleas Court on April 26.

Taylor won her council seat during Novembers election, but was not sworn in until April after a protest hearing due to concerns on the legitimacy of some votes in the election.

After the protest hearing, Taylor alleged in the lawsuit that former Town Manager Benjamin Quattlebaum rescheduled her new council member orientation three times without explanation.

The lawsuit further alleged Taylor has not had an opportunity to participate in the town of Atlantic Beach new council member orientation. All of this occurred despite being sworn in.

Taylor was also ordered on May 10 to be removed from the executive session portion of the towns special called council meeting.

Taylor was told that she was not counted as part of the quorum and therefore could not be in the room during executive session because the results in her council election were being challenged/appealed.

The temporary injunction that was denied would have prevented any town council members from preventing Taylor from performing her duties as a duly elected Atlantic Beach Town Council Member and to participate in the business of the Atlantic Beach Town Council.

In the court documents conclusion, the judge said, after careful consideration of the memoranda and exhibits submitted to the court, hearing from the parties, and abiding by the tenets of rule 65 of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, plaintiffs motion for a preliminary injunction is hereby denied.

* * *

Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylors work here.

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 WBTW.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Clark County judge dismissed two of the three murder charges against a man Thursday morning for his involvement in the death of an off-duty Vancouver police officer back in early 2022.

The original incident occurred the night of January 29, 2022, when off-duty Vancouver Police Officer Donald Sahota, 53, was at his home near Battle Ground. A man then entered his home and attacked him. Sahota fought with the intruder, later identified as Julio Segura, while Sahotas wife called 911.

Donald Sahota, a Vancouver police officer, was killed while off duty and at his home, January 29, 2022, police said. (Courtesy/Vancouver PD)

The altercation moved to the front porch, leading to Segura stabbing Sahota, puncturing his lung. Then, minutes later, Sahota was shot to death by Clark County Deputy Jonathan Feller, who claimed he mistook Sahota for the suspect.

70-year-old woman in motorized scooter struck, killed in Salem

Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team investigators said the stabbing would have been life-threatening without immediate medical intervention. However, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy said the gunshot wounds to Sahotas chest were so traumatic that those were the injuries that took his life.

After a lengthy investigation, the Clark County Sheriffs Office announced Deputy Feller would not be charged in Sahotas death.

Prior to the shooting, investigators said Julio Segura was armed with a gun when he robbed a Chevron convenience store in the Orchards area that night. He then allegedly took off in a stolen vehicle and drove randomly to Sahotas home, where the fight with Sahota occurred.

Man accused of robbing 5 Portland dispensaries at gunpoint arrested

On May 6, Segura went on trial in Clark County Superior Court for Sahotas death, originally facing three counts of first-degree murder, and one count each of attempted first-degree murder, second-degree murder, attempted first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and attempt to elude a pursuing police vehicle.

The prosecution asserted Segura caused Sahotas death by committing a crime and fleeing from police. But the judge said the deputy didnt know the defendant had stabbed the officer and couldnt have known enough in the moment to support the felony murder charge.

I believe all of us have been analyzing this under foreseeability and actual causation and not legal causation, said Judge Nancy N. Retsinas. And its appropriate given the legal magnitude of Mr. Seguras rights for the court to consider this, even at this very late hour.

Mike Schmidt concedes Multnomah County District Attorney to challenger Nathan Vasquez

The prosecutors asked the judge to not tell the jury the two charges are being dropped, but the judge denied the request.

Next, the two sides will present closing arguments on the rest of the charges. Following that, the case will be in the hands of the jury.

KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this trial and will have updates as they develop.

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 KOIN.com.
NANJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- East China's Jiangsu Province has announced a comprehensive plan to improve traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) services, leveraging the unique strengths of TCM to elevate the overall quality of medical services.

As part of its strategy, Jiangsu will boost the capacity of TCM-focused institutions to handle outpatient and emergency services. The plan includes the establishment of multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment teams, aiming to strengthen the integration of TCM approaches within the health care system.

The economic powerhouse province will also enhance TCM services at the county level, encouraging community health services centers and township hospitals to offer clinical services that combine Chinese and Western medicine.

Additionally, the province is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for the development of TCM. Medical institutions will be encouraged to provide personalized TCM services for patients. 
UPDATED, 7:58 AM PT: As expected, the Justice Department sued Live Nation-Ticketmaster today, claiming that the ticketing and concert events giant is stifling competition and driving up prices for consumers.

In response, the self-described largest live entertainment company in the world accused the feds of going for a PR hit over the facts of the live music industry.

More from Deadline

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, also alleges that Live Nation-Ticketmaster punished venues that used more than one ticketer, that it hindered performers access to venues and that it bought up competitors, among other things. In conjunction with dozens of state attorneys general, the suit seeks a break up of the long merged company.

READ THE DOJS ANTITRUST SUIT AGAINST LIVE NATION HERE

In a statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland said, We allege that Live Nation relies on unlawful, anticompetitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry in the United States at the cost of fans, artists, smaller promoters, and venue operators. The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster.

When companies like Live Nation control every aspect of an event, it leads to bad blood  concertgoers and sports fans suffer and are forced to pay cruel prices, New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement of her own.

No one said the name Taylor Swift, the ticketing crash that kicked off the superstars Eras tour last year and left millions of Swifties screaming at their screens set off a new round of scrutiny among lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The Justice Department was said to already be investigating the company at the time, as Live Nation-Ticketmaster has been operating under a consent decree stemming from its merger in 2010.

Photo by Mat Hayward/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

In the lawsuit, the Justice Department attorneys wrote, Live Nation and its wholly owned

subsidiary, Ticketmaster, have used that power and influence to insert themselves at the center

and the edges of virtually every aspect of the live music ecosystem. This has given Live Nation

and Ticketmaster the opportunity to freeze innovation and bend the industry to their own benefit.

While this may be a boon to Live Nations bottom line, there is a real cost to Americans.

The DOJ claimed that Live Nation-Ticketmaster had created a self-reinforcing flywheel' that

is used to connect their multiple interconnected businesses and interests.

Among other things, the Justice Department attorneys cited instances of threatened retaliation against a firm unless it stopped a subsidiary from trying to gain a foothold in the U.S. concert promotions market.

Live Nation-Ticketmasters power in concert promotions means that every live concert venue knows choosing another promoter or ticketer comes with a risk of drawing an adverse reaction from Live Nation-Ticketmaster that would result in losing concerts, revenue, and fans, the lawsuit stated.

The government also alleged that the company restricted artists access to venues unless they also agreed to use their promotion services. Also cited in the complaint was Oak View Group, a potential competitor which the DOJ attorneys wrote has avoided bidding against Live Nation for artist talent and influenced venues to sign exclusive agreements with Ticketmaster.

Claiming that the DOJs actions wont help reduce high ticket prices and that there is no monopoly, Live Nation, which melded with Ticketmaster in 2010, has painted the long expected suit as baseless.

The DOJs lawsuit wont solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices, service fees, and access to in-demand shows, a spokesperson for the company told Deadline this morning.

Calling Ticketmaster a monopoly may be a PR win for the DOJ in the short term, but it will lose in court because it ignores the basic economics of live entertainment, such as the fact that the bulk of service fees go to venues, and that competition has steadily eroded Ticketmasters market share and profit margin, Live Nation added. Our growth comes from helping artists tour globally, creating lasting memories for millions of fans, and supporting local economies across the country by sustaining quality jobs. We will defend against these baseless allegations, use this opportunity to shed light on the industry, and continue to push for reforms that truly protect consumers and artists.

The lawsuit does reference the longtime frustration with Ticketmaster fees, calling it a Ticketmaster tax, and noting that any fan who has logged onto Ticketmasters website to buy a concert ticket knows the feeling of shock and frustration as the base cost of the ticket increases dramatically with the addition of fees, including such thing as service and handling fees.

PREVIOUSLY, 5:30 AM PT: The Justice Department is expected to file a lawsuit against Live Nation-Ticketmaster today, claiming that the live events and ticketing company has illegally stifled competition.

Multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday evening that the DOJ, along with several states, will see remedies including that the company should be split up.

The lawsuit  rumored for weeks  would be the latest action taken by the Biden administration to rein in corporate power. The DOJ sued Apple in March, claming that the company had a monopoly over the smartphone market.

Live Nation and Ticketmaster have long been in the crosshairs of the DOJ.

Live Nation is under a consent decree from its 2010 merger with Ticketmaster, put in place as part of a settlement agreement with the Justice Department.

The consent decree was extended in 2019 for an additional 5 1/2 years after the DOJ concluded that Live Nation violated restrictions placed on its merger, which combined ticket, promotion, concert and management businesses. Among other things, the conditions prohibit Live Nation threatening to withhold concerts from a venue if it chooses another ticketing firm to handle sales.

Last year, the company faced hours of criticism and brutal attacks from lawmakers at a Senate hearing on practices in the ticketing industry. That followed an incident in which Ticketmasters website crashed amid an overload of demand for Taylor Swift concert tickets. Joe Berchtold, president and CFO, faced a grilling by lawmakers of both parties at the hearing. But Berchtold said that the artist sets the price of the ticket and, in most cases, the venue controls the fee.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who chairs a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust issues, said in a statement, If the reports are correct, the Justice Department is doing the right thing by bringing this suit against Live Nation. This is about ensuring fair treatment for fans everywhere and reinvigorating competition in ticketing markets.

Dan Wall, executive vice president for corporate and regulatory affairs at the company, wrote in March that the real explanations for high ticket prices are well-understood and have very little to do with Live Nation or Ticketmaster. They begin with the economic conditions that explain most pricing: supply and demand. His essay addressed ongoing attacks on the company on Capitol Hill, suggesting that lawmakers advanced the idea that alleged monopolies are responsible for high ticket prices.

Rhetorically, thats understandable, because if you want to rile up fans against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, there is no better way than to blame them for something you know fans dislike, he wrote.

Bloomberg News first reported on the plans for the lawsuit.

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A report of a political display outside a Supreme Court justice's home has raised new questions about judicial integrity. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)

Iowa Writers 'Collaborative. Linking Iowa readers and writers.

Here is a tidbit from my years as a newspaper reporter and editor:

I never voted in a primary election, never attended the Iowa caucuses, never stuck a candidates sign in my yard, never had a bumper sticker on my car, never signed a petition, never donated to a campaign.

When Sue and I married, she got something more in the deal than my sparkling personality. She knew she could not have any yard signs, because people driving past our home would not know which part of the yard was for her opinions and which was for mine. To eliminate any confusion, there were no yard signs. Period.

Here are the reasons for my absolutist stand on what for most people are routine ways of showing their views:

I did not think it was appropriate to choose sides or take positions when I, or reporters who worked for me, would be writing about matters in dispute or campaigns being waged. It was important, I believed, that my work and the work of my staff be above reproach and free of any suggestion of bias.

During 50 years as a journalist, I knew many judges. To a person, these referees in our judicial system hewed to a belief like mine  that it was inappropriate to do or say anything that might suggest even a whiff of bias for one side or the other.

Judges I know do not want to harm the integrity of the judicial system through a lack of impartiality that would erode the respect, credibility and confidence in our courts. They even avoid chit-chat about government leaders or controversies. And their spouses are guarded in their public comments on such matters.

That is why the recent news out of Washington, D.C., is so troubling  because the reports suggest the Iowa style for judicial integrity is missing from the ethics of another justice on the United States Supreme Court.

A symbol of Donald Trumps stolen election claims in the weeks after the 2020 voting became the upside-down United States flag that some Trump supporters displayed from their cars, outside their homes and businesses, and on social media.

Last week, the New York Times reported that one place flying the inverted American flag three days before Joe Bidens inauguration was outside the suburban Washington home of Samuel and Martha-Ann Alito. Yes, that is Samuel Alito, the Supreme Court justice.

The newspaper reported that neighbors of the Alitos said the inverted flag was flying for several days from the pole outside their residence. Neighbors made photographs, some of which were obtained recently by the Times.

This is not fake news. Alito told the newspaper, I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag. It was briefly placed by Mrs. Alito in response to a neighbors use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs.

At the time the flag was atop the Alitos pole, the Supreme Court was deciding whether to hear a vote-counting case out of Pennsylvania. There still are cases pending before the court involving the former president.

The principle at the heart of the flag pole flap is not confined to Republicans or Trump cases. There would be controversy if Justice Sonia Sotomayor had a Biden-Harris yard sign. And there was controversy when Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg made statements before the 2016 election that she could not imagine what the nation would be like with Trump as president.

The point here is simple: Justices and their spouses should act and carry themselves in ways that are above reproach. Flying the inverted U.S. flag outside their home is wrong, just as it was wrong for Ginsburg to shoot her mouth off about Trump. RBG quickly apologized, but Alito has not.

While state court judges and lower federal court judges have codes of ethics they must abide by, the ethics guide for U.S. Supreme Court justices is toothless. Make no mistake, though, it is a clear problem for the Supreme Courts credibility for a justice to have a prominent symbol outside his home that suggests support for the former presidents claims of the election being stolen.

Dont take my word for it. Amanda Frost, a law professor at the University of Virginia, told the Times, The equivalent of putting a Stop the Steal sign in your yard is a problem if youre deciding election-related cases.

The Alitos apparently never had the conversation Sue Evans and I had many years ago about yard signs.

Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance wrote last week that Justice Alito neglected to tell his wife, Honey, I understand your feelings, but as a justice on the United States Supreme Court, I must avoid even the appearance of impropriety, and that flag conveys a political sentiment that is an affront to the rule of law that Im sworn to uphold, especially after rioters carrying it swarmed the Capitol a week and a half ago.

Randy Evans is a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative and his columns may be found on his blog, Stray Thoughts.

Editors note: Please consider subscribing to the collaborative and the authors blogs to support their work.

The post Justices distress signal should distress us all appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Another flag carried by January 6 rioters was seen flying outside the New Jersey beach home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on multiple occasions last year, according to a report.

The Appeal to Heaven flag, was carried by rioters during the pro-Trump attack on the US Capitol in 2021, was flown outside the vacation home of Justice Alito during the summer of 2023. Also known as the Pine Tree flag, it dates back to the Revolutionary War.

It comes days after reports from The New York Times, that a flagpole on the judges front lawn at a property in Virginia had flown an upside-down American flag in late 2020 and early 2021, in the days after Joe Biden took office.

The Appeal To Heaven flag and the inverted US flag were both embraced by supporters of Donald Trumps Stop The Steal campaign, which falsely claimed Mr Bidens was fraudulent.

Three photos obtained by the newspaper, along with accounts from a half-dozen neighbors and passers-by given to the outlet, confirmed that the Appeal to Heaven flag was flying at the Alitos home on Long Beach Island in July and September of 2023.

The Appeal To Heaven flag  used by rioters at the January 6 storming of the US Capitol in 2021  was pictured outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos New Jersey home on multiple occasions last summer (Google Street View)

A Google Street View image from August 2023 also shows the flag flying.

The newspaper noted that the photographs it had obtained were each taken independently and were from four different dates, though it was not clear whether the flag was displayed continuously during those months or how long it was flown overall.

The Independent has contacted the Supreme Court for comment about the flag outside the Alitos New Jersey property. Mr Alito declined to comment to the Associated Press.

The Appeal To Heaven flag, seen middle right, was used by supporters of Donald Trump as part of their Stop The Steal campaign (Getty Images)

News of the upside-down American flag at the Alitos Virginia home in 2020/ 2021 sparked an uproar last week.

Mr Alito previously said the inverted American flag was flown for a short time by his wife amid a dispute with neighbors, and he had no part in it.

The flag was visible up to 17 January 2021, The New York Times reported, 11 days after the violent insurrection in Washington DC, and three days before Mr Bidens inauguration.

The traditional military distress symbol was repurposed as a political symbol to indicate rejection of the legitimacy of Mr Bidens election victory.

Also known as the Pine Tree flag, it dates back to the Revolutionary War, though it was pictured multiple times at the January 6 insurrection (Getty Images)

The flag furore comes ahead of two pending Supreme Court cases associated with January 6. Justices will decide whether Mr Trump has immunity from prosecution for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and whether a certain obstruction charge can be used against rioters.

Justice Alito also participated in the courts unanimous ruling that states cant bar the former president from the ballot using the insurrection clause, added to the Constitution after the Civil War.

Despite Justice Alitos denial about his involvement with the flag in Virginia, the Senate Judiciary Committees top Democrat, Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois, previously called for him to recuse himself from the cases related to the January 6 attack.

Protesters from January 6, 2021, with the Appeal To Heaven flag, top right (Getty Images)

News of the second flag has brought renewed calls for Mr Alito to step aside from the Trump-related cases.

At this point it is difficult to make any reasonable case for Alitos impartiality. It can and must be questioned. As a result, he must not sit on cases about the 2020 election or the insurrection he appears to have supported, Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington told AP.

Mr Alito previously said the inverted American flag at his Virginia home was flown for a short time by his wife amid a dispute with neighbors, and he had no part in it (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The group represented Colorado voters in the insurrection clause case at the high court seeking to bar Trump from the ballot.

There has been no indication Mr Alito will be stepping aside from the cases.

Rep Adam Schiff also called for Justice Alito to recuse himself.

The Appeal to Heaven flag was carried by rioters at the Capitol on January 6. It was also flown  apparently for months  outside of Justice Samuel Alitos other home. Its yet another demonstration of his clear bias. And it demands his recusal from Jan. 6th related cases, he wrote on X.
The decision by the U.S. Supreme Courts conservative majority Thursday to allow South Carolina to proceed with its gerrymandered map of congressional districts led to a blistering dissent by Justice Elena Kagan, who argued that the redistricting was designed to weaken Black voters influence.

The 6-3 ruling, led by conservative Justice Samuel Alito, overturns a lower court decision last year that said Republicans in South Carolina had illegally used race to gerrymander the states 1st Congressional District. In ordering the South Carolina Legislature to redraw its new map, a three-judge U.S. District Court panel said that the GOPs attempt to move Black voters out of the 1st District and move white voters in amounted to a bleaching of the district.

By reversing the lower courts decision, Kagan said that the Supreme Courts majority goes seriously wrong.

The proper response to this case is not to throw up novel roadblocks enabling South Carolina to continue dividing citizens along racial lines, the liberal justice wrote. It is to respect the plausible  no, the more than plausible  findings of the District Court that the State engaged in race-based districting. And to tell the State that it must redraw District 1, this time without targeting African-American citizens.

South Carolinas decision to redraw the map to remove 60% of Charleston Countys Black residents from the 1st Congressional District and add them to the 6th Congressional District was, Alito said, motivated by politics rather than race. The complaint brought by the South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP relied on circumstantial evidence to argue the maps were racially gerrymandered on purpose, he wrote.

But Kagan refused to believe that the effect of the Republicans redistricting on Black voters was an unintended consequence of partisan gerrymandering, given the amount of racial demographic data lawmakers had when drawing the lines.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, shown here in 2019 at the White House, led the decision to allow the redistricting drawn up by South Carolina Republicans. Carolyn Kaster via Associated Press

If calling out a racial gerrymander accus[es] a State of a grave wrong, so be it. This Court is not supposed to be so fearful of telling discriminators, including States, to stop discriminating, Kagan wrote. In other recent decisions, the Court has prided itself on halting race-based decision-making wherever it arises  even though serving far more commendable goals than partisan advantage. It is not the ordinary thing to agonize so much about giving offens[e] to a discriminating State.

Kagans dissent was backed by justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Alito, who has been subject to media scrutiny over recent revelations that controversial flags have been flown at two of his homes, wrote that there is no substance to the dissents attacks.

In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that federal courts cannot adjudicate claims of partisan gerrymandering, concluding that the Constitution has nothing to say about the matter. Since that ruling, states accused of drawing racially segregated electoral maps need to only show that they relied on partisan information  not racial demographic data  when redistricting.

In her dissent, Kagan accused South Carolina Republicans of using race to determine their new congressional districts while hiding behind the claim of strictly partisan gerrymandering. By allowing the states map to proceed, she said, the Supreme Court has effectively given a green light to other lawmakers to use race as a proxy to achieve partisan ends and even to straight-up suppress the electoral influence of minority voters.

Go right ahead, this Court says to States today. Go ahead, though you have no recognized justification for using race, such as to comply with statutes ensuring equal voting rights, Kagan wrote. Go ahead, though you are (at best) using race as a short-cut to bring about partisan gains  to elect more Republicans in one case, more Democrats in another. It will be easy enough to cover your tracks in the end: Just raise a possibility of non-race-based decision-making, and it will be dispositive.

And so this odious practice of sorting citizens, build on racial generalizations and exploiting racial divisions, will continue, she continued. In the electoral sphere especially, where ugly patterns of pervasive racial discrimination have so long governed, we should demand better  of ourselves, of our political representatives, and most of all of this Court. Respectfully, I dissent.

Related...
A social media account manager for Kansas City is no longer employed because of a post that identified Chiefs kicker Harrison Butkers city of residence, igniting widespread controversy and accusations of doxxing.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the city has separated from the employee who was responsible for the message during a Thursday morning interview with conservative radio host Pete Mundo on KCMO Talk Radio 97.5 FM.

I think that to me, in many ways, resolves a lot of back and forth in the political world. I think there has been accountability from the city of Kansas City, the mayor said.

We all look forward to moving on. Letting the Chiefs play. Letting the city do what its supposed to do in delivering basic services. And hopefully you and I get to get back to conversations about potholes and everything else under the sun.

The social media post appeared on the citys official X account, formerly Twitter, four days after Butker delivered a commencement speech at Benedictine College, a Catholic college in Atchison, Kansas. Before the post was deleted a few minutes later, it said: Just a reminder that Harrison Butker lives in the City of Lees Summit.

The Chiefs kicker, a conservative Catholic, had sparked anger in sharing his personal opinion on a range of political, religious and social issues. During the 20-minute speech, Butker criticized President Joe Biden on abortion, referred to LGBTQ Pride Month as an example of the deadly sins and said one of a womans most important titles is homemaker when speaking of his wife.

The citys social media post sparked further discord and especially angered conservatives, including Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey. The attorney general, running for election to the post for the first time, said Butker had been doxxed for expressing his religious beliefs and demanded the city take steps to hold those responsible accountable.

Lucas quickly condemned the citys social media post last week, saying the statement was clearly inappropriate. The mayor has also asked for civility as women employed by the city who were not involved in the post had been bullied and harassed.

The employee who made the post has not been identified by city officials. It was unclear based on the mayors remarks whether the person had resigned or been fired.

In a statement to The Star, Lucas spokeswoman Jazzlyn Johnson said the post fell outside the scope of authorized communications and amounted to a violation of city policies.

Johnson said the city would have no further comment on the post or individual employees related to it.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Kansas Representative Carl Maughan, a Republican from Colwich, has officially been charged with driving under the influence, among other charges, after being arrested earlier this year.

Court records show that Maughan was charged with two misdemeanors and two traffic infractions, which include the following:

Possession of firearm while under influence of alcohol or drugs

Driving under the influence; 1st conv; combination of drugs and alcohol

Unsafe turning or stopping; Failure to give proper signal

Fail to check for safe passage before passing from single lane

Maughans court date is scheduled for June 26.

Maughan is also at risk of having his law license suspended by the Kansas Supreme Court, in a separate case.

Kansas providers challenge abortion survey law

The Kansas Supreme Court heard oral arguments earlier this month on the matter, which Maughan did not show up to. Maughan is accused of misconduct in representing a client involved in a deadly crash in Wichita in 2016, which resulted in the death of two Starkey clients.

During the hearing, Deputy Disciplinary Administrator Alice Walker spoke on behalf of the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator. Walker said that the disciplinary action arose from the Kansas Court of Appeals unpublished decision in State v. Blevins, in which the court found that the respondent had a conflict of interest in his representation and that he did not obtain proper written waivers.

Because of that the Court of Appeals, reversed those convictions remanded the case to district court for new trial with new counsel, Walker said.

Walker went on to say that the disciplinary administrator was initially going to side with Maughans recommendation of a probation. However, she said the decision has changed since Maughan has failed to comply with the rules for probation, which included failing to file required monthly reports since December.

To watch the full Kansas Supreme Court hearing, click here.

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HARRISON, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  The National Park Services released that a dispatch responded to a possible drowning around 5 p.m. Sunday, May 19, where dispatchers found an overturned kayak in the upper district of the river near Carver.

Judy Henderson-Baily, 69, of Topeka Kansas, was recovered after it was found that she was on a private kayak that overturned after striking a tree in the river, the NPS said in a news release.

Survival swim instructor emphasizes importance of proper training for water safety

After turning over in the water, the female was pulled under a submerged tree. Members of her floating party tried to extract her but were unsuccessful, the news release states.

The Buffalo National River dispatch found that she was not wearing a life jacket. The Newton County Sheriffs Office and Hasty Volunteer Fire Department helped respond to the incident.

Currents, down trees, and underwater obstructions exist in rivers and creeks, which can make paddling more challenging. Buffalo National River offers a loaner life jacket program. You may borrow a life jacket from the Steel Creek Ranger Station, Tyler Bend Visitor Center, or Buffalo Point Ranger Station. Please call the Tyler Bend Visitor Center at 870-439-2502 to learn more, the release states.

Visitors can check the river level on the Arkansas rivers on the USGS website.

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 KNWA FOX24.
A single day in combat, 98-year-old World War II veteran Bill Casassa, of Shawnee, told me, is forever. It goes on and on and on.

There is confusion, mud -- always mud -- and behind the battles, the brutally hard work of just fetching the ammunition or the gasoline. Theres the physical agony of being half-frozen half the time, and always, during direct engagement, you know any second now, more rounds can come screeching in. Somebody always got hit and they were screaming. My main memory of combat is terror. Not mere fear, but terror.

I asked Casassa whether he felt, as the D-Day paratroopers depicted in the 2001 miniseries Band of Brothers told historian Stephen Ambrose, that they had to consider themselves dead already to really be able to fight. Yes, he said: When its really bad, youre dead already, so youve got nothing to lose. But getting dead mentally was not a one-time ordeal. Because once youve come through the day, hope comes creeping back in. So that the next morning, if you are lucky enough to be alive again, you know youre going to have to go through the same section of hell to get dead again. To get dead again, youve got to go through some awful stuff.

For an astonishing 171 consecutive days, thats what Casassa did.

Bill Casassa fought in Ardennes and in the Central Europe Campaign.

Donnie Edwards, former Chief, helps send veterans to France

The first of those days was November 18, 1944. Thats when, as part of the 638th Tank Destroyer Battalion in support of the 84th Infantry Divisions initial attack on the Siegfried Line at Geilenkirchen, 19-year-old Casassa, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, rolled into this lovely village  Apweiler, he thinks it was  in his M18 Hellcat tank destroyer.

He saw bricks flying into the air, and an American on a radio running a fight and hitting the dirt periodically, because he could tell from the sound of the rounds when to duck. Finally, Casassa called to an American he saw dodging from doorway to doorway. Hey Mac, wheres the front line? The answer, of course, was this: Youre on it. He went on to fight in the Rhineland Campaign, in the Ardennes, and in the Central Europe Campaign in the spring of 1945.

Just as he was telling me about getting frostbite in both hands and feet in Belgium, despite knowing the New Englanders trick of rubbing your skin with snow, the phone rang. It was former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards and his wife Kathryn Edwards, whose organization, the Best Defense Foundation, will be bringing Casassa and about 50 other World War II veterans to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. They had news: Casassa will be among those receiving the French Legion of Honor Medal  Frances highest honor, civil or military  on June 6.

You must forgive me; Im more or less speechless, Casassa told them. Ill be doing this for the outfit  all the guys  but still and all, wow.

French President Emmanuel Macron will present him with the medal, and President Joe Biden, King Charles and some 25 other heads of state will be there to thank Casassa and the others for  sorry, Bill  saving democracy.

I say sorry, because Sgt. Casassa has impressed on me that he does not want to see himself made out to be heroic in this column, and does want me to clarify that he was not in Normandy on D-Day, but arrived in Cherbourg, France, three months later, on Sept. 15.

I also should, according to him, say that all he did was show up. And I must make plain that he in his tank destroyer did not personally liberate any death camps, though his outfit did, twice, and he will never forget the smell of what he initially thought must be an abandoned slaughterhouse at Ahlem. As he rolled past, and others went in, on April 10, 1945, the wind changed and a stench  the foulest, vilest, most terrible smell  overwhelmed him. Looking back, it was the smell of pure evil.

Maggie and Bill Casassa will have been married 69 years in June.

Concerned about rise of US antisemitism

The death camps he did not liberate have stayed with him all these years, though, and hes still angry that American soldiers werent told what was behind that smell, which he thinks would have made them fight even harder.

The State Department knew about it, the president knew. Everyone in power knew, so why in the hell couldnt we have focused our attacks on the camps? We could have done more. Two or three days difference would have saved thousands of lives.

Which is one reason he takes the recent rise in antisemitism, particularly on college campuses, so personally. To have done all that and then to have this happen in our own country is kind of a slap in the face.

After the war in Europe was over, Casassa was sent home to rest up and then train for duty in Japan, so he was still sure he would die before his life had really even started.

Then, when Truman dropped the atomic bomb and the war ended, I was going to live! I was going to live! I was going to live! I had survived.  I never expected to.

Through his work as a salesman for a candy company in Boston, he met a girl  Maggie, a D.C. native to whom he will have been married 69 years on June 25. He was transferred to her hometown, where their son and three daughters were born, and then, in 1966, to Kansas City, a move he calls the best thing that ever happened to me.

Whats always fascinated me about D-Day is the improbability of it all, and the fact that a day on which so much went horribly wrong led, less than a year later, to a victory so complete that even the expected guerrilla campaign of Nazi dead-enders never happened.

At the Battle of the Bulge, American troops didnt even have winter clothes, yet here we are, 80 years later, free but also frustratingly oblivious to those whose willingness to be dead again, day after day, saved the world from the Nazis and kept our republic alive.

Unlike too many of us, the French of Normandy have not forgotten the 2,500 Americans who never made it home from D-Day, or the grit and grace of those like Bill Casassa, who insists that hes just one of the ones who survived.
Kari Lake bills herself as the next best thing to Donald Trump. MAGA voters disagree.

Kari Lake speaks as former President Trump looks on at a rally in Florence, Arizona in January 2022. Photo by Gage Skidmore (modified) | Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

We have more than five months until the election, but it sure looks like the writing is on the wall for Kari Lakes bid to become a U.S. senator.

There were already clear signs that national Republicans took such a dim view of her chances of winning in November that they werent willing to help bankroll her campaign. Now, new polling shows that GOP voters arent lining up to support her either.

The most important findings in a CBS News/YouGov poll released this week werent that Lake is trailing U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, her likely Democratic opponent, by a whopping 13 points. Instead, what really matters is why shes consistently trailing a progressive Democrat in a state where Republicans still have built-in electoral advantages, even as it becomes increasingly purple.

And understanding that explains why national Republicans wont go out of their way to save her.

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Lake has modeled her political persona on Donald Trump, and makes no bones about her belief that she is the most Trump-like politician anywhere.

The conventional wisdom is that Lake will struggle to win over moderate Republicans and right-of-center independents  the same blocs of voters that Trump lost in 2020, and that he must win over this year if he hopes to return to the White House. And it makes sense to assume that Gallego is leading in the polls because hes capturing the support of those voters.

But thats not her biggest problem. What the CBS/YouGov poll laid bare is that shes driving away GOP and conservative voters, something clearly on display when you compare her numbers against Trumps.

Those numbers are brutal for Lake. Among GOP voters? Trump has the backing of 93%, but just 73% would vote for Lake. Its the same among self-identified conservative voters: 91% would cast a ballot for Trump, just 75% would do so for the former TV newscaster.

In every demographic group, Lake badly trails her idol and the man who will be at the top of the ticket: Men (a 17-point gap), women (17 points), Generation X (15 points), Baby Boomers (14 points), moderate voters (24 points), white voters (16 points), Latino voters (17 points), white voters without college education (16 points), white voters with a college degree (17 points).

Kari Lake needs to turn things around in the next 60 days or the race is over.

 Veteran GOP campaign consultant Chris Baker

There isnt an inch of daylight between Lake and Trump on policy matters, so the gulf between them in the polling signals a major failure for Lake to connect with the voters who should be on her side no matter what.

And shes running out of time to do that. Already, Gallego is blanketing the airwaves with ads (and has been for weeks) that define himself for voters, many of whom arent familiar with him  unlike Lake, who is fresh off a high-profile loss in a governors race that most everyone thinks she should have won and a string of lawsuits based on conspiracy theories aiming to overturn that loss.

She needs to turn things around in the next 60 days or the race is over, GOP political consultant Chris Baker said. I, personally, think shes toast. You dont come back from numbers like that.

Since even before she got in the Senate race, there have been whispers about how national Republicans see Lake as a liability. In recent months, those whispers have grown louder and spilled into the open, like in the Politico story earlier this month that says Republicans fear she could sabotage their chances at winning the Senate majority.

But its the silence that is most damning. Silence from the deep-pocketed outside groups who are committed to helping Republicans capture control of the Senate.

The true test of GOP faith in Lake and belief that she can win isnt in meaningless endorsements from other politicians  honestly, is there a single Arizona voter who cares that John Barrasso supports Lake?  but in cold, hard cash pumped into a race by outside groups.

While its undeniably important for candidates to raise their own campaign war chests, in modern politics, spending by outside groups  which can raise unlimited sums with no contribution limits  is the truest bellwether of a candidates chances.

Its even more important for Lake, who is already falling far behind Gallego in raising money.

And those wealthy GOP groups arent doing much of anything to help Lake. But they are throwing money at other Senate races.

Last week, One Nation, a top conservative nonprofit, announced it would spend $70 million more  for a total so far of $88 million  into hitting vulnerable Democrats in key Senate races. That money is going to Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Not a single dime is going to help Lake.

And the Senate Leadership Fund, the super PAC led by top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell, left Arizona off the list of where the group is reserving $88 million in TV ad time.

That would be bad enough, but its even worse for Lake when you realize that Democratic groups are spending hand over fist to boost Gallego. Senate Majority PAC, the committee run by Senate Dem leaders, has already dumped $23 million into Arizona.

Sure, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has voiced its support for Lake, and theyre in the midst of a multi-million-dollar coordinated ad campaign. But the NRSC last month clawed back $102,000 from the Arizona Republican Party, well more than half of the $180,000 or so its sent the AZGOP since last year.

Money talks in politics, and its saying something explicitly clear about how national Republicans view Kari Lakes chances to win in November.

They dont think she has a chance.

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The post Kari Lake bills herself as the next best thing to Donald Trump. MAGA voters disagree. appeared first on Arizona Mirror.
Kate Middleton: A timeline of her cancer diagnosis, surgery and absence from public duties

In March, Kate, the Princess of Wales, announced she was diagnosed with cancer.

Kate, the 42-year-old wife of Prince William and mother of their three children, announced her diagnosis after weeks of speculation about her health and well-being.

Since January, Kate has undergone abdominal surgery, taken time off from public duties and endured a photo editing controversy.

Here is a look at the timeline of events.

Sept. 9, 2024: Kate says she has finished chemotherapy

Kate said in a video message shared by Kensington Palace that she is focused on staying "cancer free" and gradually returning to work after completing chemotherapy.

"As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment," Kate said. "The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown."

In the video, which captured an intimate glimpse of Kate and her family, the princess shared more about her plans for the near future.

PHOTO: Photos released by Kensington Palace of the Princess of Wales, Sept. 9, 2024. (Kensington Palace/Will Warr)

"Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes," she said. "I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can."

Aug. 25, 2024: Kate joins family at Sunday service

Kate was joined by William and other members of the royal family at Crathie Kirk, a small church in Scotland near the royal family's Balmoral Estate.

During the outing, Kate donned a light brown trench coat paired with earrings and a feather hat, while William was seen sporting a navy blue suit.

July 15, 2024: Kate attends Wimbledon men's final

Kate received a standing ovation when she appeared at the men's singles final at Wimbledon with daughter Princess Charlotte and sister Pippa Middleton Matthews by her side.

PHOTO: Pippa Middleton, Stefan Edberg, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Marjory Gengler and Catherine Princess of Wales court-side of Centre Court during the men's final at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 14, 2024 in London. (Karwai Tang/WireImage via Getty Images)

Kate, a longtime tennis fan and royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, sat in the Royal Box at center court to watch Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic face off in the final for the second year in a row. After the final, Kate presented the championship trophies to the players.

June 15, 2024: Kate joins royal family at Trooping the Colour

Kate stepped out at Trooping the Colour, her first public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis.

PHOTO: Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, arrives to Horse Guards Parade for the King's Birthday Parade 'Trooping the Colour' in London, June 15, 2024. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)

Kate joined William and their three children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, as well as other royal family members at the annual military parade held to celebrate the king's official birthday.

Wearing a white dress with black trim by Jenny Packham and a matching hat, Kate rode with George, 10, Charlotte, 9, and Louis, 6, in a state carriage, the Glass Coach, down the Mall during the parade.

PHOTO: Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis attend the Trooping the Colour parade to honour Britain's King Charles on his official birthday in London, June 15, 2024. (Hollie Adams/Reuters)

Following the parade, Kate and her family joined senior members of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the military flyover.

PHOTO: Britain's King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louis, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after attending the 'Trooping the Colour' in London, June 15, 2024. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

June 14, 2024: Kate says she is 'making progress' amid chemotherapy

Kate shared in her first message since her diagnosis that she is "making good progress" but is not "out of the woods yet."

"I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days," Kate said in a written message shared on June 14 by Kensington Palace. "On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well."

PHOTO: Catherine, Princess of Wales is seen in a photo taken earlier this week in Windsor, England and released by Kensington Palace, June 14, 2024. (Matt Porteous/Kensington Palace)

Kate said her treatment will continue "for a few more months," adding, "On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home."

Kate also described herself as having been "blown away" by the support she has received since publicly revealing her diagnosis.

"It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times," she said, adding at the end of her message, "Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me."

June 5, 2024: William shares update on Kate

While meeting with World War II veterans in Portsmouth, England, on June 5, to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, William was asked by one veteran whether Kate was "getting any better."

In response, William said, "Yes," adding, "She would've loved to be here today."

April 29, 2024: William, Kate celebrate 13th wedding anniversary

William and Kate celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary out of the public eye, but they did share a new glimpse into their wedding.

The couple, who wed on April 29, 2011, shared on social media a never-before-seen portrait of themselves taken on their wedding day inside Buckingham Palace.

The photo of a smiling William and Kate was shared with the caption, "13 years ago today!"

April 18, 2024: William returns to work

William visited a nonprofit organization in Surrey, England, on April 28, marking his first official public appearance since Kate revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer.

William received cards of well-wishes for Kate and Charles from volunteers at the nonprofit organization, Surplus to Supper, according to a video shared on X by Lizzie Robinson, of ITV News.

"Thank you very much. That's very kind," William told one volunteer who handed him the cards.

March 31, 2024: William, Kate miss Easter service with royal family members

William and Kate and their kids were absent from the annual Easter Mattins Service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, where Charles and Camilla were joined by other family members.

The Waleses' absence from the service was expected as it came just over one week after Kate shared her cancer diagnosis.

March 23, 2024: Kate, William 'enormously touched' by well wishes

Kensington Palace shared that Kate and William were "enormously touched" by the outpouring of public support following the release of Kate's video message.

"The Prince and Princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness' message," a palace spokesperson said in a statement Saturday. "They are extremely moved by the public's warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time."

In addition to receiving well wishes from the public, William and Kate also received messages of support from family members, celebrities and world leaders, including President Joe Biden.

"Jill and I join millions around the world praying for your full recovery, Princess Kate," Biden shared in a message on X.

"You are brave, and we love you," First Lady Jill Biden said to Kate in a message also shared on X.

William's brother, Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, said in a statement, "We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace."

March 22, 2024: Kate publicly reveals cancer diagnosis

Kate shared in a video statement that after undergoing abdominal surgery, tests showed "cancer had been present."

"In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful," Kate said. "However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment."

PHOTO: Catherine, Princess of Wales' released an official statement on her health on March 22, 2024. (BBC Studios)

Describing the impact on William and their three children, Princes George and Louis and Charlotte, Kate continued, "This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family."

March 20, 2024: Hospital staffers reportedly investigated for trying to access Kate's records

Staff at the London Clinic, where Kate underwent surgery, are reportedly suspected of trying to access her private medical records.

The investigation has reportedly expanded to three staffers at the clinic, according to ITV News.

The Information Commissioner's Office, the U.K. privacy and data protection watchdog, confirmed to ABC News it had received a security breach report involving the London Clinic, a London hospital known for treating high-profile people, including other members of the royal family.

"We can confirm that we have received a breach report and are assessing the information provided," an IOC spokesperson said in a statement.

PHOTO: Police officers stand guard outside The London Clinic where Kate, Princess of Wales is recovering from surgery, in London, Jan. 17, 2024 (Kin Cheung/AP, FILE)

Al Russell, CEO of the London Clinic, said in a statement, in part, "We have systems in place to monitor management of patient information and, in the case of any breach, all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken. There is no place at our hospital for those who intentionally breach the trust of any of our patients or colleagues.

Kensington Palace declined to comment on the reported security breach, telling ABC News, "This is a matter for the London Clinic."

March 19, 2024: Photo agency issues editing notice on 2nd royal family photo

Getty Images added an editor's note on a photo that was taken by Kate in 2022 of the late Queen Elizabeth II and some of her great-grandchildren.

Last April, Kensington Palace shared the photo on the social media accounts of Kate and William to mark what would have been the queen's 97th birthday.

Credit for the photo was given to Kate.

PHOTO: Getty Images added an editor's note to a photo of Queen Elizabeth II seen here which was released by Kensington Palace in 2023, saying the photo has 'been digitally enhanced at source.' (The Prince and Princess of Wales/X)

In its editor's note, Getty Images says the photo "has been digitally enhanced at source."

The palace has not commented on the addition of the editor's note to Kate's photo of the late queen.

March 16, 2024: Kate spotted at farm shop with William

Kate was seen looking "happy, relaxed and healthy" on a visit to a local farm shop with William near their home in Windsor, England, on Saturday, according to the U.K.'s The Sun newspaper.

A video of Kate and William at the farm shop, obtained by TMZ and shared on March 18, is the first video footage the public had seen of Kate since she was hospitalized.

Earlier in the day Saturday, William and Kate reportedly watched their three children play sports, according to The Sun.

March 14, 2024: News agency says Kensington Palace is no longer a trusted source

Phil Chetwynd, global news director at Agence France-Presse, said in an interview with BBC Radio that Kensington Palace is no longer considered a trusted source after the photo editing controversy.

"No, absolutely not," Chetwynd said. "Like with anything, when you're let down by a source, the bar is raised."

Chetwynd added that news agencies around the world called a meeting to address the issue once they realized the photo shared by the palace of Kate and her children "clearly violated" their rules, leading them to issue a "kill notice" to publishers around the world.

According to Chetwynd, issuing a "kill notice" for a photograph based on manipulation is a very rare occurrence.

"And we've got, you know, major issues internally as to how we validate that photo. We shouldn't have done it," he said. "It violated our guidelines and, therefore, you know, we sent out notes to all our team at the moment to be absolutely super more vigilant about the content coming across our desk, even from what we would call trusted sources."

March 11, 2024: Kate issues public apology over photo

Kate acknowledged in a public apology that her Mother's Day photo was edited and apologized for any "confusion" those alterations caused.

"Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she said in a statement on X. "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day."

Kate again signed her message "C."

Kensington Palace said it would not be reissuing the original unedited photograph of Kate and her children.

Later on March 11, Kate was photographed sitting next to William in a chauffeured car.

William attended two public engagements that day, a Commonwealth Day service and an Earthshot Prize event, and did not comment on Kate or the photo controversy.

March 10, 2024: Photo agencies retract Kate's photo

The photo of Kate and her kids was picked up by several international news agencies, including The Associated Press, Reuters, Getty Images and Agence France-Presse.

Those agencies later retracted the image, saying it may have been edited by the royals prior to its release.

PHOTO: A combination of pictures made on March 11, 2024 shows a handout photo released by Kensington Palace on March 10, 2024 of Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales with her children, alongside a version highlighting several inconsistencies. (Prince Of Wales/KENSINGTON PALACE/AFP via Getty Images)

The Associated Press said it appeared "the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP's photo standards."

PA Media Group, a news agency in the United Kingdom, also retracted the image.

Hany Farid, a computer science professor at the University of California, Berkeley, told ABC News his analysis of the photo shows "relatively minor photo manipulation."

"If you look at the sleeve of the girl on the right, you see what looks like traces of manipulation," Farid said, referring to the sleeve of Charlotte's sweater. "I think most likely it is either some bad photoshop to, for example, remove a stain on the sweater, or is the result of on-camera photo compositing that combines multiple photos together to get a photo where everyone is smiling. For the latter, if the subjects move between successive images, it can cause this type of ghosting."

Farid continued, "Either way, I think it is unlikely that this is anything more than a relatively minor photo manipulation. In addition, there is no evidence that this image is entirely AI-generated."

March 10, 2024: Kate shares photo and message on Mother's Day

Kate marked Mother's Day in the U.K., March 10, by sharing a photo on X of herself smiling and surrounded by her three kids. The image was the first official photo of Kate the public had seen since December.

"Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day," Kate wrote in the post, which was signed "C," a nod to her full name, Catherine.

PHOTO: This undated photo issued on Sunday March 10, 2024, by Kensington Palace shows Kate, Princess of Wales with her children, Prince Louis, left, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, taken in Windsor, England, by Prince William earlier this week. (Prince Of Wales/AP)

The post credited William as the photographer.

March 6, 2024: Palace issues William's response to online speculation about Kate

Amid the speculation around Kate's well-being, a palace spokesperson issued a brief statement to People magazine.

MORE: Prince William attends royal engagement amid Kate Middleton photo controversy

The spokesperson said of William, "His focus is on his work and not on social media."

March 4, 2024: Kate is photographed in a car with her mom

Kate was seen for the first time since December when she was photographed riding in a car driven by her mom on March 4.

Kate and her mom Carole Middleton were photographed in Windsor, England, where Kate and her family live.

The photograph was not released or authorized by Kensington Palace.

Feb. 29, 2024: Palace spokesperson shares update on Kate

Amid a growing amount of online speculation about Kate's health, a palace spokesperson told ABC News on Feb. 29, that Kate was "doing well" as she continued to recover.

The spokesperson also brushed off online speculation, telling ABC News in a statement, "Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the Princess' recovery and we'd only be providing significant updates. That guidance stands."

PHOTO: Catherine, Princess of Wales at an evening reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace, Dec. 5, 2023, in London. (Jonathan Brady/Pool via Getty Images)

The comment on Kate was the first one shared by the palace since late January, when Kate was discharged from the hospital.

Feb. 27, 2024: William misses royal engagement due to 'personal matter'

Online speculation about Kate's well-being reached a fever pitch in late February, when William had to drop out of a royal engagement due to what the palace said was a "personal matter."

On Feb. 27, William missed the service of Thanksgiving for his godfather, King Constantine of Greece, at St. George's Chapel.

ABC News confirmed at the time that the personal matter was not related to Charles' health.

"Unfortunately, The Prince of Wales is no longer able to attend the King Constantine Memorial Service this morning due to a personal matter," the palace said in a statement at the time, declining to share further details.

Feb. 18, 2024: William attends the BAFTA Awards without Kate

As William resumed his public duties, he arrived solo at the 2024 BAFTA Awards, one of the most high-profile events Kate has traditionally attended with her husband each year.

PHOTO: Prince William arrives on the red carpet at the BAFTA British Academy Film Awards in London, Feb. 18, 2024. (Jordan Pettitt/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

This year, William, who serves as president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, walked the red carpet and attended the awards show on his own.

Feb. 7, 2024: William resumes public duties

William returned to his public duties for the first time following Kate's surgery and made his first public comments about Kate.

Earlier in the day on Feb. 7, William led an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, stepping in for his father, King Charles III, whose cancer diagnosis had been publicly shared just two days prior, on Feb. 5.

In the evening, William attended a fundraising gala alongside Tom Cruise for London's Air Ambulance Charity, where he spoke about both Charles and Kate.

PHOTO: Prince William poses for a photo with Tom Cruise at the London Air Ambulance Charity Gala Dinner in London, Feb. 7, 2024. (Daniel Leal/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

"I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you, also, for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially, in recent days," he said. "It means a great deal to us all."

Following up with a joke, he added, "It's fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather 'medical' focus. So, I thought I'd come to an air ambulance function to get away from it all."

Jan. 29, 2024: Kate is discharged from the hospital

On Jan. 29, Kensington Palace shared an update, stating that Kate had been discharged from the hospital.

"The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. She is making good progress," the palace said. "The Prince and Princess wish to say a huge thank you to the entire team at The London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they have provided."

The spokesperson added, "The Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world."

Jan. 18, 2024: William is photographed leaving the hospital

William was photographed driving himself away from the London Clinic, presumably after a private visit with Kate.

PHOTO: Prince William drives himself away from the London Clinic in London, Jan. 18, 2024, where his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, underwent surgery. (Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images)

The couple's three children were not believed to have visited Kate in the hospital during her stay.

Jan. 17, 2024: Kate has 'successful' surgery, Kensington Palace reveals

The day after Kate was admitted to the hospital, the palace issued a public statement announcing that Kate had been hospitalized on Jan. 16, for "planned abdominal surgery."

The palace said the surgery was "successful," and that Kate was expected to remain hospitalized for 10 to 14 days before returning to the family's home to recover. The palace did not provide further details on the type of surgery Kate underwent but confirmed to ABC News that the princess's medical issue was non-cancerous.

At the time, the palace noted that Kate would likely not resume her public duties "until after Easter."

"The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate," the palace said. "She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private."

"The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements," the statement continued. "She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible."

MORE: Kate Middleton's public apology for editing family photo is rare for a royal

The palace also said that William would temporarily postpone his engagements to help care for Kate and their kids as she recovered.

Jan. 16, 2024: Kate is admitted to a London hospital

Kate was admitted to the London Clinic on Jan. 16, according to a statement issued by Kensington Palace the next day.

Dec. 25, 2023: Kate makes her last official public appearance

Kate joined members of the royal family as they walked to church at Sandringham on Christmas morning, following royal tradition.

PHOTO: Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Catherine and Princess of Wales walk away from the church with Prince George of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service in England, Dec. 25, 2023. (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)

Kate, dressed in blue, was seen smiling and talking to onlookers as she and William walked hand in hand with George, Charlotte and Louis at the royal family's estate in Norfolk, England.

ABC News' Kevin Shalvey and Zoe Magee contributed to this report.

Kate Middleton: A timeline of her cancer diagnosis, surgery and absence from public duties originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
NEW DELHI, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Indian farmers Thursday assembled at Shambhu and Khanauri border points near the northern Indian state of Haryana border to mark the completion of 100 days of their ongoing protest to press the federal government to accept their demands.

Thousands of farmers on their tractors embarked on the Delhi march on Feb. 13 this year seeking fulfilment of their demands including Minimum Support Price (MSP) for over two dozen crops.

Their march was stopped by the police and since then they have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points.

The protesting farmers' assembly to commemorate the 100th day of their ongoing protest has coincided with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election rally in Punjab's Patiala.

Reports said some of the protesting farmers have started their march towards the venue of Modi's rally.

Meanwhile, authorities have deployed government forces in Patiala and set up 10 barricades on roads leading into Patiala.

"We have placed sand-laden trucks to stop entry of any vehicles into Patiala and there will be only designated routes from where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers can enter, while no other vehicle will be allowed till evening," a senior police official was quoted in local media as having said.

According to police officials, the protesting farmers will not be allowed on roads until the rally ends.

In February, a young farmer was killed and many others injured during their unsuccessful attempts to defy the restrictions and proceed towards Delhi.

Several rounds of talks between the farmers and government ministers ended in failure. 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 1: NYPD officers talk to the driver of a car who sped past a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside The City College Of New York (CUNY) one day after police cracked down on protest camps at both Columbia University and CCNY on May 1 in New York City. A heavy police presence surrounded both campuses and cleared the tent encampments set up by pro-Palestinian protesters. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 1: NYPD officers talk to the driver of a car who sped past a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside The City College Of New York (CUNY) one day after police cracked down on protest camps at both Columbia University and CCNY on May 1 in New York City. A heavy police presence surrounded both campuses and cleared the tent encampments set up by pro-Palestinian protesters. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,163 Israelis, Israel has responded with a war in Gaza thats killed nearly 35,000 Palestinians. Despite a ruling from the International Court of Justice that Israel is plausibly committing genocide, Israels government insists on continuing the war.

Meanwhile, Americans have increasingly voiced opposition to U.S. support for Israel, to the point where the Biden Administration paused some weapons shipments to Israel over concerns Israel may use those arms to attack Rafah, a Gaza border town currently sheltering some 600,000 Palestinian children.

The center of opposition against the U.S. arming of Israel can be found on college campuses, from Columbia University in New York to Vanderbilt in Nashville. Sadly, Americas media and law enforcement have insisted on repeating past mistakes. In doing so, theyve reminded us all that weve been here before: the police crackdowns on pro-Palestinian protests and the derision of the protesters in the media bear an eerie resemblance to the Kent State Massacre.

Kent State, a crucible moment in American history

Tin soldiers and Nixons comin, were finally on our own. This summer I hear the drummin, four dead in Ohio.

 Neil Young, Ohio.

The Kent State Massacre took place on May 4, 1970. It involved the killing of four and wounding of nine unarmed college students by the Ohio National Guard on the Kent State University campus. The shootings took place during a student-led rally opposing the Nixon Administrations decision to expand the Vietnam War into Cambodia, a neutral country. The students also opposed Nixons executive order ending undergraduate student draft deferments, meaning protesters knew they were about to be drafted into a war they opposed.

During the massacre, 28 National Guard soldiers fired 61 rounds in 13 seconds. Two of those killed were part of the protest group; the other two were observing from the sidelines, which suggests the troops engaged in indiscriminate firing.

Though the massacre produced immediate outrage on college campuses across the country, the broader American public held a different view, thanks in part to the medias portrayal of the protesters and the governments handling of them. For example, the media pushed a story about an alleged individual with a sniper rifle who hid among the protesters and thus conveniently gave the National Guard pretext to open fire (this story was later wholly debunked).

Following the massacre, law enforcement offices representing federal, state, and local governments shut down protests with beatings, arrests, martial law, and, in the case of the Jackson State University protest just days later, more killing of protesters. All the while, the media crafted a protester demonization narrative by megaphoning stories of protester violence while muzzling stories of state-sanctioned violence on protesters.

The result? A May 28, 1970 Gallup poll found 58% of Americans thought the Kent State students were responsible for their own massacre, compared to only 11% who blamed the National Guard  who did the shooting.

Columbia University, the birthplace of dissent in 2024

In March 2024, 26% of pro-Palestinian protests were student-led, 74% non-student. Those figures flipped in April with a surge in student-led protests thanks to Columbia University students setting up an encampment on campus and setting off a chain reaction of anti-Zionist protests calling for universities to divest from Israel.

In response, dozens of universities  including Vanderbilt and the University of Tennessee  have suspended students, called in law enforcement to break up protests, and facilitated the arrest of over 2,900 protesters.. These havent been cordial arrests, either. Though 97% of protests have been peaceful, law enforcements removal of protesters from campuses have been anything but. Dozens of protesters have been injured and hospitalized, and a handful of officers have also been hurt.

Nowhere has the crackdown been as brutal as at Columbia University. Police actions were described as disproportionate and violent by the United Nations Office for Human Rights. Law enforcement used pepper spray, tasers, rubber bullets, and nightsticks to beat students and professors. One officer fired his handgun when clearing a student barricade in Hamilton Hall.

Such violent responses would incite more opposition from the American public were it not for the medias efforts to vilify pro-Palestinian protesters and thus manufacture consent for the police crackdown. Examples include a now-debunked media story of a Jewish student being stabbed in the eye. Pundits have also conflated anti-Zionist chants with calls for genocide, protesters bicycle locks on campus buildings with the locks and chains of professional agitators, and a college-level history book on terrorism with proof that protesters are terrorists.

From Kent State to Columbia to Vanderbilt, the kids were right

Americans now understand the National Guard was at fault for the Kent State Massacre. Even Nixons Presidents Commission on Campus Unrest sheepishly concluded, Even if the guardsmen faced danger, it was not a danger that called for lethal force. The 61 shots by 28 guardsmen certainly cannot be justified.

But thats our understanding of Kent State 54 years later. In a peculiar aspect of human psychology, moral crises are not always obvious to many of us in the moment they occur. And yet, every time we face such a moment, some part of the population always seems to see the crisis for what it is.

From abolitionists to suffragettes to Civil Rights organizers and the students who opposed the Vietnam War and U.S. support for Apartheid South Africa, these groups were condemned and ignored by the government, media, and much of the population. Yet, as years passed, Americans overwhelmingly came to see that these groups had it right all along.

Now history is repeating itself. Todays government and media institutions have coalesced in deriding pro-Palestinian student organizers, just as government and media did in 1970.

Hopefully it doesnt take 54 years for us to realize the kids were right on this issue, too.

The post Kent State in 1970, Columbia University in 2024 appeared first on Tennessee Lookout.
Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order mirroring the C.R.O.W.N. (Creating a Respectful World for Natural Hair) Act Thursday.

The Act prohibits discrimination towards hairstyles associated with race in the workplace, Beshear said. The governor signed the order during his weekly Team Kentucky press conference Thursday afternoon.

Team Kentucky strives to be an employer of choice in all 120 counties, Beshear said. We set a standard for fair and inclusive workplaces and we lead the way by doing what is right.

Melinda Wofford, assistant director of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and graduate of the Governors Minority Management Trainee Program, called the order a historic day for Kentucky. She thanked Beshear for recognizing her and added her hair is not a reflection of her work ethic and character.

Acknowledging cultural uniqueness is a strength that provides peace in a world where everyone should feel comfortable and confident in reaching their full potential without fear of having to remove their crown, Wofford said.

Previously people could be sent home or fined for their hairstyle in workplaces, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky. Black women have a higher chance of being sent home from work due to their hairstyle.

Black women are also 80% more likely to alter their hairstyle to fit in at the office, according to the ACLU.

Several communities, including Lexington last year, have already passed local ordinances prohibiting hairstyle discrimination in the workplace, most recently Covington, according to the ACLU. The ACLU supports the Act and encourages lawmakers to do the same.

Ive always believed that diversity is an asset and across Kentucky were building a brighter future for everyone, Beshear said.
FILE - Kentucky Gov, Andy Beshear speaks in the Rotunda of the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., Tuesday, March 26, 2024. With a stroke of his pen, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear took action Thursday to designate Juneteenth as a holiday for state executive branch workers and expand protections in state hiring and employment by banning discrimination based on hairstyles. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, file)

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear designated Juneteenth as a holiday for state executive branch workers on Thursday and expanded protections in state hiring and employment by banning discrimination based on hairstyles.

The separate executive orders signed by the Democratic governor represented his latest outreach to Black Kentuckians  but also reflected limits to that outreach.

Beshear, seen as a rising Democratic star, took the actions after efforts to make Juneteenth a statewide holiday and outlaw discrimination based on hairstyles failed in the state's Republican-supermajority legislature.

After years of inaction, Ive decided I can no longer wait for others to do what is right, said Beshear, who was joined by Black lawmakers as he signed the orders in the state Capitol in Frankfort.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed  two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued during the Civil War. For generations, Black Americans have recognized Juneteenth. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation establishing it as a federal holiday.

One Beshear order declares that starting this year, Juneteenth will be observed as a state executive branch holiday. All executive branch offices will be closed.

Beshear described Juneteenth as a celebration of progress but said it also serves as a strong reminder of our responsibility as Americans and the work that still remains to be done.

This is an important day in our history as Americans," he said. "One where we stand united in acknowledging our past and our nations greatest injustice. A day when we honor the strength and courage of African-Americans and the contributions they have made and continue to make for our country.

Legislation to make Juneteenth a Kentucky holiday was introduced this year by state Sen. Gerald Neal, the chamber's top-ranking Democrat. It made no headway before the session ended last month. Neal, who is Black, signaled Thursday that he will try again in the 2025 session.

The other executive order expands protections in state hiring and employment by prohibiting discrimination based on traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to natural hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks and twists.

Protections are needed because the state has a diverse workforce full of talented, hard-working Kentuckians from all different backgrounds, the governor said. Thats what makes us special.

Bills to ban discrimination based on hairstyles at work and school have died in recent legislative sessions, the governor's office noted.

Melinda Wofford, a graduate of the Governors Minority Management Trainee Program who is an assistant director at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, thanked the governor for embracing the individuality represented in our great commonwealth.

Acknowledging cultural uniqueness is a strength, which provides peace in the world, where everyone should feel comfortable and confident in reaching their full potential without fear of having to remove their crown, said Wofford.

In March, Beshear marched with other Kentuckians to commemorate the 60th anniversary of a landmark civil rights rally that featured Martin Luther King Jr. in the states capital city. They retraced the steps of the civil rights icon and 10,000 others who joined the 1964 March on Frankfort to call for legislation to end discrimination and segregation in the Bluegrass State.

Beshear has included Black executives in his inner circle as governor and previously as state attorney general. He has pointed to his administration's record of supporting the states historically black colleges and universities and for expanding health care and economic opportunities in minority neighborhoods.

Beshear also led the successful push to remove a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, a Kentucky native, from the state Capitol Rotunda.
President Joe Biden will extend major non-NATO ally status to Kenya during the three-day state visit by the African countrys leader this week, two U.S. officials confirmed.

Kenya will become the first sub-Saharan nation to receive the designation, which allows the recipient country to obtain more sophisticated weaponry from the United States and engage in closer security cooperation.

The new status is an upgrade in the relationship between the two nations  one that could give Washington greater influence in East Africa. Both countries already have a longstanding counterterrorism relationship, working together to combat the al-Shabaab terrorist group that has launched deadly regional attacks for decades. Kenya is also part of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of about 50 nations that meet regularly to coordinate on how best to arm Kyiv against Moscow.

If any country in Africa that does not already have the status has a prima facie case for being designated a major non-NATO ally, it is Kenya, said J. Peter Pham, a former top Africa official in the Trump administration.

The growing bond between Washington and Nairobi comes as the Biden administration worries about Chinas growing sway on the African continent, in addition to Russias ties with Kenya. Even though Biden has yet to travel to the continent, as he promised to do, the major non-NATO ally status might serve as a consolation and sign of intent.

Judd Devermont, who until this year led Africa work in Bidens National Security Council, said, Upgrading how we partner with Africa has been an important through line during our administration. In 2022, the White House released a sub-Saharan Africa strategy and that December held a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.

President William Ruto is in Washington for three days to meet with Biden and discuss multiple economic and security matters, namely the deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police officers to curb gang violence in Haiti. The new status, which is largely symbolic, could offer more legitimacy to Kenyas mission.

The Associated Press first reported on the expected move.

Kenya will become the 19th country to be named a major non-NATO ally, the most recent addition since Biden bestowed the title on Qatar in March 2022. Three other countries on the African continent  Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia  have already gained the status.

The U.S. is not treaty-bound to come to such a countrys defense as it would be with actual NATO allies. But the designation, according to the State Department, provides certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation.
Kenyan President William Ruto announced that his government signed an agreement with HBCUs, including Spelman College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and Howard University. The goal is to boost STEM education and economic development in Kenya and the United States.

The news comes as Ruto is on a state visit, the first by an African leader under the Biden administration. He made Atlanta his first stop when he landed on Monday and will meet with President Joe Biden on Thursday.

We shall empower a new generation of disruptive thinkers, ambitious visionaries, and innovative problem solvers, and thus divine a brighter knowledge-driven future where progress transcends borders, transforms lives and delivers prosperity, Ruto said during his stop at Spelman College yesterday.

Wrapped up our Atlanta stop of #StateVisitUSKE by celebrating growing  partnerships in trade, education, and the creative economy. Today, we move to Washington for more engagements. #USKEat60 pic.twitter.com/dmy4WKDQPA  U.S. Ambassador Meg Whitman (@USAmbKenya) May 22, 2024

The HBCU noted that the frameworks of the program still need to be discussed but that it will open a new opportunity for students to travel abroad.

We still have details to work out in terms of the partnership, but you know, what we really hope is that our students have the opportunity to go and learn in Kenyan schools, and Kenyan students will have the opportunity here, Spelman President Dr. Helene Gayle told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Our faculty will have opportunities to do research together and really build out partnerships in this very important area of STEM and technology, she said.

Ruto highlighted that the agreement follows in the footsteps of the airlifts. He referred to a program run between 1959 and 1963 during which hundreds of Kenyan students attended college in the United States. Barack Obama Sr. participated in the program at the time.
Kenyan mountaineer dies on Everest as he attempts to summit without supplemental oxygen

Kenyan mountaineer dies on Everest as he attempts to summit without supplemental oxygen

Kenyan mountaineer Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui, who went missing with his guide on Wednesday morning on Mount Everest, has been found dead, officials announced Thursday.

Kirui's body was found 62 feet, or about 19 meters, below Everest's peak, Nepal's Department of Tourism said.

Kirui had been on a mission to summit the world's highest peak without supplementary oxygen, attempting to become the first African to achieve the feat. He went missing above the Hillary Step.

"A no-oxygen attempt comes with its special preparations and risks," Kirui wote on Instagram before his summit attempt. "Finally. Tonight we head up. Summit Rotation. After 10 basecamp days."

He was accompanied by a Nepalese climber and guide, Nawang Sherpa, whose fate remains unknown. Search teams have been deployed to the mountain.

PHOTO: A drone view shows Mount Everest along with Khumbu Glacier and base camp in Nepal, April 30, 2024. (Seven Summit Treks via Reuters)

MORE: Climate change is making climbing in the Himalayas more challenging, experts say

Kirui wrote that he had made extensive preparations for his summit: "Nawang Sherpa will ferry an emergency bottle of oxygen to be used; if I go lights out or if I go bananas. If I'm time barred, unfavourable weather, body limit reached: when I realize I'm no superman."

Kirui's death takes this week's toll on Everest to at least three, following the deaths of two Mongolian climbers who had gone missing on May 12.

British climber Daniel Paterson and his Nepali guide, Pas Tenji Sherpa, also remain missing after their expedition was hit on Tuesday by icefall on Everest's northern slope.

PHOTO: Tents of mountaineers are pictured at Everest base camp in the Mount Everest region of Solukhumbu district on April 18, 2024. (Purnima Shrestha/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Sherpa carries struggling climber thousands of feet down Mount Everest in rare high-altitude rescue

"Waiting patiently for a summit window," wrote Paterson -- a fitness trainer from Wakefield, U.K. -- in an Instagram post before going missing.

Standing at 8,848 meters, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. Approximately 800 people attempt to summit the mountain annually, and officials said over 450 climbers have already scaled the mountain from the Nepali side this climbing season. Over 100,000 people visit the Sagarmatha National Park in the Himalayas of northeast Nepal every year.

Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler were the first men to summit Everest without supplemental Oxygen, achieving the feat in May of 1978.

In 2022, James Kagambi became the first Kenyan to reach Everest's peak, reaching the summit at the age of 62.

"His indomitable will and passion for mountaineering will forever be an inspiration," the publication Everest Today wrote of Kirui. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this time of sorrow."

Kenyan mountaineer dies on Everest as he attempts to summit without supplemental oxygen originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A senior adviser to independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced she was leaving the campaign Wednesday, citing an increasingly hateful and divisive atmosphere, a blow to the third-party bid as it steps up ballot access efforts nationwide.

Angela Stanton King, the campaigns head of Black voter outreach, said Kennedys campaign no longer aligns with my values.

After much reflection, Ive decided to step away from the political theater, Stanton King wrote on social media. I will continue to advise RFK Jr. on key community issues.

Now, its time for me to pursue peace and fully dedicate myself to nonprofit work, supporting pregnant women and returning citizens, she continued. This new chapter excites me, as I focus on making a tangible difference where its needed most.

Stanton King was a key Kennedy adviser on the issue of abortion, expected to be a major focus in battleground states this November. Critics have repeatedly scrutinized Kennedy and running mate Nicole Shanahans conflicting comments on abortion rights.

Kennedy, who previously said there should be no federal restriction on abortion care access, changed his position earlier this month to support some restrictions after urging from Shanahan and Stanton King.

Shanahan said last month that she and Kennedy are dedicated to bringing to light solutions in the best interest of mother and baby.

Stanton King was a common fixture at Kennedy campaign events, personally introducing Shanahan at her first campaign event earlier this month.

Previously a supporter of former President Trump, Stanton King was herself pardoned by Trump in 2020 after serving six months of home confinement in 2007 for her role in a car theft scheme and was later a GOP House candidate in Atlanta.

During that race, Stanton King embraced the QAnon conspiracy theory and later falsely claimed that the 2020 election was stolen. She called for a military coup to oust President Biden in early 2021, a post she has since deleted.

CBS News reported Wednesday that Stanton Kings departure was due to her support for Trump, which she vehemently denied.

Reports that Ive been let go from the RFK campaign for ANY reason are 100% ABSOLUTELY FALSE, she wrote in a social media post.

The Hill has reached out to the Kennedy campaign for comment.

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 The Hill.
Kharkiv under Russian attack once again, local authorities say, 13 people injured after strikes on Derhachi

The aftermath of Russian strikes on Kharkiv on 23 May. Photo: Oleh Syniehubov

Russian forces are bombing the city of Kharkiv once again, after seven people have been killed in an attack earlier.

Source: Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov; Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration

Details: At 13:48, Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russian tactical aircraft had launched guided aerial bombs on Kharkiv Oblast.

"Kharkiv is under attack again. Be careful," Terekhov said.

Later Syniehubov reported that the Russians launched two attacks on the city of Kharkiv and Derhachi with guided aerial bombs. "Updated data shows that the enemy attack on Dergachy injured 13 people. Four victims have been hospitalised," he wrote.

Background: On 23 May, Russian forces launched about 15 strikes on the civilian infrastructure of the city of Kharkiv and Kharkiv Oblast with S-300 or S-400 missiles, in particular hitting a publishing house in the city.

The attack on Kharkiv has claimed the lives of 7 people and left 16 more injured.

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KABUL, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The national examination committee of Afghanistan's caretaker government announced on Thursday the country's college entrance test will start on June 6, the state-run Bakhtar news agency reported.

Quoting Sheikh Abdul Baqi Haqqani, the committee chief, Bakhtar reported that the Kankur or the college entrance test would be held in five phases with the first phase scheduled for June 6 in 16 out of the country's 34 provinces.

The second phase of the test covering the national capital city of Kabul and its districts is scheduled for June 21 and 22, Bakhtar said.

The announcement was made amid a ban on girls' education from above Grade 7. Authorities did not reveal the number of applicants attending the nationwide test, nor hinted at girls' participation in the test this year.

Bakhtar added that the committee has tested 170,000 persons for governmental work, of whom 120,000 have passed and been appointed to several entities over the past year. 
(Getty Images)

By Cooper Johnson, Diya Gupta, Macie Simmons, Marianne Jayaraj and Meagan Fay

In 1954, ruling on the case of Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court asserted that education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments.

While this case dealt with racial segregation in schools, it upheld the notion that all children should have the opportunity to pursue an education  on all equal terms. Over the past 70 years, the nature of education has changed, with college degrees now required to pursue many careers. Across the nation, and in many of Virginias public schools, there is a lack of adequate college counseling and preparatory resources. If public education is a function of state and local governments, ensuring access to adequate college counseling and preparatory resources should be, as well. The state of Virginia should mandate that each high school maintains a ratio of 250:1 college counselors to students. The current ratio for students to counselors in Virginia is 318:1, but this fails to account for college specific counselors.

At Charlottesville High School, where 43% of students go on to attend a 4-year college, the student-to-college-counselor ratio is 1212:1. In stark contrast, more than 64% of graduating seniors at the nearby, wealthier public high school, Western Albemarle  where the student-to-college-counselor ratio is 177:1, according to school administrators  will attend a 4-year college. This shows the direct correlation between an increase in college counseling services and college matriculation and readiness rates. Of course, this disparity is tied to many external factors, from students socio-economic situation to their home lives. However, one factor the state can control is the amount of college counseling and preparation students receive in school.

Since affirmative action policies were overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States in 2023, competition has increased and magnified the inaccessibility of the college admissions process for some students. This has placed greater barriers and pressures on low-income students as they navigate the intricate process and underscores the urgent need for better-resourced college counselors.

While funding something like this may seem far-fetched, it is plausible. Virginia legislators considered a bill mandating that every public school must have a 250:1 ratio of students to general counselors. The measure was continued until 2025 but made us wonder: Why not increase the requirement towards college-specific counselors? While general counselors provide necessary mental health and emotional support, sometimes you dont need a hug; you need to know when to register for the SAT.

If states are not willing to take the necessary steps to bridge the gap in college counseling, education  and subsequently, income  disparities will only continue to grow. If equitable college counseling becomes a reality, what would Virginia look like 70 years from now? How would our communities be transformed if more students have the chance to attend college? By informing all students of their options beyond high school, low-income communities are bound to be transformed and better equipped to escape the cycle of poverty.

With job standards intensifying, the baseline of education for most higher-paying jobs has shifted to college-educated employees. In 1968, a highs chool diploma was the highest requirement for 68% of jobs. It is estimated by 2031 that 72% of jobs will require a college degree or some post-secondary training. The job market looks very different for students exiting high school today than it did for their parents. This has dramatically affected low-income populations, who do not have consistent access to education. The cyclical nature of low education rates has proven to consistently lead to an increase in mental health issues, lower incomes, and decreased job security. Coupled with the increased demand for a college education, this leads to little to no opportunity for upward mobility.

In the long term, lack of access to education leads to income differences and the continued subjugation of low-income groups to poverty, therefore shaping the economy of the surrounding space. Now, more than ever, a college degree is a powerful tool for success, which starts with the foundational support college counselors provide.

Cooper Johnson, Diya Gupta, Macie Simmons, Marianne Jayaraj and Meagan Fay are all undergraduate students at the University of Virginia and participants in the UVA Catalyst Program.

The post The kids arent alright: The significance of college counselors and how Virginia falls short appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
What to know about air turbulence before your next flight

Customers may need to brace themselves for increased air turbulence while flying as severe storms and stronger jet streams driven by climate change could make bumpy rides more frequent.

A Singapore-bound flight was forced to divert Monday after hitting severe turbulence over the Andaman Sea, causing dozens of injuries and one death while in flight. The recent incident has sparked questions over whether more severe turbulence can be expected if jet streams grow stronger.

Here is what to know about how climate change and severe weather could impact your flight.

What is turbulence, and what causes it?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines turbulence as air movement created by atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts or thunderstorms.

There is also clear air turbulence, which the National Weather Service describes as occurring at about 15,000 feet when there are no cumuliform clouds, a common type of clouds typically resembling cotton balls that includes both fair-weather varieties and thunderstorms.

The National Weather Service identifies four kinds of turbulence: light, moderate, severe and extreme. Light and moderate turbulence can cause passengers to feel strained against their seat belts, and some unsecured objects may move around. Severe and extreme turbulence can cause passengers to be forced violently against their seatbelts.

Larry Cornman, a project scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, said turbulence is the natural state of the atmosphere, adding that people typically do not notice it because the planes theyre on are so large.

Now, there are certain conditions under which there is enough motion and energy in the atmosphere to move an aircraft around or in case like we saw the other day, move it quite a bit, he said in an interview.

What caused the turbulence on the Singapore Airlines flight?

Its still not clear what kind of turbulence may have impacted the Singapore Airlines flight as officials begin to investigate the incident.

Jonathan Porter, a senior vice president and chief meteorologist at AccuWeather, said his initial analysis into the flight suggests an explosive thunderstorm could have brought on the severe turbulence.

We did review high resolution satellite imagery. And the thunderstorms that were developing in this area were notably intensifying very quickly, and it does look like one of those situations where there could be these updrafts that are occurring and very little awareness of just how fast its developing, he said in an interview.

It shows once again, how dangerous thunderstorms can be for aviation, he added.

He said that while the plane was flying at an altitude of about 37,000 feet, a thunderstorm appeared to be developing quickly below it. Because the aircraft was flying at such a high altitude, the pilots were likely unable to detect the storm using their on-board radar, he said.

Porter said the thunderstorm could cause an updraft of air in the atmosphere that can cause turbulence.

And that air sometimes is rapidly rising at more than 100 miles per hour in that updraft, and so that gives the pilot very little time, very little to no time to react. And it can result in these sudden turbulence issues, he said.

Cornman said the incident took place in seconds, describing it as a very narrow event.

You put all that energy in a very short, small piece of space and time, that energy is going somewhere and its going into the wind, and it moves the aircraft dramatically, he said.

Does climate change affect turbulence?

Some research has shown clear-air turbulence may be on the rise due to climate change.

Research from the University of Reading last year found that severe in-air turbulence increased 55 percent between 1979 and 2020. The increase in turbulence is consistent with the effects of climate change, the researchers found.

Following a decade of research showing that climate change will increase clear-air turbulence in the future, we now have evidence suggesting that the increase has already begun, said Paul Williams, the co-author of the study, at the time.

Porter said the clear-air turbulence is caused by jet stream winds, which can be flowing faster, as the atmosphere warms.

Jet streams are bands of strong winds in the upper atmosphere. Some research suggests that they are strengthening as the climate changes, which can make flights faster, but also subject to more potential turbulence.

Theres more of a temperature gradient established in the atmosphere. And that can result in greater jet stream winds which can lead to greater incidence of clear air turbulence, Porter added.

How can turbulence be predicted?

Jennifer Stroozas, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Services Aviation Weather Center, said the center focuses on making weather forecasts of the entire atmosphere that pilots can use to navigate around severe weather and turbulence.

So if we know the jet stream is sitting at a certain altitude in the sky, well give that specific information in either a forecast or an advisory or a warning because sometimes thats useful information of where they can find a smoother ride, she said in an interview.

The Aviation Weather Center provides warnings and forecasts for potential hazardous weather for aircraft. Stroozas noted that measuring turbulence can be a little bit subjective because larger airplanes are affected differently than smaller airplanes.

She said the center relies on pilot reports, as well as modeling of the atmosphere and the conditions, to measure turbulence. She also noted that the center keeps an eye on thunderstorms and other potential weather hazards that can impact aviation.

How can you stay safe on flights?

Deaths and severe injuries from turbulence on flights remain rare. The FAA reported 163 total turbulence-related severe injuries between 2009 and 2022, according to its data.

The FAA urges everyone to keep their seat belts fastened while in-flight to prevent turbulence-related injuries. The Association of Flight Attendants also issued a statement following the Singapore Airlines incident to urge passengers to heed instructions of the crew.

As our climate changes, severe and clear air turbulence instances are on the rise. Always follow crew instructions and wear your seatbelt whenever seated. It is a matter of life and death, the organization said.

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 The Hill.
Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was arrested in March 2023 and has since appeared in court but has not been put on trial - NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images

Russia has denied a claim by Donald Trump that he will use his relationship with Vladimir Putin to free Evan Gershkovich, a reporter who has been detained on spying charges.

Mr Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Thursday that Mr Gershkovich, who works for the Wall Street Journal, would be freed immediately after the US election on Nov 5 if he wins.

Evan Gershkovich, the reporter from The Wall Street Journal, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the election, but definitely before I assume office. He will be home safe and with his family, Mr Trump said.

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and we will be paying nothing!

Mr Gershkovich was arrested in Russia in March last year on spying charges that he, his paper and the Biden administration have all strongly denied.

He has spent more than a year in a Moscow prison, with no date set for a trial.

However, the Kremlin denied that Mr Trump had agreed any behind-closed-doors deal with Putin for Mr Gershkovichs release.

Asked about the post, Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, said Putin has naturally not had contacts with Donald Trump.

Mr Peskov reiterated previous Kremlin statements that contacts with Washington regarding any exchange of prisoners must be conducted in complete silence and absolutely discreetly. This is the only way they can be effective.

Putin said in February that it might be possible to free the reporter in exchange for Vadim Krasikov, a Russian serving a life sentence in Germany for murder.

Asked about Mr Trumps claim, his campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said: There is only one person who can negotiate the safe return of Mr Gershkovich back to his family - President Trump.

He did not respond to questions about contact that Mr Trump has had with the Russian president.

The Biden campaign said the release of Mr Gershkovich remained an urgent priority, and it accused Mr Trump of using wrongfully imprisoned Americans as political props.

Donald Trump doesnt give a damn about the innocent Americans unjustly imprisoned by Vladimir Putin, TJ Ducklo, a Biden campaign adviser, said in an email.

Trump has called journalists enemies of the people and pledged to imprison reporters whose coverage he doesnt like  not all that dissimilar to whats happening right now to Evan Gershkovich in Russia.

Mr Gershkovich was arrested in March 2023 by the FSB, Russias federal intelligence agency, for obtaining information on a Russian defence enterprise.

The Kremlin said he had been caught red-handed but did not give any evidence for his alleged crime. He has since appeared in court but has not been put on trial.

The Wall Street Journal has launched a worldwide campaign for his release.

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Kuleba calls for additional Patriots in wake of 'heinous attack' on Kharkiv

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on May 23 again urged Kyiv's partners to provide additional Patriot air defense systems after Russia launched a deadly missile attack against Kharkiv Oblast.

Russian forces launched strikes targeting both Kharkiv and other settlements in the region, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens.

"This heinous attack must remind everyone around the world that Ukraine still urgently needs seven 'Patriot' systems," Kuleba said on X, thanking Germany for pledging an additional system last month.

"But getting six more as soon as possible remains critical not only for Ukraines survival but for peace in Europe.

"Everyone should clearly realize what is at stake. Every day of delay and debate not only costs lives but also brings the possibility of a larger war in Europe closer."

Germany took the lead in mobilizing air defense support for Kyiv, launching an initiative to secure additional anti-aircraft batteries that could be shipped to Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in Kyiv on May 21 that the initiative had already collected "almost a billion euros" as several allies provided financial contributions.

Partners are largely unwilling to commit to sending full systems, however, Politico reported, citing two undisclosed sources.

While Ukraine has been calling mainly for Patriots, the initiative also covers other systems, like SAMP/T, NASAMS, Hawk, IRIS-T, or S-300. The Italian media reported earlier in May that Rome plans to send an additional SAMP/T system to Ukraine in the next aid package, but no announcement has been made so far.

Nico Lange, a former chief of staff at Germany's Defense Ministry and a fellow at the think tank CEPA, told Politico that the sense of urgency in Europe "has not increased, there's more a sense of relief now that the Americans are delivering again."

Bloomberg reported last week that Washington is considering sending another Patriot system to Ukraine.

Ukraine currently operates at least three Patriots, with the systems and accompanying equipment provided by the U.S., Germany, and the Netherlands.

Read also: Russian attack on Kharkiv kills 7, injures 17

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Kumbaya is the word, as Maryland Democrats make peace after primary

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and other Democrats hoist their hands in the air at a May 23, 2024, unity breakfast at Martin's Crosswinds in Greenbelt. Photo by William J. Ford.

Shake hands, hug, kiss and be friends again.

Thats what members of the Maryland Democratic Party did Thursday morning at a unity breakfast nine days after the primary election that ended a heated contest between Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-6th) for the partys nomination for U.S. Senate.

Trone, who lost that race to Alsobrooks, walked to the stage as kumbaya blared through the speakers Thursday.

Soak it in. Kumbaya, he said to his fellow Democrats at Martins Crosswinds in Greenbelt, the same venue where Alsobrooks held her election night watch party.

Although part of Thursdays mood was festive as some sipped coffee, water or juice and nibbled pastries, messages from Trone and other speakers centered on the Republican nominee, former Gov. Larry Hogan, and the need for Democrats to retain control of the Senate.

U.S. Rep. David Trone gives remarks May 23, 2024, during a Maryland Democratic Party unity breakfast at Martins Crosswinds in Greenbelt. Photo by William J. Ford.

We must unite behind County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. Angela has my full endorsement, Trone said to cheers from the crowd. Its easy to cheer, but its hard to work. The difference of Angela Alsobrooks and Larry Hogan is night and day.

During the nearly 90-minute event, speakers noted that in her nearly eight years as Prince Georges County states attorney, Alsobrooks oversaw a 50% decline in violent crime, matching a national trend. Hogan released a 10-point paper on public safety Wednesday, but Gov. Wes Moore (D) noted that during Hogans eight years as governor, homicides in Baltimore rose to more than 300 every year.

Trone and other Democrats said Thursday that Alsobrooks will fight for women and abortion rights, while repeatedly pointing to Hogans 2022 veto of a measure that would have expanded abortion access in the state. When the legislature overrode his veto, Hogan withheld state funding that would have been used to train nonphysicians to perform abortions  funding that Moore released on his first day in office in 2023.

Hogan said on WBAL Radio Wednesday that he would work to codify protections in Roe v. Wade (which the U.S. Supreme Court overturned in June 2022) that had guaranteed the right to an abortion up to 26 weeks.

But Democrats dont believe him.

Moore used a line from author James Baldwin to accentuate the point.

Now the old governors saying hes pro choice, Moore said. James, please tell us one more time: I cannot believe what you say because I see what you do.

Moore continued: Angela isnt flip-flopping on issues to win a vote. Shes been consistent throughout her entire career. Angela isnt studying polls to see how she should talk about reproductive rights because she says what she believes in her heart. Lets not forget the people of Maryland recruited Angela Alsobrooks to run for Senate. (U.S. Senate Minority Leader) Mitch McConnell recruited Larry Hogan.

Alsobrooks, who seeks to become the first Black woman elected to represent Maryland in the Senate, also had a few words for Hogan and Republicans in Congress, especially about protecting womens health care.

Weve already heard from Larry Hogan, who said he understands how emotional this issue is for the ladies. We tried to tell Larry Hogan we dont need any help with our emotions, none whatsoever, she said. Furthermore, we need him and all of these politicians to get out of the examination room.

A Hogan campaign spokesperson did not respond to messages seeking comment on the Demorcrats rally Thursday.

Minutes before the breakfast ended, a video on the social platform X appeared from an account called Hogan Rapid Response, paid for by Hogan for Maryland, which is new to the platform this month. It asked if the Democratic Party played a video of several Democratic leaders praising Hogan.

Part of the Democratic Partys work is to convince some undecided Democrats and unaffiliated voters, particularly those who voted for Trone, not to choose Hogan.

Thats not a problem for Cheryl Bost, president for the Maryland State Education Association, who had endorsed Trone in the primary. When Hogan was in office, he called the teachers union thugs.

Our members dont forget, said Bost, who added that Hogan vetoed the Blueprint for Marylands Future education reform plan four years ago.

U.S. Rep. David Trone, left, and Cheryl Bost greet each other May 23, 2024, at Maryland Democratic Party unity breakfast at Martins Crosswinds in Greenbelt. Photo by William J. Ford.

Meanwhile, Democratic leaders plan to travel across the state to encourage voters not only to support Alsobrooks in the general election, but also to support Democrats running for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives:

Blane H. Miller III will face Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st), the lone Republican in the states federal delegation.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. will face Republican Kimberly Klacik, a local conservative radio host and MAGA personality for the open 2nd district seat.

Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel) will face Republican businessman and attorney Rob Steinberger to represent the 3rd district.

April McClain Delaney will go against former state Del. Neil Parrot (R). The winner would replace Trone to represent the 6th district.

 This story was updated on Sunday, May 26, to correct the spelling of 1st District Democratic nominee Blane Miller IIIs name in the 22nd graf.

The post Kumbaya is the word, as Maryland Democrats make peace after primary appeared first on Maryland Matters.
As early afternoon set in, a large line at the Texas GOP convention stretched from the middle of the exhibit floor all the way to the lobby of San Antonios Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

But it wasnt for a chance to shake hands with the head of the party, or a rock-star congressman ... or even a former president.

This crowd wanted to meet Kyle Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse, who has become an icon among Republicans and gun rights advocates, held a meet-and-greet Thursday hosted by his employer, Texas Gun Rights. He became nationally known after he shot two people during chaotic protests in Wisconsin during the summer of 2020. Rittenhouse was ultimately acquitted on homicide charges.

Among some of the first in line were Chris Haltom and his son, Joel Haltom, from Colleyville.

Chris Haltom said it was the first time they got to meet Rittenhouse. They waited an hour in line but said it was worth it.

Well, for me it felt great, Joel Haltom said of meeting Rittenhouse.

His father agreed. It was great, yeah. Very nice guy.

Both got a signed copy of Rittenhouses book, Acquitted.

Rittenhouse complimented Joels shirt, which parodied the The Brady Bunch, swapping out the grid of photos with a Shady Bunch of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, President Joe Biden, former President Barrack Obama, the Clintons, Anthony Fauci, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris.

The states GOP convention began Monday and runs through Saturday, where party members from across the state gather to elect leadership and set priorities for the next two years.
LaGRANGE, Ga. (WRBL)  The family of Loretta Cox from LaGrange, GA tells WRBL she should be back on American soil Friday night. Thanks to donors they secured enough money to fly her back to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We are told she is heavily sedated, the family will keep us updated on her progress. The family says Cox became critically ill during a cruise with her husband on Tuesdaywhen fluid built up in her lungs, leaving her unable to breathe. The cruise ship she was on had to make an emergency stop in the Dominican Republic to get her medical attention.

Aldes Monroe, Coxs daughter, made a heartfelt appeal this week on social media, explaining the dire situation and the financial hurdles they face. My mom Loretta Cox is on life support at a hospital in the Dominican Republic. They have charged us $15,000 cash upfront to admit her and $4,000 cash a day just to keep her stable, but they dont have the tools to treat her. We need to get her to US soil. AirEvac International needs $23,287.50 upfront to airlift her and bring her to Ft Lauderdale! Please give your best! Monroe wrote.

WRBL will keep you updated on her condition.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Photo illustration by Getty Images.

Lake County Commissioners said they are continuing to oversee law enforcement on the Flathead Indian Reservation after the Governors Office said their withdrawal from handling federal crimes was invalid.

Were going to continue to exercise jurisdiction, but were not giving our consent to do it, said Commissioner Gale Decker. Were doing this under protest.

Decker said Wednesday following a meeting with Gov. Greg Gianforte earlier this week the county will likely continue handling law enforcement on the reservation for the next several years to give time for a smooth transition to the federal government assuming jurisdiction for federal crimes, like on other Montana reservations. Federal officials say the transition will depend on approval from the Department of Interior.

The state assumed criminal jurisdiction over the Flathead Reservation in 1963 under an agreement passed by Congress called Public Law 280, or PL-280. The county has provided law enforcement through the terms of this agreement for years but moved to withdraw due to cost, an estimated $4 million per year.

The county officially withdrew from the agreement as of Monday, but in a letter last week Gianfortes counsel said the county did not get the necessary paperwork to withdraw, so the governor was not in a position to issue a proclamation saying as much.

During the meeting, the governor reiterated if county leadership wanted to withdraw from enforcing PL 280, they would need to submit the correct documentation to do so, a spokesperson for Gianfortes office, Kaitlin Price, said in an email.

The county still disagrees, saying their stance is theyve turned in the necessary documents. But commissioners are hopeful after their meeting with Gianforte Tuesday they will get some of the funding theyve asked for during the next legislative session. Overall, commissioners believe progress is being made.

The meeting was not included in the governors public schedule Tuesday and was closed to the public, citing ongoing litigation. The county this year appealed a district court decision siding with the state on who is financially responsible for enforcing PL-280 to the Montana Supreme Court.

Price said the discussion Tuesday centered largely around what was in Gianfortes letter that the governor is open to supporting legislation in the upcoming legislative session to provide limited and temporary funding to Lake County for the costs of implementing the agreement. The letter said the funding would be limited to three years.

This would allow time for a full transition to a stakeholder-driven solution determined by Lake County, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the federal government, and other counties and cities within the Flathead Reservation, Price said Wednesday.

This would be at least the third session commissioners would be requesting the state to fund PL-280, with the legislature allocating $1 to the county in the 2021 session and the governors office vetoing the legislation from 2023, saying the language in the bill didnt have appropriate guardrails for how the funding could be used.

Commissioners said they have to take Gianforte for his word he will support legislation in the 2025 session. Decker said covering hard costs of executing the agreement up to $500,000 was on the table right now, and there might be an appetite for more funding from legislators.

Decker said the county is going to start tracking the hard costs of funding PL-280, like detention costs, medication and attorneys assigned to tribal felonies, to have more concrete numbers to point to for funding needs.

Decker says he expects the county will be enforcing PL-280 for the next several years as the state works to withdraw from the agreement themselves and transition jurisdiction over to the federal government.

The state is of the opinion that they can retrocede in two to three years, and they want to see Public Law 280 stay in place until they retrocede and then the federal government comes in, Decker said.

The federal government told commissioners theyre not in line to assume jurisdiction right now because the states still in line to assume that jurisdiction, Decker said.

So until the state recedes, were not going to get assistance here from (the Bureau of Indian Affairs), he said. And now the state has said, Were not even going to try to assume jurisdiction.

U.S. Attorney for Montana Jesse Laslovich said Thursday his office is keeping track of whats happening between Lake County and the governors office, and if an agreement is reached between both parties that involves possible retrocession in three years, we will work diligently with our federal, state, tribal, and local partners to ensure the transition is a smooth one.

But retrocession will not occur without approval by the United States Department of Interior, Laslovich said. In the meantime, we remain committed to our trust responsibility to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and to ensuring the publics safety.

Decker said the situation on the ground is fluid and conversations with the Governors Office are likely to continue. He said conversations around jurisdiction have changed rather quickly

Yet overall, nothing seems to change, Decker said.

When you look at the big picture of it anyway to say Well, nothings changed since four or five years ago, Decker said. But there is progress being made.

The post Lake County to continue law enforcement on Flathead Reservation under protest appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Arizona GOP Senate candidate Kari Lakes lead over her Republican primary challenger is narrowing, according to a poll released Thursday by Noble Predictive Insights (NPI).

Lake has about 46 percent support among Arizona Republicans, while primary rival Mark Lamb has about 21 percent support, according to the poll. About a quarter of voters are undecided in the primary.

The figure is a drop from a similar poll in February, which found the former gubernatorial candidate with 54 percent backing from Republican voters. The number of undecided voters has also risen 8 points since the February poll, now standing at 25 percent.

Something we dont typically see is an increase in undecided voters this close to primary election day, NPI founder Mike Noble said in a statement. While Lake remains the frontrunner, her diminishing lead and the growing number of undecided voters indicate a volatile race.

Lakes favorability struggled in specific demographics that could be key in a general election race against Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), the poll found. Only about a third of both women and independents have a favorable view of Lake, as well as about 40 percent of suburban voters and just under half of voters over 65.

In a hypothetical general election match-up with Gallego, Lake trails by 10 points, according to the poll. The Phoenix congressman has about 46 percent support among the general electorate to Lakes 36 percent support.

The result backs up other similar polls that have found Gallego with an edge in the race, expected to be one of the closest nationally as Democrats hope to keep their razor-thin Senate majority.

Ruben Gallegos lead in the general election, especially among Independents, highlights the challenges Lake would face in a broader contest, Noble said. Democrats are more unified than Republicans at this stage, which gives Gallego an advantage.

Gallego holds a 6.9 percent lead over Lake in The Hill/Decision Desk HQ average of polls in the state.

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 The Hill.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chairs a symposium attended by representatives from businesses and academia and delivers an important speech in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, May 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

JINAN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday stressed the need to deepen reform further across the board with efforts centering on advancing Chinese modernization.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while chairing a symposium in Jinan, Shandong Province, attended by representatives from businesses and academia.

"Reform is the driving force for development," Xi said, noting that to deepen reform further on all fronts, efforts should be focused on the overarching goals of improving and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, and modernizing China's governance system and capacity.

He added that China should take resolute steps to remove the ideological and institutional barriers hindering the advancement of Chinese modernization, and double down on its efforts to resolve deep-seated institutional challenges and structural issues.

Xi's trip to Shandong is the first local inspection he has made since the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau held a meeting on April 30.

It was decided at the meeting that the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee will be held in Beijing in July, and that the session will primarily examine issues related to further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization.

Nine representatives including entrepreneurs from state-owned, private and foreign-funded enterprises spoke at the symposium to put forward opinions and suggestions on deepening reform across the board, covering such issues as developing venture capital investment, upgrades of traditional industries, improving the corporate governance of private enterprises and optimizing the business environment for foreign enterprises.

It is the CPC's consistent approach and fine tradition to conduct in-depth research and extensively solicit opinions from various parties before making major decisions and formulating important documents, Xi said, adding that relevant departments should carefully study and absorb opinions and suggestions for further deepening reform in an all-round way that were brought up during the symposium.

China should adhere to and develop its basic economic system and work to build a high-level socialist market economy system, Xi said.

Economic system reform should start from meeting realistic needs and tackling the most urgent matters, and should advance theoretical and institutional innovation in the process of solving practical problems, he added.

"The Chinese people's aspiration for a better life is the goal we have been striving for, and the ultimate purpose of advancing reform and promoting development is to improve the livelihood of the people," Xi said.

He emphasized the need to identify the key areas of reform and achieve breakthroughs based on the pressing concerns and aspirations of the general public, including employment, income growth, education, healthcare, housing, government services, childcare, elderly care, personal safety, and property security.

Xi stressed that no matter how and where reform goes, certain "fundmental things" must not be compromised, including upholding the overall leadership of the Party, adhering to Marxism, sticking to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and upholding the people's democratic dictatorship.

"At the same time, we must dare to innovate and do a good job in reforming what should be and could be reformed, and persist in our efforts once we find the right path," Xi said.

Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, who are also members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the symposium. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chairs a symposium attended by representatives from businesses and academia and delivers an important speech in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, May 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chairs a symposium attended by representatives from businesses and academia and delivers an important speech in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, May 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, communicates with representatives from businesses and academia attending a symposium in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, May 23, 2024. Xi chaired the symposium and delivered an important speech here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Lake Mead is preparing for a wave of visitors this Memorial Day weekend. Its one of the busiest weekends on the water, which means a lot of work for those protecting the park.

The park ranks among the deadliest national parks in the country.

In 2023 we had 29 fatalities, 7 of those were drownings so water safety is first and foremost on our minds, Chief Ranger Trouper Snow of the National Park Service explained.

During the Memorial Day weekend, the lake is getting assistance from area law enforcement along with the Coast Guard Auxiliary to help boaters stay safe on the water.

Lake Mead is preparing for a wave of visitors this Memorial Day weekend. Its one of the busiest weekends out on the water, which means lots of work for those protecting this park. (KLAS)

One of their many resources in addition to other agencies is their fire boat Brown with a water cannon that can shoot 1,500 gallons of water a minute at a fire on the lake. The boat is named after Lake Mead ranger Thomas Kenneth Brown who died in a training accident in 1973.

While boat fires are not a common occurrence they can be very dangerous. They only get a few boat fires a year on Lake Mead.

Another factor affecting boaters is water levels which are expected to remain stable this year according to the Bureau of Reclamation. This means all boat launches are expected to be open this weekend and throughout the year.

Lake Mead is preparing for a wave of visitors this Memorial Day weekend. Its one of the busiest weekends on the water, which means lots of work for those protecting this park. (KLAS)

Chief of Staff at Lake Mead Recreation Area Christa Johnston said knowing current conditions is critical before you get on the water.

The weather can often change out on the lake unpredictably and very quickly. We have high winds, and we do get white caps out here, she said.

If you get into trouble, you wont have a lot of time, said Coast Guard Auxiliary Commander Bob Cromley, who helps conduct vessel exams.

We need to get off this boat or whatever the situation is. 20 seconds is the given time to get that life jacket on, he explained.

He and his team help educate the public on water safety.

Those going out on the water, are required to have one life jacket for each person on the boat. At Lake Mead, you must have your boat registered with the state, and all watercraft are required to display an Aquatic Invasive Species decal to help prevent the spread of quagga and zebra mussels through Nevada waterways.

More information on Lake Mead requirements and current conditions can be found by CLICKING HERE.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Prayer and songs filled the room at the West Lansing Church of Christ as part of a vigil to honor and remember the lives of the vigil of 30-year-old Johnathan Esch and 42-year-old Daniel Harris. The men were killed in a crash Saturday evening in Watertown Township.

The men were struck and killed after police said a woman hit them with her car and 14 other people- walking on a road. The victims range in age from 61 years old to the youngest victims, only 2 years old.

Members of the media were asked to give those making their way inside space to privately honor and remember the families impacted by the crash Saturday evening.

Inside Wednesdays prayer service to remember those killed over the weekend in a deadly hit-and-run crash in Watertown Twp. Courtesy Photo: Catrina Kennedy.

Inside Wednesdays prayer service to remember those killed over the weekend in a deadly hit-and-run crash in Watertown Twp. Courtesy Photo: Catrina Kennedy.

Inside Wednesdays prayer service to remember those killed over the weekend in a deadly hit-and-run crash in Watertown Twp. Courtesy Photo: Catrina Kennedy.

Inside Wednesdays prayer service to remember those killed over the weekend in a deadly hit-and-run crash in Watertown Twp. Courtesy Photo: Catrina Kennedy.

But photos shared with 6 News show rows of people filling up the chairs inside. Esch was a firefighter with Lansing township, tonight, emergency services social media accounts are paying tribute, as well.

Organizers said scripture was read in between prayers and notes of encouragement were left on poster board to be given to the families. Preaching Minister Gary Kennedy  was glad he could open up the church Wednesday night to offer a refuge for a community in grief.

We just want families to know, our community to know that we care about people, god loves people, and we do too, and so we want to be there for them in the most intimate way we possibly can, and that is to be praying for them, and caring about them, and helping them in whatever way we possibly can, he said.

Firefighter/Paramedic Johnathan Allen Esch. Courtesy Photo Lansing Township Fire Department.

The photos inside are a glimpse of a community coming together in song and heart.

We want family members to know that there are people who care about them from all over, said Kennedy.

Monetary donations for the families were also collected during the service. Online donations can be made here.

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 WLNS 6 News.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Va. (WJHL)  The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is asking motorists to be alert in the Brumley Gap Road/John Douglas Wayside area of Washington County due to a large boulder blocking the road.

Photo: VDOT

As of 9:25 a.m., the right lane on Route 19 northbound is closed, according to VDOTs 511 map. The left northbound lane is open to traffic.

Police respond after gun discharged at Bristol Regional Medical Center, no threat to public

Heavy rain attributed to the 10-foot by 10-foot by 25-foot boulder coming loose, VDOT stated.

Motorists are asked to be alert to signs and message boards in the area while crews work to remove debris.

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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Latest Trump hush-money battle: how to instruct jurors on the coverup of a coverup and crimes within crimes

Testimony in Donald Trump's Manhattan hush-money trial concluded Tuesday.

The parties then argued over how the judge would instruct the jury on the law.

The judge said he wanted it to be "as easy as possible," but the jury charge is still set to be complex.

Lawyers in the Donald Trump hush-money trial spent Tuesday afternoon in a spirited battle over this question: What will the judge tell jurors right before they begin their deliberations next week?

The prosecution and defense fought for three hours over this, the so-called "jury charge," splitting hairs over what language New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan would use to instruct the seven-man, five-woman jury on the law.

The level of skill and fervor in these arguments was no surprise.

The jury charge is so important, so sacrosanct, that Merchan will order the doors to his courtroom sealed for its duration, with no one in the well or audience allowed to enter or leave.

He's then expected to tell jurors something like this:



"Under our law, a person is guilty of falsifying business records in the first degree when, with intent to defraud that includes an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof, that person makes or causes a false entry in the business records of an enterprise."

The standard jury charge for falsifying business records in the first degree. NYCourts.gov

These are the opening paragraphs to the New York state court system's jury-charge guidelines for falsifying business records in the first degree.

It's the basic starting template for any New York judge who needs to charge a jury on what's known in legal shorthand as first-degree falsifying.

Trump has been charged with 34 counts of this one felony. That's the entirety of his indictment. There's one count for each of 34 invoices, checks, and Trump Organization ledger entries  all of the records that prosecutors allege Trump "caused" to be falsified throughout 2017, his first year in office.

Prosecutors for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg allege that each falsified invoice, check, and ledger entry counts as a felony because it concealed an underlying crime. (They say the underlying crime is a violation of state election law  more about that in a bit.)

How does the prosecution allege they were falsified?

Bragg says each of the 34 records disguised the true nature of a year's worth of payments to Trump's "fixer"-turned-foe, Michael Cohen, by making them look like monthly legal retainer fees.

In reality, Bragg alleges, Trump wasn't paying Cohen a monthly retainer at all  he was instead concealing an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election.

Prosecutors allege that rather than compensating Cohen for legal work  Cohen testified he did only a few hours of work for Trump in all of 2017  the payments secretly reimbursed Cohen in monthly installments for a campaign-law-violating $130,000 hush-money payment to the porn star Stormy Daniels.

Donald Trump, his former lawyer Michael Cohen, and Stormy Daniels. Getty/AP/SNL

How do they decide?

OK, it's a little tricky.

Let's say business records were indeed falsified to hide hush money. That's the coverup of a coverup. And let's say that the hush-money payment  which silenced Daniels just 11 days before the 2016 election  was itself illegal. That's a crime within a crime.

Still, it's not terribly tricky, right?

Trump faces 34 counts of only a single charge, first-degree falsifying, for which the standard charging language barely fills two pages.

And for each count, the jury must consider just two things: whether Trump caused the record to be falsified and whether he did so to hide his intent to commit "another crime."

If prosecutors meet their burden to prove both tiers  falsification and intent to conceal another crime  beyond a reasonable doubt, then Trump is guilty. If they don't, then Trump is not guilty.

Prosecutors don't even have to prove that "another crime" was actually committed. They just have to prove that Trump intended to commit another crime and then falsified records to hide his tracks.

The jury charge for this single felony should be easy, right? Clear-cut and beyond dispute?



Wrong.

Yes, first-degree falsifying is the only law in Trump's indictment.

But it's not the only law jurors must understand and weigh when they begin deliberations as early as Wednesday.

Prosecutors allege that Trump falsified the hush-money reimbursements in order to conceal his intent to commit an obscure New York election-conspiracy law.

This is what they mean by Trump's "intent to commit another crime." Under the prosecution theory, this other crime is breaking election law section 17-152, which makes it a misdemeanor to conspire to influence an election "by unlawful means."

Manhattan prosecutors say violating this state election law makes Donald Trump a felon. NY State Election Law

A crime within a crime within a crime

So you see, to win a conviction, prosecutors must demonstrate three layers of unlawfulness involving at least three separate laws.

They're alleging Trump committed a crime (under the Federal Elections Campaign Act) within a crime (under the state election-conspiracy law) within a crime (under the first-degree falsifying charge he's actually indicted on).

It's a Russian nesting doll of wrongdoing, though only the outermost doll, first-degree falsifying, needs to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Prosecutors also plan to give jurors two alternatives to the FECA violation, the innermost of the three nesting dolls.

These alternatives are a violation of federal, state, and/or city tax laws (alleging that Cohen's hush-money reimbursements were unlawfully disguised as taxable income) and yet another records-falsification violation (alleging that Trump was responsible for bogus hush-money paperwork at the National Enquirer).

That means three layers of wrongdoing under a half-dozen potentially applicable laws, all with their own wording and definitions, much of which had to be argued over on Tuesday.

What is a "conspiracy"? What is "intent"? What is "accessorial liability"? Do those definitions differ, law to law?

And then there were broader, more-arcane questions, including this one:

Must jurors agree unanimously on the "unlawful means" at the center of the case?

Meaning, must all 12 jurors agree that, in causing Cohen to pay the hush money, Trump conspired to violate FECA campaign-contribution limits? Or can some jurors find that Trump conspired to violate tax law, while other jurors see the falsification of National Enquirer business records as the central offense?

In other words, do jurors need to be unanimous in deciding which of the three options, if any, is the central unlawfulness?

That brings us back to Tuesday's charge conference and why the sides fought for three hours as the defendant and many in the audience struggled to stay awake.

"This is, obviously, an extraordinarily important case," the defense lawyer Emil Bove told the judge, in arguing that jurors be instructed that they must unanimously decide on an underlying wrongdoing.

"The most critical point here is that the jury does not need to conclude unanimously what the specific unlawful means are," Matthew Colangelo, a prosecutor, argued back Tuesday, referring to "well-established New York law."

"So I think the key point here for this instruction," Colangelo added, "is to advise the jury that, yes, there has to be some unlawful means, and to alert them as to what those unlawful means are, but also advise them that they don't have to unanimously agree on each of the unlawful means."

"We think your honor has some discretion," countered Bove.

Merchan was not swayed.

"I think I understand what you're saying, what you mean when you're saying it's an important case," Merchan told Trump's lawyer. "What you're asking me to do is change the law, and I'm not going to do that."

Trump in court for opening statements in his Manhattan hush-money trial. Yuki Iwamura-Pool/Getty Images

Charging the jury is a tedious task

Tuesday's debate was granular stuff.

In general, Bove pushed for longer, more complex definitions of such terms as "contribution" and "unlawful means." This was in the apparent hope that the narrower the definitions, the less likely jurors would find that Trump's actions fell within their bounds.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, fought to keep the charge as simple as possible.

"As we discussed, we think the jury needs less, not more, on FECA instructions," Colangelo, the prosecutor, argued at one point on Tuesday.

"And we think the term 'for the purpose of influencing an election' is a pretty straightforward term that jurors can understand," Colangelo added.

In awarding the most "wins" to prosecutors, Merchan chose brevity over expansiveness.

"Some of the issues are confusing enough, I think," the judge said Tuesday. "We want to make it as easy as possible for the jury."

Merchan told prosecutors and Trump's lawyers that he'd give them the final draft of his instructions on Thursday.

He told jurors to expect his charge to last "at least an hour."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, as pictured September 26, 2023 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

Legislation that would have banned Missouri from seizing the Social Security benefits of foster children was on the precipice of passing during the final days of the legislative session, but died when GOP infighting caused the state Senate to adjourn early.

That means the state will continue to take millions of dollars in the next year in benefits and use the money to help pay for foster care.

Its more than disappointing, said state Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder, a Scott City Republican and one of the bills sponsors. It is a disservice to every taxpayer and voter in this state for our Senate to run the way that it is.

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The result of the practice is that kids who are orphaned or have disabilities are responsible for paying toward the cost of their care in state custody, while foster kids who are ineligible for those benefits pay nothing.

The legislation would have forbidden that, instead requiring the state to use the benefits for the childs unmet needs  not routine costs.

Rehder said she was expecting the bill to come up for a vote last Thursday, when the Senate suddenly descended into GOP infighting and adjourned for the day. When the Senate reconvened Friday, it was in session for only 10 minutes before going home for the year.

When we have bills that matter to peoples lives  to childrens lives  right there ready to be taken up and passed, and instead of doing that, the actual work that weve been sent there to do, we play games and fight and say, if this bill isnt gonna get done, nothings gonna get done. Its insane, Rehder said.

State Rep. Hannah Kelly, a Mountain View Republican and co-sponsor of the bill, said she heard from a foster child earlier this session who told her the bill would affect her personally as a recipient of survivors benefits.

She lost parents, which means the state was taking her money and will continue to take her money, Kelly said, because we couldnt get over ourselves and get past politics and pass a bill.

Lori Ross, founder and CEO of the nonprofit FosterAdopt Connect, which advocated for the legislation, said the bills demise means another year of the state taking money that could otherwise be a valuable safety net for kids.

By failing to make this change, Ross told The Independent, we are preventing our states most vulnerable children from accessing a critical means of support when they age out of the system and must navigate the world alone.

Its long been a common practice nationally to take foster kids benefits, but its come under increased scrutiny over the last few years. Several states, including Arizona, New Mexico and Oregon have halted the practice.

There were 1,426 foster kids receiving benefits in Missouri as of July 2023. The state spent over $9.3 million in seized benefits last fiscal year.

Versions of the bill won approval from both the House and Senate, passing through to the other chamber, so there were two possible vehicles to get the bill to the governors desk.

There was no clear opposition to the foster care benefits portion of the bills, though there was some opposition to an amendment tacked onto the version that cleared the Senate regarding child custody, designed to fix a bill passed last year.

The Senate version of the bill cleared a House committee, but was never brought up for debate in the House. Kelly said all I know is it got stopped before coming up for a vote.

Shes hopeful it will pass next year.

If youre an average kid out here, youre gonna get that money, Kelly said, referring to the benefits. But these kids dont get that money and nobody seems to care that should care. And I hope that changes next year.

On the Senate side, Rehder said perhaps it will be a better year for protecting children next year. But with the chambers dysfunction, she said its hard to know.

Its an excellent policy and you know other states are moving towards this that havent already Rehder said We have to fix some things in the Senate. And until we do, I dont know, I dont know what any bills chances are.

Jason White, a foster parent from Kansas City, traveled to testify in support of the legislation earlier this year.

The state seized his foster sons survivors benefits, which amounted to around $30,000, White said in an interview with The Independent. Now 20, his son has zero dollars and little support to transition to adulthood.

White said this is an issue that affects thousands of kids with little to nothing and the reason to take it on is simply to do the right thing.

Im very disappointed, White said, that cheap politics killed this legislation.

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The post Lawmakers adjourn without banning state from seizing benefits from Missouri foster kids appeared first on Missouri Independent.
A new plan from House lawmakers would automatically register men for a potential military draft when they hit age 18, avoiding potential legal consequences connected to failing to file the paperwork at the proper time.

Language included in the House Armed Services Committees draft of the annual defense authorization bill would mandate the automatic registration of all males between ages 18 and 26 living in America in the Selective Service System, the federal database used for a military draft in case of a national emergency.

The system hasnt been used for that purpose for 52 years, but men who fail to register can face a host of legal consequences, including forfeiture of eligibility for federal programs and possible jail time.

But the number of individuals who have skipped registering has increased in recent years, in large part because registration options were removed from the federal student loan process two years ago. That had accounted for nearly a quarter of all registrations in prior years.

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., sponsored the automatic registration language and called it both a money-saving and common-sense reform.

By using available federal databases, the [Selective Service] agency will be able to register all of the individuals required and thus help ensure that any future military draft is fair and equitable, she said during debate on the idea Wednesday night.

This will also allow us to rededicate resources  basically that means money  towards reading readiness and towards mobilization  rather than towards education and advertising campaigns driven to register people.

The Selective Service System costs roughly $30 million a year. Lawmakers have proposed a number of reforms to the database in recent years, including adding women and completely eliminating the agency altogether, but none have made it through Congress.

The latest proposal was approved unanimously by the committee but still must advance through the full House and Senate before it can become law. The authorization bill, which contains a myriad of military budget and policy priorities, is expected to be finalized by the two chambers sometime this fall.
Leaders of South Korea, China and Japan to meet next week

South Korean Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo provides a briefing at the presidential office in Seoul about the upcoming South Korea-Japan-China, South Korea-UAE and South Korea-Africa summit talks. -/YNA/dpa

The leaders of South Korea, China and Japan will meet next week in Seoul for the first such trilateral talks in more than four years, South Korea's presidential office said on Thursday.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang will meet on Monday in the South Korean capital.

There is expected to be a declaration of cooperation in six areas, including the economy and trade. Partnerships are also to be strengthened in healthcare, science and technology, disaster prevention and people-to-people exchanges.

South Korean media reported that a series of one-on-one talks between Yoon, Kishida and Li are planned for Sunday, before the meeting of all three together a day later.

The last of eight such trilateral summits among Asia's three largest economies took place in December 2019. Since then, the meetings have not been held due to the coronavirus pandemic and strained relations between Japan and South Korea.

Japan and South Korea, two close US allies, agreed last year on stronger defence cooperation with Washington. The initiative is aimed at countering North Korea's nuclear weapons programme and China's increasing military presence in the region.

South Korea media speculated that Yoon and Kishida would ask China to exert greater influence on Pyongyang in the nuclear dispute.

According to UN figures from February, China remains North Korea's largest trading partner by far.
Nine killed in Mexico stage collapse at campaign event

Nine killed in Mexico stage collapse at campaign event

By Daniel Becerril, Brendan O'Boyle and Kylie Madry

SAN PEDRO GARZA GARCIA, Mexico (Reuters) -A stage collapsed at a Mexican election campaign rally on Wednesday night, killing nine people and injuring dozens as high winds tore apart the large, concert-style structure, scattering politicians and attendees.

Some 70 people were hospitalized after the rally for the Citizens' Movement party in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, Samuel Garcia, the state's governor, said on social media.

He said he would meet with security and civil protection officials at the government palace early on Thursday.

The victims were eight adults and one child, Garcia said, adding he was headed to a hospital where three people were in surgery. Many of the injured were being treated at local clinics, the director of Mexico's social security institute reported.

Jorge Alvarez Maynez, the presidential candidate for the centrist Citizens' Movement party, said a gust of wind caused the stage to collapse at the event in the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia, a wealthy enclave near the industrial hub of Monterrey.

Video of the accident showed the structure suddenly falling forward into the crowd, sending politicians on the stage and panicked attendees running for cover.

"I've never experienced something so sudden," Alvarez Maynez told reporters, referring to how quickly the wind picked up before the stage collapsed.

Alvarez Maynez, who returned to the scene of the accident after being cleared at a local hospital, said he was suspending campaign activities and that he hoped authorities investigate what occurred, requesting transparency in the process.

Alvarez Maynez's campaign coordinator Laura Ballesteros was hospitalized with a broken foot, according to the party, and mayoral candidate for San Pedro Garza Garcia, Lorenia Canavati, wrote on social media that she was coordinating with authorities to support those impacted and their families.

Members of Mexico's national guard and army were on the scene to provide support, Interior Minister Luisa Alcalde said on social media.

Governor Garcia warned residents to stay indoors amid strong thunderstorms in the area. Weather forecasters predicted more rain, strong winds and lightning across swathes of the county in the coming hours.

Alvarez Maynez is polling in third place in Mexico's presidential election set for June 2. He is trailing far behind ruling party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum and second-place Xochitl Galvez, who represents a broad opposition coalition.

Galvez and Sheinbaum both offered condolences for the families of the victims in posts on social media, with Sheinbaum canceling a rally planned for Thursday evening in Monterrey.

(Reporting by Daniel Bacerril in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Brendan O'Boyle, Kylie Madry and Sarah Morland in Mexico City; Editing by Tom Hogue and Sharon Singleton)
BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The People's Liberation Army on Thursday began two-day drills around the Taiwan Island.

This came just days after Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's new leader, made his debut speech filled with hostility and provocations of seeking "Taiwan independence," adopting an even riskier and more radical approach than his predecessors.

His ill-advised speech constituted a serious provocation against the one-China principle and inevitably triggered resolute countermeasures.

The drills are legitimate, timely and entirely necessary, as "Taiwan independence" acts in any form cannot be tolerated.

People across the Taiwan Strait have been yearning for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, which kept deteriorating in the past eight years. They also long for the return of friendly exchanges and cooperation.

Ignoring these expectations, Lai has deliberately incited hatred toward the mainland and escalated confrontation and hostility across the Strait.

It is an attempt to bind the innocent people of Taiwan to the "Taiwan independence" chariot, which will only push Taiwan further to the brink of war.

Lai, in his speech, did not conceal his eagerness to sell out Taiwan to external forces. This was his attempt to seek external support for his "Taiwan independence" maneuver. Strong deterrent measures are imperative to draw the red line.

If "Taiwan independence" schemers are indulged in colluding with external forces to create chaos, it will bring the most dangerous change to the status quo across the Strait and the most severe damage to the prospects of peaceful reunification.

The Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests. Resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity is the common will of the 1.4 billion Chinese people.

It should be noted that the countermeasures are aimed at a very small number of "Taiwan independence" separatists and their separatist activities, and are by no means targeted at the Taiwan compatriots.

Reunification is the trend of history and the right path. "Taiwan independence" is a short-lived countercurrent and will lead nowhere.

The severer the provocations are, the stronger the countermeasures will be.

Any attempt to split the Chinese territory will be resolutely opposed by all Chinese, and will inevitably be crushed by the wheels of history moving forward. 
Child among at least nine dead after stage collapses at Mexico campaign rally

A stage collapsed in northern Mexico on Wednesday as strong winds gusted through a presidential candidate's campaign rally - DANIEL BECERRIL/REUTERS

At least nine people have died  including a child  after a stage collapsed in northern Mexico when strong winds gusted through a presidential candidates campaign rally.

Images of the accident showed a crowd fleeing as the structure supporting the stage toppled and a giant screen fell where Jorge Alvarez Maynez, the presidential candidate, and members of his Citizens Movement party were standing.

The accident took place in the town of San Pedro Garza Garcia, which is part of the greater metropolitan area of the city of Monterrey in Nuevo Leon.

According to Samuel Garcia, the governor of Nuevo Leon, the victims were eight adults and one child. He said around 50 people had also been injured with three needing surgery.

Citizens' Movement party president Jorge Alvarez Maynez reacts at the site after a gust of wind caused a structure to collapse - DANIEL BECERRIL/REUTERS

I am fine and in communication with the authorities over what happened, Maynez wrote on X, adding that the priority was to take care of the victims. He said he would remain at the scene until the last injured person had been taken to hospital.

Some members of his team were being treated at the hospital, according to Maynez, who is in third place ahead of the June 2 presidential election according to the latest polls.

He lags far behind both frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum and main opposition presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez in surveys.

The Citizens Movement party said hurricane-like winds had knocked the stage down, and announced it would be cancelling all further events in the region.

Mexican weather reports before the event said that tornados were possible in Nuevo Leon and nearby states during an unstable pattern of storms, with winds of up to about 43 miles per hour expected.

After the stage collapse, Mr Garcia, the Nuevo Leon governor, said: Were witnessing electric storms. Very strong winds and heavy rain are expected for the next two hours, he said. Theres already been a tragedy.

Members of the military stand guard as forensic personnel move a body

In a post on social media, outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered his sympathies to the family members and friends of the victims.

He said the campaign rally accident had been caused by strong winds.

Maynezs party said in a statement that he would suspend all campaign events in solidarity with those affected.

Pure hysteria, pure panic

Jose Juan, who was at the rally, recounted how the structure came crashing down on the candidates and their supporters.

It hit me on the head and I fainted. The rest was pure hysteria, pure panic, he told broadcaster Televisa.

The other two presidential candidates also expressed solidarity with those affected.

I hope with all my heart that there are no serious injuries, opposition candidate Galvez wrote on social media before the deaths were confirmed.

On June 2, Mexicans will vote for a new president as well as members of Congress, several state governors and local officials. In total, more than 20,000 positions are being contested.

Mexico has been in the grip of a punishing heatwave as a heat dome has been sitting above the country, with a third of the country hitting 45C this week.

26 people are thought to have died from the heat, and it was so hot that howler monkeys fell from the trees.

At least 138 of the midsize primates, who are known for their roaring vocal calls, were found dead in the Gulf Coast state of Tabasco on May 16, according to the Biodiversity Conservation of The Usumacinta group.

Others were rescued by residents, including five who were rushed to a local veterinarian who battled to save them.

They arrived in critical condition, with dehydration and fever, said Dr. Sergio Valenzuela. They were as limp as rags. It was heatstroke.

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.
UPDATE

KSNF/KODE  In a late-night ruling, the Western District Court of Appeals issued an Order, staying the lower Courts ruling that would have prevented eight candidates from appearing on the August Primary Ballot.

The Order states that the Court recognizes the deadline for the August elections and in order for the appeal not to become moot, it is preventing enforcement of Judge Gayle Cranes judgment.

Briefs in the case will be due in early June. If parties request oral arguments, the Court will set a special hearing in late June.

NEVADA, Mo.  The Vernon County clerk is asking the Missouri Court of Appeals to overturn a judges decision that would keep some candidates from running as Republicans on the August primary ballot.

Attorneys for Vernon County Clerk Adrienne Lee filed the appeal late last week.

On May 9, in a precedent-setting case, Jasper County Judge Gayle Crane ruled in favor of the Vernon County Republican Committee, saying, the County Clerk is required to wait until the Republican Committee has accepted a candidates filing fee before placing that person on the ballot as a Republican.

PREVIOUS: Jasper County Judge issues ruling in Vernon County GOP Committee lawsuit

This case involves eight named candidates, four of which are incumbent Republican officeholders.

Because it has been less than 30 days since Judge Cranes ruling, Lees attorney was required to file a motion to expedite the case.

The motion states June 11th is the deadline for listing candidates on the August primary ballot, and County Clerk, Adrienne Lee, requests the appellate court hear arguments in the case and make a ruling before that deadline.

In its response to the appeal, the Vernon County Republican Committee says the appellate court should dismiss the appeal.

The committees argument is that the County Clerk has no authority to spend county funds in pursuit of what it calls, obtaining political goals or taking sides, to determine what her duties are.

PREVIOUS: Legal battle over candidate placement on Republican ticket continues in Vernon County

No date has been set to hear arguments in the case.

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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Was it legal to fly the flag upside down at Samuel Alitos house?

Media reports that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos house displayed an upside-down American flag, a traditional sign of political dissent, after the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, set off a firestorm of criticism over whether the move was a political statement that compromises his impartiality.

Hanging the flag upside down is technically against U.S. law. But legal experts say Alito likely did not act illegally.

The initial May 16 New York Times article reported that the upside-down flag, a long-standing signal to communicate distress in "instances of extreme danger to life or property," was by then a common symbol for supporters of outgoing President Donald Trumps effort to overturn his 2020 election loss. "A flood of social media posts exhorted Trump supporters to flip over their flags or purchase new ones to display upside down," the Times reported.

The justice later told Fox News that he had no role in the flag being flown in that manner. Rather, he said, his wife Martha-Ann Alito had raised the upside-down flag "for a short time" as a response to verbal attacks by her neighbors.

As the controversy developed, Alitos Democratic critics urged him to recuse himself from cases involving Trump and his actions during that period, saying the justices impartiality could not be assured. Supreme Court recusals are up to the justice, with no external mechanism to require them.

But the episode has spotlighted an even more basic question: Was flying the flag upside down against the law?

In a technical sense, perhaps. In a practical sense, no, legal experts say.

U.S. law lays out lengthy instructions for the proper display and treatment of the flag.

For the Alitos, the most relevant portion of U.S. Code would be: "No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America.  The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property."

An upside-down American flag became a signal of election denial as pro-Trump protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The notion of hanging a flag upside down to communicate distress has a long history in maritime culture, likely dating back to the British Isles in the 17th century, according to the North American Vexillological Association, an organization of flag scholars and enthusiasts. It was commonly used by ships through the 18th and 19th centuries until the development of more effective communication systems, notably radio.

By now, "neither the International Code of Signals nor U.S. inland rules of the road recognize the inverted ensign as a distress signal," and "signal books published by the U.S. maritime agencies specifically discourage its use," according to the association. (Today, ships in dire distress are supposed to signal with "N" and "C" international code flags  which stand for "November" and "Charlie"  or other specified flags.)

As a result, an inverted flag "has largely become a political signal," the association has written.

For instance, prior to becoming an election-denial symbol in 2020, "many Cuban Americans in Miami used it to protest the federal government taking Elian Gonzalez from his Miami relatives and sending him back to his father in the spring of 2000," said Howard M. Wasserman, a Florida International University law professor.

But despite being part of U.S. law, the law provides no enforcement mechanism for flying the flag right side up. In addition, the flag codes text uses the softer term "should" when it discusses how flags should be treated, rather than "shall."

"The U.S. Flag Code can be understood as an etiquette manual," Ted Kaye, the North American Vexillological Associations secretary, told PolitiFact.

And even if U.S. law did specify an enforcement mechanism, it would be impractical to charge all violators with criminality.

For instance, another portion of the flag code forbids flags from being "used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever" and being printed "on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use." This is a common practice today and is never prosecuted.

A big reason for the hands-off approach: Several rulings, most recently Texas v. Johnson in 1989, affirmed First Amendment protections for mistreating a flag. Since the 1989 decision, efforts to amend the Constitution to allow the prosecution of flag burning have come to naught.

"Punishing someone for flag misuse or desecration violates a bedrock free speech principle  that government has no power to punish a speaker based on the message they seek to convey, including through the potent symbol of the U.S. flag," said Timothy Zick, a William & Mary law professor.

"Flying the flag upside down to send a political message is protected by the First Amendment," said Gregory P. Magarian, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

With the Supreme Court having taken the flags mistreatment out of the legal realm more than three decades ago, questions of flag-display propriety shift instead to the world of norms, Magarian said.

"Alito couldnt be prosecuted for altering the flag to send a political message," he said. "However, the statute still makes a normative statement about behavior of which society should disapprove. I think thats the likeliest sense in which the statute could be relevant for the present discussion."

Our sources

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Was it legal to fly the flag upside down at Samuel Alitos house?
Getty Images.

The Minnesota Legislature this session allocated $109 million to settle class action lawsuits after a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which found Minnesotans had their money wrongfully taken under an unconstitutional state law.

The U.S. Supreme Court last year ruled 9-0 in Tyler v. Hennepin County that the county violated a womans constitutional rights when it sold her forfeited property for more than she owed in taxes and pocketed the difference, or the surplus.

The state in February agreed to pay $109 million to settle class action lawsuits filed on behalf of Minnesotans who lost their properties because of unpaid taxes while the counties kept the surpluses.

A Ramsey County judge will rule on the settlement, including notice to potential claimants affected by the states property tax forfeiture laws, said Minnesotas Solicitor General Liz Kramer. A court date hasnt been scheduled yet, but Kramer said she expects the judge to approve the settlement.

This is one of those times where the U.S. Supreme Court gave us very clear guidance  that this was a problem that needed to be solved  and everyone was able to come together, and Im just really thankful that we had the money in the budget and that the Legislature was willing to put this behind us, Kramer said.

Once people receive a notice, they will have nine months to make their claim for the surplus; people will generally be entitled to about 90% of the forfeited propertys surplus, Kramer said.

According to the settlement agreement, Minnesotans are generally eligible for their surplus if their property was sold between 2016 and 2023, though in Hennepin County the timeframe is between 2012 and 2019.

Kramer said about 6,000 forfeited properties fall in the settlements timeframe and are eligible to receive part of the $109 million settlement. In some cases, counties have yet to sell the forfeited properties and are waiting to receive guidance from the Legislature. Once those properties are sold, the funds  expected to be around $27 million  will be returned to the states general fund.

The Legislature also approved new property forfeiture laws that require counties to sell properties through a public auction and, if theres a surplus, notify owners that they are entitled to file a claim for it. The new laws were passed in an effort to make them constitutional.

The changes to the states property forfeiture laws were included in the more than 1,400-page omnibus bill Democrats passed in the final minutes of the session, which Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign.

Walz already signed the bill allocating the $109 million, which was a standalone bill.

The post Legislature allocates $109 million for property forfeiture class action settlement appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
It's been called "omnibus prime," "taximus maximus" and even "grand theft omnibus" (the latter nickname given by Republicans).

With time running short, Democrats in the Minnesota Legislature transformed a standalone tax bill into a roughly 1,400-page omnibus package containing nearly every other bill they still needed to pass, touching on everything from health care and transportation policy to gun safety measures. Democrats suspended debate and passed the mashed-together bill in the final voting hour of the Legislature's 2024 session.

Republicans protested the move, calling it a "horrible way to govern" and saying they weren't able to review the mammoth bill before it passed. They've since called for Gov. Tim Walz to veto it, which is unlikely to happen.

The Star Tribune has spent the past couple of days going through the bill. Here are some notable highlights from the bill that will become law pending Walz's signature.

New State Patrol headquarters

Lawmakers did not pass a bonding bill to fund state infrastructure projects before their midnight deadline passed. But Democrats included a $22.5 million appropriation in the omnibus bill to pay for a new headquarters for the Minnesota State Patrol.

The one-time money will come out of the trunk highway fund and is available through June 2028.

"I said this was a priority of mine. That headquarters is out of date and the State Patrol has been asked to do an awful lot," Walz said.

Health plans must cover abortion

Health plans operating in Minnesota must provide coverage for abortions and related services starting Jan. 1, 2025.

The bill states that health plans must not impose co-pays, coinsurance or deductibles for abortion services that are higher than the cost-sharing they apply to similar services. And a health plan cannot impose any special limitations on the coverage, such as prior authorization or referral requirements.

Minnesota will reimburse health plans for the coverage if they weren't providing it before this new requirement was enacted.

Legislators also included a provision requiring health plans to cover wigs for people who suffer cancer-related hair loss. The coverage would be limited to $1,000 per benefit year. The proposal was sponsored by DFL Sen. Kari Dziedzic, who's been undergoing treatment for cancer.

Straw purchases and binary triggers

Lawmakers increased the penalty for straw purchases, which occur when a person buys a gun on behalf of someone who is prohibited from purchasing one, from a gross misdemeanor to a felony.

Starting Aug. 1, a person found guilty of making a straw purchase may be sentenced to up to two years in prison and fined up to $10,000.

That penalty escalates to up to five years in prison and a $20,000 fine if the person who receives the gun uses it to commit a crime of violence within the subsequent year.

The omnibus bill also includes a provision banning binary triggers on firearms. The device allows one shot to be fired with the pull of a trigger and a second shot upon the trigger release. That ban is set to take effect Jan. 1.

Traffic light cameras

Traffic cameras will be coming to the cities of Minneapolis and Mendota Heights under a four-year pilot program included in the omnibus bill. The program also calls for the Department of Transportation to install traffic cameras in highway work zones.

Two types of cameras will be permitted during the pilot program: red-light cameras and speed safety cameras. Drivers who are photographed running a red light or speeding will receive a warning on first offense and a ticket the second time, though they could avoid the fine by taking a traffic safety course.

The pilot program allows for camera-based traffic enforcement in the designated areas from Aug. 1, 2025 through July 31, 2029.

Motorcyclists can pass within lanes

Starting July 1, 2025, motorcyclists will be allowed to pass vehicles within the same traffic lane as long as they are driving no faster than 25 miles per hour, according to a provision in the bill. And they must not exceed 15 miles per hour over the speed of other traffic as they pass.

Minnesota's public safety commissioner must implement a statewide education campaign to tell drivers about the new rules allowing motorcycles to pass within the same lane or between parallel lanes.

Star Tribune staff writer Briana Bierschbach contributed to this story.
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

As a Never Trumper, its my duty today to be furious at Nikki Haley. Yet I feel nothingand not just because Im heavily sedated.

On Wednesday, the shoe that we all knew would drop, dropped.

I was asked today at @HudsonInstitute whether I would vote for Donald Trump or Joe Biden, here's my answer: pic.twitter.com/fSgPCuz3do  Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) May 22, 2024

How angry can one be about this, realistically?

Its traumatic to watch a principled conservative roll over for a proto-fascist out of rote partisanship, but weve all gotten used to that particular trauma by now. The anger is spent. Numbness and fatalism are whats left.

Its also hard to muster indignation at someone for disappointing you when you had low expectations for them to begin with. Haley is an ambitious politician, enough so to have challenged Donald Trump himself for the presidency this year. Once that path was blocked, it was always likely that the next path she chose would be one that maximized her chances of satisfying her ambition long-term. To remain even a longshot contender for her partys nomination someday, she had to endorse the nominee. So she did.

A third reason its hard to be angry at her is that I meant what I said on Monday. Haley, warts and all, remains the least bad option for conservatives among the dismal field of potential Trump running mates.

Unlike Marco Rubio, her brain hasnt melted under intense pressure to conform to populism. Unlike Tim Scott, she hasnt groveled in ways so demeaning that the vicarious embarrassment from it risks stopping ones heart. And unlike Doug Burgum, her national profile doesnt depend entirely on earning Trumps favor, up to and including dressing like him.

Hate her all you like, but you need to make peace with the fact that shes the closest thing to a good influence that might plausibly land in Trumps inner circle in a second term. Ill go so far as to say that Id retroactively give her a pass for Wednesdays Trump endorsement if it turns out to have been part of a backroom deal with his campaign to choose her as vice president.

But no one thinks there was a deal, do they? I sure dont. This surrender is unconditional.

Nikki Haley is a tragic figure. Thats the deeper reason to greet Wednesdays news more in sorrow than in anger. She knows what the right thing to do is, and I think she genuinely wants to do it. She just  cant. This is the only life shes ever known; asking her to give it up is asking too much.

That moral failure has left her trapped in 2016. Shell never get out.

My editors and I spent a few minutes this morning debating Haleys motives for endorsing Trump and settled on two. One is to preserve her viability for 2028. The other is to preserve her value to corporate America.

Neither is very persuasive.

Whether endorsing Trump makes her more attractive or less so on the speaker circuit or to a company with a vacancy on its board is itself a matter of debate. Maybe it does, insofar as a business that hires a politician is essentially purchasing political influence. Haley will wield more influence within Donald Trumps GOP as a known Donald Trump supporter.

But if his second term is the civic disaster that people like me expect, having a well-known Trump supporter on staff will be more of a liability for a business than an asset. Nor is it clear that Haley will hold any sway at all over a party thats rapidly shedding her base of college-educated moderates and replacing them with blue-collar populists who despise RINOs like her.

How much influence did Paul Ryan wield over the GOP since leaving office, before he became an outspoken Trump critic? QED.

All of this also assumes that corporate executives, many of whom are culturally liberal, will make cold-eyed bottom-line decisions about whether to hire her instead of holding Wednesdays political capitulation against her. Will a board full of Trump-haters who are disgusted at Haley for endorsing him lay their revulsion aside because bringing her on might be marginally better for business?

A company thats all about currying favor with Emperor Trump irrespective of the moral implications would do better to put a MAGA goon like Corey Lewandowski on its board, knowing that he at least can get the emperor on the phone when needed.

Everyone wants to make money, but what Nikki Haley wants above all other things, Ive always thought, is to be a figure of consequence. Ideally that would mean becoming the first woman president, but if thats no longer an option then Id expect her to focus on finding some other way to gain political significance. The obvious way to do that this year would have been to go about organizing a conservative boycott of Trump. Yet here she is, pledging to support him.

She basically had a decision, one of my editors put it. Does she want to make retaking the GOP/building a new party the cause to which she devoted the rest of her life, or does she want to have a comfy retirement and maybe come in third in another presidential primary? Theres very little political significance in that second option, but theres a lot of potential significance in the first, particularly with Haley well-positioned by dint of this years primary to become a leader of the rights Reaganite rump minority.

Did I misread her? Does she truly prefer a comfy retirement on corporate boards to being an important political player?

I doubt it. This is where the other motive comes in: As the runner-up in this years primary, Haley presumably believes shes a top-tier contender for the Republican nomination in 2028. Raking in the dough from corporate America is nice, but the real benefit from endorsing Trump will come in the next presidential cycle. Thats when shell be crowned leader of the GOP and finally emerge as the significant figure she always knew she was.

But she wont, of course. And on some level I think she knows it.

Politicians arent known for being clear-eyed about their chances of becoming president, but Haley would need to labor under an unusually dense illusion to believe Donald Trumps party is prepared to turn to her anytime soon.

Populists have always found her suspicious due to her pedigree as a pre-Trump Republican, but the primary this year turned that suspicion into hatred. As I noted on Monday, Tucker Carlson promised to actively oppose Trump if he made Haley his running mate. On Wednesday, following the news of Haleys endorsement, Marjorie Taylor Greene dropped this on her:

Desperate Neocon Nikki Haley finally endorsed Pres Trump today.



She is doing everything she can to weasel her way into Trumps next administration even now by threatening that her voters wont vote for Trump.



NOT voting for Trump IS voting for Biden.



If Nikki Haley is  Marjorie Taylor Greene  (@mtgreenee) May 22, 2024

How does Haley prevail in 2028 in a party that, with each passing day, looks less like her and more like Greene?

And how does she do it now that shes gone and annoyed the minority of Republicans who do prefer her to Trump? The price of endorsing him is disappointing the moderates and conservatives who supported her in this years primary as a bulwark of traditional conservatism against the populist tide.

Many of them will lose respect for her now. And no wonder:

Nikki Haley should listen to Nikki Haley.



Donald Trump is not qualified to be the president of the United States. pic.twitter.com/Vufjgj7DTQ  Republican Voters Against Trump (@AccountableGOP) May 22, 2024

Yesterday, Haley had a soft, smallish constituency within the party. Today she has none. Thats a weird move for someone who has her eye on 2028.

Strangest of all is that she seems to understand how little influence she has. The most striking thing about Wednesdays endorsement is that it came with no strings attached despite the fact that she famously called on Trump to reach out to her voters and earn their support when she left the race. Hes done zero to meet that demandunlike the Biden campaignyet there Haley was, announcing her intent to vote for him anyway.

She publicly challenged Trump to win her and [her voters] over, and it wasnt easy, but his offer of actively less than nothing finally sealed the deal, Semafors Benjy Sarlin snarked. Thats what happens when someone with no leverage makes demands of a more powerful entity and is ignored. Inevitably, and embarrassingly, they fold.

Haleys sway within the GOP is so questionable, in fact, that its anyones guess whether her Trump endorsement will matter to her own voters. David Frum doubts it. Haley was their instrument, not their leader, he wrote of anti-Trump Republicans who turned out for her in the primary. When the instrument ceases to serve its purpose, it can be thrown away without a pang or regret.

Too Trump-friendly for conservatives, not Trump-friendly enough for populists: Does that sound like a winning formula in 2028?

Haleys actual opportunity for influence over part of the American right was to withhold her support from the GOP nominee this year. That would have destroyed her chances at ever leading the party, sure, but it also would have cemented her reputation as a conservative leader willing to place her principles, and the welfare of the country, ahead of partisanship. If Trump went on to lose the election due to Reaganites staying home en masse, Haley and her faction would have gained real leverage over the GOPs direction in 2028. Not enough to make her the nominee, but maybe enough to restrain the partys worst populist excesses.

It would have turned her into a figure of political significance. She would have been able to say that she ended the Republican hostage crisis.

Instead, she was reduced on Wednesday to praising Donald Trump on issues like the debt and constraining Americas enemies abroad, which is inane.

Haleys not going to be the nominee in 2028, and shes too smart not to realize it. Isnt it possible the party has moved, and the party is about Donald Trump and not what youre describing, which might be the party of yesterday? she was asked in an interview with CNN back in February. It is very possible, she conceded. A week later, she was out of the race, removing all doubt.

Why would someone who represents the party of yesterday be strategizing about the election of tomorrow?

The answer, I think, can be borrowed from the old joke about Brazil: Nikki Haley is the candidate of the future  and she always will be.

Specifically, she was the candidate of the future in 2016. She didnt run for president that year, but she was at the pinnacle of her influence within the GOP as the twice-elected governor of a key primary state. She was poised to play kingmaker in the Republican race and it was plausible that her candidate of choice, Marco Rubio, would end up selecting her as his running mate.

In a universe without Donald Trump, she might have been vice president. And if not, she still would have been superbly positioned to compete for the nomination in 2020 or 2024 as a young, nonwhite Republican woman who might credibly expand the partys electoral tent. Her time was coming. It was inevitable.

She was the candidate of the future. And, in Donald Trumps universe, she always will be.

This is now the third presidential cycle in a row in which Haley has confronted the dilemma of whether to support Trump, and each time shes handled it the same way. She criticized him initially in 2016, but came around in the end grudgingly, for obvious reasons. The candidate of the future needed to preserve that future by being a team player. When, not if, the party tired of Trump, theyd turn to her to pick up the pieces.

No doubt she expected him to lose that fall, as most of us did, and for the GOP to resume its Reaganite trajectory in the aftermath.

When he didnt lose, the future was suddenly postponed.

After January 6, it looked like it would arrive at last. Haley seized that opportunity to denounce Trump and to declare his leadership of the party over, only to find to her horror that Republican voters didnt agree. And so she reversed course and came around to supporting him again for the sake of preserving her viability in the GOP. She even vowed at one point that she wouldnt challenge him for the nomination in 2024, no doubt hoping and assuming that he wouldnt actually run again.

Then he decided to run. Faced with the prospect of the future being postponed again, Haley chose to move ahead with her own candidacy. Once again, she denounced Trump in robust termsand once again, on Wednesday, she came around to supporting him because the Haley future that she and her conservative supporters were promised requires her to remain a Republican in good standing. The clock has now been reset to 2028 or possibly 2032, never mind that she hasnt held any public office since 2018.

And so, for Nikki Haley, its always 2016. Cycle after cycle, the GOP is forever one landslide defeat away from seeing the error of its ways, throwing in the towel on populism, and pivoting to an electable center-right conservative woman who will set things right. The future is coming! Its just taking a little longer than expected. Haleys only 52 years old. All she needs to do is hang in there, say what needs to be said to avoid becoming persona non grata within the party, and  wait.

That future isnt coming, though. Or, rather, its already here:

Steve Bannon on Trumps Project 2025: We mock your fear, we want you to fear. There will be accountability. We are going to hold everyone who opposes Trump responsible. That will come with authority, the authority of Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/o9FIPXEFXG  Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) May 22, 2024

One wonders how much longer itll take before she finally realizes what time it is.

Watching Haley back Trump on Wednesday, I had dark visions of what might be in store for her. In 2028: J.D. Vance has not been perfect. I have made that clear many, many times. But Gretchen Whitmer would be a catastrophe. Then 2032: Tucker Carlson has not been perfect. I have made that clear many, many times. But Josh Shapiro would be a catastrophe. Or 2036: Nick Fuentes has not been perfect. I have made that clear many, many times. But Wes Moore would be a catastrophe.

Its 2016 forever. The future is delayed, but rest assured that its coming. Its a simple matter of Haley biding her time, being cordial with whichever authoritarian monster the Republican base prefers to her, and waiting for the big electoral wipeout that never actually arrives to catapult her to the top of the party.

Its genuinely tragic. Because she cant bear to extinguish the great ambition thats driven her political career, shes forced to degrade herself over and over again unto eternity by kowtowing to some unfit un-American cretin. She knows how to reclaim her dignity; I think she even wants to reclaim it. But what would be left of her existence if she finally let the Nikki Haley future go?

This is why its hard to be mad at her. Its like being mad at the protagonist in an especially grim Twilight Zone episode. You dont hiss when Rod Serling steps in front of the camera and pronounces their karmic doom. You shudder.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Letters to the Editor: Hamas' barbarity and the rules of war we expect Israel to obey

An Israeli flag hangs Nov. 13 between houses attacked by Hamas in the kibbutz Kfar Azza, Israel. (Leo Correa / Associated Press)

To the editor: All war is horrific. At the Casablanca Conference during World War II in 1943, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt decided on a policy of unconditional surrender of the Axis powers. That goal, which is similar to Israel's today in the Gaza Strip, necessitated civilian deaths by means of fire in Tokyo, bombing of cities in Germany and atomic destruction of two cities in Japan. ("Israel's Gaza war is horrific, but that doesnt mean Hamas is innocent of sexual violence," Opinion, May 19)

Would President Biden's national security team have withheld arms from Britain and Russia at that time?

Israel, as experts in urban warfare have noted, has conducted this very difficult war in Gaza in a manner far superior with respect to civilian deaths than American forces did in our Iraq war.

The idea that humanity has evolved since that time to a better state and that war is now different and should be fought with better rules is as fallacious as it is dangerous for those who defend against evil such as Hamas' butchery.

Paul Bloustein, Cincinnati

..

To the editor: No doubt Hamas, a recognized terrorist group, unleashed their worst fanatics for its Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Maybe sexual violence was a "strategy," a thought Robin Abcarian considers in her column.

Would she care to write another column about the Israeli "strategy" of dropping bombs on residential areas and hospitals? Perhaps there is a study describing the resulting torn bodies and gore.

Then we might have more balance on your Opinion page.

Jim Mueller, Redondo Beach

..

To the editor: Through interviews with numerous eyewitnesses, Sheryl Sandbergs documentary "Screams Before Silence" details Hamas' systematic use of rape and barbaric sexual mutilation and violence as weapons of war against Israeli women.

The testimony of former hostages, music festival massacre survivors and first responders is powerful and compelling, establishing that Hamas perpetrated these crimes during both its Oct. 7 massacre in Israel and the hostages' subsequent captivity in Gaza.

Those who nevertheless deny that Hamas systematically perpetrated rape and sexual violence against Israelis do so for the same reason as those who deny the Holocaust: to discredit and dehumanize the Jewish victims of these horrific atrocities.

Stephen A. Silver, San Francisco

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Lithuania has urged a coordinated response to a Russian legislative project on the possible redefinition of its maritime borders in the Baltic Sea.

"We continue to work with our neighbours and partners at both EU and NATO level to ensure a unified response to the situation," Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte told the BNS news agency in Vilnius on Thursday.

In Russia, a draft from the Ministry of Defence was published earlier on Thursday in the government's legislative database. It announced an adjustment of the maritime borders in the Gulf of Finland and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which also borders Lithuania, which alarmed the neighbouring states.

The initiative later disappeared from the legislative database without any reason being given.

Simonyte said that one or two changes could be made on the basis of certain agreements, but the Kremlin's plans remained unclear.

"I think the Russian authorities deliberately want this not to be clarified. They want it to remain vague and cause anxiety and fear," she said, adding that there was no cause for concern.

Lithuania had summoned the Russian envoy in response to the reports of the plans.
Laman Ismayilova

A photography project, "The History of the Czech Railways", has been presented at the Azerbaijan Railway Museum.

At the opening of the event, speeches were made by the Head of the Communication Department of Azerbaijan Railways, Aybeniz Ismayilova, the Deputy Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Azerbaijan Martin Ljuboyacki and the author of the project, photographer Aydin Sadikhov.

The opening of the exhibition was attended by a large number of guests, including deputies of the Azerbaijani Parliament, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions, public figures, and representatives of science, culture and art.

The opening of the exhibition was also attended by students from the British School. The children were told about the ancient locomotives presented at the exhibition and had an interesting tour of the Museum of Azerbaijan Railways. And from the organisers of the exhibition, the children received memorable gifts.

Initiated by the Azerbaijani photographer Aydin Sadikhov, the project provides insight into the history the Czech Railways.

"Twenty two photographs presented by the author of exposition invite the visitors to take part in an amazing journey into the railway World of the

Czech inventions: historical locomotives and trains, architectural buildings of railway stations and interesting railway techniques.The exposition covers different historical periods, so visitors can explore the timeline of the Czech railway development, starting from the oldest models of steam locomotives to diesel and electric locomotives. Especially for display in this photo project, the Czech Railways kindly provided several photographs of new types of trains currently running on the railways of the Czech Republic, photos of railway depots for these trains, as well as a number of interesting video materials about historical locomotives," Aydin Sadikhov told Azernews.

The history of Czech Railways has a lot of unique records, interesting features and great technical achievements which played an important role in the historical development of the global railway industry. The scope of the Czech railway network and its density is one of the largest in Europe comprising almost 10,000 km of railway tracks within the 79,000 km2 country, so that gives an opportunity to travel almost anywhere by train. The majority of passenger services run nowadays are operated by the state company Ceske drahy (Czech Railways), which until 2007 also managed cargo services now run by CD Cargo.

Looking back into history, we can discover a lot of interesting facts about the way of the Czech railways' development. The first railway  a horse-drawn line linking Ceske Budejovice in Bohemia and Linz in Austria, started operation in 1828. Problems with horse transport included the fact that any given animal could only work so many hours on a given day, had to be housed, groomed, fed, and cared for from day to day.

Railway transportation began to develop soon after, and the first steam trains arrived onto the tracks in todays Czech Republic in 1839. The period between 1839-1841 brought the construction of new railway connections between different Czech cities, including Breclav, Prerov and Olomouc. The first train arrived at the Prague railway station on August 20, 1845, through the newly built passage in the Prague walls, which is now called Prague-Masaryk Station. But as we know, technology is always moving forward, so the steam era of trains ended and was changed by the new world of electrical railways. The first electric track in the Czech Republic was opened in June 1903 and connected the way from Tabor to Bechyne.

The railway was built and developed from the 19th century to the mid-20th century. Therefore, almost all railway stations in the Czech Republic are historical. Praha Hlavni Nadrazi is the largest railway station in Prague. The development and amazing architectural design of the Prague Main Railway Station are also very interesting. It was opened in 1871, but the station received its current view in Art Nouveau architectural style between 1901 and 1909 years. The Art Nouveau building facade and station hall, which are considered one of the most beautiful in Europe - were designed by Czech architect Josef Fanta.

One of the most important works in Czech as well as global railway history was the legendary Skoda Works. Count Waldstein established a metallurgical factory in Plzen in 1859. Starting with 100 employees, the factory made products for breweries, mines, steam engines, and railway products. Sooner, the factory was bought by its chief engineer, Emil Skoda in 1869 and by the end of the century, it had become one of the largest enterprises in Europe. The Factory earmarked a large portion of its facilities for manufacturing locomotives. Production first started with an order for 30 locomotives, and soon the first Skoda locomotive left the factory on June 11, 1920. The company produced its 100th locomotive on September 13, 1921, and in 1927, Skoda started the production of its first express electric locomotive, along with the electric freight locomotives.

The Czech Republic always properly takes care of its history. The result of that important fact are amazing railway museums with well-preserved historical locomotives and engines, located in different parts of the country, and the exclusive opportunity to ride on the historical steam locomotives, called "Nostalgia Train Journey," at the narrow-gauge train tracks.

The author of the exhibition has also prepared video material in which you can get acquainted in detail with the features, technical details, and historical notes about all the trains presented in the photos. The visitors of the photo exhibition will have an exclusive chance to explore the historical railway inventions manufactured in the legendary Skoda Works. The central place of the exposition will take photos of interesting steam, diesel, and electrical locomotives that were made by the exposition author in the famous Czech Railway Museum in Luzna u Rakovnika.

The Railway Museum in Luzna u Rakovnika is the largest railway museum in the Czech Republic. Luzna u Rakovnika, on the edge of the Kinvoklat forest, a little more than an hours journey west of Prague on the railway to Chomutov, has since 1997 been the location of the museum of the Czech Railways. It is located, adjacent to the passenger station, in a former locomotive depot of the Busterhrad Railway, a roundhouse with extensive open-air sidings around it, where the coal loading stage, water cranes, inspection, and ash pits are still in situ. A museum collection called Steel Legends consists of more than 30 narrow-gauge track locomotives.

The museum exhibits a huge variety of steam, diesel, and electrical locomotives, railway techniques, and it also gives the children the opportunity to enter the historical trains and travel on one of them in the territory of the museum park.

The photography exhibition project "The History of Czech Railways" gives a unique chance for visitors to explore in detail such the rarest historical locomotives like the No 310.076, that was built in 1899 and worked until the 1950s, and other oldest and amazing models. Another rarest example, No EP 1000 (525.1) locomotives were produced in 25 units in 1956 for heavy metallurgical traffic operations. Only one locomotive of this type has survived to the present day. That locomotive was ordered by the United Steel Works of Kladno, where it was delivered on 28 May 1956 and used for transportation of coal, iron ore and limestone.

The photo project also features a series of historical pin-badges dedicated to various events in the history of the Czech Railways.

A series of eleven unique pin badges, issued in 1950-1980, consists of badges from famous historical and railway depots of various cities of the Czech Republic, including Ceske Velenice, Brno, Louny, Krnov, Jihlava, Sokolov and others. Each of the presented pin-badges was issued in connection with specific historical developments achieved by the Czech Railways.

The photo exhibition will last until June 1.
Security personnel work at the site of an accident where a structure collapsed during a campaign activity in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, late May 22, 2024. (Xinhua)

MEXICO CITY, May 22 (Xinhua) -- At least five people died and 50 were injured after a structure collapsed during a political event on Wednesday evening where Mexico's presidential candidate, Jorge Alvarez Maynez, was present in the northern state of Nuevo Leon, local media reported.

The state's Governor Samuel Garcia confirmed the deaths and said that the injured were being treated in nearby hospitals, with injuries including bruises and fractures.

According to witnesses, heavy rain and intense wind knocked down part of the platform where Maynez and other candidates from the Citizens' Movement party were gathering.

Alvarez Maynez said on X, formerly Twitter, that he was well after being taken to a local hospital.

He said that some members of his campaign team were injured and rushed to hospital for treatment.

According to witnesses, more than 5,000 people attended the event. 
Disgraced former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells made the comments during her second day of questioning at the Post Office inquiry

Disgraced former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells wept as she came to the end of a long day of giving evidence before the Post Office Horizon inquiry.

Asked about a family situation that she said had kept her from being involved in group litigation, Vennells broke down in tears.

She had also admitted on the second day of her appearance before the inquiry that there may have been "a hope" of minimising compensation claims to subpostmasters who used the mediation scheme.

Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked: "Why did you write an email in which you expressed a hope that mediation was a means to avoid or minimise compensation?"

Vennells talked around the topic before saying: "Because that was what we discussed... but not as the purpose of doing it."

"A hope?" Beer said.

"Possibly yes," Vennells said.

Here are the other key moments from the day:

Vennells claimed she did not recall being told there would be 'many successful claims against the Post Office' by legal counsel

Vennells took advice not to review all old cases against subpostmasters as it would end up front page news

Vennells says Post Office 'demanded apologies' over negative press

Vennells admits she should have called IT issues 'bugs' rather than asking her husband to find a 'non-emotive' word for the issue.

Yahoo had ended its coverage of Vennells' second day of evidence. For all of the day's key moments, you can read back below:

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER 34 updates The inquiry has finished for the day The Post Office inquiry will resume on Friday, 23 May.

Vennells breaks down as she talks about family situation Paula Vennells shed tears towards the end of a day of questioning. (Post Office inquiry) Paula Vennells shed tears as she was asked about her stepping back from decisions about group litigation as a result of a family situation. "Because of a family situation I had to step back from my role as general executive sort of from January 2019 onwards ... and then much more from March," she said. Counsel for the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked her: "Is this right - although you make the point that through personal circumstances your role in the strategy and direction of group litigation diminished during 2019... is that right?" She wept as she said: "Yes that's right."

Vennells says Post Office 'demanded apologies' over negative press Paula Vennells has agreed that the Post Office strategy 'even in 2019' was to minimise negative coverage. Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked about an email in which Vennells said that injunctions and "demands" of apology had been used with the media to ensure better coverage of the Post Office "Yes certainly demanded apologies where the business felt that it had been misrepresented and defended Horizon yes because I.. had confidence in the system. I regret that hugely now," she said, explaining that she hadn't used injunctions but had considered legal advice.

Vennells admits she should have called IT issues 'bugs' Vennells was asked about an email she sent to 'PR guy' Mark Davies, saying she had asked her husband for a 'non-emotive' word to describe bugs. "I shouldn't have engaged in this at all," she said. "We should have said bugs" "Did you consider the word computer bugs, glitches or defects to be emotive," counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked. "In my own mind, this seemed a... it isn't now, I fully accept that... it seemed a reasonable request because the two bugs we were dealing with, and this is wrong, they were two bugs which had been fixed. The business responded to them appropriately and what I was trying to do was avoid... misinterpretation."

Vennells said it was 'ambition for the business' to get positive press coverage Vennells was asked about an email in which she said that "all press, even local press (especially local press), should be scoured for negative comment and refuted". She said it was an ambition to challenge poor coverage, if the coverage was inaccurate in the Post Office's view. Vennells said: "It was important to me that where the Post Office was misrepresented that that should be corrected, and especially at a local level because local Post Offices were so important to people."

Vennells agrees email made it sound like subpostmasters only welcome to mediation scheme if they accepted token payout Paula Vennells agreed her email which sought to minimise compensation for subpostmasters in the mediation scheme sounded like they were only welcome if they accepted a pat on the head and a token payment. Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC said: You never intended to pay out any substantial figures in compensation for those issues at all, did you? Vennells replied: No, thats right. Not in terms of the mediation scheme, because that was not what I had understood it would do. Beer said: You wanted to give them a meagre sum and an apology without really understanding or investigating what the cause of their problems was, didnt you? Vennells said: No, that isnt the case. All types of cases were welcomed into the scheme, but my understanding at the beginning of it was very different to what it turned out to be. Beer went on: Everyone was welcome so long as they had a pat on the head and a token payment when they left? The former Post Office boss replied: I agree that it sounds like that now. This was not the case at all. Beer added: You wanted everyone to get the bare minimum to forget all of this and move on, didnt you? Ms Vennells said: No.

Vennells admits hoping to minimise payouts Paula Vennells was asked if the Post Office had a private hope of paying out nothing to subpostmasters who were raising concerns through the mediation scheme and were out of pocket after the Post Office forced them to "make good" lost money. "Was it always your intention that token payments should be made," Jason Beer KC asked. "No... that word has been used elsewhere i've seen it..." Vennells said. "Attributed to you," Beer cut in. "It wasn't meant in the negative sense that it could be assumed," she said, adding that she had been told by legal counsel "sometimes, only an apology is necessary", Beer went on to ask: "Why did you write an email in which you expressed a hope that mediation was a means to avoid or minimise compensation?" Vennells talked around the topic before saying: "Because that was what we discussed... but not as the purpose of doing it." "A hope?" Beer said. "Possibly yes," Vennells said.

Inquiry is on a short break The inquiry will resume shortly.

Vennells says she is 'not entirely sure' what email from PR meant Paula Vennells was asked what an email by 'PR guy' Mark Davies meant when it said "we need to take the sting out" of the Second Sight report before it was published. Vennells said: "I'm not entirely sure."

Vennells says even one wrongful prosecution is unacceptable Paula Vennells said she even one wrongful prosecution was unacceptable. "Any wrongful prosecution, any at all - one - would have been unacceptable," she said. "there was a concern about the number of prosecutions the Post Office had conducted... there was a view that perhaps fewer than that (5%) would have been wrongful convictions." Asked how the board reacted, Vennells said she couldn't recall.

Vennells claims she does not recall being told there would be 'many successful claims against the Post Office' The inquiry is discussing a 2013 paper by Post Office general counsel Susan Creighton that Paula Vennells took to the board. Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC said Susan Creighton previously told the inquiry she spoke to Vennells saying there would be many successful claims against the Post Office arising from past wrongful prosecutions. Vennells responded: "I have no recollection of that whatsoever." She later added: "I would not cover anything up in this process, I'm sorry because this is an important point. If Susan had explained that to me very clearly - why in her paper did it say 5%? I never once withheld information from the board.. I am very sorry but my recollection on that is I don't recall it."

Opinion: Paula Vennells is the bland face of British mediocrity Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells pictured as she arrives to give evidence at the Post Office Horizon inquiry. (PA) She wasnt aware that the Post Office was carrying out investigations and prosecutions. She didnt know much about the computer system. She was too trusting of her subordinates, and the management team around her, writes Matthew Lynn for The Telegraph. On the basis of her evidence to the public inquiry into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal this week, it would be surprising if the hapless former chief executive Paula Vennells actually knew what a stamp looked like, or what colour post boxes are usually painted. Despite her illustrious career, and her huge salary, her main defence appears to be that she had no idea what was going on within the organisation she was paid to run. Read the full story from The Telegraph.

Vennells asked to explain why she means by 'systemic issues' Paula Vennells has been asked to explain what she means by systemic issues, after she said Second Sight's report had found no systemic issues with the Horizon system Jason Beer KC asked her: What do you understand no systemic issues with the Horizon system to mean?" She replied: "At that time, my understanding... because we were trying to make the clarification so there could be no misunderstanding was that they had found no systemic issues with the technology." When she was pressed on what systemic issues meant, she said: "Something that was... um wide ranging across the system..." He pointed out that the Post Office "went on to use this phrase, year in year out to defend the system".

Vennells asked whether she thought report should focus on Horizon weaknesses Paula Vennells was asked whether she felt the focus of the Second Sight report should be on whether there were weaknesses in the Horizon system. "I don't remember personally ever sort of feeling that I had instigated the use of the word systemic," she said. "...I imagine the miscarriage of justice point was a conversation with Susan [Crichton, the Post Offices general counsel] because I wouldn't have expected forensic accountants to be working on issues of justice and law."

Vennells didn't think finding bugs in Horizon system was 'world changing information' Paula Vennells did not accept that finding out there were bugs in the Horizon IT system was world changing information. Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC said: You tell us time and time again in your witness statement that up until May 2013 you had been told time and time again that there were no bugs in Horizon. Yes, Vennells replied. Beer asked: Isnt this world changing information for you? Vennells accepted it was information that changed but later added, when asked the same question: Sorry what Im not getting across clearly enough was that this was important but I was reassured at the same time that these bugs had been dealt with. The barrister asked: Is that reassurance anywhere in writing or is it one of these corridor conversations? Vennells said: I think it is in writing in the Second Sight interim report.

Vennells took advice not to review cases as it would end up front page news Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells followed advice not to review all cases. (Post Office inquiry) Ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells followed a grossly improper suggestion to not review all subpostmaster prosecutions after her communications chief said it would end up front page news, the Horizon IT inquiry has heard. The probe was shown an email exchange between Vennells and then director of communications Mark Davies in July 2013 in which she said she would take your steer after he said looking at all past cases would be in media terms very high profile. Read the full story from PA

Vennells: I should have done 'honest' thing over concerns about unsafe evidence Paula Vennells has agreed that the right and honest thing to do in response to a letter from the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) asking for information about the Horizon system would be to tell them of concerns about the reliability of leading Horizon engineer Gareth Jenkins evidence. The Horizon IT Inquiry heard a letter from the CCRC, sent to the then-Post Office chief executive in July 2013, said: For obvious reasons, we have read the recent media coverage concerning the Post Office Horizon computer system with interest. The letter asked for information directly from Post Office, especially accurate information as to number of criminal convictions that might be impacted by the issue and what action is proposed, or being taken, in that respect. Jason Beer KC asked: The right and honest thing for the Post Office to have done would be to have let the CCRC know, and know promptly, over its concerns about the truthfulness and reliability of the evidence that Gareth Jenkins had given to court wouldnt it? Vennells said: Yes it would. Beer went on: That didnt happen for years and years did it? I understand that to be the case now, Vennells replied.

Vennells - I was not told engineer was unsafe witness Paula Vennells said she was not told that leading Horizon engineer Gareth Jenkins was an unsafe witness. Vennells was informed that there was a problem with some of the expert evidence, given by Jenkins, about bugs on which the Post Office had relied on in prosecutions, including the conviction of Seema Misra, the inquiry heard. When questioned on whether she asked who this witness was, she said: I think I was told that it was someone who worked for Fujitsu who was very competent on the system. She told the inquiry she did not ask how many cases he gave evidence in. Questioned on whether she asked what the Post Office was doing as a result of its concern that Jenkins failed to mention in cases knowledge of bugs, Vennells said: I was told that we were going back looking at or that Cartwright King were going back and looking at cases. I understood because that was the obligation that one had to do was that any case that he had given evidence in needed to be given this evidence around these two bugs even if it didnt affect those cases. She denied being told he was an unsafe witness.

Inquiry breaks The Post Office inquiry will resume after a break.

Merseyside subpostmistress has name cleared after 20 year fight for justice As former Post office CEO Paula Vennells answered questions at the Post Office inquiry, a former subpostmistress had her conviction relating to the Horizon scandal quashed in court this morning after a 20 year fight for justice. Sushma Blaggan, 62, ran Dale Acre Post Office in Litherland, Merseyside, with her husband Narrinder, 58, running the connected retail shop. Like hundreds of others, the couple began to experience problems following the installation of the Horizon accounting system. Read the full story from the Liverpool Echo.

Vennells says review of all cases 'may well have' avoided lost decade until miscarriages of justice discovered Paula Vennells agreed that had the Post Office decided in 2013 to review all prosecutions of false accounting, it may well have avoided a lost decade until miscarriages of justice involving subpostmasters were discovered. In an email dated July that year, Vennells asked for thoughts on why all cases of false accounting eg over the last 5-10 years would not be reviewed. Counsel to the Horizon inquiry Jason Beer KC asked: Do you agree your nascent idea here of a review of all prosecutions of false accounting, if it had been carried into effect, may have avoided a lost decade until miscarriages of justice were discovered? Vennells paused for a short moment before responding: It may well have done. It may well have done. Beer asked: Do you think the failure to carry into effect the idea that you posit here was a missed opportunity? Vennells said: At the time I and the board and everybody else involved in what took place after this particular point felt that that was completely the right way to do this. We were concentrating on individual cases.

Public audibly groans as Vennells says she doesn't remember Members of the public audibly groaned during the Post Office inquiry as Paula Vennells claimed "I really do not remember" the extent to which she took the advice of the Post Office 'PR guy' about how many cases to investigate. Vennells confirmed that she had remained in contact with former Post Office communications director Mark Davies after she left the company. Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked: Did you exchange messages with him about media statements that you might make and the media lines that you might take in the announcement of this inquiry, for example? Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked whether Paula Vennells had taken advice from the 'PR guy' over cases. (Post office inquiry) Vennells replied: I believe the inquiry has texts that show that. Beer continued: Even though youd moved on, he was still advising you into 2020 as to the lines to take in your media statements? Vennells said: I had kept in touch with Mark Davies for reasons that were very personal to him and I think he offered that advice at the time.

Vennells agrees Post Office plan to avoid 'being on the front page' was 'grossly improper perspective' Paula Vennells was asked why the Post Office is not looking back on all cases of false accounting, rather than just looking back over cases in the last 12-18 months. Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC showed Vennells an email from former Post office communications director Mark Davies that advises not looking back on all cases "The email that you had sent, to which this is a response, posits should we look back 12-18 months ... and this says 'you can't do that, you'll be on the front page'. This is a grossly improper perspective isn't it?" Beer asked Vennells. "Yes it is," Vennells agreed.

Opinion: Paula Vennellss tears dont wash with postmasters whose lives were ruined The moment they had been waiting for. After decades of misery, sub-postmasters from across the land descended on London to face down the elusive Paula Vennells, the woman they blame for ruining their lives, writes Gordon Rayner for The Telegraph. Having gone to ground after becoming the most hated woman in Britain over her role in the Horizon IT scandal, the former chief executive of the Post Office was finally being dragged into the limelight for her first public appearance since 2015. Read the full story from The Telegraph.

Inquiry breaks The inquiry has taken a short break.

Vennells claims she didn't know about lawyers calling Horizon report 'high risk' Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells said she didn't know lawyers had called report on Horizon 'high risk'. (Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry/PA Wire) Paula Vennells denied knowing about a conference at a barristers chambers in which lawyers discussed commissioning an independent report on the Post Offices Horizon system as the highest risk response. According to a summary of conference at Maitland Chambers in June 2012, which records former Post Office general counsel Susan Crichton in attendance, it was said the findings of an expert report would not resolve the problem and the Post Office will be damned if they do and damned if they dont. Vennells told the Horizon IT Inquiry she was not told about the meeting. The inquiry heard notes from the meeting read: The proposal to instruct an independent expert to prepare a report on the Horizon system is the highest risk response to the issue. Vennells said this was not communicated to her.

Vennells denies Post Office wanted to influence review of Horizon Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells said the company wanted reassurance the Horizon IT system could be relied upon but denied wanting to influence the work of independent forensic accounts. Second Sight was drafted in to independently review cases involving Horizon in 2012. Asked if after reading a line in their interim report that there were no systemic defects in the system, the Post Office paraded that conclusion, Vennells said: It did come to that conclusion in its interim report. There is no way I would have wanted to persuade Second Sight on something they were not prepared to say and I dont believe Second Sight would ever have agreed to that. If they came to that conclusion in their interim report, that was their conclusion. Beer asked: Isnt that what the Post Office wanted to drive them to and isnt this the evidence of such driving? Vennells replied: The Post Office certainly wanted the reassurance that the Horizon system could be relied upon  that has been the objective all the way through this. At no stage did I get the sense that anybody in the Post Office was going to be able to influence Second Sight over what conclusions they came to. I would be very surprised if that was the case here.

Vennells had 'no inkling' subpostmasters convictions were unsafe in 2013 - despite Alan Bates telling her they were Paula Vennells arrives to give her second day of evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry. (PA) Paula Vennells said she had no inkling that subpostmaster convictions were unsafe in May 2013 despite an email from lead campaigner Alan Bates which said he was surprised she had not offered to meet bearing in mind what has been discovered so far. Referring to the work of forensic accountants Second Sight in the email from 21 May 2013, Bates said: Bearing in mind what has been discovered so far, I for one am surprised that we havent yet met to discuss the implications. Whilst I appreciate that the majority of the issues began under previous regimes and you have expressed a genuine willingness to address the concerns that JFSA (Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance) has been raising, these issues are still continuing. I have little doubt that it is now feasible to show that many of the prosecutions that POL (Post Office Limited) have pressed home should never have taken place. Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked former Post Office CEO Vennells: Would you have been very concerned reading an email like this that the person representing a key stakeholder, JFSA, was saying that the prosecutions, and many of them, that the Post Office had brought, ought never to have taken place? She replied: I was concerned to get the email from Alan, certainly. The point he was making about prosecutions was the point the JFSA made for a number of years  that wasnt new news to me at this stage. Beer continued: Is that how you would have thought of it, that this is just Mr Bates saying something that hes always said? The former Post Office boss replied: No, not at all. Beer then said: Had you been given any inkling that anything had emerged that might undermine the safety of convictions? Vennells responded: No.

Vennells asked whether she thought review of Seema Misra's case would be 'red rag to bull' Former sub-postmistress Seema Misra was sent to prison while pregnant. (Alamy) A Post Office solicitor was concerned that including former subpostmistress Seema Misras case in an independent review into the Horizon IT system would be a red rag to a bull, the inquiry heard. Misra, who ran a Post Office in West Byfleet, Surrey, was jailed in 2010 after being accused of stealing 74,000. She was pregnant at the time. The inquiry heard Alwen Lyons, former company secretary, emailed chief executive Paula Vennells in June 2012 expressing former Post Office general counsel Susan Crichtons concerns about including Misras case in the independent review. Lyons wrote: The issue that came to light with the list of MP cases was that they included the Mishra (Misra), you will remember the case and the publicity, she went to prison and had her baby whilst in there. The husband got publicity through radio and press. Susans anxiety, and she raised this at the meeting with Alice before you joined, was whether now contacting her to tell her we review the case would be a red rag to a bull. Asked if she shared Crichtons concerns that even contacting Misra would be a red rag to a bull, Vennells told the inquiry: No.

Pauls Vennells told Alan Bates it was too early to question validity of prosecutions Paula Vannells is being asked about correspondence she had with former subpostmaster Alan Bates, who has been prominent in fighting for justice for subpostmasters. In an email in 2013, Vennells told Bates it was too early in the investigation to suggest things had been discovered that called into question the integrity of Horizon or the validity of prosecutions - and that it would be wrong to suggest this was the case. Asked by counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC where she had got this information and if she was getting feedback from Second Sight, Vennells said: "I would have talked to whoever was leading the work on this... I am almost certain that when I got Alan's note that I went to the team and said I've had this note, what's the current status."

Victims of Post Office scandal react to Paula Vennells' inquiry appearance Victims of the Post Office scandal have reacted to Paula Vennells' first day of evidence. 'I have empathy, but she'll never shed as many tears as we all have.'



Post Office scandal victims Lee Castleton and Janet Skinner reflect on Paula Vennells' appearance at the Inquiry into the Horizon ITV scandal yesterday where she was seen breaking down in tears. pic.twitter.com/OVP8Y2W6ec  Good Morning Britain (@GMB) May 23, 2024

Vennells asked about choosing Second Sight review Former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells has been asked about her decision to go ahead with a review of the Horizon system by Second Sight, as opposed to Deloitte. "I felt very strongly that we needed an organisation who would be able to work well with subpostmasters  I was concerned that any one of the Big 4... would have come across as too corporate... I don't recall looking at the proposals in detail at the meeting," she said. Questioned on whether a deliberate choice was made to choose forensic accounting firm Second Sight over Deloitte to review independently the Horizon system because the formers proposal was much narrower in scope and only looked at a sample of past cases, Vennells said: From a personal point of view, I would say that is absolutely not the case. I have no recollection of that at all.

Paula Vennells: From high-profile retail boss to pivotal figure in Post Office scandal Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells arrives to give her second day of evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry. (PA) What to know about Paula Vennells as she appears before the Post office inquiry for a second day of questioning. Read the full story from The Telegraph.

Inquiry resumes for second day of Paula Vennells questioning The inquiry has retstarted for Paula Vennells' second day of questioning over the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, which is kicking off by looking at the Second Sight investigation.
Rep. Bob Bezotte | House GOP photo

After requesting reconsideration of a decision to disqualify him from the ballot, as well as threatening legal action, state Rep. Bob Bezotte (R-Howell) will get a chance to seek a third term.

Bezotte, the 50th District incumbent, had been ruled ineligible for the ballot earlier this month by Livingston County Clerk Elizabeth Hundley following a filing made April 24 by Brighton attorney Dan Wholihan alleging the legislator did not use the correct address on his affidavit of identity (AOI).

That changed after Bezottes attorney, Michael J. Pattwell with the Lansing-based Clark Hill law firm, sent Hundley a letter saying her office committed clear factual and legal error in making its erroneous finding and laid out details demonstrating that the Marion Township address he listed as his residence was still legally considered so, despite his estranged wife changing the locks while he was away visiting family.

Sheila Bezotte filed for a divorce last November, alleging mental, emotional and physical abuse throughout the years of marriage. Rep. Bezotte has denied there was any abuse.

Bezotte listed that address as his residence on his AOI, and the address of his daughter as his mailing address. An affidavit by Sheila Bezotte that was filed with Wholihans complaint stated Rep. Bezotte had moved out of the home he shared with his wife in December and was residing at their daughters home nearby. Both residences are within the 50th District.

Pattwell cited both an 1876 ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court and a 1976 opinion from former Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelley, which determined that ones residence was defined as the place where a person has his or her permanent home and [t]hat place continues to be the domicile of a person unless he or she renounces it and takes up another domicile in its stead.

On Wednesday, Hundley responded by saying that because Pattwells letter contained critical information not previously provided, she was reversing her decision and Bezottes name would be certified to the Livingston County Election Commission and returned to the August primary ballot.

Im glad this distraction is over and we can all get back to talking about the issues that really matter to the people of this community, said Bezotte after the reversal. The people I represent dont want arguments over paperwork and competing legal maneuvers  they want solutions to the high cost of living and violent crime. Thats what Im fighting for every day.

The decision means the Republican nomination in the 50th District will now be a four-way race between Bezotte, Jason Woolford, Kristina Lyke and Dominic Restuccia. Wholihan, who filed the complaint, is married to Lyke. He is also the chair of the 7th District GOP.

Austin Breuer is the lone Democrat seeking the seat. The primary election is Aug. 6.

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The post Livingston County clerk reverses decision, puts Bezotte back on Michigan House primary ballot appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Lockport alderman charged with two counts of harassment in urination incident

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Lockport city lawmaker has been charged in a bizarre incident, involving him allegedly urinating outside his home.

Lockport Alderman Mark Devine, a Republican, has been charged with two counts of harassment in the second degree in connection with the incident. Lockport Police Chief Steve Abbott confirmed Devine had been charged.

The incident dates back to April 11, when police received an initial report from a neighbor that the alderman allegedly urinated outside of his home between a neighbors home in the sight of children. Police said the alleged victim signed a harassment violation.

Police said they consulted with the Niagara County District Attorneys Office on the case and the matter was sent to a city judge. Police said the judge issued a criminal summons for Devine to answer to two counts of harassment in the second degree.

Abbott said Devine appeared on Monday in court and is due back on June 3. News 4 WIVB has attempted to contact Devine multiple times but has yet to hear back.

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Jeff Preval is an award-winning anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in December 2021. See more of his work here.

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The UNC System Board of Governors voted Thursday on a policy that guts diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at public universities across North Carolina. Its a move thats necessary, they say, in order to uphold a deep-rooted commitment to diversity of thought.

Our universities will support intellectual freedom, not promote a particular ideology ... North Carolina is a diverse state, and our public universities belong to everyone, UNC Board of Governors Chairman Randy Ramsey wrote in a statement following last months initial committee vote.

But as the board weighs important decisions about diversity-related matters, its also holding up a mirror to itself. The governing board of North Carolinas public university system is woefully lacking in ideological diversity, and its members are far more reflective of the Republican leaders who appoint them than of the state and system they ought to represent.

The Board of Governors, which oversees all 17 UNC System campuses, has 24 members. The General Assembly appoints all 24 members. Of the 23 current members, just two are registered Democrats. Sixteen members  two-thirds of the board  are registered Republicans. The remaining five members are registered as unaffiliated, though several of them have donated significant sums to Republican candidates. The board has one vacancy, as Lee Roberts resigned from his role in January to serve as UNC-Chapel Hills interim chancellor.

Many members also have political backgrounds. Harry Brown, who was appointed in 2023, is a former Republican lawmaker who served as Senate majority leader for a decade. Also appointed in 2023: Woody White, another former Republican senator. And in 2020, the General Assembly appointed Art Pope, one of the most influential Republican donors in North Carolina, to the board.

Chris Marsicano, assistant professor of educational studies at Davidson College, noted that North Carolina is one of only two states that has the legislature appoint the governing board. In most cases, the governor makes the appointments.

He said that in 2005, the BOG had eight Republicans and 22 Democrats, but by 2013 there was not a single Democrat. Now there are two.

They went from having some Republicans to almost exclusively Republican and Republican-leaning members within 15 years, he said.

Thats not for lack of trying by Democrats. State Sen. Gladys Robinson, a Greensboro Democrat and former member of the Board of Governors, said that nominees she has proposed have not been considered by the Senate. Even when Democrats were in the majority, Robinson said, they were committed to having diversity by having the minority party appoint members. She noted that House Speaker Tim Moore was appointed to the Board of Governors in 1997 when he was chairman of the Cleveland County Republican Party.

Very seldom have we gotten any support, regardless of the caliber of nominees, she said. Weve put forward some of the best leaders that North Carolina has, but the Senate refuses to appoint them.

State Sen. Dan Blue, a Wake County Democrat and the Senates minority leader, said people who could make strong contributions to the board dont want to enter the nominating process.

Multiple people told me, Why go through all this knowing its not going anywhere? he said.

Instead, Robinson said, Republican lawmakers are appointing people who are their friends and who have made contributions to their campaigns. It has nothing to do with the resumes of these people.

Indeed, many members of the Board of Governors have made hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to Republican candidates for state and federal office, including Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger.

Diversity among UNC-Chapel Hill trustees

The UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees, which recently voted to shift UNCs DEI funding to public safety and police, is similarly homogeneous. There are 14 voting members, and more than 75% of them are registered Republicans. There is not a single registered Democrat on the board. There are three former lawmakers on the board, one of whom is now a registered lobbyist. Also on the board is Jim Blaine, Bergers former chief of staff and one of the states most prominent political consultants. The boards former chair, Dave Boliek, who still sits on the board, is the Republican nominee for state auditor in Novembers general election.

Trustees, however, have spoken at length about the importance of diversity of thought, and how conservative voices are stifled in favor of liberal ones in Chapel Hill. That commitment to ideological diversity was the purported motivation for fast-tracking the development of a School of Civic Life and Leadership, intended to be a haven of sorts for conservative thought on campus. Boliek, for instance, told Fox News that the school is an effort to remedy the lack of right-of-center views on campus.

Roger Perry, a Chapel Hill developer who chaired the Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2009, said the makeup of the board has become more political.

During his era, the governor and Board of Governors appointed trustees. Since then, the governor has been cut out and trustees are appointed by the Board of Governors, the speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tempore.

To be appointed now, Perry said, Im sure theres a political litmus test, or you have holy water put on you by the Senate president pro tem or the speaker.

Before Republicans took control of the legislature, Perry said, trustees would recommend new members based on their volunteer service to the university, regardless of their political affiliations.

The qualifications that were necessary 15 years ago are totally different from the qualifications today, Perry said. On my board, I couldnt tell you who was registered one way or the other.

That is not to say all 12 members on the Board of Trustees havent paid their dues in terms of service. There are several who have, but most have not, he said.

Perry said the tight political control reflects Republican lawmakers desire to alter the universitys prevailing progressive culture and its effect on students.

I think they do fear that the university turns out people who vote against them, Perry said. Thats true, but its not because they get indoctrinated, its because they get educated.

Little appetite for change

The boards dont appear eager for people to know much about them. A list is available on the Board of Governors website, but the page doesnt appear with a simple Google search and can be difficult to navigate. On the Board of Trustees website, some biographies appear incomplete. For example, one members biography does not mention the term he served as a state lawmaker, and Blaines biography greatly understates the extent of his ties to Berger and the legislature. Yet these people are tasked with making significant decisions about North Carolinas prized university system, a massive public expenditure and one of the states largest employers.

Former UNC System President Tom Ross served as co-chairman of the Governors Commission on the Governance of Higher Education in North Carolina, which Gov. Roy Cooper created in 2022 to assess and recommend changes to the governance structure of the UNC System. In 2015, a Republican-dominated Board of Governors pushed Ross out of office. No reason was given, but Ross was apparently removed because he is a Democrat.

His co-chair on the commission was the Republican who replaced him as the UNC System president: former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. The commission, Ross said, tried to set out areas where we felt having people representative of North Carolina is important. The university is for everybody.

Republican state lawmakers say they  and by extension, their appointees  are representative of North Carolina because voters have put them in power.

But Ross said Republicans didnt get 100 percent of the vote and they dont have 100 percent of the legislature.

Republican legislative leaders opposed the creation of the governors commission and ignored its recommendations on how to make the universitys governing boards more representative of the states political racial and geographic diversity.

Im disappointed there wasnt more willingness to engage and discuss. [The commission] was a bipartisan group, Ross said. Most of us realized it wasnt going to be embraced with open arms by the legislature, but we did hope they would pay some attention to it.

Ultimately, the insular political makeup of UNCs governing boards makes its purported commitments to ideological diversity appear hollow and hypocritical. But it also hurts the strength of the entire UNC System and the institutions that are a part of it.

I worry that a lack of diversity on these boards is reducing the possibility of true game-changing academic initiatives, Marsicano, the Davidson professor who co-authored a brief for the Governors Commission on the boards diversity, said. Having a diversity of viewpoints allows for a greater ability to maximize the strengths of the university.

Most critically, though, it jeopardizes the long-held principle that North Carolinas universities belong to everyone. System leaders say they want more ideological diversity on campus, but without a commitment to diversity within their own ranks, it appears as if the only ideology they really want on campus is their own.
A look at the legislative voting records of the Republican CD2 candidates

Reps. Austin Theriault (left) and Mike Soboleski (right) are both vying for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden in November. (Photos via Maine House Republicans)

The Republican candidates looking to unseat Jared Golden in Maines 2nd Congressional District both just wrapped up their first terms in the Maine State Legislature.

Maine Morning Star reviewed the more than 550 roll call votes Rep. Austin Theriault of Fort Kent and Rep. Mike Soboleski of Phillips took while serving in the Maine House of Representatives over the past two years.

More often than not, the two were aligned in their votes, but there were some notable differences around certain drug policy and social issues. Across the board, Soboleski more consistently took a conservative stance, whereas Theriaults votes would vary on issues depending on the specific bill.

For example, this showed up with measures that sought to address Maines housing crisis. Theriault supported the enactment of a bill (LD 2) to create the states housing first fund, but he did not back a $100 million bill (LD 1867) to subsidize mixed-income housing development projects for nonprofits and municipalities. Soboleski did not support either measure.

There was also a notable difference in the number of votes each candidate missed over the two sessions. Theriault was absent for 45 votes, whereas Soboleski missed eight.

One hundred percent conservative

During a televised debate in April, Soboleski claimed he was the only person in the race to have a 100% conservative voting record in the House. When Maine Morning Star followed up on that claim, Soboleski said it came from voting grades given by the national American Conservative Union/CPAC.

I have a 100% conservative rating due to my votes for protecting our constitutional rights, free markets, deregulation and common sense solutions to modern problems, he said.

Soboleski does have a 100% rating on the CPAC Center for Legislative Accountability website; however, it only lists 19 votes. Theriault is not listed on the rankings. A representative from CPAC told Maine Morning Star the sparse data on the two candidates is likely a result of them only serving one term so far.

Theriault occasionally veered from the majority of Republicans, such as opposing a bill (LD 998) that would have eliminated the annual cost of living increase to the state minimum wage. He also opposed a proposal (LD 835) to phase out income tax that most other Republicans, including Soboleski, were in favor of.

However, Soboleski also strayed from the caucus at times. He was one of few Republicans to join Democrats in voting down a bill (LD 994) to amend the definitions of amphetamine and methamphetamine in the Maine Criminal Code. And he was one of 10 Republicans who didnt vote in line with the party to support amendments (LD 1967) to municipal cable television systems ordinances.

Theriault did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Drug policy

One issue that came up during the two debates between the candidates was their differing views on harm reduction practices, such as the creation of safe consumption sites where people can administer previously obtained drugs under medical supervision as a way to prevent overdoses.

While Soboleski voted against a bill to study the authorization of such sites, Theriault said he has family members who have struggled with addiction and his experience has shown him that people who need recovery resources arent always able to access them.

We need to not judge them; we need to help get them access to recovery treatment, Theriault said during the debate held at the Maine GOP conference in April.

Theriault was also in favor of allowing people to apply to get their criminal histories for now-legal marijuana crimes sealed. But he joined Soboleski in voting against a failed bill that would have made recording-sealing the default.

Gender identity

Soboleski draws a hard line voting against what are seen as progressive policies around gender and sexuality, but again Theriaults votes on these issues were a mixed-bag.

Though Theriault was one of two Republicans to support a proposal (LD 942) to look into adding a third gender option to most state forms, he opposed the bill that would actually implement the change. Additionally, he opposed a bill (LD 1507) allowing a person to get a new marriage certificate to reflect a change of gender.

And while he supported a Democrat-backed change (LD 707) to the Maine Human Rights Act with regard to gender identity, Theriault did not vote for a proposal (LD 1040) to reimburse gender-affirming care for MaineCare members.

What legislation did they sponsor?

As freshmen legislators, Theriault sponsored three bills and Soboleski sponsored five. However, they both signed on to dozens more as cosponsors.

Of the bills they sponsored, they each had one become law.

Soboleskis successful bill requires legislative approval for new rules adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection regarding motor vehicle emission standards, including Advanced Clean Cars II, which was taken up by the Board of Environmental Protection but ultimately rejected in March.

Theriaults bill that became law seeks to increase Maines use of wood waste  like scrap, sawdust and paper mill residue  for energy production, a priority of some in his timber-heavy district.

How to use the voting record table:

The description for each vote starts with the bill number, followed by its title.

Before looking at how each candidate voted, its important to look at the motion that was made for that bill. This can be found in the parentheses. Often, the motion will be Ought to Pass or Ought Not to Pass. Remember that if a candidate voted N to Ought Not to Pass, then they were in support of the bill.

Because of enactment votes, there may be more than one roll call vote for the same bill.

The full text of every bill can be found on the Legislatures website.

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The post A look at the legislative voting records of the Republican CD2 candidates appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
A new look is coming for Phoenix Park: Here are 3 upgrades youll not want to miss

Its more than some new-look upgrades to a city park. Its an opportunity to polish an old jewel in Lexingtons crown.

Thats according to Michelle Kosieniak, who oversees planning for the citys Parks and Recreation Department.

She envisions the much-anticipated $4.6 million renovation of Phoenix Park as an opportunity to join the recently revamped Charles Young Park and the proposed Town Branch Park as gathering spot gems in downtown Lexington.

Together, she said, the three parks could line the spine of the city and provide much-needed recreation space to local residents.

For more than 30 years, Phoenix Park has been a downtown Lexington landmark and a space for visitors while paying tribute to the famous Phoenix Hotel that stood in its place for more than 100 years previously.

After years of planning and postponement, Lexington Parks and Rec held a construction kick-off event at 10 a.m. Thursday on the second floor of the Lexington Public Librarys Central Branch instead of the initial location at the park due to rainy weather.

While renovations will make the park more attractive, there are no plans to expand it, city officials said.

We think that this will be a generational change for this space downtown, and were really looking forward to opening it up next year, Kosieniak said.

Families, dog owners and performers can expect major changes to the space when it reopens next spring.

In the meantime, here are three upgrades Lexington can look forward to:

A new performance area

Over the years, Phoenix Park has been used for events and performances by locals. Now, there will be a dedicated space for the performing arts, with the installation of a raised performance area (similar to a stage) in the center of the park.

The biggest upgrade is something people will never see, and thats the infrastructure, Kosieniak said. Phoenix Park was built so long ago we never anticipated performances there, so there is no provision for the electricity needed for amplification of events.

The upgrades will include sound, LED lighting and electricity for performances, event hosting and food vendors.

New play space and equipment

Renovations will feature new play equipment for ages 2-12 and an interactive fog system, allowing people to play with water differently.

In the evening, we imagine older children [and] grown children will enjoy that in the space as well, Kosieniak said.

Speaking of grown children, Kosieniak said there will be newly installed swing sets designed for adult use.

Upgraded dog park

The area will feature artificial turf on the surface and new seating for dog owners.

Kosieniak said the turf installation follows suit with premium dog parks of similar urban park settings.

However, due to the limited size of the existing park, Kosieniak said there will not be additional space added to the area.
Louisiana is about to become the first state to criminalize widely used abortion drugs

Louisiana is set to be the first state in the US to criminalize possession of widely used abortion drugs, with a bill that has alarmed abortion rights advocates and doctors across the state and drawn warnings from the White House.

State lawmakers have approved a bill to label mifepristone and misoprostol  drugs used in a two-drug protocol for medication abortion, the most common form of abortion care in the US  as controlled dangerous substances, in a category alongside Xanax and Valium.

Possession of the FDA-approved drugs without a prescription, in a state where abortion is already effectively outlawed altogether, could carry a penalty of 10 years in prison.

Louisianas Republican-controlled state Senate passed the measure by a vote of 29-7 on Thursday. The states GOP-controlled House overwhelmingly approved the bill on Monday.

Republican Governor Jeff Landry has indicated he will sign the bill into law.

A letter signed by more than 250 obstetrician-gynecologists, emergency room doctors and physicians from across the state urgently warned the bills author that, if signed into law, the measure would severely impact womens healthcare in the state and delay potentially life-saving treatment.

Vice President Kamala Harris has called the legislation absolutely unconscionable.

The bill, drafted by anti-abortion group Louisiana Right to Life and sponsored by Republican state Rep Thomas Pressly, will assist law enforcement in protecting vulnerable women and unborn babies, according to a statement from Mr Pressly.

Mifepristone was first approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration in most cases up to 10 weeks of pregnancy in 2000, when a vast majority of abortions occur, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medication abortions account for roughly 54 percent of all abortions in the US, according to reproductive health group Guttmacher Institute.

The drug is also used to treat miscarriages. Roughly 10 percent of clinically recognized pregnancies end in miscarriages, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The drug blocks the hormone progesterone, which helps support the uterus. A healthy uterine lining supports a fertilized egg, embryo and fetus. Without progesterone, the uterus will expel its contents.

Roughly 24 to 48 hours after a patient takes mifepristone, the patient then takes misoprostol, which helps empty the uterus. Misoprostol-only medication abortions are also common.

In June 2022, the US Supreme Court revoked a constitutional right to abortion by reversing the decades-long precedent held in Roe v Wade. In the months that followed, more than a dozen states moved to outlaw abortions in nearly all circumstances.

The nations high court is expected to make a decision in another abortion rights case within the coming weeks that will determine whether to strip the governments approval of mifepristone.

That decision could devastate abortion and miscarriage care across the US, including in states where abortion access is legally protected, and potentially open the door for other activist-driven challenges to other life-saving drugs, according to abortion rights advocates.
Packages of Mifepristone tablets are displayed at a family planning clinic on April 13, 2023 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo illustration by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The Louisiana Legislature gave final approval Thursday to a bill that would label two drugs used to induce labor and treat miscarriages as controlled dangerous substances, despite opposition from a broad group of medical professionals.

The proposal from state Sen. Thomas Pressly, a Shreveport Republican, targets mifepristone and misoprostol, the two primary drugs used for medication abortions. His fellow senators voted 29-7 to advance the legislation to GOP Gov. Jeff Landry, a staunch anti-abortion advocate who is expected to sign it into law.

Louisiana would be the first state to attach criminal penalties to the medications.

Once the law takes effect Oct. 1, anyone who prescribes or dispenses either of the two medications without the proper authorization could face criminal penalties with the severity currently reserved for potentially addictive drugs such as Xanax and Valium.

All five women who hold seats in the Senate voted for the Pressly bill, including Democratic Sens. Regina Barrow of Baton Rouge and Katrina Jackson-Andrews of Monroe. It was Jackson-Andrews who authored the trigger law that put Louisianas strict abortion in place two years ago.

After the state House approved the measure Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris singled out Louisiana lawmakers on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, calling their action absolutely unconscionable.

Pressly brought his proposal forward after his pregnant sister was unknowingly given the drug by her estranged husband. Mason Herring, a Houston attorney, was sentenced in February to 180 days in prison and 10 years on probation for the crime, according to the Associated Press.

A harsher punishment was needed for the offense, Pressly said, and the original version of his bill dealt only with the crime. Louisiana Right to Life, the states leading anti-abortion group, lobbied lawmakers to update the proposal and make mifepristone and misoprostol Schedule IV drugs.

More than 200 Louisiana doctors signed a letter sent to Pressly asking him to remove the amendment. In it, they said the two medications are no more controlled dangerous substances than other commonly prescribed drugs such as insulin, Viagra and Ozempic.

If mifepristone and misoprostol become controlled substances, doctors prescribing them will need specialty licenses. Health care providers and pharmacists will also have to ensure their secure storage.

On the Senate floor, Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, questioned Pressly over whether his measure would prevent immediate access to the drugs in emergency situations. Pressly said those in urgent need would still be able to obtain needed medications through hospital emergency rooms.

Were using politics to decide how to govern care for women, and that should not be the case, Duplessis later said in a statement. Decision making like that is why we are last in maternal health outcomes.

The legislation allows patients with a prescription to use the drugs, and it excludes pregnant women who take the medication from criminal penalties. It would be a felony crime for anyone else in possession of either of the medications, punishable by up to five years in prison. Anyone intending to distribute the drugs could face up to 10 years in prison.

The new legislation would also fall under Louisianas laws against racketeering, a designation typically used for organized crime and gang activity.

It is already illegal to use drugs to induce an abortion in Louisiana, which approved one of the nations strictest abortion bans in 2022 that took effect after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized the procedure.

The post Louisiana declares abortion drugs dangerous substances to add harsher penalties appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana is set to make possessing abortion pills without a prescription punishable by up to 10 years in prison

Louisiana lawmakers on Thursday approved legislation making the possession of abortion pills without a prescription a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

It now heads to the desk of GOP Gov. Jeff Landry, who has not publicly weighed in on the legislation but is expected to sign it.

The first-in-the-nation legislation could be a model for other red states grappling with how to stop their residents from traveling out of state to get abortion pills or ordering them online despite their abortion bans. But people who obtain those pills dont always have prescriptions for them, particularly if they are mailed from overseas.

Under the Louisiana bill, pregnant women who obtain the medication for their own use would be exempt from criminal liability. But friends or family who help them get the pills and non-pregnant women who obtain them as a precaution could face criminal penalties for possession.



Data from the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion-rights advocacy group, found that the number of abortions performed annually rose in the wake of the Supreme Courts 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. More than 1 million abortions were performed across the U.S. in 2023, the last year for which reliable data is available. That represents an 11 percent increase since 2020, and nearly two-thirds were medication abortions.

Abortion is illegal in Louisiana except to save the life of the mother and in cases of lethal fetal anomaly.

President Joe Bidens campaign seized on the legislation this week as an example of the chaos wrought by the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade nearly two years ago.

Under the legislation, doctors would need a special license to prescribe the drugs, and prescriptions would be cataloged in a state database, accessible to doctors, pharmacists, Louisianas medical board and law enforcement agencies with a warrant. Doctors fear that it could lead to more monitoring and second-guessing of their decisions to prescribe the drugs, especially in emergency situations.

Ellie Schilling, a Louisiana attorney who specializes in reproductive health law, told reporters Wednesday that the state is effectively establishing a database to monitor womens pregnancies.

That should be unimaginable in America, Schilling said.

GOP state Sen. Thomas Pressly introduced the legislation after his sisters husband tried to end her pregnancy by spiking her drinks with abortion pills. The husband was recently sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to injuring a child and the assault of a pregnant person.



Presslys original bill, which had unanimous support, proposed creating a crime of coerced criminal abortion for anyone who administers abortion pills to someone to terminate a pregnancy without consent. But his decision to amend the controlled substances provision into the bill late last month to control the rampant illegal distribution of abortion-inducing drugs sparked swift backlash from doctors and abortion-rights advocates.

More than 200 doctors in Louisiana, in a letter to Pressly, said the legislation would result in fear and confusion among patients, doctors, and pharmacists that would delay care and worsen outcomes.

While mifepristone is used only to terminate pregnancies, misoprostol is also used to treat miscarriages, prepare patients for endometrial biopsy and ease IUD insertion.

Mischaracterizing misoprostol, a drug routinely and safely used on labor units throughout the state, as a dangerous drug of abuse, creates confusion and misinformation and harms women seeking high quality maternal care, the letter said. Setting this precedent is a threat to the safe and autonomous practice of medicine in Louisiana and will have a chilling effect on patients and providers.

Anti-abortion advocates, including Pressly, have argued that the legislation would still allow doctors to dispense the two medications for lawful reasons.

Sarah Zagorski, spokesperson for Louisiana Right to Life, on Thursday lauded Pressly for spearheading the bill, which she said would stop the abortion industry from profiting off of abuse and trafficking of vulnerable women through their flagrantly illegal distribution of pills."
BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming visit of President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo to China will inject new impetus into the comprehensive and in-depth development of the friendly relations between China and Equatorial Guinea, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Thursday.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Obiang will pay a state visit to China from May 26 to 31.

China and Equatorial Guinea share a deep and longstanding friendship, Wang told a daily press briefing. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations over half a century ago, the two sides have always treated each other with equality and mutual respect and supported each other.

In recent years, bilateral relations have maintained a high level of development, with deepening political mutual trust and steady progress in practical cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, Wang said.

President Obiang is an old friend of the Chinese people, Wang said. During President Obiang's visit, President Xi will hold a welcoming ceremony and a welcoming banquet for him, and the two heads of state will hold talks and jointly attend a signing ceremony of cooperation documents, the spokesperson said.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, will meet with President Obiang respectively, Wang said. President Obiang will also visit China's Shandong Province.

It is believed that President Obiang's visit will inject new impetus into the comprehensive and in-depth development of the friendly relations between the two countries, and push for continuous achievements in bilateral cooperation in various fields, Wang said. 
Louisiana is poised to legally reclassify abortion care medication as a dangerous controlled substance punishable with jail time if obtained without a prescription.

On Thursday, the Republican-controlled Louisiana state Senate voted 29 to 7 to advance Senate Bill No. 276 to the states Republican governor, Jeff Landry, who is expected to give his signature.

The bill would reclassify the abortion medication drugs Mifepristone and Misoprostol  which are the most common medications used to induce abortion or treat a miscarriage  as Schedule IV controlled substances. This would qualify the drugs for levels of control akin to dependency-prone medications like Klonopin, Valium, and Xanax.

The legislation would level criminal penalties against those found in possession of the drugs without a prescription  punishable with up to 10 years in jail. While there is an exception for pregnant women found in possession of the drug, the bill would also make it unlawful for a physician or other person to perform or attempt to perform an abortion, with or without the consent of the pregnant female.

S.B. 276 was originally intended to criminalize giving a woman abortion medication in a fraudulent manner. The idea for the law was conceived by state Sen. Thomas Pressly (R) after his sister, Catherine Herring, was slipped abortion medication without her consent by her husband, who pleaded guilty to drugging her drinks in a plea deal. The bill was later expanded to include the reclassification of abortion-inducing medication.

Earlier this year, more than 280 physicians signed a letter urging Pressly to strike the amendments, arguing they create the false perceptions that these are dangerous drugs.

Mischaracterizing misoprostol, a drug routinely and safely used on labor units throughout the state, as a dangerous drug of abuse creates confusion and misinformation, and harms women seeking high quality maternal care, the letter read.

Louisiana already has some of the most restrictive abortion laws  and one of the highest maternal mortality rates  in the country. Abortion is almost entirely banned in the state, with extremely limited exemptions. Doctors worry that increased restrictions on common pregnancy medication will only worsen outcomes for patients in the state.

Literally every single day on labor and delivery, someone, if not multiple people, is receiving misoprostol for induction of labor, Nicole Freehill, a New Orleans-based OB-GYN, previously told Rolling Stone. Its a very inexpensive medication and very effective at preventing hemorrhage, for IUD insertions, for endometrial biopsies, to prep a patients cervix when they have a miscarriage. Its utilized for so many things and on a very regular basis.

Misoprostol is such a literal life-saver, Freehill added. Its disappointing this bill is moving forward, but I am still hopeful the Senate and/or the governor will listen to the hundreds of physicians who are opposed to this change and not pass or sign the bill.

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Republicans in the Louisiana state house passed a bill Tuesday that would designate the abortion pills mifepristone and misoprostol as a "controlled dangerous substance" and punish people holding these pills if they do not hold a prescription, The New York Times reported. According to the bill, violators "shall be imprisoned with or without hard labor for not less than one year nor more than five years," in addition to fines.

Under the proposed law, someone who is themselves pregnant would be exempt from imprisonment and fines, but anyone who helps them obtain abortion pills would be at risk of prosecution. For non-pregnant individuals who are taking precautions, or volunteers who provide pills to under-served communities, the bill represents an escalation from punishing people for actual abortions to targeting those who are merely preparing for the possibility.

Lower-income women are expected to be hit hardest, as they have more difficulty accessing hospitals to provide necessary care. And doctors, noting that misoprostol is often used to treat miscarriages, induce labor and stop obstetric hemorrhaging, fear that  in a state with one of the country's highest maternal mortality rates  the legislation could put lives at risk by sowing confusion and prolonging the delivery process during medical emergencies.

"Imagine being in labor, and your O.B. says, Oh, you need misoprostol to ripen your cervix so we can progress labor safely, and that woman thinks, Wait, why is she giving me the dangerous drug? Dr. Jennifer Avegno told the Times, warning that the law could mislead people into thinking that abortion pills will poison them.

The GOP bill, which is backed by anti-abortion groups like Louisiana Right to Life, defies decades of medical research and patient data that has found the two pills to be overwhelmingly safe. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not consider abortion pills to be drugs with the potential for dependence or abuse, Republican lawmakers and judges have used that excuse to undermine access.

Last April, Trump-appointed federal judge Matthew Kacsmaryk suspended FDA approval of mifepristone, which is used in more than half of U.S. abortions and was first approved for use more than 20 years ago. The case is being appealed to the Supreme Court.

The Louisiana bill, which passed the House 66-30, goes to the Republican-controlled Senate next. If it passes there, Republican governor and anti-choice stalwart Jeff Landry is widely expected to sign it into law.
Possession of abortion pills without a prescription could soon be illegal in Louisiana after Republicans in the state Legislature passed a first-of-its-kind bill that designates the pills as dangerous controlled substances.

The state Senate passed the bill by a 29-7 vote Thursday, days after it passed the state House. It now heads to the desk of Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, who is expected to sign it.

Landry, an abortion opponent, has yet to officially weigh in on the measure. But in a post on a personal social media account earlier this week, he referenced Vice President Harriss criticism of the bill.

You know youre doing something right when @KamalaHarris criticizes you, Landry wrote on the social platform X. This bill protects expectant mothers while also allowing these drugs to be prescribed to those with a valid prescription.

The bill will add mifepristone and misoprostol to Louisianas Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, which regulates drugs that can be highly addictive such as opioids, ephedrine and antidepressants.

The bill categorizes them as Schedule IV, meaning possession would be illegal for anyone who doesnt have a prescription or is a licensed provider. Violators would be subject to up to five years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines. It would exempt from prosecution pregnant women who possess the pills for her own consumption, but anyone who helps women get the pills would be at risk.

Abortion rights advocates said the legislation will create a chilling effect and adds more hurdles for prescribers and pharmacists. To prescribe controlled substances, physicians in the state need a special license, and the state tracks the patient, physician and pharmacy involved in each prescription.

Lawmakers said the bill is aimed at stopping abortion drugs being used without physician oversight.

Abortion is almost entirely banned in Louisiana, meaning abortion pills are also illegal under the law. The only exceptions to the ban are if there is substantial risk of death or impairment to the mother if she continues the pregnancy or in the case of medically futile pregnancies, when the fetus has a fatal abnormality.

But women are still able to get the pills in the mail from providers in blue states protected by telehealth shield laws.

The bill would seemingly make it illegal for a woman to have the pills on-hand if she isnt pregnant and imminently planning to take them, a practice known as advance provision thats become increasingly popular in states with abortion bans.

The federal government does not classify the drugs as controlled substances. They are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and research has overwhelmingly shown both pills to be safe and effective. The two-drug regimen is used in about two-thirds of all abortions nationwide.

Misoprostol especially has wide-ranging applications in reproductive health including for labor induction, to soften the cervix during surgical procedures and in medical management of miscarriage. Its also on the World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines.

Anti-abortion advocates say medication abortion is dangerous, and recently argued that point at the Supreme Court in an attempt to limit access to mifepristone.

Hundreds of doctors in the state have spoken out against the legislation, warning that it could lead to worsening outcomes in a state that has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country.

The bills sponsor, state Sen. Thomas Pressly (R), said he was motivated to act because his sister was the victim of a crime in which her then-husband secretly spiked her drink with misoprostol in 2022 to stop her pregnancy.

The original bill created the crime of coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud, when someone knowingly gives abortion pills to a pregnant woman without her knowledge or consent. There were few objections.

But it was later amended, with help from the powerful anti-abortion group Louisiana Right to Life, to add the provision about classifying the drugs as controlled substances.

State attorney general Liz Murrill (R) wrote on X that mifepristone and misoprostol are increasingly being shipped from outside our state and country to women and girls in our state.

The legislation does NOT prohibit these drugs from being prescribed and dispensed in Louisiana for legal and legitimate reasons, she added.

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Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, has appointed Pavel Muraveiko the new Chief of General Staff and First Deputy Defence Minister.

Source: Belarusian regime-aligned news agency BelTA

Details: Muraveiko reportedly served as the first deputy state secretary of the Belarusian Security Council until now.

After appointing Muraveiko, Lukashenko also drew attention to the war in Ukraine. "This is also a lesson for us. A serious lesson. We must see what modern warfare is like," he said.

Background: On 10 May, Alexander Lukashenko dismissed Viktor Gulevich, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus, due to his age. "Pursuant to a decree issued by Lukashenko, Gulevich has been discharged from active military duty and transferred to the reserve on account of his age, retaining the right to wear military uniforms and insignia."

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A man accused of stealing and attempting to sell a Tacoma musicians $9,000 clarinet to different pawnshops has been arrested.

The 25-year-old man was charged Tuesday with first-degree theft and first-degree trafficking stolen property for allegedly stealing Victor Prinsens clarinet on May 16. Prinsen is the owner of High Note Audio on Tacoma Mall Boulevard. The shop opened in November 2023.

Prinsen said the day of the theft, he was hosting a group of friends in the stores showroom when an unknown man came inside. The man did not appear to be someone who would buy from his store, but Prinsen asked him what he could help him with.

I rolled out the red carpet. I shook his hand and just treated him like a respectable human being, Prinsen said.

The man told him he was waiting for his sister and sat on one of the chairs next to Prinsens clarinet. Prinsen said he kept the clarinet next to a music stand so he could play it whenever it was slow at the shop. Since the incident, he decided not to keep the clarinet in his shop.

Prinsen went back and forth from the showroom to the area where the 25-year-old man was sitting. Prinsen said that he was only a couple feet away from the man, and at one point asked him if he wanted to join them in the showroom. The man said no, and that he would just wait for his sister.

While Prinsen was in the showroom, he had his back turned for a moment and heard the door close. When he went back out, the man and his clarinet were gone. Prinsen ran outside, but the man got into a car that was waiting for him and it drove off.

That first night I slept two hours and the second night I slept maybe four hours. I was just going on fumes, I was so stressed out, Prinsen told The News Tribune on Wednesday.

Prinsen said the clarinet is rare and he bought it six years ago for $5,000. It was handmade in Paris, and Prinsen spent thousands of dollars customizing it, which added to its value.

Prinsen had a concert Monday and made plans to use a clarinet that someone let him borrow. A few hours before the performance, he received a call from Ponders Pawnbrokers in Lakewood, saying that a man was trying to sell the clarinet but they sent him to another shop. The second pawnshop called him a few moments later saying they had the clarinet.

Both of the pawnshop employees had heard about Prinsens clarinet being stolen from a KING 5 news story. Once Ponders Pawnbrokers told the man to go to the other shop, they immediately called police.

I drove from my house about 20 minutes away. I got there just in time to see him cuffed and get put into a car with a very unhappy expression and got my instrument back undamaged. I played it that night an hour later for a concert, Prinsen said.

A plea of not guilty was entered on the 25-year-old mans behalf at arraignment on Tuesday. Pierce County Superior Court commissioner Barbara McInvaille ordered him released on his personal recognizance, court records show.

Since the theft, Prinsen said, he has increased his security system and is on alert all the time. If anyone comes into his shop and shows signs they are being suspicious, he will not be as hospitable anymore.

Im just done being a victim, Prinsen said.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF)  One of three men charged with murder in connection with the shooting at the end of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade and rally earlier this year is talking publicly for the first time.

In an exclusive interview with Nexstars WDAF, 18-year-old Dominic Miller detailed what happened on Feb. 14 from his perspective.

Miller faces four felonies in the shootout, including second-degree murder. Jackson County prosecutors allege his bullet killed local radio DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan.

I didnt mean for none of this to happen. Im truly sorry that woman had to lose her life, Miller said. To the family that lost a relative, Im sorry. I know how it feels.

Months after shooting, where is the KC Strong fund money?

He described the moments leading up to the shooting that injured nearly 25 others and explained what went through his mind before he reportedly pulled out his gun.

I understand where I was, Miller said. I understand how many people were there. I understand that there was kids around, but you also have to see it from my point of view. It was either die or defend yourself, and me personally, Im not trying to die.

Miller has been in the Jackson County Detention Center for less than three weeks. The 18-year-old spent nearly three months in the hospital, recovering after he was shot in the back.

People leave the area following a shooting at Union Station during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. Several people were shot and two people were detained after a rally celebrating the Chiefs Super Bowl victory. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The beef that started the shootout, according to court documents, is because Lyndell Mays, who is also charged with second-degree murder, was staring down a teenager who was with Millers group  and the situation escalated.



We told him, we said, Not right here, we not doing nothing right here,' Miller said. On everything I love, thats what we told him cause I know how many people was around. I knew where we was at. I know how many people was there. There was kids around, and his exact words was, Nah, f that.'

The probable cause statement from police shows Mays confirmed to investigators that he pulled out his gun first. Thats when Marques Harris was shot in the face.

Thats my brother, like, Ive known him since second grade. I cant just sit there and watch him get killed right in front of my eyes, Miller said.

Sister of Chiefs rally shooting suspect detained after outburst in court

Federal prosecutors said 12 people pulled their guns, and at least six people fired their weapons.

Thats that fight or flight situation; you either going to run and still get shot, or you either going to stand there and defend yourself. Because from what I know, Missouri has a stand your ground law, he continued.

Missouris stand your ground law says if a person feels a threat, real or perceived, there is no duty to retreat. The law says actions have to be reasonable, and Miller believes his actions were in self-defense. The ultimate read on it could eventually land before a jury.

When asked if would do the same thing over again, Miller replied: The thing about that is when you in a fight or flight moment  and you got three seconds to decide, two seconds to decide what youre going to do  you cant really explain what youre going to do unless youre in that situation. So, I couldnt tell you if I would do the same thing over.

WATCH: Advocate pens poem for Kansas City after Chiefs parade shooting

WDAF also asked Miller what does he have to say to the people who said guns should not have been drawn at an event where children and families were gathered.

The reason they was there is the same reason I was there, he replied. The reason they was there to have fun is the same reason I was there to have fun. I watched the whole playoffs. I watched the Super Bowl, and I went to the Super Bowl parade just like they did.

At the same time, he said he deeply regrets that his actions cost Lopez-Galvan her life.

I pray for yall literally every night. I just prayed about them last night. If Im lying, Im dying. I just prayed about her family last night, Miller said.

As far as his physical condition, Miller said hes on his way to a full recovery.

WDAF reached out to the Lopez-Galvan family and is waiting to hear back.

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Noumea  France's president held a flurry of meetings with local representatives in the restive Pacific territory of New Caledonia on Thursday, urging calm after deadly rioting, and vowing thousands of military reinforcements will stay in place to quell what he called an "unprecedented insurrection."



Emmanuel Macron arrived Thursday in the capital Noumea after a 24-hour flight to seek ways to end more than a week of looting, arson and clashes that have left six people dead and hundreds injured. The unrest erupted over a French voting reform plan that indigenous Kanaks say will dilute their voice.



As he exited the plane at Tontouta International Airport, the French leader told reporters his "absolute priority" is "a return to peace, calm, security."

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives at the central police station in Noumea, in France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia, May 23, 2024. / Credit: LUDOVIC MARIN/Pool/REUTERS

He was expected to spend about 12 hours on the ground.

What is the New Caledonia unrest about?

France has ruled New Caledonia since the 1800s, but many indigenous Kanaks still resent Paris's power over their islands and want fuller autonomy or independence.

The archipelago's deadliest unrest in four decades was sparked by French plans to give voting rights to thousands of non-indigenous long-term residents, something Kanaks say would dilute the influence of their votes.



The voting reform plans have "breached the contract of trust" with Paris, said Victor Gogny, president of New Caledonia's senate  a consultative body that weighs in on issues affecting Kanaks.



Since May 13, separatists have thrown up barricades that have cut off whole neighborhoods and the main route to the international airport, which remains shuttered. People of French and other origins have blocked off streets in their own neighborhoods in response.

A damaged building is seen as rioters protest against plans to allow more people to take part in local elections in the French-ruled territory, which indigenous Kanak protesters reject, in Noumea, New Caledonia, May 15, 2024, in this picture obtained from social media. / Credit: Lilou Garrido Navarro Kherachi/REUTERS

It was a "totally unprecedented movement of insurrection," Macron said, adding that "no-one saw it coming with this level of organization and violence."



Nightly riots have seen scores of cars, schools, shops and businesses burned.



French authorities have imposed a state of emergency, placed separatist leaders under house arrest, banned alcohol sales and sent around 3,000 troops, police and other security reinforcements to quell the turmoil.

But despite Macron's remark suggesting the unrest was unprecedented, CBS News' Elaine Cobbe, in Paris, says there have been repeated insurrections and protests over French rule for decades  the deadliest likely coming in 1988, when 21 people were killed during a lengthy hostage-taking.

The indigenous Kanaks have long fought against the French colonization, which has since the 19th century drawn a major influx of French and other Europeans. Kanaks now account for only 41% of the population, and that's why many don't want the new law.

Opponents fear it would effectively tighten Paris's control over the Pacific archipelago.

People demonstrate as French President Emmanuel Macron's motorcade drives past in Noumea, in France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia, May 23, 2024. / Credit: LUDOVIC MARIN/Pool/REUTERS

Several referenda seeking independence have all failed, and many Kanaks believe that's at least in part due to the majority of voters not being Kanak and h0aving stronger ties to the French mainland.

Macron has ruled out going back on the result of the referendums, saying peace could not come at the cost of ignoring the will of the people or "somehow denying the road that has already been taken."

Where is New Caledonia, and why is it so important?

The fact that Macron is willing to make such a long journey just weeks before key European elections may show just how high the stakes are.



His visit began with a minute of silence for the dead and hours-long talks with anti-independence elected officials, before visiting a police station to thank security forces.



"By the end of the day" there would be "decisions" and "announcements" about next steps, Macron promised - while adding that he could extend his stay if needed.



Security forces would also "stay for as long as necessary, even during the Olympic and Paralympic Games," to be held in Paris in July-August.

A map shows Australia and the small islands of Oceania, including the French territory of New Caledonia, in the South Pacific Ocean. / Credit: Getty

Much closer to Australia than Europe, New Caledonia is 10,500 miles from the French mainland but remains both part of France and a strategic outpost in an increasingly contested region.



China, the United States, New Zealand, Japan, Arab Gulf states and France are vying for influence across the South Pacific  seeing it as crucial geopolitical real estate.



New Caledonia is also attractive as one of the world's largest nickel producers, with up to 30% of global reserves.

Tension on the streets as tourists look for a way out

Macron last visited New Caledonia in July 2023, on a trip that was boycotted by Kanak representatives.



But leaders of all pro-independence parties joined Thursday's meeting with Macron, his office said, including top movement the Caledonian Union (UC) and the CCAT collective that has organized months of protests.



Out on the streets, AFP correspondents saw Kanaks still manning reinforced roadblocks on the day of Macron's visit, flying pro-independence flags and displaying protest banners against the electoral reform.



The draft law "doesn't exist to us any more, since people have died, it's no longer even up for discussion," said Lele, a 41-year-old mother in favor of independence.



But a heavy police presence was sheltering some semblance of normal life in central Noumea, where many shops had reopened to customers and long lines formed outside bakeries.

People line-up to buy bread in Magenta district, Noumea, in France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia, May 23, 2024, as French President Emmanuel Macron visits. / Credit: LUDOVIC MARIN/Pool/REUTERS

Hundreds of tourists from Australia and New Zealand have begun to flee the turmoil, although hundreds more remain trapped.



There was anger Thursday that Macron's heavily secured visit had put further repatriation flights on hold.



Australia's foreign ministry emailed travelers to say there would be no flights Thursday, a situation New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters called "frustrating."



Efforts to reopen the international airport for commercial flights have been repeatedly delayed. But operators hope connections will resume on Saturday.

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President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech next to France's Minister for Interior and Overseas Gerald Darmanin at New Caledonia's High Commissioner residency during his trip to the Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia

When, in the small hours of Thursday, a bleary-eyed Emmanuel Macron emerged from 25 hours in the presidential plane flying from Paris to Noumea, riots and looting had been raging for more than a week around the capital of the French overseas territory of New Caledonia, with six dead, including two gendarmes.

In this context, le Presidents first words, on the tarmac of La Tontouta airport, may not have been the most tactful. A return to calm cannot mean backtracking, he said, widely interpreted as a refusal to stop the constitutional amendment that started all the trouble.

Night after night, French news has shown torched houses and businesses, over the tinny voices of local residents on the telephone from their besieged homes. We are afraid to get out; there is no food left to buy anyway, and if we leave, our homes will probably be looted and destroyed, one said.

In the ongoing blame game, its hard not to point to Macron himself as the arsonist in chief. Hes the one who set in motion a parliamentary vote in Paris, approving a constitutional amendment that would allow recent arrivals in the territory to vote in local elections.

He then dismissed weeks of protest marches from Kanak citizens, the indigenous population of New Caledonia, remote as they were from the fulcrum of politics in the capital, 17,000 kilometres away. Last week, the marches turned violent.

Macron was not yet 11 years old in 1988 when, after several years of rising violence, including a bloody hostage-taking, Francois Mitterrands then PM Michel Rocard hammered out accords that brought peace back to the islands, initiating a 10-year-long process.

One of its mainstays were assurances to the Kanaks that they would not be turned into a powerless plurality on their ancestral land. Hence the local voting restrictions. Their significant curtailing is now about to be turned into law: this is seen as a betrayal.

There isnt a single mistake they havent made, a top French civil servant familiar with the situation says. It is inconceivable the president wasnt warned how unstable the islands are. Tourism, especially from cruise ships, has vanished over the years, scared off by reports of unrest as well as the lack of tourist infrastructure. So have the profits from the nickel industry, devolved to Kanak interests in 2008.

Chinese interests are present in New Caledonia, ready to take over. They are casing the joint, he jokes.

Pariss answers have been characteristic of Macrons top-down style. Instead of asking one of the few experienced French officials that the locals value, the 69-year-old former high commissioner Thierry Lataste, he was accompanied on his trip by a clone-like trio of 40-something technocrats guaranteed not to contradict him.

Additionally, the upcoming Paris Olympics mean that most police and gendarmes are overworked in the mainland.

This is November 1954, and Macron is no de Gaulle a local politician says, referring to the All-Saints-Day assassination of French farmers in French Algeria, which started that colonys eight-year independence war. Algeria was economically viable; were not even that.

He points out the 75-year-old Renaissance (Macrons party) mayor of Noumea, Sonia Lagarde, is calling for the constitutional amendment to be dropped.

But Macron came from the other side of the globe to say the opposite. He believes his charm, persistence and technocratic savvy can convince the islanders. Right now, few would bet on his success.

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Macron vows to keep French police in New Caledonia as long as necessary

The French President took a 24-hour flight from Paris to visit the French-ruled Pacific territory, where he called for calm - LUDOVIC MARIN/REUTERS

Emmanuel Macron has said he will keep the police forces sent to the riot-struck New Caledonia as long as necessary - even as French security forces are stretched with the Paris Olympics.

As he arrived on the island on Thursday, the French president said: I will be very clear here. These forces will remain as long as necessary. Even during the Olympic Games and Paralympics.

Mr Macron took a 24-hour flight from Paris as part of a last-minute visit to the French-ruled Pacific territory, where he called for calm.

The French president said he made the 10,000-mile journey because he wanted to be alongside the people and see a return to peace, calm and security as soon as possible, as the island continues to be shaken by riots over a highly controversial electoral reform.

He added that the 1,000 security reinforcements brought in to assist the 1,700 local police forces and gendarmes would remain for as long as the island remained under a state of emergency.

More than 3,000 extra police officers have been deployed to New Caledonia - AP

The violence has left six dead, dozens injured and hundreds of local businesses damaged - THEO ROUBY/AFP

Protesters have set up road blocks around the island - REUTERS

The violence, which kicked off on May 13, has left six dead, dozens injured and hundreds of local businesses damaged, leading to the worst outbreak of violence in the territory since the 1980s.

The unrest stems from an electoral reform, already passed by lawmakers in mainland France but not yet ratified, which would extend voting rights to the non-indigenous population.

The indigenous Kanaks, who make up 40 per cent of the islands population of 270,000 people, fear the reform would hamper their political influence over the territory.

The reform still requires a meeting of both houses of parliament in Paris before it can be ratified, for which Mr Macron is yet to set a date.

During his 12-hour visit to the island, Mr Macron was meeting with local officials to discuss the reform, including pro-independence Kanak leaders who greeted him in person on Thursday.

Under a 1998 agreement known as the Noumea Accord, France agreed to give the territory more autonomy by limiting voting in local elections to those who were then residents.

If ratified, the constitutional reform would extend voting rights in local elections to French residents who have lived in the territory in the last ten years.

More than 40,000 French nationals have moved to New Caledonia since the agreement was signed.

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A Palestinian checks building debris after Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, May 23, 2024. The Israeli army pulled out on Thursday from the West Bank's Jenin and its refugee camp after three days of military operation, killing 12 Palestinians and wounding 25 others, said Palestinian security sources.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces stormed the city of Jenin and its camp on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army pulled out on Thursday from the West Bank's Jenin and its refugee camp after three days of military operation, killing 12 Palestinians and wounding 25 others, said Palestinian security sources.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces stormed the city of Jenin and its camp on Tuesday morning.

During the operation, confrontations broke out, and gunfire took place between Palestinians and Israeli forces, accompanied by the sounds of explosions.

Local sources and eyewitnesses said that military bulldozers destroyed the infrastructure, causing a power outage and disruptions in communications in a large part of the city.

The Palestinian death toll from Israeli gunfire in Jenin rose to 12, including four children, the Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry said in a press statement.

Palestinian factions in Jenin and its camp had announced a general strike to mourn the dead.

Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee said on social media platform X on Tuesday that the security forces were conducting a "counter-terror" operation in the Jenin area.

The West Bank has witnessed escalating tension since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023, which led to the death of more than 500 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian health authorities. 

Palestinians check building debris after Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, May 23, 2024. The Israeli army pulled out on Thursday from the West Bank's Jenin and its refugee camp after three days of military operation, killing 12 Palestinians and wounding 25 others, said Palestinian security sources.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces stormed the city of Jenin and its camp on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

A Palestinian walks past building debris after Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, May 23, 2024. The Israeli army pulled out on Thursday from the West Bank's Jenin and its refugee camp after three days of military operation, killing 12 Palestinians and wounding 25 others, said Palestinian security sources.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces stormed the city of Jenin and its camp on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

A Palestinian checks building debris after Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, May 23, 2024. The Israeli army pulled out on Thursday from the West Bank's Jenin and its refugee camp after three days of military operation, killing 12 Palestinians and wounding 25 others, said Palestinian security sources.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces stormed the city of Jenin and its camp on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Palestinians check building debris after Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, May 23, 2024. The Israeli army pulled out on Thursday from the West Bank's Jenin and its refugee camp after three days of military operation, killing 12 Palestinians and wounding 25 others, said Palestinian security sources.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces stormed the city of Jenin and its camp on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

A Palestinian stands on building debris after Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, May 23, 2024. The Israeli army pulled out on Thursday from the West Bank's Jenin and its refugee camp after three days of military operation, killing 12 Palestinians and wounding 25 others, said Palestinian security sources.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces stormed the city of Jenin and its camp on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

A Palestinian checks building debris after Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, May 23, 2024. The Israeli army pulled out on Thursday from the West Bank's Jenin and its refugee camp after three days of military operation, killing 12 Palestinians and wounding 25 others, said Palestinian security sources.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces stormed the city of Jenin and its camp on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
Last fall, congressional Republicans said they were so desperate to deal with U.S./Mexico border policies that they took a radical step: GOP officials said that unless Democrats agreed to a series of conservative reforms, Republicans were prepared to let Russia take part of eastern Europe by force.

Democrats, left with little choice, agreed to pay the GOPs ransom and endorsed a conservative, bipartisan compromise. As regular readers know, it was at that point when Republicans, acting at Donald Trumps behest, killed the compromise plan theyd demanded.

Today, Democratic leaders gave senators a second opportunity. As NBC News reported, it did not go well for the bills proponents.

Headed into this week, one of the lingering questions was how many votes the bipartisan package would gain since the initial vote in early February. That question now has an answer: The legislation actually managed to lose support.

In February, the final tally was 49 to 50. This afternoon, with several members missing the vote, it was 43 to 50.

In fact, a tripartisan trio co-authored the bill months ago  Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, and independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona  and two of three, Lankford and Sinema, ended up voting against advancing their own legislation today.

Its not that theyve lost confidence in their own bill, but rather, Lankford and Sinema said they saw this second effort as election-year symbolism, rather than a serious attempt at policymaking.

Thats not an entirely unreasonable point. Everyone involved in the process, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, knew with certainty that the bill wouldnt come close to receiving support from 60 members in this procedural vote. But the Democratic leadership wanted to get senators on the record  again  showing the public that Republicans claim to want a conservative border bill, right up until theyre offered one.

For years, we have heard that if you want to fix the border, then Congress needs to act. Today, we have a chance to act on the strongest border bill Congress has seen in generations, Schumer said on the Senate floor. To those whove said for years Congress needs to act on the border: This bipartisan bill is the answer, and its time show were serious about fixing the problem.

If one were inclined to criticize the New York Democrat for engaging in some legislative theatrics, the point would be well taken, but lets not lose sight of a highly relevant detail:

What Schumer said was true.

The latest survey from Public Policy Polling, meanwhile, found strong support for the compromise bill in several battleground states, suggesting voters will be hearing quite a bit more about this in the months to come. Watch this space.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Major cannabis brand opens just outside Clovis. Whats the citys view of legal weed?

The popular cannabis brand Stiiizy has opened a flagship store in a strip mall just off Willow Avenue, just across the street from the Clovis city limits.

Its slotted between a Hawaiian barbecue restaurant and a taqueria, and is somewhat hidden in the back of a parking lot shared with a Walmart Neighborhood Market.

Still, people have found it, now that the signs are up, says general manager Aida Ruiz.

We are such a notable brand.

Stiiizys pre-rolled joins in five packs displayed for sale in the companys new store on Willow and Herndon in Fresno on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

What is Stiiizy?

Started in Los Angeles in 2017, Stiiizy is one of the best-known vertically integrated cannabis companies. That is to say: It operates across all aspects of the industry, offering its products (notably vapes and battery systems) both in its flagship stores (35 now, in California) and at other dispensaries.

The Station on Shaw Avenue, for example, has a wall dedicated to Stiiizy products.

And the brand has its loyalists (and its own sub Reddit thread). A industry report from the Brightfield Group last year had nearly 50% of the states vape consumers saying theyve bought Stiiizy products, with more than 90% saying theyd do it again.

The flagship stores have better pricing (and a return and exchange policy), bud tenders who are well-versed in the brand and culture, and a tease of the newest products before they are anywhere else.

Were always going to strive to innovate, Ruiz says of the company.

Any new product, she says, will be here first.

Right now, that is something called Live Resin Liquid Diamonds, which, according to Stiiizys social media, was created after 10 million hours of R&D, real scientists (obviously), and tons of seshes that got us a little too faded.

Bailie Blecher was picking up at the store on Wednesday afternoon. Shes had no idea Stiiizy was opening a store in the area and just happened to see the sign while driving by.

She will be a regular.

She and her husband grew up in Clovis and their son goes to school there. They live in Yokuts Valley, but work in Fresno.

This is in the middle of where were going, she says.

Of the 13 dispensaries now open in Fresno, Stiiizy is the first to operate in the northeast part of the city; literally on the border with Clovis. Those residents now have access to recreational marijuana without having to drive into Fresno proper.

Clovis has been so supportive of us being here, says Stiiizy manager Ruiz.

This is long overdue.

Stiiizy Fresno recently opened on Willow and Herndon in Fresno where customers are offered a variety of the companys products as well as friendly knowledgable staff on hand.

Legal marijuana still prohibited in Clovis (mostly)

While recreational marijuana has been legal in the state since 2016, local jurisdictions have had the authority to regulate commercial cannabis activity; things like retails sales and delivery.

Five cities in Fresno County have fully embraced legal marijuana, but the majority (nine cities, including Clovis) continue to prohibit cannabis businesses.

Clovis current marijuana ordinance prohibits the retail sale and distribution of recreational marijuana (including recreational marijuana deliveries) within the city.

The ordinance was amended in January (and again last week) to set rules complying with state law requiring deliveries of medicinal marijuana to patients.

But otherwise, all prohibitions are in effect, says Clovis city manager John Holt, and wont likely change soon: I do not foresee the current city council supporting dispensaries in Clovis in the near term.

But consumers shouldnt worry about driving home with cannabis they purchased from outside the city.

According to Clovis Police Department spokesperson Ty Woods, as long as the product is sealed in its packaging (unopened) and under an ounce in weight (the personal use limit in the state) there is no violation.

Devils Johnson dried cannabis flower is displayed in a container at the new Stiiizy Fresno store on Willow and Herndon on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

Stiiizy Fresno assistant manager Kayla Anderson holds up a pack of the cannabis companys Liquid Diamonds THC pods at their new store on Willow and Herndon on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
DENVER, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Part of a major Lincoln County road is closed overnight Wednesday.

According to the N.C. Department of Transportation, N.C. 16 Business will be closed between N.C. 73 and North Pilot Knob Road for emergency road work until 7 a.m. Thursday. The closure occurred Wednesday around 6:30 p.m.

 Track issues along your commute with the QCN Traffic Interactive Map

Crews will be working to repair a water main break, Lincoln County officials say. There also was a water outage associated with the break.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Weve all been there: stuck at a green light, left blinker on, just waiting for a chance to make a turn with a non-stop stream of cars coming at you in the opposite direction  looking for a small window of opportunity.

Or maybe the light finally changes to yellow, the oncoming cars finally stop, and nowonly now as it changes to red, do you find the chance to sneak through.

Well, Los Angeles is trying to make those nail-biting left turns safer.

California car culture is famous for the rolling stop and something else: what SFGATE recently called the LA left turn  the turn that is wild, dangerous, and largely unregulated.

Theyre not wrong.

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It may be an unwritten rule that vehicles already in an intersection can complete their left turn even when the light changes  but that doesnt make it safe.

The Los Angeles Police Department says hazardous left turns trail only DUIs, speeding, tailgating and failing to stop at red lights are among the riskiest violations that cause collisions.

One of the fixes: intersections with dedicated left turn signals.

L.A. currently has 1,752 intersections with left turn signals. This fiscal year, 27 intersections have been added to the left turn list. Another eight should have left turn signals by the end of June.

No more white-knuckle turns  at least thats the theory. Its safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, around 20% of all car crashes involve left-hand turns. Also, left turns account for a quarter of all crashes involving pedestrians, according to National Public Radio.

Now that you have a left turn signal, you need to know whether its a protected left turn or something newer called protected-permissive.

Protected left turns are your standard left arrow that turns green, yellow, and red, giving you specific time to make your left turn.

Protected-permissive left turns have a green arrow and then a yellow arrow, and then it will be green for you and the cross traffic. Basically, its a head-start on a left turn before oncoming traffic can proceed.

As always, cross traffic still has the right of way.

If you live and work at a location that needs a dedicated left turn signal, you can request one.

Constituents can file requests for new signals with their City Council office, which would evaluate the need and push for the funding.

Constituents may also file a traffic safety concern for a particular intersection using the MyLA311 app, on lacity.gov/myla311 or calling 311. LADOT engineers will then review locations for potential safety issues and solutions.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man accused of a string of armed robberies of dispensaries in the Portland area was arrested on Tuesday, authorities announced.

According to the Portland Police Bureau, officers arrested 43-year-old Cory J. Jackson on Tuesday evening, sharing a photo of the Jantzen Beach Best Buy that had been evacuated leading up to the arrest.

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As PPB explained in a release, the Vancouver Police Department had notified them that a wanted suspect  later identified as Jackson  was driving into Oregon from Washington.

PPB officers, who were conducting a Stolen Vehicle Operation at the time, responded to assist. Officers located the wanted individual parking in a lot in the 2000 block of North Tomahawk Island Drive and walking into a business. Officers were able to evacuate the business and convince the man to exit. Officers took the man into custody without incident, PPB said.

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Jackson was lodged in the Multnomah County Detention Center and faces a multitude of robbery charges and other crimes.

KOIN 6 News reported on Jacksons alleged robbery spree of five dispensaries in a five-month span earlier this year, highlighting how the cash-only cannabis industry is particularly vulnerable to these types of crimes.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Man accused of stealing mail truck in Wichita is arrested in Arkansas City

A 28-year-old Wichita man accused of stealing and running from police in a mail truck in March was arrested last week at a beef plant in Arkansas City.

On May 14, Arkansas City police responded to a suspicious person call at Creekstone Farms. Employees told officers that Ephesus Kago was at the plant and was believed to be under the influence, a news release from the Ark City Police Department said.

Officers found Kago, who was showing unusual behavior. He was taken into custody after officers found illegal substances on him, according to the release.

Authorities learned that Kago had an active warrant through the U.S. Attorney Generals Office for aggravated assault of a postal worker, Ark City PD said.

Kago was arrested and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on March 23 on charges of robbery, driving on a suspended license and fleeing from police, a jail booking report showed.

A Wichita police crime blotter for the same day he was taken into custody said that Kago pushed a postal worker out of a mail truck in northwest Wichita and was later spotted by an officer attempting to flee in the mail truck.

A short pursuit ensued where Kago ditched the mail truck and fled on foot before being apprehended by police, according to the blotter.

Kago remains in custody on suspicion of obstructing law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and the federal warrant, according to the Ark City PD release.

Authorities in Wichita spelled his name as Ephesus. The Ark City police news release spelled it as Esphesus and a spokesperson for Ark City did not immediately respond to a question on the spelling of his name.
DENVER (KDVR)  A man was arrested on Thursday by Edgewater police in connection to a Tuesday morning carjacking of a pregnant womans car, according to the agency.

Roy Acosta, 37, of Denver, was arrested on charges of first-degree motor vehicle theft, vehicular eluding, possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl) and obstructing a peace officer.

The charges stem from an incident Tuesday in the 2600 block of Ingalls Street. The pregnant victim was forcibly removed by a man who stole her car. She gave police a statement with suspect information at the time.

On Thursday at about 8:05 a.m., Edgewater police were at an unrelated motor vehicle crash scene in the 2400 block of Sheridan Boulevard, when the carjacking victims approached them. They said they had just seen their car in the area, and the suspect was driving it, according to the Edgewater agency.

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Police were able to locate the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect fled. A pursuit was initiated as Acosta went east into Denver, which continued for several minutes before officers lost sight of the vehicle near 20th Street and Chestnut Place. Officers arrived at the intersection and found that Acosta had crashed into a second vehicle and fled.

Police reported no injuries were sustained in the crash.

The Edgewater Police Department reported that construction workers directed officers to where Acosta was hidden behind a parked vehicle. Officers then arrested Acosta.

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According to Edgewater police, Acosta is also facing charges out of Denver, including:

Two counts of aggravated robbery

Failure to appear for a charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute

Failure to appear in court for a charge of possession of a weapon by a previous offender and

Aggravated motor vehicle theft

A court date has not been set.

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 FOX31 Denver.
KINSHASA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Vital Kamerhe, deputy prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was on Wednesday elected president of the National Assembly, the country's lower house of parliament.

Kamerhe, who leads the Union for the Congolese Nation, won 371 of the 407 votes cast. Jean-Claude Tshilumbayi, from the ruling party Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), was elected first vice-president, while Christophe Mboso, the outgoing speaker, was elected second vice-president.

According to the Congolese army, Kamerhe was one of the targets of a failed coup attempt in the Central African country on Sunday.

His residence was raided by a group of armed men early Sunday in the coup attempt, which was "nipped in the bud" by defense forces, announced DRC military spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge.

Four attackers were killed, and about 40 others involved in the attack, including several Americans, were arrested, according to the DRC military. The failed coup attempt has been condemned by multiple leaders of African countries and organizations.

Kamerhe, 65, was appointed as deputy prime minister and minister of national economy last year.

Voting for the speaker of the lower house was originally scheduled for May 18 but was postponed last Friday.

In the general elections held in December 2023, President Felix Tshisekedi was re-elected for a second term, as the Sacred Union, a parliamentary coalition composed of Tshisekedi's Union of Democracy and Social Progress party and its allied parties, won the majority of at least 90 percent of seats at the 500-member National Assembly.

However, the lower house had remained paralyzed due to the absence of a leadership bureau, which includes posts such as president, first vice-president and second vice-president.

In the voting on Wednesday, Kamerhe was the sole candidate for president of the National Assembly.

In early April, Tshisekedi named Judith Tuluka Suminwa as the new prime minister. Tuluka was also a target of the failed coup attempt, but the putschists failed to "identify" her residence. 
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) said it arrested a man from D.C. in connection to a fatal shooting that happened in Fair Haven.

Doniel Drake, 44, of Washington D.C., was arrested in connection to the deadly shooting that happened at a Citgo gas station at 6241 Richmond Hwy. Tuesday morning.

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Police said they believe Drake was arguing with the victim, 38-year-old Arthur Edward Mann II, of Fairfax, at a gas pump before pulling out a gun and shooting him.

Drake was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, where he was held without bond.

He was charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

FCPD said it was still investigating what led up to the shooting. Anyone with information was asked to call (703) 246-7800, option 2.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Juraj Cintula, the man said to have carried out last weeks attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, has stated during his interrogation that he did not want to kill Fico, only to "harm" him so that he could not continue to pursue policies Cintula disagreed with.

Source: the ruling on Cintula's pre-trial detention, published by the Slovak media outlet Pravda, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to the court document, Cintula said he felt "powerless and disappointed with the state of society" after several of the decisions made by the Fico government. He also said he "disagrees with the current governments policies", in particular the abolition of the Special Prosecutors Office and the pressure on independent media.

Cintula said he wanted Slovakia to resume "military aid to Ukraine" and "considers the current government to be [like] Judas in relation to the European Union", which is why he "decided to act".

One of the witnesses quoted in the court document claimed to have heard Cintula say "hostile and malicious things" about Fico and that Cintula was "concerned about the way [Fico] behaves in relation to Russia and Hungary, the fact that he has good relations with them".

According to the court document, the assailant acted alone. He began planning the attack on 13 May, and used a Czech-made 9mm CZ 75 pistol, which he legally owned.

Background:

On 15 May, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot several times by 71-year-old writer Juraj Cintula after a government meeting in the town of Handlova. Fico is conscious and able to communicate, and his condition is improving, the hospital said earlier.

The judge remanded Cintula in custody, ruling that there was a risk that he would try to attack Fico again. If convicted, he faces between 25 years and life imprisonment.

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Police in Newport News have charged a man in connection to a shooting last week that injured a woman who climbed onto the hood of a Newport News school bus.

According to Newport News police, emergency services responded to the 3300 block of Roanoke Avenue in the Washington neighborhood following a report of a shooting last Friday morning. Officers found a woman who had at least one gunshot wound, and she had climbed on the hood of a school bus. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening, and a police spokesperson said children on the bus were moved to another bus to be taken to school.

On Wednesday, police charged 33-year-old Reginald Leon Carner Jr. He is charged with aggravated malicious wounding, shooting within an occupied dwelling and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A foreign national living in Utah was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday for several federal drug crimes  including possessing methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroine, and cocaine.

Mauricio Hermosillo Becerra, 26, of Taylorsville was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of heroin with intent to distribute, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, May 23.

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According to court documents, Hermosillo Becerra was stopped by the West Valley City Police Department and the Metro Narcotics Task Force on May 7, after leaving a residence. He had reportedly been under surveillance as part of a larger investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration for alleged narcotics distribution in connection with a Las Vegas-based drug trafficking organization.

During this stop, the U.S. Attorneys Office said authorities seized approximately three pounds of methamphetamine, several ounces of heroin and approximately 2,000 counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills from his vehicle.

During the course of the investigation, authorities also reportedly seized 23 pounds of methamphetamine, 15,000 fentanyl pills, 2.7 pounds of heroin, and 239 grams of cocaine from his Taylorsville residence.

All the narcotics field tested positive, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Man detained after intruding onto elementary school campus in Hesperia

Police detained a man after he trespassed onto the campus of Krystal Elementary School in Hesperia during the school day on Wednesday, officials said.

The incident began about 12:15 p.m. at the school, 17160 Krystal Drive, according to the Hesperia Unified School District.

"Krystal Elementary staff observed an adult male on campus without adhering to normal visitor protocols," the district said in a written statement. School staff immediately approached the intruder.

"The adult immediately ran away, jumped the fence to exit campus, and fled into the surrounding neighborhood," the statement said.

Krystal Elementary School, 17160 Krystal Drive in Hesperia, pictured in a Google Street View image.

School police and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department deputies soon found the man nearby and detained him, officials said.

The man was on campus for "less than two minutes," according to the HUSD statement. "He never made entry into any indoor area and at no time made contact with any students."

More: Failed pizza theft escalates into armed robbery attempt at Victorville Little Caesars

It was not clear Wednesday afternoon whether the man had been arrested, and no further information was available regarding his intentions.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Man detained after intruding onto elementary school campus in Hesperia
Man who drowned in fishing accident was kind and friendly, neighbors say

Neighbors said a 45-year-old man who died Tuesday afternoon in a fishing accident was generous to others and will be greatly missed.

William Medina went fishing on Mountain Island Lake, fell in and drowned, officials said. He didnt know how to swim.

PAST COVERAGE: First responders recover missing person from Mountain Island Lake

Medina, who was a father, and an entrepreneur, was well-known along Rosehaven Drive in east Charlotte.

His neighbor, Michele Washington, was stunned that Medina suddenly died.

He was friendly, she said. He was kind. He helped you when he needed to.

Washingtons son used to play with Medinas son.

So, hes going to be devasted, she said.

He was known as The Hot Dog man in the neighborhood.

Medinas neighbors said they looked forward to seeing him with the hot dog stand.

Neighbors used to drive through here, come from the other side of town to come get his hot dogs and stuff and whatever else he had out there, but I know the hotdogs were pretty good, Washington said.

Jmeralde Quijano was one of the many kids who got hot dogs from Medina and said everyone will miss him.

I just want to tell him that everybody loved him, Jmeralde said. He was a nice guy and God loved him and his son, too. His son is my friend.

Medinas family was not ready to speak with Channel 9 after their loss.

VIDEO: First responders recover missing person from Mountain Island Lake
Man facing child porn charges in Miami Co. takes plea deal

A man facing multiple child porn charges in Miami County has entered his plea.

Chad Waymire pleaded guilty to one second-degree felony count of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, and five fourth-degree felony counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, according to court documents.

As part of his plea agreement six of the 12 counts he was originally indicted on were dismissed.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man arrested for possession of child pornography in Miami County

As News Center 7 previously reported, Miami County Sheriffs detectives executed a search warrant at a house on West Cross Street in the Village of Potsdam on Wednesday, March 27.

Detectives seized electronic devices that contained child pornography.

Waymire is set to be sentenced on June 24.
Man fatally shot in parking lot of North Marion Middle School during awards ceremony

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A man was killed in a shooting in the parking lot of North Marion Middle School during an awards ceremony on Wednesday, according to officials.

The shooting involved two adults outside while students and parents were at an awards ceremony indoors, according to a spokesperson for Marion County Public Schools. No students were involved.

The Marion County Sheriffs Office said a man was taken to a hospital after he was shot, where he later died. The other adult was taken into custody.

All remaining ceremonies for Wednesday have been canceled.

No other details were immediately available.

This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Man gets 3 years in deadly shooting outside Bakersfield banquet hall

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A man was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter in a 2021 shooting outside a Bakersfield banquet hall.

Court records show Joan Luevano already has enough custody credits to fulfill that term.

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Prosecutors dismissed murder and other charges after Luevano agreed to plead no contest last month.

Early April 18, 2021, surveillance video captured two men fighting outside Destinys Banquet Hall. The video shows one man pull a gun from his front waistband and chamber a round, according to a court filing. He points the gun at the other man and fires.

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Jose Araujo, 39, suffered a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was later pronounced dead at Kern Medical.

The shooter, identified as Luevano, placed the gun back in his waistband and drove off from the banquet hall on White Lane in a gray Lexus, according to the filing. He was arrested in October 2021.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A Kern County jury on Wednesday found a man guilty of murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in connection to a crash that killed three women in Lamont, according to court records.

Jose De Jesus Velazquez-Gomez, who prosecutors say was impaired by methamphetamine, faces a life term in prison at his sentencing in July.

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Yolanda Godinez, 36, Darli Santiago, 28, and Gabina Santiago de Arias, 56, were declared dead at the scene after the vehicle they were in was hit by a Jeep Wrangler at about 5:38 a.m., on Nov. 3. The crash happened at the intersection of South Edison and Di Giorgio roads when the Jeep ran a stop sign.

Velazquez-Gomez, sole occupant of the Jeep, told officers he fell asleep while driving. He denied using drugs or drinking before the crash, according to court documents.

Toxicology results revealed meth in his system, documents said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
HONG KONG, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday signed 38 cooperation agreements with south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, totaling 48.4 billion yuan (6.7 billion U.S. dollars) in contract value.

Nearly three-quarters of the 26 investment projects are focused on emerging industries such as innovation and technology, electronics information, and food processing, accounting for more than 90 percent of the total contract value.

Addressing the event, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee said that as Guangxi doubles its efforts in building out a new development paradigm, Hong Kong is eager to leverage its logistics, port management expertise, high-end business services, and high value-added supporting services such as legal and funding services to bolster enterprises in Guangxi and other parts of west China.

Officials and business insiders believe that the autonomous region, with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as its closest and most closely connected regional economic and technology hub, is poised to better integrate into the GBA's supply, capital, and industrial chains. Business opportunities also abound for Guangxi in the China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) industrial cooperation zone. 
Man who gunned down parents in Rancho Cordova killed after standoff with Sacramento deputies

A son who killed his parents early Thursday at their Rancho Cordova home was shot and killed by Sacramento County deputies after his mom called 911, sparking a three-hour standoff.

The incident began after a woman screamed to dispatchers that she had been shot about 1:10 a.m. in the 3300 block of Hartselle Way, according to archived radio dispatches reviewed by The Sacramento Bee.

Adult male shooting suspect barricaded inside a residence on the 3300 block of Hartselle Way in Rancho Cordova. At least one victim confirmed deceased. SED (SWAT), K9, and negotiators are on scene. Please avoid the area. @RanchoCordovaPD pic.twitter.com/NotsorIny7  Sacramento Sheriff (@sacsheriff) May 23, 2024

Investigators arrived on scene and began negotiations with the suspect, who told investigators he had shot two people, according to the audio dispatches. One woman lay outside the home with gunshot wounds while another man was inside the home, deputies told dispatchers.

Deputies with armored vehicles surrounded the home  at the corner of Hartselle Way and Nut Plains Drive in the Sunrise Countryside neighborhood  as they tried to coax the man in his mid-30s into surrendering.

Sheriffs deputies asked surrounding homes to shelter in place as they tried to establish communications with the man and breached the backyards to observe the home.

Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office, said two SWAT members fired on the man when he went into the backyard of the corner-lot homes backyard armed with a rifle.

The names of the victims  identified by public records as a 72-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman  were expected to be released by the Coroners Office, along with the name of their son.

A Sacramento County sheriffs deputy canvasses the 3300 block of Hartselle Way for evidence after a deputy-involved shooting killed a man early Thursday. The man is also suspected of gunning down two people during an hourslong standoff in Rancho Cordova.

The Sheriffs Office homicide detectives will conduct an investigation to determine if the deputies who shot and killed the gunman complied with department policy. The Sacramento County District Attorneys Office will also investigate the incident, which is standard practice.
Man learns sentence after hitting officer with truck during traffic stop

A driver has learned his prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges in connection to an officer hit by a stolen truck in Dayton last month.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 formally charged in connection to officer hit by truck during traffic stop

Daniel Payton, 46, pleaded guilty last week in Montgomery County Pleas Court to failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and receiving stolen property, according to court documents.

Judge Mary Montgomery County sentenced him to three years in prison.

As part of Paytons plea agreement, one count of obstructing official business was dismissed, court documents stated.

>>RELATED: 2 facing charges in connection to officer hit by truck during traffic stop in Dayton

As News Center 7 previously reported, Dayton officers responded around 9:50 p.m. on April 24 to a traffic stop in the area of West Fairview Avenue and Catalpa Drive for a vehicle that was suspected to be stolen.

When officers stopped it, Diamond Grody allegedly got out and ran away, according to Dayton Police Department.

Daniel Payton then got into the drivers seat and took off, hitting a Dayton police officer in the process, police said.

Police, along with neighboring agencies, chased the truck that took off on I-70 westbound into Indiana where Payton was taken into custody.

Officers located Grody, who was later taken into custody as well.

>>RELATED: Officer hit by car during traffic stop in Dayton; driver arrested in Indiana

Grody has been charged with obstructing official business, court documents said.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for May 30.
DENVER (KDVR)  On Thursday, Jeremy Rocha, 22, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after shooting and killing a local assistant fire chief on Interstate 70.

A jury convicted Rocha of first-degree murder last week, along with second-degree murder and four counts of first-degree attempted murder.

Rocha was sentenced to serve life in prison for the first-degree murder charge, along with 48 years for his second-degree murder conviction and 192 years consecutively for the four attempted murder counts.

Street racer accused of murder testifies that I-70 shooting was self-defense

John Jaros, 37, was killed in 2022 as he drove his truck on I-70 in Aurora while his wife and three children were in the vehicle. Jaros was a firefighter from the town of Glen Haven, which is near Estes Park.

Mr. Rocha brutally murdered John Jaros and nearly massacred an entire family, 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason said in a release. This was a brutal, senseless, and unimaginable crime. John Jaros was a loving husband, father, and volunteer firefighter in his community who simply wanted to get his family to their campsite that day when he was gunned down on I-70.

John Jaros

Assistant fire chief killed in I-70 shooting

Rocha testified on May 16 and said he was street racing in June 2022 when a pickup truck rammed a fellow racer and began chasing him. He said the man driving the truck pointed a gun at him.

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Thats when Rocha said he fired his 9mm Glock handgun nine times in two seconds.

Rocha told an Adams County jury he was scared for his life after a truck began chasing him and he claimed the shooting was in self-defense. Rocha testified that he did not see that Jaros family was with him because of the trucks tinted windows.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The man charged with shooting Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico cited his country's policy towards Ukraine as a motivation for the attempted assassination, Slovak media reported on May 23.

Fico, 59, was shot in an assassination attempt as he walked out of a government meeting in the town of Handlova on May 15. The attack left the leader in serious condition, and he has since undergone two surgeries. Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok described the shooting as "politically motivated."

The shooter, Juraj Cintula, is a 71-year-old writer and political activist. According to court documents cited by the Slovak news outlet Pravda, Cintula said he had no intention of murdering Fico but instead wanted to "harm his health." He also reportedly told investigators that nobody else knew of his plans to target Fico.

During an interrogation at the Handlova police station, Cintula reportedly told authorities that he decided to "harm the health" of Fico because he did not agree with certain policies of the current government.

The suspect noted Fico's abolition of the special prosecutor's office, the body responsible for investigating politically sensitive corruption cases, as well as the persecution of cultural and media workers. Most importantly, Cintula said he wants military aid to be provided to Ukraine. He also reportedly called his current government "Judas" to the European Union.

Several witnesses testified that just before the shooting, Cintula addressed Fico in a "hostile manner" and criticized Fico's friendly relations with Russia and Hungary. The assailant also decried Fico for "speaking negatively" of the European Union, according to the media.

Cintula decided two days before, on May 13, to "take revenge on the government for its policies" by carrying out an attack on the Prime Minister.

If convicted, Cintula could face 25 years in prison.

Elected in September 2023 on a populist, Ukraine-skeptic platform, Fico halted arms supplies from Slovakia's military stocks and has repeatedly criticized both defense assistance for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.

The official also blamed "Ukrainian Nazis and fascists" for provoking Russia's war of aggression, repeating false talking points of Russian propaganda.

Fico has since expressed support for Ukraine's accession to the EU.

Read also: Russias latest offensive into Kharkiv Oblast is stretching Ukrainian defenses

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Louisiana House of Representatives rejected a proposal to require public school systems have air-conditioned buses. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Children who ride school buses without climate control will have to continue to endure Louisianas extreme heat and occasional cold snaps. State legislators shelved legislation Tuesday to require buses to have heating and air conditioning throughout the vehicles.



The Louisiana House of Representatives voted 56-43 to kill Senate Bill 26, sponsored by Sen. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, that would have mandated climate control measures on all buses serving public schools by 2032.

House Republicans, mostly representing rural areas, said their school districts would not be able to afford such a requirement.



This is an unfunded mandate that a lot of school boards just cannot bear, Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton, said.

Louisianas school year begins in August, when the heat index can regularly exceed 100 degrees. Many public school systems do not have air conditioning on all of their buses, according to a legislative fiscal analysis.

Only two of 44 school buses in Calcasieu Parish have air conditioning, and they are used specifically for special education students. Just a third of the school buses in East Baton Rouge Parish and 79 of 278 school buses in Rapides Parish have air conditioning.



Some jurisdictions  including Baton Rouge, Jefferson Ouachita, Tangipahoa and Morehouse parishes  recently used federal grants to purchase new buses with air conditioning. Ascension, Lafayette and Grant parishes also paid this year to air condition their fleets.



State law already requires school buses to be replaced once they reach 25 years old. Purchasing a new bus costs between $50,000 and $200,000, legislative staff said. Heating and air conditioning on a bus increases its cost by $10,000 to $15,000, according to the Louisiana Department of Education.

My poor little town is broker than the Ten Commandments, said Rep. Dewith Carrier, R-Oakdale, who opposed the legislation.

Other legislators said the state needs to be concerned more about the health and welfare of school children.



Let me ask this question: Who serving in this House doesnt have air conditioning in their car? said Rep. Robby Carter, D-Greensburg, during House floor debate on the legislation. We get it for ourselves. Why not get it for our kids?

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The post Mandatory air conditioning for Louisiana school buses hits dead end appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Many US dairy workers yet to receive protective gear for bird flu

FILE PHOTO: Automation is used as a worker helps milk Holstein cows at Airoso Circle A Dairy in Pixley, California

FILE PHOTO: Automation is used as a worker helps milk Holstein cows at Airoso Circle A Dairy in Pixley, California

By Tom Polansek and Heather Schlitz

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Many U.S. dairy farms have not yet increased health protections against bird flu for employees during an outbreak in cows, according to workers, activists and farmers, worrying health experts about the risk for more human infections of a virus with pandemic potential.

Epidemiologists are concerned the virus could potentially spread and cause serious illnesses as farmers downplay the risk to workers while employees are not widely aware of cases in U.S. cattle.

The U.S. government said on Wednesday that a second dairy worker contracted bird flu since cattle first tested positive in late March and that investigators are looking into whether the person was wearing or offered protective equipment.

Nearly 24,000 farms sell milk around the country, and they offer varying protections to staff. Lobby group the National Milk Producers Federation said it encouraged farms to use protective equipment in line with federal recommendations and heard of increased worker protections.

Three dairy workers, seven activists and two lawyers who assist farm employees told Reuters that dairy owners have not offered equipment like face shields and goggles to staff who spend 10- to 12-hour days side-to-side with cows. Three large dairy companies with tens of thousands of cows declined to comment on their procedures.

The workers - all based in New York, a major dairy producer - said they heard of the new illness affecting cattle through the media or community organizers, not their employers. One, 39-year-old Luis Jimenez from Mexico, said last week it was business as usual.

"They're not doing anything," he said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in April and May advised workers to use personal protective equipment (PPE) if they may be exposed to sick livestock, after a Texas dairy worker tested positive for bird flu. On May 6, the agency asked states to make equipment available to workers.

CDC wants "to make sure that farm workers across the country, whether they are at a farm with an affected herd or not, have access to PPE," said Nirav Shah, principal deputy director, last week.

New York state said it is assessing CDC's recommendation and has not yet distributed equipment. Texas, New Mexico and Colorado, where cattle were infected, said they distributed equipment to eight dairies combined. Kansas, Idaho and Wisconsin said they have equipment, but no farmers asked for it.

Michigan, where the second dairy worker tested positive, said many farms have protective gear but the state is coordinating a way to make it available for those that need more.

Dairies became more aware of bird flu's risks in late April after the U.S. government began requiring that cows test negative before crossing state lines, said Emily Yeiser Stepp, who oversees a National Milk Producers Federation program that covers workforce development.

Still, "reaching out into some of our rural networks takes a little longer," she said when told of workers who said they were not informed of recommendations for protective equipment.

CLOSE CONTACT WITH COWS

The U.S. confirmed bird flu in dairy cattle in nine states. Scientists have said they believe the outbreak is more widespread based on findings of H5N1 particles in about 20% of retail milk samples.

Bird flu has caused serious or fatal infections globally among people in close contact with wild birds or poultry. In cows, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it believes unpasteurized milk is the primary vector for transmitting the virus, though officials do not know exactly how it spreads.

Health experts advise dairy workers to wear gloves and disposable coveralls that can block milk splashes on their bodies or clothing.

Jimenez said his coworkers are under pressure to work so quickly that they sometimes do not have time to wash their hands before meals and often drive home in their work clothes.

Workers attach and detach milking equipment on cows, putting their faces close to unpasteurized milk. Most are immigrants and many do not have health insurance.

"When you're milking, splashes can't be avoided. When it splashes in our eyes, we wash it out with water," said another New York worker, who requested anonymity because he is undocumented.

Lucas Sjostrom, a farmer and executive director of the Minnesota Milk Producers Association, uses robotic machines to attach milking equipment to cows, but said he is being extra conscious that human workers wear gloves while transporting unpasteurized milk. Minnesota has not reported bird flu in cows.

In Indiana, another state without confirmed cases, farmer Steve Obert said he has not increased precautions for workers, though that could change if his herd tests positive. Extra protective equipment is not comfortable to wear, he added.

"We're rather isolated and I don't think the risk is really great," said Obert, executive director of the industry group Indiana Dairy Producers.

BLOOD-RED EYES

The infected Texas worker suffered conjunctivitis and broken blood vessels that turned his eyes scarlet red, according to a photo published in the New England Journal of Medicine. He reported wearing gloves when working with cows but not respiratory or eye protection, the journal said.

Scientists are watching for changes in the virus that could make it spread more easily among humans. Epidemiologists said it could cause more serious illnesses if it mutates or infects someone with a compromised immune system.

Some dairies with infected cows have resisted allowing federal officials on their farms because of financial concerns, said Gregory Gray, a University of Texas Medical Branch professor studying cattle diseases.

The CDC said it would like to test more farm workers, but it is not required.

New Mexico had anecdotal reports of workers with symptoms similar to conjunctivitis, but most were not tested, according to internal state documents that were dated April 26 and obtained by Reuters under a public records request. The workers were not tested because they did not seek healthcare, the New Mexico Department of Health said.

Policy changes are needed to encourage workers to seek treatment, such as emergency income assurance for those who test positive, said Brian Castrucci, an epidemiologist and CEO at health policy group the de Beaumont Foundation.

"I don't want to wait until we have a dead dairy farm worker until we ratchet up what we're doing," he said.

(Reporting by Tom Polansek and Heather Schlitz in Chicago; Editing by Michael Erman)
BALTIMORE  Former Baltimore States Attorney Marilyn Mosby was sentenced Thursday to one year of home detention for her perjury and mortgage fraud convictions, and ordered to forfeit her Florida condo.

U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby handed down a sentence of three years of supervised release, opting against sending Mosby to prison. Prosecutors had sought 20 months in prison.

Griggsbys decision followed an approximately four-hour hearing during which prosecutors asked for prison time and Mosbys lawyers requested probation.

While Mosby was states attorney when she perjured herself and committed mortgage fraud, Federal Public Defender James Wyda noted none of Mosbys crimes related to her role in office. He said Mosby had been punished enough given she lost her job, likely stands to have her law license revoked and endured a grueling trial that put her private life into the limelight.

Jail is not a just sentence for Ms. Mosby, her family or the community, Wyda told Griggsby.

He also said that sending Mosby to prison would inflict extraordinary trauma on her daughters, citing letters the defense submitted from the childrens therapist and a scholar who wrote about the impacts on children when their mothers are incarcerated.

Maintaining her innocence, Mosby declined an opportunity to speak in court. Wyda said Mosby should not be penalized for pursuing legal rights.

Ms. Mosby maintains her innocence. That is her right, Wyda said. Ms. Mosby will appeal her convictions. That is also her right. Ms. Mosby is pursuing a pardon. That is also her right.

The public defenders comments came after more than a dozen people testified in Mosbys support.

Ahead of sentencing, Mosby made several appearances on news programs, professing her innocence while saying she was a victim of politically-motivated and biased prosecutions.

Earlier Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Delaney pointed out several of Mosbys public statements in an effort to label the former prosecutor as a liar who lacks remorse for her crimes.

Marilyn Mosby is unremorseful. She has no regard for the truth, Delaney told Griggsby, who ultimately will determine Mosbys punishment.

Separate federal juries convicted Mosby of perjury and mortgage fraud after two trials held in Greenbelt. The former states attorney asked that they be moved from Baltimore.

In November, jurors determined that Mosby lied about suffering financial consequences because of the coronavirus pandemic, an assertion that enabled her to withdraw roughly $80,000 from her city retirement account early.

Prosecutors also accused her of being untruthful when she used the financial windfall for down payments on a pair of properties in Florida worth almost $1 million combined: an eight-bedroom house near Disney World and a condo on the Gulf Coast. She was charged with making false statements on loan applications for the homes  one count of fraud per property. Mosbys lawyers argued successfully to have a separate trial for her real estate-related charges.

A jury in February acquitted Mosby on one count of mortgage fraud  clearing her of most of the lies she was accused of  but found her guilty of the other, determining she made a false statement about a gift letter she composed saying that her then-husband Nick Mosby gave her enough money to close on the condo in Longboat Key.

In court Thursday, Griggsby asked Delaney whether there are any victims in this case. The lenders who provided loans to Mosby took no action when they learned she lied on her mortgage applications, and the money she used to put down payments on the Florida properties came from her own retirement account.

Delaney said the citizens of Baltimore are the victims because Mosby committed perjury while she was the citys top prosecutor.

It hurts the public when public officials are found to have lied under oath, he said.

Delaney also said the crimes are more serious because Mosbys work as a prosecutor shows that she knows the importance of truth.

She exonerated men who she believed were wrongfully convicted of crimes. She published a do not call list of police officers with integrity issues that prevented them from testifying in court  a list that Mosby herself would have ended up on because of her perjury conviction, Delaney said.

Marilyn Mosby does not care about facts, does not care about the law, does not care about the truth, Delaney said. In our countrys courtrooms, the truth still matters.

Before the sentencing Thursday, Griggsby granted a request from prosecutors, ordering that Mosby give up the Florida condo. The judge cited Mosbys mortgage fraud conviction in ruling she relinquish the property, noting that jurors in February found she lied on the loan application for that condo by falsifying a letter promising she would be gifted $5,000 to close on the property.

The mortgage was obtained because Ms. Mosby obtained the gift letter, Griggsby said.

One of Mosbys lawyers, public defender Maggie Grace, asked Griggsby to put a hold on the forfeiture order pending Mosbys appeal of her mortgage fraud conviction.

The judge said the government had to return Mosbys down payment on the property, which amounted to about 10% of the cost, and 10% of the condos appreciated value since she bought it. According to estimates from her attorneys, Mosbys property nearly doubled in value to almost $890,000.

Prosecutors argued Mosby should have to forfeit the property and the entirety of its appreciated value.

The defendant should not get to profit from her crimes merely because she invested the fraudulent proceeds, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Williamson told Griggsby.

Mosbys lawyers said the government hadnt proved there was a nexus between the property and the crimes Mosby was convicted of, and called the forfeiture overkill because there was no harm to the mortgage lender.

Griggsby agreed but found a different harm.

The court shares the defenses view theres no apparent financial harm to the lender, but there had been a significant harm to the public because of Ms. Mosbys role at the time, as both an elected official and an officer of the court, the judge said.

Before court, a charter bus dropped off scores of Mosby supporters, who gathered in a prayer circle outside of the courthouse around 8:45 a.m. The former states attorney arrived around 9 a.m. sporting a crisp white suit and a short bob.

During a brief lunch break, well-known civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump spoke outside the courthouse, reading from remarks he will give in court as the defense presents its case at sentencing.

Crump said other white collar crimes have been met with a slap on the wrist.

What is different here today is that underneath that white collar is the neck of a Black woman who dared to challenge the status quo, Crump said.

Mosby has long held she is a victim of biased and politically-motivated prosecution, claims dubbed unfounded by the judge, and intensified that narrative in a series of media appearances ahead of her sentencing Thursday. A growing coalition of supporters echo her cries, alleging she is being persecuted because she advanced progressive policies as Baltimores top prosecutor.

Mosby, who served two terms as Baltimore states attorney, plans to appeal her convictions but also is seeking a full pardon from President Joe Biden. The Congressional Black Caucus urged Biden to pardon Mosby.

The office of Biden-nominated U.S. Attorney for Maryland Erek Barron led Mosbys prosecution, although the investigation into Mosby predates him. Mosby wasnt indicted until January 2022, nearly a year after Biden took office. Griggsby was also a Biden nominee.

During his argument, Delaney sought to dispel claims of ulterior motives underlying Mosbys prosecution.

In the United States of America, we do not prosecute people because of their politics, he said. And we do not cut them a break because of their politics either.

-------
BALTIMORE  The 51-year-old owner of Baltimore County contracting companies was convicted after a seven-day trial of wire fraud related to a scheme to defraud a nonprofit internet provider.

A federal jury charged Wayne Kacher Jr., of Harford County, owner of Bel Air Underground (BAU) Inc. and Pro Comm Engineering and Locating Services (Pro Comm) LLC, in May 2021 with conspiring to commit honest services wire fraud and bribery.

According to trial testimony, the Maryland Broadband Cooperative (MdBC) Inc., a nonprofit internet provider for underserved and unserved areas in Maryland, paid Kachers company, Bel Air Underground Inc., which is located in Baltimore County, more than $11 million for broadband network-related work.

About $7.9 million was for work on installing and improving a fiber optic broadband connection from NASA Wallops Island to Patuxent River Naval Air Station in St. Marys County to enhance communication.

Prosecutors found that Kacher provided William Mitchell, CEO of the Maryland Broadband Cooperative, with financial benefits, such as cash payments, payments for an all-terrain vehicle and a John Deere Gator owned by Mitchell.

Kacher also paid for renovations and improvements to Mitchells home, including paying for the construction of a pole building on Mitchells property.

Authorities believe that Kacher gave these things to Mitchell because of and in exchange for the work that MdBC was subcontracting to BAU and Pro Comm.

Sentencing has yet to be scheduled. Kacher faces a maximum of five years in federal prison for conspiracy; 20 years for honest services wire fraud; and 10 years for federal program bribery.

Kachers attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On May 10, Mitchell, 58, pleaded guilty to counts one and two of the superseding indictment, which charged Mitchell with conspiracy and honest services wire fraud. His sentencing is Oct. 4. Mitchell is no longer listed as CEO and president of MdBC, according to its website.

Mitchells attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

-------
Maryland State Schools Superintendent Carey Wright said Tuesday that school leaders must work harder to diversify and boost the states teacher workforce.

Its got to be a conscious effort, Wright said during a break at the state Board of Education meeting in Baltimore. Are we really going into our HBCUs? Are we recruiting? What do those techniques look like?

Her comments came as the board was considering a recent state Department of Education report that showed the state has made little progress in recent years in diversifying its teacher workforce. The report said 68% of the states teachers in the current school year are white compared to 20% Black and about 5% Latino or Asian.

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But Wright said another challenge facing school systems is hiring and retaining teachers in the state.

We arent producing enough of those candidates in house, so weve got to be thinking about what else are we going to do, she said.

A few ideas were highlighted as part of a teacher workforce report with various data that included teacher retention in all 24 school systems, those enrolled in state preparation programs and number of those who received National Board Certification.

A graph that shows racial breakdown of teachers in Maryland. (Maryland State Department of Education)

Starting in two weeks, a work group will convene to assess recruiting and retaining a diverse teacher workforce. The task force will include representatives from the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the states historically Black colleges and universities, the College of Southern Maryland and at least seven school districts  Baltimore, Dorchester, Frederick, Kent, Montgomery and Prince Georges counties and Baltimore City.

We have a very diverse group of stakeholders from all of these entities, said Kelly Meadows, assistant state superintendent in the division of educator certification and program approval. Our charge is to come together to [find] solutions and overcome the challenges of recruiting and retaining our high-quality workforce here in Maryland.

Meadows said other solutions are to market the states revamped teacher-recruiting website, produce short YouTube videos to summarize the teaching profession and visit school districts to inform officials about various teacher pathways and certification opportunities.

The report also found that of the states 1,626 accomplished educators  those who have been designated as National Board Certified  1,204, or 74%, were concentrated in four counties: Montgomery, Prince Georges, Anne Arundel and Howard.

The Blueprint for Marylands Future education reform plan called for salary increases for teachers with that national designation beginning in the 2021-22 school year. About 976 teachers enrolled in the program that year. When the salary increase was raised a year later to as much as $10,000 a year, more than 3,000 teachers applied, followed by another 3,800 in the current school year.

As of December, Meadows said every jurisdiction in the state has at least one teacher with that designation.

Of teachers with conditional certification  those who have a bachelors degrees but havent completed the requirements for a professional teachers license  more than half have been Black in the last five school years, the report said. In comparison, white teachers accounted for about 32% of those conditionally certified over the same period.

Our conditional cert teachers better reflect the communities. Thats where many of the people come from, said Joshua Michael, vice president of the board.

Last year, the legislature approved House Bill 1219 requiring that the department establish an educator recruitment, retention and diversity dashboard. Data from that dashboard will be publicly available by Jan. 1. Some of the data will include gender, race, new hires and attrition rate. Meadows said the dashboard will also highlight teacher interns.

The key is to hopefully follow this individual into the school system, into employment and really publicize the diversity of our classrooms so that there is awareness around what we need in Maryland, she said.

A gift

In other business, the board voted unanimously to approve the use of $350,000 to implement a science of reading program for an estimated 30,000 paraprofessionals, teachers, school literacy supervisors and school administrators across the state. The money will be used for meeting space, stipends and other administrative costs of the program, that focuses on teaching students based on phonics, comprehension and vocabulary.

Wright, who led the science of reading program while superintendent of public schools in Mississippi, announced the money is in conjunction with a four-year, $6.8 million grant from the nonprofit Ibis Group of Washington, D.C.

About $5.3 million will go to the State University of New York (SUNY) and to the AIM Institute for Learning and Research of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, to provide online training for the science of reading program. The other $1.5 million for Johns Hopkins University and the department to research the impact of teacher efficacy, teacher background knowledge and literacy leadership development.

The training, which will be free for Maryland educators, will start July 1.

Tenette Smith, executive director of literacy programs and initiatives in the department, said training will take about 35 hours to complete. Smith worked with Wright in Mississippi on the science of reading program.

All of Marylands school systems must have the science of reading program implemented in the 2024-25 school year.

This story was originally published in Maryland Matters.
Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro waits to testify in front of the House Committee On Finance on May 22, 2024. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Even Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro couldnt avoid the dreaded commute across the I-195 Washington Bridge.

Yet the Commonwealth official braved a two-hour drive from Boston, including bridge congestion, to make his first visit to the Rhode Island State House Wednesday, talking to lawmakers about a bill directly connected to the bridge scandal.

The bipartisan bill introduced in January by Rep. George Nardone, a Coventry Republican, doesnt actually mention the abrupt bridge closure a month earlier. But proponents of the push to create a state Office of the Inspector General capitalized on the apparent lack of state oversight on the structurally unsound bridge to make their case.

The bridge is really the main issue for me, said Rep. Teresa Tanzi, a South Kingstown Democrat and co-sponsor of Nardones legislation.

Tanzi expressed frustration over lack of answers on the bridge, including the long-awaited results of an independent investigation into what caused the structural deficiencies, and who knew about it.

We are a part-time legislature with very little staff and really limited oversight capacity, Tanzi said. An OIG would really help restore faith in the government, and get answers on this investigation.

Rep. George A. Nardone, a Coventry Republican, testifying in front of the House Committee On Finance on May 22, 2024. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Modeled after Massachusetts, the Rhode Island bill calls for a new, state office, headed by an appointee chosen through a majority vote among the governor, the attorney general, the general treasurer, the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, the House speaker and the minority leader and the Senate president and minority leader.

The appointed official, whose selection process must also include at least one public hearing, would be limited to a single, five-year term, with a salary set by the Legislature. The bill requires prospective appointees to have at least five years experience in accounting, criminal justice or a closely related profession, and a bachelors degree in a relevant field.

The legislation lays out a host of investigative and auditing powers available to the inspector general to root out fraud and abuse in government spending, including subpoena power to gather records and compel witnesses from any state agency to testify under oath.

The inspector general doesnt interfere with legislative policies or conduct witch hunts Nardone said, addressing members of the House Committee on Finance Wednesday.

What the inspector general does is help detect, and prevent and address waste, fraud and mismanagement.

Nardone continued, It wouldnt be a panacea but you would get great results from the monetary compensation they are able to recover.

Rhode Island doesnt have to look far in search of proof of success.

Massachusetts was the first to create a statewide, independent inspector generals office in 1981. Ten other states, including Connecticut, have now followed suit with their own statewide counterparts, according to the Association of Inspectors General.

Shapiro, the Commonwealths fifth inspector general, confirmed in October 2022, stressed the value of an independent office solely focused on waste, fraud and abuse compared with other oversight agencies like an auditor or attorney general.

I do think what is unique to an investigator general is the mandate and mission, specifically on fraud, waste and abuse, Shapiro told lawmakers. Other oversight offices typically have another option which is a primary focus of their work.

In 2023, Shapiros 90-person office fielded more than 3,000 tips on its hotline, and 1,200 requests for help with procurement by state agencies. It offered 30 training classes to a combined 1,200 attendees, issued seven reports and conducted investigations that resulted in six indictments, five guilty pleas, and recovery of $1.7 million in misspent funds, Shapiro said.

While Shapiro did not take a formal stance of support on Rhode Islands bill, he stressed the benefits the office has provided in Massachusetts, not only financially but also systemically.

An OIG can have a really positive impact on the way the government works, he said.

Hence, why Shapiro accepted House Minority Leader Mike Chippendales invitation to visit Smith Hill and share his experiences as Massachusetts inspector general. Its the first time an inspector general from any state has come to speak to Rhode Island lawmakers about the prospect of setting up a similar agency here, Sue Stenhouse, Chippendales chief of staff, said.

The perennial proposal  dating back to at least 2002  has historically been a Republican-led issue. Not this year.

Eight Democrats, including Tanzi, have signed on as co-sponsors to Nardones bill in the House, while the Senate companion by Warwick Republican Anthony DeLuca features four cosponsors apiece from the Democrat and Republican parties.

Rep. Terri Cortvriend, a Portsmouth Democrat, on the House Committee on Finance, listens during the hearing on the bill calling for the state to establish an independent Office of Inspector General on May 22, 2024. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Rep. Terri Cortvriend, a Portsmouth Democrat and one of the House co-sponsors, attributed her support to her new realization of the bill; it wasnt that she opposed the proposal in years passed, but simply that she wasnt aware of the legislation, she said in an interview Wednesday. Cortvriend was also among a small group of Democrats who introduced their own version of an inspector general legislation in 2019.

I come from a purple district, so being that this was something we had advocated for back then, it felt two-faced not to sign on once I knew about it, she said.

Yet leaders in both chambers appear unconvinced.

We will review the testimony from our committee hearings and keep an open mind, but the offices of the Attorney General, the Auditor General and the U.S. Attorney already address corruption and waste in government, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi said in a joint emailed statement on Wednesday. We are concerned with the cost of millions of taxpayer dollars it would take to create a new office which would likely provide many duplicative services.

Initial estimates pegged the cost for a Rhode Island inspector general at $1.5 million, based on the cost for the administrative leader along with a staff of 10 employees.

Gov. Dan McKee, whose proposed fiscal 2025 budget does not include any money for an inspector general office, did not return inquiries for comment on Wednesday.

The legislation was held for further study by the House Finance Committee, which is standard practice on first hearing. The Senate has yet to hold an initial hearing on the companion legislation, but Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz said via text that she expects a hearing will happen next week.

The post Mass. Inspector General makes his inaugural visit to the R.I. State House. Heres why. appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Children study at a temporary school in the city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza Strip, May 20, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

More than 140 countries have already recognized a Palestinian state, representing over two-thirds of the United Nations' membership. Diplomatic pressure on Israel has also grown as there is a sign of growing international support for Palestine's UN membership.

BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Norway, Ireland, and Spain announced on Wednesday their official recognition of Palestine as a state. The decision came amid international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza following Israel's military operation.

Global reactions to the recognition varied, with dozens of countries welcoming the decision.

The Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said the recognition sends the right message to the Palestinians that the world is willing to defend their right to self-determination and to be an independent state.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry urged countries that have not taken this step to push forward with recognizing a Palestine state to uphold the values of justice and support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday welcomed the decision, saying that this represents a step toward implementing the two-state solution.

Qatar welcomed the recognition and considered this a significant step in supporting the two-state solution and achieving peace and stability in the region, said the Qatari Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.

The ministry stressed "the need to end the war on the Gaza Strip immediately and return to the political track as the only guarantee to achieve stability in the region."

In response to the news that Spain and Ireland said they are going to recognize the Palestinian State, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China always firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights, supports the two-State solution and is one of the first countries to recognize the State of Palestine.

China will continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role in ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as early as possible and promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, the spokesperson added.

People receive food relief in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, May 19, 2024. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

In Europe, Malta, Slovenia, and Slovakia expressed support, with Slovenia also taking steps toward recognizing Palestine, while the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Lithuania expressed reservations.

Israel, infuriated by the decision, perceived it as a form of reward for Hamas militants. "The intention of several European countries to recognize a Palestinian state is a reward for terrorism," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. The country swiftly recalled its ambassadors from Ireland, Norway, and Spain.

The U.S. government pushed back against a move from Ireland, Spain, and Norway to recognize a Palestinian state. "The president is a strong supporter of a two-state solution and has been throughout his career," a National Security Council spokesperson was quoted by CNN as saying.

"He believes a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition," the spokesperson added.

Observers noted that the three countries' recognition could generate momentum for other nations to recognize a Palestinian state and might further isolate Israel. In March, Malta and Slovenia, alongside Spain and Ireland said they were considering recognizing a Palestinian state as "a positive contribution" toward ending the conflict.

More than 140 countries have already recognized a Palestinian state, representing over two-thirds of the United Nations' membership. However, none of the major Western countries have taken this step, making the recognition a notable achievement for the Palestinians.

Diplomatic pressure on Israel has also grown as there is a sign of growing international support for Palestine's UN membership. On May 11, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, recognizing Palestine as qualified to join, with 143 votes in favor and nine against, including the United States and Israel, while 25 countries abstained.

The Palestinians demand the establishment of an independent state alongside Israel with pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.
Mayville man accused of arson in Jamestown after fire seriously injures victim

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Mayville man was arrested Wednesday and accused of intentionally setting a residence on fire while a victim was inside this past weekend, the Jamestown Police Department announced.

Police said they, along with fire officials, responded to a condemned residence Sunday morning on Fulton Street for a structure fire. A victim was located nearby with serious physical injuries from the fire, as they had to jump out of a second-story window to escape the blaze.

After investigators determined the blaze was an arson, 34-year-old Eric A. Courtier was interviewed as a suspect and was determined to have allegedly set the residence on fire intentionally while knowing the victim was inside, according to police.

The victim was transported to an out-of-area hospital for treatment of their injuries and burns.

Courtier was arrested in Mayville, New York and charged with first-degree arson and first-degree assault. He was arraigned Thursday and remanded to the Chautauqua County Jail without bail.

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Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
In Reality Check stories, Star-Telegram journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? RealityCheck@star-telegram.com.

Flyers are filling the mailboxes of residents across Texas House District 97 in southwest Tarrant County, where theres a heated runoff in the Republican primary.

John McQueeney, the subject of a good portion of them, said he didnt spend a single dollar saying anything negative about his opponent Cheryl Bean until now. The winner of the the primary will face the winner of the Democratic runoff between Diane Symons and Carlos Walker.

The state House seat is held by Republican Craig Goldman, who is seeking the congressional seat held by outgoing Rep. Kay Granger of Fort Worth.

I never wanted to go this way but she and her supporters have created the rules of engagement, McQueeney said.

A few flyers called McQueeney a McLib, a reference to his time as a McDonalds franchisee.

The McLib is back, the flyers read, using the iconic McDonalds logo  fries as arches in the shape of an M  and mimicking the catchy phrase McDonalds often uses to market its limited releases of the McRib, a menu item with a cult following.

McQueeney said he couldnt knock the creativity of the political attack ad, but he was ready to address the claims, the key one being that he voted Democrat.

He said he voted in Democratic primaries while living in traditionally blue Hidalgo County.

He said he did so to fulfill his civic duty.

McQueeney also denied voting for Democrat Wendy Davis for governor in 2014, a claim Bean has repeatedly made.

Its expensive to defend yourself when people are calling me a liberal. Thats an absolute lie. Ive been conservative my whole life, McQueeny said.

But the explanation of McQueenys voting registration doesnt satisfy Bean.

This race is about one thing and one thing only: who will stand up for conservative values and represent the people of this district? Those who claim to be conservative should have a conservative record. McQueeney falls short, Bean said.

Another claim made on the McLib flyers is that McQueeny supported the national McDonalds PAC.

When I was a McDonalds owner operator, I donated to the federal PAC, McQueeny said. There is a group in DC that directs those funds. It is not directed by owners. It is a national deal that is directed by the Corporation.

The corporations PAC donates money on both sides of the aisle, according to a website that tracks donations, including to Republicans Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Rep. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio. It has also given to Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Angie Craig of Minnesota.

McQueeny took aim at his opponents more direct involvement with a North Texas PAC, citing donations made by the Hammer and Nails PAC, the political arm of the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association.

Bean used to be the president of the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association.

McQueeny pointed out the PAC has donated to to Democratic state Reps. Nicole Collier and Ramon Romero of Fort Worth as well as Fort Worth city council members Elizabeth Beck and Chris Nettles, who represent Democratic leaning districts.

Bean and her company B Smart builders have donated $2,825 to the Hammer and Nails PAC since 2017.

There is a huge difference between contributing to a local builders PAC and giving thousands to a national PAC that funds Nancy Pelosis agenda,  Bean said in a statement.

Early voting began Monday and runs through Friday. Election day is May 28.
The Utah mom accused of poisoning her husband and later writing a childrens book about grief has spoken out for the first time since her 2022 arrestdenying any wrongdoing and going scorched earth on prosecutors.

Ive been silent for a year, locked away from my kids, my family, my life, living with the media telling the world who they think I am, what they think Ive done, or how they think Ive lived, Kouri Richins said in a recorded jailhouse statement to NBC Newss Dateline: True Crime Daily. And its time to start speaking up.

You took an innocent mom away from her babies. And this means war.

The bold declaration is the latest twist in Richins wild, true-crime saga. Prosecutors allege that Richins, a 34-year-old mother of three, was drowning in debt and marital troubles when she took steps to murder her 39-year-old husband, Eric, in March 2022. She allegedly took out six insurance policies totaling $2 million in his name and secured drugs from an acquaintance, specifically some of the Michael Jackson stuff. (Jackson fatally overdosed on anesthetic propofol.)

Less than a week after receiving the drugs, prosecutors allege that she spiked her husbands Moscow Mule cocktail with five times the lethal dose of fentanyl. She then called 911 to report her husband, who was found at the foot of the bed in their Utah home, was cold to the touch.

A year after his death, Richins released an illustrated childrens book, Are You With Me?, meant to offer comfort and solace to young minds dealing with grief. The book was featured on a local TV segment, where Richins said her late husband died unexpectedly.

Bombshell Letter Found in Jail Cell of Kids Author Who Allegedly Poisoned Hubby

Richins was arrested last year and is being held in Summit County Jail on aggravated murder and other charges. She has yet to enter a plea. Her defense team has argued no evidence ties Richins to the crime, there were no drugs found at the home, and she has not benefited from her husbands death.

This week, a judge granted her lawyers' request to withdraw from her case after an irreconcilable and nonwaivable situation.

My defense team has been forced to withdraw from my case, Richins told NBC. Represented or not, we all know and should understand theres only so much I can say. But what I will say is this withdrawal was not my choice. And it was not a personal choice of any counsel on my defense team.

The request came after defense lawyers argued prosecutors committed severe violations that compromised the case and Richins constitutional rights. Among those violations, they argued, was the prosecutions decision to listen to some recorded jailhouse calls between Richins and her team without their consent.

In a filing about the alleged violation, Richins team said prosecutors justified their actions by insisting the defense did not use a phone app needed to shield attorney-client calls. (Prosecutors have insisted that the defense motion, which they plan to respond to by the end of the month, is materially inaccurate and filed in bad faith.)

In her jailhouse statements, Richins slammed prosecutors for delaying her case and hiding their corruption.

I will not play into the prosecutions unconstitutional behavior anymore, she added. Although I am extremely disappointed with where were at right now with this case, Im anxious. Im anxious to prove my innocence. Im anxious to get to trial.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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It was meant to help revitalize downtown. Is Tacoma Town Center circling the drain?

The future of the planned Tacoma Town Center development has grown more complicated amid a multi-million dollar judgment and a lien fight taking shape over repayment for site work.

The same development partner that took on the Tacoma project also faces financial entanglements in its home state of Idaho, including eviction from its offices over delinquent rent.

With no viable permits in place for Tacoma Town Center, its unclear when the project will come back to life.

The 6.4-acre Tacoma property, bordered by South 21st to South 23rd streets and from Jefferson to Tacoma avenues, has just one building completed by its original developer at the planned six-building campus.

The News Tribune reported in November that the project remained stalled amid various delays, liens and legal challenges spanning the past few years.

Two months later, Boise-based Galena Equity Partners, which took on the project from the original developer, received a more-than $10 million judgment against it in King County Superior Court for breach of contract with the first developer.

Idaho news outlets have reported on legal and financial issues Galena has faced in that state, too.

How we got here

The more-than $300 million Tacoma Town Center project originally was to be completed in phases, bringing hundreds of new apartments and retail space, a 200,000-square-foot-office building, accompanying infrastructure and a public plaza.

The original developer, Bellevue-based North America Asset Management Group, entered into a development agreement with the city for the project in 2015, purchasing the parcels in fall 2017.

Tacoma Town Centers Building 2 was completed by NAAMG in March 2021. The site is Jefferson Yards Apartments at 409 S. 23rd St., which includes ground-floor commercial spaces.

Tacoma Town Centers Building 2, 409 S. 23rd St., includes Jefferson Yards Apartments and ground-floor commercial spaces. It was completed in March 2021.

An amended agreement in 2021 conveyed remaining undeveloped property to NAAMG subsidiary Tacoma Town Center Parcels LLC, which would assign its interest to one or more LLCs formed and controlled by Galena Equity Partners.

Galena was introduced to Tacoma in City Council sessions as the group that would successfully shepherd the site to completion, furthering revitalizing downtown and the nearby University of Washington Tacoma campus.

As NAAMGs lawsuit in Seattle has detailed in numerous filings, things didnt turn out as planned.

Lawsuits, debt and deed transfer

In April 2023, NAAMG sued Galena over the Tacoma project for repeatedly defaulting on an agreement to purchase NAAMGs interest in Tacoma Town Center Parcels LLC.

Defendants continue to own and possess a multi-million-dollar entity that owns multiple commercial parcels without payment of over $10 million dollars owed to NAAMG for this purchase, NAAMG attorney Kim Sandher wrote in a Dec. 6, 2023 filing.

In January 2024, King County Superior Court Judge Matthew Segal ordered Galena Equity Partners and subsidiary GIC Tacoma LLC to pay NAAMG more than $10 million.

That judgment, entered Jan. 12, 2024, has been followed by supplemental proceedings in King County focused on reviewing Galenas financial records.

Galenas financial interests in Tacoma Town Center Parcels LLC and an LLC affiliated with a Vancouver, Washington, project known as 192nd Plaza Lofts were seized in an order issued to help satisfy the $10 million judgment.

Attorneys for Galena in the King County case disputed the amount of damages owed. In a Dec. 29, 2023 filing, Galena attorney Katie Daniel wrote that the requested award of damages included amounts above and beyond those which they are entitled to, either at this stage or in this lawsuit entirely.

In a June 2023 response to NAAMGs initial complaint, Galenas attorneys argued among other defenses, Plaintiffs damages, if any, are the result of the fault of others.

In September, Galenas attorneys offered additional details, essentially asserting funding fell through to maintain their end of the deal with NAAMG.

The transactions contemplated in the underlying agreements required defendants to obtain investment funds through third parties, which did not occur, wrote Brennan Schreibman, one of the attorneys for Galena.

Galena also disputed payment amounts reported by NAAMG compared with its own record of payments.

Galena officials as well as the office of attorneys representing the firm in the King County case did not respond to requests for comment from The News Tribune.

A map from a 2021 City Council presentation showing the various buildings planned for Tacoma Town Center.

Meanwhile, other litigation has involved Galena in Pierce County.

A lawsuit was filed last fall in Pierce County Superior Court against Tacoma Town Center Parcels LLC by general contractor Northwest Cascade of Puyallup. It claims nonpayment for work to build a storm-line connection to the property.

The company seeks to collect more than $200,000, and it entered a lien claim on the sites 2112 Jefferson Ave. parcel in February 2023. A landscaping company also filed a lien against that parcel in November 2023, county property records show.

Northwest Cascades attorney, Michael Murphy, entered an updated filing in April 2024, noting that the LLC had recently recorded a deed of trust against the property in favor of Kurtin Properties, Inc., of California, and then almost immediately transferred the property outright to that same company in lieu of foreclosure.

In the motion to amend Northwest Cascades original 2023 complaint, Murphy wrote, The transfers may constitute fraudulent conveyances.

(Tacoma Town Center Parcels) has no counsel of record and has been nonresponsive to discovery. Moreover, NWC believes that the transfer to Kurtin was intended to impair or at least delay the lien foreclosure process, he wrote.

Attorneys for the LLC withdrew from the case in January 2024 and the LLC has not responded to the latest allegations in court.

In response to questions from The News Tribune, Murphy said via email there had been no communication with anyone representing Tacoma Town Center Parcels LLC or Kurtin Properties since the amended complaint was filed.

They have been non-responsive, he wrote.

He also noted there was no advance notification the LLC was transferring property to Kurtin.

We are attempting to serve Kurtin in California, he wrote.

Vacant parcels between Tacoma and Fawcett avenues and South 21st and South 23rd streets seen last fall.

Meanwhile, $180,823.98 is owed in property taxes, going back to 2022 for the parcel transferred to Kurtin, Pierce County tax records show.

Six tax parcels tied to Tacoma Town Center Parcels LLC, but with NAAMGs office address listed as taxpayer, also show delinquent and current amounts owed to Pierce County as well as sewer/utility liens and landscaping liens.

Those parcels, between Fawcett and Tacoma avenues, show a total tax debt (not counting liens) of $255,474.56 as of mid-May 2024 dating back to 2022.

In Pierce County, properties enter tax foreclosure if they are three or more years delinquent in tax payment that is more than $100 (cumulative).

Another legal battle in Tacoma over nonpayment of an earlier settlement with Seattle-based Caron Architecture on the project totaling more than $591,000 ended last fall, with Carons attorney noting judgment had been fully satisfied. The case was dismissed in October 2023 ahead of its November trial date.

Across the state line in Idaho, meanwhile, the financial picture also appears grim for Galena.

Idaho issues

A website that tracks development news in the Boise area has reported that Galena has essentially disappeared from a project its been involved in there, and Galena recently was evicted from its Boise offices amid unpaid rent.

Boisedev.com reported April 23, 2024, that Galena faces approximately $1.87 million in liens and about $18.9 million in lawsuits over a mixed-use project in Merdian, Idaho, just outside Boise.

Both the Tacoma and Meridian sites are Opportunity Zone projects, which offers tax incentives for investors redeveloping distressed areas.

The Idaho Statesman reported in February 2024 that seven contractors and subcontractors had sued Galena Opportunity Fund after working for months without payment. An attorney representing Galena in that litigation acknowledged funding had fallen through on the Idaho project but that Galena would pay back what it owed and remained optimistic about that projects eventual completion.

Galena Equity Partners business listing on Google shows it permanently closed, but its website remained online as of May 22.

Whether your investment is in our real estate opportunity fund or our other multifamily real estate offerings, our focus is on becoming the best possible operating partner working on your behalf, the website states.

What about Tacoma?

Maria Lee, media representative for the City of Tacoma, told The News Tribune via email in response to questions that there has been no recent movement on the propertys development.

City staff last spoke with representatives of Galena Equity Partners in December 2023, Lee wrote. At that time, Galena expressed its intention to continue with development of the Town Center project.

Lee with the city noted that since December, the City has received inquiries regarding the Town Center properties from third parties, but there has been no follow-up activity from anyone inquiring.

At this point, there are no current permits in the works for the site and no further extensions possible on any that were previously under review.

The citys new building code kicked in March 15, requiring new permit applications and updated design to meet current code.

The News Tribune archives contributed to this report.
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Explosions were reported in Sevastopol, Yevpatoriia, and Alushta in occupied Crimea during the late hours of May 23, according to Suspilne Crimea.

At around 10:18 p.m. local time, Suspilne reported hearing explosions in Yevpatoriia. By 10:30 p.m., passenger transport had been suspended in Sevastopol. A video later surfaced online presumably depicting an explosion in the Alushta district on the southern coast of Crimea. At least five explosions were reported in Alushta.

Within the hour, the Telegram channel Krym Realii announced that residents heard three explosions near the territory of the Belbek airfield in Sevastopol, as well as the work of air defense from Novofedorivka. A total of eight explosions were allegedly heard.

The Crimean Wind telegram channel reported around 12:26 a.m. that a fire had broken out at a military site in the community of Semydvir'ya, about 4 kilometers east of Alushta. Emergency crews are currently on-scene.

Additional sounds of explosions were reported by residents of Sevastopol around 3 a.m., according to Crimean Wind.

Sergey Aksenov, the head of Russian occupation authorities in Crimea, alleged that as a result of the missile attack on the Simferopol region, two bystanders were killed. Damage to "empty" commercial property was also recorded in the Alushta area.

Read also: Updated: Attack on occupied Crimea damages communications equipment, casualties reported, partisans claim

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.

Ukrainian forces have launched several attacks against Russia's Belbek military airfield in occupied Crimea in recent weeks.

The Crimean Wind Telegram channel claimed the airfield was attacked late on May 15 and that a fuel depot caught fire, while Russia's Defense Ministry claimed five U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles were intercepted overnight by "air defense systems on duty."

Attacks against the Belbek airfield were also reported the preceding night, which allegedly resulted in fires near the military facility.

Satellite images obtained by RFE/RL and The New York Times suggested two MiG-31s and one Su-27 were damaged if not totally destroyed.

Read also: Russias latest offensive into Kharkiv Oblast is stretching Ukrainian defenses

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The U.S. government will announce an additional $275 million in ammunition and artillery for Ukraine in the coming days, two U.S. officials told the Associated Press (AP) on the condition of anonymity.

This would be the fourth installment of military aid since the U.S. passed the long-awaited $61 billion foreign defense bill last month.

The new package will include HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), munitions, and 155 mm and 105 mm high-demand artillery rounds. Additional items include Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank systems, anti-tank mines, tactical vehicles, small arms, and ammunition for those weapons.

News of further U.S. military aid comes only a few days after U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with defense officials from more than 50 countries at the 22nd Ramstein-format summit of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG). During the meeting, Austin emphasized the new Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast has added to the urgency of the West's support for Ukraine.

Russia launched a new offensive on May 10 in northern Kharkiv Oblast with a reported 30,000 troops. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Moscow's forces had managed to advance as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) in the region but had been halted by the first line of defense.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, said this week that Russian troops are now deploying their reserves from different sectors but fail to support active assault operations in the region.

Russian forces regularly conduct ground shelling and aerial attacks against population centers in Kharkiv Oblast. Local Ukrainian authorities have also reported instances of civilian executions at the hands of Russian troops.

Since the passing of the foreign aid bill last month, the U.S. has sent almost $1.7 billion in weapons to Kyiv.

Read also: Russias latest offensive into Kharkiv Oblast is stretching Ukrainian defenses

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Three lawmakers  Sen. Shelli Yoder, Sen. Fady Qaddoura and Rep. Ed Clere  questioned FSSA officials about various aspects of Medicaid programs Wednesday. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

A handful of lawmakers on Wednesday questioned the states administration of Medicaid plans that will undergo a transformational change this summer, with topics ranging from a program waitlist, elder care and services for families with disabled children.

The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), which oversees Medicaid, hosted a meeting highlighting the near-completion of the Medicaid unwinding process along with the switch to managed care for aging beneficiaries  moves impacting hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers.

The unwinding process encompasses the way in which the state redetermined Medicaid eligibility for 2.2 million enrollees after federal protections protecting members expired in early 2023. The yearlong review culled at least 241,000 Hoosiers from the rolls.

And while Sen. Shelli Yoder had high praise for the states handling of the unwinding of COVID-19 Medicaid protections, she had sharper criticism for other actions.

We can see the amount of effort that it has taken to get it right in the unwinding but we do not take that same care with our families and people with long-term disabilities in Indiana when we made the decision to change the (Aged and Disabled) waiver, said the Bloomington Democrat. So many families  they dont know whats going on. They havent had clear communication. And I think its just strictly because youre moving too fast.

FSSA changes to attendant care under the Aged and Disabled (A&D) waiver curbed state payments to parents with severely disabled children, who were getting paid a living wage to provide unskilled care at home. However, after program costs ballooned, the agency abruptly halted the program earlier this year and families will transition to a lower-paying system in the coming weeks  pending an ongoing lawsuit.

Yoder, along with Indianapolis Democrat Sen. Fady Qaddoura, West Lafayette Democrat Rep. Chris Campbell and New Albany Republican Rep. Ed Clere, pointedly asked the state agency to account for several perceived shortcomings.

Aged and Disabled waitlist

Medicaid Director Cora Steinmetz juggled several concerns from the lawmakers, all of whom are members of the Medicaid Advisory Committee.

The April implementation of a waitlist for certain services for aged and disabled Hoosiers caused concern for Qaddoura, the state senator from Indianapolis. The state maintains just over 50,500 waiver slots and anticipates expanding to 55,000 in the 2025 fiscal year, which starts on July 1.

No one was receiving services on the A&D waiver and then added to a waitlist. The waitlist is for new entrants, Steinmetz said, noting that several eligibility factors determined ones waitlist placement.  we will be transparent as we move forward with that  once we have some clarity around the number of individuals.

Steinmetz didnt give Qaddoura, who is a former FSSA employee, a firm figure on the number of people on the waitlist, citing the complicating eligibility factors.

Qaddoura shared the story of a constituent who spent down their assets in order to qualify for Medicaid, which covers long-term services like nursing homes and home health aids while Medicare does not. Medicaid is a government health coverage program for the poor while Medicare is designed to serve the elderly  though many senior Hoosiers rely on both programs to meet their health care needs.

Even after spending their assets, this person was placed on the waitlist even though they dont have the financial footing to pay for long-term care themselves, Qaddoura said.

These individuals are now being put in a very difficult position, he said, describing someone trying to plan for their long-term health care needs. There are real life implications for citizens and providers.

Managed Care and AAAs

On top of the waitlist concerns, the state is transitioning its current long-term supports and services offerings to managed care, meaning itll pay Managed Care Entities (MCEs) a flat rate to cover member health benefits rather than individually paying for claims.

Steinmetz and others insist the PathWays for Aging program will roll out on July 1, as planned, after contracting with some individual Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) as service coordinators.

AAAs protested the agency-suggested rate for service coordination, which at $112 was 41% lower than current rates for different but overlapping duties, but MCEs stuck by the proposal.

Qualifying members had until May 1 to make a decision about which managed care plan theyd like to join. Those who failed to make a decision were auto-enrolled but can change their plans within 90 days of starting coverage. Members can change their plans at any time for just cause, such as poor quality of care or if they encounter significant barriers.

Roughly half of the states 16 AAAs, longtime senior care organizations that perform case management for FSSA, opted to negotiate with the MCEs, which includes insurance giants like Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Humana Health Horizons in Indiana and United Healthcare Community Plan.

Clere, an advocate for AAAs who has repeatedly expressed his concerns about MCEs, said he didnt see how the system could be ready for a July launch with so few AAAs serving as service coordinators  a vital component of the managed care rollout.

Steinmetz and others seemed to be more confident.

Although the contractual negotiations are still ongoing  weve made it clear that since the (joint AAA negotiating organization) opted not to participate in the network, that  (MCEs) must make a good faith effort to contract individually with as many AAAs as possible, she said, noting that MCEs could also employ some internal service coordinators.  we are monitoring very, very closely their staff levels, their hiring levels for service coordinators.

Clere also said hed heard that Anthem, in particular, was requiring AAAs sign expansive non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)  something he felt shouldnt be allowed.

It flies in the face of transparency, Clere said. If an NDA is allowed, it will leave the AAA that agrees to an NDA isolated and helpless and unable to talk with peers or stakeholders about their experience or problems.

FSSA leaders indicated that NDAs might be to protect proprietary information, to which Clere said NDAs would then need to be narrowed.

A broad NDA only benefits the MCE at the expense of  not only the AAA, but consumers the AAA is serving, Clere concluded.

In response to questions from Rep. Campbell, Steinmetz reassured committee members that any NDA would not impact the states claims processing review and auditing.

Thats Medicaid data and that is our data, Steinmetz said, acknowledging that Wednesdays meeting was the first time shed heard about potential NDAs. Were going to take that back and do some more investigation and talk with our Anthem colleagues to get a better understanding of that.

The post Medicaid meeting considers progress, concerns about various programs appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Medina Alert: Driver of Kia Sedona wanted in hit-and-run crash in Central Park

DENVER (KDVR)  A Medina Alert has been issued for a Kia Sedona after the driver was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run that left a bicyclist with serious injuries.

On Thursday morning, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Denver Police Department issued the Medina Alert.

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The hit-and-run crash happened near 7700 East 36th Ave. in the Central Park neighborhood at about 6:30 p.m. The area is east of Quebec Street near the Quebec Square shopping center.

FOX31 is working to confirm when the crash happened. CBI reports the hit-and-run happened on Wednesday while Denver police say Tuesday. On Thursday, Denver police confirmed the crash occurred on Tuesday.

According to CBI, the driver of a white Kia Sedona allegedly hit a bicyclist, causing them serious injuries before fleeing the scene. On Thursday, the Denver Police Department said it did not have any more specifics about the victims injuries, and did not know if they remained in the hospital.

The Medina Alert describes the vehicle as:

2002 Kia Sedona

White

CO temporary license plate: 6209647

Has front-end damage

CBI said the driver may have been a Hispanic male.

Anyone with information on the driver, the car or the crash is asked to contact Denver police at 720-913-2000.

If you see the car, you are asked to call 911.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Meet Arizona's most powerful political couple, who are on opposite ends of an abortion ban

Arizona state Sen. Shawnna Bolick is married to Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick, who was part of the court's four-seat majority that allowed enforcement of an 1864 law prohibiting abortions except when a woman's life is at risk. She voted to repeal it. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Before she voted to repeal Arizonas near-total abortion ban, state Sen. Shawnna Bolick rose from her seat on the Senate floor to painstakingly detail one womans three difficult pregnancies.

The first pregnancy was not viable and would require a dilatation and curettage, known as D&C  which, as the doctor informed the patient, is like having an abortion because tissue is removed from the uterus.

The second pregnancy resulted in a healthy baby boy, but required an emergency C-section. The third delivered a baby girl, but demanded 23 weeks of bed rest.

Then Bolick revealed the storys twist.

I know the chronicles of these pregnancies quite intimately because theyre all my own, she said. None of my pregnancies were easy, and none of them would have been possible without the moral support of my husband.

And yet the Republican state senator omitted a crucial detail about her husband: that he was part of the reason she had to cast the controversial vote. Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick was part of the courts four-seat majority that allowed enforcement of an 1864 law prohibiting abortions except when a womans life is at risk.

Justice Bolick made a legal construction decision. Thats what judges do, said Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy and a staunch opponent of abortion. Sen. Bolick made a policy decision. Thats what state senators do. They both were carrying out the duty of the position that they hold.

In an op-ed Tuesday in the Arizona Republic, Clint Bolick said his marriage could easily withstand his wifes vote: That caused no marital disharmony because she is a policymaker and I am not.

By coincidence, Justice Bolick faces a retention vote in November, just as Sen. Bolick is up for election. Both have already felt political backlash over the 1864 law. Will Arizonas most powerful couple in government also pay a price at the ballot box  one for permitting the abortion ban, the other for ending it?

The entanglement of politics in the Bolicks marriage stretches back long before abortion became a crucial 2024 issue in the battleground state.

After obtaining his law degree from UC Davis in 1982, Clint Bolick, 66, made a name for himself as a constitutional literalist in conservative legal circles across the country and the globe  among them, the Federalist Society and the Goldwater Institute.

Hes not your typical run-of-the-mill, you know, right-wing Republican, said Chuck Coughlin, president of HighGround Inc., a Phoenix-based political consulting firm. He has an intellectual basis  deep intellectual basis  for what he believes in.

In 2004, Clint Bolick became general counsel for the Alliance for School Choice, where he joined his wife on their mission to change laws to allow parents to use taxpayer money to help pay for their childrens private school education.

I never reported directly to Clint while he was working at the Alliance ... full-time, Sen. Bolick wrote in a LinkedIn endorsement of her husband. IF I did I think I wouldve barfed  hes my husband, but also an important colleague in the school choice movement.

The state senator, 49, declined an interview request for this story, saying in a text message, My husband and I both value one another and have had an incredible 24 years of marriage.

Sen. Shawnna Bolick confers with a colleague in the Senate chambers in April. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

For Sen. Bolick, who describes herself on the social media site X as a wife, mom and school-choice advocate, a career in education policy led her to work in government. Then-Gov. Doug Ducey, a fellow Republican, appointed her to the Arizona Early Childhood Education and Health Board in 2015; he appointed her husband to the state Supreme Court a year later.

She won a seat on the Arizona House of Representatives in 2018. Her profile rose in the wake of the 2020 election, when Arizona was roiled by election denialism, as she sponsored a bill that included a provision to give state legislators the ability to overrule the vote of the people. The bill died in committee.

Read more: How treatment of miscarriages is upending the abortion debate

The Washington Post reported that a couple of months earlier, Ginni Thomas, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wife, had emailed then-Rep. Bolick asking her to support a clean slate of electors.

Bolick responded with guidance for how to submit claims of voter fraud in Arizona, the Post reported, along with the message, I hope you and Clarence are doing great!

The Thomases are close with the Bolick family, according to the Post and the Arizona Mirror, which reported Justice Thomas is godparent to the Bolicks son.

When the Arizona Capitol Times in 2019 asked Shawnna Bolick how she and her husband juggled their unique situation, she responded: We dont talk much, lets just say that. Our schedules dont match up. I cant even ask him for advice, which stinks because some issues might go to him.

(For a time, according to the newspaper, the family was also represented in the Arizona executive branch, with their teenage son Ryne in the Governors Office of Youth, Faith and Family.)

Last summer, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Shawnna Bolick to finish a term vacated by Sen. Steve Kaiser, a Republican who resigned amid frustrations with his partys far-right flank.

Justice Bolick administered his wifes swearing-in ceremony, she wiping away tears as he looked on with pride.

Sweetheart, you never cease to amaze me, and I am enormously proud of you, he said. Given their different roles, he observed, he couldnt campaign for her or offer legislative advice.

But there are three things I can do, he said. First of all, is to commend you for being one of the most amazing public servants Ive ever known  and I mean that in the literal and best sense of the word. Second is I can swear you in. He paused. And the third is that after I swear you in, I can kiss you  and I dont normally do that.

After she swore her oath, he did.

In a Federalist Society keynote address two years ago at Arizonas Waldorf Hotel, Justice Bolick described originalism and federalism  the division of power between national and local governments  as two of his favorite isms.

We are oath-bound to give those words their original public meaning, he said, adding, We do not have one constitution, we have 51 constitutions.  We are empowered to give our constitutions a meaning that provides greater protection for individual liberty than is recognized at the federal level, but not less.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, the Arizona Legislature passed a law  which Shawnna Bolick co-sponsored  that would restrict abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. But just five months after she was sworn into office as a senator, the Arizona Supreme Court took up the case examining whether the limited abortion ban superseded the 1864 law.

Having a Supreme Court justice married to a key state legislator causes all sorts of problems, said Paul Weich, a semiretired lawyer and Arizona politics watcher who runs two blogs covering the state court and Legislature.

When asked by a CBS station whether he should recuse himself from the case, Justice Bolick replied: I will recuse in any challenge to the constitutionality of a law in which I am aware that my wife was a prime sponsor or prominently identified as a supporter or opponent. Otherwise, I will not.

This case involves statutory interpretation and does not challenge the constitutionality of the 15-week abortion limit, and thus presents no conflict of interest, he wrote. I therefore have an ethical duty to participate.

The court issued its ruling on the 1864 ban in April. In his op-ed, Justice Bolick asserted that the courts opinion was solidly grounded in law. He pointed to previous court decisions that he said angered activists from both parties.

In our state, the people have the ultimate lawmaking power, including the ability to overturn our decisions, he wrote. But we cannot afford to have conscientious judges voted out for unpopular decisions.

Already, activists have mounted an effort to unseat him in his upcoming retention election  an attempt the justice decried in his op-ed. Until recently, the justice said he was undecided whether he would seek retention. But he finally said he would, saying he intended to defend the judiciarys independence.

As a judge I have never ruled on the basis of politics  apparently, to my current detriment, he wrote. I would rather go down in electoral flames than to compromise my constitutional oath.

Sen. Bolick reposted her husbands article on X, writing, Just like November 2018, I look forward to campaigning to retain my husband as the only appointed independent to our states highest court. Dont let the Left hijack our independent judiciary we have in AZ.

Still, Justice Bolicks literalist reading of the law put his wife in a tricky predicament. Facing her first election as senator in north Phoenix, one of the most closely divided swing districts in the state, she must appeal both to her Republican base and Democrats who prefer a more moderate stance on abortion.

The Arizona Senate in session in April. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Knowing that political reality, she stood before her colleagues May 1 in the Senate, where Republicans hold a two-seat majority, and launched into her story of three pregnancies.

She is a notoriously private person, said Coughlin. I mean, I have not seen her ever, ever, ever, ever expose her personal feelings as she did in that 20-minute speech on the floor. All of us were looking at each other, going, What is going on? What is this about?

Growing restless, her Republican colleagues called multiple times for a point of order, interrupting her speech to ask how it pertained to the matter at hand  the 1864 abortion law.

The comments are germane because not every pregnancy is the same, she replied.

She went on to criticize some Planned Parenthood practices before pivoting back to the proposed repeal of the law. When she said shed vote for repeal, the chamber erupted with jeers. Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, signed the bill into law.

Bolicks opponent in the Senate race, Democratic House Rep. Judy Schwiebert, said she was moved by Bolicks remarks. Explaining her own passionate support for abortion access, Schwiebert cited her son and daughter-in-law; they tried to have a child through in vitro fertilization, only for the pregnancy to become nonviable and require an abortion.

But Schwiebert said she was disappointed that Bolick targeted abortion providers in her speech.

Nancy Gillenwater of Scottsdale rallies with others against the Arizona abortion ban in April. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

I suppose that she was trying to thread a needle of explaining her vote to get sympathy or support from Democratic voters, but at the same time, trying to bash Planned Parenthood types of organizations, because that plays well with her base, Schwiebert said. So it was a little bit of a convoluted speech, unfortunately, because of that for me.

Coughlin, of the political consulting firm in Phoenix, believed Sen. Bolicks speech was genuine but predicted it would not help her in November.

My moneys on Schwiebert winning that race, he said.

He also predicted that a proposed ballot measure, which would enshrine abortion protections in the state constitution, would pass in Bolicks district.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
TechCrunch

Instagram head Adam Mosseri on Friday addressed the moderation issues that saw Instagram and Threads users losing access to their accounts, having posts disappear, and more, saying that the company "found mistakes" that it's attributing to human moderators. In a post on Threads, Mosseri addressed the issue that has been plaguing the social platforms over the past several days, adding that the mistakes it's found so far were due to content reviewers  people, not automated systems  "making calls without being provided the context on how conversations played out, which was a miss." The exec said Instagram was fixing the issues so the reviewers could make better calls and make fewer mistakes.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends and addresses the China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries Forum on Industrial and Investment Cooperation in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, May 23, 2024. Ding also read a congratulatory letter by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the forum. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

XIAMEN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese vice premier Ding Xuexiang on Thursday called for enhanced industrial and investment cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, pledging to provide more convenience for businesses from GCC countries to invest in China.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at the China-GCC Countries Forum on Industrial and Investment Cooperation held in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province. He also read a congratulatory letter by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the forum.

Noting that China and the GCC countries are good brothers, friends and partners, Ding said the two sides are highly complementary in development advantages, and their practical cooperation enjoys a solid foundation and broad prospects.

Ding urged the two sides to uphold the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, work together to promote the high-quality development of industrial and investment cooperation, and strive to inject new impetus into the prosperity and development of China and the GCC countries.

He went on to propose that the two sides should enhance synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the development strategies and visions of GCC countries, and make full use of cooperation mechanisms in all fields. Practical cooperation should be strengthened to promote common development, Ding said, adding that the two sides should expand cooperation in traditional fields such as oil and gas, petrochemicals and infrastructure, and actively carry out cooperation in emerging fields such as clean energy and the digital economy.

Ding also urged more efforts to improve the business environment. China will steadily expand institutional opening up and provide more space and convenience for enterprises from GCC countries to invest in China, Ding said, adding that it is hoped the GCC countries will also provide better conditions for Chinese enterprises.

Ding added that the two sides should strengthen mutual support and promote the integration of interests, and work together to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, to build a community with a shared future for humanity.

About 600 representatives from government departments, enterprises, financial institutions and other sectors from China and the GCC countries attended the forum. 

This photo taken on May 23, 2024 shows a scene during the China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries Forum on Industrial and Investment Cooperation in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province. The forum was held in Xiamen from Thursday to Friday. Themed "Embracing the Future: Advancing High-Quality Industrial and Investment Cooperation between China and GCC Countries," the event was co-hosted by the National Development and Reform Commission and the People's Government of Fujian Province.

About 600 representatives from government departments, enterprises, financial institutions and other sectors from China and the GCC countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi)
Members of the U.S. Senate face a vote on whether they support contraception access

Birth control pills. Getty Images.

WASHINGTON  U.S. senators will go on record next month with whether they support legislation from Democrats that would guarantee access to contraception  a right currently upheld by two Supreme Court cases, but one that has been singled out by a conservative justice.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, announced Wednesday the chamber would vote on the bill in June, saying it would help to bolster womens reproductive rights at a crucial time. Sixty votes will be needed for the bill to advance.

Now, more than ever, contraception is a critical piece of protecting womens reproductive freedoms, Schumer said.

The move to hold a procedural vote on the legislation, which has 49 co-sponsors, came just one day after Donald Trump, the Republican presumptive nominee for president, said that his campaign would be releasing a policy on contraception in the next week.

Trump seemed to be open to state restrictions on contraception, though he later backtracked in social media comments.

Were looking at that and Im going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think its something that youll find interesting, Trump said on KDKA in Pittsburgh. Its another issue thats very interesting. But you will find it very smart. I think its a smart decision, but well be releasing it very soon.

Trump had been asked if he supports any restrictions on a persons right to contraception.

Trump later said that things really do have a lot to do with the states. And some states are going to have different policies than others. That comment came after Trump was asked if he may want to support some restrictions, like the morning-after pill or something?

In Congress

The House approved a bill similar to the Senate legislation in July 2022 that was sponsored by North Carolina Democratic Rep. Kathy Manning. The chamber at the time was controlled by Democrats.

That measure defined contraception as an action taken to prevent pregnancy, including the use of contraceptives or fertility-awareness based methods, and sterilization procedures.

Senate Democrats tried to pass their version of the so-called Right to Contraception Act the same month, but Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst blocked the unanimous consent request.

Unanimous consent is the fastest way to approve legislation in the Senate, but it allows any one lawmaker to block passage. There is no recorded vote during that process, but there will be next month when Schumer holds the procedural vote.

If the legislation gains 60 votes, it would move on to a simple majority vote.

Democrats were attempting to enact statutory protections for contraception two years ago following the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization ruling by the Supreme Court that ended the constitutional right to abortion. That right was established in the 1973 Roe v. Wade case and affirmed in the 1992 Casey v. Planned Parenthood ruling.

In a dissenting opinion in Dobbs, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the justices should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents that relied on the same right to privacy legal thinking that justices had cited in Roe and Casey.

Thomas specifically mentioned the Griswold v. Connecticut, Obergefell v. Hodges and Lawrence v. Texas cases.

Griswold was the 1965 case where the Supreme Court struck down a Connecticut state law that had prevented married couples from using contraception.

The Supreme Court held that a right to privacy can be inferred from several amendments in the Bill of Rights, and this right prevents states from making the use of contraception by married couples illegal.

Those rights were extended to unmarried people in the 1972 Eisenstadt v. Baird ruling.

Polling from the Kaiser Family Foundation, released in March, shows that 45% of adults said they believe access to contraception is a secure right likely to remain in place.

An additional 21% responded that they believe it is a threatened right likely to be overturned. A total of 34% of respondents said they were not sure.

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The post Members of the U.S. Senate face a vote on whether they support contraception access appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Members of the U.S. Senate face a vote on whether they support contraception access

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Wednesday that the Senate will vote in June on legislation guaranteeing the right to access contraception. Shown is a packet of birth control pills. (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. senators will go on record next month with whether they support legislation from Democrats that would guarantee access to contraception  a right currently upheld by two Supreme Court cases, but one that has been singled out by a conservative justice.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, announced Wednesday the chamber would vote on the bill in June, saying it would help to bolster womens reproductive rights at a crucial time. Sixty votes will be needed for the bill to advance.

Now, more than ever, contraception is a critical piece of protecting womens reproductive freedoms, Schumer said.

The move to hold a procedural vote on the legislation, which has 49 co-sponsors, came just one day after Donald Trump, the Republican presumptive nominee for president, said that his campaign would be releasing a policy on contraception in the next week.

Trump seemed to be open to state restrictions on contraception, though he later backtracked in social media comments.

Were looking at that and Im going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think its something that youll find interesting, Trump said on KDKA in Pittsburgh. Its another issue thats very interesting. But you will find it very smart. I think its a smart decision, but well be releasing it very soon.

Trump had been asked if he supports any restrictions on a persons right to contraception.

Trump later said that things really do have a lot to do with the states. And some states are going to have different policies than others. That comment came after Trump was asked if he may want to support some restrictions, like the morning-after pill or something?

In Congress

The House approved a bill similar to the Senate legislation in July 2022 that was sponsored by North Carolina Democratic Rep. Kathy Manning. The chamber at the time was controlled by Democrats.

That measure defined contraception as an action taken to prevent pregnancy, including the use of contraceptives or fertility-awareness based methods, and sterilization procedures.

Senate Democrats tried to pass their version of the so-called Right to Contraception Act the same month, but Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst blocked the unanimous consent request.

Unanimous consent is the fastest way to approve legislation in the Senate, but it allows any one lawmaker to block passage. There is no recorded vote during that process, but there will be next month when Schumer holds the procedural vote.

If the legislation gains 60 votes, it would move on to a simple majority vote.

Democrats were attempting to enact statutory protections for contraception two years ago following the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization ruling by the Supreme Court that ended the constitutional right to abortion. That right was established in the 1973 Roe v. Wade case and affirmed in the 1992 Casey v. Planned Parenthood ruling.

In a dissenting opinion in Dobbs, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the justices should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents that relied on the same right to privacy legal thinking that justices had cited in Roe and Casey.

Thomas specifically mentioned the Griswold v. Connecticut, Obergefell v. Hodges and Lawrence v. Texas cases.

Griswold was the 1965 case where the Supreme Court struck down a Connecticut state law that had prevented married couples from using contraception.

The Supreme Court held that a right to privacy can be inferred from several amendments in the Bill of Rights, and this right prevents states from making the use of contraception by married couples illegal.

Those rights were extended to unmarried people in the 1972 Eisenstadt v. Baird ruling.

Polling from KFF, released in March, shows that 45% of adults said they believe access to contraception is a secure right likely to remain in place.

An additional 21% responded that they believe it is a threatened right likely to be overturned. A total of 34% of respondents said they were not sure.

The post Members of the U.S. Senate face a vote on whether they support contraception access appeared first on Source New Mexico.
Members of the U.S. Senate face a vote on whether they support contraception access

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Wednesday that the Senate will vote in June on legislation guaranteeing the right to access contraception. Shown is a packet of birth control pills. (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. senators will go on record next month with whether they support legislation from Democrats that would guarantee access to contraception  a right currently upheld by two Supreme Court cases, but one that has been singled out by a conservative justice.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, announced Wednesday the chamber would vote on the bill in June, saying it would help to bolster womens reproductive rights at a crucial time. Sixty votes will be needed for the bill to advance.

Now, more than ever, contraception is a critical piece of protecting womens reproductive freedoms, Schumer said.

The move to hold a procedural vote on the legislation, which has 49 co-sponsors, came just one day after Donald Trump, the Republican presumptive nominee for president, said that his campaign would be releasing a policy on contraception in the next week.

Trump seemed to be open to state restrictions on contraception, though he later backtracked in social media comments.

Were looking at that and Im going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think its something that youll find interesting, Trump said on KDKA in Pittsburgh. Its another issue thats very interesting. But you will find it very smart. I think its a smart decision, but well be releasing it very soon.

Trump had been asked if he supports any restrictions on a persons right to contraception.

Trump later said that things really do have a lot to do with the states. And some states are going to have different policies than others. That comment came after Trump was asked if he may want to support some restrictions, like the morning-after pill or something?

In Congress

The House approved a bill similar to the Senate legislation in July 2022 that was sponsored by North Carolina Democratic Rep. Kathy Manning. The chamber at the time was controlled by Democrats.

That measure defined contraception as an action taken to prevent pregnancy, including the use of contraceptives or fertility-awareness based methods, and sterilization procedures.

Senate Democrats tried to pass their version of the so-called Right to Contraception Act the same month, but Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst blocked the unanimous consent request.

Unanimous consent is the fastest way to approve legislation in the Senate, but it allows any one lawmaker to block passage. There is no recorded vote during that process, but there will be next month when Schumer holds the procedural vote.

If the legislation gains 60 votes, it would move on to a simple majority vote.

Democrats were attempting to enact statutory protections for contraception two years ago following the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization ruling by the Supreme Court that ended the constitutional right to abortion. That right was established in the 1973 Roe v. Wade case and affirmed in the 1992 Casey v. Planned Parenthood ruling.

In a dissenting opinion in Dobbs, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the justices should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents that relied on the same right to privacy legal thinking that justices had cited in Roe and Casey.

Thomas specifically mentioned the Griswold v. Connecticut, Obergefell v. Hodges and Lawrence v. Texas cases.

Griswold was the 1965 case where the Supreme Court struck down a Connecticut state law that had prevented married couples from using contraception.

The Supreme Court held that a right to privacy can be inferred from several amendments in the Bill of Rights, and this right prevents states from making the use of contraception by married couples illegal.

Those rights were extended to unmarried people in the 1972 Eisenstadt v. Baird ruling.

Polling from KFF, released in March, shows that 45% of adults said they believe access to contraception is a secure right likely to remain in place.

An additional 21% responded that they believe it is a threatened right likely to be overturned. A total of 34% of respondents said they were not sure.

The post Members of the U.S. Senate face a vote on whether they support contraception access appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Members of the U.S. Senate face a vote on whether they support contraception access

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Wednesday that the Senate will vote in June on legislation guaranteeing the right to access contraception. Shown is a packet of birth control pills. (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. senators will go on record next month with whether they support legislation from Democrats that would guarantee access to contraception  a right currently upheld by two Supreme Court cases, but one that has been singled out by a conservative justice.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, announced Wednesday the chamber would vote on the bill in June, saying it would help to bolster womens reproductive rights at a crucial time. Sixty votes will be needed for the bill to advance.

Now, more than ever, contraception is a critical piece of protecting womens reproductive freedoms, Schumer said.

The move to hold a procedural vote on the legislation, which has 49 co-sponsors, came just one day after Donald Trump, the Republican presumptive nominee for president, said that his campaign would be releasing a policy on contraception in the next week.

Trump seemed to be open to state restrictions on contraception, though he later backtracked in social media comments.

Were looking at that and Im going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think its something that youll find interesting, Trump said on KDKA in Pittsburgh. Its another issue thats very interesting. But you will find it very smart. I think its a smart decision, but well be releasing it very soon.

Trump had been asked if he supports any restrictions on a persons right to contraception.

Trump later said that things really do have a lot to do with the states. And some states are going to have different policies than others. That comment came after Trump was asked if he may want to support some restrictions, like the morning-after pill or something?

In Congress

The House approved a bill similar to the Senate legislation in July 2022 that was sponsored by North Carolina Democratic Rep. Kathy Manning. The chamber at the time was controlled by Democrats.

That measure defined contraception as an action taken to prevent pregnancy, including the use of contraceptives or fertility-awareness based methods, and sterilization procedures.

Senate Democrats tried to pass their version of the so-called Right to Contraception Act the same month, but Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst blocked the unanimous consent request.

Unanimous consent is the fastest way to approve legislation in the Senate, but it allows any one lawmaker to block passage. There is no recorded vote during that process, but there will be next month when Schumer holds the procedural vote.

If the legislation gains 60 votes, it would move on to a simple majority vote.

Democrats were attempting to enact statutory protections for contraception two years ago following the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization ruling by the Supreme Court that ended the constitutional right to abortion. That right was established in the 1973 Roe v. Wade case and affirmed in the 1992 Casey v. Planned Parenthood ruling.

In a dissenting opinion in Dobbs, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the justices should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents that relied on the same right to privacy legal thinking that justices had cited in Roe and Casey.

Thomas specifically mentioned the Griswold v. Connecticut, Obergefell v. Hodges and Lawrence v. Texas cases.

Griswold was the 1965 case where the Supreme Court struck down a Connecticut state law that had prevented married couples from using contraception.

The Supreme Court held that a right to privacy can be inferred from several amendments in the Bill of Rights, and this right prevents states from making the use of contraception by married couples illegal.

Those rights were extended to unmarried people in the 1972 Eisenstadt v. Baird ruling.

Polling from KFF, released in March, shows that 45% of adults said they believe access to contraception is a secure right likely to remain in place.

An additional 21% responded that they believe it is a threatened right likely to be overturned. A total of 34% of respondents said they were not sure.

The post Members of the U.S. Senate face a vote on whether they support contraception access appeared first on Michigan Advance.
A Purple Heart medal is seen during a Purple Heart ceremony June 9, 2015 at George Washington's Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon, Virginia. The U.S. Army held celebration for its 240th birthday. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  When a Purple Heart recipient named Pat reached out to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in November to inform her that he couldnt transfer his GI bill benefits to his children, he wasnt expecting congressional action to solve the problem.

He simply just wanted to let the Washington state Democrat know, he told States Newsroom in an exclusive interview.

With a child about to head to college, Pat, who didnt want his last name used, had recently been told by the Army that he couldnt transfer his education benefits to them because he received the Purple Heart after he was medically discharged. This rule does not apply to those who receive the medal while still in service.

Murray and Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, introduced a bipartisan bill Thursday aimed at closing that loophole.

The legislation, titled the Purple Heart Veterans Education Act, would permit retroactive award recipients who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001 to transfer their education benefits to one or more dependents. It was unveiled just ahead of Memorial Day, when the nation honors its deceased service members.

As the daughter of a Purple Heart recipient, Ive seen firsthand the enormous sacrifices Purple Heart veterans make to defend our freedoms, and I feel strongly that we should be doing absolutely everything we can to help all veterans and their families thrive, Murray said in a statement Thursday.

It doesnt make any sense that service members who are awarded a Purple Heart after their service cant transfer their GI benefits to their dependents, while those who receive it during their service canand I am grateful to Pat, my constituent in Washington state who brought this gap in the law to my attention, continued Murray, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Our legislation will close this loophole and allow more children of Purple Heart veterans to further their education. I want to thank Senator Tillis for joining me on this legislation and Ill be working hard to get it passed into law.

Glitch in education benefits

Pat was medically discharged from the U.S. Army and retroactively received a Purple Heart for his actions during Irans retaliatory missile barrage in January 2020 on an Iraq airbase, after a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

The Army later approved 39 Purple Hearts for service members who experienced the attack, according to a December 2021 report by the Army Times.

As his teenager looks to enroll at Central Washington University next year, Pat found out that by law his education benefits would only be available for transfer if he had received the award while still in service.

My thought was, I doubt that legislators would have done that intentionally. I just thought, you know, people probably just didnt think about how that happens  that some people are going to get retroactive Purple Hearts, or for whatever reason in evaluating them, theyre delayed. So its not like an unusual thing, Pat said in a phone interview.

I wasnt thinking much was going to happen, but I just wanted to write Senator Murray, who is my local senator, and let her know the issue. They responded by saying, Thats an oversight on our part, and we want to make good on that.

Pat said hes grateful for Sen. Murray and hopes his action is able to help other Purple Heart veterans. For now, his family is moving forward with the college enrollment process for his child, he said.

Benefits and dependents

Among the provisions in the legislation, Murray and Tillis bill would also allow veterans to split up 36 months worth of benefits to each of their dependents. For example, they could transfer 20 months to one and 16 months to another.

The bill, if enacted, would also prohibit the benefits from being treated as marital property or a marital estate asset.

And, the bill would permit dependents to access unused benefits if their veteran family member has died.

Purple Heart recipients are heroes who honorably served our country at great costs, and this oversight that prevents servicemembers who received this distinguished award after their service from transferring their GI bill benefits to their dependents needs to be corrected immediately, Tillis said in a statement Thursday.

I am proud to co-introduce this commonsense legislation with Senator Murray to close this loophole and ensure every Purple Heart recipient and dependents are able to further their education, continued Tillis, who also sits on the Senates Veterans Affairs Committee.

The number of veterans who retroactively received the Purple Heart after their post-9/11 service is unclear. The bill is estimated to cost $500,000 in mandatory spending over 10 years, according to an informal analysis provided to Murrays office by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The bill has received praise from veterans groups, including the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Unfortunately, not every veterans service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States of America is fully recognized while theyre still in uniform, IAVA CEO and Iraq War veteran Allison Jaslow said in a statement Thursday.

The Purple Heart Veterans Education Act ensures that those veterans whove endured bodily harm on behalf of our nation, but werent recognized for it until their service concluded, are able to turn that recognition into an investment in the education of their loved ones.

More Purple Heart recipients

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have greatly increased the number of Purple Heart recipients as the Department of Defense has added some traumatic brain injuries as a recognized condition for the award, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

It wasnt until a 2017 law that Purple Heart recipients were able to receive full post-9/11 GI Bill benefits regardless of their length of service. Previously, the recipients had to have 36 months of active service.

The Department of Defense does not maintain a record of the number of recipients, according to the CRS, but by law they do maintain a publicly accessible list with the permission of the veteran or next of kin.

Military historians and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor estimate about 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1932. The Army Historical Foundation estimated as of 2016 that 30,000 Purple Hearts had been awarded since 2001. The CRS cited this statistic.

The post As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients appeared first on Washington State Standard.
A Purple Heart medal is seen during a Purple Heart ceremony June 9, 2015 at George Washingtons Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon, Virginia. The U.S. Army held a celebration for its 240th birthday. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  When a Purple Heart recipient named Pat reached out to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in November to inform her that he couldnt transfer his GI bill benefits to his children, he wasnt expecting congressional action to solve the problem.

He simply just wanted to let the Washington state Democrat know, he told States Newsroom in an exclusive interview.

With a child about to head to college, Pat, who didnt want his last name used, had recently been told by the Army that he couldnt transfer his education benefits to them because he received the Purple Heart after he was medically discharged. This rule does not apply to those who receive the medal while still in service.

Murray and Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, introduced a bipartisan bill Thursday aimed at closing that loophole.

The legislation, titled the Purple Heart Veterans Education Act, would permit retroactive award recipients who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001, to transfer their education benefits to one or more dependents. It was unveiled just ahead of Memorial Day, when the nation honors its deceased service members.

As the daughter of a Purple Heart recipient, Ive seen firsthand the enormous sacrifices Purple Heart veterans make to defend our freedoms, and I feel strongly that we should be doing absolutely everything we can to help all veterans and their families thrive, Murray said in a statement Thursday.

It doesnt make any sense that service members who are awarded a Purple Heart after their service cant transfer their GI benefits to their dependents, while those who receive it during their service canand I am grateful to Pat, my constituent in Washington state who brought this gap in the law to my attention, continued Murray, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Our legislation will close this loophole and allow more children of Purple Heart veterans to further their education. I want to thank Senator Tillis for joining me on this legislation and Ill be working hard to get it passed into law.

Glitch in education benefits

Pat was medically discharged from the U.S. Army and retroactively received a Purple Heart for his actions during Irans retaliatory missile barrage in January 2020 on an Iraq airbase, after a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

The Army later approved 39 Purple Hearts for service members who experienced the attack, according to a December 2021 report by the Army Times.

As his teenager looks to enroll at Central Washington University next year, Pat found out that by law his education benefits would only be available for transfer if he had received the award while still in service.

My thought was, I doubt that legislators would have done that intentionally. I just thought, you know, people probably just didnt think about how that happens  that some people are going to get retroactive Purple Hearts, or for whatever reason in evaluating them, theyre delayed. So its not like an unusual thing, Pat said in a phone interview.

I wasnt thinking much was going to happen, but I just wanted to write Senator Murray, who is my local senator, and let her know the issue. They responded by saying, Thats an oversight on our part, and we want to make good on that.

Pat said hes grateful for Sen. Murray and hopes his action is able to help other Purple Heart veterans. For now, his family is moving forward with the college enrollment process for his child, he said.

Benefits and dependents

Among the provisions in the legislation, Murray and Tillis bill would also allow veterans to split up 36 months worth of benefits to each of their dependents. For example, they could transfer 20 months to one and 16 months to another.

The bill, if enacted, would also prohibit the benefits from being treated as marital property or a marital estate asset.

And, the bill would permit dependents to access unused benefits if their veteran family member has died.

Purple Heart recipients are heroes who honorably served our country at great costs, and this oversight that prevents servicemembers who received this distinguished award after their service from transferring their GI bill benefits to their dependents needs to be corrected immediately, Tillis said in a statement Thursday.

I am proud to co-introduce this commonsense legislation with Senator Murray to close this loophole and ensure every Purple Heart recipient and dependents are able to further their education, continued Tillis, who also sits on the Senates Veterans Affairs Committee.

The number of veterans who retroactively received the Purple Heart after their post-9/11 service is unclear. The bill is estimated to cost $500,000 in mandatory spending over 10 years, according to an informal analysis provided to Murrays office by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The bill has received praise from veterans groups, including the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Unfortunately, not every veterans service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States of America is fully recognized while theyre still in uniform, IAVA CEO and Iraq War veteran Allison Jaslow said in a statement Thursday.

The Purple Heart Veterans Education Act ensures that those veterans whove endured bodily harm on behalf of our nation, but werent recognized for it until their service concluded, are able to turn that recognition into an investment in the education of their loved ones.

More Purple Heart recipients

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have greatly increased the number of Purple Heart recipients as the Department of Defense has added some traumatic brain injuries as a recognized condition for the award, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

It wasnt until a 2017 law that Purple Heart recipients were able to receive full post-9/11 GI Bill benefits regardless of their length of service. Previously, the recipients had to have 36 months of active service.

The Department of Defense does not maintain a record of the number of recipients, according to the CRS, but by law they do maintain a publicly accessible list with the permission of the veteran or next of kin.

Military historians and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor estimate about 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1932. The Army Historical Foundation estimated as of 2016 that 30,000 Purple Hearts had been awarded since 2001. The CRS cited this statistic.

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The post As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
A Purple Heart medal is seen during a Purple Heart ceremony June 9, 2015 at George Washingtons Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon, Virginia. The U.S. Army held a celebration for its 240th birthday. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  When a Purple Heart recipient named Pat reached out to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in November to inform her that he couldnt transfer his GI bill benefits to his children, he wasnt expecting congressional action to solve the problem.

He simply just wanted to let the Washington state Democrat know, he told States Newsroom in an exclusive interview.

With a child about to head to college, Pat, who didnt want his last name used, had recently been told by the Army that he couldnt transfer his education benefits to them because he received the Purple Heart after he was medically discharged. This rule does not apply to those who receive the medal while still in service.

Senator Patty Murray

Murray and Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, introduced a bipartisan bill Thursday aimed at closing that loophole.

The legislation, titled the Purple Heart Veterans Education Act, would permit retroactive award recipients who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001 to transfer their education benefits to one or more dependents. It was unveiled just ahead of Memorial Day, when the nation honors its deceased service members.

As the daughter of a Purple Heart recipient, Ive seen firsthand the enormous sacrifices Purple Heart veterans make to defend our freedoms, and I feel strongly that we should be doing absolutely everything we can to help all veterans and their families thrive, Murray said in a statement Thursday.

It doesnt make any sense that service members who are awarded a Purple Heart after their service cant transfer their GI benefits to their dependents, while those who receive it during their service canand I am grateful to Pat, my constituent in Washington state who brought this gap in the law to my attention, continued Murray, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Our legislation will close this loophole and allow more children of Purple Heart veterans to further their education. I want to thank Senator Tillis for joining me on this legislation and Ill be working hard to get it passed into law.

Glitch in education benefits

Pat was medically discharged from the U.S. Army and retroactively received a Purple Heart for his actions during Irans retaliatory missile barrage in January 2020 on an Iraq airbase, after a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

The Army later approved 39 Purple Hearts for service members who experienced the attack, according to a December 2021 report by the Army Times.

As his teenager looks to enroll at Central Washington University next year, Pat found out that by law his education benefits would only be available for transfer if he had received the award while still in service.

My thought was, I doubt that legislators would have done that intentionally. I just thought, you know, people probably just didnt think about how that happens  that some people are going to get retroactive Purple Hearts, or for whatever reason in evaluating them, theyre delayed. So its not like an unusual thing, Pat said in a phone interview.

I wasnt thinking much was going to happen, but I just wanted to write Senator Murray, who is my local senator, and let her know the issue. They responded by saying, Thats an oversight on our part, and we want to make good on that.

Pat said hes grateful for Sen. Murray and hopes his action is able to help other Purple Heart veterans. For now, his family is moving forward with the college enrollment process for his child, he said.

Benefits and dependents

Among the provisions in the legislation, Murray and Tillis bill would also allow veterans to split up 36 months worth of benefits to each of their dependents. For example, they could transfer 20 months to one and 16 months to another.

The bill, if enacted, would also prohibit the benefits from being treated as marital property or a marital estate asset.

And the bill would permit dependents to access unused benefits if their veteran family member has died.

Purple Heart recipients are heroes who honorably served our country at great costs, and this oversight that prevents servicemembers who received this distinguished award after their service from transferring their GI bill benefits to their dependents needs to be corrected immediately, Tillis said in a statement Thursday.

I am proud to co-introduce this commonsense legislation with Senator Murray to close this loophole and ensure every Purple Heart recipient and dependents are able to further their education, continued Tillis, who also sits on the Senates Veterans Affairs Committee.

The number of veterans who retroactively received the Purple Heart after their post-9/11 service is unclear. The bill is estimated to cost $500,000 in mandatory spending over 10 years, according to an informal analysis provided to Murrays office by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The bill has received praise from veterans groups, including the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Unfortunately, not every veterans service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States of America is fully recognized while theyre still in uniform, IAVA CEO and Iraq War veteran Allison Jaslow said in a statement Thursday.

The Purple Heart Veterans Education Act ensures that those veterans whove endured bodily harm on behalf of our nation, but werent recognized for it until their service concluded, are able to turn that recognition into an investment in the education of their loved ones.

More Purple Heart recipients

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have greatly increased the number of Purple Heart recipients as the Department of Defense has added some traumatic brain injuries as a recognized condition for the award, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

It wasnt until a 2017 law that Purple Heart recipients were able to receive full post-9/11 GI Bill benefits regardless of their length of service. Previously, the recipients had to have 36 months of active service.

The Department of Defense does not maintain a record of the number of recipients, according to the CRS, but by law they do maintain a publicly accessible list with the permission of the veteran or next of kin.

Military historians and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor estimate about 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1932. The Army Historical Foundation estimated as of 2016 that 30,000 Purple Hearts had been awarded since 2001. The CRS cited this statistic.

The post As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients appeared first on NC Newsline.
A Purple Heart medal is seen during a Purple Heart ceremony June 9, 2015 at George Washingtons Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon, Virginia. The U.S. Army held a celebration for its 240th birthday. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  When a Purple Heart recipient named Pat reached out to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in November to inform her that he couldnt transfer his GI bill benefits to his children, he wasnt expecting congressional action to solve the problem.

He simply just wanted to let the Washington state Democrat know, he told States Newsroom in an exclusive interview.

With a child about to head to college, Pat, who didnt want his last name used, had recently been told by the Army that he couldnt transfer his education benefits to them because he received the Purple Heart after he was medically discharged. This rule does not apply to those who receive the medal while still in service.

Murray and Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, introduced a bipartisan bill Thursday aimed at closing that loophole.

The legislation, titled the Purple Heart Veterans Education Act, would permit retroactive award recipients who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001 to transfer their education benefits to one or more dependents. It was unveiled just ahead of Memorial Day, when the nation honors its deceased service members.

As the daughter of a Purple Heart recipient, Ive seen firsthand the enormous sacrifices Purple Heart veterans make to defend our freedoms, and I feel strongly that we should be doing absolutely everything we can to help all veterans and their families thrive, Murray said in a statement Thursday.

It doesnt make any sense that service members who are awarded a Purple Heart after their service cant transfer their GI benefits to their dependents, while those who receive it during their service canand I am grateful to Pat, my constituent in Washington state who brought this gap in the law to my attention, continued Murray, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Our legislation will close this loophole and allow more children of Purple Heart veterans to further their education. I want to thank Senator Tillis for joining me on this legislation and Ill be working hard to get it passed into law.

Glitch in education benefits

Pat was medically discharged from the U.S. Army and retroactively received a Purple Heart for his actions during Irans retaliatory missile barrage in January 2020 on an Iraq airbase, after a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

The Army later approved 39 Purple Hearts for service members who experienced the attack, according to a December 2021 report by the Army Times.

As his teenager looks to enroll at Central Washington University next year, Pat found out that by law his education benefits would only be available for transfer if he had received the award while still in service.

My thought was, I doubt that legislators would have done that intentionally. I just thought, you know, people probably just didnt think about how that happens  that some people are going to get retroactive Purple Hearts, or for whatever reason in evaluating them, theyre delayed. So its not like an unusual thing, Pat said in a phone interview.

I wasnt thinking much was going to happen, but I just wanted to write Senator Murray, who is my local senator, and let her know the issue. They responded by saying, Thats an oversight on our part, and we want to make good on that.

Pat said hes grateful for Sen. Murray and hopes his action is able to help other Purple Heart veterans. For now, his family is moving forward with the college enrollment process for his child, he said.

Benefits and dependents

Among the provisions in the legislation, Murray and Tillis bill would also allow veterans to split up 36 months worth of benefits to each of their dependents. For example, they could transfer 20 months to one and 16 months to another.

The bill, if enacted, would also prohibit the benefits from being treated as marital property or a marital estate asset.

And, the bill would permit dependents to access unused benefits if their veteran family member has died.

Purple Heart recipients are heroes who honorably served our country at great costs, and this oversight that prevents servicemembers who received this distinguished award after their service from transferring their GI bill benefits to their dependents needs to be corrected immediately, Tillis said in a statement Thursday.

I am proud to co-introduce this commonsense legislation with Senator Murray to close this loophole and ensure every Purple Heart recipient and dependents are able to further their education, continued Tillis, who also sits on the Senates Veterans Affairs Committee.

The number of veterans who retroactively received the Purple Heart after their post-9/11 service is unclear. The bill is estimated to cost $500,000 in mandatory spending over 10 years, according to an informal analysis provided to Murrays office by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The bill has received praise from veterans groups, including the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Unfortunately, not every veterans service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States of America is fully recognized while theyre still in uniform, IAVA CEO and Iraq War veteran Allison Jaslow said in a statement Thursday.

The Purple Heart Veterans Education Act ensures that those veterans whove endured bodily harm on behalf of our nation, but werent recognized for it until their service concluded, are able to turn that recognition into an investment in the education of their loved ones.

More Purple Heart recipients

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have greatly increased the number of Purple Heart recipients as the Department of Defense has added some traumatic brain injuries as a recognized condition for the award, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

It wasnt until a 2017 law that Purple Heart recipients were able to receive full post-9/11 GI Bill benefits regardless of their length of service. Previously, the recipients had to have 36 months of active service.

The Department of Defense does not maintain a record of the number of recipients, according to the CRS, but by law they do maintain a publicly accessible list with the permission of the veteran or next of kin.

Military historians and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor estimate about 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1932. The Army Historical Foundation estimated as of 2016 that 30,000 Purple Hearts had been awarded since 2001. The CRS cited this statistic.

The post As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients appeared first on Michigan Advance.
A Purple Heart medal is seen during a Purple Heart ceremony June 9, 2015 at George Washingtons Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon, Virginia. The U.S. Army held a celebration for its 240th birthday. (File/Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  When a Purple Heart recipient named Pat reached out to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in November to inform her that he couldnt transfer his GI bill benefits to his children, he wasnt expecting congressional action to solve the problem.

He simply just wanted to let the Washington state Democrat know, he told States Newsroom in an exclusive interview.

With a child about to head to college, Pat, who didnt want his last name used, had recently been told by the Army that he couldnt transfer his education benefits to them because he received the Purple Heart after he was medically discharged. This rule does not apply to those who receive the medal while still in service.

Murray and Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, introduced a bipartisan bill Thursday aimed at closing that loophole.

The legislation, titled the Purple Heart Veterans Education Act, would permit retroactive award recipients who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001, to transfer their education benefits to one or more dependents. It was unveiled just ahead of Memorial Day, when the nation honors its deceased service members.

As the daughter of a Purple Heart recipient, Ive seen firsthand the enormous sacrifices Purple Heart veterans make to defend our freedoms, and I feel strongly that we should be doing absolutely everything we can to help all veterans and their families thrive, Murray said in a statement Thursday.

It doesnt make any sense that service members who are awarded a Purple Heart after their service cant transfer their GI benefits to their dependents, while those who receive it during their service canand I am grateful to Pat, my constituent in Washington state who brought this gap in the law to my attention, continued Murray, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Our legislation will close this loophole and allow more children of Purple Heart veterans to further their education. I want to thank Senator Tillis for joining me on this legislation and Ill be working hard to get it passed into law.

Glitch in education benefits

Pat was medically discharged from the U.S. Army and retroactively received a Purple Heart for his actions during Irans retaliatory missile barrage in January 2020 on an Iraq airbase, after a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

The Army later approved 39 Purple Hearts for service members who experienced the attack, according to a December 2021 report by the Army Times.

As his teenager looks to enroll at Central Washington University next year, Pat found out that by law his education benefits would only be available for transfer if he had received the award while still in service.

My thought was, I doubt that legislators would have done that intentionally. I just thought, you know, people probably just didnt think about how that happens  that some people are going to get retroactive Purple Hearts, or for whatever reason in evaluating them, theyre delayed. So its not like an unusual thing, Pat said in a phone interview.

I wasnt thinking much was going to happen, but I just wanted to write Senator Murray, who is my local senator, and let her know the issue. They responded by saying, Thats an oversight on our part, and we want to make good on that.

Pat said hes grateful for Sen. Murray and hopes his action is able to help other Purple Heart veterans. For now, his family is moving forward with the college enrollment process for his child, he said.

Benefits and dependents

Among the provisions in the legislation, Murray and Tillis bill would also allow veterans to split up 36 months worth of benefits to each of their dependents. For example, they could transfer 20 months to one and 16 months to another.

The bill, if enacted, would also prohibit the benefits from being treated as marital property or a marital estate asset.

And, the bill would permit dependents to access unused benefits if their veteran family member has died.

Purple Heart recipients are heroes who honorably served our country at great costs, and this oversight that prevents servicemembers who received this distinguished award after their service from transferring their GI bill benefits to their dependents needs to be corrected immediately, Tillis said in a statement Thursday.

I am proud to co-introduce this commonsense legislation with Senator Murray to close this loophole and ensure every Purple Heart recipient and dependents are able to further their education, continued Tillis, who also sits on the Senates Veterans Affairs Committee.

The number of veterans who retroactively received the Purple Heart after their post-9/11 service is unclear. The bill is estimated to cost $500,000 in mandatory spending over 10 years, according to an informal analysis provided to Murrays office by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The bill has received praise from veterans groups, including the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Unfortunately, not every veterans service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States of America is fully recognized while theyre still in uniform, IAVA CEO and Iraq War veteran Allison Jaslow said in a statement Thursday.

The Purple Heart Veterans Education Act ensures that those veterans whove endured bodily harm on behalf of our nation, but werent recognized for it until their service concluded, are able to turn that recognition into an investment in the education of their loved ones.

More Purple Heart recipients

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have greatly increased the number of Purple Heart recipients as the Department of Defense has added some traumatic brain injuries as a recognized condition for the award, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

It wasnt until a 2017 law that Purple Heart recipients were able to receive full post-9/11 GI Bill benefits regardless of their length of service. Previously, the recipients had to have 36 months of active service.

The Department of Defense does not maintain a record of the number of recipients, according to the CRS, but by law they do maintain a publicly accessible list with the permission of the veteran or next of kin.

Military historians and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor estimate about 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1932. The Army Historical Foundation estimated as of 2016 that 30,000 Purple Hearts had been awarded since 2001. The CRS cited this statistic.

The post As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
A Purple Heart medal is seen during a Purple Heart ceremony June 9, 2015 at George Washingtons Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon, Virginia. The U.S. Army held a celebration for its 240th birthday. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  When a Purple Heart recipient named Pat reached out to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in November to inform her that he couldnt transfer his GI bill benefits to his children, he wasnt expecting congressional action to solve the problem.

He simply just wanted to let the Washington state Democrat know, he told States Newsroom in an exclusive interview.

With a child about to head to college, Pat, who didnt want his last name used, had recently been told by the Army that he couldnt transfer his education benefits to them because he received the Purple Heart after he was medically discharged. This rule does not apply to those who receive the medal while still in service.

Murray and Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, introduced a bipartisan bill Thursday aimed at closing that loophole.

The legislation, titled the Purple Heart Veterans Education Act, would permit retroactive award recipients who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001 to transfer their education benefits to one or more dependents. It was unveiled just ahead of Memorial Day, when the nation honors its deceased service members.

As the daughter of a Purple Heart recipient, Ive seen firsthand the enormous sacrifices Purple Heart veterans make to defend our freedoms, and I feel strongly that we should be doing absolutely everything we can to help all veterans and their families thrive, Murray said in a statement Thursday.

It doesnt make any sense that service members who are awarded a Purple Heart after their service cant transfer their GI benefits to their dependents, while those who receive it during their service canand I am grateful to Pat, my constituent in Washington state who brought this gap in the law to my attention, continued Murray, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Our legislation will close this loophole and allow more children of Purple Heart veterans to further their education. I want to thank Senator Tillis for joining me on this legislation and Ill be working hard to get it passed into law.

Glitch in education benefits

Pat was medically discharged from the U.S. Army and retroactively received a Purple Heart for his actions during Irans retaliatory missile barrage in January 2020 on an Iraq airbase, after a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

The Army later approved 39 Purple Hearts for service members who experienced the attack, according to a December 2021 report by the Army Times.

As his teenager looks to enroll at Central Washington University next year, Pat found out that by law his education benefits would only be available for transfer if he had received the award while still in service.

My thought was, I doubt that legislators would have done that intentionally. I just thought, you know, people probably just didnt think about how that happens  that some people are going to get retroactive Purple Hearts, or for whatever reason in evaluating them, theyre delayed. So its not like an unusual thing, Pat said in a phone interview.

I wasnt thinking much was going to happen, but I just wanted to write Senator Murray, who is my local senator, and let her know the issue. They responded by saying, Thats an oversight on our part, and we want to make good on that.

Pat said hes grateful for Sen. Murray and hopes his action is able to help other Purple Heart veterans. For now, his family is moving forward with the college enrollment process for his child, he said.

Benefits and dependents

Among the provisions in the legislation, Murray and Tillis bill would also allow veterans to split up 36 months worth of benefits to each of their dependents. For example, they could transfer 20 months to one and 16 months to another.

The bill, if enacted, would also prohibit the benefits from being treated as marital property or a marital estate asset.

And, the bill would permit dependents to access unused benefits if their veteran family member has died.

Purple Heart recipients are heroes who honorably served our country at great costs, and this oversight that prevents servicemembers who received this distinguished award after their service from transferring their GI bill benefits to their dependents needs to be corrected immediately, Tillis said in a statement Thursday.

I am proud to co-introduce this commonsense legislation with Senator Murray to close this loophole and ensure every Purple Heart recipient and dependents are able to further their education, continued Tillis, who also sits on the Senates Veterans Affairs Committee.

The number of veterans who retroactively received the Purple Heart after their post-9/11 service is unclear. The bill is estimated to cost $500,000 in mandatory spending over 10 years, according to an informal analysis provided to Murrays office by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The bill has received praise from veterans groups, including the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Unfortunately, not every veterans service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States of America is fully recognized while theyre still in uniform, IAVA CEO and Iraq War veteran Allison Jaslow said in a statement Thursday.

The Purple Heart Veterans Education Act ensures that those veterans whove endured bodily harm on behalf of our nation, but werent recognized for it until their service concluded, are able to turn that recognition into an investment in the education of their loved ones.

More Purple Heart recipients

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have greatly increased the number of Purple Heart recipients as the Department of Defense has added some traumatic brain injuries as a recognized condition for the award, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

It wasnt until a 2017 law that Purple Heart recipients were able to receive full post-9/11 GI Bill benefits regardless of their length of service. Previously, the recipients had to have 36 months of active service.

The Department of Defense does not maintain a record of the number of recipients, according to the CRS, but by law they do maintain a publicly accessible list with the permission of the veteran or next of kin.

Military historians and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor estimate about 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1932. The Army Historical Foundation estimated as of 2016 that 30,000 Purple Hearts had been awarded since 2001. The CRS cited this statistic.

The post As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
BERLIN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- German exports to non-EU countries grew by 4.4 percent year-on-year to 62.1 billion euros (67.2 billion U.S. dollars) in April, said the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Thursday.

The United States remained the most important customer country, importing 14.6 billion euros worth of goods, marking a growth of 22.3 percent, said Destatis. Exports to China also went up 13.2 percent to 8.8 billion euros.

However, the German Electro and Digital Industry Association announced on Wednesday that exports in the industry sector fell by 4.3 percent in the first quarter 2024. By contrast, exports to China, the largest single customer country, recorded a rise of 7.4 percent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, Germany's total exports in the first quarter of this year declined by 1.1 percent year-on-year, while imports saw a sharp 6.6-percent drop, according to recently published Destatis figures. Enditem (1 euro = 1.08 U.S. dollar)
A Purple Heart medal is seen during a Purple Heart ceremony June 9, 2015 at George Washingtons Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon, Virginia. The U.S. Army held a celebration for its 240th birthday. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  When a Purple Heart recipient named Pat reached out to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in November to inform her that he couldnt transfer his GI bill benefits to his children, he wasnt expecting congressional action to solve the problem.

He simply just wanted to let the Washington state Democrat know, he told States Newsroom in an exclusive interview.

With a child about to head to college, Pat, who didnt want his last name used, had recently been told by the Army that he couldnt transfer his education benefits to them because he received the Purple Heart after he was medically discharged. This rule does not apply to those who receive the medal while still in service.

Murray and Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, introduced a bipartisan bill Thursday aimed at closing that loophole.

The legislation, titled the Purple Heart Veterans Education Act, would permit retroactive award recipients who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001 to transfer their education benefits to one or more dependents. It was unveiled just ahead of Memorial Day, when the nation honors its deceased service members.

As the daughter of a Purple Heart recipient, Ive seen firsthand the enormous sacrifices Purple Heart veterans make to defend our freedoms, and I feel strongly that we should be doing absolutely everything we can to help all veterans and their families thrive, Murray said in a statement Thursday.

It doesnt make any sense that service members who are awarded a Purple Heart after their service cant transfer their GI benefits to their dependents, while those who receive it during their service canand I am grateful to Pat, my constituent in Washington state who brought this gap in the law to my attention, continued Murray, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Our legislation will close this loophole and allow more children of Purple Heart veterans to further their education. I want to thank Senator Tillis for joining me on this legislation and Ill be working hard to get it passed into law.

Glitch in education benefits

Pat was medically discharged from the U.S. Army and retroactively received a Purple Heart for his actions during Irans retaliatory missile barrage in January 2020 on an Iraq airbase, after a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

The Army later approved 39 Purple Hearts for service members who experienced the attack, according to a December 2021 report by the Army Times.

As his teenager looks to enroll at Central Washington University next year, Pat found out that by law his education benefits would only be available for transfer if he had received the award while still in service.

My thought was, I doubt that legislators would have done that intentionally. I just thought, you know, people probably just didnt think about how that happens  that some people are going to get retroactive Purple Hearts, or for whatever reason in evaluating them, theyre delayed. So its not like an unusual thing, Pat said in a phone interview.

I wasnt thinking much was going to happen, but I just wanted to write Senator Murray, who is my local senator, and let her know the issue. They responded by saying, Thats an oversight on our part, and we want to make good on that.

Pat said hes grateful for Sen. Murray and hopes his action is able to help other Purple Heart veterans. For now, his family is moving forward with the college enrollment process for his child, he said.

Benefits and dependents

Among the provisions in the legislation, Murray and Tillis bill would also allow veterans to split up 36 months worth of benefits to each of their dependents. For example, they could transfer 20 months to one and 16 months to another.

The bill, if enacted, would also prohibit the benefits from being treated as marital property or a marital estate asset.

And, the bill would permit dependents to access unused benefits if their veteran family member has died.

Purple Heart recipients are heroes who honorably served our country at great costs, and this oversight that prevents servicemembers who received this distinguished award after their service from transferring their GI bill benefits to their dependents needs to be corrected immediately, Tillis said in a statement Thursday.

I am proud to co-introduce this commonsense legislation with Senator Murray to close this loophole and ensure every Purple Heart recipient and dependents are able to further their education, continued Tillis, who also sits on the Senates Veterans Affairs Committee.

The number of veterans who retroactively received the Purple Heart after their post-9/11 service is unclear. The bill is estimated to cost $500,000 in mandatory spending over 10 years, according to an informal analysis provided to Murrays office by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The bill has received praise from veterans groups, including the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Unfortunately, not every veterans service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States of America is fully recognized while theyre still in uniform, IAVA CEO and Iraq War veteran Allison Jaslow said in a statement Thursday.

The Purple Heart Veterans Education Act ensures that those veterans whove endured bodily harm on behalf of our nation, but werent recognized for it until their service concluded, are able to turn that recognition into an investment in the education of their loved ones.

More Purple Heart recipients

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have greatly increased the number of Purple Heart recipients as the Department of Defense has added some traumatic brain injuries as a recognized condition for the award, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

It wasnt until a 2017 law that Purple Heart recipients were able to receive full post-9/11 GI Bill benefits regardless of their length of service. Previously, the recipients had to have 36 months of active service.

The Department of Defense does not maintain a record of the number of recipients, according to the CRS, but by law they do maintain a publicly accessible list with the permission of the veteran or next of kin.

Military historians and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor estimate about 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1932. The Army Historical Foundation estimated as of 2016 that 30,000 Purple Hearts had been awarded since 2001. The CRS cited this statistic.

The post As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Robin Powers, bar manager at American Legion Qunsigamond Post 318 on Greenwood Street in Worcester, cleans up around the post's memorial Wednesday in preparation for a flag raising ceremony out front at noon Memorial Day.

Communities throughout the region will recognize Memorial Day with events during the three-day weekend.

More: When is Memorial Day weekend? Here's when the holiday falls in 2024 and why its celebrated

Ashby

Monday: The Memorial Day Parade begins at 2 p.m. on Ashby Common and will make stops at town cemeteries.

Auburn

Monday: The Memorial Day parade will step off at 10 a.m. after forming at Bryn Mawr Avenue, Prospect Parkway and Rockland Road. Hosted by the Chester P. Tuttle American Legion Post 279.

Boylston

The Memorial Day Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. at Pine Grove Cemetery and will proceed to the Old Burial Ground and on to the Town Common.

Charlton

Sunday: American Post 391 will attend church services at Charlton Federated Church, assembling at 9:45 a.m. Following the church service, Post 391 will place wreaths and conduct rifle honor salutes at each cemetery and at the Vietnam Memorial Bridge on Stafford Street.

Monday: Post 391 will host the annual Memorial Day parade, scheduled to step off at 2 p.m. Participants are to assemble at 1:30 p.m. at the main entrance of the Masonic Home complex at 88 Masonic Home Road. Marchers will head to Charlton Public Library. Memorial wreaths will be placed on the Town Honor Roll and memorial rifle salutes will be given.

Following the ceremony, participats are invited by Post 391 to Charlton Grange for a light lunch prepared by the Legion Auxiliary.

More: AAA forecasts nearly 44M travelers for Memorial Day weekend: See best times to travel

Clinton

Monday: At 8 a.m. there will be a ceremony at Reservoir Pines Cemetery. The annual Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9 a.m. with a speaking program at Central Park. The parade will move to Depot Square, Woodlawn Cemetery and St. John's Cemetery.

Fitchburg

Sunday: A White Cross ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. at Monument Park.

Monday: The opening ceremony will begin at 7:45 a.m. at Monument Park. There will be prayers and volleys at cemeteries and monuments citywide, beginning with Eastwood Monument at 8 a.m., breakfast at the Eastwood Club at 8:15 a.m., St. Bernards Cemetery at 8:45 a.m., Spanish-American War Monument at 9 a.m., Laurel Hill Cemetery at 9:15 a.m., Jewish Cemetery at 9:30 a.m., St. Josephs Cemetery at 9:45 a.m. and Forest Hill Cemetery at 10 a.m.

The Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at Upper Common at 10:30 a.m.

Gardner

Monday: The Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9:40 a.m. at the American Legion on Elm Street and proceed to Monument Park on Cottage Street for the Memorial Day ceremony featuring guests, speeches, music, taps, readings and more.

Grafton

Monday: Parade begins at Norcross Park at 11:15 a.m., with ceremony to follow.

Holden

Monday: The Memorial Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m. from the Recreation Department at 1420 Main St. and will proceed toward the center of town.

Hubbardston

Monday: The Memorial Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m. from Curtis Recreation Field on Route 68. Following the parade, an ice cream social, hosted by the Golden Age Club, will be open to all veterans and community members.

Lancaster

Monday: Program begins at 9 a.m. at the Town Green. After the Memorial Day program, the parade, led by the American Legion, will proceed to Middle Cemetery for the laying of flowers and wreaths on graves and taps will be played. The parade will then proceed back to the Town Green.

Leicester

Monday: The annual parade starts at 10:30 a.m. at Memorial School and will proceed to the Town Common, where a ceremony will be held.

Leominster

Monday: Ceremonies will be held at St. Leo's Cemetery at 8:30 a.m., St. Cecilia's Cemetery at 9 a.m. and Johnny Ro Memorial Park at 9:30 a.m., Respite at Franco American War Veterans Hall at 10 a.m. and GAR Lot at Veterans Cemetery at 10:30 a.m.

Parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Plot and continue through Pine Grove Cemetery before ending at Memorial Circle at Carter Park.

Milford

Monday: The parade will begin at 10 a.m., traveling on Veterans Memorial Parkway (Route 109) to East Main Street and Calzone Park, where a brief ceremony will be held. The parade will continue on Main Street and end at Draper War Memorial Park. A speaking program will take place.

Millbury

Monday: Ceremonies will take place at town cemeteries and monuments: Dwinell Cemetery at 8:35 a.m.; Providence Street Cemetery at 9 a.m.; War Memorial at 9:30 a.m.; Central and St. Brigid cemeteries and VFW Monument at 10:10 a.m.; West Millbury Cemetery at 11 a.m.; and War Memorial at 11:40 a.m.

Northborough

Monday: The Memorial Day parade and ceremonies will begin at noon at the Civil War Memorial and the Gulf War Memorial with the parade stepping off about 12:30 p.m. marching to the Tri-War Memorial at Hudson and Pierce streets, then to the WWI Memorial at Church and Whitney streets and ending at the Veterans Memorial/Flagpole in the Howard Street Cemetery. The concluding ceremony will take place on the cemetery grounds.

Northbridge

Monday: The Memorial Day Parade will begin at the Armenian Apostolic Church on Church Street at10 a.m. and proceed down Church Street to the Common, followed by a ceremony at Memorial Park.

Princeton

Sunday: A parade steps off from First Congregation Church at 1 p.m., moving to Woodlawn Cemetery for a ceremony. At noon, veterans and their families will gather for a reception at First Congregational Church.

Putnam

Monday: The parade will step off at 10 a.m. Monday from the Grove Street Monument and will conclude with a ceremony at Rotary Park. After the ceremony, the VFW and American Legion will host a free picnic in Rotary Park.

Rutland

Monday: Participants will assemble at 7 a.m. at Community Hall, 250 Main St., and at 7:45 a.m. they will proceed to New Boston Cemetery, West Rutland Cemetery, Brooks Square, Memorial Field and the Veterans Memorial for services.

The parade will start assembling at 9:45 a.m. in front of the Community Hall and step off at 10 a.m. proceeding down Main Street to Rural Cemetery for memorial services, after which the parade returns up Main Street to the Town Common for services.

Shrewsbury

Monday: Parade will depart at 9:30 a.m. from the Municipal Office Building, 100 Maple Ave. The parade will march to the Town Center (Route 140 and Main Street) where a memorial address will be given and then continue to Mountain View Cemetery.

Southbridge

Monday: The parade start at 10 a.m. in front of the Town Hall's GAR Monument and making a right onto Main Street. It will end with a ceremony at the Gold Star Mothers Monument.

Spencer

Monday: Members of the Gaudette-Kirk American Legion Post 138 will hold the annual Memorial Day Parade beginning at 9 a.m.

Sutton

Monday: The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at Sutton Common and proceed to Sutton High School for an 11:45 a.m. program and a flag raising at noon.

Uxbridge

Monday: Parade begins at 9 a.m. at the Whitin School and will proceed to Town Common.

Webster

The Webster-Dudley Veterans Council is organizing the annual Memorial Day parade, to begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Route 12 and Worcester Road in Webster. The route will end at Town Hall, with a short program at the Veterans' Court of Honor.

West Boylston

Monday: Ceremonies will be held at St. Luke's Cemetery (8:30 a.m.) and High Plains Cemetery (9:15 a.m.)

A parade will assemble at Beaman Public Library at 10 a.m. Participants will continue to Mount Vernon Cemetery, where a ceremony will be held. Next, a ceremony will be held at the War Memorial Monuments on the Town Common.

Westborough

Monday: Ceremonies will be conducted at several parks and cemeteries starting with St Lukes Cemetery at 9 a.m. and Pine Grove Cemetery at 9:40 a.m. The parade will depart from Pine Grove on South Street at 10 a.m. and proceed down South Street, with a stop at Midland Cemetery, through the rotary and to the Forbes Municipal Building for the 11 a.m. presentations.

Worcester

Sunday: Water Ceremony at 1 p.m., Elm Park.

Monday: The Memorial Day Observance Remembrance Ceremony will start at 9 a.m. at Hope Cemetery, Webster Street. A wreath-laying ceremony is planned at 11 a.m. at the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Green Hill Park, followed by another wreath-laying ceremony at 1 p.m. at the Korean War Memorial on Foster Street.

To include your group's Memorial Day event on this list, send information to newstips@telegram.com.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Memorial Day events 2024: See what's happening in your community
FILE - Gentoo penguins stand on rocks near the Chilean station Bernardo O'Higgins, Antarctica, Jan. 22, 2015. Members of Chiles Defense Committee met on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in a special briefing in Antarctic to address the prevailing geopolitical conditions. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP)  Defense officials from Chile convened a meeting at the bottom of the planet on Thursday in a bid to bolster their territorial claims in Antarctica as tensions escalate over Russia's maneuvers in the polar region.

Lawmakers from Chile's parliamentary defense committee flew to a desolate air base for a meeting billed as an assertion of national sovereignty.

We are going to be sitting in Antarctica in an act of sovereignty, of safeguarding and supporting our national integrity in the face of any threats," said committee member Camila Flores, singling out Russia as posing such a threat.

The lawmakers revealed little about their talks at the glacier-filled base beyond saying they addressed the prevailing geopolitical conditions on the white continent that has vast mineral resources, fresh water reserves and no government.

The meeting comes amid a recent frenzy of media reports surrounding Russia's purported discovery of massive oil reserves in Antarctica back in 2020, when the Russian polar research vessel Alexander Karpinsky reportedly uncovered some 500 billions of barrels worth of crude oil. The issue resurfaced earlier this month in a U.K. parliamentary session where experts warned Russias geological surveys could jeopardize the decades-long ban on mining in the region.

The reports rattled Chile and Argentina  among the seven countries that assert claims of sovereignty over parts of the demilitarized continent. Russia's surveys took place in the Weddell Sea, where Chile's territorial claims overlap with those of Britain and Argentina, according to documents presented to the British parliament.

We are going to continue defending what we believe is fair, said Francisco Undurraga, head of Chile's defense committee, condemning the crafty aspirations" of nations rushing to assert greater influence over Antarctica in an increasingly energy-hungry world.

When reports of Russian resource-extraction projects surfaced earlier this month, Argentina demanded to know whether Russia had scientific or economic intentions. Chilean President Gabriel Boric promised to firmly oppose any commercial exploitation of minerals and hydrocarbons.

Historic tensions over Antarctic claims have also re-emerged between Boric's left-wing government and Argentina's far-right government.

In an effort to reshape Argentina's foreign policy in line with the United States, Argentine President Javier Milei last month announced the construction of a southern naval base with U.S. involvement to help Argentina stake claim to Antarctica, drawing complaints from Chile's foreign ministry.

Geopolitical competition is just the latest issue to test the 53-nation Antarctic Treaty, which in 1959 enshrined the territory as a scientific preserve used only for peaceful purposes.

Rising sea levels due to climate change, unregulated tourism and krill fishing in the Southern Ocean are just a few other challenges that the consensus-based system is struggling to address.
FILE PHOTO: Presidential candidates attend the last presidential debate at the Tlatelolco University Cultural Center, in Mexico City

By Adriana Barrera and Cassandra Garrison

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Claudia Sheinbaum, front-runner in Mexico's presidential race, aims to overhaul water governance in the agriculture sector, the top user of the country's scarce supply, with a potential investment of 20 billion pesos ($1.2 billion) per year.

Julio Berdegue, a member of Sheinbaum's campaign team focused on water and the agricultural sector, told Reuters the candidate's six-year plan will review existing water concessions, crack down on illegal use, update irrigation technology and revamp national water entity CONAGUA.

He cautioned the plan, details of which have not previously been reported, was still in development and could change.

Sheinbaum has said she plans to reform the National Water Law and develop a strategy to confront pervasive issues in Mexico, which is suffering from crippling drought, widespread water shortages, and heat waves in recent days so severe that howler monkeys are dropping dead from trees.

One of her main focuses will be Mexico's powerful agriculture sector which uses nearly 80% of the country's water to produce corn, wheat, soy, coffee, beans and avocados.

"(Mexico) requires a new general water law, appropriate for a country in climate change, where there is more population, where there is less water, where there are many industries that we want to reach with near-shoring that need water," Berdegue said.

With elections just over a week away, the impacts of climate change are front and center for many Mexicans amid record temperatures. More than 70% of the country is dealing with some level of drought, according to government data.

Water shortages, especially in the metropolitan area surrounding capital Mexico City, have become routine.

Rather than come out entirely of the national budget, Sheinbaum's government will look to secure other sources of financing, Berdegue said.

Experts have anticipated that Sheinbaum, a climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, will make water a main priority, though they predict a sweeping overhaul - especially within the agriculture sector - will face major challenges in confronting long-standing corruption and political polarization.

"It's very uncomfortable because no one likes when farmers are protesting ... but it's the top water-consuming sector, and we have to find ways to figure out solutions to tackle this issue," said Franck Gbaguidi of Eurasia Group.

Juan Cortina, president of the CNA, Mexico's top farm lobby, said Sheinbaum's proposed changes would be mostly welcome in the sector. A reform or new law, however, wasn't the most important priority, he said, but, rather, enforcement.

"The truth is that we have not invested in the national water system for many decades," Cortina said. "This requires more than a change in the law."

Berdegue, a former official at the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization, stressed Sheinbaum's government would not revoke legal concessions. Instead, he said, it would crack down on those who break concession limits or sell water instead of using it themselves.

Berdegue estimated that between 40% and 50% of water that moves through the current system is lost to evaporation.

Sheinbaum's plan would aim to recover that loss and ultimately secure more water for agriculture and domestic use.

The plan may include technology to monitor water usage according to concessions and control access once limits had been reached.

By the end of Sheinbaum's six-year term, about 750,000 hectares would be updated and modernized, which would increase by 50% the current area in Mexico that has modern irrigation systems.

About 4.2 million hectares were deforested in Mexico between 2001 and 2021, just over 6% of the country's total forests, according to official data, mostly to expand agriculture area. Sheinbaum would also seek to stem deforestation with an end-goal of stopping it completely, Berdegue said.

The plan could imply big changes for some producers, a delicate issue to navigate, Berdegue said, but farmers and industry groups would be invited to participate in talks.

($1 = 16.6207 Mexican pesos)

(Reporting by Adriana Barrera and Cassandra Garrison; additional reporting by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Michael Kassan during the 2023 CES event in Las Vegas in 2023. (Bridget Bennett / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

A judge on Tuesday dismissed a defamation lawsuit that former United Talent Agency partner Michael Kassan had filed against the Beverly Hills-based agency's legal counsel.

Kassan sued UTA's attorney Bryan Freedman in March over comments Freedman made in news outlet Deadline, in which he was quoted calling Kassan a "pathological liar."

The remarks were made in context of a legal battle between Kassan and his former employer, UTA, who are in a dispute over whether he is allowed to compete with MediaLink, Kassan's media and market advisory company that was sold to the talent agency in 2021 for $125 million.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Daniel S. Murphy said in his ruling that Freedman's statement was made in the context of a heated dispute "wherein the participants were expected to use epithets and hyperbole which an average reader would not take as fact."

Read more: UTA battle: Lawsuits, $950,000 expense account fuel fight between Hollywood agency and ex-partner

"In sum, no reasonable trier of fact could interpret Freedmans statement about Kassan as anything other than a nonactionable statement of opinion," Murphy said. "Therefore, Kassans defamation claims fail as a matter of law and have no probability of success."

UTA declined to comment on the defamation lawsuit.

Freedmans defense was that everyone knows he is bluster and is not truthful therefore proving our point, said Kassan attorney, Sanford Michelman.

Freedman said in a statement that Kassan's lawsuit "was so transparently frivolous" that it took only 55 days for the court to dismiss it.

Freedman said he looks forward to recovering attorneys fees and costs and is considering filing a malicious prosecution action against Kassan and his lawyer.

UTA and Kassan have sued each other, with each leveling accusations of breach of contract. UTA said that Kassan's spending was out of control, "wasting millions of UTAs dollars on his lavish personal lifestyle," which led to his termination.

Read more: MediaLink founder Michael Kassan sues UTA attorney for defamation amid heated legal battle

Kassan, for his part, said that UTA was well aware of his spending habits and that his firm has continued to be profitable during its tenure within UTA. He alleges that UTA did not follow the terms of their deal, including a promise that UTAs marketing group would report to him. Kassan said he quit the agency.

Earlier this month, a judge ruled that the lawsuit UTA filed would move to arbitration.

Staff writer Meg James and News researcher Scott Wilson contributed to this report.

Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Michael Schumachers family has won 200,000 (170,287) in compensation from a German magazine after they published an exclusive interview with the F1 legend based on answers generated by an artificial intelligence programme.

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has not been seen publicly since suffering a near-fatal brain injury while skiing in December 2013 in Meribel, France. His wife Corinna has insisted on protecting Schumachers privacy in the decade since, with his medical condition shrouded in secrecy as he continues to recover at home in Switzerland.

Yet German outlet Die Aktuelle sparked a huge backlash online after plastering Schumachers face on the front cover of the 15 April 2023 edition of their magazine with exclusive interview as the accompanying tag.

The magazine stated that it was the first interview Schumacher has given since his accident, adding: No meagre, nebulous half-sentences from friends. But answers from him! By Michael Schumacher, 54!

Quotes from the piece, purporting to be from Schumacher, included: My life has completely changed since [the accident]. That was a horrible time for my wife, my children and the whole family.

I was so badly injured that I lay for months in a kind of artificial coma, because otherwise my body couldnt have dealt with it all. Ive had a tough time but the hospital team has managed to bring me back to my family.

Yet at the end of the article, the outlet reveal that they in fact used an AI chatbot, reported to be Character.ai, to generate the answers.

Did Michael Schumacher really say everything himself the article concludes. The interview was online. On a page that has to do with artificial intelligence, or AI for short.

The front cover of the 15 April 2023 edition of German magazine Die Aktuelle had a photo of Michael Schumacher with the headline the first interview (Die Aktuelle)

Fans online were quick to deride the article and the magazine, with one describing it as disgraceful and another adding: Well, this is awful.

Schumachers family announced their intention to sue Die Aktuelle following the publication of the article and, on Wednesday, a family spokeswoman confirmed a Munich Labour Court judgement and 200,000 settlement by Funke media group, publishers of the magazine, without making any further comment.

The magazines editor was sacked last year, with Funke apologising to the Schumacher family.

This tasteless and misleading article should never have appeared. It in no way meets the standards of journalism that we  and our readers  expect, said Funke managing director Bianca Pohlmann, at the time. As a result of the publication of this article, immediate personnel consequences will be drawn. Die Aktuelle editor-in-chief Anne Hoffmann, who has held journalistic responsibility for the paper since 2009, will be relieved of her duties.

Former Ferrari boss Jean Todt gave an update on Schumachers health in December 2023, the same month that a five-part documentary series entitled Being Michael Schumacher aired exclusively in Germany.

Michael is here, so I dont miss him, Todt told LEquipe. [But he] is simply not the Michael he used to be. He is different and is wonderfully guided by his wife and children who protect him.

His life is different now and I have the privilege of sharing moments with him. Thats all there is to say. Unfortunately, fate struck him ten years ago. He is no longer the Michael we knew in Formula 1.

Schumacher has not been seen publicly since December 2013, with his wife Corinna insisting on protecting his privacy (AFP via Getty Images)

The AI interview is just the latest incident in a long-running saga between the Schumachers and Die Aktuelle.

The German magazine won a court battle in 2015 with Michaels wife Corinna after the magazine used a picture of Corinna on the front cover, headlined: Corinna Schumacher  a new love makes her happy.

The story was about their daughter, Gina, but the lawsuit on the grounds of the cover being misleading was dismissed.

Another Schumacher-related article from the outlet, in 2014, put Michael and Corinna on the front cover with the title Awake  yet the piece was actually focused on individuals who have woken up from a coma, as opposed to Schumacher himself.

In a Netflix documentary which aired in 2021 called Schumacher, Corinna detailed how his family have dealt with the situation and continue to get on with their lives.

Michael is here. Different, but hes here, and that gives us strength, I find, Corinna said. Were together. We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure hes comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond. And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.

Were trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives. Private is private, as he always said. Its very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. Michael always protected us and now we are protecting Michael.
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.
Michigan man who had seizure on Royal Caribbean cruise forced to pay $2500 bill before evacuating

A man who had seizures aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise in 2022 doesnt recall exactly what happened when he fell ill, but says he wont forget about the pricey medical bill he was handed as he was evacuated to a rescue boat.

Vincent Wasney was told that after having three seizures aboard the Independence of the Seas liner and receiving a blood test and medication, he owed more than $2,500, which had to be paid before he could disembark.

Mr Wasney, 31, told NPR he informed the crew he couldnt pay that much, and was asked by a cruise employee, How much can you pay?"

"Are we being held hostage at this point?" his fiancee, Sarah Eberlein, added, she told the broadcaster. "Because, obviously, if hes had three seizures in 10 hours, its an issue."

The couple had to drain their bank accounts and max out a credit card to pay for the bill, and even then they still needed another $1000 to cover the full list of services.

Vincent Wasney charged $2500 to get off cruise liner after medical incidents (GoFundMe)

They were ultimately let off the boat despite not paying for the entire bill in the moment, and the credit card was overdrafted to make up the remainder.

The Independent has contacted Royal Caribbean for comment.

Under the cruise operators terms and conditions, guests are required to pay in full the expenses they incurred on their trip, and Royal Caribbean doesnt accept land-based health insurance plans. The company advises guests to consider travel insurance before setting sail.

Mr Wasney and Ms Eberlein had neither health insurance nor travel insurance before they boarded their Caribbean cruise.

The services onboard, as well as an additional round of doctor visits back on land, left them with thousands of dollars in medical debt.

Vincent Wasney charged $2500 to get off cruise liner after medical incidents (Royal Caribbean)

The couple was able to reduce some of their expenses, including a looming house payment, by raising $2,690 via GoFundMe, and a Florida hospital reduced their billings once it learned Mr Wasney, who had a history of seizures, was uninsured.

Approximately 14 million people, or six per cent of US adults, owe more than $1,000 in medical debt, totalling a collective $220bn, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Last year, an estimated 8.4 per cent of Americans lacked health insurance, per the CDC.
(Bloomberg) -- Net migration to the UK fell last year but remained at historically high levels, underlining the challenge facing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as tries to show he is cracking down on overseas arrivals ahead of the July 4 general election.

Most Read from Bloomberg

An estimated 685,000 more people moved to the UK than left the country, according to the Office for National Statistics. Thats down from a record 764,000 in 2022, a figure that was revised up by 19,000.

Polls show immigration is one of the top issues looming over the election, and Sunak has made reducing the figures a core promise to voters. Net migration is still far higher than levels before the pandemic. The Tories had promised to get migration down to the tens of thousands but abandoned the pledge in 2019 when it became clear it was not deliverable.

Under Sunak, the debate has widened from stopping boats carrying asylum seekers to limiting legal migration even as businesses warned of worsening labor shortages. Sunak faces pressure from the right wing of his party, as well as from Reform UK, which backs a net zero migration stance luring Brexit supporters.

The Labour Party, leading the ruling Conservatives by 20 points in opinion polls, is likely the one that will have to deal with the issue in six weeks time. Leader Keir Starmer has promised to implement a new post of border security commander to tackle Channel crossings.

Net migration remained exceptionally high in 2023 but is set to fall, possibly quite sharply, in the year ahead, said Marley Morris, IPPR associate director for migration, trade and communities. The reality is there are some tough choices on immigration which will need to be grappled with, whoever wins the upcoming election. Crude cuts could exacerbate staff shortages in health and care and imperil university finances.

The debate over migration has pitted politicians against businesses and universities that rely on foreign workers and students. Many of the visas being granted are also for workers in public services such as health and social care, where staff shortages are acute.

The government has promised to tackle the issue by getting more British workers into work currently done by migrants.

A promise to cut net migration to the tens of thousands was made by then-prime minister, David Cameron, in 2010 and maintained by the Tories for almost a decade  despite the fact the the figures remained well above that level throughout. Only in 2019, when Boris Johnson became Tory leader, did the party ditch the pledge. His successors, Liz Truss and now Sunak, have spoken of immigration being far too high but have shied away from putting a figure on what they think it should be.

Since Brexit, most migrants arriving in the UK have come through humanitarian routes, such as those put in place for Ukranians, work visas, mainly for those with health and care jobs, and as students.

Net migration in the year to December was driven by the arrival of over a million non-European Union nationals, far outnumbering the 233,000 who left the country. In contrast, British and EU nationals brought down net migration down as more than 100,000 left on balance.

Economists have warned that clamping down on migration risks depriving the UK of potential growth unless productivity dramatically improves. The recent increase in migration has boosted economic output and driven up tax revenues, helping Chancellor Jeremy Hunt deliver tax cuts.

The government may well have succeeded in putting immigration firmly on a downward path, Jonathan Portes, a professor of economics at Kings College London, wrote in a blog post. The price, however, is likely to be high, and paid both by taxpayers and those who use public services  that is, all of us.

Getting immigration down will be a challenge. The office for National Statistics projects the number of people in the UK will grow by 6.6 million by 2036  almost all from immigration. The growing population piles pressure on the government to ensure public services can meet the extra demand and there is sufficient housing.

Many Brexit voters hoped leaving the European Union would reduce net migration as freedom-of-movement rules ended. Instead the number of people arriving in the UK has accelerated due to labor shortages. Non-EU immigration for work-related reasons climbed by almost 150,000 to 423,000 in 2023, replacing study as the main reason for long-term migration. Almost half of those people came from India or Nigeria, most commonly in the health and care sector.

For the first time, those arriving as dependants from non-EU countries outnumbered main applicants on work visas. There were 14,000 more dependants than main applicants, at 219,000.

Sunak has made plans to bring down that number by banning most students and care workers from bringing relatives to the UK. Hes also raised the salary threshold required for skilled foreign workers to get a visa to 38,700 ($49,248) a year, although care workers are exempt from that.

Read more: New UK Migration Rules Risk Exploiting Care Workers, Panel Says

The new rules are already having an impact on UK businesses and universities. Earlier this month, CEOs including from Anglo American and Siemens wrote a letter to Sunak saying they were deeply concerned about shrinking international student numbers driven by government policy, and the impact this will have on the UKs skills base, future workforce, and international influence.

Student main applications were down 15%, while dependant visa applications declined 80% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year, according to Home Office data. Deposits paid by international students as part of their visa application for the September 2024 intake were down 57%, compared to the previous intake, separate figures from Enroly showed.

ONS migration numbers also indicated that non-EU nationals who came to the UK on study visas were increasingly leaving the country after they arrived in large numbers in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic.

The government is mulling whether to scrap the graduate visa programme, which enables overseas student to live and work in the UK for a maximum of two years after graduation, as it faces pressure from many Tories to act.

The Migration Advisory Committee warned the government against ditching the graduate visa route, saying it found no evidence the scheme was abused as a backdoor entry.

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People visit the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

SHENZHEN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) opened on Thursday in the southern Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen.

For the first time, the five-day event has set up an international cultural trade exhibition, with an exhibition area covering 20,000 square meters.

The main venue of the fair is at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center. It consists of eight pavilions focused on areas such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's cultural industry innovation, the integration of culture and tourism, gaming and e-sports, and Guochao, also known as Chinese trends or "China chic".

A special exhibition of "Cultural and Creative China" has been set up at the fair to showcase the latest achievements in promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture.

According to the organizers, the 20th ICIF, held offline and online simultaneously, has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display.

More than 300 overseas exhibitors from 60 countries and regions are participating in the fair.

Established in 2004, the fair has become a leading cultural event in China and an important platform to assist the Chinese culture in going global. 

Visitors look at exhibits from the Hangzhou branch of the National Archives of Publications and Culture during the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

People watch a performance of Yueju opera during the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

An exhibitor from Tianshui of Gansu Province shows the malatang, literally meaning a numbingly spicy hotpot, during the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

A visitor selects creative products inspired by Chinese characters during the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

People perform Yingge Dance, a Chinese folk dance, during the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

People visit the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

An exhibitor introduces products to a visitor during the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

Visitors pose for photos with tradtional opera headwear during the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

People visit the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

Visitors view exhibits during the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

A visitor tries a piece of traditional headdress during the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

A visitor views exhibits related with Guochao, also known as Chinese trends or "China chic," during the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

People experiences the beauty of China's Mogao Grottoes with VR device at a booth of Tecent inside a pavilion dedicated to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's cultural industry innovation, during the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

People visit the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 23, 2024. The 20th ICIF opened here on Thursday. According to the organizers, the five-day event held offline and online simultaneously has attracted over 6,000 government entities, cultural organizations and enterprises, with more than 120,000 exhibits on display. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Incumbent Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt has conceded to challenger Nathan Vasquez.

Mt. Hood sees wind gusts over 70 mph as winter conditions remain

Schmidt released the following statement via his campaign:

It is looking as if I will not be serving another four years as Multnomah County District Attorney. I have called Nathan Vasquez to congratulate him on his victory. While we do not always see eye to eye, I am committed to a smooth transition. Thank you to this amazing community for the support they have shown for this campaign. And thank you for the opportunity to serve these past four years. It is an honor I will cherish for a lifetime.

Left: Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt; Right: Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Nathan Vasquez (Credit: KOIN/Eye on Northwest Politics)

Vasquez will officially take over as Multnomah County DA in January of 2025.

Portland bar faces $9M suit for overserving patron accused of killing another customer

According to the Secretary of States website, as of 4:30 p.m., Vasquez secured more than 54% of the votes (78,573) while Schmidt netted more than 45% (66,030).

Schmidt was considered a candidate focused on criminal justice reform, from his successful 2020 campaign to this day. By contrast, Vasquez vowed to crack down on crime and the fentanyl crisis.

More to come, stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.

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 KOIN.com.
Russian troops are trying to advance near Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, but they have not entered the town, Kyrylo Sazonov, a blogger and a soldier of the 41st Separate Mechanized Brigade deployed in the area, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on May 23.

According to the crowd-sourced DeepState monitoring service, which tracks changes on the front line, Russian forces advanced near Chasiv Yar and in Klishchiivka and Krasnohorivka in the region as of May 23.

Russian soldiers have tactical advances, which means that once they capture a position, they can be knocked out of it "at any minute," Sazonov said.

"These advances of 50 meters forward, 50 meters back mean nothing. We also enter their territory, and they enter ours," the serviceman said.

"It is really important for us that they (Russia) do not enter the town. They have already said several times that they are in Chasiv Yar, that it is surrounded. We are preventing them from entering the town. In the town, their numerical superiority will be much more noticeable than it is now."

Russian forces shifted their focus toward Chasiv Yar, an elevated town that potentially opens the way to further advances into the oblast, after capturing Avdiivka in February.

Before Russia's full-scale invasion, the town was home to around 12,000 people. As Russia stepped up attacks in the area, only around 670 residents stayed in the town, which local authorities describe as "almost destroyed."

Read also: Zelensky: Ukraine repels Russian assault on Chasiv Yar, Russia loses troops near Kharkiv

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
When journalists sounded alarm bells in early May 2024 that more than 100 extremist militia groups had been organizing and communicating on Facebook, it wasnt the first time militias had garnered attention for their online activities.

As a scholar of militias, Ive seen extremists get kicked off Facebook before.

This time, the platforms moderators took down roughly 100 pages and profiles for violating the social media networks rules that prohibit militarized social movements.

These organizations include U.S. domestic militias, which are usually groups of armed people who meet regularly for shooting practice as well as discussions of cultural and political concerns. They also take personal responsibility for defending their communities and their country from a variety of perceived possible threats.

Some militias seek to defend themselves from the government, while others prepare to attack it  but all prioritize preserving Second Amendment rights and believe that they are protecting democracy from government tyranny that would otherwise be unchecked.

The 100 groups most recently removed are just a tiny fraction of the thousands of militia groups Facebook has previously kicked off the site, supposedly permanently. But it is nonetheless a concern that militias appear to be trying to reclaim the platform to network, recruit and publicize their activities.

Caught unprepared

In the months before the 2020 presidential election, Facebook blocked and removed the Facebook profiles and pages of about 10,000 militia groups and militia members. The company fully deleted the groups comments and interactions, including on topics that had nothing to do with militia activity.

For researchers like me, this was an eerie time. When I went on Facebook, it seemed as though those people and organizations had never existed. Id studied them for decades, and they were just gone  even from the pages I created to monitor their activities.

Facebook had long been the primary place online where militias could chat with other militias, learning about their preferred tools and techniques, and, in some cases, plotting violent action. Most militia groups at the time had publicly accessible pages for their units and openly discussed many of their actions, though the most nefarious operated behind private or invite-only groups that researchers and law enforcement were not always able to access.

Militias like to think of themselves as being prepared for any eventuality, whether a natural disaster, a foreign government incursion or a more commonplace emergency like a car crash. But it became apparent that most of these groups had no meaningful backup plan for what they would do if they lost access to Facebook, the social media site where most of them were most active.

Some members tried to regroup on a variety of other platforms. But without a clear plan for doing so, they had trouble reconnecting with each other after Facebook shut their profiles down. This action, which scholars call deplatforming, was, in my view, the single most disruptive event in the militia movements history because of how dramatically and rapidly it disrupted the movements ability to coordinate across state lines.

Summoned by social media connections, a mob, including militia members, stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to protest the 2020 presidential election results. Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post via Getty Images

A radicalization opportunity

Deplatforming can have downsides. People who are most aggrieved by perceived government actions or cultural conditions are those who are most motivated to find each other online. So Facebook was a collection point and meeting place for these people, increasing opportunities for individuals to become radicalized and potentially violent.

As they have been driven off Facebook and other platforms, many of them have moved to platforms that are more difficult for researchers and police to monitor for signals of emerging threats. Thats one downside.

In addition, the experience of being kicked off Facebook may have been a radicalizing moment for some. Some militia members I follow interpreted their deplatforming as further proof of their perceived oppression. Some of them argued that it was a violation of their First Amendment rights  though private companies are not bound by those legal standards.

My research has also found that many of these militia members never actually left Facebook. I personally observed them almost immediately creating new accounts. They seemed to be blocked from doing so only if they used the name or email address associated with their previous, deplatformed account.

With different names and email addresses to hide behind, these same people have remained active on Facebook since 2020. Most who evaded permanent deplatforming through such name modifications are not among those who were kicked off in the most recent purge. So far, they have chosen to remain under the radar rather than openly reclaiming a militia affiliation.

Comfort in public

Groups that have reclaimed a militia identity on Facebook appear to include groups previously kicked off, some of whom use their earlier unit names, and some of whom have rebranded, as well as new groups with people who had not publicly identified as militia members before the 2020 clear-out.

The fact that groups were openly operating with militia-related names on Facebook in 2024 means they are testing the platforms moderation efforts. And it signals they are becoming more comfortable being visible, public entities.

Thats despite the increased public scrutiny that has followed criminal convictions of militia members for their involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and a militia plot in 2020 to kidnap Michigans governor.

These apparent militia efforts to reclaim Facebook as a semi-public platform mimic efforts by militias in places like Virginia to openly organize, recruit and participate in politics. Together, they serve as a reminder that militia members underlying concerns and beliefs have not disappeared in the past four years and are instead primed for potential calls to action as 2024s electoral season continues.

During his term, President Donald Trump regularly appealed to fears that militia members share. His actions included both direct calls for the Proud Boys to stand back and stand by and more subtle but nevertheless derogatory references to immigrants, transgender people and other purported threats to American culture. Militia efforts to resurface into public view indicates that members feel both a legitimacy and an urgency for action as the 2024 election approaches.

While researchers like me are not currently expecting another large-scale event like the Capitol incursion, we are very much on edge regarding the possible coordination around state and local politics, especially those directly connected to the electoral process and outcomes.

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: Amy Cooter, Middlebury

Read more:



Amy Cooter is a previous recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
Millions raised for sheriff's animal shelter that was never built. Where did the money go?

Paul Penzone won the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office in 2016 on the message that he was going to undo the legacy of Joe Arpaio.

But the agency's Animal Safe Haven  the MASH Unit, for short  was one aspect of Arpaio's legacy that Penzone decided was worth keeping. Expanding upon, even.

The MASH Unit was one of the PR-savvy Arpaios most inspired creations. A home inside a jail for animals seized during Sheriffs Office investigations, Apraio used the unit as a backdrop for media stories that featured Americas toughest sheriff having a soft spot for animals.

Arpaio surrounded himself with dogs and cats while cameras rolled, directing attention away from his agency's unconstitutional policing practices. The Sheriffs Office highlighted incarcerated people working with MASH Unit animals, programming pitched as rehabilitative for people and abused animals alike.

In 2018, Penzone set up a nonprofit organization with the intention of building a new home for seized animals. Corporate partners were brought on and more than $1.5 million was raised for the project.

But in the years since, the organization languished, getting so little attention that state records and federal tax filings listed Penzone as a director for years after he resigned from the board.

No new home for animals was built, the main corporate partner pulled out and no one seems to be able to account for what happened to more than $300,000 that had been raised.

After The Republic began inquiring about fundraising and recordkeeping related to the jail shelter, the MASH Unit's companion nonprofit stopped soliciting donations online and updated its business records with the state. The county also secured a future facility for the MASH Unit's animals that is not a jail.

Penzone stepped down as sheriff in January, a year before the end of his term. He is now chief community relations officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, according to a representative for the insurance provider.

Penzone, through the Sheriff's Office, declined an interview request to discuss the MASH Unit or the nonprofit entity he created to support it. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona did not respond to interview requests.

In 2019, PetSmart Charities agreed to donated $2 million to the MCSO MASH nonprofit and handed over $925,000 up front. But because MCSO MASH did not meet benchmarks, it never received the second half of the donation and had to return $283,000.

Over five years, Penzone touts need to improve MASH Unit

At a news conference in 2017, Penzone's first year in office, he said he had always advocated for protecting animals and investigating crimes against them. He supported adopting out animals seized by the Sheriff's Office instead of euthanizing them, he said.

"I don't want animals that just have a life," Penzone said. "I want animals to have a quality of life."

Penzone vowed to improve upon the MASH Unit.

The next year, Penzone established a nonprofit called MCSO MASH "to provide financial support and consultation" to the MASH Unit "for purposes of ensuring a safe environment, health services, and relational training for abused and neglected animals," according to the articles of incorporation. Federal tax records for 2018 listed Penzone as one of the nonprofit's five officers.

The MCSO MASH nonprofit website shows a photo of Sheriff Paul Penzone accepting a novelty check from the Phoenix Suns in 2019. The Suns' $500,000 donation was part of the roughly $1.6 million raised by the group since 2018 to build a facility that has not materialized.

Then, in 2019, the Sheriff's Office announced plans to build a new facility for the MASH Unit.

PetSmart Charities, the Arizona Cardinals and the Phoenix Suns "committed to support the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office in the design and construction costs," according to the Sheriff's Office website. The Phoenix Suns Charities held a news conference with Penzone in late 2019 and handed over a giant novelty check for $500,000. The Suns confirmed that the half-million dollar donation was made.

The new MASH Unit facility was to be located near the southwest corner of 27th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road in Phoenix, according to the Sheriff's Office website.

IRS filings state the MCSO MASH nonprofit paid Phoenix-based design firm Orcutt Winslow $183,558 for "architectural" and $94,000 for an unnamed general contractor. Those expenses were incurred between mid-2019 and mid-2020, according to tax records.

"The facility plans included an intake area, lobby for visitors for adoption purposes, indoor and outdoor kennels, future veterinary clinic, food storage, grooming, classroom, offices and other miscellaneous support spaces," said Tara Grenier, a principal with Orcutt Winslow. She said the company got the job by responding to the Sheriff's Office's request for proposals for architectural and engineering services.

In a March 2021 Facebook video, Penzone said the new MASH Unit facility was expected to cost $8.5 million.

"As the sheriff, I made a commitment that it would not come from taxpayer dollars," Penzone said. "It will be private contributions, from people who are passionate about this issue."

In the video, published a year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Sheriff's Office employee described the conditions at the jail where the animals were being held.

"There's nothing about this environment that is good for animals, that helps animals recover," said Detention Sgt. Paul Taylor in the pitch for donations to support the construction of a new facility.

Penzone echoed Taylor's sentiment in the video: "A dog or a cat in a jail cell? I don't need to go any further than to say we understand why that's inappropriate."

Orcutt Winslow produced renderings of a new building, which were published on the MCSO MASH nonprofit's website. The renderings showed a main building with a peaked roof echoing the nearby mountains and a walking path in the shape of a dog's bone.

After The Republic asked questions about the project, the operator of the MCSO MASH website removed the renderings and all mentions of a new facility. A video posted by Orcutt Winslow on their Facebook page continued to include images of the project renderings.

But the new facility was never built. The lot at 27th and Lower Buckeye stands vacant, and the MASH Unit is still housed in a former jail on First Avenue between Jefferson and Jackson streets in downtown Phoenix. An open-air paddock southwest of downtown, adjacent to a jail, can be used for large animals.

In December 2023, according to the Sheriff's Office, the MASH Unit was home to one horse, two tortoises, 44 dogs and 54 cats. The unit was being operated by one supervisor, eight detention officers and four animal care technicians, according to Sheriff's Office spokesperson Norma Gutierrez-Deorta.

The current annual budget for the MASH Unit is about $1.4 million, which is paid for by fees charged to incarcerated people, Gutierrez-Deorta said. Most of that money is spent on personnel working in the shelter and supplies and services, like vet visits and food, she said.

The county appropriates funding to the MASH Unit from an inmate services fund each year, Gutierrez-Deorta said. State law requires that the fund be used "for the benefit and welfare of inmates."

The inmate services fund receives revenue from jail commissary sales and fees incurred on inmate computer tablets, she said. The computer tablets allow people in jail to communicate with family and friends and access educational and other media content.

The Sheriff's Office has also pursued tax-deductible donations to support the MASH Unit. A link on the Sheriffs Office website directs people to a donations page where potential donors are asked to donate to support dogs and cats or horses or make a general donation. The page does not make clear what entity receives the money.

Until recently, the MCSO MASH charity's website encouraged users to donate to a new facility fund. After inquiries from The Arizona Republic, the wording was changed to "Donate to our building fund" and then the option to donate was removed.

Nonprofit plagued by muddled leadership, sloppy record-keeping

By the time Penzone was featured in the March 2021 fundraising video for the MCSO MASH nonprofit, he was no longer officially a leader of the organization, according to the Sheriff's Office.

He stepped down from the nonprofit's board of directors in 2020, just two years after he'd created the group. The Sheriff's Office provided The Republic with an electronic copy of a letter dated Nov. 19, 2020, addressed "To the MCSO MASH Board."

"I have been advised by counsel that as an Elected Official, I should not retain a position on the board in order to avoid the appearance of any conflicts of interest," the letter stated. "I thank you all for your commitment to help build this new facility and be part of a new MCSO legacy."

But Penzone's resignation went unnoticed, at least by the people in charge of the nonprofit's corporate filings.

Long after the Sheriff's Office said he left the board, he continued to be listed as a director on the nonprofit's federal tax records. IRS records for tax years 2021 and 2022 state he was still on the board. The 2022 tax year document was filed on Oct. 3, 2023, the day after Penzone announced he was leaving office early.

Similarly, the 2020 Arizona Corporation Commission annual report, which was signed on Oct. 29, 2021, by Robyn Anderson, Penzone's executive assistant at the Sheriff's Office, and received and filed by the commission on Nov. 3, 2021, listed Penzone as a director.

Gutierrez-Deorta, the MCSO spokesperson, said the continued identification of Penzone as a director on tax records was a "clerical error" and blamed the law firm acting as the nonprofit's statutory agent for the mistake.

"When the law firm failed to submit a new listing of directors, that led to the misrepresentation as though he held a role on the board," Gutierrez-Deorta said in a statement. Andy Abraham, the attorney listed as the nonprofit's statutory agent, did not respond to The Republic's inquiry about the inaccuracies.

Penzone wasn't the only director who continued to be erroneously listed as a leader of the MCSO MASH nonprofit.

Deb Turcott was the chief operating officer of PetSmart Charities when Penzone launched the nonprofit and was named as a director of the organization. But she parted ways with the nonprofit in January 2020 after leaving PetSmart Charities, according to Christina Grant-Backus, a spokesperson for PetSmart Charities.

"My service on MASH Board was only pursuant to the Grant Agreement between PetSmart Charities and MSCO MASH and it concluded when my time with PetSmart Charities concluded," Turcott said in an email.

By the time the most recent federal tax document for the MCSO MASH nonprofit was filed in October, only two of the five directors listed were actually still serving on the board.

Penzone and Turcott had both stepped away and Sue Glawe died in August. Glawe, until her retirement several years ago, was the vice president of community relations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, a role similar to the one Penzone now holds for the insurer.

Only Leslie Rachels, who has worked as a health care industry professional, and Anderson were serving as directors in October.

Current Arizona Corporation Commission filings show Rachels as president and Anderson as "other officer." On most state corporation and federal tax filings, the mailing address for the directors is MCSO's administrative building.

Anderson, Penzone's assistant, has been a director from the nonprofit's beginning, continuing after Penzone stepped down from the board due to a conflict of interest. The Sheriff's Office declined to make Anderson available for an interview.

Robert Ashcraft, executive director of the Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation at Arizona State University, said the tax-exempt status enjoyed by nonprofits is a privilege and that nonprofit entities should aspire to be transparent, communicative and open.

He said it's especially important for nonprofits to have accurate descriptions of current board members included in their annual federal IRS filing, called Form 990.

"That way the public can see who is stewarding and shepherding the mission of the organization," he said. "Because at the end of the day, the board is the legal fiduciary agent."

Nonprofit at risk of dissolution because of failure to file documents

The MCSO MASH nonprofit has been playing catchup on government paperwork from the start.

The organization did not file required federal tax forms until 2020, submitting documents for tax years 2018 and 2019 on the same day: Nov. 9, 2020. According to the 2018 tax year filing, the lateness was attributed to drawn-out processes with the Maricopa County's Board of Supervisors for accepting PetSmart Charities' contribution and developing operating procedures.

In addition to being behind on federal filings, the nonprofit was at risk of dissolution in 2023 because it had not filed the required documents with the Arizona Corporation Commission for several years. In Arizona, nonprofit corporations are required to submit an annual report with basic information such as their headquarters location and the names of the people who run them.

A search of the commission's online database in early November showed MCSO MASH hadn't filed annual reports since 2021. Inquiries about the missing paperwork from The Republic prompted the commission, which said "intermittent issues" with its system resulted in not properly updating entity statuses, to say it would send a notice of dissolution to the nonprofit.

"It appears that this corporation has failed to file its last few annual reports," said commission spokesperson JP Martin on Nov. 9. "As this information has now come to our attention, we will immediately commence the process for administrative dissolution."

A screenshot from the Arizona Corporation Commission website taken on Nov. 7, 2023, shows the nonprofit entity MCSO MASH was listed as an active entity "in good standing." It wasn't.

Before The Republic reached out to the commission, its website listed MCSO MASH as an active entity "in good standing." But a document history on the website showed the nonprofit had not filed an annual report since submitting the 2020 report in 2021. The years 2021 and 2022 were listed as years due on the commissions website.

The commission had filed two notices of delinquent annual reports against MCSO MASH in July and September 2021, according to the commission website. The first stated that because of the past due reports, the nonprofit's entity status had been changed to "pending inactive." The commission then instructed MCSO MASH to file an annual report to return your corporation to good standing. The second notice said the entity was at risk of being dissolved.

After The Republic contacted the commission for clarification, MCSO MASH's status was changed to "Pending Inactive." The reason for the status was listed as "Pending Administration Dissolution  Annual Report Past Due."

A screenshot of the Arizona Corporation Commission website from Nov. 9, 2023  after The Arizona Republic contacted the commission about the nonprofit entity MCSO MASH's missing annual reports  shows the group's status was changed to "Pending Inactive."

After receiving questions from The Republic about the missing reports, MCSO spokesperson Norma Gutierrez-Deorta said "all pertinent documents" had been updated, and the commission returned the nonprofit's status to "Active" and "In Good Standing."

Abraham, the attorney serving as the organization's statutory agent, called the untimely filing of the commission reports "an administrative oversight."

"It was addressed immediately and the filings updated with no resulting consequences," he said.

Ashcraft said Arizona Corporation Commission requirements are not onerous. Indeed, after The Republic notified the Sheriff's Office of the delinquent filings, they were updated within hours, bringing the nonprofit into compliance.

"You should file annually," he said. "It just substantiates that you are a going concern, and identifies if there are any changes to your statutory agent, your contact information, that kind of stuff."

Where did the money go?

The 2022 IRS 990 for MCSO MASH shows the nonprofit raised a total of $1,566,611 since it was incorporated in 2018. The bulk of that fundraising, $925,000 was raised in 2018, with another $530,409 reported raised in 2019.

The $925,000 came from PetSmart Charities. It was supposed to be part of a larger $2 million donation, but according to Grant-Backus, the PetSmart Charities spokesperson, the Sheriff's Office and MCSO MASH didn't meet the benchmarks for continued funding.

"In 2019, PetSmart Charities entered into a grant agreement with the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office ... with grant funds supporting design and construction of the new MASH Safe Haven Unit facility," Grant-Backus said. "After our initial disbursement of $1M, MCSO failed to meet subsequent project milestones that would have triggered additional payments. MSCO ultimately returned the unspent funds from our initial disbursement  a total of $642K was expended on this project."

Grant-Backus said PetSmart Charities is no longer affiliated with the MCSO MASH Unit.

The most recent MCSO MASH IRS 990 shows the nonprofit's net balance at $407,737, but the nonprofit has not listed any major spending other than the nearly $280,000 spent on "architectural" and "general contractor" in 2019.

To explain where the rest of the money had gone, Gutierrez-Deorta said donations collected by MCSO MASH are "periodically transferred to the MCSO MASH Donation Fund" kept by Maricopa County via a Board of Supervisors agenda item.

"Expenditures for project manager, architecture, engineering, construction manager/builder have all been paid through this account at the County," Gutierrez-Deorta said. "Accordingly, all purchase orders for the project management, design and construction were issued through County Procurement and invoices paid through the standard County accounts payable process. The County has paid all the expenses for the Architectural, Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management/Builder fees. The only expenses paid through 501(c)(3) have been Accounting, Marketing and Fundraising expenses.

But Fields Moseley, a spokesperson for the county, said the county's board was only aware of an unspent, one-time transfer of $250,000 from MCSO MASH in 2020.

"That money is sitting in the account at this time," Moseley said.

Beginning with a total raised amount of $1,566,611 and subtracting the current net balance of $407,737, the expenses of $283,142 for architectural work, a general contractor and legal services, the 2020 $250,000 transfer to the county, and the $283,000 repayment to PetSmart leaves more than $340,000 for which The Republic could not find receipts.

Representatives for the Sheriff's Office and the MCSO MASH nonprofit did not respond to repeated requests for clarification on how the rest of the funds were used.

Leslie Rachels, president and director of MCSO MASH, said in an interview that she was "never really involved on the financial side" of the nonprofit. She said Glawe, the former Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona executive who died in August, "was the keeper of the finances." Rachels said she didn't know where the money raised for a new MASH Unit facility had gone.

"As far as I know, what's left is sitting in a fund, but I don't know," she said.

Ashcraft, the leader of the ASU center focused on nonprofits, said charitable organizations are required to make financial disclosures to the IRS so that they can keep the confidence of the public and their donors.

"The idea here is to shine a light on details of an organization to inspire trust and advance good stewardship," he said.

What will happen to the MASH Unit?

Rachels said getting a new facility built is still the number one priority for the MCSO MASH nonprofit, but she expected a new sheriff coming into office could cause more delays for the project. The office of sheriff is up for election in November.

"We are starting to build partnerships, again, getting the focus back," Rachels said. "The main thing is we don't want the animals living in the jail."

After more than a month of questions about the future of the MASH Unit from The Republic, the Sheriff's Office announced in December that the unit would be relocated from the First Avenue Jail to the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control facility on 27th Avenue, known as the Durango Facility.

An interdepartmental agreement between the agencies states that when the county eventually constructs a new West Valley animal shelter, space will be freed up at the existing facility for the MASH Unit to move in. Earlier this year, the county supervisors appropriated $5.3 million to find a location for a new West Valley shelter and begin its design, said Moseley, the county spokesperson. It was expected to open in a few years, he said.

The money made from incarcerated people off jail commissary sales and fees incurred on inmate computer tablets could be used for capital upgrades "related to programming, education and other allowable uses," according to the agreement. Other building improvements to the Durango Facility will come from MASH donations and other dollars secured by MCSO, the agreement states. The agreement between MCSO and Animal Care and Control estimates the current cost of staffing, utilities and maintenance of the current MASH facility to be $1.55 million annually.

Sheriff Russ Skinner, who was appointed in February to replace Penzone and is seeking election, supports the new interdepartmental agreement, said MCSO spokesperson Gutierrez-Deorta.

"While relocation and occupancy for both entities to transition to new facilities may take some time, we are looking forward to a more functional space for expanding inmate programs while providing a more welcoming environment to care for and adopt animals from our facility," Gutierrez-Deorta said.

Skinner is "committed to the future improvements and expanded benefits" of the MASH program, she said.

Have a news tip on the justice system? Reach the reporter at jjenkins@arizonarepublic.com or 812-243-5582. Follow him on X @JimmyJenkins.

This article was reported through a fellowship supported by the Lilly Endowment and administered by the Chronicle of Philanthropy to expand coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits. The Arizona Republic is solely responsible for all content.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Paul Penzone's failed plan to expand an Arpaio-era PR project
A week after law enforcement killed a Crookston man wielding a hatchet who charged at officers, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified those involved.

Andrew Scott Dale, 35, of Crookston, died of multiple gunshot wounds May 16. Two police officers and a Polk County Sheriff deputy fired at Dale after responding to a 911 call. Officers encountered him swinging a hatchet in the streets shortly before 1 a.m. in a residential area near the Polk County Government Center. Chief Darin Selzler said Dale "rapidly approached" police, who initially used less-lethal measures to stop him.

The BCA said Officer Alex Rudnik first deployed his Taser and Deputy Matt Benge fired 40 mm foam rounds. Officer Nick Fladland fired his department handgun, striking Dale multiple times. Fladland is on critical incident leave, the BCA said in a press release Thursday.

Officers provided life-saving care to Dale, who has no record of mental illness in Minnesota's court system. He later died at RiverView Health Hospital in Crookston.

Crime scene personnel recovered a hatchet and cartridge casings at the scene. Body-worn cameras captured portions of the incident, the BCA said.

BCA agents are reviewing all available video as part of the active investigation. Once complete, it will present findings without a charging recommendation to the Polk County Attorney's Office.

A large swath of the neighborhood remained cordoned for hours last Thursday at the intersection of N. Broadway and E. 7th Street, where officials canvassed the area on foot and via drone.

Though the farming and college city of 7,300 is typically quiet, some neighbors recalled an incident last year in the same neighborhood that also drew a large police presence, when a man stabbed his mother.

Kevin Corona was convicted in February of attempted murder in the March 2023 stabbing of Angie Gonzalez, who survived the attack. Corona is incarcerated at the state prison in St. Cloud with an anticipated release date of 2036.

Star Tribune staff writer Paul Walsh contributed to this report.
Gov. Tim Walz is photographed in the press room at the State Capitol, on March 13, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. Minnesota has joined a growing list of states that plan to count prisoners at their home addresses instead of at the prison or jail theyre located when drawing new political districts. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski, File)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  Minnesota has joined a growing list of states that plan to count prisoners at their home addresses instead of at the prisons they're located when drawing new political districts.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz last week signed legislation that says last known addresses will be used for counting inmates, not the federal or state correctional facilities where they are housed. Prisoners whose last address is out of state or whose address is unknown would be excluded from the redistricting process, though they would be counted as part of Minnesota's population total, according to the new law signed by the Democratic governor.

Eighteen states already have made similar changes to how prisoners are counted during the once-a-decade census. Most, but not all of the states, are controlled by Democrats and have large urban centers.

Although the U.S. Census Bureau has counted inmates as prison residents since 1850, states control redistricting and can move those populations to their home counties for that purpose or not include inmates at all when maps are drawn.

Advocates for the changes have argued that counting prisoners at their institutions shifts resources from traditionally liberal urban centers  home to many inmates who are disproportionately black and Hispanic  to rural, white, Republican-leaning areas where prisons are usually located.

Opponents, however, argue that towns with prisons need federal money for the additional costs they bring, such as medical care, law enforcement and road maintenance.

Population data collected from the census are used to carve out new political districts at the federal, state and local levels during the redistricting process every 10 years.
TechCrunch

The FCC just decided that anyone affected by a natural disaster can get a break on broadband and mobile service; it's not much, but every little bit counts. The Lifeline program is a long-running program that helps lower the cost of internet access for anyone that, temporarily or chronically, finds it difficult to pay for. Because of the exigent circumstances that arose from Hurricane Milton, we find that there is good cause for further action to expeditiously ensure that households receive critical assistance for their communications needs in the aftermath of hurricanes and other tropical weather systems in the near term.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  An at-risk man who was reported missing on Tuesday has been found, the San Francisco Police Department said in a news release. Peter Bausch, 77, was last seen leaving the San Francisco Library at 100 Larking St. around 1 p.m. on May 21.

Bausch is described as a white man who stands 6 feet tall and weighs 170 pounds, according to SFPD. He was last seen wearing a green khaki bomber jacket, brown jeans and glasses.

Missing at-risk Oakland woman last seen in Mendocino County

SFPD officers responded at around 10:18 p.m. Tuesday to the 600 block of Connecticut Avenue regarding a well-being check on an elderly man. Upon contacting the man, officers learned it was Bausch.

He was transported to the hospital for medical evaluation and reunited with family. Bausch was considered to be at risk because he suffers from Alzheimers.

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 KRON4.
SYDNEY, May 23 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in New Caledonia on Thursday, hoping for peace and security to return to the Pacific archipelago "as quickly as possible" after recent deadly riots.

"My wish, along with that of the ministers and the entire government, is to stand with the people so that we can return to peace, calm, and security as quickly as possible. This is the top priority," Macron told reporters upon arrival at La Tontouta International Airport.

The French president acknowledged that many locals are suffering from a huge crisis, as some are sick and others have great difficulty feeding themselves.

"We will discuss questions of economic reconstruction, support and rapid response, and the most delicate political questions, as we talk about the future of New Caledonia," he said.

He is expected to spend about 12 hours on the ground and set up a taskforce to deal with the crisis.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, a proposed voting reform sparked protests and riots in New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, which have left six dead and hundreds injured since May 13. 
Missouri prosecutors to seek death penalty in killing of court employee and police officer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  Missouri prosecutors said Wednesday that they intend to seek the death penalty against a Kansas City-area man who is charged with murder in the killings of a court employee who tried to serve an eviction notice on him and a police officer who responded.

Larry Acree, 70, of Independence, is accused of shooting court employee Drexel Mack on Feb. 29, along with two police officers who came to the scene, including Cody Allen, who was killed. Officers returned fire and arrested Acree, who suffered minor injuries.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Bakers office filed a notice with the court saying the state will prove there are aggravating circumstances sufficient to warrant the death penalty. Acree is charged with 18 total counts, including two of first-degree murder.

Police shoot, kill suspected truck thief after chase in Jefferson County

According to court papers, Acree owed delinquent taxes dating back to at least 2019. His 9-acre (3.6-hectare) property and three-bedroom home were sold last August for $260,000, and the new owner paid the taxes. A Notice to Vacate sign was posted at the property in February, and authorities have said Acree had no right to be there.

At a brief hearing Wednesday, Acrees attorney, Edward Berrigan of the Missouri State Public Defenders office, asked for a continuance so that the public defenders who handle death penalty cases could be reassigned, the Kansas City Star reported.

Acrees next court date is set for July 10 in Independence, a suburb of Kansas City with about 122,000 residents.

Eleven people are currently on death row in Missouri.

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 FOX 2.
(Bloomberg) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his Bharatiya Janata Party has already won a majority of the seats contested in the parliamentary elections due to end next week, putting him in a position to return to office for a third term.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The BJP will win a historic mandate, Modi said in an interview with The Economic Times, published Thursday. Theres a clear signal from the people on the ground that the party has crossed the majority mark by winning 272 out of 543 seats in the lower house of the parliament, he said.

Indias six-week election comes to an end on June 1, with results scheduled to be released on June 4. Modi had predicted the BJP and its allies would win more than 400 seats in the parliament, up from about 350 seats in 2019. The ruling party on its own won 303 seats in the 2019 elections.

Modi said the BJP had made significant gains in the southern and eastern parts of the country. This time, we will vastly improve our performance in states like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal and Odisha, Modi told the newspaper.

The BJP faces an opposition alliance of more than 20 groups, which expects to topple Modi and the BJP. Opposition leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, who heads a regional party in Uttar Pradesh state, and Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of Delhi, have said the BJP will fail to win a majority in the elections.

Indias NSE Nifty 50 Index hit a fresh high in intraday trading Thursday, with a gauge of 12 state-owned banks jumping 2%. Markets were also buoyed by the central banks announcement Wednesday of a record $25 billion payout to the government.

Speaking about the recent volatility in Indian financial markets  triggered by uncertainty about the BJPs support  Modi said in the ET interview his government had undertaken maximum reforms and managed the economy with fiscal prudence.

I can say with confidence that on June 4, as BJP hits record numbers, the stock market will also hit new record highs, he said.

--With assistance from Ravil Shirodkar.

(Updates with market reaction.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Annual Advocacy Day at the Ohio Statehouse on May 22, 2024. (Photo by Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal.)

Audrea Hickmans son Jarrin was murdered on April 17, 2020.

She shared her story during a rally as part of the Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Annual Advocacy Day at the Ohio Statehouse Wednesday. About a hundred people donning red shirts gathered for a rally Wednesday morning at the Trinity Episcopal Church to kick off the day.

The young men that he engaged were able to do what they did because they had access to illegal guns, Hickman said. That is what we want to stop. We want to take the guns out of the hands of the people that should not have them.  Gun violence is a domino effect that impacts everyone.

Gun violence prevention bills

A handful of gun violence prevention bills have been introduced in the Ohio Statehouse this year 

State Reps. Michele Grim, D-Toledo, and Munira Abdullahi, D-Columbus, introduced a bill that would prevent someone who has been charged with or convicted of a first-degree misdemeanor for domestic violence from possessing a firearm.

State Reps. Richard Brown, D-Canal Winchester, and Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati, put forth a bill that would repeal the states permitless concealed carry law and reinstate the law requiring someone to have a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public.

State Reps. Phil Robinson, D-Solon, and Isaacsohn introduced a bill to mandate background checks for all firearms sales including private sales.

State Reps. Darnell T. Brewer, D-Cleveland, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, and Abdullahi have a bill that would declare gun violence as a public health crisis and create the Office of Firearms Violence Prevention in the Ohio Department of Children and Youth.

Brewer also introduced a bill that would create an Ohio Task Force on Gun Violence.

In the state of Ohio youre still allowed to possess a gun even if you have a domestic violence conviction. Thats absurd, said Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein.

Parkland shooting

Nina Greenberg remembers worrying there would be a shooting at her Sylvania high school after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Orlando, Florida that killed 17 people in 2018.

These thoughts provoked so much anxiety that I would often be thinking of escape routes or how to quickly text my parents I love them on the off chance there was a school shooting at my school, she said.

Today, Greenberg is the president of Ohio State Universitys Students Demand Action chapter and advocates for common sense gun laws.

My generation, we constantly fear being gunned down in our schools and communities in our homes, she said. Young people are bearing the brunt of this crisis.

Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, shared how she participated in Moms Demand Advocacy Day in 2018 three months after the Parkland shooting  months before being elected to the House of Representatives.

I was advocating for this issue because I felt it was important to my community and it is important to me as a mother with three children, she said.

Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in the United States.

Thats insane, Russo said. But that is where we are today and our children deserve so much better than that.  Our children should not be dying because of gun violence in our community.

Firearms accounted for nearly a fifth of childhood deaths (ages 1-18) and nearly 3,600 children died in gun-related incidents in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wonder database.

Ohioans want stricter gun laws

A Suffolk University/USA Today poll from last summer showed 92% of Ohioans want mandatory background checks for firearm purchases  including 99% Democrats and 88% Republicans.

The Suffolk University/USA Today poll surveyed 500 registered Ohio voters over the phone and their margin of error is +/- 4.4 percentage points.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law in 2022 that got rid of all training, background check and permitting requirements to carry a concealed weapon.

So despite the gerrymandered super majority of extremists that seem to hide  I call it what it is  behind special interest groups we know that the majority of the people are in this position, she said.  Universal background checks are more popular than apple pie in the state of Ohio. I mean this is common sense stuff.

Follow OCJ Reporter Megan Henry on X.

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The post Moms Demand Action push for common sense gun legislation in Ohio during advocacy day appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Monkeys falling out of the trees like apples in Mexicos devastating heatwave

A veterinarian holds a Saraguato monkey rescued from the jungle after at least 138 howler monkeys found dead in heatwave - Stringer/REUTERS

High winds that led to the deaths of at least nine people at a political rally are the latest example of the extreme weather that has been ravaging Mexico.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the countrys president, offered sympathy to relatives of those killed at a rivals campaign event near Monterrey in a familiar refrain for a country beset by extreme weather-induced tragedy.

A devastating heatwave has gripped Mexico since mid-March, causing at least 26 deaths, nationwide blackouts and the escalation of an existing water crisis.

Ten cities have registered record-high temperatures, including the normally temperate, high-altitude Mexico City, which hit 34.3C on May 17.

Water shortages have been so severe in the Mexican capital that even the citys traffic police have led protests over intolerable working conditions.

Around 85 percent of the country is expected to see highs of at least 40C this week, with around a third of the country reaching 45C or more.

A boy cools off in the normally temperate, high-altitude Mexico City, which hit 34.3C on May 17 - Anadolu

The aggressive heat has been caused by a heat dome  a persistent and powerful system of high pressure  which has remained over a large area of Mexico.

Meteorologists say it has caused hotter-than-average ocean temperatures across the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico which have, in turn, raised temperatures of adjacent land areas.

The edges of heat domes often generate severe storms.

The extreme weather has also hit the animal kingdom with at least 138 howler monkeys found dead in the state of Tabasco since 16 May.

With temperatures soaring, the monkeys have been suffering so badly from dehydration that they have been spotted falling out of trees in forests.

Gilberto Pozo, a wildlife biologist, told the Associated Press he saw them falling out of the trees like apples before they died within a matter of minutes on the ground.

The heat dome has caused blackouts lasting several hours in parts of the country.

A worsening water shortage throughout much of the country has also been exacerbated by below-average rainfall, dwindling water supplies and lakes and dams drying up.

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More than 1 million pounds of aid has reached Palestinians in Gaza through coastal pier

More than 1 million pounds of aid has reached the people of Gaza through a new U.S. military pier, but incoming assistance across the besieged coastal territory remains far below levels that responders want to see.

American troops have helped deliver 1.2 million pounds of aid to Gaza as of Thursday, according to Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command.

Cooper told reporters the military has brought 820 metric tons of aid through the pier to the shore since it was brought online Friday, with 106 metric tons delivered to Palestinians in Gaza.

Were currently in a warm start period, he added, noting there are thousands of tons of aid in the pipeline. Efforts are underway to scale up in the coming days.

But the amount of aid entering across Gaza has plunged in recent weeks. The United Nations warned earlier this week it would have to halt food distribution in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where Israeli troops are conducting limited operations against Palestinian militant group Hamas.

After taking the Rafah corridor, Israel now controls all of the land crossings into Gaza, and human rights groups have accused Israeli forces of impeding access into the strip.

Dan Dieckhaus, response director at the United States Agency for International Development, said only 70 trucks entered Gaza on Wednesday. But Diekchaus said the maritime pier has proved vital, with 27 of those trucks coming through that corridor Wednesday.

In addition to the maritime quarter, every land crossing needs to be open and operate at maximum capacity and efficiency, he told reporters. Every moment that a crossing is not open  is a terrible human cost in this conflict.

The maritime corridor starts at the island nation of Cyprus, which receives aid from international humanitarian aid groups and donor countries. Ships then transport that aid to a U.S.-built floating dock miles off the coast of Gaza.

The U.S. military then brings that aid to a pier attached to a beach in Gaza, where the United Nations and other humanitarian aid workers bring it to the shore for distribution. The U.S. has around 1,000 troops on the mission, but they are not putting boots on the ground in Gaza.

The pier has had complications. At least one truck was looted, and a Hamas drone attack miles away from the pier led to the freezing of aid convoy movements.

Cooper said that force protection remains a priority and that the U.S. is coordinating with Israeli forces from a cell team inside of Israel to oversee the convoys in the surrounding area of the pier.

And three U.S. troops deployed on the mission were recently injured, but they were not combat related, according to Cooper, who described two of the injuries as a sprained ankle and a hurt back.

Dieckhaus described operating in a wartime environment as one of the major challenges of getting aid into Gaza, whether from the pier or elsewhere.

There are wartime hazards, theres active fighting, he said. Some of this assistance is reaching warehouses, some of this is being distributed immediately to those in need, but all of this requires constant maneuvering and these variables come and go. Sometimes one risk is more prevalent than another.

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 The Hill.
More than 300 U.S. flags to be posted for Memorial Day weekend at Perry High School

Steve Toohey, president of Operation: Flags of Freedom, unfolds a flag during a previous Memorial Day weekend display in Perry Township.

PERRY TWP.  A Memorial Day weekend tribute is returning to western Stark County this weekend.

The 11th annual Operation: Flags of Freedom Memorial Day service is slated from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday on the Perry High School grounds, 3737 13th St. SW.

Remembering a hero: His 82-year wait is over. Ohio Navy sailor killed in Pearl Harbor attack laid to rest

More than 300 U.S. flags will be positioned starting at 9 a.m. Friday in front of the high school. Volunteers are welcome to assist with raising the patriotic banners.

Steve Toohey, president of Flags of Freedom, said the volunteer group continues to display the red, white and blue colors at public events so no one forgets the sacrifices made by all veterans, but mainly fallen U.S. military service members and Marines.

Steve Toohey, president of Operation Flags of Freedom, said it has been his pleasure to help honor U.S. military veterans over the years during Memorial Day weekend.

"These men and women are truly some of the greatest Americans ever," said Toohey, adding that the flags will be available for public viewing through Memorial Day.

The Perry Township Rotary Club is also a partner for the annual festivity.

Stark County Sheriff George Maier is the scheduled keynote speaker on Saturday, which includes participation by the Stark County Sheriffs Department Color Guard and Honor Guard.

The ceremony is to include the reading of the local fallen heroes with bell ringing, placement of a memorial wreath at the Perry Memorial and a tribute to military prisoners of war and those missing in action. Country music artist Ricky Lee is to perform.

There will also be suicide awareness field with 154 military boots positioned, representing one week ( 22 per day) of suicides by veterans.

Operation Flags of Freedom will have its 28-foot American flag parade float available for public viewing.

The event is free and open to the public. Coffee and pastries will be available at no cost following the ceremony.

The service will move into the Perry school theater if weather is uncooperative, Toohey said.

Hero run/walk, Calvary Cemetery service slated this weekend in west Stark County

The sixth annual Hero Run 5K Run/Walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday along 13th Street SW in Perry Township. The starting point will be at Perry High School.

In addition, a short memorial service is slated from 9 to 10 a.m. Sunday at Calvary Cemetery, 3469 Lincoln Way E, Massillon. Flags are to be placed at the graves of the 2,300 veterans who are buried there.

The free event is set in front of Calvary's office. Volunteers are welcome to assist with placing flags at gravesites.

Refreshments will also be available at no cost.

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Operation: Flags of Freedom event set Memorial Day weekend in Perry
TAMPA  Despite the hot, sticky Florida day, it was a chilly 35 degrees inside a refrigerated area of Feeding Tampa Bays new $60 million warehouse on a recent Monday.

Thats nothing compared to the arctic-like air inside the warehouses freezer, where underfloor pipes circulate coolant to temperatures of -5 degrees even if its 100 degrees outside.

Over the next few weeks, the warehouse will begin taking delivery of thousands of pounds of tomatoes, milk, lettuce, melons and other perishable food donated by grocery stores and other businesses. The extra storage means the nonprofit will no longer have to turn away as much as 30% of donated perishable food.

Known as the Causeway Center, the groups new 215,000-square-foot warehouse and headquarters formally opened Thursday. It will increase the food banks capacity from 85 million to 150 million meals per year, officials say.

But the nonprofit has its sights set higher than just feeding the areas needy. Roughly one-third of the building located just southeast of Port Tampa Bay is being offered free to partner nonprofits to provide help with housing, health care and job training. There will be services for veterans and seniors, a free grocery store, and a cafe that operates on a pay-what-you-can basis.

A new 11,000-square-foot kitchen will pump out meals, including those served at Trinity Cafe locations that cater to low-income families and homeless people.

The group describes the new center as the largest social services project in Tampa Bay history. Its the only approach that will change the long-term plight of the estimated 1 million food insecure residents in the Tampa Bay region, said CEO Thomas Mantz.

For a long time, there was this ongoing belief that somehow were going to food bank our way out of this problem. Were not, he said. What were really trying to do is build a much more thoughtful infrastructure that addresses long-term economic issues and communities.

The center is a major investment by the nonprofit, which on its most recent tax return in 2022 reported revenues of $185 million, roughly $3 million more than it spent that year. Companies that donated toward the center include long-time partners BayCare Health System and Florida Blue. Hillsborough County contributed $5 million from its allocation of federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars targeting COVID-19 relief.

Mantz said the group went into the project knowing it could afford to take on a mortgage if necessary, but he is hopeful the project wont mean long-term debt. Vacating its 80,000-square-foot warehouse on Adamo Drive will save the nonprofit $700,000 per year in rent.

Planning and fundraising for the project have been in the works for about five years. Mantz and some of the groups governing board toured recently constructed food banks as far away as Texas and Arizona looking for ideas about design and operation.

However, the CEO admits the expansion of the groups mission is uncharted territory. Measuring its success may come not from counting the number of meals served, but rather the economic impact of the center. That would include metrics such as the number of people joining the workforce as a result of a 300% expansion of its working training programs for culinary arts, warehouse logistics, commercial drivers license and a barista program offered in partnership with Starbucks.

This is an experiment in the unknown, Mantz said. We didnt find another food bank in the United States that was doing this.

The south side of the building, dubbed Community Place, will be the welcoming face of the center for those seeking social services  where as many as 25 different nonprofits may be taking advantage of free office space.

In addition to a grocery store and cafe, there will be computer stations for visitors to apply for jobs and benefits. Free classes will be offered on topics like taxes and financial literacy. It also includes Causeway Hall, a venue for public events with space for 485 people.

Surveys conducted by the nonprofit found that almost a third of the people they serve do not have access to medical care. Community Place will have two medical examination rooms staffed by BayCare. The health provider already partners with Feeding Tampa Bay on several initiatives, including community food clinics offering free healthy food and health screenings.

Our expanded area includes two exam rooms that will allow for us to consider providing flu shots, school physicals and other primary preventive services, said spokesperson Lisa Razler in an email.

One of the partnerships is with Metropolitan Ministries, which will save roughly $200,000 a year by storing its donated food at the new warehouse, according to its CEO Tim Marks. In exchange, it will assign case managers and people trained in helping others find social services at the center.

There are still some wrinkles to iron out. Many of those the group serves do not have their own transportation, but the closest Hillsborough Area Regional Transit bus stop is 2.2 miles from the center at the intersection of 50th Street and Palm River Road. The group is lobbying local agencies including HART to bring bus service closer.

The nonprofits governing board fully backs the expansion of its mission, said Todd Wickner, a retired food service executive who has served on the board for 12 years. Everyone who needs a meal has other needs, too, he said.

When you walk through the doors, you start understanding how the spaces will work and how well they will mesh together, he said. I got goosebumps from seeing that our vision is coming to fruition.

Feeding Tampa Bays new Causeway Center by the numbers:

215,000 - Square footage of The Causeway Center

28,000 - square footage of refrigerated warehouse area, including freezer and special dry area for beans and rice

4,500 - number of 5-tier food racks

550 - parking spots, including 50 for trucks

35,000 - square footage of community space

150 million - annual meal capacity

1,000 - number of trucks worth of fill dirt used to elevate center 13 feet above ground level

8 feet - height above 100-year floodplain

$60 million cost of the 5-year project

1 million - number of food insecure in the Tampa Bay region

Source: Feeding Tampa Bay
Moscow has warned Washington not to allow Ukraine to launch attacks with US weapons on Russian territory.

"This stance is absolutely irresponsible, the position is absolutely dangerous with its consequences," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state television on Thursday.

He was commenting on a report in US newspaper the New York Times, according to which US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in favour of such strikes against Russian territory and wants to persuade President Joe Biden to lift the restrictions.

In Washington, but also in some European capitals, an escalation is constantly being provoked, said Peskov. There are "hotheads in the United States who see it as their job to keep adding fuel to the fire."

"It is now obvious to all experts that no weapons are capable of somehow turning the tide in the zone of the special military operation," said the close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, using Russia's term for the war in Ukraine.

On the contrary, the weapons deliveries are prolonging the war for the Ukrainians, Peskov said.

The US State Department would neither confirm nor deny the New York Times report on Thursday.

Blinken had said during his visit to Kiev last week that the US was committed to helping Ukraine win the war.

"We have not encouraged or enabled strikes outside of Ukraine, but ultimately Ukraine has to make decisions for itself about how its going to conduct this war, a war its conducting in defense of its freedom, of its sovereignty, of its territorial integrity," he said in the Ukrainian capital.

"And we will continue to back Ukraine with the equipment that it needs to succeed, that it needs to win."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is demanding that the US and other Western allies allow his country to use the weapons supplied for strikes against Russia. So far, the country has mainly used weapons from its own production for this purpose.
The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, was interviewed by the Euronews TV channel on the sidelines of the High-Level Segment of the 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue held in Berlin, Germany, on April 26.

Azernews presents the interview:

Correspondent: President Aliyev, it is a pleasure, as always, to be here talking with you. We are here in Berlin for the Petersberg Climate Dialogue. This really is the beginning of the road to COP29. You know, your team must be very excited. What can we expect from this year's COP, and how much is going to be actionable, not just discussion?

President Ilham Aliyev: We want to create an environment that will be comfortable for all parties. We have great experience in building bridges in the Non-Aligned Movement. As you know, weve been chairing the NAM for four years with 120 members. Really, I think weve made huge progress. We're actively working with countries in the European Union. We have signed and adopted a strategic partnership declaration. So in other words, the Global South and the West, and how to engage together in addressing issues of climate change, how to strengthen solidarity, share responsibility, and reduce a certain mistrust with respect to the issues of climate change, because you know different ideas and different views.

Correspondent: The idea of fossil fuels is something that dominated the headlines last year at COP28 in the UAE. I just wondered whether you think it is a positive development within COP history to have a fossil fuel-producing country leading the way, making the changes and the transitions?

President Ilham Aliyev: That's actually what we're trying to achieve. One of my messages today at the conference was; Don't judge us by what we have. Judge us by how we treat what we have and by our agenda. And also, one of the issues that is important to understand, is apart from what I said about our involvement in Europe, in the Non-Aligned Movement, but also with some members of OPEC+ countries. We are already working with many oil-producing countries in order to create a kind of solidarity package prior to the COP. What can be additional? I think that oil-producing countries, especially when the price of oil is high, should pay more, should give more in order to tackle the problem. So solidarity is an integral part of financing, and how we will succeed.

Correspondent: What would you love to be the lasting legacy for COP 29?

President Ilham Aliyev: If we can make additional steps towards a green world and tangible steps with a continuation, I think that will be the most important legacy. At the same time, as you know, one initiative that is new for COP was already put forward by us, the creation of a Troika of three countries. So, using the experience of the UAE, and now Azerbaijan and later Brazil, to create this trilateral format of cooperation because of these three countries have involvement in different regional, political, economic, etc. issues. So, a combination of efforts and solidarity. We should stop blaming each other. Those countries that do not have oil should not point fingers at those that do. Small, developing countries should not demand big countries saying that you are responsible for climate disaster. So, this is diplomacy, policy, and finance. And, of course, as a host country, I think we can create a platform for that.

Correspondent: Mr. President, it is always a pleasure to talk to you. Thank you so much for your time today.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much.


























* U.S. carmaker Tesla broke ground on a mega factory in Shanghai on Thursday to manufacture its energy-storage batteries.

* It is expected to begin mass production in the first quarter of 2025, with an initial capacity of 10,000 Megapack units a year.

* As the global renewables powerhouse, China is a major market for energy storage.

SHANGHAI, May 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. carmaker Tesla broke ground on a mega factory in Shanghai on Thursday to manufacture its energy-storage batteries, Megapacks, a project hailed by the company as a "milestone."

The latest move underscores Tesla's commitment to investing in the world's second-largest economy, defying the rhetoric of "decoupling" and "de-risking" from China ratcheted up by some U.S. politicians.

The new plant spans an area of approximately 200,000 square meters, with a total investment of around 1.45 billion yuan (about 203.94 million U.S. dollars), according to the administration of Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

An aerial panoramic drone photo taken on May 23, 2024 shows the construction site (R) of U.S. carmaker Tesla's Megapack factory in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

The mega factory is the first of its kind built by Tesla outside the United States and the company's second plant in Shanghai, following the inauguration of its gigafactory in 2019 which involved an initial investment of over 50 billion yuan.

"I believe the new plant is a milestone for both Shanghai and Tesla," the company's vice president Tao Lin told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

"In a more open environment, we can create a new Tesla speed at the Megapack factory, and supply the global market with large-scale energy-storage batteries manufactured in China," she added.

At Thursday's groundbreaking ceremony in Shanghai, Tesla representatives and local government officials formally launched the construction of the Megapack factory, which is expected to begin mass production in the first quarter of 2025, with an initial capacity of 10,000 Megapack units a year.

"With Tesla's benchmark project, we anticipate that within the next three to five years, an industrial cluster centered around energy storage will rapidly emerge," said Lu Yu, an official of the Lin-gang Special Area Administration.

This photo taken on May 23, 2024 shows the groundbreaking ceremony of U.S. carmaker Tesla's Megapack factory in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

After the ceremony, Tesla signed a deal with Shanghai Lingang Economic Development (Group) Co., Ltd., securing the first batch of orders for its Megapacks in China.

Gong Wei, vice president of Lingang Group, said the Megapacks would be used for energy storage in a data center in the Lin-gang Special Area, as part of its efforts to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

Tesla's deep involvement in the energy storage industry now rivals its electric vehicles in importance, Tao said, adding that its energy storage products are currently used in over 60 countries and regions.

The U.S. company already has a factory for its Megapacks in California, which has an annual capacity of 10,000 units.

Each Megapack unit can store over 3.9 megawatt-hours of energy, sufficient to power approximately 3,600 households for one hour.

This photo taken on May 23, 2024 shows the signing ceremony of the first batch of orders for Tesla's Megapacks in China in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

As the global renewables powerhouse, China is a major market for energy storage. Last year, its installed renewable energy capacity surpassed thermal power for the first time, accounting for approximately 50 percent of the global additions to renewable energy capacity.

Tesla's plan to open a Megapack battery plant in Shanghai was announced In April 2023, cementing another foothold for the company in China. The land acquisition deal for the project was signed in December of the same year, and it received a construction permit earlier this month.

Lauding China's efforts in developing new energy industry, including the energy storage sector, Tao said the country boasts complete industrial chains, vast market potentials, and a production and business environment crucial for enterprise growth.

An aerial drone photo taken on May 23, 2024 shows the construction site of U.S. carmaker Tesla's Megapack factory in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

In January 2019, Tesla broke ground on its Shanghai Gigafactory, becoming the first company to benefit from a policy allowing foreign carmakers to establish wholly-owned subsidiaries in the world's largest automotive market and one of the fastest-growing EV markets.

The gigafactory delivered 947,000 vehicles in 2023, an increase of 33 percent from the previous year. It has emerged as Tesla's primary vehicle export hub, with more than half of its global deliveries of over 1.8 million electric vehicles last year originating from there.

Thursday's groundbreaking ceremony for the Megapack plant comes less than a month after Tesla CEO Elon Musk visited China, during which he said the company is willing to deepen cooperation with China to achieve more win-win results.

China's faster-than-expected economic growth of 5.3 percent in the first quarter reaffirms its attractiveness for foreign investment. The number of newly established foreign-invested firms in the country hit 12,000 during the period, up 20.7 percent year on year. Enditem

(Reporting by Cheng Lu, Zhou Rui, Yang Xiaojing, Chang Yuan and Yang Youzong; Video reporters: Ding Ting, Zhou Rui, Yang Youzong and Fang Zhe; Video editors: Zhang Qiru, Zhu Jianhui and Wang Han.) 
Eight months after Israel invaded the Gaza Strip, some critics observe that the Israeli military hasnt met either of its goals of destroying Hamas and rescuing all of the remaining 133 hostages Hamas is holding.

Yet two-thirds of Israelis still support their militarys aggressive approach in Gaza  including limiting humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

While many Israelis support the militarys war in Gaza, most Israelis have also lost confidence in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government and would like to see new political leadership.

As someone who has studied Israeli politics for almost three decades, I believe its important to understand what elements contribute to Israelis collective mindset to explain these seemingly contradictory dynamics and views.

People in Tel Aviv protest in January 2024 and hold portraits of the Bibas family, whom Hamas militants kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023. Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images

A familiar feeling of persecution

Hamas militants killed an estimated 1,200 people in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and took 240 hostages back to Gaza.

The brutal Oct. 7 murders and the extermination of entire communities in southern Israel left Israelis feeling shocked, vulnerable and insecure. The attacks reminded Israelis that the country faces existential threats, which they believe need to be eliminated in any way possible.

The top of Masada is seen overlooking the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea in 2022. Planet One Images/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Jewish people have long been persecuted, dating back from the biblical era to the Holocaust during World War II. Some scholars call this feeling of a constant, looming risk of persecution the Masada syndrome. Masada, an ancient fortification in southern Israel, was where the ancient Kingdom of Israel waged a final battle against the Roman army in A.D. 73. Masada was eventually destroyed and all its Jewish inhabitants committed suicide in order to avoid becoming enslaved by the Romans. Jews then lost their political independence for almost 2,000 years, until Israel was established in 1948.

The story of Masada is still taught and remembered in Israel as a constant reminder that Jewish people cannot ever fully rely on the mercy or help of other countries  and that Jewish identity and independence are always at risk of persecution. For a long time, the Israeli Defense Forces held induction ceremonies atop Masada, which is also a popular tourism site.

As a ceremonial text used during the Jewish holiday of Passover says, Each and every generation they rise up against us to destroy us.

The Masada syndrome has been less pronounced among most Israelis in recent decades. This is partially because, up until recently, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been relatively muted since the second intifada, a violent uprising by Palestinians in the early 2000s. Israel also signed peace treaties with Arab countries including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco over the past several years.

The Oct. 7 attacks resulted in widespread national trauma and pushed many Israelis to re-adopt the Masada mentality.

Alone again

The global response to Oct. 7 is another important factor that pushed many Israelis to retreat to old feelings of persecution and a perceived need for self-defense.

While the United States, the United Kingdom and France expressed strong support for Israel shortly after Oct. 7, other countries, like Russia and China, did not condemn the Hamas attacks.

It also took United Nations experts about five months to recognize the systematic sexual violence committed on Oct. 7.

Further isolating Israelis was their widespread rejection that Israel is committing war crimes, as the International Criminal Court recently alleged in a request for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israels defense minister, Yoav Gallant. Some Israelis have also questioned the accuracy of information about civilian death tolls in Gaza.

Most Israelis see these allegations of genocide as an example of global bias against Israel and as a new form of antisemitism.

Netanyahu has exploited these feelings of persecution to both legitimize Israels war in Gaza and to downplay any criticism of his own leadership.

Israelis protest against their government in Jerusalem, calling for a hostage deal and general elections, on May 20, 2024. Matan Golan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Netanyahus downfall

Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, polls consistently reflect Israelis declining support for the conservative political parties that make up Netanyahus ruling coalition.

A May 2024 poll shows that if elections were held today, Netanyahus party would lose almost 40% of the seats it has in the Israeli Parliament. The same poll also found that just 35% of Israelis think that Netanyahu is fit to be a prime minister.

In January, just 15% of Israelis thought Netanyahu should stay in office.

Several factors help explain Israelis overall support for Netanyahus policies in Gaza, but their growing distrust of him as a politician and leader.

First, most Israelis blame Netanyahus government for Oct. 7. They see Netanyahu as primarily responsible for the fact that Israel did not address Hamas strengthening military capabilities in the past decade, including its creation of underground tunnels in Gaza.

There are also damaging issues that predate Oct 7. Netanyahu has tried to undermine the independence of the countrys judicial branch and passed legislation in 2023 that limited courts judicial review powers over legislation and government policies. This sparked widespread protests in Israel.

Israelis are also concerned that Netanyahus approach to the war  and inability to reach a hostage deal or agree to some kind of cease-fire  may be affected by his desire to stay in power. Netanyahu is facing several corruption-related charges and wants to delay these criminal trials  his defense team has said that the war leaves him with little time to attend the trials. Netanyahu also wants to appease his radical right-wing supporters, who want the war to continue.

Israelis concerns about Netanyahu over the past few months manifested in an outbreak of mass demonstrations in different Israeli cities. These protesters, including families of the hostages, are demanding that Netanyahu reach a deal that will free the remaining hostages  even if that means agreeing to a long-term cease-fire.

But it is not clear if these protesters make up the majority of the public opinion  and it is important to not confuse this protest with most Israelis desire to see Hamas defeated.

Israels dilemma

Israels path forward is unclear, and it will be influenced by a few issues. An increase in public pressure on Netanyahu may force him eventually to take responsibility for not preventing the Oct. 7 attack and resign.

The growing intensity of Israelis demonstrations demanding his resignation show the increasing possibility of such a scenario.

At the same time, growing international pressure on Israel to end its war in Gaza may lead Netanyahu to have more conflicts with far-right members of his coalition, eventually causing the disintegration of his administration and his fall from power.

Finally, the possibility of the war expanding into a broader regional conflict would dramatically change the regions current dynamics in ways that are difficult to predict. Nonetheless, this development could force Israel to end the war in Gaza in order to address other emerging military threats.

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: Arie Perliger, UMass Lowell

Read more:



Arie Perliger does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A mother was able to save her 7-month-old baby during an hours-long hostage situation, allegedly orchestrated by her ex, by tricking him into letting her seek help nearby, police in Surprise, Arizona, said at a news conference Monday.

The suspect, Todd Marchetti, 51, was found dead on May 17 following a report of a domestic violence incident in which authorities said he broke into his exs home around 3 a.m. armed with a machete, police Sgt. Rick Hernandez said at the news conference.

According to Hernandez, the incident ended after the home caught fire and the estranged couples baby, Jaxson, who had been shot multiple times, was rescued.

Hernandez said Marchetti intended to cause the mother, whom police identified as Allie, harm while her family was away on vacation. Throughout the hostage situation, Allie concocted multiple schemes to try to break away for help.

A photo of Allie and Jaxson was posted on a GoFundMe page. GoFundMe

Allies first opportunity to escape came when Marchetti shot the family dog, Hernandez said. She convinced Marchetti to let her to take the dog to a vet, where she planned to seek help.

However, Marchetti did not allow her to go to the vet alone, according to Hernandez. While at the vet, Marchetti gave the staff fake names and numbers and told them the dog was a stray that had been hit by a car.

The dog had to be euthanized, Hernandez said.

Allies next escape attempt took advantage of a window that Marchetti damaged when he broke into her home, Hernandez said. She told Marchetti she should go out and get workers to fix the window so no one would know hed broken in.

The mother left through the damaged window and found a construction crew at about 11:30 a.m. The workers called police, Hernandez said.

According to a police news release, the baby was still inside the home with Marchetti when the crew called for help. When officers arrived, an hours-long standoff began.

During the standoff, police officers heard multiple gunshots coming from inside the house as authorities devised a plan toget inside to rescue the baby, according to the news release.

In police camera footage shown at the news conference, officers are seen grabbing the infant and scrambling to get back outside. They gave the baby to medical personnel, who began an examination, Surprise Fire Chief Brenden Espie said at the news conference.

Authorities learned that at some point during the hostage situation, Jaxson was shot multiple times, according to Hernandez. After the rescue, the baby was airlifted to Phoenix Childrens Hospital for treatment.

Hernandez said officers attempted to make contact with Marchetti several times after rescuing Jaxson, but he refused to come out.

Throughout the time when he was refusing to exit the residence peacefully, we were hearing gunfire, and that included when the house was on fire. We were still hearing gunfire, Hernandez said.

The fire started shortly after 3 p.m., while Marchetti was inside. Fire crews were unable to put the flames out because gunshots were still being heard from inside the home, according to the news release.

Marchettis remains were found inside a closet-like room. He appeared to have shot himself in the head. Authorities said investigators are still gathering evidence to determine whether Marchetti set the home on fire.

Jaxson underwent three surgeries and is expected to recovery, Hernandez said.

The sergeant told reporters that Marchetti had multiple prior reports of domestic violence in multiple jurisdictions that involved Allie and Jaxson.

In a statement released to KPNX-TV in Mesa, Arizona, the victims family said Allie is still troubled by the incident.

If your son or daughter is experiencing, or is the perpetrator of domestic violence, do the right thing and report it as soon as it happens. Lives depend on it, the statement said.

In a Tuesday update on a GoFundMe fundraiser launched for the family, loved ones stated that Allie has been glued to Jaxsons side during his stay at the hospital.

In regards to Jaxsons recovery, he has since opened his eyes up, and has been removed from breathing assistance and was finally able to be held in his mothers arms for the first time yesterday, an update on the fundraiser said.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Related...
Mother to spend 6 months in prison after the death of her 2YO son in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  Pinya Rae Starr was sentenced on Wednesday in Portsmouth to six months in prison following the death of her 2-year-old son Kiyan Spears, the Portsmouth Commonwealth Attorneys Office states.

On Feb. 28, a Portsmouth jury found Starr guilty of child abuse and neglect following the death of her son.

The court affirmed the jurys verdict and sentenced Starr to 5 years, with 4 years and 6 months suspended, followed by 5 years of supervised probation upon release.

According to evidence presented by the Office of the Commonwealths Attorney, Kiyan Spears suffered multiple blunt force injuries to his head, a brain bleed and other internal and external injuries, all of which contributed to his death. This sentencing hearing was handled by Senior Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Haille Hogfeldt.

If you have any information about this case, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, downloading the P3 tips app to a mobile device, or visiting www.P3tips.com and submitting a tip.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
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The body of a Kenyan climber who vanished close to the summit of Mount Everest was found by a search and rescue team on Wednesday night, officials said, in the latest tragedy to unfold on the worlds highest peak this week.

The death of Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui, 44, was confirmed Thursday in a press release from Nepals Department of Tourism. He had set out to become the first African to reach the summit without the aid of additional oxygen, according to the BBC.

British Climber Swept Off Everest Was Happiest in the Mountains

Kirui and his Sherpa guide, Nawang, went missing Wednesday. The search crews located his body a little over 60 feet below the summit, the tourism department said, at around 10:30 p.m. local time. At the time of issuing this statement, the condition of the Sherpa is unknown and search and rescue operations are ongoing, the department added Thursday.

Its not clear if Kirui and Nawang went missing before or after they were able to reach the summit. Base camp officials cited by The Himalayan Times said the final communication they received from the pair came from Bishop Rockthe site of a weather station close to the summit. Nawang reportedly told the officials that Kirui had refused to return and even consume bottled oxygen and showed abnormal behavior.

In his final Instagram post last week, Kirui said his no-oxygen attempt comes with it's special preparations and risks but physically my body is ready. He added that he is susceptible to HAPE or high altitude pulmonary edema, a potentially life-threatening condition in which fluid to builds up in the lungs.

Kirui said he was taking medications with him on his ascent for HAPE and another altitude-related illness. He also explained that Nawang would be ferrying an emergency bottle of oxygen to be used if I go lights out or if I go bananas, or if some other contingency shortened the amount of time hed have to reach the summit.

His death and Nawangs disappearance in the mountains so-called death zonethe region with an altitude over about 26,000 feet where oxygen levels are dangerously lowcomes after two others vanished in the area on Tuesday.

British man Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, disappeared along with his Sherpa guide Pas Tenji Sherpa disappeared on Everest Tuesday. The pair had successfully reached the summit at around 4:40 a.m. but then slipped and disappeared at around 7 a.m. during their descent.

In an Instagram post, Lakpa Sherpa of 8K Expeditions said: Eyewitnesses reported the incident took place between Summit Ridge and South Summit and some climbers were swept away in Kangshung Face. He added that the companys search teams are working tirelessly to locate our missing climbers.

Two other Mongolian climbers also died last week while making their descent on Everest.

Despite the risks, climbers around the world still clamor for their chance to reach the summit, sometimes creating heavy congestion on the routes.

A video shared on Facebook this week from one climber who purportedly filmed the footage on Monday shows a long line of climbers snaking up and down the mountainside. Rajan Dwivedi, who posted the clip, said it shows what we face on one rope line and negotiating interchanges during the traffic for upstream and downstream.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  While Memphis Police were searching for suspects in South Memphis Wednesday night, an officers squad car got struck by a train.

Around 10 p.m. Wednesday, officers were investigating a prowler call at the Railroad Yard located in the 1700 block of Airways Boulevard.

Police say they saw several men running from the rail carts. They chased one suspect who started running on the railroad track toward Castalia Road.

One officer was driving into the area when he was notified that the suspect was running in his direction. That is when he parked on the tracks, exited the squad car, and ran in an attempt to capture the suspect.

MPD was pursuing car in parking lot before crash at Poplar Plaza

While running, the officer heard the trains horn. When he looked back, he could see the train approaching quickly.

The officer stated that he then started running back to his car, but could not beat the train.

One of the railroad workers told WREG that the train dragged the vehicle several feet away from the crash site.

People living in that community say they could hear the crash miles away.

Yeah, I heard the noise. It was boom like, said Daffney Howell. Im paying tax dollars for yall to do this.

Former MS casino hotel could be used to house immigrant minors

MPD says no one was injured. It is unknown if the suspects were captured.

We asked if the officer involved in the crash would face any disciplinary action. A spokesman says that is unknown at this time.

According to reports, this time in 2023, MPD was involved in 121 crashes; MPD was at fault for 50 of them. So far this year, MPD has been involved in 124 crashes, with 45 being their fault.

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TUNICA COUNTY, Miss.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) has reportedly sent a letter to the U.S. Health and Human Services Department asking the Biden administration for more information regarding a proposal to use a former Tunica casino to house thousands of migrant children.

Constituents contacting me are deeply troubled about the potential negative economic impact that such a resettlement project would have on the local communities and the costs that state and local government agencies would have to bear to accommodate such a population, Hyde-Smith wrote. It is unclear at this point if Tunica, Mississippi, is able, willing, and prepared to manage such an influx.

The Tunica County Sheriff says he has concerns after finding out the former Harrahs Casino Hotel could become a shelter for unaccompanied immigrant children.

Tunica County still has not given official approval, despite reports suggesting it could house up to 2,000 immigrant children.

Former MS casino hotel could be used to house immigrant minors

Sheriff K.C. Hamp says he was blindsided Monday night after learning about the proposal. He said he is still scrambling for details on how immigrants will arrive, and where they will be coming from.

In this case, when its concerning public safety, Tunica County does not have resources to accommodate something of this magnitude without planning, said Hamp. I have no knowledge. Im just learning about this as you are.

Sheriff Hamp says he missed a crucial board meeting due to a training trip, and that is when the federal government proposed using the former hotel to house immigrant children.

He is now raising concerns about emergency services, as Tunica County lacks a local hospital.

Patients have to be taken to hospitals in DeSoto, Tate, Coahoma County along with area hospitals in Memphis, Tennessee, said Hamp.

If the proposal goes through, up to 2,000 children could arrive in Tunica. Sheriff Hamp says he needs more time to prepare his staff for the massive language barrier.

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We have two special officers, but theyre not sworn in. In this type of situation, we need more. Just because we may be getting immigrants from other countries, that does not mean they all speak the same language, he said.

Erin Hall and Bryan Loza from the popular Blue and White Restaurant in Tunica say they are all in for anything that benefits kids and improves their lives. They have no issues with immigrants coming to their town.

Its kids. Its not their fault. Its not anything that theyre in control of. Its not anything they can help, said Hall.

Kids are the future of this world, of this planet, so we need to focus on the next generation. Even if theyre immigrants, said Loza.

We tried to get a comment from the law firm representing the property owners, but they have not responded yet.

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 WREG.com.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Three Kansas City firefighters were injured while responding to a house fire around 10 p.m. Wednesday.

The fire happened at a house near 8th and Elmwood Avenue, near Independence Avenue. According to the Kansas City Fire Department, the fire was large and was extending to surrounding homes.

Police investigating deadly Kansas City, Missouri crash on Wednesday

Three firefighters were injured during the fire, and two were taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening but serious injuries. One of the firefighters has burns, and another was severely dehydrated, according to KCFD.

Photo of KCFD firefighter fighting a housefire on Elmwood Avenue (Photo via KCFD)

Photo of KCFD firefighter fighting a housefire on Elmwood Avenue (Photo via KCFD)

Photo of KCFD firefighter fighting a housefire on Elmwood Avenue (Photo via KCFD)

Neighbors saw flames shooting out of the house just after 10p.m. Wednesday. They tell FOX4 this is not the first time this house has caught fire.

The lights first, then the engine, the noise and stuff, I knew something bad had happened, neighbor Donna Jones said.

Crews did a great job, KCFD Battalion Chief Mike Hopkins said. They immediately went into offensive interior operations, got the first floor knocked down, moved to the interior of the structure was able to make their way into the second floor and get it under control.

Daniela Flores lives a couple houses down. Her family feared as the home went up in flames.

I was scared, Flores said.

Hopkins said the house is a total loss. Nobody lives in the home that went up in flames.

He said they run between 150 and 220 vacant structure fires a year and the bulk are houses.

Whether its called vacant when we go in them and fight them to check because obviously somebody was in there, thats how the fire started, he said.

Hopkins said KCPDs Bomb and Arson Squad was called to the scene Wednesday night.

The investigation into what caused the fire is ongoing.

The Red Cross has been called for two adults.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
KINSHASA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Vital Kamerhe, deputy prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was on Wednesday elected president of the National Assembly, the country's lower house of parliament.

Kamerhe won 371 of the 407 votes cast.

According to the Congolese army, Kamerhe was one of the targets of a failed coup attempt in the Central African country on Sunday.

Kamerhe, 65, was appointed as deputy prime minister and minister of national economy last year.

His residence was raided by a group of armed men early Sunday in the coup attempt, which was "nipped in the bud" by defense forces, as announced by DRC military spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge.

Voting for the speaker of the lower house was originally scheduled for May 18 but was postponed last Friday.

In the general elections held in December 2023, President Felix Tshisekedi was re-elected for a second term, as the Sacred Union, a parliamentary coalition composed of Tshisekedi's Union of Democracy and Social Progress party and its allied parties, won the majority of seats at the 500-member National Assembly.

However, the lower house had remained paralyzed due to the absence of a leadership bureau, which includes posts such as president, first vice-president and second vice-president.

In the voting on Wednesday, Kamerhe, who leads the Union for the Congolese Nation, was the sole candidate for president, and Christophe Mboso, the outgoing president, ran instead for second vice-president.

The election for parliament speaker was postponed following a meeting between Tshisekedi and 406 lawmakers from the Sacred Union. No reason was given for the postponement, but local media attributed it to disagreements over the roster of candidates from the Sacred Union.

"I will not hesitate to dissolve the National Assembly and send everyone to new elections if these bad practices persist," Tshisekedi said at the meeting last Friday, according to a statement issued by his office.

More than four months after Tshisekedi was sworn in for a second term, the DRC has yet to form a new government.

In early April, Tshisekedi named Judith Tuluka Suminwa as the new prime minister. Tuluka was also a target of the failed coup attempt, but the putschists failed to "identify" her residence.

According to the DRC Constitution, a new government takes office only after the lower house approves the new prime minister's national program with an absolute majority. 
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) holds a sizable lead over her primary rivals in South Carolinas 1st Congressional District, according to an Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey released Thursday.

Forty-seven percent of likely South Carolina Republican primary voters said they backed Mace, while 22 percent said they were supporting former state agency official Catherine Templeton. Another 7 percent backed businessman Bill Young, and 24 percent said they were undecided.

Maces support is strongest among voters over 70, 53 percent of whom support the Representative, voters without a college degree, at 51 percent , and male voters, at 49 percent, said Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College polling.

The latest polling comes less than three weeks from the states Republican primary. Mace, who faced a primary challenger last cycle, has sparked backlash from her fellow Republicans from her moves to challenge the GOP establishment. The most recent example of this took place last year, when Mace joined with seven other Republican lawmakers to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his position.

In addition to leading in recent polling, Mace also appears to have a cash advantage in the race. Despite Templeton outraising Mace in the first quarter of the year, the incumbent congresswoman still has more cash in the bank.

The Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey was conducted May 19-21 among 400 likely Republican primary voters in South Carolinas 1st Congressional District. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

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 The Hill.
MSNBC

Nathan Wade, the former Fulton County special prosecutor who worked on Donald Trumps election interference case in Georgia, described in an interview Wednesday on MSNBChow threats from the former presidents most ardent supporters have upended his life.

Wade resigned in March after the judge in that case determined that a prior relationship between Wade and District Attorney Fani Willis created an appearance of impropriety.

Having previously spoken to ABC News earlier this month about the circumstances surrounding his departure from the legal team, Wade on Friday added some more details about the downside of helping to bring a case against a former president with notoriously loyal supporters.

On The Reid Out, Wade reacted to a statement from former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes about why he turned down Willis offerwhich would later go to Wadebecause he didnt want to live with bodyguards for the rest of his life.

Had I known the extent of passion from both sides, I think I would have prepared a lot better, Wade said, citing the need to adapt to the constant presence of bodyguards.

When Reid asked if he also gets death threats, Wade replied: That is exactly my reality.

The severity of the threats that I still gethaving to empty my voicemail three and four times a day, having to have security with me at my office, he said, prompted members of his college fraternity to offer to send armed guards to protect me just so that I could get some sleep.

Nathan Wade Speaks Out About Workplace Romance With Fani Willis

The threats also spurred other precautionary measures.

These people were doing things [that were] unimaginable. At certain points I had to call my parents to make certain that they didnt change my name and I didnt know about it, he said. My children couldnt come to visit me because of the danger that they would face.

Wades MSNBC interview came just a few days after Willis similarly told Rachel Maddow about the near-constant threats she has been receiving, starting about a month after she took office in January 2021.

Willis was forced to leave her home, she said, while she continues to be targeted by threats that are racial in nature.

Last September, Willis said her personal information had been posted online, and that her daughters, father, and ex-husband had been doxxed as well.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Nathan Wade, former special prosecutor for Fulton County, Ga., said the romantic relationship he once had with District Attorney Fani Willis has no place being discussed in a courtroom.

I felt like we dealt with it in a manner that was professional. We kept our personal lives personal and private, Wade told MSNBCs Joy Reid on Wednesday. And I still believe that it had no place in the courtroom. Not now and not then.

Wade was questioned about his romantic relationship with Willis, which was brought to light during their prosecution of former President Trump and his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.

He recently said in an interview with ABC News that a romantic relationship with co-workers is as American as apple pie. He clarified his remarks Wednesday, saying that workplace romances can happen to anyone.

That was not to make light of the situation. That was just to say that it can happen to anyone. Of course, were not speaking in extremes, [it] doesnt happen to everyone, but its a thing that happens, he said. Its a thing that happened to us.

Wade said their relationship grew organically over time and was not deliberate or intentional.

The special prosecutor stepped aside from the Trump case in mid-March after the judge ruled he or Willis must do so for the case to continue.

Judge Scott McAfee went against Republican calls for Willis to be dismissed, though he sharply criticized the conflict of interest that was created by them both working on such a high-profile case.

Wade offered his resignation so Willis could continue her prosecution. He said Wednesday that while they no longer talk about the case, they remain the best of friends and communicate almost daily about their personal lives and the threats that they each have received since their relationship went public.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- A parade of EMS lights could be seen Wednesday running through the capital city.

They all came together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of emergency medical services.

Two central Arkansas MEMS employees receive national EMS award

EMS workers from around the state gathered in Little Rock for the event.

The yearly event is held from May 21-27 and honors the front-line workers who are often the first lines of care.

There are roughly 8,100 licensed EMS providers in Arkansas, which include EMT, Advance EMT and paramedic providers.

Man rescued after grain bin entrapment in Arkansas

They also do more than just transport patients to the hospital, they are health care clinicians.

They are educated, and they are more than just ambulance drivers we actually have an emergency room on wheels, if you will. Arkansas EMS Director Christy Kreese said. And we treat the medically ill and injured across the state of Arkansas, 24/7.

Arkansas State Capitol to re-open later this week after Friday night fire

The event is typically held at the State Capitol but was moved to the Association of Pharmacists building because of a small fire at the Capitol Building last week.

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 KARK.
A school official at Farmington High School speaks with graduate Genesis White Bull, a Hunkpapa Lakota of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, before taking away her personalized graduation cap and replacing it with a generic one. White Bull had adorned her cap with beads and an eagle feather, culturally significant tribal regalia. (Screenshot via Facebook)

Graduation season is typically a time for celebrating the success of students making it through their education programs.

For some Indigenous students, part of that celebration includes having tribal regalia or objects of cultural significance as part of their cap and gown during the graduation ceremony.

In Arizona, Indigenous students are protected under state law. In 2021, then-Gov. Doug Ducey signed House Bill 2705 into law, barring public schools from preventing Indigenous students from wearing traditional tribal regalia or objects of cultural significance at graduation ceremonies.

Not all states have similar laws to protect Indigenous students. New Mexicos lawmakers say they passed legislation to prevent incidents like this from occurring, but its now unclear if that applies to a case garnering attention in Farmington, New Mexico.

On May 13, Genesis White Bull, a Hunkpapa Lakota of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, was standing for the national anthem alongside her graduating class at the Farmington High School graduation ceremony when two unidentified school faculty members approached her to confiscate her graduation cap.

In video footage shared across social media, White Bull is seen being instructed to remove her graduation cap, which was embellished with an eagle plume and beaded around the rim.

Brenda White Bull, Genesis mother, shared the experience with the Navajo Nation Council and reported that school officials later cut the plume from her daughters cap using scissors.

The Navajo Nation Council stated in a press release that Brenda emphasized the sacred significance of the plume, which symbolizes achievement and cultural identity, marking Genesis transition into new phases of her life.

The Arizona Mirror contacted the family for an interview, but the family did not respond before publication.

Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley called Farmington High Schools actions belittling, humiliating, and demeaning to the student and her family.

There is no place for this type of behavior in our educational systems, Curley said in a press release. The school officials owe an apology to the student and her family.

Farmington Municipal Schools, which oversees Farmington High School, released a statement on May 15 in response to the incident.

During the event, a students beaded cap was exchanged for a plain one. The feather was returned intact to the family during the ceremony, Farmington Municipal Schools wrote in the statement. The beaded cap was returned after graduation concluded.

Farmington Municipal Schools referred to the districts protocols, which state that graduation caps and gowns can not be altered, per the 2023-2024 Student and Parent Handbook.

The handbook does not contain policy language stating any exceptions to these rules. However, the schools statement noted that students could choose their clothing attire, which included traditional attire to be worn under the graduation cap and gown, regalia, stoles, and feathers in their tassels.

Students were informed throughout the school year and immediately before graduation of the protocol, including that beaded caps were not allowed, the statement read. This standard process helps us set student attire during graduations.

While the staff involved were following district guidelines, we acknowledge this could have been handled differently and better, the statement read. Moving forward, we will work to refine our processes at the school level.

Farmington Municipal Schools stated that the district is also committed to exploring policies that allow for additional appropriate cultural elements in student attire. Indigenous students comprise nearly 34% of the school districts population.

School officials across the country need to be reminded who the first Americans are and whose land they inhabit, Curley said in a press release. No student in any school should be prohibited from wearing regalia that signifies their cultural and spiritual beliefs.

New Mexico passed an anti-discrimination law in 2021 that might protect students against the Farmington schools district policy.

However, the legal pathway is unclear according to responses from spokespeople in the governors offices, state education department, and even lawmakers who wrote the recent law.

Each acknowledged that they were reviewing the law and could only give an official opinion once that was completed. Requests for comment were made to the New Mexico Department of Justice but were not returned in time for publication.

Sen. Harold Pope,D-Albuquerque, who co-sponsored the law, said the legislation stemmed from the national Crown Act push that targeted to stop policies that discriminate against hair style and texture, with a significant tilt against African Americans.

New Mexicos version was written from the views of the Native American cultures present throughout the state, Pope said, and the bill included co-sponsors who are Dine and Jemez Pueblo.

We wanted to make sure that we included cultural and religious headdresses to be even more inclusive than your hair alone, he said. And what I think is important in that language, when we look at Indigenous cultures, feathers are so cherished and protected and it is part of who they are.

Its unclear now if the law will provide White Bull support for any legal action she could take against Farmington Municipal Schools District.

It broke my heart

After footage of White Bulls graduation experience spread on social media, it sparked an outpouring of support from Indigenous people and communities across the country.

Navajo Nation leaders have voiced their support for White Bull and called for schools to support an Indigenous students right to wear regalia during their graduation ceremonies, saying denying it is a violation of their rights.

It broke my heart, Navajo Nation Council Delegate Amber Crotty told the Arizona Mirror when she learned what happened to the student.

Crotty said graduations are meant to be one of the happiest moments of a students life, and White Bulls experience was tarnished by having something so important taken away from her.

Thats so traumatic and not the best way to approach these situations when it comes to our Native students, Crotty said. In a day of celebration, just for her to be attacked like that.

Crotty said the incident has been reported to the Nation Human Rights Commission, which investigates discrimination within border towns.

Farmington borders the Navajo Nation, and there is a documented history of racism against Indigenous people living or visiting the city.

In April 1974, three white Farmington High School students brutally murdered four Navajo men as part of a practice locals called Indian rolling.

In response to the murders, Navajo and other Indigenous people held protests in the city of Farmington denouncing the pervasive racism and bigotry of the community.

Due to escalating tensions in Farmington, the New Mexico Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights launched a study of the relationships between the city, San Juan County and the Navajos living in the community and on the Navajo Nation.

The committee concluded that Indigenous people in almost every area suffer from injustice and maltreatment, according to their report. They recommended that city officials and San Juan County officials, in conjunction with Navajo leaders, work together to develop a plan of action to improve the treatment of Navajos living in the border areas of northwestern New Mexico.

The advisory committee conducted another report 30 years later and found that, while race relations may have somewhat improved in the area, racism is still an issue within the city of Farmington.

There is a lack of understanding of how Native students identify themselves and celebrate themselves, Crotty said.

She said that it is time to move beyond having conversations about cultural sensitivity for Native students, mainly because incidents like this keep occurring.

Thats why we want to support mom and the family, Crotty said. She does want the school to be accountable, and she does want some sort of apology.

Crotty said the staffs actions at Farmington High School were inappropriate, and immediate action is needed rather than the school trying to justify what happened.

The cultural identity of all Native American students attending Farmington High School are protected under the New Mexico Indian Education Act, she said, adding that what happened was a clear violation of the students rights.

As we move forward in addressing this issue, we will be meeting with the school board and administration, Crotty added.

In New Mexico, the law passed in 2021 is directed specifically to local school districts, but it does not allow the New Mexico Public Education Department to issue any statewide order on local issues, such as what students can wear at graduation ceremonies.

New Mexicos 89 school districts decide on those policies, which is why other Indigenous students across the state have different experiences with graduation attire.

New Mexicos Public Education Secretary, Dr. Aresenio Romero, offered support for White Bull but noted that the issue is the responsibility of the local district.

I expect the Farmington Superintendent and school district to reevaluate their graduation policies, Romero said. I remain committed to promulgating tribal sovereignty and to respecting tribal cultural customs and practices.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement Friday saying that it was unacceptable that a student was reprimanded for representing their culture during a time of celebration.

I appreciate that the Farmington schools acknowledge that they could have handled this situation better and that their policy may be too restrictive, she added. However, it shouldnt have required the student raising this issue for a school to recognize its lack of inclusivity.

Navajo Nation First Lady Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren released a statement supporting Indigenous graduating students who wear their cultural and traditional regalia during graduation.

We stand with our Native graduates this graduation season and their decision to wear their traditional tribal regalia or objects of cultural significance, including eagle feathers, eagle plumes, and beaded graduation caps, Blackwater-Nygren said in a statement she posted on her Facebook. Our graduates and families take immense pride in what they choose to wear on graduation day.

Blackwater Nygren was a guest speaker at the Farmington High School graduation, but she said she was unaware of what occurred until after the graduation.

I am deeply disappointed that this happened at a school where we have many Navajo and Native graduates, she said. I hope the school learns from this experience and can take corrective measures.

Blackwater-Nygren said that, for many Indigenous students, deciding what to wear goes far beyond simply deciding what color dress or shoes to wear. For some Indigenous students, it is a day for them to wear their traditional regalia proudly.

Our regalia reminds us of how far weve come as a people; it shows our pride in our culture and how we chose to identify ourselves as Native people, she said. Some graduates are the first in their families to graduate or are only one of a few high school graduates in the family. A beaded cap further signifies this symbol of achievement, accomplishment and Native resilience.

Blackwater-Nygren is familiar with this issue because, as an Arizona State Representative, she helped pass House Bill 2705 through the legislature.

As graduation season continues, I hope all schools will respect the decision of our Native students to wear their traditional regalia and objects of cultural significance, Blackwater-Nygren said.

This story was originally produced by Source New Mexico which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Source New Mexico maintains editorial independence.

The post Navajo leaders outraged after a Lakota students tribal regalia was removed at graduation appeared first on Daily Montanan.
(Photo by Carol Coelho/Getty Images)

The North Carolina House on Wednesday rejected controversial Senate amendments to a bill that would, among other things, ban wearing masks in public, even for health reasons.

The bill now goes to a conference committee for possible changes.

Current state law allows people to wear masks in public for health reasons, an exemption added during the pandemic, but the Senate last week voted to repeal that exemption along party lines.

Both legislative chambers are controlled by Republicans.

The controversial proposal, which would also increase criminal penalties for those who commit crimes while wearing a mask in public, comes in the wake of protests that have erupted on college campuses across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The bill as it stands will also create a new offense for blocking traffic, a tactic used in some recent protests.

Rep. Sarah Crawford, D-Wake, called on Wednesday for a religious exemption for face coverings to also be added to the bill.

While there is already an exception when it comes to ceremonies and rituals, it seems that that has not applied to the day-to-day wearing a face covering for religious purposes, Crawford said. It is my hope that while the conference committee is reconsidering how they might add exemptions to this bill that they will add an exception for the purposes of religious face coverings and also add back in the exemption of wearing masks in the public for health and safety.

Sen. Buck Newton (R-Greene, Wayne and Wilson), who sponsored the committee substitute, said last week it aims to reinstate a law that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Were really just resetting the law to what it was pre-COVID, said Newton. Thats really what the purpose is now, is to deal with organizations and individuals who are intent on breaking the law and hiding their identity, and using the hiding of their identity as a way to intimidate other people  to get away with it.

But this week, some House Republicans came out strongly against the proposal, WRAL reported, citing similar concerns raised by Democratic senators last week.

Last week the Senate rejected three amendments to the bill proposed by Wake County Democratic Senators Sydney Batch, Lisa Grafstein and Jay Chaudhuri.

Amendments offered by Batch and Grafstein would have reinstated a health reason exemption and allowed mask-wearing unless the wearer was using the mask for criminal purposes.

We are now trying to turn back time and ignore science and allow individuals who want to protect themselves or to protect their loved ones from wearing a mask, Batch said last week. We talk a lot about freedoms in this chamber, I hear it all the time. I should have the freedom, my children should have the freedom and my husband should have the freedom to wear a mask in order to protect and save my life without fear of being arrested and charged with a class one misdemeanor, which is exactly what this bill would do.

Advocates and organizations including Disability Rights NC, Emancipate NC, and the ACLU of North Carolina spoke out against the bill at last weeks committee hearing, criticizing both the mask ban and provisions that target protesters.

The post NC House declines to concur with Senate changes to law governing mask wearing appeared first on NC Newsline.
NC town wants people to pay by the hour if records requests take too long. Is it legal?

Huntersville leaders this week approved a new fee for public records requests under a provision of state law thats been challenged in court.

The towns Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to institute an $18-an-hour fee for time spent on records requests that take staff more than four hours to fulfill. The town said the change was necessary because of an uptick in records requests, especially complicated ones.

North Carolina allows people to request a swath of records from state and local governments and agencies, and one expert says its unclear whether Huntersvilles new policy would hold up in court.

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There is little case law on how the provision in state law Huntersville cited to support its new policy should be interpreted, said attorney Mike Tadych, who works with the North Carolina Press Association. But, he noted, there have been some legal challenges to fees for records in the state that have drawn criticism from media organizations and open government advocates.

I cannot say that these policies violate the law as the state of the law is unclear, he said of Huntersvilles move.

How much will Huntersville fee cost?

Under the measure passed Monday by commissioners, people requesting records from the town requiring extensive use of information technology and/or extensive clerical or supervisory staff time will be charged a fee of $18 an hour for time expended on the request over 4 hours.

A 50% deposit will be required for requests expected to cost more than $50. A fee estimate will be provided to those who file requests estimated to cost more than $25, with those people given a chance to modify their request.

Town staff estimated the fee will apply to about 15% of the records requests they receive.

Why is Huntersville adding fee for records?

Huntersville averaged 88 public records requests per year over the last five years, town staff said at Mondays commission meeting. They also reported a 23% increase in requests at this point in the year compared to the same time in 2023, particularly broad, complex requests they said are driving up the towns response time to requests.

Thats a huge burden on our staff, said Mayor Christy Clark, noting Huntersville has one town clerk and one town attorney to handle requests.

Christy Clark is Huntersville mayor.

Staff said they believe the fee is legal under the states public record laws, and they looked at other North Carolina towns and counties to see what theyre doing as they developed the policy.

Were protecting the taxpayers money, Commissioner Nick Walsh said.

Commissioner Alisia Bergsman voted for the measure but urged caution during a discussion of the measure.

We want to be very careful because public records are peoples records, she said.

Are fees for records legal?

North Carolina law says public records must be free or at minimal cost unless otherwise specifically provided by law to anyone seeking them. The statute defines minimal cost as the actual cost of reproducing the public record or public information.

But Huntersville cited another provision of the states public records law at Mondays meeting. That statute says agencies may implement a special service charge for requests requiring extensive information technology, clerical or supervisory assistance, or if the record is requested in a medium that requires a greater use of information technology resources.

The statute says the charge must be reasonable and based on the actual cost incurred to fulfill the request.

Former Gov. Pat McCrorys administration also attempted to impose a four hour rule under the same provision, Tadych noted, something the NCPA fought alongside a coalition of news organizations.

That coalition filed a lawsuit against the McCrory administration in 2015, citing growing frustration over obstacles to obtaining public records in North Carolina, including allegedly unjustified fees for retrieving, copying and inspecting records. The suit was settled in 2017 when Gov. Roy Cooper took office  a settlement that included an agreement they wouldnt impose the hard and fast rule on fees, Tadych said.

More and more North Carolina agencies are proposing prohibitive fees to discourage requests under the same provision Huntersville cited, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press says in its analysis of the states records laws.

That guide, written by Tadych and other First Amendment experts in the state, noted a trial court sided with the former mayor of Summerfield in Guilford County when she sued over a special service charge.

There has been no guidance from the appellate courts regarding special service charges, the guide says.

In our CLT Politics newsletter, we offer exclusive insight into Charlotte-region politics sent to your inbox on Thursdays. Subscribe for free. Story idea? mramsey@charlotteobserver.com.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Since the 1990s, Utah has grown and changed, becoming increasingly diverse. According to a new report, nearly one in four Utahns identifies as a racial or ethnic minority, and Hispanic Utahns now account for roughly 15% of the states population.

Published this month, the Utah Demographic Characteristics data book from the University of Utahs Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute offers a snapshot of the states demographic profile, describing Utah as a youthful, aging and predominantly urban state.

Utah is the most religious state, according to new study

The increasing racial and ethnic diversity  thats been going on for a long time, said Mallory Bateman, director of demographic research at Kem C. Gardner Institute.

She added: Weve had a lot of people moving into the state since the 90s, so were on our third decade of people moving in being a constant part of our change.

Pulling from publicly available data, the 46-page booklet presents differences in income, education and housing as seen by age, race, sex, disability, and differences between urban/rural populations. The report also examines religious affiliation, in which Utah leads the nation.

What the report doesnt do is try to explain or give causality to any of the differences that appear between groups, as significant gaps in income, educational attainment, and household ownership are apparent. Instead, the booklet is meant to serve as a tool to aid in decision-making and a springboard for deeper research and study.

We just present the data, we dont get into the why behind any of these differences, Bateman said. They are pretty complex and tied to each other.

Diversity

Per the report, the states diversity index  the likelihood that two people chosen at random will be from different ethnic backgrounds  was 39.0. Thats higher than 17 other states, including Ohio, Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

However, the figure was lower than the nation overall, which has a diversity index of 59.4.

South Salt Lake and West Valley City are the most racially and ethnically diverse cities in Utah, the report says. Only 10 states have higher diversity indexes than these cities. Among them are Hawaii, California and Maryland.

About 77% of Utahns identify as white, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey. The second-largest segment is Hispanic Utahns, who account for one in seven of the states population.

The Gardner Institute projects that the states Hispanic population will increase to one in five Utahns by 2050. In that same time, the white population is expected to shrink to two in three Utahns.

The third-largest segment of the population in Utah is those who identify as two or more races (5.2%). Meanwhile, Asian Utahns account for 2.3% of the population, and Black Utahns make up 1.2% of the population. The percentage of the population thats American Indian in Utah is 1%, the report says.

Income and Poverty

White and Asian populations ages 25 to 44 have the highest median personal income in Utah, the report shows. According to federal data, both these segments of the population make around $40,000 a year. The median income for the total Utah population is $38,400.

American Indian and Black populations are the two furthest below the state median, with median incomes of $26,000 and $29,000, respectively. Poverty rates for these two segments are the highest in Utah, with one in five individuals experiencing poverty.

One of the largest gaps in median income in Utah is between men and women ages 25 to 44. The median male income for this group is $54,700 while the median female income is $24,000.

Housing

Overall, Utah boasts high homeownership rates. According to the report, 70% of Utah families live in homes they own, compared to 64.6% nationally.

Yet, housing ownership status varies greatly when examined by racial and ethnic background. While 74% of white Utah families live in homes they own, only 27% of Black Utah families do, according to U.S. Census data.



Black and Hispanic Utahns also have the largest share of cost burdens when it comes to paying for housing. Per the report, about one in four Black, Pacific Islander and Hispanic renters pay 30% to 49% of their income for rent.



Meanwhile, Black households have the highest shares of severe housing burdens, meaning that they pay at least 50% of their income in housing.

Education

White and Asian Utahns obtain better educational outcomes than their counterparts from other racial and ethnic groups, the report said. These attainment gaps start in early education and persist through to the college level, and they in turn affect income levels and the educational attainment of the following generation.



Utah schools with a higher concentration of economically disadvantaged students tend to have worse educational outcomes, the report noted. Lower educational attainment led to lower earnings across the population groups. However, women and Utahns of color were found to earn less among those with the same level of educational attainment.

Life Expectancy

Asian Uthans live the longest, averaging 86.6 years, the report says. A more than 10-year difference exists between them and the group with the lowest life expectancy in Utah, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders, who live an average of 74.2 years.



White Utahns live 79.8 years on average, and thats close to the states overall life expectancy of 79.5 years.



Per the report, higher shares of Utahs minority populations suffer from chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, depression and obesity. Of note, women in Utah suffer from depression at nearly twice the rate of men (32.1% vs 16.3%.), according to data from the Utah Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.



Black, Hispanic and Native America populations in Utah also have the highest uninsured rates.

Urban and Rural Populations

Nine out of 10 Utahns live in an area described as urban by the U.S. Census Bureau. However, these urban areas  most of which are along the Wasatch Front  account for just 1.1% of the states land.

As such, 11 counties in Utah are considered completely rural. These include Kane, Millard, Grand, and San Juan counties.

While lifestyles might be different between urban and rural Utahs, they share similar income levels, household types, and educational attainment levels.

Yet, the report shows that rural Utahns are less racially and ethnically diverse than their urban counterparts. They are also more likely to be without health insurance.

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 ABC4 Utah.
Nearly all Russians barred from entering Norway over war against Ukraine

Norway on Thursday announced that it will restrict nearly all entry into the country by Russian citizens in response to Moscow's war on Ukraine. File Photo by Rune Hellestad/UPI

May 23 (UPI) -- Norway's government on Thursday announced a ban on entry for nearly all Russian citizens in response to its war on Ukraine.

Beginning May 29 Russian citizens seeking to enter Norway for tourism and "other non-essential travel" will have their entry denied at the external border with exceptions granted only to travelers visiting close family living in Norway or for Russian citizens working or studying in Schengen countries.

"The decision to tighten the entry rules are in line with the Norwegian approach of standing by allies and partners in the reactions against Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine," said Minister of Justice and Public Security Emilie Enger Mehl in a statement.

Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Norway's decision discriminates against Russians.

"Of course, such decisions -- they cannot remain unanswered -- this is the first. Second -- of course, the decision is exclusively discriminatory," Peskov told reporters.

He added that Russia "regrets that the Norwegian leadership has chosen this path of deterioration of our bilateral relations."

Norway had already restricted visas for Russians beginning in the spring of 2022 and said tourist visas generally have not been granted since then.

The Norwegian government said the new restrictions apply "both to those who have visas issued by Norway before visa practices were restricted in the spring of 2022 and to visas issued by other Schengen countries."

Schengen refers to a treaty signed by most European Union countries except Cyprus and Ireland that allows free movement between participating countries.

In August 2023, Russia added Norway to its list of nations committing unfriendly actions directed at Russian diplomatic and consular missions.

Norway expelled 15 Russians it said were intelligence officers in April 2023 for actions incompatible with their diplomatic status.

Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt said there was no basis to claim Norway was unfriendly toward Russia, explaining to government-owned public broadcaster NRK that the situation between the countries "is due to Russia's war against Ukraine."
ZHENGZHOU, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for efforts to secure a bumper summer grain harvest and promote innovative development of agriculture.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a research trip to central China's Henan Province from Wednesday to Thursday. 
(Getty Images)

LINCOLN  Some Nebraska advocates and lawmakers are fearing more nursing home closures in light of a finalized federal rule for minimum staffing requirements.

In May, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published a rule that will set, for the first time, the minimum number of daily nursing hours per resident that facilities must meet (3.48), with a registered nurse on hand at all times. Implementation will be staggered in the next two to five years, differing for rural and urban facilities, and hardship exemptions are available.

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the agency administrator, said the changes  part of a handful of new regulations  ensure eligible people can benefit from the critical lifeline of health coverage.

Now, CMS has set its sights on an equally ambitious goal: making sure that coverage connects people to consistently high-quality care, regardless of where they live or receive care, Brooks-La-Sure said in a statement.

The rule comes partially in response to many nursing home closures and resident deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many congressional lawmakers have tried to stop the rule and vowed to defeat it, saying it would have disparate impacts, particularly in rural communities.

Nebraska lacks sufficient nurses

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., was one lawmaker who introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent the rules publication and establish an advisory panel on nursing home workforce issues. It was referred to the U.S. Senates Committee on Finance.

Gov. Jim Pillen, during a property tax town hall in Grand Island last week, said he has been to Washington, D.C., twice and met with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services leadership regarding the rule. He said hes asked for special exceptions.

For crying out loud, we dont have enough registered nurses to do that, Pillen said.

Kierstin Reed, CEO of LeadingAge Nebraska, told the Nebraska Examiner that the state has more licensed practical nurses than registered nurses, for example.

They [LPNs] have less education but more practical experience and they can pretty much do everything that an RN can do except for that clinical diagnosis that says, Yes, this is what this is, Reed said.

Reed predicted the rule will lead to one of three outcomes: closures; reduced or eliminated services to lower the number of required staff; or some alternative workaround, such as decertification, which would prevent residents from paying for care with Medicare or Medicaid.

How Nebraska shapes up compliance

KFF, which conducts health policy research, estimates that 19% of facilities nationwide currently meet all staffing minimums in the rule.

Staggered implementation

The federal nursing home staffing requirements will take effect in stages over the next five years, beginning with enhanced facility-wide staffing assessment requirements.

For both urban and rural facilities: Aug. 8, 2024.

Next, a registered nurse must be on hand at all times, and residents must have at least 3.48 daily hours of dedicated nursing care.

Urban facilities: May 2026.

Rural facilities: May 2027.

Finally, the 3.48 care hours per resident must include at least 0.55 hours with a registered nurse and 2.45 hours with nurse aides. The final 0.48 hours can be with any nursing staff type, including licensed practical nurses.

Urban facilities: May 2027.

Rural facilities: May 2029.

Nearly 60% of facilities meet the interim requirement of 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day, KFF states. A Nebraska-specific analysis estimates that for 179 facilities in the state, the following percentage of facilities are already meeting the rules components:

65% meet the registered nurse requirement of 0.55 hours of care per resident per day.

59% meet the nurse aide requirement of 2.45 hours of care per resident per day.

73% meet the total 3.48 hours of care per resident per day requirement.

46% meet all three requirements.

In more than half of the country, facilities meet less than 25% of the rule requirements, consisting of the most populous states.

The federal agency has estimated that facilities would need to hire about 16,000 RNs and 35,306 nurse aides, KFF states, with nonprofit and government facilities being closer to the goal.

Best quality of care possible

Todd Stubbendieck, director of AARP Nebraska, said his organization represents the people in the facilities, not the industry, and said better staffing leads to better health outcomes.

Our point also is that these residents deserve the best quality of care possible, he said.

Nancy LeaMond, executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer for the national AARP, described the rule as long overdue for minimum staffing levels that will help protect the basic rights of residents to live in dignity.

Ensuring nursing homes are adequately staffed will improve the quality of care residents receive and can give family caregivers peace of mind, knowing their loved ones are living with the quality of life they deserve, LeaMond said in an April 22 statement.

Stubbendieck said that while staffing problems are sometimes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a staffing crisis has existed for a long time. He said AARP Nebraska has supported efforts to increase provider reimbursement rates and to train and equip more direct care staff.

Theres one side to the story about these rules, but I think the exemptions and the staggered timelines in the amount of time facilities are being given to address these rules is another important part of the story, Stubbendieck said.

Catastrophic repercussions

Jalene Carpenter, president and CEO of the Nebraska Health Care Association, said the rule is catastrophic and brings no funding to specifically address the RN shortage in Nebraska. It also doesnt account for logical technological use, such as telehealth.

Nebraska operators are already committed to quality and adequate staffing, she said, and regulations already require facilities to have enough staff to meet residents needs.

This rule goes a significant step farther and says, Here is a one-size-fits all [rule], doesnt matter who your residents are or what their care levels are, you have to have this specific number, which we argue is a poor choice, Carpenter said.

The federal government has announced plans to develop a $75 million national nursing home staffing campaign, which mirrors state-level efforts to attract more nurses and medical students.

Reed said a majority of registered nurses in the state work in hospitals and in rural communities, so theyd likely take jobs in hospitals instead of nursing homes. She envisioned more state-provided nursing scholarships and state support would be needed.

These are all very well-intentioned rules, Reed said. Theyre unfunded though.

We will figure it out

State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward said she worries about rural communities, though the impacts will spread to urban areas, and she agreed with Reed about the good intention behind the rules. However, Hughes said, the federal agency may have to go back to the drawing board.

Closing them [nursing homes] is not the solution either, so I think we have got to start over, do better  somethings got to change, Hughes said.

Pillen said while the states congressional delegation is working to stall or kill the rule, he and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services are working in case it goes through.

Were not going to allow more nursing homes to close, Pillen said.

The available hardship exemptions might be difficult to obtain, Reed said, and would be open to facilities that make good-faith efforts to try to match workforce needs and which are located in areas with workforce unavailability (a provider-to-population rate at least 20% lower than the national average). Nebraska already has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.

If approved, the exemption status would need to be posted in a prominent and publicly viewable location and shared with current and prospective residents.

Nebraska is nothing if not resilient, Reed said. We will figure it out.

The post Nebraska advocates fear catastrophic nursing home staffing rule will lead to closures appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
(Getty Images)

LINCOLN  The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has released a new overdose prevention dashboard with statistics and a statewide map of related services.

Part of the new dashboard, announced in a Wednesday statement, outlines various services across Nebraskas 93 counties, such as no-cost naloxone availability, drug take-back sites, Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) providers and treatment or recovery services.

Charity Menefee, director of DHHSs Division of Public Health, said that while the state has one of the lowest drug overdose death rates, these resources will strengthen prevention.

This tool is a valuable data access point to educate providers and community members on the treatment and resources that are available to someone who may be struggling with substance use, Menefee said in a statement.

Statewide, there are 110 providers who offer naloxone and drug take-back sites, 120 MOUD providers and 271 treatment and recovery options, according to the dashboard. Another 174 providers will take leftover prescription drugs only, and 17 others just offer free naloxone.

Naloxone can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose within two to three minutes. More than one dose may be required for stronger opioids. More information is available here.

The dashboard also explains how overdose rates in Nebraska have changed over time, based on age, time or substance. Those statistics can be viewed by local health departments or statewide. Individuals can search for resources by their specific location or ZIP code.

Earlier this year, the Legislature passed a package brought by State Sens. Tony Vargas of Omaha and Beau Ballard of Lincoln related to opioid overdoses. Parts of the package will:

Distribute funds for opioid treatment and response (Vargas).

Require emergency medical service providers who treat or transport a person experiencing a suspected or actual overdose to report such incidents within 72 hours, when possible, a measure designed to provide better nationwide data mapping (Ballard).

Nebraskas drug take-back program is designated for leftover prescription drugs, such as for pain management, to curb risks for overdoses, poisoning and misuse.

State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward shepherded Legislative Bill 1035 through this year, which will take effect July 19 and authorize a prescription drug donation program. The bill calls for a partnership with Iowa nonprofit SafeNetRx, which will return donated safe, packaged and monitored medications to low-income Nebraska patients.

Every day is a drug take-back day in Nebraska, Menefee said. The small act of disposing of prescription medication in a timely manner can have a big impact by preventing accidental poisonings, protecting the groundwater and soil, and helping to stop misuse.

The post Nebraska DHHS releases dashboard that maps overdose prevention and treatment resources appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Attorney General Mike Hilgers spoke during a news conference in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Teen TikTok users and parents who signed them up for the social media app were misled by the company about the safeguards in place to protect younger users, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said Wednesday.

County-City Building in Lincoln

Instead, Hilgers said, young people on the app are bombarded by addictive videos the algorithm recommends, including some that Hilgers said put young peoples mental health at risk, ranging from content encouraging body image issues to discussions about suicide.

The Attorney Generals Office filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Lancaster County District Court alleging that the popular social media app built its business on hooking teens and children on the feedback loop of social media engagement.

Hilgers on Wednesday said its no accident that what social media companies have been doing in recent years to grow and keep their audiences sounds similar to what tobacco companies did in trying to lure young smokers into becoming lifelong users.

Hilgers says TikTok knew

A key driver of the lawsuit, Hilgers explained, is that TikTok knows it is distributing questionable videos to young people and knows that its business model relies on growing and holding its golden audience.

He said his investigators created accounts pretending to be 13-17 years old. The lawsuit alleges these investigators saw videos show up on their For You feeds that authorities deemed inappropriate. The app offered them without investigators searching for related topics.

TikTok holds itself out as a safe platform, Hilgers said. It tells people that it is a family friendly platform. It tells people that its been appropriate for people over the age of 12. It tells people that its restricted mode is effective.

It has all sorts of claims that it makes to the public, and none of those claims are true.

Hilgers said the lawsuit stemmed from a two-year investigation started by his predecessor, Doug Peterson, whose office began looking into social media content. The investigation has thus far resulted in Nebraska suing TikTok and Facebooks parent company, Meta.

TikTok says it has safety tools

California-based TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, said Wednesday that the app has industry-leading safeguards to support teens well-being. Its statement pointed to age restrictions, parental controls, time limits and more.

We will continue working to address these industry-wide challenges, the company spokesman said.

Hilgers said those promised protections are ineffective and confusing for teens and parents to use. He also said they dont curb access to questionable material by teens and younger kids. He said his office also saw inappropriate sexual content.

The Nebraska consumer protection lawsuit is the latest risk facing TikTok. It also faces a new federal law seeking to force the separation of the company from its Chinese ownership by 2025 over data privacy and U.S. national security concerns.

Nebraska is one of more than 25 states that have banned the use of TikTok on phones, tablets and computers used by state government employees, citing security concerns. The federal government also restricts the use of the app on its devices.

Some states have discussed passing broader bans on the app, which is among one of the more popular ways young people get their news and information. Montana recently banned it, but a federal judge paused the ban, citing constitutional concerns.

Civil fines possible

In Nebraska, TikTok and ByteDance face potential civil fines of up to $2,000 for each alleged violation of the states Consumer Protection Act and another $2,000 for each alleged violation of the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Hilgers, much like he did when suing Meta, said he hopes the company will change course and tell the truth by saying exactly what their platform does. He said they could change the material they show teens and younger users.

At the end of the day, we want them to be honest, he said.

The AG said he would have brought the lawsuit against TikTok with or without the passage last session of State Sen. Carolyn Bosns Legislative Bill 934, which demands jury trials in similar lawsuits.

But he said he was encouraged at the prospect of a Nebraska jury weighing allegations against TikTok and ByteDance. Bosn, a former prosecutor, has argued that requiring jury trials could encourage settlement talks with the companies involved.

Internal documents could be key

Hilgers said his office is asking a judge to publicly release or unseal internal documents obtained from TikTok during the investigation. He said they will help show what sort of content was shown to teens.

Some glorified drug use. Others talked about sex. Still others focused on weight loss and were steered to young women already at risk of eating disorders.

Hilgers expressed skepticism that TikToks system of removing videos that are reported as in violation of its rules is the most effective way to police the site. He said TikToks algorithm is sophisticated enough to limit what it shares.

One of the biggest challenges for parents of children with TikTok accounts is knowing what they are named and how to access them. Many kids dont tell parents they have access, so many parents dont know their kids passwords and cant check on them.

Hilgers said tens of thousands, if not more than a hundred thousand Nebraskans, have TikTok accounts. About 150 million Americans use the app daily. Half of its youngest users spend hours a day on the app. This hurts school performance, behaviors and mental health, he said.

The AG said he thinks he has all the tools he needs to enforce consumer protection law on TikTok. But he said he would address any shortcomings with state lawmakers. He said his office isnt done investigating social media companies.

This is truly digital poison, Hilgers said.

Court Filing

The post Nebraska sues TikTok, alleging teens are deceptively targeted appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A mini-horse, named Fredrick, is recovering after he was found neglected and malnourished at a Florida property earlier this month.

NBC affiliate WPTV said the 1-year-old horse was rescued from a property off 138th Avenue and 101st in Fellsmere, located northwest of Vero Beach on May 3.

Summer-long Lionfish Challenge kicks off this weekend: FWC

Baby Girl Horse Rescue and Veteran Therapy Ranch found the then-84-pound Amish throwaway horse and took him for an emergency stay at the Palm Beach Equine Center. The ranch said he spent 19 days in the hospital with around-the-clock care.

Since his rescue, Freddie has gained seven pounds, was treated for parasites and sand in his stomach, had a blood transfusion, and received hoof trimming, baths, and lots of IV fluids.

However, the ranch said he still may need surgery to straighten his cooked back legs but will reevaluate his condition down the road to give him time to improve his quality of life before making a big decision.

NBC affiliate WPTV

NBC affiliate WPTV

NBC affiliate WPTV

NBC affiliate WPTV

NBC affiliate WPTV

I have determined that there was no intentional neglect of Freddy. His owner is cooperating with us fully, the ranch said.

Somebody is executing the ducks: Dozens of ducks found shot to death in Florida neighborhood

Now, on his road to recovery, Freddie is working on a strict feeding schedule and has begun light walking and mental engagement.

[Freddie] was released to one of his rescuers where he will continue to work on regular exercises to rebuild his strength, WPTV said in an update.

Once fully recovered, Freddy will go to a new home.

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 WFLA.
Neighbors dog bites Georgia man to stop him from running away after police chase

A dog in the yard where a suspect tried running after a nearby chase with deputies ended did its best to fight crime.

Bibb County sheriffs deputies say they tried pulling over a Honda Accord, but the driver sped off and swerved through several streets before turning on one where they were children.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Deputies used an air horn to tell the children to get out of the way before performing a PIT maneuver and crashing the car.

Video from the area shows the car crashed down an embankment across the street from a residential area.

The driver, whose name has not been released, jumped out of the car and began running, according to deputies.

TRENDING STORIES:

The suspect was bitten in the leg by a neighbors dog. He was quickly found after that hiding in a shed.

Investigators found drugs and scales inside his car when they searched it.

He was arrested, but his exact charges are unclear.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to be under an ICC charge if he can be seen pursuing peace - REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Benjamin Netanyahu restarted ceasefire negotiations with Hamas on Thursday as it emerged the Israeli prime minister could avoid war crimes charges if he were to pursue a wider peace in the region.

At a briefing organised by the Israeli embassy in London on Thursday, Prof Yuval Shany, co-director of the Centre for Transnational Legal Studies, at Kings College London, and chair in public international law, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said an amnesty could be declared for Netanyahu and others facing charges if it served the wider interests of justice.

On Monday, the ICC chief prosecutor announced he is seeking arrest warrants against Mr Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, his defence minister, alongside three Hamas leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The court seldom turns down such requests and the formal warrants are likely to be issued in a matter of days or weeks, said Prof Shany.

Although the Israeli leaders are highly unlikely to surrender themselves to the court at the Hague or be arrested at home, the warrants would have profound implications for the men themselves and Israel diplomatically.

Once issued, they would face arrest and detention if they travelled to or through any of the 124 states within the ICCs jurisdiction, including the UK.

On Tuesday, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said Mr Netanyahu should pursue the US plan for a regional peace as a means of avoiding the ICCs charges. This involves a ceasefire in Gaza and normalisation of relations with Saudi Arabia as part of a credible pathway to a future Palestinian state.

Historic peace process

In The Hague they will not prosecute a prime minister who is in the middle of an historic peace process, said Mr Lapid.

According to Prof Shany, there are two possible escape clauses and legal precedents for each.

The first is where the ICC prosecutor is persuaded that the interest of justice is best served by dropping proceedings.

This is often alluded to as the peace versus justice dilemma; where you have a situation where the only way to facilitate political transition is to recognise some amnesty, said Prof Shany.

The UN Security Council itself also has the ability to intervene and suspend proceedings under Article 16 of the Rome Statute if to do so promotes international peace and security.

If you have a grand deal and the Security Council endorses that deal, part of the deal could imply suspension of proceedings, he said.

Prof Shany said neither mechanism was likely but the Security Council route was more probable and had been used on a number of occasions in the past in regard to investigations relating to peacekeeping forces.

However, all seven security council members, including Russia, have a veto, he added.

Late on Wednesday, Israels war cabinet instructed its negotiators to resume indirect talks with Hamas over a ceasefire and hostage releases.

Talks between Hamas and Israel have been on hold after they broke down over Israels move into Rafah in southern Gaza two weeks ago.

A video released by the hostage families forum shows Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Daniela Gilboa and Naama Levy at the Nahal Oz base on Oct 7

But a partial US arms embargo, proceedings at the ICC and the recovery of the bodies of five hostages from Gaza have all placed pressure on Mr Netanyahu to progress the talks  or at least be seen to be doing so.

The hostage and missing families forum released a harrowing video on Wednesday showing the moment five Israeli female conscripts were taken hostage by Hamas in Nahal Oz on Oct 7. The video was intended to further pressure Mr Netanyahu and the war cabinet to resume talks.

The uproar the video created illustrated the urgency to release these women. Netanyahu asked the negotiation team to come up with a framework for a deal and to go back to negotiating. But in any deal, Hamas must let the women go first, an official told The Telegraph.

On Friday, the separate International Court of Justice in the Hague will give its judgment on a South African motion which calls for Israel to stop fighting in Gaza.

Israeli officials fear that the court, which did not order Israel to cease combat operations at the initial hearing over charges of genocide in January, may take a tougher stance this time  potentially exposing it to international sanctions.

South Africa cited alleged indiscriminate killing of civilians in Gaza and a humanitarian crisis including famine for the action.

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Netherlands and allies to purchase additional equipment for Ukraine totalling 175 million

The Netherlands and other allies will spend 175 million on extra military equipment for Ukraine.

Source: Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Ollongren stated that Ukraine requires additional resources to defend against air attacks and at sea.

Quote: "The International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) has therefore announced the purchase of materiel to the value of 175 million, co-financed by the Netherlands," Ollongren said.

Details: The International Fund for Ukraine is an extra support finance mechanism for Ukraine, led by the UK Ministry of Defence, and whose governing body comprises Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Lithuania. These countries, along with Iceland, Australia, and New Zealand, collectively contributed more than one billion euros to the fund.

The UK government and the Ministry of Defence have yet to disclose details of the new support through this method, as announced by Ollongren.

The Swedish government planned additional military support for Ukraine, totalling SEK 75 billion (about US$7 billion) over three years.

Earlier this week, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Romania is drafting a new package of military support for Ukraine following a phone call with his Romanian counterpart Klaus Iohannis.

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Nikki Haley once warned that Trump becoming the Republican presidential nominee would be suicide for our country and that everything Trump touches turns to chaos. But on Wednesday, she forgot all of her own dire warnings and stated she plans to vote for him in November. Unfortunately for her, the internet never forgets.

Speaking at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think-tank she chairs, Haley said, Trump has not been perfect on these policies, but Biden has been a catastrophe. So I will be voting for Trump.

As a voter, I put my priorities on a president whos going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account, who would secure the border, who would support capitalism and freedom, who understands we need less debt not more debt, Haley said, while stopping short of a full-throated endorsement.

Thats not Donald Trump. Thats not his record in office, former Trump national security adviser John Bolton shot back at Haleys explanation during an appearance on CNN.

The internet did what the internet does and resurfaced clips of criticisms Haley previously made against Trump in response to her announcement.

If you mock the service of a combat veteran, you don't deserve a driver's license, let alone being President of the United States.



-@NikkiHaley on Trump in February of this year yes a few months ago.



Youre a traitor to Veterans pic.twitter.com/mq27cfZlcq  Skyleigh Heinen-Uhrich (@Sky_Lee_1) May 22, 2024

Many decried her heel turn as an act of cowardice, adding hers to the ranks of similar pivots from Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. While some speculated Haleys vote was an effort to nab a vice presidential spot, Trump reportedly released an email Wednesday night announcing, Nikki Haley not under VP consideration! But, I wish her well 

There goes her reputation, permanently, one user posted in response to news of Haleys vote.

Nikki Haleys transformation is almost complete. The only thing left to do is shoot a puppy, another mused.

Haleys choice to kiss the ring angered her supporters, many of whom rallied behind her in protest against Trumps extreme agenda.

Lol when she said she wont kiss the ring https://t.co/x4ew9ehc0x  Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) May 22, 2024

Stop with the bullsh!t, wrote former RNC chairman Michael Steele. You could have said this on the day you suspended your campaign. Continue to support you?! The people who voted for you will not be voting for Trump. That was the point. I wish I could say I am disappointed. I am not even surprised.

The Biden campaign renewed its invitation to Haley voters to join their campaign, which Biden first issued in March after Haley announced the end of her presidential campaign.

Nikki Haley voters, Donald Trump doesnt want your vote. I want to be clear: There is a place for you in my campaign, Biden wrote at the time.
Nikki Haley says she will vote for Donald Trump, who nicknamed her birdbrain when they competed for the Republican presidential nomination at the start of the year.

The former South Carolina governor confirmed she would support her former opponent while speaking about national security and foreign policy at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C.

Trump has not been perfect on these policies, Haley said Wednesday. Ive made that clear many, many times.

The pol explained she still prefers her partys presumptive nominee to Democratic incumbent Joe Biden in Novembers election.

So I will be voting for Trump, she said.

Haley stopped short of endorsing Trump, whom she encouraged to reach out to her supporters Wednesday.

Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that theyre just going to be with him, she said.

Haley got more than 20% of the GOP vote in Indianas Republican primary earlier this month, even though she dropped out of the presidential race on March 6 with no regrets.

Theres been speculation that Haley, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, might be angling to be his running mate as he pursues a return to the White House.

Trump appeared to put that buzz to rest days after she withdrew from the race.

Nikki Haley is not under consideration for the V.P. slot, he posted on Truth Social. But I wish her well!

Trumps former Vice President Mike Pence said he will not endorse his former boss, whose rhetoric inspired an angry mob to descend on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Some yelled, Hang Mike Pence! because he wouldnt help the former president stay in power after Biden won the election.

Trumps race against Haley got chippy at times.

Haley referred to her opponent as unhinged and diminished in February. Trump implied Haleys husband, a National Guardsman who deployed overseas, didnt want to be with his wife.

Where is he? Trump asked in Haleys native state of South Carolina. Hes gone. He knew.

_____
KABUL, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The counter-narcotics police have wiped out over 17,500 acres of poppy farms in north Afghanistan's Badakhshan province in the past one month, the provincial police said in a statement on Wednesday.

The law enforcement towards these illicit crops were conducted in parts of Baharak, Darayem, Teshkan, Yamgan, Yeftal Payan, Kashm, Juram, and Argo districts, as well as provincial capital Faizabad city, the statement said.

Meanwhile, Afghan police have also destroyed two drug processing labs and arrested 10 people on the charge of involvement in illicit drug business in the provinces of Nimroz, Balkh and Helmand, the Ministry of Interior Affairs reported on Wednesday.

Poppy cultivation in the war-ravaged country had fallen by 95 percent, according to figures released by the United Nations in 2023.

The Afghan caretaker government banned the cultivation of opium poppy and the trade of opium in Afghanistan in April 2022. 
Nine dead in Mexico as wind topples stage at campaign event

Supporters of Mexican presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez of the Citizens' Movement Party (MC), attend an election campaign at the CETYS University campus. Carlos A. Moreno/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Nine people died and scores more were injured as strong winds caused part of a stage to collapse during an election campaign event in north-eastern Mexico on Wednesday evening.

Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia, who attended the scene, said that nine people, including a minor, died and 50 suffered medium or serious injuries. At least three people were in surgery.

"If you can, avoid going out because there are storms and atypical winds," Garcia said in a post on social media platform X.

"I regret the accident in San Pedro Garza Garcia," Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on X.

Presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez from the small centre-left Movimiento Ciudadano party was on stage with a mayoral candidate and others when the accident occurred in the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia, near Monterrey. Maynez was unharmed.

Videos circulated on social media show the massive state structure collapsing onto the audience, triggering panic. Presidential, parliamentary and regional elections are due to be held in Mexico on June 2.

Mexican presidential candidate of the Citizens' Movement party (MC), Jorge Alvarez Maynez, speaks during an election campaign at the CETYS University campus. Carlos A. Moreno/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Nine-year-old elementary school student Cormac Booth is being honored by his school and local firefighters after he sprang into action to help his teacher.

On Tuesday, Cormac said his teacher passed out in the middle of class. Cormac immediately called 911 for help.

My teacher, she got up fast, she fell and she passed out. I ran to the phone and I knew what to do, he said. I said, My teacher passed out, and they said, How old are you? and I said, Im nine.

Principal Tinsley of Shoultes Elementary School said he ran to the classroom when he learned 911 had been called.

When he got there, he found that Cormacs actions already had help from the Marysville Fire District en route.

Gave us the lead time we needed to make sure we were going to be able to respond appropriately to the situation, Tinsley said.

Cormac was given certificates and honored by Tinsley and firefighters on Wednesday for his actions.

You did an awesome job calling 911 in a time of need, Battalion Chief Chad Hale said.

His mom, Jessica Booth, said she couldnt be more proud of her son.

Hes a bold child and Im not too surprised by it and Im proud of him, she said.

She told KIRO 7 that her and Cormac have gone over what to do in case of an emergency.

Like, if I were to pass out and he knows really well 911 is the drill and then run for help, she said.

The teacher is recovering at home and is expected to be back in the classroom next week.
CITRA  A Reddick man has been charged in the fatal shooting of a man Wednesday evening in the parking lot at North Marion Middle School.

The shooting occurred while an end-of-year awards ceremony was happening inside the school. Marion County Public Schools spokesperson Kevin Christian said no students were involved in the incident.

According to Marion County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Lt. Paul Bloom, deputies received the call at 6:03 p.m. and arrived at the scene 6 minutes later. Deputies found one man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taking to a local hospital where he later died.

A woman comforts a child outside North Marion Middle School following a fatal shooting Wednesday night in the schools parking lot.

Witnesses at the scene told detectives that two men were arguing when one pulled out a gun and shot the other. Jail records show Roderick Kelvin Watson Jr., 34, of Reddick, has been charged with murder in the case. He is currently being held on no bond at the Marion County Jail.

At 7:21 p.m., after sheltering in place, at least four dozen people exited the school safely.

Kayla Gaines, who was inside the school during the shooting, said the ceremony had started when people heard shots from outside. She said people ran to a teachers' lounge and locked themselves inside until given the all-clear by law enforcement. They were then led to the auditorium where they gave statements to deputies before being released.

Another woman, who declined to give her name, attended the ceremony with her four children.

She said the sixth-graders had just finished receiving their awards when the crowd of about 60-to-70 people heard several gunshots. She said a group of about 20 people ran to the eighth-grade hallway and locked themselves inside a classroom.

"They knew what to do," she said of the teachers and school officials."It was a nerve-racking thing."

Parents and children exit North Marion Middle School on Wednesday evening after being given the all-clear from law enforcement following a fatal shooting in the schools parking lot.

According to Watson's arrest report, deputies saw Watson sitting on a bench and he told them he was the shooter. Watson put his hands behind his back and was detained by deputies, officials said. Watson told a deputy that the gun was in an older-model vehicle.

Detective Andrew Canterberry interviewed a school official about the shooting. The official, a woman, said she was inside the building when a staff member told her to call 911. The woman said she went outside and saw the victim was face down and Watson was not far away. She said there were children and two women also at the scene. Watson told the school official, "I shot him," the report states.

The school official said she asked Watson if he had any weapons and was told "it's in the car." The woman said she told Watson to go to the bench, which he did. She said Watson was cooperative and calm.

The victim was identified as Joseph James Juarez Coles, 32.

Canterberry then interviewed a woman. She said she's the fiancee of Watson, and the mother of Coles' three children.

The woman said she was with Watson to attend the awards ceremony, and Coles also was at the event. She said they were in the parking lot discussing the children's arrangements. She said Coles wanted to take the children, but she told him they had a few more days left in school. She said Coles grabbed her arm, when Watson got out of the vehicle and shot Coles, the report said.

She said Watson punched Coles several times after the shooting. She said Watson used her 9 mm handgun that was in the vehicle.

First responders work the scene of a fatal shooting on Wednesday evening at North Marion Middle School.

Detective Henrik Osthed interviewed the family who was at the location. The man told the detective he heard a loud bang and ushered his children to run. He said he saw Watson grab Coles by the back of the neck and shoot him several times as they went to the ground.

On the ground, the man said Watson beat "the victim's lifeless body" with his fists. He said Watson then went into his vehicle while others performed life-saving measures. He also said Watson was walking around with a smile on his face and showed no remorse, according to the report.

A teenager interviewed by a detective said there was an argument about who was going where. The juvenile said Watson got out of the car and someone told him to get back. A woman grabbed Watson, but he pulled away. Armed with a gun, the minor said Watson shot the victim. Coles tried to run, but Watson caught up to him and grabbed the back of his neck and shot him, the report said. The teen said Watson appeared calm.

Detective Chase King found a silver-colored handgun. The report states Coles was shot at least six times, all of them in the upper body.

While Watson was transported to the Sheriff's Office, he said the incident was self-defense. Officials said he declined to be interviewed.

Canterberry wrote in the report that the evidence doesn't appear to suggest self-defense and that there was probable cause to arrest Watson for second-degree murder.

Watson does not have a criminal history.

In a statement released by Sheriff Billy Woods, he said, A senseless homicide is always upsetting to each of us. But, in this instance, even more upsetting because we have children that have done well throughout the school year and are there to receive awards when an adult chose to set the worst example and commit such a violent act nearby. I immediately put every available detective on this case, and I am proud of their work in getting this disgusting individual off our streets and away from our children.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com

F

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: MCSO: One man shot during awards ceremony North Marion Middle School
No injuries after vehicle crashes through Marcos Pizza in Athens

ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT)  No one was injured after a vehicle crashed through the windows of a Marcos Pizza Thursday morning, according to the Athens Police Department.

Police and the Athens Fire Department responded to a call at 11:44 a.m. after a vehicle crashed into the front of the business.

Police Chief Anthony Presnell said the drivers foot slipped off the brake pedal onto the accelerator. No one was reported injured.

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 WHNT.com.
NOAA 2024 hurricane season forecast warns of more storms than ever. Here's why.

NOAA 2024 hurricane season forecast warns of more storms than ever. Here's why.

MIAMI  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its 2024 forecast for the Atlantic hurricane season, which officially starts on June 1. NOAA's report predicts an "above average" hurricane season with 17 to 25 named storms, 8 to 13 hurricanes, and 4 to 7 major hurricanes of category 3 or higher.

"Of note, the forecast for named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes is the highest NOAA has ever issued for the May outlook," said NOAA Administrator Dr. Rick Spinrad.

According to NOAA's 2024 outlook, there is an 85% chance of an above-normal season, 10% chance of a near-normal season and a 5% chance of a below-normal season. Of these predictions made, NOAA said its forecasters are 70% confident in these ranges.

The hurricane season officially starts on June 1 and ends on November 30, with most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October. An average season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.

The upcoming season is expected to have above average activity due to a variety of factors, including near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, development of La Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean, reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear, all of which tend to favor tropical storm formation, Spinrad said.

"We expected an above average forecast from NOAA this year. We are all looking at the same signals. For this season, it comes down to two main factors: a developing La Nina pattern in the eastern Pacific and record-setting sea surface temperatures in the Tropical Atlantic Basin," CBS Miami Chief Meteorologist and Hurricane Specialist Ivan Cabrera said of the forecast.

"Those two key factors are what we're watching and if they come together as we think they will, we can expect a very active hurricane season this year," Cabrera added.

As one of the strongest El Ninos ever observed nears its end, NOAA predicts a quick transition to La Nina conditions, which are conducive to Atlantic hurricane activity because these conditions tend to lessen wind shear in the tropics. At the same time, abundant oceanic heat content in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean Sea creates more energy to fuel storm development.

Additionally, this hurricane season also features the potential for an above-normal west African monsoon, which can produce easterly winds that seed some of the strongest and longest-lived Atlantic storms, NOAA said.

Finally, light trade winds allow hurricanes to grow in strength without the disruption of strong wind shear and minimize ocean cooling.

"Human-caused climate change is warming our ocean globally and in the Atlantic basin, and melting ice on land, leading to sea level rise, which increases the risk of storm surge," NOAA said. "Sea level rise represents a clear human influence on the damage potential from a given hurricane."

During Thursday's press conference, NOAA also released the list of 2024 hurricane names ranging from Alberto to William.

Though "all the ingredients" are in place for an active season, National Weather Service (NWS) Director Ken Graham said it's a reason to be "concerned but not alarmed."

NOAA, NWS, and FEMA also guided how the public can prepare ahead of a potential storm impacting their area as Spinrad, Graham, and FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks reminded everyone that preparedness is key.

"Before hurricane season officially begins, my message to the American people is this: Take time to make sure that you have a clear understanding of your unique risk now," Hooks said.

That includes making sure you have all your items and valuables with you before the storm hits, including medication, personal documents and electronics.

NOAA said it will implement improvements to its forecast communications, decision support, and storm recovery efforts this season. These include expanding its offering of Spanish-language text products, issuing an experimental version of the forecast cone graphic around August 15, and issuing regular and intermediate public advisories as needed instead of having to wait every six hours.

Additionally, the agency is introducing new tools for hurricane analysis and forecasting, along with system upgrades for the 2024 season.

For starters, two new forecast models developed by NOAA researchers will go into operation this season: The Modular Ocean Model (MOM6) will be added to the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System to improve representation of the key role the ocean plays in driving hurricane intensity. The other model, called SDCON, will predict the probability of tropical cyclone rapid intensification.

NOAA's new generation of Flood Inundation Mapping, which Spinrad noted was made possible through President Joe Biden's bipartisan infrastructure law, will provide information to emergency and water managers to prepare and respond to potential flooding and help local officials better prepare and protect people and infrastructure.

Also, NOAA's Weather Prediction Center, in partnership with the National Hurricane Center (NHC), will issue an experimental rainfall graphic for the Caribbean and Central America during this season. This graphic will provide forecast rainfall totals associated with a tropical cyclone or disturbance for a specified time period.

Before and during the official start of the season, NOAA has upgraded many coastal weather buoys in the tropical western Atlantic and Caribbean to include time of occurrence and measurements of one-minute wind speed and direction, five-second peak wind gust and direction, and lowest one-minute barometric pressure to support tropical cyclone forecasting.

New for 2024, NOAA will gather additional observations using Directional Wave Spectra Drifters (DWSDs) deployed from the NOAA P-3 hurricane hunter aircraft and in the vicinity of Saildrones -- uncrewed surface vehicles which will be deployed at the start of the season to provide one-minute data in real-time. NOAA said 11 to 12 Saildrones are planned to be deployed this season.

Starting in June, NOAA will deploy dozens of observational underwater gliders to deploy in waters off the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the United States East Coast. Also, a new lightweight dropsonde called Streamsonde will be deployed into developing tropical storms to collect multiple real-time observations to collect valuable wind data.

NOAA also introduced the Coordinated Hurricane Atmosphere-Ocean Sampling (CHAOS) research experiment, which aims to improve the understanding of air-sea interactions, providing sustained monitoring of key ocean features.

These projects will provide more observations of the ocean and atmosphere in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, U.S. East Coast, and the tropical Atlantic regions, NOAA said.

Other 2024 hurricane season predictions

Researchers from the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project predicted in April an "extremely active" 2024 season, including 23 named storms. Previous years had an average of 14.4 named storms. Their forecast included a 62% chance of a Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricane making landfall on the continental U.S. coastline, an increase from the average prediction of 43%.

Along the East Coast, including the Florida peninsula, the probability jumped to 34% from 21%  which was the average likelihood from 1880-2020. Along the Gulf Coast and Florida Panhandle, the increase was higher. Researchers predicted a 42% probability in that area, up from an average of 27% in previous years.

Stephanie Abrams, a meteorologist from The Weather Channel, also presented a similar prediction, telling "CBS Mornings" in March that rising air and ocean temperatures globally could set the stage for an "explosive hurricane season."

A look back at the 2023 hurricane season

The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season ended as the fourth busiest for most-named storms. It concluded with 20 named storms, seven of which went on to become hurricanes and of those three intensified into major hurricanes.

There were three storms that made landfall in the US. Two tropical storms made landfall, one in Texas and the other in North Carolina.

The only hurricane landfall was Idalia. It made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Aug. 30 near Keaton Beach, Florida, causing storm surge inundation of 7 to 12 feet and widespread rainfall flooding in Florida and throughout the southeast.

According to NOAA, four of the 15 deadliest and most destructive hurricanes ever recorded happened in the last 25 years.

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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) is now banned from all tribal lands in the state after the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe voted to bar her from their reservation Wednesday, citing her repeated claims that tribal leaders work with drug cartels.

Noem sparked the controversy in March when she said tribal leaders benefit from the presence of cartels operating on their land.

Weve got some tribal leaders that I believe are personally benefiting from the cartels being there, and thats why they attack me every day, the governor said at a forum in March. But Im going to fight for the people who actually live in those situations, who call me and text me every day and say, Please, dear governor, please come help us in Pine Ridge. We are scared.

Relations between the governor and the tribes have been strained since she took office in 2019. Some tribes have accused Noem, who was floated as a potential vice-presidential pick for former President Trump, of making decisions to boost Trumps campaign efforts.

All nine tribes in the state have banned Noem from their lands  nearly 20 percent of the Mount Rushmore State  over the remarks, which she has refused to back down from. Earlier this month, the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe and the Yankton Sioux Tribe voted to bar Noem from reservation land. The Standing Rock Sioux, Crow Creek Sioux, Rosebud, Cheyenne River Sioux, Oglala Sioux and Lower Brule Sioux tribes all had similar votes earlier this year.

Noem doubled down on the sentiment again in an interview last week.

They are  definitely have set up operations in South Dakota. Weve seen the Bandidos there, MS-13 is there, she said. Theyve recruited members from the tribes.

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe spokesperson Alli Moran told The Hill last month that several tribes share the same sentiments regarding Noem, specifically that she does not respect or fully understand tribal sovereignty.

The governor blamed the criminal activity on the Biden administration and called on the tribal governments to step up their efforts against gang violence.

These are some of my poorest communities, and they want safe communities. They want their children to be safe, she said last week. They dont want to have the type of violence happening outside their doors.

I have no jurisdiction there because Im a governor, Noem continued. If theyre a sovereign nation, the federal government has to step in, and the tribal leaders have to step in.

In a statement to The Hill on Thursday, Noem brushed off the bans as political attacks.

I want to focus on solutions that lead to safer communities for all our families, educational outcomes for all our children, and declining addiction numbers for all our people, the governor said in a statement. We cannot tackle these issues without addressing the problem: dangerous criminals who perpetuate violence and illegal activities in all areas of our state. We need to take action.

It is my hope tribal leadership will take the opportunity to work with me to be an example of how cooperation is better for all people rather than political attacks, she added.

Updated at 3:24 pm.

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 The Hill.
The Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) vote to ban noncompete agreements is set to have an outsized impact on the health care sector, empowering clinicians and raising anxiety among private practices who worry it will compound staffing problems.

The FTC voted 3-2 last month to ban all current and future agreements preventing workers from going to competitors or starting a competing business after they leave a job. The rule is set to go into effect on Sep. 4, though the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has already sued to stop it.

Shortly before the rule came out, FTC Chair Lina Khan told reporters that of the 26,000 comments her agency received on the proposed rule, a pretty significant chunk were from health care workers in particular.

Even for workers who, you know, make a decent living, their view was that at the point of signing these contracts, they did not actually have bargaining power, she said.

In its announcement, the FTC said eliminating noncompete clauses is expected to lower health care costs by $194 billion over the next 10 years.

Lisa Stand, director of policy and regulatory advocacy at the American Nurses Association, said her group was pleased with the rule and surprised by how strong it is.

It absolutely will make job mobility easier, Stand said. Were nurses, and we think that ultimately this is good for patients as well, as there is more sort of robust competition for clinical talent and an expanded access to more choices of provider and provider setting.

But some private practices worry not enough thought has been put into how a change like this will affect the care they provide to patients.

Jack Feltz is a practicing OB-GYN as well as president and CEO of Lifeline Medical Associates, a practice of roughly 200 physicians providing care to patients in New Jersey and Delaware.

Employees at Feltzs practice, including himself, are asked to sign noncompete agreements. He acknowledges that noncompetes can be onerous on workers but argues that private practices will be less capable of competing with larger hospital systems without them.

It truly unbalances the ability of those organizations, especially private practices which are already under siege and being decimated by hospital employment, for them to be able to maintain and be able to compete with hospitals that have no restriction on noncompetes, said Feltz.

He warned that large health systems will soon be more able to poach not only physicians, but their private practice patients as well.

According to the American Medical Association, 37 percent to 45 percent of physicians are under noncompete agreements. While they are common, Feltz noted noncompete agreements arent always enforced. He said his own practice has let former employees out of their agreements due to external issues.

Lynn Rapsilber is co-founder and CEO of the National Nurse Practitioner Entrepreneur Network, a nonprofit that helps nurse practitioners start their own businesses. According to Rapsilber, everyone from large health systems to small practices is competing for that patient who she believes is the main beneficiary of this rule.

From a business perspective, Rapsilber agrees there is value in contractual agreements that former employees wont take patients or mailing lists from a practice. The main problematic issue she sees in enforcing noncompete agreements is the geographic stipulations they place on health care workers, limiting where they can practice after leaving a job.

For the consumer, this is great news because theres going to be more opportunities for choice in their health care provider if theres more opportunity for people to open up their own practices and to be able to serve the community, she said. Thats going to enhance competition, which will actually in the long run lower prices and increase quality.

Labor experts argue that getting rid of noncompetes will also relieve physicians of an additional challenge amid an increasingly monopolized industry.

According to John August, director of health care and partner programs at Cornell Universitys Scheinman Institute, noncompetes have become a big issue in health care as physicians practices are being taken over by large health systems.

A lot of physicians are thinking of leaving their practices that theyve spent many years building and then only to see them taken over by larger and larger corporations and feeling very, very dissatisfied in their employment situation and wanting to leave and finding these noncompete clauses, August said.

The new rule would allow many of these physicians to leave after their practice is absorbed  with some caveats depending on what type of entity it is.

Some larger hospital systems may gain an advantage by being excluded from this rule. The FTC has limited jurisdiction over nonprofits, and about half of all community hospitals in the U.S. are nonprofits, according to the American Hospital Association.

As Fierce Healthcare recently reported, FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter acknowledged there would be health care workers the rule would struggle to reach due to their employment at nonprofit hospitals.

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 The Hill.
Nonprofit organization aimed to help migrants may close soon due to lack of funding

Nonprofit organization aimed to help migrants may close soon due to lack of funding

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Border Servant Corps (BSC) has announced through their Facebook account that their doors may close soon due to lack of federal funding.

BSC, located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, is a faith-based nonprofit that provides temporary support for refugees and asylum seekers in Southern New Mexico and West Texas, according to their website.

According to BSCs Facebook post, a new funding program has created a gap, preventing the nonprofit from accessing the next federal grant.

Their possible last group of migrants that BSC will welcome will be on Sunday, May 26 and the doors may possibly close on Friday, May 31.

In order to keep the nonprofit open, BSC needs to fundraise $6 million until the funding gap issue has been resolved, according to BSCs Facebook post.

In a letter by BSC addressed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Emergency Food and Shelter Program, the nonprofit states the closure of their operations would lead to humanitarian catastrophe, a loss of trust between non-government partners and federal government and the loss of hundreds of vitals jobs in the community.

For more information on BSC, visit their website here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
U.S. carmaker Tesla broke ground on a mega factory in Shanghai on Thursday to manufacture its energy-storage batteries, Megapacks, a project hailed by the company as a "milestone." #GLOBALink
What nonstop flights were available when Austin-Bergstrom Airport opened in May 1999?

What nonstop flights were available when Austin-Bergstrom Airport opened in May 1999?

AUSTIN (KXAN)  Thursday marks the 25th anniversary of the opening of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

The airport opened to the public on May 23, 1999, after the closure of Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, now the Mueller neighborhood in east Austin.

A total of 19 airlines currently offer service to 92 destinations, 14 of which are international. When the airport first opened, the number of nonstop routes was about a third of what is available now, with 31 in total.

What are the busiest days, months and years on record at Austin-Bergstrom?

Heres a look at how the flight map has changed over the past 25 years:

Heres a look at which airlines offered nonstop service from Austin in 1999:

America West Airlines : Phoenix

American Airlines: Chicago (OHare), Dallas (DFW), Dallas (Love), Houston (Hobby), Los Angeles, Miami, San Jose

Austin Express: Tyler

Continental Airlines: Houston (Bush), Newark

Delta Air Lines: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Dallas (DFW), Salt Lake City, San Antonio

Northwest Airlines: Memphis, Minneapolis

Southwest Airlines: Dallas (Love), El Paso, Harlingen, Houston (Hobby), Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Lubbock, Midland, Nashville, Orlando, Phoenix, Reno, Tampa

Trans World Airlines (TWA): McAllen, St. Louis

United Airlines: Chicago (OHare), Denver, San Francisco, Washington (Dulles)

San Antonio and Tyler are the only two routes that are no longer served directly from Austin.

What new routes are coming to Austin-Bergstrom in 2024?

A quarter of a century ago, a total of 47,510 flights were operated from AUS, almost half of which were to the four main airports in Dallas and Houston.

This year, Dallas (DFW) is the route with the most flights, but Houston has dropped significantly, with Bush Airport (IAH) ranking 10th, and Hobby Airport (HOU) falling out of the top 10 altogether.

Passengers totals have really taken off in recent years, with the airport accommodating a record 22 million travelers in 2023. Last years total is more than triple the number seen in 1999, when almost 6.7 million passengers were reported, at Mueller airport through May 22, and at Bergstrom airport after.

In the first three months of this year, 4.86 million passengers were reported, slightly below last years pace.

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 KXAN Austin.
Aerial view of the train derailment wreckage in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 5, 2023. (NTSB photo).

Norfolk Southern has agreed to a $310 million settlement with the federal government over claims and costs of the February 2023 derailment of a freight train carrying hazardous chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border.

The Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement Thursday that the settlement, which still has to be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, will require the railroad to improve safety. That includes reducing the distance between sensors that determine if a train is reaching dangerous temperatures, and ensuring that trains that do reach dangerous temperatures are stopped for inspection.

The company will also pay for health monitoring and mental health services for the surrounding communities; pay a $15 million civil penalty to resolve violations of the Clean Water Act; and will pay to monitor private drinking water, as well as groundwater and surface water for the next decade.

No community should have to experience the trauma inflicted upon the residents of East Palestine, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a statement.

Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw said in a statement Thursday that the company was pleased to reach a timely resolution of the investigations. We will continue keeping our promises and are invested in the communitys future for the long-haul.

The company expects to spend more than $1 billion to address harms caused by the derailment, including a $600 million class action settlement announced in April.

On Feb. 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train more than a mile long derailed on its way out of East Palestine, sending dozens of train cars off the tracks. Several of the train cars contained hazardous materials and caught fire in the crash. As first responders fought the blaze, officials grew concerned about a series of cars containing vinyl chloride. The chemical is highly flammable, and with temperatures rising in the cars, officials worried they might explode.

The railroad conducted a controlled venting of the chemical. But when evacuated residents began to return, they complained of respiratory ailments and other issues. And in March, the National Transportation Safety Board cast doubt on whether the vent and burn was necessary.

President Joe Biden had faced criticism for not visiting East Palestine until a year after the derailment.

Bills introduced in the U.S. House and Senate in the aftermath of the East Palestine accident aimed at tightening rail safety regulations and holding railroads accountable have thus far failed to advance. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), one of the prime sponsors of the Senate measure, said more needs to be done to prevent future derailments.

Todays settlement is a critical step towards providing a measure of justice for the families who are still suffering in the wake of the derailment and holding Norfolk Southern accountable for the reckless failure that imperiled the lives of so many Pennsylvanians, Casey said in a statement Thursday.

Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-17th District), who co-sponsored the House bill, said he was glad to see the federal government hold the railroad responsible.

This derailment made it abundantly clear that we cannot trust these big railroads to regulate themselvesthey will always prioritize profit over public safety, Deluzio said in a statement Thursday. The next step is to pass policy to make freight rail safer, and we can do that right now by passing my bipartisan bill, the Railway Safety Act.

The NTSB is expected to issue its final report on the derailment in June.

Update: This story was updated at 5:50 p.m. May 23, 2024 with comment from U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio.

The post Norfolk Southern agrees to $310 million settlement over East Palestine derailment appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Handing a major win to a manufactured conservative campaign to dismantle safeguards for equality, the governing board of North Carolinas 17 public university systems on Thursday banned its diversity, equity, and inclusion policy.

The move follows a last-minute plea from lawmakers, students, and business leaders who gathered at the state legislature on Wednesday to urge against the ban and extol the virtues of DEI programs.

Our world has become so different, and its changing so rapidly, and North Carolina is evolving alongside these global changes, state Representative Maria Cervania said during the last-minute meeting on Wednesday. Our businesses know this. Theyve told us they want a workforce that can keep up with our new, globalized world. DEI is actually the best program thats helping equip our students for that.

The Board of Governors for the UNC system unanimously approved the university DEI policy in 2019, according to local news outlet WRAL. Following the anti-racism and anti-police brutality protests of 2020, conservatives have sharpened their knives to dismantle hallmarks of racial progress. Those attacks resulted in a manufactured crisis over critical race theory, arguing its bad to teach college students factualbut uglyU.S. history. Soon after, the same people targeted DEI by arguing its reverse discrimination, a concept that does not exist.



UNCs boardwhich initially approved its DEI policy unanimouslyplans to replace DEI with a new policy that prohibits universities from endorsing pro-diversity viewsor any other social or political messaging, WRAL reported Wednesday, an all-or-nothing claim that, if precedent is any indicator, will more than likely only be enforced in one direction.
Residents of a small county in North Carolina filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday to have a Confederate-era monument to faithful slaves removed from outside the county courthouse.

The monument in Tyrrell County, North Carolina, features a Confederate soldier on top of a pedestal with the inscription In appreciation of our faithful slaves written underneath.

The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina, was brought by a group called The Concerned Citizens of Tyrrell County. The plaintiffs claim the public monument is in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment because it expresses a racially discriminatory message.

The inscription on the statue promotes a pro-slavery message and a pro-Confederate message, according to the lawsuit.

Jaelyn Miller, an attorney for the plaintiffs, told CNN she feels county commissioners have a responsibility to ensure that racist messages are not being displayed to the Black community.

This is sort of the only monument in the country on public land that textually endorses slavery, Miller said.

Ian Mance, another attorney for the plaintiffs, said the historical record is clear that the monument was meant to send a message.

It was put up in the front yard of what was soon to be the Tyrrell County Courthouse, which opened a few months later, to communicate to people that members of the Black community could not expect to get justice inside of that courthouse, he said.

The lawsuit alleges the construction of the monument and the countys continued maintenance communicates, on behalf of local government, the idea that Tyrrells institutions regard Black peoples rightful place as one of subservience and obedience and that Black people who were enslaved in Tyrrell County preferred their slavery to freedom.

The lawsuit also claims that the countys display of the message has incite(d) racial hostility and endangers the plaintiffs safety.

The monument has been standing since 1902 and the lawsuit is the latest move in a decades-long battle to have it removed from courthouse grounds.

Mance said the plaintiffs have been attending commission meetings since the 1990s and holding demonstrations since 2019.

Litigation was our last resort, Sherryreed Robinson, one of the plaintiffs said in a news release announcing the suit. We have peacefully voiced our objections for years. This monument says our ancestors preferred slavery to freedom. Thats a false and hurtful message for the government to communicate.

CNN has reached out to Tyrrell County Commissioners for comment.

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This map shows that both Sarasota and DeSoto counties registered between 600 and 649 on the Keech Byram Drought Index as of May 22. That places the counties in moderate drought conditions.

NORTH PORT  The city of North Port enacted a burn ban Tuesday, prohibiting outdoor campfires, land clearing burning and pile burns and bringing the city in line with a similar ban enacted earlier this month in unincorporated Sarasota County and the cities of Sarasota and Venice.

Sarasota County and most of Manatee and Charlotte counties are experiencing moderate drought conditions, according to the latest information from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Sarasota County is well above a score of 600 on the Keetch-Byram drought index, a continuous reference for soil dryness on a scale of 0-800.

Sarasota County and Venice enacted their burn bans in early May when the index crossed 500. North Port uses the same criteria as the Florida Forest Service, which calls for a ban when the index is between 575 and 600.

North Port Fire Chief Scott Titus said the index in the city was at 610 on Tuesday.

Christianne Pearce a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Ruskin, said Sarasota and Manatee have received four inches less rain than normal from March 1 through May 22, and the forecast calls for more dry weather.

Unfortunately the dry pattern does stick around through most of this week, Pearce said. We just have this high-pressure system over us  thats whats keeping us warm and dry.

The best chance of rain will come May 29-30, Pearce said.

And honestly its only like 30-40% chance then, she added,

A North Port Fire Rescue release noted that Titus determined that an extraordinary fire hazard now exists because of the drought and fire hazard conditions.

It noted that Sarasota County has received only 8% of its average rainfall this month and is 30% behind year-to-date totals.

The North Port burn ban does not affect permits issued by the Florida Forest Service and outdoor cooking fires in approved gas or charcoal barbecue grills are permitted.

With the weekend coming around and people going out to a lot of picnics and barbecues, be very diligent on how you dispose of your coals, if you use charcoal, Titus said.

Be extra diligent out there until we get some rain. Its extra dry out there and the littlest spark would start a fire, he added.

While the exact cause of a fire that occurred along the Interstate 75 corridor near the Border Road overpass on Monday has not yet been determined, Titus said roadside fires could be caused by everything from a tossed cigarette to sparks generated by a metal rim after a car loses a tire  something that he said did happen a couple of weeks back in North Port.

While its too soon to speculate whether the dry conditions could impact July 4 fireworks celebrations, Titus said people should be aware of local ordinance for any personal celebrations over Memorial Day weekend.

Im sure people will want to set them off Memorial Day weekend, it being a holiday weekend, Titus said. We recommend not setting off any fireworks, especially with the conditions how they are.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Rainfall deficit causing moderate drought as North Port sets burn ban
The first defendant charged in a North Texas fentanyl overdose case that killed four teens was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton announced in a news release Wednesday.

Luis Eduardo Navarrete, 22, was charged via criminal complaint in February 2023 and was indicted the following month. He pleaded guilty in November 2023 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance to a person under 21 years of age.

Even as children overdosed and died around him, this defendant continued to distribute poisonous pills to juvenile dealers to sell in grade schools, said Simonton in the release. Brushing off the pain of his young victims family and friends, he delivered fentanyl into the hands of children, extinguishing lives before theyd even really begun. The callousness he displayed is truly chilling.

According to court documents, Navarette and several other co-conspirators trafficked fentanyl pills to a network of juvenile drug dealers, who then sold the pills, which were stamped with M-30 to resemble oxycodone. The pills were sold to students at R.L. Turner High School, Dewitt Perry Middle School in Carrollton and Dan Long Middle School in Dallas.

At Wednesdays sentencing hearing, A DEA officer testified that Navarrete began distributing fentanyl in August 2022. When he was ordered to wear a GPS ankle monitor from another case, he relied on two drug runners, defendants Rafael Soliz Jr. and Robert Gaitan, to pick up the counterfeit pills and have them delivered to his home in Carrollton.

Navarrete continued to supply the pills to adults and minors even after he was told they were causing overdoses, according to evidence presented at the hearing. This includes when a juvenile dealer told him on Jan. 26, 2023, that a 14-year-old middle school student fatally overdosed after consuming a counterfeit pill supplied by Navarrete.

A week after the 14-year-olds death, another juvenile dealer told Navarrete that a 17-year-old high school student couldnt wake up after taking a counterfeit pill.

Navarrete was arrested on Feb. 3, 2023, two days after the 17-year-olds overdose.

The fentanyl came from a Mexican cartel, the DEA agent testified at the hearing. Over the course of the investigation, officers arrested about 40 adults and juveniles and seized more than 1.2 million fentanyl pills, according to authorities. The ring of fentanyl trafficking in Carrollton and Dallas schools lead to 14 overdoses in minors, four of which were deadly.

Navarrete is one of 11 defendants federally charged in connection to the case. His main supplier, Jason Xavier Villanueva, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Soliz received 15 years, and Gaitan was sentenced to five years.

He was the soul of our home, a mother of one of the juveniles who overdosed said at the hearing. I would like for everyone whos present to know that these people who sell fentanyl, they destroy families. On behalf of all those children who have passed away due to fentanyl, this has to stop.

Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills look similar to legitimate prescription pills such as Oxycontin or Percocet, but pose significantly more danger. These pills are often referred to as M30s, blues, perks, yerks, china girls or TNT. Six out 10 pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose, according to research from the DEA.

For more information about fentanyl, visit the DEAs website.
ROGERS. Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  The Rogers School Board has given the green light to new zoning limits for the upcoming academic term.

Beginning next year, the boundary for Garfield School will shift into the Frank Tillery zone, relocating Garfield students to Tillery. This move will almost fill up Tillerys enrollment capacity.

The district plans to rezone certain areas of Frank Tillery to other schools such as Eastside Elementary. Families affected by the new zone can maintain their current placement through the grandfather clause.

If you had students attending a particular school, then you and your entire family had the option of continuing in that school for the rest of your school career, Superintendent Dr. Jeff Perry said.

Families who opt to maintain their current school placements through the grandfathering process will be responsible for transportation since bus routes will be adjusted due to the boundary changes.

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 KNWA FOX24.
Norway announced a new package of military assistance for Ukraine on May 23 worth around 150 million pounds ($190 million).

The package is under the auspices of the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), which is collectively financed by the U.K., the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, and Iceland. The support will go toward air defense, naval capabilities, radar, anti-drone systems, and boats.

"We stand with and support Ukraine as long as necessary," said Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram.

"(Ukrainians) have an urgent need for more weapons and military equipment. Support through international funds is one of many important contributions."

Norway has recently ramped up efforts to increase defense production, both for domestic needs and for aid to Ukraine. Oslo allocated 2 billion Norwegian kroner ($190 million) in January for Ukrainian aid.

According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), which tracks international aid for Ukraine, Norway has committed more than $2 billion to Ukraine as of February 2024.

Read also: Russias latest offensive into Kharkiv Oblast is stretching Ukrainian defenses

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The Norwegian government has decided to ban entry of Russian citizens who go there for tourism or other non-essential trips.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the Norwegian government

Details: Russian citizens intending to travel to Norway for tourism or other non-essential purposes may be denied entry upon crossing the external border.

The Norwegian government noted that these rules will apply to either those who have visas issued by Norway before the toughening of visa practices in the spring of 2022 or those who have visas issued by other countries in the Schengen Area.

Exceptions will be granted in specific cases, such as visiting close relatives (parents, spouses, cohabitants and children) residing in Norway and Russian citizens working or studying in Norway or other countries in the Schengen Area.

The changes will take effect from 29 May.

The Norwegian government reiterated that it changed the visa issuance practice for Russians in the spring of 2022, and tourist visas for Russians are generally not issued since then. Entry conditions are becoming even stricter now.

Quote from Minister of Justice and Public Security Emilie Enger Mehl: "The decision to tighten the entry rules are in line with the Norwegian approach of standing by allies and partners in the reactions against Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine."

Background:

Norway previously reported on the trial of a man who launched a drone during Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Oslo in December.

Several Russians were detained in Norway for unauthorised drone filming during the autumn of 2022.

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The Norwegian government introduced on May 23 further restrictions on the entry of Russian citizens into the country due to Moscow's full-scale war against Ukraine, which will come into force next week.

Oslo tightened visa practices in the spring of 2022, after which tourist visas for Russians were largely not issued. The country also restricted entry to Russian cars in September 2023.

Russian citizens arriving in Norway for tourism and "other non-essential travel" will be rejected upon entry across the external border starting May 29, the government said. The ban applies both to Russians who managed to get a Norwegian tourist visa and to visas issued by other Schengen countries.

Exceptions will be granted to Russians traveling to visit parents, spouses, or children living in Norway, as well as to those who will work or study in Norway or other Schengen countries.

"The decision to tighten the entry rules is in line with the Norwegian approach of standing by allies and partners in the reactions against Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine," said Norwegian Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl.

Several European countries, including Poland and the Baltic States, imposed visa restrictions for Russian citizens in 2022.

While Norway is not an EU member, it is a member of NATO and has joined many of the sanctions imposed by European countries against Moscow. Norway and Russia share a nearly 200-kilometer-long border in the Arctic.

Read also: Shmyhal: Ukraine proposes allies to ban air transit to Russia, Belarus

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John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), meets with visiting Deputy Prime Minister I and Minister of Rural and Regional Development of Malaysia Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi in south China's Hong Kong, May 23, 2024. (Xinhua)

HONG KONG, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong is determined to develop into an international hub for post-secondary education and more students from Malaysia are welcome to study in Hong Kong, said John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), on Thursday.

Lee made the remarks while meeting with visiting Deputy Prime Minister I and Minister of Rural and Regional Development of Malaysia Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi.

Noting that the city will increase in the quota of the Belt and Road Scholarship starting from the next academic year, Lee said that the scheme will help deepen exchanges among young people between the two places.

Lee said Hong Kong and Malaysia have long enjoyed a close relationship in trade, noting that Malaysia is Hong Kong's ninth-largest trading partner. He expressed his gratitude to Malaysia for its continued support for Hong Kong's early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, with a view to making greater contributions to regional cooperation.

Lee noted that the strategy of attracting and retaining talent is one of the priorities of the current-term HKSAR government. The Top Talent Pass Scheme welcomes graduates of the world's top 100 universities, including the University of Malaya, to come to Hong Kong for development. The HKSAR government will continue to work closely with Malaysia to promote talent exchanges in such areas as healthcare and vocational training.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, Lee said that Hong Kong will continue to foster exchanges and collaboration with Malaysia in such areas as trade and commerce, investment, innovation and technology, as well as culture and tourism, contributing to the further consolidation of the bilateral relationship between the country and Malaysia. 
Norway to block entry for most Russian tourists, Moscow says it will respond

OSLO (Reuters) -Norway will further curb access for Russian tourist travellers due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, blocking almost all entry from May 29, the Nordic country's justice ministry said on Thursday.

Russia called the decision "purely discriminatory" and said it would respond.

Norway, a NATO member that shares a border with Russia in the Arctic measuring almost 200 km (124 miles), first imposed restrictions on Russian tourist visas in 2022, shortly after Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"The decision to tighten the entry rules is in line with the Norwegian approach of standing by allies and partners in reaction to Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine," Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl said in a statement.

Any Russian citizens whose purpose is tourism and other non-essential travel will be turned back at the border. Exceptions may be granted in cases such as visits to close family residing in Norway, the ministry said in a statement.

"The change implies that the police can refuse the entry of Russian citizens who are covered by the instruction," it said.

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters such moves "cannot go unanswered".

He added: "Of course, the decision is purely discriminatory. We do not accept such decisions. We regret that the Norwegian leadership has chosen this way of worsening our bilateral relations, which have already been of poor quality recently, and not on our initiative."

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia did not intend to bar entry to Norwegian citizens. "But this does not mean that retaliatory measures won't be taken. They will be," she told reporters.

(Reporting by Terje Solsvik; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Norway further tightens its restrictions on the entry of Russians

FILE - A sign indicating the Storskog border crossing between Russia and Norway is pictured near Kirkenes, Norway, on Sept. 28, 2022. Norway on Thursday May 23, 2024 said it would further tighten entry rules from Russia, saying those with tourist visas issued by Norway before regulations were strengthened in spring 2022 or issued by another European country, will be barred from entering the Scandinavian country as of next week. (Lise Aserud/NTB Scanpix via AP, File)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  Norway on Thursday said it will further tighten its restrictions on the entry of people from Russia, saying those with tourist visas issued by Norway before regulations were tightened in 2022 or issued by another European country will be barred from entering the Scandinavian country as of next week.

Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl said the tightening was a response to Russias illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

Norway has a 198-kilometer (123-mile) -long border with Russia in the Arctic.

Last week, Aftenposten, a major Norwegian daily, said Norways domestic security agency, known by the acronym PST, was worried that Russians involved in intelligence gathering were entering at the sole border crossing at Storskog near the town of Kirkenes.

Inger Haugland, head of counterespionage for PST, said Wednesday that "Russia now sees itself benefiting from carrying out sabotage in European countries in order to weaken Ukrainian defense capabilities. He gave no further details.

On Wednesday, PST updated its overall risk assessment, saying "it appears that the threat of sabotage has increased against Norwegian companies producing weaponry that goes to Ukraine.

Enger Mehl said exceptions to the new entry restrictions will be made, including for people visiting close relatives in Norway or for Russians who work or study in Norway. Those who live along the border have border resident certificates. Other Russians who plan to enter Norway for tourism or other non-essential purposes will be refused entry, he said. The ban takes effect next Wednesday.

Of course, such decisions cannot remain unanswered," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. "The decision is purely discriminatory.

Although not a member of the European Union, Norway is part of the European ID-check-free zone known as the Schengen Area, which allows more than 400 million Europeans and visitors to move within the zone without showing travel documents.

Two years ago, the Norwegian government stopped issuing tourist visas to Russians. In September, it barred Russian-registered passenger cars from entering the Scandinavian country, mirroring EU sanctions against Moscow over its war on Ukraine.
'Now it's bare': NYC's Chinatown small businesses battle to keep doors open

Ting's Gift Shop in New York City's bustling Chinatown has shuttered after 66 years in business.

The family-run novelty shop, which is situated at the corner of Doyers and Pell streets and distinguished by its vibrant red exterior and abundant merchandise, was a time capsule of goods, offering everything from porcelain soup spoons and pajamas to jewelry and ornate figurines.

"Grandma had the store packed, anywhere she could find a space she had something," Jona Ting told ABC News of her family's matriarch and the store founder, Tam Ting. "Every space was used."

PHOTO: The Ting family spoke to ABC News about their generational store Ting's Gift Shop in Chinatown. (ABC News)

The Ting family announced last month they were saying farewell to their generational gift store, which was opened in January 1958.

"Now it's bare," Eleanor Ting told ABC News of her mother's once-abounding shop, adding, "I need to return the shop to the landlord, so it's bare."

From 2019 to 2021, economic decline compounded by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic left Manhattan's Chinatown with a 26% decrease in jobs, 12% more than the New York City average, according to a 2022 impact study commissioned by the organization Welcome to Chinatown.

PHOTO: Chinatown neighbourhood in New York. (STOCK IMAGE/Getty Images)

Neighborhood activists and entrepreneurs say the years since severe pandemic hardships haven't eased the stress on the community.

"A lot of us have been here for generations and see our stories as more than just stores in the community," Mei Lum, fifth-generation owner of Wing on Wo & Co. -- the oldest continuously operating family-run business in Chinatown -- told ABC News.

"We're thinking about a storefront and its contributions to a community and a neighborhood beyond the confines of just pure economic exchange," Lum said.

MORE: Record label paving the way for Asian artists in all genres in America

Founded in the 1870s and located in the Lower East Side, NYC's Chinatown is home to the highest concentration of Chinese immigrants in the United States.

A cultural hub for Chinese cuisine, retail and immigrant history, the bustling streets of Chinatown have been a flagship of the city for decades.

But as entrepreneurs age, rent prices rise and younger generations take up different occupations, the fate of some of Chinatown's most historic businesses are in jeopardy.

MORE: Lunar New Year 2024: Which US cities and states recognize it as a public holiday

"A lot of these legacy business owners are close to or past their retirement age, and we don't want to lose these legacy businesses," Victoria Lee, co-founder of Welcome to Chinatown, a non-profit organization working to help community business owners, told ABC News.

PHOTO: Vic Lee is the co-founder of the non-profit organization Welcome to Chinatown. (ABC News)

"They've really shaped the cultural fabric of Manhattan's Chinatown," Lee said, adding, "They've done such a good job of achieving the American dream."

Tings was just one of many small family businesses in Chinatown, where 94% of operations have less than 20 employees and face a unique set of problems in the neighborhood's changing landscape -- a broken line of succession.

"They've been able to send their children to school, to be lawyers, doctors, the industries that seem well respected," Lee said of Chinatown entrepreneurs.

"So that makes succession planning particularly difficult because that means that the next generation may not have the desire, or it doesn't make sense for them, to go on and take on the business," Lee said.

Despite nearly shuttering eight years ago, Wing on Wo & Co. has managed to keep doors open, thanks to Lum, its fifth-generation owner.

PHOTO: Mei Lum is the fifth-generation owner of Wing on Wo & Co. in New York City's Chinatown. (ABC News)

"It was started by my great-great-grandfather and as a child I came here every day after school and I had Chinese lessons with my grandfather and had an after-school snack with my grandmother," Lum said.

Founded in the 1890s and evolving from a general store to selling porcelain wares, Wing on Wo & Co.'s brick-and-mortar shop serves as an example of generational commitment and a meeting place for community activism.

Before Lum took on the business eight years ago, she said Wing on Wo & Co. was planning to sell the building.

MORE: How AAPI social media influencers are working to mobilize voters in 2024

"My family's situation at that time allowed me to understand that letting go of the shop actually would contribute to a larger political context in Chinatown around gentrification, displacement and the acceleration of longtime businesses shuttering and long-time residents being displaced," Lum said.

Coming together as a community, Lum, Lee and the Ting family say that despite the physical closure of Ting's Gift Shop, the store's legacy extends far past the corner of Doyers and Pell streets.

PHOTO: A street view shows Chinatown in New York City. (ABC News)

"I think we share that with Tings as well, with Eleanore. I'm really excited to see how people continue to stay in a relationship with the neighborhood and to think about how their legacy goes beyond space," Lum said.

Since late 2023, Lee has helped Ting's Gift Shop host three successful pop-ups and a farewell event for their physical location.

MORE: Book bans, threats and cancellations: Asian American authors face growing challenges

"It really shows that love and admiration that the community has to show up for a business that holds such a special place in people's hearts," Lee said.

Reflecting on Ting's Gift Shop's priceless impact on her family and NYC's Chinatown, Eleanore said, "You know, 66 years, it's not chump change," adding, "I've been here from day one and I've enjoyed every second of it."

'Now it's bare': NYC's Chinatown small businesses battle to keep doors open originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
NYC chef Ettore Mazzei busted as evil mastermind behind massive drug ring, was once awarded local business honor: prosecutors

Renowned Staten Island entrepreneur, chef and author Ettore Mazzei, 61, was busted during a massive overnight Staten Island drug raid and lambasted by officials Wednesday as a "crooked, evil businessman" who preyed upon vulnerable people suffering from addiction.

A renowned Staten Island chef and entrepreneur was busted as the ringleader of a massive drug operation where he tricked addicts into servitude, officials said Wednesday after raiding his businesses.

Ettore Mazzei, 61, was called a crooked, evil businessman after he was nabbed in a sting overnight at his home on Bay Street in Stapleton, prosecutors and sources said.

Authorities also raided his nearby business Chez Vous Caterers and a construction business he owns, according to the sources..

Like a modern-day Fagin, the character from Dickens Oliver Twist, Mazzei preyed on vulnerable people who suffered from addiction illness and oppressed them into servitude in his catering business, for housing and ultimately, for drug dealing, Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon said in a statement.

Ettore Mazzei was nabbed as part of a sting at his home on Bay Street in Stapleton Heights, and two of his properties, officials said. Owen Reiter/Staten Island Advance

Mazzei has been honored in the past for his community revitalization efforts. Steve White

The breadth of his criminal activity is truly mind-boggling, McMahon added. Mazzei built a labyrinth of crime including drug dealing, extortion, and fraud against numerous government programs including COVID-19 aid, housing support, food stamps, and other financial assistance. He is a successful businessman for sure  a crooked, evil businessman.

Mazzei  who was honored in 2022 by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce for his community revitalization efforts  was indicted on multiple charges including criminal sale of a controlled substance, grand larceny, identity theft and possession of a forged instrument, according to prosecutors.

The well-known Staten Island figure  who sources say was nabbed while delivering drugs with his girlfriend  was among about 20 people charged in the sweeping operation, which also included Rudy Santana, Gary Pulice and Melissa Mazzei, according to Richmond County Supreme Court documents.

Mazzei was indicted on multiple charges including criminal sale of a controlled substance, grand larceny, identity theft and possession of a forged instrument, according to prosecutors. James Messerschmidt

He and his co-defendants are accused of selling 20 grams of heroin, 461 grams of cocaine, and 140 suboxone strips to undercover officers over a 14-month period starting in March 2023, according to prosecutors.

Mazzei was the primary orchestrator of the long-running operation, the DAs office said.

Mazzei founded Chez Vous Caterers, Dock Street Bar & Grill, Construction & Design Co, as well as Shandelee Lake Inn, according to his online bio.

Mazzei was the primary orchestrator of the long-running operation, the DAs office said. James Messerschmidt

As recently as last month, several acts of violence  including two shootings and an armed home invasion  had been reported in and around Mazzeis properties, prosecutors said.

Mazzeis alleged actions have also been linked to multiple overdose deaths on Staten Island, through an investigation conducted by the Richmond County DAs Offices Overdose Response Initiative, according to the office.

The defendants alleged actions plagued neighborhoods in Staten Island by littering the streets with illegal narcotics that led to overdose deaths and endangered countless more New Yorkers, said NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said in a statement.

These allegations are particularly galling given that the driving force behind this illicit drug operation  a local landlord, chef, and entrepreneur  was recently recognized as a pillar of the community by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.

Foad Odeh was among about 20 people busted in the sweeping operation. James Messerschmidt

Putting personal and financial gain above peoples lives is the polar opposite of what New Yorkers expect and deserve from their leaders.

Mazzei was also active in Staten Island anti-drug initiatives, where he allegedly took advantage of those who sought help, The Staten Island Advance reported.

This gentleman is posing himself as someone who is looking to steer drug-addicted and people who are addicted to narcotics to rehab but nobody really knows hes the one supplying the drugs to these people to keep them addicted, NYPD Deputy Inspector at Detective Borough Staten Island Scott Weisberg told WNBC.

Mazzei was arraigned Wednesday and ordered held on $3 million cash bail and $5 million bond. Paul Martinka

He was ordered held on $3 million cash bail and $5 million bond during his Wednesday morning arraignment.

Mazzei published a book in 2014 called, Its Your Right to Be Fit, Sexed and Happy.

Mazzeis alleged actions have also been linked to multiple overdose deaths on Staten Island, prosecutors said. James Messerschmidt

Who am I? My first response is that who I am is not important, he wrote in his bio. What is important is my sharing with you what I have learned from my life experiences with fitness, whole foods, sex, and the forces that affect my wellbeing and aliveness in each and every moment.

He lives with his wife Rebecca, and has two adult children, Melissa and David, as well as three grandsons, according to the online profile.
After his "sobering visit" to Kyiv, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wants the White House to allow Ukraine to strike inside Russian territory with American-supplied arms, The New York Times (NYT) reported on May 22, citing undisclosed official sources.

The ban has prevented Kyiv from attacking Russian forces, which were amassing near Kharkiv Oblast for their offensive launched earlier in May, with advanced U.S. weaponry like ATACMS missiles.

The U.S. State Department began a "vigorous debate" inside President Joe Biden's administration on this policy after Blinken's two-day visit to Ukraine's capital, which took place only days after Russia launched the new offensive. It was the situation in Kharkiv Oblast that changed Blinken's position, the NYT wrote.

The news outlet noted that the proposal is still "in the formative stages" and that it is unclear how many other high-ranking officials in Biden's team will support it.

The plan would include permitting strikes against Russian military facilities but perhaps not oil refineries and other infrastructure that Ukraine has been hitting with homemade drones, according to the outlet.

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The idea has reportedly not yet been formally proposed to the U.S. president, who has so far been adamant about the ban, fearing a potential escalation with Russia.

The Pentagon has also reiterated this position, but Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently hinted that the rules might be different in regards to aerial targets.

"The aerial dynamic's a little bit different," Austin said during a press conference on May 20 but avoided saying explicitly whether attacks against Russian aircraft with U.S. arms are off-limit or not.

Unlike Washington, the U.K. said it does not oppose Ukraine using British-supplied arms  which include Storm Shadow missiles  to strike Russian soil, provoking threats from Moscow.

"(British Ambassador to Moscow Nigel) Casey was warned that in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory with British weapons, any British military facilities and equipment on the territory of Ukraine and abroad could be targeted," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Read also: Blinken: Washington has not encouraged Ukraine to strike inside Russia with US weapons, but decision up to Kyiv

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) called on Senate Democrats on Wednesday to launch active investigations into two separate reports that flags associated with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol were on display outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos home.

What we are seeing here is an extraordinary breach of not just the trust and the stature of the Supreme Court, but we are seeing a fundamental challenge to our democracy, Ocasio-Cortez said in an interview on MSNBCs All in with Chris Hayes.

Samuel Alito has identified himself with the same people who raided the Capitol on Jan. 6 and is now going to be presiding over court cases that have deep implications over the participants of that rally, Ocasio-Cortez added. And while this is the threat to our democracy, Democrats have a responsibility for defending our democracy.

Ocasio-Cortezs remarks come after The New York Times reported Wednesday that a flag toted by rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was at one point displayed outside Alitos vacation home.

An Appeal to Heaven flag  which has origins dating back to the Revolutionary War but is now associated with Christian nationalism and Stop the Steal efforts today  was seen flying outside Alitos New Jersey beach home in July and September 2023, the Times reported, around the same time a high-profile Jan. 6 case arrived at the Supreme Court.

The report comes just days after the Times reported that an upside-down American flag flew outside Alitos Virginia home in January 2021  around the time rioters stormed the Capitol when Congress was set to certify Joe Bidens 2020 election win over then-President Trump.

The upside-down flag is also associated with the Stop the Steal movement that emerged from false election fraud claims in 2020. Alito said his wife hung the flag during a spat with neighbors.

In the Wednesday interview, the New York progressive said Democrats, who have a slim majority in the Senate but are in the minority in the House, should not wait until the next election to investigate Alito in the hope of winning both chambers.

Ocasio-Cortez said Senate Democrats should launch investigations immediately.

I dont even think that we have to wait until we have a Democratic House majority, because we have a Democratic Senate majority, she said, adding, In the Senate, we have gavels. There should be subpoenas going out. There should be active investigations that are happening.

While Democrats, she said, are preparing to take the House majority and launch a broader effort to stand up for democracy, I also believe that when Democrats have power, we have to use it.

We cannot be in perpetual campaign mode. We need to be in governance mode. We need to be in accountability mode with every lever that we have, she continued, because we cannot take a Senate majority for granted, a House majority for granted or a White House for granted.

And every single minute matters, and we have to use our power when we have it.

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 The Hill.
Los Angeles Police Department headquarters in downtown L.A. An off-duty officer was arrested and booked on assault charges. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

For the record:

1:46 p.m. May 23, 2024: An earlier version of this story said Richard Podkowski was charged with assault with a deadly weapon. He was arrested on suspicion of committing that crime. He has yet to be charged.



An off-duty Los Angeles Police Department officer was arrested Tuesday morning for alleged assault with a deadly weapon in a residential neighborhood just outside Los Angeles International Airport.

Six-year veteran Richard Podkowski, 28, was arrested at 5:20 a.m. near the 8600 block of Belford Avenue, according to booking records. Los Angeles police were responding to a call from a community member when they took Podkowski into custody after investigators completed an initial inquiry.

An LAPD spokesperson said no one was hospitalized because of the incident and declined to discuss the type of weapon used or the circumstances of the assault.

Read more: Many pushed to free 'kind' LAPD cop who murdered ex-boyfriend's wife. Victim's family fought back

The departments internal affairs division began its own investigation that day and Podkowski was placed on paid administrative leave, according to the spokesperson.

Podkowski had been assigned to the West Bureau, which covers the communities of Hollywood and West Los Angeles and the Pacific, Wilshire and Olympic areas.

Hes free after posting $30,000 bail, according to booking records.

Podkowski is next due in court June 11.

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.
BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Assets under the management of China's public offering funds totaled 30.78 trillion yuan (about 4.33 trillion U.S. dollars) by the end of April, data from the Asset Management Association of China showed Thursday.

In comparison with the end of March, the figure saw an increase from 29.2 trillion yuan, the data showed.

By the end of April, a total of 11,868 public offering funds were being operated by 148 fund management companies, the association said.

The scale of closed-end funds topped 3.82 trillion yuan, while that of open-end funds was about 26.95 trillion yuan, the data showed.

Of the 148 fund management companies, 51 are foreign-funded firms and 97 are domestic firms, the association said. 
MURRAY, Utah (ABC4)  Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill determined the officer who fired their gun while attempting to apprehend a suspect in a stolen vehicle near Fashion Place Mall in Murray in September 2023 was justified in his use of force.

Officers had pulled over the suspect, later identified as Kelsey Raymond Robinson, 28, of Indianapolis, Indiana, near State Street and 6100 South for a traffic violation.

Bodycam footage presented by Gill showed the officer explaining the traffic violation. Once the officer was notified the car was reported as stolen, he approached to ask Robinson to step out of the car.

Robinson can then be seen reversing, ramming the officers patrol car and speeding away nearly pinning a second officer between the cars. Gill said the initial officer fired four shots toward Robinson, striking him with non-life-threatening injuries.

PREVIOUS: Murray suspect tracked to Denver after officer shooting this morning

Gill admitted it is rare to find an officer justified when firing on a moving vehicle. He likened it to stepping in front of an oncoming wrecking ball. Gill said shooting at the wrecking ball is going to do nothing to slow it down.

What was contextually different about this one was that I have an officer who is literally being swept up into that zone of danger if you will and he is reacting to that situation, Gill said. Thats an automatic function of trying to stop that threat that he is under.

Gill said the question for him was whether or not there was direct harm to the officer when the officer chose to fire his weapon.

Robinson was later taken into custody in Colorado. He has since been sentenced to serve at least one year and up to 15 years in the Utah State Prison.

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 ABC4 Utah.
Officer shot, injured by armed woman in Gastonia released from the hospital

Officer shot, injured by armed woman in Gastonia released from the hospital

GASTONIA, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  An officer who was shot and injured by a heavily armed woman during a violent domestic call on May 18 has been released from the hospital.

According to the Gastonia Police Department, the injured officer was released from an area hospital Thursday and will be receiving more care at another facility.

The Gastonia officer was released by hospital staff Thursday with a big round of applause. Several police departments in Gaston County held a procession, as the officer left the hospital.

The Gastonia Police Department wishes to thank all the nurses, doctors, and hospital staff at CaroMont Health who provided excellent medical care, the department said Thursday.

Gastonia Police

Gastonia Police

Authorities said at 1:19 a.m. Saturday, May 18, Gastonia officers were called to South King Street for the report of a violent domestic-related call.

As officers got to the scene, they encountered a woman armed with multiple firearms. Witnesses heard officers yelling drop the guns several times.

The armed woman shot one Gastonia officer in the legs multiple times. That officer and another officer fired back, killing the woman, authorities said.

Four officer-involved shootings in the span of 3 weeks, what are the potential impacts?

The wounded officer was rushed to CaroMont Regional Medical Center by a fellow officer in a patrol car. He was listed in stable condition before being released from the hospital Thursday.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate this shooting.

Queen City News has reached out to Gastonia Police to acquire the identities of the injured officer and woman who was shot and killed during this incident.

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

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 Queen City News.
Officers respond to rollover crash in Springfield

Officers and medics have responded to a rollover crash Thursday morning in Springfield.

>>Man learns sentence after hitting officer with truck during traffic stop

Springfield police officers were dispatched just after 6 a.m. to the intersection of Selma Road and Sunset Avenue on initial reports of a crash.

A Springfield Police Lieutenant told News Center 7 that a vehicle hit a utility pole and rolled over.

Initial scanner traffic indicates that the vehicle is on its side.

We will continue to provide updates on this story.
Poland is considering whether to involve its air defenses in shooting down Russian missiles over Ukrainian territory, Polish Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pawel Wronski told Ukrinform on May 22.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Reuters on May 20 that Western allies, including Poland, could intervene more directly in Ukraine's defense by shooting down Russian missiles.

Wronski responded to Zelensky's statement in comments to Ukrinform, saying that the Polish government is discussing the technical and legal aspects of such a move.

"This issue is being considered from a legal and technical point of view, but there are no decisions in this matter," Wronski said.

Wronski said that Ukraine had approached Poland to propose the air defense initiative.

A Russian missile entered Polish airspace during a massive aerial attack launched against Ukraine on March 24. The missile remained in Polish air for 39 seconds. According to Wronski, the Polish government has been discussing the legal ramifications of shooting down Russian missiles since this incident.

Wronski clarified that Poland is not considering transferring any of its air defense units to Ukraine.

"There is no discussion of this in Poland at all. There is no possibility of the Polish air defence system being outside the country's borders," he said.

Read also: Opinion: The West should launch a new economic Cold War against Russia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR)  The Douglas County Sheriffs Office released a rare video of a stolen vehicle pursuit on Wednesday, showing what they will do to track down thieves. But is that common practice in the Denver area?

A license plate reader flagged the truck as stolen Tuesday night, and deputies quickly caught up to it. The suspect was driving westbound on Lincoln Avenue in Centennial then entered the northbound Interstate 25 on-ramp, and that is where the video starts.

1 in custody, 1 wanted after cars rammed at Wheat Ridge King Soopers

The deputies did what is called a tactical vehicle intervention. Immediately after the truck was stopped, the driver hopped a fence and took off running. But he did not get far before deputies apprehended him. The sheriffs office also said the driver was driving erratically before the pursuit.

I just want to make it really clear: In Douglas County, we will go after bad guys, and in this case, who knew what he was going to do? He already had meth on him, and people that steal cars  they commit other crimes. And we go after bad guys and we put car thieves in jail where they should be, Undersheriff David Walcher said.

But this poses the question: When will authorities pursue a stolen car?

Police dash cam image showing a truck facing the vehicle

Which law enforcement agencies around Denver allow chases?

FOX31 dug into other metro agency policies. The Denver Police Department said there has to be a compelling reason to stop the person, like dangerous behavior, but that compelling need does not include a stolen vehicle alone.

The policy is similar at the Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office. It has to be an extenuating circumstance, and it is always at a supervisors discretion.

Boulder County said that, based solely on the criteria of a stolen vehicle, they would not pursue, but if it also met an additional circumstance  like risk to human life  it may be authorized. Deputies must also weigh other factors before initiating a pursuit, like risk to the community, speed or road conditions.

Train catches fire near I-25 in Douglas County

Jefferson County said its deputies typically do not pursue, saying it would have to be extenuating circumstances, and pursuits are rare.

Tactical expert James Allbee said some agencies are more equipped to pursue than others.

In these fluid situations, that could change second to second, minute to minute depending on the changing environment and what theyre dealing with. Its all going to all be up to the agencies on whos calling the shots and, honestly, how much liability they are undergoing when these types of decisions are being made, Allbee said.

Colorado car theft drops 21%

There has been a 21% decrease in stolen cars statewide, according to the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority, but it is still a huge issue because the numbers are still high compared to other states.

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox

Cale Gould with CATPA said there is some personal responsibility as well.

Incidents remain high, but volume-wise, we are reducing drastically. Big steps in the right direction. However, we always tell people to remain diligent and take the right steps, the right precautions, Gould said.

The Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority has assistance for auto theft victims. Find that assistance here.

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 FOX31 Denver.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks, Thursday, May 23, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday that he is calling a special session of the General Assembly next week to pass legislation ensuring President Joe Biden is on the state's 2024 ballot. (AP Photo/Patrick Orsagos)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Ohio's Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday that he is calling a rare special session of the General Assembly next week to pass legislation ensuring that President Joe Biden is on the state's 2024 ballot.

The special session was called for Tuesday.

Ohio is running out of time to get Joe Biden, the sitting President of the United States, on the ballot this fall. Failing to do so is simply unacceptable. This is ridiculous. This is (an) absurd situation, DeWine said.

The question of whether Biden will appear on the ballot has become entangled in a partisan legislative fight to keep foreign money out of state ballot campaigns, a year after cash tied to a Swiss billionaire boosted a successful effort to enshrine abortion rights in the solidly red states constitution.

The Democratic National Convention, where Biden is to be formally nominated, falls after Ohios ballot deadline of Aug. 7. The convention will be held Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.

Since Ohio changed its certification deadline from 60 to 90 days ahead of the general election, state lawmakers have had to adjust the requirement twice, in 2012 and 2020, to accommodate candidates of both parties. Each change was only temporary.

This year lawmakers were unable to come up with a fix by the May 9 cutoff set by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

DeWine said he spoke to LaRose on Thursday and he said were up against a wall. LaRose told him next Wednesday is the drop-dead deadline.

Ive waited. Ive been patient. And my patience has run out, DeWine said.

DeWine said his proclamation will allow for passing a Senate version of the bill that also bans foreign nationals from contributing to Ohio ballot measures.

The proposal has been described as a poison pill in the fractured Ohio House, where Republicans rely on Democratic votes for pass some legislation.

In a statement, a spokesman for Senate President Matt Huffman encouraged House leadership to allow a vote on House Bill 114.

We agree with the Governor. It is time to protect Ohios elections by outlawing foreign campaign contributions, while at the same time fixing the Democratic Partys error that kept Joe Biden off the November ballot, the statement said.

DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said after the governor spoke that a clean House bill that would change the ballot deadline on a permanent basis also could be considered.

Ohio House Democratic leader Allison Russo said via the social platform X that money from foreign donors is already illegal and the real issue is dark money going to candidates.

GOP strategy: change the rules when you cant win, Russo said. Theyre terrified when citizens use their voice w/ direct democracy, so now they want to completely upend citizens ability to fund ballot initiatives. Any talk of foreign money is a red herring.

State Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters accused GOP lawmakers of politicizing the process and disenfranchising Ohioans.

We must pass the Ohio Anti-Corruption Act, which would require dark money groups to identify their funders, disclose their spending, and strengthen the ban on foreign money, Walters said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Republican politicians who hold supermajorities in both chambers at the statehouse must put politics aside and pass a clean bill to put Joe Biden on the ballot, she continued. Despite Republicans political gamesmanship, were confident Joe Biden will be on the Ohio ballot.

Republican state House Speaker Jason Stephens said lawmakers have language that bans foreign influence from ballot issue campaigns without hurting the rights of citizens.

We look forward to real solutions that will actually pass both chambers next week and solve problems, Stephens said in a statement.

And fellow Republican JD Vance, U.S. senator from Ohio, issued a statement saying the calling of a special session is a reasonable compromise.

Vance expressed confidence that former President Donald Trump would beat Biden regardless of whether he's on the ballot, but he said a lot of Trump voters might sit at home if there isnt a real presidential race, and that will really hurt our down ballot races for the Senate and Congress. We need to play chess.

The Ohio Republican Party strongly supports DeWines decision, chairman Alex M. Triantafilou said.

There was no immediate response by the Biden campaign to a message requesting comment.

Alabama recently changed its law to ensure Biden will appear on fall ballots. The Alabama bill offered accommodations to the president like those made four years ago for then-President Donald Trump.

The last time Ohio lawmakers were ordered back to Columbus in a such a manner was in 2004, under Republican Gov. Bob Taft, to consider campaign finance reform
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Ohios Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday that he is calling a special session of the General Assembly next week to pass legislation ensuring President Joe Biden is on the states 2024 ballot.

Ohio is running out of time to get Joe Biden, the sitting President of the United States, on the ballot this fall. Failing to do so is simply unacceptable. This is ridiculous. This is (an) absurd situation, DeWine said.

The question of whether Biden will appear on the state ballot has become entangled in a partisan legislative fight to keep foreign money out of state ballot campaigns, a year after cash tied to a Swiss billionaire boosted a successful effort to enshrine abortion rights in the solidly red states constitution.

The Democratic National Convention, where Biden is to be formally nominated, falls after Ohios ballot deadline of Aug. 7. The convention will be held Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.

Since Ohio changed its certification deadline from 60 to 90 days ahead of its general election, state lawmakers have had to adjust the requirement twice, in 2012 and 2020, to accommodate candidates of both parties. Each change was only temporary.

Lawmakers were unable to come up with a fix by the May 9 cutoff set by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

DeWine said he spoke to LaRose on Thursday and he said were up against a wall. LaRose told him next Wednesday is the drop-dead deadline.

Ive waited. Ive been patient. And my patience has run out, DeWine said.

Alabama recently changed its law to ensure Biden will appear on fall ballots. The Alabama bill offers accommodations to the president like those made four years ago for then-President Donald Trump.
The Ohio Lottery has started notifying residents who may have had their personal information leaked after a Christmas Eve security breach.

An unauthorized actor accessed the lottery's internal office network on Dec. 24, 2023 and customer and retailer information was potentially exposed, according to a news release.

The lottery finished its investigation into the attack in April and found that data including full names and Social Security numbers had been leaked.

The Ohio Lottery has started notifying residents who may have had their personal information leaked after a Christmas Eve security breach.

The organization offered people affected one year of credit monitoring and identity theft protection services through IDX, a digital security company, according to a letter sent to an affected Ohio resident.

The USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau reached out to the Ohio Lottery to ask about the number of people affected and how the breach happened but did not receive an immediate response.

The Ohio Lottery has urged people affected by the breach to call the response line at 1-888-658-9188.

Erin Glynn is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Lottery leak potentially exposed customers' personal data
Title icon

The News

Republicans and Democrats are fending off reports that Joe Biden will be left off the Ohio ballot, after Secretary of State Frank LaRose warned Democrats this week that he may be forced to prepare ballots that do not include the Democratic Partys nominees for president and vice president.

LaRose first floated that possibility last month, as Republicans in Ohio and Alabama pointed out that their relatively early deadlines to finalize ballots would come after the Democratic National Convention, when the party will officially nominate the Biden-Harris ticket again.

Alabamas Republican-led legislature quickly and unanimously passed a bill to resolve that problem. But Ohios Republican-led legislature passed nothing, after LaRose urged the fix to include a ban on foreign donors contributing to ballot initiatives  a factor in last years passage of an abortion rights Constitutional amendment, which LaRose campaigned against.

On Tuesday, when it was clear that the legislative session would finish without a fix, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told reporters that no one should worry about Biden being left off the ballot.

This is not going to be a situation where the presidents name is not on the ballot, he said. So its either going to be done by the court, or its going to be done by the legislature.

The end of the session, and LaRoses judgment that a provisional certification from Democrats doesnt meet the states legal standard, leaves Democrats with two options. One, as DeWine suggested, would be a lawsuit; the other, which couldnt be done until the end of Democratic primaries next month, would be an early, pre-convention DNC vote to officially nominate the ticket.

Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states, and we are assessing next steps accordingly, said Biden campaign spokesman Charles Lutvak. Election after election, states across the country have acted in line with the bipartisan consensus and taken the necessary steps to ensure the presidential nominees from both parties will be on the ballot.

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Davids view

Almost every Democrat agrees with the Biden campaign here  Republicans have needlessly forced them to spend resources on the Ohio ballot, but theyll get there. What Ive seen this week is frustration that LaRoses moves get national headlines (sorry about that!), couched as warnings that Ohio voters might not get to vote for Biden at all.

That response, in itself, is interesting. When liberal legal groups and two Democratic secretaries of state challenged Donald Trumps presidential eligibility last year, Republicans rushed to defend Trump, and warned that small-D democracy was at risk. Tulsi Gabbard, the ex-Democrat whos embraced Trump with the zeal of a convert, delivered some of the most memorable warnings: The Biden/Harris Administration and the Democrat elite are abusing their power and actively undermining our Constitutional Republic by doing all they possibly can to unilaterally prevent President Trump from being on the ballot.

Liberal-leaning media outlets have fretted about this, but Democrats havent tried to exploit it; the Biden campaign, for example, hasnt raised money off of the Ohio threat. It hasnt really slotted into a major Biden theme  that democracy is on the ballot  because they expect it to be resolved, and the resolution may steal the thunder of their Chicago convention by requiring them to start some proceedings early.

Thats a decent-sized risk. Earlier this month, after Politicos Jonathan Martin reported that the DNC might hold a virtual roll call to avoid any protests or messiness, the Uncommitted Movement of Gaza activists who are protesting Biden demanded a meeting with the party chair. LaRoses approach to this wont keep Biden off the ballot, but its given the party two options for success  lawsuits or bureaucratic gymnastics.

Title icon

Notable

LaRose also ran for Senate this year in an especially nasty three-way fight that businessman Bernie Moreno ultimately won.

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The Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.)

To paraphrase Cicero, how long, O gerrymandered Ohio lawmakers, will you continue abusing our patience? How long is that madness of yours still to mock us?

Ohio Statehouse Republicans stand determined to make a lurid, revolting example of themselves on just how toxic, misrepresentative, and destructive gerrymandering can be.

In our top three stories in the Ohio Capital Journal on Wednesday, Ohio Statehouse Republican politicians are 1.) refusing to put the sitting President of the United States on the ballot in Ohio, 2.) proposing to make teachers and librarians felons under a vague obscenity law, and 3.) Advocating suffocating prisoners to death with a method veterinarians wont use on animals.

To take the last of these first, a bipartisan majority of Ohioans support repealing the death penalty, and as much as Ive kept out a sharp and discerning eye, Ive seen no large-scale popular movement encouraging the state to find creative new ways to execute people.

Meanwhile, Ohio teachers are facing massive layoffs and funding cuts while watching our state government redirect $1 billion worth of public resources to serve 10% of students at private schools. Also, Ohio libraries and librarians are facing funding cuts of their own, and cutting back library hours.

But instead of trying to help Ohio teachers and librarians succeed and thrive, Ohio lawmakers are exploring their options in manifesting a culture of fear and paranoia in our centers of learning, perpetuating a national right-wing extremist propaganda campaign against educators of all types.

It began with critical race theory hysteria, then became anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-trans hysteria, then became anti-DEI hysteria and anti-university hysteria. And now its just a bubbling cauldron of seething, frothing resentment, scapegoating, lying, gaslighting, fear-mongering, and victim-blaming in all directions.

Nobody else can ever be a victim, you see, because they are always the real victims.

Allowing LGBTQ+ people equal citizenship and civil and health care rights? Thats, somehow, an attack on them, they cry.

Being honest about the rampant racism thats motivated vast swaths of American history, and reverberates in the wildly disparate public outcomes of systemic racism today? Thats reverse racism against them, they shriek.

Acknowledging the facts of empirical data and reality and expertise? Thats woke mind virus, they pull their hair and fall on knees wailing.

But worse than being content to soak in the dirty bathwater of their own ignorance, they seek to force the rest of us into it as well.

They design to use the hammer of law to attack teachers, universities, libraries, unions, and minority communities. They maneuver to create a chilling effect on free speech and expression that flies against everything for which America has traditionally stood.

They appear to live in fear of knowledge and loathing for the beauty in humankinds diversity, and for that I pity them: What a small and narrow worldview they freely cage their own minds in.

Unfortunately, discontent to sit by themselves in their self-made cages, they seek to compel the public at-large to be forced to sit in their cages as well.

The number of public school book bans across the country increased by 33% in the 2022-23 school year compared to the 2021-22 school year, according to a September PEN America report. Since PEN America started tracking public school book bans in July 2021, the organization has recorded nearly 6,000 instances of banned books.

Even more immediately dangerous than their disdain and antipathy toward expertise and acquired knowledge and freedom of thought and expression, however, is their open resentment of representative democracy.

In Ohio, Republican politicians ignored seven anti-gerrymandering rulings from a bipartisan Ohio Supreme Court, thereby forcing Ohioans to participate in more gerrymandered elections in 2022, awarding them the continued supermajorities in which they now sit.

They enacted one of the most restrictive anti-voters laws in the country, and they made a national disgrace of themselves last August trying to attack the constitutional power of Ohio voters.

And in their latest flourish, Ohios unconstitutionally gerrymandered Republican supermajority General Assembly is abdicating their responsibility to perform the simplest duties of good governance, spitting in the face of 2.6 million Ohio voters who cast ballots for Biden in 2020 by refusing to put him on the ballot for reelection. Even Alabama was able to quickly address and fix their similar situation. Not Ohio.

Gerrymandered Ohio lawmakers apparently only know how to operate under an ethos of political extortion and quid pro quo corruption.

The idea of public service and good governance for its own sake  whether in promotion of free and fair elections or even the noble pursuit of promoting the peoples best interests  appears to baffle and confound them.

All of this is interconnected: The extremism, the irresponsibility, the misrepresentation and abuse of the public, the wanton corruption, the arrogance and expectation of never being held accountable.

As I have said many times, gerrymandering poisons everything.

It pushes politicians to extremes, denies voters their voice, opens the door to corruption, perpetuates misrepresentation, radicalizes discourse, kills compromise, and disintegrates democracy.

So, to answer our paraphrased Cicero, how long is this madness still to mock us?

Until we say, Enough.

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The post Ohio Statehouse Republicans stand determined to prove how toxic gerrymandering is appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and five others injured on Wednesday evening after a jeep fell into a ditch in the mountainous area of Abbottabad district in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said police.

Local police stated that the jeep plunged into the ditch after the driver lost control in the Bakote area of Abbottabad, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, including three women.

Police and rescue teams quickly arrived at the scene and transported the bodies and the injured to a nearby hospital.

Medical personnel expressed concern that the death toll might rise further, as three of the injured are in critical condition.

Police added that the deceased were from the same village and were returning home after shopping when the accident occurred. 
Here are the Ohio stores and businesses that will be open on Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend is here, the unofficial start of summer as well as a time to honor those who died while serving our country.

If you need something for that backyard barbecue, or just need to pop out for some shopping, be aware that some stores may be closed or open limited hours for the federal holiday.

Here's what to know.

When is Memorial Day 2024?

Memorial Day this year falls on Monday, May 27. It is always the last Monday in May.

Separate celebrations: When is Memorial Day? When is Labor Day? The difference between the 2 holidays

Why do we celebrate Memorial Day?

Memorial Day is a holiday set aside to honor the men and women killed while serving in the U.S. military, according to the History Channel. It began following the Civil War, when people paid tribute to soldiers by decorating their graves, and was originally known as Observance Day. It became a federal holiday in 1971.

Are grocery stores open for Memorial Day 2024?

Here's a list of Ohio grocery stores that will be open or closed on Memorial Day:

A Kroger store in Greater Cincinnati.

Is Kroger open on Memorial Day? Kroger Memorial Day hours might vary

Kroger stores will be open for Memorial Day, though hours may vary by location. Check your local store online at Kroger's website.

Is Giant Eagle open on Memorial Day? Giant Eagle's Memorial Day hours

Giant Eagle, as well as its Market District and GetGo locations, will be open normal hours on Memorial Day, a company spokesperson said in an email. The Pharmacy will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Is Aldi open on Memorial Day? Check Aldi's Memorial Day hours

Aldi stores will be open limited hours on Memorial Day, according to its website. Check the specific hours of your local Aldi using its store locator.

Is Acme Fresh Market open on Memorial Day?

Acme stores will be open normal hours for the holiday, according to the company's website, but the pharmacy will close at 2 p.m.

Whole Foods at Daniels Marketplace.

Is Whole Foods open on Memorial Day? Hours vary on Memorial Day

Whole Food stores will be open normal hours for Memorial Day, the company told USA TODAY. Hours vary by location, so check with your local store for their specific hours.

Is Trader Joe's open on Memorial Day?

Trader Joe's will be open for the holiday. Check your local store on its website for specific hours. Many locations are open from 8 a.m.9 p.m. on normal business days.

Is Walmart open on Memorial Day? Check Walmart Memorial Day hours before shopping

Walmart stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Memorial Day, a company spokesperson told USA TODAY. But check with your local Walmart or visit the online store directory before heading out.

Is Target open on Memorial Day?

According to its website, Target stores will be open regular hours for the holiday.

Is Meijer open on Memorial Day? Check for Meijer Memorial Day hours

Meijer will be open on the holiday. Check your local store for specific hours.

Is Costco open on Memorial Day?

According to Costco's website, warehouses will be closed on Memorial Day.

Is Sam's Club open on Memorial Day? Sam's Club membership determines Memorial Day shopping hours

Sam's Club will be open shortened hours on Memorial Day, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Plus members and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Club members, according to its website.

Does the mail run on Memorial Day? Is there trash pickup? Are other stores open?

Can you expect mail on Memorial Day? Here's a list of other stores' hours and services that are closed for the holiday.

The Marysville Post Office on May 10, 2024.

Is the U.S. Post Office open on Memorial Day?

Mail will not be delivered on Memorial Day, a federal holiday.

Is there trash pickup on Memorial Day?

Check with your refuse collection service about their Memorial Day plans. Some private haulers may be running that day.

Is Hobby Lobby open on Memorial Day?

Hobby Lobby's website advises people to check with their local stores via its store finder function about Memorial Day hours.

Is Home Depot open on Memorial Day?

Home Depot will be open on the holiday. Its website recommends checking with your local store for specific hours.

Is Lowe's open on Memorial Day?

Lowe's is open for Memorial Day. Use its store finder search to check hours near you.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: What Ohio stores will be open on Memorial Day? Here are the hours
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump raised $40 million from oil executives and other deep-pocketed donors in Texas, marking Wednesdays haul as one of the most profitable days for the presumptive Republican nominee seeking to close a fundraising gap with President Joe Biden.

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The one-day cash raise from events in Houston and Dallas, described by people familiar with the events, comes as Trump directly appeals to the oil industry for support in his presidential bid with promises to dial back environmental regulations, which are drawing congressional scrutiny.

Trump first met with donors at Houstons posh Post Oak Hotel  a 700,000 square-foot mixed-use site owned by billionaire Houston businessman Tilman Fertitta that houses a Rolls Royce dealership and is topped with a helicopter pad. Hotel guests have the option to purchase one of the Rolls Royce cars and charge it to their rooms. Trump later attended a dinner in Dallas.

Trump made pledges to those in attendance in Houston  many of whom donned luxury fashion brands and cowboy boots  to drill, baby, drill and open up more areas for energy development. Continental Resources Inc. Chair Harold Hamm and Occidental Petroleum Corp. Chief Executive Officer Vicki Hollub were among those present.

The oil and gas industry has increasingly shelled out to support Trumps bid. Its a relationship that has come under scrutiny by congressional Democrats, with two US Senate committees on Thursday opening an investigation into whether Trump is soliciting campaign donations from oil companies and their executives in exchange for policy decisions.

The probe is tied to Trumps entreaties for $1 billion in donations during an April meeting with oil and gas executives at his Mar-a-Lago resort, described by people familiar with the exchange.

Trumps day of fundraising in Texas came close to the more than $50 million raised last month at a Palm Beach event hosted by billionaire John Paulson. The former president has ramped up fundraising efforts since he became the presumptive Republican nominee in March.

Of the $40 million raised, $15 million is money specifically for the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and the state parties, according to a person familiar. The rest is super political action committee money, which can be used to support Trump, but the PAC organizers cant coordinate directly with the campaign.

Biden, with $192 million in the bank, has roughly twice as much cash on hand as Trump. However, in April, Trump outraised Biden for the first time, signaling the former president may be able to tighten that gap.

Read More: Trump Leads Biden in Monthly Fundraising for First Time

Political Allies

During his Wednesday luncheon speech in Houston before roughly 150 donors, according to people at the event, Trump highlighted Bidens verbal and physical stumbles, criticized the number of undocumented immigrants crossing the southern border and, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton looking on, discussed the states legal fights against the administration.

Trump, who has said he would consider Paxton to serve as attorney general in a potential second administration, praised the Texas Republican for being legally attacked after his impeachment last year by his states House of Representatives before being acquitted by the Senate. Trump called Paxton a great Texan, one person in the room said.

Taken together, Trumps luncheon remarks were all about winning in November, Texas Republican State Senator Mayes Middleton said.

With some of the biggest oil and gas company bosses in front of him, Trump only briefly touched on energy issues during his lunchtime speech, people in the room said. One billionaire oilman said he left early because of the lack of policy specifics.

Energy Discussions

Detailed energy policy talk came later in a smaller roundtable at the Post Oak Hotel with fewer than a dozen donors. Trump was flanked by North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a potential pick for vice president, who handled some of the finer points, one person in the room said.

The group discussed Chinas dominance in electric vehicle manufacturing and other matters, said Canary Drilling Services LLC Chief Executive Officer Dan Eberhart.

Industry officials emphasized their fear that the current regulatory approach in Washington amounts to death by a thousand cuts for oil and gas companies, Eberhart said. Trump, in turn, repeatedly stressed that he stands for whats good for America, and that we need energy to thrive and keep the economy growing, Eberhart said.

Concerns were also raised about Californias unique legal authority to set more stringent air pollution standards than the federal government, Eberhart said.

--With assistance from Nancy Cook, Stephanie Lai, Bill Allison and Ari Natter.

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OKCPD search for two in connection to theft case

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Oklahoma City Police Department are asking for the publics assistance identifying these two individuals regarding a theft.

According to police, the theft occurred in the 2100 block of SW 59th Street.

Alleged theft suspects, Image courtesy OKCPD "X" platform

Alleged theft suspects, Image courtesy OKCPD "X" platform

Alleged theft suspects, Image courtesy OKCPD "X" platform

Officials say the investigation is still in its early stages. Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers at 405.235.7300 or okccrimetips.com.

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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Authorities have seized more than 17,500 untagged marijuana plants and 600 pounds of processed marijuana that was untraceable, the state attorney generals office announced.

Based on a tip from the Blaine County sheriffs office, an illegal marijuana grow was raided Tuesday near Watonga, about 70 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. The plants were removed for destruction.

Four firearms also were seized.

Authorities said in a news release that the plants were found in a search of more than 100 hoop houses and other structures in a densely packed area.

More: Oklahoma marijuana bust seizes 32,000 illegal cannabis plants in 3-day sting

The plants allegedly were headed for the black market.

The drug cartels and crime syndicates are steadily getting the message that Oklahoma will not tolerate their nefarious activities, state Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a statement. We want them out of our state and out of our lives. Law enforcement will continue to crack down and do what needs to be done to eliminate this pestilence.

The seizure was a joint operation of the attorney generals Organized Crime Task Force and the Blaine County sheriffs office, with additional assistance from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and the Oklahoma City Police Department.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma seizes 17,500 untagged marijuana plants in Blaine County
An Oklahoma woman was sentenced to federal prison for a million-dollar wire fraud scheme.

A Healdton woman who created a fake Facebook account with the name Bradley Cooper is headed to federal prison for swindling a retiree out of more than $1 million.

In Muskogee federal court this month, U.S. District Judge Ronald A. White sentenced Amber Nicole Pickelsimer to 41 months in prison for wire fraud.

White ordered Pickelsimer, 45, to pay the victim $1,050,000 in restitution.

We take extortion threats very seriously and will investigate them to the fullest extent of federal law, Sonia Garcia, acting special agent in charge of the FBI Oklahoma City field office, said in a news release. The criminals who think they can extort innocent people should know there will be consequences. These crimes cause severe emotional distress to the victims and will not be tolerated.

Pickelsimer pleaded guilty to the crime.

More: Nigerian man in OKC sentenced in romance scam involving Alabama woman

In her plea agreement, Pickelsimer admitted to defrauding the victim of their retirement savings through a blackmail scheme over a 19-month period starting in February 2019.

The victim was an acquaintance. Pickelsimer, under fake names, claimed to have damaging material about a relative of the victim and threatened to release the information unless the victim delivered money to a drop site.

On Feb. 6, 2019, Pickelsimer sent a message from a social media account created in the name of Bradley Cooper.

In the message, she demanded that $10,000 be paid to Bradley Cooper.

Pickelsimer created other fake social media accounts, including one under the name Kylie Price, and continued to convince her victim to drop off money.

Pickelsimer will self-report on June 13 to a designated U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-parolable sentence.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma woman sentenced for creating fake Facebook, extorting retiree
A line of Nebraskans formed Wednesday to take photos with the newly unveiled bust sculpture of Malcolm X, which was designed by Lincoln artist Nathan Murray, who is shown here with Malcolm X's daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz (right of the bust) and JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, executive director of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation. The bust is to be displayed in the State Capitol Rotunda before placed permanently in a Capitol hallway with other Hall of Fame busts. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  While Malcolm X left Nebraska before he turned 2 years old, it is here that the roots of the human rights hero were planted, his daughter told more than 200 people gathered Wednesday for his induction into Nebraskas Hall of Fame.

Ilyasah Shabazz said she was honored by Nebraskas embrace. She told the audience that she sees her fathers entry as the states 27th hall-of-famer, and the halls first African American, as significant in urging others to push boundaries and reflect on how to make an impact.

The bust of Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little in 1925 in Omaha, was unveiled during the induction ceremony. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

He challenged us to be better human beings as he introduced a human rights agenda into the Civil Rights Movement, said Shabazz, of New York. Let Malcolms dedication to truth and justice inspire us all, ensuring that future generations understand the full story of my fathers life and transformation as it relates to their journeys.

Never thought hed see the day

Wednesdays official induction ceremony, held in the Nebraska Capitols Warner Chamber with overflow seating in other areas, capped a journey of its own  one that included the rejection of at least two previous nominations.

Some along the way thought Malcolm X  who would have turned 99 years old this past weekend  was too controversial for the hall created by the Nebraska Legislature in 1961. It was designed to officially recognize Nebraskans who have made significant contributions to the state and the nation.

A new member can be added every five years. They must be deceased at least 35 years.

Hall of Fame Commission members vote on nominees, and Ron Hull, then-chair of the committee and a longtime public television broadcaster, cast the deciding vote in 2022 on Malcolm Xs nomination. Hull has since died but on Wednesday the commissions Sara Crook recounted his words:

Gov. Jim Pillen declared Wednesday, May 22, Malcolm X Day in Nebraska. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

Malcolm used the lessons he learned early in life and his intellectual power, dedication and perseverance in the fight for freedom and equality for all. His work and his legacy continue to impact the citizens of the world.

Kicking off the event was a Muslim prayer given by Bilal Nosilla and Rebeen Kareem, both of Nebraska, in recognition of Malcolm Xs religious and spiritual contributions.

Also speaking at the event was Gov. Jim Pillen, who proclaimed Wednesday Malcolm X Day in Nebraska.

A climactic moment came with the unveiling of a bust of Malcolm X, sculpted by Lincoln artist Nathan Murray. The piece is to be displayed in the Capitol Rotunda initially. It will eventually be placed in a State Capitol hallway amid other Hall of Fame member busts.

Former State Sen. Ernie Chambers also spoke, offering a sense of what, to some, seemed an improbable feat.

Former State Sen. Ernie Chambers talks to audience members Wednesday in a hallway of the Capitol where other Hall of Fame member busts are displayed. Chambers met with Malcolm X in the summer of 1964 when Malcolm X was in Omaha for a a speaking tour, according to the slain human rights leaders daughter. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

At age 86  and after having served 46 years in the Legislature, the longest-serving of any state lawmaker  Chambers said he thought hed never live to see the day.

I never thought in my wildest dream that I would live long enough  to see a white conservative Republican governor in a white ultraconservative state like Nebraska participate in the induction of Malcolm X into the Hall of Fame.

No accident

JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, who heads the Omaha-based Malcolm X Foundation, said later that the moment serves as an opportunity to correct the historical context  including Malcolm Xs short time in Nebraska.

She said it was no accident Malcolm X was born in Omaha, where his parents had intended to stay.

He only left at a young age because his family was chased out of Nebraska because of their world view on the philosophy that Black people should be equal and self-sufficient in this country,  LeFlore-Ejike said.

LeFlore-Ejike said the journey to the Hall of Fame can serve as a tool for educators, historians and emerging leaders to use in reinforcing the importance of collaboration and perseverance for something of this magnitude to take place.

A new Malcolm X museum and cultural center is to be built in North Omaha, on grounds managed by the human rights leaders memorial foundation. (Courtesy of Malcolm X Memorial Foundation)

Shabazz, one of six daughters born to Malcolm X and his wife, Betty, said she was humbled at the cheering and reception by Nebraskans.

I think weve come a long way, she said, of the route to get to the Hall of Fame. We still have far to go, but weve come a long way.

She and LeFlore-Ejike said Malcolm Xs evolution and message is especially important to young generations.

Malcolm has a journey that a lot of people can relate to, said LeFlore-Ejike. They can learn how to push through adversity and be resilient.

Shabazz said she looks forward to returning to Nebraska to see the growing Omaha campus that honors the legacy of her father. Under the wings of the Malcolm X foundation, the memorial site was developed around Malcolm Xs first home near 35th and Pinkney Streets in Omaha.

With a boost from a $20 million federal grant allocated by the Legislature, it is poised for further expansion including a museum.

Born Malcolm Little in 1925

Born Malcolm Little at University Hospital in Omaha on May 19, 1925, Malcolm X was the son of Earl and Louise Little.

The family moved to another state after Earl Little  who helped organize the Omaha chapter of the Universal Negro Improvement Association  faced threats by white supremacist night riders.

Malcolm X poses for a portrait on Feb. 16, 1965, in Rochester, New York. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Earl Little was killed, and shortly afterward, his wife was diagnosed with a mental illness, pushing the state to split up Malcolm and his seven siblings into foster care.

Eventually, Malcolm was sent to Boston to live with his older sister Ella Collins-Little and relocated to New York, where he was convicted of burglary and served a prison sentence of about 6.5 years. During that time, he became self-educated, started attracting attention for his oratory skills, and converted to Islam prior to his release, according to History Nebraska.

After leaving prison, Malcolm took the name Malcolm X and studied under Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam during his 12-year membership. Malcolm was known for being outspoken about the mistreatment of Blacks and advocated nationwide for their human rights in America. He was documented speaking at numerous institutions across the country and over a dozen nations overseas.

During his pilgrimage to Mecca, he converted to Orthodox Islam, abandoning concepts of racial antagonism; counseling others about the need for human brotherhood and international cooperation.

As a result of his travels, Malcolm X, also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, formed the Organization of Afro-American Unity and Moslem Mosque Inc. His autobiography was published in 1964, just a few months before his death. Malcolm X was assassinated on Feb. 21, 1965, in New York City.

Nathan Murray, at right, the Lincoln artist who created the bust of Malcom X, talks to people as they line up to get a photo with the bust. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

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The post Omaha-born Malcolm X takes a place in Nebraska Hall of Fame amid cheering, sculpted bust unveiled appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Ombudsman: 13 more children return to Ukraine from Russia with Qatar's assistance

Another 13 children were returned to Ukraine from Russia with the help of Qatar, Ukraine's Chief Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets announced on May 23.

Qatar acts as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia to bring back Ukrainian children illegally held by Russia.

At least 19,500 Ukrainian children have been confirmed as abducted by Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and less than 400 have been returned home, according to the Ukrainian government's Children of War database.

Seven of the 13 children were returned from Russian-occupied territories, while the remaining six were returned through the framework of the Bring Kids Back UA plan, initiated by President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to the announcement, a 15-year-old girl from occupied Mariupol was among the 13 returned children.

Lubinets visited Qatar in April, where he delivered a list with the names of 561 Ukrainian children illegally held in Russia to Qatari officials. He said he expects results on "other issues" discussed during his visit to the country.

The Ombudsman said that the Office of the Commissioner, other state bodies of Ukraine, as well as Qatar participated in the return of the children.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 17, 2023, over the deportation of Ukrainian children. The 123 member states of the ICC are required to arrest Putin if he steps foot on their territory.

Putin previously praised Lvova-Belova for her work overseeing the deportation of Ukrainian children, portraying it as a so-called "humanitarian effort" to "protect Russian citizens."

Read also: Russias latest offensive into Kharkiv Oblast is stretching Ukrainian defenses

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Retirement was pretty idyllic for Mac and Debbie McKeever, who moved to Fort Mohave in Arizona for the desert views, starry nights and fresh air. The couple hosted cocktails by the pool and taco Tuesdays with their neighbors  an active bunch of Republican-voting retirees with a penchant for gas-guzzling RVs and side-by-sides, and the unlikeliest environmental activists.

However, in late November 2023, the McKeevers found out that the local government, the Mohave county board of supervisors, was about to vote on a zoning proposal for a gas-fired peaker plant less than 1,200ft (0.2 miles) from their middle-class neighborhood Sunrise Hills.

Peaker plants are designed to fire up to meet spikes in energy demand when people get home from work or during a heatwave. If approved the plants jet engine turbines would block the McKeevers view of the majestic Black mountains, while spewing carbon dioxide particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides, as well as leaking methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.

Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) and its umbrella organization, Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (Aepco), claimed this kind of plant is essential to avoid price increases and blackouts. And that the proposed gas-fired peaker is the cheapest, cleanest, and most reliable option for their customers  and necessary to end their reliance on coal, they say.

At the board meeting in early December, several residents spoke passionately against building a toxic eyesore so close to their homes. Yet even more folks spoke in favor of the plant, with many repeating the utilitys talking points about affordability, avoiding outages and keeping emergency services running. It was approved by a 4-to-1 majority.

Life was good. And then the peaker plant turned it into a miserable nightmare, said Mac McKeever, a retired aerospace manager who helped lead the communitys not in any neighborhood campaign.

Over the next few months, the Sunrise Hills retirees  among them many climate crisis skeptics and committed fossil fuel proponents  uncovered a trail of misinformation that appear to suggest MEC and Aepco, which is developing and will own and operate the gas combustion turbines, were at times opaque as they sought to fast-track approval and circumvent closer scrutiny. MEC/Aepco categorically deny any effort to intentionally mislead anyone.

The retirees organized and began fact-checking and calling out claims about affordability, outages and low pollution made by MEC and Aepco in the glossy brochure and during public meetings.

It turned out that with a capacity of 98 megawatts, the two-turbine proposal fell just under the 100MW limit that requires a state-mandated comprehensive environmental review of impacts such as emissions, noise and water consumption by an expert committee at the state utility regulator, the Arizona corporation commission (ACC). Yet the utility has openly discussed plans to eventually double the size of the plant.

It also turned out that many of the county residents who spoke favorably of the plant in front of the board were in fact MEC employees and board members.

And while the Mohave gas-fired peaker may be cleaner than coal or diesel plants, gas remains much more harmful to air quality and the climate than renewable energy options  which thanks to recent scientific advances are now, in many cases, as or more cost-efficient and reliable (with battery storage and grid connectivity) than fossil fuel-based sources.

They thought we were idiots, but were educated, retired citizens with nothing else to do but go to battle with them, said Mary Arciniega, who has asthma and COPD and was among a core group who spent hours sharing research and strategizing in McKeevers garage.

We are not activist types, but we educated ourselves and became a force to be reckoned with, added Deb McKeever, 66, who suffers from asthma, which can be exacerbated by the toxic chemicals spewed out by gas plants.

Related:They keep coming back: a Black community in Arizona battles power expansion plans again

Yet in Arizona, and many other US states, despite the availability of cheaper and cleaner options, gas expansion is being aided by local and national campaigns against renewables.

The Mohave peaker plant was voted on by the board just weeks after it voted unanimously for a temporary moratorium on renewable energy projects amid claims the county was being blighted by federally funded corporate solar farms to generate green energy for California and Nevada  and that solar would exacerbate current water shortages.

While gas-fired plants are more water efficient than coal-fired electricity, they still use much more than solar, which requires virtually no water after construction.

And while the moratorium excludes local utilities including MEC, it appears to have sown confusion among residents  and even the board. I will continue to support gas-powered peaker plants as long as we have a moratorium on alternative energy, said Jean Bishop, one of the five board supervisors, addressing MEC directly at a meeting in April.

MECs proposal for new gas infrastructure in one of the USs sunniest swaths of desert, appears to be part of a broader effort to keep Arizona dependent on fossil fuels for decades to come. This is despite the state facing a multitude of worsening climate impacts including extreme heat, drought, floods, wildfires and water scarcity.

Proposals for about three dozen new gas turbines are currently making their way through the state permitting pipeline, according Sandy Bahr, director of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club. Were seeing a rush for gas when we should be getting off fossil fuels. Mohave is just the tip of the iceberg.

This includes proposals by several utilities that fall just under 100MW that will avoid oversight by the independent power plant and line siting committee, which is part of the ACC, the state utility regulator.

The committee requires a certificate of environmental compatibility and provides the only forum for communities, experts and other interested parties like environmental and ratepayer groups to testify and challenge claims by the utility. Otherwise, residents are limited to making public comments in local air quality and building permit processes.

Last month, the committee rejected a brazen bid by the utility UniSource to exempt its proposed 200MW methane plant from the CEC on the grounds it should be considered as four separate 50MW power plants. (UniSource has appealed the ruling.)

The utilities claim they need to build more fossil fuels to get off fossil fuels, its absurd, but a talking point thats repeated by lawmakers and commissioners who are ideologically anti-clean energy, anti-Biden and anti-green new deal, said Autumn Johnson from Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association (AriSEIA), a trade group.

These claims hold weight in the Republican-controlled state legislature, where more than half a dozen anti-renewable bills have been proposed so far this year, in addition to multiple local ordinances restricting or halting renewables like a solar moratorium in Mohave county. Meanwhile, the Republican controlled utility regulator, the ACC, has implemented rules that create unfavorable conditions for rooftop and community solar  and recently voted to repeal the states renewable energy mandate, which requires utilities to obtain 15% of their power from clean energy sources by 2025.

This sets the state apart, as most other jurisdictions across the country are mandating utilities to source more electricity from clean sources. As of November 2022, 36 states and Washington DC had established a renewable energy goal, with a third of those requiring 100% clean electricity by 2050 or earlier.

The Mohave case also underscores the influence of misinformation, culture wars and local politics threatening to delay the USs transition to renewable energy sources, which scientists say is essential to avoiding widespread climate catastrophe.

By mid-2023, there were at least 228 local bans and restrictions to renewable project across 35 states, in addition to nine state-level restrictions, that are so burdensome that they could have the effect of blocking a project, according to the Sabin center for climate change law at Columbia University Law School.

Blocking renewable energy like solar and wind is a top 2024 state legislative priority for the State Policy Network, a hub for affiliated pro-fossil fuels think tanks funded by rightwing and corporate donors.

The hostility and misinformation about renewables is very significant and very hard to fight because its so easy to spread. It is like playing Whac-A-Mole in a post-data world where people  constituents and politicians  dont care about the actual numbers because deep in their core they want to believe fossil fuels are cheaper and more reliable, Johnson said.

***

Fort Mohave is an unincorporated town of 16,000 people in Mohave county, located on the eastern banks of the Colorado river, about 100 miles south of Las Vegas.

Its a rural, predominantly white county where 75% of the population voted for Donald Trump in 2020  the most Republican-leaning place in the state. With almost 300 sunny days each year, the county is popular among retirees escaping colder climates, with sprawling new suburbs and RV parks scattered amid the desert plains and parched fallow fields.

The county is served by two monopoly utilities, MEC and UniSource, which currently include around 14% and 17% in renewable resources respectively, slightly lower than the national average. Despite favorable conditions (windy, wide-open spaces and sunny climate), the county has only a handful of small industrial solar farms, including a 5MW MEC facility located just behind the Sunrise Hills community.

In 2022, MEC purchased a large plot adjacent to the solar farm which has a gas pipeline running through it. The 15-acre section closest to the community was temporarily rezoned from residential to heavy manufacturing and industrial in 2018 by the board  for a rock-crushing venture that never materialized. The board should have reverted the land back to residential use after two years, but didnt due to a backlog, according to a county spokesperson. This oversight meant MEC acquired the plot with the industrial zoning intact.

In 2023, MEC submitted an application to build an energy park  which residents interviewed by the Guardian assumed would be an extension to the solar farm. MEC first had to get the green light from the countys planning and zoning committee in November  which it did unopposed as Sunrise Hill residents were still unaware of the project.

The county did publish notices in local newspapers and taped a small cardboard sign about a new energy facility on a wooden stake on the site perimeter along a windy dirt road, thus fulfilling its notification obligations but which few people saw. No residents were informed because state law only requires household living within 300ft be notified, which experts have long criticized given the known environmental and health risks associated with power plants.

Patrick Ledger, Aepcos CEO, told the Guardian that all county procedures were followed and rezoning is one step in a much broader, longer process with opportunity for public comment. He also said that utility staff and board members were also community members who had the right to participate in the December board meeting but that MEC and AEPCO personnel and board members are happy to identify themselves in the future.

Only one supervisor, Ron Gould, who represents Fort Mohave, voted against the gas peaker plant in December. They tried to game the permitting system, and there is at least an appearance of impropriety. A residential area is a terrible place for a power plant. MEC told me that it would be my fault if energy prices go up.

Gas-powered peaker plants are a very expensive and dirty way to produce electricity, which contribute disproportionately to greenhouse gasses like methane and CO 2 . They are disproportionately located in low-income neighborhoods, communities of color, and areas already overburdened by pollution and climate impacts.

It is fair to say that the climate emergency is not a priority for Sunrise Hill residents.

The communitys main concerns center around quality of life issues like noise, light pollution and water scarcity, as well as safety (fires and explosions at the plant and pipelines), declining property values and air quality  especially given many of the retirees have respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and include some cancer survivors.

I am not against gas, just the location. Its clear theyre trying to circumvent the process, said Kelly Refvem, whose corner property is closest to the proposed plant.

As soon as they got wind of the gas plant, concerned residents contributed resources  time, money and expertise  and the not in any neighborhood campaign group took out newspaper adverts and billboards against the project. MEC countered with more advertisements and billboards, claiming the plant was necessary to power fire stations, cooling centres and hospitals. At one meeting, Ledger, Aepcos CEO, promised to build no more than four turbines if the community would back down  which would bring the project close to 200MW.

He has also claimed that the plants energy would stay local. The project brochure states that increasing MECs local generation resources can allow us to provide power to emergency locations  in the event of a massive outage such as 2022 Labor Day.

The Labor Day outage was caused by storm winds taking out 50 of MECs power poles and a transmission connection, not insufficient energy supply. It is impossible to guarantee that power from peaker plants will stay local, given that the entire western US is part of an interconnected grid.

Ledger said MEC is interested in developing a micro-grid to serve during disruptions.

Peaker plants make most of their money by being on call, ready to fire up and feed electricity into the grid with minimal notice  at a premium cost.

MEC, like Aepco, is a non-profit member-owned co-op. Tyler Carlson, MECs chief executive, received $1.6m in compensation in 2022, while Ledger received $830,000, according to IRS filings.

Still, the community refused to back down, and in mid-April MEC/Aepco convened an invitation-only meeting at a fire station a few miles down the road from Fort Mohave in Mohave Valley to inform residents that they were now also considering a site for the peaker plant in their community. The local fire department, which would get the biggest tax windfall, spoke in favor of the plant.

We got the same propaganda as Fort Mohave, that this was the most clean, efficient, economic option, but they have no credibility. said Roy Hagemeyer, senior pastor at the Way Christian church in Mohave Valley.

While there is no densely populated neighborhood like Sunrise Hills next to the proposed site, there are two schools and hundreds of homes within a three-mile radius  the minimum distance for minimizing harm to marginalized communities, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Its only 800ft from tribal lands belonging to the Fort Mojave Indian tribe.

According to Ledger, the gas plant, alongside planned solar farms  which are contingent on Aepco receiving federal grants  will improve reliability, address energy market shortages, and result in significant emission/carbon reductions. It was not disingenuous to claim the peaker would prevent outages, and that they intended to help MEC develop a micro-grid to serve during power disruptions, he added.

We strongly believe Aepcos project will benefit not only MEC members, but the entire community, including the tribe. We continue to investigate all sites we have identified, as well as others that are suggested, said Ledger.

Sandy Bahr from the Sierra Club said: This project should not be in anyones backyard; it makes no sense on any level. It highlights loopholes and weaknesses in our regulatory system  and the anti-solar fever which is starting to have a chilling effect.
BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- China is actively exploring new ways to reduce its housing inventory, such as promoting trade-in programs and encouraging government-backed purchases of commercial apartments for affordable housing plans, as part of an effort to reignite the cooling property market.

Analysts believe such moves, aimed at prompting more deals, are crucial to vitalizing the sector as market expectations remained weak following the boom years.

At a high-level meeting at the end of April, policymakers called for "measures to reduce housing inventory and improve the quality of new housing in a coordinated manner." This new wording signaled the country's property policy focus this year.

Yan Yuejin, research director at E-house China R&D Institute, described the measures to reduce housing inventory as the most groundbreaking policy innovation this year, as it cracks the hard nut of a major shift in the home supply-demand relationship that has occurred over recent years.

At the end of April, unsold commercial housing across the country amounted to 745.53 million square meters, a significant increase from 514.36 million square meters by the end of April 2021, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

However, only 292.52 million square meters of new housing were sold in the first four months of this year, compared to 503.05 million square meters during the same period three years ago, official data showed.

Li Yujia, chief researcher at the Guangdong Housing Policy Research Center, said the downward spiral is disrupting the circulation in the housing market.

"When the market fails to function, there is an urgent need for the government to step in," Li said. "The immediate priority is to conduct 'flood discharge' for the massive stock of second-hand housing."

Local governments and institutions have moved in swiftly. Over 60 cities have unveiled supportive policies to bring down the housing stock, including Shanghai, Shenzhen, Qingdao and Nanjing.

More than 20 developers and nearly 10 real estate agencies in east China's Shanghai jointly launched a promotion campaign early this month. Under this campaign, homeowners signing to purchase a new property will have their old home sales prioritized by agents. Once the existing home is sold, the transaction for the new property will be finalized. In the event it is not sold, the buyers can receive a refund without any liability.

In central China's Zhengzhou, a local state-owned enterprise (SOE) plans to purchase homes built within the last 20 years to renovate them for affordable rental housing. The city aims to complete 10,000 trade-in deals through such SOE purchasing and other approaches this year.

In a recent case in central China's Wuhan, Wang Wei traded in his hard-to-sell apartment in an old neighborhood of Qiaokou District for over 900,000 yuan (over 126,000 U.S. dollars), while buying a new, larger home still under construction for over 2.1 million yuan.

The deal was made under a program initiated by local developers, real estate agencies and home buying groups since the end of 2023. In Qiaokou, state-owned developers had purchased more than ten old homes for affordable housing projects by mid-May.

As people's demand for better homes are underpinning Wuhan's property market, such trade-in programs are conducive to unleashing home purchase potential and pushing the market back to a positive cycle, said Li Guozheng, market director of the China Index Academy's central China branch.

Additionally, the central bank announced a plan to establish a 300-billion-yuan relending facility designed to finance the SOEs' purchases of unsold new homes, which will be turned into government-subsidized housing to satisfy the needs of low-income families. Tao Ling, deputy head of the People's Bank of China, said the facility is expected to generate banking loans totaling 500 billion yuan.

Analysts believe the relending tool could alleviate the problems of weak loan demand and stimulate capital flows, thereby ultimately restoring market momentum. The recent intensive policy roll-out at both central and local levels indicates that the country is determined and working in full-swing to resolve the issue of its unsold homes, they say.

Although more time is still needed to test the effectiveness of these policies, the measures will play a positive role in energizing the property market in the short term and more cities are expected to take part in the inventory-reducing campaign in the long run, said Chen Wenjing, director of research at the China Index Academy. 
There is no better example of the current skewed state of checks and balances in American government than Justice Samuel Alitos penchant for displaying insurrectionist symbols at his homes. That Alito can do this freely is but the tip of the iceberg that has already sunk the high courts legitimacy. Lets not forget about the rest of the iceberg: the lack of ethics policing for Justices Alito and Clarence Thomas, whove accepted enormously valuable benefits in luxury vacations, vehicles, tuition payments for family members (all undisclosed by the justices), and the adoption of a toothless code of ethics after decades of refusing to adopt any code of ethics.

But what still lies beneath the surface is the failure of all three branches of our government to do anything about the ethics disaster that has befallen the Supreme Court. And while all three branches are to blameit is the Executive Branch, via the U.S. Department of Justicethat seems particularly paralyzed.

As first reported by The New York Times, an upside-down American flagthe symbol adopted by supporters of former President Trumps lies about the 2020 election having been stolenwas flown at Alitos house on Jan. 17, 2021, three days before President Bidens inauguration and weeks after Jan. 6 rioters carried that symbol into the Capitol as they stormed it in an effort to stop the peaceful transition of power. On Jan. 17, the United States Supreme Court was still considering whether to hear a case about the 2020 election.

Alito excused the flying of the flag by blaming his wife, telling the Times he had nothing to do with it but that she had flown it in response to a neighbor who had put up an anti-Trump sign. He later expanded on this excuse, telling Fox News that a person who lived at the property with the anti-Trump sign had gotten into a verbal argument with Alito and his wife, calling her names, including the C-word.

A common indicium of guilt by people accused of crimes is their ability to recall with great specificity details they think are innocuous (e.g., I was wearing my favorite pair of Bruno Magli shoes) contrasted with an inability to notice incriminating details (e.g., the trail of bloody footprints leading from the murder scene). Similarly, Alitos recall of the specifics of this incident with his neighbor seems at odds with his apparently having not noticed a symbol of insurrectionists being run up the flagpole of his own house. But what really hurts Alitos claim that he knew nothing about the upside-down flag flown at his Alexandria, Virginia, home is the fact that a second insurrectionist flag flew at his New Jersey beach house two years later, in July, August, and September of 2023.

The second flag was the so-called Appeal to Heaven flagor Pine Tree Flag a historical flag from the Revolutionary War that, the Times notes, is now a symbol of support for former President Donald J. Trump, for a religious strand of the Stop the Steal campaign and for a push to remake American government in Christian terms. Other displayers of that flag have included Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who had it at his office. The Appeal to Heaven flag was also carried into the Capitol by rioting Trump supporters on Jan. 6. Evidence of the flag being flown at Alitos beach house was provided by [t]hree photographs obtained by The New York Times, along with accounts from a half-dozen neighbors and passers-by, all of which indicated that the Appeal to Heaven flag was aloft at the Alito home on Long Beach Island in July and September of 2023. A Google Street View image from late August also shows the flag. The Times Visual Investigations team deserves a special shout-out for the Google Street View image evidence used against a justice who admires a 17th Century judge Matthew Hale who believed men could not rape their wives and who sentenced women to death for being witches.

Trumpy GOP Leaders Big Week of Indefensible Hypocrisy

That a sitting Supreme Court justice chooses to display his camaraderie with Stop the Steal believers who sought to violently stop the certification of a presidential election is morally appalling. Legally, it is a no-brainer that a judge with these sympathies must not sit in cases involving prosecutions of Jan. 6 rioters and those charged with interfering in the 2020 election, including defendant Trump. Indeed, a federal law 28 U.S.C. section 455 specifically requires that any justice, judge or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned. Under this law, Alito like Justice Thomas, whose wife is a witness in the Jan. 6 uprising must be disqualified in any cases touching upon Jan. 6. These cases include a pending case before the high court in which the definition of obstruction of justice as it applies to Jan 6 rioters is to be decided, as well as the case in which Trump argues he is entitled to presidential immunity that would shield him from the charges brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith. But neither Alito nor Thomas is likely to be disqualified  they certainly will not recuse themselves  because of the failures of all three branches of government to protect and restore the legitimacy of our nations highest court. The Judiciary, Legislative and Executive branches all have tools that can be applied but arent being used.

The Judiciary, as led by Chief Justice Roberts, could seek to police the justices. While there are obvious drawbacks to self-policing, that doesnt mean it cant be done. All manner of organizations, including government agencies, seek to police themselves through internal investigations and, in the case of government agencies, offices of inspector generals. Courts in particular have chief judges that can exert strong influence over the more junior judges on a court. Traditionally, the Chief Justice would be able to sit down a justice that is going astray to straighten them out. Courts can even conduct their own investigations, as Roberts attempted to do with his investigation of the Dobbs leak. But the judiciary has done none of this and judging from his track record, Roberts appears to be completely incapable of mustering the leadership skills to manage his own court, much less reform it.

Congress could also forcefully police the high court. It could hold hearings at which justices could be subpoenaed and made to give testimony under oath about their potential biases,acceptance of gifts and failure to disclose these types of benefits. Through the power of the purse, it could also impose financial sanctions. Salaries could be cut and withheld, as could support services. Congress has made some effort to reform SCOTUS by way of the introduction of such bills as Senator Sheldon Whitehouses term limits bill. Whitehouse has even floated the option of Congress refusing to honor egregious Supreme Court decisions based on false facts. Such efforts are stymied not just by a lack of votes but by the paralyzing fear held by most politicians that wielding political power may be used against them if they lose the majority.

But when it comes to doing nothing about SCOTUS, the Executive Branch, as represented by the Justice Department, has no parallel. The DOJ could open civil as well as criminal investigations into the Justices acceptance of unreported gifts and other benefits which may have run afoul of laws governing taxes, conflicts of interest, and even corruption. Merely opening an investigation hardly means that a prosecution will be brought, but the act of investigating would shine some sunlight onto the high court and show the American people that no one is above the lawa phrase often invoked by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Ironically, the Appeal to Heaven phrase on Justice Alitos flag originated with another 17th Century thinker, the philosopher John Locke, who wrote of a responsibility to rebel, even use violence, to overthrow unjust rule. As explained in the Times report by one historian, the phrase is a paraphrase for trial by arms.The main point is that theres no appeal, theres no one else you can ask for help or a judgment. The phrase reminds me of the Chinese philosophical concept the Mandate of Heaven, which originated in the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 B.C.E) and was used to justify revolutions and rebellions against dynasties when circumstances such as famine and flood indicated the emperors had lost the favor of Heaven.

Our society and government today treat Supreme Court Justices less as members of the highest court and more like higher beings immune from any normal constraints. In that way, they do resemble emperors and we would do well to remember what the ancient Chinese knew from experience: emperors can fall out of favor.

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Irans recent missile attacks against Israel serve as a stark reminder of the growing audacity of petro-dictatorships in flouting international norms and undermining global peace. Iran, emboldened by Russias relentless and indiscriminate assaults on Ukraine  targeting everything from hospitals and kindergartens to power stations with Iranian-made missiles and drones  highlights the perilous outcomes of unchecked aggression by these regimes.

Despite facing (often limited) Western sanctions, these regimes operate with impunity, fueled by their ongoing revenue from oil exports. The Kremlin has generated over 670 billion euros ($726 billion) since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine started.

Russia, in particular, has drawn inspiration from Irans playbook, observing how Tehran circumvents Western embargoes on crude exports by creating a shadow fleet of tankers. Irans fleet operates outside standard regulations and monitoring systems, enabling the regime to sell oil at discounted prices with the help of complicit states like China. Russia has also adopted tactics from the sanctions-evading shadow fleets of Venezuela, North Korea, and Oman.

Read also: Opinion: Navigating the Zelensky Legitimacy Question

While Russia does not face the same embargoes as Iran, it is subject to the G7 and European Union oil price cap introduced in 2022 to prevent Russian oil exports from legally selling above $60 per barrel. This measure is designed to curb Russias oil revenue and deter further aggression against Ukraine. In response, Russia has taken the concept of the shadow fleet to new heights, creating an unprecedented network of hundreds of oil tankers dedicated to evading the price cap and bolstering the Kremlins war chest.

The scale of Russias shadow fleet is staggering, with estimates ranging from 300 to 1,400 tankers servicing oil exports since 2022, all registered under flags of various countries. The ambiguity of this market poses significant risks to maritime safety and the environment.

Over the past two years, numerous close calls and minor incidents have occurred in Asia and Europe, including a major malfunction in Danish waters in March 2024. The aging infrastructure of many shadow tankers, approximately 80% of which are over 15 years old, increases the likelihood of malfunctions, collisions, and spills, further endangering coastal communities and ecosystems. The escalating situation poses enormous risks to law-abiding ships, the environment, and the countries where these accidents occur.

Experts have highlighted issues with Russias key regional partners' manipulation of ship-to-ship transfers, as seen in Yeosu, South Korea. Further problematic transfers have been discovered in Oman, Yemen, Spain, and other countries. In early 2024, approximately 115,000 barrels per day were categorized as Other Unknown volumes, transported on tankers with no clear destination. Many of these cargoes travel from Russias western ports to the Suez Canal, with some arriving in Turkey. Others are transferred, often near Greece.

Elizabeth Braw from the Atlantic Council aptly characterizes Russias use of the shadow fleet as a calculated strategy to export corruption and undermine international rules. This tactic is part of a broader pattern of Russian aggression, including military provocations against NATO forces and interference with maritime trade in the Black Sea.

Tug boats escort the STI Comandante tanker after a delivery of Russian diesel to a fuel terminal in Purfleet, U.K., on April 5, 2022. (Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The impunity Russia enjoys in these endeavors sets a dangerous precedent for other rogue states like Iran, which adopt similar tactics to project power and destabilize strategically important regions. This enables Irans navy and proxies, such as the Houthis, to engage in piracy and threaten global shipping in the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal.

After all, why wouldnt Russia and Iran feel emboldened to export terrorism, corruption, and havoc? If NATO members like Denmark, Norway, and the U.K., who are witnessing a massive increase in the Russian shadow fleet near their shorelines, do nothing to stop it despite the significant risks, why would less powerful coastal states take action?

We must pressure governments to implement decisive measures to counter this threat, including heightened economic and diplomatic pressure on flag states.

Its chilling to read accounts that Denmark, Norway, and Sweden fear Russian retaliation and thus do nothing. Despite over two years of Russias full-scale war and the presence of the Russian shadow tanker fleet since late 2022, the U.K. and Scandinavian governments have remained silent and inactive in terms of actual countermeasures against the fleet.

Civil society organizations recently intervened, petitioning the U.K. government and staging open sea protests in Sweden. Swedish authorities began to show public concern only after these actions, albeit without making concrete promises. They suggested potential actions in the next sanctions package and proposed discussions within EU bodies. However, these statements lack binding commitments, marking the first time the EU will address this sanctions loophole since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Addressing the threat posed by Russias shadow fleet requires a multi-faceted approach. Firstly, raising awareness about the significant risks associated with these covert operations is crucial, as they extend beyond the war in Ukraine to encompass environmental degradation and harm to coastal communities worldwide.

Collaboration among Western nations to share intelligence on tanker movements and ownership structures is essential. G7 and EU countries should intensify pressure on flag states, compelling them to take responsibility for vessels flying their flags and imposing diplomatic and economic sanctions on those that fail to comply. The buildup of shadow tankers should be prevented by restricting the sale of tankers, especially by EU and G7 entities, to operators who do not adhere to sanctions or the price cap policy and to Russian or undisclosed buyers.

Read also: Opinion: The West should launch a new economic Cold War against Russia

Enforcing sanctions that target not only the crude oil but the entire shadow fleet network is crucial. This comprehensive approach entails escalating sanctions from individual vessels to encompass the entire network while enhancing price cap enforcement mechanisms. Moreover, sanctions should be directed at all entities facilitating the transport of crude oil through shadow fleets, with particular emphasis on mother tankers employing flagrant and often illegal flag-switching tactics.

Despite political challenges, Western allies must recognize that the potential costs of Russias military advantage in Ukraine, funded by petrodollars, far outweigh the risks of occasional minor global oil price fluctuations. As clean energy becomes cheaper and more dominant, such fluctuations become less dramatic.

Measures such as implementing a complete embargo on Russian energy exports and gradually implementing secondary sanctions on non-compliant countries are necessary steps toward halting Russian oil exports globally. Only with such measures can the cash flow to Russias war chest be curtailed, paving the way for peace in Ukraine.

Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

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Opioid overdose deaths more likely among Mass. residents injured at work, new DPH report says

Working-age Massachusetts residents who died between 2011 and 2020 were 35 percent more likely to have died of an opioid-related overdose if they had previously been injured at work, according to a new report released Thursday by the state Department of Public Health.

The report, for the first time, links the aftermath of work-related injuries to opioid-related overdose deaths.

Using the Public Health Data Warehouse, DPH compiled information about individuals employment and work-related injury status from their workers compensation claims and linked it with data from their death certificates. By linking these data sets, DPH found that of the 4,304 working-age (16-64 years) Massachusetts residents who died and had at least one workplace injury claim, 741 (17.2 percent) died from an opioid-related overdose between 2011 and 2020. Previous analyses primarily relied on death certificate data, which have limited work-related information.

A lot of the injuries we saw were things like sprains and strains, said Emily Sparer-Fine, ScD, MS, director of the Occupational Health Surveillance Program at DPH. And that was a result of very physically demanding work.

The data also show that injured workers who died from an opioid-related overdose were more likely to be male, between 25-44 years old, Hispanic, US-born, and have jobs in construction and extraction (e.g., quarrying and mining), as well as in food preparation and serving, compared with those who died of causes unrelated to substance use. Sprains and strains, particularly of the back, were the most common injury types among those who suffered fatal opioid-related overdoses  a significant finding that allows DPH to, for the first time, assess the correlation between acute and chronic pain from occupational injuries and opioid use and death.

Occupational injuries can take both a physical and mental toll, and those who suffer injuries at work may be discouraged from seeking help because of stigmatization and fear of losing their jobs. Avoiding or delaying care can lead to a preventable overdose death, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh said in a statement. In order for us to properly address the overdose crisis, we must eliminate the stigma that accompanies substance use disorder in all sectors of society, including the workplace. We are prioritizing investments in community support, prevention, and treatment programs and reducing any barriers to treatment, all of which can help prevent overdose deaths.

Overdose deaths are preventable, and we must continue to focus relentlessly on finding ways to prevent opioid addiction from stealing more lives, Department of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said in a statement. The data are clear: Individuals who suffer work-related injuries are at a heightened risk of substance use disorders  and overdose deaths. By recognizing and acting upon this association, we can target interventions that can save lives and protect the well-being of workers, especially those in physically demanding occupations who are disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic.

Workers in industries and occupations that require very physically demanding work and who have much higher rates of overall workplace injury than other workers continue to be disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic, according to the report, which was created by DPHs Occupational Health Surveillance Program.

The majority (28.2 percent) of the 741 Massachusetts workers who were previously injured at work and who died of an opioid-related overdose between 2011 and 2020 worked in construction and extraction occupations, according to the data. This is followed by 11.2 percent who worked in transportation and material-moving, and 6.8 percent who worked in food preparation and serving-related occupations.

Sparer-Fine said these industries sometimes offer no or very limited sick days -- so no work, no pay.

And so theres often a push to work through the pain, she said.

That can cause more pain and worsen an initially manageable injury -- leading to higher need for pain medications. And then there is the stress of not being able to work.

Addiction Specialist Joji Suzuki, MD sees the data from this study as an opportunity to nip addiction in the bud -- by targeting industries in which opioid overdose deaths are highest.

We should be making sure these individuals have access to health care, he said. And access to addiction treatment.

Suzuki said its unclear whether the higher numbers of overdose deaths in certain industries is a result of those industries attracting workers predisposed to an addictive disorder.

Work-related factors, such as lower rates of paid sick leave, low wages, and higher job insecurity (e.g., seasonal work, independent contractors, and temporary help), exacerbate the pressure on workers to work while ill or injured, and not seek crucial medical or substance use treatment for fear of losing income.

While the data indicate there were lower numbers of deaths among residents of color who were injured at work compared with white non-Hispanics, who made up the majority of the states workforce in 2011-2020, Hispanic workers in Massachusetts suffer the highest rate of death from workplace injury. Nationwide, both Hispanic and Black non-Hispanic workers disproportionately work in the most dangerous jobs that can lead to injury.

This report may not represent the full picture of injured workers who died from an opioid-related overdose in Massachusetts. The data do not include workers who were injured on the job but who did not file a workers compensation claim, officials said. This cohort may include immigrant and undocumented workers who may be less likely to file a workers compensation claim or may experience barriers to filing one.

The states fiscal year 2024 budget earmarks more than $700 million in substance addiction prevention and treatment programs to address the states overdose crisis, including an expanded 24/7 overdose prevention helpline available by calling 800-972-0590 and at safe-spot.me.

By establishing the strong link between work-related injuries and fatal opioid-related overdoses among Massachusetts workers, this report also underscores the role that employers, unions, employee assistance programs, and other entities play in preventing fatal opioid-related overdose, the DPH said in its statement. This includes injury prevention, as well as creating a work environment that fosters communication to help remove the stigma surrounding substance use and asking for help, providing harm reduction strategies like naloxone training, and intentionally centering voices from Hispanic, Black non-Hispanic, and other communities of color in program-planning and outreach strategies.

One thing that is clear, he said, is that some patients need opioid medications to treat their pain -- along with other modalities -- and they do not become hooked.

That may partly be because they have fewer opportunities to get hooked. .

Weve come a long way, Suzuki said. The total number of prescribed opioids has come down dramatically.

Key findings from the report:

From 2011 to 2020, there were 117,417 total deaths among working age (16-64 years) Massachusetts residents.

Among these, 4,304  about 4 percent  had at least one workers compensation claim with the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents for a work injury occurring from 2011 to 2020.

Of this cohort, 741 died from opioid-related overdoses; 191 from other substance use/poisonings (including alcohol); and 3,372 from other causes.

87 percent of injured workers who died from opioid-related overdoses in 2011-2020 were male; 13 percent female.

Working age residents who reported a prior work-related injury were 35 percent more likely to have died of an opioid-related overdose than all working-age adults (17 percent vs. 13 percent).

84 percent of injured workers who died from opioid-related overdoses in 2011-2020 were white non-Hispanic; 10 percent were Hispanic; 4 percent were Black non-Hispanic.

94 percent of injured workers who died from opioid-related overdoses in 2011-2020 were born in the United States.

Percent of injured workers who died from opioid-related overdoses in 2011-2020 by occupation:

28 percent  construction, extraction

11 percent  transportation, material moving

7 percent  food preparation, serving related

7 percent  production

6 percent  building and grounds cleaning, maintenance

Leading work-related injuries among workers who died from opioid-related overdoses in 2011-2020: strain/sprain (including to the back), crushing or contusion, laceration or puncture, and fracture.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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An Orange County addiction treatment facility worker paid people to refer patients to him in order for him to meet his monthly quota of intakes, federal prosecutors allege.

Santa Ana resident Luis Guerrero, 53, was arrested on Thursday morning and will face an arraignment hearing in the afternoon. According to the office of U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, Guerrero conspired to pay $37,000 to two body brokers in the form of illegal kickbacks.

The body brokers would then refer people struggling with addiction to Guerrero, who would attempt to sign them up for treatment at his Orange County-based facility, prosecutors said. Guerrero had a monthly patient intake quota as a condition for his employment at the facility as a patient intake coordinator.

Prosecutors also alleged that Guerrero, in coordination with the unnamed body brokers, arranged payments to the patients in exchange for allowing the facility to bill their insurance providers for treatment.

In audio obtained by prosecutors, Guerrero could be heard telling one of the body brokers during a call that hed arrange for a $5,000 payment to a patient, the U.S. Attorney alleges.

Well do something to put money in her hands before she leaves or before she arrives [home], Guerrero allegedly told a body broker.

Prosecutors said the $37,000 payment was arranged to go to the body brokers in October 2020 in exchange for referring five patients. They were given a partial payment of $30,000 later that month.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  As Oregon Housing and Community Services reaches closer to the end of its five-year plan, a report from the agency reveals it is on track to meet its housing goals this summer.

The report titled Building Oregons Future gives an inside look on how OHCS expanded housing and increased access for residents in 2023.

Oregon saw record-high $14 billion in travel spending in 2023, report shows

In 2019, officials established a five-year goal of tripling the number of affordable rental units to 25,000 statewide within five years. The new report shows the agency exceeded that number last July, and is now at 105% of its initial goal.

Additionally, OHCS aimed to place 85% of Oregon households in stabilized housing for at least six months. It surpassed this target by just one percent, and also surpassed its target of funding 1,390 permanent supportive housing units by funding 1,390.

Housing and Community Services still has progress to make in its objective of helping 6,500 households become homeowners. The agency assisted about 5,071 new homeowners last year.

Hollywood actress visits Mt. Hood Community College for day of filming

Also in 2023, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek issued three executive orders involving homelessness and the housing crisis on her first day in office.

OHCS reported that it helped state leaders meet and exceed the goals established with the executive orders, such as creating 1,047 low-barrier shelter beds and preventing 9,024 households from experiencing homelessness.

Despite last years progress, Gov. Kotek signed an Emergency Housing Stability and Production Package about two weeks ago to address the ongoing crisis in Oregon.

Man accused of making false bomb threats at Eugene Walmart, Target stores

Even as we celebrate the many milestones highlighted in this report, we continue to work tirelessly to create new programs and policies and get funding out to communities as swiftly and efficiently as possible, OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell said in the report. Working together with our partners across Oregon, we remain relentless, through the lens of humanity, to deliver effective housing solutions for all.

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 KOIN.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  With a popular camping weekend ahead, the Oregon Lottery has released Scratch-Its encouraging residents to visit Oregon State Parks.

The tickets come in three designs, two of them featuring park landscapes and one featuring a fish. The Scratch-Its cost $5 each, and give customers the opportunity to win up to $50,000.

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Oregon Lottery Scratch-Its inspired by Oregon State Parks

Since 1999, the Oregon Lottery has allocated more than $1 billion toward maintaining and upgrading state parks. The organization named the Champoeg State Heritage Area as one public site that will soon see improvements, such as more RV campsites and cabins.

Oregon State Parks truly put our state on the map, with some of the most scenic, special places in the country, Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells said in a statement. Were proud to support State Parks and their impact in our communities across Oregon.

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Weve worked together throughout the years to bring unique recreation opportunities to our visitors and are excited this parking permit program will encourage more people to see our states beautiful and historic areas without worrying about parking fees, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Director Lisa Sumption added.

The Scratch-Its are available at participating retailers.

Residents can also purchase them on State Parks Day on June 1, when OPRD offers free parking at 25 sites and free RV and tent site camping at all sites.

Pacific Power reports outage impacting 33K+ customers in Portland

Outside of Memorial Day weekend, the Oregon Lottery has sponsored a program that allows residents to grab an Oregon State Parks parking permit from public libraries. The permits can now be found through Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties.

Digital permits will be available online later in the summer.

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 KOIN.com.
Over $2K worth of jewelry stolen off woman in Queens: NYPD

ELMHURST, Queens (PIX11)  Authorities are searching for a woman accused of stealing jewelry that a 73-year-old woman was wearing while she was distracted in Queens, according to the NYPD.

Police said the suspect got out of a car near Kneeland Avenue and Gorsline Street in Elmhurst around 1 p.m. last Friday, walked over to the victim and started a conversation.

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The suspect then placed jewelry on the victim, police said. While the victim was distracted, police said the suspect removed the victims necklace and bracelet before leaving the area in the car.

The jewelry stolen from the victim is valued at around $2,250, according to the NYPD.

Police provided video and images of the alleged theft.

Police are looking for a woman who allegedly stole $2,000 worth of jewelry off a woman in Queens, according to police. (Credit: NYPD)

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Over 80% of EU residents agree to accept refugees from Ukraine

In the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine, 87% of EU residents support providing humanitarian aid to Ukrainians impacted by the war, and 83% support admitting those fleeing the conflict to the EU, a Eurobarometer survey suggests.

Source: Eurobarometer survey, as reported by European Pravda

Details: 72% of EU citizens support sanctions against the Russian government, as well as Russian companies and individuals, while 70% support financial assistance to Ukraine.

Six out of ten support Ukraine's status as a candidate for EU membership, as well as the European Union financing the acquisition and delivery of military equipment to Ukraine.

Among recent crises, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has had the greatest impact on how EU Europeans see their future (42%). This is followed by the pandemic and other health-related issues (34%), and the economic and financial crisis (23%).

The war in Ukraine is regarded as one of the two most pressing concerns confronting the EU, according to a list of 15.

Between 3 and 28 April, 26,399 people from 27 European Union nations were interviewed as part of a public opinion survey.

According to the same survey, the clear majority of EU people desire increased EU-wide defence cooperation.

Previously: The position of a commissioner for defence may be established by the next composition of the European Commission. This notion was backed by the commission's president, Ursula von der Leyen, who is running for a second term.

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Channel 2 Action News was there as a man charged with running an illegal Padsplit rooming house in a historic Atlanta neighborhood appeared in court for the first time.

The Collier Heights Padsplit was the focus of a Channel 2 Action News investigation earlier this month.

Padsplit is an online platform offering rooms for rent by the week in boarding or rooming houses.

Ivan De Figueredo Jr. tried to hide his face from our Channel 2 Action News camera and ignored questions from Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Justin Gray after the court appearance.

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The first code enforcement citation was hung on the door of the Collier Heights home back in September 2022, but this was the first court date.

The Padsplit rooming house in historic Collier Heights remains active. Up to 10 rooms, rented by the week in a house zoned single family.

But the Attorney for the City of Atlanta asked for a 45-day continuance because nobody from the city code and enforcement office showed up to testify.

Its like no one cares, said Heather Allen, who lives two doors down from the Padsplit.

In a Channel 2 Action News investigation earlier this month, we showed you that De Figueredo, Padsplit LLC and Padsplit CEO Atticus Leblanc were all written citations in 2023 for operating a rooming house for a property zoned single family but the city says it has been unable to serve Leblanc and Padsplit those citations.

They just put a notice on the door. Thats it. So why would they comply? Theres no theres no repercussion. And there needs to be, Allen said.

When the judge asked De Figueredos attorney if anyone was trying to get the home in compliance with city laws before the next court date, he indicated they were not.

I cant say that that the property, would be in compliance. We dont necessarily agree that its not in compliance with the ordinance as it is, the attorney said.

MORE FROM 2 INVESTIGATES:

Padsplit says in a statement:

We do not own, did not renovate, nor do we serve as the property managers of the house in question, although it is one of thousands of housing choices provided through our marketplace.

Its against the law. Point blank, Allen said.

De Figueredos attorney claimed his client isnt even the owner of the Padsplit.

The judge said the first thing that needs to be sorted out is who is the right person or company who should be cited for the violations.

The city of Atlanta tells us they have repeatedly tried to serve Padsplit and Leblanc.

This case is now scheduled for July 8 trial date.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
NIAMEY, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Two soldiers and a civilian were killed on Wednesday in an attack in Niger's western Tillabery region, the country's Defense Ministry said.

The attack was carried out by "terrorists on about 20 motorcycles" in the village of Tabala in the region, according to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry.

It was the second attack in the area in a week after armed bandits killed about 20 people in another village in Tillabery, local media reported.

The village of Tabala has been ravaged by recurrent deadly extremist attacks for years. 
Pacific Power outage that impacted 33K customers caused by beaver chewing through tree

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Pacific Power says an outage in the Portland area left more than 33,000 people without power Wednesday afternoon.

Of the 23 outages in Oregon, several were scattered within the boundaries of Northeast Portland, according to the Pacific Power outage map.

Officials say the outage was caused by a beaver tooth through a tree somewhere in the area of NW Portland. Power was restored before 5 p.m.

The beaver chewed through a tree that made contact with a transmission line leading to the power outage, said Kim Lippert with Pacific Power.

A tree falling on a transmission line caused over 33,000 outages on May 22, 2024. (Pacific Power)

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.

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 KOIN.com.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Christina Smith called her sons detainment life-changing.

Smiths son, Markis, was detained back in fall 2020 at the Youth Services Center under the Districts Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS).

Her son, who is now 18, told her about drug use at the facility where he and other youth were allowed to smoke marijuana. Smith said staff has also been violent against the young people. They also needed medications which were being withheld for some at the facility, including for her son.

Data: Violence increasing inside DC juvenile detention center

Smiths allegations of abuse and other challenges at DYRS echoes others that have complained to City Council members. That has led to scrutiny from D.C.s attorney general who is concerned about people re-offending when they are released.

Council held a nearly five-hour virtual hearing on problems at the troubled agency Tuesday.

I didnt feel like he was rehabilitated at all, Smith said. I feel like the little issues that he had, it made it 100% worse because of the lack of mental health attention. He started becoming violent. He was angry all the time after coming from the program.

These claims come after a lawsuit was filed on behalf of a 16-year-old earlier this month, alleging that staff members at DYRS New Beginnings Correctional Center in Laurel, Md. used physical violence against the teenager who has asthma.

Sam Abed, the director of DYRS, testified for more than two hours on Tuesday about problems at the agency before a council hearing called to listen to concerns. He said DYRS mission is to rehabilitate court-involved youth and give them an opportunity to become more productive citizens and that is taken seriously.

It is unacceptable that anyone would compromise a youths pathway to success and the agency is taking proactive measures to enhance security, Abed said in a statement to DC News Now.

DYRS fully investigates all reports of contraband introduction or attempted introduction into our facilities.

DCs AG introduces legislation to curb high juvenile recidivism rates in District

As of April, there have been 38 critical incidents at the center, according to the Office of Independent Juvenile Facilities Oversight.

Denise Baldwins 17-year-old son Isaiah, has been in the Youth Services Center in Northeast D.C. since April 18. She said her son was slow to receive medical attention for a broken finger after he defended himself in a fight at the facility earlier this month.

I expect them to be on their job, Baldwin said. I feel as though by him being locked up in there and not getting the help he needs is bringing him down. Frustration, anger and sometimes sadness, I see it.

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 DC News Now | Washington, DC.
VERNAL, Utah (ABC4)  Three people were uninjured after a plane crashed in Vernal on Wednesday morning.

The Vernal Police Department said they received reports of the downed plane at approximately 10:30 a.m., in the field north of the Vernal Regional Airport.

READ NEXT: Crews uncover history with construction in downtown Salt Lake City

Three passengers were assessed at the scene by responding medical personnel but were released with minor injuries.

The police department said the plane was later transported and secured at the Vernal Regional Airport at the direction of the FAA and NTSB as investigations continue.

Courtesy Vernal Police Department

Courtesy Vernal Police Department

The Vernal City Police Department would like to thank Gold Cross Ambulance Service, Vernal City Fire Department, and the local business owners that assisted with accommodations for the passengers and the securing and transporting of the aircraft, the police department said.

There is no further information available at this time.

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 ABC4 Utah.
(l to r): State Sen. Sharif Street, U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans and Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta celebrate the opening of a Biden campaign office in North Philadelphia April 23, 2024 (Capital-Star photo by John Cole)

Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-3rd District) said he suffered a minor stroke, but expects to be back in Washington, D.C. within six weeks.

Evans, 70, said in a statement Thursday that he did not realize what had happened for a few days, but received the stroke diagnosis this week. The main impact seems to be some difficulty with one leg, which will probably impact my walking for some time, but not my long-term ability to serve the people of Philadelphia, the statement reads.

He is recovering at an inpatient rehabilitation facility, according to the statement, and expects to be there for another week. He asked for privacy as he recuperates.

In the coming months, I want to help educate people and remove the stigma that sometimes accompanies strokes  many people can recover and continue on with their life and their work, Evans said in the statement.

Evans was first elected to the U.S. House in 2016, when the area he represents was still considered part of PA-02. Before he was elected to Congress, Evans represented Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania House for four decades. He won the Democratic primary in PA-03 in April on his way to a fifth term in office. He does not have a Republican opponent in November.

In 2022, Evans secured 75% of the vote in a three-candidate primary before winning 95% of the vote in the general election over a candidate from the Socialist Workers Party in the reliably Democratic district.

The post Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans suffers minor stroke appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
A rundown hotel in West Pensacola that has been the source of code enforcement and sheriffs office complaints for at least two years is finally getting cleaned up.

The Suburban Extended Stay at 3984 Barrancas Ave. is now closed and fenced off while crews clean out the hotel and address a slew of code enforcement citations including nuisance conditions like trash, debris and unsound structures.

Escambia Code Enforcement officers have been working the case since spring of 2022. According to their reports, the property was falling apart. From the damaged roof and cracked windows to dilapidated fences and a pool filled with trash and debris, code enforcement said even the building itself was not being maintained and is in bad condition.

Renovations and remediation work is underway on the Suburban Hotel on Barrancas Avenue on the southwest side of Escambia County.

However, despite the problems the hotel continued to rent rooms to people. Escambia County District 2 Commissioner Mike Kohler, who campaigned on cleaning up blight, said the hotel has been a hot spot of problems since he took office.

There were multiple complaints at that property to the sheriffs office, almost one a day, for domestic violence, for drugs, said Kohler. It was a war zone, literally. They were so many code violations, we were fining them up to $500 a day, and they finally are cleaning it up.

The owner is J & K SAI Hospitality, LLC, from Nacogdoches, Texas. According to federal court documents, the hotel took a big hit from Hurricane Sally  to the tune of $4,437,421 in losses  but their insurance company has only paid about $100,000 of their claim so far.

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J & K Hospitality is suing Steadfast Insurance Company over the issue and the case is stayed pending the results of a court ordered appraisal. Kohler said he understood the dilemma but that the county and people who live and work near the eyesore couldnt afford to wait for the company to collect while the building continued to deteriorate and guests were a source of criminal complaints.

Last fall, a county magistrate ordered the company be fined $30 a day over unaddressed code violations. When that didnt result in any action, the magistrate increased the fines to $500 a day in December.

The company is now facing more than $96,000 in fines. Kohler said thats what it took to get a response and the company finally brought in crews to clean up the property inside and out.

Previously: As complaints mount, Escambia seeking options to curb panhandling and vagrancy

They've been bringing out 40 yards by the day of just beds and everything out of that building, said Kohler. There was so much mold, and the roof is still all patched up. The signs all blown out. If you go there now its all gated off and theyve got three to four semi-trucks there just with people going in and just cleaning it up. They're going in the right direction.

Efforts to contact J & K Hospitality for comment were unsuccessful and theres no word on how long renovations will take or when and if the hotel will reopen. Kohler said hes glad to see the blighted property finally getting repaired and is also encouraged to see growth in the area with a new long-stay hotel, Extended Stay America, opening near the Suburban Extended Stay.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia Suburban Extended Stay hotel on Barrancas closed for clean up
Pepper spray used to subdue aggressive student at Lexington high school

An ambulance was called to Lexingtons Lafayette High School Wednesday after Fayette County Public Schools police deployed pepper spray to subdue a physically aggressive student.

Principal Anthony Orr told families in a letter obtained by the Herald-Leaders reporting partner WKYT, a disorder took place when a student attempted to make aggressive physical contact with a student from another classroom.

FCPS police officers immediately responded to de-escalate the situation, the letter said.

The teacher immediately directed the other students to evacuate the room and students were relocated to the cafeteria, the letter said.

The student who initiated the aggression became combative with staff and officers, the letter said. After refusing multiple verbal commands from staff and officers, an officer deployed pepper spray to subdue the student and ensure the safety of officers and staff.

Lexington Fire Department officials told the Herald-Leader they were dispatched to the school at approximately 2:36 p.m. for a report of an injured person.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A group of local citizens filed a petition to have a member from the Canutillo Independent School District (ISD) board removed on Wednesday, May 22, according to court records obtained by KTSM.

The petition was filed Wednesday afternoon asking for the immediate removal of Armando Rodriguez from the CISD Board of Trustees due to his previous arrest record of driving while intoxicated in El Paso County, according to court records.

The petition states Rodriguez has been arrested at least three times for driving while intoxicated since his election into the board in 2005.

The petition also states that Rodriguez allegedly had his attorney try to expunge and clear his record so that the court records would be hard to find, according to court records.

The petition also gave a timeline of Rodriguezs arrest, stating that his first arrest was on Sept. 26, 2013, his second arrest was around January 2015, and his third arrest was on Dec. 12, 2021.

The petition also states that after Rodrguezs third arrest, he was required to have DWI supervision and a camera ignition interlock device installed in any vehicle that he currently drives, according to court records.

Rodriguez shared following statement with us on Thursday, May 23:

The petition is a frivolous and meritless attempt by a sitting board member to attack my pro-public education stances. Ms. Breanne Barnes has asked her colleagues to file this ridiculous attempt at circumventing the peoples vote so that she can continue to push school vouchers, faith-based education and other anti-public education initiatives.

The group that filed the petition failed in their attempt to defeat the bond election and they are now resorting to theatrics to intimidate the district and reverse the will of the voters. Its my hope that an impartial judge will respect the electors that selected me to serve.

I have been upfront about my legal issues and have worked to address them. I have not been convicted of any crime that merits my removal and I intend to continue to serve the children and taxpayers of Canutillo.

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 KTSM 9 News.
Pets in Housing Amendment Act aims to address housing barriers for people with pets in DC

WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A newly proposed bill aims to make it more attainable for families with pets to find safe, affordable housing in the District.

Too often a persons beloved companion and animal is a barrier to finding and staying in affordable housing here in D.C. So today were trying to do something about that, said councilmember Robert White.

House passes controversial DC crime bill, threatens councils sentencing power

On Wednesday, White announced the Pets in Housing Amendment Act.

If passed, the bill would ban restrictions and higher fees for pet owners of certain breeds of animals, cap pet rent at $25 per month and cap pet security deposits at $300. Additionally, it would require the D.C. Department of Human Services to provide at least one low barrier shelter that accepts people with pets.

Its common sense but game changing updates to housing policy, White said.

Kailey McNeal, a law student at George Washington University, said she faced these restrictions after she adopted her dog, Nakia.

Most apartments that are pet friendly place restrictions on what type of dogs they can have based on the breed and size for the animal, McNeal said.

Nakia, who was rescued from a shelter, was listed as a bulldog mix on her shelter paperwork. Because of that, McNeal was told she couldnt have the dog at her D.C. apartment.

My landlord didnt care what she looked like, if she was aggressive or potty trained or destructive, she said. All that mattered was if her paperwork named her as a dangerous breed.

McNeal was able to convince her landlord to let her stay with the dog. But she acknowledges others arent as lucky.

American Academy of Pediatrics launches Rx4DC initiative to address gun violence

McNeal said she supports the legislation and also believes its a way to tackle racial discrimination, particularly for people who own pitbulls.

Though once thought of as the nanny dog in America, in the 80s and 90s the all American pitbull loved by Black and white Americans began to be featured more prominently in black pop culture, McNeal said. At the same time, the fear of crime rose and so did the fear that low-income black communities were responsible for it.

She said the dog breed became stereotyped.

Black folks, and by extension Pitbulls, became unjustly associated with crime, gang violence, drugs and dog fighting, McNeal said.

Meanwhile, advocates with the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) believe the legislation will help keep families together.

Last year over 600 families were separated from their pets that they loved because of these systemic barriers, said Bobby Mann, with the HRA.

Howard University nursing ceremony cut short when venue reaches capacity

This bill still requires consideration and a vote by the full council.

DC News Now reached out to the D.C. Landlord Association but did not hear back in time for publication.

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 DC News Now | Washington, DC.
With less than a month before the current contract expires, Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District and its food service workers are at an impasse over talks about bringing in subcontractors to fill district positions.

Nearly 40 members of the Pennsylvania State Education Association Educational Support Professionals union attended a Philipsburg-Osceola board meeting Wednesday night to ask the board to reconsider an option in the collective bargaining agreement that would allow the district to hire a subcontractor to fill food service positions. Several members spoke during public comment before the group walked out of the meeting to take photos and discuss the meeting in the parking lot.

District solicitor Carl Beard said the district hasnt been in specific talks with subcontractors and could not say if the move would have any financial impact on the districts budget. The district already uses a subcontractor for food service supply and management, Beard said.

The district has not explored bringing in any one particular contractor, Beard said. They havent gotten proposals or anything like that. That hasnt been explored. It was just the conversation of through the bargaining process, getting the ability to explore that option.

However, union members said that hiring a subcontractor to fill open food service positions is a slippery slope. Staff representative Doug Rosenberry said filling positions with a subcontractor could open the door for the district to start subcontracting out other support staff like secretaries or paraprofessionals.

Subcontracting is not a road that we want to go down, not only for our food service workers, Rosenberry said. I really feel like its going to start to have a snowball effect and it will just continue with with other classifications that theyll try to outsource. And in all that what were going to do is diminish the number of good, stable jobs.

Beard argued that using a subcontractor would not endanger any current jobs within the district. Instead, when a food service employee leaves or retires, the open position  if not filled internally  would be filled by the subcontractor.

But ESP president Dawn Miller said hiring through subcontractors would also mean a revolving door of staff rather than directly hiring food service works who may stay with the district for years. Miller said that food service workers form close bonds with the students, especially those in special education.

They know us, and we know them and they look forward to coming in, Miller said. And that might be a little bit of a highlight of their day. We just love the kiddos. I mean, we come here every day, and we support them and its a great relationship that we have with our students.

Outside of the issue of subcontracting, union members are asking the district to raise wages to keep up with the cost of living.

Union members and district representatives have two meetings scheduled before the current contract expires at the end of June, but both Beard and members of the ESP expressed hope that a new agreement could be reached soon.

These are the issues that are most important to our members, Rosenberry said. And so these are the issues that we feel so strongly about that were willing to take as long as it takes to come to an agreement.
Fatime Letifova

The Chairman of the Regional Affairs Committee of the Milli Majlis, Siyavush Novruzov, and Deputy Malahat Ibrahimgizi will visit Sofia, Bulgaria, on May 24 to participate in the spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA), Azernews reports.

A meeting of the political, defence and security, economy and security, science and technology, democracy, and security committees of the institution will be held within the session.

The agenda of the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly includes economic and security cooperation in Asia, security in the Black Sea region, climate change challenges, technological challenges, regulation and use of new and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, by allied countries, combating disinformation, and other issues. entered.

The trip will end on May 28.
CANBERRA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government will offer incentives for the construction of batteries under the country's first National Battery Strategy released by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Ed Husic, minister for industry and science on Thursday.

Under the strategy, the government has committed 543.5 million Australian dollars (359.9 million U.S. dollars) in funding to incentivize cutting edge battery research and the development of battery manufacturing capabilities in Australia.

According to the strategy, global demand for batteries is set to quadruple by 2030 amid the global transition to net zero emissions.

The strategy identified the construction of stationary batteries to support the shift to renewable energy, upgrading raw minerals into processed battery components, Australia's capability to build safer batteries and building batteries for heavy vehicles as major opportunities for the country.

"We want to make more things here and with global demand for batteries set to quadruple by 2030, Australia must be a player in this field," Albanese said in a joint statement with Husic.

The strategy is part of the governing Labor Party's Future Made in Australia policy, which aims to capitalize on the economic opportunities of the net zero transition.

Husic said it would help Australia become a renewable energy superpower by moving beyond a dig and ship economy.

"Australia is a pioneer of battery tech, yet for too long we've sent our ideas offshore and lost the good jobs they create," he said.

In 2023, there were 3.7 million homes in Australia with rooftop solar panels but only 250,000 of those had batteries to store excess electricity, the strategy said. 
Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.

Pillowcase Murders is a Paramount+ docu-series that was released on the platform on May 14, 2024. It follows the serial killings of several elderly women in senior communities across Dallas and the investigation that led up to a possible suspect.

Billy Chemirmir was convicted of killing two elderly women at high-end Texas retirement homes. He was then accused of 20 other killings of elderly women from 2016 to 2018. Chemirmir was suspected to be the serial killer responsible for the Pillowcase Murders. Until he was caught, the murders of elderly women in and around Dallas remained a mystery as no leads were made in the case for a while until a woman survived Chemirmirs attack, Fox News reported.

The Pillowcase Murders had several similarities. The killer smothered all the victims with a pillow and raided their homes after they died. Billy Chemirmir was an in-house caregiver and a maintenance worker who worked in independent living communities across Dallas. He was also a former healthcare worker. He stole jewelry and other valuables. When the police assumed that a lot of the murders were naturally caused, the missing jewelry and valuables in the house suggested otherwise.

Chemirmir was accused of 22 counts of capital murder. He was to be tried for 13 counts in the Dallas court, and the others were in Collin County. Prosecutors dismissed the remaining 11 charges after Billy Chemirmir was found guilty of the two murders. They reportedly did not seek the death penalty. He was sentenced to two lifetimes in prison without the possibility of parole. He was serving time at the Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony, as per a report by NBC DFW.

How did Billy Chemirmir get caught?

In March 2018, Mary Bartel told authorities that a man forced his way into her apartment and attacked her. He attempted to kill her and then tried to steal her jewelry. However, Bartel, who was 91 years old at the time, survived. She told the jury at the Pillowcase Murders trial that the attacker smothered her until she was unconscious and then went around raiding the house.

She reportedly woke up after he left and rushed to the hospital. Upon returning, she found several things missing: a gold locket with a picture of her late husband, a gold wedding band, a diamond gold ring, a silver bracelet, and two gold crucifixes.

After she reported the crime, the police got hold of Billy Chemirmir the very next day in the parking lot of his apartment. Inside his car, they found a lot of the jewelry and valuables he had stolen in a box. The contents of the box helped authorities trace the victims of the Pillowcase Murders.

They found documents related to Lu Thi Harris in the box. Harris died when she was 81 years old and was smothered by a killer. Her death was ruled a homicide because she had been wearing red lipstick, which stained the pillow she was murdered with. Billy Chemirmir then went on to be convicted of the murders of Lu Thi Harris and 87-year-old Mary Brooks. He was not tried for the other Pillowcase Murders.

According to KHOU 11, the children of a lot of elderly women who were killed in the Pillowcase Murders stated that their mothers were healthy and active at the time of the death. Eight of the women lived in the upscale Tradition-Prestonwood.

How did the Pillowcase Murders suspect Billy Chemirmir die?

The Guardian reported that Billy Chemirmir was murdered by a cellmate during his time in prison in September 2023. As per a report by CBS News, Chemirmir, who was accused of the Pillowcase Murders, was killed by Wyatt Ellis Busby. Busby was also reportedly found guilty of murder and had been sentenced to 50 years in prison. He was 7 years into his sentence when he killed Chemirmir. Busby also reportedly has a long history of convictions.

Busby and Billy Chemirmir were reportedly sharing a cell when he killed Chemirmir at some time during the night. Several of the Pillowcase Murders victims relatives expressed relief upon hearing the news of Chemirmirs death.

Billy Chemirmir was reportedly a Kenyan citizen. However, he was legally living in the United States and had a permanent resident status. In an interview, the Pillowcase Murders suspect revealed that his family was from Rift Valley. He lived with his elderly father and cared for him on a family farm there. He initially sold cars after arriving in the US. After that, he was employed as a senior caregiver in North Texas. His healthcare background helped him to enter the homes of the elderly without much hassle.

In 2010 and 2011, much before the Pillowcase Murders, Billy Chemirmir was reportedly arrested on family violence charges and drunk and drive cases multiple times. Although he was then arrested in June 2016 for trespassing in an elderly living community, he was let go of considering good behavior. They only caught him in 2018 following that.

Pillowcase Murders is a docu-series that is streaming on Paramount+ now.

The post Pillowcase Murders: What Was the Suspected Serial Killer Billy Chemirmir Convicted Of? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Rendering of the planned addition to the Republican Party of Kentucky headquarters in Frankfort. Architects said they strove for consistency with "the unique and eclectic mix of buildings in the historic residential neighborhood near the state Capitol. (City of Frankfort)

FRANKFORT  The Republican Party of Kentucky plans to expand its headquarters in Frankfort by adding a 6,800 square foot building designed to look like a separate residential structure.

The new building will be built on a vacant lot adjacent to the current headquarters at Third Street and Capital Avenue. In addition to new office and meeting space it will include an auditorium that will seat 160 people. A one-story enclosed corridor will connect it with the rear of the current headquarters.

Frankforts Architectural Review Board approved the design plans on Tuesday, clearing the way for the RPK to seek a building permit and begin construction.

RPK spokesman Andy Westberry said no target date has been set for a groundbreaking, but he said he expected construction to begin later this year.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Kentucky Lantern first reported in January of 2023 that the RPK was planning a major addition to what is known as the Mitch McConnell Building, and that it was being paid for with large donations from big corporations.

McConnell, Kentuckys longest-serving U.S. senator and the Senates longest-serving party leader, is known for his opposition to legal limits on political money and his fundraising prowess. Hes also credited with building Kentuckys Republican Party.

Reports filed by the party with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance show that through the end of March the fund drive had raised $2.9 million. The largest donor was the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc., which gave $1 million. The second largest was NWO Resources, a small Ohio gas distribution utility, which gave $500,000. The president and director of NWO Resources is James Neal Blue, who is also chief executive and chairman of the General Atomics Corp., a defense contractor.

State law caps how much a person can give to a political party in Kentucky, and corporation contributions to candidates and most political committees are illegal. But a 2017 state law allowed Kentuckys two political parties to establish building funds which could accept corporation donations of unlimited amounts.

Design plans for the project by Stengel-Hill Architecture, of Louisville, were sent to city planning officials last month. The project will more than double the headquarters size.

The current design reflects our efforts to focus on the appearance of the addition from West Third Street in a manner that is consistent with the unique and eclectic mix of buildings in the historic residential neighborhood near the state Capitol, the architect explained in a cover letter.

The city notified owners of property adjacent to or near the project of the plans. None of the neighbors responded with objections and no one spoke against the project at the board meeting Tuesday.

Besides the two top donors listed above, other corporations that are paying for the RPKs expanded headquarters are: Metropolitan Life Insurance, New York, $300,000; Verizon, Washington, D.C., $300,000; AT&T, St. Louis, $200,000; Boeing Company PAC, Arlington, Virginia, $100,000; Churchill Downs, Louisville, $100,000; Altria (parent company of Philip Morris USA), Richmond, Virginia, $100,000; Microsoft Corporation, Reno, $100,000; Comcast Corporation, Philadelphia, $100,000; Delta Air Lines Inc., Atlanta, $50,000; The Jockey Club, New York, N.Y., $50,000.

The post Plans advance for corporate-funded expansion of Kentucky Republican Party headquarters appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on May 22 that the country will hold a snap general election on July 4.

The prime minister's announcement triggers the dissolution of parliament and the beginning of a six-week campaign to secure a majority (326) of the U.K.'s 650 constituencies. The law required Sunak to hold an election before January 2025.

Sunak's opponent, Labour MP Keir Starmer, currently leads the polls by 20 points and is widely expected to win the July vote.

In a rain-soaked speech at Downing Street, Sunak defended his leadership record, despite trailing in the polls.

"In the last five years our country has fought through the most challenging times since the Second World War," Sunak said, citing the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Sunak presented himself as a safe choice amid uncertain times, and pointed repeatedly to Russian aggression as a source of danger.

"Putin's Russia is waging a brutal war in Ukraine and will not stop there if he succeeds. That war has also made it all too clear the risk to our energy security," he said.

The outcome of the election is not likely to substantially affect U.K. policy toward Ukraine.

Starmer pledged support for Ukraine in a visit in February 2023. The opposition leader met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, visited front-line towns, and promised that the U.K. would remain united in its ongoing commitment to Ukraine's defense.

"Should there be an election next year and a change of government, the position on Ukraine will remain the same," Starmer said.

Read also: Opinion: Navigating the Zelensky Legitimacy Question

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish and Greek prime ministers submitted a letter to the European Commision on Thursday urging the creation of a Europe-wide air defence system, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

The importance of air defence has been in sharper focus for Poland, which borders Ukraine and has seen missiles enter its airspace.

"I sent a letter to the European Commission, together with (Greek) Prime Minister Mitsotakis, regarding a common European defence policy," Tusk said during an interview with TVP Info on Thursday evening.

"There is already a very positive reaction from the European Commission to make anti-missile air defence a common task for Europe, because it is a huge amount of money," he added.

He also said European countries should stop competing while creating their air defence systems and start cooperation, including on joint investments in the defence industry.

"We need less fragmentation and common projects. Like an air defence shield as proposed by Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Donald Tusk," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media platform X on Thursday.

In April Tusk said Polish generals and the head of the National Security Bureau Jacek Siewiera had told him it was a good idea for Poland to be part of several air defence projects.

"Only a strong, united Europe that pursues a common defence policy... will be able to prevent war. We are preparing for war not because this war is going to happen, but so that it won't happen," Tusk said on Thursday.

(Reporting by Anna Koper; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Polish authorities are increasing security at the main transit hub for foreign military aid to Ukraine amidst increased threats of Russian-backed sabotage, Bloomberg reported on May 23.

At least 12 residents of Poland have been arrested in recent months for spying or planning to commit acts of sabotage within Polish territory on behalf of Russia. Just this week, the Polish government arrested nine members of a Russian spy ring in connection to alleged sabotage plots.

Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak told Bloomberg that the increased security measures would be centered around the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport. The facility is located less than 62 miles from the Ukrainian border and transports a significant percentage of Western materiel bound for the front lines. It also serves as a main stopover point for foreign leadership traveling to Kyiv on official visits.

We are facing a foreign state that is conducting hostile and  in military parlance  kinetic action on Polish territory, Siemoniak said. There has never been anything like this before. Siemoniak did not provide details on the nature of these expanded security measures.

The Polish official emphasized that the country is facing an unprecedented amount of foreign interference following Prime Minister Donald Tusk's announcement that as many as 12 people have been detained in connection to alleged acts of sabotage directed by Russian intelligence. Some of these acts of sabotage include beatings and arson.

The minister said Poland is grappling with an unprecedented level of foreign interference after Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that as many as 12 people had been detained as part of a crackdown on alleged acts of sabotage directed at Russia. The cases involve arson, attempted arson as well as physical attacks.

Earlier this year, Polish law enforcement agencies detained a Polish citizen who allegedly offered to Russia to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelensky by spying on the security of the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport.

In March 2023, Polish authorities detained at least 16 members of a Russian spy ring tasked with gathering information on the number of transports to Ukraine in the region surrounding the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, the level of security measures in place, and the type of equipment.

Were no longer talking about agents of influence or some online activities, Siemoniak said. These are individuals who are ready to come and set things on fire.

Several other suspects have been arrested in Germany, Austria, and Estonia for allegedly spying for Russia or other forms of collaboration with Russian intelligence.

Read also: Russias latest offensive into Kharkiv Oblast is stretching Ukrainian defenses

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Police arrested eight Pro-Palestine protesters blocking an entrance to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Thursday, the university told The Tribune after the demonstration.

At least one Cal Poly faculty member was detained, according to witnesses.

At about 7:30 a.m., a handful of people set up wooden barricades in the crosswalk of California Boulevard and Campus Way. Spray-painted cardboard signs leaned against the barricades reading Defund Genocide and Free Palestine.

The group gathered to protest Israels attacks on Gaza and to demand that Cal Poly divest from companies that support and profit from the war.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, Israeli military attacks have killed more than 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza, the Associated Press reported on Thursday. Hamas meanwhile still holds about 100 Israeli hostages abducted on Oct. 7, the AP said.

Numerous Cal Poly student groups, including Students for Quality Education, posted a call to action on Instagram on Thursday morning inviting people to the protest.

The Cal Poly chapter of Young Democratic Socialists of America also posted about the protest on Instagram. In its Instagram bio, the group linked to a list of demands for the university.

The demands include that Cal Poly support an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, create a supportive space for Palestinian students, faculty, staff and their supporters on campus, drop all charges against student protesters, and divest from companies that profit off of war, prisons, detention centers and policing, the list said.

Cal Poly plant sciences professor Ashraf Tubeileh observed the protest from the sidewalk on Thursday. He grew up in the West Bank in Palestine and has marched in other local protests that called for an end to the war in Gaza.

I hope to see the administration listen to the students, Tubeileh said. Our students are in distress, theyre seeing a genocide take place. They are really frustrated about this and they want to make their voices heard.

Cal Poly spokesperson Matt Lazier said the university does not plan to divest.

Cal Poly does not have a place in boycotting/divesting from certain countries, Lazier wrote in an email from The Tribune. International boycotts and divestment are inherently political and often involve complex and historic geopolitical issues. The role of the university is to serve as a content-neutral space for the free exchange of ideas, thoughts and discourse; the university is not a political body, and its role is not to create public policy and foreign affairs strategies.

Sheriffs deputies in riot helmets assemble as backup while detain eight pro-Palestine protesters who blocked the intersection at California Boulevard and Campus Way near Cal Poly on May 23, 2024.

Police arrested eight protesters, Cal Poly said

At the start of the protest, three people sat beside the barricades, while four others stood in the crosswalk, a photo posted to Instagram by Cal Poly Students for Quality Education showed.

Eventually, about 30 people joined the protest, according to Tubeileh.

Some people marched across the crosswalk, chanting Free Palestine and Armstrong, you cant hide, we charge you with genocide! Jeffrey Armstrong is the president of Cal Poly.

Other people gathered on the sidewalk with cardboard signs.

Officers from the Cal Poly Police Department, the San Luis Obispo Police Department and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office patrolled the area and blocked the intersection to vehicle traffic.

At about 9:40 a.m., some of the protesters linked arms and stood in a circle around the barricade, according to witnesses.

At sometime between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., representatives of the Cal Poly Dean of Students Office stopped by to speak with the protesters, according to Tubeileh  which is the first time hes seen university representatives talk with campus protesters.

Police detained two protesters at about 10:50 a.m., according to multiple witnesses. Police then ordered the protesters to disperse at about 11 a.m., the witnesses said.

Police issued the protesters a dispersal order, as their actions were illegal and blocked a busy road, presenting safety concerns for themselves and for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians in the area. When the protesters refused to cooperate with the order, police were forced to arrest and remove the individuals from the road, Lazier wrote in an email to The Tribune.

At 11:15 a.m., two protesters had chained themselves to the barricades, and about 15 officers surrounded the pair. Sheriffs deputies in riot gear formed a perimeter while police officers detached the protesters from the barricade and detained them one at a time.

Tony Cipolla, spokesperson for the Sheriffs Office, told The Tribune the deputies were part of the mutual aid public safety team, which Cal Poly requested to help respond to the protest.

He said the gear worn by officers is standard equipment.

The protest involved an unknown number of individuals and was near the railroad tracks, Cipolla said. The railroad tracks contain numerous rocks that can be used as projectiles against law enforcement.

Cipolla said the deputies wore the gear to protect themselves against potential and unknown dangers and prevent injuries.

Responding Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo police department officers were not in riot gear.

Cal Poly supports lawful protests and demonstrations but will not tolerate illegal activity, Lazier wrote in the email. Ensuring the safety and well being of all campus community members and visitors is a priority for the university, and Cal Poly will fully enforce the laws and rules governing its campus to maintain that standard. Anyone who jeopardizes or undermines that through unlawful activity or violations of university policy is subject to the consequences of their actions.

By 11:50 a.m., the protesters and police officers had all left the intersection.
The pro-Palestinian occupiers of the Institute of Social Sciences at Berlin's Humboldt University (HU) leave the building with a police escort. Activists have occupied the university in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Soeren Stache/dpa

Police have begun clearing parts of Humboldt University (HU) in Berlin that have been occupied by pro-Palestinian activists.

Officers forcibly opened locked and partially barricaded doors, a police spokeswoman said on Thursday evening.

At the same time, the police escorted the people who left the building voluntarily outside and established their identities.

The spokeswoman could not say how many people were still in the building, and there was no information about whether anyone was injured people.

Shouts of "HU, shame on you" could be heard and, according to a dpa reporter, the atmosphere was heated.

A deadline set by the university management to clear the occupied rooms expired at 6 pm (1600 GMT).

On Thursday afternoon, University President Julia von Blumenthal held closed-door discussions with academics and squatters. Negotiations with the squatters then continued. Von Blumenthal also spoke to the police several times.

Around 50 activists of the group called Student Coalition Berlin have occupied several rooms at the Institute of Social Sciences since Wednesday afternoon.

The activists said that around 100 people spent the night at the university.

The pro-Palestinian occupiers of the Institute of Social Sciences at Berlin's Humboldt University (HU) leave the building with a police escort. Activists have occupied the university in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Soeren Stache/dpa

One of the pro-Palestinian occupiers of the Institute for Social Sciences at Berlin's Humboldt University (HU) is taken out of the building by two police officers. Activists have occupied the university in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Soeren Stache/dpa
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A man who has been wanted by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) for his involvement in a Northeast D.C. shooting was arrested on Wednesday.

Police said that 29-year-old Alante Partlow of Northeast D.C. was found in Greensboro, NC, nearly a month after a shooting that left a father and his 5-year-old daughter hurt.

The shooting happened on April 23 at about 11:30 p.m. in the 4800 block of North Capitol Street NE. Officers found a man and a 5-year-old girl who had been shot.

Father, 5-year-old child shot in Northeast DC

They were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening.

Partlow was identified as a suspect shortly after the shooting and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He has been charged with Aggravated Assault while Armed (Gun). Police said he and the victims knew each other.

MPD said he will be extradited from North Carolina back to the District.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Pro-Palestinian demonstrators stand on a street near the Institute of Social Sciences at Berlin's Humboldt University (HU). Activists have occupied the university in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Christophe Gateau/dpa

Police on Thursday cleared parts of Humboldt University (HU) in Berlin that had been occupied by pro-Palestinian activists and said late in the evening that the occupation is over.

Officers forcibly opened locked and partially barricaded doors, a police spokeswoman said on Thursday evening.

The police also escorted the people who left the building voluntarily outside and established their identities.

A spokesperson later said that a total of 150 protesters had occupied rooms at the Institute of Social Sciences since Wednesday. There were no reports on anyone having been injured.

Shouts of "HU, shame on you" could be heard and, according to a dpa reporter, the atmosphere was heated, as officers worked to get the protesters out.

Officers indicated that some 50 protesters remained ensconced at Humboldt University for a while even after the occupied rooms had been cleared, a police spokesman said on Thursday evening. But police later gave the all clear.

Police imposed around 130 short-term restrictions on movement in the course of the evacuation of the university, according to the spokesman.

The identity of the occupants had been established, he said.

On Thursday afternoon, university President Julia von Blumenthal held closed-door discussions with academics and occupiers. Von Blumenthal also spoke to the police several times.

Activists of the group Student Coalition Berlin were behind the occupation.

The activists said that around 100 people spent the night at the educational institution, one of the three major universities in the German capital.

Von Blumenthal expressed her regret that no agreement was reached with pro-Palestinian activists following the clearing of occupied university rooms.

"I'm not sure whether it would have succeeded, but I had the impression that we had taken a good step with this dialogue," von Blumenthal said on Thursday after talks with the pro-Palestinian activists.

"The order then came from the very top to end the occupation. I followed this instruction," she said, explaining she was referring to Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner when asked.

Wegner had earlier posted a strongly worded message on the social media platform X.

"I expect the @HumboldtUni to take responsibility and act consistently now. Teaching must continue! Our universities are places of knowledge and critical discourse - and not lawless spaces for anti-Semites + terror sympathisers," Wegner wrote.

The university would not press charges for trespassing, as the temporary occupation had been tolerated, von Blumenthal added.

She could not yet comment on questions of damage to property as she had not yet had the opportunity to view the building in full.

She said of the spokesman's talks with the activists that it had been possible, with moderation and mutual respect, to talk about where the two sides "might even be able to come closer together and also to talk about what divides [them]."

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators stand on a street near the Institute of Social Sciences at Berlin's Humboldt University (HU). Activists have occupied the university in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Christophe Gateau/dpa

One of the pro-Palestinian occupiers of the Institute of Social Sciences at Berlin's Humboldt University (HU) is taken out of the building by police officers. Activists have occupied the university in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Christophe Gateau/dpa
GAZA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 24 people were killed overnight when the Israeli army targeted two houses in northern and central Gaza, the Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported Thursday.

A total of 16 Palestinians, including 10 children, were killed and a number of others injured after the Israeli army shelled a house in the center of Gaza City on Wednesday night, WAFA said.

At dawn on Thursday, the forces targeted a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, killing at least eight.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that its operational activities targeting "terrorists" would continue throughout the Gaza Strip. 
Police officers shot and killed a dog who bit multiple students at Lathrop Elementary School Thursday, Lathrop Police said in a news release.

Two dogs came onto school property while students were participating in annual field day activities. The dogs were behaving in an aggressive manner, police said, and two students were bitten.

Officers arrived around noon, shortly after they were called. In a news release, Lathrop Police said officers tried to use pepper spray and a catch pole to catch the dogs.

As teachers began ushering students into the building, one of the dogs moved aggressively toward an officer. Another officer shot the dog, killing it.

The dog will be sent to a veterinarian for testing, police said.

Lathrop School District Superintendent Adam Willard said on social media the students who were bitten have been treated and are safe. But several students saw the dog being shot, he said.

We recognize this entire situation was traumatic for the students and we wanted to make families aware of the matter, Willard said.

We want to thank our staff for their professionalism and composure during this event.

Lathrop is about an hour northeast of Kansas City.
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that Ukraine's request to shoot down Russian missiles from NATO territory is a matter for discussion.

Source: Pawe Wronski, a Polish journalist, in an interview with RMF FM, as reported by European Pravda

Wronski noted that Ukraine is indeed asking its neighbours to shoot down Russian missiles from their territory.

Quote: "The Ukrainian side is making such a request that Polish military forces and Polish air defence systems shoot down missiles flying over Ukrainian territory," Wronski said.

He mentioned that this is a matter for discussion, and added that potential missile interceptions are associated with a number of prerequisites.

"For example, technical issues concerning the range of these missiles, as well as legal issues. What will happen if the wreckage of such a missile destroys someone's property or causes someone's death because, ultimately, the missile will not dissolve in the air," he said.

Background:

On 22 May, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba discussed Kyiv's call to partners to shoot down Russian missiles from their territory, noting that if they do not want to do so, there is another option.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that assistance from the North Atlantic Alliance in shooting down Russian missiles over the territory of Ukraine would help compensate for Kyiv's deficit in air defence and would not drag NATO in the war.

Earlier, Zelenskyy said he did not understand why Western NATO allies downed Iranian missiles and drones flying towards Israel, but were afraid to do the same in Ukraine, fearing dragging the Alliance in a war with Russia.

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The Democratic political consultant who admitted to using a deepfake of President Bidens voice in a New Hampshire primary robocall earlier this year was indicted Wednesday, the state attorney general announced.

Steve Kramer, who said he created the robocall to warn about the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI), was charged with 13 counts each of felony voter suppression and misdemeanor impersonating a candidate.

New Hampshire remains committed to ensuring that our elections remain free from unlawful interference and our investigation into this matter remains ongoing, Attorney General John Formella (R) said in a statement.

The call was the first known use of deepfake technology in U.S. politics, sparking a tidal wave of calls to regulate the use of AI in elections. The fake Biden voice in the call encouraged thousands of New Hampshire primary voters to stay home and save their votes.

This is a way for me to make a difference, and I have, Kramer told NBC News in February. For $500, I got about $5 million worth of action, whether that be media attention or regulatory action.

The consultant previously worked for Rep. Dean Phillipss (D-Minn.) long-shot presidential campaign, which was suspended in March, though he said Phillipss team was not connected to or aware of his robocall effort. He also backed efforts to regulate the technology.

With a mere $500 investment, anyone could replicate my intentional call, Kramer said in a statement in February. Immediate action is needed across all regulatory bodies and platforms.

The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) also announced its own enforcement action against Kramer on Thursday, fining him $6 million and levying a $2 million fine against the telecom carrier that operated the phone lines.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel called Kramers scheme unnerving.

This is only a start, she wrote in a statement. Because we know AI technologies that make it cheap and easy to flood our networks with fake stuff are being used in so many ways here and abroad. It is especially chilling to see them used in elections.

The FCC also announced Wednesday that it will consider requiring political advertisers to disclose the use of AI on television and radio.

As artificial intelligence tools become more accessible, the commission wants to make sure consumers are fully informed when the technology is used, Rosenworcel said in a separate statement Wednesday.

The FCC banned the use of AI in robocalls earlier this year after Kramers effort in New Hampshire.

AI is supercharging threats to the election system, technology policy strategist Nicole Schneidman told The Hill in March. Disinformation, voter suppression  what generative AI is really doing is making it more efficient to be able to execute such threats.

AI-generated political ads have already broken into the space with the 2024 election. Last year, the Republican National Committee released an entirely AI-generated ad meant to show a dystopian future under a second Biden term. It employed fake but realistic photos showing boarded-up storefronts, armored military patrols in the streets and waves of immigrants creating panic.

In Indias elections, recent AI-generated videos misrepresenting Bollywood stars as criticizing the prime minister exemplify a trend tech experts say is cropping up in democratic elections around the world.

Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) also introduced a bill earlier this year that would require similar disclosures when AI is used in political advertisements.

Updated at 11:45 a.m. EDT

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WGN Investigates has learned a top aide to a state representative who abruptly resigned in April has now been charged with sending obscene and harassing messages to a rival state senator.

The text messages sent to State Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort) included fake sexually explicit images of Hastings, Gov. JB Pritzker and other elected officials, according to a source.

Timothy Pawula is now charged with harassment through electronic communication, transmission of obscene messages and obscenity, according to Illinois State Police.

Pawula was chief of staff for State Rep. Tim Ozinga (R-Mokena) before Ozinga abruptly resigned without explanation in April as the investigation heated-up.

Pawula responded to a request for comment.

Report: Illinois State Rep. Tim Ozinga abruptly resigned this week; represented southwest suburbs

Ive been a victim of electronic harassment where someone  potentially affiliated with others  sent me digitally altered, sexually explicit images that are highly offensive, Sen. Hastings told WGN Investigates.

The messages were sent over several months between 2022 and 2023 from spoofed phone numbers. They followed a heated campaign for state senate in the southwest suburbs between Hastings and Ozingas preferred candidate, Patrick Sheehan, who was appointed as a state representative this year. Sheehans office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ozinga flatly denied having any knowledge of the text messages or that his aides alleged actions played a role in his resignation. I had zero knowledge of this incident and was not aware that any charges were being filed until after I had already retired from the General Assembly, Ozinga said in a message to WGN Investigates. When I did find out about it, I disciplined the employee, he was put on unpaid leave and justice will be served.

Illinois State Board of Elections records still list Pawula is treasurer of Ozingas political action committee and campaign fund.

Pritzkers office declined to comment on the manipulated sexually explicit images or the charges other than to say the governor did not personally receive any of the messages.

WGN Investigates: Investigating public corruption, crime & fraud

Ozinga did not offer a reason for his resignation in April only posting to Facebook: It has been a privilege to serve the constituents of the 37th District. As of today, my service in the Illinois House will end. However I will continue to dedicate my time and efforts to make Illinois a better place. I remain committed to advocating for the people of my district and moving the State of Illinois in the right direction.

Two days later, Ozinga posted that he intended to stay on as Will County republican central committee chairman.

In a sign that the bad blood between Ozinga and Hastings has not subsided, Ozingas response to questions included a reference to allegations of domestic violence against Hastings that surfaced during the last campaign. Senator Hastings is unfit for office and was asked to resign by Gov. Pritzker, Ozinga said. Hopefully justice will be served by the voters of Illinois this election by removing him from office.

Records from the Illinois comptrollers office show Pawula was last on the state payroll in 2022 as a district office employee for Ozinga making $35,000/year.

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 WGN-TV.
President Volodymyr Zelensky is planning to visit the D-Day commemoration in France and a G7 meeting in Italy in June to ask partners for more military aid, Politico reported on May 22, citing two undisclosed sources.

Due to the difficult situation at the front lines, Zelensky canceled on May 15 all of his international events scheduled for the coming days. He reportedly planned to travel to Portugal and Spain at the time.

Zelensky's schedule for trips to France and Italy may still change, according to Politico's sources.

If the president visits France, he is expected to urge partners to send Kyiv more military support and to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, as the U.S. and the U.K. did during Iran's attack on Israel in April.

"I personally sent a signal to the Polish side, the U.S., and other countries that we are ready to sign all the papers. If they shoot down Russian missiles over our country, they will not be held responsible if it falls and something blows up... But everyone is afraid of 'escalation,'" Zelensky said in an interview with Reuters published on May 21.

Politico describes Zelensky's presence at the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings as one that will have "immense symbolic resonance." In addition to U.S. President Joe Biden and other Western leaders, a Russian representative is expected to attend the event.

During his visit to Italy, Zelensky will call on Western partners to seize Russian assets to help fund Ukraine's defense and reconstruction, Politico wrote.

Ukraine's Western allies and other partners froze around $300 billion in Russian assets at the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

The EU Council agreed to use profits from the frozen Russian sovereign assets to aid Ukraine on May 21, which would provide Ukraine with between 2.5 billion and 3 billion euros ($2.7-3.26 billion) annually, with most of it allocated to Kyiv's military needs.

Read also: Zelensky: Our partners fear that Russia will lose this war

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis praised natural beauty that has not been cosmetically enhanced while meeting plastic surgeons during an audience hosted on Thursday in the Vatican.

"I welcome you with a smile on our lips, natural, not remodelled!", said the pope while addressing members of the Association of Alumni of Professor Ivo Pitanguy (AEXPI).

Pitanguy contributed to the global spread of plastic surgery for reconstructive purposes as well as catering for the desires of the rich and famous before he died in 2016.

Speaking in Spanish, the pope thanked the members of the association for trying to "bring a smile to the faces" of many sick children with plastic surgery for reconstruction.

Francis praised beauty that is not subject to "the planned trends of the fashion business, the business of culture, the culture of appearances, but which connects to the truth of humanity, to its most intimate being, which we cannot disfigure."

"Our faces are destined to reflect a beauty that goes beyond what can be perceived with the eyes of the body," said the pontiff to the surgeons who were in Rome to attend the AEXPI congress.

The congress "When Science Meets Beauty" will hosted in Rome on May 24-25.

(Reporting by Sara Rossi; Editing by Keith Weir)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A southeast Portland bar is facing a $9 million lawsuit for allegedly overserving alcohol to a man who killed another patron in 2023, according to court documents.

The lawsuit was filed on May 17 by the estate of Colin Smith, who died after he was stabbed during a fight at the High Dive bar near SE 12th Avenue and Madison on July 2, 2023.

The lawsuit, first reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive, claims the bar was negligent for serving drinks to 24-year-old Rahnique Jackson  who is accused of killing Smith  despite Jackson and the group he was with appearing loud, boisterous, and visibly intoxicated.

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Court documents claim before the fight, Jackson was loud and combative toward other patrons, with multiple customers telling him to leave.

As the group left, Jackson put his arm around a woman who did not know him, made a derogatory remark to another customer and shoved them, court documents allege.

A fight broke out when other patrons, including Smith, came to the patrons defense, the lawsuit claimed.

When Smith attempted to break up the fight, Jackson pulled a knife and stabbed him several times, killing Smith, court documents said.

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Both Smiths sister and his former partner previously told KOIN 6 News that Smith and his coworkers from Ox headed to High Dive when Jackson targeted and began to harass someone in their group.

It was a hate crime, his sister, Danielle Smith, said. She was trans, he [the suspect] didnt like it, and Colin  defending his friend  was in the way. And thats what happened. Its just tragic.

Investigators with the Portland Police Bureau previously said they were not able to reveal at the time whether the homicide was being looked at as a hate crime.

Students chain themselves to PSU admin building in protest for a Free Palestine

The lawsuit against High Dive comes as Jackson faces several charges for Smiths death, including second-degree murder, second-degree bias crime, and unlawful use of a weapon.

His next trial date is scheduled for July 15, 2024.

KOIN 6 News reached out to High Bar and Jacksons court-appointed attorney for the ongoing case in which hes accused of Smiths death. This story will be updated if we receive responses.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Portland State Universitys food cart pod that was slated to shut down this summer will no longer close, due to backing from city officials.

On Thursday, PSU announced the Millar Library food carts would remain open, and undergo construction to ensure theyre in compliance with local wastewater regulations.

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In January 2023, Oregon updated its food sanitation rules to prohibit mobile food units from using unnecessary potable and wastewater storage tanks.

KOIN 6 previously reported that city officials issued PSU a notice of violation after an inspection in July, but the university determined it didnt have the $40,000 to $50,000 required to renovate the site.

After the Facilities and Property Management departments multiple attempts to secure the funding, the four food cart pods learned they would need to relocate or shut down by July 1.

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But according to PSU Associate Vice president for Planning, Construction and Real Estate Jason Franklin, the campus community continued to advocate for the pod.

The PSU community made it clear that the Library carts are an important part of our campus, and we agree, Franklin added in a statement. Were happy that after careful consideration and assistance from the City of Portlands Bureau of Environmental Services, we found a cost-effective solution that protects public health. We are pleased that were able to make the necessary infrastructure improvements to allow the carts to remain in place.

This summer, the university will install a new grease interceptor system in the pod. It has worked alongside a contractor familiar with local food regulations to ensure the pod is in compliance.

Oregon Lottery releases new Scratch-Its highlighting Oregon State Parks

According to PSU, the four food carts  Asian Fusion, Home Taste, Khao Niew Lao Street Food and Sheesh Shawarma  were informed of this earlier in May.

The business owners rent will increase rent to cover maintenance costs.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
TOKYO, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The wingtips of two Japan Airlines (JAL) passenger planes collided at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Thursday morning, local media reported.

JAL said the incident occurred at around 7:30 a.m. local time. Both aircraft sustained damage, but no injuries were reported, public broadcaster NHK said.

JAL Flight 503, bound for Hokkaido's New Chitose Airport, was backing out of its parking spot when it struck a plane moving forward into an adjacent parking spot.

There were 328 people on board Flight 503, which was cancelled, while the other aircraft had no passengers and its flight has been delayed to change planes, the report said.

The incident is the latest in a series of recent airfield collisions. A JAL passenger jet collided with a Japan Coast Guard plane at Haneda Airport on Jan. 2, killing five of the six crew on the Coast Guard plane. A Korean Air aircraft clipped a parked Cathay Pacific aircraft at New Chitose Airport on Jan. 16, and two All Nippon Airways passenger jets bumped wings at an Osaka airport on Feb. 1. 
Paula Vennells leaving the Horizon IT inquiry at Aldwych House after her second day giving evidence - Photo by James Veysey/Shutterstock

The Post Offices PR chief warned Paula Vennells that investigating old Horizon cases would make front page news, the inquiry heard.

On her second day of giving evidence to the Post Office inquiry, the former chief executive admitted the business could have avoided a lost decade before wrongful convictions were uncovered if more cases had been reviewed.

More than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongfully prosecuted as a result of the Horizon scandal, which saw shortfalls incorrectly recorded on their branch accounts.

On Thursday, the inquiry was shown a July 2013 email where Ms Vennells asked colleagues for opinions on why forensic accountants Second Sight could not review all cases of false accounting eg over the last five to ten years.

The firm had been appointed by MPs and the Post Office the year before to investigate multiple assertions that Horizon was generating spurious branch shortfalls and that sub-postmasters were being forced to pay the shortfalls and prosecuted. Accountants wanted to expand their review across the previous decade.

But the inquiry was shown a response from Mark Davies, the Post Offices then-director of communications, warning that a decision to review older cases could lead to the story becoming front page news.

In her response Ms Vennells said: You are right to call this out. And I will take your steer. [sic] no issue.

When asked about the exchange, Ms Vennells said she absolutely did not accept that she took a decision to not review past cases based on a media outcome. She added: I didnt take any decision on that, I wouldnt have been able to do so.

However, she insisted she could not remember if she took the advice of the PR guy not to review five to ten years of past prosecutions, prompting groans - and an intervention from the chairman Sir Wyn Williams - in the packed hearing room.

Counsel to the Horizon inquiry Jason Beer KC asked: Do you agree your nascent idea here of a review of all prosecutions of false accounting, if it had been carried into effect, may have avoided a lost decade until miscarriages of justice were discovered?

Ms Vennells admitted that it may well have done, but insisted that she did not try to close down a review into the Horizon software.

The former chief executive, who will face questions from lawyers representing sub-postmasters on Friday, was also asked about a board meeting later that month (July 2013) in which the Post Offices most senior lawyer was made to sit outside.

Ms Vennells told the inquiry how Post Office chair Alice Perkins stood down Susan Crichton, the general counsel, so the board could have a full and frank discussion on a paper she had written on Second Sights report in late July.

Paula Vennells becomes tearful after telling the inquiry she had to step back from her role as chief executive from January 2019 due to 'a family situation' - Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry/PA Wire

Addressing Ms Vennells, Mr Beer said: She was made to wait outside on a chair?

Yes, Ms Vennells responded.

Sitting there like a naughty schoolgirl?, Mr Beer asked.

It must, she must have felt terrible, responded Ms Vennells.

Tensions between Paula Vennells and the former Post Office chair relating to the Horizon investigation were documented by solicitors in 2013.

Notes written in July that year by Simon Richardson, then of law firm Bond Dickinson, which advised the Post Office during the Horizon investigation, read: There was generally an overall defensive air and the board are also feeling bruised.

There are tensions between people and that includes Alice Perkins (the chair), Paula Vennells (CEO) and SC [Susan Crichton].

Ms Vennells said she remembered the board feeling frustrated over the progress of the Second Sight investigation, its cost and the perception that the Post Offices input had not been taken into account.

When asked if there was tension between her and Ms Perkins, Ms Vennells said: I dont recall that she had been critical.

I mean Alice was a very straightforward chair and I generally took feedback pretty well and again, forgive me for repeating the phrase, but there is documentation on that as well.

More loyal to her profession

Ms Vennells was then questioned on her own personal notes from September 2019 in which she said the legal chief was possibly more loyal to her professional conduct requirements and put her integrity as a lawyer above the interests of the business.

The former chief executive described this sentence as clumsy and said: I wrote this completely wrongly, adding that she was trying to say Ms Crichton had two responsibilities: her role as the lead lawyer of the business as well as a major project that she was leading with the independent review.

Later, Ms Vennells  who cried three times while giving evidence on Wednesday  was shown an email from August 2013 which she had sent to Ms Crichton about a mediation scheme the organisation had been running.

When we discussed this, the hope of mediation was to avoid or minimise compensation, Ms Vennells wrote.

Paula Vennells leaves inquiry after second day of giving evidence - Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire / eyevine

When asked if it was hoped that mediation would enable the Post Office to avoid paying out or minimise compensation, Ms Vennells said: Possibly, yes.

The inquiry also heard of how Ms Vennells kept in touch with Mr Davies in 2020  months after both had left the Post Office in the 2019.

When asked if she exchanged messages with him about media lines she might take in the announcement of the inquiry, Ms Vennells said: I believe the inquiry has texts that show that.

She added that she had kept in touch with her former PR chief for reasons which were personal to him, adding:  I think he offered that advice at the time.

Later, the inquiry was shown an email from 2011  responding to colleagues discussing a negative Private Eye article  in which she said it was a goal of hers that all press even local press should be scoured for negative comment and refuted.

When asked about the goal, Ms Vennells said she was protecting the reputation of Post Office branches rather than the company itself.

Ms Vennells will finish giving evidence to the inquiry on Friday.

06:15 PM BST

Thats all for today

Thank you for following The Telegraphs live coverage which saw Paula Vennells, the former Post Office chief executive, questioned for a second day by counsel to the inquiry.

Here is a summary of todays events:

Vennells acknowledged Horizon bugs could have been discovered far sooner

Post Office counsel said contacting Seema Misra about review a red rag to a bull

Alan Bates belief that prosecutions were wrong was not news to Vennells

The Post Offices ex-PR chief advised Vennells to avoid reviewing historical cases that could make front page news

Vennells agreed that the steer was a grossly improper perspective

She admitted the Post Office could have avoided lost decade if all cases were reviewed in 2013

Solicitors documented tensions between Vennnells and the former Post Office chair, Alice Perkins

The inquiry heard Susan Crichton, the former Post Office general counsel, was made to sit outside board meeting like a naughty schoolgirl

Vennells told colleagues it was a goal of hers to scour the press and refute negative comments

The inquiry will resume tomorrow, with Paula Vennells returning to the stand for a third day.

05:05 PM BST

General election will not interfere with inquiry timetable

The upcoming general election will not interfere with the timetable of the Post Office Inquiry, chair Sir Wyn Williams has said.

On Wednesday Rishi Sunak called a snap election with voters going to the polls on July 4.

As the second day of questioning Paula Vennells at the inquiry ended, the chairman said: You may have heard there is going to be a general election.

My view currently is that that will not interfere with the timetable of the inquiry, save for the day of the election and the day after.

Sir Wyn added: I have decided we will not sit on July the fourth or July the fifth, and as far as humanly possible to continue as if the election is not occurring.

05:00 PM BST

Inquiry ends for the day

The inquiry has finished for today.

Chair Sir Wyn Williams has said he will provide a full update on why Jane MacLeod, the former general counsel to the Post Office, is not not willing to provide evidence to the inquiry in writing tomorrow.

04:58 PM BST

Vennells said she was very proud and pleased board decided to recuse Alan Bates trial judge

Paula Vennells told Mark Davies she felt very proud and pleased once the board decided to recuse the judge overseeing the Alan Bates High Court trial.

A text shown to the inquiry showed Ms Vennells telling her comms chief Mark Davies she felt the same about the board. Very proud and pleased. Difficult but completely the right decision.

When asked about why she was proud of the board decision to recuse the judge, Ms Vennells said: I knew the colleagues around the board table.

This was about the people around that table, not anything more than that.

04:51 PM BST

Vennells becomes tearful describing family situation which caused her to step down as Post Office chief

Paula Vennells has become tearful after telling the inquiry she had to step back from her role as chief executive from January 2019 due to a family situation.

She told the inquiry: I was involved sort of in and out of the business as we were going through hospital visits and then stepped back much more from March.

Paula Vennells becomes tearful after telling the inquiry she had to step back from her role as chief executive due to 'a family situation' - Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry/PA Wire

04:41 PM BST

Vennells told colleagues it was goal of hers to scour press and refute negative comments

Paula Vennells told colleagues how it was a goal of hers to scour all press and refute negative comments.

Responding to emails which were dealing with a negative article in Private Eye, Ms Vennells wrote: Its a goal of mine that all press even local press (perhaps esp [sic] local press) , should be scoured for negative comment and refuted.

When asked about the goal, Ms Vennells said she was protecting the reputation of post office branches rather than the company itself.

She added: The reputation of Post Office Ltd had no weight at all.

It was irrelevant, it was the reputation of the post offices, your local post office and thats what Im trying to say here.

The email in which Paula Vennells told colleagues how it was a "goal of hers" to scour all press and refute negative comments

04:37 PM BST

Vennells admits she should not have advised executives to use less emotive language

Paula Vennells admitted she should not have advised Post Office executives on using less emotive language related to problems with Horizon, the inquiry heard.

Ms Vennells was asked about an email in which she said: My computer literate husband has sent the following reply to the question what is non-emotive word for computer bugs, glitches and defects, answer: exception or anomaly.

Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC said: Did you consider the terms computer bug, glitches or defect to be emotive?

Ms Vennells replied: Im not sure why I used non-emotive, I think what I was trying to do here was to avoid misinterpretation.

She added: I should have said bugs, I should not have sent the email.

04:23 PM BST

Vennells discussed making token payments alongside an apology to subpostmasters, inquiry hears

Ms Vennells discussed making token payments alongside an apology to subpostmasters, the inquiry heard.

Asked if it was always her intention to make small tokenistic payments to Post Office employees, the former chief executive said: That word wasnt meant in the negative sense that could be assumed.

My understanding was that the mediation scheme was a conversation around resolution of issues. At the time the scheme was put in place, this was the advice I was given.

She added: We could not possibly have paid out token payment for the cases that we now know about.

04:18 PM BST

It was clumsy to suggest former Post Office lawyer was not loyal to business, says Vennells

Paula Vennells has said she was clumsy to write that the Post Offices former top lawyer was possibly more loyal to her professional conduct requirements and integrity than the business.

The inquiry was shown notes of a dramatic meeting between Ms Vennells and Susan Crichton which took place in a Costa cafe in early September 2013.

Ms Vennells notes described how during the meeting Ms Crichton had become angry and shouted at her - yet the lawyer previously told the inquiry she herself could not recall the meeting.

Reflecting on the meeting in her notes, Ms Vennells wrote: My reflectionis that Susan was possibly more loyal to her professional conduct requirements and put her integrity as a lawyer above the interests of the business.

When asked about this, Ms Vennells said: I wrote this completely wrongly, adding that she was trying to say Ms Crichton had two responsibilities, - her role as the lead lawyer of the business as well as a major project that she was leading with the independent review.

She added: Its clumsy, its clumsy, Mr Beer.

04:05 PM BST

Vennells attempted to use mediation as a means of avoiding compensating subpostmasters, inquiry hears

Paula Vennells attempted to use mediation as a means of avoiding compensating wrongly prosecuted subpostmasters, the inquiry heard.

Ms Vennells was challenged over a conversation with Susan Crichton, former general counsel to the Post Office, in which she suggested mediation could be a very helpful way of resolving the misunderstandings and issues that the Post Office and subpostmasters were facing.

She denied this was a method of avoiding paying subpostmasters and said: It wasnt done to avoid or minimise compensation. My understanding was that mediation would be a conversation and if it was appropriate compensation would be paid.

03:17 PM BST

Vennells does not recall top lawyer telling her there would be many successful claims against Post Office

Paula Vennells has said she cannot recall a top lawyer telling her in late July 2013 that there would be many successful claims against the Post Office arising from wrongful prosecutions.

Susan Crichton, who was the Post Offices general counsel at the time, said she warned the chief executive of the claims ahead of a board meeting where Second Sights report would be discussed.

Jason Beer, lead counsel to the inquiry, asked: Susan Crichton has told us, in the inquiry, that she spoke to you before the meeting to say that in her view, there would be many successful claims against the Post Office arising from past wrongful prosecutions. Did she tell you that?

Ms Vennells replied: I dont recall that at all. My recollection was what was in her paper, which is that the lawyers had found, though it would be about five per cent of the cases theyd looked that.

She later added: Mr Beer, I would not cover anything up in this process.

Paula Vennells, pictured, was questioned on correspondence with Susan Crichton, the former general counsel to the Post Office

02:59 PM BST

Top Post Office lawyer made to sit outside board meeting like a naughty schoolgirl, inquiry hears

A top Post Office lawyer was made to sit outside a board meeting like a naughty schoolgirl while a paper she had written was discussed, the inquiry heard.

Ms Vennells told the inquiry how Post Office chair Alice Perkins stood down Susan Crichton, the general counsel, so the board could have a full and frank discussion on a paper she had written on Second Sights report in late July.

Ms Vennells then told the inquiry she tried to answer questions on the paper from board members in the lawyers place.

Jason Beer KC, lead counsel, addressed Ms Vennells, saying: She was made to wait outside on a chair?

Yes, Ms Vennells responded.

Mr Beer: Sitting there like a naughty schoolgirl?

Ms Vennells: It must - she must have felt terrible.

02:49 PM BST

Covertly recorded meeting suggests Ms Vennells was not interested in discovering miscarriages of justice, inquiry hears

A transcript of a covertly recorded meeting has been read out to the inquiry which appears to suggest that Second Sight were told Ms Vennells was not interested in them discovering miscarriages of justice, but they should be looking for systemic issues with Horizon.

Susan Crichton, the lead counsel to the Post Office, says during the conference call with her colleagues: Paula (Vennells) agrees that the original scope of the investigation did not go as far as looking at whether it was the miscarriage of justice point...

She added: So thats not what shes looking for shes looking for the systematic or systemic weakness in the Horizon but not, as I said, to go on to that next point around whether or not its caused a miscarriage of justice or a suspension of a subpostmaster, because I think thats, once you have found it, then its up for us to look for and see what impact it might be if that happened.

02:01 PM BST

Inquiry resumes

Paula Vennells has resumed giving evidence to the public inquiry.

01:44 PM BST

Post Office mantra on effectiveness of Horizon was overused, admitted Vennells

Mr Beer highlighted a press statement issued by the Post Office on July 7 2013 which defended the effectiveness of Horizon.

It read: The Post Office is committed to supporting its people and improving the way we do so.

The interim review makes clear that the Horizon computer system and its supporting processes function effectively across our network.

As the review notes, it is used by around 68,000 people in more than 11,500 branches, successfully processing more than six million transactions every day. The review underlines our cause for confidence in the overall system.

Mr Beer said the Post Office used the number of users, branches, and transactions that relied on the system as a mantra by the Post Office to defend allegations against Horizon for many years.

Ms Vennells replied: It was a truth and it was an explanation that was overused and I fully accept that now.

01:27 PM BST

Vennells admitted informing watchdog of unreliability of evidence would have been right and honest

Ms Vennells admitted it would have been the right and honest thing to inform a criminal watchdog about the unreliability of evidence provided by a senior Fujitsu engineer.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates miscarriages of justice, sent a letter on July 12 2013.

Asked if she agreed that the right and honest thing would have been to let the CCRC know about the Post Offices concerns about Gareth Jenkins, Ms Vennells responded: What I did with this letter was to ask Susan to reply as the legal expert in the organisation, I dont believe that I would have given her direction as to how we should reply to it.

Ms Vennells admitted it would have been honest to promptly let the CCRC know of the unreliability and truthfulness of Gareth Jenkins evidence to court.

She conceded that this did not happen until years and years later.

01:20 PM BST

Inquiry breaks for lunch

The inquiry has broken for lunch. Paula Vennells is set to continue giving evidence when the hearing resumes.

01:14 PM BST

Solicitors documented tensions between Vennnells and former Post Office chair

Tensions between Paula Vennells and the former Post Office chair relating to the Horizon investigation were documented by solicitors in 2013.

Notes written in July 2013 by Simon Richardson, then of law firm Bond Dickinson, which advised the Post Office during the Horizon investigation, read: There was generally an overall defensive air and the board are also feeling bruised.

There are tensions between people and that includes Alice Perkins (the Chair), Paula Vennells (CEO) and SC [Susan Crichton].

Ms Vennells said she remembered the Board feeling frustrated over the progress of the Second Sight investigation, its cost and the perception that the Post Offices input had not been taken into account.

When asked if there was tension between her and Ms Perkins, Ms Vennells said: I dont recall that she had been critical.

I mean Alice was a very straightforward chair and I generally took feedback pretty well and again, forgive me for repeating the phrase, but there is documentation on that as well.

She added Im sure she gave me some fairly straightforward feedback about why this had taken so long, why it was over budget [and] why the report contained things that the Post Office felt were inaccurate.

01:08 PM BST

Vennells apologised 23 times while giving evidence on Wednesday

A count by the Press Association has revealed that Paula Vennells said either sorry and I apologise 23 times during her live evidence yesterday.

01:02 PM BST

Inquiry lead counsel describes letter from review commission as very unwelcome development

Lead counsel to the inquiry, Jason Beer KC

Ms Vennells is shown a letter addressed to her from The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

The CCRC is responsible for investigating alleged miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The letter headlined: Horizon computer system reads: For obvious reasons we have read the recent media coverage concerning Post Office Horizon computer systems with interest.

Clearly it would be very useful for us to have more information directly from the Post Office, especially accurate information as to a number of criminal convictions that might be impacted by the issue and what action is proposed, or being taken, in that respect.

It continues: In essence, the Commissions role in this is likely to relate to anyone who is convicted of a criminal offence, where evidence from the Horizon computer system is relevant where (i) they have already tried to appeal against that conviction or (ii) they were convicted at Magistrates Court following a guilty plea.

Mr Beer comments: This must have been a very unwelcome development.

12:56 PM BST

Vennells did not connect criticism of Horizon to problems with the expert evidence

Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked Paula Vennells: Did you ever connect the long running criticism with Horizons integrity that had been forced upon the Post Office by subpostmasters for years and years with being informed that there was a problem with the expert evidence on which the Post Office had relied about bugs?

Ms Vennells said: I dont think I made that connection because it was very specific.

She said she was told the two bugs were related to Horizon Online before adding: And the bugs had been fixed and the postmasters had not lost any money as a result of that.

There is even documentation that refers to them as a red herring.

The former chief executive added that the fact that former Post Office general counsel Susan Crichton was going through a review into the flagged issue seemed to be reassuring rather than concerning.

12:46 PM BST

Vennells says she was not told leading Horizon engineer was unsafe witness

Ms Vennells told the inquiry she did not ask how many cases Mr Jenkins gave evidence in

Paula Vennells said she was not told that leading Horizon engineer Gareth Jenkins was an unsafe witness.

Ms Vennells was informed that there was a problem with some of the expert evidence, given by Mr Jenkins, about bugs on which the Post Office had relied on in prosecutions, including the conviction of Seema Misra, the inquiry heard.

When questioned on whether she asked who this witness was, she said: I think I was told that it was someone who worked for Fujitsu who was very competent on the system.

She told the inquiry she did not ask how many cases he gave evidence in.

Questioned on whether she asked what the Post Office was doing as a result of its concern that Mr Jenkins failed to mention in cases knowledge of bugs, Ms Vennells said: I was told that we were going back looking at or that Cartwright King were going back and looking at cases.

I understood because that was the obligation that one had to do was that any case that he had given evidence in needed to be given this evidence around these two bugs even if it didnt affect those cases.

She denied being told he was an unsafe witness.

12:37 PM BST

Ex-PR chief advised Vennells on inquiry months after both had left Post Office

Paula Vennells ex-PR chief was still advising her on media lines to take regarding the inquiry months after they had both left the Post Office.

Ms Vennells confirmed Mark Davies was trusted by all the team and that she remained in contact with him after she left the Post Office.

When asked if she exchanged messages with him about media lines she might take in the announcement of the inquiry, Ms Vennells said: I believe the inquiry has texts that show that.

Addressing Ms Vennells, Jason Beer KC continued: Even though youve moved on, he was still advising you into 2020 as the lines to take in your media statements?

She responded: I had kept in touch with Mark Davies for reasons that were very personal to him and I think he offered that advice at the time.

12:25 PM BST

Post Office may have avoided lost decade if all cases reviewed in 2013, agrees Vennells

Paula Vennells agreed that had the Post Office decided in 2013 to review all prosecutions of false accounting, it may well have avoided a lost decade until miscarriages of justice involving subpostmasters were discovered.

In an email dated July that year, Ms Vennells asked for thoughts on why all cases of false accounting eg over the last 5-10 years would not be reviewed.

Counsel to the Horizon inquiry Jason Beer KC asked: Do you agree your nascent idea here of a review of all prosecutions of false accounting, if it had been carried into effect, may have avoided a lost decade until miscarriages of justice were discovered?

Ms Vennells paused for a short moment before responding: It may well have done. It may well have done.

Mr Beer asked: Do you think the failure to carry into effect the idea that you posit here was a missed opportunity?

Ms Vennells said: At the time I and the board and everybody else involved in... what took place after this particular point felt that that was completely the right way to do this. We were concentrating on individual cases.

12:19 PM BST

PR steer to avoid front page news was grossly improper perspective

Paula Vennells has conceded that the view of former director of communications Mark Davies in 2013 that the Post Office should not review historical cases involving the Horizon IT system from five to 10 years ago because it would be on the front page was a grossly improper perspective.

Referring to an email from Mr Davies from July 2013, Jason Beer KC, counsel to the inquiry, asked the former chief executive: This says you cant do that, youll be on the front page. Thats a grossly improper perspective isnt it?

Ms Vennells said: Yes it is.

Mr Beer continued: Do you know why he cut everyone else out of the chain and replied directly to you?

Ms Vennells said: No, I dont.

Former comms director Mark Davies emailed Vennells in 2013 recommending the Post Office should not review historical cases involving Horizon because it would be 'front page news'

11:57 AM BST

Linking larger shortfalls to criminality was naive assumption by Vennells

Ms Vennells explains why she thought that larger shortfalls recorded by Horizon made her think it was more likely criminality had taken place.

She told the inquiry: At the time my naive assumption was that if somebody was false accounting on a regular basis over a long period of time and accumulated a large amount, false accounted, that might give an intention of something that was perhaps more planned.

11:40 AM BST

Vennells cannot remember why only cases from last 18 months reviewed

Ms Vennells says she cannot remember why the Post Office restricted its review of cases from subpostmasters to only the last 12 and 18 months.

She is shown a document at the inquiry where she asked why they would not review all cases.

Jason Beer KC says she was effectively asking if were doing this properly, and fairly, why wouldnt we look back on all cases of false accounting.

Ms Vennells says Yes.

Mr Beer asks Was that done?

No, she replies.

11:12 AM BST

Vennells denies knowing lawyers branded independent report highest risk response

Ms Vennells denied knowing about a conference at a barristers chambers in which lawyers discussed commissioning an independent report on the Horizon system as the highest risk response.

According to a summary of conference at Maitland Chambers in June 2012, which records former Post Office general counsel Susan Crichton in attendance, it was said the findings of an expert report would not resolve the problem and the Post Office will be damned if they do and damned if they dont.

Ms Vennells said she was not told about the meeting.

The inquiry heard notes from the meeting read: The proposal to instruct an independent expert to prepare a report on the Horizon system is the highest risk response to the issue.

Ms Vennells said this was not communicated to her.

11:06 AM BST

Vennells: Very tricky to say how review of individual cases identifies systemic problems

Ms Vennells was unable to say how a review of three MP cases could identify systemic problems in Horizon software.

The inquiry was shown a briefing document preparing Ms Vennells for a meeting with James Arbuthnot, then a Tory MP.

It proposed suggesting the Second Sight investigation, which had been ongoing for a year, would instead focus on two to three MP cases.

Mr Beer asked: How would an individual case indicate systemic problems?

Ms Vennells said: I dont know if I can answer that question. It couldits very tricky.

11:00 AM BST

Vennells did not have regular conversations with Second Sight

Ms Vennells says she did not have regular conversations with Second Sight.

She told the inquiry: I was running the organisation. I wasnt closely involved in the details of this work.

10:56 AM BST

Vennells would be very surprised if Post Office tried to influence investigation

Paula Vennellls has said she would be very surprised if the Post Office was trying to influence Second Sights conclusions.

She told the inquiry: The Post Office certainly wanted the reassurance that the Horizon system could be relied upon. That has been the objective all the way through this.

She added: At no stage did I get the sense that anybody in the Post Office was going to be able to influence Second Sight over what conclusions they came to.

I would be very surprised if that was the case.

10:53 AM BST

Vennells says Bates belief prosecutions were wrong was not news to her

Paula Vennells indicated she was not concerned about Alan Bates suggesting many prosecutions of subpostmasters should not have taken place, because his beliefs were not new news to her.

The inquiry was shown an email sent by Mr Bates to Ms Vennells in 2013, which asked her to meet in person. The email was sent while the Second Sight investigation was still taking place and referred to what the accountants had uncovered at that time, according to Mr Bates.

He wrote: I have little doubt that it is now feasible to show that many of the prosecutions pressed home should never have taken place. He added that this was a view shared by Kay Linnell, another forensic accountant.

When asked whether she was concerned by the email, Ms Vennells said: I was concerned to get the email from Alan, certainly. The point hes making about the prosecutions was the point that the JFSA [Justice For Subpostmaster Alliance] had made for, I now know, for a number of years, but that wasnt new news to me at this stage.

Alan Bates' email to Ms Vennells in 2013, in which he expressed surprise that they had not met to discuss his suggestions that many prosecutions of subpostmasters 'should never have taken place'

10:31 AM BST

Vennells denies sharing concerns about contacting Seema Misra

The inquiry heard Alwen Lyons, former company secretary, emailed Ms Vennells in June 2012 expressing Ms Crichtons concerns about including Ms Misras case in the independent review.

Ms Lyons wrote: The issue that came to light with the list of MP cases was that they included the Mishra (Misra), you will remember the case and the publicity, she went to prison and had her baby whilst in there.

The husband got publicity through radio and press.

Susans anxiety, and she raised this at the meeting with Alice before you joined, was whether now contacting her to tell her we review the case would be a red rag to a bull.

Asked if she shared Ms Crichtons concerns that even contacting Ms Misra would be a red rag to a bull, Ms Vennells told the inquiry: No.

10:28 AM BST

Post Office counsel said contacting Seema Misra about review a red rag to a bull

Ms Vennells is asked about the process by which cases were selected for review.

There was some debate in the Post Office about whether to include ones that had led to criminal prosecution, and specifically that of Seema Misra, who gave birth in prison after being convicted.

Mr Beer KC asks Ms Vennells if she thought Mrs Misras case should be included.

Ms Vennells replies: I wasnt even involved in the conversation about that, my view was that all the cases that had come forward through Lord Arbuthnot and thereafter from other MPs we were going to review all of the cases.

Susan Crichton, the then general counsel to the Post Office, is shown in an email saying that she felt even contacting Misra to say there would be a review would be a red rag to a bull.

Former subpostmistress Seema Misra, who gave birth in prison after being convicted, outside outside the Post Office inquiry at Aldwych House on Wednesday - Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

10:19 AM BST

Vennells agrees criminal cases should have been included in review

Ms Venells is asked if she agreed that all cases should be included in the independent review from Second Sight, even if they involved criminal convictions.

She replies: Yes I wasnt making any distinction.

10:14 AM BST

Vennells acknowledges bugs could have been discovered far sooner

Paula Vennells has acknowledged that had Second Sight been allowed to investigate criminal cases and the IT system itself - then bugs may have been discovered far sooner.

The inquiry was shown a pitch document showing what the forensic accountants planned to probe - including cases that have led to prosecutions/court-appointed restitution.

Second Sight also wanted to study and selectively test the Horizon system.

Addressing Ms Vennells, Mr Beer asked if these actions may have possibly led to bugs and miscarraiges being discovered earlier.

I think that is a possiblity, said Ms Vennells.

10:06 AM BST

Vennells denies deliberately opting for much narrower investigation

Ms Vennells denied the suggestion that Second Sight was deliberately chosen because its investigation would be much narrower in scope.

She said: I would say that was absolutely not the case, I have no recollection of that at all.

10:00 AM BST

Second Sight chosen for investigation as Deloitte too corporate

Paula Vennells has told the inquiry she chose a review of past Horizon cases over a forensic investigation into the Horizon system by Deloitte because she felt the major accountancy firm would be too corporate.

The former chief executive was asked about emails and documents which date back to 2012. when a forensic review by Deloitte was being considered as an alternative to forensic accountants Second Sight.

Ms Vennells said: Looking at the documents, theyre clearly very different, she said.

She added: My own recollection is that I felt very strongly that we needed an organisation who would be able to work well with subpostmasters.

I was concerned that any one of the big four, Deloitte being one of them, may have come across too corporate and wouldnt necessarily have had the understanding of running a retail business.

09:50 AM BST

Vennells takes to the stand

Paula Vennells has taken to the stand to resume giving evidence.

Jason Beer KC tells her he will begin by asking about the Second Sight investigations and the complaint and mediation scheme.

Id like first to look at the process by which Second Sight were chosen and Deloitte were not, to conduct an investigation, Mr Beer says.

In 2012, Second Sight was appointed by Members of Parliament to investigate multiple assertions that Horizon was generating spurious branch shortfalls and that subpostmasters were being forced to pay the shortfalls and prosecuted.

09:46 AM BST

Hearing room filling up ahead of Vennells appearance

The hearing room at Aldwych House is filling up in preparation for Paula Vennells second day of evidence.

Lead counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC will ask his remaining questions before lawyers representing other subpostmasters grill the former Post Office chief executive tomorrow.

09:21 AM BST

Vennells arrives at inquiry for second day of questioning

Paula Vennells arriving at Aldwych House for her second day of evidence at the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry - Geoff Pugh

Paula Vennells, the former Post Office chief executive, has been seen arriving at Aldwych House with five police officers in tow for her second day of evidence at the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry.

Ms Vennells broke down in tears while giving evidence at the inquiry on Wednesday.

The inquiry heard how she had received a text message stating I think you knew from a former Royal Mail boss.

Dame Moya Greene had appeared to accuse Ms Vennells of knowing about Horizon errors  which resulted in more than 900 wrongful prosecutions of subpostmasters over a 16-year period  following a select committee appearance by Nick Read, Ms Vennellss successor.

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A CBS News California investigation found damage claims from potholes and debris on California freeways tripled in just the first half of 2023, while Caltrans cut damage payouts in half.

Our analysis of one recently denied damage claim revealed Caltrans likely knew about the "dangerous condition" months before the damage occurred yet denied the driver's claim and did not provide the evidence she needed to sue Caltrans until it was too late for the driver to use it in court.

CALTRANS DAMAGE CONTINUING COVERAGE:



INVESTIGATION: Pothole damage claims on California freeways triple while Caltrans payouts drop by half. Why?

SEARCH TOOL: California freeways with the most potholes and car damage claims

Lawmakers demand answers from Caltrans following CBS California Investigation



Which California freeways had the most damage claims? Click the map to find out.

Angie's Story: A pothole kept her from her mom

Angie Rubin was driving south down the 101 freeway one April afternoon on her way to visit her 95-year-old mother in a retirement home when she hit a pothole.

The pothole, which was in the middle lane of the highway, "ripped the tire to shreds," Rubin explained. She never made it to see her mother that day.

Angie Rubin's tire after she hit a pothole on the 101 South freeway. / Credit: Angie Rubin

After "wobbling" her car to the side of the freeway, dodging cars speeding by, a tow truck brought her car to a nearby dealer for repairs. There, one of the mechanics told her she wasn't the first to hit that pothole.

"He's like, 'Oh yeah, we know that pothole,'" Rubin recalled.

The pothole that Angie Rubin hit on the 101 South freeway in April 2022. / Credit: Angie Rubin

Rubin submitted a claim to Caltrans for damage reimbursement. Hers was one of 30,000 claims submitted between 2018 and mid-2023. She was also one of the many drivers whose claims were denied.

CBS News California Investigates also identified that Caltrans likely knew about the pothole that Rubin hit, months before the damage occurred. Then, Caltrans delayed giving Rubin the records she requested of previous reports of the pothole until it was too late for Rubin to use the evidence in court.

According to Caltrans data obtained by CBS News California Investigates, the number of damage claims submitted to Caltrans tripled in just the first half of 2023 compared to the full years' worth of claims during the previous five years.

The reason for this increase might be due to more potholes. A larger share of these claims mentioned potholes than in any previous year. In the first half of 2023, about three-quarters of claims mentioned potholes, compared to less than half between 2018 and 2022.

As pothole damage claims increased, Caltrans claim approvals decreased

According to California law, if the state knew about a dangerous condition and didn't fix it, the state is responsible to pay for the damages.

Drivers can sue the state, but for damages under $12,500 (previously $10,000), Caltrans offers an early resolution claims process.

If drivers are denied, they have six months after they are denied to file a court action on their claim.

When Rubin filed her claim with Caltrans, she said she thought, "This is a no-brainer. Like, of course, they're going to take care of it."

Caltrans requires "clear proof, such as time, location, and photos, of the dangerous condition of the roadway and show it happened on the state highway system," which Rubin provided.

"I showed them the pothole. I showed them the tire with the huge chunk taken out of it," she said.

But Caltrans denied her claim stating the agency was not liable.

"If they denied my claim. Are they paying any claims?" Angie asked.

Overall, between 2018 and mid-2023, Caltrans approved about 7% of claims, for which the status information was available.

Over time, the share of claims approved has dropped. In 2018 Caltrans approved 1 in every 10 claims. But data through mid-2023 show Caltrans only approved 1 in every 25 claims. (This does not include claims that did not have status information or that were still pending.)

It feels like "David and Goliath"

Caltrans denied repeated interview requests from CBS News California to answer questions about the claims process and why so few claims are approved.

Instead, Caltrans' public affairs chief, Edward Barrera, pointed us to this statement on their website.

The statement, in part, notes that the driver must prove that "the road on the state highway system was in dangerous condition, Caltrans knew about the dangerous condition, or should have known, and that Caltrans had sufficient time to fix the problem before the damage occurred."

CBS News California asked Barrera over email how drivers are expected to prove what Caltrans knew and how much time is "sufficient" to fix a known pothole on a freeway. But he refused to respond. Instead, he suggested that we file a "CPRA" or California Public Records Act request to get the answers to those questions.

Back in August 2022, Rubin filed her own CPRA. She asked Caltrans for any reports of the pothole she hit in April 2022.

A screen shot of Angie Rubin's original California Public Records Act request to Caltrans in August 2022, asking if there was a pothole reported for repair on the 101 South - where she hit a pothole in April 2022. / Credit: Angie Rubin

State law gives agencies 10 days to respond to CPRAs, but allows them to delay releasing records.

"Month after month after month, I would get these emails saying, 'We'll get back to you in another two months,'" Rubin said.

Caltrans eventually gave Rubin an answer. The documents the department sent her suggested a pothole in the same area where she hit her pothole had been reported in January 2022, more than three months before Rubin's accident. But records show Caltrans didn't complete the work on the pothole until June 2022, several months after Angie's accident.

Angie Rubin's pothole timeline

January 2022: A pothole is reported to Caltrans on the US 101 South freeway near the CA 134, CA 170 split. April 23, 2022: Rubin hits a pothole, which damages her car, on the US 101 South freeway near the CA 134, CA 170 split. May 2, 2022: Rubin files the claims with Caltrans. June 14, 2022: Caltrans completes work on the reported pothole on the US 101 South freeway near the CA 134, CA 170 split. July 13, 2022: Caltrans sends Angie a notice of denial claiming the state is not liable for the damages. The letter includes a footnote that says she has six months from the date the letter is mailed or delivered to file a court action. August 17, 2022: Rubin files a CPRA, searching for evidence that Caltrans knew about the pothole before her accident. January 13, 2023: Six months after the date on Rubin's denial letter, which would be the deadline to file a court action on her claim, Caltrans continued delaying providing the requested records. March 7, 2023: Caltrans provides Rubin with the requested records seven months after she filed her CPRA, and two months after the deadline for her to use them to file a court action against Caltrans. The records suggest that Caltrans did know about the pothole that damaged Rubin's car (or a pothole in the same area) several months before Rubin's accident but did not compete work on it until several months after Rubin's accident.

/* Media query for mobile devices - */ .embed__resizer { padding-top: 600px; } @media only screen and (max-width: 768px) { .embed__resizer { padding-top: 300px; } }

Above: One of the documents Caltrans released to Angie Rubin after she filed a Public Records Act request to see if a pothole had been reported on the 101 South. It shows there was a pothole reported in the same area as Angie's accident in January 2022.

/* Media query for mobile devices - */ .embed__resizer { padding-top: 600px; } @media only screen and (max-width: 768px) { .embed__resizer { padding-top: 300px; } }

Above: One of the documents Caltrans released to Angie Rubin after she filed a Public Records Act request. It shows Caltrans finished patching potholes on the 101 in June 2022 in the same area as Angie's accident.



"They make it so hard. I really think they want you to go away," Rubin said.

Rubin didn't get her answer  proof that Caltrans knew about the pothole  until March 2023, seven months after she requested information on the pothole and two months after the deadline for her to appeal her denied claim in court.

A screenshot of the email Angie Rubin received from Caltrans in March 2023, explaining that records responsive to her request were available, seven months after she made her request. / Credit: Angie Rubin

"It does feel a little bit like David and Goliath," Rubin said.

But, Rubin's mom taught her not to give up.

"Caltrans needs to be held accountable," she said.

Rubin has turned to CBS News California Investigates to find out if the California Department of Transportation is intentionally denying valid damage claims.

However, we won't know for many more months as we now have to wait for the agency to fulfill our Public Records Act requests.

The department waited nearly six months to release data reference in this story - and here in our sidebar.

We're now waiting on Caltrans to respond to several more records requests that should give us insight into why Caltrans is denying a higher share of claims and how drivers can increase their success rate.

Stay tuned!

Which California freeways had the most damage claims? Click the map to find out.

For more information about how we did the data analysis for this story, click here.

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Over the past decade, the 10 largest emitters in Colorado contributed to an outsized share of greenhouse gasses  and every single one is a fossil fuel power plant.

A Coloradoan data analysis of the Environmental Protection Agencys greenhouse gas reporting program found that these facilities contributed to one-fifth of the states emissions in 2020.

Parent companies of the power plants are facing regulatory pressure to reduce their emissions. And while some have been hit with heavy fines for environmental violations, the sector as a whole decreased its emissions by about 22% during the time period analyzed.

More details about our methodology can be found here.

In 2019, the state adopted nation-leading targets for emissions reductions, and since then, more legislation has been added to curb the pollution, said Katie Schneer, an analyst that focuses on climate policy at the Environmental Defense Fund.

One of Colorados goals is to halve emissions by 2030 (relative to 2005 levels).

As part of this effort, the six major utilities in the state are mandated to reduce emissions by at least 80%. Modeling results presented by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment show the electric power sector is projected to meet those goals.

But these efforts are not enough for Colorado to achieve its economy-wide objective. Schneer said the recently released Roadmap 2.0 shows the state is not just off track based on current policy, but it also shows that even if all of the actions proposed in the roadmap were fully implemented and achieved  they still wouldnt put the state on track for its targets.

The Coloradoan reached out to each of the parent companies that own the largest emitting facilities and talked to sources including different state departments to better understand the progress and challenges in tackling the emissions that cause climate change.

Millions of decisions

The same modeling results that show the electric power sector on-track for its targets, show the sector that is off by the largest margin is transportation.

One thing that we talked about a lot that makes transportation somewhat unique in this conversation is that our system is built upon millions of decisions that millions of people make every single day about how they're going to get around, Colorado Department of Transportation communications director Matt Inzeo said.

Decisions like switching to an electric vehicle, taking a bus or walking can add up, and the state is working on making those options more comfortable and convenient for people to take, Inzeo said.

For example, theres a combination of consumer incentives like tax credits for electric vehicles and bikes, requirements on a minimum of EV sales for car manufacturers, as well as investment in infrastructure to expand the charging network, Colorado Energy Office Executive Director Will Toor said.

But unlike with utilities, theres not a statutory emission reduction target for this sector.

When it comes to building and transportation  those take a different set of strategies. You cant just pass a regulation and say, everybody shall do this. Instead, what you really need is market transformation, Toor said.

But Schneer says the states roadmap relies heavily on voluntary action and incentives.

One type of policy that is really critical that has been missing is having limits in place on the overall pollution across all major emitting sectors including the electric power sector, transportation sector, building sector, and so on, Schneer said.

The data show the areas driving the greatest cuts in pollution are the ones where theres enforceable requirements, she said.

What that underscores is a strong track record of results from policies that directly regulate the pollution thats causing climate change, Schneer said.

A bridge to renewable energy

The companies that own the 10 largest emitting facilities all have plans to shut down their coal plants.

For example, Colorado Springs Utilities closed the Martin Drake plant in 2022, and Platte River Power Authoritys Rawhide Energy Station in Larimer County will be retired by 2030.

Crews work to demolish the Martin Drake Power Station in Colorado Springs.

The last coal plant in the state to close will be Comanche Unit 3 in Pueblo, which is required to close no later than Jan. 1, 2031. After that, therell be no coal generation in the state, Toor said.

Generally speaking, you're seeing a slight transition from coal, but that transition is mostly to gas-fired power generation, said Ryan Maher, a staff attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity.

Maher, does not endorse gas as a bridge towards renewables, and said the transition needed to be quicker.

Even when youre relying on gas, theyre still huge contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, Maher said, and pointed out that three of the top-10 polluters found in the Coloradoan analysis are gas-powered plants: Cherokee, Fort St. Vrain and Rocky Mountain Energy Center.

When you invest in new infrastructure, the plan is to use it for decades. We dont have decades when it comes to climate change. The bridge needed to be much shorter to be actually useful, Maher said.

Some of the companies said, over email, that theyre keeping gas in their portfolio to maintain affordability and reliability during the transition:

Moving forward, we are carefully expanding our portfolio of renewable resources, to include battery energy storage. However, to best manage our customers costs and to ensure the reliability of our electric grid, natural gas-based generation will continue to serve as a key part of our bridge strategy, said Steve Berry from Colorado Springs Utilities.

Strategically, we use natural gas units to maintain system reliability when renewable wind, solar and storage alone cant support customer demands as we transition to a carbon-free system, said Tyler Bryant from Xcel Energy.

Earlier this year, the Coloradoan reported on how Platte River Power Authority is facing pressure to add interim reduction targets like the other major utilities have done, but the company said, our largest carbon-emitting resource, Rawhide Unit 1, is also our least-cost, most reliable resource that is necessary through 2029 to maintain reliability and financial sustainability as we make this transition. This makes it extremely difficult to commit to an interim goal without sacrificing reliability and financial sustainability.

To be clear, some companies also said they are adding battery storage as a way to tackle the weather intermittency periods.

Rawhide Energy Station north of Wellington on June 22, 2023.

Impacts on public health

Ean Tafoya, the Colorado State Director at GreenLatinos, said the Cherokee gas smokestack (which used to be coal) is visible from his moms front yard.

Together with other advocacy groups, they protested at Xcel's headquarters to get the early closure of Comanche Unit 3, which was originally supposed to close in 2070, and while he agrees utilities are moving in the right direction, he said more work is needed.

We have to be moving faster to more sources of clean energy because even with natural gas-fired plants, that natural gas comes from somewhere and all along from extraction to the midstream of transporting it to the burning of it, causes toxics to be released into the community, Tafoya said.

Some of the companies, like Xcel Energy and Platte River Power Authority, that plan to use gas to generate electricity also said they could eventually switch that to hydrogen. But the false promise in this, Maher said, is that gas can still be used to produce hydrogen in the first place.

Maher said these emissions not only fuel climate change but can also contribute to the ozone problem in the Front Range, negatively impacting the publics health  particularly for vulnerable populations like children and the elderly, as well as disproportionately impacted communities who are already suffering from a bigger pollution burden.

Burning fossil fuels to generate electricity emits particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides among other air pollutants, according to the EPA. A 2013 study found that global increases in particulate matter since pre-industrial levels have contributed to 1.5 million cardiopulmonary mortalities. Another one found premature deaths from respiratory illnesses from chronic exposure of this pollution could increase in the future under climate change.

Michael Ogletree, director of the state health department's Air Pollution Control Division, said there have been almost monthly rulemakings for the past three years to address air pollution, some of which have been a result of the Environmental Justice Act, and that he and his outreach team have been focusing on these communities.

For me, my dads Black and my moms from El Salvador and I grew up speaking Spanish. So I go out into those communities and engage with them, when I can, in their native language. And for me, I think thats been a powerful way to build that relationship, Ogletree said.

Looking ahead

In 2022, Colorado was the fifth-largest crude oil-producing state and the eighth-largest natural gas-producing state, according to the Energy Information Administration. Currently, about 37% of its energy comes from renewable sources (the majority from wind), which is above the nationwide generation.

For Toor, renewables make the most sense when thinking about the cost of different energy sources in the transition.

The issue isnt going to be the economics, its going to be making sure your utilities are able to get the land use approvals, largely from local governments, he said.

For example, Holy Cross told the Coloradoan by email: Some of the challenges with transitioning our power supply to clean energy include land availability and siting of renewable energy. Our service territory is located in the middle of the central mountains of Colorado, which limits our options for locating new solar and wind on our system.

Solar panels stand in front of Rawhide Energy Station outside Wellington on Dec. 3, 2020.

In addition to the complicated geography of their location, property values are particularly high in our service territory, especially around the towns of Vail and Aspen, the company said.

Earlier this year, USA TODAY reported on how local governments across the country are blocking the construction of solar and wind projects, widening the gap of what will be needed.

Another problem related to land use is housing.

We have, in many places, made it really hard to build housing in cities near where the jobs are, near where people are going to school, Toor said.

Having to commute over longer distances adds to the miles driven in the state, so the administration is also focusing on bills that can reform where we build housing, Toor said.

Those may not sound like greenhouse gas related bills, but theyre actually kind of core to a lot of our work in the realm of reducing emissions from transportations going forward, Toor said.

Another thing to tackle when it comes to the states climate policy is to actually implement the legislation thats already in place.

Over the last several years, when legislators pass strong climate and environmental justice laws, too often, the policies we end up with do not live up to what the leaders promised in the law, Schneer said, and pointed to the recent Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Management for Manufacturing 2, known as GEMM 2, rule.

A loophole in GEMM 2 would allow the facilities that it covers to ramp up pollution levels leading up to 2030, which would expose disproportionately affected communities, Schneer said.

As for the state lagging on its reduction targets, she said there will be an obligation to make up for it.

The statewide targets in law are binding, so the air pollution regulators have an obligation and a directive to take action that will meet those goals, Schneer said.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: These power plants are Colorado's biggest greenhouse gas emitters
President Joe Biden, others use holiday of Vesak to praise Buddhist Americans

President Joe Biden Thursday marked the Buddhist holiday of Vesak, recognizing the contributions of American Buddhists. He said Vesak is a time to reflect on values, including the need to work for peace and justice. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

May 23 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden on Thursday recognized the contributions of American Buddhists as he marked the Buddhist holiday of Vesak.

In a White House statement, Biden said, "Jill and I extend warm wishes to Buddhists in the United States and around the world as they celebrate Vesak. As we honor the birth, passing, and enlightenment of Buddha, we recognize the American Buddhists who contribute so much to our communities and our country. For over 2,500 years, those who adhere to the Buddha's teachings have enriched and strengthened this world we share."

Biden added that Vesak is a time to reflect on Buddha's teachings, including the need to work for peace and justice.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken also recognized the holiday, noting that religious diversity has strengthened the United States.

"On this day, we recognize the contributions of Buddhist communities across the United States, exemplifying the religious diversity that has strengthened our nation for generations," Blinken said in a statement. "As we work to ensure freedom of religion or belief for all, the United States renews its commitment to ensuring Buddhists around the world are free to celebrate Vesak in accordance with their traditions and values."

Blinken said the full moon marks the Vesak celebration, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha.

He wished Buddhists across the world "a Happy Buddha Purnima."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invited Canadians to embrace the values of generosity, service and compassion at the heart of Vesak.

"As Buddhists take this time to reaffirm their commitment to generosity, compassion, and selfless service taught by the Buddha, may we all keep building a stronger, more inclusive country," Trudeau said in a statement.

Trudeau said Vesak is the most sacred Buddhist festival and is a time of reflection, meditation and spiritual renewal for Buddhists in Canada and around the world.

Vesak is usually observed during the first full moon of May, but different Buddhist traditions celebrate on different dates.

Vesak is celebrated by decorating temples, singing hymns and bringing simple offerings to Buddhist teachers.

Some temples allow people to pour water over a small statue of Buddha in a ritual known as the bathing of the Buddha.

Charity work and acts of kindness are also done to mark the occasion and Buddhists are expected to avoid killing of any kind and are encouraged to eat vegetarian food on the day Vesak is celebrated.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) said Wednesday that former President Trumps Department of Justice (DOJ) would go on a murdering spree if the presumptive GOP nominee wins a second term in the White House this coming November.

In a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on the Office of Personnel Management, Pressley warned of what she viewed as negative policy implications of Project 2025  a detailed set of policies, spearheaded by the conservative Heritage Foundation, that would drastically reshape the federal government to support a hypothetical future Republican president.

The effort  sometimes referred to as a blueprint for a second Trump administration  would consolidate executive power, slash funding for many agencies, and replace career civil servants with loyal supporters of the president in an executive order known as Schedule F.

It is critical that we understand that the far-right extremists who are advocating for Schedule F see it as a means to an end. It is their pathway to enact widespread wholesale policy violence, Pressley said at the hearing.

One thing I know for sure about Trump and his sycophants is that they telegraph their harm, she added.

Pressley said she wanted to sound the alarm about Project 2025, which she described as a far-right manifesto that is a 1,000-page bucket list of extremist policies that would uproot every government agency and disrupt the lives of every person who calls this country home.

Pressley criticized Project 2025s position on the use of the death penalty  a practice the Massachusetts Democrat has long fought to abolish.

The Department of Justice would go on a murdering spree, she said. It would rush to use the death penalty and expand its use to even more people, while circumventing due process protections.

Project 2025, according to its text, calls for the next conservative Administration to do everything possible to obtain finality for the 44 prisoners currently on federal death row.

Only 16 people have been executed by the federal government since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1988. Most executions are imposed under the states respective death penalty laws.

The Trump administration carried out 13 of the 16 executions in the final months of his term in office.

In a statement to The Hill, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung pushed back on Pressleys characterization of Trumps agenda for the DOJ during the hearing, calling Pressley an unserious person for using ridiculous language like that.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
I bit her. I am not denying that. I was defending myself and the sacrament," the priest could be seen telling police in body-cam footage

Getty

A priest was arrested after allegedly biting a woman during communion at a central Florida church.

Officers from the St. Cloud Police Department in Florida arrested a priest  identified as Father Fidel  after he allegedly had an altercation with a woman during Mass, according to local news sites WFTV, WKMG-TV and WDBO. According to the outlets, police have recommended that Fidel be charged with battery.

The incident happened at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church around 1:20 p.m. local time, according to a charging affidavit obtained by WKMG-TV. Police said that the woman had attended Mass to participate in her nieces communion, but when she had gone up to receive the bread, the priest allegedly refused to give it to her claiming that she hadnt completed the necessary steps to get it.

However, the woman told the priest that she had done so and was now accepted by God, and the priest became upset and tried to stuff the bread in her mouth, per the affidavit obtained by WKMG-TV. The woman then tried to grab another piece in his hand, when he allegedly grabbed her and bit her arm, per the outlet.

Related: Woman Allegedly Shoots Father of Her 3 Children After Dispute Over Keys, Police Say

He tried to forcefully shove it in her mouth, she backed up, one witness told police, per WFTV. She said no dont do that and she tried to get it and that is when he went crazy.

In police body-cam footage obtained by the outlets, Fidel told police that the woman came to an earlier mass but didnt understand the process of communion so he told her what steps she needed to take before she could do so, but she did not complete them.

Getty

I am not judging you. I am asking you, Did you confess after Mass? If you did not confess, I cant give you communion,  he recalled telling her, in the video obtained by WFTV.

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I bit her. I am not denying that. I was defending myself and the sacrament, he could also be seen saying.

The priest said that he acted in self-defense after he denied her communion since she pushed him and tried to grab the tray of bread out of his hands.

Related: Suspect Arrested in Shooting that Injured Auburn Player Brian Battie and Killed His Brother Tommie

[Father Fidel] advised that [she] pushed him and would not let go of the Communion tray, and the only way he thought to extract her from it was to bite her arm, according to the charging affidavit.

However, the woman accused the priest of singling her out due to her sexuality and attire in police footage obtained by WFTV. He wouldnt give me the cookie. I dont know if it was the way I was dressed or what it is that I like, she could be heard saying on video.

The St. Cloud Police Department and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

The state will determine whether Fidel will be charged with battery, according to WKMG-TV.



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Read the original article on People.
PORTLAND, Ore. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE)  Two Democratic legislators and the incumbent state treasurer appear headed for party nominations for secretary of state, treasurer and attorney general in Tuesdays primary.

Two Republican state senators and a former prosecutor appear ready to oppose them in the Nov. 5 general election.

AAA projects 600K Oregon drivers will embark on road trips for Memorial Day weekend

Ballots were still being counted. Oregon law allows ballots to be counted if they were postmarked by Tuesday and are received by May 28, or if they were at official drop sites by 8 p.m. Tuesday.

This election cycle is the first since 2008 when all three offices are without incumbents running.

Oregon billionaire, Phoenix Suns co-owner among new Portland Thorns investors

Secretary of state

State Treasurer Tobias Read appears ready to become the first in almost 50 years to move from one statewide office to another, excluding governor. Read, barred by the Oregon Constitution from a third consecutive term as treasurer, was easily winning the Democratic nomination for secretary of state over state Sen. James Manning Jr. of Eugene, 70% to 21%. Three other candidates split the rest of the early votes tallied. (Manning would keep his Senate seat; he is in the middle of his second term.)

Read more at PortlandTribune.com.

The Portland Tribune and its parent company Pamplin Media Group are KOIN 6 News media partners

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 KOIN.com.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators sit and stand in front of the Institute of Social Sciences at Humboldt University. Activists have occupied rooms at Berlin's Humboldt University in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Soeren Stache/dpa

Activists who have been occupying rooms at a Berlin university in support of the Palestinians since Wednesday afternoon will be allowed to stay until Thursday evening.

The university's president Julia von Blumenthal said Humboldt University agreed to this after talks with students on Wednesday evening.

The university will tolerate the occupation until 6:00 pm (1600 GMT) on Thursday, said von Blumenthal. "We expect the occupiers to leave the building peacefully afterwards."

A discussion event will be organized beforehand on Thursday afternoon, which is to be attended by the activists, the presidential board and academics.

About 50 activists have occupied several rooms at the Institute of Social Sciences at Humboldt University in support of Palestinians and in protest against Israel since Wednesday afternoon, the police and a dpa photographer estimated.

A further 250 to 300 young people demonstrated on the street outside.

A police spokesman said that they were in close consultation with the university. A university spokeswoman said that the situation was being monitored.

In a statement, the Student Coalition Berlin group accused Israel of "genocide" and "ongoing mass murders," saying the protest was about "unconditional solidarity with the Palestinian people."

The activists had called on the university to accept their occupation and presence and to ban a police operation.

Alongside the Free University (FU) and the Technical University (TU), Humboldt University is one of the three major universities in the German capital.

An occupation of rooms at the FU by the group Student Coalition Berlin was recently cleared by the police.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators place handwritten posters on the Institute of Social Sciences at Humboldt University window. Activists have occupied rooms at Berlin's Humboldt University in support of the Palestinians and protest against Israel. Soeren Stache/dpa

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators look out of the roof windows of the Institute of Social Sciences at Humboldt University. Activists have occupied rooms at Berlin's Humboldt University in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Soeren Stache/dpa
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators sit and stand in front of the Institute of Social Sciences at Humboldt University. Activists have occupied rooms at Berlin's Humboldt University in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Soeren Stache/dpa

Pro-Palestinian activists who have been occupying rooms at Berlin's Humboldt University since Wednesday plan to stay until their demands are met, a representative told dpa.

The students had been given a deadline by the university to leave by 6 pm (1600 GMT) on Thursday, university president Julia von Blumenthal said.

However, they plan to negotiate an extension of the occupation with the university management during talks planned for the afternoon, the spokeswoman told dpa on Thursday.

Activists occupied several rooms at the Institute of Social Sciences at Humboldt University on Wednesday in support of Palestinians and in protest against Israel's attacks in Gaza.

In a statement, the group called Student Coalition Berlin accused Israel of "genocide" and "ongoing mass murder." The protest was about "unconditional solidarity with the Palestinian people."

They have demanded that Berlin's universities campaign for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire from Israel and exert pressure on the German government. The latter should impose an arms embargo on Israel and end all military, financial and diplomatic aid to Israel, they wrote.

There have been repeated protests at German universities against Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip and in solidarity with the Palestinians. An occupation at the Free University of Berlin a few weeks ago was broken up by police.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators place handwritten posters on the Institute of Social Sciences at Humboldt University window. Activists have occupied rooms at Berlin's Humboldt University in support of the Palestinians and protest against Israel. Soeren Stache/dpa
L.A. police on tactical alert as new protest encampment grows at UCLA

Police in Los Angeles were placed on heightened alert on Thursday as Pro-Palestinian demonstrators constructed a new encampment at UCLA, blocking access to part of the universitys campus. Some classes were switched from in-person to remote learning.

Sky5 aerial footage showed barricades on Kerckhoff Patio near Moore Hall being guarded by demonstrators in bright-colored vests.

Theyve also put up the wooden barricades at the entrance to that courtyard, KTLAs Eric Spillman observed. It looks like they are blocking access to that part of the campus.

UCLA Encampment

Tents and canopies were set up behind the barricade.

It looks like authorities are allowing the protesters to stay. At least for the time being, Spillman said.

Los Angeles Police Department Officer Drake Madison later confirmed that the Department was on a tactical alert due to the situation. UCLA safety personnel were on site and monitoring the situation.

The encampment resulted in UCLA moving some in-person classes to remote learning.

Access to Ackerman, Kerckhoff and Moore Hall has been restricted due to demonstration activity  Work and classes in Ackerman, Kerckhoff and Moore will be held remotely through noon today, according to Bruin Safe Online.

The encampment emerged as UCLA Chancellor Gene Block testified before a congressional committee about the events that occurred late last month when violence erupted at an encampment that was allowed to grow for several days.

The Committee has a clear message for mealy-mouthed, spineless college leaders: Congress will not tolerate the dereliction of your duty to your Jewish students, the committees chair, Rep. Virginia Foxx, said in a statement. No stone must go unturned while buildings are being defaced, campus greens are being captured, or graduations are being ruined.

Gene Block

The April encampment also forced classes to be taught remotely and kept students from accessing areas of the school, such as the library, as students were preparing for midterms.

Some students said that pro-Palestinian demonstrators would ask them if they were Zionists, and if they said yes, they would be denied access.

The tension culminated in a violent clash between pro-Israeli counter-protestors and the demonstrators on April 30.

The counter-demonstrators threw traffic cones and released pepper spray in fighting that went on for hours before police stepped in, drawing criticism from Muslim students, political leaders and advocacy groups.

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 KTLA.
VALLETTA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- A concert titled "East Meets West: A Glimpse of the Silk Road" was staged Wednesday night at the University of Malta, enchanting an audience of some 400 with a fusion of traditional Chinese musical instruments and the cello.

The concert, jointly hosted by the Network of International Culturalink Entities and the China Cultural Center in Malta, opened with a Chinese classic "Spring Blossoms on a Moonlit River," depicting a charming scenery of a quiet spring night. It was performed by the Chinese Orchestra of the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater.

A bamboo flute solo, "Love for Qinchuan," demonstrated the hospitality and boldness of the people in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The duet "Fisherman's Song at Eventide" performed on guzheng, a Chinese plucked zither, and cello portrayed a tranquil scene of the setting sun reflecting off the azure waves while fishermen enjoyed their leisurely moments. The cheerful melody of erhu solo "The Grapes are Ripe" conveyed the joy of harvest among the people in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The concert concluded with an encore performance of traditional Maltese piece "Sun," which had the audience dancing along to the music.

"It was an excellent combination," Tony Cassar Darien, artistic director of the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Malta, told Xinhua. "The instruments were like brushes, and with different inks or colors, they created the most wonderful pictures," the artistic director added.

Describing it as a "sterling performance," Victor Vella, a 69-year-old attendee, told Xinhua that the concert was a dialogue of Chinese and Western cultures, adding that mutual learning between civilizations can make the world better and better.

The remarkable concert marks a new chapter in cultural exchanges between China and Malta, said Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Center in Malta. She noted that the center will continue to act as a bridge to promote ongoing cultural exchanges between the two nations. 
Multnomah County, Ore., District Attorney Mike Schmidt has been ousted from his role, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ, losing to a challenge from Senior Deputy District Attorney Nathan Vasquez.

Schmidt took office in the Portland-area district amid the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 protests in the wake of George Floyd being murdered by police, and announced that his office wouldnt go after many who were arrested during the demonstrations.

As prosecutors, we acknowledge the depth of emotion that motivates these demonstrations and support those who are civically engaged through peaceful protesting, Schmidt said in a statement at the time, as reported by the Oregonian. We will undermine public safety, not promote it, if we do not take action to bring about immediate change.

But the Beaver State has seen increasing concerns about public safety amid drug decriminalization efforts and increasing homelessness.

Vasquezs platform stressed that even petty crimes, like theft, vandalism, and littering, public use of illicit drugs and public highs, all contribute to the overall feeling of safety and wellbeing of a community.

Schmidt and Vasquez were the only two candidates in Tuesdays nonpartisan primary.

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 The Hill.
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, calls on the U.S. Education Department to cut ties with Missouri student loan servicer MOHELA on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, outside the U.S. Capitol. (Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  A group of advocates and progressive Democratic lawmakers called on the U.S. Department of Education on Wednesday to end its contract with MOHELA, a Missouri-based student loan servicer.

U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Greg Casar of Texas and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts urged the department to cut ties with MOHELA, also known as the Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri, during a press conference hosted by the Debt Collective, which advocates for canceling student debt.

Advocates and the lawmakers accused MOHELA of being a predatory loan service and failing student borrowers, citing mismanagement, administrative failures and hours-long wait times for assistance.

It is time to stop their contract, it is time to fire them, it is time to listen to the borrowers that have been speaking up about the struggles that they are facing, and it is time for us to do the right thing, Omar said. We are asking the administration to take this step forward because it is past time that we listen to the borrowers that have been suffering under the incompetence of MOHELA.

The Education Department did not respond on the record to a request for comment Wednesday.

In moves it has characterized as bolstering protections for borrowers, the department launched a new accountability initiative in November and has transitioned to new loan servicing contracts.

Nothing short of a nightmare

MOHELA is at the center of two class-action lawsuits in recent months accusing the nonprofit of a failure to timely process and render decisions for student loan borrowers enrolled in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

One of the lawsuits names MOHELA alone, while the other names both the nonprofit and the U.S. Education Department.

The student loan servicer has also taken heat from the Student Borrower Protection Center, an advocacy group, and the American Federation of Teachers, a major teachers union. In a report from February, the two entities accused the nonprofit of failing to perform basic servicing functions.

They also claimed that more than four in ten student loan borrowers MOHELA services have experienced a servicing failure since loan payments resumed in September 2023.

In March, MOHELA sent a cease and desist letter to the Student Borrower Protection Center, accusing its report of making false, misleading and sensationalized claims and insinuations regarding MOHELA and its business activities.

A spokesperson for MOHELA said in an emailed statement Wednesday that borrowers are not better off when outside groups spread false and misleading information about our work as a federal contractor for FSA. The spokesperson added that MOHELA remains committed to continuing to provide the highest quality of customer service to the borrowers that we serve.

Student loan servicers are companies contracted by the federal government to handle billing and other administrative tasks regarding federal student loans, according to Federal Student Aid.

MOHELA services nearly 8 million borrowers after winning a contract in 2022 to handle the Education Departments Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Mike Pierce, executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center, said during Wednesdays event that at every step, MOHELA has failed student loan borrowers.

Theyve lost paperwork, theyve given people the runaround, Pierce said while standing next to an exhibit displaying what appeared to be a nine-hour hold time when trying to reach one of MOHELAs customer service representatives.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, at Wednesdays press conference said MOHELA has a call-deflection scheme.

When it is critical for people to be on the phone with someone, they cant get on the phone with someone, Weingarten said.

Shamell Bell, a member of the Debt Collective, said her interactions with the student loan servicer have been nothing short of a nightmare.

Bell said she was in a labyrinth of just false information, false promises and failures that are not just administrative errors but also systemic obstacles that jeopardize the financial stability and mental wellness of countless borrowers like myself.

More student loan forgiveness

Meanwhile, the Biden administration said earlier Wednesday that it had approved an additional $7.7 billion in student debt relief for 160,500 borrowers. The bulk of the relief  more than $5 billion  went to nearly 67,000 borrowers partaking in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Wednesdays move brought the administrations total loan forgiveness to $167 billion for 4.75 million Americans.

The Biden-Harris Administration remains persistent about our efforts to bring student debt relief to millions more across the country, and this announcement proves it, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement. One out of every 10 federal student loan borrowers approved for debt relief means one out of every 10 borrowers now has financial breathing room and a burden lifted.

The post Progressives push Biden administration to cut ties with Missouri student loan servicer appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Louisiana's chief public defenders who run local district officers fear a large pay cut may be coming their way under Gov. Jeff Landry's new public defender plan. (Getty Images)

Louisiana is close to letting its judges sentence sex offenders to surgical castration, despite concerns that the proposal would likely face a legal challenge over its constitutionality.

Senate Bill 371 by Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, was approved in the House of Representatives in a 74-24 vote. It needs only the senators concurrence in House floor amendments before its sent to Gov. Jeff Landry for consideration.

Rep. Delisha Boyd, D-New Orleans, carried Barrows bill in the House. She cited recent news reports of a 51-year-old Baton Rouge man arrested for the alleged rape a 12-year-old girl. The suspect was previously arrested in 2007 on a count of aggravated rape of a 5-year-old. His charge would later be reduced to indecent behavior with a juvenile, The Advocate reported.

Boyd suggested the Barrow proposal could thwart such repeat sexual offenders.

We have to stand and fight for children, Boyd told House members.

One change made in the House would exclude offenders younger than 17 from castration. Another amendment would prevent sex offenders from living near a school when their victim is 14 or younger, an increase from the current age of 13.

Boyd deflected an attempt to steer the proposal to the House Committee on Appropriation, which typically gets say-so over bills that include a cost to the state. The state Department of Corrections and Public Safety reported the cost of surgical castration ranges from $550 to $680 per offender, though the Legislatures fiscal staff did not provide an estimate for a total cost.

Rep. Edmond Jordan, D-Baton Rouge, who tried unsuccessfully to reroute the bill, also objected to its historical context and what he believes is the likelihood the punishment will be handed down inordinately to Black men. Jordan, who is Black, compared the measure with what were often unwarranted lynchings and castrations of Black men during the Jim Crow era.

Who does this affect most? Jordan asked lawmakers. I know its race neutral. I know we say it can apply to anybody, but we all know who it affects.

Jordan said he has spoken to organizations that have said they are likely to sue if Barrows bill becomes law, adding that it would cost the state at least $100,000 to defend the statute.

Barrows legislation would also apply to women who are convicted sex offenders.

The procedure would take place no less than one week after the convicted person completes their prison sentence, if that is part of their punishment. If the person refuses castration or fails to show up for the procedure, they could be sent to prison for three to five years.

Chemical castration, a reversible process administered through medication, is already approved as a criminal punishment in Louisiana. It was handed down earlier this month in the case of a Livingston Parish man who was convicted of raping three juveniles.

The post Proposal advances to surgically castrate sex offenders in Louisiana appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
After Judge Aileen Cannons decision to stall Donald Trumps classified documents handling case, a prosecutor on special counsel Jack Smiths team called a motion to toss the already-delayed proceedings garbage on Wednesday, per the Associated Press.

The motion, which argued that prosecutors unfairly targeted Donald Trumps valet Walt Nauta for refusing to cooperate with their investigation, was the former presidents defense teams latest attempt to halt the case.

The 40-count charges, stemming from the discovery of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago after Trump left office, have been stuck in limbo since Judge Cannon indefinitely pushed back a trial earlier in May. But todays motion on the status of Nauta as a co-defendant couldve ended a bid for a trial altogether.

There was a campaign to get Mr. Nauta to cooperate in the first federal prosecution of a former president of the United States and when he refused, they prosecuted him, Nautas attorney Stanley Woodward reportedly argued. Thats a violation of his constitutional rights.

As prosecutors noted, its common to offer a deal to would-be defendants in exchange for their testimony, and there was no sign of vindictive prosecution. According to an AP report, prosecutor David Harbach called the argument garbage, adding that there is not a single bit of evidence of animus toward Mr. Nauta.

Cannon, who has fielded several motions for dismissal before, and tossed many of them, faces her own scrutiny over her handling of the case. A Tuesday filing suggests that the case couldve seen a trial already if it werent for Cannons moves.

The classified documents case added yet another layer earlier in the week, as a newly-unsealed legal filing from the Trump defense which describes the FBIs raid on Mar-a-Lago led to Trump making claims that President Joe Biden was locked & loaded ready to take me out." The FBI refuted the claim, and Jack Smiths team refuted the motion itself, arguing that the investigation was measured.
Putin decree outlines Russian response to any US seizure of frozen assets

(Reuters) -Russia will identify U.S. property, including securities, that could be used as compensation for losses sustained as a result of any seizure of frozen Russian assets in the United States, according to a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

G7 negotiators have been discussing for weeks how to best exploit some $300 billion worth of Russian financial assets, such as major currencies and government bonds, which were frozen shortly after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia's ability to mete out like-for-like retaliation if Western leaders seize its frozen assets has been eroded by dwindling foreign investment, but it may go after private investors' cash instead, officials and economists told Reuters this month.

Thursday's decree stated that the Russian Federation or central bank can ask a Russian court to determine whether its property has been unjustifiably seized and seek compensation.

The court would then order for compensation to be transferred in the form of U.S. assets or property in Russia from a list that would be drawn up by Russia's government commission on foreign asset sales.

The decree listed securities, stakes in Russian companies, real estate, movable property and property rights among the U.S.-owned assets potentially liable for seizure.

Former president Dmitry Medvedev acknowledged last month that Russia holds an insignificant amount of American state property and that any response Russia makes would be asymmetrical, focusing on private individuals' assets.

The decree also stated that assets owned by people under U.S. control could be targeted. It did not specify how being "under U.S. control" would be determined.

The assets of many foreign investors, including both individuals and major U.S. investment funds, are held in special 'type-C' accounts Russia introduced shortly after sending its army into Ukraine and being hit by a barrage of Western sanctions in February 2022.

Money in those accounts cannot be transferred out of Russia without permission from Russian authorities.

Washington has passed legislation allowing President Joe Biden's administration to confiscate Russian assets held in American banks and transfer them to Ukraine, something Russia has repeatedly called illegal.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
On 23 May, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin will visit Belarus and meet with Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, in Minsk in the evening.

Source: Russia's Interfax news agency, quoting Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov

Details: Peskov reports that Putin and Lukashenko are expected to have a "big talk" in Minsk on 23 May and that "there will be a whole day of this very official visit" on 24 May.

The Kremlin press service said that during the talks, "it is planned to discuss the most burning issues of further development of Russian-Belarusian relations of strategic partnership and alliance, the course and prospects of integration cooperation within the Union State, as well as key topics on the international agenda."

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Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on May 23 authorizing the confiscation of assets of U.S. citizens and companies to compensate for Russian assets confiscated by the U.S.

The U.S. Congress recently approved the REPO Act that would allow President Joe Biden's administration to seize Russian assets held at American banks and funnel them to Ukraine.

Western countries and Kyiv's other partners have immobilized around $300 billion of Russian assets in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with around $5 billion held in the U.S.

The decree would enable Russian citizens, companies, and the central bank to appeal to courts that the seizure of their assets is unjustified. In turn, the Russian government could offer U.S. assets in Russia as compensation.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, previously threatened retaliatory measures if the U.S. seized Russian assets.

In March, the European Commission submitted a proposal on using 90% of the generated funds to purchase weapons for Ukraine and allocate the remaining 10% to the EU budget to support the country's defense industry.

After many weeks of debates, EU ambassadors reached a political agreement on the proposal on May 8.

The EU Council finalized the agreement on May 21, which would provide Ukraine with between 2.5 billion and 3 billion euros ($2.7-3.26 billion) annually, with most of it allocated to Kyiv's military needs.

The European Commission then announced later in the day that the "resources will be available to support Ukraine starting from July 2024, with bi-annual payments."

Read also: Russias latest offensive into Kharkiv Oblast is stretching Ukrainian defenses

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Seven children were brought back to Ukrainian-controlled territory from temporarily occupied territories and another six from Russia. Photo: Dmytro Lubinets on Telegram

Thirteen children illegally taken by Russia have been brought back to Ukraine; the children had been either taken to Russia or held in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.

Source: Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraines Human Rights Commissioner, on Telegram

Details: Lubinets said that the children who were brought back to Ukrainian-controlled territory today have different backgrounds. Some of them had their parents killed by Russian forces. Some had relatives who tried to bring them back from Russia but could not due to Russian resistance. Others still just wanted to come back to Ukraine.

A 15-year-old girl from Mariupol said she lost her home after it was struck by a Russian tank. She and her mother were forced to find shelter in a nearby church, where the girl later suffered an injury to her head.

Photo: Dmytro Lubinets on Telegram

Photo: Dmytro Lubinets on Telegram

Photo: Dmytro Lubinets on Telegram

Her family was only able to take her back to Ukraine after numerous failed attempts.

"I would like to once again reiterate that Ukraine is prepared to bring back each [of our citizens] and will continue giving basic humanitarian, medical, psychological and social help [to its citizens]. Law enforcement officers, meanwhile, will document every Russian crime that our children witnessed or became victims of," Lubinets wrote in his post.

He also said that the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner of Ukraine, other Ukrainian officials, and the state of Qatar were involved in the mission to bring back these 13 Ukrainian kids.

On 14 May, six children, aged 5 to 12, from the occupied territory of Kherson Oblast were successfully brought back to the controlled territory of Ukraine.

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CHONGQING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- A record high of 196 major projects were signed at the 6th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade, which kicked off on Thursday, with projects from 12 countries and regions to be established in the western region of China.

The four-day event in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality marks the first fair of its kind after the symposium held on April 23 on boosting the development of China's western region in the new era. It signals China's strong commitment to expanding opening up and cooperation.

The fair sees the participation of more than 1,700 enterprises from 40 countries and regions, including Walmart and Continental AG, and from 27 provincial-level regions in China. The attendees also include leaders and experts from international and domestic trade associations.

The western region of China, which accounts for about two-thirds of the country's land area, boasts significant advantages in costs of production factors and development potential. In 2023, the total import and export volume of western China reached 3.7 trillion yuan (about 511 billion U.S. dollars), a 37 percent increase compared to 2019.

The 12 foreign investment projects with a total contract value of over 26.7 billion yuan span various fields, including intelligent connected new energy vehicles, smart equipment and intelligent manufacturing, and modern finance. Countries and regions such as Russia, Spain and Japan are actively involved.

For instance, Japanese company AFC-HD AMS Life Science Co., Ltd. will invest in building a production and manufacturing base that covers about 12.67 hectares in the Bishan District of Chongqing. The facility will include raw-material processing lines, and production lines for health products, food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, thereby boosting the development of Bishan's life sciences industry.

Alexander Turchin, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Minsk Region, Belarus, said that opening up leads to mutual benefits. He expressed the hope to further expand cooperation between the two countries in trade, investment, industry, energy, culture and tourism, and invited Chinese companies to invest and operate in Minsk.

Zhai Kun, a professor at the School of International Studies at Peking University, said, "China, in line with the historical trend of economic globalization, is steadfast in expanding opening up, sharing the development opportunities brought by economic growth, and injecting continuous momentum into the complex and severe global economy."

The projects signed at the fair also highlight the characteristics of new quality productive forces, with strategic emerging industries, including new energy, new materials and next-generation electronic information, accelerating their presence in the region. These projects cover various new fields, such as portable energy storage batteries, new alloy materials and new nano materials.

Among those signing agreements is HeyGears, a Guangzhou-based unicorn enterprise focused on 3D printing applications and digital intelligent manufacturing technology. The company plans to establish a 3D-printing equipment and product manufacturing center in Chongqing, and will jointly set up key laboratories for artificial intelligence and big data.

The fair this year also features a focus on addressing the infrastructure gaps and facilitating the smooth and efficient flow of production factors in the western region of China, with projects signed that cover the energy, transportation and technology sectors. 
Quincy official running for Norfolk County Register of Deeds. Here's a look at the race

QUINCY  Councilor-at-large Noel DiBona recently announced his candidacy for Norfolk County Register of Deeds, the office overseeing the countys real estate records going back centuries. He faces incumbent Democrat Bill O'Donnell, who has held the post for two decades.

The challenger  Noel DiBona

Elected to the city council in 2015, DiBona served as the bodys president in 2022 and 2023. Prior to his time on the council, DiBona served a single term on the school committee in 2014 and 2015.

Quincy City Councilor-at-large Noel DiBona is running for Norfolk County Register of Deeds. He faces 20-year incumbent Bill O'Donnell.

DiBona has seven years of experience in Norfolk County government. He was the Registry of Deeds' Director of Administrative Services and prior to that, he worked for the Norfolk County sheriffs office as coordinator of the re-entry program for inmates.

Before that, DiBona coordinated senior community services for the sheriffs office, assisting senior citizens in scam and fraud prevention. He has also managed a small business, Russ DiBona & Son Landscape and Snow, for 26 years, according to a campaign press release.

In launching his campaign, DiBona said his management experience in both the private and public sectors has prepared him for the office. In a statement, he pledged to modernize the registry and upgrade its information technology systems.

The goal is to preserve, protect and maintain all deeds and documents, he said.

DiBona told The Patriot Ledger that if elected, he will finish his current term on city council and not run for reelection in 2025.

The incumbent  Bill O'Donnell

Norfolk County Register of Deeds William O'Donnell will face challenger Noel DiBona of Quincy in the 2024 election.

In a phone interview, O'Donnell told The Patriot Ledger that he's running on positive message and track record of success.

"We've implemented a number of organization initiatives over the years that have made the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds one of the best registries in Massachusetts," he said. "That's not me saying it, that's title examiners to lawyers to people who use our customer service department."

"These records give legal title to people's houses and businesses," he said. "We've done the job of protecting those records ... We'd like the privilege of continuing to do the job."

ODonnell spent 10 years as an elected Norfolk County commissioner prior to his election as register of deeds in 2004, according to his bio on the Registry website. He is a former Norfolk County assistant district attorney and had a private practice specializing in real estate and land conveyances.

ODonnell was first elected register in 2004 and has subsequently won three six-year terms. This will be ODonnells first contested election in 18 years, according to state election records.

O'Donnell challenges DiBona to a debate

O'Donnell said that between April 1 (when DiBona disclosed his intention to run on QATV) and May 20, he sent four letters inviting DiBona to debate "the role of this office, its current impact and our visions for its future." DiBona has not responded, according to O'Donnell.

"If someone's going to run, people should learn about their qualifications, their accomplishments, their vision of the registry of deeds has been and should be," O'Donnell said. "That's the purpose of writing no less than four letters. The voters and the public deserve to have a debate."

O'Donnell suggested Quincy Access Television's Joe Catalano as the moderator for the debate. He also suggested question-and-answer sessions with the editorial boards of The Patriot Ledger and The Quincy Sun.

DiBona told The Patriot Ledger that he is willing to debate O'Donnell at some point before the election.

The election takes place during the Democratic Primary on Sept. 3. Because only Democrats have entered the race, the Sept. 3 vote will decide the contest, DiBona told The Patriot Ledger.

Peter Blandino covers Quincy for The Patriot Ledger. Contact him at pblandino@patriotledger.com.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Noel DiBona challenges incumbent Bill O'Donnell for Register of Deeds
A steam engine at the repair shop owned by the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. (Photo provided)

For Chris Campbell, Estill County is where almost everyone has a connection to the rail lines that run by the twin cities of Irvine and Ravenna, the latter founded by a railroad in the early 20th century.

Campbell, while not an Estill County native, is a train enthusiast and president of the Irvine-based nonprofit Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. that is trying to transform the countys long-time rail yard into an economic incubator that can be a draw for his part of Appalachian Kentucky.

The vision: turning the rail yard into a community greenspace, dubbed the The Yard, featuring a pavilion for music, a campground, jogging trails, a museum and a renovated repair shop where historic steam engines are restored. Campbell foresees thousands of people coming in for music shows, spending the night, spending money at local restaurants and stores, and visiting other Eastern Kentucky attractions.

The nonprofit is getting a big boost toward making that a reality in the form of a nearly $5 million federal grant announced this week to clean up the rail yard, remediating decades of industrial use from hauling coal out of Kentuckys mountains.

Visitors to the new community space could help a new economy spring up on ground where the economy has long been based on coal mining and railroading, says Campbell.

The newly constructed stage for music and other events at the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp.s site in Estill County. (Photo provided)

None of these ideas can even come to fruition if you dont do the literal groundwork to make it possible. So, the literal groundwork is moving dirt around and to make it legal to have the general public on it, Campbell told the Lantern.

The almost $5 million grant is from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Brownfields program, which has more funding to distribute thanks to passage of federal spending bills such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Two area development districts and the city of Barbourville also recently received grants through the program to assess properties and create an inventory of properties to be potentially remediated and restored.

Campbell said the work already done toward the project  which includes a music stage that could start hosting music as soon as this fall  has been made possible through private donations and other state and federal funding in recent years.

Along with building that community space, Campbell said, those at the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation want to preserve the legacy of the regions railroading into the future.

A steam engine repair shop supplied jobs in Ravenna before trains moved to diesel-electric engines, and the nonprofit is restoring a 20th century steam engine thats seen plenty of time in Kentucky. Campbell said the nonprofit, which owns the rail yard, hopes to acquire the tracks from CSX in the future to be able to bring tourists into town by train. He said trains occasionally come down the tracks if they need repairs but the runs are no longer regular.

People that worked for the railroad were really passionate about it, Campbell said. Were interested in the history of railroading and preserving it but also doing it in a way thats marketable and has some longevity.

Campbell said the nonprofit, which owns the rail yard, hopes to acquire the tracks from CSX in the future to be able to bring tourists into town by train. He said trains occasionally come down the tracks but the runs are no longer regular.

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Recent presidential candidate and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has endorsed Florida Sen. Rick Scott (R) as by far the best choice to succeed Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), a reflection of the early support Scotts leadership bid is picking up among prominent conservatives.

Rick Scott is *BY FAR* the best choice among those running for Senate Republican Leader, Ramaswamy, who dropped out of the White House race earlier this year, said in a post on the social platform X. He successfully led a big business & a big state, theres no doubt he can do this job.

He also possesses a very rare quality in DC: caring about what voters actually want. I endorse him, he said.

Ramaswamys hearty endorsement comes as other Senate conservatives are hailing Scotts entry into the race.

@SenRickScotts entry into the Senate GOP leadership race  together with the plan hes offered regarding how hed lead the Senate Republican Conference  is more than just a positive development. Its a game-changer, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote on X.

Lee is holding back on making an endorsement in the race for now but expressed satisfaction that Scott is pledging to outline a positive, aspirational agenda for the Senate GOP conference that would spell out what Republican senators stand for.

This is the first time since Ive been in the Senate when a colleague running for a GOP conference leadership position has offered a distinct plan to let us know how hed lead the conference, Lee posted.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), another prominent Senate conservative, echoed Lees excitement over Scotts leadership bid.

I couldnt agree more, he said.

Scott announced his candidacy in a Dear Colleague letter circulated Wednesday afternoon in which he pledged to give colleagues more time to review bills before bringing them up for votes and promised never to pressure them to vote in a way contrary to how they campaigned or the interests of their constituents.

He also endorsed a six-year term limit for the next Senate GOP leader.

But Scotts decision to challenge Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is getting early pushback from McConnells allies.

If this dude gets 10 votes they ought to disband the institution, Josh Holmes, a senior political adviser to McConnell, posted on X, referring to Scott.

Thune said Thursday that Scotts decision to jump into the race isnt a big surprise.

Hes talked about it. Again, its an open race. Anybody who wants to run is entitled to run. As we, all know its a small constituency; its 49 people, the South Dakota senator said. We hope a few more after this next election. But we all have to go out and make our case to our voters, which are our colleagues.

Asked if Scott has any chance to win, Thune replied: I suppose everybody has a chance. Im not going to handicap his chances.

The news comes after McConnell announced in February his plan to step down from the leadership post at the end of his term.

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 The Hill.
Private security guards with Apex Security Group and Contemporary Services Corporation patrol UCLA on May 7, following days of protests on campus. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

When authorities launched the first of many flash-bang-style devices early on the morning of May 2, it shattered the relative calm of UCLAs pro-Palestinian encampment and drove a stream of protesters running toward makeshift barricades that blocked the exits.

Two students said they witnessed a student protester standing near Powell Library attempt to move a metal barrier to accommodate the people fleeing. Instead, he was met with force by members of Apex Security Group, according to the witnesses, who were interviewed together and requested anonymity in fear of retaliation by the university or law enforcement.

Members of the security team started attacking him. I think it was around five to seven of the security guards, one of the students said. Two or three of them were trying to hit him on the head, and the others were trying to restrain him.

The protester broke free from the private security guards and fled. Within minutes, a deep bruise materialized on the young man's face where one of the guards had punched him, the second student witness said. The student who was allegedly hit was not identified and could not be reached for comment.

It was really unwarranted. He just, like, moved back a little bit and then they attacked, the second witness said. It was a really scary feeling. Id never seen someone get beat up like that in person before.





The incident was the first of at least two that witnesses said involved Apex Security Group guards acting aggressively at UCLA in recent weeks. Witnesses who spoke with The Times accused the guards of assaulting and accosting demonstrators who posed no threat and leaving the scene at a key moment on May 1, as counterprotesters escalated violence that left at least 30 people injured.

Read more: 'Shut it down!' How group chats, rumors and fear sparked a night of violence at UCLA

Apex and its parent company, the Northridge-based security giant Contemporary Services Corporation, did not respond to requests for comment. Apex's website says it employs "off-duty and retired law enforcement officers who provide supplemental services for clients that require support above and beyond standard event security and crowd management services.

Hired guards are increasingly ubiquitous at college protests, with Apex and CSC contracted for security on campuses from Los Angeles to New York. The guards perform crowd control and many of the duties traditionally carried out by police officers, and can carry weapons if properly licensed. They can detain people, but typically as private citizens, not sworn law enforcement, which means they enjoy fewer of the legal protections afforded police. Entry-level private security guards  who in many cases receive just a few days of training  are often directed by those who hire them to use force only as a last resort.

It's unclear what instructions Apex had from UCLA.

Security guards with Apex Security Group and Contemporary Services Corporation stand by at UCLA as pro-Palestinian activists demonstrate in front of Dodd Hall on May 6. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Ryan King, a spokesman for the office of the University of California's president, Michael V. Drake, said in an email that Drake announced on May 7 "an independent investigation" into what led to the violence on April 30. The university did not respond directly to questions about its relationships with Apex and CSC or the incidents with the firms on campus.

"The University awaits the findings of that investigation," King said. He added that the 10 UC campuses each have their own police departments "that have control and jurisdiction on their respective campuses and may request local law enforcement support or contract for additional security assistance as necessary. Each campus coordinates their response to conditions on the ground with their respective leadership."

Some protesters at UCLA and beyond have questioned why universities and law enforcement agencies increasingly rely on private security firms when cracking down on overwhelmingly nonviolent protests.

But contracting with security companies is a common and reasonable practice, according to Rick Santoro, a New Jersey-based security expert with more than 30 years of experience.

Typically, public law enforcement agencies do not have the resources to provide security services on a long-term basis in situations such as labor actions [and] civil unrest, he said via email. Its practical and necessary in many cases for colleges and universities to use private security contractors either exclusively or to supplement police in such situations.

At UCLA, while Apex guards were accused of getting physical with some students on May 2, they were also filmed standing by the previous night as some pro-Israel protesters tore down barricades and incited violence.

The Apex guards, who appeared to have been unarmed, were brought in at the behest of former UCLA Police Chief John Thomas, who was removed from the post this week as he faced withering criticism over his handling of the protests.

University leaders had repeatedly directed Thomas to create a safety plan, three sources told the Los Angeles Times this month. He was told, the sources said, to spend whatever was necessary to maintain peace and order. Thomas developed a plan, the sources said, to deploy private security who would not be authorized to arrest anyone and who were told to contact the UCLA police if the situation on the ground escalated. Whether Apex personnel received directions to leave the scene in the event of violence remains unknown.

But a group of Apex security guards posted at the perimeter of the encampment ultimately left without intervening, according to witnesses and video from the scene. Mayhem ensued, with clashes between the opposing groups of protesters lasting until police in riot gear arrived more than two hours later.

Apex Security Group guards stand by as protesters clash on the UCLA campus the day before the pro-Palestinian encampment was dismantled. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)

::

Allegations of physical altercations between Apex personnel and student protesters did not stop with the dismantling of the camp.

On May 15, a 2023 UCLA graduate returned to the campus to participate in a pro-Palestine demonstration. The alum, who uses the pronouns "they" and "her," said they had scrawled messages including Free Palestine and How many people did you kill today? in chalk on sidewalks and school buildings as the marchers made their way across the Westwood campus.

As the procession wound down near the universitys Shapiro Fountain, about 10 Apex guards gathered around the 5-foot-tall protester, who asked to remain anonymous, citing concerns about retaliation by law enforcement.

Three men wearing black windbreakers with APEX SECURITY GROUP emblazoned in white letters across the back and light khaki pants can be seen grabbing them by the arms in videos of the incident reviewed by The Times. Several CSC guards are visible in the background of one of the videos.

Let them go. Youre not a fing cop," an onlooker yelled at one of the Apex guards. "What are you doing to them? Why are you grabbing them?

The alum was released moments later as a guard took their tote bag and opened it up on a nearby ledge.

Give me back my bag you fing pig, they yelled as the guard rifled through the bag's contents before pulling out a red pen and holding it up in the air.

Read more: For two young journalists, showdown at UCLA camp was baptism by fire

Come here, Miss, heres your bag back. I have her marker that you graffitied with. Here you go, the guard said loudly. The alum yelled back that it was a pen, not a marker. Hold on. So she graffitied, so everybody knows. And you cant graffiti. Here you go. Heres your bag back.

The alum maintained they were drawing in chalk, not making graffiti.

Apex did not respond to questions about the incident.

There have been other recent instances of protesters accusing the company of harsh tactics. In January, Apex sent dozens of guards to Berkeley, where they assisted in the clearing of tents and makeshift homes erected in Peoples Park a few blocks from UC Berkeley in an attempt to block the redevelopment of the landmark site.

Columbia University used the firm as part of its controversial response to a pro-Palestinian protest movement last month.

One security guard said the universitys contractor, Apex Security Group Inc., was recruiting more workers for its 7 p.m.-to-7 a.m. shift at a rate of $240 a day, the New York Post reported.

The company has branches in more than a dozen cities and regularly works high-profile gigs, including Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, L.A. Rams and Chargers games, and other major events.

Apex's parent company, CSC, was founded in 1967 by Damon Zumwalt, then a student athlete at UCLA. Unlike the off-duty and retired officers hired by Apex, the larger firm recruits security guards who have varying backgrounds, using a screening process that is less stringent compared with law enforcement agencies.

California requires a few dozen hours of training to become a licensed security guard. Many police departments, including the LAPD, require officers to complete a six-month stint in a police academy, followed by additional months of field training.

As a result, there's a vast pay gap between low-end private security personnel and sworn law enforcement officers. Most security guards make little more than minimum wage versus well over $100,000 a year plus government benefits for experienced cops.

Its cheaper for a university to bring in minimally trained private security guards when needed than to hire permanent, full-time police officers, but you get what you pay for, according to Norman D. Bates, a security expert, attorney and founder of the Massachusetts-based security consulting firm Liability Consultants.

The downside is lack of training, lack of experience, he said. The ultimate result is people are victimized, and they end up suing.

Contemporary Services Corporation guards patrol UCLA. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Law enforcement veterans like those Apex hires tend to be more calm and efficient in high-stress situations than their civilian counterparts, according to James F. Pastor, an attorney who runs a security consulting firm in Florida.

Many who contract with the company are looking for a higher level of service and capacity than a more all-purpose firm like CSC can provide. But there can be a flip side to years of experience, said Pastor, a former Chicago police officer.

Theres a lot of good security officers out there that can manage people, that have experience in de-escalation techniques and communication techniques and just frankly using a level of professionalism to get the job done without getting too physical, he said, but theres a lot of cops who lose that ability either through frustration or burnout over the years.

Read more: Police report no serious injuries. But scenes from inside UCLA camp, protesters tell a different story

Public universities in California have paid millions to CSC in recent years. In 2023 alone, UC San Francisco paid the firm more than $3.5 million, while UCLA paid the company nearly $185,000, according to California state spending records compiled by openthebooks.com, a project of the nonprofit open government organization American Transparency.

Since 2017, according to the spending records, several other state universities and colleges have also hired CSC, while no other state agency has.

In California between 2021 and 2023, the records show, less than $330,000 of state funds were paid directly to Apex Security Group, all by Cal State East Bay and San Francisco State. Its unclear whether payments made to CSC can cover services rendered by Apex.

King, of the UC president's office, said via email that information about how much money UCLA and other UCs have paid Apex and CSC and what contracts they have with the security firms was not "immediately available."

Even with incidents like those alleged at UCLA, private guards are here to stay at concerts, sporting events and on college campuses.

What I see now is a driving towards private security, Pastor said. I think post-George Floyd, the reality is police are having a much more difficult time recruiting and keeping trained police officers. So I think that tide is turning where theyre seeing the value of having a private security officer next to them.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
I really thought I was going to prison: Woman convicted of killing man during marijuana-induced psychosis speaks out

The violence captured national headlines. The California killing was gruesome, its circumstances shocking: A woman stabbed a man to death  leaving him with 108 wounds  after smoking marijuana.

The killers sentence? No jail time.

The woman at the center of it all is now speaking with WGN News.

I really thought I was going to prison, Bryn Spejcher said.

Spejcher is a Chicagoland native

Spejcher grew up in northwest suburban Bloomingdale with her parents, three brothers and a lot of pets.

She was diagnosed at an early age with hearing loss and has worn hearing aids since she was four years old. She discovered a passion for helping others with the same disability. After earning her Masters degree at Washington University in St. Louis, she moved to Los Angeles to begin her career as an audiologist.

I knew exactly that was what I wanted to do was work in the audiology field, Spejcher said.

Her hearing service dog Arya by her side, the two spent much of their free time at a dog park in Thousand Oaks in the spring of 2018.

Before work after work, and I would be there for hours just to let her have fun and get to know people, Spejcher said.

One of the people Bryn got to know was a young accountant, Chad OMelia. A few weeks after they met, Chad was dead. Bryn was charged with his murder.

I had no intention to hurt him, I never would hurt anybody, Spejcher said.

The crime

It was Memorial Day weekend. After a visit to the dog park, Spejcher and OMelia went back to his apartment, where he offered her marijuana in a bong. It was legal. Spejcher was an inexperienced user. What happened next shattered two families, when Spejcher unexpectedly became violent.

You have no sense of time, you have no sense of morality, judgment, emotions. Its the scariest thing, Spejcher said. It was like I was watching a TV screen of all these awful things happening.

With what prosecutors say was three knives from the kitchen, Spejcher stabbed OMelia, the knives serrated edges leaving him with 108 wounds. Spejcher even stabbed her dog, Arya, and herself.

Ventura County Sheriffs deputies responded, their body cameras recording. That video evidence remains under seal, but both Bryns defense team and the Ventura County prosecutor have watched it many times.

She carved up his face. This stabbing was horrific  one of the worst our medical examiner has seen, Ventura County Senior Deputy District Attorney Audry Nafziger said.

One of the deputies shoots her with a taser gun four times so electrical wires go into her body four times, she keeps stabbing herself, Robert Schwartz, one of Bryns lawyers, said.

Another deputy used his metal baton for the first time in his career. It took 9 blows to break Spejchers arm, finally freeing the knife from her grip.

They saved my life and Im forever grateful for them, Spejcher said.

Spejcher was rushed to the hospital and into surgery. She survived her 43 wounds. Her mom flew from Chicago to take care of her, while her dad stayed behind for her younger brothers high school graduation.

She was going, Ask Chad, ask Chad what happened. I dont know what happened, Spejchers mom, Laurie Pearce, said.

It was just a matter of trying to  of consciously waking up. It was a matter of trying to explain to the detectives what I was experiencing, Spejcher said.

Spejcher spent 6 days in jail. Prosecutors initially charged her with murder, but over the course of the years-long investigation, just months before her 2023 trial, they reduced the charge to involuntary manslaughter. The reason? Experts on both sides agreed: Her actions were the result of cannabis-induced psychosis.

Johnsons community-led plan to address Chicago crime and violence, but whats the role for police?

What is cannabis-induced psychosis?

This is really rare, but it can happen, its known to happen. There have been human experimental studies that have shown if you give people high levels of THC into their bloodstream, you can illicit psychotic symptoms, said Dr. Sachin Patel, the chair of the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine.

Dr. Patel studies how cannabis and its primary psychoactive compound, THC, affect the brain. He says the most at risk of cannabis-induced psychosis are people with mental illness or people who have a family member with mental illness or a psychotic disorder.

Dr. Patel says its possible for someone to become violent during an episode of cannabis-induced psychosis when they otherwise wouldnt.

Its possible depending on the degree of psychosis, so if people are perceiving things in the environment to be threatening when they ordinarily wouldnt or when there is no threat, certainly one reaction to that could be for example fear, or withdrawal. Under certain circumstances, it could be heightened aggression, he said.

Chicagoan uniting voices, leading citys diverse youth into a global future

The verdict and the sentence

In late 2023, a California jury convicted Spejcher of involuntary manslaughter.

I really thought I was going to prison, Spejcher said.

She was researching prison accommodations for her disability before sentencing. But her sentence included no prison time.

No one could have foreseen that a single hit of marijuana that night would have caused Ms. Spejcher to have a total psychotic break from reality, certainly not Chad and certainly not Ms. Spejcher. In light of these facts, I do not believe that further incarceration of Ms. Spejcher is appropriate, Judge David Worley said in court.

He sentenced her instead to two years of probation and 100 hours community service educating the public on the dangers of THC.

That this judge absolved this defendant of really any responsibility other than being convicted sends a very dangerous message, Nafziger said.

OMelias father calls the sentence a travesty of the system.

What does she have to do? Nothing? Nothing after taking another humans life. I mean, probation, going and talking to people. Thats not justice, Sean OMelia said.

Asked what she wants to tell the OMelia family now, Spejcher said shes sorry.

I am just so sorry. I am so sorry that they have to live with a hole in their life, will forever not be able to be with Chad and that they have to grieve. And I just hope and pray that they find some compassion and forgiveness, Spejcher said.

Whats behind the rising costs at the grocery store?

The future of marijuana

Spejchers requirement to raise awareness about the risks of marijuana comes amid the drugs normalization. The federal government is moving to re-classify it as a less dangerous drug. Its legal recreationally in 24 states. And manufacturers are creating more potent products that are more accessible than ever.

I see this not being good, Dr. Patel said. We as a population are being exposed to things today that were never even a possibility 10, 20, 30 years ago.

Dr. Patel notes historically, cannabis plants contained 2-4% THC by weight. Now, plants have 20-30%, and some products are made with even higher concentration.

There is some question about whether the marijuana OMelia gave Spejcher in 2018 was high potency. Spejchers attorneys presented evidence at trial that showed OMelia ordered a 30% THC product that came with a warning that it was intended for high-tolerance users only. But the bong was tested, Spejchers attorneys say, and the contents were used up.

We did recover the only source of marijuana at the scene and it was tested and it was not high-potency marijuana, Nafziger said.

Still, with the rapid changes to the industry, Dr. Patel says its not surprising to see some increased incidents of adverse effects.

Cannabis-induced psychosis is the extreme of that  Its still very rare  But were sitting here because its happening, Dr. Patel said.

What Spejcher experienced, the violence she unleashed, the life she took  A cautionary tale. And that concern is shared by both the prosecution and her defense team.

As cannabis gets stronger the risks are going to be higher, Nafziger said.

If this could happen to Bryn, it could happen to anybody, Schwartz said.

Back home in Bloomingdale with her family, Spejcher is appealing her felony conviction and working to obtain a license to continue her career as an audiologist in Illinois.

I just hope my story will save somebody elses life, she said.

Spejcher is teaming up with an advocacy group that fights what it calls the expansion of drug culture. Interviews with Every Brain Matters are below.

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 WGN-TV.
I really thought I was going to prison: Woman who killed man during marijuana-induced psychosis speaks out

(WGN)  The California killing was gruesome, its circumstances shocking: A woman stabbed a man to death  leaving him with 108 wounds  after smoking marijuana.

Her sentence? No jail time.

I really thought I was going to prison, Bryn Spejcher said.

Spejcher grew up in northwest suburban Bloomingdale, Illinois, with her parents, three brothers and a lot of pets.

She was diagnosed at an early age with hearing loss and has worn hearing aids since she was four years old. She discovered a passion for helping others with the same disability. After earning her Masters degree at Washington University in St. Louis, she moved to Los Angeles to begin her career as an audiologist.

Marijuana may soon be a Schedule III drug: What will change?

I knew exactly that was what I wanted to do  work in the audiology field, Spejcher said.

With her hearing service dog Arya by her side, the two spent much of their free time at a dog park in Thousand Oaks in the spring of 2018.

Before work, after work, and I would be there for hours just to let her have fun and get to know people, Spejcher said.

One of the people Bryn got to know was Chad OMelia, a young accountant. A few weeks after they met, Chad was dead. Bryn was charged with his murder.

I had no intention to hurt him, I never would hurt anybody, Spejcher said.

The crime

It was Memorial Day weekend. After a visit to the dog park, Spejcher and OMelia went back to his apartment, where he offered her marijuana in a bong. It was legal. Spejcher was an inexperienced user. What happened next shattered two families, when Spejcher unexpectedly became violent.

You have no sense of time, you have no sense of morality, judgment, emotions. Its the scariest thing, Spejcher said. It was like I was watching a TV screen of all these awful things happening.

With what prosecutors say was three knives from the kitchen, Spejcher stabbed OMelia, the knives serrated edges leaving him with 108 wounds. Spejcher even stabbed her own dog, Arya, and herself.

Ventura County Sheriffs deputies responded, their body cameras recording. That video evidence remains under seal, but both Bryns defense team and the Ventura County prosecutor have watched it many times.

She carved up his face. This stabbing was horrific  one of the worst our medical examiner has seen, Ventura County Senior Deputy District Attorney Audry Nafziger said.

One of the deputies shoots her with a taser gun four times so electrical wires go into her body four times, she keeps stabbing herself, Robert Schwartz, one of Bryns lawyers, said.

Another deputy used his metal baton for the first time in his career. It took 9 blows to break Spejchers arm, finally freeing the knife from her grip.

They saved my life and Im forever grateful for them, Spejcher said.

WATCH: Florida deputies smash car window to save 1-year-old girl locked inside

Spejcher was rushed to the hospital and into surgery. She survived her 43 wounds. Her mom flew from Chicago to take care of her, while her dad stayed behind for her younger brothers high school graduation.

She was going, Ask Chad, ask Chad what happened. I dont know what happened, Spejchers mom, Laurie Pearce, said.

It was just a matter of trying to  of consciously waking up. It was a matter of trying to explain to the detectives what I was experiencing, Spejcher said.

Spejcher spent six days in jail. Prosecutors initially charged her with murder, but over the course of the years-long investigation, just months before her 2023 trial, they reduced the charge to involuntary manslaughter. The reason? Experts on both sides agreed: Her actions were the result of cannabis-induced psychosis.

What is cannabis-induced psychosis?

This is really rare, but it can happen, its known to happen. There have been human experimental studies that have shown if you give people high levels of THC into their bloodstream, you can illicit psychotic symptoms, said Dr. Sachin Patel, the chair of the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine.

Dr. Patel studies how cannabis and its primary psychoactive compound, THC, affect the brain. He says the most at risk of cannabis-induced psychosis are people with mental illness or people who have a family member with mental illness or a psychotic disorder.

Dr. Patel says its possible for someone to become violent during an episode of cannabis-induced psychosis when they otherwise wouldnt.

Its possible depending on the degree of psychosis, so if people are perceiving things in the environment to be threatening when they ordinarily wouldnt or when there is no threat, certainly one reaction to that could be, for example, fear, or withdrawal. Under certain circumstances, it could be heightened aggression, he said.

The verdict and the sentence

In late 2023, a California jury convicted Spejcher of involuntary manslaughter.

I really thought I was going to prison, Spejcher said.

She was researching prison accommodations for her disability before sentencing. But her sentence included no prison time.

No one could have foreseen that a single hit of marijuana that night would have caused Ms. Spejcher to have a total psychotic break from reality, certainly not Chad and certainly not Ms. Spejcher. In light of these facts, I do not believe that further incarceration of Ms. Spejcher is appropriate, Judge David Worley said in court.

He sentenced her instead to two years of probation and 100 hours community service, educating the public on the dangers of THC.

That this judge absolved this defendant of really any responsibility other than being convicted sends a very dangerous message, Nafziger said.

OMelias father calls the sentence a travesty of the system.

What does she have to do? Nothing? Nothing after taking another humans life. I mean, probation, going and talking to people. Thats not justice, Sean OMelia said.

Asked what she wants to tell the OMelia family now, Spejcher said shes sorry.

I am just so sorry. I am so sorry that they have to live with a hole in their life, will forever not be able to be with Chad and that they have to grieve. And I just hope and pray that they find some compassion and forgiveness, Spejcher said.

The future of marijuana

Spejchers requirement to raise awareness about the risks of marijuana comes amid the drugs normalization. The federal government is moving to re-classify it as a less dangerous drug. Its legal recreationally in 24 states. And manufacturers are creating more potent products that are more accessible than ever.

I see this not being good, Dr. Patel said. We as a population are being exposed to things today that were never even a possibility 10, 20, 30 years ago.

Daily pot use exceeds daily drinking in US, new study says

Dr. Patel notes historically, cannabis plants contained 2-4% THC by weight. Now, plants have 20-30%, and some products are made with even higher concentrations.

There is some question about whether the marijuana OMelia gave Spejcher in 2018 was high potency. Spejchers attorneys presented evidence at trial that showed OMelia ordered a 30% THC product that came with a warning that it was intended for high-tolerance users only. But the bong was tested, Spejchers attorneys say, and the contents were used up.

We did recover the only source of marijuana at the scene and it was tested and it was not high-potency marijuana, Nafziger said.

Still, with the rapid changes to the industry, Dr. Patel says its not surprising to see some increased incidents of adverse effects.

Cannabis-induced psychosis is the extreme of that  Its still very rare  but were sitting here because its happening, Dr. Patel said.

What Spejcher experienced, the violence she unleashed, the life she took, its a cautionary tale. And that concern is shared by both the prosecution and her defense team.

As cannabis gets stronger the risks are going to be higher, Nafziger said.

If this could happen to Bryn, it could happen to anybody, Schwartz said.

Back home in Bloomingdale with her family, Spejcher is appealing her felony conviction and working to obtain a license to continue her career as an audiologist in Illinois.

I just hope my story will save somebody elses life, she said.

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 Queen City News.
Members of the Indiana Recount Commission talk during a meeting Wednesday May 22, 2024 at the Indiana Statehouse. (Mia Hilkowitz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

The Indiana Recount Commission is moving forward with two recounts in state legislative races despite large margins of victory.

The panel met for several hours Wednesday, deciding to release some ballots impounded in Elkhart and Hendricks counties after two Republican candidates for Indiana House districts 40 and 49 filed recount petitions.

Republican Brian Paasch ran against incumbent Rep. Greg Steuerwald in the primary for the Indiana House District 40 seat. According to the Indiana Election Division, Steuerwald received 63.2% of the vote, or 3,519 votes, and Paasch received 36.8%, or 2,050 votes.

Cindi Hajicek ran in House District 49, earning 35% of the vote (2,047 votes), while her opponent, incumbent Rep. Joanna King, received 65% (3,805).

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Paasch and Hajicek did not returns calls for comment.

After receiving the petitions, the State Board of Accounts (SBA) ordered the Indiana State Police to impound election material, including ballots and equipment, related to the disputed races in Hendricks and Elkhart counties, Recount Director Philip Sicuso said Wednesday.

However, both candidates filed petitions for recount May 15  before election officials in the counties had finished counting provisional and absentee ballots. County election boards can decide whether to count each provisional ballot until 3 p.m. May 17. Election officials from Hendricks and Elkhart counties said at Wednesdays meeting the early impoundment prevented them from properly certifying the results of both the disputed and undisputed races.

Local concerns

Elkhart County Clerk Christopher Anderson said the county has approximately 100 provisional and absentee ballots yet to be counted, including ballots from outside House District 49. Anderson said there are 49 races  including the Republican nominee selection for President and state convention delegates  they would not be able to certify.

When I look at the not-counting of those ballots, based on turnout, 85% of those voters are going to be Republican ballots, Anderson said. Youve got 85% of those voters have been disenfranchised.

Don Hodson, a member of the Hendricks County Election board, said his board had to postpone a meeting to certify votes because they did not know what to do about the impounded ballots. When an attorney for the commission said the board should have been able to still certify results, Hodson pushed back, saying the Hendricks County clerk reached out to the Recount Commission for guidance, but never received a response back.

This whole process is causing a lot of confusion, Hodson said.

In the coming days, SBA representatives will hand-separate ballots not relevant to the disputed races and release them back to county election officials.

Michael Claytor, a member of the Recount Commission, expressed his concern that continuing to impound the uncounted ballots would disenfranchise voters. He proposed having the commission release all ballots temporarily for 48 hours so the counties could certify the results.

Im going to assume were not going to allow the board of accounts to original-count provisional ballots, they can only recount, he said. Were going to have people lose their franchise because an early impoundment was settled. That offends me quite frankly.

This story has been updated to correct the number of votes that Hajicek received.

The post Recount Commission to release some ballots impounded in contested races appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
BILOXI, Miss. (WKRG)  Fishermen are running out of time to catch the Gray Triggerfish as the recreational harvest is getting ready to close, according to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.

Officials announced the close of the recreational harvest for Gray Triggerfish, or Balistes capriscus, in Mississippi territorial waters is set to begin at 12:01 a.m. local time on Saturday, June 1.

The Lost Resort in Spanish Fort: From fancy to forgotten

The closure comes after the recreational season for Gray Triggerfish opened on March 1.

Gray Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, in Chichiriviche de la Costa, Venezuela, Caribbean Sea.

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting, and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands, and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational, and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes, an MDMR release said.

For more information, visit the Mississippi Department of Marine Resourcess website.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Women work in a restaurant kitchen in Chicago in March 2023. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a new workplace anti-discrimination law that was passed by Congress with wide bipartisan support, has become fodder in the abortion rights battle between Republican-led states and the federal government. (Nam Y. Huh/The Associated Press)

Natasha Jackson was four months pregnant when she told her supervisor she was expecting. It was 2008, and Jackson was an account executive at a rental furniture store in Charleston, South Carolina  the only female employee there.

I actually hid my pregnancy as long as I could because I was scared about what could happen, she said.

Natasha Jackson, a mother of four in Charleston, has been advocating for years for laws that protect pregnant workers. (Provided by Natasha Jackson)

When her doctor recommended that she not lift more than 25 pounds, her employer wouldnt let her move temporarily to a role where she didnt need to lift furniture, even though those roles were available, she said.

She was forced to go on leave and then lost her job. Her marriage unraveled and she spent time after the birth in emergency housing.

That hardship affected me years on, and it took away the joy of being pregnant, said Jackson. They made me feel guilty and ashamed for having a baby.

Jackson, now 41 and a mother of four who owns her own cleaning company, has spent years working with advocacy groups to fight for better laws to protect pregnant workers. Last year, she was invited to speak at a White House event celebrating the passage of the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a new workplace anti-discrimination law for which she had advocated.

But now this law, passed with wide bipartisan support, has become fodder in the bitter battle over abortion rights between Republican-led states and the federal government.

The act fills gaps in state and federal protections by requiring employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and those who have recently given birth or have related medical conditions  unless the employer can prove it would cause undue hardship on the business.

Accommodations can include allowing an employee to take additional bathroom breaks, carry a water bottle, or sit instead of stand while on the job. After years of lobbying by nonprofit organizations and business groups, the federal law passed in December 2022. It went into effect last June.

Its similar to a South Carolina law passed in 2018 called the Pregnancy Accommodations Act, which made what happened to Jackson a decade earlier illegal. Required accommodations in the bipartisan measure signed into law by GOP Gov. Henry McMaster include temporarily transferring pregnant workers with medical complications to a less strenuous or hazardous job.

But it does not require any accommodations for an abortion, which last year became illegal in South Carolina past the sixth week of pregnancy, with limited exceptions.

In the rulemaking process for the federal law, however, the Biden administration included abortion as a related medical condition covered by the law. That means employees seeking abortion care can ask for accommodations from their employers, such as time off work for an appointment or recovery.

This year, 19 Republican attorneys general  including from Jacksons home state of South Carolina  have sued the administration over that interpretation.

It seems quite ridiculous to me that some employers want so much control over employees to the point that they feel like they have the right to threaten their job security because of pregnancy or anything associated with it.

 Natasha Jackson, a Charleston mom of four who lost her job in 2008, a decade before SC legislators unanimously passed the state Pregnancy Accommodations Act

The AGs argue the Biden administration is forcing abortion accommodations even in states where abortions are illegal.

Under this radical interpretation of the PWFA, business owners will face federal lawsuits if they dont accommodate employees abortions, even if those abortions are illegal under state law, Arkansas Republican Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement last month announcing the lawsuit filed by Arkansas and 16 other Republican-led states.

But some advocates say the lawsuit threatens protections for all pregnant workers covered under the new law  not just the small subset who need abortion care.

These states are cutting off their noses to spite their faces, said Elizabeth Gedmark, an attorney and vice president of A Better Balance, a national nonprofit advocacy organization that provides legal services and has long pushed for a national Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

These attacks have very real consequences for peoples lives and for their economic security and health, she said.

Jackson fears the lawsuit could lead to fewer workers accessing the care they need to be healthy.

[Workers] should have the right to proper medical care during pregnancy, after childbirth, after having a miscarriage, or having an abortion, she said. It seems quite ridiculous to me that some employers want so much control over employees to the point that they feel like they have the right to threaten their job security because of pregnancy or anything associated with it.

Into the fray

After Congress passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency known as the EEOC, had to hammer out a set of rules that clarify what employers can and cant do under the law.

So last summer, the EEOC sought public comment on its proposed rules for how the new law would work. More than 100,000 comments were submitted over a two-month period.

The flood of comments stemmed from opinions about whether the EEOC should include abortion in its definition of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions that are covered under the new law.

The vast majority were nearly identical form comments, according to the EEOC. About 54,000 of the comments urged the EEOC to exclude abortion, while about 40,000 supported its inclusion.

In a 3-2 vote, the EEOC ultimately adopted new rules that included abortion care in its definition of conditions covered under the law. The rules are set to go into effect June 18.

But in April, a week after the EEOC announced its final rules, the 17-state coalition of GOP attorneys general argued in its lawsuit that the agencys erroneous interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act creates an abortion accommodation mandate.

When the law was passed by Congress, it was explicitly understood not to address abortion at all, and the text of the statute does not address abortion, said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who is co-leading the lawsuit with Arkansas Griffin.

Skrmetti and the other Republican attorneys general point to comments made by lawmakers during debate on the measure that appear to signal Congress intent was not to impose abortion-related requirements in states where those abortions would be illegal.

Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, who sponsored the pregnant workers bill, said during debate that the EEOC could not issue any regulation that requires abortion leave, nor does the act permit the EEOC to require employers to provide abortions in violation of state law.

The 15 other states joining the lawsuit are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.

More states have jumped into the fray. In mid-May, Louisianas and Mississippis attorneys general, both Republicans, filed their own lawsuit challenging the same provision.

And in February, a federal judge in Texas blocked the EEOC from accepting complaints filed by Texas state employees under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. It was a win for Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who had sued the Biden administration last year.

Protections at risk

Skrmetti, the Tennessee attorney general, believes the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is a good law.

It was passed with a degree of bipartisanship that you rarely see, he told Stateline, and it undermines the efforts of Congress and the popular will when agencies take laws and change them without the authority of the peoples representatives.

But Gedmark, of A Better Balance, said decades of legal precedent support including abortion as a related medical condition for pregnant workers. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act, a federal law passed in 1978, prohibits sex discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions  a definition that the EEOC has long interpreted to include abortion.

Proponents of the new Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the EEOCs rules worry the lawsuits will sow confusion among employers and employees. Theres concern, Gedmark said, that a court could render more of the regulations invalid, beyond those that mention abortion.

Skrmetti doesnt think the 17-state lawsuit will hurt the laws protections for pregnant, postpartum and lactating workers.

The optimal outcome would be for the abortion-related pieces of the rule that arent supported by the statute to be vacated, he said. But the law remains the law regardless of what the [EEOCs] rules are.

While states and the feds clash in court, Jackson said shes focused on making sure as many women as possible know about their rights.

Whenever shes out shopping and spots a pregnant store employee, she asks how theyre doing. She asks if they know about their workplace rights, and how to ask their employers for the accommodations they need.

Whether a mother decides to have an abortion or not, she still needs medical care after the procedure, the same as she would need medical care if she had a miscarriage or regular childbirth, Jackson said. I believe that employers need to know the difference between personal [ideology] and business.

Know your rights in SC

The state Pregnancy Accommodations Act has applied to businesses in South Carolina with 15 or more employees since 2018. It requires the following reasonable accommodations for workers with medical needs arising from pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions:

Providing more frequent or longer break periods

Providing more frequent bathroom breaks

Providing a private place, other than a bathroom stall for the purpose of expressing milk

Modifying food or drink policy

Providing seating or allowing the employee to sit more frequently if the job requires the employee to stand

Providing assistance with manual labor and limits on lifting

Temporarily transferring the employee to a less strenuous or hazardous vacant position, if qualified

Providing job restructuring or light duty, if available

Acquiring or modifying equipment or devices necessary for performing essential job functions

Modifying work schedules

Additionally, the Lactation Support Act unanimously approved by the Legislature and signed into law in June 2020 applies to all employers in South Carolina, regardless of size. It says all workers must have the opportunity to express milk in a private place other than a toilet stall.

Workers who think their employer is violating either of these laws should file a complaint with the state Human Affairs Commission.

As for paid time off, separate laws passed in 2022 and 2023 provide parents who work for state agencies, public colleges and school districts up to six weeks of paid family leave once a child is born or adopted. Parents who foster a child in state custody can take two weeks paid leave.

SC Daily Gazette Editor Seanna Adcox contributed to this report.

Like SC Daily Gazette, 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 Red states sue over abortion provisions in new federal rules for pregnant workers appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission holds a public hearing in Lansing. Photo by Anna Gustafson

Updated, 8:34 a.m., 5/23/24

This week, members of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) finished drawing up 12 options for their second attempt at redrawing six state Senate districts.

Its a new process for Michigan where a citizens panel, randomly selected and partisanly balanced, redraws congressional and state legislative voting districts rather than the Legislature. Voters in Michigan approved a constitutional amendment in the 2018 midterm election.

The new process has been coated in controversy as the commission has endured infighting and resignations. And after taking a year to create new voting maps, at the end of last year, a panel of three federal judges sided with a lawsuit that said the maps the commission had created diluted Black voting power in 13 Detroit-area legislative districts and the commission was required to redraw the maps.

MICRC Executive Director Edward Woods III told the Advance just as the commission was able to remedy the issues found by the court in the state House maps in time for the 2024 November election, the Senate maps are coming together on schedule. He invited the public to follow along online during meetings and for individuals to attend public hearings in the near future.

We want everyone that is impacted by the maps, those districts that are impacted, as well as those surrounding districts, to come. Basically, were asking for Southeast Michigan to come out: Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties with a special emphasis on the city of Detroit to come and participate in the public hearings and in the engagement process, Woods said.

State Senate elections arent until 2026. Judges are giving the commission until June 27 to submit its final drafts to the court.

The commission began the work on revisions to the six Senate districts on April 18, drawing first drafts of new maps and then holding three public hearings in metro Detroit to get feedback from the impacted districts in early May.

The commission concluded drawing its revised maps on Tuesday and published 12 possible maps online, on deadline.

Public hearings to hear comments from those who reside in districts being altered are scheduled for May 29 and June 6 virtually, followed by three public hearings in the Detroit area:

June 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m and 4 to 7 p.m. at Detroit Cass Tech, 2501 Second Ave., Detroit, MI 48201

June 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m and 4 to 7 p.m. at Detroit King, 3200 E. Lafayette Detroit, MI 48207

June 13, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m and 4 to 7 p.m. at Detroit Renaissance, 6565 W. Outer Drive Detroit, MI 48235

Although every meeting the MICRC has provides time for public comment, individuals impacted by redistricting really ought to attend the in-person hearings and ensure they are being represented by the decisions being made by the commission, said Jamie Lyons-Eddy, executive director of Voters Not Politicians, a group that was a driving force behind the constitutional amendment that created the MICRC.

Just because a map may be approved by the commission or the court, doesnt mean the map is the fairest it can be, Lyons-Eddy points out. Those entities have the threshold of constitutionality when it comes to the fairness of the maps. The goal for Voters Not Politicians is to see partisan fairness scores as close to zero so neither political party has an unfair advantage in a district.

I think it could be successful. I do. I think one concern we have is that there is a very wide range of partisan fairness or partisan bias in the maps that have gone through so far, Lyons-Eddy said. Were always looking for partisan fairness scores that are as close to zero as possible. At one point, it was suggested that being better than the maps we had last decade, is what were looking for here. Obviously we want to be better than a blatant gerrymander.  You always want to get to the most fair maps and that means scores as close as possible to zero.

Lyons-Eddy said the new commissions long process will be worth it to see this new system to redraw voting lines work.

The really important thing to remember here is that this process used to be done behind closed doors, by politicians, for politicians, Lyons-Eddy said. And as challenging as this process sometimes is, its still a million times better than it was before.

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The post Redistricting panel asks for public comment on new Michigan Senate voting maps in metro Detroit appeared first on Michigan Advance.
The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) are conducting joint military drills surrounding the island of Taiwan from Thursday to Friday.
REEDLEY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A celebration was held for a student-designed truck wrap for an OK Produce truck in Reedley on Wednesday.

This comes during You Matter Day in March where students from Fresno County were asked to design a new slogan for an OK Produce truck as one of their service activities.

Out of more than 200 designs, officials say the winner was Thomas Law Reed School eighth-grader Citaly Agabo.





School officials say Wednesday afternoon the truck with Agabos design was celebrated at T.L. Reed School along with representatives from the program, the Kings Cayon School District, and OK Produce.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  A proposal to reform the requirements of owning mobile home parks has passed both chambers of the Illinois statehouse.

Under the bill, the Illinois Department of Public Health would be required to conduct annual inspections on all the mobile home parks in the state.

The bill would also require increased licensing fees for mobile homes park owners and IDPH to come up with an annual report on the state of mobile home ownership.

Extension to Illinois utility assistance program heads to Pritzkers desk

Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) spoke on the bill on the House floor after seeing problems with the management of Candlewood Estates in his hometown.

There has to be a process by which you can transfer ownership of a park without disrupting and turning upside down, Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) said.

Ive never seen anything like this. Dont want to see it again, he continued. I hope this goes a long way towards emboldening the Department of Public Health to step in when they need to.

Some opponents worried the increases to license fees would make housing less affordable for the tenants.

The bill passed the Illinois House 93-12 and the Illinois Senate 47-12.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  For the first time in nearly a decade, former President Donald Trump will host a presidential campaign rally in New York in an attempt to sway Black and Latino voters.

Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joins PIX11 to discuss safety precautions, potential protests, and if shes concerned about the former president gaining any ground with voters in her district.

Watch the video player for the full interview.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett filed to trademark bleach blonde bad-built butch body  the term she used to insult fellow lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene during a House Oversight Committee meeting last week.

The Congresswoman from Texas said shes also compiling a Crockett Clapback Collection of her favorite zingers, which she plans to put on swag. Crocketts social media indicates that will include T-shirts emblazoned with her description of Greene. USA Today said customized hats, hoodies and socks will also be made available.

Proceeds will go to ensuring that we have a Democratic House! Crockett posted on X.

Crockett coined the phrase bleach blonde bad-built butch body on the House floor during a contentious debate in which Greene suggested the Texans fake eyelashes were interfering with her ability to read congressional documents.

When House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer declined to discipline his Republican colleague, Crockett asked if it would be acceptable for her to make fun of Greenes hairdo and physique.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez  a longtime Greene rival  also got involved in her nemesis May 16 tiff with Crockett.

Baby girl, she snapped at Greene. Dont even play.

_____
Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters hand over newly released hostages to the Red Cross in Rafah, as part of a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel. Israel's war cabinet has instructed the negotiating team to continue efforts to secure the release of the hostages, Israeli media reported early on Thursday morning, citing a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. Stringer/dpa

Israel's war cabinet has instructed the negotiating team to continue efforts to secure the release of the hostages, Israeli media reported early on Thursday morning, citing a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

The war cabinet had previously met for four hours.

As Israel and the Palestinian militant organization Hamas are not negotiating directly with each other, Egypt, Qatar and the US are acting as mediators in the Gaza war.

The most recent round of negotiations ended without results. The talks have been stuck ever since.

In unprecedented attacks by Hamas and other extremist groups in the Israeli border area on October 7 last year, around 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 people were taken hostage in Gaza.

The attacks triggered Israel's military offensive in the coastal region, in which more than 35,700 people have been killed so far, according to the Gaza health authority. Most of the victims are women and children.

The tally, which is almost impossible to verify independently, is regarded as largely credible by the UN and human rights organizations.
The outside of Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. The facility is Oregon's only women's prison. (Ben Botkin/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

In February, Coffee Creek Correctional Facility reported a backlog of nearly 600 medical appointments.

The medical staff at Oregons only womens prison either failed to complete or significantly delayed the routine care and annual wellness exams and preventative cancer screenings, public records from an inspection of the facilitys medical services shows.

The problems run throughout the prison: Women wait six months or longer for tests like scans or imaging to treat or diagnose medical problems, the report found. New inmates often wait weeks for their first health assessments, and theres a backlog on specialized care, too.

The prison has more than 800 women and, as of February, nearly 70 medical professionals. That includes an administrator, a physician, more than 30 nurses and nurse managers, mental health workers, a psychiatrist and support staff, the report said. The prison also listed about 20 openings for health care workers.

The findings are another challenge for Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville. The prison faces other problems that include sexual abuse and a culture of retaliation that discourages staff and women from reporting wrongdoing, according to a state report. Besides housing incarcerated women, the facility receives and processes new male inmates before they are sent to other state prisons.

This helps explain the tip of the iceberg of the bureaucratic mess and limited access that people have.

 Bobbin Singh, executive director of the Oregon Justice Resource Center

The latest findings were detailed by officials from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care in a 72-page report after an on-site visit in February that included a review of some medical records and interviews with prison staff. The Chicago-based nonprofit commission is a voluntary accrediting organization that Oregon and 20 other states participate in to practice accountability and set uniform standards for prisons.

The report found the prison failed to meet half of 38 essential standards. The 19 problem areas included: delayed health screenings and treatment, as well as inadequate care for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes.

The Oregon Justice Resource Center, a nonprofit organization that advocates for incarcerated Oregonians, received the report through a public records request and provided it to the Capital Chronicle.

This helps explain the tip of the iceberg of the bureaucratic mess and limited access that people have, Bobbin Singh, the centers executive director, said in an interview with the Capital Chronicle. It is a concern that some of these women may die or come out with debilitating physical conditions that will handicap them or end up with a disability or permanent disability for the rest of their lives.

The Oregon Department of Corrections is working to fix all the shortcomings and is in the midst of a comprehensive review of all medical practices, Amber Campbell, a spokesperson for the agency, said in a statement.

Still, the findings echo past problems: Last August, a state-commissioned report that examined the prison found problems with a lack of medical care.

You have to be dying to see medical, one inmate said in that report, compiled primarily by the Womens Justice Institute, a Chicago-based advocacy group focused on female incarceration.

After the release of the 2023 report, which also found the prisons culture tolerates sexual misconduct, Gov. Tina Kotek created an advisory panel to recommend reforms at the womens prison.

Persistent problems

The commission, after its inspection, gave a rundown of problems throughout the prisons medical system and how they impact patient care. Time and again, the outside organization found deficiencies in Coffee Creeks medical system and how it is run.

There are barriers and extended delays in obtaining ordered required assessments, diagnostics and specialty consultations, the report said.

Among the problems flagged:

The prisons policy has no identified schedule or guideline for preventative services with timelines for screenings. Nearly 600 appointments are behind schedule.

For new inmates, about 300 are behind schedule and havent received their initial health screening within seven days. Most initial assessments happen in 20 to 30 days after arrival instead.

Inmates dont receive medical clearances before their work assignments, including in the kitchen.

The prisons supervising physician doesnt regularly attend meetings and usually communicates via email.

The agency has poor recordkeeping and doesnt track routine health care statistics and activities, making it difficult to plan care for the facility. The agency said a new system will allow it to track statistics.

This is the United States. People shouldn't be treated this way. It's really unconscionable.

 Angela Kim, former inmate at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility

Commissions role

The commissions visit to Coffee Creek happens once every three years so the facility can maintain its accreditation. The nonprofit commissions accreditation isnt required for state prisons and is entirely voluntary, said Kimberly Sterling, vice president of professional services for the organization.

The commission, started in 1983, was created in response to a lack of established federal standards for health care in state prisons, Sterling said. Essentially, the commissions standards that state prisons agree to follow represent the best available and most uniform national standards, she said.

In Coffee Creeks case, the commission put the facility on probation following the visit, which means it will need to respond to the problems cited or risk losing its accreditation.

Although the facility remains accredited, probation is a very serious matter, Amy Panagopoulos, the commissions vice president of accreditation, wrote on Feb. 23 to Nichole Brown, superintendent of Coffee Creek.

The commission plans to do a follow-up visit with the facility, either in-person or virtually, by the end of June. The probation monitoring will continue until July 31, 2025  a nearly 18-month period.

Agency responds

Campbell, with the corrections agency, said the agency plans to address each deficiency in the report and maintain its accreditation.

DOC voluntarily belongs to the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and invite them to conduct independent, third-party reviews of our facilities, Campbell said. We find their reports to be insightful and allow us to compare our health care delivery systems to national best practices.

Campbell noted that because the inspections happen once every three years, the records reviewed included the COVID-19 pandemic, when medical care was impacted.

We find their reports to be insightful and allow us to compare our health care delivery systems to national best practices.

 Amber Campbell, spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Corrections

At this point, the agencys health services leadership is embedded in the prison  and has been for several weeks  to oversee all necessary changes are made, she said.

Asked about the backlog of care, Campbell said officials are reviewing the staffing plan. The prison often relies upon traveling nurses for health care, a practice that will be examined in the new plan.

The 2023 state report said the prison has a 40% vacancy rate of medical services staff, the highest of all prisons in Oregon. Traveling nurses draw higher pay than staff and often dont get saddled with the tough assignments because of their inexperience, the report said, which increases turnover of staff nurses.

Separately, the prison is transitioning to an electronic health records system to modernize, which will improve record-keeping, Campbell said.

It should be noted that all public health services are dealing with a similar health care worker shortage, Campbell said.

For those whove lived in the prison, the lack of medical care is a well-worn path.

A broken system

Angela Kim, a legal assistant with the Oregon Justice Resource Centers Womens Justice Project, is well-acquainted with the prisons medical system.

Kim, 56, spent 15 years in prison for a manslaughter conviction and was released last September. During her time there, she said, medical providers who provided high-quality care usually didnt last long.

This is the United States, Kim said. People shouldnt be treated this way. Its really unconscionable.

Kim had firsthand experience, suffering pain in her limbs for seven years. The problems began with pain in her left wrist. A doctor told her she had the beginnings of carpal tunnel syndrome and she received a wrist brace.

That pain increased, radiating up her arm, elbow and all the way to her shoulder. Neck pain kicked in, she said. This time, health care providers recommended she receive surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.

But then the retirement of a doctor delayed the procedure and she had to see a new doctor and  again  requested a surgery. This time, they recommended a nerve test that determined she didnt have carpal tunnel syndrome.

The pain spread to both arms, and the years progressed. A nurse recommended an MRI, she said, but nothing happened.

Quite by accident, Kim said, she had an appointment with an infectious disease doctor scheduled, even though she didnt have an infectious condition. She told him about her problems and he ordered an MRI, which found she had a bone spur pressing on the spinal column in her neck.

Eventually, she received surgery.

Start to finish, she said, the ordeal lasted seven years.

Its a broken system, she said.

Problems flagged last year

Singh, with the nonprofit center, said the surveys results are concerning because they came six months after the states report about conditions at Coffee Creek.

In that report, women told researchers they faced delays in care for worsening conditions, including cancer.

Women sent multiple requests about health care concerns and waited two or more months for a response. Women also reported long waits for surgeries or denials. On top of that, they said medical staff disrespected or criticized them.

In the state report, 67% of 575 women surveyed said medical services were not available when needed. Only 19% said they were available.

What we can say is the overall trend is that it seems to be getting worse, Singh said. And the women are in more dire conditions. And at this point, our concerns are that people are going to be harmed permanently or die because of a lack of access to medical care.

The post Report: Medical visits backlogged at Oregon womens prison as hundreds wait months for care appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Report: Nearly 200 people killed in Travis County crashes in 2023

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  The Travis County Medical Examiners Office reported nearly 200 people died in the county from motor vehicle-related deaths in 2023, according to the latest 2023 medical examiner report.

The vast majority of the 198 deaths reported involved automobile fatalities, with 97 people killed in 2023. Following automobile deaths were pedestrian traffic-related fatalities, with 57 killed last year.

There were 28 motorcyclists killed, eight cyclists killed, four killed in unknown circumstances, one killed on an electric scooter, one on a minibike, one on a boat and one killed in a wheelchair last year.

When broken down by age, the vast majority of people involved in motor vehicle-related deaths were between 21 and 30 years old, with 44 deaths reported in that age range. Among those 31-40 years old, 37 were killed, and 33 people in the 61-70 year-old age range also died in motor vehicle-related incidents.

When looking at automobile deaths, 50% of those deaths reported  or 48 fatalities  involved people not wearing seatbelts. There were 38 people reportedly killed while wearing seatbelts, and 11 killed with an unknown seatbelt use status.

The majority of people killed in automobile deaths countywide were drivers, with 63 killed. Among passengers, 34 died from automobile-related deaths in 2023.

Among the 28 motorcyclists killed, the majority killed were in the 21-30 and 31-40 year-old age ranges, with seven people killed in each age range. Twenty people killed were wearing helmets at the time of their deaths, while eight motorcyclists killed didnt have helmets on.

Among all 198 motor vehicle-related Travis County fatalities recorded in 2023, 27%  or 53  of them involved alcohol. Heres a breakdown of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of those alcohol-related fatalities.

0.00%-0.07% BAC detected: 9 fatalities

0.08%-0.16% BAC detected: 18 fatalities

0.17%-0.24% BAC detected: 21 fatalities

Greater than 24% BAC detected: 5 fatalities

When looking at Travis County motor vehicle fatalities, the report outlined the role of decedent where alcohol was detected in the person killed:

Drivers: 23 fatalities, 43% of total

Passengers: seven fatalities, 13% of total

Pedestrians: 15 fatalities, 28% of total

Motorcyclists: five fatalities, 10% of total

Wheelchair users: one fatality, 2% of total

Unknown status: two fatalities, 4% of total

How 2023 Travis County traffic fatalities compare to past years

In 2022, there were 193 motor vehicle-related fatalities in Travis County. Those broke down into the following categories:

Automobile users: 103 fatalities, 53% of total

Pedestrians: 53 fatalities, 27% of total

Motorcyclists: 27 fatalities, 14% of total

Cyclists: four fatalities, 2% of total

Scooter riders: three fatalities, 2% of total

Riding lawnmower users: one fatality, 1% of total

Skateboarders: one fatality, 1% of total

Jet Ski users: one fatality, 1% of total

Among those 193 fatalities, 73 of them  or 38%  involved alcohol.

Comparatively, the TCMEs 2021 annual report found 177 people died in motor vehicle-related deaths. Those included:

Automobile users: 95 fatalities, 54% of total

Pedestrians: 50 fatalities, 28% of total

Motorcyclists: 20 fatalities, 11% of total

Cyclists: four fatalities, 2% of total

Scooter users: four fatalities, 2% of total

Moped users: two fatalities, 1% of total

Tractor users: one fatality, 1% of total

Pilots: one fatality, 1% of total

Among those 2021 motor vehicle-related fatalities, 58 of them  or 32%  involved alcohol.

The 2020 report revealed there were 166 motor vehicle-related fatalities in Travis County. The metrics of that breakdown varied slightly, but included:

Drivers: 81 fatalities, 49% of total

Passengers: 27 fatalities, 16% of total

Pedestrians: 46 fatalities, 28% of total

Motorcyclists: seven fatalities, 4% of total

Cyclists: four fatalities, 2% of total

Scooter users: one fatality, 1% of total

Among those 166 traffic-related fatalities were 49 deaths involving alcohol, just shy of 30% of all motor vehicle-related fatalities recorded in Travis County.

From 2019, there were 140 motor vehicle-related fatalities in Travis County, divvied up into the following categories:

Drivers: 55 fatalities, 39% of total

Passengers: 20 fatalities, 14% of total

Pedestrians: 39 fatalities, 28% of total

Motorcyclists: 18 fatalities, 13% of total

Cyclists: six fatalities, 4% of total

Boat users: one fatality, 1% of total

Scooter users: one fatality, 1% of total

Within those 140 traffic-related fatalities were 55 deaths involving alcohol.

Looking at 2018 report data, there were 154 traffic-related fatalities reported within the county:

Drivers: 71 fatalities, 46% of total

Motorcyclists: 14 fatalities, 9% of total

Front passengers: 23 fatalities, 15% of total

Pedestrians: 41 fatalities, 27% of total

Rear passengers: one fatality, 1% of total

Unknown users: three fatalities, 2% of total

Cyclists: one fatality, 1% of total

Alcohol use was present in 36 of those fatalities in 2018, per the ME report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson applauds Gov. Kristi Noem before Noem delivered her 2023 budget address on the House floor of the Capitol building on Dec. 5, 2023. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson applauds Gov. Kristi Noem before Noem delivered her 2023 budget address on the House floor of the Capitol building on Dec. 5, 2023. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

A top Republican state official has run afoul of anti-abortion groups after labeling their recent phone operation a scam.

The controversy started May 13 with a news release from South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson, who oversees elections. The release warned about phone calls from people who allegedly claimed to work for her office.

The callers were contacting people who had signed a petition to place an abortion-rights measure on the ballot in the Nov. 5 election. The phone operation was part of a coordinated attempt to gather information for a legal challenge to the petition, and to inform people that they could withdraw their signatures.

Johnsons news release said callers were impersonating her staff and trying to pressure voters into asking that their name be removed from the petitions. The release included a quote from Johnson: Citizens in South Dakota, by law, have the right to petition and people like these scammers are eroding public trust in the election process, she said.

Johnson asked Attorney General Marty Jackley, a fellow Republican, to look into the calls. He announced one day later that no laws were broken, and subsequently told South Dakota Searchlight that callers did not impersonate anyone or claim to work for the secretary of state.

Irreversible damage alleged

The episode angered state Rep. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, who was involved in the phone operation. He is the vice president of the board of South Dakota Right to Life and co-chair of the Life Defense Fund.

By labeling our lawful activity as a scam, Secretary of State Johnson has done significant and irreversible damage to the pro-life movement in South Dakota, Hansen said in a statement to Searchlight.

Rep. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, speaks on the House floor on Feb. 6, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Johnson did not answer Searchlights request for a response to Hansens comment. She was elected in November 2022 after convincing delegates to the state Republican convention earlier that year to nominate her instead of the incumbent secretary of state, Steve Barnett.

Johnsons news release labeling anti-abortion activists efforts a scam could be a problem for her political future if it proves to be a burr in the pro-life movements saddle, said Lisa Hager, associate professor of political science at South Dakota State University.

The ballot measure would amend the state constitution to include abortion rights. Hager said if a legal challenge removes the measure from the ballot, or if it makes the ballot and voters reject it, Johnsons news release could end up being a blip on the radar.

A lot of what happens with this probably hinges on what happens with the abortion amendment, Hager said.

Jackley explains findings

Jackley said in an interview with South Dakota Searchlight that two state laws are relevant to the phone-call controversy.

One law says falsely pretending to be a public official is a crime. Although the Secretary of States Office said callers were impersonating the offices staff, Jackley said that wasnt the case. He said callers read a script identifying themselves as volunteers for a group that obtained information about petition signers from the Secretary of States Office.

Nobody called and said they were with the secretary of state, Jackley said. There was no impersonation.

A script used by callers contacting signers of an abortion-rights petition. (Courtesy of Rep. John Hansen)

He said some people may have mistakenly thought the callers were public officials, but there is no evidence the callers deliberately created that impression.

Could they have been reading the script too fast? Jackley said. Possibly.

Hansen provided South Dakota Searchlight a copy of the script used by callers. It said, in part, Im a local volunteer with the South Dakota Petition Integrity Committee which is an organization registered with the South Dakota Secretary of State and staffed by local volunteers.

South Dakota Petition Integrity is a political action committee that Hansen registered on May 13, the same day Johnson issued her press release.

Another state law says its a crime to impersonate a public official while injuring or defrauding someone.

We have to prove both, Jackley said, adding that no impersonation occurred, and there is no evidence anyone was tricked into removing their signature, nor that any other legal damages occurred.

Challenge to petition expected

Dakotans for Health is the ballot question committee supporting the abortion-rights amendment. The groups lawyer, Jim Leach, declined to comment on the lack of criminal charges against the phone operation because were about to be sued by Life Defense Fund.

Life Defense Fund, a ballot question committee organized to defeat the ballot measure, has already said it will challenge the validity of petition signatures. People associated with the committee have alleged some petition signers were duped into believing they were signing a petition to repeal the state sales tax on groceries, when they were actually signing the abortion-rights petition. Dakotans for Health circulated both petitions.

Republican legislators laid part of the groundwork for a legal challenge by passing a bill in March allowing people to withdraw their petition signatures.

Hansen, who was a prime sponsor of that bill, said the phone campaign was part of the independent research into the validity of the petition signatures that is a requirement upon us to bring our challenge under South Dakota law.

The Secretary of States Office has since announced that the abortion-rights petition had enough signatures from registered voters to be placed on the ballot. That triggered a 30-day window in which opponents can challenge the petitions validity. Hansen and his Life Defense Fund co-chair said theyll file a challenge at the appropriate time.

Abortions are currently banned in the state, except to preserve the life of the pregnant female. The ballot measure, if approved by voters, would legalize abortions in the first trimester of pregnancy but allow the state to impose limited regulations in the second trimester and a ban in the third trimester, with exceptions for the life and health of the mother.

Dakotans for Health Chairman Rick Weiland described the phone campaign as unethical.

We knew all this would happen once that signature removal bill passed, Weiland said. They did and continue to misrepresent the ballot measure.

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Top Republican senators are defending Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito as the conservative justice became embroiled in a second flag controversy, even as some Democrats call for Alito to recuse himself from key matters pending before the high court.

The flag  which was flown outside Alitos vacation home in New Jersey  is known as the Appeal to Heaven. Its history dates to the Revolutionary War, but it has become a symbol for supporters of former President Donald Trump and was on display during the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

Sen. John Cornyn, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee and is vying to be the next Senate GOP leader, argued that the left is targeting Alito because of his positions.

I just think Democrats are determined to harass members of the Supreme Court. I dont see them criticizing Sotomayor, Kagan, or others. So obviously, they dont like Justice Alito or the decisions he makes, he told CNN. And this is just part of long-standing harassment of the courts, going back to when Clarence Thomas was  talked about a high-tech lynching during his confirmation process.

He added, People who are judges on the Supreme Courts have personal lives, they have families, and I dont think theyre necessarily responsible for everything their families do or say.

GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley, who is also on the Judiciary Committee, agreed, saying that there were not the same accusations of political bias after liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor published her book.

Im not going to address the particular issue, but the word political comes up, and you brought it up. And I think its appropriate for us to say that on the side of issues that come up with the Supreme Court, they seem to be coming up now, very frequently from the left, and it seems to me that those same issues were not raised. It was Sotomayor, as an example, on her book, he said.

Grassley added that the Supreme Court has recently changed its ethics protocols, and that it can handle issues of recusal internally: The Supreme Court has their new protocols, so we ought to wait and see how that works out.

The revelation over the Appeal to Heaven flag outside Alitos vacation home, which was reported by the New York Times, comes on the heels of earlier reporting from the Times that an upside-down American flag  a symbol used by some supporters of Trump who challenged the legitimacy of Joe Bidens 2020 victory  hung outside Alitos home after the election.

Several prominent Republican senators criticized Alito over the upside-down flag.

On Thursday, GOP Sen. Thom Tillis acknowledged that it was probably not wise, for Alito to have the Appeal to Heaven flag or the upside-down American flag outside his home.

When youre a public figure, you do need to pay attention to whats out there. Im not gonna  I think its overplayed in the press, he said. But I think that, you know, thats what happens when youre a public figure, whether youre in the judiciary or the US Senate.

Tillis added that he also believes justices appointed by Democratic presidents do not receive the same scrutiny Alito faced. If were going to be intellectually honest about it, lets take a look at every instance where theres a whiff of sort of a political or ideological motivation. And I  where do you want to start? Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Kagan, I mean, theres any number of instances where maybe they should have not waded into the political, but they do from time to time, he said.

GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy accused the Times of bias over its reporting, noting that the American flag incident happened three years ago. Whats the latest version? Whats reasonable? I think that that would dictate how we go forward, he said.

Cassidy also dismissed calls for Alito to recuse himself from the Trump immunity case, saying yes, he believes the justice can rule impartially.

In contrast, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that Alito should absolutely recuse himself.

I think the question is how many MAGA battle flags does the Supreme Court justice have to fly until the rest of the court takes it seriously? he asked.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Thursday said Alito must recuse himself from any matter pending before the Supreme Court that has to do with the January 6 insurrection.

It is totally inappropriate, Jeffries said of the news reports. In the case of Samuel Alito, he definitively needs to recuse himself from any matter pending before the United States Supreme Court that has to do with the January 6 violent insurrection. He should have no part of it, he added.

House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark on Thursday also called on Alito to recuse himself from any cases that involve the January 6 attack, Trump and election integrity.

This is a threat to the rule of law and a serious breach of ethics, integrity, and Justice Alitos oath of office, Clark said in a statement.

At minimum, he must recuse himself from any cases involving January 6th, Donald Trump, and the security of our elections. Anything less will tarnish our judicial system and democracy, Clark added.

CNNs Haley Talbot and Annie Grayer contributed to this report.

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Five Republicans won contested primaries for Senate seats and are all but certain to serve in the Senate come January. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Family members of two ousted Republican senators will take their place in the Oregon Senate next year after primary elections that saw hardline conservatives win in southern Oregon and more pragmatic Republicans prevail in eastern Oregon.

No Democrats running for the Senate faced primary challenges this year, but Republicans had several open seats because of retirements and a law that barred most sitting GOP senators from running for reelection because they participated in a six-week walkout in 2023.

Sen. David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford, beat back claims that he wasnt conservative enough to prevail in a four-way primary in the 1st Senate District, which includes the southern coast. Beatty Sen. Dennis Linthicums wife, Diane, and Cave Junction Sen. Art Robinsons son Noah won their primaries in the adjacent 2nd and 28th districts in southern Oregon, and both are expected to continue their family members streaks of strident opposition to almost every bill in Salem.

Meanwhile, former House Republican Leader Mike McLane and Wallowa County rancher Todd Nash handily won primaries in sprawling districts in eastern Oregon. Both indicated they want to work with other legislators to pass laws and bring funding back to their districts, rather than starting from a place of opposing every bill.

Bryan Iverson, a political consultant from central Oregon who formerly served as head of the Senate Republicans campaign arm and worked on state Rep. Christine Goodwins campaign against Robinson, said its hard to extrapolate much from primaries where only a quarter of registered voters turned out, but that there seemed to be a different tone among Republican primary voters in southern Oregon who preferred obstructionist candidates to the more mainstream Republicans who dominate eastern Oregon.

In the Republican primaries, at least in southern Oregon, you see victories by the same hard-right-leaning candidates and not the everyday Republicans, he said.

The Republicans who won contested primaries on Tuesday night represent safe districts and are all but certain to serve in January in the Senate, where Democrats now have a four-seat majority. But Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, and Redmond school board member Michael Summers face tough general election races in the closely divided coastal 5th Senate District that Anderson now represents and the Democratic-leaning 27th Senate District in central Oregon that Summers is vying for, which is now represented by Sen Tim Knopp, R-Bend.

Senate Minority Leader Daniel Bonham of The Dalles said Republicans arent taking anything for granted in November.

We clearly recognize, just going through numbers statewide, there are fewer Republicans than there are Democrats, period, Bonham said. Those districts certainly present challenges. I think our candidates are up for the challenge, but simultaneously, its going to take tremendous campaigns and spirited effort to get us across the finish line.

Sen. David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford, won his four-way Republican primary along the southern coast. (Jordan Gale/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

1st District along the southern coast

Brock Smith beat back three challengers in a race rampant with false claims about his record. He sent cease-and-desist letters to supporters of opponent Todd Vaughn early in the campaign after they began sending mail and bought a billboard falsely accusing him of connections to the Chinese Communist Party.

Hours before the ballot return deadline, Vaughns campaign sued Brock Smith over mailers that described Vaughn as too extreme, dishonest and has no experience, which the lawsuit maintained was false because Vaughn is honest, he is not extreme and he has experience. Brock Smiths campaign ads also described Vaughn as connected to a misinformation group and said he had been kicked out of the Douglas County Republican Central Committee.

Brock Smith won with nearly 57% of the vote, compared to about 29% for Vaughn, 9% for Paul Romero and 6% for Ashley Hicks. As of Wednesday afternoon, he said none of his opponents had conceded.

I dont think anyone has ever seen a campaign such as this, where this blatant misinformation continued to flow even though it was unfounded and disproven, Brock Smith said.

He said he intends to continue his work in the Capitol, including trying to get more resources for preventing and fighting wildfires that have led to sky-high home insurance rates for Oregonians living near forests.

2nd District in southern Oregon

Noah Robinson, son of departing Sen. Art Robinson, R-Cave Junction, easily dispatched state Rep. Christine Goodwin, R-Canyonville, in the 2nd Senate District.

Noah Robinson, son of current Sen. Art Robinson, R-Cave Junction, beat state Rep. Christine Goodwin, R-Canyonville. (Campaign photo)

Noah Robinson is a familiar face around the Capitol  he has worked with his father for years, and during the past two legislative sessions as the elder Robinsons health failed, Noah has consistently been by Arts side on the Senate floor and in committee hearings.

Art Robinson has reliably been one of the most reliable no votes in the Senate, even on bills that otherwise have wide bipartisan support. Noah Robinson said he expects to follow in his fathers footsteps.

Theres all this bipartisan stuff because of the deals, and voters dont like that, Robinson said. So when you tell them that youre against that, youre gonna vote entirely from principle  obviously, you talk to the other side, try to make the bad bills less bad  but if the final product is something you dont want, you vote against it, and that really appeals to the voters because thats what they want.

While Art Robinson split from the Republican caucus to form an Independent Caucus with Sen. Brian Boquist, a Dallas Republican who was registered with the Independent Party of Oregon for several years, Noah Robinson said he plans to stick with the Republican Caucus. Boquist was barred from running for reelection and is now the Republican nominee for state treasurer.

The 2nd Senate District includes Josephine and parts of Douglas and Jackson counties. Robinsons strong support in Josephine County, which represented the bulk of ballots cast in the primary, pushed him to winning more than 60% of the vote districtwide.

Goodwin said she was bummed that she didnt prevail, and that it was clear voters in Josephine County wanted a different brand of Republican. But she cautioned against the approach Robinson expects to take in Salem.

The results in this election are clear, she said. Yet, Republicans must remember we cannot expect to succeed by refusing to engage and participate in the legislative process in Salem. My campaign team and I wish our Republican nominee the best and hope he can be an effective legislator.

Iverson said Josephine County  or at least the Republicans in the area who showed up to vote  made it clear they wanted a different style of candidate.

They want that brand of Republicans that are just obstructionist, basically, Iverson said. I think that they were pushing for that from the get-go, and if thats obviously how it turned out. Thats not what Chris wanted to represent, she wanted to represent those people and have a different way of going about it than I think Noah would, but thats not what the people wanted.

Diane Linthicum is set to follow in her husbands footsteps as the senator from Klamath County. (Campaign photo)

28th District in southern Oregon

Dennis Linthicum of Beatty is now the Republican nominee for secretary of state, but his wife and chief of staff, Diane, plans to continue a seven-year tradition of Linthicums representing Klamath County in the state Senate.

Diane Linthicum, who beat Klamath County Commissioner Dave Henslee with nearly 60% of the vote, did not return a call Wednesday and has not responded to various requests for interviews throughout her campaign. Dennis Linthicum, likewise, has never responded to phone calls or emails from the Capital Chronicle.

Henslee, who will leave the commission in December, said he was disappointed but respects voters decision. He said hes looking for a new way to serve his community, and that he doesnt have high hopes that Linthicum will serve the district well.

I think that the best predictor of the future is the past, Henslee said. She completely supports Dennis Linthicums voting record, and in my opinion, his voting record hasnt benefited our district. I was running for people and for our district, and to try to move the needle and do some really positive things for District 28, and unfortunately, the voters didnt see it the same way I did.

29th District in northeast Oregon

Wallowa County rancher Todd Nash won the primary to replace retiring Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena. (Campaign photo)

Cattle rancher and Wallowa County Commissioner Todd Nash handily won a four-way primary to replace retiring Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, in the 29th Senate District that covers most of northeast Oregon.

He captured about 53% of the vote, compared to about 25% for former Morrow County Commissioner Jim Doherty and 20% for Hermiston Mayor Dave Drotzmann. Eastern Oregon University student Andy Huwe came in a distant fourth with less than 2% of the vote.

Nash also might make Oregon history as the first senator to hail from Wallowa County  he isnt aware of any others, but hes willing to be proven wrong if any historians know of a former senator from Oregons most remote county.

He said he plans to meet with Republican senators, with county commissioners in the district and with natural resource groups including the Oregon Farm Bureau and the Oregon Cattlemens Association  which he previously led as president  to decide on legislation for next year.

Former Judge Mike McLane is likely to replace retiring Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale. (Campaign photo)

30th District in eastern Oregon

Former House Republican Leader Mike McLane will head back to the Capitol after winning more than two-thirds of the vote in a three-way contest in the sprawling 30th Senate District. Retiring Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, endorsed McLane, who was House GOP leader when Findley was first appointed as a state representative in 2018.

McLane left the state House in 2019 after eight years, six as leader of the Republican caucus, to serve as a circuit court judge in Crook and Jefferson counties. He returned to private practice as a lawyer in 2021.

McLane described himself as a pragmatist when it comes to legislation. As a lawmaker, he said he plans to participate and contribute to policy decisions in every way he can, and he plans to speak soon with both Bonham and Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, about how he can help next year.

Ultimately, the goal is to get something that works, he said. During my time as a judge, I saw in the courtroom the consequences of policy passed in Salem, and it just shaped in me a view that perfection is often the enemy of the good. I believe that voters in my district want their representatives in Salem to do their best and to work hard, but ultimately to advocate for their interests and for the betterment of our state.

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Front) speaks at a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 23, 2024. Guterres said Thursday that there is a need to embed African participation and leadership across the global peace and security architecture. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, May 23 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that there is a need to embed African participation and leadership across the global peace and security architecture.

Following World War II, the mechanisms of global governance, including the UN Security Council, were designed by the most powerful countries at that time when many African countries were still in the process of throwing off the shackles of colonialism. Since then, the world has changed. But global institutions have not, he said.

"Today, African countries continue to be denied a seat at the negotiating table, including at this very council. The impacts of these structural inequalities are plain to see," he told an open debate of the Security Council on strengthening Africa's role in addressing global security and development challenges.

Africa deserves a voice in the global peace and security architecture. But strengthening Africa's voice can only happen if African countries can participate in global governance structures as equals, he said. "This must include correcting the lack of permanent African representation at the Security Council. And it must include reforming the global financial architecture, especially its handling of debt, so African countries have the support they need to climb the development ladder."

September's Summit of the Future will be an opportunity to push forward on all of these issues, he noted.

Guterres stressed the need to have peace in Africa itself as too many Africans are caught up in the hell of conflicts, or living with the relentless danger of terrorism and violent extremism in their communities.

The United Nations' partnership with Africa is based on the clear perception that the world body must work with the African Union (AU) on the basis of the principle of African-led solutions for African problems. The United Nations fully supports Africa's pursuit of peace through the AU's flagship Silencing the Guns initiative, he said.

The AU and the United Nations will continue working together to defuse conflicts before they escalate, manage them effectively when they occur, and build sustainable peace when they are resolved, he said.

"Peace is the key to unlocking Africa's future -- for Africans themselves and for strengthening the continent's voice and influence in building peace around the world. Peace depends on African leadership," said Guterres. 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C) speaks at a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 23, 2024. Guterres said Thursday that there is a need to embed African participation and leadership across the global peace and security architecture. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)
The use of ballot drop boxes was the focal point of much election misinformation and chaos for election-denying Republicans following the 2020 election. But now they might be coming around to embracing it.

As the Wisconsin Supreme decides whether or not to reinstate the use of ballot drop boxes ahead of the 2024 election, Republican lawmakers in the state have suddenly changed their perspective, saying they would encourage Republican voters to use drop boxes and other early voting methods that they had previously claimed was a source of election manipulation and ballot harvesting.

The about face is also out of necessity. If Republicans have any hope of carrying Wisconsin in 2024, theyre going to have to change their messaging around absentee voting and ballot drop boxes, election experts told TPM.

One of the two parties decided that their path to victory perhaps involved making repeated false claims about certain voting processes, David Levine, senior elections integrity fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy, told TPM. And not only does that get you potentially in a world of legal trouble, but it can also increase your likelihood of losing, so now were seeing an adjustment.

Republicans in Wisconsin have begun to read the tea leaves, Jay Heck, executive director of the non partisan Common Cause Wisconsin similarly told TPM, knowing that the liberal majority on the state Supreme Court will likely rule in favor of ballot drop boxes and absentee voting  an effective and safe way to cast a ballot.

The strategy now for Republicans, as the Wisconsin Supreme Court weighs this decision, will likely be twofold, he said. They will continue to play into the hands of election conspiracy theorists, all while urging their voters to use drop boxes.

The strategy will be, on the one hand, urging their [Republican] voters not to wait till the last minute and rely on the U.S. mail if theyre voting by absentee ballot and use the drop boxes, said Heck. But on the other hand, raise the specter of fraud.

Its a line-straddling strategy the national Republican Party, and Donald Trump himself, has had to embrace as well post-2020 as Republican strategists and party officials realized that relentlessly demonizing non-Election Day voting practices, like mail-in voting, did not help Republicans win elections in 2020 and 2022.

In July 2022, the state Supreme Courts then-conservative majority ruled in a case brought by two Waukesha County voters who were represented by the right-wing Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty that ballot drop boxes were illegal in Wisconsin, noting in that 4-3 decision that the Wisconsin Elections Commission incorrectly told local election clerks in 2020 that ballot drop boxes are a permissible way for voters to return ballots. According to the court, because state law did not expressly allow drop boxes to be used, they were not legal, ruling that absentee ballots now needed to be delivered directly to municipal clerks.

Although the use of drop boxes expanded during the 2020 election due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the practice had been legal for decades in Wisconsin and elsewhere across the country prior to 2020.

The illegality of these drop boxes weakens the peoples faith that the election produced an outcome reflective of their will, the 2022 opinion read. The Wisconsin voters, and all lawful voters, are injured when the institution charged with administering Wisconsin elections does not follow the law, leaving the results in question.

Earlier this year, however, the left-leaning political action committee Priorities USA challenged the 2022 Supreme Court decision, in a lawsuit joined by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and state Attorney General Josh Kaul.

before drop boxes became so politically charged, there was consensus that they were lawful and appropriate, reads a brief from Evers.

And now this month, Brian Schimming, Republican Party of Wiscosin Chair has said more than once that he will encourage Republican voters to use ballot drop boxes in the fall, if they are to become legal.

All I can tell you as chairman is Im not going to leave any potential advantage that we might have on the table, Schimming said at a state Republican convention, according to USA Today.

This messaging is a sharp turn from 2020 and something of a break with President Trumps disparaging of methods of voting outside of the traditional election day experience, Barry Burden, political science professor at at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Director of the Elections Research Center, said in an email to TPM.

The rationale for the flip-flop is mostly practical and due to the fact that Republicans have been losing statewide elections in Wisconsin since Trump came to office. There is a sense that Democrats have gotten an edge over the GOP by utilizing all voting practices rather than limiting themselves to traditional ways of voting, Burden noted.

Levine emphasized, however, that even though Wisconsin Republicans may be embracing the use of ballot drop boxes now, that is likely to change.

You support the voting method until youre losing, he said. What weve seen is that for some folks who are losing, theyre willing to go to pretty much any ends to try and ensure they can win.
All the Republicans who have signaled they wont accept 2024 election results

A number of Republicans have indicated that they may not accept the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.

The race is all but certain to be a rematch of the 2020 contest between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, which ended with a clear victory for the Democrat but that Mr Trump refused to accept.

The Republicans denial sparked months of legal challenges, menacing phone calls, and rampant, baseless conspiracy theories about rigged voting machines and lost ballots in support of a spurious narrative that the election was stolen.

The feverish atmosphere boiled over on 6 January, 2021 when a mob of Trumps MAGA supporters stormed the US Capitol, engaging in violent clashes with law enforcement while lawmakers assembled to certify the results fled the legislative complex.

Ted Cruz appeared on CNN in a tense exchange about voter fraud on Wednesday (Screenshot / CNN)

Mr Trump has already alleged that Novembers vote may be rigged, effectively laying the groundwork for further denialism should he lose again.

Trump allies like JD Vance and Lindsey Graham have said they will accept the outcome of the election - so long as its fair - a number of fellow Republicans have declined to make a similar commitment. Heres a look at the Republicans who have signalled they wont accept the results.

Ted Cruz

Ted Cruz got into a tense exchange with CNNs Kaitlan Collins after the host asked him point blank whether hed accept the results of the 2024 presidential election during an interview on 22 May.

The Texas senator called the question ridiculous, then went on to argue that there was voter fraud in 2020, even if it wasnt enough to change the outcome of the election.

If the Democrats win, I will accept the result but Im not going to ignore fraud regardless of what happens, Mr Cruz also said.

In the same interview, he insisted that Donald Trump didnt attempt to block the peaceful transfer of power between him and Joe Biden, arguing that the ex-president went quietly (after the conclusion of the Capitol riot).

Elise Stefanik

During an interview on NBCs Meet the Press on 6 January, the New York congresswoman was asked: Would you vote to certify, and will you vote to certify, the results of the 2024 election no matter what they show?

We will see if this is a legal and valid election, she replied, going on to complain about efforts, then underway, to remove Mr Trump from primary ballot papers in Colorado and Maine citing an anti-insurrectionist clause in the US Constitution.

New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik complained about suppression of the American people (AP)

What were seeing so far is that Democrats are so desperate, theyre trying to remove President Trump from the ballot. That is a suppression of the American people.

And the Supreme Court is taking that case up in February  that should be a nine to zero to allow President Trump to appear on the ballot because thats the American peoples decision to make this November.

Asked if that meant she would only accept the results if Mr Trump won, she answered: No, it means if theyre constitutional. What we saw in 2020 was unconstitutional circumventing of the constitution, not going through state legislators when it comes to changing election law.

Byron Donalds

The Florida congressman was interviewed by Axios in March and revealed that if he was Mr Trumps vice-president and in the same position Mike Pence as found himself on 6 January 2021, he may not act as Trumps former VP did.

If you have state officials who are violating the election law in their states... then no, I would not, Mr Donalds answered when the proposition was put to him, claiming that he knew some states did not follow election laws in 2020.

Tim Scott

Speaking to Meet the Press, South Carolina senator and former primary candidate, Tim Scott, was asked on 5 May whether he would accept the 2024 results.

At the end of the day, the 47th president of the United States will be President Donald Trump, he said.

South Carolina senator Tim Scott can only envisage a Trump victory, he said (Getty)

Pushed by the host for a more emphatic commitment, Mr Scott said simply: That is my statement.

Pressed a third time, he repeated: I look forward to President Trump being the 47th president  the American people will make the decision.

Doug Burgum

The North Dakota governor, like Mr Scott a possible running mate for Mr Trump, took a similar line on 5 May. He dodged the question on CNN and said that he was looking forward to next January when Vice-President Harris certifies the election for Donald Trump.

He continued: 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.

While he was keen to stress the importance of election integrity, Governor Burgum was rather less forthcoming when Mr Tapper asked him about the possibility of further political violence erupting should Mr Trump lose in November.

Marco Rubio

Florida senator Marco Rubio will not accept what he calls an unfair election (AP)

Also appearing on Meet the Press, this time on Sunday 19 May, the Florida senator  once derided by Mr Trump as Little Marco but who now says he would be honored to be the presumptive GOP nominees veep  was presented with the same question.

Will you accept the election results of 2024 no matter what happens? Ms Welker asked, once again.

No matter what happens? No, if its an unfair election, Senator Rubio answered.

Senator, no matter who wins, the journalist persisted.

I think youre asking the wrong person, he said.

The Democrats are the ones who have opposed every Republican victory since 2000.
WASHINGTON  The Senate rejected for a second time a border security package Republicans helped draft in February before turning around and killing it at the demand of former President Donald Trump, their presumptive 2024 nominee, who didnt want to give President Joe Biden an election-year win.

Only Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska.) voted to advance the measure on Thursday. Several progressive Democrats also opposed the bill.

The legislation would give the president new emergency authority to restrict border crossings if daily average migrant encounters reach a certain level, raise the standard of proof for granting asylum, expedite asylum processing and give more money to border patrol agents, among other measures.

GOP senators accused Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) of playing politics by scheduling a vote on a bill they had previously rejected, an effort they said was really aimed at bolstering the campaigns of vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the Senate.

This bill today is a prop, its a pure messaging vote and a fundraising piece for Democrats to be able to run out and say, See, we want to do border security and those rascally Republicans dont want to do it, which is absolutely absurd, Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said Thursday on Newsmax.

Lankford, who helped negotiate the border provisions with a small bipartisan group earlier this year, previously complained about his GOP colleagues bailing on a proposed border crackdown that had been endorsed by the conservative Border Patrol union. He did not disavow the actual content of the legislation, which he voted for in February and against on Thursday.

We need to get together, stop the politics and the messaging and the Democrat fundraising emails that are going out on this, and lets actually solve the problem, Lankford said.

Democrats, meanwhile, criticized the GOP for walking away from one of the best chances for making bipartisan reforms to address the influx of migrants on the border, something Republicans have been calling an urgent crisis for years.

It would have gotten done had Donald Trump not said, I dont want this done, blame it on me, I want chaos at the border so I can win reelection, Schumer said ahead of the vote on Thursday.

Thats not what the American people want. The polling data is clearly on our side, he argued.

The situation on the border has surged to the top of voters minds over the past year, dogging Bidens presidency and standing in the polls. Democrats are hoping to blunt Republican attacks over the border by highlighting their obstruction to real reforms in Congress. The White House is also considering a series of executive orders aimed at stemming the tide of migrants on the border, but any meaningful action will require legislation.

Next month, Senate Democrats will go on offense by scheduling votes on legislation to protect abortion rights and contraceptives. They, too, will likely fail. The upper chamber is in full election mode, with little chance of real legislating between now and until after November.

Several Democrats who supported the border bill in February when it was attached to critical assistance for Ukraine and Israel voted not to advance it as a standalone measure on Thursday. The new border bill lacked pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, which had been the prize for Democrats in past bipartisan immigration bills.

The bill will exclude people fleeing violence and persecution from seeking asylum and instead doubles down on failed anti-immigrant policies that encourage irregular immigration, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said in a statement.

This cannot be the new starting point for immigration negotiations, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), who opposed the bill as well as the previous version, told HuffPost.

Meanwhile, Murkowski, who also supported the border bill earlier this year, voiced frustration about the border politicking by calling the whole exercise dumb.

How would you explain this to an 11-year-old? Murkowski asked before summing up the GOP flip-flop on the border package. I supported something because I think it was going to help us improve our laws, but we pulled back on that because there were some who thought that it was going to be more important to use it as a message against their opponents, and so we didnt advance it.

As a result, she said that Democrats are now going to use it in a way to perhaps make some of their troubled incumbents in a better place, but they dont really think that they can pass it, so its just messaging on their side.

Explain whats going on to somebody who is not part of this building. They think were nuts. Theyre like, can you just fix the border? Murkowski said.

Related...
Research reveals 'staggering' production of cancer-causing chemicals despite being banned for decades: 'We are supposed to be eliminating them'

Current production of the cancer-causing, human-made PCB chemicals may be at its highest levels despite being banned over 40 years ago, a recent study finds.

What's happening?

PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, were banned from production in the U.S. in 1979 and the UK in 1981, as the Guardian reported. However, PCBs continue to be produced as byproducts in various chemical manufacturing processes, such as the production of certain plastics, electrical equipment, and even some paints, and may leach into the ground and water supplies, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

"This is staggering  we are supposed to be eliminating them under the Stockholm convention," Dr. Dave Megson, an environmental forensic scientist and lead researcher of the study, told the Guardian.

The study highlights a unique and alarming challenge. These byproduct PCBs are slipping under the radar of our current monitoring systems, posing a significant threat to our environment and health.

"The specific PCBs produced accidentally are different from the PCBs that were produced intentionally in the commercial mixtures of 50-plus years ago," Megson told the Guardian.

Why are PCBs concerning?

PCBs are a type of "forever chemical" that pose a significant environmental threat because they are difficult to break down, as the EPA explained.

Of Americans, 97% have some level of forever chemicals in their blood, and long-term exposure can increase the risk of reproductive issues, developmental delays in children, and certain cancers.

PCBs are also present in our meat, fish, and shellfish supply, where the World Health Organization reported that 90% of our contact with these types of chemicals occurs.

What's being done about PCBs?

Scientists around the U.S. are making incredible breakthroughs in technology to break down forever chemicals.

Researchers at Northwestern University discovered a method of heating forever chemicals to help break them down. Scientists in California found that hydrogen significantly increased the effectiveness of UV light destroying forever chemicals in drinking water.

The EPA has taken a significant step toward addressing the PCB issue. New regulations, effective this year, promise to enhance cleanup efforts, reduce waste, and establish a more efficient system for handling PCB waste from emergencies or natural disasters.

Since the 1979 ban, protests have been held around the country against the use of PCBs. In 1982, residents in North Carolina protested against a PCB-laden landfill being placed in their community, ultimately losing the fight.

However, their struggle sparked the environmental justice movement, advocating for the fair distribution of environmental benefits and responsibilities, which continues to shape environmental policy today.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.
President Joe Bidens decision to remove the illegitimate communist Cuban regime from the list of nations not cooperative with counterterrorism efforts is another foreign policy disaster. This move will fuel instability throughout the Western Hemisphere at a time where we already have enough chaos globally.

Thats why Im fighting to stop Bidens appeasement and pass my Fighting Oppression until the Reign of Castro Ends (FORCE) Act and Denying Earnings to the Military Oligarchy in Cuba and Restricting Activities of the Cuban Intelligence Apparatus (DEMOCRACIA) Act to block normalization of relations with Cuba and hold the illegitimate regime accountable through severe sanctions and unprecedented financial pressure until the island sees a new day of freedom.

Bidens appeasement approach mirrors Barack Obamas failed strategy. It didnt work then, it wont work now.

In Florida, we understand appeasement of the evil regime only brings more pain and suffering to the Cuban people. Bidens actions show he doesnt care about freedom in Cuba or the national security risks posed by an emboldened regime. Instead, hes pandering to the socialist sympathizers within the Democrat party who naively believe doing business with Cuba will help its people. He couldnt be more wrong.

Appeasing the Cuban regime also makes Americans less safe. Recently, the Biden administration welcomed a Cuban government delegation behind the scenes to see our TSA security operations at Miami International Airport. Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas giving agents of the Castro regime inside access to our sensitive security features makes America less safe. They are determined to appease the anti-American dictatorship and its allies at the expense of our national security.

Those who fled Cuba are fearful when they see Democrats like Biden willing to play ball with murderous regimes. I was in Miami this week on Cuban Independence Day, announcing a Cubans for Rick Scott coalition. Cuban-Americans understand the threats of communism, and know Ill support their fight for freedom in Cuba and to ensure socialism never gets a foothold in Florida.

But its not just Biden. My opponent, former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, voiced strong public support for the Obama-era appeasement policies Biden is now close to reimplementing. Voters remember they fired her after one term in Congress for not standing up to the socialists in her party. She was silent when the Squad secretly met with the Cuban regime and voted against a resolution condemning the regime for jailing Cuban citizens for protesting. Her silence here is deafening.

Since Biden took office, Mexicos government has pressured his administration to ease U.S. policy toward Cuba, promising in return to crack down on the border. This pay-to-play scheme is laughable. We all know they wont hold up their end, because the bad guys never do, but Biden is pursuing it anyway.

The irony is sickening. Bidens appeasement of the Castro/Diaz-Canel regime, in exchange for empty promises from Mexico, will have the opposite effect. His weakness will allow more terrorists, dangerous criminals, and deadly drugs to flood into the U.S., threatening our national security and killing American citizens. Isnt enough blood already on his hands?

Under former President Donald Trump, Mexico was forced to cooperate with U.S. border security efforts without ridiculous concessions for the Cuban regime. Biden is too weak, and cares too much about keeping our border open, to force the same result.

When Biden appeases the Cuban regime, he supports terrorism and actively aids Americas enemies in Russia, Iran, and communist China. Remember: this is the same regime that has allowed U.S. embassy staff to be attacked in Havana and is hosting communist Chinas spy base just 90 miles from our shores.

Im fighting to reverse the dangerous decisions of the Biden Administration. We must lead the defense of human rights in Latin America, not let evil regimes lead us. Letting Cuba, Mexico and China dictate American foreign policy is insane. Its time we stand up and say enough.

Republican Rick Scott represents Florida in the United States Senate. He is a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services and the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the former two-term governor of Florida.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, discussing issues including a six-week abortion ban in Florida during an interview with Julio Vaqueiro of Noticias Telemundo in Miami, March 2023. Credit: YouTube.

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Rick Scott is throwing his hat in the ring to lead the Senate Republican Caucus.

Scott joins a field that already includes Idahos John Thune and Texas John Coryn, both of whom have previously announced candidacies to succeed Mitch McConnell, who announced earlier this year that he would step down as Senate GOP leader.

Im a change agent, Scott declared to Fox News Laura Ingraham on Wednesday night. I was a change agent in business. I did turnarounds. I changed Florida, and were going to change the Senate. And were going to be the Senate that helps Donald Trump get his conservative agenda done.

Scott said he had spoken with Trump earlier on Wednesday and that hes excited that Im getting into the race.

This isnt the first time that Scott has run to lead the Senate GOP Caucus.

Shortly after Senate Republicans suffered a relatively disappointing midterm election in 2022, Scott took on McConnell for Senate leader and lost badly, 37-10. Although the results of todays elections werent what we hoped for, this is far from the end of our fight to Make Washington Work, Scott said in a written statement.

Scotts candidacy for GOP Senate leadership comes as he seeks reelection to a second six-year term in office. But unlike in his previous runs for governor or senator, the political landscape is much more favorable for Republicans, and hes been leading comfortably in the polls to date.

Perhaps thats why hes been so confident as to publicly discuss his tenure at Columbia/Hospital Corp. of America (HCA), the hospital chain he helped run in the 1990s that ultimately was fined $1.7 billion in a Medicare fraud investigation, which as the time was the was the largest such settlement in U.S. history.

Democratic reaction

Scotts likely Democratic Senate opponent, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, fired off a statement upon learning of Scotts plans to run for Senate Republican leader.

Self-serving Rick Scott is a danger to Florida families and, as Senate leader, he would be a disaster for Americans, she said.

We all know if Rick Scott gets elected to Senate leadership, he wont hesitate to push his toxic and out-of-touch agenda to sunset Social Security and Medicare, raise taxes on middle-class families, and force a national abortion ban onto the American people. Theres no line Rick Scott wont cross to further his own extreme agenda. The stakes of this race just got so much higher, but voters are fired up and ready to retire Rick Scott  for working Floridians and for Americans across the country.

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried chimed in as well in a written statement.

Scotts self-serving agenda has failed Florida, and now hes threatening to take his plans nationwide: He would enact a national abortion ban, slash Social Security and Medicare, and raise taxes on working families while cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthy like himself.

The election for Senate Republican leader is expected to take place sometime after the November election.

The post Rick Scott declares his candidacy to lead Senate Republicans appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Florida Sen. Rick Scott announced his bid to be the next Senate GOP leader on Wednesday, putting him in a three-way secret ballot race that will be decided after the November elections.

Scott has been a longtime supporter of former President Donald Trump and has maintained an icy relationship with GOP leadership in the Senate, including with outgoing Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, whose leadership position he is again gunning for after losing a long-shot bid to replace the Kentucky Republican in 2022.

Scott, a first-term senator, would be considered an underdog in the race, which includes GOP Sens. John Thune, the minority whip, and John Cornyn, a former whip. The two other men have for months jockeyed to tip the scales in a race with no clear front-runner as their colleagues in the Senate weigh the candidates fundraising abilities, leadership styles and their relationships with Trump  though the presumptive GOP presidential nominee has yet to endorse a replacement for McConnell, who has said he will step down as GOP leader in November.

On Wednesday night, Scott told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that he had spoken to Trump earlier in the day about the need for change in the chamber, adding that the former president was excited Im getting into the race.

I am a change agent. I was a change agent in business. I did turn arounds. I changed Florida, Scott said. Were going to change the Senate. Were going to be the Senate that helps Donald Trump get his conservative agenda done.

Scott has long been a close Trump ally and quickly endorsed the former president over his home-state governor, Ron DeSantis, for president last year. He was one of several Republican senators who objected to the certification of 2020 election results and has been a constant defender of Trump in the face of his legal troubles.

A former CEO of an embattled health care company, Scott has used his wealth to help fund his campaigns, serving two terms as the governor of Florida before his election to the Senate in 2018. Hes facing reelection this year in a red-trending state that Democrats hope to put in play.

Scott, then the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, became a pariah to some in his own party in 2022, when he released a proposal that would have sunset all federal programs in five years unless Congress extended them. Even McConnell quickly disavowed the plan, while Democrats pounced on it as a way to accuse Republicans of attempting to undercut popular programs like Social Security and Medicare.

Months later, Scott walked back major sections of that plan to shield many of those popular programs  like Social Security and Medicare  from being sunset. Though, Democrats looking to turn his Senate seat blue in 2024 have continued to hit Scott on that unpopular proposal.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNNs Manu Raju, Eric Bradner and Steve Contorno contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Florida Senator Rick Scott pictured in 2022. (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Florida Senator Rick Scott is once again asking Republican colleagues to make him their partys leader in the upper chamber, giving GOP senators a chance to vote for a more right-wing candidate than his rivals for the post.

Mr Scott, a former Florida governor who chairs the Senate Republicans campaign committee, announced his candidacy in a letter to fellow senators on Wednesday.

This is not a time to make small adjustments, I believe we need a dramatic sea change to save our country and thats why Im running to be Republican leader, Mr Scott wrote.

He also pledged to lead colleagues in developing a positive, aspirational agenda that outlines our legislative goals and what Senate Republicans stand for.

The Floridian positioned himself as a bolder, more conservative choice than Senate GOP Whip John Thune of South Dakota and former whip John Cornyn of Texas, both of whom have announced bids to succeed Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving leader of either party in the Senates nearly 250-year history.

Mr McConnell announced his intention to stand down from leadership next year while serving out the last two years of his six-year term, which ends in 2026.

Mr Scott previously ran for leadership against Mr McConnell but lost in what was understood to be a lopsided vote, with only a small portion of the chambers 48 Republicans siding with him against the veteran Kentuckian.

Mr McConnell has increasingly become the target of right-wing ire over his refusal to back the pugilistic approach of the Trump-aligned wing of the GOP.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Rizhao Port to learn about the local progress in promoting the smart and green development of the port, expanding the opening up, in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, May 22, 2024. Xi inspected the city of Rizhao in east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

JINAN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected the city of Rizhao in east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday afternoon.

He visited Rizhao Port and a coastal greenway to learn about the local progress in promoting the smart and green development of the port, expanding the opening up, strengthening the ecological protection and restoration of the coastline, and improving the quality of people's lives. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Rizhao Port to learn about the local progress in promoting the smart and green development of the port, expanding the opening up, in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, May 22, 2024. Xi inspected the city of Rizhao in east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Rizhao Port to learn about the local progress in promoting the smart and green development of the port, expanding the opening up, in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, May 22, 2024. Xi inspected the city of Rizhao in east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Rizhao Port to learn about the local progress in promoting the smart and green development of the port, expanding the opening up, in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, May 22, 2024. Xi inspected the city of Rizhao in east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a coastal greenway to learn about the local progress in strengthening the ecological protection and restoration of the coastline, and improving the quality of people's lives, in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, May 22, 2024. Xi inspected the city of Rizhao in east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a coastal greenway to learn about the local progress in strengthening the ecological protection and restoration of the coastline, and improving the quality of people's lives, in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, May 22, 2024. Xi inspected the city of Rizhao in east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a coastal greenway to learn about the local progress in strengthening the ecological protection and restoration of the coastline, and improving the quality of people's lives, in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, May 22, 2024. Xi inspected the city of Rizhao in east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a coastal greenway to learn about the local progress in strengthening the ecological protection and restoration of the coastline, and improving the quality of people's lives, in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, May 22, 2024. Xi inspected the city of Rizhao in east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Rizhao Port to learn about the local progress in promoting the smart and green development of the port, expanding the opening up, in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, May 22, 2024. Xi inspected the city of Rizhao in east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Rizhao Port to learn about the local progress in promoting the smart and green development of the port, expanding the opening up, in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, May 22, 2024. Xi inspected the city of Rizhao in east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
Ted Cruz got into a tense exchange with CNNs Kaitlan Collins after the host asked him point blank whether hed accept the results of the 2024 presidential election.

In 2024 will you certify the election results? Do you plan to object or will you accept the results regardless of who wins the election? Ms Collins asked.

The Republican senator insisted it was actually a ridiculous question, then went on to argue that there was voter fraud in 2020, even if it wasnt enough to change the outcome of the election.

The senator also suggested that there was a peaceful transfer of power in 2021, seemingly disregarding the January 6 Capitol riot and the multiple attempts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the election results.

If the Democrats win, I will accept the result but I'm not going to ignore fraud regardless of what happens, he said in the interview with Ms Collins, who asked if there was fraud in 2020.

I asked Ted Cruz last night about his prediction in 2016 that Donald Trump and David Pecker were behind the lies published about him in the National Enquirer and the testimony in Trump's trial that has now confirmed it. pic.twitter.com/A7oflPpXMH  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) May 23, 2024

Of course there was fraud, Mr Cruz said.

No, there wasn't and you still objected, the CNN host shot back.

Oh, you know, for a fact there was zero voter fraud. Really? What's your basis for that? Show me your evidence, Mr Cruz demanded.

Ms Collins noted that they did three hand recounts in Georgia, and she mentioned that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said on 12 November 2020 that the November 3rd election was the most secure in American history.

You're saying zero voter fraud occurred? That's what you just said, Mr Cruz pressed.

Nothing that would have changed the outcome, Ms Collins said.

Thats a different statement, the senator pushed on.

A few moments later, Mr Cruz said, I think there was significant voter fraud in 2020.

I tried to look through history and precedent and the best precedent I could find was the election of 1876, Mr Cruz said. 1876 was between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden, and what happened there, there were serious allegations of voter fraud and Congress didn't throw its hands up and say, You know what? CNN demanded that I accept the results no matter what. So ignore the fraud. I gotta go.

Mr Cruz said he wanted an election commission in 2020, similar to the one in 1876.

So in 1876, what Congress did is it appointed an election commission. It consisted of 15 people  five House members, five senators, five Supreme Court justices, he said. The Election Commission was charged with studying the evidence and making a determination of what voter fraud occurred and that determined the winner. And what I called for in 2020, was to do the same thing  appoint an Election Commission and 11 senators joined me.

Ms Collins noted that by that time, cases challenging the results had been thrown out of many courts.

There was no widespread fraud, she said.

I don't remember there being a president who was refusing to turn over the transition of power and facilitate it, she added in reference to the Capitol riot and Mr Trumps refusal to hand over power to President Joe Biden in a peaceful manner.

Trump didnt either, Joe Biden became president, Mr Cruz insisted.
The Republican Party is firing its latest salvo in its fight with the Secret Service over placement of a protest zone at the GOP convention in Milwaukee in July.

In a letter to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle on Thursday, Republican National Committee counsel Todd Steggerda warned of escalating risks of violence at the convention and accused the Secret Service of not addressing concerns that demonstrators could threaten and hurt attendees.

Rather than dissipating, the overall security climate has worsened significantly over the past month of the USSSs inaction, Steggerda wrote. Your failure to act now to prevent these unnecessary and certain risks will imperil tens of thousands of Convention attendees, inexcusably forcing them into close proximity to the currently planned First Amendment Zone.

Republicans have complained that a designated protest area is in too close proximity to the conventions security perimeter around the Fiserv Forum, where the convention is set to take place. GOP officials have proposed a one-block adjustment to the protest site which, according to the letter, is narrowly tailored to balance the multiple concrete, specific, and well-founded national security and public safety risks  with the need to ensure the rights of peaceful protest and assembly within sight and sound of the convention.



Republicans have over the last month sent three letters to the service outlining their concerns. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has also written a letter. Additionally, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, has spoken with the organization, according to a person familiar with the talks who was granted anonymity to discuss the matter.

Aides to House Speaker Mike Johnson and congressional security officials have also been in touch with the agency, and Scott is expected to speak again with the USSS. But Republican officials say they have been frustrated by the services unwillingness to adjust the protest zone.

A Secret Service spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Earlier this month, a USSS representative told The Washington Post that the service was confident in its blueprint and that its development was based on security considerations, including risk and threat assessments, and is not a political matter.

With less than two months before the Convention and even less time before the USSS finalizes the Plan, it is imperative you take personal and immediate steps to fix this unacceptable flaw in the design of the Security Perimeter, Steggerda wrote.

Democratic Party officials are also bracing for protests when they hold their convention this August in Chicago. After the war in the Middle East broke out in October, left-leaning protesters supporting Gaza have demonstrated throughout the U.S., including most recently on college campuses. Those campus demonstrations have at times led to arrests, including at Columbia University, where authorities took into custody more than 300 demonstrators.
A former Rockaway Township middle schooler who suffered serious injuries after two strikes to the face with a hockey stick in gym class has been left with permanent scars, the girl's family claims in a lawsuit filed against the district.

The Copeland Middle School student required immediate surgical and dental intervention following the Jan. 17, 2023 injury, which could have been prevented had the school's board of education and district officials not been "careless and reckless" and instead taken proper actions or omissions to ensure the girl's safety, according to the complaint, filed on May 16 in Morris County Superior Court.

The girl, who now attends Morris Knolls High School, was "violently" struck twice in the face and mouth area with the hockey stick during the physical education class activity, where students were not provided and/or required to wear protective equipment, the family's attorney, Anthony Accardi said in the suit. The playing area where the activity took place at Copeland, he added, was also "undersized" for the number of students participating. While it occurred during gym class, it was not immediately clear if students were in the school's gymnasium.

The family is seeking unspecified monetary damages for the girl's medical bills for facial injuries that has left the now-high school student "disabled and disfigured," according to the suit. Enduring mental anguish and emotional distress are symptoms that she suffers and will continue to plague her in the foreseeable future, the family said.

Copeland Middle School, Rockaway Township

The Rockaway Township Board of Education and Copeland Middle School, which enrolls students in sixth through eighth grade, are named in the suit, as well as the physical education teacher overseeing the class and several unnamed individuals. The district's board is comprised of seven members who ensure the effective operation of seven schools in the township of roughly 26,000 residents: six elementary schools and one middle school.

Rockaway Township School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Corbett declined to comment on the allegations, but said that student safety is "always the district's priority." Tanya Shields, the district's board president, did not respond to a request seeking comment. The district was served with the lawsuit on Wednesday.

The lawsuit points to several failures by the school board and district staff, including the lack of supervision by the gym teacher tasked with overseeing the class. The students were also insufficiently supervised during the class and not given proper instruction as to activity itself, the rules and the risks involved, the suit states. The skills and abilities of the students were also allegedly not considered prior to the activity taking place.

The school was notified in December of the family's intent to sue under the New Jersey Tort Claim Act, the state statute implemented to afford heightened protection to public entities against lawsuits. The statute offers six months to the public entity, in this case the school district, to conduct an investigation and determine if they would like to settle the matter with the claimant before a lawsuit is filed.

Lori Comstock can also be reached on Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH, on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LoriComstockNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194.

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Rockaway NJ family sues school after gym class injury
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis stated that supplying a Patriot system to Ukraine must be approved by the Supreme Council of National Defense, and must not compromise Romania's air defense.



He emphasized that this issue will not be discussed in public, but instead privately with military experts and the Supreme Council, Romanian news channel Digi24 reported on May 22.



Iohannis said that supplying a Patriot system comes with numerous logistical and legal complexities.



"Even if Romania finally makes some concessions, it must receive something in return. Otherwise, nothing will happen," Iohannis said.



Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu later noted that despite the challenges in providing a Patriot system to Ukraine, it is still possible.



Romania signed a deal in 2017 to obtain Patriot systems but so far only has one that is operational.



According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine needs 25 Patriots to protect the country from Russian attacks, but Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he is for now focused on securing seven to protect Ukraine's largest cities.

Read also: Ambassador: Ukraine in talks to set up joint production of Patriot systems

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Utah 3rd Congressional District candidate Rod Bird Jr., who goes by JR Bird, meets with the Deseret News editorial board at the Deseret News office in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Editors note: This is the third in a series of articles looking at the Republican candidates for Utahs open 3rd Congressional District seat.

Roosevelt Mayor JR Bird says small-town common sense requires Congress to take back energy policy from the executive branch.

Bird, who is running to replace Rep. John Curtis in Utahs 3rd Congressional District, is calling for comprehensive energy legislation at the federal level to avoid whiplash between every presidential administration, he told the Deseret News editorial board on Wednesday.

As the only rural candidate in a crowded competition for the open seat, Bird said he gives President Joe Biden a failing grade on the issues that matter most to many residents of central and eastern Utah, including restrictive public lands rules, weaponized environmental red tape and a policy agenda that blocks Americas path to energy dominance.

We have a bureaucracy that is mandating certain things and creating policy and regulation that is affecting our livelihood, our industry and our ability to to provide jobs for our families and and in our communities, Bird said. And we need some representation back there that understands the overall impacts, not only for rural Utah, but for Utah as a whole.

What does JR Bird want to do about energy policy?

Currently, whenever a new president is elected, a slew of executive orders are issued by the White House dictating new regulations  like where oil can be drilled, which products will be subsidized and how quickly industries must shift to renewables.

That has created a a huge pendulum shift in policy from left to right and has been devastating for our economy and our citizens, Bird said.

Bird listed just a few of the directives that have been issued by the Biden administration: making it more expensive to drill on federal lands, implementing a rule ensuring a majority of new cars are hybrid or electric by 2032, and pausing exports of liquefied natural gas.

These orders from Biden, as well as other measures leading to the decommissioning of coal-burning power plants and the demonization of the oil and gas industry, negatively impact Utahs ability to be self-reliant, self-sufficient and provide jobs and an economy that benefits its citizens, Bird said. And so thats why Id give him an F.

Bird pointed to a specific example in Utah. The Uinta Basin Railway project, which Bird said would have brought jobs to Utah and decreased semi-truck emissions, was on track to meet federal qualifications during the Trump administration but quickly came to a halt after Biden was elected, Bird said.

Regulatory agencies under the National Environmental Policy Act were created with good intentions to prevent projects from destroying natural resources but they have become weaponized by the executive branch to push a certain agenda, Bird said.

These projects ... (are) getting shut down by people in Vermont and Massachusetts and people that are really disconnected from our livelihood and our way of life, Bird said.

Congressional action on a bill outlining the countrys energy policies would prevent presidents of either party from making energy decisions based on political expediency, Bird said. The legislation should recognize the importance of fossil fuels, nuclear energy and other renewable energy sources, he added, and take into account input from energy experts, industry leaders and regular citizens.

We all understand we want clean air, clean water, Bird said. But weve got to do that at a reasonable rate, and its got to make sense, not only for the economy, but for the American people.

Utah 3rd Congressional District candidate Rod Bird Jr., who goes by JR Bird, poses for a portrait after meeting with the Deseret News editorial board at the Deseret News office in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

JR Birds unique background in rural Utah

The issues unique to the states 3rd Congressional District  which encompasses Utahs coal country, the oil-rich Uinta Basin and the nations sole operating uranium processing plant near Blanding  arent rhetoric for Bird; theyre his resume.

For the past 16 years, Bird has run Paragon Oilfield Products, which sells pipes, welding supplies and other tools for Roosevelts large oil and gas production sector.

Bird said growing alfalfa on his family farm, sitting on the board of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District from 2014-2022 and serving as Roosevelt mayor since 2017 has also given him a unique background in the natural resources and public lands issues that Curtis has championed over the last seven years.

As mayor, Bird has worked to improve government transparency by making public meetings more accessible and has created specialized committees to support the city council while also enacting term limits. Bird said hes been told that he is the most involved mayor that Roosevelt has ever seen and he wants to continue Curtis reputation as being one of the nations most accessible congressmen.

If you ask rural Utahns, many of them will say Curtis has represented the 3rd District well by focusing on the issues closest to their lives, Bird said, which include efforts to find free-market fixes to environmental concerns and returning public lands to Utah control.

Bird initially announced a bid for Utahs open U.S. Senate seat before switching gears and filing in the 3rd Congressional District race to replace Curtis. Bird said elected officials and stakeholders in energy, water and public lands pushed him to make the switch because his skillset was a good fit for the district.

Bird on public lands, immigration, Ukraine

Bird said he would continue Curtis fight to repeal a new Bureau of Land Management rule that allows the agency to lease land for conservation purposes and prevent other uses for the area. He would also work to transfer federal lands to state control, he said.

Birds criticism of the Biden administration extends past federal government overreach in Utah. He believes the countrys direction on immigration, national security and spending could pose equally large threats to Utahns.

The United States must close the border with Mexico, Bird said, while simplifying the immigration process to get good people into the United States. Bird supports a return to the Trump-era Remain in Mexico policy, which requires migrants seeking asylum to wait out their immigration proceedings on the other side of the border, but only if it is codified by Congress so that it lasts beyond the next administration.

Bird is skeptical of further funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia especially as the U.S. appears to be increasingly funding the Russian economy with Biden administration policies that exacerbate dependence on Russian oil.

On spending, Bird said a return to proper process, including statutory budget timelines and single-subject spending bills, is imperative to fulfill Congress No. 1 fiduciary responsibility.

Incurring a partial government shutdown might be necessary to reduce deficit spending so that lawmakers understand there are consequences for failing to pass a budget, Bird said.

He said he would also support measures forcing representatives to focus solely on spending bills, potentially without pay, until a budget is passed.

If there are no consequences for Congress to not pass a budget, then theyre not going to pass a budget, I can tell you that, said Bird.

Bird will appear on the primary ballot as one of four candidates, including Sky Zone CEO Case Lawrence, State Auditor John Dougall and commercial litigator Stewart Peay, who qualified by gathering 7,000 certified signatures. They will face the GOP convention nominee, state Sen. Mike Kennedy, in the June 25 primary election.

On Nov. 5, the Republican nominee will face off against Democratic candidate Glenn Wright.
Ross Dress for Less coming to City of Palestine in October

PALESTINE, Texas (KETK)  Ross Dress for Less will soon be coming to the City of Palestine according to the Palestine Economic Development Corporation (PEDC).

Phase 1 of W.E. Winters Park renovations to begin, City of Tyler says

PEDC said a new Ross will open in the Palestine Plaza Shopping Center at 2010 Crockett Road in October. Palestine has nearly 19,000 residents and it an essential city within Anderson County supporting nearly 60,000 residents.

Courtesy of Palestine Economic Development Corporation

The store will be located directly across from Palestine High School and Palestine Middle School. The new Ross location will share space with other retailers including Hibbett Sports, Petsense and Dollar Tree. PEDC said Marshalls and Ulta Beauty are expected to join the stores in the future.

Longview ISD announces lone finalist for superintendent

More retailers than ever are interested in opening store locations in Palestine, Christophe Trahan, Economic Development Director at PEDC, said. They are noticing our growing community and want to meet the demand of residents.

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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
WEBB CITY, Mo.  An area civic group helps some incoming freshmen get a head start on paying for college.

The Webb City and Carl Junction Rotary Club hands out at least two thousand dollars worth of scholarships each spring to graduates from both high schools.

Those four young people were introduced at the noon Rotary Club meeting today (Wednesday).

Each of them received five hundred dollar scholarships and at least two of them may end up in a club like Rotary when they finish college.

We invite them to our club meeting, and thats what were doing here today to honor those students, those four recipients of our scholarships, and find out, you know, what are their future plans, where are they going to school so we can see the impact that were making as a club, said Cavanaugh Studyvin, president, Webb City, Carl Junction Rotary Club.

I think its very important to be able to serve your community and give back with what time you can and what resources you have, said Emily Rice, Carl Junction H.S. graduate.

Some day that might be an option for me uh because I love to help people and I want to do good in the world, said Lucy Ashens, Carl Junction H.S. graduate.

Rice will go to Missouri State and Ashens is going to Pitt State.

The two Webb City honorees are Addy Ragsdale, who is also going to Missouri State, and Ella Hensley, who is going to Kentucky.

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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Roundup: K-9 used in Simi arrest, authorities seek help in Oak Park man's death, more

Man arrested in Simi Valley after allegedly throwing boulders

Simi Valley police used a K-9 police dog to arrest a man Monday night after he allegedly threw large boulders at a homeowner, cars and other property.

The Simi Valley Police Department said officers were called at 5:25 p.m. to the 2100 block of Brownstone Creek Avenue for multiple reports of a disturbance. A 42-year-old construction worker from Pacoima had been throwing boulders and screaming incoherently while walking through the neighborhood, police said.

Simi police said they arrived to find multiple incidents of felony vandalism. Officers said they later learned the man used a boulder first to assault a homeowner whom he had been hired by and continued to wreak havoc in the neighborhood.

The 42-year-old had two boulders in his hands when officers found him, police said. The construction worker only put down one of the two large rocks when ordered by police to drop them and refused to lie on the ground, according to police.

Officers used the K-9 to subdue the man who was taken into custody and later taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation.

The Pacoima man was later transported to Ventura County jail and booked on suspicion of felony assault with a deadliy weapon, resisting arrest and mulitiple counts of vandalism.

Public's help sought in death of Oak Park man

Connor O'Donnell

Ventura County Sheriff's officials are seeking the public's help in their death investigation of a 31-year-old Oak Park man whose body was found at Dune Beach April 17.

Connor ODonnell's body was discovered around 4:40 p.m. at the beach off Pacific Coast Highway in unincorporated Ventura County, just south of Thornhill Broome Beach.

Investigators seek information about O'Donnell's whereabouts in the days leading up to the discovery of his body, specifically between April 6 and April 17.

The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office identified O'Donnell April 19, but the cause and manner of his death was still pending.

Anyone with information regarding his death or related information is asked to call Sgt. Craig Hennes, of the sheriffs major crimes unit, at 805-384-4744. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Moorpark teen arrested in connection to bomb threats

Three days after a report of bomb threat to Moorpark High School, a student was taken into custody for the incident, authorities said.

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office said the 15-year-old apparently called an anonymous school tip line May 17 to report a person with fireworks or explosives on campus. The sheriff's office is contracted by the city of Moorpark for police services.

The school resource officer was working with school officials and the Moorpark investigations bureau to investigate the tip when a second, similar report was made, the sheriff's office said.

School and law enforcement officials ultimately determined that there was no credible threat but their investigation led to the student. Additional evidence was found linking him to the fraudulent reports, the sheriff's office said.

The teen was taken to the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Center in Oxnard on suspicion of falsely reporting an emergency.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: K-9 used in Simi arrest, help sought in Oak Park man's death, more
Rte. 82 project back before City Council: How has it changed and what did council approve?

Steps have been taken toward the states proposed project to create multiple roundabouts on Rte. 82.

During Mondays City Council meeting, it approved two measures related to the state project. The vote was on a 4-3 party line split, favoring Democrats.

The city would accept land and maintenance responsibilities when the proposed project is finished. The Council also approved the transfer of Crane Avenue to the state, which would be rebuilt for the proposed project, Connecticut DOT Communications Director Josh Morgan stated in an email.

The state DOTs proposed project goal is to improve safety along the state-owned Rte. 82. The first phase of the Rte. 82 project starts by the First Baptist Church and goes until the crosswalk past the Little Caesars location. Two roundabouts are proposed for that length, a larger one at Mechanic and Asylum Streets, and a smaller one at Osgood Street and Crane Avenue, according to a visual plan included in the May 20 meeting agenda.

Rte. 82, also known as West Main Street, in Norwich. This intersection is by Mechanic Street and Sylum Street, where one of the two roundabouts in phase 1 would be placed.

Properties to be acquired

The plan for the proposed project shows that land from throughout Rte. 82 would be acquired. Five properties from the prior attempt are slated for total acquisition: The gas station at the intersection of West Main and Dunham Streets, Garage Barber Shop LLCs building at the corner of West Main and Osgood Streets, and the buildings for Sign Professionals, All The Right Moves Dance Studio, and an unoccupied building at the corner of West Main and Asylum Streets. The plan still cuts off Elizabeth Streets access to West Main Street.

The proposed projects plan shows a median running along West Main Street and the sections of street that feed the roundabouts. For phase one, the roundabout starts by Mechanic and Asylum Streets, and ends at Dunham Street. However, there is a left turn median opening at Mount Pleasant Street, which also allows for access to the Willow Tree Plaza.

More: CT DOT back with revised plan for Route 82's Crash Alley - when residents can voice opinions

Other improvements planned include flashing beacons, a new bush shelter, bike lanes, landscaping, lights in the center of roundabouts, and more.

When the proposed project is finished, Norwich will be responsible for sidewalks, landscaping, lights, bike lane pavement markings, bus stop signage, the bus shelter, preemption devices, and the rapid rectangular flashing beacons, the letter states.

The construction itself is funded by 80% federal funds and 20% state funds.

Opposition

The project has been in development for eight years. In the past, numerous residents voiced opposition, ranging from doubts about the roundabouts working, to a need for more police and concerns for businesses. While the state tried convincing the public multiple times to support the project, the prior attempt was shelved in Nov. 2022.

Community members still voiced their opposition Monday night. Resident Beverly Jones said the project would increase her travel time to grocery stores, and Resident Brian Kobylarz said roundabouts could provide a benefit, but theres still a great economic cost in the meantime.

Changes from before

While Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom (R) still voted against the project, he acknowledged the DOT has been communicating and made changes from the prior attempt. This includes Grader Jewelers not losing its land and helping with fund water main related costs of the project, he said.

They are working with us, Nystrom said. I just wish they had a different solution.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Norwich City Council in CT approved Rte. 82 related resolutions
BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- On the playground of a town school in Tanghe County, central China's Henan Province, a bus full of science kits stopped by, drawing a crowd of pupils around eager to explore its inside.

After a while, several robots were carefully unloaded from the bus and started to dance with consistent moves. The children watched cheerfully and burst into laughter as one of the robots accidentally fell.

The bus was not a performance troupe of any kind, but rather a mobile science class jointly organized by the Ministry of Education (MOE), the China Science and Technology Museum, and the online platform of Douyin, aiming to sow seeds of passion for science among children in the country's vast rural areas.

Since February this year, thanks to the joint initiative, scientists, popular science talents, and science museum staff have walked into 18 town schools in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Henan and Gansu provinces.

Astrophysicist Wu Xiangping, who has traversed China's remote middle and western regions for popular science work, said rural children are just as curious as their urban peers in science classes, calling for more scientific education resources in remote areas.

In May last year, the MOE and other departments released a document on China's plans to strengthen scientific education in primary and secondary schools, vowing to ensure a more sound system is in place in three to five years.

Lv Guofan, chairman of the Henan Association for Science and Technology, said rural areas are mostly faced with lack of qualified teachers and equipment for scientific education.

A survey conducted by the MOE in 2021 covering 31 provincial-level regions across the country showed that science teachers at primary schools mostly lack related educational background.

In June 2021, the State Council issued an action plan for improving the scientific qualities of nationals from 2021 to 2035, vowing to expand recruitment of college students majoring in scientific education and online training of science teachers. According to the document, 100,000 science tutors would be trained each year at the grassroots level.

Experts said many schools have been exploring their own methods for improving scientific education. Some suggest that schools start with the real situations in the countryside, such as learning more about farm crops and poultry for the first step.

Zhang Jiantao, teacher of a town school in Gushi County, Henan, gained notable fame for his novel science classes by turning rubbish bins into drones and water bottles into "water-propelled rockets," and so on.

A former mathematics teacher, Zhang volunteered to focus on teaching science for the school's curious and inquisitive students, who are mostly left behind by their city-bound working parents in the care of aging grandparents.

"The kids really love experiments," Zhang said. "After doing experiments together, they are now more open to me and focus better in classes." 
In a photo illustration, then-President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden are seen on cellphone screens at the Oct. 22, 2020, debate. A rematch, this time with Biden as the current president, is scheduled for June 27. Photo Illustration by Pavlo Conchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Mad magazine used to have this featurette called Scenes Wed Like to See, where they lampooned a famous movie scene in their inimitable style.

The new debate structure agreed upon by our two top presidential campaigns comes close to something Id like to see, that perhaps many of us would like to see. It could be even better.

For the longest time, I have complained that our debates have been more circus than substance, more a television event than a public service. Theyve hardly been thoughtful. Theyve hardly even been debates. Theyve been so much closer to laughable that theyve hardly even mattered. Instead, they became about zingers, applause lines and the occasional high-five moment for your guy or theirs.

Like NASCAR, you waited for the crash. Its what we talked about the next morning: who had the best witticism, who tanked like a bag of hammers. It fit neatly with our short attention spans and our need for affirmation. That is not a debate. We should be watching debates to be informed, not entertained.

Theres promise we might get more of the former and less of the latter if the new and improved structural elements crafted by the campaigns are finalized: a TV studio rather than a large venue; no audience; alternative turns to speak without interruption; microphones automatically cut off when a speakers time limit has elapsed.

Nevertheless, President Joe Bidens campaign and former President Donald Trumps brood have agreed on two debate dates: June 27 and Sept. 10. The June debate will take place at 9 p.m. EDT in Atlanta. The Sept. 10 debate is still being decided.

Its a good start, but its not enough. Here are some other rules Id like to see:

Accountability. A structural feature that assures the candidates are held accountable for what they say. We dont have that and we still need that for these debates to matter. Debates should not only inform voters of what candidates know, they should also tell us what candidates dont know. What safeguard is in place when the candidate veers off into a Wackyland word salad or avoids the question so he can force-feed a well-rehearsed talking point? Lawmakers have made this a common practice only because journalists always allow them to get away with it. Its also something Trump does regularly, not because hes mastered the practice but because hes incapable of articulating direct, informative answers. Reporters have let him get away with that for far too long. Forums like a debate are where this should be stopped dead in its tracks. Are the moderators up to that task? They wont be helping voters if theyre not.

Moderators with guts. Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will helm next months debate. They should be fearless, unafraid to stop a candidate flat out when he utters a falsehood. Nope, sorry but thats false. More like Thats a lie. And the moderators should be well prepared to show how such a statement is false. They ought to know that; theyre the ones asking the questions and dont feel the need to be nice about it. These candidates are applying for a job. Dont let them snow the viewers. Be the gatekeepers against falsehoods and spin. If we have to have a gotcha moment, let it be from a moderator who puts a candidate in his place for blurting out a long-debunked falsehood.

George Stephanopoulos had the right idea about what the first question should be. But it doesnt work without a proper setup and follow-up because those are more important than the question itself.

You begin with a proviso: Gentlemen, this question requires no more than a two-word answer. Two words. Nothing more, nothing less.

Then the question: Who won the 2020 election?

Bidens answer: I did.

When Trump rambles on about a stolen election, you follow up with a series of questions: How do you explain the failure of more than 60 lawsuits to prove the claim you just made?

How is it that Republican candidates won their races in every state where you claim the Democrats cheated? Not a single Republican who won objected to their victories on the same day, on the same ballots, using the same election systems. Can you explain that?

Can you explain why every state and federal investigation found no evidence of such voter election theft?

Do you understand that when you called Georgias secretary of state and asked him to find you 11,000 more votes it sounded like the person trying to steal the election was you? Do we have to play that sound bite?

And while were at it, can you tell me why all the fake electors that have been indicted in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are all Republicans?

He wont be able to answer, and, Mr. Trump, you havent provided a single effective answer to any of those questions. How can you continue to claim the election was stolen in the face of such immutable evidence you are unable to refute?

If Trump then responds with one of his standard childish retorts, like, Ya know what? Youre a nasty person, be prepared.

I dont care if you dont like me, Mr. Trump. I only care that you answer the question and then defend your answer. Youve done neither. Over to you, Mr. Biden

Brutal? No, vital. If we insist on having presidential debates, we need moderators who not only ask questions but relentlessly ask follow-ups consisting of (A) What do you mean by that, (B) How will you do that? and (C) You didnt answer my question.

Real-Time Fact Checkers: Why arent we doing this? News outlets routinely fact-check debates on their websites as they happen. We ought to have it for viewers: a panel of offstage fact-checkers quickly passing along verifications and corrections that moderators can readily see on computers they have before them. This would prevent candidates from offering spin, misinformation and outright lying. Imagine candidates being told beforehand that theyll be fact-checked in real time. You want to see drama, some theatrics or a gotcha moment that so many viewers seem to crave? See how the candidates handle the pressure of knowing theyll get called out on their crap. Dont voters deserve an unvarnished look rather than gauzy obfuscation? Voters deserve politicians who dont lie, and when they do, we deserve to see how they handle it when theyre called out for lying. Hell, Id like to see which candidate rejects the idea of fact-checkers as a condition of the debates. Whats the matter? What are you afraid of?

More depth: Enough with the time limits. Let the candidates finish their thoughts rather than cut them off because time has elapsed. Frankly, insisting on 90-second solutions to the economy, Ukraine or the Middle East demeans the entire process of self-government and makes an absurdity out of running for office. Is it really so hard to have an honest adult conversation? Two candidates, moderators effectively refereeing, and everyone chats. But its Trump, you say. If he rambles or gets into schoolyard insults, remember the rules of your follow-up and take it a step further: What do you mean by that? Why did you resort to childish insults? Youre rambling. How about: Do you remember the question I asked?

Take a seat: Instead of standing, the candidates should be sitting down, roundtable-style. Not in deference to age but because its more conducive to an actual conversation. Perhaps the most substantive debate Ive seen in modern times was that between then-Vice President Dick Cheney and his Democratic opponent, John Edwards, in 2004. No one complained about the idea of sitting down, which Cheney requested. Maybe no one cared since no one seems to care about vice presidential debates. But it was formal without being stuffy, civil with no memorable headline-grabbing moments and staid rather than staged. You had to listen to what they said rather than be distracted by how they looked.

Turn up the heat: Instead of a relaxed atmosphere or making the candidates look good, which is what each party wants, make them uncomfortable. These debates should be pressure cookers, like putting candidates on a witness stand, except with the caveat that theyre guilty until proved innocent. Candidates should be grilled like an intense cross-examination to ensure they can square their campaign rhetoric with facts, be called out when their answers contradict the facts and stopped cold when theyre not answering the question. Uncomfortable for the candidates while comforting for us. Of course, the campaigns would never go for that. They wouldnt dream of letting the media make fools out of their candidates (even though most of them are fools).

No doubt the upcoming debate will still have moments both viewers and the media seek: the gotcha line, the impertinent Trumpian boorishness, a Biden memory lapse misconstrued for dementia. We already have a level of theatrical anticipation  or maybe anxiety  built into the telecast: How many will tune in just to see whether Biden looks old and feeble? You cant tell me viewers didnt tune in to the State of the Union address with that question in mind (much to the relief of his supporters and much to the disappointment of Trump acolytes).

I try to assess political debates for what they are: dog and pony shows that do little more than leave a general impression. Thats how theyre treated; thats how the candidates are prepped; thats how voters respond to them. Unless theres a dramatic moment or a major gaffe, the result is the same: Your candidate won. Thats true regardless of whom youre talking to, whether Republican or Democrat. People always tend to think their candidate won, largely because bias tends to override critical thinking, especially in politics, which is the one place where we need bias the least.

Maybe the improvements will help. I wont be holding my breath.
The builders of Tehaleh, a development that will include up to 9,700 homes south of Bonney Lake, chose to pay a $768,588 fee instead of building the 711 low-income units that Pierce County regulations would otherwise require, as Becca Most of the News Tribune reported April 26. Its an option known as cash in lieu.

I have some experience with affordable housing and the payment of cash in lieu  where developers pay cash into an affordable housing program rather than build the number of affordable units required by county regulations  so I thought I would provide some context. Like most things, the payment of cash in lieu has both pros and cons and whether a community accepts them is a challenging policy question for our elected leaders. Here are some pros and cons as I see them.

The good: More affordable housing

The payment of cash in lieu can fund the creation of more affordable housing units. In the hands of a government housing authority, cash in lieu can produce more affordable housing units than if the same funds are used by a private developer.

Wait, you ask, are you claiming that the government can be more efficient than private developers? Thats crazy talk. Well, its true.

Government housing authorities can leverage these funds with federal and state grants and private investment incentivized with low-income housing tax credits. Also, building a project that is 100% affordable provides some economies of scale that are not available to a developer building only a few affordable units.

In Boulder, Colorado, which has had such a program for almost 15 years, staff estimates that cash in lieu produces two to three times as many affordable housing units as would be produced if the developer built the units on site.

A cash in lieu option also makes an affordable housing regulation more legally defensible. Any government regulation that tells a property owner what the owner can and cannot do with the owners property will be weighed against the property owners right to be free from a government taking of the owners property; a right protected by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. A reasonable cash in lieu option can help protect an affordable housing regulation from being struck down.

Its not perfect and in fact, Seattles program is currently being challenged in federal court.

The bad: Courting NIMBYism

Cash in lieu will generally be deployed in projects where land is cheaper and where there already are existing affordable housing developments. People in these areas will justifiably ask why all of the affordable housing is being built in their neighborhood.

These community members have a point and community opposition can slow down or even stop affordable housing developments. Remember, most people support development of affordable housing but oppose affordable housing in their neighborhood.

I am not being critical; although it may seem hypocritical, its a view shared by most Americans. So, accepting cash in lieu can jeopardize affordable housing projects.

The ugly: more segregation

Accepting cash in lieu increases housing segregation. One reason to require on-site affordable housing is to promote housing diversity. That is, as a policy matter, we do not want to encourage exclusive enclaves of the rich and segregation of the poor.

If we do not build on-site affordable housing and use the funds to build separate affordable housing developments we continue our nations long tradition of separating the rich from the poor. The ugly part is that because people of color are overrepresented among the poor in America, when we segregate by income, we segregate by race.

Cash in lieu presents really challenging decisions for policymakers. Overall, I think its a good thing as long as programs work to avoid unintended consequences and limit segregation by race. As a society, we need to create more affordable housing units. There are too many members of community living on our streets or in substandard conditions. Everyone needs and deserves a roof over their head.

Tom Carr is a retired attorney living in Lakewood. He formerly served as the city attorney for Seattle, Washington and Boulder, Colorado and the County Council in Washington County, Oregon.
baby clothes with messages on them appear pinned to a clothesline

Advocates, legislators, and pregnant workers rally in support of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act on Dec. 1, 2022, in Washington, D.C. The new workplace anti-discrimination law that was passed by Congress with wide bipartisan support has become fodder in the abortion rights battle between Republican-led states and the federal government. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images)

Natasha Jackson was four months pregnant when she told her supervisor she was expecting. It was 2008, and Jackson was an account executive at a rental furniture store in Charleston, South Carolina  the only female employee there.

I actually hid my pregnancy as long as I could because I was scared about what could happen, she said.

When her doctor recommended that she not lift more than 25 pounds, her employer wouldnt let her move temporarily to a role where she didnt need to lift furniture, even though those roles were available, she said. She was forced to go on leave and then lost her job. Her marriage unraveled and she spent time after the birth in emergency housing.

That hardship affected me years on, and it took away the joy of being pregnant, said Jackson. They made me feel guilty and ashamed for having a baby.

Jackson, now 41 and a mother of four who owns her own cleaning company, has spent years working with advocacy groups to fight for better laws to protect pregnant workers. Last year, she was invited to speak at a White House event celebrating the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a new workplace anti-discrimination law for which she had advocated.

But now this law, passed with wide bipartisan support, has become fodder in the bitter battle over abortion rights between Republican-led states and the federal government.

The act fills gaps in state and federal protections by requiring employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and those who have recently given birth or have related medical conditions  unless the employer can prove it would cause undue hardship on the business.

Accommodations can include allowing an employee to take additional bathroom breaks, carry a water bottle, or sit instead of stand while on the job. After years of lobbying by nonprofit organizations and business groups, the federal law passed in December 2022. It went into effect last June.

In its rulemaking process, the Biden administration included abortion as a related medical condition covered by the law. That means employees seeking abortion care can ask for accommodations from their employers, such as time off work for an appointment or recovery.

This year, 19 Republican attorneys general  including from Jacksons home state of South Carolina  have sued the administration over that interpretation.

The AGs argue the Biden administration is forcing abortion accommodations even in states where abortions are illegal.

Under this radical interpretation of the PWFA, business owners will face federal lawsuits if they dont accommodate employees abortions, even if those abortions are illegal under state law, Arkansas Republican Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement last month announcing the lawsuit filed by Arkansas and 16 other Republican-led states.

But some advocates say the lawsuit threatens protections for all pregnant workers covered under the new law  not just the small subset who need abortion care.

These states are cutting off their noses to spite their faces, said Elizabeth Gedmark, an attorney and vice president of A Better Balance, a national nonprofit advocacy organization that provides legal services and has long pushed for a national Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

These attacks have very real consequences for peoples lives and for their economic security and health, she said.

Jackson fears the lawsuit could lead to fewer workers accessing the care they need to be healthy.

(Workers) should have the right to proper medical care during pregnancy, after childbirth, after having a miscarriage, or having an abortion, she said. It seems quite ridiculous to me that some employers want so much control over employees to the point that they feel like they have the right to threaten their job security because of pregnancy or anything associated with it.

Into the fray

After Congress passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency known as the EEOC, had to hammer out a set of rules that clarify what employers can and cant do under the law.

So last summer, the EEOC sought public comment on its proposed rules for how the new law would work. More than 100,000 comments were submitted over a two-month period.

The flood of comments stemmed from opinions about whether the EEOC should include abortion in its definition of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions that are covered under the new law.

The vast majority were nearly identical form comments, according to the EEOC. About 54,000 of the comments urged the EEOC to exclude abortion, while about 40,000 supported its inclusion.

In a 3-2 vote, the EEOC ultimately adopted new rules that included abortion care in its definition of conditions covered under the law. The rules are set to go into effect June 18.

But in April, a week after the EEOC announced its final rules, the 17-state coalition of GOP attorneys general argued in its lawsuit that the agencys erroneous interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act creates an abortion accommodation mandate.

When the law was passed by Congress, it was explicitly understood not to address abortion at all, and the text of the statute does not address abortion, said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who is co-leading the lawsuit with Arkansas Griffin.

Skrmetti and the other Republican attorneys general point to comments made by lawmakers during debate on the measure that appear to signal Congress intent was not to impose abortion-related requirements in states where those abortions would be illegal.

Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, who sponsored the pregnant workers bill, said during debate that the EEOC could not issue any regulation that requires abortion leave, nor does the act permit the EEOC to require employers to provide abortions in violation of state law.

The 15 other states joining the lawsuit are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.

More states have jumped into the fray. In mid-May, Louisianas and Mississippis attorneys general, both Republicans, filed their own lawsuit challenging the same provision.

And in February, a federal judge in Texas blocked the EEOC from accepting complaints filed by Texas state employees under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. It was a win for Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who had sued the Biden administration last year.

Protections at risk

Skrmetti, the Tennessee attorney general, believes the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is a good law.

It was passed with a degree of bipartisanship that you rarely see, he told Stateline, and it undermines the efforts of Congress and the popular will when agencies take laws and change them without the authority of the peoples representatives.

But Gedmark, of A Better Balance, said decades of legal precedent support including abortion as a related medical condition for pregnant workers. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act, a federal law passed in 1978, prohibits sex discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions  a definition that the EEOC has long interpreted to include abortion.

Proponents of the new Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the EEOCs rules worry the lawsuits will sow confusion among employers and employees. Theres concern, Gedmark said, that a court could render more of the regulations invalid, beyond those that mention abortion.

Skrmetti doesnt think the 17-state lawsuit will hurt the laws protections for pregnant, postpartum and lactating workers.

The optimal outcome would be for the abortion-related pieces of the rule that arent supported by the statute to be vacated, he said. But the law remains the law regardless of what the (EEOCs) rules are.

While states and the feds clash in court, Jackson said shes focused on making sure as many women as possible know about their new rights.

Whenever shes out shopping and spots a pregnant store employee, she asks how theyre doing. She asks if they know about their workplace rights, and how to ask their employers for the accommodations they need.

Whether a mother decides to have an abortion or not, she still needs medical care after the procedure, the same as she would need medical care if she had a miscarriage or regular childbirth, Jackson said. I believe that employers need to know the difference between personal (ideology) and business.

This story was produced by Stateline, a States Newsroom affiliate.

The post New rules protect pregnant workers, but red states sue over abortion provisions appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Women work in a restaurant kitchen in Chicago in March 2023. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a new workplace anti-discrimination law that was passed by Congress with wide bipartisan support, has become fodder in the abortion rights battle between Republican-led states and the federal government. (Nam Y. Huh/The Associated Press)

Natasha Jackson was four months pregnant when she told her supervisor she was expecting. It was 2008, and Jackson was an account executive at a rental furniture store in Charleston, South Carolina  the only female employee there.

I actually hid my pregnancy as long as I could because I was scared about what could happen, she said.

When her doctor recommended that she not lift more than 25 pounds, her employer wouldnt let her move temporarily to a role where she didnt need to lift furniture, even though those roles were available, she said. She was forced to go on leave and then lost her job. Her marriage unraveled and she spent time after the birth in emergency housing.

That hardship affected me years on, and it took away the joy of being pregnant, said Jackson. They made me feel guilty and ashamed for having a baby.

Jackson, now 41 and a mother of four who owns her own cleaning company, has spent years working with advocacy groups to fight for better laws to protect pregnant workers. Last year, she was invited to speak at a White House event celebrating the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a new workplace anti-discrimination law for which she had advocated.

But now this law, passed with wide bipartisan support, has become fodder in the bitter battle over abortion rights between Republican-led states and the federal government.

The act fills gaps in state and federal protections by requiring employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and those who have recently given birth or have related medical conditions  unless the employer can prove it would cause undue hardship on the business.

It seems quite ridiculous to me that some employers want so much control over employees to the point that they feel like they have the right to threaten their job security because of pregnancy or anything associated with it.

 Natasha Jackson

Accommodations can include allowing an employee to take additional bathroom breaks, carry a water bottle, or sit instead of stand while on the job. After years of lobbying by nonprofit organizations and business groups, the federal law passed in December 2022. It went into effect last June.

In its rulemaking process, the Biden administration included abortion as a related medical condition covered by the law. That means employees seeking abortion care can ask for accommodations from their employers, such as time off work for an appointment or recovery.

This year, 19 Republican attorneys general  including from Jacksons home state of South Carolina  have sued the administration over that interpretation.

The AGs argue the Biden administration is forcing abortion accommodations even in states where abortions are illegal.

Under this radical interpretation of the PWFA, business owners will face federal lawsuits if they dont accommodate employees abortions, even if those abortions are illegal under state law, Arkansas Republican Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement last month announcing the lawsuit filed by Arkansas and 16 other Republican-led states.

But some advocates say the lawsuit threatens protections for all pregnant workers covered under the new law  not just the small subset who need abortion care.

These states are cutting off their noses to spite their faces, said Elizabeth Gedmark, an attorney and vice president of A Better Balance, a national nonprofit advocacy organization that provides legal services and has long pushed for a national Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

These attacks have very real consequences for peoples lives and for their economic security and health, she said.

Jackson fears the lawsuit could lead to fewer workers accessing the care they need to be healthy.

[Workers] should have the right to proper medical care during pregnancy, after childbirth, after having a miscarriage, or having an abortion, she said. It seems quite ridiculous to me that some employers want so much control over employees to the point that they feel like they have the right to threaten their job security because of pregnancy or anything associated with it.

Into the fray

After Congress passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency known as the EEOC, had to hammer out a set of rules that clarify what employers can and cant do under the law.

So last summer, the EEOC sought public comment on its proposed rules for how the new law would work. More than 100,000 comments were submitted over a two-month period.

The flood of comments stemmed from opinions about whether the EEOC should include abortion in its definition of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions that are covered under the new law.

The vast majority were nearly identical form comments, according to the EEOC. About 54,000 of the comments urged the EEOC to exclude abortion, while about 40,000 supported its inclusion.

In a 3-2 vote, the EEOC ultimately adopted new rules that included abortion care in its definition of conditions covered under the law. The rules are set to go into effect June 18.

But in April, a week after the EEOC announced its final rules, the 17-state coalition of GOP attorneys general argued in its lawsuit that the agencys erroneous interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act creates an abortion accommodation mandate.

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.

When the law was passed by Congress, it was explicitly understood not to address abortion at all, and the text of the statute does not address abortion, said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who is co-leading the lawsuit with Arkansas Griffin.

Skrmetti and the other Republican attorneys general point to comments made by lawmakers during debate on the measure that appear to signal Congress intent was not to impose abortion-related requirements in states where those abortions would be illegal.

Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, who sponsored the pregnant workers bill, said during debate that the EEOC could not issue any regulation that requires abortion leave, nor does the act permit the EEOC to require employers to provide abortions in violation of state law.

The 15 other states joining the lawsuit are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.

More states have jumped into the fray. In mid-May, Louisianas and Mississippis attorneys general, both Republicans, filed their own lawsuit challenging the same provision.

And in February, a federal judge in Texas blocked the EEOC from accepting complaints filed by Texas state employees under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. It was a win for Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who had sued the Biden administration last year.

Protections at risk

Skrmetti, the Tennessee attorney general, believes the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is a good law.

It was passed with a degree of bipartisanship that you rarely see, he told Stateline, and it undermines the efforts of Congress and the popular will when agencies take laws and change them without the authority of the peoples representatives.

But Gedmark, of A Better Balance, said decades of legal precedent support including abortion as a related medical condition for pregnant workers. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act, a federal law passed in 1978, prohibits sex discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions  a definition that the EEOC has long interpreted to include abortion.

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Proponents of the new Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the EEOCs rules worry the lawsuits will sow confusion among employers and employees. Theres concern, Gedmark said, that a court could render more of the regulations invalid, beyond those that mention abortion.

Skrmetti doesnt think the 17-state lawsuit will hurt the laws protections for pregnant, postpartum and lactating workers.

The optimal outcome would be for the abortion-related pieces of the rule that arent supported by the statute to be vacated, he said. But the law remains the law regardless of what the [EEOCs] rules are.

While states and the feds clash in court, Jackson said shes focused on making sure as many women as possible know about their new rights.

Whenever shes out shopping and spots a pregnant store employee, she asks how theyre doing. She asks if they know about their workplace rights, and how to ask their employers for the accommodations they need.

Whether a mother decides to have an abortion or not, she still needs medical care after the procedure, the same as she would need medical care if she had a miscarriage or regular childbirth, Jackson said. I believe that employers need to know the difference between personal [ideology] and business.

The post New rules protect pregnant workers, but red states sue over abortion provisions appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Women work in a restaurant kitchen in Chicago in March 2023. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a new workplace anti-discrimination law that was passed by Congress with wide bipartisan support, has become fodder in the abortion rights battle between Republican-led states and the federal government. (Nam Y. Huh | The Associated Press)

Natasha Jackson was four months pregnant when she told her supervisor she was expecting. It was 2008, and Jackson was an account executive at a rental furniture store in Charleston, South Carolina  the only female employee there.

I actually hid my pregnancy as long as I could because I was scared about what could happen, she said.

When her doctor recommended that she not lift more than 25 pounds, her employer wouldnt let her move temporarily to a role where she didnt need to lift furniture, even though those roles were available, she said. She was forced to go on leave and then lost her job. Her marriage unraveled and she spent time after the birth in emergency housing.

That hardship affected me years on, and it took away the joy of being pregnant, said Jackson. They made me feel guilty and ashamed for having a baby.

Jackson, now 41 and a mother of four who owns her own cleaning company, has spent years working with advocacy groups to fight for better laws to protect pregnant workers. Last year, she was invited to speak at a White House event celebrating the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a new workplace anti-discrimination law for which she had advocated.

But now this law, passed with wide bipartisan support, has become fodder in the bitter battle over abortion rights between Republican-led states and the federal government.

The act fills gaps in state and federal protections by requiring employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and those who have recently given birth or have related medical conditions  unless the employer can prove it would cause undue hardship on the business.

Accommodations can include allowing an employee to take additional bathroom breaks, carry a water bottle, or sit instead of stand while on the job. After years of lobbying by nonprofit organizations and business groups, the federal law passed in December 2022. It went into effect last June.

In its rulemaking process, the Biden administration included abortion as a related medical condition covered by the law. That means employees seeking abortion care can ask for accommodations from their employers, such as time off work for an appointment or recovery.

This year, 19 Republican attorneys general  including from Jacksons home state of South Carolina  have sued the administration over that interpretation.

It seems quite ridiculous to me that some employers want so much control over employees to the point that they feel like they have the right to threaten their job security because of pregnancy or anything associated with it.

 Natasha Jackson, mom of four who once lost her job after asking for pregnancy accommodations

The AGs argue the Biden administration is forcing abortion accommodations even in states where abortions are illegal.

Under this radical interpretation of the PWFA, business owners will face federal lawsuits if they dont accommodate employees abortions, even if those abortions are illegal under state law, Arkansas Republican Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement last month announcing the lawsuit filed by Arkansas and 16 other Republican-led states.

But some advocates say the lawsuit threatens protections for all pregnant workers covered under the new law  not just the small subset who need abortion care.

These states are cutting off their noses to spite their faces, said Elizabeth Gedmark, an attorney and vice president of A Better Balance, a national nonprofit advocacy organization that provides legal services and has long pushed for a national Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

These attacks have very real consequences for peoples lives and for their economic security and health, she said.

Jackson fears the lawsuit could lead to fewer workers accessing the care they need to be healthy.

[Workers] should have the right to proper medical care during pregnancy, after childbirth, after having a miscarriage, or having an abortion, she said. It seems quite ridiculous to me that some employers want so much control over employees to the point that they feel like they have the right to threaten their job security because of pregnancy or anything associated with it.

Into the fray

After Congress passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency known as the EEOC, had to hammer out a set of rules that clarify what employers can and cant do under the law.

So last summer, the EEOC sought public comment on its proposed rules for how the new law would work. More than 100,000 comments were submitted over a two-month period.

The flood of comments stemmed from opinions about whether the EEOC should include abortion in its definition of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions that are covered under the new law.

The vast majority were nearly identical form comments, according to the EEOC. About 54,000 of the comments urged the EEOC to exclude abortion, while about 40,000 supported its inclusion.

In a 3-2 vote, the EEOC ultimately adopted new rules that included abortion care in its definition of conditions covered under the law. The rules are set to go into effect June 18.

But in April, a week after the EEOC announced its final rules, the 17-state coalition of GOP attorneys general argued in its lawsuit that the agencys erroneous interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act creates an abortion accommodation mandate.

When the law was passed by Congress, it was explicitly understood not to address abortion at all, and the text of the statute does not address abortion, said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who is co-leading the lawsuit with Arkansas Griffin.

Skrmetti and the other Republican attorneys general point to comments made by lawmakers during debate on the measure that appear to signal Congress intent was not to impose abortion-related requirements in states where those abortions would be illegal.

Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, who sponsored the pregnant workers bill, said during debate that the EEOC could not issue any regulation that requires abortion leave, nor does the act permit the EEOC to require employers to provide abortions in violation of state law.

The 15 other states joining the lawsuit are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.

More states have jumped into the fray. In mid-May, Louisianas and Mississippis attorneys general, both Republicans, filed their own lawsuit challenging the same provision.

And in February, a federal judge in Texas blocked the EEOC from accepting complaints filed by Texas state employees under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. It was a win for Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who had sued the Biden administration last year.

Protections at risk

Skrmetti, the Tennessee attorney general, believes the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is a good law.

It was passed with a degree of bipartisanship that you rarely see, he told Stateline, and it undermines the efforts of Congress and the popular will when agencies take laws and change them without the authority of the peoples representatives.

But Gedmark, of A Better Balance, said decades of legal precedent support including abortion as a related medical condition for pregnant workers. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act, a federal law passed in 1978, prohibits sex discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions  a definition that the EEOC has long interpreted to include abortion.

Proponents of the new Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the EEOCs rules worry the lawsuits will sow confusion among employers and employees. Theres concern, Gedmark said, that a court could render more of the regulations invalid, beyond those that mention abortion.

Skrmetti doesnt think the 17-state lawsuit will hurt the laws protections for pregnant, postpartum and lactating workers.

The optimal outcome would be for the abortion-related pieces of the rule that arent supported by the statute to be vacated, he said. But the law remains the law regardless of what the [EEOCs] rules are.

While states and the feds clash in court, Jackson said shes focused on making sure as many women as possible know about their new rights.

Whenever shes out shopping and spots a pregnant store employee, she asks how theyre doing. She asks if they know about their workplace rights, and how to ask their employers for the accommodations they need.

Whether a mother decides to have an abortion or not, she still needs medical care after the procedure, the same as she would need medical care if she had a miscarriage or regular childbirth, Jackson said. I believe that employers need to know the difference between personal [ideology] and business.

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 New rules protect pregnant workers, but red states sue over abortion provisions appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Russia allows seizure of US property to retaliate for confiscated frozen Russian assets

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has authorised the confiscation of the property of the United States, American citizens, residents, companies operating mainly in the American market, and companies owned by them, in order to pay compensation for confiscated Russian assets.

Source: Radio Liberty with reference to RFE/RL

Details: "The decree allows Russian companies and private individuals to apply to Russian courts with the demand to recognise as unjustified the confiscation of property by the decision of the courts or state authorities in the USA," they wrote.

So, if the Russian court found that the confiscation was unjustified, a special government commission should offer as compensation assets related to the United States and found on the territory of Russia.

Putin's decree allows the seizure of real estate, securities, shares in Russian companies, property rights owned by the United States or American residents and citizens on the territory of Russia.

Background:

Russia does not have enough Western assets on its territory for proportionate retaliatory confiscation, but it still has ways to retaliate against the West if it dares to seize its international reserves and other state assets.

On 21 May, the Council of the EU approved the transfer of revenues from taxable excess profits of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.

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Russian forces attacked Sumy Oblast 108 times in 25 separate attacks throughout the day, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported on May 23.

The communities of Bilopillia, Yunakivka, Khotin, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Druzhbivka, Seredyna-Buda, and Esman, were targeted.

Throughout the day, Russia assailed the border communities with mortar, drone, rocket, and artillery attacks, while dropping explosives from drones onto three of the communities.

No casualties or injuries were reported.

The town of Velyka Pysarivka, located about 3 kilometers west of the Ukraine-Russia border, experienced the bulk of the attacks reported with 42 explosions recorded in the area.

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.

Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said on May 14 he expects Russia to launch a new attack in Sumy Oblast once the situation in Kharkiv Oblast stabilized, the New York Times reported.

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: Russias latest offensive into Kharkiv Oblast is stretching Ukrainian defenses

























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Editor's note: This article was updated to include a confirmation from Ukraine's military intelligence agency.

Ukraine's military intelligence agency confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that it was behind a drone attack targeting Russian military facilities in Russia's Tatarstan Republic on May 23.

A source from the agency said the drones had reached the cities of Nizhnekamsk and Kazan, but did not specify the extent of the damage caused.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed earlier in the day that air defenses had shot down a Ukrainian drone in the area.

Russian Telegram channels shared videos showing a drone-like aerial vehicle above Nizhnekamsk and rising smoke.

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency said that restrictions had been imposed on the departure and arrival of planes at Nizhnekamsk and Kazan airports around that time.

Rustem Nuriev, the mayor of the town of Yelabuga, claimed that a drone was downed in the Yelabuga disctrict. Yelabuga lies some 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) away from the Russia-Ukraine border. No casualties or damages were reported.

Ukrainian forces struck production facilities in Tatarstan's Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk for the first time on April 2, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) reported. The targets were an oil refinery and a manufacturing facility for the Shahed-type attack drones, which Russia regularly uses in attacks against Ukraine.

Soon after, on April 17, a factory in Tatarstan producing bomber aircraft for the Russian military was also attacked by Ukrainian drones, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) source told the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: How Ukraine hit a Russian drone factory 1,300 kilometers away

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Russia continues to suffer losses in the war of aggression against Ukraine, losing 1,330 soldiers, 27 armoured combat vehicles, 11 tanks and an aircraft over the past 24 hours alone.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 23 May 2024 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

497,700 (+1,330) military personnel;

7,622 (+11) tanks;

14,748 (+27) armoured combat vehicles;

12,860 (+40) artillery systems;

1,077 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems;

813 (+1) air defence systems;

355 (+1) fixed-wing aircraft;

326 (+0) helicopters;

10,391 (+45) strategic and tactical UAVs;

2,209 (+1) cruise missiles;

27 (+0) ships and boats;

1 (+0) submarines;

17,513 (+71) vehicles and tankers;

2,094 (+4) special vehicles and other equipment.

The information is being confirmed.

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BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- China saw accelerated overseas investment in the first four months of 2024, official data showed on Thursday, indicating the country's broadened engagement in cooperation on the global market.

China's non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) came in at 343.47 billion yuan (48.3 billion U.S. dollars) from January to April, up 18.7 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

That growth rate was higher than the 12.5 percent increase recorded in the first quarter of the year.

Cooperation under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework gained steam as ODI in countries participating in the BRI surged 20.4 percent in the January-April period to total 77.77 billion yuan.

The turnover of contracted overseas projects amounted to 313.42 billion yuan, an increase of 8.8 percent, and the value of new contracts rose 9.3 percent to total 444.39 billion yuan.

To facilitate Chinese investment in foreign countries and regions, a regulation on the contracting of overseas projects was issued by the MOC and will take effect on July 1 this year. It will streamline procedures and ensure government support for relevant businesses. 
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believe that Russia is promoting the Compatriots Living Abroad system to justify its further aggression and hybrid operations.

Source: ISW

Quote: "The Kremlin appears to be developing a system to legalise the status of Russia's so-called 'compatriots abroad', likely as part of its efforts to set information conditions to justify further aggression and hybrid operations abroad as 'protecting' Russia's compatriots."

Details: Analysts note that Yevgeny Primakov, Director General of the Russian Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo), said in an interview with the Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency TASS that Rossotrudnichestvo is developing an Electronic Compatriot Card programme that will allow "compatriots" abroad to access Russian public services, work in Russia and even apply for Russian citizenship in the future.

Primakov said Russia was preparing to launch a pilot version of the programme in several neighbouring countries and could start issuing the first such cards by the end of 2024.

The official estimated that Russia has between 20 and 40 million "compatriots" abroad. However, analysts point out it is unclear what definition of "compatriot abroad" Primakov is using.

The ISW added that Moldovan and Ukrainian officials had previously warned that Russian officials were using Russkiy Doms (Russian House, foreign representative offices of Rossotrudnichestvo, which supposedly aim to promote the Russian language and culture) to promote Russian propaganda and conduct subversive activities abroad.

Rossotrudnichestvo has been working on the Electronic Compatriot Card project since at least 2021 but has not yet launched the programme. In June 2023, Primakov said that Rossotrudnichestvo plans to open "certification centres" in Russian House offices around the world, where "compatriots" will be able to confirm their identity as part of the application process.

To quote ISW's Key Takeaways on 22 May:

The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) proposed on 21 May that the Russian government reassess Russias maritime borders in the Baltic Sea so that these borders "correspond to the modern geographical situation."

Kremlin and Russian MoD officials denied on 22 May that Russia is planning to change the Russian maritime border, but invertedly implied that the Russian government is considering undertaking some "security" measures in the Baltic Sea.

The Kremlin appears to be developing a system to legalise the status of Russia's so-called "compatriots abroad," likely as part of its efforts to set information conditions to justify further aggression and hybrid operations abroad as "protecting" Russia's compatriots.

United Kingdom (UK) Defence Minister Grant Shapps stated on 22 May that US and UK intelligence have evidence that the People's Republic of China (PRC) "is now or will be" providing lethal military assistance to Russia, a statement that US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan questioned.

Western officials warned that Russian intelligence services intend to increase sabotage activities and other hybrid operations against NATO member countries.

US Space Command reported on 21 May that Russia recently launched an anti-satellite weapon, the most recent report that Russia intends to field disruptive anti-satellite capabilities.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan indirectly accused Russia and directly accused Belarus of helping Azerbaijan to prepare for the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, against the backdrop of deteriorating Armenian-Russian relations.

Ukrainian forces recently recaptured territory near Vovchansk and Chasiv Yar, and Russian forces recently marginally advanced near Vovchansk, Avdiivka, Donetsk City, and Velyka Novosilka.

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Russias two-pronged assault in Kharkiv Oblast that began on May 10 is exploiting Ukraines troop shortage, forcing it to make difficult decisions about where to commit reserves.

Two weeks into the offensive, one group of Russian forces is already fighting in the streets of the town of Vovchansk about 70 kilometers away from the city of Kharkiv, while the other is trying to push toward the town of Lyptsi, just under two dozen kilometers away from the city.

The Kremlin has options for what it can try to accomplish in the area: depopulating Kharkiv, taking territory, and most importantly, getting Ukraine to commit reserves needed elsewhere.

So far, Russian troops seem at least partially successful with the latter two. Multiple border villages have reportedly been captured and some Ukrainian units have been moved in from outside Kharkiv to reinforce the defense of the region.

On top of Ukraines disadvantages in personnel and firepower, some of its fortifications appeared to have had a variety of weaknesses. Ukrainian troops in the area also failed to detect the buildup of the latest offensives ahead of time.

Emergency services fight a fire following a Russian air strike near Kharkiv, Ukraine on May 14, 2024. Around 16:00hrs on May 14, the Russian military hit Kharkiv with UMPB D-30 guided air bombs. In recent days Russian forces have gained ground around the Kharkiv region, which Ukraine had largely reclaimed in the months following Russia's initial large-scale invasion in February 2022. The Russians intensified their attacks on Kharkiv in order to force the city's residents to leave, said the city's mayor, Ihor Terekhov. (Vlada Liberova/Libkos/Getty Images)

Forcing the defenders hand

Russian forces captured and then lost a lot of territory in Kharkiv Oblast in 2022 following the start of Russias full-scale invasion. Throughout 2023, they conducted major offensives in the Kupiansk district which achieved little except inflicting casualties on both sides.

Changing angles, after months of recon and buildup, Russian forces struck across the national border starting on May 10.

"They were seeing that the Ukrainian defenses were too robust (around Kupiansk), in a way. There was not a situation where Russia could advance significantly," Center for European Policy Analysis fellow Federico Borsari, who is based in D.C., told the Kyiv Independent.

"The Kremlin decided to change the direction of the attack from eastern Kupiansk to directly against Kharkiv from the Russian border."

The size and ferocity of the assault prompted fears that Russia could try and lay siege to Kharkiv. Experts who spoke to the Kyiv Independent agree the Russian forces are not strong enough to take the city, but they dont actually have to.

If they get close enough, they can just keep shelling Kharkiv to drive out the residents and destroy businesses and infrastructure, depriving the Ukrainian state the revenue it desperately needs from its second-largest city. The closer they get to Kharkiv the less notice Ukraine has of a future attack, requiring even more forces to defend the city.

The experts watching agree that stretching Ukraines defenses is the main point of the Kharkiv Oblast operation.

Ukrainian police help civilians evacuate from the Vovchansk district to safe zones due to the Russian offensive in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on May 15, 2024. (George Ivanchenko/Anadolu via Getty Images)

People who have fled the village of Tsyrkuny wait in a car at a checkpoint outside Kharkiv, on May 13, 2024. Thousands of people have been evacuated from border areas in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, as Russia kept up constant strikes on a key town as part of a cross-border offensive, officials said on May 12, 2024. The surprise Russian attack across Ukraine's northeastern border began on May 10, 2024, with troops making small advances in an area from where they had been pushed back nearly two years ago. (Roman Pilipey / AFP)

Were being stretched like a bowstring, Ivan Stupak, a government adviser who used to serve with the Security Service of Ukraine, told the Kyiv Independent. Were getting buried in the south around Robotyne. Theyre attacking in Kharkiv and Sumy.

Russia may be hoping that if Ukrainian troops become sufficiently stretched, the string would pop, and everything would fall apart.

For Russian forces, this appears to be working. Rob Lee, Foreign Policy Research Institute's senior fellow, noted that Ukraine has moved units from Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts to reinforce the defense of Kharkiv, making it easier for the enemy to advance in those directions.

"Russia might open up another front," Lee told the Kyiv Independent "There are a few directions (from which) to force Ukraine to pull forces."

From the looks of it, and judging how even high-ranking Ukrainians (for example, military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov) are talking about it, Ukraine is doing everything to fulfill Russian operational intent, said Pasi Paroinen of the Finland-based freelance OSINT collective Black Bird Group, which studies satellite imagery of the shifting front lines.

Read also: Russias new Kharkiv offensive pushes Vovchansk to the brink of annihilation

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) knows its a fixing action, the AFU knew the time and place it would happen (to a certain degree). And the AFU is still finding itself in a situation where it is forced to do pretty much what the Russians want from this operation.

How many reserves Ukraine has isnt open information. Budanov has written that the reserves are exhausted, but his intentions and available information are not a matter of public record.

Blame game

Public pressure in response to the loss of territory makes it quite likely that AFU will launch costly counterattacks which will drain the limited reserves even further, Paroinen said.

There is lots of scapegoating and blame game going on right now: who was responsible for what, he said. Since there seems to be little trust towards the AFU right now the loss of border villages was interpreted as complete lack of preparation.

From the information that has been made public, the offensive appeared to catch Ukrainian units in the area by surprise, even though Ukraine knew something like this would be coming in May or June.

According to Borsari, Ukraine knew that Russian special forces were doing thorough reconnaissance of the area. Military analyst Kostiantyn Mashovets has been writing about the buildup for weeks.

Kevliuk, the analyst with the Center for Defense Strategies, wrote that Russian troops had been gathering troops and equipment into Russias Kursk Oblast, then sneaking them into Belgorod Oblast all throughout April. This was a clear preparation for an offensive, according to observers.

Firefighters work on the site of a fire in Kharkiv, Ukraine on May 4, 2024. According to the Head of the local regional administration, Oleh Syniehubov, the Russian army attacked the city with kamikaze drones at night. The attack caused a fire at a service station and injured three people, including a 13-year-old girl and an elderly woman. (Viacheslav Mavrychev/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC "UA:PBC"/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Exactly why Ukrainian troops either missed or failed to react to a buildup isn't clear. Stupak, the government adviser, said some defenders were counting on being able to easily spot evidence of any buildup in advance, to the point where they missed more subtle evidence.

Lee and Borsari said this is another indication of just how understaffed the Ukrainians are. Units, sometimes less experienced ones, are forced to pay attention to too many things at the same time. This includes enemy detection and border fortifications.

Questionable fortifications

Different sections of Ukraines fortifications had a variety of different issues, starting with the timing of their construction.

I think one of the key problems with fortifications is that their construction was simply started too late, Borsari said.

Ukraine has been trying to rush them during the spring, but I would say, the effort is at least six months too late to achieve anything like what the Russians had by the summer of 2023.

He said the Russian units knew that the defenses around Kharkiv Oblast were less dense than in some other regions. And as recent reporting by the Kyiv Independent and other news has shown, Kharkiv isnt the only region with poor or delayed fortifications. Borsari and other experts agree: this is a problem across the entire front.

The regional governments say These are lies, this is a psyop. Okay, but then why are the soldiers saying it? Stupak said.

Soldiers are dying over there. Theres nothing there. Even if some of them are exaggerating, why did the General Staff say we have to pull back? Where are these fortifications?

Workers are building fortifications for Ukrainian soldiers in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine on March 28, 2024. On the border territory of Kharkiv Oblast the construction of fortifications in different directions continues. (Ivan Samoilov/Gwara Media/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

The second line of fortifications is under construction along the border with Russia in Kharkiv region, Ukraine on March 12, 2024. (Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Some fortifications, particularly ones further in the rear, were likely outsourced to civilian contractors. A scandal over missing fortification funds has arisen already.

Also, both Stupak and Lee pointed out that some fortifications were built without making the best use of the terrain. This could mean they were built without military oversight and by people who didnt think to utilize the terrain properly.

Some fortifications were also incompletely built when some of the units currently fighting in Kharkiv were deployed there, according to Stupak.

Soldiers are calling me and telling me that they have to finish building the fortifications themselves, in the Kharkiv direction, Stupak said. He thinks the Ukrainian government and military must review the quality of all fortifications as soon as possible.

Controversially, some landmines, particularly anti-personnel landmines were not deployed in some areas, Stupak added.

The frontmost fortifications tend to hug the border and its much more difficult for Ukrainian forces to build fortifications while being shelled by enemy troops.



In Ukraine, the job of building the frontmost fortifications is often left to brigades. Many brigades lack the earth-moving equipment to easily manage on their own, especially with everything else military units have to do when getting into position.

Lee said that while the experienced 57th and 92nd brigades were deployed to the area before the offensive began, they didnt have enough time to build fortifications and adapt to the terrain to maximize their effectiveness.

Opportunistic attacks in two directions

Viktor Kevliuk, a retired Ukrainian colonel and analyst with the Center for Defense Strategy, thinks Vovchansk is the primary target in the region.

The town is just several kilometers away from the border, and is a linchpin for the defenses of the Kupiansk district in Kharkiv Oblast and it can realistically be taken by a force of that strength. Russian troops controlled 40% of it as of May 20.

But he added that the breadth of the Russian attack is the actual point. The enemy's actions in the Kharkiv direction are aimed at launching combat operations on the widest possible front, binding the Defense Forces, forcing them to bring available reserves into operation, thereby facilitating the enemy's offensive in other directions, he told the Kyiv Independent.

The enemy makes two blows: the main one  on Vovchansk, the other  on Lyptsi.

Lyptsi is much more directly dangerous as its closer to Kharkiv and can be used as part of a terror bombing campaign of the city.

But Emil Kastehelmi of the Finnish Black Bird Group said that in Lyptsi, Ukrainians used depth to their advantage. They pulled out from the most difficult border villages, and are now defending in places where they can better use the terrain.

Ukraine has been able to significantly reduce the speed of the attack, and Russia hasn't been able to gain more than a few fields after their initial success, he said.

This direction has more importance, as the enemy has to be stopped between Lyptsi and Borshchova, in order to keep the city of Kharkiv from being in rocket artillery range.

A mortar unit with a 120 mm mortar prepares to perform a combat mission in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine on May 18, 2024. Ukrainian soldiers from the 92nd assault brigade were involved in holding back the Russians on the border with Russia. In recent days Russian forces have gained ground around the Kharkiv region, which Ukraine had largely reclaimed in the months following Russia's initial large-scale invasion in February 2022. (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)

But Lee said that its hard to tell which direction of attack in Kharkiv outranks the other in importance. He said the Russians are attacking opportunistically, ready to exploit what territory they can take and chaos they can sow.

The Kremlin may also be counting on internally displaced people to create tensions in the places to which they escape, according to Stupak. Russia may also be trying to capture as much territory as it can as a bargaining chip in hypothetical future peace talks, Stupak said.

If the Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast stalls, its troops can quickly throw down a garrison and move the bulk of their troops to do the same thing in another region, like neighboring Sumy.

Read also: Sumy Oblast fortifies amid looming threat of Kharkiv attack

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Servicemen of Ukraine's 93rd Mechanised Brigade fire a French MO-120-RT heavy mortar at the Russian forces on the front line near the city of Bakhmut in Ukraine's Donetsk region on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. - Iryna Rybakova via AP

Russia claims to have recaptured the village of Andriivka in the eastern Donetsk region, where Kyivs forces are suffering manpower and ammunition shortages and struggling to repel attacks.

Andriivka is one of the few villages Ukraine wrested back in its lacklustre counteroffensive last summer. When it was liberated by Kyivs forces in September, local media described it as unrecognisable with the damage so severe that soldiers did not know where to plant the Ukrainian flag.

Moscows claim could not be immediately verified.

Russian forces were also advancing near Chasiv Yar and in Klishchiivka and Krasnohorivka in Donetsk, according to crowd sourced monitoring service DeepState.

Kyrylo Sazonov, a Ukrainian soldier of the 41st Separate Mechanised Brigade told RFERL on Thursday that Russian troops were trying to advance near Chasiv Yar, but they have not yet entered the town.

Ukrainian forces are also reported to have withdrawn from Krynky, a small bridgehead on the Russian-held side of the Dnipro river. The unit, according to Telegram groups, has entrenched in a safer position on the left bank. One military blogger said that Moscows forces had suffered many casualties as Kyiv withdrew after launching cluster bombs.

03:30 PM BST

Todays live blog is now closed

Thats all for today, thanks for following along. Here is a summary of the most significant events of the day:

The US Secretary of State is reportedly backing a plan to allow US missiles donated to Ukraine to be fired into Russia. Antony Blinken is pushing for strict White House rules to be relaxed following a visit to Kyiv last week in the wake of a new invasion from the northern border, the New York Times reported.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, issued another plea last night for upgraded defence systems to help Kyiv defend against guided bombs, which he said is now the main instrument being used in attacks. Speaking in his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine had made progress in developing electronic weaponry, but in countering Russian bombs much remains to be done.

Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen leader, met with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, on Thursday and offered thousands more fighters to support Moscows forces in fighting Ukraine.

Mr Zelensky is reportedly planning on attending next months D-Day commemoration in France and the G7 meeting in Italy, to call on Nato to start downing Russian missiles over Ukraine.

The Kremlin has said it will retaliate against Norways decision to further restrict entry to Russian tourists, effectively banning all of them, describing it as discriminatory.

Russia has detained the deputy head of the armys general staff, Lieutenant-General Vadim Shamarin, on suspicion of large-scale bribe-taking, local media reported today. It is the fourth arrest of a high-ranking defence figure in the space of a month, starting on April 23 when Timur Ivanov, the deputy defence minister, was placed in pre-trial detention for suspected bribe-taking.

High precision missiles on Sunday sank a Russian naval ship in a long-range attack on the Crimean port of Sevastopol, British military intelligence believes. The ministry of Defence on Thursday said that it was highly likely a combination of one-way attack drones and Atacms that destroyed the Karakurt class missile corvette Tsiklon.

A Russian attack on a residential area in Kharkiv has killed at least seven and injured 11, local officials said. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, described the attacks as brutal and said Russia was taking advantage of Ukraines lack of air defence systems to launch fatal attacks on towns and cities at his countrys frontier.

Maria Zakharova, Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman, has said Moscow will retaliate with strikes on British targets if British weapons are used by Ukraine to strike Russian territory. British targets on Ukraines territory and beyond its borders could be hit in such a scenario, she told reporters today.

The most intensive battles in Ukraine are now taking place in the east, where Russian forces are pressing on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove fronts in Donetsk region and Kupiansk in the east of the Kharkiv region, Ukraines top commander said on Thursday. Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Facebook that Moscows troops were also locked in street fighting in the town of Vovchansk and on the defensive near Lyptsi, two key battlegrounds in Kharkiv regions north where Russia has opened a new front this month.

03:05 PM BST

Pictured: Families of prisoners of war hold rally in Kyiv

A woman holds a placard reading 'My love, I wait for you!' as relatives and friends of Ukrainian marines held prisoners by Russia hold a rally at Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, 23 May 2024 - SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Relatives and friends of Ukrainian marines held prisoners by Russia hold a rally at Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, 23 May 2024 - SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

02:46 PM BST

Russia says main power line to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant goes down, no safety threats

Russia said on Thursday that the main power line supplying the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine had gone down, but that there was no threat to safety and the plant was being supplied via a backup line.

The six reactors at the Zaporizhzhia plant, held by Russia and located close to the front line of the conflict in Ukraine, are not in operation but it relies on external power to keep its nuclear material cool and prevent a catastrophic accident.

The Russian management said on their official channel on the Telegram app that the reasons for the outage, which had not caused any change in the radiation level, were being investigated.

It said the main 750 kilovolt (kV) Dniprovska power line went down at 13.31 local (1031 GMT), while the 330 kV Ferosplavnaya line was supplying power to the plant now.

The main Dniprovska power line also went down for almost five hours on March 22, highlighting what the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said were ever present dangers to nuclear safety and security from the Russia-Ukraine war.

01:53 PM BST

Ukraines foreign minister blasts heinous Kharkiv attack, pleas for seven Patriot systems

Russia struck Kharkiv and Lyubotyn with multiple missiles, leading to casualties and destruction.



This heinous attack must remind everyone around the world that Ukraine still urgently needs seven "Patriot" systems. We are very grateful to Germany for announcing one additional pic.twitter.com/wtJES3l370  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) May 23, 2024

01:48 PM BST

Putin decree outlines Russian response to any US seizure of frozen assets

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, signed a decree today preparing a response to any US seizure of frozen Russian assets.

It will identify US property, including securities, that could be used as compensation for losses sustained as a result of any seizures.

G7 negotiators have been discussing for weeks how to best exploit some $300 billion worth of frozen Russian financial assets. Today Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, urged G7 ministers to work on more ambitious options to use the assets.

While Russias ability to retaliate like-for-like has been damaged by lacking foreign investments, economists have suggested that Moscow could go after private investors cash instead.

01:37 PM BST

Pictured: Ukraine marks Day of Heroes

A woman visits the Memory Wall of Fallen Defenders of Ukraine as Ukrainians mark Day of Heroes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 23, 2024. - REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

01:30 PM BST

Ukrainian army chief reports most fierce fighting in east

The most intensive battles in Ukraine are now taking place in the east, where Russian forces are pressing on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove fronts in Donetsk region and Kupiansk in the east of the Kharkiv region, Ukraines top commander said on Thursday.

Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Facebook that Moscows troops were also locked in street fighting in the town of Vovchansk and on the defensive near Lyptsi, two key battlegrounds in Kharkiv regions north where Russia has opened a new front this month.

01:01 PM BST

Telegraph X space live: Is Biden about to allow US weapons to hit Russia?

12:55 PM BST

Artillery attack in Zaporizhzhia kills elderly man, governor says

A Russian artillery attack in Zaporizhzhia killed a 74-year-old man, according to the regional governor.

The Russians attacked Mala Tokmachka with artillery. They killed an elderly man who was in his yard, Ivan Fedorov, the regions governor said today.

The house and nearby structures were destroyed by the blast wave and debris.

12:44 PM BST

Kyiv Independent reporter says five explosions hit Kharkiv city centre earlier

Kharkiv under attack, five big explosions near the city center. Under my window, humanitarian aid is being given out, the people don't react at first, just hold their children close. But after the third and fourth explosion, they start going underground.  Francis Farrell (@francisjfarrell) May 23, 2024

12:21 PM BST

Moscow repeats warning it will strike British targets if UK weapons used to hit Russia

Maria Zakharova, Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman, has said Moscow will retaliate with strikes on British targets if British weapons are used by Ukraine to strike Russian territory.

British targets on Ukraines territory and beyond its borders could be hit in such a scenario, she told reporters today.

Moscow has already made the same warning earlier this month after David Cameron, the foreign secretary, said Ukraine had a right to use weapons provided by London to hit targets inside Russia.

Russia reacted with outrage and named it as one of the reasons why it has opted to hold exercises this month to simulate the launch of tactical nuclear missiles.

12:08 PM BST

Attack that hit Kharkivs purely civilian printwork kills six

The death toll from todays Russian attack on Kharkiv has risen to six, local authorities said.

At least 11 other people were injured.

The attack damaged transport and municipal infrastructure and destroyed a printing house, causing a fire, the mayor of Kharkiv and the regions governor said.

Smoke poured from one of the printwork buildings and the smell of burning wood filled the air as rescuers hauled bodies in plastic bags out of the building, a Reuters correspondent on the scene reported.

This is a purely civilian site, it is a printworks that prints books, regional police chief Volodymyr Tymoshko told reporters at the scene. Tymoshko said two missiles had hit the printworks premises, with one landing nearby.

Oleksandr Filchakov, head of the Kharkiv region prosecutors office, said about 50 people had been in the printworks when it was hit. Kharkiv is a hub of Ukraines publishing industry, which has kept working despite power outages and intensifying Russian strikes.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, described the attacks as brutal and said Russia was taking advantage of Ukraines lack of air defence systems to launch fatal attacks on towns and cities at his countrys frontier.

This handout photograph posted on the Telegram account of Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba on May 23, 2024, shows law enforcement officers working at the site of a missile attack in Kharkiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. - Handout / Telegram / @oleksiykuleba / AFP

Medical staff carrying an injured person on a stretcher following a missile attack in Kharkiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russian strikes on the eastern Ukraine city of Kharkiv killed at least five people, regional authorities said on May 23, 2024 - Handout / Telegram / @oleksiykuleba / AFP

11:52 AM BST

Russia appears to advance near Chasiv Yar, claims to have captured Andriivka

Russia said Thursday it had captured the village of Andriivka in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, where Kyivs forces are suffering manpower and ammunition shortages and struggling to hold off Russian attacks.

Units of the Southern grouping of troops liberated the settlement of Andriivka in the Donetsk Peoples Republic, the defence ministry said in a statement.

The Telegraph could not immediately verify the claim.

According to the crowd-sourced DeepState monitoring service, Russian forces have advanced near Chasiv Yar and in Klishchiivka and Krasnohorivka in Donetsk.

Kyrylo Sazonov, a soldier of the 41st Separate Mechanised Brigade deployed in the area, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty today that Russian troops are trying to advance near Chasiv Yar, but they have not entered the town.

Russian soldiers have tactical advances, which means that once they capture a position, they can be knocked out of it at any minute, Sazonov is quoted as saying in the Kyiv Independent.

These advances of 50 metres forward, 50 metres back mean nothing. We also enter their territory, and they enter ours, he said.

It is really important for us that they (Russia) do not enter the town. They have already said several times that they are in Chasiv Yar, that it is surrounded. We are preventing them from entering the town. In the town, their numerical superiority will be much more noticeable than it is now.

11:39 AM BST

Ukraine almost certainly sank Russian ship Tsiklon using ATACMS, UK says

High precision missiles sank a Russian naval ship in a long-range attack on the Crimean port of Sevastopol, British military intelligence believes.

The ministry of Defence on Thursday said that it was highly likely a combination of one-way attack drones and Atacms that destroyed the Karakurt class missile corvette Tsiklon.

Atacms are US-supplied missile systems were finally sent by the US to Ukraine secretly this year, after months of Kyiv pleading with Washington officials.

The Tsiklon ship was sunk on Sunday. The Ukrainian Navy reported on the same day as the attack that its defence forces had destroyed the 266-M Kovrovets, a Russian Black Sea Fleet minesweeper.

Although this is unlikely to significantly change the impact the Russian Navy is having on Ukrainian operations, it does highlight a continued danger to Russian forces operating in the Crimea and Black Sea region and continued Ukrainian success when conducting coordinated strikes, the MoD said.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine  23 May 2024.



Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/oRBdFqsbN5 #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/NGyOeN7zQ2  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) May 23, 2024

11:36 AM BST

US urges G7 to have more ambitious plans for frozen Russian assets

Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, today urged a G7 ministers meeting in Italy to work on more ambitious options to use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine.

We support the EUs decision to utilise the windfall profits from these assets, but we must also continue our collective work on more ambitious options, considering all relevant risks and acting together, she told a press conference ahead of a meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers and central bankers in Stresa.

11:10 AM BST

Romania sets conditions for sending Ukraine a Patriot system

As Romania continues to debate sending a Patriot system to Ukraine, its president has said that it must receive something in return.

Klaus Iohannis, the Romanian president, is quoted as saying in local media: Even if Romania finally makes some concessions, it must receive something in return. Otherwise, nothing will happen.

He reportedly stressed that this issue will not be discussed in public, but instead privately with military experts and the Supreme Council of National Defence, who must approve the issue.

The president has repeatedly stressed that sending the Patriot to Kyiv cannot affect the countrys air defences.

Although Romania only has one battery in operation, Mr Iohannis has previously said the discussions concerned another battery that is nearly operational.

10:48 AM BST

Russia detains fourth top defence figure for bribe-taking

Russia has detained the deputy head of the armys general staff, Lieutenant-General Vadim Shamarin, on suspicion of large-scale bribe-taking, local media reported today.

It is the fourth arrest of a high-ranking defence figure in the space of a month, starting on April 23 when Timur Ivanov, the deputy defence minister, was placed in pre-trial detention for suspected bribe-taking.

Since then, Lieutenant-General Yuri Kuznetsov, head of personnel at the defence ministry, and Major-General Ivan Popov, former commander of Russias 58th army, have also been arrested.

The scandal is the biggest to hit the Russian government in years.

This photo released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, shows Lt. Gen. Vadim Shamarin, deputy chief of the Russian military general staff, posing for an official photo in Moscow, Russia, on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. - Russian Defense Ministry Press Service photo via AP

10:41 AM BST

Moscow will retaliate against Norwegian decision to ban Russian tourists, Kremlin says

The Kremlin has said it will retaliate against Norways decision to further restrict entry to Russian tourists, effectively banning all of them, describing it as discriminatory.

Emilie Enger Mehl, Norways justice minister, said in a statement this morning: The decision to tighten the entry rules is in line with the Norwegian approach of standing by allies and partners in reaction to Russias illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

Russian citizens whose purpose is tourism and other non-essential travel will be rejected upon entry across the external border. Exceptions may be granted in cases such as visits to close family residing in Norway, the ministry said.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, told a news briefing: Of course, such decisions cannot go unanswered. Of course, the decision is purely discriminatory.

We do not accept such decisions. We regret that the Norwegian leadership has chosen this way of worsening our bilateral relations, which have already been of poor quality recently, and not on our initiative.

10:26 AM BST

Death toll from strikes in Kharkiv today rises to four

The death toll in Russian missile strikes on Ukraines northeastern city of Kharkiv rose to four, with two more people missing, the regional governor said.

Russian troops conducted at least 15 strikes on the city on Thursday morning, he added on Telegram.

10:17 AM BST

Zelensky to ask Nato to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, like the US and UK did for Israel

Volodmyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, is reportedly planning on attending next months D-Day commemoration in France and the G7 meeting in Italy, to call on Nato to start downing Russian missiles over Ukraine.

The trips are being scheduled after Mr Zelensky cancelled his foreign travel plans following Russias offensive in Kharkiv.

The two people familiar with the planning, who briefed Politico, said that the presidents plans could still change.

Mr Zelensky, the sources reportedly said, will also use the trips to push for more military support from the West and demand that US and European countries seize Russian assets to help fund Ukraines fight.

10:01 AM BST

Pictured: the aftermath of an attack in residential Kharkiv

The aftermath of a hover bomb attack on the residential district of Oleksyvka, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine - 22 May 2024 - Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/Shutterstock

09:50 AM BST

Ukraine strikes Russia and occupied east, killing two, authorities say

Ukraine launched a drone at a village in Russias Belgorod border region and shelled the occupied city of Gorlivka in its east on Thursday, killing two people, local authorities claimed.

The Kremlin often accuses Kyiv of indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Ukraine denies this, arguing it only bombs military targets responsible for deadly strikes on its own civilians.

An aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into a house in the village of Krasny Vostok in the Belgorod region, destroying the buildings first floor, local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

To our great grief, there was a victim - the body of a woman was found under the rubble, he said.

Separately, Ukraine shelled the Russian-held city of Gorlivka in the eastern Donetsk region, killing a civilian in a car, the citys Russian-installed administration claimed.

09:32 AM BST

One killed, six wounded in strikes on Ukraines Kharkiv, mayor says

A Russian attack on Ukraines northeastern city of Kharkiv damaged civilian infrastructure and injured at least five people, the regional governor said on Thursday.

Governor Oleh Syniehubov said Russian forces struck Kharkiv around 10 times. The attack also targeted the town of Zolochiv in the Kharkiv region, injuring at least two people.

Igor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv, later said: Another strike hit a private enterprise. According to preliminary information, there is one dead, six wounded, and the whereabouts of three more cannot be established due to a large fire.

09:20 AM BST

Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko on Kharkiv: We fight and we pray

#Kharkiv in the aftermath of #russia attack yesterday. 10 civilians wounded. Massive fire. And more alerts that shooting will continue today all along the border with . We fight and we pray  for patriots to arrive soon pic.twitter.com/ILEcekRyYO  Lesia Vasylenko (@lesiavasylenko) May 23, 2024

09:18 AM BST

Russia claims to have shot down 35 rockets; blasts in Belgorod and Kherson

The Russian defence ministry claims it shot down three Olkha and 32 Vampire rockets, as well as three drones, in the southern region of Belgorod.

A series of blasts could be heard in Belgorod this morning following a missile attack warning, the RIA news agency reported.

Battlefield reports from other side cannot be independently verified.

In the Ukrainian city of Kherson this morning, the regional governor said that Moscows forces were shelling.

Explosions can be heard in the areas adjacent to the (Dnipro) river, governor Roman Mrochko said.

09:06 AM BST

Sumy faced Russian attacks across 10 areas yesterday

Russia carried out attacks in 10 areas of the Sumy border region yesterday, local authorities said.

Moscows forces used artillery, drones and mortar shelling against the communities of Mykolaivka, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Esman, Shalyhyne, Putyvl, Znob-Novhorodske, Hlukhiv and Seredyna-Buda, the regional administration said.

No casualties were reported.

The town of Velyka Pysarivka, which is quickly trying to evacuate, recorded 71 explosions.

An attack the day before on energy facilities saw more than 500,000 consumers lose power.

08:55 AM BST

US house speaker also appears to back use of US weapons on Russia

Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, appeared to back a relaxation on the Biden administrations stiff ban on the use of American weapons being used to strike Russia.

Responding to a question last night from Voice of America, Mr Johnson said the US should allow Ukraine to prosecute the war in the way they see fit.

[Ukraine needs] to be able to fight back. And I think us trying to micromanage the effort there is not a good policy for us, he added.

The New York Times reported last night that Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, is pushing inside the White House for a relaxation of the ban. The plan is in its formative phase and it is not clear how many of Bidens inner circle are on board, the Times reported.

08:42 AM BST

The latest photos from Kharkiv as Russias assault rages on

Local resident reacts at a site of a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 22, 2024. - REUTERS/Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy

08:30 AM BST

US contradicts Shapps claim that China and Russia are working together on war in Ukraine

The US has questioned a claim by the UK that Russia and China are working together on combat equipment to be used in Ukraine.

Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, said on Wednesday that the two countries were collaborating on lethal aid for Moscow to use in its war against Kyiv.

He told a defence conference in London: An axis of authoritarian states led by Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have escalated and fuelled conflicts and tensions.

They have increasingly been working together, he said. And today I can reveal that we have evidence that Russia and China are collaborating on combat equipment for use in Ukraine.

However, the claim was quickly disputed by Jake Sullivan, Joe Bidens national security adviser.

Asked about Mr Shapps speech at the daily White House press briefing, Mr Sullivan replied: We have not seen that to date. I look forward to speaking with the UK to make sure that we have a common operating picture.

Read more here.

08:13 AM BST

Chechen leader offers Moscow thousands more troops

Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen leader, met with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, on Thursday and offered thousands more fighters to support Moscows forces in fighting Ukraine.

Tens of thousands of well trained and equipped fighters from the reserves are prepared to fight for Russia if given the order, Kadyrov said, posting a photo of himself and the Russian leader in the Kremlin.

A total of 43,500 troops had already served in Ukraine, including 18,000 volunteers, he said.

I also transmitted the wishes of our people and invited our national leader to come visit the Chechen Republic, Kadyrov wrote.

08:00 AM BST

Zelensky makes further plea for defences against Russian guided bombs

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, issued another plea last night for upgraded defence systems to help Kyiv defend against guided bombs, which he said is now the main instrument being used in attacks.

Speaking in his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine had made progress in developing electronic weaponry, but in countering Russian bombs much remains to be done.

There can be no alternative. Ukraine needs systems and tactics that will allow us to protect our positions, our cities and our communities from these bombs, he said.

This is now practically the main instrument of Russian terror and in the occupiers advances.

07:48 AM BST

Good morning

Hello and welcome to The Telegraphs live blog on the war in Ukraine. Follow along as we bring you all of the latest developments.

First up this morning:

Blinken backs plan to allow US missiles to be fired into Russia

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, greets U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, prior to their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 14, 2024. - Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP

The US Secretary of State is reportedly backing a plan to allow US missiles donated to Ukraine to be fired into Russia.

Antony Blinken is pushing for strict White House rules to be relaxed following a visit to Kyiv last week in the wake of a new invasion from the northern border, the New York Times reported.

Joe Biden has argued that US weapons used inside Russia would be seen as a major escalation in Moscow. Britain has relaxed its rules in recent weeks.

But the US has come under pressure to adapt its policy, particularly after Russian troops and military equipment gathered openly on the border before launching its latest attack north of Kharkiv on May 10.

Volodymyr Zelensky has been arguing for weeks that the US must change its rules to save Ukraine from another major assault on Kyiv.

This is part of our defense, Mr. Zelensky told The New York Times. How can we protect ourselves from these attacks? This is the only way.

The State Department plan is reported to be in its formative phase and it is not clear how many of Bidens inner circle agree with it.

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Russia says it will strike British targets if UK weapons are used to hit its territory

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Moscow will retaliate with strikes on British targets if British weapons are used by Ukraine to strike Russian territory.

Zakharova told reporters that British targets "on Ukraine's territory and beyond its borders" could be hit in such a scenario.

She was repeating a warning that Moscow first issued earlier this month after British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Ukraine had a right to use weapons provided by London to hit targets inside Russia.

Russia reacted with outrage to that remark and cited it as one of the reasons why it has opted to hold exercises this month to simulate the launch of tactical nuclear missiles.

(Writing by Felix Light; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Seven dead in Russian strikes on Kharkiv as Kyiv pleads for weapons

By Max Hunder and Anastasiia Malenko

KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -Russia pounded Kharkiv with missiles on Thursday, killing seven people in a printing house, as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called out his western allies for not providing enough military support to rebuff Russian attacks.

Moscow's forces have hammered the northeastern city for months and launched a ground assault into the north of the surrounding region on May 10, an offensive that Kyiv says has stalled on two lines of attack for now.

Authorities said Russia fired about 15 missiles at the city and the nearby town of Liubotyn, targeting mostly transport infrastructure and a large printing house in Kharkiv where around 50 people were located at the time of the strike.

Smoke poured out of a gaping hole torn in the roof of the structure. Exhausted rescue workers hauled out bodies in plastic bags from the building. Charred pages from books were scattered on the ground.

"There are no military facilities either here or nearby," regional governor Oleh Syniehubov told reporters at the scene.

Another 28 people were wounded in the attacks, officials said. The regional prosecutor's office said the missiles were launched from Russia's neighbouring Belgorod region, which Russian forces used to launch their May 10 incursion.

The state railway company said six of its workers had also been wounded after several of its facilities in Kharkiv and the region came under attack.

Russia also dropped guided bombs on the regional town of Derhachi, damaging private houses and injuring at least another 13 people, officials said.

'NOT OUR WEAKNESS'

In a social media post, Zelenskiy faulted Kyiv's international partners for not providing enough air defence systems or allowing Ukraine to use Western-provided weapons to strike missile launchers inside Russia.

"This weakness is not our weakness, but that of the world's, which for the third year already has not dared to deal with the terrorists exactly as they deserve," he said.

The Ukrainian leader's rhetoric has grown increasingly frustrated as Kyiv's outmanned and outgunned forces have struggled to fend off fierce Russian assaults along multiple parts of a more than 1,000-kilometre (620 mile) front line.

The new offensive thrust launched by Russian forces into the north of the Kharkiv region this month further stretched Ukraine's troops, some of whom have been fighting since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine's top commander said in a statement that Russia was now sending reserve forces to support its assault operations in the northern parts of the region after their troops had stalled on two main lines of attack.

Russian forces, said Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, were bogged down in street fighting in the border town of Vovchansk and had switched onto a defensive footing on the front near the village of Lyptsi.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, which lies some 30 km (18 miles) from the Russian border, has faced some of the most regular and heavy air assaults in recent months.

In an interview with Reuters this week, Zelenskiy called on Kyiv's allies to step up their involvement in the war, including by shooting down Russian missiles over Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba echoed Zelenskiy's plea for more air-defence systems on Thursday, saying Ukraine urgently needed more U.S.-made Patriot batteries.

"Unfortunately, mere words of solidarity do not intercept Russian missiles," he wrote on X.

(Additional reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Writing by Dan Peleschuk and Tom Balmforth; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise, Gareth Jones, William Maclean)
Russian troops attacked the village of Mala Tokmachka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on May 23, killing a 74-year-old man, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

A blast wave and debris reportedly destroyed a house and neighboring buildings. The elderly man was killed in his own yard, according to Fedorov.

No further details were provided at the moment.

Mala Tokmachka lies around 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the front line and over 70 kilometers (over 40 miles) from the regional center, Zaporizhzhia.

Russian forces attacked seven settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast 462 times over the past day, Fedorov said.

Read also: Updated: Russian attacks on Kharkiv Oblast kill 5, injure 13

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The work of mining operation equipment has been impeded, leaving over 160 workers underground, due to Russian attacks in Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Ukraine's Energy Ministry

"Ventilation equipment was halted due to damage at one of the mines in Donetsk Oblast. 137 workers were brought to the surface. Later, as a result of attacks, the ventilation equipment stopped at another section of the mine. 26 workers were informed of the emergency and remained in the mine until the end of their shift to ensure the facility's operation," the statement reads.

The Ministry of Energy noted that there were additional emergency outages in Poltava and Sumy oblasts. Restrictions were applied to industrial and household consumers in all of Ukraine's oblasts from 00:00 to 07:00 and from 19:00 to 24:00.

On 23 May, during the morning and daytime hours, emergency electricity supplies from Romania, Slovakia, and Poland will be provided at Ukraine's request, and consumer restrictions remain in place.

Background: On 22 May, consumers in Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv oblasts, as well as one of the mines in Donetsk Oblast, were left without electricity. 25 workers were underground and were brought to the surface.

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Russian daytime missile attack on Kharkiv kills at least four people

Rubble lies on the street after a bomb hit in the residential district of Oleksyvka. Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa

At least four people have died and others have been injured in a missile attack on the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv during daylight hours on Thursday, Kharkiv military governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on his Telegram channel.

Syniehubov reported that there had been at least 15 strikes by Russian missiles. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that at least seven people had been injured and that others were missing. The strikes had hit transport infrastructure and a private company, he said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the "extremely brutal attack," which took place during peak traffic and not at night, as is usual.

The Russians were exploiting the lack of adequate air defences, he posted on X. Zelensky also said that reliable weapons were needed to strike Russian positions just across Ukraine's border.

Zelensky called for permission to use weapons supplied by the United States and others to hit Russian troops in those areas. For example, Russian forces have recently made incursions across the border into the Kharkiv region.

Ukraine's allies have provided high-tech weapons on condition that they not be used to strike Russian territory.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said on Thursday that Western arms deliveries would not prevent Russia from pursuing its war aims.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city by population before the war, has come under repeated aerial attack from drones, missiles and glide bombs.

Some two weeks ago, Russian forces advanced across the border in the region and are now less than 20 kilometres from the city's outskirts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted that the aim is not to occupy Kharkiv, but rather to create a buffer zone to prevent Ukrainian forces from mounting attacks on Belgorod and other Russian cities close to the border.

Military observers say, however, that the Russian forces are aiming to penetrate in depth, rather than along the wide front that would be needed for a buffer zone.

An attempt to seize Kharkiv was beaten off in the early days of the invasion more than two years ago, with Russian forces suffering heavy losses.

Rubble lies on the street after a bomb hit in the residential district of Oleksyvka. Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa

Military inspect a bomb crater between rubble after a bomb hit the residential district of Oleksyvka. Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa
Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, held an expanded meeting with Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Azernews reports.

Addressing the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Dear Emomali Sharipovich.

Dear guests.

I am pleased to welcome you to Azerbaijani soil. I am very glad that you have accepted my invitation and are paying a state visit to Azerbaijan. Our meetings are of a regular nature. We often meet in Tajikistan and in Azerbaijan. I have visited your country many times  last year with a state visit, and I also participated in the Summit of Heads of Central Asian States at your invitation. Also last year, you visited us at the Summit of Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan. So high-level contacts are regular in nature, and today we have continued our consultations and discussions on many important issues of the bilateral agenda, as well as international and regional affairs. It is clear that state visits have a special status, demonstrating the high level of relations between us. Also, one of the important stages in the development of relations is the Declaration on Strategic Partnership, which we will sign today, thus officially raising the level of our relations even further. Nevertheless, if we look at the history and nature of our relations, they have long been of a strategic partnership nature.

We aim to develop active cooperation in all areas. As you may know, a business forum was held in the run-up to your visit. The Days of Culture of Tajikistan in Azerbaijan are currently taking place. All this fills our relations with tangible content. Several economic documents have been signed. Today, within the framework of discussions between members of our delegations, we will go over this agenda in detail in order to add more content to our relations, because if we familiarize ourselves with the statistical figures of the trade turnover, we cant be pleased with it as yet. I think that what we have already agreed on and what we will discuss today, both you and I in person and members of delegations at a later stage, will contribute to increasing our trade turnover. And, of course, one of the topics we discussed today is cooperation in the transport sector, taking into account the new opportunities of the transport and logistical infrastructure of Tajikistan and Azerbaijan. I think it will be useful to join our efforts in this direction and coordinate our steps more closely because the Trans-Caspian transport corridor is becoming increasingly popular in the European and Central Asian regions. Azerbaijan, as a connecting link and a country located at the junction of Europe and Asia, of course, plays an important role in this issue with its transportation infrastructure.

Our agenda is quite broad. The composition of our delegations alone speaks volumes about the areas we actively cooperate in. I am sure that the results will also be very impressive, and the visit will be useful and enjoyable. Welcome once again!

x x x

President Emomali Rahmon said:

- Thank you very much, Mr. Ilham Heydarovich.

Dear friends.

First of all, I would like to sincerely thank you, dear Ilham Heydarovich, for your high attention and warm hospitality. I am glad that we are continuing the tradition of reciprocal visits at the highest level. I am confident that the results of today's meetings will elevate cooperation between our countries to a new level of development. Azerbaijan is a reliable friend and partner for Tajikistan. Our countries have time-tested relations. We have close positions on topical regional and international issues. Humanitarian ties aimed at bringing the peoples of our countries even closer together are actively developing.

Today, we will make a historic decision that will raise our interstate relations to the level of strategic partnership. This is in line with the spirit of the centuries-old traditions of fraternal friendship between our peoples. These decisions consolidate the successes in promoting our interaction achieved throughout the years of our independence. In this context, I would like to note that the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, the highly esteemed Heydar Aliyevich Aliyev, was at the origins of this process. I am convinced that the agreements to be reached today meet the fundamental interests of our brotherly peoples and will become a solid foundation for Tajikistani-Azerbaijani relations. Thank you.






















This photo taken on May 21, 2024 shows a Yangtze alligator in Changle area in Anhui Yangtze alligator national nature reserve, Nanling county of Wuhu City, east China's Anhui Province. The Yangtze alligator, a species that has existed on Earth for over 200 million years, now a first-class protected animal endemic to China, also known as Chinese alligator, lives along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the longest waterway in the country.

A wild population resources survey of Yangtze alligators was officially launched on Monday, which will be jointly carried out by Anhui Yangtze alligator national nature reserve and the College of Life Sciences of Anhui Normal University.

Since its establishment in 1979, Anhui Yangtze alligator national nature reserve has been undertaking the work of artificial breeding, habitat protection, wild release and science popularization education of Yangtze alligators.

There are nearly 1,400 Yangtze alligators in the wild, according to a survey in 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

A surveyor raises a loudspeaker that repeats the voices of Yangtze alligators as a way to attract the reptile during a survey at Changle area in Anhui Yangtze alligator national nature reserve, Nanling county of Wuhu City, east China's Anhui Province, May 21, 2024. The Yangtze alligator, a species that has existed on Earth for over 200 million years, now a first-class protected animal endemic to China, also known as Chinese alligator, lives along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the longest waterway in the country. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

This photo taken on May 21, 2024 shows a Yangtze alligator in Changle area in Anhui Yangtze alligator national nature reserve, Nanling county of Wuhu City, east China's Anhui Province. The Yangtze alligator, a species that has existed on Earth for over 200 million years, now a first-class protected animal endemic to China, also known as Chinese alligator, lives along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the longest waterway in the country. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

A drone photo taken on May 21, 2024 shows a Yangtze alligator in Changle area in Anhui Yangtze alligator national nature reserve, Nanling county of Wuhu City, east China's Anhui Province. The Yangtze alligator, a species that has existed on Earth for over 200 million years, now a first-class protected animal endemic to China, also known as Chinese alligator, lives along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the longest waterway in the country. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

Surveyors look for traces of Yangtze alligators at Changle area in Anhui Yangtze alligator national nature reserve, Nanling county of Wuhu City, east China's Anhui Province, May 21, 2024. The Yangtze alligator, a species that has existed on Earth for over 200 million years, now a first-class protected animal endemic to China, also known as Chinese alligator, lives along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the longest waterway in the country. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

Surveyors talk during a survey at Changle area in Anhui Yangtze alligator national nature reserve, Nanling county of Wuhu City, east China's Anhui Province, May 21, 2024. The Yangtze alligator, a species that has existed on Earth for over 200 million years, now a first-class protected animal endemic to China, also known as Chinese alligator, lives along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the longest waterway in the country. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

Surveyors search for Yangtze alligators at Changle area in Anhui Yangtze alligator national nature reserve, Nanling county of Wuhu City, east China's Anhui Province, May 21, 2024. The Yangtze alligator, a species that has existed on Earth for over 200 million years, now a first-class protected animal endemic to China, also known as Chinese alligator, lives along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the longest waterway in the country. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

Surveyors search for Yangtze alligators at Changle area in Anhui Yangtze alligator national nature reserve, Nanling county of Wuhu City, east China's Anhui Province, May 21, 2024. The Yangtze alligator, a species that has existed on Earth for over 200 million years, now a first-class protected animal endemic to China, also known as Chinese alligator, lives along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the longest waterway in the country.(Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

This photo taken on May 21, 2024 shows a Yangtze alligator in Changle area in Anhui Yangtze alligator national nature reserve, Nanling county of Wuhu City, east China's Anhui Province. The Yangtze alligator, a species that has existed on Earth for over 200 million years, now a first-class protected animal endemic to China, also known as Chinese alligator, lives along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the longest waterway in the country.(Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

A surveyor keeps a record during a survey at Changle area in Anhui Yangtze alligator national nature reserve, Nanling county of Wuhu City, east China's Anhui Province, May 21, 2024. The Yangtze alligator, a species that has existed on Earth for over 200 million years, now a first-class protected animal endemic to China, also known as Chinese alligator, lives along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the longest waterway in the country. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 21, 2024 shows the Changle area in Anhui Yangtze alligator national nature reserve, Nanling county of Wuhu City, east China's Anhui Province. The Yangtze alligator, a species that has existed on Earth for over 200 million years, now a first-class protected animal endemic to China, also known as Chinese alligator, lives along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the longest waterway in the country. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)
Russian daytime missile attack on Kharkiv kills at least four people

Rubble lies on the street after a bomb hit in the residential district of Oleksyvka. Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa

At least four people have died and others have been injured in a missile attack on the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv during daylight hours on Thursday, Kharkiv military governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on his Telegram channel.

Syniehubov reported that there had been at least 15 strikes by Russian missiles. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that at least seven people had been injured and that others were missing. The strikes had hit transport infrastructure and a private company, he said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the "extremely brutal attack," which took place during peak traffic and not at night, as is usual.

The Russians were exploiting the lack of adequate air defences, he posted on X. Zelensky also said that reliable weapons were needed to strike Russian positions just across Ukraine's border.

Zelensky called for permission to use weapons supplied by the United States and others to hit Russian troops in those areas. For example, Russian forces have recently made incursions across the border into the Kharkiv region.

Ukraine's allies have provided high-tech weapons on condition that they not be used to strike Russian territory.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said on Thursday that Western arms deliveries would not prevent Russia from pursuing its war aims.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city by population before the war, has come under repeated aerial attack from drones, missiles and glide bombs.

Rubble lies on the street after a bomb hit in the residential district of Oleksyvka. Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa

Military inspect a bomb crater between rubble after a bomb hit the residential district of Oleksyvka. Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa
Russian daytime missile attack on Kharkiv kills at least seven people

Rubble lies on the street after a bomb hit in the residential district of Oleksyvka. Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa

The death toll in a daytime Russian missile attack on the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Thursday rose to at least seven, with 16 others injured, Kharkiv military governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

Syniehubov reported on his Telegram channel that there had been at least 15 strikes by Russian missiles. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that the strikes had hit transport infrastructure and a private company.

A renewed attack later hit Kharkiv and Derhachi, a town to the north-west, causing a further 13 injuries.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the "extremely brutal attack," which took place during peak traffic and not at night, as is usual.

Zelensky said the Russians were exploiting the lack of adequate air defences in a post on X. Zelensky also said that reliable weapons were needed to strike Russian positions just across Ukraine's border.

Zelensky called for permission to use weapons supplied by the United States and others to hit Russian troops in those areas. For example, Russian forces have recently made incursions across the border into the Kharkiv region.

Ukraine's allies have provided high-tech weapons on condition that they not be used to strike Russian territory.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that Western arms deliveries would not prevent Russia from pursuing its war aims.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city by population before the war, has come under repeated aerial attack from drones, missiles and glide bombs.

Some two weeks ago, Russian forces advanced across the border in the region and are now less than 20 kilometres from the city's outskirts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted that the aim is not to occupy Kharkiv, but rather to create a buffer zone to prevent Ukrainian forces from mounting attacks on Belgorod and other Russian cities close to the border.

Military observers say, however, that the Russian forces are aiming to penetrate in depth, rather than along the wide front that would be needed for a buffer zone.

An attempt to seize Kharkiv was beaten off in the early days of the invasion more than two years ago, with Russian forces suffering heavy losses.

Ukrainian drone attacks forced the temporary closure of airports in the cities of Kazan and Nizhnekamsk in Russia's Tatarstan republic.

Media reports said that air defences had downed a light aircraft of type Aeroprakt A-22 that had been converted into an autonomous aircraft, while the Defence Ministry in Moscow referred only to a drone that had been shot down.

Several companies evacuated their premises in response to the attack, the media reports said.

Tatarstan has previously come under Ukrainian drone attack, causing the airport in Kazan, the republic's capital, to close for a time. Kazan lies around 1,000 kilometres from Ukrainian-controlled territory.

The city is due to host the BRICS summit between October 22 and 24. Russia is host this year to the conference of major economies outside the Western orbit, including China, India and Brazil. The organization is seen as a geopolitical rival to the G7.

The Defence Ministry in Moscow reported the downing of more than 50 Ukrainian drones over a 24-hour period, along with six US-made ATACMS missiles, four US-made HARM anti-radar missiles and three AASM Hammer guided bombs of French manufacture.

Military inspect a bomb crater between rubble after a bomb hit the residential district of Oleksyvka. Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa
The Russians struck a printing house of local publishing house Vivat during a large-scale attack on Kharkiv on Thursday, 23 May.

The Russians targeted the transport infrastructure, a municipal company and the civilian company engaged in printing. The paper shop has caught fire.

Vivat director Yuliia Orlova confirmed that the incident happened at their publishing house.

"Yes, this is our printing house. It's on fire now. Rubble is being cleared, and people are being rescued," Orlova said.

At present, it is impossible to establish the whereabouts of some people due to the large fire.

"A printing house has been hit in Kharkiv. There are casualties and fatalities. Stay strong, Vivat. Dear Facebook readers, now is the time to support the publishing house by ordering their books," said writer Dariia Piskozub, whose books are published by Vivat.

Oleh Syniehubov, the Head of Kharkiv Oblast State Administration, reported that the Russians had struck the city at least 15 times. As of 12:27, six people have been reportedly killed in the attack.

Founded in 2013, Vivat publishing house specialises in publishing bestselling books in Ukrainian. It publishes books by such Ukrainian writers as Dara Kornii, Andrii Kokotiukha, Artem Chekh, Vakhtang Kipiani, Nadiia Herbish, Halyna Kruk, Mark Livin, Oksana Moroz, and others.

The main areas of the publishing House's activity are non-fiction, fiction, children's and teenage literature.

It cooperates with world-renowned publishers, such as Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group and Macmillan Publishers.

Based on the statistics of the Ukrainian Chamber of Books, Vivat has been one of the three largest Ukrainian publishing houses in terms of the number of items published and circulation in recent years.

Not the first attack on Kharkiv printing houses

On 20 March, the Kharkiv-based Hurov&K printing house burned down as Kh-35, a Russian anti-ship missile, hit the citys industrial zone. This printing house published books from such publishing houses as Chas Maistriv (Time of Masters) and Crocus, publishing house Shkola (School), and it also released Dodo puzzles.

The Aurora printing house, located in the same building on the floor below, has also been utterly destroyed.

Earlier, the Budynok Druku (House of Printing) had previously suffered from Russian attacks on Kharkiv.

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Lieutenant General Vadim Shamarin, a deputy chief of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff and head of the Main Directorate of Communications, was detained for allegedly receiving a large bribe, the Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti reported on May 23, citing a court statement.

The news comes only as the latest case to rock Russia's military and security apparatus.

The Interfax news agency reported, citing an undisclosed source, that Shamarin has been taken in for questioning.

The state-controlled outlet Kommersant also reported on Shamarin's detention, saying that the general had been put under arrest for a period of two months. A law enforcement source reportedly told the outlet that Shamarin's home was searched in connection to the case.

In April, now-former Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was detained on suspicion of bribery, and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was reassigned as the head of the country's security council on May 13, replacing Nikolai Patrushev.

Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznetsov, the head of the personnel department of the Russian Defense Ministry, was detained on May 13.

Earlier this week, Major General Ivan Popov, the former commander of Russia's 58th Army, was arrested on suspicion of fraud.

Read also: New Defense Minister Belousov to put Russias economy on war footing

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Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has said that after "insignificant successes" during the offensive on Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, the Russians are now "completely stuck in street battles for the city".

Source: Syrskyi on Facebook

Quote: "I continue my work in parts of the eastern front. After the first minor successes during the offensive battles in Kharkiv Oblast, the enemy was completely stuck in the street battles for Vovchansk and suffered very high losses in personnel of its assault units. Currently, the enemy is transferring reserves from various fronts, trying to support active assault operations, but to no avail."

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Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has listed the areas of the combat zone in Kharkiv Oblast with the most intense fighting, where the Russians continue conducting assaults and deploying their reserves.

Source: Syrskyi on Facebook

Quote: "Fighting is ongoing on the Kupiansk front in a forest area to the north of the city of Kupiansk. The situation is complicated near the settlement of Kyslivka where the Russians are trying to breach Ukrainian defences and reach the Oskil River".

Details: Syrskyi added that the Russians had also suffered significant losses near the settlement of Lyptsi and switched to active defence. Currently Russian forces are planting mines and conducting an attack on the positions of the Defence Forces of Ukraine.

There are intense combat actions near the settlement of Ivanivske and Chasiv Yar. The Russians are trying to gain a foothold in the city at any cost, using the most advanced T-90M tanks, BMP-3 and BMD-4 infantry fighting vehicles which are usually destroyed by Ukrainian anti-tanks means and FPV drones at an early deployment stage.

The most intense and heavy fighting is ongoing on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove fronts. The Russians are trying to break through Ukrainian defences on a narrow area of the front between the settlements of Staromykhailivka and Berdychi by deploying the most trained units which mount offensive and assault actions. Offensive actions are being conducted both with the use of armoured equipment and on foot, often on motorcycles and buggies. The situation is hectic on other fronts as well but the intensity of combat action is considerably lower.

The situation on the other fronts is also difficult but the number and intensity of hostilities is much lower, noted Syrskyi.

Background:

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Russian troops had expanded the area of combat actions by almost 70 kilometres in Kharkiv Oblast, thus attempting to force Ukrainian troops to deploy additional brigades from the reserve.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that he expects heavy fighting in Kharkiv Oblast since he knows that the Russians are preparing to attempt further offensives.

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JERUSALEM, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli war cabinet on Wednesday night instructed the Israeli negotiation team to renew talks for the release of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli state-owned Kan TV news reported.

The approval for the resumption of talks was given following a four-hour night discussion, during which the cabinet formulated updated guidelines for the team.

Kan quoted a source involved in the discussion as saying, "This is not all that the negotiating team asked for, but at least we can move forward."

Cabinet ministers supported a new deal proposal formulated by Nitzan Alon, who is responsible for the hostages' issue on behalf of the Israeli army, according to Kan.

The discussion followed the release on Wednesday evening of graphic footage showing the kidnapping by Hamas militants of five female Israeli observation soldiers from Israel's Nahal Oz military base near the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023.

The video was published at the initiative of the hostages' families to increase the pressure on the Israeli decision-makers to move forward with the deal with Hamas.

After the video was released, protests erupted in Tel Aviv and outside the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, where the cabinet was meeting. 
A little over two months after the first appearance of the wreckage of a new type of Russian glide bomb in the war in Ukraine, we now have imagery showing the complete weapon, including video of examples being launched. It appears that the standoff weapon is now better established in Russian service, which will pose additional problems for the hard-pressed Ukrainian air defense operators.

The new imagery of the UMPB D-30SN winged precision-guided bomb includes photos showing two examples under the wing of a Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) Su-34 Fullback strike aircraft. While the Su-34 is a notably big aircraft, the relatively diminutive size of the bomb is very obvious.

When mounted on the aircraft, the off-white-painted UMPB D-30SN has its cruciform tailfins deployed, but the main wing is folded to lie flush with the bombs streamlined body. While the wing is mounted on the top of the weapon, the bomb itself is attached inverted to the aircraft. Like earlier Russian glide bombs, the weapon topples over after launch, ensuring that its the right way up.

A video shows the view from the cockpit of a Su-34 as it launches two UMPB D-30SNs. The wings can be seen popping out relatively soon after launch. Both the video and photos were first published by a Russian military blogger on the Telegram messaging app.

https://www.twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1793488196396859433

The overall appearance is of a weapon that is much more refined than the previous UMPK , a fairly crude type of weapon that nonetheless has caused considerable difficulties for Ukrainian air defenses since its introduction in around early 2023. As we postulated when the new weapon first appeared:

While the UMPK consists of a wing kit and precision guidance package thats essentially bolted onto one of several different freefall bombs , the UMPB appears to have a slicker, far more elegantly integrated design.

Back then, we also noted that the new weapon appeared to be something of an analog to the U.S.-made GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb and, on a superficial level at least, this also appears to hold true.

A U.S. Air Force A-10 carries 16 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs during a test. U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis

What is not apparent in the new imagery of the UMPB D-30SN is any sign of a powerplant, which would provide a significant improvement in range. In the past, there had been rumors that the weapon might have a powerplant, specifically a small turbojet engine mounted below the body. While this remains a possibility, as an option, there is no evidence of a propulsion system at this stage.

Other rumors when the winged precision-guided bomb first appeared suggested that it might be a dual-use weapon, intended not only for launch from aircraft but also from ground-based rocket artillery. Again, there is no evidence so far of that being the case. However, the concept is certainly feasible.

Different views of a wrecked UMPB D-30SN glide bomb previously found in Ukraine. via X

via X

Views of the wreckage reveal some of the internal details of the glide bomb. via X

via X

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the UMPB D-30SN uses both inertial and satellite navigation. However, the exact guidance method used is unknown, so its unclear if the weapon can be programmed with a targets coordinates after the aircraft has taken off, which would be required for the most time-sensitive targets.

Also important, an inertial navigation system should provide the weapon with a significant degree of resistance to electronic warfare jamming of the kind that is now increasingly being employed by Ukraine . Still, without GPS data to correct for drift, INS has accuracy limitations that get more pronounced the longer the weapon travels.

Meanwhile, its very evident that Russia has an almost insatiable demand for standoff weapons that can give its tactical aircraft improved chances of survival against Ukrainian ground-based air defenses. This month alone, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has claimed the destruction of five Russian Su-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft. While that cannot be independently verified, Ukrainian skies clearly pose a high level of risk to VKS tactical aircraft, highlighting the need for weapons that can strike targets surgically at and well behind the front lines.

https://www.twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1793679432550367234

At the same time, the development of the UMPK and now the UMPB D-30SN stress lower-cost solutions to this problem, when compared with tactical air-to-ground missiles, not to mention cruise and ballistic missiles. All these other weapons options are also likely in short supply, a combination of much heavier than anticipated airstrikes across a long campaign, as well as Russias limited ability to manufacture high-technology weapons without access to Western components in the required numbers.

The addition of the UMPB D-30SN to the Russian armory will be a concern for Ukraine, especially as it awaits new Western-supplied air defense systems.

Even the far cruder UMPKs have been described by Ukrainian officials as almost impossible to shoot down.

A UMPK glide bomb carried by a Su-34. Russian Ministry of Defense

So far, we dont know what their assessment of the UMPB D-30SN is, but, as we assessed in the past , the weapon is sure to address the various shortcomings inherent in the hastily fielded UMPK.

As Russia attempts to widen its campaign, while also better addressing the threat from Ukraines ever-evolving anti-aircraft defenses , we are likely to see more of the UMPB D-30SN, as a more accurate  and probably longer-ranged complement  to the larger and heavier-hitting UMPK.

With this weapon giving Russian aircraft another (apparently relatively low-cost) means of launching indirect attacks on Ukrainian targets, including the cities that have been repeatedly targeted, Kyivs need for additional and more advanced air defense systems to try and counter the threat will also only grow.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
DENVER (KDVR)  Its not too common these days for first responders to be the ones delivering newborns, but after April 24, some with Sable Altura Fire Rescue can say they had that experience.

The call was received by 911 dispatchers at about 9 a.m. on April 24 as a couple rushed down Interstate 70 toward a hospital to deliver their new family member, according to the fire departments press release. The soon-to-be three-member family had made it to milepost 291, but their child was not waiting any longer.

Denver Zoo transports people down under in new habitat

After pulling over to the shoulder and calling 911, the couple began to work with dispatchers to deliver the baby, according to Sable Altura Fire Rescue. The father was instructed by 911 dispatchers on his partners care while Sable Altura emergency crews rushed to the scene.

Once crews were on the scene, they reported that they helped the new mother deliver her child and also helped the father cut the umbilical cord. Then, they transported the freshly grown family to the hospital.

To make the memory even more special, the new father was also related to Sable Altura first responders: His dad is the Sable Altura Fire Rescue office manager, and he happened to be working that morning, according to the agencys release.

The crew that delivered the newborn will reunite with the family and be joined by the 911 dispatchers to award the first responders the Sable Delivery award, which recognizes staff who have assisted with field deliveries. The meeting and award ceremony is planned for May 31, and the group will listen to the 911 call audio, among other festivities.

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 FOX31 Denver.
(FOX40.COM)  Three people were seriously injured in a crash that occurred in the eastern part of Sacramento County on Wednesday night, according to Sacramento Metro Fire.

Fire officials added that one of the injured people had to be taken to the hospital by helicopter.

The agency said the crash happened around 8:45 p.m. on Latrobe Road and Scott Road, about 20 miles east of the Sloughouse and Rancho Murieta neighborhoods.

Metro Fire said officials with the California Highway Patrol will have additional information regarding the incident.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

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 FOX40.
Deputies on Wednesday afternoon apprehended two suspects who reportedly robbed an Arden Arcade beauty supply store and got away with two cash registers before they were taken into custody at a nearby apartment complex.

The robbery was reported about 3 p.m. at the Sally Beauty Supply store at a shopping center at Howe Avenue and Hurley Way, according to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office.

Sheriffs officials said two robbers entered the business wearing masks and stole two cash registers with money inside. Deputies, with the help of a sheriffs helicopter and a police dog, found the two suspects shortly after 4 p.m. at the nearby apartment and took them into custody, said Sheriffs Office spokesman Sgt. Amar Gandhi.

Investigators recovered the stolen cash registers and money, authorities announced shortly before 4:30 p.m. in a post on social media.

The two suspects were taken into custody at the apartment complex in the 2200 block of Hurley Way, less than a block from the store where the robbery occurred.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg wants to keep program that lets kids ride transit for free

The Sacramento City Council Tuesday took a step toward keeping a popular program that allows kids to ride public transit for free.

City Manager Howard Chan had proposed cutting the program in light of a looming $66 million budget deficit, saving the city $1 million.

Mayor Darrell Steinberg suggested keeping it  one of several changes he wants to make to the budget by not putting an additional $3.8 million in a reserve fund, which Chan had proposed.

We cannot lose this program, Steinberg said during Tuesdays council meeting. This cannot and will not go away for our kids.

Steinberg is trying to convince Sacramento Regional Transits board of directors to pay $250,000 and the school district boards to pay a combined $500,000. That would take the citys share down to $250,000.

If the other agencies dont commit to that by the planned council budget approval June 11, Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela said she wants the city to pay the full $1 million. Its unclear whether the rest of the council would agree to that.

Former Councilman Jay Schenirer started the program in 2019, following the passage of the Measure U sales tax increase.

Before the meeting Tuesday, parents, students and teachers held a press conference outside City Hall to urge the council members to keep the program.

During Tuesdays meeting, Steinberg also proposed the city keep the FUEL program, started by Councilman Eric Guerra, which provides legal aid for undocumented immigrants facing deportation. He also proposed the city keep charging $50 for certain parking tickets instead of raising them to $60, and to not increase administrative fees for certain sidewalk repair bills.

The sidewalk bills can already total over $20,000 for homeowners, a Sacramento Bee investigation found.

When people have to pick up the cost of fixing their sidewalks ... raising the administrative fee, especially on lower-income people, can be a double whammy, Steinberg said.

Steinberg also proposed the city allocate some funds to improve parks and the bike trail in the northern part of the city.

The council voted to direct staff to incorporate the mayors adjustments into the budget so they can have the full budget picture when they take the final vote on the budget June 11.

Police funding debated

Valenzuela, whose term will end in December, made one final pitch to her colleagues to decrease the police departments role in responding to homeless calls.

She suggested the city increase the Department of Community Responses funding so non-police employees could respond faster to non-violent homeless calls. Currently the department does not work 24/7, and the wait can be weeks after a home or business owner calls in to report a camp, Valenzuela said.

Were asking officers in an already high-vacancy department to absorb the full social cost of all the things happening that are contributing to crime, Valenzuela said. Theyre pulling in all this overtime, theyre working double, triple shifts ... more and more often theyre asked to do things that are not their job.

Ahead of Valenzuelas comments, Dustin Smith of the city police officer union urged the council not to cut the department budget.

We are the equivalent of a defunded police department, Smith said. We only have the resources to provide C-minus service at best. We cannot afford further cuts without further jeopardizing the safety of our community.

In Chans proposed budget, the police department budget would grow from $222 million in the current fiscal year to an all-time-high of about $250 million. It has fewer officers than it did before the Great Recession, and often spends over $10 million in overtime.

Valenzueula said she has been asking city staff for over a year for a breakdown of how the overtime is spent, including whether its spent responding to calls.

During last years budget adoption, Valenzuela, Vang and Councilwoman Caity Maple all voted to redirect $6 million from the police budget toward the Department of Community Response. It did not have enough votes to pass.

The proposed budget does not lay off any employees and does not close homeless shelter beds. During next years budget the council will likely be faced with much tougher decisions, and a larger estimated $77 million deficit.

We wont have any extra fat left to cut, Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan said.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  A San Angelo ISD maintenance worker has been charged with burglary after clocking in to attend to an alarm before allegedly stealing a check and cash from the school totaling nearly $3,500.

Mugshot: Cory Oliver 5-22-24 courtesy Tom Green County Sheriffs Office

Cory Oliver was charged with burglary of a building and booked into the Tom Green County Detention Center on May 22.

Sunset Drive shooter sentenced

Records filed within Tom Green County shared that law enforcement was notified about criminal mischief that occurred at Lincoln Middle School. On the morning of Monday, May 13, the librarian reported items being scattered across the room that had previously been placed on a table along with plastic beads being scattered in the server A/V room.

The librarian told law enforcement that an apple was smashed on the wall in a room that had been locked on May 10 before the weekend. Hand sanitizer had been smeared all over a laptop in the same room, the affidavit reads. A total of $4 was also found to be missing from a lock box located in the library, despite the librarian stating that she left the library unlocked on accident before leaving for the weekend.

She also stated, that the criminal mischief appeared to be staged.

Pedestrian fatally struck by tank truck in Tom Green County

Detectives then spoke with the secretary of Lincoln Middle School who claimed that cash and a check were missing from a safe that had been locked in her office on Monday morning, May 13. The amount of money that was missing included:

A check in the amount of $2429.25

$160 from a plastic, white bank deposit bag inside the school mail folder

$100 from a medical bag

$290 from the bottom safe shelf

$500 from a black box within the safe

$300 from the library bank bag from the secretarys desk drawer

A total of $3,479.95 was reported missing with $1050 of it being cash.

Records report that law enforcement also spoke with the principal of Lincoln Middle School who was seen on footage at the school on May 11 at around 2:06 p.m. The principal told detectives that he was getting a personnel barbeque grill and had not learned about the criminal mischief or stolen money until he returned to the school on Monday, May 13. He also stated that he did not know that he had set off the alarm at the school when he was seen leaving on surveillance footage at 2:08 p.m.

Footage captured at the school showed Oliver, who is a maintenance worker at SAISD, responding to the school for the alarm. Oliver can be seen entering the school at 2:56 p.m. and not leave for another 38 minutes on May 11.

San Angelo man arrested for stalking ex-wife

During his entry, detectives noted that Oliver did not have anything bulging from his pockets.

The affidavit reported that Oliver made his way to the teachers workroom where he had clocked in to log his presence at the campus on a time clock. Oliver is then seen going towards the A/V room, where the alarm panel to turn off the alarm is located. However, instead of entering the A/V room, Oliver is captured walking into an unlocked classroom next to the A/V room.

At 3:00 p.m., footage showed Oliver entering the A/V room before making his way back into the hallway at 3:19 p.m. After going into the hallway, Oliver went back into the A/V room for another three minutes before walking to the teachers workroom to clock out.

Footage captured Oliver going down a hallway that led to the secretarys hallway and the secretarys locked office. It is reported that he remained in this area for 11 minutes before leaving the area with bulges in his pockets and an item sticking out of his right front pocket.

During an interview with detectives, Oliver stated that he was the on-call key carrier for alarms at SAISD schools on May 11. Oliver explained that on May 11, he responded to Lincoln Middle School but only went to the A/V room, the teachers workroom and the receptionists office. This totaled between 13 to 15 minutes he stated.

The detective asked Oliver about the bulges that were seen in his pockets. Oliver stated that this was due to his work cellphone and that he had not used the phone while he was at the school, however, footage showed the cell phone in Olivers hand on May 11. Oliver further shared that he saw no criminal mischief while he was responding to the alarm.

Oliver was booked in the Tom Green County Detention Center on May 22 for burglary of a building. His bond is set at $20,000.

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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A 29-year-old Antioch man was sentenced to serve over 5 years in prison for robbing a bank in San Francisco only 19 days after being released for another bank robbery in Brentwood, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

Brandon Elder, 29, of Antioch, walked into a Marina District bank while wearing a facemask and gloves on Sept. 20, 2022, and demanded 50- and 100-dollar bills from the teller, prosecutors said. Elder then fled the San Francisco bank with $10,000 in cash.

Just 19 days earlier, Elder was released from state custody to community supervision after being convicted of robbing a bank in Brentwood on Jan. 26, 2022, according to the DOJ. Elders history of convictions includes another 11 thefts, one in which he slashed a loss prevention officer with a box cutter.

Armed robber takes cash from Contra Costa County Fair employees

Two days after robbing the San Francisco bank, Elder was located and arrested in Pleasant Hill after he attempted to shoplift a Sony PlayStation game system from a Target, the DOJ said. Elder had $7,867 in cash on him at the time of the arrest.

Elder pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery on Dec. 14, 2023. He was subsequently sentenced to serve 5 years and 3 months in prison. United States District Judge James Donato also ordered Elder to one year of supervised release after the prison sentence is served.

Repeat offenders like Brandon Elder should not be allowed to continue terrorizing the community, said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. Enough is enough. This Office will ensure that criminals like Mr. Elder face serious repercussions for their actions.

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 KRON4.
A spaceborne view of the Gulf, it looks hazy beneath smoke.

Hundreds of wildfires have been blazing across Canada and Mexico since last week, and new satellite images released by NASA show the smoke pouring out of some.

Firefighters have been battling this army of wildfires, which are scattered across various Canadian provinces, including over 30 blazes in Alberta and British Columbia and 10 in Ontario, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre . Smoke from multiple fires flowed into the United States and blanketed Wisconsin last Sunday (May 12), prompting the state's first air quality advisory of the year.

Related: Satellite images of Rafah illustrate Palestinians fleeing the city

A full version of the image at the header of the Gulf covered in smoky haze.

NASA's Terra satellite, which is a small, school-bus-sized satellite circling Earth since 1999, imaged smoke from multiple fires in British Columbia and Alberta. Wisps of smoke can be seen swirling across North America in the new image, which was taken using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument onboard the satellite. The picture is a mosaic stitched from views taken during three separate passes of the satellite over the regions, NASA said in a statement .

In British Columbia, intense wildfires do not become widespread until late summer, so the ongoing blazes have sparked a fresh wave of concern about whether they are a sign of another deadly wildfire season. Last year's wildfire season was the country's worst on record, when more than 45 million acres burned across the country. However, less intense drought conditions compared to last year are expected to make this year's wildfire season less extreme, according to one New York Times article.

Meanwhile, more than 200 fires raged across Mexico last week, some of which were intentional and controlled in order to clear pasture and renew cropland, among other agricultural purposes, according to a NASA statement . The blazes coincide with the peak of the annual fire season, which usually begins mid-March and lasts for 14 weeks.

NASA's Aqua satellite, which circles our planet from south to north over the equator, imaged the smoke from some of the region's fires, which covered about two-thirds of the Gulf of Mexico. "In places, the smoke is so thick that it obscures the blue water beneath," the space agency wrote in the statement.

A view of wildfire smoke from a spaceborne perspective.

Prevailing winds ferried some of that smoke across the Gulf of Mexico and into southwest Florida, turning the state's normally sunshine-filled skies into a hazy expanse, Florida's local news outlet WINKnews.com reported .

Related Stories:

 Wildfire smoke is warming the planet more than previously thought, scientists say

 How scientists are using artificial intelligence to predict wildfires

 'Lost' satellite found after orbiting undetected for 25 years

The Aqua satellite, which was launched in May 2002 to study water on Earth, has been in a "free-drift" mode since December 2021, when it completed its final maneuver to make up for atmospheric drag. NASA estimates the satellite "has a strong chance" of operating until September 2026.
YANGON, May 23 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and two others were injured in a bridge explosion in southern Myanmar's Mon State on Thursday, the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council reported.

The bridge, which is located on the Yangon-Mawlamyine Pyidaungsu road in Belin Township of Mon State, exploded at around 5 a.m. local time on Thursday due to a mine planted by terrorists, the information team said.

As a result of the explosion, the 106-foot long and 24-foot wide reinforced concrete bridge collapsed, causing three motorcycles to fall, it said.

The injured were transported to Belin General Hospital for medical treatment, the information team said.

Officials and staff from the country's road and bridge department were working to repair the collapsed bridge, and security personnel were conducting counter-terrorism operation, it added. 
Israelis protest for early elections and the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, outside the Knesset, the Parliament,on Monday. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI

May 23 (UPI) -- Eight months after Israel invaded the Gaza Strip, some critics observe that the Israeli military hasn't met either of its goals of destroying Hamas and rescuing all of the remaining 133 hostages Hamas is holding.

Yet two-thirds of Israelis still support their military's aggressive approach in Gaza -- including limiting humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

While many Israelis support the military's war in Gaza, most Israelis have also lost confidence in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and would like to see new political leadership.

As someone who has studied Israeli politics for almost three decades, I believe it's important to understand what elements contribute to Israelis' collective mindset to explain these seemingly contradictory dynamics and views.

A familiar feeling of persecution

Hamas militants killed an estimated 1,200 people in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and took 240 hostages back to Gaza.

The brutal Oct. 7 murders and the extermination of entire communities in southern Israel left Israelis feeling shocked, vulnerable and insecure. The attacks reminded Israelis that the country faces existential threats, which they believe need to be eliminated in any way possible.

Jewish people have long been persecuted, dating back from the biblical era to the Holocaust during World War II. Some scholars call this feeling of a constant, looming risk of persecution the "Masada syndrome." Masada, an ancient fortification in southern Israel, was where the ancient Kingdom of Israel waged a final battle against the Roman army in A.D. 73. Masada was eventually destroyed and all its Jewish inhabitants committed suicide in order to avoid becoming enslaved by the Romans. Jews then lost their political independence for almost 2,000 years, until Israel was established in 1948.

The story of Masada is still taught and remembered in Israel as a constant reminder that Jewish people cannot ever fully rely on the mercy or help of other countries -- and that Jewish identity and independence are always at risk of persecution. For a long time, the Israeli Defense Forces held induction ceremonies atop Masada, which is also a popular tourism site.

As a ceremonial text used during the Jewish holiday of Passover says, "Each and every generation they rise up against us to destroy us."

The Masada syndrome has been less pronounced among most Israelis in recent decades. This is partially because, up until recently, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been relatively muted since the second intifada, a violent uprising by Palestinians in the early 2000s. Israel also signed peace treaties with Arab countries including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco over the past several years.

The Oct. 7 attacks resulted in widespread national trauma and pushed many Israelis to re-adopt the Masada mentality.

Alone again

The global response to Oct. 7 is another important factor that pushed many Israelis to retreat to old feelings of persecution and a perceived need for self-defense.

While the United States, the United Kingdom and France expressed strong support for Israel shortly after Oct. 7, other countries, like Russia and China, did not condemn the Hamas attacks.

It also took United Nations experts about five months to recognize the systematic sexual violence committed on Oct. 7.

Further isolating Israelis was their widespread rejection that Israel is committing war crimes, as the International Criminal Court recently alleged in a request for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israel's defense minister, Yoav Gallant. Some Israelis have also questioned the accuracy of information about civilian death tolls in Gaza.

Most Israelis see these allegations of genocide as an example of global bias against Israel and as a new form of antisemitism.

Netanyahu has exploited these feelings of persecution to both legitimize Israel's war in Gaza and to downplay any criticism of his own leadership.

Netanyahu's downfall

Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, polls consistently reflect Israelis' declining support for the conservative political parties that make up Netanyahu's ruling coalition.

A May 2024 poll shows that if elections were held today, Netanyahu's party would lose almost 40% of the seats it has in the Israeli Parliament. The same poll also found that just 35% of Israelis think that Netanyahu is fit to be a prime minister.

In January, just 15% of Israelis thought Netanyahu should stay in office.

Several factors help explain Israelis' overall support for Netanyahu's policies in Gaza, but their growing distrust of him as a politician and leader.

First, most Israelis blame Netanyahu's government for Oct. 7. They see Netanyahu as primarily responsible for the fact that Israel did not address Hamas' strengthening military capabilities in the past decade, including its creation of underground tunnels in Gaza.

There are also damaging issues that predate Oct 7. Netanyahu has tried to undermine the independence of the country's judicial branch and passed legislation in 2023 that limited courts' judicial review powers over legislation and government policies. This sparked widespread protests in Israel.

Israelis are also concerned that Netanyahu's approach to the war -- and inability to reach a hostage deal or agree to some kind of cease-fire -- may be affected by his desire to stay in power. Netanyahu is facing several corruption-related charges and wants to delay these criminal trials -- his defense team has said that the war leaves him with little time to attend the trials. Netanyahu also wants to appease his radical right-wing supporters, who want the war to continue.

Israelis' concerns about Netanyahu over the past few months manifested in an outbreak of mass demonstrations in different Israeli cities. These protesters, including families of the hostages, are demanding that Netanyahu reach a deal that will free the remaining hostages -- even if that means agreeing to a long-term cease-fire.

But it is not clear if these protesters make up the majority of the public opinion -- and it is important to not confuse this protest with most Israelis' desire to see Hamas defeated.

Israel's dilemma

Israel's path forward is unclear, and it will be influenced by a few issues. An increase in public pressure on Netanyahu may force him eventually to take responsibility for not preventing the Oct. 7 attack and resign.

The growing intensity of Israelis' demonstrations demanding his resignation show the increasing possibility of such a scenario.

At the same time, growing international pressure on Israel to end its war in Gaza may lead Netanyahu to have more conflicts with far-right members of his coalition, eventually causing the disintegration of his administration and his fall from power.

Finally, the possibility of the war expanding into a broader regional conflict would dramatically change the region's current dynamics in ways that are difficult to predict. Nonetheless, this development could force Israel to end the war in Gaza in order to address other emerging military threats.

The Conversation

Arie Perliger, director of security studies and professor of criminology and justice studies at UMass Lowell. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  Various school districts across the city will be offering free summer meals for children and teens up to age 18 at no cost.

Some participating school districts include Widefield School District 3, Colorado Springs District 11, Falcon School District 49, Harrison School District 2, and Fountain-Fort Carson District 8.

Summer Meals for Kids provides nutritious food to eligible students in the summer months when they are not in school. Summer EBTs availability depends on the school district and hours.

Participating districts:

Widefield School District 3: Pinello Elementary, Sunrise Elementary, and Widefield Parks and Recreation Breakfast is offered from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. starting Tuesday, May 28, and ending Friday, Aug. 2. There will be no meal service on Wednesday, June 19, and Thursday, July 4. All meals must be enjoyed on-site. Menus can be found here.

Fountain-Fort Carson District 8 Aragon Elementary, Fountain Middle School, Patriot Elementary School Breakfast will be offered from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be served from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All schools will begin to offer meal service on Monday, June 10. Aragon Elementary will conclude summer meals on Wednesday, July 3 while Fountain Middle and Patriot Elementary will serve meals until Friday, June 12. All meals are required to be eaten in the cafeteria.

Falcon School District 49 Ridgeview Elementary School Cafeteria Breakfast will be served from &;45 a.m. to 8 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. starting on Monday, June 3 through Thursday, June 30. All meals must be eaten in the cafeteria. Menus can be found at D49.

Harrison School District 2 Monterey Elementary, Stratton Meadows Elementary School, Sand Creek Internationa; School and Pikes Peak Family Success Center Breakfast will be served at both Monterey and Stratton Meadows Elementary from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Lunch at Monterey will be served from 11 a.m. to noon, while Stratton Meadows will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Sand Creek International School will serve breakfast from 8:10 a.m. to 9 a.m.., lunch at 11 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. School will begin serving meals on Monday, June 3 to Thursday, June 20. Pikes Peak Family Success Center will serve meals from Monday, June 3 to Friday, July 26. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., lunch from noon to 1 p.m.

Colorado Springs District 11 East Library, Keller Elementary School, Junior Academy Small Wonders, Doherty High School, Grant Elementary, Carvery Elementary, McCoy/Little John Child Care Center, Jackson Elementary, Coronado High School, Palmer Park, Nikola Tesla Education Opportunity Center, Henry Elementary, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Round Up, Taylor Elementary, Junior Academy, Bristol Elementary, Palmer High School, Memorial 2 Park, Hillside Community Center, Roosevelt Edison Chapter School, A1 Mobile Home Park, Rogers Elementary School, Camel Community Center, Meadows Mobile Home Park, Deerfield Hills Community Center, Canterbury Mobile Home Park and Centennial Elementary. Times and dates vary per site, for more information, the USDA website has more information.



The site finder linked above has more information on where and when sites will be open. USDA Summer Meals are available in some rural areas as SUN Meals To-Go.

Families seeking food assistance can contact the USDA National Hunger Hotline Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (6479) for English or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (6273) for Spanish.

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 FOX21 News Colorado.
From the The Morning Dispatch on The Dispatch

Happy Thursday! British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a snap general election yesterday and scheduled it for the Fourth of Julynot a terribly auspicious day for the unity and success of the British government. 

Quick Hits: Todays Top Stories

Immigration Bill Redux

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, flanked by Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Debbie Stabenow, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill on May 22, 2024.(Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

At the State of the Union in March, just weeks after Sen. James Lankford watched his fellow Republicans reject a bipartisan immigration bill hed spent months painstakingly negotiating, he did something conservative Republican senators from Oklahoma almost never do: He publicly agreed with a Democratic president.

As President Joe Biden rattled off provisions in the ill-fated bill as Republicans booed, Lankford, a vacant look in his eye, nodded and mouthed, Thats true. He likely thought that was the end of his misery over what turned about to be futile months of negotiations. But like most political predictions, that was wrong.

Three months after the bill failed to pass in the upper chamber, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is trying again, planning to hold another vote on the legislation this week, more as a political exercise than a policy one. With immigration front of mind for votersand Biden and moderate Democratic candidates running tight races across the countrySchumer and the Biden administration are tag-teaming on immigration efforts, perhaps to try to generate some upbeat mood music around what has historically been a losing issue for Democrats.

This week, the Senate will return to the pressing need of our nations border security, Schumer said in a letter to Senate colleagues on Sunday. I hope Republicans and Democrats can work together to pass the bipartisan Immigration bill this coming week.

The American people do not have the luxury of playing partisan blame games, he continued They want bipartisan action to secure the border.

Congressional Republicans were quick to pour cold water on the plan. Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas on Wednesday compared Schumers push for the legislation to a firefighter using gasoline instead of water to put out the fireand then expects praise for it. Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee called it a political stunt.

We know that [Democrats] polls are showing they are wrong on this issue, Blackburn said. They are trying to recover.

Republicans in the House were also quick with their criticism. Should it reach the House, the bill would be dead on arrival, Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP House leadership said in a statement. If that line prompted some deja vu, recall that Johnson tweeted those exact words in February in response to the first effort to pass Lankfords bill.

As we wrote in February, the bill proposes some significant changes to immigration policythat were nevertheless unlikely to totally please everyone. It would recreate a version of the pandemic-era Title 42 authorities and allow Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials to immediately expel migrants under certain circumstances, as well as fund the hiring of more CBP agents. The bill also includes changes in asylum law that would see migrant application claims heard by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services asylum officers, rather than the immigration court system, with the intention of expediting the process that can see delays up to a decade.

Its hard to quantify all the changes because you dont know exactly how the administration will implement them for sure, David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, told TMD. But, on the whole, its certainly not the answer to our immigration problems.

Its no secret why Schumer is eager to put Democrats and border security back in the same sentence. In a February Gallup poll, 55 percent of Americans said large numbers of immigrants entering the country illegally was a critical threat to the vital interests of the United States. In the first month of Bidens presidency, in 2021, only 46 percent of Americans believed that threat was critical.

Voter concerns about immigration are showing in presidential polls, too. In an April New York Times/Siena College survey of registered voters nationwidethat found the two candidates in a statistical tie50 percent said they approved of how Trump handled immigration as president, while only 34 percent of voters were in favor of Bidens handling of immigration policy.

Voters growing concern for immigration aligns with U.S. migration trends. In the 2024 fiscal year alonenow halfway gonethe CBP has reported more than 1.5 million encounters at the Southwest border, likely on track to meet or exceed the nearly 2.5 million encounters in FY 2023. That figure was a roughly 4 percent increase over FY 2022.

Democratic leaders are likely hoping that a vote on the bill will convince voters they are working toward solutionsand that Republican opposition is responsible for broader congressional gridlock and inaction on immigration. Its a hacky gambit, but pretty typical of the kind of failure-is-success pseudo-legislative activity we expect, Chris Stirewalt wrote this week. Especially in an election year.

The Schumer plan seems to be part of a one-two punch with the White Housewhich has signaled its support for the immigration bill reduxto tout progress on securing the border. The Biden administration has in recent weeks announced plans that tinker with existing border enforcement policy: Last week, the White House placed visa restrictions on 250 people and three organizations connected with the Nicaraguan government to counter the influx of migration from the country, which has become a hub for people transiting from a third country to the U.S. Earlier this month, the Biden administration also altered asylum system rules to expedite the deportation of migrants whose asylum claims were declined over national security concerns. Although the tweak would not change any qualifications for asylum claims, it would permit rejected migrants to be deported earlier in the review process.

This renewed effort to pass the immigration reform billwhich independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut drafted with Lankfordseems doomed to fail. And it may do so perhaps even more dramatically than it did the first time it came up for a vote, when the border security compromise was linked to something Democrats and some hawkish Republicans desperately wanted: aid for Ukraine. In February, the Senate rejected the bill in a 49-50 vote, well short of the requisite 60-vote threshold. At the time, only five Democratic Senators voted against the bill.

More Democrats could oppose the immigration deal this time around, without the Ukraine aid as a spoonful of sugar for the medicine of a compromise that contained few progressive priorities like a path to legalization or citizenship for illegal immigrants currently in the U.S. Schumer acknowledged that much himself on Sunday. I will be honest, he wrote in his initial letter to his colleagues. I do not expect all Democrats to support this legislation. Many of our colleagues do not support some of the provisions in this legislation, nor do I expect all Republicans to agree to every provision.

Republicans are also unlikely to suddenly support a bill they panned so vociferously three months ago, when all but four Republicans voted against the legislation. In February, a reporter asked Lankford how it felt to be thrown under the bus by his Republican colleagues. And backed up [over], he clarified.

The bus is on the move again, but this time with Lankford aboard it, saying the move is more style than substance at this point. No ones actually trying to sit down and solve it right now, Lankford said last week. And thats my frustration.

The other three Republicans are similarly disillusioned. Its an entirely political exercise, Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, who voted for the bill in February, told The Dispatch on Wednesday. Theyre trying for something, to say that theyre the solution, not the problem. Its not going to work.

Democrats possibly consider the gambit worth taking if only to draw the contrast to the presumptive Republican nominee, who opposed the Senate immigration packagecalling it a horrible open borders betrayal of Americaso fiercely that he wanted credit for the bills failure. Please blame it on me, Trump said at a campaign rally in January. Please.

Bidens not campaigning on successes, Ana Rosa Quintana-Lovett, a former staff director for the Western Hemisphere under House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul, told TMD. Bidens campaigning on the perception that Republicans are unfunctional, and that Republicans are the party that is beholden to an extremist ideology.

Romney does not believe Schumers politicking is likely to move the needle for voters. The American people have already made their mind up about who is responsible for the mess of the border, he told The Dispatch on Wednesday. And no amount of political maneuvering is going to change that perception and that reality.

Worth Your Time

Writing for Persuasion, Eboo Patel outlined a roadmap for restoring respect for pluralism in our public lifestarting at colleges and universities. Pluralism is a particular approach to diversity work, he wrote. Pluralism views identities mostly as a source of inspiration, not as conferring a status of victimization. Pluralism cherishes particularity and resists separating people into flat binaries.  Pluralism seeks to cultivate the wide space between wokeness and whitewashing. It recognizes that Robin DiAngelo on the left and Ron DeSantis on the right are not the only two options on the intellectual landscape.  We need a sector of our society to model pluralism, and prepare leaders who can help others apply its key principles. I think higher education is that sector. Where else but a residential college campus do you get a wide range of identities converging in a small physical space? The intellectual resources to learn about various traditions? To explore theories of pluralism? To acquire the skills of bridge-building? Where else do you get the civic space to apply what you are learning at virtually the same time that you are learning it?

Jerusalem Demsas explored the benefits and pitfalls of public opinion polling in a piece for The Atlantic. Polls are incredibly useful in trying to demystify public opinion, Demsas wrote. Theyre much better than heuristics such as I ran into a guy at the grocery store and I saw a lot of lawn signs on my morning commute. But issue polls are still merely tools that help uncover public opinion. Theyre not public opinion itself. And polls can often be structured in misleading ways. We should also be wary of polls that ask respondents to render instant judgment on oddly specific questions, she wrote. What does it even mean to say that 54.6 percent of Americans think that the funding structure for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is unconstitutional? Or that 81 percent of Arizonans support conserving 30 percent of Americas land and waters by the year 2030? More respondents might consider the 30 percent goal excessive if you told them that it would require setting aside more than 600,000 square miles of additional landan area more than twice the size of Texas.

Presented Without Comment

CNN: Nikki Haley Says Shes Voting for Trump in November

Also Presented Without Comment

Cincinnati Enquirer: Kentucky Primary Election: 17 Percent of Democrats Pick Uncommitted Over Biden

Also Also Presented Without Comment

The Hill: Trump Falsely Says Biden Was Locked & Loaded and Ready To Take Me Out in Mar-A-Lago Search

In the Zeitgeist

Were too young to know what the Brat Pack wasThe Breakfast Club, what? Maybe well check this out though.

Toeing the Company Line

In the newsletters: The Dispatch Politics crew reported on Democratic voters tack to the center in their partys Oregon primary, Scott outlined () the litany of arguments against Bidens new China tariffs, Nick dove into the fake freakout over FBI standard operating procedure, and Jonah explored () the potential problems with personalized pricing.

On the podcasts: Jonah is joined on The Remnant by Ken Pollack of the American Enterprise Institute to discuss the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and wholl succeed the countrys ailing supreme leader.

On the site: John digs into the effects of school choice battles on rural Texas politics and Mike explains how the deadly force lie swept through the MAGA media ecosystem.

Let Us Know

Do you think Schumers move to bring immigration to the fore again is politically wise?

Charles Hilu contributed reporting to this newsletter.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is shifting to campaign mode as hes planning a series of message votes on border security, access to contraception and other hot-button issues.

The shift reflects a broad acknowledgement within the Senate that theres little chance of passing substantive legislation between now and Election Day as lawmakers hunker down for a grueling campaign.

Schumer has largely avoided so-called show votes on bills that have little chance of passing because for most of this Congress  and for Democrats first two years in the Senate majority in 2021 and 2022  he wanted to focus on legislation that actually could become law.

But senators dont expect much more to get done before the election, other than the confirmation of judges and executive branch nominees, now that Congress has safely passed $61 billion in funding for Ukraine, the annual appropriations bills for fiscal 2024 and a five-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Were getting closer to the election, said one Democratic senator who requested anonymity to explain Schumers new focus on messaging votes.

The question is, what can we done the rest of the year? the lawmaker asked, noting that the top priorities  Ukraine funding, government funding, the reauthorization of warrantless surveillance and the FAA  are already done.

Democrats are feeling increasingly nervous about losing their Senate majority as polling released last week showed President Biden trailing in five battleground states, including Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania, which are also hosting Senate races.

Many Democratic senators are worried that border security has become a political liability for Biden, but they see an advantage over Republicans on womens health issues, especially abortion rights.

The Senate will vote Thursday to advance a bipartisan border security deal that only mustered four Republican votes when it came to the floor as part of an emergency foreign aid package in February.

Senate Republicans, including the bills co-author, Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), say they will vote overwhelmingly to block the legislation again Thursday, even though it was endorsed earlier this year by the National Border Patrol Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and The Wall Street Journals editorial board.

Thats something that Schumer and other Democrats say will make for a good talking point in campaign ads and on the stump this fall, when theyre facing a barrage of Republican attacks over border security.

Three months ago, Donald Trump told his Republican allies to block the strongest bipartisan border security bill in a whole generation. Luckily, we are trying again tomorrow, and I hope this time Republicans join us to achieve a different outcome, Schumer said Wednesday.

Schumer tried to draw more attention to Thursdays vote by previewing it earlier this month and holding a press conference Wednesday afternoon focused on the flow of fentanyl across the southern border.

But Schumer and other Democrats know full well that the bill is expected to pick up only two or three GOP votes at most.

They know theres essentially no chance of getting Republicans to support any border security legislation or proposals to protective womens access to reproductive health, which is why they plan to hammer their GOP colleagues with political messaging votes.

Schumer also announced on the Senate floor Wednesday that he will set up a vote next month on the Right to Contraception Act, which Democrats hope to use to further highlight the rulings of conservative judges that have limited womens access to health care, including abortions.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), the chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, said Democrats plan to highlight their political and policy differences with Republicans on other issues but declined to say what other messaging bills are coming.

Youre going to have to wait with bated breath to determine whats next, but there will be other opportunities, she said.

Republicans, however, are shrugging off the votes as unlikely to do much to protect vulnerable Democratic incumbents such as Sens. Jon Tester (Mont.) and Sherrod Brown (Ohio).

This is actually, right now, purely and simply a political stunt, and I think most people are going to view it that way, Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) said.

He said the issue is baked into how many voters view Republicans and Democrats as polls show voters trust the GOP more to handle border security.

Theres no way [Democrats] can run away from it. They own it. Their incumbents own it, Thune said.

Lankford, the lead Republican author of the bill, said theres no question the bill would make the situation at the border better, but he said Schumers not bringing it to the floor with a sincere desire to get it passed.

This is not trying to accomplish something. This is about messaging now, he said.

Senate Democrats say they expect Schumer to set up other votes on other messaging bills related to womens access to health care and reproductive rights later this year.

Schumer forced Republicans to vote on the Womens Health Protection Act in May 2022 after a draft opinion of the Supreme Courts majority ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which overturned the right to an abortion, leaked to the public.

Republicans blocked that bill by a vote of 49-51, with some of them arguing it went well beyond simply codifying the right to an abortion established by Roe v. Wade in 1973.

Schumer also brought voting rights legislation to the Senate floor in January 2021, even though it was crystal clear that it would not have enough GOP support to pass.

Democrats pushed the bill forward to highlight what they said was a refusal by Senate Republicans to protect voting rights, especially those of Black voters, from a barrage of new restrictions at the state level.

But much of the 2022 election year, when Democrats still controlled the House, was devoted to passing major bipartisan bills, including legislation to address gun violence after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and to bolster the domestic production of semiconductors.

Updated at 9:25 a.m. EDT

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
SCHUYLER COUNTY, N.Y. (WETM)  Schuyler County officials are warning property owners of a scam that is circulating in the area involving assistance in challenging property taxes.

The scam involves a company or person who charges fees to dispute a property owners property assessment or offers to appear for them in court without being a licensed lawyer.

Montour Falls Library now accepting book sale donations

According to Real Property Tax Office Director Kelly Anderson, some property owners have received a flier for a service to have their propertys tax value reduced for a fee. The flier demands that the person must appeal immediately and that they will be represented before the board of assessment review and in state court by the company or person leaving the flier.

The flier does not fully explain the services or the fees but contains a signature line for property owners to sign and indicate that they have hired them to challenge their property taxes.

While this task is something a property owner can authorize someone else to do for them, the process of grieving a property assessment can be done on your own for free by completing the New York State Complaint on Real Property Assessment form (RP-524) and filing it on or before your towns grievance day.

Walk-a-thon to support the Schuyler County Humane Society

Those who are interested in completing the process themselves are encouraged to contact Andersons office at 607-535-8118 or visit the offices official website.

Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman states that property owners who believe they need legal assistance with appealing their tax assessments should contact a local attorney or the New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-342-3661 or online.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Hourihan encourages anyone who thinks they may have fallen victim to the scam to report their complaints to their local law enforcement agency or the Schuyler County District Attorneys Office.

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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
Haze of Glory

Stars shouldn't just disappear from the night sky without a trace. They should either dim, or if massive enough, explode spectacularly. And yet, astronomers have documented at least 800 cases of stars vanishing in an instant  and without warning  over the past 70 years.

In some cases, stupefied sky watchers witnessed a star in the sky in one hour, and in the next came back to find it gone, never to return.

Now, new research could finally unravel this mystery. Led by astronomers at the University of Copenhagen, a study published in the journal Physical Review Letters suggests that the incredible mass of these stars is causing them to directly collapse into a black hole, where any evidence of their demise would be instantly swallowed.

"Were one to stand gazing up at a visible star going through a total collapse, it might, just at the right time, be like watching a star suddenly extinguish and disappear from the heavens," said study co-author Alejandro Vigna-Gomez at the Niels Bohr Institute in a statement about the work. "The collapse is so complete that no explosion occurs, nothing escapes and one wouldn't see any bright supernova in the night sky."

Dark Pipeline

When a massive star at least eight times heavier than our Sun dies, it collapses near-instantly under the weight of its own gravity. This causes an epic explosion called a supernova that releases so much energy that it can outshine its own galaxy. The aftermath is the formation of a black hole or an extremely dense neutron star.

Or perhaps this explosive stage of stellar evolution is being bypassed, in which case a sufficiently massive star collapses straight into a black hole. The researchers aren't the first to propose this so-called "total collapse" theory, but they have provided some of the most compelling evidence yet supporting it.

Their evidence comes from observations of a binary star system, VFTS 243, where a star ten times the mass of our Sun and a black hole are orbiting around each other in a morbid dance. This is an "extraordinary system," Vigna-Gomez says, because it contains almost no evidence of a supernova.

"The orbit of the system has barely changed since the collapse of the star into a black hole," he added.

Kicking and Screaming

Namely, the astronomers couldn't find any signs of a "natal kick"  an acceleration induced in a star when it explodes caused by all the mass it ejects into space. In fact, there was no evidence that the orbits of the two objects were disturbed. Instead, the researchers say, most of the energy was lost via subatomic particles called neutrinos which interact with gravity extremely weakly.

More work will be needed to firmly put this mystery to bed, but these findings will serve as an "important reality check" on models of stellar evolution, said study co-author Irene Tamborra from the Niels Bohr Institute.

"And we certainly expect that the system will serve as a crucial benchmark for future research into stellar evolution and collapse," she added.

More on stars: High Percentage of Stars Have Eaten a Planet, Research Finds
Scientists who tested soil in Kristin Smart case used method in another murder. Is it legit?

The scientists who pitched in on the search for Kristin Smarts body and say they found evidence of human decomposition near Susan Flores yard used the same method to help investigators on a double murder in Yakima, Washington.

And they say their chemical tests of a site where two bodies were discovered showed similar results to what they found near Flores property.

Theyre hoping the experimental method one day develops into a proven way to help find buried bodies and end the anguish of families searching for answers, but so far its only been used in a handful of forensic cases.

Smart disappeared from Cal Poly on May 25, 1996  28 years ago  and despite Susan Flores son Paul Flores being convicted of her murder, her body has never been found.

If the soil testing could help locate Smarts remains, it would be a landmark accomplishment for the fledgling approach.

Environmental engineer Tim Nelligan, environmental chemist Steve Hoyt and former FBI chemist Brian Eckenrode and former federal prosecutor Tim Perry formed a team to test the soil along the shared fence between Flores yard and her next-door neighbors property to try to locate signs of Smarts body. The team believes they have found strong evidence of a human decomposition event centered at the fence through multiple tests theyve conducted from February 2020 to March 2023.

After articles on their testing were published in the Los Angeles Times and The Tribune, the men were contacted by the U.S. Attorneys Office about another murder case.

Six months later in September, federal court records show, they participated in the federal search warrant for the Washington case, performing the same tests and finding elevated levels of the same decomposing human body compounds as they did near Flores Arroyo Grande yard.

Theres an opportunity for scientists and the community to aid and to use all the tools. What we feel is that weve come upon an opportunity here where we have a tool that could help not only just (find Smarts remains)  we think really this could be Kristins legacy, Nelligan said. There are other cases such as Yakima or other areas where we can advance this technology.

As part of The Tribunes Reality Check series, The Tribune investigated how the testing works and whether it can accurately detect a human body.

Environmental chemist Steve Hoyt, left, and environmental engineer Tim Nelligan, hold equipment they use for testing soil vapor, at their San Luis Obispo lab in May 2024. After they used their method to test Susan Flores neighbors yard in the search for Kristin Smarts body, they were hired to do similar testing in a Washington state murder case.

Human bodies in Yakima yield similar vapor results to Flores yard, scientists say

The men were recruited to test their method in a Washington drug smuggling case that turned deadly in 2022 after the Department of Homeland Security began investigating a crime organization suspected of running narcotics from Mexico to Yakima, court records show.

As part of the investigation, agents spoke with two members of the organization, Cesar Murillo and Maira Hernandez, in December 2022. They were killed shortly after.

In January 2023, agents unsuccessfully searched a 71-acre ranch for their remains, before hiring Nelligan, Hoyt and Eckenrode in August.

Prosecutors obtained the warrant citing a new scientific approach that could help find human remains, and a judge approved it, The Tribune confirmed.

Nelligan told The Tribune that on Aug. 30 the three placed around 30 soil testing probes in several areas of interest on the Yakima property.

The scientists results showed two probes returned positive results for several of the human remains compounds they have identified. Those probes ended up being near the female body  one 5 feet away and the other 10.

Authorities returned to the ranch Sept. 13 to dig the area of interest the probes identified, but at the same time through other means, they determined the location of both bodies, which were dug up and removed the next day.

Despite the locations of the bodies known, the scientists received permission to return to the site on Sept 18 to test the soil composition.

The results from the tests near the bodies showed similar compounds to what was found near Susan Flores yard.

I was not really surprised when we found the same groups of compounds up in Yakima where there were actually bodies buried, Hoyt said.

Environmental engineer Tim Nelligan, environmental chemist Steve Hoyt and former FBI chemist Brian Eckenrode (not pictured) used their soil vapor method to test Susan Flores neighbors yard in the search for Kristin Smarts body and then were hired to do similar testing in a Washington state murder case. Here, Nelligan points to a chart with the results of the testing.

The scientists tested for 44 chemical compounds that they say were emitted from decomposing human remains near Flores yard and in Yakima.

Near Flores yard, 20 to 32 compounds were detected in various probes near the fence line, while four to seven compounds were detected in the control areas near Flores yard 119 to 3,300 feet away.

At the Yakima testing, 22 to 25 compounds were detected near Murillos body, while 14 to 29 compounds were detected near Hernandezs body. The control areas, which were 3,600 feet from Murillos body and 1,600 feet from Hernandezs body, detected 13 to 20 of the compounds present.

In addition to the increased number of compounds, the concentrations of some were also higher at the burial sites than in the control areas.

For example, samples of carbon disulfide, one of the compounds associated with human body decomposition, recorded near Murillos body tested as much as 13 times higher (1.79 to 48.73 micrograms per cubic meter) vs. the control site (0.8 to 3.64). The levels tested up to six times higher near Hernandezs body, 1.88 to 21.86.

For another compound called pentanal, levels were up to six times higher near Murillos body (1.08 to 11.39 micrograms per cubic meter) vs. the control site (0.62 to 1.81). Levels near Hernandez were as much as three times as high as the control site at 0.96 to 5.71.

The tests near Flores yard showed even more dramatic differences for pentanal, 5.49 to 203.61 micrograms per cubic meter or 26 times higher than the 3.2 to 7.64 micrograms recorded in the controls.

Eckenrode told The Tribune that the way the data is evaluated is both qualitative and quantitative, meaning both the number of different compounds present and amount of each detected is part of their analysis.

Presence of one or few compounds is not enough to determine whether a body present, he said.

Soil composition can vary from place to place, Eckenrode said, so comparing their samples to the controls is key to figuring out whether human remains may be present.

How does the test work?

The soil investigation method used by Nelligan, Hoyt and Eckenrode is known as vapor intrusion testing.

Its used by both the federal and state environmental protection agencies regularly to test for environmental pollutants, and the method is standard for soil pollution in particular, according to Andrew Leavitt, a senior engineering geologist with the Department of Toxic Substances Control at the California EPA.

The samples are taken by drilling holes in the ground, inserting tubes into the holes and connecting the tubes to a canister, known as a probe. The canister is then sealed, excess air is expelled and soil vapor pumped in.

The sampling tubes, which are set lengths, can go anywhere from 5 to 15 feet down, and the process typically takes two to 48 hours, Leavitt said, depending on the sample.

The sample is then taken to the lab, where the vapor is examined in a mass-spectrometer, a tool that measures and identifies gasses to create a unique profile of the vapors source.

Environmental engineer Tim Nelligan, environmental chemist Steve Hoyt and former FBI chemist Brian Eckenrode (not pictured) used their soil vapor method to test Susan Flores neighbors yard in the search for Kristin Smarts body and then were hired to do similar testing in a Washington state murder case. This is the system the scientists use to analyze the soil vapor samples.

The mass-spectrometer will fragment each of the compounds coming out and create a fingerprint of the compound, said Hoyt, who led the testing for the team and has been administering this method for more than two decades.

The method tests for soil vapor from a specific source, Leavitt said. If that source were to be removed, the vapors should eventually disperse and become less detectable or even undetectable.

A natural breakdown of the compound can take a lot longer and varies depending on the compound, Leavitt said, giving the example of PCE, also known as forever chemicals, which have polluted soil and groundwater below and around dry cleaners even after dry cleaners stopped using the chemical or the business closed.

Eckenrode said vapor begins to move right away after a source is removed, but soil can slow down that dispersal and vary depending on the moisture and temperature of the ground. He added that the bodies in Yakima had been buried for a year, and they were able to detect high concentrations of compounds 18 inches away five days after the bodies had been removed.

Leavitt said the compounds would test strongest near the source, but he also said its unclear how fast and how far soil vapor compounds move in soil.

Eckenrode added that this method is a much less invasive way to search because the testing does not disturb a property to the same extent as search methods would.

Environmental engineer Tim Nelligan, environmental chemist Steve Hoyt and former FBI chemist Brian Eckenrode (not pictured) used their soil vapor method to test Susan Flores neighbors yard in the search for Kristin Smarts body and then were hired to do similar testing in a Washington state murder case. This is the system the scientists use to analyze the soil vapor samples.

Humans must have distinct vapor profile for method to work, EPA scientist says

Very hypothetically speaking, Leavitt said, this sampling method could be used to identify where human remains are buried, though with one caveat: A decomposing human body must have a unique soil vapor profile that could not be confused with anything else.

Pigs have been used in the past to train cadaver dogs, and while research shows the profiles are similar, most studies found humans have a singular soil vapor profile of their own.

A 2018 study by the Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Technology in Australia found pigs and humans had dissimilar profiles, but that in cooler conditions the results from each species became more comparable, especially during the early stages of decomposition.

Despite this assertion, however, most studies indicate the topic needs more research. There is currently no standard profile to test for  some studies test for different compounds  and little information on the significance of the amount of each compound.

Environmental chemist Steve Hoyt at his San Luis Obispo lab in May 2024. After he and fellow scientists used their soil vapor method to test Susan Flores neighbors yard in the search for Kristin Smarts body, they were hired to do similar testing in a Washington state murder case.

Do we really know the chemistry that uniquely defines a human? Eckenrode said. My answer has to be, not quite. However, our results are indicating were getting closer.

The men based their human decomposition vapor profile off of two of Eckenrodes co-authored studies with the Tennessee Body Farm, a body donation program at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, that studies decomposing bodies. The first study was a decompositional odor database published in 2004, and the other was an odor analysis of buried human remains published in 2008.

Their profile was also derived from a 2017 study called The Odor of Death: An Overview of Current Knowledge on Characterization and Applications, co-authored by several experts in the field.

From left to right, Tim Nelligans two sons, Mason Nelligan and Jacob Nelligan, and Steve Hoyt watch Mark Mattison, one of Hoyts employees, insert a soil vapor probe and summa canister into the yard of Marcia Papich, which is adjacent to Susan Flores yard, in December 2020. They were testing for evidence of human decomposition in the search for Kristin Smarts body.

Soil vapor science was litigated in Casey Anthony trial

Although the science is not definitive yet, the Yakima case is not the first case where it has been used.

The materials the scientists tested for are known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. They are gas molecules that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility, according to the EPA.

Many VOCs are human-made chemicals used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals and refrigerants, while others emit from the natural decomposition process of living organisms.

The compounds were litigated briefly in the trial against Flores during testimony from cadaver dog handlers, who said their dogs alerted to human remains VOCs in Paul Flores dorm room and underneath Ruben Flores deck.

But the handlers who testified were experts in cadaver dog training, not the chemical analysis of these compounds.

This science did play a large role in the 2011 Casey Anthony trial in Florida. In the high-profile case, Anthony was accused of killing her 3-year-old daughter and burying her behind her parents Orlando home.

Prosecutors called scientist Arpad Vass to testify about alleged human remains VOCs detected in Anthonys trunk to prove Anthony transported her dead child in her car.

Vass was working in a federal lab at the time of the trial, according to his testimony, and co-authored both papers with Eckenrode that were cited in the current testing in Yakima and near Flores yard.

Vass testified that VOCs consistent with human decomposition were detected in the trunk. But forensic chemist Kenneth Furton, who the defense called as a witness, countered that testimony by saying the VOCs could have been emitted from trash in the trunk.

Anthony was ultimately acquitted, and Vass told The Marshall Project, a criminal justice news nonprofit, that the trial destroyed his career and paved the way for the federal lab he worked for to fire him.

In an email to The Tribune, Vass claimed he was the first person to begin researching the use of VOCs for forensics. He claimed Anthonys defense attorney, Jose Baez, said Vass was right during closing arguments, so YES, (the science) has been used in the courts and deemed acceptable.

In Baezs closing arguments in the case, he called Vass a scientific explorer trying to market his invention and accused the prosecution of trying to win the high-profile case at any cost.

In the years since the Anthony trial, several studies  including those by Furton  do indicate humans have specific VOC markers, but they have not yet been used in actual forensic settings beyond training cadaver dogs.

Cadaver dogs can help confirm science, expert says

Furton told The Tribune that he was called to speak about the science of VOCs alone. The science at that time  and today  is not proven enough to indicate on its own where a human body is or was, he said.

If (Eckenrode, Hoyt and Nelligan) are saying these compounds  because theyve seen them in confirmed cases  are evidence of human remains, my question is, how accurate is that? Furton said.

Currently, he said, the testing and literature are not strong enough to say which compounds  and how much of each compound  is related to human body decomposition and nothing else. Much of the research has been confirmation of bodies that scientists know are there, but there hasnt been as much research on testing for these compounds when a body isnt present to confirm the compound profile is unique.

Its clear that the compounds Eckenrode, Hoyt and Nelligan tested for are present in decomposing human bodies, Furton said, but those compounds can also appear in other substances or decomposition processes.

There is one tool Furton said has about 90% accuracy: cadaver dogs.

Furton has researched cadaver dog accuracy throughout his decades-long career.

I dont have any doubt that there are human specific VOCs because canines can do it, Furton said, adding that the science needs more work to confirm a human VOC profile.

Furton said when he testified in the Anthony trial, he was not asked questions about the two cadaver dog alerts to the trunk.

Had he been asked, Furton said, he would have said the dog alerts plus Vass science combined were a strong indication that a body may have been in Anthonys trunk.

If you were to get a positive alert from the dogs as well as the chemicals backing them up, then thats pretty powerful evidence, Furton said. But the instrumental method by itself, I think its still experimental.

Have cadaver dogs alerted in Susan Flores yard?

Susan Flores yard has been searched multiple times in the past 27 years  once in 1997 for the civil suit, in 2000 by the Sheriffs Office and again in 2007 during the civil suit, Chris Lambert, host of the Your Own Backyard podcast that investigated the case, told The Tribune.

Adela Morris, a dog handler who helped with searches at Paul Flores dorm and Ruben Flores home, said in the preliminary hearing for the Floreses trial that she was involved in the 1997 search of Susan Flores yard.

According to her testimony, she said she wrote in her notes that her dog was trying to alert but couldnt pinpoint anything and wrote unclear to me in her notes regarding her dogs behavior toward unspecified wood. The dog also alerted in a corner of the property.

Morriss notes at the time did not reflect where exactly on the property the alerts or alert attempts were, she said in her testimony.

I think my dog was communicating to me something that I couldnt help her with and I didnt know how to read it, Morris said in her testimony. She was giving me body language and alerts and not pinpointing at anything.

At that time she had 10 years of experience as a cadaver dog handler. She said the report she wrote then is not as detailed as it should have been.

Morris declined to interview with The Tribune for this story.

Law enforcement has never revealed the results of the 2000 search, and it is unclear if they commissioned cadaver dogs at that time.

The 2007 search for the civil suit used ground-penetrating radar, but Flores denied the Smart familys lawyers request to bring cadaver dogs, Lambert said.

In 2014, Lambert said, a retired cadaver dog alerted against the fence line at the yard behind Flores  a different home than where the scientists have been testing. The dog retired from cadaver work in 2009, Lambert said, and his alerts could not be taken seriously by law enforcement because the dogs certification had not been renewed for five years.

Can investigators dig up Susan Flores yard?

Nelligan said they have shared their findings with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office, but the agency told The Tribune it could not comment on the investigation as it is still active.

Det. Greg Smith told The Tribune in July that the science the men presented amounts to a theory rather than evidence.

My job is to either validate what theyre saying or find another expert to say that what theyre doing is correct or what theyre doing is sound science or not, he said. And thats where we are in the process.

According to experts also interviewed by The Tribune in July, the biggest challenge in this case is not necessarily obtaining a search warrant, but rather successfully litigating the science that could be the foundation for a warrant.

Computer modeling from a team of scientists show how soil vapor sampling discovered human decomposition compounds in Marcia Papichs yard at 523 East Branch street, adjacent to Susan Flores fence and home at 529 East Branch St., in August 2021. The data shows compounds were found at more than 3100 parts per billion in the soil in the red zone.

The majority of the three-month criminal trial against Paul Flores and his father, Ruben Flores, revolved around similar scientific disputes.

The prosecution argued there was a clandestine grave with traces of blood beneath Ruben Flores deck and used dog alerts for human remains to make its case, among other forensic evidence. Defense attorneys argued this evidence was junk science inaccurately framed to convict their clients.

Susan Flores, whose property is at the heart of this question, declined to comment on the scientists findings through her sons attorney, Harold Mesick, who also declined to comment.

Environmental engineer Tim Nelligan installed soil vapor probes into Marcia Papichs Arroyo Grande yard in March 2023 to test for signs of human decomposition. Papich lives next door to Susan Flores, and he was testing for evidence of human decomposition in the search for Kristin Smarts body.
Antartica's Thwaites Glacier is also known as the "Doomsday Glacier" because it could greatly contribute to sea level rise if it collapses. And new evidence suggests that's exactly what's happening.

Miles and miles below the surface, the glacier is destabilizing as ocean water rushes underneath its core structures. Scientists learned this thanks to high-resolution satellite radar data that shows Thwaites is being flooded with warm sea water, according to the study published in the journal PNAS.

Thwaites is the world's widest glacier, spanning approximately 80 miles and reaching depths of roughly 2,600 to 3,900 feet. It rests on downward sloping land and is therefore vulnerable to the ocean's eroding effects. Thwaites already single-handedly contributes to four percent of the world's total sea level rise. If it collapses on its own, the Florida-sized glacier will elevate sea levels by roughly two feet (65 centimeters). In the process, though, Thwaites' collapse could trigger other melting events, increasing sea levels by an estimated 10 feet (3 meters).

"The rushing of seawater beneath grounded ice over considerable distances makes the glacier more vulnerable to melting from a warmer ocean than anticipated, which in turn will increase projections of ice mass loss," the study's authors write. As UC Irvine professor and lead author Eric Rignot said to CBS News, "We see the seawater coming in at high tide and receding and sometimes going farther up underneath the glacier and getting trapped."

This is not the first report to indicate that climate change is weakening Thwaites at its very foundation. In 2021 researchers at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) said the Thwaites Glacier had started destabilizing because the ocean water in the Amundsen Sea continued to warm. That warm water persists in melting the Thwaites Glacier's ice, and climate scientists who spoke with Salon expressed concern about this in 2021.

"This isn't the lynchpin for the collapse of the west Antarctic ice sheet, but it's a worrying development that underscores the urgency of efforts to decarbonize our civilization," Dr. Michael E. Mann, then a distinguished professor of atmospheric science at Penn State University, said at the time. He later added that "it is one significant step along the path of Antarctic ice sheet collapse and major inundation of our coastlines. A worrying sign that really does underscore the urgency of climate action."

CORRECTION: This article was updated after confusing sea level rise statistics regarding a Thwaites collapse.
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL)  Suspect Jim Chambers is still at large after the Carter County Sheriffs Office spent the day following up on tips throughout the county. Chambers faces charges of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering of evidence in connection to the death of Edward Elliott.

Elliott was last seen by a family member in January. Human remains belonging to Elliott were found on May 16 in a buried freezer in a remote area of Hampton.

Chambers has been added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) Most Wanted List. The department has also added money to a reward for information leading to his arrest. The TBI considers Chambers armed and dangerous.

Joey Guinn was arrested on May 16 and faces the same charges as Chambers in connection to Elliotts death.

Court sets Guinns preliminary hearing

Joey Guinn appears in Carter County court to set a preliminary hearing. (Photo: WJHL).

Guinn made a short appearance before a judge on Wednesday as his attorney requested a date for his preliminary hearing.

Guinn agreed to waive his right, requiring the hearing to be held within 14 days of his arrest.

The court set his preliminary hearing for June 5 at noon.

Background on Chambers: His alleged involvement and criminal history

Jim Chambers has been added to TBIs Most Wanted List. (Photo: TBI).

News Channel 11 previously received an affidavit for Guinns arrest that mentions Chambers. Witnesses told investigators they saw both Guinn and Chambers violently kicking Elliott in either late January or early February. But, before then, one heard a loud boom outside of a home in Hampton and received a call from Chambers through Facebook messenger telling them not to come outside the home. The affidavit states Chambers also told the witness that their car had been broken into and that he would be right back to handle it..

ETSU mens golf receives apology from Delta Airlines after baggage mishandling video goes viral

The witnesses said they heard Guinns truck pull up and other loud noises. They then came outside and observed the incident. The morning after, they observed a pool of blood where the incident occurred.

News Channel 11 looked into Chambers criminal history, and records show he pled guilty to multiple counts of promotion of meth manufacturing in 2013.

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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) of Pakistan conducted nine operations across the country, recovering over 97 kg of drugs, a spokesman for the ANF said on Wednesday.

The spokesperson said that the force also arrested six drug peddlers during the operations conducted in different areas of the country.

During an operation at the Jinnah International Airport in the southern port city of Karachi, the ANF officials recovered 2.2 kg of Ice and 420 grams of heroin from a passenger bound for Bahrain.

In a separate operation at the international airport of the capital Islamabad, 720 intoxicated tablets were seized from a passenger en route to Saudi Arabia.

Another significant seizure took place at a courier office in the eastern garrison city of Rawalpindi, where 546 grams of weed was found in a parcel sent from Thailand.

ANF officials also recovered 70 kg of heroin during an operation near the Bolan Road in the southwest provincial capital of Quetta and confiscated an additional 14 kg of hashish in Qila Abdullah district of southwest Balochistan province.

The force also arrested an individual and recovered 4 kg of hashish from his possession in the Qasimabad area of Hyderabad in southern Sindh province followed by the arrest of two suspects in Mianwali along with 3.6 kg of hashish.

Further operations led to the recovery of 2 kg of intoxicated tablets in the northwest Khyber district and 1 kg of hashish from an individual detained in Rawalpindi city.

The spokesman confirmed that cases under the Anti-Narcotics Act have been registered against the arrested individuals, and further investigations are currently underway. 
A Jackson County couple who ate at Hereford House in Leawood and fell ill are suing the restaurant, saying it should be held liable for allegedly serving contaminated food to customers.

McHarlan and Barbara Bishop are the second patrons to sue the restaurant since the Johnson County District attorney charged former Hereford House employee Jace Christian Hanson with unlawfully adulterating or contaminating food at the restaurant.

Hanson, 21, allegedly posted videos of himself urinating on food and rubbing food on his genitals and butt, according to court documents. Court records alleged the crime occurred between March 26 and April 25, but Hereford House later narrowed the timeline to between April 6 and 23, based on Hansons statements to police.

Hanson allegedly told detectives he contaminated food in more than 20 incidents, according to court documents.

The Bishops filed the lawsuit against Hereford House Restaurant Company of Kansas Friday in Johnson County District Court.

Like the first lawsuit brought against Hereford House by Chad Christopher of Clay County, the Bishops said the restaurant was negligent and breached an implied warranty that their food would be safe to eat. The lawsuit also contains a strict liability claim, alleging the contaminated food is a defective product.

Couple says they fell ill after lunch at Hereford House

After eating lunch at Hereford House on April 18, the couple said they fell ill for days and had symptoms consistent with food poisoning, according to the lawsuit.

McHarlan Bishop claimed he had body aches after the lunch and continued to feel sick for several days. His wife, Barbara Bishop, vomited for several days after the lunch and felt sick, the lawsuit said.

Learning of the alleged purposeful contamination at the restaurant has also caused the couple emotional and psychological distress, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims Hereford House failed to properly conduct a background check of Hanson and train him on proper sanitary precautions before allowing him to prepare food for customers. It also alleges the restaurant didnt appropriately supervise its kitchen and employees and failed to maintain a safe and clean kitchen.

The Bishops also claim in the lawsuit that Hereford House failed to recognize the food contamination in a timely manner and didnt dismiss Hanson when they knew or reasonably should have known about the issues. Hereford House should be held responsible, the lawsuit alleges, for allowing a kitchen environment where ongoing food contamination had been possible.

The couple is seeking a jury trial.

The Stars Robert A. Cronkleton contributed reporting.
An eye swab confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus, following conjunctivitis-like symptoms - Cynthia Goldsmith, Jackie Katz/CDC via AP

A dairy worker in the US state of Michigan has tested positive for bird flu, marking the second human case linked to the multi-state H5N1 outbreak among US cattle.

The worker contracted the illness from sick cows and has since recovered from the virus, state health authorities reported.

The man was said to have regular contact with bird flu-infected cattle. Of the now 52 dairy herds across the US affected by H5N1, 19 are located in Michigan.

This is the third human infection of H5N1 reported in the US since the highly pathogenic virus started circulating in 2020, killing millions of birds and mammals.

In March, a worker on a dairy farm in Texas became the first known person to contract bird flu from a mammal, rather than a bird, with genomic sequencing revealing the strain of the virus was derived directly from a cow.

In spring 2022, a man in Colorado was infected while involved in the culling of H5N1-infected poultry.

Both the farm worker and the patient in Texas experienced conjunctivitis-like symptoms in their eyes and no other symptoms.

For the most recent case, a nasal swab for H5N1 came back negative, while an eye swab confirmed the presence of the virus, raising concerns among experts that health officials might miss cases.

The Centre for Disease Control laboratory is one of a few labs where eye specimens can be tested for H5N1  this needs to be fixed, easier access to eye swab testing is needed to protect and diagnose farm workers, said Dr Jennifer Nuzzo, Director of the Pandemic Centre and Professor of Epidemiology at the Brown University on X (formerly Twitter).

If symptoms are mild and a person has ocular symptoms it could be attributed to a viral or bacterial conjunctivitis rather than considering testing for H5N1 added Dr Krutika Kuppalli, a spokesperson for the Infectious Disease Society of America and former WHO medical officer.

The current health risk to the general public remains low, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement.

This virus is being closely monitored, and we have not seen signs of sustained human-to-human transmission at this point, she added.

Experts think it likely that we will begin to see more human cases of H5N1 in dairy workers in the coming weeks and months, as surveillance efforts ramp-up across America.

To help tackle reluctance in testing animals and people due to potential financial losses in produce, the US Department of Agriculture announced earlier this month a new support programme of up to $2,000 per affected farm for premises who facilitate testing of workers by local and federal public health bodies  in the hope it will help experts to better understand how the virus is spreading.

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The secret is out: The world found the Owyhees. Advocates say its time to protect the land

Just southwest of Boise lies one of the last vast swaths of solitude in the United States.

The Owyhee Canyonlands, with stunning red gulches, winding rivers and a moon-like landscape where a volcano with a caldera once 600 times larger than Mount St. Helens erupted, stands as the largest unprotected wilderness area in the American West.

Locals might have once seen the Owyhees as the areas best-kept secret: national park-quality wilderness without the tourists.

Advocates say those days are gone. The secret is out, they say, and the repercussions of not enacting federal protections could be irreversible  to the point that even those most skeptical of government regulation agree that the Owyhees are facing unprecedented change.

The number of people visiting the Owyhees has grown along with the Treasure Valleys population. The Lower Owyhee Canyon and Lake Owyhee have seen an average of 250,000 visitors per year for the past seven years, according to the nonprofit group Friends of the Owyhee. A viral social media video of Leslie Gulch garnered more than 21 million views and attracted international travelers.

Advocates say that influx  along with a complicated mix of unregulated recreation, invasive species, wildfires and mining claims  could irrevocably damage the pristine beauty of the 7 million-acre wilderness. The edge of the Owyhees is located about 60 miles southwest of Boise and extends past the Nevada-Oregon state line. Just 5% of that public land, most of which falls under the Bureau of Land Management, is permanently protected. Stakeholders want that to change.

Last month, Protect the Owyhee Canyonlands, a coalition of at least 14 groups, including the National Wildlife Federation, invited the Idaho Statesman to tour the Owyhees for an inside look at the deserts, plants, farmland and wildlife, and offer a glimpse at what conservation groups are hoping to modify when it comes to protection for the land.

Michael Gibson, Southeast Oregon field coordinator for Trout Unlimited, left, and Skyler Vold, a sage grouse conservation expert with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, hike Juniper Gulch in the Owyhee Canyonlands. Vold counted 22 sage grouse at a lek on a recent tour, a record for that spot.

Protection push faced decade of ups and downs

Advocates have been fighting to protect the land for nearly a decade. In 2015, groups petitioned former President Barack Obama to designate the Owyhees as a national monument.

Efforts seemed promising until January 2016, when the armed occupation of the nearby Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, led by far-right activist Ammon Bundy, made any type of environmental protection of the area too contentious of an issue for politicians, according to Ryan Houston, executive director at the Oregon Natural Desert Association. Bundys fight against federal public land regulations garnered support and sympathy from some factions.

In 2019, a coalition of local ranchers and business leaders joined with environmental groups to seek protections that both sides agreed were needed. They worked with Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon to draft legislation, leading to last years Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act. The bill would create a wilderness designation with a monitoring network of local ranchers, environmental organizations and tribal representatives to oversee the protection of one million acres of the Owyhees.

The bills lack of movement, however, is worrying conservationists. It hasnt progressed since passing the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in December. Aaron Kindle, National Wildlife Federation director of sporting advocacy, said environmental pushes can make legislators nervous, especially during a big election year.

A rainbow appears over the Owyhee Canyonlands near Jordan Valley, Oregon, in late April. Conservation groups are pushing for the wilderness area to be designated a national monument.

Now, Protect the Owyhee Canyonlands, an alliance of at least 14 different groups, has made the next push  asking President Joe Biden to designate the Owyhee Canyonlands as a national monument.

Conservation, for those of us whove been in it for a long time, is an interesting game, Kindle said. I think right now, folks know things arent exactly functional in Congress at times. Youve got to be creative and think of different ways to get these things done.

Ranchers in Malheur County, Oregon, home to much of the Owyhees, remain skeptical of too many restrictions and are wary of monument status.

Elias Eiguren, a fourth-generation Malheur County rancher, is treasurer of the Owyhee Basin Stewardship Coalition, the group that worked with conservationists on Wydens bill. The group first came together as a voice against the Owyhees becoming a national monument nearly a decade ago. While advocates say they are seeking a plan that would keep ranchers rights intact, Eiguren said its hard to trust that will happen when his familys livelihood depends on their roughly 500 cattle having access to BLM grazing land.

Theres been a lot of history between us and some of the environmental groups that were working with, and over the past two or three decades, it hasnt been very good, Eiguren told the Idaho Statesman by phone. Theyve gone down the route of lawsuits and taking us to court.

Leslie Gulch in the Owyhee Canyonlands is a perfect example of the wilderness areas burgeoning popularity. A social media post of the area went viral, garnering more than 21 million views.

Yet even those in the Owyhee Basin Stewardship acknowledge that the Owyhees land is changing at an alarming rate, and protections are needed. Eiguren said that as hes gotten older, hes seen more tourists, more wildfire, more invasive weeds and less wildlife.

There was nobody out there when I was a kid, Eiguren said. We never saw anybody. It was just a handful of cattle ranchers. Now, especially in the summer months, youll see vehicles three, four times a week. Convoys coming through, groups of people that are going on tours. So its changed quite a bit.

The idea of the Owyhees becoming a national monument isnt implausible. In 2022, Biden launched the billion-dollar America the Beautiful Initiative through an executive order that, among other things, looks to support locally led conservation efforts across the country with a goal to conserve and restore 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, according to the White House.

Over the past year the president has created five national monuments and expanded two others.

John Podesta, President Bidens senior adviser on climate change, said in April that Biden has preserved more land than Obama or former President Bill Clinton, with more to come, including better use and better protection of public lands, The New York Times reported.

Should Biden fail to get re-elected, conservation advocates are wary that Republican Donald Trump will be less receptive to protecting the Owyhees  or any land. Trump famously reduced the 1.3 million-acre Bears Ears National Monument in Utah by 85% in 2017, less than a year after Obama established it, and the Grand StaircaseEscalante in Utah by 47%. Biden restored the complete monuments in 2021.

No matter whos president or whos in Congress, the value is still here, Kindle said. We will continue to champion conservation of this landscape, regardless of who is in office.

A map outlines the different types of land designations within the Owyhees, which lies

Native wildlife under threat in Owyhees

Skyler Vold, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlifes greater sage-grouse expert, wakes up before the sun each spring morning to watch the sage-grouse dance. He finds a lek  an annual sage-grouse mating spot  and trains his scope on the shimmying male birds, famous for their unique mating ritual that involves inflating balloon-like airsacs on their chest and thrusting them out to impress the hens.

On April 23, Vold took the Statesman to an Owyhees lek before dawn. There, Vold counted 22 birds  a record for that lek and an exciting sight for someone who knows the birds numbers have declined by 80% since 1965. The Owyhees area is one of six greater sage-grouse strongholds left in the world.

A male greater sage grouse struts as part of the birds elaborate mating ritual, which takes place in breeding groups called leks.

If the sage-grouse arent doing well, everyone should be worried, according to Vold. The birds are an indicator species, serving as something of a canary in a coal mine. If the sage-grouse are suffering, other high-desert species in the area probably are suffering, Vold said.

In addition, more than 1,200 species of plants call the Owyhees home, including 26 plants that cant be found anywhere else in the world.

Its our job to protect these habitats for these native species, Vold said. We have kind of messed up this ecosystem, and its our job to do our best to manage it to where it was historically.

Skyler Vold points out a sage grouse lek in the Owyhee Canyonlands. Its our job to protect these habitats for these native species, Vold said. We have kind of messed up this ecosystem, and its our job to do our best to manage it to where it was historically.

The sage seas of the Owyhees are facing two significant threats: fire and grass. The Western United States has experienced an unprecedented number of wildfires in recent years, and some have ripped across the Owyhees, leaving splotches of burned land behind.

Normally, the sage would slowly regrow, as it has for centuries. But cheatgrass, an invasive species native to Eurasia and the Mediterranean, has made that nearly impossible. After a fire, cheatgrass sprouts quickly, hoarding the small amount of water available in the desert soil and preventing slower-growing native plants from getting the hydration needed to sprout.

Cheatgrass has taken over large chunks of the Owyhees, and wildlife advocates say federal protection is needed to stop the weed from forever changing the landscape.

More concerning to ranchers than cheatgrass, which cows will happily munch on, is another plant-choking invasive grass species known as medusahead, according to Eiguren. Animals wont eat the mature plant, and one study found that that grazing capacities were reduced by up to 80% when medusahead was present, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Either form of protection, whether it be legislative or executive, would create a vegetation management plan focused on managing the spread of invasive species and provide more resources than possible under BLM management, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

Three Fingers Rock is in part of the Owyhee Canyonlands that conservation groups in Oregon would like to see protected by either a wilderness designation or the establishment of a national monument. Three Fingers Rock can be seen from neighboring the Boise area.

Tribal leaders seek regulation for mining, recreation

Longtime Idahoans might remember a time before the states population blew up and brought so many new residents within spitting distance of the Owyhees.

The cultural memories of local Native American tribes go back even further.

Thats our old territory out there, Buster Gibson, director of Nevadas Fish and Game Department for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe, told the Statesman in an interview. A lot of our battlegrounds, our burial sites, our prayer sites, thats all tied to there. Its not just specific to where our reservation is.

Gibson and Reginald Sope, councilman for the Shoshone-Paiute of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation  which straddles the Idaho-Nevada state line south of Boise and Mountain Home  said one of the biggest reasons they support a national monument is to prevent new mining claims.

People first became interested in mining the area in 1863, when rich deposits of gold were discovered in the Owyhees. Under its current unprotected status, the Owyhees remain open to new mining claims. That door would be closed under either Wydens legislation or as a national monument. Protected areas would be subject to a mineral withdrawal that would prevent new claims from being made, while existing claims would be grandfathered in, according to Protect the Owyhee Canyonlands.

Australia-based Jindalee Resources, which holds the more than 6,000-acre McDermitt Caldera mining claim in McDermitt, Nevada, about 10 miles from the end of the West Little Owyhee River in Oregon, said last year that its surveys indicate the land holds the largest lithium deposit in the United States.

Conservationists backed a bill to grant wilderness protection to the Owyhee Canyonlands, but it has stalled in Congress. They now are pushing for a national monument designation.

Gibson and Sope said they worry about the damage mining could do to both the land and tribes health.

It might look like a lot of mining claims out there right now, Gibson said. But in 20 years  it could triple by then.

The Owyhee Basin Stewardship Coalition has a more nuanced perspective. Eiguren pointed out that Malheur is the poorest county in Oregon and mining could help the local economy, though he does have concerns.

We need a little boost to what our local economy is, Eiguren said. At the same time, the base of our economy is agriculture, and that (revolves) around our water resources and our land resources. The last thing we would want to do is contaminate that in a long-term or irreparable fashion.

Gibson and Sope also would like to see more regulation of recreators in the area. At the moment, people are free to drive recreational vehicles wherever they want in the Owyhees.

Gibson said its disturbing to see hikers post photos of tribal artifacts they brought home from the Owyhees, or people driving dirt bikes in sacred places, calling it a desecration.

We wouldnt go look for some artifacts in the cemeteries, Gibson said. It would feel pretty sick to do something like that, but its allowed to be done on our homelands. We dont really have a say. We dont have resources.

Gibson hopes that more protections and resources will preserve the land for future generations of tribe members, so they can be taken out into the Owyhees.

When they show you a family members grave or something that is significant to you, that lasts within you as a child, Gibson said. When you come back to the world out here, you think back on it like thats the only clean place you can ever think of.

Leslie Gulch features rhyolite ash-flow tuff rock formations.
Seeds are life: How a seed bank in the Mojave Desert is preserving an ancient ecosystem under threat

Editors Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolexs Perpetual Planet initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action.

Inside a Mojave aster flower, a tiny bee is fast asleep. At night, the pale lavender petals close, providing a safe resting place. In the morning, as birdsong rings out across the desert, the flower opens, revealing its tenant.

Here in southern California, in the middle of the Mojave Deserts vast and arid landscape, its just one of many natural treasures hidden from view.

In long sleeves, pants, and wide-brimmed hats to guard against a harsh sun in a cloudless blue sky, a team of four led by Madena Asbell crouches in the dirt, looking for another treasure.

They are searching for a plant called erodium texanum, (common names Texas storks bill or heronbill), a type of herb native to California. More specifically, they are looking for its seeds.

Theres so much life here, Asbell says, but its easy to not realize that when youre in the desert.

Asbell is the director of plant conservation for the Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT), a non-profit land conservancy that works to preserve and protect the Mojave and Colorado desert landscapes of California.

A quarter of the state is desert, home to roughly 2,400 plant species, according to MDLT. Eight years ago, Asbell had an idea. What if there was a way to preserve the ecosystem, centered around the seeds that facilitate all the life here? The result was the Mojave Desert Land Trust seed bank.

The goal is to preserve this amazing genetic diversity that we have and make it available for restoration or reintroduction of species, should there be a disaster that wipes out a population, Asbell says. Plants are the foundation of most ecosystems, so when we protect these plants, were protecting everything that depends on them, like desert tortoise, burrowing owls and pollinators.

A member of the Mojave Desert Land Trust gently collects seed from a desert plant to add to the seed bank project on April 9, 2024. - Beau Molloy/CNN

Five million seeds, and counting

In an ever-changing climate, the seed bank was just the type of proactive idea the organization was looking for, says Kelly Herbinson, executive director of MDLT.

As a land trust, were realizing that just protecting land or buying land to protect it wasnt going to be enough  that we had to take extra steps to really invest in that land, Herbinson says.

In 2016, Mojave Desert Land Trust officially launched the seed bank project, which has since been described as a Noahs Ark for southern California.

Three white refrigerators at MDLT headquarters in Joshua Tree, California, house the collection. There are over 5 million seeds from nearly 250 species and counting, according to the land trust.

Seeds come in from the field teams and undergo a cut test to determine viability  confirming the seed pods are full, and that there hasnt been too much damage from insects or mold, making the seeds worth saving.

They then go into paper bags on racks to dry out, before going into jars in the refrigerators for long-term storage.

All types of jar shapes and sizes pack the shelves inside, from small, donated Gerber baby food jars to larger pickle jars  each adorned with white labels including seed name, number of jars in the collection, and number of seeds.

Much like the desert itself, the seed bank contains all kinds of variation. Some seeds are light and wispy; some are skinny or round. Others are denser, like peppercorn, while another resembles pumpkin seed. There are shades of brown, red and olive green.

Asbell says that work at the seed bank includes scouting, collecting, processing and database management.

Last year, MDLT received a $3.2 million grant from the state of Californias Wildlife Conservation Board to help expand the project.

A jar of seeds sits in one of three full refrigerators at the Mojave Desert Land Trust headquarters in Joshua Tree, California. - Beau Molloy/CNN

Weve already been able to provide seed to researchers who are studying the effects of climate change on specific species that we have in our seed bank, Asbell adds. And knowing not only what youve collected, but where it has come from in a really specific way is very important for restoration.

You cant just throw any seeds on the ground  You need to know where that seed has come from, what population, what elevation, and make sure that its the right seed for the right place. Those are things that we are able to do through the work that were doing.

Helping the future of the Joshua tree

There is an increased urgency to that work. California has felt the impacts of climate change, from more frequent and intense wildfires, says Herbinson, to an influx of invasive grasses that are not only choking parts of the desert landscape but acting as fuel for the wildfires.

Climate change brings drought and more prolonged drought, which really stresses desert ecosystems, even though they are adapted for aridity, Asbell says.

Were facing really unprecedented challenges that threaten our existence and to be able to preserve the genetic diversity of the planet for a future time when it may be needed is really amazing  its really critical work, she adds.

The desert itself is the kind of place where you can pass it by and look at it and think theres nothing there, Herbinson says. But in reality, its incredibly biodiverse and full of so much life. Its just secret and hidden in ways that arent obvious.

That means its not as well protected as other ecosystems, she adds, such as rainforests or oceans  which come with more colorful trees and wildlife.

Yet the Mojave Desert boasts an iconic tree of its own: the Joshua tree.

We have this incredible endemic species thats very charismatic and has this very kind of unusual structure to it, Asbell says. Its widespread across the landscape, but also very threatened and so were very concerned about the future of the Joshua tree and working really hard to protect it.

A type of yucca, the twisted, Dr. Seuss-like tree, which lends its name to a national park in the same area is not likely to persist through our changing climate, Herbinson agrees, because their seeds are dispersed largely by rodents.

To survive, there will likely come a time when the trees will need to migrate to a more suitable habitat, she adds  ideally cooler and at higher elevation. But that distance is beyond the range of the rodents, who only disperse seeds up to 100 feet from the tree. Thats where the seed bank could help.

It means we can help the Joshua tree migrate potentially faster than it would naturally, and have that species survive the changing climate well into the future in a way that it wouldnt if we werent doing that work, Herbinson says.

The famed Joshua tree, which is facing increased threats from a warming climate. - Beau Molloy/CNN

Roughly 70,000 Joshua tree seeds are currently preserved in the seed bank, some of which could be planted in cooler locations, if needed. The key, according to Asbell, is balance: taking just the right amount to sustain a restoration project in the event of an emergency, but not so much as to disrupt the natural ecosystem.

This is an ancient landscape, she says. Its pretty profound to think about how long-lived a lot of these organisms are, and how much history theyve experienced.

Seeds are life, Asbell adds, and I dont know that anything brings me as much pleasure as growing a seed.  Its life affirming. And in the world we live in today, you have to really hold onto that and keep that close.

CNNs Adeline Chen contributed reporting.

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U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is expected to meet with residents in Sandy Springs Thursday morning as part of a constituent services event.

According to a release from the senators office, the Constituent Services In Your Community event will start at 10:30 a.m. and is meant to help Georgians cut through red tape to get access to federal services.

For the event, Ossoff and his staff will meet with families and others at Sandy Springs City Hall, to help them fix problems theyre having with Social Security and Medicare, as well as getting passports and visas.

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Senate staff will also be there to help military service members, veterans and their families get their VA and TRICARE benefits.

I have a hard-working team across the state standing by to help you and your families navigate the Federal bureaucracy, which can often be confusing and difficult to access and navigate, Ossoff said ahead of the event. We dont guarantee results, but we always guarantee effort.

In Sandy Springs, Ossoffs event will go from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and is one of several monthly events hes held for services assistance across the state.

Georgians can learn more online or by calling 470-786-7800.

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by Xinhua writers Huang Xinxin, Yu Li

CHENGDU, May 23 (Xinhua) -- As early as 120 years before the launch of China's Chang'e-6 spacecraft, which aims to retrieve samples from the moon's far side, the Chinese people had already envisioned sending humans to the moon.

In 1904, Huangjiang Diaosou, a Qing Dynasty novelist, penned an unfinished novel depicting human migration to the moon, marking China's first original sci-fi work.

Although he never completed his novel, modern sci-fi writers contributed to a book released at the 15th Xingyun (Nebula) Awards for Chinese Science Fiction held in southwest China's Chengdu from May 17 to 19, featuring extended versions of his intriguing tale.

In the new extensions of the tale, some sci-fi writers depict the protagonist departing from the Wenchang Space Launch Site, the launchpad of the Chang'e-6 spacecraft, to build new cities with the inhabitants of the moon. Others describe humans once again setting off from the moon to further explore the galaxy.

According to veteran sci-fi writer Ling Chen, in addition to continuing the Chinese people's dream of lunar exploration, the new extensions of the novel also advance Chinese sci-fi literature and art.

In the early 1900s, sci-fi was still a nascent genre in Chinese literature, with only a few active authors besides Huangjiang Diaosou.

Renowned Chinese writers Lu Xun and Liang Qichao also sought to introduce Western sci-fi novels to China to stimulate national enthusiasm for modernization. "From the Earth to the Moon," a sci-fi novel by French author Jules Verne, was translated into Chinese by Lu Xun in 1903.

Today, Chinese sci-fi works are making waves globally. Chinese author Liu Cixin's "The Three-Body Problem" has won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, the world's premier sci-fi award, and has been translated into more than 30 languages, with people like Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, Hideo Kojima and Niall Ferguson all fans of the book.

Last October, the World Science Fiction Convention, the world's largest and most influential sci-fi event, was held in China for the first time.

The Xingyun (Nebula) Awards for Chinese Science Fiction have also grown into a world-renowned sci-fi literature award comparable to the Nebula Awards of the United States and the Seiun Awards of Japan.

Modern sci-fi is considered a product of the sci-tech and industrial revolutions in the West in the 19th century. Since its introduction to China, Chinese writers have explored nearly all sub-genres of Western sci-fi, including space opera, cyberpunk and time travel.

Chinese sci-fi has greatly evolved over the years and is no longer merely imitating Western sci-fi, said Wang Jinkang, one of China's leading sci-fi writers, adding that while sci-fi universally focuses on the destiny and future of humankind, Chinese sci-fi shares this core feature but offers a distinct perspective.

"Chinese sci-fi provides the Chinese people's insights and solutions to the common dilemmas faced by humankind. People are curious about how Chinese people think and what they will do in the future," said Wu Yan, a sci-fi writer and professor at the Southern University of Science and Technology.

"The Three-Body Problem" is an example," Wu said, explaining that the book explores and addresses global issues from a Chinese perspective.

At the 15th Xingyun (Nebula) Awards for Chinese Science Fiction, another book titled "The Mountain, the Pine, and the Moon: 56 Chinese Science Fiction Writers' Fantasies of Their Hometowns" was released. It is a collection of works by 56 Chinese sci-fi writers, including Liu Cixin, themed around hometown, nostalgia and imagination.

Shi Yi, one of the editors of the book, said that the inspiration behind publishing the collection stems from a desire to develop a distinctive style in Chinese sci-fi. With a civilization steeped in 5000 years of agricultural heritage, the Chinese culture embodies a deep connection to ancestors and homeland, he said.

Li Jingze, vice chairman of the China Writers Association, said that this approach showcases the unique awareness and creative prowess of Chinese sci-fi within the global sci-fi landscape.

"It serves as a new contribution of Chinese sci-fi to global sci-fi literature," said Yan Feng, professor at Fudan University.

The blockbuster "The Wandering Earth," adapted from Liu Cixin's novel, also emphasizes the theme of home by depicting the human race venturing out to find a new solar system for planet Earth to settle as the sun approaches its demise.

"Chinese sci-fi today is no longer an imported product, but a new creation demonstrating the Chinese people's visions of science, the world and the future," Wu said.

Thousands of years ago, the ancient Chinese already used their imagination and questioned the universe through mythology and poetry, which resonates with Chinese sci-fi today.

Chinese sci-fi is now also looking back on Chinese history and philosophy for more inspiration, Wu said, noting that while it has learned from different cultures around the world, Chinese sci-fi remains deeply rooted in Chinese culture, ushering in a period of vibrant development.

"One day in the future, we may launch another book of Chinese sci-fi from Mars. At that moment, people will look at Earth and say, 'The blue planet is the home of those who wrote down the stories, traveled through the universe and created the new world,'" Li Jingze said. Enditem

(Xinhua correspondent Tong Fang contributed to the story.)
Former Florida governor and first-term Senator Rick Scott announced Wednesday that he is gunning to replace Mitch McConnell as Senate Republican leader after trying and failing to do so following the 2022 midterm election.

I believe that our voters want us to use this leadership election to make a choice to upend the status quo in Washington, Scott wrote in a letter to his Republican colleagues, the Wall Street Journal reported. If you also believe this to be true and want a leader dedicated to that principle, I would be honored to have the opportunity to earn your support.



Scott is the third Republican senator to express interest in the position since McConnell announced he would step down in February, after Senate Minority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and former whip Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).

 I am running to be the next Senate Republican leader.



Excited to discuss this and more on the @IngrahamAngle tonight at 7:40 p.m. ET. TUNE IN! https://t.co/yIV89pMY7T  Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) May 22, 2024



Scott had previously tried to unseat McConnell as Senate Majority Leader in 2022 after Republicans performed worse than expected during the midterm elections. After Scott was unable to secure enough votes, McConnell responded by removing him from the Senate Commerce Committee, much to Scotts consternation.



I opposed him because I believe we have to have ideas, fight over ideas, Scott told CNN at the time.

Scott will also have to win re-election before he can be considered for Senate leadership; his likely Democratic opponent, former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell from Miami, said Scott was self-serving to seek the Senate Republican leadership position and would be a disaster for Americans.

We all know if Rick Scott gets elected to Senate leadership, he wont hesitate to push his toxic and out-of-touch agenda to sunset Social Security and Medicare, she said in a statement responding to the news of his candidacy.

Senate leadership is typically voted on by members after the general election via secret ballot. With multiple candidates pursuing leadership roles this year, there may be multiple rounds of voting before one wins a clear majority. If no majority is reached, the candidate with the fewest votes drops out and ballots are recast, according to GOP precedent.

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A sweeping bipartisan border security bill failed to advance in the Senate on Thursday, blocked by GOP opposition and Democratic divisions.

Democrats brought the measure back up after it failed earlier this year in an attempt to put pressure on Senate Republicans and shift the narrative on border security, but the bill exposed divides among Democrats as some came out against it, threatening to undermine the partys messaging effort. The vote was 43 to 50.

As immigration remains top of mind for voters, the White House and top congressional Democrats have discussed a series of moves aimed at strengthening their hand on border security ahead of the first presidential debate next month. Sources say those talks included reviving the stalled border security measure that initially failed after former President Donald Trump told GOP lawmakers to knock it down.

Democrats have pointed to the failure of the bill  which was negotiated on a bipartisan basis  to argue that Republicans are not serious about trying to fix problems at the southern border and are ready to ramp up that argument after the bill stalled out a second time.

But without Ukraine tied to the measure, some Democrats and immigrant advocates are casting it as purely political and taking issue with key elements of the bill  one of the toughest border measures in recent memory.

Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who was one of the lead negotiators on the bipartisan border bill, delivered a scathing speech ahead of the vote on the Senate floor where she criticized both sides of the aisle for political theater.

Sinema, who voted against the bill this time around, argued that border communities in Arizona are in dire need of real policy solutions and that playing politics with the issue erodes trust in Congress and forces both parties further to the fringes.

There were also new Democratic defections in this vote on the border bill.

I will not vote for the bill coming to the Senate floor this week because it includes several provisions that will violate Americans shared values. These provisions would not make us safe, Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, said in a statement Tuesday.

Booker voted to advance the bill in February when it failed 49-50. In his statement, Booker noted that the first time around the bill also included critical foreign and humanitarian aid.

Republicans have largely dismissed the vote as a political move for vulnerable Democrats to seek political cover over a major issue in the run-up to the November elections.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer acknowledged over the weekend that not every Democrat may vote for the bill in a letter to colleagues. Sixty votes are needed to break a GOP filibuster attempt. Democrats only have 51 votes total and most Republicans have already said they plan to vote against the effort.

The border bill was a topic of discussion Tuesday during Democrats closed door party lunch as members debated the merits of bringing up a bill that has already failed to advance in the Senate. A source in the room told CNN that the vast majority were supportive, but that there were holdouts.

Sen. Alex Padilla, who opposed the bill the first time around, said he will vote against the bill when it comes to the floor on Thursday.

Its also not lost on me that the last time we were here, a lot of people mentioned this was the price they were willing to pay for the sake of Ukraine funding. That is no longer the case, Padilla said, acknowledging that something needs to be done to address the border. This should not be the Democratic starting point for border security.

Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner said the fact there may be internal backlash incentivizes some moderates: Frankly, the fact that some of our most progressive members dont vote for it, in my mind, is an indication that it really was a true bipartisan, tough bill, he said.

If passed, the bill would dramatically change immigration law for the first time in decades. It includes, for example, a new emergency authority to restrict border crossings if daily average migrant encounters reach a certain level, raises the legal standard of proof to pass the initial screening for asylum and expedites the asylum processing timeline, among other measures.

Most Republicans view the vote as largely a messaging exercise for Democrats.

Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, told reporters on Thursday she plans to vote against advancing the border bill after voting for the previous effort.

If it were a serious effort, we wouldnt be voting at two oclock on Thursday right as everyones rushing out of town, she said.

But Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who previously voted for the bill, indicated she could back the bill again, despite calling the process dumb.

If I thought it was good enough to vote for before, what changed? Murkowski said. Explain what is going on to someone who is not in this building. They think were nuts.

But Republican Sen. James Lankford, a key negotiator on the border bill, said hell vote against the measure Thursday. Its no longer a bill. Its a prop, he told CNNs Kaitlan Collins Tuesday.

Democrats have sought to shift blame onto Republicans for not securing the border, citing their decision to walk away from a measure that restricted migrants ability to seek asylum at the US southern border, among other restrictions.

The message became a winning one in New Yorks third congressional district in February when Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi went on offense on immigration and won the seat.

The absence of foreign aid and inclusion of what some immigrant advocates describe as sharp policy has turned up the volume on criticism.

It is unconscionable and deeply disappointing for Senator Murphy to be championing these policies that will simply not work, and for Leader Schumer, the senator from the home to the Statue of Liberty, to be pushing for this vote, Robyn Barnard, senior director of refugee advocacy at Human Rights First, told CNN.

The American public were told these harsh policies were necessary to secure Ukraine funding earlier in the year, what is their excuse for adopting anti-immigrant policies now? Barnard said.

The pressure on Congress also reflects the limited tools the administration has at its disposal to affect the situation on the ground over the next few months.

We recognize that there are limits to what any administration can do in this space with executive action, one senior administration official said. What we really need here and we continue to call for is for Congress to do its job and to take up and pass the Senate bipartisan border security legislation.

Senior administration officials are bracing for the potential that border crossings will surge this summer, like in previous years and are trotting out a series of policy changes to try to dissuade migrants from journeying to the US  and convince skeptical voters they are working to tighten up immigration at the border.

All of the factors that have been driving this unprecedented movement of people all over the world remain and we continue to be very vigilant and work, night and day to try to put policies in place that will mitigate its impact on our border, this senior official said.

Discussions are ongoing on rolling out a border executive action, according to sources, who say that one of the considerations is doing so after Mexicos election in early June and potentially before the first presidential debate.

Its all part of a broader strategy to remind voters they have a plan, Democrats say.

Weve seen some pretty encouraging polling that indicates that once people know what we have the strongest, bipartisan border bill in generations and we are prepared to do real and tough things that moderates are willing to change their view about Democrats and border security, said Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat from Hawaii.

Its a good bill and it is something that needs attending to. Thats our job. Lets bring it up, said Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats.

CNNs Sam Fossum contributed to this report.

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The Senate voted down the bipartisan border bill Thursday, marking the second time it has been blocked in a matter of months as Democrats look to shore up their political troubles and give President Biden and incumbent senators a boost in the process.

In a widely expected outcome, senators voted 43-50 to take down the proposal, which was negotiated over the fall and winter by Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). The bill lost support compared to the previous vote in February, which fell in a 49-50 tally.

Headlining those who flipped their votes this time around was Lankford, who was the lead GOP member throughout negotiations before the border bill met an unceremonious death.

The Oklahoma Republican told The Hill last week that Schumer and Murphy didnt discuss the renewed border push with him and that he was siding with his GOP colleagues, arguing this current push was inherently political and that Democrats were not interested at this point in getting a legislative result.

Today is not a bill. Today is a prop. Today is a political messaging exercise, Lankford said ahead of the vote. That doesnt help us as a country.

Joining Lankford in flipping their votes to no were Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Sinema.

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) voted against the bill in February, but was absent Thursday.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said repeatedly in recent weeks that he wanted to put the bill on the floor again to drive home the point that former President Trump and his supporters killed the bill for political purposes, and that Democrats want action at the border.

People want us to get things done. People want us to come together. And when they hear that the only reason Republicans backed away from this bill is not that it wasnt strong enough, but that Donald Trump said he wanted chaos at the border, they dont like that, Schumer said Thursday on the floor.

The public is on the same page. And in the polling data, Democrats, Republicans, and independents are all on the same page: act on a bipartisan bill, get something done, he continued. Dont play political games.

Republicans have panned those claims and maintain Schumer is the one pursuing a nakedly-political agenda, and Democrats have failed to secure the border throughout Bidens White House tenure.

The border vote was also viewed by many as an attempt by Schumer to lend a hand to a number of his Democratic colleagues who are staring down tough reelection fights in November as the border is turning into a potent issue in red and purple states.

Theyre trying to get right, and they know they need political cover. To me, thats all this is about, Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican, said Wednesday. He knows this is not going to get an outcome. Its not going to pass the House. Were not making law here.

This is about political messaging, and they understand its a big political vulnerability for them, and I get why hes doing what hes doing, Thune continued. But I dont think this is going to work, because people realize who owns the issue of the border, and thats the Democrats.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, fiscal 2024 has averaged 217,000 migrant crossings per month, with more than 300,000 crossings marking the high-water mark in recent years.

Its no mystery how we got here. President Biden and Vice President Harris were promising open borders four years ago on the campaign trail. And they started following through literally on day 1, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on the floor.

The border bill emerged out of tense negotiations among the three, along with the Biden administration and staffers for Schumer and McConnell, as part of a bid to gain House Republicans backing of the national security supplemental and aid for Ukraine.

Republicans lined up en masse against it within hours of its release in February, dooming it from the get-go. That prompted Schumer to plow ahead on the aid package, which included funds for Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific and for humanitarian purposes.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) eventually relented and moved ahead with his national security plan in April, which also included a potential ban of TikTok.

Updated at 3:15 p.m. ET

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For the second time in three months, an immigration and border security measure negotiated earlier this year by a bipartisan group of lawmakers failed to advance in the Senate, drawing the issue to a political stalemate.

The legislation fell well short of the 60 votes needed -- the final tally was 43 to 50 -- as nearly all Republicans voted against it.

The showdown vote came as both parties try to establish themselves as tough on border security ahead of the 2024 election.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced over the weekend plans to bring the legislation back up for a stand-alone vote, after it had earlier been tied to aid to Ukraine and Israel.

Schumer said Thursday's vote presented his colleagues of both parties with a chance to demonstrate whether they're serious about fixing the challenges on the southern border, though he pointedly criticized Republicans for previously blocking the legislation at the direction of former President Donald Trump.

"If Republicans were truly serious about calling the situation at the border an emergency, they shouldn't delay any longer. You can't call something an emergency one day and then suddenly kick the can down the road the next day," Schumer said in floor remarks.

"So, today, knowing that lesson, we need to try and work again together. We know our nation is stronger because of immigration. We know that the status quo with the southern border is unacceptable," he added. "So, to all those who have said for years we must act on the border, this is the chance to show you're serious about fixing the problem."

PHOTO: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks to reporters following a Democratic strategy session, at the Capitol, May 21, 2024. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

On the other side of the aisle, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the chamber, criticized Democrats for "suddenly chomping at the bit" to pass a comprehensive border security bill and said their renewed efforts amounted to "cynical Senate theater."

How did we get here?

Serious discussions about a bipartisan border security package first began in the late fall of 2023 after Senate Republicans, looking to capitalize on interest in securing additional foreign aid to Ukraine, said they would not support advancing a foreign aid package unless Congress passed serious legislation to regulate the Southern border.

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Sen. James Lankford huddled behind the scenes for months before ultimately unveiling their $20 billion proposal for the border that increased immigration restrictions and enforcement and implemented new migrant policy.

That package was originally meant to be tied to a broader national security supplemental that included aid to foreign allies Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan in an effort to secure the necessary Republican votes to pass foreign aid.

Though bipartisan talks were initially championed by Republicans, things began to falter after Trump, flexing his grip on the party ahead of the 2024 election, urged Republicans to block the legislation if it was anything less than perfect.

PHOTO: Sen. James Lankford speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, May 1, 2024. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

During a campaign rally in January, Trump told senators to "blame it on me" if the bill failed. Republicans quickly fell in line with Trump, and by the time the bipartisan group unveiled their product, its fate was all but sealed.

During the first vote to try to advance the legislation back in February, all but four Republicans voted against moving forward with the combined border and foreign aid package.

Democrats fiercely accused Republicans of cow tailing to their presumptive presidential nominee who they alleged wanted to preserve the crisis at the border to use as a campaign issue. Republicans, meanwhile, said the bill did not go nearly far enough to address the border crisis.

The Senate did eventually rubber stamp billions in foreign aid to Ukraine and other foreign allies in the weeks that followed, but the painstakingly negotiated bipartisan border provisions languished.

That was until Thursday, though the bill lost support on both sides in the latest round of voting.

Two of the bill's three authors, Sens. Lankford and Sinema, were among those who previously supported the legislation who voted against it on Thursday.

And despite the push from Democratic leadership, the bill was rejected by even some in the Senate Democratic caucus, especially by some progressives. Democratic Sens. Cory Booker and Laphonza Butler flipped their votes to no.

Political finger-pointing over who is to blame

Schumer's move to once again attempt passage of a border bill came in late May of an election year when immigration and border security are top issue for voters on both sides of the aisle.

The fraught political environment had done little to warm bipartisan negotiations over the border, and in both the lead up and fallout from Thursday's vote, each party has accused the other of playing politics.

The White House had been in communication with all four congressional leaders, including McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson, ahead of the vote.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks during a joint press conference with Kenya's President William Ruto in the East Room of the White House in Washington, May 23, 2024. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

President Joe Biden on Thursday, after the vote failed, criticized Republicans for "partisan politics ahead of our country's national security" and said he will "not stop fighting to deliver the resources that border and immigration personnel need."

"Congressional Republicans do not care about securing the border or fixing America's broken immigration system," Biden said. "If they did, they would have voted for the toughest border enforcement in history. Instead, today, they put partisan politics ahead of our country's national security."

Speaker Johnson, in a statement after the measure failed to advance, accused Schumer of "wasting time" on a bill he said would never have a chance of passing the House.

"After more than three years of claiming the situation at our southern border was not a crisis while millions of illegals poured in, Congressional Democrats are attempting to throw an election year Hail Mary to cover for their embrace of President Biden's open border policies," Johnson said as he again called on Biden to take more aggressive executive action on the border.

ABC News' Arthur Jones II and Mariam Khan contributed to this report.

Senate again fails to advance border security bill in election-year showdown vote originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. planned to bring the bipartisan border security bill to another vote Thursday. Republicans were set to support it earlier this year, but killed it at the urging of Donald Trump. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

May 23 (UPI) -- The Senate is set to bring a second vote Thursday on an immigration border security bill that was negotiated by a group of senators but killed by Republicans after former President Donald Trump spoke out against it.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor Wednesday the vote will reveal who's serious about actually fixing the border and who just wants to talk about it without acting.

"Senators face an important decision: will both sides come together to advance a bipartisan border security bill, or will partisanship get in the way yet again?" Schumer said.

President Joe Biden similarly urged Congressional leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to "stop playing politics and act quickly to pass this bipartisan border legislation, according to a White House outline of talks on Monday.

The Senate is currently comprised of 48 Democrats, 49 Republicans and three Independents and the bill is not expected to reach the 60-vote threshold to pass with Republicans expected to maintain their opposition and some Democrats also expected to vote against it.

Republican leaders in the House have also said the bill would be "dead on arrival" in the chamber even if it did make its way out of the Senate.

The bipartisan border bill was part of a larger National Security Supplemental put together by Senators James Lankford, R-Okla., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz, that would provide billions of dollars in funding for the Southwest border and grant the president emergency authority to shut down the border if unauthorized border crossings reach a certain level.

The bill had Republican support until House Speaker Mike Johnson called it "dead on arrival" after Trump voiced his opposition to the measure as part of his presidential campaign.

As that bill appeared headed toward failure, Biden publicly blamed Trump for the change in stance among Republicans, saying Trump wanted "a political issue to run against me on."

Lankford, who voted for the bill he helped negotiate in February, now says he will vote against it.

He called the vote Schumer plans Thursday a political prop.

"Let's keep working until we actually solve this," Lankford said to reporters Wednesday. "Not just bring up things that we know are not going to pass."

Democrats accuse Republicans of not really wanting to solve the border problems, but only to continue to campaign on the issue without resolving it.

"I'm angry because I got texts from my colleagues on the Republican side saying, 'Look, you guys need to get serious about the border'" Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said during a press conference on Wednesday. "Some of the Republicans that I respect the most were really forceful with us, so we listened. We developed a piece of legislation that I don't love, but I know is tough enough to get the job done. Yet they abandoned ship because Donald Trump told them to do so."
A journalist takes video of Sen. Ken Bennett, R-Prescott, during an impromptu press conference on the Arizona Senate floor on May 22, 2024, to discuss his support of HCR2060, a ballot referral that would make it a state crime for people to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Republicans in the Arizona Senate approved a proposal on Wednesday that seeks to give police officers across the state the power to arrest migrants, and local judges the authority to deport them, over the objections of Democrats, business leaders and immigrant advocates.

The ballot referral, titled the Secure the Border Act, would ask voters in November to decide whether Arizona should be allowed to enforce federal immigration law.

By sending House Concurrent Resolution 2060 to the ballot, Republicans would circumvent Gov. Katie Hobbs veto. The proposal is a collection of GOP bills that have previously failed to pass. Among them is one that Hobbs already vetoed, which would have made it a state crime for migrants to cross the border anywhere but at an official port of entry.

Another portion of the proposed ballot referral makes it a class 1 misdemeanor for undocumented Arizonans to use false documentation to apply for jobs or public benefits, such as housing or food assistance.

And a third provision creates an entirely new class of felony, with much harsher punishments, for people who knowingly sell fentanyl that later results in someones death. While a class 2 felony is punished with between 4 to 10 years in prison, a conviction under the new felony offense would automatically increase sentences by 5 more years.

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A move to push the proposal through the state Senate on May 15 was foiled after a lone Republican withdrew his support. Sen. Ken Bennett, R-Prescott, who has crossed party lines to kill other ballot referrals this session, warned last week that his vote was contingent on amendments that would reduce the penalties for submitting falsified documentation, and ensure that the state crime punishment provision couldnt be used against undocumented Arizonans who are already living in the state.

But on Wednesday, Republicans made changes that appeared to meet those demands. The legislation was amended to lower the penalty for submitting false information to apply for a job or a public benefit from a class 6 felony to a class 1 misdemeanor, and to add a stipulation that people would only be guilty of crossing the border illegally if they do so after the proposal goes into effect, offering protection to undocumented people who are already here.

Additionally, GOP senators added a clause requiring a police officer to justify arrests by meeting probable cause standards.

But during a combative nearly four-hour-long debate on Wednesday, Democratic lawmakers maintained that the changes were insufficient to assuage concerns about racial profiling. Latino and immigrant advocacy groups have likened the legislation package to SB1070, the states notorious 2010 show me your papers law, warning that its lax criteria for arrests, coupled with a clause that grants police officers immunity from lawsuits, will lead to discrimination.

Sen. Priya Sundareshan, D-Tucson, criticized Wednesdays amendments for leaving the door open for racial profiling. The new clause requiring police officers to have probable cause before they can make an arrest describes it as one of three scenarios: the officers own first-person witnessing of an illegal border crossing, a technological recording of an illegal border-crossing or any other constitutionally sufficient indicia of probable cause.

Sundareshan, an attorney, voiced concern that the third acceptable option is too broad. Bennett acknowledged that the language could be stricter, but said he was confident the courts would interpret it as evidence that rose to the same threshold as a first-person testimony.

But Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, pointed out that the word constitutional necessarily outlaws any justification that violates constitutional protections, meaning that arrests made on the basis of race would not be valid. The third criteria was added not as a means to greenlight discrimination, he said, but to give police officers sufficient leeway to accept other kinds of unexpected evidence.

Kavanagh, who is a retired New York Port Authority officer, noted that some people confess to breaking the law in the midst of asking law enforcement officials for help and said criminals are stupid. That comment elicited a negative reaction from the Senates third-floor gallery, which was filled with Latino Arizonans and activists from Living United for Change in Arizona, a pro-immigrant advocacy group that has been at the forefront of public criticism of the ballot referral.

Kavanagh then quipped: Apologies to the criminals in the gallery.

Sen. Anna Hernandez, D-Phoenix, pressed Bennett on the continued geographical ambiguity in the proposal. While Republican lawmakers have repeatedly claimed that only migrants who illegally cross the border between the ports of entry can be punished under its provisions, critics of the resolution have pointed out that it applies statewide  there are no requirements for police officers to be anywhere near the border to make an arrest. Amendments added to the proposal on Wednesday did not satisfy Democrats.

Hernandez questioned whether video surveillance footage taken at the border could be sent to law enforcement agencies hundreds of miles from the border and allow them to seek suspects in their communities. Bennett rebutted that he doesnt think that is how law enforcement works, but acknowledged that no clear geographical limit was added in order to give police officers the flexibility to detain suspects who may have traveled just a few miles away from the southern border.

This Latino Senator doesn't think that youre sell-outs or racists, whos only motivations for wearing a badge are to pull over fellow Latinos.

 Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge

Kavanagh, meanwhile, defended the right of law enforcement officials to use video recordings to make arrests further away from the border, likening it to security footage of robberies that are later disseminated to find suspects. But, he added, law enforcement agencies likely wouldnt go to the trouble of expending limited resources to do so in the case of an illegal border crossing, given the number of crossings that occur.

How could you ever get all those videos out? Its not practical, he said. The police arent going to spend resources that they would with a robber of Circle K, putting it on TV and making posters. Theyre not going to do that. But if you have probable cause that a crime was committed in Arizona  in this case crossing the border at not a port of entry  of course the police can arrest!

While Republican lawmakers touted the new amendment mandating probable cause as a safeguard against any racial profiling, Democratic lawmakers remained unconvinced, pointing out that what happens on the ground doesnt always reflect what is written in the law.

Sen. Rosanna Gabaldon, D-Tucson, noted that, before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down most of SB1070  which was also advertised as being a race-neutral law by proponents at the time  she was pulled over by police officers 18 times in one year. Gabaldon, who is Latina, said that she often requested justification from officers on why she was being detained, but that several times they refused to offer an explanation and instead pushed her to prove she was in the country legally.

They gave me no reason, they gave me no citation, but I had to prove myself as an American citizen, she said.

Some Republicans took issue with the repeated claims that police officers would use the law as an excuse to discriminate. Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, whose mother is from Mexico, apologized to police officers listening to the legislative broadcast, and pointed out that many border law enforcement officials are Latino.

This Latino Senator doesnt think that youre sell-outs or racists, whos only motivations for wearing a badge are to pull over fellow Latinos, he said.

In the middle of Shopes speech, a protest erupted in the gallery, where members of LUCHA stood up and yelled at lawmakers. Some removed their blue shirts emblazoned with the LUCHA logo to reveal white t-shirts with letters underneath, spelling out STOP THE HATE. (Senate rules bar banners in the gallery.) Amid chanting Stop the hate!, expletives and accusations of racism lobbed at lawmakers, the crowd was ejected from the gallery.

Youre a disappointment, Bennett! one protester shouted.

Kavanagh, dont you ever refer to our community as criminals! another LUCHA member yelled. My brown skin does not make me a criminal!

Ultimately, the proposal was passed along party lines by a vote of 16-14, with every Democrat in the chamber in opposition. The resolution goes next to the House of Representatives and, if it is approved without any amendments, it will be sent directly to the November ballot.

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The Senate voted down a bipartisan immigration reform package a second time, after Donald Trump urged Republicans to kill the bill to prevent a political win by his November opponent.

The bill, which would upgrade the asylum-seeking process, toughen border enforcement and increase security presence, and streamline deportations, ending the so-called catch and release practice, was carefully designed to reach across the aisle.

But in January, Trump vowed to kill the bill, negotiated by Sens. James Lankford (R-OK), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), sending GOP congressmen and senators to sink the compromise to keep Biden from quashing a key concern for voters in border states.

The 43-50 vote, more than a dozen shy of the necessary 60 to overcome a filibuster, was expected, with nearly all Republicans voting down the package, attempting to position the party as tougher on immigration issues.

If Republicans were truly serious about calling the situation at the border an emergency, they shouldn't delay any longer. You can't call something an emergency one day and then suddenly kick the can down the road the next day, Senate Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY) told his colleagues ahead of the vote. So, to all those who have said for years we must act on the border, this is the chance to show you're serious about fixing the problem.

Senate Republicans, whove proposed reforms in the last year much like those in the bill, say its a no-go, citing the Biden administrations response to an influx of arrivals at the southern border and Majority leader Schumers attempts to deliver a political win for his party.

This [vote] is about political messaging, and they understand its a big political vulnerability for them and I get why hes doing what hes doing, John Thune, a Republican Senator from South Dakota said, before voting against the bill.

Sen. Lankford, the Republican who co-authored the plan, expressed frustration in his coworkers' vote on the bill, saying on the Senate floor that the plan is "no longer a bill and now it's just a prop." He argued that Democrats were only bringing his bill to a vote for political "messaging."
The Biden administration is goading Senate Republicans to support a revival of the failed bipartisan border deal that they abandoned after former President Trump came out against it.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is planning a second vote on the bill Thursday, though Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday told President Biden that Republicans plan to vote against it.

White House officials on Wednesday sought to put the onus for border inaction on the GOP.

The blame game highlights the downward spiral the deal has taken from a much-touted  and much feared  actionable piece of legislation early this year to a twice-doomed messaging bill with no chance of becoming law.

The vote is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. EDT.

Watch the video above.

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 The Hill.
Multiple Senators have joined the chorus of Democrats in Congress calling on Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from cases relating to the 2020 election and Jan. 6 after a second flag associated with the insurrection was reported at his New Jersey residence.

Most prominently, Senate Judiciary Chairman Sen. Dick Durbin (DIll.) called for Alitos recusal and the adoption of a code of ethics for justices amid the fallout from the Supreme Courts ongoing controversies.



This incident is yet another example of apparent ethical misconduct by a sitting justice, and it adds to the Courts ongoing ethical crisis, Durbin said in a statement. For the good of our country and the Court, Justice Alito must recuse himself immediately from cases related to the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection.

Durbin reiterated his comments on X/Twitter with a screenshot of the New York Times story that broke the news of Alitos beach home flying the Appeal to Heaven, also known as the Pine Tree flag, a Revolutionary War-era flag that has since been co-opted by far-right Christian nationalists and members of the Stop the Steal movement. The flag was a common sight at the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Another Judiciary Committee member, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (DConn.), called for Alitos recusal on Wednesday. Blumenthal appeared on MSNBCs All In with Chris Hayes on Wednesday to speak on the matter. Blumenthal compared Alitos display of the flag to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-L.A.), who has the flag displayed outside his office in Congress.

Supreme Court justices are supposed to be above reproach and above politics, and I am sad, really sad and shocked to say Justice Alito is rapidly showing himself to be unfit to serve on the United States Supreme Court, Blumenthal said. At a very minimum, he has to recuse himself from these cases now coming before the court.

WATCH @SenBlumenthal: "Justice Alito is rapidly showing himself to be unfit to serve on the United States Supreme Court. At a very minimum, he has to recuse himself from these cases now coming before the court." pic.twitter.com/m915tigopZ  All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) May 23, 2024

The comments come a day after 45 House Democrats signed a letter to Justice Alito asking him to recuse himself from cases involving the Jan. 6 insurrection, stemming from an earlier flag controversy in which an upside down U.S. flag  another symbol associated with the 2020 election-denying Stop the Steal movement  was seen at Alitos home.

During an oral argument over a Jan. 6 case this term, Alito asked Inspector General Elizabeth Prelogar whether what happened on Jan. 6  when rioters obstructed the couting of the 2020 electoral college vote  was equivalent to protesters interrupting Supreme Court hearings for five minutes.

I think its in a fundamentally different posture, Prelogar said after a bit of back and forth, than if they had stormed into this courtroom, overrun the Supreme Court police, required the Justices and other participants to flee for their safety, and done so with clear evidence of intent to obstruct.

Yes indeed, absolutely. What happened on January 6th was very, very serious, and Im not equating this with that, Alito responded before adding, But we need to find out what  what are the outer reaches of this statute under your interpretation.

In another instance, Alito equated Jan. 6 with a pro-Palestine protest in San Francisco.

Yesterday protestors blocked the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and disrupted traffic in San Francisco, Alito said. What if something similar to that happened all around the Capitol so that members  all the bridges from Virginia were blocked, and members from Virginia who needed to appear at a hearing couldnt get there or were delayed in getting there? Would that be a violation of this provision?

Alito is not the only Supreme Court justice to come under recent fire. Justice Clarence Thomas has also faced heavy criticism for accepting and failing to disclose luxury gifts from right-wing billionaire Harlan Crow. The revelations of the gifts prompted the Supreme Court to adopt a Code of Ethics in November, though the Court has no enforcement mechanism if justices violate it.

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SYDNEY, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Australia's communication and media watchdog announced on Thursday that it has filed proceedings in the Federal Court against telecommunications company Optus over a massive data breach in 2022.

"Optus failed to protect the confidentiality of its customer's personal information from unauthorized interference or unauthorized access as required under the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979," the Australian Communications and Media Authority alleged.

As Australia's second-largest telco, Optus suffered a cyberattack in September 2022, which exposed the data of up to its 10 million current and former customers.

The leaked information included names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, and ID document numbers, such as driver's license or passport numbers.

An Optus spokesperson noted a statement that at the current stage, the company is not able to determine the quantum of penalties, if any, that could arise.

According to the statement, Optus had previously apologized to customers and took steps, including working with police and other authorities, as well as reimbursing customers to replace documents.

"Optus intends to defend these proceedings. As the matter is now before the courts, Optus is unable to make any further comment," said the spokesperson. 
Sharks are already lurking in the water off Mass., experts warn ahead of Memorial Day weekend

As the first big holiday weekend of the summer arrives, experts are warning of an increase in shark activity.

Officials at the New England Aquarium say several marine mammals off the Massachusetts Coast have recently been found suffering from shark bites. The aquarium says this is the time of year when white sharks will return to the waters closer to the coast as they hunt seals and other animals.

A dead minke whale was seen with what scientists believe to be a white shark bite on May 21. A slightly chewed seal was also seen off the coast of Plymouth in April.

Although we havent seen a white shark just yet this season, we know theyre here. With beach weather in the forecast and Memorial Day Weekend approaching, this is a good reminder for people to review shark safety guidelines and be shark smart, John Chisholm, an adjunct scientist with the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life said.

Chisholm says it is important to be aware in shallow waters, avoid areas where seals or fish are present and to stay close to shore.

Shark sightings can be reported through the Atlantic White Shark Conservancys Sharktivity app .

The New England Aquarium has a team of nine scientists in the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life who study sharks.

Over 15 shark species can live in New Englands waters depending on the time of year.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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She was the first Black woman to fly in the US Air Force. Now this trailblazing pilot is making her final flight

Shes been flying planes, both military and commercial, for about 43 years, breaking down barrier after barrier along the way.

But on May 23, Captain Theresa Claiborne will land her final flight at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey after traveling from Lisbon, Portugal, with her friends and family in tow.

Ive had a great career, Claiborne told CNN Travel via Zoom shortly before setting off for Lisbon. And its time for me to park the brakes for the final time on a big airplane.

Retirement flight

Claiborne has been flying planes, both military and commercial, for about 43 years. - Courtesy UA

While shes looking forward to closing that one chapter and starting another, Claiborne cant help but get a little teary when she thinks of the wide-eyed children who often marvel at her as she strides through an airport in her pilot uniform.

After this, walking through the airport, I wont have a uniform on, Claiborne says. People will just look at me like Im just a passenger like everyone else, thatll be a little different Im hoping that I can still make an impact on the industry.

To still impart that knowledge on young people, and particularly young black women, that they can do this.

Becoming a pilot was something Claiborne, originally from Virginia, could never have imagined for herself as a young girl. She was about seven years old when she took her first flight  an international jaunt to Turkey.

My father was military, she says. So I grew up really all over the world Id been on big airplanes before but never dreamt of flying one.

That all changed when Claiborne joined the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) during college and was given the opportunity to fly in a T-37, a twin-engine jet trainer.

Once I got that first taste of being in the air and being in command of the airplane, I was like, Yeah, this is what Im going to do, says Claiborne, who was about 20 at the time.

Sink or swim

"Ive had a great career, says Claiborne. "And its time for me to park the brakes for the final time on a big airplane. - Courtesy UA

While she was keen to apply for undergraduate pilot training, Claiborne explains that the US Air Force was only training 10 women a year at the time and had already selected the women for my graduating class.

However, this number soon increased, and Claiborne jumped at the opportunity to earn her pilot wings.

Around six months after graduating from California State University in Sacramento she began pilot training.

Its sink or swim Either you make it or you dont, she says, pointing out that she found it particularly difficult at first as she didnt have a strong math background.

I just beared down and made sure that I made it, because thats the kind of personality I have.

In 1981, Claiborne was commissioned as a second lieutenant and went on to become the first Black woman to fly in the US Air Force the following year.

I did not know until a few weeks before I graduated that that was the case, she says of the mind boggling title.

And I often say that Im really, really happy that I didnt know. I was 22 years old

During her years in the US Air Force, Caliborne became the first Black woman to serve as a command pilot and instructor for the KC-135, a mid-air refueling jet.

New heights

Claiborne with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. - Courtesy UA

In 1990, she joined United Airlines as a flight officer. At five feet, two inches, Claiborne was two inches shorter than the height required to fly commercial aircraft at other airlines at the time, but she would go on to be a United Airlines captain.

When asked about the transition to flying commercial planes, Claiborne stresses that a pilot is a pilot.

Youre in different type organizations, but youre still a pilot, she adds.

Claiborne says she has always prided herself on being the best pilot that she could possibly be, stressing that a big part of this is ensuring that her passengers enjoy the flying experience.

Being good means that Im communicating with my passengers at all times, she says. They know whats going on. That I keep them safe in every way.

Obviously, the landing is all-important. Ive got two more to do really well on.

I still get chills when I think about the fact that I was the first, and had I not graduated, the statement that that may have made.

Claiborne has chosen Newark, New Jersey, to Lisbon (outbound and inbound) as her swan song, with her mother, along with many of her closest friends and family, coming along for the ride.

I wont lie, I wanted to go to Paris, she admits, explaining that she was keen to pay tribute to Bessie Coleman, who moved to Paris to attend aviation school and went on to become the first African-American woman to earn a pilots license.

I wanted to recreate the whole Bessie Coleman thing. But Paris out of Newark is on a different airframe.

She eventually decided on the Portuguese capital, largely because theres a two-day layover on the service, which means that shell be able to spend some time enjoying the city with her loved ones.

Generally, were there [at the outbound destination] for 24 hours. So you land, you nap, you find something to eat, you nap again, and you leave.

So this way, with the Lisbon trip, we have an opportunity to enjoy each other.

And my mothers made many, many, many sacrifices for me. So this is an opportunity for her to really enjoy herself.

Increasing diversity

Claiborne is committed to increasing pilot diversity and will continue to mentor young women. - Courtesy UA

Once shes landed the United Airlines 787 Dreamliner in Newark, Claiborne will receive the water cannon salute  a mark of respect that sees two fire engines use their water cannons to create a huge arc over a plane.

Thats something that retiring people look forward to, she says. Its pretty special.

Im a pretty emotional person, she says. Im hoping I dont cry. But I probably will have a few tears.

Because after all, itll be the last time that Im piloting a big airplane like that.

Claiborne has spent her entire commercial flying career at United Airlines and says she feels blessed to have been able to work for the American airline for so long.

Its a good company, she says. We have the most women pilots of any major United States carrier, and I believe we still have the most Black women.

In the US, 93.7% of professional pilots are White and 92.5% of professional pilots are male, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Its estimated that there are less than 150 Black women pilots in the US, and Claiborne feels a huge responsibility as one of them.

Captain Theresa Claiborne. - Courtesy UA

I do carry the weight on my shoulders of making sure that I continue to perform in a way that other people who look like me get a fair chance, she says, before recounting how crew members would sometimes assume her co-pilot was the captain earlier in her career.

After theyd finished talking, Id turn around and look and go, What you got for me? she recalls.

Claiborne is currently the president of Sisters of the Skies, a not-for-profit organization focused on helping increase the number of Black women pilots, which awards scholarships to women who are able, and who want to be pilots.

Claiborne admits that watching the curtain close on her hugely successful career will be a bittersweet experience.

The biggest barrier to flying an airplane is the money, she explains, referring to the cost of pilot training . So thats what we do.

Claiborne will be stepping down as president of the organization after seven years, but she plans to continue mentoring young girls long into her retirement, as well as write a couple books.

There are a group of women coming up behind me who are members of our organization that are carrying on that legacy, she adds.

While this may be the end of her commercial flying career, Claiborne isnt necessarily saying goodbye to piloting forever, and would love to fly a World War II aircraft one day.

Ive had friends that said, Come on. Ill take you up. she says. So I could see myself doing that. Thats on my bucket list too.

I would absolutely love to fly in a Red Tail, an airplane that the Tuskegee Airmen flew. That would probably be my number one.

If somebody is offering a ride in the backseat of a Thunderbird, I might as well put that out there. I havent done everything

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As of Thursday, she disappeared exactly 39 years ago.

Her car was found in Madison Heights. Police questioned her estranged husband. But he was never charged. Now, almost four decades later, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard wonders: Is someone finally ready to talk about the disappearance of Cindy Louise Moore?

"It was closing in on 40 years and we never stop working on cold cases," Bouchard said Wednesday, through a spokesman. Here's what investigators say led up to Moore's disappearance:

It was a Thursday night at 11 p.m., on May 23, 1985. Moore finished her shift at a U.S. Postal Service processing center in Troy. Detectives believe she was headed to Warren, where her estranged husband William Moore lived, to pick up their two-year-old son, Nicholas. Then she would drive to Independence Township, where she was temporarily living with her parents.

The photo shows Cindy Louise Moore, last seen at 11:15 p.m. on May 23, 1985 in Madison Heights, after ending her shift at the U.S. Postal Service in Troy. Foul play is suspected, says Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, who hopes a tipster will come forward.

But Moore didn't pick up her son. The 28-year-old mother never got to her parents' house. Ever since, detectives have sought the crucial information that would crack this case, Bouchard said.

Sometimes, after years have passed, people that have information or knowledge are more willing to share and come forward. Oftentimes, guilt has been weighing on them or their fear has diminished," he said, adding a plea to potential informants: "Please help us give this family some closure."

Murder is suspected, but Moores case is officially classified as Endangered Missing. She was last seen by a coworker, who saw Moore driving her silver 1984 Ford Tempo near the intersection of 14 Mile Road and I-75. That was roughly 15 minutes after Moore left work on that spring night in 1985, when a hit song on the radio was "Don't You Forget About Me" by the Scottish band Simple Minds.

Exactly a week after Moore went missing, her car was found on May 30, 1985, backed into a parking space in front of room number 153 of the Red Roof Inn, at 14 Mile Road and John R in Madison Heights. Police determined that the car had been there since the day after she was last seen. The car was locked, the keys were missing, and there was no evidence of a struggle.

The car's location initially was reported as being at a nearby movie theater. That incorrect location was reported in some news stories at the time, and it has been cited through the years in online comments about the case. That incorrect location also appears in the online registry for missing persons called the Charley Project.

Moore had made a down payment on a mobile home in Auburn Hills and was planning to move there with her son. She left behind all of her clothing, and her bank account went untouched after her disappearance. Her husband admitted having once assaulted her during an argument, grabbing her by the throat. But he was never charged with any crime.

At the family home in Warren, where Moore's husband was living at the time of her disappearance, police discovered that a swimming pool had been filled in shortly after she went missing. Police dug up the pool and searched the backyard. They found nothing.

"Foul play is suspected in her disappearance," says an Oakland County news release about Moore's case. Anyone with information can contact the Oakland County Sheriff's Office at 248-858-4950, ext. 8.

Contact Bill Laytner: blaitner@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Oakland Sheriff wants help in 1985 disappearance of Cindy Louise Moore
Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the bill to delete most references to climate change from state law, via his X account.

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Gov. Ron DeSantis is an addict. Not to drugs, but to fossil fuels. Hes showing all the signs, but nobody has had the guts to call it what it is.

You doubt me? Look at what he did last week.

DeSantis signed a bill that deletes most of the mentions of climate change from state law. He did this even as most of South Florida faced record high temperatures.

The heat index rose as high as 109 degrees Fahrenheit in Fort Lauderdale, 107 degrees in Hollywood and Kendall, 105 degrees in Key West and Opa-locka, and 104 degrees in Miami, WSVN-TV reported.

If this is what May feels like, can you imagine how sweltering our summer months will be? Well step outdoors and immediately turn into big puddles (which will probably breed lots of mosquitoes).

This heat wave is no fluke, either. The Florida Climate Centers most recent report notes: Florida has had a record warm start to the year so far. The year-to-date (January-May) statewide average temperature for Florida ranks as the warmest on record.

Their report for last year said much the same: Many stations in Florida recorded a record hot year in 2023 based on annual average temperatures. These stations include Pensacola, Daytona Beach, Tampa, Orlando, Venice, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Naples, Miami, and Key West.

This isnt some wild-eyed bunch of tree-huggers waving a warning flag. The Florida Climate Center is an arm of state government  one the governor apparently never consults.

DeSantis signed this kooky bill in spite of the fact that the state of Florida over the last couple of years has seen record heat, record flooding, record rain, and record insurance rates, and the corals are dying all around the state, said WTVJ-TV meteorologist Steve McLaughlin.

Why would he do something that made him a target of mockery across the nation? He couldnt help himself. Hes in the grip of an addiction where the higher the octane, the higher he feels.

Clearly, our poor governor is in a state of denial, refusing to accept that theres a problem. Unless we convince him somehow, the situation will only get worse.

Delusional infestation

You can tell DeSantis isnt thinking straight if you read the bill he signed. It contains so much nonsense, the sponsors couldve been sued for copyright infringement by the estate of Dr. Seuss.

I mean, it bans windmills from being built off Floridas coastline. Windmills! There are no windmills being planned now or in the future for Floridas coastline. Our breezes are like our politicians  too balmy to be reliable.

You might as well ban Star-Bellied Sneeches or keeping wockets in your pockets. It has the exact same impact on peoples lives.

When he signed the bill, DeSantis boasted in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Were restoring sanity in our approach to energy and rejecting the agenda of the radical green zealots. I bet his office sound system was blaring Bruce Springsteens Pink Cadillac or Princes Little Red Corvette while he added his addled John Hancock.

Sanity? What sanity? Folks, the radical green zealots who put that language in the law in the late 2000s were his fellow Republicans. They werent wearing tie-dyed shirts and sandals. They had on blue blazers, rep ties, and tassel loafers.

They could see that rising seas and temperatures were becoming a serious threat. Thats why they wrote laws that said the state would set up policies for dealing with it. They set goals to cut the use of fossil fuels in Florida and encourage clean alternatives like solar.

Polls showed that it was popular with voters from both parties and no party at all.

How could DeSantis misidentify fellow Republicans like that? Simple. According to the National Library of Medicine, some addictions might induce delusional infestation.

I think youd have to be delusional to decide that only radical green zealots would care enough about climate change to try to stop it or slow it down.

The consequences have only grown worse for Florida in the nearly 20 years since the Legislature first tackled the issue.

Out in the real world, citizens are dealing with devastating impacts as our climate heats up and gets more volatile, said Bradley Marshall, who works on climate for the Florida office of Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law firm. Heat is killing our reefs, our creatures, and even our citizens. State leaders should be doing all they can to protect and prepare us.

Protect? Nope, cant do that either. DeSantis also signed into law the bill that blocks local governments from imposing any requirements on businesses to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat.

DeSantis is so ensnared in his petroleum-fueled delusions that hes rejected millions of dollars in federal money for coming up with a climate action plan. He prefers to stick to a climate INaction plan, despite how its hurting Floridians.

Heat, sea-level rise, and water stress

Last month, a website called Insurify did a survey of The 10 Worst Cities to Live in as Climate Change Progresses. Five of the top 10 were Florida cities. None was a surprise.

The top four were Cape Coral, Palm Bay, Miami, and North Port. Then, down at No. 8, there was Tampa.

Coastal Florida cities have seen insurance rates skyrocket as insurers struggle to pay claims from costly climate catastrophes, Insurify reported in the listing for the verrrry low-lying city of Cape Coral.

The climate catastrophes theyre talking about are, of course, all the hurricanes whose intensity was fueled by the extreme heat of the waters they passed over before making landfall.

Average annual home insurance rates in Cape Coral exceed $10,000 compared to the U.S. average of $2,899, the report noted. Cape Coral has the second-highest chronic physical risk from the effects of climate change. Those include heat, sea-level rise, and water stress (when the water demand exceeds availability).

I talked to Jessica Edmondson of Insurify, which compares and sells auto and home insurance. She told me they werent happy to deliver such bad tidings for so much of Florida.

Its a highly desirable place to live, she said, noting the lack of a state income tax and weather thats often on the pleasant side. However, she pointed out, insurance companies are leaving the state because theres too much risk.

This is affecting more than just the folks in those cities, by the way. This week The New York Post reported that hundreds of nursing homes in Florida have been forced to shut their doors over the past five years because of the soaring cost of commercial property insurance.

Sorry, Grandma, the governor says we cant do anything to help you!

An inept imitation of an ostrich

One of the people I called about this new law against old laws was Michael Gerrard, a Columbia Law School professor who founded the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law.

When I asked him what he thought about this legislation, he called it an inept imitation of an ostrich, except here the sand will be washed away and the ostrich will be under water.

The only similar example of such ostrich-like legislation that he could recall was a bill passed by the North Carolina Legislature in 2012. It blocked state agencies from considering the latest science of sea level rise in making planning decisions.

The law was drafted in response to an estimate by the states Coastal Resources Commission  that the sea level will rise by 39 inches in the next century, prompting fears of costlier home insurance and accusations of anti-development alarmism among residents and developers in the states coastal Outer Banks region, ABC News reported at the time.

People nationwide mocked this approach to the problem.

If your science gives you a result you dont like, Stephen Colbert said, pass a law saying the result is illegal. Problem solved. Sound familiar?

Turns out the people pushing the anti-science law were developers of coastal property. They were worried about the financial impact of any limits on coastal development.

Heaven forbid we try to keep people from building their homes in places where theyre likely to be flooded or swept away. Not that OUR developers would ever do such a thing.

Youll never guess what scientists announced last year.

New research reinforces what scientists and others have been warning about the ocean along the North Carolina coast: The sea is rising faster than in most other parts of the United States, and faster than what most scientists had expected, the Wilmington Star reported.

The lesson of this, one that oil-crazed DeSantis has ignored, is simply put.

Youre not going to keep the waves off the beach by taking the words out of the documents, said Stephen Smith of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

Climate change is real

When he first ran for governor, the Dunedin Denialist kept saying he was not a global warming person.

It was a variation on the evasion used by then-Gov. Rick I Wear This Navy Hat Because When My State Is Inundated, Ill Make My Getaway On a Yacht Scott: Im not a scientist. (When scientists showed up to talk to him, he hustled them out of his office in less than 30 minutes.)

However, last year, during his DeSastrous presidential campaign (emphasis on the pain part), DeSantis acknowledged that climate change is real. That was a good first step toward acknowledging his addiction.

But then he said the solution is to burn MORE fossil fuels, not less.

I repeatedly asked DeSantis press office what he thinks the state should be doing about this thing that hes admitted is happening, but I received no response. Perhaps his aides were too busy drafting new legislation to block Florida meteorologists from expressing their opinions while on the air.

Theyre enabling him. I think we who have recognized his symptoms should stage an intervention. The question is where.

The next meeting of the governor and Cabinet is scheduled for 9 a.m. on June 11 in the Capitol in Tallahassee. I say everyone who cares about how badly hes hooked on this deadly drug should show up there.

Together maybe we can make him face up to what hes doing to himself  and to all of us as well.

The post By signing bill deleting climate change from FL law, DeSantis shows hes living in denial appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Austin Police Department is searching for a missing 79-year-old man who has a cognitive impairment. He was last seen Wednesday night in east Austin.

A Silver Alert was issued early Thursday morning for Henry Johnson, who was last seen around 11:30 p.m. in the 6500 block of Auburnhill Street in Austin in a black, 2017 GMC Yukon with Texas license plate DV53729.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Johnson is described as a Black 79-year-old man who is 59 in height, 203 pounds, and bald with brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black Vietnam hat, maroon checkered flannel, grey pants, and black Skechers.

APD issued a Silver Alert for Henry Johnson, 79. (Photo: Austin Police Department)

Law enforcement officials believe his disappearance poses a credible threat to his own health and safety.

If you have any information about Johnsons whereabouts, call the Austin Police Department at (512) 974-5000.

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 KXAN Austin.
Sisters who vacationed in Aruba with Read, OKeefe before his death detail tense moments during trip

Two sisters who vacationed with Karen Read and her boyfriend, John OKeefe, about a month before his death, testified Wednesday that Read and OKeefe fought during a New Years Eve trip to Aruba in December 2021.

Laura Sullivan, of Pembroke, who the prosecution called to the witness stand in Dedhams Norfolk Superior Court after the defense grilled Jennifer McCabe over her hos long to die in the cold Google search, testified that Read became enraged with OKeefe during the vacation, accusing him of kissing her sister, Marietta Sullivan.

So far in the trial, prosecutors have put up witnesses who testified that Read and OKeefe had a stormy relationship before OKeefe died and several first responders who recalled hearing Read say she hit OKeefe.

After a night out drinking at several bars, prosecutors say Read dropped OKeefe off at a party at the Albert familys home at 34 Fairview Road in Canton just after midnight and intentionally backed over him with her SUV in January 2022. Its alleged that she drove away and returned hours later to find him in a snowbank.

McCabe has also testified that soon after OKeefes body was found, Read screamed, I hit him! I hit him! I hit him! and frantically asked her to conduct a Google search on how long it takes for someone to die of hypothermia.

The defenses theory is that OKeefe was actually beaten up inside the Albert home and dragged outside in a snowstorm and that the Albert family is at the center of an effort to frame Read.

Read, 44, of Mansfield, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in OKeefes death.

During testimony Wednesday, Marietta Sullivan, of Plymouth, told the court that more than 30 people were on the Aruba trip, including family members, as well as Read and OKeefe.

Marietta Sullivan testified that OKeefe, who she used to refer to as Johnny and Godfather, was a big brother to her and a family friend. She also said she had never met Read before the trip.

He was a very, very dear family friend. He was very close to my sister [Laura]. Subsequently, he became very close to me, Marietta Sullivan told Assitant District Attorney Adam Lally when asked about OKeefe. He was my nephews godfather...He was similar to a big brother to me.

At one point during the trip, Marietta Sullivan said she bumped into a stumbling OKeefe in the hotel lobby. He had been drinking at the pool bar.

I said, Whoa, Godfather, are you OK, Marietta Sullivan recalled. He was stumbling into the lobby...I went up to him and I gave him a hug...I pulled back and he was glassy-eyed looking above me. We never made eye contact. It looked like he was looking for somebody.

After Marietta Sullivan pointed OKeefe in the direction of a bank of rooms he was searching for, she continued to the pool bar when she heard Read scream his name very loudly and angrily across the lobby.

Who the [f***] was that, Read demanded of OKeefe, according to Marietta Sullivan. She said that OKeefe told Read, Calm down, thats Lauras little sister.

Marietta Sullivan said she told Read, Nice to meet you. Read responded with an expletive, so Marietta Sullivan fired back, F*** you, too and walked away.

Laura Sullivan testified that Marietta was visibly upset and frustrated over the interaction with Read. She also said that OKeefe called Read crazy.

Laura Sullivan told the court that OKeefe called her at one point during the trip and he said, Apparently, I made out with your sister the other night, according to Karen.

Laura Sullivan said she was shocked by what OKeefe told her and immediately sought out her sister to see if it was true.

Absolutely not. That did not happen, Marietta Sullivan said when asked if she made out with OKeefe, according to Laura Sullivan.

Laura Sullivan also told the court OKeefe seemed distant later on in the trip and that he said, It is what it is, when she asked him if he was happy.

Before everyone returned home to Aruba, Laura Sullivan testified that Read apologized to her and said that she thought she had seen something that she hadnt with Marietta Sullivan.

The court is not in session on Thursday. Testimony in the trial resumes Friday.

Get caught up on Wednesdays testimony:

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Russia has concentrated certain forces on the Sumy front, which is not enough for a strategic strike, but it cannot be ruled out that the Russians will try to intensify their actions, as is happening now in Kharkiv Oblast.

Source: Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast

Quote: "The situation at the border remains difficult. In fact, we have an insidious enemy who has enough assets and personnel to continue his aggression against Ukraine.

But if we talk about Sumy Oblast as of now, we do not see enough forces on the enemy's side that would allow them to achieve any strategic goals to move deep into the territory of Ukraine if they try to enter again. But of course, we cannot rule out that even though the enemy does not have these sufficient forces, they will not try to take any actions that we are currently seeing on the Kharkiv front. It is with the aim of sowing panic among the population and pulling the Defence Forces to this front as well... We are well aware of this threat and must be prepared for any situation at any time."

Details: As is known, the Russians often use sabotage and reconnaissance groups to enter the territory of Ukraine on the Sumy front, and daily shell the border areas of the oblast with various weapons.

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HARBIN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and three others injured in an explosion in a residential building in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province Thursday morning, local authorities said.

The blast, suspected to have been caused by an explosion of a gas tank, occurred at around 7 a.m. Thursday in the building in Harbin's Xiangfang District, according to the district's government.

The injuries of the three persons are not life-threatening.

Further investigation into the cause of the explosion is underway. 
Sen. Jon Bramnick's 2023 campaign lost $36,000 when money intended for a vendor was accidentally sent to the wrong person. Now he wants to make it illegal to keep money you were sent mistakenly. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor)

All it takes is one wrong digit to send money to the wrong person via Venmo or a wire transfer. Just ask Sen. Jon Bramnick.

During the Union County Republicans campaign for state Senate in 2023, his treasurer intended to send money to a vendor, but because the intended recipients account number was input incorrectly, the cash landed in the account of someone in Florida, to the tune of $36,589.

That person made a video of them showing off the tens of thousands in cash they received mistakenly, clinking bundles of bills as if they were champagne glasses, according to footage seen by the New Jersey Monitor.

The experience pushed Bramnick, who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor next year, to add his name as the co-sponsor of a bill that would make it illegal to keep erroneous payments like these, and other money transfers sent through apps like Venmo and CashApp, if the receiver knows it was sent in error.

If money goes to an account and the person knows its not their money and is told its not their money  the question is, youre keeping funds you know and shouldve known is someone elses money, said Bramnick.

Under the legislation, someone mistakenly sent cash would have 30 days to return the funds after being contacted by the sender. If they refuse, they would face theft charges.

Sen. John McKeon (D-Essex) introduced the bill after hearing about a West Orange case where someone mistakenly sent the wrong person money. Police told McKeon there was no way to resolve the problem under current law.

Making the problem especially difficult, McKeon said, is that $50 sent mistakenly to the wrong person on Venmo is considered an authorized transaction, which makes it hard to dispute with a bank, as opposed to a fraudulent credit card charge.

He said the bill would help modernize state statute to account for 21st-century methods of sending people money.

Its a great system. People use it all the time. But at the same time, you can easily make a mistake, he noted.

According to Venmos policies, its not possible to cancel or reverse a payment. Zelle and CashApp offer similar warnings.

The bill advanced unanimously out of the Senate Commerce Committee last week. It cleared an Assembly committee in February and faces another hearing in that chambers judiciary committee.

The bills language doesnt lay out penalties for someone who refuses to return money they were sent in error. McKeon said his office is working on whether they should be added to the bill, noting that theft penalties change depending on the amount of money involved. The intent of the bill isnt to punish people, but to motivate them to return money they shouldnt have received, he said.

McKeons legislation is not without its critics. Joseph Steinberg, a cybersecurity and AI expert, said it raises questions about jurisdiction, the potential for abuse, scams, and the definition of accident. The bill would essentially create a government-mandated return policy, he said.

It becomes an example of the devil is in the details, right? Whats the process for determining that something was actually an error? Who has to prove that it was an error? How does one prove that was an error? he asked.

Venmo warns its users about common scams, like a fraudster impersonating a friend and asking for money for an emergency. Steinberg said the bill opens the door to be exploited by criminals.

Steinberg added that the bill does not address the complexities of interstate commerce. He wondered how the law would apply if a New Jersey resident sent money to someone in California, or if the resident was traveling in Delaware and sent it to someone in Virginia. Adding in the involvement of banks with locations in other states and its a jurisdiction nightmare, he said.

In the case of Bramnicks missing cash, his campaign first called the Scotch Plains police, who then referred it to Florida authorities. The law in Florida doesnt cover people retaining money wired erroneously, Bramnick said, so he was left to deal with it in New Jersey Superior Court, where his campaign is suing Valley National Bank  which handled the initial transfer  and JPMorgan Chase, the bank of the person who ended up with the Bramnick campaigns money.

On June 12, 2023, Valley initiated the transfer of the funds, which were intended to go to Flexpoint Media. Nine days later, Bramnicks campaign treasurer told the bank the vendor never received the money, then discovered the wrong account number had been input, the senators attorneys said. Bramnicks filings also claim that Valley sent a message to Chase in an attempt to recall the mistaken wire transfer, and Valley employees told the Bramnick campaign the money would be returned.

The money sat in a Chase account for a week before it was withdrawn by the Florida account holders, Bramnicks campaign alleges, despite his treasurer demanding the money be returned. Chase refused to disclose the identity of the recipients and told Bramnick it has no duty to verify inconsistencies, his attorneys said in a complaint.

The day the money was withdrawn, June 28, the mistaken beneficiaries posted videos and photos of them holding $36,000 in cash on social media, according to Bramnicks complaint.

After fighting with the banks for months, his senate campaign sued the banks for negligence and refusing to reimburse the funds.

Chase claims it was compliant with the law by accepting the wire transfer, as it was not aware of any discrepancies, and blames the account number error on Bramnicks campaign.

Court documents show a judge is expected to decide next month on JPMorgan Chases motion to dismiss the case. Bramnick told the New Jersey Monitor the case is being settled and hes recouping the money, though not from the couple who unintentionally received it. He said the whole matter is not as uncommon as you might think, which his why he joined with McKeon to update state law on this issue.

This is quite a good change, especially for those lucky people who got my money, he said.

Attorneys for Valley National Bank and JPMorgan Chase did not respond to requests for comment.

Nikita Biryukov contributed to this report.

The post After snafu cost Sen. Bramnicks campaign $36K, senator seeks change in law on cash transfers appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
The meddling snakes have caused four power outages around Franklin, Tennessee, in the month of May

Getty A stock photo of a rat snake

Curious reptiles are wreaking havoc near Nashville.

Throughout May 2024, snakes finding their way into the Henpeck substation in Franklin, Tennessee, have caused multiple power outages, according to The Rock Hill Herald, ABC-affiliate WKRN, and NewsChannel5.

Four snake-induced power outages have been reported in the area throughout May.

Related: Rare Two-Headed Snake Undergoes Surgery in Missouri to Treat an 'Emerging Health Condition'

According to WKRN, Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) emailed customers on May 17 to explain the situation, which the utility company called "unprecedented."

MTE communications and marketing director Larry Rose told McClatchy News that the situation is "very unusual" because of the advanced equipment used by the substation to deter animal interference, per The Herald.

In a separate interview with WKRN, Rose further explained the rarity of the situation, saying, "One of the managers I have talked to said he has been on the job for 20 years and probably had two [snakes] that he can remember, and we've had four in eight days."

Getty A stock photo of a rat snake

The sneaky snakes  mostly identified as gray rat snakes  finding their way into the substation are causing the outages by coming into contact with the substation's powered equipment, which causes the equipment to short out  similar to a "home's breaker box," Rose noted to McClatchy News.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency states that gray rat snakes are "one of the most abundant snakes in the state" and are often found around homes. These non-venomous snakes are typically large, between 42 and 73 inches in length, and are expert climbers.

Related: New Anaconda Species Identified During Filming of Will Smith Show Could Be 'Largest in Existence'

Earlier this week, Rose told WKRN that the electric company is working on a solution for the current snake issue and has tried three different snake repellants to no avail. He also stated that the company has "wildlife guards" on the power lines to prevent birds and other animals from reaching them, but the snakes have gotten past them.

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.

NewChannel5 reported that MTE is looking to "install new and improved" guards at the substation during an upcoming planned outage to "prevent further incidents."



The electric company's website states that MTE is the "largest electric cooperative" in the Tennessee Valley Authority region, covering Tennessee and areas of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.

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Read the original article on People.
Diana E. Murphy federal courthouse is shown in Minneapolis Friday, May 17, 2024. Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer.

A nonprofit created 25 years ago to help Somali refugees and immigrants get on their feet received over $1 million overseeing other nonprofits that claimed to give out free food to children during the pandemic, according to evidence presented Wednesday in the federal Feeding Our Future trial.

A dizzying array of nonprofits were created or revived to participate in a U.S. Department of Agriculture program to provide free meals to children during the pandemic. Prosecutors have painstakingly laid out just a portion of what they say was a $250 million scam, in which people falsely claimed to have given out meals, in order to get rich quick. The first seven of 70 defendants are on trial this week, the fourth week of testimony in a trial that could last six weeks or more.

Prosecutors have detailed how the seven defendants were connected to 50 food distribution sites that claimed to serve 18.8 million meals, for which the defendants were paid $41 million.

One of the nonprofits that has shown up sporadically during 17 days of testimony is Somali Community Resettlement Services, which was formed in Rochester in 1999 to directly respond to the needs of Somali refugees and immigrants, with an emphasis on personal capacity, according to its website. A year later, it added a second location in Faribault, and in 2019, another in Minneapolis.

About a month ago, Rep. Hodan Hassan, DFL-Minneapolis, withdrew two bills that wouldve given the Somali nonprofit $6.5 million in grants. Hassan, who announced in February she will not seek re-election in November, did not respond to a request for comment, but evidence prepared for the federal trial linked the nonprofit to the Feeding Our Future case.

Now its more clear how the nonprofit is connected: It sponsored eight distribution sites in Minnesota cities where the defendants claimed to serve thousands of meals and snacks daily in 2020 and 2021, for which it was reimbursed over $2.9 million via sponsoring nonprofit Partners in Nutrition, which submitted claims to the state Department of Education, which administered the USDA program. Of that, the Somali nonprofit paid the defendants and their various entities purporting to be serving meals $1.83 million, meaning it kept nearly $1.1 million, according to evidence presented by prosecutors.

For example, Somali Community Resettlement Services sponsored a Faribault site that claimed to serve 2,000 snacks and meals per day, and a Minneapolis site at Madina Market & Grocery that was reimbursed after claiming to serve 3,000 snacks and meals every day.

Somali Community Resettlement Services, which did not respond to a request for comment, has not been charged with a crime.

The nonprofit took in less than $500,000 in revenue in 2019, and ended the year with a deficit, but its revenue went up to $1.2 million in 2020, then shot up to $4.1 million in 2021 and nearly $3 million in 2022, the last year available. The nonprofit had enough money to buy the 24,245-square-foot, historic Gale Mansion in Minneapolis in 2022 for $2.6 million.

An online state database of government spending, Open Checkbook, indicates the nonprofit gets about a half million dollars annually from several state agencies.

Hassans bills would have added considerably to that total. Three bills she authored wouldve given the nonprofit $7.5 million in grants for a mixed-use Minneapolis project, job training and workforce development.

Hassan made motions on the House floor to recall two of the bills, whose Senate companion bills were sponsored by Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, DFL-Minneapolis. One bill would have given the nonprofit a $5 million grant from the Department of Employment and Economic Development to address a critical need for affordable housing and commercial space for the Somali community. The money was earmarked to buy a three-acre parcel from the city of Minneapolis to develop a mixed-use residential and commercial development with at least 60 affordable apartments and 10 retail spaces.

Another Hassan bill would have appropriated $1.5 million in DEED workforce development funds for job training and placement. And an earmark in the Workforce Development Finance and Policy Committees finance bill included a $1 million grant for the Somali nonprofit for job training and placement before it was stripped from the bill.

Two Minnesota nonprofits are at the center of the case  Feeding Our Future and Partners in Nutrition  in what prosecutors say was the nations biggest pandemic relief fraud.

The defendants on trial this week are all connected to a Shakopee halal market called Empire Cuisine & Market, which enrolled in the federal program in April 2020 and opened distribution sites across the state. Prosecutors evidence has shown the defendants used the federal money to travel and buy cars, real estate, jewelry, property in Kenya and linens and tires from a Chinese company.

FBI forensic accountant Pauline Roase testified Wednesday that the largest food distribution site out of the 50 sites connected to the defendants was at the Dar Al-Farooq mosque in Bloomington, where they claimed to serve 1.9 million meals in 2021, for $4.9 million in reimbursement.

The post Somali nonprofit got a million-dollar cut from Feeding Our Future fraud, prosecutors say appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
Somebody is executing the ducks: Dozens of ducks found shot to death in Florida neighborhood

Somebody is executing the ducks: Dozens of ducks found shot to death in Florida neighborhood

*WARNING: Images in this story may not be suitable for some viewers*

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  An investigation is underway after dozens of ducks were found shot to death in a Florida neighborhood within a matter of days, causing worry among residents.

The dead ducks have been popping up in the Keystone Point neighborhood in North Miami, and according to NBC affiliate WTVJ, residents are extremely concerned.

So I looked at some of the ducks and I saw, I mean, it looks literally like a hole inside of the ducks chest. So it looks like literally somebody is executing the ducks, resident Kim Kaplan Marchena told WTVJ.

Burmese pythons are slithering farther north. Could the snakes make Tampa home?

Kaplan Marchena and other residents have joined forces to find the culprit by documenting the incidents, taking pictures of the ducks and reporting them to authorities.

I mean, its pretty frightening to the fact that we might be living amongst somebody who is that psychotic, that wants to like kill these ducks. I mean whos to say theyre not going to go and shoot a dog or a cat or maybe theres a stray bullet, she said.













Kaplan Marchena, an animal advocate, told WTVJ that whats happening to the ducks is something shes never seen before.

It makes me very angry, she added. I mean, this is our neighborhood. Ive been here for 23 years, my daughter has been born and raised in this neighborhood Ive never seen anything like this.

Florida cant enforce law criminalizing transportation of undocumented immigrants, judge rules

According to WTVJ, North Miami Councilman Scott Galvin has fielded several complaints over the last few days about the ducks, adding that a police investigation is underway.

Were taking reports like we would any type of crime against a human being. This is a crime. Shooting and killing an animal on other peoples property in a public setting is not excusable, he said.

Anyone with information regarding the ducks is asked to contract North Miami Police.

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 WFLA.
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The Scoop

KIGALI, Rwanda  South African biotech company Afrigen is collaborating with a Nobel Prize-winning scientist to develop groundbreaking gene therapy treatments that target diseases that have plagued Africa for decades.

The Cape Town-based company is working with the University of Pennsylvanias Drew Weissman, who won a Nobel Prize for developing mRNA vaccines used to fight COVID-19.

My people are in his labs working with some of his top scientists on mRNA. And, of course, we are extremely interested to further collaborate, Afrigen CEO Petro Terblanche told Semafor Africa. She said the company is exploring opportunities to bring gene therapy to Africa through its ties with scientists at University of Pennsylvania.

Gene therapy refers to forms of treatment that add a new gene or repair a mutated one inside the human body.

Treatments for sickle cell disease, a condition that mostly afflicts people of African descent, have been approved by US authorities in recent months. Gene therapy treatments are also being developed to treat blindness and deafness.

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Afrigens model involves developing the technology and expertise to create vaccines and therapeutic drugs which it then shares with partner manufacturers. It has a mandate to share technology and expertise with vaccine producers and research institutions under an initiative backed by the World Health Organization.

Terblanche, speaking to Semafor Africa on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, said the company shared information with 15 partners  made up of vaccine manufacturers and research institutions  in South Africa, Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya, Tunisia, and Egypt.

She said Afrigen is developing a new generation of mRNA vaccines for a range of diseases including HIV, tuberculosis (TB), Rift Valley fever, and gonorrhea.

Afrigen needs a pipeline of products that can be produced on an mRNA platform, Terblanche told Semafor Africa. As we move these through the pipeline we will continue to focus on diseases which are a priority for the region, she said.

Vaccines based on messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology train the immune system to recognize and fight threats. Weissman, whose laboratory is developing gene therapy for sickle cell disease, has previously spoken of the potential to harness mRNA technology to produce relatively cheap vaccines and therapeutic treatments that can be rolled out in low and middle income countries.

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Alexiss view

The COVID-19 pandemic taught us so much. The early scramble for vaccines was a stark glimpse of global power dynamics, as wealthy nations secured access to the first shots when the world teetered on the brink of uncertainty. But the pandemic also spurred incredible innovation.

The takeaway from both lessons was the same: African countries need to manufacture more vaccines and drugs locally. Thats why the African Union has set a target of 60% of vaccines, therapeutics, and other medical products being manufactured locally by 2040. And international vaccine group Gavi in December approved a financing instrument that will make up to $1 billion available to support vaccine manufacturing in Africa.

In mRNA technology, the continent has an opportunity to harness an innovative form of treatment that, with time and investment, has the potential to lower the cost of healthcare. Thats because these treatments could offer protection against a broad range of diseases that have previously been ignored. Many conditions, from sickle cell to malaria and HIV, could one day be treated with as little as a single injection.

Obviously, this is important on a human level because of the physical and mental anguish illnesses can cause for sufferers and their loved ones. We often talk about Africas relative youth, compared to other parts of the world. But its also important to ensure that future generations are healthy.

But none of this will be easy. The collaborations involving Afrigen are just the start of a process that could take years and would need the backing of governments and global health bodies. The potential impact can be realized, but African countries need to build their biotech sectors to make it happen.

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Room for Disagreement

At present, mRNA vaccines typically must be stored at very cold temperatures of minus 20 C to minus 80 C (minus 4 F to minus 112 F), which drives up the cost. The temperature requirements have been a barrier to entry in poorer countries which lack such refrigeration facilities.

Terblanche said Afrigen and its partners had developed processes to ensure thermostability of products between 2 C and 8 C (35.6 F and 46.4 F). Were working with partners to innovate around the current mRNA vaccine because that also reduces the cost, she said.

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The View From Central African Republic

Forms of gene therapy could revolutionize medical care in Africa by enabling patients to receive cures in countries that still need time to develop comprehensive healthcare systems, said Yap Boum II, executive director of the Institut Pasteur de Bangui.

He said investment in training programs to develop local expertise in mRNA technology would be essential for it to be taken up, adding that harmonizing and simplifying regulatory frameworks across the continent would expedite the approval and implementation of new technologies.

Boum told Semafor Africa the widespread deployment of techniques like mRNA technology will take years because it would only follow the building of human capacity and the sharing of technology, which would require investment.

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Notable

Moderna last month said it had put on hold plans to build a mRNA vaccine manufacturing plant in Kenya. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention accused the US biotech company of abandoning its commitment to vaccine equity.

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South Carolina has joined most other southern states in banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The law also restricts Medicaid access for trans people of any age, along with forcing public schools to potentially out students.

Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, signed the ban, House Bill 4624, into law Tuesday. It protects our states children from irreversible gender transition procedures, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. It goes into effect immediately, but he will have a ceremonial signing next week.

The legislation bans the administration of puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to people under 18 for the purpose of gender transition, while allowing it for other purposes, such as the treatment of early-onset puberty. It also bans genital or nongenital surgery for gender transition for this population, although doctors do not generally recommend genital surgery for minors. A physician who knowingly performs genital gender reassignment surgery in violation of this chapter is guilty of inflicting great bodily injury upon a child, HB 4624 states.

The law further bans the use of public funds, including Medicaid, for gender-transition procedures for people of any age. Penalties for violation include discipline by licensing boards, and practitioners can be sued.

Another provision of the law requires public school staffers from to notify minor students parents or guardians if a student identifies as a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth or requests to use a pronoun or title that doesnt align with their birth sex. However, being outed to their parents can place young trans people at serious risk of harm if the parents are not supportive.

Also, contrary to McMasters assertion, the effects of puberty blockers and hormone treatment are reversible. And gender-affirming care is often lifesaving for trans youth.

South Carolina is now the 25th state to ban some or all gender-affirming care for minors. Every state in the South now has a ban except for Virginia.

Civil rights groups were quick to condemn the new law. Across the state, from the Lowcountry to the Upstate, South Carolinians are mourning the passage of H.4624, which will make it immeasurably harder for transgender youth and many adults to access the lifesaving health care that they need and deserve, said a statement from Chase Glenn, a leader in the SC United for Justice & Equality coalition and the executive director of Alliance for Full Acceptance. But let me be clear: This loss does not crumble a movement. Our movement supporting transgender people in South Carolina is louder and stronger than its ever been. Weve marched at the State House, weve told our stories, and weve made sure our lawmakers heard from us. Now we will do everything in our power to support our community through this crisis.

The Campaign for Southern Equality and other organizations have joined to launch the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project, through which families can receive accurate information about the new law, help in finding out-of-state gender-affirming care providers, and emergency grants of $500 for immediate needs, including travel, medication, and other logistics.

It has been an honor to organize alongside so many courageous trans and queer South Carolinians  and Im proud that our community staved off this oppressive anti-trans health care legislation for more than three years, said a statement from Ivy Hill, a leader in the SC United coalition and director of gender justice for the Campaign for Southern Equality. Now that this attack has become law, its up to all of us to protect the continuity of care for as many people as we can. Thats what this project is all about: Supporting trans youth and their families and making sure they know that no law can stop the transgender community from charting our paths to a future where all of us can thrive and live authentically.

GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis also released a statement denouncing the law: H. 4624 in South Carolina is one of the most extreme attacks on transgender Americans in the country and will hurt countless families and residents while helping no one. Anti-transgender extremists claimed that their surge of attacks against basic access to health care were in the interest of protecting children, yet its clearer than ever that their goal is to eradicate the ability of transgender people to live and thrive in any aspect of their lives. To transgender Americans in the South and to those watching all over the country: No political maneuver can erase the fact that you exist, you belong here, and you are loved. GLAAD is committed to continuing fighting alongside our partners to undo these unconstitutional bans and to ensure an America that is safe and free for everyone.

So did Jace Woodrum, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina: We stand in grief and solidarity with LGBTQ South Carolinians, who are increasingly under attack by our own government. We can put to rest the notion that the governor cares about limited government and personal freedom. With the stroke of a pen, he has chosen to insert the will of politicians into health care decisions, trample on the liberties of trans South Carolinians, and deny the rights of the parents of trans minors.
A federal judge has rejected a bid by convicted S.C. lawyer and Trump supporter David Johnston of Charleston to quickly get his law license back.

In legal filings in the District of Columbia federal court, former lawyer Johnston, whose law license was suspended after his 2022 arrest, argued he would have a better chance of getting it reinstated if a judge granted an early termination to his ongoing 36-month probation.

Johnston made about $200,000 a year before his law firm, George Sink P.A., fired him for participating in the Capitol riot, according to court records.

But U.S. Judge Beryl Howell refused to lift Johnstons probation.

Johnston still has about 17 months to go in his 36-month probation, Howell wrote in an April 30 order denying Johnstons request.

And Johnstons criminal conduct was very serious, the judge wrote.

Johnston joined the riot at the Capitol building knowing that the police had been overrun and overwhelmed by the rioters and then entered the Capitol Building through a broken window, despite acknowledging that, by entering, he would be inviting further violence, Howell wrote.

Johnston also brazenly and repeatedly disregarded police directions and remained in the Capitol despite seeing property damage and physical altercations between rioters and the police on at least four separate occasions, she wrote.

Johnston, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, was arrested by the FBI in Charleston in May 2022 for his Capitol breach offenses. The S.C. Supreme Court suspended his law license shortly afterward. Lawyers cannot engage in conduct that brings disgrace upon the law.

When Johnston was arrested, he released a statement through his then-lawyer that said, I intend to plead not guilty to these charges and look forward to my day in court.

However, evidence against him was overwhelming. It included cell phone geolocation data and video and audio from inside and outside the Capitol. He is the only South Carolina lawyer arrested so far in the roundup of Jan. 6 defendants.

In his motion to get his probation lifted, Johnston wrote, I would like to get my law license back.

Johnston continued, Here in South Carolina, lawyers who practice in the area of licensure have told me they think the Bar will not lift the suspension of my law license while I remain on probation.

He also apologized and wrote, The disrespect I showed that day deeply troubles me. That is what I regret. The Capitol is the single most significant symbol of our history, our government, our legal traditions.  All of my childhood heroes, Washington, Adams, Jefferson. Had connections to that building, Johnston wrote.

Johnston had pleaded guilty in December 2022 to the misdemeanor offense of parading, picketing or demonstrating in a Capitol building. Other charges against him were dropped. He was sentenced to 21 days incarceration, 90 days home confinement and 36 months probation. He was also fined $2,500.

During the riot, Johnston wore Trump regalia that included a blue winter cap with white and red trim embroidered with a circular circular 45 logo and the word TRUMP. Surveillance video and audio captured him walking around, posing for pictures, talking with other rioters and calling people on his cell phone, at one point exclaiming, We have broken past the barriers, we have made it to the Capitol doors, this is the Capitol, according to evidence in his case.

Ashley Akers, the federal prosecutor in his case, said although Johnston was nonviolent, he nonetheless was very much part of the mob that rampaged outside and inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2001.

The only reason the violent, destructive rioters were able to do the damage they did was because they had strength in numbers, because people like the defendant (Johnston) stood behind them and supported them and were able to sufficiently overwhelm the officers, overtake the officers, and break into the Capitol Building, said Akers on Dec. 16, 2022, at Johnstons sentencing hearing.

Howell agreed. This defendant was part of a riot; he was a rioter. And he only was able to do what he did because he was in the midst of a whole bunch of angry people who had been directed down to the Capitol, many of them  because they just attended the former presidents rally and he told them to go to the Capitol  and they believed that the 2020 presidential election was stolen his participation in this whole crowd helped contribute to everything that happened that day,  she said at Johnstons sentencing hearing.

Rioters shut down Congress for more than five hours, forcing lawmakers and staff to flee and halting the certification of presidential electoral votes, a necessary step in the peaceful transition of power.

Last month, in a brief to Howell, Akers argued that Johnstons profession as a lawyer argues against his getting his law license back quickly.

Unlike other professionals, attorneys are rigorously taught about the importance of adhering to the rule of law. In their professional work and continuing education, they are frequently reminded that the rule of law is an essential component of a free and orderly society. That the defendant was a practicing attorney on Jan. 6, and still chose to engage in the actions that he did, weighs strongly against his motion for early termination, not in favor, Akers wrote.

In his filing to lift his probation, Johnston said he currently works in the field of low income affordable housing. He has no criminal record, had stable employment in his law firm for the past 10 years, is married with four children and is a deacon in his church, he wrote.

I could do much more in (that field) as a licensed attorney, he wrote.

And he will never go to another Trump rally, he wrote.

When Trump held a rally in my hometown of Summerville, SC, a few miles from my house, on Sept. 25, 2023, I did not attend. When he held a rally on Feb. 10 of this year, at nearby Coastal Carolina University, I did not attend, Johnston wrote.

No more rallies for me, he wrote.

Howell told Johnston at his December 2022 sentencing hearing, You should have known so much better.

Asked for comment on Wednesday, Johnston said only that he was not surprised by the judges response. This exact response by the Court was one hundred percent anticipated before the motion was even drafted.

So far, more than 1,424 defendants have been charged in connection with the storming of the Capitol. They come from nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Approximately 820 have pleaded guilty and 162 have been found guilty at trials, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Johnston is one of 27 people arrested so far in the Capitol riot who was from South Carolina.
A federal judge has rejected a bid by convicted S.C. lawyer and Trump supporter David Johnston of Charleston to quickly get his law license back.

In legal filings in the District of Columbia federal court, former lawyer Johnston, whose law license was suspended after his 2022 arrest, argued he would have a better chance of getting it reinstated if a judge granted an early termination to his ongoing 36-month probation.

Johnston made about $200,000 a year before his law firm, George Sink P.A., fired him for participating in the Capitol riot, according to court records.

But U.S. Judge Beryl Howell refused to lift Johnstons probation.

Johnston still has about 17 months to go in his 36-month probation, Howell wrote in an April 30 order denying Johnstons request.

And Johnstons criminal conduct was very serious, the judge wrote.

Johnston joined the riot at the Capitol building knowing that the police had been overrun and overwhelmed by the rioters and then entered the Capitol Building through a broken window, despite acknowledging that, by entering, he would be inviting further violence, Howell wrote.

Johnston also brazenly and repeatedly disregarded police directions and remained in the Capitol despite seeing property damage and physical altercations between rioters and the police on at least four separate occasions, she wrote.

Johnston, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, was arrested by the FBI in Charleston in May 2022 for his Capitol breach offenses. The S.C. Supreme Court suspended his law license shortly afterward. Lawyers cannot engage in conduct that brings disgrace upon the law.

When Johnston was arrested, he released a statement through his then-lawyer that said, I intend to plead not guilty to these charges and look forward to my day in court.

However, evidence against him was overwhelming. It included cell phone geolocation data and video and audio from inside and outside the Capitol. He is the only South Carolina lawyer arrested so far in the roundup of Jan. 6 defendants.

In his motion to get his probation lifted, Johnston wrote, I would like to get my law license back.

Johnston continued, Here in South Carolina, lawyers who practice in the area of licensure have told me they think the Bar will not lift the suspension of my law license while I remain on probation.

He also apologized and wrote, The disrespect I showed that day deeply troubles me. That is what I regret. The Capitol is the single most significant symbol of our history, our government, our legal traditions.  All of my childhood heroes, Washington, Adams, Jefferson. Had connections to that building, Johnston wrote.

Johnston had pleaded guilty in December 2022 to the misdemeanor offense of parading, picketing or demonstrating in a Capitol building. Other charges against him were dropped. He was sentenced to 21 days incarceration, 90 days home confinement and 36 months probation. He was also fined $2,500.

During the riot, Johnston wore Trump regalia that included a blue winter cap with white and red trim embroidered with a circular circular 45 logo and the word TRUMP. Surveillance video and audio captured him walking around, posing for pictures, talking with other rioters and calling people on his cell phone, at one point exclaiming, We have broken past the barriers, we have made it to the Capitol doors, this is the Capitol, according to evidence in his case.

Ashley Akers, the federal prosecutor in his case, said although Johnston was nonviolent, he nonetheless was very much part of the mob that rampaged outside and inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2001.

The only reason the violent, destructive rioters were able to do the damage they did was because they had strength in numbers, because people like the defendant (Johnston) stood behind them and supported them and were able to sufficiently overwhelm the officers, overtake the officers, and break into the Capitol Building, said Akers on Dec. 16, 2022, at Johnstons sentencing hearing.

Howell agreed. This defendant was part of a riot; he was a rioter. And he only was able to do what he did because he was in the midst of a whole bunch of angry people who had been directed down to the Capitol, many of them  because they just attended the former presidents rally and he told them to go to the Capitol  and they believed that the 2020 presidential election was stolen his participation in this whole crowd helped contribute to everything that happened that day,  she said at Johnstons sentencing hearing.

Rioters shut down Congress for more than five hours, forcing lawmakers and staff to flee and halting the certification of presidential electoral votes, a necessary step in the peaceful transition of power.

Last month, in a brief to Howell, Akers argued that Johnstons profession as a lawyer argues against his getting his law license back quickly.

Unlike other professionals, attorneys are rigorously taught about the importance of adhering to the rule of law. In their professional work and continuing education, they are frequently reminded that the rule of law is an essential component of a free and orderly society. That the defendant was a practicing attorney on Jan. 6, and still chose to engage in the actions that he did, weighs strongly against his motion for early termination, not in favor, Akers wrote.

In his filing to lift his probation, Johnston said he currently works in the field of low income affordable housing. He has no criminal record, had stable employment in his law firm for the past 10 years, is married with four children and is a deacon in his church, he wrote.

I could do much more in (that field) as a licensed attorney, he wrote.

And he will never go to another Trump rally, he wrote.

When Trump held a rally in my hometown of Summerville, SC, a few miles from my house, on Sept. 25, 2023, I did not attend. When he held a rally on Feb. 10 of this year, at nearby Coastal Carolina University, I did not attend, Johnston wrote.

No more rallies for me, he wrote.

Howell told Johnston at his December 2022 sentencing hearing, You should have known so much better.

Asked for comment on Wednesday, Johnston said only that he was not surprised by the judges response. This exact response by the Court was one hundred percent anticipated before the motion was even drafted.

So far, more than 1,424 defendants have been charged in connection with the storming of the Capitol. They come from nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Approximately 820 have pleaded guilty and 162 have been found guilty at trials, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
In a move that could save South Florida travelers hundreds of dollars, Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines have announced they will allow passengers, for the most part, to change and cancel flights without incurring any fees.

Both airlines have a major presence in South Florida with Spirit accounting for nearly one-third of all passengers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. They also fly out of Palm Beach International Airport and Miami International Airport.

Spirit says its no change fees for all policy is among the best in the industry because it applies to everyone. Previously, it could cost as much as $119 to make a change, depending on the number of days before the flight. Spirit reported that it has "many other enhancements in the works and looks forward to sharing more soon.

At Frontier, change fees are also no longer being levied to customers who buy economy, premium or business seats. Its no-fee change policy is not available for basic fares. Frontier is also offering 2,500 Frontier miles to customers who find a flight elsewhere at a lower price.

What's the impact on South Florida? JetBlue, Spirit call off $3.8 billion merger

Spirit Airlines is no longer charging customers anything to cancel or change reservations.

The new policies for the two ultra-low-cost carriers, which came close to merging in 2022, became effective May 17. They appear to be in response to a recent federal Department of Transportation ruling mandating increased transparency regarding ancillary fees associated with air travel.

Major airlines, including American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Alaska and Hawaiian, filed a lawsuit this month to overturn the ruling. Frontier and Spirit are not part of the lawsuit.

Weve changed, and now its free to change, Frontier Chairman Barry Biffle said in a prepared statement.

Coming soon at PBIA? With record growth, airport has big ideas for expansion, with car-rental center, third hotel

Frontier Airlines, for the most part, is no longer charging customers anything to cancel or change reservations.

This enhancement is a key part of our promise to make travel with Frontier as flexible and worry-free as possible. We understand that plans can change, and we want to ensure that when they do, our passengers can adjust their bookings without the stress of additional fees.

Both airlines have been struggling following their failed merger attempt. Spirit Airlines reported a net loss of $447.5 million in 2023 and a loss of $143 million in the first quarter of 2024. Frontier Airlines has not made a full-year profit since 2019 and has lost around $400 million since then. It reported a net loss of $26 million for the first quarter of 2024.

Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Flights savings: Spirit, Frontier waive change, cancellation fees
GAZA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting an aid distribution center in central Gaza, Palestinian security and medical sources said Thursday.

Security sources told Xinhua that an Israeli aircraft targeted the center in the east of Deir al-Balah city with a missile.

The bodies of the dead, along with several other wounded, had been transported to the Al-Aqsa Hospital in the city, medical sources said.

Meanwhile, Gaza's health authorities warned on Thursday the suspension of health services at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in the coming hours due to fuel depletion, leaving dozens of patients at risk of death.

The authorities said in a statement that it has appealed for the immediate delivery of fuel to hospitals, but to no avail.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage.

The majority of the population in the Gaza Strip suffer from a lack of food, medicine, and basic humanitarian needs since the outbreak of the war. UN agencies have warned of dire consequences in the enclave, including famine and the spread of epidemics and diseases among the local population. 
An 11-year-old girl is dead, and several other children have been injured after a car chase out of Florida crossed into Georgia and crashed into another car.

The crash happened Wednesday along Interstate 75 in Lowndes County, WALB-TV reports.

Investigators said multiple vehicles were involved in the crash, including a sheriffs office patrol cruiser.

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Deputies said the car they were chasing had several people inside, including the 11-year-old who was killed in the wreck.

A 15-year-old, 14-year-old, and two infants inside the car were also seriously injured, the TV station said.

The injured were all taken to nearby hospitals and the driver of the car involved in the chase has been taken into custody.

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A Southeast Raleigh community leader faces criminal charges of embezzling money from a non-profit group she led.

Raleigh Police charged Kia Eugenia Baker, 41, on May 14 with felony embezzlement of $99,564 from The Resiliency Collaborative, a Raleigh-based group that helps students of color. IRS filings show that Baker had been listed as the groups co-executive director.

The group now lists the other co-executive director as its interim executive director.

The arrest warrant says the money was embezzled Dec. 19, 2022. Baker was released from the Wake County jail on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Group wants a more equitable Wake County

The Resiliency Collaborative did not return The News & Observers voicemail message on Thursday requesting comment.

Baker could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday.

Baker grew up in Southeast Raleigh and now lives in Knightdale. From 2015 to 2021, she was executive director of Southeast Raleigh Promise, a non-profit group trying to break the cycle of inter-generational poverty in the area.

She would later join the Resiliency Collaborative, which describes its mission as partnering with youth who are black, indigenous and other people of color to strengthen their sense of identity, belonging, and purpose so they can create a healthier, more equitable Wake County.
A Harrisburg man has been indicted on six charges alleging he possessed, manufactured and imported unregistered firearms, the U.S Attorneys Office said Wednesday.

Yaroslav Vishnevski, 31, of Saline County was indicted by a federal grand jury in East St. Louis on Tuesday, according to court records.

Vishnevski faces three counts of receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm, one count of manufacturing a National Firearms Act weapon without paying special occupancy tax, one count of illegal importation of a firearm and one count of possession of firearm with an obliterated serial number, federal prosecutors said in a news release.

Neither Vishnevski nor an attorney for him could be reached for comment Wednesday.

The charges stem from an alleged incident on April 22 in which federal officials intercepted a parcel en route and addressed to Vishnevski from China containing two firearm silencers, the news release states.

As alleged in the complaint, law enforcement recovered the two silencers, a rifle with another unregistered silencer attached, three 3D printers, suspected 3D-printed silencers, 3D-printed firearm frames and receivers in different stages of manufacturing and two privately-made, unregistered short-barreled rifles, according to the release.

One rifle had a barrel of less than 16 inches and it was not registered to him in the National Firearmss Registration and Transfer Record, the indictment alleges. Vishnevski also is accused of having a shotgun with a barrel of less than 18 inches and it was not registered to him, according to the indictment.

The obliterated serial number charge was filed in connection with a 12-gauge shotgun known as an Atlas Arms, model G-Force ON-01, the indictment alleges.

Authorities also are seeking forfeiture of Vishnevskis 9-millimeter Glock, a PMF AR-9 style rifle, a PMF AR-15 style rifle and a 12-gauge short-barreled shotgun, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors had requested that Vishnevski be detained but U.S. Magistrate Judge Reona J. Daly denied the request and Vishnevski was released on a personal recognizance bond on May 8, according to court records. Vishnevski had been arrested on May 3.

His arraignment is set for June 6 in the federal courthouse in Benton.

Individuals who produce privately-made firearms must adhere to state and federal laws to register the devices to help ensure responsible ownership, U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe said in a statement.
(Bloomberg) -- Spanish driller Repsol SA obtained a license from the US on Wednesday to keep operating in Venezuela after May 31, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

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Oil firms that want to stay in Venezuela have been applying for permits from US Treasury after Washington reimposed sanctions last month.

Repsol recently signed a deal with state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA that adds jointly managed fields to its operations. In the next few months the assets are expected to produce 20,000 barrels a day, doubling what the European major currently produces in one of its three ventures, Chief Executive Officer Josu Jon Imaz said in a call with investors in April.

A press official for US Treasury declined to comment.

The US is trying to use sanctions as leverage to ensure fairer presidential elections in July. Last year, Washington temporarily removed restrictions on Venezuelas gold and oil sectors after the government of President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition signed a deal in Barbados on electoral guarantees.

After decades of mismanagement in its state-owned companies, ultimately hit by US sanctions, Maduros government has given oil majors more operational control in their local joint ventures. Repsol currently has three joint ventures with PDVSA, one of them alongside Italys Eni SpA.

The Spanish driller has also been among the foreign oil companies delivering a string of fuel and refined products to PDVSA, helping ease years of painful gasoline shortages.

--With assistance from Fabiola Zerpa.

(Updates with response from US Treasury in the 4th paragraph.)

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The entrance to the Ohio State Teachers Retirement System headquarters in Columbus. Photo by Marty Schladen, Ohio Capital Journal.

The ongoing fight over the way Ohio teachers $90 billion pension fund is being handled has to do with huge bonuses, big fees and a proposal to divert two-thirds of it to an untested company.

But a spokesman for Gov. Mike DeWine last week said the governor did not object to the strategy many teachers and retirees want to use. Instead of plowing a big slice of the fund into high-fee, relatively non-transparent investments such as private equity and hedge funds and real estate, the reformers want to put the money into more passive vehicles that are indexed to the market as a whole.

DeWine has been in a battle with the reformers over how some want to invest the fund  but not over what they say they ultimately want to do, his press secretary, Dan Tierney, said in an interview last week.

The governor doesnt necessarily care if they continue the current investment strategy or if they change to an index fund, Tierney said. What hes concerned about is that the funds be placed in trust with vendors or investments that are financially sound and meet the fiduciary duty that the board has.

His statement could clear an impasse because one of the chief reformers  one whom Attorney General Dave Yost is in court trying to remove from the pension board  last week said he also was agnostic about who made the indexed investments.

Bad blood

Participants in the pension system, the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, have long been frustrated by what they see as a teachers pension trying to operate a mini Wall Street in downtown Columbus.

System employees have been getting big salaries and bonuses  more than half of its 500 employees are paid $100,000 or more and about a third make more than $200,000. Meanwhile, since 2017, retirees have gotten just two cost-of-living increases, 3% in 2022 and 1% last year.

The former STRS leadership has said that the infrequent, paltry COLAs were due to an aging group of beneficiaries and legislation intended to keep the fund actuarially sound.

But the austerity hasnt seemed to apply equally to the pension funds staff.

In 2022, the pension board awarded fund managers $10 million in bonuses just two months before reporting annual losses of $5.3 billion. It had been a brutal year for investments, but the well-paid staff had underestimated losses by nearly 80%. Even so, the bonuses continued in subsequent years.

More generally, reform-minded teachers and retirees are suspicious of the alternative investments STRS staff has made with their money. As of April 30, the fund had almost $19 billion in private equity funds and other alternative investments, and another $8 billion in real estate.

Such investments are hard to readily value, and people make a lot of money off of them.

In 2009, STRS paid $65.4 million in fees to invest in private equity and hedge funds. By 2022, that amount had nearly tripled  to $175.8 million, according to numbers obtained from the pension system.

Over the entire period, such fees paid out by the pension system totaled $1.76 billion  just for the privilege of being able to invest.

Suspicion

The reform group has subsequently gained a strong majority on the board and vows to make changes. And reformers said they smelled a rat when DeWine and Yost earlier this month made much of a report from anonymous STRS staffers alleging a possible pay-to-play arrangement between two reformist members and an outside firm.

The reformers suspected that the STRS whistleblowers were trying to protect their gold-plated gigs and that the electeds were trying to protect a retiree-funded bonanza for friends in the financial industry.

The report accused two reform board members  Wade Steen and Rudy Fichtenbaum  of wrongdoing. It and Yosts lawsuit say they improperly worked with two others to try to invest $65 billion of the STRS corpus in an index fund that would be free of the controversial alternative investments. Steen and Fichtenbaum have denied allegations of impropriety.

The proposal, once rejected by the STRS board, is controversial as well.

The fund that would get all that money, QED, was started by two men, one of whom has connections to former state treasurer Josh Mandel. In 2020, when the proposal was initiated, they had no experience, the fund wasnt licensed and it might seem incautious to entrust 70% of retirees assets to it.

Steen, who was originally appointed to the STRS board by former Gov. John Kasich, has history with DeWine. A year ago, just as the reformers were poised to gain a voting majority on the board, DeWine tried to fire him, saying hed missed too many meetings.

Steen disputed that, sued, won and was restored to the STRS board until his term ends later this year. Steen also disputes much of what AG Yost claims in his lawsuit, calling it defamatory, WEWS reported.

Agreement?

The board member last week also told reporters that while he was interested in placing pension funds in an indexed investment, he was not wedded to  nor even recommending  that QED be the vehicle for doing so.

Now, Im not even advising QED or anyone  what Im advising is we need to look at index funding, Steen said, according to WEWS. We really need to take a look at that. That would dramatically reduce our costs.

His statement suggests room for compromise.

Tierney, DeWines press secretary, said the governor only wants to make sure teachers retirement money is handled prudently.

The issue with QED specifically is that they were not licensed at the time they were seeking the business  they had no track record, they had no clients and those were of grave concern, Tierney said. If they addressed those concerns and found a vendor who is licensed and has a track record, I dont think the governor would have an issue if thats the case. He doesnt want to put his thumb on the scale of where the investment would go to.

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The post Spokesman: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine not opposed to indexing for teachers investment strategy appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A Springdale man pleaded guilty on Thursday to murder for a deadly stabbing in Fayetteville on Christmas Eve 2021, according to prosecutors.

David Pyle, 41

(Courtesy: Washington County Jail)

David Pyle, 41, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty on a second-degree murder charge for the stabbing death of 30-year-old Cody Tisdell and sentenced to 33 years in prison.

Washington County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Denis Dean said that Pyle was sentenced to 30 years on the second-degree murder charge and three years on a theft by receiving charge that will run concurrently.

Pyle pleaded not guilty to capital murder, possession of firearms by certain persons, and theft of a firearm charges in March 2022.

His trial was set to begin on May 21 after being pushed back multiple times from June 2022.

UPDATE: Suspect surrenders to police after Fayetteville stabbing, victim identified

Fayetteville police responded to a stabbing call on North College Avenue around 12:52 a.m. on December 24, 2021.

According to a social media post, FPD found a man with an apparent stab wound in the parking lot of a gaming store. The man, later identified as Cody Tisdell, died at a nearby hospital from his injuries.

The initial investigation showed the suspect was known to the victim and the two possibly had an argument before the deadly altercation.

Pyle was arrested after video evidence and witness statements suggested he stabbed Tisdell. Police found Pyle at this home where he barricaded himself inside and refused to exit.

Pyle livestreamed his activity on social media and said he would not go back to jail.

While Springdale police tried to negotiate with Pyle, he fired a gun inside the home. Sgt. Tony Murphy with FPD said Pyle later surrendered.

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 KNWA FOX24.
Collision between semi-truck and school bus blocks SR 3 in Kitsap County

State Route 3 was fully blocked in Kitsap County Wednesday afternoon for a collision involving a school bus and a semi-truck, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The crash occurred near Northeast Babcock Street.

None of the children onboard the bus were injured.

Drivers in the area were asked to use Big Valley Road as a detour while detectives investigated the scene.

The highway reopened at around 6:30 p.m.
ST. MARYS  (KSNT) The City of St. Marys is looking for contractors to repair storm damage on numerous government buildings.

The St. Marys community was hit hard by a storm that caused power outages and damage across the city on April 17. This also led to police entering non-emergency reporting and the issuance of a boil water advisory for some residents.

According to a press release, the city will be offering contracts to businesses that will provide the following:

Most thorough reports. Ability to assist the city in evaluating damages to ensure the city is assessing damages

properly when working with the insurance adjuster. Exhibit ability to perform all needed restorations. Experience working large loss claims.

Contractors should help the city in discussions and assessments on damage and find efficient and effective solutions to restore the properties.

To be eligible, contractors must meet the following requirements:

Valid State Registration: Provide a current roofing registration certificate from the

Attorney Generals office. Certificate of Insurance (COI): Provide a valid COI for your company. Experience: Provide proof of professional business operations. Commercial References: Provide up to 3 commercial references.

Contractors who are interested should submit a letter of intent and provide details on experience, license, certifications and references. All submissions must be submitted by noon on Monday, June 3, 2024.

Swimming skills crucial during summer months

Contractors can send in submissions to the following address:

City of St. Marys

PO Box 130

St. Marys, KS 66536

Attn: Bob Schindler

Proposals may also be delivered to St. Marys City Hall at 200 S. 7th Street during regular

business hours. The City Commission intends to review the proposals in an open session on Tuesday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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 KSNT 27 News.
Labour Party rules oblige any triumphant leader to appoint everyone whos currently in the shadow cabinet to the actual cabinet after polling day. He need not appoint them to the posts theyve been shadowing, but thats usually the expectation.

In other words, if the polls are right, David Lammy will become Britains foreign secretary in about six weeks time.

Great things were always expected of the Tottenham MP, ever since he was elected in a 2000 by-election to replace his predecessor, Bernie Grant. Called to the Bar in 1994, he was the first black Briton to study at Harvard School of Law, graduating with a Master of Laws degree in 1997.

But his parliamentary career didnt turn out to be quite as stellar as perhaps even Lammy had expected. He was appointed to a series of relatively junior posts, never reaching the Cabinet while Labour was in office, and earning a reputation among colleagues as one of the governments less successful ministers. As a parliamentary colleague for 14 years, he spoke to me only once: back in the days when you had to earn the votes of fellow Labour MPs in order to be elected on to the shadow cabinet. Fortunately, Ed Miliband quickly ended this rule, so Lammy was subsequently excused from having to solicit votes from his colleagues.

Inexplicably, although he was a candidate for the shadow cabinet in 2010, and although he failed to win enough votes to be elected, Lammys Wikipedia entry states that he turned down a shadow cabinet post in favour of returning to the back benches.

On the perennially vexed issue (for Labour) of Britains independent nuclear deterrent, Lammy went through something of a double epiphany, starting in 2016, when, having nominated unilateralist Jeremy Corbyn for the Labour leadership, he announced that his Christian conscience would not allow him to vote for the renewal of the Trident nuclear submarine fleet. This was the opposite stance to the one he had taken in the previous decade, when, as a minister, he did, in fact, vote to renew Trident.

More recently, having been appointed by Keir Starmer as shadow foreign secretary, he has managed valiantly to reconcile his personal faith with a renewed commitment to Trident. Lammys journey has clearly been something of a dizzying experience.

Last week, again in his role as shadow foreign secretary, Lammy was on his feet in the Commons, winning friends among the Islamist Left by scoring points off the government over its refusal to support the application by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to seek arrest warrants for two senior members of the Israeli government, including prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Perhaps having sensed an unfamiliar groundswell of support from certain quarters for this brave act of bandwagon-jumping, Lammy has now established Labours position as backing the recognition of Palestinian statehood, following the example of Ireland and Norway.

This represents a reversal of Labours historic position  and the position of the vast majority of serious countries  that nationhood for Palestine, while desirable, must be sustainable and stable and, therefore, only achievable via negotiation and agreement with Israel.

But such subtlety and complexity is seemingly not for the likes of David Lammy. Recognising Palestine now would be popular, especially among those UK voters who have become disillusioned with Labour over its leaders support for Israel against Hamas terrorism. And so, decades of delicate international diplomacy must be discarded and ignored in favour of a one-dimensional effort to virtue signal on behalf of an entire country.

Its peculiar that Keir Starmer has retained Lammy in his current position rather than moving him to a domestic portfolio where he could do less damage. Perhaps if the general election had not been called yesterday, and time was allowed for one last reshuffle in this parliament, that might have happened.

Instead we face the prospect of the countrys next foreign secretary being a former supporter of the most extreme and unsuitable leader any political party has ever had, a man who has blown hot and cold over Britains nuclear deterrent, and  even more worrying  is happy to play to the gallery over the most sensitive area of British foreign policy. Lammys appointment as foreign secretary would risk Britains international reputation, and time is running out for Starmer to do anything about it.

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People mourn Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua)

TEHRAN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA.

Raisi's body, along with those of the two members of his accompanying team, arrived at Mashhad's international airport Thursday afternoon from Birjand, the capital of the eastern South Khorasan province, where a funeral ceremony had been held for the late president and his companions earlier in the day, the report said.

Waiting for the bodies at the airport were several Iranian officials, including cabinet ministers, as well as top military commanders, such as Commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Esmaeil Qaani, according to the IRNA.

Mashhad's Mayor Mohammad-Reza Qalandar Sharif told the IRNA that at least 3 million people from Mashhad and other cities had taken part in the funeral procession, causing the vehicle carrying the bodies of Raisi and his companions to stop momentarily several times on its way through the densely-packed streets leading to the holy shrine.

The bodies of the other two individuals, East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati and head of the president's security team Mehdi Mousavi, will be buried in the provinces of East Azarbaijan and Tehran, as reported by local media.

Raisi and his entourage were en route to East Azarbaijan province when the helicopter carrying them crashed in a mountainous area on Sunday.

Also on board the helicopter were Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the representative of Iran's Supreme Leader to East Azarbaijan.

Amir-Abdollahian was laid to rest on Thursday in a ceremony south of the Iranian capital Tehran, according to the IRNA. 

People mourn Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua)

People mourn Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua/Shadati)

People carry the body of Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi to the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua)

People mourn Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua/Shadati)

People mourn Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua)

People mourn Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua)

People carry the body of Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi to the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua)

People mourn Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua)

People mourn Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua)

People mourn Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua)

People mourn Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua/Shadati)

People mourn Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua/Shadati)

People mourn Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua/Shadati)

People mourn Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on May 23, 2024. Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA. (Xinhua/Shadati)
(Getty Images)

On the heels of the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, which mandated public school desegregation nationwide, Virginias scholarship fund named after the landmark Supreme Court case has gained $2.5 million in federal and state aid.

The states Brown v. Board of Education scholarship fund now stands at more than $3.4 million, after $500,000 in federal funds were awarded in March and $2 million in state funds were confirmed in the commonwealths newly passed two-year spending plan, according to the scholarship committee.

At a Wednesday morning meeting, the committee elected Sen. Angelia Williams Graves, D-Norfolk, as chair. In an email to the Mercury after the meeting, Graves wrote that shes grateful the committee was able to receive the funds so that we can continue to contribute to the education of Virginians adversely affected by the Brown v. Board of Education decision and their descendants.

Since 2004, the purpose of the fund has been to support descendants of people denied a public education during Massive Resistance, when Virginia imposed laws to prevent school desegregation and allowed some schools to close to avoid integrating.

Ken Woodley, an author and former journalist who originally proposed the fund, urged federal and state lawmakers to make contributions after the committee learned last year it had less than $1 million available.

Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, and Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, proposed legislation requesting $5 million for the fund in the state budget. On the federal level, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine requested $1 million.

In December, the committee capped the number of awardees at 10 because of uncertainty with the state budget. Once the state and federal funds were confirmed, Woodley wrote in a May 14 letter that he hoped the funding would allow the committee to increase the number of scholarships

On Wednesday, the committee approved 40 to 45 eligible applications pending further review, according to Graves office.

Gods fingerprints have always been all over this program since it fell into my mind on February 18, 2003. But Gods fingerprints are not alone, Woodley wrote. As is so often the case when something of goodness blossoms in this world, human fingerprints join Gods  in [the] most important ways.

Woodley said everyones fingerprints are all over this first Civil Rights-era reparation in U.S. history.

I am deeply thankful for all that each of you has done and will do for this healing program, he said.

The post State, federal aid help Brown v. Board of Education scholarship fund reach over $3.4 million appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
WELD COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR)  The investigation into a missing Weld County woman entered its fourth month in May.

Family and friends of Kaysey Yoder, who went missing in January, are still holding onto hope.

Anna Green has known Yoder for 23 years and said the 35-year-old mother of four would not go a day without calling her or her family. Now that she has been missing for four months, authorities are calling in other agencies for help.

Its been a nightmare, Green said. Its been the hardest thing any of us have ever had to face.

Kaysey Yoder

Back in January, friends said Yoder experienced a mental health crisis before going missing near her hometown in Eaton. Four months of not hearing from her is not promising to Green.

It means that something is way wrong, Green said. she would never go this long without contacting her family.

Colorado missing woman investigation to expand

On Wednesday, investigators from Weld County Sheriffs Office put out the word that they are getting state and federal officials involved in the case.

Im really grateful for the fact that they are going to expand the investigation and allow other agencies to step in and help, Green said.

Kaysey Yoder and her best friend, Anna Green

Weld County officials said they have received a number of tips but none leading to Yoders whereabouts, all of it made worse by what Green said are trolls online.

Its devastating because weve had a lot of scammers on Facebook and whatnot, who jump on there and say, hey, we know where Kayseys at. We know who has her. And really all that theyre doing is trying to exploit friends and family to get money, Green said.

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Yoder was last seen at the Ault liquor store. She stands 5 feet, 9 inches tall. Anyone with information is asked to call the Weld County Sheriffs Office.

You are so important to us, Green said to her missing friend. You are so loved and missed and needed and appreciated.

Yoders family has organized a fundraiser to pay for the services of a private investigator in her case.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Former U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst took the helm of the Mississippi Republican Party on May 11, and he said he is planning to continue several outreach programs within the party and grow the Republican base in Mississippi.

Hurst told the Clarion Ledger he was honored to be voted into the party's leadership position, and he hopes to continue the good work of the former party chairman Frank Bordeaux, who held the position since 2020.

"It's a huge honor, but it's a really demanding responsibility that it's been placed on me," Hurst said.

That work will include several outreach programs to increase party membership in minority and women populations throughout the state.

So far, Hurst said those efforts already resulted in more Republican women being involved in the party and last year's election of Rodney Hall of Southaven as the first Black Republican in the Mississippi House Representative since 1894.

"I think there are a lot of opportunities there for folks to see that we share the same values, we share the same principles, and we are the party of Lincoln," he said.

Hurst, who had previously worked as the chairman of the United Republican Fund, was endorsed by Bordeaux, as well as Republican Gov. Tate Reeves and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann leading up to the May 11 vote. Professionally, Hurst works locally as an attorney for Phelps Dunbar, a New Orleans-based law firm.

Read about MSDH audit report by EPA MSDH could have, but didn't subsidize $12.8 million in loans for Jackson Water System

Former U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst is shown in this file photo.

Who is Mike Hurst?

Hurst began his political career like many others within his party  by engaging with politically interested people, joining clubs and working for campaigns.

While Hurst said he grew up in Newton County with his family telling him they were Republicans, he first became interested in politics while attending Millsaps College from 1995 to 1997, where he joined a conservative student group.

"That's really where I started getting together with other like-minded folks, to really get it out on the campaign trail," he said.

Before leaving to attend law school in Washington, D.C., Hurst worked for congressional candidate Chip Pickering.

Once in the nation's capital, he began working on other campaigns while attending George Washington University Law School. One of those campaigns was for George W. Bush, who was running for president against Al Gore, a Democrat from Tennessee.

After graduating from law school in 2000, he began working as an attorney and then as counsel for the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and again for Pickering starting in 2003.

While in his time there, Hurst worked on several historic pieces of legislation. Most notably, he helped to amend the Stafford Act, which outlines disaster relief and response, to provide further incentives and relief to local residents and businesses impacted by a natural disaster.

"It was important to us because it was our families and our friends on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and even further north, who were really impacted and hurt by Hurrican Katrina," Hurst said. "They wanted to go back to work, they wanted to rebuild, they didn't want a hand out, and this was a way to help do that."

Hurst also was part of a team that worked on the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which made it a crime if someone killed an unborn child if they harmed or killed a pregnant woman.

Hurst would leave Pickering's office in 2006 to move back to Mississippi and begin working for the Southern District's U.S. Attorney's Office as an assistant attorney, where he worked until he ran for Mississippi Attorney General in 2015 against incumbent Democrat Jim Hood.

At the time, Hood was the only Democrat holding a statewide office in Mississippi, and while he lost race, Hurst said he was glad to have done it.

"Looking back now almost nine years later, it's one of those things where the Lord calls you to be obedient, and you're obedient. You think there's going to be a certain outcome, but it's not your outcome, it's his outcome," Hurst said.

Receiving more notice from the party

Despite losing the AG race in 2015, Hurst said his campaign garnered him name recognition among state Republicans and beyond.

In 2016, he also began working for the Mississippi Center for Public Policy as general counsel and director of the Mississippi Justice Institute. In 2017, former President Donald Trump appointed him to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District.

"I'm not exaggerating when I say I never had any intention to be a United States Attorney and I never had any thought that I would even be considered," Hurst said. "I think stepping out in faith and running for AG, following what I believe was the Lord's call.  I think that's how my name got out there."

Hurst went on to serve in that role until Democratic President Joseph Biden came into office in 2021.

As U.S. Attorney, Hurst said he worked to increase the number of indictments his office handed down, decrease violent crime throughout the state, stop the spread of the opioid crisis, as well as work on immigration cases.

Most notably, Hurst's office worked around the state to drastically decrease violent crime rates in cities such as Jackson, Natchez and Hattiesburg, to name a few.

What is next?

Moving forward, Hurst said he plans to move the party forward by focusing on conservative values.

"I'm excited about it, because we've got the fire in the belly," Hurst said. "We've got people out there who want to make our state better, and we believe we can do that with our conservative principles. I'm really excited for trying to set a vision based on what we believe in as Republicans and trying to execute on that."

MS Democratic Party lawsuit: Former MS Democratic Party Chair no longer seeking reinstatement. DNC denies appeal

Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: New MS GOP chair wants to work on women, minority outreach in Mississippi
State police looking for man who exposed himself to gas station employee in Butler County

State police are looking for a man who exposed himself to a gas station employee in Butler.

Troopers were called to the Kwik Fill on E. Main Street in Evans City at around 3:50 p.m. on May 13.

An employee said a male in a dark gray Chevy Malibu exposed himself at the gas pumps.

He left, heading east on Route 68.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 724-284-8100.

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State says CPS never received referral from police about Boone County child

Department of Human Services Secretary Cynthia Persily, seen here speaking to lawmakers on April 25, 2024 in Charleston, W.Va., said in a statement that Child Protective Services never received an abuse or neglect referral related to the death of a 14-year-old girl in Boone County. (Will Price | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

The leader of the Department of Human Services says the agency never received an abuse or neglect referral related to the death of a 14-year-old girl who was found emaciated in Boone County.

DoHS Secretary Cynthia Persily said in a press release that the agency was therefore not involved in the life of this child prior to her passing.

In April, police found Kyneddi Miller in a skeletal state on the bathroom floor of her home. Her mother and grandparents were charged with child neglect causing death.

We are doing everything in the departments power to investigate the complex set of circumstances surrounding this tragedy, Persily wrote in a statement.

DoHS has faced criticism for hiding behind child confidentiality laws to avoid answering questions about whether Child Protective Services, which is under DoHS, was aware of the girl before she died. The department denied Freedom of Information Act requests about the case.

CPS workers have investigated only about half of child abuse and/or neglect referrals in the state-mandated timeframe.

Last fall, CPS couldnt produce travel records showing that they had followed up on a referral about children who were found living in a shed without running water or a toilet.

Amid other transparency concerns at the department, there have been conflicting reports about the CPS involvement with Kynnedi. Gov. Jim Justice walked back his own comments that CPS wasnt aware of the child.

Neighbors said that they called CPS about Kynnedi, and, through the Freedom of Information Act, media outlets have shared documents showing that West Virginia State Police said theyd made a CPS referral about the girl in March 2023.

WCHS also shared audio where a state trooper said that he was making a CPS referral for the girl to look in on her.

Persily said that a comprehensive search of DoHS records suggest no referral was ever made.

WVSP did not return multiple requests for comment for this story.

While Persily began her statement by saying that DoHS wasnt involved in the childs life, she said that previous CPS cases in 2009 and 2017 to the same home have nothing to do with the death of this young lady.

WSAZ had reported that the news outlet received a whistleblower letter detailing two referrals to CPS involving the girl.

We are extremely disappointed by the disclosure of information relating to those prior matters by an anonymous informant and by members of the local media, Persily said. The department is prepared to make any and all criminal referrals to the appropriate authorities regarding this disclosure.

She added, DoHS continues to be affected by this heartbreaking loss and are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to developing policy that will address such horrors in the future.

The post State says CPS never received referral from police about Boone County child appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Attorney General Josh Stein (Photo: Ahmed Jallow)

After announcing last month that North Carolina had eliminated what had been the largest backlog of rape kits in the country, Attorney General Stein said on Wednesday there is more to do.

The work is not done, there are more leads to pursue, Stein said.

Stein, who is also the Democratic Party nominee for governor, said he wants to create a cold case unit to solve longstanding sexual assault crimes and alleviate some of the burden on local law enforcement agencies already grappling with staffing shortages.

Experience has taught us that many of the offenders are serial rapists, so we need to work quickly to solve these cases and get more of them off the streets where they can harm no one else.

Stein is seeking $23 million to establish a Fentanyl Control Unit, a Sexual Assault Cold Case Unit, and to hire additional staff for the Criminal Appellate Division of the Attorney Generals office. This funding would also cover pay bonuses for graduates of the Basic Law Enforcement Training program, as well as bonuses and relocation stipends for out-of-state police officers who wish to continue their career in North Carolina.

Fentanyl is killing nine people each day in the state, and in 2022, there were nearly 3,400 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in North Carolina, Stein said. He said he would like to hire several attorneys to support local prosecutors in handling these trafficking and overdose cases.

Stein appeared at a press conference with several police chiefs and sheriffs to highlight his legislative priorities and to introduce proposals that he said would address staffing shortages in law enforcement agencies.

Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead said that there are nearly 85 vacancies at the countys detention center, which currently holds nearly 400 people. This shortage has forced him to occasionally deploy some of his patrol deputies to fill the gap.

Im so appreciative for the partnership we have with the attorney generals office pushing for a living wage, and equitable pay for law enforcement [and for] removing some of the barriers so that we can recruit from out of state and fill our vacancies, said Birkhead.

Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood called for a change in recruitment tactics to meet todays needs.

Someone is going to wear the badge, and we want it to be the best and brightest, said Blackwood. Recruitment and retention of quality employees is not an issue unique to law enforcement. I think every facet of Americas workforce would agree that the times we live in have changed, so too must the way we recruit and retain our respective employees.

Apex, Mebane and Zebulon police chiefs also attended the press conference.

I would challenge everybody to get behind this initiative because this is what were going to need to do to move the needle, said Apex police chief Jason Armstrong who is set to retire on October 31.

The post Stein calls for new investments to target sexual assault, fentanyl crimes appeared first on NC Newsline.
STILLWELL, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA)  A third-grade student from Stillwell, Oklahoma won the 2024 Doodle for Google contest for his artwork.

Nine-year-old Keenan Chavez from Maryetta School is among 55 students chosen from over 10,000 entries from every U.S. state and territory.

Doodle for Google is an annual competition that showcases students artwork on Googles homepage. This years theme, My wish for the next 25 years, celebrates the tech companys 25th anniversary.

Credit: Keenan Chavez/Google

In 25 years, I want everybody to come from the world to have a good life so everybody will never fight, Chavez said in his written response to the prompt.

Google sent each of the 55 students Google hardware and merchandise and hosted celebrations in their hometowns to celebrate their artwork and achievements.

Voting for the top doodles opens on May 22 and closes on June 4, 2024. These votes will decide which of the 55 entries will be selected as one of the five national finalists.

The top five finalists will then compete for the national winner spot. Voting can be found on Google Doodles 2024 voting page.

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 KNWA FOX24.
Its easy to be furious at Samuel Alito, who has recently racked up yet another petty personal grievance display over, of all things, flags. Last week saw the earthquake report that his wife flew a flag upside downsignaling either that the country is in danger or that the election was stolenin the days after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. This week, the New York Times further reports that Alito was flying an Appeal to Heaven flag at his New Jersey beach house this past summer. That flag is not merely another Jan. 6 signifier but is also rooted in John Lockes appeal to heaven, meaning a responsibility to rebel, even use violence, to overthrow unjust rule.

In some ways, this is another very ridiculous, very 2024 story about the lengths to which ostensible adults will go toward owning the libs, and one justices fantastically bad judgment and cluelessness about the appearance of impropriety. But this is not even about Samuel Alito. Neither, actually, was the bombshell report about his alleged leak of the outcome of the Hobby Lobby decision in 2014 to wealthy religious Supreme Court lobbyists about Samuel Alito. To expend energy railing against this one petty, petty little man is to inveigh against the symptom as opposed to the problem.

It is just as easy to be enraged at Clarence Thomas and his myriad and corrosive ethics violations. His wife has texted with Mark Meadows over what she believed to be a stolen 2020 election, tried to encourage state legislators to support a slate of dummy electors, attended part of the Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, and testified before the Jan. 6 committee that she still believed that that election had been stolen. And Thomas has declined to recuse himself from the three Jan. 6 cases heard at the high court this year. But again, this is not about Ginni or Clarence Thomas. Expending energy hopelessly trying to shame Clarence Thomas or Samuel Alito is an act of incalculable futility.

It is not even, I fear, about Chief Justice John Roberts, who might have, in a different time and under different circumstances, been the type of history-minded leader who would have dealt with this shameless and flagrant squandering of the courts reputation as a serious body. After all, Roberts once told Jeffrey Rosen in the Atlantic, The Court is also ripe for a similar refocus on functioning as an institution, because if it doesnt its going to lose its credibility and legitimacy as an institution. But that chief justice left the chat at least a decade ago. In failing to act, over and over, he has been a powerful actor.

In Legitimacy Roberts stead we have been left with yet another defensive, thin-skinned thunderer about judicial independence and a longtime coddler of insurrectionists and grifters. Which is why calling on Roberts to take a page from Chief Justice Earl Warrens playbook and use his moral authority to do something about Alito and Thomasas Warren once did about Abe Fortasis almost as futile as calling for him to put real teeth into an ethics code or conduct a meaningful investigation of the Dobbs leak. Roberts, respectfully, has long ago made the decision that he is simply one coequal vote among nine. He neither wants nor possesses the authority to rein in the MAGA justices. He may vote as though he cares about court legitimacy, but he chief justices like the harassed mother of a kid throwing a tantrum at Safewayall shrugs and eye rolls. We can and should demand that Roberts account for what he knew and when he knew it, but Roberts will not solve the problem he has allowed to fester and grow.

So if the real problem here is not Sam Alito, or Clarence Thomas, or John Roberts, why have we wasted years of ink and umbrage and energy trying to change their behavior? Alito and Thomas will not be recusing themselves from either Fisher or the Trump immunity case. The chief justice will not be urging them to do so. No lawyer arguing in front of the court will, as Sherrilyn Ifill has been urging, demand a recusal or an investigation of justices with blatant conflicts of interest hearing these Jan. 6 cases because, as Noah Bookbinder of CREW recently told us on the Amicus podcast, to ask the very people you want to cast votes for you to find themselves conflicted is rank insanity. The system of leaving it up to litigants to challenge justices as potentially conflicted doesnt make any sense, Bookbinder said. Of course thats not going to work. And leaving justices to make that determination doesnt make any sense. You need to have some kind of outside body who can evaluate those kinds of questions.

Who, who, who might that outside body be? Tapping my chinyou tap yours.

Bookbinders answer points beautifully to the real problem: We have a judicial enterprise that rules over us with absolutely no one ruling over it. Nobody should be all that surprised that Sen. Dick Durbin has announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will not launch a probe into Alitos recent conduct. The Senate has also been trying to unearth the financing for Thomas quarter-million-dollar, salt-of-the-earth RV, amid other ethics violations, and Leonard Leo has declined to comply with subpoenas related to it. Yes, the Senate should be acting to resolve this problem, but that seems to have largely stalled at Ask them to recuse.

So, just to review, this isnt really a Sam Alito problem, or a Clarence Thomas problem, or a John Roberts problembut it also isnt even a Senate-Dems-who-cant-muster-the-energy-to-close-the-deal problem.

No, I have come to conclude that this is an us problem. Because rather than hurling ourselves headlong into the Alito Must Recuse brick wall of yeah, no, we need to dedicate the upcoming election cycle, and the attendant election news cycle, to a discussion of the courts. Not just Alito or Thomas, who happen to go to work every day at the court, and not just Dobbs and gun control, which happen to have come out of the very same court, but the connection between those two tales: what it means to have a Supreme Court that is functionally immune from political pressure, from internal norms of behavior, from judicial ethics and disclosure constraints, and from congressional oversight, and why that is deeply dangerous. More so, why justices who were placed on the court to behave as well-compensated partisan politicians would do so in public as well as on paper. Until we do that, Alito will continue to fly around the world, giving speeches about his triumph in Dobbs and Thomas will keep taking gifts and failing to disclose them. That wont be the end of the Supreme Court story; it will be just the start of it.

My friend Jennifer Rubin unspooled a call for Democrats to run in November on the promise of abortion rights and court and filibuster reform. That too will be a start. But Donald Trump is already training us to accept the argument that presidents need to be able to order the assassination of their rivals, and Alito is training us to tolerate the notion that if we dont grant presidents immunity for such acts, they wont agree to peacefully leave office. In the span of a week, Alito has also trained us to accept that justices can fly whatever inciting and ideological symbols they like, even if the guys who work in the SCOTUS mailroom cant, because justices are also the recipients of blanket immunity. The problem with these arguments about offering immunity to bad actors is that you can metabolize the helplessness almost as rapidly as you metabolize the idea of immunity itself. Its not merely the idea that law is for suckers that we have normalized in this precarious momentits the tragic collective conclusion that there is nothing to be done about the fact that the light is really flashing red right now.

An imperial court is the problem, not Martha-Ann Alitos childish tantrums and not whatever her husband will tell Fox News tomorrow about how the haters made him fly a Christian nationalist flag as the court took on the mifepristone case. Please dont let the rapid riptides of the news cycle or the sense that God wants us all to live under the fist of an imperial court forever and ever, amen, distract from the fact that term limits, court expansion, an inspector general, and filibuster reform, all of this is possible, and none of it is happening in the wake of the Alito flag revelations, just as none of it was happening when Ginni Thomas showed up at an insurrection rally. The court is hearing cases on the docket while some justices are living life off the docket that prove one thing only: that institutional immunity is not so much taken as silently and invisibly conferred. If we have learned anything at all in the recent past, its that its also contagious.
Story County tornado was more than 1,000 yards wide, first touched down near Johnston

Tuesday's Story County tornado traveled 41 miles before expiring near Zearing, the National Weather Service determined, earning an EF2 rating.

The twister first touched down around 4:30 p.m. May 21 near Johnston carving a path more than 1,000 yards wide featuring peak wind gusts of 135 miles per hour.

Story County Emergency Management announced late Wednesday that two individuals sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The rotation eventually expired around 5:05 p.m. the National Weather Service said, lasting more than half an hour, generating damage in Cambridge and Nevada. The damage in Johnston included the local high school, which canceled classes on Wednesday.

More: Boone's Senior Life Solutions helps rural population embrace aging

Spencer Grant cleans up their farm house where powerful tornado damaged a farm house yesterday on Lincoln Way, east of Nevada onWednesday, May 22, 2024.

Tornado leaves elongated damage path

Story County officials said the tornado traveled along the eastern edge of the county Tuesday evening, knocking down power lines, damaging houses, and scattering debris throughout the area.

Iowa Department of Transportation cameras also captured the tornado crossing U.S. Highway 30 near Nevada. The camera showed a stop semitrailer being pushed over as the tornado and debris moved across the road shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

The semi driver did not report any injuries, Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla told the Des Moines Register on Wednesday.

The EF2 rating is according to the Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornado intensity on a scale of zero to five based on the damage they cause. An EF2 is capable of tearing roofs off well-constructed houses, lifting cars off the ground and uprooting trees.

More: A tornado knocked down power lines and devastated homes in Story County Tuesday night

Workers from electric company work to restore power after a powerful tornado took down powerlines on 220th Street near Colo, Iowa, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

Story County continues assessing damage, signs disaster proclamation

Story County Damage Assessment Teams are performing residential damage assessments that were expected to be completed Thursday afternoon.

Story County Emergency Management is working with partners throughout the county to restore utilities to impacted communities.

Colo was the only community completely without power following the tornado. Crews from Alliant and Consumers Energy Cooperative are repairing downed power lines throughout the county and are optimistic that Colo will be fully restored on Thursday.

The Story County Emergency Management Commission has also signed a countywide local disaster proclamation.

The local declaration assists with the State of Iowas Individual Assistance program, which is available to residents who meet the program requirements.

Workers from electric company work to restore power after yesterday powerful tornado took down power-line on 650th Street near Cool, Iowa, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

Severe weather may be possible heading into Memorial Day weekend

Additional severe weather is possible late Thursday heading into the Memorial Day weekend in sections of the state.

According to the National Weather Service, thunderstorm chances return late Thursday likely through the overnight hours. A marginal risk of severe weather is possible in western Iowa, with hail and gusty winds the primary concerns.

On Friday, thunderstorms may develop during the day, which the National Weather Service says will clear out by the evening. A marginal risk of severe weather is possible in eastern Iowa during the afternoon and evening.

More: Memorial Day services honor and celebrate veterans in Story County

Tornado damage on 650th Street in the East of Nevada on Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Story County tornado classified as EF2, traveled 41 miles
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chairs a symposium attended by representatives from businesses and academia and delivers an important speech in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, May 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

JINAN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday stressed the need to deepen reform further across the board with efforts centering on advancing Chinese modernization.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while chairing a symposium in Jinan, Shandong Province, attended by representatives from businesses and academia.

"Reform is the driving force for development," Xi said, noting that to deepen reform further on all fronts, efforts should be focused on the overarching goals of improving and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, and modernizing China's governance system and capacity.

He added that China should take resolute steps to remove the ideological and institutional barriers hindering the advancement of Chinese modernization, and double down on its efforts to resolve deep-seated institutional challenges and structural issues.

Xi's trip to Shandong is the first local inspection he has made since the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau held a meeting on April 30.

It was decided at the meeting that the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee will be held in Beijing in July, and that the session will primarily examine issues related to further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization.

Nine representatives including entrepreneurs from state-owned, private and foreign-funded enterprises spoke at the symposium to put forward opinions and suggestions on deepening reform across the board, covering such issues as developing venture capital investment, upgrades of traditional industries, improving the corporate governance of private enterprises and optimizing the business environment for foreign enterprises.

It is the CPC's consistent approach and fine tradition to conduct in-depth research and extensively solicit opinions from various parties before making major decisions and formulating important documents, Xi said, adding that relevant departments should carefully study and absorb opinions and suggestions for further deepening reform in an all-round way that were brought up during the symposium.

China should adhere to and develop its basic economic system and work to build a high-level socialist market economy system, Xi said.

Economic system reform should start from meeting realistic needs and tackling the most urgent matters, and should advance theoretical and institutional innovation in the process of solving practical problems, he added.

"The Chinese people's aspiration for a better life is the goal we have been striving for, and the ultimate purpose of advancing reform and promoting development is to improve the livelihood of the people," Xi said.

He emphasized the need to identify the key areas of reform and achieve breakthroughs based on the pressing concerns and aspirations of the general public, including employment, income growth, education, healthcare, housing, government services, childcare, elderly care, personal safety, and property security.

Xi stressed that no matter how and where reform goes, certain "fundamental things" must not be compromised, including upholding the overall leadership of the Party, adhering to Marxism, sticking to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and upholding the people's democratic dictatorship.

"At the same time, we must dare to innovate and do a good job in reforming what should be and could be reformed, and persist in our efforts once we find the right path," Xi said.

Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, who are also members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the symposium. 
Student media outlets could soon be exempted from public records fees

The LSU Student Union sits in central campus on Monday, March 20, 2023, on Highland Road in Baton Rouge, La.

The Louisiana Senate passed a bill Thursday that would prohibit colleges and universities from charging their student media outlets for public records.

House Bill 113 by Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, unanimously passed the Senate and will next go to the governor for signature or veto.

Most universities already grant fee waivers to their affiliated student media outlets, if they charge for records at all.

The notable exception is LSU. In 2022, the university rescinded an agreement that had been in place for almost two decades between its administration and student media, which are funded by student fees, to waive fees for public records. At the time, Johanna Posada, LSUs associate general counsel, cited the passage of a new law that made it clear public entities could charge for electronic copies of records.

Under Louisianas public records laws, custodians can only charge for the cost of producing records, such as paper and ink or a flash drive, but not the labor involved to fulfill the request.

While records custodians could already lawfully charge for electronic copies of records, House Bill 473 by then Rep. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, codified that ability.

The bill was never meant to add a financial burden to small or student-run media outlets, Duplessis said.

I believe Rep. McMakins bill makes total sense, and I fully support it, Duplessis said in an interview. Student media outlets shouldnt be charged by their universities.

McMakin has argued it doesnt make sense for universities to require student-run outlets to transfer the school money allocated to the outlet from student fees.

The passage of the bill marks yet another legislative victory for Louisiana journalists and watchdogs who rely on access to public records. It follows a series of decisions that killed or significantly watered down bills that aimed to limit access to public records.

The post Student media outlets could soon be exempted from public records fees appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
The iconic columns of the University of Missouri-Columbia campus (University of Missouri photo).

Students at the University of Missouri have called on the UM System to divest money in its endowment pool now invested in Israel and weapons manufacturers.

The UM Systems total investments into companies within Israel is just under $500,000, making up just over 0.02% of the endowment. Sadia Moumita, one of the students demanding divestment, said it doesnt matter how big the investment is, students still want the university to divest its holdings.

University spokesperson Christian Basi said the schools policy is not to respond to demands to divest. The UM System prioritizes fiscal responsibility regarding how the endowment is invested, Basi said, because endowed funds are essential to the operations of the campus.

What we believe is that any company thats operating out of the state of Israel is doing so on stolen land, Moumita said. Theyre doing so after the aggressive displacement of people, and now at the cost of 34,000 people.

That figure is an estimate of the people who have died in the region since the Oct. 7 attacks.

Moumita said multinational companies that happen to have locations in Israel are not the groups concern.

What individual companies will do is a little bit more difficult for us, we cant really police that. We can only police what were doing with (UM System) money, Moumita said.

Moumita said a partial list of weapons manufacturers they would like MU to divest from includes Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman. The UM Systems endowment pool is not directly invested in any of those companies. However, the system frequently invests in funds, or groups of stocks, that may include the companies.

Basi said in an email that based on market index averages, roughly 0.7% is allocated to Aerospace/Defense sectors, which would roughly equate to over $16 million.

The UM System does receive money from Boeing in the form of the Boeing Company Rolla Rising Endowed Scholarship. Moumita said she believes that no amount of money invested in these companies is acceptable.

Theres really no number that we can put on the amount of lives that weve lost and the amount of lives we will continue to use to lose if these companies continue to get money from institutions like ours, Moumita said.

Basi said that if the UM System opened the door to responding to divestiture demands, it would be difficult to decide when to accept the demands  and it would still leave people upset. He also said it would be hard to maintain a strong endowment.

Some people say weve only asked for these one or two things. If you open that door, you wind up with many more people coming in and saying well, you should divest from this because I dont like that company or this because I dont like that sector, Basi said.

If a particular company or sector makes decisions that impact its fiscal value, Basi said, then it would not be financially wise for the UM System to invest in those areas.

Moumita said protesters are not deterred by the UM Systems policies and they will keep advocating for divestment.

Even if it feels futile to us sometimes or to people in the media or people who read the stories of whats going on, Moumita said. Its really not something that were not going to waver on.

The university has provided clear guidelines and a safe environment for the community to protest, Basi said, and investment authority is granted by the UM System Board of Curators, who are appointed by the governor. So if students want their voices heard on this issue, they can lobby elected officials or the Board of Curators.

Basi said the university would only comment on issues or events that directly impact the operations of MU or the UM System. Because it is a public university, he said, it must remain politically neutral and officials typically prefer to address those personally impacted.

We have reached out both to students who are Jewish as well as students who have specific ties to Palestine, Basi said. We have met with them separately, and we have been in contact with them regularly.

Moumita said protests arent going to end when students leave campus.

We have a lot of students who will be staying here. Theres a pretty good chunk of like community members who are taking part in this, Moumita said. And with our weekly demonstrations, those arent going anywhere.

This story originally appeared in the Columbia Missourian. It can be republished in print or online.

The post Students call on University of Missouri to divest from Israeli companies, weapons manufacturers appeared first on Missouri Independent.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  While June 1 marks the beginning of meteorological summer, it also signifies the start of Atlantic Hurricane Season. A number of factors suggest that we could be in for a very busy few months ahead in the tropical Atlantic.

El Nino out, La Nina soon to take over

Although a winter El Nino brought wetter-than-normal conditions to much of Central Texas, it didnt bring enough rain to the Hill Country. Now El Nino is in the process of wrapping up quickly as part of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation cycle, or ENSO. As the sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean start to cool, were entering a period known as ENSO Neutral where those water temperatures dont influence our North American climate pattern. Once those waters cool more than half a degree centigrade below normal, then we enter the cool phase of ENSO, known as La Nina.

Summer outlook: Will Central Texas lakes fill with rain?

While you may know La Nina for its warmer and drier pattern during our winter months, La Nina also has a notable impact on Atlantic Hurricane season.

When La Nina happens during hurricane season, theres usually weaker vertical wind shear in the Atlantic Ocean. This means the atmosphere over the Atlantic is more conducive to the development of hurricanes and tropical storms because they arent being ripped apart by wind.

Hurricanes & La Nina (NOAA Graphic)

At the same time, were looking at incredibly warm sea-surface temperature anomalies in the Main Development Region, or MDR, of the Atlantic, which is the area many of our more prolific and longer-lasting tropical systems develop.

Very warm waters in the Main Development Region of the Atlantic (KXAN Graphic)

The combination of very warm waters that help hurricanes grow, plus the lack of wind shear that could tear them apart, means all signs are pointing to a very active Atlantic Hurricane season.

NOAAs Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast

On Thursday, NOAA released its initial hurricane forecast for the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which begins June 1 and lasts through the end of November. The forecast shows an aggressively busy season with more named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes compared to a normal year.

NOAA Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast (Released May 2024)

Back in April, Colorado State University released its hurricane outlook which also called for an incredibly busy season.

Colorado State University Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast (Released April 2024)

There is a lot of scientific consensus that this Atlantic Hurricane Season could be hyperactive.

All eyes on the Gulf

One of the key challenges with hurricane forecasts is messaging. A quiet season wouldnt be perceived as quiet if one major hurricane made a direct landfall in a densely populated area. The phrase all it takes is one storm is commonly used during tropical forecasting. Similarly, an active hurricane season could be remembered differently if most of the named storms stayed out to sea.

One conclusion can be drawn from the forecast for an active Atlantic hurricane season: If there are more named storms, the chances are higher that some of those storms may enter the Gulf of Mexico.

Latest forecast from the KXAN First Warning Weather team

We havent been hit by a hurricane in Texas for a while, KXAN meteorologist Rich Segal noted. The last one was in September of 2021 when Hurricane Nicolas hit at Matagorda Peninsula with winds of 75 miles per hour. Last year, we did have a tropical storm hit the southern part of the state around Padre Island. The winds there were tropical storm, like less than 75 miles per hour, and that was Tropical Storm Harold.

Of course, back in 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused incredible destruction and tremendous rainfall rates.

The one that everybody remembers is Harvey, you know, dropping more than 50  up to 60 inches of rain  in the Houston area up into the Beaumont Port Arthur area, but it hasnt come to pass in 2023, Segal said, adding you would say that maybe we are due.

Of course, Gulf-based tropical systems could also provide Central Texas with some beneficial rain. Ideally, a tropical storm tracking toward the Hill Country would be our best hope for that.

Inland flooding from excessive rainfall remains our greatest threat from landfalling hurricanes.

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 KXAN Austin.
Dave Ranney and Sharon Sullivan argue that Sarah Gonzales McLinn deserves clemency during a presentation May 20, 2024, at the Lawrence Public Library

Dave Ranney and Sharon Sullivan argue that Sarah Gonzales McLinn deserves clemency during a presentation May 20, 2024, at the Lawrence Public Library. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

LAWRENCE  Advocates for a woman who is serving a minimum 25-year prison sentence for killing a man who sexually abused her have launched a public awareness campaign to pressure Gov. Laura Kelly to grant her clemency.

The advocates say Hal Saskos abuse of Sarah Gonzales McLinn, which involved emotional and financial control, is a textbook example of human trafficking.

In two-hour presentations this week at the public libraries in Lawrence and Topeka, retired journalist Dave Ranney and Washburn University professor emeritus Sharon Sullivan asked the crowd to consider how they define justice for a woman who kills her rapist. They provided handouts with information on how to write the governor and advocate for clemency.

Were asking Gov. Kelly to see that Sarah was a sex-trafficked and labor-trafficked traumatized young woman who killed her trafficker, who was also her serial rapist, Sullivan said. Shes now 29 years old. Shes been incarcerated for 10 years, and thats one-third of her life. She wont be eligible for parole for another 15 years.

By the time McLinn drugged and murdered Sasko in January 2014 at the house where they lived together in Lawrence, the 52-year-old man had forcibly raped the 19-year-old woman almost daily for months. Sasko convinced her that she owed him $17,000, even though she had surrendered her meager paychecks to him for more than a year, and that she wasnt attractive enough for any other man to want her.

Dave Ranney and Sharon Sullivan argue that Sarah Gonzales McLinn deserves clemency during a presentation Monday at the Lawrence Public Library.

A Douglas County jury convicted McLinn of first-degree murder in 2015 after hearing evidence of her unsettled mental state and details of her grisly crime, which involved slashing Saskos throat and writing freedom on the wall in his blood. Lawrence police had gathered evidence that Sasko abused McLinn, but District Judge Paula Martin blocked the jury from hearing about the abuse after prosecutor Charles Branson argued that it was irrelevant information. McLinn was on trial, he said, not Sasko.

During closing arguments, assistant prosecutor David Melton told the jury: There is no evidence  that there was abuse suffering at the hands of Hal Sasko.

Martin sentenced McLinn to a minimum of 50 years in prison. In 2021, McLinn accepted an offer from newly elected Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez to reduce the sentence to a minimum of 25 years in exchange for forfeiting her right to appeal.

McLinns advocates filed a clemency application in December 2022. Grace Hoge, a spokeswoman for Kelly, said this week that McLinns clemency request is under review.

Kelly and her four predecessors combined used their clemency power 18 times in 20 years, including eight times by Kelly in 2021. Typically, the cases involve drug or financial crimes.

Roxanne Merriman appears with her husband, Jacob Merriman, on May 20, 2024, at the Lawrence Public Library to advocate for Sarah Gonzales McLinn

Roxanne Merriman, speaking Monday at the library forum in Lawrence, said she shared a cell with McLinn at the womens prison in Topeka for a little more than a year.

I remember lying in my bed at night listening to Sarah cry in her sleep  sobbing crying, like physically crying, Merriman said. She was thrashing, screaming, No, no, stop. She would be moaning  not like the movies when someones dying, but more like they were terrified, and shuddering almost. Shed be kicking, jerking, almost like she was trying to fight somebody off of her. At first, I would try to wake her up. She wouldnt wake up. Like she was stuck. That went on nightly for Sarah. And I finally just gave up on trying to wake her up.

Merriman said McLinn told her once, I deserve to do time. Merriman was shocked by the admission, because everybody in prison is innocent.

And then she started crying, Merriman said.

Sullivan, a subject matter expert in human trafficking, said when young people suffer trauma, it changes the structure of their brain. Sasko leveraged emotional and financial abuse to gain control of McLinn, she said. McLinn saw no way to escape.

The question we always get is, Why didnt she leave?  Sullivan said. If she thought she could have left, she would have.

Flyers on a table May 20, 2024, at the Lawrence Public Library provide information on how to write Gov. Laura Kelly about granting clemency to Sarah Gonzales McLinn

The advocates have copies of the evidentiary files that police compiled when investigating the murder. The files include transcripts of interviews with Saskos friends and family members, as well as a woman who said Sasko was grooming her 16-year-old twin daughters.

The mother said she had gone to a counselor two days before Sasko was killed to ask for help seeking a no-contact order. She said Sasko had tried to persuade the girls to leave their mom and move in with him. He had clandestine meetings with the girls, gave them money and promised to buy them a car.

The advocates also hired a private investigator to track down two of Saskos ex-wives, who were not interviewed by police. According to the PIs written report, which Ranney provided to Kansas Reflector, the ex-wives said they divorced Sasko because of his infidelities. One of the ex-wives said he was attracted to underage girls.

Ranney, who met McLinn as a volunteer at a writing program at the womens prison, said the effort to persuade the governor to grant clemency has dragged on long enough. Kelly has no deadline to make a decision.

We need to do something, and were doing these sessions in an effort to keep the attention alive and to stimulate responses to the governor, Ranney said. And then its hurry up and wait. Its a political situation. Were not going to get s***ty about it. Were not going to protest and whatever. She doesnt have to do anything. She has 51 cards and we have one.

The post Supporters of Kansas woman who killed rapist ask public to pressure governor for clemency appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
The New York Times reported on Wednesday that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito flew an Appeal to Heaven flag at his New Jersey beach house. The flags close association with both far-right Christian nationalists and the insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 raises serious questions about Alitos ability to rule impartially. The conservative court on which Alito sits is largely the product of right-wing dark-money overlord Leonard Leo, and  wouldnt you know it  Leo flew the same Appeal to Heaven flag outside of his house in Maine.

Murray Ngoima, a Bar Harbor resident, provided Rolling Stone with a photo she took of the flag hanging outside of his house on Feb. 25. Ngoima says that residents were outside Leos house that day to protest the Alabama Supreme Courts decision declaring that IVF embryos are people under the law.

leonard leo flag protest

A spokesman for Leonard Leo, reached by Rolling Stone on Thursday, provided a statement from Leo, who wrote that he flies the flag because it was the first flag of the navy of the US and that it symbolizes civic duty and philanthropy toward ones country; because he like naval flags; and because as a resident of Maine he likes pine trees.

The Appeal to Heaven flag is white with an evergreen tree at its center. The flag was initially a Revolutionary War banner, with the motto taken from philosopher John Locke. Recently, however, the flag has been co-opted by far-right Christian nationalists looking to impose their will on the United States by any means necessary. Rolling Stone reported last fall that House Speaker Mike Johnson flew the flag outside of his office in Congress, and that he has ties to the New Apostolic Reformation, a network of Christian leaders who believe that God has given Christians a mandate to conquer the government and other aspects of life.

The New Apostolic Reformation is responsible for the Appeal to Heaven flags recent prominence in far-right Christian nationalist circles  which overlap with the MAGA movement. New Apostolic Reformation leaders were early to endorse him ahead of the 2016 election, and Appeal to Heaven flags were spotted at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot. The Times reported last week that Alito flew an upside-down American flag  a symbol of solidarity with the Stop the Steal movement  outside of his house ahead of President Bidens inauguration.

As President Donald Trumps judicial adviser, Leo helped select Trumps three Supreme Court justices  Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.

Leo also directs a dark money hub, the Judicial Crisis Network, that ran PR campaigns boosting those justices confirmations. JCN was first created to support the confirmations of Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts.

On Thursday, Leos dark money hub, the Judicial Crisis Network, shared a National Review article on X defending Alito. Of course, it is true that the Pine Tree Flag is associated today with conservatives, just as is true of virtually all Founding-era patriotic iconography, including the Constitution itself, JCN wrote, quoting the piece. But that is mostly just a symptom of the political Left having abandoned the American Founding and its philosophy.

Leos sprawling, growing dark money network, which received a historic $1.6 billion infusion in 2022, additionally donates to politicians and organizations that bring and support conservative, precedent-shattering cases before the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has recently been plagued by ethical concerns  largely due to reporting about Alito and Clarence Thomas relationships with Leo and other conservative megadonors.

Leo reportedly helped organize a luxury Alaska trip at the center of those ethics scandals, including arranging Alitos seat on a private jet that was paid for by a billionaire hedge fund chief. And Leo reportedly steered consulting payments to Thomas wife, Ginni.

Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom from Religious Foundation which has filed multiple complaints about the Appeal to Heaven flag when it has flown outside government buildings in recent years, said the flag has been adopted explicitly to signal Christian nationalist views  The meaning is very clear to those who fly it.

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Supreme Court backs GOP plan in SC that critics say discriminated against Black voters

WASHINGTON  A divided Supreme Court on Thursday signed off on a South Carolina congressional map that critics  including a lower court  said discriminated against Black voters to make Rep. Nancy Mace's district friendlier to Republicans.

The 6-3 conservative majority said the challengers provided no direct evidence that race was the dominant reason for the boundaries.

When partisanship and race correlate, it naturally follows that a map that has been gerrymandered to achieve a partisan end can look very similar to a racially gerrymandered map, Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the majority.

Writing for the minority, Justice Elena Kagan said the challengers introduced more than enough evidence to show race was improperly a factor.

More: Another controversial flag flew over a home of Supreme Court Justice Alito: New York Times

'Go right ahead': Kagan says decision will embolden other states to discriminate

Kagan said the majoritys decision will embolden other state legislators who often have an incentive to use race as a proxy to achieve partisan ends.

Go right ahead, this Court says to States today, she wrote in a sharply worded dissent joined by Justices Sonya Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Justice Clarence Thomas mostly sided with the majority but wrote a separate opinion to argue courts should not be deciding whether a districts boundaries have been unfairly manipulated along racial lines.

Drawing political districts is a task for politicians, not federal judges, Thomas wrote.

President Joe Biden said the decision "undermines the basic principle that voting practices should not discriminate on account of race and that is wrong."

It won't change the map in place for this fall's elections.

In March, a federal appeals court, which had previously ruled the map unconstitutional, said it had no choice but to require it be used this year since the Supreme Court had not issued its opinion after hearing oral arguments in October.

Early voting for South Carolina's June 11 primary starts next week, on Tuesday.

The coastal South Carolina district is held by Mace, one of eight Republicans who voted last year to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

The decision turned on whether the states 2020 redistricting violated the Constitution's equal protection clause by moving about 30,000 Black voters into another district.

Decision follows a surprise Supreme Court ruling

It comes at a moment of uncertainty about redistricting, the once-a-decade process of redrawing congressional districts. Last year, in a surprise ruling, the Supreme Court invalidated a congressional map in Alabama that was also challenged for diluting the Black vote. That case challenged the maps as a violation of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The South Carolina case, by contrast, was challenged on constitutional grounds.

A divided Supreme Court in 2019 took federal courts out of the business of deciding partisan gerrymander lawsuits  holding that the disputes are more political than legal. But voters and groups may still file lawsuits over racial gerrymanders and allege that minority voters are facing discrimination as state lawmakers draw new congressional boundaries.

The problem is that race and political affiliation are often intertwined. South Carolina lawmakers said they were not targeting Black voters, which would be illegal, but were instead moving Democratic voters into a different district, which would be unreviewable by federal courts.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) arrives for a meeting of the Republican House caucus on Sept. 30, 2023, in Washington, DC. The government is expected to shut down at midnight if the House does not reach a last-minute budget deal on Saturday.

The South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, which challenged the states map along with other groups, said there were signs that mapmakers were focused on race. For example, despite a sharp increase in the number of Black voters in the district, the redrawn map had a nearly identical share of Black voters as the version drawn following the 2010 census.

Critics said that indicated the mapmakers were aiming for a target based on race. After an eight-day trial, a lower federal court last year unanimously agreed.

The court finds that race was the predominant motivating factor in thedesign of the district, the lower court said. Traditional districting principles were subordinated to race.

The case is Alexander v. NAACP.

Contributing: John Fritze.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court sides with South Carolina over racial gerrymander claim
Azerbaijan is a reliable friend and partner for Tajikistan. Our countries have time-tested relations, said the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, during an expanded meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.

We have close positions on topical regional and international issues. Humanitarian ties aimed at bringing the peoples of our countries even closer together are actively developing, added the Tajikistani President.
YAOUNDE, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno was sworn in on Thursday for a five-year term at a ceremony attended by regional leaders and other foreign dignitaries.

Last week, the Chadian Constitutional Court officially confirmed Deby's victory in the May 6 polls. Deby secured 61 percent of the vote, with Prime Minister Succes Masra coming in second with 18.54 percent.

The swearing-in ceremony took place in N'Djamena, the capital of Chad. According to the Constitutional Council, 75.78 percent of over 8 million registered voters cast their ballots in the presidential election.

This election was significant as it marked the end of three years of transitional military rule and a return to constitutional order in the central African country.

Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, 40, a former army general, assumed power after his father, Idriss Deby Itno, died from wounds sustained on the front line in the country's north in April 2021. He has since led a transitional government tasked with governing the central African country amid political and military crises. 
The Supreme Court determined on Thursday that South Carolina Republicans did not engage in racial gerrymandering when redrawing the map of the states 1st Congressional district, overturning a lower court ruling by the District of South Carolina.

In a 6-3 ruling the conservative majority of the court, comprised of Justices Samuel Alito, John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, held that they saw no evidence that the Republican-controlled state legislature was motivated by racial bias when it removed 30,000 predominantly Black residents from the 1st District  currently held by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace.

Justice Samuel Alito, currently facing scrutiny for his own alleged partisan leanings, wrote for the majority that because of the tight correlation between race and partisan preferences, this fact does little to show that race, not politics drove the legislatures choice.

The District Court cited no evidence that could not also support the inference that politics drove the mapmaking process and provided no explanation why a mapmaker who wanted to produce a version of District 1 that would be safely Republican would use data about voters race rather than their political preferences, he added.

The result was surprising considering that in two recent cases, the court ruled that Alabama and Louisiana had engaged in racial gerrymandering. South Carolinas lower court had held that legislators had treated the 1st district in a fundamentally different way than the rest of the state.

The strategies [South Carolina Senate Cartographer Will Roberts] employed ultimately exiled over 30,000 African American citizens from their previous district and created a stark racial gerrymander of Charleston County and the City of Charleston. As Mr. Roberts admitted under the Courts questioning, the changes he implemented in Charleston County were dramatic and created tremendous disparity in the placement of African Americans within Congressional Districts, the lower court wrote.

In a concurring opinion, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas  another staunch conservative facing ethical questions regarding his relationships with prominent Republican donors  wrote that the Supreme Court should cease litigating claims of racial gerrymandering.

In my view, the Court has no power to decide these types of claims. Drawing political districts is a task for politicians, not federal judges. There are no judicially manageable standards for resolving claims about districting, and, regardless, the Constitution commits those issues exclusively to the political branches, Thomas wrote.

The Courts insistence on adjudicating these claims has led it to develop doctrines that indulge in race-based reasoning inimical to the Constitution, he added.

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The Supreme Courts 63 decision on Thursday in Alexander v. South Carolina NAACP is a devastating blow to the fight against racial gerrymandering. Justice Samuel Alitos opinion for the conservative supermajority guts a series of precedents that guarded against racist redistricting, granting state legislatures sweeping new authority to sort their residents between districts on the basis of skin color.

And yet, as bad as Alitos opinion was, it didnt go far enough for Justice Clarence Thomas, who penned a solo concurrence demanding a radical move: The Supreme Court, he argued, should overrule every precedent that limits gerrymanderingincluding the landmark cases establishing one person, one votebecause it has no constitutional power to redraw maps in the first place. And he places much of the blame for the courts allegedly illegitimate intrusion into redistricting on a surprising culprit: Brown v. Board of Education.

Brown was, of course, the 1954 decision holding that racial segregation in public education violates the equal protection clause. Many of us celebrated its 70th anniversary just last week. But Brown has always had its detractors, and Thomas has long been one of them. He has written that the decision rested on a great flaw by focusing on the stigma that Jim Crow inflicted on schoolchildren. He rejected Browns assertion that Black children suffered constitutional harm when denied access to integrated education. And he condemned the courts ongoing efforts to remedy decades of segregation by integrating public school systems by judicial decree, decrying these integration efforts as predicated on black inferiority.

Thomas latest critique of Brown springs from a similar frustration with the Supreme Court for allegedly overstepping its constitutional role to police racial discrimination. The case at hand, Alexander, involves a South Carolina congressional district that was becoming competitive for Democrats. After the 2020 census, the GOP-controlled Legislature moved thousands of Black voters out of this district, and brought thousands of white voters into it. This population-shuffling shored up the districts Republican lean, meeting the Legislatures goal. Voting rights advocates sued, arguing that the redistribution of residents on the basis of race violated the 14th Amendments equal protection clause. A federal district court agreed and found the map unconstitutional.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court, insisting that the Legislature cared about partisanship (which is allowed), not race (which is, in theory, disallowed). In the process, it effectively overturned precedent prohibiting lawmakers from using race as a proxy for partisanship in redistricting. Alitos majority opinion also turbocharged the presumption of legislative good faith, better described as the presumption of white racial innocence. He directed lower courts to more or less ignore circumstantial evidence of racist intent when assessing these gerrymanders. The result is a new, nearly insurmountable bar for victims of racial gerrymandering: It will be virtually impossible for any plaintiff to prove that lawmakers targeted them because of their race rather than their assumed political beliefs. Legislatures may now aggressively dilute the voting power of Black communities by shifting them into districts where their votes will matter least.

For Thomas, though, this extreme holding wasnt good enough. He wanted to go much further and disavow the courts authority to strike down any redistricting plans, asserting that this remedy doesnt fall under the courts equity power. (Thats legalese for the solutions that courts can provide when addressing constitutional infirmities.) The view of equity required to justify a judicial map-drawing power emerged only in the 1950s, Thomas wrote. The courts impatience with the pace of desegregation caused by resistance to Brown v. Board of Education led us to approve extraordinary remedial measures. According to Thomas, the court took a boundless view of equitable remedies, inventing an illegitimate new flexible power to invent whatever new remedies may seem useful at the time. The justice conceded, begrudgingly, that this understanding may have justified temporary measures to overcome the widespread resistance. (Emphasis on the word may.) But it also demonstrated that extravagant uses of judicial power are at odds with the history and tradition of the equity power and the Framers design.

Redistricting remedies rest on the same questionable understanding of equitable power, Thomas continued. If Brown was the diseased root, then the famed redistricting cases of the 1960s were the poisonous tree. In these rulings, SCOTUS outlawed malapportionment, a kind of gerrymandering that creates large population disparities between districts to lock certain groups out of political power forever. For instance, in 1960, the populations of Vermonts House districts ranged from 38 people to 33,000 people. The vote of a resident in the smallest district counted 868 times more than that of a resident of the largest district. Many legislatures used malapportionment to dilute the votes of urban residents (who were more likely to be nonwhite), giving (white) rural voters outsized sway in the state House.

The tool was also deployed as a more direct instrument of racial discrimination. Virginias white supremacist Legislature, for instance, packed Black voters into a small number of districts and then spread white voters around many more districts. This tactic produced its intended result: After Brown, the Virginia Legislature voted to shut down all public schools rather than integrate them. The 21 state senators who voted for the measure represented fewer Virginians than the 17 senators who opposed it. Thats the combination of malapportionment and racial gerrymandering in action.

The Supreme Court shut down this practice by mandating one person, one vote, requiring districts to have roughly equal populations. And it later limited racial gerrymandering by holding that race may not predominate map-drawing. According to Thomas, these principles are illegitimate; the courts, he wrote on Thursday, are simply incapable of fixing radically imbalanced maps. Thats true even when lawmakers engage in explicit racial gerrymandering. The 14th Amendment mandates equal protection, and the 15th Amendment outlawed race-based voting discrimination. These were key aspects of the abolitionists postCivil War effort to banish white supremacy from all levels of governance. But in Alexander, Thomas declared his view that these amendments are in fact narrow to the point of nonexistence, addressing only matters relating to access to the ballot. In other words, laws that expressly prevent Black citizens from the discrete act of voting are suspect. As long as a Black citizen can cast their ballot, the Constitution is satisfied. It does not matter if their vote will be meaningless in practice because of gerrymandering and malapportionment.

In Thomas view, Virginias Brown-era scheme to deny political power to Black residents would be perfectly lawful. Indeed, under his theory, a state legislature could pack every Black resident into one legislative district, then distribute white voters over the remaining 99 districts. Or a state legislature could put 100,000 Black residents into one congressional district and 10 white people into another. To Thomas, these schemes would present no constitutional infirmity, and courts could do nothing to stop them. Why? Because in his view, courts may only exercise those powers claimed by the High Court of Chancery in England at the time of the adoption of the Constitution. Courts did not draw maps back then, so they cannot today, either.

Thomas wrote that SCOTUS can fix its mistake by returning political districting to the political branches, where it belongs. But how can victims of racist redistricting prevail in the political branches when those very branches have permanently locked them out of power by making their votes count for nothing? They cant, which is why the Supreme Court stepped in. As Thomas recognizes, Brown was intimately associated with the redistricting decisions of the 1960s: Both sought to help politically disadvantaged minorities vindicate rights that had been strangled by insidious throttling of the political process. It is no surprise that the justice views these lines of precedent as intertwined, and is willing to insult both as extravagant abuses of judicial power.

Its questionable whether Thomas gets the history here correct. The postCivil War amendments were designed to elevate Black Americans to full equality with white Americans, and there is a strong originalist argument that they actually forbid racial gerrymandering. Originalism, though, is an easy tool to manipulate: The originalist judge can demand specific, nitpicky evidence in one case, then accept broad generalization in another, all in pursuit of whatever outcome they prefer. Here, by gutting the 14th and 15th Amendments through an ultra-narrow interpretation, Thomas is telling us that he prefers a nation where state legislatures can divvy up citizens on the basis of race to create maps that openly discriminate against racial minorities. It is a vision that would horrify the abolitionists who sought to end such state-sponsored racism once and for all, as well as the justices who sought to vindicate their aims in Brown.
At issue in the South Carolina case was a congressional district in the Charleston area held by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace. Legislators sought to shore up her district as a GOP stronghold. (Meg Kinnard / Associated Press)

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a state's mapmakers may shift tens of thousands of Black voters to a different district if they were seeking to shore up a partisan advantage for a Republican candidate.

In a 6-3 decision, the justices upheld a redistricting map drawn by South Carolina's Republican Legislature and overturned a lower court ruling that called it a "stark racial gerrymander."

At issue was whether the state legislators drew the districts for political or racial reasons.

All six Republican appointees were in the majority and said the legislators were motivated by partisan concerns, while the three Democratic appointees dissented and said voters were shifted based on their race.

In the past, the court had said that partisan gerrymandering is legal and as old as the nation, but racial gerrymandering is discriminatory and unconstitutional.

The justices reasoned that the Constitution permits elected officials to make decisions based on political considerations, but the 14th Amendment forbids the government from making decisions based on race.

Not surprisingly, however, those two principles come into conflict in the drawing of election districts in areas where Black voters overwhelmingly support Democrats.

The South Carolina case focused on a congressional district in the Charleston area held by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace.

That district had regularly elected Republicans, but a Democrat won it in 2018 in what was described as a major upset. Mace ran in 2020 and won a narrow victory.

When the South Carolina Legislature redrew its seven districts in response to the 2020 Census, the mapmakers sought to shore up her district as a Republican stronghold. They shifted more than 30,000 Black voters from Mace's district in Charleston into a Black-majority district held by Rep. James E. Clyburn, the state's lone Democrat.

Lawyers for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the ACLU sued and argued the state's redistricting plan was unconstitutional. They won a ruling from a three-judge court which said "race was the predominant motivating factor" in the drawing of Mace's district.

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr, speaking for the court, said the evidence showed that partisan motives were driving force.

"The Constitution entrusts state legislatures with the primary responsibility for drawing congressional districts, and redistricting is an inescapably political enterprise. ... A legislature may pursue partisan ends when it engages in redistricting," he said.

"To untangle race from other permissible considerations, we require the plaintiff to show that race was the predominant factor motivating the legislatures decision to place a significant number of voters within or without a particular district."

South Carolina's mapmakers looked at voting data as well as racial data, Alito said, concluding that the plaintiffs did not show race was the dominant factor in drawing the districts. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett agreed.

Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented.

"What a message to send to state legislators and mapmakers about racial gerrymandering," Kagan said in dissent. "Go right ahead, this court says to states today. ... In the electoral sphere especially, where ugly patterns of pervasive racial discrimination have so long governed, we should demand better of ourselves, of our political representatives, and most of all of this court."

Civil rights lawyers who brought the case said the justices should have deferred to the three-judge court that held a nine-day trial in the South Carolina case and closely examined the evidence of how the districts were redrawn.

The highest court in our land greenlit racial discrimination in South Carolinas redistricting process, denied Black voters the right to be free from the race-based sorting and sent a message that facts, process, and precedent will not protect the Black vote," said Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the Legal Defense Fund.

Unlike other redistricting cases from Alabama and Louisiana, the immediate impact of the South Carolina case looks to be limited, however.

Civil rights lawsuits in Alabama and Louisiana led to the creation of a second Black-majority district where a Democrat could be elected. The South Carolina litigation did not involve a possible second Black-majority district.

In March, the three judges who had struck down Mace's district issued an order that allows this year's election to proceed using the state's preferred map.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Most of the Held v. Montana plaintiffs and their attorneys pose outside the courtroom for photos halfway through the trial. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

The Montana Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on July 10 in the states appeal of the Held v. Montana case, after which the court will decide whether the State of Montana is indeed violating its citizens rights to a clean and healthful environment through its greenhouse gas emissions policies.

Oral arguments will start at 9:30 a.m. on that Wednesday in the Old Supreme Court Chambers, Room 303, inside the Montana State Capitol. The attorneys for the 16 youth plaintiffs will get 30 minutes to argue in front of the court, while the state, governor, and multiple state agencies will get 40 minutes total to do so.

The highly anticipated arguments will come nearly 11 months after Lewis and Clark District Court Judge Kathy Seeley sided with the plaintiffs in what they and other environmental groups called a landmark decision in their effort to fight against climate change in Montana.

Last August, Seeley permanently enjoined the 2023 version of what the court called the limitation to the Montana Environmental Policy Act, which prohibited the state from considering greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts when considering permits for energy and mining projects, saying it violated Montanans rights to a clean and healthful environment for current and future generations.

She also enjoined as unconstitutional a portion of another bill passed by the 2023 Legislature, Senate Bill 557, which said that permits approved by state agencies that did not include a greenhouse gas emissions evaluation could not be vacated, voided or delayed unless Congress starts to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant under the federal Clean Air Act.

Both pieces of legislation were written directly in response to a Yellowstone County District Court judges ruling that temporarily paused ongoing construction on a NorthWestern Energy power plant in Laurel because the Department of Environmental Quality failed to consider the impact of emissions from the plant in approving permits.

That judge later vacated the order after the Legislature passed the two laws, and the Montana Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week on the appeals in that case, noting that part of the high courts decision in that case regarding the plants emissions hinged on the outcome of the Held appeal.

The courts concurrent consideration of these two cases allows for a fulsome consideration of the very broad impacts and harm, constitutional infringement, from the climate limitation, and the very specific practical application of that climate limitation to a single large fossil fuel project, Earthjustice attorney Jenny Harbine, representing the plaintiffs in that case, told the court last Wednesday.

The appeal in the Held case has been fully briefed for three weeks after the state, Gov. Greg Gianforte, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and Department of Transportation filed their reply briefs in late April.

The state has argued in its briefs before the Supreme Court that invalidating the MEPA limitation would not fix the injuries the youth plaintiffs claim because climate change is a global problem and Montanas greenhouse gas emissions are a tiny fraction of the global contribution. The state also wants the court to clarify that Seeleys district court ruling does not require the state to perform climate analyses, only allows it to do so.

The youth plaintiffs want the court to uphold Seeleys order, saying the 1972 state constitutional framers put the sections about the environment in specifically to keep the state from degrading the environment through mining and pollution. They say the state has been purposefully avoiding analyzing emissions and climate impacts to further its financial relationship with energy and mining companies.

The Supreme Court previously declined to pause Seeleys August order pending the appeal by the state, governor and agencies.

Several dozen environmental groups, lawyers groups, states, chambers of commerce, energy groups, and others have filed amicus curiae  friend of the court  briefs on behalf of both sides, showing the broad stakes of the case, which is unique because of the environmental protection provisions contained within Montanas constitution.

We are grateful to have the opportunity for the 16 Held plaintiffs to present their case to the Montana Supreme Court and remain confident in our legal arguments and in the compelling evidentiary record the Court will review, said Our Childrens Trust attorney Nate Bellinger, one of the attorneys representing the youth plaintiffs. We are optimistic that together, we can secure the just outcome that these incredible young leaders, and generations to come, deserve.

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Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. Follow Daily Montanan on Facebook and Twitter.

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The Supreme Court upheld a Republican-drawn congressional district in South Carolina on Thursday, reversing a lower court that had declared its boundaries an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

In a 6-3 ruling along ideological lines, the justices signed off on a design that bolsters the GOP tilt of Rep. Nancy Maces (R-S.C.) district.

It aids Republicans in holding onto the seat for the future, though their map was already being implemented for this years election regardless of the Supreme Courts ruling.

The high courts conservative majority rejected arguments that the design impermissibly shifted some 30,000 Black Charleston-area voters to a different district.

A three-judge panel had found race was the predominant factor in the new design, ruling it a racial gerrymander in violation of the 14th Amendments equal protection clause. The decision sided with a Black voter and the South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP. Justice Samuel Alito, one of the high courts leading conservatives, said the lower panel had paid only lip service to the Supreme Courts doctrines surrounding redistricting.

That misguided approach infected the District Courts findings of fact, which were clearly erroneous under the appropriate legal standard. We therefore reverse the trial court in part and remand for further proceedings, he continued.

Republican state lawmakers insisted the boundaries were changed because of politics, not race, and appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

In dissent, Justice Elena Kagan, joined by fellow liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, said the conservative majority is reworking the law to impede racial-gerrymandering cases.

The proper response to this case is not to throw up novel roadblocks enabling South Carolina to continue dividing citizens along racial lines, Kagan wrote.

It is to respect the plausible no, the more than plausiblefindings of the District Court that the State engaged in race-based districting. And to tell the State that it must redraw District 1, this time without targeting African-American citizens, she added.

The lawmakers had previously asked the high court to rule by Jan. 1 to provide enough time before this years elections.

After that deadline passed with the design still in limbo, the three-judge panel agreed to reinstate the map, meaning it wouldve gone into effect for 2024 even if the Supreme Court had ruled it should be redrawn.

The Supreme Courts decision now preserves the map beyond 2024, though it sends the case back to the lower court for further proceedings.

In a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that courts should get out of adjudicating racial gerrymander claims brought under the 14th and 15th amendments, saying it should be left to the political branches.

It behooves us to abandon our misguided efforts and leave districting to politicians, Thomas wrote.

Updated at 10:45 a.m. EDT

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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YAOUNDE, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno appointed Allamaye Halina as the new prime minister on Thursday, according to a press release from the presidency.

Halina, a diplomat and former director general of state protocol, will now have to form a new government "as quick as possible," the release said.

Halina replaces opposition leader Succes Masra, who resigned as prime minister on Wednesday to pave way for a new government.

Earlier on Thursday, Deby was sworn in as president of the Central African nation for a five-year term, following his victory in the May 6 presidential election. 
A man charged in the death of one man and injury of another after his car crashed into the rear of a Spectrum truck on Lake Street in Kent in January has been arrested.

A man charged in a January fatal crash in Kent involving a Spectrum truck has been arrested.

Albert Carmen DiTomaso, 50, of Kent was taken into custody Wednesday at Portage County Jail, according to a jail booking report, and is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Portage County Common Pleas Court.

Kent police say DiTomaso was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu eastbound on Lake Street when the car crashed into the rear of a Spectrum truck parked on the south side of the road, just east of Edgewood Drive, at 8:46 p.m. Jan. 22. At the time of the collision, the truck's driver was reported to have been getting equipment out of the back.

Police said the Malibu's passenger, William A. Williams, 55, of Kent, was declared dead at the scene. Kent EMS took the truck's driver, a 33-year-old Akron man, to Summa Health System's Akron Campus and DiTomaso to Cleveland Clinic Akron General Hospital. Both suffered serious, but non-life threatening injuries, police said.

DiTomaso is charged in a grand jury indictment with second-degree felony aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of third-degree felony aggravated vehicular homicide, a single count of fourth-degree felony vehicular assault, three counts of operating a vehicle under the influence and a minor misdemeanor citation of failing to keep assured clear distance.

The indictment alleges that DiTomaso's blood-alcohol content level at the time of the crash was 0.238%, nearly three times the 0.08% legal limit.

The indictment was filed May 17, the same day a warrant was issued for DiTomaso's arrest.

Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Suspect in custody in Kent fatal crash
Editors note: The video of the assault may be graphic to some viewers. Discretion is advised.

CAROLINA FOREST, S.C. (WBTW)  Surveillance footage obtained by News13 shows a 32-year-old man punching another man in the face and knocking him unconscious at a Carolina Forest bar over the weekend.

Anthony John Albanese of Myrtle Beach was charged with first-degree assault and battery. He was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center early Sunday morning and released Monday on a $20,000 bond.

Police responded to the Tavern in the Forest at about 1:40 a.m. Sunday for a fight, an incident report shows. When they arrived, they learned Albanese had punched a man in the face, knocking him out and causing his head to hit the floor.

The victim was put on a breathing tube from the assault, which was captured on surveillance video, according to an arrest warrant. The full video is above, which shows Albanese and the man in some sort of altercation before Albanese throws a sucker punch and hes pulled away by another man.

Officers found the man laying on his back near the bathrooms, unresponsive and bleeding from the back of his head, which had a gash, the report said.

55-year old Frank Capolino, the victim of the brutal assault, is in a medically-induced coma after having emergency surgery to stop the bleeding and swelling in his brain. He is currently fighting for his life.

Courtesy: The Capolino family

Courtesy: The Capolino family

Courtesy: The Capolino family

Derek Capolino, Franks son, said to see his father in such a state is unbelievable.

To see someone so full of life be in a hospital room, barely hanging out until life, its eye-opening, he said. Its hard to put into words.

Casey Sherman, Franks longtime friend, said the video that shows that assault is disturbing.

I was withholding judgment, at least until I saw the video, Sherman said. And I was just absolutely appalled, disgusted, horrified, you know, to what that video showed.

Frank has, you know, many times in that video, he had his hands behind his back, Sherman continued.  So, he certainly wasnt anticipating a violent confrontation, you know, like that and ultimately ended up in the hospital. And, as I said, fighting for his life right now.

Capolino has not woken up since the incident and relatives said he has a catheter in his skull trying to lessen the brain blees and is on a ventilator.

And then not, you know, applying any aid to Frank when he when he hit the floor, you see these people kind of running away from the assault, which sickens me, Sherman said.

Relatives said Capolino regularly visits the Myrtle Beach area and was in town for bike week and were shocked to hear the news of the brutal attack. They said Capolino is always the guy who de-escalates a situation and not the other way around.

Derek Capolino said his father is still full of life.

If you knew my dad, hes still full of life and vigor and he just wants to make you laugh, he said. And he just wants to feel those good vibes.

He is the toughest . . . person that Ive ever met, and also the most caring and joyous person that Ive ever met, Sherman said.

Capolino was a regular at the Tavern, which said in a statement that Frank is in their thoughts and prayers.

First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with Frankie and his family as we all hope for a full and speedy recovery. Frankie is our friend, our neighbor, and is well known to our local community. His outgoing and larger-than-life personality is already missed, and we hope to see him again soon.

Relatives told News13 that Capolino will be taken off the ventilator to see if he can breathe on his own, but even if all goes well, he will likely have to stay in the area for at least a month while he recovers before he can go back home to New York.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

Savannah Denton joined News 13 in July 2023 as a reporter and producer. Savannah is from Atlanta, Georgia, and is a graduate of the University of Alabama. Follow Savannah on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here.

* * *

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 WBTW.
Suspects at large after thousands worth of merchandise stolen from Sephora in Novato

(KRON)  Several thousands of merchandise was stolen from a Sephora store on Wednesday in Novato, the Novato Police Department said. Around 11:45 a.m., four female suspects with stolen merchandise were reported to be running out of the store and into a silver Nissan sedan.

The Nissan was traveling southbound on Highway 101 as police tried to stop the vehicle. However, the driver made abrupt reckless movements and was able to escape.

The suspect vehicle was last seen going at high speed on southbound Highway 101. NPD did not provide any descriptions for any of the suspects. The department continues its investigation of the theft.

Armed robber takes nearly $90K in cash from Contra Costa County Fair employees

Novato police reported another retail theft that occurred the prior day  also at Vintage Oaks Shopping Center. The law enforcement agency said two people, a thief and a getaway driver, were arrested in connection to a theft at Target on Tuesday, May 21.

The suspects were identified as 58-year-old San Pablo resident Tony Adger and 46-year-old San Francisco resident De Shauna Jones.

Jones was said to be the shoplifter, and Adger was the getaway driver, NPD said. Around 3 p.m., the theft had occurred, and the suspect entered a Mercedes driven by the getaway driver. The vehicle fled toward a nearby Taco Bell on Rowland Boulevard and was eventually pulled over in a traffic stop in the parking lot.

Police responded to a report of a theft at Target on Tuesday, May 21 (Novato Police Department).

Lagunitas closing Chicago brewery, taproom

An unknown amount of merchandise was stolen, but surveillance shows that stolen items were in Jones possession, according to NPD. Jones, who had an outstanding warrant for her arrest from theft charges in Campbell County, was booked into Marin County Jail for shoplifting and possession of brass knuckles.

Adger was booked into Marin County Jail for resisting arrest and shoplifting.

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 KRON4.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson takes part in a press conference alongside German Chancellor Scholz. Kristersson on Wednesday announced that his country would give Ukraine a further 6.5 billion ($7 billion) in military aid spread over three years to ward off Russia's invasion. Michael Kappeler/dpa

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Wednesday announced that his country would give Ukraine a further 6.5 billion ($7 billion) in military aid spread over three years to ward off Russia's invasion.

"This support will help fund long term donations of additional military materiel and the purchasing of new materiel for direct supply from the defence sector to Ukraine," Kristersson said addressing Ukrainians as he announced the aid package in Stockholm.

"Ukraine's cause is Sweden's cause," he added in a video shared on social media platform X.

Since the start of the Russian invasion over two years ago, Sweden has already put together 15 packages of military aid for Ukraine, Kristersson said. The new defence aid is to be spread over the years 2024 to 2026.

According to the government in Stockholm, the total promised military and civilian aid from Sweden will thus rise to 100 billion Swedish krona ($9.3 billion).

"With Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the security situation in Europe is the worst since World War II," the government said in a statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Stockholm for the new aid.

"This is really tangible and will strengthen not only us, not only Ukraine, but the entire European region from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea," Zelensky said in a video message.

Neutral Sweden joined NATO in the wake of the Russian invasion and is one of Ukraine's biggest supporters.
Four-year-old Omar posing with the offending cake while dressed in similar clothing

Australian police are investigating a bakery in Sydney which made a cake featuring a Hamas terrorist and Palestinian flags for a four-year-old boy.

The cake, which featured an image of Abu Ubaida, a propagandist for the armed wing of Hamas, was made by a company called Oven Bakery by Fufu.

The bakery uploaded photos of its creation to social media but then removed them in the face of a furious backlash, shutting down its Facebook and Instagram pages.

Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales state, called the images that adorned the cake horrifying.

The politician described Hamas as an evil terrorist organisation and said that kids parties should be innocent and fun, not hateful.

Mark Speakman, the leader of the opposition in New South Wales, described the cake as truly shocking.

Instead of baked goods celebrating terrorists, we should be celebrating people in our community who are promoting a more cohesive society, he said.

The premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, said it was 'horrifying' that there were cakes with the face of Abu Ubaida on them

Abu Ubaida is a nom de guerre for the longtime propagandist and spokesman of Hamas military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

After Hamass terror attack on October 7, when the group massacred around 1,200 people and took another 240 hostage, he appeared in propaganda videos, his face concealed by a red keffiyeh scarf. Little is known about him but his real name is thought to be Hudhayfah Kahlot.

When the Israelis launched their attacks in Gaza, he threatened the execution of a captive each time a home in Gaza was bombed without warning.

Photos showed the little boy, named Omar, standing beside the cake with his finger raised.

He was dressed in a red and white headscarf and a camouflaged jacket, just like the image of Abu Ubaida on the cake. The Hamas spokesman also appeared on a tray of cupcakes made for the birthday party.

Dressing up a child as a terrorist, including with what appears to be a Hamas headband, is reprehensible and a form of child abuse, said Robert Gregory, the chief executive of the Australian Jewish Association.

Islamic extremism and radicalisation of youth is not just a problem for the Jewish community. Its a threat to all Australians.

Australia has seen several recent incidents of Muslim youth allegedly stabbing or plotting to attack other Australians. Indoctrination starts at a young age and is similar to what is seen across the Middle East.

The main birthday cake had two images of the Hamas spokesman on it, something that was described as 'truly shocking'

Alex Ryvchin, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, also condemned the images on the cake.

It takes a rare kind of psychosis to want to teach infant children that Hamas terrorists are to be admired and emulated, he said.

Boys with normal parents will be celebrating with Batman or Real Madrid themes, which nurture an understanding of good versus evil, healthy role models and striving for excellence.

If this is what is happening in some Sydney homes, we should prepare for a generation of violent extremists. The parents and the baker who thought it was acceptable to glorify proscribed terrorists should be ashamed. The authorities should be aware of this incident.

The Australian Federal Police are investigating the bakery, located in western Sydney, a multicultural, sprawling part of the city.

The Telegraph has contacted the bakery for comment.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  KSNT 27 News hears from Topekas soon-to-be Interim Police Chief Jamey Haltom for the first time since the announcement Tuesday, May 22.

Haltom told 27 News that the main focus in the meantime is to have a smooth transition between now and when current Chief Bryan Wheeles retires. From that point on, he says the goal is to keep moving the department forward in a positive direction.

Topeka leaders see plans to combat citywide homelessness

Were just going to continue to build our partnership with the community, Haltom said. We cant do anything alone. Our successes are shared with the community and other city leaders. So, I want to build on the foundation that we already have, and move forward and like I said continue to serve the community in the way the expect us to.

Haltom will officially take over as interim chief on June 25, while Wheeles will officially retire on July 1.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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 KSNT 27 News.
What is tactical voting and where has it been encouraged in the 2024 general election?

Polling by Survation and Best for Britain projects the Tories on as low as 45 seats (Best for Britain/The Independent)

Britain will head to the polls on July 4 after prime minister Rishi Sunak called a snap general election at the end of May.

June has seen intense vote-garnering efforts from all political parties as leaders chat, debate, and even paddle across the country to win over as many as possible. All parties have now revealed their election manifestos, laying out their vision for the country.

Current polling would suggest things are not looking good for the Conservatives, with most trackers firmly putting Labour an average 20 points ahead of the governing party.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a visit to Cambridge Rugby Club in Cambridge (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

However, recent research by campaign group Best for Britain shows that 36 per cent of people are undecided in some constituencies. In more bad news for the government, the group has also identified 451 tactical voting seats where voters have the best chance of ousting the Tories.

Heres everything you need to know about tactical voting and how important it could be in the upcoming general election:

What is tactical voting?

Tactical voting is when a voter casts their ballot for the candidate they believe is most likely to defeat another partys candidate (usually the Conservatives), even if this candidate is not necessarily their first choice.

Some see this as a necessary practice due to the UKs First Past The Post (FPTP) voting system. Under FPTP, it is the candidate who gets the most votes that wins.

It may seem like the most democratic system to decide a winner at first glance, but many argue that FPTP does not always produce results that reflect the political leanings of the area.

This is because some parties are much more politically aligned than others. For instance, in areas where the votes for Labour and the Liberal Democrats outweigh that for the Conservative candidate, but neither beat them alone, the Conservative candidate wins.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer on the General Election campaign trail on Thursday (Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

However, the results would indicate that the majority of voters in this area support more progressive, left-wing or centre-left politicians.

Groups such as the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) campaign to change this, pointing out that the MPs elected to parliament rarely reflect the popular vote.

For instance, at the 2019 general election, 11.5 per cent of people voted for the Liberal Democrats, but they only secured 1.7 per cent of seats. The Conservatives 43.6 per cent, on the other hand, translated to 56.2 per cent of seats.

The ERS promotes voting systems that are designed to tackle this issue, such as the Single Transferable Vote or Alternative Vote where voters can rank candidates by preference.

However, in 2011 the UK was given a referendum on switching the way people vote to the Alternative Vote system, where the votes against it were nearly 68 per cent.

Where has tactical voting been recommended?

Ahead of polling day, campaign group Best for Britain has produced a list of tactical voting recommendations for voters who are keen to see the Tories ousted from government.

The group recommends 451 candidates across the UK, around 70 per cent of MPs. These comprise 370 seats for Labour, 69 for the Lib Dems, seven for the SNP, three for the Greens and two for Plaid Cymru.

Amongst the many seats targeted are those of Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset), Liz Truss (South West Norfolk) and Suella Braverman (Fareham and Waterlooville).

If tactical voting was carried out according to their plan, Best for Britain project the Conservatives could wake up to as few as 45 seats on July 5, an astounding loss of 320. Meanwhile, Labour would take an average of 445, gaining 243.

Does tactical voting work?

Tactical voting could work, if it was carried out en masse. However, despite talk of tactical voting at most major elections, there is little evidence that it has made a significant impact in the past.

There are many seats in the UK where a sustained tactical vote campaign would have changed the final result. For instance, in the 2023 Uxbridge by-election, the Conservatives secured 13,965 votes, while Labour secured 13,470.

Meanwhile, the Greens gained 893 votes, coming in third. If all these votes were instead tactically given to Labour, it would have been a victory for the party in Boris Johnsons former seat.

It is a similar story for the seat of Somerset North East, held by Jacob Rees-Mogg since 2010. In 2019, Mr Rees-Mogg secured 28,360 votes, while Labour and the Lib Dems combined secured 26,053.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey (Joe Giddens/PA) (PA Wire)

It is possible a combined effort couldve secured the seat for either party, although neither has assented to a tactical voting pact in the past.

However, the Lib Dems won the seat of Somerton and Frome for the first time since 2010 in last years by-election, with tactical voting thought to be a major factor. The Labour vote share had dwindled from 12.9 per cent in 2019, to just 2.6.

It is no secret that some Labour and Green party voters lent us their votes in Somerset and we are very grateful for their support, said Lib Dem leader Ed Davey.

In many seats across the south-west, voters at the next election will be faced with a similar choice between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.

What impact could tactical voting have on the 2024 General Election?

Polling experts have said an increase in tactical voting is bad news for the Conservative Party, but there may still be some three-way marginal seats between the Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems.

Chris Hopkins, political research director at leading polling consultancy Savanta, told The Independent: "Voters have got increasingly sophisticated in understanding how in a first past the post system, their vote can be as effective as possible.

In particular this is bad news for the Conservative Party, where there will be plenty of natural Labour supporters in the South West who will back the Lib Dems, as they know they are their best chance of getting rid of the Tories.

"That being said, because of the forecasted size of the swing from Conservative to Labour, there are some three-way marginals where Labour and the Lib Dems may be unwilling to step aside. That could mean voters are told different things about who is 'most likely to win here', and could lead to split, enabling some Conservative MPs to hold on."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a General Election campaign event at ExCeL London (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Wire)

Campaigners have also added tactical voting will help deliver a progressive government, but warned the first-past-the-post system (FPTP) must be changed to better represent voting intentions.

Neal Lawson, executive director at Compass, told The Independent: We desperately need a progressive government, and tactical voting will no doubt play a vital role in helping to deliver one - but voting tactically without conditions only entrenches the pendulum politics that grinds us all down and alienates voters from the political process.

The worry is that without a commitment to changing the system, tactical voting enshrines the abusive nature of First Past the Post and forces voters to continue voting tactically forever more.

If Labour does win the next election on the back of lent votes, they should commit to getting rid of FPTP and replacing it with a system that can better represent the progressive majority that already exists in this country.

Naomi Smith, CEO of Best for Britain and founder of tactical voting platform, GetVoting.org, said: Our polling shows 13 million Brits are ready to vote tactically for change, and these voters will be key to a defeat that would keep the Tories out for a decade and the difference between deliverance or defeat for the likes of Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt and Liz Truss.

Best for Britain will be helping voters get it right at GetVoting.org with expert constituency level insights and voting recommendations before polling day.
TAPPAN  Old Tappan Road in this sliver of southeast Rockland County gets more than its share of traffic. Cars head east from the Jersey line, past Andre Hill and Western Highway. They cross the bump at the railroad track (when trains permit) and turn on Kings Highway or Main Street or continue onto Washington Street by the firehouse  the old one and the larger one now rising next door.

Cars heading west, perhaps on a local shortcut from the bridge, make the opposite trek.

But whether theyre coming or going, local or not, for the next seven weeks, drivers will no doubt cast their eyes to a fluttering display on the lawn between the Manse and the Reformed Church of Tappan, two historic buildings in this historical hamlet where George Washington did, in fact, once lay his head.

Hundreds of flags  256 of them, to be precise  have been arrayed on the green by members of the Volunteer Fire Association of Tappan, the Carl A. Schelin American Legion Post 1271, and the Reformed Church of Tappan.

Its the third annual Field of Honor, and it will remain from Memorial Day through Independence Day and to Flag Day, dedicated to those who died in service to their nation, but also to first responders of all stripes: veterans and firefighters, police officers and nurses, teachers and caregivers.

Most wont stop as they drive by, with somewhere else to be. If they take note at all, theyll simply see a tidy cluster of large flags. But if they were to pull over, to linger on this Memorial Day or on any day until July 8 when the flags come down, theyd see a whole lot more.

Pastor Donald Hoover of the Tappan Reformed Church speaks at the ceremony dedicating Tappan's Field of Honor, a display of hundreds of large flags on the church's Manse Lawn, on May 18, 2024. The display will remain up through Memorial Day, Flag Day and Independence Day, sponsored by the Volunteer Fire Association of Tappan, the Carl A. Schelin American Legion Post 1271 and Tappan Reformed Church.

Manny and 'Joker' and 'Hippy'  and Carol

Affixed to each flag is a tag with a name on it, placed by a loved one who sponsored it with a donation that helps to fund Tappan's Memorial Day parade and other events. And attached to each name is a story.

There's Manny and Yolanda Lopez, a fallen soldier and his Gold Star mom.

There's Joker and Hippy  George Domenici and Larry Aubut  Vietnam veterans who kept their friends laughing. Hippy was known to lighten hearts by donning Santas outfit for children with special needs. (He brought his own beard to the costume.)

There are two Steven Maushardts, father and son. One served in World War II, the other in Vietnam.

There are the five Dizzine brothers, who all served in World War II. One was a tail gunner, one was a sailor, the rest were in the Army. One was a prisoner of war who returned to Rockland and married a woman whose brothers had parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and met up behind the lines there. Their son, Pat Dizzine, would serve in Vietnam and earn the Purple Heart.

There's Richie DeZago, who had a rough childhood in Sparkill and went to war in Vietnam, returning to live the life of a police officer. This Memorial Day, the watchfires on the Piermont pier and atop Clausland Mountain will be lit in his honor.

Theres a tag and a flag for Carol L. Schelin (shuh-LEEN), who left a mark so profound that years after she died, this Field of Honor now rises in her honor each spring.

A visit upstate

Tappan's Field of Honor has its roots in Wellsville, an Allegany County village south of Rochester.

This is where the story introduces a second Carol Schelin  Carol Ricketts Schelin  who grew up in Allegany County and married Carol L. Schelin's brother, Bob, the former dean at St. Thomas Aquinas College.

The family would often decamp to western New York, where they'd see a field of flags placed by members of the American Legion at the Wellsville hospital. Families would pay $5 to put their name on a small flag to join the large display. The Schelins would sponsor flags for their loved ones.

"Isn't that nice?" Carol R. Schelin remembered Carol L. Schelin saying. "We've got a beautiful yard at our church. It would really look great to have flags there."

But it's one thing to suppose. Carol L. Schelin proposed. About 10 years ago, she went to the fire department and laid out a plan to sponsor flags on the church lawn.

Donald Hoover was there, and remembers Carol making the pitch. At Reformed Church of Tappan, he pastored both Carol Schelins and is chaplain to the fire department and the Legion post, which is named for Carl A. Schelin, Carol's father. He was wounded in the siege of Metz in World War II and lost an eye.

Carol L. Schelin, center, a teacher, lawyer and advocate for children, inspired Tappan's Field of Honor, the annual display of flags on the Manse Lawn of the Tappan Reformed Church. Schelin, who died in 2016, had seen a similar display at Jones Memorial Hospital in upstate Wellsville and had proposed that Tappan have one. For the third consecutive year, it has been her legacy. Schelin is pictured here with her brother, Bob, the former dean of St. Thomas Aquinas College, her niece Leslie Heffernan, and her sister-in-law, also named Carol Schelin.

"Carol was one of our elders in the church and she was the brainchild behind this," Hoover said. "She really was trying to bring to the town the sense of patriotism that her parents had."

The plan didn't move forward when Carol pitched it. Then she developed pancreatic cancer. She died Sept. 1, 2016 at 68. But her life's lessons had planted the seeds for a field to come.

Helping a young family

"Carol was a renaissance-type woman," her sister-in-law said. She studied to be a nurse, but it didn't take, so she studied theater. She taught preschool in Piermont, earned a master's degree in education from Dominican College and then a law degree from Pace.

"She was an environmentalist early. She was a peacnik early. She was on the Clearwater Revival board for years and was the director of peacekeeping for the revival," her sister-in-law recalled.

Her "day job" was as an attorney for 32-BJ Legal Services in Lower Manhattan where, for more than 25 years, she focused on family law and specialized in adoption.

"I'd call her a children's rights attorney," Carol R. Schelin said. "She loved children." Her obituary recalled that she "enjoyed mentoring children, babysitting and organizing the neighborhood Easter egg hunt."

Before the cancer took hold, she met Mike and Tracy Holihan, who were starting a family a few doors down from the Schelin house on Lawrence Street in Tappan. They asked if Carol would watch their son, Connor, and daughter, Riley, while they were at work.

Charlie Maushardt of Blauvelt is president of the Nam Knights motorcycle club of the Hudson Valley. He spoke about veterans he'll remember with flags in Tappan's 2024 Field of Honor, at the Tappan Fire Department May 7, 2024.

"She was so happy to help," Holihan said. "She said, 'I was hoping you'd ask me.' Carol basically raised our kids."

You don't forget that kind of person, a person who becomes part of your family. At least little Connor Holihan didn't.

"He woke up in the middle of the night one night, thinking about her," Holihan said. "We went to go see her at the gravestone. And my wife and I thought about what we could do, and we came up with: 'Let's live on what she wanted to do right here in Tappan.'"

Holihan revived Carol's Field of Honor idea and in 2022, it became a reality. That first year, there were about 300 flags. This year, the number dipped to 256. Holihan heads the committee with Walter Jackson of the Legion and Hoover, who put up his church's lawn. They hope to expand it to the rest of the county in years to come.

A family outing

Hoover, the pastor, said the Field of Honor draws people to his lawn.

"One of the things that really heartens me is when you see a full family, with parent, grandparent and grandkids going between the flags and they're looking for their their loved one, and they stop and take pictures in front of the flag," Hoover said. "It's really very moving to see the entire family, sometimes through four generations, right there in front of the flag, giving honor to the person."

Jackson, the Legion's representative on the chair committee, said the display is not like walking through a cemetery with small flags beside gravestones.

"The field, when you walk through this, it's a whole different feeling. You don't have that anyplace else," he said. "Except I just went through Gettysburg Cemetery, and you get that same feeling there."

There is something sensory about the Field of Honor. Walking through it, the breeze buffets the flags and it brushes them against you, as if in an embrace.

'You can never forget someone'

There is another Maushardt, not named Steven. Charlie Maushardt is president of the Nam Knights Motorcycle Club's Hudson Valley Chapter. He placed the flags for "Hippy" and "Joker" and another Nam Knight, Raymond Coffey. And for Manny Lopez and his Gold Star mother Yolanda. And for his own father and his brother.

You can never forget someone, said Maushardt. That's the biggest thing in life. You could do a million great things, but if somebody forgets you, those million great things just go to the wayside.

Maushardt will ride to Washington, D.C., to the Vietnam Memorial this weekend, but will be back in time for Tappan's Memorial Day Parade.

Events begin at 9:30 a.m., with a firemans memorial at the firehouse. The parade starts at 11 at the German Masonic Park on Western Highway, then comes down to the well-traveled Old Tappan Road and ends at the Tappan Memorial Triangle, across from the Field of Honor.

It's important to remember, Maushardt said.

It's people like us that try to keep that alive and keep it rolling, no matter what it takes, he said. The veterans, the police officers, everybody that serves in some capacity, should be recognized and continue to be.

Carol Schelin said her sister-in-law would be thrilled that the Field of Honor has taken root.

"Her calling was that she knew that life was beautiful and she was a believer in God," she said. "She was a servant who saw her job was to help people and to be a peacekeeper and to be a bringer-together."

Reach Peter D. Kramer at pkramer@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY Field of Honor remembers the fallen, first responders
A 21-year-old Wichita woman died Wednesday night after being taken to Ascension Via Christi St. Francis with a gunshot wound, Wichita police Capt. Aaron Moses said during a news conference Thursday morning.

Police were called for a walk-in shooting victim at 9:24 p.m.

Jadidah Ponce died at the hospital.

At this point in the investigation, the details that can be released are limited. We are still actively investigating this case and know that there are additional witnesses who have not provided a statement or cooperated with this investigation, Moses said. This appears to be a case of targeted violence between two particular groups of people and not a random shooting. Our investigators are processing multiple crime scenes related to this homicide.

The call started at 8:39 p.m. for a disturbance with shots fired at 29th and Broadway, according to Sedgwick County Emergency Communications records.

There was another homicide Wednesday evening, bringing the citys total homicides this year to at least 21. There were 12 at this time last year.
Teacher Accused of Abuse, Handing 'Inappropriate' Note to 14-Year-Old Dies by Suicide 2 Days Later

Nicholas Bott died by suicide two days after being arrested on felony charges of child abuse and illegal contact with a minor or elderly person

Getty Stock image of flashing lights on top of police patrol car

A substitute teacher in the Clark County, Nev., School District (CCSD) has died by suicide two days after being arrested on child abuse charges.

Nicholas Bott, 44, who worked at a middle school in Clark County, was arrested Thursday, May 16 on a felony charge of child abuse and a charge of unlawful contact with a minor, reports NBC affiliate, KSNV.

Per police reports seen by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Bott was accused of handing "inappropriate" notes to a 14-year-old student. He was arrested on May 16 after an investigation began earlier that week. Per the police reports, he posted bond on Friday, May 17 and was due in court on June 20, KSNV reported.

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The Clark County Office of the Coroner confirmed that Holt died by suicide from a gunshot wound to the head two days after his arrest, on Saturday, May 18, per multiple outlets including Fox affiliate KVVU-TV.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.



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MONTROSE, Colo. (KREX)  Montrose County School District reached an agreement with the Uncompahgre Education Association to bring salary and benefit changes.

The salary increase is historic, the average increase of 12.6% to salaries districtwide cost the district $6 million.

Superintendent of Montrose County School District Dr. Carrie Stephenson tells WesternSlopeNow the raise will help teachers provide a better education to students.

We really know that investing in our teachers and staff its a direct investment in quality education. We also know that higher salaries help attract and retain the top talent that we need. Which directly contributes to better learning outcomes for our students and thats what were after.

Stephenson called the raise in salary a priority, saying the district has been working for this over the past three years.

Montrose County School District has over 6,000 students and around 350 teachers.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
Ted Cruz to CNN: Ridiculous to Ask Me if Id Accept 2024 Results

CNN

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), when asked Wednesday on CNN whether he would accept the results of the 2024 presidential election, responded by calling it a ridiculous question, further exemplifying how Trump-allied Republicans have refused to commit to honoring the outcome of the race.

In an interview with The Source anchor Kaitlan Collins, Cruz sidestepped the simple prompt in the same vein as Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) did before him.

In 2024, Collins asked, will you certify the election results? Do you plan to object or will you accept the results regardless of who wins the election?

Cruz, who voted to reject the 2020 election results on Jan. 6, 2021, replied: So Kaitlan, Ive got to say I think thats actually a ridiculous question.

When Collins told him that it was really just a yes or no question, Cruz insisted it somehow was more nuanced.

Let me explain why its a ridiculous question. Its not a questionyou ever ask a Democrat that? asked Cruz, who had a similar response to a Texas Monthly reporter on the subject earlier this month.

Of course, Collins said, after which Cruz asked who.

I know, I know, Ive been down this road many times, Collins said, seeming a bit exasperated.

You cannot compare the two situations. We have talked about that. We have seen the audio of that when they protested on the Senate floor, but have you ever had a sitting president who refused to facilitate the peaceful transition of power? she asked him.

Cruz then echoed another line that has become popular on the right: Joe Biden was inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2021, so ultimately we did have a peaceful transfer of power.

I was there on January 20. I was there on the swearing-in, said Cruz, who on the first anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection called it a terrorist attack.

After the Texas senator was promptly scolded by then-Fox News host and Jan. 6 conspiracy theorist Tucker Carlson, he seems to have changed his approach to be more Trump-friendly in an election year where he too is on the ballot.

Changing tact, he described his comments as sloppy and frankly dumb.

It would be ridiculous for me to be saying that the people standing up and protesting to follow the law were somehow terrorists, he said. I was talking about people who commit violence against cops.

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Ted Cruz Says Its Ridiculous To Ask If Hell Accept Results Of The 2024 Election

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) repeatedly refused to say if he would accept the results of the 2024 presidential election regardless of who won in a heated interview Wednesday night on CNN.

Host Kaitlan Collins asked Cruz  the first senator to object to the certification of the Electoral College votes in the 2020 election  if he planned to do so once more after President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are expected to face off in November. Cruz, who is up for reelection in November, took umbrage with the question before dredging up disproven conspiracy theories about widespread voter fraud.

My full exchange with Sen. Ted Cruz, who was the first senator to object in 2020, on whether he'll accept the election results in 2024: pic.twitter.com/nMuHv26Pzk  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) May 23, 2024

Collins: In 2024, will you certify the election results, do you plan to object, or will you accept the results regardless of who wins the election? Cruz: So Kaitlan, Ive gotta say I think thats actually a ridiculous question. Collins: Its a yes-or-no question. Cruz: No, its not. Let me explain why its a ridiculous question: Have you ever asked a Democrat that? Collins: Of course.

Collins went on to challenge Cruzs claim that Democrats, too, had voiced opposition to Trumps ascension in 2016 when he defeated Hillary Clinton, saying the lawmaker couldnt compare the two situations.

We did have a peaceful transfer of power, Cruz replied. I was there on Jan 20. I was there on the swearing-in.

Barely, Collins said. What happened in 2016? Because I remember a guy named Joe Biden was vice president and he went to the Senate floor and certified the votes.

Cruz did not mention the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol where supporters of then-President Trump stormed the halls of Congress in an attempt to stop the certification of the Electoral College results. And he refused to accept Collins remarks that Trump attempted to hold on to power and even denied Biden access to intelligence briefings when he was declared president-elect.

Trumps efforts to remain in power are the subject of two criminal indictments: A federal case in Washington, D.C., and another in Georgia over his alleged attempts to reverse his election loss there in 2020.

Cruz went on to say that he still believed there was significant voter fraud in 2020 and asked Collins to provide evidence to the contrary.

She pointed to three hand counts of votes in Georgia that verified the outcome and remarks from the head of election integrity in the United States that found the 2020 race the most secure in American history.

Republicans have twisted themselves in knots, its just a yes-or-no question, Collins said later. Im not twisting myself, Cruz said. Im answering your question. You just dont like my answer. So whats your answer, is it yes or is it no, Collins went on.

Cruz didnt reply.

Related...
Donald Trump has already refused to commit to accepting the results of the 2024 election, and that hes prepared to fight an outcome he doesnt feel is honest. For his Republican allies, those are their marching orders, and on Wednesday night Ted Cruz struggled to avoid making his own commitment to supporting the peaceful transfer of power, and accept Novembers results.

In an interview with CNNs Kaitlan Collins, the Texas senator was asked directly if he would certify the election results, regardless of who wins. He scrambled to avoid the question, accusing Collins of not asking the same thing to Democrats.

Kaitlan, Ive got to say I think thats actually a ridiculous question, Cruz said. Its not a question  you ever ask a Democrat that?

Collins countered that the Democrats had not had a sitting president who refused to facilitate the peaceful transfer of power.

Cruz argued that we did have a peaceful transfer power, I was there on January 20, I was there at the swearing in.

Barely, Collins added, referencing the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol that attempted to undermine the certification of President Joe Bidens election.

My full exchange with Sen. Ted Cruz, who was the first senator to object in 2020, on whether he'll accept the election results in 2024: pic.twitter.com/nMuHv26Pzk  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) May 23, 2024

Cruz and Collins continued to spar over the history of challenges to election outcomes in the United States. Cruz raised backlash to Trumps 2016 election, when several Democratic House members attempted to object to the certification of the Electoral College vote.

And what happened in 2016? Collins responded, Because I remember a guy named Joe Biden who was vice president, and he went to the Senate floor and certified the votes.

Cruz continued to insist that there had been fraud in the 2020 election  despite widespread findings that isolated instances of voter misconduct did not amount to a widespread scheme of electoral fraud capable of changing the result of the vote. When Collins said any fraud that may have occurred was so insignificant that it wouldnt have affected the election results, Cruz didnt seem to care, instead insisting the idea there was no widespread fraud was a product of the media.

It wasnt the media, it was the attorney general, Collins said, referring to Attorney General Bill Barrs contention that the election was legitimate.

After much waffling from the senator, and a refusal to commit to accepting the election results, Collins ended the interview.

Senator Ted Cruz, were out of time, Collins said.

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Teen arrested for bringing loaded rifle to Julius L. Chambers High School in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A 19-year-old has been arrested for bringing a loaded rifle onto school property in northeast Charlotte, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

Around 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Julius L. Chambers High School and two other nearby CMS schools went into lockdown after receiving an unsubstantiated threat, police explained.

CMPD officers responded and searched the property. Responding officers located a vehicle on campus with a 19-year-old driver who was in possession of a loaded rifle.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

CMPD said discovering the armed teen was unrelated to the original call for service and lockdown at the area schools.

The 19-year-old was taken into custody and charged with the following:

Possession of a firearm on educational property

Possession of a firearm with an obliterated/altered serial number

CMPD strongly urges parents and caretakers  do not bring weapons on campus or have them in your vehicle when you are picking up your child or dependent, authorities said.

The investigation into this case remains active and ongoing.

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 Queen City News.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  A student was caught bringing a loaded gun into a Brooklyn high school Thursday morning, officials said.

The weapon was spotted in the 17-year-old boys backpack when he passed through the scanners at Westinghouse High School on Tech Place in Downtown Brooklyn at around 8:30 a.m., according to the NYPD and School Safety Agent Union.

The gun had nine bullets in the magazine and one in the chamber, according to the union.

The student was taken into custody, and charges were pending, police said.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the New York City area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

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 PIX11.
AURORA, Colo. (KDVR)  A former Aurora school resource officer is accused of sending explicit and inappropriate text messages to a 16-year-old high school student, who sat down with FOX31 to share her story.

Egide Ndagije was an SRO at Aurora Central High School and is now facing charges because of those texts. FOX31 obtained the messages, which show the former Aurora officer inquiring about the teens sexual history and her underwear.

Because the student, now 17, is a minor and a victim of alleged sexual misconduct, FOX31 is not identifying her name or showing her face.

I just had that feeling in my stomach like this isnt right. I should say something, but also I needed the help and I was vulnerable, the teen said.

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Months removed from the initial incident, the teen said she no longer trusts adults or law enforcement and feels that her vulnerability was violated. The girl said through tears that the trauma still haunts her today.

Its a lot of emotions to take in for a 16-year-old, she cried. Being taken advantage of while trying to get help and then the whole time hes just having ill intentions with me. Its sick.

Text messages begin when teen seeks help from SRO

In October 2023, Ndagije was an Aurora police officer and worked as an SRO at Aurora Central High School. At the time, the 16-year-old attended Central High and said Ndagije had a good relationship with students and was someone she trusted and would go to during break or on lunch.

The teen said when she relocated to Fort Collins, Ndagije gave the 16-year-old his phone number in case she needed anything. A police source confirmed with FOX31 that it was Ndagijes personal phone number.

Egide Ndagije

The teen said she reached out to the SRO because she needed help. According to an investigation by Auroras Internal Affairs Bureau, the teen was seeking help about a possible domestic violence situation.

Text messages between Ndagije and the teen state she and her family were being harassed by an ex-boyfriend. The 29-page thread of text messages was exchanged over 24 hours. The correspondence was provided to FOX31 by the familys attorney, Matthew Haltzman.

This activity is totally predatory, Haltzman said. It was really difficult as a father and as a lawyer to see those kinds of messages being sent from an adult to a child. It was disturbing.

These were the most popular baby names in Colorado in 2023

In those messages, the 16-year-old types: I really need help with something. Its taking a toll on me and idk what to doplease. She added in several other messages that she was really really scared.

Through multiple text exchanges, Ndagije offers advice about her ex-boyfriend, asks questions about her day and engages in personal conversations. Ndagije asks the teen what time she went to bed and how she slept. He also tells her she looks great when discussing her workout regimen, tells her shes a grown woman and also tells the teen hes about to shower.

More of those text messages show Ndagije saying more than once: Did you tell your mom that you were texting me, a cop? He also texted: Dont tell anyone we talked or we speak, and he also asked her twice to download WhatsApp so they can text there.

Ndagije follows with more messages that read: Dont hesitate to talk to me or text me whenever, I am your friend and Im here for you.

The most brazen text messages show Ndagije asking the 16-year-old if her mother still buys her panties and asking how many sexual encounters shes had.

I trusted you and you basically stabbed me in the back, the teen said of Ndagije. Just took advantage of me coming to you for help. I was just uncomfortable. I started to second-guess myself. Am I just overthinking it? I already have a lot going on and was just questioning myself as a person.

I feel like they failed my daughter

The girl said immediately after the inappropriate messages, her intuition kicked in and she cut the conversation and told her parents about it. Her parents went straight to the Aurora Police Department with the information.

The victims mother spoke with FOX31 on camera but does not want to be identified for safety concerns.

When I saw the text messages, I was completely disgusted, the mother said. Watching her go through it has been extremely emotional. Shes a different person and its really sad to see. I think that the Aurora Police Department needs to also take some ownership, and I feel like they failed my daughter.

Police said the department received a misconduct complaint last year, notified Aurora Public Schools and placed Ndagije on administrative leave, per policy. Then an internal affairs investigation was opened and concluded with multiple policy violations, including making an untruthful declaration, not submitting evidence and accessing the criminal justice information system.

Haltzman, the familys attorney, said Ndagije looked up the teens address in the police database, and a search of Ndagijes personal phone found a picture of the 16-year-old from behind that he snapped without her knowing.

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The report stated: A supervisor found items in a bag belonging to Member 1 that shouldve been submitted to the property and evidence unit and had not been.

Aurora police said Ndagije resigned before the investigation was complete, but the department would have fired him.

Former Aurora Police Chief Art Acevedo requested the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to conduct an independent investigation. Based on those findings, the district attorneys office charged the former SRO with three counts of official misconduct, which are misdemeanor offenses.

Haltzman said hes planning to file a civil lawsuit on behalf of the family and alleges this is not the first incident.

Part of the problem with this case is that there are other victims. We know that there are at least three victims in this case, but we expect that theres many more, Haltzman said.

Aurora Public Schools responds

After FOX31 requested comment, Aurora Public Schools released this statement: School Resource Officers (SROs) are employed by the Aurora Police Department. We have been fully supportive of APDs investigation into the conduct of one of its former employees. We take all reports of misconduct seriously and want to emphasize that safety is our top priority.

Since there is a possibility there could be more victims, FOX31 asked the district multiple times if an alert went out to parents to notify them about the incident, but they have not responded to the question.

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Despite the emotional trauma, the teen said she is brave enough to speak up for what is right and does not want anyone to suffer like she is. She said since the incident, shes had to move schools twice, has become very isolated and was essentially robbed of her senior year.

With this whole incident, I dont have pictures to look back on. No prom, the teen cried. I dont have friends. Im just alone. Its been really hard.

Ndagije can no longer work as a police officer in Colorado. The former officers certification under Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training was revoked in March.

Ndagije is expected to appear in court on May 31. His attorney declined to comment.

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 FOX31 Denver.
Rep. Terry Roy, a Deerfield Republican, confronted another House member Thursday for allegedly calling him a "liar" while he was speaking in favor of his gun background check bill. (Screenshot)

It was a dramatic 15 minutes on the House floor Thursday afternoon.

First, the House likely picked a fight with the Senate by voting overwhelmingly to revive and send back to the Senate a gun background check bill senators tabled last week. This time, the House attached it to one of the Senates priority bills, which would put $40 million toward a new prison.

Moments after the House vote, the bills sponsor confronted another House member for allegedly yelling liar at him while he was speaking.

Rep. Terry Roy, the Deerfield Republican who sponsored the bill that would add some mental health records to gun background checks, responded to questions from the Bulletin via text messages after the House resumed its work.

Roy said he had confronted Rep. Cyril Aures, a Chichester Republican, following the Houses 212-155 vote in favor of his legislation.

I went over after the vote and asked him if he in fact did yell (liar) out and, if he did, would he care to explain later when not in the peoples House, Roy wrote. He then lost his mind and stood up and started screaming mother (expletive). I may have mentioned something about being an example of a dangerous mental health issue.

Some pro-Second Amendment groups have fought the bill, saying it fails to give people due process before their guns are taken. However, firearms would not be confiscated until after a court hearing, where an individual would have legal representation.

Aures, who was not among the 35 Republicans who voted for the legislation Thursday, did not respond to an email and could not be immediately reached.

Rep. J.R. Hoell, a Dunbarton Republican who spoke against Roys bill Thursday, witnessed the incident. He told the Bulletin in a text message, I observed no actions from the representative from Chichester that would have precipitated this series of events.

This is the second time the House has passed legislation that would add limited mental health records to background checks, something 47 other states do.

House Bill 1711, sponsored by Roy and Rep. David Meuse, a Portsmouth Democrat, cleared the House in March, 202-149, with 25 Republicans joining Democrats in support. The Senate tabled it in a party-line vote earlier this month.

It was unclear Thursday afternoon how the Senate would proceed when it gets back its prison appropriation bill, Senate Bill 476, next week. Senators could accept the changes, reject them and defeat the bill, or reach a compromise with the House. If it makes it to Gov. Chris Sununus desk, he indicated he would sign it.

A message to House Speaker Sherman Packards office was not returned. The House minority leader, Rep. Matt Willhelm, called the incident a despicable stain on the House in a statement Thursday.

This behavior was unbecoming of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and should be strongly condemned by all legislators, he said.

The post Tempers flare after House passes gun background check bill again appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Minister for Petroleum Musadik Masood Malik, said on Wednesday that his country would increase the production of indigenous petroleum products to reduce import bills.

"Pakistan currently spends over 18 billion U.S. dollars annually on energy imports ... The country is expediting oil and gas exploration within the country," the minister said while addressing an energy symposium here.

Highlighting that the country is actively trying to attract global players in exploration activities, Malik said that Pakistan is open for business and committed to completely digitizing the regulatory process to increase transparency.

"Investment processes and information regarding oil and gas exploration have been digitized and simplified to facilitate this. We welcome foreign companies to invest in this sector," he added.

Talking about the surging cost of energy prices in the country, the minister underlined that the government is committed to ensuring an uninterrupted and affordable energy supply, saying it is a top priority.

"To reduce electricity tariffs, various proposals are being implemented. By supplying local gas to efficient power plants, the cost of electricity could be reduced as compared to imported LNG," he said, adding that modern systems, including comprehensive monitoring of the gas network using technology, are being used to combat urban gas losses.

The minister also called for increased utilization of Pakistan's abundant renewable energy resources, especially as the country's solar energy costs have significantly decreased. 
Wicomico County Council's collective bargaining agreement with the sheriff's office reached another impasse, straining the already tight deadline, after a contentious meeting Tuesday morning.

During the meeting, the current draft of the agreement was struck down in a unanimous vote after members of the council voiced doubts that the pension would remain solvent at the proposed Cost of Living Adjustment rate of 2.5% for retirees. The proposed agreement also included a revised pay scale for deputies and other measures to keep the financial package for current and prospective sheriff's office employees competitive.

According to the Office of the County Executive and Pam Oland, the county's Director of Finance, CBIZ, the county's firm hired to ensure the data and projections are financially viable, found the proposed agreement to be sound.

"We've been meeting about this and the reservation I have in talking with other council members is we haven't been provided the information we need to make a decision on one portion of this agreement. I would say we need to say no to this until we get that," said District 5 Councilperson Joe Holloway.

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Wicomico County executive: 'We feel confident in the CBA'

Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano delivers the State of the County on her 100th day in office Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Salisbury, Maryland.

During the session, council members noted they were unaware that the projections received in an email sent by the county executive on May 13 had been examined and approved by CBIZ. In that email, the county executive contended "after analyzing actuarial data from CBIZ, we feel confident in what is proposed for the 2025 CBA. Based on current estimates, it appears the collections for the contract period are sufficient to cover this estimate."

The email also posited collections of 1% will help offset continued growth in pension pay out. Among the conditions were adjustments to the salary scale after two years that will impact deposits but have limited impact on the payments.

"In this scenario, those will have been set based on current salaries. This was based on a sample of retirees and their actual actuarial calculations. This assumes all 20 will retire in FY 2025 after July 1, 2024. As with any estimate, if the factors change, the estimate will change," the email stated.

Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano, in a statement released Tuesday after the vote, decried the council's decision as one detrimental to law enforcement

It is very disappointing to see this happen. We need this contract, especially the COLA, to help attract and keep our deputies. All other parties were in agreeance to the contract, and its a shame the Council could not support our law enforcement," Giordano said.

Wicomico County Council President John Cannon added that much of the strain on the agreement was due to a time crunch to approve the deal stemming from receiving it late from the Office of the County Executive.

"The real genesis to this is the fact that the process was delayed from the very beginning. If you don't think the process wasn't delayed, ask yourself why this council had to schedule an 8:30 a.m. closed session this morning to try to evaluate the data and the concerns about them. That's how close the deadline was pushed for this council," Cannon said.

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Bob Benson, the attorney asked to represent the County Council in collective bargaining agreement discussions, explained if an agreement was not reached by Feb. 1, either the FOP or the county executive can declare an impasse. The county executive was tasked with providing the county council with a completed CBA by April 1, which was not done. An agreement is to be approved by the council by May 1, with the option to extend the deadline if that is not possible. Such an extension was applied in this case.

"The reality is that the county executive didn't provide the council with a proposed CBA by April 1, nor did her office provide the status for the bargaining or likely conclusion of it. The county executive sent a draft copy of the CBA to the council on April 30 for the first time, but it wasn't complete," Benson said.

What follows is a meeting in the coming week with Cheryl Brown, the attorney for the Fraternal Order of Police, Benson and the Office of County Executive to reaffirm that such pension projections are affordable for the county.

District 3 Councilperson Shane Baker doubled down on his opposition to the agreement, saying it was still unclear that the county could afford the proposal amid continued testimony by Oland that estimates were reviewed and cleared by CBIZ.

"I requested, along the other members of this council, to have an actuary done by CBIZ because (Oland) is not," Baker said. "Added to that request is that we have 30 deputies, is my understanding that can currently retire. It should be easy to get an actuary to see if what we're proposing is sustainable or not. Even if the Director of Finance says the email is from CBIZ, it doesn't have that on it anywhere except in the notes."

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FOP 'extremely disappointed' in county council vote

Scott M. Hamilton, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, released a statement Wednesday following the county council's vote to reject the collective bargaining agreement.

"The FOP is extremely disappointed with the Wicomico County Council's decision to unanimously reject the Fiscal Year 2025 through 2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement or CBA. This is the first time a County Council has rejected a CBA since the voters overwhelmingly approved Collective Bargaining with Binding Arbitration in 2006. Moreover,it is particularly upsetting that even those who previously enjoyed the benefits of agreements like this can no longer vote in support of those they left behind to hold the line," Hamilton said in a statement.

According to Hamilton, the proposed agreement resulted from a "collaborative negotiation process involving the county executive, the sheriff and the FOP's Collective Bargaining Unit Negotiation Committee."

Hamilton noted the new agreement was ratified by an overwhelming majority of the FOP members.

"It would address concerns with pay compression, and critically, would provide a new Cost of Living Adjustment for officers who retired after July 1, 2024," the statement said. "This provision would have allowed Wicomico sheriff's deputies to join the vast majority of law enforcement agencies in Maryland who provide a COLA for retirees, including the Salisbury City Police Department, Fruitland Police Department, and Sheriff's Office from Somerset, Dorchester, and Worcester Counties."

Hamilton added the charter states that the next step is arbitration. The FOP Negotiation Committee has instructed the organization's legal team to draft the required paperwork to begin the impasse procedure.

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Behind the Collective Bargaining Agreement numbers

Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis walk in the 76th Annual Salisbury Christmas Parade hosted by the Salisbury Jaycees and the city march along E. Main Street in downtown Salisbury, Maryland.

Oland reiterated that individual actuaries would not be in direct contact with county officials, even if names and other personal data was redacted, as that would present a legally tenuous situation for the county itself. She further noted that projections were calculated using CBIZ approved data.

The estimates presented by Brown and Oland during Tuesday's meeting totaled:

Sworn Officer Salaries equaling, in FY 2025, $7,761457, with an additional pension deposit of $77,615;

in FY 2026, it is $7,955,493 and additional pension deposits of $79,555;

in FY 2027 it is $8,154,380, and $81,544 in additional pension deposits;

in FY 2028 it is $8,358,240 with additional pension deposits of $83,582;

In FY 2029, salaries will be $8,567,196 and $85,672 in additional pension deposits;

in FY 2030 salaries will be $8,781,367, with $87,814 in additional pension deposits;

in FY 2031, salaries will be $9,000,910, with $90,009 in additional pension deposits;

in FY 2032 Salaries will be $9,225,933, with additional pension deposits of $92,259;

in FY 2033 salaries will be $9,456,581 and $94,566 in additional pension deposits; and in

FY 2034, salaries will be $9,692,996, with $96,930 in additional pension deposits.

Over a decade-long time period, estimated pension contributions will total $869,456, with an additional liability of $772,000 and $97,546 difference between the two sums.

A new collective bargaining agreement must, by law, be approved and in place by July 1, 2024.

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This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Sparks fly over sheriff's office collective bargaining agreement
This article was originally published on ExplorersWeb.

IFMGA guide Vinayak Malla summited Mount Everest at 6 a.m. on the morning of May 21, the busiest summit day, with Elite Exped clients. On their way back, they videoed just after the snow cornice couldnt stand the weight of hundreds of climbers and gave in, dragging a number of people into the void.

The video doesnt show the actual collapse but its aftermath. Still, the footage is mind-blowing for its clarity and for depicting the mad sight of an overcrowded summit ridge. Dozens of climbers inch across a narrow snow arete, which couldnt bear the weight and eventually crumbled. The image above shows a climber desperately trying to lift himself back to safety after the collapse.

The Everest summit ridge felt different than my previous experiences on the mountain, Malla said. There was soft snow, many cornices, and rocky sections covered in snow. Even the weather station was half buried in snow.

Dozens of climbers shuffle along meters from the summit of Everest; (photo/screenshot from video by Vanayak Malla)

Sudden Disaster on Mount Everest

After summiting, we crossed the Hillary Step. Traffic was moving slowly. Then suddenly, a cornice collapsed a few meters ahead of us, Malla recalled. He and his clients were on another section of that cornice, which happened not to give way.

Mallas video shows the broken cornice section and climbers clinging to the fixed ropes and desperately trying to lift themselves back to safe ground.

As the cornice collapsed, four climbers nearly perished yet were clipped onto the rope and self-rescued, Malla wrote. Sadly, two climbers are still missing.

Then Malla recounts how he saved the situation  and perhaps many lives. We tried to traverse, but it was impossible due to the traffic on the fixed line. Many climbers were stuck in traffic, and oxygen was running low. I was able to start breaking a new route for the descending traffic to begin moving slowly once again.

The situation resembles other mountain accidents where a broken rope leaves climbers trapped behind. Something similar occurred on Broad Peak in 2021 when the fixed rope on a ridge broke, stranding Russian climber Nastya Runova and, a little later, Korean Kim HongBin.

Above them, over a dozen climbers waited, not skilled enough to progress across that section without ropes. Several suffered from frostbite. Runova was rescued, but Kim died.

However, the numbers on Everests summit ridge on May 21 were larger than on any other mountain.

Another Victim

Meanwhile, another climber is confirmed dead on Mount Everest.

Binod Babu Bastakoti from Pokhara died at around 8,300m, just above Camp 4, after he suffered from illness while descending from the summit [on Wednesday, May 22], Narbin Magar of Booking Own Pvt. Ltd told The Himalayan Times.

Bastakoti is the sixth fatality on Everest this season; the seventh, if we include Gabriel Tabara of Romania, who died at Camp 3 but whose goal was Lhotse.

The post Terrifying Footage of Mount Everest Cornice Accident Aftermath appeared first on GearJunkie.
Texans are falling behind on their light bills  especially during extreme heat

Mary Ann Estrella sits inside her apartment in Midland on April 20. Credit: Reilly Strand for The Texas Tribune

MIDLAND  Mary Ann Estrella sat on a rented couch last November and ate, by candlelight, her Thanksgiving Dinner: a bologna sandwich.

The lit candles were not for ambiance. They were, for the time being, her only source of light.

She was four months behind on her electricity bill, owing $450. With little money left over from her income  a combined $2,000 among Social Security, medical and disability benefits  the 65-year-old veteran had to choose between paying for groceries and the electric bill.

I just didn't have the money to pay for it, Estrella said.

This has been Estrellas reality since moving to Midland, the capital of the oil-rich Permian Basin, three years ago to help her son, Frankie Estrella, raise his newborn.

Its also the reality for thousands of Texans who cannot keep up with the costs of their electric bills.

A recent survey of Texans by Payless Power, a Dallas-based utility company, found that one third of Texans said they paid their electric bills late at least once during the year. And 7% self-reported that their accounts had been referred to a collections agency.

Texans also self-reported that months of extreme weather made it more difficult to pay their power bills.

Its not a surprise, said Doug Hairgrove, director of energy programs at the Community Action Corporation of South Texas, an organization providing social, health and financial services to 8,000 households across 16 counties in South Texas, including Hidalgo, Cameron, Nueces and Starr counties. On average, the partnership helps 1,000 people a year with their electric bills. Households on average have owed $1,400, Hairgrove said.

The partnership has already received 52,000 phone calls this year seeking some form of financial relief.

A whiteboard tracking monthly expenses can be seen inside Mary Ann Estrellas kitchen as she prepares homemade dog food inside her apartment in Midland on April 20. At the time, Estrella estimated that $138.97 would be leftover in her budget at the end of April. Credit: Reilly Strand for The Texas Tribune

It's ironic because Texas is supposed to be an energy state. But I do think we kind of get the short end of the stick, Hairgrove said.

Texas is one of about two dozen states that have a so-called deregulated energy market. It was, at the time when Texas lawmakers established it, pitched as a way to lower electricity bills.

Today, Texas homes are powered by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, a board-governed nonprofit with two functions.

The first is overseeing the grid, which manages 90% of the states electricity and serves about 26 million Texans. The grid obtains power from many sources, including oil and natural gas, coal, wind, and solar. Recently, the grid has also introduced batteries.

ERCOT also buys that power from producers and resells it to companies that then sell it as a utility to consumers. Transmission and distribution companies, like Oncor and CenterPoint Energy, deliver that electricity, for which Texas customers also pay a fee. ERCOT relies on generator operators and a computer algorithm to determine the prices.

ERCOT is the one buyer in the wholesale market and the one seller, said Ed Hirs, an energy fellow at the University of Houston. Hirs said that the power plants feeding ERCOTs grid only make money when they generate electricity.

ERCOTs system attempts to provide incentives to power companies to produce more energy during peak demand times in the summer and winter by paying a premium. Those price increases are passed on to the utility companies and their customers.

For example, Texans felt the brunt of the rate hikes during Winter Storm Uri in 2021, when the wholesale price of a kilowatt hour rose a staggering 7,400% to $9 from the normal 12 cents per kilowatt-hour.

A group of air conditioning units sit outside of Estrellas Midland apartment. Credit: Reilly Strand for The Texas Tribune

In 2023, Texas paid more for wholesale electricity than anywhere else in the country, Forbes reported using data from the Energy Information Administration.

A spokesperson for ERCOT said it is not responsible for how much electric retailers charge their customers. When the demand on the grid outweighs the amount of electricity the sources of power can generate, the wholesale cost of energy could increase as more expensive generation would be required to keep up, they said.

ERCOT does not design the market or set pricing for retail consumers, the spokesperson said.

Hirs said the existing generators cannot produce enough electricity to match the states growing population and keep costs low.

The fact of the matter is we don't have enough batteries, and we don't have enough nuclear, coal, and natural gas fleets to serve Texans on peak demand days, he said.

Hirs said he believes renewable energy could ease that burden at some point, but the existing plants will not be capable of meeting demand, he said. Meanwhile, lawmakers have attempted to encourage natural gas development.

Also last fall, lawmakers passed a bill allowing transmission and distribution companies to request changes in how much they charge for electricity to recover the cost of providing it. The Public Utilities Commission would approve or deny those requests.

State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, sponsored the bill, enacted in September 2023. The commission has received nine requests from companies delivering electricity to raise prices to cover distribution costs. It approved six: AEP Texas, Southwestern Electric Power Company, Oncor Electric Delivery Company and CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric  the only regulated companies in Texas energy market  requested the increase in costs.

When families find themselves in a precarious financial position, they often wait until they are at a breaking point, said Sara Aguilar, executive director of Odessa Catholic Charities.

People are ashamed and embarrassed to ask for help, Aguilar said.

Thats how Judy Ann Marquez felt when financial instability arrived at her doorstep. Last year in October, the 62-year-old took custody of her nieces child, whose parents were unable to do so. Marquez said she quit her job as a cashier when her employer reduced her hours. She scraped her savings while looking for another job, she said.

Her power hadnt been shut off, but it was close. The bill had soared to $500, an amount she couldnt afford. It was then that Marquez sought out the charity for help. The charity paid the bill in full. I hate asking, but I dont have a choice, Marquez, a lifelong Odessan, said.

Mary Ann Estrella stirs a pot of homemade dog food inside her kitchen. Estrella makes her own dog food to save money as living costs increase. Credit: Reilly Strand for The Texas Tribune

Aguilar said the charity provides monetary assistance for up to three months and pairs a caseworker with each person. The caseworker equips every person with financial literacy skills tailored to their hardship.

If those seeking assistance can afford part of the expense, the organization asks every person to contribute. After the three-month period expires, the person can again request assistance in 18 months.

It just helps them be part of the solution, she said.

Texans who cannot pay their bills can also apply to the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program or CEAP. This program assists low-income households by covering up to eight months of the highest energy bills. To qualify, families must fall below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. A household of one, for example, must earn no more than $22,590 annually.

In Midland, Estrella is counting the days until she can buy a home. Its a sunny afternoon in mid-April, and shes out of cash until the end of the month when her benefits kick in. She would work more, she said, but has to limit her hours to avoid being disqualified from her benefits.

Shes learned how to conserve energy from a local charity and is working with a loan counselor to get her finances back on track. Sometimes, she gets meals from the local food bank and spends less on groceries, she said. These are some of the programs that keep her afloat  and the lights on.

Disclosure: CenterPoint Energy, Oncor and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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Editors Note: The above video contains all the radio traffic records from April 24 that KXAN obtained through a public information request to Texas DPS. The photos do not directly correspond with the audio.

AUSTIN (KXAN)  Radio traffic from the Texas Department of Public Safety captured the clash between law enforcement and Pro-Palestinian protesters on the University of Texas campus on April 24. The day marked the first of several days of demonstrations and, ultimately, over 100 arrests.

KXAN investigators obtained recordings of the radio traffic through a public information request to DPS. The recordings were broken up into more than 150 audio files and document various moments from the confrontation that day, including law enforcement units arriving on scene, using crowd-control tactics and detaining protesters.

TIMELINE: Protests on the Univeristy of Texas campus

An announcement has been made for criminal trespass and they are about to start making arrests, an individual could be heard saying in one part of the recording.

Chants were audible in the background of another recording, where someone said, UTPD has begun making arrests, just trying to keep the crowd at bay.

In a statement at the time, DPS said it responded to the campus at the request of the University and at the direction of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, in order to prevent any unlawful assembly and to support UT Police in maintaining the peace by arresting anyone engaging in any sort of criminal activity, including criminal trespass. In total, 115 DPS personnel responded on April 24.

A total of 57 people were booked into the Travis County Jail that day but a spokesperson for the Travis County Attorney later said it found issues with the probable cause affidavits for those cases and many of the individuals were released the following morning. According to court records, the UT police department appeared to be the arresting agency.

The radio traffic indicates law enforcement were particularly concerned with the potential of demonstrators putting put up tents or encampments on the South Mall on campus.

In one recording, an individual can be heard saying they should hold off for 15 minutes, but referencing how law enforcement would respond if demonstrators started setting up tents or camps.

The April 24 protest at UT Austin happened nearly a week after students at Colombia University staged what was called the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on the New York city campus. Students there were arrested as police attempted to clear out the encampments.

Several other universities saw similar clashes in the days that followed.

In a statement released on April 25, UT President Jay Hartzell said, in part, The Universitys decision to not allow yesterdays event to go as planned was made because we had credible indications that the events organizers, whether national or local, were trying to follow the pattern we see elsewhere, using the apparatus of free speech and expression to severely disrupt a campus for a long period.

The recordings document some of the movements of mounted patrol, as well as the dispersal order that was read over campus loudspeakers and the moments law enforcement pushed a crowd of protesters to the edge of campus, near Guadalupe Street.

The files obtained through the records request do not appear to contain the moments the first DPS personnel arrived on campus earlier that day or mention the arrest of a local photojournalist with Fox 7.

Since April 24, the UT campus has been the site of several other protests, and more protesters were arrested on April 29. Dozens of those cases are still active.

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 KXAN Austin.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks at the 2024 Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio on May 23, 2024. Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune

SAN ANTONIO  Several top state Republican officials took aim at Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan on Thursday as the state party kicked off its biennial convention, intensifying the Texas GOP civil war days ahead of Phelans primary runoff.

Party Chair Matt Rinaldi, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton were the mornings star speakers. All three of them called for a change of leadership in the Texas House.

Phelan, a Republican from Beaumont, is fighting for his political life in a primary that culminates next week. Despite a series of GOP wins under Phelans leadership, including the states abortion ban, critics say Phelans tenure hasnt been conservative enough.

[The house is on fire: Texas GOP plots its next chapter amid civil war, depleted staff, funding drops]

The House impeached Paxton last year and rejected school vouchers and other Republican Party of Texas priorities, leading members of the more conservative faction of the party to blame Phelan. They accuse him of handing control of the House to Democrats.

As lieutenant governor, I do not want to run the House, but I want a conservative Republican to be speaker who will run the House, said Patrick, who oversees the Senate, which has a more conservative reputation than the lower chamber.

Addressing the convention hall, Patrick said Republicans need to stop giving Democrats power to help decide the speaker. Currently, all members of the House vote on the speaker, meaning that Democrats regularly play a major role in deciding who will lead the chamber  paving the way for a more moderate Republican.

I mean, what do you all work for, to let the House be run by Democrats? Patrick said.

Patrick called for House Republicans to follow the caucus rules that say only Republicans can pick the speaker. He said 76 Republicans, the equivalent of a majority in the House, should pick the speaker.

Dade Phelan was twice selected by a supermajority of the House Republican Caucus as their candidate for speaker prior to being elected Speaker by the full Texas House, Phelan spokesperson Cait Wittman told the Tribune. This is exactly the process that is already in place.

Phelan, who was censured by the Texas GOP in February, did not attend the convention Thursday.

Patrick, who openly feuded with Phelan during the legislative session, has been aggressive in trying to get him booted out of office. At the end of last month, Patricks campaign gave $100,000 to Phelans primary runoff challenger, David Covey, part of a crop of millions in donations and third-party dollars that have made the race one of the most, if not the most, expensive state House races in Texas history.

Although Phelan reelection is in question, hes already facing a speakership challenge from state Rep. Tom Oliverson, a Republican from Cypress who is a neighbor of and shares a consultant with Patrick. Oliverson is also one of Phelans committee chairs.

Rinaldi, who is not running for reelection as chair, attacked Phelan by name and shouted out Oliverson for making the state party priority of banning Democrats from committee chairmanships part of his campaign platform, one facet of Republicans plan to reduce the influence of Democratic members over House lawmaking.

Last year, House Speaker Dade Phelan handed political power in the Texas House to Democrats, Rinaldi said. He went to war with the Texas GOP, lieutenant governor and Texas Senate and, without process or evidence, impeached the best Republican attorney general in the nation.

In the House, we actually have a candidate for speaker, in Dr. Tom Oliverson, whos made sole Republican control of committees a central plank in his platform, he continued.

In Paxtons speech, he immediately attacked Phelan, accusing him of killing border security, property tax relief, school choice and election integrity bills last year.

Dades plan, and the plan of his Democratic cohorts in the Texas House and the plan of the Biden administration, failed dramatically, Paxton said. Now, almost exactly a year later, I am still the Texas attorney general, and Dade Phelan is about to lose not only the speakership, but also his House seat.

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Riding an unparalleled winning streak in modern political history, the Texas Republican Party formally opened its biennial convention in San Antonio on Thursday with its leaders promising to push the conservative agenda even further and to spare no effort to ensure that former President Donald Trump again carries the state in November.

And the nearly 10,000 delegates and alternates inside the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention, a half-mile walk from the Alamo, cheered with gusto as GOP Chairman Matt Rinaldi joined Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton in casting their fellow Republican, embattled Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, as an infidel who owes his position to an alliance with the Democrats.

"I want to address an issue. Let's call it the Republican elephant in the room," Patrick, the powerful president of the Texas Senate, said in a tongue-in-cheek reference to the GOP's mascot. "As lieutenant governor, I do not want to run the House. But I want a conservative Republican to be speaker who will run the House."

Phelan, who does not plan to attend the convention that runs through Saturday, is in a three-way feud with Patrick and Paxton that was thrust front and center a week short of one year ago when the Texas House under his leadership brought impeachment charges against the attorney general on an array of accusations that he had abused his office and obstructed justice. After the Senate cleared Paxton, Patrick railed against Phelan for allowing the process to go forward.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, is not expected to attend the Texas GOP Convention.

More: Gov. Greg Abbott uses NRA speech in Dallas to amplify his endorsement of Donald Trump

But much of the opening day speeches were designed to motivate the party activists selected as delegates to keep Texas in the Republican column in the upcoming Nov. 5 elections. Rinaldi, who is not seeking another term as party chairman, warned that Democrats led by President Joe Biden and his allies in Congress are bent on keeping power, no matter the cost.

"Our party can't be content merely to slow America's leftward trajectory," Rinaldi told the delegates. "We can't rest on achieving a few legislative victories and sit back content. And we can't have Republicans win elections, and then hand power over to Democrats who want to destroy us. We need to take the fight directly to the left. Go on offense and mobilize, organize and unify around the singular goal  preserving the American dream for our children."

Warnings of a Democratic takeover, a typical GOP refrain in each election as campaigns begin shifting into high gear, might sound unduly alarmist in Texas, which has backed the Republican nominee in every presidential election since 1980. Also, the GOP has not lost a single statewide race since 1994, and it has kept total control of both houses of the Legislature since 2003.

Paxton, who like Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott  who plans to virtually address the convention Friday  is in his third term, used his 8-munute address to the delegates to highlight the 75 lawsuits his office has brought against Biden's policies and to point out his efforts to rid the GOP of officeholders he believes have strayed from party principles.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, middle, touted his support this week for former President Donald Trump.

He pointed out not only that he helped force Phelan into a runoff that will be decided Tuesday by voters in the speaker's Southeast Texas House district, but also that the three Republican incumbents on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals whom he campaigned against were all defeated in the March 5 primaries.

"Between this primary and the runoff, we are on a pathway to change out over 20 Republican incumbents who are more loyal to (Phelan) and the Democrats than they were to you," Paxton said.

More: Why a Texas Republican is mounting a House speakership challenge against Dade Phelan

Patrick, meanwhile, made sure delegates knew that he and Trump are in sync this election cycle as they were in 2020 when the former president held Texas but was defeated by Biden. Patrick noted that he was with Trump for the final day of his hush-money trial in New York earlier this week and then accompanied him at fundraising events in Houston and Dallas.

"Donald Trump  I've known him now for 10 years. I've been his campaign chair. We've become friends, good friends," Patrick said. "The guy never stops. He never stops."

Texas Democrats will hold their convention next week in El Paso. But party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa did not pass up opportunities to tweak both Paxton and Patrick for their appearances in San Antonio. In emailed statements, Hinojosa accused both of putting Trump's interests ahead of the nation's. Paxton, he said, is incapable of "original thought" and Patrick was derided as "Trumps #1 Bootlicker."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas 2024 State Republican Convention opens in San Antonio
You dont have to be a judges daughter to understand the scale of the failure in the justice system. Their existence is not for the people, they exist shamelessly for the powers and a few groups of people in this country. By simply asking questions and honking a car, you go to jail.

Trending on NextShark: Man gets five years for attacking Connecticuts first Muslim state rep
Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin speaks to members of media about Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara's resignation at the Government House in Bangkok

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Constitutional Court accepted a complaint on Thursday seeking to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin over his cabinet appointment of a lawyer who served jail time, in a new legal setback for the government.

The decision comes after three ministers quit in recent weeks as the government battles to jumpstart an underperforming economy and find funds to deliver on a delayed election promise of cash handouts for 50 million people.

The court chose not to suspend Srettha from duty pending a verdict, as was sought by 40 senators who had complained Pichit Chuenban fell short of moral and ethical standards for ministers set out in the constitution.

Srettha has 15 days to file his defence in court.

"I did everything sincerely and am ready to answer any query," Srettha told reporters while overseas in Japan after the decision.

"This government prioritises the people's well-being, while investigations are normal."

Pichit's qualifications prior to becoming a minister in the prime minister's office had been carefully vetted and the appointment was in line with the law, a government spokesman said earlier.

For decades a close aide of the politically influential Shinawatra family, Pichit resigned on Tuesday in an effort to insulate Srettha from the court case.

He had been jailed for six months in 2008 for contempt of court after being accused of a bid to bribe court officials with 2 million baht ($55,218) placed in a grocery paper bag, which he denied. His law license was suspended for five years.

INFLUENTIAL CLIENTS

As a lawyer, Pichit fought, and lost, big court cases against former premiers Yingluck Shinawatra and billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been a towering figure in Thailand for more than two decades.

Thaksin is a close ally of Srettha and founder of his ruling Pheu Thai party, which together with its predecessors has won all but one Thai election since 2001.

The court gave no timeframe for a decision in the case.

If it dismisses Srettha, a new government must be formed and Pheu Thai would need to put forward a new candidate for premier to be voted on by a parliament in which it is not the biggest party.

Real estate mogul Srettha was elected by the legislature in August last year after weeks of political deadlock, following a deal with parties and lawmakers allied with the royalist military, which staged coups against Shinawatra-backed governments in 2006 and 2014.

Government critics say Pichit got the job thanks to his close ties with Thaksin. The tycoon still holds significant sway in politics, despite officially being retired and having spent 15 years in self-imposed exile until his return last year.

The government has said Pichit was picked because he was suitable.

Thaksin, who was convicted of conflicts of interest and abuse of power and was released from detention on parole in February, will learn next week if he is to be prosecuted for an alleged insult to the powerful monarchy.

He has denied wrongdoing in the case over comments made in an interview a decade ago.

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Martin Petty and Clarence Fernandez)
(Bloomberg) -- Thailands Constitutional Court accepted a petition by a group of senators seeking to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on ethical grounds but allowed the premier to perform his duties until it ruled on the case.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The court will scrutinize the plea by 40 senators that said Sretthas decision to appoint Pichit Chuenban as a cabinet minister last month had constituted a serious violation of ethical standards under the constitution, the court said in a statement on Thursday.

The court voted six to three to accept the petition for consideration whether Srettha should be removed from duties, while voting five to four against suspending his duties in the meantime. It gave Srettha 15 days to submit his defense from when he is formally notified of the court decision.

A former lawyer for the influential Shinawatra family, Pichit was appointed as a minister attached to the prime ministers office in a reshuffle last month but lacked the qualifications required to take up such a post, according to the group of senators. Pichit resigned as minister on Tuesday, saying he wanted to save Srettha from any legal troubles. The resignation acquitted Pichit of further scrutiny in the case, the court said.

Pichit was sentenced to six months in jail in 2008 for contempt of court after he attempted to bribe Supreme Court officials while representing former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra during a corruption trial.

The courts decision not to suspend Srettha means he is safe for now, but an upcoming trial still poses a fresh challenge for the Pheu Thai Party-led coalition government that was cobbled together with a group of pro-royalist parties after the military-appointed Senate thwarted the winner of last years general election from taking power.

The filing and the acceptance of the case is a reminder that the establishment is not monolithic and not everyone is happy with the pact between conservative parties and Pheu Thai, said Peter Mumford, Southeast Asia practice head at consultancy Eurasia Group.

Srettha, who is in Japan to attend a conference and expected to return on Friday, told reporters that he acknowledged the courts decision and will consult with legal advisors before submitting his defense statement.

Supporters can be rest assured that I have done everything with honesty, Srettha said. Were professionals and ready to clarify any doubts.

In 2022, Sretthas predecessor, then-premier Prayuth Chan-Ocha was suspended from duties by the same court as it deliberated whether he had breached a term limit under the charter. It eventually ruled in his favor about a month afterward and allowed him to resume his duties.

Srettha has struggled to pull Southeast Asias second-largest economy from a decade of sub 2% annual growth rate, well behind its regional peers. Srettha has also spooked markets with his ongoing spat with the central bank, pressuring the rate panel to cut interest rates.

(Updates with analyst comment and Sretthas reaction from seventh paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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BANGKOK, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Constitutional Court on Thursday agreed to accept a petition seeking to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office over an ethics complaint following his cabinet appointment.

Judges voted by five to four not to order him to stop performing duties pending the court's verdict and ordered him to submit his defense within 15 days, the court said in a statement.

The decision came as a group of 40 caretaker senators asked for a ruling on whether Srettha's appointment of a minister with a prison record during a recent cabinet reshuffle violated the constitution. 
Singapore Airlines aircraft for flight SQ321 is parked on the tarmac after an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport

By Panu Wongcha-um

BANGKOK (Reuters) -Twenty people who were aboard a Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence and diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing on Tuesday remain in intensive care, a hospital official said on Thursday.

"The number of patients in ICU remain the same," Adinun Kittiratanapaibool, Director of Bangkok's Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital told reporters, referring to the medical facility's intensive care unit.

"The meaning of those in ICU are those that need close attention," he said, and added that currently there were no life-threatening cases.

Of the 40 people on the flight still under treatment, 22 patients have spinal cord injuries and six have brain and skull injuries, he said.

The oldest patient at the hospital is 83 years old and the youngest a two-year-old child who suffered a concussion, he added.

Adinun had said 41 people were still under treatment, but later said one person had been discharged.

Ten British, nine Australian, seven Malaysian and four Philippine citizens were among the 41 people, according to a presentation made by Adinun.

He did not provide any breakdown of passengers and crew under treatment.One passenger died of a suspected heart attack and dozens were injured after Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 encountered what the airline described as sudden, extreme turbulence while flying over Myanmar.

More than 140 passengers and crew from the flight reached Singapore on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-Um, Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by John Mair)
LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK)  The Longview Fire Department said that three cats were killed and three residents were displaced after a fire burned an apartment building on Sunday.

Illinois man arrested for theft of more than $30,000 in Longview

The department said they responded to the fire at 1400 HG Mosley Parkway around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday. The first unit on scene was Medic 5 and they tried to put out the fire with an extinguisher.

Photo courtesy of Longview Fire Department.

Photo courtesy of Longview Fire Department.

Photo courtesy of Longview Fire Department.

Then a fire engine arrived and the fire was brought under control, but not before the fire burned the second floor of the apartment building leaving three people displaced, around $100,000 in damage and three cats dead, according to Longview FD.

Officials said the fire appeared to start in the kitchen of a second floor apartment and was contained to the second floor. The floor below did reportedly receive significant water damage.

The American Red Cross has responded to the scene to assist the three displaced residents.

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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
A federal grand jury indicted three people on multiple charges stemming from a scheme to steal mail from collection boxes in the metro-east, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Illinois announced Wednesday.

Tylann J. Starks, 29, of Swansea was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, four counts of bank fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of conspiracy to steal U.S. mail.

Tiara D. Johnson, 32, from Cahokia Heights, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of conspiracy to steal U.S. mail.

Jamil Jackson, 51, whose address was not listed, was charged with one count of conspiracy to steal U. S. mail, one count of theft of a specialized key to access U. S. Postal receptacles, and one count of making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer.

Thieves are targeting mail collection boxes as a site to commit fraud, said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. Law enforcement is committed to investigating individuals who steal checks from the mail and manipulate the payee and amount sections to personally enrich themselves.

The U.S. Postal Service uses specialized keys to open mail collection boxes, Crowes office said.

Starks is accused of buying an arrow key from Jackson, a former postal employee. Jackson also allegedly sold a second arrow key to undercover agents for $1,000, the U.S. Attorneys Office stated.

Starks and Johnson would search collection boxes for checks in order to exploit bank account and personal identifying information from victims from February 2020 through February 2023, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Jackson also is accused of stealing mail from his route and giving it to Starks.

The conspirators also used the stolen account information to generate counterfeit checks, the U.S. Attorneys Office stated.  Starks and Johnson would then cash, deposit or otherwise negotiate the stolen and counterfeit checks at area businesses, banks and ATM machines in Belleville, East St. Louis and OFallon.

The U.S. Attorneys Office, U.S. postal inspectors and Office of Inspector General special agents are investigating the case, said Dennis Bishop, special agent in charge of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office.

The majority of postal employees are hard working public servants dedicated to moving mail to its proper destination, Bishop said. The USPS OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, remain committed to safeguarding the U.S. mail and ensuring accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON)  Three family members will stand trial for the death of Arely Naomi Proctor, a 3-year-old girl who was killed inside a San Jose church during a disturbing exorcism ritual.

Santa Clara County Judge Hanley Chew recently ruled that prosecutors have enough evidence for the trio to stand trial for assault on a child causing death.

The defendants are Arelys mother, Claudia Hernandez, 26; uncle, Rene Aaron Hernandez Santos, 20; and grandfather, Rene Trigueros Hernandez, 60. They appeared in court Monday for arraignment before returning to jail without bail.

Left to right: Claudia Hernandez, Rene Hernandez-Santos, and Rene Aaron Trigueros Hernandez are seen in 2022 mugshot released by the San Jose Police Department.

Prosecutors said the three family members performed a tortuous exorcism to cast a demon out from the little girl on Sept. 24, 2021. For hours, the family members squeezed Arely, choked her, and tried to induce vomiting on the Pentecostal churchs altar, prosecutors said.

Over the course of approximately twenty hours  Arely Doe fought for her life as three trusted adults forcibly grabbed her by the neck. While this assault was ongoing, Arely struggled to escape from her abusers, Deputy District Attorney Rebekah Wise wrote in court documents.

Arely died inside the church, Iglesia Apostoles y Profetas, where Rene is a pastor.

Inmates attack San Jose pastor accused of killing girl with church exorcism

Claudia told a police lieutenant that her daughter was possessed, court documents show. When asked about why her daughter died, Claudia replied that God took Arely because she was not meant to be a mother, and she accepted Gods plan.

A Pentecostal church, Iglesia Apostoles y Profetas, is seen on 2nd Street in San Jose. (KRON4 Photo)

The judges ruling follows a preliminary hearing held in April.

For the hearing, a coroner testified that Arelys cause of death was a combination of mechanical asphyxia and smothering. Her injuries included brain swelling, blood in the lungs, marks on the neck, and injuries inside the mouth.

Before making his ruling, Judge Chew viewed hours of San Jose Police Department officers body camera videos, police interrogations recorded at the police station, and photographs of the crime scene.

During one police interrogation, Aaron said he can speak in tongues and has gifts from God.

Aaron talked about multiple gifts he believes God has given him. These gifts include the ability to speak in tongues, the gift to heal, the gift to interpret tongues, the gift of seeing visions, and the gifts of reprimanding, court documents state. Arelys death made him question his gift to heal.

Aaron told police that Claudia most likely delivered the fatal blow by grabbing Arelys neck, court documents show. Like the girls mother and grandfather, Aaron also believed that the girl was possessed, he told police.

Rene was also interrogated by police. He told investigators that his daughter had told him Arely was not a normal girl. He said when he arrived at the church, Arely was still alive. But Claudia told him the girl was going to die, court documents state.

Rene Trigueros Hernandez is being held in this San Jose jail as he awaits trial. (KRON4 / Amy Larson)

Prosecutors told Judge Chew that preliminary hearing testimony provided ample evidence for the case to move forward to trial.

Claudias defense attorney told the judge, A critical issue in this case is intentional vs. unintentional. Intent is at the heart of this case. All three defendants said they had no intent to hurt Arely.

In his ruling, the judge sided with prosecutors. Claudia, Aaron, and Rene will return to the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice on August 14 to set a date for their trial. If convicted, they could face life prison sentences.

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 KRON4.
The EU countries remain divided over measures aimed at Russia's so-called "shadow fleet", which consists of semi-legal oil tankers. Countries such as Greece, Cyprus and Malta have opposed such measures.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the Financial Times

Details: The day before, EU ambassadors reportedly discussed a draft new package of sanctions against Russia, which also includes a ban on the re-export of Russian liquefied natural gas  the first time the EU has officially targeted Russian gas products  which one participant in the meeting called "a step forward".

Two sources said that there are disagreements over the scope of the measures, but not ideological confrontation or uncompromising red lines.

The biggest problem concerns tougher sanctions against tankers used by Russia to transport crude oil with unverified insurance and obscure ownership structures.

Countries such as Greece, Cyprus, and Malta have opposed such measures, arguing that they will only lead to shipping operators taking even more non-transparent steps to hide their fleets, ultimately increasing the risk of a major maritime disaster  and therefore potentially harming the entire shipping industry.

Individual sanctions against more than 100 individuals involved in the deportation of Ukrainians from the occupied territories and arms production are also included in the proposed package, along with anti-circumvention measures aimed at closing loopholes in existing sanctions.

It has also been reported that the EU is preparing to tighten sanctions against Belarus to close a loophole that allowed Moscow to import luxury cars and other Western goods banned by earlier sanctions.

Background:

The European Commission sent a draft proposal for the 14th package of sanctions against Russia to EU countries, which includes, among other things, restrictions on LNG imports from Russia.

In April, European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis confirmed that the EU had begun work on the next, 14th package of sanctions against Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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Three Tribes in Thurston and Mason counties have been awarded federal funds for affordable housing activities.

The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, located in south Thurston County, will receive $1,739,605; $1,493,837 is being awarded to the Squaxin Island Tribe, whose reservation is north of Olympia, but whose ancestral lands include Budd Inlet; and $1,015,634 is being awarded to the Skokomish Indian Tribe, whose reservation borders Hood Canal just south of Potlatch.

These critical investments will not only help more Tribal citizens live in their ancestral homelands but also ease housing challenges for those living nearby, said U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, who represents the Olympic Peninsula and part of Tacoma. These investments are a win-win for our region.

The grants are small part of the $1.1 billion that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will award to tribes across the country. The funding is awarded through the Indian Housing Block Grant Program to support the construction and rehabilitation of housing as well as housing services, per the release.

The program is the primary way the federal government funds housing for Native Americans and the largest source of Tribal housing assistance, according to HUD. This year, HUD says it awarded 40% more than the year past, making the $1.1 billion sum the largest-ever investment in tribal housing.

By prioritizing funding and support for housing in Tribal communities, HUD is living up to its mission of ensuring that everyone in this country has access to affordable housing options, Acting HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman said last week.

However, Kilmer and tribal leaders have noted that the federal government has historically not lived up to its moral and legal obligations to Tribal communities.

Across our region, we need more housing people can afford  especially in Indian Country, Kilmer said. For too long, the federal government has failed to live up to its treaty and trust responsibilities to Tribal nations. As a result, many Native communities lack adequate housing. Thats why this funding is a big deal.

Heres how much funding is coming to other tribes in Kilmers Sixth Congressional District.

$6,363,722 for the Puyallup Tribe

$3,737,183 for the Quinault Indian Nation

$1,803,250 for the Port Gamble SKlallam Tribe

$1,580,259 for the Suquamish Indian Tribe





$1,183,114 for the Makah Indian Tribe





$1,068,102 for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe

$649,322 for the Quileute Tribe





$627,646 for the Jamestown SKlallam Tribe

$246,141 for the Hoh Indian Tribe

Tribes have fought to receive federal funding thats at least proportional to their share of the overall population for several decades, said Glenn Ellis Jr., treasurer of the Makah Tribal Council.

When Tribes began engaging with HUD 30 years ago, we were 2% of the population and we fought to receive 2% of the funding, Ellis said. Fast forward to 2024, and Native Americans are 4% of the population but receive less than 1% of the housing funding.

Ellis said the latest award is a meaningful increase towards a budget balance for his people.

Our communities have a great need for housing solutions, and we thank all those involved that took on the challenge to get our communities more funding, Ellis said.

Frances Charles, chairwoman of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, said this funding will serve as a bandage for her community.

Our community has grown so much, we have families living with their parents or grandparents, Klallam said. Our older homes need repairs, with roofing, replacing insulation, or rewiring their homes, and handicap for our aging members, just to name a few issues.

We are in need of more homes, for younger families, that they can call their own. We look forward to utilizing and prioritize the funding we received to evaluate the best means for what our families current needs are to date.

W. Ron Allen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Jamestown SKlallam Tribe, said this news comes at a time when affordable housing is such a crisis in the nation and in his community.

The cost of developing housing for our Tribal citizens and elders is rising every year, Allen said. This news reflects that Congress agrees and is trying to do what it can to address the challenge.
Credit: Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

The Department of Justice is calling for concert and ticketing giant Live Nation to be broken up, a remarkable claim in an antitrust lawsuit the department filed in New York Thursday morning. The DOJ is joined by 29 states as well as the District of Columbia.

We are not here today because Live Nation-Ticketmasters conduct is inconvenient, or frustrating. We are here because as we allege that conduct is anti-competitive, and illegal, Attorney General Merrick Garland said during a press conference Thursday morning. We allege that Live Nation has illegally monopolized markets across the live concert industry in the United States for far too long. It is time to break it up.

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Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter said in a statement on Thursday that the live music industry in America is broken because Live Nation-Ticketmaster has an illegal monopoly. Our antitrust lawsuit seeks to break up the Live-Nation-Ticketmaster monopoly, which will restore competition to the benefit of fans and artists alike, he said.

A DOJ suit has been one of the most anticipated potential legal actions in the live music industry since news of the regulators investigation first surfaced in 2022. Live Nation and Ticketmaster have faced significant scrutiny from fans, competing concert and ticketing companies, and regulators since the two companies merged in 2010, with critics saying the merger has made it difficult for other companies to compete in the live music space.

The DOJ itself pointed to several key areas in the complaint that the department said was indicative of of the monopoly power Live Nation has maintained since the merger. It alleged that Ticketmaster used its exclusivity agreements with concert venues to block competing companies and lock down venues for long periods of time and reduce competitive pressure.

The Justice Department also claimed Live Nation threatened venues working with rival companies with losing the promoters concerts. Sometimes Live Nation is bold and communicates this threat directly, the DOJ said. Other times, the expression of the threat may be implicit, but the meaning is self-evident.

The DOJ also claimed that Live Nation had exploited a relationship with Oak View Group, a venue development and management company co-founded by the powerful music manager Irving Azoff, Live Nations former chairman. The department said the two companies agreed to a competitive detente in concert promotions to avoid competition between the two companies over artists and tours. It further alleged that Live Nation exploits its long-term relationship with Oak View Group to flip venues to Ticketmaster, further cementing Ticketmasters power. (A rep for Oak View Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment.) The DOJ further claimed Live Nation has acquired smaller competitors to stifle competition.

Frustration toward the company  and toward the ticketing marketplace as a whole  was brought back into the national spotlight following the infamous on-sale for Taylor Swifts Eras Tour, which left thousands of Swifties irate due to technical difficulties and long lines as they attempted to secure tickets. The DOJs investigation into the company began prior to Swifts on-sale.

Beyond the Justice Department, lawmakers including Amy Klobuchar, John Cornyn, Richard Blumenthal and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have all called for heightened regulation toward Live Nation in recent years. Speaking with Rolling Stone last year, Klobuchar called out the volume of venues Ticketmaster serves, the exclusive deals the company carves out, and growing fees among other issues.

That makes them a vertically integrated giant, Klobuchar said. They book the concert, sell the tickets and own the venue [and] that makes for little competition. And despite the consent decree which they agreed to extend, we dont see the competition that we should.

Consolidation and unlawful conduct in the ticketing market has left buyers with fewer choices and higher prices. The hidden fees, the messed up processes, and the stranglehold on competition has long hurt fans. As a result, the live event entertainment experience has become increasingly out of reach for many Americans, Klobuchar said Thursday in a statement. The Justice Department is doing the right thing today by seeking to break up this monopoly that has long harmed fans, artists, and venues.

Anyone who has tried to buy a ticket from Ticketmaster knows this company has way too much power, Senator Elizabeth Warren added in a statement. The Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger empowered one dominant company to hike prices, tack on junk fees, bully artists, and even retaliate against venues who tried to stand up to them. The Justice Department is doing the right thing for consumers by moving to break up the company.

Live Nation and its CFO Joe Berchtold were grilled for several hours during a Senate judiciary hearing in early 2023. And the fact of the matter is that Live Nation/Ticketmaster is the 800-pound gorilla here, Blumenthal told Berchtold during the hearing. You have clear dominance [and] monopolistic control. This whole concert ticket system is a mess.

The DOJ allowing Live Nation and Ticketmaster to merge over a decade ago was controversial at the time, putting the worlds largest concert promoter and ticketing company under one roof. Critics worried that such a combo would severely impact independent promoters and give Live Nation too much leverage.

Following the suit, music industry groups such as the National Independent Venue Association applauded the decision. NIVA is in full support of actions that level the competitive playing field for all those in the live music and entertainment industry, Executive Director Stephen Parker said in a statement. We hope that the suit filed today will ultimately produce a meaningful result that will benefit fans, artists, independent venues and festivals, along with the businesses that surround us across the country. Well be analyzing and evaluating the DOJs case in the coming days.

Jack Groetzinger, the CEO of Ticketmaster rival SeatGeek, similarly lauded the DOJs move on Thursday, saying it would drive innovation and improve ticketing for fans.

Robust and fair competition is essential to drive positive change in this industry. We are hopeful that the Department of Justices antitrust lawsuit to break up the Live Nation-Ticketmaster monopoly will restore fair market competition to live entertainment, Groetzinger said.

This isnt the first time the DOJ has had Live Nation in its crosshairs. The Justice Department reached a settlement with Live Nation in 2019 to amend a consent decree the company had been beholden to since the Ticketmaster merger in 2010, extending the decree through 2025. As part of the initial merger deal, Live Nation was required to ensure it wouldnt retaliate against venues that dont use Ticketmaster, though the DOJ alleged the company had violated the statute, claiming that it pressured venues to use the ticketing service for access to its concerts.

Live Nation has consistently denied the antitrust allegations, countering that the concert and ticketing businesses are more competitive than ever. They point to artists and not Ticketmaster who sets ticket prices and say that venues typically set the widely bemoaned fees typically accompany concert tickets.

Since the investigation launched, Live Nation put more resources toward focusing on other major issues within the live music industry, namely the predatory resale and scalping businesses that gouge the fans for significant markups. Last year, the company launched the Fair Ticket Act, advocating for state and federal lawmakers to enact legislation to let artists control their tickets, enforce the BOTS Act and end resale strategies such as speculative ticketing.

In a statement Thursday morning, Wall and Live Nation pushed back on the idea that the DOJs suit would change the industry. The DOJs lawsuit wont solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices, service fees, and access to in-demand shows, Wall said. Calling Ticketmaster a monopoly may be a PR win for the DOJ in the short term, but it will lose in court because it ignores the basic economics of live entertainment, such as the fact that the bulk of service fees go to venues, and that competition has steadily eroded Ticketmasters market share and profit margin.

Wall called it absurd to claim that Live Nation and Ticketmaster are wielding monopoly power. The defining feature of a monopolist is monopoly profits derived from monopoly pricing, Wall said. Live Nation in no way fits the profile. Service charges on Ticketmaster are no higher than elsewhere, and frequently lower.

Wall said that the DOJ ignored numbers Live Nation had presented prior to the suits filing, stating that the data conflicted too much with their preconception that Live Nation belongs in the ranks of the other tech monopolists they have targeted.

It is also clear that we are another casualty of this Administrations decision to turn over antitrust enforcement to a populist urge that simply rejects how antitrust law works. Some call this Anti-Monopoly, but in reality it is just anti-business, Wall said.

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MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX)  Tina Peters motion to dismiss the criminal investigation against her for election equipment tampering was thrown out on Monday.

U.S. District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang dismissed the motion, citing a failure to state a claim, lack of standing and lack of jurisdiction to dismiss the case.

Court filings state the plaintiff cannot use civil action as a vehicle to attack a[n ongoing] criminal [investigation].

Peters previously asked Judge Yang to halt prosecution in January, claiming 21st District Attorney Dan Rubinstein  along with Attorney General Merrick Garland and Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold  were attempting to retaliate against her for exercising her First Amendment right to free speech. Yang dismissed this motion as well, citing a lack of evidence to prove unlawful motivations on the part of District Attorney Rubinstein.

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U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib leads a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol, May 23, 2024 | Rep. Tlaib photo

While the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee questioned university leaders who have had encampments on campus, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) spoke outside the U.S Capitol with other Democrats and union leaders.

The House committee meeting titled, Calling For Accountability: Stopping Anti Semitic College Chaos, grilled leaders from Northwestern University, Rutgers University and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on their response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations on their campuses and the safety of Jewish students.

Tlaib, joined by fellow Democratic lawmakers and university union leaders, called the meeting disingenuous and a front to limit free speech by villainizing students across the country that are utilizing civil disobedience to call for divestment from Israel from their schools.

Our country has a long history of students leading nonviolent civil disobedience and demanding change in our country, said Tlaib, who is Palestinian American and a strong critic of Israel. Students have been on the right side of history time and time again. It is utterly disgraceful that university administrators and government officials are sending militarized police forces to stop students from exercising their First Amendment right.

Tlaib pointed to a college in her own state, the University of Michigan, where campus police officers cleared out a pro-Palestine encampment on Tuesday, spraying irritants at protesters, and arresting four individuals who were later released.

This week at the University of Michigan, police violently destroyed the peaceful, most beautiful encampment, interfaith students encampment. They sprayed them with chemicals; brutalized them. Many were hospitalized for exercising their First Amendment right and saying We are tired of supporting war, Tlaib said. I call on these college administrators to exercise restraint. Respect the civil liberties of their students, their constitutional rights and the repressive violent tactics and denounce the ongoing brutality of these students.

On Tuesday, Tlaib called on U of M President Santa Ono to resign.

Over in the House committee, Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) set the tone for the meeting with the leaders of Northwestern University, Rutgers University and UCLA, condemning their actions towards encampments on-campus.

Each of you should be ashamed of your decisions that allowed antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students, Foxx said, opening with a line from Ernest Hemingways The Sun Also Rises which reads gradually, then suddenly as an explanation of what led to Thursdays hearing.

Over the course of years, decades even, universities gradually nurtured a campus culture of radicalism, in which antisemitism grew and became tolerated by administrators, Foxx said. The committees been steadfast in its dedication to attacking the roots of antisemitic Semitic hatred, including anti Israel DEI [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion] bureaucracies and questionable foreign funding. Then suddenly, over the course of weeks, days even, universities burst into antisemitic chaos.

Officials at Northwestern and Rutgers came to an agreement with those in the encampments, negotiating future communication with and representation of Palestinian students at the school, a controversial decision.

Hundreds were arrested when police at UCLA dismantled a campus encampment at the beginning of the month, with a new encampment being erected as the committee meeting was underway.

This is the third hearing the committee has held to drill university leaders on antisemitism on their campuses amidst pro-Palestinian protests. After the first hearing, University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill faced widespread backlash for her testimony and resigned from the role within a week.

Leaders from the University of Michigan have also been considered for a hearing.

While some Democratic lawmakers are calling the committees meeting Thursday an excuse for Republicans to grandstand against liberal education, Foxx said she wants to be clear that the purpose of the meeting is to end antisemitic violence and harassment on campuses.

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who is on the committee, joined Tlaib outside and said it is not antisemitic to critique the policies and military actions of the government. By misidentifying the protests as bigotry, the opportunity to combat real hate is lost, Omar said.

It is also not antisemitic to voice support for Palestinian people who have faced decades of oppression, displacement and the violation of their human rights under the Israeli occupation, apartheid and the genocide thats currently being carried out, Omar said. Yet campus protests expressing these views have been inaccurately portrayed by university administrators and even some of my colleagues in Congress as causing chaos and spreading hatred.

Its important for students to stick together and for schools to support freedom of expression, U.S. Rep Cori Bush (D-Mo.) as these movements are how justice is won.

I know that the foundational message of every union is to stand with people to fight for their dignity and to advocate for those most marginalized. Thats what were standing for today, Bush said. Behind every attempt to silence the protesters is an idea that those in power dont want people to hear.

But people need to hear it, U.S. Rep Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) said, adding that Democrats need to be better at talking about Palestine.

We have to be really honest about how racist this MAGA Republican Party is. Antisemitism is just a new entry point of their feigned rage to use towards us towards destroying liberal education in America, Bowman said.

The post Tlaib slams U.S. House committee hearing on antisemitism and campus encampments appeared first on Michigan Advance.
NEW DELHI, May 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people were killed due to a diarrhea outbreak in the northeastern state of Assam, local media reports said Thursday.

The victims were identified as workers of a tea estate in Tinsukia district, about 512 km northeast of Dispur, the capital city of Assam.

"At least 11 workers of a tea estate in Assam's Tinsukia district have died due to diarrhea in the past week. Their co-workers alleged that they died due to unhygienic conditions and lack of proper drinking water in the area," a New Delhi-based television news channel NDTV said.

According to the news channel, federal minister Sarbananda Sonowal has expressed concern over the disease outbreak and directed the local government of Assam to assess the situation.

Sonowal has asked officials to provide immediate assistance to the people affected by the outbreak.

Meanwhile, reports said several others infected with the disease are undergoing treatment in the hospital.

It is suspected that contaminated water or food may have led to the outbreak. 
Top Biden campaign official held Zoom call with Haley supporters hours after she endorsed Trump

A top official with Joe Bidens presidential campaign held a call with Nikki Haley supporters on Wednesday, just hours after the former U.N. ambassador announced that she would be voting for Donald Trump.

The Zoom meeting involved Bidens deputy political director Juan Penalosa and members of the Haley Voters Working Group, a nonprofit composed of former Haley supporters. And though it had been scheduled prior to Haleys announcement, the message conveyed didnt change.

Penalosa stressed that the campaign would continue to quietly reach out to current and former Republican elected officials who dont support Trump. The goal wouldnt just be to win their votes or campaign donations but to potentially offer endorsements of Biden as well.



They said theyre going to have prominent Republican surrogates, like [former Georgia Lt. Gov.] Geoff Duncan, but that there are others they havent announced, said Robert Schwartz, the executive director of the Haley Voters Working Group. They separately plan on having Republican volunteers in battleground states talk to other Republicans.

The Daily Beast first reported the call.

Haleys decision to endorse Trump did not come as a major surprise to the Biden campaign, which had never expected that the former South Carolina governor would endorse the current president.

But there had been some hope among Democrats and Never Trump Republicans that Haley would withhold her support for the former president, having kept quiet about her leanings in the months since she suspended her campaign.

The Biden campaign has, largely behind the scenes, tried to woo the millions of voters who backed Haley even after she dropped out of the GOP primary. It has spent more than $1 million on TV and digital ads featuring Trump bad-mouthing Haley, particularly in Pennsylvania. Biden campaign finance chair Rufus Gifford and campaign co-chair Jeffrey Katzenberg are leading private efforts to bring in high-dollar Haley donors. And the campaign also plans to organize anti-Trump Republican volunteers and voters in battleground states to talk to fellow GOP voters about backing Biden, which will be part of what the campaign views as a relational organizing push.

Penalosa stressed that [Bidens team] knows they need to earn their votes, Schwartz said. He said he was raising the concerns and the input with the campaign, and that he was very willing to come back on the call and he thought other Biden people could attend this call.

Members of the Haley Voters Working Group, which includes former members of Haleys state leadership team and former leaders of the Women for Haley coalition, raised several policy concerns with Penalosa, including Bidens approach to the border.

The common theme was, they feel homeless and they need a reason to vote for Biden, Schwartz said. A lot of them are just not there yet.

Haley said she planned to vote for Trump during an event at the Hudson Institute in Washington, noting that while Trump has not been perfect, Biden has been a catastrophe.

In response, the Biden campaign focused on Haley voters, rather than Haley herself.

Nothing has changed for the millions of Republican voters who continue to cast their ballots against Donald Trump in the primaries and care deeply about the future of our democracy, standing strong with our allies against foreign adversaries, and working across the aisle to get things done for the American people, said Biden spokesperson Michael Tyler in a statement.

Lauren Egan contributed reporting.
Two high-profile progressives in Congress suggested that Tuesdays primary losses by like-minded Democrats in Oregon should be blamed more on money than the U.S. House candidates messages.

Weve always dealt with the fact that progressives are not fostered and dont take money from these big corporate lobbies, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told reporters Wednesday.

You get Big Pharma that gets involved, you get these corporate Wall Street lobbies that pour in money and you have AIPAC  which is a right-wing insurrectionist-supporting, pro-Netanyahu lobbying organization, she added, referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, had a similar analysis of the losses for the left. Among these was older sister Susheela Jayapals defeat by Dr. Maxine Dexter, a state representative, in Oregons 3rd Congressional District, a solid Democratic seat that includes most of Portland.

She ran a great campaign. But when you have $7 million that comes in in outside spending, the third most expensive outside spending amount in this cycle in the country, its pretty tough, Pramila Jayapal said.

Clearly, people are afraid of having another Jayapal in Congress, she joked.

And in the 5th District, Jamie McLeod-Skinner, who was the Democratic nominee in 2022 but lost to Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) in the general election, came up short against state Rep. Janelle Bynum. McLeod-Skinner, who unseated a centrist in the 2022 primary with progressive help, did not have many endorsements from national progressive groups or elected officials, including Ocasio-Cortez, Pramila Jayapal or the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Pramila Jayapal noted the CPC did not formally endorse in the 3rd and 5th district primaries. In McLeod-Skinners race, she said progressives were not all in because of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees involvement.

Meanwhile, the CPC did not formally endorse in Susheela Jayapals race because all three of its candidates had 100% questionnaires, except for the question of taking corporate PAC money, she said.

In addition to the congressional contests, Mike Schmidt, the progressive district attorney of Multnomah County, lost his race for a second term to a more moderate challenger, Nathan Vasquez. His loss reflected a backlash to street crime, open-air drug use, and homeless encampments in Portland that already resulted in the rollback of a 2020 referendum decriminalizing some possession of hard drugs in the state.

The elder Jayapal, a former Multnomah County commissioner, indeed faced a massive outside-spending blitz that went largely unanswered by progressive groups and erased her early fundraising lead over Dexter. The 314 Action PAC spent $2.2 million boosting Dexter. America Leads Action, a conservative group funded by a Walmart heir, spent nearly $1.5 million advertising against Susheela Jayapal. And a mystery group  Voters for Responsive Government, or VRG  spent over $3.2 million attacking her.

Of course, while the super PAC money was likely a prerequisite for Dexters victory, VRG found ample fodder in the same quality-of-life issues in Portland that helped oust Schmidt as prosecutor. VRGs ads blasted Susheela Jayapal for failing to do more to address the Portland-area homelessness crisis during her time on the county commission. And local editorial boards echoed its case.

VRG has not yet had to disclose its donors; progressives suspect that AIPAC or affiliated donors were involved. Donors linked to AIPAC were responsible for the lions share of a $200,000, single-day fundraising haul that Dexter brought in earlier this month. And the group, which never endorsed her, congratulated Dexter on her victory Tuesday night.

AIPAC members were proud to support Maxine Dexter in her race against an anti-Israel opponent endorsed by [Ocasio-Cortez and others], the group wrote on social media. Being pro-Israel is good policy and good politics!

AIPAC, a storied lobbying force, is a progressive villain for good reason. While a significant number of left-wing lawmakers have called for an end to U.S. funding of Israels invasion of Gaza, AIPAC helps ensure that U.S. aid and diplomatic support for Israel remain virtually unconditional.

Since 2021, when the group stood up its first super PAC, it has spent tens of millions of dollars in congressional primaries, the vast majority of which  though not all  has gone toward defeating progressives who favor a tougher U.S. line with the Israeli government.

As Ocasio-Cortez referenced in her Wednesday remarks, AIPACs political arm endorsed the reelection of more than 100 House Republicans who voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results. The single-issue group is keen to note that it also endorses Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), as well as numerous other Democrats.

Regardless, highlighting AIPACs ties to Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump is harder when the group conceals its involvement in a race  as it likely did in Oregons 3rd.

AIPAC, theyre very good at shapeshifting, Pramila Jayapal said, adding that the group didnt come in as AIPAC, which was part of the problem in identifying its role in the 3rd District primary.
Reality sunk in for Kyndra Light.

On Monday, she and husband, James Light, listened as tenants at Railroad Square Art Park were notified the property's direct hit by deadly tornadoes on May 10 were devastating; killing two residents. Parts of the eclectic, color-splashed art park, formerly an industrial park of old warehouses now used by local artists and businesses, were too far gone and will not be repaired.

Without warning, lives were changed for many. The Lights, too.

Three tornadoes shredded neighborhoods, segments of Florida A&M University, Tallahassee Community College and popular destinations like Railroad Square, a place where locals go in search of art, food and unique wares.

Your solutions needed: Share your thoughts on how Railroad Square should be saved

Though, the Lights are unique themselves given they own Gulf Coast Additive Manufacturing & Design and are making a name in the emerging 3D printing industry for residential and commercial construction. Their office was located in Railroad Square. Now, they'll need to relocate.

On top of that, Kyndra Light  a board member for the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross  has spent grueling days as a volunteer in the historic recovery following the worse tornado damage in Tallahassee's history.

Her perspective, one as a victim of the storm and also a recovery worker, weighs on her like the fallen trees and piles of dead limbs still littered across the capital city.

"The mental load that you see that is on this community, which was already taxed to begin with, is just so great," Light said. "I can offer one example, just providing a single hot meal for a woman, and she broke down in tears. It really hits home."

Interior shot the home base for Gulf Coast Additive Manufacturing & Design and Precision Building and Design, both businesses of Kyndra and James Light. The small business took hit when a tornado slammed into Railroad Square Art Park.

Light: 'Some of those companies will not bounce back'

The woman, a stranger before that day, will be forever seared into Light's mind as one of the many faces of residents reeling from the storm's wrath.

The American Red Cross had partnered with Big D's Barbeque to pass out hot meals to residents in Apalachee Ridge, a small and longtime neighborhood on the south side. The day Red Cross volunteers arrived, power had just been restored.

Kyndra Light, a board member and volunteer with the Capital City Chapter of the American Red Cross, passes out hot meals on May 19, 2024 following deadly tornadoes that tore parts of Tallahassee.

"So not only were we handing out hot meals, but we were also providing boxes of shelf-stable food for them to have for the next few days," said Light, adding volunteers were there for about four hours. "That would kind of tide them over."

For Light, it's one thing to know residents were in need and another to see it first hand with her own eyes. Fast forward nearly two weeks, and that same look of need could be seen on faces of tenants she calls neighbors within Railroad Square Art Park.

The Lights were already planning to leave their 2,000 square-foot space in the park since their lease was set to expire soon. However, the storm shifted priorities so that the couple had to regroup sooner than expected.

On Friday, they salvaged what they could and covered the rest with tarps. They still don't have complete access to all of large commercial equipment housed on the property.

"We have a small office in the building, but it's mainly a storage site for us to store all of our large construction equipment," said Light, who also owns another construction company called Precision Building and Design with her husband that made history by building Florida's first affordable 3D printed home in the Griffin Heights neighborhood in Tallahassee. "It's where the bulk of all both business assets are held."

They're nearly decided on where the next company location will be. Although, Light said she's thinking of the adjacent tenants who were most devastated by the storm.

"For the other companies that are in there that are not going to be able to reopen their business within Railroad Square," Light said. "I know that's going to be a genuine hardship for them.

"It is a hardship for us. But, we will have other options moving toward. Some of those companies will not bounce back from not being able to operate within Railroad Square."

As previously reported in the Democrat, majority Railroad Square owners and siblings Adam and Lily Kaye are turning to local government for assistance and said they can no longer shoulder the needs of the park on their own, adding it's "the largest collection of public art in the city."

It has always been our hope that the city of Tallahassee, or a related government entity, would purchase at least a portion of Railroad Square, and make it a publicly run or non-profit-owned community resource, they said in a statement.

At this time, it's unclear what will come of Railroad Square and whether the city, county, the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency or some other government-run entity will come to the park's aid. Light and others are hoping for a solution that meets the needs to come.

"I do hope that moving forward Railroad Square is able to restructure that space in a way that is industrious for the community," she said.

Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tornado a double blow for Railroad Square tenant and Red Cross helper
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaks during the state ceremony to mark "75 years of the Basic Law" on the forum between the Bundestag and the Federal Chancellery. The Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany was promulgated on May 23, 1949 and came into force the following day where the anniversary will be celebrated with a three-day democracy festival from 24 to 26 May 2024 in Berlin's government district. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on citizens to defend freedom and democracy during a ceremony marking the entry into force of the country's constitution and the founding of the modern federal republic 75 years ago.

"Our democracy is a resilient one," Steinmeier said during the speech delivered in Berlin's government district.

"I am certain of one thing: we are living in testing times. Rough, even tougher years lie ahead of us. The answer to this cannot and must not be faint-heartedness or self-doubt."

Steinmeier warned of threats to democracy, such as the threat posed by Russia.

No one knows when Russian President Vladimir Putin's hunger for power will be satisfied, the president said. "We must do more for our security. We must invest in our defence. We need to strengthen our alliance. And we need the financial means to do so."

He also mentioned climate change, social security and the economic crisis as key issues that could trigger new conflicts in society.

"We will not have fewer disputes in the coming years, perhaps more. The battle for financial resources will become tougher, and with it, of course, the dispute over what is important," he said.

Steinmeier called on the democratic parties to work together where the common good is affected or threatened. "The unity of democrats is needed when democracy is challenged."

The German constitution, or Basic Law, came into force on May 23, 1949, which is also the founding date of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Peaceful Revolution in the former East Germany, which marks its 35th anniversary this year, is being commemorated on Thursday.

The Basic Law initially only applied to West Germany, and only after reunification did it become the constitution for the whole of Germany.

Longtime former chancellor Angela Merkel called for a commitment to democracy said "we must protect" the Basic Law.

She said on the sidelines of the celebrations that she was determined to fight to ensure that future generations still have "the good fortune to have the Basic Law."

Merkel described violence against politicians as a major problem, particularly in local communities. People are involved there who have less protection than top politicians. "That's why we have to defend ourselves together," she said.

During his speech on Thursday, Steimeier said the Basic Law was a "great gift" for Germany after the tyranny of the Nazi regime.

"A gift that must not only be remembered, but that we must cherish, preserve and defend in the everyday life of the republic," he said.

It is one of the oldest constitutions in the world and has become a model for many constitutions, the president said.

The ceremony was attended by the heads of Germany's five constitutional bodies. In addition to the president, these included the presidents of the lower and upper house of parliament, the Federal Constitutional Court as well as Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

A total of about 1,000 police officers were deployed in and around the government district of Berlin on Thursday, a spokeswoman said, including on patrol boats on the Spree river that runs by the main government buildings.

The situation was calm and relaxed in the morning, police said. A total of 1,100 guests were expected on the square in front of the Chancellery.

The ceremony was preceded by an ecumenical service with the participation of several religions in Berlin's St Mary's Church.

After Thursday's official ceremony, citizens will also have the opportunity to celebrate their constitution during a Democracy Festival in Berlin's government district from Friday to Sunday, and on Saturday in the old government district of Bonn, where Steinmeier plans to open to the public his official residence, the Villa Hammerschmidt.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (C) is being praised following his speech during the state ceremony to mark 75 years of the Basic Law on the forum between the Bundestag and the Federal Chancellery. The Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany was promulgated on May 23, 1949 and came into force the following day where the anniversary will be celebrated with a three-day democracy festival from 24 to 26 May 2024 in Berlin's government district. Michael Kappeler/dpa
William J. Bill Wright Sr., a trailblazing attorney and a former Columbus Recorders Court judge, has died.

Wright died peacefully at home May 17, according to his obituary. He was 84.

The viewing will be from 2-6 p.m. May 24 in Charles E. Huffs International Funeral Home, 927 Fifth Ave. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. May 25 in Friendship Baptist Church, 831 Sixth Ave.

Wright successfully tried more than 1,000 jury trials. His eldest daughter, Katonga, continues the law practice, The Wright Legal Group, they established in 2011.

He graduated from Spencer High School in 1958 and earned a bachelors degree in physical education from Tennessee State University in 1963. After two years of honorable service in the U.S. Army, Wright graduated from John Marshall Law School in 1976.

Wright returned to Columbus to establish his law practice during a time when only a few Black attorneys practiced in the area. Focused on criminal defense, he was dedicated to representing marginalized and underserved residents.

As a founding member of the Fountain City Bar Association, Wright helped foster camaraderie and support for African-American lawyers in the Chattahoochee Valley.

Wright was a Mason and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and 100 Black Men of America, mentoring the next generation.

History was another one of Wrights passions. His involvement with reenactments of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the first all-Black regiment to serve during the Civil War, led to his appointment by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission in 1990.

Wright also was an elder at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Jessie Godwin Wright, four children and eight grandchildren.

Former NAACP Columbus chapter president Ed DuBose, now a national NAACP board member and administrator of the Georgia State NAACP Conference, told the Ledger-Enquirer that Wright was a dedicated chairman of the Columbus NAACP legal redress committee from 1998-2000 and provided him legal advice during his tenure as chapter president from 1997-2003 and beyond.

He had an unlimited love, passion and dedication for civil and human rights, DuBose said in an email, and it was reflected in how he stood up for the least and the less fortunate in Muscogee County.

I am grateful for the role he played in my elevation to the highest level in the NAACP. May he rest in peace, and may we in this community never forget his legacy and many sacrifices on behalf of the voiceless.
Picacho Hills in Las Cruces on Sunday, April 7, 2024. (Photo by Leah Romero for Source New Mexico)

A city council closed the doors when it discussed allegations of wrongdoing against the mayor, ensuring the public didnt know what was said.

A university board of regents renewed a contract for its president in a closed session, keeping the public from watching how each member voted.

Three members of a county commission apparently talked among themselves before a public meeting to decide on a process for hiring a new county manager, excluding other colleagues on the commission and the citizens they should serve.

All of these acts violated the social contract these New Mexico officials were required to uphold.

The New Mexico Open Meetings Act states that all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those officers and employees who represent them. This policy statement at the start of the Act is intended to be one of the guiding stars for elected and appointed officials in New Mexico.

Its really important: The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects your right to petition your government  to plead for something to happen or protest when it doesnt. But if you dont know what your government is doing because its leaders are keeping secrets, you cant exercise your constitutional rights.

If the First Amendment is the door that gives you access to your government, transparency laws are the keys that unlock the door.

We must protect these laws as though democracy is at stake  because it is.

The New Mexico Department of Justice informed the Anthony Board of Trustees and Eastern New Mexico University Board of Regents in recent months that they broke the law. Its told the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners that some of its members may have violated the law and is investigating further.

Another recent example comes from my hometown of Las Cruces.

The public learned that the city manager was resigning from his job in a Feb. 28 news release announcing that the city was already accepting internal applications for his replacement, and that the City Council was expected to begin interviews in March.

Who made those decisions? And when? Those are issues the Council is required to discuss and vote on in a public meeting so you can watch their deliberations and know how they voted.

But the first time the city manager search appeared on an agenda for a public meeting wasnt until weeks later on April 1  after the entire search had been conducted and the new hire was announced in a news release. Only the formal vote on a decision that had already been made was yet to be taken.

That cut you, the public, out of the process.

One councilor, Cassie McClure, voiced her objection to the actions of her colleagues by voting against the appointment of Ikani Taumoepeau to succeed Ifo Pili as city manager. The other councilors and Mayor Eric Enriquez all voted to approve Taumoepeaus hiring. The state DOJ is investigating the situation at the request of the Las Cruces Bulletin.

The process of replacing Pili should have started with councilors discussing, during a public meeting, what type of search they wanted to conduct. Should they pay a firm to conduct a national search or hire internally? What qualifications should the job require? What pay and other benefits should they offer?

The decision also should have been made during a public meeting so you could watch the vote.

The rolling quorum quandary

Enriquez told me that Pili suggested posting the job and moving forward with the internal search to the Council before the Feb. 28 news release went out, outside of a formal meeting, and nobody objected to it.

Enriquez said he didnt know how many councilors Pili spoke with, but added, In my conversation with him, he said, I can do this, and I said, Go ahead with it.

If Pili spoke with a majority of Las Cruces Council members (four of seven, including the mayor) outside a public meeting to gain consensus and act, thats called a rolling quorum.

Its illegal regardless of whether elected members of a body discuss and decide among themselves, as appears to be the case in Bernalillo County, or when an employee who works for an elected body goes to various members to get approval and then takes action, as may have happened in Las Cruces.

Its illegal regardless of whether those conversations take place in person, by phone, via text, or through messaging apps.

even when members are not all communicating directly among themselves, their communications through one individual can still constitute a quorum, states a 2018 opinion from the state DOJ, which was responding to a violation committed by the University of New Mexico Board of Regents. A rolling quorum is impermissible and violates OMA, which requires all conversations to be had and decisions to be made in an open meeting.

If Pili spoke with fewer than four Council members, then those including Enriquez who gave him the go-ahead were acting without the legal authority to do so, inappropriately cutting other councilors out of the process. No action that requires a vote of the City Council is valid unless decided upon by a quorum.

The personnel exemption to the Open Meetings Act, which lets public bodies discuss employment issues behind closed doors, doesnt cover the policy decision of how to conduct a search. As the state DOJ stated in the 2018 opinion, the exception only applies to the discussion of an individual public employee (emphasis theirs). Its intended to cover things like performance reviews, disciplinary action and job interviews.

And yet, the City Council held a closed-door session on March 18 to discuss the search. At that meeting, with the job already posted internally, Las Cruces elected officials ironed out the details of the search, Enriquez told me. Once again, they locked out their constituents.

I shared my concerns with Enriquez, but he brushed them aside. He said the Council didnt break the law because no final vote had been taken outside a public meeting.

Thats absurd.

Fundamental to the Open Meetings Act is your right to witness both the discussions and votes of the Council.

The state DOJ was crystal clear about this in the 2018 UNM opinion: The Act requires public bodies to conduct their business openly so that all citizens can observe both the process and the final decision. That assertion was based on a 1988 court ruling in Kleinberg v. Albuquerque Public Schools, which stated, the public policy of this state, as expressed in the Act, is to conduct the publics business in the open, allowing persons, so desiring, to attend and listen to the proceedings.

Deliberations about how to conduct a hiring search must be held in public. Votes must always take place in public.

Trouble follows secrecy

The ENMU Board of Regents secret vote got them in trouble.

Anthony Board of Trustees treated the mayor as an employee of the Council whose actions could be discussed in secret. But the mayor works for the public, not the Council, and the public is entitled to know about allegations of wrongdoing against her. The law required that the Council let the public observe its discussions.

Though the DOJ investigation of Bernalillo County commissioners is pending, it appears obvious that a quorum of commissioners broke the law. Members of a public policymaking body cant coordinate with a quorum of their peers before a meeting to win a vote.

The situation in Las Cruces is similar, but its especially egregious because the Las Cruces City Council is the reason we have a definition of a rolling quorum established in case law. In 2003, the Las Cruces Sun-News sued the city after councilors conducted a rolling quorum. The Sun-News won the case; the City Council and mayor had to eat dirt.

If any government body should be sensitive to this issue, its the Las Cruces City Council.

Violating the Open Meetings Act is a misdemeanor, but its rarely enforced with criminal charges.

When my investigative reporting revealed in 2002 that the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education had approved massive, secret incentives for the superintendent at a time when the district didnt have the money to buy new textbooks for middle school students, the community recalled the two wrongdoers who were still on the school board. Then-Attorney General Patricia Madrid acted too, bringing charges and securing convictions against the five school board members.

Instead of prosecuting, the New Mexico DOJ usually advises public bodies that theyve broken the law and directs them to correct the situation, as it did recently in response to complaints against ENMU and the Anthony Board of Trustees.

Its our job to force our elected officials to involve us in their decision-making. The New Mexico DOJ is giving us the information we need to act.

Democracy has eroded substantially in this country. While that truth might be most apparent in the dysfunction of our federal government, rebuilding democracy must start at the local level, in moments like these. Our city councils, county commissions, school boards, university regents, and other local elected and appointed bodies regularly make decisions that impact us greatly. In Las Cruces, the Council is facing difficult challenges related to homelessness, poverty and crime, among other things.

We have a right and a responsibility to know what our elected officials are considering so we can participate in the process. Too many of them are not making it easy. We must demand the transparency the law requires from our elected officials and hold them accountable when they slam the door in our faces and lock it.

Theres an upcoming chance to do something: The New Mexico DOJ is holding an open government training for elected officials and members of the public on June 26 at Las Cruces City Hall.

You can register to attend in person or virtually, so its accessible to everyone in New Mexico.

Youll learn about the requirements in the Open Meetings Act and the Inspection of Public Records Act, which protects your right to see government documents and written communications.

Youll learn about the Governmental Conduct Act and related laws that hold officials accountable.

I have already urged Enriquez and two Las Cruces city councilors to attend such a training. I certainly hope all elected officials from Las Cruces, Anthony, Bernalillo County and ENMU attend.

I hope you can also attend. We need citizens who are trained to defend these laws. You can register here.

Heath Haussamen has been reporting on open government issues in New Mexico for more than 25 years. Reach him at haussamen.com, on social media @haussamen or by email at heath@haussamen.com.

The post Transparency laws help preserve democracy appeared first on Source New Mexico.
On February 2, 2024, the trash build up at the Oak Meadows apartments in the Highland neighborhood of Shreveport was so bad that the community organization ASAP came in to clean it up.

This is part one of a two-part series looking at apartment conditions in Shreveport.

Several apartment complexes in Shreveport are in terrible condition, with some saying owners have abandoned the residents.

The Louisiana Landlord Responsibility and Rights says landlords are responsible for giving tenants "a place in good, working and safe condition," however, four apartment communities in Shreveport fall far below that standard.

One of those complexes, Oaks Meadows, located at 1901 Centenary, is owned by OM APARTMENTS LLC, according to the Shreveport tax accessor records.

In February trash was overloading the apartment complex of Oaks Meadows on Centenary Blvd in the Highland neighborhood. It was outside doors, in the walkways, in the grass everywhere. Why is it that we have people in America, living like this? asked Elaine Provost.

Provost was there with All Streets, All People (ASAP) to help with the community effort to help clean the apartment complex up. Its sad that we are in a situation like this, Provost said, We cannot stick our head in the sand anymore. We have to get up and do some.

They used to have dumpsters there, right by the mailbox, said tenant Makayla Nelson who sat watching the clean-up efforts from the front door of the complex. She chose Oak Meadows for its affordability, her one-bedroom was $400 a month and was close to her childrens school.

Nelson knew where the office was located, but never saw anyone there.

In recent months the trash became worse and more people started moving out. Others stopped paying rent, but still lived there. For Nelson, she knew she would have to move soon, she just did not know where she was going to go, That I havent figured out yet.

Breka Peoples from Boots On The Ground, another coalition of neighbors and advocates, was there that day to help with the clean-up. The Shreveport activist is known for her use of the bullhorn, and that day she had it with her. Oak Meadows come outside, pick up your trash, she said trying to get residents to help with the clean-up effort.

Some residents did, but in the starkly quiet complex, among the remaining people, some were not residents,but squatters. Cleaning up was not a concern for them.

It has been 25 days and counting, since we've been put on notice about the trash burden, said Omari Ho-Sang from ASAP, the property owners here at Oak Meadows have essentially abandoned the residents. Payments have stopped for tenants that are on Section Eight and the Louisiana Department of Health essentially considers this an unhealthy and hazardous place to live.

When Caddo Parish Commissioner Victor Thomas first saw the situation, he knew it was unacceptable and something needed to be done. When he heard it would be a couple of weeks before the city could get a dumpster with crew, he knew he needed a faster solution. I don't like to be presented with what I can't do, I like to figure out what we can do, said Thomas.

He was able to secure a dumpster from Live Oak Environmental and knew the volunteers needed for the clean up had been secured.

Within a few hours the trash dumpster was full, and yet, there was still so much more trash yet to be cleared. By the end of the day, Live Oak Environmental brought two more large dumpsters.

What is happening at Oak Meadows is injustice. Plain and simple, said Ho-Sang, It is a human rights violation and there is no way in a first world country that anybody regardless of their wealth, regardless of their socio-economic status, or their zip code should be living like this.

Other Shreveport apartment complexes with terrible living conditions

Oak Meadows is not the only property in Shreveport with major issues. In May, three complexes faced utility shutoffs for non-payment. Those complexes were:

The Pines Apartments, located at 8040 Line Avenue and owned by Amar Shreveport Holdings

The Jolie of Shreveport, located at 1017 Quail Creek Road and owned by WKK Shreveport, LLC

Villa Norte, located at 1620 Fullerton Street and owned by Amar Shreveport Holdings, LLC

The city notified residents of those complexes that water would be turned off due to landlord's nonpayment of utility services.

Most of the buildings of Pines Apartments were abandoned with broken windows, knocked down doors and in such deplorable condition that it would seem to have been abandoned.

But just a few feet away, past the several dozen car tires dumped in the parking lot, the tall grass and a pitched-up tent on the edge of the property, was another building with several tenants living in it.

Keith Miles and Mary Ann Murray lived across from each other with a small courtyard between them. They had both lived at the same another complex months before, but when they each had a terrifying night where someone tried to kick down their doors, management suggested they move to the Pines.

Keith Miles and Mary Ann Murray lived across from each other at the Pines Apartments.

Almost immediately Miles realized this apartment would not be any better. He started photographing the consistent trash pile-ups and tried to deal with the rodents in his apartment.

Miles says he only saw management when they came to collect the rent checks.

My hope is to get out of here and find a better place to live, he said recently.

Murray lives in a two-bedroom apartment with her two daughters and three grandchildren. She used to live in the one next door but was told to move when mildew was discovered in her closet.

Both Miles and Murray discovered that day that the city was going to turn off the complex's water in just 5 days, a deadline that was extended to the end of the month. Neither knew exactly what to do next. Murray was going to call the number that the city offered. Miles talked about stock piling gallons of water in preparation.

Ive been praying, Murray said as she sat on the chair outside her front door, I would rather have a house.

Issues ignored?

When Jordan Chevalier of Quality Landscape got a call from Victoria Harvey of The Jolie of Shreveport apartments in April, they discussed a recurring lawn service job which she thought might be another commercial opportunity for her company.

Chevalier went for an initial visit and realized this was not going to be just a mowing job as described on the phone. There was at least 3 feet of grass and the situation would need a bush hog and a weed eater.

When Chevalier gave Jolie the estimate for services, she was talked down to offering just the bush hog, despite the obvious need for the other services. She started to think that the apartment complex must had been cited by the city and was just looking to avoid fines.

She hesitated to take the job, the company prided itself on good work, but decided to move forward.

At the initial visit, she had only seen the front, while working she saw the back of the building and was horrified at the condition, We walked around back and saw sewage pouring out, it was the worst smell.

Several buildings had been vandalized, doors were broken down, and trash was everywhere. Some people were openly smoking glass pipes in front of her and the crew.

There was large items, like a mattress outside in the grass, when she asked the company what they wanted her to do about it, she was told to leave it. It was obvious these people did not care about the people living there, Chevalier said.

To top it off the three days allotted for payment became a tedious back and forth exchange that eventually included the company no longer responding to her. Chevalier had to get her attorney to get involved and they only recently received a check, weeks overdue.

The sign-out front reads Convenient and Affordable Apartment Living, but the close to the abandoned complex had a few remaining tenants left by mid-May.

The multi-building complex had several areas with bright yellow caution tape strung around faulty structures. There were boarded-up windows, trash and unkept grass.

Truck driver Christopher Bledsoe paid about $600 a month for his one bedroom apartment that was approximately 600 square feet. He moved there in June of last year, in part because he had lived there 10 years before, I never had a problem living here, he said.

Nevertheless, that day found him with a U-Haul near his front door loading up his remaining belongings. I heard it on the news that they get ready to shut these apartments down, he said.

He had the money to pay the new deposit and the money for the first month rent. He was not given back his original deposit from Villa Norte. If I need to move that's what I'm gonna do, he said.

Another tenant, who wished not to be named, stated he was unsure where to go. He did not have the money to move and needed assistance, but what not sure where to turn.

Christopher Bledsoe's U-Haul is getting packed up from the Villa Norte apartment complex located at 1620 Fullerton St. in Shreveport, after he was told that the water and electricity would be shut off.

Back at Oak Meadows, Peoples stated, Our city failed us because they are not holding anyone accountable.

This is not the first time an apartment complex has been in this condition, there has to be a policy remedy, said Ho-Sang, What kind of policy will prevent this from happening in the future? What kind of policy to protect our most vulnerable tenants that don't have the resources or low wealth to keep them from living in squalor? Because, again, we don't believe that anybody deserves this.

Neither does Councilwoman Tabitha Taylor, who has been working for years to hold the owners accountable for these apartment complexes. Its been a long and tedious battle, one that she thinks will start to see justice as Amar will face criminal blight charges on May 28 in the Shreveport City Court.

The Times attempted to call the numbers available for these complexes and owners and did not receive a response.

Makenzie Boucher contributed to this story.

Mary Ann Murray lives in the Pines Apartments which has been given notice by the city that their water will be shut off at the end of May.

The Jolie of Shreveport apartments water has been turned off because of the landlords lack of communication and willingness to meet their responsibilities, read a letter sent out by Mayor Tom Arceneaux. The apartments, located at 1017 Quail Creek Rd., was in a state of despair on Thursday, ay 9, 2024.

The Jolie of Shreveport apartments water has been turned off because of the landlords lack of communication and willingness to meet their responsibilities, read a letter sent out by Mayor Tom Arceneaux. The apartments, located at 1017 Quail Creek Rd., was in a state of despair on Thursday, May 9, 2024.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Go inside some of Shreveport's problem apartments
Dr. Patrick Lee, the new leader of Central Health, talks to Travis County Commissioner, Ann Howard. Lee started in January, inheriting a lawsuit against Central Health for funding the University of Texas Dell Medical School.

A Travis County state district judge has decided not to issue a final judgment in the 2017 lawsuit against Central Health for funding projects that a group of local taxpayers said were outside Central Health's mission of providing health care for poor people in Travis County. The lawsuit is expected to proceed.

At the heart of the lawsuit were questions around whether Central Health, the hospital district for Austin and Travis County, could legally give $35 million each year to the University of Texas Dell Medical School, funding that taxpayers voted on in 2012 as part of establishing a medical school in Austin.

The plaintiffs believe Central Health can only spend money on providing health care to people at or below 200% of the federal poverty level in Travis County. Central Health provides care mainly through its Medical Assistance Program, which is similar to an insurance for people who don't qualify for Medicaid or Medicare and can't afford private insurance. It is funded by a property tax rate of 10.0692 cents per $100 valuation.

The case finally went to court on May 9 after years of depositions and a fact-finding mission by lawyers for three Travis County taxpayers, Rebecca Birch, Richard Franklin III and Esther Govea.

In her ruling Thursday, 201st Civil District Court Judge Amy Clark Meacham did not grant the plaintiff's motion for a summary judgment.

"The case is very much alive," said plaintiffs' attorney Fred Lewis. "It's exactly where it stood before."

He said he is meeting with his clients to discuss whether to appeal the decision to not grant a summary judgment or to go ahead with the trial. "If we try the case, we will have to take more depositions of Central Healths board, staff and those who originated the Dell Medical School scheme," Lewis said.

A group of residents, including plaintiff Richard Franklin III, right, filed a lawsuit asking a judge to require Central Health to spend its money only on indigent health care in 2017. Fred Lewis, left, represents them.

Central Health has spent $244,022 since 2017 on hiring an outside counsel for this case.

Meacham dismissed any part of the case that sought retroactive action against Central Health and Dr. Patrick Lee, the new leader of Central Health, who began in January, years after the lawsuit was filed.

Meacham did not grant Central Health's motion to dismiss the case for jurisdictional reasons for future actions. Central Health said in its court filings the lawsuit cannot be pursued because Central Health is a government entity and it is doing what taxpayers voted on.

During the hearing on the case, Meachum asked the plaintiffs: How is your case a lawsuit? Is this just a political argument that you have with Central Health? She also asked why they didn't take their questions about the legality of the funding to the Texas attorney general instead of to a civil court.

Lewis said they were not seeking a judgment on past actions but wanted to stop future spending. Lewis said the plaintiffs would have settled the case a long time ago if Central Health would agree to stop giving Dell Medical School the annual $35 million payment in the future.

Central Health set up the Community Care Collaborative nonprofit with the Ascension Seton hospital system in 2013 to fund the $35 million to Dell Medical School. The agreement for the collaborative to give the $35 million is a 25-year agreement with an automatic renewal of an additional 25 years.

"Judge Amy Clark Meachums decision denying the plaintiffs motion for summary judgment is a positive outcome for Central Health," Central Health wrote in a statement. "We remain dedicated to our mission: delivering the highest quality, most equitable healthcare to low-income residents of Travis County.

This lawsuit was filed as Central Health itself began asking Dell Medical School to provide data on how many low-income patients its doctors, medical students and residents serve. Dell Medical School has said it does not keep such data and it would be cost prohibitive to do so.

At the same time, an independent performance audit of Central Health is being done by Mazars USA LLP. That audit was ordered in 2022 by Travis County commissioners, who oversee the Central Health budget. The audit is expected to be completed this June.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Judge decides to not issue final judgment now in Central Health case
NEW DELHI, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Indian security forces gunned down at least seven armed rebels, popularly known as Naxals, in the country's central state of Chhattisgarh on Thursday, local police said.

The encounter between security forces and Naxals took place in the state's Bijapur district.

Based on a tip-off, the security personnel launched an anti-Naxal operation.

"The Naxals were dressed in their usual uniform and fired at us first. In the retaliatory fire, we killed seven of them," local police said.

With this, a total of 112 Naxals have been killed in the state this year alone. On May 10, at least 12 Naxals were killed in the forests of Bijapur district.

Present in several Indian states, including Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Maharashtra, the Naxals mainly target government installations and security forces. Their major demands include exclusive rights for the tribal communities over natural resources like water, forests, land and mineral wealth. 
ST. CHARLES, Mo.  An active police scene is underway Wednesday evening after a triple shooting outside the Embassy Suites Hotel, which is connected to the St. Charles Convention Center.

Police were called to the area just before 8:15 p.m.

Three people were shot and two were transported to area hospitals with life-threatening injuries. The other individual sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Two suspects have been detained, officials said. There is no information yet from police as to what led up to the shooting.

This is a developing story. More will be posted as it comes into the FOX 2 newsroom.

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 FOX 2.
Men pray at the Islamic Center of Detroit in Detroit, Jan. 26, 2024. Facing a room of Arab American activists from across the country angry at President Joe Biden's response to the Israel-Gaza war, a well-known adviser to Donald Trump was asked this week what the former president would have done differently had he been in office. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Facing a room of Arab American activists from across the country angry at President Joe Biden's response to the Israel-Hamas war, a well-known adviser to Donald Trump was asked this week what the former president would have done differently had he been in office.

Richard Grenell, Trump's former ambassador to Germany, repeatedly pointed to Trump's governing record and said that other countries' fear of him decreased global conflict. But two people in the room said Grenell didnt provide the specific policy changes they were hoping to hear, which left at least one leader dissatisfied and unswayed.

The nearly two-hour meeting marked the beginning of increased outreach by Trump allies in swing state Michigan, where key parts of Biden's coalition are angry with him over Israel's offensive following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack. But any apparent political opportunity for Trump may be limited by criticism from many Arab Americans about the former president's ban on immigration from several majority Muslim countries and remarks they felt were insulting.

We appreciate the outreach," said Khaled Saffuri, an Arab American political activist who was in attendance Tuesday night. "But it wont be easy to convince the community to switch from Biden to Trump, because even though we are angry with Biden, many still have a bad taste in their mouth from the four years of Trump."

Grenell was joined in the meeting by Michael Boulos, the husband of Trump's daughter Tiffany, and his father, Massad Boulos, a wealthy Lebanese businessman. Palestinian American UFC fighter Belal Muhammad also took part in the meeting, which wasn't an official campaign event.

The nearly 40 Arab American activists in attendance came from across the country. Some already support Trump while others were attending to hear directly from his surrogates, according to Yahya Basha, a Michigan doctor in attendance.

I think most people were there to hear what specific policy changes Trump would have. It was a lot of back and forth with questions," said Basha, who left the meeting still uncommitted to any candidate in November.

Grenell fielded questions related to a travel ban on majority Muslim countries enacted during Trumps presidency, which he denied was ever implemented, according to Saffuri. He was also asked about recent remarks from Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser on the Middle East during his administration, on the potential of Gazas waterfront property.

Saffuri said the topic of Gaza was never addressed correctly by Grenell.

Most of the questions were not answered directly, and I didnt expect these issues to be answered in detail in such a meeting. That requires some thought. But at least engaging the community is one step forward, said Saffuri, who said that he leans Republican but voted third-party in 2020.

Grenell declined to comment.

In a statement in response to the meeting, a spokesperson for Biden's campaign, Ammar Mousa, said that Trump is the biggest threat to the Muslim and Arab community, and that he is openly speaking about allowing Israel to bomb Gaza without any regard.

President Biden, on the other hand, is working tirelessly towards a just and lasting peace, said Moussa.

Massad Boulos, Tiffany Trump's father-in-law, said he gave a speech sharing his experiences as an immigrant and how they shaped his conservative values. He also highlighted a more personal side of Trump, emphasizing his love and admiration for the Middle East in general, according to Boulos.

And then we discussed the need to organize ourselves and get ready for November and to mobilize our respective communities, Boulos said in an interview.

Tuesdays meeting in Michigan was just the beginning of a series of larger gatherings between Trump allies and Arab American leaders, according to Bishara Bahbah, chairman of Arab Americans for Trump and organizer of the meeting. Bahbah, present at the meeting, said he is already arranging future meetings.

Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, said in a statement that while the campaign didn't request the meeting, they "will continue to communicate to those voters and remind them that President Trumps policies in the Middle East brought that region historic levels of peace and stability.

Arab Americans in recent history have overwhelmingly supported the Democratic Party, but are angry at Biden due to his refusal to call for a permanent ceasefire and cut all aid to Israel. Metro Detroit, where Tuesdays meeting took place, has one of the largest Arab American populations in the country and has become a focal point of pushback due to its electoral importance in the battleground state.

About 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive after the Oct. 7 attack, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't separate its death toll between combatants and noncombatants.

The anger has extended beyond Arab American voters to various groups, including young voters, evident in widespread protests on college campuses nationwide. A movement to choose uncommitted as a protest in Democratic primaries has garnered hundreds of thousands of votes across the country, receiving 18% of the vote in Kentuckys Democratic primary on Tuesday.

___

Associated Press writer Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.
The Trump campaign on Thursday fired off a letter to U.S. Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle, demanding she fix a "critical flaw" in the security perimeter of this summer's Republican National Convention, claiming that attendees' safety is at risk as protesters plan to descend on the area.

The convention, slated for July 15-18 in Milwaukee, includes a perimeter that encompasses a nearby park, Pere Marquette.

As of now, pedestrians would have to walk through Pere Marquette, which is owned by the city, to reach the facilities. According to a person familiar with the security plan, the park serves as a natural congregation point and there's a heightened concern that attendees' safety may be at risk if the park is not secured.

MORE: Authorities plan for threats to Republican, Democratic presidential conventions

PHOTO: In this Nov. 30, 2023, file photo, a sign promoting Milwaukee as the 2024 host of the Republican National Convention outside of the Fiserv Forum during the Republican National Convention (RNC) fall media walkthrough in Milwaukee, Wisc. (Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE)

The letter, obtained first by ABC News, comes following multiple attempts from GOP congressional lawmakers, including Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Ron Johnson and Sen. Rick Scott. They requested to meet with Secret Service and RNC leaders to discuss safety and security at the convention as protester make plans to demonstrate.

The crux of the request from the Trump campaign is they would like the Secret Service to create a cushion area -- a one-block adjustment -- between the RNC facilities and the designated protest areas.

PHOTO: Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends a campaign rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, on May 11, 2024. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

In the letter, Todd Steggerda, counsel to the Republican National Committee, said that the Secret Service is ignoring their concerns and multiple attempts of outreach about adjusting the security perimeter.

"To date, the local USSS team has been unresponsive to the RNC's reasonable proposal, as set out in my April 26 letter, to alleviate these safety risks through a very modest alteration of the Perimeter -- namely, to expand a small portion of the Security Perimeter approximately one block to the East to encapsulate the Park," Steggerda wrote.

Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Secret Service, said in a statement to ABC News that "demonstration zones for the convention are designated by the host city, not the Secret Service."

He noted that the agency has been in constant talks with Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, RNC staff members in Milwaukee, and members of the U.S. Senate about the security plan for the convention, adding that "we take security planning for these events extremely seriously,"

"Our security perimeters are based on public safety metrics, including protective intelligence, risk, and threat assessments. Our model is designed to ensure the highest level of security while minimizing impacts on the public," Guglielmi said.

"Publicly disclosing security information, as done in this letter, undermines our ability to maintain the integrity of our security plan and keep the convention, attendees, and the public safe," Guglielmi added.

PHOTO: In this Oct. 2, 2014, file photo, the seal of the Secret Service Uniformed Division is seen on the side of a vehicle in Washington, D.C. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

The city of Milwaukee has not identified "any critical flaws" and is coordinating with "multiple agencies" to ensure high-level security plans, said Jeff Fleming, Milwaukees director of communications.

The letter claims that someone with the Secret Service said it was "illegal" to adjust the security perimeter -- however, the Trump campaign insists that the agency has the final authority and discretion to adjust it.

The adjustment to the perimeter would create a balance of security and public safety, the letter says. The Trump campaign claims that moving the perimeter allows attendees, journalists and community members to walk safely, be treated with respect and dignity, and have their first-amendment rights protected. One of those rights includes ensuring the right to a peaceful protest and assembly within sight and sound of the convention. The proposed adjustments establish that this will still happen.

MORE: RNC won't pay Trump's legal bills, daughter-in-law Lara says, insisting 2020 election is 'in the past'

The RNC's demand comes as increased political protests against the war in Gaza are spreading across the country -- with many playing out on college campuses. Several of the protests have resulted in arrests.

More than 50,000 attendees and additional spectators are expected to attend the RNC. Thousands of protesters are expected as well.

The Trump campaign's urgency comes as the convention rapidly approaches.

"With less than two months before the Convention and even less time before the USSS finalizes the Plan, it is imperative you take personal and immediate steps to fix this unacceptable flaw in the design of the Security Perimeter," Steggerda writes in the letter.

-ABC News' Luke Barr contributed to this report.

Trump campaign accuses Secret Service of 'critical flaw' in RNC convention planning originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
As Donald Trump heads toward a November rematch election against President Joe Biden, his online posts are reinvigorating a key element of his support from years past: the conspiracy theory known as QAnon.

While QAnon largely faded from the spotlight after Trump left office, he has newly amplified the ideas on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Since the site launched two years ago, Trump has reposted or promoted QAnon-affiliated accounts more than 800 times, ensuring their messages will be widely seen, according to a new study from liberal watchdog group Media Matters shared exclusively with USA TODAY.

Experts say the support amounts to a tacit endorsement of a dangerous movement that has been linked to criminal acts ranging from the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot to isolated cases of violence and even murder.

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment about QAnon. While he was president, Trump spoke favorably of the movement and today he encourages QAnon chants and plays a song associated with QAnon at rallies.

Supporters of Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump celebrate as his airplane flies over his campaign rally in Wildwood Beach on May 11, 2024 in Wildwood, New Jersey.

I think its almost to be expected that  especially with the polling being close  that the Trump campaign is going to be back to its old tricks of trying to  cater to some of the conservative movements fringes, said Jared Holt, senior research analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.

But amplifying QAnon is dangerous, Holt said, especially at a moment when the nation is already so polarized. Its playing with fire, he said.

QAnon began as a set of anonymous posts on fringe online message boards. A user or users, identifying themselves as a mysterious whistleblower called Q, claimed to work inside the Trump administration.

The posts alleged world affairs were controlled by a vast conspiracy of Democrats  who also worshiped Satan and abused children  and that Trump was part of a secret plan to vanquish them. Mass arrests, known by followers as The Storm, were coming at any moment.

No evidence ever emerged to support any of these beliefs. But the idea of Q, and key catchphrases from Qs posts, became elements of popular culture in a world captivated by the daily dramas of the Trump campaign and administration.

QAnon banners and T-shirts made frequent appearances at Trumps rallies. And after the country voted Trump out of office, rioters carried QAnon banners into the Capitol as they tried to prevent the certification of the election.

Mainstream audiences heard less about Q after Trump left the White House and was banned from the platform then known as Twitter. QAnon-affiliated accounts were also banned wholesale from several major social media platforms. But the beliefs, which had always been so sprawling they could fold in nearly any conspiracy theory, never went away.

Now Trump's string of reposts may be driving renewed interest as an election that could put him back into the White House moves closer, experts told USA TODAY.

One key QAnon slogan has been Where we go one, we go all (or WWG1WGA for short). Another is Nothing can stop what is coming (or NCSWIC for short), referring to the idea that Trump will eventually expose the conspirators. Media Matters found Trumps more recent posts shared these phrases with his 7 million followers on Truth.

QAnon demonstrators protest in Los Angeles in 2020.

The recent barrage of posts should be alarming to everyone, said Logan Strain, who started tracking QAnon as an amateur online researcher in 2018, and has become a widely quoted writer and expert on the subject. Under the pseudonym Travis View, he co-hosts the podcast QAnon Anonymous, which has spent years examining the long-term effects of the conspiracy theory and interviewing people who study it.

We should find it outrageous that there is a presidential candidate, who is leading the polls, who is actively, consciously encouraging an extremist movement that is responsible for real-world violence and the destruction of the personal lives of the people who believe in it, Strain said.

QAnon beliefs have torn families apart

AJ Rose, 44, knows firsthand just how powerful and pervasive the QAnon conspiracy theory still is in communities across the country.

In East Tennessee, she says shes surrounded by QAnon followers who are deeply distrustful of the government and blindly put their faith in the former president. QAnon duped two of her family members.

A lot of people trust Trump based on the fact that he was the president at one time, so his words carry a lot of weight and, unfortunately, those are some pretty dangerous words, Rose said. The government has turned its back on people who are impoverished, people who have health problems, people who have mental health problems, physical problems. So if you hear somebody say, I hate the government, too. Look at what its doing to me. Its coming after me. But Im going to fix it. That QAnon magnet is very strong.

How QAnon radicalized Americans Dark forces raged during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 election

So strong, in fact, that it ensnared her 67-year-old mother, Anita Rose, a widow, Republican and retired journalist. After a sudden death in the family made her emotionally vulnerable, Rose became a follower of Trump, then QAnon.

Anita Rose was grieving and looking for answers, her daughter says. She thought Trump was the nations salvation. It didnt help that Trump and QAnon had already gained a forceful grip over Anita Roses elderly father, a military veteran who was exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

Anita Rose says she became convinced that Trump was defending the country against a ring of pedophiles. Her daughter helped her see the truth. I dont believe he is doing that anymore, she said.

AJ Rose knew she got through to her mom when the picture of Trump praying in front of the American flag disappeared from the refrigerator.

A lot of terrible things have come out of QAnon, Rose said. She ticked off examples including the Capitol attack and Pizzagate  in which unfounded claims that Democrats were running a child sex trafficking ring out of a Washington pizza parlor led to a man storming the restaurant with an assault rifle.

I am racking my brain trying to think of something good that has come from QAnon but there really isnt anything. It hasnt brought our country together or helped families or spread good information people need to know about health. It has not done any of that. But it is hurting.

Painful stories of QAnon tearing apart families abound.

Mike Rothschild, author of the 2021 book, The Storm is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of Everything, says American families pay a high price when their loved ones are radicalized.

There are people who have ruined their families, ruined their lives, lost their jobs, and wound up in prison because they're enmeshed in this ecosystem, Rothschild said. A lot of these people are really in pain and looking for some kind of explanation for why the world is the way it is  they just found it in the wrong place.

Jake Angeli, informally known as the 'Q Anon shaman', was sentenced for role in Jan. 6th riot.

QAnon fostered loyal Trump following

During Trump's presidency, QAnon supporters wore "Q" paraphernalia to his rallies and held large "Q" signs. Seizing on a loyal constituency, Trump and his campaign began courting QAnon followers even after the FBI identified QAnon as a fringe conspiracy theory very likely to motivate some domestic extremists to commit criminal, sometimes violent activity.

Several people have even cited QAnon as the rationale for seemingly inexplicable murder cases. A California QAnon believer and surf instructor shot and killed his two young children with a speargun in 2021, telling authorities he had been enlightened by QAnon and that he needed to kill his children to prevent them from growing into monsters. In 2022, a Michigan man  whose daughter said he had fallen down a rabbit hole of QAnon conspiracy theories  shot his family, killing his wife and gravely injuring his daughters.

More often, QAnon has led to politically motivated acts, especially crimes committed during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Some rioters carried QAnon banners during the Capitol attack, and dozens of people arrested for their roles in the Jan. 6 insurrection were obsessed with the conspiracy theory.

QAnon followers have lit wildfires, vandalized monuments and buildings and been arrested with bombs and weapons. Believers have launched cults and been charged with attempted coups. The conspiracy theory has inspired extremist movements as far away as Japan and Germany.

At the same time, QAnon researchers say, the conspiracy theory has always provided a perfect pool of supporters for the former president.

In earlier years, Trump amplified accounts that promoted QAnon hundreds of times on the social media site then known as Twitter, until he was banned from the service for two years.

Since his reinstatement on the site now called X, Trump has not posted about Q, instead using his own social media platform to amplify the conspiracy theory.

Trump has declined to disavow or condemn QAnon. When asked in public settings, he has said he isnt really aware of the movement but praised QAnon followers for supporting him.

Ive heard these are people that love our country, he said at a White House press briefing in August 2020. I dont really know anything about it, except that they do supposedly like me.

Told that QAnon supporters believe Satan-worshiping, pedophile Democrats control the Deep State, and only Trump could vanquish them, he responded, I havent heard that, but is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing? If I can help save the world from problems, Im willing to do it.

Trump is the star player in the QAnon show, said Megan Squire, deputy managing editor of the Southern Poverty Law Centers Intelligence Project. He loves anybody that's a fan of him  thats always been the case.

QAnon finds new reach on Truth Social

On Truth Social, a heavily partisan platform owned by Trump Media & Technology Group, Trumps namesake social media company in which he owns a majority stake, QAnon is only a click or a tap away.

Kash Patel, a Trump adviser and board director at Truth Socials parent company, said in 2022 on a right-wing video webcast that the site was intentionally incorporating QAnon messages to capture audiences.

In this photo illustration, Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump's social media platform Truth Social is shown on a cell phone on March 25, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. The company is expected to go public tomorrow on the NASDAQ market, trading under the ticker symbol DJT. Trump reportedly owns about 58 percent of the company, a stake that could be valued at roughly $3 billion.

QAnon-affiliated accounts there brag about how many times Trump has re-truthed them, as shares are called. Hashtags herald The Great Awakening, when Democrats are arrested and Trump seizes a second term in office.

In September 2022, Trump shared an image of himself wearing a Q-shaped lapel pin along with the phrase: The storm is coming, a QAnon catchphrase for the period of unrest preceding the Great Awakening when Trump triumphs over the forces of evil in a final battle.

Over the last year, Trump has amplified QAnon-affiliated accounts on Truth Social nearly 350 times.

One post linked to a Rumble video that showed QAnon content. Trump commented: Incredible video! Another said, Do it, Q!

Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the stage after speaking during a campaign rally in Wildwood Beach on May 11, 2024 in Wildwood, New Jersey.

Media Matters identified Truth Social accounts as promoting QAnon if it found they shared slogans, posts described as being from Q or imagery related to QAnon.

Truth Social has welcomed QAnon influencers, said Alex Kaplan, a senior researcher at Media Matters who compiled the report.

In the early months, Truth Social was really boosting these accounts, including one just called Q, Kaplan said. They were playing footsie with Q from the start.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump is spreading QAnon posts as he campaigns. Here's why
Donald Trump claimed his uniquely special relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin would allow him to secure the release of Evan Gershkovich, the American Wall Street Journal reporter who has been detained in Russia for over a year on espionage charges which his newspaper and the Biden administration vehemently deny.

The GOP presumptive presidential nominee overnight wrote on his Truth Social platform that Gershkovich will be released almost immediately after the Election, but definitely before I assume Office, saying that his hypothetical election victory in November would ensure the journalist will be HOME, SAFE, AND WITH HIS FAMILY. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and WE WILL BE PAYING NOTHING! he added.

Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovichs Friends Mark His 1-Year in a Russian Prison With Hope and Pain

Much like his promise to end Russias war in Ukraine within a day of his return to the White House, his supposed plan to free Gershkovich was not accompanied by any specifics about how it would actually happen.

The Kremlin also quickly denied that Putin has had any contact with Trump about the case. Putin, naturally, does not have any contacts with Donald Trump here, Putins spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday, according to Russias Interfax news agency.

Peskov nevertheless appeared to take a swipe at Trumps confident, public assertion. On the subject of freeing prisoners, Peskov said, We can say that these contacts should be carried out in complete silence and absolutely discreetly. He added that discretion is the only way such talks can be effective.

Gershkovich was arrested while on a reporting trip in the city of Yekaterinburg in March 2023. He has since been held in pretrial detention over allegations of spying which have been strenuously denied by the Journal and the U.S. government, which considers him wrongfully detained.

To date, Russia has provided no evidence of wrongdoing for a simple reason: Evan did nothing wrong, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a March statement marking the anniversary of Gershkovichs arrest. He added that the U.S. remains committed to bringing the journalist home together with Paul Whelan, the former U.S. Marine imprisoned in Russia after being convicted of spying.

Its unclear how close the Biden administration is to securing Gershkovichs freedom. In his February interview with Tucker Carlson, Putin said he believed a deal can be reached, citing the success of earlier prisoner-swap arrangements made with Western countries. He implied that in return for freeing Gershkovich, he is seeking the release of Vadim Krasikovan assassin with links to Russias FSB security service who is jailed in Germany for the 2019 murder of a Chechen commander in a park in Berlin.

An ally of the late Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny also claimed in February that a swap deal to free Navalny and two Americans was in the final stage shortly before Navalnys death in an Arctic penal colony. She did not specify which Americans were included in the proposed deal, though the Biden administration said it was working to free Whelan and Gershkovich at the time.

The Daily Beast has contacted the Journal for comment.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Walt Nauta is charged with helping his employer obstruct the government in retrieving classified documents at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida - MARCO BELLO/AFP via Getty Images

A hearing for one of Donald Trumps criminal cases descended into a shouting match over garbage extortion claims.

Stanley Woodward, a defence lawyer representing the former presidents valet, claimed prosecutors had threatened to derail his promotion to judge if his client did not work with the investigation against Mr Trump.

The claim prompted a furious response from prosecutor David Harbach, who was eventually told to calm down by the judge as he pounded the lectern in front of him.

It marks yet another chaotic development in the case, which was due to start this week but has been delayed indefinitely amid a litany of pre-trial issues.

Mr Trump, who was not present at Wednesdays hearing, faces 40 felony charges over mishandling classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. US state secrets were allegedly stored in locations including a ballroom and a shower at the club.

Walt Nauta, a valet to the former president, is charged with helping his employer obstruct the government in retrieving those documents.

Donald Trump faces 40 felony charges over mishandling classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida - Curtis Means/Bloomberg

Mr Woodward, acting for Mr Nauta, said he was under consideration to be elevated to a judge by Joe Biden but prosecutors suggested they could derail this if his client did not work with investigators.

I think the implication was that I was to travel and convince Mr Nauta to cooperate with the investigation, and if I didnt, there would be consequences, he told the court.

As a result, he argued, Mr Nauta had been subjected to a selective and vindictive prosecution by the government.

Mr Harbach became agitated when Aileen Cannon, the judge, asked if he kept a record of the meeting with Mr Woodward in August 2022.

A garbage argument. It did not happen

It was a garbage argument made up to get the charges against his client dismissed, Mr Harbach insisted.

Mr Woodwards story of what happened at that meeting is a fantasy, he shouted, pounding the lectern in front of him. It did not happen.

He added, reportedly while waving his arms: This is a lawyer whose allegations amount basically to him being extorted.

Judge Cannon reprimanded the prosecutor, saying: Im going to have to ask that you calm down.

She questioned the lack of evidence about the conversation in August 2022. Prosecutors said they had preserved any record they had of the meeting  although it was not recorded.

Mr Woodward promptly offered to testify under oath about the conversation.

Mr Harbach also hit back at claims that Mr Nauta was being singled out for prosecution, claiming he had lied to FBI agents and a grand jury while deleting video evidence.

Show me someone who has done all that and Ill show you someone indicted, he said.

Mr Nauta faces six federal charges, including conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document, and concealing a document in a federal investigation. All carry a maximum sentence of up to 20 years.

Judge Cannon did not issue a ruling from the bench on Mr Nautas motion to dismiss the case.

At another point, she told Mr Harbach to keep his voice down as he whispered to members of his team while Mr Woodward was talking.

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Courtroom photographer Jeenah Moon stands directly in front of Donald Trump as he appears in court. (Curtis Means/Pool via Getty Images)

At 7 a.m. each day over the last month, a group of five photographers has assembled at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse to document former President Donald Trumps hush money trial.

Among them are Jeenah Moon and Spencer Platt, seasoned photojournalists at Bloomberg and Getty Images, respectively, whove chronicled high-profile figures for years. Since witness testimony for the hush money trial began on April 22, their focus has been on Trump, a man they say knows the power of the camera all too well.

He's not camera shy, I'll give him that, Platt tells Yahoo News. When Trump arrives with his security team, hell often wave or give a thumbs-up to the press. He has been behind the camera his whole adult life, so he knows what hes doing.

He likes to pose for us, adds Moon. He used to be a TV personality on a reality show, so he knows how to play with the media.

Trump, as pictured by courtroom photographer Spencer Platt. (Spencer Platt/Pool via Getty Images)

As the photographers tell Yahoo News, the gravity of their role in documenting this historical trial is not lost on them.

It's a lot of pressure, says Platt. For the first couple weeks, the historic weight of the first presidential trial, really, in modern history weighs on you. Your editors are anxious, everyone's anxious and there's a lot of nervousness. You don't want to be the one to make stupid mistakes.

Documenting history

Only five press pool photographers have been given access to cover the trial from inside the courtroom on behalf of news organizations. As soon as Trump enters, photographers are ushered in a few minutes later to grab the images they need.

Its the only time of day photographers are given full access to Trump, and they have less than a minute to get the shots.

You are documenting history, says Platt, a 2022 Pulitzer Prize winner for breaking news photography. It's kind of weird and awkward too, because the court gets really quiet. Its just the sound of cameras and jostling photographers. You can hear a pin drop.

Unlike other high-profile cases, pool photographers are allowed to take pictures of Trump only while inside the courtroom. The judge, prosecution and witnesses are off limits, and camera flashes are prohibited.

The photographers say the former president poses for them while sitting at the defense table.

He goes from one camera to the next, to the next, Platt says when describing Trumps demeanor. He gives everyone about a 10-second pose, with his eyes in a serious look.

Platt has photographed hundreds of images of Trump. Now he's one of five press pool photographers covering his highly publicized hush money trial. (Courtesy of Spencer Platt)

Hell smile, or wink, though hes never winked at me yet, adds Moon. Hell take a deep breath and then look at each photographer  sometimes I have to wait.

At times, she confesses to seeing a different story behind the lens.

He tries to look very intense, more strong, Moon explains. But as a photographer, even though you look great when you look stronger on the outside, I can see in his eyes that he looks tired.

Once its over, officers escort the photographers into the hallway, where they upload the images on their computer systems so the press can access them in real time.

Its very hectic, Moon says of the process. The first day, I didnt know what I was doing. Yet, amid the chaos, theres a camaraderie and a shared resilience among the pool photographers.

You need to have street smarts

As a lifelong New Yorker who has photographed Trump for over a decade, Platt says Trumps team is always accommodating to the needs of the press, despite their frequent attacks on the media.

On any given day, usually we have three to four opportunities where he will come fairly close to us, he explains. Sometimes, Trump will give statements or even take questions. He's always been in front of our cameras and seems to enjoy the publicity and seems to enjoy people taking pictures of him and being in the news.

During the courts lunch break, Trump and his team often pass through the hallway, where pool photographers are allowed to take photos. The low lighting is a challenge, though, and makes every shot a test of skill and patience  but Trump has found ways around it.

Trump, left, and his attorney Todd Blanche arrive at Manhattan criminal court. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

He knows the best spot for lighting, says Moon. When were in the hallway, hes always standing there, under the light.

No witnesses  including adult film star Stormy Daniels or Trumps former attorney Michael Cohen, who entered the courthouse through a guarded entrance  have been seen in the hallway, though Platt says Daniels was spotted from a distance.

In those cases, Moon says you have to think outside the box.

You need to have street smarts, she explains. We have to be thinking, as the media, where is there a better spot they could be going inside the building?

For his part, Platt staked himself outside Cohens New York apartment building on each morning that Trumps former fixer was set to take the witness stand.

Strangely, he lives in a Trump building, he says of Cohen. He seemed to enjoy the coverage. On his last day of testimony, he walked slowly out of his building, seemingly making sure we all had our shots.

Platt, who recently returned from Gaza, where he was covering the Israel-Hamas conflict, says being a news photographer isnt just a job. Its an important duty.

I dont think theres a better life out there, he says. When you're a news photographer, you have no idea what's ahead of you. You wake up in different states and motel rooms you never thought youd be going to because there was a breaking news event you're covering.
Things are looking rosy for Donald Trump.

Thats not what youd expect to hear about a presidential candidate who is on trial as we speak and soon could be convicted of multiple felonies. Or whose presidential campaign just put out a video referring to a unified Reich if hes elected. Or whose company just announced a $330 million loss, with no path to profitability in sight. Or who still has three more criminal trials to goone pertaining to his failed coup after the last election, no less.



And yet, its undeniable that hes well positioned to win in November. The man who left office with a historically low approval rating is, per most polls, either leading or narrowly trailing in every swing state, while also leading Joe Biden in the popular vote. Trump has made significant gains with both young people and people of color. And his campaign has begun to close the fundraising gap, outraising Biden for the first time in April. Aside from the looming possibility of becoming a convicted felon, its good to be Trump.



So why the hell cant he seem to find a running mate?



When Trump selected Mike Pence as his vice president in 2016, they were both in a position of weakness. Trump was wildly unpopular, faced long odds against Hillary Clinton, and had just come out of a bruising primary and needed to appease conservatives who were (rightly) skeptical of his credentials. Pence, meanwhile, was a scandal-plagued governor who seemed to be on the verge of losing reelection in deep red Indiana. Their union was one of desperation.



As Trump, the former Apprentice host, endlessly teases his vice presidential shortlist, he is operating from a position of strength for perhaps the first time in his political career. Hes winning the presidential race. He has bent the Republican Party to his will and has a number of acolytes and devotees willing to accept what is, in normal circumstances, the most humiliating job in politics: being his vice president. (Just ask Pence. As thanks for Pences four years of thankless service to him, Trump endorsed the idea of hanging him.)



On closer inspection, however, Trumps vice presidential shortlist hardly suggests a soaring campaign. Instead, it reveals his many, many vulnerabilitiesand a candidate as hell-bent on self-destruction as ever.



Per a Bloomberg report from earlier this month, Trump is currently seriously considering four candidates to be his vice president: Senators J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, and Tim Scott, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.



The first thing you will notice about that list is that they are all men. The second thing is that they are all very conservative men. They are all anti-abortion zealotsTrumps weakest issue heading into the 2024 election, given his longtime struggles with women voters and his proud status as the person responsible for the end of Roe v. Wade. Last spring, Burgum signed into law one of the strictest abortion bans in the country.



Its not entirely clear what any of them adds to the ticket. Rubio, who is Cuban American, and Scott, who is Black, would theoretically add to Trumps apparent growing popularity with nonwhite votersbut thats just a theory. Both have run (terrible) presidential campaigns before, and there was no sense that either broke through with minority voters (or any voters, for that matter). Scotts sunny demeanor is appealing, at least until he speaks for more than a minute and you realize hes a religious extremist. Rubio, once touted as the GOPs Obama, is still suffering reputational damage from Trumps excoriation of him nearly a decade ago. Vance is a political opportunist with little experience and no larger appeal beyond weird, lonely men who spend all of their time on the interneta constituency Trump already has locked up. Bergum is probably the safest pick here, but only because no one has any idea who he is.

The conventional wisdom in recent months is that Trump has benefited by running a more disciplined, moderate campaign than he did in 2016 and 2020. But this idea beggars belief when you take a cursory look at the weeks news. Not only did his campaign post an ad featuring the words unified Reich, but Trump has also mused about banning birth control, broken a pledge to testify at his own trial, and spent most of his time in front of cameras ranting about the judge overseeing that trial. Trumps middle-of-the night social media rants dont get the coverage that they did in past election cycles, but thats likely because the press has become more disciplined. Trump remains as unhinged as ever.



And every single person on the veep shortlist would only make Trump seem more extreme, whether it be on economic policy, foreign policy, or abortion policy. Many of the other people he is reportedly consideringTom Cotton, Ron DeSantis, Byron Donaldsfit the bill. But if Trump were truly running a more moderate or disciplined campaign, he would consider nominating a woman.



Nikki Haley has consistently performed well in GOP primaries despite dropping out of the race in early Marcha signal that even many Republicans would love a nominee other than Trump. Selecting her would help unite the party, but Trump wont do it because she was mean to him. Alabama Senator Katie Britt has the benefit of being a blank slate, or at least she was until her widely mocked rebuttal to Bidens State of the Union (then again, how many voters watch SNL anymore?). Its not entirely clear why Trump hasnt put New York representative Elise Stefanik on his shortlistthough one suspects it has something to do with the fact that she was a fierce critic of his during his first presidential run (before becoming a slavish loyalist). She too is widely unknown, but would help Trump appear more moderate while also bringing along her own culture-war bona fidesnamely from the House antisemitism hearings that led two university presidents to lose their jobs.



Instead, Trump will likely choose a male lackey as his running mate, an extremist with little appeal outside of the most fervent corners of his own base. Panic over Bidens abysmal poll numbers are justified, but Trumps vice presidential shortlist is a glimmer of hope. He hasnt had to make very many big decisions during this election. He sat out the primary, often in a courtroom. Soon, hell have no choice but to start making critical decisions that remind voters who he really is.


BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Norway, Ireland and Spain on Wednesday decided to recognize Palestine as a state, marking a significant shift in European policy more than seven months into the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

However, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan dismissed the three nations' move as "unilateral recognition" at a press briefing on Wednesday, asserting that President Joe Biden believes the two-state solution should be achieved "through direct negotiations through the parties."

As Israel and Hamas failed to reach a ceasefire agreement during talks in Cairo earlier this month mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, the U.S. opposition to the recognition has highlighted expanding transatlantic divisions.

RECOGNITION WAVE

In Wednesday's coordinated announcements, Norway was the first to act. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store declared at a press conference that "a Palestinian state is a prerequisite for achieving peace in the Middle East."

Ireland quickly followed. In Dublin, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said the decision should not have to wait "indefinitely" when it is "the right thing to do." He expressed confidence that more countries would take this important step in the coming weeks.

Spain joined in soon after. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that Spain recognizes Palestine "for peace, for justice, and for consistency," urging both parties to engage in dialogue to achieve a two-state solution.

In the past week, several other European countries, including Malta and Slovenia, have also signaled their intent to follow suit. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said Wednesday that Belgium was waiting for the "right moment."

Shada Islam, a Brussels-based commentator on EU affairs, suggested that the recognition by Norway, Ireland, and Spain is "almost certainly" going to be followed by Belgium, Malta, and Slovenia in the coming weeks.

Some of the United States' traditional allies are considering recognition. French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said that such recognition is not taboo, though he stressed the timing, saying conditions had not yet been met. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made a similar statement.

Wednesday's recognition drew anger from Israel, which announced it is recalling its envoys to the three countries.

EXPANDING U.S.-EUROPE RIFTS

While the recognition has received mixed reactions in Europe, the continent's stance on Israel has gradually shifted, especially as more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7 last year. This shift has exposed rising rifts between the United States and Europe.

Store also revealed that Norway supports granting Palestine full membership status in the United Nations. The United States, however, vetoed a draft resolution in April recommending that the General Assembly admit Palestine to the United Nations, drawing widespread disappointment.

Britain and Switzerland abstained from the vote, while the remaining members of the UN Security Council voted in favor.

Days earlier, the United States showed support for Israel by denouncing an International Criminal Court (ICC) application to arrest two Israeli government officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and three Hamas leaders.

Biden called the application "outrageous," saying in a statement that "we will always stand with Israel against threats to its security." In April, Biden also piled up U.S. aid to Israel by signing a security assistance bill that included approximately 14.1 billion U.S. dollars in funding to support Israel.

The Biden administration is considering potential sanctions against the ICC over the arrest request, said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday. The United States and Israel are not members of the ICC.

In contrast, the French Foreign Ministry stated its support for the ICC, saying it supports "the fight against impunity in every situation." Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib called the ICC request "an important step in the investigation of the situation in Palestine."

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell asserted that "all states that have ratified the ICC statutes are bound to execute the Court's decision."

As UN agencies continued to warn of dire consequences in Gaza, including famine and epidemics, EU leaders in March unanimously called for "an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire" in Gaza.

Despite this, the United States has maintained its truce-for-hostages stance, though its language has become more ambiguous under pressure.

On March 22, the UN Security Council rejected a U.S.-proposed draft resolution on a Gaza ceasefire. Nabil Kahlouche, a strategic studies specialist from the Algiers-based National Institute of Strategic Global Studies, argued that tying a ceasefire to the release of Israeli detainees contradicts the logical sequence of events, and that "releasing detainees should follow the cessation of aggression, not vice versa."

The EU statement also called for "the unconditional release of all hostages," without linking it to a ceasefire.

"I believe it is important that on issues of such moral and geopolitical significance, national EU governments are able to make decisions based on their own values and interests, regardless of what their EU partners say and irrespective of the stance taken by the U.S.," Islam told Xinhua. 
The Republican Party is doing amazingly well with the working class. A New York Times/Siena poll last month found 53 percent of likely voters without a college degree would vote for Donald Trump, while only 39 percent would vote for President Joe Biden, who is the most pro-labor president since Harry Truman. The American Prospect asked earlier this week whether its even possible to reverse these numbers; Ive argued that it is. But to do so, Democrats need to get word out that the GOP is bent on destroying unions, which today enjoy more popular support (67 percent approval) than they have for six decades. Even more than one-third of Republicans agree that labor unions are a net positive for the country.

Republican politicians do not make a secret of their distaste for working people. Every time the GOP retakes the House of Representatives it renames the Education and Labor Committee the Education and the Workforce Committee, because Republicans cant abide even the word labor. On Wednesday, the committee held its fifth union-bashing hearing since Republicans regained the House in 2023, this one under the heading Big Labor Lies: Exposing Union Tactics to Undermine Free and Fair Elections.

About that pejorative phrase, Big Labor. As Ive noted previously, its so out of touch with the reality that union membership has fallen to 6 percent in the private sector that it feels like a taunt, like calling a bald person Curly. Even at the peak of union density in 1954, only a third of private-sector workplaces were unionized. Labor used to be a lot more powerful than it is today, but it was always David, and management always Goliath. Lately there are signs, however, that organized labor is starting to revive, including last years hot labor summer of strikes by unions representing hotel workers, screenwriters, nurses, and so on and last falls successful United Auto Workers strike. The GOP strategy is to nip these stirrings in the bud.

Perhaps you think Republicans mean to criticize only labors excesses, not labor itself. At Wednesdays hearing, Republican Bob Good cleared that misconception right up. The fact is, he said, unions are contrary to a strong economy.

They cause inflated, non-competitive wages; massive cost increases; lower productivity; they cultivate anti-employer or anti-management attitudes, [a] very unhealthy workplace environment; they protect unproductive workers, or worse; in short, the value of unions [has] long expired. Weve long [ago] passed legislation that corrected former poor working conditions. Healthy competitive market pressures and American cultures make unions unnecessary at best and truly harmful at worst.

What part of this succinct summary dont Donald Trumps non-college supporters understand?

Trump hates unions just as much as Good does. As president, he appointed anti-union members to the National Labor Relations Board who made it easier for employers to manipulate the size of a bargaining unit to defeat a union bid; lengthened and complicated union elections to make it harder for unions to win; made it easier for corporations to avoid responsibility for their subcontractors labor violations; and allowed employers to prevent labor unions, which already are barred from electioneering on company premises, from contacting workers via company email.

Trump also changed overtime rules to exclude eligibility for eight million workers; failed to raise the $7.25 hourly minimum wage (after promising to do so during the 2016 election, though only in reaction to a backlash after he proposed eliminating it entirely); killed a regulation barring employers from requiring employees to agree never to sue the company as a condition of employment; reduced the number of manufacturing jobs by 75,000 (losing 43,000 the year before the Covid epidemic); and cut federal workplace safety inspections to their lowest level in history. This is very much a partial list. Theres more here and here.

Would a second Trump term be any different? CNBC correspondent Eamon Javers on Tuesday reported that conservative economic thinkers have come up with ... a set of worker-first, anti-corporate elite policy proposals, which are increasingly popular within the party, and in Trumps economic circles. Javers supplied a long list of proposals, none of which addressed labor unions or workers rights. To be clear, Javers wrote, this is not yet the dominant strain of Republican economic thinking in Washington. Thats quite an understatement. It will never be the dominant strain.

More representative of what Trumps economic circles think is Trumps own think tank. The America First Policy Institute is chaired by Linda McMahon, who ran the Small Business Administration under Trump and then a pro-Trump super PAC. She posted an op-ed last June at The Daily Caller that attacked Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer for signing into law a repeal of the states right-to-work law. This law had barred unions from collecting fair share fees from union nonmembers. Such prohibitions are a clever way to bankrupt unions by allowing workers to enjoy the benefits of collective bargaining without paying for them. Other AFPI writings have attacked unions at the Veterans Administration and the Transportation Security Administration. The AFPI is a breeding ground for future appointees to a second Trump term, and its virulently anti-union.

Republicans who denounce unions for restricting workers freedom (for instance, by collecting fair-share fees) think nothing of restricting managers freedom to decide what to do when workers mount an organizing campaign. Ive written in the past about a bill, crafted by the Koch-funded American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, thats been signed into law in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. Southern states routinely grant automakers and other manufacturers tax breaks to locate there. The ALEC bill would disallow such tax breaks for any company that recognizes a union voluntarily, i.e., without an NLRB-sponsored union election. Good has introduced legislation (co-signed by, among others, Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida) that would go ALEC one better by barring management merely from agreeing to remain neutral in a union electionas, for instance, Microsoft agreed to do in December. In a press release, Good credited the Trump administration with formulating the idea.

At Wednesdays hearing, the sole Democratic witness, Lynn Rhinehart of the Economic Policy Institute, made note of another anti-labor bill sponsored by a Republican Education and the Workforce Committee member, Representative Rick Allen of Georgia. Under the bill, it would no longer constitute an illegal unfair labor practice for a business to reject a job applicant on the basis of that persons being an employee or paid agent of a labor union. The goal is to combat something called salting, wherein a person gets himself hired so he can organize a worksite. This is, Rhinehart pointed out, a solution in search of a problem, given that hiring a single pro-union employee hardly guarantees that other employees will agree to join one. The bills true purpose, she said, was to open the door to blatant anti-union discrimination that has been illegal since passage of the [National Labor Relations Act of 1935].

The Biden record on labor is entirely different, and its a sad comment that the people from whom one is likeliest to learn this are anti-labor Republicans who presume youll be appalled. As Ive noted previously, Democrats outside the Biden administration are criminally reluctant to publicize Bidens excellent record on working-class issues for fear of scaring off the partys new college-educated constituency (even though the latter is more leftist on these issues than the proletariat). So it fell to Good on Wednesday to state that Biden declared his intention to govern as the most pro-union president in history. Well, President Biden has kept his promise, and proven to be the most partisan, Big Labor president since FDR. You cant buy publicity like that!

Im also grateful to Representative Virginia Foxx, who chairs the full Labor and the Workforce Committee, and is possibly the most anti-union legislator ever to do so, for flagging recent efforts by the Biden administration on behalf of the United Auto Workers of which I was previously unaware. The U.S. government may have reached out to pressure the German government regarding Mercedes stance toward the election, Foxx said. That would be the union election at a Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, that the UAW lost last week. Foxx got her information from a Bloomberg report by Josh Eidelson that Id somehow missed. The piece said that unspecified Biden administration officials raised concerns with unspecified German officials about Mercedes union-busting activities in Tuscaloosa that may have violated both U.S. and German law. The European Union raised similar concerns with the German government, as did the UAW itself. We expect them to respect both local law and European values, Olof Gill, a spokesman for the European Commission (the EUs international arm), told Eidelson. An investigation is now underway.

The German law in question is the July 2021 Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations, which applies not only to any company thats headquartered in Germany but also to any foreign company that employs one thousand or more people in Germany. It prohibits these companies from engaging in activities (chiefly but not exclusively through their suppliers) that violate human rights, defined (in part) as disregarding the freedom of association, according to which employees are free to form or join trade unions. The law states that the formation, joining, and membership of a trade union must not be used as a reason for unjustified discrimination or retaliation. This is relevant because the UAW alleges, among other things, that Mercedes fired a union supporter with stage 4 cancer who previously had been exempted from a company rule against cell phones so that he could check on the availability of a certain chemotherapy drug. The union supporters supervisor, the UAW said, has intimidated union supporters in the past. The supervisor told this gravely ill person, the UAW said, that there was a zero-tolerance policy on cell phones, and got him fired.

Its desperately important that working-class voters learn about such matters. Unfortunately, few of them follow the news, which in any case doesnt pay much attention to labor regulation. The nonprofit group In Union and the political strategist Mike Lux this week released a report noting that among working-class voters, a considerable number are double haters (that is, they hate both Biden and Trump), third-party curious, or undecided. Most of them voted Democratic in the recent past, Lux wrote. These are prime and winnable Democratic targets, and we should focus a great deal of firepower on winning them over.

The trick is finding someone to communicate this message whom these voters will trust. That could be friends, Lux wrote; it could be organizations they have grown to like and trust, like labor unions, which they regard highly. If these voters regard labor unions highly, then they need to know how Good, Allen, Foxx, and Trump are working to screw labor unions. Nothing is more important in 2024, because without a working-class majority, Biden cant win.
Trump and GOP repeatedly echo Nazi and far-right ideology as they aim to retake White House

Former President Trump speaks during his Save America rally in Perry, Ga., in 2021. (Ben Gray / Associated Press)

He's dined with a white supremacist. He's invoked theories espoused by Nazis in their quest for racial purity.

His response to white supremacists marching in Charlottesville? There were "very fine people on both sides. "

So this week, when a video on former President Trump's Truth Social account made reference to a "unified Reich," his opponents were primed to pounce.

The message of Trump's post was muddled, according to historians, but it used language most often associated with Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime.

Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the video had been posted online without the former president's approval by a junior staffer while Trump was in court. It went up while Trump was on his lunch break.

This was not a campaign video, it was created by a random account online and reposted by a staffer who clearly did not see the word, while the President was in court, Leavitt said in a statement to the Associated Press.

Still, Democrats and even some Republicans asserted that, whatever the intention or cause, the video showed that as Trump seeks to retake the White House, he often cites, invokes or is connected to far-right and Nazi language and imagery.

"If you understand fascism, you have a five-alarm bell going off in your head," former Trump communications director Anthony Scaramucci said on MSNBC this week.

Scaramucci added that the people raising money for Trump's campaign  mostly men, not women  "are doing it for superficial personal economic interest. They're not understanding the full balance of what's at stake here as it relates to the separation of power in the United States."

Biden used the "unified Reich" video to repeat a theme he invokes frequently  the dire implications of a second Trump term.

It is not the first time Trump has gone down this road, Biden said at a fundraiser in Boston on Tuesday. Folks, it cant be any clearer. The threat Trump poses is greater the second time around than it was the first.

In a video posted on social media Tuesday, Biden is seen watching the Truth Social post video reacting: "That's Hitler's language. That's not America's. He cares about holding on to power. I care about you."

The video appeared on Trump's social media Monday. The clip was ripped from another account and showed fake newspaper headlines saying "Trump Wins! and "What's next for America?"

President Biden released his own video responding to the Trump "Reich" video. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

But looking closer, the video, which appears to have been made with an online template, includes headlines such as "INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED... DRIVEN BY THE CREATION OF A UNIFIED REICH."

The text that appears in the video come from a Wikipedia entry on World War I. The unified Reich idea most likely references history that precedes the foundation of the Third Reich, when Hitler came to power in 1933. Still, the term "Reich," which in German means realm or empire, has become closely associated with Hitler and the massacring of Jews and other minorities.

Trump critics note the Reich reference joins a long string of comments and associations that echo Nazi ideology.

In December, Trump said in a speech that immigrants were poisoning the blood of the country, which echoed Hitler's repeated invocations that Jews were poisoning Aryan Germans. Trump, at the time, said he was unaware of the parallel and that he'd never read Hitler's seminal text "Mein Kampf."

During the 2020 campaign he seemed to endorse in speeches racehorse theory  the idea that selective breeding can improve a countrys performance. This idea was foundational to the Nazi notion of racial purity.

He also called his political opponents "vermin," a term frequently employed by the Nazis against their opponents. A recent tell-all from journalists Peter Baker and Susan Glasser describes how Trump complained that American military officials weren't "totally loyal" to him and how he reportedly asked his then-chief of staff, retired Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly: "Why can't you be like the German generals?"

Kelly pointed out that Hitler's generals tried to assassinate him, according to Glasser and Baker.

"Nazism, imperialism, and dictatorship all fly in the face of democracy," said George Mason professor Tehama Lopez Bunyasi who has studied how race and identity intersect with politics.

"The American people should beware any candidate who does not rebuke these three outright."

White nationalist Nick Fuentes holds a rally in 2020. (Nicole Hester / Ann Arbor News)

Gavriel D. Rosenfeld, president of the Center for Jewish History, said that Trump's repeated flirtations with this sort of rhetoric and meetings with people like white nationalist Nick Fuentes condition people to look for the subtlest signs of antisemitism and parallels to Hitler. In 2022, Fuentes had dinner with Trump and rapper Kanye West, who now goes by Ye and who has repeatedly made antisemitic remarks in recent years.

Rosenfeld theorized that the Reich video could be "Gen Z staffers on the Trump team that like smuggling in 'wheres Waldo'-style far-right icons into official Trump/GOP messaging" as hidden messages for their far-right peers.

It wouldn't be the first time that happened. Last year, the presidential campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis fired a staffer who made a video of the governor that invoked Nazi ideology.

Then there are social media posts that come from people not directly connected to campaigns. During the 2020 presidential race, Facebook removed a pro-Trump post that included an upside-down red triangle, which was a symbol Nazis used to tar opponents. The New York Times reported that the anonymous social media user who purportedly made the video had posted several times that its meaning was clear and there was not a secret hidden message.

To Rosenfeld, such messaging has become all too common. "We've just been conditioned to see signs of fascism everywhere now," Rosenfeld said, adding that there's plenty of evidence in his mind that a second Trump term would be the "most right-wing and fanatical and corrupt in our lifetime."

Thomas Weber, an expert on German history, pointed out that in modern Germany one far-right party has been cribbing wholesale from parts of the Nazi party manifesto.

"The whole bit about blood of the people: That is Nazi language pure and simple," said Weber, a professor of history and international affairs at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. The Reich video, however, is "more complicated," he said.

The video imagines that in a second Trump term, there would be low taxes, "no more wars" and the "economy booms." These themes, Weber said, "don't resonate with either the message of the Third Reich, nor of Imperial Germany."

The video says that in a second Trump term, the border would be closed. That's not a uniquely Nazi idea or Trump view, Weber said, and neither is pushing for the wholesale removal of people deemed not to belong in a country.

Ideas expressed in Hitler's Germany are appearing, one way or another, in many countries.

"It's not uniquely Trump who is inadvertently copying Nazi policy, but the same is true for the parties and political leaders across the Western world," Weber said. "They do not appear to be clear how much they're ultimately echoing the party platform of the Nazi party."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Trump courts Black, Hispanic votes in South Bronx rally: New York is 'going red very, very quickly'

Former President Donald Trump pledged to turn New York red during a campaign rally in deep-blue South Bronx, New York, on Thursday evening as he worked to court the Hispanic and Black voters that make up a majority of the area's population.

"I'm here tonight to declare that we are going to turn New York City around and we are going to turn it around very, very quickly," he said to the crowd not long after taking the stage.

Several thousand Trump supporters turned up at Crotona Park in the South Bronx for the former president's rally -- on a day off from his New York hush-money trial -- where he gave his pitch for his supporters in New York to get out and vote.

"If you want to help, you must vote. I believe that we can win New York State," he said. " We have levels of support that nobody's seen before.  Don't assume it doesn't matter just because you live in a blue city. You live in a blue city, but it's going red very, very quickly."

Former President Donald Trump arrives at a rally in the historical Democratic district of the South Bronx on May 23, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

MORE: Trump trial updates: Appeals court denies defense's bid for judge's recusal

Throughout his speech, which lasted around an hour and a half, the former president touched on a number of his campaign talking points, including bringing up crime in the city, his plans to deport undocumented immigrants, and praise for China's President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It would be a challenge for Trump to take New York -- a state that has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election since 1988.

Trump's visit on Thursday marked his fourth campaign stop in New York City during his criminal trial. In the past couple of weeks, Trump has visited a Harlem bodega, Manhattan construction site and paid tribute to first responders in midtown Manhattan.

Trump is hoping to capitalize on Black and Hispanic voters -- a key demographic that the candidates need to harness for a November win.

Trump's rally took place in New York's 15th congressional district, a diverse and Democratic area. Anti-Trump protesters clashed with Trump supporters outside of the rally.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, more than 50% of the population in the district is Hispanic, 30% is Black or African American, and less than 10% is white.

"I'm going to make a play for New Yorkers," Trump told reporters outside the construction site of the new JP Morgan Chase Building in Midtown, Manhattan last month. "Normally, a Democrat will win New York. Biden is the worst president in history. We have some very bad people here, but we have the greatest people and they're right behind me. They all want us to run, and we're going to run very hard in New York."

President Joe Biden's campaign on Thursday launched a series of new TV and radio ads that challenge Trump's claims about his accomplishments for the Black community.

"Every halfhearted attempt by the Trump campaign to pander for Black and Latino votes is another reminder that the candidate who stepped into public life falsely accusing the Central Park 5, who stepped into political life by taking the racist birther movement mainstream, who consistently demonizes and dehumanizes Black and Latino communities has one true interest: regaining power so he can enact revenge on his enemies," said Jasmine Harris, the Biden campaign's Black media outreach director.

The New York Young Republicans are behind Trump's visit and organized outreach, billboards and flyers promoting his event. Members of the group said they distributed nearly 2,000 flyers around the city Wednesday.

Supporters of former President Donald Trump watch as he holds a rally in the historical Democratic district of the South Bronx on May 23, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

MORE: Trump campaign accuses Secret Service of 'critical flaw' in RNC convention planning

"We're very excited because not only has this been well received, but it's been encouraged by local people and local constituents," said Adam Solis, chairman of the New York Young Republican Black Caucus and co-chairman of the New York Young Republican Hispanic Caucus.

Solis said he views Trump as a prominent New York fixture and that he hopes to galvanize several of his community members and neighbors.

"Every single human, warm-blooded American in this country, understood that he was the epitome of success," Solis said of Trump. "He was an incredible businessman. He was business savvy. And if there was something that needed to get done, he could get it done."

Crotona Park is located a few blocks away from Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's home district. Trump's visit was anticipated to be met with a counter-demonstration led by Bronx Democrats and liberal activists at the other end of Crotona Park.

Democratic Assemblywoman Amanda Septimo, who represents the Bronx, said people "will not stand by as Donald Trump tries to distort what our community and its residents represent. Instead, we will come together and tell our own story."

New York is a Democratic stronghold  joining California and Illinois  with the plurality of voters in New York State registered with the Democratic Party.

In another layer of drama to Thursday evening, thunderstorms are expected in New York while both events are taking place in the Bronx.

Trump courts Black, Hispanic votes in South Bronx rally: New York is 'going red very, very quickly' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Trump May Have Back-Tracked But The GOP Has Supported Restricting Contraceptives For Years

In a Tuesday interview, former President Donald Trump said he was looking at restrictions on contraceptives, adding that he thinks its a smart decision. Later that day he completely reversed his earlier statement in an all-caps Truth Social post.

I HAVE NEVER, AND WILL NEVER ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL, or other contraceptives, Trump posted.

His campaign also later clarified that the 2024 candidate thought he was discussing abortion medication.

But regardless of how swiftly Trump and his team backtracked on the remarks, the idea of restricting or even banning contraceptives is not a new platform for Republicans.

Many in the Republican Party elevated the idea of restricting access to birth control as the next front in the religious rights war on reproductive rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the summer of 2022  and some even before that.

Most are often publicly quiet about their support for restrictions as it is widely considered a losing strategy  supported by polling data and Republican strategists themselves  for the upcoming elections.

In a clear bid to get Republicans trying to restrict access to contraceptives on the record ahead of the 2024 election and in the wake of Trumps birth control fumble, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is reportedly planning to soon fast-track a Senate vote on a bill that would protect access to contraception nationwide. The bill, The Right to Contraception Act, is expected to be filibustered by Republicans in the closely divided Senate  but Schumers effort would force Republicans to go on record with their opposition.

Until that happens, here is a list of lawmakers who have publicly supported restricting birth control access:

(Majority Of) House Republicans

In 2022, the Democratic-controlled House brought the same contraception bill Schumer is proposing to the House floor for a vote. All but eight Republicans opposed the legislation that wouldve enshrined the right to access birth control nationwide. Thats a total of 195 House Republicans.

Even though the bill passed the House with the support of all 220 Democrats, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) blocked the legislation when Senate Democrats sought unanimous consent to pass the bill in the upper chamber. It was around the same time that Senate Republicans blocked the advancement of a measure that wouldve granted federal protections to IVF, as Democrats in both chambers sought to protect reproductive treatments and medications left vulnerable by Roes overturning.

House Speaker Mike Johnson

The Louisiana Republican was one of the House Republicans who voted against the bill to protect the right to contraception two years ago. But his campaign to restrict access to birth control began long before his time in office.

In November 2013, while he worked as a lawyer challenging the Department of Health and Human Services contraceptive mandate, Johnson called certain types of contraception abortifacient, a common belief among some right-wing evangelicals.

The morning after pill, as we know, is an abortifacient, he said at the Louisiana Right to Life Forum.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin

In May, the Virginia Governor vetoed a pair of joint bills guaranteeing the right to contraception in the state, a move that would have ensured the right for all Virginians if two landmark Supreme Court decisions protecting contraception, Griswold v. Connecticut and Eisenstadt v. Baird, were ever overturned.

The hard-right Republican instead proposed revising the bill with language that would merely express the idea that individuals have access to contraception under federal law. That, of course, would make the bills completely useless if those precedents were overturned.

Missouri And Idaho Republicans

Republican interest in restricting birth control and other contraceptives gets even more explicit when you look at the state legislature level. In 2021, Republicans in the Missouri legislature tried to ban common forms of contraceptives, like Plan B, and some intrauterine devices, or IUDs, from being paid for by the states Medicaid program.

I believe life begins at conception, Missouri state Sen. Paul Wieland, one of the conservative lawmakers who supported the amendment, told Stateline. Anything that destroys that life is abortion, its not birth control. [I have] no problem with stopping sperm and egg from connecting, but when that does happen, that is life.

The effort ultimately failed.

That same year, Idahos Republican-led legislature passed the No Public Funds for Abortion Act. The law prohibited state-funded student health centers from referring students or promoting abortion, and banned the dispensing of emergency contraceptives such as Plan B.

That bill resulted in public universities, like University of Idaho and Boise State University, warning their staff not to refer students to abortion providers or tell them how to get emergency contraception because they could be charged with a felony, according to the Associated Press.
Donald Trump on Wednesday provided his reasoning for not testifying at his criminal hush-money trialdespite claiming just a month ago that he absolutely would.

On Tuesday, Trumps attorneys rested their defense in the case against the former president, who faces 34 felony counts for falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to keep porn star Stormy Daniels quiet about their alleged affair. Trump, however, did not end up testifying.

In an interview on WABC Radio, Trump echoed what has become a daily refrain, claiming he didnt take the stand because of the judge handling the case. The judge, Juan Merchan, has repeatedly been forced to keep Trump in line, including threatening the former president with jail time after issuing a series of fines for violations of his gag order.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks after a break during his hush money trial at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, U.S., May 21, 2024. Michael M. Santiago via Reuters

Last month, Merchan also issued a ruling cracking down on the topics Trump could discuss if he was to take the standthough he declared that the other civil cases Trump has been involved in, including E. Jean Carrolls two defamation cases and a civil fraud case brought by Letitia James, were fair game.

He made rulings that make it very difficult to testify, Trump said of Merchan. Anything I did, anything I did in the past, they can bring everything up, and you know what, Ive had a great pastbut anything.

Despite initially promising to testify, Trump did appear to walk back his comments on May 2 when he incorrectly claimed that he was not allowed to testify.

Merchan clarified the next day in the courtroom: I want to stress, Mr. Trump, you have an absolute right to testify at trial, if thats what you decide to do after consultation with your attorneys.

Days later, Trump said he would probably testify in an interview with Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin.

Michael Ian Black: If Trumps Acquitted, Hell Be an Unstoppable Terror

But on WABC Wednesday, his weekly day off from the trial, Trump decried the rigged judges and rigged system in New York, describing it as a horror show.

Trump added: The other reason is because they have no case. In other words, why would, why testify when they have no case? They finished... They have no crime, theres no crime.

He added, They have no case, its a corrupt system.

He once again complained of the gag order against him, accusing the White House of being behind a secret plot to take Trump down.

Elsewhere in the interview, Trump decried illegal immigrants, repeating claims that they are coming into the country directly from prisons and mental institutions with very contagious disease[s].

The 77-year-old cited tuberculosis as one of the pathogens immigrants have brought with them into the country, without citing any evidence. According to the CDC, the U.S. has one of the lowest TB rates in the world and most U.S. residents are at minimal risk.

He continued by listing off a series of places that have seen immigration to the United States.

Theyre not just coming from South America, theyre coming from Africa, the Congo is sending a lot of people... theyre coming in from Asia, Trump said. Theyre coming in from all over. Theyre coming in from the Middle East, Yemen... theyre coming in as you know from China... theyre pouring in... theyre speaking languages we dont even know about... I mean its crazy.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Donald Trump believes that his close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin would lead to the freedom of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned in the country for over a yearbut hes apparently not willing to use that power unless he wins another term.

Evan Gershkovich, the Reporter from The Wall Street Journal, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the Election, but definitely before I assume Office, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday. He will be HOME, SAFE, AND WITH HIS FAMILY. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and WE WILL BE PAYING NOTHING!

To an extent, Trumps approach is nothing new: Republicans have been interfering in diplomatic efforts undertaken by Democratic presidents for decades to bolster their electoral chances. What is novel, however, is that Trump is openly sabotaging President Joe Bidens efforts to bring a wrongly detained American journalist home.

In 1968, thenpresidential candidate Richard Nixon employed Anna Chennault to undermine Vietnam peace talks that were taking place in Paris, delaying the end of the war and bolstering the former vice presidents chances of taking the White House. Twelve years later, in a successful bid to dampen President Jimmy Carters chances for reelection, former Texas Governor John Connally met with Middle Eastern leaders in 1980 to strategically delay the release of American hostages being held in Iran until after the presidential election. Doing so practically helped contribute to Ronald Reagans landslide victory and ushered in a new era of conservatism under President Ronald Reagan.



Regardless of the precedent, Trump is employing Gershkovich in a cynical, disturbing, and dehumanizing manner. In the former presidents version of events, Gershkovich is not a man being wrongly held in prison by one of Americas adversaries, but a political prop being used to advertise Trumps close relationship to Vladimir Putin. If Trump really can help free Gershkovich, he should do it nownot in six months. Or never.
U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Brandon, is in a hot endorsement battle with challenger James Judge, who jumped into the race after former President Donald Trump called for Republicans to challenge Lee.

With nearly three months until the primary election, the endorsement battle is already building in the U.S. House District 15 Republican race.

First-term incumbent Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Brandon, faces two Republican challengers, James Judge of Dade City and Jennifer Barbosa of Plant City. While 94.5% of U.S. House incumbents won re-election in 2022, according to Open Secrets, the dynamics of the District 15 election are unusual this year.

Lee, a former Florida Secretary of State, was the only member of Floridas Republican House delegation to endorse Gov. Ron DeSantis during his ill-fated campaign for president. Lee issued an endorsement for former President Donald Trump, now the presumptive nominee, soon after DeSantis suspended his campaign in late January.

But Trump seemingly took offense at Lees earlier support for DeSantis. In March, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: Any great MAGA Republicans looking to run against Laurel Lee in Floridas 15th Congressional District? IF SO, PLEASE STEP FORWARD!

MAGA refers to Trumps 2016 campaign slogan, Make America Great Again.

Judge, who had filed to challenge another Republican incumbent, Rep. Gus Bilirakis of New Port Richey, shifted his candidacy from District 12 to District 15 in April. He has portrayed himself as a Trumpian candidate answering the call of the former president, still the dominant figure in the Republican Party.

Challenger draws support

Judge has already collected endorsements from a range of conservative figures. Roger Stone, a Trump associate and a brash political operative, issued his support, declaring that Judge is on board with the MAGA agenda.

Two former House members have also endorsed Judge: Steve King, who represented Iowa from 2003 to 2011, and Ted Yoho, who served in Floridas District 3 from 2013 to 2021.

James Judge of Dade City has filed to challenge U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Brandon, in the Republican primary for District 15.

James is a committed Constitutional conservative who understands the forces that seek to take down our America, King said in an endorsement statement.

King, among the most conservative members of Congress, lost a primary election in 2020 after Republican leaders criticized comments he made in an interview, questioning why the terms white nationalist and white supremacist are considered offensive.

Yoho, a former Tea Party Caucus member, declined to seek re-election in 2020, citing his commitment to term limits.

Judge is also touting endorsements from the Republican Liberty Caucus, a national organization that says its goal is to return the Republican Party to its ideological roots of limited government, free enterprise, and personal liberty and responsibility.

Last week, Judge announced an endorsement from Lake Wales Mayor Jack Hilligoss, who is pastor at HighPoint Church. Though Lake Wales is not in District 15, Hilligoss wrote that Judge is a man of principle and is driven by a Biblical worldview.

Born To Ride for 45, a national motorcycle club that lists 2,300 members on its private Facebook page, has also endorsed Judge.

10th Judicial Circuit Court Lawsuit seeks to restore election canceled by timing of Polk circuit judge's retirement

Lee received two prominent Republican endorsements last week, as Floridas two U.S. senators, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, expressed their backing.

Since being elected to Congress, Laurel Lee has shown that she is a powerful conservative voice and an effective advocate for families and the people of Florida, Rubio said in a statement. Day in and day out in Washington, shes working to hold those who have failed Floridians accountable and pushing for Republican policies to ensure the safety of our country. Im proud to call her a partner in Congress and endorse her re-election campaign.

Scott, who is running for re-election this year, called Lee a great conservative partner in Washington.

Scott, then Floridas governor, appointed Lee in 2013 as a Circuit Court Judge in Hillsborough County. Before that, Lee served as a federal prosecutor for the United States Attorneys Office in the Middle District of Florida, based in Tampa.

I am honored to have earned the support of our Republican Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, Lee said in a news release. They are true conservative warriors for Florida in Washington, and it has been an honor to fight alongside them to protect our state and country from the failures of the Biden administration.

Further endorsements from elected officials might be coming.

Endorsement announcements and the schedule we will roll them out, like with all campaigns, are a key part of our political strategy, Grace Bartinski, a campaign spokesperson, said by email.

Do endorsements matter?

Susan MacManus, a professor emerita of political science at the University of South Florida, questioned how much impact endorsements might have in the race. She said endorsements from Trump buoyed two candidates in Tuesdays primary elections in other states, but the losing candidates lacked Lees credentials, she noted.

Advertising is going to mean more than endorsements, perhaps, in that race, MacManus said. Who's got the most compelling (ads), and where do they advertise, social media versus traditional media? A lot of different considerations there.

She added that turnout rates are generally much lower in primary elections than in general elections.

Primaries are the most unpredictable of races for a lot of different reasons, MacManus said. It's such a smaller universe of people that actually vote, it makes it really hard to calculate. And that's why these personal interactions are critical.

As of Tuesday, Lee had reported more than $992,000 in campaign contributions. That total includes $330,000 from political committees, among them the Republican Mainstreet Partnership, the House Conservatives Fund; and PACs associated with DeSantis; Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana; and DeSantis.

Lees corporate donors include Publix Super Markets, the Mosaic Company and Koch Industries.

Judge has reported nearly $68,000 in campaign contributions. His financial supporters include Steve Maxwell, co-founder and national chairman of Citizens Defending Freedom, a conservative group based in Polk County.

As of Tuesday, Judge had not reported any donations from party or political committees. Barbosa, who filed to run in April, has not yet reported any campaign contributions.

The primary election will take place Aug. 20.

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Endorsement battle rages in Laurel Lee's US House Republican primary
ISTANBUL, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen suspects were detained by Turkish police on Thursday over their alleged links to the Islamic State (IS), local media reported.

Security forces launched simultaneous operations across Istanbul as part of the investigation led by the Terror and Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.

Prosecutors accused the 13 suspects of their active involvement in the IS group, said the report.

Turkiye, which designated the IS as a terror organization in 2013, has been under multiple attacks from the extremist group. Turkish authorities have been frequently conducting counter-terrorism operations against its members across the country. 
Tulsa massacre and antipathy toward Israel are linked by attempts at erasure

The week of May 26 marks 103 years since mobs of deputized white men destroyed Tulsa, Oklahomas thriving Greenwood neighborhood called Black Wall Street. Two days of looting, burning and killing left 300 African Americans dead, 9,000 homeless, and 1,405 homes and businesses destroyed.

At its core, the Tulsa-Greenwood Massacre underscores the mortal threat marginalized communities face when deprived of full and equal rights. It also suggests a framework for understanding long-standing conflicts in other parts of the world.

Take the Middle East, for instance.

Caged inside rigid systems of patriarchy, autocracy, and strict religious doctrine, marginalized peoples throughout the Middle East have suffered wholesale displacements, ethnic cleansings, and genocides by colonizers for millennia. The histories of indigenous Nubians, Druze, Yazidis, Copts, Assyrians, Amazigh, Mandaeans, Maronites and Jews, provide lessons in structural racism, as well as essential context regarding Israels uniqueness in the region.

History is replete with examples of oppression

Beginning in 622 AD imperialist armies marching north from Arabia offered conquered peoples three choices:

Quranic dhimmi practices  similar to Jim Crow Laws  reinforced structural inequality and religious discrimination resulting in ongoing attacks on dwindling Christian communities.

In Sudan, Janjaweed/RSF militias killed or ethnically cleansed millions of darker-skinned Africans in an ongoing civil war. Kurds have survived centuries of persecution and slaughter by ISIS, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey.

In 1948 through the 1960s, approximately 750,000 Jews fled or were expelled from Arab lands, forced to abandon homes, property and deeply-rooted cultures.

Oct. 7th, grotesquely mischaracterized by some as resistance, more closely resembles Tulsa.

Except for Jews, no other people indigenous to the Middle East has managed to completely break free of colonial oppression. Deploying an unyielding rejectionist strategy, Arab states continually deny Palestinians citizenship, cynically and tragically keeping refugees in limbo for diplomatic leverage after seven decades. Whom does this strategy serve?

Convenient "alternative facts and conspiracy theories spread by regional leaders and Islamist educational institutions concretize fantasies that Israel will simply disappear. Its a phenomenon mirroring delusions that the 2020 election was stolen and the Jan. 6th, 2021, insurrection was peaceful.

Jews have become victims of radical ideologies

So heres the crux: Broadly and metaphorically, Israel resembles Greenwood: Twoisland minority communities  daring to succeed  enduring attacks to erase by demographically and geographically superior forces.

For white supremacists, any Black Wall Streets'' shatters racist mantras that African Americans are less than and, therefore, must be destroyed.

Children pose for a photo in front of a mural marking Black Wall Street, also called the Greenwood District, June 18, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Black Wall Street Massacre in 1921 was one of the worst race riots in the history of the United States.

Similarly, for radical jihadist leaders use scripture to dehumanize Jews, Zionists or not.

Furthermore, the idea of empowered women instills existential fear into patriarchal extremist regimes.

Public beatings, honor killings and stonings endorsed by extremist Sunni regimes contrast sharply with Israels democratic ethos of gender equality. White supremacists have similarly backward fears of female autonomy which also stokes extreme violence.

Religious militias enforce 7th century extremism

To guarantee a steady supply of anti-Israel fighters and martyrs, fundamentalist regimes indoctrinate kids into opposing the concept of Israel. No Jews allowed. Not on the map. But the idea of Kurdish independence  also intolerable. Berber nationhood  nope. Coptic freedom to worship  no, again. All minority sovereignty must be suppressed.

Seemingly divergent events  ISIS destroying Nimrud, Arafats life-long rejectionism, The Armenian genocide, 400 miles of tunnels built after Israels 2005 withdrawal from Gaza and child suicide bombers  are all weapons of colonial erasure  with BDS campaigns and campus protests tactical extensions to globalize the intifada.

With Hamas in Gaza, PFLP and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in the West Bank, ISIS in Syria and Iraq, Houthis in Yemen, al-Shabaab in Somalia, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Boko Haram in Nigeria and Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt  the list goes on  ethno-religious minorities face an array of militias propagating backward, religious extremism that demands submission. Are the goals of white Christian nationalists much different?

Independent of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's disastrous leadership, his attacks on Israels democracy, and horrendous devastation in Gaza, Sunni Arab colonialist domination remains.

Struggles against erasure occur on timelines spanning millennia, and on battlefields more nuanced, numerous, and diverse than what Qatari-funded professors and social media memes suggest.

The chant from the river to the sea is a clarion call for Tulsa-like destruction. Denying that meaning reflects intentional gaslighting or catastrophic misunderstandings of whos pulling the strings. And it's a sad, disturbing, upside-down world, indeed, when so many fellow progressives who fight for peace and justice  knowingly or not  embolden the oppressive, patriarchal, anti-democratic forces they claim to abhor.

Daniel Heller is based in Nashville. He has traveled extensively throughout Israel, the West Bank, Egypt, Morocco and Turkey, and his columns have been published in newspapers across the U.S.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Israel-Hamas war: Radical forces attempt to erase reviled minorities
Rep. Donald Payne Jr. died last month after a heart attack. (Daniella Heminghaus for New Jersey Monitor)

A dozen candidates have launched campaigns in the special election to fill the unexpired months of the late Rep. Donald Payne Jr.s term.

Eleven Democrats will vie for the nomination in one of the most Democratic districts in the country, one that regularly sent Payne to Congress with more than 80% of the vote. The special primary is set for July 16 and the general election will be Sept. 18.

Payne died last month after a heart attack. He was 65.

Campaigns by Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver  who has the backing of Essex Countys Democratic Party  and former East Orange Councilwoman Brittany Claybrooks will both appear on the ballot after overcoming challenges to their nominating petitions.

Claybrooks sought to remove McIver from the ballot, alleging her petitions were fraudulent because they say a single circulator  McIvers mother, Robin McIver  could not have gathered nearly 1,100 signatures over a weekend.

The Democratic State Committee, which supports McIver, lodged its own challenge to Claybrooks petitions, but that also fell flat. The committee had challenged signatures, alleging a single individual signed for multiple voters.

The administrative law judge who adjudicated the Claybrooks challenge invalidated some signatures but left Claybrooks, a former political director for Rep. Andy Kims U.S. Senate campaign, with enough names to get onto the ballot in time for the July special primary.

Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker, Linden Mayor Derek Armstead, and Economic Development Authority executive Darryl Godfrey are also mounting bids.

They join former congressional candidate John Flora, former Payne staffer Shana Melius, Essex County College professor Sheila Montague, Alberta Gordon, and Debra Salters.

Carmen Bucco was the only Republican to file for the seat, making him the partys presumptive nominee in the September election.

No Democratic nominee has received less than 75% of the districts vote in the last two decades. The district has not elected a Republican since 1946.

The special election winner would serve until a new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3.

The person who will succeed Payne when the new Congress is sworn in will be chosen in the Nov. 5 general election. Payne remains on the June 4 primary ballot because of the timing of his death, and Bucco is also running in that GOP primary.

After the June 4 results are certified, Democratic county committee members in the 10th District must select a replacement for Payne on Novembers ballot. They have until Aug. 29 to make that choice.

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The post Twelve vying to fill the late Rep. Donald Paynes term appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Two people were charged by a federal grand jury Wednesday for allegedly distributing fentanyl that killed a 25-year-old Carlsbad woman.

According to U.S. attorney Tara McGraths office, Bryan Kim Bullard, 43, and Cameron William Fulston, 29, are named as the defendants in this case.

As noted in court records, San Diego Police officers were dispatched to an apartment complex in Mission Valley on Sept. 10, 2023 for a suspected drug overdose after receiving a 911 call.

Over 400 pounds of cocaine found in fuel tanks

About a minute before that call, an initial call came in from the victims phone with a male individual stating overdose, overdose before ending the call, the attorneys office explained. That call ended while the dispatcher was trying to explain life saving measures.

Responding officers found the victim, only identified in court records as D.G., lying unconscious on the bathroom floor of the residence. CPR was given to the woman until paramedics arrived. The victim died in the hospital five days later as a result of a fentanyl overdose, court records show.

In the bathroom where the victim was located, police officers observed a piece of foil with a brown liquid and a chunk of a white substance, said the attorneys office. Blue pills were also found with M30 stamped on them. The foil and bills both tested positive for fentanyl.

An investigation led federal agents to the defendants.

Behind every fatal overdose is a dealer who put someones life at risk, said U.S. attorney McGrath. We are holding them accountable to stop the cycle of devastation they perpetuate.

If convicted for distributing fentanyl that resulted in death, Bullard and Fulston could face 20 years to life in prison.

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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Two Columbus women among 14 indicted on charges of smuggling drugs into state prisons

Two Columbus women are among 14 people indicted in connection with a drug ring operating out of Ohio prisons that included an elaborate plot to publish and sell a novel-style book with pages soaked with drugs, according to the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office.

Years of investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol led to the discovery of the operation and incdictment on charges of organized corrupt activity, in which prisoners from Zanesville and elsewhere collaborated with their girlfriends and family members to smuggle drugs into prisons and sold them.

Years of investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol led to the discovery of a drug smuggling operation at Ohio prisons and the indictment of `14 people, including two Columbus women with ties to an inmate.

The defendants allegedly made hundreds of thousands of dollars selling faces, small squares of paper soaked in methamphetamine or suboxone, a street drug of abuse marketed as a treatment for opioid addiction, the prosecutor's office said in a release.

Among the prisoners charged was Kashawn Duda Cox, 28, of Zanesville, who is currently serving a seven-year sentence, and two Columbus women: Michelle J. Lang, 27, identified as Coxs girlfriend; and Emily P. Goodrich, 27, the mother of Coxs child.

Others charges, according to the release, include:

 Justin A. Alexander, 45, of Zanesville, currently serving a 25-year sentence.

 Lisa A. Davis, 49, of Zanesville, Alexanders sister.

 Tondalea R. Hale, 54, of Zanesville, Alexanders aunt.

 Jessica A. Queen, 46, of Belpre, Alexanders girlfriend.

 Ken D. Gatlin, II, 28, of Zanesville, currently serving a 16-year sentence

 Vanita L. McCrae, 42, of Zanesville, Gatlins sister.

 Randall Bub Cremeans, 39, of Zanesville, currently serving a 30-year sentence.

 Kyle White Boy Ross, 34, of Marion, recently released from prison on post-release control.

 Jamaull D. Jones Jr., 27, of Cleveland, currently serving a six-year sentence out of Cuyahoga County.

 Heaven R. Gouldlock, 26, of Cleveland, Jones girlfriend.

 Sasha M. Hill, 25, of Cleveland, Jones sister.

Investigators caught the inmates and their family members by discovering drug shipments, phone smuggling and an elaborate plot to publish and sell an actual novel-style book with its pages soaked with drugs, according to the release.

Muskingum County Assistant Prosecutor John Litle said the prosecutor's office is taking the lead on prosecuting the case because even though there is no prison in the county, the money was laundered there and most of the defendants involved came from there.

Prison isnt a money-making experience, and the only way to make money in prison is through corrupt activity, Litle said.

In the release, Litle said he has advice for individuals asked to participate in money-making schemes with a prison inmate.

Just dont do it, Litle said. Inmates have money on their books for legitimate prison expenditures. If they need help, its fine to put money on their books. It is obvious that paying money to a person outside the prison for the benefit of a prisoner is a transaction for drugs or contraband. Do not let someone who has damaged their own life with their own bad decisions rope more people into the system.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus women indicted for smuggling drugs into Ohio prisons
Two firefighters were hospitalized after battling a house fire Wednesday night in Kansas City.

Crews responded around 10:10 p.m. to the 700 block of Elmwood Avenue, where a fire was reported from a two-story vacant structure, according to Michael Hopkins, a spokesman for the Kansas City Fire Department. When they arrived, the fire was spreading to nearby homes.

Additional crews arrived, and the fire was brought under control around 10:44 p.m.

Three firefighters reported injuries, and two of them were transported to a hospital to be treated for injuries that were serious but not life threatening, Hopkins said.

One firefighter is being treated for a burn on the lower extremities, and the other is being treated for severe dehydration. Both firefighters will be further evaluated for other injuries, but they are in stable condition.

KCFD has called the Red Cross to assist two adults impacted by the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
NEWTON  Carmen Turrisi has a couple of memories of his two years in the Army that stand out.

One was "the fight I had with a mortar shell," the 77-year-old, third-generation wartime veteran said on Tuesday. His suit coat sported a miniature Purple Heart medal for the injuries he sustained in Vietnam.

The second standout memory for the North Jerseyan was his return home on a red-eye flight into New York City after his tour of duty. The woman in the seat next to him, looking out the window, remarked, "Isn't the city pretty at night?"

"I told her, 'Ma'am, if I live to be a hundred, I'll never know anything that looks as good,'" Turrisi recalled during an interview in which he was introduced as one of two veterans who will be honored in Monday's Memorial Day parade in Newton.

Vietnam Veteran and Purple Heart recipient Carmen Turrisi Jr., right, poses with a World War II photo of Cornelius Neal Faber. Turisi, 77, of East Hanover, and Faber, 99, a resident of a local nursing home, were selected to be grand marshals of Monday's Newton Memorial Day Parade. Faber, who built and ran Hampton Roller Rink, is presently confined to a medical unit at the home. The parade steps off on Spring Street at 10 a.m. and ends with a memorial ceremony in Memory Park.

Turrisi, 77, was 19 when he was drafted in 1966. After his return to civilian life, he eventually retired after 30-plus years with United Parcel Service.

Born in Passaic, he now lives in East Hanover, in Morris County, and will lead the parade as it steps off at 10 a.m. on Lower Spring Street, makes its way through the downtown and then ends at the veterans' memorial in Memory Park.

After ceremonies there, the Veterans of Foreign Wars post at the corner of Clinton and Mill Streets in town will host a reception.

The parade's other grand marshal will be Cornelius Neal Faber, who turns 100 in August. He is currently in the medical unit of a nursing home in Sussex County and will not be able to attend in person.

Harry Kaplan, former commander of American Legion Post 86 in Newton, helped find veterans to honor at the past several parades. He said Faber is a transplanted Sussex County lad. At age 5, Faber visited a relative's farm Sussex County and asked his mother if he could stay.

She agreed and Faber grew up working the farm until his late teens, when he moved to Paterson. At the start of World War II, he joined the Navy and served as a gunner's mate. In one action, the crew of his ship was credited with sinking a German submarine.

More: Our big list of things to do on Memorial Day in North Jersey

He married his wife, Norma, in 1943 while home on leave. After the war, he took a job as an apprentice carpenter, but never let go of his dream of owning his own roller rink. At age 50 he built was then the Hampton Roller Rink, where he enjoyed roller skating.

He and Norma were married for 77 years until her death in 2021. He is a member of the American Legion Post in Sussex.

Turrisi, meanwhile, is a third-generation war veteran, he explained on Tuesday, his cane perched by his side. His grandfather served in World War I and his father saw action in the Second World War.

"We're keeping it going," he said of his family. "I got two nephews who were Marines in Afghanistan."

Nobody knew he was coming home when he flew into New York. But, he said with a smile, "When I came in the house, my mother woke up. She recognized my footsteps, even with boots on."

He said he had some issues readapting to civilian life, partially because of the way veterans were treated during the war in Vietnam. Turrisi found his job driving a UPS truck to be a salvation. But at the insistence of friends who had also served, he finally went to the Veterans Administration for a checkup.

Story continues after gallery

"They wanted me to come back for a test," he said. "It showed I had PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). I guess I was 'self-medicating' with my job. I didn't have to interact with anyone."

In a short conversation Tuesday, Turrisi talked about firefights with the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers during his 11 months in the war zone, and life at his base camp, Bear Cat, not far from Saigon. Trained to drive an armored personnel carrier, once in-country he became a foot soldier and was assigned to operate the lieutenant's radio.

Of his encounter with the mortar, he explained that when the attack began, he ran for cover in the APC. "I saw the flash of the one that got me," he remembered.

"We went on a lot of missions," he said. "Much of it was road security. We went into the jungle with our 'tracks,'" he said, using slang for an APC. Later on, he rode "choppers"  helicopters  with another unit.

Turrisi and his wife, Carmen, have been married for 53 years and have three children.

Memorial Day weekend events in Sussex County

Andover Borough

A wreath ceremony will be held at May 27 at 9 a.m. at Andover Borough Park.

Hopatcong

A parade and celebration will be held at 10 a.m. May 25, rain or shine. The parade route will be from the Municipal Building, 111 River Styx Road, Hopatcong, to Veteran's Field Memorial Park, 351 Flora Ave., Stanhope. A memorial celebration will follow. For information, call Roseann at 862-217-6938.

Montague

A service remembering and honoring all who served will take place at 11 a.m. May 27 , at the Township Community Center, 275 Clove Road.

Newton

A parade will take place on Spring Street on May 27 at 10 a.m., followed by a remembrance of fallen heroes at Memory Park. To participation in the parade, applications must be submitted to the Greater Newton Chamber of Commerce by May 15. Visit newtontownhall.com for the application.

Stanhope

The Musconetcong American Legion Post 278 will be celebrate with a parade on May 27 at 1 p.m, with a ceremony to follow. The parade will begin at the Netcong School on College Road in Netcong and will end at the American Legion on Route 183 in Stanhope.

Stillwater

The Township's Memorial Day Service will be at 10 a.m. May 27 at Veterans Memorial Park, Pond Brook Road, rain or shine. Honor and remember all those who have sacrificed and served our country to ensure our rights and liberties as Americans. All veterans are encouraged to participate. Call Lou at 862-268-3553 with questions.

Email: bscruton@njherald.com Twitter/X: @brucescrutonNJH

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Newton Memorial Day 2024 parade will be led by NJ veteran
Two-thirds of American adults said they are concerned extremists will commit acts of violence following the 2024 election if they are unhappy with the results, according to a poll released Thursday.

In a Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted May 7-14, 68 percent of U.S. adults said they either strongly agree (33 percent) or somewhat agree (35 percent) with the statement, I am concerned that extremists will commit acts of violence after the election if they are unhappy with the election outcome.

Just 15 percent said they either somewhat disagree (10 percent) or strongly disagree (5 percent) with that statement, while 15 percent said they dont know.

This sentiment was especially prevalent among Democrats  83 percent of whom said they either strongly (47 percent) or somewhat (36 percent) agree with concerns about political violence. Only 8 percent said they disagree, and 9 percent said they dont know.

The concern still seemed to transcend party lines  with 65 percent of Republicans agreeing strongly (25 percent) or somewhat (40 percent) with the concerns, and with 69 percent of independents agreeing strongly (34 percent) or somewhat (36 percent) with the concerns.

Among Republicans, 22 percent disagreed with the concerns, while 16 percent of independents disagreed with the concerns. Twelve percent of Republicans and 14 percent of independents said they dont know.

The poll comes ahead of a November rematch between President Biden and former President Trump.

Trump  who still has not publicly recognized Bidens victory in 2020  went to great lengths after losing that election to overturn the results and stay in power. He faces two criminal indictments  one on the federal level and one in Georgia  accusing him of committing crimes related to those efforts.

On Jan. 6, 2021, thousands of Trump supporters, looking to prevent the transfer of power, participated in a violent attack on the Capitol that resulted in multiple deaths.

Trump hinted in a recent Time magazine interview at the possibility of violence if he loses the election  although he insisted hell win a big victory and, therefore, he said, there will be no violence.

And if we dont win, you know, it depends. It always depends on the fairness of an election, Trump added, when pressed later on what would happen if he lost.

A recent poll from Bloomberg/Morning Consult asked voters in seven swing states about the likelihood of political violence during the election and its aftermath. Nearly half (49 percent) said they expected violence.

The Reuters/Ipsos survey included 3,934 American adults and had a margin of error of 1.7 percentage points.

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 The Hill.
FILE PHOTO: Combination picture of Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. President Joe Biden

By Jason Lange and Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two out of three Americans say they are concerned that political violence could follow the Nov. 5 election rematch between Democratic President Joe Biden and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

The survey of 3,934 U.S. adults found widespread worries that the U.S. could see a repeat of the unrest that followed Trump's 2020 election defeat, when the then-president's false claim that his loss was the result of fraud prompted thousands of followers to storm the U.S. Capitol.

Trump is once again laying the groundwork to contest the results should he lose to Biden a second time.

Some 68% percent of respondents to the online poll - including 83% of Democrats and 65% of Republicans - said they agreed with a statement that they were concerned that extremists will resort to violence if they are unhappy with the election outcome.

Overall, 15% of respondents disagreed and 16% were unsure.

In recent interviews, Trump has refused to commit to accepting the election results and at campaign rallies has portrayed Democrats as cheaters.

Outside the New York courtroom where his criminal hush money trial is taking place, fellow Republican officeholders have repeated the falsehood that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

The poll, conducted May 7-14, found that Republicans harbor more distrust in the fairness of U.S. elections than Democrats. Only 47% said they were confident that the results of the November election will be accurate and legitimate, compared with 87% of Democrats who expressed confidence.

The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

Trump's refusal to concede defeat to Biden in 2020 came at the end of a turbulent year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread racial justice protests.

Though dozens of court cases rejected Trump's claims of fraud, the president and his allies launched a wide-ranging effort to prevent Congress from certifying the results, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Some 140 police officers were injured, one died the next day and four later died by suicide.

More than 1,400 people have been arrested for their involvement in the attack and more than 500 of those have been sentenced to prison, according to the U.S. Justice Department. They include leaders of the extremist Oath Keepers and Proud Boys groups. Trump has characterized those behind bars as "hostages" and has said he may pardon some of them if he returns to the White House.

Trump himself faces criminal charges in Washington and Georgia for allegedly working to overturn his defeat, though those cases are not likely to go to trial before the election. He has pleaded not guilty in both cases and denies wrongdoing.

Recent Reuters reporting has shown that election workers, judges and other public officials have faced a wave of threats and harassment since 2020.

The poll is broadly in line with a similar survey conducted in October 2022, shortly before the midterm congressional elections, which found that 64% of Americans were concerned about extremist violence.

(Reporting by Jason Lange and Andy Sullivan; Editing by Scott Malone and Jonathan Oatis)
MOSCOW, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Thursday on the seizure of U.S. properties in response to the potential confiscation of Russian assets by the United States.

According to the decree, the Russian Central Bank and Russian entities will have the right to seek legal redress in court in case of the unlawful seizure of properties by the United States.

A special commission of the Russian government will identify U.S. assets or properties, including movable and immovable U.S. properties in Russia, securities, shares in Russian enterprises, and property rights, which can be used to compensate for losses incurred.

The government has been given four months to introduce amendments to Russian legislation to facilitate the implementation of the decree. 
Former Trump White House attorney Ty Cobb went after federal Judge Aileen Cannon on Wednesday for indefinitely postponing former President Trumps criminal classified documents case for procedural reasons, accusing her of incompetence.

I dont think this case will move at all, Cobb said in an interview with CNNs Erin Burnett. And I think the fact that shes scheduling hearings, multiple hearings, sort of one or two motions at a time, is compelling evidence of that. Most federal judges would have long ago ruled on all the pending motions.

And frankly, this is a case that shouldve started trial yesterday or two days ago when the original trial date was set, he continued. This case could have easily gotten to trial. Only her incompetence and perceived bias has prevented that.

Trump is accused of mishandling classified documents after he left the White House and obstructing an investigation to recover them. Cannon, a Trump appointee serving in the Southern District of Florida, has repeatedly delayed the case, and it is now unlikely to see trial before the upcoming election.

Cannons delays have garnered widespread criticism from Democrats, who view her actions as playing defense for the former president. If he is reelected in November, the Justice Department would likely move to drop the case.

Justice deferred is often justice denied, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said earlier this month. It is profoundly frustrating that the judge is managing this case in a way that is making it highly unlikely that it will be resolved in a timely fashion.

After Cannon dropped a key trial deadline earlier this month, effectively delaying the case indefinitely, Cobb said the judge has no intention of getting this case to trial.

The judge has so far denied every attempt from the defendants to get the case thrown out but has taken months to rule on each motion, an especially slow time frame given the potential importance of the case to the 2024 election.

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 The Hill.
Which is better  to be ruled by one tyrant three thousand miles away or by three thousand tyrants one mile away?

 Rev. Mather Byles, 1706-1788

Does it really matter if the instrument curtailing liberty is a monarch or a popularly elected legislature? This conundrum, along with the witty version of it put to a Boston crowd in 1775 by a little-known colonial-era preacher, addresses the age-old question of whether liberty can long survive in a democracy.

Byles was a loyalist, who, along with about one-third of the American adult white male population in 1776, opposed the American Revolution and favored continued governance by Great Britain.

He didnt fight for the king or agitate against George Washingtons troops; he merely warned of the dangers of too much democracy.

"Congress has become a general legislature without regard for the constitutional limits imposed on it," according to the author.

No liberty-minded thinker I know of seriously argues today in favor of a hereditary monarchy, but many of us are fearful of an out-of-control democracy, which is what we have in America today. I say democracy because thats what the government calls itself. Yet the levers of federal government power today are only nominally pulled by elected representatives. The real levers of power are held by the military/industrial/warfare/welfare/surveillance/banking/donor class cartel that has had a stranglehold on the federal government for the past 50 years.

The Senate as originally crafted did not consist of popularly elected senators. Rather, they were appointed by state legislatures to represent the sovereign states as states, not the people in them. Part of James Madisons genius was the construction of the federal government as a three-sided table. The first side was the people  the House of Representatives. The second side was the sovereign states that created the federal government  the Senate. And the third side was the nation-state  the presidency. The judiciary, whose prominent role today was unthinkable in 1789, was not part of this mix.

In his famous Bank Speech, Madison argued eloquently against legislation chartering a national bank because the authority to create a bank was not only not present in the Constitution but also was retained by the states and reserved to them by the 10th Amendment.

In that speech, he warned that the creeping expansion of the federal government would trample the powers of the states and also the unenumerated rights of the people that the Ninth Amendment  his pride and joy because it protected individual personal natural rights  prohibited the government from denying or disparaging.

He gave that speech in February of 1791, 11 months before the addition of the Bill of Rights  the first 10 amendments  to the Constitution. Given the popular fears of a new central government, Madison assumed that the Bill of Rights would quickly be ratified. He was right.

His Bank Speech remains just as relevant today.

Had Madison been alive during the presidency of the anti-Madisonian Woodrow Wilson  who gave us World War I, the Federal Reserve, the administrative state and the federal income tax  he would have recoiled at a president destroying the three-sided table. Wilson did that by leading the campaign to amend the Constitution so as to provide for the direct taxation of individuals and the direct popular election of senators.

Part of Madisons genius was to craft restraints on the feds into the Constitution. And some of them  like retaining state sovereignty  created laboratories of liberty. President Ronald Reagan reminded the American public in his first inaugural address that the states formed the federal government, not the other way around. Had I been the scrivener of that speech, Id have begged him to add: And the powers that the states gave to the feds, they can take back.

Reagan also famously said that we could vote with our feet. If you dont like the over-the-top regulations in Massachusetts, you can move to New Hampshire. If you are fed up with the highest state taxes in the union in New Jersey, you can move to Pennsylvania.

But the more state sovereignty the feds absorb  the more state governance that is federalized  the fewer differences there are among the regulatory and taxing structures of the states. This has happened because Congress has become a general legislature without regard for the constitutional limits imposed on it.

More Napolitano: Free speech for me  but not for thee: Antisemitism legislation goes to far

If Congress wants to regulate an area of governance that is clearly beyond its constitutional competence, it bribes the states to do so with borrowed or Federal Reserve-created cash. Thus, it offered hundreds of millions of dollars to the states to lower their speed limits on highways and to lower the acceptable blood alcohol level in peoples veins  this would truly have set Madison off  before a presumption of DWI may be argued; all in return for cash to pave state-maintained highways.

The states are partly to blame for this. They take whatever cash Congress offers, and they accept the strings that come with it. And they, too, are tyrants. The states mandated the unconstitutional and crippling lockdowns of 2020-2021, not the feds. The states should be paying the political and financial consequences for their misdeeds, not the feds. They, not the feds, took property and liberty without paying for it as the Constitution requires them to do.

Byles feared a government of 3,000. Today, the feds employ close to 3 million. Thomas Jefferson warned that when the federal treasury becomes a federal trough, and the people recognize it as such, they would only send to Washington politicians  faithless to the Constitution  who promise to bring home the most cash. He also predicted that in the long run, liberty would decrease and government increase. He was correct on both.

Today the government claims it can right any wrong, tax any event, intrude upon any relationship, even suppress any speech that it chooses. That's because the majority in a democracy that is faithless to constitutional guarantees will take whatever it can get from the minority  including its liberty and property  just to please its benefactors; and to stay in office.

Andrew P. Napolitano, a former New Jersey Superior Court Judge, has published nine books on the U.S. Constitution. To learn more, visit JudgeNap.com.

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: The tyranny of the majority
LEON, Kan. (KSNW)  Eli Marsolf grew up on a farm in northwest Oklahoma. He graduated from Burlington High School in Oklahoma in 2000, and a couple of months after receiving his diploma, he joined the Army National Guard.

Then, he was off to Fort Benning, Georgia, for basic training and to begin his 11-year military journey.

Little Leon, Kansas, is a quiet place to come home to at the end of a long day. Every working day is a long day for Eli Marsolf. Hes an over-the-road trucker. His road to the highways and byways of the Midwest began back when he was 18.

U.S. Army Veteran from Cheney deployed to Afghanistan twice

I chose the Army National Guard so I could go to college, he said.

Marsolf was in a field artillery unit in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, and he used his G.I. Bill benefits to start attending college at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

He was in class on Sept. 11, 2001.

His unit was told it would be activated and deployed overseas in early 2002.

We were there (in Iraq and Kuwait) for six months. Well, they were there for six months. I was there for four. I blew my right knee out, Marsolf said.

When we first got there, we were guarding an Army RETRANS site. That is your communications. Army, Marines, and for all of us, he explained. Then the war started, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and then we started guarding Patriot missiles against Fort Bliss, Texas.

The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. It was the primary system used by the U.S. Army and several allied states during the war in Iraq. The Patriot was one of the first tactical systems in the U.S. Department of Defense to employ lethal autonomy in combat. The system was successfully used against Iraqi missiles beginning in 2003.

After four months overseas, Marsolf was sent first to Germany for surgery, then back to the States to rehab his knee in Colorado.

After that, he resumed college in Alva, Oklahoma and joined the Kansas National Guard out of Dodge City.

Then, his life changed in a big way when he got married in 2007.

In 2008 or 2009, I joined the Missouri Reserves. Became a truck driver, Marsolf said.

Marsolf drove trucks for the Reserves for two years. Then, in August 2010, he decided it was time to get out. He was honorably discharged, ending his 11-year military career.

Being an over-the-road truck driver, I was only able to see my family one week in a month. The other weekends, I had to do my military, he said. I had two kids, was married, had two boys. It can be extra tough. So, why at that time, it was decided, nah, we dont need to be doing this crap.

Marsolf took his Army driving skills and went to work as a full-time over-the-road trucker. Hes been hauling loads for different companies for 13 years now. Hes currently driving for Drisco L.L.C.

He often wears a cap that reads I Survived Iraq on the front. His name and rank are sewn in on one side, and his unit, the first 79th, 45th Brigade Thunderbirds, on the other side.

While he says hes proud of his service to our country, like many other veterans, his service came at a cost. Marsolf says he has PTSD.

I cant watch fireworks no more because of the big booms that happened to me when I was over there, he said. And in 03, when I was over there in Iraq, we were just a couple of miles south of Baghdad. Hostile environment, you know, keep your eyes open. A friendly walked up behind me. He did not let me know that they were using their night vision. He grabbed my shoulder at four oclock in the morning. I still today cant tell you exactly what happened. He said I almost broke his arm.

That lieutenant that snuck up on Marsolf and grabbed him from behind is lucky his arm wasnt broken or worse that night.

Despite the nightmares, Marsolf says he wouldnt change a thing.

U.S. Army Veteran served in Japan at end of Vietnam War

I learned discipline, which Ive always had discipline from growing up on a ranch and a farm. The chance to be able to travel. Ive been to Shannon, Ireland, Kuwait, Iraq, Greece, Germany. Places I never even think I probably would ever like to go and visit, he said.

For now, its the end of another 13-hour, 500-mile day. Marsolf is back home in quiet Leon, and thats just the way he likes it.

Marsolf says his grandfathers were also in the U.S. Army. He believes both of them served during World War II.

If you want to nominate a veteran for our Veteran Salute, email KSN reporter Jason Lamb at jason.lamb@ksn.com.

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 KSN-TV.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced a program called Summer Safe 2024, that will address the rise in gun violence.

Officials say the purpose of this program is to federally prosecute all firearm offenders who possess criminal guns, due to increasing gun violence, and to help keep people safe this summer.

Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for youth in America and has inflicted immense

trauma on communities across Michigan, said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. While we will

never prosecute our way out of the gun violence epidemic, Safe Summer 2024 is a part of the

solution and is focused on deterring and holding accountable those few individuals driving

violence.

Safety is a civil right. Your zip code should not determine whether you can walk down the street without fear of gunfire. My team and our partners will not rest until every person, in every neighborhood, in every community is safe from violence.

Officials say the program will prosecute all cases that satisfy these two criteria: a federal firearms offense, which are common offenses like felon in possession and possession of machine gun, and any gun previously fired in the commission of a crime.

Ive long said that Lansing has a three-pronged approach to handling gun violence  Prevention, Intervention, and Justice, said City of Lansing Mayor Andy Schor.

This also must be a multi-level approach with local, state, and federal officials collaborating to combat this issue. By working together, we can ensure that those who commit gun crimes are prosecuted and taken off our streets.

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 WLNS 6 News.
Signage at an early voting center on September 23, 2016, in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. House Administration Committee voted along party lines Thursday to advance two election-related bills to the House floor.

The Republican-led committee approved H.R. 8281, a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, and H.R. 8399, which would restrict the contributions of foreign nationals in political campaigns. The votes on both were 6-1.

The votes came as Republicans are making immigration a core campaign theme for the November elections.

Noncitizen voting in our elections must be stopped, committee Chair Bryan Steil, a Wisconsin Republican, said in his opening statement.

The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, said the bills would undermine Americans confidence in U.S. elections.

This narrative will aggravate the perilous infection of election denialism that is spreading in the American civic body, Morelle said.

The noncitizen voting bill the committee voted on Thursday would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, and would allow states to check citizenship through federal databases with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.

Were working to increase the integrity of our elections, block noncitizens from voting in our elections, Steil said.

Morelle said the bill would disenfranchise eligible voters by requiring a birth certificate or passport to register to vote.

This bill is unreasonably restrictive, he said.

Morelle also objected to the bill dealing with foreign donations in political campaigns.

This does nothing to get foreign money out of our politics, he said.

He argued that some of the provisions would kneecap the Federal Election Commission, by curtailing its enforcement authority.

D.C. bill

Steil pointed to Washington, D.C., which allows noncitizens to vote in local elections, and said that Congress cannot allow D.C.s voting law to spread across the United States.

A handful of cities and towns allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, a trend that has sparked a national conservative rallying cry about noncitizens voting.

The House voted 262-143 Thursday to pass H.R.192, which would overturn the D.C. law.

The bill is unlikely to see a vote in the Senate, where Democrats have a slim majority.

Under the Constitution, Congress has authority to overturn local D.C. laws.

The post U.S. House panel votes to advance election bills targeting noncitizens, foreign money appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Signage at an early voting center on September 23, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Signage at an early voting center on Sept. 23, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. House Administration Committee voted along party lines Thursday to advance two election-related bills to the House floor.

The Republican-led committee approved H.R. 8281, a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, and H.R. 8399, which would restrict the contributions of foreign nationals in political campaigns. The votes on both were 6-1.

The votes came as Republicans are making immigration a core campaign theme for the November elections.

Noncitizen voting in our elections must be stopped, committee Chair Bryan Steil, a Wisconsin Republican, said in his opening statement.

The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, said the bills would undermine Americans confidence in U.S. elections.

This narrative will aggravate the perilous infection of election denialism that is spreading in the American civic body, Morelle said.

The noncitizen voting bill the committee voted on Thursday would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, and would allow states to check citizenship through federal databases with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.

Were working to increase the integrity of our elections, block noncitizens from voting in our elections, Steil said.

Morelle said the bill would disenfranchise eligible voters by requiring a birth certificate or passport to register to vote.

This bill is unreasonably restrictive, he said.

Morelle also objected to the bill dealing with foreign donations in political campaigns.

This does nothing to get foreign money out of our politics, he said.

He argued that some of the provisions would kneecap the Federal Election Commission, by curtailing its enforcement authority.

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D.C. bill

Steil pointed to Washington, D.C., which allows noncitizens to vote in local elections, and said that Congress cannot allow D.C.s voting law to spread across the United States.

A handful of cities and towns allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, a trend that has sparked a national conservative rallying cry about noncitizens voting.

The House voted 262-143 Thursday to pass H.R.192, which would overturn the D.C. law.

The bill is unlikely to see a vote in the Senate, where Democrats have a slim majority.

Under the Constitution, Congress has authority to overturn local D.C. laws.

The post U.S. House panel votes to advance election bills targeting noncitizens, foreign money appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Signage at an early voting center on September 23, 2016, in Minneapolis. (Stephen Maturen | Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. House Administration Committee voted along party lines Thursday to advance two election-related bills to the House floor.

The Republican-led committee approved H.R. 8281, a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, and H.R. 8399, which would restrict the contributions of foreign nationals in political campaigns. The votes on both were 6-1.

The votes came as Republicans are making immigration a core campaign theme for the November elections.

Noncitizen voting in our elections must be stopped, committee Chair Bryan Steil, a Wisconsin Republican, said in his opening statement.

The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, said the bills would undermine Americans confidence in U.S. elections.

This narrative will aggravate the perilous infection of election denialism that is spreading in the American civic body, Morelle said.

The noncitizen voting bill the committee voted on Thursday would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, and would allow states to check citizenship through federal databases with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.

Were working to increase the integrity of our elections, block noncitizens from voting in our elections, Steil said.

Morelle said the bill would disenfranchise eligible voters by requiring a birth certificate or passport to register to vote.

This bill is unreasonably restrictive, he said.

Morelle also objected to the bill dealing with foreign donations in political campaigns.

This does nothing to get foreign money out of our politics, he said.

He argued that some of the provisions would kneecap the Federal Election Commission, by curtailing its enforcement authority.

D.C. bill

Steil pointed to Washington, D.C., which allows noncitizens to vote in local elections, and said that Congress cannot allow D.C.s voting law to spread across the United States.

A handful of cities and towns allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, a trend that has sparked a national conservative rallying cry about noncitizens voting.

The House voted, 262-143, Thursday to pass H.R.192, which would overturn the D.C. law.

The bill is unlikely to see a vote in the Senate, where Democrats have a slim majority.

Under the Constitution, Congress has authority to overturn local D.C. laws.

The post U.S. House panel votes to advance election bills targeting noncitizens, foreign money appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin.
Signage at an early voting center on September 23, 2016, in Minneapolis. (Stephen Maturen | Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. House Administration Committee voted along party lines Thursday to advance two election-related bills to the House floor.

The Republican-led committee approved H.R. 8281, a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, and H.R. 8399, which would restrict the contributions of foreign nationals in political campaigns. The votes on both were 6-1.

The votes came as Republicans are making immigration a core campaign theme for the November elections.

Noncitizen voting in our elections must be stopped, committee Chair Bryan Steil, a Wisconsin Republican, said in his opening statement.

The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, said the bills would undermine Americans confidence in U.S. elections.

This narrative will aggravate the perilous infection of election denialism that is spreading in the American civic body, Morelle said.

The noncitizen voting bill the committee voted on Thursday would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, and would allow states to check citizenship through federal databases with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.

Were working to increase the integrity of our elections, block noncitizens from voting in our elections, Steil said.

Morelle said the bill would disenfranchise eligible voters by requiring a birth certificate or passport to register to vote.

This bill is unreasonably restrictive, he said.

Morelle also objected to the bill dealing with foreign donations in political campaigns.

This does nothing to get foreign money out of our politics, he said.

He argued that some of the provisions would kneecap the Federal Election Commission, by curtailing its enforcement authority.

D.C. bill

Steil pointed to Washington, D.C., which allows noncitizens to vote in local elections, and said that Congress cannot allow D.C.s voting law to spread across the United States.

A handful of cities and towns allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, a trend that has sparked a national conservative rallying cry about noncitizens voting.

The House voted 262-143 Thursday to pass H.R.192, which would overturn the D.C. law.

The bill is unlikely to see a vote in the Senate, where Democrats have a slim majority.

Under the Constitution, Congress has authority to overturn local D.C. laws.

The post U.S. House panel votes to advance election bills targeting noncitizens, foreign money appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Signage at an early voting center on September 23, 2016, in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. House Administration Committee voted along party lines Thursday to advance two election-related bills to the House floor.

The Republican-led committee approved H.R. 8281, a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, and H.R. 8399, which would restrict the contributions of foreign nationals in political campaigns. The votes on both were 6-1.

The votes came as Republicans are making immigration a core campaign theme for the November elections.

Noncitizen voting in our elections must be stopped, committee Chair Bryan Steil, a Wisconsin Republican, said in his opening statement.

The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, said the bills would undermine Americans confidence in U.S. elections.

This narrative will aggravate the perilous infection of election denialism that is spreading in the American civic body, Morelle said.

The noncitizen voting bill the committee voted on Thursday would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, and would allow states to check citizenship through federal databases with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.

Were working to increase the integrity of our elections, block noncitizens from voting in our elections, Steil said.

Morelle said the bill would disenfranchise eligible voters by requiring a birth certificate or passport to register to vote.

This bill is unreasonably restrictive, he said.

Morelle also objected to the bill dealing with foreign donations in political campaigns.

This does nothing to get foreign money out of our politics, he said.

He argued that some of the provisions would kneecap the Federal Election Commission, by curtailing its enforcement authority.

D.C. bill

Steil pointed to Washington, D.C., which allows noncitizens to vote in local elections, and said that Congress cannot allow D.C.s voting law to spread across the United States.

A handful of cities and towns allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, a trend that has sparked a national conservative rallying cry about noncitizens voting.

The House voted 262-143 Thursday to pass H.R.192, which would overturn the D.C. law.

The bill is unlikely to see a vote in the Senate, where Democrats have a slim majority.

Under the Constitution, Congress has authority to overturn local D.C. laws.

The post U.S. House panel votes to advance election bills targeting noncitizens, foreign money appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
By Azernews

Elnur Enveroglu

Bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan span more than thirty years. Azerbaijan established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Tajikistan for the first time on May 29, 1992, in the second year of its independence.

In addition, there are a number of common values that unite Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. Azerbaijan can be considered important due to the geostrategic importance of Tajikistan, which is a Central Asian state.

The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Tajikistan was signed on March 15, 2007, in parallel with the opening of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the Tajikistan Republic. Certainly, this great event played an exceptional role in strengthening mutual cooperation between the two countries. The mutual visits of the two heads of state resulted in important events in the steps taken forward.

The meeting of Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, who is currently on a state visit to Azerbaijan, with President Ilham Aliyev in Baku was marked by the signing of 14 important documents. President Ilham Aliyev emphasised this in his expanded meeting with the President of Tajikistan and noted that the Declaration of Strategic Partnership signed between the two countries is one of the important stages in the development of relations.

Azerbaijan considers it important to develop mutual cooperation in relations with Tajikistan, not only in one field, but also in the fields of transport and logistics. During the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev drew attention to this issue and emphasised the strategic importance of the Trans-Caspian transport corridor.

Of course, one of the topics we discussed today is cooperation in the transport sector, taking into account the new opportunities of the transport and logistical infrastructure of Tajikistan and Azerbaijan. I think it will be useful to join our efforts in this direction and coordinate our steps more closely. The Trans-Caspian transport corridor is becoming increasingly popular in the European and Central Asian regions. Azerbaijan, as a connecting link and a country located at the junction of Europe and Asia, of course, plays an important role in this issue with its transportation infrastructure, President Ilham Aliyev said in his expanded meeting with his Tajik counterpart.

During the negotiations, the President of Tajikistan emphasised that special attention was paid to the agricultural sector. In addition, Emomali Rahmon said that he appreciated the signing of the Road Map on the development of cooperation in the field of tourism and noted that the relevant institutions of Tajikistan have been instructed to take measures to restore direct flights between Baku and Dushanbe.

At the same time, the President of Tajikistan once again said that special attention is paid to the fields of transport and communication during the press statement event with his Azerbaijani counterpart. He said that he is grateful to the Azerbaijani side for providing acceptable transit rates to the freight carriers of Tajikistan.

Thus, from the meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, it is once again clear that Azerbaijan is the most reliable partner, friend, and strategic country not only for Europe but also for Central Asian states. During the negotiations between the presidents, the impressions expressed by the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, about Azerbaijan were remembered with special importance. He addressed to his Azerbaijani counterpart, President Ilham Aliyev, a famous phrase used by leaders of Western countries about Azerbaijan: "Azerbaijan is a reliable friend and partner for Tajikistan. Our countries have time-tested relations."

Azerbaijans political and economic strategies have always been based on reliability and sincerity in friendship and cooperation with all countries. This has always been done in a balanced way, not only with the Eastern allies but also with the Western allies. Today, the important steps taken by Azerbaijan in the direction of the security of the South Caucasus serve to ensure a long-term partnership with Western and Eastern countries.
NEW YORK, May 22 (Xinhua) -- At least two workers were killed and three others were injured in a workplace shooting on Wednesday at a family-owned linen business in Chester, U.S. state of Pennsylvania, local authorities said.

The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. at the company's facility located on the 2600 block of W. 4th Street, just west of Philadelphia. Chester Police Commissioner Steven Gretsky said that a suspect was apprehended in the neighboring city of Trainer, according to local media reports.

Authorities have identified the deceased as employees of the linen company. The motivation behind the shooting is still under investigation, and it is unclear whether the victims were specifically targeted by the shooter.

According to statements from fellow employees, the suspect was well-known within the workplace and described by one employee as "an ongoing problem," according to the reports. 
Signage at an early voting center on September 23, 2016, in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. House Administration Committee voted along party lines Thursday to advance two election-related bills to the House floor.

The Republican-led committee approved H.R. 8281, a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, and H.R. 8399, which would restrict the contributions of foreign nationals in political campaigns. The votes on both were 6-1.

The votes came as Republicans are making immigration a core campaign theme for the November elections.

Noncitizen voting in our elections must be stopped, committee Chair Bryan Steil, a Wisconsin Republican, said in his opening statement.

The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, said the bills would undermine Americans confidence in U.S. elections.

This narrative will aggravate the perilous infection of election denialism that is spreading in the American civic body, Morelle said.

The noncitizen voting bill the committee voted on Thursday would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, and would allow states to check citizenship through federal databases with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.

Were working to increase the integrity of our elections, block noncitizens from voting in our elections, Steil said.

Morelle said the bill would disenfranchise eligible voters by requiring a birth certificate or passport to register to vote.

This bill is unreasonably restrictive, he said.

Morelle also objected to the bill dealing with foreign donations in political campaigns.

This does nothing to get foreign money out of our politics, he said.

He argued that some of the provisions would kneecap the Federal Election Commission, by curtailing its enforcement authority.

D.C. bill

Steil pointed to Washington, D.C., which allows noncitizens to vote in local elections, and said that Congress cannot allow D.C.s voting law to spread across the United States.

A handful of cities and towns allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, a trend that has sparked a national conservative rallying cry about noncitizens voting.

The House voted 262-143 Thursday to pass H.R.192, which would overturn the D.C. law.

The bill is unlikely to see a vote in the Senate, where Democrats have a slim majority.

Under the Constitution, Congress has authority to overturn local D.C. laws.

The post U.S. House panel votes to advance election bills targeting noncitizens, foreign money appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Signage at an early voting center in September 2016 in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) (This image cannot be republished unless you have a Getty subscription.)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. House Administration Committee voted along party lines Thursday to advance two election-related bills to the House floor.

The Republican-led committee approved H.R. 8281, a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, and H.R. 8399, which would restrict the contributions of foreign nationals in political campaigns. The votes on both were 6-1.

The votes came as Republicans are making immigration a core campaign theme for the November elections.

Noncitizen voting in our elections must be stopped, committee Chair Bryan Steil, a Wisconsin Republican, said in his opening statement.

The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, said the bills would undermine Americans confidence in U.S. elections.

This narrative will aggravate the perilous infection of election denialism that is spreading in the American civic body, Morelle said.

The noncitizen voting bill the committee voted on Thursday would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, and would allow states to check citizenship through federal databases with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.

Were working to increase the integrity of our elections, block noncitizens from voting in our elections, Steil said.

Morelle said the bill would disenfranchise eligible voters by requiring a birth certificate or passport to register to vote.

This bill is unreasonably restrictive, he said.

Morelle also objected to the bill dealing with foreign donations in political campaigns.

This does nothing to get foreign money out of our politics, he said.

He argued that some of the provisions would kneecap the Federal Election Commission, by curtailing its enforcement authority.

D.C. bill

Steil pointed to Washington, D.C., which allows noncitizens to vote in local elections, and said that Congress cannot allow D.C.s voting law to spread across the United States.

A handful of cities and towns allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, a trend that has sparked a national conservative rallying cry about noncitizens voting.

The House voted 262-143 Thursday to pass H.R.192, which would overturn the D.C. law.

The bill is unlikely to see a vote in the Senate, where Democrats have a slim majority.

Under the Constitution, Congress has authority to overturn local D.C. laws.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post U.S. House panel votes to advance election bills targeting noncitizens, foreign money appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Signage at an early voting center on September 23, 2016, in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. House Administration Committee voted along party lines Thursday to advance two election-related bills to the House floor.

The Republican-led committee approved H.R. 8281, a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, and H.R. 8399, which would restrict the contributions of foreign nationals in political campaigns. The votes on both were 6-1.

The votes came as Republicans are making immigration a core campaign theme for the November elections.

Noncitizen voting in our elections must be stopped, committee Chair Bryan Steil, a Wisconsin Republican, said in his opening statement.

The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, said the bills would undermine Americans confidence in U.S. elections.

This narrative will aggravate the perilous infection of election denialism that is spreading in the American civic body, Morelle said.

The noncitizen voting bill the committee voted on Thursday would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, and would allow states to check citizenship through federal databases with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.

Were working to increase the integrity of our elections, block noncitizens from voting in our elections, Steil said.

Morelle said the bill would disenfranchise eligible voters by requiring a birth certificate or passport to register to vote.

This bill is unreasonably restrictive, he said.

Morelle also objected to the bill dealing with foreign donations in political campaigns.

This does nothing to get foreign money out of our politics, he said.

He argued that some of the provisions would kneecap the Federal Election Commission, by curtailing its enforcement authority.

D.C. bill

Steil pointed to Washington, D.C., which allows noncitizens to vote in local elections, and said that Congress cannot allow D.C.s voting law to spread across the United States.

A handful of cities and towns allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, a trend that has sparked a national conservative rallying cry about noncitizens voting.

The House voted 262-143 Thursday to pass H.R.192, which would overturn the D.C. law.

The bill is unlikely to see a vote in the Senate, where Democrats have a slim majority.

Under the Constitution, Congress has authority to overturn local D.C. laws.

The post U.S. House panel votes to advance election bills targeting noncitizens, foreign money appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Britains royal family will postpone certain engagements in light of the general election that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Wednesday.

In a Buckingham Palace statement, reported by Sky News, King Charles III and Queen Camilla said the royal family willin accordance with normal procedurepostpone engagements that may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.

"Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result," the statement added.

TIME has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment and further information.

Wednesdays unexpected announcement saw Sunak reveal that elections will take place in the U.K. on July 4. In a speech from outside Downing Street, Sunak said the King had granted his request for the dissolution of parliament.

The King and Queen will reportedly still carry out scheduled D-Day 80th anniversary appearances in Portsmouth and Normandy in June, according to Sky News. But further diary events will be subject to postponement.

The King is scheduled to welcome the Emperor and Empress of Japan to London for a state visit at Buckingham Palace in late June. Other big calendar events for the royals this summer include Trooping the Colour, the official celebration of His Majestys birthday observed on June 15, and Royal Ascot, a week of horse racing attended by the royal family, set to take place from June 18 to June 22.

It is currently unclear if these events will be postponed in the diary or carried out as planned.

The British monarch holds a weekly audience with the incumbent U.K. Prime Minister on Wednesdays. Since the King ascended the throne in September 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, he has worked with two Prime Ministers and could be on track for a third before the two year anniversary of his reign.

Liz Truss was the Prime Minister at the time of the Queens death, a tenure that lasted around 45 days and secured her status as the shortest-serving politician to hold the U.K. governments top role. Sunak was welcomed by the King around six weeks after ascending the throne.

Truss and Sunak were both present at Charles coronation on May 6, 2023. Sunak, who describes himself as a Hindu, read from the bible during the multi-faith ceremony.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and William Ruto, Kenya's president, attend a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Photo by Al Drago/UPI

May 23 (UPI) -- The White House released details Thursday for a raft of agreements including at least $470 million worth of government-private investment and finance with Kenya's President William Ruto on day two of his state visit to Washington.

Much of the investment will go to help the East African nation's green energy transition, housing, health -- including developing the pharma manufacturing sector -- and promoting democracy and human rights.

During a tour by Ruto of Coca-Cola's Atlanta headquarters Wednesday, the company announced a new $175 million investment in his country over the next five years, while Virunga Power announced a $100 million plan for six run-of-river hydropower projects to provide 31 megawatts of renewable energy to power growth in west and central Kenya, the White House said in a briefing.

Ruto's state visit, only the sixth leader to whom President Joe Biden has extended the honor in his three years in the White House, marks six decades of U.S.-Kenya friendship and comes amid an effort to progress partnerships with African nations into more equitable relationships with greater long-term benefits for both sides.

"Together, the United States and Kenya are working to deliver on the challenges that matter most to our people's lives: health security, economic security, cybersecurity, and climate security," Biden said in a speech welcoming Ruto, while noting 90% of Kenya's electricity comes from clean energy.

U.S. President Joe Biden (L) welcomes President William Ruto (R) and his wife, Rachel Ruto, of Kenya for a state visit at the White House on Thursday. Pool Photo by Haiyun Jiang/UPI

A statement from the White House noted that the two leaders' agenda showcases "how our ties deliver tangible benefits to the people of our nations" in areas including democracy, human rights and governance, health, climate, trade and Investment, debt, development and sustainable finance, technology, and peace and security.

Biden also informed Congress he intends to designate Kenya as a "Major Non-NATO Ally."

President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden welcome President William Ruto at the White House on Thursday. Pool Photo by Haiyun Jiang/UPI

According to the White House, the designation is granted to "countries with close and strategic working relationships with the U.S. military and defense civilians."

It noted it was the first such designation of any sub-Saharan African nation.

President Joe Biden welcomes President William Ruto (C) at the White House on Thursday. Pool Photo by Haiyun Jiang/UPI

"Around the world, Kenya and America are also standing united against the terror of ISIS and al-Shabaab perpetrate in East Africa -- that they continue to perpetrate in East Africa; the aggression that Russia is inflicting on Ukraine; the violence that has toppled too many democracies across both our regions," Biden said.

On Capitol Hill, Ruto held talks with congressional leaders including Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as well as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

Kenya President William Ruto's state visit marks six decades of U.S.-Kenya friendship and comes amid an effort to progress partnerships with African nations into more equitable relationships with greater long-term benefits for both sides. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

He also met with the Congressional Black Caucus which granted him honorary membership and where he made a plea for democratization of the global financial system and debt relief.

"Kenya recognizes the special role that the Congressional Black Caucus continues to play in advancing social justice, human rights and economic development across the globe. We implore the Congress to take lead in reconfiguring the global financial architecture where power is not in the hands of the few," Ruto said.

President Joe Biden (R) speaks with President of the Republic of Kenya, William Ruto, during his arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

"A bold, robust and targeted approach will free Africa of the debt burden and transform the world."

Ruto and first lady Rachel Ruto are due to be guests of honor at a starlit state dinner with Biden and first lady Jill Biden later Thursday to be held in the White House's glass pavilion on the south lawn and featuring a performance under night skies by country star Brad Paisley

Kenya President William Ruto (L) shakes hands with President Joe Biden during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Thursday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

"We mark the 60th anniversary of the United States' partnership with Kenya with an elegant dinner under the stars in a pavilion made almost entirely of glass looking at our one sky," the first lady told reporters Wednesday.

Mrs. Biden said the pavilion would feature "warm pinks and reds," as well as an unobstructed line of sight of the White House and Washington Monument.

Guests look on before President Joe Biden welcomes President of the Republic of Kenya William Ruto to the White House during an arrival ceremony on Thursday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
(File/Al Drago/Getty Images)

A federal court clearly erred in determining that South Carolina legislators racially gerrymandered congressional voting lines to keep the coastal 1st District red, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday in sending the case back to the three-judge panel for further analysis on a separate question.

Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, repeatedly used the terms clearly erred and clearly erroneous in rejecting the lower courts reasoning for its 2023 ruling that the lines were unconstitutionally drawn.

To sum up our analysis so far, no direct evidence supports the District Courts finding that race predominated in the design of District 1, Alito wrote, further calling the lower courts approach seriously misguided.

Advocates for the plaintiffs decried the ruling, saying the high court broke its own precedent by ignoring the lower courts findings and made future challenges for racial discrimination more difficult.

In this redistricting case, the question was whether the GOP-controlled Legislature based its admittedly partisan aim on voters race as they moved precincts between the 1st and 6th districts.

The Legislatures GOP leaders testified the goal was to make the 1st District safer for a Republican, following a narrow flip to blue in 2018 and a similarly narrow flip back to red in 2020. The staffer who chiefly drew the map said he used political data on precincts that voted Democrat in 2020 to move the lines. Their testimony easily explains the final map, the majority of justices concluded.

The opinion noted the map was drawn with input from U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the states longest-serving congressman and only Democrat, whose recommendations would have preserved the strong Democratic tilt in his adjoining 6th District.

The 6th, which has been a majority-minority district since the post-1990-census redistricting, already spanned counties from Columbia to Charleston, while the 1st spanned the states southern coastline.

The changes put all of Beaufort and Berkeley counties in the 1st District, as well as more of the Republican parts of Dorchester County. Charleston County was further split between the two districts, with the 6th District given more of West Ashley and the entire peninsula, to include uber expensive homes South of Broad.

In all, 193,000 South Carolinians were moved between the two districts. The final map achieved the Legislatures political goal of increasing the GOP advantage in District 1, as the projected Republican voter share rose 1.4 percentage points to 54.4%, reads the majority ruling.

Map of South Carolinas 1st and 6th congressional districts as drawn in 2011. (Screenshot of Figure 1 in the U.S. Supreme Courts May 23, 2024, ruling.)

The circumstantial evidence falls far short of showing that race, not partisan preferences, drove the districting process, and none of the expert reports offered by the Challengers provides any significant support for their position, Alito wrote.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, whose testimony was cited by justices, contends the 1st District is still politically competitive.

I said it would have been political malpractice for us to sacrifice the 1st (District), the Edgefield Republican told reporters Thursday about his testimony. We were not going to pass a plan that sacrificed the First, but that was all about political calculations. And that was the case because those were the rules the Supreme Court set out.

Justice Elena Kagan, who wrote the 34-page dissenting opinion, was joined by liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, the courts newest member.

A map of South Carolinas 1st and 6th congressional districts as redrawn in 2022. (Screenshot of Figure 2 in the U.S. Supreme Courts May 23, 2024, ruling.)

Kagan scoffed at the majoritys reasoning.

The Challengers introduced more than enough evidence of racial gerrymandering to support the District Courts judgment, she wrote. The majority picks and chooses evidence to its liking; ignores or minimizes less convenient proof; disdains the panels judgments about witness credibility; and makes a series of mistakes about expert opinions.

Map makers obviously used data on race to achieve the desired Republican tilt, she wrote, pointing to the percentage of Black residents 18 and older in the 1st District. Despite all the precinct moves, the districts racial balance did not budge.

The Black voting-age population in the district went from 16.6% to 16.7%. Such a constant would not have been possible without the use of racial data, she wrote.

The case will return to the lower court to re-evaluate challengers separate claim of the redrawn lines diluting the Black vote. Alito said the judges ruling on that was tied to the faulty reasoning on racial gerrymandering.

In light of our conclusion that those findings were clearly erroneous, that conclusion cannot stand, wrote Alito, who spent several pages of his opinion dismissing Kagans criticisms.

Justice Clarence Thomas agreed with most of Alitos conclusions but wrote a separate opinion disagreeing that any further analysis on voter dilution is needed.

The complaint combines two stereotypes by assuming that black South Carolinians can be properly represented only by a black Democrat, Thomas wrote. The vote dilution analysis in this case inevitably reduces black Charlestonians to partisan pawns and racial tokens. The analysis is demeaning to the courts asked to perform it, to say nothing of the black voters that it stereotypes.

The three lower court judges  Richard Gergel, Mary Geiger Lewis and Toby Heytens  ruled in January 2023 that state lawmakers drew the coastal 1st District, held by Republican Nancy Mace, in a way that discriminates against Black voters.

The judicial panel sided with the NAACP, ACLU of South Carolina and Taiwan Scott, a Black Hilton Head Island resident who lives in the 1st District, who challenged the new lines following the 2020 census with arguments they violated the Constitutions 14th and 15th amendments.

Its as though we dont matter, but we do matter, and our voices should be heard, Scott told reporters after the ruling. Its sad to see the decision after, you know, three federal judges ruled we were racially gerrymandered. But we wont stop.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling changes nothing for this years elections.

The lower courts ruling last year put South Carolinas congressional elections on hold until a new map was drawn. But in late March, the judges reluctantly agreed to let this years elections continue as scheduled with the Legislatures 2022 map, since the nations high court had yet to weigh in and candidate filing for the June party primaries was just days from concluding.

In the 1st District, three Republicans, including Mace, and two Democrats are competing in the June 11 primaries. In the 6th District, Clyburn has no primary challenger. Two Republicans are facing off for the opportunity to challenge him in November. But Clyburn, first elected in 1992, is expected to easily win a 17th term.

The chief attorney for the NAACP legal defense fund said the group is still assessing next moves.

There is a potential avenue for plaintiffs to try to redress the harm of the racially discriminatory map, Leah Aden, who argued the case before the nations high court, told reporters. But what we will do and what that will look like, I think we are still wrapping our heads around now.

Officials with the ACLU pledged that the fight will continue.

Today is a dark day for democracy in South Carolina, but all hope is not lost, said Jace Woodrum, executive director of the ACLUs state branch. For now, the Supreme Court has upheld a racially gerrymandered map, and South Carolina voters are the ones who will suffer the consequences.  We remain committed to ending gerrymandering in our state and will use every tool at our disposal until We the People truly means all of us.

SC Daily Gazette reporters Abraham Kenmore and Skylar Laird contributed to this report.

The U.S. Supreme Courts ruling on South Carolinas voting lines brought responses from across the political spectrum. Here are some of the differing opinions:

 Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, who led redistricting efforts in the Senate: I am pleased that the United States Supreme Court agreed with what we have said all along: the First Congressional District map was not racially gerrymandered.

 U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, 6th District: Todays U.S. Supreme Court decision in Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP is further affirmation that this Court has chosen to disenfranchise Black voters and rob us of our fundamental access to the ballot box.

 Senate President Thomas Alexander, R-Walhalla: As I have said throughout this process, our plan was meticulously crafted to comply with statutory and constitutional requirements, and I was completely confident we would prevail. With its decision today, the Supreme Court affirmed the hard work of South Carolina senators and the product they produced as constitutional.

 Brenda Murphy, president of the NAACP in South Carolina: Today the Supreme Court has failed the American people, voting rights have taken another gut punch, and the future of democracy in South Carolina is dangling by a thread. Make no mistake, though, we are not backing down from this fight.

 S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster: The Supreme Court, I think, was clear. I think they examined the question and followed the law.  And I think they made the right decision.

 Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the Legal Defense Fund: The highest court in our land greenlit racial discrimination in South Carolinas redistricting process, denied Black voters the right to be free from the race-based sorting and sent a message that facts, process, and precedent will not protect the Black vote.

 Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield: Im pleased, but its what we expected was going to happen. We took a lot of effort and spent a lot of time to make sure we did redistricting the right way, so we felt confident we were going to prevail, and we did.

 Adriel I. Cepeda Derieux, deputy director of the ACLU Voting Rights Project: At the end of the day, the Supreme Court essentially says that short of the most flagrant kind of evidence pointing to racial intent  short of someone standing in the public square and saying theyre drawing a racist map  that this Legislature was going to get a pass, and that has never been the law, and it shouldnt be the law.

 Michael B. Moore, one of two Democrats in the District 1 primary: Regardless of the congressional map, this race is all about connecting with folks in South Carolinas coastal communities.  We have a plan to win in November, no matter the playing field, and were more confident than ever about our footing in the fight for SC-01.

The post U.S. Supreme Court throws out SC racial gerrymandering ruling appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
The U.S. Supreme Court. (Quentin Young | Colorado Newsline)

A federal court clearly erred in determining that South Carolina legislators racially gerrymandered congressional voting lines to keep the coastal 1st District red, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday in sending the case back to the three-judge panel for further analysis on a separate question.

Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, repeatedly used the terms clearly erred and clearly erroneous in rejecting the lower courts reasoning for its 2023 ruling that the lines were unconstitutionally drawn.

To sum up our analysis so far, no direct evidence supports the District Courts finding that race predominated in the design of District 1, Alito wrote, further calling the lower courts approach seriously misguided.

In this redistricting case, the question was whether the GOP-controlled Legislature based its admittedly partisan aim on voters race as they moved precincts between the 1st and 6th districts.

The Legislatures GOP leaders testified the goal was to make the 1st District safer for a Republican, following a narrow flip to blue in 2018 and a similarly narrow flip back to red in 2020. The staffer who chiefly drew the map said he used political data on precincts that voted Democrat in 2020 to move the lines. Their testimony easily explains the final map, the majority of justices concluded.

The opinion noted the map was drawn with input from U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the states longest-serving congressman and only Democrat, whose recommendations would have preserved the strong Democratic tilt in his adjoining 6th District.

The 6th, which has been a majority-minority district since the post-1990-census redistricting, already spanned counties from Columbia to Charleston, while the 1st spanned the states southern coastline.

The changes put all of Beaufort and Berkeley counties in the 1st District, as well as more of the Republican parts of Dorchester County. Charleston County was further split between the two districts, with the 6th District given more of West Ashley and the entire peninsula, to include uber expensive homes South of Broad.

In all, 193,000 South Carolinians were moved between the two districts. The final map achieved the Legislatures political goal of increasing the GOP advantage in District 1, as the projected Republican voter share rose 1.4 percentage points to 54.4%, reads the majority ruling.

The circumstantial evidence falls far short of showing that race, not partisan preferences, drove the districting process, and none of the expert reports offered by the Challengers provides any significant support for their position, Alito wrote.

Justice Elena Kagan, who wrote the 34-page dissenting opinion, was joined by liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, the courts newest member.

Kagan scoffed at the majoritys reasoning.

The Challengers introduced more than enough evidence of racial gerrymandering to support the District Courts judgment, she wrote. The majority picks and chooses evidence to its liking; ignores or minimizes less convenient proof; disdains the panels judgments about witness credibility; and makes a series of mistakes about expert opinions.

The case will return to the lower court to re-evaluate challengers separate claim of the redrawn lines diluting the Black vote. Alito said the judges ruling on that was tied to the faulty reasoning on racial gerrymandering.

In light of our conclusion that those findings were clearly erroneous, that conclusion cannot stand, wrote Alito, who spent several pages of his opinion to dismiss Kagans criticisms.

Justice Clarence Thomas agreed with most of Alitos conclusions but wrote a separate opinion disagreeing that any further analysis on voter dilution is needed.

The complaint combines two stereotypes by assuming that black South Carolinians can be properly represented only by a black Democrat, Thomas wrote. The vote dilution analysis in this case inevitably reduces black Charlestonians to partisan pawns and racial tokens. The analysis is demeaning to the courts asked to perform it, to say nothing of the black voters that it stereotypes.

The three lower court judges  Richard Gergel, Mary Geiger Lewis and Toby Heytens  ruled in January 2023 that state lawmakers drew the coastal 1st District, held by Republican Nancy Mace, in a way that discriminates against Black voters.

The judicial panel sided with the NAACP, ACLU of South Carolina and Taiwan Scott, a Black Hilton Head Island resident who lives in the 1st District, who challenged the new lines following the 2020 census with arguments they violated the Constitutions 14th and 15th amendments.

Its as though we dont matter, but we do matter, and our voices should be heard, Scott told reporters after the ruling. Its sad to see the decision after, you know, three federal judges ruled we were racially gerrymandered. But we wont stop.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling changes nothing for this years elections.

The lower courts ruling last year put South Carolinas congressional elections on hold until a new map was drawn. But in late March, the judges reluctantly agreed to let this years elections continue as scheduled with the Legislatures 2022 map, since the nations high court had yet to weigh in and candidate filing for the June party primaries was just days from concluding.

In the 1st District, three Republicans, including Mace, and two Democrats are competing in the June 11 primaries. In the 6th District, Clyburn has no primary challenger. Two Republicans are facing off for the opportunity to challenge him in November. But Clyburn, first elected in 1992, is expected to easily win a 17th term.

The chief attorney for the NAACP legal defense fund said the group is still assessing next moves.

There is a potential avenue for plaintiffs to try to redress the harm of the racially discriminatory map, Leah Aden, who argued the case before the nations high court, told reporters. But what we will do and what that will look like, I think we are still wrapping our heads around now.

Officials with the ACLU pledged that the fight will continue.

Today is a dark day for democracy in South Carolina, but all hope is not lost, said Jace Woodrum, executive director of the ACLUs state branch. For now, the Supreme Court has upheld a racially gerrymandered map, and South Carolina voters are the ones who will suffer the consequences.  We remain committed to ending gerrymandering in our state and will use every tool at our disposal until We the People truly means all of us.

SC Daily Gazette reporter Abraham Kenmore contributed to this report.

The U.S. Supreme Courts ruling on South Carolinas voting lines brought responses from across the country and political spectrum. Here are some of the differing opinions:

 Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, who led redistricting efforts in the Senate: I am pleased that the United States Supreme Court agreed with what we have said all along: the First Congressional District map was not racially gerrymandered.

 Brenda Murphy, president of the NAACP in South Carolina: Today the Supreme Court has failed the American people, voting rights have taken another gut punch, and the future of democracy in South Carolina is dangling by a thread. Make no mistake, though, we are not backing down from this fight.

 Senate President Thomas Alexander, R-Walhalla: As I have said throughout this process, our plan was meticulously crafted to comply with statutory and constitutional requirements, and I was completely confident we would prevail. With its decision today, the Supreme Court affirmed the hard work of South Carolina senators and the product they produced as constitutional.

 Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the Legal Defense Fund: The highest court in our land greenlit racial discrimination in South Carolinas redistricting process, denied Black voters the right to be free from the race-based sorting and sent a message that facts, process, and precedent will not protect the Black vote.

SC Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. SC Daily Gazette maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Seanna Adcox for questions: info@scdailygazette.com. Follow SC Daily Gazette on Facebook and Twitter.

The post U.S. Supreme Court throws out SC racial gerrymandering ruling appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
U.S. warns Americans not to travel to Venezuela

The State Department warned Americans not to travel to Venezuela due to civil unrest and a high chance of indefinite detention. The United States has been inactive in the country since it withdrew its embassy from Caracas in 2019. File Photo by Miguel Gutierrez/EPA-EFE

May 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department on Thursday warned Americans not to travel to Venezuela, citing high levels of crime and civil unrest.

According to a release, the State Department raised Venezuela's travel advisory level to 4, the most dangerous level.

The State Department said there is a high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela. Protests against President Nicolas Maduro often break out without notice and are met with tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets from police and security forces.

Colombian terrorist groups also operate in Venezuela's border areas with Colombia, Brazil and Guyana, according to the State Department.

The United States in 2019 withdrew all personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas and suspended operations there amid the deteriorating political situation and collapsing infrastructure.

The U.S. government has no ability to contact Americans under Venezuelan detention or provide emergency services, the State Department said.

People who do choose to travel to Venezuela must obtain a Venezuelan visa before arriving in the country. Visas are not available upon arrival. Travelers who arrive at the Venezuelan border without a valid visa risk "lengthy or indefinite detention," according to the State Department.
On the afternoon of 23 May, Defence Intelligence of Ukraines Ministry of Defence continued to use drones to destroy infrastructure of the Russian Federation's military-industrial complex in Tatarstan.

Source: sources of Ukrainska Pravda in Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU)

Details: According to the source of Ukrainska Pravda, assault drones have already struck targets in Kazan and Nizhnekamsk, which are home to a number of strategically vital companies that manufacture military products.

According to local media, explosions have been heard in Nizhnekamsk. Employees have also been evacuated from the Nizhnekamsk Thermal Power Station, Nizhnekamskneftekhim, Orgsintez, Taneko, Taif-NK, Nizhnekamskneftekhim, and Nizhnekamskshiny.

Both airports of the Russian region stopped working  in Kazan and Nizhnekamsk.

Information on the results of the attacks is being established.

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Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

President Joe Biden "believes a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition," a National Security Council spokesperson said.

WASHINGTON, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government on Wednesday pushed back on the decision by Norway, Ireland and Spain to recognize the Palestinian state, saying that Palestinian statehood should not be realized through "unilateral recognition."

"The president is a strong supporter of a two-state solution and has been throughout his career," a National Security Council spokesperson was quoted by CNN as saying in reference to U.S. President Joe Biden.

"He believes a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition," the spokesperson added.

In separate announcements Wednesday, the governments of Norway, Ireland and Spain said they will recognize the State of Palestine, moves that were welcomed by the Palestinian presidency. Israel, in its reaction, though, recalled its ambassadors to the three nations.

Biden said in remarks Sunday at the commencement ceremony of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, that his administration has been "working to make sure we finally get a two-state solution -- the only solution for two people to live in peace, security, and dignity."

"This is one of the hardest, most complicated problems in the world," he added.

The Palestinians demand the establishment of an independent state alongside Israel with pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital. 
UC Davis student missing for nearly a week. She was last seen in San Francisco, police say

Authorities are searching for a missing UC Davis first-year student  thought to be in distress by police  after she left campus nearly a week ago and boarded a train to San Francisco.

Diane Shoyeon Min, 18, left UC Davis on Friday and arrived at Mission Street in San Francisco via the Capitol Corridor train and an Amtrak bus, the university said in a news release. She was reported missing three days later on Monday evening, authorities said.

Min is described as a 5-foot-4, 120-pound Asian woman with black hair and brown eyes, university police said. The computer engineering major was last seen wearing glasses, dark jacket, leggings and black Skechers shoes, the state Attorney Generals Office said.

The Attorney Generals Office noted she was also wearing a necklace with a wire wrapped around an amulet and an unknown model watch.

UC Davis police officers are leading the investigation and working with the San Francisco Police Department to help find Min.

Its unclear why Min is believed to be in distress or why she went to San Francisco. Bill Kisliuk, a spokesman for the university and its police force, said more details about Mins disappearance remain under investigation and could not be disclosed.

But Kisliuk added its common for students to spend weekends away from Davis. She was reported missing to police on Monday because she hadnt returned, he said.

Anyone with information about Mins location is asked to call UC Davis police at 530-752-1727.
When I testify before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce this morning about the rise of antisemitism on college campuses, I expect members of Congress to challenge how UCLA has responded. As with so many universities across the country today, ours has not been immune to a troubling increase in bigotry, harassment and hostility.

As UCLAs chancellor, I welcome the committee members questions, even if I wont have all the answers. I dont think any university leader does. The rise in incidents of legally protected, but hateful speech  whether antisemitic, Islamophobic, anti-Arab or otherwise  underscores the fundamental tension that can come about when an institution is committed to both safeguarding free expression under the First Amendment and preventing discrimination that violates the law.

Opinion

But as public servants, we must figure out how to better address this rise in hate.

As a Jewish man who grew up in post-war New York with relatives who were Holocaust survivors and victims, Ive confronted the consequences of unchecked bigotry and I have been repulsed by the recent rise in egregious conduct that I never expected to see on the campus I have called home for 17 years. Only six years ago, the prominent Jewish publication Forward declared UCLA third among the Best Colleges for Jewish Life. I am pained to say that recently, too many Jewish students have felt unsafe.

While the Congressional committee members are likely to focus on areas where they believe UCLA has failed, I plan on telling them the decisive steps we are taking to balance our commitment to free speech and our obligation to protect our community from harm.

Weve taken five key steps to address discrimination, shore up campus safety and hold people accountable for breaking the law:

Following the recent violence at UCLA, I have established a new Office of Campus Safety reporting directly to me to streamline and elevate our efforts to maintain order. UCLA is conducting a thorough examination of our security processes. The University of California has also engaged independent law enforcement experts to initiate its own review, including our planning and security protocols.

We are reviewing and modifying our campus policies for events and First Amendment activity to make them easier to enforce consistently, in line with our legal obligations as a public university.

We are initiating a broad-based review to address recent reports of antisemitic and anti-Arab or Islamophobic discrimination and harassment that may have interfered with students abilities to access the universitys educational programs and activities. We will retain an outside firm to support our Civil Rights Offices review of these issues.

Accountability is critical to our ability to move forward. The Office of Campus Safety, in partnership with the Los Angeles Police Department, are continuing criminal investigations into those who perpetrated violence on our campus, in late April.

Finally, we will utilize the experience and expertise of scholars from across our campus to foster greater dialogue and combat antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination. We will focus on building bridges and restoring trust in one another.

UCLA faces complex, interrelated challenges related to protecting free expression rights and protecting students from discrimination and harassment. Last year, I announced that after 17 years as chancellor, I will step down later this summer. In my remaining months, I am dedicated to doing all I can to address these challenges and help shepherd the process of rebuilding the ties within our community.

I look forward to a robust discussion of these issues with members of Congress, and trust they come from a place of common purpose  to put us on a path to ending discrimination of all forms once and for all.

Gene D. Block is the chancellor of the University of California at Los Angeles
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block testifies during a hearing of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on allegations of antisemitism on college campuses on Capitol Hill on Thursday. (Mariam Zuhaib / Associated Press)

A House committee grilled UCLA Chancellor Gene Block Thursday about pro-Palestinian protests as he faced off with lawmakers over how he handled of a violent mob attack last month on a campus encampment and accusations that the university has failed under his leadership to address a rising tide of antisemitism.

Block, who testified alongside the presidents of Northwestern and Rutgers universities, was soft-spoken and at times vague in response to questions on UCLA's role in resolving campus tensions that have grown since the the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and its retaliatory war in Gaza. Block said he could not fully answer questions about issues including the status of students who are facing disciplinary action for violating UCLA rules and the state of police investigations into agitators who attacked an encampment overnight on April 30 amid a hours-long delayed police response.

"I don't know if that's ongoing," Block said about a police investigation into allegations of antisemitic threats against a UCLA professor and her husband. He responded, "Well see what happens" regarding a disciplinary processes prompted by complaints that Jewish students were prevented from accessing parts of campus by pro-Palestinian protesters.

Questions over Block's leadership catapulted to the national stage just two months shy of his departure from the chancellor role. The hearing by the Republican-led House Committee on Education and the Workforce focused on campus antisemitism. In tense exchanges, Republicans largely targeted president Michael Schill of Northwestern and, to a lesser extent, Jonathan Holloway of Rutgers. Both leaders recently came to agreements with students to take down pro-Palestinian encampments.

Democrats, who make up 20 of the 44 members of the committee, criticized Republicans as not being serious in their pursuit to combat antisemitism. Members of the House minority have called the hearings an attempt by the chambers Republicans to use campus unrest for political gain, and pointed out that no similar hearings have been convened on anti-Muslim or anti-Arab hatred, which have also increased.

Read more: Divestment from Israel roils universities. Would it work? Some are dubious

Some faculty at UCLA said the congressional event was unhelpful.

Judea Pearl, an Israeli American professor of computer science at UCLA, said the testimonies fell short because the presidents "did not say anything." Pearl, who has for decades organized faculty to combat antisemitism and anti-Zionism, criticized Block, Schill and Holloway for being "vague and talking about investigations and tasks forces that go nowhere."

Block highlighted "claims of disrupting access [to campus] instead of handling actual instances of repeated violence against pro-Palestinian students, which of course included many Jewish students," said Yogita Goyal, a professor of English and African American studies. Goyal, who said Block "failed" to protect students, pointed out that he did not confirm that suspected April 30 attackers have been arrested despite media outlets that identified several alleged assailants.

Todd Wolfson, a media studies professor and president of the Rutgers faculty union who traveled from New Jersey to Washington for the hearing, described it as a "show trial." But he said some Democrats asked questions that got to the root of the issue  how to walk the line between allowing freedom of speech and assembly while protecting against antisemitism and anti-Muslim sentiment.

"Thats an important thing to figure out," he said. "Its not so clear.

Four Californians sit on the committee  Republican Reps. Michelle Steel and Kevin Kiley and Democratic Reps. Mark Takano and Mark DeSaulnier.

Republicans accused Schill and Holloway of "giving in" to protesters, who  like those at UCLA  had asked for their universities to divest their endowments from weapons companies and ties to Israel. Each university, including UCLA, has rejected the call.

Read more: 'Are you a Zionist?' Checkpoints at UCLA encampment provoked fear, debate among Jews

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) questioned Schill on allegations of assault and stalking of Jewish students on campus. Schill said the university "believes in due process" but that he did not have a timeline to offer on the "'lots of investigations" underway.

Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah) pointed critically to Northwestern's connection to Qatar, where the university has a campus, suggesting the relationship was tainted because Hamas leadership is based in Doha. He also attacked a training program that's existed between the journalism school and Al Jazeera.

Schill and Holloway defended their pacts with protesters. Schill said the agreement at Northwestern gave students "the ability to feel safe on campus." Holloway shot back at Republicans who labeled protesters as "pro-Hamas." "They were not, as some have characterized them, terrorists. They were our students," Holloway said.

The hearing did not provoke the explosive moments that unfolded in December, when the committee's first session on campus antisemitism contributed to resignations from the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania. During those testimonies, university leaders stumbled when asked how their campuses would handle calls for the genocide of Jews.

In his opening remarks, Block said that, "with the benefit of hindsight," the university should have acted to "immediately remove" a campus pro-Palestinian encampment "if and when the safety of our community was put at risk."

Block, who is Jewish, said that "as a public university, UCLA is subject to a dual legal mandate: we have a legal obligation under the 1st Amendment to protect free speech on campus, as well as a legal obligation under federal law to protect students from discrimination and harassment. This balance is not always easy to achieve."

The chancellor faced his one of his toughest moments when questioned by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) about the April 30 night of violence at the UCLA encampment. Omar said the images from UCLA were appalling, but even worse was "that it was completely preventable. The Democratic congresswoman told him multiple times that he should be ashamed for the injuries that took place under his watch.

"You, the UCLA leadership and law enforcement stood by for hours as the mob of agitators gathered near the encampment with a clear intention to cause violence, she said. "I would like to know if you are truly committed to keeping your students safe. How did you fail these students at many critical points where you couldve intervened?"

"Thank you for the question, but I'm sorry but I reject the premise, Block replied, saying that UCLA is working with LAPD to identify attackers. He said the university "tried to to get police there as quickly as possible."

Read more: UCLA police chief reassigned after security failures over pro-Palestinian protests

Block was also asked about the current protests. "There are no encampments, he said, shortly before 8 a.m.  just as new encampment went up outside Kerckhoff Hall at UCLA.

Amid a show of police in riot gear, the new small camp was dismantled in the early afternoon. A crowd that grew to hundreds relocated to Dodd Hall and the surrounding area by late afternoon.

The protests were timed to Block's testimony, as was an announcement that unionized UCLA academic workers would go on strike Tuesday after alleging that the university violated their rights to free speech when the large encampment was dismantled by police on May 2 and roughly 200 were arrested.

Republicans brought up a viral video and news reports about Jewish students who complained that UCLA activists set up checkpoints restricting access to the encampment area after it went up on April 25. Some Jewish students have told The Times that they felt intimidated as activists blocked pathways, while other Jewish students who participated in the encampment, argued that it was not antisemitic, but anti-Zionist.

"Why did you fail to immediately clear these checkpoints? committee Chair Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) asked Block.

Read more: UC academic workers' strike begins as pro-Palestinian activism enters new phase

Block said he issued instructions to staff to make sure that all the students could freely pass without obstruction and then sent out a campus-wide memo on April 30, telling students that the university would not tolerate the blocking of access to parts of campus.

"Did it stop as a result of what you said? the congresswoman asked. I believe it did," Block said. He was later questioned again on the matter by California Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley.

Foxx also asked presidents how many students had been suspended or expelled since Oct. 7 for antisemitic comments. Block said there are more than 100 active investigations evaluating cases of antisemitism and Islamophobia at UCLA.

The hearing also turned to events prior to the spring encampments.

Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.) asked Block about an incident reported in November when a professor and her husband attended a counterprotest at a UCLA pro-Palestinain rally. The couple, who wore pro-Israel shirts, said they were threatened with violence. The next day, they said, a UCLA student from the rally attempted to visit the husband at his office.

"All this was reported to you and other UCLA officials, including the identity of who's doing it, Bean said to Block. What disciplinary actions did UCLA take in response?

"We immediately alerted the police and the police did an investigation, Block said. I don't know if that's ongoing or not, but police were involved immediately in this incident.

Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Seal Beach), asked Block whether he had disciplined a professor who allegedly offered extra credit to students who protested. Block said he wasnt aware of that incident. Steel asked Block whether he was investigating an incident in which a lecturer allegedly led first year medical students in a free Palestine chant. Block replied that the university was investigating the allegation but that he did not have more details.

In his opening remarks, the ranking Democrat on the committee, Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, said the hearing was the wrong way to address a real problem. "Here we are, for the fifth time in six months, holding another hearing to complain about the problem of antisemitism, but no work is being done to find a meaningful solution to address animus on college campuses. Complaining about the problem is not a solution."

A group of about 40 graduate students and faculty from UCLA, Rutgers and Northwestern showed up to the hearing, packing the hallway outside. They included John Branstetter, a UCLA lecturer in the political science department, who said he was among faculty members arrested at the camp.

Read more: UCLA Academic Senate rejects censure and 'no confidence' vote on Chancellor Gene Block

"This committee is completely missing the point, Branstetter said. Were trying to set the record straight.

Branstetter said he watched as students he had taught for years were sprayed in the eyes and shot with beanbags. Police threw him to the ground, he said, giving him a bloody knee and bruises. He had visible handcuff marks and said he was still experiencing wrist pain. He said Block should resign.

"The suppression of civil rights came at the hands of Gene Block," he said. "His only answer to the question of 'how do you keep students safe' is to arrest them. I dont feel safe on campus having him as chancellor.

After a 17-year career at UCLA, Block announced last year that he would step down at the end of July. A biologist, he plans to return to teaching and research.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Demonstrators clash at an encampment at UCLA on in Los Angeles, on May 1, 2024. Credit - Ethan SwopeAP

LOS ANGELES  The police chief at the University of California, Los Angeles, has been reassigned following criticism over his handling of recent campus demonstrations that included a mob attacking a pro-Palestinian encampment.

Chief John Thomas was temporarily reassigned Tuesday pending an examination of our security processes, said Mary Osako, UCLA vice chancellor for strategic communications, in a statement released Wednesday.

The Daily Bruin reported late Tuesday that Thomas said in a text to the campus newspaper, Theres been a lot going on and, I learned late yesterday that Im temporarily reassigned from my duties as chief.

Neither Osako nor Thomas identified his reassigned role.

The reassignment of Thomas follows UCLAs May 5 announcement of the creation of a new chief safety officer position to oversee campus security operations.

On April 30, counterdemonstrators attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment, throwing traffic cones, releasing pepper spray and tearing down barriers. Fighting continued for several hours before police stepped in, and no one was arrested. At least 15 protesters suffered injuries.

Thomas told the Los Angeles Times in early May that he did everything I could to provide security and keep students safe during days of strife that left UCLA shaken.

But his response was roundly criticized and prompted Chancellor Gene Block to order a review of campus security procedures. Block then announced that Rick Braziel, a former Sacramento police chief, would lead a new Office of Campus Safety that will oversee the UCLA Police Department.

To best protect our community moving forward, urgent changes are needed in how we administer safety operations, Block said in the May 5 statement.

Sporadic disruptions continued following the dismantling of a pro-Palestinian encampment and some 200 arrests on April 30.

Block has been summoned to Washington by a Republican-led House committee to testify Thursday about the protests on the Los Angeles campus.

The union that represents more than 250 officers who police the 10 UC campuses criticized Thomas' reassignment.

The UCLA administration owns the failure of any protest response, and the public should reject their attempts to shift blame to law enforcement, Wade Stern, president of the Federated University Peace Officers' Association, said in a statement Wednesday. The response to protests appears ad hoc and devoid of the structured planning mandated by the UC system.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The police chief for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has been temporarily reassigned after violence erupted at pro-Palestine protests on the universitys campus.

In a statement about campus security processes, Mary Osako, the vice chancellor for the universitys strategic communications, said the school named Gawin Gibson as the acting chief of police Tuesday.

John Thomas as been reassigned temporarily, pending an examination of our security processes, the statement said. As we said on May 5, UCLA created a new Office of Campus Safety that is leading a thorough examination of our security processes aimed at enhancing the well-being and safety of our community.

Its not known where Thomas was reassigned and if he still works for the universitys police department, or when he would be returning to his previous position.

UCLA was one of many universities across the country to grapple with pro-Palestine demonstrations on campus. Students set up an encampment while calling for their school to divest from Israeli companies or companies that provide weapons to Israel in the ongoing war with Hamas.

Pro-Israel counterprotesters clashed with the demonstrators in late April. Counterprotesters attempted to breach barriers erected by the university to separate the two protest groups, resulting in physical altercations.

Thomas told the Los Angeles Times in early May that he tried everything I could to keep students safe during the altercation. Still, his response was criticized, and the university ordered a review of its safety procedures, The Associated Press (AP) reported.

Police began dismantling the pro-Palestine encampment, and there were some 200 arrests on April 30, the AP noted.

After the altercation, Osako released a statement denouncing the clash and said the university is heartbroken that violence broke out since the school has a long history of being a place for peaceful protests.

The Hill has reached out to the UCLA Police Department for further comment on Thomass reassignment.

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 The Hill.
A pro-Palestinian encampment is seen cordoned off by stanchions on the UCLA campus on April 28. On Thursday, UCLA announced the reassignment of its chief of police following violence that erupted at the encampment days after this photo was taken. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

May 23 (UPI) -- The chief of police at the University of California, Los Angeles, has been temporarily reassigned following violence that erupted on campus earlier this month centered on a pro-Palestinian encampment.

Mary Osako, vice chancellor for UCLA Strategic Communications, made the announcement in a statement Wednesday, saying John Thomas has been temporarily reassigned "pending an examination of our security processes."

Gawin Gibson was named acting chief of police, effective Tuesday, she said.

The brief statement did not say to where Thomas was being reassigned, nor how long the reassignment would last.

The reassignment comes after UCLA announced May 5, the creation of a new Office of Campus Safety, which is leading an examination of the university's security processes after demonstrations on campus escalated to violence .

Like many universities throughout the country, a pro-Palestine encampment was erected on UCLA campus on April 25.

Days later, people the school described as "instigators" attacked the encampment, igniting clashes between pro-Palestine protesters and counter-protesters.

The school then requested assistance from police who forcibly dismantled the encampment, arresting more than 200 people in the process.

On Saturday, the Academic Senate of UCLA voted against issuing a "no confidence" vote against Chancellor Gene Block over his handling of the conflict.
UCLA protesters climb up a ladder at Kerckhoff Hall as they try to build a new Palestinian solidarity encampment on Thursday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

More than two dozen officers in riot gear descended on UCLA Thursday afternoon, facing off with pro-Palestinian protesters who had erected a new encampment on campus hours earlier.

The move came amid escalating tensions between pro-Palestinian students and their faculty allies and administrators on the Westwood campus. The academic workers union announced Thursday that its ongoing strike over working conditions would expand to UCLA and UC Davis on Tuesday.

Union members contend that their free speech rights were violated when UC system leaders called on police to forcibly remove pro-Palestinian encampments at several campuses, including at UCLA.

Its a very fraught, violent environment that the administration has created here," said Vincent Doehr, a graduate student and union member. The disruption to campus today is coming from administration shutting down this entire area due to an encampment thats simply in the courtyard of one building."

What started as a small group of protesters setting up a few tents on the Kerckhoff patio Thursday morning had grown to several hundred supporters, including academic union members, outside the encampment by the afternoon. Police pushed back the crowd, which eventually retreated to another area of campus near Murphy Hall, and tore down the encampment and wood pallets surrounding it.

A campus spokesperson said no arrests had been reported by Thursday afternoon. It was not clear whether anyone had been injured.

Protesters fill Dodd Hall at UCLA on Thursday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Video from the scene showed protesters marching through Dodd Hall chanting, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." A Palestinian flag hung from a second-floor window of Dodd Hall.

Sebastian Cazares, a UCLA grad student and a local education and civil rights organizer, said the new encampment was set up to show that "police repression could not stop this movement."

Despite the fact that this is a peaceful movement, theyre still learning no lessons and sending out militarized law enforcement in response," he said.

Doehr said he hoped the strike would prompt the university to "negotiate in good faith with the movement for divestment, rather than calling the police on students every time they protest."

Pro-Palestinian protesters lock arms as police move in to remove a new encampment at UCLA. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)

According to the union, dozens of academic workers are still facing criminal charges, disciplinary action or both. Many are barred from campus, the union said, including campus housing and classes they may teach or attend.

Hours before police arrived, campus officials had warned those in the encampment to disperse or face potential disciplinary and legal action.

"Law enforcement is prepared to arrest individuals, in accordance with applicable law," administrators wrote in a letter to protesters. "We remain committed to supporting the safety and well-being of Bruins, supporting the free expression rights of our community, and minimizing disruption to our teaching and learning mission."

By the afternoon, a handful of students in kaffiyehs sat outside the north end of the encampment, sharing drinks and snacks. They were there to show support for the protesters, one said. A small crowd gathered on the south end of the encampment, some holding signs that read, UAW rank & file workers for Palestine. Protesters marched in a circle outside the nearby Mathematical Sciences Building, chanting, Free Palestine.

Demonstrators gather outside Murphy Hall on the Westwood campus on Thursday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Police tape blocked off the entrance to the encampment, and officers prevented people from entering the area. At one point, protesters surged past the police tape to deliver water to the site. Classes held in the buildings surrounding the encampment were shifted online.

Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck and Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Safety Rick Braziel said in a statement that the "demonstrators' activities  including erecting barricades, establishing fortifications, and blocking access to parts of the campus and buildings  are disrupting campus operations."

The police response to the encampment came on the same day that UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, who has led the university amid months of tense protests over the Israel-Hamas war, testified before a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism.

Read more: 'You should be ashamed,' congresswoman rails against UCLA chancellor during antisemitism hearing

Dana Kopel, a second-year PhD student at UCLA who is a supporter of Palestinian solidarity actions on campus, said the congressional inquiry was "part of the larger process in the U.S. to frame antisemitism as a means to suppress student protest and the justification for the violent suppression of student protests at UCLA and elsewhere."

A woman is helped up after taking a fall as police pushed protesters. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Some Jewish students on campus said they felt intimidated by the initial encampment as protesters scrawled graffiti such as "Death 2 Zionism" on campus buildings and blocked access. The phrase "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," which is frequently used at protests, has also been seen as antisemitic among certain groups, including the Anti-Defamation League.

Kopel said students involved in the protests have "remained steadfast" in their support for Palestinians and their goal to end the bloodshed in Gaza.

"So many of these students faced such intense violence just a few weeks ago," Kopel said. "I think that's why there's a real effort to communicate that the risks of this are high. The university has made it clear and the government has made it clear that they want to suppress the solidarity movement at all costs."

In early May, more than 200 people were arrested on the UCLA campus as police dismantled tents and pushed out protesters in a clash that lasted hours. The police operation capped two days of upheaval on the campus that began when school officials declared the encampment "unlawful" and continued when a group of pro-Israeli counterprotesters attacked the camp, with police taking hours to stop the violence.

Officers from the Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Culver City police departments confronted protesters Thursday at UCLA. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Rafael Jaime, a UCLA graduate student and local union president, was at the encampment during the attack in late April and witnessed firsthand what he said was the university's inaction.

I was there for many hours while the university stood by and allowed the attack to continue, he said. The university has engaged in very serious unlawful behavior that resulted in many of us getting hurt.

Read more: A staggering two weeks at UCLA: Protest, violence, division mark 'dark chapter'

UCLA officials have been sharply criticized over their handling of the situation. UCLA Police Chief John Thomas on Wednesday was removed from his post and reassigned over security failures that led to violence at the encampment. Thomas, who did not return phone calls this week seeking comment, defended his actions in a previous interview and said he did the best he could.

UCLA, like other universities across the country, has emerged as a hotbed of pro-Palestinian activism in recent months.

Students, faculty and staff have erected makeshift camps and demanded an end to Israels war in the Gaza Strip and that their universities divest from companies that sell weapons or services to Israel. Several camps, including one at Cal State Los Angeles, remain active. Others, including one at USC and another at UC Irvine, have been dismantled by police in recent weeks.

Read more: UC seeks injunction to halt strike as academic workers threaten to expand walkouts

Union leaders have demanded protection for free speech on campus; amnesty for all academic employees, students, student groups, faculty and staff who face disciplinary action or arrest due to participation in protests; and divestment by the university from weapons manufacturers, military contractors and companies profiting from Israels war on Gaza.

In response, the university has asked the state labor board to seek a court injunction to halt the strike, contending that the action is illegal.

UCLA graduate student and elected union leader Anny Viloria Winnett said its essential that workers go on strike to stand up for a safe environment and free speech.

There is no existential threat larger for a union than not being able to speak our mind and protest, she said.

Times staff writers Jaweed Kaleem, Richard Winton and Teresa Watanabe contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Howard Michael Phillips, a 64-year-old Londoner, was arrested by British law enforcement officers on May 23 on charges that he was assisting Russian intelligence operate in the U.K.

There has been an uptick in Russia-linked espionage cases across Europe in recent months, with suspected spies or saboteurs being arrested in the U.K., Poland, Germany, Greece, Austria, Latvia, Italy, Estonia, and other countries.

U.K. authorities did not clarify the specifics of Phillips' alleged espionage activities but said that there was unlikely to be a threat to the general public.

Phillips was charged under the U.K.'s new National Security Act powers, which was passed in 2023 and enables police to detain suspects without a warrant if they "reasonably" believe they are engaging in "foreign power threat activity."

A U.K. man with alleged ties to the Wagner mercenary group was arrested in April for allegedly trying to organize an arson plot after reportedly being recruited as a Russian spy.

The suspect, 20-year-old Dylan Earl, was also charged under the National Security Act powers.

Read also: Russias latest offensive into Kharkiv Oblast is stretching Ukrainian defenses

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Ukraine downs another Russian Su-25 fighter jet in second reported shoot-down in one day

Ukraine's 110th Mechanized Brigade said it shot down a Russian Su-25 jet on May 23, making it the second reported downing of a Russian plane within the same day.

It is reportedly the sixth Russian Su-25 jet that Ukraine has shot down this month.

The 110th Mechanized Brigade said it was downed in Donbas but did not specify exactly where. Donbas is an industrial region in the east of Ukraine that comprises Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Russia currently controls most of both regions.

The Soviet-designed Su-25, nicknamed "Frogfoot" by NATO, is a heavily armored ground-attack aircraft that provides close air support for Russian ground troops.

Ukraine previously claimed that it destroyed Su-25s on May 4, May 11, May 13, and May 18.

Another Su-25 plane was shot down earlier in the day on May 23.

The General Staff said on May 23 that Russia has lost over 350 planes since the launch of the full-scale invasion.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these figures.

Read also: Russias latest offensive into Kharkiv Oblast is stretching Ukrainian defenses

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, has urged world leaders to be more decisive in their counteraction against Russias terror after the new heinous Russian attack on the city of Kharkiv and Kharkiv Oblast, calling on them to allow Ukraine to effectively destroy Russian launchers on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Source: Zelenskyy on social media

Quote: "An extremely heinous Russian attack against Kharkiv and Liubotyn  early reports say, 15 missiles at once were launched. Sadly, people have been killed and injured. Emergency services are already on the site of the attacks, and every person injured will receive the necessary treatment.

The Russian terrorists [soldiers  ed.] benefit from the lack of air defence in Ukraine and its inability to destroy the missile launchers of the terrorists at their exact locations near our borders. And this weakness is not our weakness but the weakness of the world which, for more than two years, has not had enough courage to give the terrorists the treatment they deserve."

Details: Zelenskyy stressed that the terror must be defeated everywhere, under any circumstances and in any continent. And this is a duty of everyone in the world who is able to protect life from terror. Ukraine does everything within its power but more decisiveness from world leaders is needed.

Background: On 23 May Russian troops launched about 15 strikes with S-300 or S-400 missiles on civilian infrastructure of the city of Kharkiv and Kharkiv Oblast. Early reports say that 6 people were killed and 13 more were injured in the attack.

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MEXICO CITY, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Thursday lamented the deadly collapse of a stage at a political rally in northern Mexico, and ordered an investigation into the incident.

"We send our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. We are very sorry," Lopez Obrador said during his daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City.

Nine people were killed and many others were injured Wednesday when strong winds knocked down a giant screen and overhead lights, which came crashing down onto a group of people standing on and around the stage at a campaign stop in San Pedro Garza Garcia, in the northern state of Nuevo Leon.

Lopez Obrador expressed solidarity with Citizens' Movement, the political party that organized the event for its presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez, who was not injured, and said that authorities would investigate the incident.

For now, the priority is to care for the injured and "save lives, that is the most important thing," he added.

According to Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia on Thursday morning, 70 people were still hospitalized.

Mexico will hold general elections on June 2 to elect Lopez Obrador's successor, as well as several governors, mayors and lawmakers. 
Ukraine marks Heroes Day on 23 May, honouring the people who have become a strong shield of the Ukrainian will, a pillar of its sovereignty and independence.

Source: Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), in a video message

Quote: "Ukrainian knights have been guarding their country since the days of Kyivan Rus and the Cossacks. They crushed invaders and led victorious raids into the territory of the eternal enemy. Ukrainians became an example of unbreakable resilience during the national liberation struggle of the 20th century, continuing the tradition of developing the state. This path needs to be completed. It falls to us to do so.

From the past to the present, Ukraine's heroes have been united by a single spirit. Every day of fighting for the truth is a tough test of strength, courage, and faith. But despite all the trials, Ukraine's future solidly rests in the ranks of free democratic nations.

The military, police, border guards, medics, emergency workers, community and military volunteers. Everyone fighting back against the Russian aggression deserves the highest respect and recognition."

Details: Budanov emphasised that any foe encroaching on the principles and will of Ukrainians will pay the highest price.

For reference: Heroes Day is a day dedicated to those who have fought for Ukraine's freedom, from the knights of Kyivan Rus to the participants of the Revolution of Dignity, ATO/Joint Forces Operations fighters in Donbas, and the present-day defenders of Ukraine. [The ATO or Anti-Terrorist Operation is a term used from 2014 to 2018 by the media, the government of Ukraine and the OSCE to identify combat actions in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts against Russian military forces and pro-Russian separatists  ed.]

The Army Inform news outlet noted that the idea of a memorable date that would honour heroic fighters originated in the national liberation movement during World War II. It was introduced by a resolution of the Second Great Assembly of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists in April 1941. Subsequently, the Ukrainian diaspora has marked Heroes Day. In independent Ukraine, the Heroes Day became more widely marked after Russia's invasion in 2014.

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Ukraine war latest: Syrskyi says Russia is 'completely bogged down' in Vovchansk street fighting

Key updates on May 23:

Syrskyi: Russia 'completely bogged down' in Vovchansk street fighting, deploys reserves

Ukraine's military intelligence confirms drone attack on Russia's Tatarstan Republic

Russian attack on Kharkiv kills 7, injures 21

Ukraine downs another Russian Su-25 fighter jet in second shootdown reported in one day

Norway announces new $190 million package of military assistance for Ukraine

Russian troops are "completely bogged down" in street battles for the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, having suffered "very heavy losses," Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on May 23.

Russia launched a new offensive on May 10 in northern Kharkiv Oblast. Moscow's forces had managed to advance as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) into the region but had been halted by the first line of defense, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 16.

Russian troops are now deploying their reserves from different sectors, but fail to support active assault operations in the region, Syrskyi said.

Russia also switched to active defense near the village of Lyptsi, where its forces are mining the surrounding area and striking at Ukrainian soldiers' positions, according to the general.

Fighting is reportedly ongoing also in a forest area north of the city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast.

"The situation is difficult in the area of Kyslivka, where the enemy is trying to break through our defense and reach the Oskil River," Syrskyi said.

The general described the fighting in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove sectors as "the most intense and fierce."

Russian troops are reportedly trying to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops on a narrow section of the front between the settlements of Staromykhailivka and Berdychi.

Intense fighting is also taking place near the village of Ivanivske and the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, Syrskyi said. Russian forces are trying to "cling to the town at any cost," using modern equipment, he added.

Russia's offensive in Kharkiv Oblast in mid-May could be the first of several waves, and Russian forces may target the regional capital, Kharkiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Read also: Governor: Around 100 civilians remain in Vovchansk, Russians have threatened to shoot them

Ukraine's military intelligence confirms drone attack on Russia's Tatarstan Republic

Ukraine's military intelligence agency confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that it was behind a drone attack targeting Russian military facilities in Russia's Tatarstan Republic on May 23.

A source from the agency said the drones had reached the cities of Nizhnekamsk and Kazan, but did not specify the extent of the damage caused.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed earlier in the day that air defenses had shot down a Ukrainian drone in the area.

Russian Telegram channels shared videos showing a drone-like aerial vehicle above Nizhnekamsk and rising smoke.

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency said that restrictions had been imposed on the departure and arrival of planes at Nizhnekamsk and Kazan airports around that time.

Rustem Nuriev, the mayor of the town of Yelabuga, claimed that a drone was downed in the Yelabuga disctrict. Yelabuga lies some 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border. No casualties or damages were reported.

Ukrainian forces struck production facilities in Tatarstan's Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk for the first time on April 2, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) reported. The targets were an oil refinery and a manufacturing facility for the Shahed-type attack drones, which Russia regularly uses in attacks against Ukraine.

Soon after, on April 17, a factory in Tatarstan producing bomber aircraft for the Russian military was also attacked by Ukrainian drones, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) source told the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: How Ukraine hit a Russian drone factory 1,300 kilometers away

Russian attack on Kharkiv kills 7, injures 21

Russian forces launched attacks against Kharkiv Oblast on May 23, killing at least seven people in Kharkiv and injuring at least 21, as well as at least 11 elsewhere in the oblast, as reported by local officials and a Kyiv Independent reporter.

Kharkiv and other regional settlements have suffered increasingly intense strikes since Russia launched a new offensive in the oblast on May 10.

The Kyiv Independent journalist reported several explosions in Kharkiv at 10:30 a.m. local time. Governor Oleh Syniehubov and Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that around 10 blasts could be heard in the city.

The attacks targeted transportation infrastructure in the Kholodnohirskyi district and a building of a communal services company, the mayor said.

A printing shop in Kharkiv's Osnovianskyi district suffered a direct hit, resulting in a fire, the governor said, adding that more than 50 employees were inside during the attack. The shop reportedly belonged to the Faktor Druk printing house.

The seven people who were killed were the shop's employees, including five women and one man, Syniehubov said on Telegram, adding that information about the seventh victim is still being clarified.

They were "in the very epicenter" of that strike, Syniehubov told reporters in a briefing attended by the Kyiv Independent journalist.

Russian forces carried out 15 strikes against Kharkiv and the Kharkiv district, probably with S-300 missiles, the regional prosecutor's office spokesperson, Dmytro Chubenko, told Suspilne.

Oleksandr Filchakov, the head of the regional prosecutor's office, confirmed for the Kyiv Independent that Russia attacked the city with S-300 missiles.

At least two people were injured in Zolochiv, a village around 35 kilometers (over 20 miles) north of Kharkiv, and at least seven others in Liubotyn, a town some 15 kilometers (9 miles) west of the regional center, according to officials.

In Liubotyn, S-300 missiles hit the area of the railway station, Chubenko said. A park, cars, and shops were also damaged, according to the Prosecutor General's Office.

Zolochiv was hit by guided aerial bombs, dealing damage to a local kindergarten, Syniehubov reported.

Ukrainian Railways reported that six of their workers had been injured in attacks against Kharkiv Oblast, and several of their facilities were hit both in Kharkiv and elsewhere.

Around four hours after the initial attack, Russia carried out two aerial strikes with KAB bombs against Kharkiv and a nearby town of Derhachi, Syniehubov reported.

Two people  a man and a woman  were injured in Derhachi and hospitalized, local authorities said. Four other people suffered from shock.

Read also: Russias latest offensive into Kharkiv Oblast is stretching Ukrainian defenses

Ukraine downs another Russian Su-25 fighter jet in second shootdown reported in one day

Ukraine's 110th Mechanized Brigade said it shot down a Russian Su-25 jet on May 23, making it the second downing of a Russian plane reported on that day.

It is reportedly the sixth Russian Su-25 jet that Ukraine has shot down this month.

The 110th Mechanized Brigade said it was downed in Donbas but did not specify exactly where. Donbas is an industrial region in the east of Ukraine that comprises Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Russia currently controls most of both regions.

The Soviet-designed Su-25, nicknamed "Frogfoot" by NATO, is a heavily armored ground-attack aircraft that provides close air support for Russian ground troops.

Ukraine previously claimed that it destroyed Su-25s on May 4, May 11, May 13, and May 18.

The General Staff reported on another Su-25 shot down earlier during the day.

The General Staff said on May 23 that Russia has lost over 350 planes since the launch of the full-scale invasion.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these figures.

Read also: 48 hours in Kharkiv, Ukraines most-bombed major city

Norway announces new $190 million package of military assistance for Ukraine

Norway announced a new package of military assistance for Ukraine on May 23 worth around 150 million British pounds ($190 million).

The package is under the auspices of the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), which is collectively financed by the U.K., the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, and Iceland. The support will go toward air defense, naval capabilities, radar, anti-drone systems, and boats.

"We stand with and support Ukraine as long as necessary," said Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram.

"(Ukrainians) have an urgent need for more weapons and military equipment. Support through international funds is one of many important contributions."

Norway has recently ramped up efforts to increase defense production, both for domestic needs and for aid to Ukraine. Oslo allocated 2 billion Norwegian kroner ($190 million) in January for Ukrainian aid.

According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), which tracks international aid for Ukraine, Norway has committed more than $2 billion to Ukraine as of February 2024.

Read also: Norway to further restrict entry for Russian tourists

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine's Defence Intelligence on situation in Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts: This is not an assault on Kharkiv

As of the end of May, Russian forces were still conducting border operations in Kharkiv Oblast, but there was no attempt to assault the city of Kharkiv. In Sumy Oblast, the Russian plans and actions are closely monitored, Ukraines Defence Intelligence assures.

Source: Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Ukraines Defence Intelligence, on the air of the national 24/7 newscast

Details: Yusov asserts that the Russians did not even come close to achieving what they had planned due to the actions of Ukraine's Security and Defence Forces.

In general, the Russians gathered their forces near Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts, numbering more than 50,000.

Regarding the fighting in Kharkiv Oblast, Yusov noted that "at the moment what we see is an operation in border oblasts. What is happening is not an assault on Kharkiv."

Regarding the threats to the Sumy front, Yusov emphasised the following: "Of course, if there are any concerns, they will be disclosed properly. The situation is well recognised, as are the enemy's plans and resources."

Quote: "If there are reasons for concern, there will definitely be official reports about them. We are well aware of the situation, as well as of the plans and resources of the enemy."

Background: Russian troops expanded the area of combat actions by almost 70 kilometres, thus attempting to force Ukrainian troops to deploy additional brigades from the reserve.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, expects heavy fighting in Kharkiv Oblast since he knows that the Russians are preparing to attempt further offensives.

Russian ruler Vladimir Putin stated that "as of today", Russia does not plan to seize the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

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Ukraine's Foreign Minister on Russian attacks on Kharkiv: Words of solidarity do not intercept Russian missiles

Following the Russian bombings on Kharkiv and Liubotyn in Kharkiv Oblast, which resulted in casualties and destruction, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stressed the necessity of additional Patriot air defence missiles.

Source: Kuleba on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

Details: The minister stated that the tragic attack by the Russian Federation should remind everyone in the world that Ukraine still urgently requires seven Patriot systems. Germany has already pledged to provide one.

Quote: "But getting six more as soon as possible remains critical not only for Ukraines survival but for peace in Europe," Kuleba said.

He went on to say that each day of delay and debate costs lives and brings the potential of a broader war in Europe closer.

"No naming and shaming, but I once again urge countries that have Patriots to speed up decisions and provide these systems to Ukraine. I believe that seven Patriot systems are not a high price to pay for long-term peace in Europe. But they are needed now, not tomorrow. Unfortunately, mere words of solidarity do not intercept Russian missiles," the minister said.

Currently, Germany is the only NATO country that answered Ukraine's request for additional Patriot missiles, with training already beginning.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis stated yesterday that providing Ukraine with the Romanian Patriot system must not impair the country's air defence.

Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, asks for "bold decisions" from the US in anticipation of the needed Patriot air defence systems.

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Lviv has hosted a "Russian Opposition Forum in Support of Ukraine," supposedly attended by 40 Russian opposition groups. Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, has supported such events as they "bring the end of the Putin regime closer".

Source: the website of Ukraines Defence Intelligence; Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi; former member of Russian State Duma Ilya Ponomarev; RusMonitor media outlet

Details: The forum was attended by more than 40 participants from leading opposition groups.

Representatives of three volunteer Russian battalions that fought on the side of Ukraine took part in the event, as well as representatives of the Office of Ukraines President and the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament).

The resolution adopted at the end of the event states that the participants express their support for the peace initiatives of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which he voices before the International Peace Conference in Switzerland.

The resolution reads: "The end of the war and the creation of sustainable peace and security in Europe, as well as the punishment of war criminals and fair compensation for Ukraine for the damage caused by the hostilities, are impossible without a change of government and the democratic restructuring of Russia."

Details: Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi reacted to the fact that such a forum was held, saying that he had sent inquiries to the relevant authorities.

Quote from Sadovyi: "They say that a forum of some Russian opposition is taking place in Lviv today. The participants are allegedly Khodorkovsky, Kasparov, Feigin, Shenderovich and other names I don't know very well. Who knows if this is a joke? I have already sent a request to the relevant authorities".

Details: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported that the forum was attended by representatives of the political and armed opposition to Putin's regime, including delegates from volunteer units fighting in the Ukrainian Defence Forces.

Quote from Defence Intelligence of Ukraine: "Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, supported the holding of such an event as one of the manifestations of the struggle against the Kremlin dictatorship, which also contributes to Ukraine's victory over the aggressor state.

Such events bring the end of Putin's regime closer and contribute to the consolidation of all forces aimed at overthrowing the dictatorship in Russia and defeating the Kremlin in the war against Ukraine."

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Vasyl Maliuk, the head of Ukraine's Security Service (SSU), has confirmed that Sea Baby uncrewed surface drones have been equipped with Grad multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), and that Ukraine's Defence Forces have already hit four Russian ships with the upgraded drone.

Source: Maliuk during a summit of the fundraising platform UNITED24, as reported by the SSU press service

Details: Maliuk said the SSU first employed a Sea Baby drone fitted with a Grad MLRS in December 2023, and four Russian ships have been hit in this way.

Another of the main targets, Maliuk emphasised, is the Crimean Bridge, which the SSU has already hit twice using Sea Baby drones.

A Sea Baby uncrewed surface drone equipped with a Grad MLRS

Photo: Security Service of Ukraine

The drones have been used to hit 11 Russian ships.

Quote: "Our brothers-in-arms from Ukrainian Defence Intelligence and the Navy then joined us. And now we have a lot of trophies. The SSU has struck 11 enemy ships. And weve effectively pushed the Russian fleet into the Bay of Novorossiysk. But weve even got them there  we hit the large landing ship Olenegorsky Gornyak."

Background:

Sources in Ukraines Security Service told Ukrainska Pravda on 22 May that Sea Baby naval drones have been equipped with Grad systems. The upgraded drone has already been tested, taking out Russians on the Kinburn Spit.

Reference: Sea Baby uncrewed surface drones were developed by Ukraine's Security Service. During 2022-2023, SSU drones attacked the Russian frigates Admiral Makarov and Admiral Essen, as well as the minesweeper Ivan Golubets, the patrol ship Ladny, the missile carriers Samum and Buyan, the patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin, the multipurpose tugboat Professor Nikolai Muru, and the large hydrographic survey ship Vladimir Kozitsky.

A Sea Baby can carry 850 kg of explosives, accelerate to 90 kph, and cover a distance of 1,000 km. Its body is made of a material that radar cannot detect.

Each Sea Baby drone costs UAH 8.5 million (approx. US$213,000).

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Ukraine's 57th Motorized Brigade is one infantry unit among many battling the new Russian offensive North of Kharkiv, and it was also amongst the first to engage the Russians as they pushed over the border.

ABC News sat down in a rare interview with Col. Oleksandr Bakulin, commander of the 57th, alongside a senior Army leader at a secret location. The military leaders talked about the latest Russian offensive, how the lack of ammunition and weapons, particularly those from America, has impacted this war in recent months and the morale of his soldiers, who had to retreat and cede territory and who are now having to fight Russians in areas that they had driven Russians from in 2022.

With the Russian offensive, the situation right now in the Northern Kharkiv region is quite difficult, Bakulin said.

The battles are going on. We managed to slow down the enemy, he said.

PHOTO: Col. Oleksandr Bakulin, of Ukraine's 57th Motorized Brigade, speaks with ABC News' Foreign Correspondent James Longman in a secret location near Kharkiv, Ukraine. (ABC News)

MORE: Austin says 'expectation' is Ukraine won't use US weapons outside its territory, despite Russian advance

The Ukrainian military have stabilized the front and, for now, Russian forces are no longer advancing as rapidly as they did in the opening days of their offensive. But the Russians are still making incremental gains.

Bakulin said that the Russians still have reserves and will bring these reserve[s] into the battle.

About $60 billion in American military aid to Ukraine has recently been approved but the weapons and ammunition are still not here and the shortfall of over the last few months has had a real impact on the fighting.

We do understand how crucial this [US] aid is, Bakulin said. The whole the world understands. Yes, our soldiers are brave and courageous, but without this aid, these weapons, shells, everything, without this we would not be able to keep fighting in a war against Russia, just because we are way smaller than Russia.

Bakulin acknowledged the withdrawals but said it was a normal part of the ebb and flow of warfare. Hes made clear hes been enjoying being close to the Russian border.

Firing at Russians in the Russian territory is way more pleasant than firing at them on the Ukrainian soil, he said.

Despite the advances made but the Russians, he pushed back at the idea that Ukraine is losing the war, saying, I personally think that we have already won this war. The question is at what point it is going to end, and at what stage.

Bakulin said he predicts that in the end this war will be ended by a deal, saying, Every war ends in peace talks and deals.

PHOTO: Col. Oleksandr Bakulin, of Ukraine's 57th Motorized Brigade, speaks with ABC News' Foreign Correspondent James Longman in a secret location near Kharkiv, Ukraine. (ABC News)

MORE: 'The world's fault': Zelenskyy speaks out amid Russian assault

And he even seemed to accept that in order for this to happen territory might need to be given up, citing the experience of nearby Finland.

Little Finland once fought against big USSR, Bakulin said. Yes, it lost some territories. But it still does exist as a country and Russia doesn't even look in that direction. We are in a similar position, but I hope we will not lose our land.

The war is far from over and the lack of heavy weaponry is still operationally critical. He put it succinctly when asked about the casualties caused by the lack of armaments, saying The sweat of the artillery soldiers saves the blood of the infantry soldiers. But if there is only sweat without the shells, then infantry soldiers pay it with their blood.

Bakulin said he accepts that Amercian support is essential for fighting the war, despite some dissent in Congress over how much funding the U.S. has pledged to Ukraine.

I understand that we spent the money of their taxpayers. Money of the citizens of these countries. We understand this, Bakulin said. But we are fighting because we want to be with you; to be a part of the civilized world. We want to play in your team. Yes, we are going through hard times now. But I believe that we are fighting for the values that U.S. propagates in the world and it has always stood by these values.

Ukrainian colonel presses for more US arms as his brigade battles Russian onslaught: Reporters notebook originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Khmelnytskyi City District Court released the first two prisoners from serving their sentences, as they expressed a desire to be mobilised; another 50 similar cases will be considered by the court on 22 May.

Source: the court's press office

Details: The first court decisions were delivered on 21 May. Submissions from the Khmelnytskyi pre-trial detention centre for the conditional early release of convicted individuals to undergo military service were considered via video conference.

Two men (about 23 and 42), who are residents of villages in the Khmelnytskyi and Krasyliv districts in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, were convicted of theft in October and November 2022 to four years and nine months, and five years and five months of imprisonment respectively. They expressed a desire to serve in the military under contract.

The rulings state that both men passed professional and psychological evaluation, and have a sufficient level of physical fitness to fulfil their new duties.

After the court decisions are made, the Khmelnytskyi pre-trial detention centre must release the men conditionally early to undergo military service under contract without delay, but no later than 24 hours after the rulings take effect. The National Guard units are to transport them to the Khmelnytskyi Territorial Recruitment Centre so that they sign contracts and commence the military service.

The court also ruled that the men will be under administrative supervision for one year, but not longer than until their release from military service. This supervision will be carried out by the commanders of the military units where they will serve under contract.

The individuals who are released conditionally early are prohibited from leaving the location of their military unit and travelling for personal matters without their commander's permission. The court emphasises that each ruling is subject to immediate execution, but may be appealed to the Khmelnytskyi Court of Appeal within seven days from the announcement of the ruling.

Reportedly, on 22 May, the Khmelnytskyi City District Court will consider another 50 submissions for the conditional early release of convicted individuals who said they wanted to be mobilised.

Background:

On 8 May, the Ukrainian parliament adopted a law providing for the voluntary mobilisation of certain categories of prisoners. Individuals who committed premeditated murder, rapists and paedophiles, corrupt officials, those who committed crimes against the foundations of Ukraine's national security, or held a particularly responsible position, including MPs and ministers, cannot be mobilised into the Armed Forces.

All other prisoners who could potentially be mobilised would be subject to the same condition: they must have no more than three years of their sentence left to serve.

Ukrainian Justice Minister Denys Maliuska believes that 10,000 to 20,000 convicts could be conscripted from the country's prisons, not least because Ukraine's detention facilities are overcrowded.

On 21 May, it was reported that over 3,000 Ukrainian convicts applied for conditional early release to participate in the defence of Ukraine.

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A court in Ukraine's Khmelnytskyi Oblast ruled on May 22 to release two prisoners who have volunteered to join the army, marking the first instance in which prisoners were freed from detention on the condition they enter military service.

Ukraine's parliament passed a bill on May 8 that permits those convicted of certain offenses to serve in the military, paving the way for the voluntary mobilization of prisoners. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the bill into law on May 17.

The proposal was first submitted to the parliament in March as part of Ukraine's efforts to replenish the ranks of the Armed Forces amid the ongoing war with Russia.

The court said that the two men had been convicted of theft in 2022 and sentenced to four years and nine months and five years and five months in prison, respectively.

The parolees must be placed under the supervision of the military units they enroll in, and are unable to leave their units without the permission of their commanders.

The court will also consider the cases of 50 other convicts who have expressed an interest in joining the army.

Justice Minister Denys Maliuska said earlier in May that Ukraine could fill its ranks with as many as 20,000 convicts in a move that would also help ease overcrowding in Ukrainian prisons.

Under the new rules, the list of convicted citizens who were allowed to be drafted does not include those convicted of premeditated murder, sexual violence, drug trafficking and production, or crimes against national security.

Based on suggestions of the anti-corruption parliamentary committee, the measure will also exclude lawmakers and top officials imprisoned for corruption, lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak said.

Read also: Defense Ministry: 700,000 draft-aged men update military documents after launch of online app

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Ukrainian defence forces shot down a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft on the Pokrovsk front on 22 May.

Source: report by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 22:00 on 22 May

Quote: "The number of attacks on the Pokrovsk front has risen to 25. In particular, the enemy is trying to break into our combat formations using assault groups and equipment. The situation remains tense, with nine combat clashes still ongoing. According to the information available, Ukrainian troops destroyed a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft."

Details: The General Staff says that on 22 May the Russian forces concentrated their efforts on Kharkiv Oblast, as well as on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove fronts in Donetsk Oblast.

Ukrainian aviation units and Rocket Forces and Artillery struck four clusters of Russian personnel, two command posts, two UAV command stations, one electronic warfare system, two guns and an S-400 air defence system.

Since the beginning of the day, 121 combat clashes have taken place. The Russians have launched four missile attacks using five missiles, 37 airstrikes using 47 guided aerial bombs, and 376 kamikaze drone strikes, and fired 3,280 times on Ukrainian positions using various types of weapons.

On the Kharkiv front, there were eight Russian attacks in the vicinity of the villages of Lyptsi and Starytsia. Since the beginning of the day, the Russian forces have lost 87 personnel and 21 pieces of military equipment.

On the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian defence forces repelled 22 attacks. Four combat clashes are still ongoing in the areas of Berestove and Makiivka.

On the Lyman front, six Russian attacks took place today.

Two attacks continue on the Siversk front in the vicinity of Vyimka. The situation is under control.

Quote: "The number of combat clashes on the Kramatorsk front has risen to 10. The Ukrainian defence forces have held their positions. Over the past day, the Russians have lost 58 people in this area (killed and wounded), and a T-90 tank, two armoured personnel carriers and four BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles have been destroyed. Two more infantry fighting vehicles were damaged.

On the Kurakhove front, fighting continues in the area of Heorhiivka. In total, the enemy has carried out 18 attacks on our troops since the beginning of the day in the areas of Novomykhailivka, Krasnohorivka, Kostiantynivka and Paraskoviivka."

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Ukrainian troops destroyed a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast on May 22, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said in an operational update.

This is the fifth Russian Su-25 jet that Ukraine has shot down this month.

The Soviet-designed Su-25, nicknamed "Frogfoot" by NATO, is a heavily armored ground-attack aircraft that provides close air support for Russian ground troops. The aircraft helps Russia carry out intense attacks in multiple sections of the eastern front, which covers much of Donetsk Oblast.

"According to available information, Ukrainian troops destroyed a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft," the General Staff reported.

The announcement said that fighting remains intense in the Pokrovsk sector of Donetsk Oblast, where the latest Russian plane was destroyed.

"The number of attacks in the Pokrovsk sector increased to 25," the General Staff reported.

"In particular, the enemy is trying to break into our combat formations with assault groups and equipment. The situation remains tense, with nine combat engagements still ongoing."

Ukraine previously claimed that it destroyed Su-25s on May 4, May 11, May 13, and May 18. The General Staff said on May 18 that Russia has lost over 350 planes since the launch of the full-scale invasion.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these figures.

Read also: Ukraines obsolete S-200 missile systems reportedly back on track to hit Russian targets

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The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) said on May 22 that it had searched the house of a detective of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).

The case involves alleged corruption at the President's Office, law enforcement sources told the Kyiv Independent. The President's Office and the NABU did not respond to requests for comment.

The investigation into the alleged leak led to anti-corruption activists questioning the NABU's ability to investigate top-level graft. The case also highlights an alleged conflict between the NABU and SAPO, which may thwart corruption investigations.

The prosecutors said they had opened a case into abuse of power and an alleged leak of investigative information by a NABU detective. The SAPO added that police officers had taken part in the searches.

The prosecutors also said they had not conducted any searches at the NABU premises.

The NABU said on May 23 that its internal audit unit had started a probe into the alleged leak.

"We are informing our SAPO colleagues that the NABU has enough resources for carrying out the investigation," the bureau said. "The NABU always guarantees independent, objective and comprehensive pre-trial investigation and expects our partners to have the same approach."

Online newspaper Ukrainska Pravda reported on May 22, citing its sources, that the SAPO was searching the house of NABU detective Valery Polyuha.

The searches are linked to a leak in the case into an alleged corruption scheme as part of the government's "Big Construction" project, a law enforcement source told the Kyiv Independent. The NABU detective allegedly leaked information in the interests of an influential businessman, Yury Holyk, according to the source.

"Big Construction", which is focused on infrastructure development, has been the flagship project of President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration. It has been heavily promoted in Zelensky's public relations campaigns.

Holyk has allegedly overseen an embezzlement scheme in the government's major construction projects, and his firm has obtained huge revenue from them, according to an investigation by the Bihus.info investigative journalism project, published in October.

The NABU has investigated Holyk, but no charges have been brought so far. Holyk denied the accusations of wrongdoing.

Even after the investigation started, Holyk regularly visited the President's Office in August, Bihus.info reported.

Apart from Holyk, Zelensky's former deputy chief of staff Kyrylo Tymoshenko and ex-Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Valentyn Reznichenko have also been investigated in the "Big Construction" corruption case, according to the law enforcement source.

The leak case was opened after the SAPO obtained correspondence, conducted in 2021-2023, between NABU detective Polyuha, an unidentified top NABU official, and Georgy Birkadze, an alleged intermediary and former head of the Brovary district administration, the source said.

Gizo Uglava, the NABU's first deputy chief, is also under investigation in the leak case, the law enforcement source said.

As a result of the leaks, most of the evidence in the "Big Construction" corruption case has been lost, and searches gave no results, the source said. Due to this, there is virtually no evidence against Holyk now, and there are no grounds to charge him, according to the source.

The source argued that the NABU's leadership and the bureau's internal audit unit had failed to react sufficiently to the leak and had done virtually nothing to investigate it. No one has been suspended, fired or charged over the leak, according to the source.

"The developments around NABU employees leaking information from the 'Big Construction' scheme in the interests of Holyk, a middleman who oversees the scheme for the President's Office, proves that the NABU apparently requires a deep overhaul," Vitaly Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center's executive board, wrote on Facebook on May 23. "The upcoming weeks will show whether the dismissal of some of the top NABU officials will be enough or the appointment of a new NABU head will be needed."

Shabunin argued that "it's impossible to investigate top-level corruption if the (NABU's) leadership leaks information to suspects."

He also wrote that NABU deputy head Uglava had been given total control over detectives and over investigative information.

This was done to make sure that Uglava is not held responsible for leaks and other violations, Shabunin claimed.

The NABU investigates top-level corruption cases, while the SAPO prosecutes them.

The two agencies are supposed to work in tandem but there have been conflicts between them in the past.

During one of these conflicts, the NABU released audio recordings implicating then Chief Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Nazar Kholodnytsky in wrongdoing in 2018. In the recordings, Kholodnytsky is heard pressuring anti-corruption prosecutors and courts, urging a witness to give false testimony, and tipping off suspects that their properties were about to be searched.

He denied the accusations of wrongdoing.

Read also: Ukraines anti-corruption bureau makes progress yet doesnt take on top presidential allies









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The growth trajectory of Bandhan Financial Holdings has been marked by a significant diversification of its business portfolio

A standardized governance framework is implemented at the parent company level to meet regulatory standards and internal guidelines. This framework includes rigorous monitoring and control mechanisms facilitated through regular audits and technical assessments. Acknowledging the operational complexities inherent in managing a diverse financial services group, the company tailors risk and compliance frameworks to the scale and maturity of each business segment. While autonomy is granted to individual operating companies in designing their frameworks, adherence to high standards of conduct and risk management is paramount. Further more, Bandhan Financial Holding appoints nominee directors to each operating entity, enhancing governance oversight and risk visibility.The growth trajectory of Bandhan Financial Holdings has been marked by a significant diversification of its business portfolio. Transitioning from a single business balance sheet to a multi-business financial services group, the company now boasts a robust presence across banking, mutual funds, and insurance sectors. The companys evolution into a comprehensive financial services provider underscores its commitment to strategic growth and market diversification. Notably, the mutual fund segment has emerged as a particular success story, with impressive performance metrics and high ratings bolstering its reputation as a formidable player in the industry. The companys foray into retail and equity funds has yielded promising results, with funds consistently ranking among the top performers.Moreover, integrating insurance offerings within the Bandhan ecosystem presents a significant opportunity to tap into the underpenetrated insurance market. Leveraging its strong brand presence and extensive distribution network, particularly in the countrys eastern region, Bandhan Financial Holdings is well-positioned to capitalize on this untapped market potential. The company remains poised for sustained growth and expansion in the coming years. With a solid foundation and a clear strategic vision, Bandhan Financial Holdings is primed to navigate evolving market dynamics and capitalize on emerging oppor-tunities, ensuring continued success in the foreseeable future.
The University of North Carolina Board of Governors has repealed funding tied to diversity, equity and inclusion programs, according to WTVD.

The board voted Thursday to replace its 2019 DEI policy, which required universities to share data on how they were promoting diversity and inclusion.

PREVIOUS: UNC System policy could dissolve diversity staff positions

The plan was put forward by a committee last month. The committee, which operates within the board, said the DEI programs go against institutional neutrality, WTVD reports. Each program would have needed to be adjusted by September.

Guidance on next steps will be shared with UNC System schools in the next few weeks, WTVD reports. Changes are expected to be in place by the 2024-2025 school year.

(WATCH BELOW: UNC Charlotte protesters march to chancellors house)

The Charlotte Engineering Early College held its graduation on Thursday.

Graduate Caden Byers had planned to take advantage of DEI programs.

I was going to use those programs and its unfortunate that they are no longer going to continue, Byers said. I think this puts us back a little bit in terms of making resources more available to different types of students. I feel like the choice should be reconsidered.

UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon Gaber posted a letter about the coming changes, which said in part, The policy is written such that it is effective immediately and institutions must certify their compliance on or before Sept. 1. But the university is waiting for the systems office to provide additional guidance. So, it may be several weeks before we have more information to share, but we will continue to keep our campus updated.

Kyle Bellamy is a junior at UNC Charlotte.

It seems to be going back to the 1960s where no one really has a voice, which is really unfortunate, Bellamy said.

He said the board is not listening to the students.

Its incredibly disappointing especially with all the offices that we have on campus with inclusivity, he said. It kind of feels like they are silencing voices, especially with the LGBTQ departments that we have on campus.

UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon Gabers full letter:

Dear Niner Nation,

Today, the UNC System Board of Governors passed a new policy that affects diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at North Carolina public universities. The policy is written such that it is effective immediately, and institutions must certify their compliance on or before September 1.

The System Office has indicated that it will provide additional guidance to help us establish appropriate next steps. It may be several weeks before we have more information to share, but we will continue to keep our campus updated.
UNC System President Peter Hans (Screengrab PBS NC/UNC Board of Governors)

The UNC Board of Governors voted Thursday to repeal the UNC Systems policy on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The motion was passed on a voice vote as part of the consent agenda, which included multiple action items. Two board members  Joel Ford and Sonja Phillips Nichols, who are both Black  asked to be recorded as having voted no. Neither spoke publicly to explain their vote.

Prior to the action, UNC System President Peter Hans sought to frame the boards action as advancing the cause of neutrality.

Hans said it is good for college students to encounter both liberal and conservative perspectives. But it is vital, he argued, that college administrators stay out of the fray altogether and leaving faculty and students free to grapple with competing ideas.

Our public universities are here to serve everyone and ideally to challenge everyone. Thats the job, Hans said. Because were meant to host a wide range of ideas, concepts and theories, to be an intellectually rich forum for big and difficult questions, our public universitys must take a stance of principled neutrality on matters of political controversy.

Hans said he has heard from students, parents, alumni, and legislators in coming to this decision.

Hans said it is troubling that higher education has forfeited the publics confidence in recent years, in large part because of the perception that universities are overtly partisan.

Higher education does not exist to settle the most difficult debates in our democracy. Our role is to host those debates, to inform them to make them richer and more constructive. Thats a vital responsibility, and we cant fulfill it if our institutions are seen as partisan actors in one direction or another, said Hans.

Hans told the Board of Governors that principal neutrality protects the academic freedom of faculty, and enhances the free speech rights of students to voice opinions and peacefully protest.

Board of Governor's Secretary Pearl-Burris Floyd

Board of Governors member Gene Davis said that while the boards action does amend the university code as it relates to DEI, he does not view it as lessening the university systems commitment to diversity and inclusion or equality and equity.

As this measure expressly states, this is an opportunity for chancellors to double down on those programs that have worked in advancing the success of our students, which, from my perspective, is often the very programs that make all students feel more welcome and that make all students feel as though they belong, offered Davis.

As a former equity and inclusion officer for Gaston County, board member Pearl-Burris Floyd said that she has learned that sometimes feeling uncomfortable helps one grow.

I ask that today, when we make this decision, that the leaders in our campuses will not feel as though weve turned our backs on them. But we are allowing our educators to educate, to lead with confidence, she said. Even if its not called diversity, equity, and inclusion, we have a way to help people and make that path forward clearer for all people. And yes, we can improve.

The duty to uphold DEI

While the action went ahead without voiced opposition inside UNC System office in Raleigh, where the board meeting was held, it did not go unopposed outside.

UNC students protest in downtown Raleigh ahead of Board of Governors' meeting. (Photo: Ahmed Jallow)

There, students from various UNC system universities held a press conference ahead of the vote calling on the board to keep DEI initiatives.

The truth is that UNC has never stood with people of color, weve always had to stand for ourselves, said Pragya Upreti, rising junior at UNC Chapel Hill during her speech. Upreti said she came to the rally because so much is at stake for her community.

Weve observed continuous and coordinated attacks on public education, and we have had enough. We know we have an obligation to ensure future generations of students feel protected and valued at this institution.

Liv Barefoot, the president-elect of UNC Ashevilles student body, said she came to Raleigh because DEI initiatives have been important to her development as a student, particularly the Office of Multicultural Affairs at UNC Asheville.

Barefoot countered critics who say DEI initiatives are political and privilege certain communities, arguing that DEI amplifies and represents underrepresented and marginalized voices, not privileging students over others.

Youre not privileging students over others, youre amplifying and representing underrepresented and marginalized communities.

Naila Din, a senator in the NC State student government and also the chair of the diversity inclusion outreach committee, said equity initiatives play an important role in ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, has access to educational resources and opportunities. Din said inclusion goes beyond mere representation. It fosters the creation of a supportive and welcoming atmosphere where each student feels not only valued for actively and encouraged to contribute regardless of their race, religion, gender, and socioeconomic status.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are the foundations of our ever-growing student population, and it is our duty to uphold them, Din said.

High school students from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics also joined the rally, expressing concern that eliminating the UNC Systems DEI policy could impact initiatives and programs at their school. NCSSM is one of 17 institutions within the system.

Many of the student comments echoed concerns voiced a day before the vote by North Carolina House Democrats, who warned that repealing the systems commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion would be detrimental to attracting and retaining top talent in North Carolina.

Read UNCs new equality policy here.

UNC students protest in downtown Raleigh ahead of Board of Governors' meeting. (Photo: Ahmed Jallow)

The post UNC Board of Governors repeals DEI policy, embraces principled neutrality appeared first on NC Newsline.
Programs and administrative positions supporting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at North Carolinas public universities are one step closer to facing potential elimination  or at least significant changes  following a vote by the board that oversees the schools.

The UNC System Board of Governors approved a policy Thursday that repeals the university systems previous DEI requirements. Those directives, implemented in 2019, required each of the systems 17 campuses to employ a chief diversity officer and work to achieve diversity-related goals, among other mandates.

Some students and other protesters gathered to denounce the decision, saying the system is ignoring the needs of minority groups on its campuses. Two protesters were arrested.

The board approved the new policy, which emphasizes equality and nondiscrimination over the previous policys ideals of diversity and inclusion, as part of a dozen unrelated items on the consent agenda. A board committee took the first step to approve the policy at a meeting last month, doing so in less than five minutes and with no discussion.

The policy was included on the consent agenda for the full boards approval, a normal board procedure for committee-approved policies that typically leads to the measures being passed with no discussion. But on Thursday, two members  Gene Davis, one of the few Democrats on the board, and Pearl Burris-Floyd  spoke about the policy and explained their support of it prior to the vote.

UNC System President Peter Hans speaks during a meeting of the Board of Governors on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C.

Two members, Joel Ford and Sonja Nichols, voted against the measure. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Nichols said she supported the decision the board made, but she wanted her vote to signal that she recognizes that all of the individuals that are on these campuses want to just be heard.

As a Black woman  and Im not saying a woman of color, Im just speaking for myself as a Black, as a woman  I just always want it to be a situation where all the voices are heard, Nichols said.

Nichols, who previously ran for a state Senate seat as a Republican, said that while people generally focus on race in conversations about diversity, she believes DEI is for everybody.

The Board of Governors decision to roll back the university systems previous DEI requirements comes as part of a growing national trend targeting the efforts. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, 85 anti-DEI bills have been introduced nationwide since 2023.

N.C. State junior Naila Din raises a fist while exiting a UNC System Board of Governors meeting on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. following the boards approval of a policy that repeals DEI requirements across the university system.

Confrontation between police and protesters

About 50 students from UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State University, UNC Greensboro, Appalachian State University and other schools gathered outside the UNC System office in downtown Raleigh Thursday for a press conference, calling on the board to vote down the proposed policy.

Five seats were reserved for the public at the back of the meeting room Thursday, all of which appeared to be filled by students.

Several additional students gathered in the buildings lobby, several floors below the one where the board was meeting. After the protesters were asked to leave, a confrontation escalated between the group and police officers.

Video obtained by The News & Observer shows several officers pushing a Black protester to the ground and handcuffing him. Someone else can be heard on the video saying, he was in the elevator, he was not resisting you. As police led the protester away, other protesters chanted no justice, no peace, the video shows.

Protesters tangle with police on the ninth floor of The Dillon in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 23, 2024. The protesters were demonstrating against the UNC Board of Governors DEI vote.

Several protesters who saw the incident said police took two of the group into custody, and said both of them were already in the elevator to leave the building when they were pulled out by police.

It is absolutely insane that students who were denied entry to a public Board of Governors meeting ... were arrested for trying to enact their civic duty, said Alexander Denza, an organizer with the Southern Student Action Coalition, who protested the policy. That is unacceptable.

Representatives for the UNC System confirmed to The N&O that two protesters were arrested. They said no further details were available at this time.

Students were barred from entering the building where the board committee met last month to approve the policy, with system staff citing a lack of available seats in the meeting room as the reason.

UNC president says universities must be neutral in debates

UNC System President Peter Hans said in a written statement last month that the policy would not impact the UNC Systems responsibilities to welcome diverse students to its campuses. The policy and Hans statement say the system will continue to abide by state and federal nondiscrimination laws.

We have well-established laws and policies that prohibit discrimination, protect equal opportunity, and require a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, Hans said in his written statement last month. We will continue to uphold those responsibilities.

In separate public remarks Thursday, Hans emphasized his belief that universities must remain neutral, while allowing students and faculty to debate political and social issues.

Its good for college students to encounter liberal ideas, to become familiar with the best forms of progressive thought our society has to offer. Its good for college students to encounter conservative ideas, to appreciate traditional perspectives and hear strong right-of-center arguments, Hans said.

But he added that its vital that college administrators stay out of it altogether.

What will happen to existing DEI programs?

The new policy goes into effect immediately and directs university chancellors to ensure their campuses comply with the new directives by Sept. 1.

The UNC Systems legal affairs division is expected to issue guidance for compliance to campuses. Until then, it remains unclear exactly what will happen to the wide variety of diversity-related jobs, programs and other efforts across the university system, but the policys language indicates that they will likely be eliminated or changed to remove their direct ties to DEI.

According to a handout UNC System spokesperson Andy Wallace provided to media during Thursdays meeting, system legal staff will issue the guidance in the coming weeks. Any changes are meant to be made by the beginning of the upcoming academic year, the handout states.

Regarding the potential elimination of diversity-related jobs, the handout said the policys goal is not necessarily to cut jobs, but to move our universities away from administrative activism on social and political debates.







It is going to take some time to determine how many positions could be modified or discontinued to ensure that institutions are aligning with the revised policy.







The handout states that facilities such as student cultural centers will continue to serve students, provided the programs comply with legal requirements for institutional neutrality and nondiscrimination.

The handout indicates that any funding previously dedicated to DEI programming and efforts would be redirected to student success initiatives.







This policy is about what kind of work were supporting in student success. Every campus has a different structure when it comes to those support services, and theyll need to make necessary adjustments to comply with this new policy.

The policy states that campus leaders will have to report to UNC System President Peter Hans any reductions in force and spending, along with changes to job titles and position descriptions that result from implementing the policy, and how any savings achieved from those actions could be redirected to initiatives related to student success and wellbeing.

Reports show programs at universities

While the systems legal guidance remains pending, there is already one example of how the policy will be interpreted at the campus level: The UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees last week voted to eliminate the universitys $2.3 million in annual DEI spending and divert the funds to campus safety and police instead.

Annual reports about diversity and inclusion efforts across the UNC System, obtained and reported by The News & Observer, showed wide variation in the amount of money spent on DEI programs at the systems schools, the number of employees dedicated to the efforts and the types of programs used to promote diversity.

The systems large flagships, UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State, employed the most people dedicated to the efforts, at 25 and 27, respectively. But the schools have separately stated that the amount of money they spent on DEI represented small fractions of their total spending  less than one-fifth of 1% at NC State, for instance  as is generally the case in higher education more broadly. Smaller schools in the university system employed much fewer DEI employees and spent significantly less money, compared to the larger schools.

The policy emphasizes institutional neutrality  the idea, enshrined in state law, that universities cannot weigh in on political matters or social issues  and prohibits any positions of employment, departments of employment or contractors from promoting ideas that do not align with the framework.

The policy could impact campus offices or centers dedicated to advancing diversity efforts, though it does appear to leave room for some to remain. The policy includes a provision permitting universities to implement programming or services designed to have a positive effect on the academic performance, retention, or graduation of students from different backgrounds, provided they comply with institutional neutrality and other federal and state regulations. The policy also directs campuses to ensure that employee wellbeing remains a priority.

Non-discrimination, institutional neutrality, free expression, and academic freedom are all mutually reinforcing concepts and values, Hans said Thursday. We are here to serve all, not just those who agree with us. When these principles are faithfully held, they allow diversity in all forms to thrive.

Programs supported by universities DEI efforts varied widely, according to the annual reports obtained by The N&O. Universities reported offering initiatives dedicated to recruiting underrepresented students, efforts supporting students with disabilities or veteran status, and a program at UNC-Chapel Hill dedicated to inspiring and supporting students who wish to become primary care providers in rural North Carolina, among several other examples across the university system.

Police detain a protester on the ninth floor of The Dillon in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 23, 2024. The protesters were demonstrating against the UNC Board of Governors DEI vote.

Students protest boards decision

The policy is not expected to impact student organizations, nor faculty members ability to teach subject matter related to diversity.

These are all fine discussion topics for the classroom or in a student-led organization, and our proposed policy very clearly protects the right of faculty and students to tackle difficult and controversial topics in whatever way they see fit, Board of Governors Chair Randy Ramsey wrote in an opinion piece for The N&O and The Charlotte Observer.

The policy also says it will not impact positions of employment, offices or training intended to ensure compliance with federal or state laws. That includes those dedicated to ensuring compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, among several other nondiscrimination regulations.

At the students press conference and protest before Thursdays meeting, several students spoke about the positive impacts DEI programs have had on themselves and other groups on their campuses.

Pragya Upreti, a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, said the board was trying to erase the universitys history and its impact on minority groups, such as the fact that UNCs campus was built by enslaved people and did not admit Black students until the 1950s.

I wish I were here in the same alternate universe that the UNC Board of Governors lives in, Upreti said. A colorblind society where we had already achieved diversity, where we had already achieved equity and where we had already achieved inclusion. An alternate reality where there was no past to rectify. But ignorance is bliss and unfortunately, were well informed. We do not live in that alternate reality.

Callum Conklin, a student at Appalachian State University, noted that, in addition to providing services to LGBTQ+ students and students of color, DEI programs also serve rural and low-income students.

To allow the far right to frame this as a woke agenda issue is to allow the far right to abandon any sense of responsibility towards the future, Conklin said. They would abandon the children of the blue-collar worker for a taste of political control.

Hans said last month that the university system would continue serving students of all backgrounds and beliefs.

There is broad and deep commitment to that goal, Hans wrote, and support for the UNC Systems longstanding efforts to reflect the diversity of North Carolina.

In the Spotlight designates ongoing topics of high interest that are driven by The News & Observers focus on accountability reporting.
Good morning!  Heres what you need to know in North Carolina politics today.

The UNC System Board of Governors today is voting on a policy that would rescind current diversity, equity and inclusion mandates, and the impact could be far-reaching for students, staff and faculty of diverse backgrounds.

As Korie Dean reports today, the board taking the vote lacks the diversity of the campuses that will be affected. According to UNC System enrollment for the current semester, 52% of all students are white, 21% are Black and 6% are Asian. About 59% are female. Read Kories story to see how the board stacks up.

The UNC Board of Governors are, from left, top row: Dr. Lee Barnes, Harry Brown, Swadesh Chatterjee, Woody White, Kellie Hunt Blue, Kirk J. Bradley, C. Philip Byers, Jimmy D. Clark. Second row, from left: Carolyn Coward, Gene Davis, Terry Hutchens, Mark Holton, Reginald Ronald Holley, John Fraley, Joel Ford, Pearl Burris-Floyd. Third row, from left: Michael Williford, J. Alex Mitchell, Wendy Floyd Murphy, Randy Ramsey, Sonja Phillips Nichols, Temple Sloan, Art Pope

The new policy emphasizes equality over the current focus of diversity and inclusion. The exact implications of todays vote are unclear, but those affected could range from DEI employees who support veterans or students with disabilities to recruiters who seek out underrepresented student populations, according to campus reports on DEI spending.

 Stephanie Loder, correspondent

MOORE ON DEI

House Speaker Tim Moore told reporters on Wednesday that he fully supports what the UNC Board of Governors is doing, and really getting rid of this wasteful spending for DEI.

Universities spend, he said, a staggering amount that can be put toward actually improving educational access to students, reducing cost, a lot of other things that are better uses of money.

Moore said that if the Board of Governors acts, he doesnt see a need for the General Assembly to pass legislation about it this session.

Moore said that lawmakers are looking at state agency DEI funding, too, but that ones a much broader one to try to deal with. The university is much easier to get a handle on. When it comes to whats happening in state agencies, that has proved to be more nebulous, because things arent necessarily classified in that way. So thats going to require some additional study and time.

He doesnt see there being time to get to that in the short session, but said it would be for the 2025 long session. Moore, a Kings Mountain Republican, is running for Congress, so he wont be in the legislature after 2024.

 Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan

DEMOCRATS ON DEI

At a news conference Wednesday, Rep. Maria Cervania, a Cary Democrat, spoke out against the Board of Governors impending vote.

North Carolina has been No. 1 for the last two years when it comes to business. And this is largely because of our talent pipeline and our human resources. We will not remain and maintain this title as we go further in divesting from important DEI programs, Cervania said.

Democratic state lawmakers speak about diversity, equity and inclusion policies in a news conference on May 22, 2024.

She was joined by Rep. Amos Quick, a Greensboro Democrat, who said he was speaking on behalf of the House Democratic caucus.

North Carolina should focus on fully funding our university system and creating an inclusive environment where every student has the attention and opportunities they deserve, Quick said, instead of joining the culture wars.

 Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi

Senate advances bill giving lawyers more privileges in disciplinary process

A bill granting more privileges to lawyers named in complaints to the NC State Bar advanced in a Senate committee on Wednesday.

Under the proposed law, Senate Bill 790, attorneys would get more access to complaints and supporting materials when they are accused of infractions and get a chance to address a disciplinary committee earlier in the process.

The bill also specifies who may file complaints against lawyers and directs the State Bar to create an expungement process for some disciplinary actions taken against lawyers.

The Senate Rules Committee advanced the bill without discussion.

The legislation is a product of a committee of lawyers and judges appointed by the legislature last year to recommend changes to the disciplinary process.

The bill, in its current form, does not specify what disciplinary actions against attorneys the State Bar would be allowed to expunge.

 Kyle Ingram

REPUBLICANS PROPOSE REPEAL OF EXPUNGEMENT LAW

GOP lawmakers have decided against moving forward with a bipartisan proposal to fix issues with the implementation of a state law that allowed certain arrest records to be automatically erased.

A legislative committee instead on Wednesday approved legislation to repeal the law that went into effect under the Second Chance Act and allows arrest records to be automatically expunged for dismissed cases and for people who were found not guilty.

The bill that would repeal the law advanced in the House Judiciary 2 Committee over objections by Democrats. Lawmakers introduced the bill as a substitute to the proposal allowing automatic expunctions to resume by Dec. 1.

Rep. Sarah Stevens, the Republican committee chair, presented the bill and said it was necessary to repeal the law for the time being because of several problems stemming from court records not being retained when cases were being automatically expunged.

Its the latest major criminal justice measure under consideration. Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi reported on Tuesday on a proposal by state lawmakers to limit public access to autopsy reports.

Get the full story from Avi Bajpai here.

BILL MAY FELL TREES FOR BILLBOARDS

A bill that received final approval Wednesday from state lawmakers would allow billboard owners to cut down more trees  including currently protected redbuds  along North Carolinas highways.

The bill would allow an expanded billboard view zone to allow owners to remove vegetation and trees up to 500 feet from the sign.

The billboard provisions are part of House Bill 198, which contains requests from the state Department of Transportation for changes. The billboard measure was not requested by NCDOT.

The N.C. Outdoor Advertising Association says the zone on highways is too small. Under state law, the view zone for billboards is limited to 380 feet.

Both the Sierra Club and Scenic North Carolina said the trees belong to the public and that the bill sacrifices the trees unnecessarily.

Get the full story from Richard Stradling here.

CAN BILL HELP NC NURSES ACHIEVE AUTONOMY?

A proposal tacked onto House Bill 681 would allow some nurse practitioners to practice without being supervised by a physician.

The proposal, which has failed more than once, moved forward Wednesday, even as some lawmakers expressed concerns about patient safety.

However, Democratic Sen. Gale Adcock, a nurse practitioner from Cary, said the proposal would bring North Carolina into the mainstream of regulation of advanced practical nurses.

Nurses would have to put in at least 4,000 hours working under the supervision of a physician or qualified nurse practitioner before being given autonomy.

Get the full story from Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi here.

Thats all for today. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol news.

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Dont forget to follow our tweets and listen to our Under the Dome podcast for more developments.
Note: This editorial was updated to include information about an upcoming executive session about the leaked document and the source of the leak.

Columbus residents deserve more clarity about which school board members and "stakeholders" were involved in the creation of a strategy that what would have discredited and punished critics of a plan to close school buildings.

The deceitful, underhanded and undemocratic ideas proposed in the document are beneath any public officeholder. It is troubling that there are competing narratives about who was involved in the creation of the leaked "Taking Control of the Task Force Narrative" document.

That the individual or individuals responsible for creating the document are not fully owning this embarrassing and offensive blunder calls the ethics and judgment of the entire school board and the superintendent's Community Facilities Task Force into question.

Columbus City school board document leak Public weighs in on Columbus City school closures as board members differ on document leak

Read Columbus schools leaked document: What to know about the document at the center of a Columbus schools scandal

Truth behind the Columbus City Schools document matters and must be revealed

First-year school board member Brandon Simmons said the leaked document was an early draft and apologized that community members saw that version. Saying "sorry" is not enough. That others were involved  a claim Simmons makes and others dispute  is also not enough.

The public deserves honesty.

Owning such a major lapse in judgment would have included a detailed explanation of why such tactics should not have been on the table in the first place.

Columbus City School board member Brandon Simmons pauses before both apologizing and placing blame for a leaked memo concerning school board policies on school closures.

Owning it now requires that the individual(s) responsible gracefully step down from the board and admit that the district is not the "board's house" as the document suggested but that of the people of the Columbus school district.

The document's drafter or drafters claim the recommendations would have restored the community's belief in the district, board and superintendent. The opposite is true.

Executing such a draconian and, perhaps, illegal plan would have been a disaster that would have deepened the divide between the people and the district.

Related CCS memo article: CCS teachers union wants board member's resignation and closure plan scrapped over memo

We also wonder when and how the board discussed this matter and if the Ohio Open Meetings Act may have been violated. We don't see how this matter would qualify for a private executive session.

Questionable and unethical recommendations included:

Using loud mechanical equipment to disrupt opponents' press conference held on "our land."

Not discussing bad or "less than positive" news at certain school board meetings.

Speaking only "on message."

Driving a wedge between the district's two unions by holding a hearing on the "disrespect of classified employees by 'other employees'."

"Stacking the public comment period with classified employees speaking out against mistreatment by teachers."

Not ignoring the "racial dynamic" between unions. "Laying those cards on the table."

Rewarding "good media outlets with priority seating or camera location and priority interviews."

Using central office staff to live fact check during meetings.

Countering every "false statement" made during school board meetings public comment one by one.

Changing the location of meetings with the teacher's union at the last minute, filling the room with staff and taskforce members without prior notice and interrupt union members when they try to speak.

There should be a price to pay for such malfeasance

May 7, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus School Board listen to public comment about the potential closing of schools.

The author or authors of such an odorous and childish document should have no power over CCS, a district of nearly 46,000 students and annual revenue of just south of a billion dollars. He, she or they should at the least be censured by the board.

The school board plans to discuss an investigation of "charges or complaint against a public official" related to the document during an executive session Wednesday.

The Columbus Education Association, which obtained the document from school board member Sarah Ingles and released it to the public with Columbus Education Justice Coalition, has called for the resignation of Simmons. CEA endorsed Ingles and Simmons over incumbent board member Carol Beckerle before last year's election.

Board member shares why she leaked memo: 'Appalled': Columbus school board member shares why she leaked memo at heart of scandal

In an open letter, CEA President John Coneglio and Izetta Thomas of the Columbus Education Justice Coalition, tied the point-by-point document to Simmons, writing that the 23-year-old shared it with other school board members in at least one private meeting.

This squared at least partially with a statement board president Christina Vera read at the start of Tuesday's school board meeting on behalf of fellow board members, saying that the superintendent, not the board, directs the work of the task force.

May 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus City School board president Christina Vera calls the meeting to order after board member Brandon Simmons both apologized and placed blame for a leaked memo concerning school board policies on school closures. The meeting was delayed even though more than a hundred citizens showed up to discuss the school closure process.

"A board member, Brandon Simmons expressed personal opinions about how they thought the community facilities task force work should be communicated," Vera said. "This board member was not asked to provide any recommendations and did so independently. This board member's recommendations are solely their own and do not represent the perspectives of Columbus City Schools, or the entire board of education."

Simmons, a 2020 graduate of Columbus Alternative High School who now works as a communications coordinator for the Community Shelter Board, abruptly left that school board meeting twice  once to speak with members of the media as Vera was making her statement and for several minutes after the start of the public comments period.

He declined to answer reporters' questions but painted a picture of teamwork counter to Vera's statement. Simmons said there were multiple meetings with important stakeholders.

Jaxon Landis is congratulated after speaking about saving West Broad St. Elementary School. Landis was one of several people commenting on school closures at the Columbus City Schools board meeting Tuesday night.

"The reality is that there are multiple versions of that document. The one that people are seeing today, it wasn't the final version. And really, we are very sorry. It's very regrettable that that's the version people are looking at," he said. "It was a collaboration. There was input from many, many different people and ideas from many, many different folks."

Simmons said he is committed to Columbus City Schools and plans to remain on the board.

Who is Brandon Simmons? What to know about CCS board member at center of leak scandal

Either Vera and the rest of the board are being dishonest, or Simmons is. It is an important question to answer if the public is to trust what the district says is true.

The truth must come out in the wash.

No matter whose version of events you believe, one thing remains true, such a destructive plan should have never been hatched.

May 7, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Education Association President John Coneglio speaks during the Columbus School Board meeting.

The document's crafter or crafters lacked the judgment needed to lead the school district and by attempting to control the narrative, they taught CCS students a terrible lesson.

That's a danger that can not be spun.

This piece was written by Dispatch Opinion Editor Amelia Robinson on behalf of the editorial board of The Columbus Dispatch. Editorials are fact-based assessments of issues of importance to the communities we serve. These are not the opinions of our reporting staff members, who strive for neutrality in their reporting.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Those behind plot against Columbus school closing critics must resign
President of Humboldt University Julia von Blumenthal (C) and Vice President for Budget at Humboldt University Niels Helle-Meyer (R) talk to a police officer during the pro-Palestinian demonstrations in front of the Institute of Social Sciences at Humboldt University (HU) in Berlin. Activists have occupied rooms at the university in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Soeren Stache/dpa

The president of Humboldt University in Berlin, Julia von Blumenthal, has expressed her regret that no agreement was reached with pro-Palestinian activists following the clearing of an occupied university building.

"I'm not sure whether it would have succeeded, but I had the impression that we had taken a good step with this dialogue," von Blumenthal said on Thursday after talks with pro-Palestinian activists who had occupied a building.

"The order then came from the very top to end the occupation. I followed this instruction," she said.

She was referring to Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner, she explained when asked.

The university would not press charges for trespassing, as the temporary occupation had been tolerated, von Blumenthal added.

She could not yet comment on questions of damage to property as she had not yet had the opportunity to view the building in full.

She said of the spokesman's talks with the activists that it had been possible, with moderation and mutual respect, to talk about where the two sides "might even be able to come closer together and also to talk about what divides [them]."

It was possible to listen to the suffering of the Palestinian students. Of course, she always had the suffering of the Jewish students in mind as well, the university president added.

Police officers clear the pro-Palestinian demonstrators in front of the Institute of Social Sciences at Berlin's Humboldt University (HU). Activists have occupied rooms at the university in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Soeren Stache/dpa

Police officers clear the pro-Palestinian demonstrators in front of the Institute of Social Sciences at Berlin's Humboldt University (HU). Activists have occupied rooms at the university in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Soeren Stache/dpa
By Makini Brice

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The head of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) told a U.S. House panel on Thursday that the school should have been ready to immediately remove an encampment of pro-Palestinian activists that became the site of a violent clash with counter-protesters last month.

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block was one of three U.S. university leaders who testified at a hearing of the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives' Education Committee into the wave of protests against Israel's war in Gaza that has unfolded on American campuses over the past two months.

"With the benefit of hindsight, we should have been prepared to immediately remove the encampment if and when the safety of our community was put at risk," Block told the panel.

UCLA was the site of an April 30 overnight mob attack on pro-Palestinian activists that was one of the most violent scenes of the recent protests. The university on Wednesday removed the head of its campus police for its handling of the protests, which included inaction during the attack and the arrests by state and local police of 210 people the next night.

"The recent images from UCLA are appalling. What is more appalling is that it was completely preventable," said Ilhan Omar, a Democratic congresswoman on the panel. "You, the UCLA leadership and law enforcement stood by for hours as the mob of agitators gathered near the encampment with the clear intention to cause violence."

Block disputed that assertion.

On dozens of campuses throughout the country, students set up tents and held rallies to call on President Joe Biden to do more to end the fighting in Gaza and to demand that their universities divest from companies that back Israel's government. Some protesters have adopted antisemitic rhetoric, leading some Jewish students to fear for their safety.

The heads of Northwestern University in Illinois and Rutgers University of New Jersey also testified at the sixth event the committee and its subcommittees have held on schools' responses to tensions that have flared since Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 and taking more than 250 hostages.

Nearly 36,000 Palestinians have been killed and 80,000 injured in Israel's military offensive on Gaza, according to Gaza's health ministry. Israel's military says 286 Israeli soldiers have also been killed.

DEMOCRATS DIVIDED

Biden's handling of the war and the protests over it have deeply divided Democrats, a Reuters/Ipsos poll this month found, fraying the coalition that he relied on four years ago to defeat Republican Donald Trump.

House Education Committee Chair Virginia Foxx said that each university had failed to enforce its own rules, preserve campus safety and protect Jewish students.

"Today's hearing is the beginning, not the end, of the committee's investigation of your institutions," Foxx told the university presidents.

Some of the most contentious questioning was aimed at Michael Schill, the president of Northwestern, which reached an agreement with protesters to end their demonstration. The Anti-Defamation League, a group dedicated to fighting antisemitism, has criticized the university for that agreement.

"President Schill, we've heard accounts of horrific violence and harassment of Jewish students on your campus, but you admitted you have not suspended a single student since Oct. 7 for antisemitic conduct," said Foxx. "You've refused to answer basic questions on topics."

The presidents of Harvard and University of Pennsylvania resigned after backlash over their testimony in front of the panel in December about antisemitism on campus.

"No one should be intimidated, harassed or assaulted just simply for who they are or who they worship," said Bobby Scott, the top Democrat on the committee.

(Reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Scott Malone and Rod Nickel)
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Protests on college campuses are causing clashes on Capitol Hill. On Thursday, some House lawmakers held a hearing to disavow antisemitic demonstrations, while others rallied for free speech.

In the wake of anti-war protests on their campuses, lawmakers grilled the leaders of UCLA, Northwestern University, and Rutgers University. Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) criticized their handling of the demonstrations.

Each of you should be ashamed of your decisions that allow antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students, Foxx said.

But the leaders pushed back. Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway says his university is working to investigate all reports of harassment.

We address every instance thats brought to our attention of discriminatory behavior including antisemitism, Holloway said.

Congressman Aaron Bean (R-Fla.) says there havent been enough consequences for antisemitism on campus.

No one seems to be held accountable, Bean said.

Some Democrats argue that lawmakers should be focusing on legislation, instead of holding another hearing on the protests.

Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) is among a group calling to pass a bill that would boost college resources to address hate on campus.

When we dont put our money where our mouth is and our policies, we are failing this nation. We are failing Muslim students. We are failing Jewish students, Stevens said.

While the hearing was happening inside of the Capitol, outside lawmakers and college advocates were rallying in support of the campus protests.

It is appalling to witness the crackdown and violent repression of First Amendment protected speech and assembly on college campuses, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) said.

Congresswoman Tlaib accuses people in both parties of trying to suppress the protests.

It is disgusting that the Biden Administration and my colleagues in Congress continue to smear them for protesting to save lives, Tlaib said.

She was joined by Congressman Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), who says they support the students calls for a ceasefire and divestment from Israel.

They do not want us to use taxpayer dollars to kill babies and children and innocent people in Gaza or anywhere else in the world. Enough is enough, Bowman said.

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 KTSM 9 News.
Officials from several universities are slated to testify Thursday on the impact of the pro-Palestinian protests that have roiled college campuses in the past couple of months.

Leadership from Northwestern University, Rutgers University and the University of California, Los Angeles, will speak before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce to answer for a perceived rise of antisemitism on campuses as student protesters have pushed back on the Biden administrations response to the Israel-Hamas war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The event is scheduled to begin at 9:45 a.m. EDT.

Watch the live video above.

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 The Hill.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  After weeks of demonstrations from students at a University of Oregon encampment supporting the people of Palestine, the school has announced an agreement with students to remove the site.

According to a letter from UO President Karl Scholz, the students have chosen to voluntarily leave the area by 9 p.m. Thursday following several attempted agreements with university staff.

Judge dismisses 2 murder charges against suspect in Vancouver officers death

Demonstrations first formed on April 29 and continued in the month of May. Administrators pressured those involved to leave the area by threatening to revoke academic amnesty on May 7. The university drafted an agreement on May 9, but students turned it down.

Scholz shared the following message in his letter to the campus:

While our agreement is substantially similar to the proposal we had originally submitted on May 9, we recognize that all parties have benefitted from additional dialogue, trust-building, and the continued exploration of the reasonable and helpful actions now reflected in this agreement.

As we look forward, I am heartened by the resilience and restraint of our faculty, students, staff, and others. Our ability to navigate through the last few weeks without the scenes of violence seen elsewhere speaks volumes about our ability to accommodate differing viewpoints while advocating for what we believe is important. I would also like to acknowledge the University of Oregon students, many of whom have made known their perspectives and strong convictions across multiple viewpoints. We also acknowledge that this period has been especially painful to many in our Jewish community.

We commit to continuing to use our educational mission to advance discussion, debate, and scholarship that can add insight to our understanding of the current conflict and of the Middle East. The last few weeks have tested us in many ways. I encourage everyone to find ways to rest, to reset, and to celebrate our extraordinary community. I look forward to doing this with you in a few weeks when we honor our students and their families at graduation.

Oregon billionaire, Phoenix Suns co-owner among new Portland Thorns investors

The agreement follows an occupation at Portland State University earlier this month in which a mix of students and non-students took over PSUs Millar Library in a protest calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The occupation lasted until May 2 when police moved in and cleared the library. Since then PSU has estimated the cost of restoration will be roughly $750,000.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.

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 KOIN.com.
The Australian stock market has shown robust performance recently, with a 1.1% increase over the last week and a notable 9.4% rise over the past year, alongside forecasts predicting annual earnings growth of 14%. In this context, high-yield dividend stocks can be particularly appealing for investors looking for both income and potential capital appreciation in a growing market.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Australia

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Lindsay Australia (ASX:LAU) 6.38%  Fiducian Group (ASX:FID) 4.01%  Nick Scali (ASX:NCK) 5.07%  Eagers Automotive (ASX:APE) 7.09%  Centuria Capital Group (ASX:CNI) 6.61%  Charter Hall Group (ASX:CHC) 3.44%  Premier Investments (ASX:PMV) 4.67%  Fortescue (ASX:FMG) 7.44%  Diversified United Investment (ASX:DUI) 3.17%  Australian United Investment (ASX:AUI) 3.59% 

Click here to see the full list of 30 stocks from our Top ASX Dividend Stocks screener.

Below we spotlight a couple of our favorites from our exclusive screener.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: nib holdings limited operates as an underwriter and distributor of private health insurance for residents, international students, and visitors in Australia and New Zealand, with a market capitalization of approximately A$3.46 billion.

Operations: nib holdings limited generates revenue primarily through Australian Residents Health Insurance (A$2.55 billion), followed by New Zealand Insurance (A$351.90 million), NIB Travel (A$109.10 million), and International (Inbound) Health Insurance (A$173.20 million).

Dividend Yield: 4.2%

Nib Holdings' recent financial performance shows a net income increase to A$106.4 million, up from A$89.2 million year-over-year, with earnings per share rising to A$0.22 from A$0.19. Despite this growth, the company's dividend history is marked by volatility and a low yield of 4.2%, underperforming against Australia's top dividend payers at 6.33%. The dividends are well-covered by both earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios of 67.5% and 57.9%, respectively, suggesting sustainability despite past inconsistencies in payment growth and reliability.

ASX:NHF Dividend History as at May 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: QBE Insurance Group Limited operates globally, underwriting general insurance and reinsurance risks across the Australia Pacific and North America, with a market capitalization of approximately A$27.12 billion.

Story continues

Operations: QBE Insurance Group Limited generates revenue primarily through three geographic segments: North America (A$11.12 billion), International (A$9.56 billion), and Australia Pacific (A$5.97 billion).

Dividend Yield: 3.3%

QBE Insurance Group's dividend profile shows a history of fluctuations with an unstable track record, despite recent increases. Currently trading 59.5% below its estimated fair value, the company offers a dividend yield of 3.31%, which is lower than the top Australian payers. However, dividends are sustainably covered by both earnings and cash flows with payout ratios of 48.3% and 44.7%, respectively. Recent corporate guidance confirms expectations for moderate premium growth in FY24, supported by rate increases.

ASX:QBE Dividend History as at May 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Ricegrowers Limited, trading as SGLLV on the ASX, is a rice food company with operations in Australia and internationally, boasting a market capitalization of approximately A$460.29 million.

Operations: Ricegrowers Limited generates revenue through several key segments: Riviana at A$219.12 million, Cop Rice at A$253.52 million, Rice Food at A$115.93 million, Rice Pool at A$487 million, and International Rice at A$821.54 million.

Dividend Yield: 7.7%

Ricegrowers has experienced earnings growth of 16.2% annually over the past five years, yet its dividend history is marked by volatility and inconsistency, with payments not steadily increasing during its nine-year dividend history. Despite this, the dividend yield stands at a competitive 7.69%, well above the Australian market average of 6.33%. The dividends are financially sustainable, backed by a cash payout ratio of 43.1% and an earnings payout ratio of 53.9%, indicating good coverage from both profits and cash flows.

ASX:SGLLV Dividend History as at May 2024

Make It Happen

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include ASX:NHF ASX:QBE and ASX:SGLLV.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Displaced Palestinians receive flour bags at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees school in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday, Jan. 28. On Wednesday, UNRWA announced it had suspended food distribution in the city over Israel's military operation and a lack of supplies. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI

May 22 (UPI) -- The United Nations relief agency for Palestinian refugees said it has suspended the distribution of food in the southern Gazan city of Rafah due to ongoing Israeli military operations and a lack of supplies.

Its situation report for Wednesday states Israel's ongoing military operation in eastern Rafah has made inaccessible UNRWA's distribution center and the World Food Program's warehouse, both of which are located in the southern city.

It continued that the military operation was also affecting the delivery of humanitarian supplies into the Palestinian enclave, stating in the last two days only 48 trucks have entered Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel and the Rafah crossing with northern Egypt.

COGAT, Israel's agency overseeing Palestinian lands, said in a statement that 298 trucks of humanitarian supplies entered Gaza on Wednesday via Kerem and the Erez crossing, which is located in northern Gaza.

"We have a lot of people on the ground ready to provide aid and provide services, but without access across the borders to any supplies and without access to our distribution centers, we are simply unable to distribute food," UNRWA spokesperson Louise Wateridge said Wednesday.

WFP said it would continue to distribute food until it ran out.

"Thousands of families still in #Rafah need aid," it said on X. "With little aid coming in from southern crossings & our warehouse still inaccessible, remaining food stocks have only supported 50K hot meals a day.

"We need safe & sustained access."

Humanitarian supplies have been a constant need for Palestinians in Gaza amid the now seven-month-old war between Iran-backed Hamas and Israel.

The war has internally displaced an estimated 1.7 million of the enclave's more than 2 million people, according to the U.N.'s human rights office said.

Around half of the population was estimated to have been sheltering in Rafah until May 6 when the Israel Defense Force began its controversial military operation in the city.

On Wednesday, UNRWA estimated that nearly 815,000 people had fled the city since the campaign began.

"Most UNRWA shelters in Rafah have been vacated, with internally displaced people moving to Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah," it said in its update Wednesday.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A night out in Columbus turned fatal when a 27-year-old was stabbed to death and placed in the trunk of her car. Despite nearby cameras capturing a person of interest, her case remains cold three years later.

At the time of her death, Infhone Edwards was married with three children aged 2, 3 and 10. Her mother, Rosemarie Dickerson, said she had a close relationship with her daughter, who owned a food cart where she worked to support her family.

Woman missing for nearly four decades after leaving for fake attorney appointment

She started working her food cart and started building herself up, Dickerson said. She had three babies, and the more kids she had the more positive I think she became.













(Photo Courtesy/Ohio Attorney Generals Office)

On Dec. 10, 2020, the mother-daughter pair spent the day together running errands. It was a Thursday, which meant later that evening Edwards had a tradition to attend  going out in Columbus for ladies night with her close friend. Edwards left her home at 7:50 p.m. after telling her husband she was going out for a drink, according to a Columbus police report. The report did not specify when she was last seen after leaving her home.

On Dec. 11, around 10 a.m., Dickerson claims she received a call from Edwards husband, who said Edwards had not come home the previous night. At first, Dickerson thought her daughter may have stayed with a friend and would turn up soon  but as time passed, she began to worry.

Man who vanished from Easton area still missing five years later

When I kept calling her phone and there was no answer, it was like it was off, Dickerson said. I [told her husband] report her missing then I went onto Facebook and I just asked everybody has anybody seen Infhone, we cant find her.

Edwards husband reported her missing on Dec. 12, according to a police report, and Dickersons pleas for help to find her daughter quickly gained traction on Facebook.

The whole city went crazy and they were just looking for her and we were searching for her, Dickerson said. We were in the woods, we were in Northern Lights, we were in just so many different places because everybody was having sightings, like weve seen her here, weve seen her there.

On Dec. 14 around 2 p.m., four days after Edwards left for ladies night, Dickerson received a text message alerting her that a body was found at 2058 Winslow Drive. While she was not sure if the body belonged to her daughter or not, she drove straight to the address, which brought her to the parking lot of an apartment complex.

When she got there she saw an alarming scene: Edwards green Chevrolet Avalanche surrounded by police tape.

Former Buckeye arrested on federal charges

They wouldnt let me get to it, I literally almost had a heart attack out there, Dickerson said.

Dickerson later discovered what had happened to her daughter  Edwards was stabbed three times on the left side of her chest and twice in her face. Her remains were then placed in the trunk of her car.

It was a pretty bad scene, like they didnt take her out of the car, they didnt do any of that, Dickerson said. They towed my baby in her car. I just feel like at least take my baby out and lay her on a stretcher and show her the respect.

Dickerson got in contact with the apartment complex, who showed her security camera footage of the parking lot during the morning her daughter was killed. Cameras captured Edwards car pulling into the parking lot around 5 a.m. on Dec. 11. A person of interest is seen in the Chevrolet  the person, who appeared to be a heavy-set man, remained in the car for a whole hour before exiting the vehicle and walking away, Dickerson said.

Detectives believe the person of interest may have been cleaning up the crime scene, Dickerson said. While Dickerson feels she knows who killed her daughter, police have not publicly named any suspects.

Ohio Supreme Court rejects challenge to temporary halt on trans healthcare ban

I [recognize] his body build, Dickerson said. You couldnt see his face when he got out, he had a white towel over his face.

With no arrests made in Edwards case, Dickerson lives in fear for herself and her three grandchildren.

It has affected my life to the point where, for a long time, its been three and a half years, I was scared to take my trash out, Dickerson said. Im scared when I go to grocery stores.

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers stated they will offer a monetary reward for any information leading to charges or an arrest in Infhone Edwards case, but did not specify an amount. Anyone with any information may contact Columbus police at 614-645-4545 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 614-461-8477.

If youre a family member of an individual with an unsolved missing persons or homicide case in Ohio, reach out to aboldizar@wcmh.com.

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 NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian forces launched attacks against Kharkiv Oblast on May 23, killing at least seven people in Kharkiv and injuring at least 21, as well as at least 11 elsewhere in the oblast, as reported by local officials and a Kyiv Independent reporter.

Kharkiv and other regional settlements have suffered increasingly intense strikes since Russia launched a new offensive in the oblast on May 10.

The Kyiv Independent journalist reported several explosions in Kharkiv at 10:30 a.m. local time. Governor Oleh Syniehubov and Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that around 10 blasts could be heard in the city.

The attacks targeted transportation infrastructure in the Kholodnohirskyi district and a building of a communal services company, the mayor said.

A printing shop in Kharkiv's Osnovianskyi district suffered a direct hit, resulting in a fire, the governor said, adding that more than 50 employees were inside during the attack. The shop reportedly belonged to the Faktor Druk printing house.

The seven people who were killed were the shop's employees, including five women and one man, Syniehubov said on Telegram, adding that information about the seventh victim is still being clarified.

They were "in the very epicenter" of that strike, Syniehubov told reporters in a briefing attended by the Kyiv Independent journalist.

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Russian forces carried out 15 strikes against Kharkiv and the Kharkiv district, probably with S-300 missiles, the regional prosecutor's office spokesperson, Dmytro Chubenko, told Suspilne.

Oleksandr Filchakov, the head of the regional prosecutor's office, confirmed for the Kyiv Independent that Russia attacked the city with S-300 missiles.

At least two people were injured in Zolochiv, a village around 35 kilometers (over 20 miles) north of Kharkiv, and at least seven others in Liubotyn, a town some 15 kilometers (9 miles) west of the regional center, according to officials.

In Liubotyn, S-300 missiles hit the area of the railway station, Chubenko said. A park, cars, and shops were also damaged, according to the Prosecutor General's Office.

Zolochiv was hit by guided aerial bombs, dealing damage to a local kindergarten, Syniehubov reported.

Ukrainian Railways reported that six of their workers had been injured in attacks against Kharkiv Oblast, and several of their facilities were hit both in Kharkiv and elsewhere.

Around four hours after the initial attack, Russia carried out two aerial strikes with KAB bombs against Kharkiv and a nearby town of Derhachi, Syniehubov reported.

Two people  a man and a woman  were injured in Derhachi and hospitalized, local authorities said. Four other people suffered from shock.

Read also: They fled from Russian bombs near Kharkiv. What awaits them now?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A UPS employee in Southern California was charged Tuesday with shooting his friend and coworker in an execution-style killing last week.

Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza, 46, allegedly shot and killed Expedito De Leon, his childhood friend, while De Leon was out delivering packages last week, according to a press release from the Orange County district attorneys office.

Expedito De Leon via Facebook Facebook

The depravity involved to plot and carry out a plan to execute someone you shared a lifetime of memories is not something anyone of us can wrap our heads around, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in the release.

Prosecutors said the shooting occurred on May 16, while Fontanoza was out on work disability. Fontanoza stopped another UPS driver out delivering packages to ask if the route belonged to De Leon, according to the press release. Upon learning that De Leon had another route, Fontanoza went to a local UPS substation, where he used a computer to look up De Leons route.

Using a car De Leon wouldnt recognize, Fontanoza drove up to De Leons truck that afternoon in Irvine. He allegedly waited until De Leon had returned to his truck and buckled his seatbelt before firing 14 shots at him, killing him.

Fontanoza fled the scene but was located later that day in Orange, the district attorneys office said. After he refused to leave his vehicle, police used tear gas and police dogs to take him into custody.

Prosecutors have yet to determine a motive behind the alleged execution, according to the announcement.

Kimberly Sudan, De Leons ex-wife, told local news station KTLA that De Leon had a good heart and had served in the army for four years before working at UPS.

His biggest joy was for his children, Sudan told the outlet. They have both successfully graduated from college and it was one of the proudest moments of his life, at the graduation seeing his son and daughter. We love and miss him very much.

UPS called called the events highly unusual in a statement to CBS News, saying what happened does not represent the culture of our company and the camaraderie among our employees around the world.

Related...
Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza has been charged with special circumstance murder and is eligible for the death penalty if convicted

Expedito De Leon/Facebook Expedito De Leon

A UPS driver in California was killed after his childhood friend and coworker shot at him 14 times, the Orange County District Attorney's Office announced on Tuesday, May 21.

Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza, 46, was on disability leave when he allegedly went into the UPS Aliso Viejo substation on Thursday, May 16, and accessed a computer to find out what route his friend, Expedito De Leon, 50, was working.

Fontanoza, scheduled to return to work on Saturday, June 1, allegedly went into the office after inquiring about De Leon's route to another UPS driver earlier that day.

According to the district attorney's office, Fontanoza found his location just before 3 p.m. while driving in a "new vehicle" that De Leon "wouldn't recognize."

Irvine Police Department Rhean Jalipa Fontanoza

Related: 1-Year-Old Went into Cardiac Arrest and Died After Moms Boyfriend Allegedly Beat Him: 'Sickening'

"De Leon then left his truck to make a delivery and returned to his truck, and buckled his seatbelt. He still had his UPS scanner in his hand and his seatbelt buckled when Fontanoza drove next to De Leons delivery truck and shot [at] him 14 times in 19 seconds," the district attorney's press release states, noting that he was struck 10 times.

The Irving Police Department responded to the scene and found De Leon" slumped over in the drivers seat of his delivery truck."

"Officers pulled him from the vehicle and began life-saving measures. The driver suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died from his injuries," a news release from the police department reads.

Getty Stock image of a UPS delivery truck

Related: American Airlines Flight Attendant Allegedly Filmed Girl, 9, in Bathroom. The Company's Legal Filing Blamed Her

While Fontanoza drove away from the scene after the shooting, he was located later that same day and arrested after a police K9 and tear gas were deployed into his vehicle.

Fontanoza, who has now been charged with special circumstance murder, is currently being held on no bail and is eligible for the death penalty if convicted.

Mr. De Leon was just going about his day, doing his job with no idea his longtime friend was stalking him with every intent to kill him, said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer in a press release statement.

Getty Stock image of crime scene tape

"The depravity involved to plot and carry out a plan to execute someone you shared a lifetime of memories is not something anyone of us can wrap our heads around. No life should have to end like this and it is a tragedy that should have never happened," the statement adds.

UPS responded to the incident in a statement to USA Today, sharing that "these are highly unusual circumstances and do not represent the culture of our company and the camaraderie among our employees around the world."

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.

"Our focus now is on supporting our people and their loved ones during this extremely difficult time," the statement adds.

PEOPLE has reached out to UPS for comment.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Upset watch: Dems think these PA. state house seats are up for grabs in Nov.

Pennsylvania Democrats defied expectations, and recent history, in 2022 by recapturing the state House of Representatives for the first time in more than a decade.

They've since defended their narrow one-seat majority in the lower chamber by winning several special elections, albeit in some of the commonwealth's bluest districts. So their tenuous grip on the House will be put to a much tougher test in defending all 102 seats this year  though they hope to not just maintain their lead, but expand it.

Reproductive freedoms, LGBTQ+ rights, gun safety, and democracy itself are all on the line, and Pennsylvania Republicans are poised to launch an assault on the freedoms we hold dear," Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said in a statement outlining some of the party's top priorities in 2024.

Strong state legislative campaigns across the state will change not just the future of Pennsylvania, but also the country. Turnout at this ballot level will drive success up and down the ballot, helping ensure a (President Joe) Biden victory in a key battleground state. The stakes couldnt be higher.

Here are some of the seats Republicans might have the hardest time keeping in 2024.

44th District PA

State Rep. Valerie S. Gaydos, R-Allegheny, made it look relatively easy in her first two elections for Pennsylvania's 44th Legislative District.

The Edgeworth Borough Republican defeated her Democratic opponents by approximately 10 points in both 2020, the last presidential election year, and in the 2022 midterms. These double-digit wins far outpaced the GOP's narrow voter-registration edge in her district, with Republican voters outnumbering Democrats by less than a percentage point.

This hasn't discouraged Hadley B. Haas, who's been on an outreach campaign long before officially becoming the Democratic nominee in her uncontested April primary.

"We've knocked thousands of doors already," she told the USA TODAY Network. "I feel very strongly about one-on-one communication ... looking at voters face-to-face and having conversations about my values and our shared values."

Haas, a resident of Glen Osborne, is a marketing professional with a background in fundraising, advocacy and foundation work.

One of her passions, ignited by the Sandy Hook school shooting of 2012, is gun control. She was elections chair of the local Moms Demand Action group in 2020 and more recently became co-leader of its Pittsburgh chapter.

Haas believes she's more aligned with her district's voters in part because she wants to ban ghost guns and favors red flag laws.

"My opponent didn't have a significant voting record at that time," Haas said of Gaydos's previous elections. "She wasn't well-known, and now we can point to her voting record."

Haas also hopes to help protect abortion rights, raise the minimum wage and fund schools fairly if elected.

"This is the best opportunity we have in western Pennsylvania to strengthen (the Democratic) majority and keep passing things that are meaningful and making the lives of Pennsylvanians better," she said.

State Rep. Valerie Gaydos

Gaydos, a small-business owner and prolific investor, serves on a handful of House committees: Commerce, Government Oversight, Professional Licensure and Liquor Control, of which she's the Republican secretary. Attempts to interview her for this article were unsuccessful.

137th District PA

The seat of state Rep. Joe Emrick, R-Northampton, in the 137th Legislative District is also on Democrats' radar  and for an obvious reason.

Democrats have a 3-point voter registration edge there. It's a factor the Upper Nazareth Township resident will have to overcome if he's going to secure an eighth term in Harrisburg.

The race is a rematch of 2022 against Democrat Anna Thomas of Bethlehem Township.

Two years ago, Emrick defeated Thomas by 2 points, which was fewer than 800 votes. It was the closest Emrick has come to losing his seat in the district, which was redrawn shortly before the election.

Neither Emrick or Thomas responded to messages seeking comment for this report.

Emrick is a former educator who serves as minority chair of the House Commerce Committee and was twice named a Guardian of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Business. Thomas is a former Bethlehem Area School Board member who earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

142nd District PA

With the GOP holding a practically neglible voter registration advantage in Pennsylvania's 142nd Legislative District, state Rep. Joe Hogan, R-Bucks, is another incumbent on the hot seat.

The freshman representative from Middletown Township won his first race in 2022 against Democrat Mark Moffa by fewer than 100 votes. This round he faces Anna K. Payne of Middletown.

Neither Hogan or Payne could be reached for comment.

Hogan was a staffer for former U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and managed grants as program director for the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Bucks, holding a master's degree in community and economic development from Penn State University. He's secretary of the House Consumer Protection, Technologies & Utilities Committee and member of three others: Children & Youth, Gaming Oversight and Tourism & Economic & Recreational Development.

Payne is chair of the Middletown Township supervisors, a member of the Pennsylvania Rare Disease Council and founder of the Bucks County Cystic Fibrosis Alliance.

Other PA House races to watch

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is also prioritizing these additional "flip" opportunities in Pennsylvania:

The 88th Legislative District, where state Rep. Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland, faces Democrat Sara Agerton of Mechanicsburg.

The 13th Legislative District, where state Rep. John Lawrence, R-Chester, faces Democrat Cristian Luna-Valente of West Grove.

The 28th Legislative District, where Republican Jeremy Shaffer faces Democrat William Petulla. This seat is being vacated by state Rep. Rob Mercuri, R-Allegheny, who is instead running for U.S. Congress.

The 18th Legislative District, where state Rep. Kathleen Tomlinson, R-Bucks, faces Democrat Anand Patel of Bensalem Township.

And the 160th Legislative District, where state Rep. Craig Williams, R-Delaware, faces Democrat Elizabeth Moro of Pennsbury Township.

Bruce Siwy is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Pennsylvania state capital bureau. He can be reached at bsiwy@gannett.com or on X at @BruceSiwy.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: 2024 election: Pa. Democratic challengers target flipping 8 seats
The U.S. Air Force released the first in-flight photos of its newest nuclear stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider, on Wednesday after defense officials confirmed the sleek military aircraft had taken to the sky in California.

The flight test program is proceeding well, Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, said during a Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this month in Washington D.C. It is doing what flight test programs are designed to do, which is helping us learn about the unique characteristics of this platform, but in a very, very effective way.

The B-21 Raider in flight

The stealth, undergoing flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California, remains on track to meet timelines for deployment next spring, the Air Force wrote in a statement released on Wednesday.

What to know: Yes, turbulence is getting worse, but deaths are very rare

What base will the B-21 operate from?

The Air Force and Northrop Grumman, who manufactured the aircraft, unveiled the B-21, a new, long-range strike bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons, in December 2022.

The B-21 got its name from the 1942 Doolittle Raid over Tokyo and is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional payloads making it more advanced than any current aircraft.

B-21 Raider in the air

When the B-21 enters the service, Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, will be is central operating base and training center. Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas are listed as backup bases in the release.

"Designed to operate in tomorrows high-end threat environment, the B-21 will play a critical role in ensuring Americas enduring airpower capability," the Air Force wrote on its website.

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B-21 to replace current B-1 and B-2 models

The B-21 will replace the military's current B-1 and B-2 models, "becoming the backbone of the U.S. Air Force bomber fleet."

The B-21 is the first new American bomber aircraft in more than 30 years, and is one of six under production, according to the Air Force. The Air Force previously reported it expects to eventually have at least 100 of the new bombers.

Contributing: Mike Snider

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: B-21 Raider stealth bomber photos in flight released by Air Force
Kenya will receive significant backing to support education.

According to a news release, the United States signed a Framework for Cooperation with the Kenyan government to support innovation in STEM fields in partnership with its universities and the industry.

During Kenyan President William Rutos U.S. visit, USAID Counselor Clinton White signed the Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education for Economic Development Framework for Cooperation along with Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA.

Enhancements to Kenyas education infrastructure will soon be in effect, empowered by a $32 million commitment, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) also announced. This includes $850,000 earmarked for the Edtech Africa initiative  a program to promote collaboration between HBCUs, the Open University of Kenya, Mastercard, and Microsoft. The investment will also encompass a $6.5 million project to ensure graduate students in STEM will be able to secure job placements in fields including information and communication technology and manufacturing of textiles and pharmaceuticals, among others.

This initiative serves as an emerging technology bridge between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and African scholars, aimed at cultivating educational exchanges in the ever-evolving landscape of emerging technology, a statement from a White House fact sheet reads.

According to The Exchange, President Ruto commented, Such a partnership would develop curricula closely aligned with industry requirements, equipping young people with essential skills in ICT, green technologies, renewable energy installation and sustainable construction practices.

Furthermore, there will be a focus on primary education, the White Houses fact sheet states. So, $24.5 million will be allocated towards the Kenya Primary Literacy Program (KPLP) to teach literacy nationwide to young learners in partnership with Kenyas Ministry of Education.

KPLP programs are delivered in English and Kiswahili to all public primary schools and select private schools. KPLP expands new innovations to address literacy needs of grade 1-3 learners while building more inclusive, accountable, and resilient education institutions and systems, a White House statement reads.
US does not support strikes against Russia with Western weapons, but it is up to Ukraine  Blinken in Congress

The United States does not support or encourage Ukraine to use Western-provided weapons for strikes outside Ukrainian territory. However, Ukraine can independently make decisions on how to effectively use these weapons.

Source: Radio Liberty and US Department of State, citing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a hearing in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Details: Blinken emphasised that the task of the United States and its allies is to supply Ukraine with the weapons it needs to repel Russian aggression.

Quote from Blinken: "Weve delivered essential aid to Ukraine. In fact, the United States rallied 50 countries around the world to come to Ukraines defence to make sure it wouldnt be erased from the map, as Vladimir Putin sought.

Weve rallied the international community to share the burden."

Details: Several members of Congress, including Michael McCaul, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, asked Blinken during Wednesday's hearing about why the Biden administration is prohibiting Ukraine from using US-provided weapons to strike targets on Russian territory.

They specifically claimed that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan supports such a ban, while Congress, in its decisions to allocate assistance to Ukraine, has not imposed such restrictions.

Previously: Blinken evaded giving a direct answer to a follow-up question about whether the US would allow strikes on Russian territory with US-provided weapons.

Background: US Senator Jim Risch believes it is necessary to allow Ukraine to strike Russian territory with US-supplied weapons when it is necessary for its defence.

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The persistent bullishness in oil prices is fostering increased exploration and production endeavors. It is anticipated that upstream companies will broaden their activities in the prolific shale resources, resulting in a surge in the deployment of drilling rigs. With the escalation in drilling operations, production is poised to rise in domestic resources such as the Permian Basin, offering advantages to enterprises involved in exploration and production.

Oil Price High

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is trading above $75 per barrel, creating a highly favorable environment for exploration and production activities. Additionally, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts the average spot price of WTI crude to reach $83.05 per barrel this year, which is exceptionally advantageous for upstream operations. This handsome crude pricing environment is primarily being driven by voluntary production cuts from the OPEC+ group and ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Permian Crude Production to Rise

In June, total oil production from shale resources in the United States will likely increase by 17,000 barrels per day to 9,853 thousand barrels per day (MBbl/D), per EIA. The shale resources comprise Anadarko, Appalachia, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Niobrara and Permian.

Of all the resources, Permian may witness the highest increase in daily oil production next month, according to the EIAs drilling productivity report. In the Permian, the EIA projects oil production to rise 18,000 barrels per day to 6,187 MBbls/D next month.

Low Break-Even Oil Price in Permian: A Game-Changer

The Permian Basin, especially in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, boasts some of the lowest break-even prices in the United States, typically below $50 per barrel for existing wells, per media reports. This cost efficiency is largely due to advancements in drilling technology and the benefits of economies of scale in the region.

Permian Explorers in the Spotlight

Given the prevailing conditions, it's evident that a favorable crude pricing scenario is driving increased production levels. Enhanced production in the Permian Basin, characterized by its low break-even oil price, has heightened the interest to keep an eye on companies like Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM, Chevron Corporation CVX and Diamondback Energy, Inc. FANG, operating within this prolific basin. Each of these stocks carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

3 Stocks to Gain

ExxonMobil possesses a robust portfolio of profitable projects in the Permian region. Recently, the prominent integrated energy company finalized the acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources, a leading oil producer in the prolific basin. This acquisition has significantly expanded the combined company's presence in the Delaware and Midland sub-basins, totaling more than 1.4 million net acres. ExxonMobil has estimated the resource potential at 16 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

With the completion of the deal, the integrated energy major's Permian production is set to more than double to 1.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (MMBoE/D). Moreover, ExxonMobil anticipates this production volume to reach an impressive 2 MMBoE/D by 2027.

Chevron is one of the foremost oil and gas producers in the Permian Basin. A significant portion of the company's Permian operations yields minimal to no royalty payments, ensuring consistent cash flows. Consequently, analysts anticipate substantial production growth from this prolific basin for the prominent integrated energy player.

Diamondback Energy, a leading pure-play Permian operator, has reported ongoing enhancements in the average productivity per well in the Midland Basin. Thus, the exploration and production company is likely to continue witnessing increased production volumes. FANG also has an investment-grade balance sheet.

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President Biden is expected to soon designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, a senior administration official said.

Biden is expected to inform Congress that he will designate Kenya with the lauded title, which comes with special privileges, the official said, describing it as an acknowledgment that Kenya is already a global partner.

This is also big because its the first major non-NATO ally for us in sub-Saharan Africa, the official added.

The news comes while Kenyan President William Ruto is on a three-day state visit to the U.S. He met with Biden at the White House on Wednesday.

Only 18 countries are designated as major non-NATO allies, including close allies Japan, Israel, and Australia.

Major non-NATO allies are eligible for benefits including being a candidate for U.S.-owned war reserve stockpiles, the priority delivery of excess weapons and defense equipment and eligibility for loans related to cooperative research, development or testing.

Kenya has recently stepped up to lead the deployment of a multinational police force to Haiti, where armed gangs have taken over the capital of Port-au-Prince and have plunged the Caribbean nation into a humanitarian crisis.

An unofficial deployment date set for Thursday may not be met, according to the Miami Herald, as concerns mount over the procurement of vehicles and helicopters. The deployment could be pushed back to early June.

The senior administration official said Ruto and Biden are expected to discuss the Haiti deployment Thursday along with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The U.S. has pledged $300 million to support the Kenyan deployment to Haiti and has collaborated closely with Rutos administration on the mission.

Were focused right now on getting it right and making sure the Kenyans have what they need, the official added.

Armed gangs have been rampant across Haiti since the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, but they began cooperating more closely in February and freed prisoners before taking over most of Port-au-Prince.

The Kenyan-led deployment was first agreed to last year but has been delayed by the armed takeover of the gangs and the collapse of Haitis government, which only recently formed a transitional council to form new leadership.

The deployment is expected to rescue Haiti from a deepening humanitarian crisis as aid groups struggle with supplies with the capital nearly completely shut down, though the international airport recently opened and may offer some relief.

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 The Hill.
By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and Kenyan President William Ruto on Thursday called for increased support for developing countries like Kenya, including through debt relief by major bilateral creditors like China.

Biden and Ruto, on a three-day state visit to the United States, issued a "Nairobi-Washington Vision" that includes detailed steps for addressing the staggering debt burden faced by many low-income countries, about half of which are in or close to debt distress.

Many countries are now paying the majority of their revenues to repay debts, limiting their ability to invest in development projects or climate.

"Countries willing to commit to ambitious reforms and high-quality plans for investments in sustainable development and in addressing global challenges like climate change, pandemics and health threats, and fragility and conflict should be buoyed not abandoned by the international community," the statement for the Nairobi-Washington Vision said.

"High-ambition countries" should receive financial support from international financial institutions, it said, adding that creditor countries should provide reprieves.

China, the United States and other Group of 20 creditor countries set up the Common Framework for Debt Restructuring to help countries facing huge debt burdens during the pandemic, but the initiative has faced long delays.

A senior U.S. Treasury official said China - the largest official creditor - had taken some steps to aid debt-ridden countries, but more work was needed.

The U.S. and Kenya want a big push by the international financial institutions, China and other official bilateral creditors, and the private sector to ensure that debtor countries do not spend all their money servicing old debts.

"We can't have official creditors free-riding on the rest of the system," the senior Treasury official said.

Ruto told Reuters last month that Kenya expects a fresh $1 billion disbursement from the International Monetary Fund this month. Chinese loans to Kenya, which surged from around 2013-2022, now account for about 64% of Kenya's current stock of external bilateral debt.

Commercial external lending also contributed to Kenya's external debt problem, with a great focus on a $2 billion Eurobond maturing in June 2024.

The U.S. this week sent $250 million in fresh funding for crisis response by the World Bank's International Development Association, and was working with Congress to provide $21 billion to the IMF's Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, the officials said. It is also urging Congress to approve $36 billion to the World Bank.

Washington, the official said, would also work with other Group of Seven advanced economies and Group of Twenty to push for more private investment, coordinated relief packages and reforms at the international financial institutions.

"It's not just China. ... The system needs to operate better," the Treasury official said.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; editing by David Ljunggren and Leslie Adler)
On Friday 24 May, the United States may announce an additional package of US$275 million in military support to Ukraine.

Source: AP media outlet, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to APs sources, the package includes HIMARS systems and 155-mm and 105-mm calibre artillery ammunition. Other details about the new military support have not been reported.

This will be the fourth aid package from the United States since late April, when Congress passed a long-awaited foreign finance measure for Ukraine and its allies.

Background:

Washington announced the transfer of US$6 billion under Ukraine's Security Assistance Initiative, which would be used to pay for long-term contracts with the US defence sector.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the US has contributed approximately US$51 billion in military aid to Kyiv.

Earlier, the US had expressed hope that new US military aid unblocked by Congress would over time help the Armed Forces of Ukraine regain the initiative on the battlefield, but a large-scale Ukrainian offensive is unlikely in the near future.

However, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in the Senate that it is too early to tell whether the supplemental funding provided to Ukraine will have an effect on the battlefield, as this will take time.

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A Ukrainian serviceman guards an area near the town of Vovchansk

A Ukrainian serviceman guards an area near the town of Vovchansk

By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States is preparing a $275 million military aid package for Ukraine, which will include 155mm artillery shells, precision aerial munitions and ground vehicles, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Thursday.

Moscow's forces have hammered the northeastern city of Kharkiv for months and launched a ground assault into the north of the surrounding region on May 10, an offensive that Kyiv says has stalled on two lines of attack for now.

The weapons aid, which could be announced as soon as Friday, will utilize Presidential Drawdown Authority, which authorizes the president to transfer articles and services from U.S. stocks without specific congressional approval during an emergency.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

As a part of the $95 billion aid bills, Congress authorized $60.8 billion worth of various forms of aid to Ukraine, including $8 billion worth of presidential drawdown authority items.

While the package mainly includes munitions, it also includes vehicles that are designed to recover disabled tanks and other heavy equipment from the battlefield, a sign that the U.S. expects attacks and equipment losses to continue.

Military analysts expected a boost in the order backlog of RTX, along with other major companies that receive government contracts, such as Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman, following passage of the supplemental spending bill.

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Republican candidate Andy Ogles, running for the House of Representatives in Tennessee's newly created 5th Congressional District, speaks in front of his supporters at an election night watch party at Puckett's in Columbia, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.

U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles admitted this week that his campaign falsely reported a personal loan of $320,000 to the Federal Election Commission, according to campaign finance updates filed Wednesday.

In nearly 11 new amendments to filings that date back to April 2022, the freshman congressman eliminated mention of $300,000 he said he personally loaned his campaign over the last two years. Ogles now reports he loaned his campaign $20,000 during the 2022 primary, according filings made Wednesday by campaign treasurer Thomas Datwyler.

Ogles, R-Columbia, is seeking reelection this year. According to his most recent amended disclosure reports, he has $95,349 on hand, down from the $448,592 he reported a month ago  with less than three months to go before the Aug. 1 primary.

In a statement released by Ogles campaign on Thursday, Ogles said the funds previously disclosed as a loan to the FEC were instead a pledge to self-fund, if needed  and that need never arose.

At the beginning of the 2022 campaign cycle, I pledged $320,000 to use toward my own campaign efforts if needed, Ogles said in the statement.

He said the amendments were made in consultation with attorneys and FEC reporting experts to begin the process of ensuring my FEC reports and Financial Disclosures accurately reflect the circumstances of my original pledge," he said in the statement, adding that the pledge included several documented assets including bank and retirement accounts.

Im not a wealthy man who can self-fund the millions of dollars needed to run a congressional campaign, Ogles said. I am a grassroots representative, and I pledged everything I own to run for the honor of representing Tennessees Fifth Congressional District.

While we ultimately needed to transfer $20,000, unfortunately, the full amount of my pledge was mistakenly included on my campaigns FEC reports, he said.

Courtney Johnston, the Nashville Metro Council member challenging Ogles in the Republican primary this year, slammed Ogles over the campaign finance issue.

Andy Ogles lied and got caught, Johnston said. Normal folks get in big trouble for lying to the feds about money, but Andy is a politician who thinks he deserves a free pass and two more years of a taxpayer salary.

If Andy Ogles is willing to lie about his own money, what wont he lie about? she said.

Democrat Maryam Abolfazli also criticized Ogles move in a social media post Wednesday. Abolfazli is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

You've got to be living in a different reality to think you can say you have $300,000 and then come back later and say you don't, Abolfazli wrote. It reminds me of the new extremist GOP in general: like dictators, they believe the law is simply a tool to manipulate for their own personal gain.

This update is not the first discrepancy in Ogles campaign finance filings. Ogles is currently facing an ethics complaint filed by the Campaign Legal Center in January requesting an investigation into discrepancies in the congressman's financial disclosures, including the personal loan of $320,000.

In 2022, Ogles claimed to have raised more than $450,000 during the first 30 days of his campaign. Disclosures filed later showed hed brought in $264,400.

In the past, Ogles has also received public criticism for how he described his educational background, including misstating the degree he received from Middle Tennessee State University.

Ogles was endorsed for reelection months ago by former President Donald Trump, and stood alongside him at the courthouse where Trump's criminal trial is taking place last week.

According to FEC filings, Ogles campaign treasurer is Thomas Datwyler, of Hudson, Wisconsin. Datwyler is listed on Federal Election Commission filings as treasurer for several U.S. Senate and Congressional campaigns and PACs, including U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Kingsport.

Datwyler's LinkedIn profile shows his employment at 9Seven Consulting, a political consulting and FEC compliance firm. Datwyler made national headlines last year after former U.S. Rep. George Santos' campaign indicated Datwyler was its treasurer, even though Datwyler reportedly turned down the job.

Ogles hired Datwyler in late 2022 to replace Nashville auto magnate Lee Beaman, who is still listed as campaign treasurer on his website. While serving as Ogles treasurer in 2022, Beaman made a separate donation to an independent political action committee which then spent nearly an identical sum in independent expenditures supporting Ogles. Ogles repeatedly declined to comment at the time. Federal law prohibits coordination between campaigns and independent PACs.

Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com or on X at @Vivian_E_Jones.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: US Rep. Andy Ogles falsely claimed $320,000 campaign loan, FEC filings show
The New York Times has reported that the White House is debating whether to allow Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons to strike Russian territory, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging President Joe Biden to lift the restrictions after a sobering trip to Kyiv.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the New York Times (NYT)

Details: At the initiative of the Department of State, the Biden administration is currently actively debating whether to allow Ukrainians to strike missile launchers and artillery systems located directly near the border on the Russian side. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that these were the targets that had made Moscow's recent territorial gains possible.

Blinken's proposal, which he made after a visit to Kyiv last week, is still in its formative stages. The NYT noted that it was unclear how many of his colleagues in Biden's inner circle had signed up to the idea. Officials said that the document had not yet been formally presented to Biden, who is traditionally the most cautious.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller declined to comment on internal discussions about Ukraine policy, including Blinkens report after he returned from Kyiv.

But officials involved in the discussion said Blinken's position changed as the Russians had launched a new offensive. Russian troops have deployed weapons just across the border from Ukraines northeast and aimed them at Kharkiv, knowing that Ukrainians would only be able to use non-US drones and other weapons to retaliate.

The NYT pointed out that for the last few months, Ukraine had been stepping up attacks on Russian vessels, oil facilities and power plants, but it had been doing so mostly with domestically produced drones, which did not have the power and speed of American weapons. In addition, the Russians often shoot down Ukrainian drones and missiles or jam them off-course through advanced electronic warfare devices.

Pressure is now mounting on the United States to help Ukraine strike military targets in Russia, even if Washington wants to maintain its ban on attacking oil refineries and other Russian infrastructure with US-supplied weapons.

The NYT emphasised that the UK, which usually keeps pace with Washington on military strategy, had quietly lifted its own restrictions so that its Storm Shadow cruise missile system could be used to target Russia more broadly.

The change of course could also affect the future training of Ukrainian soldiers. Until now, they have been training with Western weapons at a training ground in Germany. The US is now also considering sending its military to Ukraine for training, which Biden had previously banned.

Background:

It was reported that US House Speaker Mike Johnson believed that the United States should allow Ukraine to wage war "in the way they see fit", commenting on Kyiv's request to allow it to use American weapons to strike Russian territory.

Earlier, the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee released an appeal from a group of congressmen from both parties to Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, calling for a faster delivery of weapons to Ukraine and allowing Ukraine to attack targets in Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed in an interview with Reuters that Ukraine is in talks with international partners about the possibility of striking targets in Russia with their weapons.

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US senators write to Canadas Trudeau asking him to meet 2% GDP defense spending commitment

A bipartisan group of 23 US senators have written to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging his country to live up to its commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defense amid concerns that key members of the NATO alliance are not pulling their weight.

As we approach the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., we are concerned and profoundly disappointed that Canadas most recent projection indicated that it will not reach its two percent commitment this decade, the senators wrote. In 2029, Canadas defense spending is estimated to rise to just 1.7 percent, five years after the agreed upon deadline of 2024 and still below the spending baseline.

The rare letter from lawmakers to a head of state comes about two months before NATOs next annual summit in Washington, DC, which will mark the alliances 75th anniversary as Russias war against Ukraine continues.

At last years leader-level summit, the allies agreed that each member nation should spend at least 2% of its GDP on defense. The senators pointed to that agreement in making their case for Canada to live up to the commitment.

And the senators  including Republicans Mitt Romney of Utah and Ted Cruz of Texas as well as Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, among others  argued that if Canada falls short of its commitment, it will hurt NATO.

Canada will fail to meet its obligations to the Alliance, to the detriment of all NATO Allies and the free world, without immediate and meaningful action to increase defense spending, the senators wrote.

Canada is a founding member of the defensive alliance, which now has 32 member nations. The senators noted the contributions Canada has made to NATO on multiple fronts, including taking a leading role in support of its military operations and developing standards around democracy, economic resilience and human rights.

But the senators also pointed out that many other nations are taking the necessary steps to hit and exceed the 2% target.

By the end of 2024, 18 NATO countries will meet the Alliances goal to ensure NATOs continued military readiness. This is a historic investment in our collective security, led by NATO Allies like Poland, a country that has already exceeded three percent of its GDP for defense spending, they wrote.

Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair responded to the letter on Thursday by saying that Canada is on a very strong upward trajectory in defense spending, adding we know weve got work to do.

Blair did not offer a specific timeline for when the country plans to hit the 2% commitment.

Our work has begun but theres a great deal of work to do. Its really important that when were spending hard earned Canadian taxpayers dollars that we spend them well, he said.

Earlier this year, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that he expects Canada to deliver on the pledge or else details plans for reaching the target spending.

More than a dozen other NATO members  including Spain, Turkey and the Netherlands have also so far fallen short of the alliances target.

But the senators chose to write to Trudeau because they believe Canada  unlike other nations  does not appear to have a plan in place to hit the target, a congressional aide explained.

While the letter does not mention former President Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee has had a real impact on the ongoing efforts to get alliance members to spend more. During his presidency Trump repeatedly pressed members to contribute more to the alliance, and to spend more on defense spending overall.

Europeans are also concerned about what Trump might do in a possible second term when it comes to NATO.

If he wins the election in November, Trump will consider pushing for a two-tier NATO, CNN has previously reported. That would mean countries that dont meet the 2% of GDP spending commitment would not be protected by NATOs Article 5, which guarantees that the resources of the whole alliance can be used to protect any single member nation if its attacked.

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US wants EU to take over security at Rafah border crossing

Displaced Palestinians shelter at a camp in the Al-Mawasi area of Rafah, in southern Gaza - Hatem Khaled/Reuters

The United States is seeking to install the EU as the caretaker of the Rafah border crossing, which has been closed since Israel invaded the city.

Washington has worked behind the scenes for weeks to broker a deal that would allow the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to control the crossing between Egypt and Israel, according to a senior US official.

A source told The Telegraph that several ideas were being examined, including the plan for the EU to monitor the crossing.

The EUBAM worked at the Gaza border until 2007 when Hamas took control of the territory and the organisation is reportedly ready to resume its activities to alleviate the pressure on civilians in the enclave.

The Rafah border crossing is the most vital entry point for aid into Gaza. Israeli tanks rolled into the Palestinian side of the crossing on May 7, effectively taking control and shutting the border as forces began operations in the area.

Egypt is refusing to cooperate with Israel on redirecting aid to the nearby Kerem Shalom border crossing.

The closing of the Rafah border had an immediate impact on the amount of aid entering Gaza in the following days. And when Hamas fired rockets at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, Israel also shut that for four days.

While 749 trucks with humanitarian aid have entered Gaza in the past 48 hours, both the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and the World Food Programme said they suspended delivery of food to Rafah.

Despite Egypt wanting Palestinians to retake control of the border crossing, president Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, argues that Rafah in particular is a focal point for ongoing terrorist activity.

Nearly 700 tunnel shafts have been identified in Rafah, from which approximately 50 tunnels cross into Egypt. These tunnels are used by Hamas to supply itself with weapons and ammunition and could potentially be used to smuggle out of Gaza hostages, or Hamas senior operators, said Gilad Noam, an official in the Israeli justice ministry.

According to Giora Eiland, a former Israeli national security chief, the Israel Defense Forcess findings ofis an embarrassment to Cairo.

They want us to stop the operation there before we find more tunnels. Egypt does not have a real leverage on us because Israel has no interest that the supply will enter from this passage, he said.

Mr Eiland said he is not against the idea of installing the EUBAM at the Rafah border crossing but said it wont be an effective solution.

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GaudiLab / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Living abroad is on the bucket list for millions of Americans, whether they want to experience a different culture or advance their careers. The expat life has numerous benefits  which is why many American expats decide to remain overseas in retirement. But it also comes with many challenges.

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Among the latter is the fact that you could come up against expenses that can drain your savings in a hurry. For U.S. citizens living overseas, its useful to familiarize yourself with the different ways living abroad can hurt your savings before you retire. Here are six things to keep an eye on.

Moving Expenses

Unless an employer pays for your move to a new country, youll face steep costs shipping items overseas or across borders. Once the items arrive, youll need to hire a company to move them into your new home. It will require only one move if you already have a place lined up. But if you first need to find a place to live, then youll have to pay for temporary storage  and that can get expensive in crowded foreign cities where space is at a premium.

Living Expenses

Although many foreign destinations have much lower costs of living than the U.S., some dont. If you find yourself living in pricey overseas cities such as Hong Kong, Zurich, Tokyo, London or Seoul, your living expenses will take a big chunk out of your savings.

International Transfer Fees

Digital money transfers are a lot faster and easier than the wire transfers of yesteryear, but as the Expatica website pointed out, these services often come with high transfer fees and unfavorable exchange rates. Thats a problem for expat Americans who need to frequently move money between their new country and the U.S. Spending a lot of money on transfers hampers your ability to save for retirement.

Identity Theft

This is a problem everywhere, including in the U.S., but its an especially big problem for expats. Many expats maintain financial accounts in multiple countries, giving criminals more possible points of entry, according to American Express. Identity theft can get very expensive if the criminals access your bank accounts and steal your money along with your identity.

Visa Runs

The term visa run refers to having to travel out of the country every so often so you can receive a new visa upon arrival. If you are required to do this often, the traveling costs alone can hurt your savings.

Taxes

Taxes on savings accounts, pensions and investments are handled differently overseas than they are in the U.S. For example, if you live in the U.K., you must pay taxes on foreign pension payments, Expatica noted. This could lead to double taxation for American expats participating in a non-qualified foreign pension plan.

Story continues

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Ways Living Abroad as a US Citizen Can Hurt Your Savings Before Retirement
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, pictured in Omaha on March 28, 2024, raised concerns Wednesday with U.S. House Republicans farm bill proposal. (Photo by Cindy Gonzalez / Nebraska Examiner)

WASHINGTON  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on a call with reporters Wednesday strongly criticized a farm bill draft written by U.S. House Republicans, saying it would damage the coalition that traditionally has united behind farm bills and raises the real possibility of being unable to get a farm bill through the process.

The massive five-year legislation governing farm, nutrition, commodity and conservation programs is scheduled for a markup beginning Thursday morning in the House Agriculture Committee, headed up by Chairman Glenn GT Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican.

It already has appeared headed for a clash with a proposal in the Democratic-controlled Senate amid disagreements over anti-hunger and conservation programs. In addition, the must-pass bill faces a House with a slim 217-213 GOP majority.

Vilsack expressed frustration that work on the $1.5 trillion measure has been delayed by eight months and said he has deep concerns about the proposed package released by Thompson last week. Lawmakers fighting over spending and the speaker post in the House last year passed an extension of the 2018 farm bill that expires Sept. 30.

I appreciate the fact that folks are working hard. I appreciate the fact that theyve listened to people out there in the countryside, said Vilsack, a former governor of Iowa.

But Im afraid that what we have is a circumstance where the proposal being advanced by the House of Representatives, the Republican members of the Ag Committee, it really is designed not to create a route to passage  I think its designed, unfortunately, for a route to impasse, which will cause a further delay.

Cuts to nutrition, disaster programs

Vilsack said he objects to provisions that would reduce spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, that delivers food assistance to more than 40 million low-income families.

By limiting future updates to the Thrifty Food Plan, the basis for benefit levels, the bills reductions would amount to $30 billion over 10 years, the liberal-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has estimated. Vilsack put the number at $27 billion.

Its been clear that there has been a coalition historically that is central to the passage of the farm bill, which understands the importance of addressing the nutrition programs and the farm programs, Vilsack said. It is essentially a crack in the coalition that is absolutely necessary to the passage of the farm bill  The fact that were crossing that red line raises the real possibility of being unable to get a farm bill through the process.

He said he also has a problem with a section of the House bill dealing with the Commodity Credit Corporation, which carries out various farm programs.

The legislation would restrict the USDAs authority to use the CCCs Section 5, which Vilsack said would tie the agencys hands in responding to natural disasters affecting farmers and force USDA to rely on Congress to enact disaster assistance.

Theres no assurance that such bills get passed, Vilsack said. And secondly, oftentimes Congress underfunds those bills, as was the case so recently with the 2023 situation disasters.

He said Thompson is proposing essentially to eliminate the capacity of the secretary of Agriculture to utilize the CCC in the face of a natural disaster, for example, that distorts markets. He also said he believes the bill overestimates the savings that would be obtained.

Vilsack said he prefers a farm bill proposal offered by Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, describing it as more practical and doable. Stabenow, who has released a summary of her bill but not the text, would boost eligibility for nutrition programs such as SNAP, among other provisions.

Chair defends proposal

Thompson, in a statement after the call, pushed back on Vilsacks comments and said his bill makes historic investments in agriculture.

Its clear from this eleventh hour push that the Secretary is determined to use every penny of the borrowing authority made available to him to circumvent Congress if left unchecked, he said. The Committee is reasserting Congress authority over the Commodity Credit Corporation, which will bring reckless administrative spending under control and provides funding for key bipartisan priorities in the farm bill.

The sudden rancor on using the CCC as a pay-for is nothing more than the latest partisan attempt to divide our committee and slow down progress on passing a farm bill.

The committee in a press release Wednesday also listed multiple statements of praise for the Thompson proposal, including the president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the CEO of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and leaders of various commodity and trade groups.

The post USDA chief voices deep concerns over U.S. House GOP farm bills nutrition cuts appeared first on Source New Mexico.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, pictured in Omaha in March, raised concerns Wednesday with U.S. House Republicans farm bill proposal. (Photo by Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

WASHINGTON  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on a call with reporters Wednesday strongly criticized a farm bill draft written by U.S. House Republicans, saying it would damage the coalition that traditionally has united behind farm bills and raises the real possibility of being unable to get a farm bill through the process.

The massive five-year legislation governing farm, nutrition, commodity and conservation programs is scheduled for a markup beginning Thursday morning in the House Agriculture Committee, headed up by Chairman Glenn GT Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican.

It already has appeared headed for a clash with a proposal in the Democratic-controlled Senate amid disagreements over anti-hunger and conservation programs. In addition, the must-pass bill faces a House with a slim 217-213 GOP majority.

Vilsack expressed frustration that work on the $1.5 trillion measure has been delayed by eight months and said he has deep concerns about the proposed package released by Thompson last week. Lawmakers fighting over spending and the speaker post in the House last year passed an extension of the 2018 farm bill that expires Sept. 30.

I appreciate the fact that folks are working hard. I appreciate the fact that theyve listened to people out there in the countryside, said Vilsack, a former governor of Iowa.

But Im afraid that what we have is a circumstance where the proposal being advanced by the House of Representatives, the Republican members of the Ag Committee, it really is designed not to create a route to passage  I think its designed, unfortunately, for a route to impasse, which will cause a further delay.

Cuts to nutrition, disaster programs

Vilsack said he objects to provisions that would reduce spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, that delivers food assistance to more than 40 million low-income families.

By limiting future updates to the Thrifty Food Plan, the basis for benefit levels, the bills reductions would amount to $30 billion over 10 years, the liberal-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has estimated. Vilsack put the number at $27 billion.

Its been clear that there has been a coalition historically that is central to the passage of the farm bill, which understands the importance of addressing the nutrition programs and the farm programs, Vilsack said. It is essentially a crack in the coalition that is absolutely necessary to the passage of the farm bill  The fact that were crossing that red line raises the real possibility of being unable to get a farm bill through the process.

He said he also has a problem with a section of the House bill dealing with the Commodity Credit Corporation, which carries out various farm programs.

The legislation would restrict the USDAs authority to use the CCCs Section 5, which Vilsack said would tie the agencys hands in responding to natural disasters affecting farmers and force USDA to rely on Congress to enact disaster assistance.

Theres no assurance that such bills get passed, Vilsack said. And secondly, oftentimes Congress underfunds those bills, as was the case so recently with the 2023 situation disasters.

He said Thompson is proposing essentially to eliminate the capacity of the secretary of Agriculture to utilize the CCC in the face of a natural disaster, for example, that distorts markets. He also said he believes the bill overestimates the savings that would be obtained.

Vilsack said he prefers a farm bill proposal offered by Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, describing it as more practical and doable. Stabenow, who has released a summary of her bill but not the text, would boost eligibility for nutrition programs such as SNAP, among other provisions.

Chair defends proposal

Thompson, in a statement after the call, pushed back on Vilsacks comments and said his bill makes historic investments in agriculture.

Its clear from this eleventh hour push that the Secretary is determined to use every penny of the borrowing authority made available to him to circumvent Congress if left unchecked, he said. The Committee is reasserting Congress authority over the Commodity Credit Corporation, which will bring reckless administrative spending under control and provides funding for key bipartisan priorities in the farm bill.

The sudden rancor on using the CCC as a pay-for is nothing more than the latest partisan attempt to divide our committee and slow down progress on passing a farm bill.

The committee in a press release Wednesday also listed multiple statements of praise for the Thompson proposal, including the president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the CEO of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and leaders of various commodity and trade groups.

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The post USDA chief voices deep concerns over U.S. House GOP farm bills nutrition cuts appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, pictured in Omaha on March 28, 2024, raised concerns Wednesday with U.S. House Republicans farm bill proposal. (Photo by Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

WASHINGTON  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on a call with reporters Wednesday strongly criticized a farm bill draft written by U.S. House Republicans, saying it would damage the coalition that traditionally has united behind farm bills and raises the real possibility of being unable to get a farm bill through the process.

The massive five-year legislation governing farm, nutrition, commodity and conservation programs is scheduled for a markup beginning Thursday morning in the House Agriculture Committee, headed up by Chairman Glenn GT Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican.

It already has appeared headed for a clash with a proposal in the Democratic-controlled Senate amid disagreements over anti-hunger and conservation programs. In addition, the must-pass bill faces a House with a slim 217-213 GOP majority.

Vilsack expressed frustration that work on the $1.5 trillion measure has been delayed by eight months and said he has deep concerns about the proposed package released by Thompson last week. Lawmakers fighting over spending and the speaker post in the House last year passed an extension of the 2018 farm bill that expires Sept. 30.

I appreciate the fact that folks are working hard. I appreciate the fact that theyve listened to people out there in the countryside, said Vilsack, a former governor of Iowa.

But Im afraid that what we have is a circumstance where the proposal being advanced by the House of Representatives, the Republican members of the Ag Committee, it really is designed not to create a route to passage  I think its designed, unfortunately, for a route to impasse, which will cause a further delay.

Cuts to nutrition, disaster programs

Vilsack said he objects to provisions that would reduce spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, that delivers food assistance to more than 40 million low-income families.

By limiting future updates to the Thrifty Food Plan, the basis for benefit levels, the bills reductions would amount to $30 billion over 10 years, the liberal-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has estimated. Vilsack put the number at $27 billion.

Its been clear that there has been a coalition historically that is central to the passage of the farm bill, which understands the importance of addressing the nutrition programs and the farm programs, Vilsack said. It is essentially a crack in the coalition that is absolutely necessary to the passage of the farm bill  The fact that were crossing that red line raises the real possibility of being unable to get a farm bill through the process.

He said he also has a problem with a section of the House bill dealing with the Commodity Credit Corporation, which carries out various farm programs.

The legislation would restrict the USDAs authority to use the CCCs Section 5, which Vilsack said would tie the agencys hands in responding to natural disasters affecting farmers and force USDA to rely on Congress to enact disaster assistance.

Theres no assurance that such bills get passed, Vilsack said. And secondly, oftentimes Congress underfunds those bills, as was the case so recently with the 2023 situation disasters.

He said Thompson is proposing essentially to eliminate the capacity of the secretary of Agriculture to utilize the CCC in the face of a natural disaster, for example, that distorts markets. He also said he believes the bill overestimates the savings that would be obtained.

Vilsack said he prefers a farm bill proposal offered by Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, describing it as more practical and doable. Stabenow, who has released a summary of her bill but not the text, would boost eligibility for nutrition programs such as SNAP, among other provisions.

Chair defends proposal

Thompson, in a statement after the call, pushed back on Vilsacks comments and said his bill makes historic investments in agriculture.

Its clear from this eleventh hour push that the Secretary is determined to use every penny of the borrowing authority made available to him to circumvent Congress if left unchecked, he said. The Committee is reasserting Congress authority over the Commodity Credit Corporation, which will bring reckless administrative spending under control and provides funding for key bipartisan priorities in the farm bill.

The sudden rancor on using the CCC as a pay-for is nothing more than the latest partisan attempt to divide our committee and slow down progress on passing a farm bill.

The committee in a press release Wednesday also listed multiple statements of praise for the Thompson proposal, including the president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the CEO of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and leaders of various commodity and trade groups.

The post USDA chief voices deep concerns over U.S. House GOP farm bills nutrition cuts appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack expressed frustration that work on the $1.5 trillion farm bill has been delayed by eight months (Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch).

WASHINGTON  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on a call with reporters Wednesday strongly criticized a farm bill draft written by U.S. House Republicans, saying it would damage the coalition that traditionally has united behind farm bills and raises the real possibility of being unable to get a farm bill through the process.

The massive five-year legislation governing farm, nutrition, commodity and conservation programs is scheduled for a markup beginning Thursday morning in the House Agriculture Committee, headed up by Chairman Glenn GT Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican.

It already has appeared headed for a clash with a proposal in the Democratic-controlled Senate amid disagreements over anti-hunger and conservation programs. In addition, the must-pass bill faces a House with a slim 217-213 GOP majority.

Vilsack expressed frustration that work on the $1.5 trillion measure has been delayed by eight months and said he has deep concerns about the proposed package released by Thompson last week. Lawmakers fighting over spending and the speaker post in the House last year passed an extension of the 2018 farm bill that expires Sept. 30.

I appreciate the fact that folks are working hard. I appreciate the fact that theyve listened to people out there in the countryside, said Vilsack, a former governor of Iowa.

But Im afraid that what we have is a circumstance where the proposal being advanced by the House of Representatives, the Republican members of the Ag Committee, it really is designed not to create a route to passage  I think its designed, unfortunately, for a route to impasse, which will cause a further delay.

Cuts to nutrition, disaster programs

Vilsack said he objects to provisions that would reduce spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, that delivers food assistance to more than 40 million low-income families.

By limiting future updates to the Thrifty Food Plan, the basis for benefit levels, the bills reductions would amount to $30 billion over 10 years, the liberal-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has estimated. Vilsack put the number at $27 billion.

Its been clear that there has been a coalition historically that is central to the passage of the farm bill, which understands the importance of addressing the nutrition programs and the farm programs, Vilsack said. It is essentially a crack in the coalition that is absolutely necessary to the passage of the farm bill  The fact that were crossing that red line raises the real possibility of being unable to get a farm bill through the process.

He said he also has a problem with a section of the House bill dealing with the Commodity Credit Corporation, which carries out various farm programs.

The legislation would restrict the USDAs authority to use the CCCs Section 5, which Vilsack said would tie the agencys hands in responding to natural disasters affecting farmers and force USDA to rely on Congress to enact disaster assistance.

Theres no assurance that such bills get passed, Vilsack said. And secondly, oftentimes Congress underfunds those bills, as was the case so recently with the 2023 situation disasters.

He said Thompson is proposing essentially to eliminate the capacity of the secretary of Agriculture to utilize the CCC in the face of a natural disaster, for example, that distorts markets. He also said he believes the bill overestimates the savings that would be obtained.

Vilsack said he prefers a farm bill proposal offered by Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, describing it as more practical and doable. Stabenow, who has released a summary of her bill but not the text, would boost eligibility for nutrition programs such as SNAP, among other provisions.

Chair defends proposal

Thompson, in a statement after the call, pushed back on Vilsacks comments and said his bill makes historic investments in agriculture.

Its clear from this eleventh hour push that the Secretary is determined to use every penny of the borrowing authority made available to him to circumvent Congress if left unchecked, he said. The Committee is reasserting Congress authority over the Commodity Credit Corporation, which will bring reckless administrative spending under control and provides funding for key bipartisan priorities in the farm bill.

The sudden rancor on using the CCC as a pay-for is nothing more than the latest partisan attempt to divide our committee and slow down progress on passing a farm bill.

The committee in a press release Wednesday also listed multiple statements of praise for the Thompson proposal, including the president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the CEO of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and leaders of various commodity and trade groups.

The post USDA chief voices deep concerns over U.S. House GOP farm bills nutrition cuts appeared first on Missouri Independent.
We used to victimize our Tennessee communities, but now we are helping rebuild them

One phone call and one piece of candy changed it all. These seemingly ordinary events sparked a faithful journey for both of us - two formerly incarcerated men - toward a life of purpose and dedication to helping others who share our past experience.

We want to bring attention to the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction and highlight the need to unlock second-chance opportunities for justice-involved individuals who are returning to their communities.

As of last year, nearly 2 million of our fellow citizens were in prison or jail. Too many of those who complete their time behind bars find that when they are released they are met with closed doors and limited opportunities. This then perpetuates the cycle of crime and incarceration, impacting not just the individual, but entire families and communities, sometimes for generations.

But our hope and our experience is that through understanding, empathy and a willingness to extend a helping hand, we can break the chains of recidivism and pave the way for a brighter future. Its why we believe in celebrating second chances every day.

More: After prison: How an East Nashville family is building a future one scoop at a time

We went from prison to purpose-driven community leaders

Individually, our paths were fraught with hardship - poverty, turbulent home lives and what seemed like an inevitable descent into the justice system. One of us (Papa Joe) became entangled in the Nashville legal system; the other (Joe Jenkins) was labeled as one of Chattanoogas most infamous criminals.

"Papa" Joe Bradford, co-founder of Elijah's Heart, at a Walk of Love event to provide groceries to community members

Emerging from incarceration, we returned to our same neighborhoods that were riddled with poverty and desperation. But it was our renewed sense of purpose  a calling from God and profound faith  that laid the groundwork for our transformation and the creation of two organizations, Elijahs Heart, and The B.R.A.V.E. Effect. Both proudly serve the same communities we once victimized.

Recently, Elijahs Heart, founded by Papa Joe, delivered food and hygiene products to over 400 homes in Nashville.

Volunteers going door-to-door to deliver groceries at a Walk of Love event, a hunger relief program run by Elijah's Heart.

The B.R.A.V.E. Effect, founded by Joe Jenkins, which stands for Building Relationships And Valuable Encounters, oversees six recreational centers in Chattanooga where individuals find not just employment, but one-on-one personalized support within days of release and open doors to better opportunities.

How we work with CoreCivic to help incarcerated people

In our missions to support individuals on their journey toward successful reentry, partnerships have been key.

CoreCivic has stood as one of these crucial allies, amplifying our impact in significant ways.

Joe Jenkins

Most recently, the B.R.A.V.E. Effect began positively impacting lives at CoreCivics Trousdale Turner Correctional Center in Hartsville, Tenn., where we provide essential reentry programming, mentorship, and post-release resources to men leaving prison to help break the generational cycle of poverty, destitution, and recidivism.

How every-day citizens can help

Close to 95% of those incarcerated will return to our communities - and many will return within three years. But with three out of four inmates rearrested within five years, the need for second chances has never been clearer.

Please consider how you can help transform your own community. It could be by employing people who have served their time or donating or volunteering with organizations who support them. You can lend support as an individual or through your business or church to help someone in need at just the right time.

'Papa Joe' Bradford

We know its through forgiveness, love, mentorship, partnership and community involvement that we can break the cycle of recidivism and transform lives. They are the cornerstone upon which second chances are built, offering a path to redemption for those willing to walk it - just like we have.

Joe Jenkins is the founder and CEO of The B.R.A.V.E Effect. Joe Bradford (Papa Joe) is the founder and director of Elijahs Heart.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Recidivism and second chances: We serve communities we once victimized
A trucker fuels up his truck at the Loves Truck stop on Nov. 5, 2021 in Springville, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)

Utah is one of 16 states suing California over a rule aimed at curbing air pollution that, according to a complaint signed by Attorney General Sean Reyes, violates the Constitution and threatens our Nations economic security.

Filed in U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of California, Nebraska v. Cliff takes issue with a new Golden State rule that seeks to prioritize zero-emission vehicles in the trucking industry.

Called Advanced Clean Fleets, the rule was finalized in October and targets any fleet operating in California. In some instances, private high priority fleets with 50 or more trucks will be required to buy zero-emissions vehicles when replacing older trucks. Other fleets will have to ensure a certain percentage of vehicles are zero-emission. For state and local government fleets, all new vehicles purchased must be zero-emission by 2027.

By the 2040s, California hopes to have all fleets in the state be mostly zero-emission vehicles, according to a news release. The rule is also intended to incentivize more commercial zero-emission vehicles being brought to market.

But Reyes, alongside 16 Republican attorneys general and the GOP-controlled Arizona legislature, argues the rule will force companies from other states to comply with Californias law.

The regulation forces truckers in and out of California to retire their internal-combustion trucks if they want to come to California. This will inevitably disrupt the supply chain for all manner of goods, slow interstate transportation, raise prices on goods across the country, and impose costs on taxpayers and governments around the country, reads the complaint filed earlier this month.

It is a misconceived and nationwide policy executed without the blessing of Congress or the consent of elected leaders in affected States, the attorneys general claim.

Essentially, California is exporting its ban on certain internal combustion engines, the complaint states.

Utah is joined by Nebraska, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming. The Arizona State Legislature and the Nebraska Trucking Association are also named as plaintiffs.

The post Utah, other states, sue California over rule to replace diesel trucks with zero-emission vehicles appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
The Uvalde school shooting thrust them into the national spotlight. Where are they now?

Two years ago Friday, a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The shooting is the deadliest school shooting in Texas history.

As the community mourned the losses, information about the flawed police response trickled to the public.

After arriving on the scene, officers waited 77 minutes before entering the classroom and neutralizing the shooter. Following years of investigation, hearings, reports and lawsuits, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Uvalde County District Attorneys Office have continued to withhold records that include investigation into the response, video footage from the hallway and more.

These are the stories of some of those involved in the shootings aftermath, where they have been, and where they are now.

Pete Arredondo

Pete Arredondo, former police chief of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, was fired by the school board three months after the shooting. Arredondo oversaw a police response that was widely scrutinized by both parents and officials, including the U.S. Department of Justice.

More than an hour passed from the time law enforcement entered the school and the time the gunman was killed, as Arredondo instructed his officers to evacuate after entering so he could negotiate with the gunman, according to the Justice Department report.

Arredondo was fired with a general discharge, or a discharge that is due to a disciplinary investigation or performance problem, according to Texas 2036, a nonpartisan policy organization. Arredondo appealed the decision and had his honorable discharge restored  only for a judge to rule his general discharge reinstated and close the case.

Since his firing, Arredondo has remained absent from the public eye and has not publicly announced another job, though records indicate he still owns a residence in Uvalde County. His name entered into headlines at the beginning of this year after the Justice Department report alleged Arredondo failed to take control of the scene.

Col. Steve McCraw

More than 90 DPS officers responded to Robb Elementary on the day of the shooting, but a Justice Department report said law enforcement did not following training in immediately taking down the shooter. DPS Director Col. Steve McCraw told CNN in September of 2022 that if the department was found to be culpable in a lack of response, he would be the first to resign and would release all records related to the shooting. He has done neither since the Justice Departments report was released.

Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell has said she requested the records not to be released to protect the grand jury proceedings, an objection McCraw cited when defending his refusal. This is despite the March ruling from a district judge in favor of releasing the records.

The grand jury investigation is still underway, and McCraw testified before the jury in late February. Even after the district judges ruling, litigation is ongoing, and an additional hearing will be held in September.

Christina Mitchell

Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell convened a grand jury at the beginning of this year to investigate the widely scrutinized police response to the shooting, and to recommend possible criminal charges against law enforcement officers. Arguing to protect the integrity of the grand jury proceedings, Mitchell has requested that DPS not release records, despite the judge ruling otherwise.

Christina Mitchell, District Attorney for the 38th Judicial District, leaves the Dry Frio Room at the Uvalde County Fairplex on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Uvalde, Texas.

Mitchell also drew criticism from former Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, who called for her resignation and accused her of covering up records related to the shooting requested by the city. McLaughlins comments were prior to the separate lawsuit filed by the news outlets. Mitchell remains district attorney and is running for reelection unopposed this November.

Don McLaughlin

Former Mayor Don McLaughlin served as mayor from 2014 to 2023 before resigning to run in the ongoing race for the Texas House of Representatives. House District 80, which includes Uvalde, has been represented by State Rep. Tracy King (D-Uvalde) since 1994. King has not faced a general election opponent in several years, but his retirement has created a competitive race for the seat.

Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin answers questions regarding the Robb Elementary shooting at the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center in Uvlade, Texas, on Sunday, July 17, 2022.

McLaughlin received national attention in the wake of the Uvalde shooting, including appearing on Good Morning America where he declared that the root cause of gun violence is mental health issues, not the guns themselves. He also criticized both nominees for governor in 2022, endorsing Gov. Greg Abbotts primary challenger Don Huffines, and calling former Rep. Beto ORourke (D-El Paso) a sick son of a bitch at a press conference with Abbott following the shooting.

But McLaughlins campaign for Texas House is not centered around the issue of guns. Instead, the candidate has cited concerns that Uvalde and South Texas are overlooked by politicians in Austin, according to the campaign website. McLaughlin secured the GOP nomination for HD80 with 58 percent of the vote, and will face one of two Democrats who are in a primary runoff  Rosie Cuellar, the Webb County Tax Assessor-Collector and sister of South Texas Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar, or construction company owner Cecilia Castellano.

State Sen. Roland Gutierrez

State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, gained traction politically after running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, intending to challenge Sen. Ted Cruz, a Houston Republican, in the general election. Gutierrez made the Uvalde shooting central to his Senate campaign, sometimes surrounded at his rallies by Uvalde parents who lost their children in the shooting.

Despite losing the primary to Rep. Colin Allred by 42 points, Gutierrez carried Uvalde County over Allred by 54 points. He has remained steadfast in his support for the Uvalde families and the fight for stricter gun laws. On March 10, Gutierrez shared a video to X, formerly Twitter, saying he will work with the congressman, presumably Allred, and on Monday he formally endorsed his one-time primary opponent. Gutierrez has shared posts to X recently telling the stories of each Uvalde victim in the days leading up to the anniversary of the shooting.

State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D - San Antonio, talks to Leon Hernandez, 9, on the courthouse square in Uvalde on Thursday June 2, 2022, days after the third-grader survived a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School.

He has not announced any additional plans to run for public office but remains in the Texas Senate, where he spoke out last session against laws passed by Republicans, which he said did not do enough to ensure the safety of students. The bills, House Bills 3 and 13, required every school campus to have an armed security officer and for every school to create active shooter safety plans, respectively. HB 3 was signed into law and took effect last September. Gutierrez still believes Texas should pass a ban on assault weapons, but previous attempts have been unsuccessful in the GOP-controlled legislature.

Kimberly Mata-Rubio

Kimberly Mata-Rubio was motivated to enter local politics in Uvalde following the loss of her 10-year-old daughter Lexi in the shooting. Mata-Rubio ran for mayor to succeed the retiring McLaughlin, but was defeated by former Mayor Cody Smith, 65 percent to 32 percent. She ran as an advocate for stricter gun laws, criticizing state and national leadership for failing to address the issue and pass meaningful legislation. Mata-Rubio had support from national Democrats, and fundraised through ActBlue, the Democratic National Committees fundraising platform.

After her loss in the mayoral race, Mata-Rubio congratulated Smith but said she will never stop fighting for Lexi, and that this race was only the beginning.

Just a few months into Smiths term however, he abruptly resigned from his seat April 1 for undisclosed health reasons. Mayor Pro-Tem Everardo Zamora will serve as interim mayor until the November election  Uvaldes third mayoral election in five years, despite the position having four year terms. Mata-Rubio has not announced plans to run again.

Brett Cross

Like Mata-Rubio, Brett Cross also took up advocacy following the death of his son Uziyah Uzi Garcia in the shooting. He has organized several sit-ins in front of the Uvalde Police Department, and previously at the Uvalde CISD Police Department before it was shut down. In February, he posted a video to X of an automated call that lawmakers in Congress have received. The call uses artificial intelligence to recreate Uzis voice and asks, what is it going to take for you to make sure violence like this stops happening?

In February, Cross was arrested at a county commissioner meeting and charged with disrupting a meeting when he used expletives at the county judge. Separate from his advocacy, he was charged with assault-family violence, alleged by his wife, though he avoided prosecution through a pretrial diversion program. His wife denied the allegations against Cross on social media.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Two years after the Uvalde shooting, where are the key figures now?
Nearly two years after the harrowing shooting that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas  and the subsequent investigations into police inaction  the families of victims are getting a sliver of justice.

In a $2 million settlement with the families of 17 of those killed announced Wednesday, plaintiffs hoped to seek justice without leaving the town in financial ruins, attorney for the families Josh Koskoff said. Parents, still grieving from the shooting, said that theyll turn their focus toward other groups in their fight for accountability.

No amount of money is worth the lives of our children. Justice and accountability has always been my main concern. Weve been let down so many times, that time has come to do the right thing, Javier Cazares, father of 9-year-old victim Jacklyn Cazares, said at a news conference, per CNN.

City officials expressed gratitude for the settlement, which will keep the community afloat and pay out a sum from insurance. The group of family members announced plans to take Texas Department of Public Safety officers and school district officials to court.

Koskoff said that it was Texas DPS who "blamed the least-equipped" Uvalde officials and law enforcement, and made "shocking and extensive failures" in its own response.

Lawsuits against Uvalde officials and police, who took over an hour to stop a shooter who killed nearly two dozen, alleged that a lack of urgency in response led to several of the deaths, a claim which a Department of Justice report backed up.

Cascading failures of leadership, decision-making, tactics, policy, and training . . . contributed to those failures and breakdowns, the report said. Per Koskoff, families may sue federal law enforcement at a later date for a botched response on their part.
Investors are often guided by the idea of discovering 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without any revenue, let alone profit. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. A loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the inflow of external capital may dry up.

Despite being in the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, many investors still adopt a more traditional strategy; buying shares in profitable companies like Ibraco Berhad (KLSE:IBRACO). While this doesn't necessarily speak to whether it's undervalued, the profitability of the business is enough to warrant some appreciation - especially if its growing.

View our latest analysis for Ibraco Berhad

Ibraco Berhad's Earnings Per Share Are Growing

If a company can keep growing earnings per share (EPS) long enough, its share price should eventually follow. That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. We can see that in the last three years Ibraco Berhad grew its EPS by 6.2% per year. That might not be particularly high growth, but it does show that per-share earnings are moving steadily in the right direction.

One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. While we note Ibraco Berhad achieved similar EBIT margins to last year, revenue grew by a solid 44% to RM392m. That's a real positive.

The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart.

Ibraco Berhad isn't a huge company, given its market capitalisation of RM622m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength.

Are Ibraco Berhad Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Seeing insiders owning a large portion of the shares on issue is often a good sign. Their incentives will be aligned with the investors and there's less of a probability in a sudden sell-off that would impact the share price. So those who are interested in Ibraco Berhad will be delighted to know that insiders have shown their belief, holding a large proportion of the company's shares. To be exact, company insiders hold 55% of the company, so their decisions have a significant impact on their investments. Intuition will tell you this is a good sign because it suggests they will be incentivised to build value for shareholders over the long term. With that sort of holding, insiders have about RM343m riding on the stock, at current prices. That's nothing to sneeze at!

Story continues

Does Ibraco Berhad Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

As previously touched on, Ibraco Berhad is a growing business, which is encouraging. For those who are looking for a little more than this, the high level of insider ownership enhances our enthusiasm for this growth. The combination definitely favoured by investors so consider keeping the company on a watchlist. Still, you should learn about the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Ibraco Berhad.

There's always the possibility of doing well buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But for those who consider these important metrics, we encourage you to check out companies that do have those features. You can access a tailored list of Malaysian companies which have demonstrated growth backed by significant insider holdings.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Gail Bailey stands at the tombstone for her son, Eddy, who died of bacterial meningitis in 2002. (Erik Gunn | Wisconsin Examiner)

It has been nearly 22 years since Edward Eddy Bailey  a fit, 6-foot 4-inch college junior  died 16 hours after complaining that he felt ill. But I think about it every day, says his mother, Gail Bailey.

The younger of her two sons, Eddy died of bacterial meningitis. His death set his mother on a crusade to add the meningitis vaccine to the list of inoculations that everyone is required to get when they go to school.

When you lose your child, you visit Hell for a long time, Bailey says. Its just such an insidious disease.

The year after his death, she won a partial victory  watered-down legislation requiring colleges to provide educational materials about the illness and to record whether students had the vaccine or not.

This week, though, she got a resounding follow-up: The state health department reinstituted a mandatory meningitis vaccine for students entering seventh and 12th grades. For Bailey, who lives in Jefferson, it was a long time in coming.

Eddy Bailey was the valedictorian at his high school in Jefferson and got a full scholarship at University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he majored in finance and economics.

He had a real gift for numbers and math, his mother says. Tall and energetic, he was also gentle and kind.

Anybody that was hurting, he would help, Bailey says. At his wake, all these girls came up and said, We would have never passed algebra without Eddy! She pauses and tears creep into her voice. We never knew that.

The worst day of our lives

Bailey wrote an account of her sons life on a website for the Meningitis Foundation of Canada.

On about 4 p.m. on a Monday afternoon in November 2002, Eddy felt feverish and thought he was coming down with the flu. At 7 oclock the next morning, he woke up and had trouble breathing. His college roommate called 911.

Eddy collapsed before the emergency medical technicians arrived. They took him to the emergency room at Meriter Hospital in Madison, just blocks from where he lived. He was pronounced dead at 8:02 a.m.

Gail was at her job, teaching business at Madison Colleges Watertown Campus. Her husband, Phillip, a food scientist, was at work at a meatpacking plant. Local police officers were dispatched to tell each of them about Eddys death.

It was the worst day of our lives, Gail Bailey says.

According to Dr. Frank Zhu, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin, bacterial meningitis surfaces mostly in teens and young adults. But its hard to say whether age is the reason, or a matter of coincidence.

In outbreaks that have happened, theyre most commonly in very cramped living conditions, for example dorms or barracks in the military, says Zhu, who is also medical director for infection control and prevention at Childrens Wisconsin, a Milwaukee pediatric hospital.

Late adolescence coincides with the time where youre often going to be living and moving into close proximity  going to college or going to the military, he says. And its also a phase of life when people may tend to congregate in larger groups socially.

From grief to a crusade

Until Eddys death, neither Gail Bailey nor her husband knew much about meningitis, or that there was a vaccine against some forms of the bacteria responsible.

Eddy and his older brother, Brett, had every vaccine that was required, Bailey says  but no one mentioned that a meningitis vaccine was available. She also hadnt heard about outbreaks that occurred from time to time and seemed to cluster in college dorms.

She learned of other parents who had lost children to the illness. And as she learned more, she spent the next year lobbying for a state law that she hoped would save the lives of countless others.

I was like, if I do anything with my life, I have to help these kids, Bailey says.

As originally drafted the bill would have required all public and private college students in Wisconsin to have a meningitis vaccine.

I probably worked on it for a year and went up to the Capitol and went to a lot of committee meetings and everything, Bailey says. Some legislators were encouraging and supportive, she says, but others struck her as callous and indifferent.

Hearing records from the bill showed enthusiastic support, especially from family members who had lost loved ones to meningitis. But they also showed resistance to the vaccine requirement, both from higher education officials and the insurance industry.

A series of amendments weakened the bill. The first one replaced the vaccine requirement entirely, requiring colleges and universities to provide detailed information on the risks associated with meningococcal disease and the availability and effectiveness of vaccines against the disease to each student.

A second amendment added a requirement that colleges and universities maintain records showing whether or not students living on campus have been vaccinated against meningitis and hepatitis B and the vaccine date if they have  but not requiring either vaccination.

We really wanted a lot more than that, Bailey says. As the bill was being watered down, she thought of her older son, Brett, who had come home from U.S. Army boot camp for his younger brothers funeral that previous November. Brett went on to serve 20 years in the Army, including in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Eliminating the vaccine requirement, Bailey says, would be like sending Brett out on the front lines against the Taliban with a pellet gun and saying, Good luck!

More comprehensive meningitis vaccines have been developed since then. Zhu of the Medical College of Wisconsin says that the primary vaccine recommended today, which is included among required school-related vaccines in many states, came into use after 2005.

In the years that followed the passage of the first bill, Gail Bailey has paid attention to developments in the vaccine and stayed in touch with other parents who have lost children to the illness. The family established a scholarship in Eddys memory.

Finally I came to the realization that I cant depend on lawmakers, she says. I have to depend on my family and friends.

Requirement blocked, then revived

In 2023 the Legislatures Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules voted on party lines to block the state Department of Health Services (DHS) from updating vaccine requirements. The update included new meningitis vaccine requirements recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bailey wrote an angry letter to the editor of the local paper.

She was further upset when she saw that Sen. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) chaired the rules committee. Back when she first pursued legislation after Eddy died, she sought support from Nass, then an Assembly member whose district included Jefferson.

He was no help, Bailey says. She recalls being told that mandates were out of the question and would lack support. They just didnt care.

Nass did not respond Wednesday to a request to his office for comment. On Thursday, after this article was published, Nass chief of staff, Mike Mikalson, replied in a lengthy email message recounting the history of the 2003 law.

Mikalson wrote that opposition centered on concerns that the bill was seen as part of a campaign by a French vaccine manufacturer to aggressively seek state-by-state government mandates for its product, bypassing the normal process for states to add mandated vaccines to each states list.

The bill as it was originally written was not supported by the Wisconsin health department (the Department of Health and Family Services at the time), and opposition in the Legislature was organized by both Nass, a Republican, and then-State Rep. Mark Pocan, a Democrat, Mikalson wrote.

Eddy Baileys body is buried in Greenwood Cemetery on the edge of town, with a monument that stands as high as he was tall. Designed by Gails brother, Patrick Gauthier, its topped with an oversize representation of a king chess piece, because he started a school chess club. It has other features that recall her sons life and loves  a book, because he was a voracious reader, a depiction of shorts, his favorite everyday garment, and more details besides.

This Friday will mark Eddys birthday. He would be 42.

Until the news this week that DHS was reinstating the blocked rule, because the Legislature has adjourned for the year, Bailey says he didnt realize it would be possible to restore the requirement. It was a welcome revival.

Im 70 now and I dont have the reserves that I used to, she says. But Ill never stop one way or another. Somebodys got to speak out. Somebodys got to be relentless.

This article was updated Thursday, 5/23/2024, with a response from the office of Sen. Steve Nass.

The post Vaccine requirements return restores hope for mother who lost son to meningitis appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Vaping driving nicotine use in young people who would not have smoked

Vaping is driving nicotine use in young people who would never have smoked, researchers have warned.

The use of e-cigarettes has tripled among 18 to 24-year-olds, while smoking has barely fallen, according to figures released on the same day as the Government mothballed its smoking Bill ahead of the general election in July.

University College London (UCL), which compiled the new data, said people who would never have taken up smoking were now vaping, and urged the Government to help discourage the practice.

Under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, disposable vapes were to be banned and it would have become an offence to sell tobacco products to those born on or after Jan 1 2009.

However, on Thursday, Penny Mordaunt, the Commons leader, confirmed that the smoking ban would not become law before the general election, leaving the legislation in limbo.

The new study, published in The Lancet Regional Health, found that 29 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds were vaping in May 2024, compared with just 9 per cent in May 2021.

At the same time, smoking declined from 25 per cent to 21 per cent in the same age group, while overall nicotine use increased from 28 per cent to 35 per cent.

Dr Harry Tattan-Birch, from the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, said: The rapid rise in vaping would be less concerning if smoking rates had come down more rapidly. The overall increase in the use of nicotine shows this has not happened.

Instead, driven by the arrival of highly popular disposable e-cigarettes, vaping has become much more common among young people, some of whom would likely otherwise have avoided nicotine entirely.

There are fears that vaping may cause long-term damage to the lungs, hearts and brains of young people.

Nicotine is harmful to developing brains, while chemicals and particulates found in e-cigarettes may cause lung disease and worsen respiratory conditions.

Researchers at UCL looked at survey responses from 132,252 adults in England between July 2016 and May 2023, comparing trends in the prevalence of vaping, smoking and overall nicotine use.

In the older age groups, there were smaller increases in vaping and smaller or no declines in smoking. Vaping prevalence increased from only 5 to 6 per cent in those aged over 45, whereas smoking prevalence increased from 12 to 14 per cent.

The rise in vaping was particularly steep among young adults who had never smoked, increasing from two per cent to nine per cent.

Cancer charities said political parties needed to commit to passing the Bill in the next parliament.

Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UKs chief executive, said: If the Government confirms the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will not make it through wash-up, this will be a disheartening day for people affected by cancer, health professionals and campaigners who have worked tirelessly on the legislation.

Preventing cancer and saving lives should transcend party politics. Its vital that all parties commit in their manifestos to bring this Bill back in the first Kings Speech after the general election.

Lets prioritise this world-leading legislation and help cancers caused by smoking become a thing of the past.

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.
You voted in Tuesdays primary election in Ada County.

You stopped by your precinct, filled out a paper ballot and fed it into a voting machine. Of course, you got an I Voted sticker for the road.

Your job was done, but then what happened?

At the Ada County Elections Office, dozens of people were gearing up to do their jobs as part of what appeared to be a well-oiled machine  other than a few complaints about the cookie selection in the workers break room. The Idaho Statesman visited Tuesday night to get a look behind the scenes of the countys vote-counting process. Heres how it played out.

Ada County poll workers at the county Elections Office receive voting machines and equipment from each of the countys 197 precincts after the primary election on May 21, 2024.

At around 8:30 p.m., 30 minutes after the polls closed, vehicles from each of the countys 197 precincts began to arrive at the office with voting machines, ballot bags of completed ballots and transfer cases of unused ballots. As the evening progresses, this line of cars gets long, said Nicole Camarda, a communications and marketing specialist for the Ada County Clerks Office, under whose umbrella the elections office operates.

Ada County poll workers wheel voting machines, ballots and other supplies into the Elections Office.

Poll workers, including county employees and paid volunteers, wheeled voting supplies from the vehicles into the elections office for processing under the watchful eyes of election officials.

Workers check which of the countys precincts have dropped off their ballots.

County workers checked off which precincts dropped off the materials from their voting station, confirming that all equipment and ballots were accounted for as they entered the building.

Once inside the Elections Office, each precincts supplies are divided up and sent to different stations for processing.

Once inside the office, ballots and voting machines entered a fast-paced environment in which each component headed to a separate station for processing, moving smoothly from one station and room to the next.

Its a very organized chaos, Camarda said.

Poll workers remove each voting machines V-drive by breaking a seal, then bring the drives into the tabulation room, left, to calculate election results.

Poll workers pulled out V-drives  basically, secure USB drives  from each voting machine. These drives have the vote count from all of the ballots submitted into that machine. Once the V-drive is removed, by breaking a seal within the machine, workers take each drive into the tabulation room, where the final results are counted.

Workers process used paper ballots to be placed in storage. The Elections Office preserves these paper ballots for years.

As for the used paper ballots, they were boxed, sealed and put into storage. The same goes  separately  for the unused ballots.

The county deployed a fleet of election workers to absentee ballot dropoff stations to ensure that no ballots were submitted after the polls closed at 8 p.m. Once all properly cast absentee ballots made it to the elections office, county officials verified each signature before feeding those ballots into voting machines that never leave the office  they are there for this purpose.

County Clerk Trent Tripple demonstrates how election workers manually review absentee ballots that have an overvote, in which the voter selected more than the number of candidates allowed. Election workers review those ballots to try to determine the voters intent.

Late in the night, County Clerk Trent Tripple demonstrated one of the offices final steps for absentee ballots. In cases where a voter submits an overvote  that is, selects more choices than were allowed in a given race  county officials manually review the ballot to try to determine the voters intent. If theres a clear effort to scratch out a selected candidate and choose another, officials honor that choice. If theres no way to tell what the voters intent was, the vote in that particular race is not counted.

The vote-counting effort in Tuesdays primary lasted until about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. The elections turnout of about 21% was lower than projected, but the office still employed about 80 poll workers. With voter turnout projected to jump to maybe 85% during Novembers general election, Tripple said he expects to at least double the number of poll workers.

About 80 poll workers reported to the Ada County Elections Office to help count votes after the primary election on May 21.
VETERAN, N.Y. (WETM)  A man from the Town of Veteran has been arrested on meth charges after an investigation into an explosion that occurred on Veteran Hill Road back in March.

According to the Chemung County Sheriffs Office, Bryon J. Schwartz, 42, was arrested on Wednesday, May 22, on an outstanding superior court warrant. He was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree, a class A-II felony, and unlawful manufacture of meth in the third degree, a class D felony.

Schwartzs charges stem from an incident that occurred on March 9 in the Town of Veteran when members of the Chemung County Sheriffs Office, along with town and county fire departments, were called to a reported explosion.

Meth lab explodes in Veteran, police say

The investigation was then turned over to the Chemung County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigation Division where a search warrant was then obtained and completed with assistance from the New York State Police Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team.

During the search, officials found an active meth lab along with 6.3 ounces of meth.

Following the investigation, the superior court warrant was issued and Schwartz was arrested on the above listed charges. He is now being held in the Chemung County Jail awaiting a further court appearance.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  Enlisting not once, but three times into the military, Buck Sergeant Randy White supported fellow service members as a radio teletype operator and field medic.

My first enlistment was with a NATO unit, so I worked at a fixed radio station, White said. We prepared and sent messages to all different NATO units. Of course, at that time there was still the cold war going on and the Berlin Wall, security was pretty tight so it was an interesting day-to-day. We had to change the length of the antennas, and all the security that went along with it.

Being a part of that vital work means a lot to the Sergeant.

Every unit out there needed communications, radio operators, multi-channel communications, satellite communications, White said. Theres a saying in the signal core, we will keep you in touch with each other. You speak, well talk for you.

Veteran Salute: Relaying radio overseas in Vietnam

Thats a saying Whites unit took to heart, receiving an Army commendation for their field exercise performance.

My squad got the highest communication, 96, 97%, White said. No downtime and constant communication, thats kind of tricky depending on the atmosphere. I was really proud of that. Ive had three good contact ribbons, army achievement ribbons for the work I do, and did.

Looking for a different experience when joining the National Guard, White left the world of radio to take on the role of a Field Medic.

Mostly I worked the aid station, White said. It was a forward support army hospital unit 169th. I worked along with the doctors. At that same period of time I was working with the chiropractors office on the civilian side. Thats when I became a massage therapist, it was really fun. They always kidded me when we went to summer camp I was the only medic that ever took a massage table with him.

White would continue his career in the health field as a Medical Assistant for a nursing home and a chiropractor at a Topeka clinic.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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An artificial intelligence program designed to prevent suicide among U.S. military veterans prioritizes white men and ignores survivors of sexual violence, which affects a far greater percentage of women, an investigation by The Fuller Project has found.

The algorithm, which the Department of Veterans Affairs uses to target assistance to patients with the highest statistical risk for suicide, considers 61 variables, documents show, and gives preference to veterans who are divorced and male and widowed and male, but not to any group of female veterans.

Military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence  both linked to elevated suicide risk among female veterans  are not taken into account.

Recently released government data show a 24% rise in the suicide rate among female veterans between 2020 and 2021, four times the increase among male veterans during that one-year period. It was also 10 times greater than the 2.6% increase among women who never served in the military.

It was difficult enough to be a woman in the military. We get harassed; we get bullied, said Paulette Yazzie, a 45-year-old Air Force veteran from the Navajo Nation. She served 13 years in the military, including a tour in Iraq.

Now were being pushed to the back  again, she said.

Yazzie, a former staff sergeant, teared up when informed that the VAs suicide prevention algorithm prioritized men. She said she faced constant sexual harassment and unwanted advances in Iraq and slept with the light on, the door locked, and a chair propped against it for extra protection during her deployment.

They always think about us second, she said. This is going to cost peoples lives.

Former Air Force Staff Sergeant Paulette Yazzie poses for a selfie during a 2012 deployment to Iraq. (Courtesy Paulette Yazzie)

The VA touts its machine learning model, REACH VET, as the nations first clinical use of a validated algorithm to help identify suicide risk.

Launched in 2017, the system flags 6,700 veterans a month for extra help. VA officials say it produces a significant reduction in suicide attempts by those veterans over the following six months.

On May 13, the agencys undersecretary for health, Carolyn Clancy, called the system a game changer during a congressional hearing.

In an interview, Matthew Miller, the VAs executive director for suicide prevention, said the agency considered military sexual trauma, along with hundreds of other variables, as it crafted its algorithm. But officials decided to exclude a history of rape or assault from the model because it was not among the most powerful for us to be able to predict suicide risk, he said.

The algorithm identified being a man, especially a white man, as more predictive of suicide than clinical factors known to impact women, he said. Divorce and death of a spouse were predictive of suicide risk when the patient was male, Miller added, but not when she was female.

Its offensive that VA could rationalize overlooking women veterans at risk of suicide, Allison Jaslow, chief executive of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said of the algorithm. This is a very serious issue.

Though female veterans are the VAs fastest-growing population, Jaslow said women are habitually ignored. She cited as an example the long, and ultimately successful, fight to get the VA to design prosthetics that fit women.

Meredith Broussard, research director for New York Universitys Alliance for Public Interest Technology, said she doubted the agencys AI system reached accurate conclusions.

Whenever you have an algorithm that seems to favor the majority group  for example white men  and someone says, Its just math, its most likely the case where systemic bias is manifesting itself in the math, Broussard said.

Though the suicide rate among male veterans remains higher than that for their female counterparts, the rate among female veterans is rising faster.

Joy Ilem, national legislative director for Disabled American Veterans, told The Fuller Project she was puzzled by the VAs decision to exclude a long list of factors known to increase suicide risk among female veterans  including military sexual trauma, intimate partner violence, pregnancy, menopause, and firearm ownership.

Ilem noted that the VAs own researchers have found that risk factors for suicide are different for female and male veterans. Given the rising suicide rate among women, it makes sense to conclude that something would be included thats more tailored, she said.

The issue of algorithmic bias has gained traction in recent years. Both Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden issued executive orders to promote transparency and accountability for AI products. The VA has identified more than 100 programs covered by those presidential decrees.

Last year, Biden issued two orders that require federal agencies to ensure AI models do not perpetuate discrimination.

My administration cannot  and will not  tolerate the use of AI to disadvantage those who are already too often denied equal opportunity and justice, he said.

Miller, the VAs suicide prevention director, said he wasnt sure what the agency was doing to comply with the orders. A follow-up inquiry to the VA press office did not produce specifics.

The Office of Suicide Prevention is working with the VA AI lead and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) on the development of compliance reviews and monitors, the agency said in a written statement.

The VA declined to provide data on veterans flagged by the REACH VET algorithm. The agency keeps a monthly dashboard tracking patients and outcomes, but an agency spokesperson said the VA would only share that information if it received a Freedom of Information Act request.

The VA is the nations largest integrated health care system, serving 9 million people across 172 hospitals and more than 1,000 clinics. It operates in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C.

The number of women using VA services has quintupled since 2001, growing from 159,810 then to over 800,000 today. Women make up 30% of new VA patients, according to the agency.

Aaron Glantz is California Bureau Chief and a senior editor at The Fuller Project, the global newsroom focused on women. Reach him at aglantz@fullerproject.org.

The Fuller Project is a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to the coverage of womens issues around the world. Sign up for the Fuller Projects newsletter, and follow on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Veterans in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, or those who know a veteran in crisis, should call the Veterans Crisis Line for confidential crisis support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or send a text message to 838255.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks at the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) federal party conference. Michael Kappeler/dpa

Support for Ukraine is one of European Commission President' Ursula von der Leyen's "red lines" for cooperating with politicians to her right after the June 6-9 European Parliament elections, she said in a televised debate on Thursday.

Von der Leyen had hinted in earlier debates that she might be prepared to work with parliamentary groups to the right of her own centre-right European People's Party.

Support for the EU, for Ukraine, and for the rule of law were von der Leyen's conditions for future cooperation, she said at the final debate among political groups' lead candidates in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Von der Leyen said she'd work with politicians who meet "three criteria: the first is pro-Europe, the second is pro-Ukraine - that is anti-Putin - and the third is indeed pro-rule of law."

That ruled out Marine Le Pen's National Rally in France, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), Revival in Bulgaria, and the Confederation of the Polish Crown (KKP), von der Leyen said.

"All these may have different names and different principles, but they have one thing in common: They are friends of Putin and they want to destroy our Europe. And we will not allow this to happen."

But von der Leyen suggested that she might be prepared to work with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is standing in the EU elections and whose Brothers of Italy party is affiliated to the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group.

"I have been working very well with Georgia Meloni in the European Council, as I do with all the heads of state and government," she said when asked about Meloni.

"She is clearly pro-European," von der Leyen said. Meloni is also "against Putin - she's been very clear on that one - and pro-rule of law, if that holds. And there we offer to work together."

Another major national affiliate to the ECR is Poland's Law and Justice Party, which governed the country until being ousted by Donald Tusk's centrist coalition in elections last year.

Le Pen's National Rally is affiliated to the Identity and Democracy (ID) group, which is generally further to the right than the ECR. On Thursday, the ID group announced it had expelled the AfD from its ranks, citing the behaviour of AfD lead candidate Maximilian Krah.

Krah had said that not all members of the Nazi-era Schutzstaffel (SS) were criminals. The SS was a Nazi paramilitary organization that was heavily involved in war crimes and ran the regime's death camps during the Second World War, including Auchwitz.

Furthermore, one of Krah's assistants, whom he has since fired, was arrested on suspicion of spying for China's foreign intelligence service.

The other two far-right parties von der Leyen ruled out working with - Revival and the KKP - are not currently represented in the European Parliament.
ZANESVILLE  Youve probably heard it said before  when you spend local, youre making a greater contribution to your community.

Thats important to remember during Small Business Month in May as localities everywhere celebrate the owners who make our communities stronger.

Its the American way, said Dana Matz, president of the Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce. In our community, our businesses are very supportive of not just the chamber, but of local schools, little leagues and local entities as a whole. For every dollar spent at local and small businesses, it is then (rolled over in our community).

Dana Matz

Matz is referring to whats called the local multiplier effect. For those who study the phenomena, what theyve discovered is that, on average, every dollar you spend at a locally owned typically small  business, is turned over two to four more times in your community than money spent at a big box store.

Small business owners are often our friends, our neighbors, and our families and thats what keeps the economic engine running, said Matz.

Hes right. According to the Small Business Administration, there are 33 million small businesses (500 employees or less) in the United States, which is 99.9% of all American businesses.

Those numbers translate to Muskingum County as well, where more than 90% of the Chambers members are small businesses (10 employees or less), according to Matz, who added that the state of Ohio reported 98 percent of Ohio businesses are also small businesses (49 employees or less).

We are very lucky to have a very diverse make up of businesses. Your industrial, your retail, your restaurants. Its a big advantage for us, said Matz. There are so many entities. We dont have to survive on big industry.

Thats true so long as consumers recognize small buinesses may not offer the same perks as a big box store.

In todays society, when we can pick up our phone and order pretty much anything we want, I think the importance of celebrating local and small business for one month a year is a reminder to not forget about the hard work they put in, said Matz. Sometimes a small business may not have the ability to sell on a website or a marketplace, but its important to remember in our community we still need to support local in a way that makes sense for them.

The chamber is one mechanism for businesses to find support. For example, owners of Ohi:yo Pepper Company noted how the Zanesville Foodworks Alliance was instrumental to their small business.

That really helped us get off the ground, said owner Thera Snyder. It would not be feasible for us to do what were doing without them.

Story continues

Snyder said Ohi:yo Pepper Company makes all their products in one of the leased commercial kitchens at Foodworks Alliance in Zanesville.

And Foodworks Alliance is what came out of the local business incubator led by the chamber.

We were heavily involved in the creation of Foodworks Alliance, said Matz. The food kitchen was a highly successful entity.

And thats the goal of the chamber, he said, to make small businesses as successful as they can be.

If we dont have the answer, we have the person who has the answer, said Matz. After that, its up to consumers to support local every chance they get.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Embrace local multiplier effect by supporting Zanesville businesses
Support for Ukraine is one of European Commission President' Ursula von der Leyen's "red lines" for cooperating with politicians to her right after the June 6-9 European Parliament elections, she said in a televised debate on Thursday.

Von der Leyen had hinted in earlier debates that she might be prepared to work with parliamentary groups to the right of her own centre-right European People's Party.

Support for the EU, for Ukraine, and for the rule of law were von der Leyen's conditions for future cooperation, she said at the final debate among political groups' lead candidates in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Von der Leyen said she'd work with politicians who meet "three criteria: the first is pro-Europe, the second is pro-Ukraine - that is anti-Putin - and the third is indeed pro-rule of law."

That ruled out Marine Le Pen's National Rally in France, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), Revival in Bulgaria, and the Confederation of the Polish Crown, von der Leyen said.

"All these may have different names and different principles, but they have one thing in common: They are friends of Putin and they want to destroy our Europe. And we will not allow this to happen."

But von der Leyen suggested that she might be prepared to work with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is standing in the EU elections and whose Brothers of Italy party is affiliated to the European Conservatives and Reformists group.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  A bipartisan border security bill could not get enough support in the U.S. Senate Thursday to even start a debate over it. However, lawmakers had plenty to say after the procedural vote.

Its a sad day for the Senate, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). A sad day for America.

Schumer brought the bill up again after Republicans blocked it earlier this year.

Trump told his MAGA allies to kill it in its tracks so he could exploit the issue on the campaign trail, Schumer said.

But this time, Republicans and Democrats blocked the bill from moving forward with 43 yea and 50 nay votes.

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) opposed it for its substance.

It includes arbitrary border closures and could practically eliminate the right to seek asylum, Padilla said.

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), one of the lead negotiators of the bill, opposed it for the politics.

Today is a prop, Lankford said. Today is a political messaging exercise.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said President Joe Biden should instead revert to Trump-era policies, like Remain in Mexico and construction of the border wall.

If Senate Democrats wanted to start fixing the crisis tomorrow, they would be urging the president to do exactly that, McConnell said.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) argued the vote was not for nothing.

All is not lost, Kaine said. People will see who supports doing meaningful things to improve the situation at the border and who doesnt.

Schumer said this is not the end of the road. He vowed to try again to pass a border bill this year.

In a statement Thursday, President Biden blamed Republicans for putting partisan politics ahead of the countrys national security.

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Voters wrongly accused of fraud cannot sue for defamation, NC court says

NC Supreme Court (File photo)

Individuals and law firms making false claims of fraudulent voting cannot be sued for defamation, the NC Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

The state Supreme Courts five Republican justices ruled unanimously that people and entities bringing election protests enjoy absolute privilege that protects them from defamation lawsuits.

The case stems from false claims of double voting in 2016 after Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper defeated incumbent Republican Gov. Pat McCrory in a close election.

Brunswick and Guilford County residents filed election protests after talking with attorneys with the law firm the Pat McCrory Legal Defense Fund hired. The lawyers worked with Guilford County resident William Clark Porter IV and Brunswick County resident Joseph Agovino to submit election protests on their behalf alleging that voters in those counties had cast ballots in North Carolina and in other states.

The Guilford Board of Elections dismissed Porters protest due to lack of evidence. Agovino withdrew his protest before the Brunswick elections board made a decision.

Voters who said they were defamed by the false allegations of fraud sued Porter, the Pat McCrory Legal Defense Fund, the law firm Holtzman Vogel Josefiak Torchinsky, and four of its lawyers. Holtzman Vogel has offices in Virginia, Washington, DC, Florida, and Arizona.

The defamation lawsuit cannot go forward, said the Supreme Court decision released Thursday.

The protection against defamation claims covers those who research, assess, strategize, approve, facilitate, prepare, direct, file, or prosecute election protests, said the decision written by Chief Justice Paul Newby.

People involved in judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings must be able to communicate freely without fear of defamation suits, it says.

The courts two Democratic justices did not participate in the case. They both previously worked at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, which represented the voters.

Voters who were wrongly accused of fraud said in a statement that the court decision sends a message that our lives and livelihoods do not matter in this state and that powerful outsiders can meddle in our elections without facing any consequences.

Jeff Loperfido, chief counsel for voting rights at Southern Coalition for Social Justice, said in a statement the decision opens the door for losing politicians to spread defamatory claims after an election to see if theyll stick.

The ruling today is disappointing for many reasons, but most importantly because these voters were used by politicians as pawns in disturbing acts of political gamesmanship  they were accused of crimes and their reputations marred, for simply exercising their right to vote, and this confirms there will be no accountability for those in power who knew better, his statement said.

Read the full Supreme Court ruling here.

The post Voters wrongly accused of fraud cannot sue for defamation, NC court says appeared first on NC Newsline.
Sixteen pro-Palestinian protesters have been arrested by police after occupying a building at Oxford University.

Thames Valley Police was called to the university at 8am on Thursday following reports a group of activists had entered an administrative office on Wellington Square.

Officers arrested 16 Oxford Action for Palestine (OA4P) demonstrators on suspicion of aggravated trespass, with one detained on suspicion of common assault.

The force said it was aware of footage showing an officer using lawful, proportionate and necessary action in circumstances described as difficult.

A spokesman said: In addition to these arrests we dealt with protesters in the immediate vicinity of Wellington Square. Elements of this protest sought to obstruct the removal of the persons arrested. These protests have been peaceful and no arrests were made.

We are still managing a small peaceful protest in the city. We are aware of footage circulating on social media, which show our officers using lawful, proportionate and necessary action in the difficult circumstances they faced.

At least five police cars were parked on Wellington Square, and at least one police vehicle entered the building through the back gate on Little Clarendon Street. A group of protesters were standing at the entrance of the building, and blocking access to it.

The building was shut down, with a notice at the door of the offices stating We are in lockdown  no access.

 @UniofOxford



40,000 PEOPLE DEAD



YOU ARREST STUDENTS INSTEAD pic.twitter.com/NtjrtYCpIu  Oxford Action for Palestine (@OxAct4Pal) May 23, 2024

A banner was hung from the first floor of the Wellington Square building, with a list of seven demands. They include: Disclose all finances, Divest from Israeli genocide, apartheid, and occupation, and Support Palestinian-led rebuilding of education in Gaza.

A final demand reads Amnesty for all involved.

An OAVP statement on Twitter read: Emergency: mass arrests are happening now at our sit-in at Wellington Square! Mobilise now for support!

In an earlier post, the group stated: We will not leave the Administration offices in Wellington Square until the University agrees to negotiate on the preconditions we have already requested.

Police have moved in to break up the protests

There is a large encampment currently set up outside the Pitt Rivers Museum in the city where students have been staging a protest for the past two and a half weeks.

Tents have been erected outside the building and declared a liberated zone by protesters in solidarity with Palestine.

Pro-Palestinian protests and camps are spreading across British universities as students demand that the universities cuts all financial ties with Israel in an attempt to replicate the occupations that have swept through US campuses.

Demonstrators in Oxford have added to a growing number of tent camps protesting against the war in Gaza, which have also been seen at universities including Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Leeds, Warwick, Swansea, Bristol and University College London.

An Oxford University spokesman said: The Oxford Action for Palestine (OA4P) protest group has escalated their protest actions from mainly peaceful to direct action.

The university has always respected the right to peaceful protest by students and staff within the law and regulations, and it is deeply regrettable that the protestors have gone beyond that line.

These actions have culminated in forced entry and temporary occupation of a section of the university offices on Wellington Square, causing significant distress for members of reception staff and the wider staff community.

This was not a peaceful sit-in, but a violent action that included forcibly overpowering the receptionist, and then entry into the Vice-Chancellors office while she was on a call, shouting and starting to barricade the doors. This is now a police matter. The protestors have been arrested and removed from the offices.

It is clear that the actions of some of the protesters involved in the encampment have created a deeply intimidating environment for many members of our community, including our Jewish students and staff and members of the local Jewish community.

There is no place in our community for the threatening and violent actions of some of the protesters. This is not how dialogue should be conducted within our university.

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A West Tennessee school is facing backlash, including a petition to remove its principal, after three students were not allowed to sit with their classmates at graduation.

During graduation last Friday, May 17, three students at Greenfield High School in Greenfield, Tenn., were told they would not be allowed to walk or join their classmates due to concerns over their disabilities. The students, Savannah Jenkins, Kennedy Lee and Chelsea Pence, had to sit separately from the rest of the student body during the ceremony.

Greenfield is a city of about 2,000 people in Weakly County. It is located about one hour directly north of Jackson, Tenn. and about two hours northwest of Memphis.

According to Lee's mother and cousin, the principal of the school was concerned that if one of them fainted or had an accident walking across the stage it would cause a disturbance for other students.

Here is what we know about the situation.

Parents said principal wouldn't let students participate

In a Facebook post detailing the incident, Kennedy Lee's mother, Carla Lee, explained the series of events that led up to her daughter and two other students not walking at graduation.

Kennedy Lee and Chelsea Pence both have Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS. The syndrome affects heartrate and causes fainting spells, so there are instances when wheelchair use is necessary. Savannah Jenkins, the third student, has epilepsy which can make her more prone to seizures.

On the Tuesday before graduation, Lee and her mother were informed by Jamie Doster, Greenfield High School's principal, that she and two other students would be using a wheelchair at graduation and not able to walk due to safety concerns.

"I told her that Kennedy would be perfectly capable of walking," Carla Lee said. "I even told her I would sign something saying we would not hold the school liable if she were to pass out and get hurt."

Lee even received approval from her doctor to walk across the stage at graduation, but that didn't convince Doster to allow her to walk, Carla Lee said.

Doster was talked down from making the girls use wheelchairs, but they were told they would have to sit in the bleachers with the crowd. The girls would be allowed to walk the stage on the condition that a nurse accompanied them.

Chelsea Pence and Kennedy Lee sitting in the bleachers during graduation at Greenfield High School in Greenfield, Tennessee on Friday, May 17, 2024.

According to Lee's mother, Doster told the two women that she couldn't have the students fainting and on the floor as it would disrupt the ceremony and she would have to have someone come get them off the floor. After much back and forth, Doster told the girls she would allow them to practice walking with their classmates during the rehearsal, but when it came time to practice, they were put in the bleachers with a nurse sitting behind them.

During the actual ceremony, the three students were put at the back of the line and walked in a group to the side. They were seated in the bleachers with nurses at their sides instead of on the floor with their classmates.

Carla Lee said this was one of the few chances they had to be a part of their class. "My heart hurts for these girls and their experience for what should have been the biggest night of their life."

Graduation incident prompts heated public response

In response to the graduation, a petition was started calling for the immediate removal of the principal, Jamie Doster, and better policies to protect students with disabilities. The petition was started by Hannah Adams, Kennedy Lee's cousin. As of Wednesday afternoon, the petition has 2,075 signatures.

Greenfield Highschool's Facebook page has started limiting comments on posts after it was flooded with comments upset over the principal's decision.

Chelsea Pence and Kennedy Lee standing together after graduation at Greenfield High School in Greenfield, Tennessee on Friday, May 17, 2024.

Local newspaper The Dresden Enterprise, first reported the incident. A Facebook post on their account drew more than 100 comments in support of the students.

Weakly County Schools response to the backlash

In response, Weakly County's Director of Schools Jeff Cupples shared the following statement: "All of Weakley County Schools graduation ceremonies are planned to ensure the safety of all participants. Additionally, upholding student privacy and confidentiality is a fundamental priority and responsibility of our district. While we respect public interest, privacy and confidentiality precludes discussion of personal information about students.

The statement goes on to say that Weakley County Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, disability, national origin, gender, age, political affiliation, or beliefs.

Violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act?

Several users noted that not allowing the students to walk was in violation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Title III of the ADA says that public accommodations must comply with basic nondiscrimination requirements that prohibit exclusion, segregation and unequal treatment.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a federal law that prohibits disability-based discrimination and harassment in all programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance from the United States Department of Education.

Section 504 states: "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States...shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Tennessee students isolated from graduating class prompting backlash
Western fighters in Ukraine are getting killed because they assumed the war would be easy, says a US veteran who fought there

Western fighters in Ukraine are getting killed because they assumed the war would be easy, says a US veteran who fought there

A US veteran who fought in Ukraine said many Western fighters assumed it would be easy.

He said some "treat it almost like it's a vacation, and they're not really expecting to die."

Many foreigners won't accept that their training hasn't prepared them for this war, he said.

Some Western fighters who joined the war in Ukraine have been killed because they assumed the fight would be easy, a US veteran who fought in Ukraine told Business Insider.

The veteran, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said a lot of foreign veterans who came to Ukraine to fight against Russia's invasion had been used to fighting at an advantage and struggled to adapt to the conditions there, where they were often outmanned and outgunned.

"A lot of Westerners that come to Ukraine, they want to be heroes," he said. "I just kept seeing dudes that would go out to Ukraine, and they treat it almost like it's a vacation, and they're not really expecting to die."

He said he had the same mentality when he first started fighting there. But as the war progressed, he came to understand how risky it was. "I was expecting to die because that's just the type of mentality that I fucking had, and I was OK with it," he said.

The veteran joined the fight when Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022 and left Ukraine last December. He fought in some of the deadliest areas, including Kharkiv and Bakhmut , and served as a combat medic for his unit, helping injured comrades.

He said he previously fought in Iraq as a contractor after he left the US military. "The tempo is a lot higher in Ukraine," he said.

A different type of war

He explained that it was harder to find places to stay safe in Ukraine, where more drones are being used than in any conflict in history, and artillery and long-range weapons are common.

He said that even miles behind the front lines, "you can still get hit by a fucking rocket out there." If you're on a base in the Middle East, you're "relatively safe."

Other US veterans in Ukraine have said the same thing, describing the combat in Ukraine as more intense.

Another soldier, who uses the call sign Jackie, fought in Afghanistan and Iraq and previously told BI that the fighting in the eastern city of Bakhmut offered no place to stop and rest, unlike previous conflicts he'd been part of.

An aerial view of Bakhmut, Ukraine. AP Photo/Libkos

Both men also compared the war in Ukraine to World War I, where trenches and unrelenting artillery fire defined the fighting.

The veteran said that Western fighters in Ukraine need to adapt to those conditions if they hope to survive.

"You have to be willing to relearn everything that you've been taught, which is, I think, one of the reasons why some of the Ukrainian soldiers are doing so well out there, because they don't have any base where they've been taught," he said.

"Meanwhile, a lot of the Westerners, they already have a set idea about how things should be and everything, and it's just not that way out in Ukraine."

He said foreign fighters need "a willingness to learn and a willingness to give up everything."

Some members of the military and experts have said that the NATO-style training given to Ukrainian soldiers has not served them well in this war. Western militaries training Ukrainians have adapted their practices as they learn from the soldiers who have real-world experience against Russia's military.

A Ukrainian serviceman in a trench near the front line in Bakhmut. REUTERS/Yevhenii Zavhorodnii

Foreign fighters coming to Ukraine

Many of the foreign fighters in Ukraine had previous combat experience with the US military, though some had no experience. Others have said they had military experience but were lying, he said.

It's unclear how many foreign fighters signed up for the war in Ukraine or have been killed there. Ukraine founded its International Legion in 2022, which allowed fighters from other countries to join the war effort, though not all foreign soldiers are part of the legion.

Some units in Ukraine are made up entirely of foreign veterans, and many of them have said they were inspired to fight global injustice and defend democracy in Ukraine.

But other fighters have said that some foreigners joined the war looking for adventure or trying to escape problems at home.

No matter the reason, many foreign fighters have been killed, as Business Insider's Cameron Manley previously reported, with some international survivors saying they were used as a "sacrificial unit."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Western Hills Viaduct gets some needed love: Here are today's top stories | Daily Briefing

The lower deck of the Western Hills Viaduct, a primary conduit to the citys west side from Interstate 75, was closed Saturday for maintenance work.

As a river town, Cincinnati bridges merit regular Enquirer attention.

Earlier this week, we reported on a temporary shutdown of the Purple People Bridge. We've worked a few bridge references into our recent stories about construction on the Norwood Lateral. And of course, there's our regular coverage of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project.

Today, we give the beleaguered Western Hills Viaduct some needed love. With its aging concrete, crumbling sidewalks and hardly-there shoulders, the 92-year-old structure doesn't have many qualities worth praising.

But it will by 2032 (or sooner) when a sleek single plane, with wide walks on either side, replaces the double-decker viaduct.

The project is heating up, as Duke Energy is installing eight giant telephone poles at the site in the coming weeks.

Click or tap here to learn more.

What else you need to know Thursday, May 23

 Weather: High of 77. A morning shower; otherwise, cloudy and humid.

 Cincinnati launches 'Get Paul to Music Hall' campaign to lure Paul McCartney to town.

 CVG expects 235K Memorial Day weekend travelers. What to know as summer season takes off.

 Cincinnati Bengals announce Ring of Honor game, ballot for 2024 class.

 Cincinnati railroad trust fund from sale grew $14 million in first 2 months.

 New here? Subscribe to the Daily Briefing today 

Today's Top Stories

Voting in the Kentucky Primary at Boone County Public Library was slow, according to poll workers, Tuesday, May 21, 2024. By mid-morning, the number of voters was in the mid-40s.

 Kentucky primary election: 17% of Democrats pick 'uncommitted' over Biden

Marcus Sapp was convicted of a Cincinnati homicide based in part on testimony from a prolific police informant, whose role later came into question.

 Hamilton County prosecutors drop murder charge against man who spent 13 years in prison

Paycor is moving from its Norwood headquarters into Downtown Cincinnati's renovated Saks building.

 Paycor to move to Downtown Cincinnati's old Saks building

Reds rookie Noelvi Marte should "embrace" the adversity that awaits his return from a PED suspension, said Fernando Tatis Jr., who knows.

 Fernando Tatis Jr.: Cincinnati Reds' Noelvi Marte's return from PED suspension won't be easy

As we pregame for another NFL season, we now look back on our favorite Bengals tailgaters from last year.

 Pregame for the 2024 NFL season with our top 25 Bengals tailgaters of 2023

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Western Hills Viaduct getting some needed love | Daily Briefing
By Asif Khurshid, AZERNEWS / Pakistan

Azerbaijan is going to host the 29th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29) in Baku in November 2024. The 29th COP29 was announced at the plenary session of COP28 on December 11. The Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been convened annually since 1995. This event is designed to evaluate global progress in addressing climate change.

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, welcomed this decision and thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He also shared a post in his social media accounts on Azerbaijans hosting the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29). He emphasised Azerbaijan's commitment to global climate action, energy efficiency, and renewable energy, highlighting national priorities for a clean environment and green growth. President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude to all supporting countries and vowed to make COP29 a success, while appreciating the UAE's organisation of COP28 and looking forward to collaborative efforts in advancing climate action. Azerbaijan's civil society organisations welcome the decision to host COP29 in 2024, recognising it as a significant achievement for the country and a testament to President Ilham Aliyev's leadership. This support underscored Azerbaijan's commitment to green energy and climate initiatives, marking a milestone in its environmental strategy.

At the beginning of 2024, President Ilham Aliyev appointed Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev as President of COP29, CMP 19, and CMA 6, empowering him to form a preparatory team.

Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Mukhtar Babayev, expressed gratitude for the support from the Eastern European Group and highlighted Azerbaijan's commitment to combating climate change, supported by strong political will from President Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030 and increasing this target to 40% by 2050. Adhering to the 2015 Paris Agreement and actively pursuing these goals are key priorities for the Azerbaijani government.

As the host, Azerbaijan has an opportunity to showcase its commitment to addressing climate change and promote regional cooperation on environmental issues.By choosing Baku as the venue, COP29 emphasises the importance of inclusivity in climate discussions and recognizes the unique challenges faced by diverse regions. This summit offers an opportunity for nations to exchange knowledge, promote sustainable development, and forge partnerships while highlighting the shared responsibility of all nations in safeguarding the planet's future. Moreover, amidst geopolitical tensions, the summit's theme of "Cop of peace" aims to transcend political divides and harness international cooperation to address both climate change and broader global harmony, illustrating the potential for climate action to serve as a catalyst for unity and healing on a global scale. With 196 governments expected to attend, Azerbaijan's commitment to making Cop29 a beacon of peace underscores the potential for climate action to unite nations in pursuit of a shared goal, offering hope for a more harmonious future.

Mukhtar Babayev has been actively engaged in meetings with counterparts from various countries and undertaking diplomatic visits since his appointment. His efforts reflect a strong commitment to achieving impactful outcomes for global climate action, ensuring comprehensive and inclusive preparations for COP29.

Last week, Mukhtar Babayev also visited Pakistan to present a letter of invitation from President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari regarding the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan met with Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Mukhtar Babayev, who extended an invitation from President Ilham Aliyev for COP29. PM Sharif expressed anticipation for the event, pledging Pakistan's full support to Azerbaijan. He thanked Babayev and conveyed congratulations to President Aliyev. Minister Babayev appreciated the support and highlighted the importance of bilateral ties.

President Asif Ali Zardari welcomed Minister Babayev, expressing support for Azerbaijan's COP29 chairmanship and hopes for enhanced climate finance. He emphasised strong Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations and advocated for deeper cooperation, including people-to-people exchanges. Minister Babayev emphasized bilateral ties, inviting President Zardari to participate in COP29 in Baku.

Pakistan's Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam, highlighted initiatives like Green Pakistan and emphasized the need for an effective loss and damage fund to support vulnerable countries. Their statements underscore the urgency of global cooperation in combating climate change.Healso visited Pakistan's COMSATS headquarters to discuss COP29 priorities and climate change impacts, engaging with officials and planting a tree symbolizing environmental cooperation

Mukhtar Babayev visited the Azerbaijani park and participated in a tree planting ceremony attended by high-ranking officials from both countries. Speaking to the media, Babayev emphasised discussions with Pakistan's leadership on COP29 and the importance of collective action to address environmental and climate challenges.

Pakistan can benefit from COP29 by leveraging the platform to raise awareness about its vulnerability to climate change and advocate for increased international support for adaptation and mitigation efforts. Participation in COP29 offers Pakistan an opportunity to access funding, technology transfers, and expertise to strengthen its resilience against climate impacts and transition towards a low-carbon economy.
Reuters/ Jessica Rinaldi

Apple is the 'hidden AI play,' as its hardware will be the key hub for AI apps, Steve Eisman told CNBC.

Once these apps start appearing, consumers will replace everything from phones to laptops.

In coming weeks, Apple could notch new upside catalyst from a possible partnership with Google, Morgan Stanley said.

While markets focus on Nvidia's imminent earnings release, legendary investor Steve Eisman is trumpeting a separate artificial intelligence winner:

"I think Apple is actually the hidden AI play. Not exactly today, but will be," Eisman told CNBC on Tuesday. "Everybody's focused on the chips. Everybody's focused on the cloud. But at the end of the day, when there will be apps  and I have no idea when it's going to be  but when there'll be apps that the consumer can use, they're going to want to use it on their phone."

The Neuberger Berman senior portfolio manager, famous for his 2008 subprime mortgage short depicted in the book and the film "The Big Short," has been bullish on AI. Speaking to the outlet, he said that semiconductor chipmakers, such as Nvidia and AMD, are currently the easiest ways to play into the tech trend.

But looking farther out, it's Apple that will be the key hub for AI-led software, fueling massive upside for its products, he said.

"I know for sure that when all those apps come on, I'll need a new phone, and I'll need a new iPad, and I'll need a new laptop," Eisman continued. "And so when the apps show up, the biggest, probably, beneficiary is going to be Apple, because they're going to have a refresh of literally everything that they sell."

This sort of thinking goes beyond Eisman, as other Wall Street bulls have also amplified calls on Apple. Part of that's driven from the firm's winning earnings report; during the call, CEO Tim Cook teased exciting opportunities related to generative AI.

It's prompted some analysts, such as Bernstein's Toni Sacconaghi, to suggest an AI-enabled phone is on its way and could come with the arrival of the iPhone 16. He's promoted buying shares in the firm before the next phone is released.

The company had a difficult start to 2024, as Wall Street focused on headwinds, including competition in China. But now, Apple has climbed over 16% in the past month.

Eisman acknowledged that software upside might not just be limited to Apple, and could also uplift others, such as Microsoft. More insight will come once the apps start appearing.

In coming weeks, Apple could see a fresh catalyst at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10th, where an AI partnership with Google could be announced.

Read the original article on Business Insider
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Wheatsville Food Co-ops General Manager Bill Bickford confirmed the grocer is planning to move from its Guadalupe flagship location amid Project Connects planned light rail route.

Bickford announced the impending move in a special edition Wheatsville newsletter published online. In an interview with KXAN Thursday, Bickford stressed Wheatsville leaders support expanded public transit services in Austin, referring to the impact to their Guadalupe storefront as part of the unintended consequences that can come with growth.

We know that many of our shoppers rely on public transportation to get to and from our stores, and we also know that transportation can be a barrier for folks accessing healthy foods, including many folks in our community, he said. Ultimately, Wheatsville does support Project Connects vision for a more connected Austin. However, as you know, unfortunately there are some unintended consequences for us as a business and our ability to operate at that location.

Wheatsville has operated out of its Guadalupe flagship site since 1981, five years after the business originally opened at 29th Street and North Lamar Boulevard in 1976. Bickford confirmed there will be no impacts to the South Lamar Wheatsville location.

In Wheatsvilles newsletter, business heads outlined three possible scenarios for future operations: relocate to a similar north central Austin location, focus all efforts on a singular location at South Lamar or shift its business model to significantly smaller stores, with more locations featuring smaller storefronts akin to what the Guadalupe shop looked like prior to 2009 renovations.

The Austin grocery market has seen a proliferation of successful small-format stores over the past several years, with many examples serving neighborhoods throughout Austin, the newsletter read in part. These stores compete in a different segment of the market from the major grocery competitors such as HEB, Whole Foods, and Sprouts.

On Thursday, Bickford said the third option  a push toward additional, smaller-scale stores  is the path Wheatsville is pursuing.

Were starting this conversation early with our owners in order to gain engaged community support, especially amongst club membership, and in order to ensure a smooth transition to that process, he said.

Right now, Wheatsvilles current lease on its Guadalupe location runs through summer 2026. Bickford said that, based on existing Project Connect route plans, the business will not renew its lease there for a variety of reasons beyond temporary construction impacts.

Under current plans, drivers and pedestrians wont be able to cross near Wheatsville to access the business, as the nearest light rail crossing points will be at 29th and 34th streets. Post-construction, drivers wont be able to turn into the store from the southbound lane, and the existing sidewalk near the storefront will be gone.

We know from past market studies that a large majority of our sales come from the neighborhoods north of the store, so losing convenient access for southbound traffic will almost certainly result in a major sales decline, the newsletter read.

Bickford also spelled out concerns in the newsletter related to delivery truck access to the site. Due to the placement of the light rail in the center of the road, the shops primary suppliers  18-wheeler trucks  wont be able to stop by the store.

However, the newsletter also noted challenges with the Guadalupe location beyond Project Connects influence. Bickford acknowledged sales at the Guadalupe store have dropped for more than a decade, with 2013 annual sales listed at $18.6 million and 2023 annual sales reported at $9.1 million.

Despite the challenges Wheatsville is facing, Bickford said its been gratifying and fulfilling to be a part of the Austin community for nearly half a century. He joined the business in 1999; he said seeing the co-op grow over time and expand to its secondary location at South Lamar has been one of the crowning achievements of his career.

In more recent years, you know, theres been much more competition in the natural and organic grocery market, and so that has been challenging, he said. And so that is the reason were seeking to adjust our business model in a way that we think can be sustainable and help us thrive into the future, and help us serve even more Austinites than we do today.

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 KXAN Austin.
Where is Americas best pizza? Lawmakers slice into an old debate

Where is Americas best pizza? Lawmakers slice into an old debate

One of the countrys most contentious debates made its way up to Capitol Hill on Wednesday: Whats the pizza capital of the United States?

The answer depends on who you ask.

Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D) stirred up the conversation when she held an event on the House steps to declare New Haven, Conn., the best spot for a slice. The congresswoman handed out boxes of the famed Frank Pepes Pizzeria, a pride and joy of New Haven since 1925, before delivering remarks on the House floor crowning Connecticut The Pizza State and New Haven the pizza capital of America.

Theres something special about New Haven apizza, she said on the House floor, using the local pronunciation for the citys slice. Some say it is the coal fire; some say the brick ovens; some say it is the char; some say it is the water used to make the dough. Personally, I believe it is generation after generation of dedication to the craft.

You cant put into words what you can only taste, and anybody who thinks that any other pizzas as good as New Haven pizza hasnt had a New Haven pizza, Rep. Jim Himes (D), another Nutmeg State representative, told The Hill. Connecticut is the Tom Brady of pizzas.

Not so fast, others chimed in.

Lawmakers representing New York, the Chicago area and districts near Detroit took aim at DeLauros declaration, fiercely proclaiming that their pizza hot spots reign supreme in the long-running debate over who has the best place for a cheese pie.

Its absurd, Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.), a self-described pizza expert, told The Hill. I mean, cmon, theyre fooling themselves, and theyre only going to live in total disappointment. New York is the pizza capital of the world.

Molinaro, who said his first job was at a pizza shop, where he worked for 10 years  I throw dough  said he learned the secrets behind New York pizza on the job.

I know why New York pizzas better than theirs  its the water, its the dough, and its the personality, he said. Our pizza has personality.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who hails from the Bronx, had a succinct response to DeLauro: Vociferously disagree.

Head to the Midwest, and folks near Chicago and Detroit tell a different story.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), whose district includes parts of Chicago, said the Windy Citys deep-dish style is the premiere type of pizza, knocking DeLauro  whom she called a dear friend, despite their sharp disagreement  for her poor taste in pies.

I love my dear friend Rosa DeLauro, but to be frank, I had no idea she has such poor taste in pizza. Its no question that Chicagos deep-dish reigns supreme, Schakowsky said. I guess Ill have to give her a taste of what real pizza tastes like.

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) echoed that sentiment, propping up the infamous  yet controversial  deep-dish style in addition to tavern style, which offers Chicagoans a thin-and-crispy alternative to the heavier type.

While I respect and appreciate all the advice my mentor Rep DeLauro has given me, when it comes to pizza she is wrong, Ramirez said. The pizza capital is 868.4 mi away from New Haven, in the Midwest, in Chicago. She should come and try a deep-dish or a tavern style pizza.

But for lawmakers representing Michigan, Detroits pan-style pizza is the optimal option when searching for a slice, especially when up against contenders from New Haven, New York and Chicago.

Rep. Lisa McClain (Mich.), the vice chair of the GOP conference, knocked her competitors when campaigning for the Motor Citys square slice.

Detroit-style pizza is by far and away the best pizza in the country, McClain said. New Haven and New York pizza is way too thin. Chicago pizza is basically lasagna. Detroit style is light, crispy and made the right way. Theres nothing better.

Connecticut my friend cannot beat it, and we claim pizza with the autos, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) said.

She listed a number of pizza chains headquartered in Michigan: Dominos, Little Caesars, Hungry Howies and Jets Pizza.

We have the biggest appreciation for a variety of pizza styles, she added. No way, Jose, can Connecticut claim that title.

Not all lawmakers, however, wanted to join the contentious debate over what city has the best pizza in America. Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.), who represents parts of Long Island, deferred to DeLauro, noting her high-ranking status on the powerful Appropriations Committee.

Listen, they have great pizza in New Haven. I love Rosa DeLauro; shes the top Democrat on Appropriations, so I will always praise her pizza, he said.

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), meanwhile, recused himself from the debate, telling The Hill that he plans to focus his attention squarely on his belief that New York has the best bagels after establishing the House Bagel Caucus last year.

The only thing I will say to you is, having gone to college in New Haven and very much enjoying New Haven pizza, I am going to stick to my firm view that New York bagels are the best, said Goldman, a graduate of New Havens Yale University. I can only focus on one food.

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 The Hill.
Belle Gibson is a 32-year-old Australian convicted scammer. Reports suggest that she convinced millions of people on social media that she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. However, she learned how to manage living with it by following a healthy lifestyle and consuming nutritious food. Gibson also earned a lot of money by keeping this narrative in place.

Unsurprisingly, Gibson was exposed in 2015, and according to Cosmopolitan, the media and her peers had doubted her story for a long time. Eventually, a police investigation took place, and soon after, she confessed that her cancer diagnosis was untrue.

In a conversation with The Australian Womens Weekly, the interviewer asked about her illnesss authenticity. Gibson replied, No. None of its true. Two and a half years later, a judge ordered her to pay a hefty fine because she breached Australian consumer laws. Initially, it looked like her wrongdoings could cost her 1.1 million Australian dollars. However, the Australian Federal Court announced that her exact fine was 410,000 Australian dollars.

At the height of her fraud, Belle Gibson claimed that she donated her money to charity. However, officials learned that this endeavor was also not true. As punishment, Justice Debbie Mortimer ordered her to give some or all her money to the organizations and charities she previously stated she gave to. Per the Independent, Gibson now supposedly lives in the Melbourne area. Furthermore, she is completely inactive on social media.

The documentary Bad Influencer: The Great Insta Con looks closely at Belle Gibsons exploits. According to IMDb, its synopsis reads, One-off documentary about Belle Gibson. An Australian woman who successfully convinced the world of many false facts, including Apple and publisher Penguin.

The director of Bad Influencer: The Great Insta Con is Ziyaad Desai.

What did Belle Gibson do?

Belle Gibsons popularity across social media spread like wildfire over a decade ago. Reports suggest that she told her followers that she suffered from cancer and once had only a couple of months to survive. However, she managed to live with the disease by not following traditional medical treatment methods and going for alternative therapies and whole foods.

Gibsons actions have thousands of desperate families with false hope. People believed that she was telling the truth. She was reportedly alive and healthy, and four years after her cancer diagnosis, her story influenced millions across social media. Furthermore, she launched The Whole Pantry app and a book of the same name that earned her a fortune. At the time of her ruling, Judge Mortimer stated that Gibson was immensely obsessed with herself, and her dishonesty was reprehensible. Mortimer said, One of the clear demonstrations of the dishonesty and self-interest attending Ms Gibsons conduct was the fact she. She further said, And the company she controlled did not in fact make any donations to the organizations she had mentioned in her publicity statements until public questioning of her claims.

In a 2015 interview with The Weekly, Gibson said she didnt require forgiveness for her wrongdoings. She also added that she did the right thing by revealing the truth.

The post Where is Belle Gibson now? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
An updated child care desert map shows Dallas-Forth Worth has the second-highest number of ZIP codes among the states major regions lacking child care programs that are accessible to low-income families. The new data underscores the prolonged obstacles families face with finding affordable child care, and early childhood advocates want policymakers to take notice.

Dallas-Fort Worth has 96 ZIP codes  following Houston and the Gulf Coast regions 128 ZIP codes  considered to be child care subsidy deserts, according to Children at Risk, a nonpartisan research and advocacy organization focused on addressing child poverty and inequality. A child care subsidy desert is a ZIP code where the demand for subsidized child care for newborns to 5-year-olds is at least three times greater than whats available. Related statistics and Children at Risks updated child care desert map were discussed on Thursday as advocates spoke on the state of the industry during a virtual press conference.

Without an investment from the 89th Texas Legislature this coming year, working families will continue to struggle to find child care, not only affecting their family budget, but their ability to join the workforce and strengthen our Texas economy, said Kim Kofron, senior director of education for Children at Risk.

The statewide map contains data from child care programs spanning from October 2022 to September 2023 and can be filtered by county, school district, ZIP code and more. There are 333 Texas ZIP codes considered to be child care deserts in general, but this number almost doubles for low-income families that earn below 200% of the federal poverty line, with 650 ZIP codes categorized as deserts. Almost 100,000 working families are on a waiting list for subsidies, according to Children at Risk.

In Tarrant County, eight ZIP codes are considered to be child care deserts, including the Northside and Diamond-Hill Jarvis neighborhoods and between Bedford and Hurst. There are 97.5 seats for 100 children of working parents but only 18.3 seats with subsidies per 100 children of working parents countywide. There are 51 ZIP codes categorized as subsidy deserts. Additionally, the availability of quality child care is even more scarce for low-income families with 10.1 seats per 100 children available in programs participating in Texas Rising Star, the states quality improvement program for the early childhood programs.

Melanie Rubin, of the North Texas Early Learning Alliance, said on Thursday that although child care woes are not new, engagement from parents and employers is reaching new levels.

Its just really bubbling up. Were hearing often and were hearing loudly, just how difficult it is to find child care. Both public and private employers are calling in saying, What can we do for our staff? Were not able to find employees and certainly cannot keep them because of child care, Rubin said.

Child care is expected to have a brighter spotlight during the 2025 legislative session. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has called on the Senates Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee to study ways to increase workforce productivity through child care access. More than 50 private businesses including restaurants, hotels, insurance companies and financial institutions across the state have formed The Employers for Childcare Task Force, which is advocating for policy reform through an economic lens; Texas is estimated to be losing about $9.4 billion annually because parents have to leave the workforce to care for their children, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Additionally, a recent policy brief published by the University of Texas at Austins LBJ Urban Lab states, child care is poised to become one of the paramount policy issues in the upcoming session that starts in January.

Texas voters weighed in on child care policy in November after approving Proposition 2, allowing local governments to offer a property tax exemption to qualifying child care facilities. It passed with almost 65% of voters in favor of the financial relief. The Fort Worth City Council approved a local ordinance last week that gives a 100% exemption to certain programs starting this year. Fort Worth is among cities such as Dallas, Denton and Austin to use Proposition 2.

Kofron, of Children at Risk, listed multiple ways where the state can play a part in mending child care gaps such as increasing reimbursement rates for providers who accept subsidies for low-income families, which would cover the true cost of care for a child.

When Texas has an ample supply of child care settings for all families Texas will not only have a strong economy today but will also be building the economy and the workforce for tomorrow, Kofron said.
The victim sustained severe injuries to his chest and right hand

Portland Police Department (2) Zachary Hay and his dog

Content warning: This story contains disturbing details.

A White man in Oregon is facing assault and bias crime charges after allegedly ordering his dog to assault a Black man, the Portland Police Bureau announced on Tuesday, May 21.

The incident occurred in downtown Portland on May 12. The police department alleges that the suspect, Zachary T. Hay, 29, called an adult Black man a racial slur before ordering his dog  a brindle pit bull  to attack him.

Hay allegedly recognized the Black male from his job as a security guard at a grocery store in the area.

The victim sustained "severe bites to his chest and his right hand, which partially de-gloved his right thumb," according to papers filed by the prosecution and obtained by Oregonlive.

A second victim, a White male, was also injured in the altercation.

Detectives believe there could be additional victims.

Related: Woman Allegedly Shoots Father of Her 3 Children After Dispute Over Keys, Police Say

The new release reads: Based on the investigation thus far, the Major Crimes Unit believes there is a third victim who sustained significant injuries during an encounter with Hay and his dog. Photos of both are being released in hopes that the unidentified victim, or anyone else who may have been victimized by Hay and his dog, will contact police.

According to Oregonlive, which cites the papers filed by prosecutors, the third victim, a White male, attempted to stop the pit bull from attacking the Black man and was bitten in the groin.

Related: UPS Driver Shot 14 Times By Childhood Friend and Coworker, District Attorney Says

Hay has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault and one count of first-degree bias crime. The dog has been taken into the custody of Multnomah County Animal Services.

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.

KOIN, an affiliate of CBS, reports that Hay appeared in court on Wednesday, May 22, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. PEOPLE was not able to immediately reach a lawyer for him.

The Portland Police Bureau declined to provide further comment on the incident.

The Portland Police Bureau encourages those with information about the case to contact Detective Matthew Brown at matthew.brown@police.portlandoregon.gov.

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Read the original article on People.
Why 18% uncommitted vote in Kentuckys primary is more about Biden than Gaza

In our Reality Check stories, Herald-Leader journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? hlcityregion@herald-leader.com.

The national movement to vote uncommitted in the Democratic presidential primary to signal dissatisfaction with President Joe Bidens policy in the Middle East has been a well-covered phenomenon across the country throughout primary season.

The Hill reported that an 18% finish for uncommitted across Kentucky compared to Bidens 71% dealt the latest blow to President Biden amid criticism from his own party over the handling of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Other outlets have lumped the result together with protest against Bidens support for Israel as it continues to decimate Gaza.

The uncommitted vote even picked up eight delegates compared to Bidens 43 in Tuesdays primary.

But political observers in Kentucky say you should think twice before attributing the result to protest against the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

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Bidens strongest performance against uncommitted occurred in two Kentucky counties where protest movement was among the largest and loudest: Fayette and Jefferson. In the states two most populous counties, he garnered 82% of the vote to 11% for uncommitted. Theres also been significant protest in Northern Kentucky, where Biden fared well relative to his statewide result.

Meanwhile, uncommitted performed best in Eastern Kentucky as well as pockets of Western Kentucky.

To put things in perspective, the last time an incumbent Democratic president was on the ballot could prove a helpful comparison.

Barack Obama only garnered about 58% of the Kentucky Democratic primary vote in 2012. Uncommitted received more than 42%  it won a majority of Kentucky counties, faring best in rural pockets of Eastern, Western and Central Kentucky where many voters were registered Democrats but already voting Republican for president.

Generally speaking in 2024, uncommitted fared best in less diverse, more conservative counties.

Greg Stumbo, a former Democratic attorney general who also served as Kentucky House speaker for several years, is from Floyd County, one of six where uncommitted beat Biden, 40% to 39%.

Stumbo doubted that the ongoing war in Gaza  Israels response to the Oct. 7 attack has resulted in around 35,000 dead, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, and displaced around 1.7 million  has much to do with that result.

Israel-Palestine is a non-issue in Floyd County, Stumbo said, which has no major Israeli, Jewish, Palestinian or Muslim populations. According to U.S. Census figures, Floyd County is 98% white.

Growing up, I never heard anything bad about either of those people, he said. Its a non-issue. I dont think the vote has anything to do with Palestine.

Michael Frazier, a Republican consultant from Powell County where uncommitted got 31 percent of the vote, echoed Stumbo.

International and foreign affairs, unless were sending actual troops over somewhere, really doesnt move the needle in Powell County, he said. The number one issues are money in the pocket and food on the table.

Meanwhile, Kentuckys uncommitted campaign used 2016 and 2020  years when the Democratic nomination was actually contested and the incumbent was not on the ballot  as comparisons. In those years, uncommitted claimed about 5% and 11% of the vote, respectively.

Kentuckys uncommitted campaign is a movement that defied expectations and is fighting for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, an end to unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel and a clear path to Palestinian statehood, the group claimed in a press release.

University of Kentucky political science professor Stephen Voss said the evidence points to the result coming by way of conservative ancestral Democrats, same as those who grew frustrated with Obamas messaging and policy as it related to the coal industry.

Its really unlikely that the central mass of Bidens opposition vote came from progressives angry about his foreign policy, he said. Hes tending to do much better in the sorts of places that actually vote for Democrats. Meanwhile, he just got destroyed in Southeastern Kentucky.

As for Trump, Voss said that Trumps 85%  former candidates Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis as well as uncommitted all got more than 3%  isnt great, either.

Nobody predicts Trump to lose the state given that he notched 25-plus point wins in 2016 and 2020s general elections, but Voss argued it should cause some concern for his campaign generally.

Still, one cant completely discount an element of protest over the United States support of Israels war on Hamas in Gaza.

Anna Whites, a Democratic attorney in Frankfort who helps train candidates and is politically involved, said that she thinks younger voters who filled out uncommitted are motivated primarily by the war in Gaza alongside concerns over Bidens age.

I think its real frustration  given Israel, I think that issue is making a lot of voters unhappy. It seems to me to be a younger voter expression of frustration, Whites said.

She also expressed some worry that generally low turnout, and apparent low excitement about voting affirmatively for the candidate at the top of the candidate, could hurt Democrats down the ballot.

Democratic candidates are really going to have to work to gain interest and turnout, she said. Simply saying there is an election, doesnt work.

Were going to have to be more exciting to do better.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A chief executive for a dating website marketed toward married people has a theory on why Columbus suddenly jumped to the top of sign-ups.

Toronto-based Ruby Corp., the owner of Ashley Madison, named the capital of Ohio as the No. 1 U.S. city creating new accounts on the cheating website. Known for a less-than-traditional slogan Life is short. Have an affair, Ashley Madison also included Cleveland and Cincinnati in its top 20 sign-up list.

Unsolved Ohio: Suspect unknown three years after woman stabbed to death in Columbus

The list cites data gathered from June 20 to Sept. 22 of last year and ranked cities on the number of sign-ups against the area's total population, rather than raw accounts. But a spokesperson for Ruby Corp. declined to provide the number of sign-ups tied to Columbus, or the percentage of the area's population that created accounts, calling both "competitive intelligence." Still, Ashley Madison's website touts "more than 80 million sign-ups since 2002."

In an interview with NBC4, Ruby Corp.'s Chief Strategy Officer Paul Keable theorized that Intel, data center and information technology developments could be components in how Columbus suddenly sprung to the top.

"We haven't seen Columbus in this position ever before," Keable said. "You cite some of the increase of population and economic growth in relation to the IT industry. And that actually is one of our top professions, when we polled our members, 'Which types of jobs do you have?' It was certainly within the top five, I think. And if that is clearly a part and parcel of what's happened in Columbus, I would not be surprised to see you continue to be in the top 10, if not top five, as a go-forward basis for our reporting."

A Bank of America Insitute Ranking reported that Columbus grew faster than any other city in the U.S. during the second half of 2023, the same time period that Ashley Madison gathered its data for the top 20 list. Moreover, an earlier study indicated Columbus is the only place in Ohio where the population grew over two decades. It's only going up from here, as the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission -- crediting multibillion-dollar investments from Intel and Honda -- forecasted that central Ohio could be home to 3.15 million people by 2050.

Ohio Supreme Court rejects challenge to temporary halt on trans healthcare ban

Keable added that with Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati all on the list, people here may be telling of cultural attitudes around marital affairs.

"What I find fascinating this time round is with three cities from Ohio  Ohio is a swing state politically, is probably more representative of the true America than you know, New York might be or LA might be, because those have very unique cultures that are very specific to those places," Keable said. "Whereas Ohio stands out of place as typically Middle America. It's your average American. And what it tells us is that infidelity, non-monogamy is rather ubiquitous against your race, your income level, your education, and where you live."

The CSO said that as of 2024, Ashley Madison has about 365,000 new members each month, and the website's gender ratio is one man for every 0.7 women. But records leaked a decade ago in a highly publicized data breach previously raised questions about how many of those accounts belonged to real people.

A Gizmodo investigation of the leaked data -- which included internal emails from when Ruby Corp. was branded as Avid Life Media Inc. -- found Ashley Madison was paying people to create fake female profiles and talk with men on the site. Going deeper into hacked source code, the company itself also created more than 70,000 female bots that sent more than 20 million messages to court real male subscribers. Ashley Madison lets women message for free but requires men to pay for the same feature.

"But once she engages with you, if she responds, your conversation can be free for the rest of the time," Keable noted.

Former Buckeye arrested on federal charges

The hack did not capture any recorded activity between humans, however, meaning there's no telling how many real women were on the site. Keable wasn't shy about talking about the bots, which Ashley Madison previously codenamed "engagers" and "angels."

"We actually brought in Ernst and Young Global auditing firm to go through our source code, review all the details to verify in fact that that program, and all presence of those bots, as it were, are no longer there," Keable said. "We understand that the previous organization and management made some bad choices, and that was part of our growth phase. We can't hide from that, but that's no longer part of our system."

While Ashley Madison has scrubbed the internal bots from their site, Keable admitted they, like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge and other traditional dating sites, now have had problems with external bots deployed for sextortion schemes. In these scenarios, a scammer uses a fake profile to seduce a real person and then records sexually explicit photos or videos of them to use as blackmail. Revisiting the affair website, Gizmodo found more than 200 consumer complaints filed in the past five years by clients who fell victim.

While Keable credited a "business intelligence" system as a first layer of defense for Ashley Madison, he shared red flags that could give away a scam attempt on any website.

New Columbus police substation coming to Easton

"If you're signing up and your IP address says you're in the Philippines, but you're saying you're

located in Columbus, guess what, that doesn't count, you're out of the system, we immediately

would pick that up, and you'd be out within three seconds," Keable said. "If you meet someone online, whether it's on our dating site or any other one, and they want to immediately jump off the site to a private conversation, that's a bit of a red flag  if they give you a link that you don't recognize, that certainly would be a massive red flag, don't click on that. I think the majority of them are often trying to take you to a cam site, so they can make money off you there."

In Ohio, Reps. Brian Lorenz (R-Powell) and Beth Lear (R-Galena) recently introduced a bill to make sexual extortion a crime. And the FBI has recently investigated sextortion cases in the state, but those involved minors.

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 NBC4 WCMH-TV.
CENTRAL CITY  A local couple was arrested Wednesday by Pennsylvania State Police in Somerset after a verbal argument the day before led to shots being fired with the couple's 2-year-old child nearby.

Melissa Monaghan, 40, is charged with one count each of aggravated assault, simple assault and making terroristic threats and two counts of endangering the welfare of children. She is alleged to have fired a 9 mm pistol twice toward her husband while seated inside her vehicle, with the child occupying the front seat next to her.

Her husband, Allen Hitechew, 39, has been charged with one count of endangering the welfare of children.

In other news: Meyersdale man charged in handgun incident

District Magistrate William Seger's office in Windber.

According to the criminal complaint filed at District Judge William Seger's office, state police were called to the Shade Township home for a domestic assault with shots fired. A neighbor reported hearing the couple arguing, then heard gunshots. The neighbor said they observed Monaghan seated in the driver's seat of her vehicle, with the child seated in the front passenger seat, when she fired two shots at Hitechew as he exited the home and walked toward her vehicle.

According to the criminal complaint, Hitechew told police he and Monaghan had had a verbal argument, and he was inside the residence when he heard two gunshots outside the home. He went outside his residence and saw his wife holding his 9mm handgun, which she pointed at him from inside the vehicle as he walked toward her. He said he walked up to her, took the handgun away and then took it back inside the home.

Police then served a search warrant at the residence, where troopers found the house "in extreme deplorable conditions which would have endangered the welfare of (the child)," the complaint read.

Search and Rescue: Somerset Search and Rescue crew assist in successful rescue of lost elderly woman

Monaghan had a prior warrant

For two weeks, the Somerset County Sheriff's Office tried several times to serve a bench warrant for Monaghan's apprehension connected with another case. But when they knocked on her door, no one answered, according to Sheriff Dusty Weir.

"The fact that there could have been guns in the house is of concern," he said.

According to the clerk of courts staff, in that case, Monaghan was charged with possession of controlled substance filed by Somerset county detectives in the district attorney's office on May 5, 2023.

She did not show for her preliminary hearing on Nov. 1 before then-Somerset District Judge Ken Johnson.

The current Somerset District Judge Scott Walker sent the complaint, based on the no-show, to Somerset County Court on May 8. A bench warrant was issued and the sheriff's office tried to serve it.

On May 16, during motions court in county court, Monaghan went before the judge with an excuse for not showing up for her preliminary hearing; her excuse was accepted and the bench warrant was vacated, according to court records.

Latest property transfers: Who bought and who sold property in Somerset County May 13-17?

Preliminary hearings set

In the latest case, Monaghan and Hitechew were both placed in jail Wednesday in lieu of $10,000 bond each. Monaghan bonded out a few hours after being placed in the jail based on that bond, and Hitechew bonded out on Thursday, according to the Somerset County Jail.

Their preliminary hearings are tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. June 3 before Seger. A defense attorney for each was not listed in the court docket.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Central City couple charged when verbal argument leads to shots fired
electricity pylons

National Grid is to install as many as 6,000 electricity pylons across the English countryside as part of plans to invest 31bn in the nations transmission networks.

John Pettigrew, chief executive of National Grid, said the 1,000 miles of overhead lines connecting the pylons will prepare the UK for electricity demand which is expected to double over the next 25 years.

Bill payers are to fund the 31bn overhaul of the electricity network as the National Grid rewires the nation to hit net zero.

Mr Pettigrew said the infrastructure will also help the nation decarbonise by ditching fossil fuels in favour of electricity from low-carbon sources such as wind farms and nuclear power stations.

National Grid will fund the new pylons by adding 10 to households annual energy bills. It also plans to raise 6.8bn by issuing one billion new shares to help fund its network expansion, while selling off assets including its Grain liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal  the largest in Europe.

Mr Pettigrew said: Were announcing a transformational step up in our energy infrastructure investment.

It is at a scale that I think is fair to say is unprecedented, and it will make National Grid one of the biggest investors in the energy transition in the FTSE 100 list of companies.

National Grid runs the high-voltage electricity transmission network for England and Wales currently comprising 4,400 miles of overhead cable suspended on 22,000 pylons.

Mr Pettigrew said the network was ageing fast and needed to be upgraded, first to cope with the expansion of renewable energy but also because of the predicted surge in demand fuelled by heat pumps, electric vehicles and gigafactories.

He added: All of that is pushing load up, which is something weve not seen on the network for a long time.

The planned upgrade will result in 2,400 miles of high voltage cables being laid offshore, carrying power along coastlines or from wind farms.

It is planning 1,000 miles of new cable onshore, with another 680 miles of existing overhead lines being reinforced, often meaning existing pylons being replaced with larger ones.

Mr Pettigrew said: This is not just about the network being old and its creaking. Its actually about the fundamentals of what the networks being asked to do  its changing as part of the energy transition.

The planned upgrade came as National Grid posted a 15pc fall in profits to just over 3bn for the year to March. It also plans to invest a further 29bn in the US, taking its total investment over five years to 60bn  almost double the level over the past five years.

Story continues

It also plans to sell National Grid Renewables, its US onshore renewables business, to raise cash.

National Grid already has 17 major onshore and offshore transmission projects in the UK and is spending another $4bn (3.2bn) on its Upstate Upgrade in New Yorks electricity transmission network.

Recent spending includes the 116 new pylons to connect the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station when it starts generating sometime after 2028.

Similar expansions are planned in Scotland where the transmission network is managed by different companies. SSE manages networks in northern Scotland, highlands and islands, while SP Energy Networks covers central and southern Scotland.

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.
If youve never lived outside Milwaukee, you may be wondering why a clearly universal celebration like St. Nicks Day  that perfectly timed mini-holiday to tide you over till Christmas with a few little treats in your stocking or shoes  is being honored in a dedication to Milwaukee things.

But Milwaukee is one of relatively few places that have been lucky enough to hold on to the tradition, along with other cities with large German or Dutch influence, such as Cincinnati; Holland, Michigan; and St. Louis.

The feast of 4th-century bishop St. Nicholas is celebrated Dec. 6. Traditionally, St. Nick is thought to go from house to house on the night of Dec. 5, leaving treats in the shoes of children.

88. St. Nicks Day shoes.

In most places, St. Nick has become synonymous with Santa Claus, and everybody knows he brings treats and gifts just once a year  on Christmas Eve.

For kids new to the city (and their parents), now you know: Milwaukee kids get two mornings in December to wake up to find gifts.

See the rest of Milwaukee's 100 objects

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why St. Nick's Day is a Milwaukee tradition
House Democrats are coming out against a plan to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a joint session of Congress, with some of the partys top brass joining the choir.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is pushing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to sign on to a formal invitation to the Israeli leader, with the two leaders currently negotiating over an invitation. That has been complicated by a half-dozen Democratic lawmakers openly condemning the oddly timed speech, calling it a political gesture.

Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips told Axios that Netanyahu is dividing this country  in a similar way hes divided Israel, and I think thats awfully dangerous.

I can only imagine the personal and political conflict facing Leader Schumer, Phillips added.

Those who have spoken out against the invitation include Phillips, as well as Representatives Dan Kildee and Scott Peters. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had previously called on Netanyahu to resign, simply said no to the prospect of Schumer extending a personal invitation to the Israeli leader.

House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes felt that Netanyahus attention would be better used elsewhere, telling Axios that Bibi should be focused on freeing hostages, not on charming legislators.

The open call to bring Netanyahu to the U.S. Capitol comes mere days after the prosecutor for the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him, charging the Israeli prime minister and three Hamas leaders with crimes against humanity committed in Gaza. Those charges have stood out for several lawmakers, even though the United States is not a member of the ICC.

I think its a strange time to invite Netanyahu; its a really divisive kind of move, Peters told Axios.

Kildee also alluded to the charges, telling the publication that he didnt believe it was a good time to bring Netanyahu.

Lets not complicate an already complicated situation, Kildee said.
Kansas Rep. Carl Maughan, a 52-year-old Colwich Republican, was charged with possessing a loaded firearm while driving under the influence of alcohol.

Maughan was arrested in Topeka in March but was not charged until Monday, after the legislative session ended.

He did not respond to The Eagles request for comment.

He was charged with two misdemeanors: possession of a firearm while under the influence and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol. He was also cited for two traffic infractions: failure to maintain a single lane while driving and failure to properly signal a lane change.

Maughan was elected in 2022 to represent the Colwich area, west of Wichita, in the Kansas House of Representatives. He ran unopposed. After his arrest, Maughan stepped down from his role as vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee.

Rep. Carl Maughan was arrested in Topeka on Monday

Maughan has filed to run for re-election. He faces a primary challenge from Republican Darren Pugh.

Prior to his time in the Kansas House, Maughan ran for judge in the Kansas 18th Judicial District, Division 3, but lost in the Republican primary to Gregory Keith.

Maughan is also awaiting a Kansas Supreme Court ruling on whether he can continue to practice law in Kansas. He faces a yearlong suspension after being accused of misconduct while representing 57-year-old Bret Blevins in a deadly 2016 crash in Wichita that killed two Starkey clients, Dirk MacMillan, 46, and Leonard Dusty Atterbery, 25.

Blevins and his girlfriend, Tammy Akers, were the only occupants of the vehicle that struck a Starkey van. Each claimed the other was driving. Akers and her husband paid Maughan $30,000 to represent Blevins. Maughan then did not appear to investigate Akers involvement in the crash or hire an accident reconstructionist, DNA expert or medical expert, despite Blevins requests that he do so, according to an unpublished Kansas Court of Appeals opinion.

Then, at trial, Maughan blamed Akers for the crash, arguing that she was the driver. Maughan also represented Akers in another matter while representing Blevins, the opinion said.

Bret Blevins was found guilty in the crash that killed two Starkey residents.

Blevins was sentenced to more than 60 years in prison for two counts of second-degree murder in 2017.

The appellant court found in 2021 that Blevins attorney had several conflicts of interest which adversely affected his representation and ordered a new trial. Blevins pleaded guilty to multiple involuntary manslaughter charges in December 2023, and he was sentenced in March to 13.5 years in prison, including the more than 7 years he has already served.

Blevins filed a civil lawsuit against Maughan in the Kansas 18th District court in December over his handling of the case. He alleged Maughan committed legal malpractice. He claimed Maughan told him to invoke the Fifth Amendment because there was evidence, including DNA evidence, that would potentially implicate Akers in the crime. Akers then testified against Blevins as a key States witness.

Blevins is seeking an award in excess of $75,000.
Here are the Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District restaurant inspection scores for May 1219.

Scores in each category are listed by most recent inspection date. The health department conducts regular restaurant inspections to help keep residents and visitors safe.

During the time period of May 12-19, the department conducted 37 inspections at 26 sites. A few sites that passed but had no scores on their reports are not listed.

Restaurant inspections

Disclaimer: On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in their most recent inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment. Inspections for temporary events are not included.

Perfect Scores

Jefferson Elementary School , 4628 Mistletoe

Johnny Carinos Catering , 4330 Kell Blvd. West

FAS-PAC deli , 1201 Central Expressway

Rapid Fired Pizza , 4730 Taft Blvd.

Pecan Shed Fudge , 1401 Midwestern Parkway

United Supermarket , all departments, 311 South Ave. D, Burkburnett

Walgreens , 4600 Kell Blvd.

Residence Inn, 4233 Kell Blvd. East

High to Moderate Scores

Johnny Carinos Restaurant , 4330 Kell Blvd. West: 92

FAS-PAC Food Store , 1201 Central Expressway: 99

Rolling Meadows , 3006 McNiel Ave.: 99

Subway , 5131 Greenbriar Road: 99

City View Mart , 1723 Cimarron Trail: 98

Relianse MAR Best , 1008 Sheppard Road: 96

Subway , 1501 Midwestern Parkway: 99

Haynes Head Start , 1705 Katherine Drive: 99

Eskimo Hut , 4138 Seymour Highway: 99

Texas Xpress , 911 Kemp Blvd.: 90

Chick-Fil-A , 3704 Call Field Road: 91

Candy Craze , 3111 Midwestern Parkway: 97

Cowtown snack bar, 1165 Texas 79 N.: 89

Cowtown, 1165 Texas 79 N: 95

Low score and why

Y-Mart, 5001 Southwest Parkway: 80

Inspector notes: Unable to confirm how establishment is sanitizing ice scoop. Three dented cans removed from shelves by employee during inspection to be discarded. Two-compartment sink faucet is not properly installed and must be repaired. An employee must provide proof of current food handler certificate within 10 business days from inspection. Chemical testing strips needed to test sanitizer effectiveness. Thermometers provided.

Repeat violation: hand-washing sink must be easily accessible. Employee moved items to make sink acceptable during inspection. Observed large gap under front door that must be covered to prevent pest entry. Dead insects must be removed from food prep area. Vents must be cleaned. Ice machine shield must be cleaned. Ice scoop must be stored at least 6 inches off the floor. Damaged ceiling tiles in back area must be made cleanable. Cabinetry under sink must be made cleanable. Soap needed in employment restroom.

Conditional permit issued

Burkburnett Girls Softball League: 93

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: How Wichita Falls restaurants scored in health inspections May 12-19
Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year

Former President Donald Trump used his emergency powers to construct a border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. In this photo, construction continues on a new section of the barrier on Jan. 8, 2019, as seen from Tijuana, Mexico

Former President Donald Trump used his emergency powers to construct a border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. In this photo, construction continues on a new section of the barrier on Jan. 8, 2019, as seen from Tijuana, Mexico. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senators from both political parties at a Wednesday hearing appeared to be on the same page about limiting presidential emergency powers, striking a bipartisan agreement that Congress should take steps this year to rework a decades-old law.

The National Emergencies Act, approved during the 94th Congress, provides the president with powers they wouldnt otherwise have and was intended to give lawmakers oversight of those emergencies.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, said there are common sense reforms that would strengthen Congress role in exercising oversight of these emergency powers.

Peters said he looks forward to collaborating with Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, ranking member on the committee, as the panel works diligently to make that happen in the coming months.

Reforming the National Emergencies Act is not about thwarting the policy goals of either party, Peters said. Its about strengthening our democracy and ensuring Congress maintains the responsibility to oversee executive power.

Dangerous imbalance

Paul said the current structure of the 1976 law, which was affected by a Supreme Court ruling in the 1980s, creates a dangerous imbalance of constitutional separations of powers.

Congress has been complicit and made itself a feckless branch of the federal government by granting the president so many emergency powers and refusing to regularly vote on termination of national emergencies as required by current law, he said.

Paul said he hoped the hearing marked the beginning of a serious and sustained effort to restore the Constitution, reclaim the authority of Congress and protect the liberties of the people by paring back the vast emergency powers delegated to the president.

Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the liberal-leaning Brennan Center for Justice, testified there are 43 emergency declarations under the National Emergencies Act in place today, out of 79 total declarations.

That is especially concerning, Goitein said, because an emergency declaration unlocks powers contained in more than 130 statutory provisions, and some of these carry enormous potential for abuse.

One emergency power allows the president to take over or shut down wire or radio services, a process last used during World War II when that applied to telephones and telegrams that werent in many American homes, she said.

Today, it could arguably be used to exert control over U.S.-based internet traffic, Goitein said. Other laws allow the president to freeze Americans assets without any judicial process, to control domestic transportation and even to suspend the prohibition on government testing of chemical and biological agents on unwitting human subjects.

It would be irresponsible of Congress to continue hoping for presidential self-restraint to ensure that an executive doesnt take their emergency powers too far, she testified.

Trump border wall emergency

Former President Donald Trump, Goitein said, opened the door to abusing statutory emergency powers when he declared a national emergency to secure funding for the border wall after Congress had refused to provide that funding.

President (Joe) Biden nudged the door open a little bit more when he relied on emergency powers to forgive student loan debt, she added. Again, after Congress had considered legislation to forgive debt and had not passed that legislation.

There are several proposals that would require Congress to approve a presidents emergency declaration within 30 days, otherwise it would terminate. And even if a president received congressional approval, they would have to go back to lawmakers a year later to renew the emergency, Goitein said.

Gene Healy, senior vice president for policy at the libertarian Cato Institute, testified that it is remarkable that we havent seen far greater abuses of presidential emergency powers under the National Emergencies Act.

Congress should reset how emergency powers work by sunsetting presidential emergency declarations after a matter of weeks and requiring actual authorization from Congress to extend them further, Healy testified.

Lawmakers should review what emergency powers were granted to presidents under the nearly 50-year-old law and take away any that wouldnt be necessary during a true emergency or that are especially susceptible to abuse, he said.

Satya Thallam, senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation and a former senior staff member for the panel, said the sweet spot for any reform is one that is on its face policy neutral and designed to service only the interests of Congress lawmaking role vis-a-vis the president, rather than any particular political agenda.

The Foundation for American Innovation writes on its website that it was established in 2014 in Silicon Valley as Lincoln Labs. Its mission is to develop technology, talent, and ideas that support a better, freer, and more abundant future.

Disruption of peaceful transfer of power

In response to a question from Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff about how a president could disrupt a peaceful transition of power, Goitein reluctantly testified that she was concerned about the Insurrection Act, which exists outside of the National Emergencies Act.

The Insurrection Act is a law that allows the president to deploy federal military troops to quell civil unrest or to execute the law in crisis, she said. It gives the president extremely broad and judicially unreviewable discretion to deploy troops in ways that could certainly be abused.

Healy said it would be prudent for Congress to tighten up the authorities that a president holds under the Insurrection Act.

Paul said he was fully supportive of re-working the Insurrection Act to avoid potential abuses by presidents.

The Insurrection Act is a thousand times more potent and has the potential for turning the place into, you know, military rule overnight, Paul said, adding that hes introduced a bill that would bar presidents from sending the military anywhere without the explicit approval of Congress.

Our soldiers are great, but theyre not trained to obey the Fourth Amendment, our police are. And even thats imperfect, Paul said. But our police know about the Fourth Amendment. They know they have to get warrants. Armies dont get warrants.

Paul said any changes to the Insurrection Act must be more strict than changes to the National Emergencies Act, because youre talking about putting troops in our cities.

Paul also said the committee should look closely at the emergency power that could allow a president to essentially turn off the internet during a national emergency, referring to that as the internet kill switch.

You could become dictator in a day, in a moment, in one executive order, Paul said.

The post Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year

Former President Donald Trump used his emergency powers to construct a border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. In this photo, construction continues on a new section of the barrier on Jan. 8, 2019, as seen from Tijuana, Mexico. (Mario Tama, Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senators from both political parties at a Wednesday hearing appeared to be on the same page about limiting presidential emergency powers, striking a bipartisan agreement that Congress should take steps this year to rework a decades-old law.

The National Emergencies Act, approved during the 94th Congress, provides the president with powers they wouldnt otherwise have and was intended to give lawmakers oversight of those emergencies.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, said there are common sense reforms that would strengthen Congress role in exercising oversight of these emergency powers.

Peters said he looks forward to collaborating with Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, ranking member on the committee, as the panel works diligently to make that happen in the coming months.

Reforming the National Emergencies Act is not about thwarting the policy goals of either party, Peters said. Its about strengthening our democracy and ensuring Congress maintains the responsibility to oversee executive power.

Dangerous imbalance

Paul said the current structure of the 1976 law, which was affected by a Supreme Court ruling in the 1980s, creates a dangerous imbalance of constitutional separations of powers.

Congress has been complicit and made itself a feckless branch of the federal government by granting the president so many emergency powers and refusing to regularly vote on termination of national emergencies as required by current law, he said.

Paul said he hoped the hearing marked the beginning of a serious and sustained effort to restore the Constitution, reclaim the authority of Congress and protect the liberties of the people by paring back the vast emergency powers delegated to the president.

Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the liberal-leaning Brennan Center for Justice, testified there are 43 emergency declarations under the National Emergencies Act in place today, out of 79 total declarations.

That is especially concerning, Goitein said, because an emergency declaration unlocks powers contained in more than 130 statutory provisions, and some of these carry enormous potential for abuse.

One emergency power allows the president to take over or shut down wire or radio services, a process last used during World War II when that applied to telephones and telegrams that werent in many American homes, she said.

Today, it could arguably be used to exert control over U.S.-based internet traffic, Goitein said. Other laws allow the president to freeze Americans assets without any judicial process, to control domestic transportation and even to suspend the prohibition on government testing of chemical and biological agents on unwitting human subjects.

It would be irresponsible of Congress to continue hoping for presidential self-restraint to ensure that an executive doesnt take their emergency powers too far, she testified.

Trump border wall emergency

Former President Donald Trump, Goitein said, opened the door to abusing statutory emergency powers when he declared a national emergency to secure funding for the border wall after Congress had refused to provide that funding.

President (Joe) Biden nudged the door open a little bit more when he relied on emergency powers to forgive student loan debt, she added. Again, after Congress had considered legislation to forgive debt and had not passed that legislation.

There are several proposals that would require Congress to approve a presidents emergency declaration within 30 days, otherwise it would terminate. And even if a president received congressional approval, they would have to go back to lawmakers a year later to renew the emergency, Goitein said.

Gene Healy, senior vice president for policy at the libertarian Cato Institute, testified that it is remarkable that we havent seen far greater abuses of presidential emergency powers under the National Emergencies Act.

Congress should reset how emergency powers work by sunsetting presidential emergency declarations after a matter of weeks and requiring actual authorization from Congress to extend them further, Healy testified.

Lawmakers should review what emergency powers were granted to presidents under the nearly 50-year-old law and take away any that wouldnt be necessary during a true emergency or that are especially susceptible to abuse, he said.

Satya Thallam, senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation and a former senior staff member for the panel, said the sweet spot for any reform is one that is on its face policy neutral and designed to service only the interests of Congress lawmaking role vis-a-vis the president, rather than any particular political agenda.

The Foundation for American Innovation writes on its website that it was established in 2014 in Silicon Valley as Lincoln Labs. Its mission is to develop technology, talent, and ideas that support a better, freer, and more abundant future.

Disruption of peaceful transfer of power

In response to a question from Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff about how a president could disrupt a peaceful transition of power, Goitein reluctantly testified that she was concerned about the Insurrection Act, which exists outside of the National Emergencies Act.

The Insurrection Act is a law that allows the president to deploy federal military troops to quell civil unrest or to execute the law in crisis, she said. It gives the president extremely broad and judicially unreviewable discretion to deploy troops in ways that could certainly be abused.

Healy said it would be prudent for Congress to tighten up the authorities that a president holds under the Insurrection Act.

Paul said he was fully supportive of re-working the Insurrection Act to avoid potential abuses by presidents.

The Insurrection Act is a thousand times more potent and has the potential for turning the place into, you know, military rule overnight, Paul said, adding that hes introduced a bill that would bar presidents from sending the military anywhere without the explicit approval of Congress.

Our soldiers are great, but theyre not trained to obey the Fourth Amendment, our police are. And even thats imperfect, Paul said. But our police know about the Fourth Amendment. They know they have to get warrants. Armies dont get warrants.

Paul said any changes to the Insurrection Act must be more strict than changes to the National Emergencies Act, because youre talking about putting troops in our cities.

Paul also said the committee should look closely at the emergency power that could allow a president to essentially turn off the internet during a national emergency, referring to that as the internet kill switch.

You could become dictator in a day, in a moment, in one executive order, Paul said.

The post Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year

Former President Donald Trump used his emergency powers to construct a border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. In this photo, construction continues on a new section of the barrier on Jan. 8, 2019, as seen from Tijuana, Mexico. (Photo by Mario Tama, Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senators from both political parties at a Wednesday hearing appeared to be on the same page about limiting presidential emergency powers, striking a bipartisan agreement that Congress should take steps this year to rework a decades-old law.

The National Emergencies Act, approved during the 94th Congress, provides the president with powers they wouldnt otherwise have and was intended to give lawmakers oversight of those emergencies.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, said there are common sense reforms that would strengthen Congress role in exercising oversight of these emergency powers.

Peters said he looks forward to collaborating with Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, ranking member on the committee, as the panel works diligently to make that happen in the coming months.

Reforming the National Emergencies Act is not about thwarting the policy goals of either party, Peters said. Its about strengthening our democracy and ensuring Congress maintains the responsibility to oversee executive power.

Dangerous imbalance

Paul said the current structure of the 1976 law, which was affected by a Supreme Court ruling in the 1980s, creates a dangerous imbalance of constitutional separations of powers.

Congress has been complicit and made itself a feckless branch of the federal government by granting the president so many emergency powers and refusing to regularly vote on termination of national emergencies as required by current law, he said.

Paul said he hoped the hearing marked the beginning of a serious and sustained effort to restore the Constitution, reclaim the authority of Congress and protect the liberties of the people by paring back the vast emergency powers delegated to the president.

Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the liberal-leaning Brennan Center for Justice, testified there are 43 emergency declarations under the National Emergencies Act in place today, out of 79 total declarations.

That is especially concerning, Goitein said, because an emergency declaration unlocks powers contained in more than 130 statutory provisions, and some of these carry enormous potential for abuse.

One emergency power allows the president to take over or shut down wire or radio services, a process last used during World War II when that applied to telephones and telegrams that werent in many American homes, she said.

Today, it could arguably be used to exert control over U.S.-based internet traffic, Goitein said. Other laws allow the president to freeze Americans assets without any judicial process, to control domestic transportation and even to suspend the prohibition on government testing of chemical and biological agents on unwitting human subjects.

It would be irresponsible of Congress to continue hoping for presidential self-restraint to ensure that an executive doesnt take their emergency powers too far, she testified.

Trump border wall emergency

Former President Donald Trump, Goitein said, opened the door to abusing statutory emergency powers when he declared a national emergency to secure funding for the border wall after Congress had refused to provide that funding.

President (Joe) Biden nudged the door open a little bit more when he relied on emergency powers to forgive student loan debt, she added. Again, after Congress had considered legislation to forgive debt and had not passed that legislation.

There are several proposals that would require Congress to approve a presidents emergency declaration within 30 days, otherwise it would terminate. And even if a president received congressional approval, they would have to go back to lawmakers a year later to renew the emergency, Goitein said.

Gene Healy, senior vice president for policy at the libertarian Cato Institute, testified that it is remarkable that we havent seen far greater abuses of presidential emergency powers under the National Emergencies Act.

Congress should reset how emergency powers work by sunsetting presidential emergency declarations after a matter of weeks and requiring actual authorization from Congress to extend them further, Healy testified.

Lawmakers should review what emergency powers were granted to presidents under the nearly 50-year-old law and take away any that wouldnt be necessary during a true emergency or that are especially susceptible to abuse, he said.

Satya Thallam, senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation and a former senior staff member for the panel, said the sweet spot for any reform is one that is on its face policy neutral and designed to service only the interests of Congress lawmaking role vis-a-vis the president, rather than any particular political agenda.

The Foundation for American Innovation writes on its website that it was established in 2014 in Silicon Valley as Lincoln Labs. Its mission is to develop technology, talent, and ideas that support a better, freer, and more abundant future.

Disruption of peaceful transfer of power

In response to a question from Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff about how a president could disrupt a peaceful transition of power, Goitein reluctantly testified that she was concerned about the Insurrection Act, which exists outside of the National Emergencies Act.

The Insurrection Act is a law that allows the president to deploy federal military troops to quell civil unrest or to execute the law in crisis, she said. It gives the president extremely broad and judicially unreviewable discretion to deploy troops in ways that could certainly be abused.

Healy said it would be prudent for Congress to tighten up the authorities that a president holds under the Insurrection Act.

Paul said he was fully supportive of re-working the Insurrection Act to avoid potential abuses by presidents.

The Insurrection Act is a thousand times more potent and has the potential for turning the place into, you know, military rule overnight, Paul said, adding that hes introduced a bill that would bar presidents from sending the military anywhere without the explicit approval of Congress.

Our soldiers are great, but theyre not trained to obey the Fourth Amendment, our police are. And even thats imperfect, Paul said. But our police know about the Fourth Amendment. They know they have to get warrants. Armies dont get warrants.

Paul said any changes to the Insurrection Act must be more strict than changes to the National Emergencies Act, because youre talking about putting troops in our cities.

Paul also said the committee should look closely at the emergency power that could allow a president to essentially turn off the internet during a national emergency, referring to that as the internet kill switch.

You could become dictator in a day, in a moment, in one executive order, Paul said.

The post Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year

Former President Donald Trump used his emergency powers to construct a border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. In this photo, construction continues on a new section of the barrier on Jan. 8, 2019, as seen from Tijuana, Mexico. (Photo by Mario Tama / Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senators from both political parties at a Wednesday hearing appeared to be on the same page about limiting presidential emergency powers, striking a bipartisan agreement that Congress should take steps this year to rework a decades-old law.

The National Emergencies Act, approved during the 94th Congress, provides the president with powers they wouldnt otherwise have and was intended to give lawmakers oversight of those emergencies.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, said there are common sense reforms that would strengthen Congress role in exercising oversight of these emergency powers.

Peters said he looks forward to collaborating with Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, ranking member on the committee, as the panel works diligently to make that happen in the coming months.

Reforming the National Emergencies Act is not about thwarting the policy goals of either party, Peters said. Its about strengthening our democracy and ensuring Congress maintains the responsibility to oversee executive power.

Dangerous imbalance

Paul said the current structure of the 1976 law, which was affected by a Supreme Court ruling in the 1980s, creates a dangerous imbalance of constitutional separations of powers.

Congress has been complicit and made itself a feckless branch of the federal government by granting the president so many emergency powers and refusing to regularly vote on termination of national emergencies as required by current law, he said.

Paul said he hoped the hearing marked the beginning of a serious and sustained effort to restore the Constitution, reclaim the authority of Congress and protect the liberties of the people by paring back the vast emergency powers delegated to the president.

Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the liberal-leaning Brennan Center for Justice, testified there are 43 emergency declarations under the National Emergencies Act in place today, out of 79 total declarations.

That is especially concerning, Goitein said, because an emergency declaration unlocks powers contained in more than 130 statutory provisions, and some of these carry enormous potential for abuse.

One emergency power allows the president to take over or shut down wire or radio services, a process last used during World War II when that applied to telephones and telegrams that werent in many American homes, she said.

Today, it could arguably be used to exert control over U.S.-based internet traffic, Goitein said. Other laws allow the president to freeze Americans assets without any judicial process, to control domestic transportation and even to suspend the prohibition on government testing of chemical and biological agents on unwitting human subjects.

It would be irresponsible of Congress to continue hoping for presidential self-restraint to ensure that an executive doesnt take their emergency powers too far, she testified.

Trump border wall emergency

Former President Donald Trump, Goitein said, opened the door to abusing statutory emergency powers when he declared a national emergency to secure funding for the border wall after Congress had refused to provide that funding.

President (Joe) Biden nudged the door open a little bit more when he relied on emergency powers to forgive student loan debt, she added. Again, after Congress had considered legislation to forgive debt and had not passed that legislation.

There are several proposals that would require Congress to approve a presidents emergency declaration within 30 days, otherwise it would terminate. And even if a president received congressional approval, they would have to go back to lawmakers a year later to renew the emergency, Goitein said.

Gene Healy, senior vice president for policy at the libertarian Cato Institute, testified that it is remarkable that we havent seen far greater abuses of presidential emergency powers under the National Emergencies Act.

Congress should reset how emergency powers work by sunsetting presidential emergency declarations after a matter of weeks and requiring actual authorization from Congress to extend them further, Healy testified.

Lawmakers should review what emergency powers were granted to presidents under the nearly 50-year-old law and take away any that wouldnt be necessary during a true emergency or that are especially susceptible to abuse, he said.

Satya Thallam, senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation and a former senior staff member for the panel, said the sweet spot for any reform is one that is on its face policy neutral and designed to service only the interests of Congress lawmaking role vis-a-vis the president, rather than any particular political agenda.

The Foundation for American Innovation writes on its website that it was established in 2014 in Silicon Valley as Lincoln Labs. Its mission is to develop technology, talent, and ideas that support a better, freer, and more abundant future.

Disruption of peaceful transfer of power

In response to a question from Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff about how a president could disrupt a peaceful transition of power, Goitein reluctantly testified that she was concerned about the Insurrection Act, which exists outside of the National Emergencies Act.

The Insurrection Act is a law that allows the president to deploy federal military troops to quell civil unrest or to execute the law in crisis, she said. It gives the president extremely broad and judicially unreviewable discretion to deploy troops in ways that could certainly be abused.

Healy said it would be prudent for Congress to tighten up the authorities that a president holds under the Insurrection Act.

Paul said he was fully supportive of re-working the Insurrection Act to avoid potential abuses by presidents.

The Insurrection Act is a thousand times more potent and has the potential for turning the place into, you know, military rule overnight, Paul said, adding that hes introduced a bill that would bar presidents from sending the military anywhere without the explicit approval of Congress.

Our soldiers are great, but theyre not trained to obey the Fourth Amendment, our police are. And even thats imperfect, Paul said. But our police know about the Fourth Amendment. They know they have to get warrants. Armies dont get warrants.

Paul said any changes to the Insurrection Act must be more strict than changes to the National Emergencies Act, because youre talking about putting troops in our cities.

Paul also said the committee should look closely at the emergency power that could allow a president to essentially turn off the internet during a national emergency, referring to that as the internet kill switch.

You could become dictator in a day, in a moment, in one executive order, Paul said.

The post Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year appeared first on Source New Mexico.
Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year

Former President Donald Trump used his emergency powers to construct a border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. In this photo, construction continues on a new section of the barrier on Jan. 8, 2019, as seen from Tijuana, Mexico. (Photo by Mario Tama, Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senators from both political parties at a Wednesday hearing appeared to be on the same page about limiting presidential emergency powers, striking a bipartisan agreement that Congress should take steps this year to rework a decades-old law.

The National Emergencies Act, approved during the 94th Congress, provides the president with powers they wouldnt otherwise have and was intended to give lawmakers oversight of those emergencies.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, said there are common sense reforms that would strengthen Congress role in exercising oversight of these emergency powers.

Peters said he looks forward to collaborating with Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, ranking member on the committee, as the panel works diligently to make that happen in the coming months.

Reforming the National Emergencies Act is not about thwarting the policy goals of either party, Peters said. Its about strengthening our democracy and ensuring Congress maintains the responsibility to oversee executive power.

Dangerous imbalance

Paul said the current structure of the 1976 law, which was affected by a Supreme Court ruling in the 1980s, creates a dangerous imbalance of constitutional separations of powers.

Congress has been complicit and made itself a feckless branch of the federal government by granting the president so many emergency powers and refusing to regularly vote on termination of national emergencies as required by current law, he said.

Paul said he hoped the hearing marked the beginning of a serious and sustained effort to restore the Constitution, reclaim the authority of Congress and protect the liberties of the people by paring back the vast emergency powers delegated to the president.

Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the liberal-leaning Brennan Center for Justice, testified there are 43 emergency declarations under the National Emergencies Act in place today, out of 79 total declarations.

That is especially concerning, Goitein said, because an emergency declaration unlocks powers contained in more than 130 statutory provisions, and some of these carry enormous potential for abuse.

One emergency power allows the president to take over or shut down wire or radio services, a process last used during World War II when that applied to telephones and telegrams that werent in many American homes, she said.

Today, it could arguably be used to exert control over U.S.-based internet traffic, Goitein said. Other laws allow the president to freeze Americans assets without any judicial process, to control domestic transportation and even to suspend the prohibition on government testing of chemical and biological agents on unwitting human subjects.

It would be irresponsible of Congress to continue hoping for presidential self-restraint to ensure that an executive doesnt take their emergency powers too far, she testified.

Trump border wall emergency

Former President Donald Trump, Goitein said, opened the door to abusing statutory emergency powers when he declared a national emergency to secure funding for the border wall after Congress had refused to provide that funding.

President (Joe) Biden nudged the door open a little bit more when he relied on emergency powers to forgive student loan debt, she added. Again, after Congress had considered legislation to forgive debt and had not passed that legislation.

There are several proposals that would require Congress to approve a presidents emergency declaration within 30 days, otherwise it would terminate. And even if a president received congressional approval, they would have to go back to lawmakers a year later to renew the emergency, Goitein said.

Gene Healy, senior vice president for policy at the libertarian Cato Institute, testified that it is remarkable that we havent seen far greater abuses of presidential emergency powers under the National Emergencies Act.

Congress should reset how emergency powers work by sunsetting presidential emergency declarations after a matter of weeks and requiring actual authorization from Congress to extend them further, Healy testified.

Lawmakers should review what emergency powers were granted to presidents under the nearly 50-year-old law and take away any that wouldnt be necessary during a true emergency or that are especially susceptible to abuse, he said.

Satya Thallam, senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation and a former senior staff member for the panel, said the sweet spot for any reform is one that is on its face policy neutral and designed to service only the interests of Congress lawmaking role vis-a-vis the president, rather than any particular political agenda.

The Foundation for American Innovation writes on its website that it was established in 2014 in Silicon Valley as Lincoln Labs. Its mission is to develop technology, talent, and ideas that support a better, freer, and more abundant future.

Disruption of peaceful transfer of power

In response to a question from Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff about how a president could disrupt a peaceful transition of power, Goitein reluctantly testified that she was concerned about the Insurrection Act, which exists outside of the National Emergencies Act.

The Insurrection Act is a law that allows the president to deploy federal military troops to quell civil unrest or to execute the law in crisis, she said. It gives the president extremely broad and judicially unreviewable discretion to deploy troops in ways that could certainly be abused.

Healy said it would be prudent for Congress to tighten up the authorities that a president holds under the Insurrection Act.

Paul said he was fully supportive of re-working the Insurrection Act to avoid potential abuses by presidents.

The Insurrection Act is a thousand times more potent and has the potential for turning the place into, you know, military rule overnight, Paul said, adding that hes introduced a bill that would bar presidents from sending the military anywhere without the explicit approval of Congress.

Our soldiers are great, but theyre not trained to obey the Fourth Amendment, our police are. And even thats imperfect, Paul said. But our police know about the Fourth Amendment. They know they have to get warrants. Armies dont get warrants.

Paul said any changes to the Insurrection Act must be more strict than changes to the National Emergencies Act, because youre talking about putting troops in our cities.

Paul also said the committee should look closely at the emergency power that could allow a president to essentially turn off the internet during a national emergency, referring to that as the internet kill switch.

You could become dictator in a day, in a moment, in one executive order, Paul said.

The post Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year

(Mark Wilson/Getty Images).

WASHINGTON  Senators from both political parties at a Wednesday hearing appeared to be on the same page about limiting presidential emergency powers, striking a bipartisan agreement that Congress should take steps this year to rework a decades-old law.

The National Emergencies Act, approved during the 94th Congress, provides the president with powers they wouldnt otherwise have and was intended to give lawmakers oversight of those emergencies.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, said there are common sense reforms that would strengthen Congress role in exercising oversight of these emergency powers.

Peters said he looks forward to collaborating with Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, ranking member on the committee, as the panel works diligently to make that happen in the coming months.

Reforming the National Emergencies Act is not about thwarting the policy goals of either party, Peters said. Its about strengthening our democracy and ensuring Congress maintains the responsibility to oversee executive power.

Dangerous imbalance

Paul said the current structure of the 1976 law, which was affected by a Supreme Court ruling in the 1980s, creates a dangerous imbalance of constitutional separations of powers.

Congress has been complicit and made itself a feckless branch of the federal government by granting the president so many emergency powers and refusing to regularly vote on termination of national emergencies as required by current law, he said.

Paul said he hoped the hearing marked the beginning of a serious and sustained effort to restore the Constitution, reclaim the authority of Congress and protect the liberties of the people by paring back the vast emergency powers delegated to the president.

Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the liberal-leaning Brennan Center for Justice, testified there are 43 emergency declarations under the National Emergencies Act in place today, out of 79 total declarations.

That is especially concerning, Goitein said, because an emergency declaration unlocks powers contained in more than 130 statutory provisions, and some of these carry enormous potential for abuse.

One emergency power allows the president to take over or shut down wire or radio services, a process last used during World War II when that applied to telephones and telegrams that werent in many American homes, she said.

Today, it could arguably be used to exert control over U.S.-based internet traffic, Goitein said. Other laws allow the president to freeze Americans assets without any judicial process, to control domestic transportation and even to suspend the prohibition on government testing of chemical and biological agents on unwitting human subjects.

It would be irresponsible of Congress to continue hoping for presidential self-restraint to ensure that an executive doesnt take their emergency powers too far, she testified.

Trump border wall emergency

Former President Donald Trump, Goitein said, opened the door to abusing statutory emergency powers when he declared a national emergency to secure funding for the border wall after Congress had refused to provide that funding.

President (Joe) Biden nudged the door open a little bit more when he relied on emergency powers to forgive student loan debt, she added. Again, after Congress had considered legislation to forgive debt and had not passed that legislation.

There are several proposals that would require Congress to approve a presidents emergency declaration within 30 days, otherwise it would terminate. And even if a president received congressional approval, they would have to go back to lawmakers a year later to renew the emergency, Goitein said.

Gene Healy, senior vice president for policy at the libertarian Cato Institute, testified that it is remarkable that we havent seen far greater abuses of presidential emergency powers under the National Emergencies Act.

Congress should reset how emergency powers work by sunsetting presidential emergency declarations after a matter of weeks and requiring actual authorization from Congress to extend them further, Healy testified.

Lawmakers should review what emergency powers were granted to presidents under the nearly 50-year-old law and take away any that wouldnt be necessary during a true emergency or that are especially susceptible to abuse, he said.

Satya Thallam, senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation and a former senior staff member for the panel, said the sweet spot for any reform is one that is on its face policy neutral and designed to service only the interests of Congress lawmaking role vis-a-vis the president, rather than any particular political agenda.

The Foundation for American Innovation writes on its website that it was established in 2014 in Silicon Valley as Lincoln Labs. Its mission is to develop technology, talent, and ideas that support a better, freer, and more abundant future.

Disruption of peaceful transfer of power

In response to a question from Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff about how a president could disrupt a peaceful transition of power, Goitein reluctantly testified that she was concerned about the Insurrection Act, which exists outside of the National Emergencies Act.

The Insurrection Act is a law that allows the president to deploy federal military troops to quell civil unrest or to execute the law in crisis, she said. It gives the president extremely broad and judicially unreviewable discretion to deploy troops in ways that could certainly be abused.

Healy said it would be prudent for Congress to tighten up the authorities that a president holds under the Insurrection Act.

Paul said he was fully supportive of re-working the Insurrection Act to avoid potential abuses by presidents.

The Insurrection Act is a thousand times more potent and has the potential for turning the place into, you know, military rule overnight, Paul said, adding that hes introduced a bill that would bar presidents from sending the military anywhere without the explicit approval of Congress.

Our soldiers are great, but theyre not trained to obey the Fourth Amendment, our police are. And even thats imperfect, Paul said. But our police know about the Fourth Amendment. They know they have to get warrants. Armies dont get warrants.

Paul said any changes to the Insurrection Act must be more strict than changes to the National Emergencies Act, because youre talking about putting troops in our cities.

Paul also said the committee should look closely at the emergency power that could allow a president to essentially turn off the internet during a national emergency, referring to that as the internet kill switch.

You could become dictator in a day, in a moment, in one executive order, Paul said.

The post Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year appeared first on Missouri Independent.
The city of Porto Alegre is flooded after heavy rain in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Flooding in Brazils Rio Grande do Sul state ravaged nearly everything needed for economic activity, from local shops to factories, farms and ranches.

The environmental catastrophe  unprecedented in state history  upended transportation, including the airport in the capital Porto Alegre, which is expected to remain shuttered for months. Segments of major highways are closed due to landslides, washed-out roads and collapsed bridges. Blackouts continue to plague the state. Gov. Eduardo Leite has said Rio Grande do Sul will need a kind of Marshall Plan to be rebuilt, although an exact strategy to do so in a way that reduces future climate disasters has yet to be determined.

Gilberto Zeni, a shopkeeper in Porto Alegre who has owned his store for 18 years, suffered huge losses.

This has never happened before. It is very sad to go through a situation like this after so many years of work, the 50-year-old said.

But some people paid with their lives. This is a loss of material goods. We are going to rebuild. We are strong, he added.

The scale of devastation may be most comparable to Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans in 2005, said Sergio Vale, chief economist at MB Associates. It has wrought havoc on services, production and sales, and many people are likely to lose their jobs, he said. Rio Grande do Suls economy  about as big as Uruguay and Paraguay combined  had been growing at 3.5% this year through April, but could end 2024 falling by 2%, according to his forecasts. That would mean a 0.4% dent in the nation's gross domestic product, currently forecast at 2%. Bradesco is expecting a 4% drop, which would mean zero growth this year.

Most of the states 497 municipalities have been affected and financial losses already amount to 10 billion reais ($1.9 billion), the National Confederation of Municipalities estimated earlier this month. Some 94% of the states economic activity has been disrupted in some way, according to an estimate last week by the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul.

An infinite number of companies have had their premises completely disrupted. In addition to the huge financial losses, the logistical problems are likely to have a significant affect on all of the states economic activity, it said in a preliminary study May 13.

The most-affected regions include Porto Alegre and the state's northeast Serra region, home to vehicle, machinery and furniture factories. The heavy rains also thrashed the Rio Pardo and Taquari valleys, known for their meat industries. Rio Grande do Sul accounts for 12.6% of the nations powerhouse agricultural GDP, according to local bank Bradesco. Almost 70% of Brazils rice and 13% of dairy products come from the state, according to a S&P Global report May 13.

It often takes 10 years for a flooded municipality to return to its prior level of economic activity, said Gustavo Pinheiro, a senior associate at the climate change think tank E3G.

The human toll of the rains is at least 163 lost lives so far, with another 72 people still missing. More than 640,000 have been forced from their homes, including 65,000 who are sheltering in schools and gymnasiums.

Brazils federal government has announced a package of 50.9 billion reais ($10 billion) for employees, those on public assistance, the state and municipalities, companies and rural producers. But as time passes and the water levels remain high, the amount needed to rebuild continues to rise, said Vale. He estimated it could reach 120 billion reais ($29 billion).

While the total needed is not yet clear, the cost to the federal budget comes as public debt as a percentage of GDP has been rising, which might make Brazil less attractive to investors.

Carla Beni, an economist at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a think tank and university, said that should not be held against the flooded region.

The federal government cannot refrain from supporting a state that was completely devastated just because the financial market thinks there is a fiscal risk, Beni said.

The heavy rains that caused flooding can mostly be ascribed to human-driven climate change, according to an assessment published on May 10 by ClimaMeter, a scientific climate modeling team at Paris-Saclay University in France.

This month's flood was the fourth Rio Grande do Sul suffered in a year, following floods in July, September and November 2023 that killed 75 people in total. Since 2000, flood-related disasters across the planet have increased by 134% over the two previous decades, according to a 2021 report by the World Meteorological Organization. Countries have invested in huge infrastructure projects to prevent flood damage.

After Hurricane Katrina, the federal government spent $14.5 billion on pumps, dikes and walls to protect New Orleans, leading to a significant reduction in the damage caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021. Tokyos authorities spent billions on an underground drainage channel in the metropolitan area. Others tout the concept of sponge cities, which aim to transform urban areas into natural parks that improve drainage and reduce flooding risks.

On Friday, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a law suspending Rio Grande do Suls debt repayment for three years. Funds that would have repaid debt to the federal government must instead be used to combat and reduce the damage caused by the floods. Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said his ministry will help large companies in the state recover.

Long-term success will rely on global choices, however  especially the burning of coal, oil and gas that is driving climate change. Scientists and energy experts have long laid out roadmaps  solutions  to reduce greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane that are heating up the planet and making climate disasters more frequent. And theres hope for the way forward, the International Energy Agency said in its World Energy Outlook for 2023.

At the same time, the state will need to rebuild in a way that reduces vulnerability. Rio Grande do Sul built dikes in the aftermath of massive flooding in 1941, but those proved insufficient this year due to a lack of maintenance. A group of experts has already called for more robust flood control. Homes and businesses may also need to relocate away from the coast and riverbanks.

Politicians from Rio Grande do Sul and the federal government are also clashing over response to the crisis and reconstruction. While the leftist ruling government is studying a possible canal to speed water flowing out from the Patos Lagoon to the sea, right-of-center Leite has said the project would be very difficult to carry out and may inflict damage on ecosystems, the newspaper O Globo reported.

The state must pass legislation protecting the states environment, said Beni, the FGV economist.

Climate denialist policies that favor dismantling environmental laws exact a very high price, she said. If nothing is done, she said, Rio Grande do Sul will experience these tragedies every two or three years. There wont be time to rebuild before it is flooded again.

___

Associated Press writer Lucas Dumphreys contributed to this report.

___

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Windsor Mayor Barry Wilson is out as mayor of the town after a judge ruled Wednesday his election to the seat in April is null and void because he was not eligible to run for the office.

In a lawsuit, Windsor resident James Cosner alleged Wilson wasn't eligible to run for mayor because if he won, he would have exceeded term limits as defined in the town's charter.

Weld County District Court Judge Shannon D. Lyons agreed, ruling that City Clerk Karen Frawley, who was also named in the lawsuit, misinterpreted the town's charter when she approved Wilson's candidacy.

Wilson said he will appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court.

The town charter says an elected official, whether a board member, mayor or combination of both, can serve only two consecutive elected terms, but not more than 10 consecutive years in office, whether elected or appointed.

Wilson was first elected to the District 2 town board seat in 2018 and again in 2022. He served two years of his second term and ran for mayor in April's election. If allowed to serve a full term as mayor, he would have served 10 years over two full terms and one partial term.

"Wilson was not eligible to run for a third consecutive elected term for any position on the Town Board. It is immaterial that Wilson had yet to serve the entirety of his second consecutive elected term," the judge's order stated, ruling that the charter language is clear and unambiguous.

Lyons concluded the 10-year limit mentioned in the charter is intended to prevent someone from combining their elected terms and appointed terms to serve more than 10 years, but he said the charter is clear that both the 10-year limitation and the two consecutive elected terms apply.

Wilson ran against fellow board member Jason Hallett and had 4,150 votes to Hallett's 3,603 in the April 2 election. Despite the lawsuit, Wilson resigned his board seat and was sworn in as mayor on April 22.

Cosner's complaint originally asked that Hallett be seated as mayor, but that request was later removed, according to the judge's ruling, which declares that Wilson's election is null and void and the seat is now vacant.

In the ruling, Lyons said the decision does not find fault with any of the parties and "is not a reflection on any persons integrity or character or prior service."

Wilson alleges the challenge was politically motivated.

"Money wins again," he said. "It's unfortunate that a conservative Weld County judge overturned the will of the voters. The Town of Windsor should be embarrassed by the entire debacle."

Shannon was appointed in 2013 by former Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat. He has won retention with the voters of the 19th Judicial District of Weld County.

"I sincerely hope that the remaining town board members will have the backs of the majority of voters and appeal this decision to the Colorado Supreme Court and get me reinstated as mayor," Wilson said.

Cosner said he is relieved for himself and for the people of Windsor, who now have clarification on the rules.

"This has nothing to do with Barry Wilson and whether I like him or not," Cosner said. "We have rules and regulations that we created to live by. Either lets change them or let's live by them, but let's not act like we're the Washington, D.C., swamp and everyone just does whatever they hell they can get away with.

"We can't control the swamp in D.C., but as responsible people, we can control our lives in our little burg here," he said.

A citizen filed a similar complaint before the election

Windsor resident Cindy Beemer challenged Wilson's candidacy in January by filing a complaint with the clerk's office, citing the term limits rules.

But Frawley said the complaint came too late, after the deadline. She also said the town's interpretation of the charter allows for the completion of two consecutive terms and a partial term that would fall within the 10-year allowed period.

Furthermore, Frawley said the charter was interpreted the same way when Kristie Melendez ran for mayor in 2016.

Judge settled questions about Cosner's residency

Lyons ruled that Cosner has standing to challenge the election after Wilson argued Cosner was not a registered elector at the time he filed the challenge.

The judge said evidence "clearly and convincingly" established that Cosner has lived on Main Street in Windsor since 2022.

What happens next

For now, Mayor Pro Tem Julie Cline is acting mayor, McKenzie Paine, town communications manager, confirmed to the Coloradoan.

The town charter says that when the mayor's seat is vacated, the town board selects, by two-thirds-majority vote, a board member to assume the duties and powers of the mayor until the next regular municipal election.

Wilson said the town's attorney has told him he can't be appointed to either the District 2 seat or the mayor's seat.

Cosner said while he would be fine if the next mayor is Hallett, for the town to heal, he hopes there will be a special election with multiple candidates who aren't "old school Windsor."

He also hopes the community can build consensus and move together as a community.

The board unanimously voted on May 13 to pay for Wilson's legal expenses. It was already paying for Frawley's legal expenses because she was acting in her official capacity as town clerk.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Windsor mayor Barry Wilson is ousted by judge's ruling
While renovating his wine cellar, a man in Austria made a discovery far older than a vintage bottle of Merlot. Instead, he discovered a rare collection of mammoth bones, believed to date back approximately 40,000 years.

Marking one of the most significant mammoth fossil finds in over a century in Austria, according to the Austrian Archeological Institute, researchers believe the prehistoric Stone Age bones belonged to at least three different mammoths.

PHOTO: OeAI archaeologist Marc Handel uncovering the bones. (H. Parow-Souchon/OeAW-OeAI)

Winemaker Andreas Pernerstorfer discovered the bones while renovating his cellar, located in the Austrian village of Gobelsburg, about 45 miles west of Vienna, according to a Tuesday press release from the institute.

MORE: 70 million-year-old dinosaur skeleton discovered by a man walking his dog

Pernerstorfer reported the bones to the Federal Monuments Office, which referred him to the Austrian Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

PHOTO: Thomas Einwogerer and Hannah Parow-Souchon preparing the bones for recovery. (Yannik Merkl)

Dubbed an "archaeological sensation," archaeologists say they have uncovered several layers of mammoth bones since beginning the excavation process in mid-May.

"Such a dense bone layer of mammoths is rare," Hannah Parow-Souchon, who is leading the excavation said in the press release. "It's the first time we've been able to investigate something like this in Austria using modern methods."

PHOTO: Team of the OeAI research group 'Quarternary Archaeology' when exposing the bone position. (H. Parow-Souchon/OeAW-OeAI)

The discovery has furthered an ongoing query into how Stone Age people were able to hunt the now-extinct, giant creatures, which are members of the elephantid genus.

MORE: New flying dinosaur skeleton discovered on Isle of Skye in Scotland

"We know that humans hunted mammoths, but we still know very little about how they did it," Parow-Souchon said in the press release.

PHOTO: OeAI archaeologist Hannah Parow-Souchon (R) explains the location of the mammoth bones to the Langenlois City Councillor for Culture Sonja Fragner (C) and the owner of the wine cellar Andreas Pernestorfer (L). (Th. Einwogerer/OeAW-OeAI)

Researchers question if the cellar was the location where the mammoths died and if they were chased and trapped there, according to the release.

MORE: Million-year-old mammoth DNA discovered by scientists in northeast Siberia

The collection of fossils is currently being examined by researchers and will be sent to the Natural History Museum Vienna to undergo restoration.

In 2021, an international team of researchers discovered million-year-old molars from three mammoth specimens in northeast Siberia, which marked the oldest-dating skeletal fragments ever found.

40,000-year-old mammoth bones discovered in wine cellar originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Controversy erupted in right-wing circles Tuesday after the judge in Donald Trumps classified documents case unsealed a document revealing that the FBI had been authorized to use deadly force in its search of Trumps Mar-a-Lago home.

The revelation quickly gained traction online after Real Clear Investigations reporter Julie Kelly, a self-proclaimed January 6 conspiracy theorist, posted an initial screenshot of the filing. FBI authorized the use of deadly force at Mar-a-Lago, Kelly wrote.

Tons of new unsealed filings on classified docs caseI will try to post as much as I can (there goes the workout) but this is mind-blowing.



FBI authorized the use of deadly force at Mar-a-Lago pic.twitter.com/f0lR6UifAH  Julie Kelly  (@julie_kelly2) May 21, 2024

According to Kelly, armed FBI agents were prepared to confront Trump and his Secret Service detail. They were going to go door to door to terrorize [Mar-a-Lago] guests and even pick the locks. Gestapo, Kelly wrote in a follow-up post, comparing the FBI to Nazi Germanys secret police force.

The narrative was quickly seized upon by sympathetic conservative media figures including Mark Levin, Mollie Hemingway, Steve Bannon, Charlie Kirk, Dan Bongino, and Sean Hannity, who viewed the authorization as further proof of the Department of Justices unprecedented targeting of Trump.

It is standard policy to authorize shooting our Republican political opponent when we raid his home for no good reason after running the Russia collusion hoax and other scams.  Biden DOJ  Mollie (@MZHemingway) May 22, 2024

Republican politicians have also backed Kellys narrative, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene notably claiming that Merrick Garland basically issued a kill order for Donald Trump, during an appearance on OANs Real America with Dan Ball.

Marge Greene says Merrick Garland should be impeached for plotting to assassinate Trump: Merrick Garland basically issued a kill order for President Trump. pic.twitter.com/HaSiNLZGFq  Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 23, 2024

Claims that the Biden administration targeted Trump with deadly force are false. Use-of-force authorizations are a standard part of almost all FBI arrest and search warrants, and the documents authorizing the Mar-a-Lago raid used boilerplate language. The Dispatchs Mike Warren reported these facts in a piece published Thursday:

What the defenses filing does not detail is the fact that the operation orders permission for law enforcement to use deadly force when necessary is boilerplate language included in the operations order from the DOJs policy on use of deadly forcethe same language used in pretty much every order authorizing the execution of arrest and search warrants. This is what FBI sources told The Dispatchthat at any point where armed agents are involved in an operation, even one with no expectation of resistance such as a search warrant execution, a policy dictating when deadly force can and cannot be used is not only standard but necessary. Whether the FBI is raiding the offices of a business suspected of mail fraud, the headquarters of a drug kingpin suspected of racketeering, or the home of a former president suspected of retaining classified documents illegally, the rules governing the use of deadly force remain the same.

The FBI addressed the controversy in its own statement. The FBI followed standard protocol in this search as we do for all search warrants, which includes a standard policy statement limiting the use of deadly force. No one ordered additional steps to be taken and there was no departure from the norm in this matter.

On Wednesday, Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich confirmed that FBI searches at President Joe Bidens homes also included use-of-force authorizations. A person familiar with the Hur investigation confirms that the standard Department of Justice policy statement regarding the use of deadly force was also included in the operations order for the searches at President Bidens residences in Delaware, Heinrich wrote.

If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com.

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
Chad Daybell has long insisted that he woke up one morning in 2019 to find his wife of nearly 30 years dead on the floor of their Idaho bedroom. But the Doomsday authors son allegedly told his friend and former co-worker a different story.

He said he found her when he got home from work and he didnt know where his father was, that friend, Jason MacKay, testified at Daybells Idaho murder trial on Thursday. I dont remember if he said she was in the bed or next to the bed. She was kind of pale and her lips were blue.

The revelation calls into question what happened the morning of Oct. 19, 2019, when authorities arrived at Daybells home to find his wife, Tammy, wrapped in a sheet on their bed.

At the time, Daybell told authorities that hed found his wife stiff on the floor after she had been coughing and vomiting all night. His son, Garth Daybell, testified on Monday that his mother was feeling ill the night before and asked him to pick up McDonalds before his shift at a local haunted house with MacKay.

Chad Daybell Introduced Family to Lori Vallow a Day After Wifes Funeral, Son-In-Law Says

Garth Daybell testified that when he returned home around 1 a.m., he only heard his father snoring and fell asleep. He said he woke up hours later to his father demanding he come into the primary bedroom, where his mother was on the floor.

I felt she was cold and stiff and gray. I realized shes not been breathing, Garth testified. I immediately thought, She needs my help so I lifted her immediately into the bed.

MacKay, however, told jurors on Thursday he clearly remembered Garth telling him a week later that hed been alone when he found his mother.

I was still at work at the Haunted Mill. There were a few other scary actors around us. It was closer toward the end of our shift, he said, adding that Garth seemed sad.

Prosecutors allege that Daybell and his paramour, Lori Vallow, were driven by their fringe religious beliefs to murder Tammybefore killing Vallows children a month later and burying them in Daybells Idaho backyard. Then, prosecutors allege, the pair fled to Hawaii to start a new life.

Daybell, 55, has pleaded not guilty to several charges and faces the death penalty. Vallow is serving life in prison on similar charges.

Daybells lawyers argue there is no evidence that Tammys death was a homicide, and Garth Daybell testified that he did not hear a struggle the night of his mothers death.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Woman accused of pointing gun, flipping off driver to let her know she cant drive on GA 400

A 51-year-old woman was arrested after she allegedly pointed a gun at another driver along Georgia 400.

On May 16, Forsyth County deputies were called to the QuikTrip at Browns Bridge Road and Freedom Parkway where a road rage incident happened.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The victim told Forsyth deputies she was at Lakeland Plaza driving toward the GA 400 Northbound ramp when a GMC Yukon was behind her honking the horn, presumably for her to pull out into the intersection.

The victim said at the next light, the driver, Holly Linton, got out of her GMC Yukon and approached the victims driver-side window.

According to the incident report, Linton then knocked on the window with a gun and pointed it at the window while the victims son was sitting in the passenger seat.

According to Forsyth County officials, the victim drove away and called 911 to describe Linton and the license plate number.

TRENDING STORIES:

The license plate number came back to Linton. When deputies arrived at Lintons home, they said she could be heard saying, That lady called 911 on me, huh?

When authorities started asking Linton to give her side, she said she was involved in a road rage incident and said the other driver was flipping her off.

Linton told deputies that she did get out of her Yukon and tapped on the victims driver-side window with her 45-caliber handgun to, Let her know she cant drive like that and flip people off.

Linton was arrested and charged with pointing or aiming a gun or pistol at another. She was booked into the Forsyth County Jail.

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I

A woman on-board a recent Frontier flight to Houston was removed by officers after first refusing to properly agree to exit row seat protocols, and later disrespecting airline staff.

According to viral footage shared by TikTok travel account TravelWithTia, the woman, who was seated in an aisle seat in the exit row, refused to state yes to helping other passengers in case of an emergency. Oh, Im not going to save anybody. If something happens, Im going to save myself, she was heard asserting.

While many share this sentiment, her decision to verbalize this led to another flight attendant being called over. Account holder Tia claims the woman was only joking, but still refused to give a verbal yes to the question, a legal requirement of taking the seat. Tia also claims the woman was unruly and disrespected both attendants by calling them out of their names, including calling the Black woman flight attendant the N-word. I dont know why you brought the ni**a over here thinking shes going to be one of us and get me to calm down.

She was then asked to exit the plane, which she refused, resulting in the pilot leaving the cockpit to see what all the fuss was about.

Once the pilot got involved, once the police got involved, it was a wrap for her, baby, Tia added. The rest of the plane was then de-boarded so that police could be brought on to escort her off the plane. Other passengers recorded the woman, who claimed to be on her way to pick up her grandson, being escorted off the plane in handcuffs. Check out viral footage of the incident and Tias breakdown below.

The viral moment comes two months after a woman was removed from a Spirit Airlines flight for displaying erratic behavior. While footage didnt show what led to the outburst, it shows officers asking her to deplane.

I will walk out on my own, she declared as law enforcement attempted to grab her wrists and remove her from the flight. Can I do that with freedom? All I care about is freedom.

S

More from VIBE.com
Woman seriously injured in hit-and-run bicycle crash outside San Franciscos City Lights bookstore

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A woman has life-threatening injuries after she was hit by a bicycle outside the City Lights bookstore in San Franciscos North Beach neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon, the San Francisco Police Department said. The cyclist fled the scene after the crash, police said.

Police responded to the store at Broadway and Columbus Avenue at about 3:15 p.m. The elderly victim was hospitalized with serious injuries.

Police were able to find the bicyclist and arrest him. Police declined to release his identity as charges are pending.

All information is preliminary, SFPD said.

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 KRON4.
Franklin, Tenn. (WKRN)  Franklin Police Department detectives are searching for a woman suspected of stealing a seniors credit card and making multiple fraudulent purchases.

Police said that the transactions total almost $2,000 across several Middle Tennessee stores, including Parkway Wine and Spirits, Hibbett Sports, Target and Publix.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

If you have any information on the suspect, you can contact the Franklin Police Department at (615) 794-2513. You can also submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers of Williamson County or call them at (615) 794-4000. If the info you provide leads to an arrest, Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 in reward money.

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 WKRN News 2.
Woman tells roommate to move out, then kidnaps him and has cousin beat him up, feds say

A 28-year-old woman is facing prison time after being convicted of kidnapping her roommate in the District of Columbia, federal officials said.

In October 2023, Antoinette Gilmore, of Washington, D.C., got into an argument with her roommate on the phone, according to a May 21 news release by the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Gilmore told the man that she and her cousin would pick him up from downtown and take him back to their apartment so he could get his stuff, prosecutors said.

Once the man got into the car, Gilmore told her cousin to punch and beat the man as she drove, officials said.

The victim tried getting out of the car, but the pair had locked the doors, officials said.

The man was able to escape, but Gilmore told her cousin to chase him down, officials said.

After eventually catching him, Gilmores cousin dragged him by the collar of his shirt back to the car, prosecutors said.

Once they reached the destination, the victim was pulled out of the car but was able to break free, officials said.

Then he ran to the nearest police substation to report the assault, officials said.

McClatchy News reached out to Gilmores lawyer on May 22 and was awaiting a response.

Gilmore is scheduled to be sentenced in July, prosecutors said.

Man covers girls mouth, tries kidnapping her during school track meet, Utah cops say

Man kidnaps wife as kids sleep nearby and buries her alive in Arizona, officials say

Duo wraps wire around veterans neck, stabs him, officials said. Now man heads to jail
The Russian military opened fire on civilians trying to evacuate the town of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, killing a woman while she was being pushed in a wheelchair by her husband, Ukrainian prosecutors said Tuesday.

Another civilian was also killed during the shooting, which took place on May 15, the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutors Office said, as intense battles between Ukrainian and Russian forces for control of the border town continue.

Russia has ramped up its offensive in the Kharkiv region in recent weeks, launching its most surprising operation in more than two years of war on May 10, when Russian forces crossed the border and subsequently took control of close to a dozen villages.

The 70-year-old husband told prosecutors the situation in Vovchansk had become unbearable because of the heavy fighting, so he found a wheelchair for his wife who was experiencing health issues, and the two left their home in the early hours of the night.

What followed adds to the repeating horrors that residents in the town and battlefield areas face daily, as Russia continues its push to claim control of more Ukrainian land.

Husband shared details of the shooting

The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutors Office said the husband, who miraculously survived the shooting in Vovchansk, shared the painful details of the harrowing ordeal.

The man said there was heavy shelling around 2 a.m. local time, and he told his wife they should evacuate, according to the investigation. Another resident of the embattled town joined them.

The man found a wheelchair and put his wife in it because she had been having problems with her legs for a long time. The three of them set off in the direction of Kharkiv, the prosecutors office said. When the civilians were near the local hospital, the occupiers opened fire on them. The man who joined the couple and the woman died on the spot.

VOVCHANSK, UKRAINE - MAY 17: Aerial view of the Ukranian border city of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv Oblast. Ukraine has been evacuating civilians from around Vovchansk as Russian forces advance in the area. (Photo by Libkos/Getty Images) - Libkos/Getty Images

The Russian military had opened fire on the evacuees from a five-story building, the husband told prosecutors.

The wheelchair got stuck, I was pulling it by the handles, he told prosecutors. I leaned down and there was a machine gun burst, he said. I immediately shouted, what are you doing, we are civilians.

Then he said he turned around and saw that his wife and the other resident were killed. He started screaming and didnt know how to proceed.

He started pushing the wheelchair towards the hospital where he knew there were emergency personnel. A man at the hospital shouted at him, urging him to leave the body of his wife and come inside the building. But the man continued moving further with the body of his wife towards a flooded bridge, where he realized the two had to part ways. She stayed in the wheelchair, the man told prosecutors.

The man managed to reach the outskirts of the Vovchansk, where he met Ukrainian soldiers who took him to Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city.

Situation in Vovchansk worsening for civilians

Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly urged civilians to evacuate from Vovchansk and frontline areas because of the heavy fighting.

Ukrainian officials have previously said Russian forces have captured dozens of civilians in Vovchansk, and a top regional police officer has accused them of using civilians as human shields.

CNN is unable to independently verify the claims that Russia is using civilians as human shields and has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment. Russia has not commented on whether its troops use civilians as human shields or target those trying to evacuate.

The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutors Office is taking measures for a comprehensive investigation into the shooting of civilians in the border town, it said. Prosecutors say they are working with law enforcement agencies to identify Russian soldiers who have committed atrocities in the region.

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From what we can see, insiders were net buyers in Burgundy Diamond Mines Limited's (ASX:BDM ) during the past 12 months. That is, insiders acquired the stock in greater numbers than they sold it.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

View our latest analysis for Burgundy Diamond Mines

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Burgundy Diamond Mines

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Non Executive Chairman William OKeeffe for AU$10.0m worth of shares, at about AU$0.25 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$0.16). Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. It is encouraging to see an insider paid above the current price for shares, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. William OKeeffe was the only individual insider to buy during the last year.

You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. If investing in lesser known companies is your style, you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Insider Ownership Of Burgundy Diamond Mines

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Insiders own 7.8% of Burgundy Diamond Mines shares, worth about AU$18m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

So What Do The Burgundy Diamond Mines Insider Transactions Indicate?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Insiders own shares in Burgundy Diamond Mines and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for Burgundy Diamond Mines you should be aware of.

Story continues

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
WATCH: Full remarks from @RepMcGovern on Donald Trump, which were later stricken from the record: "We have a presumptive nominee for president facing 88 felony counts and we're being prevented from even acknowledging it. These are not alternative facts. These are real facts..." pic.twitter.com/TLGjb2vDhQ  CSPAN (@cspan) May 22, 2024

A day after U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern was ruled out of order on the House floor for reading the charges against former President Donald Trump, the Worcester Democrat said he was plainly stating the facts.

"They asked me to withdraw my words. I was not going to withdraw the words. I stand by them," McGovern said in an interview Thursday. "They chose to basically cancel me, or try to silence me. They can try to shut me up, but I won't be silent. I was speaking the truth and if they have trouble with the truth, well, that's their problem."

McGovern said House Republicans in the majority are not held to the same standard.

Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader and Leader of the House Democratic Caucus, left, and Congressman James P. McGovern sign a visitor wall at El Buen Samaritano in Worcester in March.

On Wednesday, House members were debating a procedural move on digital cryptocurrency legislation when McGovern accused House Republicans of blocking bipartisan collaboration and appeasing "the most extreme members" of their party.

He then tore into Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, for taking trips to Manhattan to show support for Trump during his ongoing trial there. McGovern said on the floor that Republicans had "no time to work with Democrats, but plenty of time to put on weird matching cult uniforms and stand behind President Trump with their bright red ties like pathetic props."

In Manhattan, Trump faces 34 charges of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, who says she had sex with Trump in 2006, which he denies. Both sides have rested their cases.

Rep. Jerry L. Carl, R-Alabama, who was presiding over the House floor, reminded members that they should refrain from attacking presumptive presidential nominees.

McGovern and Carl then went back and forth on the proper rules before McGovern summarized Trump's charges on the floor.

"We have a presumptive nominee for president facing 88 felony counts and were being prevented from even acknowledging it, McGovern said. A candidate for president of the United States is on trial for sending a hush money payment to a porn star to avoid a sex scandal during his 2016 campaign and then fraudulently disguising those payments in violation of the law.

Republicans quickly moved to push back against McGovern. The House halted for over an hour. McGovern was eventually ruled out of order and prohibited from speaking on the floor for the remainder of the day. Republicans demanded his comments be taken down from the Congressional Record.

The Houses Rules and Manual, based on Thomas Jefferson's procedural manual, applies the British parliamentary ban on irreverently or seditiously against the king" to personal references against the president, and extends that ban to presumptive major-party nominees.

McGovern said he was merely stating the facts of Trump's charges and argues that the U.S. is in unprecedented times due to Trump's myriad legal issues, which include charges of attempting to steal the 2020 election.

"The point I made was Donald Trump might want to be king, but he's not a king," McGovern said. "We're in unprecedented times, so adhering to a strict interpretation of a rule that was written hundreds of years ago doesn't make a lot of sense to me."

McGovern said he did not go on the floor with the intention of his words being taken down. He said his words have never before been stricken from the Congressional Record.

Apparently there are people on the other side of the aisle who want to try to silence Jim McGovern because he waxes the floor with them every time he speaks, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, said during a press conference Thursday. That makes them uncomfortable and they just cant handle it.

McGovern said that if House Republicans are going to enforce the rules on him, they should do so evenly for all members. He referenced a May 16 House Oversight Committee markup session, when Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia butted heads with Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett and New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after making a comment about Crockett's "fake eyelashes."

Republicans have turned the House into a "circus," McGovern said, saying that Greene's initial comment was not ruled out of order by the committee chair. He said the current Congress, which has seen several speaker battles between Republicans, has been the least productive in history.

"They're letting the patients run the hospital," McGovern said. "Marjorie Taylor Greene can say whatever she wants, and she's not alone, and say the most derogatory, offensive things and there's no consequence."

McGovern said Republicans made a mistake striking his speech from the records.

"By using these hardball tactics to try to shut me up, they ended up amplifying what I said," McGovern said, noting that the action has received wide coverage.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: McGovern: 'I was speaking the truth' on House floor on Trump charges
How a worker who suffered a microfracture of his foot ended up with a $58-million payout

For eight years, Lancaster resident Pablo Scipione and his attorneys pushed for compensation the 46-year-old independent contractor said he was owed due to a workplace accident in early 2016.

In that accident, he slipped, fell and suffered a microfracture to his foot, according to his lawsuit, but that was only the start of his troubles.

Scipione sued the company he was providing services for  Osaka, Japan-based transportation and manufacturing company Kinkisharyo  for negligence shortly after the workplace fall, his lawyers said. But he eventually developed a debilitating medical condition due to the injury, according to court documents, leading the skilled tradesman to quit his job. He asked his legal representation to seek a settlement of $3 million in July 2022 to pay mounting medical bills.

The offer was rejected by Kinkisharyos defense team, according to Scipione's attorneys.

That decision backfired for Kinkisharyo on Tuesday when a Los Angeles County Superior Court jury awarded Scipione $58.35 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

Calls to Kinkisharyos legal team, Los Angeles-based Husch Blackwell, were not returned.

Read more: A first view of what the high-speed rail to Las Vegas might look like

Khail Parris is a partner at Lancaster-based Parris Law Firm, and was lead attorney along with Alexander Wheeler for the plaintiff.

Parris said $54.15 million was awarded in compensatory damages for past lost earnings, future lost earnings, future medical expenses and past and future pain and suffering. The jury also awarded $4.2 million in punitive damages.

Parris said he was a little surprised by the payout since juries can be unpredictable.

Im happy the jury heard my client, he said in a phone interview Wednesday. The defendant took a very aggressive stance on this case and dragged it out for eight years. The jury felt like enough was enough.

Scipione was employed by railroad contractor Altech Services at the time of the accident, according to court documents. His duties included supervising teams of electrical technicians also employed by Altech, documents say, and his specialty was electrical troubleshooting.

Scipione was dispatched to Kinkisharyos Palmdale train yard around 2 a.m. on Feb. 2, 2016, for repair work, according to the lawsuit. He was instructed that it needed to be done within three hours.

Unbeknownst to Scipione, the train he was going to work on was wet after undergoing a recent water tightness test, according to testimony from a Kinkisharyo senior safety manager. That person said the train did not dry for the minimum of two days before Scipione went to work on it.

The Kinkisharyo employee also conceded that there were other safety issues in Scipiones workspace, including poor lighting.

Read more: What does California owe the descendants of enslaved Africans? Its reparations task force is working that out

Scipione climbed to the top of the rail car and slipped and fell atop the vehicle, causing the microfracture to his left foot, according to court documents. Though Scipione went home after the accident, he came back to work the next day.

Nearly three months after the injury, Scipione was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome, court documents say. The Mayo Clinic describes the syndrome as a form of chronic pain that usually affects an arm or a leg and typically develops after an injury. The Mayo Clinic added that the pain is out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury.

The defendants fought us at every corner for eight years to help my client receive proper compensation and medical care, Parris said. Things didnt turn until their safety manager conceded that the factory had been unsafe.

Part of Scipiones struggle was finding care through workers compensation insurance. Letters were presented in court that showed denials of care as the process of determining if Scipione was an actual employee of Kinkisharyo or Altech dragged out.

The jurors were 12 little guys and saw a fellow little guy going up against a big corporation, Parris said. They stood up for one of their own.

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.
FILE PHOTO: ICJ public hearing on Ecuador's raid on Mexico's embassy in Quito, at The Hague

THE HAGUE (Reuters) -Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday rejected a demand by Mexico for emergency measures to protect its embassy in Ecuador, amid an ongoing diplomatic spat which has seen Mexico cut ties with the South American country.

Mexico and Ecuador have each filed lawsuits against each other at the ICJ, also known as the World Court, after the dramatic April arrest of Ecuador's former Vice President Jorge Glas, who had been living in the Mexican embassy in Quito since December.

Mexico has accused Ecuador of violating international law by breaching the embassy, while Ecuador accuses the North American country of illegally granting asylum to Glas, who has been convicted twice of corruption and is facing fresh charges.

Mexico had asked for emergency measures against Ecuador to ensure it would protect the embassy and the residences of Mexican diplomats.

ICJ presiding judge Nawaf Salam said in his ruling that Ecuador had already promised to protect Mexican diplomatic premises and therefore there was no urgency for additional orders by the court.

The court's rejection of Mexico's request "confirms the unnecessary character of the request," Ecuador's foreign ministry said in a statement after the ruling.

"The court recognizes that the good faith of Ecuador should be presumed and makes clear that the present circumstances do not present any risk to the rights of Mexico," the ministry added.

The Mexican ministry of foreign affairs said in video message from a legal consultant, Alejandro Celorio Alcantara, that even though "the provisional measures that the government of Mexico requested weren't granted", it received affirmation that the inviolability of the premises is absolute, and that Ecuador now has a binding obligation to respect the Mexican embassy.

The Mexican president, during his morning press conference, added that the ruling on the diplomatic dispute is precautionary and the trial is still ongoing. He suggested that the "court ruling sets a precedent so that embassies will never be invaded".

Final rulings on the cases could take years, and while ICJ rulings are legally binding, the tribunal has no means to enforce them.

An Ecuadorean court ruled later in April that although Glas' arrest was illegal, he must remain in jail due to his previous convictions. His legal team has pledged to appeal.

Glas is facing charges of misusing funds collected to aid reconstruction of coastal Manabi province after a devastating 2016 earthquake.

(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg, additional reporting by Alexandra Valencia in Quito and Natalia Siniawski, Editing by Sharon Singleton)
By Stephanie van den Berg

THE HAGUE (Reuters) -The International Court of Justice will rule on Friday on South Africa's request to order a halt to Israel's Rafah offensive in Gaza, it said on Thursday.

Last week, South Africa had asked the ICJ, also known as the World Court, to order a halt to Israel's offensive in Gaza, and in Rafah in particular, saying this was necessary to ensure the survival of the Palestinian people.

The demand for such an emergency measure is part of a larger case brought before the Hague-based court by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide.

An Israeli government spokesman, speaking in Jerusalem ahead of the decision, said: "no power on Earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and going after Hamas in Gaza."

ICJ decisions have in the past been ignored. The top U.N. legal body has no way to enforce its decisions, but they carry international weight. A ruling against Israel could add to its political isolation after a series of setbacks this week.

Several European countries said they would recognise a Palestinian state and the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced an application for arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as leaders of Hamas.

The ICC prosecutes individuals for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, while the ICJ is the highest U.N. body for disputes between states.

GENOCIDE CONVENTION

Israel has denounced South Africa's claim that it is violating the 1948 Genocide Convention, saying this makes a mockery of the crime of genocide.

The court has previously rejected Israel's demand to throw out the case and has ordered it to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians, while stopping short of ordering a halt to Israeli military operations.

South Africa asked for additional emergency measures to protect Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have been sheltering. It also asked the panel of 15 permanent judges and one ad hoc Israeli judge to order Israel to allow unimpeded access to Gaza for U.N. officials, organisations providing humanitarian aid, journalists and investigators.

Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages according to Israeli tallies. More than 35,000 Palestinians have since been killed, with at least 10,000 more missing, Gaza's health ministry says.

(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg, Bart Meijer and Anthony DeutschEditing by Peter Graff)
Chipmakers ASML and TSMC can disable advanced chipmaking machines remotely, Bloomberg reports.

The move addresses growing fears of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a key semiconductor producer.

A China-Taiwan conflict could severely impact the global economy.

Two of the world's most important chip companies can flip a "kill switch" remotely on their most advanced chipmaking machines should China invade Taiwan, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The Netherlands' ASML  Europe's top tech company by market value  supplies advanced machines to chipmaking companies. They include Taiwan's TSMC, which produces, by some estimates, 90% of the world's most advanced processor chips.

The news of a forced shutdown, or a "kill switch," on ASML's chipmaking gear comes amid intensifying rivalry between Washington and Beijing and mounting concerns over a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory.

Taiwan is the world's epicenter for semiconductor chips, the ubiquitous parts that are used in products from data centers to smartphones. A war in the region would have major consequences for the global economy.

The US, citing national security concerns, imposed restrictions on China under the Advanced Computing Chips Rule in November. The restrictions make it harder for the East Asian giant to import advanced AI chips from American manufacturers.

The US has also pressured the Netherlands to block some ASML exports to China to limit the country's ability to manufacture advanced chips. The Dutch company has also said it will stop servicing some equipment previously exported to China.

But US concerns over a Chinese invasion of Taiwan remain, and Washington has expressed them to Dutch and Taiwanese officials, Bloomberg reported. ASML assured Dutch officials about the option to push the "kill switch" when they met with the company, per the media outlet.

The option applies to ASML's line of advanced extreme ultraviolet machines, according to Bloomberg.

Taiwan's TSMC is the largest buyer of these 200 million euro, or $217 million, machines. They print the tiny microchip transistors used to make chips for artificial-intelligence and military applications.

Rising concerns over Taiwan Strait developments

There are concerns about China's intensifying drills around Taiwan after itn inaugurated its new president, William Lai  whom Beijing has branded as a separatist  on Monday.

Beijing stepped up military activity around Taiwan ahead of Lai's inauguration and on Thursday announced drills as a "strong punishment for the separatist acts of 'Taiwan independence' forces," Li Xi, a spokesperson for China's People's Liberation Army, said.

Chipmaking supply chains are changing amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

TSMC is diversifying production with a second facility in Arizona and upcoming new plants in Japan and Germany. But new facilities will take time to come online.

The US is also taking steps to boost chip manufacturing through the CHIPS Act, which provides billions of dollars in subsidies for domestic production, research, and workforce development.

But Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told Bloomberg TV on Tuesday that that the world's tech sector is likely to continue depending on Taiwanese manufacturing for "some time." He said it would be "very difficult" for Nvidia to serve its customers without the island.

ASML, TSMC, and the Dutch government declined to comment to Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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The World Wildlife Fund is suing the Norwegian government over its plans to open up large areas of the seabed for destructive deep-sea mining, saying the ecological and environmental consequences are still unknown.

Despite fierce opposition from environmental activists and international calls for a moratorium over the potential impact on marine wildlife, Norways parliament in January voted to become the first country in the world to allow deep-sea mineral exploration on a commercial scale.

At least two companies have submitted requests for licenses, with Oslo saying that mining the Arctic seabed is critical to boost Europes production of crucial rare-earth minerals and metals such as copper, nickel and manganese.

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Oslo says seabed mining necessary to break Chinas dominance

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Sources: Bellona, Maritime Executives, CNBC

Norway says the controversial decision to allow deep sea mining will help Europe to break China and Russias monopoly over the production of rare earths, needed for green technology such as electric vehicle batteries and solar panels. But activists say Norways rush to start the unproven practice of seabed mining  going against warnings from marine scientists, the European Union and others  suggests it is more about finding a new profit stream that could be comparable to the countrys decades-long oil boom. Many of the Norwegian companies seeking exploration licenses are linked to oil companies. There is much to indicate that the governments haste may be due to the hope of finding the new oil, wrote Martin Melvr of Bellona, a Norwegian climate NGO.

Seabed disruption may accelerate climate change

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Sources: Frontiers of Marine Science, Mongabay

In addition to ecological damage, some scientists warn that the disruption of the seabed caused by mining could release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, accelerating the effects of climate change. Seabed disruption stirs up about 1 gigaton of carbon every year  nearly as much as that produced yearly by the global aviation industry  and up to 60% of that carbon is eventually released into the atmosphere, according to a study published in Frontiers of Marine Science. The rest remains in the ocean, causing acidification that destroys coral reefs. However, some researchers have criticized the study for overestimating the amount of carbon found on the ocean floor.

Huge Norwegian phosphate deposit could boost European autonomy

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Sources: Foreign Policy, Euractiv

Meanwhile on land, a British-Norwegian mining company last year completed its exploration of a massive, newly discovered Norwegian deposit of phosphate, which is used to produce electric vehicle batteries and solar panels. While not a rare earth, phosphorus is also used in semiconductors and computer chips, and the vast find could help provide more autonomy for the West, the co-founder of Norge Mining told the website Euractiv. Global supplies of phosphate had been dwindling, but Norway is estimated to have 70 billion tons of the material, enough to meet world demand for the next 50 years, Foreign Policy reported. It has the potential to significantly reduce Europes import dependence on autocratic regimes, especially China, Matthias Wachter of the Federation of German Industries told the magazine.

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A 98-year-old Marine veteran who enlisted in the Marine Corps at 17 during World War II was awarded a high school diploma two days before his death.

Richard Remp, who was receiving hospice care in Maryland, received his diploma Friday thanks to a whirlwind effort that involved one school superintendent driving 4.5 hours to reach him in time. He died Sunday, said James Cappuccilli, second vice commander of American Legion Post 247 in Poolesville, Maryland.

All the dominoes lined up, said Cappuccilli, a Marine veteran. And if one little piece was not in place, none of this would have occurred.

Wisconsin WWII veteran, 90, receives high school diploma

During World War II, a 17-year-old Remp joined the Marine Corps, and he would go on to serve for more than 20 years, DC News Now reported in 2021.

As a gunnery sergeant, Remp served as a door gunner in the Vietnam War, according to Cappuccilli, who pointed out that he could have avoided that dangerous work but chose it anyway.

While on a reconnaissance mission in Vietnam in December 1966, Remp helped extract nine Marines who were surrounded by Viet Cong forces, DC News Now reported. With his helicopter hovering over the pickup area for more than an hour under fire, Remp fired more than 1,000 rounds at enemy forces, enabling the Marines to be saved, according to the outlet.

Despite a lifetime of proven toughness, Remp was a gentle man, a peach, Cappuccilli said.

You would have never known he was a Marine, other than we talked a lot of Marine stuff, he said.

And Remp had a mischievous sense of humor, said Cappuccilli, who said the nonagenarian was funny, funny, funny.

In February, Cappuccilli, a former high school guidance counselor, had the idea of honoring Remp by securing him a high school diploma. Initially believing Remp was a graduate of Sharon High School in Sharon, Pennsylvania, Cappuccilli got in touch with school officials there, he said.

Justi Glaros, superintendent of the Sharon City School District, quickly agreed to speak with with her school board and see what she could do.

Glaros learned that Pennsylvania allowed the awarding of high school diplomas to veterans who didnt graduate from high school because they had served in World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War. Remp had served in all three.

From our board, it was no question, 100%, we would like to give Mr. Remp an honorary diploma, Glaros said.

But as she dug through yearbooks, she discovered there had been a mixup: Remp actually had attended a different high school nearby. That school board got to work on securing a diploma.

On May 14, Cappuccilli learned Remp had been diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer and was in hospice care. He called Glaros to tell her Remp was very ill and to thank her for her efforts, he said.

Glaros wasnt giving up. She reached out to the nearby school to see if it could get the diploma to Remp in the next few days, but school officials told her they couldnt speed up the process.

So Glaros talked to her own school board president and, on Friday morning, got Remps diploma printed. Fearing it wouldnt reach Remp in time if she mailed it, she decided to make the 4.5-hour drive to Maryland herself, she said.

As Glaros stepped foot out of her car, Cappuccilli recounted, he told her, Youre going to heaven, because this act puts you there.

For Glaros, meeting the World War II veteran was like meeting a rockstar, she said. At first, it made her nervous.

It was just an incredible honor to be able to give that to him, she said. When I was speaking with him, it was like we had been best friends forever.

Remp told the crowd of family and friends by his bed that he was really happy, ABC 7 reported.

You people just dont know what it means to me, Remp said, according to the outlet. Ill cherish this for the rest of my life.

The next day, Saturday, Remp was speaking with pride about that diploma even as he began to fade, according to Marine veteran Julien Singh, commander of American Legion Post 247.

Glaros said she was glad she had the opportunity to give back to Remp. She said she tries to instill in her students the importance of being good to others.

For me, it was a no-brainer, she said. It was just an act of kindness.
BRADSHAW, WV (WVNS)  A World War II veteran from McDowell County has officially been accounted for and will soon be laid to rest in the Mountain State.

According to a press release from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), U.S. Army Private 1st Class Mose E. Vance, 21, of Bradshaw, West Virginia was officially accounted for on January 5, 2024.

Private Vance was attached to the 2nd Battalion of Company F within the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division fighting in Europe in 1945. Just before midnight on New Years Eve in 1944, German forces launched Operation NORDWIND, a major offensive operation within the Vosges Mountains in France.

The attack pushed through allied forces along the French-German border creating a 40-mile wide front for the following battle. Over the next few weeks, Company F was assigned to a 7-mile section in Wildenguth, France. During fighting on January 11, 1945, Private 1st Class Mose E. Vance was shot and killed.

Private Vances body could not be recovered at the time due to how intense the fighting was.

The War Department issued a Report of Death for Vance in December 0f 1945 after no remains were recovered and no record of him being captured by German forces was found.

In 1946, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC) began looking for unaccounted American military members in the area where Vance was supposed to have been shot. During the search, mulitple sets of remains were recovered. One of these sets of remains was not able to be identified at the time. In 1949, the remains were then sent to the U.S. Military Cemetery in St. Avold, France, now known as Lorraine American Cemetery.

In 2022, after DPAA researchers conducted in-depth research, the unidentified remains were exhumed and transferred to the DPA Lab for further analysis. Scientists continued to use circumstantial and anthropological evidence to further conclude the remains belonged to Private Vance. Furthermore, members of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis.

The studies concluded the remains did indeed belong to Private 1st Class Mose E. Vance.

While Vances name is etched into the Walls of the Missing at the Epinal American Cemetery in France, a marker will be placed next to his name to show he has been accounted for.

Vance will be properly laid to rest in the Paynesville area of McDowell County.

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 WVNS.
More than 1,100 Educational Student Employees (ESEs) at Western Washington University who went on strike Tuesday in a unionized effort to negotiate their first contract with university administration have reached a tentative deal as of Wednesday evening.

We are thrilled to have secured an agreement that will help student workers at Western thrive, rather than barely get by or be forced out altogether. Hundreds of ESEs came together to make this happen  and now, by improving our pay and working conditions we can focus on our teaching and our research which is what were here to do, and which make Western a stronger institution, said Jaime Blais, a teaching assistant in biology.

Hundreds of WWU students and employees went on strike for two full days, walking out of their jobs and protesting for more competitive wages, partial relief from tuition and fees, bereavement leave, and strong protections against discrimination and harassment.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the student employees who played pivotal roles in representing WAWU or actively participating in the bargaining process. Your commitment to advocating for your fellow students has been truly commendable. Your active participation in such matters is a reminder not only of your dedication but also reinforces the reputation of WWU students as engaged and compassionate citizens, said WWU President Sabah Randhawa in a letter from the Office of the President.

Hundreds of Western Washington University Educational Student Employees walked out of their jobs on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, to strike in a unionized effort to negotiate a contract with University administration.

Many of the students demands were addressed in the tentative agreement.

The agreement was reached after university administration made key concessions toward college affordability, according to a release about the tentative agreement from the employees union, Western Academic Workers United (WAWU-UAW).

My gratitude also goes to the administrators and staff who committed their time and expertise toward representing the Universitys interests and our educational mission with great care throughout the negotiations, Randhawa said.

The student employees have paused striking while they vote on whether to ratify the tentative agreement. Union members are expected to meet Thursday evening to determine a timeline for the vote, according to the release. Westerns board of trustees must also approve the agreement.

Educational Student Employees at Western refused to settle and took their power to the picket lines. They secured a historic agreement which will improve their pay and working conditions, and protect and raise standards for student workers everywhere, said Mike Miller, director of UAW Region 6.

Lexy Aydelotte speaks to hundreds of Western Washington University Educational Student Employees who walked out of their jobs on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, to strike in a unionized effort to negotiate a contract with the University administration.

The tentative agreement includes:

 Substantial wage increases starting at $19 minimum wage beginning in January and rising over the course of the contract.

 First-of-its-kind tuition relief program that allows working undergraduate students to earn an extra $2 per hour to offset tuition costs, up to a maximum of $500 per quarter. This rests on legislative approval.

 Graduate employee salaries will rise by $250 per month, reaching $2,008 per month in 2025.

 Discrimination and harassment protections, paid bereavement leave, holiday pay and paid trainings.

I recognize that the last several weeks and months have not been the easiest of times, but I thank you for your support of our university community, and I hope that we can embrace this moment as an opportunity to strengthen our ties and to continue towards our shared vision of excellence and equity, Randhawa said.

WAWU negotiations with the University began in the fall of 2023.

Educational Student Employees work as researchers, teaching assistants, laboratory assistants, library assistants, tutors, and other roles that support education.
Wyoming man trying to rob south Wichita massage parlor killed by employee, police say

A Wyoming man who tried to rob a south Wichita massage parlor was fatally shot by a 71-year-old employee who is recovering after being shot multiple times, police Capt. Aaron Moses said during Thursday.

The shooting happened at 3:32 p.m. Wednesday at Beijing Massage in the 2700 block of Boulevard Plaza.

Robexy Figueroa, 44, of Wyoming, died at the scene after being shot multiple times. The employee, a Wichita man, underwent surgery at a hospital. Hes expected to survive, Moses said.

At this preliminary stage it is believed that the deceased male was attempting to commit an armed robbery of the business and there was an exchange of gunfire, he said.

There was another homicide Wednesday evening, bringing the citys total homicides this year to at least 21. There were 12 at this time last year.

One man dies, another taken to hospital after shooting at Wichita massage parlor
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen testifies during a U.S. House Committee on Financial Services hearing on the Annual Report of the Financial Stability Oversight Council, on Capitol Hill in Washington

By David Lawder

STRESA, Italy (Reuters) -U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Thursday she was concerned by a threat from Israel to cut off Palestinian banks from their Israeli correspondent banks, a move that would close a critical lifeline for the Palestinian economy.

Yellen told a news conference ahead of a G7 finance ministers meeting beginning on Friday that the U.S. and its partners "need to do everything possible to increase humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, to curtail violence in the West Bank, and to stabilize the West Bank's economy."

She said she would bring up the issue at the meeting of the Group of Seven industrial democracies in the lakeside resort town of Stresa in northern Italy.

"I expect other countries to express concern about the impact of such a decision on the West Bank economy. I think this would have a very adverse effect also on Israel."

Israel's Finance Minister Belazel Smotrich has said he cannot renew a waiver that expires on July 1 which allows Israeli banks to process shekel payments for services and salaries tied to the Palestinian Authority.

In a post on the X social media site reacting to Yellen's comments, Smotrich said he could not sign the waiver because Palestinians are still funding "terrorism" and Israeli banks can be sued for violating anti-terrorism financing laws.

"The financial system of the Palestinian Authority is infected with terrorism up to its neck," said Smotrich, a member of a far-right Israeli coalition partner that supports settlements in the West Bank. He called critics of the policy "hypocrites."

Palestinian Monetary Authority said on Thursday that cutting off Palestinian banks from their Israeli correspondent banks will have negative impacts on both the Palestinian and Israeli economies.

"The Palestinian banking system maintains correspondent banking relationships with a wide network of banks around the world that qualify it to continue providing services to citizens locally and globally, as banking relationships with the outside world will not be affected in all cases," the authority added in a statement.

Yellen said it was important to keep open the Israeli-Palestinian correspondent banking relationships to allow battered economies in the West Bank and Gaza to function and help ensure security.

"These banking channels are critical for processing transactions that enable almost $8 billion a year in imports from Israel, including electricity, water, fuel, and food, as well as facilitating almost $2 billion a year in exports on which Palestinian livelihoods depend," Yellen said.

She added that Israel's withholding of revenues collected on behalf of the Palestinian authority also threatens the West Bank's economic stability.

"My team and I have also engaged directly with the Israeli government to urge action that would bolster the Palestinian economy and, I believe, Israel's own security," Yellen said.

Financial tensions between Israel and the U.S. have risen over U.S. sanctions imposed on Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

(Reporting by David Lawder and Ali Sawafta; Editing by Keith Weir, Gavin Jones and Daniel Wallis)
WHITESTONE, Queens (PIX11)  New York City is planning a new memorial honoring residents who died in service after September 11th.

More Queens News

The memorial will be built on the waterfront in the Whitestone neighborhood of Queens. That borough is home to the largest number of post-9/11 service members who were killed in action in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The project will also have a bike path and pedestrian walkway.

Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com.

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 PIX11.
You'll Never Guess What Happened After This Guy Tried to "Body Slam" a Killer Whale

Killer Move

A New Zealand man, probably drunk out of his mind, did an ungraceful belly flop from a boat in an attempt to "body slam" an adult male orca swimming next to the vessel, NBC News reports.

In an Instagram video of the incident, which happened back in February, the man flops into the water, almost missing the orca, popularly known as a killer whale, and a calf swimming near it, the news outlet reports, while other people on the boat laugh and egg him on.

At one point, he swam back to one of the orcas to touch it, as seen in the video.

The incident concerned other people out and about in the Devonport suburb of Auckland, where it occurred, according to a statement from New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC). Somebody then sent a tip about the video to government officials, who tracked the man down and fined him $365 in American dollars.

Orca vs Man

"The video left us genuinely stunned," DOC Principal Investigation Officer Hayden Loper said in the statement. "This is stupid behavior and demonstrates a shocking disregard for the welfare of the orca. It is extremely irresponsible."

"Orca are immensely powerful animals, and this really could have ended horribly  with either the startled whale being injured, or the man responsible being harmed by the aggravated animal," he added.

Under New Zealand law, orcas are protected animals, and people are forbidden from swimming with, disturbing or harassing them, along with whales and other marine species, according to the DOC.

Boats and orcas have made big headlines lately, with the killer whales attacking vessels in numerous incidents. The most recent occurrence involved a pod of orcas sinking a yacht this month near the Strait of Gibraltar.

So it seems this New Zealand man is exceedingly lucky he came away with just a fine because this orca  which could weigh more than 13,000 pounds  could have fin slapped him into an entry for the Darwin Awards.

More on orcas: Experts Say Killer Whales Are Teaching Each Other to Attack Boats
Zantac not a cause of womans cancer, jury says in first trial over drug

By Diana Novak Jones

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A jury in Chicago on Thursday rejected an Illinois womans claim that the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac caused her colon cancer, in the first trial out of thousands of lawsuits making similar allegations.

The jury in Cook County, Illinois circuit court agreed with arguments from drugmakers GSK and Boehringer Ingelheim that the plaintiff, 89-year-old Illinois resident Angela Valadez, had not proven her colon cancer was at least in part caused by her Zantac use.

Valadez had alleged that her cancer was a result of taking over-the-counter Zantac and generic versions of it from 1995 to 2014. The lawsuits over the drug say its active ingredient, ranitidine, under some conditions turns into a cancer-causing substance called NDMA.

Attorneys for Valadez had asked the jury to award $640 million for her suffering. The judge rejected Valadez's request to seek punitive damages during the trial, according to her attorneys.

Mikal Watts, one of Valadez's attorneys, said he respected the jury's verdict but was confident the companies would be held liable in future Zantac trials. "This is a marathon, not a sprint," he said.

Both GSK and Boehringer said in statements that the verdict was consistent with scientific evidence that Zantac does not cause cancer, and that they would vigorously defend themselves against future claims.

Britain-based GSK, whose predecessor developed the drug but later sold the brand to other companies, and German drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim, which sold the medicine from 2006 until 2017, were the only defendants in the trial after the other companies settled.

Watts said at the trial that began on May 2 that the companies knew that ranitidine would turn into NDMA as it aged or was exposed to extreme temperatures, but did not ensure it was properly handled by transporters, distributors and stores.

Attorneys for GSK and Boehringer countered that Zantac has been repeatedly proven to be safe and effective and that no scientific or medical study has connected Zantac to cancer.

The companies attorneys also argued at trial that there was no evidence to support Valadez's claim that she had taken Zantac for 18 years, and that she had a host of risk factors that made her more likely to develop colon cancer.

The jury found that Valadez proved that she had taken Zantac, but not that it was a cause of her cancer.

First approved in 1983, Zantac became the world's best selling medicine in 1988 and one of the first-ever to top $1 billion in annual sales.

In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked drugmakers to pull Zantac and its generic versions off the market after NDMA was found in samples of the drug. Thousands of lawsuits began piling up in federal and state courts.

The defendants notched a significant win in 2022, when a judge dismissed about 50,000 claims centralized in federal court in Florida. That judge concluded that the opinions of the plaintiffs' expert witnesses that Zantac can cause cancer were not supported by sound science.

Some of the claimants in those cases are appealing the ruling to the Atlanta, Georgia-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

A judge in Delaware state court is weighing the fate of about 72,000 cases, the bulk of those remaining, where the drugmakers similarly argue that plaintiffs' expert testimony should be kept out.

Some other cases were previously settled, including several individual cases just before trial, and about 4,000 state court lawsuits outside of Delaware against Sanofi, which has owned the right to sell Zantac over the counter since 2017.

Earlier this month, the Financial Times reported that Pfizer had struck a deal to pay up to $250 million to settle more than 10,000 Zantac lawsuits.

Sanofi now sells Zantac360, a reformulated heartburn medicine whose active ingredient is famotidine.

(Reporting By Diana Novak Jones in Chicago, Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Alexia Garamfalvi)
Ukraine and Norway finalized negotiations on the text of a bilateral security agreement, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 23 after a call with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.

Zelensky added that Ukraine is aiming to sign the security agreement "at the earliest opportunity."

Earlier on May 23, Norway announced a new package of military assistance for Ukraine on May 23 worth around 150 million pounds ($190 million), under the auspices of the International Fund for Ukraine. The support will go toward air defense, naval capabilities, radar, anti-drone systems, and boats.

The U.K., Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Finland, and Latvia have already signed bilateral agreements with Kyiv. Negotiations with Estonia, Spain, Czechia, and the U.S. are reportedly underway.

The security guarantees would entail explicit and long-lasting obligations and bolster Ukraine's ability to resist Russian aggression. The guarantees would also cover sanctions, financial aid, and post-war reconstruction.

During the conversation, Store also confirmed his participation in the upcoming global peace summit for Ukraine which will be held in Switzerland on June 15-16.

The summit will focus on peace in Ukraine under the terms of President Volodymyr Zelensky's 10-point peace formula, a plan that calls for a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian lands.

Some 160 national delegations were invited to the peace summit, and at least 50 countries have confirmed their participation.

Norway has recently ramped up efforts to increase defense production, both for domestic needs and for aid to Ukraine. Oslo previously allocated 2 billion Norwegian kroner ($190 million) in January for Ukrainian aid.

Read also: Norway announces new $190 million package of military assistance for Ukraine









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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief which focused on the key challenges faced by Ukrainian forces, particularly in Kharkiv Oblast and Donbas.

Source: President Zelenskyy on social media

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Staff meeting. [We heard] an in-person report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, who has been in Kharkiv Oblast until now, overseeing the regions defence. [We received] a full overview of the fighting on the Kharkiv front and in Donbas. The occupation forces intentions are clear: to draw our forces to the north so they can advance in the east. We know how to act in response.

[We also heard] a report from Defence Minister Rustem Umierov on supplying the army with everything it needs. [We have] schedules for the delivery of weapons as part of our partners aid packages that have already been announced and that we are still expecting to confirm."

Details: Serhii Deineko, Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, joined the meeting via video link. Deineko and his forces continue to operate in areas near the Ukrainian border, particularly in Sumy, Chernihiv and Kharkiv oblasts.

Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Ukraines Defence Intelligence, and Oleh Ivashchenko, Head of Ukraines Foreign Intelligence Service, also spoke during the meeting: "In addition to what the Russian Federation is doing on the battlefield, intelligence officers have obtained ample information about its plans to derail [Ukraines] Peace Summit [which will be held in Switzerland in June  ed.]. This is the main goal of Russian diplomacy and foreign intelligence in the near future."

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Zelenskyy plans visit to France to ask NATO to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine  Politico

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plans to attend June's D-Day commemorations in France, followed by a G7 meeting in Italy, where he will ask Ukraine's partners to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, provide more assistance to Ukraine's Armed Forces, and seize Russian assets, Politico has reported.

Source: Politico, citing two people familiar with the president's plans

Quote: "The Ukrainian presidents schedule could always change, both people emphasised.

But if all goes to plan, Zelenskyy is expected to use this trip to call, as he has in recent interviews, for more military support from the West and ask for NATO to shoot down Russian missiles like the United States and [the] United Kingdom did when Iran attacked Israel.

Zelenskyy will also demand that the US and European countries seize Russian assets to help fund Ukraines defence and eventual reconstruction."

Details: The newspaper notes that Zelenskyy's plans are particularly noteworthy as he has recently cancelled foreign trips because Russia launched a large-scale offensive in Kharkiv Oblast.

"Ukraine is also in desperate need of continued support and global attention, and the trip would give him time with world leaders  including President Joe Biden  to plead his nation's case," Politico wrote.

Zelenskyy plans to travel to Italy for the G7 summit after he visits France.

The newspaper recalls that for months, members of the group have been debating the feasibility of using hundreds of billions of seized Russian assets to strengthen Ukraine's defence and economy, citing legal difficulties and fears that Moscow could do the same to Western countries. The United States and the United Kingdom have strongly supported the idea, while some European members, such as Germany, are more sceptical.

"The issue roiled an earlier G7 meeting of finance ministers, where European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde argued forcefully against the full seizure of Russian assets to loan to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy would likely use the opportunity with heads of state and governments to try to convince the doubters," Politico concluded.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre, in which he thanked him for his concrete actions to isolate Russia.

Source: Zelenskyy on Twitter (X), European Pravda reports

Details: The president reported that he discussed the situation on the battlefield and defence cooperation between the two countries with the Norwegian prime minister.

"Our teams have finalised the text of our bilateral security agreement, which we plan to sign at the earliest opportunity," Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian leader also noted that the prime minister confirmed Norway's participation in the Peace Summit in Switzerland.

Background:

Norway decided to allocate over US$600 million in additional funds to support Ukraine, most of which will be spent on air defence.

Ine Eriksen Sreide, Chair of the Stortingets Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, noted that the overall discussion on the framework of the Norwegian aid programme is not yet over. In her opinion, it is time to start thinking about revising the five-year budget of the NOK 75 billion (US$6.7 billion) support programme for Ukraine, as there are fewer funds left for the following years than originally planned.

During a visit to Kyiv, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said Kyiv and Oslo had completed negotiations on the bilateral security agreement and would sign it at Zelenskyy's next meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre. The date of the meeting has not yet been announced.

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China should look to Africa to diversify its supply chains and counter overcapacity claims from the West, according to the head of the Africa Finance Corporation.

AFC chief executive Samaila Zubairu said China, a world leader in renewable energy, should consider moving part of the industry's supply chain to Africa, rather than seeing the continent as just the source of raw materials.

"Most of the [new energy] supply chain is in China. What we want China to do ... is to look at Africa as a way of diversifying the supply chain because Africa has minerals and metals to support this," Zubairu said during an interview in Doha.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

"Africa also has renewable energy sources, so the processing of these materials should have been in Africa."

The remarks come as China is facing accusations that its overcapacity has damaged manufacturing sectors in the West, particularly in new energy.

Zubairu said a bigger shift towards Africa could help to tackle concerns, particularly from Europe, about China's manufacturing overcapacity and carbon emissions.

"We're seeing the African market exists not just for Africa, but for the rest of the world," he said.

"Because if you process in Africa, you can use [Africa's] renewable energy to process, and you will have a lower carbon footprint. You can also export from Africa to Europe."

In Africa, an increasing number Chinese new energy products have been entering the market. Imports of new energy cars were up by 291 per cent in 2023 from the previous year, lithium battery imports grew 109 per cent, and photovoltaic products from China were up by 57 per cent.

But China's imports from Africa are still mostly raw materials such as crude oil, copper, cobalt and iron ore, which together made up more than half of the total imports in 2022. And while China's imports from Africa continued to rise that year, its trade surplus with the continent amounted to nearly US$47 billion.

China is investing more in new energy manufacturing, mostly electric vehicles, in wealthier nations on the continent such as Egypt, Morocco and South Africa. But most Chinese investment still goes to the traditional building materials, mining and construction sectors.

China's trade surplus with Africa was more than US$47 billion in 2022. Photo: AFP alt=China's trade surplus with Africa was more than US$47 billion in 2022. Photo: AFP>

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China's outbound foreign direct investment in the electric vehicle sector - a key area for overcapacity concerns - is expected to reach a record high for 2023, with more than half of that investment in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia, according to consultancy firm Rhodium Group.

More investment tends to go to North Africa because of the region's proximity to Europe and America.

Morocco, the biggest beneficiary in the region, has for example received multibillion-dollar contracts from Chinese and European new energy companies to set up manufacturing sites at Mohammed VI Tangier Science and Technology City - a Chinese-backed tech hub project.

Sub-Saharan Africa tends to miss out on investment from China because of the relatively low capacity of its manufacturing infrastructure.

Zubairu said most of the AFC's funds go to "developing and financing infrastructure, natural resources and industrial assets".

The AFC, a multilateral financial institution, is a key borrower with Chinese state policy lender the Export-Import Bank of China, or Exim Bank. In the latest transaction, Exim Bank agreed to advance another US$300 million to the AFC last year.

"We build the infrastructure that enables industrialisation to take place on the continent," Zubairu said.

He also touched on the intensifying US-China rivalry over trade and technology, saying it could be seen as an opportunity for Africa rather than a challenge.

"We were not fighting anybody. We don't really have any challenge with anybody about investments," he said. "We are open and ready to do business with anybody that wants to do business in Africa."

One such example is the Lobito Atlantic Railway. The US government has pledged a billion dollars to refurbish the railway - its first major project in Africa in decades - in a challenge to China's influence on the continent.

The railway will stretch 1,300km (808 miles) through mineral-rich Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to create a logistics corridor to the Atlantic port of Lobito in neighbouring Angola.

Zubairu said African leaders also needed to take opportunities and make good business decisions. "Take ownership, take responsibility and act, and then people will follow," he said.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R: The ultimate desert race truck gets smarter, more powerful

JOHNSON VALLEY, Calif.  Climbing massive sand dunes, drifting across the floor of a dry lake and absorbing the punishment of a washboard plateau, Fords ultimate desert racer reached new heights of performance and comfort as the 2024 F-150 Raptor R pickup showed its stuff in a recent days test in the Mojave Desert.

More power, advanced electronic controls, and significant suspension upgrades increase performance and comfort.

The Raptor Rs update, called a midcycle update, includes a few visual changes, but the big news is under the skin.

The 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R pickup on Johnson Valley dry lake bed in California.

The 2024 F-150 Raptor R is on sale now. Prices start at $110,225, excluding destination charge.

2024 Ford F-150 trim levels and prices

XL: $36,770

STX: $43,895

XLT: $47,620

Lariat: $65,195

King Ranch: $73,735

Platinum: $73,735

Tremor: $64,150

Raptor: $78,330

Raptor R: $110,225

Source: Ford. Prices exclude $1,995 destination charge.

The 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R pickup's supercharged 5.2L VB8 engine produces 720 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque.

Driving impressions

I spent a day driving Raptor Rs on parts of the famous King of Hammers race course and through the nearby desert.

We aired the 37-inch tires down before turning off the pavement. In a few minutes, the Raptor was hitting 70 mph over hard-packed sand on a trail between desert scrub. With the Raptors Baja drive mode engaged, the sophisticated new Fox shock absorbers absorbed the rapid impacts for a surprisingly comfortable experience.

The fast steering responded quickly to inputs as the desert-tuned traction control took the big crew cab pickup around curves.

Dropping down to the dry lake bed, the supercharged 5.2L V8s immediate power delivery came into its own drifting through the loops of slalom course.

A little later, the Raptor easily climbed a tall dune of soft, shifting sand.

The 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R pickup on Johnson Valley dry lake bed in California.

Whats new for 2024?

The 2024 Raptor gets more power and has had substantial suspension work to improve ride, impact absorption and handling.

Power increased to 720 hp, by far the most of any internal combustion production pickup. Torque is unchanged at 640 pound-feet.

Suspension and steering upgrades include:

More from wheel travel

Faster 16:1 steering ratio

Stiffer steering column

Electronically controlled dual-valve Fox racing shocks that can adjust hundreds of times a second

The 2024 Raptor R also got a new grille, head and taillights and a modular bumper designed to accommodate off-road accessories.

Interior changes include standard head-up display and a new digital instrument cluster.

The 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R pickup on Johnson Valley dry lake bed in California.

Why get one?

The 2024 F-150 Raptor R combines a sporty and luxurious interior and advanced safety and driver assistance systems with extraordinary off-road capability. Its in a class by itself.

2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R at a glance

Five-passenger 4WD, full-size pickup

Standard full-time four-wheel drive, locking rear differential and low range.

Engine: 5.2L supercharged V8

Output: 720 hp @ 6,650 rpm, 640 pound-feet of torque @ 4,300 rpm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Fuel economy: 10 mpg city/15 highway/12 combined (manufacturers estimate). Premium fuel recommended.

Payload: 1,400 pounds

Towing capacity: 8,700 pounds

Assembled in Dearborn, Michigan

Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R: Pickup adds power, comfort, tech
Trudeau visits the offices of artificial intelligence tech company Scale AI in Montreal

(Reuters) -Scale AI said on Tuesday it had raised $1 billion in a late-stage funding round led by venture capital firm Accel with participation from tech giants Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta, valuing the AI data startup at nearly $14 billion.

Top tech companies are racing to build AI into their products and services. Startups catering to the surge in demand for AI chips and machine learning have been a bright spot in an otherwise subdued private funding market.

Founded in 2016, Scale AI provides vast amounts of accurately labeled data, which is pivotal for training sophisticated tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT.

The company also helps its clientele  including tech giant Microsoft, Wall Street bank Morgan Stanley, and AI firms such as OpenAI and Cohere  to create and refine data sets.

The San Francisco, California-based company's funding round is the latest in a series of AI megadeals.

AI startups raised $19.15 billion in venture capital funding in the first quarter, compared with $16.36 billion in the year-ago period, according to data from PitchBook.

Scale AI said it will use the capital to build data capabilities with its enterprise customers, the U.S. Department of Defense, and work on the White House-announced DEFCON 31 red-teaming event.

The White House has been forging partnerships with AI-focused companies and has launched several initiatives for safe AI innovation.

Other high-profile investors who participated in the latest round of funding for Scale included Coatue, Tiger Global Management, Intel Capital, and AMD Ventures.

In 2021, it had raised $325 million in a series E funding round that reportedly valued it at about $7.3 billion.

(Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has chosen designs from Northrop Grumman and Sikorsky for the next phase of its AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) X-plane demonstration program. The effort aims to develop and test in flight an X-plane that will offer long endurance and the ability to launch and recover from ship flight decks and small austere land locations in adverse weather without additional infrastructure equipment. Its part of an increasing focus on expeditionary deployments of the kind that will be required in a future conflict in the Pacific.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has chosen designs for the next phase of its AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) program, to demonstrate an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) X-plane. The effort aims to develop and flight test a drone that will offer long endurance and the ability to launch and recover from ship flight decks and small austere land locations in adverse weather and without additional infrastructure equipment. Its part of an increasing focus on platforms to support expeditionary deployments of the kind that will be required in a future conflict in the Pacific .

So far, we know that Northrop Grumman and Sikorsky have been down-selected for Phase 1b of ANCILLARY, with potentially other companies involved as well. In addition to these two firms, Phase 1a of the program also involved AeroVironment, AVX Aircraft, Griffon Aerospace, Karem Aircraft, Leidos, Method Aeronautics, and Piasecki Aircraft.

Concept artwork from Northrop Grumman showing its ANCILLARY drone design on a warships flight deck. Northrop Grumman

Phase 1b will include air vehicle design and system technology maturation. Over a period of 10 months, the chosen contractors will increase modeling fidelity, perform critical subsystems testing, and reduce key technical risks, according to Northrop Grumman. This will bring the program a step closer to the construction of a flight demonstrator, for which flight tests are planned to begin in early 2026.

Northrop Grumman will head up a collaborative team, also including Leigh Aerosystems and Near Earth Autonomy on its ANCILLARY offering.

The Northrop Grumman ANCILLARY design has a straight wing, with pods at each tip that support a horizontal rotor for VTOL flight. A pusher propeller is fitted at the rear of the fuselage, which also supports an inverted V-tail. This is a fairly common configuration of VTOL drones in use around the globe today.

Northrop Grumman describes its design as a cost-efficient, multiple-mission capable vehicle built on an agile platform that will not rely on complex launch and recovery infrastructure. It meets DARPAs challenging performance objectives, weighs no more than 330 pounds, and can be deployed and retrieved anytime or anywhere with no special infrastructure, including ship-based operations.

A drone from Volansi, which shares a similar configuration as Northrop Grumman's offering, is seen completing the first-ever autonomous ship-to-ship drone deliveries. The trials, between a U.S. Navy ship and a U.S. Coast Guard vessel off the coast of Key West, Florida, in 2021. Volansi



As well as ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore logistical missions, the Northrop Grumman design will be expected to undertake critical intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting missions, for which it will employ artificial intelligence and machine-learning-enabled automated targeting capability.

Reportedly, Northrop Grummans ANCILLARY demonstrator will be capable of carrying a 60-pound sensor payload, offer more than 20 hours time on station, and have a mission radius range of 100 nautical miles.

While Northrop Grummans ANCILLARY is designed to take off and land much like a familiar quadcopter-type drone, the rival from Sikorsky is a VTOL tail-sitter design. This includes a long straight wing with twin proprotors. The drone sits on its tail, supported by its twin tailfins, taking off and landing like a helicopter before transitioning to horizontal forward flight for long-endurance missions.

Sikorsky announced yesterday that its already conducting flight tests to mature the control laws and aerodynamics of a novel vertical takeoff and landing uncrewed aerial system, a reference to the rotor blown wing configuration.

A sailor prepares a Sikorsky ANCILLARY drone for vertical takeoff in concept artwork from the company. Sikorsky

Flight tests are underway to verify our tail-sitting rotor blown wing UAS can launch and land vertically with high stability, and cruise efficiently on wing, said Igor Cherepinsky, director of the rapid prototyping group Sikorsky Innovations. Key enablers to flight maneuverability, and future vehicle scalability, are our MATRIX autonomy flight control system, and an articulated rotor system similar to those in traditional helicopters.

The initial Sikorsky flight tests involve a battery-powered proof-of-concept vehicle. The manufacturer plans to follow this with a 300-pound hybrid-electric version that will include a 60-pound intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) payload.

Both Northrop Grumman and Sikorsky designs ensure that the drones can be deployed and retrieved without the need for cumbersome mechanical launchers and landing/recovery equipment.

Not only are the VTOL drones expected to be able to operate from small landing areas  whether on the deck of a ship, or a small austere location on land  but they also have to do this in adverse weather, without additional infrastructure equipment.

A generic DARPA concept for an ANCILLARY drone. DARPA

The concept of operations is heavily influenced by the kinds of expeditionary operations that the Pentagon expects will define a future large-scale conflict with China in the Pacific theater .

The kinds of missions envisaged will require drones that have notably long endurance, too, which is also a factor stressed in the ANCILLARY program.

The relatively small size of the ANCILLARY drones means that multiple examples can be stored and operated from a single warship, for example. This will not only provide a resilient and long-range logistics connector with other vessels and land bases, but it will also help in fielding a new kind of networked sensor capability.

In this way, multiple ANCILLARY drones fitted with ISR payloads will be used to establish a tactical beyond-line-of-site (BLOS) multi-intelligence sensor network. Multiple nodes in this network spread out over geographical area can then create a mesh data-exchange network over a broad area that can provide some of the capabilities satellite communications can.

Clearly, there is a great demand for a drone in this class, especially to support U.S. Navy and Marine Corps expeditionary operations in the Pacific, but the requirements are also challenging.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YpOGM5nEbQ

After all, ANCILLARY stresses a combination of low weight and large payload, difficult enough to achieve without the additional requirement of VTOL capability.

We are looking for a VTOL UAS that can operate from ship flight decks and small out-of-the-way land locations in most weather conditions without using typical launch and recovery equipment that is needed for current long endurance, high-payload-weight aircraft, explained Steve Komadina, the DARPA program manager for ANCILLARY.

A key element is the propulsion system, which needs to have enough power to lift the X-plane vertically while also being extremely efficient in forward flight when power needs are lower, Komadina added.

The goal of a drone that can take off and land like a helicopter but fly the main part of its mission like an efficient winged aircraft, while carrying an operationally relevant payload is an enduring one , but one that has so far proven generally elusive. The Pentagon hope that DARPAs ANCILLARY program will successfully reverse that trend.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk Getty

Elon Musk helped found OpenAI, but he has frequently criticized it in recent years.

Though he recently sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, he has since dropped the lawsuit.

Here's a history of Musk and Altman's working relationship.

Elon Musk and Sam Altman lead rival AI firms and now take public jabs at each other  but it wasn't always like this.

Years ago, the two cofounded OpenAI, which Altman now leads. Musk departed OpenAI, which created ChatGPT, in 2018 and recently announced his own AI venture, xAI.

Their was enough bad blood that Musk even sued OpenAI and Altman, accusing them in the suit betraying the firm's founding principles, before dropping the lawsuit.

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Here's a look at Musk and Altman's complicated relationship over the years:

Musk and Altman cofounded OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, in 2015, alongside other Silicon Valley figures, including Peter Thiel, LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman, and Y Combinator cofounder Jessica Livingston.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk Getty

The group aimed to create a nonprofit focused on developing artificial intelligence "in the way that is most likely to benefit humanity as a whole," according to a statement on OpenAI's website from December 11, 2015.

Source: Business Insider

At the time, Musk said that AI was the "biggest existential threat" to humanity.

Elon Musk is CEO of Twitter. Carina Johansen/Getty Images

"It's hard to fathom how much human-level AI could benefit society, and it's equally hard to imagine how much it could damage society if built or used incorrectly," a statement announcing the founding of OpenAI reads.

Source: BBC, OpenAI

Musk stepped down from OpenAI's board of directors in 2018.

Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

"As Tesla continues to become more focused on AI, this will eliminate a potential future conflict for Elon," OpenAI said in a blog post at the time, adding that Musk would continue to provide guidance and donations.

With his departure, Musk also backed out of a commitment to provide additional funding to OpenAI, a person involved in the matter told The New Yorker.

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"It was very tough," Altman told the magazine of the situation. "I had to reorient a lot of my life and time to make sure we had enough funding."

Source: Business Insider, The New Yorker, Business Insider

In 2023, it was reported that Sam Altman and other OpenAI cofounders had rejected Musk's proposal to run the company in 2018.

JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images

Semafor reported that Musk wanted to run the company on his own in an attempt to beat Google. But when his offer to run the company was rejected, he pulled his funding and left OpenAI's board, the news outlet reported.

Source: Semafor, Business Insider

In 2019, Musk shared some insight on his decision to leave, saying one of the reasons was that he "didn't agree" with where OpenAI was headed.

Elon Musk. Susan Walsh/AP

"I had to focus on solving a painfully large number of engineering & manufacturing problems at Tesla (especially) & SpaceX," he tweeted. "Also, Tesla was competing for some of same people as OpenAI & I didn't agree with some of what OpenAI team wanted to do. Add that all up & it was just better to part ways on good terms."

Source: Business Insider

Musk has taken shots at OpenAI on several occasions since leaving.

Frederic Brown/Getty Images

Two years after his departure, Musk said, "OpenAI should be more open" in response to an MIT Technology Review article reporting that there was a culture of secrecy there, despite OpenAI frequently proclaiming a commitment to transparency.

Musk also added that his "confidence in Dario for safety is not high," referring to Dario Amodei, who led OpenAI's strategy at the time.

Source: Business Insider

In December 2022, days after OpenAI released ChatGPT, Musk said the company had prior access to the database of Twitter  now owned by Musk  to train the AI chatbot and that he was putting that on hold.

Getty Images

"Need to understand more about governance structure & revenue plans going forward. OpenAI was started as open-source & non-profit. Neither are still true," he said.

Source: Twitter

Musk was reportedly furious about ChatGPT's success, Semafor reported in 2023.

When asked about the future of AI and work, Elon Musk says he has to have a deliberate suspension of disbelief in order to remain motivated. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

In November 2022, the chatbot took off and garnered millions of users for its ability to do everything from write essays to craft basic code.

Source: Semafor, Business Insider

In February 2023, Musk doubled down, saying OpenAI as it exists today is "not what I intended at all."

Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

"OpenAI was created as an open source (which is why I named it "Open" AI), non-profit company to serve as a counterweight to Google, but now it has become a closed source, maximum-profit company effectively controlled by Microsoft. Not what I intended at all," he said in a tweet.

Source: Twitter

Musk repeated this assertion a month later.

NurPhotos/Getty Images

"I'm still confused as to how a non-profit to which I donated ~$100M somehow became a $30B market cap for-profit. If this is legal, why doesn't everyone do it?" he tweeted.

Source: Twitter

Musk turned his complaints into a lawsuit but has since dropped it.

Elon Musk and Sam Altman Slaven Vlasic, Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images

He sued OpenAI, Altman, and cofounder Greg Brockman, alleging that the company's direction in recent years has violated its founding principles.

His lawyers alleged OpenAI "has been transformed into a closed-source de facto subsidiary of the largest technology company in the world" and is "refining an AGI to maximize profits for Microsoft, rather than for the benefit of humanity."

In response, OpenAI called the lawsuit "incoherent" and "contradictory," suggesting Musk was jealous of the company's success without him.

A few months later, Musk withdrew the lawsuit, a day before a judge was set to consider the future of the case in a hearing.

Altman has addressed some of Musk's gripes about OpenAI.

Brian Ach/Getty Images for TechCrunch

"To say a positive thing about Elon, I think he really does care about a good future with AGI," Altman said last year on an episode of the "On With Kara Swisher" podcast, referring to artificial general intelligence.

"I mean, he's a jerk, whatever else you want to say about him  he has a style that is not a style that I'd want to have for myself," Altman told Swisher. "But I think he does really care, and he is feeling very stressed about what the future's going to look like for humanity."

In response to Musk's claim that OpenAI has turned into "a closed source, maximum-profit company effectively controlled by Microsoft," Altman said on the podcast, "Most of that is not true, and I think Elon knows that."

Source: "On With Kara Swisher", Business Insider

Altman also referred to Musk as one of his heroes despite the fact Musk is "obviously attacking" OpenAI on Twitter.

Drew Angerer/Getty

In a March 2023 episode of Lex Fridman's podcast, Altman said, "Elon is obviously attacking us some on Twitter right now on a few different vectors."

Nonetheless, he called Musk one of his heroes, adding, "I believe he is, understandably so, really stressed about AGI safety."

Source: Lex Fridman Podcast, Business Insider

Altman says he's learned some "super valuable" lessons from Musk.

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

In a May 2023 talk at University College London, Altman was asked what he's learned from various mentors, according to Fortune. He answered by speaking about Musk.

"Certainly learning from Elon about what is just, like, possible to do and that you don't need to accept that, like, hard R&D and hard technology is not something you ignore, that's been super valuable," he said.

Musk was one of more than 1,000 people who signed an open letter calling for a six-month pause on training advanced AI systems.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

The letter, which also received signatures from several AI experts, cites concerns of AI's potential risks to humanity.

"Powerful AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable," the letter says.

But while he was publicly calling for the pause, Musk was quietly building his own AI competitor, xAI, The New Yorker recently reported.

Source: Future of Life Institute, Business Insider, The New Yorker, Business Insider

Musk since briefly unfollowed Altman on Twitter before following him again; separately, Altman later poked fun at Musk's claim to be a "free speech absolutist."

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Twitter recently took aim at posts linking to rival Substack, forbidding users from retweeting or replying to tweets containing such links, before reversing course. In response to a tweet about the situation, Altman tweeted, "Free speech absolutism on STEROIDS."

Musk has called himself a "free speech absolutist" before and said it's one of the reasons he bought Twitter.

Source: Big Tech Alert on Twitter, Twitter, Business Insider

Altman joked that he'd watch Musk and Mark Zuckerberg's rumored cage fight.

Sam Altman is CEO of ChatGPT maker OpenAI Issei Kato/Reuters

"I would go watch if he and Zuck actually did that," he said at the Bloomberg Technology Summit in June, though he said he doesn't think he would ever challenge Musk in a physical fight.

Altman also repeated several of his previous remarks about Musk's position on AI.

"He really cares about AI safety a lot," Altman said at Bloomberg's summit. "We have differences of opinion on some parts but we both care about that and he wants to make sure we, the world, have the maximal chance at a good outcome."

Separately, Altman recently told The New Yorker Musk has a my-way-or-the highway approach to issues more broadly.

"Elon desperately wants the world to be saved. But only if he can be the one to save it," Altman said.

Source: Bloomberg, Business Insider, The New Yorker

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Euclid 'dark universe detective' telescope has revealed new images of the cosmos  and they are remarkable

The Euclid space telescope has released five new views of the cosmos that show an array of celestial objects in unprecedented detail.

Euclid has been dubbed a "dark universe" detective because its primary mission is to investigate the universe's two most mysterious elements: dark energy and dark matter , often collectively described as the "dark universe."

Dark energy is the placeholder name given to whatever force is causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate, while dark matter is a form of matter that is effectively invisible because it doesn't interact with light. This means scientists know it can't be "ordinary" matter made of electrons, protons and neutrons that comprise stars, planets, moons, our bodies, and pretty much everything else tangible we can indeed see and interact with.

Related: Euclid 'dark universe' telescope captures 1st full-color views of the cosmos (images)

The background

The Euclid space telescope launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on July 1, 2023, and it has since sent back a few incredible images  but, as time passes, its portraits are likely to ramp up in frequency.

This unseeable dark universe is a big problem for scientists because dark energy is thought to make up around 68% of the universe's energy and matter budget, while dark matter comprises about 27% of it. Thus, 95% of the universe's matter and energy is in the dark domain; stuff scientists actually understand accounts for just about 5% of the cosmic matter/energy budget.

Euclid, however, is expected to be able to probe some of these dark universe intricacies. These new images are part of the telescope's Early Release Observations and show that not only is Euclid up to that task, but it may very well be able to perform beyond scientists' original expectations.

The Euclid space telescope launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on July 1, 2023, and it has since sent back a few incredible images  but, as time passes, its portraits are likely to ramp up in frequency.

The five new images released by the Euclid team are at least four times sharper than images taken from ground-based telescopes. Covering vast swathes of the sky , they feature unrivaled depth as well, with Euclid peering far into the distant universe using its 600-megapixel camera that observes celestial targets in visible light and a near-infrared spectrometer.

"Euclid shows star-forming regions in unprecedented detail, uncovering 300,000 new objects in one shot, including free-floating planets that are four times the mass of Jupiter," European Space Agency (ESA) Director General Josef Aschbacher said in a broadcast from the agency's Space Astronomy Center (ESAC) in Madrid. "During its mission, it will help us to better understand our universe, what it is made of, and how it has expanded and evolved over cosmic history."

ESAC head and astronomer Carole Mundell added: "The Euclid mission is our dark detective, and this is an incredible mission that we launched last year that wants to answer the big question 'what is the 95% of the universe that we don't understand?'"

So, without further ado

The images

For 16 years, University College London researcher Mark Cropper led the team developing Euclid's optical instrument, and I had the pleasure of witnessing his viewing these new images for the very first time.

"It's absolutely amazing. I've worked with Euclid for a long time, around a third of my career, and we had detailed simulations of what to expect. But, I have to say, these new images are just so much more than I ever expected," he told Space.com. "These are the largest images of the universe ever taken from space, covering large swathes of the sky in fine detail.

"They demonstrate Euclids wide-ranging potential, from discovering new planets to surveying vast clusters of galaxies."

Abell 2390

One of the images that impressed Cropper features Abell 2390, a giant conglomeration of galaxies that are similar to the Milky Way and located around 2.7 billion light-years from Earth in the constellation of Pegasus .

A dark section of space with tons of speckles of light. Some of those speckles are slightly concentrated in the center, but it's still very sparse.

The image features a staggering 50,000 galaxies in great detail, and shows "intracluster light" that comes from stars in Abell 2390. Those are stars that have been ripped from their homes due to violent gravitational interactions with other galaxies in the cluster. This intracluster light can help reveal the distribution of dark matter, too.

Another dark region of space with lots of light speckles of varying sizes. Some larger ones toward the left and bottom of the image, and generally around, have diffraction spikes visible.

Of particular interest to scientists investigating dark matter will be the background arcs and distorted swirls in this image, which represent light from distant galaxies being gravitationally "lensed," or warped, by the effects of dark matter situated between the galaxies themselves and Euclid. This warping of distant galaxies can be seen below in a section of the Euclid image of Abell 2390.

"One of the things we see is these giant arcs here, these smooth arcs that are curved, those are actually very distant galaxies that have their shapes hugely distorted by the gravity of the dark matter in the cluster," Jason Rhodes, a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) said during the broadcast. "And some of these arcs are even multiple images of the same very distant galaxy."

A stunning view of the dark background of space with a slightly purplish-brown glint. Tons of larger yellowish speckles are seen and many smears indicated gravitationally lensed galaxies are visible in the image as well, forming faint slices of rings in the center.

What is especially useful in the hunt for dark matter are the tiny degrees of lensing or "microlensing" that can't be seen for individual galaxies but can be statistically calculated for a vast array of galaxies.

"The strongest way to measure dark energy and dark matter is not by using the big arcs of galaxies, but by using the tiny distortions of every single galaxy in Euclid's wide field of view," Cropper said. "You need to have 1.5 billion to 2 billion galaxies and average them together to work out whether there's a residual shape in that part of the sky, which the dark matter is causing the distortion.

"Euclid needs to see so much sky because these distortions are tiny."

Abell 2764

This new batch of images from Euclid also includes a view of another galaxy cluster, Abell 2764, located around 1 billion light-years from Earth in a dense region of space.

A dark background of space with lots of very tiny spots representing bright cosmic objects.

In this beautiful picture of Euclid we see many interesting things. In particular, we see a massive galaxy cluster at the top right corner of the image. This cluster contains dozens of massive galaxies orbiting a dark matter halo," Hakim Atek from the Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris explained during the broadcast.

"Apart from this galaxy cluster," Atek continued, "we see an impressive density of sources in this image. This is what we call a blank field because it's more representative of the large scale distribution of galaxies in the universe. This patch of the sky corresponds to only one pointing of Euclid, and the mission will map 30,000 times this area."

As this close-up of Abell 2764 shows, pictured galaxy clusters also contain bright objects marked by distinctive artifacts in the data known as "diffraction spikes."

Other stars within the Milky Way that are much closer to Euclid, are also seen, and because of their relative proximity, they appear incredibly bright. This particular star is V*BP-Phoenicis  it's actually so bright in the night sky it can almost be seen with the unaided eye.

The dark background of space with an incredibly bright galaxy in the middle-left of the image. It has diffraction spikes thanks to the telescope's instruments and there are lots of other bright, albeit way less bright, speckles throughout the image.

Cropper explains that this diffraction of near and bright sources is unavoidable because they result from light interacting with the structures holding and supporting optics in the telescope's instruments. However, this doesn't impact Euclid's precision.

"To achieve its core aim of better understanding dark energy and dark matter, Euclid's measurements need to be exquisitely precise. This requires a camera that is incredibly stable and incredibly well understood, with conditions inside it that need to be controlled very carefully," Cropper said. "The camera we developed will not only contribute beautiful images but help us answer fundamental questions about the role of dark energy and dark matter in the evolution of the universe. "

When Euclid begins its main survey, the space telescope will scan around one-third of the sky to image thousands of galaxy clusters like Abell 2390 and Abell 2764, which can have masses equivalent to around 10 trillion suns. Euclid's wide view of these celestial bodies will capture the clusters in their entirety while still allowing them to be compared to background galaxies . This will provide scientists with vital information to constrain the properties of dark matter and dark energy.

Atek added that, from this picture, we can identify some of the rarest objects in the universe thanks to the wide field of view of Euclid.

"We identify some of the brightest and most massive galaxies in the early Universe," Atek continued. "Thanks to that we can also study how these objects, along with supermassive black holes, helped shape the entire universe at early times."

This telescope will also allow scientists to witness some of the most distant galaxies that existed during the early cosmic dark ages, which occurred around just 700 million years after the Big Bang when the universe was approximately 5% of its current age. Such information could help researchers determine how the first galaxies were formed.

The Dorado Group

Another conglomeration of galaxies imaged by Euclid for this new data release is the Dorado group , located around 62 million light-years away. It's one of the richest galaxy groups visible over the southern hemisphere.

A dark background of space with lots of faint and tiny spots of light. There are three hazy, white-ish blobs seen as well. Two are next to one another in the center-right and another smaller one in the bottom left.

"A galaxy group is typically a lot of galaxies, but it's a little smaller than a large galaxy cluster, Karina Voggel of Strasbourg Observatory said. "Here, we can see its two main members in the very center. These are two big, older elliptical galaxies, and what we see is they are interacting.

"So we see galaxy evolution as it's happening. This showcases beautifully this type of galaxy evolution."

In this image of the Dorado group, Euclid captured an ongoing collision between two galaxies. This interaction is dragging out long tidal tails packed with stars and gas that can be seen in detail. Dorado is a fascinating object of study for Euclid as it is younger than other galaxy clusters. This means several of the galaxies that comprise Dorado are still in the process of forming stars. Other Dorado galaxies show signs of recent mergers, and some, like the two vividly captured in this image, are still in the process of colliding.

This means the investigation of this grouping with Euclid offers scientists a way to understand how galaxies evolve within vast halos of dark matter . The image of Dorado also demonstrates Euclid's versatility in imaging different types of galactic groupings.

NGC 6744

A gorgeous spiral galaxy is seen in the center of this image of space. In the background, there are lots of stars. Toward the bottom left of the scene, a way smaller hazy white blob.

That versatility is on show in a newly released image of galaxy NGC 6744 as well. At 30 million light-years away, this "twin" of our Milky Way is one of the largest spiral galaxies in our general cosmic vicinity.

The wide-field view of Euclid allowed it to capture the entirety of NGC 6744, demonstrating its capability to facilitate the study of entire galaxies. But, as the image below also shows, that doesn't mean the space telescope will miss the fine details of these galaxies.

An image of the background of space with lots of bright white points of light. Toward the bottom of the image, there's a hazy purplish white glow gradually fading into the darkness as you get higher. Toward the top right, an edge-on object appears in the same color scheme as the glow.

The zoomed-in image above shows a disruption in one of NGC 6744's spiral arms ; it also reveals wispy spurs in the galaxy's other features of gas, dust, and stars.

Spiral arms are important to the formation of stars because these structures churn and condense gas and dust, triggering star formation along their length. The feathery spurs seen in these images are only created when the spiraling of galaxies is intense. Thus, this image provides hints as to why spiral galaxies look the way they do.

The precision of Euclid will allow astronomers to count individual stars within this galaxy and also determine the distribution of the dust that will serve as the building blocks of the next generation of stars in NGC 6744.

Star formation is the primary way by which galaxies grow and, thus, dictate how the universe evolves. That means investigations such as this can also help scientists better understand why the universe looks the way it does today.

"What is amazing about Euclid is the possibility to image with just one shot the entire galaxy with this beautiful spiral structure, but also to reveal the finest details," Francesca Annibali of the National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF) said during the broadcast. "While it is quite common to have a detailed view of small portions of star-forming regions, it is quite rare to have such a detailed view of a whole galaxy and all the star-forming regions.

"From this kind of data set, we can understand the physics of spiral structure and the connection to separation, which is something that is not yet fully understood. So these kinds of studies help us understand why the universe looks the way it does today."

Star formation is also the focus of the final image from the latest Euclid data set to be released.

Messier 78

The final image from Euclid's new batch of space scenery looks at Messier 78 , a stellar nursery located around 1,300 light-years away in the constellation of Orion . Messier 78 is enveloped in a thick shroud of natal gas and dust that looks absolutely stunning in the vibrant reds and pinks of the Euclid image. This isn't the first time Messier 78 has been studied by telescopes, but no previous pictures have shown the stellar nursery with this width, depth, or level of detail.

"This image is unprecedented because this is the first such image of such width, depth and sharpness," Marusa Zerjal of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC) said during the broadcast. "Such a large field of view actually enables us for the first time to study objects of very low mass such details and in a uniform manner. This is pretty unique because it hasn't been ever possible before."

A mesmerizing scene with pink, purple, white, orange and reddish gas in a splash-pattern across the background of space, speckled with stars.

Thanks to its infrared imaging device, Euclid was able to peer through the star-forming gas and dust of Messier 78. That's because infrared light isn't absorbed by the thick gas and dust, which blocks optical wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation.

"Euclid is the only wide field space survey telescope covering near-infrared wavelengths that can penetrate dense dust and gases," Jerry Zhang, also from the IAC, added. "The Euclid Near Infrared Camera is so sensitive that it has already revealed the hidden regions of star formation for the first time. With one shot, Euclid has uncovered half a million objects, including galaxies and stars."

A close-up of the densest region of the stellar nursery below shows thick pink gas and dust with freshly formed stars embedded within.

A pink glow fills this image, with dark reddish brown structures seen throughout as well. Mostly toward the edges of the scene. There are a few bright points of light visible throughout, especially toward the bottom left where the pink glow doesn't quite obscure the backdrop of space.

The Euclid telescope is so sensitive to infrared light that it is capable of more than seeing infant stars in Messier 78. It can also identify freshly formed planets in the stellar nursery. This is the first time astronomers have been able to see "sub-stellar objects" like Jupiter-sized planets in Messier 78's dark clouds of gas and dust.

The view of Messier 78 reveals a staggering 30,000 new objects and demonstrates Euclid's capability to detect gas giant planets , free-floating, or "rogue," planets that have been ejected from around their parent stars and brown dwarfs, or "failed stars."

"Images like this from Euclid, we can study the number of newly formed stars but also the number of objects that are less massive than stars like brown dwarfs, and we're interested to see how they form and how they evolve through time," Zerjal added. "What's the most exciting part are objects that are a few Jupiter masses. They're called free-floating objects."

In the close-up of Messier 78 above, the Euclid telescope also reveals a cavity that has been carved in the thick gas and dust of this stellar nursery, thanks to ultraviolet radiation and powerful stellar winds blasted out by its enshrouded infant stars.

Reddish and orange streaks splashed across the background of space. Lots of bright points of light with diffraction spikes are seen as well.

Is the best yet to come from Euclid?

So, do these images really show that Euclid is living up to its potential?

For Cropper, who devoted over a decade and a half to the space telescope and served as an author on several of the science papers that will follow this release, the answer is a definitive "yes."

"These images are absolutely beautiful," he said. "I just can't believe how capable and intricate the infrared and optical instruments of Euclid are. They have absolutely exceeded expectations. I'm absolutely thrilled."

Related Stories:

 Euclid 'dark universe' telescope is back on track after finding its guiding stars

 Who is the Euclid 'dark universe' space telescope named after?

 How will Europe's Euclid space telescope see into the dark universe?

Excitingly, these images are part of Euclids Early Release Observations and thus only represent a mere fraction of the observations the telescope will make over the next six years during its primary mission. The first scientific results from data harvested by the space telescope haven't even been published yet. Truly, the sky is the limit for Euclid.

"The best is definitely yet to come," Cropper said. "Think about it like this: These images were created in just one day  24 hours of observations. Euclid has now been working for weeks and weeks, and there are another six years of observations to come.

"Euclid will be game-changing for astronomy. Absolutely game-changing."

ESA says that the next Euclid data release will come in March 2025. Go Euclid!
To the Races

In a very ticked-off LinkedIn post, a newly-retired Google strategist went off on his ex-employer for forcing AI down its workers' throats as it attempts to cash in on the latest tech trend.

"The 'AI Projects' I was working on were poorly motivated," wrote Scott Jenson, a former Google UX strategist, in a LinkedIn post, "and driven by this panic that as long as it had 'AI' in it, it would be great."

On his profile, Jenson's other posts provide a bit of context for what those projects might have entailed as he rages against the limits of Google's Gemini chatbot for programming and the crappy user interfaces of chatbots.

"This myopia is NOT something driven by a user need," the ex-Googler continued. "It is a stone cold panic that they are getting left behind."

For the critical observer, that much has seemed apparent over the many months since Google built AI into its search service as Microsoft and OpenAI seemed poised to take over the world. As Futurism and other outlets have repeatedly demonstrated, these supposed "enhancements" have been anything but, resulting in all manner of nonsense  both hilarious and dangerous  being stamped with the Google logo.

Hey Jarvis!

"The vision is that there will be a... Jarvis assistant in your phone that locks you into their ecosystem so hard that you'll never leave," Jenson continued, referencing the superpowered AI assistant in Marvel comics that can make meals for Iron Man and help him fight bad guys. "That vision is pure catnip. The fear is that they can't afford to let someone else get there first."

Ironically enough, new emails from a federal case against Microsoft have revealed that the company's initial 2019 investment in OpenAI appeared to have been triggered by concerns that Google was getting ahead in the AI rat race.

To a similar end, Jenson noted that "Apple is no different," either.

"They too are trying to create this AI lock-in with Siri," he wrote. "When the emperor, eventually, has no clothes, they'll be lapped by someone thinking bigger."

Having been at the search giant for nearly a decade, Jenson knows a thing or two about the company's hype history, and pointed out that the same thing happened when it tried to compete with Facebook by creating Google Plus  and we all know how well that turned out.

While tech companies pivoting to the next big thing is far from new, things are substantially different with AI, what with the massive amounts of energy and capital it takes to run the algorithms and the way over-investment in it has already resulted in massive job losses, with many more expected to come.

"I'm not a luddite," Jenson wrote. "There *is* some value to this new technology. It's just not well motivated."

More on the AI industry: Palantirs Military AI Tech Conference Sounds Absolutely Terrifying
FORT PIERCE  The Freebee transportation service that gives people in some areas of the Sunrise City access to free rides in Tesla vehicles will be around until at least 2027 and will be expanded June 1 to include more parts of the city and have longer hours.

The new contract, including the expansion, was formally approved by the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency, comprised of city commissioners, earlier this month.

Expanded area

Freebee initially covered primarily areas near downtown and the Fort Pierce Inlet. Its will expand to include all FPRA areas and some of the other business corridors in the city. That will include a stretch of U.S. 1 from Taylor Creek in the north to the Heathcote Botanical Gardens in the south; Okeechobee Road to Jenkins Road; and South Ocean Drive to Pie Hole Wood Pizza, just south of Blue Heron Boulevard.

A map shows the new coverage area for Freebee transportation, outlined in blue, that will allow free rides in Tesla vehicles for some in Fort Pierce.

Expanded hours

Hours will nearly double, from 40 hours per week to 70 hours per week. It will now operate 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays to Wednesdays; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays; and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.

Currently, the cars operate only Thursday through Sunday.

Same number of cars may mean increased wait times

The fleet size  4 regular Model X vehicles plus 1 ADA-accessible vehicle  will remain the same.

Commissioner Jeremiah Johnson voiced concerns that increasing service without changing the fleet size will lead to increased wait times. He added that as the service expands to more residential areas, people may use it to go from house to house, rather than its intended purpose of connecting people to businesses.

"My concern, fellow board members, is that expanding the boundary with the same number of cars and vehicles is going to increase the wait times where people are going to possibly be frustrated," Jeremiah Johnson said.

City staff said Freebee ran computer simulations resulting in an estimated increase of three to four minutes in wait times.

Bright white and blue logo, one of four Freebee Teslas is easibly recognizable driving around Fort Pierce on Thursdays through Sundays.

Commissioners want to track whether cars are going to businesses

Jeremiah Johnson, and fellow Commissioner Curtis Johnson, said they'd like to see more data, including whether trips are going to businesses, and if so, which businesses. City staff said that data can be provided as the expansion is rolled out.

The expansion areas were agreed on by the city and by Freebee, City Manager Nick Mimms said.

"We believe, as well as the vendor itself believes, that this can continue to be a successful venture with the extended boundaries," Mimms said.

More: Free Tesla rides in Fort Pierce might be expanding to new areas, new operating hours

More: An electric way to get around Fort Pierce: Call for a Tesla, ride to your destination

Expansion comes at lower cost to city due to grant money

Freebee and Fort Pierce have been mulling expansion since last year, when St. Lucie County received a three-year grant from the Florida Department of Transportation, which will bring in about $260,000 annually.

Under the new agreement, Fort Pierce will pay Freebee $480,000 annually for three years, starting June 1. That is a reduction of about $40,000 annually compared to an expansion that was floated in October, shortly after the FDOT grant was awarded. That leaves about $220,000 for the city to fund, about half of the $400,000 it spent on the first-year trial period that is now ending.

The new contract passed unanimously. Commissioner Michael Broderick had left the meeting early.

How to call a ride

To get a ride with Freebee, either in the current service area or the new area on June 1 and after, download the Ride Freebee mobile app.

Wicker Perlis is TCPalm's Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at wicker.perlis@tcpalm.com and 504-331-0516.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Freebee Teslas in Fort Pierce are here to stay; coverage will expand
There's some good news floating around the internet if you like the idea of low-cost option remaining a part of Apple's lineup of best iPhones. A tipster claims the iPhone SE 4 won't cost any more than $499, as Apple looks to undercut the midrange competition on price.

As a known cheapskate, I welcome news of Apple maintaining a low asking price for the SE model since not everyone can swing the $799 cost of the iPhone 15. But there's another number that's more significant than the $499 iPhone SE pricing cap that's now floating around  and it's "2025."

That's the earliest Apple watchers are expecting a new iPhone SE to appear. And barring a surprise appearance at WWDC 2024, that means there will be no iPhone SE 4 at any point this year. To me, that lengthy pause between iPhone SE updates  the current model came out in 2022  undercuts whatever good pricing rumors are out there. And it makes the iPhone SE 4 a tough sell whenever that phone eventually decides to reveal itself.

iPhone SE 4 pricing  what we've heard

As old as the existing iPhone SE 2022 may be, it's still got the cheapest price of any phone in Apple's current lineup at $429. A leaker by the name of Revegnus claims that Apple is aiming to offer the iPhone SE 4 at the same price, or at the very least, only increase the price by 10% over the current model. That would mean a maximum cost of $499, which would still mean that the iPhone SE 4 could compete on price with the best cheap phones out there.

I don't know how much stock you want to put into the pricing claims of an unknown social media poster about a phone that's about a year away from its release, but at least this rumor has some common sense to it. The whole point of the iPhone SE is to offer that iPhone experience at a discounted rate, so it would make sense for Apple to keep the cost of any new model as close to $429 as possible.

As to other rumored iPhone SE 4 changes, the biggest probably concerns the phone's design. The current model draws on the look of the iPhone 8 for inspiration, which means it's a pretty dated design at this point. Most observers expect the new SE to adopt the look of the iPhone 14, meaning smaller bezels than the current model; it would also mean the Face ID camera and sensors would be housed in a notch as opposed to the Dynamic Island cutout that's been available on all new iPhones since the iPhone 15's release last fall.

The iPhone SE typically adopts the Apple silicon that powered the flagships released the previous fall. Assuming a 2025 release for the iPhone SE 4, that could mean the A18 chipset tipped to power this year's iPhone 16 releases. If that doesn't pan out though, we could see at least an A16 Bionic or A17 Pro chipset inside the next iPhone SE, which would be represent a fairly significant upgrade for the budget phone.

iPhone SE 4  too little, too late?

Google Pixel 8a.

Before you get too excited, though, remember that Apple is already behind the curve when it comes to midrange phones. The Pixel 8a just made its debut, and it managed to retain the price of its predecessor, with Google's new phone available for $499 in the U.S.

Put another way, that's the same price now being touted for the iPhone SE, only Google's phone is out right now  not confined to some far out release window.

It also doesn't help Apple's case that the Pixel 8a delivers just about everything you could want in a midrange phone. AI-powered capabilities? The Pixel 8a offers much of what you can find on the Pixel 8 after adopting the Tensor G3 chipset powering that phone. In fact, my colleague John Velasco specifically cites Pixel 8a AI features as putting the iPhone SE to shame.

Terrific cameras? Even with no reaal upgrades to the camera hardware from the Pixel 7a, the Pixel 8a remains the best camera phone you can get for less than $500. This new model even delivers strong battery life, long a weak point for Google and its phones.

Assuming the iPhone SE 4 sticks to Apple's usual spring release schedule for SE models, by the time the new phone is ready to make its debut, we're already going to be waiting for the likely launch of the Pixel 9a. The iPhone SE figures to be even further behind leading midrange handsets, and there's not a lot a newer, though still old design is going to do to fix that.

Doubtlessly, there will be a dedicate segment of iPhone users who will upgrade to the iPhone SE 4 no matter when it arrives. But any chance to steal some of Google's momentum with its lower-cost Pixel and convince Android users that Apple's low-cost experience is worth checking out will be long gone by 2025. It's going to take more than an attractive price to win those eyeballs back.

More from Tom's Guide
Mercedes-Benzs ultra-exclusive Mythos cars are shaping up to be something special.

The German marque unveiled a new vehicle called the Concept Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed at a star-studded event in Monaco on Wednesday. The open-top speed machine is a peek at what the companys most deep-pocketed customers can expect from its latest line.

More from Robb Report

Mercedes is very clear that its latest concept is a preview of the first Mythos build. The futuristic roadster has been designed with open-air driving in mind and because of this forgoes a windshield as well as a roof. This ensures that there is nothing separating the driver and their passenger from the elements. There is a Halo system like that on a Formula 1 car that will provide protection in case of an accident. The vehicles body takes cues from the One hypercar, especially its front fascia, which means AMGs trademark barred grille is nowhere to be seen. The flying buttresses behind the seats, meanwhile, were inspired by those on the 300 SLR Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson drove to victory at the 1955 Mille Miglia.

The Concept Mercedes-AMG PureSpeeds Halo system

The Mythos line is meant to represent a new level of luxury for Mercedes. Sure enough, the PureSpeed features several dazzling details. It features a gradient-style paint job that transitions from Le Mans red to graphite gray topped with AMGs checkered pattern in black. The wheels also feature two different types of unique carbon-fiber cladding. The front set is open to optimize airflow, while the rear set is completely closed to improve aerodynamic performance.

AMG didnt provide any details about the PureSpeeds powertrain, but the finished Mythos car is expected to feature some version of the twin-turbocharged V-8 from the SL63 or the hybrid-assisted eight-cylinder from the SL63 E Performance, according to Car and Driver. The former setup generates 577 hp, while the latter pumps out 805 hp.

A rear 3/4 view of the Concept Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed

Mercedes has yet to say when the first Mythos roadster will launch and how much it will cost. Based on everything the brand has revealed about the car up until now, it will almost certainly be one of the most expensive new vehicles in the world. It will be hard to get regardless of how high its eventual price tag is, though. Mercedes has said it plans to build just 250 examples of the vehicle.

Click here for more photos of the Concept Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed.

The Concept Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed in Photos

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Click here to read the full article.
Key Insights

Significant control over D & O Green Technologies Berhad by private companies implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions

A total of 6 investors have a majority stake in the company with 53% ownership

Insiders own 19% of D & O Green Technologies Berhad

To get a sense of who is truly in control of D & O Green Technologies Berhad (KLSE:D&O), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. We can see that private companies own the lion's share in the company with 46% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Following a 6.2% increase in the stock price last week, private companies profited the most, but institutions who own 20% stock also stood to gain from the increase.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of D & O Green Technologies Berhad, beginning with the chart below.

Check out our latest analysis for D & O Green Technologies Berhad

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About D & O Green Technologies 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.

D & O Green Technologies Berhad already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. 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 D & O Green Technologies Berhad, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Hedge funds don't have many shares in D & O Green Technologies Berhad. The company's largest shareholder is Golden Horizon Resources Limited, with ownership of 11%. Han Tang International Holdings Limited is the second largest shareholder owning 10% of common stock, and Qingdao City Construction Investment (Group) Co.,Ltd holds about 9.5% of the company stock. Furthermore, CEO Kheng Tay is the owner of 1.5% of the company's shares.

We also observed that the top 6 shareholders account for more than half of the share register, with a few smaller shareholders to balance the interests of the larger ones to a certain extent.

Story continues

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of D & O Green Technologies Berhad

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

It seems insiders own a significant proportion of D & O Green Technologies Berhad. It has a market capitalization of just RM5.8b, and insiders have RM1.1b worth of shares in their own names. That's quite significant. Most would say this shows a good degree of alignment with shareholders, especially in a company of this size. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 14% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

It seems that Private Companies own 46%, of the D & O Green Technologies Berhad stock. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand D & O Green Technologies Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Be aware that D & O Green Technologies Berhad is showing 1 warning sign in our investment analysis , you should know about...

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.
Meta names four men to a new tech advisory council months after disbanding its Responsible AI division

Meta names four men to a new tech advisory council months after disbanding its Responsible AI division

Meta has formed a product advisory council six months after disbanding its Responsible AI division.

Four white male tech execs sit on the new council, which is called Meta Advisory Group.

The council has come amid rising concerns about oversights in artificial intelligence.

Meta announced the formation of a product advisory council on Wednesday, six months after it disbanded its Responsible AI division.

The Meta Advisory Group will "periodically consult with" Meta's management team about new technologies and products, according to the group's website.

The group consists of four male executives: Patrick Collison, the CEO of the payment platform Stripe; former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman; Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke; and Charlie Songhurst, a former Microsoft executive.

A spokesperson for Meta told Bloomberg the members wouldn't be paid and would operate separately from the board of directors.

The announcement of the council came weeks after Meta's first-quarter earnings when CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company would continue to pour into massive artificial-intelligence investments, even if they took time to pay off.

As Big Tech continues to spend billions on AI, users and those in the industry worry about governance, data privacy, ethics, and safety risks, saying programs to keep AI in check haven't kept up with new innovations.

The new council is reminiscent of Meta's Responsible AI division, a group that was in charge of regulating the safety of the company's AI ventures as they were created and deployed. The group, which had about 40 employees, was axed in November following a series of cost-cutting measures, including prior layoffs for that team.

All four men on the new council are white and share similar tech-executive backgrounds, which has drawn attention to the lack of diversity in their gender, race, and professional history. Several tech investors on X highlighted the council's lack of representation.

Four of the company's 11 board members are women.

The company didn't respond to a request for comment from Business Insider about the new council, including about its all-male composition, sent outside standard business hours.

Meet the new advisory group:

Patrick Collison

Stripe's cofounder and CEO, Patrick Collison. AOP.Press/Corbis/Getty Images

Patrick Collison cofounded Stripe with his brother John Collison in 2010.

Their company builds software that businesses add to their websites and apps to instantly connect with credit-card and banking systems and receive payments. Meta began using Stripe in 2014 to facilitate its "buy" button, which allowed users to purchase items featured in ads or posts on the platform.

Stripe, which is privately held, is now valued at $65 billion.

Collison is also the cofounder of the Arc Institute, a biomedical-research nonprofit.

Nat Friedman

Former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman. GitHub

Nat Friedman is a tech investor and the former CEO of GitHub, a platform owned by Microsoft that allows developers to store and share code. He served as CEO between 2018 and 2021.

After stepping down as CEO, Friedman cofounded California YIMBY, a platform to address California's housing shortage, and founded Nat.dev, a web interface for large language models. He also funds several startups in the AI space through a fund he cofounded named AI Grant.

He's a board member of Collison's Arc Institute.

Tobi Lutke

Tobi Lutke is the CEO of the Canadian e-commerce platform Shopify. Reuters/Lucas Jackson

Tobi Lutke is the founder and CEO of Shopify, the publicly traded e-commerce giant.

He's on the board of the cryptocurrency-trading platform Coinbase.

Last year, Lutke restricted Shopify employees' side hustles, saying the company required their "unshared attention."

Charlie Songhurst

Charlie Songhurst is a partner at several venture-capital firms. LinkedIn/Charlie Songhurst

Charlie Songhurst is a tech investor and a former executive at Microsoft, where he was the general manager of global corporate strategy.

He's an angel investor and partner at several investment firms.

He has invested in 500 startups globally, according to Meta's website.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Joey Roulette

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - NASA and Boeing are targeting June 1 for the company's first crewed launch of its Starliner spacecraft as engineers investigate the cause of a helium leak and examine how it could affect crucial parts of the mission, the agency said Wednesday.

The helium leak on Starliner's propulsion system has held up the spacecraft's first mission to space carrying humans, initially planned for May 7 but successively delayed as NASA and Boeing attempt to fix the issue and run new tests on the spacecraft.

The U.S. space agency said engineers have broadened their review into the leak, which was traced to a valve component on a single thruster, to include an assessment of Starliner's propulsion system and how it might be impacted by the spacecraft's helium system.

Starliner's helium system is used to add pressure to the fuel that powers its onboard thrusters, which are used to maneuver the spacecraft in orbit.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, developed to ferry NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), has been delayed years and is more than $1.5 billion over budget. Persistent Starliner development challenges have illustrated Boeing's struggle to compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX on tighter budgets.

Starliner's debut crewed flight includes NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore. The mission is a final test before NASA can certify Starliner for routine missions to and from the ISS.

The space agency said Boeing has additional launch opportunities on June 2, 5 and 6 should it miss the June 1 window.

(Reporting by Joey Roulette; Editing by Sandra Maler and Michael Perry)
Pope Francis is gearing up for the first millennial saint, a web developer known as 'God's influencer'

A tapestry featuring a portrait of Carlo Acutis at the St. Francis Basilica during his beatification ceremony, on October 10, 2020. Vatican Pool/Getty Images

Pope Francis has attributed a second miracle to teenage website developer Carlo Acutis.

This paves the way for Acutis, who was born in 1991, to become the first millennial saint.

The tech whizz, sometimes called 'God's influencer,' died of leukemia in 2006 at age 15.

Pope Francis has attributed a second miracle to a teenage website developer, paving the way for him to become the first millennial saint.

Carlo Acutis, born in 1991 in the United Kingdom and raised in Italy, is sometimes referred to as "God's influencer" and the "patron saint of the internet."

He died at age 15 from leukemia in October 2006.

During his brief life, Acutis created a website cataloging each Eucharistic miracle in the world and listing approved Marian apparitions of the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Agostino Vallini praised Acutis at his beatification ceremony, according to BBC News, saying, "Carlo used the internet in service of the Gospel to reach as many people as possible."

The path to sainthood typically requires two miracles attributed to prayers made to an individual after their death. Then, canonization can take place.

Acutis was beatified by Pope Francis in October 2020 after a first miracle was attributed to him, involving a Brazilian boy born with a pancreatic defect who said he was healed after praying to Acutis.

According to Vatican News, the news portal of the Holy See, the second miracle involved a Costa Rican woman whose daughter had a bicycle accident and was given a low chance of survival by doctors.

Vatican News said the mother, Liliana, prayed at Acutis' tomb in Assisi, Italy, and claimed that her daughter recovered soon after.

In a bulletin on Thursday, the Holy See confirmed that the Pope had decided to convene a consistory, a formal meeting of the College of Cardinals, to discuss the canonization of Acutis.

It is unclear when the canonization would take place.

The Holy See Press Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Acutis' mother, Antonia Salzano, told Vatican News in 2022 that her son was considered a "computer genius" who knew how to code at an advanced level from a young age.

But he didn't use social media to "chat, have fun, or anything like that," she said, he used his talents for his "zeal for the Lord and his love for the knowledge of Jesus."

Read the original article on Business Insider
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  Governor J.B. Pritzker is expecting quantum computing to create major technological breakthroughs in the coming years, and is pushing a package of tax incentives to attract those jobs to the state.

The Illinois House of Representatives passed the bill to encourage a quantum computing campus on Wednesday. The bill lays out the states plan to create an enterprise zone to invest half a billion dollars in to get tech companies to build.

This bill is the result of many weeks and months of hard work. Rep. Dave Vella (D-Rockford) said. It will take Illinois business climate to the next level.

In the past five years Pritzker has been in office, the governor has put a big focus on bringing new industries to Illinois, like electric vehicles, data centers, and EV batteries.

Pritzker has likened what Illinois wants to do to the early stages of Silicon Valley.

The University of Illinois is also putting a focus on quantum technology, and manufacturers share similar enthusiasm.

UIUC establishes new school for computing

When you think of quantum, the groundbreaking innovation and technology to create the next batch of lifesaving medicines for example, or clean energy breakthroughs or cyber security, its all going to be done by quantum, said Mark Denzler, the Illinois Manufacturing Association President.

The package also renews a number of tax incentives the state has already offered, including credits for electric vehicle makers, incentives for microchip producers, and continuing a Research and Development tax credit manufacturers believe is vital.

Doing an early extension now to provide certainty to 2032, is critically important to technology and manufacturing to know they can do their development in the state of Illinois, Denzler said.

Not everyone was in favor of the legislation. Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) said he feels the state is offering too many incentives to attract new businesses, while not taking care of the ones it already has.

Bill to require tagging for human remains passes House

A lot of the grants the state provides are grants that are out of the reach of small business owners so I think we need to focus as a state on fostering growth within our own business community, he said.

The package of incentives also expanded on the states film tax credit to help bring film productions to Illinois. The governor made a trip to California recently to pitch film production in the state to Hollywood executives for Illinois.

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 WCIA.com.
By Heekyong Yang and Ju-min Park

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea announced on Thursday a 26 trillion won ($19 billion) support package for its chip businesses, citing a need to keep up in areas like chip design and contract manufacturing amid 'all-out warfare' in the global semiconductor market.

Under the package, President Yoon Suk Yeol said a financial support programme worth about 17 trillion won was planned through state-run Korea Development Bank to back investments by semiconductor companies, according to the presidential office.

"As we all know, semiconductors are a field where all-out national warfare is underway. Win or lose, that depends on who can make cutting-edge semiconductors first," Yoon said at a meeting with top government officials.

South Korea, home to the world's top memory chip makers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, has fallen behind some rivals in areas such as chip design and contract chip manufacturing.

South Korea's share of the global fabless sector, which is dominated by companies like U.S. giant Nvidia that design chips but outsource manufacturing, stood at about 1%, Yoon's office said. There was also a gap between local chipmakers and the leading contract chip makers like Taiwan's TSMC, it said.

Yoon said a 1 trillion won fund would be set up to support equipment makers and fabless companies.

Industry minister Ahn Duk-geun said the government aimed to help boost South Korea's global market share in non-memory chips, such as mobile processors, to 10% from the current 2%.

The package is bigger than plans flagged by the country's finance minister Choi Sang-mok earlier this month, when he said the government was targeting support for chip investments and research worth more than 10 trillion won.

In a press briefing, Choi described South Korea's chip support package "as good as" any other country.

Countries around the world ranging from China to the United States have been ploughing tens of billions of dollars via grants and other means to support their own chip sectors.

"The government is apparently trying to follow the trend where other countries are giving out subsidies for their own chip companies," said Greg Roh, head of research at Hyundai Motor Securities.

South Korea is building a mega chip cluster in Yongin, south of the capital Seoul, touted as the world's largest high-tech chipmaking complex to attract chip equipment and fabless companies.

Finance minister Choi said the government would streamline bureaucracy and cut red tape to help speed up construction of the chip cluster at twice the normal rate.

In January, Yoon, who has vowed to pour all possible resources into the country's chip industry, said he would extend tax credits on investments in the domestic semiconductor industry to boost employment and attract more talent.

(Reporting by Jack Kim and Heekyong Yang; Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin, Ju-min Park; Editing by Ed Davies, Sonali Paul & Shri Navaratnam)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida on Wednesday night (May 22), the second mission in less than 24 hours for the company.

A Falcon 9 rocket topped with 23 Starlink spacecraft lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:35 p.m. EDT (0235 GMT on May 23).

Related: Starlink satellite train: How to see and track it in the night sky

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

The Falcon 9's first stage came back to Earth about 8 minutes after launch, touching down on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

It was the eighth launch and landing for this particular first stage, according to a SpaceX mission description. Among its seven previous liftoffs were three Starlink missions and the Ax-2 and Ax-3 private astronaut missions to the International Space Station.

The Falcon 9's upper stage, meanwhile, carried the 23 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO), where they were set to be deployed about 65 minutes after liftoff.

The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lands on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

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Wednesday night's liftoff was the second of the day for SpaceX. In the morning, the company launched the NROL-146 mission from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base, sending a set of satellites aloft for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

That was SpaceX's 52nd orbital launch of the year already. Thirty-six of those missions have been dedicated to building out the huge and ever-growing Starlink megaconstellation, which currently consists of about 5,950 working satellites.
T-Mobile is raising prices on older plans: Here's what we know

T-Mobile customers holding on to their legacy plans can expect to see higher bills come June.

"For the first time in nearly a decade, in response to rising costs and inflation, were making small adjustments to some of our oldest rate plan prices," explained the T-Mobile website. "Beginning June 5, the rate of your voice plan will increase by $5.00/line per month."

T-Mobile declined to specify what specific plans are included in the pricing change.

The website claimed that the provider still offers the "best value in wireless" even with the adjustments, saying its customers save "an average of approximately 20%" versus some competitors, for comparable services.

A text message received by a customer impacted by the T-Mobile price hike.

Customers were advised that services, benefits and promotional pricing will remain the same and the additional charges will automatically be added to bills after June 15.

"T-Mobile is committed to offering the best value in postpaid wireless with low prices and a differentiated, best-in-class 5G network  and we have no intention of ever changing that," T-Mobile said in a statement to USA TODAY on Thursday. "The majority of our customers are not included but the fraction who are heard from us yesterday."

Landlines going extinct: Phone companies want to eliminate traditional landlines. What's at stake and who loses?

What T-Mobile plans are impacted by a price hike?

The price hike applies to older plans, though T-Mobile has declined to confirm which are impacted. Customers have largely pieced the information together by comparing notes online, reporting what plans they have and what dollar amount increases they were told to expect.

As compiled by The Mobile Report, not all customers are reporting $5 increases. Some said their notifications told them to expect a $2 increase, depending on the plan.

Users have reported increases for the following:

T-Mobile ONE plans

Simple Choice plans

Magenta, Magenta Max, Magenta 55 Plus and Magenta Amplified plans

As reported by CNET and The Mobile Report, an internal memo sent to employees specified that more recent Go5G plans will not see price increases, nor will any customers who have the T-Mobile Price Lock guarantee or free lines, reported CNET.

Users with other account types have likewise said they were informed of a planned price increase, including business account holders, as well as smartwatch and Beyond the Smartphone (BTS) lines used for other smart devices such as tablets and hotspots.

Last year, T-Mobile received backlash for plans to migrate users with older services over to more expensive, newer ones. Multiple outlets reported that customers with One, Simple Choice and Magenta/Magenta 55 Plus plans would be moved over to newer versions, an initiative that was quickly squashed after its details were leaked.

T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert later said it was meant to be a small-scale test, not "a broad national thing," but the company decided against running even a limited test after overwhelmingly negative customer feedback.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: T-Mobile is hiking prices on legacy plans: What to know
By David Shepardson

(Reuters) - A Louisiana Democratic political consultant was indicted over a fake robocall imitating U.S. President Joe Biden seeking to dissuade people from voting for him in New Hampshire's Democratic primary election, the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office said on Thursday.

Steven Kramer, 54, faces 13 charges of felony voter suppression and 13 misdemeanor impersonation of a candidate charges after thousands of New Hampshire residents received a robocall message asking them not to vote until November. Kramer faces a series of initial court appearances starting on June 14 in Merrimack Superior Court.

A lawyer for Kramer could not immediately be identified. Kramer did not respond to a request seeking comment.

Kramer told CBS and NBC in February he had paid $500 to have the calls sent to voters to call attention to the issue, after the calls were discovered in January. He had worked for Biden's primary challenger, Representative Dean Phillips, who denounced the calls

Separately, the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday proposed to fine Kramer $6 million over the robocalls it said were using an AI-generated deepfake audio recording of Bidens cloned voice, saying its rules prohibit transmission of inaccurate caller ID information.

"When a caller sounds like a politician you know, a celebrity you like, or a family member who is familiar, any one of us could be tricked into believing something that is not true with calls using AI technology," FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said.

The FCC also proposed to fine Lingo Telecom $2 million for allegedly transmitting the robocalls.

There is growing concern in Washington that AI-generated content could mislead voters in the November presidential and congressional elections. Some senators want to pass legislation before November that would address AI threats to election integrity.

"New Hampshire remains committed to ensuring that our elections remain free from unlawful interference and our investigation into this matter remains ongoing," Attorney General John Formella, a Republican, said.

Formella hopes the state and federal actions "send a strong deterrent signal to anyone who might consider interfering with elections, whether through the use of artificial intelligence or otherwise."

A Biden campaign spokesperson said the campaign "has assembled an interdepartmental team to prepare for the potential effects of AI this election, including the threat of malicious deep fakes." The team has been in place since September "and has a wide variety of tools at its disposal to address issues."

On Wednesday, Rosenworcel proposed requiring disclosure of content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) in political ads on radio and TV for both candidate and issue advertisements, but not to prohibit any AI-generated content.

The FCC said the use of AI is expected to play a substantial role in 2024 political ads. The FCC singled out the potential for misleading "deep fakes" which are "altered images, videos, or audio recordings that depict people doing or saying things that did not actually do or say, or events that did not actually occur."

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Josie Kao)
Levu Air Cargo in Brazil took delivery last week of an Airbus A321 passenger-to-freighter converted aircraft and will operate it at the direction of DHL Supply Chain. (Photo: SmartLynx Airlines)

The contract logistics arm of DHL Group has partnered with a startup cargo airline in Brazil to launch a private air transport service as a more reliable alternative to commercial passenger airlines and trucking for domestic distribution of high-value goods in sectors such as automotive and health care.

The venture with Levu Air Cargo is noteworthy because the freighter service involves DHL Supply Chain and not DHL Express, which has long outsourced freighter operations for its express parcel network to many companies under the DHL Aviation umbrella.

DHL Supply Chain announced last week it is investing $98.3 million in the new enterprise, mostly for enhanced airport facilities and payments to Levu for air service and expenses. DHL does not have any equity position in Levu. The contract has an initial term of seven years.

Levu Air Cargo is also investing more than $103 million to operate four cargo jets for DHL, including the first Airbus A321 converted freighter in Latin America. SmartLynx Airlines, a Latvia-based provider of outsourced airlift to airlines and charter services, said Tuesday that it leased the A321 to Levu Air Cargo and delivered it to the airport in Recife, Brazil, last week.

SmartLynx is the largest operator of A321 freighters (10) in the world, and more than half are committed to contracts for DHL Express in Europe. The A321 leased to Levu became available because another aircraft was assigned for DHL in Europe, SmartLynx spokeswoman Gita Deniskane said in an email.

Leave the flying to Levu

The new air cargo operation will launch in late June and initially connect the cities of Campinas and Manaus daily, with service three times per week between Campinas and Recife, DHL said Wednesday in an update provided to FreightWaves. Levu Air Cargo is still going through certification with Brazils civil aviation agency for its commercial operating license from the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil, which it expects to receive next month. The A321 must also meet certain compliance requirements before it can be registered on Levus operating certificate.

Officials said the all-cargo service could eventually be expanded to other cities and countries. Belem will be added to the network in the coming months, Plino Pereira, president of DHL Supply Chain Brazil, said in a Levu news release.

Levu Air Cargo plans to receive one more A321 freighter this year, followed by two used Airbus A330-300 aircraft also converted from passenger configuration to accommodate cargo containers. The A321 has 29 tons of capacity and the A330 can carry up to 68 tons of goods. Cargo aircraft can carry heavier, larger loads than the passenger aircraft DHL frequently utilizes in Brazil, as well as most dangerous goods.

Story continues

The route for the second aircraft is still under study, but Levu said Porto Alegre is a possible destination.

The partners forecast they will transport up to 4,000 tons of cargo per month in the first year of operation and 10,000 tons per month by the end of 2025, when all the aircraft are in service. Second-year volume represents about 3.5% of the total current air capacity in Brazil. Target markets for the new service include pharmaceuticals, life sciences, electronics, automotive, perishable goods and e-commerce. DHL Supply Chains business model is based on long-term arrangements under which it designs and plans supply chain networks, and manages warehouses, inventory, transportation, distribution and order processing for companies.

Other DHL Group units, such as DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Express, will also be able to take advantage of Levus scheduled service to connect imports and exports to the domestic network. Polar, a DHL company specializing in temperature-controlled trucking, is also expected to use the flights for shipments traveling long distances within the country.

Under the agreement, DHL will pay Levu upfront for fixed allocations of space, with guaranteed minimums. The arrangement is similar to partnerships DHL Express has with transportation suppliers. In addition to determining the network and flight schedule, DHL has priority access to the freighter capacity. Levu is able to sell any excess space to freight forwarders and other customers just as Atlas Air markets extra capacity on the aircraft it operates for DHL Express.

Levu is intent on using its share of the aircraft for e-commerce retailers, as Amazon and Mercado Livre fuel the popularity of online shopping in Brazil. Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A., until recently a pure passenger carrier, is Brazils largest cargo airline. It began transporting packages within Brazil for Mercado Livre in August 2022 and now operates six Boeing 737-800 converted cargo jets for the Latin American platform.

DHL will essentially resemble the virtual airlines at Amazon and Mercado Livre, which use their sales and logistics capabilities to fill aircraft that carry their brand name but outsource the flying to certified operators. The same model is used by tour operators in the travel industry that charter aircraft under long-term service agreements.

In 2020, DHL Supply Chain opened an exclusive air hub at Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo to improve processing speed and handling care for domestic freight distribution, mostly via passenger airlines, at a lower cost than using agents.

DHL will continue to utilize passenger flights for freight distribution because they offer wider service across Brazil, but the dedicated freighters eliminate the risk of commercial airlines prioritizing passenger luggage and bumping shipments if space is tight. In addition to guaranteed capacity, other advantages include more versatility, better lead times and lower prices due to increased ability to do consolidations, said Solon Barrios, vice president of transport at DHL Supply Chain.

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ASL Aviation brings first Boeing 737-800 freighter to Australian unit

The post DHL launches virtual cargo airline for supply chain customers in Brazil appeared first on FreightWaves.
(Reuters) -DuPont said on Wednesday it will split into three publicly traded companies, sending its shares up 5% after the bell as it joins a slew of U.S. conglomerates looking to unlock value and pursue focused growth.

The company will separate its electronics and water businesses in tax-free transactions, while the new DuPont will continue as a diversified industrial company.

DuPont also named CFO Lori Koch as CEO from June 1 as the current top boss Ed Breen becomes executive chairman to join the board.

The company expects to complete the split in 18 to 24 months and before that it will announce the executive leadership of the separate companies.

"...each company will have greater flexibility to pursue their own focused growth strategies, including portfolio enhancing M&A," said outgoing CEO Ed Breen.

Back in 2015, DuPont and Dow had agreed to merge for $130 billion, in which the two companies then split into three.

DowDuPont in 2017 spun off its chemical businesses as Dow and its agribusiness division into Corteva, with DuPont remaining on as the company it is today.

The new DuPont will house the existing businesses within its water and protection segment, industrial solutions and end-markets in healthcare like medical packaging.

These businesses generated net sales of nearly $6.6 billion in 2023.

The electronics company would mainly include the existing semiconductor technologies and interconnect solutions, while the water company will comprise of DuPont's water solutions business.

DuPont said the liabilities tied to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS (dubbed forever chemicals) and other indemnity obligations to Corteva under the 2019 spin-off agreements would be allocated among the three companies on a pro-rata basis.

(Reporting by Seher Dareen in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Arun Koyyur)
Nippon Steel Corp. is confident the $14.9 billion purchase of United States Steel Corp. will be completed despite the American political climate and United Steelworkers opposition, a top Nippon Steel executive told the Business Times in an exclusive, in-person interview Tuesday.

United Steelworkers since mid-December has rallied opposition to the deal, with others speaking out against it including President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and a bipartisan group of lawmakers. Nippon Steel and the United Steelworkers arent in conversations right now, but Takahiro Mori, vice chairman and executive vice president of Tokyo-based Nippon Steel, expressed confidence that the union and company would come to an agreement. He said Nippon Steel was ready to talk whenever the union was, and that included on this most recent in a series of visits to Pittsburgh.

Read more at Pittsburgh Business Times.

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Many people use multiple online platforms to earn a decent living. You can try reliable online jobs in Ghana that pay through mobile money. These jobs allow you to work from anywhere and during your preferred hours.

Remote jobs are ideal for many because they are flexible, and one can have multiple jobs. Photo: pixabay.com, @nattanan23, pexels.com, @Ketut Subiyanto (modified by author)

Source: UGC

This article shares numerous online jobs in Ghana to choose from. Some require specific educational background and experience, while others do not need experience. Some require little capital, while others do not require you to invest money as long as you have the skills and the tools. Additionally, most of these remote jobs pay via bank accounts, but you can withdraw the cash from your account using mobile money services.

Online jobs in Ghana that pay through mobile money

Online jobs have become common in todays world. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many people had to adjust to working from home. Discover the best online jobs in Ghana that pay through mobile money. You can secure employment through the opportunities mentioned below:

1. Forex trading

Forex trading is permitted in Ghana as long as it is conducted legally and any profits are declared for taxes. Photo: unsplash.com, @Austin Distel; pexels.com, @Anna Nekrashevich (modified by author)

Source: UGC

Forex trading, also known as foreign exchange or FX trading, has become quite popular worldwide and is an excellent source of income for many. It involves converting one currency into another.

There are many forex brokers in Ghana, including FXTM, AvaTrade, BlackBull Markets, and Eightcap. These are among the many platforms offering online jobs in Ghana that pay students through mobile money.

Forex trading is permitted in Ghana if it is conducted legally through proper brokers, and any profits are declared for taxes. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency was banned because it is unregulated and is not recognized as a legitimate currency. The Bank of Ghana urges the general public not to engage in crypto-related activities.

2. Drop shipping

Drop shipping involves helping clients to receive their orders without you having a physical business. Photo: pexels.com, @cup of couple; unspalsh.com, @Cheng (modified by author)

Source: UGC

Many Africans are making a living through drop shipping. Drop shipping involves helping clients receive their orders without you having a physical business to stock the products.

To start a drop shipping business in Ghana, find an online supplier with products you want to sell. Advertise the suppliers products and prices on your website or social media accounts.

When customers who want to buy from you pay for the items, you pick them from the supplier and pay their original price. Then, you deliver the items to the customers and keep the profits.

3. Amazon associates program

Amazon associates earn commissions from successful sales. Photo: Facebook, @AmazonAssociates; unsplash.com, @Bastian Riccardi (modified by author)

Source: UGC

Amazon online jobs in Ghana will pay you monthly through your bank account. You decide which mobile money platform to use when withdrawing the money instead of cashing it out over the counter.

The Amazon associates program allows bloggers, publishers, and content creators to monetize their traffic. In return, the associates earn commissions from successful sales. Hundreds of thousands of products on the Amazon e-commerce website require advertisement.

So, join the companys associates program, choose the products, use link-building tools to direct your audience to them, and earn commissions from successful sales.

Take advantage of this opportunity. The Amazon associates program is among the best online jobs in Ghana that pay through mobile money without investment.

4. Opera News Hub

You need some experience typing and writing to write Opera news hub articles. Photo: pexels.com, @Christina Morillo; Facebook, @operanewsaf (modified by author)

Source: UGC

Opera News Hub offers online typing jobs in Ghana that pay through mobile money. You need some experience in typing and writing to do these jobs. Visit the Opera News Hub signup page and register. You will undergo screening to ascertain your ability to deliver what the job entails.

The screening entails choosing a topic, writing an article about it, and publishing it. The news hub will review your published article, and if it approves your post, you will join the Opera writing team.

5. Triaba

Triaba has simple online surveys that students and the working class can complete. Photo: pexels.com, @Ketut Subiyanto; Facebook, @Triabacom (modified by author)

Source: UGC

Make money online with my phone in Ghana through the Triaba website. The platform has simple online surveys that the students and the working class can complete. To do these surveys, register on the website and select the kind of surveys you want to get. You earn between $0.13 to $2.25 for every survey you complete.

6. Social media manager

Social media managers create engaging online content for brands. Photo: pexels.com, @Pixabay, @Lisa Fotios (modified by author)

Source: UGC

Social media management is one of the top online jobs that pay through mobile money in Ghana. To get this position, look for companies looking for a social media manager and apply to as many companies as possible to increase your chances of being hired.

Social media managers create engaging online content for brands. They also manage social media accounts regarding messaging, page growth, lead generation, and comments.

7. PePaPa

Pepapa market is an online platform for selling and buying products in Ghana. Photo: Facebook, @pepapamarket, pexels.com, @wocintechchat (modified by author)

Source: UGC

The PePaPa platform connects online buyers and sellers. You can advertise products by creating a guest, business, or personal account on the website.

Post your business or shop on Pepapa so people can see it anywhere in Ghana and buy directly from you. The platform pays you after you make a sale, and you can have your pay remitted to your mobile phone.

You do not need to be a professional or have completed school to join this platform. PePaPa is among the many platforms offering online jobs in Ghana that pay students through mobile money.

8. 15Ghana.com

Advertise your career, skills, talents, creativity, and businesses on 15Ghana.com and get clients. Photo: pexels.com, @Ono Kosuki; Facebook, @15ghana (modified by author)

Source: UGC

15Ghana.com is an amazing marketplace for highly skilled professionals in Ghana. The platform is open to businesses, artisans, influencers, creative designers, tutors, photographers, videographers, animators, software engineers, writers, and others.

You can sign up on 15Ghana.com to advertise your skills, talents, creativity, and businesses. After completing clients' gigs, you can request payment through mobile money. The platform allows you to do online jobs that pay daily in Ghana, depending on how many clients you attract.

9. Blogging

Blogs on Google websites make money through Google Adsense. Photo: pexels.com, @Andrea Piacquadio; Facebook, @GoogleAdSense (modified by author)

Source: UGC

Blogging refers to creating articles, photos, videos, and other forms of content and publishing them on a website. You can make a website and upload content consistently, or work for other people's websites.

Blogs on Google websites earn money through Google Adsense when people click on or view Google adverts. Some people go the extra mile to make more money on blogs by using affiliate marketing links and sponsored posts.

Google pays bloggers through their bank accounts. You can link your bank account to a mobile money service provider and withdraw your payments without going to the bank.

10. Jumia KOL program

The Jumia KOL program pays its affiliate workers monthly commissions. Photo: pexels.com, @Pixabay; Facebook, @Jumia GH (modified by author)

Source: UGC

The Jumia KOL program is for content creators and influencers. Your job is to promote Jumia's campaigns on your website or social media pages and use Jumia's tracking links and discount codes to draw customers to products sold on this e-commerce website. You will receive monthly commissions for your sales through payment methods of your choice.

Sign up for the Jumia KOL affiliate program. After that, you will receive a dedicated Sub-ID that tracks the number of visitors who click on your link and those who buy.

After this, create eye-catching, product-selling artwork and content for your status updates and interact with your audience. Your account will show your daily earnings and the number of people who click on your link. To make the program work, you must be very creative with your marketing methods.

11. Online tutoring

You can tutor students within your location using engaging online tutoring software. Photo: pexels.com, @Christina Morillo, @Katerina Holmes (modified by author)

Source: UGC

Online tutors help students improve in specific areas of study. Your work is to design and create lesson plans that fit the needs of each student. You can look for jobs on online tutoring websites like Virtutoronline.com and Teacheron.com. Alternatively, you can start a tutoring website.

You can also tutor students online at your location on weekends and during the holidays. Use engaging online tutoring software like Krisp, WeVideo, Quetext, Storybird, VideoScribe, etc.

12. Virtual assistant

Virtual assistants offer administrative services to clients from a remote location, usually a home office. Photo: pexels.com, @Kampus Production, @Yan Krukau (modified by author)

Source: UGC

Virtual assistants provide various administrative services to businesses, including scheduling appointments, answering emails, making phone calls, making travel arrangements, managing social media accounts, and providing customer support.

Platforms like Upwork, TheodoraAfrica, Fiverr, Truelancer, and DiasporaDesk can help you get virtual assistant online jobs in Accra, Ghana. LinkedIn allows you to look for well-paying virtual assistant online jobs in the USA for Ghanaians.

13. Data entry

Data entry means entering or updating information/records in a database/computer system. Photo: pexels.com, @Monstera Production, @Antoni Shkraba (modified by author)

Source: UGC

Data entry jobs require adding raw data to databases and verifying and editing electronic data. Skills needed for data entry jobs include typing speed and accuracy, time management, the ability to research and collect data, and understanding the software being used. Find freelance data entry jobs in Ghana on job posting websites and send your resume.

14. Call center representative

Some companies offer online training to new call center representatives. Photo: pexels.com, @Jep Gambardella (modified by author)

Source: UGC

Call center representatives cater to global customers, requiring 24/7 operations. Call center jobs have adaptable schedules that fit your other commitments and personal responsibilities.

Look for data entry jobs on LinkedIn and job posting websites. You only require a strong internet, a reliable computer, and a distraction-free work environment. It is easy to set up, and some companies offer online training to new call center representatives.

15. Graphic design jobs

Working as a freelance graphic designer allows for creative freedom and the chance to work on diverse projects. Photo: pexels.com, @Reezky Pradata, @Ivan Samkov (modified by author)

Source: UGC

With an innovative skill set and technical talent, graphic design roles offer the perfect opportunity to work remotely. Opportunities range from brand to product designer roles.

Working as a freelance graphic designer allows for creative freedom and the chance to work on diverse projects. Besides getting customers from your region, you may have to advertise your skills on online marketplaces like Upwork, 15Ghana.com, and Fiverr to get more clients.

How can you make money from home in Ghana?

You can work from home as a:

Freelance tutor

Video and/or audio podcaster

Data entry specialist

Forex trader

Social media manager

Digital marketer

Drop shipping agent

Graphic designer

Software engineer

Video editor

Copywriter

Editor or proofreading expert

Professional consultant in any field

Call center representative

Virtual assistant

Which sites pay through mobile money in Ghana?

Online survey sites pay through mobile money in Ghana. Some of these websites are:

Triaba

Branded Surveys

Swagbucks

Toluna

Pinecone

OnePoll

Pawns.app

How can you make money with a phone in Ghana?

You can make money in Ghana with your phone through multiple online jobs like:

Forex trade

Social media manager

Digital marketer

Drop shipping agent

Professional consultant in any field

Online surveys

Virtual assistant

Social media marketing

Affiliate marketing

Is mobile money working in Ghana?

More Ghanaians can now access mobile money services from platforms like:

MTN MoMo

AirtelTigo

Vodafone

Remitly

MoneyGram

WorldRemit

Wise

TransferGo

Small World

Skrill

Bank apps like Absa, Fidelity Bank, GTWorld, Standard Chartered, Republic Bank, etc.

How can you make money on WhatsApp status in Ghana?

Advertise your products and skills on your WhatsApp status using images and videos, and start making money from your contacts. You can also share affiliate marketing links on your WhatsApp status.

Does Fiverr pay through MoMo in Ghana?

Online job opportunities available on Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr offer payment directly to your bank account in your local currency. You can withdraw the money from your bank and send it to your phone through MTN MoMo.

Can you receive money from Ghana through MoMo?

The International Transfers service allows MTN MoMo customers to send and receive money within and across Africa. An independent freelancer who does not rely on online marketplaces, you can request clients to pay you through MTN MoMo.

If you are among the many looking for online jobs in Ghana that pay through mobile money, identify your passion, research the jobs you are interested in, and build your skills. That way, when you finally land the online job of your dreams, you can give your clients your best.

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!

Yen.com.gh listed the Chief Justices of Ghana. The Chief Justice is the senior-most position in the nation's judiciary. Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo succeeded Kwasi Anin-Yeboah.

Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo is the 15th Chief Justice of Ghana and the third female to hold this position in the country's history. She was nominated to the Supreme Court in November 2019 and received parliamentary approval in December 2019.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Maharashtra SSC Result 2024: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) will soon issue the Maharashtra Board Class 10th Results 2024. While an official date and time for the MSBSHSE result 2024 declaration are pending, students who took the Maharashtra Board SSC (Secondary School Certificate) examinations can access their online scorecards through the official websites, mahresult.nic.in or results.gov.in. To acquire the Maharashtra SSC mark sheet, students must enter their roll number and mother's first name on the official website. This important information can be found on their admit card or hall ticket, ensuring safe and accurate access to their findings.

Students must receive a 35 percent aggregate and pass both the internal and external exams to pass the SSC March 2024 exam. Those who fail will need to take extra tests. This year, 16 lakh students took the Maharashtra Board 10th Exams, held from March 1, 2024 to March 26, 2024.

Maharashtra SSC Result 2024: Steps to download here

Step 1: Visit the official website mahresult.nic.in.

Step 2: From the homepage, select the notification link "Maharashtra SSC result 2024".

Step 3: Fill in the student's roll number and mother's name.

Step 4: To submit, select the "View Result" option.

Step 5: The result will appear on the screen.

Maharashtra SSC Result 2024: Last year trends

Last year, 15,77,256 students registered to take the SSC exam. There were 7,33,067 girls and 8,44,116 boys among those who took the exam. Last year, 93.83% of students passed the exam. The females had a 95.87% pass percentage.
KOLKATA: The initial probe into the murder of Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar revealed that one of his close friends, a US citizen, had paid around Rs 5 crore to kill him, a senior police officer claimed here on Thursday. The Awami League MP's friend owns a flat in Kolkata, and is probably in the US at present, he said.

Police also said that the flat in Kolkata's New Town area, where the Bangladesh MP was last seen entering, was rented out to his friend by its owner, an excise department employee. It was a well-planned murder. A huge amount of money, around Rs 5 crore was paid by an old friend of the MP to kill him. Further investigation is underway, the officer told PTI.

Anar, who went missing in Kolkata on May 13, was found murdered and three people have been arrested, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan had said on Wednesday. The West Bengal Police had said investigation of the case has been taken up by the state CID.

Akhilesh Chaturvedi, IG, CID, had Wednesday said police had reliable inputs that Anar may have been murdered, but his body was yet to be recovered. Asked whether the police found blood stains in the apartment of a luxury condominium in New Town in Kolkata's outskirts, where the MP's whereabouts were last traced on May 13, Chaturvedi said, Our forensic team is examining the suspected crime scene. It's too early to speak about that. The state CID has found blood stains inside the New Town flat and also recovered several plastic bags, which they believe were used to dump the body parts.

Circumstantial evidence indicates that the MP was first strangulated and then his dead body was mutilated in several parts, police claimed. The body parts were probably put inside plastic bags and scattered at different locations. We also suspect that some parts were kept in a refrigerator and we have collected samples, the officer said.

The search for the missing MP, who reportedly arrived in Kolkata on May 12 to undergo medical treatment, began six days later after Gopal Biswas, a resident of Baranagar in north Kolkata and an acquaintance of the Bangladeshi politician, filed a complaint with the local police on May 18. Anar had stayed at Biswas's house upon arrival.

In his complaint, Biswas stated that Anar left his Baranagar residence for a doctor's appointment in the afternoon of May 13, while stating that he would be back home for dinner. Biswas claimed that the Bangladesh MP went incommunicado since May 17, which prompted him to file a missing complaint a day later.
Sultanpur: In Sultanpur, near high-profile Amethi, BJP's Maneka Gandhi appears to be fighting a lone battle to retain her parliamentary seat with few top leaders of her party canvassing for her and no opposition biggies campaigning against her either.

Sultanpur goes to polls on May 25 and Thursday is the last day of campaigning.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed a public meeting in support of Maneka Gandhi in Qazipur on Wednesday.

Her son Varun Gandhi, who has been benched by the BJP in this Lok Sabha election, is expected to join her for campaigning on Thursday.

Her nephew Rahul Gandhi and niece Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have visited Uttar Pradesh multiple times to canvass for INDIA bloc candidates but have not campaigned against her.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati campaigned in Sultanpur in support of her party's candidate Udraj Verma, an OBC, on Wednesday and attacked both the BJP and the Congress.

Despite little help from the BJP's big guns, Maneka Gandhi is confident of steering her party to victory in Sultanpur, which was represented by Varun Gandhi before 2019.

In an interview with PTI, the sitting Sultanpur MP asserted that her victory margin this time will be bigger than last time.

In the 2019 general elections, Maneka Gandhi had won the Sultanpur seat by a margin of 14,000 seats.

The BJP is confident of gaining around 2 lakh votes of the fishermen community in Sultanpur with their leader and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad holding a ministerial berth in the Uttar Pradesh cabinet.

Maneka Gandhi said neither the Ram temple nor the denial of a ticket to her son is an election issue in her constituency as people are more concerned about their problems and their MP's response to their concerns.

She said the people of her constituency are happy about the opening of the Ram temple in Ayodhya but "it is not an issue in the polls here".

"I don't look at the people coming to me with their needs on the lines of caste or religion. Everybody in the constituency belongs to me and I hold the responsibility of their better future," the eight-time Lok Sabha MP said.

Asked about the BJP's call to wipe out the Nehru-Gandhi family from Rae Bareli, the 67-year-old Sultanpur MP said, "I have no comments to make... I am concerned about the problems of my constituency and the people here."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is in the fray from Rae Bareli.

BJP district president R K Verma said the people here have a positive response to the "Modi-Yogi" combination.

Toilets have been built for people and they have received houses and free foodgrains under different government schemes, he said.

"Maneka ji helps whosoever comes to her for assistance irrespective of one's caste or religion," he said.

Kamaruddin Alam, a local resident, agrees. "She doesn't discriminate against anyone coming to her with their problems."

Maneka Gandhi has also campaigned in Muslim areas.

Another local resident, Manoj Kumar, said Maneka Gandhi is a big leader and gets the problems of her constituency solved with the help of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other central ministers.

Shyam Chand Srivastava of Qazipur town area says anybody can approach Maneka Gandhi with their problems, irrespective of the fact whether the person is her voter or not.

Ram Bihari in Sultanpur Bazar describes Maneka Gandhi as a "kind lady".

Besides Maneka Gandhi and BSP's Verma, Samajwadi Party's (SP) Ram Bhual Nishad is also in the fray from Sultanpur.

Verma threatens to divide the OBC votes of the SP.

SP spokesperson Anoop Sanda said Maneka is not a permanent resident of Sultanpur. She comes from Delhi and stays here for a week or 10 days every month.

"On normal days, she doesn't go beyond 5 km of the town," he said, adding that the people look at SP chief Akhilesh Yadav positively.
West Bengal and political violence are inextricably linked, as violence has been present throughout all phases of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 in the state. The political landscape of the state has been tainted by the blood of party employees killed in the bloody battle. The state's political environment has been called into question owing to frequent clashes.



A woman BJP worker from the Scheduled Caste community was killed in Nandigram, West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, just two days before the sixth phase of parliamentary elections, prompting large-scale protests by saffron party activists on Thursday. Seven other BJP workers were seriously injured in the attack.

In today's DNA, Zee News' Saurabh Raaj Jain analysed the increasing incidents of political violence in West Bengal and a special ground report on atmosphere in Nandigarh after murder of a BJP worker.

Nandigram was previously a TMC stronghold. The region is part of the Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency and is considered the backyard of Bengal's opposition leader, Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari continued to win as a TMC leader from here, eventually defeating Mamata Banerjee in 2021 after joining the BJP.



As part of the protest, BJP workers burned tyres, blocked roads, and shut down shops in Nandigram, claiming that TMC-backed criminals were responsible for the death of Rathibala Arhi, a saffron party worker in Sonachura village. According to police, Rathibala's son Sanjay and seven others were injured after being attacked by unidentified assailants on Wednesday night.

Police, central forces, and RAF personnel stationed in the area had to use lathicharge to disperse the mob. Police detained a person in connection with the alleged murder. The BJP had called a bandh in Nandigram as part of the protest, but later cancelled it, according to a local leader.
China, Qatar agree to promote military cooperation

Xinhua) 09:49, May 23, 2024

BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Wednesday met with Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah in Beijing, with the two sides pledging to further promote military cooperation.

Noting that China and Qatar are strategic partners, Dong said it is imperative to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state while promoting military ties.

He called for efforts from both sides to enhance strategic mutual trust, expand areas of cooperation, and strengthen personnel exchanges to elevate military cooperation to a higher level.

Al Attiyah said that a unified and prosperous China is in the common interest of the international community. He expressed Qatar's willingness to strengthen practical cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and other frameworks and enhance the relationship between the two countries and the two militaries.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
By Alimat Aliyeva

On May 23, the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) began two days of large-scale military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around the island of Taiwan, Azernews reports.

The exercises, codenamed "United Sword-2024A", are held in the northern, southern and eastern waters around Taiwan Island, as well as the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Ouchi and Donin. The exercises, which involved land, air, naval and missile forces, focused on strengthening joint combat capability and patrolling at sea and in the air, joint integrated battlefield management and joint precision strikes against key targets.

The CPC statement said that the Taiwan Independence military exercises are a resolute response to separatist activities and a harsh response to foreign forces that seek to interfere in China's internal affairs and commit sabotage.

It should be noted that on May 20, the swearing-in ceremony of the new head of the separatist organization in Taiwan, Lai Jing-de, took place. The opinions expressed by Lai Jing-de during his speech at the "swearing-in ceremony", as well as the participation of political figures from a number of countries in the ceremony, as well as the congratulations of Lai Jing-de by some officials, including US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, caused serious dissatisfaction in official Beijing.

Recall that during the civil war after World War II, the Communists led by Mao Zedong announced the creation of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. Kuomintang troops under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek moved to the island of Taiwan and declared the continuation of the existence of the Republic of China. The island retains the flag and some attributes of the Republic of China before the formation of the PRC. Official Beijing does not recognize the existence of the so-called Republic of China on Taiwan and considers the island a province of China. Official Beijing demands that countries with diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China sever political ties with the separatist entity in Taiwan.

The Taiwan issue is the most sensitive issue in Sino-American relations. Official Beijing considers the issue of Taiwan to be the main red line that cannot be crossed in relations between China and the United States. China demands that the United States does not support Taiwan's "independence" and does not arm the island.
As global markets navigate through technological advancements and heightened cybersecurity measures, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) remains a focal point for investors looking for stability and potential growth. Amidst these evolving dynamics, dividend stocks like DBS Group Holdings offer a particular appeal due to their potential for regular income and relative resilience in fluctuating markets.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Singapore

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Civmec (SGX:P9D) 6.22%  Singapore Exchange (SGX:S68) 3.60%  Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) (SGX:BS6) 3.67%  BRC Asia (SGX:BEC) 7.58%  UOB-Kay Hian Holdings (SGX:U10) 6.92%  UOL Group (SGX:U14) 3.58%  Bumitama Agri (SGX:P8Z) 6.82%  Singapore Airlines (SGX:C6L) 7.10%  YHI International (SGX:BPF) 6.63%  Sing Investments & Finance (SGX:S35) 6.09% 

Click here to see the full list of 21 stocks from our Top SGX Dividend Stocks screener.

We're going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: DBS Group Holdings Ltd operates as a commercial bank offering financial services across Singapore, Hong Kong, Greater China, South and Southeast Asia, and internationally, with a market capitalization of approximately SGD 101.48 billion.

Operations: DBS Group Holdings Ltd generates its revenue through commercial banking and financial services across various regions including Singapore, Hong Kong, Greater China, South and Southeast Asia, and other international markets.

Dividend Yield: 5.5%

DBS Group Holdings has shown a mixed performance in dividend reliability, with a history of volatility over the past decade. Despite this, recent dividends have been covered by earnings with a current payout ratio of 50.8% and forecasted coverage at 66.8% in three years. The firm recently increased its dividend to SGD 0.54 per share for Q1 2024 and reported a significant rise in net income to SGD 2.96 billion for the same period, up from SGD 2.57 billion year-over-year, indicating potential stability ahead despite historical inconsistencies and recent executive changes aimed at addressing technology issues within the bank.

SGX:D05 Dividend History as at May 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Bumitama Agri Ltd. is an investment holding company that produces and trades crude palm oil, palm kernel, and related products in Indonesia, with a market capitalization of approximately SGD 1.21 billion.

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Operations: Bumitama Agri Ltd. generates IDR 15.44 billion from its plantations and palm oil mills segment.

Dividend Yield: 6.8%

Bumitama Agri Ltd. offers a high dividend yield of 6.82%, ranking in the top 25% of Singaporean dividend payers. However, its dividends have shown inconsistency over the past decade with notable fluctuations exceeding 20% annually, raising concerns about reliability. Despite this, both earnings and cash flows provide adequate coverage for current dividends, with payout ratios at 40.4% and cash payout ratios at 60.8%, respectively. The company's stock is trading at a significant discount56.8% below estimated fair valuesuggesting potential undervaluation relative to peers and industry standards.

SGX:P8Z Dividend History as at May 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: China Sunsine Chemical Holdings Ltd. is an investment holding company that produces and markets specialty chemicals across China, other parts of Asia, the United States, and Europe, with a market capitalization of SGD 382.79 million.

Operations: China Sunsine Chemical Holdings Ltd. generates revenue primarily from its Rubber Chemicals segment, which contributed CN4.38 billion, along with additional revenues from Heating Power and Waste Treatment segments totaling CN221.29 million and CN29.76 million respectively.

Dividend Yield: 6.2%

China Sunsine Chemical Holdings has a history of unstable and unreliable dividend payments over the past decade, with fluctuations that include an annual drop of over 20%. Despite this volatility, the dividends are well supported financially, showing a low payout ratio of 20.8% and a cash payout ratio of 30.2%, indicating they are well covered by both earnings and cash flows. Recent activities include share repurchases initiated on May 13, 2024, underlining potential confidence in the company's valuation. The stock is trading at a significant discount74.7% below its estimated fair valuesuggesting it may be undervalued compared to its industry peers.

SGX:QES Dividend History as at May 2024

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include SGX:D05SGX:P8Z and SGX:QES.

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A e-rickshaw driver from a village in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district, who is eighteen years old, was ecstatic to meet King Charles III at Buckingham Palace this week after winning a prestigious award for women's empowerment in London. Following her meeting with the 75-year-old monarch on Wednesday, Arti accepted the Amal Clooney Women's Empowerment Award, which bears the name of the well-known human rights attorney, at the Prince's Trust Awards in London.

"I am proud to be able to inspire other girls who face similar challenges. This newfound independence has helped me see the world in a different light. Now, I can fulfil not only my own dreams, but also those of my daughter," news agency PTI quoted Arti as saying.

"It has been an incredible experience to meet the King, who was so nice and sent his namaste to my family back home. He also listened carefully as I explained how much I enjoy driving my E-rickshaw, which does not run on polluting diesel or petrol," she said in Hindi.

The Prince's Trust International, founded by King Charles as the Prince of Wales, will now be known as the King's Trust International as it continues to support young people in 20 countries through employment, education, and enterprise programmes. The Prince's Trust Women's Empowerment Award honours the global efforts of young women who have overcome adversity to make a positive difference in the lives of those around them.

Meet this years @KingsTrustInt, Amal Clooney Womens Empowerment winner, Arti!



After taking part in AKFs Project Lehar, Arti has become one of the first female pink e-rickshaw drivers in Uttar Pradesh, India, providing safe transport for other women in her community! pic.twitter.com/dfM4gkOlJ9 May 22, 2024

Who Is Arti?

Arti (18) is one of the first woman pink e-ricksaw driver who hails from Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich. She has a five-year-old daughter for whom she purchased cake and shoes on her first trip to London. Through her work with the government's Pink E-rickshaw initiative, which offers safe transportation for other women on a mission to literally drive change, she was recognised for inspiring other young girls. She arrived at Buckingham Palace in a pink rickshaw, demonstrating that it is not only a sustainable mode of transportation, but also an idea and a movement. The district administration of Bahraich offered pink e-rickshaws with a subsidy for female drivers as part of an inventive scheme.

In July 2023, Arti was introduced to the Pink E-Rickshaw programme of the Indian government by Project Lehar, in association with Prince's Trust International and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF). The program's objective is to enhance women's economic opportunities and promote their empowerment nationwide.



The programme intends to help vulnerable women find workwidows and single mothers like Arti in particularand to make safe transportation more accessible to them so they can be more mobile and independent.
Mehbooba Mufti fiercely attacked the National Conference and Omar Abdullah, stating that from independence till today, Omar and his party have surrendered to the center. From weakening Article 370 to rigging elections, the decisions taken by the NC have led to the deaths of thousands of people in Kashmir.

On the last day of the election campaign for the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, Mehbooba visited her father's mausoleum. After seeking his blessings for her victory, she spoke to journalists and attacked Omar and his party in response to the allegations made by Omar Abdullah.

Mehbooba Mufti said, "Omar Abdullah's party has made all the decisions regarding Kashmir since independence, which I do not call decisions but surrenders. All the wrong decisions, including election rigging, have caused the deaths of thousands of Kashmiris. Taking a dig at Omar, she said, 'And today he accuses me of being in hand and glove with the center.'"

Mufti continued, "NC has ruled for decades. Tell me one decision they have taken for the benefit of the people. They only want to rule; when did they care about Kashmir or its people? First, they merged with India after independence, then they formed an alliance with Congress to form the government, and later joined hands with BJP for their own benefit. When they were in power, merging with India was fine; now that they have lost power, they call the merger wrong."

"PDP has always made the center bow down, unlike NC. Be it Congress or BJP, PDP has always worked on its own terms. PDP came to power and achieved a lot in a short period. Whatever work PDP did in the alliance agenda, let Omar Abdullah do one of those. He (NC) had 60 MLAs, yet their proposal for autonomy was thrown into the dustbin."

Mufti added, "Compared to NC, PDP ruled for a short time, but we abolished cases against thousands of youths. We forced BJP to talk to Pakistan and separatists. Article 370 was not even touched during our tenure. We brought a parliamentary delegation to Kashmir to talk to the separatists. If the Hurriyat did not respond to them, what could Mehbooba Mufti do about it?"

Mehbooba stated, "For the last five years, since Article 370 was removed, NC has been demanding only one thingthat elections should be held so they can regain power. But we have raised our voice and told the center that they betrayed Kashmir by removing the article."

Mufti appealed to the people of her constituency to remember what has been done to them since August 19, 2019, and to respond to all those actions by voting against the center.

The fate of Mehbooba Mufti, who is contesting from the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, will be decided on May 25 in the sixth phase of elections. Mehbooba will be pitted against NC's Gujjar leader Mian Altaf and Apni Party's Zafar Manhas.
Exuding confidence in the electoral victory in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the candidate from the party securing the monumental win will be the Prime Minister. He asserted that it is not a beauty contest between people, the alliance is a party based on democracy.

Ramesh was responding to a question asked by news agency ANI about whether party leader Rahul Gandhi is the prime ministerial face. He said that the question must be which party or alliance will get the mandate.

"It is not a beauty contest between people. We are a party-based democracy. The question is which party or alliance will get the mandate. Individuals are not that important. Parties get the majority. Party chooses their leader, and that leader becomes the PM. Ramesh told the agency.

He added that the same happened in 2004, when the name of the then PM, Manmohan Singh, was announced within four days of the Congress party securing the victory. Ramesh said, This time it won't even take 4 days. The PM's name will be announced within two days.

However, many Indian National Congress leaders have indicated on several occasions that Rahul Gandhi is the potential Prime Minister candidate from the INDIA bloc. Congress Priyanka Gandhi, who is leading the election campaign for the alliance, has claimed on several occasions that Rahul Gandhi is a suitable prime ministerial candidate as he exhibits all the necessary qualities.

Also, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy asserted that Rahul Gandhi will be the Prime Minister of the country. He highlighted how Gandhis Nyay Yatra establishes himself as the most fitting PM candidate.

Rahul Gandhi is running for the Lok Sabha elections in two constituencies: Wayanad and Raebareli.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Noting that more than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted if he had been in power he would have taken Kartapur Sahib from Pakistan before freeing their troops. Addressing a rally at Patiala, his first in the state for the seventh phase of Lok Sabha polls on June 1, Modi said Punjab and the Sikh community have always been at the forefront of national-building efforts, even as he lambasted the current AAP government over issues of corruption and drugs trade.

PM Modi raked up the sensitive subject of the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, which is revered by Sikhs since Guru Nanak Dev spent his final years there. He accused the Congress of being the cause of the nation's division, claiming they did it for their own political gain. Kartar Sahib is located in Punjab, Pakistan, a short distance from the Indian border. This is where the partition left it. "For 70 years, we could have a 'darshan' of the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara only with binoculars," Modi stated.

In 1971, he claimed, "we had the trump card in our hands" when over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered to the Indian Army, creating an opportunity to retake the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara. "They (Congress) did not do that, but I did what I could," Modi said, referring to the Kartapur Sahib Corridor, which opened in 2019 and made it easier for Sikh pilgrims to travel to the shrine.



#WATCH | Patiala, Punjab: Addressing a public rally, PM Modi says, "Congress did the partition of the country in such a way that for 70 years, we had to look at Kartarpur Sahib through binoculars... When the Bangladesh war was fought, more than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers had pic.twitter.com/IohSmC0OX4  ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2024

Modi, who was campaigning for Preneet Kaur, the wife of former chief minister Amarinder Singh and the BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Patiala, said he had come to seek blessings in the land of Gurus "by bowing my head". Other BJP candidates, including Parampal Kaur Sidhu from Bathinda, Arvind Khanna from Sangrur, Hans Raj Hans from Faridkot, and Gejja Ram Valmiki from Fatehgarh Sahib, were also on stage as Modi spoke, wearing traditional Sikh turbans.

PM said that Punjab has led the country in a variety of sectors, including agriculture and industry. However, the current "fiercely corrupt" Bhagwant Mann government has altered all of that, he added. "Trade and industry are leaving Punjab, while the drug trade expands. "The entire state government is in debt.



The prime minister stated that the government's authority does not apply here while the sand and drug mafia, as well as shooter gangs, rule. "All ministers are happy, and the 'kagazi CM' is constantly marking his presence in the 'Delhi darbar'. "Can such people bring development to Punjab?" He also criticised the AAP and the Congress for competing in the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi while opposing each other in Punjab.

"In Punjab, they fight each other in elections just to show the people. Delhi's 'fiercely corrupt party' and the party responsible for anti-Sikh riots are staging a fight against each other)," he said.

Modi outlined steps taken by his government to benefit the Sikh community, including a tax exemption on materials used to make 'langar' and a relaxation of foreign donation norms for the Golden Temple. He added that his government had declared 'Veer Baal Diwas' to commemorate the martyrdom of the tenth Sikh Guru's sons. He added that his government had brought Sikh families and'saroops' of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan.

"I have blood relations with you," Modi said, noting that one of Guru Gobind Singh's 'panj pyare' (five beloved ones) was from Gujarat. He stated that while serving as Gujarat chief minister, he rebuilt a gurdwara where the first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev once halted, which had been damaged by an earthquake. "Modi doesn't do it for votes. "Modi's head bows before the sacrifices of Sikh Gurus," he declared.



Continuing his attack on the INDIA bloc, he stated that "they neither have a leader, nor an intent," and that their main goal is to appease their voter base, whereas the BJP's mantra is 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas'.


With the Lok Sabha polls drawing near to its conclusion, the political pundits are busy making their predictions while the pollsters are keeping the people in suspense. Political analyst Prashant Kishor is making headlines nowadays for his interviews with various news outlets where he talked about the performance of the BJP and the Congress in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls 2024. While the results will be out on June 4, people are eager to know the trends and likely results and thus Kishor's predictions are a huge draw.

Prashant Kishor On Formula To Defeat BJP

Prashant Kishor, who is credited for not only the BJP's but also for the victory of Mamata Banerjee's TMC and K Chandrashekar Rao's BRS, said that the saffron party is facing anti-incumbency and the percentage of votes polled by Modi over the years has declined. He said that Muslims should form an alliance with four sets of Hindu voters who do not vote for the BJP or Modi. Kishor said that the four Hindu sections are - Gandhian Hindus, Ambedkarite Hindus, Communist Hindus and Socialist Hindus.

Kishor On Number Of Seats BJP May Win

Prashant Kishor claimed that the BJP has made significant gains in South and East India. He was referring to the states of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal and Odisha. Kishor has maintained that the BJP's seat tally may not drop below 270 seats. Thus, indicating that the Modi may retain power for the third time with around 300 seats.

Kishor On Big Changes In Modi 3.0

Kishor said that Modi 3.0 will start with a bang as there may be more concentration of power with the Centre. He said that the Modi government might fulfil the demand of bringing Petrol/Diesel under the Goods and Services Tax (GST). He also claimed that there might be an attempt to curtail the financial autonomy of the states. He said that India under Modi 3.0 may become more assertive when it comes to handling geopolitical issues.
LAKHIMPUR: Tension prevailed in Assam's Lakhimpur after a person accused of mobile phone theft died in police custody, leading to protests in Khelmati area, officials said. Two police personnel have been placed under suspension in connection with the incident, they said. The accused was arrested along with four others on charges of mobile phone theft and other electronic gadgets by officials of the Khelmati outpost on Wednesday night.

Lakhimpur Additional Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) L K Deka said the accused, who was sitting on a bench inside the police station, suddenly fell down and was immediately rushed to the civil hospital where he was declared brought dead by doctors. The in-charge of Khelmati Outpost, Dipankar Changmai, and another personnel on duty, have been placed under suspension, the ASP said.

Reference death in police custody at Khelmati OP District North Lakhimpur - 1. IC of Khelmati OP has been placed under suspension along with on duty sentry at time of incident. 2. Independent Enquiry has been ordered by Addl SP Biswanath. 3. All mandatory provisions of law &  DGP Assam (@DGPAssamPolice) May 23, 2024

'Since the death happened inside the police station, a departmental inquiry will be conducted by an officer of the rank of ASP, he added. A huge crowd had gathered in front of the police station since early morning to protest against the incident, and tension prevailed in the area, with senior police officers rushing to the spot to control the situation, the officials said.

Deka said a magisterial inquest will be ordered into the incident and a panel of doctors will conduct the post-mortem, which will be videographed, to ascertain the exact cause of the death.

'Reference death in police custody at Khelmati OP District North Lakhimpur - 1. IC of Khelmati OP has been placed under suspension along with on duty sentry at time of incident. 2. Independent Enquiry has been ordered by Addl SP Biswanath. 3. All mandatory provisions of law & directions of NHRC/AHRC are being followed 4. DIG NR has been directed to proceed to Khelmati immediately, Assam Director General of Police G P Singh said in a post on X.
Bhartiya Janta Party woman worker, Rathibala Arhi (38) was killed in Nandigram, West Bengal on Thursday, following which the saffron partys workers held a massive protest as they burnt tyres, blocked roads and forcibly shut down many shops in the region. The area comes under Tamluk Constituency and the Lok Sabha elections are scheduled for May 25 in the sixth phase.

The protestors are alleging that this is an action by TMC-backed criminals. A local BJP leader mentioned that the saffron camp initially called for a bandh in Nadigram as part of their protest but later retracted it, reported PTI.

Police stated that they deployed a large contingent of police and RAF in the area to control the rioting mob. No arrests related to the alleged murder have occurred yet.

Arhi, a party worker in Sonachura village was killed and several others were injured after unidentified assailants on motorcycles, armed with weapons, attacked resulting in her death and injuries to several others.

As per PTIs report quoting BJPs district general secretary Meghnadh Paul, Arhi and several other party workers were tasked with the job of guarding a local polling booth last night after poll campaigns in the area ended for the day. TMC-backed criminals attacked them. She was murdered and others were left badly injured.

Paul added that one of the seven injured people had a critical condition and was taken to a hospital in Kolkata.

The leader of the TMC in Nandigram, Swadesh Das, refuted the accusations, saying that the killing could be the consequence of some family disputes.
The Lok Sabha elections are just two weeks away from culmination and the anticipations are already high with both the BJP and the Congress claiming to have gained majority in the first five phases. While the BJP claimed to have crossed 300 seats so far, the Congress claimed that the BJP may not win more than 150 seats and the INDIA bloc will form a government when the results are announced early next month. Amid these claims by both alliances, a US-based political research analyst has made a shocking claim about the Indian Parliamentary poll results, which will be out on June 4.

Global political risk consultant Ian Bremmer claimed that the BJP may win 305 (+/-10) seats. Bremmer, founder of the Eurasia Group, told NDTV that his firm's research shows that the BJP may win 295-315 seats. Talking about the general elections, Bremmer made a big remark saying that only the Indian parliamentary polls currently look consistent and stable given the global uncertainties including the US and the UK elections.

The BJP led by Narendra Modi had won 282 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls while it increased its seat tally to 303 in the 2019 polls. Narendra Modi has set a target of 370 seats for the BJP and over 400 for the NDA bloc. On the other hand, Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi predicted less than 200 seats for the NDA.

The Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases and so far, 428 seats out of the 543 have gone to the polls. Voting for the 115 seats will be held in the next two phases while the counting of votes will be held on June 4. Besides the Parliamentary polls, assembly elections for two states - Odisha and Andhra Pradesh - were also held and their results will be announced along with the Lok Sabha polls.
Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone faced massive trolling for flaunting her baby bump while voting recently. Several celebrities including Alia Bhatt, Pooja Bhatt, and others extended their support to the star and condemned the trolls.

Mom-to-be Deepika Padukone faced significant negativity on social media recently. Since announcing her pregnancy earlier this year, the actress hasnt made many appearances flaunting her baby bump.

On May 20 the actress stepped out to cast her vote in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha Election 2024 in Mumbai. However, she faced trolling from some netizens who made derogatory comments about her body and even questioned her baby bump.

In this ongoing trolling, senior journalist Faye DSouza wrote a strongly-worded post on her social media handle condemning trolls for shaming Deepikas baby bump.

Have A Look At Her Post :

In her Post, She wrote, Dear social media, Deepika Padukone stepped out to do her democratic duty and vote. She did not ask for your feedback on her body or her pregnancy. You have no right to comment on any aspect of her life. Stop it. Behave.

Several Actors came in her support as they liked her post after that the post went viral. Alia Bhatt was one of them and her sisters Shaheen Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt along with their mother Soni Razdan, also showed their support by liking the post.

Agreeing on the same, actress Shruti Seth wrote, Luckily @deepikapadukone is too busy taking over the world to give a damn! Shes walking all over their damn opinions. TV star Tina Datta said, Exactly! People have lost it.

Deepikas fans are praising Alia and other actors for their supportive and empathetic stance towards their beloved star.

Moreover Deepika Padukone on the work front, The actress is currently occupied with her highly anticipated projects, one being the Pan India film Kalki 2898 AD and the other being Singham Again.


Jennifer Lopez has never been one to shy away from addressing rumors, especially when it comes to her relationship with Ben Affleck.

During a recent press conference for her new Netflix film 'Atlas', Lopez was directly asked about the persistent divorce rumors surrounding her and her husband.

Lopez, known for her candid demeanour, responded in a manner that left everyone in the room stunned, as per E! News.

When a reporter inquired about the status of her marriage to the Oscar-winning actor, the 'Mary Me' star initially laughed off the question.

However, she quickly adopted a more serious tone, leaned in, and remarked, "You know better than that."

As per E! News, her 'Atlas' co-star, Simu Liu, also jumped to her defence, saying, "C'mon, don't come in here with that."

Despite shutting down the rumours at the press conference, Jennifer Lopez hasn't been completely silent about her relationship with Affleck.

During a May 20 appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live', she briefly mentioned her husband while recounting a memorable encounter with Barbra Streisand.

Lopez shared that Streisand admired the engagement ring Affleck gave her, commenting, "'So that's a big diamond.'"

Lopez found the moment surreal and expressed how taken she was by Streisand's reaction.

Additionally, Lopez spoke about her family life, including her 16-year-old twins Max and Emme, whom she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony.

She humorously noted how her children find it "awkward" to watch her perform in provocative costumes, adding, "I do sexy things at home sometimes, but they don't know that."

Ben Affleck, on the other hand, has remained silent about the divorce rumors. However, actions speak louder than words, and he was seen wearing his wedding ring during a May 19 outing with Lopez, as confirmed by E! News.

Jennifer, too, was spotted with her platinum band at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Atlas' on May 20.

The couple, who rekindled their romance and got married in Las Vegas in July 2022, followed by a more formal ceremony in Georgia a month later, have shown no signs of separation.

Their initial engagement in 2002 and subsequent breakup in 2004 had left fans heartbroken, making their reunion all the more celebrated.

For now, it seems that the rumors are just that, rumors
Brian X. Tierney, FirstEnergy president and CEO, sits in front of a painting in the lobby of the FirstEnergy West Akron campus in Akron.

Three FirstEnergy Corp. shareholder proposals, including two tied to executive compensation, were voted down Wednesday as the Akron-based utility's stock owners convened online for their annual meeting.

The utilitys board of directors had recommended that shareholders vote against all three proposals.

In a separate advisory vote, shareholders approved the company's proposed pay structure for its top executive officers, according to the preliminary voting results. Shareholders also elected 10 board directors to one-year terms and ratified the appointment of accounting firm to examine the utilitys books and accounts for this year, per preliminary voting results.

According to the utilitys 2024 proxy statement, 2023 compensation including base salary and performance-related incentives exceeded eight figures for two FirstEnergy executives: Brian X. Tierney, president and CEO, with roughly $13.9 million, and John W. Somerhalder II, non-executive board chair and former interim president and CEO, with about $10.3 million.

One of the defeated measures would have tied top executives' compensation levels to their success in meeting climate-related goals. The utility had previously announced plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The proposal crafted by the Office of the New York State Comptroller said: We believe that alignment of a corporate climate transition strategy with executive compensation metrics and incentives can increase the likelihood of the Company achieving a timely climate transition. Compensation packages are designed to reward executives for achieving companies strategic objectives.

FirstEnergy, which has operations in New York, nixed the state's 2030 goal in February, citing its dependence on coal in West Virginia, according to law firm Frost Brown Todd.

In a written response to the proposal, FirstEnergys board of directors said its compensation committee already has a robust and comprehensive process for developing and approving our executive compensation program design which includes a periodic assessment as to the feasibility of incorporating environmental and climate-related performance goals.

Proposal to adjust clawback policy for executive pay

Shareholder John Chevedden proposed that FirstEnergys clawback policy be amended so that named executive officers incentive pay is recouped based on executives negligence or conduct.

In his proposal, he asserted that FirstEnergys policy does not address situations where an executive fails to exercise oversight responsibilities that result in significant financial or reputational damage to FirstEnergy.

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Chevedden said the House Bill 6 scandal is one reason that FirstEnergys clawback policy should be more robust, noting that the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio fined FirstEnergy $230 million in 2021.

FirstEnergys board stated in its proxy statement that the utility has two compensation recoupment policies that it considers fulsome and already cover what Chevedden raised in his proposal.

Group pushes for audit of climate-related initiatives

The third failed proposal, presented by the National Center for Public Policy Research, would have required FirstEnergy to conduct an audit examining whether its commitment to environmental sustainability goals is based on "relevant evidence and research."

The Washington-based group, which describes itself as a nonpartisan, free-market, independent conservative think tank, cited a 2023 Energy Policy Research Foundation study that concluded oil and gas "play irreplaceable roles in modern civilization that are not reproducible with low-carbon alternatives. The attempt to substitute them with inferior, less efficient, energy sources will have enormous micro- and macroeconomic consequences and profound geopolitical implications.

FirstEnergy stated in its proxy statement response that the centers proposal is neither reasonable nor practical.

Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at pwilliams@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @pwilliamsOH.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: FirstEnergy shareholders veto 3 proposals at annual meeting
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) is highlighting a slight downward trend for property insurance rate filings, claiming it is a sign that Floridas housing insurance issues are improving.

Were realistically seeing reductions of a few dollars here and there, said Ron Assise, an insurance broker at The Horton Group.

Ten companies filed a 0% increase in 2024, and nine companies filed for a decreased rate this year, the OIR reported last week.

The industry last year had a substantially better year with the industry still lost money, Assise said. They lost a lot less than they did in 2021 or 2022. Thats why were seeing the stability come to the market now.

However, some homeowners are cautiously optimistic about the market shift after the significant spike in their insurance premiums over recent years.

Its good to know its a possibility, said Tamra Ransom, a property owner in Winter Haven. However, it does seem too good to be true.

The nine companies that have filed for a rate reduction in 2024 are:

Safe Harbor Insurance Company

Spinnaker Insurance Company

Southern Oak Insurance Company

American National Property & Casualty Company

Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Company

US Coastal Property & Casualty

Florida Peninsula Insurance Company

Stillwater Property and Casualty Insurance Company

American Integrity Insurance Company of Florida

In addition, the 10 companies that filed a 0% increase in 2024 are:

Florida Family Home Insurance Company

Florida Farm Bureau General Insurance Company

American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida

Edison Insurance Company

Castle Key Insurance Company

Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Company

Castle Key Indemnity Company

American Integrity Insurance Company of Florida

American Security Insurance Company

American Traditions Insurance Company

As Insurance Commissioner, my top priority has been increasing protection for Floridas consumers and todays announcement demonstrates Governor DeSantis ongoing commitment to ensuring a strengthened and reliable insurance market for policyholders, Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky said.

The OIR said it is continuing to see market stabilization due to legislative reform in 2022 and 2023.

If you ask the everyday resident, they have not seen a decrease in their bill, Rep. Jervonte Edmonds (D-West Palm Beach) said. But theres a lot of good efforts that we have created and made.

One of the bills the OIR highlighted was House Bill 1611, which put more regulator oversights in place.

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We even put a tax break in this year for homeowners for when they file taxes that will reduce their bill about $75 which is very minimal, Edmonds said. I think with the combined efforts that weve been making since 2022 and up until this point, hopefully residents will see a decrease in their bill.

Among those oversights, insurers are prohibited from canceling policies due to hurricane damage within 90 days after the property has been repaired and requiring justification if a certain model is used in a rate filing to ensure the rate is fair, the OIR said.

A full list of market regulation actions can be found here. The full OIR market update can be found here.

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 WFLA.
Germany has installed more solar capacity than consumer demand requires, SEB Research found.

During peak solar production hours, producers have taken a 87% price cut in the past 10 days.

In fact, raw market energy prices fall into negative territory during these hours.

Sunny days in Germany mean gray clouds for solar profitability as the nation's dive into renewables has left it with too much energy.

According to a note from SEB Research, in the past 10 days, solar producers have had to take an 87% price cut during production hours. In fact, when production peaks, prices have slid well below zero.

On average, the price received was 9.1 euros per megawatt-hour, significantly under the 70.6 euros paid during non-solar-power hours.

"This is what happens to power prices when the volume of unregulated power becomes equally big or bigger than demand: Prices collapse when unregulated power produces the most," the Swedish bank wrote on Tuesday.

Last year's record wave of solar installations are what's driving Germany's price "destruction" as inventory outpaces consumption. While total solar capacity topped 81.7 gigawatts by 2023's end, demand load only reached 52.2 gigawatts, noted SEB chief commodities analyst Bjarne Schieldrop.

The difference between the two actually widens even more in the summer, a season of peak production and lower demand.

This also means that consumers are not necessarily benefiting from the low prices, as they typically consume more energy in non-solar hours.

Unless new installations are spurred on by subsidies or power purchase agreements, oppressed profitability could eventually halt Germany's solar expansion, Schieldrop said.

Instead, focus is likely to move onto improvements that will make more use of the energy produced, such as investments in batteries and grid infrastructure.

"This will over time exhaust the availability of 'free power' and drive solar-hour-power-prices back up," Schieldrop wrote. "This again will then eventually open for renewed growth in solar power capacity growth."

The supply-demand imbalance is neither a new issue for Germany, nor is the country alone in experiencing it. The European market has raced to install solar capacity through last year, a move made urgent after Russia cut off its energy supplies to the continent.

A European green-energy-supply glut  further extended by wind turbine and nuclear expansions  has triggered previous instances of negative price dips.

In reality, this doesn't mean that consumers are reimbursed to use electricity, as they're not paying raw market price. Instead, rates are typically agreed on beforehand.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Amid a backdrop of recent profit-taking and concerns over rising interest rates highlighted by the U.K.'s inflation data, the Swiss market has shown signs of volatility. As investors navigate these uncertain waters, stocks with high insider ownership in growth companies on the SIX Swiss Exchange may offer a unique appeal, potentially indicating strong confidence from those closest to the company's operations.

Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In Switzerland

Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth Stadler Rail (SWX:SRAIL) 14.5% 23.4% VAT Group (SWX:VACN) 10.2% 21.2% Straumann Holding (SWX:STMN) 32.7% 21% Swissquote Group Holding (SWX:SQN) 11.4% 14.3% Temenos (SWX:TEMN) 17.4% 14.7% LEM Holding (SWX:LEHN) 34.5% 9.9% Sonova Holding (SWX:SOON) 17.7% 10.4% Arbonia (SWX:ARBN) 28.8% 80% SHL Telemedicine (SWX:SHLTN) 17.9% 96.2% Sensirion Holding (SWX:SENS) 20.7% 78.8%

Click here to see the full list of 17 stocks from our Fast Growing SIX Swiss Exchange Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

We'll examine a selection from our screener results.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: INFICON Holding AG specializes in developing instruments for gas analysis, measurement, and control, operating both in Switzerland and globally, with a market capitalization of approximately CHF 3.48 billion.

Operations: The company's revenue primarily stems from its global instrumentation segment for gas analysis, measurement, and control, generating $673.71 million.

Insider Ownership: 10.3%

INFICON Holding AG, a Swiss company with high insider ownership, shows promising growth metrics. The company's revenue and earnings are forecasted to grow at 7.2% and 9.85% per year respectively, outpacing the Swiss market averages of 4.3% and 8.1%. This performance is bolstered by a strong projected return on equity of 27.6%. However, recent financial results highlight substantial growth with last year's sales reaching US$673.71 million and net income at US$105.68 million, marking significant year-over-year increases.

SWX:IFCN Earnings and Revenue Growth as at May 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Sensirion Holding AG operates globally, specializing in the development, production, sale, and servicing of sensor systems, modules, and components with a market capitalization of approximately CHF 1.16 billion.

Operations: The company generates CHF 233.17 million from its sensor systems, modules, and components segment.

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Insider Ownership: 20.7%

Sensirion Holding AG, despite a challenging financial year with a net loss of CHF 6.58 million from sales of CHF 233.17 million, is positioned for recovery with expected revenue growth outpacing the Swiss market average. The company's focus has shifted towards methane emission monitoring, aiming to leverage its technological expertise in environmental sensing. Forecasted earnings growth is robust at 78.82% annually, although current profitability is delayed, with positive returns anticipated within three years amidst high share price volatility.

SWX:SENS Earnings and Revenue Growth as at May 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Temenos AG is a global provider of integrated banking software systems to financial institutions, with a market capitalization of CHF 4.20 billion.

Operations: The company generates its revenue by selling integrated banking software systems to financial institutions globally.

Insider Ownership: 17.4%

Temenos, trading at 31.3% below its estimated fair value, shows promising growth with earnings expected to increase by 14.7% annually, outperforming the Swiss market's 8.1%. Although its revenue growth is moderate at 7.7% per year, it remains above the market average of 4.3%. The company maintains a high return on equity forecast at 26%, despite a volatile share price and substantial debt levels. Recent advancements include significant efficiency improvements in its cloud-native banking platform and a new client acquisition with PC Financial for expanded Canadian operations.

SWX:TEMN Ownership Breakdown as at May 2024

Seize The Opportunity

Dive into all 17 of the Fast Growing SIX Swiss Exchange Companies With High Insider Ownership we have identified here.

Already own these companies? Bring clarity to your investment decisions by linking up your portfolio with Simply Wall St, where you can monitor all the vital signs of your stocks effortlessly.

Streamline your investment strategy with Simply Wall St's app for free and benefit from extensive research on stocks across all corners of the world.

Searching for a Fresh Perspective?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years.

Companies discussed in this article include SWX:IFCN SWX:SENS and SWX:TEMN.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
In this article, we look at the largest weapon manufacturer in the world. If interested, you can also view our recently released complete list of the 15 Largest Weapon Manufacturers in the World.

Latest figures released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in April this year estimated the global military spending in 2023 at a record-high of $2.44 trillion, up 6.8% compared to 2022. The year witnessed the steepest rise in defense expenditure since 2009, and was the ninth successive year in which defense spending had increased worldwide.

The United States continued to remain the largest spender on military expenditure in 2023 as well, having incurred a whopping $916 billion in defense bills during the year, growing 2.3% from last year. Washingtons spending represented 37.5% of the worlds military expenditure, and accounted for 68% of all NATO spending. $588 billion was spent by countries in Europe, which was equivalent to 24% of the global share. Of this amount, an overwhelming 69% was expensed in Central and Western Europe. Both Russia and Ukraine substantially increased their military expenditure during the year, whereas other countries in the region actively racked up their defenses as well with war having returned to the continent after decades of peace.

Another report by SIPRI highlighted that arms imported by countries in Europe between 2019-2023 were 94% higher than the monetary volume in 2014-2018. The United States was the origin of an estimated 55% of all weapons received by Europe, making the country the largest exporter of arms in the world.

The spike in defense expenditure has resulted in a boom in the defense industry. Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)s stock price has surged 29% since the start of the war in Ukraine. Several countries in Europe are eying the companys famed F-35 fifth-generation fighter, while the production of HIMARS is also in full swing to replenish stocks of allies arming Kyiv. This month, the US Army awarded a $861 million contract to Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) for the supply of additional HIMARS, believed to be linked to military assistance for Ukraine. According to the Defense Post, the contract did not specify the number of launchers ordered, but is expected to be around 288 based on previous solicitation documents that were seen.

RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX)s numbers have also been promising, having posted $68.9 billion in revenue in 2023, with a year-on-year growth of 3%, aided by the ongoing conflict in Europe. Between February 2022, when the war started, and October 2023, the company had received orders worth $3 billion for its AMRAAM rockets alone to assist Ukraine in pushing back advancing Russian troops. Earlier last year in March, RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) also won a $1.2 billion contract from Germany to build Patriot air and missile defense systems for the country and boost its air defenses, while in November, Hungary received the delivery of two units of the NASAMS air defense system it had ordered from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX).

On the other hand, General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) too posted its highest-ever revenue in history last year, totaling $42.3 billion, up 7.7% from the previous year. The company has reported an increase in its artillery production from 14,000 rounds per month to 20,000. The companys 155 millimeter artillery replacements have played a vital role in Kyivs fightback against Russia, which have been regularly provided to the country as part of military assistance by the United States.

With that said, lets take a look at the largest weapon manufacturer in the world.

The Largest Weapon Manufacturer in the World

Methodology

To compile the list, we ranked the largest weapon manufacturers in the world in ascending order of their arms revenue in 2022. This is the latest year for which revenue breakdown is available for all major defense companies in the world. Data has been sourced from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The largest weapon manufacturer in the world is Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT).

1. Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)

Country of Origin: United States

Total Revenue in 2022: $65.98 billion

Arms Revenue in 2022: $59.39 billion

Share of Overall Revenue: 90%

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) is the largest weapon manufacturer in the world, with over $59 billion worth of arms revenue in 2022  three-fourths of which came from over $45 billion in DoD contracts. It is the manufacturer of the famed F-35 fifth-generation fighter jet, and the company is likely to retain its status as a cornerstone for the US Air Force as it works alongside other partners in the industry on the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program to build a sixth-generation fighter.

You can see the rest of the rankings here.

If you are looking for states where the US military spends the most funds, you can head over to our article on the Top 20 States Where the US Military Spends the Most Money.

READ NEXT: 15 Biggest Aircraft Carriers in the World

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published on Insider Monkey.
By News Centre

"With the approval of our Presidency and the consent of Iranian officials, the unarmed AKINCI UAV took off from Batman at 23:30 and entered Iranian airspace at 00:12. Visual contact was established at 02:36 during the scans conducted in the relevant area, and the detected heat source was shared with Iranian authorities."

Azernews reports that the statement was made by the Minister of National Defence of Turkiye, Yashar Guler.

Minister Guler conducted a video conference meeting with the commanders of domestic and cross-border units.

In the meeting attended by Minister Guler from the Ministry of National Defence, Chief of the General Staff General Metin Gurak, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Ercument Tatl?oghlu, Chief of Air Force Staff General Ziya Cemal Kad?oghlu, and Deputy Ministers Shuay Alpay and Alpaslan Kavakl?oghlu were also present. Minister Guler received information about ongoing activities, especially in the fight against terrorism, and gave instructions for future work.

Minister Guler expressed condolences to Iranian politicians, bureaucrats, and citizens, including Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian, who lost their lives in the accident.

I congratulate all my comrades

Guler stated that they started preparations upon receiving the request for a night vision capable helicopter from Iranian authorities after learning about the accident. "In this context, it was instructed to prepare the AKINCI UAV, which was considered more beneficial under the current conditions by us. With the approval of our Presidency and the consent of Iranian officials, the unarmed AKINCI UAV took off from Batman at 23:30 and entered Iranian airspace at 00:12. Visual contact was established at 02:36 during the scans conducted in the relevant area, and the detected heat source was shared with Iranian authorities. At 05:50, information was received that the wreckage was reached as a result of the contact established with Iranian officials. Our AKINCI UAV, which successfully completed its mission, entered Turkish airspace at 06:45. During this process, I congratulate all my comrades who acted in close cooperation and coordination with our Presidency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Iranian authorities, showing a rapid reaction and successfully fulfilling their duties; I kiss each one of them separately from their eyes," he said.

We saw that the effectiveness of our army has further increased

Minister Guler stated that with its glorious history of over 2,200 years, the Turkish Armed Forces are one of the strongest armies in the world with its discipline, capability, courage, and compassion. "Our determination in the fight against terrorism, within the framework of our new security concept, is to eliminate threats at their source before they reach our borders, and to continue our fight against all kinds of threats and dangers, especially terrorist organizations such as PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG, DAESH, and FETO, with increasing pressure and intensity. In addition, with the increasing number and scope of exercises every year, we aim to increase peace and stability in our region and especially with our neighbours, and to develop mutual respect, friendship, and cooperation. We have seen that the effectiveness of our brave army in the air and at sea has further increased with comprehensive exercises such as the International Anatolian Phoenix and Seawolf Exercises, which we have conducted in recent times. The Ephesus-2024 Exercise, which started on April 25, 2024, is being conducted comprehensively. The Ephesus Exercise is being conducted with a professional understanding that can respond to current events, crisis scenarios that may occur globally and regionally, by reflecting the multi-dimensional and complex security environment that has become beyond the classic exercise understanding into the exercise scenario," he said.

50 countries and more than 11,000 personnel will participate

Reminding that 37 countries participated in the exercise two years ago, Guler said, "This year, it is planned that 50 countries and approximately 11,000 personnel will participate in the exercise, and the distinguished observer day will be held on May 29-30 with the participation of our esteemed President. I sincerely believe that, as in the past, our Turkish Armed Forces will demonstrate superior performance in the Ephesus Exercise, which is one of the most important and appropriate platforms to demonstrate the capabilities and capabilities of our Armed Forces to the domestic and foreign public. On this occasion, I wish success to all my colleagues in arms and duty, and I kiss each of you from your eyes," he said.
There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base 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. So on that note, Malaysia Steel Works (KL) Bhd (KLSE:MASTEEL) looks quite promising in regards to its trends of return on capital.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Malaysia Steel Works (KL) Bhd:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.033 = RM31m  (RM2.0b - RM1.0b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2023).

Therefore, Malaysia Steel Works (KL) Bhd has an ROCE of 3.3%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Metals and Mining industry average of 6.5%.

See our latest analysis for Malaysia Steel Works (KL) Bhd

roce

While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you'd like to look at how Malaysia Steel Works (KL) Bhd has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of Malaysia Steel Works (KL) Bhd's past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What Can We Tell From Malaysia Steel Works (KL) Bhd's ROCE Trend?

Even though ROCE is still low in absolute terms, it's good to see it's heading in the right direction. The figures show that over the last five years, ROCE has grown 28% whilst employing roughly the same amount of capital. So it's likely that the business is now reaping the full benefits of its past investments, since the capital employed hasn't changed considerably. On that front, things are looking good so it's worth exploring what management has said about growth plans going forward.

On a side note, we noticed that the improvement in ROCE appears to be partly fueled by an increase in current liabilities. The current liabilities has increased to 52% of total assets, so the business is now more funded by the likes of its suppliers or short-term creditors. Given it's pretty high ratio, we'd remind investors that having current liabilities at those levels can bring about some risks in certain businesses.

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What We Can Learn From Malaysia Steel Works (KL) Bhd's ROCE

To bring it all together, Malaysia Steel Works (KL) Bhd has done well to increase the returns it's generating from its capital employed. And since the stock has fallen 19% over the last five years, there might be an opportunity here. So researching this company further and determining whether or not these trends will continue seems justified.

Since virtually every company faces some risks, it's worth knowing what they are, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Malaysia Steel Works (KL) Bhd (of which 1 is potentially serious!) that you should know about.

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.
New fundraising reports show which candidates have a financial edge in a cluster of competitive primaries for the Iowa House and Senate in the Des Moines metro.

The reports also give an early look at the districts both parties are expecting to be competitive in this fall's general election.

Republicans currently hold 64 seats in the Iowa House to Democrats' 36. And the GOP has a supermajority of 34 seats in the Iowa Senate, where Democrats have 16 members.

In both chambers, Republican majorities are at their largest in decades, giving them an advantage heading into the 2024 election. Democrats will be hoping to make up ground, particularly in races in suburban districts in the metro, which have been decided by close margins in recent years.

More: 2024 Iowa election guide: What are the candidates saying ahead of the June primary?

House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, said in a statement that House Republicans focused on enacting their legislative agenda during the session, rather than fundraising.

"Now that the 2024 session has wrapped up, we are switching gears into campaign mode," he said. "The Des Moines metro, as always, is going to contain many hotly contested swing districts. Weve got impressive incumbents in many of those seats that we feel put us in a strong position in the metro."

Caleb Hunter, a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, said the 2024 legislative session "set the stage for another successful election for Senate Republicans."

"The caucus also maintains a significant fundraising advantage over Senate Democrats," Hunter said. "Despite currently holding 34 seats in the chamber, multiple pickup opportunities exist across the state and Senate Republicans are well-positioned to maintain a supermajority in the Iowa Senate in 2024."

House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, said Iowans believe "the governor and GOP lawmakers have just gone too far." She said House Democrats will work tirelessly to show up in Iowa communities and earn their trust.

"Iowans are tired of politics," she said. "They are ready for more balance in the Iowa Legislature and Iowa House Democrats strong fundraising numbers from people all over the state prove it."

More: Early voting has started for Iowa's June 4 primary election. Here's what you should know:

Tyler Redenbaugh, executive director of the Senate Majority Fund, said the "overwhelming support" for Senate Democratic candidates reflects frustrations with Republican priorities.

"This grassroots support aligns perfectly with what we hear from Iowa voters: They want a better deal for Iowa focused on opportunity, freedom, and government accountability," Redenbaugh said in a statement. "Iowans want leaders who prioritize healthcare without interference from politicians, a strong public education system, and economic opportunities over divisive rhetoric."

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The reports cover fundraising and expenditures from Jan. 1 through May 14. Candidates are required to file reports with the state once they raise or spend more than $1,000 in a calendar year.

Early voting has begun for the June 4 primary election.

Here's a look at fundraising in some key Iowa House and Senate races on the ballot.

House District 22: Norwalk, Carlisle, Cumming and Martensdale

(From left): Republicans Samantha Fett and Garrett Gobble and Democrat Rory D. Taylor are running to represent Iowa House District 22.

Former Rep. Garrett Gobble is facing Samantha Fett, a former Carlisle School Board member and chapter leader for Moms for Liberty, in the Republican primary in this district.

The seat is open this year with the retirement of Rep. Stan Gustafson, R-Cumming.

Fett and Gobble posted roughly even fundraising and spending numbers.

Democrat Rory D. Taylor is running to take on whoever emerges from the Republican primary.

Samantha Fett (R)

Contributions: $5,370

Expenditures: $6,622.52

In-kind contributions: $0

Cash on hand: $2,743.05

Garrett Gobble (R)

Contributions: $5,565

Expenditures: $7,769.39

In-kind contributions: $0

Cash on hand: $1,858.22

Rory D. Taylor (D)

Contributions: $8,429.68

Expenditures: $4,438.31

In-kind contributions: $251.79

Cash on hand: $7,397.18

More: Meet the candidates running for the open Iowa House District 22 seat in Norwalk, Cumming

House District 28: West Des Moines, Van Meter and Adel

(From left) Republican state Rep. David Young, Republican Chad Brewbaker and Democrat Laura Snider are running to represent Iowa House District 28.

Rep. David Young, R-Van Meter, is seeking a second term representing this Dallas County district after winning election in 2022.

Young, a former member of Congress, faces a Republican primary challenge from Chad Brewbaker, who did not file a fundraising report.

Young is well funded, raising more than $54,000 since Jan. 1. He has more than $125,000 in the bank.

Democrats are hoping to put up a serious challenge to Young this fall with attorney Laura Snider. She raised just shy of $10,000 and has $8,700 cash on hand.

Chad Brewbaker (R)

Did not file a report.

David Young (R, incumbent)

Contributions: $54,313.68

Expenditures: $0

In-kind contributions: $2,160.53

Cash on hand: $125,661.53

Laura Snider (D)

Contributions: $9,973.86

Expenditures: $1,240.66

In-kind contributions: $358.19

Cash on hand: $8,733.20

More: Where the candidates for West Des Moines' House District 28 stand on the issues

House District 34: Des Moines

(Top left to right) Democrats John Campbell, Samy El-Baroudi, (bottom left to right) Rob Johnson, Dudley Muhammad and Republican Danielle Duggan are running for Iowa House District 34.

Four Democrats are competing for their party's nomination in this Des Moines-based district, which is open after Democratic Rep. Ako Abdul Samad's decision to retire this year.

Abdul-Samad has endorsed pastor Rob Johnson, who reported raising more than $16,000.

Johnson's donors include former Democratic gubernatorial candidates Fred Hubbell and Jack Hatch; 3rd Congressional District candidate Lanon Baccam; state Sens. Liz Bennett, Sarah Trone Garriott and Zach Wahls; and Des Moines City Council members Mike Simonson and Josh Mandelbaum.

Retired labor leader John R. Campbell Jr. outraised Johnson, taking in nearly $20,000 in contributions. Those include donations from former Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson and former U.S. attorney, gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Senate candidate Roxanne Conlin.

Teacher Samy El-Baroudi took in more than $12,000 in contributions, including from former gubernatorial candidate and state Rep. Ras Smith, state Rep. Sue Cahill and Des Moines Public School Board member Kalyn Cody.

Small business owner Dudley Muhammad raised more than $2,800, although he personally contributed more than $2,000 of that total. He has $154 in the bank.

Republican Danielle Duggan did not file a fundraising report.

John R. Campbell Jr. (D)

Contributions: $19,883

Expenditures: $12,641.53

In-kind contributions: $92.99

Cash on hand: $7,241.47

Samy El-Baroudi (D)

Contributions: $12,095

Loans: $3,500

Expenditures: $14,733.40

In-kind contributions: $0

Cash on hand: $861.60

Rob Johnson (D)

Contributions: $16,045

Expenditures: $9,693.74

Unpaid bills: $1,119

In-kind contributions: $2,445

Cash on hand: $6,351.26

Dudley Muhammad (D)

Contributions: $2,817

Expenditures: $2,663

Unpaid bills: $2,005

In-kind contributions: $0

Cash on hand: $154

Danielle Duggan (R)

Did not file a report.

More: Four Democrats, one Republican running to replace retiring Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad

House District 35: Des Moines

(From left) Incumbent Democrat Rep. Sean Bagniewski and Republicans Daniel Schmude and Angela Kay Schreader are running for Iowa House District 35. Libertarian David G. Green also is running for the seat.

Two Republicans and a Libertarian are running to challenge incumbent Rep. Sean Bagniewski, D-Des Moines, in this Beaverdale-based House seat.

Bagniewski raised nearly $5,000 during the most recent fundraising period and donated more than $10,000 back to the Iowa Democratic Party.

Neither Republican running for the seat has filed a fundraising report.

Sean Bagniewski (D, incumbent)

Contributions: $4,905

Expenditures: $13,358.41

In-kind contributions: $0

Cash on hand: $803.42

David G. Green (L)

Contributions: $50

Expenditures: $0

In-kind contributions: $0

Cash on hand: $50

Daniel Schmude (R)

Did not file a report.

Angela Kay Schreader (R)

Did not file a report.

More: Meet the candidates running for Iowa House District 35 in Des Moines' north, west sides

House District 40: Altoona, Des Moines and eastern Polk County

Rep. Bill Gustoff and Heather Sievers are running to represent Iowa House District 40.

Rep. Bill Gustoff, R-Des Moines, faces a challenge from Democrat Heather Sievers in this district, which includes Altoona, parts of northeast Des Moines and parts of unincorporated Polk County.

Neither candidate has a primary challenger, so both have been able to begin amassing cash for November. Gustoff has nearly $26,000 in the bank, while Sievers has $15,000.

Bill Gustoff (R, incumbent)

Contributions: $6,050

Expenditures: $2,582.94

In-kind contributions: $0

Cash on hand: $25,903.20

Heather Sievers (D)

Contributions: $17,870.36

Expenditures: $2,838.68

Unpaid bills: $226.14

In-kind contributions: $838

Cash on hand: $15,031.68

More: Meet the candidates running for Iowa House District 40 in Altoona, Ankeny, Des Moines

House District 41: Northern Ankeny

(From left) Incumbent Rep. Molly Buck, a Democrat, and Republicans Matthew Smith and Ryan Weldon are running to represent Iowa House District 41.

Two Republicans are competing for the GOP nomination to challenge incumbent Rep. Molly Buck, D-Ankeny, in this district, which includes northern Ankeny.

Former Ankeny School Board President Ryan Weldon has outraised retired banker Matthew Smith, taking in about $8,100 to Smith's $4,400.

Molly Buck (D, incumbent)

Contributions: $7,921.90

Expenditures: $3,783.80

In-kind contributions: $590.63

Cash on hand: $17,891.30

Matthew Smith (R)

Contributions: $4,429.12

Expenditures: $1,833.51

In-kind contributions: $0

Cash on hand: $2,595.61

Ryan Weldon (R)

Contributions: $8,070.42

Expenditures: $6,813.60

In-kind contributions: $0

Cash on hand: $1,256.82

More: Meet the candidates running for Iowa House District 41 in Ankeny

House District 42: Southern Ankeny

(From left) Incumbent Democrat Rep. Heather Matson and Republican Heather Stephenson are running for Iowa House District 42.

Incumbent Rep. Heather Matson, D-Ankeny, will face a competitive general election race from Republican Heather Stephenson in this southern Ankeny district.

The seat will be a top target for Republicans after Matson defeated Gobble by just 23 votes in 2022.

Neither candidate has a primary opponent, leaving both free to save funds for November.

Matson outraised Stephenson, raising nearly $11,300 to Stephenson's $8,000. Matson also has more in the bank, at $31,900, compared to Stephenson's $8,000.

Heather Matson (D, incumbent)

Contributions: $11,279.31

Expenditures: $7,726.39

In-kind contributions: $50

Cash on hand: $31,901.15

Heather Stephenson (R)

Contributions: $7,968.26

Expenditures: $2,053.13

In-kind contributions: $0

Cash on hand: $8,035.45

More: Meet the candidates running for Iowa House District 42 in Ankeny

House District 43: Johnston, Urbandale and Saylorville

(From left) Republican incumbent Rep. Eddie Andrews and Democrat Tiara L. Mays-Sims are running for Iowa House District 43.

Incumbent Rep. Eddie Andrews, R-Johnston, will face a general election challenge from Democrat Tiara Mays-Sims in this Johnston-based district.

Andrews faced a close reelection race in 2022, prevailing over his Democratic opponent 51% to 49%, a difference of about 350 votes.

Mays-Sims ran for the seat in 2022, losing the Democratic primary. She is unopposed for the nomination this year.

Mays-Sims outraised Andrews, $22,500 to $3,100. She also has more cash on hand, with $19,300 to Andrews' $14,700.

Eddie Andrews (R, incumbent)

Contributions: $3,104.11

Expenditures: $6,059.90

In-kind contributions: $0

Cash on hand: $14,678.84

Tiara Mays-Sims (D)

Contributions: $22,544.88

Expenditures: $9,452.25

Unpaid bills: $1,027.97

In-kind contributions: $400

Cash on hand: $19,325.25

More: Meet the candidates running for Iowa House District 43 in Johnston, Urbandale

House District 44: Urbandale and parts of Des Moines

From left to right, Jake Heard, Jason Menke and Larry McBurney are running to represent Iowa House District 44 in the June primary election.

There's a competitive Democratic primary in this Urbandale-based district, as two candidates compete for the nomination to replace retiring Rep. John Forbes.

Urbandale City Council member Larry McBurney raised over four times more than Urbandale School Board member Jason Menke, taking in more than $17,100 compared to nearly $4,300 for Menke.

McBurney also spent nearly three times as much as Menke  $16,800 to $5,700. He ended the fundraising period with $5,600 in the bank, more than double Menke's $2,300.

Libertarian Jake Heard did not file a fundraising report.

Larry McBurney (D)

Contributions: $17,128

Expenditures: $16,817.68

In-kind contributions: $6,903.32

Cash on hand: $5,617.68

Jason Menke (D)

Contributions: $4,253

Expenditures: $5,693.28

In-kind contributions: $0

Outstanding loans: $500

Cash on hand: $2,320.11

Jake Heard (L)

Did not file a report.

More: Who's running for Iowa House District 44 in Urbandale? Meet the three primary candidates

Senate District 14: Dallas County

Republican Mark Hanson and Democrat incumbent Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott are running for Iowa House District 14.

Incumbent Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, brought in a massive fundraising haul anchored by a six-figure donation.

Trone Garriott, who flipped her seat from red to blue in 2022, has raised $393,646 so far in 2024.

A large portion of that  more than $275,000  comes from Warren Stine, a relative of Harry Stine, Iowa's only billionaire. On March 18, Warren Stine gave Trone Garriott $250,000, and has contributed an additional $1,000 each month. State Auditor Rob Sand also gave Trone Garriott $5,000.

She holds $485,091 heading into the summer.

Her Republican opponent, Dallas County Supervisor Mark Hanson, has raised $16,713 thus far. That includes a $2,263 infusion from his old campaign account, as well as a $500 contribution from former Gov. Terry Branstad.

Expect this district to once again see a steady flow of money in the coming months; in 2022, it saw more than $1.5 million in total contributions.

Sarah Trone Garriott (D, incumbent)

Contributions: $393,646.03

Expenditures: $21,670.22

In-kind contributions: $246.50

Cash on hand: $485,091.68

Mark Hanson (R)

Contributions: $16,713.80

Expenditures: $7,002.69

In-kind contributions: $0

Cash on hand: $9,711.11

More: Meet the two candidates in Iowa Senate District 14: Mark Hanson and Sarah Trone Garriott

Senate District 16: West Des Moines, Clive and Windsor Heights

Democrat Julie Lasche Brown (left) is challenging incumbent Democratic state Sen. Claire Celsi for Iowa Senate District 16.

Incumbent Sen. Claire Celsi, D-West Des Moines, holds a comfortable fundraising lead as she faces a primary challenge from Julie Lasche Brown.

Celsi has raised $31,483 so far this year, and like Trone Garriott also received a contribution from Warren Stine, to the tune of $1,000. In addition, she's received the financial support of her Des Moines-based colleagues in the Senate and House, including $100 from Sen. Janet Petersen; $200 from Sen. Tony Bisignano; and $50 from Rep. Megan Srinivas.

She has $25,827 on hand.

Her challenger, a former chair of the West Des Moines Democrats, has raised $7,817. Among her donors is the Hy-Vee Employees PAC, which contributed $1,000.

Lasche Brown holds $3,668.

Claire Celsi (D, incumbent)

Contributions: $31,483

Expenditures: $14,232.47

In-kind contributions: $0

Cash on hand: $25,827.42

Julie Lasche Brown (D)

Contributions: $7,817

Expenditures: $4,498.50

In-kind contributions: $1,513.35

Cash on hand: $3,668.50

More: Meet the Democrats running in Iowa Senate District 16: Claire Celsi and Julie Lasche Brown

Senate District 20: Eastern Des Moines, Altoona

Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines, has started the year with steady fundraising as he prepares for a challenge from Republican Mike Pike.

Boulton has raised $78,017 since January 1, and has $214,725 on hand. He received $50,000 from trial attorney Nicholas Rowley.

Pike, who owns a mechanical contracting company, has done little fundraising, raising $1,450 with $1,350 in the bank as of mid-May.

Nate Boulton (D, incumbent)

Contributions: $78,017.09

Expenditures: $9,370.89

In-kind contributions: $1,317.26

Cash on hand: $214,725.43

Mike Pike (R)

Contributions: $1,450

Expenditures: $100

In-kind contributions: $0

Cash on hand: $1,350

Senate District 22: Urbandale, Johnston

The president pro tempore of the Iowa Senate, Brad Zaun of Urbandale, is facing a well-funded Democratic challenger in Matt Blake.

Zaun, a Republican who chairs the judiciary committee, has raised $9,205 so far in 2024 and has $59,746 on hand.

Blake, who serves on Urbandale City Council, raised $61,690. He received a $10,000 contribution from Bipartisan Network PAC, as well as union support: $1,000 from Plumbers & Steamfitters Local #33 and $1,500 from IBEW's PAC. He has $81,371 on hand.

Brad Zaun (R, incumbent)

Contributions: $9,205

Expenditures: $3,121.78

In-kind contributions: $12,991.99

Cash on hand: $59,746.65

Matt Blake (D)

Contributions: $61,690.27

Expenditures: $20,147.64

In-kind contributions: $250

Cash on hand: $81,371.62

Editor's note: This article has been corrected to accurately reflect the positions held by Larry McBurney and Jason Menke.

Galen Bacharier covers the Statehouse & politics for the Register. Reach him at gbacharier@registermedia.com or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Which Des Moines-area legislative races have the highest fundraising?
By Stephen Nellis and Arsheeya Bajwa

(Reuters) -For chip designer Nvidia, the generative artificial intelligence boom is a gift that keeps on giving.

After riding a demand surge sparked by Big Tech's rush to roll out chatbots, Nvidia now expects new AI models that are capable of creating video and engaging in human-like voice interactions to spur more orders for its graphics processors.

"There's a lot of information in life that has to be grounded by video, grounded by physics. So that's the next big thing," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told Reuters on Wednesday.

"You've got 3D video and you've got a whole bunch of stuff you're learning from. So those systems are going to be quite large."

The need for more computing power to train and run advanced AI systems has buoyed demand for Nvidia's Grace Hopper chips such as the H200, which was first used in OpenAI's GPT-4o - a multimodal model capable of realistic voice conversation with the ability to interact across text and image.

Nvidia's other customers, including Google DeepMind and Meta Platforms, have also released AI image or video generation platforms.

The chipmaker on Wednesday forecast quarterly revenue far above estimates, after clocking more than five-fold growth in sales at its data center unit in the first quarter.

Nvidia rallied 9% on Thursday, with the chipmaker's bumper revenue forecast helping lift shares across the semiconductor sector.

"The demand is broad based and the large language models need to be increasingly multimodal, understanding not just video but also text, speech, 2D and 3D images," said Derren Nathan, the head of equity analysis at Hargreaves Lansdown.

AI models for video used in the automotive industry are also emerging as a big driver of demand for Nvidia chips.

Tesla has expanded its cluster of processors used in AI training to about 35,000 H100s as it chases autonomous driving, Nvidia's finance chief Colette Kress said on a post-earnings call on Wednesday.

Kress added that the automotive industry was expected to be the largest enterprise vertical in Nvidia's data center business this year.

"It (video generation) is certainly one of the strong and already proven use cases for AI and it is extending beyond just content production," Hargreaves Lansdown's Nathan said.

(Reporting by Arsheeya Bajwa in Bengaluru and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Writing by Aditya Soni; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
Like other tech companies, Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) has its eye on the artificial intelligence (AI) brass ring. But how can a company with a mere 2% share of the cloud services market hope to compete against giants like Amazon and Microsoft?

The answer can be found in the timing of Oracle's entry into the market and its strategy for providing unique AI cloud solutions.

Oracle's entry into the cloud services market is auspicious

Oracle's cloud computing growth aspirations coincide with the onset of a radical, transformative technology that will upend the traditional cloud services market. Because of the tremendous resources AI requires and the unprecedented demand it will generate from businesses of all sizes, the advent of AI has dramatically accelerated growth opportunities for all cloud providers.

According to Grand View Research, the size of the AI cloud market was valued at $45 billion in 2022 and is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 39.6% from 2023 to 2030.

As a newcomer to the market with strong customer interest in the variety of its offerings, Oracle is in the enviable position of being able to ride the crest of the AI wave. For the company's third quarter (ended Feb. 29), revenue from its new Gen2 AI cloud platform surged an astonishing 53%.

Enterprise customers will demand tailored AI cloud solutions

Because AI is a disruptive technology, a one-size-fits-all cloud solutions environment dominated by a few providers no longer meets the needs of diverse businesses with dissimilar AI cloud requirements.

The optimal AI solution for some companies might be best achieved by using multiple cloud providers; other businesses may find a hybrid cloud buildout is more appropriate. This type of cloud configuration allows some software functions to remain on their own data centers while migrating other critical applications to the cloud.

These are precisely the types of flexible, innovative, customized AI cloud configurations that Oracle has been deploying for its enterprise customers.

Oracle's joint ventures enhance the flexibility of its AI cloud offerings

The company's recent partnership with Microsoft allows its customers to access Oracle database programs running on its cloud infrastructure yet deployed in Microsoft's Azure data centers. Oracle doesn't care whether some customers use other cloud providers if the company stands to gain in some way, for example, awareness of Oracle' s AI and cloud database capabilities.

Similarly, the company's venture with Nvidia enhances the appeal of its cloud computing platform, as Oracle's generative AI solutions run on Nvidia's powerful graphics processors and can be deployed at twice the speed of competitors at half the cost.https://www.fool.com/author/20624/

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Collaborations with Nvidia and Microsoft show that Oracle isn't wedded to traditional, inflexible cloud solution strategies to grow its business. Its AI cloud offerings can be nimble and responsive for each company's unique needs. This customer-centric approach is why the enterprise market has been clamoring for Oracle's configuration solutions.

Oracle's growth strategy is bearing fruit

For its third quarter, Oracle's remaining performance obligations increased to $80 billion. It anticipates that 43% of this total -- a staggering $34 billion -- will be booked as revenues within the next 12 months. This contract backlog not only demonstrates there is huge, pent-up demand for the company's services, but also that its AI cloud growth strategy is sustainable.

The company recently achieved another milestone. The February-ended quarter is the first time cloud revenue surpassed revenue from licensing and support services operations. This indicates that the company's pivot from being a seller of legacy database systems to being a formidable AI cloud services provider is nearly complete.

Oracle does have a very high debt-to-equity ratio of 15.65, which is far above the software industry median of 0.21. But the company continues to generate abundant cash flow from operations -- $18.2 billion over the past 12 months -- which is enough for debt service requirements.

Investors should consider Oracle a long-term holding, as the current stock price doesn't yet fully reflect its tremendous AI growth potential.

Should you invest $1,000 in Oracle right now?

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Oracle Making AI Cloud Strides was originally published by The Motley Fool
Investors can approximate the average market return by buying an index fund. Active investors aim to buy stocks that vastly outperform the market - but in the process, they risk under-performance. That downside risk was realized by Auckland International Airport Limited (NZSE:AIA) shareholders over the last year, as the share price declined 14%. That contrasts poorly with the market decline of 2.0%. The silver lining (for longer term investors) is that the stock is still 6.7% higher than it was three years ago.

So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

View our latest analysis for Auckland International Airport

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect 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.

Even though the Auckland International Airport share price is down over the year, its EPS actually improved. Of course, the situation might betray previous over-optimism about growth.

It's fair to say that the share price does not seem to be reflecting the EPS growth. But we might find some different metrics explain the share price movements better.

With a low yield of 1.8% we doubt that the dividend influences the share price much. Auckland International Airport's revenue is actually up 66% over the last year. Since the fundamental metrics don't readily explain the share price drop, there might be an opportunity if the market has overreacted.

You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

Auckland International Airport is well known by investors, and plenty of clever analysts have tried to predict the future profit levels. So we recommend checking out this free report showing consensus forecasts

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 2.0% in the twelve months, Auckland International Airport shareholders did even worse, losing 12% (even including dividends). However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 1.3% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. 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. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Auckland International Airport that you should be aware of before investing here.

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But note: Auckland International Airport may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

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.
PORTSMOUTH  City staff recently sent out a request for qualifications (RFQ) to developers interested in working with the city on the creation of permanent below market rate housing at the former Sherburne School property.

City Manager Karen Conard told the City Council this week the RFQ seeks both letters of interest with statements of qualifications from real estate development entities relative to their capacity to design and construct a project at this site.

The roughly 5-acre city-owned property is located at 35 Sherburne Road.

Portsmouth Housing Authority leaders have said they welcome the chance to work with the city on an affordable housing project at Sherburne School and potentially other city-owned sites. But city officials sent out the RFQ to seek interest from other developers as well, after the city's Blue Ribbon Housing Committee recommended it.

Portsmouth waiting to hear back from developers who are interested in partnering with the city to create permanently below market rate housing at the Sherburne School property

Conard reported the RFQ went out to about 18 developers in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts. The deadline for responses for interested developers is June 7.

Portsmouth Housing Authority Executive Director Craig Welch said were excited about the opportunity to work with the city on a Sherburne site project.

Wed like to do Sherburne and think we can do something great there and get the community on board, Welch said Wednesday afternoon. And also continue to pursue other opportunities with the city as well.

Housing Authority officials are preparing a response to the citys RFQ, like everyone else, he said.

I think we would be the best development partner for the city by a long shot, Welch said.

He pointed to PHAs long history of providing much-needed housing in Portsmouth, and added we were founded by the city to do this work.

Weve done it several times successfully with city-owned properties, whether its Atlantic Heights, Connors Cottage or the Lafayette School, Welch said.

They also have a locally controlled all-volunteer board that continues to work to create more housing, including the below-market-rate Ruth Griffin Place, he said.

We spent tens of millions of dollars investing in housing structures here in Portsmouth over the last several decades, Welch said. I think we sort of stand alone.

He believes PHA is the best suited and motivated partner to work with the city on the Sherburne School project.

Plus, they already provide housing to about 1,000 people in more than 600 units in the city, he said.

Thats about four and a half percent of the city that we house, he said. Its lots of senior citizens and lots of kids.

We know Portsmouth and the needs of people in Portsmouth, he added.

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The RFQ, which was sent out on May 15, states the ultimate disposition of the existing structures and other aspects of a potential development scenario for the site will be subject to negotiation.

Interested developers are encouraged in the RFQ to share qualifications that demonstrate their experience with innovative approaches to various permanent, below-market-rate housing development types and built projects.

Portsmouth City Manager Karen Conard says city staff have sent out Request for Qualifications to work with the city to build affordable housing at the Sherburne School property to about 18 developers

As part of the process, the city may request financial references and current bonding limits from the developers, according to the RFQ.

Creating affordable housing top priority for City Council

City staffers stated in the RFQ that enhancing the supply of housing choices, especially the supply of permanent, below market rate housing options, is the citys top priority.

The property is served by city sewer and water, and includes the former Sherburne School, which was built in 1930, according to the RFQ. The building is approximately 18,000 square feet.

Interested developers are asked to provide their experience with incorporating existing, historic structures into larger developments, as well as developing land without incorporating any existing structures, according to the RFQ.

More: Portsmouth's new police station estimate is $41.8M. Here's a look at early designs

The City Council in 2023 pitched an idea with the Portsmouth Housing Authority to build affordable housing on the site, but dropped the idea after receiving pushback from some residents of the nearby Pannaway Manor neighborhood.

Preserving school building

It was never settled if the existing school building should be redeveloped for housing, but the council seemed to agree that the building should be preserved.

The housing proposed by the Portsmouth Housing Authority was set to be located behind the existing school.

The former Sherburne School building has been the home of the Lister Academy  the citys alternative high school  for many years. Lister Academy is being moved to the city-owned Community Campus property this fall.

Interested developers are being asked to share their experience building below-market-rate housing, working with municipalities and obtaining federal and state grants for housing projects.

The city will form a Selection Committee, which is expected to identify the 3-5 most qualified firms and ask them to respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP), according to the RFQ and Conard.

The Selection Committee may make recommendations only, with any final decision on whether to proceed with a particular respondent to be made by the City Council, the RFQ states.

Hope for several qualified developers

Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern hopes there will be a "significant amount of interest" from developers who want to work with the city to create below-market-rate housing at the former Sherburne School property

Mayor Deaglan McEachern hopes there will be a significant amount of interest from developers who respond to the RFQ.

Theres a lot of folks looking to solve this problem, he said Wednesday. Im interested to hear from them.

Asked if he thinks the existing school building could be used for housing, McEachern said, I just pulled into City Hall next to Connors Cottage. We have a long history of using historic buildings for housing.

I think theres a possibility of putting housing there, he added.

He pointed to the importance of preserving the former elementary school building even if its used for something besides housing.

City Councilor Josh Denton hopes the release of the Sherburne RFQ will bring in several qualified developers who want to do an affordable housing project at the least cost possible.

But he acknowledged, I really dont know what were going to get back. At a minimum, I anticipate the Portsmouth Housing Authority will respond, if more people put in and respond, the more the merrier, Denton said.

He pointed to the great experience the city has enjoyed with the PHAs below-market-rate Ruth Griffin Place developed in downtown Portsmouth.

Denton is looking forward to seeing what is proposed, for the project.

But he agreed that the council has been steadfast that we want the Sherburne School building to remain.

The selection criteria for who the city could pick to work with include experience with projects of similar size and complexity, experience with designing successful affordable housing and professional qualifications, according to the RFQ.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth seeks developers for housing at Sherburne School site
Generally speaking long term investing is the way to go. But along the way some stocks are going to perform badly. Zooming in on an example, the Pos Malaysia Berhad (KLSE:POS) share price dropped 62% in the last half decade. That's not a lot of fun for true believers. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 11% in the last three months. We note that the company has reported results fairly recently; and the market is hardly delighted. You can check out the latest numbers in our company report.

With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies.

See our latest analysis for Pos Malaysia Berhad

Because Pos Malaysia Berhad made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually desire strong revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one would hope for good top-line growth to make up for the lack of earnings.

Over half a decade Pos Malaysia Berhad reduced its trailing twelve month revenue by 5.1% for each year. While far from catastrophic that is not good. The share price decline of 10% compound, over five years, is understandable given the company is losing money, and revenue is moving in the wrong direction. We don't think anyone is rushing to buy this stock. Not that many investors like to invest in companies that are losing money and not growing revenue.

You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 23% in the last year, Pos Malaysia Berhad shareholders lost 12%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. However, the loss over the last year isn't as bad as the 10% per annum loss investors have suffered over the last half decade. We would want clear information suggesting the company will grow, before taking the view that the share price will stabilize. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Pos Malaysia Berhad that you should be aware of.

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But note: Pos Malaysia Berhad may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Leaders across the Puget Sound kicked off their campaign to oppose the states new capital gains tax bill, which is creating controversy around the region.

INITIATIVE 2109:

Initiative 2109 is aimed to repeal the tax imposed on the sale or exchange of long-term capital assets, such as stocks, bonds and business interests, by people who have annual capital gains of more than $250,000.

The bill is authored by Republican State Representative Jim Walsh.

We are a relatively low-taxed state and thats something is a good virtue. Something we should continue to try to defend and protect to encourage the next Amazon, the next Microsoft, the state lawmaker said in a video posted on the House Republicans website.

Critics may lazily  and falsely  argue that I-2109 benefits only a few rich people. However, the truth is that it benefits everyone in Washington. Our states economic and technological growth hub status has been attributed to the absence of a capital gains income tax, fostering job creation and generating tens of billions of dollars in wealth. Its a shame to discard that advantage. I-2109 aims to restore it, protecting our competitive edge, the lawmaker said on his website.

KIRO 7 News reached out to Rep. Walsh to get more details about the bill. He shared the following statement.

Encourage companies to stay in Washington. Encourage jobs. Encourage a healthy, stable and growing tax base that doesnt rely on fearmongering and situational ethics to be justifiedas the capital gains excise tax does, Walsh added.

NO ON INITIATIVE 2109 CAMPAIGN:

Several leaders across the Puget Sound gathered Wednesday morning at Once Upon a Time Early Childhood Home Daycare in Burien to kick off one of their several events to oppose the new bill.

They said the new bill could cut more than $5 billion for early education, which could make childcare less affordable for many working-class families across the state.

The money raised by the capital gains tax goes to funding education, childcare and early learning. Sales of real estate, retirement assets, small businesses, and farms are exempted.

It applies only to annual profits above $262,000 a year from the sales of financial assets such as stocks and bonds, leaders said.

People with and without children oppose I-2109 because I-2109 puts more tax pressure on the rest of us. It carves out a tax cut for a handful of people - fewer than 4,000 wealthy households - shifting more tax responsibility on middle- and low-income Washingtonians who are already paying the biggest share - up to 17% of their incomes - in state and local taxes could hurt working class families, they added.

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PARENTS:

KIRO 7 News spoke with parents who rely on childcare.

Theres no way we could survive, Suzette Espinoza-Cruz, a mother, said if the bill passes in November.

The mother of two children and guardian of two others said childcare has benefited her childrens personal development.

I needed some place that would provide high-quality early learning for them, but also care for them before the preschool program and after the preschool program of up to 10 hours a day, she said. If I didnt have childcare for the two littles that I take care of, theres no way I can work full-time.

Espinoza-Cruz said many at-risk families depend on state funding to pay for childcare in order to work and provide for their loved ones.

She said this bill could put many working families in danger.

It would be very difficult for us to survive, and we would have to rely on state support like food stamps, and housing vouchers, which are very hard to come by. I wouldnt be able to pay taxes and put money back into the economy to keep our economy going if I had to pull out of work, she told KIRO 7 News.

She also told KIRO 7 childcare provides children support for them to succeed later in life and the chance to give back to the local economy.

The children are our future workers. When children are getting what they need in their early years, theyre learning the foundations of what they need to be ready for kindergarten.

Childcare and early learning especially childcare is the backbone of our nations economy. A lot of people get to go to work because they have high-quality folks. They can leave their children with, and they know their children are safe, are well cared for and theyre learning while theyre in that care, she added.

We also spoke with Damiana Merryweather, a mother of three children, who owns a small business.

She said many of her workers are already struggling with the current childcare system, which affects her business and her ability to give back to the community.

Any reduction in availability of good quality affordable childcare is going to hit working families the most, she said. Weve had folks who are great employees who had to leave because the struggles to get care for their families.

It limits our ability to be successful as a small business that in turns provides employment and economic vitality to the neighborhoods we operate in. So, its a very real threat, she said. Capital gains is for people who make their money on stocks and bonds. They dont worry about whether they can get daycare for their kids. But the impact if it were to be repealed is for people who clock into work and get paid by the hour and then turn around pay someone else to help take care of their kids.

DAYCARE OWNER:

Diana Llanes Macias, the owner of Once Upon a Time Early Childhood Family Home Daycare in Burien, told KIRO 7 News that she would lose half of the families who depend on her center for childcare if the bill passes in November.

Half of my families are in subsidy. It would take away the benefit for them to pay for childcare, she shared.

Llanes Macias said her center includes teachers who teach the young children how to socialize and speak English and Spanish, while their parents are working.

We want to make sure the kids are in a safe environment, she said. Were kind of building great persons, great students. Theyre going to go to college. We know theyre going to graduate because they get the basics here. Early childhood is very important for the student to be a successful student.

She said many at-risk families depend on her business, while theyre working, to help guide their children in the right direction.

When they grow up, we dont want them to end up in the streets, not going to college or having an education, Llanes Macias said.

But shes now worried about the childrens future if the new bill becomes law, she told KIRO 7 News.

It makes me wonder where those kids are going to go. Whos going to watch them? Are they going to get the same high-quality education to be able to succeed in the future? So that is my question and worry if this passes.
Rolls-Royce is one of a number of companies that will contribute to the Survivable Airborne Operations Center or SOAC project - Sierra Nevada Corp

Rolls-Royce has been chosen to supply technology for a new version of the American military aircraft nicknamed the Doomsday plane for its ability to survive a nuclear blast.

The engineering giant is joining a group of aerospace companies working on the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) project, which aims to develop a successor to the US Air Forces E-4B planes  militarised versions of the Boeing 747-200 jumbo jet that have been in service since the 1970s.

Normally used to transport the Secretary of Defence, the E-4Bs are also designed to function as a mobile command centre during national emergencies  should ground facilities be knocked out  with the aircraft capable of being refuelled in the air and withstanding nuclear blasts and electromagnetic pulses.

Four of the planes are currently in service and at least one is always kept on alert at a US military base somewhere in the world.

Each one can seat up to 111 people, including the flight crew. In an emergency they are designed to carry the US president, the secretary of defence and the joint military chiefs, with the ability to give orders to American forces across the globe while in flight.

Within the E-4Bs main deck is a command work area, conference room, briefing room, operations team area, communications area and rest area, according to the US Air Force.

The US Air Force has four E-4B aircraft, their current version of the doomsday plane - Staff Sgt. Nicole Leidholm

In April, the Pentagon awarded a $13bn contract for developing the next generation of Doomsday planes to defence giant Sierra Nevada Corporation.

It is thought that Rolls, known for making engines, has been brought into the project led by Sierra to work on the planes propulsion systems.

Adam Riddle, president of defence at Rolls-Royce, said: For decades, Rolls-Royce has powered military operations around the world with reliable, cutting-edge technologies  safely transporting service members on their missions.

Now, we are proud to pair our proven pedigree with the collective expertise of Sierra Nevada Corporation and the rest of the SAOC team to ensure our military leaders have the platform to protect our national security when it matters most.

Jon Piatt, an executive vice president at Sierra Nevada, added: Sierra Nevada Corporation is very excited to collaborate with Rolls-Royce, putting its vast experience to work on this crucial Air Force mission.

We are certain that Rolls-Royce will prove a valuable partner in maintaining a strategic edge to protect the country when it matters most.

The Air Force launched the SAOC programme to replace the E-4B planes as maintaining the ageing Boeing 747-200 jumbos has become harder over time, with parts harder to acquire.

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As part of the project, Sierra Nevada has reportedly acquired five Boeing 747-8 passenger jets which it will modify and use as the new aircraft.

The replacements are scheduled for delivery in 2036.
LONDON (Reuters) - Russian metals giant Nornickel plans a joint project for construction of a platinum group metals (PGMs) refinery in Bahrain, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

Nornickel is the world's largest producer of palladium and a major producer of platinum, accounting for 41% and 12% of global mine output, respectively. Both metals are chiefly used in vehicle exhausts to neutralise harmful engine emissions, and platinum is also used in jewellery.

The source did not provide the project's time frame or the refinery's production capacity.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin earlier on Thursday. In a comment to state TV after the talks, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that Nornickel plans to build "a platinum production plant" in Bahrain.

Novak gave no additional details. Nornickel declined to comment.

Nornickel has not been directly targeted by Western sanctions imposed on Moscow since Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, but some of the Russian precious metals refineries, which also usually handle PGMs, were.

Britain, for instance, imposed sanctions on Russia's largest, state-owned refinery Krastsvetmet in November as London targeted Russia's gold industry.

Sanctions imposed on Moscow over the last two years damaged Nornickel's logistics, usual trade flows, money transfers and purchases of imported equipment. The company, which also produces nickel and copper, has been re-shuffling its production and sales strategy seeking ways to ease the damage.

(Reporting by Polina Devitt in London and Reuters bureau; Writing by Maxim Rodionov and Polina Devitt; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Marguerita Choy)
By News Centre

Turkiye's longest-range radar, the ALP 300-G, has been delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces, Azernews reports.

A highly strategic product developed domestically by the Military Electronics Industry (ASELSAN). The delivery ceremony for the 'Portable Early Warning Radar System,' Turkey's longest-range radar, was held at the ASELSAN Golbash? Facilities. Haluk Gorgun, the Presidency of Defence Industries Chairman, emphasised the significance of the Portable Early Warning Radar System, which has entered the Turkish Armed Forces inventory, stating it as a highly strategic product.

ASELSAN organised a ceremony at its Golbash? Facilities for the first delivery of the early warning radar systems, the country's longest-range radar, developed domestically and nationally for the Turkish Armed Forces.

Gorgun highlighted the importance of radar systems in terms of battlefield and border security, stating that they have been working in the radar field for nearly 30 years.

Gorgun mentioned that they have conducted studies to develop radar systems, especially for aerial reconnaissance, surveillance, border surveillance, naval platforms, air defence systems, missile systems, search and surveillance, fire control, tracking, and weapon detection, with new technologies to make the country superior. "The Portable Early Warning Radar Systems delivered are highly strategic products. There is a distinct satisfaction in the domestic and national production and its entry into the inventory," he said.

Gorgun drew attention to the fact that all early warning radar system product groups developed by ASELSAN for the Turkish Armed Forces have been named ALP, stating that the delivered radar is also referred to as ALP 300-G. Gorgun emphasised that this radar system is capable of about 500 digital communications and can process the content of 81 DVDs per second.

Gorgun pointed out that about 40 different radar exports have been made to approximately 10 different countries, stating, "In the world, there are very different radars in use in Italy, France, and the United States. The ALP 300-G we delivered today is superior to all of them in terms of resolution, range, and accuracy. This radar has active electronic scanning capability and operates statically. The ALP 300-G radar has the ability to transmit and receive signals in over 4,000 directions. While operating statically, it can perform the remaining operations in case of a malfunction in a module. In addition to these advantages, compared to rotating radars, our radar can receive reflections without waiting for the completion of a period. Moreover, it can send a verification signal to achieve greater accuracy."

Gorgun indicated that over 435,000 lines of code were used in the radar, saying, "We have nearly 20 patents in the development of this radar. Our radar can also be set up in 30 minutes. It provides uninterrupted communication by sending a radio link for remote access."

Gorgun emphasised that 436 companies contributed to the radar project, saying, "The radar is very resistant to a wide range of electronic warfare. One of the advantages is that, with our technological dominance, technological support can be provided very quickly whenever needed. Quick responses can be given in the development of the next generation of members."

"We have passed an important stage in our early warning and air defence radar family with the ALP 300-G," said Ahmet Akyol, General Manager of ASELSAN, drawing attention to the many significant successes ASELSAN has achieved in the radar field in recent years.

"We have gained design and production capabilities in all frequency bands. We completed our naval platform radar family with Cenk and Akrep, which entered the inventory in 2023. With the ALP 300-G and the low-altitude radar that will enter the inventory this year, we have passed an important stage in our early warning and air defence radar family. With our AESA Nose Radar Murad, which has brought us to the top rank in the radar league, we have become one of the very few countries that can develop airborne radar," Akyol said.

Akyol emphasised that ASELSAN has become capable of meeting all of Turkey's fundamental needs in the radar field domestically, stating that they are preparing for future technologies and continuing R&D studies to develop Quantum radar with TOBB University and Gebze Technical University.

Akyol pointed out that the design and production of GAN chips used in AESA radars and all sub-components are carried out at ASELSAN, stating that they have nationalized the gallium nitrate transistors used in these chips at Aselsan Bilkent Micronano, a company established with Bilkent University.

Stating that they aim to make ASELSAN one of the world's largest 30 defence industry companies by 2030, Akyol said that while pursuing this goal, they have adopted the vision of producing the best products in the field, developing game-changing technologies, and focusing on export-oriented growth.
A senior trust officer with Plante Moran Trust testified Wednesday that a 2009 irrevocable trust of former Carhartt leader Gretchen Valade "is deeply underwater" with liabilities far exceeding its assets.

Julie Cotant was the last of nine prosecution witness to testify in the trial of attorney David Sutherland, who is charged with embezzling funds from Valade trusts. Cotant spent all day Wednesday testifying about the trusts, their assets and expenses, among other things.

Sutherland, of Grosse Pointe Farms, is accused of embezzling several million dollars from Valade trust funds for which Sutherland was trustee.

He is facing two counts of embezzlement over $100,000, one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult of $100,000 or more and one count of conducting criminal enterprises. Each count is a 20-year felony offense, the Michigan Attorney General's Office previously said.

Trust is $60 million in debt

Defense attorney James Joseph Sullivan said he was reserving his opening statement when the trial began May 15 in Wayne County Circuit Court. He has filed a motion for a directed verdict, to be argued Thursday. If the motion is denied, it is anticipated Sullivan would give an opening statement to the jury Friday.

Sutherland was trustee for Valade's 2009 irrevocable trust. Plante Moran became the trustee of that trust in August 2020, Cotant testified. When the firm took it over, the interests it held included real estate (buildings and parking lots), some promissory notes and life insurance policies.

Attorney James Joseph Sullivan, left, speaks with his client David Sutherland, an attorney who has been charged with embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from recently deceased Carhartt heiress Gretchen Valade's trust, after an arraignment hearing at Grosse Pointe Farms Municipal Court on January 11, 2023.

She testified the trust today holds about $9.4 million. However, Cotant testified that the trust owes $60 million, adding that money was borrowed from Valade's 1982 revocable trust to keep the 2009 irrevocable trust alive. The borrowing occurred while Valade was alive, Cotant testified.

Valade, a businesswoman, philanthropist and arts patron, died at her Grosse Pointe Farms home on Dec. 30, 2022. She was 97 and the granddaughter of Carhartt Inc. founder Hamilton Carhartt.

Sutherland was charged in January 2023, less than two weeks after Valade died.

Gretchen Carhartt Valade, metro Detroit businesswoman, philanthropist and "angel of jazz," died peacefully in her home on Dec. 30, 2022 at age 97.

Cotant testified that money is no longer being lent from the 1982 revocable trust.

Cotant also testified that two promissory notes, one from Byzantine Holdings LLC, of which Sutherland was a partner, and another from Sutherland himself, each for $5 million, are owed to the 2009 irrevocable trust. However, she testified a review of records on each note indicates those figures appear to be in excess of $7.7 million each.

Cotant testified the $5 million promissory note for Byzantine was exceeded in July 2019, but there were six transactions totaling more than $100,000 to Byzantine in October 2019 and three checks to Byzantine totaling more than $400,000 total in June 2020.

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In regard to Sutherland's personal $5 million promissory note, there was more than $100,000 in checks written to entities, such as Tuscola Energy, which Cotant said the 2009 irrevocable trust had no ownership interest. One list presented by prosecutors showed about 16 entities, including entities they have said Sutherland had an interest in.

Cotant testified that the two $5 million loans did not help the beneficiaries of the 2009 irrevocable trust, rather aiding the recipients of the loans, based on her review. She testified there was a $500,000 payment on the Sutherland note and that neither note has been paid in full.

She testified under cross-examination that she believed there had been some distributions to beneficiaries in the 1982 trust, but they have made calculated decisions on distributions because of pending litigation and they don't want to deplete the trust. She testified there may not be distributions made from the 2009 irrevocable trust because the debt far exceeds its assets.

A loan from William Cardinal Foundation

During his opening statement, a Michigan assistant attorney general asserted to the jury that Sutherland betrayed Valade, using her "like a human ATM."

Sutherland also is accused of stealing from the trust of a Grosse Pointe Farms school in a separate case that will be tried later. He's charged with one count of embezzlement of $100,000 or more in that case.

In that case, attorneys with the state Attorney Generals Office said the allegation involves embezzlement of more than $1.4 million from the William Cardinal Foundation, which is to benefit education at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic School in Grosse Pointe Farms. That alleged crime is said to have occurred between Aug. 1, 2018, and last year, according to statements made during Sutherland's arraignment in June 2023 in Grosse Pointe Farms Municipal Court.

On Tuesday, attorney James Zavell, who once worked with Sutherland, testified in the Valade trust case that Sutherland twice told him he was thinking about taking a loan from the William Cardinal Trust. Zavell testified that he twice told Sutherland that he thought that was a bad idea.

Zavell testified that when Sutherland told him he took the loan, he told Sutherland he thought that was a mistake. Zavell testified that he thought the loan was "a million bucks or something like that" and that a promissory note was written up for that.

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

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Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Testimony: Former Carhartt leader Valade's trust 'deeply underwater'
(Bloomberg) -- For seven hours at a Geneva hotel earlier this month, top US and Chinese officials locked into talks on collectively managing their biggest fears around artificial intelligence  while keeping up a cutthroat competition to dominate technology that promises to reshape the global economy.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Their meeting marked the first government discussions on AI between the US and China, with roughly nine officials from each side stressing a shared desire to prevent nightmare scenarios like a computer-triggered nuclear war. One ironic deviation from the script: The coffee machine at the venue broke as they discussed far more advanced technology.

While the Geneva talks yielded no concrete agreements, the conversations were cordial and set the stage for continued engagement on safety and risks related to AI, according to two Biden administration officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss diplomatic matters. For now, theres no follow-up meeting scheduled, they said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said after the meeting that China was willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the United States in the field of artificial intelligence, explore the use of artificial intelligence to empower sustainable development, and communicate on the next issue in risk response.

Even as the two sides seek to cooperate on artificial intelligence, the technology is also emerging as a new arena of rivalry for the worlds two largest economies  already at odds over Taiwan, wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and US-led export restrictions on semiconductor technology.

Conversations on AI are also playing out at the United Nations and in so-called track two groupings of private-sector participants from the US and China, with all of this activity endorsed from the very top. The bilateral dialogue was one of the highlighted US achievements out of the last in-person meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in California in November.

Washington and Beijing are now jockeying to write the rules for AI governance, with each side portraying the other as a destabilizing force as they court the Global South. In March, the US rallied support for a UN resolution aimed at promoting safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems worldwide, a months-long effort backed by more than 110 countries as co-sponsors, including China. Beijing is now crafting its own proposal, intended to close gaps between rich and developing nations.

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Though the US and Chinese efforts at the UN are non-binding and would do little to advance comprehensive regulation, they represent broader efforts to lead the global AI conversation. Biden initially highlighted the need to bring AI discussions to the UN and other multilateral forums when he spoke before the General Assembly in New York in September, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced his countrys push in March.

In Geneva, Biden administration officials raised concerns that China is misusing AI, including in ways that risk encroaching on human rights, while the Chinese delegation recited worries on export controls and outbound investment. The talks took place the same day that the US announced a new swath of tariffs on a range of Chinese imports, including quadrupling the tariff rate for electric vehicles.

The fact that Beijing still participated in the talks when the US had thoroughly telegraphed the tariff hike, to me, underscores China has its own concerns about the potential applications of AI, said Jennifer Welch, chief geo-economics analyst at Bloomberg Economics.

The US delegation made an extensive presentation of valuation measurements, transparency, and monitoring led by Elizabeth Kelly, director of the US Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute, the Biden administration officials said. One goal from the US side was to better understand how Chinese officials are planning AI regulations and gauging potential high-impact risks as well as day-to-day issues such as health care.

On the other side of the table was Yang Tao, the Chinese foreign ministrys director-general of North American and Oceanian Affairs. His presence highlighted the different priorities that the US and China had for the talks, according to Matt Sheehan, fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who focuses on global technology issues and China.

China appears to be treating this dialogue as one piece of managing the bilateral relationship, while the US is treating it as one piece of managing global AI risks, Sheehan said.

US officials have stressed that the talks would not lead to deeper collaboration or research-sharing with a country thats seen as an adversary, especially when it comes to data security. In the face of critics who question why the two sides should engage on sensitive issues at all, the Biden administration has insisted on pairing strategic competition with intensive diplomacy, featuring recent visits to China by officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

Even if this dialogue fails to produce significant concrete steps I wouldnt rush to label it a failure, said Welch, who was China director at the National Security Council from May 2020 to April 2023. In an era of intensifying strategic competition, theres value to the two parties communicating to, at the very least, reduce misunderstandings and misperceptions.

--With assistance from Charlie Zhu.

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Statkraft AS

Signing Enerfin

Jose Castellanos, Enerfin CEO, Rafael Martin de Bustamante, Elecnor CEO, Andrew Smith, SVP Head of Corporate Transactions Statkraft, and Jose Miguel Ferrer, director general of Statkraft Spain at the signing in Madrid.

(Madrid/Oslo, 23 May 2024) - Statkraft has completed the acquisition of the renewable company Enerfin, headquartered in Spain.



On 17 November 2023, Statkraft signed an agreement with the Spanish company Elecnor to acquire its renewables subsidiary Enerfin. The transaction has now been completed.



The closing of the Enerfin deal significantly builds scale and strengthens Statkrafts position in Spain and Brazil. The transaction adds a portfolio of 1.5 GW of wind and solar power projects in operation and under construction, as well as a pipeline of projects under development.



- This acquisition is a big leap for Statkraft and confirms our position as Europes largest producer of renewable energy and aim to become a leading renewable company internationally. It places us among the top 10 wind power producers both in Spain and Brazil, which are key markets for Statkraft. The portfolio is a very good strategic fit with our current portfolio and future growth plans, says Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal, President and CEO of Statkraft.



The attractive portfolio and highly competent Enerfin team fits well with Statkrafts current activities, adding 170 new employees to Statkraft, mainly in Spain and Brazil.



- I warmly welcome all new employees to Statkraft. The Enerfin organisation has a strong track record in project development and operations of renewables. This will add great value to our organisation, Vartdal says.



The portfolio comes with significant opportunities for the repowering of wind farms, as well as hybridisation and battery storage possibilities. In addition, the acquisition enables increased market operations in both Spain and Brazil.



As announced earlier, Statkraft plans to divest the Enerfin portfolio in Canada, the US, Colombia, Australia, and Chile.



- We acknowledge the significant work done to develop the portfolios in these markets, and strongly believe in future opportunities for value creation. Statkraft are committed to finding new owners who can further create value by developing the business in these countries. Statkraft will run a sales process focusing on value preservation and care for all people involved, says Vartdal.

About Statkraft

Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europes largest generator of renewable energy. The Group produces hydropower, wind power, solar power, gas-fired power and supplies district heating. Statkraft is a global company in energy market operations. Statkraft has more than 6,000 employees in over 20 countries.



For further information, please contact:

Torbjrn Steen, Vice President External Communications, Statkraft AS

Tel: +47 911 66 888

E-mail: torbjorn.steen@statkraft.com



Nuria Larragueta Follana, Communication Specialist, Statkraft Spain

Tel: +34 346 308 75143

E-mail:nuria.larragueta@statkraft.com

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Attachment




More than 600,000 Californians haven't touched the Middle Class Tax Refund the state gave them during the pandemic. (Los Angeles Times)

Here's a statistic that's hard to understand: More than 600,000 Californians with low to moderate incomes haven't touched the free cash the state gave them during the pandemic.

They haven't spent it, nor have they stashed it away for a rainy day. Instead, they've left the money  $200 to $1,050, depending on their income level and tax-filing status  sitting on unactivated prepaid debit cards, where it doesn't even earn interest.

The state called the handout a Middle Class Tax Refund, although truth be told, it wasn't a refund  it was a grant from the state's erstwhile budget surplus, ostensibly to offset the high price of gasoline and other goods. If you filed your 2020 state tax return on time, you qualified for a grant as long as your income was no more than $250,000 (for individuals) or $500,000 (for couples or heads of households).

The Franchise Tax Board made the vast majority of the grants between October 2022 and February 2023, ultimately awarding $9.2 billion to 16.8 million California taxpayers. The state sent the money straight into the bank accounts of 7.2 million households that had signed up for direct deposit, paying an average of $555, according to the tax board. The other 9.6 million households were supposed to receive their money in the form of prepaid debit cards, collecting an average of $542 per household.

Here's the interesting thing. According to the state, more than half the cards issued still had unspent funds as of April 8. In fact, about 624,000 cards had not even been activated. That's hundreds of millions of dollars being held by the state's contractor, Money Network, benefiting no one in California.

Read more: Thieves are targeting California's refund cards. Here's what to watch out for

The FTB said an unspecified number of cards were "pending updated address information," meaning they couldn't find the intended recipient. A spokesman for the board couldn't say how many cards were held up by this problem. It's easy to imagine the state having trouble finding addresses for taxpayers experiencing homelessness, but such cases can't account for most of the 624,000 unactivated cards.

"FTB does not have knowledge as to why some cardholders are not activating their cards but we are working to engage them with letter campaigns and social media campaigns reminding them to activate and spend," Andrew LePage, a spokesman for the board, said in an email.

Some cards also have gone unspent because the recipients didn't trust Money Network, whose requests for personal information strike some Californians as intrusive.

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"We do not wish to give our personal details to an outside prepaid debit card company," Jennifer Jackson Bloom of Burbank said in an email. "The State of California has all the information they need to give us a direct tax refund without employing a commercial middle-man. They should do so."

"Im not surprised so many people havent activated their cards," Keith Ensminger of Merced said in an email. "I was almost one of them because I thought the cards were a scam, a come-on from an obscure outfit that wanted me to sign up for their credit card."

Ensminger said he took his card to his bank, telling a clerk that he'd almost shredded it. "She said many people thought the same as me," he said. "Im sure the majority of people who havent cashed their cards never will because they shredded them or threw them away thinking the cards were a scam."

LePage said each debit card was sent in an envelope marked "Not a bill or an advertisement," and it included instructions on how to activate it. Recipients who have not activated their card "have also received reminder letters that include instructions on activating their debit card," he said.

By now you may be wondering whether you are one of those taxpayers still waiting for a card in the mail. If you filed a 2020 California tax return on time, earned less than the income limits for the Middle Class Tax Refund that year and have not given your banking information to the FTB (you sent money to the FTB or received refunds from it via checks, not electronically), and you're still a California resident, then you would appear to be eligible for a grant.

You might think that the tax board would have a list of people still missing their prepaid cards, so you could ask whether you're on it.

You would be mistaken.

Instead, the FTB offers two potential courses of action. "If you have not received your debit card and believe that you are eligible, make sure that your address is up to date with FTB," the board says on its website. "Visit our Help with the Middle Class Tax Refund page for instructions to update your address."

Alternatively, you can call Money Network at (800) 240-0223. To find out whether a card was issued to you, you'll need to navigate through a series of automated prompts, then enter the last six digits of the Social Security number used on your 2020 tax return, followed by your ZIP Code, to see if Money Network has an account that matches.

If not, you weren't issued a Middle Class Tax Refund on a prepaid card. You can then find out whether a card was ever sent to your address and, if necessary, request a new one.

Read more: California is offering drivers $400 gift cards to test its alternative to the gas tax

You may also find out, however, that your card was issued and all of the funds have been spent. There have been numerous reports of cards being hacked and accounts being drained by thieves who use physical or electronic tools to grab card numbers, PIN codes and other identifying information.

Last year an FTB audit said Money Network reported a fraud rate of 1% of the amount issued on the cards at the time, or $51.4 million.

Attorney Kevin Kneupper of the Huntington Beach-based law firm Kneupper and Covey filed a class-action lawsuit against Money Network in August on behalf of Californians whose Middle Class Tax Refund cards were hacked or not issued. But in April, U.S. District Judge Kenly Kato dismissed the complaint, ruling that individual Californians did not have standing to sue because they weren't the intended beneficiaries of the contract between the state and the company.

Kneupper said his firm has probably heard from about 100 people who'd had problems with cards, with more complaints coming in every day.

You still have a remedy if your card is tapped by hackers, though. By law, you are entitled to be reimbursed for any unauthorized charges on your card.

The FTB and Money Network say that if you suspect your card was used without your authorization, you should call the company at (800) 240-0223 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time, Monday through Friday. Youll need to enter the number on your prepaid card, then wade through a series of automated scripts and responses to get where youll need to go.

To avoid hackers and thieves tapping into your prepaid card, transfer the balance into your bank account, if you have one. You can do so at no charge through mctrpayment.com, via the Money Network mobile phone app or by calling (800) 240-0223. Money Network lays out the steps on its Frequently Asked Questions page.

Alternatively, you can sign up for transaction alerts on the Money Net mobile app. That way, you can find out quickly if someone is using your card without your permission. You can use the app to lock the card to prevent any money from being withdrawn if you suspect a problem or if you know you wont be using it for a while.

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.
Alison Dominguez



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Any time we buy something these days, it seems like there's a hidden fee added to the bill. At restaurants, it might help cover a credit card companys processing fee or employee pay and benefits. But one thing is certain: its often not clear what the fees are really for, and you might not know about them before you get the bill.

Hidden costs are known as junk fees, and theyve been under scrutiny by the White House , Federal Trade Commission , and several lawmakers. Junk fees can also include charges added to an airline ticket, which has been the subject of a major debate. In April, the Biden-Harris administration announced a rule that requires all airlines and ticket agents to be upfront with consumers about any fees for first or second checked bags, carry-on bags, and canceling or changing a reservation. Experts predict that consumers could save over $500 million annually because of the rule.

Airlines should compete with one another to secure passengers businessnot to see who can charge the most in surprise fees, said Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Transportation Secretary, in a press release . The airlines arent pleased, naturally, and many are now suing the U.S. Transportation Department.

On a more local level, junk fees are becoming illegal in some states; California will enforce a ban on them starting July 1. Written by Senators Nancy Skinner and Bill Dodd, the bill will give consumers transparency by making it illegal for businesses to advertise prices that dont include all the required fees.

So what does this mean for restaurants ? Youve probably seen some menus warning you that a service fee will be added to your bill. While its not always clear what this service fee covers, many restaurants use it to tip employees, provide benefits, or cover high food prices. Unlike tips, which are regulated, service charges can be used however the owner wants, according to the New York Times .

While there was some confusion about how this law would apply to restaurants, a new set of guidelines say that the restaurants wont be allowed to charge any service fees or surcharges on top of the list price of menu items. Any fees or mandatory gratuities must be included in the price on the menu.

But the restaurant industry doesnt seem to agree to the changes.

According to a press release from the California Restaurant Association , which represents more than 22,000 restaurants across the state, theyre considering all available options to block implementation.

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Another group called the Golden Gate Restaurant Association also opposes the bill. Diners will not pay less, instead they will see significant menu price increases, which we believe will further cause them to pull back on dining out, said the association in a statement in the LA Times .

These fees might also help cover credit card processing fees, which the business pays any time a customer makes a transaction with a credit card. According to Forbes , average processing fees can range from 1.5% to 3.5% per transaction. For small businesses, this can be a large price to pay. Some businesses might only accept cash to avoid these costs. Others might enforce a minimum purchase in order to use a credit card, such as at a corner store where fees can add up for a lot of small purchases like a pack of gum or can of soda.

New York recently enforced a law addressing the way businesses pass on these credit card processing fees to customers. Under the law, customers cant be charged more than the amount of the actual processing fee. The fees also have to be included in all menu items, or each item must have two separate pricesone for paying with a card and the other for cash. This legislation only applies to credit card processing fees, but rules about service fees are in the works, according to Restaurant Business .

In New Jersey, businesses that dont disclose any credit card fees that they charge customers have been getting fines from the state's Division of Consumer Affairs. And the Minnesota State Senate earlier this month passed a bill that would ban junk fees.

So what does this all mean for the consumer? With rules varying state to state, youll want to make sure youre reading the fine print. Because of regulations banning fees, consumers might see price increases on menus, or more cash-only signs. And if you really want to avoid paying credit card fees altogether, you can always carry cash.

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(Bloomberg) -- Xiaomi Corp. aims to deliver 120,000 of its SU7 electric-vehicles this year, hiking its target for a car it hopes can someday compete with Tesla Inc. and fuel its broader ambitions.

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President Lu Weibing disclosed that latest goal after Xiaomi reported its fastest pace of quarterly revenue growth in more than two years, reflecting an improving smartphone market. Revenue rose a faster-than-expected 27% to 75.51 billion yuan ($10.4 billion) in the March quarter, about 2.7% above the average estimate.

Xiaomis raised target suggests billionaire co-founder Lei Jun is confident of making headway in his $10 billion foray into the crowded electric car market. His company unveiled the SU7 in late March, and later said he expected to deliver more than 100,000 of the vehicles.

As of the end of April, orders for the SU7 series neared 90,000. On Thursday, Lu told reporters on a call his company was on track to ship 10,000 SU7s in June  about as much as Xiaomi moved during the first 43 days of sales  meaning it could shoot for a loftier annual goal of 120,000 units.

Xiaomi, which gets more than 60% of its revenue from smartphones, has been trying to diversify in part because of sluggish demand in its home market. On Thursday, it reported a 1% slide in net income to 4.2 billion yuan for the March quarter.

Still, signs point toward a gradual mobile recovery in China and beyond. Smartphone unit shipments at Xiaomi grew by nearly 34% last quarter amid a broader market bounceback, narrowing the gap with leaders Samsung Electronics Co. and Apple Inc., according to market tracker IDC. Apples global iPhone shipments slid more than expected as sales flagged in China.

The company is also developing a sport utility vehicle similar to Teslas Model Y, aiming to launch sales as early as 2025, according to people familiar with the matter. The EV business may make up a mid-to-high single digit percentage of the companys revenue in 2024, said Bloomberg Intelligence analysts Steven Tseng and Sean Chen.

By the end of 2024, Xiaomi envisions a network of 219 sales stores covering 46 cities.

Read More: Apple Faces Worst iPhone Slump Since Covid as Rivals Rise

--With assistance from Ville Heiskanen.

(Updates with executives comments from the second paragraph)

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As the threat of business fraud continues to evolve, Pinnacle Bank in Fremont is taking proactive steps to empower local businesses.

Their Busting Business Fraud Lunch and Learn presentation is scheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, in the Keene Memorial Library Community Room, located at 1030 N. Broad St.

Local business owners, managers and professionals are invited to attend to learn about the latest fraud schemes impacting businesses. Attendees will be shown how to mitigate their organizations risk and what to do it they become a target of fraud.

"With the increasing sophistication of fraud tactics, it's imperative for businesses to stay informed and prepared, Pinnacle Banks Market President Scott Meister said in a news release. Our goal with this event is to provide practical knowledge and tools to help businesses defend themselves."

To reserve a spot at this event, RSVP by Thursday, May 30.

For more information or to RSVP, contact: Jodi Nemec, 402-941-8607, jodi.nemec@pinnbank.com.
Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dave Williams discusses the state party's procedure to endorse GOP candidates in primaries in an online town hall with party activists on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, on the Zoom teleconferencing platform.
A federal judge is standing by his prior determination that Colorado's regulations on charitable solicitations are constitutional, amid a First Amendment challenge to the law itself and to the manner in which Secretary of State Jena Griswold applied it to an Ohio-based company.
A national group that works to elect Democrats to the House of Representatives booked nearly $4 million worth of general election TV advertising in the Denver market, pointing to the party's' commitment to protect a vulnerable incumbent in Colorado's swingiest district, while trying to flip another, Republican-held seat.
Republican PAC books $5M in ads for Colorado's 8th CD; court throws out Tina Peters' lawsuit; no constitutional violation from hard-to-hear livestream, court says | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
A water dispute between Colorado Springs Utilities and Aurora Water over the latter's purchase of a ranch bearing considerable water rights in the Lower Arkansas River Basin escalated Wednesday as the CSU board condemned the buy as a violation of a 2003 agreement.

As The Gazette reported April 21, Springs Utilities had joined with the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District in objecting to Aurora Water's spending $80 million on a ranch of about 5,000 acres near Rocky Ford and its associated water rights.

An Aurora presentation showed it estimates it is paying about $9,600 per acre-foot of water. The purchase could yield 18,000 to 22,500 acre-feet every 10 years, Aurora city documentation states. The presentation stipulated Aurora would use the water only three of every 10 years, leaving it where it is seven of those 10 years.

The CSU board's move to condemn that plan was reported by Gazette news partner KOAA.

"We see this purchase by Aurora as not really willing to work together with others," said Abby Ortega, CSU's General Manager of Infrastructure and Resource Planning, according to KOAA. "It takes water away from agriculture in the lower Arkansas Valley, which we've been working really hard to sustain."

Southeastern's president, Bill Long, told The Gazette in April the purchase breaks an agreement Aurora Water signed with his district. They have purchased water when they agreed not to, he said.

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Utilities said in a statement last month it agrees with Southeastern's interpretation.

As signatory to the Arkansas River Basin Preservation Principles, we oppose permanent out-of-basin transfers from an already water-short basin, the statement said.

The 2003 agreement was reached after Aurora made large purchases of water in Crowley and Otero counties, in a practice known as buy and dry, where the water leaves the land forever.

Under its 2003 agreement with Southeastern, Aurora agreed to only lease water from farmers and a series of other conditions.

For its part in the current dispute, Aurora said it is not violating the earlier agreement. Purchasing the water for only three of every 10 years proves that it does not plan to permanently move the water, a spokesperson said. Aurora has committed to keeping that land in production.
Colorado Springs police on Wednesday successfully resolved a hostage situation involving a child, according to law enforcement officials.

Shane Allen Hill, 51, was arrested without injury and faces multiple misdemeanor and felony charges, officials said.

Officers responded to a 7:15 p.m. call about a suicidal male with a possible hostage at the Heady Hittaz Headshop, located at 1138 E. Fillmore St., according to police. A woman told arriving officers that her boyfriend, who was armed, was holding their 8-year-old daughter inside the shop against her will and had threatened to harm himself in front of them.

A crisis entry team that included officers from CSPDs K-9 unit, University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Falcon police gained entry into the store and safely removed the child, detaining Hill and another man, police said. The second detainees name was not released.

Investigators later found a black, semi-automatic pistol inside the store, CSPD said.
Gov. Jared Polis visited several locations in the Denver metro area to sign a number of education bills into law.

At the Denver Indian Center, Polis signed House Bill 1444, which reauthorizes History Colorados Federal Indian Boarding School Research Program. The program investigates the abuse and deaths that occurred at Indian boarding schools in Colorado. The bill authorizes History Colorado, in collaboration with the Colorado commission of Indian Affairs and a steering committee, to continue its research until 2027. In addition to collecting data and artifacts, History Colorado will hold listening sessions with Native communities to understand the historical impact of these boarding schools on the tribes and their families.

The bill was sponsored by Reps. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Sens. Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village, and Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa.

At the Denver Broncos Boys & Girls Club, Polis signed House Bill 1331, establishing the Out-of-School Time Grant Program to support nonprofit organizations that offer services to students when school is not in session. The bill was sponsored by Reps. Rick Taggart, R-Colorado Springs, and Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, and Sens. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, and Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village.

The governor then stopped at Virginia Court Elementary School in Aurora to sign Senate Bill 188 and House Bill 1448.

Senate Bill 188, also known as the Public School Finance Act, is the states annual education budget. The bill marks the elimination of the states budget stabilization factor, which was introduced following the Great Recession of 2008. For more details, read here.

The bill was sponsored by Sens. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, and Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, and Reps. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, and Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango.

House Bill 1448 adjusts the states public school finance formula, which determines the amount of state funding each school district receives. The new formula starts with per-pupil funding and adds factors for at-risk students, English language learners, and special education. It also includes adjustments for cost-of-living, locale, district size, and extended high school and online students to calculate the total funding amount.

The bill sparked debate among lawmakers and school districts, saying the formula doesnt provide enough funding for public schools, but ultimately passed through both chambers. It was sponsored by Reps. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, and Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, and Sens. Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, and Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada.

At Sheridan High School in Englewood, Polis signed House Bill 1364, which authorizes the Department of Education to commission a financial study on the costs and potential savings of offering high school students opportunities to earn college credits, industry credentials, and work-based learning experiences.

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The bill also requires the Office of Information Technology to create a statewide databank to establish a consistent, appropriate, secure, and legal means of data sharing and connecting multiple data sets into the data system to support effective state investments, inform policy research, and assist Colorado citizens in making choices related to their education and training pathways.

Additionally, the bill establishes a governing board to oversee the data systems development and implementation and creates a cash fund to finance the system.

The bill was sponsored by Reps. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, and Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, and Sens. Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village, and Paul Lundeen, R-Monument.

Polis also signed House Bill 1466, which reallocates funds the state received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). It requires that by the end of the 2023-2024 fiscal year, any unspent ARPA funds from various programs will be moved back to the states main ARPA cash fund, and creates a new fund to help manage the transfers.

ARPA money that hasnt been spent by Jan. 31, 2025, will go back to the main cash fund to be redistributed to other departments. Additionally, the bill removes several spending deadlines for ARPA funds and requires the Governor and State Controller to report fund transfers and spending to the General Assembly.

The bill was sponsored by Joint Budget Committee members Reps. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, and Rick Taggart, R-Colorado Springs, and Sens. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, and Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton.

Polis final bill of the day was Senate Bill 014, which authorizes school districts to grant high school diploma endorsements in climate literacy for students who complete two courses on climate literacy and a final experiential learning project.

The bill defines climate literacy as An understanding of the essential principles of the earths climate system, assessing scientifically credible climate information, learning to communicate about the climate in a meaningful manner, and making informed and responsible decisions regarding actions that may affect the climate.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango.
As the 2023-24 school year winds down, four teachers in Colorado Springs School District 11 got one more surprise before breaking for the summer.

D-11 administrators each teacher with a gift of $11,000 at their respective schools Monday through the newly announced Teacher Impact Award.

Funded through a new donation from The Dakota Foundation, the award is given to educators whose students have demonstrated more than one years growth within a single school year, as evidenced by school test data.

Kyle Yeh, Coronado High School, Julie Lounello, Sabin Middle School, Sandra Briggs, Mitchell High School, and Laura Bomersbach, Steele Elementary School, were all announced as the first year's winners.

Winners were selected based on this data and recommendations from principals, colleagues, and students.

"Total surprise," D-11 spokesperson Jessica Wise said of each winner learned about their prize. "There was a genuine look of shock on all of their faces because they're just not used to receiving $11,000."

The new award is the latest in a long history of programs and initiatives in Colorado Springs through the Dakota Foundation. The nonprofit, established in 1997, is dedicated to supporting educational initiatives that foster social entrepreneurship and enhance self-sufficiency.

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The foundation has helped fund Friends of the Children, Peak Education and the Community Impact fund for Workforce Housing throughout the Pikes Peak region in recent years.

Last year, the foundation, in partnership with Pikes Peak State College, began The Mitchell Promise which provides a path to free college for qualifying students from the high school. This would later expand to the D-11 promise for graduating students throughout the district. The Dakota Promise originally began offering similar scholarships to D-2 graduates in 2019.

In the years since developing the D-11 promise, the district has maintained a relationship with the foundation. When approached this spring about beginning a program specifically for recognizing and celebrating teachers, administrators "jumped" at the opportunity and selected its first winners in a matter of weeks.

"The #1 way to student achievement is access to high-quality instruction ... we are humbled to have support from the Dakota Foundation and the Board of Education to celebrate our most excellent teachers with $11K cash rewards for demonstrating that over this last academic year," D-11 superintendent Michael Gaal said in a press release.

The district and foundation agreed to a memorandum of understanding for three years and hope to continue the program in the years that follow.
People hang out under the Tejon Street bridge near Interstate 25 in Colorado Springs. The bridge and nearby Dorchester Park are popular spots for homeless people.
Stuart Turille Jr.  the former administrator for Pittsylvania County who resigned April 19  has landed a new job in Southport, North Carolina.

The city on the coastal area of southeastern North Carolina announced Turilles selection as city manager Friday.

Turille resigned from his post in Pittsylvania County last month after only a year on the job.

Sometimes in life things just dont work out, Turille told the Register & Bee last month reading from a prepared statement. You must choose to learn a new form.

In accepting his resignation, the board of supervisors waived a 30-day notice required under his contract.

Turille did not comment further on his resignation, nor did he indicate he had an opportunity elsewhere.

The importance of a city manager is indescribable, Southport Mayor Rich Alt said in a statement. I believe that Stuart is what Southport needs to continue making progress and I am excited that we are welcoming him to our administration.

Southport has a population of about 4,200, compared to about 60,000 in Pittsylvania County.

It is a privilege to be selected as the new city manager of Southport, Turille said in a statement. I have never encountered such a charming community that boasts all the assets needed to thrive, including natural beauty, a great geographical location and a hospitable community culture.

The deadline for submitting applications for the city manager position was March 11, according to an employment notice from the city, more than a month before he announced his departure from Pittsylvania County.

He will begin his new job on July 2. A news release notes Turille and his family will be fully relocating to Southport and will reside within the corporate city limits.

Turille, a native of Lynchburg, came to Pittsylvania county with experience in private and public sectors and had been involved with local government management in Virginia and North Carolina for more than 20 years.

Turille received up to $5,000 in moving expenses and a reimbursement of $1,400 for up to four months of living expenses, his contract agreement with Pittsylvania County stated.

It also specified that hes owned a three-month severance of his salary and accrued benefits. In addition, benefits  including health insurance  will continue for three months after his resignation.

Pittsylvania County has yet to name an interim county administrator or post the position online.
Cases of possession of a firearm while drug trafficking, and prohibited felons in possession of firearms, have doubled in Montana during the past decade.

People think somehow the feds are out to get their guns, but thats not who were talking about, said U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, whose office is responsible for prosecuting these crimes. Were dealing with drugs and people with violent criminal histories committing heinous, violent crimes.

There were 103 cases last year of possession of firearms by prohibited felons, defined as anyone previously incarcerated for over a year for a felony. That's up from 50 cases in 2014, according to the United States Attorney's Office. Cases of possession of a firearm while trafficking drugs almost doubled in the same period, from 29 cases to 57.

Its a function of how saturated the criminal market is with guns, Laslovich said.

Far too many people have guns now that shouldnt have guns, he continued.

The Billings area accounted for 62 of last years felon in possession of a firearm cases, up from 32 in 2014. The area accounted for 20 of last years 57 cases of possession of a firearm while drug trafficking.

Billings, a pro-gun community on the whole, has recently had to grapple with the violence a growing abundance of firearms can cause. Most of this focus has been on gun violence perpetrated by teenage boys. The cases coming out of the U.S. Attorneys Office demonstrate that this is not the only demographic using firearms for nefarious purposes.

The uptick in firearms possession by drug traffickers was remarked upon by state Attorney General Austin Knudsen, a strong supporter of gun rights, at a fentanyl awareness summit hosted last month by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

He said that when he was county attorney in Roosevelt County very few drug dealers were stupid enough to carry firearms, which, in conjunction with dealing, leads to a lengthy mandatory minimum sentence.

Carrying a firearm while drug trafficking adds five years to a sentence. Brandishing a firearm adds seven years. Discharging a firearm adds 10 years.

Its a hammer, Laslovich said of these provisions.

In a recent Billings case against a member of the large-scale drug conspiracy operating out of the Crow Reservation, the defense lawyer argued that the firearm enhancement should not apply to his client, Wendell Lefthand, because the guns in question were hunting rifles.

Text messages between Lefthand and another conspirator indicate that he was in possession of a .308 and a Weatherby. The messages mention taking the weapons with them on some kind of excursion.

A .308 is a common hunting caliber. Weatherby is a manufacturer of bolt-action hunting rifles," wrote Peter Landsiedel, Lefthand's lawyer, in a sentencing document. "Neither are suitable for defending a drug stash. Both are, however, well suited for hunting medium-sized game."

Bryan Dake, a prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney's Office, acknowledged this, but said that hunting is not all that guns can be used for.

They can be used for other purposes, like protecting a drug stash, Dake said. You take what you can get.

There is nothing about this case that would indicate that Mr. Lefthand used firearms for legitimate purposes, he wrote in a sentencing document.

Lefthands home "was not a working ranch, or some legitimate business necessitating the need for several firearms. It was a drug operation where firearms served many purposes, Dake continued.

Judge Susan Watters was similarly unconvinced by the defenses arguments.

The texts mention taking (the guns) with them when they were leaving, and I really doubt they were going on a hunting trip, she said.

Guns as currency

Laslovich attributes the rise of firearms in drug trafficking to the fact that guns are both easy to get and a form of currency. Drug traffickers tend to keep more than a few on hand.

Its not just a handful of guns, its lots of guns, he said.

Joseph Simpson, another defendant in the same conspiracy, was pulled over in July 2022 while in possession of two pounds of meth, $9,000 in cash and four firearms, including an Uzi submachine gun. He was sentenced in January to 20 years in prison.

Last year, the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force seized 180 firearms, according to the Billings Police Departments 2023 annual report. The task force also seized 37.3 pounds of meth, 65,823 fentanyl pills and $368,422.

The Billings District Violent Offender Task Force seized 33 handguns and 30 long guns last year, up from 24 handguns and 16 long guns in 2018. This task force also seized $55,460 and about 5 pounds of meth in 2023.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced 990 firearms involved in crimes for Montana law enforcement agencies in 2022, compared to 284 in 2014, according to annual reports from the bureau. In 2014, 92 of these traces were categorized as being connected to dangerous drugs, which rose to 281 in 2022.

Black market guns

ATF also tracks the time from the sale of a firearm to when it was recovered in a crime, as short "time-to-crime" periods indicate that firearms are being purchased legally to be sold on the black market, according to a 2023 Department of Justice press release. ATF considers a "time-to-crime" window of under three years to be a potential indicator of trafficking.

In 2014, 35.7% of crime-involved firearms traced by ATF in Montana had been purchased under three years before. This rose to 41.5% in 2022.

BPD has previously expressed concern about the prevalence of firearms involved in crime in the community, as well as the number of firearms stolen out of vehicles. There were 198 guns stolen out of vehicles last year in Billings.

The metrics have to go beyond the politics of the day, Chief Rich St. John said during a December 2023 public meeting on the falls homicide spree. You do have to talk about guns at some point when so many guns are stolen, he said.

Sgt. Ryan Kramer, who leads BPDs Street Crimes Unit, expressed frustration earlier this year with current state laws regarding gun theft, which is a misdemeanor, just like shoplifting, unless the firearm is worth over $1,500.

It would be helpful in the law to give us something to deal with it, Kramer said. Theres not a whole lot to go on to hold them accountable.

As a federal entity, the U.S. Attorney's Office is impacted by forces beyond the state. The Department of Justice, which includes the U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI, the DEA and ATF, faced federal budget cuts last year.

"The budget that passed last year hurt us and our effort to combat crime," Laslovich said. His office has had to leave prosecutor positions open.

"We're asking folks to do more," he said.

The U.S. Attorney's ability to prosecute these cases could also change due to a recent decision out of a California appeals court, which ruled earlier this month that prohibiting non-violent ex-felons from owning firearms is unconstitutional, using a 2022 Supreme Court decision as the basis for the ruling. The ex-felon in question was a gang member from Los Angeles with five previous non-violent felony convictions, including possession of a controlled substance.

"It was a blow," Laslovich said of the ruling, which is currently being contested.
BRAIDWOOD  Ten students and two teachers were transported to the hospital after three school buses collided Tuesday morning on Interstate 55 in the Chicago suburbs, according to authorities and school officials.

A crash involving the buses happened around 8:35 a.m. at I-55 northbound at milepost 246 in Will County, Illinois State police said Tuesday afternoon.

The buses were traveling northbound in the right line when traffic slowed to a stop, police said. One bus was unable to stop in time and struck the back of another bus, which then struck the rear of the third. No other vehicles were involved in the crash, police said.

Mark Mitchell, superintendent of Reed-Custer Schools in Braidwood, said the buses were on the way to Six Flags for an eighth grade field trip. He said 10 students and two teachers were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries.

The Braidwood Police Department said the rest of the children were returned to Reed-Custer Middle School while state police investigate the crash.

When you see the response from emergency personnel, you just feel really proud and are thankful for the support that those first responders provide, Mitchell said. Also our on-site people. We had a lot of teachers and supervisors on those buses that jumped into action.

Mitchell added that social emotional support was available for anyone traumatized by the crash.

The driver of the bus that didnt stop in time was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

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SPRINGFIELD  The Illinois House passed legislation this week that would hold funeral homes accountable while dealing with human remains.

Senate Bill 2643, sponsored by state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, and state Rep. Mary Gill, D-Chicago, passed unanimously out of the House Tuesday.

The legislation comes about a year after someone filed a complaint against a Carlinville funeral home saying that it mishandled and misidentified human remains. An investigation has revealed that the families of almost 80 people received the wrong remains.

The bill establishes a mandatory tagging system while also adding identification rules and regulations for the handling of human remains. It also requires crematory authorities and funeral establishments to keep a chain of custody records unique to each set of human remains to ensure the death care industry can identify them while in their possession.

Gill filed an amendment to the bill that would require the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to inspect the premises of a funeral home within 10 business days of receiving a complaint against that funeral home for mishandling or misidentifying remains, rather than after 10 calendar days.

Stronger chain of custody requirements, timely inspections and real consequences can help to restore trust in this important field, Gill said on the House floor Tuesday.

If someone intentionally or knowingly makes a false statement on a death certificate, it would be a Class 4 felony under this legislation. Anyone in the funeral directing or embalming practice who intentionally or knowingly creates or files false records or reports, such as false records filed with state agencies or departments, would be subject to a Class 4 felony.

Intentionally violating the chain of custody record requirements and/or violating the preparation rooms procedures and rules outlined in the bill would also be a Class 4 felony. In Gills amendment, those who engage in funeral directing or embalming without a license would be subject to a Class A misdemeanor rather than a Class 3 felony.

The bill goes back to the Senate for concurrence.
Eleven students graduated from Rosenwald Education Center on Thursday afternoon.

Catawba County Schools Board of Education member Ronn Abernathy gave the commencement address.

Abernathy used an analogy of an auction and did an impression of an auctioneer, to illustrate how quickly life moves after graduation.

For every decision there is a consequence, Abernathy said, which may include missed opportunities. But there will always be another opportunity around the corner, Abernathy said.

Principal Timothy Adams address focused on giving to the community and finding a path when there seems to be no way forward.

Adams said the pandemic brought challenges that, at the time, seemed insurmountable. Yet, there was a light at the end of the tunnel, he said.

Adams said he brought up the memories of COVID-19 to remind students that if they are ever lost in a haze they should find something to grab onto.

The best thing to do when feeling lost, Adams said, is give to others.

Your legacy is what you give, not what you get, Adams said. Give your time, give your money, give your talents. Just find a place to give and you will find your way in those moments.

Of the 11 graduates, six walked at the ceremony. Four chose to graduate at their home high schools and one was unable to walk.

Following graduation, one student will attend a two-year college and one opted for alternate post-high school training. The rest will either go into the workforce or take a gap year. Some are undecided.

Graduate Makayla Caldwell said that for her, graduating was very emotional.

I am excited, overwhelmed, and some emotions I cant even explain, Caldwell said.

Caldwells advice for others is, Stay true to yourself. Figure out some goals, set them, start checking them off and just try your best at everything.

Briannah French completed school a year early. French said that out of everything, she was going to remember the staff the most.

They have been very helpful, very dedicated to help me graduate early and push me to my limit  even when I dont want to, French said.

Next year, French will begin taking general education classes at Catawba Valley Community College with hopes to pursue a career in the medical field.

Melissa Sherrill, who attended the graduation to support French, said that she is most proud of Frenchs strength.

She has been through a lot in her short time here. Im very proud of her, Sherrill said.

Like many others, Caldwell also said she was thankful for the staff and support system she found at Rosenwald.

Graduate Jamian Ikard said he plans to attend Catawba Valley Community College to pursue a degree in business and management. Ikard said he wants to start his own clothing company in the future.

Graduate Caleb Connor said he is thankful for everyone who supported him.

Everybody is just like a big old family. Everybody knows each other. Everybodys cool with each other. That is what I am going to miss most, Connor said.

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Ukraine and Gaza are much different. But they share some common challenges.

Both are being attacked by well-armed, powerful enemies who are determined to defeat them.

Their attackers have ruthlessly engaged them, killing or wounding people and destroying houses, buildings, roads, bridges and other improved property, leaving much of their infrastructure as rubble.

Their people, including children have been attacked, wounded, and killed.

Both of the subjects of these attacks will harbor a hatred for the attackers, regardless of whether and when the conflicts end. And that hatred will last for generations or longer.

In the Ukraine, the situation is especially bleak with Russian troops pouring across the Russian-Ukraine border, while Ukraine is prohibited by the U.S. from engaging them until they cross into Ukraine.

Even without the arms expected from the U.S. and European allies, even when they lack weapons to confront the Russian invaders and air attacks, the Ukrainians fight bravely on, reminding some Americans of their study of Shakespeares play, King Henry V, when the king rallied his troops with a look into the future when the day of the coming battle, Crispians Day, would be remembered.

This story shall the good man teach his son;

And Crispin Crispian shall neer go by,

From this day to the ending of the world,

But we in it shall be rememberd;

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

For he to-day that sheds his blood with me

Shall be my brother; be he neer so vile,

This day shall gentle his condition:

And gentlemen in England now a-bed

Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,

And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks

That fought with us upon Saint Crispins day.

Nations are ultimately built on stories, says Noah Harari, author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. Each passing day adds more stories that Ukrainians will not only tell in the dark days ahead, but in the decades and generations to come  This is the stuff nations are built from. In the long run, these stories count for more than tanks.

Today may be the darkest day so far in Russias war on Ukraine. And there may be even darker days to come.

But Ukraine and its people will be very hard for the Russians to conquer quickly or completely. And Ukraines bands of brothers and sisters can outlast the invaders, creating lasting bonds built on stories of the Russian horror show.

Whatever victories the Russians achieve in the coming months and years will be at risk of being overturned by Ukrainians who will remember for the longest time what Russia is doing now to Ukraine and its people.

Meanwhile, the armed forces of Israel in Gaza have followed the example of the Russians in Ukraine in their response to Hamass brutal attack and hostage taking on October 7 of last year. An appropriate and speedy response by Israel was necessary. But the ongoing attacks on Gaza and the resulting loss of life, starvation, and overwhelming destruction of homes and infrastructure has resulted and will be remembered for years by the people of Gaza and the Arab world.

A generation of American college students will remember their protests against Israel for its destruction of Gaza and its people,

The memories of the people of Ukraine and Gaza and the damage and loss of life that they are enduring will be like those of the English soldier of Henry V who remembers From this day to the ending of the world.
Tourists visit the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)



Several years ago, stage musical producer Li Dun spent seven days visiting the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu province, admiring the murals and learning about the Buddhist stories depicted.

One of the Jataka tales in Buddhist legends  that of Prince Sattva sacrificing himself to feed hungry tigers  moved him to tears. After a long time of gazing at the mural in an almost trance-like state, Li thought of producing a musical centered on the heritage site and those who devote their lives to its preservation.

"The tale of Prince Sattva embodies sacrifice and the great love of humanity. Following this thought, the idea for the theme song to be titled Sacrifice emerged," Li says.

"Sacrifice holds great significance for human societies. If we could all show a bit of humility and make some sacrifices, the world would be more peaceful and society would be infused with a touch of warmth."

Li contacted composer San Bao and playwright Guan Shan, with whom he had collaborated in 2007 on the acclaimed musical Butterflies. They had promised to work together again.

The show's development also involved such veteran theater practitioners as director Chen Shizheng, dance director Jiang Yang and lighting designer Ren Dongsheng, as well as performers from theater troupes as the China Oriental Performing Arts Group. The production crew made field trips to Dunhuang 10 times since the project's conception in 2016.

"All three of us take it extremely seriously. San Bao jokingly said that the first script that Guan Shan wrote would take more than three months to perform. I suggested that we need only to capture the essence and cut down on the script," Li says.

Titled Flying Apsaras, the musical hosted concerts in 2023, presenting 14 original songs. And from April 25 to 27, the production premiered at Beijing's Poly Theatre in its full splendor.

Beginning from May 1 to 12, it was staged at the Dunhuang Grand Theater and then at the Lanzhou Concert Hall from May 15 to Sunday in Gansu's capital. It is also scheduled to run at the upcoming 18th Daegu International Musical Festival in South Korea and tour 13 Chinese cities with 50 performances starting from August.

The story is set in the 1930s and centers on two main characters  the guardian, who safeguards the murals from both natural disasters and human threats, and the traveler, who chances across a catalog of Dunhuang murals and decides to devote himself to the site's preservation.

These characters are based on and pay tribute to the generations of experts who've dedicated their lives to the protection of Dunhuang culture, epitomized by the founding director of the Dunhuang Academy, Chang Shuhong (1904-94).

The academy dedicated to the preservation and research of Dunhuang's ancient grottoes is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.

Back in 1935, Chang was studying oil painting in Paris, where he stumbled upon a photo collection of Dunhuang murals and statues. He was awed by their artistry and concerned about their protection, so he went to Dunhuang where he spent four decades working to preserve its heritage.

According to the musical's director, Chen Shizheng, the show's core lies in exploring the brilliance of human nature and magnitude of human emotions.

"The guardian remains at the caves out of her love for Dunhuang and the traveler rushes from Paris to pursue Dunhuang's art. Both are chasing their dreams, which is an intangible concept," Chen says.

The production extensively employs digital art and projection technology to convey this. Some scenes feature projections from three angles to generate a sense of perspective and depict the murals before, during and after restoration.

"For example, the guardian lives in one of the caves. Through the use of projection, the audience can see the cave, the mural, the scaffolding set up to restore it, and the oil lamp and makeshift bed where she sleeps," Chen says.

"This contrasts the toil of the preservers with the sublimity of the murals, allowing the audience to understand the relationship between art and humanity."

Including the Prince Sattva story, the musical incorporates four representative Jataka tales that intertwine with the main storyline that demonstrate Dunhuang culture and promote the virtue of benevolence.

"Guan Shan ingeniously integrates four Jataka tales by having the male and female protagonists play the roles within these tales, so that the destinies of the traveler and the guardian are closely connected with the characters on Dunhuang murals. It's a contemporary way of presenting ancient myths," Chen says.

The choreography merges dance styles from various regions and eras, as Dunhuang was a pivotal interchange on the ancient Silk Road, serving as a hub for commerce and cultural exchanges between the East and the West.

"Because this musical is about the authenticity, goodness and beauty found in our profound Chinese traditional culture, I drew inspiration from tradition and incorporated the expressive movements of traditional dance styles, such as the gestures of the flying apsaras. But I innovated upon them by also integrating contemporary genres, including ballet and tap," dance director Jiang Yang says.

"Every member of our production crew hopes that this musical is something different  something brand new  that can serve as a valuable addition to China's original musicals and that audiences from all over the world can feel the depth and scope of traditional Chinese culture from it."
3D printing technology has become a technology that we now associate with DIY. The most common use case seems to be fixing things around the house or creating physical art. However, this perception will likely change in the next few years, as some companies are leveraging it to automate far-and-wide industries.

3D printing has a few key benefits: its mostly automated, it cuts labour costs, and it is rapid in going from prototype to product. This makes it ideal for manufacturing, packaging, and automotive, but also in intricate production too, like orthotics and space.

The Current State of 3D Printing Regulations

Much like AI is currently experiencing, government regulations around the world for 3D printing are evolving to address the technology's rapid growth.

In the United States, the FDA has issued guidance for additive-manufactured medical devices, reflecting the need for rigorous testing and quality control. The U.S. also sees ongoing discussions regarding the regulation of 3D-printed firearms, a contentious issue thats somewhat unique to the US, which balances innovation with public safety.

In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has begun implementing rules for 3D-printed medical devices, ensuring they meet the same safety standards as traditionally manufactured products.

The balance between innovation and compliance is exemplified by firms like Formero, adhering to ethical standards in 3D printing despite infant lawmaking.

The Australian government is also exploring regulations around intellectual property rights and consumer safety in 3D printing. Given that 3D printing is being involved in construction, proper regulations havent even addressed these developments despite some experts predicting that 30% of homes in the outback will be 3D printed.

The Australian Consumer Law (ACL) review is looking to include 3D printing designs within the scope of product safety, because such designs are often available for public download. What if people begin printing medical devices at home for self-treatment, for example?

Lawmakers around the world are recognising the potential of 3D printing while acknowledging the necessity of regulatory frameworks to promote responsible use.

Importance of Regulations for Sustainability

Government regulations play a pivotal role in ensuring the environmental sustainability of 3D printing  after all, this is a key USP of 3D printing things (waste reduction). These regulations can enforce the use of eco-friendly materials and efficient waste management. These will not likely impact DIY printers, but their use in industry. For instance, guidelines requiring recyclable materials and reducing hazardous emissions make 3D printing more environmentally friendly, but such regulations are mostly pre-existing and not 3D printing-specific.

Balancing Innovation and Ethical Practices

To sustain innovation in 3D printing while upholding ethical practices, regulators must use common sense. Issues like intellectual property infringements and the potential misuse of printed products are complicated areas, with both trying to fit in with existing laws. And, its important to hold manufacturers accountable for their sustainability claims, particularly when using new technology.

Conclusion

Regulation is always one step behind technology by its very nature. This means that many businesses begin a process only for it to be restricted down the line. However, this long-term view of compliance is an important strategy, meaning that firms should uphold ethical standards that are above and beyond the current law.
Aside from the safety, the update includes findings from Cosmos (Cohort Study on Mobile Phones and Health), a study of over a quarter of a million mobile phone users, which found there is no association between EME and brain tumours.

Wider findings outlined in the report include:

 The Cosmos study also showed that headaches were more likely caused by lifestyle factors, not EME.

 The World Health Organisation (WHO) have said that electrohypersensitivity symptoms are not part of any recognised syndrome. Electrohypersensitivity (EHS) refers to a variety of non-specific subjective symptoms (such as headache, dizziness, and fatigue), which individuals self-report as being due to EME exposure at levels below safety guidelines.

"EME levels have remained low (and even lower) with the adoption of 5G in Australia and around the world, as have EME levels in homes adopting smart technologies powered by Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and mobile connectivity. This is a testament to the reliability and safety of mobile telecommunications technology and the rigorous international standards that guide our industry, said AMTA CEO Louise Hyland.

Australian scientists contributed to the EME research. Their involvement ensures that safety standards remain not only relevant and credible but also perfectly suited for the Australian environment.

"The contribution of Australian scientists to international health agencies further solidifies our role and influence in shaping global safety standards. We congratulate associate professor Ken Karipidis from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) who will take the role of inaugural vice chair at the newly formed International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) which commences in July 2024, continued Hyland.

In addition to the global studies, the ACMA has a publicly available EME Checker, which includes measurements for more than 500 base station sites across Australia which are approximately 50% lower than carrier predicted levels.

"In light of the Cosmos study findings and the continued efforts of our scientists, industry experts, and associations, Australians can feel reassured about the safety of 5G and the ongoing commitment of AMTA and its members to public health and safety," said Hyland.

For more information about AMTA's efforts and the 2024 EME Report findings, visit here.
COMPANY NEWS: Call Design , a leading provider of workforce optimisation solutions, has announced a new strategic partnership with ProHance, an enterprise-grade operations enablement and analytics platform that provides insights for smarter decisions in complex, distributed and hybrid workforces.

Call Design has built an international business focused on workforce optimisation solutions and is excited to work with ProHance to offer more advanced optimisation technology to the back office.

Call Design will integrate ProHance's innovative operations management platform into the back office operations of its enterprise clients, as part of the partnership. This integration will leverage ProHance's capabilities to provide actionable insights and real-time data analytics, allowing back office leaders to significantly reduce manual efforts and focus on strategic activities that enhance customer service outcomes.

Nimesh Dhanak, CEO at Call Design

Nimesh Dhanak, CEO of Call Design, stated, "This partnership with ProHance is a transformative step for us in extending our value to a growing customer base. By harnessing ProHance's advanced analytics and operational insights, we can deliver more efficient and effective back office solutions that are critical as our clients adapt to the dynamics of hybrid workplaces with distributed teams."

As a missing piece in the puzzle for back office operations, the ability to get meaningful metrics has, in the past, been challenging. With ProHance, this is now possible and streamlines previously manual processes.

ProHance helps organisations view their operations holistically. The platform's robust data and analytics capabilities provide organisations with comprehensive omni-channel operations management and a productivity platform that empowers businesses to optimise their back-office, middle-office, and contact centre operations.

Brendan Maree, VP & Country Manager ANZ at ProHance

Brendan Maree, Vice President and Country Manager Australia and New Zealand, ProHance, said, Call Design is a natural partner for ProHance with a long and proven track record of helping Australian enterprises successfully improve their enterprise and contact centre effectiveness. We look forward to working with businesses to improve their productivity with the winning combination of ProHance technology and Call Designs superior capabilities and consulting skills in workforce optimisation. Together, well be able to provide customers with best-in-class technology but also unparalleled service and support.

This partnership represents a significant milestone in Call Designs ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional services and solutions to organisations around the world. Businesses looking to optimise their workforce at an enterprise level can now leverage the combined expertise of these two industry leaders.

By integrating ProHance's advanced analytics into Call Design's workforce optimisation solutions, businesses can gain deeper insights into their operations and make data-driven decisions to enhance productivity and efficiency.

ProHance is a cutting-edge, global operations management platform that provides real, tangible and actionable insights which I believe are even more critical as businesses settle into the hybrid workplace with distributed teams across the enterprise, said Dhanak.
COMPANY NEWS: Radware has issued an advisory highlighting the threat of upcoming cyber attacks aimed at the US education and financial sectors. These attacks, driven by pro-Palestinian hacktivists, are designed to inflict damage on entities viewed as supporting Israel by imposing what they term a "cyber price tag."

Rising threats to US institutions

The advisory suggests that increasing tensions in the Israel-Hamas negotiations are likely to result in a surge of cyber attacks against Israel's allies, including the United States. Hacktivist groups are expected to escalate their efforts, utilising methods such as Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, website defacement, and data theft. These strategies present a significant risk to US universities and financial institutions, which are particularly susceptible due to their large and complex digital infrastructures.

Drivers of the attacks

The primary motivator behind these cyber threats is the intensifying Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Recent incidents, such as the mass arrests of pro-Palestinian activists during university protests in the US in April and May 2024, have further exacerbated tensions. These hacktivist groups aim to disrupt operations and coerce political outcomes by inflicting substantial damage on pro-Israeli entities.

Overview of the threat landscape

Radware's advisory identifies several key hacktivist groups likely to be involved in these attacks, including Anonymous Sudan, Dark Storm Team, and Ghosts of Palestine. These groups are known for their sophisticated cyber operations and ability to execute high-impact attacks.

Anonymous Sudan is infamous for its coordinated DDoS attacks, which can incapacitate online services and create significant disruptions.

Dark Storm Team employs a variety of tactics, such as malware distribution and network intrusions, to achieve their goals.

Ghosts of Palestine specialises in website defacement and data breaches, aiming to spread their message and disrupt operations.

Potential impact

The potential fallout from these cyber attacks is considerable. Disruptions to critical systems in the education and financial sectors could lead to prolonged outages, financial losses, and a significant erosion of trust. For financial institutions, interruptions in online banking and payment services can result in severe financial consequences. In the education sector, attacks on academic networks can impede educational services, disrupt research activities, and compromise sensitive data.

Extended service outages can worsen these issues, leading to a loss of confidence among stakeholders and potential regulatory consequences. Therefore, it is crucial for institutions in these sectors to strengthen their cybersecurity defences and remain vigilant against the evolving threat landscape.

Conclusion

As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to influence global cyber activities, US education and financial sectors must prepare for an increase in cyber attacks from pro-Palestinian hacktivists. Institutions should closely monitor threat intelligence, bolster their security measures, and develop robust incident response plans to mitigate the potential impact of these threats.
COMPANY NEWS: DataStax, the generative AI data company, announced the launch of Astra Vectorize, a new feature that performs embedding generations on the server-side. The Astra Vectorize launch includes new integrations with OpenAI and Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service to accelerate and simplify embedding generation for developers. These integrations allow organisations to compare different embedding models with just a couple of clicks, saving hours and days of development time.

Astra Vectorize is an addition to the Astra Data API that will allow users to provide raw, unstructured datalike a piece of text or an imageas a part of an insert, update, or vector search operation, and the vector embedding for that data will be automatically generated by Astra DB. With this functionality, users get an improved developer experience by abstracting the complexity of embedding models from the application code, so that they can focus on the business logic of the application, rather than integrations with external systems.

One of the frequent questions we hear from developers is around how to generate embeddings in a more simplified and cost-effective way. Its clearly a pain point, said DataStax chief product officer Ed Anuff. With Astra Vectorize, the process is significantly simplified because embedding generation is happening at the database layerwhere indexing has always traditionally occurredleaving developers free to focus on actual application logic, rather than the intricacies of vector embeddings.

The Astra Vectorize native integration with Azure OpenAI provides customers with the security capabilities of Microsoft Azure while running the same models as OpenAI. Azure OpenAI offers private networking, regional availability, and responsible AI content filtering. Astra Vectorize also integrates directly with OpenAI, providing out-of-the-box embedding generation services for both platforms.

Vectorize represents the latest milestone in our partnership with DataStax, building on a longstanding relationship and multiple Microsoft and Azure integrations like Marketplace, Security, Fabric/PowerQuery, and Semantic Kernel, said Microsoft CVP product Azure AI Asha Sharma. By simplifying the integration of Azure OpenAI Service into the DataStax RAG architecture, Vectorize streamlines embedding generation, reaffirming our joint commitment to empowering developers with advanced AI capabilities.

Since beginning our testing with Vectorize, we've been impressed with the results, said TehMove AS CEO Ivan Koval. In just a short time, we've successfully created collections, loaded datasets, and executed queries, all yielding highly relevant results. This efficiency is promising for streamlining our processes and enhancing our overall workflow.

For more information, check out the Astra Vectorize blog post, or head to the DataStax booth, number FP26, at Microsoft Build.
COMPANY NEWS: Dell Technologies unveils Dell PowerStore advancements for better performance, efficiency, resiliency, and multicloud data mobility. Dell also expands Dell APEX portfolio with new AIOps advancements and enhanced multicloud and Kubernetes storage management.

Our PowerStore advancements and new lineup of financial and operational advantages for customers and partners pack a powerful punch and raise the bar in all-flash storage, said Dell Technologies president infrastructure solutions group Arthur Lewis. And we didnt stop there. Our focus on innovation also extends to Dell APEX, where were improving infrastructure and application reliability through the power of AI and automation, making it even easier to manage multicloud and Kubernetes storage.

Enhancing storage performance, efficiency, resiliency and multicloud capabilities: Dell PowerStore helps manage increasing workload demands with the industrys most flexible quad-level cell (QLC) storage and significant performance enhancements.

QLC-based storage: Delivers enterprise-class performance at a lower cost per terabyte when compared to triple-level cell (TLC) models. Customers can start with as few as 11 QLC drives and scale up to 5.9 petabytes of effective capacity per appliance. PowerStores intelligent load balancing capabilities help save costs and improve workload placement across mixed TLC and QLC clusters.

Increased performance: Improves hardware performance by up to 66% through new data-in-place higher model appliance upgrades.

Dell PowerStore software advancements improve efficiency, security, and cloud mobility:

Software-driven performance boost: Non-disruptive software updates available at no additional cost to existing customers deliver up to a 30% higher mixed workload performance boost and up to 20% lower latency.

Improved data protection: More choices for customers safeguarding critical workloads with native synchronous replication for block and file workloads and native metro replication for Windows, Linux and VMware environments.

Increased Efficiency: Software enhancements provide up to 20% better data reduction and up to 28% more effective terabytes per watt.

Multicloud data mobility enhancements: Customers can advance multicloud strategies and simplify workload mobility by connecting PowerStore to Dell APEX Block Storage for Public Cloud, the worlds most scalable cloud block storage.

Dell PowerStore is helping Fulgent Genetics transform patient care in pathology, oncology, reproductive health, as well as infectious and rare diseases, by significantly accelerating data processing speed so that our physicians can deliver faster genetic insights and test results to our patients, said Fulgent Genetics vice president, applications, Mike Lacenere.

PowerStore enhances our commitment to sustainability by minimising energy use and reducing the size of our data centers while providing us considerable cost savings. With PowerStores new advances, we expect this trifecta of performance, efficiency, and cost savings to continue to increase which will help us improve patient care.

These PowerStore advancements are part of PowerStore Prime, a new integrated offering that combines updated PowerStore systems with programs designed to offer customers greater storage investment protection and increase Dell partner profitability.

Offering greater storage investment protection

PowerStore Prime offers customers greater flexibility to make the most of their IT investment with:

5:1 data reduction guarantee: Customers can buy with confidence, save on costs, and reduce energy with the industrys best data reduction guarantee.

Continuous modernisation: Lifecycle Extension with Dell ProSupport or ProSupport Plus offers customers 24/7 access to live support, flexible technology upgrades, capacity trade-ins, and storage advisory services.

Flexible consumption: Customers can consume PowerStore through a Dell APEX subscription, paying only for what they need monthly.

Empowering partners to meet customer demands

PowerStore Prime also makes it easier and more rewarding to sell PowerStore. Building on the Dell partner-first strategy for storage, partners can now increase PowerStore sales with competitively priced product bundles and deliver expanded use cases for joint customers. Partners can also streamline sales motions when selling PowerStore and PowerProtect offers together.

PowerStores new 5:1 Data Reduction Guarantee and new QLC array are a testament of Dells unwavering commitment to meet customer efficiency goals while lowering the cost of advanced storage, said World Wide technology technical solutions architect John Lochausen. Dells new partner incentives and guarantees bring it all together, putting us and our customers in a position to succeed with the latest advances in all- flash storage.

Unleashing the power of AI to simplify and automate IT management

Dell Technologies continues to evolve its Dell APEX portfolio to meet customer needs across key focus areas like AI and multicloud. Dell APEX innovations deliver leading AIOps capabilities and improve storage and Kubernetes management.

Dell APEX AIOps Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) optimises Dell infrastructure health and service availability with AI-driven full stack observability and incident management. It is a significant expansion of Dells AIOps tools that simplifies operations, improves IT agility and delivers greater control over applications and infrastructure through three integrated capabilities:

Infrastructure observability: Resolves infrastructure issues up to 10X faster than traditional approaches through AI-powered health, cybersecurity and sustainability insights and recommendations. Generative AI-powered Dell APEX AIOps Assistant delivers instant responses to infrastructure questions and provides detailed problem-solving recommendations.

Application observability: Yields up to 70% reduction in mean time to resolution of application issues through full stack application topologies and analytics for assuring application availability and performance.

Incident management: Optimises digital infrastructure availability through AI- driven incident detection and resolution that reduces customer-reported multivendor and multicloud infrastructure issues by up to 93%.

Dell APEX Navigator SaaS expands to include Kubernetes storage management and additional support for Dell APEX Storage for Public Cloud offers:

Dell APEX Navigator for Kubernetes is generally available, simplifying Kubernetes storage management on Dell PowerFlex and soon, Dell PowerScale and Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Red Hat OpenShift, by bringing advanced data services like data replication, application mobility and observability to containers.

Dell APEX Navigator for Multicloud Storage adds support for Dell APEX File Storage for AWS with support planned for Dell APEX File Storage for Microsoft Azure later this year. This offer simplifies storage configuration, deployment and monitoring across a universal storage layer created by Dell on-premises and public cloud storage.

Customers can get started with Dell APEX Navigator for Multicloud Storage and now Dell APEX Navigator for Kubernetes through a 90-day, risk-free trial.

About Dell Technologies

Dell Technologies helps organisations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live and play. The company provides customers with the industrys broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio for the data era.
China's police chief meets Burundian minister of public security

Xinhua) 09:50, May 23, 2024

Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong meets with Martin Niteretse, Burundi's minister of interior, community development and public security, in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with Martin Niteretse, Burundi's minister of interior, community development and public security, on Wednesday in Beijing.

Wang said that China is ready to work with Burundi to enhance bilateral friendship and mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial and pragmatic cooperation, and strengthen security cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road cooperation.

The two countries should also jointly crack down on transnational crimes, comprehensively boost law enforcement and security cooperation, and create a more secure and sound environment for the economic and social development of the two countries, Wang said.

Niteretse said that Burundi is willing to strengthen exchanges and communication with China and deepen law enforcement and security cooperation.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
An aerial drone photo taken on May 20, 2024 shows the excavation site of the Wuwangdun tomb discovered in Huainan, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)

The 15-meter-high mound at the Wuwangdun Site in Huainan, Anhui province, has long been recognized as an important tomb, and was listed as a key provincial cultural relic protection site in 1981. As China often takes protective measures for important tombs without necessarily excavating them, Wuwangdun could easily have continued to conceal its millennia-old stories.

However, its silence was shattered by grave robbers. While graves have been plundered throughout history, a major incident in 2015 was the last straw. When the public security authorities successfully cracked the case in 2018, archaeologists inferred from the confessions of the criminals and from field surveys that although many artifacts still lay buried, the underground environment had changed, leaving them exposed to damage. Consequently, an archaeological rescue project began in 2020 and the ongoing project has already yielded exciting findings.

The Wuwangdun Site has been identified as a tomb belonging to the Chu, a vassal state to the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC) from about 2,000 years ago. It is the largest in scale, highest level and most complex Chu structure excavated to date, and the tomb probably belonged to King Kaolie (290-238 BC) from the late Warring States Period (475-221 BC), says Gong Xicheng, deputy director of the Anhui Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, and head of the project.

A large bronze ding (an ancient cauldron) and more than 3,000 exquisite artifacts, including sets of bronze vessels, lacquerware, musical instruments, wooden figurines and a great number of animal and plant remains have been discovered.

Located about 15 kilometers from the ruins of Shouchun city, the last Chu capital in Huainan, the site, which is actually a cemetery, houses more than the large No 1 tomb.

This is believed to contain not just the king's remains, but also a chariot and sacrificial pits, with smaller tombs accompanying the main tomb in an independent cemetery surrounded by a moat, that occupies an area of about 1.5 square kilometers.

The No 1 tomb is roughly square and has a tomb passage, a common Chu typology. "Based on our previous experience, large Chu tombs, while varying in level, basically adopt this format. This distinguishes them from tombs of the Qin state (another vassal state), which often have two or four tomb passages," Gong says. Rulers of the Qin state later united China and founded the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC).

One remarkable feature of the tomb is the presence of 21 levels of inwardly recessed steps leading to the bottom. The overall structure exhibits a well-organized arrangement. "The construction of steps is also a common practice in Chu tombs, and typically, the higher the social status of the tomb's occupant, the more steps are found," Gong says.

At the heart of the tomb lies a remarkable arrangement of burial chambers laid out in a cross shape, with eight side chambers surrounding a central chamber. "The nine-chamber structure represents the highest level of burial during that era. Previously, we had discovered a maximum of seven chambers in a Chu tomb," says Xu Lianggao, a researcher with the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The chambers are particularly large, Gong says, adding that any one of the nine chambers, if discovered in a single Chu tomb, would be categorized as at least medium-sized.

The side chambers contain funerary objects such as bronze vessels, wooden figurines and musical instruments, and it is presumed that the tomb's occupant rests within the central chamber. Gong says that archaeologists are currently retrieving the funerary objects from the side chambers before they proceed to open the central chamber.

The chambers are covered in four layers of planks, some of which bear ink inscriptions. Archaeologists have carefully identified nearly 1,000 words using infrared cameras, and believe they are typical examples of the Chu language.

"The planks have been buried for a very long time in a water-saturated environment, causing them to turn black. Soil and pollutants have made it even more difficult to recognize the inscriptions. As a result, we can only see them clearly using infrared equipment," Gong says.

Some of the words have been deciphered, shedding light on the function of the chambers. For instance, in a northern chamber adorned with words related to music, instruments and dancing figurines have been discovered. Many more inscriptions are yet to be explained, promising further insights in the future.

Discoveries

Sets of bronze vessels, probably for ritual use, have also been found, among them a ding, whose diameter exceeds 88 centimeters, making it larger than the Zhuke giant bronze ding, and it has become the largest ding ever found from Chu tombs.

The Zhuke ding was unearthed at the Lisangudui Site, about 14.5 kilometers from Wuwangdun and which is widely believed to be the tomb of King You of the Chu state, son of King Kaolie.

Archaeologists have found iron tools probably used in building the tomb. Analysis has shown them to be well-preserved, not corroded by either oxygen or water. "This means the tomb was well built and sealed," says Gong Decai, a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, Anhui.

As archaeologists prioritize the protection of fragile artifacts, their primary focus has been on safely transferring these treasures to laboratories. Consequently, the initial items have predominantly been a large quantity of lacquerware artifacts. These include figurines, lacquer basins, plates, and even statues of tomb-guardian beasts.

Every minute is precious when it comes to recovering these artifacts, and there is a plan to relocate all the most important items to laboratories before the arrival of summer's scorching heat since the high temperatures could harm the relics. The aim is to complete the entire project by the end of this year, with plans to create an archaeological park on the site in future, Gong Xicheng says.

Evolving from a remote barbarian regime to one of the seven leading states of the Warring States Period, at their zenith, the Chu ruled a vast area along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

The influential state endured for nearly 800 years until its defeat by the Qin state in 223 BC. Just two years later, the Qin founded China's first unified dynasty.

According to Zhang Changping, an archaeology professor at Wuhan University, the tomb exhibits distinctive features commonly found in Chu tombs. "During the Warring States Period, different states had different cultural practices. Chu tombs possess their own unique features," Zhang says. "For instance, the tombs of ordinary people are often laid together, forming a large burial area, while those of the nobility are typically arranged in an independent manner."

The professor also highlights similarities between the tombs of nobles. "The tombs are commonly aligned in an east-west direction and have a tomb passage and multiple steps," he says.

"They often consist of several chambers, multiple coffins, and an abundance of funerary objects. Notably, they frequently include bronze artifacts in the style of the Western Zhou Dynasty, indicating the continuation of ritual systems from that era."

Significance

The Chu features of the Wuwangdun tomb show the continuity of Chu culture, which is part of the Chinese civilization, according to Zhang.

He says the Chu tomb in the last Chu capital of Shouchun has features borrowed from the Jiangling area in Jingzhou, Hubei province, the area the Chu originally occupied, where a large number of tombs have been discovered. This means that although the Chu moved their capital eastward to Shouchun, more than 600 km from Jiangling, cultural inheritance wasn't interrupted.

Moreover, Zhang says that the Chu helped the Qin unify China, as their influence shaped and united the culture of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, which paved the way for the Qin to absorb the area more easily, as part of its unification of the country.

According to Xu, archaeologists have excavated nearly 10,000 Chu tombs so far, belonging to almost every level of official and aristocracy, but none of them reached the level of the Wuwangdun Site.

They have found tombs that probably belong to Chu kings but have not excavated them. For instance, the Xiongjiazhong Site in Jingzhou is believed to be one, but only the chariot pits have been excavated, not the main tomb itself. As a result, Xu says that Wuwangdun is the highest-level Chu tomb excavated to date.

The Lisangudui Site near Wuwangdun was plundered and damaged in the 1930s. From the artifacts retrieved, archaeologists were able to determine the identity of the tomb's occupant, but were unable to uncover more detailed information about the damaged tomb. This led to a great deal of debate over the tomb and its construction.

Now, some of those mysteries may hopefully have been answered. For example, according to witnesses in the 1930s, the Lisangudui Site had nine burial chambers, but after they were destroyed, archaeologists could only debate how the chambers might have been arranged, Xu says. Some believed they might have formed a nine-box grid, but others had different opinions. Now the Wuwangdun tomb offers a plausible answer, he adds.

"As a result of the new excavation, we have fresh insight, and it solves some long-standing confusion, so it is of great academic significance," Xu says.

An experts' symposium on May 14 revealed that, judging from scale, structure, unearthed written materials and historical literature, the owner of the tomb is probably King Kaolie of Chu.

In 241 BC, King Kaolie moved the Chu capital eastward to Shouchun to distance the state from the rising Qin state to the west. However, 18 years later, Shouchun was conquered by the Qin.

"We generally believed the relocation of the Chu capital was a sign they were weakening," says Xu. "But the scale, type, building style and rich funerary objects at the Wuwangdun Site indicate the Chu still possessed significant strength in Shouchun, thanks to its longstanding history as a major state. This enhances our understanding of the wider political landscape just before the establishment of the Qin Dynasty."

Zhang says the large number of bronze vessels unearthed show that Chu was still economically well-off, even in its last days.

"The vessels show the Chu still had plenty of bronze, a very important strategic resource at that time. This means Chu was still rich at the end of the Warring States Period," he says.

The understanding of the Wuwangdun Site is the culmination of decades of archaeological work on tombs and studies of Chu culture.

"We first started to excavate Chu tombs in Changsha, Hunan province, in the 1950s; the Jinan city ruins in Jingzhou, an important Chu capital during the early stage of the Warring States Period, in the 1970s; and the Shouchun city ruins in the 1980s. They all deepened our understanding of Chu tombs," Zhang says.

"Each individual archaeological endeavor provides us with a fragment of historical information. It is our responsibility to connect these fragments from different periods into a comprehensive framework, to re-create the social landscapes of ancient times."
COMPANY NEWS: Fastly, a leader in global edge cloud platforms, today announced it has partnered in Australia and New Zealand with RSM, the leading provider of assurance, tax and consulting services to middle-market businesses, to provide enterprises with solutions and advisory support for their customers cybersecurity operations in Australia and New Zealand.

This new partnership enables RSM to support its clients digital operations by aligning security strategy and delivering specialised technology. RSM will now incorporate Fastlys range of cybersecurity solutions to support the increasingly stringent compliance regulations within the industries in which its clients operate as well as ensure their ongoing adherence to industry standards such as PCI 4.0 and the ASD Essential Eight maturity model.

RSM director security and privacy Ashwin Pal said, As technology continues to drive innovation, the vulnerability of critical systems to cyber threats becomes increasingly concerning. Indeed, staying ahead of constantly evolving cyber threats is one of the major challenges facing Australian and New Zealand businesses today. To mitigate this risk, its crucial that businesses consistently develop, evolve, and improve their cybersecurity posture with both strategy and solutions which can enhance their ability to avoid, respond to, and recover from cyber-attacks.

As a result, we were looking for a vendor partner to complement our advisory and consulting skills and in Fastly we found trusted technology and solutions which teams actually use and are well aligned with our customers risk management requirements.

Last month, Fastly introduced Fastly Bot Management to help organisations combat automated bot attacks at the edge and significantly reduce the risk of fraud, DDoS attacks, account takeovers, and other online abuse.

The new platform solution scales to meet customer website and application needs, reduces fraud risk and infrastructure costs. It also builds on the companys proven bot mitigation expertise and capabilities currently available in its high-efficacy single-solution, Next-Gen WAF which can be deployed at the edge with scalability, lower total cost of ownership and increased visibility for faster remediation. Fastlys Next-Gen WAF effectively detects and blocks malicious traffic without tuning, so AppSec teams can focus on bigger problems.

Fastly was named a 2024 Gartner Peer Insights Customers Choice for Cloud Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) in the Voice of the Customer for Cloud WAAP  and the only vendor to be recognised as a Customers Choice in this report for six years running.

Fastly head of channel and partnership ANZ Alan Chan said, As we think about the use of the internet in the past decade in our everyday life, we have seen even further growth as a result of the pandemic. Public digital assets are key to a companys brand, generating revenue and interacting with its customers. This shift to the digital world means a more attractive target for the adversary and cyber criminals. RSMs advisory skills and experience are a perfect addition to Fastlys ecosystem of partners as together we can offer customers actionable insight and solutions for stronger cyber resilience.

Fastlys 2023 global cybersecurity report uncovered the staggering impacts of cyber attacks with Australia and New Zealand suffering an average of 49 known cyber attacks last year and losing nine percent of their revenue. However, financial damage isnt the only result of cyber attacks. The report found that Australian and New Zealand businesses also highlighted network outages (33%), data loss (26%), customer/client accounts being compromised (25%) and loss of customer/client trust (25%) as the most common damages caused by security breaches.

About Fastly

Fastlys powerful and programmable edge cloud platform helps the worlds top brands deliver online experiences that are fast, safe, and engaging through edge compute, delivery, security, and observability offerings that improve site performance, enhance security, and empower innovation at global scale. Compared to other providers, Fastlys powerful, high-performance, and modern platform architecture empowers developers to deliver secure websites and apps with rapid time-to-market and demonstrated, industry-leading cost savings. Organisations around the world trust Fastly to help them upgrade the internet experience, including Reddit, Wendys, Stripe, Neiman Marcus, Universal Music Group, SeatGeek, and Advance Publications. In Australia and New Zealand, the company works with organisations such as Foxtel, Linktree, Mitre 10, Optus, Radio New Zealand, Seven Network, Trade Me, and Vodafone NZ. Learn more about Fastly at https://www.fastly.com, and follow us @fastly.

About RSM

Having grown into one of Australias leading professional services firms over the last 100 years, RSM Australia is committed to enabling clients through a greater understanding of what matters most to their business. In addition to local knowledge provided by advisers in 32 offices across Australia, the firms specialists draw on their international reach and scale to ensure clients stay at the forefront of the worlds best practices, technology, and innovation within a rapidly changing global economy. RSM has won the prestigious Client Choice Award for Best Accounting and Consulting Services Firm (>$200m) for six consecutive years. In 2024, they also won the Best Professional Services Firm (>$200m), Best Provider to Mining, Oil & Gas and Best Provider of ESG Services: Accounting & Consulting Services awards, reflecting their dedication to excellence in serving their clients and communities.
Sarah B. Hodge ()

One of the great joys of living in Japan is experiencing the wide range of traditional Japanese pickles, or tsukemono, that are served with every meal. There are hundreds of varieties of tsukemono, but the major preservation techniques are salting, brining in vinegar, pickling in rice bran and fermenting in miso or sake lees.

Did you know you can also make your own Japanese pickles quickly and easily at home?

An excellent guide on the subject is my friend Nancy Singleton Hachisus Preserving the Japanese Way, (https://amzn.to/2XYiyVr) which features both traditional and modern interpretations of tsukemono with detailed how-tos and recipes. Elizabeth Andoh also gives an intensive two-day tsukemono workshop at her Taste of Culture program in Tokyo every summer, which I highly recommend (https://tasteofculture.com/programs/).

In November 2019, I had the honor of hosting Dutch tsukemono and fermentation expert Peter van Berckel (https://petervanberckel.nl/ ) on day trips to Mt. Takao and Fujinomiya, where we discussed Japanese foodways and his recent tsukemono cookbook. Fermentation is in Peters genes; his ancestors were gin distillers and brewers since the 1700s. He has been involved with health food for 30 years, including making sourdough bread, kombucha, kvass, kefir and tempeh as well as incorporating Japanese macrobiotic products like miso, shoyu and tamari, natto, mirin, umeboshi and pickles.

It really appealed to me that you can easily support your health with a very quick and accessible method, which at the same time gives a very tasty and crunchy result, Peter explains. The workshop in turn gave rise to writing my book. I visited Japan and my knowledge was confirmed in everyday life. Fermentation is an adventurous and culinary exploration and I continue to see the positive effects on my health, digestion and vitality.

To make pickles at home, the type of pickle will determine the tools required. The most basic is salt-massaged pickles that can be made in a Ziploc bag; these are ready anywhere between 90 minutes and a couple of hours. Nuka (rice bran) pickles also have a fairly quick fermenting time, but nuka pots require TLC. Much like a sourdough starter, Nukas living single-cell organisms (mainly lactobacilli and yeast) require regular stirring and feeding. Japanese housewives add eggshells, scraps and peels, fish bones, and even beer to flavor and feed the nuka; adding togarashi chili or sansho pepper berries can help prevent spoiling.

For those new to pickling, I recommend starting with a salted pickle. Cabbage, daikon, and carrots are all delicious with this technique. And the Picklestone pickle press is the perfect tool to experiment with pickling at home!

Picklestone designer Tomonori Tanaka wanted to address food waste by reusing veggie scraps and found commercial plastic pickle presses lacking, so he decided to engineer and crowdfund his own. Made from durable glass, fragrant hinoki (cypress) and aji stone from Kagawa and Inai stone from Ishinomaki, the press (available in three different sizes) is both functional and beautiful.

To use, wash your vegetables (or scraps) and chop into bite-size pieces, sprinkle with salt (between 1  3% the weight of your veggies), add to the Picklestone, and put the weight and lid on. Leave on the counter at least half a day to ferment (this accelerates the growth of good bacteria), then place in the refrigerator. The next day, pour off the liquid and enjoy! You can also make pickles using vinegar or soy sauce. The Picklestone comes with several suggested recipes in English including shibazuke, pickled ginger, soy sauce pickled cabbage and Fukujinzuke, a mix of seven different veggies in tribute to the Seven Lucky Gods.

My absolute favorite tsukemono are the squeaky, crunchy, magenta shibazuke. Originally a specialty of Kyoto, shibazuke can now be found in supermarkets across Japan, but making your own is a fun and delicious quarantine kitchen project! The brilliant red-purple color comes from salted red shiso leaves, a specialty of Ohara near Kyoto. Red shiso leaves are commonly available in Japanese grocery stores during the summer, but if you cant find them in your area, you can use red plum vinegar instead, which is the byproduct from making pickled plums. It will still give your pickles a lighter pink color, but not as pronounced.

Try Namiko Chens Shibazuke Pickles recipe in Just One Cook Book: https://www.justonecookbook.com/shibazuke-pickles/

You can order PIcklestone through the official shop at https://picklestone.theshop.jp/. Tanaka just launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to increase the scale of production, and you can read more about the Picklestone product here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/231577951.

VIDEO: How to use the Picklestone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ68j8o88iA
CHICAGO  A federal magistrate judge on Monday ordered a man accused of opening fire on a busy street outside Wrigley Field earlier this month to remain in custody without bail.

Raphael Hammond, 37, has been charged with being a felon in possession of a handgun in connection with the shooting, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Hammond was standing outside a bowling alley across from the stadium around 1 a.m. on May 5 when a masked man jumped out of an SUV and shot at him, according to a criminal complaint. Two of Hammond's friends were wounded.

Hammond ran inside the bowling alley. The attacker jumped back into the SUV, which sped off down the street. Hammond emerged from the bowling alley with a gun and shot at the vehicle as it fled, according to the complaint.

The man's attorney, Patrick Boyle, requested home detention. He said Hammond saw his friend's gun on the ground when he ducked into the bowling alley and made a split-second decision to defend himself.

"He was not seeking a confrontation," Boyle said.

But U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Gilbert said Hammond's criminal background showed he is dangerous. Prosecutors said he has five felony convictions, most recently a federal conviction of being a felon in possession of a handgun. Gilbert also noted that Hammond has been shot 12 times.

"Either you find trouble or it finds you," Gilbert said. "That's trouble with a capital 'T.'"

Prosecutors said the gunman in the SUV remains at large and the motive for the attack remains unknown.
After graduating from Tsinghua University's Academy of Arts and Design, Hua Yong arrived in Nantong, Jiangsu province, in 2008 to follow her passion for traditional Chinese handicrafts by studying woodworking.

There, she learned hands-on skills from veteran artisans and visited collectors of wooden furniture, delving deeper into the structures of antique pieces and the wisdom behind traditional Chinese woodworking craftsmanship.

"For ancient Chinese, objects were considered carriers of wisdom. Because the users would constantly interact with them, the selection of materials followed a certain pattern, allowing the objects to exhibit vitality over time," Hua says.

"Wood, for example, can develop patina over time, resulting in a fine, smooth texture when it's touched, which can instantly bring people and objects closer to each other."

The 41-year-old artisan now owns a woodworking brand that aims to bring traditional Chinese furniture back as a part of contemporary life  a quiet companion for everyday use, with philosophical connotations that nurture people from afar.

Her efforts were recognized on April 20 with the Hand of Wisdom prize, a Sino-French crafts exchange program.

Founded in 2019 by the Golden Phoenix Science and Art Fund, and Yishu 8 Association, an art platform that boosts Sino-French cultural exchange, and sponsored by French cognac brand Hennessy since 2020, the program annually highlights a genre of craftsmanship and selects a Chinese artisan as the winner.

Following the previous years' themes of felt, metal and lacquer, this year's program highlighted woodworking. The nomination and selection process began in January, with 19 nominated artists and three short-listed by a jury comprised of Chinese and French art experts and professors.

"I like the idea of a cultural route between China and France having mutual enrichment. There is no better way to learn than by immersing yourself in a different culture  that's naturally how we began sponsoring the Yishu 8," says Laurent Boillot, CEO of Hennessy.

"We are not selecting the themes of the program. We follow Yishu 8's decisions. But I think we'll cover all the handicrafts that exist in China one after another. I hope to see great works in other forms and that the program will continue to feature the bridge between craftsmanship and creation."

Hua says that at the award ceremony on April 20, when Boillot announced that she won, she felt a bit dazed.

"On the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties, as an artisan of the new era, I'm very honored to be granted the Hand of Wisdom prize," she says.

"I look forward to seeing new vitality injected into traditional Chinese craftsmanship, embodied by the medium of wood, through Sino-French exchanges. I also hope that handicrafts, as a language unrestrained by borders, will translate ancient Eastern wisdom into contemporary life through design."

In 2016, Hua visited straw marquetry, lacquer and fine wood furniture workshops in Paris. She was amazed by the French artisans' application of design and color, as well as the seamless integration of craftsmanship with contemporary lifestyles.

Inspired by her observations, she has adopted diverse materials and intangible cultural heritage techniques into her woodworking designs to create an interplay of colors and textures, breaking away from the stereotypical solemn impression of traditional mahogany furniture among the younger generation.

According to the exchange program's regulations, the award-winners are granted a prize and a two-month residency at the artist-in-residence complex, the International City of the Arts in Paris, and one week in Cognac, southwestern France.

During their stay in Paris, they will host a studio open day or salon exhibition and later will host a solo exhibition at the Yishu 8 space in Beijing.

"I believe the residency will be a journey of endless possibilities. I hope to visit sculptors and architects who will enlighten me to think and create from a broader perspective, and transform philosophical thinking into tangible usage," Hua adds.

"For my solo exhibition, I will experiment with more geometric expressions but still incorporate the essence of traditional Chinese culture into the details. In addition to wooden furniture and furnishings, I'd like to explore my interest in creating everyday ornaments."
Two Nebraska seniors were named 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars earlier this month for their academic excellence.

Christina Xu, a senior at Lincoln East High School, and Mark M. Bausch, a senior at Creighton Preparatory School, were selected for the prestigious honor from a pool of more than 5,700 high school graduates who qualified for the award. Two students are selected from each state, and 161 students are chosen in total.

Scholars are chosen by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars based on their academic success, essays, school evaluations, transcripts and excellence in the arts and technical education.

Students qualify for the award by either performing well on the SAT or ACT, or through nominations made by the chief state school officers, YoungArts or other partner organizations.

Xu and Bausch, alongside the other selected scholars, will be recognized for this achievement during an online recognition program this summer.

The Presidential Scholars program began in 1964 and has since honored over 8,200 of the nation's top students.
China saw accelerated overseas investment in the first four months of 2024, official data showed on Thursday, indicating the country's broadened engagement in cooperation on the global market.

China's non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) came in at 343.47 billion yuan (48.3 billion U.S. dollars) from January to April, up 18.7 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

That growth rate was higher than the 12.5 percent increase recorded in the first quarter of the year.

Cooperation under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework gained steam as ODI in countries participating in the BRI surged 20.4 percent in the January-April period to total 77.77 billion yuan.

The turnover of contracted overseas projects amounted to 313.42 billion yuan, an increase of 8.8 percent, and the value of new contracts rose 9.3 percent to total 444.39 billion yuan.

To facilitate Chinese investment in foreign countries and regions, a regulation on the contracting of overseas projects was issued by the MOC and will take effect on July 1 this year. It will streamline procedures and ensure government support for relevant businesses.
1. Yes. They look better and require less maintenance. Most high-end housing areas have them.

2. Yes. Wood fences can weather and look unsightly, plus masonry walls help to block sound.

3. No. Residents should have a choice of what kind of barriers are put up near their homes.

4. No. Allowing a variety of materials will be better for aesthetics, and costs may be lower.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say. Masonry walls may be sturdier, but mandating them is problematic.

Vote

View Results
Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Li Hongzhong has called for efforts in forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and enhancing the legal guarantee for advancing ethnic solidarity and progress.

Li, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during a research tour to northeast China's Jilin Province from Monday to Wednesday.

During the tour, Li visited residential communities, rural areas, a local agricultural product processing enterprise, and the Jilin Museum.

While attending a symposium in Changchun, Li noted that advancing ethnic solidarity and progress is a major task in forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and called for redoubled efforts in improving the laws and regulations in this regard.

He also said that it is imperative to follow the fundamental guidance of the Constitution, maintain that all ethnic groups are equal and all are equal before the law, and safeguard the lawful rights and interests of all ethnic groups in accordance with the law.
You are here: China

A Long March-2D carrier rocket carrying four satellites blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province, May 20, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Beijing-3C satellite constellation captured its first image on Tuesday, according to a report from industry newspaper China Space News.

The image was received by a satellite ground station in Beijing. It shows a collection of buildings located next to a river and has clear textures, distinct layers, rich detail, vibrant colors, and an overall smooth image quality.

China launched a Long March-2D carrier rocket at 11:06 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, sending Beijing-3C into a preset orbit. The constellation will be primarily used to provide remote sensing satellite data that has high spatial and temporal resolution.

After it is put into operation, its four satellites will operate within a phased array network, providing support for such fields as land resource management, agricultural resource survey, ecological environment monitoring, and urban application.
Major AI developers and top government officials have agreed on measures that aim to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) systems are safely built and deployed.

The announcement came at the end of a two-day meeting in Seoul, South Korea. The gathering continues discussions from a similar event held last November in Britain. The goal of both meetings was to bring AI developers together with government representatives to establish goals and guidelines related to safe AI development.

Many governments and international organizations across the world are seeking to create rules for AI technology development. Officials and activists have raised concerns that AI systems could present risks. The concerns include AI possibly attacking online systems controlling infrastructure. Another concern is that AI systems might help spread misinformation or create deepfakes to mislead voters in elections.

Legislative attempts to create rules for AI development, especially in the United States, have not been successful. Last October, President Joe Biden issued an executive order calling on companies working on AI projects to develop guidelines for protecting users of the technology.

At the latest meeting, officials from 16 different technology companies signed a voluntary agreement on Tuesday. In it, they promised to develop AI technology in ways that limit possible harm to the public. Among the companies were American-based Google, IBM, Amazon, Microsoft and OpenAI. Others included Chinas Alibaba and Tencent, as well as South Koreas Samsung Electronics and G42 from the United Arab Emirates.

The British government co-led the summit with South Korea. It said in a statement that the leaders in attendance sought to establish a common understanding of AI safety and align their AI research.

One of the main parts of the latest agreement calls for creating a network of publicly supported safety institutes designed to guide research and testing of AI technologies. Some of these institutes have already been set up by Britain, the U.S. and Singapore.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the meeting through a video link that AI technology has continued to quickly develop since the groups last meeting in Britain. Such development had led to life-changing technological advances. But Guterres added that the progress had also created life-threatening new risks.

We cannot sleepwalk into a dystopian future, he added. Where the power of AI is controlled by a few people  or worse, by algorithms beyond human understanding, he said.

Earlier this year, the U.N. General Assembly approved its first resolution on AI. The measure received support from all 193 U.N. member states. It called for international efforts to ensure that new technologies help all nations, respect human rights, and stay safe, secure and trustworthy.

Attendees agreed on the need for AI companies to exchange ideas on their progress and development methods. The group also agreed to provide information on safety.

South Koreas science and information minister, Lee Jong-Ho, spoke to the gathering before it ended on Wednesday. He said worldwide AI development had reached a point where cooperation is not an option; it is a necessity.

AI experts welcomed the steps to start creating rules, or regulations, to keep the technology safe. But some noted that such rules need to be enforced to be effective.

Francine Bennett is director of the AI-centered Ada Lovelace Institute in Britain. She told Reuters news agency, "We need to move past voluntary...the people affected should be setting the rules via governments."

AI companies should be able to prove their products meet established regulations before they even reach the market, said Max Tegmark. He is president of the Future of Life Institute, a nonprofit bringing attention to the risks of AI. Tegmark said companies should equate safety with profit and attempt to limit possible harms during the development of systems.

South Korean minister Lee said a big problem is that any laws aimed at making AI systems safer are far behind continuous development and public releases. He told Reuters, "But for safe use by the public, there needs to be flexible laws and regulations in place."

Im Bryan Lynn

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

Quiz - Companies, Political Leaders Agree to Safely Develop and Deploy AI Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

___________________________________________

Words in This Story

align  v. to support the opinions of a political group, country, etc.

institute  n. an organization where people do a particular kind of scientific, educational or social work

advancement  n. progress

dystopian  adj. relating to a very bad or unfair society in which there is a lot of suffering

algorithm  n. a set of steps that are followed to complete a computing process or problem

option  n. a thing that is chosen from a set of possibilities

via prep. through

flexible  adj. able to change or be changed easily according to a particular situation
An environmental group is warning that the hot weather in Mexico is among the causes of many deaths of howler monkeys.

Howler monkeys are big primates known for the loud sound they make.

The Associated Press (AP) reported that the group Biodiversity Conservation of The Usumacinta said that at least 138 howler monkeys have been found dead. The deaths have taken place in the state of Tabasco on the Gulf of Mexico. Local people rescued others, including five that were rushed to a local veterinarian who tried to save them.

They arrived in critical condition, with dehydration and fever, said Sergio Valenzuela. "It was a heatstroke.

Mexico's severe heat wave has been connected to the deaths of at least 26 people since March. Veterinarians and rescuers said it has killed tens or even hundreds of howler monkeys. The AP said that one third of the country reported high temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.

In the town of Tecolutilla, Tabasco, dead monkeys started appearing in recent weeks. A local volunteer fire and rescue team recently brought in five of the creatures. Valenzuela told the AP that the volunteers asked for help, they asked if I could examine some of the animals they had in their truck.

The veterinarian put ice on their limp hands and feet. They were given fluid with nutrients. The monkeys appeared to be recovering. They're recovering. They're aggressivethey're biting again, he said, noting that is a healthy sign.

Most are not so lucky. Wildlife biologist Gilberto Pozo counted about 138 of the animals dead or dying on the ground under trees. The deaths started in early May.

They were in a state of severe dehydration, and they died within a matter of minutes, Pozo said. Already weakened, the falls from dozens of meters high cause more damage that often finishes the monkeys off.

Pozo said there were several causes for the deaths, including high heat, drought, forest fires and logging. All of that leads to less water, shade, and fruit for the monkeys to eat. Pozo noted that it is also possible a disease is causing the deaths.

Pozo said the local people have tried to help the monkeys, especially babies. They see the young animals around their farms. But he said that can be dangerous.

The babies are very delicate, they can't be in a house where there are dogs or cats because they have diseases that can be deadly for howler monkeys, he said. After the monkeys recover, they must be released into the wild, Pozo added.

Pozo's group has set up special recovery stations for monkeys. It currently holds five monkeys, but birds and reptiles have also been affected. He is also trying to organize a team of specialized veterinarians to give the primates the care they need.

Below-average rainfall across the country so far this year has caused lakes and water supplies to dry up. Officials have had to provide water for hospitals and fire fighters. Low water levels at hydroelectric dams have led to electricity outages, or blackouts, in some parts of the country.

Pozo said the death of the monkeys says a lot about the state of the whole ecosystem.

He told the AP: It is telling us something about what is happening with climate change.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press.

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

primate n. an order of mammals that includes monkeys and humans

veterinarian  n. a doctor who treats animals

critical adj. very serious

dehydration  n. the state of not having enough water

dozens  n. (pl.) groups of 12

limp  adj. weak and unable to stand or move normally

drought  n. when there is not enough rain in an area for an extended period

delicate  adj. weak and unfirm
If you have flown on an airplane before, you might have experienced turbulence. Turbulence is a sudden movement of air. It can move the plane around and force sudden changes in height.

Flying through mild turbulence feels like driving a car over big bumps or holes in the road.

But passengers on a Singapore Airlines flight on Tuesday experienced severe turbulence. Several people were injured and one person, a 73-year-old British man, died. The exact cause of the mans death is still unclear.

While turbulence-related deaths are rare, injuries have increased over the years. Some weather and aviation experts have noted increasing reports of turbulence. They say climate change may be behind the increase.

What is turbulence?

Turbulence is unstable air that moves unpredictably. Most people link it with heavy storms. But the most dangerous kind is clear-air turbulence. This often happens with no warning signs in the sky ahead.

Clear-air turbulence happens most often in or near rivers of air called jet streams. The cause is something called wind shear. That is when two huge air masses near each other move at different speeds. If the difference in speed is big enough, it breaks into circular movements.

Thomas Guinn is an aviation science expert at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. He said, When you get strong wind shear near the jet stream, it can cause the air to overflow. And that creates these chaotic motions in the air.

How common are turbulent-related injuries?

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that more than one-third of all airline incidents in the U.S. from 2009 to 2018 were related to turbulence. Most of them resulted in one or more serious injuries to passengers, but no damage to the plane.

Between 2009 and 2022, the NTSB said 163 people were injured seriously enough during turbulence events to require hospital treatment for at least two days. Most of those injured were flight attendants. They are especially at risk because they are more likely to be out of their seats during a flight.

Singapore Airlines said its plane dropped about 1,800 meters in about three minutes last Tuesday, after hitting severe turbulence over the Indian Ocean. In addition to the one death, six or seven passengers were severely injured. Several others suffered less serious injuries.

Larry Cornman is a scientist at the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research. He has studied turbulence for many years. He said, Its not uncommon to have turbulence encounters that cause minor injuries up to, say, a broken bone, But fatalities are very, very rare  especially for large transport aircraft.

Stuart Fox is with the International Air Transport Association. He said, until Tuesday, it had been 27 years since a passenger died following clear-air turbulence on a major airline.

Can pilots avoid turbulence?

Pilots use several methods to avoid turbulence, including using weather radar images. Sometimes they can simply see and fly around the storms.

But clear-air turbulence can happen unexpectedly.

Doug Moss is a former airline pilot and safety expert. He said air traffic controllers will warn pilots after another plane runs into clear-air turbulence. Many pilots also look at the upper-level jet streams along their flight path for signs of wind shear. They can plan to move above, below, or around those areas, he added.

Does climate change lead to more turbulence?

Some scientists note that reports of turbulence encounters are on the rise. There are several possible explanations for that. But several researchers have pointed to climate change.

Guinn, of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, explained that some experts predict climate change could change the jet stream and increase the wind shear. This would drive up turbulence in the air.

Paul Williams is a professor of atmospheric science at Britains University of Reading. In a statement Tuesday, he said there was strong evidence that turbulence is increasing because of climate change.

Williams said his research team recently discovered that severe clear-air turbulence in the North Atlantic has increased by 55 percent since 1979. The team estimated that severe turbulence in the jet streams could double or triple in the coming years under current conditions.

Other experts note that an increase in air travel could be the reason for the increase in turbulence encounters.

How can travelers stay safe?

Turbulence can be hard to predict. But experts note that the first line of defense in the air is keeping seat belts fastened whenever possible.

Wear your seat belt, Guinn said. Thats just a really quick fix to prevent injury.

I'm John Russell.

And I'm Ashley Thompson.

Wyatte Grantham-Philips reported this story for The Associated Press. Hai Do adapted the story for Learning English.

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

aviation - n. the business and practice of flying airplanes, helicopters...

unstable - adj. having a physical state that can change easily

chaotic - adj. in a state of complete confusion or disorder

encounter - n. an occasion when you deal with or experience something

fatality - n. a death that results from a disaster, accident

triple - v. to cause something to become three times as many

fasten - v. to close and attch something
Hong Kong on Wednesday kicked off the eighth Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Symposium, pooling global wisdom on current anti-graft challenges, measures as well as international cooperation.

Under "one country, two systems," Hong Kong maintains a robust regulatory regime in line with international standards, and is renowned globally for its clean and efficient government, level-playing field for doing business, sound rule of law, a judiciary with independent judicial power, and zero tolerance for corruption, said John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), while addressing the opening ceremony.

"We are also at the forefront of the international fight against corruption," Lee said. "It is a priority of the HKSAR government to sustain our pioneering role in combating corruption. We are pleased, and proud, to back the ICAC in widening its international network and cooperating with overseas counterparts," he added.

International surveys consistently confirm Hong Kong's success in tackling corruption. The World Justice Project rated Hong Kong ninth, overall, in "absence of corruption," out of more than 140 jurisdictions in 2023. Similarly, Hong Kong was ranked 14th out of 180 countries and territories in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index last year.

Addressing the ceremony, Woo Ying-ming, ICAC commissioner and president of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA), noted that the Symposium showcased the ICAC's commitment to fully aligning with the country's initiative to develop a clean Silk Road with the concerted efforts of international counterparts.

Ghada Fathi Waly, director-general of the United Nations Office at Vienna and executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, underscored the role of such new technologies such as big data to promote international and regional anti-graft cooperation frameworks and grasp the new characteristics of corruption through measurement, investigation and analysis.

The Symposium has attracted over 500 representatives of about 180 anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies from nearly 60 jurisdictions.

Co-hosted by the ICAC and the IAACA, the three-day symposium, entitled "Charting a New Path to Combat Corruption," is one of the flagship events to mark the ICAC's 50th Anniversary.

The IAACA, founded in 2006, aims to promote the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and foster international anti-corruption collaboration.
More than 100 children and six teachers have been taken hostage in a primary school in northern Holland.

The Dutch Prime Minister, Joop den Uyl, said the hostage-takers  who are from the South Molucca islands (formerly part of the Dutch East Indies)  had still not made any demands.

But he said they would probably want the release of 20 Moluccans imprisoned in 1975 for hijacking a train not far from the current sieges and raiding the Indonesian consulate in Amsterdam.

This second generation of Moluccans are campaigning for the Dutch government to press for an independent state for their people in Indonesia, even though most of them have never set foot in their homeland.

Their parents, many of whom fought on the side of the ruling Dutch during Indonesias war of independence between 1945 and 1949, left Indonesia for fear of reprisals.

They hoped to return but were gradually integrated into Dutch society.

There are now some 40,000 South Moluccans living in the Netherlands. Many refuse to take on Dutch citizenship and tensions between the communities are at an all-time high.

South Moluccans freed.

The gunmen took over the school in the village of Bovensmilde at around 0900 local time. They released 15 South Moluccan children, gathered the rest in two classrooms and covered the windows with newspapers.

Police and troops moved into the area and worried parents are waiting outside. The gunmen have accepted blankets and some food for their hostages.

At one point a mentally handicapped women ran into the school grounds. At the insistence of the hostage takers police had to undress to escort her off the premises to show they were unarmed.

Seven other South Moluccans seized a train at the same time with about 50 passengers on board in open countryside near the city of Groningen.

The Rotterdam-Groningen express was brought to an abrupt halt when a young Moluccan girl pulled the emergency cord just before it reached its destination. Five heavily armed men then boarded the train from surrounding fields, released children and the elderly and separated women and men.

They have been given a telephone to negotiate with the government.

Mr Den Uyl indicated the government would take a hard line on any demands made to them. Patience is the watchword but we are prepared to use controlled violence if necessary, he said.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Four days later all the children at the school were released after an outbreak of gastric flu  four teachers remained hostages along with 55 others on board the train near Groningen.

On June 11  a record 20 days after the crisis began  Dutch marines stormed the train and the school.

During a fierce gunbattle on the train, six of the nine hostage-takers were shot along with two of the hostages.

The Netherlands improved social and economic conditions for Moluccans in the following months and years.

In March 1978 Molluccans carried out another failed siege  of a government building in Assen  but since then there have been no further incidents.
Zhang Zhan was released from prison after serving four years for charges related to reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, according to a video statement she released Tuesday, eight days after her sentence ended, though there are concerns about how much freedom of movement she has.

Zhang was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, a vaguely defined charge often used in political cases, and served her full term. Yet, on the day of her release, her former lawyers could not reach her or her family. Shanghai police had paid visits to activists and her former lawyers in the days leading up to her release.

In a short video, Zhang said she was taken by police to her brother Zhang Jus home on May 13, the day she finished her sentence.

I want to thank everyone for their help and concern, she said in a soft voice, standing in what appeared to be a hallway of an apartment building.

The video was posted by Jane Wang, an overseas activist who launched the Free Zhang Zhan campaign in the United Kingdom and is in contact with one of Zhangs former lawyers. However, Wang said in a statement that Zhang still has limited freedom. They became concerned that Zhang would be kept under further control by police even if she was no longer in prison.

Ren Quanniu represented Zhang before being stripped of his license in February 2021. He said he confirmed the video was true by speaking with Zhangs family.

Shes not free, shes relatively free, he said in a message to the AP. Shes still under the watch and care of the police.

During her detention at Shanghais Women Prison, Zhang staged a hunger strike and was hospitalized at one point in 2021. Zhangs family, who could often only speak to her by phone, faced police pressure during her incarceration, and her parents refused to speak to news outlets.

Zhang was among a handful of citizen journalists who traveled to the central Chinese city of Wuhan after the government put it under total lockdown in February 2020, in the early days of the pandemic. She walked around the city to document public life as fears grew about the novel coronavirus.

Others spent time in jail for documenting the early days of the pandemic, including Fang Bin, who published videos of overcrowded hospitals and bodies during the outbreak. Fang was sentenced to three years in prison and released in April 2023.

Chen Qiushi, another citizen journalist, disappeared in February 2020 while filming in Wuhan. Chen resurfaced in September 2021 on a friends live video feed on YouTube, saying he had suffered from depression. He did not provide details about his disappearance. HUIZHONG WU, BANGKOK, MDT/AP
Aviation investigators arrived in Bangkok yesterday to learn how and why severe turbulence sent a Singapore Airlines plane into a sudden dive that tossed passengers and crew around the cabin, leaving a British man dead and dozens others injured.

Twenty people remained in intensive care in hospital after Flight SQ321, which was flying from Londons Heathrow airport to Singapore, hit the turbulence Tuesday over the Andaman Sea. The Boeing 777, which carried 211 passengers and 18 crew members, descended 6,000 feet (around 1,800 meters) in about three minutes, the carrier said.

The captain diverted the plane to Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport, where medical teams evaluated those aboard and sent over 80 to hospital. Singapore Airlines sent a special flight to Bangkok on Tuesday night to pick up those well enough to travel. The airline said that 131 passengers and 12 crew members arrived shortly after 5 a.m. at Singapores Changi Airport.

An additional 79 passengers and six crew members stayed in Bangkok, where the majority remained in hospital, said Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong.

Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, where most of the injured were taken, said 20 people were being treated in intensive care while 27 others have been discharged. The ICU patients include six Britons, six Malaysians, three Australians, two Singaporeans and one person each from Hong Kong, New Zealand, and the Philippines, it said.

The hospital said nine people underwent surgery Tuesday and five more operations were expected to be completed yesterday. It said it had provided 104 people with medical care, including 19 at its clinic at the airport.

Officers from Singapores Transport Safety Investigation Bureau arrived in Bangkok late Tuesday, Singapore Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said.

One of 56 Australians listed as passengers on board the flight told Sky News that the seatbelt sign had come on just ahead of the turbulence, but she could not act in time because she had been asleep.

Thirty-year-old Teandra Tukhunen, speaking from a hospital with her left arm in a sling, said she had been thrown to the roof and then to the floor.

It was just so quick, over in a couple of seconds and then youre just shocked. Everyones pretty freaked out, she said.

Recounting the accident, British passenger Andrew Davies also told Sky News that the seatbelt sign was illuminated but crew members didnt have time to take their seats.

Every single cabin crew person I saw was injured in some way or another, maybe with a gash on their head, Davies said. One had a bad back, who was in obvious pain.

Thai officials had withheld the name of the dead man, but British media identified him as Geoffrey Kitchen, 73, who was going on a six-week holiday with his wife. She was among the passengers taken to hospital in Bangkok.

Kitchen was described as formerly working in the insurance industry, and in retirement was continuing his decades-long involvement with amateur theater.

A Thai airport official said Kitchen might have had a heart attack, though that hadnt been confirmed.

Tracking data captured by FlightRadar24 and analyzed by The Associated Press showed Tuesdays flight cruising at an altitude of 37,000 feet (11,300 meters).

At one point, the Boeing 777-300ER suddenly and sharply descended to 31,000 feet (9,400 meters) over about three minutes, according to the data. The aircraft then stayed at 31,000 feet for under 10 minutes before diverting and landing in Bangkok less than a half-hour later.

Most people associate turbulence with heavy storms, but the most dangerous type is so-called clear air turbulence. Wind shear can occur in wispy cirrus clouds or even in clear air near thunderstorms, as differences in temperature and pressure create powerful currents of fast-moving air.

According to a 2021 report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, turbulence accounted for 37.6% of all accidents on larger commercial airlines between 2009 and 2018. The Federal Aviation Administration, another U.S. government agency, has said there were 146 serious injuries from turbulence from 2009 to 2021.

For flight attendants and passengers alike, the dangerous, shaky feeling in midair called turbulence comes from air currents shifting, said a statement from the U.S.-based Association of Flight Attendants.

While details of Singapore Flight 321 are still developing, initial reports seem to indicate clear air turbulence, which is the most dangerous type of turbulence. It cannot be seen and is virtually undetectable with current technology. One second, youre cruising smoothly; the next, passengers, crew and unsecured carts or other items are being thrown around the cabin.

Always follow crew instructions and wear your seatbelt whenever seated, it advised. It is a matter of life and death.

Officials from the British and Malaysian embassies yesterday visited the Bangkok hospital where most of the injured were admitted to check on their condition.

Singapore Airlines said the passengers, in addition to the 56 Australians, included two Canadians, one German, three Indians, two Indonesians, one Icelander, four Irish, one Israeli, 16 Malaysians, two from Myanmar, 23 New Zealanders, five Filipinos, 41 from Singapore, one South Korean, two Spaniards, 47 from the United Kingdom and four from the United States. NAPAT KONGSAWAD, BANGKOK, MDT/AP
A man charged with assisting Hong Kong authorities with gathering intelligence in the United Kingdom has died in unexplained circumstances, British police said yesterday [Macau time].

Matthew Trickett, 37, was one of three men charged earlier this month with agreeing to engage in information gathering, surveillance and acts of deception that were likely to materially assist the Hong Kong intelligence service from late 2023 to May 2. Prosecutors also alleged that the men forced entry into a U.K. residential address on May 1.

The men had all been bailed and were next due to appear at Londons Central Criminal Court for a hearing on Friday. They havent yet entered pleas.

Thames Valley Police said Trickett was found dead in a park in Maidenhead, west of London, on Sunday afternoon after a report from a member of the public.

Police said that an investigation is ongoing into the death, which is being treated as unexplained.

British media reports said Trickett was formerly a Royal Marine who recently worked as a Home Office immigration enforcement officer. He was also reportedly the director of a security consultancy.

He was charged along with Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63. The men appeared at a brief court hearing to confirm their identities on May 13.

Hong Kong authorities have confirmed that Yuen was the office manager of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London.

Tricketts lawyer, Julian Hayes, said he was shocked at the news and was supporting Tricketts family. He declined to comment, because investigations were ongoing.

A police cordon remained in place in Grenfell Park in Maidenhead later yesterday, with several officers stationed next to a black forensics tent located close to a childrens playground.

Chinese authorities in both the U.K. and Hong Kong have decried the charges, saying they were the latest in a series of groundless and slanderous accusations that the U.K. government has leveled against China.

Hong Kongs government demanded that the U.K. provide full details on the allegations and protect the rights of the office manager of the trade office.

The spying charges came amid simmering tensions between Britain and China.

In a separate and ongoing court case, two men, including a parliamentary researcher, were recently charged with spying for China. Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry were charged with violating the Official Secrets Act by providing information or documents that could be useful to an enemy  China  and prejudicial to the safety or interests of the U.K. between late 2021 and February 2023.

More than 100,000 Hong Kongers have moved to the U.K. since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law triggered by the huge anti-government protests in the city in 2019. MDT/AP
Norway, Ireland and Spain recognized a Palestinian state in a historic move yesterday.

Several European Union countries indicated in recent weeks that they plan to make the recognition, arguing a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in the region. Some 140 countries have already recognized a Palestinian state  more than two-thirds of United Nations members  but none of the major Western powers have done so. The move could put more pressure continental heavyweights France and Germany to reconsider their position.

Israel and the United States were already dealing with fallout after chief prosecutor of the worlds top war crimes court requested arrest warrants for leaders of both Israel and Hamas. Among the prosecutors allegations against Israel was using starvation as a method of warfare. Israeli and U.S. leaders harshly condemned the accusations.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has escalated over the past two weeks since Israel launched an incursion into Rafah that closed a vital border crossing, vowing to root out Hamas fighters. The fighting sent hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing out of Rafah, many of whom were displaced earlier in the Israel-Hamas war.
Kyle Larson has been adamant about soaking up the entire Indianapolis 500 experience as the NASCAR superstar prepares to make his debut in The Greatest Spectacle in Racing on Memorial Day weekend.

He didnt expect to find himself under an udder yesterday [Macau time].

One of the most accomplished drivers of any generation is still just an Indy 500 rookie. And one of the somewhat new traditions at a place steeped in them is that rookies, after completing their harrowing qualifying runs and a penultimate practice on Monday, return to otherwise quiet Indianapolis Motor Speedway the next morning for a crack at milking a cow.

What? Is that a thing? Larson asked when first informed of the custom.

Told that it was, indeed, a thing, the driver of the No. 17 Arrow McLaren asked: Do we get to glove up?

So on a hot, sunny Tuesday at the speedway, there was Larson  just as he had promised  standing alongside a black-and-white Holstein that was quietly munching away. Larson bent at the waist, reached with his right hand  ungloved, for the record  and gave one of the udders a couple of tentative tugs.

I grew up in a city, explained Larson, who was born in suburban Sacramento, California. Ive never really been around a cow.

Just about everything Larson does with a wheel in his hands seems natural to him, but a cows udder? Pretty amateurish. Still, Larson got a couple of streams of milk to squirt, and really, that was the point.

On Sunday, he hopes to douse himself in the stuff.

Thats another Indianapolis 500 tradition, of course, begun when parched 1936 winner Louis Meyer climbed from his car and asked for a glass of buttermilk. These days, drivers are asked beforehand what version of milk they prefer  Larson picked whole, should he win  and upon reaching victory lane, generally take a quick swig before pouring it over their heads.

Yet so much is up in the air as Larson prepares for race day, including what would happen if he wins.

He qualified fifth in a joint effort between Arrow McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports, his NASCAR team, and plans to run the entire race before flying to Charlotte, North Carolina, and driving in the Cup Series race that night. Only five drivers have ever attempted The Double, as it has become known, and Tony Stewart in 2021 remains the only one to finish all 1,100 miles.

The schedule is tight: Larson will climb from his Indy car into an SUV, which will deposit him at a helicopter waiting at the speedway. That will whisk him to a nearby airport, where a jet will take him to Charlotte. After landing, another helicopter will take him to the track, where he will climb into his Cup Series car for the start of the race.

Any time spent celebrating an Indy 500 triumph would put Larson in the most welcome of predicaments.

The pressure of being in the race and starting in a great starting spot, and knowing we have the Coca-Cola 600 to run, NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick said.

Ah, yes, the rain. Thats also in the forecast Sunday, a 50% chance for scattered showers early with more popping up in the afternoon. DAVE SKRETTA, INDIANAPOLIS
* Grand Prix 2024 | New FIA rules to debut at Guia

* Centaline | Property market bounces back strongly

* Gaming hotline | Tourists account for 40% of gambling counseling

* Macau saw a 14% increase in visitor arrivals to 2.6 million in April, recovering to 76% of the figure in the same month of 2019

* Govt urges citizens to get vaccinated for influenza

* Man charged with helping the HK intelligence service in the UK found dead

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Thursday, May 23, 2024  edition no. 4488
Vietnams top security official To Lam was confirmed yesterday as the nations new president. He oversaw police and intelligence operations over a period when rights groups say basic liberties have been systematically suppressed, and its secret service was accused of violating international law.

Lam was confirmed by Vietnams National Assembly after his predecessor resigned amid an ongoing anti-corruption campaign that has shaken the countrys political establishment and business elites and has resulted in multiple top-level changes in government.

Vietnams presidency is largely ceremonial, but his new role as head of state puts the 66-year-old in a very strong position to become the next Communist Party general secretary, the most important political position in the country, said Nguyen Khac Giang, an analyst at Singapores ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was elected to a third term in 2021, but at age 80, he may not seek another term after 2026.

Trong is an an ideologue who views corruption as the gravest threat facing the party. As Vietnams top security official, Lam has led Trongs sweeping anti-graft campaign.

Following Lams confirmation as president, Deputy Public Security Minister Tran Quoc To was appointed to take over from him at the ministry in an interim role.

Lam spent more than four decades in the Ministry of Public Security before becoming the minister in 2016. His rise took place while Vietnams politburo lost of six of its 18 members amid the expanding anti-graft campaign, including two former presidents and Vietnams parliamentary head.

Lam was behind many of the investigations into high-profile politicians, said Giang.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is seen as the other major contender to possibly succeed Trong, Giang said.

The current vice-speaker of Vietnams parliament was confirmed Monday as the National Assembly speaker after his predecessor, Vuong Dinh Hue, resigned amid the anti-graft campaign. Until his resignation, Hue was also widely seen as a potential successor to Trong.

This unprecedented instability in Vietnams political system has spooked investors as the country tries to position itself as an alternative for companies looking to shift their supply chains away from China.

A flood of foreign investment, especially in manufacturing of high-tech products like smartphones and computers, raised expectations it could join the Four Asian Tigers  Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, whose economies underwent rapid industrialization and posted high growth rates.

But the scandals and uncertainty  including the death sentence for a real estate tycoon accused of embezzling nearly 3% of the countrys 2022 GDP  have brought with them uncertainty and bureaucratic reticence to make decisions. Economic growth slipped to 5.1% last year from 8% in 2022 as exports slowed.

During Lams years heading the Public Security Ministry, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other watchdog organizations have strongly criticized Vietnam for its harassment and intimidation of critics.

In 2021, courts convicted at least 32 people for posting critical opinions about the government and sentenced them to multiple years in prison, while police arrested at least 26 others on fabricated charges, according to Human Rights Watch.

Under Tams watch as Vietnams top security boss, civil society faced further curbs, foreign aid restrictions introduced in 2021 were tightened in 2023, the country jailed climate activists, and laws were introduced to censor social media, said Ben Swanton of The 88 Project, a group that advocates for freedom of expression in Vietnam.

With To Lams ascent to the presidency, Vietnam is now a literal police state, said Swanton, adding that the Vietnamese ruling Politburo was now dominated by current and former security officials. He said he expected further intensification of repression and censorship.

While Vietnam was under a COVID-19 lockdown in 2021, a video surfaced showing Turkish chef Nusret Gokce, popularly known as Salt Bae, feeding Tam a gold-encrusted steak in London. Despite efforts to censor it, the video went viral, stoking widespread anger from people enduring virus lockdowns that exacerbated economic deprivations.

Meantime, a Vietnamese noodle vendor named Bui Tuan Lam, who followed the video with a parody of Salt Bae, was arrested on charges of spreading anti-state propaganda and sentenced to five years in prison. DAVID RISING, BANGKOK, MDT/AP
Sheng Kung Huis 24-hour gambling counseling hotline and online counseling has recorded 1,007 cases of distress, a year-on-year increase of 4%, of which tourists accounted for about 40% from January to April this year.

Hotline director Lau Mei Yi said a Chinese medicine intervention pilot program was launched last month. It subsidized people troubled by gambling, as well as their family members, in receiving traditional Chinese medicine diagnoses and treatment services, and to learn about stress reduction methods.

It is hoped that, through Chinese medicine combined with psychological counseling, anxiety among participants in the program can be alleviated, Lau told TDM on the sidelines of an event yesterday.

Regarding illnesses such as depression and insomnia, if the trial results are satisfactory then it will be promoted to targeted members of the public in the second half of this year.

In addition, Lau recommended raising the publics awareness of gambling addiction, as well as raising the awareness of gamblers family members in seeking help.

Recently, a study by local scholars showed the majority of frontline casino staff in Macau face various obstacles that impede their capacity to intervene effectively in problematic gaming behaviors  despite themselves comprehensively grasping responsible gambling principles.

A recent academic paper by Manian Wongkun and Liu Shuang from the Centre for Gaming and Tourism Studies at Macao Polytechnic University has highlighted that, amid responsible gaming campaigns hosted by the government and gaming operators, problem gambling has not been significantly reduced.

Also, most promotional efforts are primarily targeted towards Macau residents, neglecting non-resident gamblers.

It has also been inferred that problematic gambling may be more common among overseas gamblers.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Rizhao Port to learn about the local progress in promoting the smart and green development of the port, expanding the opening up, in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, May 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected the city of Rizhao in east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday afternoon.



He visited Rizhao Port and a coastal greenway to learn about the local progress in promoting the smart and green development of the port, expanding the opening up, strengthening the ecological protection and restoration of the coastline, and improving the quality of people's lives.
A U.N. tribunal on maritime law said yesterday [Macau time] that countries are legally required to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, a victory for small island nations that are on the front lines of climate change.

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea found that carbon emissions qualify as marine pollution and said countries must take steps to mitigate and adapt to their adverse effects.

It was the first ruling to come in three cases in which advisory opinions have been sought from international courts about climate change.

Experts say the decision, though not legally binding, could profoundly impact international and domestic law on climate change.

The opinion is a clarification of international legal obligations, said Joie Chowdhury, a senior attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law.

China, Russia and India are among the 169 parties to the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, the treaty that underpins the court. The United States, which is the worlds biggest historic emitter of greenhouse gases, is not a party.

States parties to the convention have the specific obligations to take all necessary measures to prevent, reduce and control marine pollution from anthropogenic (greenhouse gas) emissions, Judge Albert Hoffmann told a packed courtroom in Hamburg, where the tribunal is based.

The request for the opinion was made in 2022 by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law, a coalition of nations spearheaded by the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda and the Pacific island country of Tuvalu.

The group asked the court to specify what obligations signatories of the maritime treaty have in relation to the effects of climate change caused by human activity, and to protecting the marine environment from ocean warming and sea level rise.

This was everything that we asked for, Naima Te Maile Fifita, a lawyer from Tuvalu who represented her country at the tribunal, said after the hearing. She described it as a historic win.

The ocean can breathe a sigh of relief today, Cheryl Bazard, the Bahamas ambassador to the European Union told reporters. Louise Fournier, a legal advisor at Greenpeace, said in a statement that the tribunals opinion marks a significant step forward in international environmental law and the protection of our oceans.

Small island states are among the most vulnerable nations to climate change, facing encroaching seas, recording breaking temperatures and increasingly severe storms. Last year, Australia offered to allow residents of Tuvalu to relocate to escape the effects of climate change.

Ocean temperatures in particular have increased, worsening the impact on coastal states.

Without rapid action, climate change may prevent my children and grandchildren from living on their ancestral home, Gaston Alfonso Browne, the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, told the tribunal last year.

Climate change is on the docket of a string of international courts. Last year, the same group of island nations asked the International Court of Justice to weigh in as well.

The U.N.s top judicial body is set to hold hearings next year and more than 80 countries have already asked to participate. MOLLY QUELL, MDT/AP
Global nickel prices have soared since deadly violence erupted in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia last week.

The overseas territory, which has been under French rule for over 170 years, is a major global producer of the critical material that is needed to make electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, steel and other everyday items.

Riots erupted after French lawmakers approved changes to the French Constitution that would allow residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote in provincial elections.

Opponents fear the measure will benefit pro-France politicians in New Caledonia, where pro-independence indigenous Kanaks have long pushed to be free of France.

Kanaks are seeking independence for the archipelago of 270,000 people, while many descendants of colonizers and other non-indigenous people who have settled on the island want to remain part of France.

On May 15, France declared a 12-day minimum state of emergency on the island . It rushed in 1,000 troops to reinforce security forces that lost control of some parts of the capital, Noumea.

New Caledonia holds between 20-30% of the worlds nickel reserves. It is a huge part of the archipelagos economy, compromising up to 90% of its exports and employing around a quarter of its workforce.

The European Union has named nickel as a critical raw material, which means it is economically and strategically important for the European economy but is considered to have a high-risk associated with its supply. MDT/AP
Oregon Health Care and Rehab Center, a 45-bed nursing home in the village of Oregon, is closing after four serious regulatory violations in recent months led to a $260,000 fine and a ban on government payments for new patients.

The nursing home, formerly known as Oregon Manor and located at 345 N. Main St., will close Aug. 1, as will an adjoining 20-bed assisted living facility called Main Street Quarters, Anna Johnson, executive director, said in a statement. The complex, which opened in 1975, was purchased in 2020 by Oregon Healthcare, a for-profit company.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services issued at least 10 citations to the nursing home from November to February, including four immediate jeopardy citations, the most serious type of violation. The serious citations involved inadequate control of a COVID-19 outbreak, delayed treatment of a resident with COVID-19 who died and improper treatment of a resident who required a blood transfusion after unnecessarily being on a drug that can increase bleeding.

DHS inspectors found the facility was not in substantial compliance with federal requirements and the most serious deficiencies put the health and safety of your residents in immediate jeopardy, said an April 4 letter from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS.

CMS fined the nursing home $260,165 and stopped payments for new patients from Dec. 26 to March 14, when the facility was found to be compliant. The agency also banned the center from training nurse aides for two years.

Its not clear if Oregon Healthcare appealed the penalties, as is often done.

Johnsons statement attributed the closure to our industrys workforce shortages, federal staffing mandates, our communitys census, and increased regulatory challenges.

As of this week, the nursing home has 13 residents and the assisted living facility has 14. Staff are helping them find other places to live, Johnson said.

The closure will leave Dane County with 17 nursing homes, down from 21 in 2012. Statewide, there were 340 nursing homes last year, with 25,314 beds, compared with 377 nursing homes, with 29,579 beds, in 2019, according to DHS.

There has also been a shift in demand to home care and assisted living, which are less regulated and generally used by people with fewer medical needs. A report last year by the consultant Baker Tilly said Wisconsin had an excess of 6,180 nursing home beds.

Facilitys problems

Oregon Health Care and Rehab, referred to in inspection reports as Grace Healthcare of Oregon, had a COVID-19 outbreak that started in late October and by late November involved 18 of 19 residents and nine staff, inspectors said.

The facility failed to follow numerous infection control procedures, from screening residents and isolating patients to wearing protective equipment and keeping infected staff away from work long enough, according to a Nov. 28 inspection report detailing one of the immediate jeopardy citations.

One resident, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 10, three days after being admitted to the facility, died in the hospital Nov. 30 after not being treated promptly and developing pneumonia and other complications, a Dec. 18 inspection report said, summarizing another immediate jeopardy citation.

A resident on the blood thinner warfarin started taking an antibiotic, which increases the risk of bleeding, for a suspected urinary tract infection, a Jan. 25 inspection report said. But the sample for the infection test was contaminated, so the antibiotic should have been stopped and the warfarin wasnt properly monitored, leading to severe bleeding and a transfusion, which resulted in another immediate jeopardy citation, the report said.

A report detailing the fourth immediate jeopardy citation, issued Feb. 27 and involving maintenance of nutrition and hydration, was not available Wednesday.
Power lines can be repaired, storm damage cleaned up, but when the centuries-old white oak tree on Pine and Hickory streets fell, all the neighbors could do was say goodbye.

The oak, documented as one of the oldest trees in Madison, toppled to the ground during intense storms Tuesday, crushing the car of its homeowner and blocking the street over which it once towered.

Weve got so many people who bike past here, walk past here, drive past here, said Debbie Thorp, whose family has lived in the house with the tree for three generations and lovingly tended to the neighborhood landmark.

Throughout the years, They stop. They look at the tree, take pictures, said Thorp, whose home is near Wingra Creek on Madisons South Side. This is just heart-breaking.

The trees demise brought out droves of neighbors, many of whom expressed wonder and sorrow at the sight of its vast, hollow trunk and healthy branches sprawled across the pavement and onto the top of Thorps black Ford Escape that was parked on the street.

To Thorp, the tree was a lifelong friend. Her parents, Betty and Duane Smith, bought the two-story home on the corner of Hickory and Pine streets in 1950, two years before she was born.

I think my mother bought this house because of that tree, Thorp said. She and her daughter, Dawn Line, now reside there, and a grandchild lived there for a while, marking four generations.

During her childhood, There was a branch that went out across the backyard and then it had a V in it that went across the street, Thorp said.

We had a platform up there that we called our fort. And we had swings hanging from it, and all sorts of things. Theres a picture somewhere of four, five of us kids sitting up on that branch.

The oak was also documented in history books and newspapers. As neighbors gathered in her yard Wednesday morning, Line brought out a yellowed news clipping from 1976, published for the nations bicentennial, that displayed a photo of the historic tree with her grandmother standing beside it.

Certified arborist and author R. Bruce Allison listed the Pine Street Oak in his 2005 book Every Root an Anchor: Wisconsins Famous and Historic Trees, in a section subtitled Ancient, Huge and Unusual Trees.

I had such respect for that tree. I knew it for probably 50 years at this point, Allison said in a phone call Tuesday. It was probably one of the oldest and most remarkable white oaks in the city, probably the county.

The tree was likely part of the native oak savannah in the area that predated Wisconsins statehood and even the founding of the United States, Allison said.

That group of elders is now leaving us, but that area was filled with oaks, mostly bur oaks and white oaks, he said. For more than two centuries, it provided animal habitat, shade, soil preservation and in modern times likely absorbed some 100 pounds of carbon dioxide every year, he said.

Love and concern

In his book, Allison credited the homeowners love and concern for the trees well-being as if it were a neighbor and friend. The book also recalls how Thorps family decorated its trunk with a yellow ribbon in celebration of the return of U.S. hostages from Iran in January 1981, a nod to the popular Tony Orlando song Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree.

From her grandmother on down, caring for the oak was a family responsibility, Line said. Many years ago, the city wanted to widen Hickory Street and install curb and gutter, she said, but my grandma said no, because youll cut down the tree. So they did a poll on Hickory Street and all the neighbors said no, no, keep the tree.

Though the trunk had been hollowed out by age, the trees huge limbs were still solid and thriving, Thorp said.

She bloomed beautifully this year, said Line. The foliage was just outstanding.

Dreaded sound

Around 8 or 9 p.m. Tuesday, Thorp heard a crack, crack, crack sound as winds thrashed the region and Madison was under a severe thunderstorm warning. She knew  and dreaded  that the sound had to be from the old oak, she said.

About five years ago, she said, when a large limb fell off the tree, she asked the city workers who removed it if she could have a small piece of cut wood as a souvenir. But they said no, we have to take it all, she recalled, noting that the historic oak would likely be ground into mulch.

By noon Wednesday, trucks were at the corner removing the tree. City forester Ian Brown, reached late Wednesday afternoon, said that emergency crews had been working nonstop since 9 p.m. Tuesday to clear Madison streets and remove fallen trees from homes.

Under current policy, trees are disposed of regardless of their historic value. But the possibility of a future urban wood utilization program, designed to repurpose wood from city trees, is on my radar, he said.

The crown of the white oak fell into the driveway of Thorps neighbors across the street, Rob Summerbell and Laura Zirngible, who before Tuesday nights storm would look out at the tree every day from their kitchen window.

People were always so arrested by the tree. They would just stop and take it in while walking or biking down Hickory Street, Summerbell said.

A tiny oak still stands in the front yard of Thorps home. With Thorps permission, Summerbell planted it there a few years ago using an acorn from Madisons tree-lined Orton Park.

Its got a ways to go, though, he said. A couple hundred years.

Photos: Tuesday's powerful storms wreak havoc on Madison area
Searchers announced Thursday theyve discovered what they believe is the wreckage of World War II ace Richard Bongs plane in the South Pacific.

The Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center in Superior and the nonprofit World War II historical preservation group Pacific Wrecks announced in March they were launching a joint search for Bongs Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter. Bong nicknamed the plane Marge after his girlfriend, Marge Vattendahl.

Another pilot, Thomas Malone, was flying the plane in March 1944 over what is now known as Papua New Guinea when engine failure sent it into a spin. Malone bailed out before the plane crashed in the jungle.

The expeditions leader, Pacific Wrecks Director Justin Taylan, said in a news release that the search team discovered the wreckage in the jungles of Papua New Guineas Madang Province. He released photos of himself in the jungle with chunks of metal on the ground taken May 15.

In one photo he points to what the caption calls a wing tip from the plane stamped with 993, the last three numbers of the planes serial number. Enlarging the photo shows markings that could be two 9s but theyre obscured by what might be dirt or rust and difficult to make out. Another photo shows a piece of metal stamped with Model P-38 JK.

The planes association with Richard Bong makes it one of the most significant World War II aircraft in the world, Taylan said in a statement.

Bong, who grew up in Poplar, Wisconsin, is credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft during World War II. He plastered a blow-up of Vattendahls portrait on the nose of his plane.

Bong shot down more planes than any other American pilot. Gen. Douglas MacArthur awarded him the Medal of Honor, the U.S. militarys highest decoration, in 1944.

Bong and Vattendahl eventually married in 1945. Bong was assigned to duty as a test pilot in Burbank, California, after three combat tours in the South Pacific. He was killed on Aug. 6, 1945, when a P-80 jet fighter he was testing crashed. He died on the same day the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

Vattendahl was 21 at the time of Bongs death. She went on to become a model and a magazine publisher in Los Angeles. She died in September 2003 in Superior.

A bridge connecting Superior and Duluth, Minnesota, is named for Bong.

The Bong family is very excited about this discovery, James Bong, Richard Bongs nephew, said in the news release. It is amazing and incredible that Marge has been found and identified.
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Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Tuesday night, the results of the 2024 primary elections showed a sharp turn toward what some candidates consider a true conservative voice, as stated by Josh Kohl, the Republican candidate for senator in District 25, in an interview with the Magic Valley Liberty Alliance.

Fifteen incumbents across the state, including those in Districts 24 and 25, lost to new candidates who say that they want to create a change in government, unofficial results show.

In District 24, moderate newcomer Alex Caval lost her state senate bid to incumbent Glenneda Zuiderveld by more than 800 votes.

Zuiderveld, along with the other winning candidates of the night, champions a mission to promote Republican values. She won the primary election with 4,923 votes.

For the District 24A seat, Clint Hostetler won against moderate incumbent Chenele Dixon with 5,260 votes, with Dixon 1,558 votes behind.

Hostetler told the Times-News that he feels great about the election results.

The people spoke and said that theyre tired of politics as usual, he said. They want true conservative values.

Incumbent Greg Lanting lost to David Leavitt for the District 25B seat with 1,962 votes.

The landslide of the nights results was found in the Republican race for District 25 senator, with moderate incumbent Linda Wright Hartgen losing significantly against Josh Kohl with only 1,761 votes compared to his 3,008.

I am naturally disappointed with the results of yesterdays primary, particularly given the low voter turnout. While there was significant misinformation circulated by out-of-state PACs, we all understand that this is an inherent part of politics. My love for our state remains unwavering, and I am proud of our accomplishments over the past six yearsfrom meaningful tax reductions and educational enhancements to protecting agricultural lands, Hartgen wrote in a message to the Times-News.

Looking ahead, the direction of our state may be uncertain, but I hold firm in my belief that common sense will ultimately prevail. I am committed to continuing my work with the Republican Party to foster a return to practical, commonsense values. Additionally, I look forward to spending more time with my granddaughters, who have been a significant inspiration for many of my legislative efforts. Thank you to everyone who has supported our initiatives. Lets keep striving for what is best for our state.

This years primary election season was very lucrative in campaign spending. According to Idaho Capital Sun, reports showed that candidates spent more than $3.8 million on advertising and campaigning endeavors by the end of March.

Data reported by the secretary of states Sunshine Idaho database showed that within Districts 24 and 25, Dixon spent the most money on campaign expenditures, which totaled $64,743.45.

Edward A. Easterling, the Democratic candidate for District 24 senator, spent nothing, according to the database. Jeff Faulkner, who lost to incumbent Steve Miller for the District 24B seat, reportedly spent $1,777 during the campaign season, coming in second to last.

Highest legislative campaign expenditures in Magic Valley districts 24 and 25

Dixon: $64,743.45

Caval: $52,770.63

Zuiderveld: $34,676.10

Hartgen: $26,210.74

Lanting: $23,461.30

Hostetler: $20,040.70

Kohl: $19,332.99

County races

On the local level, relatively few county races were contested in Tuesdays primary elections, but Twin Falls County had two.

County Commissioner Jack Johnson was declared the winner in his bid to become the next county sheriff, and Rocky Matthews was victorious in his effort to be the commissioner on District 3, the seat Johnson now holds.

Sheriff Tom Carter announced last year that he would not seek re-election.

Johnson faced Andrew Easterday, a Filer police officer, in the primary with Johnson getting 54.1% of the vote, the unofficial tally being 5,993 to 5080 votes.

With my background, its always been a dream of mine (to be sheriff), Johnson told the Times-News on Wednesday.

Johnson already has 31 years of law enforcement enforcement experience behind him, and served eight years as county commissioner.

He said he spoke to Easterday on Wednesday morning and Johnson said there was a mutual respect on how the two managed their campaigns.

There were a lot of campaigns that went off the rails this year and ours didnt, Johnson said. His campaign was professional and mine was professional. There wasnt mud-slinging or anything.

Johnson is not expected to face an opponent in Novembers general election, and he said he hopes to make good use of his time he has until he is sworn in in January.

Commissioners are looking at ways to obtain more jail space, perhaps utilizing the former now-vacant juvenile facility on Wright Avenue. In addition, the countys judicial building is in the middle of a large addition, which will provide more more courtroom and office space.

Matthews said he was relieved to have the campaign over.

Rocky Matthews announces run for Twin Falls County Commission Matthews will seek the District 3 seat currently held by Commissioner Jack Johnson, who is running for Sheriff in the 2024 election.

A huge weight has been lifted, he said. Matthews ran away with the race over Burke Davidson, the mayor of Kimberly, winning with 65.7% of the vote.

He didnt think it would win by that wide of a margin.

Its a very humbling experience for people to come out in the numbers they did to support me, Matthews said. I was expecting a nailbiter.

Matthews served on the Twin Falls Planning and Zoning Commission for five years, and he said he hopes to take what he learned from that experience to help the county.

One of my true passions is planning and zoning, he said, adding that he believes the county needs to get its ordinances up to date.

He noted that in the countys comprehensive plan from 2020, many county residents indicated they wanted to protect open spaces and to have a higher population density in the cities.

The comprehensive plan serves as a countys guide for land use.

Matthews will run unopposed in the general election.

Jerome County was also the location for another contested election, that of sheriff. Incumbent George Oppedyk Jr. handily defeated David Edwards, 1,467 to 632, gaining almost 70% of the vote. Gary Taylor, a captain in the sheriffs office, will run against Oppedyk as an independent in the general election.

Minidoka County had two contested races for county commissioner. In District 1, Sheryl Koyle won over three other opponents, Gary Schorzman, Robert J. Griffin and Montana Herrera, in a close race. Koyle received 35.7% of the vote, with Schorzman coming in next-highest with 30.2%.

In Minidoka Countys District 3, Jared Orton received 73.1 percent of the vote compared with 26.9% for Coliese Hart.

In a closely fought campaign for Cassia County sheriff, Jarrod Thompson defeated Travis Worthington by 78 votes, 1,619 to 1,541.

In Gooding Countys District 1 commissioner race, Vern Eames received 1,275 votes to Tim W. Pereiras 786.

According to the unofficial results, the Idaho secretary of state reports that in Twin Falls County, only 28.7% of registered voters cast their ballots on Tuesday, with the highest percentage in Camas County with 55.3% voter turnout.

The remaining counties turnouts averaged around 30%, with the lowest being Jerome County with 25.2%.

Results will be finalized by county offices by June 5.

See full election results Visit Idahovotes.gov for entire Idaho congressional, state and county primary election results.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
The Philippines, United States, and Japan held inaugural discussions on the Luzon Economic Corridor on the sidelines of the recent Indo-Pacific Business Forum (IPBF), a prominent public-private event co-hosted by the Washington and Manila.

According to a statement from the US State Department, Presidential Adviser for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go met with US Senior Advisor to the President for Energy and Investment Amos Hochstein and Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-General for International Cooperation Bureau Ishizuki Hideo on Tuesday, May 21.

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This marked the first meeting of the Luzon Corridor Steering Committee.

The State Department said the meeting focused on promoting infrastructure investment and development along the corridor, which will link Luzons key economic hubs: Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas.

The Steering Committee aims to implement the Trilateral Leaders commitment in April to develop the Luzon Economic Corridor under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Investment Accelerator, the statement said.

During the discussions, the partners identified priority sectors for collaboration, reviewed potential projects, and agreed to hold future meetings on a quarterly basis.

The Luzon Economic Corridor is the first PGI-IPEF economic corridor in the Indo-Pacific region.

It is designed to enhance connectivity among Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas while facilitating strategic investments in high-impact infrastructure projects. These projects will span areas such as rail, port modernization, agribusiness, clean energy, and semiconductor supply chains and deployments.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported Wednesday that an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), who was among the passengers of a Singapore Airlines flight that was hit by severe turbulence, has been scheduled to undergo surgery.

The DMW said the OFW suffered neck and back injuries during the incident last Tuesday when the plane she boarded from London to Singapore had to make an emergency landing in Thailand after experiencing dangerous turbulence.

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She is set to undergo surgery to address her neck fracture. No word as yet on the treatment or surgery options for her back injuries. Her condition remains sensitive, but stable, the department said in a statement.

Representatives from the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok (PE-BKK) visited the OFW in the hospital and arrangements are being made for a family member to join her as she recovers.

Meanwhile, the Migrant Workers Office in London said that the UK-based Filipina staff nurse and mother of the two-year-old male infant is already a permanent resident in the United Kingdom. Her husband is there on a dependents visa. All three are in stable condition.

The fifth Filipino passenger, a 62-year-old male, was confined in the hospitals intensive care unit (ICU) after becoming unconscious. Doctors are monitoring his condition for further evaluation and treatment. A nephew based in Bangkok is assisting him.

Singapore Airlines is covering all the expenses of the affected passengers onboard flight SQ 321, which diverted to Bangkok after experiencing severe extreme turbulence from London to Singapore last Tuesday afternoon, 21 May 2024.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has upheld the legality of the Agreement for Cooperation between the governments of the Philippines and the United States concerning peaceful use of nuclear energy embodied in the 123 Agreement forged on Nov. 16 last year in San Francisco, California.

In a three-page legal opinion address to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, in his capacity as a member of the Nuclear Energy Program  Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC), declared that the 123 Agreement conforms to the existing laws and compliance with international agreements and policies undertaken by the Philippines.

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Remulla rendered the opinion even as he expressed his agencys all-out support to the 123 Agreement.

Considering the worlds perpetual and unending need for better sources of energy, nuclear energy research is an avenue our country can expeditiously explore with proper regulation and safety measures locked in place, Remulla said.

It is important to note that the 123 Agreement covers the safe and secure use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes wherein the parties undertake to transfer and share information, nuclear material equipment and components directly or through authorized persons such as the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute which is mandated to regulate activities related thereto by virtue of RA 5207 or the Atomic Energy Regulatory and Liability Act of 1968, as amended.

It is also explicitly provided under the provisions of the PH-US Nuclear Energy Agreement that the same are not in conflict with existing Philippine laws, as well as with pending nuclear-related bills before Congress.

Besides, the 123 Agreement also emphasizes that outputs produced within its purview shall not be used for any nuclear explosive devices, for research on or development of any nuclear explosive devices or for any military purpose detrimental to the national interest of the parties.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands  Judges at the UNs top court were scheduled Thursday to hand down a decision on Mexicos request for emergency measures over Quitos embassy raid last month to snatch a former top Ecuadoran politician.

Ecuadoran security forces stormed the Mexican embassy in Quito in early April to arrest former vice president Jorge Glas, who is wanted on corruption charges and had been granted asylum by Mexico.

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Mexico dragged Ecuador before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, asking judges to declare Quito in breach of international law and hand down provisional measures  court-speak for a set of urgent interventions  while its case was ongoing.

Judges will give a decision at 1300 GMT on Thursday at the opulent Peace Palace, home of the ICJ. The case proper, however, could still take months, if not years.

Quitos rare incursion on diplomatic territory sparked an international outcry, and led Mexico to break ties with Ecuador and pull its diplomats out of the country.

Late last month, Mexicos representative Alejandro Celorio Alcantara told judges Ecuadors raid crossed a line, setting a dangerous precedent when it came to international relations.

There are lines in international law which should not be crossed, Celorio said.

The judges on Thursday will rule on Mexicos immediate requests, including that Quito should take appropriate and immediate steps to provide full security of diplomatic premises and archives, preventing further intrusion against them.

Mexico is also asking judges to order Ecuador to refrain from any act or conduct likely to aggravate or widen the dispute of which the Court is seized.

Judges will next ruminate over the case proper, in which Mexico accuses Ecuador of breaking international law.

Mexico is asking the ICJ to suspend Ecuador from the UN until it issues a public apology  and for the court to declare itself the appropriate judicial body to determine Quitos responsibility in order to start a process to expel it from the world body.

Mexico based its application on the principles of the UN Charter as well as the 1948 Pact of Bogota  which obliges its signatories to solve disputes through peaceful means  and the 1961 Vienna Convention which guarantees protection for diplomatic staff.

But Ecuadors diplomats hit back during the hearings, saying the embassy raid was exceptional and aimed solely to bring Glas  which Quito said was a wanted fugitive  to justice.

Mexico for months misused its diplomatic premises in Quito to shelter a common criminal who had been duly convicted by the highest Ecuadoran courts of very serious corruption-related offences, said Andres Teran Parral, Ecuadors ambassador to the Netherlands.

Ecuador last month filed its own case against Mexico, making a similar argument that it blatantly abused its diplomatic mission to harbor Glas.

Glas, who served as vice president from 2013 to 2017, faces graft charges stemming from his time in office.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Speaking at the World Health Assembly, authors of a new Lancet Series call for urgent global action on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Authors say if the world does not prioritize action on AMR now, we will see a steady increase in the global death tollcurrently 4.95 million per year from infections linked to AMRwith young infants, elderly people, and people with chronic illnesses or requiring surgical procedures at the highest risk.

Improving and expanding existing methods to prevent infections, such as hand hygiene, regular cleaning and sterilization of equipment in health care facilities, availability of safe drinking water, effective sanitation and use of pediatric vaccines, could prevent over 750,000 deaths associated with AMR every year in

low- or middle-income countries (LMICs), estimates a new modeling analysis as part of a new four paper Series published in The Lancet.

Each year, an estimated 7.7 million deaths globally are caused by bacterial infections1 in 8 of all global deaths, making bacterial infections the second largest cause of death globally. Out of these bacterial infection deaths, almost 5 million are associated with bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics. Authors of the new Lancet Series on antimicrobial resistance call for support for sustainable access to antibiotics to be central to ambitious and actionable targets on tackling AMR introduced at the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024.

AMR puts the most vulnerable at further risk

Series co-author, Professor Iruka Okeke of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, says, "Access to effective antibiotics is essential to patients worldwide. A failure to provide these antibiotics puts us at risk for not meeting the UN sustainable development goals on child survival and healthy aging. Effective antibiotics prolong lives, reduce disabilities, limit health care costs and enable other life-saving medical actions such as surgery. However, antimicrobial resistance is on the riseaccelerated by inappropriate use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemicthreatening the backbone of modern medicine and already leading to deaths and disease which would have once been prevented."

A recent study in The Lancet estimated that 7.7 million deaths were caused by non-tuberculosis bacterial infections in 2019, of which almost 5 million were associated with bacterial AMR and 1.3 million directly caused by bacterial pathogens resistant to the antibiotics available to treat them.

The new Series highlights how babies, children, the elderly and people with chronic illness are most vulnerable to AMR as they have a higher risk of contracting bacterial infections in general.

AMR is a huge threat to newborn survival around the world. A third of deaths in newborn babies globally are caused by infections and half of those to sepsis (a potentially lethal system-wide response to infection). Increasingly, the bacteria or fungi which cause these infections are no longer responding to most readily available antibiotics, for example, in a study including 11 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America between 2018-2020, 18% of babies with sepsis did not survive despite being given antibiotics.

Elderly and chronically ill people also face significant risk from AMR, especially when seeking treatment for medical conditions in hospitals and long-term care facilities. AMR undermines the safety of common medical procedures such as organ transplants, joint replacements, cancer chemotherapy, and treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic lung illnesses.

"As an infectious disease clinical pharmacist, I was already acutely aware of the huge problem the world is facing with AMR. However, the issue of AMR suddenly became personal when my mother developed an infection from a drug-resistant bacteria in her kidneys and urinary tract after receiving surgery in hospital. In Lebanon, as in many countries, our health system is ill prepared to protect patients against AMRthere are gaps in effective infection control and sanitation practices, significant medication shortages, and antimicrobials, if available, are often prescribed for inappropriate uses.

"My mother is only one example of the millions of patients globally who develop an antimicrobial resistant infection while in hospital each year," says one of the authors on a linked Comment to the Series, Nour Shamas, clinical pharmacist and member of The WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors.

She continues, "Although people who are very young, elderly, living in dire conditions, or are regular hospital patients are at a higher risk of contracting a resistant infection, AMR can impact anyone. It is up to all of uspolicymakers, health care professionals, patients and wider societyto call for urgent global prioritization for reducing the spread of infectious diseases and development of resistance, increasing research in understudied issues such as women's health, and ensuring access to antimicrobials and that they are used judiciously."

Existing infection prevention methods can prevent AMR-associated deaths

According to co-author Professor Joseph Lewnard of the University of California in Berkeley, "Focusing on interventions with demonstrated effectiveness in preventing infections must be at the heart of global action to tackle AMR. Preventing infections reduces the use of antibiotics and reduces selection pressure for AMR so that the drugs will work when they are most needed."

Novel modeling analysis undertaken for the Series estimates existing infection prevention methods could prevent 750,000 deaths associated with AMR infections a year. The analysis estimates:

Improving infection prevention and control in health care facilities, including better hand hygiene and more regular cleaning and sterilization of equipment, could save up to 337,000 lives a year.

Universal access to safe drinking water and effective sanitation in community settings could prevent approximately 247,800 deaths annually.

Expanding the roll out of some pediatric vaccines, such as pneumococcal vaccines which help protect against pneumonia and meningitis, and introducing new ones, such as RSV vaccines for pregnant mothers, could save 181,500 lives a year.

Co-author Yewande Alimi of Africa CDC, says, "Our findings highlight how public health actions to prevent infections in the first place should be prioritized as a strategy to tackle AMR as these methods have the potential to drastically reduce the number of deaths from AMR-associated infections. If we can focus on improving infection control methods, water and sanitation and vaccination in LMICs then it should be possible to reduce the number of deaths linked with AMR by 10% by 2030."

The Series also looks at the evidence for preventing resistance emerging in bacteria, alongside preventing infections in the first place.

Antibiotic stewardship (reducing the use of antibiotics when the benefit to patients is limited) is thought to reduce the selection pressure on bacteria to develop resistance. However, there is a lack of research in this area.

Co-author Dr. Esmita Charani of the University of Cape Town says, "The current limited evidence on the impact of antibiotic stewardship on AMR from low- and middle-income countries does not mean it is not a key intervention that needs focus, but rather makes it difficult to anticipate the effects of antibiotic stewardship in those countries. We urgently need studies to investigate the impact to help inform future policies and interventions fit for different contexts."

A rethinking of antibiotic development investment is needed

Co-author Dr. Ursula Theuretzbacher of the Center for Anti-Infective Agents in Vienna, Austria, says, "We need to see a complete rethink in how we approach discovery and development of new antibiotics with a focus on innovation, affordability, and sustainable availability."

The increasing number of bacterial infections that are no longer responding to any available antibiotics indicate an urgent need to invest inand ensure global access tonew antibiotics, vaccines, and diagnostic tests.

The traditional model of drug development, which depends on the likelihood of high profits to motivate investment, is not working for antibiotics. Most new antibiotics are not registered in LMICs, but even if registered, they would likely be unaffordable.

The authors say new, publicly funded models of antibiotic development based on public-private partnerships could increase the amount of novel alternatives, as well as lower patients' out-of-pocket cost, making them more accessible.

They also call for greater funding for AMR prevention programs in general, as funding for AMR significantly lags behind that for diseases with smaller burdens such as HIV, malaria, and TB.

Co-author Professor Ramanan Laxminarayan, President of the One Health Trust and Senior Research Scholar at Princeton University, says, "Reducing the impact of AMR through pharmaceuticals is not simply a matter of developing new antibiotics. Unless access and affordability are guaranteed, the vast number of deaths from resistant bacterial infections will continue unabated. Reducing the cost of drug development would help keep antibiotics affordable, as shown by the public-private partnerships for medications to treat malaria and neglected tropical diseases. It's time for similar tactics in antibiotic development."

AMR targets for 2030 must address the need for sustainable access to effective antibiotics

AMR will be addressed for the second time during a High-Level Meeting as part of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September 2024.

The Series proposes ambitious yet achievable global targets for 2030, which the authors argue should be adopted at the meeting within a framework of universal access to antibiotics, the "10-20-30 by 2030" goals:

A 10% reduction in mortality from AMR by scaling up public health interventions to prevent infections in the first place, reducing both antibiotic use and resistance and enabling great access.

A 20% reduction in inappropriate human antibiotic use by reducing use of antibiotics for mild respiratory infections that generally do not require antibiotics.

A 30% reduction in inappropriate animal antibiotic use to be achieved by incremental actions in many sectors. Policy examples could include: no use of medically important antimicrobials for growth promotion in animals no use of highest-priority, critically important antimicrobials for preventative treatment in animals all antibiotics to be given under the guidance of a veterinary professional.



The Series also calls for the establishment of an independent scientific bodyan Independent Panel on Antimicrobial Access and Resistanceto expand the evidence base for policy implementation and to inform new targets.

"The window of opportunity to ensure our ability to treat bacterial infections is shrinking. For too long, the problem of AMR has been seen as either not urgent or too difficult to solve. Neither is true. We need immediate action and the tools to do so are widely available. We hope that this September, the United Nations High-Level Meeting will ensure that there is also the global will to act," says Professor Ramanan Laxminarayan.

A Lancet Editorial publishing alongside the Series says, "AMR is complex. Many pathogens need to be targeted. It thrives in poverty. It connects human, animal and environmental health. The political declaration that emanates from the second high-level meeting on AMR will be judged on how its recommendations are implemented, not the words on the page. This Lancet Series gives clear, evidence-based guidance on how to reach achievable targets that will save lives, mitigate AMR, and enhance food security. Key will be resolving the differing needs and priorities of high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries."

More information: The Lancet Series on antimicrobial resistance, The Lancet (2024). www.thelancet.com/series/antibiotic-resistance Journal information: The Lancet
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The first human case of avian influenza (bird flu) in Australia was reported yesterday in Victoria. A child acquired the H5N1 strain of the virus in India and became ill upon returning home to Australia in March this year.

Based on information made available yesterday on the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), we can ascertain the child is a two-year-old girl. She tested positive in early March and was reportedly very unwell but has since fully recovered.

According to the Victorian Department of Health, contact tracing revealed no additional cases, and the risk to others is very low.

Humans who acquire H5N1 generally have close contact with infected poultry; H5N1 does not spread easily between people. But the fatality rate in human cases is about 50%.

So what should we make of this latest development, as bird flu makes news locally and around the world?

H5N1

There's no publicly available information on how this child became infected in India, or even where in India this case came from. However, the country is currently facing significant avian flu outbreaks in the states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

H5N1 is a strain of influenza A, which is further divided into variants called clades. GISAID data shows the virus the child was infected with belongs to the H5N1 clade 2.3.2.1a. The South Asian clade 2.3.2.1a was first identified in 2009 and is still circulating in birds in Bangladesh and India.

This is different from the clade behind outbreaks in dairy cattle making headlines in the United States (H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b). A second human case in the US associated with this outbreak has just been reporteda dairy worker in Michigan. Globally, a total of 14 human cases have been linked to this clade.

What about the poultry farms?

On the same day we heard about the child with H5N1, a bird flu outbreak was reported at an Australian egg farm in Meredith, Victoria.

This was a different strain, influenza A H7N3. H7 outbreaks are not new to Australia. The earliest H7 outbreak in Australia was an H7N7 outbreak in Melbourne, Victoria in 1976. The three most recent outbreaks occurred in free-range farms in Lethbridge, Victoria, in 2020.

While some strains of avian flu tend to produce mild or no visible disease (called low pathogenic), H5N1 and H7N3 are both highly pathogenic viruses. This means they cause severe illness in poultry and wild birds.

Wild birds are the source, and can infect farmed or domestic poultry. They can also infect animals such as pigs and horses.

Free range farms are at risk of avian flu, as they are outdoors and may be exposed to infected wild birds. But overall there have been very few highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in Australian poultry, summarized in the table below.

Credit: The Conversation

The strain dominating Europe and the Americas, H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, began in 2020 and spread globally to infect more than 300 avian and 40 mammalian species.

This is the most worrying clade, as it has spread further and more widely than any other avian flu virus. In mammals and birds it causes severe respiratory disease but also affects the brain.

Some good news

To date, H5N1 has not been detected in birds in Australia. It's positive news that the egg farm outbreak is H7N3 rather than H5N1. The unrelated H5N1 infection in the child showed no evidence of spread, and the child recovered.

Australia has historically been protected from highly pathogenic avian flu because it's spread by migrating ducks, geese and swans (known as waterfowl) from Asia. Their flyways bypass Australia.

However, with a range of different wild birds now infected by H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, including in Antarctica, there may be new bird migration routes by which the virus could enter Australia.

The egg farm outbreak should be controlled quickly by culling infected birds. There are vaccines for poultry, but they are only partially effective and can mask outbreaks, so tend not to be used. France, which has had widespread outbreaks of H5N1 in its farms, began vaccinating poultry recently, but has experienced continued outbreaks.

What needs to happen now?

Past H7 outbreaks have been controlled rapidly in Australia, but we must remain vigilant. Meanwhile, an outbreak of low-pathogenic avian influenza virus H9N2 has been reported in a poultry farm in Western Australia today. The situation is being closely monitored.

There are often delays in reporting and sharing of avian flu data. Information on the child in Victoria was reported almost three months after the event, which is not ideal for preparedness.

Open source surveillance using publicly available data and intelligence, such as our Epiwatch platform, can provide more rapid information where there may be delays in updates to international reporting databases.

Avian influenza is a global concern, so heightened and timely surveillance in animals, birds and humans is crucial, as is global data sharing. The impact of avian flu on farming and the economy is substantial, but we also worry about a human pandemic arising.

H5N1 is so widespread globally now that the chance of it mutating to a point where it's able to spread between humans is higher than ever.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative Zhang Guoqing on Wednesday attended the memorial service for Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran and met with Iran's Interim President Mohammad Mokhber.

Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, said that President Xi had sent a message of condolence following the unfortunate death of Raisi and appointed him as a special representative to attend the memorial service, which shows that Xi and the Chinese government attach great importance to China-Iran relations.

On behalf of Xi, Zhang expressed deep condolences over the unfortunate death of Raisi and sincere sympathy to the Iranian government and people as well as Raisi's family.

At this difficult time, the Chinese people stand firmly with the Iranian people, Zhang said, adding that he believes Iran will prevail over the temporary difficulties and continue advancing various national undertakings.

Zhang said that Raisi has made important contributions to maintaining Iran's security and stability and promoting national development and prosperity, and has made positive efforts to consolidate and deepen China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership.

The unfortunate death of Raisi is a great loss to the Iranian people, and the Chinese people have also lost a good friend, Zhang said, noting that China deeply regrets it.

The Chinese government and people cherish the traditional friendship with Iran, firmly support the Iranian government and people in safeguarding independence, stability and development, and are willing to work with the Iranian side to further deepen the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership, he said.

For his part, Mokhber expressed his deep gratitude to Xi for appointing Zhang Guoqing as his special representative to attend the memorial service.

Mokhber said that Iran will, as always, continue to develop relations with China and is willing to make joint efforts with China to deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields and elevate the Iran-China comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level.
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Jay Cossey plays bingo with other residents during activity time at The Retreat at Kenwood assisted living facility in Texarkana, Texas on Friday, May 17, 2024. The former lawyer moved here after multiple strokes more than seven years ago that caused him to lose most of his short-term memory. Hes one of a handful of Black residents at a facility that is blocks away from his old apartment. Credit: AP Photo/Mallory Wyatt

Norma Upshaw was living alone south of Nashville when her doctor said she needed to start in-home dialysis.

Her closest family lived 40 miles away, and they'd already scrambled once when the independent senior living facility the 82-year-old had called homea community of largely Black residentshad closed with 30 days' notice. Here they were searching, yet again, for an assisted living facility or maybe an affordable apartment that was closer.

They couldn't find either, so Upshaw's daughter built a small apartment onto her home.

"Most of her doctors, her church, everything was within Nashville," said Danielle Cotton, Upshaw's granddaughter, "... this was the best option for us."

Nearly half of Americans over 65 will pay for some version of long-term health care, the landscape of which is quickly transitioning away from nursing homes and toward community living situations.

Black Americans are less likely to use residential care communities, such as assisted-living facilities, and more likely to live in nursing homes, CNHI News and The Associated Press found as part of an examination into America's long-term care options. The opposite is true for white people.

Experts say the reasons why are complicated and varied: personal and cultural preferences, physical location of residential care communities and insurance coverage. But the result is older Black Americans may be left out of living situations that can create community, prevent isolation and provide help with daily tasks.

"The bottom line is white, richer people have a solution nowwhich is these incredible assisted-living communitiesand minorities and low-income people don't," said Jonathan Gruber, an economist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "That is the fundamental challenge facing our country as our demographics are shifting."

The AP and CNHI News analyzed data from the most recent National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study in 2020, and found Black people are underrepresented in residential care communities nationally by nearly 50%.

Eberline Nugent, left, Johnny Griffin, Jay Cossey and Carrie Dickson play bingo during activity time at The Retreat at Kenwood assisted living facility in Texarkana, Texas on Friday, May 17, 2024. Cossey recalls, My brother came and said he wanted to take me home. ... I told him I am home. Im home because I feel good here. Credit: AP Photo/Mallory Wyatt

Black Americans account for about 9% of people over 65 in the U.S. But they are underrepresented in residential care communities at 4.9% of the population, and overrepresented in nursing homesabout 16% of residents.

The situation is flipped for white Americans, who make up 75% of Americans over 65 but are 88% of the people in residential care communities. The AP-CNHI News analysis also found other ethnic and racial groups are underrepresented in assisted living facilities, but only Black Americans were also overrepresented in nursing homes.

Lacking a universal definition for assisted living, the federal study created the "residential community care" category to represent settings that serve people who cannot live independently, but also do not require the more comprehensive care provided in nursing homes.

Financial barriers affect low-income people of all races, experts said, but they're heightened for older Black Americans. Black workers make $878 weekly compared to $1,085 earned by white workers, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which shows this national gap has existed for decades.

That affects both the potential to spend on long-term careand, earlier in life, homeownership rates. Many residents sell their homes to fund senior care, and more than 7 in 10 homeowners in the U.S. are white, according to 2020 U.S. Census Bureau data.

One month in an assisted living facility runs $4,500 a month or $54,000 a year, according to a national median cost from the National Center for Assisted Living, which represents assisted living providers.

Most people pay privately, often through personal funds or long-term care insurance; nursing homes can be covered by Medicaid. That puts assisted living out of reach for many Black Americans, explained Cotton, who also founded and runs a Nashville nonprofit that helps financially strapped seniors find housing.

She said many can barely pay for government-subsidized housing, let alone expensive living communities: "It leaves them in a gap. Those are the seniors that are really not even considered or thought about."

The process of paying for long-term care is "as opaque as it can be," said Linda Couch, senior vice president of policy and advocacy at LeadingAge, which represents nonprofit long-term care providers and researches long-term care.

Eberline Nugent, left, Johnny Griffin, Jay Cossey, Carrie Dickson and Joyce Schiessl play bingo during activity time at The Retreat at Kenwood assisted living facility in Texarkana, Texas on Friday, May 17, 2024. Cossey's church community urged the 70-year-old to move in, though his family in Alabama has pushed for him to come live with them. Credit: AP Photo/Mallory Wyatt

And researchers' major question as more assisted facilities open up across the U.S.are they located near Black communities?is hard to answer, too.

"The federal government doesn't even have a list of assisted living (facilities)," said Lindsey Smith, a health systems management and policy researcher in the Oregon Health and Science University-Portland State University School of Public Health. "There is not, like, a registration."

While affordability is a clear determining factor of who can and can't access assisted living, researchers say it doesn't completely explain why more Black people are not moving in.

Steven Nash's father could afford the most expensive assisted living facilities, but the former judge wanted to stay home. So while Nash ran one of the nation's last remaining Black-owned nursing homes in the Washington, D.C., area, he also helped care for his father until he died at the age of 87.

"Even though it was very difficult for the family, we still kept that promise," he said. "We try as hard as we can to honor the wishes of our elders."

But for others, assisted living is an option for independence even as their daily needs grow.

Older Black Americans are twice as likely to have Alzheimer's or other dementias compared to older white people, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

In Texarkana, Texas, former lawyer Jay Cossey moved into an assisted living facility after multiple strokes more than seven years ago that caused him to lose most of his short-term memory. He's one of a handful of Black residents at a facility that is blocks away from his old apartment.

His church community urged the 70-year-old to move in, though his family in Alabama has pushed for him to come live with them.

"My brother came and said he wanted to take me home," Cossey recalled. "I told him I was home. I'm home because I feel good here."

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Children who were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) while in the womb or as newborn babies may face greater difficulties with social skills and have more respiratory symptoms than non-exposed children, according to a new University of Bristol-led study published in eClinicalMedicine.

Previous research suggests that infants exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy may have poorer lung growth and delayed early development before 12 months of age, particularly when compared with those born before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, until now, longer-term outcomes of children born during the COVID-19 pandemic, with and without exposure to SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy or in the newborn period, remained unclear.

In this new study, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, Imperial College London and the University of Leicester, researchers sought to understand whether SARS-CoV-2 exposure during pregnancy impacted the longer-term development and breathing of babies, and whether they suffered more health problems than children who were not exposed.

To investigate this, researchers approached families looked after in 87 NHS hospitals in England and Wales to complete surveys on their child's development and respiratory health. Participants included 96 babies who were born to mothers in the SARS-CoV-2 exposed group, and 243 babies in the non-exposed comparison group. Parents were asked to complete a survey about the development and breathing problems of their children and their child's use of health care services up to their second birthday.

The team found that overall development at two years of age did not differ between the children who were exposed and not-exposed to SARS-CoV-2. However, on a group level, the exposed cohort were at greater risk of slightly delayed social-emotional development.

Importantly, children exposed to the virus in the perinatal period also had more problems with breathing and used health care services more, including more inpatient, outpatient and GP attendances by two years of age when compared with the non-exposed cohort.

Dr. Ela Chakkarapani, one of the study's lead authors, Associate Professor of Neonatal Neuroscience and Director of the Centre for Academic Child Health at Bristol Medical School explained, "Our study indicates that antenatal or neonatal exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is associated with an increased risk of social-emotional difficulties in early childhood. Social-emotional delay in infancy poses a risk for difficulties later in childhood, and may impact children's ability to develop positive peer relationships and achieve academic success.

"We can only say that children with perinatal exposure to SARS-CoV-2 might develop difficulties with social emotional development. We need larger studies and longer-term follow-up to confirm and understand this risk. If parents are concerned about their child's development after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy, then they should see their GP.

"Children's lung function and health care usage also needs to be monitored longer term to identify whether there is improvement as they grow older. These findings inform the health care policy for monitoring children's health with perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection and safeguarding their health in future pandemics."

More information: Rebecca Jackson et al, Association of antenatal or neonatal SARS-COV-2 exposure with developmental and respiratory outcomes, and healthcare usage in early childhood: a national prospective cohort study, eClinicalMedicine (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102628 Journal information: EClinicalMedicine
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A St. Louis-based organ transplant agency is exploring unmanned drones as a faster, cheaper method of moving blood samples and medical supplies across the Midwest.

Leaders at Mid-America Transplant, the region's coordinator for organ and tissue donations, said their first goal is to create a system to transport blood samples from potential organ donors to confirm eligibility, via drone. But they also want to eventually use the devices to move medications and supplies to and from rural areas.

And one day, they may follow in the footsteps of other North American medical centers, and explore the potential use of drones to transport donated organs.

Kevin Lee, the president and CEO of Mid-America Transplant, said that when his agency determines whether a patient is eligible to become an organ donor, a blood sample is taken to a lab in St. Louis. If the patient is outside of the St. Louis area, it's "an incredibly resource-intensive process," Lee said.

It's a time-sensitive and expensive effort, orchestrated multiple times each week across a network of cars and small planes. The sample is usually transported by a turboprop plane to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield and driven the rest of the way.

Retrieving a blood sample from Springfieldhome to some of the largest hospitals in southwest Missouriis about a 3-hour operation, and costs between $9,000 and $12,000.

"It's pretty significant for an organization of our size," Lee said.

A drone flight over the same distance would take closer to two hours, Lee said.

Mid-America also wants to eventually use drones to move medications and test samples between the region's major hospitals and the far-flung corners of the Midwest where medical services are thin. And perhaps, even farther in the future, their efforts could lead to a more efficient means of transporting organs for transplant.

The technology has been explored in other parts of the U.S. and around the world, with some early successes. In Rwanda, health officials routinely use drones to transport blood, cutting delivery times over impassable mountains and remote roads from four hours to 15 minutes in some cases, according to the World Health Organization. Medical centers in Baltimore and Toronto have successfully transported donor organs by drone.

Lee's agency is now working with Dallas-based Valkyrie UAS Solutions, a company that has been testing such drone flights in Texas and Oklahoma. Valkyrie officials said they have more work to do to determine the final cost for a comparable drone flight. But they think it will be in the range of $100 to $1,000.

"We're working on some very rough numbers," said Ty Harmon, chief strategy officer of Valkyrie UAS Solutions.

In order to establish a route between St. Louis and Springfield, the companies would have to secure approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and run a series of test flights. Mid-America's Lee said he would ideally like to begin transporting blood samples in the next 18 to 24 months.

The technology may one day be used to deliver medications to remote areas. Or when rural patients need more complex blood testing than their local hospital can provide, Lee said, the drones could be used to fly samples to larger medical centers for analysis. A patient in Dextera city of fewer than 8,000 people, an hour's drive from the nearest major hospitalcould have a sample sent quickly to a major hospital in St. Louis, for example.

This week, inside a conference room at the Mid-America Transplant offices in St. Louis' Cheltenham neighborhood, Lee stood with Harmon and Valkyrie CEO Catherine Self, taking stock of the 6-foot-by-7-foot drone on display Tuesday. A map of the southern half of Missouri lay on the conference table beside the machine, the distances between St. Louis, Rolla and Springfield marked out in red.

The dronemade by a company in Melbourne, Australia called Swoop Aerocan fly about 100 miles on one charge and carry about 12.5 pounds, Harmon said. So he tentatively envisions basing the drone operations out of Rolla, a city about halfway down the 200-mile St. Louis-Springfield corridor.

Self, the president and CEO of Valkyrie, had driven from Springfield that morning with Harmon, scouting the rough contours of a route the drone may one day take.

Along the drive, Self and Harmon watched for railroad tracks. Setting drone flight paths along railroad corridors is a well-tried strategy for FAA approval, Harmon said, because railroads already use drones to monitor their infrastructure. They observed where populated areas lay, which the drone's path should avoid. And they monitored their cellular connections, a form of communication with the machine.

The drone would likely land somewhere on the edge of the St. Louis region. The companies aren't interested in navigating the drone through densely populated areas, Self said.

Self pointed on the map to a section of St. Charles County where she and Harmon had scouted for potential arrival paths into the regionand then to a perhaps better option, to the south of the city, where the blue line of the Mississippi River crawled into the metro area.

Harmon stressed the companies have work to do.

"This is all crawl-walk-run stuff," he said.

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Philadelphia-area hospitals are rolling carts outfitted with video screens and virtual cameras into patient rooms with the hope that remote nurses can reduce patients' risk of falling, pulling out tubes, or hurting themselves another way.

One remote nurse can do the work of up to a dozen in-person staffers by watching a bank of cameras stationed in patient rooms, and sometimes interacting with patients via video. Research has found these so-called virtual sitters can help reduce patient falls, because the nurses on the other end of the camera are not moving from room to room, but solely dedicated to watching patients' every move.

But virtual sitters can also introduce their own safety risks: Jefferson Abington Hospital was cited by state inspectors in March for using virtual monitors in behavioral health patient rooms, which hospitals are required to keep free of anything that patients could use to hurt themselves, such as shade pulls, extra bedding, and power cables. Inspectors said that patients could have used the virtual monitors' 8-foot-long power cords to strangle themselves.

Jefferson hospitals follow national guidelines that deem virtual sitters acceptable in behavioral health units, a spokesperson for the 18-hospital system said. Still, Abington administrators removed the carts and assigned staffers to watch the patients, making the incident a teaching moment.

Elsewhere in the region, health systems are also learning through experience how to best use virtual sitters and nursestechnology that rose in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, when hospitals needed to limit interaction and staff were stretched thin.

Penn Medicine nurses have found the effort required to maneuver the bulky equipment sometimes offsets the time that virtual nurses would save for on-the-floor staff. And in South Jersey, Virtua Health is testing whether its virtual nurses can take on more of the duties typically assigned to in-person nurses.

"Everyone is trying to figure out how to use the technology to improve patient care and safety, and we're all learning as we go," said Bill Hanson, Penn's chief medical information officer.

Penn: Hype meets reality

Penn initially hoped mobile virtual sitters would reduce the need to assign staff to one-on-one observation duties, said Ann Huffenberger, a nurse and the director of the Penn Center for Connected Care. Penn has six hospitals, from its flagships in Philadelphia to medical centers in Lancaster and Princeton, and each has 12 virtual sitters.

"Everyone is thinking the technology is going to create such efficiency. We bought into the hype," she said. "It didn't really work out for us in that manner."

Nurses found that patients requiring one-on-one observation weren't a good fit for a virtual sitter. Many of these patients are disoriented or prone to confusion and less likely to take direction from the virtual nurse, whose voice may even leave them more agitated, said Huffenberger.

Patients admitted for behavioral health concerns also get in-person sitters, instead of virtual sitters, because they may act suddenly and endanger themselves. Staff can respond to an alert from the virtual nurse within seconds, she said, "but even in 20 seconds, it might be too late, if they're high risk."

The mobile units are helping to monitor less risky patients who can still benefit from a closer watch.

Virtual sitters work well for patients at risk of falling or trying to remove a wire or tube, but who will follow instructions from a voice coming from the screen, Huffenberger said. For instance, if a patient at risk of falling starts to get out of bed, the virtual nurse could ask them to remain in bed, then call the nurses' station for help.

Huffenberger said Penn is considering transitioning its mobile virtual sitters to wall-mounted screens. Nurses often lose time troubleshooting connectivity problems, tracking down fresh batteries, or simply locating a cart that's not in use.

Installing permanent, wall-mounted virtual sitters has its own logistical challenges. It would require construction in patient rooms that are always in use, and regulatory approval.

Virtua: From sitter to admin work

Virtua Health uses mobile virtual sitters to monitor patients at risk of falling or pulling out service lines. Staff who were spending hours watching just one patient can now take care of multiple patients in the unit, said Catherine Hughes, the New Jersey health system's chief nurse officer.

Now, Virtua is testing whether virtual nurses can take over some of the administrative tasks nurses do, such as interviewing patients when they're admitted, reviewing medications, and giving discharge instructions.

The virtual nursing pilot at Virtua's Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden and Willingboro Hospital in Burlington County also makes it possible for family members to virtually attend meetings about discharge or medication instructions that they may otherwise miss, Hughes said.

Through the pilot, Virtua learned that clearly explaining the virtual monitors to patients is critical. Once families learned they could ask questions through the virtual nurse, they were less likely to call the nurse station and reported feeling more involved in their family member's care.

Jefferson: Virtual knocks and other tweaks

Jefferson has also found that its virtual nursing program works best when patients and families feel connected to the nurse at the other end of the camera.

When Abington Hospital tested out a new virtual nurse program last year, the health system found that small tweaks to the technology made patients more comfortable. The cameras were programmed to turn toward the wall when not in use, so patients wouldn't wonder whether it was constantly watching them. And instead of just flashing on without notice, programmers added a "virtual knock," similar to a provider knocking on the door before entering.

Jefferson plans to extend the program to more of its hospitals this year.

Such expansion will help patients at Jefferson's smaller hospitals to access specialists without being transferred to another hospital in the system, said Colleen Mallozzi, a senior vice president and chief nurse informatics officer at Jefferson.

Jefferson's hospitals also use virtual sittersthe mobile carts with screens that can be used to monitor patients remotelybut they don't help with medications, check-ins, or discharge.

The incident at Abington Hospital has been a reminder that each patient's needs are different, and the best way to keep each safe may vary, Mallozzi said. Behavioral health patients, in particular, may have complex mental and physical health needs.

"What we're finding is there's no replacement for the humans where the humans are needed," she said.

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Celery, a major cause of vegetable allergies, carries the risk of causing severe allergic reactions, especially in individuals with mugwort pollen sensitization.

A recent clinical study points to the significant role of defensin as a cross-reactive allergen in mugwort pollen (Art v 1) and celery (Api g 7) and its association with severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions to celery. IgE testing for Api g 7 could represent an important biomarker to identify individuals at an increased risk of anaphylaxis.

The study is published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Celery (Apium graveolens) is one of the main triggers of allergies to vegetables. It is estimated to affect about 1 in every 200 European adults (a prevalence of 0.45%). The symptoms associated with a celery allergy range from local reactions in the mouth area to severe anaphylaxis.

The European Anaphylaxis Registry NORA (Network for Online-Registration of Anaphylaxis) identified celery as a trigger food in 6% of registered adult cases. Celery is also one of the foods that caused anaphylaxis more frequently than was to be expected on the basis of celery allergy prevalence.

Celery: Risky for allergy patients

The two most commonly consumed celery varieties are the root (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum, also known as celeriac) and the stem (Apium graveolens var. dulce). Celery anaphylaxis is most often attributed to celeriac. Since celery root is not only consumed raw or cooked, but is also used as a spice in industrially produced compound food products, its potential as a "hidden" allergen is significant.

The risk for allergy sufferers is additionally exacerbated by the fact that the ED10 value, i.e., the lowest dose required to trigger an allergic reaction in 10% of the allergic population, is 10 times lower than the ED10 value for peanut allergies.

In addition, celery allergens show resistance to thermal food processing. This makes celery a risky food for consumers with allergies. Celery and products produced from celery are subject to food allergen labeling requirements in the European Union.

Trigger for celery-mugwort-syndrome

Clinical observations showed that severe systemic allergic reactions to celery occur mainly in individuals with mugwort pollen sensitization. Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is one of the main triggers of weed pollen allergies in Europe. However, the relevant cross-reactive allergens that explain the molecular basis of celery-mugwort-syndrome have still yet to be clearly identified.

In previous research conducted by an international research group led by Professor Stefan Vieths, Acting President of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, the defensin Api g 7 had already been identified as a possible cause of the cross-reactivity between celeriac allergy and mugwort pollen sensitization.

Defensins are small polypeptides found in all animal organisms and higher forms of plant life. They defend against microbial pathogens.

Clinical study on the relationship between IgE antibodies and allergy severity

A research group led by Professor Stefan Vieths and Professor Barbara Ballmer-Weber (Zurich/St. Gallen) has recently conducted a comprehensive diagnostic study in patients with a confirmed celery root allergy. The aim of the study was to decipher the molecular basis of celery-mugwort-syndrome and to examine the significance of Api g 7.

A standardized survey and medical examination was conducted with 79 patients with a suspected celery allergy. The main inclusion criteria were a positive reaction after administration of small amounts of celery under controlled conditions or a clear history of severe anaphylaxis. The presence of IgE antibodies against seven celery allergens and three mugwort allergens was determined in the blood serum.

Mild symptoms in the mouth-nose-eye area were experienced by 30 of the 79 study participants and 49 of them suffered from systemic reactions, i.e., a reaction that potentially affects the entire organism. Of the participants, 68% had immunoglobulin E (IgE) against celery extract, 80% against birch pollen, and 77% against mugwort pollen.

IgE against Api g 7, detected in 52% of patients, correlated closely to IgE against the allergen Art v 1 from mugwort pollen. The odds of experiencing a severe anaphylactic reaction and not just mild oral symptoms were about six times higher for individuals sensitized to Api g 7 compared to individuals without sensitization to Api g 7.

The IgE diagnostic sensitivity to celery was 68% in the study population and appeared to be limited by underrepresentation of Api g 7 in the allergen extract. The sensitivity increased to over 90% with the use of a combination of purified individual allergens.

The results confirm the significant role of defensin as a cross-reactive allergen in mugwort pollen (Art v 1) and celery (Api g 7) and point to its association with severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions to celery.

Future studies will be needed to investigate whether homologues of Api g 7 play a similar role in severe mugwort pollen-associated spice allergies.

More information: Barbara K. Ballmer-Weber et al, New light on an old syndrome: role of Api g 7 in mugwort pollen related celery allergy, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.04.030 Journal information: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Provided by Paul-Ehrlich-Institut - Bundesinstitut fur Impfstoffe und biomedizinische Arzneimittel
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Concerns over medical misinformation are not new, but the COVID-19 pandemic magnified long-simmering tensions over two fundamental concepts: Freedom of speech and the federal government's responsibility to protect people from what it considers false and dangerous claims.

These are the core issues in a landmark case, Murthy v. Missouri, on which the Supreme Court of the United States is expected to issue a decision this summer.

During the initial oral arguments, which took place in March, government physicians and public health officials sounded the alarm that the proliferation of false claims about COVID-19 measures, treatments, and vaccines on social media and elsewhere poses a grave threat to public health, and broadly to public safety, while opponents argue that the government's attempt to remove certain content from social platforms amounts to suppression of free speech.

The plaintiffs in the case, including the attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana, allege that federal officials engaged in censorship when they asked social media companies to remove or downgrade certain posts on their platforms.

The petitioners, including several federal agencies and the Biden administration, counter that the government has a compelling interest to protect the public through scientific evidence and facts about the proven effectiveness of vaccines while also safeguarding First Amendment rights.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Association (AMA), and three other organizations support the petitioners' position in the case and have filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

To better understand the central arguments and the possible impact of the court's decision, Harvard Medicine News turned to Rebecca Brendel, director of the HMS Center for Bioethics and HMS associate professor of psychiatry and global health and social medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Help us understand the central arguments in this case and what SCOTUS needs to weigh in on. What is at stake here in either outcome?

At stake in Murthy v. Missouri is whether the White House and other federal government entities, including the FBI and the CDC, violated First Amendment free speech protections in their communications with social media companies regarding removing posts related to COVID-19 and other misinformation.

The case turns both on the nature of government communications with social media companiesdid they constitute coercion rather than just discussion?and the legitimacy of the government's interest in seeking to combat misinformation on social media. The case has come to particular attention within the medical community because one of the key types of misinformation in the case relates to COVID-19 vaccines.

For example, the single issue addressed in the AAP/AMA amicus brief argues that the government has a compelling interest in combating vaccine misinformation due to the proven health benefits of vaccines. Because social media has become such a central source of information for the public, the ability of the government to act to protect individual and public health, including through combating misinformation, is critical for the health of the country, they argue in the brief. Limiting the ability to combat public misinformation could have serious negative consequences for health and science, and for medicine more broadly.

Legal arguments aside, misinformation poses an existential threat to our collective well-being and health. What can individual physicians, researchers, and health care workers do to counter it?

As physicians, we have responsibilities to the health of our patients and to advance health and public health more broadly. As individuals and in our local institutions, we must make critically important health information available to our patients and communities in clear, understandable, accessible, and culturally informed ways. How we present information matters. It's not just about putting forward one view that we know to be correct from the science and the practice of medicine. Instead, we must also inform ourselves about opposing views, even, and perhaps especially, if they are false, to explain why this misinformation is wrong and potentially or actually harmful.

As a clinician, have you seen the effects of misinformation in patients firsthand?

Unfortunately, as a psychiatrist, I have encountered the effects of misinformation all too often. While we have made great strides in our understanding of mental illness as biologically based in the brain, like physical illness in the body, there are still misconceptions about mental illness itself as a moral problem rather than a medical condition, and about the efficacy and side effects of psychiatric treatment.

At the end of the day, the best that we can do as clinicians is to care, to be human. In practice, what this means is meeting our patients and the public where they are. It means listening to what the patient brings and why they believe what they do, learning what is motivating and important to them, and aligning their personal values with valid information and recommendations.

This approach applies not just to psychiatry. The approach can also work with other forms of misinformation, as in vaccine hesitancy and in denialism of other medical interventions. But it takes time and energy, both of which are at a premium in the current practice environment and in the setting of frontline health care worker burnout.

What are some long-term strategies we should consider as a society to start chipping away at the problem of misinformation?

We need to reestablish and strengthen trust in science. On a basic level, this trust begins with integrity, rigor, and high standards for our research and our data in biomedicine.

We, as clinicians and research scientists, must be clear both about what we know, what we think we know, and the strengths, and especially the weaknesses, of existing data. We must be even clearer about what we don't know to not overstep the legitimacy of our expertise and scientific authority in ways that will only undermine public confidence in our work as scientists and healers.

Of course, how we do this is a much larger question. One thing that is abundantly clear is that only dialoguing in rare journals, even if open access, is not the solution. Working together in broad coalitions of scientists, physicians, and the public across institutions and organizations will be critical.

If you had to make a prediction, which way do you think the court will go?

It's hard to predict exactly how the Supreme Court will thread the needle here. Given the current climate, the composition of the court, and the direction the court has seemed to be going in, it is hard to imagine that SCOTUS would endorse a broadly permissive view of federal governmental authority in regulating social media content.

On the other hand, the alternative view that any government engagement with social media companies around content is impermissible seems unlikely after the oral arguments. Regarding compelling state interest, I think we can similarly expect that the court will not dismiss the importance of public health in general as a compelling state interest but will be cautious regarding the bounds of permissible governmental intervention to limit free speech.

Whatever the decision, one thing remains clear: We as physicians and scientists must continue to advance research and practice to improve health and we must do better in engaging the public in this mission to establish trust and partnership.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The newly released Cass Review on transgender care for young people has been pivotal in the UK, where the prescription of puberty "blocking" drugs outside research protocols has now ceased.

But in the United States, where the treatment-intensive, "gender-affirming" model of care is the norm, the impact of Cass's four-year investigation and final report has been largely ignored, finds journalist Jennifer Block in The BMJ today.

The review concluded that the evidence on use of puberty blockers and hormones for children and teens experiencing gender-related distress is wholly inadequate and called for a more holistic approach to care.

It also found that links between the evidence and medical guidance are often unclear, and largely informed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and Endocrine Society guidelines, which themselves lack scientific rigor.

"This approach may explain why there has been an apparent consensus on key areas of practice despite the evidence being poor," wrote Cass.

Yet the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Endocrine Society have stood by their guidelines, while the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have remained largely silent about Cass.

"Unfortunately, Cass does not seem to be penetrating the public consciousness," says Zhenya Abbruzzese, cofounder of the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), a group of researchers and clinicians that has pushed for systematic reviews and an evidence-based approach.

Oregon pediatrician and SEGM member Julia Mason adds, "Parents and their children are being misled in clinics all over the country. There is no evidence that giving puberty blockers followed by hormones and surgery is lifesaving care and there is mounting evidence that the harms outweigh the advantages."

Not everyone has joined the consensus, notes Block. Scot Glasberg, past president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, now president of the Plastic Surgery Foundation, told The BMJ that the organization will issue "trustworthy, high quality" guidelines, but "like Dr. Cass, we've found that the literature is of low quality and low value to dictate surgical care ... We are trying to be very measured and not get into the difficulty that some of the other organizations have gotten into."

Similarly, The Wall Street Journal editors said the review "shows wisdom and humility on treatment of young people, in contrast to the ideological conformity in U.S. medical associations," while The Washington Postand Boston Globe ran opinions that amplified Cass to argue for a more precautionary path forward. But many outlets, including STAT News, CNN, and Scientific American, which have run many articles favorable to the affirmative model, have so far ignored Cass.

So far, outspoken thought leaders have not reconciled their statements with the growing list of systematic reviews that stand in contradiction, adds Block.

Yale pediatrician Meredithe McNamara has called puberty blockers "one of the most compassionate things that a parent can consent to for a transgender child," and in testimony to the US Congress, warned that when gender-affirming care "is interrupted or restricted, suicide, depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and poor quality of life follow."

Alejandra Caraballo, a Harvard Law School instructor with more than 160,000 X followers, also tweeted in advance of the report's release last month that it had "disregarded nearly all studies," a claim that Cass called "misinformation."

But Erica Anderson, a clinical psychologist and former president of USPATH, says the Cass report is going to "stand the test of time."

"I'm already hearing from the boards of directors and trustees of some hospital systems who are starting to get nervous about what they've permitted. So I think that's going to accelerate change within American health care."

In the face of criticism, Cass has been unwavering: "It wouldn't be too much of a problem if people were saying 'This is clinical consensus and we're not sure.' But what some organizations are doing is doubling down on saying the evidence is good," she told The New York Times. "And I think that's where you're misleading the public."

More information: Investigation: Gender medicine in the US: how the Cass Review failed to land, The BMJ (2024). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.q1141 Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
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For frequent visitors or first-timers to Montanas world-renowned Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, there is now a new kind of travel guide that can satiate anyones curiosity.

Big Sky, Big Parks: An Exploration of Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, and all that Montana in Between, goes well beyond a description of Old Faithful and the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Rather, it covers the everything else that may not be common knowledge but is essential to understanding the beauty and significance of the areas.

Missoula author Ednor Therriault said that he had initially intended the book to be a classic travel guide to the parks. But with plenty of those already on the shelves, he switched gears. The final product became a detailed exploration into the events, history, biology, geology and culture that make these destinations so famous.

Its still a travel guide, albeit without the typical travel guide layout and complete with Therriaults own stories, narratives and, of course, his wit.

I cant do anything 100% without injecting a little humor, Therriault said.

The book came together after a year and a half of writing, research and active exploration of the parks and surrounding Montana landscapes. During that time, Therriault drove all over the state, diving into everything from bison to ghost towns.

Despite the heavy dose of factual content, the book is far from dense. Its an undemanding read and each chapter is self-contained, making it easy for a reader to jump between chapters depending on interest. And whether youre a history buff, rock-hounder, or wildlife watcher, theres something to interest everyone.

One of the harder chapters to write, but one that Therriault knew to be essential to include, is The Little Shell Tribe, the Newest Nation in Montana. This segment covers the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians successful efforts to gain status as a sovereign nation, which was finalized in 2019.

For Therriault, the book would not have been complete without including the stories and histories of Indigenous peoples in Montana. But as a non-Indigenous person, he also struggled with whether it was his story to tell and he didnt want to get anything wrong, or step on any toes.

Therriault received encouragement from a friend of his who is a Little Shell tribal member and who also became a resource when writing and researching for the chapter.

History didnt start when colonialists came across the West, Therriault said. He wanted visitors to Montana to remember there was quite a lot of history before white men ever showed up.

That was one of the more serious chapters, Therriault said. Other chapters cover subjects like the incredible Yellowstone geyser thermophiles, the mushrooms of Glacier and Virginia City, which he calls a cradle of Montana history.

A chapter that Therriault found especially fun to research and write about is The Pack is Back, which tells the story of the now-famous Druid wolf pack of Yellowstone.

The wolves story of complete eradication from the park and their inspiring reintroduction and return has become a well-known story, Therriault said. But the author enjoyed the opportunity to learn the tale in detail and gain a better understanding of the remarkable revival of the poster child of the park.

Thats kind of what I like to do, Therriault said. Just completely go deep on something and learn as much as I can.

Therriaults innate curiosity kept him from being limited to the boundaries of the park and he also dives into hidden gems outside and in between them. There are chapters and sections on geological secrets outside of the parks, the Ten Tasty Treasure State Treats to Try, and even a Big Sky tailored playlist for all the audiophile road-trippers making the drive from park to park.

The distance and journey in between the parks is a full days drive, said Therriault. Its such a long, spectacular drive. Youre going to see things you never imagined.
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Palestinians stand behind a burnt fishing boat hit by Israeli strikes on the Mediterranean coast of the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

At least 23 Palestinians were killed Wednesday in Israeli raids on various areas in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian sources.

The sources said Israeli forces launched air and artillery strikes on areas across the strip from overnight to this morning.

Israeli aircraft targeted a residential house west of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, killing six people and wounding six others, all of whom were taken to hospitals, according to the sources.

They added that the jets bombed another house for displaced people in the town of al-Zawaida in the middle of the strip, killing 10 people.

In addition, Israel's planes attacked homes and agricultural lands in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City, inflicting two fatalities, said the sources, adding its artillery fire wounded 10 others in the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood in the southwest of the city.

Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli forces bombed the eastern outskirts of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, causing material damage.

Meanwhile, in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, five Palestinians were killed and seven others injured due to Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardment.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that the Israeli army is advancing west in Rafah along the "Philadelphia Corridor" near the border with Egypt.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced the suspension of food distributions in Rafah due to the lack of supplies and security.

UNRWA said via its account on social media platform X that "food distributions in Rafah are currently suspended due to a lack of supplies and insecurity."

It noted that "as a result of the ongoing military operation in eastern Rafah, the UNRWA distribution center and WFP (World Food Programme) warehouse, both in Rafah, are now inaccessible."

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage.
The Missoula City Council will decide in June whether to approve using $310,000 from the voter-approved 2018 Open Space Bond to help a nonprofit purchase a long-running, 8-acre vegetable farm in the Target Range neighborhood and keep it preserved as agricultural land in perpetuity.

The nonprofit, called Trust Montana, is proposing to use the Open Space Bond funding to purchase Corner Farm, located on Tower Road. The farm used to be called Clark Fork Organics and was owned by current county commissioner Josh Slotnick and his wife, Kim Murchison. The farm business is currently being operated as Trust Land Farm by local farmer Ellie Costello, but the property is called Corner Farm and is currently owned by Neva Hassanein.

Hassanein is proposing to sell the property to Trust Montana, which would then place the property in a Community Land Trust. Trust Montana would use the $310,000 along with community donations to buy the property for its appraised price of $720,000. Then, Costello would be given a 75-year ground lease to preserve it as local agriculture.

The farm historically produces about 40,000 pounds of food in the form of organic vegetables per year, according to city open space program manager Zac Covington.

One of the most unique things about this project is the fact that, while not part of the application for the use of open space bond funds, the property is connected to a residential development thats planned, Covington told the city councils climate, conservation and parks committee. Providing for a little more attainable housing for the community, which is really unique, so the combination of protecting farmland while still providing for attainable housing and access to local food systems is very unique to the community. And I think thats something that the Open Space Advisory Committee found really intriguing and was very supportive of the idea of protecting the farmland overall.

Dawn Conklin, executive director of Trust Montana, said that only 8% of the land in Missoula County has soils that are well-suited for agriculture, as determined by the state. She also said that Montana Department of Revenue data shows that over 50,000 acres of agricultural land in the county has been converted to other uses since the mid-1980s.

Hassanein would use the proceeds of the sale to invest in the infrastructure for 12 climate-smart homes on the remaining 2 acres that have poor soil. The homes would be priced in the attainable price range, according to Hassanein, and homeowners wouldnt have to pay for the land underneath the home because the land would be in a Community Land Trust.

"I will form a steering committee to organize a housing cooperative, which reduces home costs, and I hope to include several subsidized units for low-income households, Hassanein has said in the past. There will also be a farm store and cafe that will enhance the economic viability of the farming operation and connect Missoulians to the food we all need to survive."

Several city council members said theyd like to hear more about the housing project thats planned, but there wasnt enough time at the meeting for Hassanein to answer, so she said shed respond by email.

The land would not be open to the public, Covington said, but he noted that some of the 2018 Open Space Bond funds are earmarked specifically for land acquisition and agricultural land protection, even if the public cant access that land.

The project also protects riparian areas, wildlife habitat, and part of the FEMA 100-year floodplain located on the north end of the agricultural land, Covington said. While public access is not currently part of the project, protection of agricultural land is an eligible use of Open Space Bond funds per Montana Code Annotated and constitutes a public benefit.

He said that the Open Space Advisory Committee got letters of support for the project from nine local organizations and 17 individuals. There was only one letter of opposition from an individual.

City council member Gwen Jones said shes supportive of the project because theres less and less agricultural land on the valley floor and the housing project would help address a community need.

In 2018, voters in the county approved a $15 million open space bond, and the city and county will split that money. This project would come out of the citys portion, even though the land is just outside city limits. Covington said of the citys $7.5 million, $3.5 million was set aside for land acquisition and preservation. Of that $3.5 million, he said, about $1.5 million has been spent so far.

Hassanein said that the land would be protected using a tool called a conservation servitude, which is enforced by a third party.

The land would also be given an "open space" designation if bond funds are used, which means that it would require a vote to remove it from being open space.

The committee voted unanimously to set a public hearing for Monday evening, June 10 on the matter, during a full city council meeting.
Fort Harrison staged a protest turned lethal on Wednesday, where actors portraying protesters were injured after a driver struck a crowd in a scenario designed to see how the response from local authorities would play out.

Multiple agencies including the Montana National Guard, who hosted the event, the FBI, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office, Helena Police Department, St. Peter's Health, Fort Harrison VA Fire Department and more were involved in the annual anti-terrorism training drill.

Roughly 50 personnel from the agencies were on scene, practicing how they would respond to the situation. Hundreds more participated in the training off-site, according to Fort Harrison officials.

Officials said by definition terrorism is the use of force or threat of force impacting public opinions and legal processes.

In this case the scenario was a group of protesters blocking a main roadway with a portion of them lied on the ground chained together.

The other portion of the group was moved to a safer area off the main road, but were struck by a counter protester driving a vehicle, "injuring" and "killing" some of the participants.

Some of the protesters started chanting "Save the deer" and "Red rover, red rover, send the po po right over."

Responders from local agencies acted as they would in a real-life scenario through coordination and teamwork with each other.

Overall, the goal of the training was to ensure the safety of personnel within the fort and the processes used by first responders.

Photos: Fort Harrison hosts local first-responders for anti-terrorism training
EDITORS NOTE: If you have something going on in southwest Montana that you would like to share, send an email to editor@mtstandard.com. To get even more coverage, people are encouraged to go to eventsinbutte.com to add their special event.

THURSDAY, May 23

Three Forks Music Night with Mike Beck, 6 p.m., Bridger Brewing, Three Forks.

Open dark room, 7 p.m., Imagine Butte Resource Center, 68 W. Park St. For those interested in learning black and white photography development. Call 406-640-1651.

FRIDAY, May 24

Open print studio, 1:30 p.m., Imagine Butte Resource Center, 68 W. Park St. Bring your project or make one of ours. $10 materials fee when using studio equipment or materials. An affordable way to spend an afternoon creatively in community. Call 406-640-1651.

Bobcat live, 7-11 p.m., Lost Mine Saloon, Anaconda.

SATURDAY, MAY 25

Anaconda Wedding Expo, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Smitty's Barn, 50 Theater Lane, Anaconda. Over a dozen vendors. Call 406-498-8499.

Mining Daze, 1-5 p.m., Butte KOA Journey, 1601 Kaw Ave. Grab a mining bag and pan for treasure. Plus local pies for sale and soft drinks and adult beverage specials.

SUNDAY, MAY 26

Music with Winnie Brave, 5 p.m., Woolzie's Cafe & Supper Club, 21 Main St., Willow Creek.

Memorial Day celebration with pancake breakfast and flag ceremony, 8 a.m., Butte KOA Journey, 1601 Kaw Ave.

MONDAY, MAY 27

Afternoon Arts, 1:30 p.m., Imagine Butte Resource Center, 68 W. Park St. Afternoon Arts focuses on arts and crafting projects, open to all skill levels and experiences. $10 suggested donation. Call 406-640-1651.

TUESDAY, MAY 28

Textile Tuesday, 1:30-8 p.m., Imagine Butte Resource Center, 68 W. Park St. Open Studio for fiber projects. Building in Butte's fiberist community, 1:30 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m. If it involves fiber and fits in our space, bring a project, or start one of ours. New Projects -Materials start at $10. Call 406-640-1651.

Open studio night, 5 p.m., Imagine Butte Resource Center, 68 W. Park St. Not just for printers anymore; we welcome all other artists and makers to join us, work on projects together, or just hang out and strengthen the bonds of Butte's creative community! $10 suggested if using IBRC equipment or supplies.

THURSDAY, MAY 30

Open dark room, 7 p.m., Imagine Butte Resource Center, 68 W. Park St. For those interested in learning black and white photography development. Call 406-640-1651.

Three Forks Music Night with Montana Standard, 6 p.m., Bridger Brewing, Three Forks.
During Kenyan President William Rutos three-day state visit to the United States, President Joe Biden is set to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally.

This move would mark Kenya as the first sub-Saharan African nation to receive this status, highlighting Washingtons intention to strengthen its ties with the East African country, which has also historically maintained close relations with Russia and China.

The announcement is set to make Kenya only the 4th African country with this designation, after Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco.

On Wednesday, Biden welcomed Ruto to the White House, where they participated in a meeting with business executives. Biden mentioned his plans to visit Africa in February, post the U.S. presidential election. This of course is conditioned on him winning a second term as US president later this November.

The two leaders are scheduled to meet again in the Oval Office on Thursday, followed by a joint news conference and a state dinner. Senior administration officials indicated that their discussions would cover a broad spectrum of topics, including trade, debt relief, and international issues concerning Haiti, Ukraine, and Sudan.

Technology and Investment Initiatives

On Wednesday, Biden and Ruto announced the beginning of a new era in technology cooperation between the U.S. and Kenya. This collaboration will focus on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors.

Alongside this, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will announce $250 million in new investments in Kenya, expanding its portfolio in the country to over $1 billion. These initiatives underscore both nations commitment to ensuring technology advances in a manner that supports transparency, accountability, and human rights.

Kenyas burgeoning technology sector, often referred to as Silicon Savannah, is a key focus of this partnership.

The technology hub hosts over 200 startups across various sectors, including clean energy, microelectronics, financial technology, and e-commerce. Participants in the meetings included representatives from Alphabet, Baylis Emerging Markets, BasiGo, Teneo, and Gearbox Software. Additionally, Washington plans to establish a new semiconductor partnership with Kenya and is working with Congress to enable Kenya to benefit from the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.

Context and Implications

Kenyas designation as a major non-NATO ally is particularly significant as the country prepares to deploy forces to Haiti as part of a U.N.-led mission to address the security crisis in the Caribbean.

This status, granted by the United States to close, strategic partners outside of NATO, will formalize Kenyas growing alignment with U.S. interests, especially in security and defense.

Gyude Moore, head of the Africa Initiative at the Center for Global Development, emphasized Kenyas reliability as a U.S. partner, contrasting it with South Africas more independent foreign policy stance.

Cameron Hudson, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that this designation reflects a significant shift in Kenyas alignment towards the U.S., particularly evident in their increased cooperation on Somalia.

The White House has not yet issued an official comment on the designation. However, the expected announcement underscores a deepening of U.S.-Kenya relations, with significant implications for trade, technology, and security cooperation between the two nations.
CPC delegation visits Serbia

Xinhua) 10:14, May 23, 2024

Yin Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, meets with Milos Vucevic, president of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and prime minister of Serbia in Belgrade, Serbia, May 21, 2024. At the invitation of the SNS, a delegation of the CPC led by Yin Li visited Serbia from Monday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu)

BELGRADE, May 22 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), a delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) visited Serbia from Monday to Tuesday.

During the visit, the Chinese delegation, led by Yin Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, met with Milos Vucevic, president of the SNS and prime minister of Serbia, and Ana Brnabic, speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia.

During the meetings, Yin, also secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, said that under the strategic guidance of the heads of state of the two countries, China-Serbia relations have withstood the test of international changes and reached an unprecedented level.

Not long ago, Yin said, Chinese President Xi Jinping once again paid a state visit to Serbia, during which he and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic signed a joint statement on the building of a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era, opening a new chapter of history for bilateral relations.

China is willing to work with Serbia to implement the strategic consensus reached by the two heads of state, promote the spirit of the ironclad friendship between the two countries, and jointly advance the building of a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era, Yin added.

Yin noted that Beijing will further deepen cooperation with Serbia in fields including economy and trade, science and technology, and culture, and strengthen sister-city exchanges to enhance the development of China-Serbia relations through local interactions.

The Serbian side said Serbia attaches great importance to the development of the ironclad friendship between Serbia and China, and is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen exchanges between the two parties, and deepen the exchanges of governance experience and local cooperation.

Serbia is ready to continue actively participating in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, strive for more practical results in bilateral cooperation in various fields, and bring more benefits to the two peoples, the Serbian side added.

During the visit, Yin visited the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade and the Museum of Contemporary Art, and attended the 66th International Fair of Technics and Technical Achievements in Belgrade. He also watched a China-Serbia art exhibition for universities and students, co-hosted by Beijing Union University and its Serbian partners in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
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An agricultural worker watches as harvesters operate in a farmland in Guquan Village of Chongzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 15, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

The United States and China need to collaborate to tackle food insecurity and other challenges in agriculture, said experts from both countries.



The two countries are dealing with food insecurity on both the production side and the consumption side, said Caitlin Welsh, director of the Global Food and Water Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"We would both benefit from mutually applicable approaches to improving food insecurity," said Welsh at an online panel discussion organized by the Brookings Institution on Tuesday.

If the approaches were extended to other countries facing food insecurity, it could lead to greater stability, more economic growth or trading partners for countries, said Welsh.

She hoped for increased educational exchanges between the two countries as well as increased cooperation between non-state actors like researchers, civil society organizations and others.

The two countries must work together on climate-smart agriculture as climate change has worsened global food and nutrition security and the impacts of conflicts, said Fan Shenggen, chair professor at China Agricultural University.

There is a lot of potential for China and the United States to learn from each other, said Fan, who identified education, technology, trade and youth as four areas for bilateral cooperation.

He underscored the importance of open bilateral trade on food and produce and the critical role of youth exchange in breaking current political and geopolitical barriers.

The exchange of researchers and scientists is clearly in both countries' interests, said Joseph Glauber, senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute.

Glauber, who worked as chief economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2008 to 2014, recalled his visits to China for conferences where scientists worked with scientists on issues of common interest.

"I would hate to see that falter. I think that we need to pick that up, do more because there are problems out there that need the input of both parties," he said.
A new bill designed to broaden the mandate of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) ostensibly to reduce the rising number of road accidents is set to be introduced in Parliament.

In the proposed bill, The National Safety and Transport Authority Amendment Bill (2024), significant proposes are made, which would greatly expand the power of the authority to investigate accidents in Kenyas transport sector.

The changes start from the name, with a proposal to rename NTSA as the National Safety and Transportation Authority (NSTA).

Transport Cabinet Secretary will be tasked with establishing an incident reporting system to collect information on actual and potential safety deficiencies across the country. This system aims to enhance the overall safety framework by identifying and addressing recurring safety issues.

Moreover, the bill proposes the creation of the National Road Transport and Safety Fund, which will be managed by the Authority. The Fund will comprise money appropriated by Parliament, collected levies, grants, donations, and other approved sources. The funds will be utilized to conduct research and audits on road transport safety, implement safety education and awareness campaigns, execute road safety strategies, and carry out related operations.

The bill grants NTSA the power to appoint investigators for these probes, with qualifications prescribed by the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Transport. Investigators will need specialized skills and knowledge to properly conduct investigations.

If enacted, NTSA will be empowered to investigate accidents in air, road, rail, pipeline, and other forms of underground and land surface transport. The bill states, The Authority shall investigate or cause to be investigated, in such detail as it shall prescribe, and determine the facts, conditions, circumstances, and the cause or probable cause of any aircraft accident, road accident, railway accident, marine accident occurring in Kenyas internal waters, or pipeline accident resulting in fatalities or substantial property damage.

Additionally, the Authority will investigate any other transportation-related accidents deemed catastrophic or of a recurring nature. The proposed legislation reads, It shall also investigate any other accident relating to the transportation of people or property which, in the opinion of the Authority, is catastrophic or involves problems of a recurring character.

The bill outlines that NTSA will also have sweeping powers to coordinate transportation safety activities for all forms of transport within the country.
Kenya is eager to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning for economic growth, according to Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura.

Mwaura highlighted that AI could add up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with Africa potentially generating $1.3 trillion, boosting its GDP by 5.6%.

The government has integrated the Kenya National ICT policy to focus on big data, machine learning, and AI, Mwaura said during a media tour of Lish AI Labs in Nakuru County.

Mwaura mentioned that the Kenya National Digital Master Plan (2022-2032) calls for a strategic plan to identify AI needs.

Additionally, a draft bill in Parliament aims to institutionalize AI and establish the Kenya Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Society to regulate Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and AI.

The regulator will also enforce compliance, and advise the government on AI trends.

Lish AI Labs offers training in AI and machine learning, pairing graduates with job opportunities. They collaborate with companies like Amazon and Microsoft to provide jobs for skilled young people, aligning with the Kenya Kwanza administrations focus on the Digital Super Highway for transformation, job creation, and growth.

Mwaura emphasized the governments investment in ICT infrastructure, including 100,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable and improved broadband connectivity, to support AI, IoT, and robotics development.
President William Ruto has confirmed that Kenyan police will join the multinational peacekeeping force in Haiti within the coming days.

During his speech at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Centre on the second day of his state visit to the United States, Ruto reaffirmed Kenyas commitment to helping restore normalcy in Haiti.

The historic event which defines the essential character of Kenya and the United States of America as proud, free and democratic nations, though centuries apart are very identical, Ruto stated.

An advance team of senior police officers, led by Deputy Inspector General of Administration Police Noor Gabow, has already arrived in Haiti.

The Kenyan officers, part of a UN-backed multinational security support mission, landed in Port-au-Prince on Monday evening. Their arrival coincided with the reopening of the citys airport, which had been closed for nearly three months due to a gang uprising.

Another 200 officers are expected later this week, aligning with President William Rutos state visit to the US.

Approximately 1,000 Kenyan agents will join the mission, along with officers from Chile, Jamaica, Grenada, Paraguay, Burundi, Chad, Nigeria, and Mauritius.

A senior official from Kenyas interior ministry told the Geneva-based Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime that the first boots [would] hit the ground soon, emphasizing the seriousness of this deployment.

This time we are serious, the official was quoted as saying.

The first Kenyan officers to arrive in Haiti reportedly come from elite paramilitary units, including the recce squad, the rapid deployment force, and members of a police special operation group.

These officers have experience fighting Islamist insurgents on Kenyas eastern border with Somalia.

They are no strangers to violent armed actors, reported the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi disclosed that the government lacks the budget to compensate farmers who lost crops and livestock to flash floods and rains that devastated the country.

Speaking before the Senate, Linturi mentioned that the Ministry has not yet assessed the full extent of flood damage to determine any potential actions.

The floods have claimed over 200 lives, displaced more than 200,000 people, and severely impacted farmers. The Ministry of Agriculture reported that floods have destroyed 33,000 hectares of crops nationwide.

His remarks came just days after Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Paul Ronoh stated that the government would find a way to compensate farmers whose crops were destroyed by the floods.

Earlier this month, Dr. Ronoh also assured farmers that the government would seek compensation methods for those affected by the floods.

However, Linturi clarified that compensation is not feasible due to budgetary constraints, despite sympathizing with the affected farmers.

Linturi also noted that the Ministry is still assessing the damage in some areas, which remain flooded, and highlighted Tana River County as one of the worst-hit regions.
Patricia Mutheu, the Chief Executive Officer of Matatu Owners Association announced on Thursday, May 23, plans to phase out 14-seater matatus in Nairobi to enhance the citys transport efficiency.

Speaking during an interview at Spice FM, Mutheu addressed concerns about the crowded stages caused by the high number of Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) in the city.

Nairobi currently has an estimated 15,000 matatus operating on 50 routes, with 80 percent of them being 14-seaters.

The figure stands at around 80,000 PSVs nationally, majority of which (60%) operate in urban centers. Mutheu mentioned that the elimination of 14-seater matatus was discussed in a meeting with government stakeholders, including officials from the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NAMATA).

Mutheu supported the initiative, citing the growing population in the Nairobi Metropolis as a driving factor.

She explained, Instead of ten 14-seater matatus, there can be four 33-seater minibuses at a stage. However, this move raised concerns about potential job losses in the sector, as fewer workers would be needed to operate the larger buses.

The matatu sector employs over 1 million people, including drivers and conductors. Mutheu assured that efforts are underway to ensure a smooth transition that considers the welfare of all employees involved.

Highlighting the financial impact of the sector, Mutheu noted that it generates Ksh5 billion daily. However, approximately 30 percent of this revenue, around Ksh1.5 billion, is lost to corruption. She emphasized the need for effective regulation to boost revenue and pointed out two key solutions: developing infrastructure and enforcing a cashless payment system for all matatus.

Mutheu also identified the lack of regulations as a significant challenge in implementing the cashless system. She stressed the importance of having policies in place to ensure compliance, stating, As much as were enforcing, we need a policy that regulates because not all Sacco members comply. When theres a regulation, its easier to enforce.

In conclusion, Mutheu highlighted the potential for advertising revenue within the sector, given that many matatus are equipped with TVs. She called for a national dialogue to better structure the matatu industry to meet the countrys needs effectively.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has returned to court, seeking to halt public participation on the Finance Bill 2024, claiming it was tabled prematurely.

In documents filed at the Milimani Law Courts, Omtatah and Eliud Karanja Matindi argue that Parliament must first enact the Appropriation Act, 2024, before introducing the Finance Bill, 2024, in the National Assembly.

They emphasize that the Finance and Appropriation Acts are interdependent, with the Finance Act providing resources and the Appropriation Act detailing expenditure.

The petitioners cite Article 220 of the constitution, which requires budget estimates of revenue and expenditure to differentiate between recurrent and development expenditures.

The duo claims the Finance Bill 2024 lacks an approved fiscal framework for FY 2024/2025, which should come into effect only after enacting the Appropriation Act, 2024, with public participation.

The petitioners allege that the premature tabling of the Finance Bill violates Section 39(4)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, which mandates that revenue raised aligns with the approved fiscal framework.

Also Read  Omtatah Urges Kenyans to Engage in Public Participation on Finance Bill 2024

Omtatah also seeks a court order to suspend the National Assemblys consideration of the Finance Bill 2024, published on May 9, 2024, in the Kenya Gazette.

He further requests that Chief Justice Martha Koome form a bench to address the matter, citing significant legal questions.

Omtatah and Matindi argue that the National Assemblys actions constitute a fraudulent scheme to collect unbudgeted revenue for unapproved expenditures.

The Finance Bill 2024, published on May 9 and tabled before the National Assembly on May 13, proposes various amendments to tax and levy acts. The public has been invited to submit comments on the bill by May 28 before its potential approval and enactment in June.
Steve Harvey achieved one of his goals this week by meeting President William Ruto during his state visit to the U.S.

The renowned American TV host stepped in for Tyler Perry during President Rutos tour of the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.

While hosting the Kenyan delegation on Tuesday, Steve Harvey expressed his surprise at the coincidence of filling in for Tyler Perry. Harvey shared that meeting the Kenyan President was on his vision board, a goal he had discussed with Tyler Perry.

Im here on behalf of my brother Tyler Perry, whos out of town and couldnt make it. He said, Steve, the President of Kenya is coming to town, and I said thats ironic because hes on my vision board. I showed it to him today, Harvey claimed.

The actor and comedian noted that he is already in business with the President of Botswana, Eric Mokgweetsi, and plans to engage with President Ruto.

Harvey emphasized Africas great potential and the need to bridge the gap between Africa and the outside world. He mentioned that without Africa, African Americans would not exist.

I was the first person to bring a television show from America and tape it on the continent of Africa after everyone told me it couldnt be done. They said it wasnt feasible and that the infrastructure wasnt there. I went over and proved them wrong because Africa is more than capable, Harvey explained.

All we need to do is build a bridge between here and there. You are who we are. If there was no Africa, there would be no African American, no Tyler Perry Studios, he added.

President William Ruto invited Harvey to visit Kenya during the meeting. Harvey promised to make this a reality in September before filming his TV game show Family Feud Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa.

During this visit, he plans to meet and engage with Kenyan creatives.

Harvey will then return to Kenya in December as one of the chief guests for the Jamhuri Day celebrations.

When I met my brother (President Ruto), he invited me to Kenya. It just so happens that September is when I hit my vacation.

Im going to start shooting Family Feud again in Johannesburg but this time for Botswana. So Im going to be on that side of the world before I go to see my brother (Ruto) and were going to hang out in Kenya. This is a dream come true, Harvey said.

On his part, President Ruto stated that the partnership with Harvey and Tyler Perry Studios will transform Kenyas creative industry.

He mentioned that when Harvey visits, the government will have aligned critical areas and will be ready to collaborate with him and other players in the creative business.

The President emphasized the importance of Harvey and others acting as mentors and inspiration to local creatives.

This is going to change our trajectory. We are going to plan more, and I am grateful to the people around this table. Thank you, my good brother, for what you are doing with us in Kenya. I promise that when you come, you will find the government ready to work with you and those in the creative sector, so we can achieve more together.

We appreciate everyone from Hollywood and are eager to explore collaboration opportunities. You can serve as an inspiration and mentor to many in Kenya who aspire to do what you do, President Ruto added.
When President Ruto arrived at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta on Tuesday, he was received, not by the billionaire owner, but by another famous entertainer, Steve Harvey.

The president was widely expected to be hosted by the Madea actor, which left some Kenyans wondering why he was absent.

Hours after the visit, Tyler Perry took to social media to explain. It turns out that the actor and businessman had a scheduling conflict, which made him unable to attend.

Writing on Facebook, Tyler explained, Unfortunately my schedule was booked and Im heartbroken that I couldnt move things around in time to be there to greet President Ruto of Kenya as he and his family and delegation toured Tyler Perry studios. The good news is that means I will have to make my way to Kenya very soon! I am honored, humbled, and thankful that you stopped by President Ruto. Thank you @iamsteveharveytv for stepping in. What a blessing.

Steve Harvey, famous for Family Feud, and The Steve Harvey Show was more than happy to step in, promising to visit Kenya soon.

The President and First Lady began their American state visit in Atlanta, before flying to Washington for his meeting and dinner with President Biden.
09:27

The West Bengal CID on Thursday evening detained one person for his alleged involvement in the "murder" of Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar, an officer said.





Police suspect that the MP could have been "lured" into a New Town flat by a woman and then murdered by contract killers.





The detained person, who is a resident of an area in West Bengal close to the international border with Bangladesh, had met one of the prime accused in the murder case, the officer said.





Further investigation is underway to find out why the person had met him and what they discussed, the officer said, without divulging the identity of the detained person.





An initial probe also found out that the MP's close friend, a US citizen, had paid around Rs 5 crore to those involved in the crime, the senior police officer said.





The Awami League MP's friend owns a flat in Kolkata, and is probably in the US at present, he said.





Police also said that the flat in Kolkata's New Town area, where the Bangladesh MP was last seen entering, was rented out to his friend by its owner, an excise department employee.





"Investigation indicated that the Bangladeshi parliamentarian fell into a honey trap laid by a woman who was also close to the victim's friend. It seems, Anar was lured into the New Town flat by the woman. We suspect he was murdered soon after he went to the flat," he said.





The CID is examining the CCTV footage which showed Anar entering the flat with a man and a woman, the officer said.





"It was a well-planned murder. A huge amount of money, around Rs 5 crore, was paid by an old friend of the MP to the contract killers to execute the crime. Further investigation is underway," he said.





"In the CCTV footage, the politician was seen entering the flat with the two persons. The duo was later seen coming out and again re-entering the flat the next day but the MP was not seen again," the officer told PTI.





Police said the duo was later seen coming out of the flat with a big trolley suitcase.





Anar, who went missing in Kolkata on May 13, was found murdered and three people have been arrested, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Wednesday.





The state CID, which is investigating the case, has found blood stains inside the New Town flat and also recovered several plastic bags, which they believe were used to dump the body parts.





Circumstantial evidence indicates that the MP was first strangulated and then his body was cut into several pieces, police claimed.





"We suspect that after killing Anar, the murderers mutilated the body, segregated the flesh from the bones and mixed those with turmeric powder to delay decomposition.





"Then the body parts were probably put inside plastic bags as well as in the trolley bag and scattered at different locations. We also suspect that some parts were kept in a refrigerator and we have collected samples," the officer said, adding search for the body parts was underway.





Messages were also sent from his mobile phone to a few of his contacts asking them "not to contact him as he was travelling to Delhi".





"It seems these messages were sent from the MP's mobile phone to confuse his family members and friends and prevent them from launching a search for him... there is a possibility that these messages were sent after his murder," he said. -- PTI
SIUs Paul Simon Institute awards four Simon Democracy Prizes

CARBONDALE, Ill. The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale today (May 23) announced the recipients of the Paul Simon Democracy Prize. The institute is awarding four prizes of $5,000 each to current Illinois college or university students for the design and implementation of projects to revitalize democracy in their communities.

The winners are:

VanKevia Garner from SIU Carbondale. She will develop a podcast series that explores the restoration of voting rights for people with criminal records and encourages civic engagement among previously incarcerated people.

VanKevia Garner from SIU Carbondale. She will develop a podcast series that explores the restoration of voting rights for people with criminal records and encourages civic engagement among previously incarcerated people. Lylee Gibbs from SIU Carbondale. She will continue to help develop the Saluki Local Reporting Lab at SIU. Her project will focus on telling local news stories in Southern Illinois, specifically in Alexander County, which has the lowest median income in Illinois.

Lylee Gibbs from SIU Carbondale. She will continue to help develop the Saluki Local Reporting Lab at SIU. Her project will focus on telling local news stories in Southern Illinois, specifically in Alexander County, which has the lowest median income in Illinois. Keara Gray from Illinois State University. She will develop The Sovereign Citizens Project, which will organize community conversations on current civic issues and create a special website with local election-related information.

Keara Gray from Illinois State University. She will develop The Sovereign Citizens Project, which will organize community conversations on current civic issues and create a special website with local election-related information. Lyndsay Jones and Saqlain Khurshid from Illinois State University. They will develop an analytic model to predict voting probability among ISU students. The model will target students who are less likely to vote with relevant information via an AI-driven chatbot on ISUs Center for Civic Engagement website.

John Shaw, institute director, said hes very encouraged by the compelling proposals submitted by Illinois college and university students.

We received thoughtful and imaginative proposals which affirm that university students in Illinois want to find practical and constructive ways to revitalize our democracy, Shaw said.

We believe the Paul Simon Democracy Prize will inspire students to think about, design and implement programs that will bolster our democracy and encourage people to feel more connected to the civic life in their communities.

The institute solicited proposals that are persuasive, imaginative, optimistic and can realistically be implemented within six months. Proposals were submitted through short videos.

The three winning videos are posted on the institutes website. Prize recipients will be invited to give a presentation about their projects at the institutes Renewing Illinois Summit for Illinois college and university students Oct. 24-25 on the SIU Carbondale campus.

Shaw said the institute has established three programs to underscore Sen. Simons commitment to better government and smarter politics: the Paul Simon Democracy Prize, the Renewing Illinois Summit for Illinois college and university students, and the Paul Simon-Jim Edgar Statesmanship Award in Illinois state and local governments.

These three programs embody Paul Simons hopes for Illinois and his most aspirational values, Shaw said.

Complete details of the Paul Simon Democracy Prize and its winners are available on the institutes website.

After serving as a state legislator and lieutenant governor, Simon was in Congress for 10 years, followed by two terms in the U.S. Senate. After leaving public office in 1997, he returned to his Southern Illinois roots and established the then-Public Policy Institute at SIU Carbondale. The institute was renamed to honor Simons legacy after his death in December 2003.

The institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank promoting better politics and smarter government and preparing young people for careers in public service.
Adani Group's market capitalization continued to gain for the ninth consecutive day on Wednesday. The group's market capitalization crossed Rs 16.5 lakh crore on Wednesday, gaining 10.6 per cent in the past nine trading sessions. The gain continued on a day when London-based Financial Times, citing documents from George Soros-backed Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), in a report, charged the Adani group of fraud and selling low-grade coal as high-value fuel in the year 2013 to Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company. This suggests that the markets have dismissed the report on the group by OCCRP and Financial Times and it continues to see value in the Adani group stocks. The consistent rise in the group's market capitalisation over the past year shows that despite allegations, investors have reposed faith in the Adani group companies. Group's market capitalisation has increased by 56.6 per cent in the last year, outperforming the broader market Nifty, which has gained 23.3 per cent during the same period. This is the third time that two foreign media platforms have published negative reports on the group. The Adani group denied all allegations and questioned the timing of the latest report when general elections are going on in the country. The latest report is based on coal supply transactions of 2012-13 when the UPA government was at the centre. The market appears to be viewing it as an external interference to influence the Indian voters. The news report was cited by opposition leaders including Mahua Moitra of All India Trinamool Congress and Jairam Ramesh of Congress to demand a probe by Joint Parliamentary Committee into the alleged wrongdoing. However, the strength and resilience shown by Adani group stocks suggest that the investors seem uninfluenced by these kinds of attacks on the group and continue to back Adani group. (ANI)
PNN New Delhi [India], May 23: Invincible Publishers, a leading name in educational publishing, and Sachin Academy, a renowned educational platform helmed by CEO Sachin Choudhary, have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing the landscape of education in India. The collaboration between Sagar Setia, CEO of Invincible Publishers, and Sachin Choudhary, CEO of Sachin Academy, marks a significant milestone in the realm of Indian educational resources. Together, they aspire to elevate teaching standards and empower aspiring educators across the nation. One of the primary objectives of this partnership is to provide comprehensive content for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) across all subjects. By leveraging their respective expertise and resources, Invincible Publishers and Sachin Academy aim to equip CTET aspirants with top-notch study materials that facilitate effective exam preparation. Sachin Academy has already demonstrated its prowess in educational content with the remarkable success of its debut book on Child Development Pedagogy (CDP). Within a mere 10 days of its release, the book has achieved an outstanding milestone, selling an impressive 50,000 copies. This remarkable feat underscores the demand for high-quality educational resources in the Indian market. Furthermore, Sachin Academy's influence extends to digital platforms, boasting a massive subscriber base of 3 million on YouTube. Sachin Choudhary has earned accolades as one of the most prominent educators specializing in teaching exams in India, cementing his reputation as a trailblazer in the field. Invincible Publishers, renowned for its commitment to excellence in educational publishing, is poised to complement Sachin Academy's efforts with its expertise in creating bestselling educational materials. With a track record of delivering superior content and catering to the evolving needs of students, Invincible Publishers is well-positioned to contribute significantly to this collaboration. By synergizing their strengths, Invincible Publishers and Sachin Academy aspire to nurture the next generation of teachers and shape the future of education in India. Their shared vision encompasses a commitment to providing the best-in-class educational resources that empower learners and educators alike. About Invincible Publishers: Invincible Publishers is a prominent name in the field of educational publishing, dedicated to delivering high-quality educational materials that meet the diverse needs of students and educators. With a focus on innovation and excellence, Invincible Publishers continues to set new standards in educational content creation. About Sachin Academy: Sachin Academy, led by CEO Sachin Choudhary, is a premier educational platform specializing in teaching exams in India. Known for its impactful educational content and extensive digital presence, Sachin Academy is committed to providing top-tier resources that support the academic success of its students. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
SMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 23: Brigade LED Pvt. Ltd. basks in the glory of triumph as it secures the coveted title of Best LED Video Wall Solution Provider in India at the prestigious Global Excellence Awards 2024 (GEA). This momentous event, held on the 12th of May, 2024, in the vibrant city of Mumbai, served as a platform to honor outstanding contributions across various industries and fields. Organized by Brand Empower Pvt. Ltd., a renowned name in market research, branding, and PR, the GEA witnessed the presence of esteemed guests, including the Chief Guest, Shilpa Shetty Kundra. Amidst a gathering of luminaries, Jebaselvan, the Managing Director of Brigade LED Pvt. Ltd., stepped onto the stage to accept the accolade, marking a momentous milestone in the company's journey of excellence. Brigade LED Pvt. Ltd. stands as a beacon of innovation and excellence in the LED technology landscape. With a relentless pursuit of pushing boundaries and redefining visual experiences, the company has emerged as a leader in providing cutting-edge LED video wall solutions. Leveraging state-of-the-art technology and a customer-centric approach, Brigade LED Pvt. Ltd. has consistently delivered unparalleled quality and service to its clientele. Jebaselvan, expressing his gratitude for the recognition, remarked, "This award is a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. We are immensely proud to be recognized as the Best LED Video Wall Solution Provider in India and remain dedicated to setting new benchmarks in the industry." The Global Excellence Awards 2024 witnessed a galaxy of stars from various walks of life, each shining brightly in their respective domains. Shilpa Shetty Kundra, adored for her grace and charm, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest with Mr. Rithvik Dhanjani as the charismatic presenter, adding a touch of glamour to the event. Notable winners included the Best Talk Show Of The Year- The Thugesh Show, Fresh face of the year- Ayesha Khan, Digital Beauty Influencer Of The Year- Ankush Bahuguna, Trending Face of the year- Abhishek Kumar, Best Supporting Actress for Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani- Anjali Anand and Outstanding Performer in Regional Cinema (Female)- Manasi Parekh and many more. Brand Empower Pvt Ltd, the organizer of the Global Excellence Awards, proudly reveals its distinguished event partners. These include Webpulse Solution Pvt. Ltd. as the Digital Marketing Partner, Radio City as the Radio Partner, Webpulse Foundation as the CSR Partner, GetManufacturers.com as the B2B Partner, LocalDukaan.com as the eCommerce Partner, and NaturalTherapyIndia.com as the Wellness Partner. From over 30,000 nominations, Brand Empower has carefully selected the top 120 winners across various sectors, such as Manufacturing, Services, Healthcare, Education, Real Estate, Tour & Travel, Beauty & Wellness, and Spirituality. The event also honors notable artists from Bollywood, Television, OTT platforms, YouTube, and Influencers. Renowned for recognizing and celebrating excellence in different industries, Brand Empower Pvt Ltd excels in market research, branding, and creative PR, helping businesses, entrepreneurs, and service providers enhance their profiles globally. Collaborating with Webpulse Solution Pvt Ltd, founded in 2011 by Rahul Ranjan Singh, a leader in web development, digital marketing, and branding, Brand Empower continues to set the benchmark for industry recognition and empowerment. Webpulse Solution Pvt Ltd, with a track record of excellence and innovation, has gained the trust of over 3000 clients worldwide, establishing itself as a pioneer in the digital arena. The first edition of GEA 2018 was held on 7th October 2018 with Mrs Raveena Tandon, the second edition with Mrs Madhuri Dixit Nene, the third edition with Anupam Kher and the fourth edition with Madhuri Dixit Nene as the chief guest, Brand Empower has always celebrated the best in the industry. Specializing in recognizing and honoring excellence, Brand Empower has carved a niche for itself in the industry. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
The Tripura High Court gave a clean chit to Former West Tripura district magistrate Shailesh Kumar Yadav on May 22 in the case in connection with the raids at wedding halls when the second wave of the Covid 19 was at its peak. Speaking to ANI, advocate Samrat Kar Bhowmik, who defended ex-DM Yadav, said, "The matter dates back to April 26, 2021. That was the period when the Disaster Management Act and Section 144 were enforced during the Covid-19 (second wave)." "Shailesh Kumar Yadav, who was the district magistrate of West Tripura, was informed that two marriage banquet halls were openly flouting the night curfew curbs, which used to be in force from 10 in the night to 5 in the morning. Being the head of the district, he acted as per the orders issued by the chief secretary of Tripura. He visited the marriage halls and found that orders were being violated," he said. "No sanitisation was being maintained, the crowd was much more than the permissible level and the disaster management curbs were being taken for granted. He ordered the officials to separate and disperse the crowd. Even the specific time for solemnising the rituals was over when he visited the spot," he said. According to the senior advocate, the district magistrate visited two marriage halls on that specific day where Covid-19 curbs were being flouted in both places. "As many as three petitions were filed in connection with the case and one of them was a public interest litigation. One of the cases was filed by Swapan Kumar Deb, a relative of either the bride or the groom. Another petition was filed by advocate Bhaskar Debbarma and the third case was a PIL," Bhowmik told ANI, "Many people, including some noted personalities of the country, spoke on the matter as well. The court, after hearing the prolonged arguments from both sides that include, reports of three inquiry committees constituted by the court finally acquitted the IAS officer," he added. Yadav is currently posted as the commissioner of Agartala Municipal Corporation. (ANI)
The operation was launched on May 21. The security forces recovered two 9mm Pistols along with ammunition and other war-like stores from the cadres.

"Acting on an actionable information about the movement of armed cadres in general area Khongjom in Thoubal district of Manipur, a joint team of Indian Army, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police launched a search operation on 21 May 2024. The operation resulted in apprehension of three armed cadres of Kangleipak Communist Party (Taibanganba) faction. Two 9mm Pistols with Ammunition and other war-like stores were recovered from the caders," the Ministry of Defence stated in an official release.

"All apprehended persons and recovered stores have been handed over to the Manipur Police for further investigation," the release added.

On May 21, a significant amount of arms and ammunition were recovered in a joint operation conducted by the army and Manipur Police in Mongjang village in Churachandpur district, according to an official statement.

The operation resulted in the recovery of a 12.5-mm assault rifle, a single-shot bolt-action rifle, two 9-mm pistols, mortar, ammunition and other war-like stores.

The spokesperson mentioned that the "recoveries have been handed over to the Manipur Police for further investigation and disposal". (ANI)
Siliguri (West Bengal) [India], May 23: The Siliguri Metropolitan Police (SMP) arrested five persons in connection with the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram vandalisation and land-grabbing case. The accused persons were identified as Sambhu Das, Debasish Sarkar, Shambhu Mahato, Shymal Baidya and Rajib Basak, all residents of Shivmandir and Bhaktinagar area of Siliguri. Dipak Sarkar, deputy police commissioner, East Zone, Siliguri Metropolitan Police (SMP) said, "On the complaint filed by Ramakrishna Mission, we registered a case and arrested 5 people on Tuesday night. They are in the process of being produced before the court concerned where we will pray for a 7-day remand. There is a land dispute case." "We have now set up a police picket there. We are holding further discussions with the Ramakrishna authorities regarding this matter. We are going to take steps as per the law," the official said. Raju Bista, sitting BJP MP and the party's candidate from the Darjeeling constituency, reacted to the incident and the ongoing probe, saying, "It's very unfortunate that Mamata Banerjee, despite being the chief minister of Bengal, is silent even as maths, mandirs, ashrams, monks and even devotees in churches are being attacked. The incidents in Siliguri and Jalpaiguri reflect the general lawlessness here. There is no law and order in Bengal." However, senior Trinamool Congress leader and Siliguri mayor, Goutam Deb, denied the BJP leader's allegations saying, "If BJP has any specific information on hooliganism and grabbing of land, they can seek a probe by the agencies concerned. This is a non-political issue and our government will take strong action against the accused." (ANI)
This royal house, which stands in the capital Agartala and covers one sq.Km. area was built by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya during 1899-1901.

The event was graced by the presence of the Director and Secretary of the museum department, along with several museum officials and staff members.

The Governor''s visit highlighted the importance of preserving cultural heritage and promoting public awareness about museums.

During his visit, Governor Reddy expressed his admiration for the museum''s efforts in conserving and showcasing the state''s cultural artefacts.

In his address, Governor Reddy emphasised the role of museums in educating the public and fostering a deeper understanding of history and culture. He applauded the museum''s initiatives in organising various educational programmes and exhibitions that engage the community and attract visitors from all over the country.

The Director of the museum department elaborated on the significance of International Museum Day, stating that it is a global event aimed at raising awareness about the critical role museums play in cultural exchange and development.

The museum officials took the opportunity to present Governor Reddy with a detailed tour of Ujjayanta Palace, showcasing its unique collections that include royal artefacts, historical documents, and artistic treasures. The Governor appreciated the well-curated exhibits and the dedication of the museum staff in maintaining the palace''s grandeur.

The event concluded with a cultural programme featuring traditional performances that reflected the rich heritage of Tripura. Governor Reddy expressed his gratitude to the museum department for their hard work and commitment to preserving the state''s history and culture. (ANI)
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday said people are eager to vote for Bharatiya Janata Party candidates to escape the TMC misrule. "People desire to live in a peaceful environment. Therefore, they are eagerly waiting to vote for Bharatiya Janata Party candidates to escape the misrule of the Trinamool Congress. BJP has set a target of winning 32 seats in West Bengal in this Lok Sabha election. The Trinamool Congress government is presiding over misrule here, prompting people to seek an escape," he said. The CM made the remark on the sidelines of a roadshow organized in support of Dr Anirban Ganguly, the BJP's nominated candidate for Bengal's Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency and chairman of the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Foundation. Speaking with the media persons, Saha expressed confidence in BJP's victory in the Lok Sabha election saying his party will win 32 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. "We are confident of achieving our target of 32 seats in Bengal. The Trinamool Congress government is plagued by corruption and mismanagement. People are eager to break free from this cycle of misrule, and its fallout. This Lok Sabha election will determine the future of West Bengal," he said. "The Trinamool Congress is employing tactics similar to those used by the CPI(M) during their rule in Tripura, including violence, terrorism, and arson. However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we successfully ousted the Left Front from Tripura. The BJP came to power in Tripura in 2018, and in 2023, the party secured an absolute majority. Peaceful polling was also seen in the two constituencies of Tripura during the Lok Sabha elections. The people yearn for peace." Addressing a gathering later, Saha said the BJP was confident of surpassing 400 seats. "We are confident of surpassing 400 seats. In Tripura, we witnessed the misrule of the CPIM, and now the CPIM and Congress have formed an unholy alliance. However, we have leaders like PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP national president JP Nadda. Just as we ousted the CPI(M) from Tripura under their leadership, I am confident that we will achieve the same in West Bengal. If the people of Tripura can do it, why not the people of West Bengal?" he said. Polling in West Bengal is being held in seven phases of Lok Sabha polls. Polling has already been done in five phases and the voting for the remaining two phases will be held on May 25 and June 1. Votes will be counted on June 4. (ANI)
BJP leader Varun Gandhi lent his support to his mother and party candidate, Maneka Gandhi, in the Sultanpur constituency, and spoke of the unique bond between the representative and the electorate. "In our country, elections are being held in 543 constituencies. In many places, experienced and influential people are contesting, but there is one area in our country where no one calls the Member of Parliament (MP) by their official title instead, everyone calls them 'Mother'," Varun Gandhi said. Gandhi expressed reverence for the role of a mother, equating it to divine power, and emphasizing its universal attributes of protection, impartiality, assistance in times of need, and boundless love. "A mother is considered to be a divine power, equivalent to God. Because when the whole world may or may not stand by you, a mother never leaves your side. Today, I am not here just to show support for my mother, but I am here to show support for the mother of Sultanpur. The definition of a mother is that she is a power that protects everyone, does not discriminate, helps in times of trouble, and always keeps love in her heart for everyone. A mother's scolding is also a blessing," Gandhi said. "When we first came to Sultanpur 10 years ago to contest elections, people said, 'Sir, the vibrancy that exists in Amethi, the vibrancy that exists in Raibareli, we want the same vibrancy in Sultanpur too.' Today, it brings me great joy to say that when Sultanpur's name is mentioned in the country, it is mentioned in the first line of the mainstream," he added. BJP leader Varun Gandhi campaigned for his mother from Sultanpur constituency today. Earlier in the day, Varun Gandhi's Mother, BJP Candidate and sitting MP from Sultanpur Maneka Gandhi voiced her desire to see her son, Feroze Varun Gandhi, happy amidst political upheavals. On being asked about the speculation surrounding Varun Gandhi's anti-BJP stance since 2019 and his exclusion from the BJP ticket list for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Maneka Gandhi emphasized her primary concern for her son's well-being. "I just want to see him (Varun Gandhi) happy, and what more can one ask from life," she said. Regarding Varun Gandhi's absence from the Pilibhit constituency race, where he served as MP three times, Maneka Gandhi explained his readiness to support her campaign in Sultanpur. "When I asked Varun to campaign for me, he agreed to campaign for me. He has come to Sultanpur for this. Whatever has happened is done, now we should talk further," Maneka said. "Opportunity comes from ability and it is a misconception in every party that only the MPs run the party. There are more than one crore members in the BJP. There are around 300-400 MPs, so are there no other leaders apart from them in the party? If you have the capability, a way will definitely be made," she added. Varun Gandhi was denied a BJP ticket for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on March 24, with the BJP selecting UP public works minister Jitin Prasada for the Pilibhit seat instead. Addressing concerns about the potential negative impacts of Varun Gandhi's involvement in her campaign, Maneka Gandhi expressed confidence in the electorate's judgment. She affirmed that Varun's participation, which was at her request, would not affect the outcome in Sultanpur. When asked about Rahul Gandhi and Varun Gandhi, Maneka Gandhi responded, "Everyone has his way and luck. I never speak about anyone's ability. Everyone has their destiny." Maneka Gandhi also mentioned the upcoming voting in Sultanpur on May 25, expressing confidence in a BJP victory. "The opposition is not winning at least the Sultanpur seat. My entire focus is only on Sultanpur seat and I am not paying attention to any other seat," Gandhi said. India Alliance and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has claimed victory on 79 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, but Maneka Gandhi dismissed these claims, reaffirming her commitment to securing the Sultanpur seat for the BJP. The Sultanpur Lok Sabha constituency is set to witness a tough triangular fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The Sultanpur seat comprises five Assembly segments including Isauli, Sultanpur, Sadar, Lambhua and Kadipur. The constituency is a General seat. The incumbent BJP candidate is Maneka Gandhi, SP has given a ticket to Rambhual Nishad replacing Bheem Nishad, and BSP has fielded Udraj Verma. Since Independence, Sultanpur has seen MPs from several parties and no single party has had an outright dominance on the seat. Congress has won eight times in Sultanpur, while BSP has won twice and BJP has secured victory four times. The BJP is contesting the elections in Uttar Pradesh in alliance with the local parties while Congress and Samajwadi Party are united in the fight as part of the INDIA bloc and BSP is going solo in the elections. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the winner by securing the majority of seats available. Of 80 seats, the BJP won 62, followed by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with 10 seats, the Samajwadi Party (SP) with 5 seats, and the Apna Dal with 2 seats. The counting of the votes for the Lok Sabha polls 2024 will be held on June 4. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi party leader Sanjay Singh on Thursday levelled a serious allegation against the BJP, accusing it of indulging in vindictive politics by allegedly targeting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's elderly parents. "Prime Minister has stooped such a low level against Delhi CM, that first he arrested the minister of Kejriwal's cabinet, put them in jail, then arrested Kejriwal and today crossed all boundaries, that today, Kejriwal's old parents are being tortured by the police," Singh said. "Kejriwal's father's age is 84. Even when he goes for a walk, he needs support, he can't hear properly. His mother who is 76 years old, when Kejriwal was arrested, two days before that, she underwent an operation. He could not even meet his mother before the operation and Kejriwal Ji was sent to jail," he added. "The politics of vengeance of the Prime Minister has stooped so low that even Kejriwal's old parents are not being spared. The whole country, the whole of Delhi is watching this," the AAP leader told ANI. The Aam Aadmi party leader alleged that the parents of the Delhi Chief Minister are being tortured in the name of interrogation. Sharing a photo of Kejriwal's mother, the AAP asserted that she has been unwell and requires assistance to walk. "This is the mother of Arvind Kejriwal, who recently visited Lord Shri Ram with Kejriwal. She has been ill for quite some time and needs support to walk. Today dictator Modi is sending police to torture them in the name of interrogation. Modi ji, how low will you stoop for your dirty politics?", the AAP wrote in a post on X. AAP leader Atishi also alleged that the parents of the Delhi CM are being harassed, claiming that they have been summoned for questioning. "All limits have been crossed as his (Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal) old and ailing parents have been called for questioning today. Has the PM stooped so low that old parents are being harassed? The people of Delhi will give an answer to this through their vote. This whole thing is a conspiracy by the BJP," she said. Kejriwal was released from Delhi's Tihar Jail on May 10, 50 days after he was jailed on corruption charges linked to the alleged liquor policy scam and hours after the Supreme Court granted him bail until June 1. (ANI)
As Buddha Purnima, commemorates the birth of Lord Buddha, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu on Thursday, conveyed her congratulations and best wishes to citizens and followers of Lord Buddha worldwide. She highlighted Lord Buddha's message of truth, non-violence, and love for humanity, urging citizens to imbibe his teachings for social harmony and nation-building. In a post on X, President of India Droupadi Murmu said, "On the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all fellow citizens and followers of Lord Buddha across the world." "The embodiment of compassion, Lord Buddha, has given the message of truth, non-violence, harmony and, love for humanity and all living beings. Lord Buddha had said, 'Appa Deepo Bhava' i.e. be a light unto yourself. His teachings of tolerance, self-awareness and good conduct inspire us to serve humanity. His Eightfold Path paves the way for leading a meaningful life.Let us strengthen social harmony and take the pledge for nation-building by imbibing the ideals of Bhagwan Buddha in our lives," she added. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar echoed similar sentiments, urging everyone to embrace Lord Buddha's eternal values for the betterment of humanity. "Greetings to all on the occasion of Buddha Purnima! On this sacred day, let us resolve to embrace the eternal values of Lord Buddha, and incorporate them into our thoughts and actions, for the well-being of all humanity. #BuddhaPurnima," Vice President said in a post on X. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended wishes on the occasion, sharing a video on his official Twitter account and stated, "Greetings on Buddha Purnima. Over the last decade, our work highlights our deep-rooted commitment to fulfil Lord Buddha's ideals and build a planet that is prosperous and sustainable." Earlier PM Modi on X said on Wednesday, "Coming to Shravasti is special and that too on the eve of Buddha Purnima. While on the way to the rally, caught a glimpse of the iconic Mahamongkolchai Temple and monastery. May the blessings of Lord Buddha always remain upon us." Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized the universal significance of Lord Buddha's teachings, calling for harmony, fraternity, and virtuous living. Through his official Twitter account, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "The life and teachings of Lord Buddha hold universal significance. His philosophy of truth, compassion, non-violence, and equality have deeply influenced the course of our civilisation and is eternal. We extend our warm greetings on Buddha Purnima. May there be harmony, fraternity, and virtuous living." Satguru, in his message, reflected on the essence of Buddha Purnima, emphasizing the priority of enlightenment in life. Satguru said in a post on X, "On this day, Gautama the Buddha realized all it takes for enlightenment to happen is to make it the number one priority in life. #BuddhaPurnima #SadhguruQuotes" Buddha Purnima, celebrating the day of Lord Vishnu's incarnation on Earth, is being observed with great fervour and devotion across the country today. Earlier in the day thousands of devotees gathered in Haridwar to take a holy dip and offer prayers on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima. The city witnessed a massive influx of worshippers at various Ganga ghats, including the Har ki Pauri. Neeraj Pathak, a devotee from Chhattisgarh, expressed the significance of the occasion "Buddha Purnima is a very significant occasion. That is why my entire family and I have come here to bathe in the Ganges and to have a glimpse of Lord Shankar. It is a very sacred sight. My only prayer to God is that Mother Ganga relieves everyone of their sufferings. We are very excited to bathe in the Ganges, and we hope to come here every year in the same way, and that all the people of India will pay their respects to Mother Ganga, bathe, wash away their sins, and come to alleviate their sufferings. There is a huge crowd, I think there are more than hundreds of thousands of people here," Pathak said. Similarly, in Varanasi, devotees took a holy dip and offered prayers at the Ganga River. Ravi Prabha Singh, one of the devotees, shared, "We have all come together to bathe at the Sangam. People come here from very far away. Lord Ram came here and this is where Sita Mata went into the forest. Bathing here provides a lot of benefits." In Prayagraj, devotees gathered at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, taking holy dips and offering prayers on this sacred day. The Ayodhya Ram Mandir also saw a large number of worshippers on Buddha Purnima. The temple's inauguration on January 22 marked a significant milestone in India's cultural and religious heritage. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu commemorated the birth anniversary of Pandit Raghunath Murmu on Thursday, hailing his monumental contributions to the Santali community. Taking to X, President Murmu said, "I pay my tributes to Pandit Raghunath Murmu on his birth anniversary. By developing Ol Chiki script he gave new identity to Santhali language. His contribution to the promotion of Santhali language has also enhanced opportunities for Santhali people and made them more aware of their rich cultural heritage." Philosopher, writer, and educator Pandit Raghunath Murmu famed as the great son of Santali Tribes in India for his contribution to the Santali community by way of developing the "Ol Chiki" script for the first time in India. Before the nineteenth century, there was no written language in Santali, and knowledge was transmitted orally from one generation to another. Later, European researchers and Christian missionaries started to use Bengali, Odia, and Roman scripts to document the Santali language. It was not accepted by Raghunath Murmu who created the "Ol Chiki" scrip, which enriched the cultural identity of the Santali society. He went on to pen many songs, plays, and school textbooks in this script. Raghunath Murmu was born on Baisakhi Purnima (Buddha Purnima) in 1905 at Dandbose (Dahardih) village, Rairangpur which was a part of Mayurbhanj State in Odisha. Nandlal Murmu and Salma Murmu were his parents. His father, Nandlal Murmu, was a village head and his paternal uncle was a Munsi in the court of King Pratap Chandra Bhanjdeo of Mayurbhanj State. As per the traditional social rituals of the Santali people, he was named Chunu Murmu after his birth. However, later the priest, who performed his naming ceremony, changed his name from Chunu Murmu to Raghunath Murmu. During the Swadeshi movement in 1942, he was branded as a revolutionary when he was campaigning for his invented Ol Chiki script. He used to teach villagers how to read and write the Ol Chiki alphabet, during his travel to many places. He also wrote different books Parsi Poha, ParsiItun, Ranarh, Alkha, Ol Chemed, etc for learning Ol Chiki. He went to his native village to spend the last days of his life. He traveled all his life to spreading the use of the Ol Chiki script, while his mother-in-law took care of his family and home. In 1956, the All India Sarna Conference (People who worship nature are called Sarna) was held in Karachi near Jamshedpur. At this conference, prominent leader Jaipal Singh bestowed him with the title Guru Domke (the great teacher). He was also honoured by Mayurbhanj State Adivasi Mahasabha with the title "Guru Gomke" (the great teacher). During this time, his brother-in-law Muniram Baskey gifted him a printing machine. He bought different metallic script typefaces (heavy-light-big-small) from Kolkata and started printing his books in the Ol Chiki script. Under his direction, the weekly magazine Saagen Saakam was printed and distributed to spread the Santali literature. He used to say our literature cannot progress without Ol Chiki. Baba Tilka Majhi Library was also established under his guidance. He visited many Santali-dominated places in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, and Odisha and taught people about the use of the Ol Chiki alphabet (Au-Ote-O-Aung) in phonetics through his songs. Gradually he succeeded in convincing people about the necessity of the script. He also started a non-political organization named SECA (Social-Educational and Cultural Association) to organize meetings at different places where everyone can share their ideas. Pandit Murmu wrote more than 150 plays, short stories, novels, and poems in Ol Chiki script. He got many awards for his path-breaking work. Pandit Raghunath Murmu breathed his last on February 2, 1982. (ANI)
Sharpening his attack on the opposition's INDIA bloc, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday questioned the alliance's choice for Prime Minister if they succeed in getting a majority in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a public meeting in Domariaganj Lok Sabha constituency today, Shah said, "This opposition has moved ahead by forming a 'Ghamandiya' alliance. Today I want to ask Rahul Gandhi, if you get the majority then who will be your Prime Minister? Can Sharad Pawar, Lalu Yadav, or Uddhav Thackeray become the PM? Can Rahul Gandhi become the PM?" "When a journalist asked them who would be their Prime Minister, one of their leaders said that they would become Prime Minister in turns for five years. Rahul Baba, this is not a grocery store, it is a great country of 140 crore people," the Home Minister said. Reiterating that there could be no reservation based on religion, the Union Home Minister said that the INDIA Alliance intends to rob the reservation of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Castes. "The Indi Alliance intends to rob the reservation of SC-ST-OBC. A decision from the Bengal High Court has come just yesterday. The Bengal government had included 180 Muslim castes in the OBC list and gave the reservation rights of our backward classes to the Muslims. Our Constitution does not provide reservations based on religion. Therefore, yesterday, the High Court rejected all the OBC reservations given to Muslim castes by the Bengal government between 2010 and 2024," he said. The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday canceled all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal after 2010. The court has directed the West Bengal Backward Classes Commission to prepare a new list of OBCs in accordance with the 1993 Act. Those on the OBC list before 2010 will remain. However, all OBC nominations after 2010 were cancelled. Hitting out at the opposition over their remark that India should "respect" Pakistan because it has an "atom bomb", Shah said the PoK belongs to India and the nation will take it back. "Congress leaders say to respect Pakistan, they have the atom bomb. Rahul Baba, we BJP people are not going to be scared of the atomic bomb. PoK belongs to India and we will take it back," he said. "The country's problems are not solved by atom bombs. The problems of the country are solved by the strong intentions of the leader like an atom bomb, which Modi ji has," the Home Minister said. He further targeted Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav and said that the latter would not even win four seats in the Lok Sabha polls. "Voting for five phases has been completed. Modi ji has crossed 310 seats in five phases. While the INDI Alliance has been wiped out. This time Congress is not going to cross even 40 and Akhilesh ji is not going to get even four seats," Shah said. The date of voting for the Domariyaganj Lok Sabha Constituency Election 2024 is May 25 in the sixth phase of the general elections. Jagdambika Pal has been fielded by the BJP in Domariyaganj whereas Bhishma Shankar Tiwari is the candidate of the INDIA bloc. The BJP is contesting the elections in Uttar Pradesh in alliance with the local parties while Congress and Samajwadi Party are united in the fight as part of the INDIA bloc and BSP is going solo in the elections. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the winner by securing the majority of seats available. Of 80 seats, the BJP won 62, followed by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with 10 seats, the Samajwadi Party (SP) with five seats, and the Apna Dal with two seats. Counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls 2024 will be held on June 4. (ANI)
Three hotels in Karnataka's Bengaluru received bomb threats on Thursday, including a five-star Hotel, The Oterra, said Deputy Commissioner of Police South East Bengaluru. The threat was delivered in the early hours of the morning at approximately 2:30 am. The threatening email stated that the bomb threats were intended to "divert attention from the Jaffer Sadiq DMK Drug scandal involving the DMK's first family" by orchestrating the blasts. "My father DGP Sankar Jiwal IPS has colluded with ISI Pakistan-DMK cells in Coimpattur to carry out a distraction operation to divert attention from the Jaffer Sadiq DMK Drug scandal from the DMK first family. Hence such diversion blasts in Banks are planned. Please evacuate the premises by 2:30 PM or earlier and call the BDSS as soon as possible. Kindly all call at the same time as some person in the BDSS are under my dad's supervision. We dont want the blood in our family's hands! Please ACT.. Don't REACT!," the threat email mentioned. The hotel staff, upon discovering the alarming message in their inbox in the morning, alerted local law enforcement authorities. The bomb squad and the police are currently at the Oterra Hotel and an investigation is underway. The threat email comes just months after a blast at the popular Rameshwaran Cafe in the city. On the afternoon of March 1, during the bustling lunch hour at The Rameshwaram Cafe, a well-known restaurant in Brookfield within Bengaluru's Information Technology corridor, a low-intensity IED bomb detonated, injuring nine individuals. The two prime suspects identified as Adbul Matheen Taha and Mussavir Hussain Shazeb, were arrested by the NIA from Kolkata. The duo, both residents of Thirthahalli, Shivamogga district, were identified as the perpetrator and the mastermind, respectively, of the attack. Following their arrest, they were produced before an NIA court in Kolkata and the agency got the three-day transit remand of the accused duo.Earlier this week, on Tuesday, The National Investigation Agency (NIA) cracked down on multiple locations in four states as part of its efforts to uncover the entire conspiracy behind the Rameshwaram blast. In a coordinated action, NIA teams searched 11 locations in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, said the NIA. (ANI)
A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government and sought its response in the matter by July 12.

"In the meantime, the petitioner shall be exempted from surrendering till the next date of hearing," ordered the bench.

The apex court was hearing a plea filed by Das seeking exemption from surrender in connection with a 2021 case of sexual harassment of a woman Superintendent of Police while on duty.

According to the prosecution, the incident took place in February 2021 when Das and the woman officer were part of security arrangements for the then Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami, during an election campaign.

In June 2023, a trial court in Villupuram convicted Das on the charge of sexually harassing a woman IPS officer. Later, in February 2024, the sentence was upheld by the Villupuram Principal Sessions Court.

Later, Das approached the Madras High Court with two pleas seeking suspension of the sentence and exemption from surrendering before the trial court. However, the High Court had refused to grant him any relief.

When the High Court on April 23 refused to exempt him from surrendering in the matter, he approached the top court challenging the same. (ANI)
Union Minister and BJP candidate from Amethi Lok Sabha seat Smriti Irani launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) following recent revelations in the Delhi High Court regarding corruption allegations against Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed the bail petitions moved by Manish Sisodia, Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi in liquor policy cases, saying the prosecution has made out a "prima facie case" of money laundering against the former deputy CM. Addressing a Press conference, Irani highlighted the court's observations, stating, "A judgment yesterday regarding Manish Sisodia became public. The Delhi High Court prima facie finds a case of corruption against Manish Sisodia. The court accepts that corruption to the tune of Rs. 100 crores have been committed by Manish Sisodia and all accused in this case." She further noted that the court acknowledged Sisodia's alleged attempts to destroy evidence and intimidate potential witnesses, particularly those willing to testify against the AAP. "The observations of the Delhi High Court are now in the public domain," Irani emphasized. "My appeal to citizens is to read these substantial observations about the corruption of Manish Sisodia and the AAP. These so-called political activists entered the corridors of power with a promise of change but ended up becoming nothing but looters of the people's treasury," she said. Addressing the issue involving Swati Maliwal and her allegations of assault against Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar, Smriti Irani remarked, "The very fact that Arvind Kejriwal goes on campaign with an assaulter is an indication to you as to where his loyalties lie. With the assaulter in the company of Arvind Kejriwal, can you honestly expect him to do justice to anybody? The question is, while a lady was being assaulted in his house, who was present? What was done by Arvind Kejriwal?... AAP is not only corrupt, but its women workers are not safe in their own CM's house." Former DCW Chief, Swati Maliwal had earlier this month lodged a complaint against Delhi Chief Minister's aide Bibhav Kumar accusing him of assaulting her at the CM's residence.Bibhav lodged a counter-complaint against Maliwal accusing her of forced and illegal entry into the CM's entrance. The assault case row surfaced days ahead of polling in the national capital which is scheduled to take place on May 25 in the sixth phase. (ANI)
A notorious drug trafficker was arrested and narcotics worth over Rs one crore was seized in a joint operation conducted by Tripura Police and C-Company of the 42nd Battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday, BSF sources said. The Amtali police in Tripura achieved a major success based on a tip-off about a drug operation. Led by Officer-in-Charge Ranjit Debnath, the Amtali police, in collaboration with the C Company of the 42nd Battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF), conducted a joint operation in the area adjacent to Motinagar School. This operation resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of drugs and the arrest of the notorious drug trafficker, Sundar Ali. During the raid, authorities recovered an advanced pistol, two pistol magazines, and eight rounds of live ammunition from Sundar Ali. Following the operation, Sundar Ali and the confiscated narcotics were taken into custody by the BSF before being transferred to Amtali police station. The joint team of the 42nd Battalion of the BSF from Rayermura Border Outpost (BOP) and the Amtali police initiated the raid early in the morning in the vicinity of Motinagar School. SP West Tripura Dr Kiran Kumar said, "Around 3 am information was received from BSF that, at Motinagar area, Yaba Tablets and arms can be present in a house of Sundar Ali under Rayermura Border Outpost (BOP). The Amtali police, in collaboration with the C Company of the 42nd Battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF), conducted a joint operation in the area adjacent to Motinagar School. This operation resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of drugs and the arrest of the notorious drug trafficker, Sundar Ali." The value of the seized drugs and materials is estimated to be over one crore rupees, according to BSF sources. "The operation yielded 59,200 yaba tablets, 50 bottles of Phensedyl, 23,550 Bangladeshi Taka, and an advanced pistol with magazines and live ammunition, along with other suspicious items. The value of the seized drugs and materials is estimated to be over one crore rupees. The investigation is under process," Dr Kiran Kumar further said. (ANI)
Ahead of the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer Nikunja Dhal on Thursday urged voters to "exercise their most important democratic right" on May 25. Urging everyone to step out to vote, he said, "We are taking all steps to ensure that the voters have a pleasant experience. The weather will be hot and humid. Enough drinking water facilities will be provided. I appeal to all the voters including urban voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their most important democratic right." Campaigning for six Lok Sabha constituencies in Odisha which will go to polls in the sixth phase will come to an end this evening. 42 Assembly constituencies coming under Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Puri, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack Lok Sabha constituencies are also going for polls in the third phase of Assembly elections being held in the state simultaneously with the general elections. This phase is poised to witness significant electoral battles with many heavyweights including Union Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP leaders Bhartruhari Mahtab, Aparajita Sarangi, Sambit Patra, BJD organisation general secretary Pranab Prakash Das. The Odisha Chief Electoral Officer said that on May 25, there will be voting at 10,551 polling stations and about 2000 model polling stations. 1500 polling stations will be managed by all women polling personnel and another 30 by PWD polling personnel. He further added, "We have taken all the steps to ensure that the voting is conducted peacefully. CAPF will be deployed in 2000 critical polling stations. The percentage of critical polling stations is above 20 per cent and in this phase of the election, we are deploying 121 companies of CAPF." He further highlighted that Odisha has voted very well in the fourth and fifth phases. The voter turnout on May 13 and May 20 was higher than the 2019 figures. Notably, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Saturday that a total of 889 candidates from eight States and Union Territories (UTs) will contest elections in 58 constituencies. The voting will begin at 7 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Thursday expressed her readiness to undergo a polygraph test as she alleged victim shaming by the party. In an interview with ANI on Thursday, Maliwal recounted the alleged assault at the Delhi Chief Minister's residence on May 13. Maliwal hit out at the AAP and Delhi Minister Atishi, alleging victim shaming, while drawing parallels with the alleged victim shaming faced by Nirbhaya. "I have met Nirbhaya's mother and she said one thing, which I could never forget in my life. She told me that sometimes I feel like it is good that my daughter is no longer in this world because at least she did not have to go through all the humiliation that exists in this country during the journey towards justice. Nirbhaya was also asked why she chose to go by bus and not take an auto, why she went out at night, why she didn't go during the day, and who was that boy... So this type of victim shaming happens to every girl and it is not something new," Maliwal told ANI. She also questioned the credibility of the video clips leaked by AAP that purportedly showed Maliwal arguing with the security personnel at the CM's residence on the date of the alleged assault. "Now they are raising questions that look at the CCTV footage, look how she is walking, she is walking fine. In the edited video also, she is sitting at ease. So I want to know, if you get beaten up, what will be your first reaction? You're very agitated. Obviously, there is pain but there is agitation which takes you over there is a very high adrenaline also running through your body. According to the Delhi Police, it is being said that the CCTV footage has not reached them till now. So is this CCTV footage fully correct? Or is it doctored?," the former Delhi Commission for Women chief said. "And on top of it, I am still walking, limping after four days. So anyone who has been hurt will understand this, when the wound is fresh you can freely walk or run and when the wound gets settled then the pain kicks in. So now whatever they are saying that first she was walking really fast and now look she is limping and all. I feel that there could be no worse victim shaming than this. The sad part is that a lady minister of Delhi has said that look, her clothes are torn, look, there are no wounds on her head. That was all left to do maybe, should have got it also done," she added. Maliwal expressed her readiness to undergo a polygraph test and urged the police to conduct the same. She called the alleged victim shaming against her by the party "a huge blow to the entire women's movement." "And on top of it, when did I say in the FIR that my clothes were torn, when did I say in the FIR that my head was wound... I wrote exactly what happened to me, word to word. I did not write anything above or beyond. And if I am wrong then I am ready to undergo polygraph test and I want police to do it. Everything will be clear then. I want the police to conduct a polygraph test on me because how can I live with this realisation that a girl who has always given courage to girls to fight, today you have portrayed me as one that have made false allegations before the whole world. This is a huge blow to the cause of the entire women's movement. So I am willing to do anything to tell that it is actually the truth," Maliwal said. Maliwal lodged a complaint with the Delhi police against Delhi CM's aide Bibhav Kumar on May 14, a day after the alleged assault took place. A day later, Bibhav Kumar lodged a counter-complaint with the police, accusing Maliwal of gaining 'unauthorised entry' into the CM's Civil Lines residence and 'verbally abusing' him. A case was filed against Bibhav Kumar and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the case based on Maliwal's complaint. Bibhav was arrested by the Delhi Police on Sunday, May 19, and is currently in police custody. (ANI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday ordered a high-level inquiry into the Dombivali boiler blast incident that claimed the lives of seven people. CM Shinde also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased while assuring that the government would take care of the treatment of the injured. "A high-level enquiry will be conducted and an investigation will be carried out against the accused. No one will be spared. The kin of the deceased will be given Rs 5 lakh each by the state government. The administration will sponsor the treatment of the injured... The company will also compensate the employees," CM Shinde told reporters. "The intensity of the blast was very high. 6-7 neighbouring factories have been damaged. Residential properties have also been damaged. Highly hazardous companies such as this, which fall under the Red category, will be shifted... The government has decided to shift such factories to non-residential areas," he added. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey said, "A huge accident has taken place but what is the reason behind it? The biggest reason is fire-fighting. Does regular inspection don't take place?... An action is only taken when an accident takes place... The Deputy CM and the Home Minister are busy with the election in other states." At least seven people were killed and 48 others suffered injuries after a massive blast at a chemical company in Maharashtra's Thane on Thursday. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis earlier said that the administration is providing adequate relief at the incident site. In a post on X, Fadnavis said, "The incident of a boiler explosion at Amudan Chemical Company in Dombivli MIDC is tragic. 8 people were involved in this incident; they have been brought out. Arrangements have been made to treat the injured and more ambulances have been kept ready. I have discussed this with the collector and he is also reaching the spot within 10 minutes. Teams of NDRF, TDRF, and fire brigade have been called. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured." (ANI)
The Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat, one of the 21 Parliamentary constituencies will go for polls in the sixth phase of elections on May 25. The seat will witness a three-way contest among the sitting MP Aparajita Sarangi, Congress leader Yasir Nawaz and Biju Janata Dal leader Manmath Routray. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Aparajita Sarangi secured victory from this seat after facing a close contest from BJD's Arup Mohan Patnaik. Sarangi got 4,86,991 votes while Patnaik got 4,63,152 votes. According to Sarangi, several developmental works have been done, but some are still pending, including proper drainage systems, better roads and other facilities. The senior leader said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi always asks everybody to serve the people. "When I won in 2019, there were two types of people who voted for me and others who did not vote for me. In the last 5 years, I have worked hard for both categories of people and will continue to work for them. I will work on every aspect to fulfil the 'Vikshit Bharat' dream of our Prime Minister. Bhubaneswar Parliamentary constituency will play a crucial role in the upcoming election and with the blessings of people, I will try to bring development here," said Sarangi. At one of her campaigns, Sarangi also mentioned that a BJP Chief Minister will take oath on June 10. "Central BJP's order was that five of us should go together and talk to our workers and listen to their problems and prepare for victory. We are all very excited. Workers are very excited. Ever since PM Modi said in Balangir that the people of Odisha should give us 5 years so that we can show what development is. PM told us that we will make Odisha the number 1 state in the country. BJP's CM will certainly take the oath on 10th June," she said. Exuding confidence that the BJP will win more than 15 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, Aparajita said, "This ticket is not for me but for all the people of the constituency. I can say with all confidence that the way things are going we will be winning more than 15 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats and at the same time, we will form the government in Odisha as well and there will be a double-engine government here." During the campaign trail in Bhubaneswar, the BJP president JP Nadda slammed Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, saying that the people of Odisha have made up their minds to bring change in the state. "The people have made up their minds to bring about change and to bless the BJP...As far as the Assembly elections are concerned, the people of Odisha have decided to give rest to CM Naveen Patnaik and the BJP will win the elections here. I also want to say that the people of Odisha want that there should be an active CM," Nadda said. A seasoned pilot by profession, Manmath Routray's unconventional campaigning captured the attention of the people of Bhubaneswar. Speaking to ANI, the BJD leader said that he would keep his promises made to the public. "I am receiving so much love and support from the public. I just want to say that I will never break my promises made to them," Routray said. He also filed his nomination papers from Bhubaneshwar. Manmath Routray resigned as a pilot of Air India in January. Routray is the son of six-time Odisha Congress MLA Suresh Routray who recently resigned from all committees of his party, soon after Routray joined the ruling BJD and was named as its candidate for the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Odisha, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) emerged as the dominant party, securing 20 out of the 21 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a single seat. However, the 2019 elections saw a shift in the political landscape. The BJD's seat count was reduced to 12, while the BJP made significant gains, winning 8 seats. This change marked a notable increase in the BJP's presence in the state. The Indian National Congress (INC) also managed to secure a seat in the 2019 elections. The assembly and Lok Sabha polls in the BJD-ruled state are being held across four phases--from May 13 to June 1. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.Polling for the first phase was conducted in 28 Assembly seats and four Lok Sabha constituencies on May 13. In the fifth phase, 35 Assembly seats and five Lok Sabha constituencies will vote on May 20, 42 Assembly segments and six Lok Sabha seats on May 25, and the remaining 42 Assembly seats and six Lok Sabha constituencies in the last phase on June 1. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, who has filed an assault complaint against Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar, has said she was told that if she files a police complaint, the party will portray her as an agent of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In an interview with ANI, Maliwal said AAP initially backed her and then made a complete U-turn and made allegations against her. Maliwal, who turned emotional, said she was told that nobody will stand with her, and that she did not think of what would happen to her or her career or what "would these people do" as she decided to file a police complaint. She said AAP MP Sanjay Singh came to her house and, after seeing everything, backed her at a press conference the next day. She said she had been told not to file a complaint and action will be taken against Bibhav Kumar. "He saw my condition. They saw that the woman, who was always a fighter, has now become a victim. He saw everything. I was crying. I was in pain. And I kept telling everyone again and again what happened to me. Seeing my condition, he also went to Arvindji's house. He told me that he spoke to Bibhav also. And after seeing everything, the next day he also held a press conference, in which he said that Swati is a very vocal voice for women in this country and she was hit badly. And that is why Arvind ji is attending to it and Arvind ji will take action against Bibhav. The whole country has seen this press conference. I was told, you do not lodge the complaint, we will take action," Maliwal told ANI. Following his meeting with Maliwal, Sanjay Singh had said on May 15 at a press conference that Bibhav Kumar "misbehaved" with Swati Maliwal at the CM's residence and that Kejriwal has directed that strict action be taken against him. Maliwal said next day Bibhav Kumar accompanied Kejriwal during his visit to Lucknow for campaigning in Lok Sabha polls. "On the day I lodged the complaint, when I woke up, the first thought that came to my mind was that thousands of girls, lakhs of girls, had come to me, and they had come to me with such severe crimes, I always gave them courage and I always told them that no matter what happens, you should fight, even if the whole world turns against you, you should fight even if you have to fight it all alone you should fight. That's why when I woke up, I felt so guilty that I dared so many women to fight and when I faced with such a situation, why am I not filing a complaint. I have to file a formal complaint because it is a criminal case. This is not a case that the party can brush it off under the carpet. That's why I filed a complaint," Maliwal said. Maliwal said she was told the entire party will "isolate" her if she filed a complaint."And this thought kept coming back to me that a man can dare so much that he can beat a Member of Parliament, the former chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women, in such a bad manner inside the CM's drawing room. Then what he can do with a woman who doesn't have powers? Those thoughts came into my mind...I gathered enough strength and decided that I will fight and I will complain," she said. "I was told that if you file this complaint then the entire party will isolate you. I was told that the entire party will portray you as an agent of BJP. I was told that nobody will stand with me. Still, I didn't think what would happen to me, what would happen to my career, what would these people do with me," Maliwal said as she almost broke down. Maliwal said "all hell has broke loose" in her life after she filed the complaint. "I just thought that the thing that I say to other women is that you should always stand by the truth, you should make real complaints if something wrong has happened to you, you should fight...then how can I not stand up for myself. So there was only one thought in my mind and that is why I filed a formal complaint," she said. "And whatever they threatened me with and told me, turned out to be true because after I lodged the complaint all hell has broken loose in my life. The whole party has been ranged against me. Press conferences are held every day. Every day, they say that I am an agent of BJP," she added. The AAP MP accused Delhi ministers of spreading lies that an FIR has been filed against her for corruption and that she filed the assault case on the instructions of the BJP. "Let me tell you something, I have been in public life for nine years, before that I had been working since 2006 but I was working in the backend. Since 2015, I have been working on the field. I have raised so many major issues in this country without giving any fear. So today I became a BJP agent. I was 'lady singham till that day I did not file complaint. I was the most outspoken voice of the women of this country till that day. And as soon as I filed a complaint against such a person who holds a lot of influence in the party and is loved by everyone, just like I filed my complaint against such a person, then I became the agent of BJP. It has been said that BJP has intimidated me over a case against me," she said. Maliwal referred to Delhi Minister Atishi's allegations against her about the 2016 case and said it is "absolutely false case". "The case was filed against me in 2016. This is absolutely a false case. There is no merit in the case. A chargesheet was filed in 2017. I was never arrested in this case and will never be arrested because the chargesheet has been filed. I was given tenure in Delhi Mahila Commission twice more after this case. By CM sahib too, by LG sahib too. So this thing is absolutely clear that this is absolutely a false case. Around one-and-a-half years ago, the High Court put a stay on the case and in the stay the court has said that if there is no transactions then how can there be corruption. Therefore, in this case, in which the High Court has already given a stay, should I be afraid?" Maliwal asked. Atishi had claimed earlier that Maliwal was "blackmailed" by the BJP to become part of the "conspiracy" against the Chief Minister. "The BJP has a pattern. First they file cases and then threaten to send leaders to jail. Swati Maliwal is facing charges in an illegal recruitment case registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch...," Atishi had said. Maliwal expressed her readiness to undergo a polygraph test and urged the police to conduct the same. She alleged that she had been "victim-shamed" by the party. "I have met Nirbhaya's mother and she said one thing which I could never forget in my life. She told me that sometimes I feel like it is good that my daughter is no longer in this world because at least she did not have to go through all the humiliation that exists in this country during the journey towards justice. In Nirbhaya case, questions were asked why she chose to go by bus and not take an auto, why she went out at night, why she didn't go during the day, and who was that boy... So this type of victim shaming happens to every girl and it is not something new," Maliwal told ANI. "When did I say in the FIR that my clothes were torn, when did I say in the FIR that my head was wound... I wrote exactly what happened to me, word to word. I did not write anything more or beyond. And if I am wrong then I am ready to undergo polygraph test and I want police to do it. Everything will be clear then..." "I want the police to conduct a polygraph test on me because how can I live with this thing that a girl who has always given courage to girls to fight...today you have portrayed me as one who made false allegations before the whole world. This is a huge blow to the cause of the entire women's movement. So I am willing to do anything to tell that it is actually the truth," Maliwal said. Maliwal lodged a complaint with the Delhi police against Bibhav Kumar on May 14, a day after the alleged assault took place. A day later, Bibhav Kumar lodged a counter-complaint with the police, accusing Maliwal of gaining 'unauthorised entry' into the CM's Civil Lines residence and 'verbally abusing' him. A case was filed against Bibhav Kumar and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the case based on Maliwal's complaint. Bibhav was arrested by the Delhi Police on May 19 and is currently in police custody. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Thursday alleged that her "Cheer haran" happened in the house of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on May 13 adding that now her "character assassination" is being done every day after the assault incident. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Swati Maliwal said that after the assault case, she felt betrayed and let down. "I am feeling very betrayed right now, by everyone, whatever I am feeling right now, I just wish that God forbid anyone ever feels like this. I have lost everything. With people I worked with, I sat with them.... What they have not done to scare me, 'Cheer Haran mera uss ghar mein hua aur Charitra Haran mera roz chalaya jaa raha hai' (my character assassination is being done every day). I am unable to understand how this happened and why this happened. How can one be treated so badly? I feel very betrayed, I feel very let down," she said. Reacting to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's statement that he supports 'free and fair police investigation, Maliwal said that the party has convicted her and found her "guilty." "They conducted an out-of-court trial and I was found guilty. The party is trying to convict me, so how can they say that there should be a free and fair investigation? I made only one call and one complaint, after that I remained silent for so many days because I wanted a free and fair investigation. Every day some doctored video, some doctored CCTV footage is shown, they sometimes say I am an agent of BJP, does character assassination, threatens me, then how will there be a free and fair investigation?" she said. When asked if she expected any support from Sunita Kejriwal and Delhi minister Atishi, AAP Rajya Sabha MP said that she feels very 'sad' adding that every woman should stand with another woman. "Aaj mere sath hua hai kal pata nahi kiske sath hoga'...Today I have shown courage to fight against such powerful people. But yes, it is true that I am completely alone. I feel very sad. I believe that every woman should stand with women...My career is over, I am ruined. In such a situation, why would I lie? At such a time, the women of AAP are not standing with me, which makes me feel very bad," Maliwal said. Following the assault allegations levelled by Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal against a former aide of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena said that the silence of the AAP chief on this matter shows his stance about the issue of the safety of women. A case was filed against Bibhav Kumar and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the case based on Maliwal's complaint. Bibhav was arrested by the Delhi Police on Sunday, May 19, and is currently in police custody. (ANI)
Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) has restricted power supply to Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) as the latter failed to make payment on time. For the last one year, the Bangladesh authorities couldn't make timely payments which led to a spike in outstanding amounts. "The BPDB owes more than Rs 1 crore to Tripura State Electricity Corporation. We are trying hard to make sure that the payment is streamlined but there seem to be some financial issues. We have written letters to the Bangladesh authorities. I have personally met the chairman of the Bangladesh Power Development Board. The power minister has also spoken to the Union Power Ministry so that the issues could be resolved as early as possible. The TSECL is also facing tough times financially because of the spiking outstanding amount," Managing Director TSECL Debasish Sarkar told ANI in a telephonic conversation. According to Sarkar, as per the agreement Bangladesh is entitled to get 160 megawatts of power from Tripura. The trading is supervised by NVVN (NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam). "We have also spoken to the NVVN to make sure that the timely payment is made," he added. Sources said Bangladesh's economy has been going through a rough phase and the value of the country's currency is on a free fall if compared to Dollar. "We can't abruptly stop power supply as this is a matter of international trade. This is why we have restricted power supply to Bangladesh for the last one year. Had we regularly received the revenue from Bangladesh the TSECL would have been in a better state financially," Sarkar told ANI. He also stated that Bangladesh had been paying the dues in installments which has impacted the fund flow of the state electricity corporation. "Right now they are paying the dues of January. Three to four months due is a regular feature now. For instance, if a Rs 45 to 50 crore bill is served, they clear it in five to six installments. This is why we have cut short the power supply. Even as the agreement was signed for the supply of 160 megawatts of power, we have restricted power supply to the range of 100 to 110 megawatts," said Sarkar. He attributed the restriction to the costly purchase of power. "Generation of power in Tripura-based power plants dropped by 60 to 70 megawatts. We used to be a power surplus state but now we are purchasing power from exchange to cope with the rising domestic demand. If all the power plants generate power to the optimum level, we would have been in a better position. Lack of gas also hindered the power generation in the thermal power projects," he explained. (ANI)
Apart from polling for four Lok Sabha seats on June 1, the state will also see voting on six assembly seats going for bypolls that will have a bearing on the future of the Congress government in the state.

Giving details, state Congress vice president Harikrishna Himral said party leaders will hold rallies in the state from May 26.

The list of star campaigners includes Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharur, Sachin Pilot, Rajiv Shukla, Venugopal, Anand Sharma apart from state Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will hold public meeting in Rohru. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi will hold rallies in Mandi, Shimla and Solan.

On the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state, Himral said he is welcome to the state but the Centre showed "negative attitude" towards the state during the disaster caused by floods.

He said the Chief Minister has worked for the people of the state day and night. "People know who has worked for them," he said.

The sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls will be held on May 25. (ANI)
Former Republican Party presidential candidate Nikki Haley said on Wednesday she will vote for former US President Donald Trump over US President Joe Biden in November, The Hill reported. In her remarks at the Hudson Institute, Haley stated she prioritises a president who will hold enemies to account, secures the border and back"capitalism and freedom." She noted that while "Trump has not been perfect on these policies", however, "Biden has been a catastrophe." "As a voter, I put my priorities on a president who's going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account, who would secure the border, no more excuses." Haley said, "A president who would support capitalism and freedom, a president who understands we need less debt not more debt," she said. "Trump has not been perfect on these policies. I've made that clear, many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So, I will be voting for Trump," Nikki Haley added, according to The Hill report. Earlier, in March, Haley dropped out of the GOP presidential candidate contest. She had said, "The time has now come to suspend my campaign. I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard. I have done that. I have no regrets." She said, "Having said, "I stand by what I said in my suspension speech. Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me, and not assume that they're just going to be with him", adding, "And I genuinely hope he does that." Haley's remarks at the institute come at a time when she continues to hold a significant presence in Republican presidential primary results, despite her exit from the race, as some in the GOP express their frustration with Donald Trump through protest votes. The former South Carolina Governor received 20 per cent of the vote in Maryland's GOP primary last week, and 18 per cent in Nebraska. A week before that, Haley secured nearly 22 per cent of the vote in Indiana's Republican primary. Earlier this year, she got more than 100,000 votes in each of the two key battleground states of Arizona and Pennsylvania. Trump dismissed the results, stressing that the supporters of Nikki Haley will back him in the general elections against Biden, according to The Hill report. Earlier this month, the former US President said, "She got very few voters." He further said, "And those voters are all coming to me, and you may have a lot of Democrats in there because they have a very tricky little system. But those voters are coming to me." Meanwhile, Biden's campaign has also made a move for Haley's supporters. Earlier, in March, Biden stated that Trump does not want Haley's supporters while adding that there was a place for them in his campaign. In March, Biden said, "Donald Trump made it clear he doesn't want Nikki Haley's supporters." He said, "I want to be clear: There is a place for them in my campaign", The Hill reported. The former South Carolina Governor joined the Hudson Institute as its Walter P Stern chair in April. The post will help her to have a notable profile before the 2028 GOP presidential primary, for which she has repeatedly floated. (ANI)
The Royal Canadian Mount Police (RCMP) has issued a warning to Hardeep Malik, the son of Ripudaman Singh Malik, who was acquitted in connection with the Air India bombing of 1985. Hardeep Malik, a Surrey-based businessman, received an official letter cautioning him about potential threats to his life. This comes in the wake of Ripudaman Singh Malik's murder in 2022, for which two individuals have been charged, CBC News reported. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, the CBC News report claims that RCMP investigators are exploring the possibility of the Indian government's alleged involvement in Ripudaman Singh Malik's assassination, similar to their alleged role in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar the previous year. The warning issued to Hardeep Malik falls under the "Duty to Warn" protocol, a measure taken by authorities in British Columbia to alert individuals when their safety is at risk. The RCMP underscored that the threat must be considered likely to materialise. Hardeep Malik is not the only one to receive such notice; others associated with the Khalistan separatist movement in British Columbia have also been cautioned. CBC news report claims that these developments lend credence to the suspicion that the Indian government's alleged targeting of Sikh figures in Canada did not begin with Nijjar's death, a claim repeatedly denied by India. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has time and again denied receiving any evidence implicating Indian nationals' involvement in the killing in Canada of India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Hardeep Singh 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. The attack was described as 'highly coordinated' and involved six men and two vehicles. Notably, the Canadian police have not given any evidence of any link to India, as was being speculated in Canadian media. Nijjar's killing triggered diplomatic tensions between Canada and India after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged India's hand in the killing -- a claim New Delhi has rejected, calling it "absurd" and "motivated." Earlier, in the aftermath of Ripudaman Singh Malik's assassination, the RCMP extended warnings to several other Sikh-Canadian individuals, suggesting a broader pattern of potential threats. While connections between Singh Malik's murder and the Nijjar case are being investigated, conclusive evidence remains elusive, leaving the investigation ongoing. Earlier this week, the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that Canada has not provided any "specific" evidence or relevant information in the Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing case and that no "formal communication" has been provided to India over the arrests of three Indians allegedly involved in the matter." "No specific or relevant evidence or information has been given to us in this matter. Canada has informed us about the arrest. But we have not got any formal communication..." MEA Spokesperson said on the arrest of three Indian nations in Canada in Nijjar killing. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) issued stern condemnations of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) exercises near Taiwan, denouncing them as "irrational provocations" jeopardising regional peace and stability. The MND rebuked the PLA's announcement of the "Joint Sword-2024A" military exercise in the sea and airspace surrounding Taiwan. The ministry labelled these actions as undermining regional stability and promptly dispatched naval, air, and ground forces to respond, emphasising the defence of Taiwan's sovereignty and democracy. Highlighting China's persistent military harassment, the MND underscored the disruption caused to global peace and stability. It criticised Beijing's exercises as reflective of its "hegemonic nature" and reiterated Taiwan's readiness to defend itself while expressing a commitment to peace, as reported by Focus Taiwan. Emphasising preparedness, the MND reiterated its principle of "preparing for war, not asking for war, responding to war, and not avoiding war." It assured the public of the armed forces' capability, determination, and confidence in safeguarding national security. Calling for unity, the ministry urged citizens to provide unwavering support and solidarity during these tense times in the Taiwan Strait. It emphasised the importance of collaboration between the military and civilians to jointly safeguard Taiwan's homeland. In response to escalating tensions, the MND announced close monitoring of Chinese military activities around Taiwan. Ground forces intensified regional joint defence and military base security, while air defence and coastal missile units remained on high alert. The MND's statements reflect Taiwan's firm stance in the face of increasing PLA pressure, reaffirming its commitment to defending its sovereignty and ensuring peace and stability in the region, Focus Taiwan also reported. The Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) began joint military drills surrounding Taiwan on Thursday at 7:45 am (local time), according to Chinese state media report. The Chinese army has been conducting drills in the Taiwan Strait, the north, south, and east of Taiwan Island, and areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin. Theatre Command spokesperson Li Xi said military services, including the army, navy, air force, and rocket force of the theatre command, are being organised to carry out the joint drills, code-named Joint Sword-2024A, from Thursday to Friday. Li said that the drills focus on joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, joint sea-air combat readiness patrol, and joint precision strikes on key targets. He further said that the exercise included the patrol of vessels and planes closing in on areas around Taiwan and integrated operations in and outside the island chain to test the joint real combat capabilities of the forces under the command. The spokesperson stressed the drills also serve as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of "Taiwan independence" forces and a stern warning against interference and provocation by external forces, Xinhua reported. (ANI)
US Ambassador Eric Garcetti has said that the United States International Development Finance Corporation is investing USD 3.8 billion to meet India's renewable energy and infrastructure goals. While addressing the event on 'Indo-US Space Co-operation' in Mumbai last night, the US envoy added that along with the renewable energy and infrastructure goals, the US is also supporting agricultural, healthcare and financial services. He also expressed delight to share that the US-India Alliance for Women's Economic Empowerment is growing with new partners. "I am delighted to share tonight that the United States-India Alliance for Women's Economic Empowerment, which is a public-private partnership between our two great nations to advance women's economic security in India, is growing with new partners," he said. "The United States International Development Finance Corporation is investing USD 3.8 billion to meet India's renewable energy and infrastructure goals while supporting agricultural, healthcare and financial services," Garcetti said. Moreover, he added that the two nations are not just moving forward on development, but are moving forward on technology. "You know, technology will define our lives," he said. "Reaching our full economic potential means harnessing the very best in our own nations and connecting this alliance together of the US and India to see what we can do for the world," he added. He highlighted that the US and India are working together on critical minerals, semiconductors, defence and space. "As we celebrate tonight, jet engines and unmanned vehicles and all of this groundbreaking work on earth will mean even further that we can go together in space," he emphasised. Garcetti said that this year, together in space, both countries are creating relationships between "our companies, our people, our governments, our universities, our investors, and our startups, to spur innovation and to make sure that space is a peaceful place for progress for all of us." He further highlighted that Astronaut Sunita Williams, whose father is from Mumbai, will soon pilot Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on its first crewed test flight. "She's a United States Navy officer, a veteran of two space missions. And this year she will head back into space," he said. The US envoy stressed that he would like to deepen the connections between cities like Los Angeles and Mumbai by convening the first US-India cities exchange to bring the very best urban planning ideas on everything from air pollution to public transportation systems, climate change and infrastructure. "Together, I'd like to accelerate our partnership infrastructure, technology, energy and healthcare so we can have more enduring economic growth," he said. Stressing the Quad partnership, Garcetti said that he would like to see India, the US, Australia and Japan expand through the Quad. "Our cooperation ensures a free and open Indo-Pacific. So let's start the countdown," he said. Garcetti narrated a story, saying, "Sally Ride, an everyday school teacher went into space on the American space shuttle. She was asked, what does it look like in space? And she said, you know what? The stars don't look bigger, but they look brighter. I challenge you today to look at those stars, stars both literally and figuratively, and to imagine them shining even brighter. Stars by themselves are incredible, but we know the power of stars is when they exist in the constellation. It's the relationship between them that gave our ancestors the imagination to look at the skies and to see our God, to see creatures, to see order in the chaos that they lived through and to see a spirit of what was to come in the human experience." (ANI)
According to the ministry's statement, one People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, eight People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels and four China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels were seen operating around Taiwan on Thursday.

Moreover, the aircraft entered Taiwan's Southwest and Southeast Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

Taiwan's Armed Forces (ROCArmedForces) monitored the situation and responded accordingly, the statement said.

"1 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels, and 4 CCG vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. The aircraft entered Taiwan's SW and SE ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly," Taiwan's MND said in a post shared on X.

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1793451213771637073

On Wednesday, the Taiwan Ministry of Defence (MND) tracked seven People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels and four China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels operating around the nation up until 6 am.

"7 PLAN vessels and 4 CCG vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. #ROCArmedForces has monitored the situation and responded accordingly," the Taiwan MND said in a statement.

This development marks a concerning escalation in the tensions between Taiwan and China, which has long claimed sovereignty over the island, as per Taiwan News.

The increased presence of Chinese military assets near Taiwan underscores the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region. Taiwan has frequently raised concerns about China's military activities and its ambitions to reunify Taiwan with the mainland, by force if necessary.

The median line of the Taiwan Strait served for decades as a tacit border between China and Taiwan, but China's military has more freely sent aircraft, warships and drones across it since former United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022. (ANI)
The plea was heard by a two-member bench of BHC, including Chief Justice Hashim Kakar and Justice Shaukat Rakhshani.

The court dismissed the plea based on jurisdiction.

A senior Supreme Court lawyer, Abdul Razzaq Shar, argued that Khan violated the Constitution by advising the president to dissolve the National Assembly, and thus should be tried under Article 6.

The BHC bench after the initial hearing, last year, had issued notices to the additional attorney general and deputy attorney general and had asked for their response to the plea.

After impeachment as prime minister, the PTI founder is facing a number of cases under various charges, reported ARY News.

He is currently serving his jail term after conviction in cypher, toshakhana and 'illegal' marriage cases. (ANI)
The Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, inspected the construction site of the India International Center for Buddhist Culture and Heritage (IICBCH) on Thursday to get an update on the progress in the project. As per the officials from the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), the project has achieved 40 percent progress within 8 months post-the ground-breaking or "Bhoomi Pooja" ceremony that was held in August 2023. Following the visit, the project director at the IBC, Vijayant Thapa shared that the building will be state-of-the-art and will be the first building with net-zero carbon emissions. "While you see so many monasteries in and around--wonderful and beautiful monasteries--this is the first of its kind. As said in Buddhism, mindfulness is also one of the things that should be practiced. It's about time that we also need to do something about the environment, and keeping that in mind, this building, which you see in the backdrop called the India International Center for Buddhist Culture and Heritage is going to be the first net-zero building in Nepal. The more it works to reduce carbon emissions, the better it is. At the moment, this building has achieved nearly 40 percent of its construction goals. In about eight to ten months, we are set to complete this entire project," Vijayant Thapa, Director (Project) at IBC told ANI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his 2022 visit to Lumbini, along with his then Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba, laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Buddhist Center. A year later the formal process to start the construction of the state-of-the-art building with zero carbon emissions kicked in. This project is being overseen by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), New Delhi, over the land plot allocated by the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) under an agreement between IBC and LDT, which was signed in March 2022. The "award of contract" for the project has been given to ACC-Gorakha, an Indo-Nepal Joint Venture company by International Buddhist Confederation. An estimated one billion Indian rupees is expected to be incurred at the time of the construction of the center. "It has been about eight months since we started working on this project, and within this time we completed the laying of the foundation and prepared for the second phase of slab casting along with the finishing materials. The most important part of this building is the blooming lotus; the work of fabrication has already started," Devraj Gautam, technical director of the construction company, told ANI. The completion of the India International Center for Buddhist Culture and Heritage is expected to be a center where all information relating to Gautam Buddha will be available. Once completed, the center will be a world-class facility, welcoming pilgrims and tourists from all over the world to enjoy the essence of the spiritual aspects of Buddhism. The state-of-the-art building in the shape of a blooming lotus will be a modern building, NetZero compliant in terms of energy, water, and waste handling, and will house prayer halls, meditation centres, a library, an exhibition hall, a cafeteria, offices, and other amenities. (ANI)
In a post on X, Blinken wrote, "Wishing Buddhists around the world who are celebrating Vesak Day today a Happy Buddha Purnima."

Earlier today in Nepal's Lumbini province, thousands of devotees and monks celebrated the 2568th birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha at his birthplace in Lumbini.

Nearly 100 monks, half of them from the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) joined the event. India also held a special pooja next to the pond in the Maya Devi Temple premises for world peace.

Joined by hundreds of others, the monks then rallied to the International Buddhist Conference to celebrate the birth anniversary of the "Light of Asia" Gautam Buddha.

The event was organized by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in cooperation with Lumbini Development Trust and was attended by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, and Tourism Minister Hit Bahadur Tamang.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava along with the Secretary General of BIMSTEC, Indra Mani Pandey and ambassadors as well as Deputy Chief of Mission of various diplomatic missions in Nepal.

Buddha, regarded as the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was born on Shukla Purnima of Baisakh month in the lunar calendar. There is a coincidence that the dates (lunar calendar) the Buddha got birth, wisdom, and Mahaparinirvan (passing away) fall on the same.

The Buddhist communities in the world including Nepal observe the Day with much reverence.

The birth anniversary of Buddha, the apostle of non-violence and peace, is being observed with spiritual leaders and gurus at monasteries.

Buddha was born in the royal family of King Suddhodhan and Queen Mayadevi had left his palace at the age of 29 for penance. He is regarded also as the 'Light of Asia.'

Buddhist philosophy is taught in internationally acclaimed universities like Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard. (ANI)
Days after Taiwan's Lai Ching Te was sworn in as the island's President, China launched two-day-long military drills surrounding the nation in what it called "punishment" for so-called "separatist acts," reported CNN. According to China's state broadcaster CCTV, as part of the drills, dozens of Chinese fighter jets carrying live ammunition carried out mock strikes against "high-value military targets" of the "enemy" alongside destroyers, frigates and missile speedboats. The exercises, which began early Thursday and will encircle Taiwan, are the first real test for newly elected President Lai Ching-te as he attempts to manage relations with the island's powerful authoritarian neighbour. Despite never having controlled Taiwan, China's ruling Communist Party claims it as part of its territory and has vowed to take the island by force if necessary. China said it began joint military drills involving the army, navy, air force, and rocket force in areas around Taiwan at 7.45 a.m. on Thursday. The drills are taking place in the Taiwan Strait, a narrow body of water that separates the island from mainland China, as well as north, south, and east of Taiwan, reported CNN. They are also taking place near Taiwan's outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin, which are just off China's southeastern coast, according to a statement from the PLA's Eastern Theatre Command. PLA Naval Colonel Li Xi, the command's spokesperson, described the exercises as "a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a serious warning against interference and provocation by external forces, as per CNN. Taiwan, in retaliation, has also deployed its own warships to monitor the situation. This comes as Beijing regards Taiwan's Lai as a "dangerous separatist" because he advocates for the island's sovereignty and distinct identity, reported CNN. He succeeded two-term President Tsai Ing-wen, marking the Democratic Progressive Party's unprecedented third consecutive term in power. Beijing condemned Lai's inauguration speech, in which he urged China to end its intimidation of Taiwan. It was, in his inaugural speech after being sworn in as Taiwan's President, Lai Ching-te, in a stern warning to China, had called on Beijing to stop intimidating the island nation, over which China continues to make its claim. In his inauguration address, Lai called on Beijing "to cease their political and military intimidation against Taiwan, share with Taiwan the global responsibility of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as well as the greater region, and ensure the world is free from the fear of war."Lai, 64, is a diplomatic veteran in politics, comes from the DPP's more radical wing and was once an outspoken advocate of Taiwan's independence, which Beijing finds unacceptable. China never forgot his remarks from six years ago, when he referred to himself as a "practical worker for Taiwan independence," even though his opinions have now softened, reported CNN.Lai, a former doctor and vice president, was inaugurated alongside newly appointed Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, who most recently held the position of Taiwan's principal ambassador to the United States. Beijing publicly despises both the leaders and their party for defending Taiwan's sovereignty. Despite never having ruled the island, China's ruling Communist Party claims it is part of its territory and has threatened to annex the island, using force if necessary. (ANI)
An Indian student died in a bike accident in New York, US, on Wednesday, the Consulate General of India informed on Thursday. Shri Belem Atchyuth was a student at the State University of New York. The Consulate General of India in New York offered condolences to the family of the deceased student, saying that they were in touch with his family members and have also called on local agencies to extend all assistance. In a post on X, the Consulate General of India in New York stated, "Saddened to learn about the untimely demise of Shri Belem Atchyuth, a student at SUNY who met with a bike accident and passed away yesterday evening; our deepest condolences to the family; @IndiainNewYork is in touch with the bereaved family & local agencies to extend all assistance including sending the mortal remains back to India." The incident comes amid a spike in the deaths of Indian-origin students in the US. Earlier, in April, an Indian student, who had been missing since March this year, was found dead in the US state of Ohio, the Consulate General of India in New York said. The Consulate General of India in New York said it was "anguished" to learn about the death of Mohammed Abdul Arfath and was in touch with local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation into his death. "Anguished to learn that Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio. Our deepest condolences to Mr Mohammed Arfath's family," read a post on the official X handle of the Consulate General of India in New York. Arafat, a native of Hyderabad, went to the US to pursue his Master's degree in IT from Cleveland University in May 2023 but had been missing since March 7 this year. His father, Mohd Saleem, said they received a phone call from an unidentified person, 10 days after his son went missing, claiming that Arafat had been abducted. The unidentified caller also demanded USD 1200 as ransom for his release. In April, Uma Satya Sai Gadde, an Indian student in Cleveland, Ohio, died and a probe into the death is still underway. Previously, this February, an Indian student faced a brutal attack in Chicago. Taking due cognisance of the incident, the Indian Consulate in Chicago stated that it was in touch with the victim, Syed Mazahir Ali, as well as his wife in India. (ANI)
After 30 years of service to Nelson County, Treasurer Angela Hicks announced her retirement on Aug. 1 during the board of supervisors meeting on May 14.

She was elected Nelson County Treasurer in November 2011. Prior to her career as Treasurer, Hicks served Nelson County in various roles within the county government. In 1990, she was employed as a counselor for the countys summer recreation program. While continuing to serve in this capacity for the next two summers, she also worked part-time/as-needed for the Commissioner of Revenue, the news release said.

In the release, Hicks said, I am forever grateful to J. Marvin Davis who started me on the journey that became a life-long service to a County and people I love.

While serving as treasurer, Hicks has been the Central District chair and chair of the Certification Review Committee.

Hicks achieved the designation of Master Governmental Treasurer from the UVa Weldon Cooper Center for Public Education and the Virginia Treasurers Association this year. The designation was a first for the Nelson County Treasurers Office.

According to the release, Under her direction, the Nelson County Treasurers office became accredited, for the first time, in 2015 and continues that accreditation to date.

Under her leadership, two of the three deputies employed in the office have become certified as Master Governmental Deputy Treasurers, the release said.

Hicks said in the release, I want to thank members of my staff, past and present, in the Treasurers office for their support, professionalism, and compassion for those we serve. Such qualities are essential in ensuring the effective and efficient management of public funds while also prioritizing the well-being and needs of the community.

Hicks also thanked her family, her co-workers and fellow treasurers in Virginia.

Their support has been crucial; allowing me to embark on and successfully complete this journey, Hicks said.

Hicks thanked her constituents for entrusting her with such an important responsibility.

My business mantra has always been, Our job exists because of the people we assist. Ive remained committed to running my office with integrity, transparency, and accountability throughout my 12 years as Treasurer, Hicks said in the release.

Hicks will continue to serve in her role until August.

As I embark on this new chapter of my life, I do so with the deepest gratitude for the opportunity to serve my beloved Nelson County, Hicks said.
Akita, May 23 (News On Japan) - The body of a man, believed to have been killed by a bear in the forests of Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture, has been identified as a missing man from Aomori Prefecture.

According to the police, the man has been identified as Hiroshi Sato, 64, from Aomori Prefecture.

Sato entered the mountains on May 15 to collect bamboo shoots and was subsequently reported missing.

Sato's body had scratches on the head, believed to be caused by an animal, and bite marks all over his body.

The police plan to conduct an autopsy on Sato's body on May 23 to determine the cause of death.

On May 18, two police officers attempting to retrieve Sato's body were attacked by a bear, resulting in serious injuries.

Related: Police Suspend Body Recovery Operation After Officers Attacked by Bear

Source: ANN
TOKYO, May 23 (News On Japan) - Two Japan Airlines (JAL) planes made contact at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Tuesday morning. One of the flights had 328 passengers and crew on board, although there were no injuries reported.

According to Japan Airlines, the incident occurred at Terminal 1 on May 23, at approximately 7:30 a.m., when JAL Flight 503 to New Chitose Airport was reversing from its parking spot and its left wingtip touched the right wingtip of JAL Flight 505, which was advancing into the adjacent parking spot, also bound for New Chitose Airport.

Flight 503 had 328 passengers and crew on board. Fortunately, no one was injured, and passengers were rebooked on other flights.

Flight 505 was able to take off about two and a half hours later after a change of aircraft.

Source: ANN
TOKYO, May 23 (News On Japan) - On May 22, 'New Matcha Day,' reporters headed to Asakusa and found a long line of foreign tourists! Their order of choice? "Number Seven." What exactly is this popular item?

In Asakusa, a long queue had formed at a traditional tea shop. May 22 is known as "New Matcha Day," and this tea specialty store was bustling with foreign visitors. Most of them were ordering one specific item.

The popular item, "Number Seven," is actually a type of matcha ice cream. This shop offers matcha ice cream in seven levels of richness, from Number 1 to Number 7, with Number 7 being the most intense. Foreign customers have dubbed it "Number Seven," and according to the shop, it is the world's strongest matcha ice cream.

One customer commented, "The flavor is refined and delicious. Matcha ice cream in America is too sweet, but this tastes like drinking matcha. It's the best matcha ice cream I've ever had."

Many visitors discovered the shop through TikTok. One tourist said, "I saw it on TikTok and knew I had to come." Social media has made this matcha ice cream a worldwide sensation.

Source: TBS
OSAKA, May 24 (News On Japan) - An Osaka city official, not in charge of the matter, strongly urged an increase in the payment amount to a contractor for the disposal of the whale 'Yodo-chan'.

In January 2023, a stray whale named 'Yodo-chan' was found near the mouth of the Yodo River. After its death, a maritime contractor, hired by Osaka City, sank the whale off the Kii Peninsula. Initially, the city estimated the disposal cost at 37.74 million yen, but the final negotiated amount more than doubled to 80.19 million yen.

During negotiations with the contractor, a manager who was not responsible for the task strongly recommended increasing the amount.

'Without offering more money, we cant even discuss this. We need to present a figure exceeding 80 million yen,' the manager insisted to the department head, who required the approval of his superior.

The department head replied, 'There's no time to consult with superiors at this stage.'

On May 23, a civic group in Osaka filed a lawsuit against Mayor Yokoyama, claiming that the official involved was aware of the illegality of the contract. They demanded that the then-department head and the maritime contractor be held accountable for approximately 80 million yen in damages.

'In court, we want to clearly identify the wrongdoings and ensure that the money is returned,' said Kimi Ichigaki, one of the plaintiffs.

The city's audit committee has pointed out that there are still doubts about the propriety of the accounting for the disposal costs. The city plans to publish the investigation results by June.

Source: MBS
Norfolkans will soon be going to the polls to elect our new mayor. It is my opinion that we have a choice of one person who finds Solutions for Growth and another person who does not.
Morocco is looking forward to benefiting from the experience and know-how of Serum Institute of India in vaccine manufacturing and biotechnology to ensure its vaccine sovereignty.

Cooperation prospects between the North African Kingdom and the Indian Institute were at the center of a meeting held Tuesday in Rabat between a delegation representing the worlds largest vaccine manufacturer and Moroccan health minister Khalid Ait Taleb, Managing Director of Mohammed VI Investment Fund & Member of the Board of Directors of Societe Maroc Biotechnologie Mohamed Benchaaboun, and plant manager of Societe Pharmaceutique Maroc Biotechnologie (Marbio), Younes Hilali.

Talks focused on ways of strengthening cooperation in vaccines & biopharmaceutical industry and benefiting from the expertise of the Indian biotech company within the frame of public-private partnership.

King Mohammed VI spearheads Moroccos efforts engaged to enable the country secure self-sufficiency in vaccines and become a leading biotechnology platform on the African continent and the world in the fill & finish pharmaceutical industry.
An activist and a preacher were arrested in Senegal and a well-known academic was sentenced to two years in prison in Mali, all for criticizing their respective governments, casting a shadow over basic human rights and mainly freedom of expression in both countries.

The two individuals were taken into police custody in Senegals capital, Dakar, after filming videos criticizing the countrys Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, for perceived tolerance towards gay people. The two men are reportedly being investigated for spreading false news and offending the head of government. Judicial police arrested activist Bah Diakhate on Monday (20 May) and preacher Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Ndao a day later both for criticizing Sonko for his earlier statement on LGBTQ rights, in particular on his alleged complacency towards LGBTQ issues. Sonko spoke about the issue during a visit last week by French far-left politician Jean-Luc Melenchon, saying that same-sex relationships were not accepted, but tolerated.

This comes as Malian court has sentenced a well-known academic, Etienne Fakaba Sissoko, to two years in prison, one of which is suspended, for criticizing the military regime. We are not surprised, even if we said we had faith in the justice system, said his lawyer Ibrahim Marhouf Sacko, referring to Sissokos case. He said he would appeal the judgement.

Sissoko, the West African countrys top economist and professor at the University of Bamako, is the latest victim of a crackdown on criticism by the junta-led government who took power in 2020. He was charged with harming the reputation of the state, defamation and dissemination of false news disturbing the public peace over his 2023 book Propaganda, Agitation and Harassment, Government Communication During the Transition in Mali.
Director-General of Moroccos National Security and Territorial Surveillance, Abdellatif Hammouchi, and General-Director of the Brazilian Federal Police, Andrei Augusto Passos Rodrigues, signed, on Tuesday in Agadir, a memorandum of understanding on security cooperation.

The MoU, meant to strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchange experiences in the security field, provides for developing cooperation channels between Moroccan and Brazilian security services in the fight against transnational organized crime. This includes the fight against the trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances, terrorism, trafficking in human beings and migrants, firearms, ammunition, explosives and their components, money laundering, document forgery and cybercrime, the Directorate General of National Security (DGSN) said in a press release.

In terms of technical assistance, the MoU provides for promoting experience exchange in the field of police training and capacity building, the exchange of information, technical tools and technologies, as well as supporting joint investigations and inquiries and identifying permanent contact mechanisms between the two parties, the press release said.

The Chief of the Brazilian police stressed in a statement to the media after the signing of the MoU the importance of cooperation and exchange of experiences with Morocco in the security field.

He pointed out that this cooperation will contribute to fighting terrorism and organized crime, including drug and human trafficking.

Organized crime has no borders, therefore law enforcement agencies need to eliminate existing barriers in order to be able to exchange information quickly and with high quality and to strengthen the security of our countries, he said, noting that the signing of this MoU with Morocco represents one of many future steps to be taken by both parties in the field of joint security cooperation.

The visit to Morocco of the General-Director of the Brazilian Federal Police coincided with the 5th DGSN Open Days, held this year in Agadir, under the theme National Security: Citizenship and Solidarity. It provided an opportunity to inform the chief of the Brazilian Federal Police about the experience of the annual Open Days event, the press release said, adding that Rodrigues visited the various stands and took note of the presentations to citizens as well as the objectives of this event, embodying the concept of community policing.

This visit embodies the central role that the Moroccan security services play within the system of international cooperation in this field, through their role as a reliable partner, capable of meeting growing security challenges, and a regional hub of support for bilateral and multilateral police cooperation with various countries around the world.
Ambassadors from several African countries hailed, Wednesday in Dakhla, the credibility and boldness of King Mohammed VIs initiative to promote Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean.

Despite the security challenges facing Sahel countries, Morocco, through the Royal Initiative, strives to make the Atlantic coast a large-scale economic integration center, they stated during a panel on The Atlantic Initiative and Economic Integration, held as part of the 5th edition of the International Days of Macroeconomics and Finance (JIMF).

The Ambassadors also unanimously stressed that poverty is at the root of many of the problems hampering the development of Sahel countries, hence the importance of this initiative, which will undoubtedly boost the development of African economy.

Speaking on this occasion, Nigers Ambassador to Morocco, Salissou Ada, said that the Royal Atlantic Initiative would facilitate the mobility of people and goods, and support the economy of Sahel countries, connecting them to the global economy, notably through the port of Dakhla Atlantique.

The Nigerien diplomat also emphasized the deep ties that entrench Morocco to its African roots, pointing out that the Royal Initiative is part of a major project aimed at strengthening Moroccos anchorage in its African environment and creating an area of progress, peace, solidarity, and shared prosperity.

For his part, Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Morocco, Mamadou Coulibaly, stated that the Royal Initiative for the Atlantic will turn the Atlantic seaboard into a high-place of human communion, a hub of economic integration, and a center of continental and international influence. Through this Initiative, Morocco would enable the Sahel states to access the resources and means for a developed and united Africa, the Burkinabe diplomat said.

In this respect, he noted that the Afro-Atlantic and Sahel area represents 46% of the African population, 55% of gross domestic product (GDP) and 57% of continental trade, adding that the Initiative aims to federate efforts around a common vision to take full advantage of the potential of Sahel countries.

Taking the floor, Chads Ambassador to Morocco, Hassan Adoum Bakhit Haggar, said that this Morocco-proposed joint action is an ideal opportunity to further strengthen our sphere of economic cooperation. He praised the Kingdoms efforts to make its port, road and maritime infrastructures available to Sahel countries in order to make a success of this promising project.

In this vein, he expressed his determination, like other member countries of the Initiative, to support Morocco in mobilizing resources and financing the various infrastructure projects needed to implement this ambitious move.

Director General of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), Mohamed Methqal, said that King Mohammed VI made South-South cooperation the main pillar of the Kingdoms foreign policy, and put Africa at the center of its priorities.

This Royal commitment towards Africa, he added, is reflected in the structuring projects launched across the continent and the thousands of agreements signed since 1999.

Methqal also emphasized the special attention Morocco pays to human development in Africa, placing the human element at the center of all its actions, projects and programs.

Malis Ambassador to Morocco, Fafre Camara, and the President of the Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council of Mali, Yacouba Katile, also took part in the panel.

The 5th edition of the International Days of Macroeconomics and Finance which started proceedings Wednesday aims to explore the challenges and opportunities of economic integration in Africa and make recommendations to further strengthen this integration while promoting prosperity and sustainable, inclusive development on the continent.

This economic forum also aims to emphasize the challenges of Africas economic integration, the opportunities and challenges of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as well as international experiences of economic integration and technologies, research, and innovation as levers of the continents integration.

The three-day event features thematic sessions and other panels focused on Progress and Challenges of Economic Integration in Africa, Territorial Development and Economic Integration, and Monetary Policy, Foreign Direct Investments, and Economic Integration in Africa.

Additionally, the forum features panels on Constructive National Governance for Sustainable Regional Integration in Africa, Climate Change, Governance, and Development in Africa, The Challenges of Climate Change Related to Economic Integration, and Global Value Chains and Economic Integration.
WELLINGTON, May 23 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's total volume of retail sales rose 0.5 percent in the March 2024 quarter, following falls in the previous eight quarters, according to the statistics department Stats NZ on Thursday.

The March quarter saw a modest increase in retail activity, with growth across most industries following two years of declines, said Stats NZ Business Financial Statistics Manager Melissa McKenzie.

Nine of the 15 retail industries had higher retail sales volumes in the March 2024 quarter, compared with the December 2023 quarter, McKenzie said.

Food and beverage services, motor vehicle and parts retailing, recreational goods retailing, and accommodation were the biggest contributors to the rise in retail activity in the March 2024 quarter, she said.

Retail sales were up in most regions, with Canterbury and Otago of the South Island increasing the most in the March quarter, which could have been influenced by more international visitors, an early Easter holiday, and international events, McKenzie said. 
Wagner is taking advantage to recruit young fighters from the Polisario-run Tindouf camps in Algeria, where Jihadist AQMI and ISIS have found fertile ground to enroll fighters.

The alarm bell was rang by FORSATIN, a Sahrawi forum that brings together advocates of Moroccos autonomy plan.

The early April attack by Wagner fighters on the Mauritanian territory showed the participation of Sahrawi youth alongside the Russian militia, FORSATIN said in a statement.

FORSATIN, which has supporters secretly operating in the camps for fear of reprisal, reported that at least 500 Sahrawis were recruited in Tindouf camps by Wagner in return for a monthly salary of 3000 dollars.

Survivors of the Wagner attack reported that some of the attackers spoke the Hassani dialect, FORSATIN said.

Wagner sees propitious recruitment ground in the Tindouf camps, where thousands have received military training with no jobs or career prospects.

Faced with dim prospects and oppression in the camps, many of the disenchanted youth held under the yoke of the Poliario militias and their mentor, Algeria, turned to extremism.

The case of Adnan Abu Walid Asahrawi, former head of ISIS branch in the greater Sahara, is an abhorrent illustration of how disenchanted youth under the yoke of the Polisario seek salvation by joining terrorist groups.
Moroccan banks operate in 30 African countries where they generate 23% of their revenue, Moroccan central bank governor Abdellatif Jouahri said while speaking about investments by Moroccan firms in the continent.

Speaking at an event on the Atlantic initiative, launched by King Mohammed VI to bolster regional integration, Jouahri highlighted the monarchs win-win approach in launching structural projects, such as the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, which is conducive to energy and food security of the region.

He also highlighted the relevance of the Atlantic initiative in offering access to maritime trade to landlocked African countries.

Africa needs to address political stability issues to attract more investments, he said, noting that major Moroccan financial, mining, telecoms, and real estate companies already operate on the continent.

As Africa makes progress with its free trade area, Jouahri said that such an initiative would bolster trade by 15% with the rest of the world as intra-African trade is also expected to grow 53%. This would increase tenfold the African GDP per capita.

Addressing infrastructure gaps requires joint efforts and the mobilization of up to 108 billion dollars annually, said Jouahri, citing African Development Bank estimates.
King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, has called on Moroccan pilgrims to represent their country in the best way possible during the great Hajj season, by adhering to the quintessential values of Islam, including sincere brotherhood, unwavering tolerance, and effective solidarity.

In a message he addressed Thursday to the first group of Moroccan pilgrims heading to the Holy Places of Islam for the pilgrimage of the year 1445 H, the King said: My message to you stems from the special importance I have always attached to sacred religious values which need to be observed during hajj rituals.

Almighty God says: For Hajj are the months well known. If anyone undertakes that duty therein let there be no obscenity nor wickedness nor wrangling in the Hajj. And whatever good you do (be sure) God knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey but the best of provisions is right conduct. So, fear Me, o you that are wise! said the royal message read out by Minister of Habous & Islamic Affairs Ahmed Toufiq.

While in the Holy Land for Hajj, make sure  may God protect you  that you perform all rites, obligatory rituals and recommended practices, said the King, urging pilgrims to devote their time to supplication, remembering the Almighty and seeking His forgiveness.

In that way, you may obtain what God has promised believers as a reward for performing an accepted Hajj; indeed, the Prophet  peace and blessings be upon Him  said: For an accepted Hajj, there is no other reward than Paradise, underlined the King.

The King also called Moroccan pilgrims to respect the measures taken and the arrangements made by the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs to provide for your comfort throughout your journey. The aim is to enable pilgrims to perform your rituals in the best conditions possible, thanks to the specialized teams which will accompany you from the time you leave until your return home. These teams include administrators, male and female religious scholars and guides as well as male and female doctors and nurses, who will be looking after you. They will be working around the clock to provide the services needed by pilgrims immediately.

I am sure you realize that performing the Hajj rituals in these holy places requires strict adherence to the regulatory measures taken by the relevant authorities in our sister nation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to provide for the comfort and safety of the guests of the Almighty, said the royal message, noting that the goal is to ensure the Hajj season proceeds safely and smoothly.

The King called on Moroccan pilgrims to embody the lofty values of Islam, including those of integrity, proper treatment of others, solidarity, and sincerity when turning to the Lord of the Worlds.

You must also represent your country properly and reflect its time- honored civilization, in the same way my ancestors did throughout the centuries. Indeed, they were committed to unity, cohesion, and adherence to religious and national sacred values that are based on moderation and the unity of our religious rite, said the King.

Therefore, I want you to be ambassadors for your country, reflecting that glorious image of your nation. Keep in mind that it is these immutable national values that have given our country the security and stability it is enjoying; it is thanks to them that our nation is continuing its victorious march under my leadership, with a view to achieving further progress and prosperity, said the Monarch in his message to pilgrims.
Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter, has been held prisoner in Russia for more than a year. Donald Trump, characteristically, has never criticized Russia for arresting him.

Last month, Trump stated (in response to prodding by a Time interviewer) that he hopes Russia will release Gershkovich. Trump insisted it would not happen unless he is elected: And heres a difference between me and Biden: Ill get him released. Hell be released. Putin is going to release him.

In a post on his social-media account, Trump reiterated that Putin will only release Gershkovich after Trump wins the election:

Photo: X

Unlike most of Trumps boasts, this one may be true, but not in a way that reflects well on him. Perhaps hes right that Putin will do that for me, but not for anyone else. But that is because Putin rightly considers Trump an ally in whose success he is invested.

Whats worse is that, by openly signaling to Putin that he does not want Gershkovich to be freed before the election, he is destroying whatever chances may exist to secure his release before then. If Gershkovich goes free prior to the election, Trump would look foolish, and Trump understands perfectly well Putin does not want that to happen.
Photo: Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images

This week, Kensington Palace offered the first Kate Middleton health update since she announced her cancer diagnosis in March. And the news is basically that theres no news. Following speculation that Catherine, the Princess of Wales, might soon resume public duties, a Kensington Palace spokesman told the BBC: The princess is not expected to return to work until its cleared by her medical team.

So it seems we wont be seeing the princess anytime soon. But the public did get a new look at her  though it was a bit hard to tell. On Wednesday, Tatler magazine released its July cover, which features a portrait of the princess painted by British-Zambian artist Hannah Uzor.

Online commentators and a handful of actual art critics were quick to note that the portrait looks absolutely nothing like Kate. The Daily Telegraphs chief art critic, Alastair Sooke, deemed it egregiously, intolerably, jaw-hits-the-floor bad. He elaborated:

Ive spent the past hour or so  time, incidentally, that I will never get back  scrutinising Uzors likeness, and, still, I cannot divine any flicker of resemblance between it and the woman its supposed to depict. At first, my editor thought it was meant to represent Meghan, Duchess of Sussex; its subjects smirk made me think, initially, of Anne Robinson fronting The Weakest Link.

Has there been a flatter, more lifeless royal portrait in living memory?  Beneath a Lego-like helmet of unmodulated, monotonously brown hair, this Princess of Wales has as much charisma as a naff figurine atop a wedding cake.

So what exactly is going on here? Here are some possible explanations.

The princess had nothing to do with this painting.

This is not an official portrait; it was not sanctioned by the palace, the princess did not sit for the painting, and the royals havent said anything about it publicly. Tatler said it commissioned the artwork to honour the Princess of Wales for its third annual cover portrait. (The previous portraits of Queen Elizabeth and King Charles, which were produced by other artists, looked more like their subjects.) The accompanying magazine piece explained that Uzor used Getty images of the princess for reference:

She tells me that her practice is driven by her interest in history, particularly diasporic culture and its manifestation in personal and public memory. The act of researching and observation is just as important to her in building a picture of the sitter as the research material she discovers. Each body of work is centred on a particular research focus, drawing from a variety of references, including archival images, historical paintings, family photographs and literature.

For this commission, she predicts that she will spend a lot more time preparing and researching than actually painting. There is a lot of material to cover  there are more than 189,000 pictures of the Princess of Wales in the Getty Images archive, she tells me. But she doesnt seem daunted and intends to look at as many photos as she possibly can before basing the final work on a composite image.

The portrait was produced very quickly.

For unclear reasons, Tatler only gave Uzor three weeks to complete this portrait. Supposedly, she wasnt bothered by the quick turnaround time.

I work quickly, she told the magazine. Once I start painting, it will only take me two or three days.

Still, this did not take years to produce, like many other royal portraits.

Its not really supposed to look like Kate Middleton.

In a video posted to Instagram, Uzor said she aims to capture the soul of her subjects.

The artwork is titled The Princess of Wales - A Portrait of Strength and Dignity, and the Tatler piece emphasizes the artists efforts to capture Kate Middletons grace and courage. But the magazine piece includes a hint that Uzor may have been trying to convey something a bit more subversive about the royals:

The important thing for her in any portrait is to convey the layers of the subjects personality  in this case, more specifically to capture the dichotomy between the public persona and the private. Uzor expresses huge admiration for the Princess of Wales: She has really risen up to her role  she was born for this. She carries herself with such dignity, elegance and grace.



Perhaps its intentional that the recognizable elements of the portrait are the clothing and the royal regalia, not the woman wearing them. Were supposed to see the royals as living symbols of the British monarchy, not individuals with distinctive personalities. Even though Kate Middleton is one of the most photographed women in the world, we dont really know her.

Weird royal portraits are hot right now.

This painting comes on the heels of the Photoshop scandal surrounding the Mothers Day photo of Kate Middleton with her children and the release of this absolutely wild official portrait of King Charles.

Pleasant and realistic images of the royals are clearly not the trend right now. Just be happy the princess has all her fingers in the Uzor painting and doesnt look like a 16th-century tyrant and sorcerer whos come back to fight the Ghostbusters.
Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Over the past couple of months, more than 2,000 students have been arrested at colleges and universities around the U.S. for protesting Israels bombardment of Gaza. Thats more student protesters arrested than at any point since the massive antiVietnam War demonstrations of the late 1960s. Those protests, and the sometimes violent response of police invited onto campuses to quell them, shaped for a generation how universities have responded to student protests  generally with more negotiation and less force. So what explains the apparent willingness now of university administrators to abandon those lessons and have so many student pro-Palestinian protesters arrested?

It isnt because todays pro-Palestinian student protesters are particularly violent or disruptive. According to one study, of 553 U.S. campus demonstrations between April 18 and May 3, fewer than 20 resulted in serious interpersonal violence or property damage. Thats about 3.6 percent, which isnt zero, but in the context of student protests on an issue that divides the university community, its reasonable to see the number as a success.

Which again raises the question of why so many universities have responded with a heavy hand. At NYU, where I teach, president Linda Mills and her staff have called in the NYPD to arrest students simply for protesting. Dozens of students and faculty were arrested at an April 22 demonstration at Gould Plaza (in front of NYUs Stern School of Business) that was raucous but peaceful. The administration cited unspecified instances of disorderly, disruptive, and antagonizing behavior but pointed to no incidents of violence, threats of violence, or other lawbreaking. (The NYU student government and the NYU chapter of the American Association of University Professors have issued statements forcefully rejecting the administrations account of disorder. In particular, the NYU AAUP, in a report based on testimony from faculty present at the event, accuses the administration of a gross distortion of facts.)

Sometimes, the narrative is more complicated: The circumstances of arrests have varied between universities and even between different protests at the same university. For example, on April 18, immediately following Columbia president Minouche Shafiks grilling in Congress over alleged campus antisemitism, her administration called in the NYPD to arrest more than a hundred students who had set up tents on school property. Columbia complained that these students were trespassing and disrupting university functions. But some have been accused of more serious misconduct. For example, the several dozen students arrested on April 30 after occupying and barricading themselves inside Columbias Hamilton Hall have been charged with criminal trespass. However, if press reports of breaking and entering are correct, at least some of them could also have been charged with burglary.

But in the relatively recent past, even these kinds of disruptive protests havent always led to arrests. In 1985, anti-apartheid student protesters at Columbia occupied the same building for three weeks and erected an encampment at the entrance. Columbia administrators didnt call the cops. They negotiated with the students and then filed a lawsuit asking a New York State court to order the protesters to leave. The court granted that request  but the judge also took care to balance the universitys interests with the students right to protest, designating an area on the steps of Hamilton Hall and in the adjoining quadrangle in which demonstrators would be free to peacefully assemble. By October 1985, Columbia essentially gave in to the students divestment demands, selling $39 million of South Africarelated holdings (including stock in companies like Coca-Cola, Chevron, Ford, and American Express), making it the first Ivy League school to do so.

Much the same was true at the University of Pennsylvania, where I went to college in the mid-1980s. When I arrived at Penn in the fall of 1984, protests against South African apartheid were beginning to heat up. In late January 1985, students began a series of peaceful but disruptive sit-in demonstrations, culminating in the round-the-clock occupation of Penn president Sheldon Hackneys office. A larger student group, the Penn Anti-Apartheid Coalition, conducted a 20-day sit-in occupying the centerpiece of Penns campus, College Hall. Penn students also set up an encampment, which they named Millersville after Paul F. Miller, then chairman of Penns board of trustees. The name was not meant as a compliment. As with Columbia, Penn did not respond by calling in police to make arrests. Rather, it threatened to apply ordinary university disciplinary measures, but Penns administration also negotiated with student leaders. By June 1986, Penns board of trustees established a timeline for divestment.

All of which only sharpens the contrast with Penns decision earlier this month to call in police in full riot gear to arrest students in a peaceful (albeit disruptive) pro-Palestinian encampment on its campus.

So why are universities cracking down so much harder on todays pro-Palestinian student protesters relative to 1980s anti-apartheid student protesters? Some have argued that universities willingness to curtail their students speech rights has grown out of the academic lefts abandonment of free-speech principles. This argument maintains that the universitys commitment to free speech has waned as many on the academic left promote restrictions on right-wing speech designed to make campus life more welcoming for minorities and members of other historically marginalized groups. If speech can be restricted to protect the feelings of Black or transgender students on campus, the argument goes, then its more difficult to hold the line on protecting pro-Palestinian speech when some Jewish students feel threatened by it.

There is some truth to that perspective. Anyone who spends time on an American campus today cant avoid noticing how the academic left has adopted the rhetoric of safety  i.e., the idea that students from marginalized groups cannot thrive unless they are protected from regressive political ideas and speech. This view is inimical to the central purpose of the university, which is not to make people ideologically comfortable but rather the opposite  to expose them to all manner of ideas, even ideas that may offend or undermine them. And it is also tailor-made for abuse: Now, the concept of safety has been weaponized to suppress pro-Palestinian speech  like From the river to the sea  that is not explicitly hateful but that questions the legitimacy of the Jewish state and can be interpreted as a call for war against it. All of which understandably makes some supporters of Israel, Jewish and non-Jewish, deeply uncomfortable.

I suspect, however, that universities would be cracking down even if no campus leftist had ever argued that some right-wingers freedom of speech was less important than a minority students safety. The central reason for the crackdown on pro-Palestinian student protests is both simpler and sadder: Americas universities are, and long have been, only situationally committed to free speech. Specifically, universities are unable to adhere to their own avowed commitment to student free speech whenever an important part of their community disagrees with the message.

It was relatively easy for universities to tolerate disruptive 1980s anti-apartheid protests because no one in the community was making the case for the racist South African government. (Although there were, predictably, a few apartheid sympathizers at Dartmouth.)

In contrast, virtually every university community is deeply divided over the Gaza war, as they were over the Vietnam War back in the 1960s. And in both those instances, we saw universities engaged in repression.

The pressure on universities today to crack down may be even greater than in the past. What with billionaire alums meddling in university decision-making and egging on New Yorks mayor to send the NYPD into Columbia, Jewish students filing (risible) lawsuits alleging institutional antisemitism, and members of Congress agitating for the firing of university presidents and threatening inquisitions, powerful forces are lined up against the student protesters. In this environment, what university administrator would be brave  or foolish  enough to step forward and say, for example, that the Jewish states legitimacy or whether Zionism is a form of racism are fair topics for discussion at their school?

Of course, blame does not lie all on one side, and it is true that some pro-Palestinian student protesters have said and done dumb and offensive things: for example, the reports that at some protests students barred Zionists from their encampments, or the Columbia student-protest leader who was captured on video saying, Zionists dont deserve to live, and Be grateful that Im not just going out and murdering Zionists. Given the history and continued presence of antisemitism and the heinous crimes committed against Jews in living memory, some students have employed edgier slogans and more provocative behavior than perhaps was wise.

That said, Im not indulging students when I note that their moral clarity is, as it is with most young people, at the same time their greatest strength and weakness. The students are less likely than us cynical oldsters to shrug their shoulders as Israel makes Gaza unlivable and wipes out tens of thousands of Gazan civilians, including women and children, who had nothing to do with Hamass October 7 atrocities. Yet the students are less likely to have the longer-term perspective needed to recognize the moral complexities of the long-running Israeli-Palestinian dispute and to allow those complexities to temper their actions and rhetoric. We usually understand this about the young. But on this issue, many of us are willing and even eager to point to actions and slogans we dont like and use them to tar the protests as a whole.

So what comes next? It may be that university administrators, having gotten through graduation and looking forward to a long summer with students off campus, think they have the situation under control. But it seems more likely that we are at the beginning, not the end, of an extended period of trouble on campus. The immediate causes of the protests  the Gaza war and Palestinian suffering and dispossession  arent likely to abate anytime soon. A January poll found that 94 percent of Jewish Israelis believe the extraordinary destruction the Israeli military has inflicted on Gaza was appropriate or even insufficient. In February, a poll found that most Jewish Israelis opposed providing relief supplies, including food and medicine, to Gazas civilians. The facts seem increasingly to fit the student protesters narrative: The barrier standing in the way of justice for Palestinians isnt Benjamin Netanyahu but Israel.

That is a message a big part of the university community simply will not tolerate. Can university administrators arrest enough student protesters to silence the message? I doubt it. But September isnt too far off. Well soon know.
Photo: Intelligencer; Photo: Getty Images

By the time Mary Kay Henry stepped down from the presidency of the Service Employees International Union, she and the union had helped change how we think about work. In 2012, SEIU backed striking fast-food workers in the city who were advocating for what was then a bold demand: a $15-per-hour minimum wage and a union. A decade later, the efforts of Fight for $15 and a Union led to an estimated 26 million workers winning $150 billion in higher pay. (The campaign is now known as the Fight for a Union.) Three years ago, Starbucks baristas in Buffalo, New York, launched what would become a high-profile unionization campaign with Workers United, a SEIU affiliate; now, over 400 other stores have voted to unionize. Workers led the charge. Henry lent them critical support. Now, its more widely accepted that the federal minimum wage is too low, that unions are beneficial, and that the way we work in America should transform.

She faced significant challenges, too. In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that public workers like many of SEIUs members did not have to pay dues to cover the costs of collective bargaining. Later, COVID presented a unique threat to frontline workers, who make up much of SEIUs membership.

I spoke to Henry shortly before she stepped down on Monday about her trailblazing path as the first woman and openly queer person to lead the 2 million member service- and care-workers union. She looked back on her decision to back Fight for a Union, the skepticism she faced when she did, and whats changed for women in organized labor. April Verrett takes up the presidency after running unopposed for the position. She is the first Black woman to lead the union, which is now majority people of color.

Whenever I talk to people in the labor movement, Im always interested in what drew them to labor in the first place. So Ill put that question to you: Why did you choose to work in organized labor?

I was a community organizer on the east side of Detroit, and I was door-knocking one summer between my first and second year of college in 1976. And everybody that I door-knocked said to me, We dont really want a handout from the government. We want a hand up to a good job where we have a union. And this is because a lot of the people in the neighborhood I was assigned to were former UAW members who had been laid off by plant closures.

And so I have to tell you: Thats when the seed really got planted in my head that if I wanted to revitalize downtown Detroit, I thought, maybe I should try and see if I could go work for the labor movement instead of doing social-service work. And thats what drew me to the labor movement. I saw it as a way to make permanent change in peoples individual lives but also the larger community that I lived in.

How has the situation changed for women in the labor movement over time?

When I went to the UAW to apply for a job, I was told I needed a Ph.D. in economics to work in their research department, or I should go work on an assembly line and work my way up. This woman saw me leaving the building and asked what I was doing there, and it was Olga Madar, one of the founders of the Coalition of Labor Union Women. I told her my little story really fast and she connected me with Joyce Miller, and I got a Greyhound bus ticket to New York. Joyce tried to hire me on a project, but because I hadnt been a textile worker, they didnt want me to stay there. And so she sent me to SEIU, and they were all interested in pulling women who were interested in working. They sent me to a research position in San Francisco and then L.A., and there were three women on our entire executive board of 60 people at the time I was hired. Its now half women today. And one of the three women called me and said, I want you to promise me you will not quit this job without calling me, because I had to threaten to sue the president on an EEOC case if he kept hiring men on international staff.

And so we were four women. Two women quit within the first three months, and two of us stayed and are still in the labor movement, but its because of a network of women being committed to pull other women up and into the labor movement. And so I would say theres been a sea change in the number of women leading. Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO. Becky Pringle and Randi Weingarten lead education unions. And theyve had more of a history of women leaders than SEIU, because Im the first woman leader at this level for our union. So theres been a sea change, and I would say we still have a long way to go.

Obviously, Fight for a Union had a huge impact since 2012. Can you explain why you at SEIU decided to back its campaign?

I would say our unions history has always been to make big bets and make hard decisions and allocate resources to workers who nobody thought were organizable. So we backed the Justice for Janitors movement in the 80s, and they were immigrant part-time workers who nobody thought could get organized, and they did. And then we backed in the 90s Black, brown, and immigrant home-care workers in California, Illinois, Washington. Everybody thought, Oh, these are just independent contractors. But we figured out how to create employment that had living wages, health care. Some places weve won pensions, which were really proud of, and education and training.

Was there any skepticism about that decision at the time? And if there was, how did you address it?

Yes, there was skepticism inside our union. There was skepticism by partner organizations and electeds in New York and around the country. There was not skepticism by the employer. I would say the employers started to get locked and loaded to fight us. So the way we overcame it was by winning. It was 14 when we won a ballot initiative in the city of SeaTac, which is where the Seattle airport sits. There was a $4 million anti-campaign on this ballot initiative. We won by signing up and registering Eritrean voters, who were the newest community in SeaTac, and we prevailed and then they marched from SeaTac to Seattle. And the mayors race became a referendum on whether Seattle was going to be the first to go to $15 an hour.

And then, in 2015, New York and California competed to see who could sign the $15 bill first. And I think that level of victory made people think, Okay, the first part of our demand, we are on a roll to win. We got blocked in southern states and in midwestern states, which we are trying to innovate a way around. And that overcame the skepticism because as wages started to go up, it totally changed the bargaining of our own members inside of SEIU. So our existing members experienced a benefit from the movement demand for $15, and it wasnt just minimum-wage workers in our union that experienced it; all the workers earning $17, $20, $21, their wages got pushed up when the lowest wage got to $15.

I know youve been a champion of sectoral organizing for a long time. Could you explain for readers what it is and how it could grow worker power?

Well, it takes individual employers in a geography or across an industry and unites the bargaining of all those workers into one table. And so instead of organizing one fast-food store at a time through the NLRB  where the franchisee closes the franchisor store or they never reach an agreement on a contract  we understood that we were going to have to help workers bargain at the power where the decisions are made. And so thats what I think is the best way to think of sectoral: Think about how the employers are making decisions on wages and benefits and then organize the power of the workers to have an equal say with those employers. So now we have half a million workers talking to franchise owners in California, and my dream is that we could replicate that in many states and then finally force a national sectoral agreement, which is what McDonalds, Wendys, and Burger King have done in seven other countries around the globe. And theres no reason they cant make it happen here in the United States of America.

I think Fight for $15 and a Union has done an incredible job changing the conversation around the minimum wage. It seems like the unionization part has been more difficult. And so I was wondering if you could lay out what challenges exist when were talking about organizing people in these industries.

I think one challenge is anti-union animus by corporations in the U.S. Starbucks is a classic example of penalizing workers economically when they decided to vote for the union. McDonalds, Wendys, and Burger King did the same thing. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is doing that as we speak. Theres the penalizing of gig workers, who are standing up, and Uber and Lyft are canceling their participation on the platform by deactivating their rides. So thats one obstacle. A second obstacle is that the laws are written in a way that limits workers power. The law is fundamentally about one employer, one bargaining contract, and not about sectoral. And so the rules are rigged against workers.

Thats how we talk about it, but its the laws, essentially. And then the third thing I would say is that the labor movement is a challenge because I think we have to adapt from the industrial economy that formed in the 30s to the new service and care economy, which is now 80 percent of the workforce. And with only 10 percent of workers having the ability to collectively bargain, I think this moment calls for the labor movement to think in new and different ways about how to work together to create sectoral breakthroughs, because we need organizing wins to reach our goal, from 10 percent to 35 percent of the economy being able to collectively bargain. And so I would say those are the three biggest challenges. Theres other challenges, but theyre easier to adapt to. I have found in my 43 years those to be three key obstacles.

Thinking about COVID now, the virus presented an enormous challenge for organized labor, and, of course, many SEIU members worked on the front lines of the pandemic. What do you think the pandemic maybe revealed about existing inequalities in the American workplace in particular?

Everything.

My first thought when you said that is all the people whose lives were lost unnecessarily because of the corruption of Trumps administration response. And I have to tell you: I remain furious to this day that so many nursing-home workers and residents unnecessarily lost their lives because he wasnt willing to give the notice that he got from the Chinese government. People didnt have the personal protective equipment and respirators they needed in that first quarter of the pandemic.

And I think it laid bare that white middle-class, white-collar workers who could remain home stayed safer than the majority-minimum-wage workforce that continued to report to work. Whether it was bus drivers or airport workers or health-care workers or janitors and security officers. And thats why, for me, the structural inequality in who does what jobs in this nation was laid bare and then housing, health-care access, all of that, we know that Black and brown communities died and got sick at a disproportionate rate to their numbers because of the part of the workforce they occupy, which is a legacy of slavery and exclusion in this country.

In 2021, in the middle of the pandemic, a Starbucks location in Buffalo, New York, unionized with Workers United, which is an affiliate of SEIU, and now were at over 400 Starbucks stores unionized across the country. Why do you think this campaign has been so successful? I think it really captured the anger that people felt about the decisions corporations like Starbucks made in the height of COVID. Thats what Ive heard directly from baristas, which is, again: They were asked to go into stores and figure out the mobile-order system to protect the customers, but inside the stores, they didnt often have the protocols needed to protect them. And I think it laid bare a company that had some progressive benefits, but their actual intention was to maintain and increase their bottom line  many corporations earned record profits because of how they adapted during the pandemic. So thats one reason. A second reason is I think that Starbucks workers represent the 80 percent of folks under 30 in this nation that support collective action.

And I think their willingness to organize through technology and connect each other and have it spread so quickly off of the Buffalo election victory was a signal to the future of labor organizing that Im incredibly excited about and want to cheer on even as I exit the stage. Thats the other thing that I thought was incredible. And then the third thing is, I think, the Starbucks workers embrace of diversity in their leadership, from LGBTQ leaders in the organizing, to the leaders of color, to white women and men who operate in intersectional ways on issues. It also infused the movement aspect of the Starbucks effort.

Thinking about this year in particular, it feels like an especially challenging time on a number of fronts, not just for organized labor but for the country. Thinking along those lines, many of us are struggling to react to whats going on in Israel, Gaza, right now. In January, you released a statement calling for a cease-fire and the release of hostages, and I just wanted to know why you felt it was important to come out and say that.

Because I listened to the lived experience of SEIU members all across the country. Its mostly been driven by our members: Sarah, like the Israeli, Jewish RN who has a son in Tel Aviv, and who has the opportunity at this nurses conference to listen to the agony of a Lebanese nurse from Minnesota, whose mom and dad were being bombed by Israel, simultaneously. And so we reach for each others humanity. And we understand that working-class people, whether in Gaza or in Israel or in the U.S., are always on the front lines of paying the price by serving in the military and by our tax dollars being used for this destruction.

Youve been the president of SEIU for 14 years now. Why did it feel like this was the right time to step down?

I think everything weve talked about, where the Fight for $15 and a Union is in this next phase of moving the union demand and I feel really proud of the step forward we made in California fast food and Minnesota nursing homes  it is time for the next generation to take the union to the next era of worker power. And I am aware that as a 66-year-old woman, I am further and further away from that next generation of Starbucks workers that I think is charting the future for the union.

And so I thought it was really important to pass a baton to the next generation. And Im more confident than Ive ever been about our unions future, because our union champions workers whove been written out and written off  and we always will. And I know that the next generation of multiracial union leaders in our union is going to take the fight to the next level, to places that I havent been able to imagine. And I still have a lot of energy left in me, but I think its a really key moment for the next leadership group to take charge.

This interview has been shortened for length and clarity.
Someone may be trying to take Graceland from Elvis Presleys family.



Who that person is exactly, no one knows.



Not Presleys family.



Not even the judge overseeing the fight. https://t.co/PBFnP9b178  TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 23, 2024

The notary's signature on the affidavit doesn't match what was on the notarized document either. And the notarized document was also never recorded in the county register office! Obvious fraud is happening, imo. pic.twitter.com/qrJC1RWJ8l  Clare  (@SayWhatSugar) May 21, 2024

Previous posts: one NBC News and Commercial Appeal both did small investigations into the lending company who recently tried to auction off Graceland and who is now being investigated by the FBI, and how the hell this legal fight was even allowed to happen in Memphis, Tennessee.What followed was a wild goose chase and more questions than answers.  In addition to their own investigation, NBC News used Riley Keough, the granddaughter of Elvis Presleys, lawsuit against the lending company. Keough provided whatever documentation the lending company provided her. Keough said in her claim that someone named Kurt Naussany sent her lawyer emails seeking to collect a $3.8 million debt and threatening to sell Graceland, which was allegedly put up as collateral, along with Lisa Marie Presleys 15% ownership stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises. The claim attached some of that correspondence, including an email in July that included an email address and a phone number for a Kurt Naussany. When NBC News attempted to call the phone number, it was disconnected. Keough's lawyers have stated when the claim was filed in 2023, they attempted to contact the entity via letter, phone and email and were "ghosted." The company, which calls itself Naussany Investments & Private Lending, issued a public notice of its plan for a foreclosure sale of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee and asserted in documents that the claim was related to a $3.8 million loan it had made to Lisa Marie Presley in 2018. Keough filed a claim last week in Shelby County Chancery Court in Tennessee alleging thatshowing Lisa Marie Presley had put up Graceland to secure the loan. Keough said in the court filing that Presley never borrowed money from Naussany Investments or gave it a deed of trust. WREG asked the alleged Naussany representative about Keough accused Naussany Investments of posing as a false entity created for the purpose of defrauding the Promenade Trust (the trust of Keough and formerly of Lisa Marie), the heirs of Lisa Marie Presley or any purchaser of Graceland at a non-judicial sale. Shelby County Register of Deeds told Commercial Appeal that they do not have a deed of trust on file for the property. A representative from the Shelby County Register of Deeds said that this was extremely uncommon before a foreclosure or a supposed auction.However, in the case of the now defunct foreclosure sale of Graceland, Tennessee is a "race-notice state," which means that In Tennessee, Darrell Castle, another attorney who specializes in foreclosures in Memphis, said that these circumstances are not common. "I'm not sure I have seen it before. OK, of course, I've only been doing this for 40 years," Castle said. "I don't get that one." When CNN attempted to reach Naussany Investments, the number was no longer in service. The business was listed in a court document from Keoughs attorney as being located in Kimberling City, Missouri, but CNN was unable to locate a business in the state of Missouri by that name. CNN was also unable to locate a business by that name when searching nationwide. Chancery Court Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins on Wednesday blocked the auction for the time being and, Keoughs attorney was. Hours after a Tennessee judge blocked Naussany Investments, an attorney for Keough "received an email from Gregory Naussany confirming they do not intend to move forward with their claim," a rep for Graceland said in a statement to PEOPLE.. NBC News also couldnt find any social media profiles belonging to the company or representatives. The only available information about the company comes from court filings in the Graceland case. Documents provide street addresses for the company in Jacksonville, Florida, and Hollister, Missouri, that don't match business buildings or houses but post offices. A third address is a post office box in Kimberling City, Missouri. A follow-up email from the Kurt Naussany address Monday night saidThe message added, please make sure you and all colleagues have names straight. On Tuesday night, the Shelby County court received a faxed response to Keoughs claim from Gregory E. Naussany that described him as a lender with the company. They denied Keough's allegations of fraud and requested a delay for the injunction, which was denied. A request for comment to the email address Wednesday drew a response indicating that the company would drop the case after consultation with lawyers. The person claiming to be Gregory E. Naussany said via emailaccording to the court., despite them promising Keough's lawyer to drop the claim. It remains unclear exactly who or what Kurt Naussany, Gregory Naussany, or Naussany Investments are. Keough and Graceland officials have said they do not know these entities. It is unclear why Memphis (or Graceland and Keough's attorneys, lbr) allowed this case to go as far as it did. Graceland continues to operate as normal, and despite her social media remaining light, Keough's attorney said she has been "traumatized" by this entire fight. Keough and Graceland officials have been in contact with the FBI, as well as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Turkey has emerged as the largest coal-fired electricity producer in Europe as major EU economies have continued to shut down coal power plants and boost renewable energy generation.

In the first four months of this year, Turkey was the top coal power producer in Europe, overtaking Germany, according to data from energy think tank Ember cited by Reuters columnist Gavin Maguire.

This development highlights the diverging paths the EU and Turkey have taken in securing electricity supply. While the EU blocincluding top coal power producer Germanyis looking to reduce reliance on coal as much as possible, Turkey is importing and using more coal to meet its rising electricity demand as coal has become more economically viable to burn in power plants than imported natural gas.

In 2023, Turkey overtook Poland to become Europes second-largest coal-fired power generator, behind Germany, Ember said in its Turkiye Electricity Review 2024 in March. At the same time, Turkeys dependence on imported coal for electricity generation continued to increase, Embers energy analyst Bahadir Gumus says.

Coals share in Turkeys total power generation hit a record high of 36% last year, compared to a 12% share in the European Union. Turkey is dependent on coal imports from Russiawith which Ankara has kept friendly diplomatic and trade relations after the Russian invasion of Ukraineand Russian coal imports held a 73% share in Turkeys electricity generation, according to Embers data.

Unlike the EU, Turkey doesnt have a ban on imports of Russian energy products.

As coal prices fell more than natural gas prices after the 2022 spike, gas-fired power generation in Turkey fell for the second year in a row in 2023, marking its lowest generation over four years.

Turkiyes growing reliance on fossil fuels in electricity generation pushes Turkiye further from the path of clean energy transition, Embers Gumus said.

This year, Turkey generated 36 terawatt hours (TWh) of coal-fired electricity between January and April, surpassing Germanys coal power output of 34.6 TWh and Polands 31.3 TWh, per Embers data.

Germany, until recently Europes top coal-fired power producer, shut down additional coal plants this spring.

At the beginning of the 2023/2024 winter, Germanys government said it was bringing back online several coal-fired units for the winter in an attempt to save natural gas and avoid power supply shortfalls.

Without Russian gas supply, the recent energy and gas crisis in Germanyand in Europehas been keeping utilities and governments on edge and ready to have mothballed coal-fired power plants on stand-by in the coldest winter days to ensure the security of electricity supply.

After the end of the winter, German utility RWE shut down permanently five coal power plant units, removing 2,100 megawatts (MW) of lignite capacity permanently from the grid. RWE has already decommissioned 12 lignite-fired power plant units with a total output of 4,200 MW since the end of 2020 and is confident it would complete its coal phase-out by 2030.

In total, Germany shut down permanently 15 coal-fired power plants last month.

Several coal-fired power plants that were still on the grid as a precautionary measure over the last two years are therefore now superfluous and can be taken off the grid for good, Economy Minister Robert Habeck told German agency dpa in early April, adding these were neither necessary nor economical.

In 2023, lignite-powered electricity production in Germany slumped to the lowest level since 1963, while hard coal-powered plants produced the lowest electricity volumes since 1955, according to data compiled by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE.

In Germanys neighbor to the east, Poland, the biggest state utilities are preparing for a surge in clean energy investments in 2025, hoping that the government would move ahead with a plan to spin off coal assets that have been restricting the companies access to financial markets.

Polands power grid operator said in March that it would spend $16 billion on upgrading and expanding its power grid to accommodate additional renewable and nuclear capacity.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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A mere few days after Taiwans new president, Lai Ching-te, was sworn into office at the start of the week, China's military on Thursday morning (local time) initiated two days of large-scale military drills.

PLA navy ships and aircraft are now reportedly "surrounding the island of Taiwan," according to state media and PLA statements. The drills are said to be ensuing in the Taiwan Strait as well as to the north, south and east of the island - and additionally near the disputed tiny islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin in the East China Sea.

"The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) started joint military drills surrounding the island of Taiwan from 7:45 a.m. Thursday (2345 GMT)," Xinhua news agency said.

Illustrative prior drills near Taiwan, via Xinhua

Dubbed Joint Sword-2024A, the exercises will "focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets" - according to military spokesman Li Xi.

The statement described that the drills "involve the patrol of vessels and planes closing in on areas around the island of Taiwan and integrated operations inside and outside the island chain to test the joint real combat capabilities of the forces of the command."

And ominously, Xinhua further cited the spokesman as saying the drills will serve as a "strong punishment for the separatist acts of 'Taiwan independence' forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces."

Taiwan's new president Lai only on Tuesday called on China "to cease their political and military intimidations against Taiwan, and share with Taiwan the global responsibility of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, as well as the greater region, and to ensure the world is free from the fear of war." These were some of his first words spoken as president.

The drills focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets, involving the patrol of vessels and planes closing in on areas around the island of #Taiwan and integrated operations inside pic.twitter.com/9p2N5R9gz2  China Perspective (@China_Fact) May 23, 2024

Beijing had previously warned that Lai is a "dangerous separatist" who will ensure future "war and decline" for the island of Taiwan, which China has long claimed as its own.

Lai had underscored in his 30-minutes inaugural speech, "I have always believed that if the leader of a country puts peoples welfare above all, then peace in the Taiwan Strait, mutual benefits, and prosperous coexistence would be common goals, he said. I hope that China will face the reality of the Republic of Chinas existence."

While China regularly sends jets to buzz Taiwan's air defense identification zone, the start of these drills marks an escalation akin to when then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taipei in 2022.

What the 2022 PLA 'encircling' drills in response to Nancy Pelosi looked like...

Via CGTN

Washington and Taiwan's Western backers will certainly keep a close eye to see how expansive and threatening these fresh encircling exercises are, at a tense moment the globe is already focused on two other flashpoints and grinding wars in Ukraine and in Gaza. And the United States is involved in funding/arming one side in each instance of all of these conflict zones.

By Zerohedge.com

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On May 23, 2004, authorities in Eritrea arrested Kiflu Gebremeskel, a church pastor who had earned his Ph.D. in mathematics in Chicago, along with another Eritrean pastor from his Full Gospel Church of Eritrea denomination, Haile Nayzgi.

Twenty years ago today, both pastors are still in prison without trial. They were likely arrested for leading banned congregations, as evangelical churches in Eritrea were closed by decree in May 2002, rights advocates say.

Pastor Haile Nayzgi and Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel were arrested for their leadership roles in the Full Gospel Church of Eritrea after the Eritrean government outlawed evangelical Christian churches in 2002, aid and advocacy group Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) reported in a press statement. Since then, Nayzgi and Gebremeskel have been held incommunicado for most of their imprisonment, denied access to their families, lawyers and even medical care. It is not clear what physical and psychological abuse they may have suffered in that time.

Pastor Gebremeskel, a married father of four children, was arrested during an early morning raid on his home in Asmara. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) believes he is held at Wengel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation Interrogation Center.

At the time of Pastor Nayzgis arrest, the Full Gospel Church of Eritrea had 120 to 150 groups meeting for worship in homes, according to VOM.

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Following government closure of all churches other than Orthodox, Lutheran or Catholic, the Full Gospel Church filed an application for government registration, VOM stated. Church leaders never received a reply.

Christians practicing their faith secretly in homes  outside the officially sanctioned Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran denominations, along with Sunni Islam  have been the target of arrest and imprisonment in cruel conditions in Eritrea since 2002.

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, who has headed a communist-influenced government since 1994, has imposed a reign of fear through systematic and extreme abuses of the population that may amount to crimes against humanity, according to a United Nations panel.

Eritreas leader has turned a deaf ear to the cries of his own people and refused to listen also to those around the world calling for more religious freedom and for the release of Pastor Haile, Dr. Kiflu and hundreds of other imprisoned Christians, said VOM Vice President Todd Nettleton.

Pastor Gebremeskel was formerly a department and faculty head at the University of Asmara, a founding member of the Full Gospel Church and senior pastor of the Southwest Full Gospel Church. He also served as leader of the Eritrean Evangelical Association.

The two church leaders are among more than 350 other Christians in prison for their faith, including 80 arrested in the first five months of this year, according to VOM, which provides information to email or fax the Eritrean embassy on behalf of imprisoned Christians. Other estimates of Christians in prison in Eritrea range as high as 1,000.

When VOM asked for prayer for imprisoned Christians last July 22, six days later the aid group leaders learned from in-country partners that 13 Christian prisoners had been set free  six men and seven women who had been in prison for 10 years.

Im saddened that pastors Nayzgi and Gebremeskel were not among those released, Nettleton said in a statement at that time. We continue to pray that they will be freed from their prison cells soon, perhaps even as Peter was set free in Acts 12.

VOM has called on U.S. government and the international community to use every tool at their disposal to urge the Eritrean government and President Isaias Afwerki to end Eritreas terrible persecution of Christians.

Less than two weeks after pastors Gebremeskel and Nayzgi were imprisoned, Massawa Rhema Evangelical Church Pastor Meron Gebreselasie was arrested for his leadership role with and remains in prison, according to USCIRF. Pastor Ahferom Akilas of the Gospel Light Eritrean Baptist Church in Dallas told the Baptist Standard that a pastor he knew for decades had died after two and a half years in prison. The unnamed, 78-year-old pastor was scheduled to be buried on May 15, Pastor Akilas said.

USCIRF this week urged the White House to address religious freedom violations in Eritrea. Commissioner Frank Wolf, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, said it was unconscionable that the three pastors remain imprisoned under horrible conditions.

According to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Eritrean government does not generally take steps to investigate, prosecute or punish officials who commit human rights abuses, Wolf said. The safety and well-being of religious prisoners of conscience needs to be a priority for the international community. USCIRF urges the U.S. government to press for their immediate release.

USCIRF stated in its 2023 report that at least 500 Christians in Eritrea faced extremely long prison sentences and harsh prison conditions.

The U.S. Department of State has designated Eritrea a Country of Particular Concern since 2004 for engaging in systemic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom. Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) ranked Eritrea, the North Korea of Africa, No. 4 among the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

Open Doors estimates 1,000 Eritrean Christians are imprisoned for their faith, none of them charged with a crime.

Raids to round up unsanctioned believers are common, with church leaders particularly targeted, the group stated in its WWL report. Those seized in these raids are often sent into Eritreas notorious prison network, where they can be detained indefinitelyenduring shocking conditions, including solitary confinement in tiny cells. Women in prison can face gender-based violence, including rape and sexual violence.
Kazakhstan is considering new procurement standards to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of state spending while aiming to minimize the environmental harm of public works and services.

Government contracts for goods, works and services totaled about $19.7 billion in 2023. In the past, environmental concerns didnt figure much in state spending. But now, officials are starting to confront the need to address the Soviet legacy of environmental degradation, including the radiation caused by nuclear testing and fuel processing, the shrinking of the Aral Sea and a host of smaller, but still serious challenges. Global warming threatens to exacerbate existing problems and create new ones, including a growing water shortage.

In late 2022, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev directed the government to develop new green friendly procurement rules. The Finance Ministry later developed a draft framework in which quality control and environmental impact, in addition to cost, are factored into the awarding of government contracts.

On May 15 of this year, the lower house of the Kazakh parliament, the Mazhilis, approved the Finance Ministry-drafted bill in its second reading. Proponents hope the new rules can receive parliamentary approval and a presidential signature by July 1, but acknowledge that timeline may not be met. Related: Turkey Emerges as the Largest Coal-Fired Electricity Producer in Europe

In February 2024, Kazakhstan joined the European Unions SWITCH-Asia program, under which Astana can receive international expert support for the implementation of sustainable/green public procurement mechanisms. SWITCH-Asia grants encourage companies and governments to implement cleaner technologies and more sustainable industrial practices across a variety of sectors, including agriculture, textiles, freight transit and tourism. The program also has a component designed to encourage residential buildings more energy efficient.

SWITCH program representatives say that when making procurement decisions, officials often focus on obtaining goods and services at the lowest cost. But doing so can have longer-term consequences for society and the environment. Program experts help officials see the bigger picture.

Any product or service that people purchase has unintended, negative impacts.  The government, as the largest consumer in the country, has opportunities to reduce these negative impacts by demanding sustainable and greener products, said Sanjay Kumar, a senior expert on green public procurement for the program.

There is a need to make a shift from current practices and adopt a policy that encourages integrating environmental and social sustainability criteria and requirements into purchasing decisions, Kumar added. Such a new policy will help the government achieve long-term socioeconomic growth and mitigate environmental challenges.

Those challenges are growing with each passing year. For example, the volume of hazardous waste generated in Kazakhstan from all economic sectors  from mining and manufacturing to agriculture, healthcare and transport  increased by 84 percent in 2022, compared to the previous years total.

Some government agencies are implementing green measures already. Nurbibi Aldanova, a Trade Ministry official, reported at a SWITCH-Asia meeting in March that Kazakhstan is developing new standards for waste utilization, environmental labeling, and environmental management as part of a government strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. New procurement requirements will reflect those standards.

At the same meeting, Enlik Mukanova, an expert at the Ministry of Industry and Construction, said amendments adopted in 2022 mandate state agencies to procure durable goods with high energy efficiency ratings. The system is far from perfect, however. A recent audit of over 3,000 items procured by government agencies, including refrigerators, televisions and air conditioners, found that only 63 percent met energy-efficiency requirements.

SWITCH-Asia program representatives will help familiarize Kazakh procurement officials at a variety of state agencies with global green standards, aiming to ensure that goals outlined in pending legislation are met in practice.

By Nurgali Rakhmanov, Aida Bapakhova, Dinara Kanibay via Eurasianet.org

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Amidst a backdrop of escalating climate activism, five members of Letzte Generation, often dubbed Germany's version of Just Stop Oil, are facing charges of "forming a criminal organization." The legal maneuver has unsettled fellow activists, who fear it could establish a troubling precedent, potentially criminalizing future support for environmental causes.

The accusedMirjam Herrmann, 27; Henning Jeschke, 22; Edmund Schulz, 60; Lukas Popp, 25; and Jakob Beyer, 30find themselves charged under section 129 of the German criminal code, marking a notable application of this statute to a non-violent protest group for the first time.

Prosecutors in Brandenburg allege the charges stem from a series of attacks against oil refineries, the Berlin-Brandenburg airport, and the Museum Barberini in Potsdam between April 2022 and May 2023. These actions range from efforts to disrupt oil pumping stations to symbolic acts like defacing an oil painting by Monet with mashed potatoes.

The charges specifically target a subgroup of Letzte Generation, a nationwide movement that has encountered significant law enforcement scrutiny, resulting in thousands of arrests in recent years. Prosecutors contend that the accused conspired with other subgroup members in a sustained campaign of civil disobedience, arguing that their association was formed with the purpose of advancing a shared agenda.

However, activists maintain that their protests were transparent, accountable, and non-violent. They contest the use of such severe charges against their movement, asserting that it undermines fundamental democratic rights.

This ruling has sparked debate over the boundaries of peaceful civil disobedience. Critics argue that applying laws designed for combatting organized crime to climate protests stifles civic engagement and infringes on constitutional rights.

Amnesty International Germany has voiced concerns that a guilty verdict for any of the defendants could effectively criminalize any form of support for Letzte Generation.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Amid a relentless heat wave, Indias peak power demand surged this week to above previously expected levels, resulting in long blackouts in parts of the country.

Peak power demand in India hit a seasonal high of 235 gigawatts (GW) on Wednesday, due to surging electricity demand in the heat waves in many states.

Indias all-time high peak power demand, currently at 243.27 GW, was recorded last September, Indian media report.

The record is set to be shattered as early as this summer amid surging power demand for cooling appliances in the heat waves and the high economic growth in the Asian economy.

Earlier this year, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) projected that India would see a warmer summer than usual with more frequent heat waves.

Currently, severe heat wave conditions are being observed in many parts of India, straining power supply and leading to outages.

According to a survey of advocacy group LocalCircles, cited by Bloomberg, 38% of 15,000 households in the poll reported daily blackouts.

The heat waves have prompted India to boost its coal use for power generation in an attempt to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply.

More coal-fired units were fired up at the start of the year in the country, amid a prolonged heat wave with above-normal temperatures which pushed electricity consumption higher. Power demand continued to rise with the expanding economic growth, too.

Utilities in India have also tried to limit the possibility of power outages during the general election which is being held between the middle of April and early June.

India raised the share of coal in its power generation in April as sharply lower hydropower output has threatened blackouts as summer approaches.

Due to lower hydropower generation, India expects its biggest shortfall of electricity in June in 14 years, a government source told Reuters earlier this month.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The scandalized Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MBD has filed a lawsuit against PetroSaudi International CEO Patrick Mahoney for $1.83 billion over what it says was a sham oil exploration joint venture.

According to the lawsuit, 1MBD (1Malaysia Development Berhad) had been led to believe that Petrosaudi was owned by Saudi royalty, which served as the basis upon which the fund agreed to the JV deal.

The joint venture was a sham which resulted in 1MDB suffering a complete loss of its investment of US$1.83 billion, 1MBD said in the lawsuit, calling for Mahoney to be held liable for the damages because of his dishonest assistance in relation to the 2009 joint venture, according to 1MBD, as reported by The Malaysian Reserve on Thursday. The lawsuit represents lower-level damage control after the Fund became embroiled in a multi-billion-dollar global corruption scandal.

The lawsuit also names UK-based law firm White & Case LLP as a defendant, claiming that Mahoney colluded with members of the law firm, including with a fugitive businessman, to defraud 1MBD. The Fund also claims that the law firm did Mahoneys bidding when he instructed them to prepare fraudulent agreements for PetroSaudi Holdings, among other dubious transactions. Last month, the $1.8-billion fraud trial centered around 1MBD opened in Switzerland, with two individuals accused of embezzling $1.8 billion from the sovereign wealth fund on Tuesday.

In 2022, former Malaysian premier Najib Razak was sentenced to 12 years in prison for offenses related to the scandal, though his sentence was reduced by half earlier this year.

Swiss prosecutors have accused Mahoney and a Saudi-Swiss businessman also named in the lawsuit of fraudulently claiming to be negotiating on behalf of the late Saudi King Abdullah and of fraudulently claiming to have controlling rights to an oilfield in the Caspian Sea.

Mahoney and his Saudi-Swiss counterpart will plead not guilty, Agence France Presse reports.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Brazils state oil major Petrobras has agreed with the countrys antitrust regulator to stop selling refineries in order to boost its processing capacity.

Five years ago, Bloomberg recalls, Petrobras had announced plans, coordinated with the watchdog, to sell a total of eight refineries. Now, after three sales, the company has ended the divestment, again in coordination with the regulatory organ.

The change in plans comes as the Brazilian government exerts growing pressure on Petrobras to expand its operations and create more jobs, boosting the Brazilian economy in the process. The pressure recently led to the ousting of the companys chief executive Jean Paul Prates and his replacement with the former head of Brazils oil and gas industry regulator, Magda Chambriard.

The change at the top came last week, a day after Petrobras reported a 38% decline in net profits for the first quarter of the year on 15% lower revenues. It also adds to bad news about shareholders after late last year outgoing CEO Prates informed them dividend payments would be kept lower for a while as Petrobras tried to expand into low-carbon directions.

"In our view, the exit of Prates is a deterioration of Petrobras governance and a downside risk for the investment thesis," Citi analysts said in a note quoted in a Reuters report at the time.

"The new CEO arrives with the pressure to fulfill the investment plan and accelerate the capex expansion, which may negatively impact the company's dividend payment."

The Bloomberg report noted that investors were concerned about the reshuffle at the top after Prates had prioritized cost reductions and a focus on only the most profitable business of the company. In contrast, the government wants Petrobras to invest more in things like wind and solar, refining, and fertilizer production.

In fairness, Prates was the one who announced plans to have 50% of Petrobras future revenues come from wind and solar. He also cut the companys dividend payout in order to invest more money into this shift into transition energy techwhich understandably did not sit particularly well with shareholders.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Photos courtesy of PhotoAC ()

Somewhere between Okinawas main island and Kagoshimas mainland, youll find Amami Oshima, an island of beauty with lots of untouched nature sure to make even the traveled tourist fall in love.

The island is about two-thirds the size of Okinawas main island, and its population is a fraction of the size in comparison. It is because of this that youll find untamed subtropical forests, exquisite flora and fauna and plenty of Amami Oshimas designated natural treasures the Amamino kuro usagi rabbit and the kenaganezumi long-tailed rat.

There are other similarities between Amami and Okinawa youll discover when you visit. This is because Amami Oshima came under the Ryukyu Kingdom jurisdiction in the mid-15th century, according to Amami Citys online museum. Though the governing system ended when the Shimazu clan, who ruled the island that was then known as Satsuma, invaded the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1609, there are still remnants of the past, which youll find in some of their dialect. One being they both call their folk songs shima uta.

Though some of Amamis features may seem familiar if youve visited Okinawan islands, youll soon find that its unique beauty and landscape are incomparable to any other. For great trekking and canoeing head to Kinsakubaru Genseirin, a forest with countless mangroves and ferns that is home to the islands many rare species. Or, for a heart-pumping climb, head to Mt. Yuwan, which boasts the highest elevation on the island at 694 meters above sea level. There are also several waterfalls to explore in the jungle on Amami Oshima.

Beyond what Amami Oshima offers on land, its surrounding waters arent any less enticing. Tsuchimori Kaigain is often mentioned as one of the best among the beautiful beaches of Amami. The emerald green ocean is less than a 10-minute drive from Amami Airport. And, while youre there, check out Ayamaru Misaki or Cape Ayamaru, which offers a great view of the ocean and the island.

Surfers will want to head to Tebiro Kaigan beach, known for its amazing waves. In 2011, an international surfing competition was held there, contributing to the popularity of this mecca of surfing. Bathrooms, showers, and lodging are available nearby to support surfers.

On the northern coast, Ohama Kaihin Koen, or Ohama Seaside Park, offers a beautiful sunset view. Tourists and local alike visit this spot for the golden sunset in this amazing setting.

When it comes to food, Amami has many unique dishes. A good example is Keihan chicken rice, a local specialty featuring rice in a savory soup cooked with chicken and dried shiitake mushrooms. Top that with dried laver, red pickled ginger, and pickled radish and more to perfect the dish to your taste. Gomazata is a sweet made from brown sugar and sesame seeds, which couples the Amamis signature brown sugar with neighboring island Kikaijimas sesame seeds. The sugar is also coincidentally used to produce Kokuto Shochu, a signature distilled spirit of Amami Oshima.

One of the great things about Amami Oshima is the cultural and historical ties it has with its neighboring islands. Let this island enchant you with its pristine beaches, impressive waves and untamed nature which cannot be replicated.

View video here.
In an emotional and often-tense Wednesday morning of testimony, an Omaha man accused in the death of a 1-year-old girl who was left in a hot day care van for more than five hours took the stand in his own defense.

Ryan Williams, 62, testified for about three hours. He has pleaded not guilty to one count of negligent child abuse resulting in death in the August 2023 death of 18-month-old RaMiyah Worthington at Kidz of the Future II day care near 50th and Leavenworth Streets.

Both the prosecution and defense presented closing arguments in the afternoon before the case was submitted to Douglas County District Court Judge Peter Bataillon for consideration. Williams opted for a bench trial, meaning there is no jury and Bataillon will be responsible for determining his innocence or guilt.

The verdict is expected at 11 a.m. Thursday.

At the heart of the case is whether Williams actions constitute criminal negligence, which under Nebraska law means Williams should have known of the danger involved and acted recklessly ... with respect to the safety or health of the minor child. Recklessness, in this case, is defined as a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a law-abiding person would find appropriate.

During cross-examination, prosecutor Kati Kilcoin for Douglas County asked Williams if he thought he acted negligently.

No, Williams replied.

You dont believe you did anything wrong on that day? Kilcoin asked.

I believe I made a mistake, Williams said.

Williams recounts the day of RaMiyahs death

Williams said he first became connected with Kidz of the Future II because his youngest son attended the day care for two or three years. In May 2023, he asked co-owner Keesha Wesson if she needed any help, and she offered him an application. The next week, he said, he started working as the van driver.

According to Williams, he provided Wesson with a CPR certificate and background check before beginning his employment, but he was never asked for a copy of his drivers license.

Every day would follow a similar routine, Williams said. He would arrive at the day care around 7:30 a.m. and begin the route shortly before 8 a.m. He would pick up 10 children most days before returning to the day care at about 9 a.m. After unloading the children, Williams would head to the Munroe-Meyer Institute, where his son attended all-day programming.

On Aug. 21, 2023, the day cares usual 15-seat van was swapped out for a 10-seat van due to air conditioning issues. That meant some of the children sat in different seats than Williams was used to, he said.

RaMiyah and her two siblings, a sister and a brother, were picked up and buckled into car seats in the third row of the four-row van. According to Williams, by the time they arrived at the daycare, RaMiyahs brother had already unbuckled himself and his sisters from their car seats.

Video footage showed Williams unloading the children from the van, occasionally distracted by a 4-year-old who was refusing to exit the vehicle. He went inside to tell the day care staff about the boys behavior issues before returning to the van, opening the drivers side door and grabbing a pair of glasses he left behind.

Unbeknownst to Williams, RaMiyah was still in the van. Had she still been in her car seat, he said, he would have seen her when he went to grab his glasses.

Williams returned to the day care at about 2:30 p.m., and at 2:45 p.m., he went outside to get the car ready for afternoon drop-off. It was a hot August day with the heat index climbing above 110 degrees. Williams moved the van closer to the door and then entered the van to ensure all of the air vents were working properly.

Security video shows Williams disappear into the van for about 10 seconds before a deep, pained scream can be heard from inside the van. Williams said he found RaMiyahs body facedown on the floor in the fourth row of the van. He ran her inside, where day care staff began CPR. She was declared dead at the hospital shortly before 4 p.m.

As they waited for paramedics to arrive, Williams said, Wesson called Williams into her office and told him he was fired. Only then did Wesson ask to make a copy of his drivers license, Williams said.

Defense says day care was negligent

Both prosecutors and defense attorneys referred to RaMiyahs death as a systematic failure, but disagreed on how much blame should be placed on the day care.

Throughout the three-day trial, the defense called multiple former employees to testify to the lack of training and guidelines at the day care center. One former employee said in a deposition that she asked about RaMiyahs whereabouts three separate times on the morning of her death, but her concerns were brushed off by two other employees.

Williams said during his testimony Wednesday he was not responsible for checking in the kids after they got off the bus or taking attendance  his sole responsibility was to drive. And though Williams said he would usually double-check the vehicle to make sure no kids remained inside, there was no protocol to ensure he did so.

In closing arguments, defense attorney Andrea McChesney asked Bataillon to find Williams actions were a terrible mistake, not a criminal act.

I guess the question is, does the conduct of Williams rise to the legal definition of negligence? McChesney asked. The facts dont show that it does.
Sundry Photography // Shutterstock

Which cities offer Asian Americans the best opportunities to financially thrive?

As one of the fastest-growing demographics in the United States, Asian Americans are making serious headway in education and income. More than 59% of Asian Americans over 25 hold a bachelor's degree, up 8% over 10 years. Median income in Asian American households was roughly $107,000 in 2022  43% higher than the national median household income. Despite growing success for Asian Americans, 61% said hate against their group was increasing as of March 2024. And although recent FBI data suggests a downward trend in anti-Asian hate crimes, 2022 was still higher than years past.

To get a better picture of the best and worst cities for Asian Americans to prosper, MoneyGeek analyzed and ranked 178 U.S. cities based on population, educational attainment, income and homeownership among Asian Americans. We also compared the top 20 cities across two points of crime data per 100,000 residents: the cost of crime and racially motivated hate crime. We learned that California cities tend to offer the best financial climate for Asian Americans, with a few exceptions.

Key Findings

Asian Americans excel in educational attainment and income  More than half hold bachelor's degrees and earn a median income that surpasses the national average by 43%.

California cities exhibit a split trend  Some, like Mountain View and Santa Clara, offer high median individual earnings ($160,631 and $129,953, respectively), whereas others, such as San Bernardino, have low income levels and high housing costs.

Safety varies among the top 20 cities  Although California cities like Yorba Linda and San Ramon have a low cost of crime, others, like Redwood City and San Jose, have much higher crime costs.

The rate of college educational attainment for Asian Americans is lower than that of the general population in 14 cities  St. Paul, Minnesota, ranks the worst, with Asian Americans lagging behind the general population by 12 percentage points. Comparatively, Asian Americans lead the general population by 22 percentage points nationally.

Asian Americans Flourish Out West

Redwood City, California, ranks No. 1 for Asian American prosperity overall, ranking first for educational attainment, second for economic livelihood and ninth for income. Nine of the top 10 cities for Asian Americans are in California  all ranking in the top 40 across income, homeownership and economic livelihood categories. Of the cities in the overall top 10, highlights include Mountain View, California, where Asian Americans have the highest median income ($160,631) with reasonable living costs, and Milpitas, California, where 73% of the population is Asian American, and there's a 76% Asian American homeownership rate.

Irving, Texas, joins California cities in the top 10, ranking No.8 overall with high scores in educational attainment (third-best) and income (fourth-best). Just outside the top 10, Johns Creek, Georgia, ranks No.8 for median individual earnings ($105,787) and No.7 for the percentage of Asian Americans with a bachelor's degree or higher (82%), all while maintaining low living costs.

MoneyGeek

Worst Cities for Asian American Population, Homeownership and Pay

Spokane, Washington, is the least financially prosperous city for Asian Americans, joined by Tacoma, a fellow Evergreen State city in the bottom 10. Both cities are in counties with general population unemployment rates over 6% and housing costs exceeding 31% of Asian American income.

Despite many California cities being in the top 10, San Bernardino, California, ranks in the bottom 10, with an Asian American population below 5% and high housing costs. Also near the bottom are Philadelphia and San Antonio, two of the 10 largest U.S. cities. Both rank lowest in income metrics for Asian Americans and have living costs above the national average.

MoneyGeek

How Safe Are the Top Cities for Asian Americans?

Among the top 20 cities, two California cities  Yorba Linda and San Ramon  and Johns Creek, Georgia, stand out for low crime costs  all below $250 per capita with populations under 90,000. Yorba Linda and Johns Creek also have fewer than two racially motivated hate crimes per 100,000 people. Among top-ranking cities with populations over 148,000, Irvine, California, and McKinney, Texas, keep crime costs under $500 per capita and racially motivated crimes below 4.5 per 100,000 people.

Despite ranking first overall, Redwood City, California, has high crime costs at over $1,000 per capita. When it comes to racially motivated hate crimes, Redwood City falls into the middle of the pack (five per 100,000 people). Two California cities in the top five (San Mateo and Mountain View) have racial hate crime rates of 12 and 11 per 100,000 people. San Jose, California, and Union City, California, have the highest crime costs of this group  $1,472 and $1,329 per 100,000 people, respectively.

MoneyGeek

Tips for More Financial Prosperity

Part of achieving financial success involves understanding and leveraging available opportunities. Here are several key strategies that Asian Americans can consider when looking to improve their finances:

Maximize scholarships

To support your educational aspirations without incurring debt, exploring scholarships for Asian students can uncover a variety of financial aid options tailored to your cultural background and academic interests.

Plan for retirement

Starting your retirement planning early allows you to harness the power of compound interest. Understanding different retirement savings strategies can set a solid foundation for a secure financial future.

Choose the right mortgage

With various mortgage options available, finding the right one can significantly impact your financial well-being. Learning about the different types of mortgages can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your long-term financial goals.

Understand your mortgage payment

When considering homeownership, it's essential to understand how your mortgage payments will fit into your budget. Using a mortgage calculator can help estimate monthly payments, including interest and principal, based on various loan scenarios.

Methodology

To rank the best cities for Asian Americans, MoneyGeek analyzed data from the Census' American Community Survey and Annual Business Survey, MoneyGeek's Safest Cities and Safest Small Cities and Towns studies, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and MIT's Living Wage Calculator. MoneyGeek started with over 600 cities in the United States with populations of 63,000 or more. Places without granular data about Asian Americans or lacking other data points for the analysis were removed to reach the final set of 178 cities.

The ranking of the best cities for Asian Americans was based on five factors: population, income, homeownership, education and economic livelihood. Each factor was weighted equally. The factors were calculated as follows:

Percent of local population that is Asian American (full weight): This percentage represents the proportion of Asian Americans within a city's total population, as reported by the United States Census Bureau's one-year American Community Survey (ACS) from 2022, the most recent data available.

Income (full weight): This factor equally comprises three metrics:

Median individual earnings for Asian Americans (33%)

Two-year change in individual earnings for Asian Americans (33%)

Cost of living as a percentage of individual Asian income (33%)  Living costs are for one adult with no children. Data comes from the MIT Living Wage Calculator.

Homeownership (full weight): This factor equally comprises two metrics:

Local Asian American homeownership (50%)  This is the percentage of all owner-occupied housing units that are owned by Asian Americans. Data comes from the United States Census Bureau's one-year American Community Survey (ACS) from 2022, the most recent data available.

Housing costs as a percentage of monthly income (50%)  This considers monthly housing costs as a percentage of median household income for Asian Americans. Data comes from the United States Census Bureau's one-year American Community Survey (ACS) from 2022.

Educational attainment (full weight): This factor equally comprises two metrics:

Percentage of Asian Americans with a bachelor's degree or higher (50%)  Data comes from the United States Census Bureau's one-year American Community Survey (ACS) from 2022, the most recent data available.

Higher education gap (50%)  The difference in percentage points of the rate of Asian American bachelor's degree or greater educational attainment compared to the local rate of bachelor's degree or greater educational attainment. Data comes from the United States Census Bureau's one-year American Community Survey (ACS) from 2022.

Economic livelihood (full weight): This factor equally comprises two metrics:

Unemployment rate (50%)  Data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics's Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) and is as recent as February 2024.

Percentage of business owners that are Asian American (50%)  Data comes from the United States 2022 Annual Business Survey (ABS), with the most recent data for 2021.

We also considered crime in the top 20 cities to get a better understanding of the local environment. This exploration consists of two metrics:

Cost of crime: This metric is based on the per capita cost of crime calculated in MoneyGeek's Safest Cities series.

Racially motivated hate crimes per one million people: This metric indicates the number of racially motivated hate crimes for 2022 per 100,000 population, with data sourced from the FBI's Crime Data Explorer.

This story was produced by MoneyGeek and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.